Psalterium Americanum. The Book of Psalms, in a translation exactly conformed unto the original; but all in blank verse. : Fitted unto the tunes commonly used in our churches. Which pure offering is accompanied with illustrations, digging for hidden treasures in it; and rules to employ it upon the glorious and various intentions of it. : Whereunto are added, some other portions of the sacred Scripture, to enrich the cantional. — Bible. O.T. Psalms. English. Mather. 1718.

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PSALTERIUM Americanum.

The BOOK of PSALMS, In a Translation Exactly conformed unto the ORIGINAL; BUT ALL IN Blank Verse, Fitted unto the TUNES commonly used in our CHURCHES. Which Pure Offering is accompanied with ILLUSTRATIONS, digging for Hidden Treasures in it; And RULES to Employ it upon the Glorious and Various Intentions of it. Whereto are added, Some other Portions of the SACRED SCRIPTURE, to Enrich the CANTIONAL.

BOSTON: in N. E. Printed by S. KNEELAND, for B. ELIOT, S. GERRISH, D. HENCHMAN, and J. EDWARDS, and Sold at their Shops. 1718.

[Page i]

THE INTRODUCTION: To be Attentively perused, that so the whole BOOK may have the Good and Great ENDS of it, the more effectually Accomplished.

§. 1.THERE have appeared in the World some Humane Composures, which have been so favoured, and perhaps flattered by Mankind, as to have it asserted concerning them, That no Mans Reproach could lessen, and no Mans Applause could heighten, the Reputation which belong'd unto them. The Assertion may be made without Controversy concerning the Divinely Inspired Book of PSALMS; [Page ii]than which the Church of GOD is enriched with nothing more Glorious, among all its Incomparable Writings.

THE Commendations which the Ancients gave of this Unparallel'd Book, are as high, as the Tongue of Men can carry them; And the Commendations would not be too high, if the Tongue of Angels, who possessed the Writers of this Book, were employ'd for the giving of them. Let Chrysostom and Basil alone be called in, to declare unto us the sense of all the rest! Chrysostom, who calls this wonderful Book, The Christian Panoply; And Basil, who Styles it, The Common Treasure of all Good Precepts, and, A Compleat Body of Divinity.

THE PSALMS are in the Hebrew, divided into Five Books, like those of Moses; and so they may be called, A Second Pentateuch. Yea, They are a surprizing Epitome of all the Bible; For which cause, if we call the Psalter, A Little Bible, we shall do no other than what Luther did before us. And such are the Excellent Vertues, in the Leaves of this Tree of Life which our God has granted for the Healing of the Nations, that, as Proclus of Constantinople expresses the matter, To cure Heaviness, to lay aside trouble some Thoughts and Passions, to ease us of our Cares, and recreate those who are oppressed with any, [Page iii]sorts of Pains, as well as to move Compunction for Sin, and to stimulate unto Piety, no Book in the World, is to be compared with it, for such important purposes.

MELANCTHON says very truly, concerning the Book of PSALMS, That it is the most elegant work extant in the World. It has indeed performed what Plato wish'd for, but what he thought meer Man could never come to: Plato, who saw there was no way of Instruction so efficacious, as that by Odes and Songs; but after all concludes, This must be the work of GOD, or of a Man that shall be full of GOD.

THERE have been profane, foolish, empty Pretenders to Literature, who have had no great Relish for the PSALMS of David. But with Men who have had a just sense, a true gust of Things, no Writings in the World have been so Relished, as these matchless Gifts of Heaven unto the Children of Men. So Mattheus Vegius coming to himself, made a Declaration, which none who are not besides themselves will wonder at. Nunc pro Virgilio, quem alterum in Terris Deum esse arbitrabar, Nunc Davidem fideliorem vatem, colam, suscipiam, amplectarque; et ejus mibi carmina, quae tanquam anilia deliramenta sordebant, nunc mira aspergunt animum su [...]vit [...].

[Page iv] §. 2. THEODORET informs us, The People in his time, were so well acquainted with our PSALMS, that both in City and Country it was the usual Employment of all Christians, To Sing them: And even they who had little Acquantance, with any other Book of the Sacred Scriptures, yet so had the PSALMS by heart, as to recreate themselves with Singing them in the Streets, and in the Fields, as well as in their Houses. And Verily, These marvellous Poems, have not by their Age lost any thing of their Spirit, or their Goodness. The Christians in our days, may as well feed and live upon them, and Eat the Bread of Angels.

THE Truth is, It was no ill Advice of Jerom unto his Friend, That he would make the Psalter his Vade mecum, his constant Companion and Counsellor on all occasions. Christian, Thou wilt find it so marvellously to answer all the occasions of Christianity, that thou wilt commend the prudence of the Ancient Constantinopolitan, who being driven out of the City, took no part of his Treasures but This, which unto him was, Pro et prae Divitjis, preferrible to all perishable Riches.

BEHOLD, A Prayer-Book which never had a Parallel. And tho' the very Words of this Book, may often supply us with the best [Page v] Forms in the World for our Prayers, whe [...] we may have need of such; (which made Luther say, He that Prays a PSALM, shall be made thoroughly warm:) yet the principal use hereof would be, from hence to learn, for what Things, and with what Frames, we are to make our Prayers, and with a Fuel from hence, to keep that Holy Fire in its operation, The Spirit of Grace and of Supplications.

WHEN the Pardon of Sin is to be implored, the PSALMS will furnish us, with the most Pathetical Expressions imaginable for that Grand Concern.

WHEN the Graces of the New Creature, and the Dispositions of Piety are to be asked for, the PSALMS will not only furnish us with Petitions for these Best of Blessings, but insensibly draw us in to the Possession and Exercise of them.

WHATEVER Maladies we find our Minds distempered withal, we may repair to the PSALMS as to a Dispensatory fill'd with the noblest Remedies.

Do our Invisi [...]le Enemies infest us with grievous Temptations? The Weapons and the Outcries we find in the PSALMS, against the vexatious Adversaries, may be as efficaciously as elegantly turned upon them. Davids Harp wisely introduced, will cause our Enemies [Page vi]to turn back, the Evil-Spirits to retire before it.

WHEN we have our heavy Afflictions of many sorts lying upon us, what can we do better, than repair to the Songs, which GOD our Maker has given for the Night, in the PSALMS which we now have in our hands? We shall not perish in our Afflictions, if we take the Delights here provided for us.

FINALLY, If we would be well instructed in the Mysteries of the Great Salvation, or be well acquainted with the Prophecies of what is to be done in the Latter Days: Let the PSALMS be well studied. The truest and the highest Wisdom is here to be met withal.

AND if in the Prosecution of these Designs, we add the method of Singing, which is the way to be filled with the Spirit, from whence the PSALMS are dictated, Behold, the Spiritual Songs now put into a Cond [...]tion for it, that we may in our Heart make Melody unto the Lord.

IT is a Thing to be observed, That all Nations make Singing, to be one part of the Worship which they pay unto their GOD. Thus All Pe [...]ple walk even every one in the Name of his God; and thus we CHRISTIANS will walk in the Name of CHRIST who is the Lord our GOD, and who had directed us thus to do for ever and ever.

[Page vii] §. 3. OUR Poetry has attempted many Versions of the PSALMS, in such Numbers and Measures, as might render them capable of being Sung, in those grave Tunes, which have been prepared and received for our Christian Psalmody. But of all the more than twice Seven Versions which I have seen, it must be affirmed, That they leave out a vast heap of those rich things, which the Holy SPIRIT of GOD speaks in the Original Hebrew; and that they put in as large an Heap of poor Things, which are intirely their own. All this has been meerly for the sake of preserving the Clink of the Rhime: Which after all, is of small consequence unto a Generous Poem; and of none at all unto the Melody of Singing; But of how little then, in Singing unto the LORD! Some famous pieces of Poetry, which this Refining Age has been treated withal, have been offered us in Blank Verse. And in Blank Verse we now have the Glorious Book of PSALMS presented unto us: The PSALMS fitted unto the Tunes commonly used in the Assembles of our Zion: But so fitted, that the Christian Singer has hi [...] Devotions now supplied, with ALL that the Holy SPIRIT of GOD has dictated, in this Illustrious and Calestial Bestowment upon His Church in the World: and there is NOTHING BESIDES [Page viii]the pure Dictates of that Holy SPIRIT imposed on him. Now, True PIETY, Thou shalt be Judge, whether such a Divine matter for thy Songs thus disencumbred from every thing that may give them any Humane Debasements, be not really to be preferred before any Compositions thou hast ever yet been entertain'd withal. Doubtless, the more that any are desirous to offer unto the Glorious GOD what is purely His Own, and the more concerned that any are to have their Worship entirely Regulated and Animated, by the SPIRIT of GOD, the more agreeable to them, will be such an Instrument of Devotion, as is here prepared. Tho' the Hymns have not the Triflle of Rhime, as a Lace to set them off, yet they are all Glorio [...] within, which is the thing that Manly Christianity has its eye most upon; and in the Spiritual Songs thus enjoyed and improved, thou mayst most hope to have the Holy SPIRIT of GOD, who indited them speaking unto thee, even such Things as cannot be uttered.

BUT that our Cantional may be furnished with a superabundance, and the Faithful be plentifully feasted with Angels Food, Behold, an Addition of Passages Collected in Metre, (but still as exactly translated) from some other parts of the Sacred Scriptures, to answer the various occasions of Christianity.

[Page ix] §. 4. FOR the New Translation of the PSALMS, which is here endeavoured, an Appeal may be with much Assurance made, unto all that are Masters of the Hebrew Tongue, whether it be not much more agreeable to the Original, than the Old one, or than any that has yet been offered unto the World. Perhaps there is more Liberty taken here in Translating the First Verse of the Psalter, than almost any Verse in the whole Book beside. It keeps close to the Original; and even when a word of supply is introduced, it is usually a needless Complement unto the care of exactness, to distinguish it at all, as we have done, with an Italica-Character; for it is really in the Intention and Emphasis of the Original. Yea, the just Laws of Translation had not been at all violated, if a much greater Liberty had been taken, for the beating out of the Golden and Massy Hebrew into a more Extended English, For, it may be observed, if you Translate a French Book, suppose, into English, you turn it into English Phrase, and make not a French English of it; For, If fait froid, for instance, you do not say, It makes Cold, but, It is Cold, We have tied our selves to Hebraism [...], more scrupulously, than there is real occasion for.

BUT Particularly; The Reader will allow, JEHOVAH, to be Translated, The ETERNAL [Page x]GOD. It is the truest English of that Incommunicable Name: A Name, tho' not Unutterable, (according to the Jewish Superstition,) yet what should not be too commonly uttered. And the French Translation will here speak a Good Word for ours. And where's the wrong done, if Elohim should be Translated, GOD the Judge? or, Adonai, be Translated, The GOD on whom I lean, or, The GOD from whom is my support? It is in the Hebrew Term. What if, Col Haijom, should be Translated, All Day, and Every Day? What if Gnani, should be so Translated, as to carry both Suff [...]ring and Meekness in it? What if G [...]alam should be Translated, Who can tell the Term? 'Tis no more than what is in the Hebrew. When Two English Words are employ'd for One Hebrew Word, we have signifyed it sometimes with an * Asterisk. But, Reader, Know, that the He [...]rew signifyed Both: and since it is not easy to determine, which to take, exclusive of the other, it will not be disagreeable unto the Glorious Inditer, that Both be considered.

BRIEFLY, Upon any Difference in this, from the former and common Translation, if the more Learned Reader will please to Examine the Original, there will be no Fear of its being Justified. But then, this Translation may deserve some Thanks from the [Page xi]Religious part of Mankind, for having tendred a plain, clear, fair sense of many Passages, which have hitherto been so Translated, that People could scarce tell how well to understand them: In which regard, this very Translation alone, without any of the Notes that wait upon it, may be esteemed a Commentary.

§. 5. MOST certainly, our Translation of the PSALMS, without the Fetters of Rhime upon it, can be justly esteemed no prejudice to the Character of Poetry in the performance. For indeed, however it is now appropriated, according to the true sense of the Term, to Rhythme it self a Similis Desinentia, or, a likeness of sound in the last Syllables of the Verse, is not essential. Old Bede will give you such a Definition of Rhythme, and bring other Authorities besides Austins for it, that Scaliger thereupon holds, all Verses wherein Regard is had unto the Number of Syllables, to have a claim unto it. Be that as the Criticks on the Term shall please, our Translation is all in Metre; and really more tied unto Measure, than the Original appears to have been, by all the Examinations that have as yet been employ'd upon it. For, however it might be with the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy, and with the [Page xii]Book of Job, and of the Proverbs; My incomparable Master Alsted allows me to say, That in the PSALMS, Nullum canticum sit metricis legibus astrictum, sed mera soluta sit cratio, charactere Poetico animuta.

INDEED, that Question, To what Rules the Poesy of the Davidic PSALMS is to be adjusted? has been as vexed a Problem to our Modern Criticks, as most that they have meddled with. It were endless to reckon up the several Methods wherein Learned Men have attempted an Account of the Hebrew Poesy. Pfeiffer in his Dubia Vexota, has given us a Collection; Among which, that which Gomarus, has lit upon, looks as probable as any: And yet, the Rules invented by that Author, are so very lax, that you may according thereunto imagine, a Verso, in every Line of almost any Author in the World. I am therefore strongly of the Opinion, That the Poesie of the Ancient Hebrews, knew no Measure, but that of the unknown Music, wherein it was to be accommodated. Our PSALMS in the Hebrew, are not so much Metrical as Musical; And hence, the very Inscriptions of them sometimes intimate, that there was a sort of Melody, unto which they were adapted. It is true, the Oriental Nations at this day, have their Metred Poetry; But it is of a late Original. [Page xiii]However, 'tis very certain, that all the skill in the World, will hardly find the Rules of that Metred Poetry observed with any exactness in the Songs of the Sacred Scriptures. There is little value to be set on the Authority, of either Philo, or Josephus, and and after them, of Jerom, who quotes Origen and Eusebius for it, when they go to resolve the Hebrew P [...]esie, into I know not what, Lyricks and Hexameters. And therefore it may be hoped, that our Version may be released from the Chime of a, Similis Desinentia, without being censured for Unpoetical. The Sublime Thought, and the Divine Flame, alone is enough, to challenge the Character of Poetry for these Holy Composures. And if any Beauties be wanting, 'tis owing to the lowness of the Language, whereinto a strict and close Translation, is what we are here tied unto.

§ 6. IT is a true Observation, which is made by Folengius, in his Commentaries on the PSALMS; Totius Voluminis PSALMORUM Argumentum CHRISTƲS: A Glorious CHRIST is the principal Thing appearing in them. It is very certain, That in the PSALMS, the Person, the Natures, the Vertues, the Humiliation, the Exaltation, the Extensive Kingdom, and the admirable Glories [Page xiv]of the MESSIAH, are every where scattered and glittering, after such a manner, as calls for our Wonderment. The Gospel according to DAVID, compared with, The Gospel according to MATTHEW, affords a wonderful Entertainment. If a Jew would but believe the Songs of Zion, which once were sung in his own Land, he would soon turn a Christian, and would his Nation do so, it would not be long, that they should be put upon Singing them in a Strange Land. Christian, Dig in these Mines, and thou wilt soon be sensible of what thy SAVIOUR has told thee, Search the Scriptures, for they testify of me. Yea, Good Old Hilary has a Note, That the Book of PSALMS is a Bundle of Keys, which will open the Locks of all the other Scriptures. The Word, Mictam, is found in the Titles of several PSALMS; and Monsieur Goussets Discourse upon it, has very much to demand a Reception for it. The Word signifies, A Thing that is covered with Gold. But another Word of the same Letters, does also signify, A Sanctified Thing. Our Great SAVIOUR, and His Works, are variously Exhibited, in the Types, and so in the Songs, of the Old Testament. The sense which concerns the Types, is a piece of Canvas, on which the Holy Spirit has inlaid the Mystical sense, which concerns our SAVIOUR, as a Golden Embroidery. [Page xv]If David be the Canvas, in any of the Mictams, the Holy Spirit has inwrought a Golden Idea of our SAVIOUR into it, and curiously Embroidered it, with some of His Incomparable Glories. Verily, There are more Mictam's in our Psalter, than those which have this Term in the Titles of them. They are not the only ones, that have His Unutterable Glories Exquisitely Embroidered in them. The German Divine, who wrote a Treatise, to prove, That there is not a Chapter in the Bible, wherein there is not a mention or a notice of our SAVIOUR, might find the Psalter to be the easiest part of the Bible for him to work upon. And now, when we discover our SAVIOUR in the PSALMS, we then have indeed the Quickening Spirit of them. In that Light of GOD, we see the Light wherein the true sense of the PSALMS is made manifest unto us. We see every thing in a new Light. And how sweet the Light? What a pleasant thing, to behold the Sun of Righteousness darting His Benign Beams upon us, thro' the clear and pure Glasses, wherewith His Holy SPIRIT here has furnished us!

BUT, O Eagle-Eye'd Believer, when thou art Singing the Graces, the Actions, the Sufferings, and the Grandeurs of the REDEEMER, and perhaps coming into Thoughts [Page xvi]and Frames, that have some little Resemblance to those, which the Prophetic Spirit here assigns to thy REDEEMER, in the Time of His Working out thy Salvation for thee, what an Angelical Dignity art thou advanc'd unto! What a Token for Good hast thou, that thy REDEEMER will one day bring thee to a Confort with Him, in the Songs and Joys of the Heavenly World!

THE Word, SELAH, Ever now and then occurs in the PSALMS. And now allow me to propose, every SELAH, as an Invitation for thee to make a pause, upon the Magnificence of thy SAVIOUR. I will not here make a long Recital, of the various, and very many Interpretations, which the Criticks have left that Word in the dark withal. It shall be enough to say, That in the large, Thesaurus Philologico-Theologicus lately Published, there is a Dissertation upon that Word, which would perswade us, That SELAH is a proper Name of the Blessed GOD our SAVIOUR, and that it signifies, The Magnificent One, or, One that is exalted on high. The Word must not be too much separated from the rest of the Discourse, but it is to be look'd upon as a part of it. It belongs to the Period, and is to be rendred, sometimes in the Nominative, sometimes in the Genitive Case, and sometimes in other [Page xvii]Cases; but most commonly in the Vocative, Christian, In the PSALMS every where think on thy SAVIOUR. And if a SELAN stop thee, think, before thou go on, O my SAVIOUR, How Magnificent art thou! — Indeed, such is the Fellowship ever between our SAVIOUR and His People, that the condition of the One in the PSALMS will not forbid, but invite us to confider the condition of the Other. And therefore, what is now propounded, about a Contemplation of our SAVIOUR, to be a principal stroke of our Devotions in Singing of the PSALMS, will not supersede the Entertainments which are to be joined with it.

§ 7. THERE is a way of Reading the Scripture, which is now particularly and pathetically to be demanded for the Reading of the Psalter. And that is, The Parismain [...] way; Or, To Read with an Holy cate, to observe and educe, the Doctrines of Godliness, which this Rich Store-house of Truth will yield unto them that are seeking after it. Reader, Make a Pause upon every Verse, and see what Lessons of Piety are to be learnt from every Clause. Turn the Lessons into Prayers; and send the Prayers up unto the Heavens: As Arrows from the hand of a mighty Man, send them with lively Ejuculations up [Page xviii]unto the Heavens. The Singer gives himself Time, to do the part of such a Reader; And, Oh, what a Melody does he make unto the Lord! They who have tried this way of Reading, with a Note and a Wish devoutly formed upon every Verse, have seen cause to Bless a Glorious GOD, for instructing them in this Method of Communion with Him, and Rejoyce in this way of conversing with His Testimonies, more than if all Riches had been bestowed upon them. Soul bound for Heaven, Thy Psalter taken into thy hand on such an Intention, and with such a Management, would be the most serviceable, and the most comfortable, Instrument of Devotion, that any thing upon the face of the Earth could afford unto thee.

WHEN Zerdusht (or Zoroaster) more than Two and Twenty Hundred Years ago, composed that famous Book, which is to this Day the Bible of the Magians under the Mahometan oppressions in the Orient, and which has a great part of the Davidic Psalms inserted in it, he put upon it the Title of Zendavesta, or, The Fire-kindler, as pretending to kindle the Fire of Love to God and Religion, in the Hearts of the Readers. But with how much more Justice and Glory, may the BOOK, thou now hast in thy Hands, claim such a Title! Nothing upon Earth will more bring [Page xix]down the inextinguishable Fire of GOD from Heaven into thy Soul, than this BOOK employed as it ought to be; and as now, if it be not thy own Fault, it is like to be.

To assist the Reader in coming at the vast Profit and Pleasure, which is to be found in this rare part of the Christian Asceticks, every PSALM is here Satellited with Illustrations, which are not fetched from the Vulgar Annotations, (whereof still, Reader, continue thy esteem and thy improvement:) But are the more Fine, Deep, and Uncommon Thoughts, which in a course of long Reading & Thinking, have been brought in the way of the Collector. They are Golden Keys, to the Immense Treafures of Truth, which have not been commonly used: But which will enable the considerate Reader, not only to see set in a Bright Light, the Passages to which they are annexed, but having them in his mind, he will be able to Read very many other Passages, of the Holy Book, with a greater satisfaction of mind, than ever he had before.

THERE had been a vast Addition to this Collection of Illustrations, if the dread of imposing a Great Book upon the Reader, had not so stinted and stopped the Growth of the Volumn.

[Page xx] THERE had been also prepared and prefixed unto every PSALM, a Short Account of the Scope which it is aimed at; and such an Argument as Dr. Roberts in his Key of the Bible, has given us. But upon a further consideration, this has been lasd aside; For it was considered, That there are so various and so glorious Things contained in every PSALM, as render it impossible to give any thing like a Full Account of what is intended in it, without requiring much more of Room for it, than the PSALM it self does occupy. Nor has any Essay that was ever yet made this way, done a Justice (it may have done a Damage) to a BOOK in every Paragraph whereof, there are all manner of pleasant Fruits, new and old, laid up for the Beloved. Certainly, To cramp and stint the Thoughts of him that Reads, with confining him to some Few Things as the Intention of a PSALM, when an Attentive Reader will find that the Argument which the Short-sighted Analysis has offered contains not a Temb part of the Illustrious Things, in which the Holy SPIRIT has designed our instruction there: it appears in effect such a wrong to the Divine Composure, as our PSALTERIUM did not care to be guilty of. Why should a Bill of Fare be brought in, which does not mention one Temb part of [Page xxi]the Delicacies, which an ordinary Attention will find on a Table that always yields, A Feast of Fat Things full of Marrow, of Wines on the Lees well refined: A Table more glorious by far then that of Ptolomies in the Temple?

§. 8. AND yet I shew unto you a more Excellent way. Go on, O People of GOD, in His Way, and in the Path of the Just which is now becoming plain before you; And proceed unto the Reading of the Psalter, and of the Bible, in that which we will call, The Affectuous way, according to a PROPOSAL which is now to be seriously thought upon.

WE are to consider, That the Holy Men of GOD, who wrote the SCRIPTURE, were moved by His Holy Spirit, in and for the Writing of it; and the Spirit of Holiness at the Time of the Inspiration made suitable Impressions on the Affections of His Faithful Servants, The Good Men had their Hearts Holily, Graciously, Divinely, and suitably Affected with the Matter, which the Spirit of GOD employ'd their Pens to leave upon, their Parchments. It might not meerly be said of them, as it was of a Baloom, That the Lord put a Word into his MOUTH. No, A David who has an Heart after the Heart of GOD, most certainly had his HEART also Holily affected, with the Word of GOD, that [Page xxii]came unto him. In the Written Passages here under our Contemplation, there will be found Evident Indications of such AFFECTIONS working in the minds of the Inspired Writers; as, A Flaming LOVE towards GOD; and then towards Men, for the sake of GOD: LOVE, the Root of all Spiritual Affections.

A Lively FAITH, relying on the Existence and Perfections, and Promises, or Threatnings of GOD; and on the Mediation of our SAVIOUR.

A Longing DESIRE, after such Blessings as are in the view of a Soul that would Live unto GOD; Joined with an HOPE of obtaining them.

A Fervent ZEAL for GOD, and for the cause of His Kingdom, and the Enjoyments of His House among the Children of Men.

A Mighty HATRED of Sin; accompanied with, a [...] Abh [...]rrence of, and yet a Compassion for, those who abandon themselves unto it.

A bitter SORROW for Sin, and for the Mischiefs and Miseries, which are brought by it, upon them that are guilty of it.

A Noble COURAGE, Resolving upon an Adherence unto GOD in the ways of Godliness, notwithstanding all Discouragements.

A Total DESPAIR to find that Help in [Page xxiii] Creatures, which is no where to be found but in their Great Creator.

A distressing FEAR of the Judgments, whereto all Wickedness does expose those who are drawn into it.

A Triumphant JOY in GOD, and in His CHRIST, and in the Favours, which He bestows upon His People.

A Rapturous ADMIRATION of Him, who is the Glorious Maker and Ruler of the World, and of His Glories; with a Magnifying of His Work which Men behold.

ALL True PIETY is begun by the Enkindling of these Affections in the Soul. It proceeds, it prospers, it improves, as these Affections gain strength and vigour there. O Lord, Ey these things Men live, and in all these things is the Life of my Spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live!

Now, Christian, Discover which of these Affections may be most obvious and evident, in the Sentence, which may be now under thy consideration: And make a Pause!— But Restless until thou find the same Affections beginning to stir in thy own Soul, and marvellously to Harmonize & Symphonize, with what the Holy SPIRIT of GOD raised in His Amanuensis, at the moment of His Writing it. Be not at Rest until thou feel thy Heart-strings quaver, at the Touch upon [Page xxiv]the Heart of the Sacred Writer, as being brought into an Unison with it, and the Two Souls go up in a Flame together.

THE Hints which our Excellent Matthew Henry gives in his Exposition on the PSALMS, at the close of every Paragraph, what Affections the Verses of that Paragraph are to be Sung withal, are a noble Commentary; And every Holy Heart who by reason of use may have senses in Exercise to discern such things, may add unto it, EASILY do I concur with my Excellent Franckius, in allowing, That an Unregenerat [...] Mind is poorly qualified for such an Exerc [...]se as this. But then I will say, That I Soul pressing after a true Regeneration, cannot readily take a more likely way to arrive unto a Blessed Experience of it, that by waiting upon the Holy SPIRIT of GOD, with proper Trials, whether He will not quicken such Affections in it, as are to be found no where, but in a Soul Regenerated, and Animated and Actuated from Above. Try, O Soul wishing for Quickenings from Heaven, Try, whether upon observing the Heavenly Affections, which are very observable in the Writers of the Word by which we are Born again, and upon Attempting with an Eye on Help from Sovereign Grace, to express the like Affections, in the Salley [Page xxv]of Devotion towards the Glorious GOD, thou dost not find some Vital Operations in thee, that shall be the Inchoations of a Life that shall never be extinguished. Most certainly; If thou dost become Affected, as those Favourites of Heaven, whom GOD chose for the Vehicles, and Enkindlers, and Preservers of PIETY in His Church thro' all succeeding Ages, it will be an Infallible Mark of GOD upon thee, assuring thee of an Everlasting Mansion with them in His Holy City. Nor is it possible to propound an Exercise, that will more Prepare and Ripen Men to be Partakers in the Inheritance of those Distinguished and Exemplary Saints; or Assure them, that they shall be Associated with these Angelical Men in the Future Blessedness.

BUT, O you who are indeed Born again, Be prevailed withal, to make this Exercise of PIETY more usual with you. When you would bring your selves into the Best Frames that can be wished for, take a short Paragraph of the Word by which Men live, and with humble Addresses to Heaven pertinent unto the occasion, Consider, What Affections of Piety are plainly discernable in the Word now before you: And then, with a Soul Turning to the Lord, assay to utter the Language of the like Affections. Perhaps the [Page xxvi]CXIX Psalm, is as likely a Portion for this Purpose as any under Heaven, that the Experiment may be made upon. Friend, Ere thou art aware, thou wilt be caught up into Paradise, in such and Exercise. Thou will mount up as with the Wings of Eagles.

'Tis true, They that can Examine the Original Tongues, have peculiar Advantoges for their Discoveries, when this Design is to be prosecuted. But yet out Translation affords enough, to furnish the Illiterate Christian, for This and every Good Work And if I constantly affirm this, That all the Gommentators in the World, are poor Things to interpret the Bible, in comparison of a [...] Illiterate Christian, thus coming with [...] sanctified Soul, to make his practical Commentary; I could quote a very Great Person who will not leave me alone, but will affirm, That a Commentary made without an Experimental Acquaintance, with such Tempers and Motions, as were in the Minds of the Holy Writers,—Commentarius sine hac Adminiculo, (pio sacrorum motuum scrut into) conscriptus, est vere Commentarius, et Nom [...] ne et Omine talis. i. e. Commentis cerebri refertus. Among all the Hermeneutic Instruments for the the opening of the Scripture we may say of this, There is none like in And certainly, a Preacher of the Gospel, cannot [Page xxvii]more effectually do the part of a Workman that needs not be ashamed, than by first of all making sure, that he have those Affections in his own Soul, which are in the Text that he is going to Preach upon. Very Notable is the Direction given by Spener; Premissis pjis procibus, Affectum Scriptorum sacrorum devota attentione observent, cumqus affectum assumere studeant. And very undoubted the Assertion made by Luther; Scio suturum, siquis exercitatus in hac re suerit, plura per se inventurum, quam omnes omnium Commentarii eribuere possiut.

Now, Christian, Go thy way; Repair to thy Psalter. Go this way to work upon it, and say, That thou hast in thy Hands, the most Glorious Book of Devotions, that ever was in the World!

AND here, Let one Admonition be given once for all, which the Devout Singer will often have occasion to think upon; and which comes in as a Retainer to that Exercise of Godliness which is now in prosecution. Christian, When thou art in the PSALMS that have Imprecations upon Adversaries in them, Let thy Arrows be shot at thy Interiour Advesaries. Thy Indwelling Sin, is an Antichrist in thy Soul; and of all Adversaries the most worthy to have all the curses in this Book, fulminated at it. That Old Man [Page xxviii]within thee, is too like the Violent Man, the Malicious and Injurious one, which is in the PSALMS complained of. Thy Lusts are the Enemies that Roar and Blaspheme, and Pursue, and indeed the worst of Enemies. And Satan too, with whom these are confederate; he is, the wicked one; the Den'd Lion, that lurks to catch the poor. His Evil Angels are the wicked ones, who wait with hopes to ruine thee, under their molestations, thy Soul is with Lions, and among a fiery Crew.

SING with such Thoughts, and so carry on the Wars of the Lord. Thy Successes will be, Wonderful! Wonderful!

§. 9. THERE is a wonderful Thing to be observed concerning our PSALMS, which has hitherto been too much overlooked by all the Uninspired Interpreters; But it is a Thing which our SAVIOUR, and His Apostles who have quoted the PSALMS near Fifty Times, have led us into the Apprehension of. This is, That they are full of Prophecies, and our Psalter is indeed the most Prophetical Book in the World.

IT is more particularly, but not without holy Astonishments—to be observed, That the Design of the PROPHETIC SPIRIT, in the PSALMS, all along has been to describe the Sufferings of the Jewish Nation, as well [Page xxix]as of the Christian Surregate, under the Tyranny of Antichrist; and foretel the Characters and Confusions of that Wicked One, and of his Followers; and predict the Recovery of the Jewish Nation from their long Dispersion, and a long Felicity for them, and the Converted Gentiles associated with them, under the succeeding Reign of the MESSIAH; and that Happy state of the New Earth, in which, under the Influences of the New Heavens, there shall dwell Righteousness; and the Tabernacle of GOD shall be with Men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His People, and GOD Himself shall be with them, and be their GOD.

IT may be, The Word which we render, To the Chief Musician, but which may be rendred, (and was of Old so,) For the End, may be to intimate that the PSALMS are calculated eminently with an Eye to the Things which are to be done, at that which the Bible calls, The Time of the End. Indeed Jerom long ago found Antichrist in the PSALMS; And Austin affirm'd, That the PSALMS ought all to be understood, of CHRIST and His Church, and many of them refer to After Ages. But we now improve in our Discoveries.

ACCORDINGLY, Upon the PSALMS, as we go along, the Devout Reader will find this [Page xxx] Key of David here communicated unto him. And when he becomes a Devout Singer too, then like the Beloved Disciple, he shall be carried away in the Spirit into the wilderness, and be shown the Judgment of the Great Whore thee sitteth upon many Waters. He shall also in these Visions of GOD, see the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from GOD out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband. Very depraved must be that Soul, that has not a relish for such Contemplations, more than for any Earthly Entertainments; and that will not most heartily say, They're more desirable than Gold, yea, than much solid Gold; than Honey also sweeter much, or dropping Honey-comb.

YEA, and who can tell, but the PSALMS put into the hands of the Jews, with so Entertaining a Commentary thereupon, may be a powerful and perswasive Engine in the Arm [...] of the LORD, for the Enlightening and Overcoming of them, to Look on Him whom they have Pierced! Were One to single out [...] present for a JEW, it should be a Psalter with such a Commentary! Which no doubt he will consider the more Attentively because he will find his own Rabbi's continually brought in as Vouchers for it. However It is an agreeable circumstance, to encourage our Hopes, that the Redemption of Israe [...] [Page xxxi]and the Time to favour Zion, the set time, is coming on, in that the condition of the Jewish Nation as represented in the PSALMS, is now like to be more confidered by the Holy Singers of them, than in the former Ages. When the Holy Singers then begin to Sing and to Praise, who knows, what Ambushments our GOD may set against the Powers of ANTICHRIST, and of MAHOMET; causing them to destroy one another, and making way for, The Glorious Things which are spoken of thee, O Thou City of GOD!

§ 10. IT has been among the Glories of our PSALMS, that wherever the Kingdom of GOD has been upon making any New and Great Appearance, the Singing of THEM, has been very notably Subservient and Instrumental unto it. More particularly, It is well-known, That when the Reformation in France began, the PSALMS were turned into French Metre, and agreeable Tunes were set unto them. The Singing of THESE charm'd the Souls of Court and City, Town and Countrey. They were Sung in the Louvre itself, as well as in the Protestant Churches: Ladies, Nobles, Princes, the King himself Sang them. All Ranks of Men practised it; A Gentleman of the Reformed Religion would not Eat a Meal without [Page xxxii]it. This One Thing mightily contributed unto the Downfall of Popery; which the Popish Chergy railing at, they never gave over until the profane and obscene Odes of the Pagan Poets, had among many People of Quality thrust out the PSALMS of David. And Juel writing from England unto Peter Martyr beyond Sea, 1560, reported, That a Change now appeared visibly among the People, but nothing promoted it more, than the Inviting of People unto the Singing of PSALMS. This was begun at one Church in London, and quickly spread itself unto the Neighbouring Places; and sometimes at Pauls Cross, there would be no less than Sir Thousand People Singing together. Truly, a growing Regard unto the Book of PSALMS, allowing us to say, The Time of Singing is come, and the voice of the Turtle is heard in the Land, will be among the hopeful Signs of the Times, and give as cause to hope, that it won't be long before it be said, The Winter is past, and the Rain is over and gone.

DOUBTLESS, The Day approaches wherein the Kingdom of GOD will appear in brighter displays of it, than the World has ever yet been Enlightened withal. There are certain MAXIMS of PIETY, wherein all Good Men are United, whatever Different Perswasions they may have in other matters: MAXIMS [Page xxxiii]wherein all that are cordially United, are Good Men, and the Children of GOD. Good Men will come to an Explicit Union upon these MAXIMS, and know no other Terms of Communion, than those Terms of Salvation, and the Priviledges, the Emoluments, and the Expressions of Brotherly Charity, which of Right belong to all Good Men, as well in the Church as in the State, will be granted unto all that embrace these Glorious MAXIMS. GOD will bring His People, to Receive one another upon these Generous MAXIMS, and keep lesser Points in a due Subordination to them, and manage their Controversies on these lesser Points, with another Spirit, than what has been too frequent among the Disputers of this World; And all Invasions upon the Throne of the Great GOD in the Conscience of Men, will be abominated. There shall be a Reign of Righteousness, and an admirable Peace and Joy will arise from the operations of the Holy Spirit accompanying of it; and Joels Prophecy will be accomplished. There will be Men Qualified like, and Influenced by, the ANGELS of GOD; and those Boanerges, and Sons of Commotion, shall Fly thro' the midst of Heaven, having the Everlasting Gospel of these Uniting MAXIMS, to Preach unto the Inhabitants of the Earth: And our Glorious LORD will shake all Nations, [Page xxxiv]until this Gospel be complied withal. That Cry, Babylon is fallen, will ensue upon it; and wondrous Changes upon the World, will turn an horrid and howling Wilderness into a Paradise, and GOD will give wondrous Tokens of His Gracious Presence among the Children of Men.

BUT certainly, The Everlasting Gospel has a very Illustrious Exhibition in the Book of PSALMS; which now demands a Passage among the Inhabitants of the Earth, under some singular Advantages.

AND perhaps there are many Thousands, to whom such a Version as we have now before us, will be much more acceptable, than any Version, which only for the sake of a little Jingle at the end of the Line, has left out much of that which the Holy SPIRIT has provided for us, and put in much more that is none of His Provision. A Pure Offering is here prepared for them!

AND if it were needful to quote any Authors for such a Remark, we could easily bring more than one, whose Words may now be the Apples of the present Entertainment. ‘The Divine, Book of PSALMS, is an Excellent Collection of Devout Hymns and Forms, which being Inspired from Heaven in their Original, are sure to be Acceptable there in their Use. And from this Rich [Page xxxv]Treasury we may be furnished at all times, with proper Forms for our Devotions, suitable to the present state of the Church, and Every Ones particular Case in all Emergencies: We have here a plentiful Provision for the Matter of our Duty, and the Manner of performing it.’

An Admonition Concerning the TUNES.

OUR VERSION is fitted unto all the Common TUNES, the Notes whereof are Eight and Six.

BUT some of them are accommodated for a well-known Longer Metre, by putting in Two Syllables of the Black Letter, which are, without any Damage to the Truth of the Translation, found enclosed between [Page]Two such Crotchets as these, [] And which being left out, the Metre, with the Sense yet remaining entire, is again restored unto the usual, Eight & Six.

AND some of them are so contrived, that by leaving out what is in the Black Letter, between the Two Crotchets, [] which may be done without any manner of Damage, they are accommodated unto a well-known Shorter Metre.

THE Director of the Psalmody, need only to say, Sing with the Black Letter, or, Sing without the Black Letter, and the Tune will be sufficiently directed.

IN the Addition to the CANTIONAL, the Singer will find, That besides what is done for the Tune, which uses to go by the Name of, The CXLVIII Psalm-Tune, or, the Hallelujatic Tune; by Taking or Dropping the Two Syllables of Black Lettet, between the Crotchets, [] a Variety of Other T [...]s is provided for.

[Page 1] THESONGS of Zion,

THE FIRST BOOK OF PSALMS.

PSALM I.

1. O What the Blessings of the Man ‖ who is not walking in ‖ the counsel of the Men that are ‖ set for impiety! ‖ The Man who stands not in the way ‖ of sinful wanderers: ‖ The Man who sits not in the seat, ‖ of scornful cavillers! ‖

2. But his delight is in the Law ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ and in his Law he meditates ‖ both in the day and night. ‖

[Page 2] 3 Sure he shall be like to a tree ‖ planted by streams of water; ‖ which in its season yields its fruit: ‖ its leaf too shall not fade: ‖ and whatsoever it does bear ‖ shall prosper very well. ‖

4 Th'ungodly are not so; but like ‖ Chaff which the wind does chase. ‖

5 Therefore shall not ungodly ones ‖ stand in the Judgment Day; ‖ neither shall Sinners stand in the ‖ Assembly of the just. ‖

6 For the ETERNAL God regards ‖ the way of righteous Men; ‖ But the way of ungodly ones ‖ shall perish utterly. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the I. PSALM.

1 BEhold the Psalter beginning like the Sermon of our SAVIOUR, with a Discourse on the Supreme and Final Happiness of Man. Basit considers the First Psalm, as the Foundation o [...] all the Psalter. The Terms used for the Wicked here, are such as the Holy Oracles put on the Members of Antichrist. A thing here to be deeply thought upon. See Isai. XI. 4. and 2 Pet. III. 3, 4.

3 Behold, the New Law of God in His Gospel standing like the Tree of Life, and imparting its nature to its Disciples! Here pause upon the allusion to the Blessing of Joseph. Gen. XLIX. 22. — Shall prosper! Christian, Is Devoti [...]n an hindrance to Business? The same Idea that is here employed, is it not more fully pursued, in the Happiness of the Faithful under the Reign of our SAVIOUR, after the Fall of Antichrist? Isai. LX. & LXI.

4 Compare the Fate of the Adherents to Antichrist. [Page 3]Dan. II. 35. — Like dust scattered by the wind. Behold! What comes of their Essays to Root themselves.

5 Ponder the Allusion to the Fate of Corah.

6 The Vulgar Latin explains it; The life of the Wicked. On, The Ungodly, mentioned four Times in the First Psalm, R. Aba gives a notable touch; Et similiter sunt quatuor Monarchiae. Behold the Four Monarchies!

PSALM II.

1 THE Nations, why do they concur ‖ with such tumultuous rage! ‖ And why the People meditate ‖ a thing that is but vain? ‖

2 Kings of the Earth do set themselves, ‖ and Rulers do consult, ‖ against th' ETERNAL, and against ‖ [CHRIST] His Anointed One. ‖

3 What they say, is, Let us throw off ‖ at once their curbing bands; ‖ And let us cast away from us ‖ the yokes they bind us to. ‖

4 He who sits in the Heav'ns above ‖ shall there but laugh at them. ‖ Th' ETERNAL God shall them expose ‖ unto contemptuous scorn. ‖

5 At that time He shall speak with strokes ‖ in anger unto them; ‖ and fill them with perplexity ‖ in His incensed wrath. ‖

6 What He will say, is, I have set ‖ Him I anoint my King ‖ on Zion which is unto me ‖ an hill of holiness! ‖

[Page 4] 7 I [who am He] proclaim the act; ‖ Th' ETERNAL [...]a [...]d to me, ‖ Th [...]u art my Son; this very day ‖ have I bego [...]en thee.‖

8 Ask me, and Nations will I give ‖ for thy Inheritance; ‖ And the remo [...]e ends of the Earth ‖ for thy Possession. ‖

9 Thou with a rod o' Iron shalt, ‖ a Shepherd, govern them; ‖ Like to a Potters vessel thou ‖ shalt break them all to shreds. ‖

10 And now be wise, ye Kings; be taught, ‖ ye Judges of the Earth. ‖

11 Serve ye the Lord with fear; and yet ‖ with trembling still rejoyce. ‖

12 Kiss ye the Son, lest He be wroth, ‖ and you fail in vour way: ‖ For His hot wrath will quickly flame. ‖ Blest all tha [...] trust in Him. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the II. PSALM.

THE Jewish Writers themselves, in the form [...] A [...]es, generally understood the Second Psalm of the M [...]ssiah. Behold, Israelites themselves refu [...] the Kingdom of CHRIST, become as bad as Heath [...]

4 God has the wicked in Derision, when He expos [...] th [...]n to Derision.

12. So then, the Messiah must be more than a Man For, Cursed is be M [...]n who trusteth in Man! JEW Think of this, and leave thy Judaism.

PSALM III. A Psalm of David, when he fled from Abs [...]dom his S [...]

[Page 5]

1 ETERNAL GOD, how they're increas'd ‖ who greatly trouble me? ‖ How many are the Men that stand ‖ in triumph over me? ‖

2 Many there be who ever are ‖ saying unto my Soul, ‖ There's no Salvation to be had ‖ for him in God at all. ‖ Selah. ‖

3 But now about me thou'rt a shield, ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou art my Glory, and thou art ‖ th'uplifter of my head. ‖

4 Unto th' ETERNAL God, I cried, ‖ with my extended voice, ‖ And He gave answer unto me ‖ out of His holy hill. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 I laid me down, and took my sleep; ‖ and then I did awake: ‖ Because that the ETERNAL God ‖ sustain'd me all along. ‖

6 Tho' there should be ten thousands of ‖ those people who do set ‖ themselves against me round about; ‖ I will not be afraid. ‖

7 ETERNAL, rise; save me, my God; ‖ For thou hast smitten all ‖ my Foes on the cheek-bone; Thou hast ‖ broken the wicked's teeth. ‖

8 Salvation is what does belong ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ On those that are thy People is ‖ thy benediction still. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the III. PSALM.

1 SInger, Now meditate on the Suferings of thy SAVIOUR. The Fifth Verse evidently mentions [Page 6]His Death and Resurrection. Compare the Third Psalm with the Sixteenth.

2 They thought the Crimes of David past Expiation This is the Jewish gloss upon it. But Old Arnobius invites us to consider this Passage, as fulfill'd in the flouts of the Jews at our dying Saviour. And all the rest as fulfill'd in Him.

7 Is here no Allusion to Sampson's Victory? Wa [...] it not literally fulfill'd in the Deaths of Absalom and of Ahitophel!

8 What? A Blessing wish'd for such an ungrateful People! Christian, imitate this Goodness! Compare Gal. VI. 16.

PSALM IV. To the chief Musician. On Neginoth. A Psalm David.

1 O Thou God of my righteousness, ‖ hear me when I do call: ‖ Thou hast enlarg'd me when I was ‖ in trouble some Restraint. ‖ O be thou gracious unt [...] me, ‖ and O hear thou my prayer. ‖

2 Ye Sons of Men, how long shall my Glory be turn'd to shame? ‖ How long will you love vanity; ‖ and how long seek a lie?

3 But know, th' ETERNAL sets apart the pious for Himself. ‖ Th' ETERNAL God will hear when I ‖ do call to Him for help.

4 Be you much mov'd; but do you not then any more offend. ‖ Commune with your own heart upon ‖ your bed, and so be still. ‖

[Page 7] 5 Offer the Sacrifices which ‖ belong to righteousness: ‖ And therewith place your confidence ‖ on the ETERNAL God. ‖

6 Many there be that say, O who ‖ will show us what is good! ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, do thou ‖ signally over us, ‖ like as a banner, lift the light ‖ of thy bright countenance. ‖

7 Thou hast bestow'd, in doing thus, ‖ a joy upon my heart, ‖ more than the time wherein their Corn ‖ and their Wine did increase. ‖

8 I will both lay me down in peace, ‖ and I will take my sleep; ‖ For, O ETERNAL, Thou alone ‖ dost make me dwell secure. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the IV. PSALM.

THE Term which we render, To the chief Musician, may be rendred also, To, or, For the End. An Intimation, that these things are eminently calculated for that Period, which is called, The Time of the End.

2 Sons of Men; especially means the Rulers of the People. [See Psal. LVIII. 1.] The Son of Man, (when the word Adam is used,) means the Greatest of Men. [See Isai. LI. 12.] The Hebrews call the chief of any Kind, by the Name of the whole Kind. Man is called Creature. Son of Man is the Chief among the Sons of Men. Ezekiel and Daniel were acknowledged very Great Men, by this Appellation.

4 It may be read, Are ye Angry? (That I have the Kingdom?) yet do not Sin; have a care what you do. Munst [...]r notes here, An Admonition to tremble at [Page 8]Enmity and Rebellion against the CHRIST of God and suppress the first rising of all thoughts that have such a tendency.

6 Is not here the Language of Good Men, longing for the appearing of the Mess [...]ah?—He is, The Go [...]d One. His Name is, The Face of GOD.

PSALM V. To the Chief Musician. Upon Nebiloth. A Psath of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, do thou give eat unto my words. ‖ Let th [...] consideration weigh ‖ what I do meditate.

2 O hearken thou unto the voice ‖ of m [...] lamenting cry; ‖ Thou art my King; th [...] art my God; ‖ and I will pray to thee. ‖

3 O thou ETERNAL, thou shalt in ‖ th [...] morning hear my voice. ‖ I in the morni [...] will prepare ‖ for thee, and will look u [...]

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: ‖ nor shall a dw [...]ling be with thee ‖ for any evil thing. ‖

5 None of them that are scornful fools shall stand before thine eyes; ‖ The worke [...] of iniquity, ‖ thou hatest all of them. ‖

6 Thou shalt bring a perd' [...]n on ‖ the [...] who do speak a lye; ‖ Th' [...]ERNAL Go [...] will much abhor ‖ the man of blood an [...] guile. ‖

7 But I in thy large mercy will ‖ enter into thy house: ‖ Towards thy holy Tem [...]ple I ‖ will worship in thy fear. ‖

[Page 9] 8 O thou ETERNAL do thou lead ‖ me in thy righteousness; ‖ For my observers sake, make [...]lai [...] ‖ the way before my face. ‖

9 Truth's in the mouth of none of them; ‖ within they've g [...]ievous frauds; ‖ their throat's an open Sepulchre: ‖ they flatter with their to g [...]e. ‖

10 O God, condemn them; let them fall ‖ from counsels of their own: ‖ expel them in their many crimes; ‖ for they've provoked thee. ‖

11 But let all them that hope in thee, ‖ joy; ever si [...]g for joy. ‖ Since thou hid'st them; let them that love ‖ thy Name, rejoyce in thee. ‖

12 For, O ETERNAL, thou dost use ‖ to bless the righteous one: ‖ with crowning favour as a shield ‖ thou wilt encompass him. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the V. PSALM.

THere are even Jews themselves, who re [...]er the whole Ps [...]m, to the Time of the Messiah. It must be the Seco [...]d coming of the Lord, when there [...]ll b [...] Temple, wherein will be no Sacrifices but [...] of Pra [...]ses. The Followers of An [...]ichrist, are here described; with the joy of the Church in their D [...]uction, Compare, Rev. XI. 17, 18.

3 Man, wouldest thou have an e [...]rly and speedy help from GOD? [...]ce what is to be [...]nde [...]voured.

5 Who [...]he that speaks a Lye? Old Arnobius in [...]prets it [...]cially of them, who deny the Son of God.

7 W [...] be driven out of the House of God, than [...] of ou [...]wn!

[Page 10] 9 It seems the Slanders of the Wicked against Good Men, are but preparatives to their Death, if they can accomplish it; the opening of a Sepulchre for them!

12 This Righteous One,—The Arabian Interpreter does well to understand it of the Messiah.

PSALM VI. To the Chief Musician, On Neginoth. Upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, in thine anger rebuke me not. ‖ And in thy fiercely burning wrath, ‖ O do not chasten me. ‖

2 Pity me, O ETERNAL God; ‖ for I am languishing. ‖ O Lord, restore me; for my bones ‖ are greatly terrified. ‖

3 Yea, more than this; my very Soul ‖ is greatly terrified. ‖ But, O thou, the ETERNAL God, ‖ how long shall it be so? ‖

4 Return, O thou ETERNAL God; ‖ deliver thou my Soul. ‖ O grant Salvation unto me, ‖ for thy kind mercies sake. ‖

5 For no commemoration can ‖ be made of thee in death: ‖ And who is there to celebrate, ‖ thy praises in the Grave? ‖

6 I'm with my groaning spent; all night ‖ I make my b [...]d to swim. ‖ With my continual sweeping I ‖ water my lodging place. ‖

7 My eye is meerly worn away ‖ thro [...] forrow of my mind; ‖ It is becoming old because ‖ of all my enemies. ‖

[Page 11] 8 All workers of iniquity, ‖ Depart away from me! ‖ Because that the ETERNAL One ‖ hath heard my weeping voice. ‖

9 Now the ETERNAL God, He hath ‖ my supplication heard: ‖ Th'ETERNAL will receive my prayer, ‖ kindly approving it. ‖

10 My Enemies be all asham'd ‖ and greatly terrify'd; ‖ Let them return, and suddenly ‖ let them be put to shame. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the VI. PSALM.

CHristian Singer, Among other things make the cond [...]tion of the Jewish Church in her Dispersion, a Subject of thy Meditation. Heal me, is answered, Isc, LVII. 18. The sudden stroke of the Idolatrous Oppressors, praedicted, 1 Thes. 5.3. is here spoken of.

5 O our dear SAVIOUR; Hadst thou been left in thy Grave, thy People must all have perished; God would have had no Praises from them! Some of the Ancients thus apply these Passages.

6 —Most penitently done! David, Was not thy Bed the place of thy Crime? — Theodoret has a glance of this importance.

PSALM VII. Shaggajon of David; which he Sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.

O Thou ETERNAL God, my God; ‖ in Thee I put my trust. ‖ From all my persecutors save ‖ me, and, Oh! Rescue me, ‖

2 Least he to pieces tear my Soul, ‖ like as a Lion tears; ‖ To pieces rending it, while there ‖ is no deliverer. ‖

[Page 12] 3 O Thou ETERNAL God, my God; ‖ if I have done this thing ‖ wherewith I'm charg'd; if in my hands ‖ there be iniquity: ‖

4 If I have rendred ill to him ‖ that was at peace with me; ‖ (yea, I have rescued him that was ‖ my causeless enemy!) ‖

5 The Enemy then pursue my Soul, ‖ and overtake it too! ‖ yea, tread my life to th' Earth, & lay ‖ my honour in the dust. ‖ Selah. ‖

6 LORD, in thine anger rise; lift up, ‖ for the rage of my foes: ‖ Wake for me; There's a Judgment which ‖ thou givest Commandment for. ‖

7 So shall the Congregation of ‖ the People compass thee: ‖ For their sakes therefore, O do thou ‖ return unto the heighth. ‖

8 The People shall th' ETERNAL Judge: ‖ Me, O ETERNAL, Judge; ‖ as is my righteousness, and as ‖ my innocence in me. ‖

9 The wickedness of wicked ones, ‖ Oh let it have an end. ‖ But fix the just; for the just God ‖ does try the hearts & reins. ‖

10 The Shield for my defence, it is ‖ still to be sound with God; ‖ who is a Saviour unto those ‖ that are upright in heart. ‖

11 God is a Judge on His behalf ‖ that is a righteous Man; ‖ And God is grievously provok'd ‖ no less than every day. ‖

12 Except he shall be turn'd about, ‖ He'l sharply whet His Sword, ‖ He hath already hent His Bow, ‖ and hath prepared it ‖

[Page 13] 13 He also has prepar'd for him ‖ the instruments of Death. ‖ His arrows He hath wrought against ‖ the persecuting ones. ‖

14 Behold, he is in travail to ‖ bring forth iniquity; ‖ He has conceived mischief, and ‖ he shall bring forth a lye. ‖

15 He hath with digging made a pit, ‖ and he hath hollow'd it: ‖ but he hath fall'n into the ditch ‖ which was his workmanship. ‖

16 Upon his own head shall return ‖ the mischief done by him; ‖ upon his own crown from on high ‖ his violence shall come down. ‖

17 According to His righteousness ‖ I'll Praise th' ETERNAL God; ‖ and sing the Name of Him that is ‖ th' ETERNAL, the most High. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the VII. PSALM.

WAS not Shimei, who was related unto the Family of Kish, concerned here? Behold, some enterrainment for the reviled Servants of God!

5.—q. d. I am willing to be as much Reproached when I am dead, as I have been Honoured in my Life.

6—This Judgment, is by Munster understood of the Jus Regni, which by the Prophecy of Jacob, was to be transferr'd unto the Tribe of the Psalmist; Then the Gathering of the People would be to him.

12. Behold an Allusion to the Judgment upon Antichrist, as described in Deut. XXXII. 41, 42. Rev. XIX. 11, 12, 16. It calls for the deepest Meditation. The Chief Characters of the Government, are assign'd in the salm now before us.

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PSALM VIII. To the Chief Musician; upon Gittith. A Psalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, our Lord! ‖ Thy Name, how great is it ‖ in all the Earth That thou hast set ‖ thy Praise above the Heav'ns! ‖

2 Out of the mouths of Infant Babes, ‖ and them that suck the Breast, ‖ a firm foundation thou hast laid ‖ for an admired strength. ‖ By reason of thine Enemies; ‖ that thou may'st make to cease ‖ the Adversary so, and him, ‖ that does revenge himself. ‖

3 When I do look upon the Heav'ns, ‖ the work the singers made; ‖ When I look on the Moon and Stars, ‖ the which thou hast dispos'd, ‖

4 I say, What is forgetful Man ‖ that thou remembrest him? ‖ And what the Son of Earthly Man, ‖ that thou dost visit him? ‖

5 For thou a little mad'st him be ‖ lower Than Angels are; ‖ Then thou hast crown'd him with a bright ‖ Glory and Majesty. ‖

6 Over the works of thy hands thou hast given him to rule: ‖ under his feet thou hast put them ‖ into subjection all. ‖

7 The Sheep and Beeves, ev'n all of them, and the Beasts of the Fields. ‖

8 Of Heav'ns the Fowls, of Seas the Fish what passes the Seas paths. ‖

[Page 15] 9 O Thou ETERNAL God, thou art ‖ our Lord on whom we lean; ‖ how admirably glorious is ‖ thy Name in all the Earth! ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the VIII. PSALM.

WAS not the Psalm composed on the Victory over Goliah of Gath? A lively Emblem of the Conquest which our SAVIOUR has had over the Devil! Christian Singer, Behold, and Adore the Second Adam.

1 Above the Heavens!—Done in the Ascension of our SAVIOUR.

2. Founded. In Matth. XXI. 16. it is, Perfected. Chrysostom has a Note upon it. Where GOD has laid a Foundation for any thing, it shall come to Perfection.

3 Why is the Sun omitted? Perhaps the Psalm was composed in the Night. Or shall we rather say, The MAN here Crowned is the SUN! Aben-Ezra says, one cannot behold the Sun, as one may the Moon and the Stars.

4 Man, ENOSH. Eusebius notes, The Term signisies, Forgetful or Forgotten Man. That GOD should Remember such a thing!

8 Are there any things passing thro' the paths of the Sea [...] besides the Fish? Yes, Kimchi, and Aben-Ezra, Two Jewish Rabbi's, and our Chrysostom, apply it unto Vessels and Sailors. Oh! That such would submit unto the Dominion of our SAVIOUR!

PSALM. IX. To the Chief Mnsician, upon Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, I will ‖ praise thee with all my heart, ‖ [Page 16]I'll give a full relation of ‖ all of thy wondrous works. ‖

2 I will be glad within, and will ‖ rejoyce without in thee; ‖ I will sing praise unto thy Name, ‖ O thou that art most high. ‖

3 When that my Adversaries be ‖ returned back again, ‖ they shall with stumbling fall, and shall ‖ perish before thy face. ‖

4 Because that thou hast done the right, ‖ and what was judg'd for me; ‖ Thou sattest down upon the Throne, ‖ O Judge of righteousness. ‖

5 Thou hast rebuk'd the heathen; Thou ‖ destroy'st the wicked one: ‖ their name thou hast quite blotted out ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

6 O Enemy, Destructions are ‖ come to perpetual end: ‖ and Cities which thou hast destroyed ‖ their Name is lost with them. ‖

7 But now JEHOVAH shall endure ‖ to all Eternity: ‖ For Judgment to proceed fr [...]m thence, ‖ He hath prepar'd His Throne. ‖

8 He, even His own self will judge ‖ the World in righteousness: ‖ He'll judge the People with such things ‖ as are forever right ‖

9 And the ETERNAL God will be ‖ a refuge for the poor; ‖ a refuge in the proper times, ‖ when trouble comes on him. ‖

10 And they that know thy Name will place ‖ their confidence in thee: ‖ For thou [...]orsak'st not them that seek ‖ Thee, O ETERNAL God. ‖

[Page 17] 11 To the ETERNAL God, who dwells ‖ in Zion, sing with praise: ‖ Among the People tell abroad ‖ the things which He has wrought. ‖

12 When He inquireth after Blood, ‖ He will remember them: ‖ He's not unmindful of the cry ‖ made by the humbled poor. ‖

13 Have Mercy, O ETERNAL God ‖ on me: behold my grief ‖ from them that hare me; raising me ‖ up from the gates of death. ‖

14 For this, that I may utter all ‖ thy praises in the gates ‖ of Sions daughter; I'll rejoyce ‖ in thy salvation still. ‖

15 The Nations are sunk down into ‖ the pit themselves have made; ‖ their own foot's taken in the net ‖ which they themselves have hid. ‖

16 Known is th' ETERNAL God by this, ‖ the Judgment He hath done! ‖ The wicked is ins [...]ared in ‖ the work of his own hands, ‖ Higgajon. Selah. ‖

17 The wicked shall be turned back, ‖ even down into the pit: ‖ And all the Nations shall be so ‖ that do forget a God. ‖

18 For that the needy one shall not ‖ for ever be forgot: ‖ And the hope of the humbled poor ‖ shall not for ever fail. ‖

19 Rise, O ETERNAL God; let not ‖ a wretched man prevail: ‖ The Nations shall have Judgment done ‖ on, them before thy face. ‖

[Page 18] 20 O thou ETERNAL God, strike thou ‖ a terror into them: ‖ And let the Nations understand ‖ they are but sorry men. ‖ Selah. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the IX. PSALM.

THE Ancients make this a Funeral Song upon the Ruin of Antichrist. Vicars in his Decapla quotes an Ancient MSS which gives this Title to the Psaim; Ostendit, quod Christus adventu suo oppress [...]ns est Antichristum. The Syr [...]ac Tit [...]c is, Of the Kingdom of Christ. Compare Isai. XI. 4.

17 They that forgot what God has done unto others, are very particular [...]y intended here.

PSALM X.

1 WHY, O ETERNAL God dost thou ‖ stard so far off from us? ‖ Why dost thou hide thy self in times ‖ when we are in distress? ‖

2 In the pride of the wicked one ‖ the humbled poor's on fire: ‖ May they be taken in the plots ‖ the which they have devis'd. ‖

3 The wicked one does glory much ‖ upon his hearts desire; ‖ and he does bless the covetous ‖ th' ETERNAL doth abhor. ‖

4 Thro' the pride of his angry look ‖ the wicked won't enquire; ‖ All of his thoughts do run on this, ‖ That there is not a God. ‖

5 His ways do always grieve; In's view ‖ thy judgments are above: ‖ For all His enemies, he thinks, ‖ to blow them all away. ‖

[Page 19] 6 'T [...]s what he says within his heart, ‖ I never shall be mov'd, ‖ from age to age I never shall ‖ be in adversity. ‖

7 His mouth's of execration full, ‖ and of deceits and frauds; ‖ under his tongue there lies conceal'd ‖ mischief and vanity. ‖

8 He sits in lurking-holes of towns; ‖ he in by-places kills ‖ the innocent; his eyes are set ‖ sliely against the poor. ‖

9 Like a den'd lion clos [...] he lurks; ‖ he lurks to catch the poor: ‖ he seizes on the poor when he ‖ draws him into his net. ‖

10 He's broke to pieces; he's brought down; ‖ and by his potent ones ‖ there falls the congregation of ‖ the miserable ones. ‖

11 This he hath said within his heart, ‖ God hath forgotten all; ‖ He hath quite turn'd away his face; ‖ He doth not ever see. ‖

12 Arise, O thou ETERNAL God; ‖ O God, lift up thy hand: ‖ O be not thou forgetful of ‖ the poor afflicted ones. ‖

13 For what cause does the wicked one ‖ cast such contempt on God! ‖ 'Tis what he says within his heart, ‖ Thou'lt bring to no account. ‖

14 Thou seest; thou look'st on Sin and spite ‖ to take't into thy hand; ‖ The poor leaves all to thee; thou dost ‖ relieve the Fatherless. ‖

17 To shivers break the arm of him ‖ [Page 20]that is an impious man: ‖ And looking then for wickedness, ‖ thou'lt find no wicked one. ‖

16 Now the ETERNAL One is King; ‖ ever and ever so. ‖ The Nations of the heathen are ‖ perish'd out of His land. ‖

17 O thou ETERNAL, Thou hast heard ‖ the humbled ones desire; ‖ Thou dost prepare the heart of such; ‖ thou giv'st a listning ear. ‖

18 For judging of the fatherless, ‖ and small oppressed ones; ‖ He'll then go on no more to break ‖ frail man from off the Earth ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the X. PSALM.

THE Syriac Title is, Concerning the Devil tempting Adam. This might lead one to some ne [...] and curious Ideas in reading of the Psalm. The Jewi [...] Note of R. Obadiah, is a very Christian one. 'Tis [...] Psalm concerning the Captivity of Israel under th [...] Fourth Beast, or Monarchy. The Midrash Tilli [...] takes, the Tim [...]s of Trouble to be the Time, the Times, and the half Time, foretold by Daniel. Yea, on that, He lutks like a Lion, 'tis a Passage of Austin; Pers [...] cutio per An [...]ichristum ventura est violenta et fraudulenta.

1 Compare Deut. IV. 7. What Nation hath G [...] so n [...]gh unto them?

5 qd. All his Business is to molest his Neighbours

7 He'l call for one Curse after another on himself, to confirm the Promises he never intends to keep.

PSALM. XI. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

[Page 21]

1 IN the ETERNAL God I have ‖ repos'd my confidence: ‖ How say ye to my Soul, flee thou ‖ a Bird unto thy mount? ‖

2 For lo, the wicked bend their bow, ‖ fix their shaft on the string, ‖ to shoot in darkness at the Men ‖ that are upright in heart. ‖

3 When that the firm foundations are, ‖ all utterly destroy'd: ‖ It may be ask't, The Righteous One ‖ what is't he has to do? ‖

4 Why? the ETERNAL One is in ‖ His holy Temple still; ‖ And the ETERNAL One has in ‖ the Heav'ns above His Throne. ‖ His eyes exactly do behold ‖ all that is done below: ‖ His eye-lids do discover well ‖ the Sons of Earthly Man. ‖

5 Th' ETERNAL God makes tryal of ‖ him that's a righteous Man: ‖ But his Soul hates a wicked man, ‖ and him that loves to force. ‖

6 Upon the wicked He shall rain, ‖ snares fre and sulphur down; ‖ a Spirit also full of storm's ‖ the portion of their cup. ‖

7 For the ETERNAL God who's just ‖ loves the things that are just; ‖ His favourable aspects are ‖ upon the righteous Man. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XI. PSALM.

1 BEhold, the Church flying from Antichrist. Compare Rev. XIII. 2. 'Tis remarkable, the destruction [Page 22]of Antichrist, by Fire & Brimst [...]ne, is her [...] foretold. Compare, Is [...]. XXXIV. 9. and Rev. XVI. and XXI. Old Commentators expound the Psalm from Isa. XI. 4.

3 Patrick so paraphrases; If Men have no regard unto Laws, and publick Decrees, which are the Fo [...] dation of Humane Society, what security can an hon [...] Man have? or, what should he do, but get away fro [...] those who are so arbitrary and perfidious? Mun [...] by Foundations understands the Oaths and the Ter [...] of Peace, wh [...]ch Saul had so often violated. — W [...] see what is done by Antichrist. Now see what th [...] Righteous God will do!

4 While God seems to wink, and close his Eyes, if He took no notice of Men; He is now trying them. 'Tis old Mr. Dickson's Note.

6 — The Fate of Sodom is alluded to. Snare [...] One of the Ancients has an awful Gloss. Laquei s [...] vetera peccata (et cupidines) iterum predomina [...] O [...]lave to ungoverned Passions, consider, whether th [...] also hast not, A Spirit full of Storms!

PSALM XII. To the Chief Musician, Upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1 HElp, O ETERNAL God, because ‖ t [...] pious Man doth cease: ‖ the faith [...] are diminish'd from ‖ among the Sons [...] Men. ‖

2 Each one unto his neighbour doth speak lying vanity; ‖ with a most flatteri [...] lip they speak, ‖ and with a double heart

3 Th' ETERNAL God will cut off a [...] lips full of flatteries; ‖ the tongue that set [...] self to speak ‖ things of a mighty sound. ‖

[Page 23] 4 They say; We with this tongue of ours ‖ will carry still the day; ‖ Our lips we have them for our own; ‖ who is a Lord to us? ‖

5 For the spoil of the humbled ones, ‖ for the cry of the poor, ‖ Now, says th' ETERNAL God, I'll rise, ‖ I'll save whom he ensnares. ‖

6 The words of the ETERNAL God ‖ are words exceeding pure; ‖ Silver tried in an earthen forge, ‖ purified seven times. ‖

7 Thou, O ETERNAL God, wilt have ‖ them in thy custody: ‖ From this vile Generation, thou ‖ wilt him forever keep. ‖

8 When they whom once the sons of [...]en ‖ did basely vilify ‖ shall be exalted, wicked men ‖ walk sad on every side. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XII. PSALM.

'TIS Remarkable, Daniel describes the Antichristian Party, with expressions taken from this Psalm. An Arabian Copy, from Sheminith, [or, The Eighth] in the Title has this hint, De fine mundi, qui continget in Die O [...]tavo. Et prophetia de adventu Christi. So the Syriac, De adventu Christi. Quaere, How far the Seven times in the Sixth Verse, may refer to the Seventh Age, or Sabbatism

6 — The Promises of God, not like yours, O False Men; Deceitful.

8 The Patrician Paraphrase is; ‘This will make the Wicked not know which way to turn themse [...]ves, but be ready to burst with vexation, when they see those Men, whom they vilified, not only preserved, [...]ut exalted by thy favour to di [...]nity.’

[Page 24]

PSALM XIII. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, How long ‖ wilt thou forget me? Ever! ‖ How long wilt thou with anger hide ‖ thy face away from me? ‖

2 How long consult I in my Soul? ‖ Griefs daily in my heart. ‖ And how long shall my Enemies be ‖ exalted over me? ‖

3 O thou ETERNAL God, my God, ‖ look, listen unto me; ‖ enlighten thou mine eyes, lest I ‖ do fall asleep in death. ‖

4 Lest that my adversary say, ‖ against him I've prevail'd! ‖ Lest that my troublers do reicyce ‖ when I am staggering. ‖

5 But I have plac'd my trust upon ‖ thy kind benignity: ‖ my heart in thy salvation shall ‖ triumphing still rejoyce. ‖

6 Now also with my voice I'll sing ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ since in a recompencing way ‖ thou hast dealt well with me. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XIII. PSALM.

R. Solomon thinks, that the How long, repeated Four times, may refer to the Oppression of Is [...]ael under the Four Beasts in Daniel; the Four Mo [...]archies. The Midr [...]sh Tillin takes notice of this Mystery; and adds. That herein was the just Vengeance of God upon Israel, for putting him to complain Four times of them in the Wilderness, How long! [S.e [...]od. XVI. & Numb. XIV.]

[Page 25] 4 My Adversary! The Chaldee Paraprast understands it of our Evil Imagination; that is our Original Sin. Christian, Improve the Hint. Have [...] found thee, O mine Enemy?

PSALM XIV. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 THE Fool hath said within his heart ‖ That there is not a God. ‖ Thus they corrupt; they do the thing ‖ that is abominable. ‖ There is not one among them all ‖ who does the thing that's good. ‖

2 From Heaven the ETERNAL God ‖ looks on the sons of Men: ‖ He looks to see if that there be ‖ one who does mind at all ‖ to understand, or, one who is, ‖ a seeker after God. ‖

3 They're every one declin'd; they are ‖ together putrified; ‖ There is not one doer of good, ‖ no, not so much as one. ‖

4 All that work evil, know they not? ‖ They eat my people up, ‖ as they eat Bread, they do not call ‖ on the ETERNAL One. ‖

5 Ev'n then and there with terror they ‖ were greatly terrified; ‖ for God is in the race of him ‖ that is the righteous one. ‖

6 The counsel of the humbled one, ‖ you would put that to shame; ‖ Because he does for refuge fly ‖ to the ETERNAL God. ‖

[Page 26] 7 From Zion who gives Israel's health? ‖ When the ETERNAL turns ‖ His captiv'd people, Jacob will ‖ joy, Israel will be glad ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XIV. PSALM.

WHO are intended by the Wicked, who are here described? — All the fall'n and sinful Children of Men have a share in the description. Sank Court may have a peculiar share. But some Jewish Expositors, have a notable hint, That the Holy Spirit intends yet more particularly, the Romish Babylon; by which the Israel of God, was to be oppressed, until the Secord Coming of the Messiah, when the Salvation of Israel is to come out of Zion, and the Lord will bring back the Captivity of His People. How elegan [...] then, how appositely, how convictively, and with how much cogency, does the Apostle chuse the Passages of this very Psalm, in writing unto the Romans, to co [...] vince them of their being such sinful Creatures as at here described?

1 — Yea, and as Arnobius notes, when they saw the humble state wherein our Lord appeared, they said, H [...] is no God.

3 Austin reads it, There is none who doth Good; [...] Except ONE. This ONE is our Blessed JESUS!

6 The counsel of the Poor! This, Because the Lord is his Refuge; He looks to be Justified only by Faith in the Lord, not by any works of his own. If I don't misremember, 'tis Autstins curious gloss upon it.

PSALM XV. A Psalm of David.

1 WHO is it, O ETERNAL God ‖ shal [...] sojourn in thy tent? ‖ His dwelling who shall have in the ‖ mount of thy holtness? ‖

[Page 27] 2 He that walks with integrity ‖ and that works righteousness: ‖ and he that speaks the very truth, ‖ even what is in his heart. ‖

3 He with his tongue backbiteth not, ‖ nor doth his Neighbour harm: ‖ And takes not up a culumny ‖ against one near to him. ‖

4 A despicable person is ‖ despised in his eyes; ‖ but he puts honour on the Men ‖ that fear th' ETERNAL God. ‖ He changes not when he hath sworn, ‖ tho' it may do him hurt. ‖

5 His Coin he does not put unto ‖ a biting Usury. ‖ Nor does he take a bribe to hurt ‖ one that is innocent. ‖ He that's a doer of these things ‖ shall never be thrown down. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XV. PSALM.

SOme think, the Psalm was composed by David, either when he had brought the Ark to Zion, or when he was himself restored thither, after the Rebellion of Absalom. Then was very seasonable an Admonition to live better, and as under the Government of God. So Theed ret.

1 Christian, Thou lovest, I know, to see thy SAVIOUR! All the World agrees, the Citizen of Zion to be every Godly Man. But, Old Arnobius, invites us, to consider, whether our Blessed JESUS may not be described in the Psalm; and that with Ten Characters answering to the Ten Commandments. I'll touch on an Article or two. He has honoured them that fear the Lord. How? By giving them a power to become the Sons of God. He hath Sworn and not Changed. How? In the Premises of the Gospel. He hath not put out This Money to Usury. That is in the Spiritual Gifts [Page 28]bestowed on His Disciples, whereof He said, Freely ye have received, freely give. He took not a reward against the Innocent; No, He freely gave Himself a Ransom for the Guilty.

3 Takes not up! The Original goes further, He cannot hear it.

4 The Munsterian Reading is. In his own eyes, he is a [...]vile person and contemned. To his hurt.—Or [...] may be read, unto an ill Man. The wickedness of others, won't release us from our Obligations to them

5 In the Holy Land where Mortgages were f [...] special Reasons made unlawful, Usury was for the cause also forbidden. But among the Gentiles, there is no disallowance of Mortgages; And so, Usury, regulated with Charity, is among us to be allow'd of.

PSALM XVI. Mictam of David.

1 O God, preserve thou me, because ‖ place my trust in thee. ‖

2 My Soul, Thou to th' ETERNAL God hast said, Thou art my God. ‖ My goodne [...] reaches not to thee. ‖

3 'Tis to the Saints on Earth; ‖ and to those glorious ones in whom ‖ is all of m [...] delight. ‖

4 Their sorrows shall be multiply'd, ‖ w [...] hasten to another; ‖ their blood-drink-offrining I'll not pour, ‖ nor name them with my lips

5 Th' ETERNAL God's the portion which is my inheritance. ‖ And He's the cup th [...] falls to me; ‖ Thou dost maintain my lot [...]

[Page 29] 6 The lines that fall to me are in ‖ places of sweet delights; ‖ yea, the Inheritance for me ‖ it is how excellent! ‖

7 I'll bless th' ETERNAL God; 'Tis He ‖ who hath advised me: ‖ yea, in the very nights, my reins ‖ have well instructed me. ‖

8 I have set the ETERNAL God ‖ before me ever more; ‖ Because He is at my right hand ‖ I shall not be remov'd. ‖

9 Therefore my heart is joyful, and ‖ my glory does rejoyce; ‖ yea, more than so, my very flesh ‖ shall dwell in confidence. ‖

10 For thou wilt not forsake my Soul, ‖ when it is in the pit; ‖ nor wilt permit thy gracious One ‖ to see corruption there. ‖

11 Thoul't make me know the path of lives, ‖ joys enough are before ‖ thy face; at thy Right hand there are ‖ pleasures for evermore. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XVI. PSALM.

BEhold, the Prayer of the Messiah in His Humiliation! Peter proves it can belong to no other. Acts 11.25. In that state, GOD is at His Right Hand. But after His Exaltation He sits at the Right Hand of GOD.

2 Some take it so. My Welfare (and what leads to it) is not conceal'd with thee. No;—(as anon) Thou hast shewn me the path of Life. Or, may not the Messiah say, My Goodness is not known only to GOD; But the Saints on Earth are also acquainted with it. The J [...]wish Expositors carry it so, My Goodness is not [Page 30]without Thee. Thou art the Author of all the Go [...] enjoy or perform.

3 If we say to the Lord, Thou art my Lord, [...] shall also say to the Saints, These are the Excellent It is D. Kimchi's Gloss.

4 Old Arnobius understands, the Names, not of [...] Idols, but of the Idolat [...]rs. I will deny them,—s [...] our SAVIOUR. The same Hebrew Word that fi [...] fies Idols, also signifies Sorrows. Christian, Let G [...] alone Reign in thy Soul, or thou shalt find them [...] Fond People causing Images to be made of their d [...] Relatives, and with passionate Sorrows, first hone u [...] and then adoring of them; This gave rise to the W [...] shipping of Images.

7 q. d. In the darkest Night of Affliction, whe [...] can't see my way, God secretly inspires my mind w [...] wise tho [...]'s, and shows me what He would have [...] to do.

9 Heart, Glory, Flesh. Some of the Anei [...] thought, 1 Thes. V. 23. Spirit, Soul, & Body all [...] unto it.

10 Gracious One. The Hebrews tell us Chafi [...] One, Qui andit maledicentem et non respondet. O who when he is reviled, revileth not again. Comp [...] 1. Pet. II. 21.

PSALM XVII. A Prayer of David.

1 HEar, O ETERNAL God, the right attend unto my cry; ‖ Give ear u [...] my prayer, which is ‖ not in deceitful lip

2 Let there come from before thy fa [...] the sentence pass'd on me: ‖ Let thine [...] favourably look ‖ upon things that be ri [...]

