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. II.

HERE the persecution that should be raised up against the Christian Religion, both by Jews and Gentiles, is prophesied of, and how vain it * 1.1 should be to hinder the proceedings of the Gospel, for it shall, notwith∣standing be propagated amongst the Gentiles in all Countries and Nations, and the wicked enemies thereof shall be confounded, for which all Kings

and Kingdomes, are exhorted to submit to Christ, being threatned with perdition, if they do not.

Calvin expounds it first of David, who was the Lords Anoynted, a∣gainst * 1.2 whom many enemies, both of the Jews and Nations about, con∣spired to prevent his comming to the Kingdome, or to overthrow him be∣ing set up, and then of Christ and his Church, as appeares by the Apostles application of these words, so Act 4. 24. For Davids Kingdome was but Umbratill or typicall, and therefore what was spoken thereof, is most com∣pleatly fulfilled in Christs, and he saith, That they consulted together against the Lord, because against him, who the Lord had appointed to be King, and this may well deter the wicked of the World from persecu∣ting Gods Church, because in so doing, they make war, as it were, against God, and comfort the faithfull, because it is not against them, but God that they rage thus, who is of power sufficient to confound them all.

Let us break their bands asunder, &c. This is by Basill applyed to the * 1.3 faithfull, here exhorted by David to contemne the power of their ene∣mies, and not for feare of them, to be detained in the bands of their sinnes: But it is better by Augustine and Calvin applyed to the foresaid raging Gentiles and People, brought in speaking thus by a Prosopopeia, for the wicked think it a bondage to be subject to God and his Christ, the * 1.4 pride of their hearts being so great, that they will indure no Lord over them.

The word rendred anoynted, Hebr. is, Messiah, as Kings are gene∣rally called, and Jesus especially, Dan. 9. Ioh. 4. Bands were signes of sub∣jection, Ier. 27. See the like phrase, Isa. 44. 15. 53. 8. Lam. 4. 10. &c.

The Lord will laugh them to scorn. That is, In their misery will be so * 1.5 far from helping them, that he will increase it, as men aggravate the mise∣ry of one another, by deriding them therein; See the like, Psal. 59. 9. Prov. 1. 26. 28. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Lord, saith Ainsworth, signifieth my staies, or sustainers, it comes of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a stay or Pillar. And Lord comes * 1.6 of a Saxon word Lafors, which comes of Laef, To sustain.

Then the Lord will speak to them in his wrath. That is, Having seemed * 1.7 for a time to have sleighted all their wicked attempts against Christ, suf∣fering them to go unrevenged, when he shall see his time, he will be thus silent no longer, but speak in his wrath; That is, Really execute, judg∣ments upon them.

I have anoynted my King upon Zion. That is, Firmly setled Christ for * 1.8 King of my Church, for the Church is both holy as Zion was, and for the eminency set upon an Hill, Matth. 5. As a City set upon an hill. And this the Lord doth, and brings men into subjection, though they reluct against * 1.9 it, as was before said.

This day have I begotten thee. This is not spoken in respect of Christs di∣vinity, * 1.10 for so he was begotten of the Father before all time, and is eter∣nall as the Father, but as he is man, and was conceived in the fulness of time, and made of a woman, Gal. 4. Some, saith Calvin, will have this * 1.11 begetting referred to his divinity, expounding this day of a perpetuall act, but by (This day) is better understood any solemne time of his ma∣nifestation in the flesh to be he, that by all the sacrifices and types was pointed at obscurely under the Law, as Psalm. 118. 24. Ioh. 1. 14. Rom 1. 4. He was declared to be the Son of God, when he raised him from the dead, see also Act. 13. 22. Heb. 5. 5. For the first words; I will tell the decree: This is said to shew, that Christs incarnation and passion, should publickly be divulged and made known, so that none, except by their own default should be ignorant of it, but might know and beleive and be saved; of the use of the word Till for preaching, see Psal. 22. 23. Act. 2. 12. Exod. 9. 16. as Ainsworth notes.

Ask of me, &c. Accordingly Christ did ask, John 17. 5. But it is rather * 1.12

to be taken, saith Calvin, as a prophesying only, that thus is should be, * 1.13 The heathen should far and wide become his inheritance. Which is, when they are made the subjects of his Kingdome, by the preaching of his word.

Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, &c. That is, saith Augustine, * 1.14 breaking the flesh and corruptions so in peices in them, as that it can ne∣ver come together in them again, as the peices of a broken earthen pot cannot, and because corruption in men, is set forth sometime by a body, as Rom. 7. 23. And by an old man, Ephe. 4. 24. The allegory from an earth∣en pot, may well serve to express mortification in the converted; yet Calvin applies it to obstinate enemies, who shall thus violently be destroy∣ed, * 1.15 and never be able to make head again, and indeed because he conclud∣eth with perishing, When his wrath is kindled. And such a rigid ruling over the faithfull agreeth not to Christs lenity, it is best to understand it of obstinate and malicious enemies, such as the Jews were, and therefore perished by the Romans Armes, and heathen Emperours, not suffered to continue long in their power, but by speedy death cut off one after ano∣ther, and their subjects consormable to themselves by the sword, famine, and pestilence; as was prophesied under the similitude of horses, Revel. His Scepter or rod, is his word or will, which worketh irresistibly a∣gainst the greatest forces in all the World.

