,a ,,manual ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of      
,,psalms    ,,or1    ,,the              
,,subject-,,contents ,,of ,,all ,,the   
,,psalms      ,,by    ,,martin ,,luther 
,,now ,,first ,,translated ,,into       
,,english ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,henry     
,,cole1  ,,late ,,of ,,clare-,,hall1    
,,cambridge2  ,,translator ,,of         
8,,select ,,works0 ,,of ,,luther1 ,c4   
,,published ,,by ,r4 ,b4 ,,seeley ,,and 
,w4 ,,burnside  ,,and ,,sold ,,by ,l4   
,,and ,g4 ,,seeley1  ,,fleet ,,street1  
,,london4  ,,mdcccxxxvii4               
,,translator',s ,,preface4      ,the    
assurance that the following production 
of the immortal and   beloved reformer1 
,luther1 would be acceptable and        
beneficial to every   lover of divine   
and experimental truth1 was the motive  
that led the   ,translator to present   
it1 in an ,english version1 to the      
,british church   of ,christ4    ,no    
commendatory remarks are needed3 the    
work itself will at once speak   its own
 worth4 ,the translator would only      

observe1 that in the   following        
,,manual ,,commentary on the ,book of   
,psalms1 ,luther has most   divinely1   
experimentally1 and beautifully opened  
up--the vanity and   delusion of all    
forms 7even a gospel 8form07 of         
godliness1 without the   known and      
possessed 8power0 thereof2--the         
opposition and malicious   persecution  
which the real disciples of ,christ ever
 meet with from the   wicked1 and1 above
 all1 from hypocrites in religion2--the 
true and only   grounds of a ,christian 
man's hope1 peace1 and salvation2 which 
are1 a   trust and rest alone in the    
grace1 righteousness1 and atonement of  
our   ,lord ,jesus ,christ2--the        
blessedness of a nation where the pure  
word and   worship of ,god guide1 and   
are upheld by1 its throne and           
government2   and the sure destruction  
of a kingdom when its magistrates act   
against   that word and worship2--and   
finally1 the glory of all the creatures 
of   ,god1 the abounding goodness of    

,god in them1 and the infinite          
blessedness of their lawful use4        
,luther takes occasion also1 from       
numberless passages in the ,psalms1 to  
describe1 point out1 and distinguish the
 true church of ,god in the   midst of  
the earth1 and the signs by which she   
may be known from all   other           
churches2--that she is that company of  
poor and afflicted people1   who are    
burdened with sins1 filled with fears1  
covered with   infirmities1 and despised
 by the world1 and considered both by   
the   wicked1 and by formal professors  
of religion1 to be the last people      
likely to be the church of ,god4 ,he    
repeatedly shews1 however1 that   such1 
notwithstanding their rejection by all1 
are the true people and   church of     
,god2 and that it is unto such1 and such
 only1 that all the   promises of grace 
and mercy in ,christ1 and of help1      
provision1 and   defence in this world1 
are made2 #8,for 7saith ,luther7 if you 
will look   through the whole ,bible1   

you will find1 that ,god is not the ,god
 of the   rich1 the proud1 the secure1  
c4 but of the poor1 the fearful1 the    
afflicted1 and the helpless2 who cannot 
do without his daily mercy and   help1  
either in the things of this world1 or  
of that which is to   come4'    ,that   
the great and heavenly things thus      
opened by the admired ,luther   may be  
understood and enjoyed by every reader  
of the following manual1   is the desire
 and prayer of1    ,,the ,,translator4  
,highbury ,place1 ,islington1  ,june #h1
 #ahcg4          ,other invaluable      
productions of ,luther1 which have never
 before been   translated into          
,,english1 are in hand1 and will duly   
appear3 which1   added to the four vols4
 of 8,select ,works10 the 8,bondage of  
the ,will10   and the work 8on ,popery10
 just published by ,messrs4 ,nisbet1    
will put   the ,,english ,church of     
,christ in possession of all the holy   
,reformer's   works which are the most  
calculated to be of divine benefit to   

her4          ,,martin ,,luther ,,to    
,,his ,,friend4      ,i am unwilling to 
acknowledge that you are right in being 
so   industrious to publish abroad my   
poor productions3 ,i fear you are       
actuated too much by favour towards me4 
,as to myself1 ,i am wholly             
dissatisfied with my works on the       
,psalms3 not so much on account of   the
 sense which ,i have given1 which ,i    
believe to be true and genuine1   as on 
account of the verbosity1 confusion1 and
 undigested chaos of my   commentaries  
altogether4 ,the ,book of ,psalms is a  
book1 my ,commentaries   on which1 from 
want of time and leisure1 ,i am obliged 
to conceive1   digest1 arrange1 and     
prepare all at once4 ,for ,i am         
overwhelmed with   occupation4 ,i have  
two sermons to preach in a day3 ,i have 
to meditate   on the ,psalms3 ,i have to
 consider over the letters which ,i     
receive by   the posts 7as they are     
called7 and to reply to my enemies3 ,i  
have to   attack the ,pope's ,bulls in  

both languages3 and ,i have to defend   
myself4 7,to say nothing about the      
letters of my friends which ,i have   to
 answer1 and various domestic and casual
 engagements to which ,i am   obliged to
 attend67    ,you do well1 therefore1 to
 pray for me2 for ,i am oppressed with  
many   afflictions1 and much hindered   
from the performance of my sacred       
duties2--my whole life is a cross to me6
 ,i have now in hand the xxii4   ,psalm1
 8,my ,god1 my ,god1 c420 and ,i had    
hopes of completing a   ,commentary on  
the whole ,book of ,psalms1 if ,christ  
should give us a   sufficient interval  
of peace1 so that ,i could devote my    
whole time and   attention to it3 but   
now1 ,i cannot devote a fourth part of  
my time to   such a purpose3 nay1 the   
time that ,i do devote to it1 is but a  
few   stolen moments4    ,you do right  
in admonishing me of my want of         
moderation3 ,i feel my   deficiency     
myself2 but ,i find that ,i have not    
command over my own   mind3 ,i am       

carried away from myself1 as it were1 by
 a certain vehement   zeal of spirit1   
while ,i am conscious that ,i wish evil 
to no one1   though all my adversaries  
press in upon me with such maddened     
fury3 so   that1 in fact1 ,i have not   
time to consider who my enemies are1 nor
   what various treatment they require4 
,pray1 therefore1 the ,lord for me1     
that ,i may have wisdom to speak and    
write that which shall please him   and 
become me1 and not what may appear      
becoming to them4 ,and now1   farewell  
in ,christ4    ,wittemberg1 ,a4,d4      
#aeba4          ,,martin ,,luther',s    
,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,book ,,of        
,,psalms4      ,many of the old and     
godly fathers have highly extolled the  
,book of   ,psalms1 above all the other 
books of the ,scripture1 and have       
testified   their exceeding fondness and
 partiality for them4 ,and indeed this  
book1 though small1 deserves to be      
recommended above all others1 7if a     
difference may be made73 though the     

,psalms of ,david do not want the   aid 
of borrowed encomiums1 for they carry   
with them an abundance of               
self-recommendation2 and in them is the 
old proverb verified1 which   says      
#8,the work proves the workman4'        
,therefore1 ,i have not put my hand   to
 this book for the purpose of parading  
before the world an encomium   upon it1 
since it so amply commends itself2 but  
that ,i might1   according to the best  
of my ability1 present those that fear  
,god with   my judgment upon its        
all-excelling contents4    ,in the years
 that are past we have seen an infinity 
of books handed   about in the world1   
but all most insipid and worthless2     
which1 behind   an apparently honest and
 plausible title1 7for they were        
prefaced with   the sentiments and      
examples of the saints7 contained the   
most nugatory   fables1 and the most    
barefaced lies4 ,the world1 therefore1  
was   everywhere so filled with writings
 of this kind1 the most foolish1 and    

at the same time the most impious1 that 
the ,psalms themselves were             
disregarded and thrust into darkness1   
and we had not one ,psalm rightly       
interpreted or understood4 ,and yet1 as 
this sweet book of ,david   continued to
 be sung in all our churches1 and to be 
chanted over so   many thousand times in
 these incessant rounds and forms of    
prayer1--even by this frigid use of the 
,psalms1 bad as it was1 some   small    
savor of life was diffused abroad among 
many that were of an   honest and good  
heart2 and from these words themselves  
only1 though   not understood1 those    
that feared ,god drank in some little   
sweetness   of the breath of life1 and  
some small taste of consolation1 like   
the   faint fragrance which is found in 
the air that is not far from a bed   of 
roses4 ,their experience was like also  
unto a simple man passing   through a   
flowery and sweet-smelling meadow1 who1 
though he knew not   the peculiar nature
 and properties of the flowers and      

herbs1 yet found   his senses regaled   
with the general fragrance4    ,i would 
say what ,i think of the ,psalms in a   
few words thus3--,i believe1   for my   
part1 that there is no book under       
heaven1 either of histories   or        
examples1 to be compared to the ,book of
 ,psalms4 ,wherefore1 if it   were right
 to ask of ,god1 and1 if such were our  
soul's desire1 that   all the greatest  
excellences and most choice experiences 
of all the   true saints should be      
gathered and collected from the whole   
church   since it has existed1 and      
should be most briefly and appropriately
   condensed into the focus of one book2
 if ,god1 ,i say1 should permit any     
most spiritual and most gifted man to   
form and concentrate such a book   from 
all the excellences of the saints1 and  
from the flower of the   facts recorded 
in the whole scripture 7which might be  
done72--such a   book would be what the 
,book of ,psalms is1 or like unto it4   
,for in the   ,book of ,psalms we have  

not the life of one of the saints only1 
but we   have the experience of ,christ 
himself1 the head of all the saints1 for
   he is set forth in those ,psalms3 we 
have1 moreover1 the feelings and        
experiences of all the faithful1 both   
under their sorrows and under   their   
joys1 both in their adversity and their 
prosperity3 how they   conducted        
themselves towards ,god1 towards their  
friends1 and towards   their enemies3   
how they acted in various perils and    
afflictions1 in   the midst of          
temptations1 and under the greatest     
necessities4    ,and moreover1 in       
addition to the great and blessed       
doctrines and   instructions in         
godliness which it embraces1 the ,book  
of ,psalms ought   to be most dearly and
 highly prized by us on this            
account2--because it   contains such    
clear prophecies concerning the death   
and resurrection   of ,christ1 and holds
 forth such great and gracious promises 
concerning   the kingdom of ,christ1 the

 spread of the ,gospel1 and the state of
 the   whole church4 ,so that you may   
truly call the ,book of ,psalms1 a      
little   ,bible2 for in it all things   
that are contained in the whole ,bible  
are   given to us in the most           
wonderfully brief and sweet manner1 and 
condensed into a most beautiful manual4 
,if ,god should himself hand down a book
 out of heaven and commend it to   us   
with a divine voice1 how highly would   
you prize and value it1 how   greedily  
would you seize it8 ,be assured then    
that the ,holy ,spirit   himself has    
written and handed down to us this ,book
 of ,psalms1 as a   form of prayer1 in  
the same way as a father would give a   
book to his   children4 ,he himself has 
drawn up this manual for his disciples2 
having collected together1 as it were1  
the lives1 groans1 and   experiences of 
many thousands1 whose hearts he alone   
sees and knows4   ,if1 therefore1 thou  
canst not read the whole ,bible1 behold6
 thou   mayest1 by reading the ,book of 

,psalms only1 have not only a summary of
   all godliness1 but all godly         
excellences1 and the most spiritual     
experiences4    ,and again1 another     
great excellency of the ,book of ,psalms
 is this4 ,in   other scriptures and    
histories1 for the most part the works  
and bodily   exercises only of the      
saints are described3 you have very few 
histories which give you the words1     
expressions1 and sighs of the   saints1 
which are the indexes of the state of   
their minds4 ,but it is   in these      
things that the ,book of ,psalms may be 
a feast of delight for   the meditations
 of the godly4 ,in these respects1      
therefore1 the   reading of a ,psalm is 
peculiarly sweet2 because you have      
therein1 not   only the works and acts  
of the saints1 but their very words and 
expressions1 nay1 their sighs and groans
 to ,god1 and the utterance in   which  
they conversed with him during their    
temptations2 and all these   are        
recorded in such a lively and           

descriptive manner1 that those   saints1
 though now dead1 seem still to live and
 speak in the ,psalms4    ,thus all     
other histories and lives of the saints1
 which describe their   acts and works  
only1 when compared to the ,book of     
,psalms1 set forth to   us nothing more 
than dumb saints2 and every thing that  
is recorded of   them is dull and       
lifeless4 ,but in the ,psalms1 where the
 very   expressions of those that prayed
 in faith are recorded1 all things      
live1 all things breathe1 and living    
characters are set before us in   the   
most lively colours3 the saints are     
represented to us as standing           
supported by their faith1 even in the   
midst of afflictions and   tribulations4
 ,a dumb man1 indeed1 is rather a       
lifeless post than a   man2 for man is  
distinguished from the brute creation by
 nothing more   than by the power of    
speech4 ,a stone even1 under the hand of
 the   artificer1 may represent the     
figure of a man4 ,and1 as to eating and 

drinking1 all dumb animals can do those 
things as well as he3 they can   use the
 organs of sense as well as he3 and     
indeed1 as to strength of   body1 they  
have greatly the advantage of him4      
,hence1 it is the power   of speech that
 so distinguishes man from1 and raises  
him above1 the   brute creation3 and    
that speech is the index of1 and the    
mirror that   reflects1 the mind4       
,as1 therefore1 the ,psalms describe the
 words and expressions of the   saints1 
they give us an exact picture of their  
minds4 ,for the ,psalms   record not    
those common and everywhere-heard       
expressions of the   saints1 but those  
ardent and pathetic utterances1 by      
which1 in real   earnest1 and under the 
very pressure of temptations1 and in the
 very   wrestlings of their souls1 they 
poured out their hearts like ,jacob1    
not before man1 but before ,god6 ,the   
,psalms give us1 therefore1 not   only  
the works and words of the saints1 but  
the very hidden treasure   of their     

hearts' feelings--the very inmost       
sensations and motions of   their soul4 
,wouldst thou see1 then1 the face and   
countenance of ,david1 which he         
carried under all those perils and      
sorrows with which the ,lord   exercised
 him8--then read the ,psalms2 and they  
will give thee not only   the outward   
,david1 but1 more expressively still1   
the inner ,david2 and   that more       
descriptively than he could do it       
himself1 if he were to   talk with you  
face to face4 ,what then are all other  
histories1 which   band about the       
singular works1 and ,i know not what    
miracles of the   saints8 ,i can see all
 the works and the miracles of the      
saints in   these everywhere-to-be-had  
records1 but ,i can see nothing of the  
feelings and sensations of their hearts4
    ,as1 therefore1 ,i had much rather  
hear ,david or any such eminent saint   
speak1 than merely see the works or     
exercises of his body2 so1 much   rather
 would ,i know the inmost thoughts of   

,david's heart1 and the   inward        
conflicts and struggles of his faith4   
,with this knowledge the   ,psalms      
furnish us most satisfactorily2 so that 
from them we can know   what he felt and
 what all the saints felt1 under their  
temptations1   from the ardent          
expressions and effusions which are     
uttered4 ,for the   human heart is like 
a ship in the midst of the sea1 which is
 exposed   to the perils of the winds   
and the waves on every side1 and made as
 it   were their sport4 ,for as the ship
 is suddenly assaulted1 so trouble1     
and the fear of future evil1 like a     
sudden tempest1 assaults and   disarms  
our minds3 and then flow in cowardice of
 spirit1 and sorrow of   heart1 which1  
like the waves1 run over us and threaten
 to overwhelm us   every moment4 ,by and
 by1 again1 the confidence inspired by  
prosperity   carries us up to heaven in 
full sail2 and then1 security under our 
present prospects dashes unexpectedly   
our ship against a rock4 ,these1   ,i   

say1 and the numberless other evils and 
perils of this life1 tend to   arouse   
and stir up the saints1 and teach and   
bring them to sigh and   groan from the 
recesses within1 to pour out their whole
 hearts1 and to   cry with their whole  
souls unto heaven4 ,the complaints of   
those who   thus grieve and groan in    
truth1 are far more ardent than theirs' 
who   only feign sorrows and straits of 
mind3 just as the man1 who feels        
joyful and glad in reality1 discovers a 
far greater gladness1   hilarity1 and   
exultation in his countenance1          
expressions1 and whole   appearance1    
than he who only smoothes his brows with
 a feigned   rejoicing4    ,the         
expressions contained in the ,psalms1   
then1 as ,i have said1 are   uttered    
under the true and real feelings of the 
heart2 and the greater   part of them   
contain the pathetic and ardent         
utterances of the heart   under every   
kind of affliction and temptation4 ,but 
wherever the   feelings of joy are      

described1 you will never find the      
sensations of a   heart1 filled with    
gladness and exultation1 more           
significantly and   expressively        
described1 than in the ,psalms of       
thanksgiving1 or the   ,psalms of       
praise4 ,there you may look into the    
hearts of the saints1 as   into         
paradise1 or into the opened heaven2 and
 may see1 in the greatest   variety1 all
 the beautiful and flourishing flowers1 
or the most   brilliant stars1 as it    
were1 of their upspringing affections   
towards   ,god for his benefits and     
blessings4    ,on the other hand1 you   
will never find the straits1 the        
sorrows1 and   the pains of a distressed
 mind any where described in a more     
expressive manner than in the ,psalms of
 temptations1 or of complaints2   as in 
,psalm vi4 and the like2 where you see  
all dark and gloomy1 all   full of      
anguish and distress1 under a sight and 
sense of divine wrath1   and the working
 of despair4    ,and so again1 where the

 ,psalms are speaking of hope or fear1  
they so   describe those feelings in    
their true and native colours1 that no  
,demosthenes or ,cicero could ever equal
 them in liveliness1 or                 
descriptiveness of expression4 ,for1 as 
,i have before observed1 the   ,psalms  
have this peculiarity of excellence     
above all other books of                
description1--that the saints1 whose    
feelings and sensations are   therein   
set forth1 did not speak to the wind1   
under those their   exercises and       
conflicts1 nor to an earthly friend1 but
 unto1 and   before1 ,god himself1 and  
in the sight of ,god4 ,and it is this   
that   above all things gives a         
seriousness1 and reality to the         
feelings1--it   is this that affects1 as
 it were1 the very bones and the        
marrow1--when   a creature feels itself 
speaking in the very sight and presence 
of its   ,god6 ,but when we are speaking
 otherwise1 and complaining to a friend1
   or to a man only1 our necessities are

 not so keenly and really felt2   our   
feelings are not so ardent1 real1 and   
poignant4    ,the ,book of ,psalms1     
therefore1 as it contains these real    
feelings of   the saints1 is a book so  
universally adapted and useful to all   
,christians1 that whatever one that     
truly fears ,god may be suffering1   or 
under what temptation soever he may be1 
he may find1 in the ,psalms1   feelings 
and expressions exactly suited to his   
case2 just as much so   as if the       
,psalms had been indited and composed   
from his own personal   afflictions4    
,it ought1 therefore1 godly soul1 to be 
a great consolation to thee   when the  
,psalms truly suit and delight thee4    
,there is a saying of   ,quinctilian    
left on record1 who says1 #8,he that is 
truly delighted with   ,cicero may be   
assured that he has made a good         
progress3' which ,i may   not           
unappropriately turn thus1--#8,he that  
is really delighted with1 and   receives
 consolation from1 the ,psalms of       

,david1 may be assured that he   has    
arrived at some knowledge and experience
 in divine things4' ,for   when thou    
findest thyself under the same feelings 
that ,david was2 when   the chords and  
strings of his harp are really re-echoed
 by the   feelings and sensations of thy
 heart2 thou mayest assure thyself that 
thou art in the congregation of the     
elect of ,god2 seeing that thou art     
afflicted in the same manner as they    
were afflicted1 and that thou   prayest 
with the same faith1 sensations1 and    
affections as they   prayed4 ,whereas1  
to a cold and frigid reader1 destitute  
of faith1 all   these ,psalms are       
insipid and unengaging4    ,again1 the  
,psalms are those parts of the lives of 
the saints1 which   you may most safely 
copy and imitate4 ,other lives and      
histories1 which   do not set forth the 
words and expressions1 but certain works
 of the   saints1 contain many things of
 the saints which we cannot imitate1    
such as certain signs and wonders1 and  

demonstrations of divine power4   ,and  
indeed some of the recorded works of    
those who are considered to   have been 
saints1 are such that you cannot imitate
 them without   eminent peril2 being    
such works as cause sects and heresies1 
and draw   us away from the unity of the
 ,spirit2 of which we have abundant     
proof   in monkery4 ,but the ,psalms    
call us away from all sects and         
divisions1   to the unity of the        
,spirit4 ,they teach us to maintain fear
 in   prosperity1 and not to cast away  
our hope in adversity2 and thus to be   
of the same mind1 to have the same      
desires1 and to have the same   feelings
 and sensations with all the saints4    
,in a word1 if you desire to see the    
,christian church painted forth1 as   it
 were1 in a most beautiful picture1 and 
in the most lively and   descriptive    
colours1 then take the ,psalms into thy 
hands2 this will be   as an all-clear   
mirror1 which will represent to thee the
 whole church   in its true features2   

and if thou be one that fears ,god it   
will   present to thee a true picture of
 thyself3 so that1 according to the     
maxim of the philosopher of old1  1 thou
 wilt1 by this   book1 come to a true   
knowledge of thyself1 nay1 and also of  
,god and   all creatures4    ,let us    
therefore watch over our hearts1 and see
 that we be thankful in   this our day  
for this revelation of the word1 for    
this unspeakable   gift of ,god4 ,let us
 use these precious gifts to the glory  
of ,god1 and   the good of our          
neighbour1 lest we be made to suffer the
 deserved   punishment of our           
ingratitude4 ,for not many years ago1   
during that   barbarous blindness and   
ignorance1 what a treasure should we    
have had1   if we had possessed one     
,psalm only1 really and truly understood
 and   set forth2 but we had not so much
 as one6 ,and now we are blessed with   
such an abundance of                    
revelation--8,blessed therefore are the 
eyes which   see the things that we see1

 and the ears which hear the things that
 we   hear40 ,but how do ,i fear lest1  
like the ,israelites in the desert1 we  
should at length nauseate this manna and
 say1 8,our souls loathe this   light   
food40 ,but however1 the despisers of   
the word shall bear their   judgment1   
whoever they are1 even as the           
,israelites bore the awful   judgments  
wherewith ,god punished them4 ,but may  
the ,father of all   mercies and the    
,god of all consolation1 keep and       
increase in us the   knowledge of his   
word1 for ,jesus ,christ our ,lord's    
sake3 to whom1 for   this ,book of      
,psalms1 and for all the excellent gifts
 which he has   richly bestowed upon us1
 be praise and glory1 for ever and ever6
 ,amen6          ,,martin ,,luther',s   
,,introductory ,,admonition4            
,before ,i commence my ,,summaries1 or  
,,subject-,,contents of the ,psalms1 ,i 
would desire the reader to bear in mind 
that the ,psalms contained in   this    
,book of ,david are of five different   

kinds4    #a4 ,some ,psalms are         
,prophecies concerning ,christ1 the     
church1 the   different states of the   
church1 and the various afflictions of  
the   saints1 c4 ,to this class belong  
all those ,psalms which contain         
promises and threatenings1--promises    
concerning the deliverances and         
salvation of the godly2 and threatenings
 concerning the destruction of   the    
wicked4    #b4 ,there are some ,psalms  
which teach us what we ought to do1 and 
what   we ought not to do1 according to 
the law of ,god4 ,to this kind belong   
all those ,psalms which condemn human   
doctrines1 and extol the majesty   and  
authority of the word of ,god4    #c4   
,there are ,psalms of consolation2 which
 comfort and lift up the   hearts of    
those who are distressed1 tempted1 and  
afflicted by ,satan   and the world3 and
 which1 on the other hand1 rebuke and   
terrify   tyrants4 ,to this class belong
 all those ,psalms which minister       
consolation to the godly1 and threaten  

the oppressors with the   judgments of  
,god4    #d4 ,there are supplicatory    
,psalms1 wherein the prophet and others 
in   their afflictions call upon ,god in
 prayer and implore his help4 ,to   this
 class belong all those ,psalms which   
complain of persecutions from   the     
wicked4    #e4 ,there are also ,psalms  
of thanksgiving2 wherein thanks are     
rendered   to ,god for all his mercies  
and benefits1 and for his deliverance in
   various times of need4 ,to this class
 belong all those ,psalms which         
celebrate the praises of ,god and laud  
him for his works4 ,these are the       
principal ,psalms in the whole ,book2   
and these peculiarly come under   the   
denomination of ,psalms3 for the whole  
,book was expressly written   to praise 
,god and to worship him according to the
 ,first ,commandment4   ,hence1 in the  
,hebrew1 the ,book is called ,,sepher   
,,il ,,chillim3 that is1   the ,book of 
,praises and ,thanksgivings4    ,the    
reader1 however1 is to bear in mind     

also1 that the ,psalms are not   to be  
understood in a superstitious manner4   
,he is not to suppose that   every      
,psalm must be divided into these five  
particulars in certain   verses2 for    
some ,psalms contain two of these       
particulars1 some three1   and some all 
five of them3 for1 very often1 the same 
,psalm contains   prophecy1 doctrine1   
consolation1 supplication and           
thanksgiving4 ,but ,i   have just made  
these remarks1 that the reader may know 
that the ,psalms   contain these five   
particulars2 for knowing that1 is of    
great help1   not only to the           
understanding of them1 but to the       
perceiving of their   order1 to the     
bearing of them in memory1 and to the   
perfect knowledge   of them4            
,,the ,,book ,,of ,,psalms4             
,,psalm ,i4    ,the happiness of the    
godly4--,the unhappiness of the ungodly4
      ,blessed is the man that walketh  
not in the counsel of the ungodly1   nor
 standeth in the way of sinners1 nor    

sitteth in the seat of the   scornful4  
,but his delight is in the law of the   
,,lord2 and in his law doth he          
meditate day and night4    ,and he shall
 be like a tree planted by the rivers of
 water1 that   bringeth forth his fruit 
in his season3 his leaf also shall not  
wither2 and whatsoever he doeth shall   
prosper4    ,the ungodly are not so3 but
 are like the chaff which the wind      
driveth away4    ,therefore the ungodly 
shall not stand in the judgment1 nor    
sinners in   the congregation of the    
righteous4    ,for the ,,lord knoweth   
the way of the righteous3 but the way of
 the   ungodly shall perish4      ,this 
first is a ,psalm of consolation2 by    
which the hearts of the godly   are     
encouraged and stirred up to magnify    
above all things the word of   ,god1 in 
which the whole of true life and        
salvation stands2 and to   hear1 read1  
weigh1 and meditate on it with a        
willingness of mind4 ,for   this ,psalm 
shows1 that those only are truly        

blessed1 prosperous in all   things1 and
 enjoy a firm1 sure1 and eternal        
consolation both in   prosperity and    
adversity1 who are enabled to learn and 
know1 from his   word1 the will and the 
works of ,god4    ,thus1 as a tall      
palm-tree by the water-side continually 
grows upwards   higher and higher       
against all the violence of storms1     
retains its   strength against all the  
weights that man can put upon it1 and1  
by a   secret growth1 becomes daily more
 and more flourishing1 and brings       
forth its fruits in its season2 so1     
saith this ,psalm1 do the saints        
increase and grow continually by the    
,spirit and word2 so are they   rendered
 more and more firm and constant1 and   
invincible against every   evil2 so do  
they daily become more fortified against
 all the   calamities of life4    ,this 
,psalm denies1 on the other hand1 that  
any knowledge of ,god or any   true     
consolation can be derived from human   
doctrines1 how fair a show   soever they

 may make4 ,the wicked1 7saith it17 and 
hypocrites1 are like   the chaff that is
 scattered by the wind3 that is1 the    
wicked are   utterly destroyed by       
afflictions1 at least in death2 they    
endure not   in temptation1 but by and  
by separate themselves from the assembly
 of   the righteous1 and at length come 
to nought4    ,god looks upon those     
alone who worship him by hearing1       
learning1 and   declaring his word2 and 
these are they whom this ,psalm         
pronounces   8blessed40 ,he disregards  
all the rest1 who are hypocrites and    
pharisaical worshippers2 he despises all
 their good works and   worshippings1   
and leaves them to perish in their      
blindness4    ,this ,psalm flows from   
the ,third ,commandment1 and has respect
 unto that   which is there written3    
8,remember that thou keep holy the      
sabbath   day20 that is1 that thou hear1
 read1 meditate on1 and ponder the word 
of ,god4 ,and the sum of this ,psalm is 
comprehended in the ,lord's   ,prayer1  

in the second and third petitions1 where
 we pray1 that the   kingdom of ,god may
 increase and be edified by his word1   
and at length   be revealed in its      
perfection1 and that his will may be    
done3 and both   of these petitions are 
answered1 when the word of ,god1 which  
abideth   for ever1 is purely taught and
 learnt1 and seriously and diligently   
used and pondered4          ,,psalm     
,,ii4    ,the kingdom of                
,christ4--,kings are exhorted to accept 
it4      ,why do the heathen rage1 and  
the people imagine a vain thing8    ,the
 kings of the earth set themselves1 and 
the rulers take counsel   together1     
against the ,,lord1 and against his     
,anointed1 saying1    ,let us break     
their bands asunder1 and cast away their
 cords from us4    ,he that sitteth in  
the heavens shall laugh3 the ,,lord     
shall have them   in derision4    ,then 
shall he speak unto them in his wrath1  
and vex them in his sore   displeasure4 
,yet have ,i set my ,king upon my holy  

hill of ,zion4    ,i will declare the   
decree3 the ,,lord hath said unto me1   
,thou art my   ,son2 this day have ,i   
begotten thee4    ,ask of me1 and ,i    
shall give thee the heathen for thine   
inheritance1 and the uttermost parts of 
the earth for thy   possession4    ,thou
 shalt break them with a rod of iron2   
thou shalt dash them in   pieces like a 
potter's vessel4    ,be wise now1       
therefore1 ,o ye kings2 be instructed1  
ye judges of the   earth4    ,serve the 
,,lord with fear1 and rejoice with      
trembling4    ,kiss the ,son1 lest he be
 angry1 and ye perish from the way1 when
 his   wrath is kindled but a little4   
,blessed are all they that put their    
trust in him4      ,this ,psalm is a    
remarkable prophecy concerning ,christ3 
it is cited by   the apostles in the    
,acts1 chapter iv43 it predicted that   
,christ should   suffer1 be crucified1  
and glorified1 and that he should be    
,king and   ,lord of all creatures2 that
 to him should be given all power both  

in   heaven and in earth1 and that his  
name should be above every name that    
is named1 not only in this world1 but in
 that which is to come4    ,this ,psalm 
contains also a description of the      
kingdom of ,christ and   the terrible   
threatenings of ,god against the kings1 
the princes1 the   wise1 and the        
powerful of the world2 that they shall  
all perish1 who1   being carried away   
with the pride of human reason and      
carnal wisdom1   do not acknowledge this
 ,king1 ,christ1 nor obey his gospel2   
but who   oppose his kingdom1 and       
endeavour to blot out his name4    ,on  
the other hand1 this ,psalm contains    
most consoling promises1   namely1 that 
he that sitteth in the heavens1 7in     
comparison of whom   all the kings of   
the earth are mere worms17 holds in     
derision1 and in   a moment defeats1 all
 their counsels and all their crafty    
devices   against his word and this     
kingdom of ,christ2 and that he ever    
powerfully and miraculously saves1      

preserves1 delivers1 and prospers       
believers1 and the whole church         
throughout the world1 in the midst of   
the kingdom of the devil1 and against   
all the powers and the gates of   hell4 
,this ,psalm flows from the ,first      
,commandment2 where ,god declares that  
he alone will be our ,god1 to save us   
and deliver us from all   afflictions4  
,thus1 it was he alone that delivered   
us1 through ,christ1   from sin1 from   
death1 from the power of the devil1 and 
from hell1 and   gave unto us eternal   
life4 ,this pertains to the second      
petition of the   ,lord's ,prayer1 8,thy
 kingdom come40          ,,psalm ,,iii4 
,the security of ,god's protection4     
,a ,psalm of ,david1 when he fled from  
,absalom his son4      ,,lord1 how are  
they increased that trouble me8 many are
 they that   rise up against me4        
,many there be which say of my soul1    
,there is no help for him in   ,god4    
,selah4    ,but thou ,o ,,lord1 art a   
shield for me2 my glory1 and the lifter 

up of   mine head4    ,i cried unto the 
,,lord with my voice1 and he heard me   
out of his holy   hill4 ,selah4    ,i   
laid me down and slept2 ,i awaked3 for  
the ,,lord sustained me4    ,i will not 
be afraid of ten thousands of people1   
that have set   themselves against me   
round about4    ,arise1 ,o ,,lord2 save 
me1 ,o my ,god3 for thou hast smitten   
all mine   enemies upon the cheek-bone2 
thou hast broken the teeth of the       
ungodly4    ,salvation belongeth unto   
the ,,lord3 thy blessing is upon thy    
people4   ,selah4      ,this ,psalm is a
 prayer of ,david in the time of his    
greatest   affliction1 and under the    
severest trial he ever experienced4 ,and
 here   we have set before us a signal  
example of this greatest and most       
spiritual of men--,david2 how he1 in the
 time of ,absalom1 when all   ,israel   
revolted from him and went over to      
,absalom2 how this eminent   saint1 ,i  
say1 who was now an exile1 forsaken by  
all1 betrayed by those   of his own     

household1 and in the midst of the most 
appalling peril of   his own life and   
salvation2 how1 when sinking under this 
heavy   calamity1 and struggling in this
 agony1 he prayed unto ,god in faith2   
and what a fervency of heart there was  
in these his cries unto him4    ,in a   
word1--in this ,psalm1 ,david1 with a   
wonderful feeling of mind1 and   a      
signal experience of faith1 extols1 in  
the highest strains1 the   greatness of 
the long-suffering and goodness of ,god1
 when he says1   8,salvation is of the  
,lord60 ,as if he had said1 ,the ,lord  
is he alone   who has all salvation in  
his hand1 and all the issues of life and
   death4 ,he sets up and changes       
kingdoms in a moment1 just as he wills4 
,no peril is so great1 no death so      
instant1 from which he cannot   deliver 
his own1 if they but call upon him in   
true faith1 and flee   unto him alone4  
,this ,psalm has reference to the ,first
 ,commandment1 wherein it is said1   8,i
 am the ,lord thy ,god20 and it is      

comprehended in the seventh   petition  
of the ,lord's ,prayer1 where we pray1  
8,deliver us from evil40                
,,psalm ,,iv4    ,david prayeth for     
audience4--,he reproveth and exhorteth  
his   enemies4--,man's happiness is in  
,god's favour4    ,to the chief         
,musician on ,neginoth4 ,a ,psalm of    
,david4      ,hear me when ,i call1 ,o  
,god of my righteousness3 thou hast     
enlarged me   when ,i was in distress2  
have mercy upon me1 and hear my prayer4 
,o ye sons of men1 how long will ye turn
 my glory into shame8 how   long will ye
 love vanity1 and seek after leasing8   
,selah4    ,but know that the ,,lord    
hath set apart him that is godly for    
himself3   the ,lord will hear when ,i  
call unto him4    ,stand in awe1 and sin
 not3 commune with your own heart upon  
your bed1   and be still4 ,selah4       
,offer the sacrifices of righteousness1 
and put your trust in the ,,lord4       
,there be many that say1 ,who will shew 
us any good8 ,,lord1 lift thou   up the 

light of thy countenance upon us4       
,thou hast put gladness in my heart1    
more than in the time that their   corn 
and their wine increased4    ,i will    
both lay me down in peace1 and sleep3   
for thou1 ,,lord1 only   makest me dwell
 in safety4      ,this is a ,psalm of   
consolation3 yet it at the same time    
teaches us to   bear afflictions        
patiently1 to expect the help of ,god1  
and to trust in   him in all            
adversities4 ,for that greatest of all  
wisdom1 true and real   ,christian      
wisdom1 is unknown to the world3 which  
wisdom is1 to learn   and to know1 by   
daily temptations and by various trials 
of faith1 that   ,god exercises his     
people in all these afflictions1 to the 
end that   they may understand his will2
 and that his design in exposing them to
   the all-bitter hatred of the world   
and the devil1 is1 that he might   save1
 deliver1 comfort1 strengthen1 and      
glorify them in a wonderful   manner1 in
 the midst of perils1 and even in death 

itself2 and that he   might make known  
his conflicting church as being         
invincible1 through   faith and the     
word1 in the midst of the kingdom of the
 devil1 against   all the storms of the 
world1 and under all the clouds1        
darkness1 and   tempests of temptations 
of every kind4    ,this ,psalm also most
 severely strikes at all hypocrites and 
wicked men   of every description1 who1 
before the eyes of the world1 would have
 us   believe that they are the only    
true saints and the people of ,god2 who 
even say that they worship ,god1 while  
they know nothing of him2 for in   the  
time of affliction1 they tremble with   
cowardly fear1 and   impatiently mutter 
in their hearts against ,god and his    
holy will2 they   soon forget his words 
and his works1 and1 wickedly forsaking  
him who   alone is able to comfort them1
 cease from expecting his aid1 hate the 
cross1 and seek for human consolation3  
whereas1 there is no sure   consolation 
to be obtained either from friends or   

from all the   resources of human help2 
for in ,god alone is sure consolation2  
and   that is all-sure1 and eternal2    
which no creature can take away1 either 
in this world or in that which is to    
come4    ,this peace and consolation of 
,god1 however1 is not like the peace of 
the world4 ,for1 8,know ye1 7saith      
,david7 that the ,lord dealeth          
wonderfully with his saints30 he casts  
them down1 that he may raise   them up2 
he afflicts them that he may minister   
consolation unto them2   he humbles them
 that he may exalt them2 he makes them  
sorrowful that   he may make them glad3 
in a word1 he kills them that he may    
make them   alive4    ,the agonizing    
struggles of the godly1 therefore1 in   
this life against   sin1 and the devil  
who unceasingly assaults them1 and      
desires to sift   them as wheat1 are    
their exercises of faith and patience3  
from which   exercises those that fear  
,god learn more satisfactorily to know  
his   presence2--that he is ever present

 with them2 and that he will never      
leave nor forsake those that believe in 
him1 but will ever   marvellously       
deliver1 save and rescue them from all  
their deaths and   destructions4    ,but
 the wicked and hypocrites1 how much    
soever they may talk about ,god   with  
their lips1 yet hate ,god1 and hate this
 his will in the   afflictions of his   
saints2 as it is written in the first   
commandment--8,unto them that hate me40 
,and again1 as ,paul saith--8,whose     
,god is their belly40 ,these characters 
wish first1 and above all   things1 that
 all theirs1--their fortunes1 their     
property1 their   friends1 should be    
safe2 and they trust in their riches and
   possessions4 ,all such1 therefore1   
deride this doctrine of faith3 and   if 
any one should preach to such this      
patience1 and this word of the   cross1 
they would laugh at it1 and would boast 
of their holiness and   religion in     
opposition to those who truly fear ,god4
 ,they would say1   #8,what6 are we to  

be taught what is right by such a fool  
as you8 ,are   you to teach us what is  
good1 and what the true worship of ,god 
is8'    ,this ,psalm also pertains to   
the ,first ,commandment4 ,it teaches us 
to   trust in ,god both in prosperity   
and adversity1 and patiently to wait    
for his help1 calling upon him with     
earnestness and constancy4 ,the         
subject matter of this ,psalm is        
contained in the third and seventh      
petition of the ,lord's ,prayer--8,thy  
will be done10 and 8,deliver us from    
evil30 and also in the fourth1 where we 
pray1 8that there may be given   us our 
daily bread30 that is1 peace1 and all   
those things that are   required unto   
the sustaining of this life1 against all
 the various   evils of poverty1 hunger1
 and want2 with which things the devil1 
in an   especial manner1 exercises the  
church of ,god in this world4           
,,psalm ,v4    ,david prayeth1 and      
professeth his study in prayer4--,god   
favoureth not   the wicked4--,david1    

professing his faith1 prayeth unto ,god 
to guide   him--and to preserve the     
godly4    ,to the chief ,musician upon  
,nehiloth4 ,a ,psalm of ,david4         
,give ear to my words1 ,o ,,lord2       
consider my meditation4    ,hearken unto
 the voice of my cry1 my ,king1 and my  
,god3 for unto thee   will ,i pray4     
,my voice shalt thou hear in the        
morning1 ,o ,,lord2 in the morning will 
,i   direct my prayer unto thee1 and    
will look up4    ,for thou art not a    
,god that hath pleasure in wickedness2  
neither   shall evil dwell with thee4   
,the foolish shall not stand in thy     
sight3 thou hatest all workers of       
iniquity4    ,thou shalt destroy them   
that speak leasing3 the ,,lord will     
abhor the   bloody and deceitful man4   
,but as for me1 ,i will come into thy   
house in the multitude of thy   mercy2  
and in thy fear will ,i worship toward  
thy holy temple4    ,lead me1 ,o ,,lord1
 in thy righteousness1 because of mine  
enemies2 make   thy way straight before 

my face4    ,for there is no            
faithfulness in their mouth2 their      
inward part is   very wickedness2 their 
throat is an open sepulchre2 they       
flatter with   their tongue4    ,destroy
 thou them1 ,o ,god2 let them fall by   
their own counsels3 cast   them out in  
the multitude of their transgressions2  
for they have   rebelled against thee4  
,but let all those that put their trust 
in thee rejoice3 let them ever   shout  
for joy1 because thou defendest them3   
let them also that love   thy name be   
joyful in thee4    ,for thou1 ,,lord1   
wilt bless the righteous2 with favour   
wilt thou   compass him as with a       
shield4      ,this ,psalm is an earnest 
prayer against that most destructive    
pestilence in the church--false         
teachers3 and all ages1 from ,cain1 the 
first man that was born1 the first      
hypocrite after the creation of   ,adam1
 and the first 8man of blood10 have had 
their ,cainish saints1   their false    
prophets1 their false apostles1 and     

their fanatic spirits2   who have taught
 their own human dreams1 and their own  
traditions for   the word of ,god1 and  
resolutely contended for their own      
,cainish   holiness1 ever burning with  
an insatiable thirst to drink the blood 
of   the ,abels1 the true saints3 and   
these ,christ has called1 in his        
gospel1 8vipers40    ,it is at the      
blasphemies of these against ,god1 and  
their cruelty   towards men1 that this  
,psalm strikes2 and openly exposes the  
persons   themselves as most virulent   
hypocrites1 in whose doctrine and works 
there is nothing but outside daubing1   
nothing but doubting and   disquietude1 
and a whole slaughter-house of          
consciences4 ,these   characters        
suppress the true word1 the doctrine of 
faith1 and the true   worship of ,god2  
namely1 the worship required by the     
,first ,commandment3   and there is no  
end to their rage against those that    
fear ,god3 they   cause horrid          
devastations in the church1 and load her

 with an infinity   of injuries4        
,against the destructive influence of   
these1 therefore1 ,david prays in   this
 ,psalm2--that it would please ,god to  
prevent the persecuting and   ,cain-like
 counsels of such hypocrites1 and all   
crafty and   blood-thirsty characters of
 the kind1 and1 amid all this bitter and
   furious hatred of the world and the  
devil1 and such an infinity of   cruelty
 in all their adversaries1 to defend1   
comfort1 prop up1 and   protect the     
godly2 to confound the hypocrisy of the 
wicked1 to root   out all false worship2
 to cause the true word and the true    
worship of   ,god to spread and         
flourish1 and to glorify the true church
 in the face   of the false one1 under  
all the outward daubing and show of the 
latter4    ,in the last verse1 ,david   
appends a most glorious promise2--that1 
although those who truly fear ,god are  
cruelly treated by those   hypocrites1  
it shall yet come to pass that the godly
 shall at length   rejoice that their   

prayers are heard1 and shall see the    
judgments of   ,god openly fall upon the
 hypocrites and fanatics1 and the true  
church   defended and preserved4        
,this ,psalm has reference to the       
,second and ,third ,commandments of the 
,decalogue1 and to the first and second 
petitions of the ,lord's ,prayer2       
where we pray 8that the name of the     
,lord may be sanctified and             
glorified10 against the pride and       
gloryings of such hypocrites4           
,,psalm ,,vi4    ,david's complaint in  
his sickness4--,by faith he triumpheth  
over his  enemies4    ,to the chief     
,musician1 on ,neginoth upon ,sheminith4
 ,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,o ,,lord1   
rebuke me not in thine anger1 neither   
chasten me in thy hot   displeasure4    
,have mercy upon me1 ,o ,,lord2 for ,i  
am weak3 ,o ,,lord1 heal me2 for my     
bones are vexed4    ,my soul is also    
sore vexed3 but thou1 ,o ,,lord1 how    
long8    ,return1 ,o ,,lord1 deliver my 
soul3 oh save me for thy mercies' sake4 

,for in death there is no remembrance of
 thee3 in the grave who shall   give    
thee thanks8    ,i am weary with my     
groaning2 all the night make ,i my bed  
to swim2 ,i   water my couch with my    
tears4    ,mine eye is consumed because 
of grief2 it waxeth old because of all  
mine enemies4    ,depart from me1 all ye
 workers of iniquity2 for the ,,lord    
hath heard   the voice of my weeping4   
,the ,,lord hath heard my supplication2 
the ,,lord will receive my prayer4      
,let all mine enemies be ashamed and    
sore vexed3 let them return and   be    
ashamed suddenly4      ,this ,psalm is a
 prayer full of those mental exercises  
that are felt   under the deepest and   
most secret temptations which can only  
be known   by experience1 because no    
words can describe them2 for they are   
those   feelings under which the saints 
agonize in those bitter and             
unutterable conflicts which are wholly  
unknown to the world3 they are   those  
feelings1 ,i say1 under which they      

agonize when struggling with   sin1 the 
law1 and the wrath and judgment of ,god3
 all which are   experienced in the     
hours of darkness1 while the devil is   
horribly   tempting and pressing in upon
 them4    ,these internal fears and     
terrors1 under which all the godly      
agonize   and sweat1 will1 of necessity1
 one day wholly swallow up the          
hypocrites who are destitute of the     
word4 ,here it is1 that in the   godly1 
there is an unspeakable conflict of     
justice with sin2 the law1   and wrath  
of ,god1 with a confidence in his mercy2
 and faith and hope1   with desperation 
and despair2 though the godly are at    
length delivered   and saved4 ,these    
terrors the scripture calls in other    
places1 and   especially in the ,psalms1
 8the pains of hell10 and1 8the snares  
of   death40    ,but this ,psalm        
expressly shews in the end1 that the    
sighs and groans   of the godly under   
these agonizing conflicts1 these pains1 
and these   straits of soul1 shall      

surely be heard4 ,this ,psalm1          
therefore1 and   others like it1 open to
 us a view of the heart of ,david1 and  
afford   the greatest consolation to the
 godly4 ,for they shew1 that1 although  
the saints thus deeply agonize under    
these straits1 and under these          
terrible and open views of the wrath of 
,god1 yet1 that these   temptations     
which appear to be infinite and endless1
 shall surely have   an end1 and that   
,god will never forsake those who fear  
him1 in their   terrors and conflicts   
with death and hell4    ,on the other   
hand1 the prophet1 in this ,psalm1 with 
a wonderful zeal   of spirit1 and with  
the most cutting sharpness and severity1
 strikes   at all the wicked of the     
world3 and1 above all1 he condemns all  
secure   hypocrites and pharisaical     
ministers2 calling them1 notwithstanding
   their outward appearance of being    
saints1--8workers of iniquity20 who     
persecute all afflicted and true        
,christians with the bitterness of      

,cain1 and cease not to hate them with  
all the virulence of ,satan2   adding   
grief to their grief1 and affliction to 
their affliction4    #8,away with ye1'  
saith he1 #8ye hypocrites4 ,i have      
learnt that ,i have a   ,god to go to2  
but ye are ignorant both of ,god and of 
his works4 ,ye   know not what an awful 
weight the wrath of ,god is1 and how    
great and   soul-refreshing a thing the 
remission of sins1 the knowledge of     
eternal life1 and the experience of     
grace1 are4 ,ye worship ,god with   your
 mouths and with your lips2 ye trust in 
your own righteousnesses   and works1   
not knowing what ,god and what sin are2 
and therefore ye are   most cruel and   
most bitter enemies to the word and true
 worship of   ,god2 in which worship1   
the greatest and most acceptable        
sacrifice is a   spirit thus pressed    
into straits and afflicted4'    ,this   
,psalm has reference to the ,first and  
,second ,commandment2 it   contains the 
agonizing conflict of faith1 and calls  

upon ,god against   the force of sin and
 death4 ,and it refers also to the first
 petition   of the ,lord's ,prayer2 as  
do also the other supplicatory ,psalms4 
,for1   to supplicate and pray1 is to   
sanctify and call upon the name of the  
,lord4          ,,psalm ,,vii4    ,david
 prayeth against the malice of his      
enemies1 professing his                 
innocency4--,by faith he seeth his      
defence1 and the destruction of his     
enemies4    ,shiggaion of ,david1 which 
he sang unto the ,,lord1 concerning the 
words   of ,cush the ,benjamite4      ,o
 ,,lord my ,god1 in thee do ,i put my   
trust3 save me from all them that       
persecute me1 and deliver me2    ,lest  
he tear my soul like a lion1 rending it 
in pieces1 while there   is none to     
deliver4    ,o ,,lord my ,god1 if ,i    
have done this2 if there be iniquity in 
my hands2    ,if ,i have rewarded evil  
unto him that was at peace with me2     
7yea1 ,i   have delivered him that      
without cause is mine enemy27    ,let   

the enemy persecute my soul1 and take   
it2 yea1 let him tread   down my life   
upon the earth1 and lay mine honour in  
the dust4 ,selah4    ,arise1 ,o ,,lord1 
in thine anger2 lift up thyself1 because
 of the rage of   mine enemies2 and     
awake for me to the judgment that thou  
hast   commanded4    ,so shall the      
congregation of the people compass thee 
about3 for their   sakes1 therefore1    
return thou on high4    ,the ,,lord     
shall judge the people3 judge me1 ,o    
,,lord1 according to my   righteousness1
 and according to mine integrity that is
 in me4    ,oh let the wickedness of the
 wicked come to an end2 but establish   
the   just3 for the righteous ,god      
trieth the hearts and reins4    ,my     
defence is of ,god1 which saveth the    
upright in heart4    ,god judgeth the   
righteous1 and ,god is angry with the   
wicked every   day4    ,if he turn not1 
he will whet his sword2 he hath bent his
 bow and made   it ready4    ,he hath   
also prepared for him the instruments of

 death2 he ordaineth   his arrows       
against the persecutors4    ,behold1 he 
travaileth with iniquity1 and hath      
conceived mischief1 and   brought forth 
falsehood4    ,he made a pit1 and digged
 it1 and is fallen into the ditch which 
he   made4    ,his mischief shall return
 upon his own head1 and his violent     
dealing   shall come down upon his own  
pate4    ,i will praise the ,,lord      
according to his righteousness3 and will
 sing   praise to the name of the ,,lord
 ,most ,high4      ,this is a prayer    
against that common and usual blasphemy 
with which   the world accuses the      
prophets1 apostles1 and all others who  
fear ,god1   as being seditious persons1
 who destroy the peace and general      
tranquility of the state3 as ,shimei    
bitterly upbraided ,david1 when   under 
that heavy affliction in the time of    
,absalom1 calling him a   bloody man1   
and saying that he had invaded the      
kingdom of ,saul1 c4 ,in   the same way 
the ,jews accused ,christ before        

,pilate4 ,and in the same   way also now
 do certain hypocrites1--bishops and    
other enemies1 against   all conscience1
 brand the professors of the gospel with
 the   appellation of #8seditious       
persons4'    ,against all trials of this
 kind1 which are indeed most bitter to  
bear1   the prophet fights by prayer    
unto ,god1 calling upon ,god to bear    
witness to his innocency4 ,and then1 to 
encourage and comfort all that   fear   
,god1 he shews1 that all who thus pray  
are heard2 and he sets   forth himself  
as an example4    ,lastly1 he threatens 
a horrid1 sudden1 and momentary judgment
 to those   hypocrites and tyrants1 who 
thus rage against the godly with the    
most   bitter hatred3 and he signifies  
that all such shall in the end perish   
like ,absalom1 who was cut off and died 
in a new1 sudden1 and dreadful   way1 in
 the midst of his furious career1 before
 he could accomplish   that which he had
 planned4    ,this ,psalm refers to the 
second precept in the ,decalogue1 and to

 the   first petition of the ,lord's    
,prayer4          ,,psalm ,,viii4       
,god's glory is magnified by his works1 
and by his love to man4    ,to the chief
 ,musician upon ,gittith4 ,a ,psalm of  
,david4      ,o ,,lord our ,lord1 how   
excellent is thy name in all the earth6 
who   hast set thy glory above the      
heavens4    ,out of the mouths of babes 
and sucklings hast thou ordained        
strength1   because of thine enemies2   
that thou mightest still the enemy and  
the   avenger4    ,when ,i consider thy 
heavens1 the work of thy fingers2 the   
moon and the   stars1 which thou hast   
ordained2    ,what is man1 that thou art
 mindful of him8 and the son of man that
   thou visitest him8    ,for thou hast 
made him a little lower than the angels1
 and hast   crowned him with glory and  
honour4    ,thou madest him to have     
dominion over the works of thy hands3   
thou   hast put all things under his    
feet3    ,all sheep and oxen1 yea1 and  
the beasts of the field2    ,the fowl of

 the air1 and the fish of the sea1 and  
whatsoever passeth   through the paths  
of the seas4    ,o ,,lord our ,lord1 how
 excellent is thy name in all the earth6
      ,this is a prophecy concerning    
,christ1--concerning his passion1 his   
resurrection1 and his dominion over all 
creatures2 and it is thus that   the    
apostle cites it1 ,ephes4 i4 with       
reference to the kingdom of   ,christ3  
where he foretels1 that the power and   
might of his kingdom   will be          
invincible against all enemies1 how     
violent soever they may be   in their   
determination to wreak their            
vengeance3--that is1 that he will   be  
victoriously mighty against all the wise
 and the powerful of the   world1 and   
against all hypocrites and pharisaical  
saints3--that he will   be invincible   
and victorious1 ,i say1 not by arms1 nor
 by mighty forces   of horse and foot1  
but by the word of his gospel2 which    
shall be   preached by 8babes and       
sucklings10 7that is1 by humble men1 men

 who   are weak and contemptible in the 
sight of the world17 and believed in    
by his church of poor1 afflicted1       
crying1 and complaining                 
creatures3--that this word of the       
gospel1 ,i repeat1 preached and         
believed in by such poor creatures1     
shall nevertheless confound all   the   
wisdom of the world1 and break and crush
 under it all the strength   of the     
world1 and that no creature power       
whatever shall impede it in   its work  
and course1 but that it shall stand     
firmer than the heaven1   or the sun1 or
 the moon1 and shall endure for         
evermore6    ,this ,psalm pertains to   
the ,first ,commandment1 where ,god     
declares that   he will be our ,god3 and
 also to the second petition of the     
,lord's   ,prayer1 as ,i have before    
observed under ,psalm ,,ii4             
,,psalm ,,ix4    ,david praiseth ,god   
for executing of judgment4--,he inciteth
 others to   praise him4--,he prayeth   
that he may have cause to praise him4   

,to the chief ,musician upon            
,muthlabben4 ,a ,psalm of ,david4       
,i will praise thee1 ,o ,,lord1 with my 
whole heart2 ,i will shew forth   all   
thy marvellous works4    ,i will be glad
 and rejoice in thee3 ,i will sing      
praise to thy name1 ,o   thou ,most     
,high4    ,when mine enemies are turned 
back1 they shall fall and perish at thy 
presence4    ,for thou hast maintained  
my right and my cause2 thou satest in   
the   throne judging right4    ,thou    
hast rebuked the heathen1 thou hast     
destroyed the wicked1 thou   hast put   
out their name for ever and ever4    ,o 
thou enemy6 destructions are come to a  
perpetual end2 and thou hast   destroyed
 cities2 their memorial is perished with
 them4    ,but the ,,lord shall endure  
for ever3 he hath prepared his throne   
for   judgment2    ,and he shall judge  
the world in righteousness1 he shall    
minister   judgment to the people in    
uprightness4    ,the ,,lord also will be
 a refuge for the oppressed1 a refuge in

 times of   trouble4    ,and they that  
know thy name will put their trust in   
thee3 for thou1   ,,lord1 hast not      
forsaken them that seek thee4    ,sing  
praises to the ,,lord1 which dwelleth in
 ,zion3 declare among the   people his  
doings4    ,when he maketh inquisition  
for blood1 he remembereth them3 he      
forgetteth not the cry of the humble4   
,have mercy upon me1 ,o ,,lord2 consider
 my trouble which ,i suffer of   them   
that hate me1 thou that liftest me up   
from the gates of death3    ,that ,i may
 shew forth all thy praise in the gates 
of the daughter of   ,zion3 ,i will     
rejoice in thy salvation4    ,the       
heathen are sunk down in the pit that   
they made3 in the net   which they hid  
is their own foot taken4    ,the ,,lord 
is known by the judgment which he       
executeth3 the wicked   is snared in the
 work of his own hands4 ,higgaion4      
,selah4    ,the wicked shall be turned  
into hell1 and all the nations that     
forget ,god4    ,for the needy shall not

 alway be forgotten3 the expectation of 
the   poor shall not perish for ever4   
,arise1 ,o ,,lord2 let not man prevail2 
let the heathen be judged in thy        
sight4    ,put them in fear1 ,o ,,lord2 
that the nations may know themselves to 
be but men4 ,selah4      ,this ,psalm is
 a prophecy3 its title is 8concerning   
the beautiful   youth30 that is1        
concerning the children that are born   
anew in ,christ1   the people of ,god   
and the church of ,god4 ,for the people 
and sons of   ,god1 and his new-born    
children by faith in ,christ1 must be   
conformed   to the image of ,god's dear 
,son1 ,jesus ,christ4    ,christians and
 the true sons of ,god are variously    
afflicted in the   world2 and the blood 
of the innocents is daily shed by the   
fury and   cruelty of ,satan1 raging    
against the word and the works of ,god4 
,these   are the flourishing and        
undefiled youth1 the sons and children  
of ,god1   of whom the title of the     
,psalm speaks2 who are blameless1       

without   rebuke1 and babes in the midst
 of wolves1 and among a perverse        
generation4    ,this ,psalm has its     
striking descriptions of persons3 and   
the prophecy   which it contains is     
written in the manner of a thanksgiving3
 and   therefore it may be numbered     
among the consolatory ,psalms4 ,for1 7as
 is   generally the case with these     
spiritual canticles and songs17 the     
,prophet here speaks in his own person1 
and in that of all the saints   also who
 are afflicted for the word of ,god's   
sake3 all of whom give   thanks with    
wonderful sensations of heart1 that ,god
 does not forsake   his own4 ,but ,god  
requires1 at times1 the tears and the   
blood of the   saints3 though he        
preserves and saves his ,church1 and    
renders her   invincible against sword  
or fire1 and against all the power of   
enemies   temporal or spiritual1 nay1 in
 the midst of blood and death2 and he   
raises her up1 as it were1 from the     
blood1 slaughter1 and ashes of the      

saints1 and makes her flourish again and
 increase the more1 in a   wonderful    
manner1 in this and that part of the    
world3 so that many1   even of the most 
bitter enemies1 have been converted to  
the faith1 and   even a ,saul has been  
made a ,paul2 and sometimes also the    
judgments of   ,god have fallen on the  
wicked1 and they have perished before   
the eyes   of the godly4    ,this ,psalm
 has reference to the ,first            
,commandment of the ,decalogue1   and to
 the second petition of the ,lord's     
,prayer1 as we have observed            
concerning the preceding ,psalm4        
,,psalm ,x4    ,david complaineth to    
,god of the outrage of the wicked4--,he 
prayeth for   remedy4--,he professeth   
his confidence4      ,why standest thou 
afar off1 ,o ,,lord8 ,why hidest thou   
thyself in   times of trouble8    ,the  
wicked in his pride doth persecute the  
poor3 let them be taken   in the devices
 that they have imagined4    ,for the   
wicked boasteth of his heart's desire1  

and blesseth the   covetous1 whom the   
,lord abhorreth4    ,the wicked1 through
 the pride of his countenance1 will not 
seek after   ,god3 ,god is not in all   
his thoughts4    ,his ways are always   
grievous2 thy judgments are far above   
out of his   sight3 as for all his      
enemies1 he puffeth at them4    ,he hath
 said in his heart1 ,i shall not be     
moved3 for ,i shall never   be in       
adversity4    ,his mouth is full of     
cursing1 and deceit1 and fraud3 under   
his tongue   is mischief and vanity4    
,he sitteth in the lurking places of the
 villages3 in the secret places   doth  
he murder the innocent3 his eyes are    
privily laid against the   poor4    ,he 
lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his 
den3 he lieth in wait to   catch the    
poor3 he doth catch the poor1 when he   
draweth him into his   net4    ,he      
croucheth1 and humbleth himself1 that   
the poor may fall by his   strong ones4 
,he hath said in his heart1 ,god hath   
forgotten3 he hideth his face2 he   will

 never see it4    ,arise1 ,o ,,lord2 ,o 
,god1 lift up thine hand3 forget not the
 humble4    ,wherefore doth the wicked  
contemn ,god8 he hath said in his heart1
 ,thou   wilt not require it4    ,thou  
hast seen it2 for thou beholdest        
mischief and spite1 to requite   it with
 thy hand3 the poor committeth himself  
unto thee2 thou art   the helper of the 
fatherless4    ,break thou the arm of   
the wicked and the evil man3 seek out   
his   wickedness till thou find none4   
,the ,,lord is ,king for ever and ever3 
the heathen are perished out of   his   
land4    ,,lord1 thou hast heard the    
desire of the humble3 thou wilt prepare 
their heart1 thou wilt cause thine ear  
to hear3    ,to judge the fatherless and
 the oppressed1 that the man of the     
earth   may no more oppress4      ,this 
,psalm is a fervent prayer1 and contains
 complaints of the deepest   concern    
against ,antichrist1 that most atrocious
 enemy of ,god and the   gospel1 who    
will ever assail and lay waste the      

church1 not by force   and tyranny only1
 but with all the  of ,satan1 all his   
frauds   and impostures1 and with an    
infinite variety of outside deception   
and   hypocrisy4    ,this 8,man of ,sin0
 is descriptively pourtrayed in the     
present   ,psalm2--that he really rages 
against the body with the sword1 ruins  
and   destroys souls by his all-crafty  
and infinite hypocrisy1 and with his    
sweet poison of false doctrines1 and    
imposing forms of worship2 but   that he
 has no concern whatever about teaching 
any one kindly and with   gentleness1   
nor instructing them seriously unto     
godliness or true   comfort1 but has his
 mouth ever full of cursing and deceit4 
,this we have manifested in the kingdom 
of the ,pope1 and in the tyranny   of   
the ,romish-church4 ,all those          
fulminating and thundering              
excommunications are mere execrations   
and cursing1 by which he has   wished to
 make himself1 and has succeeded in     
making himself1   formidable even to    

kings1 under the false pretence of the  
apostolic   name1 and divine authority4 
,and his #8craft' and lies are all that 
infinite and inexplicable variety of    
hypocrisy and traditions of men2        
together with all that outward whitewash
 of holiness1 and those   deceptive     
forms of worship1 by means of which1 and
 his delusions of   masses at one time1 
and of indulgences at another1 this     
,antichrist   ceases not to turn to     
wicked lucre all things human and       
divine1 under   the blasphemous cover   
and pretext of the name of ,god4    ,in 
the end of the ,psalm we have a         
consolation2 which declares that   such 
an abomination shall1 in the end of the 
world1 be revealed1 and1   having been  
made openly manifest by the sudden      
judgment of ,god1 shall   be rooted out4
    ,this ,psalm has reference to the   
,second ,commandment1 and to the second 
petition of the ,lord's ,prayer2 as have
 all the ,psalms of supplication4       
,,psalm ,,xi4    ,david encourageth     

himself in ,god against his             
enemies4--,the providence   and justice 
of ,god4    ,to the chief ,musician1 a  
,psalm of ,david4      ,in the ,,lord   
put ,i my trust3 how say ye to my soul1 
flee as a bird to   your mountain8      
,for1 lo1 the wicked bend their bow1    
they make ready their arrow upon   the  
string1 that they may privily shoot at  
the upright in heart4    ,if the        
foundations be destroyed1 what can the  
righteous do8    ,the ,,lord is in his  
holy temple1 the ,,lord',s throne is in 
heaven3   his eyes behold1 his eyelids  
try1 the children of men4    ,the ,,lord
 trieth the righteous3 but the wicked   
and him that loveth   violence his soul 
hateth4    ,upon the wicked he shall    
rain snares1 fire and brimstone1 and an 
horrible tempest3 this shall be the     
portion of their cup4    ,for the       
righteous ,,lord loveth righteousness2  
his countenance doth   behold the       
upright4      ,this ,psalm is a         
complaint against erroneous and         

fanatical spirits3 of   which kind are  
all those who in the present day draw   
men astray from   the pure and true     
doctrine of faith1 and from the true    
worship of ,god1   7which stands in true
 faith and the fear of ,god in the      
heart17 to   hypocrisy1 which has always
 an outward show of something great and 
wonderful3--these1 ,i say1 are the      
erroneous and fanatics1 who thus draw   
away men like so many birds1 and make   
them fly over to their   mountains3 that
 is1 make them turn easily over to      
hypocrisy1 and   white-wash holiness1   
which1 in outward show1 appears to be   
something   great and wonderful1 and a  
firm rock1 whereas it is all a thing of 
nought4    ,david ascribes to these     
characters that which is the peculiar   
characteristic of hypocrites1--that they
 arrogantly1 proudly1 and with   high   
looks1 despise and deride the truly     
godly4 ,what1 say they1 can   that      
righteous one1 that fine fellow of a    
,christian1 that poor   miserable       

creature1 do8    ,in the end we have a  
consolation that ,god will certainly    
hear1 and   regard the afflicted2 that  
he will be present with them1 and show  
them   by manifest tokens of his hand   
that he will not forsake them1 and that 
he will1 by horrible judgment1 take     
vengeance on scoffers of this   kind2 on
 these pharisees and other enemies of   
,david4    ,this ,psalm has reference to
 the ,second precept of the ,decalogue1 
and   to the first petition of the      
,lord's ,prayer4          ,,psalm ,,xii4
    ,david1 destitute of human comfort1 
craveth help of ,god4--,he comforteth   
himself with ,god's judgments on the    
wicked1 and confidence in ,god's   tried
 promises4    ,to the chief ,musician   
upon ,sheminith1 a ,psalm of ,david4    
,help1 ,,lord2 for the godly man        
ceaseth2 for the faithful fail from     
among the children of men4    ,they     
speak vanity every one with his         
neighbour3 with flattering lips   and   
with a double heart do they speak4      

,the ,,lord shall cut off all flattering
 lips1 and the tongue that   speaketh   
proud things2    ,who have said1 with   
our tongue will we prevail2 our lips are
 our   own3 who is lord over us8    ,for
 the oppression of the poor1 for the    
sighing of the needy1 now will   ,i     
arise1 saith the ,,lord2 ,i will set him
 in safety from him that   puffeth at   
him4    ,the words of the ,,lord are    
pure words3 as silver tried in a furnace
   of earth1 purified seven times4      
,thou shalt keep them1 ,o ,,lord1 thou  
shalt preserve them from this           
generation for ever4    ,the wicked walk
 on every side1 when the vilest men are 
exalted4      ,this is a prayer         
containing a heavy complaint against    
them1 who1   introduce human doctrines  
instead of the word of ,god1 and who1   
afterwards1 by various new traditions   
and forms of worship disturb the        
church1 and fill all things with a      
white-wash show of religion1 and   with 
the outward daubing of pharisaism and   

hypocrisy1 so that wicked   men and     
hypocrites reign on every side1 as the  
last verse complains4   ,for when human 
doctrines have once invaded the church1 
they go on to   rage far and wide1 and  
spread in all directions like a cancer2 
there   is no end to their corruption   
and destructive influence2 they take    
possession of all things and wonderfully
 vex and torment consciences3   so that 
the number of the true saints and of    
those that truly fear ,god   is few and 
small indeed3 of this the infinite      
variety of papistical   hypocrisy       
affords a manifest example4    ,but we  
are consoled and comforted under all    
these afflictions by the   consideration
 that ,god always raises up in his      
church1 sometimes in   this place and   
sometimes in that1 his salvation2 that  
is1 his word and   gospel2 which1 while 
the prophets1 apostles1 and other       
ministers   throughout the world1 boldly
 and plainly teach against all heresy1  
they detect and bring to light false    

doctrines1 and overturn all false       
worship2 for where the salvation of ,god
 is1 7that is1 the saving word   of     
,christ and his gospel7 it burns up and 
consumes1 like a   suddenly-kindled     
fire1 all the chaff and straw of human  
traditions1   and delivers oppressed    
consciences4    ,this1 however1 never   
takes place without afflictions1 and the
 cross in   various forms4 ,but as gold 
and silver are proved by the fire1 so   
the   true knowledge and purity of the  
word is not preserved in the church     
but by means of the truly spiritual and 
godly1 who for the word's sake   are    
exercised without and within by ,satan1 
with various temptations3   for these1  
like gold1 are proved in the fire1 and  
thus grow daily and   flourish in the   
knowledge of the gospel1 and the great  
things of ,god4    ,this ,psalm refers  
to the second and third precept of the  
,decalogue1   and to the first and      
second petition of the ,lord's ,prayer4 
,,psalm ,,xiii4    ,david complaineth of

 delay in help4--,he prayeth for        
preventing   grace4--,he boasteth of    
divine mercy4    ,to the chief          
,musician4 ,a ,psalm of ,david4         
,how long wilt thou forget me1 ,o       
,,lord8 for ever8 how long wilt thou    
hide thy face from me8    ,how long     
shall ,i take counsel in my soul1 having
 sorrow in my heart   daily8 how long   
shall mine enemy be exalted over me8    
,consider and hear me1 ,o ,,lord my     
,god2 lighten mine eyes lest ,i sleep   
the sleep of death2    ,lest mine enemy 
say1 ,i have prevailed against him2 and 
those that   trouble me rejoice when ,i 
am moved4    ,but ,i have trusted in thy
 mercy2 my heart shall rejoice in thy   
salvation4    ,i will sing unto the     
,,lord1 because he hath dealt           
bountifully with me4      ,this is a    
prayer full of the sighings and         
groanings of an afflicted   heart in the
 hour of darkness1 and almost           
overwhelmed1 under that   darkness1 with
 the extreme of grief and sorrow1 and   

driven to the   greatest strait of mind4
 ,of which sorrow the spirit of sadness 
himself1 the devil1 is the author1 who  
casts the unwary into these             
temptations and perturbations in a      
moment1 when he finds them unarmed      
with the sword of the ,spirit1 the word 
of ,god2 which unarmed state he         
himself causes by turning away our eyes 
from the promises and the word   of     
,god1 to look at the incredible         
ingratitude and iniquity of the   world1
 at the perplexed variety of offences1  
and at the greatness of   the perils    
which must be undergone for the sake of 
,god's word and of   his holy name4 ,for
 it cannot be but that even a man of a  
sound mind   must be thrown into        
tribulation when he considers with what 
infernal   arts1 with what stratagems of
 deceit1 and with what bitter and       
,cainish   hatred1 ,satan and wicked men
 oppose themselves to the word of ,god2 
and   then1 what fallings away and what 
monstrous instances of ingratitude      

there are among those who pretend to be 
with us2 all which offences   ,satan    
raises up through the instrumentality of
 those who are unwilling   to appear not
 to be followers of godliness4    ,but  
the prayer of the church has great      
power2 it breaks through and            
victoriously overcomes all hatred1 all  
perils1 and all snares1 how   craftily  
soever they may be laid2 and faith is   
more powerful than any   violence or    
storm of temptation4 8,this 7saith      
,john7 is the victory   that overcometh 
the world1 even our faith40 ,and this   
,psalm gives us an   example of that    
faith which enables us to stand fast in 
the midst of   death1 and not to doubt  
that ,god is able1 and will deliver us  
from our   terrible straits1 and comfort
 us after all our fears2 and which      
teaches to believe that we shall        
struggle through all our distress       
victoriously1 though it may appear to be
 endless1 if we do but turn   ourselves 
away from all dark and dismal           

appearances of things1 lay   hold of    
that which is true and real1 and lift   
ourselves up against the   weight that  
lays upon us1 by resting in the         
consolation of the word of   the ,lord3 
as ,james saith1 8,is any afflicted1 let
 him pray40    ,this ,psalm also refers 
to the second precept1 and to the first 
and   last petition of the ,lord's      
,prayer2 where we pray 8,hallowed be thy
   name10 and 8,deliver us from evil40  
,,psalm ,,xiv4    ,david describeth the 
corruption of a natural man4--,he       
convinceth the   wicked by the light of 
their conscience4--,he glorieth in the  
salvation   of ,god4    ,to the chief   
,musician4 ,a ,psalm of ,david4         
,the fool hath said in his heart1 ,there
 is no ,god4 ,they are corrupt2   they  
have done abominable works2 there is    
none that doeth good4    ,the ,,lord    
looked down from heaven upon the        
children of men1 to see if   there were 
any that did understand1 and seek ,god4 
,they are all gone aside1 they are all  

together become filthy3 there   is none 
that doeth good1 no1 not one4    ,have  
all the workers of iniquity no          
knowledge8 who eat up my people   as    
they eat bread1 and call not upon the   
,,lord4    ,there were they in great    
fear3 for ,god is in the generation of  
the   righteous4    ,ye have shamed the 
counsel of the poor1 because the ,,lord 
is his   refuge4    ,oh that the        
salvation of ,israel were come out of   
,zion6 when the ,,lord   bringeth back  
the captivity of his people1 ,jacob     
shall rejoice1 and   ,israel shall be   
glad4      ,this ,psalm is a prophecy2  
and it also teaches us1 that all human  
doctrines and works without faith are an
 abomination in the sight of   ,god2 and
 that the ,god of all such hypocrites   
7of which kind are the   pope and his   
papists7 is their belly2 for they serve 
their belly1 not   ,god or ,christ1 and 
devour widow's houses4    ,but such     
hypocrites1 although they have always in
 their mouth the name   of ,god1 and    

boast of the law and the works of the   
law1 know not what   the true worship of
 ,god is1 but always hate and persecute 
the name and   word of ,god1 but the    
true doctrine1 concerning faith and the 
fear of   ,god1 they will not hear4     
,against such characters as these we    
must fight by prayer2 which prayer      
will certainly be heard1 as is intimated
 in the last verse of this   ,psalm1    
which promises the kingdom and dominion 
of ,christ4 ,for this   ,psalm          
especially strikes at those seemingly   
holy pharisees1 those   teachers of the 
law1 who1 before the coming of ,christ1 
by enforcing   works and the            
righteousness of the law1 were cruel    
torturers1 and   tormented men's        
consciences4 ,and this ,psalm promises  
that wished-for   day of ,christ1 and   
the redemption that should be wrought by
 his   coming4 ,for the gospel was      
revealed from ,zion1 and the ,spirit was
   poured out upon the apostles at      
,jerusalem4    ,this ,psalm has         

reference to the ,first and ,second     
,commandment3 for it   gloriously exalts
 the word of ,god and promises the day  
of salvation1   that is1 of ,christ3 but
 it rebukes hypocrites who despise the  
true   worship of ,god1 and his faith   
and fear1 and who serve not ,god but    
their own belly4 ,and it refers also to 
the first and second petition   of the  
,lord's ,prayer3 where we pray1         
8,hallowed be thy name2 ,thy   kingdom  
come40          ,,psalm ,,xv4    ,david 
describeth a citizen of ,zion4    ,a    
,psalm of ,david4      ,,lord1 who shall
 abide in thy tabernacle8 who shall     
dwell in thy holy   hill8    ,he that   
walketh uprightly1 and worketh          
righteousness1 and speaketh the   truth 
in his heart4    ,he that backbiteth not
 with his tongue1 nor doeth evil to his 
neighbour1 nor taketh up a reproach     
against his neighbour4    ,in whose eyes
 a vile person is contemned2 but he     
honoureth them that   fear the ,,lord4  
,he that sweareth to his own hurt1 and  

changeth not4    ,he that putteth not   
out his money to usury1 nor taketh      
reward   against the innocent4 ,he that 
doeth these things shall never be       
moved4      ,this ,psalm strikes at the 
hypocrites who say that holiness stands 
in   the pretended works of the law of  
,god1 or in the vain and foolish   works
 of human invention and tradition2 and  
it teaches us how to   understand the   
law of ,god rightly1 and to live godly  
and righteously4   ,it shows us that we 
are to walk in the spirit and to mortify
 the   desires of the flesh4 ,for the   
sum of all godliness is this2--to love  
and worship ,god with a pure heart by   
faith1 and then1 to direct our   lives  
for the good of our neighbour2 and to   
avoid all those things   which militate 
against these two2 that is1 to shun all 
hypocrisy and   pretended holiness1     
which militates against both faith and  
love3 for   such an one is ignorant of  
the true worship of ,god1 and neglects  
all   truly good works1 which should be 

done for the benefit of his   neighbour4
    ,it has reference to the ,third     
,commandment of the ,decalogue1         
concerning   keeping holy the sabbath   
day1 which is done when we hear and     
learn the   word4 ,and it refers also to
 the third petition of the ,lord's      
,prayer4          ,,psalm ,,xvi4        
,david1 in distrust of merits1 and      
hatred of idolatry1 fleeth to ,god   for
 preservation4--,he sheweth the hope of 
his calling1 of the   resurrection1 and 
life everlasting4    ,michtam of ,david4
      ,preserve me1 ,o ,god3 for in thee
 do ,i put my trust4    ,o my soul1 thou
 hast said unto the ,,lord1 ,thou art my
 ,lord3 my   goodness extendeth not to  
thee2    ,but to the saints that are in 
the earth1 and to the excellent1   in   
whom is all my delight4    ,their       
sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten 
after another god2   their              
drink-offerings of blood will ,i not    
offer1 nor take up their   names into my
 lips4    ,the ,,lord is the portion of 

mine inheritance and of my cup3 thou    
maintainest my lot4    ,the lines are   
fallen unto me in pleasant places2 yea1 
,i have a   goodly heritage4    ,i will 
bless the ,,lord1 who hath given me     
counsel3 my reins also   instruct me in 
the night-seasons4    ,i have set the   
,,lord always before me3 because he is  
at my right   hand1 ,i shall not be     
moved4    ,therefore my heart is glad1  
and my glory rejoiceth3 my flesh also   
shall rest in hope4    ,for thou wilt   
not leave my soul in hell2 neither wilt 
thou suffer   thine ,holy ,one to see   
corruption4    ,thou wilt shew me the   
path of life3 in thy presence is fulness
 of   joy2 at thy right hand there are  
pleasures for evermore4      ,this is a 
prophecy concerning the passion and     
resurrection of ,christ2   and the      
apostles quote it1 ,acts ii4 and xiii4  
as having a striking   reference to     
,christ4    ,this is a glorious ,psalm  
and a precious jewel among all the      
,psalms on   this account1--because it  

shows forth in clear words that all that
   splendid and magnificent worship of  
the law of ,moses1 its sacrifices1   its
 sabbath worship1 its circumcision1 in  
all which the ,jews so   unceasingly    
boasted1 is done away with by the       
gospel2 for in the   fourth verse1      
,david plainly says1 that those who     
follow works and the   righteousness of 
the law1 follow strange gods and idols3 
and he shows   that the ,jews1 although 
a sacred people1 should be rejected1 and
   another people chosen1 even a people 
who should believe in ,christ1 who      
were the true elect1 inheritance1 and   
peculiar people of ,god4    ,this ,psalm
 also has reference to the ,first1      
,second1 and ,third   ,commandments2 for
 it foretels a new glory of ,god1 a new 
work and word1   and that new kind of   
worship which was to be revealed to the 
world3   and it refers also to the first
 and second petitions of the ,lord's    
,prayer4          ,,psalm ,,xvii4       
,david1 in confidence of his integrity1 

craveth defence of ,god against   his   
enemies4--,he sheweth their pride1      
craft1 and eagerness4--,he prayeth      
against them in confidence of his hope4 
,a ,prayer of ,david4      ,hear the    
right1 ,o ,,lord1 attend unto my cry1   
give ear unto my prayer1   that goeth   
not out of feigned lips4    ,let my     
sentence come forth from thy presence2  
let thine eyes behold   the things that 
are equal4    ,thou hast proved mine    
heart2 thou hast visited me in the      
night2 thou   hast tried me1 and shalt  
find nothing2 ,i am purposed that my    
mouth  shall not transgress4            
,concerning the works of men1 by the    
word of thy lips ,i have kept me   from 
the paths of the destroyer4    ,hold up 
my goings in thy paths1 that my         
footsteps slip not4    ,i have called   
upon thee1 for thou wilt hear me1 ,o    
,god3 incline thine   ear unto me1 and  
hear my speech4    ,shew thy marvellous 
loving-kindness1 ,o thou that savest by 
thy right   hand them which put their   

trust in thee1 from those that rise up  
against them4    ,keep me as the apple  
of the eye1 hide me under the shadow of 
thy   wings4    ,from the wicked that   
oppress me1 from my deadly enemies1 who 
compass me about4    ,they are inclosed 
in their own fat3 with their mouth they 
speak   proudly4    ,they have now      
compassed us in our steps3 they have set
 their eyes   bowing down to the earth2 
,like as a lion that is greedy of his   
prey1 and as it were a young   lion     
lurking in secret places4    ,arise1 ,o 
,,lord1 disappoint him1 cast him down2  
deliver my soul from the   wicked1 which
 is thy sword3    ,from men which are   
thy hand1 ,o ,,lord1 from men of the    
world1 which   have their portion in    
this life1 and whose belly thou fillest 
with   thy hid treasure they are full of
 children1 and leave the rest of   their
 substance to their babes4    ,as for   
me1 ,i will behold thy face in          
righteousness3 ,i shall be   satisfied  
when ,i awake1 with thy likeness4       

