Vers. 6.* 1.1 Cry out and shout, O inha∣tant of Zion: for great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of thee.
HE againe exhorts the faithfull to reioyce in God, and therewithall shewes what is the true reioycing, and whereupon it is grounded.* 1.2 For we can haue no felicitie, but when God dwel••es in the midst of vs: without this, our life is poore and miserable, although wee had the abundance of all other benefits and riches whatsoeuer. So then if our hearts bee ioyned to this treasure, this felicitie will draw all our senses easily vnto it. He calles God holy, to the end we might know that he will make himselfe felt of vs when he dwelles with vs: that is to say, wee shall not onely re∣uerence his Maiestie, wherewith wee are by and by ouerwhelmed; but that we shall be al∣so fully assured that hee hath a fatherly care ouer vs, albeit wee be separate from the rest of the whole world. For he calles him the holy one by the effect; because by gathering vs vn∣der his wings, and sauing vs by his grace, he sanctifies vs as a thing consecrated for his owne vse. And therefore if God be with vs, the fee∣ling of his gratious presence will fill our hearts with ioy vnspeakeable. By reioycing and singing, he signifies, that when God display∣eth his power in the midst of vs, wee haue oc∣casion to reioyce greatly. Also, speaking di∣rectly to the inhabitants of Zion, he shewes that all are not capable of so great a benefit: and hee therewithall closely exhorts vs to perse∣uere in the vnitie of faith, that being knit vn∣to the Church, we may reioyce with this hap∣pie and blessed ioy.
From the first Chapter hitherto, the Pro∣phet hath denounced iudgement against the two Kingdomes of Iudah and Israel: from the beginning of the Chapter following, to the 24. the Prophet foretelles what horrible calamities should befall the enemies of the Church. And thus God iudgeth his owne house first, as Peter speakes, 1. Pet. 4.17.