Moses his prayer. Or, An exposition of the nintieth Psalme.: In which is set forth, the frailty and misery of mankind; most needfull for these times. Wherein [brace] 1. The sum and scope. 2. The doctrines. 3. The reasons. 4. The uses of most texts are observed. / By Samuel Smith, minister of the Gospel, author of Davids repentance and the Great assize, and yet living.

Let thy works be seene.

q. d. O Lord let all the world see and know that thou art a mercifull de∣liverer of thy people, that thou art their mighty Protector, so that it seemes they speake of some singular work and pro∣tection of God of his Church and peo∣ple: Hence we learne.

That of all the workes of God, [Doct. 3] there is none more excellent then this. * 1.1 viz. the protection of his church & people; for this in a way of excellency is called the peculiar worke of God.

It is true indeed, when the Lord doth punish the stubbornnesse and rebel∣lion of his people, their infidelity, mur∣murings and unthank fullnesse &c. then appears the power of God, the truth, & Justice of God. But in nothing more doth the Lord shew his power, then in protecting of his Church and people,

against the face of their cruell and bloody enemies. And this Moses here shews when he calls this in a way of ex∣cellency, The worke of God.

Let thy worke in protecting and de∣livering us thy Church and people Ap∣peare, wherein Moses doth prefer this worke of God in taking care of his Church, in protecting, defending, and delivering of it, to all other the works of God, whereby he makes his power knowne, then by any other token of his besides.

As we may see in Pharaoh: when did the Lord ever get himselfe a greater name then in delivering his people out of Egypt, and over his armies, at the red Sea? * 1.2 Come let us work wisely (saith Pha∣raoh) but the Lord let him see that there is neither wisdome, nor counsell against him, but the more he sought to suppresse the Church, the more it mul∣tiplyed and increased.

Hamans plot against the Church was very dangerous and damnable, * 1.3 but the plot that he contrived, the Lord disappointed; and himselfe fell into that pit that he had digged for others. * 1.4 The

Church of God is such a heavy stone that never any lifted at it, but was crushed in peeces. So that of the Church the Lord speaketh thus. * 1.5 I wondred that there was no intercessor, therefore his arme brought Salvation unto him; and his righteousnesse it sustained him. What though the Church of God be but as a garden in comparison of the rest of the world, yet it is a well fenced gar∣den, and though the godly in them∣selves, are but few, weake, simple, and so more shiftlesse then others, yet they are strangely kept, * 1.6 and strongly preser∣ved, and have more with them, then those that are against them.

Not that the Church and people of God are free from perils and dangers; It is enough that they are preserved in them, and at last shalbe delivered from them; as the Apostle saith, * 1.7 We are af∣flicted on every side, yet are we not in distresse, in poverty, but not overcome persecuted, but not forsaken, &c.

Now that of all the workes of God there is none more excellent then the protection of his Church, these Reasons further shew.

First, [Reas. 1] because this shewes that God is still present with his Church, and is ready to succour them in time of danger. Gather together on heapes ye people, and ye shall be broken in peeces. * 1.8 The reason is there given, for God is with us; and againe, rejoyce, O Daughter of Sion, be joyfull O Israel, for the Lord thy God is in the middest of thee. The Lord indeed is present every where, but in a speciall manner he is present in his Church. He walketh in the middest of the seaven gol∣den Candlesticks, that is, the Churches.

Secondly, [Reas. 2] in regard his Church and people are most deare unto him. He loveth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Jacob. * 1.9 And, Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, aod I have loved thee. And hence is it that the Church is called, * 1.10 The beautie of the whole earth. The fai∣rest amongst women &c. * 1.11 All shewing the high esteeme that God hath of his Church and people.

Thirdly, [Rea. 3] the Lord is pleased thus to work for his Churches safety, protecti∣on, and deliverance, for his owne glory, that his power, might, and stretched

out arme might appeare. As the Lord said to Gideon, * 1.12 the people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianits into thy hand, lest Israel say, my hand hath saved me.