,this ,psalm is a prayer against false  
teachers1 and those very delicate       
saints1 that is1 hypocrites1 who by     
their human doctrines1 call men   off   
from the word of ,god1 and hate and     
persecute the truly godly   teachers4   
,these are the characters whom ,paul    
also calls 8enemies of   the cross of   
,christ30 for they are not willing to   
suffer anything for   ,god's sake1 but  
shun the cross2 but make a pretext of   
the name and   worship of ,god1 and     
under all the artifices of their        
hypocrisy1 seek   nothing else than     
earthly advantages1 honors1 wealth1 the 
favour of   men1 and the pleasures and  
gratifications of the world4 ,hence     
,david   calls them1 in the last verse  
but one1 #8men of this world1' and #8men
   of this life4' ,of this kind also are
 all those animals of the belly in      
monasteries1 those cumberers of the     
earth1 the monks1 and lazy   priests4   
,this ,psalm also has reference to the  
,second and ,third ,commandments1   and 

to the first petition of the ,lord's    
,prayer1 where we pray   8,hallowed be  
thy name40          ,,psalm ,,xviii4    
,david praiseth ,god for his manifold   
and marvellous blessings4    ,to the    
chief ,musician4 ,a ,psalm of ,david1   
the servant of the ,,lord1 who   spake  
unto the ,,lord the words of this song  
in the day that the ,,lord   delivered  
him from the hand of all his enemies1   
and from the hand of   ,saul3 ,and he   
said1      ,i will love thee1 ,o ,,lord1
 my strength4    ,the ,,lord is my rock1
 and my fortress1 and my deliverer2 my  
,god1 my   strength1 in whom ,i will    
trust2 my buckler1 and the horn of my   
salvation1 and my high tower4    ,i will
 call upon the ,,lord1 who is worthy to 
be praised3 so shall ,i   be saved from 
mine enemies4    ,the sorrows of death  
compassed me1 and the floods of ungodly 
men made   me afraid4    ,the sorrows of
 hell compassed me about3 the snares of 
death prevented   me4    ,in my distress
 ,i called upon the ,,lord1 and cried   

unto my ,god3 he heard   my voice out of
 his temple1 and my cry came before him1
 even into   his ears4    ,then the     
earth shook and trembled2 the           
foundations also of the hills   moved   
and were shaken1 because he was wroth4  
,there went up a smoke out of his       
nostrils1 and fire out of his mouth     
devoured3 coals were kindled by it4     
,he bowed the heavens also1 and came    
down3 and darkness was under his   feet4
    ,and he rode upon a cherub1 and did 
fly3 yea1 he did fly upon the wings   of
 the wind4    ,he made darkness his     
secret place2 his pavilion round about  
him were   dark waters and thick clouds 
of the skies4    ,at the brightness that
 was before him his thick clouds passed1
 hail   stones and coals of fire4       
,the ,,lord also thundered in the       
heavens1 and the ,highest gave his      
voice2 hail stones and coals of fire4   
,yea1 he sent out his arrows1 and       
scattered them2 and he shot out         
lightnings and discomfited them4        

,then the channels of waters were seen1 
and the foundations of the   world were 
discovered at thy rebuke1 ,o ,,lord1 at 
the blast of the   breath of thy        
nostrils4    ,he sent from above1 he    
took me1 he drew me out of many waters4 
,he delivered me from my strong enemy1  
and from them which hated me3   for they
 were too strong for me4    ,they       
prevented me in the day of my calamity3 
but the ,,lord was my stay4    ,he      
brought me forth also into a large      
place2 he delivered me1 because   he    
delighted in me4    ,the ,,lord rewarded
 me according to my righteousness2      
according to the   cleanness of my hands
 hath he recompensed me4    ,for ,i have
 kept the ways of the ,,lord1 and have  
not wickedly departed   from my ,god4   
,for all his judgments were before me1  
and ,i did not put away his   statutes  
from me4    ,i was also upright before  
him1 and ,i kept myself from mine       
iniquity4    ,therefore hath the ,,lord 
recompensed me according to my          

righteousness1   according to the       
cleanness of my hands in his eyesight4  
,with the merciful thou wilt shew       
thyself merciful2 with an upright man   
thou wilt shew thyself upright4    ,with
 the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure2  
and with the froward thou   wilt shew   
thyself froward4    ,for thou wilt save 
the afflicted people2 but wilt bring    
down high   looks4    ,for thou wilt    
light my candle3 the ,,lord my ,god will
 enlighten my   darkness4    ,for by    
thee ,i have run through a troop2 and by
 my ,god have ,i leaped   over a wall4  
,as for ,god1 his way is perfect3 the   
word of the ,,lord is tried3 he   is a  
buckler to all those that trust in him4 
,for who is ,god save the ,,lord8 or who
 is a rock save our ,god8    ,it is ,god
 that girdeth me with strength1 and     
maketh my way perfect4    ,he maketh my 
feet like hinds' feet and setteth me    
upon my high   places4    ,he teacheth  
my hands to war1 so that a bow of steel 
is broken by mine   arms4    ,thou hast 

also given me the shield of thy         
salvation3 and thy right   hand hath    
holden me up1 and thy gentleness hath   
made me great4    ,thou hast enlarged my
 steps under me1 that my feet did not   
slip4    ,i have pursued mine enemies1  
and overtaken them2 neither did ,i turn 
again till they were consumed4    ,i    
have wounded them that they were not    
able to rise3 they are fallen   under my
 feet4    ,for thou hast girded me with 
strength unto the battle3 thou hast     
subdued under me those that rose up     
against me4    ,thou hast also given me 
the necks of mine enemies2 that ,i might
   destroy them that hate me4    ,they  
cried1 but there was none to save them3 
even  unto the ,,lord1 but he answered  
them not4    ,then did ,i beat them     
small as the dust before the wind3 ,i   
did cast   them out as the dirt in the  
streets4    ,thou hast delivered me from
 the strivings of the people2 and thou  
hast made me the head of the heathen3 a 
people whom ,i have not known   shall   

serve me4    ,as soon as they hear of   
me1 they shall obey me3 the strangers   
shall   submit themselves unto me4      
,the strangers shall fade away1 and be  
afraid out of their close   places4     
,the ,,lord liveth2 and blessed be my   
rock2 and let the ,god of my   salvation
 be exalted4    ,it is ,god that        
avengeth me1 and subdueth the people    
unto me4    ,he delivereth me from mine 
enemies3 yea1 thou liftest me up above  
those that rise up against me3 thou hast
 delivered me from the violent  man4    
,therefore will ,i give thanks unto     
thee1 ,o ,,lord1 among the heathen1 and 
sing praises unto thy name4    ,great   
deliverance giveth he to his king2 and  
sheweth mercy to his   anointed1 to     
,david1 and to his seed for evermore4   
,this is a ,psalm of thanksgiving1 in   
which ,david gives thanks to ,god   7as 
the title of the ,psalm shows7 because  
of his deliverance from all   his       
enemies4 ,and this ,psalm ,i should     
divide into four parts1 for ,david   had

 combatted with four kinds of           
enemies--,king ,saul1 the neighbouring  
nations1 his son ,absalom1 and his      
seditious subjects4    ,at the beginning
 of the ,psalm1 in the first six verses1
 ,david   describes the greatness of his
 perils1 his distresses and his straits 
in the midst of so many and great       
afflictions1 out of which the ,lord     
delivered him1 8,the sorrows of hell    
7saith he7 compassed me about1   c40    
,then in the seventh verse1 after the   
manner of the prophets1 he   alludes in 
his song of praise to the deliverance   
out of ,egypt1 and to   those mighty    
works at ,mount ,sinai and in the ,red  
,sea2 intimating1 that   as ,god then   
powerfully delivered his people from the
 midst of death1   so1 he also more than
 once had been delivered by the powerful
 arm and   the high hand of ,god1 again1
 as it were from the hand of ,pharaoh1  
and   from the midst of surrounding     
death4    ,and then again1 when he says 
verses #af1 and #ag1 8,he delivered me  

from   my strong enemies and from them  
that were mightier than ,i10 he alludes 
to ,king ,saul1 who had persecuted him  
with hostile hatred and   bitterness for
 the word of ,god's sake1 because he was
 chosen from on   high to be ,king and  
to be his successor4    ,at verse #bh1  
he celebrates the goodness of ,god who  
stands by the   humble and those who are
 despised by the world and defends them 
against the proud and the mighty3 as he 
did in giving ,david the   victory over 
,goliah1 the ,philistines1 the          
,amalekites1 and other   nations4    ,at
 verse #cd1 he intimates something      
respecting his third and domestic       
adversary his son ,absalom1 who1 on that
 account1 was by far the more   dreadful
 and atrocious enemy4    ,then at verse 
#db1 he gives thanks to ,god who so     
wonderfully stood by   him against the  
crafty counsels and snares of the       
seditious1 of which   kind was ,siba    
and1 in the time of ,absalom almost the 
whole of ,israel4   ,for this most      

excellent and most godly king had many  
national and   domestic enemies1 and    
seditious citizens2 so much so1 that1 as
 he   himself here says1 many gentile   
nations were far more kind and          
obedient to him than his own people4    
,therefore any afflicted one1 especially
 if in magisterial office1 may   use    
this ,psalm in giving thanks to ,god for
 his deliverance out of   various perils
 and distresses which fall upon those   
who govern the   state1 or who are set  
over the ,church4    ,and if any one    
wishes to understand the ,psalm         
allegorically1 ,david   signifies here  
,christ2 ,saul signifies the ,jews2 the 
nations that   persecuted ,david1 the   
tyrants of the world who set themselves 
against   the ,gospel2 ,absalom1        
heretics who proceed out from us but are
 not of   us2 the seditious subjects1   
outside-show-,christians who sound forth
   ,christ with their mouth1 but in     
their heart are far from him3 from all  
which this afflicted ,david1 that is1   

,christ and those who are   ,christians1
 are at length delivered4    ,this      
,psalm belongs to the second precept of 
the ,decalogue1 and to the   first      
petition of the ,lord's ,prayer4        
,,psalm ,,xix4    ,the creatures show   
,god's glory4--,the word his            
grace4--,david prayeth for   grace4     
,to the chief ,musician1 a ,psalm of    
,david4      ,the heavens declare the   
glory of ,god3 and the firmament sheweth
 his   handy-work4    ,day unto day     
uttereth speech1 and night unto night   
sheweth knowledge4    ,there is no      
speech nor language where their voice is
 not heard4    ,their line is gone out  
through all the earth1 and their words  
to the   end of the world4 ,in them hath
 he set a tabernacle for the sun2       
,which is as a bridegroom coming out of 
his chamber1 and rejoiceth   as a strong
 man to run a race4    ,his going forth 
is from the end of the heaven1 and his  
circuit unto   the ends of it3 and there
 is nothing hid from the heat thereof4  

,the law of the ,,lord is perfect1      
converting the soul3 the testimony   of 
the ,,lord is sure1 making wise the     
simple3    ,the statutes of the ,,lord  
are right1 rejoicing the heart3 the     
commandment of the ,,lord is pure1      
enlightening the eyes3    ,the fear of  
the ,,lord is clean1 enduring for ever3 
the judgments of   the ,,lord are true  
and righteous altogether4    ,more to be
 desired are they than gold2 yea1 than  
much fine gold2   sweeter also than     
honey and the honey-comb4    ,moreover1 
by them is thy servant warned3 and in   
keeping of them   there is great reward4
    ,who can understand his errors6     
cleanse thou me from secret faults4     
,keep back thy servant also from        
presumptuous sins3 let them not have    
dominion over me3 then shall ,i be      
upright1 and ,i shall be innocent   from
 the great transgression4    ,let the   
words of my mouth1 and the meditation of
 my heart1 be   acceptable in thy sight1
 ,o ,,lord1 my strength and my redeemer4

      ,this is a prophecy concerning the
 preaching of the ,gospel to every      
creature under the whole heaven wherever
 the wide earth extends4 8,day   unto   
day1 7saith ,david7 uttereth the word20 
that is1 #8from day to   day2' or1 day  
and night shall the ,gospel be          
propagated by the voice of   the        
apostles and the ministers of the word1 
farther and farther2 and   that1 not    
only in ,judea but every where in all   
the earth1 and in all   languages       
throughout the world4--,and says ,david1
 as by the life-giving   light of the   
,sun1 all things in nature are          
illuminated1 recreated1 and   cherished3
 so this new light1 this voice of the   
,gospel shall illumine   the world1 and1
 by communicating the ,spirit1 shall    
revive and purify   the hearts of men1  
and shall lift up and comfort distressed
   consciences4    ,here also ,david    
intimates1 that the old law which was   
the ministration   of death was to be   
done away with2 and that the ,gospel was

 to succeed1   which should be the      
ministration of life and of the ,spirit2
 and which   should be a word sweet and 
lovely1 illumining the eyes and         
purifying   the heart4    ,this ,psalm  
belongs to the ,third ,commandment2 for 
it shews us what is   the true ,sabbath1
 namely1 the day or time1 in which the  
,gospel should   be preached throughout 
the whole world and received by those   
who   should believe it4                
,,psalm ,,xx4    ,the ,church blesseth  
the ,king in his exploits4--,her        
confidence in ,god's   succour4    ,to  
the chief ,musician1 ,a ,psalm of       
,david4      ,the ,,lord hear thee in   
the day of trouble2 the name of the ,god
 of ,jacob   defend thee4    ,send thee 
help from the sanctuary1 and strengthen 
thee out of ,zion4    ,remember all thy 
offerings1 and accept thy burnt         
sacrifice4 ,selah4    ,grant thee       
according to thine own heart1 and fulfil
 all thy counsel4    ,we will rejoice in
 thy salvation1 and in the name of our  

,god we will   set up our banners3 the  
,,lord fulfil all thy petitions4    ,now
 know ,i that the ,,lord saveth his     
anointed3 he will hear him from   his   
holy heaven with the saving strength of 
his right hand4    ,some trust in       
chariots1 and some in horses3 but we    
will remember the   name of the ,,lord  
our ,god4    ,they are brought down and 
fallen2 but we are risen and stand      
upright4    ,save1 ,,lord3 let the king 
hear us when we call4      ,this is a   
prayer for kings1 rulers1 magistrates1  
and all who sustain   that most heavy   
burthen of governing the state3--that   
,god1 in such   momentous concerns1 to  
which all human diligence and wisdom are
   unequal 7as even heathen rulers have 
confessed from their own   experience71 
would stand by magistrates when exposed 
to the hatred of   all1 to their secret 
councils and plans of deceit2 and would 
keep all   subjects in their duty1 and  
give his blessing in the preservation of
 a   good and happy constitution1 and   

public peace2 especially when ,satan    
with horrible hatred against ,god and   
the works of ,god1 is endeavouring   to 
destroy the constitutions of kingdoms1  
and to confound all things   with       
slaughter and blood-shed4    ,those     
great and eminently spiritual men who   
produced this and the like   ,psalms1   
plainly saw that such great and         
important matters could not be   managed
 and governed by any human wisdom or    
human counsels2 and   therefore they    
wished to pen forms of prayer of this   
kind for the   safety of magistrates and
 transmit them to posterity4 ,for such  
prayers   as these were especially      
necessary for the people of ,god at that
 time1   when ,david and other godly    
rulers after him1 were continually      
exercised with new enemies and new      
afflictions1 and those the most         
severely distressing4--,therefore all   
,kings and ,rulers are fools who do     
not seek for1 and expect1 the happy     
government and the success of   their   

affairs from heaven4    ,this ,psalm    
belongs to the second commandment1 as do
 all the other   supplicatory ,psalms2  
for it contains a calling upon the name 
of the   ,lord4 ,and it belongs also to 
the third petition of the ,lord's       
,prayer1   where we pray that the will  
of ,god1 not of the devil1 may be done4 
,,psalm ,,xxi4    ,a thanksgiving for   
victory4--,confidence of further        
success4    ,to the chief ,musician1 ,a 
,psalm of ,david4      ,the king shall  
joy in thy strength1 ,o ,lord3 and in   
thy salvation how   greatly shall he    
rejoice6    ,thou hast given him his    
heart's desire1 and hast not withholden 
the   request of his lips4 ,selah4      
,for thou preventest him with the       
blessings of goodness3 thou settest a   
crown of pure gold on his head4    ,he  
asked life of thee1 and thou gavest it  
him1 even length of   days for ever and 
ever4    ,his glory is great in thy     
salvation3 honour and majesty hast thou 
laid upon him4    ,for thou hast made   

him most blessed for ever3 thou hast    
made him   exceeding glad with thy      
countenance4    ,for the king trusteth  
in the ,,lord2 and1 through the mercy of
 the ,most   ,high1 he shall not be     
moved4    ,thine hand shall find out all
 thine enemies2 thy right hand shall    
find   out those that hate thee4        
,thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in
 the time of thine anger3 the   ,,lord  
shall swallow them up in his wrath1 and 
the fire shall devour   them4    ,their 
fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth1
 and their seed from   among the        
children of men4    ,for they intended  
evil against thee2 they imagined a      
mischievous   device1 which they are not
 able to perform3    ,therefore shalt   
thou make them turn their back1 when    
thou shalt make   ready thine arrows    
upon thy strings against the face of    
them4    ,be thou exalted1 ,,lord1 in   
thine own strength3 so will we sing and 
praise thy power4      ,this is a       
prophecy concerning the kingdom of      

,christ2--that his kingdom   shall be   
temporal and eternal4 ,the beginning of 
the ,psalm gloriously   predicts that it
 shall come to pass that this king and  
this people   shall rejoice in this     
kingdom1 and that the glory of it shall 
be   great4 ,but you must understand    
that all this will be1 not before the   
world or according to the flesh1 but in 
,god4 ,for ,christ entered into   glory 
through the flesh and by the cross4     
,this ,psalm foretels also that this    
kingdom1 that is1 the ,church of        
,christ1 although afflicted before the  
world1 shall be enriched with           
spiritual blessings and glorified2 and  
that this word of grace and the         
remission of sins1 this joyful and      
all-sweet ,gospel shall be diffused     
abroad among all nations1 and that the  
godly and those that believe1   shall   
rejoice and be glad1 and exult in it    
with a full and perfect   joy1 which no 
creature shall be able to destroy or to 
take away4    ,on the other hand1 ,david

 shews that the ,jews who opposed this  
counsel   of ,god1 and the whole of     
their kingdom should be destroyed by the
   awful judgment of ,god1 8,thou shalt 
make them 7says he7 to turn their       
back20 that is1 because that people     
opposed themselves to the ,gospel1   and
 crucified ,christ1 thou shalt afflict  
them with heavy calamities2   and1      
having rejected the people destroyed    
their kingdom1 and having   done away   
with1 and abrogated the whole of their  
law and worship for   which they so     
furiously fight1 thou shalt reduce them 
to a miserable   slavery1 so that they  
shall be oppressed under a foreign yoke 
and   laws1 and shall thus suffer the   
punishment due to their sins4    ,this  
,psalm belongs to the first commandment1
 and to the second   petition of the    
,lord's ,prayer3 for it foretells of a  
people that   should not be under the   
law of ,moses1 but in a kingdom of      
rejoicing   and thanksgiving1 and it    
speaks of a new manner of worship4      

,,psalm ,,xxii4    ,david complaineth in
 great discouragement4--,he prayeth in  
great   distress4--,he praiseth ,god4   
,to the chief ,musician upon ,aijeleth  
,shahar1 ,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,my  
,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken   
me8 why art thou so far from   helping  
me1 and from the words of my roaring8   
,o my ,god1 ,i cry in the day-time1 but 
thou hearest not2 and in the            
night-season1 and am not silent4    ,but
 thou art holy1 ,o thou that inhabitest 
the praises of ,israel4    ,our fathers 
trusted in thee3 they trusted1 and thou 
didst deliver   them4    ,they cried    
unto thee1 and were delivered2 they     
trusted in thee1 and   were not         
confounded4    ,but ,i am a worm1 and no
 man2 a reproach of men1 and despised of
 the   people4    ,all they that see me 
laugh me to scorn2 they shoot out the   
lip1 they   shake the head1 saying1     
,he trusted on the ,,lord that he would 
deliver him2 let him deliver   him1     
seeing he delighted in him4    ,but thou

 art he that took me out of the womb3   
thou didst make me   hope when ,i was   
upon my mother's breasts4    ,i was cast
 upon thee from the womb2 thou art my   
,god from my mother's   belly4    ,be   
not far from me1 for trouble is near2   
for there is none to   help4    ,many   
bulls have compassed me3 strong bulls of
 ,bashan have beset me   round4    ,they
 gaped upon me with their mouths1 as a  
ravening and a roaring   lion4    ,i am 
poured out like water1 and all my bones 
are out of joint3 my   heart is like    
wax2 it is melted in the midst of my    
bowels4    ,my strength is dried up like
 a potsherd2 and my tongue cleaveth to  
my   jaws2 and thou hast brought me into
 the dust of death4    ,for dogs have   
compassed me2 the assembly of the wicked
 have inclosed   me3 they pierced my    
hands and my feet4    ,i may tell all my
 bones3 they look and stare upon me4    
,they part my garments among them1 and  
cast lots upon my vesture4    ,but be   
not thou far from me1 ,o ,,lord2 ,o my  

strength1 haste thee to help   me4      
,deliver my soul from the sword2 my     
darling from the power of the dog4      
,save me from the lion's mouth3 for thou
 hast heard me from the horns   of the  
unicorns4    ,i will declare thy name   
unto my brethren3 in the midst of the   
congregation will ,i praise thee4    ,ye
 that fear the ,,lord1 praise him3 all  
ye the seed of ,jacob1 glorify   him2   
and fear him1 all ye the seed of        
,israel4    ,for he hath not despised   
nor abhorred the affliction of the      
afflicted1   neither hath he hid his    
face from him2 but when he cried unto   
him1 he   heard4    ,my praise shall be 
of thee in the great congregation3 ,i   
will pay my   vows before them that fear
 him4    ,the meek shall eat and be     
satisfied2 they shall praise the ,,lord 
that   seek him3 your heart shall live  
for ever4    ,all the ends of the world 
shall remember1 and turn unto the       
,,lord2 and   all the kindreds of the   
nations shall worship before thee4      

,for the kingdom is the ,,lord',s2 and  
he is the governor among the   nations4 
,all they that be fat upon earth shall  
eat and worship3 all they that   go down
 to the dust shall bow before him and   
none can keep alive his   own soul4     
,a seed shall serve him2 it shall be    
accounted to the ,,lord for a           
generation4    ,they shall come1 and    
shall declare his righteousness unto a  
people   that shall be born1 that he    
hath done this4      ,this ,psalm is a  
kind of gem among the ,psalms that      
contain prophecies   concerning ,christ 
and his kingdom1 and it is peculiarly   
excellent and   remarkable4 ,for here1  
if anywhere1 it may be said that ,david 
does not   seem to be delivering a      
prophecy of the future1 but a history of
 the   past2 a history of circumstances 
that took place within his own sight    
and knowledge2 for his expressions      
concerning ,christ are not at all   more
 obscure than those of ,peter or ,paul1 
or any other of the   ,apostles3 and he 

speaks of ,christ being nailed to the   
tree1 and of the   piercing of his hands
 and his feet1 as if the whole had taken
 place   before his own natural sight4  
,this ,psalm contains those deep1       
sublime1 and heavy sufferings of        
,christ1 when agonizing in the midst of 
the terrors and pangs of divine   wrath 
and death1 which surpass all human      
thought and comprehension4   ,and ,i    
know not whether any ,psalm throughout  
the whole ,book contains   matter more  
weighty1 or from which the hearts of the
 godly can so   truly perceive those    
sighs and groans1 inexpressible by man1 
which   their ,lord and head ,jesus     
,christ uttered when conflicting for us 
in   the midst of death1 and in the     
midst of the pains and terrors of hell4 
,wherefore this ,psalm ought to be most 
highly prized by all who have   any     
acquaintance with these temptations of  
faith1 and these spiritual   conflicts4 
,let ,epicureans despise these things3  
examples of this kind will be   more    

precious to the truly godly and         
spiritual1 whether they be found   in   
,christ himself1 or 7as ,st4 ,peter     
saith17 in our brethren that are   in   
the world1 than all the treasures and   
riches of which the world can   boast4  
,david as ,i said1 describes most       
clearly and expressively the            
sufferings of ,christ1 so much so1 that 
you seem to see the   circumstances to  
take place before your eyes4 ,and as he 
so clearly   pourtrays the forerunning  
sufferings of ,christ1 so does he with  
equal   plainness set forth the glories 
which followed them2 for in the end of  
the ,psalm he shows that ,christ should 
be delivered from the mouth of   the    
lion and of the dog1 and from the midst 
of death and sufferings1   and should1  
through his resurrection wrought by     
divine power1 be   glorified2 that his  
,gospel should be preached1 not only    
among that   people and in that kingdom1
 such narrow limits1 but throughout all 
the   nations and kingdoms of the world2

 that the fat ones of the earth1   that 
is the rich and powerful of this world1 
and the poor also1 should   be converted
 unto ,christ2 that his ,church should  
be eternal1 and his   posterity         
infinite2 and that as ,king he should be
 adored throughout   the whole world1   
that his name should be praised and     
celebrated   throughout all ages1 and   
his kingdom endure for ever1 and remain 
invincible against all the kingdoms of  
the world1 and against all   creatures4 
,the ,psalm belongs to the first        
commandment of the ,decalogue1 for it   
foretels a new worship of ,god2 and it  
has reference to the first   petition of
 the ,lord's ,prayer4          ,,psalm  
,,xxiii4    ,david's confidence in      
,god's grace4    ,a ,psalm of ,david4   
,the ,,lord is my shepherd2 ,i shall not
 want4    ,he maketh me to lie down in  
green pastures3 he leadeth me beside the
   still waters4    ,he restoreth my    
soul3 he leadeth me in the paths of     
righteousness for   his name's sake4    

,yea1 though ,i walk through the valley 
of the shadow of death1 ,i will   fear  
no evil3 for thou art with me2 thy rod  
and thy staff they   comfort me4        
,thou preparest a table before me in the
 presence of mine enemies3 thou         
anointest my head with oil2 my cup      
runneth over4    ,surely goodness and   
mercy shall follow me all the days of my
 life2 and   ,i will dwell in the house 
of the ,,lord for ever4      ,this      
,psalm is a remarkable offering of      
thanks to ,god for the gift and         
reception of the word3 and it contains  
the description of a godly   heart      
acknowledging how incomparable and      
unspeakable a blessing and   gift of    
,god the knowledge of his word is4 ,it  
also gloriously declares   and extols   
the greatness of the goodness and mercy 
of ,god in leading   us in the right    
way1 and in lifting us up and consoling 
us under every   temptation1 while      
hypocrites are left to walk in their own
 crooked   ways4    ,under a beautiful  

similitude he compares himself to a     
sheep1 in   seeking1 7if perchance it   
has strayed7 saving1 defending and      
feeding   which1 the faithful shepherd  
spares no labour nor anxiety4 ,and as1  
under a good and watchful shepherd1 the 
sheep have fattening pastures1   and    
wholesome brooks and fountains2 so do   
the godly find all these   same pastures
 for their hearts in the word which ,god
 has provided for   them4    ,david     
alludes in this ,psalm to the table and 
shew bread1 and to the   balsam and the 
oil of gladness4 ,for ,god will feed and
 comfort the   ,ministers of the word1  
and the hearers1 and will gladden them  
with his   cup though they are made     
sorrowful by the world4    ,he calls the
 word of ,god a shepherd's staff1       
refreshing waters1 green   pastures1    
that by all such similitudes he may show
 that true   salvation1 settled peace1  
and sure and eternal consolation are    
established in men's consciences by the 
word of ,god only4    ,this ,psalm      

belongs to the ,third ,commandment1 and 
to the second   petition of the ,lord's 
,prayer4          ,,psalm ,,xxiv4       
,god's lordship in the world4--,the     
citizens of his spiritual               
kingdom4--,an exhortation to receive    
him4    ,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,the  
earth is the ,,lord',s1 and the fulness 
thereof2 the world1 and   they that     
dwell therein4    ,for he hath founded  
it upon the seas1 and established it    
upon the   floods4    ,who shall ascend 
into the hill of the ,,lord8 or who     
shall stand in his   holy place8    ,he 
that hath clean hands1 and a pure heart2
 who hath not lift up his   soul unto   
vanity1 nor sworn deceitfully4    ,he   
shall receive the blessing from the     
,,lord1 and righteousness from   the    
,god of his salvation4    ,this is the  
generation of them that seek him1 that  
seek thy face1 ,o   ,jacob4 ,selah4     
,lift up your heads1 ,o ye gates2 and be
 ye lift up1 ye everlasting   doors2 and
 the ,king of glory shall come in4      

,who is this ,king of glory8 ,the ,,lord
 strong and mighty1 the ,,lord   mighty 
in battle4    ,lift up your heads1 ,o ye
 gates2 even lift them up1 ye           
everlasting   doors3 and the ,king of   
glory shall come in4    ,who is this    
,king of glory8 ,the ,,lord of hosts1 he
 is the ,king of   glory4 ,selah4       
,this ,psalm is a prophecy concerning   
the kingdom of ,christ to be spread     
and extended throughout the whole world 
by the ,gospel4    ,by a striking       
apostrophe ,david turns himself to the  
kings1 princes1   and wise ones of the  
earth1 and the men of power and         
authority1 whom   he calls after the    
genius of the ,hebrew language1 the     
#8gates of the   world4' ,remember1     
7saith he to such17 that the earth is   
the ,lord's1 he   is ,lord of all4 ,it  
was he that gave you your kingdoms4 ,he 
has set up   his ,christ as ,king over  
all1 whom if ye adore and acknowledge   
not1 ye   shall perish together with    
your kingdoms1 and shall be dashed in   

pieces like a potter's vessel4    ,he   
exhorts such to acknowledge themselves  
sinners3 for these powerful   ones1     
these pharisees and these wise ones of  
the world1 being blinded   with a       
conceited opinion of human wisdom and   
righteousness1 are above   all others   
enfuriated against the ,gospel3 for when
 the kingdom of   grace and of the      
remission of sins is preached2 when this
 ,christ is   declared and proclaimed by
 the ,gospel to be the only ,king of    
eternal   peace1 the only victorious    
,king over sin1 death1 and the devil2   
then   these tyrants and powerful ones  
of the world immediately burst out      
with their cry of pride 8,who is this   
,king of ,glory8 ,who80 ,as if they     
should say1 what6 ,shall those poor     
abject fishermen1 those dross of   the  
earth teach us8 ,shall they1 instead of 
the law of ,moses1 and   instead of the 
religion which we received from our     
forefathers1 force   upon us this new   
worship of ,god1 and this ,king of      

theirs who was   hanged upon the cross8 
,shall they persuade us to believe such 
dreams   as these8    ,this ,psalm1     
therefore1 at the same time intimates   
that this kingdom of   ,christ should   
not be corporeal or earthly1 nor of such
 a kind as   should destroy political   
governments3 but a kingdom in which the 
preachers of it should bring into       
subjection unto ,christ the world and   
the kingdoms of the world by the word   
and the ,gospel4    ,to this kingdom    
7says ,david7 kings and rulers shall    
oppose themselves   and shall crucify   
the ,king and ,lord of ,glory1 and shall
 persecute the   ,apostles and          
,ministers of the word3 but he          
nevertheless shall break   through all  
kingdoms1 and in defiance of every      
opposer shall enter   into the world and
 reign by the ,gospel in the midst of   
his enemies3 he   shall give to his     
,apostles a mouth and wisdom which none 
of their   adversaries shall be able to 
gainsay or resist3 and while the        

mightiest kingdoms of the earth1 as     
,daniel saith1 shall be moved and       
destroyed1 this eternal king shall      
endure for ever and be truly            
manifested to be the ,lord of victory   
and of glory4    ,it has reference to   
the ,first ,commandment of the          
,decalogue1 and to the   first1 second1 
and third petitions of the ,lord's      
,prayer4          ,,psalm ,,xxv4        
,david's confidence in prayer4--,he     
prayeth for remission of sins1 and   for
 help in affliction4    ,a ,psalm of    
,david4      ,unto thee1 ,o ,,lord1 do  
,i lift up my soul4    ,o my ,god1 ,i   
trust in thee3 let me not be ashamed2   
let not mine enemies   triumph over me4 
,yea1 let none that wait on thee be     
ashamed3 let them be ashamed which      
transgress without cause4    ,shew me   
thy ways1 ,o ,,lord2 teach me thy paths4
 ,lead me in thy truth1   and teach me3 
for thou art the ,god of my salvation2  
on thee do ,i   wait all the day4       
,remember1 ,o ,,lord1 thy tender        

mercies1 and thy loving-kindnesses2 for 
they have been ever of old4    ,remember
 not the sins of my youth1 nor my       
transgressions3 according to   thy mercy
 remember thou me1 for thy goodness'    
sake1 ,o ,,lord4    ,good and upright is
 the ,,lord2 therefore will he teach    
sinners in the   way4    ,the meek will 
he guide in judgment1 and the meek will 
he teach his   way4    ,all the paths of
 the ,,lord are mercy and truth unto    
such as keep his   covenant and his     
testimonies4    ,for thy name's sake1 ,o
 ,,lord1 pardon mine iniquity2 for it is
 great4    ,what man is he that feareth 
the ,,lord8 ,him shall he teach in the  
way   that he shall choose2    ,his soul
 shall dwell at ease2 and his seed shall
 inherit the earth4    ,the secret of   
the ,,lord is with them that fear him2  
and he will show   them his covenant4   
,mine eyes are ever toward the ,,lord2  
for he shall pluck my feet out   of the 
net4    ,turn thee unto me1 and have    
mercy upon me1 for ,i am desolate and   

afflicted4    ,the troubles of my heart 
are enlarged3 ,o bring thou me out of my
   distresses4    ,look upon mine       
affliction1 and my pain3 and forgive all
 my sins4    ,consider mine enemies2 for
 they are many2 and they hate me with   
cruel   hatred4    ,o keep my soul1 and 
deliver me3 let me not be ashamed2 for  
,i put my   trust in thee4    ,let      
integrity and uprightness preserve me2  
for ,i wait on thee4    ,redeem ,israel1
 ,o ,god1 out of all his troubles4      
,this is a prayer in which the prophet  
prays1 with wonderful fervency   of     
heart1 to be strengthened in the faith  
and in the love of the ,word1   although
 he should have on this account great   
and bitter enemies in   the world3 that 
is1 that he may not be broken down in   
mind by the   afflictions1 nor by the   
greatness and multiplicity of his own   
encompassing infirmities when he saw    
that ,epicurean hypocrites   despised   
the true religion and the true word with
 so much confidence   and secure        

presumption1 as if they were things in  
which it was a   disgrace for men of a  
sound mind and a liberal education to be
 in the   least engaged4    ,ah ,lord   
7saith ,david7 preserve and glorify thy 
name and thy word4 ,let   us 7saith he7 
who are thus derided1 spit upon1 and1   
for thy sake1 well   nigh overwhelmed in
 the midst of so many afflictions and so
 many   offences1 not be confounded1 but
 let us expect thy consolations4 ,let   
those haughty hypocrites and despisers  
be confounded both before ,god   and    
men1 who1 on account of their carnal    
wisdom and powers1 and   riches1 and    
other things of this world which they   
admire and value1 so   despise thy word 
and thy worship1 that they deem it a    
disgrace to have   such things in their 
thoughts4 ,our eyes 7saith he7 are unto 
thee ,o   ,lord8 ,do thou1 if there be  
any infirmity in us1 pardon it4 ,keep us
 in   the knowledge of thy holy word and
 of that mystery of thine which is      
hidden from the world1 and stand by us  

in our great straits and   perils4      
,this ,psalm belongs to the ,second     
,commandment1 and to the second         
petition of the ,lord's ,prayer4        
,,psalm ,,xxvi4    ,david resorteth unto
 ,god in confidence of his integrity4   
,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,judge me1 ,o 
,,lord2 for ,i have walked in mine      
integrity3 ,i have trusted   also in the
 ,,lord2 therefore ,i shall not slide4  
,examine me1 ,o ,,lord1 and prove me2   
try my reins and my heart4    ,for thy  
loving-kindness is before mine eyes2 and
 ,i have walked in   thy truth4    ,i   
have not sat with vain persons1 neither 
will ,i go in with   dissemblers4    ,i 
have hated the congregation of          
evil-doers2 and will not sit with the   
wicked4    ,i will wash mine hands in   
innocency2 so will ,i compass thine     
altar1 ,o   ,,lord8    ,that ,i may     
publish with the voice of thanksgiving1 
and tell of all thy   wondrous works4   
,,lord1 ,i have loved the habitation of 
thy house1 and the place where   thine  

honour dwelleth4    ,gather not my soul 
with sinners1 nor my life with bloody   
men2    ,in whose hands is mischief1 and
 their right hand is full of bribes4    
,but as for me1 ,i will walk in mine    
integrity3 redeem me1 and be   merciful 
unto me4    ,my foot standeth in an even
 place3 in the congregations will ,i    
bless   the ,,lord4      ,this is a     
prayer unto ,god1 containing a complaint
 against hypocrites   who want to be    
justified by the works of the law1 and  
who always   persecute the true doctrine
 of faith and condemn its supporters for
   heretics4 ,david calls these         
characters dissemblers1 heretics1 bloody
   men1 wicked persons4 ,for although   
they boast of great sanctity1 yet       
their hearts are full of hatred and     
bitterness against ,god1 and craft   and
 iniquity against their neighbour3 as   
,christ says of all such   pharisees    
when he rebukes them by ,luke1 8,ye are 
they who justify   yourselves before    
men1 but ,god knoweth your hearts40 ,for

 such worship   ,god with their lips1   
but their heart is far from him3 they   
worship him   not in truth1 but do all  
for gain4    ,in a word they serve not  
,god but ,mammon and their own belly3 as
 ,paul   saith to the ,philippians4 ,and
 this ,psalm saith1 8,and their right   
hand   is full of bribes40 ,yet their   
hypocrisy has a wonderful outside       
appearance4 ,and indeed the false church
 who has power and dominion on   her    
side1 has always a more wonderful and   
showy appearance than the   true1 which 
lies hidden under the various forms of  
the cross4    ,therefore we have need to
 pray in no slothful manner that ,god   
would   preserve us in his true ,church1
 and would not suffer us to be mingled  
and carried away with these characters1 
lest we have our portion with   such    
hypocrites1 whose end1 though they may  
for a time make a show   before the     
world1 shall be destruction1 and whose  
glory shall be   turned into confusion3 
as we have seen it exemplified in the   

,pope and   his kingdom4    ,this ,psalm
 belongs to the ,third ,commandment1 and
 to the first and   second petitions of 
the ,lord's ,prayer3 for it speaks of   
the true   worship and kingdom of ,god4 
,,psalm ,,xxvii4    ,david sustaineth   
his faith by the power of ,god1 by his  
love to the  service of ,god1 by prayer4
    ,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,the      
,,lord is my light and my salvation2    
whom shall ,i fear8 ,the ,,lord   is the
 strength of my life2 of whom shall ,i  
be afraid8    ,when the wicked1 even    
mine enemies and my foes1 came upon me  
to eat up   my flesh1 they stumbled and 
fell4    ,though an host should encamp  
against me1 my heart shall not fear2    
though war should rise against me1 in   
this will ,i be confident4    ,one thing
 have ,i desired of the ,,lord1 that    
will ,i seek after2 that ,i   may dwell 
in the house of the ,,lord all the days 
of my life1 to behold   the beauty of   
the ,,lord1 and to inquire in his       
temple4    ,for in the time of trouble  

he shall hide me in his pavilion3 in the
   secret of his tabernacle shall he    
hide me3 he shall set me upon a   rock4 
,and now shall mine head be lifted up   
above mine enemies round about   me3    
therefore will ,i offer in this         
tabernacle sacrifices of joy3 ,i   will 
sing1 yea1 ,i will sing praises unto the
 ,,lord4    ,hear1 ,o ,,lord1 when ,i   
cry with my voice3 have mercy also upon 
me1 and   answer me4    ,when thou      
saidst1 seek ye my face2 my heart said  
unto thee1 ,thy   face1 ,lord1 will ,i  
seek4    ,hide not thy face far from me2
 put not thy servant away in anger3     
thou hast been my help3 leave me not1   
neither forsake me1 ,o ,god of my       
salvation4    ,when my father and my    
mother forsake me1 then the ,,lord will 
take me   up4    ,teach me thy way1 ,o  
,,lord1 and lead me in a plain path1    
because of mine   enemies4    ,deliver  
me not over unto the will of mine       
enemies3 for false witnesses   are risen
 up against me1 and such as breathe out 

cruelty4    ,i had fainted1 unless ,i   
had believed to see the goodness of the 
,,lord   in the land of the living4     
,wait on the ,,lord2 be of good courage1
 and he shall strengthen thine   heart3 
wait1 ,i say1 on the ,,lord4      ,this 
,psalm is a thanksgiving1 containing    
also a prayer and consolation   against 
false teachers4    ,david having been   
taught and exercised by such great      
afflictions1 by   so many perils and    
sorrows1 and by such fiery conflicts1   
for the   word's sake1 and having been  
supported therein against the devil1 and
   the world1 now finds a greater truth 
and reliance on ,god1 and is more       
encouraged and fortified against all his
 enemies4    ,the ,lord 7saith he7 is my
 light and my salvation2 whom shall ,i  
fear8   ,that is1 the ,lord hath so     
often and so wonderfully comforted me   
under1   and so powerfully delivered me 
from1 various darknesses and storms of  
temptations1 that he will not leave nor 
forsake me in time to come4 ,if   ,god1 

then1 be for me1 who can be against me8 
,if ,god uphold me1 what   power or     
violence of the enemy can cast me down1 
or who can destroy   me8    ,i will not 
fear thousands of enemies 7says he7     
though they should   raise up war       
against me4 ,all that ,i am anxious     
about is this one   thing2--that ,i may 
remain and dwell in the house of the    
,lord2 that is1   in the true church1   
and among those where the word of ,god  
is purely   and sincerely taught and    
learned4 ,if ,i can hold fast this jewel
 ,i am   rich4 ,for if ,i hold fast the 
word of ,god1 no terrors1 how great     
soever   they may be1 nor even death    
itself1 can destroy my light and my     
life2   that is1 my sure and eternal    
consolation4 ,but if ,i love not the    
word1   no human consolations1 how great
 soever they may be1 will be able to    
afford me that light and life4    ,david
 directs the whole of this ,psalm       
against hypocrites and false   teachers1
 who are so soon carried away from the  

word1 and who teach   human things and  
seduce men's consciences4 ,here he calls
 these   characters false witnesses2    
that is1 such as nothing can shame1 and 
who know not how to blush4 ,the audacity
 of these inexperienced   characters is 
prodigious1 who1 without any calling1   
and without the   word1 boastingly make 
use of the name of ,god and seduce men1 
and do   infinite damage both to the    
state and to the church4 ,for we        
generally   find it to be the case1 that
 the more inexperienced such characters 
are1 and the more devoid of spiritual   
things1 the more easily they   rush     
forth to teach3 and such as these are   
those fanatical spirits who   afterwards
 raise up divisions and sects against   
the truly godly4    ,this ,psalm belongs
 to the ,first and ,second              
,commandments1 and to the   first and   
second petitions of the ,lord's ,prayer4
          ,,psalm ,,xxviii4    ,david   
prayeth earnestly against his           
enemies4--,he blesseth ,god4--,he       

prayeth for the people4    ,a ,psalm of 
,david4      ,unto thee will ,i cry1 ,o 
,,lord my rock2 be not silent to me3    
lest1 if   thou be silent to me1 ,i     
become like them that go down into the  
pit4    ,hear the voice of my           
supplications1 when ,i cry unto thee1   
when ,i lift   up my hands toward thy   
holy oracle4    ,draw me not away with  
the wicked1 and with the workers of     
iniquity1   which speak peace to their  
neighbours1 but mischief is in their    
hearts4    ,give them according to their
 deeds1 and according to the wickedness 
of   their endeavours2 give them after  
the work of their hands2 render to  them
 their desert4    ,because they regard  
not the works of the ,,lord1 nor the    
operation of   his hands1 he shall      
destroy them1 and not build them up4    
,blessed be the ,,lord1 because he hath 
heard the voice of my   supplications4  
,the ,,lord is my strength and my       
shield2 my heart trusted in him1 and    
,i am helped3 therefore my heart greatly

 rejoiceth2 and with my song   will ,i  
praise him4    ,the ,,lord is their     
strength1 and he is the saving strength 
of his   anointed4    ,save thy people1 
and bless thine inheritance3 feed them  
also1 and lift   them up for ever4      
,this is a prayer of ,david1 which in   
his time he used against ,saul1 and     
others like him2 but especially against 
all those ,cainish hypocrites   who in  
word pretended to desire peace1 but     
burned with secret hatred   in their    
hearts4 ,such a viper as this was       
,absalom1 his son1 against   him2 and   
such an one also was ,joab against      
,amasa and ,abner1 #b ,kings   iii4     
,david1 therefore1 fearing lest the same
 things should be laid to   his charge1 
prays1 8,draw me not away with the      
wicked1 nor with the   workers of       
iniquity40    ,we may use the ,psalm    
against tyrants and fanatical spirits2  
for in   this way are tyrants and       
persecutors of the word wont to pretend 
peace   in word1 and yet secretly plan  

counsels of slaughter and murder all    
the while4 ,and so also fanatical       
spirits and all false prophets boast    
with #8big swelling words' of the word  
of ,god1 and tumultuously cry out   that
 they seek the glory and the worship of 
,god1 and promise nothing   but divine  
and heavenly things1 and yet seek all   
the while their own   advantage and     
their own glory1 destroying souls1 and  
walking about in   sheep's clothing1    
while they are inwardly nothing but     
ravening wolves4    ,this ,psalm belongs
 to the second and third precept1 and to
 the first   and second petition of the 
,lord's ,prayer4          ,,psalm       
,,xxix4    ,david exhorteth princes to  
give glory to ,god1 by reason of his    
power1   and protection of his people4  
,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,give unto the
 ,,lord1 ,o ye mighty1 give unto the    
,,lord glory and   strength4    ,give   
unto the ,,lord the glory due unto his  
name2 worship the ,,lord in   the beauty
 of holiness4    ,the voice of the      

,,lord is upon the waters3 the ,god of  
glory   thundereth3 the ,,lord is upon  
many waters4    ,the voice of the ,,lord
 is powerful2 the voice of the ,,lord is
 full   of majesty4    ,the voice of the
 ,,lord breaketh the cedars2 yea1 the   
,,lord breaketh the   cedars of         
,lebanon4    ,he maketh them also to    
skip like a calf2 ,lebanon and ,sirion  
like a   young unicorn4    ,the voice of
 the ,,lord divideth the flames of fire4
    ,the voice of the ,,lord shaketh the
 wilderness2 the ,,lord shaketh the     
wilderness of ,kadesh4    ,the voice of 
the ,,lord maketh the hinds to calve1   
and discovereth the   forests3 and in   
his temple doth every one speak of his  
glory4    ,the ,,lord sitteth upon the  
flood3 yea1 the ,,lord sitteth ,king for
 ever4    ,the ,,lord will give strength
 unto his people2 the ,,lord will bless 
his   people with peace4      ,this is a
 prophecy concerning the spread of the  
gospel throughout the   whole world1 and
 concerning the preaching of the name of

 ,christ before   kings and nations1 and
 the children of ,israel4    8,give unto
 the ,lord1 ye mighty20 that is1 ye     
kings1 ye rulers1 and ye   wise and rich
 ones of the world1 ye ,pharisees and   
rabbi1 acknowledge   your wisdom1       
righteousness1 and all your excellent   
political virtues1   your works of the  
law1 and all that is high and excellent 
before men1   to be abomination in the  
sight of ,god2 repent ye and believe the
   gospel1 that ye may quit yourselves  
under that one ,king and ,lord1         
,christ1 and his church and kingdom1    
and1 by faith and the wisdom of   ,god1 
acknowledge ,christ1 this son of ,god1  
to be ,god2 for ,god1 by a   manifest   
work of his power1 in the beginning sent
 a flood upon the   whole world1 and    
destroyed all flesh2 and the same ,god1 
by his gospel   and by baptism1 will    
drown and mortify the flesh1 that is1   
the old   fleshly ,adam1 by a new and   
spiritual baptism3 that as many as are  
baptized into ,christ1 being crucified  

according to the old ,adam1 may   be    
raised up together with the second      
,adam1 and become new men and new       
creatures4    ,he calls1 by a figure1   
the kingdoms1 nations1 and powerful     
cities of   this world1 forests2 the    
wilderness of ,kadesh1 confused places  
of many   waters1 places for hinds to   
calve1 c4 ,these confused places the    
,lord   has revealed and discovered1 and
 brought to the light of the gospel4    
,this ,psalm refers to the third        
precept1 and to the second petition of  
the ,lord's ,prayer4          ,,psalm   
,,xxx4    ,david praiseth ,god for his  
deliverance4--,he exhorteth others to   
praise   him by example of ,god's       
dealing with him4    ,a ,psalm and ,song
 at the dedication of the ,house of     
,david4      ,i will extol thee1 ,o     
,,lord2 for thou hast lifted me up1 and 
hast not   made my foes to rejoice over 
me4    ,o ,,lord my ,god1 ,i cried unto 
thee1 and thou hast healed me4    ,o    
,,lord1 thou hast brought up my soul    

from the grave3 thou hast kept me       
alive1 that ,i should not go down to the
 pit4    ,sing unto the ,,lord1 ,o ye   
saints of his1 and give thanks at the   
remembrance of his holiness4    ,for his
 anger endureth but a moment2 in his    
favour is life3   weeping may endure for
 a night1 but joy cometh in the morning4
    ,and in my prosperity ,i said1 ,i   
shall never be moved4    ,,lord1 by thy 
favour thou hast made my mountain to    
stand strong3 thou   didst hide thy     
face1 and ,i was troubled4    ,i cried  
to thee1 ,o ,,lord2 and unto the ,,lord 
,i made supplication4    ,what profit is
 there in my blood1 when ,i go down to  
the pit8 ,shall   the dust praise thee8 
shall it declare thy truth8    ,hear1 ,o
 ,,lord1 and have mercy upon me3 ,,lord1
 be thou my helper4    ,thou hast turned
 for me my mourning into dancing3 thou  
hast put off my   sackcloth1 and girded 
me with gladness3    ,to the end that my
 glory may sing praise to thee1 and not 
be silent4   ,o ,,lord my ,god1 ,i will 

give thanks unto thee for ever4         
,this is a remarkable ,psalm1 and truly 
,davidical4 ,here1 with a   wonderful   
fervency of heart1 he gives thanks unto 
,god for having   delivered him from    
spiritual temptations and unspeakable   
conflicts   with ,satan1 and for having 
refreshed and comforted his heart when  
brought down to such a state of         
weakness1 when broken with such views   
of misery1 terror1 and wrath1 and when  
almost overwhelmed with the   greatness 
of his temptations4 8,thou hast 7saith  
he7 brought my soul up   from hell30    
that is1 thou hast enabled me to        
overcome the violence and   fury of     
,satan1 which never could be overcome by
 any human power4    ,this ,psalm       
contains1 as you see1 those sublime and 
heavenly feelings   of one rejoicing in 
the ,holy ,ghost1 because ,god has      
turned such deep   distress1 such       
overwhelming terrors and fears1 so many 
tears and sighs   from the very belly of
 hell1 into a joy that has refreshed and

 healed   the soul that was just before 
burning with the fiery darts of the     
devil1 and with the very flames of hell4
    ,the ,psalm contains also a most    
sweet consolation3 8,his anger 7says    
,david7 endureth but for a moment3 in   
his favour is life20 that is1   ,god1   
although he exercises the godly in these
 deep temptations1 and   these intense  
agonizings of soul1 yet he does not so  
try them with the   intent to slay them2
 nor does he afflict1 in order to       
destroy his   people2 nor is he the ,god
 of misery1 of terror1 and of death1 but
 the   ,god of peace and of life1 the   
,god of joy and of consolation4    ,this
 ,psalm belongs to the third precept and
 to the first petition of   the ,lord's 
,prayer4          ,,psalm ,,xxxi4       
,david1 shewing his confidence in ,god1 
craveth his help4--,he rejoiceth   in   
his mercy4--,he prayeth in his          
calamity4--,he praiseth ,god for his    
goodness4    ,to the chief ,musician1 a 
,psalm of ,david4      ,in thee1 ,o     

,,lord1 do ,i put my trust2 let me never
 be ashamed3 deliver   me in thy        
righteousness4    ,bow down thine ear to
 me2 deliver me speedily3 be thou my    
strong rock1   for an house of defence  
to save me4    ,for thou art my rock and
 my fortress3 therefore1 for thy name's 
sake1 lead me and guide me4    ,pull me 
out of the net that they have laid      
privily for me2 for thou   art my       
strength4    ,into thine hand ,i commit 
my spirit3 thou hast redeemed me1 ,o    
,,lord ,god   of truth4    ,i have hated
 them that regard lying vanities3 but ,i
 trust in the ,,lord4    ,i will be glad
 and rejoice in thy mercy3 for thou hast
 considered my   trouble2 thou hast     
known my soul in adversities2    ,and   
hast not shut me up into the hand of the
 enemy3 thou hast set my   foot in a    
large room4    ,have mercy upon me1 ,o  
,,lord1 for ,i am in trouble2 mine eye  
is consumed   with grief1 yea1 my soul  
and my belly4    ,for my life is spent  
with grief1 and my years with sighing3  

my   strength faileth because of mine   
iniquity1 and my bones are consumed4    
,i was a reproach among all mine        
enemies1 but especially among my        
neighbours1 and a fear to mine          
acquaintance3 they that did see me      
without fled from me4    ,i am forgotten
 as a dead man out of mind2 ,i am like a
 broken vessel4    ,for ,i have heard   
the slander of many3 fear was on every  
side3 while   they took counsel together
 against me1 they devised to take away  
my   life4    ,but ,i trusted in thee1  
,o ,,lord3 ,i said1 ,thou art my ,god4  
,my times are in thy hand3 deliver me   
from the hand of mine enemies1   and    
from them that persecute me4    ,make   
thy face to shine upon thy servant3 save
 me for thy mercies'   sake4    ,let me 
not be ashamed1 ,o ,,lord2 for ,i have  
called upon thee3 let the   wicked be   
ashamed1 and let them be silent in the  
grave4    ,let the lying lips be put to 
silence2 which speak grievous things    
proudly and contemptuously against the  

righteous4    ,oh how great is thy      
goodness1 which thou hast laid up for   
them   that fear thee2 which thou hast  
wrought for them that trust in thee     
before the sons of men6    ,thou shalt  
hide them in the secret of thy presence 
from the pride of   man2 thou shalt keep
 them secretly in a pavilion from the   
strife of   tongues4    ,blessed be the 
,lord2 for he hath shewed me his        
marvellous kindness   in a strong city4 
,for ,i said in my haste1 ,i am cut off 
from before thine eyes3   nevertheless  
thou heardest the voice of my           
supplications1 when ,i cried   unto     
thee4    ,o love the ,,lord1 all ye his 
saints3 for the ,,lord preserveth the   
faithful1 and plentifully rewardeth the 
proud doer4    ,be of good courage1 and 
he shall strengthen your heart1 all ye  
that   hope in the ,,lord4      ,this   
,psalm is a thanksgiving1 and contains  
also prayers and   consolations4 ,and   
the way to arrive at a right            
understanding of the   deep feelings and

 circumstances contained in this ,psalm1
 is to know   that this ,psalm is the   
general and continual cry of ,christ and
 his   members1 groaning and sighing    
under the cross and various afflictions4
   ,for the ,church is a congregation of
 afflicted1 poor1 and tried   persons4  
,the wicked men of the world1 the rich1 
the despisers of all   religion1 and the
 atheistical ,epicureans have1 as       
,christ saith1 their   consolation2     
while the godly1 the spiritual1 and     
those that believe1   being exposed to  
the horrible hatred and envy of the     
devil1 are   exercised and distressed   
through all their life1 inwardly with   
fears   and terrors in their hearts1 and
 outwardly by persecutions1             
blasphemies1 and contempt for the word  
of ,god's sake2 and yet1 from   all     
these they are delivered3 for1 as ,st4  
,paul saith1 8,where   afflictions      
abound1 there consolations abound also40
    ,this ,psalm belongs to the second  
and third precept1 and to the first     

and third petition of the ,lord's       
,prayer4          ,,admonitory          
,,observations4      ,and here ,i will  
cease to show1 like a schoolmaster1 to  
which precept   of the ,decalogue1 and  
to which member of the ,lord's ,prayer  
each ,psalm   belongs2 for from what ,i 
have already said upon these points1 my 
seriously-disposed readers will be      
enabled to observe and judge for        
themselves4 ,all the supplicatory       
,psalms belong to the second precept    
and to the first petition of the ,lord's
 ,prayer1 for they honour and   sanctify
 the name of the ,lord4 ,and the ,psalms
 which teach1 console1   and give thanks
 for deliverance1 belong to the second  
and third   precepts of the ,decalogue1 
and also to the first and third         
petitions   of the ,lord's ,prayer3 for 
they teach us how1 in truth1 to keep    
holy   the ,sabbath day1 how to worship 
,god with the true and highest worship1 
and how to offer the most acceptable    
sacrifice2 namely1 the sacrifice   of   

praise4 ,and most of the ,psalms refer  
to all those three precepts of   the    
,decalogue1 and to all those petitions  
of the ,lord's ,prayer4    ,my reason   
for giving these hints respecting the   
commandments1 and   petitions of the    
,lord's ,prayer1 to which the different 
,psalms belong1   in this my brief      
summary of the contents of the ,psalms1 
is this3 to   show that the whole       
,scripture flows from the ,decalogue as 
from a   fountain2 and that in the ,ten 
,commandments and in the ,lord's ,prayer
   are contained the sum and substance  
of all theology or divinity2 and   that 
nothing can be taught in the ,church    
more sublime or more   excellent than   
these two parts of ,divine revelation4  
,for we see how   the greatest prophets 
and ,moses himself1 drew their great and
 divine   discourses from the first1 the
 second1 and the third ,commandments2   
and1 in a word1 from the whole of the   
,decalogue2 how diligently they         
weighed every thing and made it         

harmonize with this2 and how they       
continually delivered new things1 yet   
all with reference to this great        
general ,decalogue4 ,hence indeed it was
 that ,moses1 that most eminent   man of
 ,god1 gave this precept1 8,these words 
7says he17 thou shalt   meditate1 when  
thou standest up and when thou liest    
down2 and thou   shalt teach them       
diligently to thy children10 c4    ,in  
all their discourses and writings1      
therefore1 the prophets and   apostles  
allude and refer to the ,decalogue or   
,ten ,commandments4 ,from   these ,ten  
,commandments flow all the doctrines1   
and all the godly   living of the       
saints3 for there is no holiness or     
godliness of life or   true religion1   
apart from the ,ten ,commandments3      
because they are the   never-failing    
inexhaustible fountain of all wisdom1   
righteousness1 and   of all perfection  
in the saints4 ,nor is there any of the 
complaints   uttered by the ,prophets or
 ,apostles1 nor will you find any other 

in   all their discourses1 but that     
against false prophets1 hypocrites and  
false teachers1 who1 disregarding1 nay1 
totally despising and spitting   upon1  
the true and highest worship of ,god1   
7which is that of the first             
,commandment1 that requires faith and   
the fear of ,god17 teach their own      
human dreams1 which have nothing        
whatever to do with the ,decalogue1     
and do not at all belong to it4         
,against these characters it is1 7as we 
see in ,moses himself1 in   ,isaiah1 in 
,jeremiah1 and in the epistles of ,paul 
and ,peter17 that the   ,prophets and   
,apostles complain bitterly1 and that   
with tears2 against   these it is that  
they cry aloud and wage war with all    
their powers2   that they might preserve
 this true and highest worship of ,god1 
and   might destroy from among men1     
hypocrisy and all human doctrines and   
fanatical dreams4          ,,psalm      
,,xxxii4    ,blessedness consisteth in  
remission of sins4--,confession of sins 

giveth ease to the conscience4--,god's  
promises bring joy4    ,a ,psalm of     
,david1 ,maschil4      ,blessed is he   
whose transgression is forgiven1 whose  
sin is   covered4    ,blessed is the man
 unto whom the ,,lord imputeth not      
iniquity1 and in   whose spirit there is
 no guile4    ,when ,i kept silence1 my 
bones waxed old through my roaring all  
the day   long4    ,for day and night   
thy hand was heavy upon me3 my moisture 
is turned   into the drought of summer4 
,selah4    ,i acknowledged my sin unto  
thee1 and mine iniquity have ,i not hid4
 ,i   said1 ,i will confess my          
transgressions unto the ,,lord2 and thou
   forgavest the iniquity of my sin4    
,selah4    ,for this shall every one    
that is godly pray unto thee in a time  
when   thou mayest be found3 surely in  
the floods of great waters they shall   
not come nigh unto him4    ,thou art my 
hiding-place2 thou shalt preserve me    
from trouble2 thou   shalt compass me   
about with songs of deliverance4 ,selah4

    ,i will instruct thee and teach thee
 in the way which thou shalt go3 ,i     
will guide thee with mine eye4    ,be ye
 not as the horse1 or as the mule1 which
 have no   understanding3 whose mouth   
must be held in with bit and bridle1    
lest   they come near unto thee4        
,many sorrows shall be to the wicked3   
but he that trusteth in the   ,,lord1   
mercy shall compass him about4    ,be   
glad in the ,,lord1 and rejoice1 ye     
righteous3 and shout for joy1 all   ye  
that are upright in heart4      ,this   
,psalm is a very remarkable and valuable
 one4 ,st4 ,paul quotes it   in that    
profound discussion of his1 ,rom4 iv4   
where he teaches us what   sin is1 and  
how we obtain the remission of sins1    
and1 in a word1 how   we are justified  
before ,god3 for it is in this matter   
that all   hypocrites so deeply err3    
because human reason cannot imagine that
 sin   is accompanied with such great   
and such infinite guilt before ,god1 and
   with a guilt that no human powers nor

 works can wash away4 ,in a word1   it  
knows not what sin is1 and thinks that  
it can be washed off1 and   taken away  
by works4    ,whereas ,david here       
plainly says1 8,for this shall every one
 that is   godly pray30 and he says     
also1 that no one can be justified or   
sanctified before ,god1 unless he       
acknowledge himself to be a sinner1     
and know that he is to obtain the       
remission of sins without any works     
and merits1 by the mere mercy of ,god1  
and by a free and gratuitous            
imputation4 ,in a word1 our             
righteousness is not placed in us1 or in
   our works2 but is such1 that the     
remission of our sins is truly and      
rightly called the free ,,remission of  
our sins3 and also that our sins   are  
truly said #8not to be imputed1' but    
#8to be covered4' #8,blessed   7says    
,david7 are they 7that is1 such are     
accepted before ,god1 and are   truly   
righteous and reconciled to ,god7 whose 
transgressions are   forgiven and whose 

sins are covered4'    ,here ,david says1
 in plain words1 that all the saints    
are1 and still   remain1 sinners2 and   
that they are justified and sanctified  
in no   other way than this2--,god of   
his free mercy1 for ,christ's sake1 is  
pleased not to impute their sins unto   
them1 nor to judge them1 but1 in        
mercy1 to forgive them1 and cover over  
their sins1 and forget them4   ,and     
although in many other respects there is
 a great difference   between the saints
 and the wicked1 yet1 in this point     
there is no   difference1--they are all 
equally sinners1 and all equally sin    
every   day4 ,but the sins of the saints
 are not imputed unto them3 they are    
covered and forgiven on account of their
 faith in the promise of free   grace4  
,whereas the sins of the wicked are     
imputed unto them1 and they   are       
exposed to the eye and to the awful     
judgment of ,god4 ,the wounds of   the  
latter are not bound up3 but the wounds 
of the former are bound   up1 and are   

cured with healing plasters and oil3 and
 yet they are both   truly wounded and  
truly sinners6 ,but of this1 more in its
 place2 and ,i   have said much upon it 
in others of my writings4               
,,psalm ,,xxxiii4    ,god is to be      
praised for his goodness1 for his power1
 and for his   providence4--,confidence 
is to be placed in ,god4      ,rejoice  
in the ,,lord1 ,o ye righteous3 for     
praise is comely for the   upright4     
,praise the ,,lord with harp3 sing unto 
him with the psaltery1 and an           
instrument of ten strings4    ,sing unto
 him a new song2 play skilfully with a  
loud noise4    ,for the word of the     
,,lord is right3 and all his works are  
done in   truth4    ,he loveth          
righteousness and judgment3 the earth is
 full of the   goodness of the ,,lord4  
,by the word of the ,,lord were the     
heavens made2 and all the host of   them
 by the breath of his mouth4    ,he     
gathereth the waters of the sea together
 as an heap3 he layeth up   the depth in

 storehouses4    ,let all the earth fear
 the ,,lord3 let all the inhabitants of 
the world   stand in awe of him4    ,for
 he spake1 and it was done2 he          
commanded1 and it stood fast4    ,the   
,,lord bringeth the counsel of the      
heathen to nought3 he maketh the        
devices of the people of none effect4   
,the counsel of the ,,lord standeth for 
ever1 the thoughts of his heart   to all
 generations4    ,blessed is the nation 
whose ,god is the ,,lord2 and the people
   whom he hath chosen for his own      
inheritance4    ,the ,,lord looketh from
 heaven2 he beholdeth all the sons of   
men4    ,from the place of his          
habitation he looketh upon all the      
inhabitants   of the earth4    ,he      
fashioneth their hearts alike2 he       
considereth all their works4    ,there  
is no king saved by the multitude of an 
host3 a mighty man is   not delivered by
 much strength4    ,an horse is a vain  
thing for safety3 neither shall he      
deliver any   by his great strength4    

,behold1 the eye of the ,,lord is upon  
them that fear him1 upon them   that    
hope in his mercy3    ,to deliver their 
soul from death1 and to keep them alive 
in famine4    ,our soul waiteth for the 
,,lord3 he is our help and our shield4  
,for our heart shall rejoice in him1    
because we have trusted in his   holy   
name4    ,let thy mercy1 ,o ,,lord1 be  
upon us1 according as we hope in thee4  
,this ,psalm is a remarkable            
thanksgiving1 where the prophet calls   
upon   all the saints1 and those that   
fear ,god1 to rejoice and give thanks   
unto ,god for his preserving the church 
so wonderfully in the midst of   the    
world1 in the midst of the kingdom of   
the devil1 and exposed to so   many     
evils and perils on every side1--to give
 thanks unto ,god1 ,i say1   who never  
forsakes the godly1 and those that fear 
him1 when tossed to   and fro on such   
waves of temptation1 nor suffers them to
 be   overwhelmed1 nor to perish1 though
 conflicting in so perilous a   manner4 