[Page 31] 3 Thou [...]h'st prov'd my heart; thou'st visited ‖ by night; me hast thou try'd: ‖ Thou shalt find nothing; I have thought, ‖ My mouth shall not transgress. ‖

4 For what concerns the works of Men, ‖ by the word of thy lips, ‖ I have observed well the paths ‖ of him who does destroy. ‖

5 My goings, O do thou uphold ‖ in thy well-tending paths: ‖ When thou hast done that thing for me ‖ my footsteps have not slipt. ‖

6 Upon thee I have call'd, because ‖ thou hearest me, O God: ‖ O do thou bow thine ear to me, ‖ O hearken to my speech. ‖

7 Thy wondrous favours shew, O thou ‖ who dost deliver them ‖ that hope for it, from those who do ‖ rise against thy righthand. ‖

8 O do thou keep me even as ‖ the apple of thine Eye; ‖ under the shadow of thy wings ‖ O do thou cover me. ‖

9 From the face of the impious ones, ‖ such as have laid me waste; ‖ The enemies who for my Soul ‖ about encompass me. ‖

10 In their own stupifying grease ‖ they have enclos'd themselves: ‖ They with their mouth have loudly spoke ‖ in their exalted pride. ‖

11 When we were going in our way ‖ they have encompass'd us: ‖ They set their eyes that they may spread ‖ their Nets upon the Earth. ‖

[Page 32] 12 He's like unto a Lion which ‖ is greedy of a prey; ‖ and like to a young Lion which does lie in lurking holes. ‖

13 O thou ETERNAL God, arise, ‖ desh [...] him, cast him down; ‖ my Soul save from the wicked one, ‖ us'd by thee as thy Swore [...]

14 By thy hand, O ETERNAL God, save me from mortal Men; ‖ From mor [...]al Men of this World, who ‖ in this life have their part: ‖ And of thy hidden treasu [...] thou ‖ givist them a belly-full: ‖ Their Sons are fill'd, and they unto ‖ their Chi [...] dren leave the rest. ‖

15 My portion's this; I shall behold ‖ thy face in righteousness: ‖ I shall be sat [...] fy'd when that ‖ thy Image shall awake. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XVII. PSALM.

IT has the same Subject as the X Psalm; 'Tis a Pray [...] directed against the same wicked men. Comp [...] the 14th verse—with the fate of Antichrist. Mat. XXIV. 17.

4 q. d. ‘I know what Men are apt to do in suc [...] Circumstances. But the respect I bear to thy Commandments, hath preserved me from those Mu [...]errous Practices, which the Violent Man would have attempted.’ [See 1 Sam. XXVI. 8.] The Patrician Paraphrase,

8 'Tis onr SAVIOURS Allusion, Mat, XXIII. 37.

13 Some read it, by thy Sword. Others, By the Sword, suppose the Ark to be meant, which was as th [...] Sword of God for the Defence of Israel, and the Osten [...] of their Enemies. The Psalmist prays, they say, [...]o [...] the Deliverance of that, as for his own Soul.

[Page 33] 14 Metals and Jowels are, as the Jewish Expositor Notes, the bidden Treasure; hidden in the Earth.

15 Is not Alms-giving a considerable Article of Righteousness? 'Tis all over the Bible call'd so, and for weighty and obvious Reasons. 'Tis opposite here, to the spirit and conduct of the Mon of this World, who what they don't spend on their own Bellies, are studious to leave all the rest unto their Children. The Ancient Hebrews have a report concerning David, That he gave Alms to the Poor every day; using these Words, I will behold the Face of God in righteousness. But the Messiah is the Face of God—may we get into His Rightcousness! Hebr. When it shall awake.] The Resurrection of the Messiah (and so His Death is foretold.

PSALM XVIII. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the Servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD, the words of this Song, in the day that the LORD delivered him from the [...]and of all his Enemies, and from the [...]and of Saul.

1 OThou ETERNAL God, I will ‖ love Thee, my Fortitude. ‖

2 Th'ETERNAL God my stone-defence;‖ my Tower too is He;‖ And He is my deliverer; ‖ He is my mighty God; ‖ He is my Rock; in Him I'll hope; ‖ He is to me a Shield; ‖ And He is that strong horn wherein ‖ all my salvation lies: ‖ He is that high Munition where ‖ my whole protection lies.‖

3 I'll call on the ETERNAL God, ‖ who's worthy to be prais'd; ‖ So I shall rescued be from those ‖ that are my Enemies. ‖

[Page 34] 4 The very grievous cords of Death ‖ encompass'd me about; ‖ and torrents of impiety ‖ gave terrors unto me. ‖

5 The very grievous cords Hell ‖ about surrounded me; ‖ snares of a deadly tendency ‖ stop'd me on ev'ry side. ‖

6 In my sad anguish I did call ‖ on the ETERNAL God; ‖ and with my voice I made a cry ‖ to Him that is my God. ‖ He from the Temple where He dwells ‖ did hearken to my voice; ‖ and my cry came before His Face; ‖ it came into His Ears. ‖

7 Then the Earth shook, and trembled fore; ‖ and of the mountains then ‖ were the foundations mov'd and shock'd; ‖ because He was displeas'd. ‖

8 Out of His nostrils went a smoke, ‖ and fire out of His mouth, ‖ this did devour; coals were by Him ‖ kindled into a flame. ‖

9 The Heavens also He bow'd down; ‖ and He made His descent; ‖ A cloudy darkness then there was ‖ under His feet display'd. ‖

10 Upon a Cherub then He rode, ‖ and flew with wondrous wings; ‖ yea, He flew swiftly on the wings ‖ of the Spirituous Wind. ‖

11 Darkness He made His secret place; ‖ surrounding darkness was ‖ His Tent; darkness of waters with ‖ clouds which do cloath the skies. ‖

[Page 35] 12 Thro' the illustrious brightness which ‖ there was before Him then, ‖ His thick clouds pass'd away; there were ‖ Hail-stones and Coals of fire. ‖

13 And the ETERNAL God did in ‖ the Heavens thunder forth; ‖ And the most High utter'd His voice, ‖ Hail-stones and Coals of fire. ‖

14 Yea, He did send His Arrows forth; ‖ and so He scatter'd them. ‖ His Lightnings too He darted forth, ‖ and did discomfit them.‖

15 The channels of the waters then ‖ were evidently seen; ‖ and the foundations of the World ‖ plainly discovered. ‖ Because of thy threatning rebuke ‖ O thou ETERNAL God; ‖ Because thy wrathful Nostrils did ‖ cause a fierce wind to blow. ‖

16 He from above did then send down; ‖ He did lay hold on me; ‖ He from the mighty waters then ‖ did safely draw me out. ‖

17 From my strong adversary He ‖ did so deliver me; ‖ and from my haters; for they were ‖ too powerful for me. ‖

18 They did prevent me in the day ‖ of my calamity; ‖ But the ETERNAL God was He ‖ whom I did stay upon. ‖

19 And He did bring me forth into ‖ a place of large extent; ‖ He did deliver me because ‖ He took delight in me. ‖

[Page 36] 20 Th' ETERNAL God rewarded me, after my right'ousness; ‖ after the cleanness of my hands ‖ He recompenced me. ‖

21 Fot I did well observe the ways ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ and I did not dea wickedly ‖ with Him that was my God. ‖

22 For all His Judgments these were what ‖ I had before me still; ‖ His Institutions also I ‖ did not remove from me. ‖

23 I was one of integrity ‖ in all my [...] with Him; ‖ And carefully I kept my sell from mine iniquity. ‖

24 Th' ETERNAL now rewarded me after my right'ousness; ‖ after the cleanness of my hands, ‖ which was before [...] Eyes. ‖

25 Thou wilt with him that's merciful shew thy self merciful; ‖ with him that an upright one ‖ Thou'lt shew thy se [...] upright. ‖

26 With one that is well purify'd ‖ thou shew thy self as pure; ‖ But with one the is obstinate, ‖ thou'lt be inflexible. ‖

27 Because to humbled people thou wilt a Salvation grant: ‖ But those who ha [...] exalted eyes ‖ are whom thou wilt abase. ‖

28 Because my candle thou wilt make with glory to shine forth; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God, my God gives light, ‖ in darkness [...] me. ‖

[Page 37] 29 Because by Thee I have broke through ‖ [...]troop of armed ones; ‖ and by my God I swiftly have ‖ leap'd over an high wall. ‖

30 For God, perfect's His way; the Word ‖ of the ETERNAL God ‖ is a tried Word, He is a Shield ‖ to all that hope in Him. ‖

31 For who can be esteem'd a GOD, ‖ but the ETERNAL One? ‖ And who but He that is our GOD, ‖ can be a Rock to us? ‖

32 This GOD girds me with fortitude, ‖ and perfect makes my way. ‖

33 He makes my feet like those of Deer, ‖ and makes me stand in heights. ‖

34 He does instruct my hands unto ‖ the management of War, ‖ so that a Bow of hardned steel ‖ is broken by my arms. ‖

35 And thou of thy salvation hast ‖ bestow'd on me the shield; ‖ and thy right hand hath held me, and ‖ thy meekness greatned me. ‖

36 Thou hast vouchsaf'd enlargement to ‖ my goings under me, ‖ so that my footsteps in thy ways ‖ weakly have not declin'd. ‖

37 I have pursu'd my enemies, ‖ and overtaken them; ‖ neither did I return again ‖ until they were consum'd. ‖

38 I've wounded them, so that they were ‖ not able to arise; ‖ they prostrate fell under my feet, ‖ which trod upon their necks. ‖

39 For thou with mighty fortitude ‖ [Page 38]hast girded me for War; ‖ such as rose up against me thou ‖ hast bow'd down under me. ‖

40 And thou hast given me the necks ‖ of these my enemies; ‖ Those also who have hated me, ‖ I have destroyed them. ‖

42 Then I did beat them very small, ‖ as dust before the wind; ‖ I brought them low, like to the dirt ‖ which lies about the streets. ‖

43 Thou'st sav'd me from the peoples strifes, ‖ plac'd me the nations head; ‖ th [...] people whom I have not known ‖ shall be my servants now. ‖

44 At hearing the report of me ‖ they have obeyed me; ‖ the children of the stranger have ‖ dissembled unto me. ‖

45 The children of the stranger have ‖ quite withered away; ‖ and they have with much trembling come ‖ out of their hidden caves. ‖

46 Th' ETERNAL is the living One; ‖ and blessed be my Rock; ‖ And now exalted let the God ‖ of my salvation be. ‖

47 It is the mighty God who grants ‖ revenges unto me; ‖ And it is He who doth subdue ‖ the people under me. ‖

48 He saves me from mine enemies; ‖ from my invaders thou ‖ dost also lift me, thou dost pluck ‖ me from the violent Man. ‖

49 Therefore I will give thanks unto ‖ [Page 39]Thee, O ETERNAL God, ‖ among the Nations, and I will ‖ sing praises to thy Name. ‖

50 Great makes He the salvation of ‖ His King; and kindness shows ‖ unto His CHRIST; to David and ‖ his seed for evermore. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XVIII. PSALM.

'TIS the Song of the Mossiah on His Victory over Antichrist.

1 Arnobius has a Gloss of Practical Piety. When 'tis come to this, that all our L [...]ves are swallowed up in this, I will Love Thee, O Lord; Then we are truly delivered from the hand of all our Enemies, that is to say, Our Vices; and from the hand of Saul, that is to say, The Prince of this World.

2 The Resort of David had been to Cave [...] & Lurking Places, and Fortresses, and Strong Holds, and Rocks, and impregnable Forts, and high Mountaine. But now unto none of these does he ascribe any thing. 'Tis all ascribed unto GOD.

15 When accomplished? If David made the state of the Church of Israel his own (as every Ruler should!) —That Church had these things done for it in its Deliverance out of Egypt, and in some following Dispensations. But remember, here is a Prophecy as well as a Hisiory!

16 Consider now, Moses as a Type of our SAVIOUR.

23 q. d. 'How unjustly soever my Fnemies dealt 'with me, I would not imitate them; Tho' I could 'not hinder their's, I kept my self from mine Iniquity. 'Tis the Patrician Paraphrase.

29 Arnobius applies it unto the Souls going out of the Body in Death. Christian, pause upon [...].

34 Austins Gloss upon it is; Intentio bon [...]rum Operum in illo fuit indesatigabilis.

[Page 40] 40 An Allusion to Josh. X. 16.

43 Hopes for Americans! Our Saviour as Man seen and known, Asians, Africans, Europe [...]ns.

44 Aben-Ezra takes it so; They shall be so Lyars, in the Promises they made unto themselve obtaining Victories.

PSALM XIX. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 THE Heavens, they declare abroad ‖ Majesty of God; ‖ and the expa [...] ing Firmament ‖ shews forth His Han work. ‖

2 Day unto day most copiously ‖ utters us a speech; ‖ Night unto night insinuat [...] the things that we should know. ‖

3 There is not any speech on Earth, ‖ [...] words us'd any where, ‖ where the loud vo [...] utter'd by them ‖ may not be plainly heard.

4 Their line is gone thro' all the Farth and to the very end ‖ of the whole habital World, ‖ the words which they do spea [...] In them He sets the Sun a Tent: ‖

5 And he goes Bridogroom like ‖ from Bride chamber, glad as one ‖ strong for run a [...]ace. ‖

6 He goes out from one end of Heaven and rolls to t [...]other ends; ‖ and there's any thing that is ‖ hid from the heat there [...]

7 Perfect is the ETERNAL's La [...] [Page 41]Converting of the Soul; ‖ Th' ETERNAL's testimony's sure, ‖ making the simple wise. ‖

8 Right the ETERNAL's statutes are ‖ rejoycing of the heart; ‖ Pure the ETERNAL's Precept is ‖ enlightning of the eyes. ‖

9 The Fear of the ETERNAL's clean, ‖ lasting perpetually; ‖ Th' ETERNAL's Judgments are the truth, ‖ all alike justify'd.‖

10 Defirable much more than Gold, ‖ yea, than much solid Gold; ‖ Than honey also sweeter much, ‖ or dropping honey-comb. ‖

11 Thy Servant he moreover is ‖ admonished from them; ‖ in the exact keeping of them ‖ there is a great Reward.‖

His errors, who can understand? ‖ cleanse me from secret sins. ‖

13 Restrain thy Servant also from ‖ what are presumptuous crimes: ‖ Let them not over me prevail; ‖ then shall I be compleat: ‖ yea, I from much transgression shall ‖ therein be purify'd. ‖

14 The words proceeding from my mouth ‖ in Worshipping of Thee, ‖ yea, and the thought which in my heart ‖ Thou seest I meditate; ‖ Let these to good acceptance be ‖ before thy Glorious Face, ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, my Rock, ‖ and my Deliverer. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XIX. PSALM.

COnsider Rom. X. 18. and you'l see what the Ps [...]lm is to be reserr'd unto.

[Page 42] 1 All Nations have made their Deductions from the Works of God, and particu [...]ly from what they s [...] i [...] the H [...]vens, That there is a GOD. The Quotations would fill many Volumns.

5 How did the Ancients apply it? Anstin shall and wer for them. Conjugatum carni [...]uma [...] Verbum, processit de utero Virgin [...]li but methinks I see the Grand Revolution which concludes our Bible coming on I see the Marriage o [...] the Lamb, and our Bright SAVIOUR proceeding to that W [...]dding, for which He [...] to return unto u [...]. Then w [...]ll there be an Accomplishment of what the Psalm goes on to celebrate. The Word of GOD will then have its transcendent efficacy. The Glorious Vertues and Effects of the Divine Wort, on those who are ma [...]e New Creatures by it, will t [...] appear, with a most [...]fronishing Lu [...]re, to [...]ll the World

7 The Psalmist passes from the Sun to the Law! [...] Kimch: makes a no [...]ble Comparison between them, with as notable a Dissimil [...]tude, wherein the Law h [...] the advantage. R. Saadiah, supposes that Word [...] Transition, saith, to be understood here. The S [...] saith, The Law of the Lord is perfect. But, O [...] Let the Resemblance of our SAVIOUR to the SU [...] be prosecuted here. The Sibylline Oracle was, G [...] shall send a King from the Sun, who shall make peace over the Earth. Fagans therefore looked for a Sa [...] our, to come from the Sun. But our Apostle Jam [...] tells us, That our Good is to be expected in a SAVIOUR, who is the [...]un of Righteousnes [...].

14 In the Midr [...]sh T [...]llin, there is this Gloss up [...] it; may they be written for Posterity. [...]s well f [...] us that they have been so.

PSALM XX. To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

[Page 43]

MAY the ETERNAL in a Day ‖ of Trouble answer thee; ‖ The Name of Jacobs God, may that ‖ then set thee up on high.‖

2 May He afford thy help to thee, ‖ from the most holy place; ‖ and with supports from Zion sent ‖ may He now strengthen thee.‖

3 May He remember kindly all ‖ th' oblations thou dost make: ‖ May He declare that He accepts ‖ of thy burnt Sacrifice. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 May He give Blessings unto thee ‖ according to thy heart: ‖ And may He now accomplish for ‖ thee all that thou wouldst have.‖

5 In thy Salvation we'll rejoyce ‖ and in th' Name of our God ‖ Banners we'll raise, All thy desires ‖ may the ETERNAL grant.‖

6 Now know I the ETERNAL God ‖ saves His Anointed One; ‖ He'll hear him from His holy Heaven; ‖ His Right hand saves with pow'rs. ‖

7 In Chariots some confide, and some ‖ in Horses; But for us, ‖ The Name of JEHOVAH OUR GOD, ‖ we will remember that.‖

8 These are compelled for to stoup, ‖ and they are fallen down: ‖ But we are raised up again, ‖ and we do stand upright.‖

9 O Thou ETERNAL One, Do thou ‖ [Page 44]grant thy Salvation now. ‖ Let the King hear us in the day ‖ when ever we shall call.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XX. PSALM.

1 A Rnobius here sees the Acclamations of the Ch [...] to our SAVIOUR, going to dye on the Cr [...] Yea, Aben Ezra testisies, That the Jews themsel [...] apply the Psalm to the Messiah.

Why, The God of Jacob? Jacob was the Patriarch remarkable for this, That God had heard him in [...] day of Trouble. The Midrash Tillin, here quo [...] those Words of Jacob; Gen. XXXV. 3. The God [...] answered me in the Day of my Distress.

PSALM XXI. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 IN thy strength, OETERNAL God, ‖ King does much rejoyce; ‖ and He thy Salvation doth‖ triumph how gloriou [...]

2 Thou hast afforded unto him ‖ w [...] was his heart's desire; ‖ and thou hast witheld from him ‖ the utterance of lips. ‖ Selah.‖

3 For with the Blessings of the Goo [...] Thou hast prevented him: ‖ Thou hast posed on his head ‖ a crown of solid Go [...]

4 He asked life of thee; thou didst ‖ stow it upon him; ‖ A length of days [...]ended to ‖ Ages that never end.‖

5 His Glory how magnisicent ‖ in Salvation [...]tis [...] ‖ Honour and Majesty what ‖ th [...] ha [...]t upon him put. ‖

[Page 45] 6 Because to be Blessings thou hast ‖ set him for evermore; ‖ Thou hast made him for to rejoyce ‖ with joy before thy face.‖

7 For that the King does place his hope‖ in the ETERNAL One; ‖ and in the grace of the most High ‖ he never shall be mov'd.‖

8 Thy hand shall apprehend all those ‖ that are thine enemies; ‖ thy right hand such shall apprehend ‖ as haters are of thee.‖

9 Thoult make them as a fiery oven ‖ in the times of thy wrath: ‖ Th' ETERNAL in His great wrath will ‖ swallow them wholly up. ‖ And the fire that shall flame from thence ‖ shall quite devour them all. ‖

10 Their fruit from Earth thou'lt waste, and from ‖ the sons of Men their seed. ‖

11 Because against thee they have still ‖ intended what is ill: ‖ They have contrived a device; ‖ but more than they could do. ‖

12 Thou shalt set them all but as one ‖ in turning of the back; ‖ Arrows thou shalt sit on the strings ‖ against the face of them. ‖

13 O thou ETERNAL One, Do thou ‖ exalt thy self on high ‖ in thine own strength; so we will sing ‖ and praise thy mighty pow'r.‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXI. PSALM.

CHristian, Behold the Messiah; His Kingdom, and the ludgments of GOD upon His Fremies. Compar [...] [...]an. VII. and XI.

[Page 46] 3 Munster says, it alludes to the crown taken [...] the Ammonites. 2 Sam. XII. 30.

8 It is an ancient Observation, and indeed a Curf [...] That when the Right Hand of God is mentioned, [...] usually with an eye to what He will do in the F [...] State, in and her World, in the Eternity that [...] take place when this present time comes to an [...] Save by thy Right Hand, is a Prayer for E [...] Salvation. Pleasures at the Right Hand of G [...] are those of Eternal Happiness. Wisdom with L [...] of Days in the Right Hand, has Eternal Hi [...] Thus here. 'Tis Gregories Nore. Hostes Dei [...]. The Enemies of God may enjoy the Good things of Left Hand, in this [...]. Fur in that which is come, they shall [...] and extinguished.

PSALM XXII. To the Chief Musician. Upon Ajeleth-Shah [...] A Psalm [...]f David.

1 MY God, my God, O for what cau [...] hast thou forsaken me [...] ‖ Why [...] thou so far from my help? ‖ from the wor [...] of my cry [...]. ‖

2 By day I cry'l to thee, my God; ‖ still thou hearest not, ‖ Yea, in the ni [...] cry again, ‖ and do not hold my peace. ‖

3 But thou art holy; still thou dost ‖ Israel's praises dwell. ‖

4 Our Fathers hop'd in thee; they ho [...] and thou didst rescue them. ‖

5 They unto Thee did make their [...] and were delivered, ‖ in Thee they did [...] their [...] were not put to shame. ‖

[Page 47] 6 But I am treated as a Worm, ‖ and not a Man of worth; ‖ I'm the reproach of Men, and I ‖ am still the peoples scorn. ‖

7 All that do cast their eyes on me ‖ do but laugh me to scorn; ‖ they shoot out with a scoffing lip; ‖ they shake the head with scoffs. ‖

8 He lean'd on the ETERNAL One ‖ for to deliver Him; ‖ Let Him now rescue Him, because ‖ He does delight in Him. ‖

9 Because that thou art He who did ‖ extract me from the Womb; ‖ Thou didst cause me to hope, while I ‖ hung on my Mother's Breasts. ‖

10 Yea, even from the very Womb, ‖ I upon Thee was cast; ‖ E'er since my Mother went with me, ‖ Thou art my mighty God. ‖

11 O do not thou withdraw unto ‖ a distance far from me; ‖ for there's distressing trouble near; ‖ for there is none to help. ‖

12 Many Bulls compass me, the strong ‖ of Bashan me surround. ‖

13 They gap'd on me; a Lion so ‖ rav'ning and roaring would. ‖

14 Like water am I pour'd, and all ‖ my Bones are out of joynt; ‖ my Hearts like wax; in the midst of ‖ my bowels 'tis dissolv'd. ‖

15 My strength is like a potsherd dry'd, ‖ and my tongue joins my jaws: ‖ and thou hast brought me down into ‖ the dust where lie the dead. ‖

[Page 48] 16 For dogs have compass'd me: a rout ‖ of wicked me beset; ‖ My hands they and my feet have dug, ‖ ev'n as a lion would. ‖

17 My bones I may tell all of them; ‖ they look and stare on me. ‖

18 My Cloaths they part among them selves, ‖ and on my Robe throw lots. ‖

19 But, O ETERNAL One, Be not ‖ thou far estrang'd from me. ‖ O thou that art my strength make haste ‖ with succour unto me. ‖

20 Save my Soul from the Sword; from the ‖ Dogs paw my Only one. ‖

21 From lions mouth save me, and hear ‖ me from the Wild-Goats horns. ‖

22 I will declare thy Name to those ‖ that are my Bretheren; ‖ I will thee in the middest of ‖ the Congregation praise. ‖

23 Who fear th' ETERNAL God, praist Him; ‖ all you of Jacob's seed, ‖ glorify Him; and fear Him all ‖ you seed of Israel. ‖

24 For He hath not despis'd, nor loath'd, ‖ th' abasement of the poor; ‖ nor hath He hid His face from him, ‖ but heard his cry to Him, ‖

25 In the Great Congregation now ‖ from Thee shall be my praise; ‖ Before such as do fear Him now ‖ I will perform my Vows. ‖

26 The poor shall eat, and have enough; ‖ They'l praise th' ETERNAL God, ‖ who seel for Him; your heart shall live ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

[Page 49] 27 All the Worlds bounds remembring shall ‖ turn to th' ETERNAL God; ‖ and of the Nations all the Tribes, ‖ how down before His face. ‖

28 For unto the ETERNAL God ‖ the Kingdom doth belong; ‖ and He shall be the Governour ‖ among the Nations all. ‖

29 All the fat ones of Earth have eat, ‖ and they have bowed down; ‖ all who go down unto the dust ‖ have bow'd before His face; ‖ ev'n every one of them that can't ‖ make his own Soul to live. ‖

30 A seed shall serve Him, to the Lord ‖ a Generation deem'd. ‖

31 They shall come, and they shall declare ‖ His right'ousness unto ‖ a People that shall be begot, ‖ that 'tis what He hath done. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXII. PSALM.

A Ijeleth Hashachar, some read, The Morning Star. Compare Rev. XXII. 28.

3 Is not the Messiah worthy of our Praises? Besure, In Him GOD Inhabits as His Holy of Holies.

6 Heb. The Red Worm. Compare Isa. 1.18. the same Word is used for our Crimsons Sins. Think with surprise! Nazianzen observes, Our Saviour is compared unto the weakest things; A Worm, a Lamb: The Devil is compared unto the strongest—A Lion, an Armed One. Yet our Saviour is too hard for the Devil.

26 Arnobius has a fine Thought, Edent corpus ejus pauperes spiritu, ut satientur.

29—Munster does well to refer it unto the Dead.

[Page 50]

PSALM XXIII. A Psalm of David.

1 MY Shepherd is th' ETERNAL God ‖ I shall not be in [any] want: ‖

2 In pastures of a tender grass ‖ he [ever] makes me to lie down: ‖ To waters of tranquillities ‖ He gently carries me, [along,] ‖

3 My feeble and my wandring Soul ‖ He [kindly] does fetch back again; ‖ In the plain paths of righteousness ‖ He does lead [and guide] me along, ‖ because of the regard He has ‖ [ever] unto His Glorious Name. ‖

5 Yea, when I shall walk in the Vale ‖ of the dark [dismal] shade of Death, ‖ [...] of no evil be afraid, ‖ because thou [ever] art with me. ‖ Thy rod and thy staff, the [...] are what ‖ yield [constant] comfort unto me. ‖

5 A Table thou dost furnish out ‖ richly [for me] before my face. ‖ 'Tis in view of mine Enemies; ‖ [And then] my head thou dost anoint ‖ with fatning and perfuming Oil: ‖ my cup it [ever] overflows. ‖

6 Most certainly the thing that is ‖ Good, with [most kind] Benignity, ‖ This [...] the days that I do live ‖ shall [still an [...]] ever follow me; ‖ Yea, I shall dwell, * an [...] Sabbatize, ‖ even to [unknown] leng [...] of days, ‖ Lodg'd in the House which d [...] belong ‖ to [Him who's] the ETERNAL God. ‖

[Page 51]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXIII. PSALM.

BEhold, the Confidence of the Church under the Couduct of the Messiah: He says, Joh. X. 11. I am the Good Shepherd. The Prophets have taught us how to apply the Psalm. See Isa. XI. 10. Jer. XXIII. 3. Ezck. XXXIV. 11, 23. And so have the Apostles, 1 Pet. II. 25. and V. 4 Heb. XIII. 20.

1—And, Christians, Why should not you find in your Secular Employments, the Occasions of Divine, Devout, Heavenly Reflections! David, a Shepherd, is led by Shepherdy, to think on the Heavenly Shepherd.

7 Drusius will have David now to think of Samuel's Anointing of him.

6 Good, and Benignity are Names of the Messiah. Christian, Thou knowest why He should be called so. In the Luminous Cloud, which like a Pillar did follow the Church in the Wilderness, there was a marvellous Presence of the Messiah. May not this be here pointed at! The Shelter which this Pillar gave, was that of an House. With some eye to that Moses might say, Psalm. XC. 1. Thou hast been our dwelling place.

PSALM XXIV. A Psalm of David.

1 TO the ETERNAL God, the Earth ‖ and what fills it belongs; ‖ the habitable World, and all ‖ that do inhabit it. ‖

2 For the foundations of it He ‖ hath laid upon the Seas; ‖ and He hath firmly fixed it ‖ against the rolling floods. ‖

3 Who shall ascend into the Mount ‖ [Page 52]of the ETERNAL God? And who is it shall ‖ stand in the ‖ place of His Holiness? ‖

4 One that is clean in hands, but then ‖ One that is pure in heart; ‖ who don't receive his Soul in vain, ‖ nor swear deceitfully: ‖

5 This Man the Blessing shall receive ‖ from the ETERNAL God; ‖ and Righteousness shall from the God ‖ of his Salvation have. ‖

6 This is the Generation of ‖ them that seek Him aright; ‖ even of them that see ‖ thy face: ‖ Jacob is such as these. ‖ Selah. ‖

7 Lift up your heads, O Gates, and be lift up, O lasting Doors; ‖ and so the King of Glory will ‖ now make His entry there. ‖

8 Who is the King of Glory? 'Tis ‖ JEHOVAH strong and great: ‖ 'Tis the ETERNAL God who is ‖ in War a mighty one. ‖

9 Lift up your Heads, O Gates, and be lift up, O lasting Doors; ‖ and so the King of Glory now ‖ will make His entry there.

10 Who is the King of Glory? 'Tis JEHOVAH Tzebaoth: ‖ 'Tis the ETERNAL Lord of Hosts, ‖ the King of Glory's HE. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXIV. PSALM.

SUppose the People now attending the Removal [...] the Ark unto Zion, with extraordinary Solemni [...] They are Exhorted now to practise the most Substa [...] tial [Page 53]together with their Ceremonial Pi [...]ty. The Ascent of our Saviour, was represented in that Solemnity; and m [...]y here be Prophesied.

The Hebrews did use to Sing the Psalm on the First Day of the Week. And the LXX add a Title of that Importance. Doubtless (as Dr. Patrick expresses it). because their Wise Men saw here a Prophecy of CHRIST, whose first step unto the Throne of His Glory, was on the First Day of the Week.

[...]ut it is urged by Dr. Allix, that the Return of our Saviour may be as much considered here; and His coming in His Kingdom.

The Psalm contains the Characters of those who shall be admitted into it. That expression, In War & Mighty One; supposes His Enemies to be vanquished. Compare, Rev. XIX. 6.

4 Surely, He that employs a Soul only in the mean and vile purposes of impiety, Receives a Soul in vain. And, O you, who do nothing for the Souls committed unto your Charge; is not this your Character too!

7, 9 Twice opened! First for thy SAVIOUR, and then for thee, O Believer, who art a Follower of Him.

10 In War a Mighty One; Omitted in the Repetition: Ab [...] Ezra say, Because in the Days of the Messiah, Men are to beat their Swords into Plowshares.

PSALM XXV. Of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, To Thee ‖ I do lift up my Soul. ‖

2 My God, I put my trust in thee; ‖ let me not be asham'd. ‖ Let not my Adversaries have ‖ a triumph over me. ‖

[Page 54] 3 Yea, all of them that wait on thee, ‖ let them not be asham'd. ‖ Let be ashame [...] those who do ‖ transgress without a cause. ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL God, shew me ‖ thy ways, teach me thy paths. ‖

5 Make thou me in thy truth to walk; ‖ And teach me; for thou art ‖ the God of my Salvation; I ‖ wait on thee all the day. ‖

6 Remember, O ETERNAL God, ‖ what thy kind bowels are; ‖ and what thy bounties are; for they ‖ have ever been of old. ‖

7 Sins of my youth remember not, ‖ not my vile trespasses: ‖ But, Oh! according to thy Grace ‖ do thou remember me. ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, Do this, ‖ even for thy Goodness sake. ‖

8 Th' ETERNAL's Good and Right therefore ‖ Sinners He'll teach the way. ‖

9 The humbled meek ones He will help with judgment for to walk; ‖ and He the humbled meek ones will ‖ instruct what is His way. ‖

10 All the paths of th' ETERNAL are ‖ Mercy and Truth to those ‖ who keep His Covenant, and mind ‖ His Testimonies there. ‖

11 For the sake of thy Glorious Name, O Thou ETERNAL God; ‖ Pardon [...] mine iniquity; ‖ because that it is great.

12 Who is the Man that has the fear ‖ [...] the ETERNAL God? ‖ He'l thoroughly instru [...] him in ‖ the way that he should chuse. ‖

[Page 55] 13 His Soul shall spend the Night in rest, ‖ with what is good Above; ‖ and then his Seed shall take as heirs ‖ the Earth he leaves to them. ‖

14 The secret of th' ETERNAL is ‖ with them that have His fear, ‖ and 'tis His Covenant that He ‖ will make them for to know. ‖

15 Mine eyes continually are ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Because 'tis He that shall bring forth ‖ my feet out of the snare. ‖

16 O turn thou unto me, and have ‖ thou mercy upon me; ‖ for I am in a lonely case, ‖ and an afflicted one. ‖

17 The anguishes of my Heart have ‖ greatly enlarg'd themselves; ‖ O do thou bring me out of all ‖ my sore vexatious grief's ‖

18 On my affliction, O look down, ‖ and on my labouring pain; ‖ and let thy pardoning mercy reach ‖ to all my trespasses. ‖

19 Look down upon my Enemies ‖ for they are multiply'd; ‖ and 'tis with hatred full of rage ‖ that they have hated me. ‖

20 Into thy keeping take my Soul, ‖ and Oh! Deliver me; ‖ Let me not be asham'd, for I ‖ have put my trust in thee. ‖

21 Let an entire Integrity ‖ and exact Rectitude, ‖ be my preserver; for that I ‖ am waiting still on thee. ‖

22 O GOD who art the Judge of all, ‖ [Page 56]Do thou redemption give ‖ unto thine Israel from all ‖ the Troubles now on him. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXV. PSALM.

'TIS the first of the Alphabetical Psalms. Acrosticks were of much esteem in Antiquity. But sometimes the strength of the Inspiration might interrupt the method. Or, a Letter may be dropt for causes now unknown to us. There were Examples of it (as Mr. J [...]ukins. observes) among the Greek Poets.

8 Is it not an Allusion to the care used of Old, about the ways to the Cities of Refuge? My Jewish Expositors tell me so.

15—When the Off spring of a Godly Man, are entring upon the Earthly Inheritance, which, at his Death, he leaves unto them, Then the Soul of this Man, is lodged with the Good One (Christ,) or in the Good Place (Heaven,) or in Goodness itself; in Happiness. The Immortality of the Soul is here asserted. This Hint I had from Dr. Alting the Younger. But, Arnobius finds another and a better Earth for the Seed of the Messiah.

PSALM XXVI. Of David.

1 ETERNAL, Judge me, for I've walk'd ‖ in my integrity; ‖ and on th' ETERNAL God I've hop'd; ‖ I shall not stagger now. ‖

2 O thou ETERNAL God, Do thou ‖ throughly examine me; ‖ and make a tryal of me; try ‖ my reins, and try my heart. ‖

[Page 57] 3 Because thy loving kindness is ‖ always before mine eyes; ‖ and I have carried on my walk ‖ in thy directing truth. ‖

4 I have not chose my seat with Men ‖ of vain temerity; ‖ nor have I entred councils with ‖ Men that put on a mask. ‖

5 Th' Assembly of malignant Men ‖ is that which I do hate; ‖ and I will never sit with such ‖ as are ungodly ones. ‖

6 My hands I will be sure to wash ‖ in a clean innocence; ‖ Thine Altar so I'll walk about, ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, ‖

7 That I may make for to be heard ‖ with a thanksgiving voice, ‖ and that I may declare abroad ‖ all of thy wondrous works. ‖

8 O thou ETERNAL, I have lov'd ‖ the dwelling of thy House; ‖ and the place where thy Glory has ‖ its Habitation chose. ‖

9 O gather not my Soul with such ‖ as wander on in Sin; ‖ Nor take away my life with such, ‖ as are the Men of Blood. ‖

10 With such Men as have in their hands ‖ mischievous wickedness; ‖ and their right hands replenished ‖ with a corrupting gift. ‖

11 But as for me, my walk shall be ‖ in mine integrity; ‖ O do thou now redeem me, and ‖ be merciful to me. ‖

12 My foot hath still persisted in ‖ a constant rectitude; ‖ I in the Congregations will ‖ bless the ETERNAL God. ‖

[Page 58]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXVI. PSALM.

3 PSalmist, How durst thou have said, Judge me O Lord; if thou hadst not also said, Thy loving kindness is always before mine eyes? This Note is a very Ancient one.

4 The Dissemblers here, Aben Ezra says, ar [...] Young People who mind none but the Delights of th [...] World. The Hebrew Word would favour such a Thought. O Young People, consider it.

6 What? Was David a Priest? Our SAUIOUR [...] Consider Him speaking here. Yea, David might we [...] say. I have not satisfied my self with the ceremony of washing my Hands, before I went unto the offering of a Sacrifice, but I endeavoured sincerely to keep free from all moral and sinful impurities.

9. q. d.—Let me not perish as if I were a Murderer.

PSALM XXVII. Of David.

1 HE who to me a Glorious Light, ‖ an [...] my Salvation gives, ‖ is the ETERNAL God; and now ‖ who is it I shall fear. The strength from whence my Life's maintain'd, ‖ is the ETERNAL God; ‖ And no [...] what one is there by whom ‖ I need be te [...]tify'd? ‖

2 When evil ones, my troublers, who [...] were enemies to me ‖ drew near on me, t [...] waste my flesh, ‖ they stumbled & fell dow [...]

3 Against me let an host encamp, [...] [Page 59]my heart shall have no fear; ‖ against me let a War arise, ‖ in this I am secure. ‖

4 There is one thing I have desir'd ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ This is the thing that I will seek, ‖ that I may ever have ‖ my dwelling, * and my Sabbath too ‖ assign'd me, in the House ‖ of the ETERNAL all the days ‖ my life shall be prolong'd: ‖ That so I may enjoy the view ‖ of the sweet Beauty in ‖ th' ETERNAL God, and to enquire, ‖ in His high Temple still. ‖

5 For in the time of trouble He ‖ shall hide me in His Tent; ‖ In's Tabernacle's covered part; ‖ There shall He cover me. ‖ He shall exalt me where I shall ‖ be set upon a Rock. ‖

6 And now my head's lift up above ‖ all my surrounding foes. ‖ So Sacrifices with a shout ‖ I'll offer in His Tent; ‖ I'll sing, yea, I will praises sing ‖ to the ETERNAL God. ‖

7 Hear, O ETERNAL God, my voice ‖ with which I cry to thee: ‖ Have mercy also upon me, ‖ and hearken unto me. ‖

8 Seek ye my face; On hearing this, ‖ my heart did speak to thee; ‖ Thy face, O thou ETERNAL God, ‖ Thy face now, I will seek. ‖

9 Hide not away from me thy face, ‖ nor suffer to decline, ‖ in * or to anger him that is ‖ a servant unto Thee. ‖ Thou hast afforded help to me; ‖ O do not leave me now; ‖ [Page 60]not yet forsake me, O thou God ‖ whence my Salvation comes. ‖

10 My Father and my Mother, when ‖ they have forsaken me, ‖ Then O ETERNAL God, thou dost ‖ take me into thy care. ‖

11 O thou ETERNAL God; do thou ‖ teach me what is thy way; ‖ And lead me in the path of Right, ‖ for my observers sake. ‖

12 Give me not up unto the will ‖ of my foes; for there rise ‖ false witnesses against me, and ‖ one who breaths violence. ‖

13 Nevertheless, I do believe ‖ for the enjoyment of ‖ the Good of the ETERNAL in ‖ the land of living ones. ‖

14 Look for th' ETERNAL God, and so I strengthen thy self in Him ‖; He shall confirm thy heart; Again ‖ look for th' ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXVII. PSALM.

4 ENquire, After what? The Spanish has a Good Hint upon it. Enquire in my Doubts; For direction in the Doubtful Attairs of my Kingdom.

5 The Secret of the Tabernacle was the Holy of Holles. No Man might come there. Christian, is [...] the Voice of thy SAVIOUR to be considered her [...]

8 Our Psalmist had been doubtless much a Stu [...] in the Book of Deuteronomy. Now, See Deut. IV [...] If thou seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Hi [...] if thou seek Him with all thy heart.

9 Yea, and remember, O Christian, If thou art [...] lest unto an Angry Impatience under thy T [...]yals, [...] will ben Sign, that GOD has not put thee away.

[Page 61] 10 Is it not an Allusion to the Journey of Israel through the Wilderness? When the Three first Squadrons were passed on, the Fourth were to gather up, the Sick, and the Weak, and the Lame, that had been left behind.

13 This present World, alas, 'tis rather the Land of the Dying, than the Land of the Living. Believer, Look forwards, look upwards! The Ancients, both Jews & Christians, expounded, The Land of the Living, to mean, The World to come. Think on the New Earth, in the Kingdom of our SAVIOUR. Think on Mat. V. 3.

14 Arnobius notes, That this Verse is the Antiphona of the Holy Spirit, unto the Saint expressing these Expectations.

PSALM XXVIII. Of David.

1 TO Thee, O thou ETERNAL God, ‖ I will send forth a cry; ‖ O be not silent, Thou my Rock, ‖ in a withdraw from me. ‖ Lest that if thou dost hold thy peace, ‖ witholding Help from me, ‖ I should be like to them who do ‖ go down into the pit. ‖

2 Hear what my Supplications speak, ‖ when I do cry to thee; ‖ when I lift up my hands towards ‖ thy holy Oracle. ‖

3 Drag me not with ill M [...]n, not with ‖ workers of vanity; ‖ who speak peace to their Neighbours, but ‖ mischief is in their hearts. ‖

3 Give them according to their deeds, ‖ and as they've ill design'd: ‖ Give them what their own hands have wrought; ‖ render them their desert. ‖

[Page 62] 4 Because they don't regard the deeds ‖ of the ETERNAL God, ‖ nor the work of His Hands; He'l them ‖ destroy, and not build up. ‖

6 Blessed be the ETERNAL God, ‖ for this, because that He ‖ hath kindly hearken'd to the voice ‖ my supplications had. ‖

7 'Tis the ETERNAL One, who is ‖ my strength, and is my shield. ‖ On Him my heart has plac'd its hope, ‖ and I am helped so. ‖ And for this very cause my heart ‖ does mightily rejoyce; ‖ Now with my Song His Praises I ‖ will gladly celebrate. ‖

8 Yea, the ETERNAL God to them ‖ is their true fortitude; ‖ and of Salvation He's the strength ‖ of His Anointed one. ‖

9 O save thy People, and O bless ‖ thou thine Inheritance; ‖ Be thou a Shepherd unto them, ‖ and lift them up for ever. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXVIII. PSALM.

R. Solomon says, When in the Title of a Psalm, we read only, Of David, it intimates, The Holy Spirit came suddenly on David, without the use of the usual means to obtain His Influences. But when we read, A Psalm of David, it intimates, that he then had used means to obtain the Illapses of the Holy Spirit. Behold, here a Trayer for the Faithful, that they may not be joined in Destruction with the Followers of Antichrist; and they hope for Salvation by the Messiah, after that He has destroyed that wicked Society.

2 Our Supplications have a further V [...]ice in them, [Page 63]than what iust utters the matter of them. Christian, Thy Prayers, Do they speak thy Love to the Glorious GOD, thy Exaltation of His Will above thy own, thy Faith in thy SAVIOUR, thy esteem for Spiritual Blessings above Temporal, and thy Benignity towards thy Neighbour, wishing as well to him as to thy self? When there is a Voice in thy Supplications, importing such things as these, GOD will hear it, and have a great respect unto them.

5 Arnobius applies it unto the unbelieving Jews, who did not regard the miraculous Works of our SAVIOUR, when He even raised the Dead, and said, Believe my Works.

PSALM XXIX. A Psalm of David.

1 A Scribe to the ETERNAL God, ‖ O Sons of mighty ones, ‖ Ascribe to the ETERNAL God ‖ Glory and Fortitude. ‖

2 Ascribe to the ETERNAL God ‖ the Honour of His Name; ‖ Bow to th' ETERNAL God in the ‖ Glory of holiness. ‖

3 The Voice of the ETERNAL God ‖ is on the Waters heard: ‖ The Glorious God Thunders on great ‖ Waters; JEHOVAH's there. ‖

4 The Voice of the ETERNAL is ‖ utter'd. with mighty pow'r; ‖ the Voice of the ETERNAL is ‖ urter'd with majesty. ‖

4 The Voice of the ETERNAL does ‖ break Cedars all to shivers; ‖ yea, the ETERNAL. One does break ‖ Cedars of Lebanon. ‖

[Page 64] 6 He makes them also for to leap ‖ as a young Calf would do; ‖ ev'n Lebanon and Sirion like ‖ a son of Wild-Goats leap. ‖

7 The Voice of the ETERNAL God ‖ having divided them, ‖ He doth strike down with flaming darts ‖ of a devouring fire. ‖

2 The Voice of the ETERNAL God ‖ doth shake the Wilderness; ‖ Th' ETERNAL makes the Wilderness ‖ of Kadesh for to shake. ‖

9 The Voice of the ETERNAL God ‖ does make the Hinds bring forth; ‖ And in His Temple all of His ‖ do speak His Glory there. ‖

10 Th' ETERNAL God presides upon ‖ the Flood, still ruling it; ‖ yea, the ETERNAL God sits King ‖ Enthron'd for evermore. ‖

11 His People, the ETERNAL God ‖ will fortify with strength; ‖ His People the ETERNAL God ‖ will bless with prosp'rous peace. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXIX. PSALM.

WAS not the Psalm composed by David, after some extraordinary Lightning and Thunder and Rain; which had perhaps assisted the Discomfiture of His Enemies? One looks on it as an Exhortation to the Princes of the Earth, to submit unto the re-estabed Kingdom of the Messiah. And the Voice here may be the Report of the wonders done in that Matter. Compare, Jer. XXV. 31. A Noise from the ends of the Earth.

1 Compare, Job XXXVIII. 7. Munster notes well, [Page 65]There is nothing so high and so great, but what is obliged unto the Praises of God.

3 P [...]meranus whom Lather cried up as the best and the first Interpreter of the Psalter, and whose Commentaries, as Frankins notes, Referti sunt Meditationibus de CHRISTI Magnitudine et Majestate; would have what we read here about, The Voice of the Lord; compared with what the Apostle to the Hebrews writes about, The quick and powerful Word of GOD, and what John writes about, The Word of God by which all things were created.

9 But, Oh! why not the whole World a Temple of GOD! R. Moseh has this Gloss. The Levites Praise GOD, for His preserving of them from hurt by Thunder.

10 Aben-Ezra notes upon it; The Waters shall not overwhelm the Kingdom of God. Another considers this Intimation; The Thunder doth not more easily tear the Trees and the Rocks, than God can break in pieces the proudest of Princes.

PSALM XXX. A Psalm. A Song at the Dedication of the House of David.

1 THEE, O ETERNAL, I'll extol; ‖ for thou'st exalted me; ‖ and hast not made my enemies ‖ to triumph over me, ‖

2 O thou ETERNAL God, thou art ‖ my God; I unto thee ‖ have made my cry inmy Distress; ‖ and thou hast healed me. ‖

3 Thou, O ETERNAL God, hast brought ‖ my Soul up from the pit; ‖ thou hast made me to live, that I ‖ descend not to the Grave ‖

[Page 66] 4 Sing unto the ETERNAL God, ‖ O ye His Gracious Ones; ‖ and praise at the remembrance of ‖ His Glorious Holiness. ‖

5 For but a moment's in His wrath; ‖ There ‖ in His favour life: ‖ weeping may with the Evening lodge; ‖ but in the Morning joy. ‖

6 But as for me, this did I say ‖ in my felicity; ‖ I shall not be remov'd from thence ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

7 Thou, O ETERNAL, to my mount ‖ giv'st by thy favour strength; ‖ Thou for a while didst hide thy face; ‖ my Trouble then was great. ‖

8 O thou ETERNAL God, to Thee ‖ then did I make my cry: ‖ And unto the ETERNAL God ‖ I then did supplicate. ‖

9 What profit's in my Blood, when I ‖ go down into the pit? ‖ The Dust, shall that acknowledge thee? ‖ Shall it declare thy Truth? ‖

10 Hear, O ETERNAL God, and have ‖ thou mercy upon me; ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, Be thou ‖ an helper unto me. ‖

11 My mourning thou hast turn'd into ‖ tripudiating joy; ‖ Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and ‖ with gladness girded me. ‖

12 Glory shall therefore sing to thee, ‖ and shall not hold its peace; ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, my God; ‖ Thee I'll forever praise. ‖

[Page 67]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXX. PSALM.

THE House of David is by the Midrasis Tillin, understood of, the Temple, called His, because he purposed the Building of it. But, as one Remarks; Behold, the Joy the Jews will have when the Tabernacle of David which is fallen, shall, according to Amos. XI. 11. be re-established. Compare the Conclusion of the Psalm, with Isai. LX. 1.

5—Drusius adds this Gloss, Diu durat;—It is a lasting favour, it will never dye. As, a Tree that never dies is called, a Tree of Life. David the Jew, has the like Paraphrase; durat tempore multo, et vita longa.

9 Dr. Fuller notes on it; While a Man is alive, not only the Soul of the Man, but his Dust also praises GOD; His Body has a share in the Worship of God; Our Moiety of Dust has a Counterpart in our Praising of God. After our Death, whatever our Soul may do, our Dust has no part in the Service of God, until the Resurrection from the Dead.

PSALM XXXI. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, I have ‖ placed my hope in thee: ‖ Let me not be asham'd, O save ‖ me in thy righteousness. ‖

2 Kindly to me bow down thine ear; ‖ rescue me speedily; ‖ A strong Rock be to me; to save ‖ me, a defended house. ‖

3 For thou art He that is my Rock, ‖ and thou art my defence: ‖ and therefore for thy Name sake me ‖ lead thou, and be my guide. ‖

[Page 68] 4 O do thou bring me up out of ‖ the Net which they have laid ‖ in secret for me; for that thou ‖ art He that is my strength. ‖

5 My Spirit I resigning do ‖ commit into thy hands; ‖ Thou hast redeemed me, O thou ‖ ETERNAL God of Truth. ‖

6 I hate those who observe what are ‖ but lying vanities; ‖ But as for me, I place my hope ‖ on the ETERNAL God. ‖

7 I in thy mercy will be glad, ‖ and very much rejoyce; ‖ for thou hast look'd upon my grief, ‖ Thou know'st my Soul in straits. ‖

8 Nor hast thou shut me up into ‖ the Adversaries hand; ‖ But thou hast made my feet to stand ‖ in a most spacious place. ‖

9 Pity me, O ETERNAL God, ‖ because I am in grief; ‖ my Eye, my Soul, do waste in wrath, ‖ my very belly too.‖

10 For that my life is spent with grief, ‖ and all my years in sighs; ‖ thorough my Sin my strength does fail, ‖ and my bones are consum'd. ‖

11 From all my foes I had reproach, ‖ and from my neighbours much; ‖ a fear to them that knew me too, ‖ who fled, seeing me abroad. ‖

12 I am forgotten like a Man ‖ that's dead, and out of mind; ‖ I am become just like unto ‖ a Vessel that is broke. ‖

13 For I from many heard ill fame; ‖ [Page 69]fear was on every side; ‖ while they against me did consult; ‖ they thought to seize my Soul. ‖

14 But as for me, I did rely ‖ on Thee, ETERNAL God; ‖ This did I say, Thou art my God ‖ to whom I do adhere. ‖

15 My Times are all at thy dispose; ‖ O do thou rescue me ‖ from the hand of mine enemies, ‖ and from my following foes. ‖

16 Upon thy Servant do thou cause ‖ thy countenance to shine; ‖ in thy free mercy do thou grant ‖ Salvation unto me. ‖

17 ETERNAL, Let me not be sham'd; ‖ for I have call'd on thee; ‖ Let wicked ones be sham'd; Let them ‖ be cut off in the Grave. ‖

18 Let those lips be made silent, which ‖ are giv'n to falsity; ‖ which speak hard things against the just, ‖ with pride and with contempt. ‖

19 How great's thy Good, which thou for them ‖ that fear thee hast laid up! ‖ Thouh'st wrought for them that hope in thee, before the sons of Men. ‖

20 In th' secret of thy face thou hid'st ‖ them from the threats of Man; ‖ Thou dost in a Pavilion hide ‖ them from the strife of tongues. ‖

21 Blessed be the ETERNAL God, ‖ for He hath wondrously ‖ within a City of defence ‖ shown mercy unto me. ‖

[Page 70] 22 But I said in my haste, I'm from ‖ before thine eyes cut off; ‖ yet the voice of my Prayers thou heard'st, ‖ when I did cry to thee. ‖

23 All ye His gracious ones, Do ye ‖ love the ETERNAL God; ‖ Th' ETERNAL keeps the faithful, and ‖ pays the proud doer home. ‖

24 Be of good courage, and He shall ‖ corroborate your heart; ‖ All ye that with an hope do wait ‖ for the ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXI. PSALM.

THE Haste of David, flying unto the Wilderness of Maou; [1 Sam. XXIII. 26.] seems to be mentioned in the Twenty second Verse of the Psalm; I said in my haste. But, Christian, Be sure to be hold thy Suffering SAVIOUR here! He died with the Fifth Verse of the Psalm in His Mouth.

2 David was now in a Rock; [1 Sam. XXIII. 25.] But, Lord, Thou art the only Rock!

4 The Net. The Treachery of the Ziphites, [1 Sam. XXIII. 10, 20.]

8 God would not suffer him to be shut up in Keilah; but by Oracles admonished him how to escape. See 1 Sam. XXIII. 7, 9.

19 The Hebrew Word may be rendered Ex diametr [...]. Dr. Gell renders it, Maugre all the Oppositions of the Sons of Men.

20 To be sheltered from the mischiefs which contentious Men may seek by their false Tongues to bring upon us; 'Tis a Blessedness.

21 See, 1 Sam. XXIII. 7.13.

[Page 71]

PSALM XXXII. Of David. Maschil.

1 O What the Blessings of the Man ‖ to whom Transgression is ‖ forgiven; of the Man to whom ‖ Error is covered. ‖

2 O what the Blessings of the Man ‖ to whom th' ETERNAL God ‖ imputeth not iniquity: ‖ and guile's not in his spirit! ‖

3 For while that I did hold my peace ‖ my bones were waxing old; ‖ and so it was when I did make ‖ a roaring all the day. ‖

4 Because that day and night thy hand ‖ lay heavy upon me; ‖ my moisture was quite turn'd into ‖ the Summers parching heat. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 I of my sinful error made ‖ acknowledgment to thee; ‖ and my impure iniquity ‖ I did not go to hide. ‖ I said, To the ETERNAL God, ‖ I will confess my crimes; ‖ then of my Sin thou didst remit ‖ the great iniquity. ‖

6 For this each gracious one shall pray ‖ to Thee in finding time; ‖ Surely in floods of waters great, ‖ they shall not reach to him. ‖

7 Thou art my hiding place to me; ‖ thou keepest me from grief; ‖ and with songs of deliverance ‖ thou dost encompass me. ‖

8 I'll make thee wise, and teach thee in ‖ the way which thou should go; ‖ I will give counsil unto thee; ‖ I'll on thee have my eye. ‖

[Page 72] 9 Be n't as the Horse, or as the Mule, ‖ which do not understand; ‖ whose mouth with bit and bridle is ‖ held least they injure thee. ‖

10 There shall be many sorrows to ‖ him that's a wicked Man; ‖ But who hopes in th' ETERNAL God, ‖ him mercy shall surround. ‖

11 Be glad in the ETERNAL God, ‖ and, O ye just, rejoyce; ‖ and shout with a triumphing joy, ‖ all ye upright in heart. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXII. PSALM.

MAschil. Twelve more Psalms are thus Intituled. Some take it for an Epithit of the Master of Music, who instructed the Sons of Korah skilfully. One says, The Felicity of the Penitent and Converted Jews, and of the Nations join'd with them in the Kingdom of GOD, is here pointed at. The Syriac Title seems to give a Key to an hidden sense of several Passages in the Psalm; De Adami Peccato, et Christi Redemption.

1 Covered. The Law in the Ark, was covered by the Mercy-Seat; So our Sin against the Law, is covered by the Messiah, our Great Prepitiatery.

2 No guile. D. Kimchi describes him well; He that hath a purpose, never to return unto the Sin that he repents of.

3, 4 Austin will have the Fever here complained of, to be that of raging Concupiscence. A terrible Observation! That Sin keeps a strong and a strange hold on the minds of Men, till it be by a Penitent Confession repented of.

6 Compare Isai. LV. 6.

[Page 73]

PSALM XXXIII.

1 BEcause of the ETERNAL God ‖ Rejoyce, Ye righteous ones; ‖ Unto the Men that are upright ‖ Praise is desirable. ‖

2 With harp praise the ETERNAL God, ‖ Sing with a Psaltery; ‖ Sing to Him with an Instrument ‖ that has ten strings in it. ‖

3 Sing to Him a new Song; Do well ‖ in singing with a noise. ‖

4 For the Word of Th' ETERNAL's right; ‖ and His whole work in truth. ‖

5 Both Righteousness and Judgment are ‖ the things which He doth love; ‖ The Goodness of th' ETERNAL God, ‖ the Earth is full of it. ‖

6 The Heavens were made by the Word ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ and all the host of them made by ‖ the spirit of His mouth. ‖

7 The flowing waters of the Sea ‖ He gathers as an heap; ‖ as in so many Store-Houses ‖ He layeth up the deeps. ‖

8 Let all the Earth express the fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God, ‖ let all Inhabitants of the ‖ World stand in awe of Him. ‖

9 For He no sooner spoke the Word, ‖ but, lo, the thing is done: ‖ He did but give out His command, ‖ and then the thing stood forth. ‖

10 Th' ETERNAL God defeats the plot ‖ [Page 74]laid by the Nations here; ‖ Devices of the People He ‖ makes be of none effect. ‖

11 The Counsel of th' ETERNAL God, ‖ that does for ever stand; ‖ so do the Thoughts of His Heart to ‖ all Generations stand. ‖

12 O blessed Nation that; whose God ‖ is the ETERNAL One! ‖ The People He hath chosen for ‖ His own Inheritance. ‖

14 From Heaven the ETERNAL God ‖ continually looks down; ‖ He takes a thorough [...]ognisance ‖ of all the Sons of Men. ‖

14 From the bright Habitation where ‖ He hath His resting-place ‖ He takes a view of all that do ‖ inhabit on the Earth. ‖

15 He hath bestow'd a fashion on ‖ the Heart of them together; ‖ Animadvert He doth upon ‖ all the works done by them. ‖

16 No King's delivered by the ‖ multitude of an host; ‖ no Potent one is rescued by ‖ the greatness of his pow'r. ‖

17 An Horse for safety trusted in ‖ is a deceitful thing; ‖ for by the greatness of his strength ‖ he shall deliver none. ‖

18 The Eye of the ETERNAL God, ‖ behold, it is on them ‖ that fear Him; 'tis on them that hope ‖ in His Benignity. ‖

19 'Tis for to grant a rescue to ‖ the Soul of them from Death; ‖ and that He may keep them alive ‖ when Famine shall prevail. ‖

20 Our Soul hath still with waiting hop'd ‖ [Page 75]for the ETERNAL God; ‖ 'Tis He Himself who is our help, ‖ and He that is our Shield. ‖

21 For that it is in Him our heart ‖ shall cheerfully rejoyce; ‖ Because that in His Holy Name ‖ we place our confidence. ‖

22 Thy mercy, O ETERNAL God, ‖ Let that upon us be, ‖ according as we do rely ‖ upon thy self alone. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXIII. PSALM.

BEhold, An Hymn of the Israelitish Nation, after it is re-established in the favour of GOD. And a Song upon the Ruin of the Nations that continue in enmity to Him.

1 Desirable. Kimchi carries it so. The Upright will desire nothing so much as this, that GOD may be Praised.

4 Word—and Work. Both have the same Voice, come on the same Errand, show the same right way to us.

PSALM XXXIV. Of David; When he changed his Behaviour before Abimelek; who drove him away and he departed.

1 BLessing I'll at all times ascribe ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ In my mouth shall the Praise of Him ‖ continually be heard. ‖

2 In the ETERNAL God my Soul ‖ shall make her sacred boast; ‖ They whom affliction has brought down, ‖ shall hear, and shall be glad. ‖

[Page 76] 3 O join with me to magnify ‖ now the ETERNAL God; ‖ And let us all together join ‖ for to exalt His Name. ‖

4 I did seek the ETERNAL God, ‖ and He gave ear to me; ‖ yea, He did me deliver then ‖ from out of all my fears. ‖

5 Others too now shall look to Him, ‖ and be enlightened thence; ‖ nor shall their countenances be ‖ covered with any shame. ‖

6 This poor Man made his cry, and him ‖ th' ETERNAL God did hear; ‖ yea, He delivered him from all ‖ of his perplexities ‖

7 The Angel of th' ETERNAL God ‖ encampeth round about ‖ such as do fear Him, and He doth ‖ extricate them from straits. ‖

8 O taste, and take a view, how good ‖ is the ETERNAL God! ‖ What are the Blessings of the Man, ‖ who puts his trust in Him! ‖

9 O fear ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ all ye His holy ones; ‖ for unto them that have his fear ‖ there is no penury. ‖

10 Young Lions are red uc'd to want; ‖ and hunger comes on them; ‖ but they that fear th' ETERNAL God ‖ shall not want any good. ‖

11 Come, O ye Children, unto me, ‖ give an attentive ear; ‖ I will instruct you in the Fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

12 What Man is he who doth desire ‖ to set repeted life! ‖ who hath a love to days, that he ‖ may have the sight of good! ‖

[Page 77] 13 Keep thou thy tongue from evil, and ‖ thy lips from speaking guile. ‖

14 Depart from evil, and do good; ‖ Seek peace, and follow it. ‖

15 The Eyes of the ETERNAL God ‖ are [...]n the righteous ones; ‖ and to the cry that's nade by them ‖ His Ears are still inclin'd. ‖

16 Against ill doers is the face ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ for to extirpate from the Earth ‖ the memory of them. ‖

17 Men cry, and the ETERNAL God ‖ doth hearken to their cry; ‖ and out of all their troubles He ‖ gives them deliverance. ‖

18 Nigh unto broken-hearted ones ‖ is the TERNAL God; ‖ and the contrite in spirit [...]le ‖ will give Salvation to. ‖

19 Many are the calamities ‖ upon the [...]ighteous one; ‖ but him does the ETERNAL God ‖ deliver out of all. ‖

20 He keepeth all his bones; of them ‖ there shall not one be broke. ‖

21 Wo slays the wicked; and be sham'd ‖ shall they that hate the just. ‖

22 Th' ETERNAL God redeems the Soul ‖ of Servants unto Him; ‖ and none of them who trust in Him ‖ shall a confusion see. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXIV. PSALM.

BEhold, The Praises which the Messiah gives unto His Father, for carrying Him thro' His wonderful sufferings!

[Page 78] 5 They; All Good Men that hear the Story, GOD will revive and quicken them, from this Experience.

7 Encampeth. Here seems to be an eye upon Mahanaim [Gen. XXXII. 1, 2.] And is not this the special instance of Goodness, which the next Verse refers to? Upon the mention of these words, Origen has a Note, That when the Faithful Servants of GOD are assembled in His Churches, their Guardian-Angels are there present with them, so as to make a Double Church, one of Men, another of Angels. Compare, Psal. CXXXVIII. 1. O Holy Singer: Think of this, and be animated.

19, 20 Now, I hope, 'tis plain that the Humiliation and Exaltation of our SAVIOUR, is here celebrated.

PSALM XXXV. Of David.

1 STrive, O ETERNAL God, with them ‖ who are at strife with me: ‖ Opposing them contend with such ‖ as would devour me quite. ‖

2 O do thou take hold of the Shield, ‖ and of the Buckler too; ‖ and rising, O do thou stand up ‖ now for to succour me. ‖

3 Draw out the spear also, and stop ‖ my persecutors course: ‖ O do thou say unto my Soul, ‖ I thy Salvation am. ‖

4 May they be sham'd, & may they blush, ‖ who do pursue my Soul; ‖ may they be turned back, and sham'd, ‖ who do devise my hurt. ‖

5 May they become like to the chaff ‖ driven before the wind; ‖ The Angel of th' ETERNAL God, ‖ may he drive them about. ‖

[Page 79] 6 May their way have much darkness in't, ‖ and much of slipperiness; ‖ and th' Angel of th' ETERNAL God ‖ still persecuting them. ‖

7 For the pit of their net for me, ‖ they've hid without a cause; ‖ without a cause they for my Soul ‖ have dug an horrid pit. ‖

8 May unknown ruin come on him, ‖ and may his net which he ‖ hath hid, surprize himself; may he ‖ with tumult fall into' it. ‖

9 But let my Soul have glorious joy ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ O let my Soul greatly rejoyce ‖ in His Salvation still. ‖

10 Yea, of my Body all the Bones ‖ let them also declare, ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, who is ‖ to be compar'd to thee? ‖ Thou dost redeem the Poor from him ‖ that is too strong for him; ‖ Redeem the poor and needy one ‖ from him that spoileth him. ‖

11 Against me there have risen up ‖ injurious witnesses; ‖ interrogating me of things ‖ which I know nothing of. ‖

12 Evil for good was that which they ‖ did recompense to me; ‖ to the depriving of my Soul ‖ of what might comfort me. ‖

13 But I when they were sick, did make ‖ Sackcloath my covering; ‖ I broke my Soul with fasting, and ‖ my Prayer turn'd on my breast. ‖

14 I walk'd as tho' he'd been a Friend ‖ and Brother unto me; ‖ as mourning for a Mother I ‖ did bow down heavily. ‖

[Page 80] 15 But in my halting towards a fall ‖ they did exult for joy; ‖ such as were abject wretches did ‖ gather themselves together; ‖ gather themselves against me, when ‖ I did not know of it; ‖ they tore me all to pieces there, ‖ and did not hold their peace. ‖

16 They were with mocking hypocrites ‖ who made a feast of scoffs; ‖ They did against me fiercely gnash ‖ with their devouring teeth. ‖

17 O Lord, how long wilt thou look on? ‖ deliver thou my Soul‖from their dead strokes, my only One ‖ Oh! from the Lions save. ‖

18 In the great Congregation then ‖ I will give thanks to thee; ‖ among much and great People I ‖ will render praise to thee. ‖

19 My wrongful enemies, may they ‖ not triumph over me; ‖ nor who hate me without a cause ‖ wink with a scornful eye. ‖

20 Because they speak not peaceably, ‖ but words they do devise ‖ full of deceit against such as ‖ are quiet in the Land. ‖

21 Yea, even with an open mouth ‖ they have upon me run; ‖ and they have cried, Ah [...], Aha, ‖ Our eyes have seen the thing. ‖

22 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thou hast ‖ took cognizance of this; ‖ O [...] not now a silent One; ‖ Lord, Be not far from me. ‖

23 Stir up thy self, and O awake ‖ unto my judgment now; ‖ O Thou my God, & Thou my Lord, ‖ awake unto my cause. ‖

[Page 81] 24 According to thy Righteousness ‖ judge me, ETERNAL God; ‖ Judge me, my God, and let them not ‖ have triumphs ever me. ‖

25 In their hearts let them not say, Ah, ‖ Our Soul would have it so! ‖ O let them not have room to say, ‖ We have devoured him. ‖

26 Let them be sham'd, & blush together, ‖ who of my hurt are glad; ‖ may they be cloath'd with shame, and blush, ‖ who look so big on me. ‖

27 Let them shout with triumphant joy, ‖ and be exceeding glad, ‖ whose favourable sentiments ‖ believe my righteousness. ‖ Yea, may they say continually, ‖ Let the ETERNAL God ‖ be magnified, who takes delight ‖ in His true Servants peace. ‖

28 And now my tongue shall dwell upon ‖ thy glorious Righteousness; ‖ My Tongue shall celebrate thy praise ‖ all day * and every day.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXV. PSALM.

BEhold, A Psalm of Wishes, to see the Kingdom of Antichrist, whereof we have here a description, destroyed! But, O Christian Singer, Take here, once for all, a Noble Instruction of A [...]nobius. Cave ne [...]ad homines adversantes [...]ibi pules ista competere. Dont think to Pray at this rate against thy personal Enemies; But employ those Prayers, contra Spiritus hugus aerie, qui quotidie noc [...], against thy Spiritual Enemies. against which thou art engaged in a continual Warfare.

[Page 82] 2 Good Men assaulted or endangered by Enemies at first will desire no more than to be defended from them. They are not for offending of them. Anon, if there be no other way, they are content that the Holy One take the Spear also.

4 Compare, Job. XVIII. 6. The LXX here uses the same Word that is there.

8 R. Obadiah thinks, here is an Allusion to 2 Sam. XVIII. 13.—Bring Ropes to the City.

13 q. d. I wish'd my self no better than I desired God to do for them. The Patrician Paraphrase. The Gloss of the Ancients upon it was; Non alium orabam, quam illum qui mihi personaliter junctus est, dicit CHRISTUS; Secundum quod homo, secundum quod orat. Sed oratio convertitur in sinum; idest, ad Verbum in quo erat Pater.

15 q. d. The Scum of the People who were so vile, that I did not so much as know there were such Wretches in the World. The LXX reads it, The Scourges, Ainsworth supposes it refers to the Scourge of the Tongue. [Job VI. 21.] Hammond supposes it means People worthy of the Scourge.

16 Hebr. Mockers for a Cake. Sycophants who flatter at the Table for a belly full of Meat. Compare 2 Sam. XI. 8. — there followed a mess of Meat from the King, R. Obadiah thinks that these Mockers employed their Squibs particularly on that unhappy Mess of Meat,

21 q. d. — We have now found him out.

PSALM XXXVI. To the Chief Musician. Of David, the Servant of the ETERNAL God.

1 THE Wicked Mans Transgression doth, ‖ speak this within my heart; ‖ That there's not any fear of God ‖ at all before his eyes. ‖

[Page 83] 2 For in his own deceived eyes ‖ he flattereth himself, ‖ till his iniquity be found ‖ to be an hateful thing. ‖

3 Iniquity and base deceit ‖ are the words of his mouth; ‖ he hath left off to understand; ‖ to do the thing that's good. ‖

4 Iniquity he does devise ‖ while he lies on his bed; ‖ he sets upon a way not good; ‖ evil he don't abhor. ‖

5 Thy Mercy, OETERNAL God, ‖ is in the Heavens seen; ‖ Thy faithfulness is what does reach ‖ unto the Heav'nly clouds.‖

6 Like mounts of God's thy Righteousness; ‖ thy Judgments a great deep; ‖ ETERNAL God, Thou dost preserve ‖ Man, and inseriour Beast. ‖

7 O God, How wondrous excellent ‖ thy loving kindness is! ‖ Now in the shadow of thy wings ‖ the Sons of Men will trust. ‖

8 They from the fatness of thy House ‖ shall be replenished; ‖ and of the stream of thy Delights ‖ thou shalt make them to drink. ‖

9 Because there is the Fountain of ‖ all of our Lives with thee; ‖ Enlightned by thy glorious Light ‖ we shall see Light with joy. ‖

10 Extend thy loving kindness to ‖ them that acknowledge thee; ‖ extend also thy Righteousness ‖ to the upright in heart. ‖

11 O never let the foot of pride ‖ make an approach to me: ‖ Nor let the hand of wicked ones ‖ cause me for to remove. ‖

[Page 84] 12 The workers of iniquity, ‖ they are now fallen there; ‖ they are cast down, and they shall not ‖ be able to arise. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXVI. PSALM.

1 SAul doubtless was intended; yet he names him not, because he would preserve all the Reverence that might be, for him.

7 The Shadow of the Wings of the Lord, No doubt refers to Angelical Influences, and Protections. But Arnobius devoutly refers it unto the extended Arms of our SAVIOUR on the Cross.

8 The Fatness of the House of GOD, more immediately refers to the Sacrifices of Thanksgiving.

12 There!—in the very Act of their wickedness.

PSALM XXXVII. Of David.

1 FRet not thy self because of them ‖ that are malignant Men; ‖ Be'n't mov'd with envy at the Men ‖ that work iniquity. ‖

2 For that like as the Grass they shall ‖ be speedily mown down; ‖ and like unto the verdant Herb, ‖ wither they shall away. ‖

3 Hope thou in the ETERNAL God, ‖ and still be doing Good; ‖ Inhabit then the promis'd Land, ‖ and make the Truth thy food. ‖

4 And do thou place thy whole delight ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ so He will then vouchsafe to thee ‖ the wishes of thine heart. ‖

5 Devolve the Cares of all thy way ‖ [Page 85]on the ETERNAL God; ‖ and place thy confidence in Him, ‖ so He'll accomplish it. ‖

6 He shall therewith like as the Light ‖ bring forth thy Righteousness; ‖ and with meridian lustre shall ‖ Judgments be wrought for thee. ‖

7 On the ETERNAL God be thou ‖ a silent waiter still; ‖ and with unceasing patience wait ‖ expecting Him to work. ‖ Fret not thy self because of him ‖ who prospers in his way; ‖ or because of the Man who brings ‖ wicked designs to pass. ‖

8 Desist from anger, and dismiss ‖ fierce indignation: ‖ Do not wax hot; but still be sure ‖ to do no evil thing. ‖

9 For evil-doers, they shall be ‖ cut off; but they that wait ‖ on the ETERNAL God, they shall ‖ as heirs enjoy the Earth. ‖

10 For yet a little while, and then ‖ the wicked shall not be; ‖ yea, thou shalt closely view his place, ‖ and he shall not be there. ‖

11 But humbled ones shall have the Earth ‖ for their Inheritance; ‖ and in th' abundance of their peace ‖ they shall delight themselves. ‖

12 The wicked does devise a plot ‖ against the righteous man; ‖ and he does gnash upon him with ‖ his ill-designing teeth. ‖

13 The Lord relied-on shall him ‖ in a derision have; ‖ because he does foresee his day ‖ of Wo is coming on. ‖

[Page 86] 14 The wicked have drawn out their Sword ‖ and they have bent their Bow, ‖ to make the poor and needy fall; ‖ to slay right walking ones. ‖

15 Their Sword shall with a mortal thrust ‖ pass into their own heart; ‖ their Bows also which they have bent, ‖ they shall be broken quite. ‖

16 Tho' it be but a little that ‖ a righteous Man enjoys, ‖ 'tis better than the heaped Wealth ‖ of many wicked ones.

17 Because the arms of wicked ones ‖ shall be entirely broke; ‖ But the ETERNAL God confirms ‖ with strength the righteous Men. ‖

18 Th' ETERNAL God takes notice of ‖ the days of upright ones; ‖ and their Inheritance shall last ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

19 They shan't be put to any shame ‖ in any evil time; ‖ and when the days of famine come ‖ they shall be satisfy'd. ‖

20 But fade shall ill Men, and the foes ‖ of the ETERNAL God ‖ shall be consum'd like fat of Lambs; ‖ they shall consume in smoke. ‖

21 The wicked does receive a Loan, ‖ and does not pay again; ‖ But he that is a righteous Man ‖ shews mercy and does give. ‖

22 For they who are His blessed ones ‖ as heirs shall have the Earth; ‖ but they that are cursed from Him ‖ shall be cut off from thence. ‖

[Page 87] 23 The steps of Man are ordered ‖ by the ETERNAL God; ‖ when the way which he takes is what ‖ he does take pleasure in. ‖

24 Altho' he fall yet he shall not ‖ be utterly cast down, ‖ because that the ETERNAL One ‖ upholds him with His Hand. ‖

24 I have been Young, and now am Old, ‖ yet have I never seen ‖ the Just forsaken, nor his Seed, ‖ when asking for their Bread. ‖

26 He does shew mercy every day, ‖ and's on the lending hand; ‖ and his Posterity shall be ‖ remark'd for blessedness. ‖

27 Depart from evil and do good; ‖ so shalt thou dwell for ever. ‖

28 Because that the ETERNAL One ‖ does love the thing that's right: ‖ He won't forsake His gracious ones, ‖ they are preserv'd for ever; ‖ But the Offspring of wicked ones ‖ is utterly our off. ‖

29 The righteous, they shall have the Land ‖ as their Inheritance; ‖ and they therein forever shall ‖ their habitation have. ‖

30 The mouth of a just Man shall speak ‖ that which has wisdom in't: ‖ his tongue shall also utter what ‖ shall be the thing that's right. ‖

31 The Law of God is in his heart; ‖ none of his steps shall slip. ‖

32 The wicked Man does watch the Just, ‖ and seeks to ruin him. ‖

[Page 88] 33 Th'ETERNAL God will not leave him ‖ in th' hand of such an one; ‖ nor will he him condemn for such, ‖ when that he shall be judg'd. ‖

34 Wait thou on the ETERNAL God, ‖ and keep thou in His way: ‖ and thou shall find He then will set ‖ thee in an high estate, ‖ That so thou may'st enjoy the Land ‖ as an Inheritance; ‖ whence when the wicked art cut off ‖ thou shalt behold the thing. ‖

35 I have beheld the wicked one ‖ grown mighty in his power; ‖ and like unto a green Bay-tree, ‖ spreading himself abroad. ‖

36 Yet he did quickly pass away, ‖ and lo, he was not there! ‖ yea, I did look for him, and he ‖ was not for to be found. ‖

37 Do thou observe the perfect Man, ‖ and the upright behold, ‖ because that such 2 Man shall have ‖ peace in the latter end. ‖

38 But the transgressors of the Law ‖ shall be destroy'd together; ‖ the latter end of wicked Men ‖ shall be, to be cut off. ‖

39 But the Salvation of the Just ‖ is from th' ETERNAL God; ‖ In the time of distress He is ‖ the fortitude of such. ‖

40 And the ETERNAL God does help ‖ them, and does rescue them; ‖ rescues them from ill Men, and saves ‖ them; for they trust in Him ‖

[Page 89]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXVII. PSALM.

NEcessary Instructions for the Faithful under the Power of Antichrist, who holds Prosperity to be a Mark of the true Church. Behold, the Ruin of Antichrist; both Head and Body; and the bright Prosperity of the Faithful, after the wicked one shall be desiroyed. Our SAVIOUR applies the Psalm to an happy condition of the Church upon Earth; Matth. V. 5. Compare, Isai. XI. 4.

The Son of Syrack gives us the Sum of the Psalm in, Eccl. I. 23. A Patient Man, will bear for a long time, and afterward Joy shall spring up unto him.

1 Quite contrary the wretched Ethicks taught by that grand Apostle of Satan, Aristotle; who commends for a Vertue, an Indignation at the Prosperity of unworthy Men.

3 David Kimchi so glosses it; Pasce alios, ubicunque habitas, insiructione in vijs Domini.

6 Kimchi's Gloss is, Men shall plainly see & own, that thou art a Righteous Man.

14 'Tis an Observation of R. Solomons; Pauper et egenus, in Psa [...]mis, semper de Israele dicuntur. The poor and needy always mean Israel.

16 A famous Jew reads it so; A few Righteous Men are of more account than many Wicked ones.

24 David once begg'd his own Bread. The begging of Bread here notes, all asking for it, either of God or Man. We are compell'd unto the Version that is now given us.

35 We see Wicked Men pretending to Lawrels. But what comes of them?

PSALM XXXVIII. A Psalm of David; To bring to Remembrance.

