Exercises Upon the First Psalm in Prose and Verse, Exercises · Paraphrase of psalm – Prayer
THE PARAPHRASE; WHERIN THE WORDS of the Psalme, are wholy retained: and distinguished from the rest, by a change of LETTER.
BLessed is the man, that, Verse 1.being in the first estate of innocency, doth not walke from it, after the euill affections of corrupted nature: in the lewd Counsels of the vngodlie; By consenting vntounto euill concupiscences, Nor stand in the broad way of sinners, acting, and perseuering in euill: Nor sit, in the infectious seat of the scornfull; scoffing vertue, deriding religion; or, by false doctrines (and euill examples) peruerting others.
Verse 2.For, hee is such an one; who, is not carefull onelyonly, to auoyd euill. But, is enclined to good also. His delight is seriously in the Law of the LORD. And, in his eternall Law (that hee may know, teach, and fulfill it; in thought, word, and deed) doth he meditate, vponupon all occasions; and at all times; euen, Day and night, without intermission.
Verse 3.In this; consisteth the meanes of his felicity. And he shall be like a flourishing Tree; which, the Diuine Prouidence hath planted, by the riuers of waters. For, as such a Tree, being nourished by those streames, hath the meanes that will enable it, to bring forth his fruit in due season: so, the Blessed Man, being planted by the fountaines of Grace, flowing from the Holy Spirit of God; bringeth forth in due time, the fruits of faith, and good workes, to eternall life. And, in the greatest drought, receiueth such refreshing; that his leafe shall not fade. A word of his, shall not be in vaine (though, for the present, it seeme to fall to the ground) but it shall take effect. And whatsoeuer he doth, shall prosper, at last; both to his euerlasting glory, and the instruction of others.
Now, the vngodly; because,Verse 4. they walke after their owne Counsels, are not so blessed: neither, doth any thing they take in hand, so prosper. But, they, are like the chaffe, which the winde driueth away. For, as that is dry, vnfruitfull, and therfore carried about with eueryevery puffe; so, they wanting the moysture of grace, are therfore ouer-light; and the spirit of the Deuill, the winde of pride, temptations, and euill affections: vnsetledly hurrie them to and fro, without rest.
Verse 5.And, by reason of this; euen because, these vanities carry them from God. Therfore, the vngodly shall not be able to stand, as innocent, before him, in the Iudgement. Whether it be that, which he shall be pleased to inflict on them, in this life: or, at the last Day. Nor, shall false worshippers, or such Sinners; who hauehave neglected this meanes of Blessednesse: be admitted in the Congregation of the Righteous, among those, to whom God (hauing separated them at his right hand) shall hereafter say: Come, yee blessed of my Father, &c.
Verse 6.And all this, commeth thus to passe. For that, the LORD accepteth, knoweth, and alloweth, the vndefiled way of the Righteous, and the courses, which they follow, to attaine this blessednesse. But, contrariwise, so abhorreth the way of the vngodly; that the endeauors, of those Reprobates, shall perish, with them, in eternall damnation.
The Prayer:
Wherin, the scope of this Psalme is considered: and the blessednesse there mentioned, implored of God.
OH thou eternall Son, of the euer-liuing God. Who, art the way of life, the meanes of all true Blessednesse, and the onelyonly Happy One; who, continuing in thy integrity, hast both auoyded, all manner of sinne; and eueryevery way fulfilled the whole Law, and will of thy Father. Thou, oh Christ; who art that tree of life, which brought forth the fruit of our saluation, in due season: and without whom, none can euer hauehave sure hope, to become happy. Grant, oh sweet Redeemer; that by the imputation of thy righteousnesse; we, who are fallen from our first Integrity, may bee regenerated, and made spotlesse againe, in thy sight. Sanctifie our polluted hearts, that they may no more wander after, the vaine counsels, of vngodly affections. Let them not hauehave power, to allure vsus into the way of sinfull actions. Or, if we doe (through frailty) at any time, stray from Thee, into the trodden path of Sinners, which leadeth to destruction (as wee must acknowledge, we often doe.) Bring vsus backe, oh sweet Iesu; and let vsus not stand there, vntill we lose the feeling of our sinnes: and forget for euer to returne; but, let eueryevery slip be attended, with immediate repentance, to whip vsus vp againe; left the iteration of sinne, bring vsus at length, to the seat of Scorners, and the deniall of Thee. Keepe vsus; oh keepe vsus, from that low ebb of grace; yea, although we often run far into the way of sinners; and many times carelesly stand still, when thou callest vsus from thence: yet, of all mercies, wee entreat thee, that we neuer bee suffered to stray so wide, from the way of Blessednesse: to sin against thy Holy Spirit. Or, to sit downe in that seat of pestilence, which may infect our soules, to eternall death.
And, to enable vsus the better, to shun such dangers; we beseech thee, possesse our hearts with thy louelove; and a true delight in thy Word. Let thy Law, day and night, openly and secretly, in aduersity and prosperity, bee our principall study, and practise, all the time of our life. Fashion vsus, to thine own Image; let thy right hand plant vsus, in thine owne Vineyard.
And, that we may bee, as fruitfullflourishing Trees, bringing forth seasonable fruits, to thy glory, and the profit of thy Church. Let the plentifull Riuers of thy Grace, water vsus; vntill we grow vp, and become fit to bee replanted, in thy eternall Paradise. Let our words, as the leaues of a fruitfull tree; be a continuall ornament vntounto vsus: seruing also, to heale the wounded consciences of our weake brethren. And although, for a time, thou sufferest vsus, to appeare miserable, and vnhappy; yet, let all things (euen the afflictions which we hauehave had) prosper vsus in the way, to euerlasting Blessednesse.
And, forasmuch, as those, who delight not in thy seruice, are in a miserable condition; and nothing so happy, as thy children, whatsoeuer they seem to the world. Grant, ô Lord, that wee (being warned by thy displeasure against them) may truly worship thee, & hauehave euer such a measure of faith, and of thy grace; as may keep vsus setled in our consciences, & quiet, from the fury of those affections, that carry them headlong into endlesse vnrest. And when thou shalt cast that chaffe, into the fire; purge vsus, thy seruants, from corruption; and lay vsus vp, as pure wheat, in thy Heauenly Granard.
Heare vsus, oh deere Redeemer; and when that dreadfull day commeth, wherein thou shalt summon the whole world to Iudgement. Let vsus not, be thrust amongst those guilty ones, who shall fall, and bee confounded with horrour, at thy presence. But make vsus able to stand, in that fearfull doome; place vsus at thy right hand, in that righteous Congregation, into which, no vnrepentant sinners shall be admitted. And, when thou shalt turne them off, with that terrible answer; I know you not. Let vsus; oh let vsus, bee receiued into thy mercy. And seeing, wee seeke for Blessednesse, by that way and meanes onelyonly, which thou hast appoynted: Acknowledge it, as thine owne ordinance; and, though we are a while, the scorne of the world, make vsus at length, Inheritors of that vnspeakable felicity, which wee shall enioy in Thee. So, both in our safeties, and in the destruction of thine enemies also; shall thy name be glorified, now and for euer. Amen.