,god1 says ,david1 created the heaven   
and this whole universe of things   by  
his word4 8,he spake1 and they were     
made30 therefore he is   omnipotent1 and
 nothing is difficult to him3 and hence 
he can deliver   his own from the midst 
of death1 and from the midst of hell4   
,and then1   again1 his goodness and his
 truth are exceedingly great and        
infinite4   ,he regardeth and heareth   
the afflicted1 he is ever present with  
them   in the hour of temptation3 and1  
as ,david says in another ,psalm1 8,the 
,lord is nigh unto them that are of a   
broken heart40    ,therefore ,god is not
 only willing to help and succour the   
godly1 but   to succour them even as a  
father would his children2 even as that 
gracious promise which is comprehended  
in the ,first ,commandment1   declares  
8,i am the ,lord thy ,god30 that is1 ,i 
will be the ,lord thy ,god3   ,i will be
 thy life1 thy salvation1 thy shield1   
thy defence1 thy   eternal strength1 thy
 eternal salvation1 and consolation2 thy

 eternal   and infinite good1 against   
all the evils that can come upon        
thee3--,for   this is to be ,god6    ,in
 the first place1 therefore1 ,david     
proclaims with great fulness of         
expression this unequalled wisdom and   
power of ,god1--that ,god has in   his  
hand all the hearts and thoughts of all 
men1 kings1 rulers and   potentates     
throughout the whole world2 that he     
turns them and orders   them just as he 
will2 that he governs and overrules all 
their   deliberations and counsels1 and 
directs them all according to his own   
mind and pleasure4 8,the ,lord 7saith   
,david7 bringeth the counsel of the     
heathen to nought30 that is1 he         
wonderfully breaks off and disappoints  
the counsels of the wise1 of the kings1 
of the potentates of this   world3 and  
suddenly defeats all the attacks of the 
enemies against his   people and his    
church1 how sure soever of success they 
may appear1 and   he turns all their    
destruction upon the heads of the       

enemies   themselves1 so that they      
cannot perform their enterprises nor    
accomplish the devices which they plot  
against the righteous1 but they   fall  
themselves into the pits which they have
 digged1 and there perish   and rot4    
,this is no small consolation to those  
that fear ,god1 amidst all that         
bitterness and ,satanic cruelty which   
the tyrants of this world execute       
against the godly1 when they fearfully  
threaten that they will fill   all      
things with blood if they do not deny   
,christ and his gospel4 ,these   make no
 end of their threats1 because they are 
as if they would   terrify ,god himself1
 and hurl ,christ down from the throne  
of his   majesty4 ,whereas ,god1 all the
 while1 holds in his power the thoughts 
and imaginations of every one of them1  
and also their life and the   breath    
that is in their nostrils3 and therefore
 such are subverted and   destroyed in a
 moment before they have accomplished   
their designs4   ,only meditate upon all

 the examples of this since the         
beginning of the   world4 ,what became  
of all the counsels of the people of    
,sodom against   ,lot8 ,where is that   
great monarch and terror of the world1  
,sennacherib8   ,what 7to come to our   
own times7 has become of ,pope ,leo ,x4 
and all the   other bitter enemies of   
the word8          ,,psalm ,,xxxiv4     
,david praiseth ,god1 and exhorteth     
others thereto by his                   
experience4--,they are blessed that     
trust in ,god4--,he exhorteth to the    
fear of ,god4--,the privileges of the   
righteous4    ,a ,psalm of ,david1 when 
he changed his behaviour before         
,abimelech2 who   drove him away1 and he
 departed4      ,i will bless the ,,lord
 at all times3 his praise shall         
continually   be in my mouth4    ,my    
soul shall make her boast in the ,,lord3
 the humble shall hear   thereof1 and be
 glad4    ,o magnify the ,,lord with me1
 and let us exalt his name together4    
,i sought the ,,lord1 and he heard me1  

and delivered me from all my   fears4   
,they looked unto him1 and were         
lightened2 and their faces were not     
ashamed4    ,this poor man cried1 and   
the ,,lord heard him1 and saved him out 
of   all his troubles4    ,the angel of 
the ,,lord encampeth round about them   
that fear him1 and   delivereth them4   
,o taste and see that the ,,lord is     
good3 blessed is the man that   trusteth
 in him4    ,o fear the ,,lord1 ye his  
saints3 for there is no want to them    
that   fear him4    ,the young lions do 
lack and suffer hunger3 but they that   
seek the ,,lord   shall not want any    
good thing4    ,come1 ye children1      
hearken unto me1 ,i will teach you the  
fear of the   ,,lord4    ,what man is he
 that desireth life1 and loveth many    
days1 that he   may see good8    ,keep  
thy tongue from evil1 and thy lips from 
speaking guile4    ,depart from evil1   
and do good1 seek peace1 and pursue it4 
,the eyes of the ,,lord are upon the    
righteous1 and his ears are open   unto 

their cry4    ,the face of the ,,lord is
 against them that do evil1 to cut off  
the   remembrance of them from the      
earth4    ,the righteous cry1 and the   
,,lord heareth1 and delivereth them out 
of   all their troubles4    ,the ,,lord 
is nigh unto them that are of a broken  
heart2 and saveth   such as be of a     
contrite spirit4    ,many are the       
afflictions of the righteous3 but the   
,,lord delivereth   him out of them all4
    ,he keepeth all his bones3 not one  
of them is broken4    ,evil shall slay  
the wicked2 and they that hate the      
righteous shall be   desolate4    ,the  
,,lord redeemeth the soul of his        
servants2 and none of them that   trust 
in him shall be desolate4      ,this    
,psalm is a remarkable thanksgiving1 and
 is nearly of the same   import with the
 preceding1 as the title of the ,psalm1 
and the sixth   verse show3 for ,david  
here sets forth himself as an example   
and proof   before all the godly1 to    
show1 that ,god always hears the prayers

 and   supplications of the godly1 and  
them that believe1 and does not         
despise the sighings of the afflicted4  
,david here1 after a majestic opening of
 the ,psalm1 promises that he   will set
 forth the sum of all godliness4 8,what 
man is he 7saith the   ,psalmist7 that  
desireth life1 and loveth many days4    
,keep thy tongue   from evil1 c40 ,here1
 he requires before all things1 the fear
 of the   ,lord1 and the worship of the 
,first ,commandment3 that1 cleaving     
closely   to the word1 we might avoid   
hypocrisy and lying doctrines1 and that 
we   might truly trust in ,god1 endure  
his will1 and not rebel or murmur       
against him4 ,and then1 that we should  
live in peace with our   neighbour1 not 
rendering evil for evil1 but blessing   
even our   adversaries and our enemies1 
and1 as much as in us lies1 living in   
peace with all men1 whether they be good
 or evil4    ,for thus does the counsel 
of ,god stand1 which cannot be changed  
or   altered1--that the saints should   

live in affliction in this life4        
,wherefore1 if thou wilt be a godly man1
 if thou wilt cleave unto ,god1         
prepare thy soul 7as ,david here saith7 
to temptations1 to the cross1   and to  
afflictions3 for thus it is immutably   
decreed of ,god1 7as he   says again    
afterwards7 8,many are the afflictions  
of the righteous40   ,and again1 this   
firm and eternal counsel of ,god stands 
also immutably   fixed1--that it is     
,god's will to deliver the saints from  
all these   evils1 and so wholly and    
faithfully so1 that not even the least  
bone   of them shall perish3 nay1 in the
 resurrection1 and in glorification1    
every bone shall return to the body with
 greater perfection than ever2   as     
,christ says in his ,gospel1 8,even the 
very hairs of your head are   all       
numbered40    ,what then is this light  
and momentary tribulation1 in comparison
 with   that eternal weight of glory1   
which shall be revealed in us8 ,for     
although the bones and members of the   

saints are1 above all others1   cruelly 
scattered and broken1 burnt in the fire1
 and left to rot in   graves2 yet1 even 
though they be thus sown in ignominy1   
they shall be   raised in glory3 they   
shall be quickened again with all their 
limbs   and bodies2 and all their bones 
shall be restored2 and the just shall   
shine like the sun in the kingdom of    
their father4 ,for that maddened   and  
insatiable fury of the devil1 shall not 
be able to mangle the   bones of the    
saints1 or so to extinguish the church  
as that it shall   be annihilated       
altogether4 ,the death1 and the cruel   
bruising of the   bones of the saints1  
shall be temporary only3 but their      
glorification   in ,god1 shall be for   
ever and ever4    ,and observe1 how     
remarkably this ,psalm speaks of the    
resurrection1 and   also concerning     
angels4 ,for this is the first ,psalm   
which we have yet   treated on1 that    
speaks of angels4 ,this ,psalm shows    
that they are   ministers and helpers to

 the saints1 being sent forth to        
minister unto   them who shall be heirs 
of salvation4 ,david shows that they are
 not   only present with us1 but that   
they most diligently and unceasingly    
watch over us1 and stand up for our     
defence2 that they encamp round   about 
us1 and fight for us perpetually1 as if 
in open battle1 that   they may defend  
us against the horrible violence1 and   
infinite snares   of ,satan and his     
members4 ,all which things are the      
greatest   consolation to the godly1 and
 them that believe4    ,this is all     
confirmed by the example of the prophet 
,elisha1 #b ,kings   vi4 #af4 when he   
said concerning the ministration of     
angels1 8,fear not1   for they that be  
with us1 are more than they that be with
 them40 ,the   prophet makes an allusion
 here1 after the manner of the prophets1
 who   drew all their matter from       
,moses1 as it were from a fountain4     
,moses   says of ,jacob1 ,gen4 xxxii4   
when he feared the cruelty and rage of  

his   brother ,esau1 8,and the angels of
 ,god met him4 ,and when ,jacob saw     
them1   he said1 this is ,god's host40  
,so it is said1 that angels came to     
,elisha1 and encamped round about him2  
as we have it in the present   ,psalm4  
,,psalm ,,xxxv4    ,david prayeth for   
his own safety1 and his enemies'        
confusion4--,he   complaineth of their  
wrongful dealing4--,thereby he inciteth 
,god against   them4    ,a ,psalm of    
,david4      ,plead my cause1 ,o ,,lord1
 with them that strive with me3 fight   
against   them that fight against me4   
,take hold of shield and buckler1 and   
stand up for mine help4    ,draw out    
also the spear1 and stop the way against
 them that   persecute me3 say unto my  
soul1 ,i am thy salvation4    ,let them 
be confounded and put to shame that seek
 after my soul3 let   them be turned    
back and brought to confusion that      
devise my hurt4    ,let them be as chaff
 before the wind3 and let the angel of  
the ,,lord   chase them4    ,let their  

way be dark and slippery3 and let the   
angel of the ,,lord   persecute them4   
,for without cause have they hid for me 
their net in a pit1 which   without     
cause they have digged for my soul4     
,let destruction come upon him at       
unawares1 and let his net that he   hath
 hid catch himself3 into that very      
destruction1 let him fall4    ,and my   
soul shall be joyful in the ,,lord3 it  
shall rejoice in his   salvation4       
,all my bones shall say1 ,,lord1 who is 
like unto thee1 which   deliverest the  
poor from him that is too strong for    
him1 yea1 the poor   and the needy from 
him that spoileth him8    ,false        
witnesses did rise up2 they laid to my  
charge things that ,i   knew not4       
,they rewarded me evil for good to the  
spoiling of my soul4    ,but as for me1 
when they were sick1 my clothing was    
sackcloth3 ,i   humbled my soul with    
fasting2 and my prayer returned into    
mine own   bosom4    ,i behaved myself  
as though he had been my friend or      

brother3 ,i   bowed down heavily1 as one
 that mourneth for his mother4    ,but  
in mine adversity they rejoiced1 and    
gathered themselves together3   yea1 the
 abjects gathered themselves together   
against me1 and ,i knew   it not2 they  
did tear me1 and ceased not3    ,with   
hypocritical mockers in feasts1 they    
gnashed upon me with their   teeth4     
,,lord1 how long wilt thou look on8     
rescue my soul from their               
destructions1 my darling from the lions4
    ,i will give thee thanks in the     
great congregation3 ,i will praise thee 
among much people4    ,let not them that
 are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice    
over me3   neither let them wink with   
the eye that hate me without a cause4   
,for they speak not peace3 but they     
devise deceitful matters against   them 
that are quiet in the land4    ,yea1    
they opened their mouth wide against me1
 and said1 ,aha1 aha1   our eye hath    
seen it4    ,this thou hast seen1 ,o    
,,lord3 keep not silence3 ,o ,,lord1 be 

not far   from me4    ,stir up thyself1 
and awake to my judgment1 even unto my  
cause1 my   ,god and my ,lord4    ,judge
 me1 ,o ,,lord my ,god1 according to thy
 righteousness2 and let them   not      
rejoice over me4    ,let them not say in
 their hearts1 ,ah1 so would we have it3
 let them   not say1 ,we have swallowed 
him up4    ,let them be ashamed and     
brought to confusion together that      
rejoice at   mine hurt3 let them be     
clothed with shame and dishonour that   
magnify   themselves against me4    ,let
 them shout for joy1 and be glad1 that  
favour my righteous cause3   yea1 let   
them say continually1 ,let the ,,lord be
 magnified1 which hath   pleasure in the
 prosperity of his servant4    ,and my  
tongue shall speak of thy righteousness 
and of thy praise all   the day long4   
,this is a prayer wherein ,david        
complains bitterly against those worst  
of all men who are found about palaces1 
and who flatter kings and   rulers1 and1
 for their own gain and advantage1      

tickle their ears with   adulation in   
order to please them2 and at the same   
time1 speak evil of   the innocent1     
enflame the powerful against the        
preachers and   professors of the word  
of ,god1 endeavour to suppress the      
truth1 and   cause awful injuries both  
to churches and to states4 ,thus such   
characters as these traduced ,david     
before king ,saul1 though they were     
men to whom ,david had rendered the     
greatest services1 for whom he had      
often most fervently prayed1 and in     
endeavouring to save and protect   whom 
he had brought upon himself much misery 
and distress4    ,the matter of this    
,psalm may be a great consolation to us 
when we see   the doctrines of truth and
 the gospel of ,god to be hated and     
traduced   before kings and rulers1 with
 the most impudent lies1 and the most   
virulent speeches of the enemies of true
 piety1 nay of every thing   that is    
honest and becoming man4 ,thus1 a       
certain man1 remarkable for   the fear  

of ,god1 once told me that1 at the tenth
 year of the ,august   ,assembly1 by the
 impudent and malicious report of some  
present1   nothing was talked about in  
the pope's palace concerning ,luther1   
but1   #8that he denied the ,lord       
,christ1 that he despised the ,virgin   
,mary1 and   contemptuously set aside   
baptism1 the sacraments1 and all        
religion2   and that he winked at theft1
 adultery1 and other open sins1 and     
permitted them to pass by with          
impunity4' ,these forgers1 however1 of  
this manifest lie were put to shame     
openly when ,charles ,v4 himself was    
present and heard me when ,i made a     
confession of my doctrine2 and then     
also1 the devil1 the father and fountain
 of lies1 was himself   confuted4 ,thus 
are these wretches wont to traduce the  
godly in this   malicious manner1 and to
 defame them1 while they themselves in  
the   mean time enjoy all the secular   
benefits of the gospel4 ,of this stamp  
there are thousands before us in our    

day4    ,hypocritical 7or halting7      
mockers 7saith ,david71 who halt between
 two   desires1--who want to serve both 
,god and men1--conspire together against
   me4 ,for these when they have been   
raised at the expense and loss of   the 
godly1 and have golden riches and       
honours1 trample those very   godly ones
 under their feet4 ,such ungrateful     
wretches as these are all   hypocrites  
and fanatical spirits1 who serve not the
 ,lord or ,christ but   their own belly4
 ,and just such now are all those who   
enjoy and   squander all our property1  
and persecute us into the bargain4      
,in a word1 as it happened to ,christ   
our head1 so it is now with the   church
 and all who fear ,god4 ,he that eateth 
my bread1 saith ,christ1   trampleth me 
under foot1 and that for the hire of    
thirty pieces of   silver4 ,these are   
those hypocrites who consider their own 
belly above   every thing else1 whose   
unbounded and insatiable cruelty is ever
   raging against those that fear ,god2 

as ,david here complains4               
,,psalm ,,xxxvi4    ,the grievous estate
 of the wicked4--,the excellency of     
,god's   mercy4--,david prayeth for     
favour to ,god's children4    ,to the   
chief ,musician1 ,a ,psalm of ,david the
 servant of the ,lord4      ,the        
transgression of the wicked saith within
 my heart1 that there is   no fear of   
,god before his eyes4    ,for he        
flattereth himself in his own eyes1     
until his iniquity be found   to be     
hateful4    ,the words of his mouth are 
iniquity and deceit3 he hath left off to
   be wise1 and to do good4    ,he      
deviseth mischief upon his bed2 he      
setteth himself in a way that   is not  
good2 he abhorreth not evil4    ,thy    
mercy1 ,o ,,lord1 is in the heavens2 and
 thy faithfulness   reacheth unto the   
clouds4    ,thy righteousness is like   
the great mountains2 thy judgments are a
   great deep3 ,o ,,lord1 thou          
preservest man and beast4    ,how       
excellent is thy loving-kindness1 ,o    

,god6 therefore the children   of men   
put their trust under the shadow of thy 
wings4    ,they shall be abundantly     
satisfied with the fatness of thy house2
 and   thou shalt make them drink of the
 river of thy pleasures4    ,for with   
thee is the fountain of life3 in thy    
light shall we see   light4    ,o       
continue thy loving-kindness unto them  
that know thee2 and thy   righteousness 
to the upright in heart4    ,let not the
 foot of pride come against me1 and let 
not the hand of the   wicked remove me4 
,there are the workers of iniquity      
fallen3 they are cast down1 and   shall 
not be able to rise4      ,this is a    
,psalm containing a very necessary      
doctrine1 and marks   whereby heretics1 
false-teachers1 and fanatical spirits   
may be   discovered4 ,and in the end he 
begs of ,god with a wonderful fervency  
that he may be guarded against all these
 pestilences4 ,and after he had   at the
 beginning of the ,psalm exactly        
described these characters in   their   

own colours1 he takes courage1 in the   
middle1 himself1 and   comforts all     
those that fear ,god2 and tells them1   
that1 although ,satan   by his          
instruments roars and rages against the 
church1 yet1 that the   word of ,god    
shall remain and the kingdom of ,god    
stand unmoved1 against   all the        
violence of ,satan1 and against the     
power of all the kingdoms   of the      
world4    8,thy righteousness 7says     
,david7 is like the great mountains3 and
 thy   judgments are a great deep20 that
 is1 as the rocks and mountains which   
,god has fixed1 no power can            
overthrow2--and as the great deeps of   
the   sea are inexhaustible1 so1 thy    
word ,o ,lord stands firm1 and no human 
power can overthrow or subvert the      
truth3 and although all the gates   of  
hell and all the attempts of men and    
devils should set themselves   against  
thy word and will1 yet with thee is the 
fountain of life2 that   is1 in thy     
house1 where thou dwellest by the word  

in the midst of   enemies3 that fountain
 and river of life will still remain2   
that is1   this word of thine1 whereby  
afflicted consciences will be raised up 
and revived4    ,and here1 if any where1
 the prophet expressively describes     
those false   teachers4 ,he first of all
 breaks out against such1 with the most 
fervent zeal at the beginning of the    
,psalm4 #8,certainly1 7saith he7 if     
there be any set of men1 evil men1 these
 are of all the worst3 for   they are   
men of an abandoned impudence1 virulent1
 and destitute of the   fear of ,god1   
and of faith in him2 they are secure    
despisers of ,god and   religion2 they  
are proud1 arrogant1 precipitate1       
audacious1 and   prepared for every     
thing that is bad4'    ,in the next     
place1 they approve and commend no one  
but themselves4   ,they hate all others 
most bitterly1 and traduce and defame   
them3 they   excel in this one thing    
only1--in adorning and setting off      
themselves1   in using boasted          

self-praising words1 in contemptuously  
despising   others1 and in arrogating to
 themselves only the spirit and worship 
of   ,god1 and the appellation of the   
true church4    ,in the third place1    
their doctrines are most pernicious1 and
 filled   with lies3 for they fight     
against the doctrine of faith and of    
grace1   and deceive men by their       
outside daubing1 and their hypocrisy4   
,in the fourth place1 they are rashly   
precipitate1 and will endure no         
monitor2 for they are harder than any   
iron or any adamant3 and if you   do not
 applaud all they say and all they do1  
they immediately rage and   make a      
tumult with all the fury of ,satan4     
,in the fifth place1 they go out and    
diffuse their doctrines as   widely as  
possible2 and their speech1 as ,paul    
saith1 eateth like a   canker4 ,for1 for
 the most part1 such men have an        
audacity above all   sincere and good   
men1 and a determinate spirit to        
accomplish all their   own purposes2 and

 they are restless1 vehement1           
hot-headed1 and so   furiously and      
wickedly aim at the accomplishment of   
their own   purposes1 that you would    
think they would overturn everything    
else4    ,and lastly1 they hostilely    
persecute all those who do not subscribe
   to their creed4 ,and all these       
enormities they perpetrate with a       
wonderfully unconcerned and insensible  
security2 as if they were all   the time
 pleasing ,god and doing him service4   
,,psalm ,,xxxvii4    ,david persuadeth  
to patience and confidence in ,god1 by  
the different   estate of the godly and 
the wicked4    ,a ,psalm of ,david4     
,fret not thyself because of evil-doers1
 neither be thou envious   against the  
workers of iniquity4    ,for they shall 
soon be cut down like the grass1 and    
wither as the   green herb4    ,trust in
 the ,,lord1 and do good3 so shalt thou 
dwell in the land1 and   verily thou    
shalt be fed4    ,delight thyself also  
in the ,,lord2 and he shall give thee   

the desires   of thine heart4    ,commit
 thy way unto the ,,lord2 trust also in 
him1 and he shall bring   it to pass4   
,and he shall bring forth thy           
righteousness as the light1 and thy     
judgment as the noon day4    ,rest in   
the ,,lord1 and wait patiently for him3 
fret not thyself because   of him who   
prospereth in his way1 because of the   
man who bringeth   wicked devices to    
pass4    ,cease from anger1 and forsake 
wrath2 fret not thyself in any wise to  
do evil4    ,for evil-doers shall be cut
 off3 but those that wait upon the      
,,lord1   they shall inherit the earth4 
,for yet a little while1 and the wicked 
shall not be2 yea1 thou   shalt         
diligently consider his place1 and it   
shall not be4    ,but the meek shall    
inherit the earth2 and shall delight    
themselves in   the abundance of peace4 
,the wicked plotteth against the just1  
and gnasheth upon him with his   teeth4 
,the ,,lord shall laugh at him2 for he  
seeth that his day is coming4    ,the   

wicked have drawn out the sword1 and    
have bent their bow1 to cast   down the 
poor and needy1 and to slay such as be  
of upright   conversation4    ,their    
sword shall enter into their own heart1 
and their bows shall be   broken4    ,a 
little that a righteous man hath is     
better than the riches of many   wicked4
    ,for the arms of the wicked shall be
 broken3 but the ,,lord upholdeth the   
righteous4    ,the ,,lord knoweth the   
days of the upright2 and their          
inheritance shall   be for ever4        
,they shall not be ashamed in the evil  
time2 and in the days of famine   they  
shall be satisfied4    ,but the wicked  
shall perish1 and the enemies of the    
,,lord shall be as   the fat of ,lambs3 
they shall consume1 into smoke shall    
they consume   away4    ,the wicked     
borroweth1 and payeth not again3 but the
 righteous sheweth   mercy1 and giveth4 
,for such as be blessed of him shall    
inherit the earth2 and they   that be   
cursed of him shall be cut off4    ,the 

steps of a good man are ordered by the  
,,lord2 and he delighteth   in his way4 
,though he fall1 he shall not be utterly
 cast down3 for the ,,lord   upholdeth  
him with his hand4    ,i have been      
young1 and now am old2 yet have ,i not  
seen the righteous   forsaken1 nor his  
seed begging bread4    ,he is ever      
merciful1 and lendeth2 and his seed is  
blessed4    ,depart from evil1 and do   
good2 and dwell for evermore4    ,for   
the ,,lord loveth judgment1 and         
forsaketh not his saints2 they are      
preserved for ever3 but the seed of the 
wicked shall be cut off4    ,the        
righteous shall inherit the land and    
dwell therein for ever4    ,the mouth of
 the righteous speaketh wisdom1 and his 
tongue talketh of   judgment4    ,the   
law of his ,god is in his heart2 none of
 his steps shall slide4    ,the wicked  
watcheth the righteous1 and seeketh to  
slay him4    ,the ,,lord will not leave 
him in his hand1 nor condemn him when he
 is   judged4    ,wait on the ,,lord1   

and keep his way1 and he shall exalt    
thee to inherit   the land3 when the    
wicked are cut off1 thou shalt see it4  
,i have seen the wicked in great power1 
and spreading himself like a   green    
bay-tree4    ,yet he passed away1 and1  
lo1 he was not3 yea1 ,i sought him1 but 
he   could not be found4    ,mark the   
perfect man1 and behold the upright3 for
 the end of that   man is peace4    ,but
 the transgressors shall be destroyed   
together3 the end of the   wicked shall 
be cut off4    ,but the salvation of the
 righteous is of the ,,lord2 he is their
   strength in the time of trouble4     
,and the ,,lord shall help them1 and    
deliver them2 he shall deliver them     
from the wicked1 and save them1 because 
they trust in him4      ,this is a      
,psalm of consolation1 which exhorts us 
to patience in the   world2 and shews us
 that we should not be angry with1 nor  
mutter   against ,god1 when we see it to
 be well with evil men1 and evilly with 
the good4 ,this indeed is often a       

cutting offence1 and exceedingly   galls
 the weak ones2 concerning which also   
,habakkuk complains1 chap4   i4 ,for    
when the saints think that all things   
turn out prosperously and   successfully
 to the wicked1 and all things adversely
 and   unsuccessfully to those that fear
 ,god1 they appear1 as to human         
judgment1 to be dealt hardly with       
indeed4    ,we see an infinity of malice
 and ingratitude in the world1 and an   
extreme contempt of religion2 a contempt
 of all good learning1 and of   all     
virtue and honesty4 ,of this we have    
examples sufficiently   manifest1 in our
 time1 among the powerful and noble of  
this world1 and   also among citizens   
and peasants1 who all wish to have the  
liberty of   doing what suits their     
pleasure4 ,to these impious despisers of
 the   word of ,god all things turn out 
prosperously3 they abound in riches1    
and they are raised to honours3 while   
those that fear ,god are   afflicted    
with hunger and nakedness1 and are      

despised1 derided1 and   contemned4 ,and
 moreover1 they endure the most bitter  
hatred of the   devil and the world for 
the word's sake2 they can scarcely      
breathe   under their afflictions1 and  
they are often bound with fetters and   
imprisoned4 ,here1 not to give way to   
anger and indignation2 here1 not   to   
turn epicureans and deny ,god1 is a     
wisdom beyond all that is human3   is a 
wisdom that is altogether spiritual and 
divine4    ,the sum therefore of this   
,psalm is1--suffer2 that is1 learn      
patience4   ,every evil must be overcome
 by bearing it with patience4 ,cast thy 
cares upon the ,lord4 ,do not murmur2 be
 not angry2 wish no ill to the   wicked4
 ,leave the management and government of
 all to ,god3 he is a   righteous       
judge4--,this is the all-necessary      
doctrine that is delivered   to us in   
this ,psalm3 a doctrine wholly unknown  
to the wise of this   world4 ,and here  
the ,holy ,spirit comforts the godly in 
a various1 and   at the same time1 most 

fatherly and affectionate way2 and that 
with   the most great and gracious      
promises4 ,and then1 as an example1     
,david   himself says1 8,i have been    
young1 and now am old1 yet saw ,i never 
the   righteous forsaken40 ,and then he 
concludes with threatenings against     
the wicked4 ,but to show forth this     
patience in the midst of so much        
malice and perverseness of the world1 is
 the power and operation of   the ,holy 
,spirit only1 and is found only in      
spiritual men3 for all   human reason1  
and all the wise ones of the world1     
cannot judge   otherwise1 than that it  
is unworthy of ,god1 and unjust1 that it
 should   be well with the evil1 and ill
 with the good4          ,,psalm        
,,xxxviii4    ,david moveth ,god to take
 compassion of his pitiful case4    ,a  
,psalm of ,david to bring to            
remembrance4      ,o ,,lord1 rebuke me  
not in thy wrath3 neither chasten me in 
thy hot   displeasure4    ,for thine    
arrows stick fast in me1 and thy hand   

presseth me sore4    ,there is no       
soundness in my flesh because of thine  
anger2 neither   is there any rest in my
 bones because of my sin4    ,for mine  
iniquities are gone over mine head3 as  
an heavy burden they   are too heavy for
 me4    ,my wounds stink and are corrupt
 because of my foolishness4    ,i am    
troubled2 ,i am bowed down greatly2 ,i  
go mourning all the day   long4    ,for 
my loins are filled with a loathsome    
disease3 and there is no   soundness in 
my flesh4    ,i am feeble and sore      
broken3 ,i have roared by reason of the 
disquietness of my heart4    ,,lord1 all
 my desire is before thee2 and my       
groaning is not hid from   thee4    ,my 
heart panteth1 my strength faileth me3  
as for the light of mine   eyes1 it also
 is gone from me4    ,my lovers and my  
friends stand aloof from my sore2 and my
 kinsmen   stand afar off4    ,they also
 that seek after my life lay snares for 
me3 and they that   seek my hurt speak  
mischievous things1 and imagine deceits 

all the day   long4    ,but ,i1 as a    
deaf man1 heard not2 and ,i was as a    
dumb man that   openeth not his mouth4  
,thus ,i was as a man that heareth not1 
and in whose mouth are no   reproofs4   
,for in thee1 ,o ,,lord1 do ,i hope3    
thou wilt hear1 ,o ,,lord my ,god4      
,for ,i said1 ,hear me2 lest otherwise  
they should rejoice over me3   when my  
foot slippeth1 they magnify themselves  
against me4    ,for ,i am ready to halt1
 and my sorrow is continually before me4
    ,for ,i will declare mine iniquity2 
,i will be sorry for my sin4    ,but    
mine enemies are lively1 and they are   
strong3 and they that   hate me         
wrongfully are multiplied4    ,they also
 that render evil for good are mine     
adversaries2 because ,i   follow the    
thing that good is4    ,forsake me not1 
,o ,,lord3 ,o my ,god1 be not far from  
me4    ,make haste to help me1 ,o ,,lord
 my salvation4      ,this is a fervent  
prayer to ,god1 in which ,david         
complains with   wonderful groanings1   

that he is stricken and bruised with the
 sense of   his sin2 that he is         
distressed and straitened in spirit     
under the   deepest sorrow2 and that he 
can see nothing and feel nothing but    
wrath   from heaven1 and the terrible   
lightnings1 arrows1 and threatenings of 
,god2 and in a word1 death1 and hell    
itself2 and that this great   distress  
exhausts not only all the moisture1 all 
the strength1 all the   blood1 and all  
the marrow of his frame1 but fills him  
with an   unspeakable alarm and         
perturbation1 and makes him pant and    
sweat with   agony2 so that the         
intenseness of his feelings1 destroys   
the natural   colour and appearance of  
his face1 and affects his whole body4   
,for to   feel in reality the burthen of
 the conscience under a sense of sin1 is
   a distress and terror exceeding all  
other distresses and terrors4 ,and      
these deep temptations of the godly are 
greatly increased by those   wicked ones
 without1 who cease not to call them    

heretics1 seditious   persons1 and      
murderers4 ,for these hypocrites1 while 
they boast in the   teeth of the godly  
that they are the true saints1 and the  
true church1   and the real people of   
,god1 7and ,god in the meantime1 which  
is often   the case1 not bringing in    
help and consolation7 the godly are     
deeply   grieved and afflicted1 as if   
,god was their enemy because of their   
sins4    ,but this ,psalm teaches us    
constantly to hope for1 and expect the  
help   and consolation of ,god1 and     
still to fight against all such         
hypocrites   by prayer4 ,and the        
prophet1 in the midst of the agonizing  
conflict of   this temptation1 sustains 
and lifts up himself by taking courage  
from   the divine promise4 ,and here he 
maintains his cause1 7which is not the  
cause of men but of ,god17 as a strong  
fortress against ,satan and his   cause1
 and here again flows in the consolation
 of faith1 c4 ,and so   also we ought to
 pray always1 and in no temptation yield

 to sorrow of   mind1 even though we are
 sinners1 and though ,satan shakes us   
with the   horrible terrors of sin3 for 
grace is stronger than sin6             
,,psalm ,,xxxix4    ,david's care of his
 thoughts4--,the consideration of the   
brevity and   vanity of life1 the       
reverence of ,god's judgments1 and      
prayer1 are his   bridles of impatience4
    ,to the chief ,musician1 even to    
,jeduthun4 ,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,i 
said1 ,i will take heed to my ways1 that
 ,i sin not with my tongue2 ,i   will   
keep my mouth with a bridle1 while the  
wicked is before me4    ,i was dumb with
 silence3 ,i held my peace1 even from   
good2 and my   sorrow was stirred4      
,my heart was hot within me2 while ,i   
was musing the fire burned3 then   spake
 ,i with my tongue1    ,,lord1 make me  
to know mine end1 and the measure of my 
days1 what it   is2 that ,i may know how
 frail ,i am4    ,behold1 thou hast made
 my days as an handbreadth1 and mine age
 is   as nothing before thee3 verily    

every man at his best state is          
altogether vanity4 ,selah4    ,surely   
every man walketh in a vain shew2 surely
 they are disquieted in   vain2 he      
heapeth up riches1 and knoweth not who  
shall gather them4    ,and now1 ,,lord1 
what wait ,i for8 my hope is in thee4   
,deliver me from all my transgressions2 
make me not the reproach of the         
foolish4    ,i was dumb1 ,i opened not  
my mouth2 because thou didst it4        
,remove thy stroke away from me3 ,i am  
consumed by the blow of thine   hand4   
,when thou with rebukes dost correct man
 for iniquity1 thou makest his   beauty 
to consume away like a moth3 surely     
every man is vanity4   ,selah4    ,hear 
my prayer1 ,o ,,lord1 and give ear unto 
my cry2 hold not thy peace   at my      
tears3 for ,i am a stranger with thee1  
and a sojourner1 as   all my fathers    
were4    ,o spare me1 that ,i may       
recover strength1 before ,i go hence1   
and be no   more4      ,this is a       
consolatory ,psalm1 containing also a   

prayer of the prophet1   in which he    
prays that his mouth may be bridled1    
that he might not   break out into      
blasphemy and murmuring when he sees the
 wicked to   prosper in the world1 and  
most proudly to despise ,god and his    
word1   and to think of nothing but     
amassing riches1 c42 and when he sees1  
on   the contrary1 that the godly are   
afflicted with various temptations      
without and within1 and conflicting both
 with the world and with the   devil4   
,rather 7says he7 teach me1 ,o ,lord1 to
 know mine end2 that is1 that   there   
will be an end to my life at length2    
that is1 teach me to   magnify the      
future1 which does not yet appear4      
,guard me from that   perilous security 
of the wicked in which they give        
themselves up   wholly to this world1   
and devote themselves to coveting the   
things   thereof1 and to pride and      
ambition1 as if they should live here   
for   ever4 ,for it is often a great    
vexation to the godly1 and indeed the   

prophets themselves complain of         
it1--that the wicked and the evil       
abound in every kind of luxury1 wallow  
in all the pleasures of wine   and      
feasting1 and live their whole lives in 
security1 strangers to   trouble and    
affliction1 while the godly are         
afflicted1 and tempted1   and distressed
 both from without and from within4     
,but the end shows that the godly are   
happy2 and the wicked1 with all   their 
perishable happiness1 truly miserable4  
,hence the prophet saith1   8,and now1  
,lord1 what is my expectation1 7or what 
wait ,i for870 ,as if   he had said1    
shall ,i be always thus afflicted6      
,shall ,i be utterly   overwhelmed8     
,will these temptations continue to     
return upon us for   ever8 ,no6 7says   
he7 the ,lord is my expectation3 that   
is1 ,i shall find   in the end1 after   
all these temptations and death1 an     
eternal life1 a   reconciled ,god1 the  
pardon of all my sins1 and even in this 
world1 ,i   shall not be forsaken4 ,but 

the wicked1 after their short life1 will
   find nothing but death1--death       
eternal6          ,,psalm ,,xl4    ,the 
benefit of confidence in                
,god4--,obedience is the best           
sacrifice4--,the sense of ,david's evils
 inflameth his prayer4    ,to the chief 
,musician1 a ,psalm of ,david4      ,i  
waited patiently for the ,,lord2 and he 
inclined unto me1 and heard my   cry4   
,he brought me up also out of an        
horrible pit1 out of the miry clay1     
and set my feet upon a rock1 and        
established my goings4    ,and he hath  
put a new song in my mouth1 even praise 
unto our ,god3   many shall see it1 and 
fear1 and shall trust in the ,,lord4    
,blessed is that man that maketh the    
,,lord his trust1 and respecteth   not  
the proud1 nor such as turn aside to    
lies4    ,many1 ,o ,,lord my ,god1 are  
thy wonderful works which thou hast     
done1   and thy thoughts which are to   
us-ward3 they cannot be reckoned up in  
order unto thee3 if ,i would declare and

 speak of them1 they are   more than can
 be numbered4    ,sacrifice and offering
 thou didst not desire2 mine ears hast  
thou   opened3 burnt offering and sin   
offering hast thou not required4        
,then said ,i1 ,lo1 ,i come3 in the     
volume of the book it is written of     
me2    ,i delight to do thy will1 ,o my 
,god3 yea1 thy law is within my heart4  
,i have preached righteousness in the   
great congregation3 lo1 ,i have   not   
refrained my lips1 ,o ,,lord1 thou      
knowest4    ,i have not hid thy         
righteousness within my heart2 ,i have  
declared thy   faithfulness and thy     
salvation3 ,i have not concealed thy    
loving-kindness and thy truth from the  
great congregation4    ,withhold not    
thou thy tender mercies from me1 ,o     
,,lord3 let thy   loving-kindness and   
thy truth continually preserve me4      
,for innumerable evils have compassed me
 about2 mine iniquities have   taken    
hold upon me1 so that ,i am not able to 
look up3 they are more   than the hairs 

of mine head3 therefore my heart faileth
 me4    ,be pleased1 ,o ,,lord1 to      
deliver me3 ,o ,,lord1 make haste to    
help me4    ,let them be ashamed and    
confounded together that seek after my  
soul to   destroy it2 let them be driven
 backward1 and put to shame1 that wish  
me evil4    ,let them be desolate for a 
reward of their shame1 that say unto me1
   ,aha1 aha6    ,let all those that    
seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee3  
let such as   love thy salvation say    
continually1 the ,lord be magnified4    
,but ,i am poor and needy3 yet the      
,,lord thinketh upon me3 thou art   my  
help and my deliverer2 make no tarrying1
 ,o my ,god4      ,this ,psalm is a     
prophecy1 and the voice of ,christ      
himself2 where   ,christ himself says1  
that he was heard in the midst of his   
sufferings1   when crying and groaning  
in the midst of the agony of death4 ,and
 it is   also a beautiful example and   
consolation for the whole church1 and   
for   all the members of ,christ1--that 

,god will never forsake any of those    
that believe in him1 when agonizing in  
the same manner1 if they cry   unto him1
 and call upon him in the midst of the  
horrible pit and   terrors of death4    
,the great prophet ,david1 and others   
like him1 published forth ,psalms   of  
this kind1 concerning the greatest and  
most important things of   ,christ's    
kingdom and people3 for the expectation 
of the ,messiah and of   ,christ1 was a 
very important matter among the people  
of ,god1 and   therefore ,david makes   
the person of ,christ himself speaking4 
,christ here plainly says1 that he is   
the one and only person who   fulfils   
the law1 and does the will of ,god4     
,here he excludes all others   and their
 works4 8,in the volume of the book     
7says he7 it is written of   me40 ,that 
is1 the promise of blessing and grace1  
that the seed of the   woman should     
bruise the serpent's head1 and that in  
the seed of   ,abraham all the nations  
of the earth should be blessed1 were    

concerning me1 c4 ,thus he rejects and  
abrogates the whole law1 with   all     
works1 sacrifices1 and forms of worship2
 because1 by them1 the   will of ,god is
 not fulfilled4    ,all our works and   
sacrifices1 therefore1 are rejected4    
,christ here   saith1 that he is the    
sole and only one who pleases ,god1 and 
fulfils   his will4 ,by these words1    
therefore1 he promises the ,new         
,testament2   where there is no         
righteousness of the law1 but the       
righteousness of   faith1 preached in   
the great congregation3 that is1 in the 
whole   world1 in all nations4 ,there is
 no preaching of the righteousness of   
the law1 which only makes men proud     
pharisees and hypocrites1 who have   not
 their hope fixed in ,god1 or in the    
promise of grace1 but in their   own    
righteousness1 false holiness1 and legal
 hypocrisy4          ,,psalm ,,xli4     
,god's care of the poor4--,david        
complaineth of his enemies'             
treachery4--,he fleeth to ,god for      

succour4    ,to the chief ,musician1 ,a 
,psalm of ,david4      ,blessed is he   
that considereth the poor3 the ,,lord   
will deliver him   in time of trouble4  
,the ,,lord will preserve him1 and keep 
him alive2 and he shall be   blessed    
upon the earth3 and thou wilt not       
deliver him unto the will of   his      
enemies4    ,the ,,lord will strengthen 
him upon the bed of languishing3 thou   
wilt   make all his bed in his sickness4
    ,i said1 ,,lord1 be merciful unto   
me3 heal my soul2 for ,i have sinned    
against thee4    ,mine enemies speak    
evil of me2 when shall he die1 and his  
name perish8    ,and if he come to see  
me1 he speaketh vanity3 his heart       
gathereth   iniquity to itself2 when he 
goeth abroad1 he telleth it4    ,all    
that hate me whisper together against   
me3 against me do they   devise my hurt4
    ,an evil disease1 say they1 cleaveth
 fast unto him3 and now that he   lieth1
 he shall rise up no more4    ,yea1 mine
 own familiar friend in whom ,i trusted1

 which did eat of my   bread1 hath lift 
up his heel against me4    ,but thou1 ,o
 ,,lord1 be merciful unto me1 and raise 
me up1 that ,i may   requite them4      
,by this ,i know that thou favourest me1
 because mine enemy doth not   triumph  
over me4    ,and as for me1 thou        
upholdest me in mine integrity1 and     
settest me   before thy face for ever4  
,blessed be the ,,lord ,god of ,israel1 
from everlasting1 and to   everlasting4 
,amen1 and ,amen4      ,this ,psalm is a
 prophecy2 where1 after the manner of   
the ,psalms1   ,christ himself speaks1  
and with a wonderful feeling1 complains 
of his   domestic traitor ,judas1 and of
 those cruel dogs which vented their    
fury on the poor2 by which dogs1 he     
means those that crucified him4 ,he     
prays that ,god would judge his cause1  
and set him before his face3   that is1 
that ,god his father would comfort him  
in his suffering1 and   raise him from  
the dead2 that1 being exalted1 through  
the cross and   death1 to the right hand

 of ,god1 he might be glorified with    
eternal   life and victory4    ,this is 
a great and unspeakable consolation to  
all the godly2 where1   in the fourth   
verse1 the ,son saith1 8heal my soul1   
for ,i have sinned   against thee40 ,he 
confesses himself to be a sinner before 
,god his   ,father1 whereas he was      
without sin1 and no guile was found in  
his   mouth4 ,here1 therefore1 he stands
 as our priest1 as a victim and         
sacrifice for sin1 bearing and suffering
 for our sins1 as if they were   his2   
and he bore the guilt of them4    ,in   
the beginning of the ,psalm he          
comprehends the sum of the whole        
matter1 in a very powerful expression4  
8,blessed 7saith he7 are they   who     
consider the poor and needy30 that is1  
blessed1 yea1 eternally   blessed are   
they1 who are not offended at the once  
weak1 crucified1   and condemned        
,christ1 but who believe the ,gospel4   
,for the preaching of   the cross is to 
the ,gentiles foolishness1 and to the   

,jews a   stumbling-block4 ,and it is   
the greatest of all offences to the     
world   to preach1 teach1 or confess1   
that the once poor1 crucified1 and      
condemned ,christ1 now sits at the right
 hand of the divine ,majesty1   and that
 he is on high1 the ,lord of all1 both  
in this world1 and that   which is to   
come4 ,for with this ,christ1 that      
people of the ,jews were   so offended1 
and they so ran upon and stumbled on    
this rock of   offence1 that1 to this   
day1 they remain cast out and scattered1
 and   wander about over all the face of
 the earth1 without a priesthood1 and   
without a kingdom6          ,,psalm     
,,xlii4    ,david's zeal to serve ,god  
in the temple4--,he encourageth his soul
 to  trust in ,god4    ,to the chief    
,musician1 ,maschil1 for the sons of    
,korah4      ,as the hart panteth after 
the water-brooks1 so panteth my soul    
after   thee1 ,o ,god4    ,my soul      
thirsteth for ,god1 for the living ,god3
 when shall ,i come and   appear before 

,god8    ,my tears have been my meat day
 and night1 while they continually say  
unto me1 ,where is thy ,god8    ,when ,i
 remember these things1 ,i pour out my  
soul in me3 for ,i had   gone with the  
multitude1 ,i went with them to the     
house of ,god1 with   the voice of joy  
and praise1 with a multitude that kept  
holyday4    ,why art thou cast down1 ,o 
my soul8 ,and why art thou disquieted in
   me8 ,hope thou in ,god3 for ,i shall 
yet praise him for the help of his      
countenance4    ,o my ,god1 my soul is  
cast down within me3 therefore will ,i  
remember   thee from the land of        
,jordan1 and of the ,hermonites1 from   
the hill   ,mizar4    ,deep calleth unto
 deep at the noise of thy waterspouts2  
all thy waves   and thy billows are gone
 over me4    ,yet the ,,lord will       
command his loving-kindness in the      
day-time1 and   in the night his song   
shall be with me1 and my prayer unto the
 ,god   of my life4    ,i will say unto 
,god my rock1 why hast thou forgotten   

me8 ,why go ,i   mourning because of the
 oppression of the enemy8    ,as with a 
sword in my bones1 mine enemies reproach
 me2 while they   say daily unto me1    
where is thy ,god8    ,why art thou cast
 down1 ,o my soul1 and why art thou     
disquieted within   me2 hope thou in    
,god3 for ,i shall yet praise him1 who  
is the health   of my countenance and my
 ,god4      ,this is an ardent prayer to
 ,god2 evincing an exceeding greatness  
of   spiritual feeling1 and an          
unutterable groaning of the ,spirit4    
,under   this similitude of a hart1 at  
the beginning of the ,psalm1 the        
,psalmist   describes his feelings in   
the hour of temptation1 when he was     
wholly   immersed in the extreme of     
distress1 and absorbed in tears4 ,for in
   that hour of darkness1 the ,god of   
life1 and peace1 and light1 and         
consolation1 is not seen2 but the sun of
 all comfort is hidden as it   were     
behind a cloud4 ,then the hearts of the 
thus tempted feel nothing   but an angry

 ,god1 and a cruel avenger2 and ,satan  
increases these   dismal views of misery
 to a wonderful extent4 ,to these       
things1   moreover1 are often added the 
blasphemies of those who make derision  
of the afflicted1 and assail them with  
the taunt1 8,where is now thy           
,god60--,for the world and the ungodly  
cannot contain themselves1 when   they  
see the saints in calamities2 they      
cannot refrain from taunting   and      
deriding them2 from aggravating the     
distresses of these godly   ones1 and   
from exclaiming1 in their               
bitterly-cutting triumph1 #8,they       
hoped in ,god that he would deliver     
them4 ,where is now their delivering    
,god8 ,where is now their ,christ they  
talk so much about8 ,this is just   how 
such heretics ought to be served4' ,for 
these wicked creatures   judge according
 to the flesh and blind reason2 and     
imagine1 that   affliction is a certain 
sign of divine anger against the saints4
 ,on   the other hand1 they boast of    

their own afflictions1 or any slight    
adversities which they may meet with1 as
 sufferings for the ,lord's   name sake1
 and as martyrdoms and sorrows endured  
for their apostolic   innocence4 ,for   
those perverse and virulent wretches1   
those blind   leaders of the blind1     
though they know1 yet will not know1    
that ,god   thus chastens his saints1   
that he may afterwards comfort them2 but
 not   that he may forsake1 destroy1 or 
condemn them4    ,the ,psalmist desires1
 with the greatest fervency of heart1 to
 come   unto the house of the ,lord1 and
 into the congregation of those that    
sing and rejoice2 to keep holy the      
sabbath1 to celebrate the name of   the 
,lord1 and to see the face of the ,lord2
 that is1 he has an ardent   desire to  
hear the word of the ,lord1 that he     
might thereby be lifted   up and        
refreshed2 being well nigh consumed in  
such a fiery heat of   temptation and   
distress4 ,the house of the ,lord is    
where the word of   ,god1 and the       

promise of grace are preached4 ,and by  
8the face of ,god10   he means the      
presence of ,god2 where ,god1 by his    
word1 reveals himself1   and his will1  
and grace1 and gives the knowledge of   
them unto men4   ,this he calls in      
another place #8,god's turning1 7not his
 back but7 his   face towards us4'      
,,psalm ,,xliii4    ,david praying to be
 restored to the temple1 promiseth to   
serve ,god   joyfully4--,he encourageth 
his soul to trust in ,god4      ,judge  
me1 ,o ,god1 and plead my cause against 
an ungodly nation3 ,o   deliver me from 
the deceitful and unjust man4    ,for   
thou art the ,god of my strength3 why   
dost thou cast me off8 why   go ,i      
mourning because of the oppression of   
the enemy8    ,o send out thy light and 
thy truth3 let them lead me2 let them   
bring   me unto thy holy hill1 and to   
thy tabernacles4    ,then will ,i go    
unto the altar of ,god1 unto ,god my    
exceeding joy3 yea1   upon the harp will
 ,i praise thee1 ,o ,god1 my ,god4      

,why art thou cast down1 ,o my soul8 and
 why art thou disquieted within   me8   
hope in ,god3 for ,i shall yet praise   
him1 who is the health of my            
countenance1 and my ,god4      ,this    
,psalm is of the same purport as the    
preceding2 and ,david uses   almost the 
same expressions4 ,he desires to go into
 the house of ,god in   the light and   
truth of ,god3 that is1 he desires to be
 comforted1 under   his distress and    
temptation1 by the word of ,god4        
,,psalm ,,xliv4    ,the church1 in      
memory of former favours1 complaineth of
 their present   evils4--,professing her
 integrity1 she fervently prayeth for   
succour4    ,to the chief ,musician for 
the sons of ,korah1 ,maschil4      ,we  
have heard with our ears1 ,o ,god1 our  
fathers have told us1 what   work thou  
didst in their days1 in the times of    
old4    ,how thou didst drive out the   
heathen with thy hand1 and plantedst    
them2 how thou didst afflict the people1
 and cast them out4    ,for they got not

 the land in possession by their own    
sword1 neither   did their own arm save 
them3 but thy right hand1 and thine arm1
 and   the light of thy countenance1    
because thou hadst a favour unto them4  
,thou art my ,king1 ,o ,god3 command    
deliverances for ,jacob4    ,through    
thee will we push down our enemies3     
through thy name will we   tread them   
under that rise up against us4    ,for  
,i will not trust in my bow1 neither    
shall my sword save me4    ,but thou    
hast saved us from our enemies1 and hast
 put them to shame   that hated us4     
,in ,god we boast all the day long1 and 
praise thy name for ever4 ,selah4       
,but thou hast cast off1 and put us to  
shame2 and goest not forth with   our   
armies4    ,thou makest us to turn back 
from the enemy2 and they which hate us  
spoil for themselves4    ,thou hast     
given us like sheep appointed for meat2 
and hast scattered   us among the       
heathen4    ,thou sellest thy people for
 nought1 and dost not increase thy      

wealth   by their price4    ,thou makest
 us a reproach to our neighbours1 a     
scorn and a derision to   them that are 
round about us4    ,thou makest us a    
byword among the heathen1 a shaking of  
the head among   the people4    ,my     
confusion is continually before me1 and 
the shame of my face hath   covered me1 
,for the voice of him that reproacheth  
and blasphemeth2 by reason of   the     
enemy and avenger4    ,all this is come 
upon us2 yet have we not forgotten thee1
 neither have   we dealt falsely in thy 
covenant4    ,our heart is not turned   
back1 neither have our steps declined   
from thy   way2    ,though thou hast    
sore broken us in the place of dragons1 
and covered   us with the shadow of     
death4    ,if we have forgotten the name
 of our ,god1 or stretched out our      
hands1   to a strange ,god2    ,shall   
not ,god search this out8 for he knoweth
 the secrets of the   heart4    ,yea1   
for thy sake are we killed all the day  
long2 we are counted as   sheep for the 

slaughter4    ,awake1 why sleepest thou1
 ,o ,,lord8 arise1 cast us not off for  
ever4    ,wherefore hidest thou thy     
face1 and forgettest our affliction and 
our oppression8    ,for our soul is     
bowed down to the dust3 our belly       
cleaveth unto the   earth4    ,arise for
 our help1 and redeem us for thy        
mercies' sake4      ,this is a prayer of
 the whole people of ,god2 and it is    
offered up in   the person of all the   
saints2 especially of those under the   
,new   ,testament1 whom you here find to
 be complaining that they are cruelly   
slaughtered and slain by the wicked     
nations1 by the ungodly men1 and   by   
tyrants4 ,for ,god delivers his saints  
into the hands of men1 as if   he had   
rejected them1 or utterly forgotten     
them4 ,whereas1 he glorified   the      
patriarchs of old1 and all those his    
people from the beginning1 by   mighty  
works and miracles in the sight of the  
nations that opposed   them4 ,and indeed
 all the saints maintain1 not their own 

cause1 but   ,god's2 and seek1 not their
 own glory1 but his3 and yet for this   
very   just and holy cause1 and for no  
other reason1 nor any other crime1      
they are thus torn and slaughtered by   
exile1 by the spoiling of their   goods1
 and1 in a word1 by death2 and are as   
cruelly treated in the   world1 as if   
they were the most wicked of all men1   
and a mere set of   vagabonds and       
murderers4    ,in a word1 this ,psalm is
 a sighing and groaning of spirit       
against the   weakness of the flesh2    
which flesh1 even in the saints1 murmurs
   against ,god1 because he governs the 
world with such an appearance of        
injustice2 and is in appearance1 an     
unjust judge1 permitting the   saints to
 be afflicted whom he ought to support  
and comfort1 and   promoting and        
exalting the wicked whom he ought to    
overthrow4          ,,psalm ,,xlv4      
,the majesty and grace of ,christ's     
kingdom4--,the duty of the church1   and
 the benefits thereof4    ,to the chief 

,musician upon ,shoshannim1 for the sons
 of ,korah1 ,maschil4   ,a ,song of     
,loves4      ,my heart is inditing a    
good matter3 ,i speak of the things     
which ,i have   made touching the king3 
my tongue is the pen of a ready writer4 
,thou art fairer than the children of   
men3 grace is poured into thy   lips3   
therefore ,god hath blessed thee for    
ever4    ,gird thy sword upon thy thigh1
 ,o most mighty1 with thy glory and     
thy majesty4    ,and in thy majesty ride
 prosperously because of truth and      
meekness   and righteousness2 and thy   
right hand shall teach thee terrible    
things4    ,thine arrows are sharp in   
the heart of the king's enemies2 whereby
   the people fall under thee4    ,thy  
throne1 ,o ,god1 is for and ever and    
ever3 the sceptre of thy   kingdom is a 
right sceptre4    ,thou lovest          
righteousness1 and hatest wickedness3   
therefore ,god1 thy   ,god1 hath        
anointed thee with the oil of gladness  
above thy fellows4    ,all thy garments 

smell of myrrh1 and aloes1 and cassia1  
out of the   ivory palaces1 whereby they
 have made thee glad4    ,kings'        
daughters were among thy honourable     
women3 upon thy right   hand did stand  
the queen in gold of ,ophir4            
,hearken1 ,o daughter1 and consider1 and
 incline thine ear2 forget also   thine 
own people1 and thy father's house2     
,so shall the king greatly desire thy   
beauty3 for he is thy ,lord2 and        
worship thou him4    ,and the daughter  
of ,tyre shall be there with a gift2    
even the rich   among the people shall  
intreat thy favour4    ,the king's      
daughter is all glorious within3 her    
clothing is of   wrought gold4    ,she  
shall be brought unto the king in       
raiment of needlework3 the   virgins her
 companions that follow her shall be    
brought unto thee4    ,with gladness and
 rejoicing shall they be brought3 they  
shall enter   into the king's palace4   
,instead of thy fathers shall be thy    
children1 whom thou mayest make         

princes in all the earth4    ,i will    
make thy name to be remembered in all   
generations3 therefore   shall the      
people praise thee for ever and ever4   
,this is a prophecy concerning the      
gospel and kingdom of ,christ2 and it   
describes1 in many rich and sweet       
figures and expressions1 the spouse   of
 ,christ1 the church4 ,it describes also
 ,christ1 going forth in all   his regal
 pomp2 having all royal gifts1 a manly  
and regal form1   suavity and grace of  
speech1 a warrior's armour1 the         
splendour of   regal dress1 and success 
in war against his enemies1 c42 and also
 as   possessing all kingly             
virtues1--righteousness1 clemency1 c4   
,and moreover that he may set the       
kingdom of ,christ before our eyes in   
its sweetest appearance1 the ,psalmist  
describes him as having palaces   and   
houses of ivory2 a queen1 and her       
attendant virgins2 and sons and         
daughters4 ,all these things are to be  
understood of the spiritual   kingdom of

 ,christ and the church1 where ,christ  
is a ,king1 powerful1   wise1 just1     
gracious1 and victorious2 and moreover1 
a conqueror   triumphant2 and also      
rejoicing1 preserving1 comforting and   
enriching   his own1 against sin1 the   
law1 and death1 c4    ,and ,david here  
clearly foretels that the law of the    
,old ,testament   should be abrogated4  
8,hearken 7says he7 ,o daughter1 and    
incline thine   ear1 forget also thy    
father's house3 7here he seems to glance
 at the   synagogue73 so shall the ,king
 have pleasure in thy beauty1 and thou  
shalt worship him20 showing1 that there 
is no true ,god out of ,christ2   and   
ascribing unto ,christ truly divine     
honour2 namely1 that of the   first and 
great precept1--that is1 adoration4 ,and
 in the sixth and   seventh verses1 he  
plainly calls him ,god3 thus making him 
an eternal   king1 the foundation of    
whose throne is in righteousness3 who   
justifies all that believe in him1 and  
takes away sin1 and destroys   death and

 hell4 ,and no one can be an eternal    
king that dies not1 but   he that is    
truly and naturally ,god6--of which we  
have spoken at large   elsewhere1 in our
 more full commentary on the #deth      
,psalm4          ,,psalm ,,xlvi4    ,the
 confidence which the church hath in    
,god4--,an exhortation to behold   it4  
,to the chief ,musician for the sons of 
,korah4 ,a song upon ,alamoth4      ,god
 is our refuge and strength1 a very     
present help in trouble4    ,therefore  
will not we fear1 though the earth be   
removed1 and though   the mountains be  
carried into the midst of the sea2      
,though the waters thereof roar1 and be 
troubled1 though the   mountains shake  
with the swelling thereof4 ,selah4      
,there is a river1 the streams whereof  
shall make glad the city of   ,god1 the 
holy place of the tabernacle of the most
 high4    ,god is in the midst of her2  
she shall not be moved3 ,god shall help 
her1 and that right early4    ,the      
heathen raged1 the kingdoms were moved3 

he uttered his voice1 the   earth       
melted4    ,the ,,lord of hosts is with 
us2 the ,god of ,jacob is our refuge4   
,selah4    ,come1 behold the works of   
the ,,lord1 what desolations he hath    
made in   the earth4    ,he maketh wars 
to cease unto the end of the earth2 he  
breaketh the   bow1 and cutteth the     
spear in sunder2 he burneth the chariot 
in the   fire4    ,be still1 and know   
that ,i am ,god3 ,i will be exalted     
among the   heathen1 ,i will be exalted 
in the earth4    ,the ,,lord of hosts is
 with us2 the ,god of ,jacob is our     
refuge4   ,selah4      ,this is a       
thanksgiving which the people of ,israel
 sang1 at that time1   for their divine 
blessings1 and miraculous deliverances1 
because ,god   had powerfully defended  
,jerusalem1 situated in the midst of    
hostile   nations and enemies1 and      
guarded it against all opposing kings1  
and   against all the snares and hostile
 attempts of the surrounding   nations2 
and had preserved it in peace against   

all the furious   counsels of war and   
bloodshed4 ,hence1 after the manner of  
the   scriptures1 ,david calls all that 
present flourishing state of his        
kingdom's affairs1 the river of ,god1   
whose streams should never be   dry2    
which was but a small rivulet1 in       
comparison of the great streams   and   
torrents of the sea by which he was     
surrounded1 7that is1 by those   immense
 kingdoms and islands of the nations1   
and ,gentile kings17 which   although   
they were great1 would yet1 one day1 dry
 up and disappear1   while the river of 
,god should endure for ever4    ,we sing
 this ,psalm to the praise of ,god1     
because ,god is with us1 and            
powerfully and miraculously preserves   
and defends his church and his   word1  
against all fanatical spirits1 against  
the gates of hell1   against the        
implacable hatred of the devil1 and     
against all the   assaults of the world1
 the flesh1 and sin4 ,so that our little
 river   remains a living fountain2     

whilst so many heresies1 so many tyrants
   and their doctrines1 as so many      
stinking sewers and sinks1 are          
dispersed1 like broken cisterns1 and    
disappear1 and are lost for ever4       
,,psalm ,,xlvii4    ,the nations are    
exhorted cheerfully to entertain the    
kingdom of   ,christ4    ,to the chief  
,musician4 ,a ,psalm for the sons of    
,korah4      ,o clap your hands all ye  
people2 shout unto ,god with the voice  
of   triumph4    ,for the ,,lord most   
high is terrible2 he is a great ,king   
over all   the earth4    ,he shall      
subdue the people under us1 and the     
nations under our feet4    ,he shall    
choose our inheritance for us1 the      
excellency of ,jacob1 whom   he loved4  
,selah4    ,god is gone up with a shout1
 the ,,lord with the sound of a trumpet4
    ,sing praises to ,god1 sing praises2
 sing praises unto our ,king1 sing      
praises4    ,for ,god is the ,king of   
all the earth3 sing ye praises with     
understanding4    ,god reigneth over the

 heathen3 ,god sitteth upon the throne  
of his   holiness4    ,the princes of   
the people are gathered together1 even  
the people of   the ,god of ,abraham3   
for the shields of the earth belong unto
 ,god3 he   is greatly exalted4         
,this is a prophecy concerning ,christ2 
describing the manner of his   ascension
 on high1 and showing that he should be 
,king over all4 8,sing   praises1 sing  
praises unto our ,king10 7saith he72    
thereby shewing1   that this kingdom of 
,christ should not be one of that kind  
that stands   in the power of arms1 but 
in the word of praise1 and in the       
singing of   thanksgivings4 ,as if he   
had said1 ,this king1 by the word of the
 gospel   only1 which is the word of    
praise and thanksgiving1 shall destroy  
all   the power of the adversaries1--the
 world1 and ,satan2 as the walls of     
,jericho fell down by the sound of      
trumpets only1 without sword or   arms6 
,,psalm ,,xlviii4    ,the ornaments and 
privileges of the church4    ,a ,song   

and ,psalm for the sons of ,korah4      
,great is the ,,lord and greatly to be  
praised1 in the city of our ,god1   in  
the mountain of his holiness4           
,beautiful for situation1 the joy of the
 whole earth1 is mount ,zion2   on the  
sides of the north the city of the great
 king4    ,god is known in her palaces  
for a refuge4    ,for1 lo1 the kings    
were assembled1 they passed by together4
    ,they saw it1 and so they marvelled2
 they were troubled1 and   hasted away4 
,fear took hold upon them there1 and    
pain1 as of a woman in travail4    ,thou
 breakest the ships of ,tarshish with an
 east wind4    ,as we have heard1 so    
have we seen in the city of the ,,lord  
of hosts1 in   the city of our ,god3    
,god will establish it for ever4 ,selah4
    ,we have thought of thy             
loving-kindness1 ,o ,god1 in the midst  
of thy   temple4    ,according to thy   
name1 ,o ,god1 so is thy praise unto the
 ends of the   earth3 thy right hand is 
full of righteousness4    ,let mount    

,zion rejoice1 let the daughters of     
,judah be glad1 because of   thy        
judgments4    ,walk about ,zion1 and go 
round about her3 tell the towers        
thereof4    ,mark ye well her bulwarks1 
consider her palaces2 that ye may tell  
it   to the generation following4       
,for this ,god is our ,god for ever and 
ever2 he will be our guide   even unto  
death4      ,this is a thanksgiving     
almost like ,psalm xlvi4 ,for the       
,psalmist   praises ,god1 and magnifies 
and extols his works1 because he had so 
marvellously defended the city of       
,jerusalem against the neighbouring     
nations1 and against kings and tyrants2 
and because he had often   delivered it 
when besieged by the most bitter and the
 most powerful   enemies2 while those   
enemies themselves were driven back in a
   wonderful manner1 and put to open    
shame2 and because he had saved it      
from infinite perils and destructions1  
in defiance of the very gates   of hell2
 and had preserved the city1 the temple1

 the word1 and the   worship of ,god4   
,but1 more especially1 ,david is here   
celebrating the truth of ,god2--that    
,god faithfully fulfils his promise2    
#8,according to thy name1 7saith he7    
so is thy glory1 and so are thy works   
unto the ends of the earth3'   that is1 
according as thou hast promised us1 8,i 
will be your ,god10 and   accordingly as
 we have believed that word1 so hast    
thou given us to   experience the       
fulfilment of it2--thou hast been with  
us1 and delivered   and defended us2 our
 city and our temple stand in the midst 
of   enemies1 as if in the midst of     
flames1 preserved and unhurt4    ,we    
sing this ,psalm1 because ,god is       
pleased to preserve his church   and    
gospel against the roaring and hatred of
 kings and princes2 who   cease not from
 attacking them by violence and craft   
with all their   might3 and yet1 they   
shall perish and be confounded1 and     
covered with   shame1 while the gospel  
shall remain as it was before1 unhurt   

and   unhindered4          ,,psalm      
,,xlix4    ,an earnest persuasion to    
build the faith of resurrection1 not on 
worldly power1 but on ,god4--,worldly   
prosperity is not to be admired4    ,to 
the chief ,musician4 ,a ,psalm for the  
sons of ,korah4      ,hear this1 all ye 
people2 give ear1 all ye inhabitants of 
the   world4    ,both low and high1 rich
 and poor together4    ,my mouth shall  
speak of wisdom2 and the meditation of  
my heart shall   be of understanding4   
,i will incline mine ear to a parable2  
,i will open my dark saying upon   the  
harp4    ,wherefore should ,i fear in   
the days of evil1 when the iniquity of  
my   heels shall compass me about8      
,they that trust in their wealth1 and   
boast themselves in the multitude   of  
their riches4    ,none of them can by   
any means redeem his brother1 nor give  
to ,god a   ransom for him4    7,for the
 redemption of their soul is precious1  
and it ceaseth for   ever47    ,that he 
should still live for ever1 and not see 

corruption4    ,for he seeth that wise  
men die1 likewise the fool and the      
brutish   person perish1 and leave their
 wealth to others4    ,their inward     
thought is1 that their houses shall     
continue for   ever1 and their          
dwelling-places to all generations3 they
 call   their lands after their own     
names4    ,nevertheless1 man being in   
honour1 abideth not3 he is like the     
beasts that perish4    ,this their way  
is their folly3 yet their posterity     
approve their   sayings4 ,selah4        
,like sheep they are laid in the grave2 
death shall feed on them2 and   the     
upright shall have dominion over them in
 the morning3 and their   beauty shall  
consume in the grave from their         
dwelling4    ,but ,god will redeem my   
soul from the power of the grave2 for he
 shall   receive me4 ,selah4    ,be not 
thou afraid when one is made rich1 when 
the glory of his house   is increased4  
,for1 when he dieth1 he shall carry     
nothing away2 his glory shall not       

descend after him4    ,though1 while he 
lived1 he blessed his soul3 7and men    
will praise thee   when thou doest well 
to thyself47    ,he shall go to the     
generation of his fathers2 they shall   
never see   light4    ,man that is in   
honour1 and understandeth not1 is like  
the beasts   that perish4      ,this is 
a ,psalm that instructs us unto faith1  
and teaches us to trust   in ,god       
against that great god of this world1   
who is called ,mammon4   ,david here    
gives a long and striking introduction  
to the ,psalm1 that   he may excite and 
wholly arrest our attention4 ,he here   
sharply rebukes   all who trust in the  
riches and wealth of this world2        
concerning whom   ,christ also severely 
says1 8,woe unto you that are rich1 for 
ye have   received your consolation40   
,luke vi4 #bd4    8,the love of money1  
7saith ,paul17 is the root of all evil20
 and yet   the whole world leave the    
true ,god and worship this idol2 and are
   actuated more and more with the      

furious desire of getting wealth4 ,all  
men1 from the least to the greatest1    
except those that fear ,god1 are   in   
pursuit of money4 ,hence it is1 that all
 the prophets exclaim1 8,for   from the 
least of them1 even unto the greatest of
 them1 every one is   given to          
covetousness10 ,jeremiah vi4 #ac4 ,and  
hence also have arisen   all those      
proverbs and trite sayings of the poets 
among the ,greeks and   ,latins4 #8,all 
things give way to money1'--#8money is  
the first thing to   be sought after2   
virtue is a secondary consideration4'   
,but all such admirers of1 and slaves to
 riches are pointed at and   exposed in 
this ,psalm2 as are also all those who  
trust in their   wealth1 nothing of     
which they can take with them when they 
die4 ,and   here also true faith is     
highly extolled2 by which we trust in   
,god1 who   can deliver us from death1  
and give us eternal life and salvation4 
,and   death is the time when not only  
gold1 but all creatures put together1   

cannot save and deliver a man6          
,,psalm ,l4    ,the majesty of ,god in  
the church4--,his order to gather       
saints4--,the   pleasure of ,god is not 
in ceremonies1 but in sincerity of      
obedience4    ,a ,psalm of ,asaph4      
,the mighty ,god1 even the ,,lord1 hath 
spoken1 and called the earth   from the 
rising of the sun unto the going down   
thereof4    ,out of ,zion1 the          
perfection of beauty1 ,god hath shined4 
,our ,god shall come1 and shall not keep
 silence3 a fire shall devour   before  
him1 and it shall be very tempestuous   
round about him4    ,he shall call to   
the heavens from above1 and to the      
earth1 that he may   judge his people4  
,gather my saints together unto me2     
those that have made a covenant   with  
me by sacrifice4    ,and the heavens    
shall declare his righteousness3 for    
,god is judge   himself4 ,selah4        
,hear1 ,o my people1 and ,i will speak2 
,o ,israel1 and ,i will testify         
against thee3 ,i am ,god1 even thy ,god4

    ,i will not reprove thee for thy    
sacrifices or thy burnt offerings1 to   
have been continually before me4    ,i  
will take no bullock out of thy house1  
nor he-goats out of thy   folds4    ,for
 every beast of the forest is mine1 and 
the cattle upon a   thousand hills4     
,i know all the fowls of the mountains3 
and the wild beasts of the   field are  
mine4    ,if ,i were hungry ,i would not
 tell thee3 for the world is mine1 and  
the fulness thereof4    ,will ,i eat the
 flesh of bulls1 or drink the blood of  
goats8    ,offer unto ,god thanksgiving2
 and pay thy vows unto the most high4   
,and call upon me in the day of trouble3
 ,i will deliver thee1 and thou   shalt 
glorify me4    ,but unto the wicked ,god
 saith1 ,what hast thou to do to declare
 my   statutes1 or that thou shouldest  
take my covenant in thy mouth8          
,seeing thou hatest instruction1 and    
castest my words behind thee4    ,when  
thou sawest a thief1 then thou          
consentedst with him1 and hast   been   

partaker with adulterers4    ,thou      
givest thy mouth to evil1 and thy tongue
 frameth deceit4    ,thou sittest and   
speakest against thy brother3 thou      
slanderest thine   own mother's son4    
,these things hast thou done1 and ,i    
kept silence2 thou thoughtest   that ,i 
was altogether such an one as thyself3  
but ,i will reprove   thee1 and set them
 in order before thine eyes4    ,now    
consider this1 ye that forget ,god1 lest
 ,i tear you in pieces1   and there be  
none to deliver4    ,whoso offereth     
praise glorifieth me3 and to him that   
ordereth his   conversation aright will 
,i shew the salvation of ,god4          
,this ,psalm teaches us1 in the teeth of
 all hypocrites and all the   worship of
 hypocrites1 what is true worship1 and  
which are acceptable   sacrifices in the
 sight of ,god4 ,for hypocrites consider
 their works1   and merits1 and         
sacrifices as of such high value1 that  
they think ,,god   ought to acknowledge 
the benefit of their services2 and they 

imagine   that he has need of them4     
,whereas1 on the contrary1 the ,holy    
,spirit   declares with a loud voice by 
the prophets1 what the true worship of  
,god is2 namely1 that of the ,first     
,commandment3 which is1 to worship      
,god1 and adore him2 and to acknowledge 
that we receive all things from   his   
hand1 and that all glory is due to him6 
,observe1 therefore1--there is here     
clearly expressed1 in the plainest      
words1 what is the highest worship of   
,god2 and what sacrifice is the   most  
acceptable to him4 ,and we are here     
briefly told1 that the true   way and   
road to ,god is1 to call upon him in the
 day of trouble1 and   give him thanks  
for the infinite benefits which we      
receive from him2   7as the last verse  
here sings27 for this is truly to 8pay  
our vows   unto ,god1 and to offer unto 
him thanksgiving10 7as the #adth verse  
saith47 ,these are not those foolish    
monastic vows1 and the like2 but   that 
highest of all vows1 which the          

,decalogue and the ,first   ,commandment
 require2 where it saith1 8,to-day have 
ye vowed unto the   ,lord your ,god3 he 
will be your ,god30 that is1 ye are made
 the people   of ,god1 that ye may have 
him for your ,god2 and that ye may truly
   believe in him1 call upon him1 and   
cleave unto him alone4 ,of this   those 
foolish hypocrites and self-imagined    
saints know nothing   whatever4         
,,psalm ,,li4    ,david prayeth for     
remission of sins1 whereof he maketh a  
deep   confession4--,he prayeth for     
sanctification4--,god delighteth not in 
sacrifice but in sincerity4--,he prayeth
 for the church4    ,to the chief       
,musician1 ,a ,psalm of ,david1 when    
,nathan the prophet came   unto him1    
after he had gone in to ,bath-sheba4    
,have mercy upon me1 ,o ,god1 according 
to thy loving-kindness3 according   unto
 the multitude of thy tender mercies    
blot out my transgressions4    ,wash me 
thoroughly from mine iniquity1 and      
cleanse me from my sin4    ,for ,i      

acknowledge my transgressions3 and my   
sin is ever before me4    ,against thee1
 thee only1 have ,i sinned1 and done    
this evil in thy   sight3 that thou     
mightest be justified when thou         
speakest1 and be   clear when thou      
judgest4    ,behold1 ,i was shapen in   
iniquity2 and in sin did my mother      
conceive   me4    ,behold1 thou desirest
 truth in the inward parts3 and in the  
hidden   part thou shalt make me to know
 wisdom4    ,purge me with hyssop1 and  
,i shall be clean3 wash me1 and ,i shall
 be   whiter than snow4    ,make me to  
hear joy and gladness2 that the bones   
which thou hast   broken may rejoice4   
,hide thy face from my sins1 and blot   
out all mine iniquities4    ,create in  
me a clean heart1 ,o ,god2 and renew a  
right spirit within me4    ,cast me not 
away from thy presence2 and take not thy
 holy spirit from   me4    ,restore unto
 me the joy of thy salvation2 and uphold
 me with thy   free spirit4    ,then    
will ,i teach transgressors thy ways2   

and sinners shall be   converted unto   
thee4    ,deliver me from               
blood-guiltiness1 ,o ,god1 thou ,god of 
my salvation3   and my tongue shall sing
 aloud of thy righteousness4    ,o      
,,lord1 open thou my lips2 and my mouth 
shall shew forth thy praise4    ,for    
thou desirest not sacrifice2 else would 
,i give it3 thou   delightest not in    
burnt offering4    ,the sacrifices of   
,god are a broken spirit3 a broken and a
 contrite   heart1 ,o ,god1 thou wilt   
not despise4    ,do good in thy good    
pleasure unto ,zion3 build thou the     
walls of   ,jerusalem4    ,then shalt   
thou be pleased with the sacrifices of  
righteousness1 with   burnt offering and
 whole burnt offering3 then shall they  
offer   bullocks upon thine altar4      
,this1 among all the ,psalms1 is a      
signal and golden one4 ,it contains     
experiences and feelings truly          
,davidical2 and teaches us what sin is1 
what the origin of sin is1 and how great
 and awful an evil the fall of   ,adam  

was4 ,and also1 7which is an excellent  
part of it indeed17 it   shows us how we
 obtain the remission of sins4 ,for in  
this ,psalm1 we   have it clearly       
expressed1 that sin is a great and      
innate evil1 and an   awful depravation 
and corruption of nature1 in all the    
powers both of   soul and body4 ,unless1
 therefore1 we are born again by faith  
in   ,christ1 and are renewed in spirit 
and made new creatures of ,god1 the     
sense of the loss of ,god and of eternal
 life and salvation is so heavy   a     
burthen1 and the power of sin and the   
sting of death so great1 that   the     
conscience is shaken with unspeakable   
distress and terror2 and the   anguish  
that takes hold on it drinks up the very
 marrow1 and bruises   and breaks the   
very inmost bones1 until the word of    
grace and of the   ,spirit again raises 
us up and refreshes us2 as ,david here  
says1 8,that   the bones which thou hast
 broken may rejoice40    ,but in hearts 
that are purified and renewed by the    

,spirit1 there is a   new light shining2
 there are new motions and spiritual    
affections2 a   sure rest and peace of  
conscience2 a true and full assurance of
   salvation2 a fervent and lively joy  
of spirit2 a rejoicing in ,god and   a  
peace with him2 a heart full of         
thanksgiving1 and a patience under      
afflictions4 ,hence those that fear     
,god1 those that are born again1 if     
they are at a point concerning the good 
will of ,god towards them1 are   those  
who can rightly teach and instruct      
others unto godliness4 8,then   7says   
,david7 will ,i teach transgressors thy 
ways20 then will ,i teach   them to call
 upon and praise the name of the ,lord1 
and to give thanks   unto him2 and in a 
word1 to worship and adore ,god truly   
and aright1 to   bear patiently the     
cross and afflictions1 and to offer     
great and   glorious sacrifices2 7for   
that is the way in which he here        
expresses   himself1 calling 8a broken  
and a contrite heart0 the favourite     

sacrifice of ,god27 for that is the     
highest and most excellent worship   of 
,god3 and he rejects1 in plain words1   
all sacrifices which are   offered by   
hypocrites without that sacrifice2 which
 sacrifices of   theirs they consider to
 be the highest acts of worship4    ,in 
concluding the ,psalm1 ,david begs of   
,god that he would be pleased to   build
 and preserve the city of ,jerusalem2   
that is1 the place of the   word and the
 true worship of ,god4 ,in the same     
manner1 we ought also   to pray4 8,do   
good unto ,zion1 ,o ,lord30 that is1    
#8,o ,lord1 thou seest the   virulent   
hatred of hypocrites3 ,do thou1 ,o      
,lord1 preserve the true   church1 and  
the true worship of ,god in it2' that   
is1 the worship of   the ,first         
,commandment4 ,confound all those who   
boast of their good   works and         
sacrifices1 and who neglect faith       
towards ,god1 and trample   under foot  
the ,first ,commandment4 ,but preserve  
and comfort those who   adore thee in   

truth1 serve thee1 and sacrifice unto   
thee in the   spirit4          ,,psalm  
,,lii4    ,david1 condemning the        
spitefulness of ,doeg1 prophesieth his  
destruction4--,the righteous shall      
rejoice at it4--,david1 upon his        
confidence in ,god's mercy1 giveth      
thanks4    ,to the chief ,musician1     
,maschil1 ,a ,psalm of ,david1 when     
,doeg the  ,edomite came and told ,saul1
 and said unto him1 ,david is come to   
the house of ,ahimelech4      ,why      
boastest thou thyself in mischief1 ,o   
mighty man8 the goodness of   ,god      
endureth continually4    ,thy tongue    
deviseth mischiefs1 like a sharp razor1 
working   deceitfully4    ,thou lovest  
evil more than good1 and lying rather   
than to speak   righteousness4 ,selah4  
,thou lovest all devouring words1 ,o    
thou deceitful tongue4    ,god shall    
likewise destroy thee for ever3 he shall
 take thee away1 and   pluck thee out of
 thy dwelling-place1 and root thee out  
of the land   of the living4 ,selah4    

