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. XXXVIII.

APsalme of David for a remembrance. The Sept. addeth, For a remem∣brance of the Sabboth. Which Augustine following, saith, that it was to * 1.1 put us in minde of resting or ceasing from sin, which bringeth even upon the best so great miseries: But to leave that, as not being in the Hebrew, it was compiled by David, that hereby he might helpe himselfe, to remem∣ber his sufferings, to be thankful to God ever after being delivered, and careful of his waies, least he should again fal into the like or greater mi∣series; and not only for himselfe, but as he was a publick person in com∣piling it, he had respect to the publick good of the Church, hereby teach∣ing us all, to remember our chastisements, of which we are ready to be forgetful, so soon as we have any ease, that they may not only work upon us to humble us for our sinnes, and to make us repent for the present, but alwaies after; otherwise he that hath smitten us, holds his punishing hand stil over us, and wil judge us again and again: See the like Title, Psal. 70. And for the grievances here complained of, Basil takes them to be the * 1.2 death of his Son Ammon, Absaloms conspiracy, Achitophels joyning with him, and Shimei his cursing him: For the first Verse see the same, Psal. 6. 1.

Thy arrows stick fast in me. David being afflicted looks not so much at men, the instruments, as at God, by them punishing him, as when Shimei * 1.3 ••ayled upon him; He ••••rseth, because God bad him curse, said he. See the like, Psal. 18. 15. Psal. 91. 5. Job 6. 4. Yet as by arrows peircing words of wicked enemies, so God smiting or peircing the body with paines and sicknesses may be understood: But the comfort of Gods Servants is, that although they be grievous, they are but the hand of God, [Note.] their loving Father, who if he woundeth will heale them again, as Hos. 6. 1.

There is no rest in my bones by reason of my sinnes. Here is shewed the original of all our troubles and sorrows, Viz. Our sinnes, that in all our * 1.4 sufferings, we may not look onely at Gods hand, but at our sinnes provoking him, because otherwise we shall be ready to murmure against God, as over severe and cruel against us.

My wounds matter and corrupt. Hereby he sheweth the long continu∣ance * 1.5 of his afflictions, by alluding to mattery soares: but this he saith, came to him through his foolishnesse, in which word he acknowledgeth, that there is no wisdome or reason in sorrowing, but a man is herein carried by his lusts as a bruit Beast, contrary to right reason, as he also expresly saith, Psal, 73. 22. So foolish was I and ignorant, even as a Beast. From hence to Verse 11. With more variety of expressions, he setteth forth his misery, but there he sheweth it to be the greater, both in respect of * 1.6 his friends and enemies, these stood looking upon it a far of, not daring to come neer him, they laid snares for him; that is, Sought by subtle meanes to ensnare him, plotting inwardly in their hearts, and outwardly consulting in their talke against him to his destruction; but he in the meane season by his silence, and not so much as opening his mouth against his Ca∣lumniators, shewed admirable patience, here he fleeth to God there∣fore by prayer, adding, Verse 16. I said heare me, least they rejoice over me, * 1.7 Hebrew, I said least they rejoice, &c. Meaning as Verse 15. I said thou art my hope, answer (O Lord God) That is, Save me from mine enemies least if they prevail, they should triumph over piety, and the power of it should be weakened in mens hearts, when they behold me thy faithful Servant falling before them; and to shew what they would do, if they should by Gods forbearing to help him, prevail, he saith further, When my foot slipped, they magnified themselves against me. That is, When I was but a little put to the worst, whereby it appeares, how much they would insult, if they should have their wils of me to destroy me: A hor∣rible motive to move the Lord to help his Servants in time of danger by their enemies, and a sign of their overthrow at hand, when they com∣bine [Note.] together, to bring the true religion into disgrace, for in so doing they combine against and strike at God himselfe and his glory, and so they shal be found but to have kicked against the pricks: It is just with God to bring to the like misery or greater, such as rejoice at the miseries of others, as the Edomites that cryed of Jerusalem, insultingly raze it, raze it, even to the ground, but they had this curse laid upon them, that their * 1.8 Babylon should be brought down, and their Childrens braines dasht a∣gainst the stones: And Paulinus in vita Saint Ambrose, tels of one Th••∣odulus, that when he saw another fal, he laughed at him, Ambrose turned to him and said, Thou that standest, take heed that thou fallest not; And soon after he had a great fal indeed.

And I am ready to halt. Of this phrase, see before, Psal. 35. 15. He meaneth here, that he was so pressed with misery, that he could not go * 1.9 uprightly, by stil bearing it patiently, but was through the weakness of the flesh, ready to be impatient and murmure, because as in the next words, his sorrows were ever before him, and he had no mitigation thereof. For extremity of sufferings, made even patient Job to break out into bitter∣ness, [Note.] neither is any man free from such passion at sometimes, but we must pray and strive against them, as David did, and look upon them as halt∣ings to this end, neer to which is falling, and therefore a caveat is by the Apostle given here against, Make streight stepps unto your feet, Least that * 1.10 which is halting be turned out of the way.

My enemies live and are mighty, in the former Verse, he tels of his con∣fessing * 1.11 his sinnes, and shewing his grievous sufferings therefore, now whilst he was thus in the midst of sorrows, he saith, That his enemies lived; that is▪ The more merrily, and drew by their good success more unto them whereas he remained desolate and forsaken of all, wherein it may be thought, that he pointed at Absaloms conspiracy, after whom all men went, yea many that had been his friends formerly, from remaining with * 1.12 him, as the History sheweth. Of their rewarding him with hatred for his good wil, Verse 20. See before Psal. 35. 12. But against all this he con∣cludeth, with prayer to God to hasten to him and save him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  August.
• * 1.2

  Basil.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 2. 2 Sam. 1610.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 3.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 5.
• * 1.6

  Vers. 11. 12. Vers. 13. 14. Vers. 15.
• * 1.7

  Vers. 16.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 137.
• * 1.9

  Vers. 17.
• * 1.10

  Heb. 12. 13.
• * 1.11

  Vers. 19.
• * 1.12

  Vers. 20. Vers. 21. 22.