David's harp strung and tuned, or, An easie analysis of the whole book of Psalms cast into such a method, that the summe of every Psalm may quickly be collected and remembred : with a devout meditation or prayer at the end of each psalm, framed for the most part out of the words of the psalm, and fitted for several occasions / by the Reverend Father in God, William ... Lord Bishop of Gloucester.

PSALM CXLIV. An ode of David.

THis Psalm is of a mixt kind, for in it is contain'd a thanksgiving. A prayer. And doctrine. Interpreters are not agreed upon the occasion and time of the writing of it. For some think, being moved thereto by the Title, that it was composed by David upon his victory over Goliah: Others, upon his victories after over the Philistines, Ammonites, &c. Some again, in the beginning of his reign, before he was fully setled. But be it as it will,

The parts of the Psalm are,

• 1. A thanksgiving, from vers. 1. to 5.
• 2. A petition, from vers. 5. to 12.
• 3. A discussion of happiness, and wherein it consists, from vers. 12. to the end.

1. In the beginning the Prophet gives thanks, and praiseth God.

• 1. He gives him thanks. Blessed be the Lord. And he expresseth his rea∣son. [Ver. 1] Which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. In general, 1 Who hath taught me the Art of War. In particular, That taught my hands to use the sling, and my fingers to choose the stones, and direct them to the forehead of Goliah. For this was Artis opus, non virtutis. Skill, not strength, which he taught me.
• 2. [Ver. 2] He praiseth God, and that for many Titles. He is my strength, my good∣ness, 2 and my fortress, my high tower, and my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I trust, in which 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, there is an Incrementum, and a Gradation. As it is before, Psalm 18.1, 2. To which Psalm this is very like, so that it is thought to be made on the same occasion.
  • 1. He is my Strength, or my Rock. The strength I have, is from him.

• ...
  • 2. My Goodness, benignity, or mercy. That is, original of all my good. In mercy he call'd me from the sheepfold: And in mercy he hath hitherto prevented and sustained me.
  • 3. He is my Fortress, to him I fly as to a strong hold, 3 or an high Tower of defence.
  • 4. And when I fly to him, he deserts me not, he is my deliverer from danger and captivity, and he is my shield to protect me, and co∣ver my head in the day of battel. Therefore I will Trust in him, and relie upon him.
• 3. He praiseth God, that he had done more for him, than he could wish or expect, for he had not only freed him from the hand of Goliah, but had subdued the people unto him. Put it unto their hearts to yield obedience to him, as their General, after his victory over Goliah, 1 Sam. 18.5. or when they made a league with him in Hebron, 2 Sam. 5. It is a favour of God, when the people are subdued, and yield quiet obedience to their King.

Now out of the consideration of so many benefits, David breaks forth into an admiration. He wonders that when God is so great, and man so vain, vile, and base, that he should look upon him, esteem him at so high a rate, to love him, to advance him. Of which he was an example above other men. Which acknow∣ledgement tends very much to the praise of God.

• 1. As amaz'd therefore and astonished, he asks, Lord, what is man? [Ver. 3] what am I, and my fathers house? 2 Sam. 7.18. What is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?
• 2. To which 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he returns this answer, which tends to the exaltation of God, and debasement of man.
  • 1. Man is like to vanity. Capable indeed of great things, [Ver. 4] if God fill him, but till he be fill'd by God, like a vain and empty vessel, that hath nothing but aire in it.
  • 2. His dayes are as a shadow that passeth away. God is alway the same, he changeth not, but man is but for a moment, like a sha∣dow that is alwayes moving, and shifts the place, till the night co∣ming on, it vanisheth. In comparison of God, this is the conditi∣on of man, who otherwise is the glory of Gods creatures.

2. David, though he had the people subdued unto him, yet was not as yet freed from enemies, the Philistins, Ammonites, &c. did molest him, and therefore he prayes to God to assist him in the conquest of these, and shew some evident tokens from heaven, that he did assist him in their Conquest. He speaks after the manner of men, as before, Psal. 18. from vers. 7. to 16.

[Ver. 5] Incline the heavens and come down, touch the Mountains and they shall smoke. [unspec 6] Cast forth lightnings and scatter them, shoot out arrows and consume them. [unspec 7] Send thine hand from above. Since the pride of man is such, that it will not acknowledge thee, nor fear thee for thy mercies, shew thy presence by dark clouds, by fire sent from heaven, by thunder and lightniog, &c. that they may be terrified, and forced to acknowledge thee. 2

This is the first part of his Petition against his enemies. 2. And now he com∣menceth a second, and makes his Address to God for himself.

• 1. Rid me and deliver me out of great waters, i. e. from dangers of men.
• 2. From the hands of strange Children. Moabites, Ammonites, [Ver. 7] Phi∣listins, &c.

