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. XXXIII.

SHout joyfully (yee Righteous) in the Lord, praise is comely for the Righ∣teous. As he ended Psal. 32. So he beginneth this, using more argu∣ments * 1.1 to move hereunto. And the same is meant by the word here used, signifying Shout joyfully, and by the word there used signifying Rejoyce, wherefore our New Translat. renders it also Rejoyce, and Calvin T••••ult, the words following, are a reason, why the just and not others are stiried up to this, Praise is comely for the Ʋpright: GOD is not honored by the Wick∣eds praising of him, but only when the upright hearted do it: yea, sayth August. A Righteous life is a praysing of God, contrariwise a Wicked: Whereby yee may see (O yee wicked) how abominable yee are to the Lord, [Note.] even so abominable that he loveth not, but is averse from your very praising of him: See also, Isa. 1. Chap. 66. * 1.2

Praise the Lord upon the Harp: The upright must not only praise God * 1.3 by singing, but also use all other such means as are apt to make their singing the more delightfull unto him, as sweet and pleasant Musick, and sometime loud sounding Musick, as Psal. 150. Calvin commends this only * 1.4 under the Law, when God was praised by sacrificing and Musick added there∣unto, by sounding with Trumpets, singing, playing upon the Harp, the Or∣gan and the Pipe, &c. And therefore sayth, as other Ceremonies of the Law, this praising by musicall instruments hath no place in the Church of God at this day. For the voice of man speaking that which the spirit di∣ctates, is beyond all musick with singing and Instruments in his Ears, and yet if it be not understood, is forbidden, 1 Cor. 14. Therefore singing and musick, it not being understood, which is sung or playd to, is not only inconsiderate zeal amongst the Papists that use it, but also impious perversness; Thus Cal∣vin.

Augustine speaks nothing of it, but by Allegory, by the Harp under∣standing * 1.5 praise for prosperity and Adversity: because the wood of the Harp whereupon the strings are, making a pleasant sound, when they are stricken, is downward below, but the Psaltery, the other Instrument here named is so framed, that the hollow part yeilding the sound is upward. Now we are not to seek these Instruments elsewhere, for we have them in our selves, the Harp, when we praise God for such good things as befall us concerning this life, yea and for sufferings here also, as Job, when he had lost all: The Lord giveth and taketh away, blessed be the Name of the LORD: And the Psaltery, when we praise GOD for higher Blessings, wherewith he bles∣seth us in Christ: And whereas the Psaltery is sayd to have ten strings, we have it compleate, when we praise God in our lives lead according to Gods ten Commandements, having but one only true God, honouring his name, kee∣ping his Sabboth, not as the Jews by bodily rest, giving themselves to fea∣sting and pleasure all day, for they that do so had better dig all day then rest, &c. And herein I think August. was right, we are required to praise God with these musicall instruments being understood spiritually; the Peo∣ple of God under the Law of Ceremonies according to the Letter, we under the Gospel, as hath been sayd, and so we have still our spirituall sacrificing and Incense, when we honour God by our ready Obedience, looking for ac∣ceptation of our service in and through the sweet perfume made by the In∣cense of his merits alone. And thus I conceive our praising of God without musicall Instruments at this day is best approved, and the Papists musick con∣demned, because they understand this literally, which now is to be done spiritually, and so far forth only with singing as may be with understanding, the sounding with music••all instruments at the Instant, which makes the new service of God and the old all one, being layd down. For by as good reason may they offer the fat of Rams and Incensc, as keep up musick in Chur∣ches still, and Altars as they do: For the Argument brought against them be∣fore by Calvin, I cannot see such force in it, because as under the New T. so under the Old all things were to be done to Edification, and therefore that Argum. is as good against their practise then as now, if in musick and song going together, there were no Edification by reason that it is not understood by all the Congregation. It is true there is no Edification in teaching, unlesse it be in a Tongue understood, but in making Melody to God by song and musick there may, though not understood, Viz. The heart being hereby made to rejoyce in God, in thinking upon the Harmony made to him conti∣nually * 1.6 in Heaven, to beare a part, wherein we shall one day come, and this is one Grace, wherein we should be Edified, for such is joy in the Spi∣rit.

Sing to the Lord a new song, sing skilfully in praising: Calvin, Sing lustily: * 1.7 Answ. Do well, playing on the instrument with triumphant noise, which is nearest to the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but to render it word for word, it is, Do good, strike up with Exultation, that is, Make good, or excellent musick upon the Harp and Psaltery before spoken of, as men use to do, when they would with their best skill express greatest joy. And a new Song we are bidden to sing, as also Psal. 40. 4. 96. 1. 98. 1. 144. 9. Isa. 42. 2. Revel. 14. 3. In reference to the time of the Gospel, wherein all things are new, and yet the same that were before, but set forth in a new manner, the Melody that is * 1.8 made, not being so much in the voice and musicall instrument, as in the heart; according to which it is sayd, Singing and making Melody to the Lord in your hearts. So the same Commandement is called both The old Commande∣ment, * 1.9 and the new, 1 Joh. 2. 7.

