A Door of Hope, Treatise 1
A DOORE OF HOPE, ALSO HOLY AND LOYALL ACTIVITY.
PSALME 126.1, 2.
When the Lord turned againe the Captivity of Zion; we were like them that dreame.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with ſinging.
THe Occaſion of this Pſalme is by the conſent of Expoſitours conceived to be the gratious Edict and Proclamation of King Cyrus the Perſian, Occaſion. for the free return of the Iewes from their Babiloniſh Captivity, after ſeventy yeares durance. Of that Captivitie, and their Deliverance, ſee more fully in the book of Chronicles. The Lord ſtirred up the spirit of Cyrus, King of Perſia, 2 Chron. 36.22, 23.that he made a Proclamation throughout all the Kingdome, and put it alſo in writing, ſaying, Thus ſaith Cyrus King of Perſia, The Lord God of Heaven hath charged me to build him an houſe in Jeruſalem, which is in Iudah: Who is there among you of all his people? Ez. 1 1 &c. to 5 Jer 25.12 &c. Jer 29.10. &c.the Lord his God be with him, and let him goe up. And ſo in Ezra and Ieremiah. By all which places (me thinks) we may ſee our ſtate hitherto expreſſed in the Iewiſh as in a glaſſe, and ſo may whet our attentions and affections, upon the very threſhold of the Diſcourſe with this ſhort Paralel.
1. Were they Gods owne ſelected people? ſo are we thus farre, being the only Monarchy and Kingdoms of pure Proteſtants, now ſtanding upon the face of the Earth: for all other people are either no Chriſtians, no pure Proteſtants, or no Kingdome and Monarchy.
2. Was their oppreſſour litterall Babylon? whence came our late Apoſtaſyes and diſtractions, but from Babylon the myſticall?
3. The only means that they had left were (praeces & lachrymae) prayers and teares, Ezr. c. 1 &c 2. Dan. c. 9. Pſ. 137.1, 2.beſides a few poore deſpiſed, (but yet active) Prieſts, Prophets and Levites. And were not our harps and hopes too, hung up upon the willows but a while ago.
4. The manner of their Deliverance, it was by Retortion, for the Iews were freed, and Babylon her ſelf became a captive: and is it not ſo with us (according to the ſaying of the Wiſe man) That the righteous is delivered out of trouble, Pro. 11.8.and the wicked cometh in his ſtead?
5. Finally, the end of their freedom was to build a Temple to their God; and is it not the hope and prayer of all Saints amongſt us, that our Deliverance may end in a glorious reformed Church? 1 Kin. 1.36.Amen: the Lord God of my Lord the King ſay ſo too. Thus the very Occaſion of this Pſalme, and our Thankeſgiving are Paralells. So much for a whet upon the threſhold.
But let us enter the houſe: Diviſion.
This ſhort ſweet Song doth conſiſt of three parts.
1. An Exhortation to joyfull thankfulneſſe for their Deliverance begun, and the greatneſſe of that Deliverance is withall extolled, v. 1, 2, 3. reading the words in the Future tenſe,—When the Lord turned, &c.
2. A Prayer for the increaſe and perfection of the work, v. 4. Turn again our captivity ô Lord, that is, go on in turning.
3. An Incouragement againſt thoſe difficulties which they had, did, and might yet farther meet withall. For their firſt returne was not compleate, all the Iewes came not home with Ezra, but ſome wanted will, and others ability to return. This incouragement is expreſſed by a compariſon, ver. 5, 6. They that ſow in teares ſhall reape in joy. He that goeth forth, &c. that is, ye know the difficulties and hardſhips that the Husbandman doth meet withall in his calling, his ſeed-time ordinarily is in the Winter-ſeaſon, and therefore he may then meet with many a bluſtering ſtorme and pinching froſt, and ſo doth ſow in teares; but here is his comfort, that the time of Harveſt is a Sunſhine ſeaſon, and then he is like to reape a full crop in faire weather with joy. So though the begining of our return and of this Deliverance, may, and doth meet with many oppoſites and oppoſitions, with a Sanballat, a Tobiah, Neh. 6.1. &cand other back-friends, yet be of good cheere, hold out, the cloſe of all will be both a cleare sky and a full crop. This for Diviſion of the Pſalme.
The Text then hath in it the force; firſt of an Exhortation to reall and verball thankfulneſſe, which may not only fill the heart, but flow out at the mouth, ver. 2. And beſides that, here is ſecondly a Declaration of the greatneſſe of that (though but partiall) Deliverance, for it is ſaid, to be the turning of a Captivity of Zion, even to the very aſtoniſhment of the captives themſelves. The ſubſtance of both theſe branches (namely of this Exhortation and Declaration) and ſo conſequently of the whole Text, may be reſolved into this ſhort ſentence.
DOCTRINE. That aſtoniſhing Deliverances doe crave accurate obſervation and remembrance.