The Coronation of David, Part
The exerciſe that David vſed, more ſpecially deſcribed.
Of the exerciſe of David in thoſe Pſalmes that he made in the time of trouble.19. IN what ſort David exerciſed himſelfe in thoſe his troubles, is alreadie declared, ſo far as the courſe of the hiſtorie yéelded. But then it was noted withall, that it might be farther gathered out of the Pſalmes: thoſe I meane that he made in thoſe his troubles, as occaſion from time to time was giuen him. Of which as then I promiſed to … ſomewhat to the end of ye treatiſe, ſo now I meane, by the greatnes of God, héere to performe it: that ſo we may, with one … the ſelfe-ſame labour ſee, both how David in that caſe was occupied, and how we alſo might, in theſe daies of ours, to good purpoſe imploy our ſelues. And firſt the truth is that if we were of that good temper that David was of, we néeded none other,In wh… they … fit us lik…. but euen thoſe Pſalmes in order as they lye that then he made: ſo oft as our occaſion is none other, then was that of his wherevpon they were made. For then being in like ſort exerciſed, they would as fitly agree vntounto vsus, as they did vntounto him, if we were of ſuch diſpoſition as that we could ſo fitly and redily apply them to our caſe, as he at that time did apply them to his. But then muſt we be of a quick and a nimble ſpirit, and well experienced in ſuch maner of exerciſe, as it pleaſeth the Lord to vſe towards his children: ſo that we may at once, and, as it were with one breath, redily fall in with all ſorts of paſſions and affections whatſoeuer, that the ſpirit of God in ſuch caſe ſtirreth vp, in thoſe whom it pleaſeth him to exerciſe. For ſo ſhall we find that David did, in moſt of the Pſalmes that euer he made: not only in theſe that now we ſpeake of, but in moſt of the reſidue alſo: ſometime beginning with a praier, and by and by falling into thankſgiuing: ſometime acknowledging his great feare of the enimie, and ſtreight way growing to inuincible boldnes: ſometime complaining of the great corruption of the world, and forthwith repoſing himſelfe in the goodnes of God. But the formes and examples hereof are ſo many and diuers, that it were hard to reckon them vp: and it is ſufficient for vsus, vntounto the purpoſe that now we hauehave in hand, to be thus far warned before, that we can hardly apply moſt of the Pſalmes to our vſe, ſauing only when we are in ſuch ſort exerciſed as David was at the time when he made them: and vnleſſe we firſt ſuppoſe our ſelues to that pliablenes of mind, that we may be … readily to fall in with whatſoeuer motion it is, that the Sp… of God ſhall ſtir vp in vsus. In which caſe, as I ſaid before … I againe, that we neede none other, but only to … Pſalmes in order as they lye: and adde this further, not only that we neede none other, but alſo that we can not hauehave, as I do take it, ſo perfect a courſe any way elſe. And for thoſe that are diſpoſed to take that courſe, it is not amiſſe heere to ſet downe, what thoſe Pſalmes are, that do apperteine to this compas of time, and to the matter that now we ſpeake of. Wherein becauſe there is ſome diuerſitie of opinion among the beſt approued authors, therefore I cannot promis to do it, but in ſuch ſort, as that ſome may take exception vntounto it: as that, either there are mo, that might be referred vntounto this place: or elſe, that ſome of thoſe that are taken in by me to that account, might better be ſpared. For though moſt of them be ſuch, as by the text it ſelfe, are plainly noted to appertein vntounto that time: yet others again there are, that hauehave no ſuch euidencie in the matter, and yet by good circumſtances are moſt likely to belong vntounto it. And thoſe that are of this ſort I take to be a ſixt part of the whole, or to the number of twenty and fiue: not that I preiudice the iudgement of any, that inclineth to another opinion, either on the one ſide, or on the other, but that I content my ſelfe to ſet downe,Which are thoſe Pſalmes that David made in this time of his trouble. 