[Page 90]

1 O Thou ETERNAL God; in thy ‖ hot wrath rebuke me not; ‖ And in thy Anger flaming out, ‖ O do not chasten me. ‖

2 Because thine Arrows upon me ‖ are shot down from above; ‖ and thy hand from above does come ‖ down to afflict me sore. ‖

3 In my flesh there is nothing sound; ‖ thine Anger is the cause; ‖ nor in my bones is any rest; ‖ because that I have sinn'd. ‖

4 Because that mine iniquities ‖ over mine head are gone; ‖ they as an heavy burden are ‖ too heavy found for me. ‖

5 My wounds do stink and are corrupt; ‖ my folly is the cause. ‖

6 Troubled I am, and much depress'd; ‖ go mourning every day. ‖

7 For my loins are inflam'd, and in ‖ my flesh there's nothing sound. ‖

8 I'm weak and broken much; I r [...] ‖ thro' anguish of my heart. ‖

9 O Lord, Before thee there is laid ‖ the whole of my desire; ‖ and none of all my groaning is ‖ at all conceal'd from thee. ‖

10 My heart perplex'd turns every way; ‖ my strength, it faileth me: ‖ And as for the light of mine eyes, ‖ even those are not with me. ‖

11 My lovers & my friends do stand ‖ where they may n't see my stroke; ‖ and they that are my Neighbours do ‖ stand at a distance off ‖

[Page 91] 12 And they that seek my life lay snares; ‖ they too that seek my hurt, ‖ do speak mischievous things; and plot ‖ all the day long deceits. ‖

13 But I am as a Man that's deaf; ‖ I hear not what they say; ‖ And I am like a Man that's dumb, ‖ who opens not his mouth. ‖

14 And thus I was like to a Man ‖ who does not hear at all; ‖ nor is there in his mouth what he ‖ may answer for himself. ‖

15 For, O ETERNAL God, thou art ‖ He for whom I do wait; ‖ O Lord, Thou art my God, thou wilt ‖ give answer unto me. ‖

16 For this is what I said, lest they ‖ should triumph over me, ‖ while my foot slips, against me they ‖ do magnifie themselves. ‖

17 For I'm prepar'd to halt, and ever ‖ before me is my grief. ‖

18 For I'll declare my crime, I will ‖ be sorry for my sin. ‖

19 But my foes, who are living ones, ‖ are mighty, strong withal; ‖ and they who hate me wrongfully ‖ are greatly multiply'd. ‖

20 They too that render ill for good, ‖ are enemies to me; ‖ yea, it is for this very cause; ‖ I follow what is good. ‖

21 ETERNAL God, Forsake me not; ‖ My God, Be'nt far from me: ‖ make haste to help me, Lord, who art, ‖ my sole Salvation [...]l [...] ‖

[Page 92]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXVIII. PSALM.

DOes not the Psalm express the condition of the Synagogue, as now groaning under the Persecution of An [...]ichrist? No doubt of it. Compare the 16th Verse, with Deut. XXII. 26, 27. and the 17th Verse, with Zeph. III. 19.

2 R. Obadiah reports a Tradition, That the Psalmist laboured under a Leprosy Six Months together, and that all this time, The Divine Presence was witheld from him.

12 Munstors gloss upon Snares, is, Verba ad desperationom inducentia: Words of Despair.

PSALM XXXIX. To the Chief Musician: To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 I Said, I will regard my ways ‖ lest I sin with my tongue; ‖ I'll keep a bridle on my mouth, ‖ while I've the vile in view. ‖

2 With silence I remain'd as dumb, ‖ wholly held my peace, ‖ not mentioning of any good; ‖ my grief was then renew'd. ‖

3 My heart within me did grow hot; ‖ while my thoughts were engag'd; ‖ the Fire did then begin to burn; ‖ then spake I with my tongue. ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL One, Do thou ‖ make known to me my end; ‖ and what's the measure of my days; ‖ to know how frail am. ‖

[Page 93] 5 Lo, Thou an hands breadth mak'st my days, ‖ and my age in thy sight, ‖ as nothing; sure each man at best ‖ is wholly vanity. ‖

6 Sure, in a shadow Man does walk; ‖ sure, they're disturb'd in vain; ‖ he heaps up treasures, and knows not ‖ who shall make use of them. ‖

7 And now, O Lord, What wait I for? ‖ My hope is placid on thee. ‖

8 Deliver me from all my sins; ‖ the Fools scorn make me not. ‖

9 I'm dumb, I open not my mouth; ‖ for 'tis what thou hast done. ‖

10 Remove thy stroke away from me; ‖ by thy hand's blow I waste. ‖

11 When with rebukes thou dost correct ‖ Man for iniquity, ‖ thou mak'st to waste even as moth, ‖ that which is his desire. ‖ Most certainly then every Man ‖ is very vanity. ‖ Selah. ‖

12 Hear my Prayer, O ETERNAL God, ‖ and hearken to my cry. ‖ Upon my tears, O be not deaf, ‖ because I am with thee ‖ a stranger, and a sojourner, ‖ as all my Fathers were. ‖

13 O spare me graciously, that so ‖ I may recover strength, ‖ before that I shall go from [...]ence, ‖ and be no more at all. ‖

[Page 94]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXIX. PSALM.

BEhold again the Condition of the Synagogue under the Oppressions of Anticbrist.

6 A Man promises himself mighty matters; But he has no more than the Image and Shadone of them in his Erain; For on the sudden he himself vanithes and is gone. So one Paraphrases. The Comparison of Man to a Shadow, may be copiously prosecuted, with much Service to Piety.

12 A sad Hint! It seems, GOD and he were both Strangers here. But have an Eye to the Messiah here. He was a Stranger in this World.

PSALM XL. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 WIth earnest waiting I did wait ‖ on the ETERNAL God; ‖ and He inclined unto me, ‖ He also heard my cry. ‖

2 And fetch [...]d me from the roaring pit; ‖ out of the miry clay; ‖ and on a Rock He set my feet; ‖ He did direct my steps. ‖

3 And put a new Song in my mouth, ‖ of Praise unto our God; ‖ Many shall see, and fear, and trust ‖ in the ETERNAL God. ‖

4 O blessed is the Man that makes ‖ th' ETERNAL God his trust; ‖ and dont regard the proud, nor the ‖ decliners to a lye. ‖

5 ETERNAL God, my God, Thoust wrought ‖ Thy many wondrous works; ‖ [Page 95]And thy thoughts towards us, to thee ‖ none can in order tell: ‖ Would I declare and mention them ‖ they're more than can be told. ‖

6 A Sacrifice and Offring thou ‖ didst not at all desire. ‖ Thou for thy Service bor'st the Ears ‖ thou'st given unto me: ‖ Burnt-Offring and Sin-Offring is ‖ what thou hast not requir'd. ‖

7 Then, said I, Lo, I come; to do ‖ that which thou hast requir'd: ‖ Thou hast a rolled Book wherein ‖ 'tis written thus of me. ‖

8 That I may do thy Will, My God, ‖ this is what I would have; ‖ In the midst of my Bowels too ‖ thy Law is treasur'd up. ‖

9 In the great Congregation I ‖ have Preach'd thy Righteousness: ‖ Lo, I have not refrain'd my lips, ‖ ETERNAL God, thou know'st. ‖

10 Thy Righteousness I have not hid ‖ in the midst of my heart; ‖ I have thy faithfulness and thy ‖ Salvation shown abroad. ‖ Thy loving kindness I have not ‖ in any part conceal'd, ‖ nor from the Great Assembly kept ‖ thy never-failing Truth. ‖

11 Withold not, O ETERNAL God, ‖ thy kindnesses from me; ‖ Thy Mercy, and thy Truth let them ‖ keep me continually. ‖

12 For evils have encompass'd me ‖ till none can number them: ‖ And my iniquities withal ‖ have taken hold on me. ‖ [Page 96]Nor can I take a view, they are ‖ so multiply'd above ‖ the hairs which grow upon my head; ‖ and my Heart faileth me. ‖

13 Be pleased, O ETERNAL God, ‖ for to deliver me; ‖ and unto my relief make haste, ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God. ‖

14 Let those be sham'd, & blush together ‖ that seek my Soul, to slay't; ‖ Let those be driven back and sham'd, ‖ who do desire my hurt. ‖

14 As the just recompence of what ‖ is really their shame; ‖ they shall be desolate, who say, ‖ to me, Aha, Aha!

16 Those who are thy true seekers, let ‖ all such rejoyce in thee ‖ yea, let them all triumph in this ‖ with overflowing joy. ‖ Those who in thy Salvation take ‖ a true delight, let them ‖ forever say, Th' ETERNAL God, ‖ Let Him be magnify'd. ‖

17 But I'm a needy one, and poor: ‖ the Lord yet thinks on me: ‖ Thou my Help, and my Saviour art; ‖ My God, O tarry not. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XL. PSALM.

CHristian, Behold the Praises of thy SAVIOUR to His ETERNAL Father, for His Presence with Him, in His Humiliation. Paul has taught us how to apply the Psalm.

2 The Sepulchre of our SAVIOUR was hewed out of a Rock. Behold Him setting His Fert on the Rock, and in His Resurrection triumphing over the Grave.

[Page 97] 5 Munster so reads it, Nemo est qui ea ordinat ad te. The Benefits of Heaven, are not ordered by Men as they should, and subordinated unto the Glory and Service of GOD.

6 Mine Ear hast thou bored, is, q. d. Thou hast made me thy Servant. The Service which the Son of GOD was to do for His Eternal Father, could not be done without a Body. The Clause is with much wisdom rendered in the New-Testament, A Body hast thou prepared for me. The Servant was to have part of his Body, his Ear fastned with Iron to a Post. So was the Body of our SAVIOUR, to the Cross. Yea, the Hebrew Word signifies, Apparare, as well as, Perforare. And Ozen, may signify a Body as well as an Ear. Moreover, the Greek Word [...], which we render, a Body, is continually used by the Jewish Writers, to signify, A Servant. So in the Books of the Apocrypha and Josephus.

There is a wrong done to the Holy Spirit of GOD, by those Criticks, who will tell you, That the Apostle followed the LXX, in his reading here, A Body hast thou prepared for me.

In Jerom's Days, there was not this reading in the LXX. The Primitive Christians altered the LXX in several Places, which the New-Testament cites out of the Old, and put in the Words of the New-Testament, which were not there before.

7 Some read it, In the Head, [or Beginnin] of thy Book; And think the Prophecy in the III. of Genesis refer'd unto. Grotius observes, That the Hebrews wrote their Contracts and Agronnents, and Indentures in Rolls. The Volumn here implies a Cont [...]act.

16—Not expect [...] [...]vation from any other hand. But, Christian, The Love of [...] SAVIOUR is also supposed her.

[Page 98]

PSALM XLI. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 BLessed the Man, who prudently ‖ considereth the Poor; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God will rescue him when 'tis an evil day.‖

2 Th' ETERNAL God will have him in ‖ His gracious custody; ‖ and He will make him for to live, ‖ when Death does threaten him. ‖ He shall be blessed upon Earth; ‖ nor wilt thou give him up ‖ unto the spiteful will of those ‖ that are his enemies. ‖

3 Th' ETERNAL God will on the Bed ‖ of weakness strengthen him: ‖ Thou, when that he is languishing, ‖ wilt turn his Bed for him. ‖

4 I said, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ Be merciful to me; ‖ Heal thou my Soul, because I have ‖ wandred from Thee by Sin. ‖

5 My Adversaries, they do speak ‖ evil concerning me; ‖ When shall he die? They say, and when ‖ shall his name be destroy'd? ‖

6 And if he comes to visit me, ‖ he speaks but vanity; ‖ his heart rakes mischief to it self; ‖ going abroad he tells. ‖

7 Against me they that hate me do ‖ whisper together all; ‖ against me they devise what may ‖ be mischeivous to me. ‖

8 They say, Some thing of Belial sure ‖ [Page 99]is lying upon him; ‖ and now that he is lying ill ‖ he shall rise up no more. ‖

9 Yea, and my own familiar friend ‖ in whom I trusted much; ‖ he who did eat my bread, has lift ‖ the heel to strike at me. ‖

10 But thou, O thou ETERNAL God, ‖ be merciful to me; ‖ and O restore thou me, that I ‖ may make returns to them. ‖

11 By this thing I am sensible, ‖ that thou dost favour me; ‖ because my enemy has not ‖ a triumph over me. ‖

12 And as for me, me thou upholdst ‖ in my integrity; ‖ and thou sett'st me before thy face ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

13 Blessed be the ETERNAL One, ‖ the God of Israel: ‖ from Age even unto Age, Amen, ‖ And yet again, Amen. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLI. PSALM.

MAY we not see the Condition of the Sanagogue, forsaken of all Humane help; yet hoping for a Restoration? 'Tis in view of this that GOD is blessed ty the Name of, The GOD of Israel; An Appellation that relates to the Re-calling of all the Tribes. The double Amen, leads us to a Second Restoration.

1 Pagnin, and others read it, Blessed is he that understands the Poor. Aquinas notes on it, A Merciful Man will endeavour to inform himself of the wants of the Poor, and relieve them, even before they do themselves reveal them. As Leo speaks, Ut hoc ipso magis gaudeant, quum et paupertati corum consultum fuerit, et pudori.

[Page 100] 3 He [...]r. Turn his Bed. Munster bespeaks that sense for it: The Lord will change his Bed; and give him Health instead of Sickness.

9 Hearken to Old Arnobius. Here suppose our Interiour assaulted by the Flesh, and the Powers of Dar [...]ness. Our Name which they would have to perish, is that of, Christian. Christian, Thy Flesh is thy Familiar Friend, and it plays the Judas with thee, When thou art Ris [...]n from the deadly Circumstances, which thy Spiritual Enemies bring upon thee, Requite them, Destroy them.

Ditto. Lift up the Heel. The Jewish Gloss is agreeable; Ac si eram semita pede suo trita. As if I were the dirt of the Street, for him to tread upon.

Ditto. Of Old, No Covenant of Friendship counted more inviolable, than what was begun at the Table, or confirm'd there. Jowish and Pagan Writers, have Curiosities of this Importance. Communicants at the Table of the Lord, Consider of this.

THE SECOND BOOK OF PSALMS.

PSALM XLII. To the Chief Musician. Maschil; for the Sons of Korah.

1 AS the Hart makes a panting cry ‖ for cooling streams of waters; ‖ So my Soul makes a panting cry ‖ to Thee, O mighty God. ‖

2 My Soul does flame with thirst for God, ‖ ev'n for the living God; ‖ when shall I come, and when appear ‖ before the face of God? ‖

[Page 101] 3 My Tear has been my constant meat, ‖ both in the day and night, ‖ while they continually say ‖ to me, Where is thy God? ‖

4 These things when I remember, I ‖ pour out my Soul in me. ‖ For I had gone in company ‖ once with the multitude; ‖ I went with them to th' House of God ‖ with voice of joy and praise; ‖ even with a multitude of them ‖ that kept a Festival. ‖

5 Why dost thou throw thy self into ‖ dejections, O my Soul? ‖ And why art thou disquieted ‖ in me with such a noise? ‖ Hope thou with waiting upon God; ‖ For I shall praise Him yet; ‖ Salvations are dispenc'd from the ‖ kind Aspects of His Face. ‖

5 My God, my Soul's cast down in me; ‖ Hence I'll remember thee ‖ from Jordan's Land and Hermon's Hills, ‖ from the Hill Mizar there. ‖

7 Deep calleth unto deep, at the ‖ noise of thy water spouts; ‖ Thy swelling Billows and thy Waves ‖ have all gone over me. ‖

8 Now the ETERNAL God will with ‖ effectual power command ‖ His mercy which He promised ‖ when that the Day arrives, ‖ And when the Night comes on there is ‖ with me a Song of His; ‖ A Supplication to Him who ‖ is of my Life the GOD. ‖

9 I will say unto God my Rock, ‖ Why hast thou me forgot? ‖ Why go I mourning for the sore ‖ oppression of the foe? ‖

[Page 102] 10 With cutting to my very bones ‖ my foes reproach me hard; ‖ While every day they unto me ‖ do say, Where is thy God? ‖

11 Why dost thou throw thy self into ‖ dejections, O my Soul? ‖ And why art thou disquieted ‖ in me with such a noise? ‖ Hope thou with waiting upon God; ‖ for I shall praise Him yet; ‖ Salvations He does work before ‖ my face; He is my God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLII. PSALM.

BEhold, The sorrows of the Synagogue in her dispersion, described by the Spirit of Prophecy [...]

1 Some have applied this unto Baptism, [...]fter which, even the Infant-Soul does pant, as having been invenomed by the Old Serpent. Many of the Fathers had this Notion. And Aquinas quotes it out of Jerom, That these Verses were Sung at the Solemn Times, when Baptism was administred.

2—Who would have expected it from a Jew? And yet Aben-E [...]ra says, The coming of the Messiah is here longed for.

3 q. d. I have been so taken up with Weeping, that I have had no time or heart for Eating.

4 'Twas very notably so, when the Psalmist brought the Ark to its dwelling place. Compare, I Chron. XV. 25, 28.

6 All Jordan, from the Spring to the Mouth of it, is here measured out.—He was banish'd unto the utmost Countr [...]es, both North and South, wash'd by the River Jordan.

7 The Waters of Jordan put him in mind of his Miseries;—All rolling over him one after another.

[Page 103] 10 Because the Jews had no Images of GOD, but worshipped an Invisible GOD, the Pagans derided them. Lucan speaks of their Deus Incerius. And Ph [...]a [...]ch owns, he did not know who he was. Quotations might be Numberless.

PSALM XLIII.

1 JUdge me, O God, and plead against ‖ a Nation merciless, ‖ my cause. O save me from the Man ‖ that's crasty and unjust. ‖

2 For of my strength thou art the God, ‖ why dost thou cast me off? ‖ Why go I mourning for the sore ‖ oppression of the foe? ‖

3 Thy light O send forth, and thy truth; ‖ let them lead me; let them ‖ bring me unto thy holy hill, ‖ and to thy Mansions there. ‖

4 Then to God's Altar I will go; ‖ To God, Joy of my Joy: ‖ and on the Harp I will confess ‖ to thee, O God, my God. ‖

5 Why dost thou throw thy self in ‖ dejections, O my Soul? ‖ And why art [...]ou disquieted ‖ in me with such a noise? ‖ Hope thou with waiting upon God, ‖ for I shall praise Him yet: ‖ Salvations He does work before ‖ my face; He is my God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLIII. PSALM.

TIS a servent Praver of Dispersed Israel, for a Restoration. Compare, Zeph, III. 16, 17.

3 'Tis Remarkable. The Midrash Till in finds the Messiah here. And so does Rabbi Sol [...].

[Page 104]

PSALM XLIV. To the Chief Musician. For the Sons of Korah. Maschil.

1 WE have heard with our Ears, O God; ‖ us have our Fathers told ‖ what work thou wroughtest in their days; ‖ even in the former days. ‖

2 Thou didst expel the Nations with ‖ thy hand; but plantedst them: ‖ Thou didst afflict the People there, ‖ and thou didst send them out. ‖

3 For it was not by their own Sword ‖ they did possess the Land; ‖ nor was it any arm of theirs ‖ which did deliver them. ‖ But it was thy Right hand, it was ‖ thy Arm which did the thing; ‖ 'Twas the Light of thy face; Because ‖ that thou didst favout them. ‖

4 Thou even thou thy self shalt be ‖ ever my King, O God: ‖ Salvations by commandement ‖ for Jacob, O procure. ‖

5 Thro' thee as with an horn we will ‖ push down our Enemies; ‖ Them who do rise against us, we ‖ will tread down in thy Name. ‖

6 For in my Bow I will not place ‖ at all my confidence; ‖ nor shall it be a Sword of mine ‖ that shall deliver me. ‖

7 But thou art He who still dost fa [...]c ‖ [Page 105] [...]s from our Enemies; ‖ 'tis thou who dost put unto shame ‖ them that have hated us. ‖

8 We glory in the Glorious God, ‖ all day, [...] and every day; ‖ And to thy Name we will confess ‖ unto Eternity. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 But thou hast in thy wrath cast off ‖ and hast put us to shame; ‖ and with our Armed Forces now, ‖ thou art not going forth. ‖

10 Thou makest us for to return ‖ back from the Enemy; ‖ and they that hate us, of our Weal [...]b ‖ make for themselves a spoil. ‖

11 As if we had been Sheep for food, so hast thou giv [...]n us up; ‖ And thou among the Nations hast ‖ scatter'd us all abroad. ‖

12 Thou of thy People hast made sale, ‖ and not increas'd thy Wealth; ‖ nor hast thou multiply'd thy Gain ‖ by a price paid for them. ‖

13 Unto our Neighhours thou dost make ‖ us to be a reproach; a scorn and a derision to ‖ them that encompass us. ‖

14 A mere by-word of us thou dost; ‖ among the Nations make, ‖ Among the People we are those ‖ at whom they shake the head. ‖

15 Before me every day is my ‖ confusion to be seen; ‖ and the shame for to show my face ‖ has wholly covered me.

16 From the Voice which reproaches m [...] ‖ and ulters Blasphemies, ‖ from the face of the enemy, ‖ ‖ and the [...]ongeful one.

[Page 106] 17 All this is come on us, yet we ‖ have not forgotten thee; ‖ nor have we dealt perfidiously ‖ against thy Covenant. ‖

18 Our heart is not departed in ‖ Apostacy from thee; ‖ not has our going yet been such ‖ as to decline thy way. ‖

19 Tho' in the place of Dragons thou ‖ hast sorely broken us, ‖ and thou hast overwhelm'd us in ‖ the gloomy shade of Death. ‖

20 If we have e'er forgot the Name ‖ of Him that is our God; ‖ or if unto a strange God we ‖ have stretched out our hands; ‖

21 Of such a thing would not our God ‖ full inquisition make? ‖ For the most inward secrets of ‖ the heart He fully knows. ‖

22 Yea, for thy cause we're put to death, ‖ all the day long 'tis so: ‖ We are accounted like the Sheep ‖ design'd for to be slain. ‖

23 Awake, O Lord, our strong support, ‖ O why art thou asleep? ‖ Awake thou so as to arise; ‖ cast us not off for ever. ‖

24 O wherefore dost thou hide thy face? ‖ Wherefore dost thou forget ‖ th' affliction which does humble us, ‖ and our oppression sore? ‖

25 Because our Soul is bowed down ‖ unto the very dust; ‖ so prostrate that our belly does ‖ lye cleaving to the Earth. ‖

26 Arise, O thou that ever art ‖ the help that we propose, ‖ and, O do thou deliver us, ‖ even for thy mercy's sake. ‖

[Page 107]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLIV. PSALM.

BEhold a Prayer for the Synagogue in her Dispersion. Old Theoderet puts upon it this Title, D [...] feroci Animo Antiochi. But remember that Antiochus was a Type of Antichrist. Others, who think such Inspirations then ceased, apprehend the Psalm calculated for the days of Hezekiah; and the Distress which the Assyrian brought upon Judea, in the time of that pious Reformer.

4 Accomplish Deliverances, by Commands and Orders given to Angels. 'Tis an Hint of Grotius.

5 Compare, Deut. XXXIII. 17.

12 God often Sold His People into the Hands of their Enemies, before the Conversion of the Gentiles. But it was not an Absolute Sale; It was only a Mortgage for Years; Redeemable after the Enemy had receiv'd his pay. God passed not away His Propriety in them; He entred a Proviso of Recovery in the Command of Preserving the Evidences. [Jer. XXXII. 7] The Selling all this while was for nought. God hereby did not increase His Wealth, nor add unto the heap of the Riches of that Grace, He had made over by Covenant unto Abraham and his Offspring. If God had utterly Sold away His People before He had set up His Kingdom among the Gentiles, He had Sold them for Nought; He had lost His Visible Kingdom in the World. But now when He Sold His People in the last Roman Captivity, it is not for Nought; it has introduced another and a larger People; The Riches of the World, as the Apostle expresses it.

14 A Fulfilment of Deut. XXVIII. 37.

19 Munsters Gloss is, Agimur in Exilium, A Banishment into a Wilderness.

[Page 108]

PSALM XLV. To the Chief Musician: Upon [...]b [...]sha [...]mim; For the Sons of Korab. Masehil. A [...]ong of Loves.

1 MY Heart it boils good matter out; ‖ I speak unto the King ‖ what I have wrought; my Tongue is like ‖ a ready writers pen. ‖

2 Fairer thou art than Sons of Men; ‖ Upon thy lips there is ‖ a Grace diffus'd; God therefore has ‖ bless'd thee for evermore. ‖

3 Gird thou thy Sword upon thy thigh, ‖ O thou most mighty One; ‖ Do it with thy Magnificence, ‖ and with thy Majesty. ‖

4 And in thy Majesty do thou ‖ proceed most prosp'rously; ‖ yea, ride thou forth upon the Word ‖ of Everlasting Truth: ‖ It is a Word of Meekness, and ‖ a Word of Righteousness; ‖ So thy Right-hand shall shew to thee ‖ Things very wonderful. ‖

5 Sharp are thine Arrows: (under thee ‖ the People shall fall down:) ‖ Sharp in the Hearts of them that have ‖ been enemies to the King. ‖

6 For ever and for ever is, ‖ thy Throne, O God, the Judge: ‖ The Scepter of thy Kingdom is ‖ a Scepter sway'd with right. ‖

7 Thou lovest Righ teousness; and thou ‖ hatest all wickedness; ‖ God therefore, He who is thy God, ‖ hath now anointed thee; ‖ Hath made thee His Messiah with ‖ a sweet refreshing Oil, ‖ which does distinguish thee from them ‖ who do partake with thee. ‖

[Page 109] 8 With Benjamin and Aloes, ‖ and Cassia, all thy robes, ‖ fetch'd from the ivory Palalaces; ‖ from thence did make thee glad. ‖

9 Ladies of Honour unto thee ‖ are Daughters of Great Kings; ‖ At thy Right-hand in Ophirs Gold ‖ array'd thy Consort stands. ‖

10 Hearken, O daughter, and behold; ‖ and bow thine ear to this; ‖ Now thine own People O forget, ‖ yea, and thy Fathers house. ‖

11 So in thy Beauty shall the King ‖ have an intense delight; ‖ Because He is thy Lord, therefore ‖ pay homage unto Him. ‖

12 Daughter of Tyrus, even thou; ‖ the wealthy People shall ‖ sollicit for thy favour with ‖ a Present made to thee. ‖

13 The Daughter of the King, she is ‖ all glorious within; ‖ Her covering is of spangled Robes ‖ which are inlaid with Gold. ‖

14 In Robes of Needle-work she shall ‖ be brought unto the King; ‖ Virgins that follow and attend, ‖ these shall be brought to thee. ‖

15 They shall brought be with wondrous joys, ‖ and exultations there; ‖ their entrance they shall make into ‖ the Palace of the King. ‖

16 In the room of thy Fathers now ‖ thy Children shall succeed; ‖ these thou shalt bencesorth constitute ‖ Princes in all the Earth. ‖

17 In every Generation I ‖ will make thy Name to be ‖ remembred; so the People shall ‖ [...]aise thee for evermore. ‖

[Page 110]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLV. PSALM.

BEhold the Marriage of the Jewish Church unto the Messiah, when she shall be recalled and restored unto the favour of GOD. Compare the III. Chapter of Joremiah. R. David Kimchi, has wondrous Confessions, That the Loves in the Psalm, are the Loves of GOD unto His CHRIST; That the Kings Daughters are the Nations of the Farth, Subject unto the Messiah; and the Queen among them is Israel. Others of the Rabbi's; but above all, the Chaldee Paraphrase; are full in their Applications of the Psalm to the M [...]ssiah. Yea, according to the Chaldee, in the Psalm now before us, the Messiah is GOD; and in the LIII. of Isaiah, the Messiah is Man. Wonderful! O Christian, How does thy Religion triumph over its Adversaries!

The Psalm is called, A Song of Desires. R. David says, The whole World will rejoyce at the coming of the Messiah, because all the Nations have desired it. Compare, Hag. II. 7. Consider, Rom. VIII. 19. The same Word used by the LXX, in Gen. XLIX. 10. Is not the Name of Jedidiah here alluded to?

1 A Writer of Short Hand. An basty Writer, as R. Obadiah Gaon expresses it, Qui principia Vocum solummodo transcribit. q. d. I'll only bestow a touch or Two in a contracted manner, on the Beginning of the matter.

4 The Prospering of the Kingdom is to be by the planting of all Vertue among the Subjects of it. Our SAVIOUR goes forth as a Conquerour, not in taking of Spoils, or making of Slaves; but in Settling of the True Faith among them, and making of them to be Meck, Modest, Humble, Righteous, and Charitable. For this purpose He did Miraculous things, Luk. IV. 36. and V. 26. And then, as Munster adds [...] Insedit Apoll [...] veluti Equo.

[Page 111] 8 The Super-eminent Gifts of our SAVIOUR cause an inexpressible Gladness, among His People and Subjects. Compare the Joy express'd, when Solomon was Anointed, and preferred before his Brethron, 1 Kin. I. 39, 40.

If Solomons Wedding Garments were perfumed, much more shall there be a sweet Odour in the Knowledge of CHRIST, when He comes to Fspouse His People. See, 2 Cor. II. 14, 15, 16. But, Behold what was literally done to the Garments of our SAVIOUR! Consider, Job. XIX. 30. Mark XVI. 1. Luk. XXIV. 1. Our SAVIOUR was made Glad, in His not seeing of Corruption.

9 R. Obadiah Gaon, wittily Fxpounds the Kings Daughters to be, Op [...]niones sapientum Nationum Exterarum. The Opinions of the Wiser Gentiles, are but so many Confessions of the true Religion; so many Attendants on the Church of GOD. Lactantius affirms of these, That if any one would make a fair Collection of them, Is profecto non dissentiret a nobis.

16 Arnobius here finds the Apostles coming in the room o [...] the Patriarchs. By their means, the Church brings forth Children unto CHRIST, whom He makes Kings and Priests unto GOD, and they shall Reign upon the [...]arth.

PSALM XLVI. To the Chief Musician. For the Sons of Korah. Upon Alamoth.

1 GOD is a Refuge unto us, ‖ and fortifying strength; ‖ and help in troubles which we have ‖ in great abundance found. ‖

2 Therefore we will not be afraid, ‖ altho' the Earthdo shake; ‖ and tho' the mountains be remov'd ‖ to the midst of the Seas. ‖

3 Thereof the waters, let them roat; ‖ [Page 112]and let them be disturb'd; ‖ and let the mountains tremble for ‖ the raging swell thereof. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 A River's here; the streams whereof ‖ rejoyce the City of God; ‖ the Holy place where the Most High ‖ has Habitations chose. ‖

5 God is within the midst of her; ‖ she sha'n't feel any shake; ‖ God shall send help to her, when that ‖ the Morning does approach. ‖

6 The Nations rag'd, the Kingdoms were ‖ in great Commotions roil'd; ‖ He did give forth His thundring Voice; ‖ the Earth was all dissolv'd. ‖

7 Th' ETERNAL God of Armies grants ‖ His presence unto us; ‖ The God of Jacob is for us ‖ a lofty Citadel. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 O come, Confider well the Works ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ who hath made desolations be ‖ upon the watted Earth. ‖

9 Unto the Borders of the Farth ‖ He maketh Wars to cease; ‖ He breaks the bow and cutts the spear, ‖ Chariots He burns in fire. ‖

10 Be still and know that I am GOD, ‖ among the Nations I ‖ will be exalted; and will be ‖ exalted in the Earth. ‖

11 Th' ETERNAL God of Armies grants ‖ His Presence unto us; ‖ the God of Jacob is for us ‖ a lofty Citadel. ‖ Selah. ‖

[Page 113]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLVI. PSALM.

BEhold the Happiness of restored Israel! Compare the Ninth Verse, with Isa. II. 4.

4 Take the Patrician Paraphrase. ‘Our Hearts shall be quiet and still; like the River that runs through our City, from whence the Inhabitants draw by Trenches, delightful Streams to Water their Gardens. —The small Forces that guard this place, which make no more noise than those Waters, [Isai. VIII. 6, 7.] shall by the help of God, who in a special manner dwelleth here; be too hard for the greatest Armies; which in their Number, and their Boasts, imitate the Waves of the raging Sea.’

But after all; The intention of the Holy Spirit here will not be understood, if the Holy Spirit Himself be not understood. HE is the River; His Effusions will be wonderful!

6 The horrible Tempest by which the Assyrian Camp fell under such Desolations, was a notable Fulfilment of this Passage.

But, if I dont misremember, some of the Ancients have l [...]d me here to consider what I read. Matth. XXVII. 50, 51. Behold, God uttereth His Voice and the Earth melteth.

10 Old Raymund in his Pugio fidei, firds a Direction for a Sabbath here. It may be rendred Sabbatize. Yea, the Great Sabbatism now arrives.

PSALM XLVII. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 O All ye People, every one, ‖ Clap ye your hands for joy; ‖ with a loud voice of triumph make ‖ a joyful shout to God.

[Page 114] 2 For the ETERNAL God most High, ‖ is greatly to be fear'd; ‖ He as a King magnificent ‖ reigns over all the Earth, ‖

3 He shall even with His Word subdue ‖ the People under us; ‖ and He shall bring the Nations to ‖ lye prostrate at our feet. ‖

4 He shall make choice for us, what shall ‖ be our Inheritance; ‖ Even the Excellency of ‖ Jacob, whom He has lov'd. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 God is gone up unto His Place ‖ with a triumphant shout; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God is thither with ‖ the Trumpet sounding gone. ‖

6 Sing Praises to the Glorious God; ‖ sing Praises yet again; ‖ sing Praises unto Him our King; ‖ sing Praises unto Him, ‖

7 Because the Glorious God is now ‖ the King in all the Earth; ‖ O sing ye Praises unto Him, ‖ each understanding one. ‖

8 The Glorious God does as a King ‖ over the Nations Reign: ‖ The Glorious God sits King upon ‖ His Throne of Holiness. ‖

9 The Princes of the People do ‖ in a Convention meet; ‖ They do become the People of ‖ the God of Abraham. ‖ Because that they who are Shields ‖ for to defend the Earth, ‖ belong to God, He therefore is ‖ exalted very high. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLVII. PSALM.

BEhold the Triumph of the Messiah when He has establish'd His Kingdom among the Nations!

[Page 115] 9 W [...]y, The People of the God of Abraham? There [...] a noble Emphasis in it. Abrabam was to be the F [...]her of many Nations. The God of Abraham is the God of the Gentiles, as well as of the Jews. The C [...]nverted Gentiles are now to Glorify God. The Relig [...]n of Abraham (not what the Sects of the Orient call s [...] but what is really such) will now be the Religion of the Nations.

PSALM XLVIII. A Song. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 GReat art Thou, O ETERNAL God, ‖ and greatly to be prais'd ‖ in th' City of our God, in the ‖ Mount of His Holiness. ‖

2 Mount Zion, a most lovely Seat, ‖ the Joy of all the Earth; ‖ On the North sides whereof there does ‖ the Great Kings City lie. ‖

3 God in her Palaces is known ‖ for an high Citadel. ‖

4 For lo, the Kings assembled there; ‖ they passed by together. ‖

5 They saw; then wondred; they were scar'd; ‖ a terror seiz'd on them. ‖

6 Fear seiz'd upon them there; a Pain ‖ of Women in their Pangs. ‖

7 The Ships of Tarshish thou dost break ‖ with a fierce Eastern Wind. ‖

8 According to what we have heard ‖ so is what we have seen; ‖ In th' City of th' ETERNAL God ‖ to whom all Hosts belong; ‖ [Page 116]In th' City of our God; God will ‖ ever establish it. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 With quiet meditation we ‖ have had our tho'ts, O God, ‖ in the midst of thy Temple, on ‖ thy kind benignity. ‖

10 According to thy Name, O God, ‖ so is thy Praise unto ‖ the Earth's last Borders; thy Right hand ‖ is full of Right'ousness. ‖

11 Because of thy right Judgments now ‖ Mount Zion shall rejoyce; ‖ the Daughters too of Judah shall ‖ triumph with glorious Joy. ‖

12 All about Zion walk ye round, ‖ and round encompass her; ‖ Account the number of her Towers, ‖ to see what state they're in. ‖

13 Apply your mind unto the Wall ‖ that has defended her; ‖ Observe her Palaces, that ye ‖ may tell the Age to come. ‖

14 For this God is our God; He's so ‖ to all Eternity; ‖ and He will be a guide for us ‖ to Death, and* over it. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XIVIII. PSALM.

WHY may not the Psalm refer to the History in, 2 Chron. XX. The Coming of the Kings against Jehosaphat, with an intention to fall upon Jerusalem? The more Prophetic Seers, here behold the Ruin of the Turks, when they come to assault the Israelites, after they return into their Country; And suppose it explain'd in the XXXVIII, and XXXIX of Ezekiel.

[Page 117] 2 Pliny describing some of the most eminent Cities in the World, yet prefers Jerusalem; calling it, Longo clarissimans Urb [...]um Orientis.

7 Such was their Consternation, that it surpriz'd them, not only as Anguish does a Woman in Travail; but also as Mariners, when a Fleet of Ships richly laden from Tarshish, is broken in pieces. Whether Jehoshaphat improved his Deliverance with due Thankfulness or no, yet quickly after this, he had a Fleet exactly in this Condition. [2 Chron. XX. 37.]

10 Particularly that Name, The Lord of Hosts.

12 See, if there be so much as one wanting.

PSALM XLIX. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 BEstow an hearing upon this, ‖ ye People every one; ‖ Hearken all you Inhabitants ‖ upon a transient World. ‖

2 Yea, bear, ye Sons of meaner Men, ‖ and Sons of higher too; ‖ Let the Rich Man attend to this, ‖ together with the Poor. ‖

3 My mouth shall speak of things that have ‖ a wisdom manifold; ‖ and my hearts meditation shall ‖ yield many prudent things. ‖

4 I will incline mine ear unto ‖ a most instructive speech; ‖ I will upon the harp explain ‖ my speech that seems obscure. ‖

5 In days of evil why should I ‖ be anxiously afraid; ‖ the days, when of my heels the Sin ‖ does compass me about. ‖

6 There are those who do place their hope ‖ [Page 118]upon their strengthning Wealth; ‖ and in the multitude of their ‖ Riches do boast themselves. ‖

7 There is no Man of them that can ‖ by any means redeem ‖ his Brother, nor give unto God ‖ a price to ransome him. ‖

8 For the Redemption of their Soul ‖ is of a weighty price; ‖ and it remains unfinished ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

9 For this, that he should always live ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ that he should never see the pit ‖ wherein corruption lies. ‖

10 For he may see that wise Men dye; ‖ so does the foolish Man ‖ and bruitish perish; and their Wealth ‖ they leave to other Men. ‖

11 What is within them is this Thought, ‖ Their houses ever will ‖ endure; their Tabernacles will ‖ endure from age to age. ‖ Their own Names for that cause they do ‖ impose upon their Lands. ‖

12 But notwithstanding all of this, ‖ look back on what is past. ‖ Man in bright excellency plac'd ‖ continu'd not a Night; ‖ under dominion he did fall ‖ even like the perishing beasts. ‖

13 Egregious folly unto them ‖ this way of theirs does prove; ‖ yet their Posterity walk on ‖ in that which they have said. ‖ Selah. ‖

14 They are like Sheep laid in the Grave; ‖ [Page 119]upon them Death shall feed; ‖ and over them the upright ones ‖ shall a dominion have, ‖ when the bright morning shall arrive; ‖ then shall their Rock descend, ‖ Death to destroy; He then shall from ‖ His Habitation come. ‖

15 But from the power of the pit ‖ God shall redeem my Soul; ‖ This He will do, because He will ‖, receive me to Himself. ‖ Selah. ‖

16 When that a Man grows Wealthy, then ‖ be not concern'd at it; ‖ when that the glory of his house ‖ is greatly multiply'd. ‖

17 For at his Death he shall not take ‖ any of it with him; ‖ nor shall the glory which he had ‖ descend then after him. ‖

18 Tho' in his Life he did proclaim ‖ his Soul a blessed one; ‖ and other Men will praise thee when ‖ thou dost befriend thy self. ‖

19 O dying Man, Thou shalt unto ‖ the Generation go ‖ of them that were thy Ancestors; ‖ Light they shall never see. ‖

20 Man who in honour is advanc'd, ‖ and does not understand, ‖ under dominion such an one ‖ falls like the perishing beasts. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLIX. PSALM.

BEhold the folly of them who think, that a Resurrection from the Dead, was not promised or expected under the Old Testament The First Resurrection is here plainly pointed [...].

[Page 120] 5 The Talmud, by the Iniquity of the heel, understands the Iniquity, which Man in this World makes light of, and even tramples under foot. Some of the Ancients carried it so, Homines iniqui c [...]roumdant calcaneum meum. But consider the Messiah speaking here; and the Ancient prediction of His Heel bruised for the Iniquity of His People. Aben-Ezna takes the Iniquities of the Heels, to be the Iniquities of illgotten Riches; whereof, Peccatum sequitur [...]quasi in calce, et non videtur. Arnobius has a good Admonition; Hoe solum tremendum est omnibus, ne in sine suo Iniquitate sua capiantur. Patrick's Paraphrase is, The Iniquity of those that endeavour to supplant me.

8 The Redemption.] The Chaldee understands it, for the Vengeance pursued upon the Soul; when the Ransome is paid for it, that now ceaseth forever.

11 Inward thot's, are those that arise meerly from the Inward Principles, Dispositions and Inclinations of Men, and that are not suggested and excited from Outward Objects.

Ditto. Compare Gen. IV. 17. The Jewish Rablins interpret it, with the mention of Alexandria, of Antioch, and of Tiberias.

12 Some read it, Adam continued not a Night in Excellency. What became of him? Alting observes, That the Word Mashal, signifies not only Similitude, but also Dominion. And if it be not so taken here, the Particle, Caph, before Beasts, will be superfluous.— Whose Dominion? But that of Satan, the horrible Tempter.

14 The Hebrew Word Phadah, to Redeem, is of the same Importance with the Arabic, Feda, To devote ones self to Death. A Glorious Truth! Our Lord Redeems us, by devoting Himself to Death for us.

[Page 121]

PSALM L. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 THE God of God's, th' ETERNAL God, ‖ hath spoke, and call'd the Earth, ‖ ev'n from the rising of the Sun, ‖ unto its going down. ‖

2 From Zion wholly beautiful God sends a lustre forth. ‖

3 Our God shall come and He shall not ‖ keep silence any more. ‖ Before His Face a wasting Fire ‖ shall dreadfully devour, ‖ and round about him it shall be ‖ very tempestuous. ‖

4 He shall give out His call unto ‖ the Heavens from above; ‖ and He shall call unto the Earth, ‖ to judge His People there. ‖

4 Assemble ye His gracious ones ‖ together unto me, ‖ those that have made a Covenant ‖ with me by Sacrifice. ‖

6 The Heavens also shall declare ‖ abroad His Right'ousness; ‖ Because the Glorious God Himself in Person shall be Judge. ‖ Selah. ‖

7 Hear, O my People, and I'll speak, ‖ Give ear, O Israel; ‖ and unto thee I'll testify; ‖ I'm GOD, I am thy GOD.

8 Upon thy Sacrifices I give no Reproofs to thee, ‖ for thy Burnt-Off [...]rings have been still ‖ before me evermore. ‖

9 Knore that a Bullock I will not ‖ out of thy house accept: ‖ He-goars for Off [...]ings I will not eart of thy Fold; [...]ecei [...].

[Page 122] 10 For every Beast throughout the Wood ‖ I as my own do claim; ‖ the Cattle which are on the Hills ‖ by thousands in a drove. ‖

11 The Fowls that on the Mountains fly, ‖ I know them every one; ‖ and the wild Beasts that range the fields ‖ I ever have at hand. ‖

12 If I were hungry I would not ‖ declare it unto thee; ‖ For that the World is mine, and so ‖ is all that filleth it. ‖

13 Dost thou imagine I shall feed ‖ upon the flesh of Bulls; ‖ or that I shall, to quench my thirst ‖ drink up the blood of Goats. ‖

14 Confessing, offer unto God ‖ a Sacrifice of Praise; ‖ and pay unto the most High One ‖ the Vows which thou hast made. ‖

15 And call upon me in the day ‖ when trouble comes on thee; ‖ I will deliver thee and thou ‖ shalt glorify me then. ‖

16 But to the Wicked God hath said, ‖ What claim'st thou to declare ‖ my Statutes, or my Covenant ‖ tak'st thou into thy mouth? ‖

17 For as for thee, thou dost but hate ‖ to be instructed well; ‖ and thou dost cast with all contempt ‖ my words behind thy back. ‖

18 When thou hast seen a Thief thou hast ‖ gladly concurr'd with him; ‖ and with Adulterers thou hast ‖ chosen to have thy part. ‖

19 Thou to thy mouth hast given a loose ‖ for evil purposes; ‖ and thy Tongue artfully contrives ‖ to carry on deceit.

[Page 123] 20 Thou on thy seat dost speak against ‖ thy Brother wrongfully [...] thou dost give out a stand [...]rous lye [...] against thy Mothers Son. ‖

21 These things thou didst, & I was dumb; thou thought [...]st me like thy self; ‖ I will reprove thee, and will rank ‖ these thing, before thine Eyes. ‖

22 Consider now this, you that are, forgetful of a God; ‖ Lest I tear you to pe [...]ces and there's none to rescue you. ‖

23 He glorify's me, who does bring an Offering of Praise: ‖ And unto him who takes the way ‖ I'll God's Salvation shew. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the L. PSALM.

BEhold, the Return of the Jews, with a Correction of their mistake, in placing Religion only in Sacrifices. Behold, then a Condemnation pass'd on the followers of Antichrist.

1 The Name of GOD occurring three times may seem a sweet Indigitation of the Trinity. In the Midrash Tillin there is what looks very like a Confession of it:

2 According to the Chaldee 'tis not Zion, but GOD the Messiah, who is here call'd The perfection of Beauty.

13 Justin Martyr and Origen, and many mo [...]e, assure us, The Heathens were of Opinion, that their Gods were nourished, and therefore also delighted, with the sumes and steams of the Sacrifices offered unto them.

23 May not here be some Eye to the Messiah? [Page 124]Praise is a Name of the Messiah, He is the Praise of Israel. God inhabits Him. He is the great One of Judah, who is to be Praised. The Original here is. He that Sacrificeth Praise. Our Messiah Glorified God infinitely, when He presented himself a Sacrifice unto God. We never glorify GOD so much as when we fly to and lean on that Sacrifice.

I find one who so reads it, One Sacrificing Praise shall glorify me.

PSALM LI. To the Chief Musician; a Psalm of David, when Nathan the Prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

HAve Mercy upon me, O God, ‖ [even] according to thy Grace: ‖ As thy Compassions are most large, ‖ [do thou] blot out my Trespasses. ‖

2 O multiply my Washing from ‖ [all of] my Vile Iniquity; ‖ And O make me entirely clean ‖ from [all of] my defiling Sin. ‖

3 Since I do of my Trespass make ‖ a Free [and full] ackowledgment; ‖ and I continually have ‖ my [horrid] Sin before my Eyes. ‖

4 To thee, To thee alone I've finn'd, ‖ and done ill in thy View [alone;] ‖ That when thou speakst thou mayst be just, ‖ and [may'st be] pure when thou dost judge. ‖

5 Behold, 'twas in Iniquity ‖ that I [at first] receiv'd my Shape; ‖ and 'twas in Sin my Mother did ‖ [at first] conceive me as her Child. ‖

[Page 125] 6 Behold, Thou dost desire the Truth ‖ [to be] in the most inward parts; ‖ and thou wilt make me understand ‖ Wisdom in what's conceal'd [within.]

7 O purge me with the Sprinkler well, ‖ and so I shall be [throughly] clean; ‖ O Wash thou me, and then shall I ‖ be whiter than the [whitest] Snow. ‖

8 Make me to hear that which will be ‖ Gladness and [Glorious] Joy to me: ‖ The Bones which thou hast broken quite, ‖ O let them yet [again] rejoice. ‖

9 From the beholding of my Sins ‖ [kindly] hide thou away thy face; ‖ and all of my Iniquities ‖ [wholly] do thou obliterate. ‖

10 O God, Create in me an heart ‖ that shall be [judged] throughly clean; ‖ and in the midst of me do thou ‖ renew a Spirit right [and firm.]

11 From standing still before thy face ‖ O cast me not [in Wrath] away: ‖ Thine holy Spirit now from me ‖ away [therefore] O take thou not. ‖

12 Restore thou unto me the Joy ‖ of thy [desir'd] Salvation now; ‖ and let a Spirit free * and high ‖ gloriously [lead and] strengthen me. ‖

13 Unto Transgressors I will give ‖ Instructions in thy [Righteous] Wayes; ‖ [Page 126]and they who have been sinners shall ‖ be [real] Converts unto thee. ‖

14 O God, O my Salvations God; ‖ Deliver me from [crying] Bloods: ‖ My Tongue then of thy Righteousness ‖ shall openly proclaim [and sing.] ‖

15 Lord, who art my Support, Do thou ‖ Open these [closed] Lips of mine: ‖ and then my mouth with freedom shall ‖ declare thy [glorious] praise abroad. ‖

16 For thou desir'st not Sacrifice, ‖ else had I [freely] given it; ‖ Thou dost not take delight at all ‖ in a [common] Burnt-Offering. ‖

17 The Sacrifices own'd by God ‖ are in a broken Spirit [found; ‖] An heart that's broken and contrite, ‖ O [Gracious] God, Thoul't not despise. ‖

18 In thy good pleasure, O do thou ‖ do good to [threatned] Zion too; ‖ and O do thou build up the Walls ‖ of both [thy own] Jerusalems. ‖

19 Then thou with pleasure wilt receive ‖ the [grateful] sacrifices which ‖ are to be reckon'd requisite ‖ unto true [and full] Rightconsdess. ‖ Burnt-offerings thou wilt then receive, ‖ and [even] whole Burnt-offrings too; ‖ Then they shall offer Bullocks on ‖ the [Sacred] Altar claim'd by thee. ‖

[Page 127]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LI. PSALM.

BEhold the Jews consessing their Murder of the Messiah: [Compare Isa. 1 15 16.] And entreating for a return of the Gifts, whereof they have been long depriv'd; and engaging to publish the Mercy of God among the Nations.

The Eighteenth Verse points to a time wherein Jerusalem lies desolate.

3 What if, Sin, should here mean also Sin offering?

4 To thee alone] It means, as Munster glosses, In occulto foci. None but God saw the Sin. David might now call to mind the Words of the Proplet. 2 Sam. 11 17. Thou didst it secretly.

Be just.] Munster would have these clauses refer, not unto the next foregoing, but unto that, cleanse me from my Sin. The plea, is, That so there may be found a Truth in the promises of Mercy and Pardon to the repenting sinner.

6 Sin aggravated from a Principle of better motions in us.

But can we see nothing of the Messiah here— That He should be thus in David's Loins after he had been thus polluted!

7 Impure as a Leper!—Far more unclean by touching Bathshebah, than one could be in touching a Dead Body.

I chuse to say, The Sprinkler; Because I suspect Hyssop was not the plant used on the Occasion referr'd to, but Rosemary.

11 Has not the Psalmist the Condition of his Predecessor, Saul, in his Fye?

16 For some Atrocious Crimes [like Davids] there was no Sacrifice directed or allowed in the Law of Moses. But now see Acts XIII. 39. All that believe are justified from all things.

17 The Sacrifices were first out in pieces (not mangled [Page 128]but Jointed.) That was their Breaking. They were then burnt to Ashes. That was their Contrition.

Repentance has in it something Analogous.

But let us away, to our glorious Messiah as often as we can! The special Character which the Oracles of God put on the Messiah coming to be a Sacrifice for sin, is that of The Bruised One. Yea, the very first time that ever the Messiah was mention'd in the World, His being Bruised was the main thing spoken of. Besure the Messiah was one of a Broken Spirit, a Broken and a Contrite Heart. Never such heart breaking things undergone by any one! At last his very Spirit was broken from his Body; the Vital Union was broken. Behold the Sacrifice which the Psalmist has his Eye and his Hope upon.

18 Both Jerusalems] The Name Jerusalem, is of the Dual Number; not without a Mystery!

The Psalm expires not, before it is evident, that the Spirit of Prophecy, which he had pray'd for, was returned unto him. It ends with a Prophecy.

PSALM LII. To the cheif Musician. Maschil. Of David. When Do [...]g the Edomite came and told Soul, and said unto him, David is come to the House of Ahimelech.

1 IN Mischief, O thou mighty Man, ‖ why dost thou boast thy self? ‖ The Mercy of a Mighty God ‖ endures continually. ‖

2 Thy Tongue deviseth things of a ‖ Pernicious Tendency; ‖ It is like a Sharp Razour; it ‖ still works deceitfully. ‖

[Page 129] 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; ‖ more to speak false than right. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 Thou lovest all devouring Words, ‖ O thou deceitful Tongue. ‖

5 And God upon thee shall inflict ‖ endless Destruction too; ‖ He shall take thee away, and pull ‖ thee from thy dwelling-place. ‖ Yea, He shall extirpate thee from ‖ the Land of Living Ones. ‖ Selah. ‖

6 The Just shall also see and fear, ‖ and they shall laught at him. ‖

7 Behold the Man who made not God ‖ his strength, but trusted in ‖ his mighty Riches, and grew strong ‖ in's Wealthy wickedness. ‖

8 But I am in the House of God ‖ like a green Olive Tree; ‖ I have had in the Grace of God ‖ my everlasting Hope. ‖

9 Forever I'll praise thee, because ‖ this is what thou hast done; ‖ And I'll wait on thy Name, because ‖ tis good before the Saints. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LII. PSALM.

CAn't we see here a Censure on the manners of Antichrist, and his Party; and a Praediction of his Destruction; and the Joy of the faithful upon it?

But Arnobius teaches us, to apply the Psalm [...]ainst the Dovil. Ipsi Diabolo tot [...] ver [...]a h [...]jus Psal [...] s [...]ous in Otatiou [...] cant abis.

1 It seems the sorry wretch brag'd of what he had [Page 130]done. These Words may be an Irony; q. d. A goodly feat indeed for a Man to boast of ‖

2 A Reviling Tongue, is like a Razour for this; 'twill cut every little hair, The smalleft pretence of Offences cannot escape it. But a Razour don't wound the Person. Hence 'tis compared [Psalm LVII. 4.] to a Sword. It cuts deep into the Credits of Men, and into their Spirits also. But a Sword will do mischeif only near at hand. Hence tis compered [Psalm LXIV 3.] to an Arrow. It hits at a Distance; does mischeif a great way off.

5 From the threatning to pull him from his dwelling place, the Jews have a Tradition of Doegs being smitten with a Leprosy. Tis the Phrase used in that Case. Lev. XIV.

Doeg is paid in the same Coin, that the Priests of the Lord had received from him.

8 R. Obadiah Gaon has this fine gloss upon it, In oleum Splendoris, ad illuminandos alios in lege.

The ancient People of God, had their proseucha's, or praying places. [Luk. VI. 12.] Courts open above like the Forums of the Romans. And they usually had Groves about them, Yea, Trees within them. Dr. Prideaux thinks the passage of an Olive Tree in the House of God, may allude unto what was in these Proseucha's.

PSALM LIII. To the Chief Musician; upon Mahalath, Maschil, of David.

1 THe Fool hath said within his heart, ‖ That there is not a God. ‖ Thus they corrupt; they do the thing ‖ that is abominable. ‖ There is not one among them all ‖ who does the thing that's Good. ‖

[Page 131] 2 From heaven God who is the Judge ‖ looks on the Sons of Men; ‖ He looks to see if that there be ‖ one who does mind at all ‖ to understand, or, One who is ‖ a seeker after God. ‖

3 They're every one declin'd; they are ‖ together putrify'd; ‖ there is not one doer of good, ‖ no, not so much as one. ‖

4 They that work evil, know they not? ‖ They eat my People up ‖ as they eat Bread; they do not call ‖ on God who is the Judge. ‖

5 There they shall be in greivous fear, ‖ tho' there's no cause to fear: ‖ For God scatters the Bones of him ‖ that laies a Seige to thee. ‖ Thou shalt effectually put ‖ them to contemptuous shame; ‖ because that God hath with contempt ‖ utterly cast them off. ‖

6 From Zion who gives Israels health? ‖ When the ETERNAL turns ‖ his Captive People, Jacob will ‖ Joy, Israel will be glad. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LIII. PSALM.

IT is guessed by Patrick, that the Rebellion of Absalom, caused the complaint in the 14. Psalm. And the New Revolt of the Israelites under Sheba, caused this New Edition of it. After Sheba was beheaded, it is likely, his Body was exposed, and his Bones were scattered, and all his adherents became contemptible.

But what shall we do with the Word Captivity, in [Page 132]the last verse of the Psalm? Was the Psalm review'd by Asaph the Seer in the Days of Hezokiah, when many of the People were carried into Captivity?

A Prophecy of Antichrist here, clears all.

PSALM LIV. To the chief Musician; on Neginoth; Masichil. Of David. When the Ziphims came, and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

1 BY thy Name save thou me, O God ‖ and judge me by thy strength. ‖

2 Hear thou my Prayer, O God; Give ear ‖ to the Words of my Mouth. ‖

3 For Strangers have against me ris'n, ‖ and formidable ones ‖ pursued my soul, they have not set ‖ God in their view at all. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 Behold, the God who's Judge is He ‖ who does afford me help; ‖ tis the Supporting Lord's with those ‖ who do uphold my Soul. ‖

5 He shall retaliate evil to ‖ my Prying Enemies; ‖ Exterminate them utterly ‖ as thy Truth calls for it. ‖

6 With Freedom I will Sacrifice ‖ to thee, ETERNAL God; ‖ with Praises I'll adore thy Name, ‖ because that it is good. ‖

7 For out of all adversity ‖ He has deliver'd me; ‖ mine Eye hath also seen what comes ‖ upon mine Enemies. ‖

[Page 133]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LIV. PSALM.

BEhold, a Prayer of the Faithful, under the Persecution of Anti-christ!

David was brought into such a streight that if Saul had not been strangely diverted, he could not have escaped. In this distress he made the Prayer in the first three verses of the Psalm. Surprized at the Tidings of the Diversion given to Saul, he breaks out into an Admiration of the Divine Goodness unto him. When the Danger was quite over, he adds the two last Verses, from his mountain beholding the retreat of Saul, and of his Forces.

PSALM LV. To the Chief Musician. On Neginoth. Maschil; of David.

1 GIve thou a gracious Ear, O God, ‖ unto my righteous prayer; ‖ and from my Supplication now ‖ O do not hide thy self. ‖

2 O give attention unto me, ‖ and hear me graciously; ‖ I in my sad complaint do mourn, ‖ and make a Troublous noise. ‖

3 From the Foes voice, from the face of ‖ Grief by the wicked one; ‖ For falshood they do cast on me, ‖ and hate me furiously. ‖

4 Within the midst of me my heart ‖ trembles in travailing pain; ‖ and there are fallen upon me, ‖ the terribles of Death. ‖

5 Terror with Trepidation hath ‖ now much surprised me, ‖ and horrid Consternation hath ‖ quite overwhelmed me, ‖

[Page 134] 6 Then said I, O! who is't will give ‖ Wings of a Dove to me? ‖ with them I'd swiftly fly away, ‖ where I might find a Rest. ‖

7 Behold, I would then make my flight ‖ to a vast Distance off; ‖ my Lodging I would make in a ‖ far distant Wilderness. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 I would make all the haste I could ‖ in making my escape, ‖ from the impetuous Wind which does ‖ rise with a mighty storm. ‖

9 Lord, Send Destruction upon them; ‖ and Oh, divide their Tongues: ‖ for in the City I have seen ‖ fierce Violence and Strife. ‖

10 Both Day and Night they compass it, ‖ upon the Walls thereof; ‖ and troublesome Iniquity ‖ is in the midst thereof. ‖

11 Grievous Corruptions full of fraud ‖ are in the midst thereof, ‖ and from the Streets thereof Deceit ‖ and guile do not Depart. ‖

12 For it was not an Enemy ‖ that has reproached me; ‖ For if it had been such an One, ‖ I could have suffer'd it. ‖ Nor was it one who hated me ‖ that has insulted me; ‖ had it been such an One, I might ‖ have hid my self from him. ‖

13 But it was thou, O man, whom I ‖ Esteemed like my self; ‖ 'twas my Informer, and one who ‖ was my familiar Friend. ‖

[Page 135] 14 We sweetly did Communicate ‖ secrets to one another; ‖ We walk'd into the House of God ‖ in Company together. ‖

15 Let Death arrest them, let them go ‖ down to the Pitt alive; ‖ for mischiefs are where they do meet, ‖ even in the midst of them. ‖

16 But as for me, This I will do, ‖ I upon God will call; ‖ and the ETERNAL God will give ‖ Deliverance to me. ‖

17 Evening and Morning, and at Noon, ‖ I meditate for Prayer; ‖ so I will make a fervent Cry, ‖ and he will hear my Voice. ‖

18 He hath delivered my Soul ‖ in peace from those who made ‖ against me an hostile approach; ‖ for many were with me. ‖

19 God shall hear, and shall vex them; He, ‖ ev'n who sits Judge of Old. ‖ Selah. ‖ There are no changes found with them; ‖ and so they fear not God. ‖

20 He shall put forth his hand against ‖ the Men at Peace with him; ‖ his Covenant therein he hath ‖ profan'd by breaking it. ‖

21 Smooth were his Mouth's fine butter'd Words; ‖ but war was in his heart; ‖ much foster were his words than oil; ‖ and yet drawn Swords they were. ‖

22 Cast thy Load on th' ETERNAL God, ‖ and he shall strengthen thee; ‖ The Righteous one He will not leave ‖ ever to be disturbed. ‖

[Page 136] 23 But thou, O God the Judge, wilt cause ‖ them to go down into ‖ the dark pit of the grave in which ‖ there is corruption found; ‖ These bloody and deceitful men ‖ sha'n't live out half their days; ‖ But as for me, This I will do, ‖ I'll put my trust in thee. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LV. PSALM.

HEar the Groans of the Church, under the Cruel ties of Antichrist and his party.

In the fifteenth Verse, is a Prophecy fulfill'd in Rev. XIX, and XX.

3 q. d. They say I am unjust, Compare 2 Sam. 15 34.

12 Instructed from old Arnobius, a Child of God may thus apply these Passages. ‘Lord, If Satan my Enemy should by himself speak unto me, I should be arm'd and hid against one, who I know hath such a [...] hatred for me. But he employs my Flesh, my Familiar, my Acquaintance, the very Body which has eaten with me, at thy holy Table. The Devils do that way fall upon me. Oh! Therefore let death fall upon them. Nay, because they are by nature Immortal, do thou send them down Quick into Hell. For there is nothing but Wickedness, where ever they dwell, and in the midst of all their Suggestions.’

It is a Nice thought of Gregory in his Pastorali [...] Cura. The Living are they that know what they do, and have some sense of it: The Dead are sensible of nothing. They that sin against their knowledge, are such as may be said, to go down alive into Hell. Other sinners go Dead thither.

[...]. [Page 137]cout [...]nue what they were, without the f [...] of G [...] Theod [...] so. Because they sear not God, [...] changes, Their m [...]eri [...] continue on them: The [...] adversity is no [...] changed into prosperity.

23 Tis a Predictior of the [...]ate of Young Abs [...] lom, am his Accomplices. Perhaps the Psalmist [...] a [...] [...]ye on [...] fifth Commandment.

PSALM LVI To the Chief Musician; upon Jonath Plomrec [...] Mic [...]an of David. When the Philistin [...] [...]ook [...] in Gat [...].

1 PIty thou me, O God, for man ‖ H [...] seeks for to devour; ‖ continually opposing me ‖ he still oppresses me. ‖

2 My Enemies are all the Day ‖ me see [...] ing to devour: many are they who do co [...] vene ‖ against me from on high.

3 At whatsoever time I am ‖ afiald, Pl trust in thee ‖

4 What I will praise in God, it is ‖ H [...] Word, I'll trust in God, ‖ I will not be ‖ fraid of what ‖ frail Flesh can do to me.

5 My Words they daily wrest; th [...] Thoughts ‖ against me tend to ill. ‖

6 Together they convene themselves, they do conceal themselves; ‖ my steps t [...] curiously observe ‖ when they walt for [...] Soul. ‖

7 Because of their Imquity ‖ shall th [...] make an Escap [...]? ‖ O God, do thou the [...] pie cast [...] in indignation do [...]

[Page 138] 8 Of all my wandring to and fro, ‖ thou keepest an Account; ‖ Into thy Bottle put my Tear; ‖ Is it not in thy Book? ‖

9 In the Day when I make my Cry ‖ then shall my enemies ‖ be turned back; this I do know, ‖ because God is for me. ‖

10 In God I'll praise the Word, in the ‖ ETERNAL praise the Word. ‖

11 I hope in God; I will not fear ‖ what man may do to me. ‖

12 O God upon me are thy Vows; ‖ to thee I'll praise [...] pay. ‖

13 Because thou hast delivered ‖ my Soul from threatned Death; ‖ O wilt thou not deliver now ‖ my feet from falling too ‖? That I may walk before God in ‖ the Light of living ones. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LVI. PSALM.

BEhold still the Dispositions and Supplications of the Church under the Tyranny of Antichrist.

One thinks, That the Psalmists not making any Remonstrances to Achish for the Ill Usages he had met withal, might be the Reason why he is here compared unto Jonath Elem, or the Silent Dove.

1 Saul, forgetting his own Mortality, was insatiably set for the Destruction of our Psalmist.

8 Many Elegancies are in this Verse, besides the Hebrew Paranomasies, which cannot be Englished.

But among the reft, Observe the Hebrew has, Tear, in the Singular Number. A sweet Intimation, that the Faithful have not so much as one single T [...]ar. [Page 139]that shall be lost. Of Old, they had Viols, which they called Lacrymatorics, wherein they pres [...]ved the Tears dropt at Funerals.

10 For his Word:—(Munster glesses well) with which he comforted me, and caused me to hope in Him.

PSALM LVII. To the Chief Musician. Altaschith. Mictam of David, when be fled from Saul in the Cave.

1 BE merciful to me, O God; ‖ Be merciful to me: ‖ Because my Soul in Thee alone ‖ does place its confidence. ‖ Yea, I will make my refuge in ‖ the shadow of thy wings ‖ until that the calamities ‖ shall be well overpast. ‖

2 Unto the most high God I will ‖ cry with a fervent voice; ‖ to God who does perform for me ‖ what He has promised. ‖

3 From Heav'n he sends and rescues me; ‖ my enemy blasphemes. ‖ Selah. ‖ God will send forth His mercy, and ‖ He will send forth His Truth. ‖

4 My Soul's with Lions; I do lye ‖ among a fiery crew; ‖ Mens sons whose teeth are spears & darts, ‖ & a sharp sword their tongue. ‖

5 Above the Heavens, O God the Judge, ‖ Be thou lift up on high; ‖ and over all the Farth let be ‖ thy Glory spread abroad. ‖

6 They for my steps prepar'd a net; ‖ he bowed down my Soul; ‖ before me they have dug a pit, ‖ wherein they're fall'n themselves, ‖ Selah.

[Page 140] 7 My heart is well prepar'd, O God, ‖ My heart is well-prepar'd; ‖ and being so prepar'd, I'll sing, ‖ and I will make a Psalm. ‖

8 My Glory, O awake thy self; ‖ awake, O Psaltery; ‖ aw [...]ke, O Harp too; ‖ I my self ‖ will in the morning wake. ‖

9 Ill thee among the People praise, ‖ O Lord, my great support; I will sing unto thee among ‖ the Nations of the Earth. ‖

10 For thy great mercy does extend ‖ unto the very Heav [...]ns; ‖ and to the tender Clouds there does ‖ extend thy faithfulness. ‖

11 Above the Heav [...]ns, O God the Judge, ‖ be thou lift up on high; ‖ and over all the Earth let be ‖ thy Glory spread abroad. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LVII. PSALM.

A Ltaschith was the Word of David unto them that would have kill'd Saul in the Cave. We have [...]re the Praver of the Church under the Antichristian [...]secution; And the Ruin of Antichrist foretold, as [...] fore [...]unner unto the Establishment of our SAVIOUR's Kingdom, over all the Earth. Agreeably to this Thought the Midri [...]is Tillin applies the Calamities here spoken [...], into the Condition, wherein the Church must lye, [...]l the time of the Four Monarchies.

1 Why [...]vice, Be mer [...]iful? The Midrash Tillin as a Glots to this Purpore? B [...] Merciful to me in ce [...]ing me from Sin: But if I do fall into Sin: Be Merciful to me, in giving me Repentance.

D [...], The Sh [...]ow of the Wings of GOD;—no [Page 141]doubt, refers to the Angelical Protection; a Safety and Comfort thro' the Ministry of the Good Angels. Are not these cali'd His Feathers? [Psal. XCI .4, 11.] Here is doubtless, an Allusion to Exod. XXV. 20. The Cherubim did stretch forth their Wings.

2—Or, Perfec'cs, i. e. The Work he hath begun. Compare Psal. CXXXVIII. 8. & Phil. 1.6.

7 Once Res [...]lving, is not enough to settle and confirm such an Heart as ours. But one of the Ancients has another devout hint upon it. Our Psalmist was willing to undergo a very different Condition. If GOD would have him, High or Low, Rich or Poor, a Shepherd or a Monarch; his Heart was prepared! prepared! Paratum eor meum ad prospora, Paratum ad adversa; Paratum ad Humilia, Paratum ad Sublimia; Paratum ad universa qua preciperis. Bern.

PSALM LVIII. To the Chief Musician. Altaschith. Mictam of David.

1 DO ye indeed speak Righetousness, ‖ O you confederate ones? ‖ Do ye judge none b [...] righteous things, ‖ O Sons of earthly Man! ‖

2 Yea, in the heart contriving it ‖ you work iniquities; ‖ you in the Earth will still weigh out ‖ the violence of your hands. ‖

3 The wicked are estrang'd from God, ‖ ev'n from the very womb; ‖ they go astray as soon as born, ‖ the speakers of a lie ‖

4 Their poison's like the poison which ‖ a serpent has in it; ‖ like that of the deaf adder which ‖ does obturate her ear. ‖

[Page 142] 5 She will not hearken to the voice ‖ of any Charming ones; ‖ No, tho' the Charmer should be one ‖ never so skill'd in Charms. ‖

6 O God, What teeth are in their mouth, ‖ do thou quite break them out; ‖ The great teeth of the dragons break, ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God. ‖

7 Like water let them melt away, ‖ divide among themselves; ‖ Let him direct his arrows, let ‖ them yet be as cut off. ‖

8 Even like to a dissolving shall ‖ let each one pass away, ‖ as a Females untimely birth; ‖ they have not seen the Sun. ‖

9 Before your Pots can feel the thorns, ‖ as raw flesh snatch'd away, ‖ so let wrath carry him away, ‖ ev'n as a whirlwind would. ‖

10 When that the righteous one shall see ‖ this vengeance, he'll rejoyce; ‖ in the blood of the wicked one ‖ then shall he wash his feet. ‖

11 Then shall a Man say, Truly, for ‖ the Just there's a reward; ‖ most certainly there is a God ‖ who judgeth in the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LVIII. PSALM.

SEE the Barbarity & Corruption of the Antichristian Party; and the Destruction that shall come upon them. Dr. Patrick looks on the Psahn as a Reproot of those evil Councellors, who had condemned David against their Consciences, meerly to please the King, and give him a pretence to destroy him.

[Page 143] 5, 6. The Incantation of Serpents, is a thing so famous in Antiquity, that whole Pages might be fill'd with Testimonies, besides those whereof Bochart has given so copious a Collection.

9 Some think the Boiling of Asparagus, to be here alluded to; The Wicked shall be consumed in as little a time; Citius quam Asparagi ccquaniur. One of the lewish Expositors carries it so; Antequam creseant spins parva ac tener a in Rhamnum. That is, Before the Children of those wretches come to be of Age. The Psalm Intituled Altaschith, or Destroy not, some say was penned on the Occasion of Davids being happily kept from the Destroying of Nabal. The Mans Tonguo had reviled him, and his Ear was deaf to the charms of his Messengers. He Trophecies, that God would suddenly take him away, as with a Storm, ere the Pots that were set on the Fire for his Feasrs could feel any warmth from the Thorns put under them, to boil them. This Clause, Both living, and in his Wrath, Dr. Light foot carries thus; According as he was lively, or [...]ovial, so should the Wrath be proportioned unto him. Hebr. As he lively, so the Wrath; The Word Chai, is the very Epither, which David gave him; Say (Lechai) to him that is lively, and hath his Spirits raised with Prosperity. May we not find, in Mic. III. 2, 3. A Key to this Place?

PSALM LIX. To the Chief Musician. Al-taschith. Mictam, of David: When Saul sent and they watched the House to kill him.

1 FRom them that are my enemies, ‖ My God, Deliver me; ‖ from such as rise against me, grant ‖ me a defence on high. ‖

2 From them that work iniquity ‖ do thou deliver me; ‖ and from the men of bloods to me ‖ a preservation grant. ‖

[Page 144] 3 Because, behold, they lye in wait ‖ for to surprise my Soul; ‖ The mighty ones against me to do ‖ a Congregation form. ‖ 'Tis not for a transgression which ‖ by me was ever done; ‖ 'tis not for any sin of mine, ‖ Thou know'st, ETERNAL God. ‖

4 They run and they prepare themselves; ‖ without my fault at all; ‖ Do thou awake to succour me, ‖ and, Oh! behold my case. ‖

5 Thou therefore, O-ETERNAL God, ‖ who art the God of Hosts, ‖ O thou the God of Israel, ‖ do thou appear awake; ‖ to give a visit unto all ‖ the Nations of the World; ‖ But be not merciful to them ‖ who wickedly transgress. ‖ Selah. ‖

6 At Evening they return; they make ‖ a noise like to a dog; ‖ and about all the City they ‖ do take their compass round. ‖

7 Behold, they do out of their mouth ‖ belch forth most grievous things; ‖ sharp swords are in their lips; for who ‖ (say they) is there to hear? ‖

8 But, O ETERNAL God, Thou shalt ‖ but meerly laugh at them; ‖ all of the Nations thou shalt in ‖ a meer derision have. ‖

9 His strength is that for which I will ‖ keep waiting upon thee, ‖ because that God is evermore ‖ my high-place of defence. ‖

10 The God of all my mercy shall ‖ prevent me still with it; ‖ God shall make me to see what does ‖ befall my enemies. ‖

[Page 145] 11 Slay them not, lest my People do ‖ for get; but by thy power ‖ O scarter them, and bring them down, ‖ O Lord, who art out Shield. ‖

12 For their mouth's sin, for their lips word, ‖ and for their pride let them ‖ be taken, and for cursing, and ‖ for lying which they speak. ‖

13 Waste them in wrath, waste them, that they ‖ may'nt be, and let them know, ‖ that God doth rule in Jacob, to ‖ the ends of all the Earth. ‖

14 At Evening so let them return; ‖ let them bark like a Dog; ‖ and if they are not satisfy'd, ‖ then let them murmur on. ‖

16 But as for me, I'll make my Song ‖ of thy victorious power; ‖ and of thy mercy I will in ‖ the morning sing aloud. ‖ Because that thou hast been for me ‖ my high-place of defence; ‖ and refuge in the day when there ‖ was trouble upon me. ‖

17 O Thou that art my strength, I will ‖ utter my Songs to thee; ‖ Because God is my high defence; ‖ God of my mercy still. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LIX. PSALM

WE have here a Prayer against the Enemies of the Church. The Term of, The God of Israel, invites us to think of the Jewish Nation groaning under the Oppressions of Antichristian the City in the Sixth Verse [...] not Kome to be understood? [Page 146]Compare, Numb. XXIV. 19. Good Old Arnobius has directed the Application of the Psalm to the Morals of Christianity. When the House of thy Body is beseiged and beset by the Prince of this World, with Temptations, that thou mayst be taken and stain by the Sword of any Sin, 'tis now a time from the bottom of thy Soul to make these outories.

5 In R. David Kimchi, there is an admirable intimation, That the Psalmist here beholding the wickedness of Men, despairs of seeing a Good World, until the Day of Judgment. The Day of Judgment, or the time of the Messiah's Kingdom, is here Prayed for. At the Time when God shall thus visit all the Nations, He will eminently exhibit Himself as the God of Israel.

6 Compare, 1 Sam. XIX. 10, 11. Take for once a Mystical Interpretation, and from the Hint learn to make more such on proper Occasions. Men are guilty of great Crimes, in their Younger Years. They reform those Crimes and live many Years unblemish'd. But if the work of Repentance in them, have not been a sincere and thorough work, they Return in the Evening to their old Crimes. God leaves them to some strange Infatuation; and in their Old Age, or in the Evening of their Lives, they fall into their Old Crimes again, with such Circumstances as exceedingly expose them.

11 Austin has a Notable stroke upon it, Orat ut gens Judaeorum maneret.—It is not so much a David, as a Persecuted JESUS, whose Condition is expressed throughout the Psalm. The Jewish Nation deserved utter destruction and extinction for the wrongs which they did unto the Persecuted JESUS. But he Prays, That the Nation may not be utterly Extinct, for their wickedness; but wander about in a distress'd and abject state, not altogether forgotten in the World. The Syriac Title of the Psalm is, A Prophecy of the Conversion of the Gentiles, and the Rejection of the Jews.

[Page 147] 13 A fine thought Arnobius has upon it; Ibi dominatur Dominus, ubi Fines faciunt Terrer & Voluptates.

14 The Return in the Evening, is by R. Obadiah Gaon, applied unto the Prophecy of Gog and Magog.

PSALM LX. To the Chief Musician. Upon Shushan Eduth. Mictam. Of David; To teach. When he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aram-Zobah; When Joab returned and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt, Twelve Thousand.

1 O God, Thou hast rejected us; ‖ Thou hast dispersed us; ‖ Thou hast been angry; O do thou ‖ return to us again. ‖

2 To tremble thou hast made the Earth; ‖ Thou hast divided it; ‖ The breaches of it, O do thou ‖ heal them, because it shakes. ‖

3 Thy People thou didst cause to see ‖ a very grievous thing; ‖ Thou hast made us to drink the Wine, ‖ which doth astonish us. ‖

4 A Banner thou hast given now ‖ to them that have thy fear, ‖ that it may be display'd on high ‖ in the good cause of truth. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 That thy beloved ones may have ‖ an hep'd deliverance; ‖ do thou now save by thy right hand; ‖ and do thou answer me. ‖

6 God hath spoke in His holiness; ‖ I will triumph with joy; ‖ Shechem I will divide and will ‖ measure out Succoth's Vale. ‖

[Page 148] 7 Gilead is what I claim for mine; ‖ Menasseh too is mine. ‖ Ephraim is of my strength the head; ‖ Judah's my Lawgiver. ‖

8 Moab's a Pot wherein I'll wash: ‖ On Edom I will cast ‖ my shoe; Philistia, If thou canst, ‖ triumph thou over me. ‖

9 Who will conduct me unto the ‖ well-fortifyed Town? ‖ Into the heart of Edom, who ‖ is it will lead me on? ‖

10 Is it not thou, O God, who us ‖ didst cast off heretofore? ‖ Ev'n Thou, O God, who didst not go ‖ out with our Armed hosts? ‖

11 O give us succour from distress; ‖ for vain's the help of Man. ‖

12 Thro' God we shall do valiantly: ‖ and He'll tread down our foes. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LX. PSALM.

REad 2 Sam. VIII. And you understand the Psalm. The Sufferings of the Jewish Nation in their present Exile, are also to be considered. R. Solomon has a notable Gloss on the first Verse; He foresaw in the Spirit, Quod Romani erant dominaturi.

