A Prophecie of Christ in the eighty eight Psalme, like vnto this of Nathan in the Booke of Kings. CHAP. 9.
THe eighty eight Psalme also, intitled, An (a) instruction to Ethan the Israelite, reckoneth vp the promises of God vnto Dauid, and there is some like those of N•…•…n, as this: I haue sworne to Dauid my seruant, thy seede will I establish for euer: •…•…s: Then spakest thou (b) in a vision vnto thy sonnes and said, I haue laid helpe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…e mighty one: I haue exalted one chosen out of my people. I haue found Dauid 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ant, with my holy oyle haue I annoynted him. For mine hand shall helpe him, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…me shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not oppresse him, nor shall the wicked * 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But I will destroy his foe before his face, and plague them that hate him. My 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…d mercy shall bee with him, and in my name shall his horne bee exalted. I will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hand in the sea, and his right hand in the flouds, hee shall call vpon mee, thou •…•…t 〈◊〉〈◊〉 father, my GOD, and the rocke of my saluation. I will make him my first borne, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then the Kings of the earth: My mercy will I keepe vnto him for euer, and my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall stand fast with him. His seede shall endure for euer, and his throne as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…f heauen. (c) All this is meant of Christ vnder the type of Dauid, be∣•…•… •…•…hat from a Virgin of his seede CHRIST tooke man vpon him: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…olloweth it of Dauids sonnes, as it doth in Nathans words, meant pro∣•…•… •…•…f Salomon; hee sayd there: If they sinne I will (d) chasten them with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…f men, and with the (e) plagues of the sonnes of men: (that is, correctiue * 1.2 •…•…ons) but my mercy will I not remooue from him. Where-vpon it is sayd. T•…•…ot mine annointed, hurt them not: And now heere in this Psalme (speak∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the mysticall Dauid) hee saith the like: If his children forsake my lawe, * 1.3 •…•…lke not in my righteousnesse, &c. I will visite their transgression with rodds 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…eir iniquities with stroakes: yet my mercy will I not take from him. Hee * 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ot from them, though hee speake of his sonnes, but from him, which be∣ing •…•…ll marked, is as much: For there could no sinnes bee found in Christ, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…urches head, worthy to bee corrected of GOD: with, or without re∣•…•…ion of mercy, but in his members, that is his people: Wherefore in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is called his sonne, and in this Psalme, his childrens, that wee might 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all things spoken of his body, hath some reference vnto him-selfe; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that when Saul persecuted his members, his faithfull, hee sayd from 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou mee? It followeth in the sayd Psalme: •…•…enant will I not breake, nor alter the thing I haue spoaken, 'I haue sworne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my holynesse: that (f) if I faile Dauid: that is, I will not faile Dauid: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Scriptures vsuall phrase, that he will not faile in, he addeth, saying: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall remaine for euer, and his throne shall bee as thee sunne before mee: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Moone, and as a faithfull witnesse in heauen.