then man knoweth God, as he is known of God. (1 Cor. xiii.) These joys in the end of troubles, should give the troubled man the more courage to bear troubles patiently, and be persuaded (as St. Paul teacheth), that the troubles of this present life be not worthy of the joys to come, which shall be revealed to us, when Christ cometh to judge the quick and the dead. (Rom. viii.) To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and praise, world without end. Amen.

1

AN EXPOSITION OF THE SIXTY-SECOND

PSALM.

THE ARGUMENT.

THE Prophet in this Psalm doth declare (by his own experience) how the truth of God's word, and such as favour and follow the same, be esteemed and used in the world, of worldly men, the truth itself rejected, and the lovers thereof slandered and persecuted. And seeing truth and true men, before the Prophet's time, in his time, and after his time, were thus miserably afflicted; in this Psalm he writeth his own condition and miseries, with certain and most comfortable remedies, which ways the afflicted person may best comfort himself, and pass over the bitterness and dangers of his troubles, and suffer them, as long as God layeth them upon him, patiently. So that whosoever, from the feeling of his heart, can say this Psalm, and use the remedies prescribed therein, by the Spirit of God; doubtless he shall be able to bear the troubles both of the devil and man patiently, and contemn them strongly.

The parts of the Psalm be in number generally two.

I. In the first is contained, how that the favour of God, and his help, are able to remedy all adversities.

II. In the second is contained, how that the favour of man, and his help, are able to redress no adversities.

The first part comprehendeth eight verses of the Psalm. The second part containeth the other four verses that next follow to the end of the Psalm.

These two general parts do contain more particular parts in them, in number six.

1..First, what is to be done by the Christian man that is afflicted.

11. The second part sheweth why the troubled man in trouble looketh for help of God.

III. The third part declareth how suddenly God :can destroy the persécutors of the truth.

IV. The fourth part containeth the repetition of the first and the second part, with more causes shewed why patiently trouble is to be borne, and faithfully to be believed that God can and will remedy it.

. The fifth part declareth, that man's power is not to be feared, nor his friendship to be trusted unto; for no man is able to damn or save.

VI. The sixth part. setteth forth, how that God hath promised to help the afflicted, and will assuredly perform it.

The Psalm with the Parts before named, where they begin, and where they end.

1. My soul truly waiteth still upon God." The first part teacheth a man to fly unto God in the time of oppression and trouble.

2." For of him cometh my salvation: he verily is my strength and my salvation; he is my defence, so shall I not greatly fall."'

-The second Part of the Psalm, that declareth way the troubled Man trusteth in God.

3. "How long will ye imagine mischief against every man? Ye shall be slain all the sort of you: yea, as a tottering wall shall ye be, and like a broken hedge.

4. "Their device is only how to put him out,

give good words with their mouths, but curse with their heart. Selah."

The third Part of the Psalm, wherein is shewed, that suddenly the Persecutors of the Innocent shall perish. 5. "Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God, for my hope is in him.

6. He truly is my strength and my salvation; he is my defence, so that I shall not fall.

7. "In God is my health and my glory, the rock of might:and in God is my trust.

66

8. "O put your trust in him always, ye people; pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope. Selah."

In these four verses is contained the fourth part; wherein is mentioned the repetition of the two first

verses.

9. As for the children of men, they are but vain; the children of men are deceitful upon the weights; they are altogether lighter than vanity itself.

10. "O trust not in wrong and robbery; give not yourselves to vanity: if riches increase, set not your hearts upon them.'

Here is the fifth part, that teacheth no trust to be put in man; for he is not able to damn nor save.

11. "God spake once, and twice I have also heard the same, that power belongeth unto God:

12. "And that thou, Lord, art merciful, for thou rewardest every man according to his work."

In these two verses is comprehended the sixth part, which is, that God hath promised to be merciful in helping the afflicted, and that he will perform his promises.

A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE PSALM GENERALLY:

"My soul doubtless waiteth still upon God," &c. Be my troubles never so great, and dangerous, yet my soul shall trust continually and constantly in the Lord, that can and will remedy them: for he is my strength and my salvation; and he is my defence.

"So shall I not greatly fall." Although, good Lord, by reason of my infirmity and sin, which is in all men, my soul is weak and feeble, that it will he oppressed with the lightest of all thy troubles, which thou layest upon man for his sin; yet, when it taketh hold of thy mercy, it waxeth strong. And although it be weak and trembling by reason of infirmity, yet doth it not clean fall from the trust of constancy and hope.

And let the wicked imagine their wicked imaginations against thy poor servants, O God: yet at length shall they come to shame and destruction, as the tottering wall doth fall, and the rotten hedge is consumed with fire. For that they go about, they shall never bring to pass, because they devise to put him to shame, that God hath purposed to exalt and magnify. And whatsoever doubleness they use to speak fair with their mouths, and yet have false and hollow hearts, it shall not bring their intent to their purposed end. Selah. God be thanked, of whom dependeth all the hope of my salvation: and he is my strength, my salvation, and my defence, so that I shall not fall.

Wherefore, all Christian and afflicted persons (saith the Prophet), follow mine example, and put all your hope and trust in the mercy of God, who only saves us from evil, and blesses us with all goodness. Pour out therefore before him all your cares and heaviness, and look assuredly for help from him, for