A brief commentary upon the CIII Psalme with the severall axiomes or doctrines therein conteined [sic], and uses thereupon inferred.

3 Doctrine. We are dust.

We have seen mans spirituall misery, or that of his soule: The temporall, or that of the body, followes. And 1 in respect of the matter.

• 1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 We.] Synecd. integ.* 1.1 that is our bodies. For our soules are of a spirituall na∣ture, not made either of the dust or of any other pre-existent matter, but immediately created of nothing by God.
• 2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 dust.] This sometimes signifies the dead. Psal. 30.9. (for this is all one with that of Hezekiah Isa. 38.18, 19.) But this sense is altogether improper to this place; where Da∣vid renders a reason why God mitigates His anger towards them that feare Him, not the dead but the living, and includes himself. Sometimes it signifies a multitude of men. Num. 23.10. But neither is this sense agree∣able to this place; seeing multitude makes not to the misery of men, from whence the reason is here taken of Gods mitigating His anger. Wherefore we according to our bo∣dies are here called Dust, in respect of the matter whereof they are made. For although onely Adams body was made immediately

• of the dust Gen. 2.7. Eves of his rib, and all ours (who are their posterity) of the seed of our parents: yet mediately our bodies also are made of the dust, because derived from Adams, which was made immediately of it. But David here doth not respect the matter of the body simply (for though Adams body was made immediately of the dust, yet before the fall he was not therefore miserable; yea the body of Christ, Who was in all things made like unto us, sinne onely excepted, now glorious in the heavens, was first made of the dust) but as it is now since the entrance of sinne, subject to diseases and many miseries, and sooner or later to be turned to dust a∣gaine.

That we are dust,* 1.2 see Gen. 3.19. & 18.27. Eccle. 3.20. & 12.7. And to the same sense Job 4.19.

And that we are dust so as to be thereby miserable (as was said before to be here meant) the reason is from sinne.* 1.3 Adams bo∣dy indeed was made of the earth, but eleva∣ted to a state of incorruption. But sinne took away the means of upholding it: and so that portion of earth returned to its former con∣dition. And haply this may seem to be inti∣mated, in that God never sayd to Adam, Thou art dust, till after the fall. He was be∣fore

indeed formed out of the dust; but then he became dust.

Uses.

Here then 1 we see the wonderfull con∣descension of God,* 1.4 who vouchsafes to chuse these bodies of ours to abide and dwell in Joh. 14.23. to sup in Revel. 3.20. yea to be His Temples 1 Cor. 3.16. (See Psal. 113.6. 2 Chron. 6.18. Luk. 1.43. where David, So∣lomon, and the Blessed Virgin wonder at it) but especially the unspeakable both love and humility of our Blessed Saviour, Who unites them to Himself as His members 1 Cor. 12.27. & 6.15. Ephes. 5.30.

2 We may not think them too good to doe God service by reading, hearing, knee∣ling, praying &c. yea (if occasion be) suffe∣ring death for Him. Rather we should re∣joice, and think our selves highly favoured and honoured by God, if being so infinitely glorious, He will deigne to accept of any action or passion of our vile bodies to glorify Himself thereby.

3 If the body it self be so meane, then surely the things which serve for the body can be of no great value; that which is for an end being alwaies inferiour to the end it self.

4 If the bodies even of those that feare

God be mortall dust, much more the bodies of them, who still continue in that which made them so, viz. in sinne.

This reproves 1 Them that make their bo∣dies yet viler.* 1.5 A thing may be debased 1 in it self, when the matter or fashion of it is spoi∣led by taking away or putting to. 2 when it is put to a base use. Both which waies many debase their bodies. In the former rank drun∣kennesse hath the first place &c. For the lat∣ter, so every sinne debases the body. For if he that commits sinne be the servant of sinne, Joh. 8.34. then he that puts his body to the committing of any sinne, makes his body a servant to that sinne. And what honour is like to come of that service, where the master is worse then the devil, the work abominable drudgery, and the wages eternall damnation?

2 On the contrary such as preferre their bodies before their soules, bringing their soules within danger of Gods displeasure and everlasting condemnation for the procuring of those things, which are onely for the ser∣vice, yea sometimes for the disservice of the body, and which in effect tend to make it more miserable.

3 Such as are proud of their bodies. 1 They are proud of nought. 2 What have they, which they have not received?

This also should exhort us seriously to me∣ditate of this our condition.* 1.6 But of this in the next Doctrine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Explic.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  Instr.
• * 1.5

  Repr.
• * 1.6

  Exhort.