2 There had been dreadful Divisions and Commotions among the People, [See, 2 Sam. II. 9, 10, 17. and III. 1.

3 A Fulfilment of Deut. XXVIII. 28, 34. They were like unto Men bereft of the use of Reason, by some intoxicating Potion; who thereupon madly destroy one another.

4 David became their King; to whom they were all to repair, like Souldiers to their displayed Ensign, Because of Truth.] Munsters Gloss is; Ut promissionibus tuis satisfaceres. But this is not all.

[Page 149] 6 Take a Paraphrase. ‘God [According to His Promise, 2 Sam. III. 18.] hath put me in possession of all the Country about Samaria, which I will distribute under such Officers as I shall set over them. Gilead also and Menasseh. [who were lately under another King, 2 Sam. 2.9.] have submitted themselves unto me. And so has the Tribe of Ephraim; which is a main support of my Authority. These and all the reft of the Tribes of Israel, are now invited unto the Royal Tribe of Judah; which [according to Gen. XLIX. 10.] supplies me with Able Men, to order the Affairs of my Kingdom; which now shall extend itself beyond the Bounds of this Country. For I will tread Moab under my Feet, and reduce them to the vilest Servitude. I will trample also on the Edomites, and make them my Slaves. The Philistines also whom I have begun to smite, shall add unto my triumphs.’

7 My head; i. e. My chief Strength in time of Wa [...]: Judah my Lawgiver. It refers to the Prophecy, Gen. XLIX. 10.

8. To pour Water out of a Vessel, for the wasning of anothers hands, is the same as to be a Servant. [See, 2 Kin. III. 2.] Some of the Ancients applied it unto the Tribute of Lambs, which Moab was to pay unto the King of Judah. [2 Kin. III. 4.] These were wash'd and boil'd in Pots. q. d. Moab shall keep my Pot boiling. Cast my shoe.] Does not the Spanish Version well express the matter! Tomare Possession, or, I will take Possession of Edom. [Compare, Ruth IV. 7. and Deut. XXV. 7, 9.] Plucking off the Shoe, was a Ceremony used of Old, in Contracts and making over Estates.

11 The Trouble of the Syrians invading. See, 2 Sam. VIII. 5.

PSALM LXI. To the Chief Musician. Upon Neginoth. A Psalm of David,

[Page 150]

1 O God, hear thou my mighty cry; ‖ attend unto my pray'r. ‖

2 From the end of the Earth I will ‖ send up my cry to thee; ‖ When that my heart is overwhelm'd, ‖ this will be still my course; ‖ O lead thou me unto the Rock ‖ that is more high than I. ‖

3 For thou hast been my sheltring place, ‖ which I have hoped in; ‖ A Tower of strength to hide from the ‖ face of the enemy. ‖

4 I in thy Tabernacle will ‖ for ever make abode; ‖ I'll seek my refuge under the ‖ safe covert of thy wings. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 Because that thou, O God, the Judge, ‖ hast hearkned to my Vows; ‖ Thou'st given me the Heritage ‖ of them that fear thy Name. ‖

6 Days thou shalt add unto the days ‖ of Him that is the King; ‖ His years shall be prolonged as ‖ an Age upon an Age. ‖

7 Before the face of God He shall ‖ abide for evermore; ‖ Mercy and Truth do thou prepare; ‖ these will continue him. ‖

8 And then for evermore I will ‖ sing praise unto thy Name; ‖ that I may be performing still ‖ my Vows from day to day. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXI. PSALM.

BEhold the Jewish Nation here despersed unto the Ends of the Earth: But comforted with an hope of Restoration; and of happiness under the Protection of the Messiah, for many Generations.

[Page 151]

PSALM LXII. To the Chief Musician; To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 ASsuredly my Soul doth wait ‖ in silence upon God; ‖ From Him it is that all of my ‖ Salvation doth proceed. ‖

2 Surely He is my Rock, and He ‖ is my Salvation still; ‖ He is my high place of defence; ‖ I shan't be greatly mov'd. ‖

3 Against a Man how long will ye ‖ plot mischief's? you shall all ‖ be slain; like to a bowing wall ‖ you'l be, a tott'ring fence. ‖

4 They only plot to cast him down ‖ from his high dignity; ‖: They love a lie; bless with their mouth; ‖ but inwardly they curse. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 My Soul, See that in silence thou ‖ wait upon God alone; ‖ because it is from Him that I ‖ my expectation have. ‖

6 Surely, He is my Rock, and He ‖ is my Salvation still; ‖ He is my high place of defence; ‖ I shan't be mov'd at all. ‖

7 In God is my Salvation still, ‖ and there's my Glory too; ‖ The Rock in which I'm fortify'd; ‖ my refuge is in God. ‖

8 O People, At all times repose ‖ your confidence in Him, ‖ Pour out you heart before His face; ‖ God is our safe retreat. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 Sure lower Men are vanity, ‖ and higher Men a lie: ‖ Let them ascend the Scales, they're less ‖ than vanity together. ‖

[Page 152] 10 O do not in oppression trust ‖ and robbery: Be not vain; ‖ If riches should be multiply'd, ‖ set not your heart thereon. ‖

11 The mighty God hath spoken once; ‖ These two things I have heard; ‖ One is, That there's a mighty power ‖ which does belong to God. ‖

12 The other, That Mercy belongs ‖ to thee, ETERNAL God; ‖ For thou wilt render every Man ‖ according to his work. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXII. PSALM

THus the Church, under the Oppression of Antichrist, comforts herself, with hopes in the Prophecies of what shall be done unto the Wicked.

6 How Piety improves in the exercise of i [...] ‖ Four Verses ago, it was, I shan't be greatly mov'd. Now 'tis come to this, I shan't be mov'd at all.

11 The Syriac Interpreter countenances our Version. Once God spoke on Mount Sinai; And these Two things were heard, when the Sanctions of the Second Commandment were uttered. I have somewhere met with such a devour Gloss as this. When the Lord spoke once, this Pious Man heard him twice; Namely, by an after Meditation on what had been spoken.

PSALM LXIII. A Psalm of David, when be was at the Wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, Thou art my God, I will ‖ seek after thee betimes; ‖ My Soul is in a thirst for thee: ‖ Thee does my flesh desire. ‖ They do it in a Land that is ‖ a very wilderness: ‖ And in a place of weariness, ‖ which has no water in't.

[Page 153] 2 It is that I may have a view ‖ of what thy Power is, ‖ and what thy Glory; As I have ‖ seen in the holy place. ‖

3 Because thy loving kindness is ‖ better than Lives themselves; ‖ My lips shall therefore be imploy'd ‖ in setting forth thy Praise. ‖

4 So in my Lives I will proclaim ‖ Thee the most blessed One: ‖ I will still elevate my hands ‖ in thy m [...]i blesed Name. ‖

5 So as with marrow and with fat ‖ my Soul shall be fussic'd; ‖ And with my joyful lips my mouth ‖ shall celebrate thy Praise. ‖

6 It while I'm lying on my Beds ‖ I do remember thee, ‖ if in the watches of the Night ‖ I meditate in thee. ‖

7 Because that thou hast been to me ‖ an help once and again, ‖ and in the shadow of thy wings ‖ I do triumph with joy. ‖

8 Still closely following after thee ‖ my Soul does cleave to thee: ‖ Thy right-hand doth sustain me so ‖ that I am kept from falls. ‖

9 But they who seek my Soul to bring ‖ destruction upon it: ‖ These shall go surely down into ‖ the low parts of the Earth. ‖

10 By the hands of the Sword they shall ‖ make him to flow away; ‖ they shall become a portion to ‖ the Jackals of the Night. ‖

11 But the King shall rejoyce in God; ‖ each one that swears by him ‖ shall Glory: but the mouth be stopt ‖ of them that speak a lie. ‖

[Page 154]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXIII. PSALM.

THink on the Case of the Church under Antichrist. Yea, think on the case of the Synagogue too. Compare Versed. with Hos. II. 15. and Ezek, XX. 35. Dr. Patrick thinks, the Wilderness here was that which David went through, when he [...]ed from Absalom. [2 Sam. XVII. 29.] Inasmuch as he calls himself a King; which he would not have done, during the Reign of Saul.

1 Doth not he long for the Coming of God, in our Flesh? It is the Son of God in His Incarnation, wherein peculiarly we enjoy the Great GOD for our God. But Methinks, I perceive the Cry of the Saints in Hades, wishing for the Resurrection of the Dead. The Souls do thirst for the Coming of the Lord; Their Flesh does also long for it; in a Land which wants the dem of Heaven, whereby the Dead shall be Revived. Singer, 06 Having this Key in thy Hands, now go into the Psalm with most attentive Meditation. Dry and thirsty Land.] Compare 2 Sam. XVII. 29.

3 It pleases one very much, to find the Chaldes intimating, That the Loving kindness here celebrated, is the Blessedness which God will vouchsafe unto the Just in the World to come. This is better than any Life in this World.

6 Old Arnobius has a singular Gloss upon it: Ostendit per [...]ejus Auxilium potuisse se Castimoni [...]m [...]btinuisse.

10 The Jackals, are a Mungril Creature, deriving their Cruelty from the Wolves, their Sires; and their Craftiness from the Foxes their Dams. These are so ravenous that they will not only feed on Carrion above Ground, but also dig holes in the Farth, and setch forth the Dead Bodies of Men, if not very deeply interrel. whereas, proper Foxes, they say, will not fee | on my Carcase, but what they kill themselves.

[Page 155]

PSALM LXIV. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 O God, Hear Thou the Voice that's in ‖ my Praying unto Thee; ‖ O do thou keep my Life from the ‖ fear of the Enemy. ‖

2 O hide me from the secret plot ‖ of the malignant ones; ‖ from the contemptuous rage of them ‖ that work iniquity. ‖

3 The Men who like a cutting Sword ‖ do whet their spiteful tongue: ‖ they've bent to shoot their arrows out, ‖ a word of bitterness. ‖

4 This they do to shoot secretly ‖ against the perfect one; ‖ they suddenly do shoot at him, ‖ and they are not afraid. ‖

5 An evil matter for themselves ‖ they give a strength unto; ‖ they talk about their hiding snares: ‖ Who shall see them? They say ‖

6 They search iniquities; they make ‖ an exact scrutiny. ‖ The inward thought of every one, ‖ and the heart is a deep. ‖

7 But God shall shoot down upon them ‖ an Arrow suddenly: ‖ There shall be suddenly dispens'd ‖ strokes that shall be their wounds. ‖

8 And so they shall make their own tongue‖ to fall upon themselves: ‖ All they who do behold them shall ‖ betake themselves to flight. ‖

[Page 156] 9 So all Men are afraid, and shall ‖ declare the work of God; ‖ For they shall wisely apprehend ‖ the work that he hath done. ‖

10 The just one shall be very glad ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ and all that are upright in heart ‖ shall gloriously rejoyce. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXIV. PSALM.

CAn't we see here the Condition of the Israelitish Nation dispersed under the Tyranny of Antichrist? And the great Conversion of the Nations, which will be after they are Converted and Restored.

PSALM LXV. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm; A Song of David.

1 O God, In Zion there does wait ‖ Praise silently for Thee; ‖ And unto Thee the Vow thereof ‖ shall surely be perform'd. ‖

2 O Thou that art the hearer of ‖ Prayer that appeals to thee, ‖ since thou art such One, all flesh ‖ will still repair to thee. ‖

3 Works of iniquities against ‖ me have prevailed sore; ‖ But as for our transgressions thou, ‖ dost purge them quite away. ‖

4 O blessed is the Man of whom ‖ thou mak'st a gracious choice, ‖ and whom thou shalt make to approach ‖ near to thy Majesty. [...] does dwell in thy courts;

[Page 157] We shall be satisfy'd ‖ with the Good of thy House, and with ‖ thy Temple's holy place. ‖

5 By awful things in righteousness ‖ an answer unto us ‖ thou wilt dispense, the God from whom ‖ still our Salvation comes. ‖ Thou'rt He that art an hope unto ‖ all the ends of the Earth; ‖ And so Thou art of them that are ‖ far off upon the Sea. ‖

6 The mountains he establishes ‖ by His own mighty pow'r: ‖ He has a Girdle of a Great ‖ and wondrous fortitude. ‖

7 He does allay the raging noise ‖ of the disturbed Seas; ‖ the noise rais'd by their waves: and the ‖ tumultuous People too. ‖

8 They who dwell in the utmost parts ‖ do also fear thy signs; ‖ outgoings of the Morning and ‖ the Ev'ning thou mak'st glad. ‖

9 The Earth with Rain thou visitest, ‖ after that thou hast made ‖ it to desire the Rain, Thou dost ‖ enrich it mightily. ‖ The River of God with waters is ‖ richly replenished; ‖ Thou dost prepare them Corn; 'tis so ‖ that thou preparest it. ‖

9 Water its ridges plenteously; ‖ On't's furrows O descend; ‖ With showr's thou mak'st it soft; Thou dost ‖ bless what does spring from it. ‖

10 Thou with thy Goodness dost adorn ‖ the Year as with a crown; ‖ and the paths that are trod by thee, ‖ do drop a fatness down. ‖

[Page 158] 11 They drop upon the Pastures of ‖ the thirsty wilderness: ‖ and so the little Hills are girt ‖ on ev'ry side with joy. ‖

12 The Pastures they are cloath'd with Flocks; ‖ the Valleys too with Corn ‖ are cover'd over: they do shout, ‖ and sing they do for joy. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXV. PSALM.

BEhold the Miracles to be wrought, when Israel shall be returned from Exile. The Showers here Celebrated are those of the Holy Spirit falling on the Church of GOD. Dr. Patrick thinks, the Showers that came after the Three Years Famine, which succeeded the Rebellion of Absalom, are here spoken of.

1 The Praises of God are so inexpressible, that they are best exprest by Silent Admiration. Yea, and God is never more effectually, never more acceptably Praised, then by the Silence of His People; their Silent Patience, and Forbearing of all Murmuring in their Adversity.

2 Munster here glosses well, Agit Psalmus de Regno Christi.

3 When Unrighteous Men so prevail against us, as to put unrighteous things upon us, it will be a blessed Consequence and Improvement of it, if we come thereby the more to reform our own Transgressions.

4 The Priests and Levites partaking of the Thanksgiving Sacrifices, are but the Figure of what is principally intended here.

5 Munster carries it so; When the Righteousness of GOD, was by our SAVIOUR brought unto the Children of Men, the Miracles which accompanied the Dispensation were very wonderful. But there are Marvellous things which yet remain to be done.

[Page 159] 8 Dr. Patricks Paraphrase is, The most barbarous People, who live in the most remote Parts of the Earth, behold with wonder the Heavenly Bodies, which God has appointed for Signs and Tokens. [Gen. I. 4.] In the Title Page of a Book about, The Gospel of the RAINBOW, I have seen the Text so translated, They who dwell in the uttermost Parts, have a Reverence for thy Tokens; Thou visitest the Earth & waterest it. Alsted would have the Outgoings of the Morning, refer to Man, and the Cattle, which then go out to work and feed; and the Outgoings of the Evening refer to Wild Beasts, which then go out for their Prey.

8 Arnobius here considers the God of Salvation, as Exhibited at the first Preaching of the Gospel. Then the Apostles appeared as Mountains, from whence there was Proclaimed the Gospel to every Creature. Then they who dwelt in the uttermost Parts, were struck with Reverence, at the Miracles wrought by our Lord. Both Morning & Evening; both Eastern and Western World, felt the joyful effect of these things, in Churches gathered every where. The Lord then visited the Earth, and Watered it with the Heavenly Influences of His Holy Spirit. From Jordan, the River of GOD, there particularly issued that which enrich'd it. GOD then prepar'd for His People the Food which endures to Everlasting Life.

13 Great Fruitfulness will occasion Great Joyfulness. One who shall be so happy as to bring forth much Fruit, for GOD and His People, and be very serviceable, will have cause to sing for Joy.

PSALM LXVI. To the Chief Musician. A Song; A Psalm.

1 O All the Earth, Make you to God ‖ shouts of a Jubilee. ‖

2 Sing forth the Glory of His Name; ‖ put Glory on His Praise. ‖

[Page 160] 3 Say unto God, Things done by Thee, ‖ How terrible they are! ‖ For thy great pow'r, thy enemies ‖ shall seem to stoop to thee. ‖

4 All who do dwell upon the Earth ‖ shall bow themselves to thee: ‖ And they shall sing to thee; they shall ‖ sing to thy Glorious Name. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 O come and take a view of the ‖ works that are done by God; ‖ How terrible in what He does ‖ upon the sons of Men! ‖

6 Into dry Land that might be trod ‖ once did He turn the Sea: ‖ Thorough the flood they pass'd on foot; ‖ there we rejoyc'd in Him. ‖

7 He by His pow'r for ever rules; ‖ His Eyes the Nations see: ‖ O now let the rebellious ones ‖ no more exalt themselves. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 A Benediction to our God, ‖ ye Peoples, offer up; ‖ and the voice of His Praise do you ‖ make to be heard aloud. ‖

9 'Tis He who by restoring it ‖ does place our Soul in Life; ‖ and He does not permit our foot ‖ to stumble into falls. ‖

10 Because that thou, O God, hast made ‖ a thorough proof of us; ‖ Of us thou h'st such a Trial made ‖ as Silver should be try'd. ‖

11 Thou hast brought us into the Net ‖ that was prepar'd for us; ‖ Affliction which doth straiten us ‖ thou on our Loins hast put. ‖

[Page 161] 12 Thou hast made Man ride o're our head; ‖ we went through fire and water; ‖ But thou hast brought us forth into ‖ a fructifying place. ‖

13 I will with due Burnt-Offerings now ‖ enter into thy House; ‖ and I will render unto thee ‖ the Vows that I have made. ‖

14 The things which formerly my lips ‖ did openly pronounce; ‖ and what my mouth hath spoken when ‖ I was in my distress. ‖

15 Burnt-Offerings of well-marrow'd things ‖ I'll offer up to thee; ‖ Rams with their Incense: Bullocks I ‖ with Goats will offer up. ‖ Selah. ‖

16 O come, attend; All you that have in you the fear of God; ‖ and I'll give a Relation of ‖ what He does for my Soul. ‖

17 A cry importunate I did ‖ make with my mouth to Him; ‖ And for that very cause He was ‖ extolled with my tongue. ‖

18 If in my heart I paid regard ‖ unto iniquity, ‖ surely the Lord would not have heard ‖ my Supplication then. ‖

12 But verily, now God hath heard ‖ what I addres [...]'d to Him; ‖ He hath attended to the voice ‖ which my petition had. ‖

20 Blessed be God, who hath not tur [...]d ‖ my Pray'r away from Him. ‖ Because His mercy He hath not ‖ turned away from me. ‖

[Page 162]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXVI. PSALM.

CErtainly, we have here, the Praises which the Church of Israel will give unto God, after He has Pardoned her Sins, and Restored Blessings to her, which will cause all other Nations also to magnify Him.

12 Munsters Gloss is: Men used them as if they had been Beasts.

15 Arnobius is very nice in his Allegories here. The Offering of Rams, he finds in Zeal for defending the Truth; Of Bcoves in Preaching the Gospel; Of Goats, —cum Imperium Libidinis subjugo, vel jugulo.

18 It is the Messiah who has the first and chief claim to this Passage. J. Capellus observes, The Pharisees laid an Imputation of Wicked Intentions, on the Miracles of our SAVIOUR. The Answer of our SAVIOUR is, GOD would never have so own'd Him if He had been one of such wicked Intentions.

PSALM LXVII. To the Chief Musician. On Neginoth. A Psalm; A Song.

1 LEt God be merciful to us; ‖ and bless us graciously; ‖ among us let Him cause to shine ‖ His glorious countenance. ‖ Selah. ‖

2 That they may have the knowledge of ‖ thy way throughout the Earth: ‖ That they among all Nations may ‖ thy Great Salvation know. ‖

3 O Glorious God, The People they ‖ shall celebrate thy praise; ‖ yea, all the People, every one, ‖ shall celebrate thy praise, ‖

4 The Nations let be glad, and sing ‖ for joy; For thou shalt judge ‖ the Peoples justly, and shalt lead ‖ the Nations on the Earth, ‖ Selah. ‖

[Page 163] 5 O Glorious God, The People, they ‖ shall celebrate thy Praise; ‖ yea, all the People every one ‖ shall celebrate thy Praise. ‖

6 The Earth shall yield her fruit, and us ‖ God, our own God, shall bless. ‖

7 God shall bless us, and all ends of ‖ the Earth shall Him revere. ‖ Selah. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXVII. PSALM.

A Prayer for the Second Coming of the Messiah! We read, when the Ark was brought into the Tabernacle prepared for it, 2 Sam. VI. 18. David blessed the People, in the Name of the Lord. It is Dr. Patricks Conjecture, That he then pronounced the Psalm now before us; wherein he imitates the Form of Blessing which the Priests were to use on Solemn Occasions, [Numb. VI. 23, 24, 25.] He Prays that God would make them the Subjects and Samples of such Blessings, as might invite all Nations, to whom the fame thereof should come, to submit unto His Government.

2 Thy Way. Austin's Gloss is, Thy CHRIST.

6 Theodoret thinks the Increase, to be the Messiah. But is not the Messiah's Restoring of the Earth unto a Paradisaick State, here Insinuated? The Jews as is evident from R. David on Hos. XIV. and R. Solomon on Psalm LXXII, were of this Opinion.

7 It was long ago thought by the Learned Orientals, That the Mystery of the Trinity was indicated in this Repetition.

PSALM LXVIII. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm. A Song of David.

1 MAY God arise; His Enemies, ‖ may they be scattered; ‖ and such as are haters of Him ‖ fly from before His face. ‖

[Page 164] 2 Drive them as smoke is driv'n away; ‖ as wax melts in the fire; The wicked ones shall be destroy'd ‖ before the face of God. ‖

3 But righteous ones, they shall be glad; ‖ they shall rejoyce before ‖ the face of God; yea, they shall leap ‖ through their exceeding joy. ‖

4 To God sing; to His Name sing Praise: ‖ He through the desarts rides: ‖ Extol Him by the Name of JAH; ‖ and in His face rejoyce. ‖

5 A Father of the Fatherless; ‖ A Judge for Widows too: ‖ So God is in the dwelling place ‖ of His pure holiness. ‖

6 God sets the Only's in an house; brings out the bound in chains: ‖ But the rebellious ones dwell in ‖ a place most destitute. ‖

7 O God, When that thou didst go forth ‖ in thy own Peoples view, ‖ when thou didst take thy wondrous march ‖ thorough the wilderness. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 The Earth shook; yea, the Heavn's drop'd, ‖ before the face of God; ‖ ev'n Sinai at the face of God, ‖ the God of Israel. ‖

9 O God, Thou on thy heritage ‖ didst pour a plenteous Rain; ‖ ev'n when that it was languishing, ‖ so thou confirmedst it. ‖

10 Thy living Congregation hath ‖ a dwelling place in it; ‖ O God, Thou of thy Goodness dost ‖ provide for him that's poor. ‖

11 The Lord from whom we have support; ‖ [Page 165]He does give forth the word; ‖ and of the Souls that publish it ‖ great is the company. ‖

12 The Kings that had their Armies, fled; ‖ and yet again, they fled: ‖ and she who did reside at home, ‖ did then divide the spoil. ‖

13 Tho' ye have lien among the pots ‖ wings of a dove you have ‖ that is with Silver cover'd, and ‖ her feathers with bright Gold. ‖

14 When the Almighty one therein ‖ did scatter mighty Kings, ‖ then very White like to the Snow ‖ in Salmon it became. ‖

15 Like to the Mount of Bashar is ‖ the Mountain of our God; ‖ A Mountain tis of Wondrous heighths; ‖ the Mount of Bashan's so. ‖

16 Why, O high Mountains, do ye leap? ‖ This Hill God does desire, ‖ to dwell there; Yea, th' ETERNAL God ‖ will dwell forever there. ‖

17 God's Chariots Twenty Thousand are; ‖ Repeated Thousands, they! ‖ Among them is the Glorious Lord: ‖ Sinai's in's Holy Place. ‖

18 Thou hast on high made thy Ascent: ‖ and then Captivity ‖ thou hast led Captive; and thou hast ‖ received Gifts for Men. ‖ Yea, Gifts for such Men as have been ‖ very intractable; ‖ That so the God whose Name is JAH, ‖ may have a dwelling place. ‖

19 O blessed is the Lord who doth ‖ lay daily Loads on us; ‖ O blessed be the God from whom ‖ does our Salvation come. ‖

[Page 166] 20 This God. He is to us the God ‖ from whom Salvations come. ‖ And to the ETERNAL God, the Lord ‖ Issues of Death belong. ‖

21 But God shall wound the Head of them ‖ that are His Enemies; ‖ The hairy Scalp of him that walks ‖ on in his trespasses. ‖

22 The Lord hath said, From Bashan I ‖ will make for to return; ‖ from the Depths of the Sea I'll make ‖ my People to return. ‖

23 May'st Thou dip deep thy foot in Blood; ‖ may'st thou dip deep the Tongue ‖ of thy Dogs in that of thy Foes; ‖ yea, every One of them. ‖

24 Thy Goings they have seen, O God; ‖ the Goings of my God; ‖ the God who is my King, and is ‖ lodged in Holiness. ‖

25 The Singers went before, then came ‖ players on Instruments; ‖ These were among the Damsels which ‖ manag'd the Timbrels there. ‖

26 O speak well of the Glorious God, ‖ in Congregations speak; ‖ Even of the Lord, you that are from ‖ the Spring of Israel. ‖

27 The Little Benjamin does now ‖ make his appearance there; ‖ and an Inspired Ruler who ‖ does now proceed from him. ‖ The Eminent Ones of Judah were ‖ the Stones of their Support; ‖ The Eminent Ones of Zebulon; ‖ th' Eminent of Naphthali. ‖

[Page 167] 28 Thy God is He, who does Command ‖ confirmed Strength for thee; ‖ Strengthen, O God, the very thing ‖ which Thou hast wrought for us. ‖

29 For the sake of thy Temple which ‖ is at Jerusalem, ‖ they that are crowned Kings shall bring ‖ their Presents unto thee. ‖

30 Do thou bestow Rebukes upon ‖ the Wild beast of the Reeds; ‖ Rebuke the Multitude of Bulls, ‖ join'd with the Peoples Calves. ‖ With Peices of Silver each one ‖ of them submits himself; ‖ He hath dispers'd the People which ‖ do take delight in War. ‖

31 Out of the Land of Aegypt then ‖ there shall great Princes come; ‖ soon Ethiopia shall then ‖ stretch out her hands to God. ‖

32 Now, O ye Kingdoms of the Earth, ‖ sing to the Glorious God; ‖ O sing ye Praises forth unto ‖ him that becomes your Lord. ‖ Selah. ‖

33 To Him that rides upon the Heav'ns ‖ of Heav'ns which were of old; ‖ Attend; He does give out His Voice; ‖ It is a mighty Voice. ‖

34 Great strength ascribe ye unto God; ‖ Now over Israel ‖ does his Magnificence appear; ‖ and His Strength's in the Skies. ‖

35 Thou from thy Holy Places art, ‖ O God, how terrible! ‖ He that is so is He that is ‖ the God of Israel. ‖ Tis He who to His People will ‖ give a confirmed Strength; ‖ Yea, forces most invincible. ‖ O blessed be my God! ‖

[Page 168]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXVIII. PSALM.

LO, The Conression of the Synagogue, That the JESUS who was lifted up to Heaven, at His first Coming is her SAVIOUR; even the same who conducted her thro' the Wilderness; and will at last restore her to her Land, and will destroy her Oppressors, and pour out His Holy npirit upon her. She fore-sees the Ruin of Anti-christ, and her own return upon it, and the homage that all Nations shall then pay to the Messiah her King and her God.

1 Behold the Resurrection of our JESUS from the Grave!—In the Days of Athanasius, the Divels in the Energumens discovered usually a strange Horror when this Verse was recited.

4 R. David Kimchi has a Good Gloss. He Governs them as a Man does the Horse he rides on.

5 Tho' the Lord be so much above the highest Heavens, yet the poorest and meanest persons upon Earth need have no doubt of His Patronage: They may repair to His Fatherly Care and appeal to His Righteous Judgment.

9 Liberal Showers sell on the Dry and Desert places thro' which the chosen People of God were travelling. Add the Manna rain'd from Heaven.

But above all think on the Gifts of the Prophetic Spirit. Munster accordingly makes the People to be meant by the Land.

11 If we consider here, what was done for the People of God in the First Ages—We know they were so Victorious over their Opposers, that they returned with Songs of Triumph, and were met with Women ready to accompany them in the Praises of GOD. [Exod. XV. 23,] Kings and Generals fled. [Exod. XVII. Num. XXI.] Yea, they fled and left their Spoll. [Num. XXXI. 8, 11. Judges. VIII. 21, 26. [Page 169]This welcome they gave to their Victorious Country Men. ‘Tho you endured great Hardship in Aegypt, where you loo [...]t more like Skullions then Souldiers, you shall hereafter appear most splendid, and the Wings of your Armies shall shine like those of a Dove.’ Their Word was fulfilled at the Entrance into Canaan; when by scattering of Kings God appeared most illustrious at Salmon, and gave them the Possession of the Country on that side of Jordan, as on the other side he subdued the King and Country of Bashan, the Hill whereof (which had so many fertile Risings) became the Hill of GOD. But the lofty Mountains must not grow proud of this. For not they but Zion had God chosen for His Habitation. The Heathen also must not brag of their many Chariots; for in Zion there are Ten Thousand times more, even innumerable Hosts of Angels attending on the Divine Majesty, who is with them there, as He was upon Mount Sinai: So much was declared by God who highly Exalted Himself, in the Astonishing Victories, which thro' their Manistry He gave them over their Enemies; whom they carried Captive and their Spoils with them, to be Distributed among His People. All this is an Emblem of what is done by the Messiah. This is the Sum of the Patrician Paraphrase.

13 Potts.—The IXX render it Lotts. Hemingius thinks it an Allusion to the Decimation of Rebellious Legions, or of Captivated Enemies, for Destructions, 'Twas called Sortiri ad Panam, 'twas done by Lot; and is often mentioned by many of the Ancients. q. d. ‘You have lain in as continual Danger of Death, as poor Soldiers expecting the Lot of Decimation, for their Lives. But your Saviour obtains an happy Lot for you; you fly away like Doves.’

18 In the Gifts of our Ascended Lord for His Church, He does but Spargers Missilia, and scatter Medals [...]e Princes at their Coronation, or in their Triumphal [Page 170]Entries. The well-qualifyed Ministers and Publishers of the Gospel, are the Medals which our Triumphing Saviour does cast about, that His Church may seize upon them. Yea, But the Medals have on them the Image of the Princes who disperse them. O Preachers of the Gospel, How much ought you to be affected with this Consideration? There is nothing of so much Consequence unto you, as to have the Image of your SAVIOUR very Conspicuous on you.

20 The Original may be rendred, The Goings forth of Death: All the several Ways of Dying, which are found by the Children of Men are appointed & ordered by God. The LXX render it, The Passages of Death. All the several and secret Avenues whereby Death invades Mankind, God is the Uncontrollable Disposer of them. After all, in the Goings from Death here mentioned, why should not the Resurrection from the Dead be refer'd unto?

24 There seems to have been a fierce Captain who had Shaggy Hair, which gave him something of a terrible Aspect, here particularly referr'd unto. Why not Hadadezer? [2 Sam. VIII. 3.] Notandum. Pharaoh signifies, A long haired Man.

27 Jerom and Theodoret shall now help us, and let Lyra give some very melodious Notes unto us. Let the Amiable Alting and the Admirable Witsius more distinctly modulate them. The Glorious Ascension of our SAVIOUR unto Heaven is here described unto us. The Praises to be offered on that Occasion are intimated; and those Tribes of Israel are mentioned, from whence the Persons were to arise, that were to be considerable in Praising of the Lord. The first mentioned is Little Benjamin. As Benjamin was the Youngest Son of Jacob, so our Apostle Paul of this Tribe, was the last that was called unto the Apostleship. [See 1 Cor. XV. 8, 9, 10.] And if Littleness may lead us to a Thought of Humility, it was what rendered our [Page 171] Paul Illusirious. [Eph. 3.8.] The Word Rodem, which we render A Ruler, is found no where else. It may mean an Extatic one. [Corn pare now Acts IX. 3.12. Acts XXIII. 17.2 Cor. XII. 1.] Theodotion renders it, A Teacher. [Compare now, 1 Cor. XV. 15. 2 Cor. XI. 5, 23.] Then appear the Princes of Judab, and their Council. The Word Rigmotham, is also found no where else. 'Tis by some rendred, An heap of Stones. A Stone is a Phrase for an Upholder and Preserver. [Gen. XLIX. 14.] An heap of Stones, intends a Number of Colleques in the same Work. The Tribe of Judah afforded a Number of Apostles. Four or Five without mentioning of Judas of Kerioth. The Princes of Zebulon were Peter and Andrew and Philip and Bartholomew, (probably, the same with Nathanael.) the Princes of Napthali were Matthew and perhaps Th [...]mas. A stin's Note is, ex his Tribubus Apos [...]o [...]ie [...]ant. The Patrician Paraphrase amounts to thus much. What a Solemn Entrance, God by His Ar [...], made into the Sanctuary! [2 Sam. VI. 13, 15, 16.] Part of the Levites went Singing before, the rest with Musical Infiruments followed after. [1 Chron. XV. 16, 28.] To compleat the Melody, Damsels with Timbrels came between them both. As they went they Sang, and the Song is recited here.—The Tribes were universally assembled on this occasion. There were not only the Little Tribe of Benjamin, from whence came the first King of Israel; and Princes of the Tribe of Judah, the great Support of the Kingdom. There were also, the Princes of the emoter Tribes; Of Zebulen and of Napthali.

30 Some of the Ancients would have this Wild Beast be, the Fourth Beast in the Seventh of Daniel. And R. Solomon says, Fera calami est EsaX. The same with Psal. LXXX. 14. Deep thought is required here.

20 Does not the Roman Orater a little expound the Heb en Prophet, where he relates. Aurum Judcorum [Page 172]Nomine, quotannis ex Italia, et omnibus vestris Provincijs, Hierosolymam exportari soleret?—But it waits a further Accomplishment.

32 There is doubtless an Ethiopia of Africa, as well as of Arabia, considered in the Scriptures. Ezekiel mentions Ethiopians and Egyptians as near Neighbours. Munster has a good Gloss here; Non caret Locus iste Mysterijs Regni Christi.

PSALM LXIX. To the Chief Musician. Upon Shoshannim. Of David.

1 DEliver me, O Glorious God, ‖ Because the waters do ‖ threatning my ruin, penetrate ‖ into my very Soul. ‖

2 In the mire of the Deep I sink; ‖ there is no standing there; ‖ Into deep waters I am come; ‖ and the Flood covers me. ‖

3 I'm weary with my crying there; ‖ my very throat is dry'd; ‖ mine eyes do fail, while that I do ‖ keep waiting for my God. ‖

4 They that bear hatred unto me, ‖ tho' still without a cause, ‖ these Men are multiply'd above ‖ the hairs upon my head. ‖ My causless enemies who would ‖ destroy me, are grown strong; ‖ Then I made restitution of ‖ what I took not away. ‖

5 O God, Thou knowest very well ‖ what is my foolishness; ‖ and my offences have not been ‖ at all conceal'd from thee. ‖

6 ETERNAL Lord of Hosts, Let not ‖ be sham'd who hope on thee ‖ thro' me; not let thy seekers blush ‖ for me, O Israels God. ‖

[Page 173] 7 Because that I have undergone ‖ reproach on thy account, ‖ and a confusion full of shame ‖ has covered my face. ‖

8 I am unto my Bretheren ‖ but as a stranger held, ‖ and to my Mothers Children I ‖ am held an alien. ‖

9 Because the hot Zeal of thy house ‖ has ev'n devoured me; ‖ Contempts from those who thee contemn, ‖ have also fall'n on me. ‖

10 In fasts when I wept with my Soul, ‖ that turn'd to my reproach. ‖

11 When I wore Sackcloth, then I was ‖ a by-word unto them. ‖

12 They who sat in the Gate pursu'd ‖ me with their obloquies; ‖ and I was made the Songs of those ‖ who take the Drunkards cup. ‖

13 But as for me, I turn my Prayer ‖ to Thee, ETERNAL God, ‖ in such a time, as I might hope ‖ to find acceptance in. ‖ In the great multitude of thy ‖ Mercy, hear me, O God; ‖ and for the Faithfulness which is ‖ in thy Salvation sound. ‖

14 Deliver me out of the mire, ‖ and let me not sink there; ‖ From them that hate me let me be ‖ sav'd, and from deep waters. ‖

15 Let not the flood of waters come ‖ over me, nor the deep ‖ swallow me up, nor let the pit ‖ upon me shut her mouth. ‖

16 ETERNAL God, Hear me, for good ‖ is thy Benignity; ‖ Oh, in the multitude of thy ‖ compassions turn to me. ‖

[Page 174] 17 And from thy Servant, O do not ‖ Thou hide thy face away; ‖ for that sore trouble on me lies; ‖ O haste, O hear thou me. ‖

18 O draw near to my Soul; for it ‖ do the Redeemer's part; ‖ Because I have such enemies, ‖ redeem me from them all. ‖

19 Thou hast known my reproach, and what ‖ a shame they cast on me; ‖ And my dishonour; in thy view ‖ are all my enemies. ‖

20 Reproach has broke my heart, and I ‖ have griev'd; When I look'd for ‖ condolence, there was none, and for ‖ comforters, none I found. ‖

21 Nay, they for my refreshment gave ‖ unto me bitter Gall; ‖ and in my thirst they gave to me ‖ sour Vinegar to drink. ‖

22 Their Table now let that become ‖ before them but a sHare; ‖ and what should be intended for ‖ Peace-Off'rings, but a trap. ‖

23 Let darkness come upon their eyes, ‖ so that they shall not see; ‖ and make their loins to tremble still ‖ for fear continually. ‖

24 Upon them direfully do thou ‖ thine indignation pour; ‖ and let the burning of thy wrath ‖ take a fast hold of them. ‖

25 Their stately Palace let it be ‖ entirely desolate; ‖ within their Tabernacles let ‖ be no inhabitant. ‖

26 Since Him whom thou hast smitten, they ‖ jo on to persecute; ‖ and they talk to the grief of those ‖ who are thy wounded ones. ‖

[Page 175] 27 Add more iniquity upon ‖ their past iniquity; ‖ And let them not admission have ‖ into thy righteousness. ‖

28 Let them be blotted out of the ‖ Book of the living ones; ‖ and let them not in Writing be ‖ enrolled with the Just. ‖

29 But I'm a poor afflicted one, ‖ and I am sorrowful; ‖ O God, Let thy Salvation now ‖ exalt me gloriously. ‖

30 The Praises of the Name of God ‖ I'll utter with a Song; ‖ and I'll with a confession Him ‖ thankfully magnify. ‖

31 This also will more grateful be ‖ to the ETERNAL God, ‖ than Beef or Calf on which the horns ‖ as well as hoofs appear. ‖

32 The humbled meek ones shall behold; ‖ they shall be very glad; ‖ O you that seek the Glorious God, ‖ ev'n so your heart shall live. ‖

33 Because th' ETERNAL God attends ‖ unto the indigent; ‖ and such as He doth hold in bonds, ‖ these He does not despise. ‖

34 Now let the Heavens, and the Earth ‖ unite in praising Him; ‖ the Seas, and ev'ry thing that does ‖ move to and fro in them. ‖

35 For Zion God will save, and He ‖ will Judah's Cities build; ‖ that Men may dwell therein and have ‖ it their Inheritance. ‖

36 The Offspring of His Servants too, ‖ these shall inherit it; ‖ and they who bear love to His Name, ‖ these shall inhabit it. ‖

[Page 176]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXIX. PSALM.

WE have here a Prayer of the Messiah in His Humiliation. It foretells the Desolation of the Jewish Nation: But a Glorious Establishment.

4 Theodoret well considers our SAVIOUR, as paying a Debt, which was none of his own Contracting.

5 Munster notes; That some take it so; ‘Thou knowest I have not been so foolish, as my Persecutors assert I have.’—But there is no need of taking it so.

11 Was it not then become a Proverb, for the utmost Hatred or Contempt of any Man; I value him no more than I do David?

12 The Language both of Graver Senators, and of Idle Companions.

27 q. d. Suffer them to go on in compleating their Iniquity.

28 q. d. Let them enjoy none of the Blessings Written in the Promises for the Righteous. To be Remembred in the Genealogical Tables, was matter of no little Consequence. An Inheritance in the holy Land, was implied in it. The first, if not chief use of Letters, was to keep these Genealogical Tables, in every Family. When a Family was increased, these Tables were Transcribed for the use of New Descendants. In the Transcription, they Blotted out whatsoever occured unnecessary, to carry down the History of the Succession. The Issueless were so. Of Judab's Five Sons, the Two Eldest were useless in the Heraldry, and were blotted out. Unto these Tables refer, Exod. XXXII. 32. And Psal. CIX. 13. Here is a Key to Dent. XXV. 6. The Book of Genealogies is here called, The Book of the Living, because the Names of Men lived here, and the Men lived in their Posterity. And it is called, A being Written with the Righteous, because Fruitfulness, was among the Jews reckoned the Reward [Page 177]of Righteousness. The failing of their Genealogical Tables, among the Jews, is here foretold. How Remarkably 'tis Accomplished!

31 The Jews refer it, unto the First Sacrifice offered by Adam, after his Fall. Conceive the Messiah, who is the Second Adam, speaking here, and it is worth Considering.

PSALM LXX. To the Chief Musician. Of David. To bring to Remembrance.

1 O God, For to deliver me! ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ O do thou now make haste for the ‖ relief of my distress. ‖

2 Let them be sham'd and blush, who do‖ seek to destroy my Soul; ‖ Let them be turn'd back, and perplext ‖ who do desire my hurt. ‖

3 Let them be forc'd to turn about ‖ for a just recompence ‖ of the shame that belongs to them, ‖ who say, Aha, Aha. ‖

4 Let all be glad and joy in thee, ‖ who seek thee, and those who ‖ love thy Salvation, ever say, ‖ Let God be magnify'd. ‖

7 But I'm a poor and needy one; ‖ Make haste to me, O God; ‖ O Thou ETERNAL, Thou my help ‖ and Saviour, tarry not. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXX. PSALM.

TIS the Prayer of the Messiah in His wonderful Sufferings. In the last Verse He takes the very Name which is in Zech. IX. 9. assigned unto Him. He foretells the Miseries, which the Jews would procure to themselves by the I [...]juries they offered unto Him.

[Page 178]

PSALM LXXI.

1 IN Thee, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ I do repose my trust; ‖ O let me not be put to shame ‖ unto Eternity. ‖

2 Save thou me in thy righteousness, ‖ and cause me to escape; ‖ Incline thou unto me thine ear; ‖ And, O deliver me. ‖

3 Be Thou the Rock where I may dwell, ‖ and constantly resort; ‖ my safety thou hast order'd; for ‖ Thou art my rock and strength. ‖

4 My God, Deliver me from the ‖ hand of the wicked one; ‖ out of the hand of the unjust, ‖ and of the cruel one. ‖

5 Because, O Lord, th' ETERNAL God, ‖ with hope I wait on thee: ‖ Thou'rt He on whom I place my trust ‖ ev'n from my early youth. ‖

6 On Thee I lean ev'n from the womb: ‖ Thou hast extracted me ‖ out of my Mothers Bowels; Praise ‖ shall ever be to thee. ‖

7 I unto many am become ‖ a wondrous prodigy: ‖ But thou hast ever been to me ‖ a refuge very strong. ‖

8 O let my mouth be filled with ‖ Expressions of thy Praise; ‖ It shall be with thy Glory fill'd ‖ all day * and every day. ‖

9 O cast me not off in the time ‖ of my advanced Age: ‖ Forsake me not when that my strength ‖ is under a decay. ‖

10 For they that are my enemies ‖ [Page 179]do spend their talk on me, ‖ and they consult together who ‖ watch for to seize my Soul. ‖

11 They say, God hath forsaken him; ‖ Now persecute the Man; ‖ And seize upon him: for there is ‖ none to deliver him. ‖

12 O God, Be'nt far from me: my God ‖ make haste unto my help. ‖

13 The adversaries of my Soul, ‖ may they confounded be. ‖ Yea, may they be consumed all, ‖ they who do seek my hurt: ‖ may they be covered with reproach, ‖ and with disgraceful shame. ‖

14 But as for me, I will maintain ‖ my hope continually; ‖ and I shall make additions still ‖ to all thy glorious praise. ‖

15 My mouth shall make relation of ‖ thy spotless right'ousness: ‖ of thy Salvation all the day; ‖ for I no numbers know. ‖

16 I'll walk in the strength of the Lord, ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ I'll celebrate thy righteousness, ‖ yea, even thine alone. ‖

17 O God, Thou from my early youth ‖ hast well instructed me: ‖ and hitherto I have declar'd ‖ the wonders thou hast wrought. ‖

18 Yea, even to the time when I ‖ must see advanced age, ‖ and have gray hairs upon me, then, ‖ O God, forsake me not ‖ till to this Generation I ‖ declare thy pow'r abroad, ‖ and unto every one that is ‖ to come, thy fortitude. ‖

19 Thy righteousness therewith, O God, ‖ [Page 180]unto the very heighth! ‖ Thou who dost things so very great: ‖ O God, Who's like to thee? ‖

20 Thou art He who has shown to me ‖ Afflictions great and sore: ‖ Thou'lt quicken me again, and raise ‖ me from the depths of Farth. ‖

21 Thou hast giv'n an increase unto ‖ my bright magnificence; ‖ and consolations given me, ‖ returning unto me. ‖

22 With Psaltry help't, now Thee I'll praise ‖ for thy truth, O my God: ‖ To thee I will sing with the harp, ‖ O Israels Holy One. ‖

23 My lips they shall triumph with joy, ‖ when I do sing to thee; ‖ and so my Soul shalldo, which thou ‖ hast thoroughly redeem'd. ‖

24 My tongue too tells thy righteousness ‖ all day * and every day; ‖ for they're confounded and disgrac'd, ‖ who do pursue my hurt. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXI. PSALM.

SEE the Church (and the Spirit of Prophecy representing the Condition of the Synagogue also) groaning under the Tyranny of Antichrist; and hoping for a Restoration after so many Calamities.

3 Munster, Gloss is, Tu mandabis Angelis tuis de me.

5 A Remarkable Iustance that I Sam. XVII. 33, 47.

16 O ye Servants o [...] GOD, In your Ministry handling that Subject, see whether He do not remarkably Strengthen you.

[Page 181]

PSALM LXXII. Of Solomon.

1 GIve Thou unto the King, O God, ‖ Thy Judgments of all sorts; ‖ and unto the Son of the King ‖ give thou thy Righteousness. ‖

2 He to thy People shall dispense ‖ Judgments in Righteousness; ‖ and with right Judgment he shall treat ‖ Thy poor afflicted ones. ‖

3 The mountains to thy People shall ‖ bring forth a prosp'rous peace; ‖ and so the little hills shall do, ‖ because of righteousness. ‖

4 The poor afflicted ones among ‖ the People He shall judge: ‖ He'll the Sons of the needy save; ‖ and break th' injurious one. ‖

5 Even so long as does the Sun ‖ their fear of thee shall last: ‖ and while the Moon shall have a face; ‖ from Age to Age 'twill be. ‖

6 He shall come down like to the Rain ‖ upon the Grass that's mown: ‖ There shall be a descent like to ‖ Show'rs watering of the Earth. ‖

7 Whoever is the righteous one ‖ shall flourish in His days; ‖ and there shall be great store of Peace, ‖ while there shall be no Moon. ‖

8 And He shall His Dominion spread ‖ abroad from Sea to Sea; ‖ yea, from the River it shall spread ‖ to the ends of the Earth. ‖

[Page 182] 9 They who dwell in the wilderness before Him shall bow down: ‖ and they that are his enemies shall lick the very dust. ‖

10 The Kings of Tarsis and the Isles, ‖ shall bring their presents then; ‖ Then Sheba's Kings and Seba's too, ‖ shall offer Gifts to Him. ‖

11 Yea, Kings of ev'ry Kingdom shall ‖ before Him bow themselves; ‖ all Nations shall therewith become ‖ liege Servants unto Him. ‖

13 For he shall save the needy one, ‖ upon his piteous cry, ‖ and save the poor afflicted one, ‖ yea, him whom none will help.

13 He shall a kind compassion shew ‖ to him that's destitute; ‖ and to the needy; yea, He'll save ‖ the Souls of needy ones. ‖

14 From fraud, and from iniquity, ‖ He shall redeem their Souls; ‖ their Blood shall also be esteem'd ‖ precious before His eyes. ‖

15 This Poor shall live so, and the King ‖ shall give him Sheba's Gold; ‖ And He'll still intercede for him; ‖ He'll bless him every day. ‖

16 Of Corn an handful there shall be ‖ then seen upon the Earth; ‖ Upon the very top of the ‖ high mountains, sown and seen. ‖ The fruit thereof shall make its wave ‖ ev'n like tol, ebanon; ‖ The Citizens shall flourish then ‖ like the Grass of the Earth. ‖

18 His Name, that shall endure unto ‖ [Page 183]all perpetuity: ‖ in the face of the Sur He shall, have the Name of, The Son. ‖ And it shall usual be for Men, to bless themselves in Him: ‖ All Nations of the World, they shall ‖ call Him, The blessed One. ‖

18 O blessed be the Glorious God, who is the ETERNAL One; ‖ Bless'd be the God of Israel who [...] alone does wondrous things. ‖

19 Yea, ever bless'd His Glorious Name: ‖ And now let all the Earth ‖ be with His wondrous Glory fill'd: ‖ Amen, O say, Amen. ‖

20 With such inspir'd desires as these, the Supplications of David, who was Jesse's Son, have come unto their end.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXII. PSALM.

TIs a Traver for the Coming and Kin [...]om of the Messiah. The Jews unanimously apply it unto Him 1 A praefarory Wish for the Prosperity of the Psalmist himself, and of His Son Solomon, to whom the Psalm is dedicated. — The Subject of the following Psalm is another, a Greater than he.

16 An handful of Corn sown even on the Top [...] Barren Mountains, will spring up with [...]ar [...], win [...] will be so thick and full, that when they are sua [...]en with the Wind, they shall make a Noise like the C [...] dars of Lebanon. The City shall be as truitful as the Country, and as well stored with Good things, as th [...] Earth is with Grass in the Spring. This is the Patrician Paraphrase.

17 The Hebrews call the Messiah by the Name of Jinn [...]n, which signifies A Son Here Before the Sun, Jinn [...]n is Hi [...] Name. The Midrash Till [...] rea [...] it [Page 184] Ante Solem filiabit Nomen ejus. And adds this Gloss upon it; — Quia ipse filiaturus est Dormientés in Pulvere.

This is Wondrous from the Pen of a Jew!

I have somewhere seen this Gloss and thought upon it. His Name shall be as a Son, to continue his Father's Name forever. Thus the Ministers of the Word, ought to raise up the Name of CHRIST upon His Inheritance, His Church. They ought not to raise up their own Names.

This Passage, Nomen ejus filiabatur, is fulfilled unto our Saviour, in that His Name is continued by the Succession of Many Sons, before the Sun. Compare Heb. II. 13.

THE THIRD BOOK OF PSALMS.

PSALM LXXIII. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 BUt yet, This I will say, That God ‖ is good to Israel; ‖ that is to say to them that are ‖ of a Well cleansed Heart. ‖

2 But as for me, my feet almost ‖ declin'd from what is right; ‖ scarce any thing appear'd, but that ‖ my Steps had run abroad. ‖

3 Because I had some Envy at ‖ the madly boasting Fools; ‖ When I saw the Prosperity ‖ of the Ungodly Ones. ‖

4 For in their Death there are no Bands; ‖ till then their strength is firm. ‖

[Page 185] 5 They are not in Man's Labour, nor ‖ are plagu'd like other Men. ‖

6 Therefore their Pride do's like a Chain ‖ encompass them about; ‖ Iniquity does cover them, ‖ esteem'd an Ornament. ‖

7 Their Eyes stand out with fatness; they ‖ have more than Heart can wish. ‖

8 They waste; and speaking ill, oppress; ‖ they talk, how loftily! ‖

9 They resolutely set their Mouth ‖ for to blaspheme the Heav'ns; ‖ and their Tongue with their Calumnies ‖ does walk about the Earth. ‖

10 Therefore His People do at length ‖ make their Return to this; ‖ When Waters of a Plenteous Cup ‖ are poured out to them. ‖

11 And this is now the thing they say; ‖ How is it that God knows? ‖ or is there any knowledge in ‖ Him who is God on High? ‖

12 Behold, these are th' ungodly Ones ‖ who prosper in the World; ‖ of Riches they've a mighty Store ‖ obtained for themselves. ‖

13 Surely, it is in vain that I ‖ have purify'd my Heart; ‖ In vain that I have wash'd my hands ‖ in purest Innocence. ‖

14 Whereas I have been still chastiz'd ‖ all day * and every day; ‖ and every Morning I have had ‖ Rebuke bestow'd on me. ‖

15 If now I should resolve with me. ‖ [Page 186]I'll speak at such a rate; ‖ Thy Children's Generation, Lo, ‖ will say, I've done amiss. ‖

16 I did propose unto my self ‖ that I would know this thing; ‖ but it appear'd before my Eyes ‖ a labour troublesome. ‖

17 'Twas thus, until that I into ‖ God's Holy Places went; ‖ But then I clearly understood ‖ the latter End of them. ‖

18 Surely in Slipp'ry Places * and ‖ in dark Thou settest them; ‖ Thou dost cause that they shall into ‖ frightfull Destructions fall. ‖

19 To Ruin, Oh! How are they brought! ‖ How very suddenly! ‖ They perish; They are quite consum'd ‖ from things most terrible. ‖

20 It's sound but as a Dream when they ‖ awake out of their Sleep; ‖ Lord, at their, rising thou wilt on ‖ their Image cast Contempt. ‖

21 Truly on this Account my Heart ‖ within me waxed hot, ‖ and in my reins I underwent ‖ the Piercings of a Dart. ‖

22 And as for me, I was become ‖ a, very foolish one; ‖ nor had I any knowledge; But ‖ was with Thee like the Beasts. ‖

23 Yet as for me, I now will be ‖ with thee continually; ‖ To keep me from false Steps thou hast ‖ kept hold on my right hand. ‖

24 Thou by thy Counsel ever wilt ‖ give conduct unto me; ‖ and me Thou in bright glory then ‖ wilt afterwards receive. ‖

[Page 187] 25 Whom in the Heavens have I to ‖ implore or to enjoy? ‖ And there is none upon the Earth ‖ whom I desire but Thee. ‖

26 When my flesh and my heart do now ‖ with a consumption fail; ‖ God is the strength of my heart, and ‖ my portion evermore. ‖

27 For, lo, they that go far from Thee, ‖ shall perish utterly; ‖ each one who does a whoring go ‖ from thee thou dost destroy. ‖

28 But as for me, it's good that I ‖ get * and keep near to God; ‖ I in the Lord ETERNAL hope ‖ to tell of all thy works. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXIII. PSALM.

BEhold, the reflection of the Faithful on the Prosperity enjoyed by the Followers and Abettors of Antichrist: And their comfort in the Expectation of his Destruction. Dr. Patrick thinks, Asaph the Seer, might be one who liv'd in the days of Hezekiah: [2 Chron. XXIX. 30.] probably the Father of that Eminent Person, who was then the Recorder. The miserable Havock made by the Assyrians, notwithstanding Hezekiah's Reformation, might afford sufficient Occasion for the Psalm. Or, the common Occurrences, which produce the XXXVII. Psalm would yield abundant occasion for the LXXIII.

4 So great is their Power, they are not in danger of being bound over, by any humane Justice for their Crimes. Nor are they afflicted with sore diseases: After a long Life they dye easily. Munster's Gloss is, They have no Anxiety about their Widows and Orphans; They leave enough to them.

7 They are short-sighted People.

[Page 188] 14 q. d. I was dealt withal as a Malafactor. Such were punished in the Morning.

17 Did not he hear the XCII. Psalm Sung in the Sanctuary?

20 The Prophets of God, inspired from the Sanctuary, or the Holy Place of the Heavenly World, have told us, that Men shall be Raised from the Dead, and shall see a Day of Judgment, which will bring all to rights, and unsold the Mysteries which now puzle us in the Conduct of Providence. This Resurrection of the Dead, with the following Day of Judgment, is here intimated. Yea, the Chaldee Paraphrase on the Text is; In Die Judicij magni, cum fne [...]int suscitati de Sepulchris suis. At that Day, First, the Prosperity of the Wicked, shall appear to have been a Dream, It shall be found so at their Awaking. The Awaking of the Dead is the Scriptural Term for the Resurrection. Should the following Word, Baguir, be rendred, in the City, as it is by many and Ancient Interpreters, it would suit admirably. The Transactions of the Last Judgment will be very much carried on in the Heavenly City. But render it if you please, Insuscitando; the plain English is, At thy Raising them, or, At their Rising. Well, what shall be then? Thou wilt on their Image cast contempt. A notable Key to this you have in, Dan. XII. 2.—Let the Word Image signify either their Prosperity; [See Psai. XXXIX. 7.] or their Corruption. [See Gen. V. 3.] or their Spirit, or their Body; or their pompous Fashion of living in this World; [See 1 Cor. VII. 31.] still it will be true. By Image, I would understand, whatever they value themselves upon. Let it be remembred, The Word here also carries Punishment, in the Signification of it.

21 Arnobius finds chast living here.

22 A Beast regards nothing but what is present.

25 Says the Pious Harle; It seems, Heaven is the [Page 189]Place of having, Earth but of desiring. Old Raymund in his Pugio Fidei, gives this Gloss; Who will give me to be in Heaven with Thee? On Earth I desire not to be. Arnobius makes it the Language of our Saviour, having finished all His Work on Earth, and going to Heaven, where he had before conversed continually.

28 The Works of Providence in preserving the Righteous and destroying the Wicked.

PSALM LXXIV. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 O God, why hast thou cast us off ‖ to perpetuity? ‖ Against the Sheep which thou dost feed, ‖ why does thy Anger smoke? ‖

2 Remember thine Assembly, thou ‖ hast purchased of Old; ‖ the Tribe thou hast redeemed for ‖ thy own Inheritance. ‖ This mount of Zion in the which, ‖ Thou'st had thy dwelling-place. ‖

3 Lift up thy feet, with haste to tread ‖ where Enemies have made ‖ the desolations that appear ‖ to be perpetual; ‖ and smite each enemy that has done ‖ ill to thy holy Place.‖

4 In the midst of thy Synagogue ‖ the enemies do roar ‖ as if possess'd of Prey, they have ‖ set up their signs for signs. ‖

5 Notice is taken of the Man ‖ who carries up on high ‖ Axes among the thickest boughs ‖ of the Trees in the wood. ‖

[Page 190] 6 So now with an united force ‖ at once they batter down ‖ with the Ax and with Hammers, all ‖ the carved works thereof. ‖

7 Thy Sanctuary they have cast ‖ into the wasting Fire, ‖ they have defil'd the dwelling place ‖ of thy Name down to Earth. ‖

8 They said within their hearts, Let us ‖ destroy them altogether; ‖ They've burnt up all the Synagogues ‖ of God throughout the Land. ‖

9 Our Signs we see not; There is not ‖ a Prophet any more; ‖ with us there is not any one ‖ that knows how long 'twill be. ‖

10 The adversary, Thee, O God, ‖ How long shall he reproach? ‖ The Enemy, shall he blaspheme ‖ thy Name for evermore? ‖

11 Thy hand ev'n thy right hand, wherefore ‖ dost thou withdraw from us? ‖ From the midst of thy bosom take ‖ thou it, them to consume. ‖

12 For Thou, O God the Judge, dost reign ‖ my King from ancient time; ‖ Salvations He does bring about ‖ in the midst of the Earth. ‖

13 Thou by thy mighty strength didst make ‖ the Sea divide asunder, ‖ the heads of Dragons thou didst break ‖ under the Waters there. ‖

14 Thou didsi with wounding bruise the head ‖ of the Leviathan; ‖ with him thou fedst the People which ‖ dwelt in the wilderness. ‖

[Page 191] 15 By cleaving thou didst cause to flow ‖ the fountain and the flood; ‖ Thou didst dry up the Rivers which ‖ ran with a mighty force. ‖

16 Even the Day itself is thine, ‖ thine also is the Night; ‖ Thou hast prepar'd the Light and the ‖ Sun which dispenses it. ‖

17 Thou'rt He, who hath appointed all ‖ the Borders of the Earth; ‖ The Summer and the Winter, thou ‖ art He that formed them. ‖

18 Remember this, th' Enemy has ‖ reproach'd th' ETERNAL God; ‖ The People vain thro' folly, cast ‖ contempt upon thy Name. ‖

19 Thy Turtle-dove's Soul, O give not ‖ up to the multitude; ‖ The Congregation of thy Poor ‖ forget them not fore'er. ‖

20 O do thou have respect unto ‖ the Ancient Covenant; ‖ for th' Earth's dark places are fill'd with ‖ dwellings of cruelty. ‖

21 O let not the oppressed one ‖ return from Thee asham'd: ‖ But let the meek afflicted one ‖ and the Poor praise thy Name. ‖

22 Do thou arise, O God; appear ‖ thou to defend thy cause; ‖ Remember thy reproach from the ‖ vain Fool heard every day. ‖

23 Forget not thou the voice of them ‖ that are thine Enemies: ‖ The noise of them who do rise up ‖ against thee daily grows. ‖

[Page 192]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXIV. PSALM.

THE Spirit of Prophecy here livelily represents the state of the Jewish Nation, in their Dispersion under the Romans. Dr. Patrick thinks, the Asaph by whom the Psalm was written, lived in the time of the Captivity, and perhaps near the Conclusion of it, when there was no Prophet left, who could inform them, How Long! Was it not Asaph, the Keeper of the Kings Forest, in the days of Nehemiah?

3 q. a. Make haste and come and visit the Ruins that have lasted a long while, and without thy powerful help will never be repaired.

12 A Geographical Curiosity! The Land of Judea was in the middle of the then inhabited Earth. And this was the Stage whereon the Price of our Eternal Salvation was effected. Compare, Ezek. V. 5. Not only Casaubon finds that Land in the midst of the Seven Climates, then known, but Villalpandus with his Compasses finds it in the very Center of the World. Kimchi has much this way: Especially on Ezek. XXXVIII. 12. where 'tis called, The Navel of the Earth. Eucherius goes on to Remark, our SAVIOUR undergoing what He did for us in this Land. [He adds also In utero Virginali.] Austin has this Gloss upon it; This was done, when the Word was made Flesh and inhabited a Body of Earth. One Mr. Smith observes, How God accommodated the Earth, by having His Church and Word, in the midst of it.

14 An Allusion to Pharoah's Death. The breaking the Head of the Dragons in the Waters, the Ancients with Arnobius had this Gloss upon it; Confregisti Capita Daemonum in Baptismate, 'Tis done in Baptism.

[Page 193]

PSALM LXXV. To the Chief Musician. Altas [...]bith. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

1 WE do give thanks to Thee, O God; ‖ we do give thanks to Thee; ‖ For that thy Name is near to us ‖ thy wondrous works declare. ‖

2 When I shall at th' appointed time ‖ receive into my hands the Congregation, I will Judge ‖ Things that are wholly right. ‖

3 The Earth and all of them that are ‖ Inhabitants on it, ‖ are clean dissolv'd; its I that do ‖ uphold it's Pillars now. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 I to the foolish Madmen said, ‖ deal not so foolishly; ‖ and to the wicked ones I said, ‖ Lift you not up the horn. ‖

5 Lift you not up the horn on high ‖ against the Highest One; ‖ Utter not speeches with a neck ‖ that wont receive the yoke.

6 Because what you look for does come not from the rising Sun, ‖ nor from the setting, nor from the ‖ mountainous wilderness. ‖

7 But God Hims [...]. He is the Judge acting with Equity: One Ma [...], does pu [...] down, and He ‖ does set another o [...].

8 For the ETERNAL God has in [...] hand [...] a measuring cup; ‖ and the Wine [...] [...]rtain'd therein ‖ is in its [...]. Its ful [...] of mixture; And He [...] the dregs ‖ thereof all their [...] shall such, shall [...]

[Page 194] 9 But as for me, I will declare ‖ this thing Forevermore: ‖ Unto the God of Jacob I ‖ will sing His Glorious Praise. ‖.

10 And all the horns of wicked ones, ‖ I'll utterly cut off; ‖ But the horns of the Righteous one ‖ shall be lift up on high. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXV. PSALM.

BEhold the Expectation which the Church has, for the future Kingdom of the Messiah. In the Fifth Verse, we have the Fate of the Little Horn, Dan. VII. 11. In the Eighth, we have the Cup so remarkable in the Prophecies, Isai. LI. 21, 22. Rev. XVII. 19.

1 The Kingdom of David was now near; which was a Figure of the Messiab's. The Miracles done for and by him, and the Revolutions on the Nation in his favour were wondrous Works of GOD.

2 Dr. Patrick will have our Asaph here, to be him in, 2 Chron. XXIX. 30. — and thinks the strange Destruction of Senacherib's Army, referr'd unto. Here Hezekiah then resolves, as soon as they could have their Assemblies again, he would perfect the Reformation he had begun before.

7 Some have had their witty Descants on the North, not being mentioned here. But is not the Word, which has been rendred, The South, rather to be read, The Wilderness? Which lay to the North as well as the South. Some have thus Descanted on it. The Orientals were generally given to Afarology. They took Promotion to come from the Stars; especially, The Sun. The Psalmist says, No; Promotion comes not from the Planett Rising and Setting, or exalted in the Mid-Heaven. From the North none expected it. Yea, and elsewhere we read, On the North was Mount [Page 195]Sion, the City of the Great King. Here was the special Presence of the Great King from whom all Promotion.

8 The Punishments inflicted by GOD, are often like an intoxicating Wine, full of stupifying Ingredients, which loosens the very Joynts, and takes away all strength to resist.

10 The Midrash Tillin has a notable Gloss; That by the Horns of the Wicked are meant, The Ten Horns of the Fourth Monarchy in the Visions of Daniel.

PSALM LXXVI. To the Chief Musician. On Neginoth. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

1 IN Judah God is known; His Name ‖ is great in Israel. ‖

2 In Salem too's His tent; and in ‖ Zion His dwelling Place. ‖

3 There did He break in pieces all ‖ the Arrows of the Bow; ‖ There did He break the Shield and Sword, ‖ and what belong'd War. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 Illustrious Thou dost appear, ‖ wondrously powerful, ‖ upon the Mountains where wild Beasts, ‖ and Robbers seek their Prey. ‖

5 Stout-hearted ones are spoil'd they've slept ‖ the sleep design'd for them; ‖ and none of all the mighty Men ‖ found the use of their hands. ‖

6 O God of Jacob, 'Twas at thy ‖ effectual rebuke ‖ that both the Chariot and the Horse ‖ were laid so dead asleep. ‖

7 Thou, even Thou, art one that is ‖ [Page 196]exceeding terrible; ‖ and who shall stand before thy face ‖ when once thou art provok'd

8 Thou didst cause Judgment for to be ‖ heard from the Heav'ns above; ‖ the Earth was struck with trembling fear, ‖ and then saw quiet rest. ‖

9 When God the Judge for to dispense ‖ His Judgments did arise; ‖ for to fave all the meek who were ‖ afflicted on the Earth. ‖ Selah. ‖

10 Surely the wrath of Man shall but ‖ confess thy praise to thee; ‖ and the remainder of the wrath ‖ is what thou shalt restrain. ‖

11 Vow and pay to th' ETERNAL One, ‖ ev'n Him who is your God; ‖ you that surround Him, bring a gift ‖ to Him who's to be fear'd. ‖

12 He shall cut off the spirits of ‖ Princes in Vintage time; ‖ He shall be terrible unto ‖ the Kings that rule the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXVI PSALM.

COmpare the Fifth Verse of the Psalm with the XXXVIII, and XXXIX Chapters of Ezekiel, and you would here think on the Messiah's Triumph over Gog and Magog. The Vintage in the last Verse leads one to Isai. LXIII. and Rev. XIX. Whether the former Psalm had a reference to Sonacherib's overthrow or no, 'tis more probable that this may have so. The [...]dor [...] assures us, That in some Copies of the Greek Version, he found this Title, An Ode against the Assyrians.

[Page 197] 4 The Assyrians had been on the Mountains about J [...]rusalem, committing depredations. But God appear'd most Excellent, Glorious, Illustrious, in what He did on those Mountains.

5 Besure the Assyrians lay down to Sleep and never Waked. [2 Kin. XIX. 35.]

12 Hezekiah went into the Temple, and Pray'd unto GOD who dwelt between the Cherubim. There GOD gave the Sentence and Order for this wonderful thing to be done. [See Verse 3.] To cut off the Leaders of Senacherib's Army. [2 Chron. XXXII. 21.] He took away their Lives at once, as a Gardener does the Franches of a Vine, or the Bunches of the Grape. In the Fate of Senacherib, there was done a thing terrible to the Kings of the Earth.

PSALM LXXVII. To the Chief Musician to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 MY Voice was unto God, and I ‖ did make an earnest cry; ‖ My voice was unto God, and He ‖ did hearken unto me. ‖

2 In the day of my trouble I ‖ did seek the Lord; my wound, ‖ spread in the Night, and rested not; ‖ my Soul refus'd relief. ‖

3 I did remember God, and then ‖ was greatly discompos'd: ‖ I did complain; my spirit then ‖ was overwhelm'd with grief. ‖

4 The watchings thou didst apprehend ‖ which did attend my eyes; ‖ I was seiz'd with astonishment ‖ so that I could not sleep. ‖

5 I have considered the days ‖ which were in Ancient time; ‖ I have considered the Years ‖ of Ages yet unknown. ‖

[Page 198] 6 My Song I thought on; in the Night I commun'd with my heart; ‖ and then my spirit made a search, ‖ to find the matter out.‖

7 The Lord, on whom I lean, will He ‖ call off forevermore? ‖ And will he not go o [...] to show ‖ His favour any more? ‖

8 His mercy, does it wholly fail ‖ to perpetuity? ‖ What? For whole Generations does ‖ His Word to nothing come? ‖

9 What? Has the mighty God forgot ‖ for to be merciful? ‖ Has He His tender bowels in ‖ great anger quite shut up? ‖ Selah. ‖

10 Then, upon this, I said, This is ‖ but my infirmity; ‖ The years of Change are all in the ‖ Right hand of the most High. ‖

11 I will remember the Works of ‖ the EVER-BEING One; ‖ surely I'll in remembrance have ‖ thy wonder done of old. ‖

12 Yea, I will meditate upon ‖ all of thy Glorious work; ‖ and will * with Prayers and wonders speak ‖ of things which thou hast done. ‖

13 O God, Thy way proceeds, and is ‖ bebeld in holiness; ‖ Who is the mighty God, so great ‖ as is our God the Judge? ‖

14 Thou art the mighty God; who does ‖ the thing that's wonderful; ‖ among the People openly ‖ Thou hast declar'd thy strength. ‖

15 Thou hast redeem'd thy People with ‖ thy own extended Arm; ‖ Thou hast redeem'd the Children of ‖ Jacob and Joseph so. ‖

[Page 199] 16 The waters thee beheld, O God, ‖ the waters thee beheld; ‖ they were afraid; the deeps themselves ‖ in a commotion were. ‖

17 Thick clouds did of their waters make ‖ an inundation then; ‖ The sky gave out a thundering sound; ‖ thy darts too went abroad. ‖

18 The loud voice of thy Thunder was ‖ in th' Revolution heard; ‖ The Lighthings struck light on the World; ‖ the Earth was mov'd and shook. ‖

19 The way which thou didst take was in ‖ the Sea, thy paths were in ‖ the mighty swelling waters; and ‖ thy footsteps are unknown. ‖

20 Then by the hand of Moses, and ‖ of Aaron join'd with him; ‖ thy People thou didst lead along ‖ ev'n like unto a Flock. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXVII. PSALM.

SEE we not here the Jewish Nation in a Meditation on their Desolate Condition, as rejected of God? And yet comforting themselves with reflecting on His Ancient Miracles and Promises.

3 To Remember how kind our GOD has been to us formerly; this only gives us the Greater Trouble, when we Compare it with our present Miseries.

10 q. d. I said, this is the thing that sorely afflicts me;—To see the change in the proceedings of the Most High towards me. To this purpose, Dr. Patricks Paraphrase.

13 Munsters reading is, In Sancto. The whole Way of Ged has a most unspotted Sanctity ever Shining in it.

[Page 200] 18 How far did the Thunder, which accompaniment the promulgation of the Law on Mount Sinai, cause the Earth to tremble? See Josh. II. 10, 11. As soon [...] we heard our Hearts did molt.

PSALM LXXVIII. Maschil. Of Asaph.

1 O Ye my People, Hearken well ‖ to my distilling law: ‖ Incline your ear attentively ‖ to the words of my mouth. ‖

2 My mouth I'll open in a dark ‖ * Sententious Parable; ‖ I'll utter secret mysteries ‖ in what fell out of old. ‖

3 They are the things which we have heard, ‖ and things which we have known; ‖ and they are what our Fathers have ‖ related unto us. ‖

4 These we will not conceal from them ‖ that are Children to those; ‖ They to the Generation so ‖ to come shall still relate: ‖ Even the Praises which belong ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ and His strength and His wondrous works; ‖ the Things which He has wrought. ‖

5 A testimony He did in ‖ Jacob establish so; ‖ and He made an appointment of ‖ a law in Israel: ‖ The things the which He did command ‖ unto our Ancestors, ‖ that they unto their Children should ‖ communicate the same. ‖

[Page 201] 6 That so the Generation still ‖ to come might know the things; ‖ the Children to be born might rise ‖ and to their Children tell. ‖

7 That they might set their hope in God, ‖ and not forget the works ‖ which God has done, but that they might ‖ keep His Commandements. ‖

8 And not be as their Fathers were, ‖ a Generation bent ‖ upon Apostasy from God, ‖ and a rebellous Race: ‖ A Generation which did not ‖ direct their heart aright; ‖ nor was their spirit faithfully ‖ adhering still to God. ‖

9 Well-armed were the Children which ‖ issued from Ephraim; ‖ with Bow they shot; and yet in day ‖ of Battle turned back. ‖

10 For they were such as had not kept ‖ the Covenant of God: ‖ they also had refus'd to walk ‖ according to His law. ‖

11 Yea, and they had forgotten quite ‖ the Works which He had wrought; ‖ and the Things very Marvellous ‖ which He had shown to them. ‖

12 Things very Marvellous He did ‖ before their Ancestors; ‖ He in the Land of Egypt, in ‖ the field of Zoan wrought. ‖

13 He did divide the Sea, and gave ‖ to them a passage thro'; ‖ The Waters He did make to stand ‖ collected as an Heap. ‖

14 He with a Cloud did give to them ‖ His Conduct in the Day; ‖ and with the Brightness of a Fire ‖ over them all the Night. ‖

[Page 202] 15 He in the Wilderness did cleave ‖ the solid Rock asunder; ‖ and He did make them for to Drink ‖ as out of mighty Deeps. ‖

16 Yea, He did bring forth flowing Streams ‖ out of the solid Stone; ‖ and like to Rivers He did cause ‖ the Waters to run down. ‖

17 But they in Sinning against Him ‖ did add yet more and more; ‖ Thereby provoking the most High ‖ while in the Wilderness. ‖

18 And in their Heart Tempting of Him ‖ they tried the mighty God; ‖ They did it by Desiring food ‖ to suit their Appetite. ‖

19 Yea, They blasphem'd the Glorious God; ‖ and this is what they said; ‖ Can God prepare a Table here ‖ in such a Wilderness. ‖

20 Behold, He smote the Rock and then ‖ the Waters gushed out; ‖ The Torrents then did running there ‖ an Inundation make. ‖ But what? can He also bestow ‖ upon His People Bread? ‖ What? will He make provision of ‖ fiesh for His People too? ‖

21 Therefore the ETERNAL heard, and was ‖ Angry: so kindled was ‖ a Fire on Jacob, and Wrath went ‖ up against Israel. ‖

22 Because that they had not reli'd ‖ with faith upon their God; ‖ not had they then their Confidence ‖ in His Salvation plac'd. ‖

[Page 203] 23 Altho' He from above had given ‖ Command unto the Clouds, ‖ and opened wide the Gates of Heav'n, ‖ as of a Granary. ‖

24 And He from thence had rained down ‖ Manna on them to Eat; ‖ yea, and the Corn of Heaven too ‖ He had bestow'd on them. ‖

25 A Man was then allow'd to Eat ‖ the Bread of mighty ones; ‖ He did of that send unto them ‖ a Diet to their full. ‖

26 He in the Heavens then did cause ‖ an Eastern wind to blow; ‖ and by His mighty power He did ‖ bring in a Southern wind. ‖

27 He did rain down upon them Flesh ‖ in plenty like the dust; ‖ and like the Sand that bounds the Seas ‖ a Fowl that had a wing. ‖

28 And in the middest of their Camps ‖ He caused it to fall; ‖ yea, and in the whole circuit of ‖ their Habitations there. ‖

29 So they did eat thereof, and they ‖ were well replenished; ‖ and He did bring to them the thing ‖ that was their own desire. ‖

30 They were not yet estranged from ‖ what was their own desire: ‖ their Meat they had so much desir'd ‖ as yet was in their mouth; ‖

31 When the great Wrath of God did like ‖ a Fire ascend on them; ‖ and slew their fat ones, and smote down ‖ the chief of Israel. ‖

32 But notwithstanding all of this, ‖ they still went on to Sin; ‖ and they did not give credit to ‖ His very wondrous works. ‖

[Page 204] 33 Therefore He made their days to waste ‖ away in vanity; ‖ yea, and their years in trouble which ‖ quickly dispatched them. ‖

34 When He struck them with Death, on this ‖ then they did seek to Him: ‖ Then they return'd, and early they ‖ enquired after God. ‖

35 Then they call'd to remembrance that ‖ God was their sheltring Rock; ‖ and the High God claim'd still to give ‖ Redemption unto them. ‖

36 Nevertheless with a false mouth, ‖ they did but flatter Him; ‖ and with their tongues that spoke so fair ‖ they did but lie to Him. ‖

37 For still their heart with right intents ‖ was not resolv'd for Him; ‖ nor in His Covenant did they ‖ use good fidelity. ‖

38 But being merciful, He did ‖ forgive iniquity; ‖ And He then did not upon them ‖ deserv'd destruction bring: ‖ No, He did multiply the Acts ‖ in which He turn'd away ‖ His anger, and therewith He did ‖ not stir up all His wrath. ‖

39 For He remembred this of them; ‖ that they were feeble Flesh, ‖ a Spirit that passeth away, ‖ and cometh not again. ‖

40 How often in the Desert they ‖ provok'd Him bitterly! ‖ Have often in the Wilderness ‖ they irritated Him! ‖

41 Yea, they returned back unto ‖ their way or tempting God; ‖ Limits they also did preservable bed to Frank Holy One. ‖

[Page 205] 42 They did not well remember what ‖ His Hand had wrought for them; ‖ the Day when He delivered them ‖ out of Adversity. ‖

43 How He in Egypt wrought and set ‖ His most amazing Signs; ‖ and in the Field or Zoan there, His Works most wonderful, ‖

44 There He had with a strange turn chang'd ‖ their Rivers into blood, ‖ and chang'd their Floods at such a rate, ‖ they could not drink thereof. ‖

45 He sent the Dog-fly upon them, ‖ which prey'd upon them sore; ‖ He sent the Frogs too which did bring, destruction upon them. ‖

46 Unto the Caterpillar He ‖ did give up their increase; ‖ and to the Locust He gave up ‖ what they had labour'd for. ‖

47 He kill'd their Vines with Hail, and their ‖ Sycomore Trees with Frost. ‖

48 And left their Cattle to the Hail, ‖ their Flocks to Lightning too. ‖

49 He cast on them His burning Wrath, ‖ Anger, and great Disdain, ‖ with Trouble; Evil Angels were ‖ commission'd for the work. ‖

50 He for His Anger weigh'd a path; ‖ He spared not their Soul ‖ from Death, but He gave up their life ‖ unto the Pestilence. ‖

51 All the First-born of Egypt then ‖ He smote; The First-fruits of ‖ their Forces, in the Tents that were ‖ inhabited by Cham. ‖

52 But He made His own People to ‖ [Page 206]go forth like unto Sheep; ‖ and He did in the Wilderness ‖ guide them like as a Flock. ‖

53 He did guide them in safety, so ‖ that they were not afraid; ‖ But the Sea overwhelmed them ‖ that were their Enemies. ‖

54 He brought them to the border of ‖ His Sanctuary here; ‖ the mountain which His own right Hand ‖ had made a purchase of. ‖

55 And He before their faces did ‖ cast out the Nations there; ‖ yea, He did cause them for to fall ‖ in the divided Lotts, ‖ when there was to be cast a Line ‖ for their inheritance; ‖ and in their Tents He made to dwell ‖ the Tribes of Israel. ‖

56 Yet they did by temptations try ‖ and bitterly provoke ‖ the most High God, and they kept not ‖ the things He testify'd. ‖

57 But they returned to their wont ‖ and dealt perfidiously, ‖ like to their Ancestors; they warp'd ‖ like a deceitful bow. ‖

58 For that with their high places they ‖ provoked Him to wrath; ‖ and with their graven Images ‖ mov'd Him to jealousy. ‖

59 This Thing when God the Judge did hear. ‖ He then was mov'd to wrath; ‖ yea, He with great abhorrence cast ‖ contempt on Israel. ‖

60 So He the Tabernacle of ‖ Shiloh did then forsake; ‖ The Tent which He had plac'd for to ‖ cohabit there with Man. ‖

61 And He delivered his strength ‖ [Page 207]into Captivity; ‖ yea, and His glory into the ‖ hand of the Enemy. ‖

62 He also His own People did ‖ shut up unto the Sword; ‖ and He was very angry with ‖ His own Inheritance. ‖

63 Their choice Young Men the Fire of wrath ‖ did greatly waste away; ‖ and so their Virgins could not be ‖ prais'd to the Marry'd State. ‖

64 They that were Priests to Him did fall ‖ by the devouring Sword: ‖ but yet their Widows did not then ‖ their lamentations make. ‖

65 Then did the Lord awake, as one ‖ that had been fast asleep; ‖ He was like to a mighty Man ‖ shouting upon his wine. ‖

66 And He upon the hinder parts ‖ did smite his Enemies; ‖ He brought upon them a disgrace ‖ that is perpetual. ‖

67 The Tabernacle also of ‖ Joseph He did refuse; ‖ and He plac'd not His choice upon ‖ the Tribe of Ephraim. ‖

68 No, but the Tribe of Judah He ‖ did please to make His choice; ‖ He chose the Mount of Zion which ‖ He set His love upon. ‖

69 And He His Sanctuary did, ‖ build like high Palaces; ‖ Like to the Earth for which He does ‖ a long Foundation lay. ‖

70 David he also chose to be ‖ a Servant unto Him; ‖ and fetch'd him from th' Inclosures where ‖ the Sheep were folded in. ‖

71 From following of the Ews with young ‖ [Page 208]He brought him for to feed ‖ Jacob that was His People, and ‖ Israel His Heritage. ‖

72 So he led them according to ‖ his hearts integrity; ‖ and led them in the manifold ‖ skilfulness of his hands. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXVIII. PSALM.