,the righteous also shall see1 and fear 
and shall laugh at him3    ,lo1 this is 
the man that made not ,god his strength2
 but trusted in   the abundance of his  
riches1 and strengthened himself in his 
wickedness4    ,but ,i am like a green  
olive-tree in the house of ,god3 ,i     
trust in the   mercy of ,god for ever   
and ever4    ,i will praise thee for    
ever1 because thou hast done it3 and ,i 
will   wait on thy name2 for it is good 
before thy saints4      ,this is a      
,psalm of consolation2 and the title of 
it shows plainly what   are its         
contents4 ,david is here complaining of 
,doeg who betrayed him1   and who was   
the cause of much hurt and bloodshed4 #a
 ,sam4 xxii4    ,this ,doeg furnishes a 
type of all those betrayers and         
blood-shedding   hypocrites who are in  
the halls of kings and princes2 and who 
lyingly1   and with hatred1 traduce the 
word of ,god and the doctrine of truth3 
of   which stamp there are now numbers  
rising up on every side1 who   irritate 

and urge on kings and princes to slay   
the sincere ministers   of the word3    
such as those in our time1 who kill many
 good men on   account of the sacraments
 and marriage1 and make no end of       
shedding   the blood of ,god's ,abels4  
,against the furious cruelty of these   
men1 therefore1 this ,psalm   comforts  
the godly2 and promises them1 that such 
shall not go   unpunished1 but shall    
fall under those awful curses mentioned 
in ,deut4   xxviii3--that they shall be 
rooted out of the earth2 that their     
houses   shall be destroyed2 and that   
they shall lose both their bodies and   
their estates2 but1 that those who fear 
,god shall be preserved2 that   they    
shall remain in the house of the ,lord2 
and that they shall   persevere in      
teaching and hearing the word of ,god1  
in defiance of the   devil and all the  
wicked4          ,,psalm ,,liii4        
,david describeth the corruption of a   
natural man4--,he convinceth the        
wicked by the light of their own        

conscience4--,he glorieth in the        
salvation of ,god4    ,to the chief     
,musician upon ,mahalath1 ,maschil4 ,a  
,psalm of ,david4      ,the fool hath   
said in his heart1 ,there is no ,god4   
,corrupt are they1   and have done      
abominable iniquity3 there is none that 
doeth good4    ,god looked down from    
heaven upon the children of men1 to see 
if there   were any that did understand1
 that did seek ,god4    ,every one of   
them is gone back2 they are altogether  
become filthy3   there is none that     
doeth good1 no1 not one4    ,have the   
workers of iniquity no knowledge8 who   
eat up my people as   they eat bread3   
they have not called upon ,god4         
,there were they in great fear where no 
fear was2 for ,god hath   scattered the 
bones of him that encampeth against     
thee3 thou hast   put them to shame1    
because ,god hath despised them4    ,oh 
that the salvation of ,israel were come 
out of ,zion6 ,when ,god   bringeth back
 the captivity of his people1 ,jacob    

shall rejoice1 and   ,israel shall be   
glad4      ,this ,psalm is a prophecy   
like that of ,psalm xiv2 and it is a    
,psalm of   instruction4 ,the two       
,psalms are of the same purport1 and    
contain   almost the same words and     
expressions4 ,in a word1 they both cut  
at   hypocrites and self-justifiers1 who
 persecute the sound doctrine and   its 
preachers2 and at the close they give a 
prophetic declaration   concerning the  
gospel1 and the kingdom of ,christ which
 should proceed   out of ,zion4         
,,psalm ,,liv4    ,david1 complaining of
 the ,ziphims1 prayeth for              
salvation4--,upon his   confidence in   
,god's help he promiseth sacrifice4     
,to the chief ,musician on ,neginoth1   
,maschil1 ,a ,psalm of ,david1 when     
the ,ziphims came and said to ,saul1    
,doth not ,david hide himself with   us4
      ,save me1 ,o ,god1 by thy name1   
and judge me by thy strength4    ,hear  
my prayer1 ,o ,god2 give ear to the     
words of my mouth4    ,for strangers are

 risen up against me1 and oppressors    
seek after my   soul3 they have not set 
,god before them4 ,selah4    ,behold1   
,god is mine helper3 the ,,lord is with 
them that uphold my   soul4    ,he shall
 reward evil unto mine enemies3 cut them
 off in thy truth4    ,i will freely    
sacrifice unto thee2 ,i will praise thy 
name1 ,o ,,lord1 for   it is good4      
,for he hath delivered me out of all    
trouble2 and mine eye hath seen   his   
desire upon mine enemies4      ,this is 
a fervent prayer against the persecutors
 of the word1 who lay   plots against   
the lives of the good1 and those that   
fear ,god1 for the   word of ,god's     
sake2 just like king ,saul and the      
people of ,ziph1 who   lay in wait for  
the life of ,david1 on account of the   
name and word of   ,god1 by which ,saul 
was to be dethroned and ,david made king
 in his   stead4 ,david1 therefore1     
prays1 that the vengeance of ,god might 
overtake such cruelty and malice4       
,,psalm ,,lv4    ,david in his prayer   

complaineth of his fearful case4--,he   
prayeth   against his enemies1 of whose 
wickedness and treachery he             
complaineth4--,he comforteth himself in 
,god's preservation of him1 and         
confusion of his enemies4    ,to the    
chief ,musician on ,neginoth1 ,maschil4 
,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,give ear to  
my prayer1 ,o ,god2 and hide not thyself
 from my   supplication4    ,attend unto
 me1 and hear me3 ,i mourn in my        
complaint1 and make a   noise2          
,because of the voice of the enemy1     
because of the oppression of the        
wicked3 for they cast iniquity upon me1 
and in wrath they hate me4    ,my heart 
is sore pained within me2 and the       
terrors of death are fallen   upon me4  
,fearfulness and trembling are come upon
 me1 and horror hath   overwhelmed me4  
,and ,i said1 ,oh that ,i had wings like
 a dove6 for then would ,i fly   away   
and be at rest4    ,lo then would ,i    
wander far off1 and remain in the       
wilderness4   ,selah4    ,i would hasten

 my escape from the windy storm and     
tempest4    ,destroy1 ,o ,,lord1 and    
divide their tongues3 for ,i have seen  
violence   and strife in the city4      
,day and night they go about it upon the
 walls thereof2 mischief also   and     
sorrow are in the midst of it4          
,wickedness is in the midst thereof2    
deceit and guile depart not from   her  
streets4    ,for it was not an enemy    
that reproached me3 then ,i could have  
borne it3 neither was it he that hated  
me that did magnify   himself against   
me2 then ,i would have hid myself from  
him2    ,but it was thou1 a man mine    
equal1 my guide1 and mine acquaintance4 
,we took sweet counsel together1 and    
walked unto the house of ,god in        
company4    ,let death seize upon them1 
and let them go down quick into hell3   
for   wickedness is in their dwellings1 
and among them4    ,as for me1 ,i will  
call upon ,god2 and the ,,lord shall    
save me4    ,evening1 and morning1 and  
at noon1 will ,i pray1 and cry aloud2   

and he   shall hear my voice4    ,he    
hath delivered my soul in peace from the
 battle that was against   me3 for there
 were many with me4    ,god shall hear  
and afflict them1 even he that abideth  
of old4 ,selah4   ,because they have no 
changes1 therefore they fear not ,god4  
,he hath put forth his hands against    
such as be at peace with him2 he   hath 
broken his covenant4    ,the words of   
his mouth were smoother than butter1 but
 war was in   his heart3 his words were 
softer than oil1 yet were they drawn    
swords4    ,cast thy burden upon the    
,,lord1 and he shall sustain thee3 he   
shall   never suffer the righteous to be
 moved4    ,but thou1 ,o ,god1 shalt    
bring them down into the pit of         
destruction3   bloody and deceitful men 
shall not live out half their days2 but 
,i   will trust in thee4      ,this     
,psalm is a prayer3 and although it may 
in the #ajth and #aath   verses1 be     
understood of ,christ himself1 praying  
against his betrayer   ,judas1 when he  

says1 8,if it had been mine enemy that  
reproached me10   c4 yet1 it is manifest
 to me1 that it is a general prayer of  
the   godly against all the craft of    
insidious and deceitful men1 and        
against the artful ,italian flattery of 
some persons1 who are friends   as far  
as their tongue goes1 but who have one  
thing on their tongue   and another in  
their heart1 and consider craft and     
dissimulation in   all things to be the 
highest wisdom2 as if they could deceive
 ,god   also6    ,they know how to      
promise1 and do promise all things to   
your face3 so   that ,david justly      
describes them thus1 8,their words are  
smoother than   oil30 but when you have 
turned your back1 they blacken your     
character2   and their mouth is more    
destructive than arrows and coals of    
fire2 and   their tongue is a sharp     
sword1 and a drawn dagger4 ,and this is 
what   ,david complains of in verse     
#ab2--that they deceive effectually with
   their countenance1 their look1 and   

their eyes1 and cover1 under these      
fox-like arts1 ,satanic bitterness and  
virulence4 ,they eat and drink   with   
you1 and pretend to be your friends and 
intimates1 7as ,judas did   with        
,christ27 they keep holy days and go to 
the house of ,god with you4    ,this is 
the reason1 therefore1 that ,david so   
utterly execrates them1   and says1     
8,let them be taken out of the way      
suddenly1 and let them   descend into   
hell alive40 ,for virulent1 outside-show
 hypocrites1 like   these1 distress the 
hearts of those that fear ,god in a     
manner that is   beyond description4    
,this very judgment which ,david        
threatens in this ,psalm we see         
executed1 in our day1 upon many tyrants 
and originators of sects2 who   are     
taken off in a moment4 ,for this        
execration is prophetic2   foretelling  
the end of all hypocrites1 who will not 
listen to those   that admonish them in 
a godly manner1 nor regard their advice2
 as it   is expressed in verse #ai1     

8,but they 7says ,david7 will not       
regard2 they   are not changed2 nor will
 they fear ,god2 they go on in their    
course1   till they are taken out of the
 way suddenly40          ,,psalm ,,lvi4 
,david1 praying to ,god in confidence of
 his word1 complaineth of his           
enemies4--,he professeth his confidence 
in ,god's word1 and promiseth to        
praise him4    ,to the chief ,musician  
upon ,jonathelem-rechokim1 ,michtam of  
,david1 when   the ,philistines took him
 in ,gath4      ,be merciful unto me1 ,o
 ,god2 for man would swallow me up3 he  
fighting   daily oppresseth me4    ,mine
 enemies would daily swallow me up3 for 
they be many that   fight against me1 ,o
 thou ,most ,high4    ,what time ,i am  
afraid1 ,i will trust in thee4    ,in   
,god ,i will praise his word2 in ,god ,i
 have put my trust3 ,i will not   fear  
what flesh can do unto me4    ,every day
 they wrest my words3 all their thoughts
 are against me for   evil4    ,they    
gather themselves together1 they hide   

themselves1 they mark my   steps1 when  
they wait for my soul4    ,shall they   
escape by iniquity8 in thine anger cast 
down the people1   ,o ,god4    ,thou    
tellest my wanderings3 put thou my tears
 into thy bottle3 are   they not in thy 
book8    ,when ,i cry unto thee1 then   
shall mine enemies turn back3 this ,i   
know2 for ,god is for me4    ,in ,god ,i
 will praise his word2 in the ,,lord    
will ,i praise his word4    ,in ,god    
have ,i put my trust3 ,i will not be    
afraid what man can do unto   me4       
,thy vows are upon me1 ,o ,god3 ,i will 
render praises unto thee4    ,for thou  
hast delivered my soul from death2 wilt 
not thou deliver   my feet from falling1
 that ,i may walk before ,god in the    
light of the   living8      ,this is a  
fervent prayer2 in which ,david         
complains of ,saul and the men   of his 
party1 because he was obliged to flee   
out of the land to the   ,philistines4  
,so bitterly and hostilely did ,saul and
 the men of his   conspiracy persecute  

,david1 and plot against his life1 that 
he could   be in safety no where4 ,he   
encourages and supports himself1        
however1   with a constant and undaunted
 faith4 #8,i will glory 7says he7 in the
   word of ,god3 for ,i have a command1 
a declaration1 and a promise of ,god    
in my favour3 he has declared that ,saul
 shall be dethroned1 and that ,i   shall
 be king4 ,i will not be afraid what man
 can do unto me4 ,let them   gainsay3   
let ,saul and the ,saulites oppose and  
fight against me4 ,let   them say1 and  
say again1 that ,i shall not be king4   
,if ,god be for me   what can man do    
against me8'    ,we ought also to pray1 
after the manner of this ,psalm1 against
   tyrants2 who unceasingly persecute   
the word of ,god and us1 and will       
never suffer us to be at rest4 ,we1     
however1 have that strong and           
,davidical consolation1--that the word  
of ,god is for us1 though they          
unceasingly attack that in us1 and      
corrupt1 pervert1 and reproach it2      

crying out that we are heretics2 and    
arrogating to themselves only1   the    
appellation of the church4              
,,psalm ,,lvii4    ,david in prayer     
fleeing unto ,god1 complaineth of his   
dangerous   case4--,he encourageth      
himself to praise ,god4    ,to the chief
 ,musician1 ,al-taschith1 ,michtam of   
,david1 when he fled   from ,saul in the
 cave4      ,be merciful unto me1 ,o    
,god1 be merciful unto me3 for my soul  
trusted   in thee3 yea1 in the shadow of
 thy wings will ,i make my refuge1 until
   these calamities be overpast4    ,i  
will cry unto ,god most high2 unto ,god 
that performeth all things   for me4    
,he shall send from heaven1 and save me 
from the reproach of him that   would   
swallow me up4 ,selah4 ,god shall send  
forth his mercy and his   truth4    ,my 
soul is among lions3 and ,i lie even    
among them that are set   on fire1 even 
the sons of men1 whose teeth are spears 
and arrows1   and their tongue a sharp  
sword4    ,be thou exalted1 ,o ,god1    

above the heavens2 let thy glory be     
above   all the earth4    ,they have    
prepared a net for my steps2 my soul is 
bowed down3 they   have digged a pit    
before me1 into the midst whereof they  
are fallen   themselves4 ,selah4    ,my 
heart is fixed1 ,o ,god1 my heart is    
fixed2 ,i will sing and give   praise4  
,awake up1 my glory2 awake psaltery and 
harp2 ,i myself will awake   early4     
,i will praise thee1 ,o ,,lord1 among   
the people2 ,i will sing unto thee      
among the nations3    ,for thy mercy is 
great unto the heavens1 and thy truth   
unto the   clouds4    ,be thou exalted1 
,o ,god1 above the heavens1 let thy     
glory be above   all the earth4         
,this ,psalm is a prayer2 in which      
,david again complains concerning       
,saul1 and those around him2 on account 
of whose plots and snares1 he   was     
compelled to flee into a cave4 ,it is   
nearly of the same purport as   the     
,psalm preceding4    ,we ought to make  
use of this ,psalm also against tyrants1

 and against   sycophants1 and certain  
powerful ones1 about the palaces of     
kings and   princes2 who persecute us on
 account of the word and name of ,god1  
and   persecute our doctrine also2      
interpreting every thing that we do in  
the worst sense2 and traducing and      
hating all that fear ,god4    ,and      
,david here paints forth the cruelty of 
these characters2 8,their   teeth 7says 
he7 are spears and arrows1 and their    
tongue a sharp   sword40 ,thanks be to  
,god therefore1 that he does not forsake
 his   people1 but makes their enemies  
fall into the pit which they            
themselves have made2 so that they are  
utterly subverted and taken in   their  
own craftiness6          ,,psalm        
,,lviii4    ,david reproveth wicked     
judges1 describeth the nature of the    
wicked1   devoteth them to ,god's       
judgments1 whereat the righteous shall  
rejoice4    ,to the chief ,musician1    
,al-taschith1 ,michtam of ,david4       
,do ye indeed speak righteousness1 ,o   

congregation8 ,do ye judge   uprightly1 
,o ye sons of men8    ,yea1 in heart ye 
work wickedness2 ye weigh the violence  
of your hands   in the earth4    ,the   
wicked are estranged from the womb2 they
 go astray as soon as they   be born1   
speaking lies4    ,their poison is like 
the poison of a serpent2 they are like  
the   deaf adder that stoppeth her ear2 
,which will not hearken to the voice of 
charmers1 charming never so   wisely4   
,break their teeth1 ,o ,god1 in their   
mouth2 break out the great teeth of     
the young lions1 ,o ,,lord4    ,let them
 melt away as waters which run          
continually3 when he   bendeth his bow  
to shoot his arrows1 let them be as cut 
in pieces4    ,as a snail which melteth1
 let every one of them pass away3 like  
the untimely birth of a woman1 that they
 may not see the sun4    ,before your   
pots can feel the thorns1 he shall take 
them away as with   a whirlwind1 both   
living and in his wrath4    ,the        
righteous shall rejoice when he seeth   

the vengeance3 he shall wash   his feet 
in the blood of the wicked4    ,so that 
a man shall say1 verily there is a      
reward for the righteous3   verily he is
 a ,god that judgeth in the earth4      
,this is a ,psalm of consolation against
 those hardened heretics1 and           
enthusiastic spirits1 who pertinaciously
 defend their own errors1 and   stop    
their ears2 and who are so blinded and  
taken captive1 that they   can hear no  
one2 but pursue1 with headlong          
precipitation1 their own   designs1 and 
rush on to the accomplishment of them1  
like a horse at   full speed4 ,and      
these1 as if they would devour the      
godly1 cease not to   threaten them in  
the most terrifying manner4--,david1    
however1 here   makes use of five       
beautiful similitudes3 under which1 he  
represents   their vain attempts1 and   
shows1 that those very plots which they 
lay   for others1 fall upon their own   
heads4    #a4 ,the sudden inundation    
with which they make their attack1      

rushes   with such violence and roaring1
 that it seems as if it would tear up   
and carry away every thing before it3   
and yet it flows by1 and   suddenly     
disappears6    #b4 ,their arrow1 fixed  
on the bow1 threatens certain           
destruction3 but1   in a moment1 the bow
 and arrows are broken together1 and the
 deadly   weapon accomplishes nothing6  
#c4 ,the snail puts forth his horns from
 his shell1 as if he were just   going  
to do some deadly and mighty injury3 but
 those horns prove to be   soft and     
ineffectual2 they do nothing3 nor have  
the power of doing any   hurt whatever4 
#d4 ,an imperfect conception1 disengaged
 by abortion1 makes the womb of   the   
mother to extend1 as if there were a    
perfect conception1 and as if           
something great would at length come    
forth3 but before it is brought   forth1
 it perishes1 and never sees the sun4   
#e4 ,you may see a branch of buck-thorn1
 7which is the most prickly kind   of   
thorn17 filled with young sharp points  

and prickles1 and seeming as   if it    
would one day tear many in pieces at    
once1 and maim persons on   every side  
of it2 but1 before the prickles are     
fully ripe and strong1   the whole bush 
is1 perhaps1 cut down by the woodman1   
and he burns it   in the fire1 and      
reduces it to ashes6    ,so1 just       
according to these similitudes1 those   
enemies of ,god and   truth1 plan1 plot1
 and breathe out dreadful things2 but   
like a mighty   flame1 where there is no
 more fuel left to feed it1 their fury  
ends in   nothing6          ,,psalm     
,,lix4    ,david prayeth to be delivered
 from his enemies4--,he complaineth of  
their cruelty4--,he trusteth in         
,god4--,he prayeth against them4--,he   
praiseth ,god4    ,to the chief         
,musician1 ,al-taschith1 ,michtam of    
,david2 when ,saul sent1   and they     
watched the house to kill him4          
,deliver me from mine enemies1 ,o my    
,god3 defend me from them that rise   up
 against me4    ,deliver me from the    

workers of iniquity1 and save me from   
bloody men4    ,for1 lo1 they lie in    
wait for my soul2 the mighty are        
gathered against   me2 not for my       
transgression1 nor for my sin1 ,o       
,,lord4    ,they run and prepare        
themselves without my fault3 awake to   
help me1   and behold4    ,thou1        
therefore1 ,o ,,lord ,god of hosts1 the 
,god of ,israel1 awake to   visit all   
the heathen3 be not merciful to any     
wicked transgressors4   ,selah4    ,they
 return at evening3 they make a noise   
like a dog1 and go round   about the    
city4    ,behold1 they belch out with   
their mouth2 swords are in their lips2  
for who1 say they1 doth hear8    ,but   
thou1 ,o ,,lord1 shalt laugh at them3   
thou shalt have all the heathen   in    
derision4    ,because of his strength   
will ,i wait upon thee3 for ,god is my  
defence4    ,the ,god of my mercy shall 
prevent me2 ,god shall let me see my    
desire   upon my enemies4    ,slay them 
not1 lest my people forget3 scatter them

 by thy power2 and   bring them down1 ,o
 ,,lord our shield4    ,for the sin of  
their mouth1 and the words of their     
lips1 let them   even be taken in their 
pride2 and for cursing and lying which  
they   speak4    ,consume them in wrath1
 consume them1 that they may not be2 and
   let them know that ,god ruleth in    
,jacob unto the ends of the earth4      
,selah4    ,and at evening let them     
return1 and let them make a noise like a
   dog1 and go round about the city4    
,let them wander up and down for meat1  
and grudge1 if they be not   satisfied4 
,but ,i will sing of thy power2 yea1 ,i 
will sing aloud of thy mercy in   the   
morning3 for thou hast been my defence  
and refuge in the day of  my trouble4   
,unto thee1 ,o my strength1 ,i will     
sing3 for ,god is my defence1 and   the 
,god of my mercy4      ,this ,psalm is a
 prayer2 and may be very properly       
understood as offered   up in the person
 of ,christ1 complaining of1 and        
prophecying concerning   the ,jews2 on  

whom1 on account of their denial of     
,christ1 and their   rejection of the   
gospel1 the awful judgments of ,god     
should fall2 but   yet1 not so as to    
destroy the whole nation entirely2 but1 
in such a   manner1 as to make of them  
an example to all future nations2--that 
they   should be scattered abroad as    
exiles1 and left vagabonds among all    
nations2 and should be punished by being
 given up to blindness1 and   maddened  
fury2 so as not to be able to teach     
anything1 or say   anything1 but        
blasphemies against ,christ4 ,and this  
we see fulfilled in   them in reality3  
for all their books and commentaries are
 replete with   the most bitter         
reproaches and blasphemies against      
,christ and his   gospel4 ,and1 for this
 their wickedness1 they suffer dreadful 
and   unceasing punishments3 for they   
#8go about the city like hungry dogs1'  
seeking food1 and finding it not4       
,the meaning of this prophecy is1       
therefore1 that at the end1 after the   

times of the apostles1 the ,jews should 
be left as exiles1 should be   banished 
from their own land1 should wander about
 as outcasts1 should   be oppressed     
under foreign jurisdictions1 should be  
driven out from   one country to        
another1 and should be cast out without 
any certain   dwelling-place2 and that  
they should seek out any corner of the  
world1   where they might collect       
together again the wrecks and remains of
   their kingdom1 and endeavour to find 
out another one to lead them1 but       
should be frustrated in every attempt4  
,and their exile and dispersion   shall 
remain unfinished until the end         
appointed3 till then1 they shall        
remain and waste away like famished     
dogs1 and run and smell about   round   
the cities1 and gape like dogs1 but     
shall not be filled3 and   they shall   
perish without a king1 and without a    
kingdom4    ,but with respect to the    
history of this ,psalm1 it may rightly  
be   understood as referring to ,david1 

praying against the heirs of ,saul   and
 the ,saulites2 who1 being at length    
stripped of their kingdom1   wandered   
about like yawning and hungry dogs1     
ejected from their   kingdom1 and       
forsaken and held in contempt1 until    
they all utterly   perished4 ,for ,god  
declared that the house of ,saul should 
not be raised   up2 though the posterity
 of ,saul greatly desired his kingdom4  
,,psalm ,,lx4    ,david1 complaining to 
,god of former judgment1--now1 upon     
better hope1   prayeth for              
deliverance4--,comforting himself in    
,god's promises1 he   craveth that help 
whereon he trusteth4    ,to the chief   
,musician upon ,shushan-eduth1 ,michtam 
of ,david1 to teach2   when he strove   
with ,aram-naharaim and with            
,aram-zobah1 when ,joab   returned1 and 
smote of ,edom in the valley of salt    
twelve thousand4      ,o ,god1 thou hast
 cast us off1 thou hast scattered us1   
thou hast been   displeased2 ,o turn    
thyself to us again4    ,thou hast made 

the earth to tremble2 thou hast broken  
it3 heal the   breaches thereof2 for it 
shaketh4    ,thou hast shewed thy people
 hard things3 thou hast made us to drink
   the wine of astonishment4    ,thou   
hast given a banner to them that feared 
thee1 that it may be   displayed because
 of the truth4 ,selah4    ,that thy     
beloved may be delivered2 save with thy 
right hand and hear   me4    ,god hath  
spoken in his holiness2 ,i will rejoice1
 ,i will divide   ,shechem1 and mete out
 the valley of ,succoth4    ,gilead is  
mine1 and ,manasseh is mine2 ,ephraim   
also is the   strength of mine head2    
,judah is my lawgiver2    ,moab is my   
washpot2 over ,edom will ,i cast out my 
shoe3 ,philistia1   triumph thou because
 of me4    ,who will bring me into the  
strong city8 who will lead me into      
,edom8    ,wilt not thou1 ,o ,god1 which
 hadst cast us off8 and thou1 ,o ,god1  
which didst not go out with our armies8 
,give us help from trouble3 for vain is 
the help of man4    ,through ,god we    

shall do valiantly3 for he it is that   
shall tread   down our enemies4         
,this is a signal thanksgiving4 ,david  
gives thanks for the happy state   of   
his kingdom1 in which religion and      
political government flourished   and   
prospered2 for1 in these two things1    
well-ordered1 consist all   things      
divine and human4 ,before the time of   
,david1 in the days of   ,saul1 all     
things were in disorder1 and the kingdom
 was in a declining   state2 as the     
former verses of the ,psalm show4 ,the  
,philistines had   greatly afflicted the
 ,israelites3 so much so that even the  
ark of the   ,lord was despised and     
profaned4    ,again1 in the reign of    
,saul1 all things were carried on with  
injury1   oppression1 and wickedness3   
which is always the case1 when ,god     
forsakes magistrates1 and suffers them  
to go on in their own ways4 ,and   the  
example of ,david1 who was obliged to   
have recourse to such   various1 wise1  
and cautious means for safety1 shows    

that the palace of   ,saul was full of  
,ahithophels1 and of all such pests of  
religion and   good government4    ,but1
 says ,david1 8,thou1 ,o ,lord1 hast    
given a sign to them that feared   thee1
 that they may display it1 and may      
believe and be assured1 that   thou art 
present with them40 ,for ,god had given 
to his own a sign1 and   had left it to 
them2 by which1 all those that believed 
in the grace of   ,god1 might be        
comforted2 namely1 the ark of the       
covenant and the   mercy-seat2 which    
,god had delivered1 by signal miracles1 
out of the   hand of the ,philistines4  
,for ,god had promised and declared1    
that he   would hear all those that     
called upon him before this ark1 and    
this   mercy-seat2 and that he would    
there vouchsafe his presence4    ,at the
 end of the ,psalm1 he enumerates all   
his countries and his   people2 and1 in 
a very striking and eminent way1 extols 
the true   worship of ,god1 the true    
religion4 8,god 7saith he7 speaks in his

   holiness 7or sanctuary72 ,i will     
rejoice30 that is1 ,god is present in   
my kingdom by his word1 which is there  
preached3 in this ,i will   rejoice4    
,he enumerates1 in order1 these         
countries3 ,succoth1 ,shechem1 ,gilead1 
,manasseh1 ,ephraim1 ,judah1 ,moab1     
,philistia4 ,and1 at the end1 he        
confesses1 that1 to defend and protect  
all these1 by a good   government1 and  
to ensure them victory against all their
   enemies1--against ,edom and          
,philistia1 7that is to carry on war and
 to   extend dominions1 successfully17  
is not in the power of human wisdom   or
 human strength2 8,for vain 7saith he7  
is the help of man4 ,all   successful   
valour and victory are from ,god40 ,why 
he does not mention   by name more      
countries than these nine1 it belongs to
 a full   commentary to explain2 the    
narrow limits1 therefore1 of our present
   summary1 will not allow us to enter  
upon that explanation4    ,we may sing  
this ,psalm to the honour of ,god also1 

because in the   church of ,christ1 ,god
 is continually making new orchards and 
gardens2   and daily increasing the     
number of its churches and parishes2 in 
which   the word of ,god is preached2 in
 which the sacraments are administered  
in a godly manner2 and in which there   
are various gifts of the ,holy          
,spirit4          ,,psalm ,,lxi4        
,david fleeth to ,god upon his former   
experience4--,he voweth perpetual       
service unto him1 because of his        
promises4    ,to the chief ,musician    
upon ,neginah4 ,a ,psalm of ,david4     
,hear my cry1 ,o ,god2 attend unto my   
prayer4    ,from the end of the earth   
will ,i cry unto thee1 when my heart is 
overwhelmed2 lead me to the rock that is
 higher than ,i4    ,for thou hast been 
a shelter for me1 and a strong tower    
from the   enemy4    ,i will abide in   
thy tabernacle for ever2 ,i will trust  
in the covert of   thy wings4 ,selah4   
,for thou1 ,o ,god1 hast heard my vows3 
thou hast given me the heritage   of    

those that fear thy name4    ,thou wilt 
prolong the king's life2 and his years  
as many   generations4    ,he shall     
abide before ,god for ever3 ,o prepare  
mercy and truth1 which   may preserve   
him4    ,so will ,i sing praise unto thy
 name for ever1 that ,i may daily       
perform   my vows4      ,this is a      
prayer against the enemies of the people
 of ,god1 and   especially also for     
magistrates1 and for the king--that ,god
 would   increase faith in him1 and     
further him in the knowledge of his holy
   name and word2 that he may walk in   
faith and in the fear of ,god2 that     
his government may be happy and endure2 
and that religion and good   government 
may not be injured and distracted by    
seditions and wars4   ,for ,solomon1 in 
his ,proverbs1 says1 8,that for the sins
 of the people1   ,god changes kings and
 kingdoms40 ,but where there are many   
kings1   there1 7according to the manner
 of all human vicissitudes17 what one   
builds up1 another casts down3 as the   

proverb goes1 8,a new king1 a new       
law10--all changes in a state are       
dangerous3 happy is that kingdom1       
therefore1 which1 being once well       
constituted1 is long preserved in   the 
same state4          ,,psalm ,,lxii4    
,david professing his confidence in ,god
 discourageth his enemies4--,in   the   
same confidence he encourageth the      
godly4--,no trust is to be put in       
worldly things4--,power and mercy belong
 to ,god4    ,to the chief ,musician1 to
 ,jeduthun4 ,a ,psalm of ,david4        
,truly my soul waiteth upon ,god3 from  
him cometh my salvation4    ,he only is 
my rock and my salvation2 he is my      
defence2 ,i shall not   be greatly      
moved4    ,how long will ye imagine     
mischief against a man8 ye shall be     
slain all   of you3 as a bowing wall    
shall ye be1 and as a tottering fence4  
,they only consult to cast him down from
 his excellency3 they delight   in lies3
 they bless with their mouth1 but they  
curse inwardly4 ,selah4    ,my soul1    

wait thou only upon ,god2 for my        
expectation is from him4    ,he only is 
my rock and my salvation3 he is my      
defence2 ,i shall not   be moved4    ,in
 ,god is my salvation and my glory3 the 
rock of my strength1 and   my refuge1 is
 in ,god4    ,trust in him at all times2
 ye people1 pour out your heart before  
him3   ,god is a refuge for us4 ,selah4 
,surely men of low degree are vanity1   
and men of high degree are   a lie3 to  
be laid in the balance1 they are        
altogether lighter than   vanity4       
,trust not in oppression1 and become not
 vain in robbery3 if riches   increase1 
set not your heart upon them4    ,god   
hath spoken once2 twice have ,i heard   
this2 that power belongeth   unto ,god4 
,also unto thee1 ,o ,,lord1 belongeth   
mercy3 for thou renderest to every   man
 according to his work4      ,this      
,psalm contains most excellent doctrine3
 it greatly exalts the   dignity of     
faith1 showing how firm a safeguard     
faith in ,god is1 and   what a strong   

defence it is against all the evils of  
life4 ,on the   other hand1 the         
,psalmist shows the vanity of all       
confidence in   men2--that nothing is   
more vain1 or more fallacious than to   
trust in   man4 #8,god 7says he7 is my  
rock1 my strength1 and my defence3 ,god 
is my   hope1 my salvation1 my strength1
 my glory1 my life1 and my trust4 ,god  
is my safe protection4 ,god is my       
faithful helper2 who never deceives     
me4 ,therefore1 vain are the sons of    
men4 ,the sons of men are all   liars3' 
that is1 all human things are deceiving1
 uncertain1 and cannot   be held fast4  
,many are to be found1 who trust in the 
favour of kings and princes2   and on   
that account1 they are puffed up with   
pride and insolence1 and   oppress      
others with the more confidence2 and    
especially if they see   their wall     
bowing down and giving way2 that is1 if 
they see a man   declining in his       
affairs1 who was once in prosperity2 or 
if they see   him not protected by      

wealth and influence against injury3    
such an one   as this1 they endeavour to
 overthrow wholly2 and to that end1     
ingratiate themselves with the powerful1
 and wind themselves into   their       
affections1 on whose favour they depend2
 as on a propitious   deity4    ,but    
such see not how fallacious the favour  
of men is1 and how variable   and       
uncertain their wills are2 in a word1   
they see not that 8vain is   the help of
 man60 ,nor will they believe it to be  
vain1 until they find   it out by       
experience1 and are brought to lament   
their error2 as ,cicero   and many other
 wise men have done4 ,cicero exclaims   
with respect to   ,octavius1 #8,o how   
vain was all my reputation for being a  
wise man1 c46   ,o how far was ,i from  
being wise indeed2 though ,i sometimes  
evinced   that wisdom which was esteemed
 to be such2 but in vain6' ,thus writes 
he in his epistle to                    
,octavius4--,therefore the sum of all   
religion is   #8,trust in ,god and      

injure not thy neighbour6' ,so shalt    
thou rightly   conduct thyself before   
both ,god and men6          ,,psalm     
,,lxiii4    ,david's thirst for         
,god4--,his manner of blessing          
,god4--,his confidence of   his enemies'
 destruction1 and his own safety4    ,a 
,psalm of ,david1 when he was in the    
wilderness of ,judah4      ,o ,god1 thou
 art my ,god2 early will ,i seek thee3  
my soul thirsteth   for thee1 my flesh  
longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty   
land1 where   no water is2    ,to see   
thy power and thy glory1 so as ,i have  
seen thee in the   sanctuary4           
,because thy loving-kindness is better  
than life1 my lips shall   praise thee4 
,thus will ,i bless thee while ,i live3 
,i will lift up my hands in thy   name4 
,my soul shall be satisfied as with     
marrow and fatness2 and my mouth   shall
 praise thee with joyful lips3    ,when 
,i remember thee upon my bed1 and       
meditate on thee in the   night watches4
    ,because thou hast been my help1    

therefore in the shadow of thy wings    
will ,i rejoice4    ,my soul followeth  
hard after thee3 thy right hand         
upholdeth me4    ,but those that seek my
 soul1 to destroy it1 shall go into the 
lower parts of the earth4    ,they shall
 fall by the sword3 they shall be a     
portion for foxes4    ,but the king     
shall rejoice in ,god2 every one that   
sweareth by him   shall glory3 but the  
mouth of them that speak lies shall be  
stopped4      ,this is a prayer         
containing the deep feelings of an      
afflicted heart1   thirsting after the  
word of ,god1 which is the word of      
consolation6   ,david called thus upon  
,god1 when he fled from the face of     
,saul1 and   lay hid in the wilderness  
of ,judah4 8,my soul thirsteth for thee2
 my   flesh longeth for thee1 that ,i   
may see thee in thy sanctuary40 ,o how  
fervently does he desire to be present  
in the tabernacle1 and before   the     
mercy-seat in the sanctuary6 ,and to    
hear the word of ,god1 in the   assembly

 of those who there truly worshipped    
him8 ,he complains1 also1   bitterly    
against the ,saulites2 who so hostilely 
lay in wait for his   life1 that he     
could be in safety no where2 and was    
compelled to be   away from the place of
 the worship of ,god2 even away from the
   sanctuary4--,notwithstanding all     
this1 however1 he raises himself up     
with a holy firmness1 and magnanimity1  
and glories in being king1   depending  
on the choice and promise of ,god2 by   
which he comforts and   sustains himself
 during the time of that most miserable 
flight and   calamity4    ,this ,psalm  
may be used by those who are under the  
oppression of   tyrants1 who feel a     
hungering and thirsting after the word  
of ,god1 and   who can1 under their     
calamity1 glory in being the sons and   
heirs of   ,god1 because they have the  
knowledge of ,christ1 and love the word2
 and   who can persevere in this        
confidence1 until the impious ,saul be  
destroyed1 and ,david exalted2 that is1 

until ,god raise up and comfort   those 
that fear him4          ,,psalm ,,lxiv4 
,david prayeth for deliverance1         
complaining of his enemies4--,he        
promiseth himself to see such an evident
 destruction of his enemies1   as the   
righteous shall rejoice at it4    ,to   
the chief ,musician1 a ,psalm of ,david4
      ,hear my voice1 ,o ,god1 in my    
prayer3 preserve my life from fear of   
the   enemy4    ,hide me from the secret
 counsel of the wicked2 from the        
insurrection   of the workers of        
iniquity4    ,who whet their tongue like
 a sword1 and bend their bows to shoot  
their arrows1 even bitter words2        
,that they may shoot in secret at the   
perfect3 suddenly do they shoot   at    
him1 and fear not4    ,they encourage   
themselves in an evil matter2 they      
commune of laying   snares privily2 they
 say1 ,who shall see them8    ,they     
search out iniquities2 they accomplish a
 diligent search3 both   the inward     
thought of every one of them1 and the   

heart1 is deep4    ,but ,god shall shoot
 at them with an arrow2 suddenly shall  
they be   wounded4    ,so they shall    
make their own tongue to fall upon      
themselves2 all that   see them shall   
flee away4    ,and all men shall fear1  
and shall declare the work of ,god3 for 
they   shall wisely consider of his     
doing4    ,the righteous shall be glad  
in the ,,lord1 and shall trust in him2  
and   all the upright in heart shall    
glory4      ,this is a most ardent      
prayer1 full of the feelings of a heart 
under   great straits1 by reason of the 
unceasing and infinite malice of the    
devil1 the perfidy of men1 and the      
ingratitude of the world4    ,david here
 cries unto ,god1 on account of having  
experienced so much   treachery1 even   
from those of his own household1 7as    
always is the   case1 in the cause of   
religion74 ,he cries to the ,lord       
against his   betrayers and his most    
virulent slanderers1--those vipers1 who1
 by   wicked speeches1 and all the arts 

of perfidy and malice1 did not cease    
to plot against him4 ,of this base gang 
were his own son ,absalom1              
,ahithophel1 and others like them2 and  
especially many in the court of   ,saul2
 ,doeg1 c4    ,he continues1 however1   
perseveringly to comfort and console    
himself2--that1 by the just judgment of 
,god1 these same enemies shall   bring  
evil upon their own heads2 and that     
those very base and viperous   tongues1 
which now cannot rest nor cease to      
slander1 shall only wound   themselves2 
as1 in the end1 it happened unto        
,absalom1 ,ahithophel1 and   ,doeg4     
,in the same way also1 we ought to pray 
against all those vipers1 our   enemies1
 in the halls of kings1 bishops1 and    
princes3 who attack us   with satanic   
craft and hatred1 and with all the arts 
of wickedness4   ,but they shall fall   
themselves into the snares which they   
have laid1   7as we have seen it        
exemplified in numberless instances27   
and they   shall only plan mischief     

which shall fall upon their own heads2  
that   men may openly behold and see the
 works of ,god1 and acknowledge that    
,god himself has visited them4          
,,psalm ,,lxv4    ,david praiseth ,god  
for his grace4--,the blessedness of     
,god's chosen by  reason of benefits4   
,to the chief ,musician4 ,a ,psalm and  
,song of ,david4      ,praise waiteth   
for thee1 ,o ,god1 in ,zion3 and unto   
thee shall the vow   be performed4    ,o
 thou that hearest prayer1 unto thee    
shall all flesh come4    ,iniquities    
prevail against me3 as for our          
transgressions1 thou shalt   purge them 
away4    ,blessed is the man whom thou  
choosest1 and causest to approach unto  
thee1 that he may dwell in thy courts3  
we shall be satisfied with the          
goodness of thy house1 even of thy holy 
temple4    ,by terrible things in       
righteousness wilt thou answer us1 ,o   
,god of   our salvation2 who art the    
confidence of all the ends of the earth1
   and of them that are afar off upon   

the sea3    ,which by his strength      
setteth fast the mountains2 being girded
 with   power3    ,which stilleth the   
noise of the seas1 the noise of their   
waves1 and   the tumult of the people4  
,they also that dwell in the uttermost  
parts are afraid of thy tokens3   thou  
makest the outgoings of the morning and 
evening to rejoice4    ,thou visitest   
the earth1 and waterest it3 thou greatly
 enrichest it   with the river of ,god1 
which is full of water3 thou preparest  
them   corn1 when thou hast so provided 
for it4    ,thou waterest the ridges    
thereof abundantly2 thou settlest the   
furrows   thereof2 thou makest it soft  
with showers2 thou blessest the         
springing  thereof4    ,thou crownest   
the year with thy goodness2 and thy     
paths drop fatness4    ,they drop upon  
the pastures of the wilderness2 and the 
little hills   rejoice on every side4   
,the pastures are clothed with flocks2  
the valleys also are covered   over with
 corn3 they shout for joy1 they also    

sing4      ,this is a remarkable ,psalm 
of thanksgiving2 7and all productions of
   this kind were formed by the prophet 
out of the ,first ,commandment17        
wherein thanks are rendered unto ,god1  
because he preserves among his   people 
7to whom he has given his word against  
,satan1 heretics1 and all   adversaries7
 the true religion1 and the true worship
 of ,god2 and   because he preserves    
also political peace1 and guards the    
state from   all seditions1 wars and    
tumults2 and dispels all the storms of  
the   counsels of war1 slaughter and    
bloodshed4 ,for war is nothing less than
   a horrible storm and tempest1 which  
hurls into confusion all things   divine
 and human2 and throws them into a      
perturbation1 like as when   the waves  
of the sea rage with violence4    ,the  
,psalmist gives thanks to ,god that he  
preserves peace2--7in which   one thing 
are contained all the treasures of      
good27 that he gives rain   from heaven 
and fruitful seasons2 and that he crowns

 the year with his   goodness3 that is1 
that during the revolution of the year1 
he   accomplishes and performs1 as it   
were1 a certain round of divine         
blessing and goodness4 ,for1 in the     
spring1 there first appear the          
blossoms2 and then1 shortly after1 the  
strawberries and cherries2 and   then1  
ere long1 plums1 apples1 and berries of 
various juice and   virtue2 7to say     
nothing about the perpetual verdure of  
the herbs which   flourishes all the    
while1 and is continually revived with  
fresh   supplies of dew74 ,to these we  
are to add1 the infinite variety of     
herbs and odours4 ,and then1 at the time
 of harvest1 our barns are   filled with
 wheat1 rye1 barley1 and corn1 and grain
 of every kind4 ,in   the autumn1 our   
presses overflow with wine of an        
infinite variety of   taste and         
fragrance1 and our vats are filled to   
the brim4 ,thus the   ,lord fills the   
whole revolution of the year1 and every 
part of it1   with his overflowing and  

infinite goodness3 and indeed every     
single   fruit is1 as it were1 a fund1  
and a world of the goodness of ,god4    
,but how few are there1 in general1 who 
think about these numberless   and      
valuable blessings1 and render thanks   
unto ,god for them8 ,alas6 we   have    
innumerable examples of the impious     
manner in which the noble1   the        
powerful1 and the rich1 have abused the 
saving doctrine of faith   and          
,christian liberty1 and also that peace 
which ,god has hitherto   miraculously  
preserved to us3--we have numberless    
examples1 ,i say1 of   the manner in    
which they have abused these great      
blessings1 to their   own lusts1 as     
,sodom and ,gomorrah did3--but they     
shall be visited with   ,sodom and      
,gomorrah's judgment4    ,you see1      
therefore1 that those in the kingdom of 
,david1 and among the   people of       
,israel who composed these ,psalms1 were
 excellent and great   men4 ,for these  
are spiritual and truly divine poems4   

,no poems ever   equalled these4 ,no    
poets1 not even ,homer himself1 ever    
equalled these   poets1 who thus speak  
of ,god1 his works1 and his creatures4  
,these   ,psalms contain the greatest   
and most weighty things1 in a marvellous
   brevity of expression6               
,,psalm ,,lxvi4    ,david exhorteth to  
praise ,god1 to observe his great works1
 to bless   him for his gracious        
benefits4--,he voweth for himself       
religious service   to ,god4--,he       
declareth ,god's special goodness to    
himself4    ,to the chief ,musician1 a  
,song or ,psalm4      ,make a joyful    
noise unto ,god1 all ye lands3    ,sing 
forth the honour of his name2 make his  
praise glorious4    ,say unto ,god1 ,how
 terrible art thou in thy works6 through
 the   greatness of thy power shall     
thine enemies submit themselves unto    
thee4    ,all the earth shall worship   
thee1 and shall sing unto thee2 they    
shall   sing to thy name4 ,selah4       
,come and see the works of ,god he is   

terrible in his doing toward   the      
children of men4    ,he turned the sea  
into dry land3 they went through the    
flood on   foot3 there did we rejoice in
 him4    ,he ruleth by his power for    
ever2 his eyes behold the nations3 let  
not   the rebellious exalt themselves4  
,selah4    ,o bless our ,god1 ye people1
 and make the voice of his praise to be 
heard2    ,which holdeth our soul in    
life1 and suffereth not our feet to be  
moved4    ,for thou1 ,o ,god1 hast      
proved us3 thou hast tried us1 as silver
 is   tried4    ,thou broughtest us into
 the net2 thou laidst affliction upon   
our   loins4    ,thou hast caused men to
 ride over our heads3 we went through   
fire and   through water2 but thou      
broughtest us out into a wealthy place4 
,i will go into thy house with          
burnt-offerings2 ,i will pay thee my    
vows1    ,which my lips have uttered1   
and my mouth hath spoken1 when ,i was in
   trouble4    ,i will offer unto thee  
burnt-sacrifices of fatlings1 with the  

incense   of rams3 ,i will offer        
bullocks with goats4 ,selah4    ,come   
and hear1 all ye that fear ,god1 and ,i 
will declare what he hath   done for my 
soul4    ,i cried unto him with my      
mouth1 and he was extolled with my      
tongue4    ,if ,i regard iniquity in my 
heart1 the ,,lord will not hear me3     
,but verily ,god hath heard me2 he hath 
attended to the voice of my   prayer4   
,blessed be ,god1 which hath not turned 
away my prayer1 nor his mercy   from me4
      ,this is a general thanksgiving1  
for ,god's having rescued and delivered 
his people so often out of the hands of 
their enemies1 and out of the   very    
jaws of death itself2 as he did at the  
,red ,sea4 ,the ,books of   ,judges and 
,kings are full of these deliverances4  
,these deliverances are no less great   
and wonderful1 at this day1 in   the    
church1 when ,god delivers those that   
fear him out of temptations1   both     
internal and external4 ,for ,satan1 of  
whom that earthly ,pharaoh   was so     

especial a type1 being inflamed with so 
horrible a desire of   distressing and  
destroying1 daily persecutes the church3
 and he would1   if he could1 so harm   
every single one of the godly1 and so   
beset them   on every side1 that they   
should see nothing but death1 and an    
angry   ,god3 out of all these things1  
however1 ,god delivers his own4         
,,psalm ,,lxvii4    ,a prayer for the   
enlargement of ,god's kingdom1 to the   
joy of the   people1 and the increase of
 ,god's blessings4    ,to the chief     
,musician on ,neginoth1 a ,psalm or     
,song4      ,god be merciful unto us1   
and bless us2 and cause his face to     
shine   upon us4 ,selah4    ,that thy   
way may be known upon earth1 thy saving 
health among all   nations4    ,let the 
people praise thee1 ,o ,god2 let all the
 people praise thee4    ,o let the      
nations be glad1 and sing for joy2 for  
thou shalt judge the   people           
righteously1 and govern the nations upon
 earth4 ,selah4    ,let the people      

praise thee1 ,o ,god2 let all the people
 praise thee4    ,then shall the earth  
yield her increase2 and ,god1 even our  
,god1   shall bless us4    ,god shall   
bless us2 and all the ends of the earth 
shall fear him4      ,this is a prophecy
 concerning the kingdom of ,christ2     
foretelling1 that   it should be a      
spiritual kingdom1 in which grace and   
the remission of   sins should be       
proclaimed1 not only in ,judea1 but     
throughout all   nations4 8,let the     
people praise thee1 ,o ,god1 yea let all
 the people   praise thee2 for thou     
judgest the people righteously1 c40     
,that is1   thou reignest1 by the       
,gospel1 throughout all nations3 thou   
judgest   all3 7that is1 all sinners in 
the hypocrisy of nature17 that they may 
be brought to give thanks unto thee for 
thy mercy1 and may rejoice1   and praise
 the blessings of the gospel4    ,this  
sacrifice of praise1 this offering of   
thanks1 is the highest   worship of     
,god1 and is a sacrifice truly          

acceptable unto him1 7as we   have      
continually observed27 for ,david does  
not here say1 #8,the nations   shall    
become proselytes1 and shall be         
circumcised1 and shall flock to         
,jerusalem3' but 8,the nations shall    
remain uncircumcised1 and shall1        
nevertheless1 sing praises unto ,god1   
and shall laud and magnify him30   that 
is1 the gospel shall be preached among  
all nations1 and the   kingdom of       
,christ shall arise1 the kingdom of     
grace and of the mercy   of ,god4       
,,psalm ,,lxviii4    ,a prayer at the   
removing of the ark4--,an exhortation to
 praise ,god for   his mercies1 for his 
care of the church1 for his great works4
    ,to the chief ,musician1 ,a ,psalm  
or ,song of ,david4      ,let ,god      
arise1 let his enemies be scattered3 let
 them also that hate   him flee before  
him4    ,as smoke is driven away1 so    
drive them away3 as wax melteth before  
the fire1 so let the wicked perish in   
the presence of ,god4    ,but let the   

righteous be glad3 let them rejoice     
before ,god2 yea1 let   them exceedingly
 rejoice4    ,sing unto ,god1 sing      
praises to his name3 extol him that     
rideth upon   the heavens by his name   
,,jah1 and rejoice before him4    ,a    
father of the fatherless1 and a judge of
 the widows1 is ,god in his   holy      
habitation4    ,god setteth the solitary
 in families3 he bringeth out those     
which are   bound with chains2 but the  
rebellious dwell in a dry land4    ,o   
,god1 when thou wentest forth before thy
 people1 when thou didst   march through
 the wilderness2 ,selah3    ,the earth  
shook1 the heavens also dropped at the  
presence of ,god3   even ,sinai itself  
was moved at the presence of ,god1 the  
,god of   ,israel4    ,thou1 ,o ,god1   
didst send a plentiful rain1 whereby    
thou didst confirm   thine inheritance1 
when it was weary4    ,thy congregation 
hath dwelt therein3 thou1 ,o ,god1 hast 
prepared of thy   goodness for the poor4
    ,the ,,lord gave the word3 great was

 the company of those that   published  
it4    ,kings of armies did flee apace2 
and she that tarried at home divided    
the spoil4    ,though ye have lien among
 the pots1 yet shall ye be as the wings 
of   a dove covered with silver1 and her
 feathers with yellow gold4    ,when the
 ,almighty scattered kings in it1 it was
 white as snow in   ,salmon4    ,the    
hill of ,god is as the hill of ,bashan2 
an high hill1 as the   hill of ,bashan4 
,why leap ye1 ye high hills8 this is the
 hill which ,god desireth to   dwell in2
 yea1 the ,,lord will dwell in it for   
ever4    ,the chariots of ,god are      
twenty thousand1 even thousands of      
angels2   the ,lord is among them as in 
,sinai1 in the holy place4    ,thou hast
 ascended on high1 thou hast led        
captivity captive3 thou hast   received 
gifts for men2 yea1 for the rebellious  
also1 that the ,,lord   ,god might dwell
 among them4    ,blessed be the ,,lord1 
who daily loadeth us with benefits1 even
   the ,god of our salvation4 ,selah4   

,he that is our ,god is the ,god of     
salvation2 and unto ,god the ,,lord     
belong the issues from death4    ,but   
,god shall wound the head of his        
enemies1 and the hairy scalp of   such a
 one as goeth on still in his           
trespasses4    ,the ,,lord said1 ,i will
 bring again from ,bashan2 ,i will bring
 my   people again from the depths of   
the sea3    ,that thy foot may be dipped
 in the blood of thine enemies1 and the 
tongue of thy dogs in the same4    ,they
 have seen thy goings1 ,o ,,god2 even   
the goings of my ,god1 my   ,king1 in   
the sanctuary4    ,the singers went     
before1 the players on instruments      
followed after2   among them were the   
damsels playing with timbrels4    ,bless
 ye ,god in the congregations1 even the 
,,lord from the fountain   of ,israel4  
,there is little ,benjamin with their   
ruler1 the princes of ,judah   and their
 council1 the princes of ,zebulun1 and  
the princes of   ,naphtali4    ,thy ,god
 hath commanded thy strength3           

strengthen1 ,o ,god1 that which   thou  
hast wrought for us4    ,because of thy 
temple at ,jerusalem shall kings bring  
presents unto   thee4    ,rebuke the    
company of spearmen1 the multitude of   
the bulls1 with the   calves of the     
people1 till every one submit himself   
with pieces of   silver3 scatter thou   
the people that delight in war4         
,princes shall come out of ,egypt2      
,ethiopia shall soon stretch out her    
hands unto ,god4    ,sing unto ,god1 ye 
kingdoms of the earth2 ,o sing praises  
unto the ,,lord2   ,selah3    ,to him   
that rideth upon the heaven of heavens  
which were of old3 lo1   he doth send   
out his voice1 and that a mighty voice4 
,ascribe ye strength unto ,god3 his     
excellency is over ,israel1 and his     
strength is in the clouds4    ,o ,god1  
thou art terrible out of thy holy       
places3 the ,god of ,israel   is he that
 giveth strength and power unto his     
people4 ,blessed be   ,god4      ,this  
,psalm is1 in the ,latin1 most obscurely

 translated2 so much so1   that this one
 ,psalm may well put us in remembrance  
of what we are   indebted unto ,god1 for
 the great light which he has given us  
in this   our day2 in having blessed us 
with the study of languages1 and with   
good books and instructors4 ,yet1 in    
return for this universal1 great1   and 
unspeakable gift1 through the unceasing 
revilings of ,satan1 ,god   hears       
nothing but1 #8,o this ,lutheran poison6
 ,o this ,lutheran   heresy6'--,the     
world shall suffer heavy punishment for 
the contempt of   the blessing of this  
great and merciful light6    ,in the    
former ,latin translation of this ,psalm
 there were the most   monstrous        
renderings2 such as #8,rex vir tutum    
dilecti dilecti4--,speciei   domus      
dividere spolia4--,si dormiatis inter   
medios cleros4--,nives   dealbabuntur in
 ,salmon4--,mons ,dei1 mons pinguis1    
mons   coquatus4--,arundinis increpa    
feras4 ,congregatio taurorum in vaccis  
populorum1' c4    ,and how much of the  

same obscurity was there in ,hosea1 and 
the like   difficult books8 ,what1 then1
 have they profited the church1 who1 by 
a sort of madness1 and from a hatred of1
 and longing desire to1   suppress the  
light of the gospel1 have all along     
condemned not only   all pious studies1 
but all useful learning and godliness6  
,but how easy   is it to sit down and   
condemn all things1 and1 as it were1 to 
spit at   the sun that enlightens all   
things6 ,the truly learned and godly    
know1   however1 how arduous it is to   
imitate the laborious endeavours of     
those who engage in the work of         
translations4 ,but let us proceed to    
speak upon the ,psalm4--    ,this ,psalm
 is a signal prophecy concerning        
,christ2 a prophecy more   animated and 
exalted1 than usual1 in fervency of     
spirit2 and1 as it   were1 exulting in  
the ,holy ,ghost2 setting before us a   
view of the   church1 and those things  
which are to take place under the ,new  
,testament2 and all this is done with a 

representation so clear and             
expressive1 and with every thing        
depicted in that exact order1 that it   
seems to be1 not a prediction of things 
to come1 but a description of   things  
passing before our eyes4 ,the ,holy     
,ghost foretels the   resurrection and  
ascension of ,christ1 the revelation of 
the ,holy   ,spirit from heaven1 and the
 mission of the ,apostles3 he describes1
 ,i   say1 the whole of this spiritual  
kingdom3 this kingdom of grace and      
remission of sins1 in which ,christ     
should be preached as the true ,god1    
and as the ,saviour and deliverer from  
death4    ,he shows also1 that the      
kingdom and priesthood of the ,jews was 
to be   abolished1 and that a new and   
spiritual kingdom was to be erected2    
which should stand1 not in human        
strength1 nor in many thousands of      
horse and foot1 but in the ministry and 
power of the word6--that it   should be 
a kingdom1 in which the ,lord should    
give the word unto those   who should   

preach it1 in much power2 by which the  
grace of ,christ1 and   the remission of
 sins by ,christ1 should be preached1   
and not the law   of ,moses4    ,he     
calls the apostles1 8kings and heads of 
armies20 because1 by the   gospel and   
the ministry of the word1 they          
continually attack the   kingdom of the 
devil and the gates of hell4 ,for what  
are all the   sermons and exhortations  
of the apostles1 but the most terrible  
battles and conflicts against sin1      
death1 the devil1 hell1 and all the     
righteousness and wisdom of the world8  
,he also calls them 8high hills1 rich   
hills1 and the inheritance of   ,god20  
and 8chariots of the ,lord of many      
thousands20 and also1 8the   multitude  
of them that preach good tidings1 and   
sing1 and play upon   instruments20     
because1 the apostles and ministers of  
the word1 by   preaching the joyful     
gospel and the word of grace1           
continually praise1   sing of1 and      
celebrate the immense benefits of       

,christ1 and the mercy   of ,god4 ,thus1
 throughout the whole ,psalm1 the       
fervent prophet exulting   in the ,holy 
,ghost1 describes1 in a most sweet song1
 the whole kingdom   of ,christ6    ,in 
the end1 he prays that ,god would be    
pleased to render the church   more     
flourishing1 and to give his blessing   
and a happy success to this   kingdom4  
,and indeed1 the prophet felt his heart 
moved1 and was   peculiarly uplifted and
 fervent in spirit1 when he composed    
this   divine and heavenly psalm        
concerning the kingdom of ,christ4      
,,psalm ,,lxix4    ,david complaineth of
 his affliction4--,he prayeth for       
deliverance4--,he   devoteth his enemies
 to destruction4--,he praiseth ,god with
   thanksgiving4    ,to the chief       
,musician upon ,shoshannim4 ,a ,psalm of
 ,david4      ,save me1 ,o ,god2 for the
 waters are come in unto my soul4    ,i 
sink in deep mire1 where there is no    
standing3 ,i am come into deep   waters1
 where the floods overflow me4    ,i am 

weary of my crying3 my throat is dried3 
mine eyes fail while ,i   wait for my   
,god4    ,they that hate me without a   
cause are more than the hairs of mine   
head3 they that would destroy me1 being 
mine enemies wrongfully1 are   mighty3  
then ,i restored that which ,i took not 
away4    ,o ,god1 thou knowest my       
foolishness2 and my sins are not hid    
from thee4    ,let not them that wait on
 thee1 ,o ,lord ,,god of hosts1 be      
ashamed for my   sake3 let not those    
that seek thee be confounded for my     
sake1 ,o ,god of   ,israel4    ,because 
for thy sake ,i have borne reproach2    
shame hath covered my   face4    ,i am  
become a stranger unto my brethren1 and 
an alien unto my mother's   children4   
,for the zeal of thine house hath eaten 
me up2 and the reproaches of   them that
 reproached thee are fallen upon me4    
,when ,i wept1 and chastened my soul    
with fasting1 that was to my   reproach4
    ,i made sackcloth also my garment2  
and ,i became a proverb to them4        

,they that sit in the gate speak against
 me2 and ,i was the song of   the       
drunkards4    ,but as for me1 my prayer 
is unto thee1 ,o ,,lord1 in an          
acceptable   time3 ,o ,god1 in the      
multitude of thy mercy hear me3 in the  
truth of   thy salvation1    ,deliver me
 out of the mire1 and let me not sink3  
let me be delivered   from them that    
hate me1 and out of the deep waters4    
,let not the water-flood overflow me1   
neither let the deep swallow me   up1   
and let not the pit shut her mouth upon 
me4    ,hear me1 ,o ,,lord2 for thy     
loving-kindness is good3 turn unto me   
according to the multitude of thy tender
 mercies4    ,and hide not thy face from
 thy servant2 for ,i am in trouble2 hear
 me   speedily4    ,draw nigh unto my   
soul1 and redeem it3 deliver me1 because
 of mine   enemies4    ,thou hast known 
my reproach1 and my shame1 and my       
dishonour3 mine   adversaries are all   
before thee4    ,reproach hath broken my
 heart1 and ,i am full of heaviness3 and

 ,i   looked for some to take pity1 but 
there was none2 and for   comforters1   
but ,i found none4    ,they gave me also
 gall for my meat2 and in my thirst they
 gave me   vinegar to drink4    ,let    
their table become a snare before them3 
and that which should   have been for   
their welfare1 let it become a trap4    
,let their eyes be darkened1 that they  
see not2 and make their loins           
continually to shake4    ,pour out thine
 indignation upon them1 and let thy     
wrathful anger take   hold of them4     
,let their habitation be desolate2 and  
let none dwell in their tents4    ,for  
they persecute him whom thou hast       
smitten2 and they talk to the   grief of
 those whom thou hast wounded4    ,add  
iniquity unto their iniquity2 and let   
them not come into thy   righteousness4 
,let them be blotted out of the book of 
the living1 and not be written   with   
the righteous4    ,but ,i am poor and   
sorrowful3 let thy salvation1 ,o ,god1  
set me up on   high4    ,i will praise  

the name of ,god with a song1 and will  
magnify him with   thanksgiving4        
,this also shall please the ,,lord      
better than an ox or bullock that   hath
 horns and hoofs4    ,the humble shall  
see this1 and be glad3 and your heart   
shall live   that seek ,god4    ,for the
 ,,lord heareth the poor1 and despiseth 
not his prisoners4    ,let the heaven   
and earth praise him1 the seas1 and     
every thing that   moveth therein3      
,for ,god will save ,sion1 and will     
build the cities of ,judah2 that they   
may dwell there1 and have it in         
possession4    ,the seed also of his    
servants shall inherit it2 and they that
 love his   name shall dwell therein4   
,this ,psalm is a prayer full of those  
most deep and spiritual feelings   that 
were experienced in the person of       
,christ our ,lord4 ,in the   beginning  
of the ,psalm1 in the first three       
verses1 with what a   fervency and      
weight of words does the ,psalmist      
describe those great   terrors of death 

and hell which ,christ undertook and    
endured1 for our   sins4 8,save me now1 
,o ,lord10 saith he1 8for the waters    
overflow me1 ,i   sink into the depth of
 the mire3 ,i have now no where to      
stand1 nothing   whereon to set my foot1
 ,i sink into the abyss of the sea1 and 
the   floods overflow me40 ,by all which
 figures and expressions he shadows     
forth1 with all his powers1 that        
unspeakable agony of ,christ1 which he  
endured for our sins1 when groaning     
under the infinite weight of the   wrath
 of ,god4    ,in the #gth verse ,christ 
confesses himself as bearing our sins1  
and   complains of the ,jews1 who       
crucify him4 8,they gave me10 saith he1 
8gall for my meat1 and in my thirst they
 gave me vinegar to drink30 so          
expressively and circumstantially does  
the prophet foretel the   sufferings of 
,christ6 ,and then he speaks1 with the  
same clearness1   concerning the ,jews  
who should be blinded1 and their kingdom
 and   priesthood which should be       

destroyed1 as also it was fulfilled2 so 
that now we see the accomplishment of   
these things1 and experience has   set  
them plainly before our eyes4    ,in the
 end of the ,psalm the prophet shows    
that the law should be   abolished1 and 
that a new worship should be instituted 
without the law   and circumcision3 8,i 
will praise the name of the ,lord10     
saith he1   8with a song1 and will      
magnify him with thanksgiving4 ,this    
also shall   please the ,lord better    
than an ox or a bullock that hath horns 
and   hoofs40 ,by these words he shews  
that the law should be abrogated with   
the whole of that splendidly ceremonious
 worship1 the boasted pride of          
circumcision1 the sabbaths1 and the     
sacrifices2 and that the worship   of   
the ,new ,testament should be           
established in its stead2 namely1 the   
sacrifice of praise and the preaching of
 the gospel2 for it is by   faith in    
,christ1 and obedience to the gospel    
that we attain unto the   true knowledge

 of ,god1 and it is by truly keeping the
 first   commandment that ,god is truly 
worshipped2 which1 as it is written1    
7,mark xii4 #cc47 is 8more than all     
whole burnt offerings and   sacrifices40
          ,,psalm ,,lxx4    ,david      
soliciteth ,god to the speedy           
destruction of the wicked1 and          
preservation of the godly4    ,to the   
chief ,musician1 ,a ,psalm of ,david1 to
 bring to remembrance4      ,make haste1
 ,o ,god1 to deliver me2 make haste to  
help me1 ,o ,,lord4    ,let them be     
ashamed and confounded that seek after  
my soul3 let them   be turned backward1 
and put to confusion1 that desire my    
hurt4    ,let them be turned back for a 
reward of their shame that say1 ,aha1   
aha4    ,let all those that seek thee   
rejoice and be glad in thee3 and let    
such   as love thy salvation say        
continually1 ,let ,god be magnified4    
,but ,i am poor and needy3 make haste   
unto me1 ,o ,god3 thou art my   help and
 my deliverer2 ,o ,,lord1 make no       

tarrying4      ,this ,psalm is a prayer 
against the persecutors and enemies of  
the   church and of the godly3 for such 
instruments of the devil cease not   to 
plot against the good1 and those that   
fear ,god1 with all possible            
machinations of craft1 and with all the 
bitterness of ,cain2 and1 like   ,satan 
himself1 they burn with an insatiable   
desire and determination   to destroy   
the church2 nay1 more than this1 they   
insult the miseries   and calamities of 
the saints4          ,,psalm ,,lxxi4    
,david1 in confidence of faith1 and     
experience of ,god's favour1   prayeth  
both for himself1 and against the       
enemies of his soul4--,he   promiseth   
constancy4--,he prayeth for             
perseverance4--,he praiseth ,god1 and   
promiseth to do it cheerfully4      ,in 
thee1 ,o ,,lord1 do ,i put my trust3 let
 me never be put to confusion4          
,deliver me in thy righteousness1 and   
cause me to escape3 incline thine   ear 
unto me1 and save me4    ,be thou my    

strong habitation1 whereunto ,i may     
continually resort3 thou   hast given   
commandment to save me2 for thou art my 
rock and my  fortress4    ,deliver me1  
,o my ,god1 out of the hand of the      
wicked1 out of the hand   of the        
unrighteous and cruel man4    ,for thou 
art my hope1 ,o ,lord ,,god3 thou art my
 trust from my youth4    ,by thee have  
,i been holden up from the womb3 thou   
art he that took me   out of my mother's
 bowels3 my praise shall be continually 
of thee4    ,i am as a wonder unto many3
 but thou art my strong refuge4    ,let 
my mouth be filled with thy praise and  
with thy honour all the   day4    ,cast 
me not off in the time of old age2      
forsake me not when my   strength       
faileth4    ,for mine enemies speak     
against me2 and they that lay wait for  
my soul   take counsel together1        
,saying1 ,god hath forsaken him3        
persecute and take him2 for there is    
none to deliver him4    ,o ,god1 be not 
far from me2 ,o my ,god1 make haste for 

my help4    ,let them be confounded and 
consumed that are adversaries to my     
soul2   let them be covered with        
reproach and dishonour that seek my     
hurt4    ,but ,i will hope continually1 
and yet will praise thee more and more4 
,my mouth shall shew forth thy          
righteousness and thy salvation all     
the day2 for ,i know not the numbers    
thereof4    ,i will go in the strength  
of the ,lord ,,god2 ,i will make mention
 of thy   righteousness1 even of thine  
only4    ,o ,god1 thou hast taught me   
from my youth3 and hitherto have ,i     
declared   thy wondrous works4    ,now  
also when ,i am old and greyheaded1 ,o  
,god1 forsake me not2 until ,i   have   
shewed thy strength unto this           
generation1 and thy power to   every one
 that is to come4    ,thy righteousness 
also1 ,o ,god1 is very high1 who hast   
done great   things3 ,o ,god1 who is    
like unto thee6    ,thou1 which hast    
shewed me great and sore troubles1 shalt
 quicken me   again1 and shalt bring me 

up again from the depths of the earth4  
,thou shalt increase my greatness1 and  
comfort me on every side4    ,i will    
also praise thee with the psaltery1 even
 thy truth1 ,o my ,god3   unto thee will
 ,i sing with the harp1 ,o thou ,holy   
,one of ,israel4    ,my lips shall      
greatly rejoice when ,i sing unto thee2 
and my soul1   which thou hast redeemed4
    ,my tongue also shall talk of thy   
righteousness all the day long3 for     
they are confounded1 for they are       
brought unto shame1 that seek my   hurt4
      ,this ,psalm is a general prayer2 
which1 ,i think1 may be very properly   
used in the person of the whole church  
against all her enemies and             
persecutors who are now or ever shall   
be1 unto the end4 8,forsake me   not10  
saith he1 8in the time of mine old age10
 c4 and although this   may more        
especially apply to the prophet himself1
 as praying for   divine protection     
under his infinite temptations2 yet the 
words may be   appropriately applied to 

the last times1 and to the close of the 
church militant before the last day4    
,for the church has her old age   also3 
and ,christ himself and his apostles    
have foretold1 8,that in the   latter   
days perilous times shall come30 as     
,daniel also prophesied1   that the     
truth should be persecuted and iniquity 
should abound3 and   this we have       
experienced under ,mahomet1 and the     
,pope1 to our infinite   peril and      
sorrow4    ,hence1 in verses #ae-ag1 the
 prophet foretells the justice and      
righteousness of ,god4 8,my mouth 7saith
 he7 shall show forth thy               
righteousness4 ,o ,god thou hast taught 
me from my youth1 and hitherto   have ,i
 declared thy wondrous works4 ,now also1
 when ,i am old and   grey-headed1 c40  
,this prophecy may be of singular use to
 us1 and   apply to us very             
appropriately3 because ,god has1 as it  
were1 brought   us back out of hell1 and
 from the depths of the earth1 and has  
made   the light of his word to shine   

again1 by which our consciences have a  
firm and eternal consolation4 ,these our
 times are like the times of   ,elias   
and ,enoch3 for they commonly say of us1
 #8,these men will subvert   antichrist1
 and restore all things6'               
,,psalm ,,lxxii4    ,david1 praying for 
,solomon1 sheweth the goodness and glory
 of his1 in   type1 and in truth1 of    
,christ's kingdom4--,he blesseth ,god4  
,a ,psalm for ,solomon4      ,give the  
king thy judgments1 ,o ,god1 and thy    
righteousness unto the   king's son4    
,he shall judge thy people with         
righteousness1 and thy poor with        
judgment4    ,the mountains shall bring 
peace to the people1 and the little     
hills1   by righteousness4    ,he shall 
judge the poor of the people1 he shall  
save the children of   the needy1 and   
shall break in pieces the oppressor4    
,they shall fear thee as long as the sun
 and moon endure1 throughout   all      
generations4    ,he shall come down like
 rain upon the mown grass3 as showers   

that   water the earth4    ,in his days 
shall the righteous flourish3 and       
abundance of peace so   long as the moon
 endureth4    ,he shall have dominion   
also from sea to sea1 and from the river
 unto   the ends of the earth4    ,they 
that dwell in the wilderness shall bow  
before him2 and his   enemies shall lick
 the dust4    ,the kings of ,tarshish   
and of the isles shall bring presents3  
the kings   of ,sheba and ,seba shall   
offer gifts4    ,yea1 all kings shall   
fall down before him3 all nations shall 
serve   him4    ,for he shall deliver   
the needy when he crieth2 the poor also1
 and   him that hath no helper4    ,he  
shall spare the poor and needy1 and     
shall save the souls of the   needy4    
,he shall redeem their soul from deceit 
and violence3 and precious   shall their
 blood be in his sight4    ,and he shall
 live1 and to him shall be given of the 
gold of ,sheba3   prayer also shall be  
made for him continually3 and daily     
shall he be   praised4    ,there shall  

be an handful of corn in the earth upon 
the top of the   mountains2 the fruit   
thereof shall shake like ,lebanon3 and  
they of   the city shall flourish like  
grass of the earth4    ,his name shall  
endure for ever3 his name shall be      
continued as long as   the sun3 and men 
shall be blessed in him3 all nations    
shall call him   blessed4    ,blessed be
 the ,,lord ,god1 the ,god of ,israel1  
who only doeth wondrous   things4       
,and blessed be his glorious name for   
ever3 and let the whole earth   be      
filled with his glory2 ,amen1 and ,amen4
    ,the prayers of ,david the son of   
,jesse are ended4      ,this is a most  
remarkable prophecy concerning ,christ  
and his kingdom1   to be spread         
throughout the whole world1 over all    
kingdoms1 and the   isles of the sea3   
which should not be a kingdom of death1 
sin1 and   judgment1 but a kingdom of   
grace1 righteousness1 peace1 and        
joy4--,but   the life1 the victory1 the 
peace1 and the glory of the church shall

 be   hidden2 they shall be hidden in   
,god2 and the saints in this world      
shall endure the most bitter hatred of  
the world1 and its   persecutions2 they 
shall shed their blood for ,christ2     
nevertheless1   that blood shall be     
precious in the sight of the ,lord1 and 
he shall   require it4    ,this ,psalm  
also1 verse #ae1 declares that the old  
worship of the law of   ,moses should be
 abrogated1 and a new worship set up1   
which should   consist in prayer and the
 giving of thanks4 8,prayer shall be    
made unto   him 7saith he7 continually1 
and daily shall he be praised40 ,for the
   sacrifice of praise and the preaching
 of the gospel1 is the daily            
sacrifice1 and the highest worship of   
the ,new ,testament4 ,here you hear     
nothing of circumcision1 or the law of  
,moses1 as that which the   nations     
should receive4 ,it saith that the kings
 of nations and nations   themselves    
shall endure and shall praise this king4
 ,therefore1 this   king1 ,christ1 is   

truly and properly ,god4 ,for prayer is 
the worship of   the first and greatest 
commandment1 and is due to ,god alone2  
for he   alone can deliver from death   
and every affliction4          ,,psalm  
,,lxxiii4    ,the prophet1 prevailing in
 a temptation1 sheweth the occasion     
thereof1 the prosperity of the          
wicked4--,the wound given thereby1      
diffidence4--,the victory over it1      
knowledge of ,god's purpose1 in         
destroying of the wicked1 and sustaining
 the righteous4    ,a ,psalm of ,asaph4 
,truly ,god is good to ,israel1 even to 
such as are of a clean heart4    ,but as
 for me1 my feet were almost gone2 my   
steps had well nigh   slipped4    ,for  
,i was envious at the foolish1 when ,i  
saw the prosperity of the   wicked4     
,for there are no bands in their death2 
but their strength is firm4    ,they are
 not in trouble as other men2 neither   
are they plagued   like other men4      
,therefore pride compasseth them about  
as a chain2 violence covereth   them as 

a garment4    ,their eyes stand out with
 fatness3 they have more than heart     
could   wish4    ,they are corrupt1 and 
speak wickedly concerning oppression3   
they   speak loftily4    ,they set their
 mouth against the heavens2 and their   
tongue walketh   through the earth4     
,therefore his people return hither2 and
 waters of a full cup are   wrung out to
 them3    ,and they say1 ,how doth ,god 
know8 and is there knowledge in the     
,most   ,high8    ,behold1 these are the
 ungodly who prosper in the world2 they 
increase in riches4    ,verily ,i have  
cleansed my heart in vain1 and washed my
 hands in   innocency4    ,for all the  
day long have ,i been plagued1 and      
chastened every morning4    ,if ,i say1 
,i will speak thus2 behold1 ,i should   
offend against the   generation of thy  
children4    ,when ,i thought to know   
this1 it was too painful for me1        
,until ,i went into the sanctuary of    
,god2 then understood ,i their end4     
,surely thou didst set them in slippery 

places3 thou castedst them down   into  
destruction4    ,how are they brought   
into desolation1 as in a moment8 they   
are   utterly consumed with terrors4    
,as a dream when one awaketh2 so1 ,o    
,,lord1 when thou awakest1 thou   shalt 
despise their image4    ,thus my heart  
was grieved1 and ,i was pricked in my   
reins4    ,so foolish was ,i and        
ignorant2 ,i was as a beast before thee4
    ,nevertheless1 ,i am continually    
with thee2 thou hast holden me by   my  
right hand4    ,thou shalt guide me with
 thy counsel1 and afterward receive me  
to   glory4    ,whom have ,i heaven but 
thee8 and there is none upon earth that 
,i   desire beside thee4    ,my flesh   
and my heart faileth3 but ,god is the   
strength of my heart1   and my portion  
for ever4    ,for1 lo1 they that are far
 from thee shall perish2 thou hast      
destroyed   all them that go a whoring  
from thee4    ,but it is good for me to 
draw near to ,god3 ,i have put my trust 
in   the ,lord ,,god1 that ,i may       

declare all thy works4      ,this is a  
,psalm that instructs us against that   
great offence and   stumbling-block     
concerning which all the prophets have  
complained2   namely1 that the wicked   
flourish in the world1 enjoy prosperity1
 and   increase in abundance1 while the 
godly suffer cold and hunger1 and are   
afflicted1 and spit upon1 and despised1 
and condemned2 and that ,god   seems to 
be against and to neglect the latter1   
and to regard1 support   and give       
success to the former4 ,and this outside
 appearance of the   false church has1  
moreover1 a great influence with1 and   
excites the   admiration of1 the world  
around4 ,whatever these hypocrites do or
 say1   they boast with great           
confidence1 is pious1 holy and divine3  
on the   other hand1 they consider the  
lives of the godly to be ungodly1 and   
their doctrine erroneous4 ,this offence 
has existed1 and has exercised   and    
vexed the godly from the very beginning 
of the church4    8,so foolish was ,i10 

saith ,asaph1 7v4 #bb47 that is1 ,i was 
accounted   ungodly1 a heretic1 and a   
despiser of ,god4 ,but these            
temptations1   saith he1 remain until ,i
 cast away all my own cogitations about 
this   offence1 and go into the         
sanctuary3 that is1 until ,i hear or    
read the   word1 and find what ,god     
saith concerning the ungodly2 and until 
,i look   into the histories and behold 
the judgments of ,god1 which have been  
since the foundation of the world4      
,there ,i find what ,god threatens in   
his ,first ,commandment3 and how he has 
fulfilled this judgment and   executed  
it1 even from ,cain2 by which all the   
ungodly are overthrown   and overwhelmed
 on a sudden3 for they build upon       
slippery places and   upon the sand1 but
 the godly build upon a rock4           
,,psalm ,,lxxiv4    ,the prophet        
complaineth of the desolation of the    
sanctuary4--,he moveth   ,god to help in
 consideration of his power1 of his     
reproachful enemies1   of his children1 

and of his covenant4    ,maschil of     
,asaph4      ,o ,god1 why hast thou cast
 us off for ever8 why doth thine anger  
smoke against the sheep of thy pasture8 
,remember thy congregation1 which thou  
hast purchased of old2 the rod   of     
thine inheritance1 which thou hast      
redeemed2 this mount ,zion1   wherein   
thou hast dwelt4    ,lift up thy feet   
unto the perpetual desolations2 even all
 that the   enemy hath done wickedly in 
the sanctuary4    ,thine enemies roar in
 the midst of thy congregations2 they   
set up   their ensigns for signs4    ,a 
man was famous according as he had      
lifted up axes upon the thick   trees4  
,but now they break down the carved work
 thereof at once with axes and          
hammers4    ,they have cast fire into   
thy sanctuary1 they have defiled by     
casting   down the dwelling place of thy
 name to the ground4    ,they said in   
their hearts1 ,let us destroy them      
together3 they have   burned up all the 
synagogues of ,god in the land4    ,we  

see not our signs3 there is no more any 
prophet3 neither is   there among us any
 that knoweth how long4    ,o ,god1 how 
long shall the adversary reproach8 shall
 the enemy   blaspheme thy name for     
ever8    ,why withdrawest thou thy hand1
 even thy right hand8 pluck it out of   
thy bosom4    ,for ,god is my ,king of  
old1 working salvation in the midst of  
the   earth4    ,thou didst divide the  
sea by thy strength3 thou brakest the   
heads of   the dragons in the waters4   
,thou brakest the heads of leviathan in 
pieces1 and gavest him to   be meat to  
the people inhabiting the wilderness4   
,thou didst cleave the fountain and the 
flood3 thou driedst up mighty   rivers4 
,the day is thine1 the night also is    
thine2 thou hast prepared the   light   
and the sun4    ,thou hast set all the  
borders of the earth3 thou hast made    
summer and   winter4    ,remember this1 
that the enemy hath reproached1 ,o      
,,lord1 and that   the foolish people   
have blasphemed thy name4    ,o deliver 

not the soul of thy turtledove unto the 
multitude of the   wicked3 forget not   
the congregation of thy poor for ever4  
,have respect unto the covenant3 for the
 dark places of the earth are   full of 
the habitations of cruelty4    ,o let   
not the oppressed return ashamed3 let   
the poor and needy praise   thy name4   
,arise1 ,o ,god1 plead thine own cause3 
remember how the foolish man            
reproacheth thee daily4    ,forget not  
the voice of thine enemies3 the tumult  
of those that rise   up against thee    
increaseth continually4      ,this is a 
prayer against the enemies who were then
 laying waste   ,jerusalem1 the         
sanctuary1 all the holy places of       
assembly and of the   worship of ,god in
 the land1 and even the national cities 
themselves2   uttering at the same time 
blasphemies against ,god1 as if he were 
not   able to succour and defend his    
people4    ,it seems also to be a       
prophecy of the future1 and a prayer    
against   that future devastation which 

was wrought by those cruel enemies1 the 
,chaldeans1 and by ,antiochus           
,epiphanes2 for it was on these two     
occasions only that the temple and the  
city of ,jerusalem were   destroyed1    
with such cruelty as is here depicted4  
,we also use this ,psalm against the    
,turk and ,mahomet2 and also against    
our ,antiochus1 the pope2 who destroys  
daily the true church and the           
preaching of the word of ,god1 daily    
despoils and scatters all sacred   and  
divine things1 and every where stirs up 
and diffuses abroad the   poison of the 
devil and every abomination4            
,,psalm ,,lxxv4    ,the prophet praiseth
 ,god4--,he promiseth to judge          
uprightly4--,he   rebuketh the proud by 
consideration of ,god's providence4--,he
 praiseth   ,god1 and promiseth to      
execute justice4    ,to the chief       
,musician1 ,al-taschith1 a ,psalm or    
,song of ,asaph4      ,unto thee1 ,o    
,god1 do we give thanks1 unto thee do we
 give thanks2   for that thy name is    

near thy wondrous works declare4        
,when ,i shall receive the congregation 
,i will judge uprightly4    ,the earth  
and all the inhabitants thereof are     
dissolved3 ,i bear up the   pillars of  
it4 ,selah4    ,i said unto the fools1  
,deal not foolishly3 and to the wicked1 
,lift not   up the horn3    ,lift not up
 your horn on high3 speak not with a    
stiff neck4    ,for promotion cometh    
neither from the east1 nor from the     
west1 nor   from the south4    ,but ,god
 is the judge3 he putteth down one1 and 
setteth up another4    ,for in the hand 
of the ,,lord there is a cup1 and the   
wine is red3 it   is full of mixture2   
and he poureth out of the same3 but the 
dregs   thereof1 all the wicked of the  
earth shall wring them out1 and   drink 
them4    ,but ,i will declare for ever2 
,i will sing praises to the ,god of     
,jacob4    ,all the horns of the wicked 
also will ,i cut off2 but the horns of  
the righteous shall be exalted4         
,this is a ,psalm of consolation against

 all turbulent and hardened             
hypocrites1 who boast of their church   
and their name1 and despise   alike all 
threatenings1 and all exhortations2 ever
 speaking like those   arrogant         
hypocrites in ,psalm xii3 8,who shall   
teach us80 8,who is ,lord   over us80   
,as if they should say1 the power is    
ours1 and the authority   is ours1 and  
he that does not listen to1 and obey us1
 let him be   accursed4    ,in like     
manner also now1 our bishops are secure2
 and1 from the   #8,council of ,worms'  
to this day1 are deaf to all entreaties1
 and   insensible to all tears4 ,and    
equally deaf also are most kings and    
princes and fanatical spirits2 who are  
so confident in themselves and   in     
their own imaginations1 that they seem  
to think that ,god himself   could not  
overthrow them or cast them down4       
,this ,psalm admonishes us1 the people  
of ,god1 to know and acknowledge1   that
 there is a ,god who will surely judge  
all iniquity1 if we do but   wait his   

time4 ,for he is the ,lord who maketh   
the mountains to tremble1   and who     
appeared on ,mount ,sinai with such     
terrible majesty4 ,he1   according to   
the word of his ,first ,commandment1    
visits the wicked in   his own appointed
 time1 and yet preserves the pillars of 
the earth2   that is1 the godly and the 
righteous2 who bear up and sustain this 
world upon their shoulders as it were3  
in the same way as the ,apostle   ,paul 
calls the church the 8pillar and ground 
of the truth40 ,thus1 ,god   preserved  
the righteous and innocent ,lot when he 
overthrew ,sodom3 and   thus he         
preserved also the believing ,jews and  
the ,apostles when he   destroyed       
,jerusalem1 and overthrew the whole     
nation and kingdom3 for   he knows1 when
 he destroys any nation1 how to preserve
 his own4          ,,psalm ,,lxxvi4     
,a declaration of ,god's majesty in the 
church4--,an exhortation to serve   him 
reverently4    ,to the chief ,musician  
on ,neginoth4 ,a ,psalm or ,song of     

