A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, To the reader
TO The READER.
CHristian Reader, In this Essay on the Psalmes, as in other like pieces, on some other Books of Scripture, sent forth to the world from me, a part of my designe is still the same, that hereby I may try, if it may be the Lords will, to stirre up some more able instruments to lay open briefly, in this mould, or any other they please better, the chiefe Doctrines treasured up in the store-house of holy Scripture, whereby the Lords people may bee solidly informed in the knowledge, and established in the faith of true Religion, by the most near and immediate way of drawing their light from the fountaine of the Lords owne word: for this were a meane (as I humbly conceive) to cut off many needlesse disputes wherewith the world is filled; a meane to refute many errours, which the ignorance of Scripture and of the power of God hath bred and fostered in the Christian Church; a meane to prevent many mistakes whe…ein well-meaning zeale doth oft-times fall, for lack of a briefe manuduction into the true sense and intent of places mistaken. And I am not altogether out of hope, that the Lord shall hearken to my desire, and set some of his servants on worke, ere it bee long, to entertaine this motion, and to take a share also in the taske. Meane time, I pray let my aime and endeavour bee acceptable unto thee, and doe not take exception that so much is left unsaid upon so pregnant passages of Scripture as I goe through briefly, and that so much good matter is hinted at, and past by so quickly; and sometimes so abruptly; nor that the deductions of sundry doctrines from the ground pointed at in the text, are oft-times not so convincingly cleared as you would; But take this consideration along with thee, That any longer insisting either in explication of the grounds of the Doctrines pointed at in the text, or in amplification of the Doctrines deduced from the grounds, would have marred much the intended brevity of the mould, wherewith both the learned, and such as have lesse leisure to read longer discourses, possibly will be wel pleased; mainly for this cause, that they are not much taken off their studies, or from their other necessarie employments, by this manner of writing: And wherewith also charitable censurers, will be content haply when they perceive that in this plainnesse and brevity, every Reader shall quickly meet with good matter of meditation at least, whereby the smallest grains of sound truth, sowne by this means among Readers, may by Gods blessing get root, watering, and increase in a good and honest heart: which blessing, that it may be very large, shall be the hearty prayer of,
Thy Servant in the work of the Gospel, DAVID DICKSON.
A BRIEF EXPOSITION Of the first Fifty PSALMES.
ALbeit the Booke of the Psalms be not composed after the manner of Humane Writings, in some such Method of Parts, as History or Art could possibly prescribe; yet it is so digested in Divine Providence, as the Order it hath, is farre better then humane Artifice could have given unto it: For the scope of this Book being not only to teach us the Grounds of Divinity, for our information, but also to direct us how to apply saving Doctrines practically to our selfe, and to make use thereof for Reformation of our Affections, and Actions, and to helpe us by the Example of the Practice and Exercise of Gods deare Children, to go after their footsteps, being led by this Directory all along, as by the hand unto the fruition of Felicity, in higher and higher Degrees thereof, till wee bee perfectly possessed of it in Heaven. The Psalmes in relation to this scope are so placed, as the first Psalme having divided all men in two Ranks, in order to the way of seeking Felicity, doth give direction to us to chuse, not the counsel of the Wicked, but the Word of God for the Rule whereby to walk unto true Blessednesse: And the second Psalm giveth us God in Christ for a Captain and Leader to us, who is able to maintaine his Church, and all those who shal follow this Rule, against all the Opposition which can be made against them by the Power and Multitude of the wicked, who wil not be bound by the bonds and cords (as they esteeme) of this Rule of the Lords Law: And the rest of the Psalmes do hold forth the Examples of Christ and his Followers, yoaked in Conflict with their Persecuters for Righteousnesse sake; in all Assaults making use of their Covenant with God, and prevailing by his power which upholdeth, di…ecteth, comforteth them in all their Troubles, and giveth victorie and deliverie unto them out of them all: to the intent that every one who shall chuse to be truly blessed in the way prescribed of God (who only can give and maintaine Felicity) may resolve and prepare themselves for such a life as the Saints have had in all Generations before them; that is, a life mixed with Crosses and sweet Comforts; a life wherein they shall be put to make use of their faith in God by Prayers, and shall not want for their answer, in due time, matter if Ioy and Praises to God; a life composed of variety of Godly Exercises, and alternating vicissitudes of Conditions, as the bulk of this Book representeth; but closing as this bundle of Psalms closeth, with six times pure praises, whereunto now and then the Lord frameth the heart of the Believer with Ioy unspeakable and full of Glory: That endlesse and uninterrupted Thansgiving and Praise being reserved to the General Assembly and full meeting of Christ, and all his Redeemed ones, at the great day of our Lords second coming.