THE Psalm foretells the Refection of the Ten Tribes for Crimes committed since their Separation; with a Promise of preserving Judab, and the House of David, from which the Messias was to be Born, who is to re-establish Zion, and bring the People into Subjection to Himself.

9 Some think, this refers to the overthrow which the Israelites received, when the Philistines took from them the Ark of GOD. As the Ark so the Fight was then in the Territory of the Ephramites. [...]ur here are, Dark sayings of Old. The Jewish Traditions, and Commentaries on, 1 Chron. VII. 21. tell us; the Philistines had made some Inroads and Assaults on the Skirts of Goshon, while the Israelites resided there. The Israelites and particularly the Active Ephramites formed an Expedition against the Canaanites, presuming to attack them in their own Country. But they came off unhappy Losers; The Rabb [...]s tell us, they lost no less than Eight Thousand Men. This they got by Anticipating and Pracipitating what GOD had to do for them. Yea, after the Death of the Twelve Patriarchs, they fell into all manner of Abominations. They committed innumerable Idolatries. They did forget and forego Circumcision, the Covenant of GOD: This was the Reproach of Egypt. [Josh. V. 9.]

12 Zoan, a very Ancient City, [Numb. XIII. 22.] called by the Greeks Tanis, near the Second Mouth of the Nile.

25 A Food prep [...]e! by Angels! The Gloss of Saidas is, Ministred by Angels.

[Page 209] 30 q. d. They were not hindred from Fating as much as they pleased.

32 q. d. They were not moved by any of His wonderful Works, to Believe, That He was able to bring them into the Land of Promise.

49 The Apostle, Rom. II. 8, 9. uses these very Words, when he mentions the Judgments of GOD on Wicked Men. An Intimation that GOD will put those Miserables into the Hands of Evil Angels.

60 Some chuse to read it, The Tent which He had fixed in Adam. There was a Town called Adam. [Jesh. III. 16. The waters rose up in an Heap, afaroff, in Adam.] Adam was the Center where the Waters were parted; and where was the Station of the Ark, now ready to enter Jordan.

PSALM LXXIX. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 O God the Heathen are come in ‖ to thine Inheritance; ‖ Thy holy Temple they've defil'd; ‖ Jerus'lem laid in heaps, ‖

2 Dead Bodies of thy Servants they ‖ made meat for Fowls of Heav'n; ‖ and the flesh of thy gracious ones ‖ for the Beasts of the Earth. ‖

3 Their Blood they have like water shed ‖ around the Circuits of ‖ Jerusalem, and there was none ‖ found that would bury them. ‖

4 We are made a reproach unto ‖ those in our Neighbourhood; ‖ a scorn and a derision to ‖ them that encompass us. ‖

5 How long, O Thou ETERNAL God? ‖ Wilt thou forever be ‖ angry with us? Thy jealously ‖ shall it still burn like fire? ‖

6 Thy burning wrath, O do thou pour ‖ [Page 210]upon the Nations down; ‖ which do not render unto thee ‖ any acknowledgments: ‖ And on the Kingdoms which have not ‖ called upon thy Name. ‖

7 For Jacob they've devour'd, and have ‖ laid waste his dwelling place. ‖

8 Mind not against us former sins; ‖ make haste; Thy bowels, Oh! ‖ let them prevent us; for that we ‖ are brought exceeding low. ‖

9 O God whence our Salvation comes; ‖ Afford thy help to us; ‖ Because there is concern'd therein ‖ the Glory of thy Name. ‖ And, Oh! do thou bestow on us ‖ a full deliverance; ‖ cleanse thou us also from our sins, ‖ for the sake of thy Name. ‖

10 Why say the Nations, Where's their God? ‖ Let our eyes see made known ‖ to Nations the revenge of blood ‖ they've of thy Servants shed. ‖

11 The sighing of the Prisoner, let ‖ it come before thy face; ‖ To show the greatness of thy Arm, ‖ Reserve the sons of Death. ‖

12 But to our Neighbours pay into ‖ their bosom seven-fold ‖ the vile reproach, with which they have ‖ reproached thee, O Lord. ‖

13 So we thy People, and the Sheep ‖ Thou feedest, Thee shall praise ‖ for time unknown; from Age to Age; ‖ we shall declare thy Praise, ‖

[Page 211]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXIX. PSALM.

BEhold Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans, and the Jewish Nation exposed unto Derision in their long Dispersion. Behold a fervent Prayer, that GOD would recompence upon the Idolatrous Nations their Cruelty towards the Jews; with a Promise to Celebrate the Praises of GOD, after their Deliverance, and the Destruction of Antichrist.

PSALM LXXX. To the Chief Musician. Upon Shushannim. Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 HEar, O Thou Israels Sheperd, who ‖ leadst Joseph as a Flock; ‖ Thou who dost make thy Seat to be ‖ the Cherubim, Shine forth. ‖

2 Before the face of Ephraim, ‖ also of Benjamin, ‖ and of Menasseh, show thy strength, ‖ and come with help to us. ‖

3 O God, Cause thou us to return, ‖ and cause thy Countenance ‖ to shine forth upon us; so we ‖ shall our Salvation see. ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL One, who art ‖ the God of Hosts? How long ‖ against thy Peoples Prayer wilt thou ‖ smoke with incensed wrath? ‖

5 Thou feedest them but with a Bread ‖ that's mixed still with tears; ‖ and thou dost give them tears to drink, ‖ ev'n with a treble cup. ‖

6 Thou makest us a strife unto ‖ them in our Neighbourhood; ‖ and they that are our Enemies ‖ do laugh among themselves. ‖

[Page 212] 7 Turn us again, O God of Hosts, ‖ and cause thy Countenance ‖ to shine forth upon us; so we ‖ shall our Salvation see. ‖

Thou from its place in Egypt hast caus'd to be brought a Vine; ‖ The Nations thou rejected hast; ‖ and thou hast planted it. ‖

9 Thou didst evacuate all clear ‖ before the face of it; ‖ and thou didst make it take deep root, ‖ until it fill'd the Land. ‖

10 The Mountains were well cover'd with‖ the spreading shade of it; ‖ and the Branches thereof did hide ‖ Cedars of God themselves.‖

11 She did send forth her Branches wide, ‖ as far as to the Sea; ‖ and the slips cut from it she sent ‖ as far as to the River, ‖

12 But, Oh! why hast thou broken down ‖ her hedges all of them? ‖ so that all they who do pass by ‖ the way, do pluck at her. ‖

13 The Boar that comes out of the wood ‖ hath laid it very waste; ‖ and the wild Beast that ranges in ‖ the field, devoureth it. ‖

14 Return, O God of Armies, we ‖ do humbly ask for it; ‖ look down from Heaven, and behold ‖ and visit thou this Vine. ‖

15 Even the Plant which thy Right Hand ‖ hath planted in the Earth; ‖ and look upon the Branch which thou ‖ hast strengthen'd for thy self. ‖

16 It is consumed with the Fire; ‖ 'tis utterly cut down; ‖ they perish from the stern rebuke ‖ of thy proveked face. ‖

[Page 213] 17 Let thy Hand be upon the Man ‖ who is at thy Right Hand; ‖ Upon the Son of Man whom thou ‖ hast strengthen'd for thy self.‖

18 So we shall never any more ‖ Apostatize from thee; ‖ O do thou quicken us, and we ‖ shall call upon thy Name. ‖

19 Make us return, ETERNAL God ‖ of Hosts; Thy Countenance, cause to shine forth on us; so we ‖ shall our Salvation see.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXX. PSALM.

DE. Patrick thinks the Psalm was [...]enn [...] in the Time of Hezekiah; who wrote a Circular Letter unto the Tribes, especially Ephraim [...]d M [...] nasseh, who were escaped out of the Hand of the Assyrian; that they would come to the House of GOD at Jerusal [...]m. After this the Land was invade [...] an [...] sorely dis [...]r [...]ssed by Senacherib; which was dou [...]tless a grievous Discouragement unto them, who had [...]o [...]ned in the Reformation. This might move Asaph, most earnestly to beseech of GOD, that He would stir up Himself, before Ephraim and M [...]nass [...]h, as well as Bon amin, (in which Tribe stood part of Jerusalem and the Temple [...]) and let them see by a Remarkable Deliverance, that their Zeal was acceptable to Him. These Three Tribes, may be also linked, because they were the Tribes, which together followed the Ark, and brought up the Reer in the Camp of Israel. The Greek expresly calls this, A Psalm concerning the Ass [...] rian. It is remarkable Hezekiah distrest by the Ass [...] rian, appl [...]es himself to GOD in the very Language [...] the Psalm now before us. 2 Rin. XIX. 15, 16. Isa XXXVII. 16, 17. But in the midst of all, Behold t [...] Jewish Nation under the oppression of the Roman Enpire (called the Wild-Boar, because it was one of t [...] [Page 214]Standards of that Impire) waiting for Deliverance by the Hand of the Messiah.

1 Joseph personally considered, was one like an Innocent Lamb fallen among a Company of Wolves. [Gen. XXXVII. 18.]

5 Hebr. In a Tieble Measure. The Talmud E [...] pounds it, that the Captivity under Edom, that i [...] Rome, will be a Cup Three times as large as that in Egypt, and that in Babylon, Three Times 400 Years, and Three Time 70 Years, at least 1410 Years. D [...] Kimchi observes, That the Captivity in Babylon was a Third part so long as the Capt [...]vity in Egypt.

6 q. d. Our Neighbours are ever picking of Quarrel [...] with us, or striving among themselves who shall make the greatest Booty of us.

Channa, which we render, The Branch, is an [...] Egyptian Word; very agreeably used when a Vine brought out of Egypt, had been spoken of. Beehart expounds it of the Hedera Chenositis.

17 Even the Targum of Jonathan the Jew, will confess that the King MESSIAH is here spoken of. Behold the Two Natures of the Messiah. He is the Man of GOD's Right Hand in regard of His Divinity; He is the Son of Adam in regard of His Humanity. In the Desolation of the Vine here, doubtless the Spirit of Prophecy ultimately refers to the Destruction of the Jews, by the Roman Power. R. Solomon says well, Innuit Captivitatem Rome. The Boar out of the Wood, he calls, Esau, that is the Roman; and says, 'Tis the Fourth Beast in the Visions of Daniel. It is Remarkable, The Destruction of the Jews, begun with the setting up a Boar on the Gates of the Temple. GOD then said unto them, Now the Boar out of the Wood is coming upon you!

PSALM LXXXI. To the Chief Musician. Upon Gittith. Of Asaph.

[Page 215] 1 O Sing aloud unto the God ‖ in whom we have our strength; ‖ O make a joyful noise unto ‖ the God of Jacob now. ‖

2 Take up a Psalm into your Mouth; And bring the Timbrel out; ‖ Bring out the pleasant Harp, with it ‖ joining the Psaltery. ‖

3 Sound with the Trumpet at the Time ‖ when the New Moon appears; ‖ at the appointed time; on the ‖ Day of our Festival. ‖

4 For this to Israel is ordain'd ‖ a Law of Jacobs God. ‖

5 This for a Testimony He ‖ to Joseph did assign: ‖ He did it when thorough the Land of Egypt He went forth; ‖ A Land where I did hear a Tongue ‖ I did not understand. ‖

6 Twas this, His Shoulder I remov'd ‖ from the load laid on it; ‖ his hands did from the Basket then ‖ make an entire escape. ‖

7 When thou wast in thy Trouble, thou ‖ didst make a Cry to me; ‖ and I thereon did work for thee ‖ a great Deliverance. ‖ I'th' secret Place of Thunder I ‖ gave Answer unto thee; ‖ I prov'd thee at the Waters of ‖ Contentious Meribah. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 Hear, O my People, now, and I ‖ will testify to thee; ‖ O Israel, If that thou wilt ‖ now hearken unto me. ‖

9 There shall not any strange God be ‖ acknowledged in thee; ‖ Nor unto any foreign God ‖ shalt thou bow down thy self. ‖

[Page 216] 10 I am JEHOVAH, Thy God who ‖ fetch'd thee up from the Land ‖ of Egypt; Open thou thy Mouth, ‖ and I'll replenish it. ‖

11 But, Oh! my People, they would not hearken unto my Voice; ‖ and Israel had no desire ‖ to take Delight in me. ‖

12 So I did give him up unto ‖ the Lust of their own heart; ‖ they in their own Inventions then ‖ went always walking on. ‖

13 My People, Oh! that they had been ‖ Obedient unto me; ‖ Oh! that in my directed Ways ‖ Israel had walked on! ‖

14 Their Adversaries then I should ‖ have quickly vanquished; ‖ and on their Enemies I should ‖ have quickly turn'd my hand. ‖

15 They that hate the ETERNAL God ‖ should soon have fawn'd, on Him; ‖ But then their time would have endur'd ‖ to Perpetuity. ‖

16 He should have also fed him with ‖ the fatness of the Wheat; ‖ and from the Rock with Honey I ‖ should have replenish'd thee. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXI. PSALM.

THE First Day of the Seventh Month was above others, A Day of blowing Trumpets. [Num. XXIX. 1.] And it being the first New Moon in the Year, the Trumpets were blown longer this Day than any other. Maimonides thinks it was to awaken their Preparation for the Solemn Day of Expiation, which was Ten Days after. It was the Day when Moses [...]te [...] being twice forty Dayes in the Mount) began to, [...]e order for building the Tabernacle.

[Page 217] The Psalm was compo [...]ed for this Occasion. GOD Himself is introduced in it as instructing them in the End of the Solemnity. And He shews the Jews (and us,) that their Disobedience to Him is the Cause of all the Miseries which be [...]al them.

5 Was it the Egyptian Language. Or, shall we rather take Patricks Paraphrase? ‘We heard unto our Astonishment, (for we never before were acquainted with it) the Voice of God.’

6 They were delivered from the dirty and sordid Employments, wherein the Egyptians had employed them.

7 The Arabian Interpreter, has a Notable Passage here; Secret Prayers are like sounding Thunder in the Ears of GOD. But the Thing most evidently referr'd unto is this; the People cried unto GOD in their Distress at the Red-Sea, and God confounded the Egyptians with Lightning and Thunder out of the Cloudy Pillar. [See Fxod. XIV. 10, 13. Psalm LXXVIII. 18.]

PSALM LXXXII. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 IN the Assembly of our God ‖ there standeth God the Judge; ‖ He in the middest of the God's ‖ does the part of a Judge. ‖

2 He saith, How long in Judgment will ‖ you do iniquity? ‖ and so accept the persons of ‖ such as are wicked ones? ‖

3 In Judgment see that you defend ‖ the Poor and Fatherless; ‖ do Justice to th' Afflicted one, ‖ and the impoverish'd. ‖

4 Accomplish a deliverance for ‖ the Poor and Needy one; ‖ Out of the hands of wicked ones ‖ set them at liberty. ‖

5 They neither know nor understand: ‖ in darkness they walk on; ‖ all the foundations of the Earth ‖ are sh [...] ou [...] of course. ‖

[Page 218] 6 I've said, Ye're God's; and all of you ‖ are Sons of the Most High. ‖

7 But ye shall dye like Men, and as ‖ one of the Princes fall. ‖

8 Arise, O God, and execute ‖ thou Judgment in the Earth; ‖ for thou shalt have all Nations to ‖ be thine Inheritance. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXII. PSALM.

IT appears by the last Verse of the Psalm, that it relates to the Time of the Divine Vengeance on the Antichristian Powers. It contains an Exhortation unto those Powers to follow Righteousness; and fo [...]etells their total Destruction, when the Messiah shall come to establish His Empire. Dr. Patrick refers the Psalm to the days of Hezekiah; and makes it an Admonition unto the Judges then, to be more careful of their Duty, and Remember GOD who Judges them.

6 Reizius thinks, The Judges of Israel, on the account of the peculiar Theocercy, wherein they had their Station, had a claim to the Name of Elohim, above others in the World; but that our Lord JESUS CHRIST has now supersceded the Title for them.

Nevertheless there is an Holy Use, that may still be made of the Title. And as the Lord Bacon observes, All the Precepts concerning Magistrates, are effectually comprehended in those two Remembrances; Remember that you are Gods, and, Remember that you are Men. The One Bridles their Will, the other their Power.

7 Like Men! — and not like Beasts; For After Death the Judgment. One Observes further, That Beasts live out their Time determined by Nature, unless Violence or Casualty come in between, But Man di [...]th in every Age; ostner in Infancy then in any other Age

[Page 219]

PSALM LXXXIII. A Song, A Psalm of Asaph.

1 AN intermitting silence let ‖ not be with Thee, O God; ‖ as one deaf hold thou not thy peace; ‖ and be not still, O God. ‖

2 For that, behold thy Enemies ‖ make a tumultuous noise; ‖ and they that are thy haters do ‖ proudly lift up the head. ‖

3 Against thy People they have had ‖ cunning contrivances; ‖ and have their consultations held ‖ against thy hidden ones. ‖

4 They've said, Come let's destroy them quite ‖ to be no Nation now; ‖ That so the Name of Israel may ‖ be mentioned no more. ‖

5 For they their consultations have ‖ closely together held ‖ with one consent; against thee they ‖ do form a mutual league. ‖

6 'Tis what the Tents of Edom do, ‖ and of the Ishmaelites; ‖ Moab associates with them; ‖ so do the Hagarens. ‖

7 Gebal and Ammon do come in ‖ conjoin'd with Amalek; ‖ Philistia comes in with the ‖ Inhabitants of Tyre. ‖

8 Yea, the Assyrian so remote, ‖ is also join'd with them; ‖ They to the Sons of Lot became ‖ a very strengthning Arm. ‖

9 O do to them as once thou didst ‖ unto the Midianites; ‖ as Sisera, as Jabin once, ‖ by Kishon's Torrent were. ‖

10 They at the Place call'd Endor did ‖ [Page 220]destruction undergo: ‖ They were scorn'd and unburied left ‖ as dung upon the Earth. ‖

11 Make them, yea, make their Nobles like to Oreb and to Zeeb; ‖ yea, [...]ke to Zebah, and like to ‖ Zalmunna, all their Kings. ‖

12 They said, We will Houses of God ‖ f [...] our possession take. ‖

12 My God, Make them like to a wheel, ‖ as chaff before the wind. ‖

14 As the fire burns the wood and as ‖ the flame sets hills on fire; ‖

15 So with thy Tempest follow them, ‖ and fright them with thy storm. ‖

16 Make thou their faces to be full ‖ of ignominious shame; ‖ That they may seek thy Name, O Thou ‖ that art th' ETERNAL God. ‖

17 Let them be put to shame, and be ‖ forever terrify'd; ‖ with shame, yea, let them hang the head; ‖ and let them perish quite. ‖

18 Let Men know, that Thou only hast ‖ JEHOVAH for thy Name; ‖ Thou art the most High One, who dost ‖ rule over all the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXIII. PSALM.

WAS the Psalm composed on the Combination made against the Church in the days of Jehoshaphat? And was the Writer of it, either Jabaziel one of Asaph's Posterity inspired on this Occasion? Or some other in those days whose proper Name was Asaph? Or, does the Psalm take in all the Attempts made after [Page 221]that, until that made by the Assyrian, who came to do what the rest had not been able to do? Then Dr. Patrick thinks the Asaph who lived in the days of Hezekiah, may pass for the Author. But after all, Dr. Allix here sees a Prayer against the Followers of Antichrist, and of Mahomet, who have sought the Ruin of the Jewish Nation, and the Conquest of their Country. Compare the last Verse with Zech. XIV. 9. which is to be accomplish'd, after the Destruction of the Idumaans, and the Ishmaelites; which are the Two Parties aforesaid.

3 The Hidden Things, may be not only the People, whom GOD had hitherto protected as His Jewels; but also the Temple and the Secret-Place of it, which He had chosen for His Dwelling-Place.

PSALM LXXXIV. To the Chief Musician. Upon Gittith. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 HOw lovely are thy Tents, O Thou ‖ ETERNAL Lord of Hosts? ‖

2 My Soul, it longs, yea, and it faints ‖ for to approach the Courts ‖ where the ETERNAL God is pleas'd ‖ to manifest Himself; ‖ My heart, yea, and my flesh cry out ‖ t' enjoy the Living God. ‖

3 Even the Sparrow does find out ‖ an House where she may lodge; ‖ The Turtle too does find a Nest ‖ where she may lay her Young. ‖ But then my choice and cry is this; ‖ Thine Altars! There I'd be! ‖ O Thou ETERNAL Lord of Hosts; ‖ my King, and Oh! my God! ‖

4 Blessed are they who in thy House ‖ [Page 222]enjoy a dwelling place; ‖ they will perpetually be ‖ engag d in praising thee. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 O the vast Blessings of the Man ‖ who hath his strength in thee! ‖ The beaten ways that lead thereto ‖ are in the heart of such. ‖

6 Passing a Valley full of tears ‖ they meet a Fountain there; ‖ yea, and the Rain replenishes ‖ the Cisterns ready there. ‖

7 They go from one Company to ‖ another Company; ‖ Anon in Zion each appears ‖ before the Glorious God. ‖

8 O Thou ETERNAL One, who art ‖ the God of Armies, Hear ‖ my Prayer, and Thou that art the God ‖ of Jacob, O give ear. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 O God, Behold our Shield; the Face ‖ of thy Anointed see. ‖

10 For better than a thousand is ‖ one Day within thy Courts; ‖ I on the Threshold chuse to keep ‖ in the House of my God; ‖ rather than have my dwelling in ‖ the tents of wickedness. ‖

11 For the ETERNAL God, God is ‖ a Sun and Shield to us; ‖ and the ETERNAL God will give ‖ both Grace and Glory too: ‖ Yea, He'll deny no good to those ‖ that walk in perfect ways. ‖

12 JEHOVAH Tzebaoth, The Man ‖ is bless'd who hopes in thee. ‖

[Page 223]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXIV. PSALM.

OUR Allix here sees a strong desire for the Jewish Nation to see themselves re-establish'd after their long Dispersion, and Assemble together for the Worship of GOD. The Messiah is here mentioned, as He by whom that Work is to be accomplish'd. Patrick thinks, The Psalm was Composed by a Pious Levite in the Country, when Senacherib's Army had block'd up the way to Jerusalem, and hindred them from waiting on the Service of GOD at the Temple; where he judged the lowest Ministry, even that of a Porter, to be far more honourable, than the highest Perferment among the Pagans.

1 The Assemblies of Zion are, The Hosts of the Lord.—O Minister of the Gospel, Comfort thy self in this; Thou shalt have such Assemblies to Preach unto, as the Lord of Hosts will order for thee.

3 Was the Tabernacle any Nestin-Place for Birds? I rather suppose a rapturous Ap [...]sicp [...]sis here. ‘The Sparrow hath found an House; and the Turtle a Nest for her self;—But as for me, the House, the Nest, the Delightful Place which I chuse for my self; my cry is, Thine Altars, O Lord of Hosts!’ With an abrupt outcry, he signifies, that He longed as much for the Altars of GOD, as a Sparrow for her House, a Turtle for her Nest.

But R. Solomon supposing the Psalm to be Written in the Time of the Chaldean Captivity, the Temple then in Ruins, might have the Fowls lodging there. What we render, A Swallow, does as Bochart proves, property intend the Ring-Dove, or the Turtle.

5 q. d. ‘Happy the Man who relying on the Divine Protection, [Exod. XXXIV, 24.] goes up Three Times a Year, to the Solemnities at Jerusalem. Or, when he is debarr'd of that Liberty, as I now am, is one of those devout Persons, whose Hearts are more in the [Page 224] High-ways that lead thither, than at their own home; who travelling through the troublesome Valley of Bacah, where there is no water, pass it as chearfully, as if it abounded with Springs; depending on God the Fountain of all they want, for Showers to refresh them in their Journey.’ The Patrician Paraphrase.

6 It may also be rendred, The Teacher is filled with Blessings.

10 In the Heavenly World, there is a Temple, where the Worship of God is after a most Glorious manner carried on; Of which first Moses, and afterwards David, had a marvellous Exhibition; And it was further Exhibited unto John, in his wonderful Visions. The Third Heaven is the Holy of Holies in that Holy Temple of the Heavens, where the Majesty of God, is peculiarly Exhibited in a Light that is inaccessible. Doubtless many Passages in the Psalms have an Eye ultimately unto that Glorious Temple in the Heavens, where GOD is Glorified by those whom He receives in the Everlasting Habitations. The Mansions of the Paradise, where the Departed Spirits of the Faithful are lodged until the Resurrection, are the Courts of the Temple. Believer, Think on those Mansions, and be caught up to Paradise, when thou singest about, The Courts of the Lord. Old Arnobius, the Younger, will stand by me in offering this Contemplation.

PSALM LXXXV. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thou hast ‖ been gracious to thy Land; ‖ the Captiv'd ones of Jacob thou ‖ hast brought them back again. ‖

Thou the iniquity of thy ‖ own People hast forgiv'n; ‖ all the Sin found in them thou hast ‖ entirely covered. ‖ Selah. ‖

[Page 225] 3 All thy wrath thou hast utterly ‖ taken away from them; ‖ Thou hast recall'd thy anger from ‖ the heat it rose unto. ‖

4 Return thou us, O God in whom ‖ we our Salvation have; ‖ and towards us thine anger now, ‖ O do thou cause to cease. ‖

5 Wilt thou be angry still with us ‖ to perpetuity? ‖ Wilt thou make thy incensed wrath ‖ extend from Age to Age? ‖

6 What? Wilt thou not return again? ‖ Yea, Thou wilt quicken us; ‖ and they that are thy People shall ‖ shine with bright joy in thee. ‖

7 O Thou ETERNAL God, Shew thou ‖ thy mercy unto us; ‖ and thy Salvation as a Gift ‖ upon us, O bestow. ‖

8 Now will I listen well to what ‖ God the ETERNAL One ‖ will please to speak, because He will ‖ speak a most happy peace: ‖ Peace to His People, and to them ‖ that are His gracious ones; ‖ and they shall not return unto ‖ foolishness any more. ‖

9 Surely, to them that fear Him His ‖ Salvation's very near: ‖ that Glory may within our Land ‖ its habitation have. ‖

10 Mercy and Truth will meet together; ‖ Justice and Peace will kiss; ‖

11 Truth will spring from the Earth, and from ‖ the Heav'ns will Justice look. ‖

12 Yea, the ETERNAL One will give ‖ [Page 226]the thing that's truly Good; ‖ and then our Land shall liberally ‖ bring forth her joyful fruit. ‖

13 Each one before his face shall make ‖ still righteousness to walk; ‖ and he shall regulate his steps ‖ for such a beaten way. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXV. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here Prays for the Israelites under the marks of the Divine Anger in their Dispersion, and comforts them with a Meditation on the Promises which GOD hath made by all the Prophets, to be one Day Reconciled unto them, and bring them again unto their own Land, and bless them under the Reign of the Messiah, abundantly and wonderfully.

8 Idolatry is emphatically Folly. It is Remarkable, The Jews have not relapsed into that Folly, since their Captivity in Babylon.

9 The Coming of the Messiah is thus looked for. Yea, the Words in the Original are, His JESUS is nigh them that fear Him. Glory.] Munster's Gloss is Excellent, Praesentia Divinae Majestatis incarnatae.

11 Some of the Jewish Rabbi's (as R. Hadarson, and R. Joden,) have here made a marvellous Remark. It is not said here, Truth shall be engendred, but, It shall spring Forth. To signify that the Messiah whose Name is, The Truth, shall not be begotten as other Men are. And accordingly R. Haccadosch proves out of the Scriptures, That the Mother of the Messiah must be a Virgin. He also proves, That as the Name of Him who first brought the Jews into the Land of Promise, was JESUS, the same should be the Name of the Messiah, who comes to repeat such a Deliverance for them.

13 Patrick's Paraphrase runs thus, ‘He shall govern [Page 227]us with great Justice and Mercy, having His faithful Promise always before His Eyes. From that Rule He shall never swerve, but stedfastly proceed by it, as the constant method He will hold in His Divine Administrations.’

Munster's Gloss is notable; Justus quisque studebit ambulare ante Deum, et ponere gressus suos in Via Mandatorum Dei.

PSALM LXXXVI. A Prayer of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, Bow down ‖ thine Ear, and hear thou me; ‖ Because I am an humbled one, ‖ and I am indigent. ‖

2 Preserve my Soul, since that I am ‖ one that is merciful; ‖ Save, thou my God, thy Servant who ‖ does place His hope in thee. ‖

3 O Lord in whom is my support, ‖ Be merciful to me; ‖ Because that I do cry to thee ‖ all day * and every day. ‖

4 Rejoyce the Soul of him that is ‖ a Servant unto thee; ‖ Because that unto thee, O Lord, ‖ I do lift up my Soul. ‖

5 For Thou, O Lord art Good, and art ‖ most ready to forgive, ‖ and great in mercy unto all ‖ that make their cry to thee. ‖

6 O Thou ETERNAL God, To my ‖ Petition O give ear; ‖ and to the Voice of my requests ‖ for favour, O attend. ‖

7 In the day when that I into ‖ a tribulation fall, ‖ then will I make my cry to thee; ‖ for thou wilt answer me. ‖

[Page 228] 8 Among the God's, O Lord, there's none to be compar'd to thee; ‖ nor are there any works that may ‖ be lik'ned unto thine. ‖

9 The Nations all which thou hast made shall come, and they shall bow ‖ their kne [...] before thy face, O Lord, ‖ and glorify thy Name. ‖

10 Because that in thy Greatness thou ‖ art very glorious; ‖ and dost things that are wonderful; ‖ yea, Thou art God alone. ‖

11 ETERNAL God, Teach me thy way; ‖ I in thy truth will walk; ‖ Unite my heart for Thee, and to ‖ the fearing of thy Name. ‖

12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, ‖ even with all my heart; ‖ and I will glorify thy Name ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

13 Because thy mercy unto me ‖ is gloriously great; ‖ and from the pit below thou hast ‖ delivered my Soul. ‖

14 O God, Against me rise the proud, ‖ and an assembly of ‖ strong ones have sought my Soul, and not ‖ set thee before themselves. ‖

15 But Thou, Lord, art a God full of ‖ Mercy, and Gracious art; ‖ Long suffering and plentiful ‖ in Mercy and in Truth. ‖

16 O look on me, and pitty me; ‖ Afford thy strength unto ‖ thy Servant; and the Son of thine ‖ Handmaid deliver thou. ‖

17 Shew me a sign for good, which my ‖ haters may see, and be ‖ asham'd; since Thou, ETERNAL God, ‖ dost help and comfort me. ‖

[Page 229]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXVI. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here makes a Prayer for the Jewish Nation, oppressed by the King of Pride, who is described in the XI Chapter of Daniel. 'Tis engaged, that when the Mercies asked and hoped for, are granted, what is done shall be celebrated before all the Nations. The Signs which are to usher in their Deliverance, are in the last Verse Petitioned for.

16 R. David Kimchi thinks, the Handmaid here more peculiarly referr'd unto, may be Ruth the Moabitess. —Behold then, in this Language of the Messiah, 2 powerful Memorial, for the Vocation of the Gentiles. But attend unto a wondrous matter. The Messiah, as here, so elsewhere, and ever, is introduced as speaking of His Mother alone; without the least intimation of His Father. An occult intimation, That He was to have a proper Mother, but no proper Father in this World, and by Consequence He was to be the Son of a Pure Virgin. Compare, Psal. XXII. 9, 10. and XXXV. 14. and LXIX. 8. and LXXI. 6. and CXVI. 16. and CXXXI. 2. and CXXXIX. 13. and Isai. XLIX. 1.

PSALM LXXXVII. A Psalm. A Song for the Sons of Korah.

1 HE in the holy Mountains hath ‖ His firm foundation laid. ‖

2 Th' ETERNAL God loves Zions Gates ‖ more than all Jacob's Tents. ‖

3 City of God, Of thee there are ‖ spoken most glorious things. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 Of Rahab, and of Babylon ‖ I will make mention now ‖ among them that acknowledge me; ‖ Behold Philistia, ‖ and Tyre, with Ethiopia; ‖ There such an one was Born. ‖

[Page 230] 5 Of Zion then it shall be said, ‖ This and that worthy Man ‖ was born in her; and the most High ‖ Himself shall stablish her. ‖

6 When the ETERNAL God shall write ‖ the Peoples in His Roll, ‖ This is the thing He shall declare, ‖ There such an one was born. ‖ Selah. ‖

7 There as the Singers are, so are ‖ Players on instruments; ‖ And as for me the springs of all ‖ my Good are found in thee. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXVII. PSALM.

BEhold, How the Israelites are one Day to be acknowledged among the Nations, and separated from among them; Tho' there shall be then many Proselytes. Compare Isa. XIX. 18.

4 Rahab (which in the Egyptian Tongue signifies a Pear) is, as Bochart Shows, the Name of that famous three Square part of Egypt, formed by the several Mouths of Nilus, which is called the Delta of Egypt. And so all Egypt came to have the Name.

It is a Gloss of Munsters here; Agnoscam inter Populum meum, et hos qui extremifuere bestes populi mei.

5 Now and then, some one Single Man of Eminency born in other Countries: But in Zion, there is Man and Man, many very eminent Men.

Again, Proselytes from all these Countries came to worship at Jerusalem. And tho' they were born in other Countries, yet the Lord writes them down as if Born in Zion.

7 The Spanish Translation reads it (as D. Kimchi does) My Eyes are upon Thee; meaning the Eyes of a Watchful Providence.

But R. Solomon keeping to the Term of Springs, understands the Fathers of whom the Messiah was to come. Compare Psalm. LXVIII. 26.

[Page 231] Take Munsters Gloss; Quicquid unquam inveniri potest Laudis et Preconij, erit in Zion, ad Extollendam Dei Bonitatem, qui filium suum pro totius Mundi Salutetrad dit; meraeque Scaturigines Sanctarum Meditationum, Cogitationum, et Locutionum divinarum erunt in eis.

PSALM LXXXVIII. A Song. A Psalm for the Sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Upon Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil. Of Heman the Ezrahite.

1 O Thou ETERNAL One, the God ‖ whence my Salvation comes. ‖ By Day, by Night, before thee I ‖ make my Complaining Cry. ‖

2 Before thy Face, O let my Prayer ‖ a free Admission have; ‖ Unto the Cry I make with Grief ‖ do Thou incline thine Ear. ‖

3 For that my Soul with Trouble is ‖ fully replenished; ‖ for that my Life is very near ‖ come down unto the Pit. ‖

4 I reckon'd am with them who do ‖ descend into the Grave; ‖ I am become like to a Man ‖ that has no strength in him. ‖

5 Among the Dead I am expos'd ‖ Free to all sorts of wrongs; ‖ I am like to the Slain who do ‖ Sleep in the Sepulchre. ‖ Such as thou dost not any more ‖ show a Remembrance of; ‖ Ev'n such as Violently are ‖ cut off by thy Hands blow. ‖

6 Thou hast for my place order'd me ‖ the Pit that is below; ‖ In Darkness Thou hast placed me, ‖ in the devouring Deeps. ‖

[Page 232] 7 Thy Wrath is lying upon me ‖ like to a mighty Weight; ‖ and with all thy Tempestuous Waves ‖ Thou hast afflicted me. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 Those that were known to me thou hast ‖ put far from me; and made ‖ me loathsome unto them; I am ‖ shut up, and can't come forth. ‖

9 Mine Eye does thro' Affliction waste; ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ I call upon thee every Day; ‖ I stretch my Hands to Thee. ‖

10 For such as do lye dead wilt Thou ‖ work a thing Wonderful? ‖ Shall the deceased ones arise ‖ and celebrate thy Praise. ‖? Selah. ‖

11 Shall thy Benignity be in ‖ the Sepulchre declar'd; ‖ or shall there in destruction be ‖ declar'd thy Faithfulness? ‖

12 In darkness shall thy Work that is ‖ most wonderful be known? ‖ Thy Righteousness also in the ‖ Land of Forgetfulness? ‖

13 But O ETERNAL God, I have ‖ made unto Thee my Cry; ‖ and in the Morning shall my Prayer ‖ anticipate Thee still. ‖

14 O Thou ETERNAL God, Wherefore ‖ dost Thou cast off my Soul? ‖ Wherefore dost Thou so hide away ‖ from me thy Countenance? ‖

15 I am a poor afflicted One; ‖ and ready for to dye ‖ from early Youth; Thy Terrors I ‖ have born till I'm amaz'd. ‖

16 Thy Burning Indignations have ‖ [Page 233]been passing over me; ‖ Thy Terrors full of Troubles have ‖ utterly cut me off. ‖

17 Like Water they've surrounded me ‖ all day * and every day; ‖ they all together in an heap ‖ have round encompass'd me. ‖

18 Thou Lover and Companion hast ‖ removed far from me; ‖ and into hideous Darkness those ‖ that once were known to me. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXVIII. PSALM.

CHristian, Behold thy Crucified SAVIOUR going down into the Prison of the Grave!

Dr. Patrick thinks it probable, that when Jeconiab or Zedekiah, was carried Captive into Babylon, with many other principal People, this our Heman was among them; and probably was cast into a Dark Prison there, and miserably treated.

3 It notably expresses a Prognostic and an Harbinger of Death, commonly observed in the Experience of Godly Men. A little before their Death, when their Life draws nigh to the Grave, usually their Soul is more full of Troubles, then ever in their Life before, by reason of Troublesome Things befalling them, in their Persons and Families.

5 Christian Singer, Behold thy SAVIOUR here, First, Free among the Dead. Understand it not of that Libertas M [...]rtuorum, which was the Consolation of the Pagans about the actually and perfectly Dead. But understand it as the Extremity and Epitome of the Miseries undergone by our SAVIOUR. Vitringa observes, The Torm notes, A Separation from all Mankind, which most eminently befell our Lord, when He was hanged on the Cross between Heaven and Earth, and all Commerce with Man was denied unto Him, and He was treated as the Execration of the whole World, [Page 234]and exposed as Free, so that it was free for every [...] to do what they would unto Him, and speak what th [...] would about Him. It implies a State, In quo qu [...] summe miser, ab aliis de relinquitur, spernitur, vif [...] tur. A Leper was indeed such a Free-Man. Hi [...] House was call'd, 2 Kin. XV. 5. An House of Liberty Our Lord on the Cross compares Himself, Isai. LIII. [...] to A stricken Man; that is, with a Leprosy. Ever [...] one abandoned such a Man. Cocceius tells us, Th [...] Word used here, is what is used, Pro Publication Personae, for the Exposing of a Person to all manner [...] Injury, Violence, and Contumely. On the Cross [...] Saviour was as the Apostle says, Act. II. 23. Ex [...] Exposed unto all the Wrongs imaginable. Our Lor [...] thus Exposed here, counts Himself, Among the Dead. He was now next unto the State of Death. But more than so; The Cross was esteemed the Grave of the Crucified. The Romans left them there, to be corrupted or devoured. Our Lord was now, Like the Slain lying in the Grave. The Word, Slain, signifies Pierced; The Hebrews have not a more significant Word for, The Crucified.

PSALM LXXXIX. Maschil. Of Ethan the Ezrahito.

1 THe Mercies of th' ETERNAL God ‖ I will forever Sing; ‖ Thy Faithfulness I'll with my mouth ‖ make known from Age to Age. ‖

2 For I have said, Benignity ‖ shall be built up forever; ‖ The Heavens! thou establish shalt ‖ thy faithfulness in them. ‖

3 I've made a Covenant with Him ‖ that is my chosen one; ‖ To David (the Beloved one) ‖. my Servant, I have sworn. ‖

[Page 235] 4 Thy Seed, I will establish it ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ and I will make to last and grow ‖ thy Throne from Age to Age. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 ETERNAL God, The Heavens shall ‖ confess thy wondrous one; ‖ yea, and thy faithfulness in the ‖ Assembly of the Saints. ‖

6 For who in Heav'n may be compar'd ‖ to the ETERNAL God? ‖ Among the Sons of mighty ones; ‖ who's like th' ETERNAL God? ‖

7 God in the great Assembly of ‖ the Saints is to be fear'd; ‖ and to be reverenc'd above ‖ all that encompass Him. ‖

8 O Thou ETERNAL God of Hosts, ‖ Strong JAH, Who's like to thee? ‖ Thy Faithfulness does also round ‖ about encompass thee. ‖

9 Over the raging of the Sea ‖ thou thy Dominion hast; ‖ when that the waves thereof arise ‖ then thou asswagest them. ‖

10 Egyptian Rahab thou hast broke, ‖ 'tis as a wounded one; ‖ with the Arm of thy strength thou hast ‖ scatter'd thine Enemies. ‖

11 The Heavens, they belong to thee, ‖ the Earth is also thine; ‖ the World and all that filleth it, ‖ thou hast disposed them. ‖

12 Both the North and the South also, ‖ Thou hast created them; ‖ Tabor and Hermon, West and East, ‖ shall in thy Name rejoyce. ‖

13 Thou hast an Arm to which there does ‖ a mighty strength belong; ‖ Mightily strengthen'd be thy hand, ‖ exalted thy Right-Hand. ‖

[Page 236] 14 Justice and Judgment are the firm ‖ Foundation of thy Throne; ‖ Mercy and Truth shall go before ‖ thy face, as Officers. ‖

15 O blessed are the People, who ‖ do know the joyful sound; ‖ They, O ETERNAL, walk in the ‖ light of thy Countenance. ‖

16 They in thy Name shall still rejoyce ‖ all day * and every day; ‖ and in thy righteousness they shall ‖ an Exaltation have. ‖

17 Because thou art the Glory of ‖ the strength which they enjoy; ‖ and in thy favour shall our horn ‖ be lifted up on high. ‖

18 Because that the ETERNAL One ‖ is our protecting Shield: ‖ and He that is the Holy One ‖ of Israel is our King. ‖

19 Then didst thou speak in vision to ‖ thy gracious One, and say; ‖ I've laid the Help that's hoped for, ‖ upon a Mighty One: ‖ I have exalted One who is ‖ out of the People chose. ‖

20 My Servant David I have found; ‖ (even the Beloved one;) I have anointed Him with the ‖ Oil of my Holiness; ‖

21 With whom my hand shall be confirm'd ‖ and my Arm strengthen Him. ‖

22 The Enemy shall not impose ‖ exactions upon Him; ‖ and the son of iniquity ‖ shall lay no yokes on Him. ‖

23 Yea, I'll beat down before His face ‖ those who do trouble Him; ‖ and them that are haters of Him ‖ I'll smite with wasting plagues. ‖

[Page 237] 24 But still my Faithfulness, and my ‖ Mercy shall be with Him; ‖ and in my Name His horn shall be ‖ exalted very high. ‖

25 I on the Sea will cause His hand ‖ Dominion to exert; ‖ and on the Rivers His right hand ‖ to do what He shall please. ‖

26 He shall invoke me at this rate, ‖ Thou art my Father; Thou! ‖ Thou art my God; and Thou the Rock ‖ of my Salvation art. ‖

27 Yea, to be my first-born is what ‖ I shall allow to Him; ‖ to be the Highest one, above ‖ the Monarchs of the Earth. ‖

28 My Mercy I will keep for Him ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ and fast my Covenant shall stand‖ confirmed unto Him. ‖

29 His Offspring I will cause to be ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ yea, His Throne shall continue like‖ unto the days of Heaven. ‖

30 If that His Children by their Sin ‖ do violate my Law, ‖ and if they in my Judgments don't ‖ maintain their constant walk;‖

31 If they profanely do despise ‖ the things which I appoint; ‖ and if they do not carefully ‖ keep my Commandements; ‖

32 Their proud transgressions then besure‖ I'll visit with a rod; ‖ and their perverse iniquity ‖ with scourges that shall wound. ‖

33 Nevertheless, my Mercy I ‖ will not make void to Him; ‖ nor will I falsify against‖ the Faith I've given Him. ‖

[Page 238] 34 I will not by the breach of it ‖ pollute my Covenant; ‖ and what is gone out of my lips, ‖ I will not alter it. ‖

35 Once have I by my Holiness ‖ taken my solemn Oath; ‖ To David I will never lye‖ (To the Beloved one.) ‖

36 His Offspring shall continue still I to perpetuity; ‖ and his Throne shall before me be I even like unto the Sun. ‖

37 It shall be stablish'd like the Moon ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ and there's the faithful Witness, there's ‖ the Rainbow, in the sky. ‖ Selah. ‖

38 But now thou hast rejected and ‖ expressed much disdain: ‖ And against thy Anointed One ‖ thou hast been very wroth. ‖

39 The Covenant of him that was ‖ thy Servant hast thou null'd; ‖ his Crown thou hast prophaned by ‖ casting it to the ground.‖

40 Thou hast quite broken down all of ‖ the things that hedged him; ‖ Thou hast brought unto ruin his ‖ Holds that were sortify'd. ‖

41 All who do pass along the road ‖ do tear and trample him; ‖ he is become a vile reproach ‖ unto his neighbourhood. ‖

42 Thou hast exalted the right hand ‖ of them who trouble him; ‖ thou hast made them for to rejoyce ‖ who are his enemies. ‖

43 The whetted edge of his Sword thou‖ hast giv'n a turn unto; ‖ and in the Battle thou hast not ‖ enabled him to stand. ‖

[Page 239] 44 His pure and glorious lustre, thou ‖ hast caused that to cease; ‖ and overturning of his Throne: cast it unto the ground. ‖

45 The days of his protected youth‖ thou hast diminished; ‖ with ignominious shame thou hast ‖ quite overwhelmed him. ‖ Selah. ‖

46 ETERNAL God, How long wilt thou‖ conceal thy self? forever? ‖ Shall thy incensed wrath burn like ‖ to a devouring Fire? ‖

47 Remember thou, that as for me, ‖ how little is my time! ‖ Wherefore hast thou created all ‖ the sons of Men in vain? ‖

48 What Man shall live, so that he shall‖ never see Death at all? ‖ From the hand of the pit shall he‖ deliver his own Soul?‖ Selah.‖

49 Thy Ancient loving kindnesses, ‖ O Lord, where are they now? ‖ Ev'n what thou in thy truth hast sworn‖to David, (the Belov'd?)‖

50 Lord, The reproach of them that are ‖ thy People bear in mind; ‖ of all the mighty People I ‖ do bear upon my heart. ‖

51 Because that, O ETERNAL God, ‖ thy Enemies have reproach'd ‖ for they've reproach'd the footsteps of ‖ CHRIST, thy Anointed One.‖

52 May the ETERNAL God be own'd ‖ as the most blessed One, ‖ to an unknown Eternity; ‖ Amen, we say, Amen! ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXIX. PSALM.

BEhold the Prophetic Spirit, propounding the Grounds of Hope, which the Jewish Nation have u [...] their Dispersion; even the sure Promises made unto [Page 240] David, concerning the Glorious Kingdom of the Messiah, The Throne of David for many Ages overthrown shall be exalted at the Second Coming of the Messiah, as James in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Acts, proves from the Prophecies of Amos. And this is here asked for.

4 The Promise is too Glorious to have a Completion in Solomon, and the other Kings of Judah. In the Psalm there is a discernible distinction, between, The Seed of David, and The Sons of David. The Seed is the Messiah. The Sons are the other Descendents.

5 By the Heavens are meant the Angels, [Compare Job XV. 15. with IV. 18. See also, Psal. L. 4, 6.] The Wonder here is that most Wonderful One, the Messiah. [Isai. IX. 6.]

7 'Tis very surprizing that several of the Jewish Rabbi's countenance this Reading of the Verse; God is Bruised in (or, A Bruised God is in) the Great Mystery of the Holy Ones. [Compare, Isai. LIII. 4. and 1 Tim. III. 16. and Wonder!]

12 Tabor and Hermon, is, q. d. West and East.

15 The Joyful Sound of the Trumpet, which called the People unto the Service of God. [Numb. X. 10.]

19 It may nextly refer to the Revelation which GOD gave in a Vision unto the Holy Samuel; [I Sam. XVI.] concerning the Deliverer, which He would raise up for His People. That Chapter well considered, will give a notable Key to this whole Context.

25 On the one hand, he was to conquer the Philistines. and those who lived on the Coast of the Sea, and on the other hand, the Syrians as far as Tygris & Euphrates.

37 Is not the Faithful Witness in Heaven, the RAINBOW?— This leads to some curious tho'ts on the Scriptures, wherein we find the Rainbow mentioned, with Relation to the Kingdom of our Saviour.

51 It was objected unto the Jews, Messiam su [...]m esse tardigradum: That the Messiah took but slow Steps in His Coming. But the Word which we render [Page 241] Footsteps, most properly signifies, the Heel of a Mans Foot, and it is translated from thence to signify the End of a thing. The Enemy now boasted that they saw the Kingdom of David on its last Legs; They reproachfully insulted it, as come to an End. The Truth is, it never was restored unto that Family until the Coming of our JESUS, the Great Son of David. And unto the Messiah sundry Passages in the Psalm, are applied by the Jews: in both the Bereschith; and in other Books: and Aben-Ezra, and R. Solomon consent unto it.

THE FOURTH BOOK OF PSALMS.

PSALM XC. A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God.

1 LORD, Thou hast evermore [...]o us ‖ an Habitation been, ‖ from one Age to another Age, ‖ sweetly protecting us. ‖

2 Before the Mountains were brought forth ‖ or thou hadst form'd the Earth, ‖ and World, even from Age to Age, ‖ Thou art the Mighty God. ‖

3 Thou to destruction dost reduce ‖ poor miserable Man; ‖ and then thou saist, O Children of ‖ Adam, Return again. ‖

4 Because a thousand of years, they do ‖ appear unto thine eyes ‖ but as a yesterday when past; ‖ and but a watch by Night. ‖

5 Thou sweep'st them off as with a Flood; ‖ they're like unto a sleep; ‖ they're in the morning like the grass; ‖ 'tis, Oh! how transient ‖

6 Tis in the morning flourishing; ‖ [Page 242]but still, how changeable! ‖ For in the Ev'ning tis cut down ‖ and then 'tis wither'd quite. ‖

7 Because we're utterly consum'd ‖ by thy most burning wrath; ‖ and by thy heated anger we ‖ have fears how troublesome! ‖

8 Thou hast set our iniquities ‖ before thee in thy view; ‖ what we have hidden is in the ‖ light of thy Countenance. ‖

9 Because that in thy wrath all of ‖ our days are pass'd away; ‖ we do consume our years like to ‖ a story, told and pass'd. ‖

10 The days of all our years, in them ‖ there are but Seventy years; ‖ or if they are in doubled strength ‖ then they are Fourscore years. ‖ But yet their power which is our pride, ‖ 'tis labour and 'tis pain; ‖ because that it is soon cut off, ‖ and so we fly away. ‖

11 Who so considers as to know ‖ what power thine anger has? ‖ yea, ev'n according to thy fear, ‖ so is thy flaming wrath. ‖

12 For the right numbring of our days ‖ To do thou give the skill; ‖ and unto wisdom we shall then ‖ apply this heart of ours. ‖

13 Return, O Thou ETERNAL God; ‖ How long yet shall it be? ‖ And O be thou appeas'd for them ‖ who're servants unto thee. ‖

14 O satisfy us early with ‖ thy kind benignity; ‖ so we shall all our days rejoyce ‖ and be exceeding glad. ‖

15 According to the days wherein ‖ [Page 243]thou hast afflicted us, ‖ the years wherein we have seen ill, ‖ now do thou make us glad. ‖

16 To them that are thy Servants now ‖ O let thy work be seen; ‖ thy glory also unto those ‖ that are their Children here. ‖

17 And let the lovely brightness of ‖ the Lord who is our God, ‖ with a conspicuous lustre be ‖ seen shining upon us; ‖ And the work of our hands, do thou ‖ establish upon us; ‖ yea, the work of our hands do thou ‖ firmly establish it. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XC. PSALM.

R. David Kimchi takes the Psalm to be made by the Prophetic Spirit, with an Eve to the last and long Dispersion, under which the Jewish Nation is now Languishing. But will the Holy One give that People, as long Time under His Blessing, as they have had under His Anger? One of the Ancients has a Pious Fancy here. The Name of Moses is, One drawn from under the Waters. And so, says he, This is a Psalm especially cut out for all Baptized Persons.

1 Munster thinks, here might be an Eye to the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. GOD Himself was this, and more than this, and before this was Built, unto His People.

4 When I read Arnobius here observing, That a Watch is the Fourth part of a Night, it presently led me to think, how Four Thousand Years passed, and then arose the Sun of Righteousness unto the World; by whom is to be accomplished that Resurrection of the Dead which is here waited and groaned for: When He who turned Man to Destruction, shall say, Return ye Children of Men.

8 Chemnitius, by, our Secret, here, would have Original Sin to be understood; whereof tho' the Fruits are evident and notorious, the Root is yet Secret.

[Page 244] 9 The Ancients read it, Like a Spider. And such was their Gloss upon, Ut Aranearum Tela, sic bumana Vita convellitur.

10 Dr. Goodwin observes here, an Allusion to the Condition of a Bird, which has been hatching its full time. When the time for it arrives, the Shell breaks, and it flies away. Death is the breaking of the Shell.

11 Unto the common Annotations I will add that of P. Amana; Siquis te timeat, ira tua ab illo descedit. The Fear of GOD, will deliver us from His Wrath.

12 R. Solomon is mighty nice here; observing that the Letters of the Hebrew Word, Chen, SO, considered as Numerals, make the Number of Seventy.

16 A CHRIST is here asked for!

17 Dr. Patrick thinks, The Beauty of the Lord, here may mean, the Lovely and Pleasant Land of Promise. [Compare, Gen. XLIX. 15. Deut. VIII. 7, 8.]

PSALM XCI.

1 HE who dwells in the secret place ‖ of Him who's the most High, ‖ under the shadow he shall lodge ‖ of the Almighty One. ‖

2 I'll say to the ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou'rt my security, ‖ and thou'rt my tower, my God in whom ‖ I place my confidence. ‖

3 Surely He shall deliver thee ‖ out of the Fowler's snare; ‖ He shall deliver thee from the ‖ malignant pestilence. ‖

4 He with His wings shall cover thee; ‖ and thou shalt be secure ‖ under His wings; His truth shall be ‖ a buckler and a shield. ‖

5 Of what's the terror of the night ‖ thou shalt not be afraid; ‖ nor of the arrow which by day ‖ does make a sinister flight. ‖

[Page 245] 6 Not of the pestilence which does ‖ in darkness take its walk, ‖ nor of such a destruction as ‖ does at the noon-day waste. ‖

7 A thousand at thy side shall fall ‖ and close at thy right hand ‖ shall fall ten thousand; unto thee ‖ it sha'n't come nigh at all. ‖

8 Thou only shalt considerately ‖ behold it with thine eyes; ‖ and thou shalt see the recompence ‖ dispens'd to wicked men. ‖

9 Because Thou, O ETERNAL God ‖ art my security. ‖ So hast thou gone to the most High ‖ as to thy dwelling place. ‖

10 There shall not any evil thing ‖ happen to thee at all: ‖ nor shall there any plague near to ‖ thy habitation come. ‖

11 For He shall to His Angels give ‖ a charge concerning thee; ‖ that they in all thy ways may have ‖ thee in their custody. ‖

12 They like to tender nurses shall ‖ in both hands carry thee; ‖ lest that thou shouldest dash thy foot ‖ against some hurtful stone. ‖

13 Thou shalt victorious tread on the ‖ black serpent and the asp; ‖ the dragon and great dragon thou ‖ shalt trample underfoot. ‖

14 Because he hath so loved me, ‖ therefore I'll rescue him; ‖ because that he hath known my Name, ‖ I will set him on high. ‖

15 On me he'll call; and Him I'll hear; ‖ when he's in trouble, then ‖ I'll be with him; I'll rescue him, ‖ and I will honour him. ‖

[Page 246] 16 I'll fully satisfy him with ‖ extended length of days; ‖ when upon my Salvation ‖ shall cause him for to look. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCI. PSALM.

SAtan himself owned the Psalm to refer to the Messiah. From the Eleventh Verse in the Psalm the Jews fetch their Maxim, That the Messiah shall be greater than any of the M [...]nistring Angels. Our Saviour gave to His Apostles the Powers here mentioned, over Serpents. The last Verse refers plainly to the Resurrection. Dr. Patrick thinks the Psalm to have been Penned at the time of the Great Pestilence towards the End of David's Reign. But then by Gad rather than David.

6 Dr. Patrick understands, Malignant Fevers which rage in the hottest Season of the Year.

7 Jewish Criticks observe, That Side or Hand mentioned without any Addition, still means, The Left.

12 An Allusion to the Care which a Nurse has of a Child. O Gracious and Wondrous!

13 Bochart will maintain our Translation; which admits none but Serpents into the whole Speech of the Psalmist.

14 These are the Words of the Glorious GOD unto His Angels, when He gives them their Commission to look after His Faithful Servants.

PSALM XCII. A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.

1 TIS a good thing to celebrate ‖ with Praise the ETERNAL God; ‖ and to Sing Praise unto thy Name, ‖ O Thou that art most high. ‖

2 In every Morning to declare ‖ Thy kind Benignity, ‖ and in the darkness of the Nights ‖ declare thy faithfulness. ‖

[Page 247] 3 Upon an Instrument that has ‖ Ten strings to furnish it; ‖ and on the Psaltery; and with ‖ a Song upon the Harp. ‖

4 For, O ETERNAL God, Thou in ‖ Thy Work, hast made me glad; ‖ In the works of thy Hands I do ‖ make my triumphant songs. ‖

5 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thy works, ‖ how very great are they! ‖ Thy exquisite Contrivances, ‖ how very deep are they! ‖

6 A Man grown stupid like a Brute, ‖ is one who does not know; ‖ and he that is a fool does not ‖ well understand this Thing. ‖

7 When like the Herb, the Wicked flowre, ‖ and all the Workers of ‖ what's evil, flourish; 'tis that they ‖ may be destroy'd forever. ‖

8 But Thou who art th' ETERNAL God, ‖ [JEHOVAH is Thy Name?] shalt be exalted very High ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

9 For, lo Thy Foes, ETERNAL God, ‖ For, lo, Thy hateful Foes ‖ shall perish, and all Workers of ‖ Evil shall be destroy'd. ‖

10 But thou wilt like unto the Reems ‖ exalt my horn on high; ‖ and I shall be anointed with ‖ a very grateful oil. ‖

11 My Eyes shall also look with thought ‖ upon my enemies; ‖ my ears shall hear of wicked men ‖ that rise to do me hurt. ‖

12 The righteous one shall flourish as ‖ the Palm-Tree use to do; ‖ he shall grow like the Cedar-Tree ‖ that is in Lebanon. ‖

[Page 248] 13 They who are planted in the House of the ETERNAL God; ‖ these shall still flourish in the Courts ‖ of Him that is our God. ‖

14 They even in old age shall still ‖ be yeilding of their Fruit; ‖ they shall continue in good case, ‖ and keep their verdure still. ‖

15 All this to shew the equity ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ He is my rock and there is no ‖ iniquity in Him. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCII. PSALM.

THe Old Rabbins have a Notable Passage; That the Psalm relates to the World to come, and the Age wherein the People of God shall enjoy an entire Sabbath, which will be, the days of the Messiah.

The Truth is, we have here, as Dr. Allix observes, a prophecy of the Happiness to be enjoyed by the Jewish Nation in the Great Sabbath, whereof the Apostle speaks to the Hebrews. GOD promises here, to give them the Messiah for their King, after the Destruction of the Antichristian Powers. Compare the fourteenth verse, with Isa. LXV. 20. Probably David might write the Psalm, after the Lord had given him such Rest round about from all his Enemies, that he concluded he should be able to subdue those who should hereafter venture to oppose him.

10 Onicorns are a Fabulous Animal; we'll keep the Hebrew Name o Reems, until we are better agreed about the true English of it; which Bochart will have to be the Arabian Wild-goats.

12 Hugo Victorinus has this Gloss; — He performs in the End more than he promised in the Begining. As the Palm has a small Root, but the Top is very great and large.

[Page 249]

PSALM XCIII.

1 THe ETERNAL God is now the King; ‖ High Glory He puts on; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God does now put on ‖ a mighty fortitude. ‖ He girds Himself, ready to act; ‖ The habitable World ‖ is likewise so establish'd, that ‖ it shall be mov'd no more. ‖

2 Thy Throne, it is established ‖ from— who can tell the term? ‖ Thou art still what thou art from an ‖ unknown Eternity. ‖

3 The floods lift up, ETERNAL God, ‖ the floods lift up their voice; ‖ the floods have lifted up on high ‖ their hideous dashing noise. ‖

4 Th' ETERNAL God, who is on high, ‖ is mightier than the noise ‖ of many waters, mightier than ‖ mighty waves of the Sea. ‖

5 Thy testimonies unto us ‖ are very faithful ones; ‖ Holiness does adorn thy house, ‖ ETERNAL God forever. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCIII. PSALM.

ONe observes, the Psalm is an Hymn, wherein the Reign of the Messiah, as being the true JEHOVAH, is described; After the destruction of the Beast which sits upon the great Waters. In the last Verse. The Restoration of the Jewish Nation is mentioned, as an Act established by many Witnesses.

Was not the Psalm composed, when some of those Enemies, began to take heart again, and threaten a Disturbance to the Tranquility of David's Kingdom, to which he was confident, in the foregoing Psalm, they [Page 250]could never give an overthrow? Dr. Patrick who makes this conjecture, yet adds, That the Psalm ought in a more sublime sense to be applyed unto the stability of our SAVIOUR's Kingdom. The Jews themselves do acknowledge this matter, to be prophesied in this, and all the Psalms that follow, unto the Hundredth.

5 Kimchi carries this to the Days of the Messiah, when (as he renders it) The Holiness of God's House will be desireable. He expounds it from, Isa. II. 2. That all People will then desire to go into the House of God; yea, all in the House will desire to be Holy; yea, all will desire to be Holy like that House.

But then the Testimonies of GOD will be found certain. All that GOD hath praedicted and promised concerning His House, will be accomplished.

PSALM XCIV.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, The God ‖ to whom revenge belongs; ‖ Shine forth conspicuously, O God ‖ to whom revenge belongs. ‖

2 O thou Judge of the Earth, Do thou ‖ exalt thy self on high: ‖ a retribution render thou ‖ unto the haughty ones. ‖

3 O Thou ETERNAL God, How long ‖ shall very impious ones; ‖ How long shall very impious ones ‖ make their triumphant boast? ‖

4 How long shall they still belching out, ‖ talk what is very hard? ‖ How long shall all they boast themselves ‖ that work iniquity? ‖

5 Thy People, O ETERNAL God, ‖ they break to pieces quite; ‖ and they unto thine heritage ‖ humbling affliction cause. ‖

[Page 251] 6 The Widow and the Stranger, these ‖ with slaughter they destroy; ‖ and them that are the Fatherless ‖ they murder barbarously, ‖

7 And this is that which they have said, ‖ JAH will not see at all; ‖ nor will the God of Jacob take ‖ a cognisance of it. ‖

8 O ye most bruitish ones among ‖ the People, understand; ‖ But O ye foolish ones, when comes ‖ the time that you'l be wise? ‖

9 He who with skill did plant the Ear, ‖ think you, that He'll not hear? ‖ It it is He that form'd the Eye, ‖ think you, that He'll not see? ‖

10 He that instructs the Nations, What? ‖ shall He not argue right? ‖ Tis He who does communicate ‖ all knowledge unto Man. ‖

11 But the ETERNAL God does know ‖ the thot's of earthly Man; ‖ He knows, that they are nothing but ‖ meer foolish vanity. ‖

12 O bless'd the Man, whom thou, O JAH, ‖ with chast'ning dost instruct; ‖ and dost out of thy law bestow ‖ a teaching upon him! ‖

13 That thou from days of evil may'st ‖ afford a rest to him; ‖ whilst that a pit is digged for ‖ him that's the wicked Man. ‖

14 For the ETERNAL God will not ‖ cast His own People off; ‖ neither will He forsake what is ‖ His own inheritance. ‖

15 But judgment shall anon return ‖ even to righteousness; ‖ and all that are upright in he [...]t ‖ shall follow after it. ‖

[Page 252] 16 Who will rise up for me against ‖ them who do evil things? ‖ Who will stand up for me against ‖ workers of vanity? ‖

17 Unless that the ETERNAL God ‖ bad given help to me, ‖ my Soul had quickly dwelt in the ‖ sad silence of the Grave. ‖

18 When I did say within my self, ‖ My foot is on the slip, ‖ thy mercy, O ETERNAL God, ‖ was what sustained me. ‖

19 When I've a multitude of tho'ts, ‖ mix'd in the midst of me, ‖ then do thy comforts make my Soul ‖ glad with repeted joys. ‖

20 Shall the Throne of things tyrannous ‖ have fellowship with thee? ‖ That which enacts into a Law ‖ what's a mischeivous wrong? ‖

21 They raise their troops against the Soul ‖ of every righteous one; ‖ and they condemn to death the blood ‖ of him that's innocent. ‖

22 But the ETERNAL God becomes ‖ the tower for my defence; ‖ and He that is my God becomes ‖ the Rock in which I trust. ‖

23 And He'll to them repay their wrong, ‖ yea, He will cut them off ‖ in their crime; the ETERNAL God, ‖ our God will cut them off. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCIV. PSALM.

'TIS a Prayer both for the Christian Church and the Synagogue; equally oppress'd by the Antichristian Party; whose Thr [...]ne, whose Titles, whose [Page 253] Judgments, mentioned in the Prophecies, are found most expresly in the Psalm now before us.

9 The Eye of Animals, especially of Man, is a piece of such astonishing Workmanship, that it is impossible for any but a most bruitify'd wretch, to behold it without an Acknowledgment of a Glorious and Infinite GOD. Sturmius's Exercitation, De Visus Organo, makes this just Remark; Nobis fuit persuaj ssimum, Atheismunt quem vocant, speculativum, baber [...] locum ant invenire non posse, in co bomine qui oculi fabricam atten [...]o animo inspexerit. The Philosophy of the Ear, would make the same Remark.

10 He that has taught all Nations His Will (or the Difference between the Good and Evil) shall not He correct them, when they transgress it? Kimchi thinks it refers to, Ultiones Dei insigmores, the more signal Judgments of GOD sometimes executed among the Nations; as the Fate of Sedom, and the like.

19 The Quadrate form of the Hebrew Word used here for, make glad, leads to this Translation.

PSALM XCV.

1 O Come, and let us sing with joy ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ O jubilate unto the Rock ‖ whence our Salvation comes. ‖

2 Quickly let us before His face, ‖ with due confession come; ‖ and make with Psalms to Him the praise ‖ of a glad Jubilee. ‖

3 For the ETERNAL God, He is ‖ a God who's very great; ‖ and He is a great Sovereign, ‖ plac'd above all the God's. ‖

4 He 'tis in whose hand are the deep ‖ recesses of the Earth; ‖ the weary tops of mountains too ‖ do all belong to Him. ‖

[Page 254] 5 He 'tis to whom the Sea belongs; ‖ for He created it; ‖ His hands were also those that form'd ‖ the Earth now dry'd from it. ‖

6 O come, let us prostrate our selves, ‖ and let us humbly bow; ‖ before th' ETERNAL God who is ‖ our Maker, let us kneel. ‖

7 For He's our God, and we of His ‖ Pasture the People are, ‖ and the Sheep of His hands; if ye ‖ will hear His voice to day. ‖

8 O harden not your hearts, as they ‖ in the Contention did; ‖ as in the desart on the day ‖ of the Temptation there. ‖

9 The day, wherein your Fathers did ‖ tempt me so sinfully: ‖ A trial they did make of me, ‖ and they beheld my work. ‖

10 I Forty years was grieved with ‖ this race of Men, and said; ‖ The People, they wander in heart, ‖ and have not known my ways. ‖

11 For this cause I have made an Oath ‖ in my incensed wrath, ‖ That they by no means ever shall ‖ enter into my Rest. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCV. PSALM.

OUR Apostle, Heb. IV. 1. shows us that the Psalm is an Exhortation unto the lsraelites, to prepare for the receiving of the Messiah, who is to bring their Nation into the happiness of the great Sabbatism.

4 Are not the Deep Mines of Silver and Gold in the Bowels of the Earth, particularly referr'd unto? One of the Ancients adds a good Note, Quae in mann Dei sunt, sine Deo nequeunt obtineri.

[Page 255] 9 They doubted, and they demanded new Proofs, though they had already seen such wonderful Works of GOD.

PSALM XCVI.

1 O Sing to the ETERNAL God ‖ a Song that shall be new; ‖ O sing to the ETERNAL God, ‖ All that are on the Earth. ‖

2 O sing to the ETERNAL God: ‖ to His Name bow the knee; ‖ Evangelize from day to day ‖ of His Salvation still. ‖

3 Of His bright Glory an account ‖ unto the Nations give; ‖ among all People give account ‖ of His most wondrous works. ‖

4 For the ETERNAL God is great, ‖ and greatly to be prais'd; ‖ He above all the Gods is to ‖ be had in reverence. ‖

5 For Idols vain are all the gods ‖ the People do adore; ‖ But the ETERNAL God is He ‖ who did create the Heav'ns. ‖

6 Before His face is to be seen ‖ Honour and Majesty; ‖ and in His sanctuary are ‖ strength and a diadem. ‖

7 O Families of Peoples, Bring ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Bring ye to the ETERNAL God ‖ glory and fortitude. ‖

8 Bring ye to the ETERNAL God ‖ the glory of His Name; ‖ present ye an oblation, and ‖ so come into His Courts. ‖

9 Worship th' ETERNAL God in the ‖ beauty of holiness; ‖ tremble before His face, O all ‖ ye dwellers on the Earth.

[Page 256] 10 Proclaim this very thing abroad‖among the Nations all; ‖ That the ETERNAL One doth sit ‖ a King upon His Throne. ‖ The World shall be now stablished; ‖ it shall not be remov'd; ‖ He'l judge the People with the things ‖ that are forever right. ‖

11 O let the Heavens now rejoyce, ‖ and let the Earth be glad; ‖ Let the Sea lift it's roaring voice, ‖ and what it's fill'd withal. ‖

12 Let the Field have triumphant joy, ‖ and all that is therein; ‖ Then the Trees of the wood shall all‖make a loud shout for joy. ‖

13 Let them do this before the face ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ Because He comes; because He comes ‖ that He may judge the Earth. ‖ The habitable World He will ‖ now judge in righteousness; ‖ and He will judge the Poople in ‖ His steady faithfulness. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCVI. PSALM.

BEhold, the Praises of GOD, that are to be Sung by the Jewish Nation, at the Second, Coming of the Messiah. They invite all Nations that survive the Judgments on the Antichristian Powers, to acknowlede Him for their GOD, and reject the Idolatries they have hitherto practised.

1 Several of the Jews themselves, own that this belongs to the Times of the Messiah. We ought certainly to have Him in our Minds, when we Sing a New Song, for the New Grace in Him granted to us.

12 Why? The Earth is to be restored unto a Paradisaic State, at the Coming of the Lord.

By the Heavens here called upon, to rejoyce, may [Page 257]we not understand the Angels? By the Earth, all Mankind which are dispersed on the Earth.

By the Sea, the Mariners and Passengers in Ships, and the Inhabitants of the Islands.

By the Fields, the Husbandmen and Shepherds, who dwell in the Fields.

By the Trees of the Wood, the Woodmen and Foresters, who are with joy to see the happy Day approaching when all the Idols that are Worshipped there, shall be thrown down, together with their Groves.

PSALM XCVII.

1 NOW the ETERNAL God does reign, ‖ O let the Earth rejoyce; ‖ and let the many Isles thereof ‖ shine with a chearful joy. ‖

2 A cloud and a dense darkness doth ‖ encompass Him about; ‖ Justice and Judgment are the firm ‖ foundation of His Throne. ‖

3 Fire goes before His face and burns ‖ all round His Enemies; ‖

4 His lightnings fill the World with light; ‖ the Earth sees it and shakes. ‖

5 Like melting wax the mountains are ‖ dissolv'd before the face ‖ of the ETERNAL God; before ‖ the Lord of all the Earth. ‖

6 O let the Heavens now declare ‖ abroad His righteousness; ‖ and of His radiant glory let ‖ all People have a view. ‖

7 Confusion be to all those who ‖ serve graven Images; ‖ who do in Idols boast themselves. ‖ Worship Him all ye God's! ‖

8 Zion heard and was bright with joy: ‖ [Page 258]and Judah's daughters were ‖ for the sake of thy Judgments glad,‖ O thou ETERNAL God. ‖

9 For, O ETERNAL God, Thou art ‖ High above all the Earth; ‖ Thou art exalted very high; ‖ High above all the Gods. ‖

10 O ye who love th' ETERNAL God, ‖ Hate ill; He keeps the Souls ‖ of all His gracious ones; He saves ‖ them from the wickeds hand. ‖

11 There's for the righteous one a light ‖ sown as an hidden seed; ‖ and for them who're upright in heart ‖ there is a joy reserv'd. ‖

12 You that are righteous ones, Rejoyce ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ and when you do commemorate ‖ His Holy One, give thanks. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCVII. PSALM.

THE Psalm is of the same Design with the foregoing. It insults the New Idolaters, the Antichristian ones, with the Coming of the Messiah who is to condemn them. It represents the Joy which His Coming, will give unto the People of GOD, and unto the Jewish Nation in particular. Was not the Psalm written, on some Conquests made by David, after the Ark was brought to Zion: when the foregoing Hymn was made, in hope of the great things to ensue? In subduing these, GOD might fight for His People, with some such Tempest as that, 2 Sam. V. 20, 21, 24.

1 Mr. M [...]strezat observes, That since the Isles are the Gentiles; the Reign here must be a Reign of Grace, and favourable to them. In such Expressions as imply a Reign of Grace, the Lord who Reigns must be the Messiah. Our Apostle Paul might well apply the Psalm to Him!

[Page 259] 5 Masius notes, that Adonai, is a Name on Illustrious Accounts peculiar to the Son of GOD.

6 —A dreadful Tempest, managed by Angelical Ministers, declares the just severity of GOD against His Enemies.

11 Some Jewish Rabbi's, by this Light understand the Messiah. As they do, Dan. II. 22. Psal. XXXVI. 10. —But, O Christian, all the Felicity thou hopest for, must lie for a while conceal'd, as under the Clods, with a Sentence of Death upon it.

PSALM XCVIII. A Psalm.

1 TO the ETERNAL God, O sing ‖ a new Song; for He hath ‖ done wonders; His right hand has Him ‖ help'd, and His holy Arm. ‖

2 Th' ETERNAL God has caused His ‖ Salvation to be known; ‖ In the eyes of the Nations He ‖ hath shewn His righteousness. ‖

3 He minds His mercy and His truth ‖ to th' house of Israel; ‖ All the ends of the Earth, they have ‖ our God's Salvation seen. ‖

4 O Jubilate now all the Earth ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ O raise your voice, and sing aloud, ‖ and celebrate with Psalms. ‖

5 O sing to the ETERNAL God, ‖ with a well-tuned harp; ‖ Do it with a ten-stringed harp, ‖ and the voice of the Psalm. ‖

6 With trumpets which assemble troops, ‖ and with the sound of horn, ‖ O Jubilate before the King ‖ who is th' ETERNAL God. ‖

[Page 260] 7 Let the Sea make its thundring noise, ‖ and that which filleth it; ‖ so let the habitable World ‖ and its inhabitants. ‖

8 Let the floods clap their hands for joy ‖ with acclamations loud; ‖ Together with them also let ‖ the mountains make their shouts. ‖

9 Let them do this before the face ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ because that He is coming forth ‖ that He may judge the Earth. ‖ The habitable World He will ‖ now judge in righteousness; ‖ and He will judge the People with ‖ things most exactly right. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCVIII. PSALM.