,asaph4      ,in ,judah is ,god known2  
his name is great in ,israel4    ,in    
,salem also is his tabernacle1 and his  
dwelling place in ,zion4    ,there brake
 he the arrows of the bow1 the shield1  
and the sword1 and   the battle4 ,selah4
    ,thou art more glorious and         
excellent than the mountains of prey4   
,the stouthearted are spoiled1 they have
 slept their sleep3 and none of   the   
men of might have found their hands4    
,at thy rebuke1 ,o ,god of ,jacob1 both 
the chariot and horse are cast   into a 
dead sleep4    ,thou1 even thou1 art to 
be feared3 and who may stand in thy     
sight   when once thou art angry8       
,thou didst cause judgment to be heard  
from heaven2 the earth feared1   and was
 still1    ,when ,god arose to judgment1
 to save all the meek of the earth4     
,selah4    ,surely the wrath of man     
shall praise thee3 the remainder of     
wrath   shalt thou restrain4    ,vow1   
and pay unto the ,,lord your ,god3 let  
all that be round about him   bring     

presents unto him that ought to be      
feared4    ,he shall cut off the spirit 
of princes3 he is terrible to the kings 
of the earth4      ,this is a ,psalm of 
thanksgiving1 and of the same           
subject-matter as   ,psalm xlvi4 ,it    
gives thanks unto ,god for preserving   
his word and   worship in ,jerusalem2   
and shows that it is he who1 by         
marvellous deeds   and wonders1 protects
 and defends his people against all     
kings and   tyrants2 such as            
,sennacherib4 ,for the ,lord1 the       
,divine ,majesty1 is a   wonderful 8,man
 of war02 who has the hearts and spirits
 of kings in his   hand1 and who can    
fill the enemies with fear1 and break   
their minds   and spirits1 whenever he  
pleases1 with a single nod of his will4 
,in this manner does ,god fight for his 
church against tyrants and   erroneous  
enemies4 ,in the very midst of the      
course of their fury and   their hostile
 roaring1 he brings down and breaks     
their spirits with   fear3 and it is a  

terrible thing to kick and fight against
 him1 who   can1 in a moment1 take away 
that which is the chief thing in        
battle--the spirit of a man6 ,satan     
himself1 who makes war against the      
righteous with such unceasing rage1 with
 such horrible desire to   destroy1 and 
with such confidence in his might1 is   
cast down in his   spirit1 in a moment1 
by a repulse of the shield of faith1 and
 falls   back and is undone3 how much   
more then shall a mortal man6    ,this  
verse1 therefore1 wherein the ,psalmist 
says1 8,he shall cut off   the spirit of
 princes10 ought greatly to comfort us2 
for thereby we   may know1 that we      
cannot be conquered or oppressed1 but as
 ,god wills2   seeing we have that      
,warrior for our ,captain1 who holds in 
his hand the   hearts and spirits of our
 enemies2 and who1 without any arms or  
weapons of men1 can lay our adversaries 
prostrate in a moment1 by   striking    
their spirits with fear6                
,,psalm ,,lxxvii4    ,the psalmist      

sheweth what fierce combat he had with  
diffidence4--,the   victory which he had
 by consideration of ,god's great and   
gracious   works4    ,to the chief      
,musician to ,jeduthun4 ,a ,psalm of    
,asaph4      ,i cried unto ,god with my 
voice1 even unto ,god with my voice2 and
 he   gave ear unto me4    ,in the day  
of my trouble ,i sought the ,,lord3 my  
sore ran in the night1   and ceased not3
 my soul refused to be comforted4    ,i 
remembered ,god1 and was troubled3 ,i   
complained1 and my spirit was           
overwhelmed4 ,selah4    ,thou holdest   
mine eyes waking3 ,i am so troubled that
 ,i cannot speak4    ,i have considered 
the days of old1 the years of ancient   
times4    ,i call to remembrance my song
 in the night3 ,i commune with mine own 
heart3 and my spirit made diligent      
search4    ,will the ,,lord cast off for
 ever8 and will he be favourable no     
more8    ,is his mercy clean gone for   
ever8 doth his promise fail for         
evermore8    ,hath ,god forgotten to be 

gracious8 hath he in anger shut up his  
tender   mercies8 ,selah4    ,and ,i    
said1 ,this is my infirmity3 but ,i will
 remember the years of   the right hand 
of the ,most ,high4    ,i will remember 
the works of the ,,lord3 surely ,i will 
remember thy   wonders of old4    ,i    
will meditate also of all thy work1 and 
talk of thy doings4    ,thy way1 ,o     
,god1 is in the sanctuary3 who is so    
great a ,god as   our ,god6    ,thou art
 the ,god that doest wonders3 thou hast 
declared thy strength   among the       
people4    ,thou hast with thine arm    
redeemed thy people1 the sons of ,jacob 
and   ,joseph4 ,selah4    ,the waters   
saw thee1 ,o ,god1 the waters saw thee3 
they were afraid3 the   depths also were
 troubled4    ,the clouds poured out    
water3 the skies sent out a sound3 thine
 arrows   also went abroad4    ,the     
voice of thy thunder was in the heaven3 
the lightnings lightened   the world3   
the earth trembled and shook4    ,thy   
way is in the sea1 and thy path in the  

great waters1 and thy   footsteps are   
not known4    ,thou leddest thy people  
like a flock1 by the hand of ,moses and 
,aaron4      ,this ,psalm contains a    
blessed doctrine3 the ,psalmist puts    
forth   himself as an example3 and the  
whole is for the consolation of the     
godly3 for the ,psalmist describes the  
unspeakable anguish and sorrow   of a   
heart alarmed at the wrath of ,god and  
sin3 and he says1 verse #d1   that he   
was so overwhelmed with these terrors   
and sorrows1 that he   could neither    
sleep nor speak4 ,and in verses #g-aj1  
he1 as it were1   repeats all these his 
feelings of sorrow and dread1 saying1   
8,will ,god   forget to be merciful8    
,doth his promise fail for evermore08   
,but here1 as the ,psalm saith1 lies the
 greatest and best of all               
consolations1--you will at once find    
comfort and deliverance if1   casting   
away from your mind 7if you can by any  
means do it17 all these   apprehensions 
of evils and sorrows1 7by which indeed  

you are   distressed in vain17 you turn 
to the word and works of ,god1 and to   
the   histories of ,god's doings and    
dealings from the beginning of the      
world3 for you will there find that the 
works and doings of ,god from   the     
beginning have been these1--to be       
merciful to and to save and help   the  
sorrowful1 the distressed1 the          
destitute1 and the afflicted2 and   to  
visit1 in vengeance1 the secure1 the    
proud1 the despisers1 and the   wicked1 
in the same way as he delivered the     
,israelites1 and destroyed   the        
,egyptians4 ,hence it is that ,david    
says1 8,thy way1 ,o ,god1 is in the     
deep10 and 8in the sea30 for ,god saves 
in the midst of death and of            
destruction1 when despair is on every   
side4    ,learn this1 my ,christian     
brother6 ,this ,psalm thus sets forth to
 us ,god   and the ways of ,god3 that   
is1 how he works1 and what he does1 in  
his   church and in the saints3 and all 
this is thus written1 that we should    

not despair in perils and afflictions1  
when we are beyond the reach of   all   
human help3 but that rather1 casting    
away all our own   apprehensions and    
distressing thoughts1 we should1 at1 and
 from that   time1 begin to trust in    
,god1 and to trust in him more and more1
   waiting for his help4                
,,psalm ,,lxxviii4    ,an exhortation   
both to learn and to preach the law of  
,god4--,the story   of ,god's wrath     
against the incredulous and             
disobedient4--,the ,israelites   being  
rejected1 ,god chose ,judah1 ,zion1 and 
,david4    ,maschil of ,asaph4          
,give ear1 ,o my people1 to my law3     
incline your ears to the words of   my  
mouth4    ,i will open my mouth in a    
parable2 ,i will utter dark sayings of  
old2    ,which we have heard and known1 
and our fathers have told us4    ,we    
will not hide them from their children1 
shewing to the generation   to come the 
praises of the ,,lord1 and his strength1
 and his wonderful   works that he hath 

done4    ,for he established a testimony
 in ,jacob1 and appointed a law in      
,israel1 which he commanded our fathers1
 that they should make them   known to  
their children2    ,that the generation 
to come might know them1 even the       
children   which should be born1 who    
should arise and declare them to their  
children3    ,that they might set their 
hope in ,god1 and not forget the works  
of   ,god2 but keep his commandments3   
,and might not be as their fathers1 a   
stubborn and rebellious   generation2 a 
generation that set not their heart     
aright1 and whose   spirit was not      
stedfast with ,god4    ,the children of 
,ephraim1 being armed1 and carrying     
bows1 turned   back in the day of       
battle4    ,they kept not the covenant  
of ,god1 and refused to walk in his law2
    ,and forgat his works1 and his      
wonders that he had shewed them4        
,marvellous things did he in the sight  
of their fathers1 in the land of        
,egypt1 in the field of ,zoan4    ,he   

divided the sea1 and caused them to pass
 through2 and he made the   waters to   
stand as an heap4    ,in the day-time   
also he led them with a cloud1 and all  
the night with   a light of fire4    ,he
 clave the rocks in the wilderness1 and 
gave them drink as out   of the great   
depths4    ,he brought streams also out 
of the rock1 and caused waters to run   
down   like rivers4    ,and they sinned 
yet more against him1 by provoking the  
,most ,high in   the wilderness4    ,and
 they tempted ,god in their heart1 by   
asking meat for their lust4    ,yea1    
they spake against ,god3 they said1 ,can
 ,god furnish a table in the            
wilderness8    ,behold1 he smote the    
rock1 that the waters gushed out1 and   
the streams   overflowed2 can he give   
bread also8 can he provide flesh for his
   people8    ,therefore the ,,lord     
heard this1 and was wroth3 so a fire was
 kindled   against ,jacob1 and anger    
also came up against ,israel4           
,because they believed not in ,god1 and 

trusted not in his salvation2    ,though
 he had commanded the clouds from above1
 and opened the doors of   heaven1      
,and had rained down manna upon them to 
eat1 and had given them of the   corn of
 heaven4    ,man did eat angels' food3  
he sent them meat to the full4    ,he   
caused an east wind to blow in the      
heaven2 and by his power he   brought in
 the south wind4    ,he rained flesh    
also upon them as dust1 and feathered   
fowls like as   the sand of the sea2    
,and he let it fall in the midst of     
their camp1 round about their           
habitations4    ,so they did eat and    
were well filled3 for he gave them their
 own   desire2    ,they were not        
estranged from their lust3 but while    
their meat was   yet in their mouths1   
,the wrath of ,god came upon them1 and  
slew the fattest of them1 and   smote   
down the chosen men of ,israel4    ,for 
all this they sinned still1 and believed
 not for his wondrous   works4          
,therefore their days did he consume in 

vanity1 and their years in   trouble4   
,when he slew them1 then they sought    
him2 and they returned and   inquired   
early after ,god3    ,and they          
remembered that ,god was their ,rock1   
and the high ,god their   ,redeemer4    
,nevertheless they did flatter him with 
their mouth1 and they lied unto   him   
with their tongues3    ,for their heart 
was not right with him1 neither were    
they stedfast in   his covenant4    ,but
 he1 being full of compassion1 forgave  
their iniquity1 and   destroyed them    
not3 yea1 many a time turned he his     
anger away1 and   did not stir up all   
his wrath3    ,for he remembered that   
they were but flesh2 a wind that passeth
   away1 and cometh not again4    ,how  
oft did they provoke him in the         
wilderness1 and grieve him in   the     
desert6    ,yea1 they turned back1 and  
tempted ,god1 and limited the ,holy ,one
 of   ,israel4    ,they remembered not  
his hand1 nor the day when he delivered 
them   from the enemy3    ,how he had   

wrought his signs in ,egypt1 and his    
wonders in the field of   ,zoan3    ,and
 had turned their rivers into blood2 and
 their floods1 that they   could not    
drink4    ,he sent divers sorts of flies
 among them1 which devoured them2 and   
frogs1 which destroyed them4    ,he gave
 also their increase unto the           
caterpillar1 and their labour   unto the
 locust4    ,he destroyed their vines   
with hail1 and their sycamore-trees with
   frost4    ,he gave up their cattle   
also to the hail1 and their flocks to   
hot   thunderbolts4    ,he cast upon    
them the fierceness of his anger1 wrath1
 and indignation1   and trouble1 by     
sending evil angels among them4    ,he  
made a way to his anger2 he spared not  
their soul from death1 but   gave their 
life over to the pestilence2    ,and    
smote all the first-born in ,egypt2 the 
chief of their strength   in the        
tabernacles of ,ham3    ,but made his   
own people to go forth like sheep1 and  
guided them in the   wilderness like a  

flock4    ,and he led them on safely1 so
 that they feared not3 but the sea      
overwhelmed their enemies4    ,and he   
brought them to the border of his       
sanctuary1 even to this   mountain1     
which his right hand had purchased4     
,he cast out the heathen also before    
them1 and divided them an   inheritance 
by line1 and made the tribes of ,israel 
to dwell in their   tents4    ,yet they 
tempted and provoked the most high ,god1
 and kept not his   testimonies3    ,but
 turned back1 and dealt unfaithfully    
like their fathers3 they were   turned  
aside like a deceitful bow4    ,for they
 provoked him to anger with their high  
places1 and moved him   to jealousy with
 their graven images4    ,when ,god     
heard this1 he was wroth1 and greatly   
abhorred ,israel3    ,so that he forsook
 the tabernacle of ,shiloh1 the tent    
which he   placed among men2    ,and    
delivered his strength into captivity1  
and his glory into the   enemy's hand4  
,he gave his people over also unto the  

sword2 and was wroth with his           
inheritance4    ,the fire consumed their
 young men2 and their maidens were not  
given to   marriage4    ,their priests  
fell by the sword2 and their widows made
 no lamentation4    ,then the ,,lord    
awaked as one out of sleep1 and like a  
mighty man that   shouteth by reason of 
wine4    ,and he smote his enemies in   
the hinder part3 he put them to a       
perpetual reproach4    ,moreover he     
refused the tabernacle of ,joseph1 and  
chose not the tribe   of ,ephraim3      
,but chose the tribe of ,judah1 the     
mount ,zion which he loved4    ,and he  
built his sanctuary like high palaces1  
like  the earth which he hath           
established for ever4    ,he chose      
,david also his servant1 and took him   
from the sheepfolds3    ,from following 
the ewes great with young he brought    
him1 to feed ,jacob   his people1 and   
,israel his inheritance4    ,so he fed  
them according to the integrity of his  
heart2 and guided   them by the         

skilfulness of his hands4      ,this    
,psalm1 by a glorious instruction1 in a 
long recital of the acts   of the       
children of ,israel as examples1 from   
the departure out of ,egypt   down to   
,david1 teaches us to believe and trust 
in ,god3 showing us1 how   8very        
present0 ,god always was to those who   
believed in him1 in all   their perils1 
and even in the midst of death4 ,and1 on
 the other hand1   it shows us1 how     
surely and terribly ,god always visited 
those who   despised his word and       
departed from him4    ,for1 according to
 the words of the first commandment1    
,god has1 from   the beginning1 wrought1
 not only in his own people1 but in the 
,gentiles also2 and so he will work down
 to the world's end2 showing   mercy to 
those that love him1 and visiting in    
judgment those that hate   him4    ,and 
although the world despises1 more       
unconcernedly than all things   else1   
the threatenings of ,god and his        
promises also2 yet1   nevertheless1 ,god

 still goes on working1 according to the
 words of his   first commandment2 and  
that commandment still prevails over all
 the   kingdoms of the earth2 laying    
prostrate kings1 overturning kingdoms1  
uprooting families1 and blotting out    
mighty names4 ,and1 on the other   hand1
 the same commandment still and ever    
goes on1 preserving those in   the      
church of ,god who love him2 lifting up 
them that are down2   succouring the    
oppressed2 feeding the poor1 the        
captives1 and the   exiles2 loosing     
those that are in prison2 raising the   
dead2 and   bringing salvation4    ,the 
hardened and unbelieving world do not   
believe ,god3 nevertheless1   this first
 commandment goes on thus according to  
the word which it   contains1 to        
accomplish ,god's will1 in things       
private1 and in things   public1 in this
 present age1 and throughout all the    
ages to come4          ,,psalm ,,lxxix4 
,the psalmist complaineth of the        
desolation of ,jerusalem4--,he prayeth  

for deliverance1 and promiseth          
thankfulness4    ,a ,psalm of ,asaph4   
,o ,god1 the heathen are come into thine
 inheritance2 thy holy temple   have    
they defiled2 they have laid ,jerusalem 
on heaps4    ,the dead bodies of thy    
servants have they given to be meat unto
 the   fowls of the heaven1 the flesh of
 thy saints unto the beasts of the      
earth4    ,their blood have they shed   
like water round about ,jerusalem2 and  
there was none to bury them4    ,we are 
become a reproach to our neighbours1 a  
scorn and derision to   them that are   
round about us4    ,how long1 ,,lord8   
wilt thou be angry for ever8 shall thy  
jealousy burn   like fire8    ,pour out 
thy wrath upon the heathen that have not
 known thee1 and upon   the kingdoms    
that have not called upon thy name4     
,for they have devoured ,jacob1 and laid
 waste his dwelling-place4    ,o        
remember not against us former          
iniquities3 let thy tender mercies      
speedily prevent us2 for we are brought 

very low4    ,help us1 ,o ,god of our   
salvation1 for the glory of thy name2   
and   deliver us1 and purge away our    
sins1 for thy name's sake4    ,wherefore
 should the heathen say1 ,where is their
 ,god8 let him be   known among the     
heathen in our sight1 by the revenging  
of the blood   of thy servants which is 
shed4    ,let the sighing of the        
prisoner come before thee2 according to 
the   greatness of thy power preserve   
thou those that are appointed to die3   
,and render unto our neighbours         
seven-fold into their bosom their       
reproach1 wherewith they have reproached
 thee1 ,o ,,lord4    ,so we thy people1 
and sheep of thy pasture1 will give thee
 thanks for   ever2 we will shew forth  
thy praise to all generations4          
,this ,psalm is a prayer to ,god against
 that future national   destruction1    
which was wrought by the ,chaldeans and 
,antiochus   ,epiphanes2 it is of the   
same subject-matter as ,psalm lxxiv1 and
   therefore it may be set forth by the 

explication there given4 ,isaiah   has  
the same prayer against future          
devastations1 chap4 #fc4                
,,psalm ,,lxxx4    ,the psalmist in his 
prayer complaineth of the miseries of   
the   church4--,god's former favours are
 turned into judgments4--,he prayeth for
   deliverance4    ,to the chief        
,musician upon ,shoshannim-,eduth1 ,a   
,psalm of ,asaph4      ,give ear1 ,o    
,shepherd of ,israel1 thou that leadest 
,joseph like a flock2   thou that       
dwellest between the cherubims1 shine   
forth4    ,before ,ephraim1 and         
,benjamin1 and ,manasseh1 stir up thy   
strength1 and   come and save us4       
,turn us again1 ,o ,god1 and cause thy  
face to shine2 and we shall be   saved4 
,o ,,lord ,god of hosts1 how long wilt  
thou be angry against the prayer of     
thy people8    ,thou feedest them with  
the bread of tears2 and givest them     
tears to   drink in great measure4      
,thou makest us a strife unto our       
neighbours2 and our enemies laugh       

among themselves4    ,turn us again1 ,o 
,god of hosts1 and cause thy face to    
shine2 and we   shall be saved4    ,thou
 hast brought a vine out of ,egypt2 thou
 hast cast out the heathen1   and       
planted it4    ,thou preparedst room    
before it1 and didst cause it to take   
deep   root1 and it filled the land4    
,the hills were covered with the shadow 
of it1 and the boughs thereof   were    
like the goodly cedars4    ,she sent out
 her boughs unto the sea1 and her       
branches unto the river4    ,why hast   
thou then broken down her hedges1 so    
that all they which   pass by the way do
 pluck her8    ,the boar out of the wood
 doth waste it1 and the wild beast of   
the   field doth devour it4    ,return1 
we beseech thee1 ,o ,god of hosts1 look 
down from heaven1 and   behold1 and     
visit this vine2    ,and the vineyard   
which thy right hand hath planted1 and  
the branch   that thou madest strong for
 thyself4    ,it is burned with fire2 it
 is cut down3 they perish at the rebuke 

of thy countenance4    ,let thy hand be 
upon the man of thy right hand1 upon the
 son of man   whom thou madest strong   
for thyself4    ,so will not we go back 
from thee3 quicken us1 and we will call 
upon   thy name4    ,turn us again1 ,o  
,,lord ,god of hosts2 cause thy face to 
shine1 and we   shall be saved4         
,this is a prayer against those most    
bitter and daily enemies1 the           
neighbouring ,philistines1 ,syrians1    
,moabites1 ,edomites1 c43 for           
,jerusalem was situated in the midst of 
these nations1 all enemies1 on   every  
side4    ,this ,psalm is appropriate for
 us against bishops1 and monks1 and     
priests1 who hate us more bitterly than 
any ,edomite or any ,cain4 ,the         
fathers used this ,psalm 7such was the  
state of the church then7   against her 
error-broaching enemies4                
,,psalm ,,lxxxi4    ,an exhortation to a
 solemn praising of ,god4--,god         
challengeth that duty   by reason of his
 benefits4--,god exhorting to obedience2

 complaineth of   their disobedience1   
which proveth their own hurt4    ,to the
 chief ,musician upon ,gittith1 a ,psalm
 of ,asaph4      ,sing aloud unto ,god  
our strength3 make a joyful noise unto  
the ,god of   ,jacob4    ,take a psalm1 
and bring hither the timbrel1 the       
pleasant harp with the   psaltery4      
,blow up the trumpet in the new moon1 in
 the time appointed1 on our   solemn    
feast day4    ,for this was a statute   
for ,israel1 and a law of the ,god of   
,jacob4    ,this he ordained in ,joseph 
for a testimony1 when he went out       
through   the land of ,egypt3 where ,i  
heard a language that ,i understood not4
    ,i removed his shoulder from the    
burden3 his hands were delivered from   
the pots4    ,thou calledst in trouble1 
and ,i delivered thee2 ,i answered thee 
in the   secret place of thunder3 ,i    
proved thee at the waters of ,meribah4  
,selah4    ,hear1 ,o my people1 and ,i  
will testify unto thee3 ,o ,israel1 if  
thou   wilt hearken unto me2    ,there  

shall no strange god be in thee2 neither
 shalt thou worship any   strange god4  
,i am the ,lord thy ,god1 which brought 
thee out of the land of ,egypt3   open  
thy mouth wide1 and ,i will fill it4    
,but my people would not hearken to my  
voice2 and ,israel would none of   me4  
,so ,i gave them up unto their own      
hearts' lust3 and they walked in   their
 own counsels4    ,oh that my people had
 hearkened unto me1 and ,israel had     
walked in my   ways6    ,i should soon  
have subdued their enemies1 and turned  
my hand against   their adversaries4    
,the haters of the ,lord should have    
submitted themselves unto him3 but      
their time should have endured for ever4
    ,he should have fed them also with  
the finest of the wheat3 and with       
honey out of the rock should ,i have    
satisfied thee4      ,this is the form  
of a prayer and a solemn song for the   
people of the   ,jews1 which was sung   
yearly at the feast of tabernacles1 to  
admonish   that people1 and to keep them

 in the true worship of ,god2 namely1   
that   of the first commandment4 ,this  
,psalm1 therefore1 like the prophets1 in
   all their great instructions1 holds  
forth and enforces the very words   of  
the first commandment1 8,i am the ,lord 
thy ,god3 thou shalt have none   other  
gods but me30 that is1 thou shalt hold  
me as thy ,god1 thou shalt   cleave unto
 me1 thou shalt trust alone in me2 thou 
shalt not worship1   thou shalt not call
 upon1 any other ,god4    ,but here the 
whole world lieth in wickedness1 the    
whole is unclean1   the whole is the    
kingdom of the devil4 ,not only were the
 people of the   ,jews in this state of 
transgression against the first         
commandment1 but   all nations1 and all 
religions1 and all worshippers1 from the
   beginning of the world2 and they will
 be the same down to the end of   the   
world4 ,the ,israelites were indeed the 
people of ,god2 they had the   prophets1
 and the godly priests and ,levites1    
continually enforcing on   them this    

great and highest worship of the first  
commandment in all   their preachings3  
and yet they fell away from this        
worship4 ,their   mouth ought to have   
been full of ,god and the praise of     
,god1 but it was   full of idolatry1 and
 of idolatrous doctrines and            
abominations4    ,here is the           
perverseness of the world3 they will    
admire1 they will   take up with1 they  
will profess1 all other kinds of        
worship1 all other   forms and kinds of 
religions and hypocrisies1 and they will
 multiply   and adorn them3 but they    
will trample that very glorious worship 
of   the first commandment under foot3  
that worship the devil cannot   bear2   
that worship he works to extinguish by  
all the ways and means   in his power4  
,and in the church of ,god1 under the   
,new ,testament1 this ,psalm teaches    
us the righteousness of faith and of    
,christ2 that we ought to set   ,christ 
and his righteousness before and above  
all works3 for our mouth   ought to be  

full of ,christ4 ,but we1 like the      
,jews1 turn aside to other   gods1      
embracing sometimes these and sometimes 
those sayings and   traditions1 each one
 following the idol imaginations and    
thoughts of   his own heart4            
,,psalm ,,lxxxii4    ,the psalmist      
having exhorted the judges1 and reproved
 their   negligence1 prayeth ,god to    
judge4    ,a ,psalm of ,asaph4      ,god
 standeth in the congregation of the    
mighty3 he judgeth among the   gods4    
,how long will ye judge unjustly1 and   
accept the persons of the wicked8       
,selah4    ,defend the poor and         
fatherless3 do justice to the afflicted 
and needy4    ,deliver the poor and     
needy3 rid them out of the hand of the  
wicked4    ,they know not1 neither will 
they understand2 they walk on in        
darkness3   all the foundations of the  
earth are out of course4    ,i have     
said1 ,ye are gods2 and all of you are  
children of the ,most   ,high4    ,but  
ye shall die like men1 and fall like one

 of the princes4    ,arise1 ,o ,god1    
judge the earth3 for thou shalt inherit 
all nations4      ,this is a ,psalm of  
consolation against tyrants1 and wicked 
kings and   magistrates1 who oppressed  
the destitute1 the fatherless1 and the  
widows4 ,i have given a full commentary 
on this ,psalm1 which is now in         
public2 therefore ,i need not say more  
upon it here4          ,,psalm          
,,lxxxiii4    ,a complaint to ,god of   
the enemies' conspiracies4--,a prayer   
against   them that oppress the church4 
,a ,song or ,psalm of ,asaph4      ,keep
 not thou silence1 ,o ,god3 hold not thy
 peace1 and be not still1 ,o   ,god4    
,for1 lo1 thine enemies make a tumult2  
and they that hate thee have   lifted up
 the head4    ,they have taken crafty   
counsel against thy people1 and         
consulted   against thy hidden ones4    
,they have said1 ,come1 and let us cut  
them off from being a nation2   that the
 name of ,israel may be no more in      
remembrance4    ,for they have consulted

 together with one consent2 they are    
confederate against thee3    ,the       
tabernacles of ,edom1 and the           
,ishmaelites2 of ,moab and the          
,hagarenes2    ,gebal1 and ,ammon1 and  
,amalek2 the ,philistines1 with the     
inhabitants of   ,tyre2    ,assur also  
is joined with them3 they have holpen   
the children of ,lot4   ,selah4    ,do  
unto them as unto the ,midianites2 as to
 ,sisera1 as to ,jabin1   at the brook  
of ,kison2    ,which perished at        
,en-dor3 they became as dung for the    
earth4    ,make their nobles like ,oreb 
and like ,zeeb2 yea1 all their princes  
as   ,zebah and as ,zalmunna3    ,who   
said1 ,let us take to ourselves the     
houses of ,god in possession4    ,o my  
,god1 make them like a wheel2 as the    
stubble before the wind4    ,as fire    
burneth a wood1 and as the flame setteth
 the mountains on   fire1    ,so        
persecute them with thy tempest1 and    
make them afraid with thy   storm4      
,fill their faces with shame2 that they 

may seek thy name1 ,o ,,lord4    ,let   
them be confounded and troubled for     
ever2 yea1 let them be put to   shame1  
and perish3    ,that men may know that  
thou1 whose name alone is ,,jehovah1 art
   the ,most ,high over all the earth4  
,this ,psalm is a prayer of the same    
nature as ,psalm lxxx4 as the same      
mentioned names of the same nation show1
 who were bitter enemies unto   ,israel4
 ,the same explanation1 therefore1 will 
suffice4          ,,psalm ,,lxxxiv4     
,the prophet longing for the communion  
of the sanctuary1 sheweth how   blessed 
they are that dwell therein4--,he       
prayeth to be restored unto   it4    ,to
 the chief ,musician upon ,gittith1 a   
,psalm for the sons of ,korah4      ,how
 amiable are thy tabernacles1 ,o ,,lord 
of hosts6    ,my soul longeth1 yea1 even
 fainteth1 for the courts of the ,,lord2
 my   heart and my flesh crieth out for 
the living ,god4    ,yea1 the sparrow   
hath found an house1 and the swallow a  
nest for   herself1 where she may lay   

her young1 even thine altars1 ,o ,,lord 
of   hosts1 my ,king1 and my ,god4      
,blessed are they that dwell in thy     
house3 they will be still   praising    
thee4 ,selah4    ,blessed is the man    
whose strength is in thee2 in whose     
heart are   the ways of them3    ,who   
passing through the valley of ,baca1    
make it a well3 the rain   also filleth 
the pools4    ,they go from strength to 
strength2 every one of them in ,zion    
appeareth before ,god4    ,o ,,lord ,god
 of hosts1 hear my prayer3 give ear1 ,o 
,god of ,jacob4 ,selah4    ,behold1 ,o  
,god1 our shield1 and look upon the face
 of thine anointed4    ,for a day in thy
 courts is better than a thousand4 ,i   
had rather be a   door-keeper in the    
house of my ,god1 than to dwell in the  
tents of   wickedness4    ,for the      
,,lord ,god is a sun and shield3 the    
,,lord will give grace and   glory3 no  
good thing will he withhold from them   
that walk uprightly4    ,o ,,lord of    
hosts1 blessed is the man that trusteth 

in thee4      ,this is a ,psalm of      
consolation1 which breaks forth into the
 most sweet   and powerful expressions1 
in praise and love of the ministry of   
the   word4 8,blessed are they 7says    
,david7 that dwell in thy house30 that  
is1 they alone are truly blessed1 and   
rest on a sure and eternal              
consolation1 who dwell in thy house and 
in thy tabernacle3 that is1 in   the    
place where thy word is taught and      
heard4 ,for such1 as the ,apostle       
saith1 7#a ,cor4 i47 8are increased in  
all good1 and enriched in all   wisdom  
and all knowledge1 and with every good  
gift1 so that they can   want nothing40 
,they have all riches4    ,wherefore let
 the world have their rich ones1 their  
powerful ones1 and   their wise ones1   
and their consolations in this world2   
let them trust   and glory in their     
wisdom1 their might1 their wealth1 and  
their   possessions1--my heart triumphs 
in the living ,god2 that is1 ,i rejoice1
   and triumph1 and glory1 with all my  

heart1 that ,i know ,god in his   word1 
and that ,i am of his true church4 ,and 
,i would rather cleave and   hold to    
this poor despised flock of ,god's      
people1 to his church of   poor         
afflicted ones1 who call upon ,god in   
truth2 ,i would rather cleave   to them1
 and hover over them1 as a bird over her
 young in the nest1   than live in the  
most splendid palace of all earthly     
kings4 ,i had   rather sit at the door  
of the house of the ,lord2 that is1     
occupy the   lowest place among the     
people of ,god1 despised and disregarded
 by the   world1 than be loaded with all
 the dainties and riches of the         
universe1 and not belong to the assembly
 of them that hear1 and love1   and know
 the word of ,god4    ,this ,psalm1     
therefore1 exhorts us rather to suffer  
ourselves to be   torn away from all the
 riches1 honours1 consolations and      
pleasures of   the world1 than from the 
house of ,god4 ,for no riches1 nor even 
kingdoms1 can deliver us from sin or    

death1 or from the kingdom of the       
devil2 nor can they overcome1 in our    
hearts1 the terrors of hell or of   the 
judgment of ,god4 ,but ,god gives1 by   
his word1 grace and victory   over all  
these4 8,he is a sun and a shield0 that 
is1 in all darkness   and in all        
afflictions1 of every kind1 the word of 
,god is a joyful   light1 a sure        
consolation1 a firm bulwark1 and an     
invincible armour   against the violent 
assault of the devil and of sin3 neither
 of which   can the riches or the wisdom
 of this world vanquish4 ,he1 therefore1
   that hath the word of ,god hath every
 thing3 he that hath not the word   of  
,god hath nothing4 ,o blessed1 eternally
 blessed are they1 who thus   love and  
value the word of ,god6 but where are   
they6 how few such are   there to be    
found6 for the world is full of mockers 
and despisers6          ,,psalm ,,lxxxv4
    ,the ,psalmist1 out of the          
experience of former mercies1 prayeth   
for   the continuance thereof4--,he     

promiseth to wait thereon1 out of       
confidence of ,god's goodness4    ,to   
the chief ,musician1 ,a ,psalm to the   
sons of ,korah4      ,,lord1 thou hast  
been favourable unto thy land3 thou hast
 brought back   the captivity of ,jacob4
    ,thou hast forgiven the iniquity of 
thy people2 thou hast covered all       
their sin4 ,selah4    ,thou hast taken  
away all thy wrath3 thou hast turned    
thyself from   the fierceness of thine  
anger4    ,turn us1 ,o ,god of our      
salvation1 and cause thine anger towards
 us to   cease4    ,wilt thou be angry  
with us for ever8 wilt thou draw out    
thine anger to   all generations8       
,wilt thou not revive us again1 that thy
 people may rejoice in thee8    ,shew us
 thy mercy1 ,o ,,lord1 and grant us thy 
salvation4    ,i will hear what ,god the
 ,,lord will speak3 for he will speak   
peace unto   his people1 and to his     
saints3 but let them not turn again to  
folly4    ,surely his salvation is nigh 
them that fear him2 that glory may      

dwell in our land4    ,mercy and truth  
are met together2 righteousness and     
peace have kissed   each other4         
,truth shall spring out of the earth2   
and righteousness shall look down   from
 heaven4    ,yea1 the ,,lord shall give 
that which is good3 and our land shall  
yield her increase4    ,righteousness   
shall go before him1 and shall set us in
 the way of   his steps4      ,this     
,psalm is a prayer containing the       
feelings of a heart that fears   ,god2  
and it persuades1 in the most impressive
 words1 such an one1 not   to dread     
,god's anger4 ,for those who fear ,god1 
are not like the   despisers and        
,epicureans1 who are secure and care for
 nothing that   happens2 but when       
calamities fall upon godly men1 their   
first and main   concern is to turn to  
,god that smites them1 and to make anew 
their   peace with him4    ,the anger   
wherewith ,god chastised his people1 at 
this time1 was this3   he had taken away
 from them1 for a time1 the word2 he had

 diminished   the number of those that  
preached it in truth1 and had made few  
the   true prophets1 priests and        
,levites4 ,in addition to which1 the    
peace of   the nation was broken by     
seditions2 and many evils prevailed in  
the   state and among the rulers        
thereof4 ,and this was not all3 there   
came   on also the dread and expectation
 of war1 and the want of the   necessary
 provisions of life3 for these          
calamities generally follow1   one after
 the other1 when ,god1 according to the 
first commandment1   visits the         
iniquities of a people4    ,the         
,psalmist1 therefore1 prays that ,god   
would be pleased again to   preserve the
 church1 and also the nation2 again to  
restore the real   ministers of the     
word1 who preached it in truth1 and by  
whom alone ,god   truly speaks unto men4
    ,the ,psalmist1 therefore1 breaks   
forth with a wonderful burden of        
heart1 as if he had said1 #8,o that ,i  
might again hear the ,lord truly        

speaking6 ,o that the word of ,god were 
again truly preached1 lest even   the   
godly should be 8turned to folly0' 7or  
ignorance2 that is1 lest   they should  
be so broken down and utterly worn out1 
by the greatness   of their afflictions1
 as not to know what to do47 #8,o that  
both the   worship of ,god1 and the     
prosperity of our nation1 may be        
restored1 and   that peace1 and concord1
 and truth1 and justice1 may flourish   
among   us6 that the fruits of the      
earth1 and the produce of the fields and
 of   the vineyards may be blessed2 that
 we may lead a godly life in this   our 
day1 and1 as ,st4 ,paul saith1 may 8look
 for the glorious appearing   of the    
great ,god60'          ,,psalm ,,lxxxvi4
    ,david strengtheneth his prayer by  
the conscience of his religion1--by     
the goodness and power of ,god4--,he    
desireth the continuance of former      
grace4--,complaining of the proud he    
craveth some token of ,god's   goodness4
    ,a ,prayer of ,david4      ,bow down

 thine ear1 ,o ,,lord1 hear me2 for ,i  
am poor and needy4    ,preserve my soul1
 for ,i am holy3 ,o thou my ,god1 save  
thy servant   that trusteth in thee4    
,be merciful unto me1 ,o ,,lord3 for ,i 
cry unto thee daily4    ,rejoice the    
soul of thy servant3 for unto thee1 ,o  
,,lord1 do ,i lift up   my soul4    ,for
 thou1 ,,lord1 art good1 and ready to   
forgive2 and plenteous in   mercy unto  
all them that call upon thee4    ,give  
ear1 ,o ,,lord1 unto my prayer2 and     
attend to the voice of my               
supplications4    ,in the day of my     
trouble ,i will call upon thee3 for thou
 wilt answer   me4    ,among the gods   
there is none like unto thee1 ,o ,,lord2
 neither are   there any works like unto
 thy works4    ,all nations whom thou   
hast made shall come and worship before 
thee1 ,o   ,,lord2 and shall glorify thy
 name4    ,for thou art great1 and doest
 wondrous things1 thou art ,god alone4  
,teach me thy way1 ,o ,,lord2 ,i will   
walk in thy truth3 unite my heart to    

fear thy name4    ,i will praise thee1  
,o ,,lord my ,god1 with all my heart2   
and ,i will   glorify thy name for      
evermore4    ,for great is thy mercy    
toward me2 and thou hast delivered my   
soul   from the lowest hell4    ,o ,god1
 the proud are risen against me1 and the
 assemblies of violent   men have sought
 after my soul1 and have not set thee   
before them4    ,but thou1 ,o ,,lord1   
art a ,god full of compassion1 and      
gracious2   long-suffering1 and         
plenteous in mercy and truth4    ,o turn
 unto me1 and have mercy upon me3 give  
thy strength unto thy   servant1 and    
save the son of thine handmaid4    ,shew
 me a token for good2 that they which   
hate me may see it1 and be   ashamed2   
because thou1 ,,lord1 hast holpen me1   
and comforted me4      ,this ,psalm is a
 supplication1 and1 as the title shows1 
a prayer of   ,david3 and here you may  
see that prayer is the highest exercise 
of   faith1 and the highest worship of  
,god4 ,every one knows with what        

destroying calamities that great man    
,david1 that 8man after ,god's own      
heart10 was surrounded2 and yet you may 
see1 in the book of ,kings1   that1 in  
his deepest straits and most calamitous 
afflictions1 he calls   upon ,god with  
all the ardour of his heart against his 
enemies1 ,saul1   his son ,absalom1 c4  
those instruments of the devil1 who so  
heavily   afflicted him4    ,behold what
 an example of prayer for us to follow1 
this great1 this   most spiritual man1  
gives us in the #fth1 #ith1 #ajth and   
#aath verses4   ,see how fixedly he has 
before his eyes the first commandment4  
8,o ,god10   saith he1 8who is like unto
 thee among the gods80 who doeth works  
like   unto thy works8 8,thou art great 
and doest wonderful works2 thou art     
,god alone4 ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 art a ,god 
full of compassion and gracious1        
long-suffering and plenteous in mercy   
and in truth1 unto all that call   upon 
thee40    ,behold here how he calls up  
and sharpens1 as it were1 his faith1 at 

a   view of the mercy of ,god6 so that1 
apprehending that mercy and the         
promise1 he goes forth on the assurance1
 that ,god is not only powerful   and   
great1 and invincible against all the   
assaults of the devil and of   the      
world1 and against all creatures2 but   
that he is also ever present   unto the 
godly1 and ever merciful to those that  
call upon him1 and   believe in him4    
,and thus1 we also ought to apprehend   
the word of the   divine promise of     
mercy1 and cast out of our hearts all   
doubt1 that we   may be enabled to call 
upon him without misgiving4    ,at the  
end ,david prays1 8,show me a token for 
good40 ,god sometimes   permits the     
wicked to glory for a while1 as if they 
certainly should   soon devour the      
saints1 and those that fear him4 ,but   
,god never finally   forsakes his       
people3 for here1 in the church below1  
he often delivers   the godly1 who fear 
him1 out of the greatest perils2 yea1   
out of the   very jaws of death2 and    

plainly proves that he is ever present  
and   near his own3 for their           
deliverances plainly show the hand of   
,god4 ,it   is for such a token1 or     
sign1 as this1 that ,david here prays4  
,,psalm ,,lxxxvii4    ,the nature and   
glory of the church4--,the increase1    
honour1 and comfort   of the members    
thereof4    ,a ,psalm or ,song for the  
sons of ,korah4      ,his foundation is 
in the holy mountains4    ,the ,,lord   
loveth the gates of ,zion more than all 
the dwellings of   ,jacob4    ,glorious 
things are spoken of thee1 ,o city of   
,god4 ,selah4    ,i will make mention of
 ,rahab and ,babylon to them that know  
me3 behold   ,philistia1 and ,tyre1 with
 ,ethiopia2 this man was born there4    
,and of ,zion it shall be said1 ,this   
and that man was born in her3 and   the 
highest himself shall establish her4    
,the ,,lord shall count1 when he writeth
 up the people1 that this man   was born
 there4 ,selah4    ,as well the singers 
as the players on instruments shall be  

there3   all my springs are in thee4    
,this is a prophecy concerning the      
kingdom of ,christ and the church1 in   
times to come4 ,the ,psalmist1 after the
 manner of the prophets1 sets   before  
us the future ,jerusalem and the future 
,zion1 as if represented   in a painting
 before our eyes3 the boundaries of     
which should be those   of the world    
itself1 reaching from east to west1 and 
from north to   south2 and in which     
church there should be born men of every
 nation1   kingdom1 tribe1 and          
tongue1--,ethiopians1 ,egyptians1       
,babylonians1   ,tyrians1 ,philistines1 
c4 and that these should be born in this
   church1 not by a natural birth1 but  
by the word of the gospel4    8,great1  
excellent1 and glorious things shall be 
spoken and preached in   thee1 ,o city  
of ,god60 ,for the gospel is a great and
 glorious doctrine1   the highest of all
 doctrines1 even the word of salvation2 
hence1 as   ,paul saith1 7,phil4 i4     
#aj47 the gospel contains1 in comparison

 with the   law1 8the things that are   
excellent40 ,for by the gospel is given 
to us   the knowledge of the counsel and
 will of ,god2 in what manner ,god is   
pacified2 how we are delivered from sin1
 from the power of the devil1   and from
 eternal death2 which things neither the
 law1 nor any human   philosophy1 could 
teach4    ,in the last verse also1 the  
,psalm most beautifully sets forth what 
the   highest worship1 under the ,new   
,testament1 should be4 8,there shall be 
in thee1 7saith the ,psalmist17 as the  
harmonious concert of those   playing on
 instruments20 that is1 it is not       
,moses1 or the law1 that   shall be     
taught in that city2 but the sweet and  
joyful message of the   gospel shall be 
preached by the ministry of the word1   
even grace and   the remission of sins  
by ,jesus ,christ4          ,,psalm     
,,lxxxviii4    ,a prayer containing a   
grievous complaint4    ,a ,song or      
,psalm for the sons of ,korah1 to the   
chief ,musician upon   ,mahalath        

,leannoth1 ,maschil of ,heman the       
,ezrahite4      ,o ,,lord ,god of my    
salvation1 ,i have cried day and night  
before thee4    ,let my prayer come     
before thee3 incline thine ear unto my  
cry2    ,for my soul is full of         
troubles1 and my life draweth nigh unto 
the   grave4    ,i am counted with them 
that go down into the pit3 ,i am as a   
man that   hath no strength3    ,free   
among the dead1 like the slain that lie 
in the grave1 whom thou   rememberest no
 more3 and they are cut off from thy    
hand4    ,thou hast laid me in the      
lowest pit1 in darkness1 in the deeps4  
,thy wrath lieth hard upon me1 and thou 
hast afflicted me with all   thy waves4 
,selah4    ,thou hast put away mine     
acquaintance far from me2 thou hast made
 me an   abomination unto them3 ,i am   
shut up1 and ,i cannot come forth4      
,mine eye mourneth by reason of         
affliction3 ,,lord1 ,i have called daily
   upon thee2 ,i have stretched out my  
hands unto thee4    ,wilt thou shew     

wonders to the dead8 shall the dead     
arise and praise   thee8 ,selah4        
,shall thy loving-kindness be declared  
in the grave8 or thy   faithfulness in  
destruction8    ,shall thy wonders be   
known in the dark8 and thy righteousness
 in the   land of forgetfulness8    ,but
 unto thee have ,i cried1 ,o ,,lord2 and
 in the morning shall my prayer         
prevent thee4    ,,lord1 why castest    
thou off my soul8 why hidest thou thy   
face from   me8    ,i am afflicted and  
ready to die from my youth up3 while ,i 
suffer   thy terrors ,i am distracted4  
,thy fierce wrath goeth over me2 thy    
terrors have cut me off4    ,they came  
round about me daily like water1 they   
compassed me about   together4    ,lover
 and friend hast thou put far from me1  
and mine acquaintance   into darkness4  
,this is a prayer1 as in the person of  
,christ and of all the saints4 ,it      
contains those mighty feelings and      
conflicts of heart1 which no   mortals  
but those who experience them1 can      

either describe or   conceive2 ,i mean  
those pangs and pains1 and that heavy   
sorrow of   spirit1 7above all natural  
distress of body or of mind1 and above  
all   natural fear and dread17 when the 
heart is filled with a sense of the     
majesty and anger of ,god1 and is       
alarmed at the nature and end of sin2   
while ,god also1 as yet1 holds off all  
consolation2 and the soul is   shaken in
 the midst of darkness and terror1 and1 
as ,christ saith   himself1 8sifted by  
the devil like wheat in a sieve20 while 
the   malicious ,satan craftily augments
 the soul's views of the anger of       
,god1 and drives out of sight all hope  
of mercy and grace4    ,david here calls
 these unspeakable terrors of soul1     
8hell10   8darkness10 8the shadow of    
death40 8,thou hast cast me 7saith he7  
into   the lowest pit1 into darkness and
 the deeps4 ,thy wrath lieth hard upon  
me2 and thou hast afflicted me with all 
thy waves40 ,and rightly does   ,david  
describe these pains and terrors by the 

terms1 8death10 8hell10   c4 because    
this anguish of soul is of the very     
nature1 and power1 and   poison1 and    
sting of hell and death2 for no sooner  
is the darkness   dispersed1 by some    
shining in of divine consolation1 than  
death is no   longer death1 but we die  
gladly4 ,and indeed1 where such fears   
and   terrors of mind abound and        
continue1 they extend to the body1 bring
 on   a paleness and emaciation1 and    
affect the whole man4 ,paul calls them  
the 8buffetting of ,satan10 and 8thorns 
in the flesh20 which has   reference to 
a custom in certain nations of punishing
 criminals by   transfixing their bodies
 with a certain sharp pointed conical   
instrument1 in the shape of a thorn2 and
 mocking and deriding them in   their   
suffering4 ,and just thus it is that the
 nations of the world   contemptuously  
call ,christ #8that crucified fellow1'  
and the ,jews1   #8,that fellow that was
 hanged4' ,for the world1 in their      
malice1 not   only persecute ,christ1   

but also deride and mock his sufferings1
 and   the sufferings of his members4   
,and hence it is ,david complains thus  
in   this ,psalm1 8,lover and friend    
hast thou put far from me1 and mine     
acquaintance into darkness40            
,,psalm ,,lxxxix4    ,the psalmist      
praiseth ,god for his covenant1 for his 
wonderful power1   for the care of his  
church1 for his favour to the kingdom of
   ,david4--,then complaining of        
contrary events1 he expostulateth1      
prayeth1   and blesseth ,god4           
,maschil of ,ethan the ,ezrahite4       
,i will sing of the mercies of the      
,,lord for ever3 with my mouth will ,i  
make known thy faithfulness to all      
generations4    ,for ,i have said1      
,mercy shall be built up for ever3 thy  
faithfulness   shalt thou establish in  
the very heavens4    ,i have made a     
covenant with my chosen1 ,i have sworn  
unto ,david my   servant1    ,thy seed  
will ,i establish for ever1 and build up
 thy throne to all   generations4       

,selah4    ,and the heavens shall praise
 thy wonders1 ,o ,,lord3 thy            
faithfulness   also in the congregation 
of the saints4    ,for who in the heaven
 can be compared unto the ,,lord8 who   
among the   sons of the mighty can be   
likened unto the ,,lord8    ,god is     
greatly to be feared in the assembly of 
the saints1 and to be   had in reverence
 of all them that are about him4    ,o  
,,lord ,god of hosts1 who is a strong   
,,lord like unto thee8 or to thy        
faithfulness round about thee8    ,thou 
rulest the raging of the sea3 when the  
waves thereof arise1 thou   stillest    
them4    ,thou hast broken ,rahab in    
pieces1 as one that is slain2 thou hast 
scattered thine enemies with thy strong 
arm4    ,the heavens are thine1 the     
earth also is thine3 as for the world   
and the fulness thereof1 thou hast      
founded them4    ,the north and the     
south thou hast created them3 ,tabor and
 ,hermon shall   rejoice in thy name4   
,thou hast a mighty arm3 strong is thy  

hand1 and high is thy right   hand4     
,justice and judgment are the habitation
 of thy throne3 mercy and   truth shall 
go before thy face4    ,blessed is the  
people that know the joyful sound3 they 
shall walk1 ,o   ,,lord1 in the light of
 thy countenance4    ,in thy name shall 
they rejoice all the day3 and in thy    
righteousness   shall they be exalted4  
,for thou art the glory of their        
strength3 and in thy favour our horn    
shall be exalted4    ,for the ,,lord is 
our defence2 and the ,holy ,one of      
,israel is our   king4    ,then thou    
spakest in vision to thy holy one1 and  
saidst1 ,i have laid   help upon one    
that is mighty2 ,i have exalted one     
chosen out of the  people4    ,i have   
found ,david my servant2 with my holy   
oil have ,i anointed him3    ,with whom 
my hand shall be established2 mine arm  
also shall strengthen   him4    ,the    
enemy shall not exact upon him2 nor the 
son of wickedness afflict   him4    ,and
 ,i will beat down his foes before his  

face1 and plague them that   hate him4  
,but my faithfulness and my mercy shall 
be with him2 and in my name   shall his 
horn be exalted4    ,i will set his hand
 also in the sea1 and his right hand in 
the rivers4    ,he shall cry unto me1   
,thou art my ,father1 my ,god1 and the  
,rock of my   salvation4    ,also ,i    
will make him my first-born1 higher than
 the kings of the   earth4    ,my mercy 
will ,i keep for him for evermore1 and  
my covenant shall stand   fast with him4
    ,his seed also will ,i make to      
endure for ever1 and his throne as the  
days of heaven4    ,if his children     
forsake my law1 and walk not in my      
judgments2    ,if they break my         
statutes1 and keep not my commandments2 
,then will ,i visit their transgression 
with the rod1 and their iniquity   with 
stripes4    ,nevertheless my            
loving-kindness will ,i not utterly take
 from him1 nor   suffer my faithfulness 
to fail4    ,my covenant will ,i not    
break1 nor alter the thing that is gone 

out of   my lips4    ,once have ,i sworn
 by my holiness1 that ,i will not lie   
unto ,david4    ,his seed shall endure  
for ever1 and his throne as the sun     
before me4    ,it shall be established  
for ever as the moon1 and as a faithful 
witness in heaven4 ,selah4    ,but thou 
hast cast off and abhorred1 thou hast   
been wroth with thine   anointed4       
,thou hast made void the covenant of thy
 servant2 thou hast profaned   his      
crown1 by casting it to the ground4     
,thou hast broken down all his hedges2  
thou hast brought his strong   holds to 
ruin4    ,all that pass by the way spoil
 him3 he is a reproach to his           
neighbours4    ,thou hast set up the    
right hand of his adversaries2 thou hast
 made all   his enemies to rejoice4     
,thou hast also turned the edge of his  
sword1 and hast not made him to   stand 
in the battle4    ,thou hast made his   
glory to cease1 and cast his throne down
 to the   ground4    ,the days of his   
youth hast thou shortened3 thou hast    

covered him with   shame4 ,selah4       
,how long1 ,,lord8 wilt thou hide       
thyself for ever8 shall thy wrath burn  
like fire8    ,remember how short my    
time is3 wherefore hast thou made all   
men in   vain6    ,what man is he that  
liveth1 and shall not see death8 shall  
he   deliver his soul from the hand of  
the grave8 ,selah4    ,,lord1 where are 
thy former loving-kindnesses1 which thou
 swarest   unto ,david in thy truth8    
,remember1 ,,lord1 the reproach of thy  
servants2 how ,i do bear in my   bosom  
the reproach of all the mighty people2  
,wherewith thine enemies have           
reproached1 ,o ,,lord2 wherewith they   
have   reproached the footsteps of thine
 anointed4    ,blessed be the ,,lord for
 evermore4 ,amen1 and amen4      ,this  
is a remarkable prophecy concerning     
,christ and his kingdom2 he   speaks of 
the church or kingdom of ,christ1 as a  
8kingdom in the   heavens20 in the same 
manner as ,christ himself calls it 8the 
kingdom   of heaven40 ,and though this  

spiritual kingdom of ,christ is here    
upon   earth1 yet the ,psalmist         
gloriously describes it as being 8in the
   heavens40    ,the ,psalmist1 indeed1 
here apprehends the promise made to     
,david   concerning ,christ2 and1       
opening that promise in a wonderful     
manner1 he   describes the riches of    
this spiritual kingdom4 ,he enforces the
   everlasting firmness and sureness of 
that promise2 and1 taking a stand   of  
heavenly meditation therein1 he dwells  
upon the effectual power of   that      
promise against all the violence of sin1
 and the malice and   accusation of the 
devil2 and here the ,psalmist takes up  
his divine   abode2 here he fixes his   
standing2 as the apostle hath it1 8by   
faith   ye stand30 and he says that this
 truth of ,god1 this his promise was    
prepared from everlasting1 built up in  
the fulfilment of ,god's purpose   of   
mercy1 and firm1 and 8established in the
 heavens40    8,thy faithfulness and    
truth10 7says the ,psalmist17 8are      

established in   the heavens20 that is1 
a heavenly righteousness is preached by 
the   gospel1 which is not placed in us1
 or in any worthiness or merit of       
ours2 but is out of us1 and is the      
righteousness of ,christ1 and is        
imputed1 for ,christ's sake1 unto all   
that believe in him3 and hence1   the   
promised riches of this kingdom are the 
gift of the ,spirit1 and   the remission
 of sins1 with all other spiritual      
blessings3 all which   are not offered  
unto us on any condition of the law1 or 
of our works   or our merit1 but are    
given unto us freely of ,god4           
,salvation1   therefore1 is not a matter
 conditional on our works1 but freely   
given   unto us for ,christ's sake2 that
 thus all doubting and uncertainty may  
be taken from our souls2 and that we may
 safely rest1 entirely and   only on the
 immutable and immoveable certainty of  
this truth and   promise of ,god4       
,the temporal kingdom of the ,jews was  
promised to that people1 on   condition 

of a law given to them2 that1 if they   
kept that law1   nationally1 as a       
people1 if they were therein good and   
obedient1 they   should be preserved and
 blessed4 ,and1 in the same way also1   
all the   kingdoms of the world are     
given to their people under a like      
condition   of a law1 and1 as long as   
they are good and obedient1 ,god        
preserves   them4 ,but the immense and  
glorious riches of this spiritual       
kingdom1   the forgiveness of sins1 the 
gift of the ,spirit1 victory over death 
and the devil1 c4 are promised and held 
forth without any condition   of a law2 
and1 in a word1 the remission of sins is
 promised1 freely1   not only to those  
who have done nothing to deserve it1 but
 to those   who have done everything to 
forfeit it4 ,this is a throne1          
therefore1   not of angry and destroying
 majesty1 but of grace alone2 and being 
founded1 not on the basis of our good   
works and merits1 but on the   rock of  
the sure and everlasting truth of ,god1 

it affords a great and   marvellous     
consolation to the afflicted consciences
 of sinners4    ,after1 however1 the    
prophetic ,psalmist has described the   
flower and   glory of this kingdom and  
church of ,christ1 he deplores1 on the  
other   hand1 from verse #ci1 in the    
most powerful expressions1 the          
desolations   and destructions of it3   
saying1 that it shall come to pass that 
this   kingdom1 like as the apostle has 
also foretold1 shall be so disturbed    
and torn to pieces by antichrist1 that  
it shall seem as if ,god had   wholly   
forgotten his promise unto it2 nay1 as  
if1 contrary to the word   of his       
promise1 he did nothing but show his    
wrath against this   kingdom4    ,all   
these things1 however1 are written for a
 consolation unto the   godly2 and      
especially unto us who1 in these last   
times1 have witnessed   such            
abominations of papacy2 these things1 ,i
 say1 are written for our   comfort and 
consolation2 that we should not be      

broken-spirited1 or   terrified1 at the 
multitude and diversity of offences2 nor
 be driven   to despair1 though         
wickedness should have the dominion for 
a time1 and   though ,satan should1 as  
it were1 so subvert all things human and
   divine1 that there should seem to be 
no church of ,christ at all1 no         
remains of the kingdom of ,christ upon  
earth4 ,for if you look at the          
abomination of the ,pope1 and of        
,mahomet1 which have spread themselves  
over the whole world1 no other          
appearance is presented than that there 
is not a vestige of the true church     
remaining3 and yet1 it is not   wholly  
blotted or rooted out from the earth2   
for1 under the reign of   each          
abomination and tyranny1 there has ever 
existed a true church of   ,christ1     
although greatly despised and greatly   
oppressed4          ,,psalm ,,xc4       
,moses1 setting forth ,god's providence1
 complaineth of human   fragility1      
divine chastisements1 and brevity of    

life4--,he prayeth for   the knowledge  
and sensible experience of ,god's good  
providence4    ,a prayer of ,moses1 the 
,man of ,god4      ,,lord1 thou hast    
been our dwelling-place in all          
generations4    ,before the mountains   
were brought forth1 or ever thou hadst  
formed the   earth and the world1 even  
from everlasting to everlasting thou art
   ,god4    ,thou turnest man to        
destruction2 and sayest1 ,return1 ye    
children of   men4    ,for a thousand   
years in thy sight are but as yesterday 
when it is   past1 and as a watch in the
 night4    ,thou carriest them away as  
with a flood2 they are as a sleep3 in   
the   morning they are like grass which 
groweth up4    ,in the morning it       
flourisheth1 and groweth up2 in the     
evening it is   cut down1 and withereth4
    ,for we are consumed by thine anger1
 and by thy wrath are we troubled4      
,thou hast set our iniquities before    
thee1 our secret sins in the   light of 
thy countenance4    ,for all our days   

are passed away in thy wrath3 we spend  
our years as a   tale that is told4     
,the days of our years are threescore   
years and ten2 and if by reason   of    
strength they be fourscore years1 yet is
 their strength labour   and sorrow2 for
 it is soon cut off1 and we fly away4   
,who knoweth the power of thine anger8  
even according to thy fear1 so   is thy 
wrath4    ,so teach us to number our    
days1 that we may apply our hearts unto 
wisdom4    ,return1 ,o ,,lord1 how long8
 and let it repent thee concerning thy  
servants4    ,o satisfy us early with   
thy mercy2 that we may rejoice and be   
glad all   our days4    ,make us glad   
according to the days wherein thou hast 
afflicted us1   and the years wherein we
 have seen evil4    ,let thy work appear
 unto thy servants1 and thy glory unto  
their   children4    ,and let the beauty
 of the ,,lord our ,god be upon us3 and 
establish thou   the work of our hands  
upon us3 yea1 the work of our hands     
establish  thou it4      ,this ,psalm   

contains a very great and important     
doctrine2 in which   ,moses teaches what
 is the origin and cause of that death  
to which the   whole human race is      
subject1 and the reason why so horrible 
a   punishment was inflicted on the     
whole race of mortals3 the ,psalmist    
saith1 it was on account of sin3 and the
 guilt and desert of sin are   greater  
than can be conceived by the human mind1
 unless ,god touch the   heart with a   
knowledge of it2 and yet1 in this sin   
and guilt1 and   under this wrath1 all  
the sons of ,adam are born4    ,moses   
here opens widely this punishment of    
sin1 and this horrible   misery2 setting
 forth the proof of it in the shortness 
and uncertainty   of human life2 which  
life1 in addition to this its shortness 
and   uncertainty1 is subject also to   
all kinds of calamity3 and1 in verse    
#aa1 ,moses saith that this very        
unspeakable misery--death1 and all other
   human calamities1 as parts of that   
death1 tend1 or should lead us1 to      

seek the grace and mercy of ,god1 who   
alone can deliver us from all   these   
evils1--sin1 the slavery of the devil1  
and death4 ,hence all the   calamities  
and afflictions of life1 and even death 
itself1 the   punishment of sin1 work   
together for good unto the elect1 and   
unto   those that fear ,god2 that they  
may1 by all things1 be humbled1 broken  
down1 and crucified1 and so1 thirst     
after grace4    8,so teach us that we   
must die10 says ,moses1 8that we may    
become wise30   that is1 that we may    
learn to know ,god and his will aright2 
for this   is what ,moses calls         
8becoming wise40 ,the wicked1 and fools1
 who are   not exercised with           
afflictions1 who number not their days1 
nor think   of death1 nor meditate on   
the misery of life1 but remain          
unexperienced   and ignorant of all     
spiritual things1 and are wrapped up in 
their own   hypocrisy1 never rightly    
know ,god1 nor truly seek his help and  
mercy4    ,moses then closes his ,psalm 

with a divinely concluding prayer1 8,let
   thy work appear unto thy servants10  
or 8,show us thy work1 ,o ,lord40       
,here1 by the work of ,god1 he means    
deliverance from sin and death2   and1  
in a word1 all that deliverance that our
 fathers expected from   that blessed   
seed1 which we have revealed to us in   
,christ4 ,and again1   saith ,moses1 8,o
 satisfy us early with thy mercy30 and  
he twice   repeats1 8,prosper thou the  
works of our hands30 that is1 for the   
time   that we live1 direct and prosper 
thou our whole life3 preserve thy   true
 religion and the good government of our
 nation3 guard us from   heresies1      
errors1 wars1 seditions1 and all such   
evils4 ,this ,psalm1   therefore1 is a  
short but a most spiritual prayer4      
,,psalm ,,xci4    ,the state of the     
godly4--,their safety4--,their          
habitation4--,their   servants4--,their 
friends2 with the effects of them all4  
,he that dwelleth in the secret place of
 the ,most ,high1 shall abide   under   

the shadow of the ,almighty4    ,i will 
say of the ,,lord1 ,he is my refuge1 and
 my fortress3 my ,god2 in   him will ,i 
trust4    ,surely he shall deliver thee 
from the snare of the fowler1 and from  
the noisome pestilence4    ,he shall    
cover thee with his feathers1 and under 
his wings shalt thou   trust2 his truth 
shall be thy shield and buckler4        
,thou shalt not be afraid for the terror
 by night1 nor for the arrow   that     
flieth by day1    ,nor for the          
pestilence that walketh in darkness1 nor
 for the   destruction that wasteth at  
noon-day4    ,a thousand shall fall at  
thy side1 and ten thousand at thy right 
hand2   but it shall not come nigh thee4
    ,only with thine eyes shalt thou    
behold1 and see the reward of the       
wicked4    ,because thou hast made the  
,,lord1 which is my refuge1 even the    
,most   ,high1 thy habitation4    ,there
 shall no evil befall thee1 neither     
shall any plague come nigh   thy        
dwelling4    ,for he shall give his     

angels charge over thee1 to keep thee in
 all thy   ways4    ,they shall bear    
thee up in their hands1 lest thou dash  
thy foot   against a stone4    ,thou    
shalt tread upon the lion and adder2 the
 young lion and the   dragon shall thou 
trample under feet4    ,because he hath 
set his love upon me1 therefore will ,i 
deliver him3 ,i   will set him on high1 
because he hath known my name4    ,he   
shall call upon me1 and ,i will answer  
him3 ,i will be with him in   trouble2  
,i will deliver him1 and honour him4    
,with long life will ,i satisfy him1 and
 shew him my salvation4      ,this is a 
most distinguished jewel among all the  
,psalms of   consolation4 ,the ,psalmist
 highly exalts faith in ,god1 and shews 
that   it is an invincible strength     
against all evils1 and against all the  
gates of hell4    ,at the very outset1  
the ,psalmist says1 8,he that dwelleth  
in the secret   place of the ,most      
,high1 abideth under the shadow of the  
,almighty20 and   such an one shall say 

unto the ,lord1 8,thou art my           
confidence1 my   protection1 my fortress
 and my ,god10 that is1 he that         
believeth and   trusteth in ,god1 and   
rests in his protection1--he shall find1
 though   shaken on every side1 by the  
devil1 by sin1 by the world1 and by     
various and endless temptations1 that   
the godly are proof and   invincible    
against all these evils2 that ,god is   
most high over all2   that he is        
,omnipotent2 and1 in a word1 that       
8greater is he that is in   us than he  
that is in the world40    ,towards the  
conclusion1 this ,psalm contains1       
accumulated together1   eight or nine   
promises of grace1 which the ,psalmist  
drew out of the   first commandment1 as 
out of a fountain4 ,this ,psalm1        
therefore1 ought   to be set before     
afflicted souls4 #a4 ,the ,psalmist says
 8,because he   hath hoped in me1       
therefore will ,i deliver him40 #b4 8,i 
will set him on   high40 #c4 8,because  
he hath called upon me1 ,i will hear    

him40 #d4 8,i   will be with him in     
trouble40 #e4 8,i will deliver him40 #f4
 8,i will set   him on high1 or glorify 
him40 #g4 8,with long life will ,i      
satisfy him40   #h4 8,i will show him my
 salvation30 that is1 that ,i am 8mighty
 to   save60    ,and this also is the   
second ,psalm wherein angels are        
proclaimed as our   watchful guardians  
and protectors3 which is a truth very   
greatly   consoling to the really godly1
 who know with what fury ,satan         
unceasingly assaults the church1 and all
 the saints4 ,this ,psalm   enumerates  
four kinds of evils and afflictions1    
which are to be   endured by the saints 
and those that fear ,god3    #a4        
8,mighty fear10--8terror by night40 ,the
 scripture frequently   represents      
temptations and afflictions under the   
figures of darkness   and night2 and    
consolations under the figurative       
descriptions of light   and day4 ,the   
,psalmist1 therefore1 here sets forth   
all those horrible   instances of       

hatred1 that ,cain-like purpose to      
destroy1 7which is ever   secretly bound
 up in the hearts of pharisaic          
religionists7 all those   malicious     
threats1 those hostile traps and snares1
 those created   perils1 those injuries1
 and all those other terrible           
oppositions which   ,satan ever raises  
up against the word of ,god1 by nightly 
fear1 or   8terror by night40    #b4    
8,the arrow that flieth by day40 ,by    
which are meant to be described   all   
those open clamours1 reproaches1        
execrations1 and blasphemies1 by   which
 tyrants and hypocrites openly attack   
and condemn the word of   ,god1 and the 
doctrine of ,christ4 ,of this kind are  
the pope's bulls1   7and truly they are 
bulls67 and also1 the edicts of kings   
and princes1   the virulent and         
blasphemous books of erroneous          
disputers1 and the   writings of        
erroneous and visionary men1 such as the
 anabaptists1 and   the like4    #c4    
8,the pestilence that creepeth 7or      

walketh7 in darkness40 ,these are   the 
deceits1 the crafts1 and the artifices  
of the papists2 and the   leagues1 the  
covert conspiracies1 the secret         
counsels1 by which those   enemies      
consult and plan among themselves in    
their private conclaves3   which        
clandestine machinations they think they
 can keep hidden1 even   from the eyes  
of ,god himself2 and by all which       
diabolical means1 they   plot to destroy
 and root out the godly and all doctrine
 that is truly   good and saving4    #d4
 8,the disease 7or contagion1 or        
destruction7 that wasteth at noon       
day40 ,this is the work of open         
persecution2 whereby these holy ,cains1 
in their unheard-of cruelty and tyranny1
 shed the blood of the ,abels1   drive  
into exile the godly1 plunder their     
substance1 and slaughter   them by every
 cruelty of torture2 thereby attempting 
to lay the true   church utterly waste1 
and to leave not a vestige of the true  
word   remaining4    ,this is my view of

 the ,psalm4 ,i know that ,st4 ,bernard 
gives other   interpretations4 ,let     
others1 therefore1 if they can1 put     
forth a   better explication than ,i    
have done3 that my view is simple1 and  
agreeable to the mind and spirit of the 
prophets1 is self-manifest1   and proved
 by experience3 for we see and          
experience daily1 that the   saints of  
,god are attacked and exercised by these
 four afflictions for   the word's sake1
 by means of the devil and by the world4
 ,the ,holy   ,spirit1 therefore1 by    
this ,psalm1 revives and strengthens our
 faith2   and by the cluster of promises
 at the end of the ,psalm1 the same     
,holy   ,spirit quickens and refreshes  
our hearts with consolation3 this ,psalm
   therefore ought to be most acceptable
 to all the saints4          ,,psalm    
,,xcii4    ,the prophet exhorteth to    
praise ,god1 for his great works1 for   
his   judgments on the wicked1 and for  
his goodness to the godly4    ,a ,psalm 
or ,song for the ,sabbath-day4      ,it 

is a good thing to give thanks unto the 
,,lord1 and to sing   praises unto thy  
name1 ,o ,most ,high3    ,to shew forth 
thy loving-kindness in the morning1 and 
thy faithfulness   every night1    ,upon
 an instrument of ten strings1 and upon 
the psaltry2 upon the harp   with a     
solemn sound4    ,for thou1 ,,lord1 hast
 made me glad through thy work2 ,i will 
triumph in   the works of thy hands4    
,o ,,lord1 how great are thy works6 and 
thy thoughts are very deep4    ,a       
brutish man knoweth not2 neither doth a 
fool understand this4    ,when the      
wicked spring as the grass1 and when all
 the workers of   iniquity do flourish2 
it is that they shall be destroyed for  
ever3    ,but thou1 ,,lord1 art most    
high for evermore4    ,for1 lo1 thine   
enemies1 ,o ,,lord1 for1 lo1 thine      
enemies shall perish2   all the workers 
of iniquity shall be scattered2    ,but 
my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn  
of an unicorn3 ,i shall be   anointed   
with fresh oil4    ,mine eye also shall 

see my desire on mine enemies2 and mine 
ears   shall hear my desire of the      
wicked that rise up against me4    ,the 
righteous shall flourish like the       
palm-tree2 he shall grow like a   cedar 
in ,lebanon4    ,those that be planted  
in the house of the ,,lord shall        
flourish in the   courts of our ,god4   
,they shall still bring forth fruit in  
old age2 they shall be fat and          
flourishing2    ,to shew that the ,,lord
 is upright2 he is my rock1 and there is
 no   unrighteousness in him4      ,this
 is a consolatory ,psalm4 ,the first six
 verses are full of the most   sweet    
experiences of a heart rejoicing and    
triumphing in that   incomparable       
treasure--a knowledge of the true and   
sure word of ,god1   and of the promises
 of grace in ,christ4 ,it is the same   
rejoicing of   heart as that of the     
apostle1 when he1 exulting in the       
,spirit1 saith1   8,thanks be unto ,god 
for his unspeakable gift40    ,at the   
very opening of the ,psalm1 the         

