A brief commentary upon the CIII Psalme with the severall axiomes or doctrines therein conteined [sic], and uses thereupon inferred.

2 Doctrine. So the Lord pityeth them that feare Him.

• 1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Of this before.* 1.1 Here it notes the exercise of Gods mercy strictly taken, as it signifies an affection of relieving them that are in misery.
• 2 For the particle (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) we must alwaies re∣member that when similitudes taken from the creatures are applyed unto God, we must separate the imperfections of the crea∣tures, and understand their finite perfections juxta modum eminentiae, after an eminent

• manner befitting God, Who is infinitely perfect. So here 1 A father, though never so wise and good, yet may sometimes be ignorant of the condition of his children, and so either not pity them when there is cause, or pity them when there is no cause; as Jacob did not pity Joseph, when he was cast into the pit and sold by his brethren, but extreamly grieved and mourned for his as dead, when he was well entreated by Potiphar, and after when being governour over all the land of Egypt, he gathered come to sustaine them all in the time of fa∣mine: But God is alwaies every where pre∣sent, ignorant of nothing, and therefore pi∣ties alwaies and onely where there is just cause of pity. 2 A father oftentimes out of inordinate affection pities foolishly, so ten∣dring the bodies of his children, that he suf∣fers their soules to perish; whilest for feare of grieving them a litle by reproof or corre∣ction, he lets them runne headlong into eter∣nall torments and staies them not: But God alwaies pities most wisely, sparing the body indeed so farre as the necessity of the soule requires; but when it is so that externall prosperity can not consist with eternall felici∣ty, He spares not to afflict His children tem∣porally, that he may make them happy eter∣nally.

• 3 A fathers pity many times can goe no further then the affection, can not pro∣duce the reall effect of helping His children and relieving their misery: But God, as He is metaphorically sayd to have the affection Judg. 10.16. so He hath also all-sufficient power to remove any evil present, or to a∣vert any that is imminent, from those whom He pities; which also He doth.

This Doctrine for the substance we have had twice before, viz. Vers. 4. Doctr. 4. & Vers. 8. Doctr. 1. Therefore we may passe it over the more briefly here.

For further proofe we may adde Isa. 63.9,* 1.2 15. 2 Sam. 24.14. Lam. 3.32. Nehem. 9.19, 27, 28, 31. Psal. 119.156.

The Reason,* 1.3 as Vers. 11. Doctr. 2.

Uses.

1,* 1.4 2, 3. As Vers. 11. Doctr. 2.

4 We see the feare of God doth not exempt men from all misery.

• 1 Gods pronenesse to pity reproves such as are contrary,* 1.5 Vers. 8. Doctr 1. Repr. 2.
• 2 The qualification annexed [them that feare Him] reproves them that presume God will pity them, when they do not feare Him. God indeed often so farre pities wicked men, as to remove some temporall evils from them, Amos 7.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

• and also to afford them meanes of salvation, 2 Chron. 36.15. But as they have no pro∣mise whereon they may rely to expect this, so if they goe on in their sinnes, it shall ag∣gravate their guilt and increase their damna∣tion. But it is most certaine that such shall not obteine Gods saving pity, as which is proper to them that feare God. Yea of such see Jer. 13.14. Ezek. 7.4, 9. Prov. 1.24. &c.

This also may abundantly comfort them that feare God.* 1.6 What matter is it who hates them or endeavours to hurt them, when they have Him, Who is Almighty, so tenderly pitying them? In the middest of all calami∣ties, diseases, death it self, how sweet is the remembrance of Gods mercy! The com∣passion of men (though when they can onely pity, not help) is some comfort to a man in misery (not in regard of the grief it self, but of the love which is the cause of it) how much more then Gods compassion, which both proceeds from His love as the cause, and produces relief as the effect?

Lastly this should exhort us,* 1.7 (as Vers. 11. Doctr. 2.) 1 To feare God.

2 To imitate Him, in being pitifull, as He is pitifull.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Expl.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  Instr.
• * 1.5

  Repr.
• * 1.6

  Consol.
• * 1.7

  Exhort.