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.

Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

THis Duplication and doubling of this petition that God would pros∣per the work of their hands upon them, denotes the earnestnesse of Moses and the people of God, in craving his bles∣sing upon their worke, especially now in their journey towards the land of Ca∣naan, and now that they were to en∣counter with the Canaanites.

Teaching us thus much, [Doct. 3] that war is not to be undertaken, but God must first be consulted, and sought unto. Now that they were to go out against

those cursed Canaanites, which God had threatned to root out, and to de∣stroy, they intreat the Lord first, to pros∣per their indeavours. When Josuah the Lords Captaine fought with the Ama∣lekits, that would have kept this people from entring in to Canaan, how fer∣vent was Moses in prayer, and at the time that Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed, and when his hands were let downe, the Amalekits prevail∣ed, thus did Jehosaphat, and Hezechi∣ah, those godly Kings of Judah and Is∣rael. When they and their people were threatned with those mighty Hosts of their enemies they sought God, and were heard of him, and delivered. And great Reason.

Why God is first to be consulted with, [Reason.] and invocated before war be at∣tempted, is, because he is th•• God of victory, to him belongs the issue of the battle. A small handfull, as in the Host of Gideon, commanded by him, shall prosper and overcome; And at his plea∣sure the Horse and the Rider, are over∣throwne at the Red Sea.

This may serve for our Instruction, [Ʋse 1] that when we are to go into the field, and there to buckle with our enemies, that we goe first to God how can wee expect that God should prosper us, and go forth with our armies, when we seeke not him, and call not upon him in the day of trouble? It is he that must cover our heads in the day of battle; for without his help A Horse is a vaine thing to save a man. Neither is the mighty saved by much strength. Here∣in Jehosaphat strengthned the hearts of the people, Feare not ye men of Judah, and ye Inhabitants of Jerusalem. Put your trust in him, and ye shall pros∣per.

Secondly, [Vse 2] this may serve to exhort Princes and Magistrats, Generals, and Captaines, and all in generall that are imployed in time of war; As they desire successe, and to prosper, to aske first counsell of the Lord, as David did, when he was to go up against the Phi∣stines, Shall I go up against them. And to take heed, that there be no Achan in the camp, for whose sake the Lord many

times is provoked, to hinder the success of his people, and suffer their enemies to prosper.

The Lord knowes we have many Achans in our armies, that are so far from seeking God, and begging a bles∣sing upon their undertakings, that ra∣ther Achan-like trouble the Army, by provoking Gods wrath against them.

And last of all, by this doubling of their petition, establish thou the work of our hands upon us, Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it;

Moses herein shewes, that he did not onely crave Gods mercy, and protecti∣on, for the present time, that God would blesse their labour and enterpri∣ses; But that he would keep a continuall course in directing, and protecting them: for unlesse the Lord did begin, continue and finish their work for them, it could never come to perfection.

For if the Lord should have left them in the middest of their journey, what had it beene the better, unlesse he would bring them into Canaan, that good land. So that they confesse, that

they were never able to persevere, and hold on, in their course they had be∣gun, unlesse the Lord would still direct them, and prosper them in their jour∣ney. Hence we learne

That perseverance in any good duty is the grace, and gift of God; [Doct. 4] and as the Lord must begin any good work, so he must continue it, and perfect it or else it will faile; And hence is it that they double their petition Direct thou. Even direct thou the work of our hands upon us. And this is no other thing then what the Lord hath promised. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength as the Eagle, they shall run, and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. They shall be like the tree plan∣ted by the Rivers of waters, whose leaves shall not fall

And this may yield matter of singular Comfort and consolation unto all the faithfull. Hath the Lord begun in any of us the good worke of grace, and put it into our hearts to walke in the right way of his commandements, and to tra∣vaile towards the celestiall Canaan, let us blesse God for this mercy; And with∣all

all intreat the Lord, that he would still direct, and guide us and never le••ve us, but even bring us to the end of our Journey; And never forsake us till he hath put us into the possession of that glorious inheritance prepared for us in that heavenly Canaan; for if he di∣rect us not by his grace and by his spi∣rit it cannot be that we shall hold out but must needs turne aside in the broad way to destruction.

Notes

• Prayer before warre.
• Exo. 17.13.
• 1 Sam. 7.8, 9. 1 Cor. 5.20.
• 2 Sam. 5.23.
• Perseve∣rance in any good is Gods.