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. LXXI.

THis Psalme is generally held to have beene compiled by David, when Absalom rebelled against him, and it seemes not improbable by the contents, because he speaketh of his old age and gray haires. The words of the four former Verses are almost the same with those Psal. 31. Jerom and * 1.1 August. expound this Psal. of Christ, in whose person David saith, Let me never be put to confusion: That is, By being suffered to lye in the Grave unraised up againe, Cause me to escape, and to come out of the Sepul∣cher.

Thou hast given command to save me, here he sheweth, how he pre∣vailed * 1.2 to save me from death by rising again.

Basil hath for the title, A Psalme of David, of the sons of Jonadab, the first * 1.3 Captaines, which he confesseth, yet not to be in the Hebrew, but yet he ex∣poundeth it as a prayer to be used by the Rechabites, whose Father was Jo∣zadab, of whom Jeremiah, writeth, Chap. 35. Who, he saith, Were accor∣ding to the title first captived: But leaving this, as being without any Ground, but that which is not in the originall, take we it as a prayer of David, in his Elder dayes, being in great distresse by Absalom, and typically of Christ dying and layd into a Sepulcher for our sinnes, and rising again, and exalted to the highest Glory of Heaven; and so all things will well agree also, as is by these learned Fathers shewed.

I am a wonder to many: Thus was David for his many and strange suffe∣rings, and thus was Christ, being set up as it were, as a spectacle upon a * 1.4 Theater for men to behold and wonder at, as when he was derided, and in scorn clad with purple, and a Crown of Thornes, and brought forth with this saying, Behold the man, and being crucified openly, and a title set a∣bove his Head, Jesus of Nazereth, King of the Jewes, Hebr. Gr. & Lati∣né.

Cast me not off in the time of my old age, forsake me not when my strength * 1.5 faileth me: How this agreed to David, I shall not need to say, and touch∣ing Christ, it is most aptly spoken: For he hanging upon the Crosse, cryed out, My God my God, Why hast thou forsaken me? when this strength began to fail him through the effusion of his bloud, by the nailes peircing his hands and feet, and this he calleth his old age, because that in age the strength decayeth, and the strongest man waxeth feeble.

God hath forsaken him, there is none to deliver him: See the like, Psal. 22. * 1.6 8. and as parallel to Verse 5. 6. Psal. 22. 8, 9. which is undoubtedly spoken prophetically of CHRIST.

I will go in thy strength, and make mention of thy righteousnesse only: This * 1.7 saith Jerom, was done, when Christ glorified the Father, and spake not his owne words, but what the Father bade him speake. For then he mentioned his righteosness only.

Thou shalt quicken me againe, and bring me up again from the Depths of the Earth: Here Jerom triumpheth over the Jewes, challenging them when * 1.8 this was ever verified in David, for he was never dead and quickned againe; and therefore this must needs be expounded of him, as that Psal. 16. Thou wilt not leave my soule in grave: and to the depths of the Earth here, answer those words, Eph. 4. 11. That he ascended, what is it, but that he descended first into the lower parts of the Earth? Yet this may also be applyed to David, be∣ing figuratively understood, as a like speech of Hanna, 1 Sam. 2.

Thou hast increased my greatnesse: That is, By inlarging my Kingdome * 1.9 through many Beleevers coming in after my resurrection, although Jerom referreth it to the Soules brought with him out of Limbus Patrum, when he coming from Hell ascended up to Heaven. And for David, he grew great againe after Absalom destroyed by the coming of Judah and Israell unto him. For which he promiseth to praise God upon the Harpe and * 1.10 Psaltery, which David speaketh of himselfe, and what else followeth, Verse 23. and 24.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hieron. August. Vers. 1. Vers. 2.
• * 1.2

  Vers. 3.
• * 1.3

  Basil.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 7.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 9.
• * 1.6

  Vers. 11.
• * 1.7

  Vers. 16: Hieron.
• * 1.8

  Vers. 20.
• * 1.9

  Vers. 21.
• * 1.10

  Vers. 22.