A New Song; To be Sung at the Second Coming of the Messiah. Compare the First Verse of the Psalm with Isai. XII. 5.—which by the way, invincibly shews, That the Messiah is GOD. It foretells the Recalling of the Jews,; and Exhorts all Nations to acknowledge the Messiah as GOD. The Judgments on the Antichristian Powers, must be before the Happiness of the Jews, and the Conversion of the other Nations.

PSALM XCIX.

1 TH' ETERNAL God now reigns as King; ‖ O let the People quake; ‖ He sits between the Cherubim; ‖ O let the Earth be mov'd; ‖

2 In Zion the ETERNAL God ‖ is greatly magnify'd; ‖ and above all the Peoples He ‖ is now advanc'd on high. ‖

3 O let them celebrate thy Name ‖ [Page 261]with due co [...]essions now; ‖ It's great, and it is terrible; ‖ and holy too it is. ‖

4 The King's strength also judgment loves; ‖ right things thou dost prepare; ‖ In Jacob thou dost execute ‖ judgment and righteousness. ‖

5 Exalt ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ ev'n Him who is our God; ‖ and at His footstool worship ye; ‖ He is the holy One. ‖

6 Moses and Aaron eminent ‖ among His Ministers; ‖ and Samuel eminent among ‖ them that call on His Name. These did their invocation make ‖ on the ETERNAL God; ‖ and He then granted unto them ‖ a gracious audience. ‖

7 He in the pillar of the cloud ‖ gave Oracles to them; ‖ they kept His testimonies, and ‖ the Law He gave to them. ‖

8 Thou heard'st them, O ETERNAL God, ‖ our God; Thou wast a God ‖ that spar'd them; and thou didst revenge ‖ the things design'd at them. ‖

9 Exalt th' ETERNAL God, our God; ‖ and at His holy hill ‖ Worship; for the ETERNAL God, ‖ Our God's the Holy One. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCIX. PSALM.

THE Psalm is Calculated for the Coming & Kingdom of the Messiah; when His Throne shall be in Zion; and the Jews have new Tokens of His Presence among them.

1 The Patrician Paraphrase is; ‘Tho' the whole Earth should be in an uproar, we are safe and secure; for the Lord is attended with Innumerable Heavenly Ministers, who are a Guard unto His Faithful Wo [...] shippers.’

[Page 262] 5 The Ark was peculiarly [...]he Footstool of the Lord. But the Ark was also a Type of our Saviour Ambrose and Austin found this Fo [...]tstool in the Fle [...] of our Saviour.

6 Drusius notes, That the Particle, Among, ofter intimates one very Eminent & Exernious among those that are spoken of.

8 Patricks Paraphrase is this; ‘When they Pray [...] unto Thee, Thou didst fulfil their Petitions, passing by for them sakes, the Sins of those who contemned the ‖ Authority, and were contriving how to depose them [Numb. XII. 2, 9, 10. XVI. 3, 31, 32. 1 Sam. VIII. 7, 8, 9.]’

PSALM C.

1 NOw unto the ETERNAL God ‖ make you the joyful shouts ‖ which are heard in a Jubilee, ‖ all ye who dwell on Earth. ‖

2 Yield service with a shining joy ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ with joyful acclamations come ‖ ye in before His face. ‖

3 Know, That th' ETERNAL God, He's God; ‖ He made us, and we're His; ‖ we are His People, and we are ‖ the Sheep which He does feed. ‖

4 With due confessions enter ye ‖ His gates, His courts with Praise; ‖ make due confessions unto Him; ‖ speak ye well of His Name. ‖

5 For the ETERNAL God is good; ‖ His mercy is for ever; ‖ And unto Generations doth ‖ His faithfulness endure. ‖

[Page 263]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the C. PSALM.

HAve we not here, an Exhortation o [...] the returned Jews unto all People, that they should acknowleage their SAVIOUR, as their GOD and Creator, cons [...]er [...]ng how faithful He has been in His Promises, and what great Wonders He hath performed, for the sake of His People? The Jews have a Report that the Psalm was appointed peculiarly to be Sung, when their Sacrifices of Thanksgiving [Lov. VII. 12, 13.] were to be offered. The Levites call'd, The Companies of them who gave Thanks unto GOD. [Neh. XII. 31, 38.] were the Singers of it.

3 The Word implies, Advancing, Preferring, Raising them, as a People, to be such a People as they were; a great and a mighty Nation.

PSALM CI. A Psalm of David.

1 OF Mercy and of Judgment both ‖ I will now make my Song; ‖ Unto Thee, O ETERNAL God, ‖ I will now sing a Psalm. ‖

2 I'll in a perfect way be wise; ‖ When wilt thou come to me? ‖ In the midst of my house I will ‖ walk with a perfect heart. ‖

3 I will not set before mine eyes ‖ a thing of Belial; ‖ I hate the work of wanderers: ‖ it shall not cleave to me. ‖

4 An heart that is perversely bent, ‖ it shall depart from me; ‖ and I will take no notice of ‖ one that's a wicked man. ‖

5 I [...]ll cut off him that slandereth ‖ his neighbour secretly; ‖ One high in looks and proud in heart, ‖ I will not bear with him. ‖

[Page 264] 6 I'll eye the faithful of the Land, ‖ that they may dwell with me; ‖ He that walks in a perfect way, ‖ He'l be my Officer. ‖

7 In the midst of my house none shall ‖ dwell, who does work deceit: ‖ before my eyes establish'd none ‖ shall be who telleth lyes. ‖

8 I as the mornings do recur, ‖ with close confinement will ‖ destroy all of the wicked ones ‖ that are upon the Earth. ‖ And this, that from the City of ‖ Him who's th' ETERNAL God, ‖ I may extirminate all them ‖ who work iniquity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CI. PSALM.

DAvid on the Death of Saul, was immediately promoted unto the Kingdom. However he had not yet the entire Kingdom. In the mean time he resolved with himself how well he would govern when GOD should make him King over all Israel as well as Judah.

But indeed, We have here the Character of those who are to be admitted among the Subjects of the Messiah in His glorious Kingdom; and the manner wherein He will curt off them who pretending to acknowledge His Laws, have overthrown all Righteousness in the World.

1 In these Two Things, Mercy and Judgment, does consist really, Totae Vitae Integritas: especially the Integrity of an Officer.

Austin makes a Remark on the Order of the Words; first, Mercy, then Judgment. Now and Here, the former; Anon the Latter. Par Tempor a distinguinuis haec duo.

[Page 265] 2 Arnobiu, has a fire Thought here. A Saint will be an Almagiver. He will understand when a CHRIST comes to him, in the Person of a distressed Brother.

8 Early.] Munsters gloss is, Before others are corrupted with them.

Athanasins has a Note of Piety here, which tho' it be not the Sense of the Place, is worth our thinking on.

As the Morning is the Beginning of the Day, so, the Beginning of our Sin is in the fraudulent [...]uggestion of our Enemy the Devil. To Destroy the Wicked in the Morning is to Observe and Defeat the Devil, in the Beginning of his Temptations. The Soul of Man is the City of the Lord. We should betimes destroy the Designs of the wicked, therein, by an Early Mortification bestowed upon them.

PSALM CII. A Prayer of the Afflicted when that be is over whelmed, and poureth out his sad Complaint before the ETERNAL God.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, Do Thou ‖ my Supplication hear; ‖ and my loud Cry made in Distress, ‖ let it arrive to Thee, ‖

2 In the Day of my Trouble, Oh! ‖ Hide not thy Face from me; ‖ Bow thine Ear to me, in the Day ‖ I call, soon answer me. ‖

3 For as the Smoak does pass away ‖ so are my Days consum'd; ‖ and as the Wood laid on the Hearth ‖ my Bones are burned up.

4 My Heart is smitten like the Grass, ‖ and it is withered up; ‖ Insomuch that I do forget ‖ to eat my daily Bread. ‖

5 By reason of the Voice that is ‖ by my sad Groaning made; ‖ my bones do evidently cleave ‖ unto my wasted skin.

[Page 266] 6 I am made like the Pelican ‖ that's in the Wilderness; ‖ I am like to the Bitten [...] which ‖ affecteth Solitudes. ‖

7 I pass the weary Nights without ‖ enjoying any Sleep; ‖ and like the Sparrow am on the ‖ top of the House alone. ‖

8 My Enemies do cast on me ‖ Reproaches every Day; ‖ they that are mad against me do ‖ form cursing Oaths from me. ‖

9 For truly, as, * and in my Bread ‖ Ashes is what I eat; ‖ and my Drink I have mingled with ‖ the Tears that I have shed. ‖

10 From the view of thy Anger 'tis, ‖ and of thy boiling Wrath; ‖ Because that thou hast lift me up, ‖ and cast me down again. ‖

11 My days are like a shadow which ‖ is now on the Decline; ‖ and like unto a parched Herb, ‖ ev'n so I wither'd am. ‖

12 But, O ETERNAL God, Thou dost ‖ endure forevermore; ‖ and thy Remembrance from one Age ‖ unto another Age. ‖

13 Thou wilt arise, and now thou wilt ‖ to Zion mercy show, ‖ because the time to favour her, ‖ yea, the set Time is come. ‖

14 Inasmuch as thy Servants do ‖ take wondrous pleasure in ‖ the Stones thereof, and they are kind ‖ unto the dust thereof. ‖

15 So the Name of th' ETERNAL God ‖ the Nations now will fear; ‖ and thy conspicuous glory all ‖ the Kings upon the Earth. ‖

[Page 267] 16 When the ETERNAL God shall build ‖ the Zion that is fall'n, ‖ He shall most visibly appear, ‖ in His bright Glory [there. ‖

17 He will have a respect to the ‖ Prayer of the humble shrub; ‖ and on their Supplications He ‖ will not cast a contempt. ‖

18 This shall be written for the Age ‖ hereafter to come on; ‖ A People yet for to be form'd ‖ shall also Praise the Lord. ‖

19 For He hath looked down from the ‖ heighth of His Holiness; ‖ From Heaven the ETERNAL God, ‖ exactly views the Earth. ‖

20 It is that He may hear the groan ‖ of him that lies in bonds; ‖ that He may set at liberty ‖ such as are sons of death. ‖

21 In Zion to declare the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ and to declare His glorious Praise ‖ in both Jerusalems. ‖

22 When that united Peoples shall ‖ their Congregations form; ‖ and Kingdoms do agree to serve ‖ Him who's th' ETERNAL God. ‖

23 But in the middest of the way ‖ unto these Glorious Things, ‖ He sorely hath afflicted me; ‖ He hath cut off my days. ‖

24 I said, my God, Take me not up ‖ in the midst of my days; ‖ Thy Years a Generation to, ‖ yea, Generations last. ‖

25 In the beginning thou hast laid ‖ Foundations for the Earth; ‖ the Heavens also of thy hands ‖ are the rare Workmanship. ‖

[Page 268] 26 They I perish, but thou shalt endure; ‖ yea, like a garment they ‖ shall all wax old; Thoul't change them as ‖ a robe, and they'l be chang'd. ‖

27 But as for Thee, Thou ever dost ‖ continue what thou art; ‖ and thy years, they are such as will ‖ not ever be consum'd. ‖

28 The Children of thy Servants shall ‖ have a fix'd dwelling place; ‖ and their Offspring before thy face ‖ shall be established. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CII. PSALM.

WAS not the Writer of the Psalm, Daniel the Prophet, who in the approaches of a Great Revolution, and the Deliverance of the Church from the Babylonish Captivity, spent Three Sevens of Days, in Secret Prayer, with Fasting before the Lord? But, methinks, the Prophetic Spirit here expresses Prayers and Groans for the Jewish Nation, in their Dispersion, and in the approach of their Deliverance.

3 The Patrician Paraphrase is well; 'My Days are 'spent as dismally, as it I liv'd and breath'd in Smoke.

7 Bochart will maintain my Version for the Names of the Birds.

8 It may be read, Sworn upon me. Munster's Gloss is; When they bestowed a Curse on any one, they wish'd him, As miserable as a Jew.

10 Lifted up in Glorious Hopes. [Fzra. I. 5. II. 68. III. 10.] And then cast down; all dash'd again. [Ezra. IV. 4, 24.]

14 Arnobius takes the Stones of Zion, to be the Books of the Scripture, and the Dust, the Dead Saints who have suffered greatly for the Cause of GOD. Besure, the scattered Stones of Zion liberally taken, were more dear to the Pious Worshippers, than the goodliest Palaces in Babylon.

[Page 269] 23 Some think , it refers to the Afflictions the Jews met withal, in the midst of their Building.

PSALM CIII. Of David.

1 O My awakened Soul, Do thou ‖ Bless [always] the ETERNAL God; ‖ and all my inward powers the Name ‖ of His pure [spotless] holiness. ‖

2 O my awakened Soul, Do thou ‖ Bless [always] the ETERNAL God; ‖ and O forget not any one ‖ of all His [precious] benefits. ‖

3 'Tis He who gives a pardon to ‖ all thy [most vile] iniquities; ‖ 'Tis He who gives an healing to ‖ all thy [most sad] infirmities. ‖

4 'Tis He who doth redeem thy Life ‖ from the [dark Grave's] corrupting pit; ‖ 'Tis He who thee with Mercy doth ‖ and with [tender] compassions crown. ‖

5 'Tis He who with the thing that's good ‖ doth satisfy thy [craving] mouth; ‖ thy Youth it is renew'd; Then like ‖ the [soaring] Eagle shalt thou be. ‖

6 Th' ETERNAL God is ever One ‖ who does most righteous things [to all;] ‖ and Judgments He doth execute ‖ for all [that are] oppressed ones. ‖

7 A revelation of His ways ‖ He did to [Holy] Moses make; ‖ and He reveal'd His works unto ‖ the [happy] sons of Israel. ‖

[Page 270] 8 Th' ETERNAL God is merciful; ‖ and [He is] full of clemency; ‖ to anger slow, but plenteous ‖ [He is] in all be [...]ignity. ‖

9 He won't dispense rebukes in wrath ‖ to [lasting] perpetuity; ‖ He will not have it in reserve ‖ unto [Endless] Eternity. ‖

10 His dealings have not been with us ‖ according to our [horrid] Sins; ‖ nor hath He recompenced us ‖ according to our [heinous] crimes. ‖

11 Because that as the Heavens are ‖ in heighth [rais'd up] above the Earth, ‖ so upon them that fear Him doth ‖ His [matchless] mercy ever come. ‖

12 Even as far as is the East ‖ [remov'd] in distance from the West, ‖ our trespasses He makes to be ‖ distant so [very] far from us. ‖

13 At the rate that a Father to ‖ Children is [very] pitiful, ‖ th' ETERNAL God, for them who do ‖ fear Him has [yearning] pity too. ‖

14 For He is well acquainted with ‖ the [feeble] frame wherein we're made, ‖ He very well remembers this, ‖ that we are very [sorry] dust. ‖

15 For soon-forgotten Man, his days ‖ are like unto the [fading] grass; ‖ As the flowre that is in the field, ‖ so 'tis He flourishes [a while.]

16 For the wind passes over it, ‖ and [...] sently [at once] 'tis gone; ‖ and in the place where once it stood, ‖ it will be [seen and] known no more. ‖

[Page 271] 17 But the m [...]st kind benignity ‖ of [Him who's] the ETERNAL God, ‖ is from unknown Eternity [lasting] ev'n to Eternity; ‖ Upon such as do exercise ‖ a [real] constant fear of Him; ‖ and unto Childrens Children is ‖ His [faithful] constant right'ousness. ‖

18 'Tis meant, to such as faithfully ‖ do keep His [Holy] Covenant, ‖ and to those who His Precepts mind, ‖ that they may do the things [requir'd.] ‖

19 His Throne has the ETERNAL God ‖ [fir'd and] prepared in the Heav'ns; ‖ His Kingdom also over all ‖ extends its [Righteous] Government. ‖

20 O ye His A [...]gels, vast in strength, ‖ Bless ye [and Draise] th' ETERNAL God; ‖ who do His word, that so the voice ‖ of His word may be [duly] heard. ‖

21 O Bless ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ All ye His Marsha [...]d [Numerous] Hosts; ‖ ye Min [...]sters who execute ‖ His Will [when 'tis] made known to you. ‖

22 Bless ye th' ETERNAL God, O all ‖ His works [that are] in places all ‖ of His Dominion; O my Soul, ‖ Bless thou [and praise] th' ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CIII. PSALM.

BEhold now, the Jewish Nation returned, and received into the Favour of GOD, and Exhorting, all Creatures to celebrate the Miracles of His Power and of His Goodness.

[Page 272] 2 In the Midrash Tillin, there is an out-of-the-way Observation, That the Psalmist calls on himself to Bless the Lord, no less than Five Times over: which answers not only to the Five Books of the Law: but also to the Five Ages thro' which Man is to pass. First, Fl [...] Condition in His Mothers Womb. Secondly, His Condition at his Mothers Breast. Thirdly, His Condition while passing thro' the Changes of this World. Fourthly, His Condition in the presence of GOD after Death, Fifthly, His Condition after the Resurrection in the World to come.

5 The Blessings of the Resurrection from the Dead, are here celebrated. That Clause, He redeems thy Life from destruction, evidently points unto it. Now 'tis one of the Promises, concerning the Blessings of the Resurrection, Isa. XL. 31. They shall mount up with wings as Eagles, which the Jews admirably apply to the Bodies raised from the Dead. In this Passage which has hitherto been read, Thy Youth is renewed like the Eagles; there are Two Clauses couched according to the short Hebrew way of expressing things; First; Thou shalt renew thy Youth; which Bochart proves to be the true Reading; A thing to be done in the best sense imaginable, at the Resurrection. And then, Thou shalt be like the Eagles. The marvellous Flight and Strength of the Resurrection-Bodies, is excellently set forth by that Comparison. The Vulgar Tradition of the Eagle renewing his Youth is not countenanced here.

14 By, our Frame here, the Jewish Rabbi's understand the Iatzar Harang, the Figmentum malum, the Evil Frame, which we call Original Sin; whereof we read, Gen. VIII. 21. The imagination of the Heart of Man is evil from his Youth. The same which they call, The Poison of the Old Serpent. And The Enemy, whereof we so often read in the Sacred Oracles. And, The Heart of Stone.

[Page 273] 17 Let not the Gloss be so received, as to prejudice the Regards due to the Rightiousness of GOD, illustriously displayed in showing Favour to us for the Righteousness of our SAVIOUR. But yet, it may be allowed and observed, That Righteousness is a Term sometimes used for Benignity. Thus, A Rain of Righteousness, is a Bountiful Rain. And our Drusius would have, The Sun of Righteousness to be a Sun that bountifully and liberally imparts Light and Heat unto the World.

PSALM CIV.

1 MY Soul, Bless thou th' ETERNAL God; ‖ ETERNAL God, my God, ‖ Thou'rt very great, Thou'rt cloathed with ‖ Honour and Majesty. ‖

2 As with a Garment on Him He ‖ covers Himself with Light; ‖ He doth extend the Heavens like ‖ a curtain round about. ‖

3 He on the Waters lays the beams ‖ of's chambers; He doth make ‖ the Clouds His chariot; He doth walk ‖ on the wings of the wind. ‖

4 He doth make Spirits for to be ‖ Angels sent forth by Him, ‖ and He a flaming fire does make ‖ to be His Ministers. ‖

5 Upon the Bases for it He ‖ has founded well the Earth; ‖ so that it shall not be remov'd; ‖ no, not from Age to Age. ‖

6 As with a Garment thou didst hide ‖ it with the vast abyss; ‖ At first above the mountains did ‖ the waters take their place. ‖

[Page 274] 7 But then they fled away at thy ‖ most forcible rebuke; ‖ at the voice of thy thus der they ‖ made haste to get away. ‖

8 The mountains, they make their ascent; ‖ the valleys, they descend: ‖ All still unto the proper place, ‖ Thou'st founded this for them.

9 Thou hast determined a Bound ‖ the which they shall not pass; ‖ that so they mayn't return again ‖ to overwhelm the Earth. ‖

10 Into the valleys He sends forth‖Waters that flow from springs; ‖ which do among the mountains take ‖ their never-ceasing walk ‖

11 They do bestow their drink on all ‖ the beasts that range the field; ‖ There the will asses, tho' so wild‖and stupid, quench their thirst‖

12 By these the fowls of Heaven have‖their habitation made; ‖ among the branches here they do ‖ give a melodious voice. ‖

13 He from His chambers doth distill ‖ waters upon the hills; ‖ from the fruit of thy works the Earth ‖ is fully satisfy'd. ‖

14 He for the Beasts makes grass to grow; ‖ and for the use of Man ‖ He granteth herb, that so He may ‖ fetch food out of the Earth.‖

15 Ev'n wine that chears the heart of Man, ‖ that so his face may shine ‖ with oil; and bread which does give strength ‖ unto the heart of Man. ‖

16 The trees of the ETERNAL God, ‖ these do abound with sap; ‖ the cedars of the Lebanon ‖ which He has planted there. ‖

[Page 275] 17 That so the little Birds may there ‖ build and enjoy their nests; ‖ The Stork particularly has ‖ the fir-trees for her house. ‖

18 The mountains of a stately heighth ‖ for the Wild-Goats are these;‖the rocks, these are a refuge where‖the Rock-rats lodge themselves.‖

19 He form'd the Moon that so it might‖ determine stated times; ‖ The Sun is well acquainted with ‖ the time of g [...]ing down. ‖

20 The darkness thou didst constitute, ‖ and then the Night arrives; ‖ all the wild-creatures of the wood ‖ do creep abroad in it. ‖

21 That so they may come at their prey ‖ then the young Lions roar; ‖ that so they may by seeking find ‖ their sustenance from God.‖

22 The Sun does rise; on this they do‖gather themselves together;‖ and then they to their dens repair ‖ there to lay down themselves.‖

23 Man being so secure from these, ‖ goes forth unto his work; ‖ and to his usual husbandry, ‖ until the Evening come. ‖

24 Thy works, O Thou ETERNAL God,‖ how are they multiply'd? ‖ In wisdom hast thou made them all; ‖ Th' Earth's with thy riches fill'd. ‖

25 This great and spreading Sea is s [...];‖the swimming things are there; ‖ And there's no number; living things ‖ both small and great are there. ‖

26 There 'tis the Ships do steer their course. [Page 276] There's that Levia than: ‖ him thou hast form'd that so he may ‖ enjoy his sport therein. ‖

25 All of these things on thee alone‖have, their dependence still, ‖ that so thou in due season may'st ‖ afford their food to them. ‖

28 'Tis what thou dost afford to them, that they do gather up; ‖ Thy hand thou open'st, so they are ‖ then satisfy'd with good. ‖

29 Thou hid'st thy face, they're troubled then;‖Their spirit thou withdraw'st; they die, and so they do return ‖ to their Original dust. ‖

30 Thou wilt send forth thy spirit; they ‖ created are anew; ‖ and thou to the face of the Earth, ‖ wilt a renewal give. ‖

31 The Glory of th' ETERNAL God, ‖ it shall endure forever; ‖ The joy of the ETERNAL God ‖ will be in all his works. ‖

32 He does look down upon the Earth; ‖ it falls a trembling then: ‖ He to the mountains gives a touch, ‖ and presently they smoke,‖

33 I'll sing to the ETERNAL God ‖ as long as I do live; ‖ while I have any being I will sing unto my God. ‖

34 My meditation upon Him, ‖ it shall be very sweet; ‖ In the ETERNAL God I will‖ with a bright joy be glad. ‖

35 From Earth let Sinners be consum'd ‖ and th' impious be no more; ‖ My Soul, Bless thou th' ETERNAL God. ‖ Sing HALLELU-JAH now. ‖

[Page 277]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CIV. PSALM.

THE Works of Creation and Providence are here celebrated; and the Destruction of the Wicked, who have corrupted the use of these Works, is denounced. This, as Dr. Alli [...] observes, chiefly relates to the Kingdom of the Messich; who is to execute the Curse express'd in the last. Verse of the Psalm.

Dr. Patrick thinks, That when David was treated by Nathan, as he was, about Euilding the Temple, he not long after fell into a Contemplation of the Divine Majesty, who having built this great World for His Temple, needed none of his Erecting. The Psalm here begins in Terms like those, 2 Sam. VII. 22.

2 A Curtain.] Some render the Word, A Skin, and have this Note upon it, The Heavens are an Open Bock; (such of Old were made of Skins:) to teach us the Knowledge of GOD.

4 GOD often sends His Angels, into the Winds, and into the Lightnings and Thunders to execute His Royal Pleasure.

15 The Fating of Oil, and the Ointing with it, we all know, produces this effect. But besides this, hear David Kianchi. Indicat noctis Lampades, qua illuminant facies bominum.

22 Behold a rare stroke in the Midrash Tillin; a rare stroke from the Infidel Jews: The Sun is the MESSIAH. Yea, they proceed further, to find Hell, the Dens of the Wild-Beasts.

24 Is every one of the Fixed Stars, whereof the Telescope has brought great Numbers into view, a Sun attended with a Chorus of Satellits? Come from our Sun and pass by the Planets in our System, and pass by the Mete [...]rs of our Atmospsiaere; In our Globe the Fossils are without Number. Of the Beasts including Serpe [...]ts, we know 150 sorts; Of Birds 500; O [...] Fishes 500; the Shell-Fish Six times as many; Of Insects little short of 20000, according to Rays Computation, [Page 278] Bauhinus finds of Plants, about 6000: But R [...]y concludes there are more than Triple the Number. But then what prodigious Numbers of Individuals in the several species! An amazing instance in the Acci, malcules discovered by Lewenhoeck, which discoveries are confirmed by others. No less than 45000 living Creatures in a quantity of Water no bigger than a grain of Millet. He affirins 8280000 of these living Creatures to be seen in a drop of Water, yea, Millions of Millions of Millions. Oh! Manifold Works! Oh! the Power, Oh! the Wisdom, Oh! the Majesty of our Glorious GOD!

31 This follows on the Lords Feeding every Creature; and on His other Works of Goodness and Bounty. An Intimation, that He doesall this Good unto His Creatures with Delight; He rejoyces in it. It as it weae does Him Good to see His Creatures happy.

35 The Jews have a Remark, That Hallelujahs are not used until, the Sinners be consumed out of the Earth, and the Wicked be no more. Compare the Repetition of Hallelujah in the Apocalypse. with this Observation. Hallelujah is a Note Calculated for the Time of the Great Revolution, when the Kingdom of the Messiah shall arrive. Under the Kingdom of Antichrist, there has been a mock-usage of Alleluia's: But it is ridiculous to read the foolish and monsirous Etymologies of that Word, assigned by the most celebrated Writers among the Romanists. Is not here, a Notable Key, for the opening of the Hallelujatic Psalms?

PSALM CV.

1 COnfess to the ETERNAL God, ‖ Call ye upon His Name; ‖ among the People O make known ‖ His admirable Works. ‖

[Page 279] 2 To Him with voices sing; to Him ‖ sing too with Instruments; ‖ talk ye of all the wondrous Works ‖ which have been done by Him. ‖

3 Value your selves upon the Name ‖ of His most Holy One; ‖ O let the heart of them rejoyce ‖ who seek th' ETERNAL God. ‖

4 O seek ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ seek ye His powerful strength; ‖ Seek to behold His glorious Face, ‖ Do this continually. ‖

5 The admirable things which He ‖ hath done, Remember ye; ‖ the Prodigies which He has wrought ‖ and Judgments of His mouth ‖

6 O you that are the Off-spring of ‖ His Servant Abraham; ‖ O you that are the Children of ‖ Jacob, His chosen Ones. ‖

7 'Tis He who is th' ETERNAL God ‖ that is become our God; ‖ His Judgments now are seen and known ‖ quite over all the Earth. ‖

8 He hath been very mindful of ‖ His Covenant forever; ‖ the Word He for the Age mark't by ‖ a Thousand, did appoint. ‖

9 Tis that which He to Abraham did ‖ make as His Covenant; ‖ tis what He unto Isaac did ‖ swear with a solemn Oath. ‖

10 And this is what He did confirm ‖ to Jacob for a Law; ‖ to Israel as a Covenant ‖ for perpetuity. ‖

11 This is what He declar'd; To thee ‖ the Land of Canaan I ‖ will give, that it may be the [...]ot ‖ of your Inheritance. ‖

[Page 280] 12 When as they in their Number were but a few mortal Men; ‖ Yea, but a very few indeed, ‖ and Sojourners in it. ‖

13 Then from one Nation they unto ‖ another Nation [...]lk'd; ‖ and from one Kingdom they unto ‖ another People went. ‖

14 He did not suffer any man ‖ to do them any wrong; ‖ and He did upon their Account give His reproofs to Kings. ‖

15 He said, Do not you dare to touch these mine anointed Ones; ‖ and unto the [...] my Prophets do ‖ not any iujury. ‖

16 Then after this, He called for ‖ a Famine on the Land; ‖ the whole supporti [...] Staff of Bread ‖ he broke and made to fail.

17 But he before their Faces then ‖ di [...] send a Man of Note; ‖ Joseph who was the [...] barter'd for ‖ a Servant, was the Man. ‖

18 His foot they did first humble with th' Affliction of a Chain; ‖ The Iron, that did Penetrate ‖ unto his very soul. ‖

19 Twas thus until the Time Came for ‖ the coming of His Word; ‖ the Word of the ETERNAL God ‖ then fully cleared him. ‖

20 On this the King did send and set ‖ him at his liberty; ‖ The Ruler of the People did ‖ to freedom him restore. ‖

21 He constituted him to be ‖ the Ruler of his house; ‖ yea, and the Governour of all ‖ that was possess'd by him. ‖

[Page 281] 22 That He might lay restraints upon ‖ his Princes as he pleas'd, ‖ and that He might make them be wise ‖ that were his Senators. ‖

23 Then Israel into Egypt did ‖ on this oc [...]sion come, ‖ and Jacob in the Land of Ham ‖ became a sojourner. ‖

24 His People He did very much ‖ then cause to fructify; ‖ and made them to improve in strength ‖ above their Enemies. ‖

25 That they should hate His People, He ‖ did turn about their heart; ‖ and that against His Servants they ‖ should plot deceitful things. ‖

26 He sent a Moses, who became ‖ His humble Minister; ‖ He sent an Aaron whom He had ‖ now made His chosen one. ‖

27 These did among them set the words ‖ of His prodigious signs; ‖ and wondrous prodigies which were ‖ done in the Land of Ham. ‖

28 He did send darkness upon them, ‖ and it grew very dark; ‖ 'Twas at this time that they did not ‖ rebel against His word. ‖

29 He turn'd their waters into Blood, ‖ and He destroy'd their Fish. ‖

30 Their Land bro't forth great store of Frogs, ‖ ev'n where their Kings did lodge. ‖

31 He did give forth the Word and then ‖ the grievous Dog-fly came; ‖ He did give forth the We [...]d and Lice ‖ did swarm in all their coasts ‖

32 For rains He gave them hail, and fire ‖ with flames shot through their Land. ‖

[Page 282] 33 He smote their Vines too and th [...] Figs; ‖ and broke their bounding Trees. ‖

34 He gave out His Command for it ‖ a [...] then the Locust came; ‖ the Caterpillar a [...] came, ‖ and it was numberless. ‖

35 They did entirely eat up all ‖ the [...] bage of the Land; ‖ and they did eat up [...] the fruit ‖ which grew upon their soil. ‖

36 He also did in all their Land ‖ smi [...] every First-born thing; ‖ He did smite the si [...] fruits which were ‖ produced in their strength

37 And He brought forth those Israeli [...] with Silver and with Gold; ‖ yea, there [...] not in all their Tribes ‖ One feeble Per [...] found. ‖

38 When they took their departure, th [...] Egypt was very glad; ‖ Because a griev [...] fear of these ‖ was fallen upon them. ‖

39 He did expand a cloud to be ‖ a cove [...] ing over them; ‖ and with it was a Fire fo [...] to ‖ illuminate the Night. ‖

40 On their Petition then He did ‖ brit [...] them great store of Quails; ‖ and with th [...] bread of Heaven He ‖ supply'd them to the full

41 He opened a Rock, and thence ‖ [...] waters gushed out; ‖ away they thro' dry places did, ‖ a River, take their course. ‖

42 For He did mind His holy word; ‖ H [...] Servant Abraham. ‖

43 And brought his People forth with joy [...] with songs his chosen ones. ‖

[Page 283] 44 Then 'twas He of the Nations did ‖ bestow the Lands on them: ‖ The labour of the People then ‖ they their possession made. ‖

45 All this that so they might observe ‖ His Institutions there, ‖ and that they might obey His Laws. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CV. PSALM.

A Meditation prepared by the Prophetic Spirit, for the Jewish Nation; to raise their Expectation of such things to be done for them, as were done for their Deliverance out of Egypt. Compare, Mic. VII. 15.

4 The Strength of GOD, and the Face of GOD, are Names of the Messiab.

6 Some Jewish Commentaries invite us to Read, not, Ye Seed of Abraham, &c. But, The Seed.— [i. e. The Messiah,] of whom it follows, He is the Lord our GOD. So Malac. II. 15. Hebr. The Seed, who is GOD. The Old Rabbi's understood the Messiah there.

8 Arnobius finds the Thousand Generations, in so many distinct Nations and Languages anon found among the Sons of Noah. But, the Grand Article in the Covenant of GOD, is, The Lord JEHOV AH will be a God unto His People. [Jer. XXXII. 38.] Herein 'tis implied, That the Lord JEHOVAH will in His Messiah give Himself to be sensibly enjoyed by His People. [Lev. XXVI. 12.] Hence the Covenant will not be fulfill'd, in the full sense of it, until the Messiah come to Sit on the Throne of His Glory among His People. [Psal. LXXXIX. 34.] Nor indeed, until the Resurrection from the Dead. [Math. XXII. 31, 32.] Consider also, Heb. XI. 16. with Rev XXI. 13. Lastly, There is a Generation or Period of Time, wherein this Covenant of GOD will be remembred, and performed. And here, we have a special Character or that Period. The World where we sojourn will not endure a Thousand Generations. [Page 284]But if you take a Generation in the Signification of the Law, for Seven Years, then a Thousand Gen [...]tions are Seven Thousand Years. Indeed, Such a [...] ration for our World, may be Typi [...]ed in the S [...] Days of the Creation. But here the Word is not [...] the Plural Number. It notes one special Generat [...] or, if you will, Revolution. For the Character of [...] Thousand here put upon it, one renders it, The P [...] Age, (which Bildad sends Job unto,) namely, that the Patriarchs, to whom the Lord gave the Covenant. Yea, Kimchi renders it, Ad Ducem in Generation and expounds it of Abraham. However let us k [...] our Translation of, a Thousand. It may very well [...] rendred, The Millennial Age: Or, The Period th [...] shall have the Sabba [...]ical Character of a Thousand Years upon it. The Words of Moses, Psalm XC. [...] Thou turnest Man to destruction, and sayst, Re [...] —are a Prophecy of the Resurrection. It follows Thousand Years in thy Sight—Ponder it.

14 What Kings? See Gen. XII. 16. & Gen. XX.

19 What was, Tried, in our former Version, ma [...] be read, Purged, or Cleared. GOD would never h [...] inspired with His Word, a Man really guilty, of [...] Crimes, as Joseph was accused of.

22 R. Solomon Expounds it of the Love, where [...]w [...] he bound the Hearts of the Princes to him; and k [...] them, like the Soul of Jonathan to David.

28 The Plague o [...] Darkness is mentioned First (th [...] it were the Ninth) because it was the worst. It [...] upon every Individual; And was accompanied with Apparitions of Devils and Spectres. Dr. Lightfoot supposes, That the Israelites took this time, to perform that part of their Obedience to the Word of Go [...] which they had hitherto rebell'd against, [Josh. [...]. 9. Their Circauncision; without which they could not ha [...] kept the Passover. A Remarkable Thing; That Go [...] should by this Darkness on the Enemy, protect h [...] Obedient People!

[Page 285]

PSALM CVI.

1 SIng Hallelujah! O Confess ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Because that He is good; because ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

2 Who shall declare the mighty Acts ‖ of the ETERNAL God? ‖ Who shall cause to be heard all that ‖ He's to be praised for. ‖

3 Blessed are they who do observe ‖ the thing that's right-and-good; ‖ Blessed is [...]e who executes ‖ at all times righteousness. ‖

4 ETERNAL God, Remember me ‖ with such a favour as ‖ thou show'st thy People; and with thy ‖ Salvation visit me. ‖

5 That the good of thy chosen I ‖ may see; To shine with the ‖ joy of thy Nation; To triumph ‖ with thine Inheritance. ‖

6 We, as our Ancestors have done ‖ before us, have transgress'd; ‖ We have done much iniquity; ‖ we have dealt wickedly. ‖

7 Our Ancestors in Egypt did ‖ not wise attention give ‖ to understand the wondrous things ‖ which were done by thee there. ‖ They minded not the multitude ‖ of thy benignities; ‖ but they rebelled near the Sea, ‖ ev'n at the Reedy-Sea. ‖

8 Nevertheless for the sake of ‖ His Name He saved them; ‖ That so He might make to be known ‖ His mighty Power abroad. ‖

9 So He rebuk'd the Reedy-Sea, ‖ and it was dried up; ‖ and then He lead them thro' the deeps ‖ as thro' a wilderness. ‖

[Page 286] 10 Thus He did save them from the hand ‖ of them that hated them; ‖ And He redeem'd them from the hand ‖ of a fierce enemy. ‖

11 Their troublous adversaries then the waters overwhelm'd; ‖ There was not any left of them; ‖ no, not so much as one. ‖

12 Then they believed on His words; ‖ they did sing forth His praise. ‖

13 They made haste; they forgot His works; ‖ they stay'd not for His help. ‖

14 They lusted with strong appetite ‖ when in the wilderness; ‖ and they did tempt the mighty God ‖ when in the Solitude. ‖

15 And the thing which they did request ‖ He granted unto them; ‖ Nevertheless [...] leanness He ‖ did send into their Soul. ‖

16 Yea, and against Moses himself, ‖ they envy'd in the Camp; ‖ Against Aaron, the holy One ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

17 The Earth did then open itself, ‖ and swallow Dathan up; ‖ It overwhelm'd the Company ‖ which with Abiram were.

18 And there enkindled was among ‖ their Company a Fire; ‖ The flame thereof did utterly ‖ consume the wicked ones. ‖

19 Near unto Horeb they did make ‖ an idolized Calf; ‖ and to a molten Image they ‖ did then bow down themselves.

20 Thus that which was their glory they ‖ did shamefully transform ‖ into the likeness of a Beef ‖ that feeds upon the grass. ‖

[Page 287] 21 They did forget the mighty God ‖ who had their Saviour been; ‖ who had in Egypt done the things ‖ that were exceeding great. ‖

22 Works that were very wouderful ‖ within the Land of Ham; ‖ Things that were very terrible ‖ near to the Reedy-Sea. ‖

23 He then said, He'd destroy them; but ‖ His chosen Moses stood ‖ [...] th' breach before Him to divert ‖ His wrath from slaying them. ‖

24 Yea, they did cast contempt upon ‖ a Land to be desir'd; ‖ and they did not rely upon ‖ what He had promised. ‖

25 But in their Tabernacles they ‖ kept ever murmuring; ‖ They hearken'd not unto the Voice of the ETERNAL God. ‖

26 He therefore lifting up His hand‖against them took His Oath, ‖ that He would make them fall, while they‖were in the wilderness. ‖

27 That He among the Nations would ‖ their Offspring make to fall; ‖ and that He would now scatter them‖abroad into the lands‖

28 They to Baal-peor also did ‖ in his yoke join themselves; ‖ The sacrifices of the Dead ‖ they then did feed upon. ‖

29 Thus they with their inventions did ‖ great provocation give; ‖ and so the Plague broke in upon ‖ them irresistibly. ‖

30 Then Phinehas did stand up with Pray'r ‖ and did proceed to do, ‖ the execution of a Judge; ‖ and so the Plague was stay'd. ‖

[Page 288] 31 And this to him was reckon'd as ‖ an act of righteousness, ‖ from one Age to another Age, ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

32 And at the Waters of their strife ‖ they rais'd a boiling wrath; ‖ so that with Moses there it went ‖ but ill on their account. ‖

33 Because that they his spirit threw‖into great bitterness, ‖ and then he brought forth with his lips‖ what should not have been there. ‖

34 Those cursed Peoples they did not ‖ wholly exterminate, ‖ concerning whom th' ETERNAL God ‖ had so commanded them. ‖

35 But they did mix themselves among ‖ the heathen Nations there, ‖ and they did learn to do their works; ‖ ev'n their Idolatries ‖

36 And they did serve their Idols which ‖ became a snare to them. ‖

37 Yea, they to Devils sacrific'd ‖ their Daughters with their Sons. ‖

38 So they pour'd out the Blood of such ‖ as were poor Innocents; ‖ It was the Blood of their own Sons ‖ and of their Daughters too. ‖ These unto Canaan's Idols they ‖ did make their sacrifice; ‖ and with such bloody doings was ‖ the very Land defil'd. ‖

39 Thus with their detestable works ‖ they did pollute themselves; ‖ and so they did a [...] whoring with ‖ their own Inventions go. ‖

40 Now the wrath of the ETERNAL God ‖ against His People rose; ‖ and He did now abominate ‖ His own Inheritance. ‖

[Page 289] 41 And He deliver'd them into ‖ the hand of Gentiles then; ‖ and they that hated them did bear ‖ dominion over them. ‖

42 And they that were their Enemies ‖ sorely oppressed them, ‖ yea, and they were under their hand ‖ into subjection brought. ‖

43 He many times delivered them; ‖ But with their counsel they ‖ provoked still, and were brought low ‖ for their iniquity. ‖

44 Nevertheless He did behold, ‖ when upon them there was ‖ Affliction, when therein He heard ‖ them making of their cry. ‖

45 And He for them His Covenant ‖ did to remembrance call; ‖ after His mercies multitude ‖ it then repented Him. ‖

46 He also to compassions did ‖ kindly deliver them ‖ before the face of all of those ‖ that captivated them. ‖

47 O Thou ETERNAL God, our God, ‖ To us O do thou grant ‖ Salvation, and, Oh! from among ‖ the Nations gather us: ‖ That so we may confess to the ‖ Name of thy Holy One, ‖ and that we may triumphantly ‖ sing forth thy Glorious Praise. ‖

48 Bless'd be th' ETERNAL God, the God ‖ of Israel evermore; ‖ And let all People say, Amen. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now! ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CVI. PSALM.

THE Prophotic Spirit prepares an humble Confession to be made by the Jews, concerning the Sins of [Page 290]their Fathers, and an humble Petition for Deliverance from their Dispersion.

Some imagine the Psalm to be compos'd in the Ti [...] of the Babylonlan Captivity; because of Gather [...] from among the Heathen. Dr. Patrick rather suppost this Petition to refer unto those, who in the Days [...] Saul, or before, were taken Prisoners by the Philisti [...] and other Nations.

15 Munster says, 'Tis a Phrase for Death.

17 Why no mention made of Korah? The Psalm was to be Sung by the Sons of Korah. And R. Solo [...] mon observes, Honor at Filios Cora, et not memi [...] Patris eorum.

30 To Stand in Prayer, was a Posture so usual amo [...] the Jews, that it became a Phrase for Prayer. The Jews here consider Phinehas as Praying before his Action.

THE FIFTH BOOK OF PSALMS.

PSALM CVII.

1 O Make you a Confession now ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ because that He is Good; because ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

2 So let them say, who've been redeem'd ‖ by the ETERNAL God; ‖ those whom He hath redeem'd from the ‖ hand of the enemy. ‖

3 And those whom He hath gather'd from ‖ the Lands, ev'n from the East, ‖ and from the West, and from the North, ‖ as likewise from the Sea. ‖

4 They wandred in the Wilderness ‖ in solitary ways; ‖ they did not find a City which ‖ might be inhabited, ‖

[Page 291] 5 They were with hunger famished ‖ and they were parch'd with thirst; ‖ their Soul within them overwhel'md, ‖ was ready for to faint. ‖

6 Then in their trouble they do cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ He then did them deliver from ‖ their grievous anguishes. ‖

7 And He in a right way did give ‖ a conduct unto them; ‖ that they might to a City go ‖ for habitation there. ‖

8 Let Men to the ETERNAL God ‖ confess His mercy now; ‖ and the most wondrous things which He ‖ does for the Sons of Men. ‖

9 For He doth satisfy the Soul ‖ wandring with appetites; ‖ and He doth fill the famished Soul ‖ with what is very good. ‖

10 There are those who imprison'd sit ‖ in darkness and the shades ‖ of Death; in great Affliction bound ‖ and Iron chaining them. ‖

11 It is because they have rebell'd ‖ against the words of God; ‖ and they've despis'd the Counsel of ‖ Him who is the most High. ‖

12 Therefore He with hard labour did ‖ bring down the heart of them; ‖ they fell down under it and there ‖ was none to succour them. ‖

13 Then in their trouble they did cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ He then did them deliver from ‖ their grievous anguishes. ‖

14 He brought them out of darkness, and ‖ [Page 292]our of the shades of death; and He did br [...] asunder all a the Chains that fetter'd the [...].

15 LetMen to the ETERNAL God ‖ con [...] His mercy now; ‖ and the most wondro [...] things which He ‖ does for the Sons of M [...].

16 Because that He hath broke the Ga [...] the which were made of brafs ‖ and the str [...] Iron Bars, He hath ‖ cut these to peices qui [...].

17 Fools for the way the which they d [...] i [...] their transgression take, ‖ and for th [...] wrong iniquities ‖ do with affliction meet.

18 All manner of repast their Soul ‖ d [...] then abominate; and they make their [...] pr [...]c [...]es to ‖ the very Gates or Death. ‖

19 Then in their trouble they did cry ‖ the ETERNAL God; ‖ He then did them d [...] liver from ‖ their grievous anguishes. ‖

20 He will send forth his word, and will give healing unto them; ‖ and He w [...]ll the [...] deliver them ‖ out of their Sepulchres. ‖

21 Let Men to the ETERNAL God ‖ co [...] sess His mercy now; ‖ and the most w [...] drous things which He ‖ does for the So [...] of Men. ‖

22 And let them sacrifice of praise ‖ [...] sacrifices now; ‖ let them also declare H [...] Works ‖ with a triumphant song. ‖

23 They who imbark'd in Vesse [...]s do ‖ down unto the Sea; ‖ they that on many [...] [...]rs have ‖ a business to pursue. ‖

[Page 293] 24 These have a view of the Works done ‖ by the ETERNAL God; ‖ and of the wondrous things that are ‖ occurring in the deep. ‖

25 And when He gives the word, He makes ‖ the stormy Wind to rise; ‖ therewith He makes the rolling waves ‖ swell to a mighty heighth. ‖

26 They mount up to the Heavens; they ‖ go down unto the Deeps; ‖ their Soul does in this evil time ‖ a Dissolution feel. ‖

27 They're toss'd, and they do stagger like ‖ unto a drunken man; ‖ and now all of their Wisdom is ‖ entirely swallow'd up. ‖

28 Then in their trouble they do cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ He then does bring them forth out of ‖ their grievous anguishes. ‖

29 Into a Silence He does make ‖ the roaring Tempest stop; ‖ and the unquiet waves to lay ‖ aside their boist'rous noise. ‖

30 Then are they very glad, because ‖ they are so quieted; ‖ and He does bring them well unto ‖ the Port of their desire. ‖

31 Let Men to the ETERNAL God ‖ confess His Mercy now; ‖ and the most wondrous things which He ‖ does for the sons of Men. ‖

32 Yea, and Let them exalt Him where ‖ the People use to meet, ‖ and let them greatly praise Him where ‖ the Elders use to sit. ‖

33 Rivers He doth reduce into ‖ a parched Wilderness; ‖ and places wherein Waters flow'd ‖ into a thirsty Land. ‖

[Page 294] 34 A fruitful Land He does reduce ‖ to salt sterility; ‖ by reason of the wickedness ‖ [...] them who dwell therein. ‖

35 The wilderness He does reduce ‖ into a Pond of Waters, ‖ and the forsaken Land into ‖ places where waters flow. ‖

36 And there He makes the starving One [...] to find a dwelling place; ‖ Yea, they a City do prepare ‖ for habitation there. ‖

37 And so they cultivate the Fields; ‖ they do plant Vineyards too: ‖ and there they do obtain the fruit ‖ of usual increase. ‖

38 He does also bestow on them ‖ His blessing and they are ‖ much multiply'd; their cattle too, ‖ He don't diminish them. ‖

39 Again they are diminished, ‖ and they're brought very low; ‖ thro' Tyranny, Affliction and ‖ a mind oppress'd with grief. ‖

40 He upon Princes does pour out ‖ Contemptuous disgrace; ‖ and He doth make them wander in ‖ a Desart where's no Road. ‖

41 But yet He does raise up the Poor ‖ from out of Penury; ‖ and He produceth Families ‖ that shall be like a Flock. ‖

42 The upright ones shall take a view, ‖ and shall be very glad; ‖ but all Iniquity shall now ‖ forever stop its Mouth. ‖

43 Who is there now that will be wise, ‖ and will observe these things? ‖ These shall the mercies understand ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

[Page 295]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CVII. PSALM.

TIS an Hymn for the Jewish Nation, gathered from its Dispersion, and confessing the Miracles which the Messiah performs for their Deliverance.

We have it several times over, Then in their trouble they do cry unto the ETERNAL God; But we do not find it said so much as once, upon their Deliverances, then they praised the Lord for His Goodness. No, that matter always comes in with a Let Men confess. Alas, Tis to be Desired that they would; hardly to be supposed, that they will.

16 Old Ayn [...]bius has an Holy and a solemn Tho' [...]; Gates of Bress and Bars of Iron are Habits of Sin.

20 The Jewish Writers quoted by Galatinus, have many astonishing Passages on this Verse. They find the Messiah to be, The Word, here sent by God. They find, Healing Miracles wrought by Him. They find that a singular share of his Favours would be granted unto Persons, whose Business lies upon the Waters, and even unto dull Fishermen.

23 Arnobius would fain have those that go to Sea in Ships, to mean, those who lead an holy Conversation in the World, and by their Instruction and Example bring many People to Piety. Oh! That they who go to Sea in Ships, would more answer this Character!

34 Terry in his Travails observes, (as others have also done) Can [...]an was a Fruitful Land, and like the Garden of God, and able to feed a Prodigious Multitude of People. Whereas the Blessing of God is now so withdrawn from it, that it will not nourish and sustain an Hundredth Part of such a Number, as once lived upon it.

43 Whosoever will be truly wise, ought to ponder such Passages of the Divine Providence, that they may make others who are less considerate, understand, how gracious the Lord is to them, who study to please Him, and obtain His Favour. This is the Patrician Paraphrase.

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PSALM CVIII. A Song. A Psalm of David.

1 O God, With preparation now ‖ my heart is well confirmd; ‖ I [...]ll sing with voice, and sing with strings; ‖ yea, so my Glory shall. ‖

2 O well-tun'd Psaltery, Do thou ‖ awake unto the work; ‖ Awake, O Harp; I' th' early morn ‖ I will my self awake. ‖

3 Among the Peoples I will praise ‖ Thee O ETERNAL God; ‖ and I will unto thee aloud ‖ among the Nations sing. ‖

4 For from above the Heavens is ‖ thy mercy magnify'd; ‖ and to the terder Clouds there doth ‖ extend thy faithfulness. ‖

5 Above the Heav'ns, O God the Judge, ‖ be thou lift up on high, ‖ and over all the Earth let be ‖ thy Glory spread abroad. ‖

6 That thy beloved ones may have ‖ a full deliverance, ‖ Do thou now save by thy right hand, ‖ and do thou answer me. ‖

7 God hath spoke in His holiness, ‖ I will triumph with joy; ‖ Shechem I will divide, I will ‖ measure out Succoths Vale. ‖

8 Gilead is what I claim for mine; ‖ M [...] nasseh too is mine; ‖ Ephraim is of my strength the head; ‖ Judah's my Lawgiver. ‖

9 Moab's a Pot wherein I'll wash; ‖ On Edom I will cast ‖ my Shoe, and I will triumph now ‖ over Philistia. ‖

10 Who will conduct me unto the ‖ [Page 297]well-fortified Town? ‖ Into the heart of Edom, who ‖ is it will lead me on? ‖

11 Is it not Thou, O God, who didst ‖ cast us off heretofore? ‖ Even Thou, O God, who didst not go out with our Armed Hosts. ‖

12 O give us succour from Distress; ‖ for vain's the help of Man. ‖

13 Thro' God we shall do valiantly; ‖ And He'll tread down our foes. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CVIII. PSALM.

THe Prophetic Spirit here teaches the Jewish Nation to figh after the [...]lorious Reign of the Messiah; when they shall repossess their Country and see the Destruction of their Enemies; especially of Edom, on the Roman Empire.

3 Some note an Emphasis in the Ori [...]nal, I will wake the Morning. The Morning has not found me Sleeping, but I have rather wakened That.

9 Aben-Ezra's Gloss is, I will Water my Earth, I will do my People no Hurt, but Good, by the Hands of Moah.

But rather, like R. Solomon, Compare 2. King. III. ii.

PSALM CIX. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 THou who art of my praise the God, ‖ O hold not thou thy Peace. ‖

For the mouth of the wicked One, ‖ ev'n the mouth of Deceit; ‖ these have wide open set themselves ‖ unto my prejudice; ‖ they have in talking with me us'd ‖ a Tongue of falsity. ‖

[Page 298] 3 They have encompass'd me about, [...] words of hatted full; ‖ they have an [...]sition made ‖ to me without a cause. ‖

4 They are my Adversaries for ‖ the [...] I've born to them ‖ but while they [...] do still ‖ apply my self to Pray'r.‖

5 And they have recompenced me ‖ [...]lieu of good;‖and hatred they have recomp [...] to me fot all my Love.‖

6 To be a Ruler over him ‖ appoint a [...]ked one; ‖ and let as an accuser at ‖ [...] right hand Satan stand. ‖

7 When that he shall be judg'd, le [...] go forth a wicked one; ‖ and let his [...] Prayer become ‖ but as a New Offence. ‖

8 Let his days be but few; so let ‖ [...] ther take his charge. ‖

9 His Children, let be Orphans, and [...] Wife a Widow made. ‖

10 Yea, let his Children always ro [...] Vagabonds about; ‖ and from their deso [...]ons let ‖ them seek about for food. ‖

11 Let the extortioner with Snares ‖ upon all he has; ‖ let strangers also [...] upon ‖ what he has Labour'd for. ‖

12 Let there be none that shall exc [...] compassion unto him; ‖ and to befriend [...] Orphans let ‖ there not be any one. ‖

13 Let his end* and Posterity ‖ be [...] cutting off; ‖ in the next generation let [...] name be blotted out. ‖

[Page 299] 14 Let the Sin of his Father be ‖ with the ETERNAL God ‖ remembred; and his Mothers Sin ‖ never be blotted out. ‖

15 Let them continually be ‖ before th' ETERNAL God; ‖ that He may cut off from the Earth ‖ the memory of them. ‖

16 Because he did not mind to shew ‖ mercy; but did pursue ‖ the poor and needy man, and the ‖ heart-broken one to slay. ‖

17 In that he cursing did affect, ‖ so let it come to him; ‖ as he for blessing had no mind, ‖ so be it far from him. ‖

18 Yea, let him be with cursing cloath'd ‖ like his next garment; yea ‖ let it like water reach his bowels, ‖ and like to oil his bones. ‖

19 To him let it be like unto ‖ the Garment covering him; ‖ and be the Girdle wherewith he ‖ is girt continually. ‖

20 This of my foes is the reward ‖ from the ETERNAL God; ‖ and of them who speak evil to ‖ the damage of my Soul. ‖

21 But Thou ETERNAL God, the Lord, ‖ Do for me for the sake ‖ of thy Name; since thy mercy's good, ‖ do Thou deliver me. ‖

22 Because I'm a meek humbled one, ‖ and I am indigent; ‖ my heart also within me doth ‖ suffer most grievous Wounds. ‖

23 Like to a shadow, when it does ‖ decline, I'm driv'n away; ‖ I am toss'd to and fro as if ‖ I were a Grasshopper. ‖

[Page 300] 24 My knees are grown very infirm; ‖ [...] fasting is the cause; ‖ and my flesh does consume away, ‖ of fatness destitute. ‖

25 I also am become to them ‖ an obje [...] of contempt; ‖ they took a view of me; [...] which ‖ they did but shake their head. ‖

26 O Thou ETERNAL God, my God, [...] Send succour unto me: ‖ according to [...] mercy, Oh! ‖ do Thou deliver me. ‖

27 And make them sensible that this ‖ [...] what Thy hand has done; ‖ and that it is wh [...] Thou hast wrought, ‖ O Thou Eternal GOD

28 They still will curse; but Thou [...] bless; ‖ when that they shall arise, ‖ O [...] them be asham'd; But let ‖ they Serv [...] then rejoyce. ‖

29 O let my Enemies be cloath'd ‖ w [...] shame, and let them hide ‖ themselves a [...] a Mantle, with ‖ their own confusion cl [...]. ‖

30 O Thou ETERNAL God, I will ‖ [...] fess thee with my mouth; ‖ yea, I will pra [...] Him in the midst ‖ of a great Multitude. ‖

31 Because, He stands at the Right ha [...] of the distressed One, ‖ to rescue him fr [...] those that would condemn his Soul to dea [...]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CIX. PSALM

BEhold the Messiah here Cursing of the Synagog [...] whose Bloody designs Judas executed; the sear [...] effects whereof the Jews are now feeling in their disper [...]

Tho the Ev [...]ngelical Spirit allows us not the [...]

[Page 301] these Dirae against our Persecutors, yet the Primitive Churches fetched thence their Expressions, at the Deposition o unworthy Bishops; and with an Eye to Judas it was call'd Psalmus Iscarioticus.

1 Arnobius reads it so: Deus, Laud [...]m meam no tacueris. He desires that GOD would not jet His Praise be unmentioned; Because His Adversaries loaded Him with their Vituperations. Dr. Patrick thus comprehensively Paraphrases it. ‘As thou hast given me hitherto continual cause to praise Thee, so I hope, Thou wilt still vindicate my Honour.’

11 The Ancients here understood the Romans, with their Demands of Tributes.

18 That Illustrious Dutchman Dr Neuwentyt, (whose Contemplations are translated by the valuable Dr Chamberlayn,) does on the occasion of this Text admire the precise knowledge of Nature which the Holy Spirit, who indicted our Scripture, has discovered in a vast variety of Instances. Here he says, ‘Any one who reads this Text, and has ever seen the Caries Ossium, or Corruption of the Bones produced by Liquid or Olouginous matters, must needs confess, that the Wrath and Curse of GOD, cannot be described by more lively Comparisons.’

31 There was an Officer in the Hebrew Courts, whom they called, Baal-Rib, or, The Pleader. He stood on the Right Hand of the Party cited unto the Court, whether he pleaded for him or against him.

What is here said is, q. d. The Lord shall plead his cause: Compare Zech. III. 1. We have some Allusion to this Baal-R [...]b or Pleader, when it is said, 1. John II. 1 We have an Advocate with the Father.

PSALM CX. A Psalm of David.

1 SO spoke th' ETERNAL to my Lord, ‖ Sit Thou [enthxon'd] at my Right-hand, ‖ [Page 302]until I make thy Enemies ‖ a [conquerd] footstool for thy feet. ‖

2 Th' ETERNAL out of Zion shall ‖ send the Rod of thy [mighty] strength; ‖ In the midst o [...] thy Enernies ‖ maintain [Thou thy] Dominion. ‖

3 In the Day of Thy Marshalling ‖ Thy Forces for [to do] Thy Work, ‖ Thy People, they shall then appear ‖ with [none but] free-will offerings: ‖ They shall appear in Beauties of ‖ [the most] adorning Holiness; ‖ more than the mornings Womb Thou hast ‖ the fresh Dew of thy [early] Youth. ‖

4 Th' ETERNAL God hath sworn, and He ‖ will not repent [at all] of it; ‖ Thou ever art a Priest of the ‖ set [a [...]d sort] of Melchisedek ‖

O Glorious God, The Lord who is ‖ seated [above] at thy right hand; ‖ He in the day of His great wrath ‖ will give wounds unto [mighty] Kings. ‖

6 Among the Nations He will judge; ‖ Dead bodies He will [raise and] fill. ‖ He will with bruises wound the Head ‖ that's over [great and] many lands. ‖

7 He shall drink of the Torrent, which ‖ c [...]urs [unto] Him in the way; ‖ He for that reason shall list up ‖. thereon His[con [...]u'ring] head on high. ‖

[Page 303]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CX. PSALM.

THe J [...]lm is an Illustrious Prophecy, about the Ascent O [...] the Messiah into the Heavens, the extant of His Empire, the Glory of His Priest-hood, His recalling of the Jews, and His destroying of Antichrist, when He comes to Judge the Earth

A Ce [...]man made an attempt for an Historical Sense of the Psa [...]m. Whereupon a Synod of the French Churches, at Breda, in the Year 1713. severely condemned the Exposit [...]on as very Impious, and pass'd a sev [...]e Sentence on, Un [...]h [...]rdiese si [...]eriminelle. And a Synod of the Dut [...]h Churches con [...]urr'd unto the censure. The Learned Mons. Martin also, wrote a whole Book to confute, that evil Essay.

The Jewish concessions for our Christian Application of the Ps [...]lm, are Numerous and Marvellous. The Midrash Tillin particularly, quotes the, Sit thou at my Right hand, as belonging to the Messiah. And R. Obadiah says, The Psamist composed this Psalm of the Messiah. And from the first Verse, he places the Messiah, above the Angels of God.

1 Sitting, when spoken of a King intends Reigning. Here is an Association in Government. The Sceptre comes between them. Vitring [...] writes finely on it.

3 An Obscure Pass [...]e. The Jews read it, Thy Nativity from the Womb, is as the Dew of the Morning. The J [...]rusalem Talmud saies, the Explication of it is is to be fetch'd from, Mic. V. 7 R. Solomon Jarchi's Gloss is, Quasi Rosa Domino, qui minquam per Hominem dimi [...]itur.

Or, If the Nativity of the Messiah do not appear so plainly intimated here, why may not his Resurrection which indeed was also His Nativity? The Dew of our Lord is that quickening Power of his, by which he raises the Dead. [I sai. XXVI. 19.] When it is said. The D [...]w of thy Youth is thine, it may be, q. d. It i. thine own lover that Raises thee from th [...] dead. This [Page 304]was from the Womb of the Morning. The Resurrection of our Lord, was in the Morning on all Account [...]

But we'll refer to the Common Annotations. [...] take pious Mr Henry's, 'Abundance of Young O [...] 'verts, like drops of Dew in a Summer's Morning Or thus, ‘From their very Childhood, thou hast [...] Dew of thy Peoples Youth: their Hearts and Ass [...] ons when they are Young.’

The Dew of thy Youth is a Numerous, Illustrious hopeful shew of Young People flocking to Christ, which are to the World as Dew to the Ground, to me [...] fruitful.

Again, on, the Day of Power, and, the Will [...] People: A particular day, in the time of the Mess [...] is called the Day of Power. And this Day of Pe [...] must, it seems be celebrated as a S [...]bbath. Upon in [...] People shall be Populus devotion [...], a People wi [...] devoted unto the Lord. The Place of the Devo [...] is to be, In the f [...]ties of Holiness; which is [...] Name of the [...]enctuery. This Day of Devotion, [...] be the Resurrection Day; and consequently the [...] day of the Week. Why it should be called the day [...] Power, See, Rom. I. 4.—Thou hast the Dow [...] thy Youth, is by the LXX rendred, I have begotten thee. Take Dr Patrick's Paraphrase, ‘In the Day when thy Forces [2 Tim. II. 3] compleatly Armed with a Divine Power [Acts. IV. 33.] [...] march forth to subdue the World unto thy Obedien [...] they that are sit for thy Kingdom, [Luk. 9.62.] shall chearfully Submit themselves, and present th [...] with Freewill Offerings, in token of their absolute subjection to thee: [Act. II. 45. IV. 34.] And great shall be the Number of chosen Men, who gl [...] to see the Night of Ignorance gone, shall at th [...] first appearance, by the Celestial Blessing fall unto the [...] as thick as the Morning Dew.’

Beauties of Holiness.] Tis very sure the Beu [...] [Page 305]of the Holy JESUS, invite and allure His People to become a Willing People; willing to be His People. But may not the Beauties of Holiness here, be the Beautiful Garments which adorn the Willing People? It may be an Allusion to Exod. XXVIII. 2 Holy Garments for Aaron for Glory, and for Beauty. When a People become an Holy People, they are advanced unto the Dignity of an Holy Priesthood. Consider. 1. Pet. II. 9. Rev. V. 8.

It had just been said, a People of Free-will Offerings. How agreeably are the Priestly Garments of Holiness assign'd unto them?

6 In the Original tis, He shall fill the [De Bodies: Is it not a Prophecy of, The Resurrection of the Dead, which arrives when our Lord comes to Judge among the Nations? The Resurrection is accomplish'd by His filling the Bodies of His People. This is good Philosophy. We have the Resurrection so described; Eph. I. 23. II. 1. He fills all in all; and you, who are dead in trespasses and Sins.

Wounding the Head over many Countrys, evidently refers to the Protevangelium; The bruising the Head of the Sorpent. When Antichrist is destroyed, the Head over many Countrys is wounded. Yea, the Ancient Promise of Bruising the Head of the Serpent, will then have an Eminent Accomplishment.

Thus Gesner, In primis David respicit ad Promissione [...] primis Parentibus, in Paradiso factam.

7 See John. XVIII. 1. with Phil. II. 9.

PSALM CXI.

1 PRaise ye the Lord! With all my heart‖ I'll Praise th' ETERNAL God,‖ where the upright meet privately, ‖ and where more publickly. ‖

[Page 306] 2 The works of the ETERNAL God ‖ are gloriously great; ‖ they are sought out by all of them ‖ who take delight therein. ‖

3 A Glory and a Majesty ‖ appear upon His work; ‖ and unto perpetuity ‖ His Righteousness endures. ‖

4 He has made a memorial ‖ of His most wondrous works; ‖ most gracious is th' ETERNAL God, ‖ and most compassionate. ‖

5 He unto them that fear Him has ‖ granted a prey of food; ‖ He ever will be mindful of ‖ the Covenant He has made. ‖

6 Unto His People He hath shewn ‖ the great pow'r of His works; ‖ in giving them the heritage ‖ of what the Nations had. ‖

7 Both verity and judgment too ‖ are the works of His hands; ‖ and faithful all the precepts are; ‖ with which He visits us. ‖

8 To perpetuity they do ‖ forever stand confirm'd; ‖ they're done in faithfulness, and in ‖ exactest rectitude. ‖

9 He for His People did send forth ‖ Redemption; He commands ‖ His Cov'nant forever; His Name ‖ Holy and Rev'rend is. ‖

10 The first thing, * and the principal, ‖ which doth belong unto ‖ a real Wisdom, is, The Fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖ Good Understanding is for all ‖ who do such things as these; ‖ and as for Him, His Praise endures ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

[Page 307]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXI. PSALM.

DAvid here gives a Compendium of the CV. and CVI. Psalms. The Psalm does consist of as many short Metres as ther are Letters in the Hebrew Alphabet. And with the Regard of an Acrostic in the Order of them. However that the Number of the Verses might not exceed that of the Ten Commandments, the Two last Verses have Three Metres apiece, and very short ones. Dr. Allix here sees the Gratitude of the Jews, beholding themselves re-established in their Country, by a vast Number of Miracles, and the Destruction of the Turks, who have possessed it.

4 GOD instituted Solemn Times, for the Commemoration of His wonderful Works.

5 This was done partly in the Spoil of the Egyptians, partly in the Manna of the Wilderness.

7 It may be read, His Visits are Faithful. Be sure, the Visits made from the Invisible World, unto the Patriarchs, with Predictions of the Messiah and our Salvation by Him, are not such as have deceived us.

10 Behold, A sweet Encouragement unto the Praise of GOD. If the Praise of GOD, (or the Work of Religion) be our main Business, or chief Delight; if we love to be at this Work; the Work will endure forever. We shall, [...]ver be taken off. Our Employment with Satisfaction in that Work, will be upon us a Token for Good, that we shall be employed in that Work in another World, and World without end. Yea, and in this World if our Hearts be in this Work, we shall never want Occasions. The Work will endure forever, by a continual renewal of Occasions for it.

PSALM CXII.

1 SIng Hallelujah! Bless'd the Man ‖ who fears the ETERNAL God; ‖ who greatly doth delight himself‖in His Commandements. ‖

[Page 308] 2 His Offspring shall upon the Earth‖gro [...] very powerful; ‖ The Race of upright ones shall be ‖ a truly blessed Race. ‖

3 There shall be wealth and riches in ‖ his habitation found; ‖ his righteousness do [...] also last ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

4 In darkness there doth light arise ‖ unto the upright ones; ‖ Gracious he is, and Men ciful, ‖ and Righteous too is he. ‖

5 A good Man is compassionate: ‖ and he does lend his help; ‖ with good discretion yet he doth ‖ still govern his affairs. ‖

6 Sure he shall not from his good state ‖ fo [...] ever be remov'd; ‖ In everlasting memory shall ‖ the righteous one be kept. ‖

7 Of hearing any evil thing ‖ he shall not be afraid; ‖ his heart's confirm'd, relying still ‖ on the ETERNAL God. ‖

8 His heart is well-established; ‖ he shall not be afraid; ‖ until he does behold what shall ‖ befall his enemies. ‖

9 He scatters: he gives to the Poor; ‖ his righteousness endures ‖ to perpetuity; his horn ‖ in glory will be rais'd. ‖

10 The wicked one shall see't, and rage; ‖ he with his teeth shall gnash, ‖ and melt away‖ so perish will ‖ the wicked Man's desire. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXII. PSALM.

THE Faithful here acknowledge, that Charity towards the Menders of their SAVIOUR, shall [Page 309]have a great Reward; and that those who have used Cruelty, shall be punish'd for it, and rejected from His Kingdom. The last Verse evidently refer to the Kingdom of the Messiah.

1 The Jewish Rabbi's and the Midrash Tillin, remark, that it is Obedience rather than the Recompence of Obedience, that is the delight of the God [...]y Man. They bring the Alacrity of Abraham in his Obedience for an Example. The Truth is, The Picture of a [...]ght [...]ms Man here seems drawn, with an eye very particularly on the Circumstances of our Father Abraham.

4 And is not here an eye, to the Story of Abraham? Gen. XVI. 17. It was dark, and behold, a Burning Lamp. The comfortable support and Rescue which God gives to His People in their Dark [...]st Hours of A [...]iction, seems to be promised, in Allusion to that Appearance.

But, Quaere, Is not the SFED that is to he mighty upon the Earth to be interpreted of the MESSIAH, who was the SEED promised unto Abraham? And was not the Light that which arose, when the World was in the most fearful Darkness? Christian, A new Field of precious Thot's is opened for thee.

Dr. Patricks Paraphrase is also Excellent. ‘I [...] any A [...]iction comes, it will be so far from making him unhappy, that besides the Divine Comforts imparted unto him for his support, it will make the vertue of Upright Men the more Illustrious; while one exercises Meekness and Sweetness to those that provoke him; another forgives Offences, and p [...]ties the Instru [...]its of his Trouble; and a Third exercises the greater [...] or Mercy, and will not be tempted to do any [...] or eru [...] Thing, for his own Deliverance.’

7 Hebr. Evil Hearing. The Jewish and some [...] Into preters, carry it so; He is not sollicitous [...] the false Rop [...]rts that may be raised upon him. [...] We formerly [...]dred it, He shall se [...] his desire [Page 310]upon his Enemies. But, his desire, is not in the Orignal. Dr. Patricks Paraphrase is, ‘He expects the Time, when he shall be able securely to look upon [...] his Enemies.’

9 Why is Charity called Rightcousness? Gre [...] M. in his Pastoralis Cura, says well, Quia [...] communi Domino tribuitur, JUSTUM prefecto [...] [...] accipiant, eo communiter utantur.

Horn Exalted. Accept a singular Tho't upon it, without excluding the common Interpret [...]tion. The Praises of God were of Old sounded in Comets. There were Exalted Horns or Exalted Notes, which [...] would have their Praises to be raised with. We [...] 1 Chron. XXV. 5. Of, Words to lift up the Horn. [...] may in our Day, thus accommodate the Observation The Praises of GOD are to Sound hig [...] in our [...] ons. When we Praise GOD for being excellent [...] G [...]o [...] to [...]ur selves, we do well. But we are to raise [...] Pr [...]ises unto an higher Pitch than so; They are to [...] patiate upon all those Things wherein our GOD h [...] exhibited Himself as excellently Great, throughout the World. Such abstracted Praises are agreeable to the inclinations of every Godly Man; He argues at that [...] GREAT is the Lord, and, THEREFORE Great [...] to be Praised.

10 q. d. Their Envy shall first bring an Ague, [...] then a Consumption upon them.

PSALM CXIII.

1 SIng Hallelujah! O Praise ye, ‖ who ser [...] th' ETERNAL God; ‖O do ye Praise the Name of Him ‖ who is th' ETERNAL God.

2 The Name of the ETERNAL God, ‖ [...] let it blessed be; ‖ Bless'd from the preson time, and so ‖ unto Eternity. ‖

[Page 311] 3 Ev'n from the rising of the Sun ‖ unto its going down, ‖ the Name of the ETERNAL God ‖ is greatly to be prais'd. ‖

4 Above all of the Nations High ‖ is the ETERNAL God; ‖ above the Heavens now there is ‖ His Glory to be seen. ‖

5 Who's like th' ETERNAL God, our God, ‖ whose dwelling is on high? ‖

6 He stoops that He may view what is ‖ in Heaven, and on Earth. ‖

7 He doth raise up the poor one from ‖ his lying in the dust; ‖ He from the sordi [...] D [...]nghill doth ‖ lift up the needy one. ‖

8 That he a seat with Princes may ‖ assign to such an one; ‖ among the Princes which His own ‖ distinguish'd People have. ‖

9 The Barren he sets in an house; ‖ Of Children she becomes ‖ the Fruitful Mother full of Joy. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXIII. P [...]ALM.

SOme here behold the Praises of the restored Jews, for their Deliverance. The five last verses magnificently des [...]ribe, the Second Coming of the Messiah; at which they shall be restored unto a Glorious Condition The irophet Isa [...]ah. Ch. LIV. 1, 2. alludes to the lastverse of the Psaim.

Our Doctor Goodwin mentioning the application that some have made of a certain Text, unto our SAVIOUR, adds, I would there were a Thousand more of them, For the more such Lines of Prophecy about our JESUS, meet in one center, the more ascertained we are, that He is that MES [...]IAH who was then to [Page 312]come; and the Scriptures are discovered thereby, to be the more mysterious, and Himself the more Illustri [...] And now, why may not our SAVIOUR be ultimate [...] intended in the Psalm that is now before us. Christia [...] Carry His Glory in thy mind, when thou readest the beginn [...] of the [...]sa [...]m. When thou readest of the Po [...] raised ou [...] of the Dust, and the Needy lifted out [...] the Dunghill; thin [...] on the profound and wond [...] Humil [...]at on of thy SAVIOUR, and His following E [...] altation. When thou re [...]dest of Him set with Princ [...] consider Him S [...]tting on His Throne, surrounded with His Holy Angols. Lastly, When thou readest of [...] Barren Woman becoming a Fruitful Mother; Wh [...] should not the stupendous Work of God that was d [...] for the Virgin M [...]ry be thought upon? As well as [...] Application, which the Chaldee Paraphrase, makes [...] it unto the Church of Israel?

This, with the Five Psalms that follow, was by [...] Jews c [...]ll'd, The Great Hallei. They recited it [...] their New Moons and other Festival [...], and at the [...] Table in the Paschal Night, after they had eaten th [...] Lamb.

7 R. Amama here finds, The Resurrection of th [...] Dead.

8 The Princes, are by R. Obadiah Gaon, rendred [...] The Libera Ones.

It is observed, both in the Italian and Spanish Version, That the Psalm is an Abbreviation o [...] the [...]ong o [...] Hannah. Pareceseruna abbrevi [...]on, [...]y [...] the Spanis [...].

PSALM CXIV.

1 IN the withdraw of Israel ‖ from the Egyptian Land; ‖ the Family of Jacob from ‖ a People barbarous. ‖

2 Then Judah came for to be His ‖ dissi [...] guish'd Holy One; ‖ yea, Israel did then become ‖ Dominions for Him. ‖

[Page 313] 3 The Sea beheld this thing, and fled; ‖ Jordan was turned back. ‖

4 The Mountains then did leap like Rams; ‖ the little Hills like Lambs. ‖

5 What was done unto thee, O Sea, ‖ in that thou didst fly back; ‖ O Jordan, what to thee was done, ‖ that thou wast turned back? ‖

6 O Mountains, what was done to you, ‖ that ye did leap like Rams; ‖ and what to you, O little hills, ‖ that ye did leap like Lambs? ‖

Before the face of Him who doth ‖ sustain thee, shake, O Earth; ‖ before the face of Him that is ‖ the God of Jacob, shake. ‖

7 'Tis He who the firm Rock does to ‖ a Pool of Waters turn; ‖ tis He who the dry Flint does to ‖ a Spring of Waters turn. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXIV. PSALM.

BY the Meditation on the Miracles, in the coming out of Egypt, wherein the Order of Nature was changed, the Prophetic Spirit here lifts up the minds of His People, to what the Messiah will do for them, when He appears for the Deliverance which is to be [...] looked for. Compare, Mich. VII.

2 The Cloud of Glory then had no peculiar Place to be a Sanctuary for it, but stood over the whole Camp of Israel.

That the Convulsion of Nature here may be brought in with a due surprise, the Name of God is not mentioned until afterward.

[Page 314]

PSALM CXV.

