A logicall analysis of twentie select Psalmes, performed by W. Temple

ANALYS. PSALM. 91.

The position insisted vpon and disputed throughout this Psalme, is this:

• That they, who rest vpon the Lord, shall be deliuered from all hurts, and made partakers of all comfort.

The drift of the Prophet in handling this position, is to per∣swade a confident dependance vpon the Lord: as if hee should reason in this sort with vs:

• If by resting vpon the Lord we shall be deliuered from all hurts and discomforts, and made partakers of al com∣fort: then ought we to rest vpon the Lord.
• But by resting vpon the Lord we shall be deliuered from all hurts and discomforts, and made partakers of all comfort.
• Therefore ought we to rest vpon the Lord.

The Assumption is the position aboue remembred, and the only subiect argued in this Psalme. Of it there be (as you see) these two members:

• The one: That by resting on the Lord we shall be deliue∣red from all hurts.
• The other: That by resting on the Lord we shall be par∣takers of all comforts.

The first member which concernes our deliuerance from all hurts and discomforts, is set down in the 1.4.9. & 10. verse.

• Vers. 1. It is said, that who so dwelleth in the couert of the most high▪ that is, hee who depends vpon the Lords fauour: shall lodge vnder the shadow of the Almightie, that is, shall be secured against all pe∣rils and discomforts. Here our depending is resem∣bled to dwelling: the Lords fauour to a couert: our protection against hurts to our lodging vnder a shadow.
• Vers. 4. It is affirmed, that who so commeth vnder the Lords wings, that is, he who hath by a true faith re∣course vnto the Lord: shall be protected with the Lords wing, that is, shall be defended by the gra∣cious and fauourable prouidence of the Lord.
• Vers. 9. and 10. In these verses our protection against hurts and discomforts, in the case of our resting on the Lord, is in plaine and expresse termes deli∣uered.

Let vs now see how this first member of the said position is handled. The illustration thereof is from the beginning of the first verse to the end of the thirteenth: and is per∣formed by sundrie arguments:

• 1. By a comparison, ve••s. 1. thus:
  • ...As he who lodgeth vnder a shadow or couert is relieued and protected against the parching heate of the Sunne:
  • ...So by resting vpon the gracious fauour of the most high, we shall be secured against all pe∣rils and discomforts.
• ...

• 2. By a testimonie of experience handled as a compari∣son of paritie, thus:
  • I haue found that vpon my confident resting vpon the Lord, I haue receiued from him comfort and deliuerance, vers. 2. Where he doth in an holy sort glorie, that the Lord is his retrait and fortresse, that is, he who hath reached vnto him his hand of protection and deliuerance, vpon his reposing on him: as is noted in the end of the verse.
  • Therefore thou also shalt finde that vpon thy like confident resting vpon the Lord, he will affoord thee the like comfort and deliuerance, vers. 1.
• To the former part of this reason there is yeelded from out the second verse this amplification:
  • ...As a fortresse or place of retrait protecteth him who retireth thereto:
  • ...So the Lord protected me when out of a trust in his mercie I retired vnto him.
• 3. By an induction of the particular hurts and discom∣forts, from which the Lord will deliuer such as de∣pend on him. The induction is this:
  • The Lord will deliuer thee from surprises in secret and open violences, vers. 3: from sudden terrors in the night, and sudden perils in the day both spirituall and corporall, vers. 5: from each kinde of pestilence and plague, vers. 6.
  • And therefore in case thou depend vpon him, thou shalt be secured against all hurts and discom∣forts, vers. 1.4.9. and 10.
• 4. By a Similitude yeelded from out the 4. verse, thus:
  • ...As an hen spreadeth her wings, & therewith prote∣cteth her tender chicken in case they retire therto:
  • So the Lord relieueth and protecteth such as haue their recourse vnto him and rest on him, vers. 4. in the beginning: where together with this sentence the said similitude is folded vp.
• ...

• 5. By setting downe the ground on the Lords part of the deliuerance which he affoordeth vnto his chil∣dren reposing vpon him. This ground is the Lords promise of deliuerance, and his fidelitie in keeping this promise, vers. 4. in the end: where the Prophet no∣teth this later: and by naming it doth implie and meane both it and the former. He reasoneth thus:
  • ...The Lord hath made promise of deliuerance to such as rest on him, and he is faithfull in the per∣formance thereof.
  • Therefore in case thou rest on his promise of deli∣uerance, he will not faile to protect and shield thee against all hurts and discomforts. Either part of this reason is in the end of the fourth verse wrapt vp in these termes: His fidelitie shall be thy buckler and shield. Which sentence is so to be resolued and vnderstood, as con∣taining both the argument and conclusion deduced thereupon: and likewise yeelding withall vnto vs a declaration of the said con∣clusion, which is the question in hand, from a similitude, thus:
• 6.
  • ...As a shield or buckler, in case wee vse it, doth defend our bodies from hurt:
  • ...So the Lord, who is faithfull in keeping promise, in case thou rest vpon his promise, will accordingly protect thee.
• ...

  7. By an argument of diuersitie: wherein answere is made to this obiection:

  • Obi.
    • ...If many thousands may on each side of thee pe∣rish by the plague and other meanes of de∣struction: it is altogether improbable that thou shouldest escape in this common mor∣talitie.
    • But many 1000 may on each side of thee perish by the plague & other means of destruction.
    • ...

• ...
  • ...
    • ...Therefore it is altogether improbable that thou shouldest in so common a mortalitie escape.
  • Ans. The answere to this obiection is to the propo∣sition thereof, thus:
    • Though thousands should perish by the rage of the pestilence and other meanes of de∣struction, vers. 7. in the beginning.
    • Yet shalt thou, in case thou rest on the Lord, be spared and as it were priuileged against all meanes of destruction, vers. 7. in the end.