,psalmist saith1 8,o how   excellent1   
how sweet a thing is it to give thanks  
unto the ,lord1 and   to sing praises   
unto thy name1 ,o ,most ,high60 that is1
 ,o what is   sweeter than to know ,god 
aright by his word1 and by true faith2  
to   acknowledge his infinite mercies2  
to give thanks unto him joyfully and    
adoringly1 with every cord and string of
 our hearts2 to proclaim and   praise   
him unceasingly with a full heart and a 
full mouth2 to triumph   in his         
goodness2 and to offer him the full     
sacrifice of thanksgiving6   in a word1 
to worship him with that all high and   
all-true worship of   the first         
commandment1 which requires for its high
 worship1 above all   things1 true      
faith1 and such joyful exercises of     
faith as these2 as if   the ,psalmist   
had said1 #8,how precious is that       
worship of ,god6 ,how   acceptable unto 
,god1 how grateful in his sight1 and in 
the sight of   angels too1 are all such 
sabbaths1 such sacrifices as these6     

,though we   saints1 all the while1 are 
said1 by the world1 to know nothing     
about   worshipping ,god6'    ,all these
 glorious things are pointed by the     
,psalmist against false   saints and    
hypocrites2 who honour ,god 7as they    
think7 with cold hearts   and lips1 and 
tread all the while that high worship of
 the first   commandment under foot2 and
 yet make a great show of the name of   
church among them1 and flourish in the  
sight of the world1 and display   much  
wealth and much power and greatness4    
,but though they greatly   flourish and 
prosper thus for a time2 yet they at    
length perish and go   to destruction3  
and1 according to the word of ,paul1    
8,their folly is   made manifest unto   
all40    ,but the godly and the saints1 
though thus exercised and broken with   
afflictions1 flourish1 nevertheless1    
like palm-trees1 in the house of   the  
,lord1 and will flourish for evermore6  
,neither time1 nor age1 nor   sorrow of 
mind1 nor any afflictions1 nor death    

itself1 can root them   out1 or hurt    
them6 ,but1 both living and dying1 and  
even in death   itself1 they live and   
bring forth fruit through the word of   
,god1 as   ,paul saith1 8,no creature   
can separate them60 ,but fools1 that is1
 the   wicked and epicureans of this    
world1 regard not these things1 they    
will not hear or endure them2 and of    
this sort we may see thousands of       
atheistical men in our day4             
,,psalm ,,xciii4    ,the majesty1 power1
 and holiness of ,christ's kingdom4     
,the ,,lord reigneth2 he is clothed with
 majesty3 the ,,lord is clothed   with  
strength1 wherewith he hath girded      
himself3 the world also is              
established1 that it cannot be moved4   
,thy throne is established of old3 thou 
art from everlasting4    ,the floods    
have lifted up1 ,o ,,lord1 the floods   
have lifted up their   voice2 the floods
 lift up their waves4    ,the ,,lord on 
high is mightier than the noise of many 
waters1 yea1   than the mighty waves of 

the sea4    ,thy testimonies are very   
sure3 holiness becometh thine house1 ,o 
,,lord1   for ever4      ,this is a     
prophecy concerning the spread of the   
kingdom of ,christ1 as   far and wide as
 the earth is extended1 and its         
establishment for ever4   ,but against  
this kingdom1 as the ,psalmist saith1   
the 8waves0 and   8mighty waters0 will  
swell and lift up themselves2 that is1  
the   kingdoms and peoples of the world 
will roar against the ,lord and         
against his ,anointed2 and will rage    
against the godly with sword and   fire2
 but they shall not prevail3 for1 as    
,daniel saith1 8this kingdom   shall    
break in pieces all other kingdoms      
beneath it1 and shall stand   for       
ever40--,daniel ii4 #dd4    ,but thy    
kingdom shall be established in no other
 way than by the word   of the gospel4  
,it shall not stand by the force of     
arms1 nor by   external pomp1 or glory1 
before the world2 but it shall be       
husbanded1   and shall be increased and 

adorned1 by the ministry of the word of 
the   gospel4 ,this is the 8holiness10  
7namely the ministry of the word7 that  
shall 8become10 or 8adorn10 the house of
 the ,lord4 ,for this true and   high   
worship of ,god which is in the kingdom 
of ,christ1 takes the place   of all    
sacrifices and of all oblations1        
candlesticks1 and the like2   and the   
preaching of the word1 and the giving of
 thanks1 are instead   of all external  
representations of mercy3 hence ,paul   
saith1 that the   ,old ,testament is    
done away by this ,new ,testament       
worship4          ,,psalm ,,xciv4       
,the prophet1 calling for justice1      
complaineth of tyranny and              
impiety4--,he teacheth ,god's           
providence4--,he sheweth the blessedness
 of   affliction4--,god is the defender 
of the afflicted4      ,o ,,lord ,god1  
to whom vengeance belongeth2 ,o ,god1 to
 whom vengeance   belongeth1 shew       
thyself4    ,lift up thyself1 thou      
,judge of the earth3 render a reward to 

the   proud4    ,,lord1 how long shall  
the wicked1 how long shall the wicked   
triumph8    ,how long shall they utter  
and speak hard things8 and all the      
workers of iniquity boast themselves8   
,they break in pieces thy people1 ,o    
,,lord1 and afflict thine heritage3     
,they slay the widow and the stranger1  
and murder the fatherless4    ,yet they 
say1 ,the ,,lord shall not see1 neither 
shall the ,god of ,jacob   regard it4   
,understand1 ye brutish among the       
people2 and1 ye fools1 when will ye   be
 wise8    ,he that planted the ear1     
shall he not hear8 he that formed the   
eye1   shall he not see8    ,he that    
chastiseth the heathen1 shall not he    
correct8 he that teacheth   man         
knowledge1 shall not he know8    ,the   
,,lord knoweth the thoughts of man1 that
 they are vanity4    ,blessed is the man
 whom thou chastenest1 ,o ,,lord1 and   
teachest him   out of thy law2    ,that 
thou mayest give him rest from the days 
of adversity1 until the   pit be digged 

for the wicked4    ,for the ,,lord will 
not cast off his people1 neither will he
 forsake his   inheritance3    ,but     
judgment shall return unto              
righteousness2 and all the upright in   
heart shall follow it4    ,who will rise
 up for me against the evil-doers8 or   
who will stand up   for me against the  
workers of iniquity8    ,unless the     
,,lord had been my help1 my soul had    
almost dwelt in   silence4    ,when ,i  
said1 ,my foot slippeth2 thy mercy1 ,o  
,,lord1 held me up4    ,in the multitude
 of my thoughts within me1 thy comforts 
delight my   soul4    ,shall the throne 
of iniquity have fellowship with thee1  
which frameth   mischief by a law8      
,they gather themselves together against
 the soul of the righteous1 and         
condemn the innocent blood4    ,but the 
,,lord is my defence2 and my ,god is the
 rock of my refuge4    ,and he shall    
bring upon them their own iniquity1 and 
shall cut them   off in their own       
wickedness2 yea1 the ,,lord our ,god    

shall cut them   off4      ,this is a   
general but a most fervent prayer1      
filled with the feelings   of an        
afflicted and sorrowful heart1 grieving 
that the blood of the   ,abels should be
 shed and drank up1 with such iniquity  
and cruelty1 by   ,cainish hypocrites4  
,the ,psalmist complains1 7as ,i        
consider it17 not of hostile nations1   
but of those domestic hypocrites and    
enemies1 who will have it to   appear   
that they1 yea1 that they alone1 are the
 people of ,god2 that   is1 the         
,psalmist complains of the wicked kings1
 and princes1 and   priests1 and        
prophets1 among the people of ,israel4  
,it is to these the   ,psalmist turns1  
in this apostrophe1 8,understand1 ye    
brutish among the   people2 and1 ye     
fools1 when will ye be wise80 ,he calls 
these   characters 8fools20 that is1    
ignorant and impious despisers of ,god2 
because they taught and ruled the people
 without knowledge1 and   wickedly4     
,in a word1 the ,psalmist here directs  

his word against all who   persecuted   
the true prophets1 and their disciples  
and followers1 and   slew them with     
,cainish hatred1 and nevertheless       
boasted all the while   in ,god1 and the
 name of ,god2 who 7they said7 had given
 them power1 and   made1 and defended1  
and protected them1 as magistrates and  
priests2   but who did not regard       
heretics1 who seditiously resisted them 
that   were the princes and magistrates 
of the people of ,god4 ,and many such   
things they continued to say4    ,now1  
against all such the prophet burns with 
zeal2 and 7with a certain   zealous     
mimicry1 as it were17 imitates their own
 words and   expressions2 saying1 7that 
is1 meaning that they say17 8,the ,lord 
shall   not see1 neither shall the ,god 
of ,jacob regard it40 ,and it is thus   
that the papists say1 in their security1
 #8,do you think ,god regards   these   
heretics6 ,no6 he regards us3 he has    
respect unto us1 the   catholic church1 
whom we certainly represent in the      

world4' ,against   such as these1 the   
prophet burns with the rage of zeal2 and
 against   such he prays1 and begs of   
,god1 that there may be enough to stand 
forward for the truth4    ,but1 in the  
#afth verse1 the ,psalmist1 on the other
 hand1 strikes at   the perfidious      
deceitfulness of the world3 8,who 7saith
 he7 is on my   side8 ,who will rise up 
for me against the evil doers80 ,as if  
he had   said1 #8,i know the world      
careth nothing about this3 the blood of 
,god's   ,abels is shed1 and no one     
regardeth it4 ,but 7continues the holy  
,psalmist7 this is my sure and eternal  
consolation1 that the cause   which ,i  
love and espouse is the right cause2    
nay1 the cause of ,god1   and not my    
cause3 and ,i know in whom ,i have      
believed4' ,i am assured1   saith the   
,psalmist1 7verse #bj17 that the 8seat  
of the scornful10 and   the 8counsel of 
the ungodly10 cleave not1 and belong    
not1 unto thee3   that is1 ,i am sure   
that thou1 ,o ,god1 approvest not any   

impious or   blasphemous doctrine4 ,i am
 sure that thou requirest and demandest 
the   blood1 7and every drop of that    
blood17 and the tears1 of the ,abels1 at
   the hands of their persecutors2 and  
that thou wilt keep1 and fulfil1   and  
glorify thy word1 even in the midst of  
the death of thy saints2   and that thou
 wilt revenge all blasphemy and         
wickedness against thee   and them4     
,,psalm ,,xcv4    ,an exhortation to    
praise ,god for his greatness1 and for  
his goodness1   and not to tempt him4   
,o come1 let us sing unto the ,,lord2   
let us make a joyful noise to the   rock
 of our salvation4    ,let us come      
before his presence with thanksgiving1  
and make a joyful   noise unto him with 
psalms4    ,for the ,,lord is a great   
,god1 and a great ,king above all gods4 
,in his hand are the deep places of the 
earth2 the strength of the   hills is   
his also4    ,the sea is his1 and he    
made it2 and his hands formed the dry   
land4    ,o come1 let us worship and bow

 down3 let us kneel before the ,,lord   
our   ,maker4    ,for he is our ,god2   
and we are the people of his pasture1   
and the   sheep of his hand4 ,to-day1 if
 ye will hear his voice1    ,harden not 
your heart1 as in the provocation1 and  
as in the day of   temptation in the    
wilderness3    ,when your fathers       
tempted me1 proved me1 and saw my work4 
,forty years long was ,i grieved with   
this generation1 and said1 ,it   is a   
people that do err in their heart1 and  
they have not known my   ways3    ,unto 
whom ,i sware in my wrath1 that they    
should not enter into my   rest4        
,this ,psalm is a prophecy concerning   
,christ1 and its contents are fully     
and learnedly explained in the          
,apostle's epistle to the ,hebrews4 ,it 
prophecies concerning the time of the   
,new ,testament1 and sets forth   the   
lovely and sweet voice of the gospel4   
,in a word1 the ,psalmist   instructs us
 in1 and allures us to1 the knowledge of
 the riches of the   grace of ,god2     

which riches were known to our fathers  
as well as unto   us1 in the promised   
seed--,christ4    #8,come 7saith the    
,psalmist7 and let us rejoice in the    
,lord4 ,come ye   that are afar off and 
ye that are near1 and let us exult in   
the ,lord2   let us triumph in the ,god 
of such salvation3' that is1 ,come and  
let us   rejoice with the whole triumph 
of our hearts1 in that infinite benefit 
and mercy--the granted grace of ,christ6
 ,since we have such promises1   let us 
not neglect such great salvation4 ,for  
to believe in the promise   of grace1   
contrary to all the objections of       
conscience1 the   temptations of ,satan1
 and the fears of the heart1 is the true
 worship   of ,god6    ,in a word1 the  
,psalmist warns against unbelief4       
8,harden not your   hearts 7says he7 as 
ye did at ,massah and ,meribah in the   
desert3 your   fathers1 on account of   
their unbelief1 entered not into the    
holy land   of promise40    ,the whole  
of this ,psalm is to be referred to     

,christ3 for he is that   blessed ,god  
in whom we ought to rejoice1 and whom   
the ,psalmist would   have to be known4 
,he is our ,shepherd1 and we are the    
sheep of his   pasture4 ,he is that     
,god1 whom our fathers tempted in the   
desert1 as   ,paul saith1 7#a ,cor4 x47 
,it was he who took out of the way the  
law1 and   abolished all the ceremonial 
worship of the ,old ,testament4 ,he will
 no   longer have the worship           
established by ,moses2 but he will have 
faith   in the gospel1 the preaching of 
the remission of sins1 and that one     
true offering--praise1 instead of the   
whole ,levitical worship4               
,,psalm ,,xcvi4    ,an exhortation to   
praise ,god1--for his greatness1--for   
his kingdom1--for   his general         
judgment4      ,o sing unto the ,,lord a
 new song3 sing unto the ,,lord1 all the
 earth4    ,sing unto the ,,lord1 bless 
his name2 shew forth his salvation from 
day   to day4    ,declare his glory     
among the heathen1 his wonders among all

 people4    ,for the ,,lord is great1   
and greatly to be praised3 he is to be  
feared above all gods4    ,for all the  
gods of the nations are idols3 but the  
,,lord made the   heavens4    ,honour   
and majesty are before him3 strength and
 beauty are in his   sanctuary4    ,give
 unto the ,,lord1 ,o ye kindreds of the 
people1 give unto the ,,lord   glory and
 strength4    ,give unto the ,,lord the 
glory due unto his name3 bring an       
offering1   and come into his courts4   
,o worship the ,,lord in the beauty of  
holiness3 fear before him1 all the      
earth4    ,say among the heathen that   
the ,,lord reigneth3 the world also     
shall   be established that it shall not
 be moved2 he shall judge the people    
righteously4    ,let the heavens        
rejoice1 and let the earth be glad2 let 
the sea roar1   and the fulness thereof4
    ,let the field be joyful1 and all   
that is therein3 then shall all the     
trees of the wood rejoice    ,before the
 ,,lord3 for he cometh1 for he cometh to

 judge the earth3 he   shall judge the  
world with righteousness1 and the people
 with his   truth4      ,this is a      
prophecy concerning the kingdom of      
,christ1 and the spreading   of the     
gospel over the whole world and before  
every creature2 which   gospel will be a
 word of joy and thanksgiving1 of peace1
 of rejoicing1   and of a continued     
sacrifice of praise3 as the clear text  
of the ,psalm   of itself plainly shows4
    ,here1 commandment is given to all  
nations1 kingdoms1 peoples1 woods1      
rivers1 fountains1 trees1 c4 that they  
should praise and magnify the   ,lord1  
and celebrate his name with rejoicing1  
because he judgeth the   world in       
righteousness and in truth3 that is1    
because1 through ,christ1   the promised
 seed1 he delivers1 and will deliver the
 people from sin1   from the power of   
the devil1 from the wrath of ,god1 and  
from eternal   death3 and because1      
instead of the kingdom of death and of  
darkness1   he sets up the kingdom of   

light1 of the remission of sins1 and of 
eternal life1 before all men4    ,this  
is that most joyful shout of victory1   
that peculiar song1 that   most sweet   
note of the ,new ,testament1 concerning 
the kingdom and grace   of ,christ2 in  
which kingdom there are born new men and
 new creatures2   not by the law or by  
the works of ,moses1 but by faith1 by   
the ,spirit   of ,god through ,christ1  
so that each believer is a new creature 
and a   marvellous work of ,god2 and all
 believers daily do marvellous works    
and are marvellous monuments1 in that   
they continue in spiritual life1   and  
are finally conquerors over the mighty  
powers of sin and the   devil2 hence it 
is that ,david says1 verse #a4 8,declare
 his wonders   among all people40       
,,psalm ,,xcvii4    ,the majesty of     
,god's kingdom4--,the church rejoiceth  
at ,god's judgments   upon              
idolaters4--,an exhortation to godliness
 and gladness4      ,the ,,lord         
reigneth2 let the earth rejoice2 let the

 multitude of isles   be glad thereof4  
,clouds and darkness are round about    
him3 righteousness and judgment   are   
the habitation of his throne4    ,a fire
 goeth before him1 and burneth up his   
enemies round about4    ,his lightnings 
enlightened the world3 the earth saw and
 trembled4    ,the hills melted like wax
 at the presence of the ,,lord1 at the  
presence   of the ,,lord of the whole   
earth4    ,the heavens declare his      
righteousness1 and all the people see   
his   glory4    ,confounded be all they 
that serve graven images1 that boast    
themselves   of idols3 worship him1 all 
ye gods4    ,zion heard1 and was glad2  
and the daughters of ,judah rejoiced1   
because   of thy judgments1 ,o ,,lord4  
,for thou1 ,,lord1 art high above all   
the earth3 thou art exalted far   above 
all gods4    ,ye that love the ,,lord1  
hate evil3 he preserveth the souls of   
his   saints2 he delivereth them out of 
the hand of the wicked4    ,light is    
sown for the righteous1 and gladness for

 the upright in   heart4    ,rejoice in 
the ,,lord1 ye righteous2 and give      
thanks at the remembrance   of his      
holiness4      ,this also1 like the     
preceding1 is a prophecy concerning     
,christ and his   kingdom2 and the sum  
of it is to proclaim1 that ,christ      
establishes and   strengthens his       
spiritual kingdom by the gospel2 wherein
 he preaches   repentance1 and whereby  
his lightnings and thunders terrify the 
whole   world1 and cause the mountains  
to melt like wax before the fire of his 
face3 that is1 by the gospel he         
condemns1 casts down1 and humbles all   
human righteousness1 human wisdom1 and  
human patience1 throughout the   world1 
and brings down every thing that is high
 and lifted up2 as   ,isaiah saith1     
chapter #c1 8,and the ,lord alone shall 
be exalted in that   day40 ,for ,christ 
alone is our 8righteousness1 our        
sanctification1 and   our redemption10  
and that by the counsel of ,god1 as it  
is written1   8,there is no other name  

given under heaven whereby we must be   
saved1   but ,jesus ,christ and him     
crucified40    ,together also with these
 enemies of the gospel and these        
mountains of   the world1 the ceremonial
 kingdom of the ,jews perisheth1 and all
 the   outward worship of the law1 and1 
indeed1 every thing that is not in      
,christ4 ,for he 7as the apostle ,paul  
saith1 ,col4 i47 8in all things   hath  
the pre-eminence40 ,and again1 8,for    
there is one ,mediator between   ,god   
and man1 the ,man ,christ ,jesus40 ,and 
so also1 in ,daniel1 ,the stone   cut   
out of the mountain filled the world1   
and broke in pieces all   other         
kingdoms4          ,,psalm ,,xcviii4    
,the ,psalmist exhorteth the ,jews1 the 
,gentiles1 and all the creatures   to   
praise ,god4    ,a ,psalm4      ,o sing 
unto the ,,lord a new song2 for he hath 
done marvellous things3   his right     
hand1 and his holy arm1 hath gotten him 
the victory4    ,the ,,lord hath made   
known his salvation3 his righteousness  

hath he   openly shewed in the sight of 
the heathen4    ,he hath remembered his 
mercy and his truth toward the house of 
,israel3   all the ends of the earth    
have seen the salvation of our ,god4    
,make a joyful noise unto the ,,lord1   
all the earth3 make a loud noise1   and 
rejoice1 and sing praise4    ,sing unto 
the ,,lord with the harp2 with the harp1
 and the voice of a   psalm4    ,with   
trumpets and sound of cornet make a     
joyful noise before the ,,lord1   the   
,king4    ,let the sea roar1 and the    
fulness thereof2 the world1 and they    
that   dwell therein4    ,let the floods
 clap their hands2 let the hills be     
joyful together    ,before the ,,lord2  
for he cometh to judge the earth3 with  
righteousness   shall he judge the      
world1 and the people with equity4      
,this again is a prophecy concerning the
 preaching of ,christ and the   spread  
of his kingdom1 and it is of the same   
subject as the two   preceding ,psalms2 
it calls upon us to rejoice in ,god1 to 

triumph1 to   give thanks1 and to praise
 ,god for that great salvation3 that is1
 to   preach the remission of sins1 and 
those riches of grace which are by      
,christ ,jesus4    ,in this ,psalm you  
again have set before you what is the   
highest   worship of ,god1 namely1 that 
of the ,new ,testament2 which standeth  
not   in the offering of thanks in      
,jerusalem1 but in knowing              
,christ1--that   ,king who ruleth the   
people in righteousness2 who is himself 
righteous1   and who maketh the people  
righteous throughout the world2 and who 
alone delivereth them from sin1 from    
death1 and from the power of the        
devil2 and doeth it all without any     
merit of theirs4          ,,psalm       
,,xcix4    ,the prophet1 setting forth  
the kingdom of ,god in ,zion1--exhorteth
 all1   by the example of forefathers1  
to worship ,god at his holy hill4       
,the ,,lord reigneth2 let the people    
tremble3 he sitteth between the         
cherubims2 let the earth be moved4      

,the ,,lord is great in ,zion2 and he is
 high above all the people4    ,let them
 praise thy great and terrible name2 for
 it is holy4    ,the king's strength    
also loveth judgment2 thou dost         
establish equity1   thou executest      
judgment and righteousness in ,jacob4   
,exalt ye the ,,lord our ,god1 and      
worship at his footstool2 for he is     
holy4    ,moses and ,aaron among his    
priests1 and ,samuel among them that    
call   upon his name2 they called upon  
the ,,lord1 and he answered them4    ,he
 spake unto them in the cloudy pillar3  
they kept his testimonies1   and the    
ordinance that he gave them4    ,thou   
answeredst them1 ,o ,,lord our ,god3    
thou wast a ,god that forgavest   them1 
though thou tookest vengeance of their  
inventions4    ,exalt the ,,lord our    
,god1 and worship at his holy hill2 for 
the ,,lord our   ,god is holy4          
,this ,psalm is a ,psalm of blessed     
doctrine4 ,it exhorts the people of     
,god to preserve sacredly that true     

worship of the first commandment1   the 
praising of ,god alone1 and the         
continuing in the faith of him1         
although the nations on all sides and   
the whole world should roar   against   
that people who glory in being the      
people of ,god1 and who know   that ,god
 is to be found no where but in this and
 that corner of the   earth1 in that    
tabernacle1 in that sanctuary1 and at   
that mercy-seat1   where the word and   
the promise of ,god are preached4 ,and  
the ,psalm   shows that this true people
 of ,god are exposed to the most bitter 
hatred of the world and of the devil1   
and to afflictions of every   kind4     
,the ,psalmist mentions1 by name1       
,moses1 and ,aaron1 and ,samuel2 those  
best of men among the people of ,god1   
who endured great afflictions1   both   
inward and outward1 for the sake of the 
name and the word of ,god4   ,the       
,psalmist shows1 however1 7as is set    
forth verses #d and #e47 and   teaches  
this people of ,god1 that the highest   

worship of ,god is not   placed in      
ceremonial sacrifices3 therefore he     
says1 8,let them praise   thy great and 
terrible name1 for it is holy40 8,in    
this kingdom of ,god1   7says the       
,psalmist17 justice and judgment are    
loved40 8,thou   justifiest10 says he1  
8thy people20 that is1 thou deliverest  
from sin   and death1 and extendest unto
 them the remission of their sins4      
,and unto us1 who are in and of the     
church of ,god1 the present ,psalm is   
a glorious prophecy of ,christ1 who     
governs and rules this church1 the      
true ,zion1 in the ,spirit1 throughout  
the whole world1 wheresoever she   is4  
,the holy ,psalmist shews us1 that      
,christ1 sitting at the right hand   of 
the ,majesty in the heavens1 is there   
continually as our ,sacrificer   and our
 ,sacrifice4 ,and he testifies that the 
whole world rages and   roars against   
this people and church of ,god1 and     
kills the saints1 and   loads them with 
all manner of afflictions1 on account of

 their   profession and worship of      
,christ4          ,,psalm ,c4    ,an    
exhortation to praise ,god cheerfully1  
for his greatness and for   his power4  
,a ,psalm of ,praise4      ,make a      
joyful noise unto the ,,lord1 all ye    
lands4    ,serve the ,,lord with        
gladness2 come before his presence with 
singing4    ,know ye that the ,,lord he 
is ,god3 it is he that hath made us1 and
   not we ourselves3 we are his people1 
and the sheep of his pasture4    ,enter 
into his gates with thanksgiving1 and   
into his courts with   praise3 be       
thankful unto him1 and bless his name4  
,for the ,,lord is good1 his mercy is   
everlasting2 and his truth   endureth to
 all generations4      ,this ,psalm     
again is a prophecy concerning ,christ4 
,it calls upon all to   rejoice1 to     
triumph1 and to give thanks2 to enter   
his gates with   thanksgiving1 and his  
courts and sanctuary with praise3       
because1 by   the gospel and the        
preaching of the remission of sins1 that

 kingdom of   ,christ is established and
 strengthened1 which shall remain and   
stand   for ever3 and for the setting-up
 of which kingdom thanks are for ever   
to be given4          ,,psalm ,,ci4     
,david maketh a vow and profession of   
godliness4    ,a ,psalm of ,david4      
,i will sing of mercy and judgment3 unto
 thee1 ,o ,,lord1 will ,i sing4    ,i   
will behave myself wisely in a perfect  
way4 ,o6 when wilt thou come   unto me8 
,i will walk within my house with a     
perfect heart4    ,i will set no wicked 
thing before mine eyes3 ,i hate the work
 of them   that turn aside1 it shall not
 cleave to me4    ,a froward heart shall
 depart from me2 ,i will not know a     
wicked   person4    ,whoso privily      
slandereth his neighbour1 him will ,i   
cut off3 him that   hath an high look   
and a proud heart will not ,i suffer4   
,mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of
 the land1 that they may   dwell with   
me3 he that walketh in a perfect way1 he
 shall serve me4    ,he that worketh    

deceit shall not dwell within my house2 
he that   telleth lies shall not tarry  
in my sight4    ,i will early destroy   
all the wicked of the land1 that ,i may 
cut off   all wicked doers from the city
 of the ,,lord4      ,this ,psalm       
contains a most solemn and necessary    
doctrine3 and ,david   puts forth       
himself1 so great a king1 as an example4
 ,he teaches that   impious members and 
courtiers ought not to be borne with by 
any godly   magistrate or prince4 ,he   
recounts also the iniquities1 by which  
those   who are in the courts of kings  
and princes1 more especially harm the   
state and the church4 ,he shews that    
they do the greatest evil when   they   
are given to sin or to false doctrine2  
and when they injure the   causes of    
good men by their hatred of them4    ,in
 the opening of the ,psalm ,david says1 
8,i will sing of mercy and of           
judgment30 that is as if he had said1   
#8,i will sing that ,god most           
certainly1 according to the word of the 

first commandment1 visits the   godly   
with mercy1 and the ungodly with        
judgment1 at all times4' ,of   this     
visiting mercy ,david was himself an    
example1 seeing that he had   been so   
many times delivered from the very claws
 and jaws of the   devil4 ,and of the   
divine visitations of judgment1         
,absalom1 ,ahithophel1   ,joab1 and     
others1 were examples4 ,and every king  
and magistrate1 who   sets himself to   
defend the true religion1 and to do good
 to his   nation1 is at once exposed to 
the hatred of all men1 even of his own  
family and court3 which is plainly seen 
in the case of ,absalom1   ,ahithophel1 
and other persecutors of ,david4        
,hence it is that ,david1 having so     
often experienced ,god's fulfilment   of
 the word of his first commandment1     
sings in all places and at all   times1 
#8that ,god is ,god over all1 exercising
 mercy and judgment4' ,and   it is with 
,god alone that a kingdom and           
commonwealth can be rightly   governed3 

for where ,god is not1 there all things 
are scattered and in   confusion1 and   
neither families are subject to their   
heads1 nor   citizens to their rulers4  
,,psalm ,,cii4    ,the prophet in his   
prayer maketh a grievous complaint4--,he
 taketh   comfort in the eternity and   
mercy of ,god4--,the mercies of ,god are
 to be   recorded4--,he sustaineth his  
weakness by the unchangeableness of     
,god4    ,a ,prayer of the afflicted1   
when he is overwhelmed1 and poureth out 
his   complaint before the ,,lord4      
,hear my prayer1 ,o ,,lord1 and let my  
cry come unto thee4    ,hide not thy    
face from me in the day when ,i am in   
trouble2 incline   thine ear unto me3 in
 the day when ,i call1 answer me        
speedily4    ,for my days are consumed  
like smoke1 and my bones are burned as  
an   hearth4    ,my heart is smitten1   
and withered like grass2 so that ,i     
forget to eat   my bread4    ,by reason 
of the voice of my groaning1 my bones   
cleave to my skin4    ,i am like a      

pelican of the wilderness2 ,i am like an
 owl of the desert4    ,i watch1 and am 
as a sparrow alone upon the house-top4  
,mine enemies reproach me all the day2  
and they that are mad against   me are  
sworn against me4    ,for ,i have eaten 
ashes like bread1 and mingled my drink  
with weeping2    ,because of thine      
indignation and thy wrath3 for thou hast
 lifted me   up1 and cast me down4      
,my days are like a shadow that         
declineth2 and ,i am withered like      
grass4    ,but thou1 ,o ,,lord1 shalt   
endure for ever1 and thy remembrance    
unto all   generations4    ,thou shalt  
arise1 and have mercy upon ,zion3 for   
the time to favour   her1 yea1 the set  
time1 is come4    ,for thy servants take
 pleasure in her stones1 and favour the 
dust   thereof4    ,so the heathen shall
 fear the name of the ,,lord1 and all   
the kings of   the earth thy glory4     
,when the ,,lord shall build up ,zion1  
he shall appear in his glory4    ,he    
will regard the prayer of the destitute1

 and not despise their   prayer4        
,this shall be written for the          
generation to come2 and the people which
   shall be created shall praise the    
,,lord4    ,for he hath looked down from
 the height of his sanctuary2 from      
heaven   did the ,,lord behold the      
earth2    ,to hear the groaning of the  
prisoner1 to loose those that are       
appointed to death2    ,to declare the  
name of the ,,lord in ,zion1 and his    
praise in ,jerusalem2    ,when the      
people are gathered together1 and the   
kingdoms1 to serve the   ,,lord4    ,he 
weakened my strength in the way2 he     
shortened my days4    ,i said1 ,o my    
,god1 take me not away in the midst of  
my days2 thy years   are throughout all 
generations4    ,of old hast thou laid  
the foundation of the earth2 and the    
heavens   are the work of thy hands4    
,they shall perish1 but thou shalt      
endure2 yea1 all of them shall wax   old
 like a garment2 as a vesture shalt thou
 change them1 and they   shall be       

changed3    ,but thou art the same1 and 
thy years shall have no end4    ,the    
children of thy servants shall continue1
 and their seed shall be   established  
before thee4      ,this ,psalm is a     
prayer of an afflicted and tempted      
heart1 miserably   sighing and praying  
for deliverance and the coming of the   
kingdom of   ,god4 ,and indeed the whole
 sum and substance of this ,psalm is1   
8,thy   kingdom come40    ,this ,psalm  
may be used as a general prayer4 ,it was
 used especially by   the fathers under 
the law3 who being most spiritual men1  
and knowing   the infinite weight of    
sin1 and the kingdom of death1 longed   
for the   coming and revelation of      
,christ1 the kingdom of grace1 and the  
blessing promised4    8,have mercy upon 
,zion 7saith the ,psalmist7 for the time
 to have mercy   upon her is come40 ,for
 thy servants 7saith he7 long for her to
 be   built up again1 and for the stones
 and cement to be made ready3 that   is1
 they long for that grace and that      

blessing to be revealed unto all        
nations1 and to be preached in all      
kingdoms2 that those who are   captives 
and in chains under the power of the    
devil and of sin1 and   who are the sons
 of wrath and death1 may be delivered2  
and that there   may flow together into 
the true ,zion1 the church of ,god1     
those out of   all nations and kingdoms1
 who may magnify the name of the ,lord1 
and   may preach and hear the gospel1   
and that all the rigid demands and      
ceremonies of the law1 and the whole of 
the ,old ,testament   dispensation1 may 
cease4 ,for out of and without ,christ  
there is   nothing but the kingdom of   
sin and death3 that is1 a continual     
misery   and distress in this life1 by  
various and hard temptations of the     
devil and the world3 and also a         
shortness of life itself1 and that      
life changeable and uncertain1 full of  
sorrow and full of death2 which   life  
the godly consider it a 8gain0 to have  
shortened and finished3 as   the apostle

 saith1 8to me to live is ,christ1 and  
to die is gain40    ,but amidst all this
 misery1 in ,christ is consolation and  
eternal life2   for he is before every  
creature2 he created the heaven and the 
earth1   and by him all things consist2 
and he also1 in the regeneration1 will  
renew the heavens and the earth4 ,hence 
he is independent of and above   all    
time and years1 and of his years there  
is no end4 ,he now dies no   more1 death
 hath no more dominion over him4 ,for   
this kingdom of life   and of salvation 
7saith the ,psalmist7 we pray and long4 
,may this   kingdom come4 ,amen4        
,,psalm ,,ciii4    ,an exhortation to   
bless ,god for his mercy1 and for the   
constancy   thereof4    ,a ,psalm of    
,david4      ,bless the ,,lord1 ,o my   
soul2 and all that is within me1 bless  
his holy   name4    ,bless the ,,lord1  
,o my soul1 and forget not all his      
benefits3    ,who forgiveth all thine   
iniquities2 who healeth all thy         
diseases2    ,who redeemeth thy life    

from destruction2 who crowneth thee with
 loving   kindness and tender mercies2  
,who satisfieth thy mouth with good     
things2 so that thy youth is   renewed  
like the eagle's4    ,the ,,lord        
executeth righteousness and judgment for
 all that are   oppressed4    ,he made  
known his ways unto ,moses1 his acts    
unto the children of   ,israel4    ,the 
,,lord is merciful and gracious1 slow to
 anger1 and plenteous in   mercy4    ,he
 will not alway chide2 neither will he  
keep his anger for ever4    ,he hath not
 dealt with us after our sins1 nor      
rewarded us according to   our          
iniquities4    ,for as the heaven is    
high above the earth1 so great is his   
mercy   toward them that fear him4      
,as far as the east is from the west1 so
 far hath he removed our                
transgressions from us4    ,like as a   
father pitieth his children1 so the     
,,lord pitieth them   that fear him4    
,for he knoweth our frame2 he           
remembereth that we are dust4    ,as for

 man1 his days are as grass2 as a flower
 of the field1 so he   flourisheth3     
,for the wind passeth over it1 and it is
 gone2 and the place thereof   shall    
know it no more4    ,but the mercy of   
the ,,lord is from everlasting to       
everlasting upon   them that fear him1  
and his righteousness unto children's   
children2    ,to such as keep his       
covenant1 and to those that remember his
   commandments to do them4    ,the     
,,lord hath prepared his throne in the  
heavens2 and his kingdom   ruleth over  
all4    ,bless the ,,lord1 ye his       
angels1 that excel in strength1 that do 
his   commandments1 hearkening unto the 
voice of his word4    ,bless ye the     
,,lord1 all ye his hosts2 ye ministers  
of his that do   his pleasure4    ,bless
 the ,,lord1 all his works1 in all      
places of his dominion3 bless   the     
,,lord1 ,o my soul4      ,this is a     
glorious ,psalm1 and full of the most   
ardent feelings and   exercises of      
faith1 and of a believing heart1 a heart

 acknowledging   the infinite mercies of
 ,god1 both temporal and spiritual4     
8,bless the   ,lord 7saith the          
,psalmist71 ,o my soul10 c4 ,the        
,psalmist embraces1 in   the first three
 verses1 six kinds of divine mercies and
 benefits1 for   which he exhorts all   
the godly to give praise unto ,god with 
their   whole heart1 and to celebrate   
his great and holy name4    ,the first  
kind of mercy enumerated is the         
remission of all our sins in   ,christ1 
and for ,christ's sake1 our only        
,mediator and ,high-priest3 who   by    
himself sustained the just and infinite 
wrath of ,god1 which burned   against   
our sins3 who offered himself a         
sacrifice to ,god for them2 by   which  
offering he reconciled unto us the      
,eternal ,father1 and now   pleads for  
us with an unceasing and prevailing     
intercession4    ,the second kind of    
mercy is the healing of those manifold1 
and by no   means light infirmities1    
which shall remain in the flesh of the  

saints1 as long as they live in this    
world3 all which remnant of sins   ,god1
 for ,christ's sake1 imputeth not unto  
them that believe3 nor does   he only   
cover those sins by not imputing them1  
but he moreover purges   them away1 by  
the gift of his ,holy ,spirit4    ,the  
third kind of mercy is a continual and  
daily protection and   defence against  
all the dangers of death1 into numbers  
of which we   continually fall2 and into
 more and greater of which we should    
fall by   fire1 by water1 by sword1 by  
pestilence1 and other means of          
destruction1 and be destroyed by them on
 account of the deserts of our   sins1  
if ,god did not in his mercy prevent and
 save and preserve our   lives4    ,the 
fourth kind of mercy is a manifold      
dispensation of the grace of   ,god1    
wherewith he covers and defends us with 
a shield1 and crowns us1   giving us the
 ,holy ,spirit1 and strengthening our   
minds with the true   doctrine against  
all doubts1 and with true consolation in

 all perils   and evils2 and bestowing  
on the godly many and various gifts4    
,the fifth kind of mercy is that        
boldness wherewith by the aid and       
urgency of the ,holy ,spirit1 we        
fearlessly preach before the world      
these great mercies of ,god toward us3  
whereby many others also may   learn to 
acknowledge and lay hold of the goodness
 of ,god in ,christ1   and1 embracing it
 themselves in the true faith1 may1 with
 us1 magnify   and call upon ,god4      
,the sixth kind of mercy is the         
restoration of our depraved nature by   
,christ into the image of ,god2 into    
which image we being renewed by the     
,holy ,ghost1 begin with full purpose of
 heart to obey ,god2 and so   continue1 
until1 being made perfect in the life to
 come1 we may be   able to render a full
 obedience with our whole unimpeded     
powers4    ,the ,psalmist1 therefore1   
first renders thanks to ,god for his    
spiritual   benefits2 and then he from  
his heart thanks ,god for bestowing     

blessings of every kind1--peace1 good   
magistrates1 good laws1 good   wives1   
good children1 the fruits of the earth1 
and all needful   provision4 ,the       
,psalmist sets forth ,god as a most kind
 ,father towards   us 7who are nothing  
but a loathsome sore1 full of sin7 and  
as not   dealing with us according to   
our sins1 but treating and protecting   
us1   according to his infinite grace   
and mercy1 as dear children3 yet so     
that he will have us to keep his        
covenant and his counsel3 that is1 to   
believe in him1 to fear him1 and to have
 him for our ,god4 ,for if we   trust in
 our own works or righteousnesses1 we   
thereby immediately   break his         
covenant1 and walk not in his counsel1  
and follow strange   gods1 and thus sin 
against the ,first ,commandment4    ,now
 this fulfilling of the law1 and keeping
 the covenant of ,god1 is in   and      
through ,christ alone1 who was then     
promised to the fathers1 but   now in   
these last days has been given unto us2 

and manifested2 whose   kingdom shall   
rule over all4    ,at the end of the    
,psalm1 when the ,psalmist calls upon   
the angels and   the hosts of ,god1 the 
powers and the dominions1 to praise and 
magnify   him1 he means ,christ and the 
church and the apostles who cause his   
word to be heard4 ,for all our salvation
 is in ,christ1 and there is no   grace 
out of ,christ2 who is preached by the  
angels2 that is1 by the   apostles4     
,,psalm ,,civ4    ,a meditation upon the
 mighty power1 and wonderful providence 
of   ,god4--,god's glory is             
eternal4--,the prophet voweth           
perpetually to praise   ,god4           
,bless the ,,lord1 ,o my soul4 ,o ,,lord
 my ,god1 thou art very great2 thou     
art clothed with honour and majesty3    
,who coverest thyself with light as with
 a garment2 who stretchest   out the    
heavens like a curtain2    ,who layeth  
the beams of his chambers in the waters2
 who maketh the   clouds his chariot2   
who walketh upon the wings of the wind2 

,who maketh his angels spirits2 his     
ministers a flaming fire2    ,who laid  
the foundations of the earth1 that it   
should not be   removed for ever4       
,thou coveredst it with the deep as with
 a garment2 the waters stood   above the
 mountains4    ,at thy rebuke they fled3
 at the voice of thy thunder they hasted
 away4    ,they go up by the mountains2 
they go down by the valleys1 unto the   
place which thou hast founded for them4 
,thou hast set a bound that they may not
 pass over1 that they turn not   again  
to cover the earth4    ,he sendeth the  
springs into the valleys1 which run     
among the hills4    ,they give drink to 
every beast of the field3 the wild asses
 quench   their thirst4    ,by them     
shall the fowls of the heaven have their
 habitation1 which   sing among the     
branches4    ,he watereth the hills from
 his chambers3 the earth is satisfied   
with   the fruit of thy works4    ,he   
causeth the grass to grow for the       
cattle1 and herb for the service   of   

man1 that he may bring forth food out of
 the earth2    ,and wine that maketh    
glad the heart of man1 and oil to make  
his   face to shine1 and bread which    
strengthened man's heart4    ,the trees 
of the ,,lord are full of sap3 the      
cedars of ,lebanon1 which   he hath     
planted2    ,where the birds make their 
nests3 as for the stork1 the fir-trees  
are her house4    ,the high hills are a 
refuge for the wild goats1 and the rocks
 for   the conies4    ,he appointed the 
moon for seasons3 the sun knoweth his   
going down4    ,thou makest darkness1   
and it is night1 wherein all the beasts 
of the   forest do creep forth4    ,the 
young lions roar after their prey1 and  
seek their meat from ,god4    ,the sun  
ariseth1 they gather themselves         
together1 and lay them down in   their  
dens4    ,man goeth forth unto his work1
 and to his labour1 until the evening4  
,o ,,lord1 how manifold are thy works6  
in wisdom hast thou made them all3   the
 earth is full of thy riches2    ,so is 

this great and wide sea1 wherein are    
things creeping   innumerable1 both     
small and great beasts4    ,there go the
 ships2 there is that leviathan1 whom   
thou hast made   to play therein4       
,these wait all upon thee1 that them    
mayest give them their meat in   due    
season4    ,that thou givest them1 they 
gather2 thou openest thine hand1 they   
are filled with good4    ,thou hidest   
thy face1 they are troubled3 thou takest
 away their   breath1 they die1 and     
return to their dust4    ,thou sendest  
forth thy spirit1 they are created2 and 
thou renewest the   face of the earth4  
,the glory of the ,,lord shall endure   
for ever3 the ,,lord shall rejoice in   
his works4    ,he looketh on the earth1 
and it trembleth2 he toucheth the hills1
 and   they smoke4    ,i will sing unto 
the ,,lord as long as ,i live2 ,i will  
sing praise to my   ,god while ,i have  
my being4    ,my meditation of him shall
 be sweet2 ,i will be glad in the       
,,lord4    ,let the sinners be consumed 

out of the earth1 and let the wicked be 
no   more4 ,bless thou the ,,lord1 ,o my
 soul4 ,praise ye the ,,lord4      ,this
 is a most spiritual song and a ,psalm  
of glory to ,god4 ,it is drawn   out of 
the ,first ,commandment3 and with a     
grand enumeration of all the   creatures
 of ,god1 it sets forth and exalts the  
whole work of creation4   ,by this      
recounting of the works of creation the 
,psalmist's design is   to show1 that   
all the creatures1 whether those in the 
heavens1 those   in the earth1 or those 
in the sea1 are monuments of the        
goodness of   ,god4 ,and what orator or 
what poet ever has existed1 or ever will
   exist1 with an eloquence adequate to 
describe the infinite use and   benefits
 of even one creature of ,god4 ,if any  
one of those creatures   were gifted    
with speech1 so as to declare its own   
nature and value1 it   would praise ,god
 with a thousand tongues4 ,not only1    
therefore1 the   whole of ,god's works  
together1 as one glorious universe1 but 

each one   creature1 if you would       
explain its nature and use1 exceeds all 
the   eloquence of men and angels4      
,what philosopher or sage could even    
open or utter the extent of the   use   
and blessings of common light1 in which 
we live8 ,what one of them   could ever 
explain what that is which we call      
light1 in which we all   breathe1 all   
are nourished1 and all live2 by which   
the night and   darkness are dispelled  
in one short moment2 by which the whole 
creation is rendered visible1 and as it 
were1 recreated2 and by which   all     
creatures1 from out of one same obscure 
darkness1 receive each   their proper   
hues and colours8    ,who1 again1 can   
recount the benefit and blessings of    
that one creature   the sun8 and then   
those of the moon8 ,who can enumerate   
the blessings   of fire1 of water1 of   
fountains and springs8 ,if one creature 
were   deprived for one short hour of   
the blessings of fire or of water1 you  
would in a moment see the wide and      

infinite benefit of one of those        
creatures of ,god4    ,but alas6 who can
 even touch one of these creatures with 
anything like   a due comment or        
reflection6 ,and yet1 when heathen men  
have   contemplated the whole universe  
of creatures so diligently1 7as we see  
it done in ,cicero's second book #8,de  
,natura ,deorum2'7 and have thence      
gathered and concluded that there exists
 some eternal ,deity who   created and  
who governs all these things2 it would  
be a shame in one   professing the fear 
and worship of that ,god1 to be cold and
 not   affected with these same things1 
and not to meditate and reflect upon    
them4    ,this ,psalm1 therefore1 is a  
,psalm of thanksgiving for all the      
creatures which ,god has created1       
whether in the heavens1 in the earth1   
or in the sea2 and a rendering of thanks
 unto ,god also1 that he hath   made a  
covenant with the day and the night1 and
 hath given laws to the   heaven and the
 earth2 laws so certain that they cannot

 be moved1 but   continue in their      
appointed order4 ,the moon1 saith the   
,psalmist1   distinguished the seasons2 
the sun knoweth his going down2 the day 
cometh1 and also the night2 the summer  
returns at its appointed time1   and the
 winter also in its season4 ,thou       
fillest1 saith he1 that   immense space 
of the heaven with light3 thou          
stretchest out the heaven   itself like 
a curtain1 which resteth not on any     
beams or columns3 and   thou suspendest 
the mighty range of clouds1 at thy word1
 like a   glorious canopy4 ,the winds   
rise1 and blow over and blow through all
   things1 having neither wings nor     
feathers4 ,and the angels whom thou     
sendest forth1 saith he1 fulfil their   
commands like the winds1 and   like a   
8flame of fire40    ,hence the prophet1 
as you see1 has all these things        
depicted in his   mind1 and his faith is
 kindled by a meditation on this        
wonderful and   ineffable work of       
creation4 ,but1 alas6 how few1 how very 

few1 are   there who thus look into1    
meditate on1 and admire these created   
things8 ,here1 therefore1 with a view to
 reprove both the indolence and   the   
wickedness of certain characters1 ,i    
cannot help transcribing the   words of 
,cicero1 a heathen1 who cites another   
heathen1 ,aristotle3   #8,aristotle1'   
says ,cicero1 #8has most greatly and    
beautifully spoken   thus4 8,if there   
could be men1 who had lived under the   
earth in grand   and noble habitations2 
habitations adorned with paintings and  
works of   art1 and with all those      
embellishments which ornament the houses
 of   those who are now accounted       
wealthy and happy2 and if it could so be
   that such subterranean inhabitants   
had never been above ground1 but   had  
heard by fame and report that there was 
a certain ,deity1 and a   certain       
,almighty power of that ,deity2 and then
 if it could so be1   that1 at a certain
 time1 the doors of the earth's surface 
should be   thrown open1 and they should

 come forth from their subterranean     
abysses into these above-ground regions 
which we inhabit3--when such   men      
beheld1 on a sudden1 the earth1 the sea1
 and the heavens2 when   they saw the   
expanded grandeur of the clouds1 and    
felt the mighty   power of the winds2   
when they looked up to the sun and      
beheld his   glorious magnitude and his 
beauty1 and knew something of his       
influence   and efficacy in all         
creation1--that it is he1 who1 by       
diffusing his   light through the whole 
heaven1 makes the day2 and when such    
mortals1   newly admitted on earth1     
should see by the departure of the sun  
the   whole creation veiled in the      
darkness of night1 while the whole      
heaven   was studded and bespangled with
 stars2 and when they saw and           
understood the various degrees of the   
light of the moon1 and the   increasings
 and decreasings of that heavenly body2 
and the various   risings and settings  
of all the celestial luminaries2 and1   

finally1   when such astonished and     
contemplating strangers on the earth's  
surface should know the appointed and   
never-erring and never-varying   courses
 and revolutions of all these glorious  
creatures1--they would1   with one      
voice1 confess that there was a ,god1   
and that all these   creatures were the 
works of that ,god6 ,but our minds1 by  
daily use1   become insensible to these 
things2 and as we daily see all these   
creatures we inquire not their nature1  
nor wonder at their glory3 as   if the  
novelty of such things1 and not their   
greatness and glory1 is   that which    
should lead us to meditate on their     
natures1 and the ends   of their        
creation40' ,thus far ,cicero1 the      
heathen6 ,i shall perhaps be   deemed by
 some a silly man for bringing forth    
these things out of the   books of a    
heathen6 ,let those that would fear     
,god1 then1 remember what   is required 
of them6          ,,psalm ,,cv4    ,an  
exhortation to praise ,god1 and to seek 

out his works4--,the story of   ,god's  
providence over ,abraham1--over         
,joseph1--over ,jacob1 in ,egypt1--over 
,moses delivering the ,israelites1--over
 the ,israelites brought out of         
,egypt1 fed in the wilderness1 and      
planted in ,canaan4      ,o give thanks 
unto the ,,lord2 call upon his name3    
make known his deeds   among the people4
    ,sing unto him1 sing psalms unto    
him3 talk ye of all his wondrous        
works4    ,glory ye in his holy name3   
let the heart of them rejoice that seek 
the   ,,lord4    ,seek the ,,lord1 and  
his strength3 seek his face evermore4   
,remember his marvellous works that he  
hath done2 his wonders1 and the         
judgments of his mouth2    ,o ye seed of
 ,abraham his servant1 ye children of   
,jacob his chosen4    ,he is the ,,lord 
our ,god3 his judgments are in all the  
earth4    ,he hath remembered his       
covenant for ever1 the word which he    
commanded to a thousand generations4    
,which covenant he made with ,abraham1  

and his oath unto ,isaac2    ,and       
confirmed the same unto ,jacob for a    
law1 and to ,israel for an   everlasting
 covenant3    ,saying1 ,unto thee will  
,i give the land of ,canaan1 the lot of 
your   inheritance3    ,when there were 
but a few men in number3 yea1 very few1 
and   strangers in it4    ,when they    
went from one nation to another1 from   
one kingdom to   another people2    ,he 
suffered no man to do them wrong3 yea1  
he reproved kings for their   sakes2    
,saying1 ,touch not mine anointed1 and  
do my prophets no harm4    ,moreover1 he
 called for a famine upon the land3 he  
brake the whole   staff of bread4    ,he
 sent a man before them1 even ,joseph1  
who was sold for a   servant3    ,whose 
feet they hurt with fetters3 he was laid
 in iron3    ,until the time that his   
word came3 the word of the ,,lord tried 
him4    ,the king sent and loosed him3  
even the ruler of the people1 and let   
him go free4    ,he made him lord of his
 house1 and ruler of all his substance3 

,to bind his princes at his pleasure2   
and teach his senators wisdom4          
,israel also came into ,egypt2 and      
,jacob sojourned in the land of ,ham4   
,and he increased his people greatly2   
and made them stronger than their       
enemies4    ,he turned their heart to   
hate his people1 to deal subtilly with  
his   servants4    ,he sent ,moses his  
servant2 and ,aaron whom he had chosen4 
,they shewed his signs among them1 and  
wonders in the land of ,ham4    ,he sent
 darkness1 and made it dark2 and they   
rebelled not against his   word4    ,he 
turned their waters into blood1 and slew
 their fish4    ,their land brought     
forth frogs in abundance1 in the        
chambers of their   kings4    ,he spake1
 and there came divers sorts of flies1  
and lice in all   their coasts4    ,he  
gave them hail for rain1 and flaming    
fire in their land4    ,he smote their  
vines also and their fig-trees2 and     
brake the trees of   their coasts4      
,he spake1 and the locusts came1 and    

caterpillers1 and that without   number1
    ,and did eat up all the herbs in    
their land1 and devoured the fruit of   
their ground4    ,he smote also all the 
first-born in their land1 the chief of  
all their   strength4    ,he brought    
them forth also with silver and gold3   
and there was not   one feeble person   
among their tribes4    ,egypt was glad  
when they departed3 for the fear of them
 fell upon   them4    ,he spread a cloud
 for a covering2 and fire to give light 
in the night4    ,the people asked1 and 
he brought quails1 and satisfied them   
with the   bread of heaven4    ,he      
opened the rock1 and the waters gushed  
out2 they ran in the dry   places like a
 river4    ,for he remembered his holy  
promise1 and ,abraham his servant4      
,and he brought forth his people with   
joy1 and his chosen with   gladness3    
,and gave them the lands of the heathen2
 and they inherited the labour   of the 
people2    ,that they might observe his 
statutes1 and keep his laws4 ,praise ye 

the   ,,lord4      ,this is a ,psalm of 
particular thanksgiving2 and a song     
especially   adapted to the people of   
the ,jews2 that in the use of this      
,psalm they   might render thanks unto  
,god for all those1 his wonderful works1
 which   he wrought from ,abraham down  
to the time when they were led into the 
promised land of ,canaan4 ,and the      
,psalmist1 having recounted all these   
glorious works in their order1 concludes
 with that word of ,moses1   7,deut4    
ix47 8,that ,god did not do all these   
mighty works on account of   any        
righteousness or merit of theirs1 but   
because of the covenant and   the       
promise which he had made with their    
fathers1 ,abraham1 ,isaac and   ,jacob30
 for how righteous they were and what   
they deserved at the hand   of ,god1 is 
sung in the ,psalm following4           
,,psalm ,,cvi4    ,the ,psalmist        
exhorteth to praise ,god4--,he prayeth  
for pardon of sin1   as ,god did with   
the fathers4--,the story of the people's

 rebellion1 and   ,god's mercy4--,he    
concludeth with prayer and praise4      
,praise ye the ,,lord4 ,o give thanks   
unto the ,,lord2 for he is good3 for    
his mercy endureth for ever4    ,who can
 utter the mighty acts of the ,,lord8   
who can shew forth all   his praise8    
,blessed are they that keep judgment1   
and he that doeth   righteousness at all
 times4    ,remember me1 ,o ,,lord1 with
 the favour that thou bearest unto thy  
people3 ,o visit me with thy salvation2 
,that ,i may see the good of thy chosen1
 that ,i may rejoice in the   gladness  
of thy nation1 that ,i may glory with   
thine inheritance4    ,we have sinned   
with our fathers1 we have committed     
iniquity1 we have   done wickedly4      
,our fathers understood not thy wonders 
in ,egypt2 they remembered not   the    
multitude of thy mercies2 but provoked  
him at the sea1 even at   the ,red ,sea4
    ,nevertheless he saved them for his 
name's sake1 that he might make his     
mighty power to be known4    ,he rebuked

 the ,red ,sea also1 and it was dried   
up3 so he led them   through the depths1
 as through the wilderness4    ,and he  
saved them from the hand of him that    
hated them1 and redeemed   them from the
 hand of the enemy4    ,and the waters  
covered their enemies3 there was not one
 of them left4    ,then believed they   
his words2 they sang his praise4        
,they soon forgat his works2 they waited
 not for his counsel3    ,but lusted    
exceedingly in the wilderness1 and      
tempted ,god in the   desert4    ,and he
 gave them their request2 but sent      
leanness into their soul4    ,they      
envied ,moses also in the camp1 and     
,aaron the saint of the ,,lord4    ,the 
earth opened and swallowed up ,dathan1  
and covered the company of   ,abiram4   
,and a fire was kindled in their        
company2 the flame burned up the        
wicked4    ,they made a calf in ,horeb1 
and worshipped the molten image4        
,thus they changed their glory into the 
similitude of an ox that eateth   grass4

    ,they forgat ,god their ,saviour1   
which had done great things in ,egypt2  
,wondrous works in the land of ,ham1 and
 terrible things by the ,red   ,sea4    
,therefore he said that he would destroy
 them1 had not ,moses his chosen   stood
 before him in the breach1 to turn away 
his wrath1 lest he should  destroy them4
    ,yea1 they despised the pleasant    
land2 they believed not his word2       
,but murmured in their tents1 and       
hearkened not unto the voice of the     
,,lord3    ,therefore he lifted up his  
hand against them1 to overthrow them in 
the   wilderness3    ,to overthrow their
 seed also among the nations1 and to    
scatter them in   the lands4    ,they   
joined themselves also unto ,baal-peor1 
and ate the sacrifices of   the dead4   
,thus they provoked him to anger with   
their inventions2 and the   plague brake
 in upon them4    ,then stood up        
,phinehas1 and executed judgment3 and so
 the plague was   stayed4    ,and that  
was counted unto him for righteousness1 

unto all generations   for evermore4    
,they angered him also at the waters of 
strife1 so that it went ill   with      
,moses for their sakes3    ,because they
 provoked his spirit1 so that he spake  
unadvisedly with   his lips4    ,they   
did not destroy the nations1 concerning 
whom the ,,lord commanded   them3       
,but were mingled among the heathen1 and
 learned their works4    ,and they      
served their idols2 which were a snare  
unto them4    ,yea1 they sacrificed     
their sons and their daughters unto     
devils1    ,and shed innocent blood1    
even the blood of their sons1 and of    
their   daughters1 whom they sacrificed 
unto the idols of ,canaan3 and the land 
was polluted with blood4    ,thus were  
they defiled with their own works1 and  
went a whoring with   their own         
inventions4    ,therefore was the wrath 
of the ,,lord kindled against his       
people1   insomuch that he abhorred his 
own inheritance4    ,and he gave them   
into the hand of the heathen2 and they  

that hated   them ruled over them4      
,their enemies also oppressed them1 and 
they were brought into   subjection     
under their hand4    ,many times did he 
deliver them3 but they provoked him with
 their   counsel1 and were brought low  
for their iniquity4    ,nevertheless1 he
 regarded their affliction1 when he     
heard their cry3    ,and he remembered  
for them his covenant1 and repented     
according to the   multitude of his     
mercies4    ,he made them also to be    
pitied of all those that carried them   
captives4    ,save us1 ,o ,,lord our    
,god1 and gather us from among the      
heathen1 to give   thanks unto thy holy 
name1 and to triumph in thy praise4     
,blessed be the ,,lord ,god of ,israel  
from everlasting to everlasting3   and  
let all the people say1 ,amen4 ,praise  
ye the ,,lord4      ,this is a ,psalm of
 acknowledgment1 of confession1 and of  
thanksgiving4   ,the ,psalmist confesses
 all those sins of murmuring and        
unbelief1 and   those other numerous    

transgressions against the first        
commandment1 by   which the people of   
,israel provoked ,god1 and rendered     
themselves   utterly unworthy of all his
 mercies4    ,at the conclusion of the  
,psalm1 therefore1 the ,psalmist        
proclaims the   exceeding greatness of  
the divine mercy of ,god2 whereby he    
continued   mindful of his counsel and  
his covenant1 and did not pour forth all
   his wrath1 but was merciful to them  
for his own name's sake4 ,as ,moses     
saith also1 7,deut4 ix47 8,know ye1 that
 not for your righteousness doth   the  
,lord ,god give unto you this good land3
 for ye are a stiff-necked   people40   
,therefore as the ,israelites1 the whole
 of that people of ,god1   could glory  
in nothing1 but that they were saved by 
the mercy and   grace of ,god2 so also  
we cannot glory in any work or merit of 
our own1   but in the mercy of ,god     
only6          ,,psalm ,,cvii4    ,the  
psalmist exhorteth the redeemed1 in     
praising ,god1 to observe his   manifold

 providence1 over travellers1 over      
captives1 over sick men1   over seamen1 
and in divers varieties of life4      ,o
 give thanks unto the ,,lord1 for he is 
good3 for his mercy   endureth for ever4
    ,let the redeemed of the ,,lord say 
so1 whom he hath redeemed from the      
hand of the enemy2    ,and gathered them
 out of the lands1 from the east1 and   
from the west1   from the north1 and    
from the south4    ,they wandered in the
 wilderness in a solitary way2 they     
found no city   to dwell in4    ,hungry 
and thirsty1 their soul fainted in them4
    ,then they cried unto the ,,lord in 
their trouble1 and he delivered   them  
out of their distresses4    ,and he led 
them forth by the right way1 that they  
might go to a city   of habitation4     
,oh that men would praise the ,,lord for
 his goodness1 and for his   wonderful  
works to the children of men6    ,for he
 satisfieth the longing soul1 and       
filleth the hungry soul with   goodness4
    ,such as sit in darkness and in the 

shadow of death1 being bound in         
affliction and iron2    ,because they   
rebelled against the words of ,god1 and 
contemned the   counsel of the ,most    
,high3    ,therefore he brought down    
their heart with labour3 they fell down1
 and   there was none to help4    ,then 
they cried unto the ,,lord in their     
trouble1 and he saved them   out of     
their distresses4    ,he brought them   
out of darkness and the shadow of death1
 and brake   their bands in sunder4     
,oh that men would praise the ,,lord for
 his goodness1 and for his   wonderful  
works to the children of men6    ,for he
 hath broken the gates of brass1 and cut
 the bars of iron in   sunder4          
,fools1 because of their transgression1 
and because of their   iniquities1 are  
afflicted3    ,their soul abhorreth all 
manner of meat2 and they draw near unto 
the   gates of death4    ,then they cry 
unto the ,,lord in their trouble2 and he
 saveth them out   of their distresses4 
,he sent his word and healed them1 and  

delivered them from their               
destructions4    ,oh that men would     
praise the ,,lord for his goodness1 and 
for his   wonderful works to the        
children of men6    ,and let them       
sacrifice the sacrifices of             
thanksgiving1 and declare his   works   
with rejoicing4    ,they that go down to
 the sea in ships1 that do business in  
great   waters2    ,these see the works 
of the ,,lord1 and his wonders in the   
deep4    ,for he commandeth1 and raiseth
 the stormy wind1 which lifteth up the  
waves thereof4    ,they mount up to the 
heaven1 they go down again to the       
depths2 their   soul is melted because  
of trouble4    ,they reel to and fro1   
and stagger like a drunken man1 and are 
at their   wit's end4    ,then they cry 
unto the ,,lord in their trouble1 and he
 bringeth them out   of their           
distresses4    ,he maketh the storm a   
calm1 so that the waves thereof are     
still4    ,then are they glad because   
they be quiet2 so he bringeth them unto 

their desired haven4    ,oh that men    
would praise the ,,lord for his         
goodness1 and for his   wonderful works 
to the children of men6    ,let them    
exalt him also in the congregation of   
the people1 and praise   him in the     
assembly of the elders4    ,he turneth  
rivers into a wilderness1 and the       
water-springs into dry   ground2    ,a  
fruitful land into barrenness1 for the  
wickedness of them that dwell   therein4
    ,he turneth the wilderness into a   
standing water1 and dry ground into     
water-springs4    ,and there he maketh  
the hungry to dwell1 that they may      
prepare a city   for habitation2    ,and
 sow the fields1 and plant vineyards1   
which may yield fruits of   increase4   
,he blesseth them also1 so that they are
 multiplied greatly1 and   suffereth not
 their cattle to decrease4    ,again1   
they are minished1 and brought low1     
through oppression1   affliction1 and   
sorrow4    ,he poureth contempt upon    
princes1 and causeth them to wander in  

the   wilderness1 where there is no way4
    ,yet setteth he the poor on high    
from affliction1 and maketh him         
families like a flock4    ,the righteous
 shall see it1 and rejoice2 and all     
iniquity shall stop   her mouth4        
,whoso is wise1 and will observe these  
things1 even they shall   understand the
 loving-kindness of the ,,lord4         
,this is a ,psalm of thanksgiving1 in   
general2 rendering praise for that      
infinite and incomparable mercy and     
goodness of ,god1 wherewith he   daily  
helps and succours all men1 both the    
righteous and the wicked1   under the   
various calamities of life1 and defends 
them against the   ,devil3 preserving   
also the public peace1 giving           
healthfulness of air   and climate1 and 
blessing the earth to the springing of  
its   productions2 as ,paul saith1 #b   
,tim4 ii4 8,who is the ,saviour of all  
men1   especially of them that believe40
    ,in the fourth verse1 where the     
,psalmist says1 8,they wandered in the  

wilderness in a solitary way10 he refers
 to all kinds of calamities2   and      
especially to the afflictions of those  
who are oppressed with   poverty1 who   
are exiles1 and deserted1 and wandering 
without any   certain dwelling-place4   
,in the ninth verse by those 8sitting in
 darkness10 c4 he means those           
throughout the whole world1 who on      
account of their own crimes1 or for     
other causes1 are held in bonds and in  
prisons1 and who are sometimes          
delivered by the interposition and help 
of ,god himself4    ,then again1 verse  
#f1 he refers to those who live wickedly
 and fear not   ,god2 on whom ,god sends
 diseases and distresses to punish them2
 of whom   some1 although they call not 
upon ,god1 are delivered by his pure    
mercy   alone4    ,in verse #bb1 he     
speaks of those who are in perils on the
 seas1 and   there enduring storms and  
shipwrecks2 under which calamities ,god 
often   delivers wicked sailors1 and    
preserves them from shipwreck and death1

   and from the power of the ,devil1 by 
his mere goodness and mercy4    ,verse  
#cb has reference to those fields and   
vineyards that are visited   with       
barrenness or any other calamity2 unto  
whom ,god gives rain and   fruitfulness1
 not according to their merits1 but of  
his abounding   mercy1 whereby he       
sendeth rain upon the just and upon the 
unjust4    ,verse #ch applies to those  
who are oppressed by the ,turk or any   
other   tyrants1 or by wars and         
seditions1 and whose all in this world  
is in   peril2 unto whom ,god often1 on 
a sudden1 gives peace and quietness1 as 
he calmeth the waves of the sea4        
,this ,psalm1 therefore1 shows that all 
salvation is to be sought and   expected
 from ,god alone2 who will never forsake
 his people1 or his   church1 or those  
that trust in him2 and that he often    
bestows these   benefits on the ,turks1 
and on the openly impious and profane2  
even   when they are seeking all these  
great blessings from their idols of     

wood and stone4 ,and we who profess the 
name of ,christ also1 not at all        
unlike the ,turks1 leave ,god our true  
and only ,saviour and implore the   help
 of saints4 ,hence ,st4 ,leonard is     
worshipped as the liberator of   the    
imprisoned2 ,st4 ,sebastian is invoked  
by those who are in dread of            
pestilence2 ,st4 ,george is the         
protecting saint of military troops of  
horse and foot2 ,st4 ,erasmus is said to
 bless with riches those that   call    
upon him2 ,st4 ,christopher is openly   
worshipped as the god of land   and sea2
 and his image is affixed to all doors  
of temples1 and to all   prows of ships1
 and adored by all sailors4 ,and thus we
 have divided   the glory of ,god and of
 his saving mercies1 which is due to him
 alone1   unto saints set up by         
idolatrous men2 just in the same way as 
the   heathens gave to their gods the   
attributes and functions which belong   
to ,god only4 ,this ,psalm1 however1    
rightly ascribes all the glory to   ,god

 alone4          ,,psalm ,,cviii4       
,david encourageth himself to praise    
,god4--,he prayeth for ,god's           
assistance according to his             
promise4--,his confidence in ,god's     
help4    ,a ,song or ,psalm of ,david4  
,o ,god1 my heart is fixed2 ,i will sing
 and give praise1 even with my   glory4 
,awake1 psaltery and harp2 ,i myself    
will awake early4    ,i will praise     
thee1 ,o ,,lord1 among the people2 and  
,i will sing praises   unto thee among  
the nations4    ,for thy mercy is great 
above the heavens1 and thy truth        
reacheth   unto the clouds4    ,be thou 
exalted1 ,o ,god1 above the heavens2 and
 thy glory above all the   earth3       
,that thy beloved may be delivered1 save
 with thy right hand1 and   answer me4  
,god hath spoken in his holiness1 ,i    
will rejoice2 ,i will divide   ,shechem1
 and mete out the valley of ,succoth4   
,gilead is mine2 ,manasseh is mine2     
,ephraim also is the strength   of mine 
head2 ,judah is my law-giver2    ,moab  

is my washpot2 over ,edom will ,i cast  
out my shoe2 over   ,philistia will ,i  
triumph4    ,who will bring me into the 
strong city8 who will lead me into      
,edom8    ,wilt not thou1 ,o ,god1 who  
hast cast us off8 and wilt not thou1 ,o 
,god1 go forth with our hosts8    ,give 
us help from trouble3 for vain is the   
help of man4    ,through ,god we shall  
do valiantly3 for he it is that shall   
tread   down our enemies4      ,this is 
a ,psalm of thanksgiving of the same    
substance1 and almost in   the same     
words as ,psalm lx42 wherein the        
,psalmist gives thanks for the   happy  
state of his kingdom1 for the           
establishment of the true religion   and
 good government1 and for the increase  
of his dominions4    ,the first verses  
of the ,psalm1 however1 refer to the    
kingdom of   ,christ4 ,david prays that 
,god would be pleased to set up this    
kingdom   of ,christ in all nations2    
that thus the kingdom and dominion of   
,david   may be extended far and wide   

throughout all nations1 according to the
   promise4 ,for this temporal kingdom  
of ,david was confined within very      
narrow limits in comparison with the    
whole world1 and was a kingdom   not    
likely to be extended over all the      
nations and people of the   earth2 and  
yet this kingdom ,god promised to       
enlarge and extend1 as in   ,isaiah1    
8,and in that day there shall be a root 
of ,jesse1 which shall   stand for an   
ensign of the people10 ,isa4 xi4 #aj4   
,and again1 chapter   ix4 #g1 8,upon the
 throne of ,david1 and upon his kingdom1
 to order it   and to establish it for  
ever40          ,,psalm ,,cix4          
,david1 complaining of his slanderous   
enemies1 under the person of   ,judas   
devoteth them4--,he sheweth their       
sin4--,complaining of his own   misery1 
he prayeth for help4--,he promiseth     
thankfulness4    ,to the chief          
,musician1 ,a ,psalm of ,david4         
,hold not thy peace1 ,o ,god of my      
praise2    ,for the mouth of the wicked 

