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. LXV.

FOR the title, Basil, besides the words, A Psalme of David, hath these, A Song of ••eremiab and Ezekiel, and of the people in captivity, when they were now about to goe: But he saith, that neither the Hebrews nor Septua∣gant * 1.1 have it, nor other Interpreters, but it was added by some, that nei∣ther marked the sense of the Psalme, nor knew the History; yet he under∣stands it as concerning the Jewes in the Babylonish Captivity, who are brought in here lamenting their present estate, that they could not praise God, this being a thing to be done in Zion onely, and not in a strange Land, as is shewed, Psal. 137. and in saying, To thee shall all flesh come, he pro∣phesieth of the Vocation of the Gentiles. Jerom applyeth it, to the Church * 1.2 under the Gospell; God is praised in Zion, that is, in his Church, and un∣to thee vowes are performed, praise, because thou art God, vowes, because our Redeemer, and in Zion, not in Idols Temples.

Iniquities have prevailed against me, Vulg. Wicked words, so likewise Heb. that is, The words of Philosophers, whereby we were formerly carryed af∣ter * 1.3 dumbe Idols and superstitions, but now we are purged from all our sins by Christs blood, being by faith and repentance turned to him. The word rendred Waiteth, is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is Silent, that is, for the present, if it be un∣derstood either of the wayes before going, but shall break out, when thy people shall be delivered out of Captivity, but most of all when by the coming of the Gospell amongst them, the Gentiles shall fall to praising thee. Symmachus for Wicked words have prevailed against me, hath it, I am * 1.4 compelled to serve wicked and ungodly men for my sins, taking it; as the voice of the Church in Captivity, where the wicked Babylonians having domini∣nion over them, their words or commands were a Law unto them, whatso∣ever punishments they commanded to be inflicted upon them; but my com∣fort is, that thou wilt take away my sin, the cause, and then my punishment shall cease.

By terrible things in righteousnesse thou wilt answer us: Heb. Thou wilt answer us terrible things: So Calvin also, expounding it of the terrible * 1.5 judgements executed upon the Jewes enemies, when God delivered them out of Aegipt; but rather it is to be understood upon Babylon, when it was destroyed, and so way was made for their deliverance; or not onely so, but upon the infidell Jewes destroyed by the Romans, for Christs blood and his Saints shed by them, Steven, and Iames, and others: And then God was the hope of all the ends of the earth, as here followeth, the Nations most remote being converted to Christ, and of the Sea, that is, the Islands in the Sea.

Establishing the mountaines, being girt about with power: Curbing the noise * 1.6 of the waters, the noise of their waves, and the raging of the Gentiles. Having spoken of Gods terrible Judgements, shewing his Almighty power for the comfort of his people, now he giveth other instances of this his power in e∣stablishing the Mountains, not to be removed, and ruling the tumultuous Seas, keeping them within their bounds: and when other Nations, their Enemies rage most against them, breaking their strength so, that they can hurt them no more. Ierom expoundeth all of Christ, begirt with di∣vine * 1.7 power, whereby he ruleth over Devils, as mountains high and strong, and all people, as waters that rage against his Church, but I prefer the lite∣rall sense here.

Thou wilt make the out-goings of the morning and evening to rejoyce: That * 1.8 is, men to rejoyce for the comfort that is in the rising of the Sun in the mor∣ning, and of the Moon in the Evening: And because the propagation of the Gospel to the ends of the Earth was before spoken of, Vers. 5. the joy also * 1.9 that cometh hereby to people inhabiting further East and West is set forth.

Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it with the River of God. Here the * 1.10 Prophet David proceedeth further in shewing the mighty works of God for the good and comfort of man. Hee keeps the Seas from overflowing the Earth, and Nation from destroying Nation, when they are set upon fight∣ing and rooting out one another, and orders the rising of the Sun and Moon, as hath been already said.

Now his goodnesse and power is further set forth in sending Rain, where∣by the fruits of the Earth are encreased, which Calvin restreineth to Judea, as if that specially were meant. But I see no reason, why having hitherto * 1.11 spoken generally of all Nations, this should be restreined to Judea. And be∣cause Propheticall things touching the Gospel are interlaced, together with literal, concerning this World, I hold with Basil and other Ancients, that * 1.12 by the water here so abundantly watering the Earth, called the River of God; The Preaching of the Word is meant, which distilleth as the Raine, and the spirit set forth also before, as a River. Ps. 46. 4. And then comes Corne, or Bread here also spoken of, even the bread, of which who so eateth, shall not

dye, but live eternally. And this raine falleth upon the Wildernesse; that is, the most barren in goodnesse, as the Heathen, who before their conversion * 1.13 were like a Wildernesse, and therefore hereby often set forth by the Prophet Esay. And for the yeare crowning with goodnesse, spoken of, Vers. 11. it is * 1.14 meant of the time of the Gospel, called The acceptable yeare of the Lord, which was decored as by a Crown, when it had so great success in converting soules. But for the next words:

The Pastures shall be cloathed with sheep. The Vulg. The Rams of the sheepe * 1.15 shall be cloathed, and the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 rendered Pastures, signifyeth also Rams, and the sense will be good being thus rendered, they shall beare wool in a∣bundance: so that not only food, but cloathing too is here promised: And mystically by Rams, which are the leaders of the Flock, great men being set forth, in saying that they shall be cloathed, he meaneth that they should turne Christians, and so beare large sleeces, wherewith to cloath the naked by their charity towards them: And then by Valleys bearing Corn, the poor are meant, who be as low as the valleys, but fruitful in the fruits of the Spi∣rit, love, joy, peace, meeknesse, tempe••ance. * 1.16

Notes

• * 1.1

  Basil.
• * 1.2

  Hieron.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 3.
• * 1.4

  Symmach.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 5. Calvin.
• * 1.6

  Vers. 6.
• * 1.7

  Hieron.
• * 1.8

  Vers. 8.
• * 1.9

  Calvin.
• * 1.10

  Vers. 9.
• * 1.11

  Calvin.
• * 1.12

  Basil. Hieron. August. Deut. 32. 2. Vers. 10.
• * 1.13

  Vers. 12.
• * 1.14

  Vers. 11.
• * 1.15

  Vers. 13.
• * 1.16

  Gal. 5. 22.