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. CXLIX.

SIng unto the Lord a new Song, the same beginning with Psal. 95. and it is * 1.1 Propheticall, shewing what should be done under the New Testament, by a new people, verse 2. Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him, let the children * 1.2 of Zion be joyfull in their King: so Psal. 100. He hath made us, and not we our selves, viz. his Israle by regeneration, and who is our King but Christ, in * 1.3 whom when we beleeve, and so attaine the pardon of our sins, we have joy unspeakable.

Let them praise him with Timbrel and Harp; This is spoken according to that * 1.4 which was used then to be done, and after the Church came to a flourish∣ing estate, in Constantines time, was used amongst Christians, who also prai∣sed God upon Instruments of Musick, of the lawfulnesse of which under the Gospel it hath been before disputed.

He will beautifie, or glorifie the meek, or poore, with salvation, for such were * 1.5 Christians a long time, being by persecutors impoverished and afflicted, but they despised the shame, and look't at his glory set before them, and for this praised God.

Let them be joyfull in glory, and sing upon their beds; for the Saints are truly * 1.6 glorious even in their poverty through Christ, who hath united them to himselfe, and dyed for them, to sanctifie them, and make them a glorious * 1.7 Church; as for singing upon their beds, beds are places of rest, and there∣fore it is meant in this safe estate, wherein they may well rest, as David said before, Psal. 4. I will lye downe and take my rest; not strictly meaning upon his bed, but that in his minde he would rest as quietly by the faith, which he had in God alwayes, as if he were in bed, taking his bodily rest.

The high praise of God shall be in their mouthes, and a two-edged sword in their bonds. It is said, high praise, because set forth with loud singing, and musick * 1.8 in their Congregations, as was said before, out of the abundance of joy for the faith of Christ, taught and imbraced amongst them; of the two-edged sword, see Heb. 4. 12. The word of God is quick in operation, and sharper then any two-edged sword, and Revel. 19. 15. Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword. These are the arms where-with Christs Souldiers, his Ministers, fight, not materi∣all * 1.9 swords; and therefore at their first sending out, the Lord forbad them to take so much as staves in their hands, and when Peter smote with the sword * 1.10 he was rebuked, it being said unto him, He that smiteth with the sword, shall pe∣rish with the sword; otherwise, as Jerom hath it, here would be no agreement with that which was said before, his Saints, or his mercifull ones, as the word * 1.11 signifieth, and the afflicted or poore, seeing men smite not with the mate∣riall sword in mercy; neither doe the poore or weake this, but the mighty, and in wrath; and that which followeth, To execute vengeance upon the Hea∣then, * 1.12 is to be understood likewise, and the next words, To binde their Kings with chaines, and their nobles with fetters of iron. For, as Jerom well noteth, he saith not, to slay, but to binde them, as enemies being subdued are taken, and bound with chaines; as the wicked King Manasseh, being thus bound was carried into Babylon; so the Spiritually bound are brought captive to the possession of the Church to their Salvation, for so Christ is said, to lead captivity captive, Ephes 4. 8. and his Preachers by the weapons of their warfare, to bring into captivity, 2 Cor. 10. 5. to the obedience of Christ. And when this is done, vengeance is taken upon them, that is, upon their vile lusts, * 1.13 that held them captive before, they being mortified, and the Devils power, who held them, being broken. For Lusts be, as it were members, and the filthy flesh, upon which vengeance is now taken, as a body of Death, but now offered up in sacrifice, it being killed, that the Spirit may live; where∣as it is added, ver. 8. As it is written, this doubtlesse hath reference to that, Esa. 45. 14. where binding with chaines is also spoken of in the same sence,

and not to Deut. 7. 2. as many thinke, for their subduing, and killing with the Sword is properly spoken of, here binding, as the Saints and Servants of Christ bind, according to that power given them in Preaching, Matth. 16. to 10. and Heathens without, and by cen∣sure * 1.14 towards even the greatest Christians within the pale of the Church. And if the time of writing this Psalme shall seeme notto agree, the Psalmes being written before Esay, it is easily answered, Davids indeed were, but many of them were written by other holy men long after, as hath been before shewed.

Calvin expounding this (written) of the Jewes, because in their vengeance taken upon the Canaanites, they did nothing of their own * 1.15 heads out of cruelty, but all as God directed them, and wrote it downe by Moses, yet acknowledgeth the Spirituall Sword to be here meant, and spirituall binding to Salvation, not to destruction; the power of which the Ministers of Christ have committed unto them, unlesse any be obstinate in their sinnes when they are thus bound, for then it is to their certaine destruction. But the Corpo∣reall sword have neither they, nor any other Christians, but only the Magistrates, to cut off evil-doers, and to raise Armies against forreigne enemies, that seek the over-throw of them, and of their * 1.16 Religion. And whereas poore Christians may seeme to be exposed to treading upon by every one, if their Captaines use none other armes, but these of the Spirit, he prevents this objection, by saying, such honour have all his Saints; by meeknesse, and patience in suffe∣ring, only armed spiritually to make such great conquests.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse 1.
• * 1.2

  Verse 2.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 45.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 3.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 4. Heb. 12. 2.
• * 1.6

  Vers. 5.
• * 1.7

  Ephes 5. 30.
• * 1.8

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.9

  Matth. 10. 10.
• * 1.10

  Matth. 26. 52.
• * 1.11

  Hieron. Vers. 4, 5.
• * 1.12

  Vers. 7.
• * 1.13

  2 Tim. 2. 26 Col. 3. 5. Heb. 2. 15. Rom. 7. Rom. 12. 1. 1 Cor. 5.
• * 1.14

  Matth. 18.
• * 1.15

  Calvin.
• * 1.16

  Rom. 13. Revel. 19.