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

1 Doctrine. The Angels are Gods hosts.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 His hosts.] Hosts or armies proper∣ly consist of men that are warriours. And so Gods hosts, in the most proper acception, are men who fight His battells; whether they be His own people and doe it of conscience 1 Sam. 17.26, 36. or whether they be stran∣gers and have no respect to Him in their figh∣ting, but onely are used by Him. So Matth. 22.7. For in this parable, the King is God; His Sonne is Christ; they who were first bidden to the wedding, were the Jews; they who were invited upon occasion of their refu∣sall, were the gentiles; the armies, which

God sent out to destroy the Jewes and burne up their city Jerusalem, were the Romanes, as the event shewed. By a metaphor, in re∣spect of their multitude, the whole congrega∣tion of Israel brought out of Egypt (wherein were also women and children) are called the hosts or armies of the Lord, Exod. 12.41, 51. So the locusts for their multitude and order, Prov. 30.27. Joel 2.25. So the Angels; those in the former verse, as ca∣ptaines, these in this verse as soldiers.

And thus they are called Gen. 32.1, 2 1 King. 22.9. Luk. 2.13. Psal. 148.2. and legions Mat. 26.53.

In an army pro∣perly so called may be obser∣ved the

• adjuncts
  • multitude.
  • order.
• ends to which they serve
  • defense.
  • offense.

In all these respects the Angels may fitly be called, by way of eminency, Gods armies, or hosts.

• 1 For the multitude, that of Aquinas (1^a. 50.3. c.) is uncertaine, that the Angels do in number as it were incomparably exceed all materiall substances. But that they are very many is most certain, Dan. 7.10. where he doth not exactly number them, but intends

• by those numbers to signifie a farre greater multitude. For 1 he useth a double expressi∣on, and that by way of gradation. 2 That expression is by the two greatest names of numbers (Thousands, and Myriades) which the Chaldee or Hebrew tongue (as also the Greek and Latine) afford. So Deut. 32.30. 3 Both those are multiplied each into it self (thousand thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand) which manner of construction (wherein the same word governes it self, or a word of cognate signification) is a very usu∣all idiome in the Hebrew and Chaldee, and from them in the New Testament also, to ex∣presse an amplification, as (to omit other ex∣amples) in this particular of numbers, thou∣sands of myriads, Gen. 24.60. seaventy times seaven times, Mat. 18.22. and (which alludes to this place of Daniel) my∣riads of myriads, and thousands of thou∣sands, Revel. 5.11.
• 2 That there is order among them hath been already shewed in the former verse, Doctr. 1. And God being the God of order, not of confusion (1 Cor. 14.33.) and having disposed these inferiour things in an admi∣rable order, and requiring order to be obser∣ved by men, especially in the Church, 1 Cor. 14.40. how can it be imagined that He

• should not have set order among His own domesticks?
• 3 The ends for which they serve, are, that they may defend Gods people. 2 King. 6.16, 17. Psal. 34.7. (See also Mat. 26.53.) and destroy His enemies, Exod. 33.2. 2 Sam. 24. Isa. 37.36. Psal. 35.5, 6.

Uses.

The Uses of this Doctrine are much what the same with those vers. 19, 20. seeing all these three verses tend to one scope, the setting forth Gods power and majesty; that He hath His throne established in the heavens (vers. 19.) that He hath Archangels excelling in power as captaines of His host (vers. 20.) and that He hath (as here) an innumerable com∣pany of other Angels, as soldiers, to fight His battells.

I shall onely urge it to exhort and encou∣rage us to fight valiantly under Gods banner, as against carnall enemies, if God shall call us to it, so especially against our spirituall enemies; which we shall never want, so long as our life is a warfare upon earth.

Motives. 1 From the military oath or sa∣crament, where with we have bound our selves hereunto in our Baptisme. 2 From the cruelty of these enemies, who never a whit the more spare any man for yeelding himself to

them and most officiously serving them. 3 From certaine hope of victory, if we resist as we ought, Jam. 4.7. Soldiers fighting a∣gainst worldly enemies can not alwaies assure themselves of victory, (Eccle. 9.11. 1 King. 20.11.) seeing themselves are many times wicked: and though pious, and fighting for a good cause, yet God hath not simply pro∣mised they shall alwaies prevaile. But against our spirituall enemies we have most firme and absolute promises of prevailing, if the fault be not in our selves. 4 The victory shall be most gainfull and most glorious, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. Revel. 3.21.

Meanes. 1 By way of removing impedi∣ments, 1 Flee worldly cares and delights, 2 Tim. 2.3, 4. 2 Beware of intemperance, sloth, security &c. 1 Pet. 5.8. 2 Direct. 1 Take the whole armour of God, Ephes. 6. 2 Follow Gods direction. Mark the word. 3 Fervently, constantly, and humbly implore His assistance.

Notes

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• Exhort.