Thus David when he was to encoun∣ter with Goliah, The Lord (saith he) Saveth not with sword nor speare, * 1.13 but the battle is the Lords. That no flesh should rejoice in his presence. * 1.14 But that he that rejoyceth should rejoyce in the Lord.

And lastly, [Reas. 4] because all power and might is with him, to save and deliver, the Churches cause is ever the Lords cause, and the people are the Lords. And to bring downe the wicked, God can arme frogs, and lice, catterpillers, and the smalest of his creatures, and these being sent of him shall prevaile. As Mo∣ses incourageth the people: * 1.15 the Lord shall fight for you, therefore hold your peace.

Seeing that herein, viz: [Vse 1] in the procti∣on of Gods Church and people, the work of God, his power, wisdome, ju∣stice, and providence, doth appeare. How may this stir up all Gods people, to beg and intreat the Lord, that his work

may appeare to us at this time, wherein so many are dayly plotting to under∣mine Religion, the Gospell and mini∣stery and all. That God would now take care of his Church and people, that we may at last see Sion in her beautie, and that at last we may see the Church thoroughly purged, & all things which make for the beautie of the Church esta∣blished. Let all the Lords remembrancers give him no rest, till he thus shew his work upon us. and make Jerusalem the praise of the whole earth.

O that England might now see this worke of God when so many are wrast∣ling against this worke. * 1.16 Now Lord let thy worke appear; and let thy power, thy providence and mercy, be seene in the defence and protection of thy Gos∣pell and Church, that all the world may see that thou art mind full of thy Church; And let shame fall on them that be enmies to the work of the Lord amongst us. That the Lord would re∣gard the prayers of the destitute, that it may be written for the generations to come, * 1.17 that the people that shall be crea∣ted may praise the Lord.

Secondly, [Vse 2] this lets us see the happie priviledges of Gods Church and people above all the wicked in the world, that have such a watchman and keeper that never slumbreth nor sleepeth. * 1.18 It is he that keeps them as the Apple of his eye, that spreadeth abroad his wings, and beareth them up as the Eagle her young ones. And the ground of all is, his people are his portion; and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. O who would not bea member of his Church to whom these excellent priviledges belong and appertaine? why should we not thus trust in him in the worst of times, and in the sorest danger? Nothing can stave off his mercy, but sin, let us be humbled for sin, and meete him by un∣feigned repentance, let us awake him by our prayers as the Disciples did Christ, and say, Master save us lest we perish.

And last of all, [Vse 3] when the Lord shall declare his work, and shall be pleased to send deliverance to his Church and people, * 1.19 that they are as a brand taken out of the fire, It becometh the just to be thankfull, and to looke up to the hils from whence our deliverance comes,

and to say with Mary, He that is mighty hath done great things for me, * 1.20 and holy is his Name.

Many of us partake of many mercies and deliverances from God, with those Nine Lepers, but few returne thankes to God but hereby we may know whe∣ther any mercy or deliverance we receive from God bebest owed upon us in mer∣cy or judgment, by considering how our hearts stand affected in thankfulnesse to God after the same.

Notes

• * 1.1

  No work more ex∣cellent then Gods protect∣ing his Church.
• * 1.2

  Exod. 1.
• * 1.3

  Hest. 3.7.9.
• * 1.4

  Zac. 12.3
• * 1.5

  Esa. 59.16.
• * 1.6

  2 Reg. 6.10.
• * 1.7

  2 Cor. 4.8.
• * 1.8

  Zeph. 3.14.
• * 1.9

  Ps. 87.2. Es. 43.4.
• * 1.10

  Esay 49 22.
• * 1.11

  Cant. 14.13.
• * 1.12

  Iudg. 7.2
• * 1.13

  1 Sam. 17.4.7.
• * 1.14

  1 Cor. 1.19.31.
• * 1.15

  Exo. 14.14.
• * 1.16

  Esa. 62.6, 7.
• * 1.17

  Psal. 102.18.
• * 1.18

  Deut. 32.11, 12.
• * 1.19

  Zac. 3.2.
• * 1.20

  Lu. 1.49.