A commentarie vpon the fiftene Psalmes, called Psalmi graduum, that is, Psalmes of degrees faithfully copied out of the lectures of D. Martin Luther ; very frutefull and comfortable for all Christian afflicted consciences to reade ; translated out of Latine into Englishe by Henry Bull.

The .134. Psalme. Behold, prayse ye the Lord.

This is the last of the Psalmes which are called the Psalmes of degrees. In the which ye haue heard many weighty and profi∣table pointes of doctrine as touching all the articles in a maner, of Christian doctrine, namely of Iustification or remission of sinnes, of the crosse, of charitie and brotherly loue, of matrimony, of ciuill gouernment, &c. as though the Prophet had studied to comprise in these short Psalmes the fumme and effect of all suche thinges as are to be taught vnto the people. Nowe therefore he concludeth in this Psalme, the whole matter which he tooke in hand to entreat of: As we also doe when in the ende of our prea∣chings we pray that God would preserue his word amonges vs, and that we may continue in the same vnto the ende. For when the word is purely taught, all thinges are safe, holy & pure, although the gates of hell rage against vs neuer so much, and we lose, not only our goods, but also our liues. For what harme haue we ther∣by, so that our soules may be saued? It is the word therefore alone that preserueth all good thinges. But if that be lost or corrupted, then all good thinges are lost. For like as, if the Sunne and light of the world should be taken away, he that walketh walketh in darkenes: so if the word be darkned and corrupted, in what mise∣ry and daunger is the common wealth? For then neither Magi∣strate, nor subiect, nor seruant knoweth what he ought to doe, but all thinges are wrapped vp in error and horrible darknes.

Wherefore this Psalme exhorteth vs to pray, that the Lorde would preserue and continue his word amongest vs, and euery one of vs to endeuour with this seruice to helpe the Church. For although the Church is neuer without heretikes, like as also the common wealth is neuer without seditious persons: yet so long as the word remayneth found and vncorrupt, it can not be but that many good thinges and many good men also wil remayne. I take

this Psalme therfore to be as a conclusion of those things whiche were spoken of before. In y^t which he exhorteth vs to giue thanks vnto the Lord for the benefite of his word, and to pray for the pre∣seruation and continuance thereof, for as much as, if it flourish, there will alwaies be founde some good men which will leade a godly and a holy life. Therefore he saith:

Verse. 1.

Behold, praise ye the Lord all ye seruants of the Lord, ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord.

To blesse signifieth not onely priuatly to giue thankes vnto the Lord, but also publikely to praise the Lorde, to preach and to publish his word. And this can not be done without the praise al∣so of the mercie and goodnes of the Lord our Creator, our defen∣der and our redeemer, which hath prouided for vs and giueth vnto vs all thinges perteining not onely to this our corporall life, but also to our euerlasting life & felicitie in the kingdom of God. And albeit this clause: seruaunts of God, belongeth here properly to the ministers of the Church, yet generally it comprehendeth all those which professe and embrace the true and sincere doctrine of the Gospell. For it is the duty euen of those which are not in the ministery of the word, to confesse the word, & to acknowledge and praise the benefites of God. Wherefore with one hart and minde (saith he) ioyne ye all togither: continue in the worde, confesse, preach, praise and magnifie the worde, that whiles all the worlde befids dishonoreth & blasphemeth God, ye may blesse him, because he is mercifull. Then shall it come to passe, that ye shall ouercome all your enemies, though ye be to them in number farre vnlike.

But what meaneth he by these wordes? which by night stande in the house of the Lorde? Did they obserue certaine howers in the night after the maner of the Papistes? You must note that it is a kinde of speech proper vnto the Hebrewes, and is as much to say, as morning & euening, that is to say, continually. As he saith also in an other Psalme: From the morning watche euen vntill the night. Paule expresseth this sentence with other wordes: Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously, saith he. And our Sauiour Christ teacheth, that we must pray alwaies. For wher∣as the night season is appointed for sleepe, he that will blesse in the night, will do y^e same also in the day, & so he wil be alwaies blessing.

Verse. 2.

Lift vp your hands to the Sanctuary & praise the Lord.