and the mouth of the deceitful are      
opened   against me3 they have spoken   
against me with a lying tongue4    ,they
 compassed me about also with words of  
hatred2 and fought against   me without 
a cause4    ,for my love they are my    
adversaries3 but ,i give myself unto    
prayer4    ,and they have rewarded me   
evil for good1 and hatred for my love4  
,set thou a wicked man over him3 and let
 ,satan stand at his right hand4        
,when he shall be judged1 let him be    
condemned3 and let his prayer   become  
sin4    ,let his days be few2 and let   
another take his office4    ,let his    
children be fatherless1 and his wife a  
widow4    ,let his children be          
continually vagabonds1 and beg3 let them
 seek   their bread also out of their   
desolate places4    ,let the extortioner
 catch all that he hath3 and let the    
strangers   spoil his labour4    ,let   
there be none to extend mercy unto him3 
neither let there be any   to favour his
 fatherless children4    ,let his       

posterity be cut off2 and in the        
generation following let   their name be
 blotted out4    ,let the iniquity of   
his fathers be remembered with the      
,,lord2 and let   not the sin of his    
mother be blotted out4    ,let them be  
before the ,,lord continually1 that he  
may cut off the   memory of them from   
the earth4    ,because that he          
remembered not to shew mercy1 but       
persecuted the poor   and needy man1    
that he might even slay the broken in   
heart4    ,as he loved cursing1 so let  
it come unto him3 as he delighted not in
   blessing1 so let it be far from him4 
,as he clothed himself with cursing like
 as with his garment1 so let it   come  
into his bowels like water1 and like oil
 into his bones4    ,let it be unto him 
as the garment which covereth him1 and  
for a   girdle wherewith he is girded   
continually4    ,let this be the reward 
of mine adversaries from the ,,lord1 and
 of   them that speak evil against my   
soul4    ,but do thou for me1 ,o ,,god  

the ,lord1 for thy name's sake3 because 
thy   mercy is good1 deliver thou me4   
,for ,i am poor and needy1 and my heart 
is wounded within me4    ,i am gone like
 the shadow when it declineth3 ,i am    
tossed up and down   as the locust4     
,my knees are weak through fasting2 and 
my flesh faileth of fatness4    ,i      
became also a reproach unto them3 when  
they looked upon me they   shaked their 
heads4    ,help me1 ,o ,,lord my ,god3  
,o save me according to thy mercy3      
,that they may know that this is thy    
hand2 that thou1 ,,lord1 hast   done it4
    ,let them curse1 but bless thou3    
when they arise1 let them be ashamed2   
but let thy servant rejoice4    ,let    
mine adversaries be clothed with shame1 
and let them cover   themselves with    
their own confusion1 as with a mantle4  
,i will greatly praise the ,,lord with  
my mouth2 yea1 ,i will praise him       
among the multitude4    ,for he shall   
stand at the right hand of the poor1 to 
save him from   those that condemn his  

soul4      ,certain hypocrites of monks 
are accustomed to use this ,psalm1      
7generally known by the name of #8,the  
,god of praise1'7 as a sort of          
incantation3 and they say that1 to a    
certainty1 against what person   soever 
they babble and sing out the terrible   
words of this ,psalm2 that   man is at  
once death-struck1 and never lives a    
year afterwards4    ,this ,psalm1       
however1 is most certainly full of the  
complaints1 tears1   and groans of the  
godly against these very hypocrites     
themselves4 ,it   may be very properly  
considered as used in the person of     
,christ1   deeply complaining against   
his betrayers the ,jews1 and against the
   cruelty of the ,jews1 which was not  
satisfied1 even after the shedding   of 
his innocent blood4    ,like unto ,judas
 ,iscariot1 and unto all the ,jews1 are 
pharisaical   saints and hypocrites1 of 
all nations and ages2 of whom ,christ   
doth   not say in vain1 that they are   
guilty of all the blood that has been   

shed from ,abel downwards4 ,for so great
 and bitter is the terribleness   and   
fury of their virulent and ,satanic     
hatred1 that they cannot rest           
satisfied with the shedding of the blood
 of ,abel and all the saints   from the 
beginning of the world1 but must hang   
,christ himself on the   cross2 and that
 is not all1 they must 7as the ,psalmist
 saith1 ver4   #bb47 wag their heads at 
him1 and insult and mock his sufferings2
 8,if   he be the ,king of ,israel1 let 
him now come down from the cross40      
,concerning these wretches1 ,david says1
 7ver4 #b47 8,they have opened   their  
blaspheming mouth against me30 for the  
raving fury of such   hypocrites is     
incredible4 ,and again he says1 8,for my
 love they are my   adversaries1 but ,i 
give myself unto prayer4 ,and they have 
rewarded me   evil for good1 and hatred 
for my love40 ,and again1 8,they fight  
against   me without a cause40    ,these
 are the true and real colours of these 
hypocrites who pretend to   be in the   

truth4 ,we have here pourtrayed not only
 the ,cainish   countenances of these   
,iscariots1 but their pharisaic and     
virulent   hearts themselves2 which are 
now become organs and instruments of the
   devil4 ,and we have also here        
depicted their thoughts1 their furious  
purposes of injuring and harming1 by    
which the minds of such are             
incessantly actuated4 ,for these        
embittered wretches knowingly and       
purposely1 and against the light of     
their own consciences1 fight   against  
and deny the known truth2 and1 as       
,stephen says1 cease not to   resist the
 ,holy ,ghost4 ,and although they are   
convinced by natural   reason1 by the   
,scriptures1 and by their natural       
understanding1 they   still reject and  
fight against ,god and ,christ1 and     
harden themselves   in the denial of the
 truth4 ,and finally1 8,they delight not
 in   blessing20 but refuse and cast    
from them ,god and his ,christ4    ,in  
addition to all this1 they 8render evil 

for good40 ,the ingratitude   of these  
hypocrites and of the world surely is   
enough1 in not   returning any thing for
 all that good which is offered to them 
by ,god   himself1 and by the saints in 
his name3 but they rest not here2 they  
render1 for all this good1 hatred and   
cursing1 and a purpose to injure   and  
to destroy3 which is manifestly not     
human1 but ,satanic cruelty4    ,but we1
 the people of ,god1 are hereby         
admonished throughout all times   and   
ages of the church that1 whenever ,god  
is pleased to reveal his   word1 and    
,christ is preached1 so surely will the 
church have her   ,judases3 that is1 so 
surely will she have her enemies and her
   hypocrites2 who1 though they boast of
 the name of being the church of   ,god1
 will prove themselves 8vipers40    ,to 
set forth1 therefore1 the terrible      
judgments that shall fall on   those1   
who thus1 with cruelty and without      
mercy1 rage against the   people of     
,god1 the ,psalmist shows 7ver4 #af47   

that ,god will1 to   recompense their   
iniquity1 direct his fury also against  
them1 who thus   mercilessly oppress    
8his poor10 and will pour out all his   
wrath upon   them3 and that1 as these   
hypocrites so confidently despised ,god 
and   his saints2 and as1 though covered
 with the shed blood1 and bathed   with 
the tears of so many saints1 they still 
laughed at their   calamities1 as if    
they really sought cursing and not      
blessing2 so1   that cursing shall flow 
in upon them like a river4    ,and again
 7saith ,david7 they have cast away the 
word of ,god from them1   and have      
rejected and despised the offered       
salvation1 therefore all   consolation  
and salvation shall depart from them1   
and no more be   brought near unto them1
 neither now nor to all eternity4 ,on   
the other   hand1 as they loved cursing1
 they shall be clothed with it as with a
   girdle2 it shall enter like water    
into their bowels1 and like oil into    
their bones3 and they shall bear about  

with them1 like ,cain1   everlasting    
fears and terrors1 and shall be         
tormented unceasingly with   the stings 
of their wickedness and sin2 and they   
shall moreover be   exiles1 deserted    
outcasts1 vagabonds1 and held in        
contempt of all1 as   the ,jews now are1
 exhibiting an awful fulfilment of the  
judgments   herein denounced4           
,,psalm ,,cx4    ,the kingdom1 the      
priesthood1 the conquest1 and the       
passion of   ,christ4    ,a ,psalm of   
,david4      ,the ,,lord said unto my   
,lord1 ,sit thou at my right hand1 until
 ,i make   thine enemies thy footstool4 
,the ,,lord shall send the rod of thy   
strength out of ,zion3 rule thou in     
the midst of thine enemies4    ,thy     
people shall be willing in the day of   
thy power1 in the beauties   of holiness
 from the womb of the morning3 thou hast
 the dew of thy   youth4    ,the ,,lord 
hath sworn1 and will not repent1 ,thou  
art a priest for ever   after the order 
of ,melchizedek4    ,the ,,lord at thy  

right hand shall strike through kings in
 the day of   his wrath4    ,he shall   
judge among the heathen1 he shall fill  
the places with the   dead bodies2 he   
shall wound the heads over many         
countries4    ,he shall drink of the    
brook in the way3 therefore shall he    
lift up the   head4      ,this is a     
peculiar and glorious prophecy          
concerning the kingdom of   ,christ4    
,this ,psalm is cited by ,christ        
himself1 ,matt4 xxii4 and he   applies  
it to his own kingdom and priesthood4   
,it speaks gloriously of   ,christ      
sitting at the right hand of the        
,majesty in the heaven1 and as   being  
the son and the seed of ,david1         
according to the flesh1 and also        
,david's ,lord and ,god1 the ,creator   
and the ,maker of all things1 all       
power being given unto him in heaven and
 in earth3 as the apostle also   saith1 
8,who was born of the seed of ,david    
according to the flesh1 and   declared  
to be the ,son of ,god with power1      

according to the spirit of   holiness40 
,rom4 i4 #c4    ,christ cites this      
,psalm1 7which1 as we have said1 is a   
very glorious   one7 to confound the    
,pharisees4 ,indeed there is not a      
,psalm like it in   the whole scripture2
 and it ought to be very dear unto the  
church2   seeing that it confirms that  
great article of faith--,christ's       
sitting   at the right hand of ,god the 
,father ,almighty4 ,for ,christ is here 
declared to be a ,king and ,priest2     
sitting at ,god's right hand1 not   only
 as truly man1 but also as properly     
,god2 the ,propitiator and   ,mediator  
between ,god and men2 the ,omnipotent   
and the ,eternal6    ,christ is no      
where1 throughout all the books of the  
prophets1 and of   the whole scripture1 
so plainly and clearly declared to be 8a
 ,priest10   and so 8a ,priest for      
ever10 who alone did1 and alone could   
abrogate   the ,aaronic and ,levitical  
priesthood2 and who is1 and ever will be
 an   eternal propitiation and          

reconciliation for us2 as is most       
beautifully1 most fully1 and with a     
wonderful power of the ,holy   ,spirit1 
opened by the author of the epistle to  
the ,hebrews4    ,hence1 this heavenly  
and golden ,psalm has a blessed author  
7,david7 and   a glorious interpreter   
7,christ47 ,and all the apostles1 all   
godly   consciences1 and all who are not
 utterly unacquainted with the          
temptations of sin1 and of ,satan1 know 
how great and firm a   consolation it is
 against all the violent attacks of the 
devil1 to be   able to see ,christ as   
our ,high ,priest4 ,hence it is that    
,paul breaks   forth into those great   
words1 8,if ,god be for us1 who can be  
against   us6 ,who is he that           
condemneth8 ,it is ,christ that died2   
yea1 rather   that is risen again2 who  
is even at the right hand of ,god2 who  
also   maketh intercession for us40     
,rom4 viii4 #ca-cd4    ,it is1          
therefore1 of infinite benefit to the   
universal church of   ,christ1 that the 

glorious things of this ,psalm1 the     
remission of sins1   and the            
reconciliation of ,god toward us1 which 
are brought in unto us   by the         
priesthood of ,christ1 and which are    
infinite and eternal1 are   most        
carefully and most fully explained to us
 in the epistle to the   ,hebrews2 and  
that such glorious doctrines of the     
truth concerning the   priesthood of    
,christ are always present1 and ready to
 our hands4          ,,psalm ,,cxi4     
,the ,psalmist by his example inciteth  
others to praise ,god for his   glorious
 and gracious works4--,the fear of ,god 
breedeth true wisdom4      ,praise ye   
the ,,lord4 ,i will praise the ,,lord   
with my whole heart1 in   the assembly  
of the upright1 and in the congregation4
    ,the works of the ,,lord are great1 
sought out of all them that have        
pleasure therein4    ,his work is       
honourable and glorious2 and his        
righteousness endureth   for ever4      
,he hath made his wonderful works to be 

remembered3 the ,,lord is   gracious and
 full of compassion4    ,he hath given  
meat unto them that fear him3 he will   
ever be mindful of   his covenant4      
,he hath shewed his people the power of 
his works1 that he may give   them the  
heritage of the heathen4    ,the works  
of his hands are verity and judgment2   
all his commandments   are sure4        
,they stand fast for ever and ever1 and 
are done in truth and   uprightness4    
,he sent redemption unto his people3 he 
hath commanded his covenant for   ever3 
holy and reverend is his name4    ,the  
fear of the ,,lord is the beginning of  
wisdom3 a good   understanding have all 
they that do his commandments3 his      
praise   endureth for ever4      ,this  
is a ,psalm of thanksgiving1 and a song 
for the people of ,israel1   to be sung 
at the feast of the passover1 or at the 
eating of the   paschal ,lamb4 ,for by  
this short song the people were         
instructed to   give thanks1 and to     
magnify and praise ,god for those great 

and   glorious works of his1--the       
leading them out of ,egypt at the first2
 and   also1 for giving them a good and 
divine government1 for the priesthood   
he established1 for the law he gave     
them1 and for appointing the   preaching
 of his word2 for their feasts and for  
their ,sabbaths1 for   public peace and 
a good administration of the laws1 and1 
in a word1   for all his infinite       
mercies3 all which ,i have more fully   
opened in my   more extended commentary 
on this ,psalm4          ,,psalm ,,cxii4
    ,godliness hath the promises of this
 life1 and of the life to   come4--,the 
prosperity of the godly shall be an     
eyesore to the wicked4      ,praise ye  
the ,,lord4 ,blessed is the man that    
feareth the ,,lord1   that delighteth   
greatly in his commandments4    ,his    
seed shall be mighty upon earth3 the    
generation of the upright   shall be    
blessed4    ,wealth and riches shall be 
in his house3 and his righteousness     
endureth for ever4    ,unto the upright 

there ariseth light in the darkness3 he 
is   gracious1 and full of compassion1  
and righteous4    ,a good man sheweth   
favour1 and lendeth3 he will guide his  
affairs with   discretion4    ,surely he
 shall not be moved for ever3 the       
righteous shall be in   everlasting     
remembrance4    ,he shall not be afraid 
of evil tidings3 his heart is fixed1    
trusting   in the ,,lord4    ,his heart 
is established1 he shall not be afraid1 
until he see his   desire upon his      
enemies4    ,he hath dispersed1 he hath 
given to the poor2 his righteousness    
endureth for ever2 his horn shall be    
exalted with honour4    ,the wicked     
shall see it1 and be grieved2 he shall  
gnash with his   teeth1 and melt away3  
the desire of the wicked shall perish4  
,this is a ,psalm of consolation for    
those that fear ,god3 in which those    
that truly fear him are encouraged and  
praised in their ,christian             
conversation3 8,blessed is the man that 
feareth the ,lord10 saith the           

,psalmist4 ,as if he had said1 ,the     
people of ,god appear to them to be of  
all men the most miserable2 and both    
their life and their doctrine are       
condemned by the world1 and by those    
tongues which the devil raises up   and 
uses for the work4 ,all things in the   
saints make them appear to   the world1 
as if they were left and forsaken1 and  
deserted of ,god1 and   as if they1 and 
their posterity1 and all like them1 must
 surely   perish4 ,and then again1 their
 lives and conversations1 7though they  
render most essential services1 both to 
their nation and to the   church1 and   
though they conduct themselves          
blamelessly before ,god and   man17 are1
 by the malice of the devil1 represented
 as most abominable1   and they         
themselves are looked upon as the       
contempt and off-scouring   of the      
earth4    ,on the other hand1 all       
hypocrites in the world are lauded as   
the   saints of ,god4 8,but10 as the    
wise man saith1 8better is the little in

   the house of the righteous1 than the 
great revenues of the wicked40 ,in   the
 midst of all this false representation1
 however1 the righteous1   standing fast
 in all these their afflictions1 and    
steadily trusting in   ,god1 are        
delivered and saved1 and gain blessed   
consolation1 while the   wicked perish  
on every side4 8,to the upright10 saith 
the ,psalmist1   8there ariseth light in
 darkness40 ,here1 according to the     
general   language of the scriptures1 he
 calleth consolation1 light2 and        
temptation1 darkness4    ,and1 then1 in 
the end of the ,psalm1 that noble and   
unsubdued   steadiness of faith is      
greatly praised3 which1 in such mighty  
struggles1 and in such agonizing        
conflicts1 is yet unwearied and         
unyielding1 resting in the promise of   
,god2 and which1 though   contending    
with such mighty waves1 is yet enabled  
to sing with ,paul1   8,thanks be unto  
,god who always causeth us to triumph in
 ,christ40 8,he   shall not be afraid of

 evil tidings10 saith the ,psalmist1    
8his heart   is fixed1 trusting in the  
,lord3 his heart is established1 he     
shall not   be afraid until he see his  
desire upon his enemies40 verse #g1 #h4 
,for   unless there were in us divine   
strength communicated by ,christ1 it    
would be impossible that we could stand 
against such numerous and   mighty      
assaults of temptation4          ,,psalm
 ,,cxiii4    ,an exhortation to praise  
,god for his excellency1--for his mercy4
      ,praise ye the ,lord4 ,praise1 ,o 
ye servants of the ,,lord1 praise the   
name   of the ,,lord4    ,blessed be the
 name of the ,,lord from this time forth
 and for evermore4    ,from the rising  
of the sun unto the going down of the   
same the ,,lord',s   name is to be      
praised4    ,the ,,lord is high above   
all nations1 and his glory above the    
heavens4    ,who is like unto the ,,lord
 our ,god1 who dwelleth on high1    ,who
 humbleth himself to behold the things  
that are in heaven1 and   in the earth6 

,he raiseth up the poor out of the dust1
 and lifteth the needy out of   the     
dunghill2    ,that he may set him with  
princes1 even with the princes of his   
people4    ,he maketh the barren woman  
to keep house1 and to be a joyful mother
   of children4 ,praise ye the ,,lord4  
,this is a most conspicuous and most    
blessed prophecy of the kingdom of      
,christ1 and of its extension from the  
rising unto the setting of the   sun    
throughout all the kingdoms of the      
earth3 it calls upon all   nations to   
laud and magnify ,god1 and to proclaim  
the riches of his   grace2 that is1 the 
remission of sins for ,christ's sake4   
,for ,christ is   the ,god of the       
humble1 the ,god of the afflicted1 and  
the ,god of those   that call upon him  
and that cry unto him2 he is an         
altogether loving   and lovely ,saviour 
and ,god1 who sitteth at the right hand 
of the   ,majesty on high1 and loves and
 has respect unto the humble1 the       
afflicted1 the oppressed1 and the       

trembling and contrite in heart4    ,the
 peculiar and express office of ,christ1
 and the work of the kingdom   of       
,christ is to bring down the proud1 to  
put to shame the wise1 and to   condemn 
hypocrites and false saints3 and1 on the
 other side1 to raise   up and exalt the
 humble1 to enlighten and instruct      
fools1 to sanctify   unclean sinners1 to
 make fruitful the barren1 to comfort   
the   fatherless2 that is1 those who are
 in any way afflicted or distressed4    
,,psalm ,,cxiv4    ,an exhortation1 by  
the example of the dumb creatures1 to   
fear ,god in   his church4      ,when   
,israel went out of ,egypt1 the house of
 ,jacob from a people of   strange      
language1    ,judah was his sanctuary1  
and ,israel his dominion4    ,the sea   
saw it1 and fled2 ,jordan was driven    
back4    ,the mountains skipped like    
rams1 and the little hills like lambs1  
,what ailed thee1 ,o thou sea1 that thou
 fleddest8 thou ,jordan1 that   thou    
wast driven back8    ,ye mountains1 that

 ye skipped like rams2 and ye little    
hills like   lambs8    ,tremble1 thou   
earth1 at the presence of the ,,lord1 at
 the presence of   the ,god of ,jacob2  
,which turned the rock into a standing  
water1 the flint into a   fountain of   
waters4      ,this is a ,psalm of       
thanksgiving1 and a song for the people 
of ,israel1   to praise ,god while      
celebrating the feast of the passover2  
to magnify   him for bringing them with 
a high hand out of ,egypt1 through the  
,red   ,sea1 through the desert1 over   
mountains1 and through ,jordan1 into the
   land of promise4 ,we use this ,psalm 
to give thanks unto ,christ1 who        
delivered us from the kingdom of        
darkness1 and translated us into the    
kingdom of light1 even into his own     
kingdom1 the kingdom of ,god's dear     
,son1 and led us forth into eternal     
life4          ,,psalm ,,cxv4           
,because ,god is truly glorious1 and    
idols are vanity1 he exhorteth to       
confidence in ,god4--,god is to be      

blessed for his blessings4      ,not    
unto us1 ,o ,,lord1 not unto us1 but    
unto thy name give glory1 for   thy     
mercy1 and for thy truth's sake4        
,wherefore should the heathen say1      
,where is now their ,god8    ,but our   
,god is in the heavens2 he hath done    
whatsoever he hath   pleased4    ,their 
idols are silver and gold1 the work of  
men's hands4    ,they have mouths1 but  
they speak not2 eyes have they1 but they
 see   not2    ,they have ears1 but they
 hear not2 noses have they1 but they    
smell   not2    ,they have hands1 but   
they handle not2 feet have they1 but    
they walk   not2 neither speak they     
through their throat4    ,they that make
 them are like unto them2 so is every   
one that   trusteth in them4    ,o      
,israel1 trust thou in the ,,lord2 he is
 their help and their shield4    ,o     
house of ,aaron1 trust in the ,,lord2 he
 is their help and their   shield4      
,ye that fear the ,,lord1 trust in the  
,,lord2 he is their help and their      

shield4    ,the ,,lord hath been mindful
 of us2 he will bless us3 he will bless 
the house of ,israel1 he will bless the 
house of ,aaron4    ,he will bless them 
that fear the ,,lord1 both small and    
great4    ,the ,,lord shall increase you
 more and more1 you and your children4  
,ye are blessed of the ,,lord which made
 heaven and earth4    ,the heaven1 even 
the heavens1 are the ,,lord',s3 but the 
earth hath   he given to the children of
 men4    ,the dead praise not the       
,,lord1 neither any that go down into   
silence4    ,but we will bless the      
,,lord from this time forth and for     
evermore4   ,praise the ,,lord4         
,this is a glorious ,psalm of           
thanksgiving1 wherein the ,god of       
,israel is   praised1 as being the one1 
only1 true1 living ,god1 the ,saviour of
 all   men1 and especially of them that 
believe2 and wherein also1 all the      
other gods of the nations1 who can save 
neither themselves nor others1   are    
confessed1 in the true faith1 to be dumb

 idols4    ,wherefore the ,psalmist1 in 
the first verse1 saith 8,not unto us1 ,o
   ,lord1 not unto us1 but unto thy name
 give the glory40 ,as if he had   said1 
#8,look not upon us1 ,o ,lord1 to see   
how good or how righteous we   are1 for 
if thou do this1 thou wilt never help   
us1 thou wilt never   save us2 we shall 
remain a people without salvation1 and  
without ,god1   like all the nations    
around us2 or we shall ever be at an    
uncertainty   whether we shall be saved 
or not4 ,but look1 ,o our ,god1 at thy  
holy   word1 and at the glory of thine  
own name1--that thou callest thyself    
our ,god2 and that thou art the true and
 the living ,god1 with whom is   mercy1 
and with whom is plenteous redemption4  
,according1 ,o ,lord1 to   thy promises 
of grace1 according to thy counsel and  
thy covenant1 in   the which thou hast  
said1 8,i am the ,lord your ,god20      
according to this   thy glorious name   
deal thou with us1 ,o ,lord2 but not    
according to any   name of ours1 whereby

 we may be called sacrificers1 or       
good-workers1   or singers1 or fathers1 
or the like3 for all these names the    
nations   that know not thee may assume1
 and yet remain still nations without   
,god4'          ,,psalm ,,cxvi4    ,the 
psalmist professeth his love and duty to
 ,god for his   deliverance4--,he       
studieth to be thankful4      ,i love   
the ,,lord1 because he hath heard my    
voice and my   supplications4           
,because he hath inclined his ear unto  
me1 therefore will ,i call upon   him as
 long as ,i live4    ,the sorrows of    
death compassed me1 and the pains of    
hell gat hold upon   me3 ,i found       
trouble and sorrow4    ,then called ,i  
upon the name of the ,,lord3 ,o ,,lord1 
,i beseech thee1   deliver my soul4     
,gracious is the ,,lord1 and righteous2 
yea1 our ,god is merciful4    ,the      
,,lord preserveth the simple3 ,i was    
brought low1 and he helped me4          
,return unto thy rest1 ,o my soul2 for  
the ,,lord hath dealt bountifully   with

 thee4    ,for thou hast delivered my   
soul from death1 mine eyes from tears1  
and my feet from falling4    ,i will    
walk before the ,,lord in the land of   
the living4    ,i believed1 therefore   
have ,i spoken3 ,i was greatly          
afflicted4    ,i said in my haste1 ,all 
men are liars4    ,what shall ,i render 
unto the ,,lord for all his benefits    
towards me8    ,i will take the cup of  
salvation1 and call upon the name of the
 ,,lord4    ,i will pay my vows unto the
 ,,lord now in the presence of all his  
people4    ,precious in the sight of the
 ,,lord is the death of his saints4     
,o ,,lord1 truly ,i am thy servant2 ,i  
am thy servant1 and the son of   thine  
handmaid3 thou hast loosed my bonds4    
,i will offer to thee the sacrifice of  
thanksgiving1 and will call upon   the  
name of ,,lord4    ,i will pay my vows  
unto the ,,lord now in the presence of  
all his   people1    ,in the courts of  
the ,,lord',s house1 in the midst of    
thee1 ,o ,jerusalem4   ,praise ye the   

,,lord4      ,this is a ,psalm of       
thanksgiving1 in which the ,psalmist    
renders thanks1   after coming out of a 
most heavy trial1 and again rejoices in 
,god2   praising ,god for having        
delivered him from the terrors of death1
 and   from the pains of hell2 for by   
such terms does he express those deep   
and heavy spiritual temptations1        
concerning which he had spoken   before1
 ,psalm vi41 which are not known unto   
all4 ,and the ,psalmist   complains also
 that he suffered all these things1 and 
was thus   overwhelmed and almost       
destroyed by these heavy trials1 because
 of his   confession of his faith and   
the truth of ,god before the world4 8,i 
believed 7saith he7 and therefore have  
,i spoken30 but ,i am heavily           
afflicted for the word's sake4 ,for all 
the saints confess and teach   the      
righteousness of faith2 and1 on the     
other hand1 they expose and   condemn   
all the righteousness1 wisdom1 and      
holiness of the world1 and   also all   

hypocrisy1 and the outside form of      
godliness4 ,and this the   world will by
 no means whatever endure3 they ever    
rage and roar   against it3 and they    
load the godly with every kind of       
affliction1   because of their unsocial 
confession3 and hence arise all those   
terrors without and those fears within1 
by which the church of ,christ   and the
 saints have ever been afflicted from   
the kingdom of the devil1   in the midst
 of which their confession is made4     
,but amid all these great1 and hard1 and
 numerous afflictions of ,satan   and   
the world1 the ,psalmist has this firm  
consolation1 that his work   and cause  
are right before ,god2 therefore he     
comforts and encourages   himself by    
relying on the word of ,god1 and stirs  
up and strengthens   himself unto all   
confidence4 8,i will take 7saith he7 the
 cup of   salvation1 and call upon the  
name of the ,lord40 ,as if he had said1 
,if   they drink my destruction from the
 cup of their fury1 and hate and        

persecute me unto death2 what then8 8,i 
will take the cup of ,god's   salvation 
and helping grace30 that is 7as if he   
had said71 ,supporting   and            
strengthening my faith with the glad    
word of thy promise1 as with   strong   
and generous wine1 ,i shall be filled   
with the ,spirit1 by   drinking of that 
cup2 and1 by my continuing to preach and
 spread the   word1 ,i shall hold out   
the cup to others also1 who confess with
 me the   same truth1 and preach the    
same word2 that they also may draw the  
same   consolation with me1 out of the  
same most blessed word of the grace of  
,god4    ,this 7saith the ,psalmist7 is 
our case1 and this is the way in which  
we   drink of it and use it4 ,we drink  
of it ourselves1 and then we hold it    
out to others1 and invite them to drink 
also2 and this is the true   worship of 
,god2 and by this we laud and magnify   
his name4 ,by this   service we truly   
pay our vows unto ,god1 namely1 the vow 
of the first   commandment1 paid unto   

,god by his people2 for the greatest and
 highest   vow of the first commandment 
is this--,god1 the true1 the living     
,god1   alone shall be our ,god3 we will
 cleave unto him alone3 him only will   
we adore2 him only will we worship2 him 
only will we seek2 on him only   will we
 call6    ,as1 therefore1 in many other 
,psalms1 so also in this1 you may see   
what   is the true sacrifice of praise  
7of that praise which is wrought in     
the heart and in the spirit by the ,holy
 ,ghost1 and is not lip-service   only47
 ,and in this ,psalm you may also see   
that the true preaching of   the word1  
and the true confession of the word1    
before the world1 form   the highest and
 most precious worship of ,god4         
,,psalm ,,cxvii4    ,an exhortation to  
praise ,god for his mercy and truth4    
,o praise the ,,lord1 all ye nations3   
praise him1 all ye people4    ,for his  
merciful kindness is great toward us3   
and the truth of the   ,,lord endureth  
for ever4 ,praise ye the ,,lord4        

,this is a prophecy concerning ,christ2 
that all peoples out of all   kingdoms  
and islands1 shall know ,christ in his  
kingdom2 that is1 in   his church2 in   
that kingdom where mercy and grace1 and 
the remission   of sins1 and eternal    
life1 and everlasting consolation1 shall
 be   preached against sin1 death1 the  
power of the devil1 and all evil4       
,this ,psalm has been before explained  
in my more full commentary   thereon4   
,,psalm ,,cxviii4    ,an exhortation to 
praise ,god for his mercy4--,the        
psalmist by his   experience sheweth how
 good it is trust in ,god4--,under the  
type of the   psalmist1 the coming of   
,christ in his kingdom is expressed4    
,o give thanks unto the ,,lord2 for he  
is good2 because his mercy   endureth   
for ever4    ,let ,israel now say1 that 
his mercy endureth for ever4    ,let the
 house of ,aaron now say1 that his mercy
 endureth for ever4    ,let them now    
that fear the ,,lord say1 that his mercy
 endureth for   ever4    ,i called upon 

the ,,lord in distress3 the ,,lord      
answered me1 and set me   in a large    
place4    ,the ,,lord is on my side2 ,i 
will not fear3 what can man do unto me8 
,the ,,lord taketh my part with them    
that help me3 therefore shall ,i see    
my desire upon them that hate me4    ,it
 is better to trust in the ,,lord1 than 
to put confidence in man3    ,it is     
better to trust in the ,,lord1 than to  
put confidence in   princes4    ,all    
nations compassed me about3 but in the  
name of the ,,lord will ,i   destroy    
them4    ,they compassed me about2 yea1 
they compassed me about3 but in the name
   of the ,,lord ,i will destroy them4  
,they compassed me about like bees2 they
 are quenched as the fire of   thorns3  
for in the name of the ,,lord ,i will   
destroy them4    ,thou hast thrust sore 
at me1 that ,i might fall3 but the      
,,lord helped   me4    ,the ,,lord is my
 strength and song1 and is become my    
salvation4    ,the voice of rejoicing   
and salvation is in the tabernacles of  

the   righteous3 the right hand of the  
,,lord doeth valiantly4    ,the right   
hand of the ,,lord is exalted2 the right
 hand of the ,,lord   doeth valiantly4  
,i shall not die1 but live1 and declare 
the works of the ,,lord4    ,the ,,lord 
hath chastened me sore3 but he hath not 
given me over unto   death4    ,open to 
me the gates of righteousness3 ,i will  
go in to them1 and ,i   will praise the 
,lord2    ,this gate of the ,,lord1 into
 which the righteous shall enter4    ,i 
will praise thee2 for thou hast heard   
me1 and art become my   salvation4      
,the stone which the builders refused is
 become the head stone of   the corner4 
,this is the ,,lord',s doing2 it is     
marvellous in our eyes4    ,this is the 
day which the ,,lord hath made2 we will 
rejoice and be   glad in it4    ,save   
now1 ,i beseech thee1 ,o ,,lord3 ,o     
,,lord1 ,i beseech thee1 send now       
prosperity4    ,blessed be he that      
cometh in the name of the ,,lord3 we    
have blessed   you out of the house of  

the ,,lord4    ,god is the ,,lord1 which
 hath shewed us light3 bind the         
sacrifice with   cords1 even unto the   
horns of the altar4    ,thou art my     
,god1 and ,i will praise thee2 thou art 
my ,god1 ,i will   exalt thee4    ,o    
give thanks unto the ,,lord2 for he is  
good3 for his mercy   endureth for ever4
      ,this is also a ,psalm of         
thanksgiving4 ,this ,psalm1 8,o give    
thanks unto   the ,lord10 which ,i so   
much love and admire1 is the one which  
,i1 in   particular1 call the golden    
,psalm2 and is the ,psalm which has     
often   revived and comforted me in my  
temptations4    ,the ,psalmist gives    
thanks1 and at the same time utters     
forth a   prophecy concerning ,christ1  
who by his suffering entered into glory2
   who is that stone rejected of the    
builders1 which became the head of   the
 corner2 as ,christ himself also saith1 
,matt4 xxi4 citing this   ,psalm4 ,the  
,psalmist also describes with blessed   
feelings of heart the   joyful day of   

the gospel1 the day of salvation and    
peace1 the day of   joy and consolation1
 and the true and glorious feast-day4   
,among other things the ,psalmist speaks
 of the church and the children   of    
,god1 who are to be conformed to the    
image of his ,son2 shewing1 that   they 
must be surrounded with afflictions on  
every side1 and by the   cross and      
through death enter into glory4    ,a   
brief summary1 however1 like this1      
cannot set forth the great and          
glorious contents of this ,psalm3 but my
 particular and more full   ,commentary 
on it will supply1 in some measure1 what
 is here wanting4          ,,psalm      
,,cxix4    ,this psalm containeth sundry
 prayers1 praises1 and professions of   
obedience4       ,,aleph4    ,blessed   
are the undefined in the way1 who walk  
in the law of the   ,,lord4    ,blessed 
are they that keep his testimonies1 and 
that seek him with   the whole heart4   
,they also do no iniquity3 they walk in 
his ways4    ,thou hast commanded us to 

keep thy precepts diligently4    ,o that
 my ways were directed to keep thy      
statutes4    ,then shall ,i not be      
ashamed1 when ,i have respect unto all  
thy   commandments4    ,i will praise   
thee with uprightness of heart1 when ,i 
shall have   learned thy righteous      
judgments4    ,i will keep thy statutes3
 ,o forsake me not utterly4             
,,beth4    ,wherewithal shall a young   
man cleanse his way8 by taking heed     
thereto according to thy word4    ,with 
my whole heart have ,i sought thee3 ,o  
let me not wander from thy              
commandments4    ,thy word have ,i hid  
in mine heart1 that ,i might not sin    
against thee4    ,blessed art thou1 ,o  
,,lord3 teach me thy statutes4    ,with 
my lips have ,i declared all the        
judgments of thy mouth4    ,i have      
rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies1 
as much as in all   riches4    ,i will  
meditate in thy precepts1 and have      
respect unto thy ways4    ,i will       
delight myself in thy statutes3 ,i will 

not forget thy word4       ,,gimel4     
,deal bountifully with thy servant1 that
 ,i may live1 and keep thy   word4      
,open thou mine eyes1 that ,i may behold
 wondrous things out of thy law4    ,i  
am a stranger in the earth3 hide not thy
 commandments from me4    ,my soul      
breaketh for the longing that it hath   
unto thy judgments at   all times4      
,thou hast rebuked the proud that are   
cursed1 which do err from thy           
commandments4    ,remove from me        
reproach and contempt2 for ,i have kept 
thy testimonies4    ,princes also did   
sit and speak against me3 but thy       
servant did   meditate in thy statutes4 
,thy testimonies also are my delight and
 my counsellors4       ,,daleth4    ,my 
soul cleaveth unto the dust3 quicken    
thou me according to thy word4    ,i    
have declared my ways1 and thou heardest
 me3 teach me thy statutes4    ,make me 
to understand the way of thy precepts3  
so shall ,i talk of thy   wondrous      
works4    ,my soul melteth for          

heaviness3 strengthen thou me according 
unto thy   word4    ,remove from me the 
way of lying3 and grant me thy law      
graciously4    ,i have chosen the way of
 truth3 thy judgments have ,i laid      
before me4    ,i have stuck unto thy    
testimonies3 ,o ,,lord1 put me not to   
shame4    ,i will run the way of thy    
commandments1 when thou shalt enlarge my
   heart4       ,,he4    ,teach me1 ,o  
,,lord1 the way of thy statutes3 and ,i 
shall keep it unto   the end4    ,give  
me understanding1 and ,i shall keep thy 
law2 yea1 ,i shall observe   it with my 
whole heart4    ,make me to go in the   
path of thy commandments2 for therein do
 ,i   delight4    ,incline my heart unto
 thy testimonies1 and not to            
covetousness4    ,turn away mine eyes   
from beholding vanity2 and quicken thou 
me in   thy way4    ,stablish thy word  
unto thy servant1 who is devoted to thy 
fear4    ,turn away my reproach which ,i
 fear3 for thy judgments are good4      
,behold ,i have longed after thy        

precepts3 quicken me in thy             
righteousness4       ,,vau4    ,let thy 
mercies come also unto me1 ,o ,,lord1   
even thy salvation1   according to thy  
word4    ,so shall ,i have wherewith to 
answer him that reproacheth me3 for ,i  
trust in thy word4    ,and take not the 
word of truth utterly out of my mouth2  
for ,i have   hoped in thy judgments4   
,so shall ,i keep thy law continually   
for ever and ever4    ,and ,i will walk 
at liberty3 for ,i seek thy precepts4   
,i will speak of thy testimonies also   
before kings1 and will not be   ashamed4
    ,and ,i will delight myself in thy  
commandments1 which ,i have loved4      
,my hands also will ,i lift up unto thy 
commandments which ,i have loved2   and 
,i will meditate in thy statutes4       
,,zain4    ,remember the word unto thy  
servant1 upon which thou hast caused me 
to   hope4    ,this is my comfort in my 
affliction3 for thy word hath quickened 
me4    ,the proud have had me greatly in
 derision3 yet have ,i not declined     

from thy law4    ,i remembered thy      
judgments of old1 ,o ,,lord2 and have   
comforted myself4    ,horror hath taken 
hold upon me because of the wicked that 
forsake thy   law4    ,thy statutes have
 been my songs in the house of my       
pilgrimage4    ,i have remembered thy   
name1 ,o ,,lord1 in the night1 and have 
kept thy   law4    ,this ,i had1 because
 ,i kept thy precepts4       ,,cheth4   
,thou art my portion1 ,o ,,lord3 ,i have
 said that ,i would keep thy   words4   
,i entreated thy favour with my whole   
heart3 be merciful unto me   according  
to thy word4    ,i thought on my ways1  
and turned my feet unto thy testimonies4
    ,i made haste1 and delayed not to   
keep thy commandments4    ,the bands of 
the wicked have robbed me1 but ,i have  
not forgotten thy   law4    ,at midnight
 ,i will rise to give thanks unto thee1 
because of thy   righteous judgments4   
,i am a companion of all them that fear 
thee1 and of them that keep   thy       
precepts4    ,the earth1 ,o ,,lord1 is  

full of thy mercy3 teach me thy         
statutes4       ,,teth4    ,thou hast   
dealt well with thy servant1 ,o ,,lord1 
according unto thy   word4    ,teach me 
good judgment and knowledge3 for ,i have
 believed thy   commandments4    ,before
 ,i was afflicted ,i went astray2 but   
now have ,i kept thy word4    ,thou art 
good1 and doest good3 teach me thy      
statutes4    ,the proud have forged a   
lie against me3 but ,i will keep thy    
precepts   with my whole heart4         
,their heart is as fat as grease3 but ,i
 delight in thy law4    ,it is good for 
me that ,i have been afflicted2 that ,i 
might learn thy   statutes4    ,the law 
of thy mouth is better unto me than     
thousands of gold and   silver4         
,,jod4    ,thy hands have made me and   
fashioned me3 give me understanding1    
that ,i   may learn thy commandments4   
,they that fear thee will be glad when  
they see me3 because ,i have   hoped in 
thy word4    ,i know1 ,o ,,lord1 that   
thy judgments are right1 and that thou  

in   faithfulness hast afflicted me4    
,let1 ,i pray thee1 thy merciful        
kindness be for my comfort1 according   
to thy word unto thy servant4    ,let   
thy tender mercies come unto me1 that ,i
 may live3 for thy law is   my delight4 
,let the proud be ashamed3 for they     
dealt perversely with me without a      
cause3 but ,i will meditate in thy      
precepts4    ,let those that fear thee  
turn unto me1 and those that have known 
thy   testimonies4    ,let my heart be  
sound in thy statutes1 that ,i be not   
ashamed4       ,,caph4    ,my soul      
fainteth for thy salvation2 but ,i hope 
in thy word4    ,mine eyes fail for thy 
word1 saying1 ,when wilt thou comfort   
me8    ,for ,i am become like a bottle  
in the smoke2 yet do ,i not forget thy  
statutes4    ,how many are the days of  
thy servant8 when wilt thou execute     
judgment on them that persecute me8     
,the proud have digged pits for me1     
which are not after thy law4    ,all thy
 commandments are faithful3 they        

persecute me wrongfully2   help thou me4
    ,they had almost consumed me upon   
earth3 but ,i forsook not thy           
precepts4    ,quicken me after thy      
loving-kindness2 so shall ,i keep the   
testimony of   thy mouth4       ,,lamed4
    ,for ever1 ,o ,,lord1 thy word is   
settled in heaven4    ,thy faithfulness 
is unto all generations3 thou hast      
established the   earth1 and it abideth4
    ,they continue this day according to
 thine ordinances3 for all are   thy    
servants4    ,unless thy law had been my
 delights1 ,i should then have perished 
in   mine affliction4    ,i will never  
forget thy precepts3 for with them thou 
hast quickened   me4    ,i am thine1    
save me2 for ,i have sought thy         
precepts4    ,the wicked have waited for
 me to destroy me3 but ,i will consider 
thy   testimonies4    ,i have seen an   
end of all perfection3 but thy          
commandment is   exceeding broad4       
,,mem4    ,o how love ,i thy law6 it is 
my meditation all the day4    ,thou     

through thy commandments hast made me   
wiser than mine enemies3   for they are 
ever with me4    ,i have more           
understanding than all my teachers3 for 
thy testimonies   are my meditation4    
,i understand more than the ancients1   
because ,i keep thy precepts4    ,i have
 refrained my feet from every evil way1 
that ,i might keep thy   word4    ,i    
have not departed from thy judgments2   
for thou hast taught me4    ,how sweet  
are thy words unto my taste6 yea1       
sweeter than honey to my   mouth6       
,through thy precepts ,i get            
understanding3 therefore ,i hate every  
false   way4       ,,nun4    ,thy word  
is a lamp unto my feet1 and a light unto
 my path4    ,i have sworn1 and ,i will 
perform it1 that ,i will keep thy       
righteous   judgments4    ,i am         
afflicted very much3 quicken me1 ,o     
,,lord1 according unto thy word4        
,accept1 ,i beseech thee1 the free-will 
offerings of my mouth1 ,o ,,lord1   and 
teach me thy judgments4    ,my soul is  

continually in my hand3 yet do ,i not   
forget thy law4    ,the wicked have laid
 a snare for me3 yet ,i erred not from  
thy   precepts4    ,thy testimonies have
 ,i taken as an heritage for ever2 for  
they are   the rejoicing of my heart4   
,i have inclined mine heart to perform  
thy statutes alway1 even unto   the end4
       ,,samech4    ,i hate vain        
thoughts3 but thy law do ,i love4       
,thou art my hiding place and my shield3
 ,i hope in thy word4    ,depart from   
me1 ye evildoers3 for ,i will keep the  
commandments of my   ,god4    ,uphold me
 according unto thy word1 that ,i may   
live3 and let me not be   ashamed of my 
hope4    ,hold thou me up1 and ,i shall 
be safe3 and ,i will have respect unto  
thy   statutes continually4    ,thou    
hast trodden down all them that err from
 thy statutes3 for their   deceit is    
falsehood4    ,thou puttest away all the
 wicked of the earth like dross3        
therefore   ,i love thy testimonies4    
,my flesh trembleth for fear of thee2   

and ,i am afraid of thy judgments4      
,,ain4    ,i have done judgment and     
justice3 leave me not to mine           
oppressors4    ,be surety for thy       
servant for good3 let not the proud     
oppress me4    ,mine eyes fail for thy  
salvation1 and for the word of thy      
righteousness4    ,deal with thy servant
 according unto thy mercy1 and teach me 
thy   statutes4    ,i am thy servant2   
give me understanding1 that ,i may know 
thy   testimonies4    ,it is time for   
thee1 ,,lord1 to work3 for they have    
made void thy   law4    ,therefore ,i   
love thy commandments above gold2 yea1  
above fine gold4    ,therefore ,i esteem
 all thy precepts concerning all things 
to be   right2 and ,i hate every false  
way4       ,,pe4    ,thy testimonies are
 wonderful3 therefore doth my soul keep 
them4    ,the entrance of thy words     
giveth light2 it giveth understanding   
unto   the simple4    ,i opened my      
mouth1 and panted3 for ,i longed for thy
 commandments4    ,look thou upon me1   

and be merciful unto me1 as thou usest  
to do unto   those that love thy name4  
,order my steps in thy word3 and let not
 any iniquity have dominion   over me4  
,deliver me from the oppression of man3 
so will ,i keep thy precepts4    ,make  
thy face to shine upon thy servant2 and 
teach me thy statutes4    ,rivers of    
waters run down mine eyes1 because they 
keep not thy law4       ,,tsaddi4       
,righteous art thou1 ,o ,,lord1 and     
upright are thy judgments4    ,thy      
testimonies that thou hast commanded are
 righteous and very   faithful4    ,my  
zeal hath consumed me3 because mine     
enemies have forgotten thy   words4     
,thy word is very pure3 therefore thy   
servant loveth it4    ,i am small and   
despised2 yet do not ,i forget thy      
precepts4    ,thy righteousness is an   
everlasting righteousness1 and thy law  
is   the truth4    ,trouble and anguish 
have taken hold on me2 yet thy          
commandments   are my delights4    ,the 
righteousness of thy testimonies is     

everlasting3 give me   understanding1   
and ,i shall live4       ,,koph4    ,i  
cried with my whole heart2 hear me1 ,o  
,,lord3 ,i will keep thy   statutes4    
,i cried unto thee2 save me1 and ,i     
shall keep thy testimonies4    ,i       
prevented the dawning of the morning1   
and cried3 ,i hoped in thy   word4      
,mine eyes prevent the night-watches1   
that ,i might meditate in thy   word4   
,hear my voice1 according unto thy      
loving-kindness3 ,o ,,lord1 quicken me  
according to thy judgment4    ,they draw
 nigh that follow after mischief3 they  
are far from thy law4    ,thou art near1
 ,o ,,lord2 and all thy commandments are
 truth4    ,concerning thy testimonies1 
,i have known of old that thou hast     
founded   them for ever4       ,,resh4  
,consider mine affliction1 and deliver  
me2 for ,i do not forget thy law4       
,plead my cause1 and deliver me3 quicken
 me according to thy word4    ,salvation
 is far from the wicked3 for they seek  
not thy statutes4    ,great are thy     

tender mercies1 ,o ,,lord2 quicken me   
according to thy   judgments4    ,many  
are my persecutors and mine enemies2 yet
 do ,i not decline   from thy           
testimonies4    ,i beheld the           
transgressors1 and was grieved2 because 
they kept not thy   word4    ,consider  
how ,i love thy precepts3 quicken me1 ,o
 ,,lord1 according to thy               
loving-kindness4    ,thy word is true   
from the beginning3 and every one of thy
   righteous judgments endureth for     
ever4       ,,schin4    ,princes have   
persecuted me without a cause3 but my   
heart standeth in   awe of thy word4    
,i rejoice at thy word1 as one that     
findeth great spoil4    ,i hate and     
abhor lying3 but thy law do ,i love4    
,seven times a-day do ,i praise thee1   
because of thy righteous   judgments4   
,great peace have they which love thy   
law3 and nothing shall offend   them4   
,,lord1 ,i have hoped for thy salvation1
 and done thy commandments4    ,my soul 
hath kept thy testimonies2 and ,i love  

them exceedingly4    ,i have kept thy   
precepts and thy testimonies3 for all my
 ways are   before thee4       ,,tau4   
,let my cry come near before thee1 ,o   
,,lord2 give me understanding           
according to thy word4    ,let my       
supplication come before thee2 deliver  
me according to thy   word4    ,my lips 
shall utter praise1 when thou hast      
taught me thy statutes4    ,my tongue   
shall speak of thy word3 for all thy    
commandments are   righteousness4       
,let thine hand help me3 for ,i have    
chosen thy precepts4    ,i have longed  
for thy salvation1 ,o ,,lord2 and thy   
law is my delight4    ,let my soul live1
 and it shall praise thee2 and let thy  
judgments help   me4    ,i have gone    
astray like a lost sheep3 seek thy      
servant2 for ,i do not   forget thy     
commandments4      ,this ,psalm is the  
most extended in the whole ,psalter4 ,it
 contains   prayers1 consolations1      
doctrines1 thanksgivings1 and repeats   
all these   with a varied fulness4 ,it  

is however given forth with a deep and  
blessed intent3 namely1 that by this    
repetition and fulness1 it may   invite 
and exhort us to hear and diligently to 
treasure up the word of   ,god4 ,for    
throughout the whole ,psalm the         
,psalmist exalts unto the   heavens1    
with the highest praises1 the pure      
doctrine of ,god's holy   word4 ,he sets
 it forth as to be preferred before all 
gold and precious   stones1 and before  
all the riches of the world2 as ,solomon
 also   beautifully speaks of it in his 
,proverbs4    ,on the other hand1 the   
,psalmist earnestly warns against all   
false   doctrine and against all        
security and contempt of the word4 ,for 
no   pestilence is more destroying than 
false doctrine1 or human doctrines      
without or contrary to the word of ,god4
 ,and knowing that ,satan without       
cessation assaults the church of ,god   
with all kinds of heresies and   false  
doctrine2 the ,psalmist takes up a great
 part of this ,psalm in   consolations4 

,the principal1 and indeed whole        
foundation and truth of godliness lies  
in the pure teaching and hearing of the 
word of ,god4 ,for where that   word is 
purely taught and heard1 there1 to a    
certainty1 will be   begotten pure and  
prevailing prayer1 calling upon ,god1   
diligence in   reading1 teaching1 and   
exhortation1 consolation for the weak   
that are   afflicted and tried1         
strengthening of heart and spirit1 joy1 
peace of   conscience1 thanksgivings1   
prophecyings1 an abundant understanding 
of   the scriptures2 and1 in a word1    
true religion1 and the true worship of  
,god2 and also1 confidence in ,god under
 the cross and afflictions1 and         
perseverance unto the end2 and1 finally1
 all the blessed operations   and gifts 
of the ,holy ,spirit1 and all those     
things which please ,god   and displease
 the ,devil4    ,on the contrary1 where 
the pure word is not taught1 or where   
there is   a weariness and loathing of  
the word1 there the true religion       

becomes   extinguished1 and all true    
worship of ,god perishes4 ,for where the
 true   word of ,god is not taught1     
there is not any truth of ,god2 there is
   found a great noise of external      
holiness1 and the form of godliness1    
and hypocrisy2#a there1 indeed1 is      
psalm-singing1 prayer1 doctrines1       
consolation1 thanksgiving1 and all the  
varieties of the worship of   ,god1 with
 all interpretations of the scriptures4 
,i will add1 also1   that there you may 
find sufferings and martyrdoms4 ,but all
 is outside   show2 all is the form of  
godliness only2 all is false2 all is    
feigned1   and nothing but lies2 all is 
full of the poison of the devil4 ,nor   
without true faith in the heart1 nor    
without the divine word1 nor   without  
the worship of the ,first ,commandment1 
is there1 or can there   be1 any true   
and real worship of ,god4    ,footnote  
#a3 ,luther is here deeply opening up   
the extent to which the   8form of      
godliness0 may be carried1 yet without  

the truth and 8power0   of it4    ,how  
many thousands of priests and monks have
 sung this ,psalm at their   first1     
third1 sixth1 and ninth hours1 in their 
temples4    ,but what did they do during
 all their singings8 ,they did nothing  
else   but call down ,god's judgment and
 indignation on their own heads6 ,for   
the design of this ,psalm1 in every word
 of it1 is to glorify the word   of     
,god1 and to confound1 put to shame1    
destroy1 and blot out all   hypocrisy   
upon the face of the earth4             
,,psalm ,,cxx4    ,david prayeth against
 ,doeg1 reproveth his tongue1           
complaineth of his   necessary          
conversation with the wicked4    ,a     
,song of degrees4      ,in my distress  
,i cried unto the ,,lord1 and he heard  
me4    ,deliver my soul1 ,o ,,lord1 from
 lying lips1 and from a deceitful       
tongue4    ,what shall be given unto    
thee1 or what shall be done unto thee1  
thou   false tongue8    ,sharp arrows of
 the mighty1 with coals of juniper4     

,woe is me that ,i sojourn in ,mesech1  
that ,i dwell in the tents of   ,kedar6 
,my soul hath long dwelt with him that  
hateth peace4    ,i am for peace3 but1  
when ,i speak1 they are for war4        
,this ,psalm is an earnest prayer2 and  
it complains1 with deep feelings   of   
sorrow1 of those horrible evils which   
,satan causes in the church by   a false
 and crafty tongue3 that is1 by that    
virulent and truly   serpentine tongue  
which boasts of ,god and the worship of 
,god1 and   never instructs any one in  
the truth1 nor leads them to ,god4      
,for false teachers cause infinite and  
terrible evils in the church2   and like
 giants with immense weapons in their   
hands1 they never strike   without      
inflicting some mighty wound3 or1 like  
fire-brands cast into a   grove of      
juniper trees1 they consume in all      
directions1 with a sudden   and         
devouring flame4 ,and just so1 the      
common people often burst out   into one
 general flame1 even by the throwing in 

among them of one   single spark of     
false and wicked doctrine2 and not only 
do they blaze   forth with a sudden     
flame of their minds and spirits1 but   
even greatly   admire the error and the 
hypocrisy4 ,for all doctrines of this   
kind1 as   being more congenial to human
 reason than the truth of ,god1 quickly 
please men2 as ,paul saith1 #b ,tim4 iv4
 8,they will heap to themselves         
teachers1 having itching ears40         
,mesech are the nations nigh unto       
,jerusalem itself1 towards the north2   
where the ,tartars now are4 ,and ,kedar 
are the ,arabs1 to the east of          
,jerusalem4 ,these nations are types of 
all enemies and heretics who   oppose   
themselves as adversaries to the true   
church4 ,the ,mesech of   ,christians1  
at this time are the ,turks1 who derive 
their origin from   the ,tartars4 ,and  
the ,kedar are ,mahomet and the         
,saracens2 for they are   from ,arabia4 
,these with their ,alcoran have         
oppressed and laid waste   the ,gospel  

in many places3 and that fire of wicked 
doctrine1 broke out   into a mighty     
blaze1 just like a brand cast into a    
thicket of juniper   trees4             
,,psalm ,,cxxi4    ,the great safety of 
the godly1 who put their trust in ,god's
   protection4    ,a ,song of degrees4  
,i will lift up mine eyes unto the      
hills1 from whence cometh my help4      
,my help cometh from the ,,lord1 which  
made heaven and earth4    ,he will not  
suffer thy foot to be moved3 he that    
keepeth thee will not   slumber4        
,behold1 he that keepeth ,israel shall  
neither slumber nor sleep4    ,the      
,,lord is thy keeper2 the ,,lord is     
shade upon thy right hand4    ,the sun  
shall not smite thee by day1 nor the    
moon by night4    ,the ,,lord shall     
preserve thee from all evil3 he shall   
preserve thy   soul4    ,the ,,lord     
shall preserve thy going out1 and thy   
coming in1 from this   time forth1 and  
even for evermore4      ,this is a      
,psalm of consolation1 wherein the      

,psalmist1 from his own   experience1   
exhorts the godly to a constancy of     
faith1 and to an   expectation of help  
and defence from ,god4 ,for although in 
the hour of   temptation ,god puts off  
his help1 and all things appear as if he
 were   asleep1 or had forgotten us     
altogether1 and had left us to be       
scorched   by the heat of the sun by    
day1 and by the beams of the moon by    
night2   that is1 as though he had given
 us up to be afflicted and destroyed by 
all manner of temptations1 by ,satan1 by
 the world1 and by sin1 day and   night3
 yet it is not so2--he has not given us 
up1 as we1 according to   the weakness  
of our flesh1 imagine and feel4 ,he sees
 and regards us1   and watches over us2 
nor does he suffer us to be so burnt as 
to be   destroyed1 nor so tempted or    
distressed1 as to be swallowed up of    
over-much sorrow3 and this all blessedly
 experience1 who call upon him   for his
 help and patiently wait for it4        
,,psalm ,,cxxii4    ,david professeth   

his joy for the church1 and prayeth for 
the peace   thereof4    ,a ,song of     
degrees of ,david4      ,i was glad when
 they said unto me1 ,let us go into the 
house of the   ,,lord4    ,our feet     
shall stand within thy gates1 ,o        
,jerusalem4    ,jerusalem is builded as 
a city that is compact together3        
,whither the tribes go up1 the tribes of
 the ,,lord1 unto the testimony   of    
,israel1 to give thanks unto the name of
 the ,,lord4    ,for there are set      
thrones of judgment1 the thrones of the 
house of   ,david4    ,pray for the     
peace of ,jerusalem3 they shall prosper 
that love thee4    ,peace be within thy 
walls1 and prosperity within thy        
palaces4    ,for my brethren and        
companions' sakes1 ,i will now say1     
,peace be   within thee4    ,because of 
the house of the ,,lord our ,god ,i will
 seek thy good4      ,this is a ,psalm  
of thanksgiving1 it contains the        
feelings of a glad1 a   rejoicing1 and a
 thankful heart1 for that unspeakable   

gift of ,god1--the   ministry of his    
word4 ,this ,psalm in the person of the 
,jews1 rejoices   that ,god had         
appointed a certain place1 namely       
,jerusalem1 in the midst   of that      
people1 where the name and the word of  
,god had a certain   dwelling-place and 
could there be found3 and where it was  
administered   by certain persons1 the  
,levites and the priests1 to certain    
disciples2   namely1 to the tribes of   
,israel4    ,for what calamity or misery
 can be greater than to seek the word of
   ,god anxiously1 and not be able to   
find it8 ,this calamity and misery   the
 children of ,israel experienced in the 
times of ,god's anger1 when1   being    
forsaken by him1 and left to their own  
inventions1 they sought   and worshipped
 idols4 ,and in these our times of      
monkery also1 the   masses and the      
travellings about to so many ,marys have
 given abundant   proofs of what it is  
to seek the word of ,god and not to find
 it4    ,our ,jerusalem1 our certain    

place1 is the church1 and our temple is 
,christ4 ,wheresoever ,christ is        
preached and the sacraments are duly    
administered1 there we are sure ,god    
dwells2 and there is our temple1   our  
tabernacle1 our cherubim1 and our       
mercy-seat2 for there ,god is   present 
with us by his word4          ,,psalm   
,,cxxiii4    ,the godly profess their   
confidence in ,god1 and pray to be      
delivered   from contempt4    ,a ,song  
of degrees4      ,unto thee lift ,i up  
mine eyes1 ,o thou that dwellest in the 
heavens4    ,behold1 as the eyes of     
servants look unto the hand of their    
masters1   and as the eyes of a maiden  
unto the hand of her mistress2 so our   
eyes wait upon the ,,lord our ,god1     
until that he have mercy upon us4       
,have mercy upon us1 ,o ,,lord1 have    
mercy upon us3 for we are exceedingly   
filled with contempt4    ,our soul is   
exceedingly filled with the scorning of 
those that are at   ease1 and with the  
contempt of the proud4      ,this ,psalm

 is a fervent prayer against all those  
secure and proud   despisers of the word
 of ,god and its true ministers4 ,and   
the ,gentile   nations were not the only
 despisers who contemned the whole      
religion   of the ,israelites and the   
true worship of ,god1 and condemned it  
as   sedition altogether3 but the       
idolaters and false teachers which were 
in the midst of that very people        
themselves proudly despised and         
derided the godly1 that little flock of 
,god1 and the true prophets2 as         
,psalms xii4 and xiv4 complain4 ,and in 
the same way also our papists   and     
fanatics now1 who seem in their own eyes
 to be more holy than the   gospel      
itself1 more proudly and contemptuously 
than any others   despise1 trample      
underfoot1 and spit upon all true and   
good ministers   of the word of ,god4   
,not to say anything now about that     
security and   pride wherein1 at this   
day1 even our bishops and priests       
themselves1   who are more profane than 

all heathen nations put together1       
despise   the true word of ,god4 ,so    
that we1 as the ,psalmist saith in its  
conclusion1 are indeed filled with the  
derision of the rich and the   contempt 
of the proud4 ,but may ,god1 7and he    
will67 regard us1 and   glorify his     
word4 ,amen4          ,,psalm ,,cxxiv4  
,the church blesseth ,god for a         
miraculous deliverance4    ,a ,song of  
degrees of ,david4      ,if it had not  
been the ,,lord who was on our side1 now
 may ,israel say2    ,if it had not been
 the ,,lord who was on our side when men
 rose up   against us2    ,then they had
 swallowed us up quick1 when their wrath
 was kindled   against us3    ,then the 
waters had overwhelmed us1 the stream   
had gone over our soul3    ,then the    
proud waters had gone over our soul4    
,blessed be the ,,lord1 who hath not    
given us as a prey to their   teeth4    
,our soul is escaped as a bird out of   
the snare of the fowlers3 the   snare is
 broken1 and we are escaped4    ,our    

help is in the name of the ,,lord1 who  
made heaven and earth4      ,the        
,psalmist1 in this ,psalm1 gives thanks 
unto ,god for defending his   little    
helpless flock1 here in the midst of the
 kingdom of the devil1   struggling     
against all temptations1 against        
tyrants1 and against   bloodthirsting   
hypocrites2 and for delivering them from
 the snares of   virulent calumniators2 
the number of whom is so great1 that    
compared   with the little flock of     
,god1 they are like a sweeping torrent1 
or a   mighty deluge1 to one solitary   
rivulet4    ,though1 however1 their     
teeth were of iron2 that is1 though     
their power   were infinitely greater   
than it is1 and though their snares     
7that is1   their cunning devices17 were
 infinitely more crafty than they are2  
yet   8,greater is he that is in us1    
than he that is in the world20 he breaks
   and destroys their teeth1 he         
defeateth their snares1 and wonderfully 
delivers his people1 as we have seen it 

in our own times1 on many and   great   
occasions4          ,,psalm ,,cxxv4     
,the safety of such as trust in         
,god4--,a prayer for the godly1 and     
against the wicked4    ,a ,song of      
degrees4      ,they that trust in the   
,,lord shall be as mount ,zion1 which   
cannot   be removed1 but abideth for    
ever4    ,as the mountains are round    
about ,jerusalem1 so the ,,lord is round
   about his people from henceforth1    
even for ever4    ,for the rod of the   
wicked shall not rest upon the lot of   
the   righteous2 lest the righteous put 
forth their hands unto iniquity4    ,do 
good1 ,o ,,lord1 unto those that be     
good1 and to them that are   upright in 
their hearts4    ,as for such as turn   
aside unto their crooked ways1 the      
,,lord shall lead   them forth with the 
workers of iniquity3 but peace shall be 
upon   ,israel4      ,this also is a    
,psalm of thanksgiving containing the   
feelings of an   exercised faith3       
thanking ,god1 that1 although he        

sometimes permits   false prophets and  
fanatical spirits to prevail1 as if they
 would   possess all things 7which thing
 ,god often does so permit to be1 as a  
punishment for the ingratitude of his   
people1 who value not the   blessing of 
the word27 yet he visits such with the  
more terrible   judgment1 and suffers   
them not to prevail in all things       
against the   righteous1 lest the       
righteous1 being entirely broken by too 
great   afflictions and sorrows1 should1
 through discouragement and despair1    
fall away from the word unto ungodliness
 and sin4    ,for the final end of all  
false teachers and blasphemers ever     
is1--confusion1 terrible judgment1 and  
destruction2 8,and their glory10   as   
the apostle saith1 8is turned into      
shame40 ,but the end of the poor   flock
 of ,god1 even though the church be     
proved and tried by a thousand   fires  
and deaths1 though it appear a thousand 
times over to be   oppressed1 destroyed 
and extirpated is1--eternal life1       

eternal   consolation1 eternal glory6   
,this is what the ,psalmist means1 when 
he   says1 8,the ,lord doth good to them
 that be good1 and to them that are     
upright in their hearts3 but as for them
 that turn aside unto their   crooked   
ways1 the ,lord shall lead them forth   
with the evil doers1 but   peace shall  
be upon ,israel40          ,,psalm      
,,cxxvi4    ,the church1 celebrating her
 incredible return out of captivity1    
prayeth for1 and prophesieth the good   
success thereof4    ,a ,song of degrees4
      ,when the ,,lord turned again the 
captivity of ,zion1 we were like them   
that dream4    ,then was our mouth      
filled with laughter1 and our tongue    
with singing3   then said they among the
 heathen1 ,the ,,lord hath done great   
things for  them4    ,the ,,lord hath   
done great things for us2 whereof we are
 glad4    ,turn again our captivity1 ,o 
,,lord1 as the streams in the south4    
,they that sow in tears shall reap in   
joy4    ,he that goeth forth and        

weepeth1 bearing precious seed1 shall   
doubtless come again with rejoicing1    
bringing his sheaves with him4          
,this is a ,psalm of thanksgiving for   
deliverance from the ,babylonish        
captivity2 whether it was written after 
the captivity1 or before it1   as a     
prophecy to comfort the ,jews with the  
certain hope of   deliverance1 and that 
they should not despair1 is uncertain3  
but at   what particular time it was    
written1 it matters not4    ,this ,psalm
 ends with a remarkable and glorious    
conclusion2 which   embraces1 in a few  
words1 the whole counsel and the        
immutable decree   of ,god concerning   
his church2 namely1 that it behoved     
,christ first to   suffer1 and then to  
be raised up1 and exalted of ,god and   
glorified4   ,and so also ,christians   
must first fill up a certain measure of 
afflictions before they enter into their
 joy2 while1 on the contrary1   the men 
of the world fill up a certain measure  
of their joy before   they are eternally

 punished and damned4    ,the church1   
therefore1 is that poor little helpless 
flock1 in the   midst of a wicked       
nation4 ,they are that little company   
who pray1 cry1   are tempted1 and are   
afflicted by the world2 who sow in      
tears1 but   reap in joy4 8,but10 says  
the ,psalmist1 8they went1 and wept as  
they   went1 sowing precious seed2 but  
they shall come again with joy1         
bringing their sheaves with them40      
,these afflictions1 and these deaths of 
the saints are very precious2   hence it
 is that the ,psalmist calls them       
8precious seed20 because they   are     
followed by the most fruitful crops1 and
 by the most abundant   harvests4 ,but  
we infants in grace1 we poor little     
children1 under our   tears and our     
sighs1 understand not the voice1 or the 
mind1 or the   will of our heavenly     
,father in these afflictions3 nor can we
 see or   understand how precious this  
seed is in the sight of ,god2 who calls 
even 8death10 7which is the worst and   

lowest of all these seeds17             
8precious20 saying1 in another place1   
8,precious in the sight of the   ,lord  
is the death of his saints20 and ,god   
sets this precious seed thus   sown by  
his children1 before all the treasures  
of the world4          ,,psalm ,,cxxvii4
    ,the virtue of ,god's               
blessing4--,good children are his gift4 
,a song of degrees for ,solomon4        
,except the ,,lord build the house1 they
 labour in vain that build it3   except 
the ,,lord keep the city1 the watchman  
waketh but in vain4    ,it is vain for  
you to rise up early1 to sit up late1 to
 eat the   bread of sorrows3 for so he  
giveth his beloved sleep4    ,lo1       
children are an heritage of the ,,lord2 
and the fruit of the   womb is his      
reward4    ,as arrows are in the hand of
 a mighty man2 so are children of the   
youth4    ,happy is the man that hath   
his quiver full of them2 they shall not 
be   ashamed1 but they shall speak with 
the enemies in the gate4      ,this     

,psalm contains a most blessed and      
important doctrine4 ,it is of   the same
 subject-matter as that contained in the
 book of ,solomon1   called             
,ecclesiastes4 ,the ,psalmist teaches1  
that all governments and   commonwealths
 rightly constituted are the good and   
free gifts of ,god3   and that none of  
them can be either rightly constituted1 
at the first1   nor preserved           
afterwards1 by any human wisdom or      
might3 but that all   these things are  
in the hand of ,god3 that1 where he     
giveth not peace1   where he giveth not 
men desirous of the arts of peace1 and  
wise   therein1 where he holdeth not the
 helm of the state1--that there1 all    
human wisdom1 however great1 all laws1  
all ordinances1 all might1 all   arms1  
all preparations are vain4    ,in the   
next place1 the ,psalmist saith1 that   
where ,god blesseth not a   domestic    
household1 where he giveth not concord  
between husband and   wife1 success and 
happiness in the bringing up of         

children1 diligence   and faithfulness  
to men-servants and maid-servants2      
there1 all labour   and industry and    
toil are vain3 concerning all which ,i  
have spoken   more largely in my more   
full commentary on this psalm4          
,,psalm ,,cxxviii4    ,the sundry       
blessings which follow them that fear   
,god4    ,a ,song of degrees4           
,blessed is every one that feareth the  
,,lord2 that walketh in his   ways4     
,for thou shalt eat the labour of thine 
hands3 happy shalt thou be1   and it    
shall be well with thee4    ,thy wife   
shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides
 of thine house3   thy children like    
olive-plants round about thy table4     
,behold1 that thus shall the man be     
blessed that feareth the ,,lord4    ,the
 ,,lord shall bless thee out of ,zion3  
and thou shalt see the good of          
,jerusalem all the days of thy life4    
,yea1 thou shalt see thy children's     
children1 and peace upon ,israel4       
,this is a ,psalm of consolation1       

wherein the ,psalmist extols1 with the  
highest praises1 marriage1 as a holy and
 godly kind of life1   instituted of    
,god himself4 ,the ,holy ,spirit here   
comforts and   encourages all husbands  
and wives with a divine consolation2 and
   confirms and fortifies them against  
all those wrong cogitations and         
thoughts of human reason2 which reason  
does not look at what good   there is in
 marriage1 but only beholds and         
exaggerates what of evil   there may be 
in it2 and thus blasphemes the glorious 
work of ,god in   the two sexes4 ,hence1
 here arises all those blasphemous      
sayings among   the heathen3 #8,there   
are three great evils in life2 fire1    
water1 and   woman4' ,but ,solomon      
saith1 8,he that findeth a wife findeth 
a good   thing40    ,this ,psalm reminds
 husbands and wives that they should not
 look at the   labours1 the troubles1   
the cares1 or the various temptations   
and   trials which are to be endured in 
marriage2 but that they should   rather 

keep their eyes fixed on the word and   
will of ,god2 from which   they ought to
 hold themselves assured that marriage  
was not a human   invention1 nor a      
matter casually contrived of men2 but   
that the whole   human race were1 from  
the beginning1 created and formed of    
,god1 man   and woman1 and that neither 
of the sexes1 nor their design can or   
ought to be altered or changed by men1  
by the devil1 or any other   creature1  
any more than the sun and moon and their
 offices can or   ought to be altered or
 changed4    ,god1 saith the scripture1 
created them male and female1 and       
blessed   them4 ,marriage1 therefore1 is
 that kind of life1 which1 as being the 
creation and institution of ,god1       
greatly pleases him4 ,if1 therefore1    
thou shalt obey ,god herein1 and shalt  
keep the eyes of thy faith fixed   on   
the good1 and on the blessings of       
marriage2 if thou shalt obey the        
commandment and the call of ,god in     
taking to thyself a wife1 the sexes     

created of ,god will not be vile1 but   
precious in thy sight3 and all   the    
little troubles and trials of marriage  
shall be drowned and lost   in that     
divine blessedness1--the knowing that   
,god favours husbands and   wives1 and  
is present with them2 that the joining  
of marriage is one   of his own works2  
and that he provides for1 and defends   
those who are   joined together4    ,to 
fortify thyself1 therefore1 against all 
that blasphemy of human   reason and of 
the devil1 by which they condemn        
marriage1 hold thou   fixed in thine    
heart that heavenly word1 8,and the     
,lord made them male   and female1 and  
said1 ,be fruitful and multiply40 ,and  
if thou fear the   ,lord thou shalt be  
happy1 and it shall be well with thee in
   marriage1 even though the virulent   
and blaspheming mouth of the devil1     
and the whole world together with him1  
should say it shall be evil   with thee6
          ,,psalm ,,cxxix4    ,an       
exhortation to praise ,god for saving   

,israel in their great                  
afflictions4--,the haters of the church 
are cursed4    ,a ,song of degrees4     
,many a time have they afflicted me from
 my youth1 may ,israel now say3    ,many
 a time have they afflicted me from my  
youth3 yet they have not   prevailed    
against me4    ,the plowers plowed upon 
my back3 they made long their furrows4  
,the ,,lord is righteous3 he hath cut   
asunder the cords of the wicked4    ,let
 them all be confounded and turned back 
that hate ,zion3    ,let them be as the 
grass upon the house-tops1 which        
withereth afore   it groweth up3        
,wherewith the mower filleth not his    
hand1 nor he that bindeth sheaves1   his
 bosom4    ,neither do they which go by 
say1 ,the blessing of the ,,lord be upon
   you2 we bless you in the name of the 
,,lord4      ,this is a ,psalm of       
thanksgiving1 wherein the people of     
,israel give   thanks unto the ,god of  
,israel for his deliverances and        
consolations of   every kind3 seeing    

that from the beginning he had often    
mightily and   marvellously delivered   
them from the hand of their enemies1 as 
we have   it recorded in the books of   
,judges and ,kings2 where we find that  
the   ,israelites were often oppressed  
by the cruel power and tyranny of       
their ,gentile enemies1 who afflicted   
them for a long time1 and1 as it   were1
 ploughed upon their backs 7as the      
,psalmist saith7 and made long   their  
furrows1 and held them most cruelly     
under their yokes2 until ,god   sent    
them a ,saviour1 and delivered them both
 from the ploughers and   the ploughs1  
and their yokes also4    ,at the        
conclusion1 the ,psalmist prays against 
them2 or rather1   prophesies that they 
shall perish1 and shall be burnt up like
 grass   upon the house-tops2 as it also
 came to pass3 for all the enemies and  
the nations that were adversaries unto  
,israel perished2 but ,israel           
remained1 and was afterwards lifted up  
with new consolations4    ,in the same  

way also all the wicked and the enemies 
of ,god and of his   word1 are like     
grass upon the house-tops2 which        
flourishes1 indeed1   like a thriving   
garden1 as if it would remain2 but      
before it is grown   up1 it withers1 is 
burnt up1 and becomes of no use         
whatever4 ,so also   the enemies of the 
word1 and all erroneous teachers1 when  
they are   shining in pride and         
magnifying themselves in their boastings
 against   ,god1 wither on a sudden like
 the falling grass2 while ,christians   
and   the church of ,god flourish for   
evermore4          ,,psalm ,,cxxx4      
,the ,psalmist professeth his hope in   
prayer1 and his patience in   hope4--,he
 exhorteth ,israel to hope in ,god4     
,a ,song of degrees4      ,out of the   
depths have ,i cried unto thee1 ,o      
,,lord3 ,lord1 hear my voice3   let     
thine ears be attentive to the voice of 
my supplications4    ,if thou1 ,,lord1  
shouldest mark iniquities1 ,o ,lord1 who
 shall stand8    ,but there is          

forgiveness with thee1 that thou mayest 
be feared4    ,i wait for the ,,lord2 my
 soul doth wait1 and in his word do ,i  
hope4    ,my soul waiteth for the ,lord 
more than they that watch for the       
morning3 ,i say1 more than they that    
watch for the morning4    ,let ,israel  
hope in the ,,lord3 for with the ,,lord 
there is mercy1 and   with him is       
plenteous redemption4    ,and he shall  
redeem ,israel from all his iniquities4 
,this is a very blessed ,psalm and a    
prayer unto ,god1 proceeding from a     
spirit and feeling of heart truly       
,davidical3 for this ,psalm confesses   
that none is righteous before ,god on   
account of his own works and   merits1  
but only through grace and by faith in  
the promise of ,god1   freely giving the
 remission of sins and peace by ,jesus  
,christ3 on this   promise of ,god the  
,psalmist relies2 and with this word of 
promise he   supports and comforts      
himself when struggling in the depths of
 sin and   hell4    ,and he exhorts all 