Be wise (O yee Kings) This is spoken to cry down all worldly wisdome * 1.16 as nothing, he onely being hereby shewed to be wise, that serves Christ, others fooles, and such are even the greatest Kings with their wise counsel∣lors: And Kings are cheifly exhorted to this service, because they of all * 1.17 others are hardest to be brought to it for their pride and highness of spirit, but if they must serve, surely all their people must do likewise, or else it will not be safe for them, in Feare, or reverence. That is, Being afraid to offend him, who is so terrible to his wicked enemies, and with reve∣rent behaviour, and not as those that sleight so powerful a Lord, neg∣lecting to bow the body to him in prayer, or to give that reverence to him, which all Subjects do to their King, when he comes speaking to us by the mystery of his word, and in his house, which is, as it were, his Chamber of presense; sith he is in the midst of two or three gathered * 1.18 together in his name, and the place where God is in a special manner is feareful, according to that of Jacob, how feareful is this place, it is the * 1.19 very house of God, the Gate of Heaven: And he addeth Rejoice. Least they should take some distaste of this service for the feare spoken of, as if they that betake themselves to the service of God should do that, where∣in they should have nothing but continuall feare, like slaves; so Au∣gustine, * 1.20 least that which he said, should seem to be a perswading of them to misery; he adds, And rejoice. Intimating as Calvin hath it, that by serving the Lord with feare, a ground is laid of true joy, all other joy and mirth, that men make not grounding hereupon being madnesse, and such as hath an woe annexed; according to that of our Lord, Woe to you, that laugh now, for yee shall wail and weep. But he proceeds, saying, not only Rejoice, but with trembling: Least our joy should go on into the effusion of temerity, that it might avail to a circumspect keeping within the bounds of sanctification, or as Calvin hath it, least they should wax wanton in their joy, thinking themselves blessed, as being drunken with vain joyes, being still enemies to God, he exhorts them to an humble and modest submission: And whereas he bids them, be Wise or intelligent, saith Augustine, as if he had said, Be not sorry for me being King over you, as if your good were taken from you, but understand, that this is expedient for you, that yee should be under and serve him, that can give you understanding and teach you indeed, that yee may not rashly domi∣neer, but in serving him, the Lord of all, exult in most certain blessed∣ness,

being made cautious and circumspect, that by pride yee fall not from it.

Kisse the Son. Sep. and vulgar Lat. Receive nurture or instruction. Cald. Receive doctrine. Respecting rather the sense, then the signification of the word: By kissing here is meant, loving and obeying and reverencing, and as one saith it well, in doing homage and in way of promising fidelity: of kissing, see Gen 41. 40. 1 Sam. 10. 11. 1 King. 19. 18. Hos. 13. 2. Job. 31. 27. So Subjects kisse the Kings hand at this day, in token of sub∣jection, and mutuall love, and the Baalites kissed Baal, to shew that they were his Servants. Kisse the Son then is as much as be subject un∣to him and serve him as your King and God, but the word rendred Son, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifying, as Calvin hath it, Son, or Elect, but by him rendered Son, * 1.21 that it might the better answer to Son before spoken of, some render it, Pure, which he rejects; and by kissing he understands honouring, for he that honoureth the Father must honour the Son, and pray to the Father through him. When his wrath is kindled a little, or shortly, or in a short time. Which the best rendring of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in a little, or little time, which is so spoken, as both Augustine and Calvin note; to shew the sudden coming of Gods judgments upon his wicked enemies, when they think themselves safe, for which he also speaks of their perishing (In the way) before they think that their end is neere, going on therefore in their sinnes in all security, for so commonly is the last judgment spoken of, as the coming of a Theife in the night. Matth. 24. 2 Pet. 3. Revel. 3. Luk. 17 27. Blessed are they that trust in him. This shall be the end of the unbe∣leiver, but of the faithfull kissing the Son blessedness for ever, which is added for his comfort, against terrour that might lay hold upon him, by reason of the threatnings beforegoing, as Ioel 2. after terrible things spoken of, it is added; He that calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Act. 4. 25.
• * 1.2

  Calvin.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 3. Basil.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 12.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 4.
• * 1.6

  Ainsworth.
• * 1.7

  Vers. 5. Calvin.
• * 1.8

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.9

  August.
• * 1.10

  Vers. 7 Basil.
• * 1.11

  Calvin.
• * 1.12

  Vers. 8.
• * 1.13

  Calvin.
• * 1.14

  Vers. 9. August.
• * 1.15

  Calvin.
• * 1.16

  Vers. 10.
• * 1.17

  Vers. 11.
• * 1.18

  Math. 18.
• * 1.19

  Gen. 28.
• * 1.20

  August. Nead miseriam va∣lere videret ur quod dicum est, sed rursus neid∣ipsum pergeret in essusionem te∣meritatis, addi∣tium est, cum tremore. Calvin, Ne suo more discivi∣ant & mambus gaudijs corij se beatas sugant, dum inimici deo sunt, ad sup∣plicem & mo∣destam submis∣sionem cos hor∣tatur. August.
• * 1.21

  Calvin.