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

2 Doctrine. He hath made known His acts to the chil∣dren of Israel.

1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 His acts.* 1.1] He meanes the

wonderfull works of God in Egypt, the wildernesse, and the land of Canaan. Which may be reduced to His works of mercy to∣ward the Israelites, and of justice against the Egyptians, the rebellious Israelites, the Midi∣anites, Amalek, and the Canaanites. The particulars every where occurre.

2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to the children of Israel.] Children (by a Synecd. spec. familiar to the Hebrews) are put for posterity. Why they should be denominated (as here and gene∣rally they are) of Israel, rather then of A∣braham, or Isaac, the reason may seem to be, because these had children of deferent reli∣gions (Abraham had Isaac and Ishmael, Isaac had Jacob and Esau) but Jacobs children, though many, were all of one faith and reli∣gion. Why of Israel rather then of Jacob, the reason may be, because the name of Isra∣el was given him by God Himself, and that of honourable signification, (A prince with God) and bestowed upon him for his great and pertinacious piety, Gen. 32.

That God had before Davids time made known His acts to the children of Israel,* 1.2 ab∣undantly appeares in all the books of Mo∣ses, Josuah, Judges, and Samuel. See Deut. 11.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Reasons. 1 For the impulsive cause,* 1.3 Gods

acts of mercy (viz. His delivering the Israe∣lites out of Egypt, leading them to the land of Canaan, bringing them into it, placing them in it, and so the acts tending thereun∣to) proceeded from Gods truth and fide∣lity, which required the performance of His promises made unto their fathers. His acts of justice proceeded from His hatred of sinne. And all from His love to that nation, even those acts of justice, which He shewed on the rebellious Israelites: for so he pluckt up the ill weeds that the corn might grow the bet∣ter; and punished some exemplarily, that o∣thers fearing might be kept in their duty, See Deut. 17.13.

2 The end in generall was, that they (so many as were not taken away by his judgements) and their posterity (to whom they were often commanded to declare His acts) might the more diligently keep His commandements (Who had done so great things for them) to their own salvation and His glory. So Deut. 11.7, 8. Your eies have seen all the great acts of the LORD, which He did: There∣fore shall ye keep all the Commandements &c. So chap. 6.20. &c. & 10.12. So Psal. 105. Where beginning from Abra∣ham verse. 9. and briefly reckoning up the acts of God, he concludes with the end of

all, vers. 45. That they might observe His statutes, and keep His Lawes. Hence Psal. 78. Not to forget Gods works and to keep His commandements, vers. 7. and on the o∣ther side to forget those, and not to keep these, vers. 10, 11. are joined together as causes and effects. In speciall, for his works of mercy, that they and their posterity in all their dangers and necessities might put their trust in God, Who had shewed such great power and love toward them, Deut. 7.17, 18, 19. Psal. 77.10, 11, 12. & 78.7. For want of which duty Moses reproves them, Deut. 1.29. &c. as Samuel those of his time, who for feare of Nahash asked a King, when God, who had formerly so ma∣ny waies delivered them, was their King, 1 Sam. 12. Also that they might alwaies have matter of praising and giving thanks to God, Psal. 9.1. & 26.6, 7. So Psal. 105. & 106. & 136. where earnestly exhorting to praise and give thanks to God, he takes his argument from these works of God. For His works of punitive justice, that be∣holding therein His power and hatred of sinne, they might feare to offend Him by committing it, Numb. 16.40. Levit. 18.24, 25, &c. & 20.22, 23.

Uses.

Hence we may observe 1 That God rests not in desires,* 1.4 purposes &c. of doing good to the godly and punishing the wicked, but in due time proceeds to acts of mercy and justice. Many men think they have done a great matter, if they inwardly wish well to the godly and ill to the wicked, desire to doe good to those and punish these; though when they have power, authority, and op∣portunity they will not doe it. Or if their love to those proceed as farre as to word or tongue in praising, promising &c. and their hatred to the sinnes of these expresse it self by dispraising, threatning &c. they think they have almost obliged God to them by it. But this is not to imitate God, Who hath His 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 His acts both of mercy to the godly, and of punishment against the re∣bellious And such affections and words shall be so farre from doing them any good, that they plainly convince them to be wic∣ked servants, who knowing their Lords will, yet doe it not.

2 Though God have some secret things belonging to Himself, Deut. 29.29. some judgements unsearchable, and waies past finding out, Rom. 11.33. yet His acts, which it behoves men to know, He hath

made known unto them; that His mercy and justice might be manifest, to the ends abovesaid, and the like. And herein He is to be imitated by us, but with caution; that is, so as it be not done 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to the dispraise of others, or boasting of our selves but to the good of o∣thers, and our own necessary defence, and that modestly.

