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. CXXXIV.

THis is the last Psalme of Degrees, touching which Jerom saith well, * 1.1 that having before ascended by many degrees, as hath partly been touched already, in the 131, 132. and 133. three necessary graces are commended unto us. First, Humility, Psal. 131. Secondly, Piety, Psal. 132. Thirdly, Love, Psal. 133. which if we be indued withall, then we may blesse the Lord, and shall be blessed of him, as in this Psalme: For to that which was before said, the first word, Behold, hath reference: Behold, * 1.2 blesse yee the Lord his Servants: Not Servants of sin, but the Lords Servants, which stand continually before him: Let not this your frequent being in his presence, breed in you a contempt; as the saying is, too much familiari∣ty * 1.3 breedeth contempt, but blesse him alwayes, acknowledge and with re∣verence praise his excellency. Which stand; that is, in the truth, not being turned after errour; for God accepteth not of the praises, either of the wicked, or of Hereticks: And it is said, Yee that stand in the house of the Lord; to intimate, that many stand not here, but abroad and in the feilds; and they are such as do but go and come, being as much or more away, then they are here; unlike Hannah, who served God with fasting and prayer day * 1.4 and night, and departed not from the Temple. And it is further said, That stand by night: Whereby not only praying, but watching thereunto is de∣noted; as is required, Eph. 6. 18. Matth. 24. although Jerom by night, * 1.5 will have the time of this life understood, for the darknesse of misery, to which we are subject here; yet the Servants of God cease not to praise God in the midst of their afflictions.

Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary. Hebrew, Lift up you hands Sanctu∣ary. * 1.6 They that are before said to stand in the house of God, are now Synech∣dochically called the Sanctuary, the continent being put for the content. Others, I confesse, generally supply the word in, or towards, but the sense is good thus, without any supplement. And they are bidden to lift up their hands, to shew the lifting up of their hearts; as Psal. 25. 1. which maketh against them, that being amongst such as blesse God, yet bring not their hearts to it, no nor the outward man, their hands not being so much as lift∣ed up, nor their voice to say Amen, nor their eyes, but shut with drowsi∣nesse,

or wandring after any other occurrences although most vain. Jerom wil have lifting up the hands, to do in way of charity menat, but this is forced here.

The Lord blesse thee out of Zion. For blessing God, every one of his Ser∣vants * 1.7 shall be blessed by him out of Zion; that is, from the piety there ex∣ercised, all blessings flowing as from a Fountain, that can never be drawn dry. And that we may not doubt of it, it is added, Which made Heaven and Earth: That is, who hath all power to do as he promised, and is not like Idols, which can do nothing, good or evill.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hieron.
• * 1.2

  Vers. 1.
• * 1.3

  Nimia familia∣ritas parit con∣temptum.
• * 1.4

  Luk. 2.
• * 1.5

  Hieron.
• * 1.6

  Ver: 2:
• * 1.7

  Vers. 3.