The Joy of the English Church for the Coronation of Pious Prince James, Meditations on psalm · Part · Meditation 3
The 3. meditation.
Of degrees] There are thus intituled 15. psalmes, that are here set together: which are next this so called, as though the Leuits were appointed to sing them vponupon the degrees and staires of the temple,Thus seeme the Septuagint to thinke, translating foreign degrees, or ascending places. for as yet in Dauids time, the temple was not built, nor the plot thereof drawne, or the forme and patterne set forth: neither is it to be referred to the rising of the tune, wherewith those psalmes were sung in the temple: for other psalmes beside these were tuned sometime with the falling, sometime with the rising of the voice:Why they are called psalmes of degrees. some in an high tune were sounded forth, which was called Atamoth, 1. Chron. 15. 20. some in the eight or base tune, as psal. 6. and 12. which was called Sheminith, 1. Chron. 15. 21. This title then, if it depended of the tune, could not be proper to these psalms. Wherefore psalmes of degrees signifie nothing els, but excellent songs, of an higher degree, and more principall vse: for so the word magualah is sometime taken; as, 1. Chron. 17. 17. Dauid saith, Thou hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord.
From hence then it may be gathered, that although the word of God in it selfe is of the same excellencie, as proceeding frō one and the same author, yet in respect of our vse, and mens seuerall necessities, some part of the Scripture may be saide to be more excellent, then an other.
1. For whereas the scripture is profitable to fowre speciall vses,The scripture… whereunto profitable. to teach, to improoue, to correct, and instruct in righteousnes, as the Apostle sheweth, 2. Tim. 3. 16. which fowre properties are answerable to those fowre set downe by the prophet Dauid; to giuegive light to the eyes, wisdome to the simple, to conuert the soule, and reioyce the heart, psal. 19. 7, 8. The light is to know the truth, wisdome to discouer and improoue errour; conuersion, to turne the heart and correct vice; the reioycing is to take delight and to be instructed and goe forward in well doing. Now eueryevery man hath not neede alike of all these: some man had more neede of knowledge to be instructed, other of conscience to be conuerted: one hath greater cause to be reformed of errour, & other to be reclaimed from vice.How one scripture is said to be more excellent then another. Therefore in respect of mens diuerse and particular occasions, the scriptures are diuersly to be applied, and accordingly to be singled out.
2. It was not then by chance, that our Sauiour Christ opening the booke in the synagogue at Nazareth vponupon the sabboth day, did light vponupon that place of the prophet Isai, Luk. 4. 8. or that Eunuch was directed to read vponupon that prophecie, Act. 8. But this prophet, as most directly foreshewing Christ, was sorted out, as fittest to instruct them, that yet did not beleeue on Christ. The same reason mooued Ambrose to commend vntounto Augustine,August. epist. 3. ad …. as yet but a newe conuert, the reading of this prophet.
3. For like as though all meates be wholsom in their kind, yet are they not fit for eueryevery stomacke; but a man of discretion will hauehave a care of his diet: & sitting at a great mans table (where is varietie of dishes) will consider diligently what is set before him, Prou. 23. 1. The like iudgement should eueryevery one bring to the reading of Scripture: as in an Apothecaries shop, though eueryevery drug hauehave his vse, yet are they not to be ministred for eueryevery disease: so the word of God must be applied according to the diuers maladies of the soule.
4. The reason why the Lord hath thus tempered the Scriptures, the Apostle sheweth: That the man of God may be absolute, beeing made perfect to eueryevery good worke, 2. Timoth. 3. 17. That from the rich treasure of Gods word we may draw for eueryevery occasion: as the wise Scribe taught vntounto Gods kingdome, is as a wise housholder, that hath in his store-house both newe & old, Math. 13. 52. both old experience of Gods mercies to comfort him; I remembred thy iudgements of olde and receiued cō fort, Psal. 119. 52. and newe examples of Gods iustice to humble him, as the Prophet againe saith: Feare is come vponupon me for the wicked that forsake thy law, Psal. 119. 53. In the scriptures, there is milke for babes, and strong meate for the riper age: there is instruction for the simple, & meditation for the deeper wit. Augustine saith well, Pascimur apertis, exercemur obscuris, ibi fames, hic fastidium tollitur: We are nourished with the easier, and exercised by the harder places of scripture: there are we kept from famishing, here from loathing.
5. Let eueryevery man then learne, when he readeth or heareth the worde, to sort out that, which is most for his vse: to lay vp places of comfort against the day of affliction: if he feele his heart to be dull, to quicken it with the sense of Gods iudgements. Thus the Prophet Dauid teacheth vsus to single out scripture, where he giueth this note (Selah) in diuerse places of the psalmes: as thrice in the 3. psalme, v. 2. 4. 8. which is a marke of attention, whereby he would hauehave those sentences so marked, especially regarded. And in the same sense are these called excellent psalmes, because of their excellent matter, and necessarie vse.
Whole men neglect this course, not knowing their owne necessities, neither set apart the spirituall food of the word, but take it as in a whole lumpe:The particular application of Scripture. they misse of the right vse of scripture, and defraud their owne soules. Ye shall hauehave some, that had neede to be humbled, and as yet know not themselues, dwelling and delighting in their sinnes, and yet forsooth, these men cannot endure the law, eueryevery thing hath an harsh sound in their eare, that rellisheth not of the sweete com…orts of the gospel. Like as it is not good to eate too much honie. Prou. 25. 16. so neither is it fit for such alwaies to tast of the sweetnes of Gods promises. And as Augustine saith well of Iudas,De Ecclesiast. dogmatio. c. 56. mustum sancti spiritus potare non potui…, quo accepto continuo crepuit: he could not drinke the sweete liquour of the spirit, but after he had receiued it, he burst: So impenitent persons, and such as are hardened in their sinnes, when they heare of nothing but peace, peace, are thereby made more incurable: and their wounds are not purged, but putrified. It is fit therefore for eueryevery man, as his disease is, so to applie the medecine.