Upon whom he sets these two Characters.

• 1. Their mouth speaks vanity. Lyes, no truth, flatteries, no sincere words.
• 2. And their right-hand, is a right-hand of falshood. [Ver. 8] Their power they use to oppress, to deceive, to rapine, homicide, &c.

But before he proceeds and ends his Petition, he breaks out, as it were, in an ex∣tasie, and falls back to that he began with, the praise of God, interserting this short Hymn.

• 1. [Ver. 9] I will sing a new song unto thee, O God, upon a Psaltery, and an in∣strument of ten strings, [unspec 10] will I sing praises to thee, Psal. 33.3. And this I will do, because Thou givest victory unto Kings. To Saul by my hand and service, but especially because, Thou hast delivered me David thy servant from the hurtful sword. From that sharp and deadly sword of the great Goliah.

And then he returns, repeats, and concludes his Petition in the same words he began.

Rid me and deliver me from the hand of strange children. [Ver. 11] 2. Whose mouth speaks vanity. 3. And their right-hand, is a right-hand of falshood.

3. His Benedictus and Petition being ended, he falls upon a discourse of the Happy man, and shews that happiness is of two kinds; one in the eye of the world, and that it ariseth from Temporal felicities. The other in the sight of God, and it ariseth from Piety and Religion, where both these are conjoined, the Man is happy, but the first without the last, will never make a happy man. The first are the things that the greatest part of the world aim at. That their sons may be as plants, &c. vers. 12, 13, 14. And David denies not, but the peo∣ple are happy that are in such a case, vers. 14. But alwayes with this conditi∣on and limitation, that God be not left out and forgotten. For, Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord, vers. 14. The addition of Temporal blessings will be a great comfort to our lives, and God promiseth them to the obedient, Deut. 28. But there is another thing Necessary, the fear of God, which will make a Man happy. Without which, men talk in vain, when they speak of fe∣licity, and therefore the old Translatour reads the words thus.

Quorum filij. [Ver. 12] Whose sons may be as plants, &c. vers. 12. And then the Antecedent to Quorum must be. They whose mouth speaks vanity. And then the sense will be. It is the desires of vain men, that their sons may be as plants, their daughters beautiful, that their sheep multiply, their Oxen strong, no decay of any thing. Upon which they are apt to sing to themselves. Happy are the people that are in such estate. But David checks this vanity, this false opinion. What, they happy? No, no. They are happy, who have the Lord for their God.

This is an acute sense of this whole clause; But if I mistake not, David in earnest intends it as a blessing, when men enjoy even Temporal blessings, so it be with God. For Godliness hath the promises of this life, as well as that which is to come. And it may not be conceiv'd, that God created so many ex∣cellent things in this world only for fools and disobedient persons. Besides, ma∣ny of his best Servants have enjoyed the particulars here mentioned, let no man think then, but they may be rewards of piety. David therefore prayes,

• 1. [Ver. 12] Ʋt, That our sons may be as plants grown in their youth. Well plan∣ted, well rooted, green and flourishing. Which is the first happiness of any family. For sons are the pillars of any house. They first desired, and for them other things.
• 2. Ʋt, That our daughters may be as Corner-stones. Antarij lapides. Stones that joyn and knit the buildings, Polished after the similitude of a Palace, i. e. very beautiful, specious, hansome, for upon such stones there is commonly most Art shew'd.
• 3. [Ver. 13] Ut, That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store. Sem∣per domus tota boni & assidui Domini lccuples, abundat haedo, lacte, ca∣seo, gallina, &c. Referta est cella vinaria, olearea, mellarea, &c. It hath in it newand old.
• 4. [Ver. 14] Ut, That our sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in our streets. Our flocks increase.

• 5. Ut, That our Oxen may be strong to labour. Healthy, not sickly.
• 6. Ʋt, That there be no breaking, nor going out. No plundering among us, nor inroads made upon us, as Job 1. But that we live in peace, and en∣joy our own.
• 7. Ʋt, That there be no complaining in our streets. No screetches of women, tumults of people, cryes, and clamours in our Cities, as is usual in insur∣rections, and irruptions of enemies.

This is a part of Davids prayer, and it hath coherence with the tenth verse, where he thanks God for delivering him from the sword. This he desires God to continue, that under his reign his people might be happy, and enjoy the fruits of peace, viz. that their sons might grow up as plants in their youth, &c. Which if it happen, so they take in the last clause of the Psalm, he pronounceth them a Hap∣py people. For he concludes all with this Epiphonema,

• 1. Happy is that people that are in such a case. [Ver. 15] Such as he formerly named.
• 2. Yea, Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. That hath for his God the True God: that is perswaded he is loved by him, adopted to be his son, and that he takes care of him. For if they be happy, who possess those out∣ward blessings, They must needs be much more happy, who possess the fountain of those blessings and all other.