,israel with a loud voice1 to learn and 
to do the   same4 8,for 7says the       
,psalmist7 with thee only is mercy1 and 
with thee   is plenteous redemption1    
that thou mayest be feared30 that is1   
that   thou mayest be worshipped with   
the worship of the first and greatest   
commandment1--with the sacrifice of     
praise and thanksgiving4 8,and he       
7continues the ,psalmist7 shall redeem  
,israel from all his iniquities20   that
 is1 neither ,israel1 nor any man1 shall
 be delivered from sin1   from the power
 of the devil1 and from death1 in any   
other way than by   the grace and the   
free remission of sins3 but he shall1   
without these1   remain in the deep2    
that is1 in the kingdom of sin1 death1  
and the   devil1 and under the wrath of 
,god4    ,behold in how few words this  
,psalm expresses the most glorious      
things6   ,the ,psalmist is a truly     
great teacher of divine truths1 and of  
the   whole sum of godliness4 ,he has a 
clear and thorough view of those        

glorious promises4 8,i will put enmity  
between thee and the serpent1   and     
between thy seed and his seed3 thou     
shalt bruise his head30 and1   8,in thy 
seed shall all the nations of the earth 
be blessed40 ,the   ,psalmist wraps up  
both these promises in that one verse1  
8,and he shall   redeem ,israel from all
 his iniquities40          ,,psalm      
,,cxxxi4    ,david professing his       
humility1 exhorteth ,israel to hope in  
,god4    ,a ,song of ,degrees of ,david4
      ,,lord1 my heart is not haughty1  
nor mine eyes lofty3 neither do ,i      
exercise myself in great matters1 or in 
things too high for me4    ,surely ,i   
have behaved and quieted myself1 as a   
child that is weaned of   his mother3 my
 soul is even as a weaned child4    ,let
 ,israel hope in the ,,lord1 from       
henceforth and for ever4      ,this is  
also a blessed ,psalm1 containing1 in a 
few brief words1 the   same most        
important doctrine which was taught also
 in the preceding   ,psalm1--that we are

 not to trust in our own righteousness  
or works3 and   it attacks all proud and
 arrogant hypocrites1 who1 by human     
strength1   attempt works beyond all    
human powers1 namely to pacify ,god2 and
   understand not the power of grace nor
 the remission of sins2 but   endeavour 
to pacify ,god by their own works4      
8,my heart is not lifted up10 7saith the
 ,psalmist72 as if he had said1   ,those
 proud saints 7as they imagine          
themselves7 being ignorant of all       
trials and temptations1 and spiritual   
things1 trust greatly in their   own    
works1 and know not what sin is1 nor    
what the anger and judgment   of ,god   
are4 ,but ,i1 being broken down and     
humbled by these things1 know   what    
they are4 ,for whenever ,i leave off to 
trust closely and wholly to   the       
promise of grace2 as often as ,i cease  
to suck the breast of mercy   and       
promised pardon1 my rest is gone1 and ,i
 begin to weep and howl   with          
distresses and straits of conscience2   

just as a little   newly-weaned infant  
cries unceasingly1 night and day1 for   
the breast   of its mother which it has 
lost4    ,the sum therefore of all true 
religion and godliness is this1 8,let   
,israel hope in the ,lord30 that is1    
there is no other salvation1 there   is 
no other consolation1 there is no other 
sure peace of conscience   for any      
mortal1 than the apprehending and       
embracing the promise of   grace4 ,take 
care1 therefore1 that thou neglect not  
this true mother's   breast for thy     
soul2 take heed that thou lose it not   
out of thy mouth2   for this breast     
alone is that which can relieve1        
refresh1 and quiet   thirsting and      
sinking consciences1 in any of their    
agonies on account   of sin4 ,christ    
alone is eternal life1 peace1 and       
consolation6          ,,psalm ,,cxxxii4 
,david in his prayer commendeth unto    
,god the religious care he had for   the
 ark4--,his prayer at the removing of   
the ark1 with a repetition of   ,god's  

promises4    ,a ,song of ,degrees4      
,,lord1 remember ,david1 and all his    
afflictions2    ,how he sware unto the  
,,lord1 and vowed unto the mighty ,god  
of   ,jacob2    ,surely ,i will not come
 into the tabernacle of my house1 nor go
 up into   my bed2    ,i will not give  
sleep to mine eyes1 or slumber to mine  
eyelids1    ,until ,i find out a place  
for the ,,lord1 an habitation for the   
mighty   ,god of ,jacob4    ,lo1 we     
heard of it at ,ephratah2 we found it in
 the fields of the wood4    ,we will go 
into his tabernacles2 we will worship at
 his footstool4    ,arise1 ,o ,,lord1   
into thy rest2 thou and the ark of thy  
strength4    ,let thy priests be clothed
 with righteousness2 and let thy saints 
shout for joy4    ,for thy servant      
,david's sake turn not away the face of 
thine anointed4    ,the ,,lord hath     
sworn in truth unto ,david1 he will not 
turn from it2   ,of the fruit of thy    
body will ,i set upon thy throne4    ,if
 thy children will keep my covenant1 and

 my testimony that ,i shall   teach     
them1 their children shall also sit upon
 thy throne for   evermore4    ,for the 
,,lord hath chosen ,zion3 he hath       
desired it for his   habitation4        
,this is my rest for ever3 here will ,i 
dwell2 for ,i have desired it4    ,i    
will abundantly bless her provision3 ,i 
will satisfy her poor with   bread4     
,i will also clothe her priests with    
salvation2 and her saints shall   shout 
aloud for joy4    ,there will ,i make   
the horn of ,david to bud3 ,i have      
ordained a lamp for   mine anointed4    
,his enemies will ,i clothe with shame3 
but upon himself shall his crown        
flourish4      ,this ,psalm is a prayer1
 in which ,solomon and the people of    
,israel beg   of ,god to preserve the   
priesthood and the kingdom3 that is1    
that he   would maintain the true       
religion1 the true worship of ,god1 and 
a   prosperous and happy state of the   
kingdom among that people4 ,in a   word1
 it is a prayer to ,god that he would be

 pleased to preserve the   ministry of  
the word above all things2 and then also
 the laws1 the   magistrates1 and the   
public peace3 for where these two       
things1 the   word and the laws1 are    
rightly constituted and preserved1 there
 all   things go well with a kingdom4   
,in the eleventh verse1 the ,psalmist1  
turning his eye1 as it were1 to   the   
promise1 feels the fullest assurance    
that he is heard4 ,for ,god had         
promised by oath that he would dwell in 
that place1 namely1 in   ,jerusalem or  
,zion2 and would bless both the         
priesthood and the   kingdom1 if they   
would keep the commandments of their    
,god1 and obey   him4    ,why the       
,psalmist calls1 in the sixth verse1    
this habitation of ,god1   ,jerusalem1  
8,ephratah10 and 8the fields of the     
wood10 is explained in   my more full   
commentary elsewhere1 on these 8,psalms 
of ,degrees40          ,,psalm          
,,cxxxiii4    ,the benefit of the       
communion of saints4    ,a song of      

degrees4      ,behold1 how good and how 
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell    
together in unity6    ,it is like the   
precious ointment upon the head1 that   
ran down upon   the beard2 even ,aaron's
 beard2 that went down to the skirts of 
his   garments2    ,as the dew of       
,hermon1 and as the dew that descended  
upon the   mountains of ,zion3 for there
 the ,,lord commanded the blessing1 even
   life for evermore4      ,this ,psalm 
contains an important doctrine1 and an  
exhortation unto   concord in the       
church1 and also in the state2 and      
especially an   exhortation unto unity  
in the ,spirit2 concerning which ,paul  
speaks1   ,phil4 ii42 and also1 it      
exhorts unto agreement in doctrine1 and 
unto   peace in general4 ,let the wise1 
the strong1 and the holy1 7the          
,psalmist would say17 bear with and     
support the simple1 the   weak-minded1  
and the infirm2 which is indicated and  
implied by the two   similitudes of     
8ointment0 and 8dew40    ,the ,psalmist 

alludes to the priesthood and the       
kingdom4 ,for divine   harmony and      
agreement in the priesthood1 or in the  
doctrine of the   truth1 is a great and 
lovely gift of ,god1 and diffuseth a    
fragrance   like precious ointment2 and 
this fragrance descendeth or runneth    
down2   that is1 unity in the doctrine  
of truth1 runs down from the high       
priest ,aaron1 down his beard1 and even 
unto the skirts of his   clothing2 that 
is1 down to all other teachers of the   
truth4    ,and this 8dew of ,hermon0    
signifies literally that dew which      
revives   the flower of ,lebanon2 and1  
spiritually1 the concord of ,lebanon2   
that   is1 of ,jerusalem4 ,for1 as the  
natural dew fructifies ,lebanon1 and all
   the places near unto ,lebanon1 so    
concord in divine and spiritual   things
 causes a kingdom to flourish and       
prosper4    ,wherever1 therefore1       
concord in a state and in its church    
flourishes1   there ,god dwells with all
 his grace and blessing2 but where there

 are   dissensions1 divisions1 and      
discord1 there is the dwelling of       
,satan4          ,,psalm ,,cxxxiv4      
,an exhortation to bless ,god4    ,a    
song of degrees4      ,behold1 bless ye 
the ,,lord1 all ye servants of the      
,,lord1 which by   night stand in the   
house of the ,,lord4    ,lift up your   
hands in the sanctuary1 and bless the   
,,lord4    ,the ,,lord1 that made heaven
 and earth1 bless thee out of ,zion4    
,this again is a very short and brief   
,psalm1 but it contains a most   blessed
 doctrine4 ,it teaches and exhorts      
priests and ,levites1 to   perform the  
duties of their office diligently1 and  
to be constant and   careful in the     
worship of ,god2 that they be instant   
day and night in   teaching and         
exhorting by the word2 as ,paul         
exhorteth ,timothy to the   continual   
preaching of the word2 saying1 8be      
instant in season and out   of season40 
,as if he had said1 ,be thou ever at the
 duty of thy office2   teach1 exhort1   

rebuke2 exercise both thyself and others
 unto godliness   by a constant         
preaching of the word2 and continue     
therein1 even though   some be turned   
unto fables1 and others despise thee4   
,for where the pure word of ,god is not 
sought and learnt1 there1 most          
certainly1 is no worship of ,god2 there1
 of necessity1 perishes all   true      
religion2 and there as surely perishes  
also1 the good and   prosperity of the  
nation2 which is certainly either       
deserted of ,god1   or involved in      
darkness1 errors1 and the power of the  
,devil4 ,but where   the word of ,god   
continues in truth1 and the scriptures  
are rightly set   forth1 there ,god     
gives his blessing4 ,and although ,satan
 will there   greatly oppose himself to1
 and will afflict both the church and   
the   state2 yet ,god1 who made the     
heavens and the earth1 and who is       
therefore greater than all creatures and
 the ,devil also1 preserves   that state
 and that church2 and1 on account of    

their holding fast his   name and his   
word1 he saves them1 even though they be
 ungrateful and   unworthy of his       
salvation4    ,let all ministers1 and   
preachers1 and bishops therefore1 know1 
that   this ,psalm1 beginning 8,behold1 
bless ye the ,lord1 all ye servants of  
the ,lord10 c4 pertains unto them2      
teaching them to know that the   highest
 worship of ,god is the preaching of the
 word2 because1 thereby   are praised   
and celebrated the name and the benefits
 of ,christ4          ,,psalm ,,cxxxv4  
,an exhortation to praise ,god for his  
mercy1 for his power1 for his           
judgments4 ,the vanity of idols4 ,an    
exhortation to bless ,god4      ,praise 
ye the ,,lord4 ,praise ye the name of   
the ,,lord2 praise him1 ,o ye   servants
 of the ,,lord4    ,ye that stand in the
 house of the ,,lord1 in the courts of  
the house of   our ,god1    ,praise the 
,,lord2 for the ,,lord is good3 sing    
praises unto his name2   for it is      
pleasant4    ,for the ,,lord hath chosen

 ,jacob unto himself1 and ,israel for   
his   peculiar treasure4    ,for ,i know
 that the ,,lord is great1 and that our 
,,lord is above   all gods4             
,whatsoever the ,,lord pleased1 that did
 he in heaven1 and in earth1 in   the   
seas1 and all deep places4    ,he       
causeth the vapours to ascend from the  
ends of the earth2 he maketh            
lightnings for the rain3 he bringeth the
 wind out of his treasuries4    ,who    
smote the first-born of ,egypt1 both of 
man and beast4    ,who sent tokens and  
wonders into the midst of thee1 ,o      
,egypt1 upon   ,pharaoh1 and upon all   
his servants4    ,who smote great       
nations1 and slew mighty kings2 ,sihon  
king of the   ,amorites1 and ,og king of
 ,bashan1 and all the kingdoms of       
,canaan3    ,and gave their land for an 
heritage1 an heritage unto ,israel his  
people4    ,thy name1 ,o ,,lord1        
endureth for ever2 and thy memorial1 ,o 
,,lord1   throughout all generations4   
,for the ,,lord will judge his people1  

and he will repent himself   concerning 
his servants4    ,the idols of the      
heathen are silver and gold1 the work of
 men's   hands4    ,they have mouths1   
but they speak not2 eyes have they1 but 
they see   not2    ,they have ears1 but 
they hear not3 neither is there any     
breath in   their mouths4    ,they that 
make them are like unto them3 so is     
every one that   trusteth in them4      
,bless the ,,lord1 ,o house of ,israel3 
bless the ,,lord1 ,o house of ,aaron3   
,bless the ,,lord1 ,o house of ,levi2 ye
 that fear the ,,lord1 bless the        
,,lord4    ,blessed be the ,,lord out of
 ,zion1 which dwelleth at ,jerusalem4   
,praise   ye the ,,lord4      ,this     
,psalm is a ,psalm of thanksgiving2     
exhorting all priests and   ministers of
 the word to preach and to praise ,god  
in his great and   marvellous works1    
done in ,egypt and in the land of       
,canaan1 that the   people might not    
forget ,god and his wonderful works1 and
 be turned   unto idols1 and false kinds

 of worship2 which very soon takes place
   through security or contempt2 where  
the word of ,god is not taught          
diligently and with a great willingness 
and fervor of heart2 as we   have       
already seen in the preceding ,psalm4   
,but where ,god judges a people2 as the 
,psalmist sets it forth1 verse   #ad2   
that is1 when ,god by the mouth of his  
ministers1 judges and   condemns our    
sin2 there he manifests his grace unto  
us2 there is a   ground of firm         
consolation for afflicted consciences2  
there ,god is   found and known1 7for he
 is found in no other places and        
doctrines   than these67 there1 to a    
certainty1 he will be propitious and    
merciful   to his servant4 ,but1 where  
the word of ,god is not2 there ,god is  
silent2 for where he doth not preach1 he
 doth not judge2 and there1 to   a      
certainty1 is the wrath of ,god and     
blindness4 8,therefore10 7as saith   the
 ,psalmist7 8,praise ye the name of the 
,lord2 praise him1 all ye   servants of 

the ,lord30 that is1 preach the word and
 explain it1 with   all diligence2 and  
proclaim the works of the ,lord4        
,,psalm ,,cxxxvi4    ,an exhortation to 
give thanks to ,god for particular      
mercies4      ,o give thanks unto the   
,,lord2 for he is good3 for his mercy   
endureth for ever4    ,o give thanks    
unto the ,god of gods3 for his mercy    
endureth for ever4    ,o give thanks to 
the ,,lord of lords3 for his mercy      
endureth for ever4    ,to him who alone 
doeth great wonders3 for his mercy      
endureth for   ever4    ,to him that by 
wisdom made the heavens3 for his mercy  
endureth for   ever4    ,to him that    
stretched out the earth above the       
waters3 for his mercy   endureth for    
ever4    ,to him that made great lights3
 for his mercy endureth for ever4       
,the sun to rule by day3 for his mercy  
endureth for ever4    ,the moon and     
stars to rule by night3 for his mercy   
endureth for   ever4    ,to him that    
smote ,egypt in their first-born3 for   

his mercy endureth   for ever4    ,and  
brought out ,israel from amongst them3  
for his mercy endureth for   ever3      
,with a strong hand1 and with a         
stretched-out arm3 for his mercy        
endureth for ever4    ,to him which     
divided the ,red ,sea into parts3 for   
his mercy endureth   for ever3    ,and  
made ,israel to pass through the midst  
of it3 for his mercy   endureth for     
ever4    ,but overthrew ,pharaoh and his
 host in the ,red ,sea3 for his mercy   
endureth for ever4    ,to him which led 
his people through the wilderness3 for  
his mercy   endureth for ever4    ,to   
him which smote great kings3 for his    
mercy endureth for ever3    ,and slew   
famous kings3 for his mercy endureth for
 ever4    ,sihon king of the ,amorites3 
for his mercy endureth for ever3    ,and
 ,og the king of ,bashan3 for his mercy 
endureth for ever3    ,and gave their   
land for an heritage3 for his mercy     
endureth for   ever3    ,even an        
heritage unto ,israel his servant3 for  

his mercy endureth   for ever4    ,who  
remembered us in our low estate3 for his
 mercy endureth for   ever3    ,and hath
 redeemed us from our enemies3 for his  
mercy endureth for   ever4    ,who      
giveth food to all flesh3 for his mercy 
endureth for ever4    ,o give thanks    
unto the ,god of heaven3 for his mercy  
endureth for   ever4      ,this ,psalm  
is a blessed and general thanksgiving   
for the infinite1   unspeakable1 and    
never-failing mercies of ,god1 both with
 respect to   the body and the soul4 ,in
 this golden and glorious ,psalm1 the   
,psalmist's design is to embrace and set
 forth a summary1 as it were1   to all  
priests and ministers of the word2 as a 
pattern for the subject   matter of all 
sermons1 exhortations1 and ,psalms to be
 delivered to the   people3 that all    
false and wicked doctrine might be      
avoided1 and also   all false worship of
 ,god2 and that ,god might be worshipped
 truly with   that worship required by  
the first commandment of the ,decalogue4

    ,for this ought to be the sum and   
substance of all true worship1--8,let   
us praise the ,lord1 for he is good1 for
 his mercy endureth for ever30   that   
is1 praise1 laud1 and proclaim1 without 
ceasing1 the infinite   largeness of his
 grace4 ,learn ye1 from his word1 that  
as he hath   promised1 so he is ever    
present with us1 and continually bestows
 his   blessings upon us2 and that the  
riches of his goodness are boundless    
and inexhaustible4    ,to fortify our   
hearts1 therefore1 against the devil1   
7whose whole aim   and employment is to 
destroy in our hearts faith in ,god1 and
 the   knowledge of his goodness and    
mercy1 and to cast us under doubting and
   sorrow17 the ,psalmist repeats this  
holy sentence at the end of every       
verse--8,for his mercy endureth for     
ever30 by which words1 so often         
repeated1 the holy man wishes to impress
 and fix on our hearts the   doctrine of
 grace and the worship of the first     
commandment3 as if he   had said1 it is 

the infinite goodness of ,god1 and not  
any human works   or merits of your own1
 that has done all these wonderful      
things for   you4 ,it is the pure and   
unspeakable greatness of ,god's goodness
 and   grace1 that pours forth all these
 things upon you1 and therefore they    
are poured forth upon you freely and    
without any merit or deserving of       
yours1 and even while you are wholly    
undeserving of such mercies4    ,in this
 repeated expression also the ,psalmist 
refers1 after the manner   of the       
prophets1 to the promise of ,christ to  
come2 for it was from no   works of men1
 nor from any merit of theirs1 that the 
promise of ,christ   was given unto     
,abraham1 which said1 8,in thy seed     
shall all the nations   of the earth be 
blessed40    ,learn1 thou1 therefore1 to
 rehearse and impress upon thine own    
heart1   and on the hearts of others    
also1 this repeated conclusion of each  
verse2 that it may be a bulwark for thee
 against the devil1 who is   ever       

maliciously jeering our temptations1 and
 saying1 that it is not   the mercy of  
,god1 but his judgment1 that 8endureth  
for ever40   ,hypocrites and enthusiasts
 sing not1 nor can sing1 this blessed   
conclusion of the verses1 8,for his     
mercy endureth for ever40 ,they can     
only sing1 #8,for our goodness endureth 
for ever4' ,but do thou1   ,christian   
brother1 hold fast this doctrine of a   
,davidical heart2 the   truly divine and
 heavenly doctrine of the remission of  
sins2 a   remission 8enduring for ever10
 and which sin can never destroy2 which 
alone overcomes the devil and all       
errors1 and which alone can give the    
conscience rest under all temptations1  
and the agonizing conflicts of   death4 
,,psalm ,,cxxxvii4    ,the constancy of 
the ,jews in captivity4--,the prophet   
curseth ,edom and   ,babel4      ,by the
 rivers of ,babylon1 there we sat down1 
yea1 we wept1 when we   remembered      
,zion4    ,we hanged our harps upon the 
willows in the midst thereof4    ,for   

there they that carried us away captive 
required of us a song2 and   they that  
wasted us required of us mirth1 saying1 
,sing us one of   the songs of ,zion4   
,how shall we sing the ,,lord',s song in
 a strange land8    ,if ,i forget thee1 
,o ,jerusalem1 let my right hand forget 
her cunning4    ,if ,i do not remember  
thee1 let my tongue cleave to the roof  
of my   mouth2 if ,i prefer not         
,jerusalem above my chief joy4          
,remember1 ,o ,,lord1 the children of   
,edom in the day of ,jerusalem2 who     
said1 ,rase it1 rase it1 even to the    
foundation thereof4    ,o daughter of   
,babylon1 who art to be destroyed2 happy
 shall he be1   that rewardeth thee as  
thou hast served us4    ,happy shall he 
be1 that taketh and dasheth thy little  
ones against   the stones4      ,this   
,psalm is a prayer in the persons of the
 captives of ,babylon2   whether we     
understand it as having been written    
after the captivity1   or before it in  
the way of prophecy4 ,the captives here 

pray for the   city of ,jerusalem2 that 
is1 for the place of the word and the   
worship   of ,god2 for all these things 
had been destroyed by the ,babylonians4 
,this ,psalm shows us that the first    
concern of all that fear and know   ,god
 should be the preservation of a place  
for the ministration of the   word1 and 
for the true religion and true worship  
of ,god4 ,for1 as here1   when          
,jerusalem is destroyed1 ,babylon and   
,edom1 and all other wicked   nations   
rejoice1 and triumph over the grief and 
the tears of the   people of ,god1 which
 adds great bitterness to their         
afflictions4 ,but   such enemies shall  
never enjoy their triumph unpunished of 
,god4 ,they   themselves shall be laid  
waste in their appointed time1 and shall
 be   utterly overthrown and laid in    
ruins and in ashes2 their flourishing   
youth shall be destroyed by the sword1  
their children shall be dashed   against
 the stones1 and neither age nor sex    
shall find mercy4 ,but   ,israel and the

 people of ,god shall remain for        
evermore4 ,in this manner   fell        
,babylon1 that queen of nations3 and in 
the same manner also shall   fall all   
the ,babylonians and ,edomites in our   
day1 who rejoice1 like   their          
forefathers1 in the afflictions and     
calamities of the true   church of ,god4
          ,,psalm ,,cxxxviii4    ,david 
praiseth ,god for the truth of his      
word4--,he prophesieth that the   kings 
of the earth shall praise ,god4--,he    
professeth his confidence in   ,god4    
,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,i will praise
 thee with my whole heart3 before the   
gods will ,i sing   praise unto thee4   
,i will worship toward thy holy temple1 
and praise thy name for thy             
lovingkindness and for thy truth3 for   
thou hast magnified thy word   above all
 thy name4    ,in the day when ,i cried 
thou answeredst me1 and strengthenedst  
me   with strength in my soul4    ,all  
the kings of the earth shall praise     
thee1 ,o ,,lord1 when they hear   the   

words of thy mouth4    ,yea1 they shall 
sing in the ways of the ,,lord3 for     
great is the glory   of the ,,lord4     
,though the ,,lord be high1 yet hath he 
respect unto the lowly3 but the   proud 
he knoweth afar off4    ,though ,i walk 
in the midst of trouble1 thou wilt      
revive me3 thou shalt   stretch forth   
thine hand against the wrath of mine    
enemies1 and thy   right hand shall save
 me4    ,the ,,lord will perfect that   
which concerneth me3 thy mercy1 ,o      
,,lord1   endureth for ever3 forsake not
 the work of thine own hands4      ,this
 is a ,psalm of general thanksgiving    
unto ,god for all his help   against    
enemies3 and it prays that the kingdom  
of ,christ may come2 and   it prophesies
 also that even kings and nations shall 
hear the gospel1   shall render thanks  
unto ,god for the same1 and shall know  
and worship   him in truth2 and shall   
acknowledge the eternal kingdom of      
,christ1   namely1 his exaltation over  
all things1 and over every name that is 

named2 and that he succours1 helps1 and 
saves humble1 tempted1 and   afflicted  
sinners4    ,in the conclusion of the   
,psalm1 the ,psalmist prays1 8,forsake  
not the   work of thine own hands20 that
 is1 ,raise up1 establish1 and preserve 
this promised kingdom of ,christ1 for   
the sake of which thou hast   chosen    
this people4          ,,psalm ,,cxxxix4 
,david praiseth ,god for his allseeing  
providence1 and for his infinite        
mercies4--,he defieth the wicked4--,he  
prayeth for sincerity4    ,to the chief 
,musician4 ,a ,psalm of ,david4      ,o 
,,lord1 thou hast searched me1 and known
 me4    ,thou knowest my downsitting and
 mine uprising1 thou understandest my   
thought afar off4    ,thou compassest my
 path and my lying down1 and art        
acquainted with   all my ways4    ,for  
there is not a word in my tongue1 but1  
lo1 ,o ,,lord1 thou   knowest it        
altogether4    ,thou hast beset me      
behind and before1 and laid thine hand  
upon me4    ,such knowledge is too      

wonderful for me2 it is high1 ,i cannot 
attain unto it4    ,whither shall ,i go 
from thy spirit8 or whither shall ,i    
flee from thy   presence8    ,if ,i     
ascend up into heaven1 thou art there3  
if ,i make my bed in   hell1 behold1    
thou art there4    ,if ,i take the wings
 of the morning1 and dwell in the       
uttermost   parts of the sea2    ,even  
there shall thy hand lead me1 and thy   
right hand shall hold me4    ,if ,i say1
 ,surely the darkness shall cover me2   
even the night shall be   light above   
me4    ,yea1 the darkness hideth not    
from thee2 but the night shineth as the 
day3 the darkness and the light are both
 alike to thee4    ,for thou hast       
possessed my reins3 thou hast covered me
 in my mother's   womb4    ,i will      
praise thee2 for ,i am fearfully and    
wonderfully made3   marvellous are thy  
works2 and that my soul knoweth right   
well4    ,my substance was not hid from 
thee1 when ,i was made in secret1 and   
curiously wrought in the lowest parts of

 the earth4    ,thine eyes did see my   
substance1 yet being unperfect2 and in  
thy book   all my members were written1 
which in continuance were fashioned1    
when as yet there was none of them4     
,how precious also are thy thoughts unto
 me1 ,o ,god6 how great is the   sum of 
them6    ,if ,i should count them1 they 
are more in number than the sand3 when  
,i awake1 ,i am still with thee4        
,surely thou wilt slay the wicked1 ,o   
,god3 depart from me1 therefore1 ye     
bloody men4    ,for they speak against  
thee wickedly1 and thine enemies take   
thy   name in vain4    ,do not ,i hate  
them1 ,o ,,lord1 that hate thee8 and am 
not ,i grieved with   those that rise up
 against thee8    ,i hate them with     
perfect hatred3 ,i count them mine      
enemies4    ,search me1 ,o ,god1 and    
know my heart3 try me1 and know my      
thoughts3    ,and see if there be any   
wicked way1 and lead me in the way      
everlasting4      ,this is a high and   
glorious ,psalm of thanksgiving1 wherein

 the   ,psalmist1 with a marvellous     
fervour of spirit1 touches on that      
all-high matter1--,god's predestination 
of all things2 and proclaims   that     
incomprehensibleness of the divine      
wisdom and goodness1 whereby1   in a    
wonderful manner1 he himself and all    
men1 with all their affairs1   all their
 works and all their thoughts1 both the 
greatest and the   least1 were          
predestinated of ,god from everlasting4 
,this manifold   wisdom of ,god is      
incomprehensible to flesh and blood6    
8,thou1 ,o ,lord 7saith the ,psalmist7  
hast searched me out and known me2      
thou knowest me altogether2 thou        
understandest my thoughts long before   
they are conceived by me4 ,wherever ,i  
move1 whithersoever ,i go1 thou         
surroundest me on every side2 and being 
ever present with me1 thou   beholdest  
all my undertakings1 and my works1 and  
my ways1 and all that   ,i think of     
doing or undertaking4 ,there is no      
speech1 not even the   least word1 upon 

my tongue1 but thou1 ,o ,god1 knowest   
it1 before ,i   utter it4 ,thine eyes   
beheld me1 when yet imperfect in my     
mother's   womb2 and thou didst         
wonderfully form and fashion me there40 
,and 7ver4   #f7 the ,psalmist exclaims1
 8,such knowledge is too high and       
wonderful2   no mortal thought can      
attain unto it40    ,here1 it is as if  
the ,psalmist had said1 it is not in the
 capacity or   powers of any mortal to  
think or determine how he will lead his 
life1   what he will undertake1 what he 
will do1 what he will speak1 what he    
will think1 where he will go1 or to1 or 
from1 or in what place he will   turn2  
but all our acts1 motions1 and thoughts1
 are nothing less than   the works of   
,god ever present with us1 doing and    
ruling all things as   he will4 ,and    
hence 7ver4 #ai47 he utters his         
indignation against the   wicked2       
saying1 8,surely thou wilt slay the     
wicked1 ,o ,god40 ,here he   burns with 
zeal against hypocrites1 who1 being     

ignorant of all the   works and words of
 ,god1 and utterly blind and mad1       
ascribe all their   doings to their own 
works and merits4    ,these mortals are 
perpetually putting forth and boasting  
of their own   ability and works1 and   
are ever relying on their own doings and
   merits1 and ascribing unto themselves
 that glory which belongs to ,god       
alone2 whereas they have not one of     
their words in their own power1 as   of1
 or from1 themselves2 but all their     
words and thoughts are in the   hand of 
,god4--,this glory1 ,i say1 they        
arrogate to themselves1 when they   are 
all the while so far from the wisdom of 
,god and his divine works1   that they  
neither know themselves nor any one part
 of themselves2 nor   understand how    
they were formed or fashioned in the    
womb of their   mother2 nor what their  
own body is1 nor what are its properties
 and   organs2 nor what their eyes are1 
nor what their brain is2 nor what the   
origin and nature of that motion is1 by 

which their body is moved2   and1 in a  
word1 when they know not what the soul  
and this natural life   are2 nor whence 
arise all those various motions and     
affections of the   mind within1 nor how
 they are uttered outwards by the       
tongue4    ,when1 therefore1 this whole 
that we are1 and this all that we do1   
are   not our own wisdom or doing1 but  
,god's2 and since we cannot comprehend  
these earthly things2 since1 ,i say1 we 
neither can know nor do any one   of    
these earthly and corporal things1 as of
 ourselves2 how awful a sin   is that   
enormous arrogance1 whereby we profess  
that we have so much   power in         
ourselves and in our free-will1 that we 
can understand ,god1   and do his divine
 and spiritual works1 and deliver       
ourselves from sin1   and death1 and    
hell4    ,wherefore 7ver4 #bj47 the     
,psalmist utters his holy indignation   
against   such hypocrites and teachers  
of human works and doings2 saying1      
8,thine   enemies speak blasphemously   

against thee1 ,o ,lord1 and they are    
proud   and lifted up against thee      
without cause4 ,guard thou me1 and prove
 and   try me1 that ,i may continue in  
the right way2 the way that is true and 
eternal20 that is1 in the way of the    
knowledge of the word of thy   grace4   
,,psalm ,,cxl4    ,david prayeth to be  
delivered from ,saul and ,doeg4--,he    
prayeth against   them4--,he comforteth 
himself by confidence in ,god4    ,to   
the chief ,musician4 ,a ,psalm of       
,david4      ,deliver me1 ,o ,,lord1    
from the evil man3 preserve me from the 
violent   man2    ,which imagine        
mischiefs in their heart3 continually   
are they   gathered together for war4   
,they have sharpened their tongues like 
a serpent2 adders' poison is   under    
their lips4 ,selah4    ,keep me1 ,o     
,,lord1 from the hands of the wicked2   
preserve me from the   violent man1 who 
have purposed to overthrow my goings4   
,the proud have hid a snare for me1 and 
cords3 they have spread a net   by the  

way-side3 they have set gins for me4    
,selah4    ,i said unto the ,,lord1     
,thou art my ,god3 hear the voice of my 
supplications1 ,o ,,lord4    ,o ,,god   
the ,,lord1 the strength of my          
salvation2 thou hast covered my   head  
in the day of battle4    ,grant not1 ,o 
,,lord1 the desires of the wicked2      
further not his wicked   device1 lest   
they exalt themselves4 ,selah4    ,as   
for the head of those that compass me   
about1 let the mischief of   their own  
lips cover them4    ,let burning coals  
fall upon them3 let them be cast into   
the fire2 into   deep pits1 that they   
rise not up again4    ,let not an evil  
speaker be established in the earth3    
evil shall hunt   the violent man to    
overthrow him4    ,i know that the      
,,lord will maintain the cause of the   
afflicted1 and   the right of the poor4 
,surely the righteous shall give thanks 
unto thy name2 the upright   shall dwell
 in thy presence4      ,this ,psalm is  
an ardent prayer against those          

hypocrites1 who not only   cause many   
offences1 and lay many nets and snares  
for them that go on   the right way1 but
 proceed with terrible threats and      
unceasing cruelty   against all who will
 not approve and follow their errors and
 wicked   ways4    ,the ,psalmist       
therefore here prays that ,god would be 
pleased to   disappoint their counsels  
and purposes1 and all the wicked plots  
which   they form1 and devise1 and to   
turn them on themselves and on their own
   heads2 that all these enemies of the 
people of ,god may perish with   that   
horrible judgment with which ,pharaoh   
perished in the ,red ,sea1   who1 being 
at the same time struck with lightning  
from heaven1 and   overwhelmed with the 
waves of the sea1 was utterly destroyed4
    ,this ,psalm affords an abundant    
consolation to the godly2 as the        
,psalmist saith in its conclusion1 8,the
 wicked shall fall into their   own     
nets1 whilst that ,i at all times       
escape40          ,,psalm ,,cxli4       

,david prayeth that his suit may be     
acceptable1 his conscience   sincere1   
and his life safe from snares4    ,a    
,psalm of ,david4      ,,lord1 ,i cry   
unto thee3 make haste unto me2 give ear 
unto my voice1   when ,i cry unto thee4 
,let my prayer be set forth before thee 
as incense2 and the lifting   up of my  
hands as the evening sacrifice4    ,set 
a watch1 ,o ,,lord1 before my mouth2    
keep the door of my lips4    ,incline   
not my heart to any evil thing1 to      
practise wicked works   with men that   
work iniquity3 and let me not eat of    
their dainties4    ,let the righteous   
smite me2 it shall be a kindness3 and   
let him   reprove me2 it shall be an    
excellent oil1 which shall not break my 
head3 for yet my prayer also shall be in
 their calamities4    ,when their judges
 are overthrown in stony places1 they   
shall hear my   words2 for they are     
sweet4    ,our bones are scattered at   
the grave's mouth1 as when one cutteth  
and   cleaveth wood upon the earth4     

,but mine eyes are unto thee1 ,o ,,god  
the ,lord3 in thee is my trust2   leave 
not my soul destitute4    ,keep me from 
the snares which they have laid for me1 
and the gins of   the workers of        
iniquity4    ,let the wicked fall into  
their own nets1 whilst that ,i withal   
escape4      ,this ,psalm also is a     
fervent prayer1 wherein the ,psalmist   
prays to be   delivered from wicked     
teachers1 who pretend to speak of peace1
 and   craftily use soft and flattering 
words1 after they have found that   they
 can prevail nothing by terrors and     
threats4 8,let the righteous10   saith  
he1 8smite me30 that is1 ,i had rather  
that true and faithful   teachers should
 rebuke and condemn me1 and reprove my  
ways1 than that   hypocrites should     
flatter me and applaud me as a saint4   
,and farther1 7saith the ,psalmist7     
although ,i suffer affliction for the   
sake of that true and sound doctrine to 
which ,i cleave1 and though1 by         
afflictions returning again and again1  

my bones be broken in pieces   and      
scattered like clods of earth before the
 penetrating and dividing   plough2 yet 
,i had rather be reproved and smitten by
 godly and true   teachers1 and so      
acknowledge my sin1 and rest upon the   
promise of ,god1   than hear all the    
flattering words of those hypocrites who
 deceive   themselves and others2 and   
who pretend to have peace with ,god1    
when   there is no such peace unto them4
 ,for all such teachers and their       
hypocrisies shall be hurled1 as it were1
 from a mighty precipice1 and   they    
shall suddenly be dashed to pieces and  
shall perish together2   their glory    
shall be hurried into confusion1 and    
their end shall be   utter destruction2 
and then it shall appear how bitter     
their pleasing   doctrine is4           
,,psalm ,,cxlii4    ,david sheweth that 
in his trouble all his comfort was in   
prayer unto   ,god4    ,maschil of      
,david2 a ,prayer when he was in the    
cave4      ,i cried unto the ,,lord with

 my voice3 with my voice unto the ,,lord
 did ,i   make my supplication4    ,i   
poured out my complaint before him3 ,i  
shewed before him my trouble4    ,when  
my spirit was overwhelmed within me1    
then thou knewest my path2   in the way 
wherein ,i walked have they privily laid
 a snare for me4    ,i looked on my     
right hand1 and beheld1 but there was no
 man that   would know me2 refuge failed
 me2 no man cared for my soul4    ,i    
cried unto thee1 ,o ,,lord3 ,i said1    
,thou art my refuge1 and my   portion in
 the land of the living4    ,attend unto
 my cry2 for ,i am brought very low3    
deliver me from my   persecutors3 for   
they are stronger than ,i4    ,bring my 
soul out of prison1 that ,i may praise  
thy name3 the righteous   shall compass 
me about2 for thou shall deal           
bountifully with me4      ,this ,psalm  
is a prayer2 wherein the ,psalmist1     
being now surrounded   with peril on    
every side1 cries unto ,god out of      
prison1 as it were1 by   reason of the  

great cruelty and malice of false       
teachers1 who   persecuted him on       
account of the word4    ,as the people  
of ,israel were a stiff-necked people1  
their ,cainish   malice and bitterness  
had so hardened them1 that they stoned1 
rejected1 and killed the true prophets1 
on account of their preaching   of the  
word1 and maintaining the true worship  
of ,god2 and had given   themselves up  
to hypocrisy and idolatry2 and all this1
 their histories   of them testify2 as  
does ,christ also1 7,matt4 xxiii47 and  
,stephen4   7,acts vii47    ,hence1 as  
these things were fully known1 so we    
find most of the ,psalms   grievously   
complaining of the cruel malice of false
 prophets and   hypocrites4 ,and just in
 the same way1 from the very beginning1 
hypocrites and false teachers have      
afflicted the true church of ,god2   and
 the true saints in all ages found it   
necessary to cry unto ,god              
continually1 against all such hypocrites
 and ,cainish pretenders to   saintship4

 ,all this is abundantly testified by   
the histories of the   times of ,elijah 
and king ,ahab and ,jezebel2 when all   
the true prophets   of the ,lord were   
compelled to flee and to hide           
themselves1 to escape   the furious     
cruelty of these adversaries2 all which 
histories might   have been adduced as  
examples in this ,psalm4 ,and the recent
 times of   the ,arian heresy afford    
also a plain example of the same        
persecution   and malice1 when all the  
catholic bishops were compelled to flee2
 for   ,satan neither can nor will      
endure the pure word of ,god6           
,,psalm ,,cxliii4    ,david prayeth for 
favour in judgment4--,he complaineth of 
his   griefs4--,he strengtheneth his    
faith by meditation and prayer4--,he    
prayeth for grace1 for deliverance1 for 
sanctification1 for   destruction of his
 enemies4    ,a ,psalm of ,david4       
,hear my prayer1 ,o ,,lord2 give ear to 
my supplications3 in thy   faithfulness 
answer me1 and in thy righteousness4    

,and enter not into judgment with thy   
servant3 for in thy sight shall   no man
 living be justified4    ,for the enemy 
hath persecuted my soul2 he hath smitten
 my life down to   the ground3 he hath  
made me to dwell in darkness1 as those  
that hath   been long dead4             
,therefore is my spirit overwhelmed     
within me3 my heart within me is        
desolate4    ,i remember the days of    
old2 ,i meditate on all thy works3 ,i   
muse on the   work of thy hands4    ,i  
stretch forth my hands unto thee3 my    
soul thirsteth after thee1 as   a       
thirsty land4 ,selah4    ,hear me       
speedily1 ,o ,,lord2 my spirit faileth3 
hide not thy face from   me1 lest ,i be 
like unto them that go down into the    
pit4    ,cause me to hear thy           
loving-kindness in the morning2 for in  
thee do ,i   trust3 cause me to know the
 way wherein ,i should walk2 for ,i lift
 up   my soul unto thee4    ,deliver me1
 ,o ,,lord1 from mine enemies3 ,i flee  
unto thee to hide me4    ,teach me to do

 thy will2 for thou art my ,god3 thy    
,spirit is good2   lead me into the land
 of uprightness4    ,quicken me1 ,o     
,,lord1 for thy name's sake3 for thy    
righteousness' sake   bring my soul out 
of trouble4    ,and of thy mercy cut off
 mine enemies1 and destroy all them that
   afflict my soul3 for ,i am thy       
servant4      ,this is a prayer1        
expressing the deep feelings of an      
afflicted and   agonizing conscience4   
,the ,psalmist1 being in the midst of   
the sense   and peril of sin1 and       
terrified at the judgment of ,god1 begs 
of ,god   not to enter into judgment    
with him1 and firmly cleaves to the     
promise   of mercy1 and of the remission
 of sins4 ,he complains1 on the other   
hand1 of hypocrites and teachers of the 
law and of works2 by means of   whom1 as
 his instruments1 the devil terribly    
harasses the godly1 and   loads them    
with various trials and straits of mind 
and conscience1 and   endeavours to draw
 them away from the certainty of the    

divine promise   unto doubt2 in which   
state1 consciences are horribly shaken  
with fear   and darkness1 and the dread 
of the wrath of an unappeased ,god4     
8,the enemy10 saith ,david1 8hath       
persecuted my soul2 he hath made me to  
dwell in darkness1 as those that have   
been long dead2 therefore my   spirit is
 overwhelmed within me40 ,here ,david   
refers to those straits   into which    
consciences are cast by those who lay   
upon them burdens too   heavy to be     
borne1 7as ,christ saith concerning the 
,pharisees1 ,matt4   xxiii47 ,and yet   
will not so much as touch them with one 
of their   fingers4 ,and hence this     
,psalm blessedly shows that there is no 
sure or   solid consolation for         
consciences1 save for those who depend  
on the   promise of the free remission  
of sins1 and on the word of ,god's      
grace3   8,enter not10 saith ,david1    
8into judgment with thy servant1 ,o     
,lord1 for   in thy sight shall no man  
living be justified40    ,that afflicted

 hearts and consciences can find rest in
 no other way   than this1 all the      
scriptural histories bear witness4 ,all 
the holy   patriarchs1 from the         
beginning of the world1 were justified  
before ,god   by the free1 unmerited    
imputation of righteousness1 and not by 
their   own works2 as ,peter also       
testifies 7,acts xv47 concerning the    
law1 8,why   tempt ye ,god2 to lay upon 
us a yoke which neither we nor our      
fathers   were able to bear4 ,but we    
believe that by the grace of our ,lord  
,jesus   ,christ1 we shall be saved1 as 
they40    8,i remember10 says ,david    
again1 8the days of old1 ,i meditate on 
the   works of thy hands20 as if he had 
added1 #8,by these1 thy works from the  
beginning1 ,i comfort and support myself
 in all my temptations3 for all   the   
great saints from the beginning were    
saved1 not by any merit of   their own  
righteousness1 but by grace alone3 they 
were delivered from   sin and from the  
wrath of ,god1 by faith in ,christ the  

promised seed3   as ,abraham also was1  
by the same grace of ,god in ,christ1   
called out of   idolatry4' ,joshua xxiv4
 #b1 #c4    ,therefore ,god leaves here 
no ground for any mortal's boasting in  
his   own works and merits3 and yet1 by 
this doctrine of works ,satan hath      
never ceased to distress and torment    
consciences1 contrary to the   manifest 
words and works of ,god4                
,,psalm ,,cxliv4    ,david blesseth ,god
 for his mercy both to him and to       
man4--,he prayeth   that ,god would     
powerfully deliver him from his         
enemies4--,he promiseth   to praise     
,god4--,he prayeth for the happy state  
of the kingdom4    ,a ,psalm of ,david4 
,blessed be the ,,lord my strength1     
which teacheth my hands to war1   and my
 fingers to fight3    ,my goodness1 and 
my fortress2 my high tower1 and my      
deliverer2 my   shield1 and he in whom  
,i trust2 who subdueth my people under  
me4    ,,lord1 what is man1 that thou   
takest knowledge of him6 or the son   of

 man1 that thou makest account of him6  
,man is like to vanity3 his days are as 
a shadow that passeth away4    ,bow thy 
heavens1 ,o ,,lord1 and come down3 touch
 the mountains1 and they   shall smoke4 
,cast forth lightning1 and scatter them3
 shoot out thine arrows and   destroy   
them4    ,send thine hand from above2   
rid me1 and deliver me out of great     
waters1 from the hand of strange        
children2    ,whose mouth speaketh      
vanity1 and their right hand is a right 
hand of   falsehood4    ,i will sing a  
new song unto thee1 ,o ,god3 upon a     
psaltry and an   instrument of ten      
strings will ,i sing praises unto thee4 
,it is he that giveth salvation unto    
kings3 who delivereth ,david his        
servant from the hurtful sword4    ,rid 
me1 and deliver me from the hand of     
strange children1 whose mouth   speaketh
 vanity1 and their right hand is a right
 hand of falsehood3    ,that our sons   
may be as plants grown up in their      
youth2 that our   daughters may be as   

cornerstones1 polished after the        
similitude of   a palace3    ,that our  
garners may be full1 affording all      
manner of store3   that our sheep may   
bring forth thousands and ten thousands 
in our   streets3    ,that our oxen may 
be strong to labour2 that there be no   
breaking   in1 nor going out2 that there
 be no complaining in our streets4      
,happy is that people that is in such a 
case3 yea1 happy is that   people whose 
,god is the ,,lord4      ,this is a     
blessed ,psalm of thanksgiving for      
kings1 princes1 and all   magistrates4  
,david here1 as a king and a magistrate 
himself1 who had   to govern the state  
and carry on wars1 confesses that all   
prosperous   and happy government1 all  
success at home and abroad1 all the arts
 of   peace1 and all victory in war1 are
 the good gifts of ,god2 and that a     
man can no more effect these things by  
human wisdom or strength1 or by   any   
ability of his own1 than he can hold the
 millions of minds of   nations bound   

unto himself1 and make their multitudes 
obey him alone3   for what could any    
mortal man do towards preserving whole  
kingdoms1   and cities1 and provinces in
 quiet from sedition and commotions amid
   all the infinite malice of the devil 
and the world8 ,every mortal man   would
 fail1 like a vanishing shadow1 before  
the thought of such an   undertaking4   
,but the ,god of all majesty1 as ,isaiah
 saith1 is the ,lord of all the         
kingdoms and kings of the earth4 ,he1 as
 ,daniel saith1 removes and             
establishes kingdoms4 ,that monarch of  
heaven and earth also taketh   down one 
king and sitteth up another4 ,and he it 
is1 who1 in the time   of peace1 curbs  
the wills and holds the minds of the    
multitude1 and   stills all civil       
commotions like the waves of the sea1   
against all the   raised winds of the   
devil4 ,and it is the same ,god also1   
who1 in the   time of war1 terrifieth   
the enemies of a nation1 and maketh     
their   hearts to tremble1 when he      

thunders in the heavens1 when he touches
   the mountains and great hills of     
nations and of peoples3 he is           
terrible2 and who can stand before him8 
,when he strikes the hearts of   the    
enemy with fear1 it is easy for us to   
conquer4 ,but what human   wisdom or    
power can strike this terror1 or do or  
ordain such mighty   things8    ,david  
then prays against the deeds of his own 
people1 and rebukes   their ungodliness4
 ,the ,israelites1 because they had that
 especial   honour and glory of being   
the people of ,god1 were above all      
people of   a stiff-neck2 proud1        
seditious1 avaricious1 envious1         
unbelieving1 and   disobedient2 and all 
these things they manifested in their   
conduct to   ,moses1 to ,david himself1 
and to other godly kings4 ,and although 
they   saw ,david1 in the same manner as
 ,moses before him1 with the manifest   
presence of ,god1 and with great and    
divine miracles1 governing the   state1 
and conducting wars successfully1 in the

 midst of the assaults   of enemies on  
every side2 yet falling into pride and  
security1 from a   confidence in their  
high title1 as the people of ,god2 they 
showed   themselves to be no better than
 those of their forefathers1 of whom    
,moses saith1 8,ye have always been a   
rebellious and stiff-necked people      
before the ,lord1 from the day that ,i  
first knew you40 ,for the people   of   
,david were carnally affected and       
ungodly2 and were as if they had   said1
 #8,command1 and command again1 if thou 
wilt2 expect1 and expect   still2 and   
why dost thou preach unto us faith1     
whereas we all the   while continue in  
affliction8 ,those whom ,god favors1 and
 to whom he   shows mercy1 he blesses3  
to them he gives wives1 children1       
riches1   houses1 lands1 and all things1
 and happiness in all things2 and happy 
are the people that are in such a case4'
 ,nor were false prophets   wanting1 to 
dwell upon temporal promises in their   
preaching1 and to   withstand the true  

prophets2 denying that those were the   
favorites of   ,god who were not blessed
 with temporal prosperities2 and saying 
that   all the saints of ,god were so   
blessed4    ,against these1 therefore1  
,david now most fervently prays1 and    
encourages himself in heart and in faith
 by his past experiences of   ,god's    
mercies and deliverances4 8,if1 7saith  
,david17 thou hast   aforetime delivered
 me from the sword of ,goliath1 and hast
 given me   the victory1 as thou hast   
done also unto other kings2 so now      
defend me   from this ungodly1 hardened1
 and unbelieving people2 who neither    
regard ,god nor his civil ministers2 who
 care not with what evils a   good king 
is surrounded in his government1 nor    
what perils of war   prevail1 nor what  
blessings of peace are enjoyed2 but are 
an ignorant   and unfeeling herd2 the   
very dregs and sink of men3 yea1 very   
swine1   who regard nothing but their   
belly2 whom it is more difficult to     
rule1   than to conduct the most fierce 

and perilous wars40 ,exactly like unto  
these are some of our nobles and        
citizens and countrymen now2 who1 for   
the sake of their belly1 trample and    
spit upon all true religion and   good  
learning2 and indeed on all things human
 and divine4    ,david here attacks     
these ungodly ones with a most severe   
rebuke2   calling them 8strange         
children20 hereby cutting up that       
glorying of   theirs1 wherein they      
boasted of being the children of        
,abraham1 and the   peculiar people of  
,god3 and yet were all the while worse  
than any   heathen nation1 and were     
false children and strangers2 for they  
honoured ,god with their mouth and with 
their lips1 while their heart   was far 
from him4          ,,psalm ,,cxlv4      
,david praiseth ,god for his fame1 for  
his goodness1 for his kingdom1   for his
 providence1 for his saving mercy4      
,david's ,psalm of praise4      ,i will 
extol thee1 my ,god1 ,o king2 and ,i    
will bless thy name for ever   and ever4

    ,every day will ,i bless thee2 and  
,i will praise thy name for ever and    
ever4    ,great is the ,,lord1 and      
greatly to be praised2 and his greatness
 is   unsearchable4    ,one generation  
shall praise thy works to another1 and  
shall declare   thy mighty acts4    ,i  
will speak of the glorious honour of thy
 majesty1 and of thy   wondrous works4  
,and men shall speak of the might of thy
 terrible acts3 and ,i will   declare   
thy greatness4    ,they shall abundantly
 utter the memory of thy great goodness1
 and   shall sing of thy righteousness4 
,the ,,lord is gracious and full of     
compassion2 slow to anger1 and of       
great mercy4    ,the ,,lord is good to  
all and his tender mercies are over all 
his   works4    ,all thy works shall    
praise thee1 ,o ,,lord2 and thy saints  
shall bless   thee4    ,they shall speak
 of the glory of thy kingdom1 and talk  
of thy power2    ,to make known to the  
sons of men his mighty acts1 and the    
glorious   majesty of his kingdom4      

,thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom1 
and thy dominion endureth   throughout  
all generations4    ,the ,,lord         
upholdeth all that fall1 and raiseth up 
all those that be   bowed down4    ,the 
eyes of all wait upon thee2 and thou    
givest them their meat in due   season4 
,thou openest thine hand1 and satisfiest
 the desire of every living   thing4    
,the ,,lord is righteous in all his     
ways1 and holy in all his works4    ,the
 ,,lord is nigh unto all them that call 
upon him1 to all that call   upon him in
 truth4    ,he will fulfil the desire of
 them that fear him3 he also will hear  
their cry1 and will save them4    ,the  
,,lord preserveth all them that love    
him3 but all the wicked will he         
destroy4    ,my mouth shall speak the   
praise of the ,,lord3 and let all flesh 
bless   his holy name for ever and ever4
      ,this is a very blessed ,psalm of 
thanksgiving for the kingdom and        
dominion of ,christ1 which ,god was     
about to raise up among the people   of 

,israel3 for it was on account of       
,christ1 that this whole people was     
from the beginning chosen out of all    
other nations2 and on account of        
,christ also that the law was given unto
 them1 and the whole ,mosaic   worship  
established4    ,this ,psalm also most  
especially urges forward that highest   
and most   excellent of all works1 the  
peculiar and most glorious worship of   
,god1   which the first table of the    
decalogue demands2 that is1 the         
sacrifice   of praise4 ,the ,psalmist in
 the most exalted expressions proclaims 
the   power of ,god1 and his infinite   
mercy2 which is above all his works4    
,the whole ,psalm presents to us a      
wonderful display of the eloquence of   
the ,holy ,spirit2 setting forth1 by a  
great depth of feeling1 and by a        
luxuriant abundance of words and        
expressions1 the glorious height of     
the worship of ,god embraced in these   
words of the first commandment of   the 
decalogue1 8,i ,,am ,,the ,,lord ,,thy  

,,god60 ,and the ,psalm prays that men  
may acknowledge the kingdom of ,christ1 
8,that thy power10 says ,david1   8may  
be known unto men1 and the glorious     
majesty of thy kingdom30 that   is1 that
 it may be known by the gospel1 that    
there is no other   deliverance from the
 power of the devil1 and from sin and   
eternal   death1 than by faith in the   
word of thy mercy and grace1 given unto 
us   in ,jesus ,christ4    ,the power   
and kingdom of ,christ lies hidden under
 the outward   appearance of the cross  
and of weakness2 and the word of the    
gospel is   a contemptible doctrine with
 the wise and powerful of the world2 for
   8the gospel10 as ,paul saith1 8is the
 wisdom of ,god hidden in a   mystery40 
,and again1 saith he1 8,christ          
crucified1 is1 unto the ,jews1 a        
stumbling-block1 and unto the ,greeks   
foolishness40 ,but when this   kingdom  
is1 by the preaching of the word1 and by
 the teaching and the   confession of   
the saints1 made known before the world1

 it is proved to   be the kingdom of    
,god and the power of ,god4    ,that    
which the ,psalmist saith1 7verse #ad7  
pertains especially unto the   kingdom  
of ,christ1 which is a kingdom that     
8upholdeth all that fall1   and lifteth 
up all them that are down20 for ,christ 
is the king of the   afflicted1 of the  
poor1 of the fallen2 and the king who   
justifies   sinners and raises the dead3
 by whom ,god is reconciled unto us1 and
   hears us as a father2 fulfilling the 
desire of them that fear him1 and       
feeding and clothing us whom the world  
hateth1 and guarding and   defending us 
against the gates of hell4    ,from a   
worshipping admiration therefore1 of the
 largeness of the grace   of ,god1 the  
,psalmist breaks out into this fervent  
wish and prayer1   8and let all flesh   
bless his holy name20 as if he had said1
 the   blessings and riches of the      
kingdom of ,christ are immense and      
unsearchable2 as ,paul also saith1      
8,thanks be unto ,god for his           

unspeakable gift40          ,,psalm     
,,cxlvi4    ,the ,psalmist voweth       
perpetual praises to ,god4--,he         
exhorteth not to   trust in man4--,god1 
for his power1 justice1 mercy1 and      
kingdom1 is only   worthy to be trusted4
      ,praise ye the ,,lord4 ,praise the
 ,,lord1 ,o my soul4    ,while ,i live  
will ,i praise the ,,lord3 ,i will sing 
praises unto my ,god   while ,i have any
 being4    ,put not your trust in       
princes1 nor in the son of man1 in whom 
there   is no help4    ,his breath goeth
 forth1 he returneth to his earth2 in   
that very day   his thoughts perish4    
,happy is he that hath the ,god of      
,jacob for his help1 whose hope   is in 
the ,,lord his ,god3    ,which made     
heaven1 and earth1 the sea1 and all that
 therein is2   which keepeth truth for  
ever3    ,which executeth judgment for  
the oppressed3 which giveth food to the 
hungry4 ,the ,,lord looseth the         
prisoners3    ,the ,,lord openeth the   
eyes of the blind3 the ,,lord raiseth   

them that   are bowed down3 the ,,lord  
loveth the righteous3    ,the ,,lord    
preserveth the strangers2 he relieveth  
the fatherless and   widow3 but the way 
of the wicked he turneth upside down4   
,the ,,lord shall reign for ever1 even  
thy ,god1 ,o ,zion1 unto all            
generations4 ,praise ye the ,,lord4     
,this is a ,psalm of thanksgiving2 and  
it contains a blessed doctrine2         
namely1 that we ought to trust in ,god1 
who alone can defend2 and who   does    
defend faithfully all those that trust  
in him1 and all those whom   the world  
hates and casts out4 ,and the ,psalm    
shows1 that we ought not   to trust in  
any man1 not even in kings or princes1  
nor in the mighty1   nor in the rich1 as
 the world do4 ,for 7as the ,psalmist   
saith7 8it is   ,god alone that can     
mightily and gloriously deliver out of  
affliction10   and all trust in man is  
deceitful and vain2 for 7to say nothing 
about   the vanity of such trust in all 
other particulars7 no man knoweth any   

thing certain respecting his own life6  
,,psalm ,,cxlvii4    ,the ,prophet      
exhorteth to praise ,god for his care of
 the church1 his   power1 and his       
mercy3--to praise him for his           
providence3--to praise him   for his    
blessings upon the kingdom1 for his     
power over the meteors1   and for his   
ordinances in the church4      ,praise  
ye the ,,lord3 for it is good to sing   
praises unto our ,god2 for   it is      
pleasant1 and praise is comely4    ,the 
,,lord doth build up ,jerusalem3 he     
gathereth together the outcasts   of    
,israel4    ,he healeth the broken in   
heart1 and bindeth up their wounds4     
,he telleth the number of the stars2 he 
calleth them all by their   names4      
,great is our ,,lord1 and of great      
power3 his understanding is   infinite4 
,the ,,lord lifteth up the meek3 he     
casteth the wicked down to the   ground4
    ,sing unto the ,lord with           
thanksgiving3 sing praise upon the harp 
unto   our ,god3    ,who covereth the   

heaven with clouds1 who prepareth rain  
for the earth1   who maketh grass to    
grow upon the mountains4    ,he giveth  
to the beast his food1 and to the young 
ravens which cry4    ,he delighteth not 
in the strength of the horse3 he taketh 
not pleasure   in the legs of a man4    
,the ,,lord taketh pleasure in them that
 fear him1 in those that hope in   his  
mercy4    ,praise the ,,lord1 ,o        
,jerusalem2 praise thy ,god1 ,o ,zion4  
,for he hath strengthened the bars of   
thy gates2 he hath blessed thy          
children within thee4    ,he maketh     
peace in thy borders1 and filleth thee  
with the finest   of the wheat4    ,he  
sendeth forth his commandment upon      
earth3 his word runneth very   swiftly4 
,he giveth snow like wool3 he scattereth
 the hoarfrost like ashes4    ,he       
casteth forth his ice like morsels3 who 
can stand before his cold8    ,he       
sendeth out his word1 and melteth them3 
he causeth his wind to   blow1 and the  
waters flow4    ,he sheweth his word    

unto ,jacob1 his statutes and his       
judgments unto   ,israel4    ,he hath   
not dealt so with any nation3 and as for
 his judgments1 they   have not known   
them4 ,praise ye the ,,lord4      ,this 
is a very blessed ,psalm of thanksgiving
 for the various   unequalled and       
infinite mercies and gifts of ,god4     
,in the first place1 it thanks him for  
that especial mercy--his   regarding in1
 and miraculously delivering out of1    
afflictions1 the   nations of ,israel1  
his peculiar people1 and the city of    
,jerusalem1   though placed in the midst
 of ,gentile enemies4    ,in the next   
place1 it blesses ,god for that great   
and unspeakable   mercy1 his giving     
throughout all the earth1 to the godly  
and to the   ungodly1 to the grateful   
and to the ungrateful1 all necessary    
food and   gladness of heart1 as ,paul  
saith1 ,acts xiv4 #ag4 8,filling the    
hearts of   men with food and gladness40
    ,and more especially the ,psalmist  
renders thanks unto ,god for his        

refreshing1 reviving1 and comforting    
with his consolations1 the hearts   of  
the godly when distressed and weakened  
by the devil1 and burnt up1   as it     
were1 by the greatness of the           
temptations2 and for helping them   in  
all times of their temptation1          
affliction1 and labour4    ,again1 it   
thanks him for giving rain from heaven  
and fruitful seasons1   both unto the   
evil and unto the good2 and for giving  
food unto men and   unto all the beasts 
of the earth2 even so1 that he suffereth
 not even   the ravens to hunger4       
,and above all1 the ,psalmist gives     
thanks unto ,god1 because he hears   and
 regards the godly1 who call upon him2  
and that1 especially in   ,jerusalem2   
which is the place of his name and of   
his word2 and because   he giveth       
,jerusalem1 his city1 civil peace1 and a
 happy state of   government4           
,further1 the ,psalmist praises ,god for
 health of body and his blessing        
therein1 and for the good bringing up of

 children1 and domestic order   and     
prosperity4 ,and also for defence       
against all outward enemies1 and   for  
the preservation of the boundaries of   
their land1 and for national   peace and
 happiness4 ,and1 finally1 he blesses   
,god for the richness and   fertility of
 the land of ,judah1 and for the        
abundance of its fruits4    ,the chosen 
people of ,god1 and the elect places of 
his ,zion have the   privilege1 above   
all other nations1 of being blessed with
 the word and   the worship of ,god4    
,wherefore they1 above all others1 show 
forth the   works of ,god and his       
wonders among the people4 ,and all the  
creatures   of ,god1 and his daily      
wonders1 and blessings of rain1 snow1   
dew1   frost1 c4 are more clearly known 
where his word and worship are1 than    
among idolatrous nations1 who have      
neither the prophets1 nor the   ,spirit1
 nor the word1 nor see his works1 though
 they daily enjoy his   creatures and   
all his heavenly gifts and mercies2 on  

all which   abundant gifts and mercies  
they feed like swine2 for as they are   
ignorant of the word1 they are          
altogether ignorant of ,god4            
,,psalm ,,cxlviii4    ,the ,psalmist    
exhorteth the celestial1 the            
terrestrial1 and the   rational         
creatures to praise ,god4      ,praise  
ye the ,,lord4 ,praise ye the ,,lord    
from the heavens3 praise him in   the   
heights4    ,praise ye him1 all his     
angels3 praise ye him1 all his hosts4   
,praise ye him1 sun and moon3 praise    
him1 all ye stars of light4    ,praise  
him1 ye heavens of heavens1 and ye      
waters that be above the   heavens4     
,let them praise the name of the ,,lord3
 for he commanded1 and they were        
created4    ,he hath also stablished    
them for ever and ever3 he hath made a  
decree   which shall not pass4          
,praise the ,,lord from the earth1 ye   
dragons1 and all deeps3    ,fire and    
hail2 snow and vapour2 stormy wind      
fulfilling his word3    ,mountains1 and 

all hills2 fruitful trees1 and all      
cedars3    ,beasts1 and all cattle2     
creeping things1 and flying fowl3       
,kings of the earth1 and all people2    
princes1 and all judges of the   earth3 
,both young men and maidens2 old men and
 children3    ,let them praise the name 
of the ,,lord3 for his name alone is    
excellent2   his glory is above the     
earth and heaven4    ,he also exalteth  
the horn of his people1 the praise of   
all his saints2   even of the children  
of ,israel1 a people near unto him4     
,praise ye   the ,,lord4      ,this is a
 ,psalm of thanksgiving2 wherein the    
,psalmist calls upon1 and   exhorts all 
creatures1 both in heaven and in earth1 
to praise ,god2   calling more          
especially on his saints1 the children  
of ,israel1 among   whom is the word and
 the worship of ,god4    ,in this ,psalm
 you may remark this blessed doctrine1  
that all orders of   men1 all kinds of  
life1 which are created of ,god1 are    
good1--that is1   kings1 magistrates1   

judges1 young men1 old men1 c4 ,for if  
to hold the   office of a magistrate and
 to hear and judge causes were of itself
   wicked1 then such magistrates could  
not call upon and praise ,god1 nor      
would the ,holy ,spirit exhort them in  
this ,psalm to that praise of ,god4     
,and where there are magistrates and    
laws1 kings and princes1 there   also   
there are subjects1 town-sergeants and  
constables4 ,and there also   there must
 be artificers in the cities1 and       
men-servants and   maid-servants1 and   
countrymen1 and soldiers1 c4 ,and1      
again1 where   there are young men and  
old men1 there are also wives and       
children1   and so whole families and   
households4    ,all these things are    
good and holy gifts of ,god1 and by no  
means to be   condemned or refused1 as  
the pope blasphemously saith they are4  
,all   these things1 moreover1 show that
 their all-high and ,almighty ,creator  
is good2 and that all these his good    
creatures ought to speak his   praise1  

to sound it forth with thousands of     
tongues1 and to celebrate   this        
infinite goodness and the countless and 
unspeakable mercies of   ,god6    ,if1  
therefore1 thou desirest1 contrary to   
the blasphemous doctrine of   the pope1 
and all like him1 to know how supremely 
good all the   creatures of ,god are1   
from the least of them even to the      
greatest of   them2 then1 suppose to    
thyself that one of these creatures1 out
 of the   universal whole1 were         
deficient or wanting1 for one short     
moment2   suppose there were no fire or 
no sun for a moment's space even2       
suppose there were no women1 no         
infantine offspring2--suppose1 ,i say1  
any deficiency of this kind3 by this    
thought thou wilt immediately   feel    
that no one can sufficiently praise     
,god1 even for one of his   creatures8  
,and how many creatures has he formed6  
,what worlds of   goodness has he       
created6          ,,psalm ,,cxlix4      
,the prophet exhorteth to praise ,god   

for his love to the church1 and   for   
that power which he hath given to the   
church4      ,praise ye the ,,lord4     
,sing unto the ,,lord a new song1 and   
his praise in   the congregation of     
saints4    ,let ,israel rejoice in him  
that made him3 let the children of ,zion
 be   joyful in their ,king4    ,let    
them praise his name in the dance3 let  
them sing praises unto him   with the   
timbrel and harp4    ,for the ,,lord    
taketh pleasure in his people3 he will  
beautify the meek   with salvation4     
,let the saints be joyful in glory3 let 
them sing aloud upon their   beds4      
,let the high praises of ,god be in     
their mouth1 and a two-edged   sword in 
their hand2    ,to execute vengeance    
upon the heathen1 and punishments upon  
the   people2    ,to bind their kings   
with chains1 and their nobles with      
fetters of   iron2    ,to execute upon  
them the judgment written3 this honour  
have all his   saints4 ,praise ye the   
,,lord4      ,this ,psalm is also a     

,psalm of thanksgiving for that infinite
 goodness   of ,god1 his being merciful 
to his people2 and for assuring them1 by
   his word1 and by his promises of his 
good will towards them2 and that   he   
will hear them1 regard them1 and have   
mercy upon them4 ,to which   immense    
goodness of ,god1 no thanks of his      
people can be equal4 ,and   that        
treasure of mercy1 which is greater than
 the whole world unto   afflicted       
consciences1--that ,god freely promises 
to his people his   blessing1 in the    
seed of ,abraham1 and the remission of  
sins2 and does   not regard their       
unworthiness in the gift2--that treasure
 of mercy1 ,i   say1 is greater than the
 mind of man is capable of conceiving4  
,this ,psalm1 therefore1 7if we may so  
speak7 is properly a ,psalm of the      
,new ,testament4 ,hence the ,psalmist   
saith1 8,sing unto the ,lord a new      
song30 showing that all praise is to be 
sung unto the king of ,israel   and of  
,zion2 whom all ought to laud with      

rejoicing1 8upon their beds30   that is1
 in the churches and temples where they 
meet for worship2 as   the prophet      
,isaiah also mentions their temples1    
their altars1 their   beds1 and their   
couches1 where ,israel committed        
fornication2 that is1   worshipped their
 idols4    ,and that also pertains to   
the ,new ,testament where the ,psalmist 
saith1   8,and a two-edged sword in     
their hand1 to execute vengeance on the 
heathen1 and to bind their kings with   
chains40 ,this is not to be   understood
 simply of the ,jews or of the          
,mahometans1 with respect to   any      
earthly tyranny2 but this is the        
vengeance promised in the   scriptures2 
which the seed of ,abraham1 that is1 the
 ,israelites and the   apostles1 should 
execute by the sword of the ,spirit1 by 
which they   should destroy idolatry in 
so many nations1 and should put to shame
   the wisdom of the whole world1 as the
 apostle ,paul saith4 #b ,cor4 x4       
,,psalm ,,cl4    ,an exhortation to     

praise ,god with all kinds of           
instruments4      ,praise ye the ,,lord4
 ,praise ,god in his sanctuary3 praise  
him in the   firmament of his power4    
,praise him for his mighty acts3 praise 
him according to his excellent          
greatness4    ,praise him with the sound
 of the trumpet3 praise him with the    
psaltery   and harp4    ,praise him with
 the timbrel and dance3 praise him with 
stringed   instruments and organs4      
,praise him upon the loud cymbals3      
praise him upon the high sounding       
cymbals4    ,let every thing that hath  
breath praise the ,,lord4 ,praise ye the
 ,,lord4      ,this is a ,psalm of      
praise1 written for the people of       
,israel1 7to   praise ,god in his       
holiness1 or in his sanctuary73 that is1
 to praise   him for that infinite and  
unequalled mercy1 of erecting his       
sanctuary1   his tabernacle1 his ark1   
his mercy-seat among the ,israelites2   
and   thereby making ,jerusalem the     
place of his dwelling4 ,for ,god dwelt  

in   that place1 the city of ,jerusalem1
 as in the heaven of his habitation4    
,hence other prophets call that people  
8the heavens10 and the place of   the   
habitation1 of the name1 and of the word
 of ,god4 ,because the   presence1 the  
power1 and the majesty of ,god are      
there1 where he   manifests himself     
forth by his acts and his wonderful     
works4    ,the ,psalmist then mentions  
many musical instruments1 which were    
used   by the people of ,israel in their
 worship1 according to the appointed    
ceremonies of the ,levitical worship and
 priesthood4 ,but among   ,christians   
and the people of the ,new ,testament1  
the trumpet1 psaltery1   the harp1 the  
timbrels1 are the gospel itself in the  
ministration of   the word4             
,,concluding ,,admonition4      ,i      
would1 in conclusion1 have all godly    
souls 7whom ,satan1 without   ceasing1  
harasses with temptations17 to bear in  
mind that all the   laudatory ,psalms1  
or ,psalms of thanksgiving1 are also    

promises of ,god1   designed to lift up1
 to sustain1 and to refresh afflicted   
consciences1   and to furnish them with 
arguments against the devil2 assuring   
them   that ,god is the ,god of peace1  
of life1 of consolation1 and not the    
,god   of misery1 cruelty1 and          
damnation4 ,for when ,david and other   
saints   thus joyfully1 and with all    
possible abundance of expression1 praise
   ,god1 they thereby show forth unto   
all the afflicted1 that ,god never      
forsakes his own in their temptations1  
but pities all such2 and that   he gives
 them breathing-times in their          
conflicts1 succours them in   their     
distresses1 beholds their contrite      
hearts1 gives them in due   time an end 
of their afflictions1 delivers them from
 all evils1 and   oft-times most sweetly
 and marvellously comforts them4        
,wherefore1 every thanksgiving in the   
,psalms1 is at the same time1 a         
promise of grace1 and a sweet doctrine  
to the tempted and the   afflicted3     

because thereby is shown1 by the example
 of ,david and of   others1 that ,god   
regardeth the afflicted1 heareth all    
that call upon   him1 and giveth peace  
unto them in all the various afflictions
 under   which they labour4    ,learn   
thou well then how to gather1 throughout
 the book of ,psalms1 the   blessed     
argument against the devil1 contained in
 the words1 8,,praise ,,ye   ,,the      
,,lord60 ,it was this that comforted    
,david himself while praising   ,god3   
for they are not the dead that praise   
the ,lord1 nor they that are   swallowed
 up of sorrow1 nor they that go down    
into hell6    ,as therefore ,god ceaseth
 not1 during this short and momentous   
life1 to   try and prove his church1 by 
causing her to undergo these many and   
great offences1 temptations1 and        
afflictions1 and these most bitter      
hatreds of ,satan and of the word2 so he
 will1 as surely1 most   marvellously   
and excellently comfort her from heaven1
 and deliver her1   and save her6       

,all1 therefore1 that believe1 how many 
soever they be1 and how many or   great 
soever their afflictions1 are ever      
lifted up by the consolations   of ,god4
 ,and hence ,god will comfort us also1  
and all saints2 and he   will open our  
mouths to praise him2 that ,satan may be
 confounded in   all his devices and in 
all his works1 and that ,jesus ,christ1 
the ,lord   our ,god1 may be glorified6 
who1 with the ,father and the ,holy     
,spirit1   liveth and reigneth1 ,one    
,god1 blessed for evermore4 ,amen4      
,,the ,,printer    ,,to ,,the ,,godly   
,,reader1 ,,greeting4      ,behold1 we  
here present unto thee1 good ,reader1   
the summary ,commentary   of ,doctor    
,martin ,luther1 collected from his     
mouth by those that heard   him1 with   
all possible care and diligence4 ,we    
could scarcely obtain   leave from the  
holy author to edit this commentary in  
his name3   because he felt that many   
things were wanting in this             
extemporaneous   explication1 which a   

diligent writing down might have        
rendered more   perfect and more clear4 
,but as he was satisfied that the sense 
and   substance of each ,psalm were     
every where faithfully given1 and that a
   very important part of the true      
religion was here copiously handled2    
he was1 under these assurances1 the more
 willing to overlook any thing   that   
might be wanting in the way of greater  
correctness1 and loftier   language and 
expression4    ,we hope1 therefore1 that
 this our labour will not be            
unacceptable to   the lovers of the     
,holy ,scriptures and divine things4    
,for they will   here see how blessedly 
this great man opened and taught the    
word of   ,god1 and what his only aim   
and object were therein4 ,and they will 
also   be the better enabled to judge of
 the writings of others4 ,for while     
others devote all their labours1 pains1 
and aims1 to thrust their   books upon  
the world2 they never1 in those books1  
touch in the least   upon those things  

which form the substance of the true    
religion6   ,reader1 farewell6 ,may thy 
soul be blessed by our labour6          
,,printed ,,by ,l4 ,,and ,g4 ,,seeley1  
,,thames ,,ditton1 ,,surrey4