A commentarie or exposition upon the prophecie of Habakkuk together with many usefull and very seasonable observations / delivered in sundry sermons preacht in the church of St. James Garlick-hith London, many yeeres since, by Edward Marbury ...

Vers 16.* 1.1 When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice, rottennesse entred into my bones, and I trembled in my self, that I might rest in the day of trouble, when he cometh up unto his people, he will invade them with his troops.

AT this verse beginneth the third Section of this Chapter, and it conteineth the consternation of the Prophet de∣jected before the Lord, with the former considerations and the sad estate of the land of Canaan.

1 Concerning the words.

When I heard.] The Prophet fitting this Psalme as you have heard for the common use of the Church, doth not speak in this place in his own person perticularly, When I heard] but in the person of that Church of God to which this prophecy was sent. Verse 14.

They came out as a whirlwind to scatter me,] is spoken of the

Midianites, invading Gods people, not the Prophet Habak.

So that Theard, here is collectively the whole Church, and perticularly every member thereof.

But what is that is here heard?

Surely this hath a double reference.

1 To the former prophecy, of Gods threatned judgments against his people, of which you heard before, Verse 2. O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid.

For it was a fearfull judgment, which God had denounced against them.

2 It hath reference to the full commemoration of Gods former mercies, for howsoever faith may grow upon this root of experience of Gods favour, yet when the Church of God shall consider all that former favour now turned into indig∣nation, and shall feel that power, which once protected them so miraculously now armed against them, this cannot but cast them into great fear.

This fear is described fully and rhetorically in four severall phrases.

• 1 My belly trembled,
• 2 My lips quivered;
• 3 Rottennesse entred into my bones:
• 4 I trembled in my self.

It is the manner of the spirit of God in such like phrases to expresse a great horrour and dismay, by the belly is meant the inward parts and bowels.

So the Prophet upon the denunciation of the burthen upon the desert sea saith;

Therefore, are my loyns filled with pain,* 1.2 pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth, I was bowed down at the hearing of it, I was dismayed at the seeing of it.

My bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab,* 1.3 and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

So Job,* 1.4 My bowels boyled and rested not.

And David, Mine eye is consumed with grief, yea,* 1.5 my soul and belly.

I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joynt,* 1.6 my heart

is like waxe it is melted in the middest of my bowels.

Thus the perturbations of griefe and fear, and the passions of anguish are exprest.

The quivering of the lips which hindereth speech, sheweth a man overcome with anger, fear, or grief, so doth,

The generall disabling of the body, as if the parts thereof, the brains and sinews suffered luxation and debilitation.

And the earth-quake in the whole frame thereof, and the distemper of the man within us. I trembled in my self, that is the inward man, the hid man of the heart felt this anguish of grief and fear, and all this trepidation and terrour had this good effect following.

That I might rest in the day of trouble.]

For of sufferance comes ease, this fear of the heavy hand of God is but a fit, for faith followeth it, and consumeth it, and setleth the heart in a yielding to the mighty hand of God, and that giveth rest in the day of trouble, that day is also des∣cribed.

When he commeth up unto his people, he will invade them with his troops.]

Either when God cometh, or when the enemy whom God shall employ in the execution of this judgment cometh, he will invade his people that have rebelled against him, and are fallen away from him with troops, that is, hee will come upon them with a full power to make a full conquest of them.

This day is is further described in the verse following.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hab. ••. 6.
• * 1.2

  Isai. 21.3.
• * 1.3

  Isa. 16.11.
• * 1.4

  Job 30.27.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 31.9.
• * 1.6

  Ps. 2.14.