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

5 Doctrine. Because God knowes this, therefore He mitigates His anger.

Hitherto our misery in soule and body hath been considered absolutely vers. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Now it is to be considered relatively, as it is a reason why God mitigates His anger vers. 9, 10.

That it is so,* 1.1 see for spirituall misery Gen. 8.21. for corporall, Psal. 78.38, 39. Hence Job uses this as an argument to God Chap. 7.7. & 10.20, 21. & 14, 5, 6. So David Psal. 39.12, 13. & 89.46, 47.* 1.2

The force of this reason (from our misery) is not by any meanes as if it deserved the mi∣tigation of Gods anger (as is evident to any man) nor as if God needed the help of men

justifyed and saved; but of His own most free and gracious love to men, which is such and so great, that from our malignity, deser∣ving eternall damnation, He takes occasion of doing us good, Rom. 5.20. Yea here Gods mercy is so much the more conspicu∣ous, in that all this misery of soule and body hath most justly befallen us for sinne.

Uses.

Here then 1 No man can want an argu∣ment to urge for imploring the mitigation of Gods anger.* 1.3 But it is to be urged rightly. Namely, come groning under the burden of thy sinnes, desiring above all things absolu∣tion from them, and to be in Gods favour, firmly resolving to live godly for the time to come.

2 If this be a reason of mitigating Gods anger, much more is a pious conversation. Which Job useth chap. 31. and Hezekiah Isa. 38.3. But most of all the merit of Christ ap∣prehended by a lively faith.

If this be Gods reasoning,* 1.4 how unlike to God are they, who from other mens miseries spirituall or temporall take occasion of cru∣elly deriding them! Specially, from their spirituall miseries, of defaming them, and (if they be of a more cholerick nature) of pro∣voking and vexing them; from their corpo∣rall

miseries, of oppressing them.

This should exhort us 1 That (being in∣deed miserable) we should urge not our merits with the Pharisee,* 1.5 but our miseries with the Publicane, for obteining mercy. So Psal. 25.11.

2 To imitate our heavenly Father in ta∣king occasion of mitigating our anger, from the misery of men, either spirituall (when we may hope they do not commit evil of set malice, but of ignorance, turbulent passion &c.) or corporall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

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

  Instr.
• * 1.4

  Repr.
• * 1.5

  Exhort.