1 NOt unto us, ETERNAL God, ‖ N [...] unto us; But to‖thy Name give Glory, on thy Grace ‖ and on thy constant Truth. ‖

2 Why should the Nations utter this ‖ Where's now this God of theirs? ‖

3 Sure our God's in the Heav'ns; He ha [...] ‖ done whatsoever He pleas'd. ‖

4 Their Idols Silver are and Gold, ‖ wh [...] hands of Men have wrought. ‖

5 Mouth's have they but they do not speak, ‖ they've Eyes, but do not see. ‖

6 Ears have they, but they do not hears ‖ they've Nostrils, but can't smell. ‖

7 Hands have they, but they handle [...] ‖ they've Feet, but do not walk. ‖ Not can they utter thro' their Throat. ‖

8 The Makers of such things ‖ are li [...] them; so is ev'ry one ‖ that puts his trust in them. ‖

9 O Israel, Do thou place thy trust ‖ o [...] the ETERNAL God; ‖ 'Tis He who does afford them help;‖ and He's a Shield to them,‖

10 O House of Aaron, Place thy trust ‖ on the ETERNAL God; ‖ 'Tis He who does afford them help;‖and He's a Shield to them‖

11 Ye who do fear JEHOVAH, trust ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖'Tis He who does afford them help: ‖ and He's a Shield to them. ‖

12 Th' ETERNAL has remembred us; ‖ [Page 315]He'll bless; He'll bless the House ‖ of Israel; He will bless the House ‖ of Aaron signally, ‖

13 He will bless them who have the fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ He'll bless the little Ones of these ‖ together with the great. ‖

14 Th' ETERNAL God shall add to you; ‖ to you, and to your Sons. ‖

15 You're bless'd of the ETERNAL God ‖ who made the Heav'ns and Earth. ‖

16 The Heav'ns, the Heav'ns, these do belong ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ But to the Sons of Men He hath ‖ distributed the Earth. ‖

17 Such as are Dead, these will not Praise‖ the Ever-Living Lord; ‖ Nor all who do desrend into ‖ the silence of the Grave. ‖

18 But as for us, we still will bless ‖ the Ever-Living Lord ‖ from this time and for evermore. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXV. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit prepares a Prayer, for Israel dispersed among the Antichristian Idolaters, That they may be restored unto their own Land. With a Curse on the Idolaters, the misery of the Israelites is complain'd of, as hindring them from Glorifying of GOD, as they should, if they were gathered into one Body.

Dr. Patrick thinks, that when a Prophet had encounged the hope of Jehosaphat, for Deliverance from the vast Forces come against him, and he had by the Levites given Thanks for this Hope, H [...], or that Prophet might compose this Hymn, to quicken their Faith in God. Yea, this might be the Hymn, which by common consent, the Singers were to use, when they went against those [...]mic [...].

[Page 316] 1 q.d. Give us Victory, not that we may grow famous and get Glory by it; but that thy Divine Majesty may be honoured.

5 The Idol Bual-peor; (or, Priapus) was particularly called, Ch [...] so which is as much as to say, The Blind God.

16 Calvin observes, the meaning of this to be That the Infinite GOD, is forever satisfied in and from Himself; He needs no Earthly thing to augment [...]is Happiness. The Earth with all the Enjoyments of it, He allows to the Poor Children of Men. All He expects from the Earth is a Thankful Acknowledgment from the relieved and obliged Children of Men. Ho [...] Propheta Consilium est, quod miror tum secture a plerisyuc inter pretibus negligi.

17 q. d. ‘Therefore He will not suffer us to be rooted out, as our Enemies design; for then the Earth would have none in it, to sing His Praises; which the Dead who dwell in the silent Grave cannot celebrate.’ This is the Patrician Faraphrase.

PSALM CXVI.

1 I'M full of Love: It is because ‖ [of this] that the ETERNAL God‖hath hearkened now unto my voice; ‖ [and hath] my supplications heard. ‖

2 Because that He hath unto me ‖ [kindl [...]] inclin'd His gracious Ear;‖ therefore upon Him I will call ‖ while I have any days [of Life.]

3 The cords of Death surrounded me, and me the [dreadful] pains of Hell‖found our; a sad anxiety ‖ I found, and sighing [ [...]heady] grief. ‖

4 But I did call upon the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God, [for this;] ‖ I pray Thee, O ETERNAL God, Del [...]et thou my [sinkins]

[Page 317] 5 Most full of tender clemency ‖ [foreber] is th' ETERNAL God; ‖ Righteous He is too; and out God‖is most compassionate [withal.]‖

6 The simple ones th' ETERNAL God ‖ takes into [his kind] custody; ‖ I was brought miserably low, ‖ and then [it was] He helped me. ‖

7 O thou my Soul, Do thou return ‖ where 'tis [alone] thou findest rest; ‖ Because that the ETERNAL God ‖ hath well [enough] [...]ewarded thee. ‖

8 Because thou hast from threatning Death ‖ [cafely] delivered my Soul; ‖ my Eye from tear; my Foot from fall ‖ by a thrust given [unto] me. ‖

9 I'll walk before th' ETERNAL God ‖ [ [...]ube] in th' Land of living ones. ‖

10 I did believe, therefore I spoke: ‖ I was afficted [very] sore. ‖

11 In the great perturbation when ‖ [my [...]oze] affiction frightned me; ‖ I said, That every Man of Earth ‖ [fails and] is but a lying thing. ‖

12 But now, O what Returns shall I ‖ [bring and] make to th' ETERNAL God?‖ Upon me are His Benefits, ‖ [yea, and] above me His Rewards. ‖

13 Of manifold Calvations I ‖ will take [and drink] the Thankful Cup; ‖ and I will call upon the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God [with it.] ‖

[Page 318] 14 I'll to perfection bring my Vows [duly] to the ETERNAL God; ‖ I'll do [...] Now in presence of ‖ all that His [hol [...]] People are. ‖

15 In the Eyes of th' ETERNAL God how very precious is [esteem'd] ‖ the Dea [...] which there shall be for those ‖ who are [...] [truly] gracious ones' ‖

16 ETERNAL God, Thy Servant sure ‖ am, Thy Servant I [will be!] ‖ I of the Handmaid am the Son; ‖ Thou hast diffolv [...] my [deadly] bonds. ‖

17 The Sacrifice of Thankfulness ‖ [...] [freely] Sacrifice to Thee; ‖ And I will [...] upon the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL Go [...] [with it.]

18 I'll to perfection bring my Vows ‖ [dul [...]] to the ETERNAL God; ‖ I'll do it Now presence of ‖ all that His [doly] People a [...]

19 In the Courts of the Glorious House of the ETERNAL God [I'll do't]: ‖ In m [...]d of thee, Jerufalem. ‖ Sing Hallelujah no [...] [to God.] ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXVI. PSALM.

AN Hymn of Grat [...]tude unto GOD from the [...] [...]eemed of Ifr [...]el. They publish the Greatness [...]eir Delivera [...]e with a R [...]meml [...]rance of the dre [...] [...] Thi [...]s which they had surfered, and the Double [...] o [...]ce had of ever bein [...]delivered.

They who look on the Great GOD as here propo [...] [...] Soul [...]o upon a [...]lorious Tr [...] [Page 319] Domine, Irrequistum cor nostrum, donec raquiescat in Te.—but, O Chr stian, Wilt thou nor consider the Psa [...]ss here, as a Type of our SAVIOUR? Truly we have here the Language of our JESUS R [...]son from the Dead. Behold Him now Returning to the Heavenly World, and Ascending to the Joy set before Him.

I know not whether the Distinction of the Verses in the Old Testament, at least in the Book o [...] Psalms, might not be so ordered by the Providence of GOD, as to carry sometimes a Mystery in it. In reading the Psalms I have often tho't on it. The Church of GOD may be a so heard speaking here. The Church of GOD w [...]ll one Day Return unto Rest, and see a Sabbatic State in the Rest which remains for the People of GOD. This occurs in the Sevemb Verse of the Psalm; and is reserved or the leventh Age of the World.

13 They had in Israel of Old, A Cup of Deliverance, with which when blessed and set apart, they did commemorate the Blessings they had received.

15 The common Glosses are well known. But I renew my Instances, That this as well as many other unsuspected Psalms, may be considered as a representation of our SAVIOUR. The Agonies and Sufferings of our SAVIOUR are displayed in the Beginning of the Psalm; the Consequences thereof in the Conclusion. What we use to render, I said in my haste, is without any just pretences expounded, of Davids hasty [...]eproaches upon the Truth of Samuels Prophecies. No; It may be read, i said in my Fear: [my Anguish, may Distress,] All Mon are Liars: There is no dependence on any Man or Help. Compare, Psalm CXLVI. 3.— written perhaps, about the same time with the Psalm now before us. But the the Original here, directs in to Read, The Death which there is FOR those, whe are His Gracious Ones. Tis the Death of our SAVIOUR, the Price of Redemption for His Chosen. The Almighty GOD sets a great Price upon it. [Eph. [Page 320]V. 2.] Tho' the Death of our SAVIOUR, be for Sinners. yet none partake in the saving Benefits of it, but such as are made willing to be Gracious Ones.

16 Arnobius gives us a Mystical Gloss of the Ancients. Ancilla Dci est in disciplina Sancta. The Bonds here, some apply to the Bonds which hold the unborn Infant in the Womb. There is much Harmony between the XXII and the CXVI Psalms. In that Psalm our SAVIOUR's being taken out of the Womb, is a considerable Article. And in this we have the Loosing of the Bonds, which enwrapped Him there.

PSALM CXVII.

1 O Praise ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ Do it ye Nations all; ‖ His Praises, O ye People all, ‖ now celebrate with Songs. ‖

2 For upon us His Mercy is ‖ confirmed; and the Truth ‖ of the ETERNAL is forever. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXVII. PSALM.

BEhold in a few words Predicted here, the Conversion of all Nations, when God shall have accomplished His Promise of Recalling the Israelitish Nation. Consider, Deut. XXXII. 43.

PSALM CXVIII.

1 O make you a confession now ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ because that He is God; because ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

2 O now let Israel say this thing, ‖ That's mercy is forever. ‖

3 Let Aaron's Family now say, ‖ That's mercy is forever. ‖

4 Now let the Proselytes that have ‖ in them the holy fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God, still say, ‖ That's mercy is forever. ‖

[Page 321] 5 In Trouble I did call upon ‖ the Everlasting JAH; ‖ the Everlasting JAH did with ‖ enlargement answer me. ‖

6 With me is the ETERNAL God ‖ appearing on my side; ‖ I will not be afraid of what ‖ a man may do to me. ‖

7 For me th' ETERNAL God among ‖ my helpers does appear; ‖ what therefore is to come upon ‖ my haters I shall see. ‖

8 It's better to seek refuge in ‖ Him who's th' ETERNAL God, ‖ than 'tis to place a confidence ‖ upon poor earthly man. ‖

9 It's better to seek refuge in ‖ Him who's the ETERNAL God, ‖ than 'tis to place a confide [...]ce ‖ upon Superiour Men. ‖

10 The Nations all of them did round ‖ about encompass me; [...] in the Name of th [...] ETERNAL God ‖ I'll surely cut them off. ‖

12 They compass'd me about; yea, they ‖ did compass me ab [...]ut; ‖ in the Name of th' ETERNAL God ‖ I'll surely cut them off. ‖

12 They compass'd me about like Bees; ‖ They're quench [...]d like fire of Thorns; ‖ in the Name of th' ETERNAL God ‖ I'll surely cut them off. ‖

13 Thou hast thrust, and hast thrust against that thou mayst make me fall; ‖ but then did the ETERNAL God ‖ send succour unto me. ‖

14 The Everlasting JAH is He ‖ who does afford me strength; ‖ and He's my Song; He also is ‖ Salvation unto me. ‖

[Page 322] 15 The voice of Joy and Sasety's in ‖ the tents of righteous ones; ‖ the right hand of th' ETERNAL God ‖ works with a mighty force. ‖

16. The right hand of th' ETERNAL God ‖ is listed up on high; ‖ the right hand of th' ETERNAL God ‖ works with a mighty force, ‖

17 I shall not dye, but live, and tell ‖ Works of the living JAH. ‖

18 The living JAH chastis'd me much, ‖ but gave me not to death. ‖

19 O set ye open unto me ‖ the Gates of Righteousness; ‖ I will go into them; I'll praise ‖ the Everlasting JAH. ‖

20 The answer is, This is the Gate ‖ of the ETERNAL God, ‖ 'tis by this Gate the righteous ones ‖ shall make their entrance here. ‖

21 To thee I will confess, since thou ‖ hast heark'ned unto me; ‖ and what shall be Salvation, This ‖ Thou hast been unto me. ‖

22 The Stone which they who did profess ‖ to build, did cast away, ‖ is now become the Head Stone which ‖ the Corner's founded on. ‖

23 This is a thing which is perform'd ‖ by the ETERNAL God; ‖ it is what in our eyes appears ‖ most wondtous to behold. ‖

24 This is the very day the which ‖ th' ETERNAL God has made; ‖ in it we'll show how glad we are, ‖ and we will shine with joy. ‖

25 Save now, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ I earnestly entreat; ‖ I do entreat, ETERNAL God, ‖ Send now Prosperity, ‖

[Page 323] 26 He's blessed who comes in the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ We've blessed you out of the House ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

27 Th' ETERNAL God's the mighty One ‖ a [...]dble hath shone on us; ‖ bind ye the Sacri [...]oe with cords, ‖ ev'n to the Altar's horns. ‖

28 Thou art my God; and I will make ‖ Confessions unto thee; ‖ Thou art my God, I will for this ‖ exalt thee very high. ‖

29 O make you a Confession now ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Because that He is Good; because ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXVIII. PSALM.

THe Psalm seems to have been pronounced at first, in some solemn Assembly of all the People assembled for the Praises of God. And Interpreters have thought, they all had a part in the Psalm. The greatest part was uttered by David; — Then coming in Procession to the Gates of the Talernacle he calls (V. 19.) upon the Porters, to open them unto him, that he might praise GOD in the San [...]iu [...]ry, He does is accordingly, first, in the very entrance; (V. 20.) and then in the Courts of the House of God. (V. 21.) After all which the People shout, and magnify the Di [...]ne Goodness, in making him who had met with such Indignities in the late Reign, their King (V. 22.) And then the Priests come forth, and bless both the King, and the People, in the Name of the Lord; (V. 20) and exhort them to be thankful. (V. 2 [...].) David then seems to take the Words out of their Mouth, and to [...]hre that be will be never unmindful of the Benefi [...] [...] God; and to desire, that all the People also would Remember them.

[Page 324] Yea, But have we not here, (what our Allix discovers) an Hymn of redeemed Israel; in whose [...] tion all that fear God are comprehended! They ce [...] brate the Glorious things done by the Messiah for them when He comes again; and they acknowtedge the Since their Fathers in rejecting Him.

22 I could Subpans a Number of Jewish Rabbi [...] who confess, the Messiah to be the Stone here spoken of. It is confessed in the Midrash Schir Haschir in. Yea, that the Messiah shall be refus'd, as tis here foretold, is after a strange manner foretold in Beresch [...] R [...]a. Quando veniet Messias, non cito dicent C [...] tic [...], donec fuerit vilifica [...]us ipse Messias: Ac d [...] cadat coram eo Regnum nequam Romanum; siondicium est, Dan: II. 42.

A Wonderful Passage!

The Targum on this Text reads, The Builders [...] dected the Child. And on the next verse: Bind this Child to the Sacrifice of Solemnity with Chains, unto we shall have Sacrificed Him, and poured out [...] Blood upon the Horns of the Altar.

From the Pens of Jews, these Lines are truly Marvellous.

In the Talmuds also, we find the Messiah to be, Th [...] Stone cut out of the Mountain.

PSALM CXIX.

1 O the vast blessings of the Men, ‖ who have [and hold] Integrity ‖ in their way; walking in the Law ‖ of [Him who's] the ETERNAL God' ‖

2 O the vast blessings of the Men ‖ who keep [with heed] the things which He ‖ doth testify! With all their heart ‖ they [ever] do seek after Him.‖

[Page 325] 3 Yea, they work no iniquity;‖ they in His [Holy] ways do walk.‖

4 Thou thy Commandments haft prescrib'd‖ greatly to be [by all] observed.‖

5 O that my ways directed were ‖ thy Statutes to observe [with care.]‖

6 Then shall I not be sham'd, when I ‖ [truly] regard all Thy Commands.‖

7 With a just Rectitude of Heart ‖ I [freely] shall confess thy Praise, ‖ when I have learn'd the Judgments which ‖ Thy Righteousness has giv'n [to us.]‖

8 What things Thou haft appointed, those‖ I will observe with [constant] care: ‖ O do not Thou forsake me to ‖ a great [and [...]] extremity.‖

II Beth.

9 A Young Man, by what Method shall ‖ he purify his [sinfui] path?‖ He'l do it, if he do take heed ‖ according to thy [Holy] Word.‖

10 With all the powers of my heart ‖ I have sought after thee, [D Lord.] ‖ To wander, Oh! Don't suffer me ‖ from thy [most right] Commandements.‖

11 In my heart I have hid thy Word, ‖ that thee I may'nt [by Sin] offend.‖

12 Bless'd art thou, O ETERNAL God;‖ Thy Statutes [therefore] teach thou me.‖

13 I all the Judgments of thy mouth ‖ have with my lips declar'd [abroad.]‖

[Page 326] 14 I in thy Testimonies way, ‖ [as mu [...]] as in all wealth, rejoyce.‖

15 I'll on thy Precepts meditate;‖ and [...] regard [with care] thy Paths.‖

16 I in thy Statutes will delight; ‖ [...] not forget thy [Holy] Word.‖

III. Gimel.

17 Unto thy Servant O do Thou ‖ m [...] [kind and] bountiful returns; ‖ O let me live that so I may ‖ observe with care [ [...] do] thy Word.‖

18 Open my Eyes, that I may see ‖ [...] [hidden] Wonders of thy Law.‖

19 On Earth I am a stranger; don't ‖ [...] me thy precepts [therefore] hide.‖

20 At all times for thy Judgments do [...] my Soul break with [intense] desire.‖

21 The cursed proud ones Thou rebuk' [...] who from [ways of] thy Precepts err.‖

22 Rolling it off from me, O take ‖ away reproach, and [shameful] Scorn; ‖ bec [...] Thy Testimonies I ‖ have kept [with ca [...]] inviolate.‖

23 Princes themselves in Council fart; [...] against me then they [falsely] spake;‖ Thy Servant on Thy Statutes did ‖ the meat while [ever] meditate.‖

24 Thy Testimonies truly are ‖ my ravishing [and chief] delight; ‖ they are the Counsellors which I ‖ do still [chuse [...]] consult withal.‖

[Page 327] 25 To dust my Soul cleaves; quicken me‖ according to thy [gracious] Word.‖

26 I shew'd my ways, and me thou heardst;‖ thy [Holy] Statutes teach thou me.‖

27 Make me to understand the way ‖ thy Precepts have [to me] prescrib'd; ‖ so I will meditate upon ‖ the [Glorious] wonders thou haft wrought.‖

28 With grief my Soul melts; strengthen me ‖ according to thy Word [to me.]‖

29 The way of lying take from me; ‖ and [kindly] grant to me thy Law.‖

30 The way which truth directs unto ‖ is that [of which] I make my choice; ‖ thy Judgments are what I have still ‖ propos'd to [mind and] keep unto.‖

31 Unto Thy Testimonies I ‖ adhere, ETERNAL God [forever;] O let me not be put unto ‖ [shame and] confusion, doing so.‖

32 I with a quicken'd pace will run ‖ the [Holy] way of thy Commands, ‖ when Thou upon my straitned Heart ‖ Enlargement haft [from Heav'n] bestow'd.‖

V. He.

33 Teach me, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ the way [the which] Thou dost appoint;‖ and I'll keep it inviolate ‖ [always] unto the very end.‖

34 O give me Understanding, so ‖ I will then keep thy Law, [unbroke;]‖ [Page 328]yea, I will it observe with Care, ‖ and that with all my Heart [and might.]‖

35 Lead me in thy commanded Path;‖ for [greatly] I therein delight.‖

36 Bow my Heart to thine Oracles, ‖ and not to [fordid] Avarice.‖

37 From view of vain things turn my eyes;‖ in thy way [lead and] quicken me.‖

38 Good to thy Servant make thy Word,‖ who's wholly [purpos'd] for thy fear.‖

39 My fear'd Reproach, O turn away;‖ for good [and right] thy Judgments are.‖

40 Lo, I've long'd for thy Precepts; in Thy Justice [do Thou] Quicken me.‖

VI. Vau.

41 O Let Thy Mercies come again ‖ to me [D Thou] ETERNAL God; ‖ Let thy Salvation come to me ‖ according to [whats in] thy Word.‖

42 So I a Word shall answer to ‖ him that [falsely] reproaches me; because that I upon thy Word ‖ do [ever] place my Confidence.‖

43 And from my Mouth, O take Thou not ‖ wholly [away] the Word of truth: Because that of thy Judgments I ‖ an [hopeful] expectation have.‖

44 Thus I will always keep thy Law ‖ [I'll do't] long, yea, Eternally.‖

45 And I will walk at large, because ‖ have sought [after] Thy Commands.‖

[Page 329] 46 Yea, before Kings themselves I will ‖ speak of thy [faithful] Oracles; ‖ nor will I ever be asham'd ‖ of what I do therein [for them.] ‖

47 And I in Thy Commandements ‖ will take [all of] my sweet Delight; ‖ for they are what I still have set ‖ my [kind and] chief Affection on. ‖

48 My hands I will lift up unto ‖ Thy Precepts which I've [dearly] lov'd; ‖ and what are Thy appointments I ‖ will [daily] meditate thereon. ‖

VII. Zain.

49 Unto thy Servant, O be thou ‖ still [always] mindful of the Word, ‖ on which thou hast caus'd me to place ‖ my [constant] expectation still. ‖

50 This is my comfort in my grief; ‖ that thy Word [ever] quickens me. ‖

51 The proud have much derided me; ‖ [But yet] I ve not gone from thy Law. ‖

52 ETERNAL God, Thy Judgments I ‖ remembred have, which are [the same] ‖ of old, and thereupon I have ‖ encouraged my self [in them.]

53 Horror with a tempestuous force ‖ has [often] taken hold on me, ‖ on the account of wicked ones ‖ who do forsake thy [Holy] Law. ‖

54 In the house of my Pilgrimage ‖ thy Statutes are my [cheerful] Songs. ‖

[Page 330] 55 O Thou ETERNAL God, I have ‖ been [ever] mindful of thy Name; ‖ yea, in the Night I have been so; ‖ and I have [therefore] kept thy Law. ‖

56 This has befallen me, because ‖ thy Precepts I have kept [with care.] ‖

VIII. Cheth.

57 My Portion, O ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou art, so I have said [of Thee.] ‖ And this it is, that so I would ‖ observe [with care] all of thy words. ‖

58 Thy favourable Face I have ‖ besought with all my Heart [and Soul;] ‖ O be thou merciful to me ‖ according to thy [faithful] Word. ‖

59 I view'd my ways, and turn'd my feet ‖ [thereon] unto thine Oracles. ‖

60 I made haste, and did not delay ‖ for to keep [all of] thy commands. ‖

61 The bands of wicked ones robb'd me; ‖ [but yet] thy Law I've not forgot. ‖

62 To praise thee I at midnight rise; ‖ for thy just Judgments 'tis [I do't]. ‖

63 To all of them that have thy fear ‖ I a companion arn [and friend:] ‖ I am so unto all who do ‖ [mind and] keep thy Commandements. ‖

64 ETERNAL God, The Earth is full ‖ of thy [most kind] benignity; ‖ O do thou well instruct me in ‖ the things [the which] thou dost appoint. ‖

[Page 331] 65 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thou half ‖ one [the best] Good, to One that is ‖ a faithful Servant unto thee; ‖ [even] according to thy Word. ‖

66 Good sense and knowledge teach me; for ‖ thy Precepts [firmly] I believe. ‖

67 Before I was abas'd, I stray'd; ‖ But now I [better] keep thy Word. ‖

68 Thou art Good, and thou doest Good; ‖ Thy Statutes [therefore] teach thou me. ‖

69 The proud forg'd lies of me; I keep ‖ thy Statutes [very] heartily. ‖

70 Their heart's as fat as senseless grease ‖ [whereas] I in thy Law delight. ‖

71 It's good for me I've been chastis'd; ‖ Thy Statutes so to learn [from thence.]

72 The Law dispensed from thy mouth ‖ [by far] is better unto me ‖ than would be many Thousands of ‖ Gold, and of [choicess] Silver Coin. ‖

X. Jod.

73 Thy hands have made me what I am; ‖ and [it is] they have fashion'd me; ‖ O Give me Understanding that ‖ I may learn [to do] thy Commands. ‖

74 They who have thy true fear in them ‖ [with it] shall take a view of me; ‖ and they shall then rejoyce, because ‖ I've hoped in thy [faithful] Word. ‖

[Page 332] 75 ETERNAL God, I know full well that [very] just thy Judgments are; ‖ and with unfailing faithfulness ‖ thou hast [always] afflicted me. ‖

76 I pray thee, let thy mercy be ‖ still for [this End] to comfort me; ‖ according to thy Word which Thou ‖ hast to thy [faithful] Servant giv'n. ‖

77 The tenderest compassions let, ‖ O let them come to [succour] me; ‖ so shall I live to Thee; because ‖ thy Law yields me [the best] delights. ‖

78 Let proud ones be asham'd; for they wrong'd [and hurt] me without a cause; But I'll keep meditating still ‖ on thy [most just] Commandements. ‖

79 Let those that have thy fear in them ‖ with [Love and] kindness turn to me; and this let all that understand ‖ thy Testimonies [always] do. ‖

80 Let my heart have integrity ‖ in [all of] what thou dost appoint; ‖ Let it be thus. that so I may ‖ not [come to] be at all asham'd. ‖

XI. Caph.

81 My Soul for thy Salvation faints; ‖ for thy word do [wait and] hope. ‖

82 My eyes fail for thy Word, and say, When wilt thou [help and] quicken me?

[Page 333] 83 Because I am become like to ‖ a Bottle [which is] dried in smoke, ‖ I'm not forgetful of the things ‖ [all of] the which thou hast ordain'd. ‖

84 How many are the days which thou ‖ lest to thy [ [...]ying] Serva [...]t grant? ‖ When on my persecutors wilt ‖ thou [a just] Judgment execute? ‖

85 The proud have digged pitts for me; ‖ which answer not [well to] thy Law. ‖

86 Each one of thy Commandements ‖ are very [Truth and] Faithfulness. ‖ They persecute me wrongfully; ‖ O send thou help [from Heav'n] to me. ‖

87 On Earth they near consum'd me; yet ‖ I left not [nor broke] thy Commands. ‖

88 According to thy mercy now ‖ O do thou [save and] quicken me. ‖ So I the Testimony of ‖ thy mouth shall keep with [cautious] care. ‖

XII. Lamed.

89 ETERNAL God, Thy Word remains ‖ forever [set'ed] in the Heav'ns. ‖

Thy Truth's from Age to Age; Thou found'st ‖ the Farth and it abides, [forever.]

91 T [...]ey by thy orders stand this day, ‖ For all [of th [...]m] thy Servants are. ‖

92 Had not thy Law been my delights, ‖ then in my [Woful] grief's I'h'd sunk. ‖

93 I'll ne'er forget thy Precepts, for ‖ with them [it is] thou quick'nest me ‖

[Page 334] 94 I am thine own; O save thou me; for I've sought [and kept] thy Commands.

95 With hopes the wicked ones do wait, that they may [wholly] ruin me; ‖ I on thy Testimonies do ‖ consideration [therefore] use.‖

96 I have beheld a Period set ‖ to all Perfection here [on Carth.] In thy Commandement there is ‖ a very broad [and vast] extent.‖

XIII. Mem.

97 How vehemently do I love ‖ the Law distill'd by thee [on us!] It is my meditation still, ‖ all [of the] day * and every day.‖

98 Thou hast made me more wise than those ‖ that are my [Wicked] enemies;‖ Thorough thy Precepts 'tis; for they ‖ forever are [and stay] with me.‖

99 I have more understanding than ‖ all my instructers have [with them;] For I thy Testimonies do ‖ my [constant] meditation make.‖

100 I know more than the Ancients do; ‖ For I keep thy Commands [with care.]

101 From all ill paths I've kept my feet; ‖ that I may keep [close to] thy Word.‖

102 I have not from thy Judgments gone; ‖ For [better] thouh'st instructed me.‖

103 How sweet thy words unto my tastel [They're sweet] past honey to my mouth.‖

[Page 335] 104 To understanding I arrive ‖ thro' thy [most wise] Commandements; ‖ I therefore do hate every way ‖ of false [and base] iniquity.‖

XIV. Nun.

105 Thy Word's a Lamp unto my feet; ‖ and [a clear] Light unto my path.‖

106 I've sworn, and will periorm't; I will ‖ thy righteous Judgments [ever] keep.‖

107 O Thou ETERNAL God, I am ‖ afflicted [and broke] very much; ‖ But O do thou enliven me ‖ according to thy [faithful] Word.‖

108 The Free-will-offerings of my mouth ‖ I pray thee [kindly] to accept; ‖ and, O ETERNAL God, Teach me ‖ the Judgments thou hast giv'n [to us.]

109 My Soul's in my hand ever; yet ‖ thy Law I don't forget [for all.]

110 The wicked lay snares for me; yet ‖ thy Precepts I've not [Wandring] lost.‖

111 Thy Testimonies I have took ‖ [to be] for my Inheritance; ‖ Forever so; Because they are ‖ the [joy and] gladness of my heart.‖

112 I have inclin'd my heart to do ‖ the things [the which] thou dost appoint; ‖ Yea, to do them forevermore, ‖ in Hope of a [most sure] reward.‖

[Page 336] 113 I wavering thot's abominate; ‖ But I do [dearly] love thy Law.‖

114 Thou art my shelter and my shield, ‖ I do [place my] hope in thy Word.‖

115 Depart from me, O all of you, ‖ [each one] that evil doers are; ‖ for I'll keep the Commandements ‖ of Him who is my [chosen] God.‖

116 Upnold thou me according to ‖ thy Word, and I shall [surely] I've; ‖ and make me not asham'd of what ‖ my [raised] expectation is.‖

117 Sustain thou me, and then shall I ‖ in perfect safety [always] be:‖ and I'll unto thy Statutes have ‖ [a just] respect continually.‖

118 All who do from thy Statutes err, ‖ such hast thou [justly] trodden down: ‖ For the deceit they trusted in ‖ [anon] is found a falsity.‖

119 The dross thou mak'st to cease, ev'nall ‖ the wicked of the Earth [are such:] Thy Testimonies therefore I ‖ [as pure] place my affection on.‖

120 Thorough a fear of thee my flesh ‖ is with a [fearful] trembling se [...]z'd; ‖ and of thy awful Judgments I ‖ am [always] very much afraid.‖

XVI. Chajin.

121 Judgment I've done, and Justice: To ‖ my [cruel] vexers leave me not.‖

[Page 337] 122 For good thy Servants surety be; ‖ Let not the proud me [wrong and] vex.‖

123 My eyes for thy Salvation fail, ‖ and looking for thy [Kighteous] Word.‖

124 Deal with thy Servant in thy Grace, ‖ and me thy Statutes [therefore] teach.‖

125 I am thy Servant, make me wise; ‖ to know thy [faithful] Oracles.‖

126 Time for th' ETERNAL 'tis to work: ‖ they have made void [and Hull] thy Law.‖

127 I therefore my affection place ‖ on thy [despis'd] Commandements, more than I do on any Gold, ‖ yea, than [upon] the finest Gold.‖

128 I therefore judge all thy Commands, ‖ of all things to be [very] right; ‖ I do hate every way that's found ‖ by them for to be false [and wrong] ‖

XVII. Pe.

129 Wondrous thy Testimonies are; ‖ My Soul them [therefore] ever keeps.

130 The opening of thy Words gives light; ‖ It makes the simple [truly] wise.‖

131 I did for this open my mouth, ‖ and [I did] aspirations use; ‖ Because I longed earnestly ‖ for [to gain] thy Commandements.‖

132 O look upon me, and to me ‖ O be thou [very] merciful; ‖ according to thy usual course ‖ to them who [truly] love thy Name.‖

[Page 338] 133 The Steps I take, O give to them [a full] direction in thy Word; ‖ and grant to no Iniquity ‖ [to have] Dominion over me.‖

134 From man's unjust oppression set ‖ [and keep] me at full liberty; ‖ so then I unobstructed shall ‖ keep thy [most just] Commandements.‖

135 Upon Thy Servant, O make Thou ‖ Thy [pleased] Countenance to shine; ‖ and do thou well instruct me in ‖ the Things [the which] Thou dost appoint.‖

136 Rivers of Waters do run down ‖ still flowing from my [weeping] Eyes; ‖ For this Cause, in that they have not ‖ observed well thy [Holy] Law.‖

XVIII. Tsade.

137 Just Thou art, OETERNAL God, ‖ and right thy Judgments [always] are.‖

138 The Justice of thy Oracles, ‖ and Truth thou [very] much requir'st.‖

139 My Zeal hath cut me off; Because ‖ my Foes forget [whats in] thy Words.‖

140 Thy Word is very pure; therefore ‖ thy Servant [dearly] loveth it.‖

141 I'm small and I'm despis'd yet I, ‖ [for all] forget not thy Commands.‖

142 Thy Justice ever Justice is; ‖ and thy Law is the [very] Truth.‖

[Page 339] 143 Trouble and anguish finding me ‖ have taken [a strong] hold on me; ‖ But still thy Precepts under all ‖ afford me my [most sweet] Delight.‖

144 Thy Oracles are Righteousness ‖ to [endless] perpetuity; ‖ Give understanding unto me; ‖ Then shall I surely live [to Thee.]

XIX Koph.

145 With all the Powers of my Heart ‖ I made a [loud and] piercing cry: ‖ Hear me, O Thou ETERNAL God; ‖ Thy Statutes I will keep [with care.]

146 I made a piercing Cry to thee; [unto] me thy Salvation grant ‖ that so thy Testimonies I ‖ may thereupon [with care] observe.‖

147 The Dawning of the Morning, I ‖ prevented it betimes [for this;] ‖ that I might make my Cry to Thee; ‖ Thy Word [is what] I've hoped for.‖

148 My Eyes with waking do prevent ‖ the Watches of the Night [for this;] that I upon thy word may have ‖ my [early] Meditation plac'd.‖

149 ETERNAL God, According to ‖ thy Mercy hear my [Earnest] Voice; ‖ O quicken me according as ‖ Thy [Wont and] Judgment is for it.‖

150 Who follow mischief, they draw nigh; ‖ They from thy Law at [very] far.‖

[Page 340] 151 ETERNAL God, Thou'rt near and all of thy Commands are [wholly] Truth.‖

152 About thy Testimonies I ‖ have known this [certain] thing of old; ‖ that their foundation Thou hast laid ‖ for [lasting] perpetuity.‖

Resh. XX.

153 My Trouble view, and save me; for ‖ I don't forget Thy Law [therein.] ‖

154 Plead Thou my Cause and rescue me; ‖ Quicken me for [to do] thy Word.‖

155 Salvation is far distant from ‖ [all of] such as are wicked ones: ‖ for they seek not to know and do ‖ the things [the which] thou dost appoint.‖

156 Many Thy tender Mercies are, ‖ [and great] O Thou ETERNAL God: ‖ According to thy Judgments now, ‖ O do Thou [therefore] quicken me.‖

157 Many my Persecutors are, ‖ many [and great] my Enemies; ‖ yet from thy Testimonies I ‖ do not [for that] at all decline.‖

158 When I transgressors have beheld, ‖ I have been grieved [very] much; ‖ The reason of it was; because ‖ they have not [duly] kept thy Word.‖

159 Behold, O Thou ETERNAL God; ‖ thy Precepts how I love [and prize!] ‖ according to thy Mercy now ‖ O do Thou [kindly] quicken me.‖

[Page 341] 160 Thy Words beginning* and main point ‖ is [ever] most undoubted truth; ‖ and all thy righteous Judgments are ‖ [still such] to perpetuity. ‖

XXI. Schin.

161 Great Men, but without any Cause, ‖ have [siercely] persecuted me; ‖ But of thy Word my Heart hath still ‖ maintain'd a [silial] Reverence. ‖

162 I at thy word rejoyce as one ‖ that sinds [therein] a mighty Spoil. ‖

163 Lying I hate and do abhor; ‖ [But then] thy Law I dearly love. ‖

164 Thee for thy righteous Judgments I ‖ praise seven times [at least] a day. ‖

165 Great peace have they that love thy Law;‖and nothing them [hurts or] offe [...]ds.‖

166 I've had [...]y Expectation of ‖ Salvation sent from Thee [atone,] ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God; and I ‖ have [therefore] done what thou Command'st. ‖

167 Thy testimonies hath my Soul ‖ [ever] most diligently kept; ‖ and the Love which I bear to them‖is very [strong and] vehement.‖

168 Strictly I have thy Precepts and ‖ thy [faithful] [...]estimonies kept; ‖ because that all my Ways do lye ‖ [J know] forever in thy view. ‖

[Page 342] 169 Before Thee O ETERNAL God, ‖ Now let my cry come [very] near; ‖ give Understanding unto me ‖ according to [what's in] thy word. ‖

170 O Let my Supplication now ‖ draw near before thy [Glorious] face; ‖ Grant thou me a Deliverance ‖ according to thy [faithful] Word. ‖

171 My Lips shall utter praise when thou ‖ hast [unto] me thy Statutes taught. ‖

172 My Tongue shall speak thy Word; for all ‖ of thy Commands are [very] just. ‖

173 Let thy hand help me; for I have ‖ chose [to keep] thy Commandements. ‖

174 ETERNAL, Thy Salvation I ‖ wish, and thy Law's [to me] my Joys. ‖

175 My Soul, O let it live to Thee, ‖ and it shall [gladly] praise thee then; ‖ But for this blessed purpose let ‖ thy Judgments be my Aid [and Guide.]

176 Like to a Sheep that has been lost, ‖ I have been wandring so [about:] ‖ O seek thy Servant out; for I ‖ forget not [to do] thy Commands. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXIX. PSALM.

IT was required of the Jewish King, Peut. XXVII. 18. To write him a Copy of the Law in a Book. Is it not probable our David might be now at that Work? While his Hand was transcribing of the Divine Oracles, [Page 343] [...] Heart mic [...] be thus affected with them: And so might note the Devout Motions and Salleys of his [...]oly Heart, as he went along; which Independent [...] is, he might afterwards cast into the Alphabetical Order wherein we now enjoy them.

Theo [...]oret observes, David had great Varieties in [...] Condition. All these are here collected into one Psalm; no connected with the Prayers he had made unto God [...] the several Occasions. A Psalm sufficient (he saies) [...] afford all manner of Medicines for the Cure of the [...]rious Dis [...]ases of Mankind.

The Prophetic Spirit here also teaches the dispersed [...]s, how to adhere unto God, and confess their past [...]nors, and c [...]rry it well under the Persecutions they [...]r from Antichrist, and his Abettors. Oh! were [...]oy sousible!

It is [...]dent from sundry passages in the Pook of Psalm, that the Gody Jews, had a Prospect beyond the Outside and Letter of the Law; and that they [...]pprehended a more Spiritual and Mystical and [...]vancelical meaning in it, than what the bare Letter men [...] tioned. There was a Kabala among the true Israeltes, which instr [...]cted them in the Glorious Truths or the Gospel, which lay under the Shadows of the Law. Thus [I sal. XXV. 14.] The Secret (or, Mystery) of [...]bovah was with them that feared Him.

Here we read of, Wondrous Things in the Law, and Commandment exceeding broad, and many [...]assages which refer to Mystery. The Mystery is in one Word, the CHRISTIAN REHGION.

1 Arn hims will so Gloss it; CHRIST is the way. 1: The Psalmist employs himself in Blessing of God, which [...] thing very pleasing to Him. Aben- [...] [...]server, That He desires no Reward of His Re [...] Endeavo [...], but this; To be taught the States of God 17 R. [...]olomon reads it so: In a way of Recompen [...] [...] thy Servant the thing [...]y which I m [...] [Page 344]live. Now the Messi [...]h is the Thing by which we live Compare, Lam. IV. 20.

The Coming of the Messiah is promised in those Terms, Isai. XXXV. 4. God the Recompence (or, God with a Recompence) will come and save you. The same Word that is used here. The Messiah is very fity called, The God [...]f Recompence, because He is to be the Judge of the World. Yea, He is called, The God who is the Recompence; Because in the Enjoyment of Him, there is made up the want of every thing else, and amends are made for all Sorrows. The Recompensing JEHOV AH; Chr [...]stian, Tis the Name of thy SAVIOUR. And I have now given th [...]e a Key, to many of the Holy Oracles. Compare, Gen. XV. 1. The promise of the Messiah is, I am thy exceeding great Reward.

The Granting and Coming of the Messiah is here prayed for.

22 It is a Reproach unto a Man, and makes him worthy of Contempt, when he neglects the Divine Institutions. When the Israel [...]tes of Old, kept the Testimonies of GOD, in observing the Circumcision, which was to Testify their Faith in the M [...]ssiah, it was then said, Josh. V. 9. This day I have rou [...]daway the reproach of Egypt from off you. That very Word is used here. Enquire into the Intention.

25 Did the Psalmist humbly Lye prostrate in the Dust, when he thus exprest himself?—A Godly Man will thus complain under and against his Earthly Dispositions.

Munster's Gloss is, proximus morti, I am just going into the Grave.

26 Take an hint of Old Arnobius, Artem Exaudiendi Didicisti, Christiane. Do thou Declare the ways of God, O Christian, in making them thy own, and see if He do not hear thy Prayers.

31 Arnobius notes, That Confusion will naturally [Page 345] [...]ise, when a Petition is not heard, by one of whose [...]avour to us we presumed upon.

45 To walk at Liberty is not to walk as a Liberti [...]; But to be free from the Encumbrances, which may hinder our Walk with GOD.

49 What Word? That in Gen. III. 15. So Arnobi [...]. The Evil Spirits enjoying their Temples and their Opitols, were some of the Proud, who had this Word in Derision.

59 Upon serious Deliberation, What Course of Lise to take. So Patrick paraphrases.

69 May not the Lye referr'd to, be that 1. Sam. XXIV. 9.

91 These things continue; But Man for whom God made them does not continue. Why? They all are Servants of God. But Man declines the Service of God. Homo non persever at quia non, sicut omnia, servit tibi.

This is a Gloss of Antiquity.

96 The most porfect and Glorious things in this World come to an [...]nd. But, the Law of God extends, in futurum seculum. So Munster Glosses it. Arnobius considers the Commandment as exceeding broad; Quia omnia Terra spatia occupat. There will a time come, when all People, in the Breadth of the whole Earth, shall yield Obedience unto it. GOD hasten it

98 Some think, the more particular Commandments by the Observation whereof the Wife Man defeated and out-witted his Enemies, were those which restrain'd him from attempting his own Revenges upon them. See, 1 Sam. XXIV. 17. and XXVI. 21.

99 In the P [...]rke Avoth, we have a Notable Reading of the Passage. I learn Wisdom from all my Teachers. The Text will bear it And, Christian, it will be thy Wisdom to do it.

103 Why Sweet unto his Mouth, and not rather unto his Ear, and his Heart? Mollerus gives a good Account of it. He speaks as a Tea [...]her of others; [Page 346]and there should be nothing so sweet unto a Heather, as to have the Words of GOD passing thro' his Mouth, unto them that are about him.

122 'Tis, as I remember, Austins Note; That this is almost the only Verse of the Psalm, where the Law of God, in one or other of the various terms for it, is not mentioned. And now, Ubi Lex deficit ibi Christus. Now 'tis time for CHRIST our Surety to appear.

126 It is Maimonides who so reads it; It is Time to Work for the Lord.

130 R. Solomon is a little curious here; The Word of GOD, at the very Entrance of it, in the History of the Creation, begins with Lighi.

The Patrician Paraphrase is a Good one; ‘When 2 Man does but begin to be acquainted with thy Word, he finds his Mind marvellously enlightened w [...]th such clear and useful knowledge, as directs the most simple People, how to live happily.’

134 The sense is obvious. But I will a [...]d, that of R. Amama who reads it, The Oppression of Adam, That is, The Evil Figment, or Original Sin, derived from Adam.

136—Yea, What if the Psalmist also laments the Sins of his own Eyes, because they kept not the Law of GOD. The Word for, Law, signifies, both to Teach and to Rain. When God gives His Law to Men, there are Showers of Grace from Heaven upon them. When Men don't keep the Law, it calls for Showers of Grief with all observers on Farth.

PSALM CXX. A Song of Degrees.

1 I In my Tribulation did ‖ make a distressing cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God, and He ‖ did hearken unto me. ‖

[Page 347] 2 Grant O ETERNAL God, unto ‖ my Soul deliverance ‖ from a lip that will speak a lie, ‖ from a deceitful tongue. ‖

3 What shall He give thee, and what pay ‖ to thee, Deceitful tongue. ‖

4 Sharp Arrows of a mighty one, ‖ with Coals of Junipers. ‖

5 Wo is me, that in Mesheck I ‖ am still a sojourner; ‖ in Kedars Tabernacles I ‖ have all my residence. ‖

6 Long hath my Soul its dwelling had ‖ with him that hateth peace. ‖

7 I am for peace; but when I speak, ‖ still they are bent for war, ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXX. PSALM.

MAny Conjectures have been about the meaning of this Title, A Song of Degrees, here put upon fifteen of the Psalms. Kimchi says, They were Sung in the Ascent of the Jews from the Babylonian Capti [...]ity. [We have the same Word, Ezra VII. 9.] R. Saadias will have the Psalms to be Sung in an higher Note, or an higher Place than ordinary. Aben-Ezra thinks. The Term only distinguishes the Tune, to which the Psalms were fisted. R. Obadiah thinks, The Psalms to be Composed for every Degree of Persons. Many think the Psalms to be called thus, because they are Excellent in the Superlative Degree. There are those who fancy them Calculated for the Time, when the Sun went back by the Degrees on the Dial, to foretell the Fifteen Years of Hezekiah's Life. A Worthy Scotchman, Mr. Hutcheson, thinks the Psalms were Sung by the Priesis and Levites, about the Altar, while [Page 348]the Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices, were As [...] in Smoke from thence. Good Old Arnobius will [...] at least an a [...]reeable Similitude upon it. Veluti [...] ali [...] qui [...]in foveam cec [...]dit, ponatur scala. By th [...] Pravers and Frames, we are to be fetch'd up [...] Depths of Calamities. Some, who seem to come [...] the matter than the rest, will have the Psalms [...] Sung, either on the Stairs of the Temple; or [...] Stains belonging to the Tower of David. [Neh [...] 15. XII. 37.] But in the Nouvelles de la Repub [...] des Lettres, I find a Gentleman offering a Conje [...] more ingenious than any yet mentioned. These [...] Psal [...]s were et apart by the Directors of the [...] sia [...]cal Polity of Israel, to be Sung on the Top [...] Stairs, during the Night Watch of the Guard a [...] the Temple. What more agreeable Song could th [...] be, to entertain and [...]nimate their Piety? The [...] [...]ites are so descrio [...]d. Mal. 11.12. Him [...]hat wa [...] and him that answereth. It is [...]tably Explained in [...] last of there [...]if [...]een Psalms. It is a Dialogue, [...] the first that spea [...]s, [...] he tha [...] maketh, namely [...] Levite who stood C [...]ntiael witho [...] the Court of [...] at the Place most proper for him to look out, ex [...] his Companions to Sanctify the Hours of the Night, praisin of GOD, unto the Service of whom they were vote [...]. The other [...]hat Answereth, blesses him [...] Waketh, by way or an Holy Acknowledgment for sub an holy Exhortation; The Lord Bless thee out [...] Zion. What could that Centinel do better, than [...] Sing an Holy Song A certain Proof that this Wat [...]hman in the House of GOD, was neither out of [...] Post, nor tallen a Sleep. And certainly 'twas pre [...] that some Watchman of the Guard, should answ [...] that waked them. A good Exhortation ought [...] to be lest unanswered; and it was for the [...] these Levites to give a proof of their being on [...] tune to time, the Levits [Page 349]was on the Centry, Sung one of other of those Fifteen Psalms: and at the end of every Psalm, he added the two first-Verses of the CXXXIV. Psalm, which occa [...]oned the Answer and Blessing in the last Verse of the Psalm.

The Jews costantly refer all these Fifteen Psalms to their People, in the Dispersion wherein they are now languishing.

In the Fifth Verse of the Psalm now before us, we sind the Idumaeans and Arabians; that is to say, the Romans and the Mahometans.

4 A Long Fire as well as a Strong one, is here pointed at. Juniper abounds with a piercing Oyl, which yields a very sharp Fire; and Pliny says, Coals of Juniper, being raked up, will keep a glowing Fire for a whole Year together.

5 The Hebrew Particle Gnim, is to be translated, Like, as well as, In, or With. As I remember Glassius thus reads the Text now be ore us. But some think that the Calumnies of Doeg did force David, actually to take a flight into these Countries. Or, Mesheck, as Bochart thinks, may signify, not a Place but the Length of Time, which he stayed in his Exile. All the Ancient Interpreters exeept one, understand it so. Patricks Paraphrase is; 'I groan, not only in a tedious Banishment from my own Country, but I am forced to seek for shelter among the Barbarous Arabs.

PSALM CXXI. A Song for Degrees.

1 I Lift my Eyes up to the Hills: ‖ From whence should come my help? ‖

2 My help's from the ETERNAL God, ‖ who made the Heav'ns and Earth, ‖

[Page 350] 3 He will not let thy foot be mov'd; ‖ thy Keeper slumbers not. ‖

4 Lo, He that keepeth Israel; ‖ He slumbers not, nor sl [...]eps. ‖

5 Th' ETERNAL God is He who is ‖ th [...] watchful Keeper still; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God becomes thy shade; ‖ at thy right hand He stands. ‖

6 The Sun shall not smite thee by Day ‖ nor shall the Moon by Night. ‖

7 Th' ETERNAL keeps thee from all ill. ‖ He shall preserve thy Soul. ‖

8 Th' ETERNAL keeps thy going out; ‖ and keeps thy coming in; ‖ He does it from this time and will ‖ do it forevermore. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXI. PSALM.

THe Title here a l [...]ttle differs from the other Fo [...] teen. Cajetan observing it, has a stroke of Christian Modesty, which we may often find occasion to use, when Difficultles in the [...]acred Scriptures occur unto us; Reservo Spiritur Sancto. Restored Isra [...] will thus comfort herself. Compare, Isai. LX. 19. and Rev. XXII. 5.

5 An Allusion to the Pillar of Cloud and Firs, which accommodated Israel, travelling thro' the Wilderness.

6 Sunt Solis et Lunae Tela, Pestis. The Psalm [...] after the Faith of the Second Verse comes to supp [...] [...]he Angels uttering to him in the Holy Place, [...] Comolations. See, 2 Sam. XVII. 1, 6, 22.

[Page 351]

PSALM CXXII. A Song of Degrees. Of David.

1 I Took delight in hearing them ‖ who said thus unto me, ‖ We will go up unto the house ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

2 Our Feer were standing once within‖thy Gates, Jerusalem. ‖

3 Jerusalem's as a City built ‖ compacted well together. ‖

4 Thither the Tribes go up, the Tribes ‖ of JAH, to th' Oracle ‖ of Israel, for to Praise the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

5 For there are plac'd the Thrones on which ‖ Judgment is given forth; ‖ The Thrones which do unto the House of David appertain. ‖

6 For the Peace of Jerusalem ‖ O make a strong request: ‖They who have a true love to thee ‖ shall see Prosperity. ‖

7 Let there be Peace within the Wall ‖ which thou'rt surrounded with; ‖ Let there be seen Prosperity ‖ within thy Palaces. ‖

8 For the sake of my Brethren, and ‖ of my Associates; ‖ this is what I will utter now, ‖ Let Peace be found in thee. ‖

9 For the sake of the House which to‖ th' ETERNAL God belongs,‖ Even the God who is our God; ‖ I will pursue thy Good.‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXII. PSALM.

I Find, the Ancients Expounding the Psalm, concerning the State of Things in the New Jerusalem, after the First Resurrection.

[Page 352] And so Dr. Allix observes, The Psalm is the Gladness of Restored Israel, It supposes the Twelve Tribes gathered, Jerusalem rebuilt, the Twelve Seats of the Apostles laid, and the Reign of the Messiah established.

Some see this occasion for the Psalm. David having setled the Ark at Jerusalem, and being at this Time on some Cocasion in the Country, heard the good People there speak one to another, as some of them did unto him, of going to Worship God, at some of the Three Solemn Festivals: This devotion of theirs, as it rejoyced his heart, so probably it moved him to compose the Psalm, for their use at such Times as these.

The Talmuds tell us, they did use to sing the Firs Verse of the Psalm, as they went out of the Country towards Jerusalem, carrying their First Fruits unto the House of the Lord, as the Law, [Deut. XXVI. 2.] directed them. And when they entred within the Gates of the City, they Sang the Second Verse. There they were met by some of the Citizens who Sang the rest of the Psalm together with them, as they went towards the Temple. Of this Custom Selden gives us a fuller Account.

PSALM CXXIII. A Song of Degrees.

1 TO Thee I lift my Eyes, O Thou ‖ who dwellest in the Heav'ns. ‖

2 Lo, as the Eyes of Servants are ‖ to the hand of their Lords; ‖ as the Eyes of the Handmaid are ‖ unto her Ladies hand; ‖even so our eyes are kept intent ‖ on the ETERNAL God. ‖ He is our God and unto Him‖ w [...] do direct our look; ‖ until that He upon us shall ‖ compassion please to have, ‖

[Page 353] 3 Pity us, O ETERNAL God; ‖ have pity upon us: ‖ for with contempt that's cast on us ‖ We're fill'd exceedingly. ‖

4 Our S [...]ul is fill'd exceedingly ‖ with the contemptuous scorn ‖ of such as live a [...]ease; with the ‖ disdain of haughty ones. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXIII. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here prepares a priver, for the Jews, under the oppression of Antichrist, Dr. Patrick thinks it a snott Prayer mane by a pious person, when the King of Assyria, sent Ra [...]sh kali, and his other Captains, to the besie [...]ing of Jerusalem; when they cast the utmost contempt on the People of God. [2. King. XVIII, XIX.] It m [...]ght be composed by Isaiah, when Hezekiah desired him to lift up a Pray [...] for th [...] Remnant that was left. Perhaps both Hezekich and he, lift up their Eyes to Heaven, and used these Words.

PSALM CXXIV. A Song of Degrees

1 BUT that th' ETERNAL was with us, ‖ Now this may Israel say.

2 But that th' ETERNAL was with us, ‖ when Men against us rose. ‖

3 Then had they swallow'd us alive, ‖ when their wrath rag'd at us. ‖

4 Then had the waters cover'd us, ‖ the stream gone o'er our Soul.‖

[Page 354] 5 Then the proud swelling waters had ‖ surely gone o'er our Soul. ‖

6 Bless'd be th' ETERNAL, who gives not ‖ us to their Teeth a prey. ‖

7 Our Soul's escaped as a bird ‖ out of the Fowlers snare; ‖ the snare is broken; and we are ‖ escaped out of it. ‖

8 Our help is in the Name of Him ‖ who's the ETERNAL God; ‖ He is the Powerful Maker of ‖ the Heavens and the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXIV. PSALM.

THe Miraculous conservation of Israel among the Idolaters and Barbarians, who have often sought their entire Destruction, is here celebrated.

8 The Jews apprehend, not only the Cause, but also the very Time of their great Redemption to be here mysteriously intimated. The Lord permitted Six Days to roll away, while He made Heaven and Earth. Even [...]o, they say, the Lord will not appear for their Help, till towards the End of the Sixth Millennium; For, A Thousand Years is with the Lord [...]s one day. Then their Soul will escape as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowler.

PSALM CXXV. A Song of Degrees.

1 THey who trust in th' ETERNAL God, ‖ these as Mount Zion are; ‖ which is not to be mov'd, but stands ‖ to perpetuity.‖

2 Mountains surround Jerusalem;‖ so the ETERNAL God ‖ surrounds His People from this time. [...] and [...]v [...]n for evermore.‖

[Page 355] 3 For the Rod of Iniquity ‖ shall not rest on the Lot ‖ of just ones: lest the just put forth ‖ their hands to Wickedness ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL God, Do Thou ‖ please to do good unto ‖ such as are good, and to such as ‖ are in their hearts upright:‖

5 But such as turn to crooked ways, ‖ th' ETERNAL God will these ‖ with evil Doers make to go. ‖ Peace upon Israel now!‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXV. PSALM.

DR. Patrick looks on the Psalm, as an Exhortation unto the People, to trust in God, when Sennacherib threatned the Destruction of Jerusalem. These may be some of the Comfortable Words. which Hezekiah then spake unto them. [2. Chron. XXXII. 6.7.8.] When God chastised them with that Rod of His Anger. [See, Isai, X. 5.]

Dr. Allix looks further, and sees here; a Proplecy of Israel's Preservation, and the Destruction of the Antichristian Powers, which oppress them, and persecute the Church; and at last Israels Happiness, when this Rod or Scepter of Wic [...]edness, [...]dest [...]oyed.

2 The Original is, And the Lord is round about His People. But the Particle Van often Signifies Much more.

3 An Allusion to the Method used for the dividing of Lands among the Jews. A Rod or Staff was used in Sortition; particularly, in assigning any I and by Lot. The meaning is; The Portion of the Wicked, shall not be the Portion of the Righteous; they shall not in their future Condition be confounded with one another

[Page 356]

PSALM. CXXVI. A Song of Degrees.

1 WHen the ETERNAL God return'd ‖ what was returned of ‖ the Captiv'd Zion, we were like ‖ to people in a Dream. ‖

2 Then was our Mouth replenished ‖ with Notes of cheerful mirth; ‖ so was our Tongue with Shouts; they then ‖ among the People said; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God hath done for them ‖ things that are very great, ‖

3 Th' ETERNAL God, hath done for us ‖ great things; whereof we're Glad. ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL God, Return ‖ what must return of us; ‖ It will exhilirate us like ‖ Streams running in the South. ‖

5 They who do Sow in Tears, shall reap ‖ with an exulting Joy. ‖

6 Each one of those in going forth ‖ does mostly weeping go: ‖ He carries forth the Precious Seed, ‖ a little, to be sown; ‖ he surely does return with Joy; ‖ he does bring back his Sheaves. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXVI. PSALM.

BEhold the Surprise of the Israelites Returned and Restored by the Messiah,

1 Some take it so, We were in such a Frame, and it was at such a Time, that we took all the Prophecies about our Deliverance, to have been so many Dreams.

[Page 357] 4 A Thing as welcome as the Enjoyment of Streams in a thirsty Land. So Munster: Non mimis erit illud, quam si in Deserto squalido et exusto, Rivos facias urrere aquarum. The South of the Holy Land is every parched Land; a dry and a faint Wilderness.

6 Kimchi says, The Husbandman is here supposed, in a dry Soil, falling into Tears, thro' Fears that the Droughts will procure the loss of all the Seed. But God looks on his Tears, and with seasonable Showers, procures the Joy of Harvest.

And now the Spanish Gloss will more particularly and Emphatically tell you, who the Weeping Husbandman are. Los Trabans pios Ministros del Evangelio, no ser an sin Fruto. The Labouring and pious Ministers of the Gospel shall not be without Fruit.

This is Dr. Patricks Paraphrase. ‘Just as we behold the poor Husbandman, going to and fro with a little Seed, which in a scarce year, he throws with a heavy heart into the Ground, returning again and again from the Field, with Songs of Joy in his Mouth, when the Harvest comes to Reward his past Labours with a Plentiful Crop of Corn.’

PSALM CXXVII. A Song of Degrees of Solomon.

UNless that the ETERNAL God ‖ shall please to build the House; ‖ they that the Builders of it are ‖ do labour but in vain. ‖ Unless that the ETERNAL God ‖ shall please to keep the Town, ‖ in vain does any keeper else ‖ maintain a careful Watch. ‖

2 In vain is all you do, O you, ‖ who do make haste to rise; ‖ who don't sit down till it be late; ‖ who eat the Bread of Griefs. ‖ [Page 358]So, * and in a convenient way, ‖ He does a sweet repose ‖ unto His Jedidiah give, ‖ * to His Beloved one. ‖

3 Lo, Children are the Heritage ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ the Fruit of the Womb is bestow'd ‖ by Him as a Reward. ‖

4 As Arrows in the Hand of one ‖ that is a mighty Man, ‖ so are the Sons of Youth, to him ‖ who sees them in their Youth. ‖

5 O Blessed is the Man, who hath ‖ his Quiver full of them ‖ Such won't be sham'd, when they speak with ‖ their Enemies in the Gate. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXVII PSALM.

WAS not Solomon the Writer of the Psalm? None of his more than Three Thousand Songs transmitted unto Posterity; but only This and the Next and the CXXXII. Psalm, and the Canticles ‖

The Psalm is a Commentary upon a Maxim of Piety often repeated in his Book of Proverbs; That it is in vain to attempt any thing, if the Lord will not prosper it. See Prov. III. 6. XVI. 3, 9. XX. 24. XXI. 30, 31.

But R. David Kimchi has observed, that the Psalm refers to [...]ter Times, than those wherein Solomon erected the Temple, and enlarged the City. He finds here the happiness of the restored sews, under a greater than Solomon.

2 Solomon had it said of him, 2 Sam. XII. 24. The Lord loved him. Now, to see how every clause here belonged unto this Jedidiah, consult, 1. Chron, XXII. 9, 10. I will give him rest from all his Enemies; I [Page 359]will give Peace and Quietness to Israel in his Days; He shall build an House for my Name. Accordingly there are three ben fits applied unto Solomon, His Building of the Temple; his keeping of the City; and his enjoying of Rest with his People. But a direction is here given, both Whence and When, these Benefits were to be expected. q. d. ‘You must expect these Benefits from the Lord who will not give them unto you, until Solomon His Beloved one come into the Succession.’

Arnchius carries these things, to the Coming of our SAVIOUR, and the Inheritance which his People shall receive at the Resurrection, after they have slept in their Graves.

5 The Gate in which they are not afraid of speaking with their Enemies, is, Cumegrediuntur Corpore in quo Diabolum superarunt. Compare, Mat. VII. 14.

PSALM CXXVIII. A Song of Degrees.

1 O The vast Blessings of the Man, ‖ yea, and of every Man, ‖ who does feat the ETERNAL God, ‖ who in His ways does walk! ‖

2 For what the Labour of thy Hands ‖ has gotten, thou shalt eat; ‖ Blessings of all sorts shall be thine, ‖ and good shall be to thee. ‖

3 In the sides of thy House thy Wife ‖ proves as a Fruitful Vine; ‖ thy Children round thy Table prove ‖ as Plants of Olive Trees. ‖

4 O give a due attention to ‖ this grateful Spectacle; ‖ for so the Man shall blessed be ‖ who fears th' ETERNAL God. ‖

[Page 360] 5 Th' ETERNAL God from Zion shall ‖ a Blessing give to thee; ‖ all the days of thy Life, so thou ‖ shalt see Jerusalem's good. ‖

6 Yea, Thou shalt see the Children which ‖ are of thy Children born; ‖ Thou shalt see Peace on Israel; ‖ Peace be on Israel. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXVIII. PSALM.

BEhold the Happiness of the Jewish Nation, when anon restored unto the Favour of GOD. Compare Isai. LXV. and Ezek. XXXVII.

1 Arnobius observes, That Walking in the Ways of God, is added unto, His Fear, to distinguish it from the Fear which the Divels have, who Believe and Tremble

6 Luther has a Note; That GOD bestows Publick Peace upon a People, out of respect unto well ordered Families; partly that they may sustain themselves with Daily Bread: But chiefly, That they may bestow a good Education upon their Posterity.

PSALM CXXIX. A Song of Degrees.

1 MUch from my Youth they've troubled me, ‖ This now may Israel say. ‖

2 Much from my youth they've troubled me, ‖ but o'er me not prevail'd. ‖

3 The Plowers plow'd upon my Back; ‖ they made their Furrows long. ‖

4 Th' ETERNAL God who's Just, has cut ‖ the Cords of Wicked ones. ‖

5 They who hate Zion, let them all ‖ be sham'd, and turned back. ‖

[Page 361] 6 As grass on Houses let them be, ‖ which withers e're 'tis grown. ‖

7 He that's a mower don't so much ‖ as all his hand therewith; ‖ much less does he that bindeth sheaves ‖ therewith his bosom [...]ll. ‖

8 Nor shall Men passing say, On you ‖ th' ETERNAL's Blessing be; ‖ We bless you in the Name of Him ‖ who's the ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXIX. PSALM.

SEE the Restored Jews, describing the Great Mischiefs they suffered under Antichrist; and the wondrous Ruin of their Oppressors, abandoned unto the Curse of GOD.

6, 7. We don't use, either Sheaves or Handfulls in that kind of Husbandry. But the Ancient Writers, De Re Rustica, have such Expressions. Columella has, Fanum Vincire, the Binding up of Hay. Varro asafirms, De his manipules fieri. In their mowing, it seems, they did not cut all down clear at once; but used [...] After-section, which they called Sizilitium. They did, as Pliny Notes, Falcibus consec [...]i qa [...] Foeniseca praterierunt.

But Maundril in his Travels, tells us, They pluck up their Corn by Handful [...], at the Ro [...]t; that they may loose none of their Straw; — No Hay being made there; The Mower is no other than he that would in this way Fill his hand.

6 Arnobius has a Nice Fa [...]y on the House Top here; Quia maxima pars Hareticorum ad personas alt as [...]dit.

[Page 362]

PSALM. CXXX. A Song [...]f Degrees.

1 OUt of the Depths I cry'd [aloud] ‖ the ETERNAL God. ‖

2 Lord, Hear my Voice, to the Voice [...] my Pra [...]ers be bow'd thine Ear. ‖

3 If Thou [O Thou] ETERNAL JAH. ‖ souldst mark Iniquities, ‖ O Lord, who is there that could stand, ‖ when in the Judgement try'd? ‖

4 But [surely] there is found with the [...] a Pardon for our Sins; ‖ that so Thou maybe worshipped ‖ with a Religious Fear. ‖

5 For [Him who's] the ETERNAL Go [...] I wait; my Soul does wait; ‖ and on His Word I do rely ‖ with an expecting hope. ‖

6 My Soul waits [and looks] for the Lord, ‖ more than the Watchers do ‖ for Morning; more than they that are ‖ Watchers for morning, do. ‖

7 In the ETERNAL God [O now] ‖ let Israel confide; ‖ for there is mercy to be found ‖ with the ETERNAL God. ‖ Yea, and with Him there [surely] is ‖ Redemption plenteous. ‖

8 And He will Israel redeem ‖ from alls [...]niquities. ‖

[Page 363]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXX. PSALM.

HA [...] not the Prophetic Spirit here provided a Prayer for Pardon, unto abdicated Israel? And Protestation of their Expectation, to be redeemed by the Messiah, who is the True GOD?

Patrick thinks the Psalm to be composed by David, under the Sauline Persecution; [When reduc'd unto [...]at condition, Psalm XVIII. 4. and LXIX. 2, 14, 16.] He Beseeches the Holy One, to Pardon his own Sins, and the Sins of the People, which made them deserve the ill Government of Saul, which now brought so [...]ch Corruption, and Confusion upon them.

4 Divers of the Jewish Rabbi's observe an Emphasis on the Particle Thee. God has made His Angels His [...]nisters to dispense his Favours: But the Remission of Sins He reserves to Himself alone.

6 The Messiah is undoubtedly, The Lord, here [...]ited for. In the Morning the Priests that waited, [...] their daily Sacrifices. Behold a plain and full Inti [...]ation, That the Faithful People of God, when they brought their Sacrifices unto Him, had their Faith waiting for the Messiah, who is to bring in a Plenteous Redemption with Him. And in the Reduplication of this Passage, is there not a Prophecy, that there were to be Two Comings of the Messiah?

PSALM. CXXXI. A Song of Degrees. Of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, My Heart, ‖ it is not haughty grown; ‖ nor are these Eyes of mine with proud ‖ elation lifted up. ‖ Nor have I exercis'd my self ‖ in matters very great; ‖ nor in such matters as would be ‖ too wondrous high for me. ‖

[Page 364] 2 What? Han't I set and silenced ‖ my Soul just as a Child ‖ from'ts Mother wean'd? My Soul in me ‖ is as a weaned Child. ‖

3 Let Israel now with hope confide ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ Yea let him do it from this time ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXI. PSALM.

INto this Humility and Mortification ought the Jewish Nation to reduce themselves, that so the promised Redemption may arrive unto them.

3 Tis impossible to mention a more Hopeful Preparation for all the Blessings of Goodness, than a Resignation to the Will of a Soveraign God. Christian, Become as a weaned Child, willing to be any thing that a Soveraign God will have thee to be. FROM HENCEFORTH mayst thou Hope, that He will deal mercifully and wonderfully with thee.

PSALM. CXXXII. A Song of Degrees.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, Have Thou ‖ in thy remembrance still ‖ David and all th' Affliction which ‖ he has encountred with. ‖

2 How he did take a solemn Oath, ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ he then did make a solemn Vow ‖ to Jacob's mighty one. ‖

3 If I do go into the Tent ‖ wherein ‖ have my House; ‖ if I go up unto the Bed ‖ that has my Coverlets. ‖

[Page 365] 4 If I do give unto my Eyes ‖ the Sleep [...]ich they require, ‖ or but unto my Eye-lids once ‖ a little slumbring time: ‖

5 Until I do find out a place ‖ for the [...]TERNAL God; ‖ Mansions to be inhabited ‖ by Jacob's Mighty One. ‖ —

6 — Behold of it, ev'n of Thy Ark ‖ we heard at Ephratah; ‖ we found it in the fields that were ‖ then overgrown with wood. ‖

7 We will into the Mansions go ‖ inhabited by Thee; ‖ and at thy footstool there we will ‖ with bowing down adore. ‖

8 ETERNAL God, Arise to go ‖ unto thy place of Rest; ‖ Arise, Thou and the Ark from whence ‖ Thy Power doth appear. ‖

9 O let thy Priests array themselves ‖ with robes of Righteousness; ‖ and those who are thy gracious Ones, ‖ O let them shout for joy. ‖

10 Because of David who has been ‖ a Servant unto thee, ‖ O turn thou not away the Face ‖ of thine Anointed One. ‖

11 The Truth has the ETERNAL God ‖ unto His David sworn; ‖ He'l not turn from't I'l on thy Throne ‖ one from thy bowels set. ‖

12 If that thy Children shall keep well ‖ my Covenant with them, ‖ and keep the Testimony which ‖ I shall instruct them in; ‖ Then also their Posterity ‖ that shall come after them, ‖ even to perpetuity ‖ shall sit upon thy Throne. ‖

[Page 366] 13 Because that the ETERNAL God ‖ of Zion hath made choice; ‖ He hath desired it to have ‖ His Habitation there. ‖

14 This is the Place where I will rest ‖ to Perpetuity; ‖ Here I will have my dwelling place; ‖ for I've desired it. ‖

15 I surely * and abundantly ‖ will her Provision bless; ‖ with bread I'll fully satisfy ‖ the Poor which be in her. ‖

16 Her Priests I with Salvation will ‖ adorn as with a Robe; ‖ Her gracious ones, they also shall ‖ Sing, yea, and shout for joy. ‖

17 There I will for my David make ‖ an Horn to Issue forth; ‖ I have a Lamp ordained there ‖ for mine anointed one. ‖

18 His Adversaries I will cloth ‖ with a Contemptuous shame; ‖ but upon him still flourishing ‖ shall be his Diadem. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXII. PSALM.

THE Hope of the Jewish Nation, is here provided by the Prophetic Spirit. But what they most build upon is, the promise of the Messiah, who, when He comes again is to bring about their glorious Happiness, and bring destruction on their Pnemies.

Was not Solomon the Writer of the Psalm? He concludes his Prayer at the Consecration of the Temple with part of [...].

It may refer to the pious humility of David, who chose to endure many Afflictions, rather than by un [...]ul means [...]o advance himself. See the first Verse o [...] the [ [...]oin] [...]alm.

[Page 367] Mighty One, is as much as to say Lord. So, [...]aris et Terrae Tempestatumque potentes.

6. A Discourse written in Barhary, 1610. Entituled, The Messith already come, has this Gloss upon the [...] David after much restless study, to find out the Mystery of the Place, where the Messiah should ‘be born;—At length the Mystery being reveal'd unto him, he does as it were point unto the very Place, in the words following; Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah; which is the same with Bethlehem.’

It was in the Territory of Bethlehem Ephratah, [Gen. XXXV. 16, 19.] In the Fields that the Angel [...]ood, and directed David to build an Altar to the Lord. [1. Chron. XXI. 18. XXII. 1]

16 Such as have nothing but Salvation, and what [...]ds to it, conspicuous upon them; look on them and on shall see in them a most conspicuous care to obtain Salvation; A Care worthy of your Imitation. Come to them and you shall be excited unto the Care of Salvation, and be directed, how to obtain it. Munster [...] a Gloss of this Tendency.

17 An Horn signifies Might, Strength, Joy, Safety, and Prosperity; anon, Glory. And so, a Royal Power. From Keren, and Cornu, may come, Corona. flence in the Prophetic. Schemes of Daniel, and of John, Horns do signify Kings. [Dan. VII. 24. VIII. 7.] The Pagans learnt the Speech; Pauper Cornua sumit. Jupiter was called Corniger. Alexander was Bicornis on Medals. In the Alcoran, his Name is, Dulcarnain.

PSALM CXXXIII. A Song of Degrees.

1 BEhold how good a thing it is, ‖ and how delectable, ‖ when Brethren down together sit ‖ united in their Love! ‖

[Page 368] 2 Tis like the precious Ointment which ‖ poured upon the Head, ‖ made its Descent upon the Beard ‖ of Aaron here and there. ‖ Yea, and it did go farther down ‖ to the edge of his Robe ‖ that clos'd about his Neck, and reach'd ‖ the Names of all the Tribes. ‖

3 Tis like the Dew which is upon ‖ Mount Hermon often seen; ‖ and that which on the Mountains of ‖ Zion does make descent. ‖ Because that it is in that Place ‖ that the ETERNAL God ‖ commands His Blessing, even Life ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXIII. PSALM.

BEhold an Hymn to be Sung, when the Tribes of Israel shall be gathered and restored.

When the Tribes of Israel had no Strife, but who should be most forward in returning to their. Allegiance; and the Children of Judah were inclin'd as one Man, to bring back David unto his Kingdom, after the Rebellion of Absalom; then might he fall into this Rapturous Admiration of their Unity. This is Dr. Patrick's Tho't.

But the Psalm was aptly to be applied unto the Babylonian Captivity; when as Theodoret Notes, the Tribes which had been divided by the Imprudence of Rehoboam; were again united.

The Primitive Christians used the Psalm to express their Joy, for the blessed Union of the Jews and Gentiles, which had been as distant from one another as, Hermon from Zion.

2 Aaron, on the Collar of his Garment, bore the Names of all the Tribes of Israel; they were all perfumed.

[Page 369] 3 Modern Travellers tell us, they found the [...]selves [...]et with the Dew of Hormon, falling in the Night, [...] it had ra [...]'d upon them.

PSALM CXXXIV. A Song of Degrees.

1 O Give Attention! Speak ye well ‖ of the ETERNAL God, ‖ all you that are the Servants, who ‖ wait on the ETERNAL God; ‖ ye who by Night stand in the house ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

2 Lift up your hands with Holiness, ‖ and bless th' ETERNAL God. ‖

3 From Zion may th' ETERNAL God ‖ Kis Blessing g [...]ve to thee; ‖ The God who is. the Maker of ‖ the Heavens and the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXIV. PSALM.

B [...]hold the Devotions of the Israelitish Nation, at the return of the Messiah; and their Prayers or the continuation of their Happiness. Look back to the Illustrations on the CXX. Psalm.

PSALM CXXXV.

1 S [...]ng HALLELUJAH. Praise the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ Praise, O you that the Servants are ‖ of the ETERNAL God ‖

2 You that your Station have in the ‖ House of th' ETERNAL God; ‖ standing in the Courts of the House ‖ of Him who is our God. ‖

3 Praise JAH; Because that truly Good ‖ is the ETERNAL God; ‖ Sing Praises to His Name; because ‖ it is a pleasant thing. ‖

[Page 370] 4 Becaus [...] [...]hat JAH has made a choice ‖ of Jacob for himself; ‖ of Israel for a Treasu [...] to ‖ Himself peculiar. ‖

5 For as to me, this I do know, ‖ That the ETERNAL God ‖ is a Great One, and that our Lord ‖ is above all the God's! ‖

6 Whatever He would please to do ‖ th' ETERNAL God hath done, ‖ in th' Heav'ns, and on Earth, in Seas, ‖ and in all Abysses. ‖

7 From the ends of the Earth He makes ‖ the Clouds arise; He makes ‖ Lightnings with rain; He brings the Wind ‖ out of His Treasuries ‖

8 Of Egypt He smote the First-born, ‖ from Man, ev'n to the Beast. ‖

9 In midst of thee, O Egypt, He ‖ did Signs and Wonders send; ‖ This He did upon Pharaoh and ‖ on all that served Him. ‖

10 Great Nations He laid strokes upon ‖ and He slew mighty Kings. ‖

11 Sihon King of the Amorites, ‖ He slew, and Og the King ‖ of Bashan, all the Kingdoms too ‖ which were in Canaan found. ‖

12 And He disposed of their Land ‖ as an Inheritance; ‖ as an Inheritance unto ‖ His People Israel. ‖

13 Thy Name is, O ETERNAL God, ‖ to Perpetuity; ‖ Thy Memory, O ETERNAL God, ‖ it is from Age to Age. ‖

14 For the ETERNAL God will to ‖ His People be the Judge; ‖ and upon them that serve Him He ‖ will now refresh Himself, ‖

[Page 371] 15 The Idols which the Nations do ‖ render their Homage to, ‖ are nothing but Silver and Gold; ‖ what hands of Men have wrought. ‖

16 Mouths have they, but they do not speak; ‖ they've Eyes but do not see, ‖

17 Ears have they, but they do not hear; ‖ no breath is in their Mouths. ‖

18 They that the Makers are of such ‖ ridiculous things are these, ‖ are like them; so is every one ‖ that puts his trust in them. ‖

19 Bless the ETERNAL God, O you ‖ the House of Israel; ‖ Bless the ETERNAL God, O you ‖ that are of Aaron's House. ‖

20 Bless the ETERNAL God, O you ‖ that are of Levi's House; ‖ Ye who do fear th' ETERNAL God, ‖ Bless you th' ETERNAL God. ‖

21 O Blessed out of Zion be ‖ now the ETERNAL God, ‖ who dwelleth in Jerusalem. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now! ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXV. PSALM.

TIs an Hymis of Praise, to be Sung by restored Isiael; Rehearsing the Ancient Miracles done for their Fathers, and insulting the false Gods of Antichrist. The Ideas of the Psalm are followed in the XL Chapter of Isaiah.

1 The Apollo of the Ancients was our Joshua, Joshua's Conquest of Og, and the Anakims in Canaan, was Apollo's Defeat of Typhon, or Python, and the other Giants. Cadmus the Gibeonite with other Phanicians, carrying a Colony into C [...]aecia, celebrated the [Page 372]Victories of Josi [...]a in such Hymns as they had learn'd from their New Masters in the Land of Ca [...]a [...]. Might not such strains as are in the Psalm now before us, be among those Hymns? And the E [...]elu Jou Jou used in them, be no other than our Hallelujah?

18 There is this admirable Force in the mention of the respects paid by the Hearthen to their Idols. ‘The Honour the Heathen give to their lifeless Images, ought mightily to excite us all, with a greater Devotion to Praise our God, who is the Maker of all things.’

PSALM CXXXVI.