For the word of the Lord is right: That is, Whereby he commandeth all things to be done, every thing being done rightly, and justly in the admini∣stration * 1.10 of the world, as is particularly shewed. Vers. 6. &c.

The Lord loveth Justice and Judgment: Some, sayth Calvin, understand * 1.11

this, as if he had said, In men he loveth justice, but this, although it be a truth, is not to the purpose here, for he proceeds to prove what he had said, Verse 4. Of his doing all things righteously, and this he doth by shew∣ing, it is his nature so to do, for the love that he heareth to justice; if any man shal say, Is this such a matter of a new song? Do not, and have not all almost ever acknowledged this, that God is just: Ainsworth, It is true in general, but coming to be tryed by sufferings, scarce the hundreth part of men acknowledge it, but murmure and complain, as if they were [Note.] unjustly dealt withal; and therefore it may wel be called a new song, to acknowledge this even in all things, and to give him thanks, as is comman∣ded, 1 Thes. 5. 17. And as Job did, when he had lost all. The Earth is full of his goodness. So Isa. 6. 3. The whole Earth is full of his glory. As in respect of temporal blessings, so and cheifly in respect of his Son, sent into the World to redeem and save us: And even in our sufferings we must look up to God, as doing it in goodness for our benefit, as Hebrews, 12. 9. [Note.] and Psalme 119.

By the word of the Lord the Heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth, all their heasts. Having Verse 4. said, The word of the Lord is right. * 1.12 Now he beginneth to prove it, by an induction of particulars; and first, Of his making the Heavens and all the Stars by his word and spirit, where by Word Christ is understood, who is said to be his Word, and that Word whereby all things were made: And for the breath or spirit of his mouth, * 1.13 hereof is expresly said, Gen. 1. 2. The spirit of God moved upon the waters. Or sat upon them as an Hen, to hatch and forme them into that glori∣ous and excellent expansion which we behold, for what are the Heavens, Hebrew, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 There are waters. And the Heavens and their Hoasts are first mentioned, because the most glorious of all Gods works, as Psal. 19. 1. And this word and spirit are commonly by the Ancients taken for Christ the Son of God, and the holy Ghost; although Calvin thinks, that they were deceived, whereas they hence brought an argument to prove the divinity of the holy Ghost, against Sabellius: For if the Word be God, what can the Spirit be, whereby the Word is brought forth but God also?

He hath gathered as an heap the waters of the Sea. Of which see also, * 1.14 Gen. 1. And it argueth an infinite power to do this, when these waters are fluid by nature, and not otherwise to be kept within their bounds, yet that they lying higher then the earth, should be kept from overflowing i•• ever since the beginning of the World.

The Lord scatters the counsels of Nations. From his works of Creation and providence in containing the Seas, the Prophet passeth on to other * 1.15 acts of his providence towards men; whole Nations, and many plot and devise daily against the Nation which he hath peculiarly chosen, his Church, the people of Israell; but their devices and counsels take none effect, but are from time to time frustrated, as those of the Egyptians first, then of the Amalekites, Medianites, Moabites, Philistims, and Syrians; As is shewed in Exodus, Judges, Kings. Therefore, Verse 12. The Nation chosen by him is pronounced blessed, because both their enemies counsels * 1.16 vanish, and his stand alwaies firm and stable, Verse 11.

The Lord looketh down from Heaven upon the Sons of Adam. Having * 1.17 shewed the happinesse of the Nation by him chosen, now he proceeds to the reason, and that is, The Lord knoweth the hearts and waies of all men, as he must needs do, because he made all their hearts, and he seeth, that neither any King nor mighty man, is of power to save himselfe, neither are Horses of any avail, Verse 14, 15, 16, 17. but the Lords chosen people, that feare him, are saved from death, and famine. * 1.18

Our Soule hath looked to the Lord. It being so as is before said, that there is no power in Creatures, but only in the Lord, to save and deliver in time * 1.19

of danger, or to assault and prevail, we that are his Church and people, ought to make this use of it, to have our eyes towards him, not towards any humane or created strength, and then as Verse 21. We shall be sure of a joyful event, and that it may be so, we must stil alwaies be praying, as Verse 23. Let thy mercy be upon us (O Lord) as we trust in thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1.
• * 1.2

  Prov. 15. 8.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 2.
• * 1.4

  Calvin.
• * 1.5

  August.
• * 1.6

  Gal. 5. 22.
• * 1.7

  Vers. 3.
• * 1.8

  2 Cor. 5. 17.
• * 1.9

  Ephes. 5. 19.
• * 1.10

  Vers. 4.
• * 1.11

  Vers. 5.
• * 1.12

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.13

  Ioh. 1. 1. 2. 3.
• * 1.14

  Vers. 7.
• * 1.15

  Vers. 10.
• * 1.16

  Vers. 12.
• * 1.17

  Vers. 13.
• * 1.18

  Vers. 18. 19.
• * 1.19

  Vers. 20.