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. XLI

BLESSED is he that considereth the poor. This saith Calvin, is com∣monly taken as spoken of the charitable, but the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ʋnder∣standing, * 1.1 here used implyeth, an intelligent or prudent weighing of his case that is oppressed, to stand for him, if it be by men, if by God, not to censure him wicked, for his hand soare upon him, because Job suffered thus, only for tryal of his patience, wherein he comes neerer the true sense, then they that are for offices of charity to the poor in ge∣neral: And if we look back to Psal. 40. 17. Where he saith, I am afflicted and poor, it wil appeare, that he speaks here of the same, and if by poor, there Christ be meant, then he is meant here also; and then the meaning is, That hath the wisdome to look upon Christ so attenuated, as the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth, not as one smitten of God for his sinnes, as Isa. 53. But

submitting himselfe to poverty, to make us rich, being the Son of God, hum∣bling himselfe so, that whosoever beleiveth on him should not perish, but * 1.2 have life everlasting: Thus also Jerom, such a man is blessed both in health and sickness, as followeth, Verse 2: 3. Thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse. Hebrew, Thou hast turned: Because he that makes a bed soft, turneth it, and it is meant, that the Lord giveth him case; whereas Jerom by bed understands, his body exercised with many afflictions, to make him better; it is far fetcht, and therefore leaving it, cleave to the plain literall sense; and if it pleaseth not, understand ease in sicknesse: Calvin tels thee, that restoring to health is meant, which I take to be all one.

I said, Lord have mercy upon me, I have sinned. This also is by Jerom * 1.3 applyed to Christ, as meant of the sinnes of men, for whom he suffered, or to the Church, as spoken in her person; and the next unto the Jews, speaking deceitfully to intrap Christ, which he calleth vanity, as when they said, he regarded no mans person, and therefore asked him, whether they should pay tribute or not, for they pake one thing, and intended another in their hearts, and thought long for his death, and going abroad utte∣red it; that is, Plainly calling upon Pilate to crucifie him.

Together against me they whisper, that hate me. Here also he saith, The Jews consulting and tampering with Judas, about the betraying of Christ, * 1.4 is meant, beleiving, that if he were once dead, he should rise no more, * 1.5 as in the next words: Then he describeth Judas the Traytor, who did eat bread with him, when he gave him bread dipt in the sallet, for he im∣mediatly went out and most treacherously delivered him into their hands: But thou Lord be gracious to me, and raise me up, Which was done indeed, and then his enemy the Devil, by his rising from death, was h••••d from tri∣umphing * 1.6 over him, because he was thus destroyed. And me thou hast sustained, and set me before thy face for ever. Which was fulfilled when he ascended into Heaven, sitting there at the right hand of GOD in all joy and glory: And here, saith he, ends the first book of the Psalmes: The second, Psalme 73. The third, Psalme 87. The fourth, Psalme 104. The fifth, at the end of all the Psalmes, Hitherto Ierom: Basil also proveth * 1.7 this Psalme to be prophetical touching Christ, because it is so by him ap∣plyed, when speaking of Iudas, he saith concerning his treachery, this was done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He that hath eaten bread at my Table, hath lifted up his heele against me. Wherefore it is a point of audaciousness and temerity to expound it of any other, as some do, ei∣ther of David, or Hezekiah being sick. Augustine also in many more words, * 1.8 Christ here speaketh sometime in his own person, as man, sometime in the person of the Church, and sometime so of himselfe, as that he is to be un∣derstood, as speaking of his Church also; of himselfe, when he saith, Blessed is he that understands the poor, or attenuated man, Beleiving the fulness of the God-head to dwel in him bodily, ful of the treasures of wisdome and grace to beleive in him: In the person of the Church, Have mercy upon me, I have sinned. For as it is true of man and wife, they twain are one flesh, so of Christ and his Church: In his own, and the Churches per∣son, They say, when shall he dye and his name perish? &c. For thus did both the Jews say against him, and both they and other persecutors a∣gainst his Church; but he was raised again, and his name became more fa∣mous, and his faithful Servants cying, others rise up in their stead, and they stand before the LORD for ever in glory, in Soule, then in Body, being raised up again at the last day. And in this I rest, and whereas this Psalme is now turned even by ours another way, to David and other distressed Servants of GOD, we may by way of anagoge so apply the [Note.] passages hereof: They are blessed, that judge favourably of the afflicted, the wicked do so hate the Servants of God, that they meditate all mischeife against them even to death, sometime openly, sometime secretly in a cun∣ning manner; the Servants of God in all their distresses, flee to him con∣festing

their sinnes, and so are fure to be raised up, partly being delivered here, or if not, by a succession of the faithful, continuing their name upon Earth, and partly by being taken and raised up to everlasting glory.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. 16.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 4. Hieron.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 7.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 9. Vers. 10.
• * 1.6

  Vers. 11.
• * 1.7

  Basil.
• * 1.8

  August.