1 [O Now] a just Confession make ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Because that He is good; Because ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

2 [O now] a just Confession make ‖ unto the God of Gods; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuty. ‖

3 [O now] a just Confession make ‖ unto the Lord of Lords; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

4 To Him who [eber] only doth ‖ things great and wonderful; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

5 To Him who made the Heav'ns [above] ‖ wifely disposing them; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

6 To Him who stretch'd the Earth [abroad] ‖ upon the Waters laid; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

7 To Him who made [and set] the Lights ‖ which are so very great; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

[Page 373] 8 The Sun [it is] that for the Day ‖ does [...]dominion bear; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

9 The Moon and Stars that have [in course] ‖ Dominion for the Night; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

10 To Him that Egypt smote [and slew] ‖ in the First-born of them; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

11 And He [thereon] did Israel bring ‖ forth from the midst of them; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

12 With a strong [mighty] Hand, and with ‖ a most extended Arm; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

13 To Him who did in [several] parts ‖ divide the Reedy-Sea; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

14 And He made Israel [safely] pass ‖ thorough the midst of it; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

15 But shook off Pharoah, and [all of] ‖ his Host, i' th' Reedy-Sea; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

16 To Him who led His [chosen] folk ‖ thorough the Wilderness; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

17 To Him who laid His [killing] strokes ‖ on great and potent Kings; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

[Page 374] 18 And He slew Kings that were [esteem'd] ‖ exceeding powerful; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

19 Sihon was one of these [great Kings] ‖ King of the Amorites; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

20 And Og mother was [of them] ‖ who was of Bashan King; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

21 And He did give their Land [away] ‖ for an Inheritance; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity, ‖

22 'Tis an Inheritance [design'd] ‖ for Israel serving Him; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

23 Who in our low [oppress'd] Estate ‖ hath mindful been of us; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

24 And from [all of] our Enemies ‖ He [...]th redeemed us; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

25 Who [kindly] to all Flesh affords ‖ and for their fustenance; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

26 [O now] a just Confession make ‖ unto the God of Heav'n; ‖ Because His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXVI. PSALM.

AN Hymn to be Sung by Israel, after their Deliverance from all their Enemies. In the Third [Page 375]Verse, The Lord of Lords is Praised; The Title of the Messiah at His next Coming. Twenty Six Times, occurs, His Mercy doth endure to Perpetuity. The Psalm does Commence with the Creation, and Conclude with the Entrance into Cana [...]n; between which there had run Twenty Six Generations. The Numeral Letters of the Name, JEHOVAH, amount unto just that Number. Consider still the Clause to which that Consolation is annexed. It is, q. d. The Mercy of GOD, will still do for His People, such things as the Clause makes mention of; or things of the like importance with them. Further Elegencies may be observed in the Analogies.

10 The Psalmist having distinctly mentioned the Works produced in the Four First Days of the Creation, immediately passes to the Plagues upon Egypt. The Works produced in the Two next Days of the Creation, were employed in those Plaaues.

20 Why only Sihon and Og mentioned? R. David Kimchi gives this Reason; Because their Lands were not in the Covenant, which GOD made with Abraham.

23 The Mercy of God, which has remembred thee in thy Low Estate; Christian, Let it Endure to P [...]rpetuity, in thy Thankful Remembrance of it, and of the Obligations it has laid upon thee, to Live unto GOD. Behold, a Noble sense, in which it should be said, His Mercy doth endure to P [...]rpetuity.

PSALM CXXXVII.

1 WE by the Rivers which do run ‖ thro' Babylon, sat there; ‖ yea, we pour'd out our Tears when we ‖ remembred Zion there. ‖

2 Upon the Willows in the midst ‖ thereof we hung our Harps. ‖

[Page 376] 3 For they that Captiv'd us did there ‖ demand of us to Sing ‖ words of a Song, and they who laid‖ us in our ruinous heaps,‖ demanded mirth, Sing us, said they,‖ a Song of Zion, Sing! ‖

4 Our Answer was, How can we do‖ to Sing a Song that is ‖ for the ETERNAL God, in the ‖ Land of a stranger here? ‖

5 O dear Jerusalem, If I ‖ of thee forgetful grow! ‖ As soon shall my Right-hand forget ‖ what it is us'd unto! ‖

6 My Tongue shall to my Palate cleave ‖ when thee I do not mind! ‖ If I don't set Jerus'lem at ‖ the top of all my Joy. ‖

7 Remember, O ETERNAL God, ‖ the Sons of Edom, who ‖ said in Jerus'lems day, Rase, Rase, ‖ to its foundation bare. ‖

8 Daughter of Babylon, who art ‖ to be made desolate, ‖ Happy, who shall repay to thee ‖ the pay thou'st paid to us! ‖

9 O the great blessedness of him ‖ who shall lay hold upon, ‖ and who against the solid Rock ‖ shall dash thy little ones! ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXVII. PSALM.

WE have here the sorrowful State of the Jews, under the first Babylonian Captivity; and then under the Roman Domimon, which the Prophet calls, Daughter of Babylon, because the Romans have done to them as the Babylonians did. Several Prophets have agreed with our Psalmist, in calling the Romans by the Name of Edom. In the Jewish Treatise Git [...], [Page 377]R. Jebudah finds the Destruction of both Temples, [...]der the Two Terms of Babylon and Edom. Ar [...]obius pathetically makes the Babylonians here, a Picture of the Devils insulting over fallen Man.

1 When they were transported into Babylon, they [...]ad the sides of Euphrates and several of its Rivers, assigned for their Habitation. [Ezek. 1.1.] Chrysostom says, They did not at first sufer the Captives to dwell in any of their Towns, but made them dwell along the sides of the Rivers, where they built little Cottages for themselves; and perhaps they were put upon Draining those moist places to make them wholsome.

3 The Babylonians here demand, Sing us, the Words of a Song. It seems, they had no regard unto the [...]atter. The Tune, The Sound, the Words, was all they cared for. A Mark of Babylonians! Among such they regard nothing but Words and Forms; All they mind, is a Lip-Labour, an External. Service in Religion.

PSALM CXXXVIII. Of David.

1 I Will a just Confession make ‖ of thee with all my heart; ‖ Before God, * and His Angels, I ‖ will Praises Sing to thee. ‖

2 Toward thy holy Temple I ‖ will bowing down adore; ‖ and I will celebrate thy Name ‖ for thy benignity, ‖ and for thy faithfulness; for that ‖ thou above every thing ‖ hast magnify'd thy Name; Thou hast ‖ so magnify'd thy Word. ‖

3 In the day I invoked thee, ‖ and thou didst answer me; ‖ Thou in my Soul with manly strength ‖ me then didst fortify. ‖

[Page 378] 4 To Thee, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ all the Kings of the Earth ‖ shall their Confessions make, when of ‖ thy mouth they he [...] the words. ‖

5 Yea, they'l with voice sing in the ways ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ Because that great the Glory is ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

6 For the ETERNAL God is high; ‖ but looks upon the low; ‖ whereas what would be high, He does ‖ far off take notice of. ‖

7 Altho' my walk be lying in ‖ the midst of much distress, ‖ yet thou with sweet revivals wilt ‖ enable me to live: ‖ Thou'lt use thy hand against the rage ‖ of my fierce enemies; ‖ and thy Right hand shall unto me ‖ give a deliverance. ‖

8 Th' ETERNAL God will perfect what ‖ He has to do for me: ‖ Thy mercy, O ETERNAL God ‖ is to Eternity. ‖ O do not thou forsake, * O don't ‖ utterly cast away, ‖ those Men and things that are the Works ‖ that thy own Hands have wrought. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXVIII. PSALM.

AN Illustrious Prophecy concerning the calling of the Israelitish Nation, to the knowledge of the Messiah; and the Great Conversion of the Heathen Kingdoms to His Religion, after the Messiah has destroy'd the Enemies of the Kingdom.

5 The Wonderful Ways wherein the Lord brings about His Glorious Purposes will be the Subject of their Songs. The Ways of God in bringing of David unto [Page 379]his Kingdom; were those the things which the Kings in the Neighbourhood celebrated?

6 The tho'ts of the Proud are hid in their Hearts afar [...], out of fight; They have more Wit than to utter me Proud thot's, which lie covered and swelling in their minds. But the Lord knows what they are afar [...]. The Proud may be here compared unto a L [...]per; one who has little cause to be Proud. God knows a Proud Man to be no better than a filthy Leper, upon [...]om it was enjoyned, that He should stand afar off; [...]e might not be approach'd unto; nor will the Spirit of GOD approach near unto such a Man. Compare L [...]v. XIII. 45, 46.

The Patrician Paraphrase, is; ‘He will not stoop [...] the loftiest Princes (as they may see in Soul) whom He despises, when they are forgetful of Him, and ungrateful to Him.’

7 Arnobius here sees our SAVIOUR extending His Hands upon the Cross.

PSALM CXXXIX. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 ETERNAL God, Thou'st searched me, ‖ and hast known what I am. ‖

2 Thou know'st full well my sitting down, ‖ and know'st my rising up. ‖ Thou at the greatest distance dost ‖ well understand my tho't. ‖

3 My path thou seest round, and my bed; ‖ and find'st out all my ways. ‖

4 Yea, and each word I speak, while it ‖ is not yet in my tongue; ‖ Behold, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou knowest all of it. ‖

[Page 380] 5 Me thou hast formed, * and beset, ‖ both as to what's behind, ‖ and as to what's before; and thou ‖ hast laid thy hand on me ‖

6 Such knowledge as this is, it is ‖ too wonderful for me; ‖ Sublime it is, and it is more ‖ than I can reach unto! ‖

7 Where shall I from thy Spirit go? ‖ And where fly from thy Face? ‖

8 If I should say, I will ascend ‖ to Heaven, Thou art there: ‖ Or, If I make my Bed in Hell; lo, Thou art also there. ‖

9 I'll take the Mornings Wings, I'll dwell ‖ at the Seas utmost bounds. ‖

10 Even unto that very place ‖ thy hand shall carry me; ‖ Thy Right hand also, that shall make ‖ a seizure on me there. ‖

11 If I should say, Assuredly ‖ Darkness should cover me; ‖ The very Night itself would be ‖ about me as the Light. ‖

12 Yea, Darkness nothing hides from thee; ‖ but Night doth shine like Day; ‖ The Darkness and the Light, they are ‖ both but the very same. ‖

13 For my most hidden Reins thou hast ‖ in thy possession held; ‖ Thou in my Mothers Womb, as with ‖ a Tent hast cover'd me. ‖

14 I'll praise thee for with wonders I ‖ have separated been; ‖ Thy Works are wondrous, and my Soul ‖ knows this abundantly. ‖

15 My strength was not hid from thee; when ‖ [Page 381]I was in secret made, ‖ in the Earth's lowest parts I was ‖ most curiously wrought. ‖

16 Thy Eyes did see my unform'd mass; ‖ and in thy Book were all ‖ writ down 5 the days when they were form'd ‖ and none of them were lost. ‖

17 And now, how valuable are ‖ thy Thot's to me, O God! Into how great a reck'ning are ‖ they to be multiply'd! ‖

18 If I should go to number them ‖ more man the Sand they grow. ‖ When I awake out of my sleep, ‖ then I am still with thee. ‖

19 O God, Thou wilt most certainly ‖ destroy the wicked one; ‖ And now you that are bloody Men, ‖ Do you depart from me. ‖

20 These are they who against thee speak ‖ abominable stuff; ‖ They who are enemies to thee ‖ are such as sweat in vain. ‖

21 Do not I hate those who do hate ‖ Thee, O ETERNAL God? ‖ Those who do up against thee rife, ‖ be'nt I offended at? ‖

22 I hate them with perfection in ‖ my hatred unto them; ‖ They as my Adversaties are ‖ ever esteem'd with me. ‖

23 Make thou a thorough search of me, ‖ O God, and know my heart; ‖ A thorough trial make of me, ‖ and know my very thot's. ‖

And see if I have any way ‖ that should be mourned for; ‖ but lead me in the way that lasts ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

[Page 382]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXIX. PSALM.

THe Prophetic Spirit here teaches the Jewish Nation [Oh! would they learn!] how little able they are to hide themselves from the Judgments of GOD; And now they are to acknowledge GOD as their Maker and their Saviour; and Pray to Him for the Destruction of Antichrist and his Abettors.

9 'Tis astonishing to see what Passages there are in Plato. [De Leg. l. 10.] agreeable to these of the Psalmist. O Christian, the Light of Nature will teach thee such things as these.

14 Galen's Book, De Usu Partium, were a notable Commentary and Illustration on the Text now before us. And when he, who was a Pagan, cries out, Considera hic marabilem Creatoris Sapientiam, shall not we reflect, What Praises do I, that am a Christian, one to the Glorious GOD, upon the view of every thing that belongs to me!

The Modern Improvements in Anatomy add infinitely to the Occasions. [...]ellini would begrutch his Time and Cost and Pains, [...] searching out the Astonishing Workmanship, in the several Parts of an Humane Body, if it were only to discover a Work of meer Chance, or of one who were not infinitely Wise and Good and Glorious. No, he does (as every just Contemplator must) find himself compelled into the Admiration of a Glorious GOD, and thrown into those Transports and Raptures and Flames, which extort these Exclamations from him, Magnus Dominus! Magnus Fabricator Hominum Deus! Magnus atque admirabilis. Conditor rerum Deus, Quam magnus es! O Thou Maker of Man, How Great and Glorious are Thou!

16 Is not the Mystical Body of our SAVIOUR principally intended? The Substance of the Church, whereof it was to be formed, was under the Eye of GOD, as proposed in the Decree of Election; yet [Page 383]was, as such Imperfect. It was not formed or shaped into the Members of the Mystical Body; but they were all written in the Book of Life. And in, pursuance of the Purpose of GOD, there they are by the Holy Spirit, in the whole course, and continuance of Time, in their several Generations, fashioned into the shape designed for them. Thus our Dr. Owen Glosseth it.

17 The Vulgar Latin, and the LXX read it, How Precious cre thy Friends to me! The Hebrew may indeed be very well translated so. And the Translation agrees very well, with what is just before said, about the Members of our SAVIOUR, all which are the Friends of GOD. It suits also very well, with what follows about the Enemies of GOD; whom the Psal [...]st professes an Hatred of.

22 A Perfect Hatred. What is that? Gregory M. in his Pastoralis Cura, has a singular Gloss upon it; It is to Love the Creature and Hate the Sinner: To Love what he is, and Hate what he does. — Quod facti sunt diligore, et quod Faciunt increpare. He adds an Observation, Propheta tantus boo velut in Hostiam Deo obtulit, quod contra se pro Domino Pravorum in micitias Excitavit.

24 Kimchi's Exposition is very odd; That the Way Everlasting is a Periphrasis of Death. [See 1 Kin. II. 1, and Josh. XXIII. 14.] As if David had said: ‘Lord, If upon search, thou findest, that I walk in any way of Wickednes, I may venture to say, Let me Dye; Lead me to the Grave.’—I cannot recommend the Glois; yet was willing to mention it.

PSALM. CXL. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 REscue me, OETERNAL God, ‖ from the malicious Man; ‖ preserve me from the Man, who's us'd ‖ to do injurious things. ‖

[Page 384] 2 They're those who in their heart within ‖ contrive mischievous things; ‖ they do together come for war ‖ all day * and everyday. ‖

3 They give an edge unto their Tongue; ‖ Tis as the Serpents is; ‖ the Poison of the Adder lies ‖ under their Lips conceal'd.‖ Selah. ‖

4 From the hands of the wicked one ‖ keep me, ETERNAL God; ‖ save me from the injurious man: ‖ they thought to trip me up ‖

5 The Proud ones have set secretly ‖ a Snare and Cords for me; ‖ they've spread [...] Net by the way side; ‖ Gins they have set for me. ‖ Selah. ‖

6 I unto the ETERNAL God ‖ have said, Thou art my God; ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, The voice ‖ of my Petitions hear. ‖

7 ETERNAL God, the Lord, the Strength ‖ of my Salvation, Thou! ‖ Thou hast in day of Battle giv'n ‖ a covering to my Head. ‖

8 Grant not, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ the wicked ones desires; ‖ O let not his design obtain; ‖ they will exalt themselves. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 As for the *Venomous Head of those ‖ who compass me about, ‖ the mischief of their own Lips, let ‖ it overwhelm themselves. ‖

10 Let burning Coals upon him fall; ‖ let them be cast into ‖ the Fire, into the deepest pits [...] let them not rise again. ‖

11 Let not an Evil speaker be ‖ establish'd in the Earth: ‖ let evil the injurious man ‖ to Precipices drive. ‖

[Page 385] 12 I know that the ETERNAL God ‖ will judge the poor * and meek; ‖ on the behalf of needy Ones ‖ He'll Judgment execute. ‖

13 Surely the Righteous Ones will make ‖ Confession to thy Name; ‖ and the upright before Thy Face‖shall have their Sitting down. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXL. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here prepares a Prayer for them that are suffering under Antichrist.

Yea, it looks as if here were some Eye, to what the Ancient Propheeles have also spoken concerning the Destruction of Gog.

And indeed when these Two Enemies are gone, the Righteous will dwell with the greatest Praises in the Presence of God.

1 The M [...]dr [...]sh Tislin has a strange Passage here. The Malicious Man, and the Man bent on violent things, is the Fourth Beast in the Seventh of Daniel.

10 An Allusion to the Fate of Sodom. Tis the Fate of Rome. Remember still David was a Type of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Antichrist with his adherents, the Ant type of David's Enemies. Read such Psalms as this, O Christian, with a great Attention; and compare them with the Passages in the New Testament, which describe Antichrist unto us, and thou wilt [...]ee, Wendrous Things in the Law.

13 Pebel a Charming H [...]rmony, between the Exercises o [...] Flety, and the Recompences of it. The Final and Endless and Compleat Blessedness of Upright Men, will be to, dwell in the Presence of God. Even In that Presence in which there is fulness of Joy; and so to be sorever with the Lord. Now what an agreement is ther [...] between the Uprightness and the Blessedness? Uprightness lies in this thing; To be always in the Presen [...]e of God; always to Act as in the Presence [Page 386]of God; A Behaviour governed by a Sense of being under the Eve of God. An Upright Man, Oh! how suitably is he Rewarded, when he is brought at length to dwell in the Presence of God.

PSALM CXLI. A Psalm Of David.

1 ETERNAL God, I cry to thee: ‖ O hasten Thou to me! ‖ when I do cry to thee, do thou ‖ give Ear unto my Voice. ‖

2 Let my Pray'r be directed still ‖ as Incense in thy View; ‖ As the Meat-Off'ring of the Eve ‖ the lifting of my hands. ‖

3 O Thou ETERNAL God, Set Thou ‖ a Watch before my Mouth; ‖ at the gate of my Lips do Thou ‖ maintain a constant guard. ‖

4 O do not Thou incline my Heart ‖ unto an Evil thing; ‖ to practise wicked Works with Men ‖ that work Iniquity. ‖ And in their Delicacies let ‖ me not Communicate. ‖

5 (The Just shall kindly smite me, and ‖ shall give reproofs to me); ‖ But the rich Oil of such an One ‖ shan't mollify my Head: ‖ For still my Prayer it is against ‖ the Wicked th [...]gs they do. ‖

6 By the sides of the Rock it was ‖ their Judges were let down; ‖ they then did hearken to my words, ‖ for they were pleasant ones. ‖

7 As when one plougheth up the Earth ‖ and it asunder tears; ‖ our hones are scattered so about ‖ at the Mouth of the Grave. ‖

[Page 387] 8 But, O ETERNAL God, the Lord, ‖ My Eyes are unto thee; ‖ on thee I my reliance place; ‖ O do not strip my Soul. ‖

9 Keep me from the Hands of the snare ‖ which they have laid for me; ‖ and from th' intangling gins of those ‖ that work iniquity. ‖

10 O let the wicked fall into ‖ the Nets they've spread themselves: ‖ I will keep close with thee and mine ‖ until that I escape. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLI. PSALM.

A Frayer provided by the Prophetic Spirit, for the People of God, scattered by the Power of Antichrist.

2 Munster observes, David was now an Exile, and could not attend the Daily Sacrifions.

5 Far from Excluding the more obvious and common Sense of the Words, and from neglecting to learn the Duty of a Reproved Christian in them, I would ask, Whether we may not have a CHRIST, in a Transcondent Sense here Offering Himself, as well as in many other Passages of the Sacred Oracles, which we do not at the first view, see Testifying of Him? Does not our SAVIOUR here desire, That His Intercession may come in the Room of Incense, and Mincha under the Law? Don't we see Him here standing as a Surety for Sinners, with these Concessions. ‘Let the Righteous GOD smite me with an Hammer, in His Nailing me to the Cross: It will be a Mercy to His chosen, for whom, I am now to be Smitten. Let Him reprove me, still I have the Oil of the Head upon me; I am the Messiah, His Anointed, His Christ and His Priest. Whatever is now done to me, it shall [Page 388]not break my Head; It was the Ancient Promise, That not my Head, but the Serpents only, shoul be broken. And nothing shall hinder my Intercession from its being still continued. — After that, Their Judges shall be overthrown by an Hand of Stone, (as the Syriac renders it). The Monarchia, o [...] the World shall be broken in Preces by a Ston cut out which is not in Hands. And this Dispensation shall be attended with, yea, effected by, my Words being made sweet unto them.’

To return unto the Type. The Rich Oil of such an One sha'nt mollifie my Head, may be, q. d. I'll never visit him. In a Visit this was the usual Complement. So, what we read, of the Just shall kindly smite me, is but a Rapturous Parenthesis. A Modern Traveller, who has presented us with an Ingenious Callection of Orientalisins, for the Illustration of the Sacred Scriptures, has bespoke a Reception for this Illustration.

6 We have a Key to this Passage, in 1. Sam. XXIV. 2. When the Judges of Israel, (Saul and his Officers,) were let down (to pursue and surprise David) by the Sides of the Rock (the Rocks of th Wild-Goats leading into the Cave;) Then they heard the Words of David's Apology for himself, which were so pleasing to Saul, that he went home, and gave over disturbing of David any more. Dr. Roberts gives us this Illustration in his Key of the Bible.

7 Robusti Davidis erant a Davide dispersi. This is Aben-Fzra's Gloss.

Dr. Patrick's Paraphrase is this, ‘They still persecute me, and the small Body of Men that follow me; whom they have reduced unto such Extremities, that like the Earth, when it is ploughed up, we break in Pieces and are ready to disperse, and flee for our Lives, with little hope of Safety.’

10 q. d. I'll keep with my Friends, not scatter and [Page 389]wander from them. The Safety and Wisdom of good Men, lies much in their keeping Together; not going [...]funder.

PSALM CXLII. Maschil; Of David. A Prayer when he was in the Cava.

1 WIth my Voice I did make a Cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ with my voice to th' ETERNAL God ‖ I made my humble Pray'r. ‖

2 Before His Face I poured out ‖ what I had thought upon; ‖ Before His Face I uttered what ‖ was troublesome to me. ‖

3 Within me when my Spiritfaild, ‖ then Thou didst know my Path; ‖ In the way where I should have walk'd ‖ they laid a Snare for me. ‖

4 Look on the Right hand, and behold; ‖ there's none does know me there; ‖ Refuge does perish from me, and ‖ there's none to seek my Soul. ‖

5 O Thou ETERNAL God, To Thee ‖ I made my cry, I said, ‖ Thou art my Hope, my Portion in ‖ the Land of Living Ones. ‖

6 Attend unto my cry, because ‖ I am brought very low; ‖ Save me from my pursuers, for ‖ they are more strong than I. ‖

7 From out of Prison bring my Soul; ‖ That I may praise thy Name; ‖ the just shall be a Crown to me, ‖ when thou rewardest me. ‖

[Page 390]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXI II. PSALM.

A Prayer made ready for the Captives under the Tyranny of Antichrist.

7 Remember, O Christian, thou art here concerned with the Messiah. Now, Aben-Ezra renders this Passage thus; Justi coronabunt sese mecum. q. d. They shall Glory in me, as having a Crown of Glory on their Head. Thus the Spanish Translation; Commigo se toronoran los Justos.

PSALM. CXLIII. A Psalm Of David.

1 ETERNAL God, hear Thou my Prayer, ‖ hearken to my Requests: ‖ Answer me in Thy faithfulness, ‖ and in thy righteousness. ‖

2 And with thy Servant, O do not ‖ thou into Judgment come; ‖ For in thy sight no man alive ‖ shall justify himself. ‖

3 For th' En'my has pursu'd my Soul; ‖ my Life struck to the ground; ‖ made me in darkness dwell as those ‖ that have been dead an Age. ‖

4 My spirit therefore is in me ‖ faint * and quite overwhelm'd; ‖ My Hearts within the midst of me ‖ frighted * and desolate. ‖

5 I do remember Ancient Days; ‖ I meditate upon ‖ all of thy Works; I think upon ‖ the Work thy Hands have wrought. ‖

6 I unto thee with Anxious Prayers ‖ extend these Hands of mine; ‖ my Soul is as a thirsty Land ‖ still thirsting after thee. ‖ Selah. ‖

7 Hear me with speed, ETERNAL God; ‖ [Page 391]My Spirit fails; Thy Face ‖ hide not from me, lest I be like ‖ them who descend the Pit. ‖

8 O that thy mercy Thou wouldst make ‖ me in the Morning hear; ‖ Because that I do ever place ‖ my Confidence on thee. ‖ Cause me to understand the way ‖ wherein I ought to walk; ‖ Because that I with Pray'r and Hope ‖ lift up my Soul to Thee. ‖

9 O Thou ETERNAL God, Do Thou ‖ grant me Deliverance, ‖ from them that are my Enemies: ‖ I hide my self with Thee. ‖

10 O teach me for to do thy Will, ‖ Because Thou art my God; ‖ let thy good Spirit lead me to ‖ a Land of Rectitude. ‖

11 For thy Names sake, ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou wilt enliven me; ‖ Thou for thy righteousness my Soul ‖ wilt out of trouble bring. ‖

12 And Thou wilt in thy mercy slay ‖ my Enemies; and all ‖ the Troublers of my Soul destroy; ‖ for I thy Servant am. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLIII. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here makes a Prayer for the Church, and for the Jewish Nation, lying in the State of Death, which is now described in the Prophecies of Ezekiel; and particularly Prays for the Out pouring of the Spirit, in such Gifts as are to be expected at the Second Coming of the Messiah.

But, O Christian, Think on thy Dying and Risen SAVIOUR ‖

10 Dr. Patrick finds the Psalmist longing to get into an honest Country. But, O Christian, Tis an Heavenly World that is the true Land of Rectitude.

[Page 392]

PSALM CXLIV. Of David.

1 BLessed be the ETERNAL God; ‖ He is a Rock for me; ‖ He doth instruct my hands for War, ‖ my fingers for a Fight. ‖

2 He is my Mercy, and my Tower, ‖ my Refuge set on high; ‖ and He it is who doth bestow ‖ deliverances on me. ‖ He is my Shield, and upon Him ‖ I do repose my trust; ‖ 'Tis He who to subjection brings ‖ my People under me. ‖

3 ETERNAL God, Oh! What is Man ‖ that Thou take cognisance ‖ of him? The Son of Man, that Thou ‖ esteem him any thing? ‖

4 Man is no other than a piece ‖ of flying vanity; ‖ his days are like a shadow which ‖ does quickly pass away. ‖

5 ETERNAL God, O bow thou down ‖ Thy Heavens and descend; ‖ The Mountains touch with Thunderbolts, ‖ and they shall yield a smoke. ‖

6 The Lightning do thou lighten forth; ‖ and do thou scatter them; ‖ Thy Arrows, O do thou shoot forth, ‖ and do thou run them down. ‖

7 O from on high send out thy hands; ‖ save me, and rescue me ‖ from mighty waters; from the hand ‖ of a base strangers brood. ‖

8 The mouth of these does use to speak ‖ nothing but falsity; ‖ and their right hand a right hand is ‖ in which is found a lie. ‖

[Page 393] 9 O God, I'll Sing thee a New-Song ‖ upon a Psaltery; ‖ upon a Ten-string'd instrument ‖ I'll sing a Verse to thee. ‖

10 He 'tis who on advanced Kings ‖ Salvation does bestow; ‖ He saves His Servant David from ‖ the most destructive Sword. ‖

11 Save me, and rid me from the hand ‖ of the base strangers brood; ‖ whose mouth speaks false, and their right-hand's ‖ the right-hand of a lie. ‖

12 Let so our Sons be like to Plants ‖ well [...]med in their Youth; ‖ Our Daughters like to corner Stores ‖ polish'd in Temple-form. ‖

13 Our Garners full, affording store ‖ of e'ry sort of food; ‖ Our Flocks yield thousands; Myriads so ‖ increasing in our streets. ‖

14 Our Beeves both fat * and strong, to work; ‖ safe * when they are with Young; ‖ [...] breaking in, nor going out; ‖ nor clamour in the streets. ‖

15 Happy those People are esteem'd ‖ who are in such a case; ‖ Happy the People are, whose God ‖ is the ETERNAL One. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLIV. PSALM.

THe Jewish Rabbi's, particularly Saadias and Kimchi, own the Psalm to relate unto the Messiah. The Temporal Prosperity here arrives after the Destruction brought on the [...]nemies of the Jewish Nation.

1 Tho' I do with Hilary, dislike the LXX foisting that Clause, A Psalm against Goli [...], into the Title of the Psalm. [...] suspect, the Psalmist now on the [Page 394]Throne, may have some Remembrances of, and References to, his old Victory over Goliah; in this Verse particularly. Arnobius thinks, here is an Allusion to Moses lifting up his Hands for the Conquest of A [...] lok; and adds, Docuit manus nostras, in pralio, non Armis sed p [...]ecibus pugnaturas. The holy Martyr Barlam, thrusting his hands into the burning Flames, Sang this Verse of the Psalm.

4 That ever such things as are here celebrated; should be done for a, Man who is no other than a piece of flying vanity?

5 The proudest Oppressors will vanish away like Smoke, when GOD appears to rescue His People.

9 Arnobius will tell you, A New Song, is, A New Life; And Kings are Victoros Vitiorum.

11 A Right Hand of a Lye, Take R. Obadiah Gaons Gloss upon it; Scribere falsa. It writes falsehoods.

What is it they speak? Some take it, for the Opinion, That Happiness lies in Temporal Blessings here. Corrected at last so, Happy that People whose God is the Lord. An Happiness not enjoyed until the Resurrection-World.

12 Kimchi observes, That the Method and Order of the Blessings here, is taken from, Deut. XXVIII. 4.

14 Dr. Patrick's Paraphrase, is not all that I have to justify my Translation.

PSALM CXLV. Davids Praise.

1 O Thou that art my God, the King, ‖ I'll thee extol [and set] on high; ‖ and I will speak well of thy Name ‖ to [endless] Ages still to come. ‖

2 All day, * and ev'ry day, I will ‖ keep [ever] speaking well of thee; ‖ And I will celebrate thy Name ‖ to [endless] Ages still to come. ‖

[Page 395] 3 Most Great is the ETERNAL God; ‖ and greatly to be prais'd [is He.] ‖ And of His Greatness there cannot ‖ be [ever] any Searching out. ‖

4 One Generation shall relate ‖ thy Works unto the next [that comes:] and the most powerful things thou dost, ‖ they shall declare [them all] abroad. ‖

5 The Beauty, Oh! The Glory of ‖ His [more than] Royal Majesty; ‖ and the most wondrous things thou dost; ‖ of these [it is] I will discourse. ‖

6 The Might of thy tremendous Acts, ‖ others shall [also] speak about; ‖ and of thy Greatness I my self ‖ will declarations make [with them.]

7 The mem'ry of the Greatness of ‖ thy Goodness [amply] they'l pour out; ‖ and of thy Right'ousness they shall ‖ sing with a [loud and] mighty noise. ‖

8 Gracious is the ETERNAL God, ‖ and He's [truly] compassionate; ‖ to anger He is very flow; ‖ but in His mercy [wondrous] great. ‖

9 Even to all th' ETERNAL God ‖ is ever [Oh! how] sweetly good; ‖ yea, and His tender mercies are ‖ towards all [the Works] that He has wrought. ‖

10 All thy Works, O ETERNAL God, ‖ shall [ever] celebrate thy Praise; ‖ and all that are thy gracious ones, ‖ they [ever] shall speak well of thee. ‖

[Page 396] 11 The Glory of thy Kingdom is ‖ what they shall speak [so much] about; ‖ and thyn illustrious pow'r is what ‖ they shall make [so much] mention of. ‖

12 For to make known His mighty Acts ‖ [this way] unto the Sons of Men; ‖ and the most splendid Glory of ‖ the Kingdom which He [justly] claims. ‖

13 Thy Kingdom is a Kingdom which ‖ & [unknown] Ages doth extend; ‖ and thy Dominion does anto ‖ all [future] Generations last. ‖

14 Th' ETERNAL God does all sustain ‖ when [He sees] they are falling down; ‖ and all of His He raises up ‖ when [He sees] they are bowed down. ‖

15 The eyes of all do wait on thee ‖ with [Hope and] Expectation still; ‖ and thou in the due season dost ‖ give them their [wanted] sustenance. ‖

16 Thou open'st* and thou dost extend ‖ thy [kind and] all-relieving Hand, ‖ and thou dost satisfy the wish ‖ [fully] of ev'ry living thing. ‖

17 Righteous is the ETERNAL God ‖ [even] in all the ways He takes; ‖ and He is also merciful in all the Works He [ever] does. ‖

18 Th' ETERNAL God is near unto ‖ all [of those] who do call on Him; ‖ near unto all who call on Him ‖ with truth* and [with due] constancy. ‖

[Page 397] 19 He'l the desire fulfil of them ‖ that have the [Godly] fear of Him; ‖ He'l also hearken to their cry, ‖ and He'l [save and] deliver them. ‖

20 In safety the ETERNAL God ‖ keeps all that have His Love [in them:] ‖ But all them that are impious ones ‖ He'll utterly destroy [forever.] ‖

21 My mouth shall utter forth the Praise ‖ of [him who's] the ETERNAL God; ‖ and all flesh bless His Holy Name ‖ ever [let it] and evermore. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLV. PSALM.

THe Psalm was always esteem'd so excellent that the Title of the whole Book of Psalms was taken from it. It is wholly spent in Praising of GOD, with such admirable Devotion, that (as has been by Schindler long since observed) the Ancient Hebrews did use to say, He could not fail to be a Child of the World to come, who would recite this Psalm Three times every Day. And, as Dr. Patrick observes, This might be the Reason, why it was composed Alphabetically; even that so every Body might the more easily learn and remember so useful a Psalm.

Dr. Allix will have it, An Hymn of the Synagogue, Restored unto the Favour of GOD. The Destruction of the Wicked, and the Conversion of the Nations, under the Glorious Reign of the Messiah, is here particularly celebrated.

13 How did the Letter Nun come to be lost at this Verse of the Acrostic? If it were lost when the Psalm came to the Hands of the Collector of this Book, [...]he would not supply it with one of his own. The [Page 398]Modern Greek, (I say Modern, for the Ancient and Theodotion and Aquila have it not;) and so the Arabic and Syriac, and vulgar Latin supply it so, — The Lord is Faithful in all His Words, and Holy in all His Works. But this differs little from the Seventeenth Verse. And why might not the Psalmist be carried, [as in the XXV. Psalm,] thro' the strength of the Inspiration upon him, out of the method he at first proposed? Or, O Masorites, Do you give us a reason for this Omission.

16 The Affectionate Gloss of Old Christianity was; Quanda aperuisti manus tuas in Cruce. On the Cross!

PSALM CXLVI.

1 LEt HALLELUJAH now be Sung. ‖ And now, O thou my Soul, ‖ Do thou awake and utter Praise ‖ to the ETERNAL God. ‖

2 I in my life,* and while I live, ‖ will Praise th' ETERNAL God; ‖ while I have any being I ‖ will sing unto my God. ‖

3 Place not your confidence in Men ‖ of Princely pow'r and grace; ‖ Nor in an eminent Son of Man ‖ who can't a Saviour be. ‖

4 His spirit* with his breath goes forth; ‖ He to his Earth returns; ‖ and in that very day his Thot's ‖ all come unto an end. ‖

5 O happy Man that has the God ‖ of Jacob for his help; ‖ whose hope is in th' ETERNAL God ‖ become a God to him. ‖

6 'Tis He who made the Heav'ns and Earth, ‖ the Sea, and all in them; ‖ 'Tis He who doth maintain the Truth ‖ to petpetuity. ‖

[Page 399] 7 He Judges for oppressed ones; ‖ He gives the hungry food. ‖ 'Tis the ETERNAL God who sets ‖ the bound at liberty. ‖

8 Th' ETERNAL God opens the blind; ‖ th' ETERNAL God doth raise ‖ the bowed down; th' ETERNAL God ‖ doth love the right'ous ones. ‖

9 Th' ETERNAL God doth Strangers keep, ‖ He gives support unto ‖ Orphan and Widow: and subverts ‖ the way of wicked Men. ‖

10 Forever shall JEHOVAH reign; ‖ thy God, O Zion, He ‖ shall reign to Generations all. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLVI. PSALM.

HAve we not here an Hymn of the Restored Jewish Nation, under the Reign of the Messiah?

3 The Persian Emperours, put a stop unto the Building of the Temple; To prevent a distrust of God on this difficult occasion, One of those Two Prophets Haggai or Zechariah, might compose the Psalm that is now before us; exhorting them notwithstanding the ill prospect of their Affairs, to put their Trust in GOD. Well; Cambyses dies; and then in spite of all opposers, the City, Temple, and Worship of God, were gloriously carried on.

4 Gods on Earth, and vet but Gods of Earth. 'Tis not said, They return to their Cities, to their Castles, to their Kingdoms; These now become anothers; But their Earth. A Little Earth is now all they have. It may be the Earth is all they set their hearts upon.

8 Above a Thousand Years after, these Works were notably exemplified; And on Sabbaths too; A Mystery pointing at the Kingdom of our SAVIOUR, in the [Page 400] Sabbath of the World, foretold at the close of the Psalm. There were Seven Sabbaths which our Lord signaliz'd, in the Time of His Ministry with working Miracles thereupon. The Fifth of them was, when He raised up one that had been bowed down. [Luk. XIII.] The Sixth of them was, when He opened the Eyes of one that had been born Blind [Joh. IX.] Grotius truly oblerves, Mire haec congruunt in Christi Tempora. But, O Christian, there is more to come. On that, He sets the Bound at Liberty, the Midrash Tillin has that wonderful Gloss; In the future Age, God permits the use of all sorts of Foods. Yea, He releases those that are Bound in Death and the Grave. O Jews, Consider of it.

PSALM CXLVII.

1 SIng HALLELUJAH. For 'tis good ‖ to Sing unto our God; ‖ Because it is a pleasant thing: ‖ Praise is a comely thing. ‖

2 'Tis the ETERNAL God who does ‖ build both Jerusalems; ‖ and the Out-casts of Israel He ‖ will surely gather in. ‖

3 He heals the broken-hearted ones; ‖ and He binds up their wounds. ‖

4 He tells the number of the Stars; ‖ He calls them all by name. ‖

5 Great is the Lord on whom we lean; ‖ and very much His power; ‖ There is no number of the things ‖ His wisdom knows and does. ‖

6 Th' ETERNAL God, He raises up ‖ the meek-afflicted ones; ‖ He bringeth down the wicked ones ‖ unto the very dust. ‖

[Page 401] 7 Answers to the ETERNAL God ‖ with a Confession give; ‖ Sing with a Verse unto our God ‖ upon the Ten-string'd Harp. ‖

8 With Clouds the Heavens He does cloath; ‖ Rain for the Earth prepares; ‖ He makes the lofty Mountains to ‖ produce the tender herb. ‖

9 He doth bestow upon the Beast ‖ for each their proper food: ‖ Upon the Ravens Young Ones, when ‖ they makes their piteous cry. ‖

10 In the strength of the Horse he doth ‖ not any pleasure take; ‖ nor is He pleased in the Legs ‖ of Man; He needs them not. ‖

11 Th' ETERNAL God takes pleasure in ‖ such as maintain His fear: ‖ in them who on His mercy do ‖ maintain a lively hope. ‖

12 O both Jerusalems, Do ye ‖ Praise the ETERNAL God; ‖ O Zion, Do thou offer up ‖ thy Praises to thy God. ‖

13 Because He giveth strength unto ‖ the bars that keep thy gates; ‖ on thy Sons in the midst of thee ‖ His blessing He bestows. ‖

14 He makes thy borders to enjoy ‖ peace and prosperity; ‖ richly He doth supply thee with ‖ the finest of the wheat. ‖

15 He to the Earth sends His command; ‖ His Word does swiftly run. ‖

16 The Snow He gives like wool; the Frost ‖ He does like ashes cast. ‖

17 The Ice* and Hail like morsels, He‖throws down to nourish it;‖Before the Face of His sharp Cold, ‖ who is there that can stand?‖

[Page 402] 18 He does again send forth His Word, ‖ and so He melteth them; ‖ His Spirit He doth make to blow, ‖ whereon the Waters flow. ‖

19 He of His Words to Jacob doth‖ a revelation make: ‖ His Statutes and His Judgments He ‖ reveals to Israel. ‖

20 In such a manner He hath not ‖ with any Nation dealt; ‖ For they right things dont understand. ‖ Sing HALLELUJAH now.‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLVII. PSALM.

JErusalem is here supposed as re-established, and the Marks of the Divine Presence and Blesting in the midst of it, fixed; and the Jewish Nation gathered. It is an Hymn of Thanksgiving for this Revolution. The Condition of the Christians turned Heathens at this time, under the Wrath of the Messiah, is bewailed.

4 Kimchi says, The Stars are the Just mentioned, Dan. XII. 3. who shall be then employed in Turning many to Righteousness. Arnobius has a Gloss a little akin to it. Numerare Multitudinem stellarum eum credamus, in Sanctis. Dr. Patrick's Paraphrase is; ‘Whom He knows how to gather out of all their Dispersions, and to find every one of them, wherever they are, tho' as numerous as the Stars of Heaven. [Gen. XV. 5.] which He as distinctly and exactly understands (how confused soever they seem to us to be scattered in the Sky,) as we do those things which we call by their proper Names.’ Munstors Gloss is the same, Eadem facilitate qua stellas in Caelo dispersas m [...]merat.

8 The Clouds and Rains are mentioned because of the Plenty now granted [...]hem. [Hag. II. 19.]

10 Dr. Patrick's Paraphrase is; ‘Let us not be afraid, tho' we are of little Force, [Neh. IV. 3, 4. VII. 4.] [Page 403]and have no Armies of Horse and Foot to defend us. For the Lord who Fights for us [Nab. IV. [...]0.] hath no need of these; and will not take part with our Enemies, because they are Superiour to us, in the strength of their Horses, and the nimbleness of their Soldicrs.’

12 The Reduplication of the invitation to the Praises of God, is not without a Mystery, and a Prophecy for Two Returns from Captivity. Moreover that Name, Thy GOD, more peculiarly carries the Messiah, in the Signification of it. It is in Him, that God becomes OUR GOD. In the Second Return, the Messiah will be more eminently acknowledged and glorified.

15 The Intention of introducing the Circumstances of the Winter here, is well touched in the Patrician Paraphrase. ‘GOD shews us, by the Fruitful Seasons He sends, after all things seem to be kill'd by the hard Winter, that He doth not intend by our Affliction to destroy us; and that He can easily bring all our Brethren hither, who remain s [...]ill in Captivity. For when He would have any Alter [...]tion made in the Earth,’ it is done as speedily as we can speak.

16 Our Husbandmen burn heaps of Rubbish on their New-ploug'd Ground. Probably the Israelitish Husbandmen did so too. They scattered Ashes on their Fields; or perhaps cast Ashes on their Dunghills, where being diluted by the Rains, the Salt very deeply impregnared them, and the diffusion of such a Salt was a notable way to produce a Fruitful Soyl. Virgil speaks divers times of this Practice in his Georgicks.

The Greeks of Old called Snow, by the term of Wet-Wooll. The Latin, Floccus, is both a Lock of Wool, and a Flake of Snow. There is a Saline Spirit in this Woollen Mantle; and it has a Fructifying Vertue. A Winter of seasonable Snows, is usually followed with a Fruitful Summer. Floods of Snow-Water enrich the Earth exceedingly.

[Page 404] 19 The Word of God, gives us, yet more full Instructions, than what we have in the Meteors of the Winter, to depend upon GOD.

PSALM CXLVIII.

1 LEt HALLELUJAH now be Sung!‖ Now from the Heav'ns above ‖ Praise the ETERNAL God; praise Him ‖ in the high places there. ‖

2 All you His Angels, O Praise Him; ‖ Praise Him, O all His Hosts. ‖

3 Praise ye Him, O thou Sun, and Moon; ‖ Praise Him all Stars of light. ‖

4 Praise Him, ye that the Heavens are ‖ of Heavens, Seats of Bliss: ‖ and Praise Him, you the Waters which ‖ above the Heavens are. ‖

5 Let them give Praises to the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ For He gave His Commandement, ‖ and they created are. ‖

6 He also hath establish'd them ‖ forever, Evermore; ‖ He hath made a Decree, and it ‖ shall never be transgress'd. ‖

7 Now from the Earth below, give Praise‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Do it, ye Dragons* and ye Whales, ‖ and do it all ye Deeps. ‖

8 Do it both O thou Fire and Hail; ‖ O Snow and Vapour too; ‖ Do it O thou Tempestuous Wind, ‖ which does sulfil His Word. ‖

9 Do it, O you High Mountains, and ‖ all of you lesser Hills; ‖ Do it, O you Fruit-bearing Trees, ‖ and all you Cedars join. ‖

[Page 405] 10 Do it, O all you Animals, ‖ and all you Cattle kind; ‖ Do it, O ev'ry creeping Thing, ‖ and ev'ry flying Fowl. ‖

11 Do it, O all Kings of the Earth, ‖ and all ye People too; ‖ Do it, O Princes, and all you ‖ the Judges of the Earth. ‖

12 Do it, O you that Young Men are, ‖yea, and Young Women too; ‖ Do it, O you that Old Men are, ‖ with Babes in Infancy. ‖

13 Let these with Praises due to Him ‖ so celebrate the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL; for His Name ‖ alone is Excellent. His Glory is above the Earth, ‖ yea, and above the Heav'ns. ‖

14 And He, of His own People doth ‖ exalt the Horn on high; ‖ the Praises of His gracious ones, ‖ the Sons of Israel; ‖ a People that are near to Him. ‖ Sing HALLELUJAH now. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLVIII. PSALM.

THe People of the Messiah are here supposed, to be gathered unto Him, and all Creatures are exhorted now to praise Him.

12 Kimchi saies, Old Men are joined with Children in the Invitations to Praise the Iord; because the Old Men are to teach the Children who know not how to do it of themselves. Yea, Old Men often sancy to have Children under their tuition; perhaps most of them Grand Children. Young Men and Young Women are added in the Verse. Thus the Thre [...] Ages are called upon. The Apostle John, may allude hereto, when he sales. I write unto you, Fathers, Young Men. and Children. And when the Seryants of God be [...]an [Page 406]their Speeches, Men, Brethren, and Fathers'; By Brethren, with a humble Figure they may mean Children.

PSALM CXLIX.

1 SIng HALLEUJAH. A New Song ‖ Sing to th' ETERNAL God; ‖ His Praise is in the Church of those ‖ that are His gracious Ones. ‖

2 In Him who is his maker now ‖ let Israel rejoice; ‖ Them that are Sons of Zion let ‖ be joyful in their King. ‖

3 With a Tripudiating Joy ‖ O let them Praise His Name; ‖ let them sing Praises unto Him ‖ with Timbrel and with Harp. ‖

4 For the ETERNAL God doth in ‖ His People take Delight; ‖ He'll beautify the low * and meek ‖ with His Salvation still. ‖

5 In Glory let the Gracious Ones ‖ * most gloriously rejoyce; ‖ on their Beds, where they rest or feast, ‖ O let them sing aloud. ‖

6 High Praises of the mighty God ‖ let warble thro' their Throat; ‖ and in their hand let there be held ‖ a double-Edged Sword. ‖

7 Due Vengeance for to Execute ‖ upon the Nations so. ‖

8 To bind their Kings in Chains, and their ‖ Nobles in Iron Bonds. ‖

9 Upon them for to Execute ‖ the Judgment written down. ‖ This honour all His gracious Ones ‖ enjoy. Praise ye the Lord. ‖

[Page 407]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLIX. PSALM.

THe Psaim is fitted unto the Time, when the Messiah reigns over the restored Jewish Nation; and and their Joy on the Occasion mentioned it the XXXVIII of Ezekiel, and the XIV of Zechariah.

3 Tripudiating Joy. Or, the Dance. They Praise the Lord in the Dance, who use much Activity, in the Praising of God; They who are ever in Motions which have a Tendency to utter or produce the Praises of God; They who also associate with others in Vigorous Essays to do those things wherein God may be glorified. Behold the Dance of the Evangelical Dispensation. The Choreutic Agitations of the Body, are too mean things to be chiefly intended here.

4 When God shall bestow Salvation on His People, He will also beautify them. How? Sanctify them. The Beauties of Holiness will be seen upon them.

Think on this, O Pretenders to a Justified State, and behold all Antinomian Presumptions fulminated. But one Singular Beauty on the saved People of God, and indeed one that prepares them for Salvation, is Meekness and Patience. Prosecute this with a Thousand Holy Meditations.

6 It hath been the Custom of all Nations, to prepare and excite themselves for a Fight, by some Instrumen of Musick. Clemens of Alexandria enumerates the Variety. But it was proper unto the Israelites, to go forth against their Enemies, with Psalms of Praise to the God, who had given great Victories unto their Ancestors.

8 An Allusion to Judges 1.7. The State of things in the Days of the New Jerusalem is referr'd to. Now, turn to Isaiah. LX. 11, 12. and you have a Key to this Passage. Yea, in the Present time, the People of God, by their Prayers, obtain the Restraints of His Providence, to be laid upon such Persons, a [...]are here spoken of.

9 The Judgment written of. [...]ee Deut. VII. 20. and XXXII. 41, 42, 43.

[Page 408]

PSALM. C L.

1 PRaise ye the Lord. In's holiness ‖ Praise ye the mighty God; ‖ Praise ye Him in the Firmament ‖ where His strong Pow'r is seen. ‖

2 O Praise Him for the mighty things ‖ which have been done by Him; ‖ Praise Him; as there are many things ‖ wherein His greatness shines. ‖

3 Praise Him with sound of Trumpet; with ‖ Psaltry and Harp Him praise. ‖

4 Praise Him with Timbrel and with a ‖ tripudiating Pipe. ‖ Praise Him with stringed Instruments ‖ and with the Organ too. ‖

5 Praise Him upon the Cymbals which ‖ are very audible, ‖ Praise Him on Cymbals heard on high ‖ * as for a Jubilee. ‖

6 Praise JAH, O every thing that breaths. ‖ Sing HALLELUJAH now. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CL. PSALM.

THe Psalm relates to the Reign of the Messiah, when every thing that hath Breath will Praise the Lord. Maimonides gives us a Jewish Tradition, That when the People brought up their First Fruits, to present them unto the Lord, according to the XXVI. of Deuteronomy, as soon as they came to the Mountain of the Temple, every one took his Basker into his hand, and Sang this whole Psalm; till they came to the Courts of the House of the Lord: And then the Levites met them, Singing, the XXX Psalm.

1 Of Old they read it, Laudate Deum in Sanctis ejus. And their Glose was; 'Tis done, Quando corum imitamur [Page 409]Exempla, sequimur Monit [...], Regulam obtine [...]us. Aben-Ezra observes, we have no way left now, to know, what these Musicial Instruments were; There being many found in the Country of the Ishmaelites, (or Mahometans) which are not among the Men of Edom, (or Christians.)

It may not be amiss here to mention, what Monsieur Jurieu has observed.

There are Three Sorts of Instruments frequently mentioned in the Psalms; The Cymbals, the Psalierys, and the Harps.

The Cymbals were large and broad pieces of Brass bent, and giving a strong sound; which were beaten very near in such a manner, as we now beat our Drums; and are known by the Name of Tymbals in our Days. Our Apostle Paul in a famous Text alludes unto them.

The Psalterys were Violins, on which they play'd. with a Bow, Ten Strings belong'd unto it; and the several Notes were managed with the Bow and the touch, as tis done on the Violins in our days.

The Harps, had Twelve Notes, and every Note had its own String, which was managed with the Fingers, and could not be altered by the different way of touching.

The Levites were the only Persons that were to play on these Instruments. Indeed we read of David, and all the House of Israel, playing on Instruments, at the Transportation of the Ark. But Monsieur Jurieu thinks, this might be one of the Irregularities which occasioned the Death Unzah. At least it may be supposed, that this was not allowed of, Except in the Countrey and in private Houses. But in the Temple, no body durst play on Instruments, unless he were a Levite, or the Son of a Levite. We say, the Son of a Levite, because the Rabbi's tell us, that such of the Levites as were Singers, did use to bring their Sons along with them, into the Court of the Priest, tho they were not come to their Full Age required unto the performance [Page 410]of any Service there on their own bohalf. There is another Tradition of the Rabbi's, That is was allowable to make choice of Singers from among the People of Israel, provided they were by Marriage near akin to the Sacerdotal Race.

But, O Sincere Christians, Lifted up to Heaven! You all are Priests of God: And of the Tribe, who may and shall Sing His Praises. His Graces in your Souls, will be the Glorious Instruments wherewith you shall perform the Noble Exercise.

6 The Bereschith Rabba carries it, as if every Breath of a good Man should Praise the Lord; There should be a Praise of God in every Breath of such a Man. In the strict Sense of it, this is not attainable by any Man Breathing in this Evil World. However to be Breathing after as much of this Attainment as can be come at, becomes a Christian.

The End of the PSALMS.

[Page 411]

APPENDIX.

I The First-born of Poetry: Foretelling the Fall of ANTICHRIST.
Exod. XV.

1 I'll Sing to the ETERNAL God ‖ who triumphs gloriously: ‖ The Horse with him that rides him, He ‖ has thrown into the Sea. ‖

2 Now the ETERNAL God becomes ‖ my Strength, and so my Song; ‖ and He it is who hath been for ‖ Salvation unto me. ‖ He is my God, and I'll prepare ‖ for Him a Dwelling-place; ‖ He of my Father is the God, ‖ and I'll set Him on high. ‖

3 He who is the ETERNAL God ‖ does yet become a Man ‖ a Man of War; 'tis He of whom ‖ JEHOVAH is the Name. ‖

6 Thy Right hand O ETERNAL God, ‖ is glorify'd with pow'r; ‖ Thy Right hand O ETERNAL God ‖ has broke the Enemy. ‖

7 Those who against thee rise, Thou wilt ‖ in thy great Excellence ‖ pull down; Thou [...]'t send thy wrath; it shall ‖ like stubble them consume. ‖

11 Among the God's, who's like to Thee, ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God! ‖ Who's like to Thee; In holiness ‖ so very Glorious who! ‖ Thou in thy Glorious Praises art ‖ how very terrible! ‖ Thou art the doer of the thing ‖ that is most wonderful. ‖

13 The People which thou hast redeem'd ‖ in thy benignity ‖ thou hast led forth; ‖ Thou in thy strength ‖ dost a good conduct give, ‖ unto the Habitation of ‖ thy Glorious Holiness. ‖

18 He, who is the ETERNAL God ‖ shall reign for [...] evermore, ‖

[Page 412]

II. The Mosaic Prophecy.
Deut. XXXII.

3 SInce I will own aloud the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ A mighty Greatness, O do ye ‖ Ascribe unto our God. ‖

4 The Rock; His Work is perfect; For ‖ Judgment's in all His ways; ‖ A God of truth; He does no wrong: ‖ most just and right is He. ‖

29 Oh! That they were once truly wise, ‖ That this they under hood! ‖ That they would think and know what shall ‖ come in their latter end. ‖

36 For the ETERNAL God will for ‖ His People be a Judge; ‖ And for His Servants He will do ‖ as one who does repent! ‖ It shall be done, when that He does ‖ behold their pow'r is gone, ‖ And there is none shut up in Tow'res, ‖ no, not the least reserve. ‖

43 Sing O ye Nations, of what He ‖ will for His People do; ‖ Because of His own Servants He ‖ will now revenge the blood: ‖ And Vengeance He will render to ‖ those who have troubled them. ‖ So He'l shew mercy to His Land, ‖ unto His People there. ‖

III. The Song of the MESSIAH. [Or when the Name of the MESSIAH is first mentioned.]
I Sam. II.

1 IN the ETERNAL God my heart ‖ hath an exulting joy: ‖ In the ETERNAL God my Horn ‖ is listed up on high. ‖ Over my Adversaries now ‖ I have an opened mouth; ‖ It is because I do rejoyce ‖ in thy Salvation, Lord. ‖

2 There is not any Holy like ‖ to the ETERNAL God. ‖ And there is not a Rock to be ‖ compar'd unto our God. ‖

6 'Tis the ETERNAL God who kills; ‖ and He who makes to live. ‖ 'Tis He brings down unto the Pit ‖ and He who bringeth up. ‖

7 Th' ETERNAL God, He maketh Poor ‖ He also maketh Rich; ‖ 'Tis He who maketh down to fall; ‖ and He who lifteth up. ‖

[Page 413] 9 He of His gracious Ones will keep ‖ the feet; but wicked ones ‖ in darkness shall be silent; for ‖ by strength no Man prevails. ‖

10 Th' ETERNAL God, They who contend ‖ with Him shall be destroy'd; ‖ He in the Heaven's upon them ‖ shall thunder down from thence. ‖ Th' ETERNAL God shall be the Judge ‖ to the Fnds of the Earth; ‖ His King He'l strengthen, and on high ‖ lift His MESSIAH's Horn. ‖

IV. Divine Attraction Asked for.
Cant. I.

4 O Draw thou me; we shall thereon ‖ be running after thee; ‖ Into His Chambers now the King ‖ hath introduced me. ‖ In thee we'll be exceeding glad, ‖ and have triumphant Joy; ‖ Thy Love we will mind more than Wine; ‖ Upright ones love thee still. ‖

7 O Thou beloved of my Soul, ‖ Declare thou unto me, ‖ Declare where thou dost feed thy Flock, ‖ and make them rest at noon. ‖ For why should I be like unto ‖ One who does turn aside, ‖ * a vailed one, among the Flocks ‖ of thy Companions! ‖

V. The Tree of Life.
Cant. II.

3 REsembling of the Orange-tree ‖ among the other Trees ‖ of the Wood, my Beloved is ‖ among the other Sons. ‖ Under His blessed Shadow, I ‖ sat down with great Delight, ‖ and to my palate was His Fruit ‖ most wonderfully sweet. ‖

4 He introduced me into ‖ His House of Banquetting, ‖ And of His banner over me, ‖ the Motto, it was, LOVE. ‖

VI. Flaming Love.
Cant. VIII.

6 O Set me as a Seal upon ‖ thine Heart; O set me as ‖ a Seal upon thine Arm: For Love ‖ it is as strong as Death. ‖ Oh! Jealousy, it is severe ‖ as is the very Crave; ‖ Its Arrows are Arrows of Fire, ‖ Flames of the Fire of God. ‖

[Page 414] 7 Love, many Waters cannot quench, ‖ nor drown it can the Floods; ‖ should one give all He's worth for Love, ‖ it would be but despis'd. ‖

VII. Repeated Songs of Salvation.
Isaiah XII.

The Former.

1 I'L Praise Thee, O ETERNAL God; ‖ Tho' thou waft wroth with me, ‖ Thy wrath is now all turn'd away, ‖ and thou wilt comfort me. ‖

2 LO, God's my SAVIOUR, I will trust ‖ and will not be afraid: ‖ For He whose Glorious Name is JAH ‖ ev'n the ETERNAL God; ‖ Tis Him I have [...]o strengthen me, ‖ and He shall be my Song: ‖ He also 'tis that unto me ‖ a Saviour is become. ‖

3 And now with a most solid Joy, ‖ Waters you shall draw forth ‖ from the still flowing Fountains, which ‖ the Saviour has prepar'd. ‖

The Latter.

4 O Praise ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ Call ye upon His Name; ‖ Among the People O declare ‖ the things perform'd by Him. ‖ Keep in remembrance, that His Name ‖ is now on high extoll'd. ‖

5 O utter now your Songs to Him ‖ who's the ETERNAL God. ‖ For He has done what does proclain ‖ His high magnificence: ‖ This is a thing that is made known ‖ abroad in all the Earth. ‖

6 O Thou, who dost in Zion dwell, ‖ Cry out and shout aloud ‖ For Great is Israel's Holy One ‖ who's in the midst of thee. ‖

VIII. The Song of the Strong City.
Isai. XXVI.

1 THere is for us a City now ‖ of a sufficient strength; ‖ The SAVIOUR will afford to it ‖ Walls and a Bulwark too. ‖

Set open ye the Gates of it; ‖ and let then enter in ‖ the Righteous N [...]tion, which [...]oes keep ‖ the Truth; i [...] —

[Page 415] 3 Established is the Decree ‖ that thou wilt keep it still ‖ in Peace, yea, in a glorious Peace, ‖ because it hopes in thee. ‖

4 In the ETERNAL God, O put ‖ your trust for evermore; ‖ Because a Rock of Ages is ‖ in JAH the ETERNAL God. ‖

9 Oh! with my very Soul I have ‖ desir'd thee in the Night; ‖ yea, with my Spirit in me I ‖ will early seek for thee. ‖ For when thy Judgments are abroad ‖ dispensed in the Earth, ‖ They who are dwellers in the World ‖ shall then learn Righteousness. ‖

12 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thou wilt ‖ accomplish Peace for us, ‖ Because that in and for us thou ‖ all of our works hast wrought. ‖

13 ETERNAL God, our God, Without ‖ Thee, Lords have ruled us; ‖ We with regard to thee alone ‖ will celebrate thy Name. ‖

20 Thy Dead shall live again, they shall ‖ as my Dead Body rise: ‖ Awake, and with, a triumph sing, ‖ ye who dwell in the dust. ‖ For thy dew shall be like the dew ‖ which doth revive the Plants; ‖ and so the Earth, it shall send sorth ‖ such as ly dead in it. ‖

21 In the mean time, Go then thy way ‖ thou, O my People, go ‖ Enter into thy Chambers, and ‖ about thee shut thy door. ‖ There hide thy self; it will but as ‖ a little moment be, ‖ until the indigration shall ‖ be wholly past and gone. ‖

IX. The Lord's Prayer.

OUr Father who art in the Heav'ns; † [Olet] thy Name be sanctify'd; † Thy Kingdom, Oh! may it arrive; † Thy Will, may that be [fully] done. † Done here upon the Farth below, † as it is done in Heav'n [Above:] † This Day bestow thou upon us † what is [to be] our Daily Bread. † And us our Debts forgive, as we † our Debtors [freely] do forgive; † And to Temptation lead us not, † but us from [the worst] evil save. † [Page 416]Because the Kingdom, it is thine, † The Power too, 'tis thine [alone;] † And thine the Glory still will be † Forevermore. Amen. [Amen.] †

X. Tydings from Heaven.
Luk, II, 10, 11, 14.

THe Angel said to them, Fear not, † For, Lo, I bring [from Head'n] to you † Good tydings of exceeding Joy; † [and such] 'twill to all People be. † For now a SAVIOUR unto you † this Day a [Bighty] SAVIOUR's Born; † 'Tis in your DAVID's City so; † He is the CHRIST, the [Glorious] Lord.]

And with the Angel suddenly † there was a [wondrous] Multitude † of the Celestial Army, which † then Praised God, and [thus they] said; † O! In the Highest let there be † Now Glory [given] unto God; † And now on Earth let there be Peace; † In Men Benignity [be seen.] †

XI. The Lord our Healer.

Mal. IV. 2.

TO you that fear my Name there shall † the [Slendid] Sun of Righteousness † arise with bealing vertue in † the rays [that be] shot forth from Him †

Matth, XI. 4, 5.

THose things which ye do hear and see: † The Blind receive their [wish'd for] sight; † And they that were the Lame do walk; † The Lepers are made clean [and whole.] † And they that were the Deaf do hear; † The Dead are [also] raised up; † And they that are poor Creatures, such † [Ev'n such] as these are Gospelliz'd. †

XII. The Beatitudes.
Matth. V. 3.—13.

I. BLessed the Poor in Spirit are, † for theirs the Kingdom of the Heavens. †

II. Blessed are very Mournful ones, † for that they shall be Comforted. †

[Page 417] III. Blessed the Meekly Patient are, † for they inherit shall the Earth. †

IV. Blessed, who Hunger and who Thirst † for Justice; for they shall be fill'd. †

V. Blessed shall be the Merciful, † for Mercy's what they shall obtain. †

VI. Blessed shall be the Pure in Heart, † for they shall have the sight of God. †

VII. Blessed the Peace-Makers: for they † shall be pronounc'd the Sons of God. †

VIII. Bless'd the pursu'd for Righteonsness; † for theirs, the Kingdom of the Heavens. †

XIII. The Song of Simeon.
Luk. II. 24,—32.

O Lord, Thou in a blessed Peace ‖ thy Servant dost dismiss, ‖ Now after all that I have seen ‖ according to thy Word. ‖ For of thy Great Salvation now ‖ my Eyes have had the sight: ‖ which thou before the Face of all ‖ People prepared hast: ‖ A Light by which the Gentales are ‖ to be enlighten'd all: ‖ And the bright Glory shining to ‖ thy People Israel. ‖

XIV. A Golden Chain.
2 Pet. I. 5, 6, 7.

GIving all Diligence, O add, ‖ Courage unto your Faith; ‖ and unto Courage Knowledge add; ‖ to Knowledge, Temperance: ‖ And unto Temperance let there ‖ be added Godliness. ‖ And unto Godliness do you ‖ Brotherly kindness add: ‖ But to Brotherly kindness let ‖ be added Charity. ‖

XV. Patience.
Jam. I. 4, 5.

LEt Patience have the perfect work ‖ which does belong to it; ‖ so you'l be perfect and entire ‖ de [...]c [...]ent in no point. ‖ But if that any of you are ‖ sensible that he wants ‖ the Wisdom, which is now propos'd, ‖ [Page 418]let him ask it of God; ‖ Who hath a liberal hand unto ‖ all Men does freely give, ‖ and don't upbraid their foolisimass: ‖ so 'twill be given him. ‖

XVI. A Song in the Night.
Heb. XII.

5 MY [Chastned] Son, Despise thou not † the Chastning of the Lord; † nor do thou faint when that thou dost † receive Rebukes from Him. †

6 For whom the Lord doth [truly] love † He chastneth such a one: † and scourgeth ev'ry one whom He † receiveth as a Son. †

7 If Chastning ye [do well] endure † God deals with you as Sons; † for what Son ever is there, whom † the Father Chastens not? †

10 He Chastens us ['tis true] but it † is for our benefit; † 'tis that Partakers so we might † be of His Holiness, †

11 Now for the present, there [he sure] † no Chastning is that seems † to be a cause of any joy, † no, but a cause of grief. † Yet asterwards it. [surely] yields † the fruit of Righteousness † to them that are well-tri'd thereby; † which will be full of Peace. †

XVII. The Faithful Saying.

1 Tim. I. 15.

THis is a Saying, which deserves † [Over] to be rely'd upon, † and it is worthy of a full † Reception ev'ry where [of all.] † This, That CHRIST who is JESUS, has † Now come into the [Ruin'd] World † for this, that unto Sinners, He † might be a [Mighty] SAVIOUR. †

The Matchless Gift.
John III. 16.

SUch, Even such, a Love has God † had for a [Lost and] Dying World, † that He His Only One has giv'n, † Ev'n His Begotten Son [for it,] † This has He done, that whosoev'r † Believes aright in Him [alone,] † should never perish, but should have † an Everlasting Life [by Him.] †

[Page 419]

XVIII. The Blessing.

Act. III. 26.

GOD Raising His Son Josus, hath † sent Him to Bless you all, † in turning ev'ry one of you † from his Iniquities. †

Act. V. 31.

Him God with His Right hand sets up, † a Prince and Saviour † to give His Israel to repent, † and to forgive their Sins. †

XIX. The Holy Baptism.
Matth. XXVIII. 19, 20.

ALL Nations make Disciples, them ‖ Baptizing in the Name ‖ of GOD the Father and the Son‖ and of the Holy Spirit. ‖ Instructing them, that thereupon ‖ they carefully observe ‖ all things whatever they may be ‖ I have commanded you. ‖

XX. The Holy Supper.
1 Cor. XI. 23—26.

KNow, The Lord Jesus in the Night † in which He was betray'd, † took Bread and having given Thanks, † He brake it and He said: † Take, Eat; This is my Body which † is Broken thus for you: † This do, that so of me you may † keep the Remembrance up. † He also in like manner took † the Cup, when He had Supp'd; † said, This is the New-Testament, † confirmed in my Blood. † This is what I would have you do, † as often as you Drink † of this, that so of me you may † keep the Remembrance up. † As oft now as ye Eat this Bread, † and as ye Drink this Cup, † you the Death of the Lord show forth † until that He do come. †

XXI. Our Attonement.
Roman, Chap. V.

6 WHen we were [whosty] destitute of strength, † This [proper] time, CHRIST dy'd for the profane. †

[Page 420] 7 'Tis [Very] true, One for a Just Man would † [Scarce and] with no small difficulty dye. † Yet peradventure somr would [Even] dare † for a [Bels [...]] Good Man to suffer Death. †

8 But God commends [in this] His Love to us † that CHRIST for us [altho'] yet Sinners dy'd. †

9 Much more then we [may well] infer from hence, † since by His Blood we're [freely] justify'd, † we shall through Him be [surely] saved from † the wrath to which we [Justly] are expos'd. †

10 For if by His Sons Death [for it] we were † while yet Foes [fully] reconcil'd to God, † much more be sure now [so well] reconcil'd, † we shall be saved by His [Glozious] Life. †

11 And yet this not all [of it] but we † do herewithal rejoyce in God [our God,] † Thro' our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [it is] † [a full] Atonement we have now receiv'd. †

XXII. Spiritual Blessings.
Eph. I.

3 O Blested be the Glorious God † and Father of our Lord, † Even of our Lord Jesus Christ, † who hath now blessed us; † with all the Blessings which are of † a Spiritual import † in Heav'nly places; † in and with, † a CHRIST to be enjoy'd, †

4 According as in Him He hath † made a free choice of us † before that the Foundation of † the World was ever laid. † Chusing us upon this intent † that we before Him should † be holy and be blameless, thro' † the influence of love. †

XXIII. Great Things done for us in CHRIST.
Eph. II.

4 A God, who in the Riches of † His Mercy doth abound, † because of the great love wherewith † He still hath loved us. †

[Page 421] 6 Even when we were dead in Sins, † He hath enliven'd us, † together with CHRIST doing it; † Saved you are by Grace! †

6 Us also hath He raised up † together, and He has † in Heav'nly Places made us fir † in Jesus Christ together †

XXIV. The Scale of Heaven.
Rom. VIII.

30 WHom He did first predestinate, † them he did also call; † and them whom he has called, He † hath also Justify'd, † and whom He Justify'd, He those † has also glorify'd. †

31 Unto such things as these then what † is there that we shall say? † If God be once engag'd for us † against us who can be? †

32 He who his own Son spared not, † when Justice made Demands, † but did deliver him to Death † in the room of us all, † How shan't He also freely give † all things to us with Him? †

XXV. Conjugal Goodness.
Eph. V.

21 WIves, Unto your own Husbands yeild, † even as to the Lord. †

23 The Husband is head to the Wife, † as CHRIST Head to the Church. †

24 For this Cause, as the Church is in † subjection unto CHRIST, † Wives unto their own Husbands should † in every thing be so. †

25 Husbands O do you love your Wives † with all due tenderness, † as CHRIST has also lov'd the Church, † and gave himself for it. †

28 As Men love their own Bodies, so † they ought to Love their Wives; † He who does duly love his Wife, † does therein love himself. †

33 Let each and every one of you † love his Wife as himself: † and let the Wife see that she pay † her Husband much Regard. †

[Page 422]

XXVI. The Song of the Twenty-Four Elders.
Rev. IV.

WOrthy Thou art, O Lord; † for to receive from all † Glory and Honour too † and power; for that thou didst † all things create; † and for thy will they are and were † created all. †

XXVII. Praises for the Men of Judah.
Jude. 24, 25.

NOW unto Him who has † the power to preserve † you free from Sinful falls, † and to set you before † the face of His † bright Glory, free from fault, with a † Triumphant Joy; † To Him who's only wise † God, Ev'n our Saviour, † Glory and Grandeur be, † Power and Dominion; † Now at this time † let it be so and so unto † all Ages be. †

XXVIII. The New Song.

Rev. V. 9, 10.

O Lamb of God, Thou art † worthy to take the Book, † and open all the Seals † which cover what's in it; † For thou wast Slain, † and hast redeem'd us unto God † by thine own Blood. † So from each Kindred, and † Language and People and † Nation thou bringest us; † and thou hast made us to be † both Kings and Priests † unto our God, and we shall Reign † over the Earth. †

[With the voice of the many Angels.]

Rev. V. 12.

Oh! worthy is the Lamb, † the Lamb, that has been Slain, † all Power and Riches and † Wisdom and Fortitude † and Honour too † with Glory and with Blessing still † for to receive. †

XXIX. The Doxology.
Rev. 1.5, 6.

NOW to that Glorious One who has † wondrously loved [sinful] us, † and who has made us to be Kings † as well as [...]ests to God [on High;] † Even unto the God, whom † His Father; [let there] unto Him † be Glory and [...]nion † forever more. Amen: [amen [...]] †

[Page 423]

XXX. The Name of God.

Prov. XVIII. 10.

JEHOVAH's [Great and] Glorious Name, † it is a Tower of Strength: † The Righteous runs [with speed] into't; † and there on high Sits safe. †

Exod. XXXIV. 6, 7.

So He proclaimed it [of Did] † JEHOVAH is His Name; † JEHOVAH who is [the Strong] God † forever merciful † and [berv] Gracious too is He; † to anger very Slow; † yea, He does [very] much abound † in Grace and Truth to us. † He does [how Great] reserves of Grace † for many Thousands keep! † Iniquity He [freely] does † dispence a pardon to. † Yea, to Transgression too [tis done] † and to all sorts of Sin; † and if He do [in part] cut off † He will not quite cut off. †

XXXI. Right Sabbatizing.

THE FIRST PART. Isai. LVI. 1, 2, 6, 7.

THus the ETERNAL God hath said, † Blessings attend the [Pious] Man † who does this, and the Son of Man † who lays [and keeps] fast hold on it; † The Man who from polluting it † does keep the [Holy] Sabbath well; † and he who from the doing of † all Evil keeps his hand [with care.] †

Yea, The Sons of the Stranger, who † to [and on] the ETERNAL God † do join themselves, that they may be † true [Priests and] Servants unto tree: † And that in Love unto the Name † of [Him who's] the ETERNAL GOD, † they may become the Servants, who † [truly] devote themselves to Him; † all of these will my Sabbath keep † from all pollutions [clean and] elear, † and they upon my Covenant † will take [therein] perpetual hold. †

Now such as these I will into † my Holy Mountain [surely] bring; † and in my House of Pray'r I will † [Page 424]make them to shine with [Glorious] Joy. † Their Off'rings which ascend in Flames, † and [all the] Sacrifices which † they Offer on my Altar, shall † a good [and kind] Acceptance find. † For that my House, to which they do † for such Devotions [use to] go, † it shall be call'd, an House of Pray'r, † free for all People [coming] there. †

THE SECOND PART. Isai. LVIII. 13, 14.

IF thou from the profaning of † the Sabbath turn [away] thy Foot: not doing of thy pleasure on † what is [ordain'd] my Holy day; † But if the Sabbath thou esteem † [and keep] as a Delight unto † the Bless'd JEHOVAH's Holy one, † ev'n [Him who's] the Victorious One; † And if thereon thou honour Him, † not doing as thou'rt us'd [to do,] † nor pleasing thy own humour now, † nor Speaking a wrong word [thereon.] †

Then thou shalt satisfy thy self † [Ever] in the ETERNAL God; † And I will make thee Ride upon † High [and Rich] places of the Earth. † I will thee with the portion of † Jacob thy Father [always] feed; † For so now speaks the very mouth † of the [True and] ETERNAL God. †

XXXII. Early Piety.
Eccle. XI. 9, 10. XII. 1, 14.

REjoyce, O Young Man, in thy Youth, † and be of a good Heart † in the Days of thy Youth, to this † thou art enough inclin'd! † And walk thou in the ways preser'd † by such an Heart as thine; † Do what shall seem desireable † unto thy Youthful Eyes. † But know thou that for all of these † indulg'd Enormatimes, † God the judge will bring thee anon†to render an Account†

Oh, then remove thou from thine heart, † what causes Grief and Wrath; † and from thy Flesh, Oh, do thou cause † each Vitious lust to pass, † For Infancy, and then the Youth † which is the Morning time, † is Vanity: Is spent in Sin, † it is all spant in vain. †

[Page 425] Remember thy Creator now † (the Father, Sen, and Spirit;) Now in the Days of thy Youth, * which † are of thy choice the Days. † Do it, before the Evil Days † do come, and years draw nigh † in which thou shalt have cause to say, † I've no Delight in them. †

For GOD the Judge will every Work † into a Judgment bring; † with every Secret; be't a good † or be't an evil thing. †

XXXIII. Alms-Giving.

Luk. XII. 33, 34.

SEll your Possessions, rather than ‖ leave such a thing undone: ‖ And freely giving what you have, ‖ Merciful Alms dispense. ‖ By doing so provide yourlelves ‖ of Bags that won't decay; ‖ a Treasure in the Heavens, which ‖ is certain not to fail: ‖ Where 'tis no Thief can make approach, ‖ nor can a Moth corrupt. ‖ For where your Treasure is laid up, ‖ your Heart will still be there. ‖

Heb. XIII. 16.

Be sure that you by no means be ‖ forgetful of this thing; ‖ To be Beneficent, and be ‖ Communicative still: ‖ For with such Sacrifices as ‖ are in such things as these, ‖ the GOD, who does behold them all, ‖ is highly gratify'd. ‖

Act. X. 4.

The Supplications thou haft made ‖ unto the Glorious GOD, ‖ and there withal thy Gracious Alms ‖ that have attended them; ‖ These Off'rings have made their Ascent; ‖ for a Memorial, ‖ in the sight of the Blessed GOD, ‖ who still remembers them. ‖

Eccl. XI. 1.

Cast thou thy Corn-for-seed upon ‖ the face of moistned Ground: ‖ For after many days thou shalt ‖ find the return of it. ‖

XXXIV. The Ten Commandments.

I BEfore my face, thou shalt not have ‖ Other, and After Gods, for thine ‖

[Page 426] II. Thou shalt not any Image make ‖ to thee, nor bow thy self thereto. ‖

III. Thou shalt not take in vain the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL One, Thy GOD. ‖

IV. Remember thou the Sabbath-Day, ‖ that thou mayst it as Holy keep. ‖

V. Thy Father and thy Mother pay, ‖ Honour, that so they may prolong‖ thy Days upon the promis'd Earth. ‖

VI. Kill not in any Murd'rous way. ‖

VII. Commit thou no Adultery. ‖

VIII. Thou shalt not any Stealth Commit. ‖

IX. Upon thy Neighbour bear thou not ‖ a Testimony that is false. ‖

X. Thou shalt not Covet any thing ‖ which to thy Neighbour does belong. ‖

1 John V. 3.

This is the Love of GOD; and His ‖ Commandments never grievous are. ‖

FINIS.

ERRATA.

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