4.7.11.26.34.35.42.43.52.54.55.56.57.58.59.60.63.84.94.109.116.120.131.140.141. In what caſe they may fit us beſt, whē they are drawne unto certeyne principall heads. what, by the ſearch that I hauehave made, I find to be the moſt likely. Which 25. alſo are theſe, the 4, the 7, the 11, the 26, the 34, and 35, the 42, and 43, the 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, the 60, and 63, the 84, the 94, the 109, the 116, the 120, the 131, the 140, and 141. But now becauſe that many of vsus are not any thing neere in ſuch ſort exerciſed as David was, nor of ſo quick and nimble ſpirits to any good: therefore in that order and courſe that they lye, they do not ſo much affect many of vsus, as otherwiſe they would, that lightly hauehave not any ſuch feeling, but only of ſome one or two ſpeciall matters, eueryevery one as he findeth himſelfe to be more ſpecialy touched: or, if we hauehave feeling of mo beſides, yet becauſe we are not ſo thoroughly exerciſed therein, we are not able, in ſuch fort as thoſe Pſalmes direct vsus, ſo redily to go from one to another, but incline rather, either ſtill to abide in ſome one, for that one time of our prayers, or at leaſt not to depart from it vntounto another, but by ſome ſuch maner of digreſſion, as might ſerue by little and little to draw our minds (as it were by degrées) from the ſame that we hauehave in hand, vntounto that other with the which we ſhould fall: in. And yet is it good for vsus to conſider, that in ſuch caſe we are not to thinke of our ſelues alone, but to lay before vsus the eſtate of all generally, and of eueryevery member in particular. Which courſe if we take, then is there nothing in theſe Pſalmes of his, but ſuch as at all times doth fitly belong, either to our ſelues, or to ſome others that are members (with vsus) of the miſticall bodie of Chriſt. But becauſe that many there are, that cā not take ſo perfect a courſe, for this cauſe hauehave I thought it worth the labour, to ſort ſuch things as we hauehave in thoſe Pſalmes, vntounto certaine principall heads: that as thoſe that can redily go with David, and are ſo exerciſed, hauehave that courſe that is méeteſt for them in the Pſalmes themſelues; ſo others likewiſe that are leſſe exerciſed, or not ſo redie, may hauehave wherein they may be fruitfully occupied, in any of thoſe points, wherewith David at this time was exerciſed. And thoſe chiefe and principall points wherewith David was exerciſed whē he made thoſe Pſalmes, What thoſe chief and principall heads are, whereunto the effect of all thoſe Pſalmes may be reduced.(as may appeare by the matter or ſubſtance of them) were generally but two. For either he conſidereth of the hard eſtate that by meanes of his enimies he was in: or elſe of the goodnes of God towards him. When he conſidereth of the hardnes of that eſtate that by meanes of his enimies he was in, ſometimes he doth but vnfold it, and ſometime he praieth againſt it. When he conſidereth of the goodnes of God towards him, ſometimes he is occupied, in declaring that truſt and confidence that he hath in God, notwithſtanding all his calamities and euils whatſoeuer, ſometime he promiſeth that he will be thankfull. And the better to declare what truſt and confidence he hath in God, notwithſtanding all his calamities and euils whatſoeuer, he doth both profeſſe the ſame vntounto God, and ſo frameth his ſpeach vntounto others withall, as that thereby alſo he doth plainly declare, that there was in him a notable confidence. Which his ſpeach vntounto others reſteth in two principall points: one, that he vpbraideth the enemie, and as it were triumpheth ouer him; the other, that he comforteth the godly, and, being himſelfe in great diſtreſſe, neuertheleſſe he will be a comforter to others. So, if we marke, they all do make ſixe principall heads. For, either he vnfoldeth the eſtate he was in: or prayeth againſt it: or ſheweth his confidence in God: or vpbraideth the enimie: or comforteth the godly: or is occupied in thankſgiuing. Which, being ſixe may yéeld one to eueryevery day in the weeke: and all to the Sabboth. The firſt alſo, and the laſt, do each of them yeeld a couple of Pſalmes: the ſecond, and third, each of them three: and the fourth, and the fift, are both but ſingle. The reaſon whereof will better appeare in the arguments of them, as héere-after enſueth to euerie one.