§. 78. Of Gods Presence presupposing help.
THe Profession which the Apostle putteth into Christians mouths, is expressed in the words of the Psalmist, thus, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. This Text is taken out of Psal. 118. 6. There is indeed some difference in the Apostles quoting the Text betwixt the Hebrew and the Greek. The Hebrew thus reads it, a 1.1 The Lord is with me, or, for me: or as our English hath translated it, The Lord is on my side. The Greek thus, The Lord is my helper.
To this sundry Answers may be given:
- 1. Penmen of the New Testament were not Translators of the words and sen∣tences,* 1.2 but quoters of the sense and meaning of the Old Testament. See Chap. 1. v. 6. §. 72.
- 2. The word Helper is used by the Psalmist in the next verse, and from thence it may be taken by the Apostle.
- 3. The LXX Greek Translators (which was the Translation that the Church used* 1.3 in the Apostles time) read this Text word for word as the Apostle doth. The sense therefore being the same with the Hebrew, the Apostle would not alter that Tran∣slation.
- 4. The alteration which is in the Greek serves for an Exposition of the minde and meaning of the Psalmist. For Gods being with, or for us, or on our side, pre∣supposeth that he is our helper. So as there is no contradiction betwixt the Psalmist and Apostle; but a clear interpretation of the Psalmists minde; and a profitable* 1.4 instruction thence ariseth, namely, that upon Assurance of Gods being with us, for us, and on our side, we may rest upon it, that he will afford all needfull help and succour unto us. Hereupon the Psalmist himself making this inference: For having said, The Lord is on my side, he addeth, The Lord taketh my part with them that help me, Psal. 118. 6, 7. God himself having said to Ioshua, I will be with thee, maketh this further inference, I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, Josh. 1. 5. And