As much to say, as when ye pray in the Sanctuary, lift vp pure and holy hands. For he that prayeth in that holy place, must offer vp pure and holy prayers. So saith S. Paule also: lifting vp pure hands, &c. for else ye shall pray in vaine. Pure hands signifie inno∣cencie, from blood, extortion, spoile & robbery. The Prophet ther∣fore setteth forth here two sortes of men comming to the temple & praying. Some there be that come and pray in innocencie and ho∣lines. Some againe pray in hipocrisie, hauing their hands defiled with blood. The prayer of such is sinne, as the Psalme sayth. Paul teacheth in like maner concerning prayer: Pray (saith he) with∣out wrath or doubting. Also our Sauiour Christ saith: If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee, goe thy way and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. For this is a com∣mon thing, that hypocrites, when they haue done all y^e iniury they can against their brethren, are not only without all remorse of cō∣science, but also they make a great shew of religion and holines, & bragge of the Gospell more then the true Christians doe. Against these the psalme speaketh & warneth them that when they pray in the holy place, they ought to be pure & holy. For who so euer prai∣eth, & is possessed with the sinne of couetousnes, fleshly lust or any other deuil, to him the Lord sayth: VVhat hast thou to do to de∣clare mine ordinances, that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy mouth, seeing thou hatest to be reformed, and hast cast my words behinde thee? For when thou seest a theefe, thou runnest with him, & thou art partaker with the adulterers &c. Such was y^e prayer of the Pharisey, which departed out of y^e temple vniusti∣fied. For this is a common euil among men, y^t they which are most impure & wicked, doe glory more of God & his word, then such as are godly & feare God in deede. Wherfore the Scripture expresly declareth, y^t such there be as take y^e name of God in their mouths, and yet in hart & life are polluted and wicked. And in this place the prophet inueyeth against hipocriets, whiche thinke that when they pray, God seeth not y^e vncleannes of their hart. This is ther∣fore a necessary prayer, y^e first God would giue vnto vs his word, & defend the same against all vaine spirits & heresies: and secondly that he would preserue vs in innocēcie & keepe vs from hipocrisie.

Verse. 3.

The Lord that hath made heauen & earth, blesse thee out of Sion.

As touching Sion we haue sayd before, that God would haue, not only certeine ceremonies & certeine persons, but also a certein place for his seruice & worship, lest the people should wander vn∣certeinly, and choose vnto them selues peculiar places to worship God in. Now, for as much as this thing was not without offence, (for what can be more absurd and contrary to reason, then that the God of heauen and earth should be shut vppe in that darkenes?) therefore to confirme their mindes herein, he sayth that the Lord which dwelleth in Sion, is the maker of heauen and earth.

This haue we often declared, and necessary it is that it should be often repeted, lest we should chose vnto our selues straunge and peculiar kindes of worship. For as in the olde Testament there was a certaine place, certeine persons and certeine times to the which God had bound, as you would say, his seruice: so we in the newe Testament do find the father in Christ. In Christ the father is worshipped: but without Christ he can neither be worshipped nor found: but what so euer is deuised for the seruice of God with∣out Christ, is damnable and accursed.

The summe and effect therefore of all togither is this: O ye Priestes, ye Pastors and Ministers of the word, to you I speake, you I do admonish, that ye follow the word faithfully and do your office purely. For whiles the word and the ministery are sound & vncorrupt, there is nothing that can hurt vs. For although Satan & the world do assaile vs, what then? If God be with vs, who can be against vs? Let this be therefore your speciall care and ende∣uour, that the word may remaine pure and vncorrupt, and pray that the Lord would assist you herein and blesse your labours, for of all the blessinges of God this is the greatest. Which might be sayd in moe wordes, but let this suffice. Now it is our duetie like∣wise in this light of the worde, to endeuour by all meanes to doe the same, lest that through our vnthankfulnes the worde be taken from vs againe: and to pray for the Churches, that God would blesse them for Iesus Christ his sonnes sake our Lord & our Re∣demer. Amen.

Notes

• What points of doctrine Dauid intrea¦teth of in the Psalmes of degrees.
• This Psalme is as it were a conclusion of those thinges that goe before.
• To blesse what it signi∣fieth.
• Psal. 129. Coloss. 3.16.
• Luke, 18.1.
• 1 Tim. 2.8.
• 107.7.
• Timo. 1.2.
• Matth. 5.25.
• Psal. 50.16.
• Luke. 18.14.