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. LXIV.

THis Psalme differs little from the former, being likewise a prayer in time of danger, and a declaration of the enemies attempts, and a prophesie of their terrible destruction. Vers. 6. They search out iniquities, they accomplish a * 1.1

diligent search, both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart is deep: the Vulg. They have searched out iniquity, they have failed in their di∣ligent search, man shall come, and a profound heart, and God shall be exalted. Expounded by Basil thus, They have moved every thought against me, they * 1.2 have devised all manner of fraud, they have omitted no kind of treachery, openly rushing upon mee, secretly laying waite for me, compassing about Wildernesses, and searching rocky places. And for the next words hee saith, Theodotian renders them best thus, But God shall shoot at the mind of man, and their depth with his arrowes, although they seeke to hide it a thousand wayes; for to God all things are manifest, who sheweth his height, and will call all Po∣tentates to judgement. Hebr. They have perfected the search searched, and the inward part of a man, and the deep heart. The meaning being, they have sought out, or devised divers wicked wayes to destroy me, and in their thoughts have even accomplished what they devised, for this is their perfe∣cting of their search searched out, in that they made account to bring their devices to passe accordingly, as verily as if they had already done it, even the device of each man lying hid in his heart, which is like a deep that none can sound; but when it was but there, they thought it as good as accompli∣shed in act.

But God shall shoot an Arrow at them, suddenly shall they be wounded: Heb. * 1.3 Their stroakes or wounds are sudden: Even as an Arrow that is shot cometh suddenly upon a man, he not seeing nor thingking of it, till he be stricken therewith, and then he falls presently down dead, pleasing himselfe hap∣pily even then with his thoughts of prevailing, and living many yeares af∣ter in prosperity; so the judgements of God shall suddenly cut off the wicked enemies of his innocent people, to the striking of terrour into those that behold it, as is expressed, Verse 8.

So they shall make their owne tongue to fall upon themselves, all that see * 1.4 them shall flee away. Vers. 9. And all men shall feare, &c. Where by their making their tongues to fall upon themselves, he maneth, that which they have maliciously spoken against him touching his destruction, shall come upon themselves; and in thus saying he had respect to Verse 3. where their evill tongues are spoken against, and he saith, they shall make them, be∣cause through their spitefull words they bring this upon themselves: In like manner, Verse 7. where Gods shooting at them is spoken of, answereth to Verse 4. where their shooting at the perfect suddenly is spoken of: The wicked then shall suffer in their owne kinde, Lex talionis shall certainly be [Note.] kept against them, what mischeife in word or deed they doe against the innocent shall be repayed to them assuredly by God the revenger of all wrongs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.2

  Basil.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 7.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 8. Vers. 9.