The Prayer collected out of the one hundred and forty fourth Psalm.

O Lord God of hoasts, [Ver. 1] we acknowledge that all military skill and power 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from thée, for thou teachest our hands to War, and our fingers to fight, thou art our strength in the battel, our fortress to fly to, [unspec 2] our tower to defend us, the fountain and original of all our good, our deliverer from danger and captivity, our shield to protect us, and kéep off all blows, therefore we have and will ever hereafter relie and trust on thée. The success which we have had at this time, and the victory over our enemies, is from thée, and for it we bless and praise thy Holy Name. Thou hast put into the hearts of the whole Army to be subdued and obedient to the conduct of their Leaders, and valiant∣ly to oppose themselves to the fury of the enemy, to thée therefore we attri∣bute the honour of this conquest, and not to our own arm: To thée, this rea∣dy obedience and courage in this people, and not to our own wisdom or dire∣ctions.

Amazed, Lord, and astonished I am, when I consider this mercy, for what is man, that man should obey him? Or what is man in comparison of thy glory, that thou shouldst set him over others to be obeyed? [Ver. 3] What is any son of man, that thou takest notice of him? [unspec 4] or that thou shouldst make account of him? Ma••••s like to vanity, capable indéed of great things, but till thou fill him, like an empty vessel only full of thin aire, vain studies he follows, empty things he desires. He is of a short life, and of no continuance, for his Dayes are as a shadow, which alwayes shifts the place, till night coming on, it passeth away. And wilt thou open thine eyes, and look upon such an one? and wilt thou take him from the shéepco••e, from following the shéep, to be a Ruler over thy people, thy people Israel? O Lord, establish this house, and confirm this throne for ever.

But thou seest, O Lord, how thine own work is opposed, [Ver. 5] rebellious men there are that rise up against it, and furious men who seek to destroy it. [unspec 6] Bow the heavens, O Lord, and come down, and declare thy power from above to their confusion. Send forth thy hand, [unspec 7] and rid and deliver me out of these great waters, from these troubles, and free me from the hand of them who are stran∣gers to thy worship and true piety, whose counsels are mischievous, and their works profane, for their mouth speaks vanity, and their right-hand, [unspec 8] is a right-hand of falshood.

Rid me, [unspec 11] O Lord, and deliver me from the violence and conspiracies of these men, so will I sing a new song unto thee, O God; upon a Psaltery and instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. [unspec 9] Experience hath taught me by my wonderful escape from an imminent death, that it is thou that givest salvation unto Kings, [unspec 10] and hast delivered David thy servant from the hurt∣ful and unjust sword.

Good God, as thou hast hitherto protected and sustained me, so restore me again to my people, and let my government over them be prosperous, successeful and peaceable. [unspec 12] Let the sons of my subjects be as young plants, well rooted, gréen and flourishing, full of strength, sap, and youth, and let their daughters be as corner-stones, well composed and well beautified, fair as the polished works of a Palace.

Lord, blesse their substance, and make them to abound in riches, and plenty of all good things, [unspec 13] let their garners and storehouses be full, afording all manner of store: [unspec 14] let their sheep bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in our streets. Let their Oxen be strong and healthy to labour. Suffer not any inrode from enemies abroad to be made upon them, nor sequestrations at home to mo∣lest them, let there be no tumults or complaints, lamentation or mourning heard in the stréets of our Cities.

Give them, O Lord, these outward symbols of happiness, and the re∣wards of godliness and obedience. [Ver. 15] For happy are the people that are in such a case. But never suffer them to place their felicity in these temporal blessings. Sanctifie these unto them, and let these be used as arguments to draw them nearer unto thée. For I know, that they only are truly happy, whose God is the Lord; those whom he hath chosen and adopted to be h•••• people, and they who have chosen him to be their God; they who relie upon him to de their Protector, and they who acknowledge and worship him, that they may be pro∣tected. For God alone is the chiefest good, he alone can give good things, not only those which are external, but those which are internal and eternal, even eternal life to those, who are his Servants through Iesus Christ our Lord.

Notes

• The first part. He gives thanks.
• 1

  For the Art of War God taught him.
• 2

  Because his strength, his goodness, &c.
• 3

  Subdued the people under him.
• He admires that God so great should do so much for man so vile.
• The second part. He prayes for Gods assist∣ance to perfect his victories.
• 2

  And makes his address for himselfe.
• Interserting an Hymn.
• Intercerting an Hymn.
• Repeats his petition.
• The third part. Who is a hap∣py man.
• An acute sense of these words.
• Temporal bles∣sings the re∣wards of piety.
• They make happy.
• With God.