A commentary upon the whole Old Testament, added to that of the same author upon the whole New Testament published many years before, to make a compleat work upon the whole Bible. Vols. 2-4. Wherein the divers translations and expositions, literall and mysticall, of all the most famous commentators both ancient and modern are propounded, examined, and judged of, for the more full satisfaction of the studious reader in all things, and many most genuine notions inserted for edification in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A work, the like unto which hath never yet been published by any man, yet very necessary, nor only for students in divinity; but also for every Christian that loveth the knowledge of divine things, or humane, whereof this comment is also full. Consisting of IV parts. I Upon the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. II Upon the historical part, from Joshua to Esther. III Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomons Song. IV Upon all the prophets both great and small. By John Mayer, doctor of divinity.

PSAL. CXXVI.

WHEN the Lord turned the Captivity of Zion, we were as they * 1.1 that dream, Vulg. Quasi consolati fuimus, but Hebr. it is, Dreame, as Jerome also acknowledgeth. This is also a Song of Degrees, or Ascensions the seventh, wherein it is yet ascended higher, then in Psal. 125. viz, to Heaven.

For what, saith August. is the turning again of our Captivity, but our being * 1.2 brought out of the Captivity of sin to Heaven, our Countrey? For till this be done, we are held captives in a strange country, for which we are often said to * 1.3 be Pilgrims and strangers, and to be lead captive by the Law of sin. But Christ came and Lead Captivity Captive, when having suffered death for us, he as∣cended up into Heaven. Man was at the first made righteous, and placed in Paradise; but by being through the subtilty of the Serpent drawn to sin, he was taken captive and put out; but then is his Captivity turned, when turning to Christ, by Faith and Repentance, he beginneth to enter into Pa∣radise again; by which name Christ setteth forth Heaven, saying to the theif upon the Crosse, This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. But a full * 1.4 Entrance to dwell there is not made, till death: we now by Faith fit in heavenly places, and have our Conversation in Heaven, Phil. 3. 20. but then we take actuall possession.

We wereas they that dream this saith Cal. is spoken, to shew so high a degree * 1.5 of Joy as a man waking is uncapable of, & can see & feel it here only, as one dreaming, to whom, as to a man in an exstasy, are shewed things unspeakable, * 1.6 & never••een with mortal eys; for who ever waking saw whilst he was in the body the joyes of Heaven? yea it is said, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, &c. but some in dreams have seen them, and therefore it is said, Were as they that dreame. Jerom saith, that by the returning of the Jews from the Babyloni∣an Captivity here spoken of, according to the Letter, deliverance from the * 1.7 captivity of sin by Christ is set forth; as also Ainsworth noteth it is Esa. 10. 21. 22. see the like. Psal. 14. 7. 68. 19. Deut. 30. 3.

Our mouth was filled with Laughter, and our Tongue with singing: When * 1.8 the mouth is full saith Augustine: the tongue is silent, how is it then here said thus? and he answereth, A mouth and tongue are ascribed unto the

Soule, and so the mouth being filled, the tongue singeth, as it is said, Be filled with the spirit, singing to your selves in Hymnes, &c. making Melody to * 1.9 the Lord in your hearts.

Then sayd they amongst the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them. Which is spoken to the reproach of such Jews, as were not affected * 1.10 with Gods mercies, when the very Heathen were.

Turn our Captivity, as the Rivers in the South: That is, turn those that * 1.11 are not yet converted as the state of them that are converted is set forth by this Phrase, Because, because the South Country, according to the Scrip∣ture, was very dry, and when Grace cometh, Water aboundeth, as it were, in dry places, as John. 6. 38. To which Effect, the Cald. Paraph. speak∣eth.

They that sow in tears shal reape in joy, he that goeth forth weeping, bearing * 1.12 precious seed, &c. This is spoken, first with reference to the Jews, carryed into Captivity, which could not be without abundance of sorrow; yet in regard of the promise made by Ieremy, of returning again, it was but as a going out to sow, which though it were in sorrow, yet as the Husband∣man sowing sometimes in hard weather, reapeth a plentifull Crop, where∣of he hath great joy, as Esa 9. So he meaneth that they should, when they reaped the fruit of Ieremiah his Prophesying, do it with exceeding great joy. For precious seed here spoken of, the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is used, which signifieth to draw out, as when a man makes a little seed, corne being very dear, to serve to sow a great deal of Ground; so that to go according to the proper sense of the word, it is, that guides his hand so in sowing, that he goeth far in sowing a little seed by drawing it out to the uttermost, as ha∣ving but little. And thus it shall be with all the Faithfull, by patient suffe∣ring in this world; they sow so, as that they shall reap with unspeakeable joy in the world to come; for so quiet suffering of asslictions is compared, I am. 3. 18. And this is here set forth by the Jews return at the end of seven∣ty years from Babylon, signisying confusion; because that in seven dayes, or weekes consisting of seven, this world shall come to an end, and we shall come out of confusion, to which we are now continually subject, and be put into most decent order for evermore.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1.
• * 1.2

  August.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 7. Ephes. 4. 8.
• * 1.4

  Col. 3.
• * 1.5

  Calvin.
• * 1.6

  2 Cor. 12. 1 Cor. 2. 9.
• * 1.7

  Hieron.
• * 1.8

  Vers. 2. August.
• * 1.9

  Epehs. 5. 19.
• * 1.10

  Vers. 3.
• * 1.11

  Vers. 4.
• * 1.12

  Vers. 5.