3 Behold here, that God is no respecter of persons. For there were many nations at that time far superiour to the Israelites in all earthly respects: yea of Esau's progeny there were many Dukes, Gen. 36.15. &c. when the Israelites lived miserably and despicably in Egypt. Yet God out of all nations chose these children of promise, to whom He would make known His acts.

Here we may see the reason, why God was more angry at the Israelites sinnng a∣gainst Him, then at any others. Though He left not Himself without witnesse amongst other nations, and therefore might justly pu∣nish them also for their sinnes, and so many times did: yet that witnesse, if compared with the manifestation of His wayes (in the for∣mer Doctrine) and of His acts (in this) to the children of Israel, was but litle. And therefore of them, to whom He had commit∣ted

much, He might justly require more; and for want of it, more often and more se∣verely punish them.

By Gods thus manifesting His acts,* 1.5 are re∣proved, 1 Such as will not observe or take notice of them. Psal. 28.5. Isa. 5.11, 12. And now more especially among us, to whom God hath made known those acts not onely in the writings of Moses, but also in the Psalmes, and often elswhere in the Old Te∣stament, and likewise in the New. And not those onely, but many other acts of God al∣so beyond all admiration, especially the mi∣racles wrought by our Saviour Christ, and in His Name. Yet how few of us set our hearts upon them, so as thereby to learne to keep Gods commandements, to hope in Him, to fear Him, to glorify Him &c? But let us assure our selves, if we neglect Gods acts of mer∣cy towards others we shall not enjoy the like our selves: and if we slight the acts of His pu∣nishing justice upon others, we shall feel them in our selves; and be made examples unto others, because we would not be warned by other mens examples. And if they deserve reproof, who do not mark the things which were done of old to others; much more they who neglect Gods acts done unto themselves. Yet thus do many men, who not acknow∣ledging

Gods hand in those things which be∣fall them, attribute their good things either to other men or wholly to themselves, and impute their evil things either to the instru∣ments which God useth, or to fate, fortune &c. But worst of all are they, who think and speak ill of these acts; who through co∣vetousnesse, ambition &c despise the callings, wherein God hath set them, and the estates He hath bestowed upon them (though herein He hath been much more liberall to them, not worthy to breath the common aire, then to many of his deare children) murmur at their afflictions as undeserved, when indeed they are farre short of what they have deser∣ved. How far are such men from salvation, who make those acts of God an occasion of departing further from Him, whereby, accor∣ding to His intention, they ought to be moved daily to draw nearer to Him!

2 Such as do not manifest their own acts beseeming those to whom God hath thus made known His acts. Many draw neare to God with their mouths, and honour Him with their lips, bring forth plentifully the leaves of profession; but few abound in the fruits of obedience. Others by hypocrisie labour to hide their acts from God. Of these the Scriptures often speak, and alwayes with de∣testation.

It is in vain for them to attempt it, Jer. 23.24. Luk. 12.1, 2. For how can He, Who most clearly sees the darkest & secret∣est corners of their hearts, be ignorant of their acts? Or how can any act be hidden from Him, in Whom the agent lives, moves, and hath his being? Yea Woe is denounced a∣gainst such, Isa. 29.15. And no marveli, seeing such a thought smels rank of atheisme. But most impudent are they, who openly commit iniquity, Isa. ••.9. which is yet worse in respect of the place (the visible Church, Isa. 26.10. the Temple, Ezek. 8.16, 17.) the manner, when a man glories in it &c.

This should exhort us,* 1.6 1 Diligently and affectively to consider these and the like acts of God, which He hath or shall make known unto us.

Motiv. 1. To this end He hath revealed them Rom. 15.4. 1 Cor. 10.11. 2 The consideration of them is profitable for those further ends intended by God, mentioned in the 2^d Reason of this Doctrine. 3 If we doe it not, Rahab the harlot, and the Gibe∣onites will rise up against us in judgement: for they were moved upon a lesser and lesse certain report of some few of Gods acts.

2 To declare and make known Gods acts unto others.

Motiv. 1. The example of God, Whom in so doing we shall imitate. 2 His precept for it often inculcated by Moses in the insti∣tution of the Passeover, Exod, 12. 3 The example of holy men, Psal. 78.4, 5, 6. 4 It is profitable to others, as to us in the former Exhortation. 5 Many have great need of it: as children, who by reason of their age, and some (though of riper years) who by reason of their naturall dulnesse or want of education can not of themselves consider the acts of God; others through negligence &c will not.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Expl.
• * 1.2

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

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• * 1.4

  Instr.
• * 1.5

  Repr.
• * 1.6

  Exhort.