  This answere to the proposition of the said obie∣ction the Prophet doth warrant and iustifie by noting vnto vs the end, for which the faithfull man is thus spared and priuiledged in a common mortalitie. The end is this, vers. 8.

  • That he may in his owne particular experience and obseruation discerne and acknowledge the truth of this most comfortable doctrine: namely, that the Lord punisheth the wicked who renounce all dependance on him: and spareth in common calamities such as rest confidently vpon him. For thus the Prophet speaketh of the faithfull man, That he shall be a spectator onely of the punishment laid vp∣on the wicked: himself shall not partake there∣in: he shall onely witnesse and acknowledge the truth of this doctrine concerning the Lords proceeding in iustice with the faithlesse, and in mercie with the faithfull dependers on him.

  The Prophet hauing in the ninth and tenth verse comprised the question hitherto disputed by him, doth withall, vers. 9. affoord vs an illustration thereof,

• 8. By a Similitude, thus:

• ...
  • ... As a place of retrait and dwelling house doe yeeld vnto vs comfort and protection against outward iniuries:
  • ... So the Lord, in case of thy dependance on him, will furnish vnto thee reliefe and protection against hurts and discomforts.
• 9. By noting the meanes and instruments vsed by the Lord for our preseruation and deliuerance from dis∣comforts and hurts, vers. 11. and 12: where these instruments are said to bee the Angels. Now this point, which concerneth the Angels, who are ap∣pointed by the Lord to be instruments of our pre∣seruation, is amplified:
  • 1. From the efficient cause of their imployment in this behalfe: namely, the commission and charge they haue from the Lord to performe this ser∣uice of preseruing the faithfull in all their waies and proceedings, so farre as they are lawfull and iustifiable by the word of the Lord. For these onely are called the waies of the faithfull.
  • 2. From the consideration of their extraordinarie care to discharge the Lords commissiō they haue for this seruice. This care in them the Prophet noteth by resembling the action and seruice they performe, vnto the action of a carefull and prouident Nurse: who in the case of pe∣rill to the infant whom she nurseth, will take him into her armes, and carrie him so long as shall be feare of danger. And so by the Lords commaundement and direction the Angels proceed with vs in this point of pre∣seruing vs from hurts and discomforts.
  • 3. From a comparison of the greater to the lesse, vers. 13. thus:
    • ...By this seruice of the Angels in protecting thee, thou shalt gaine this further ad∣uantage, as to conquer and triumph o∣uer

• ...
  • ...
    • the greatest perils and mischiefes. For this is meant by marching vpon those cruell beasts, which are men∣tioned vers. 13.
    • ...No marueile then if the Angels protect thee in cases of lesse perill and mischiefe.

Hitherto the first member of the position, which the Pro∣phet handleth in this Psalme, hath been debated: name∣ly, our deliuerance from all hurts and discomforts in the case of our dependance vpon the Lord.

The second member of the said position is in sense and ef∣fect this:

• That by resting vpon the Lord, we shall be made partakers of all comforts and blessings, vers. 14.15.16.

This point of doctrine the Prophet disputeth and cleereth by an argument drawne from a testimonie that is aboue all exception. He concludeth thus:

• The Lord himselfe doth professe vnder most gracious promises, that in case wee rest vpon him, he will com∣municate vnto vs all comforts and blessings.
• Therefore by resting on the Lord, wee shall vndoubtedly be made partakers of all comforts and blessings.

Touching this profession on the Lords part, of communica∣ting vnto vs all comforts and blessings, in case we depend vpon him: we are to obserue how the Lord setteth it foorth in those three last verses of the Psalme.

• Vers. 14. The Lord doth twice inferre and conclude his communicating of all blessings vnto vs, vpon the reason of our dependance on him.
  • His first conclusion is this:
    • ...He resteth on me, saith the Lord.
    • Therefore will I deliuer him. Here vn∣der the name and title of deliuering vs, we must vnderstand the supply∣ing of al other blessings, as it is ex∣pounded by the Lord himselfe in the end of the fifteenth verse, and throughout the sixteenth.
  • ...

• ...
  • His second conclusion is in the later part of the 14. verse: and is in sense the same with the former:
    • He acknowledgeth my name, saith the Lord. As if he should say: He doth out of an acknowledgement of my power and promise to helpe him, and of my fidelity in keeping promise, rest vpon me for helpe and comfort.
    • Therefore will I exalt him: that is, ad∣uance him from out of trouble in∣to a place of safetie, and likewise furnish vnto him all other bles∣sings.
• Vers. 15. The Lord doth expresse and amplifie his said profession by a Logicall proceeding from the lesse to the greater. For first he saith, That he will heare the faithfull petitioner: then (which is a greater fauour) that he will be present with him in his trouble to comfort him: thirdly, that he will de∣liuer him from it, which is a further degree of fa∣uour: and lastly, which is the highest degree of fauour, that he will glorifie and honour him.
• Vers. 16. Whereas the Lord in the end of the 15. verse hath promised to conferre glorie and ho∣nour vpon the faithfull and confident petitioner: he doth in the 16. verse illustrate this generall by setting downe the parts of the glory and honour, which he will bestow on him. These parts are the blessings of this life, and the comforts of eternall life. The Lord concludeth thus:
  • I will bestow vpon the faithfull and confident petitioner the blessings of this life, and the comfort of eternall life, vers. 16. Where vn∣der the promise of length of daies, is im∣plied the promise of all prosperitie and

• ...
  • comfort in this life. Vnder the promise of seeing the Lords saluation, the promise of enioying the happines and blessings of eternall life is signified.
  • Therefore will I bestow vpon him glorie and honour, vers. 15. in the end.