Psalms — Chapter 50

(e) cleanfe me from my finne. (4) O God thou haft forgiuen me,and taken away my finnes,as thy Prophet hath told me ( 2.Re.12.v.13.) but my foule fo foully polluted,needeth yet more washing. (e) Cleanfe alfo the dregges that remaine, and al habits and inclinations to finne. So our Sauiour afterwards taught (loan.1;.v.10. ) ‘He that is washed needeth not fa- wing to wash his feete ( il affedtions and relikes of former finnes ) but.is cleane wholly.

When Nathan came to Dauid. As Nathan denouncing to Dauid that our Lord had (vpon his repentance and confession) taken away his sinne, added neuerthelesse that because he had made the enemies of God to blaspheme, his sonne should die: so Dauid knowing that more was required than only confession, for that more remission was needful, made this Psalme. We must neither trust in our owne merits nor presume to escape all punishment of sinne. Confession remoueth guilt but temporal punishment may yet remaine.

mayft (k) ouercome when: thouart iudged.. (b)Principally (forfo this particle ,only , here fignifieth) the enormities of my. finnesconfift inthatI haue offended thy Diutne Goodnes and Maieftic , the King of the worlds,immortal,inuifivle,ontie God,to whom is due al honour and gloric rer euer andeuer,t. Tim. 1.v.17. (i) Thou which hak promifed forgiuenes toal finners thac truly conuert,sha. herein be iuftihed by receiuing me againe co grace: hj and ouerchrow thy calumniatours, that indge wickedly of thy proceedings, as if cither thy inftice or mercie were perverted: ; 7, For behold ‘1 (/) was conceiued in iniquities: 8& my mother concci- ued me in finnes; (l) 1 & al are borne in origma? finne,the relikes wherof,concupifcence and weake- nes, iacline vs to other finnes, which we haue added.in regard of which our infir- mitie,thy mercie is readie to recalvs and help vs,

(n) the vncertaine and hidden thmgs of thy wifdome thou haft made manifeft to me, __(m) Befides thou haft.alfo giuen me knowledge of true faith , and right dodrine, which thou euer loueft,and art accuftomed to reduce, and dire& fuch into the true way 0: fpenance.(n) Yea thos haft moreouer shewed to me things vacertaine,o: vn- knowen to manie others, ginen me the gui:tand fpiric of prophecic,to know hidde my fteries,and to eucrie one God gineth fome particular benefits , which hesJoueth inhi , and is ready of his part to confirme aud maintaine the fame , that they be not loft. 9- Thou fhait fprinkkemewith +(o) hyflope,and I shal be clenied : thou thalt wath me,and 1 fhal be made (p) whiter then fnow. (0) Moft mercicul Lord thou wilt (as Ifee inthe fpirit of prophecis ) fp-inkle meyand al men with thy bloud trom the Croffe, where they shal giue thee vinegre about hyffope to drinke (Ioan.9.) (p) by which washingI shal be cleane from finne, and become in time pure , yea whiter then fnow. A figureof this hyf- fope was obferued in Moyfes Law.Num.14.fignifying the liuelic heat of Chiifts in finite charitte, ; 10,To (4) my hearmg thou shalt giue ioy and gladnes,and (r) the bones humbled shal reioyce. (4) When myne affections shalbe cleane purged,1 shal take fingular great delight to heare of thee, (r) and al my powers of.mind.and bodic, which arenow aiflited, shal reioyce. .

(f) Leaue off thy cogitation of punishing,to which porpofe firft take away myne iniquities, tor otherwife itthey remaine.,, Gods iuftice can not but punish them,

new grace, wherby my hart shal be pure.SoS. Paul calleth a iuft: foul anew creature,Galat.6.v.15.(¥) In my inward thoughts. -

take not: from me, Cw) Suffer me not fo to fal againe,that thy grace depart from me,

(y) confirmeme wath che principal {piric. : (x Waich I had before my fal , of Chrift promifed of my feed , and alrer not the N 2: fain 1 Yemporal pu- lursament ts due after 1¢€- muon of Sones, 1D0 THE BOOK fame tor my finnes.Dauid alfo and other penirents pray here , that God wil -r.ftore ynto them the ioy, which they had in the ftate of grace , of crernal faluation pro- mifed. (7) Confirme & conferne inme hereafter a {trong .conftant, and willing fpi- rite to perfeuere,

(x) Noway can a penitent better shew him felt gratetulto God, for remiffion of j his finnes,then by inftruéting exhorting ,& perfwading other finners to repentance, ao leaue their former il wayes,and turne to God.

(a) From the guile and punishment-ofmurder,canfing Vrias and others w ith him to be flaine. Other penitents pray to be delivered trom what finnes foeuer they haue committed,by sheding bloud,or other wrongs & iniuries, promifing to praife Gods iuftice,in offering and giuing grace , according to his promife to finners, that they may repent. 17, Lordthou (6) wilropen my lips: & my mouth fhial shew forth thy prayfe. (b)Thon,o God, firft fiirring me vp, opening ry lips ; whichof my felfe I cannot doe,then my tongue and mouth wil praife thee. 18. Becaule ir thou (¢)}wouldeft haue had facrifice,1 hadverily giuen it: with holocauftes thou wilt (d) not be dilighted, (¢) If thou wouldeft efpecially legal fj acrifice,l would eafily haue offered great . ftore: (d) but the befi of that kind is not fuffieient: P 9.” A facrifice to God is ()an afflicted fpirit : a contrite and humbled hart,o God,thou wilt not defpife, , (€) true contrition of hart pleafeth thee farre beteer, 20,Deale fauourably,o Lord, inthy good wil (f) with Sion: thar che wals of Terufalem may be built vp. . Cf; Atter a penitent hath remiision of his owne finnes, he. muft pray for the whole : Church, l