A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, Psalm 1
PSALM I.
THis Psalme teacheth, that no ungodly man is blessed, but the godly man only, ver. 1, 2. Which is proved by three reasons: The first, because God doth blesse the godly even in this life with grace to bring forth good works profitable to themselves and others, in every state of life, ver. 3. But all that the wicked doe for making themselves happy, shall be blasted, and found to be meer vanity, ver. 4. Another reason is, because after this life the wicked shall be s… cluded from the presence of God, and societie of the godly at the day of judgment, v. 5. The third reason, confirming both the former, is, because God approveth the way of the godly, and will make the end of the way of the ungodly destruction, ver. 6.
Ver. 1. BLessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate both day and night.
FRom the pronouncing of the godly man to be the blessed man, and not the ungodly, Learn 1. Though sin and misery abound among men, yet blessednesse may be attained; for God here pronounceth some to be blessed. 2. In relation to the seeking of blessednesse, all men, within and without the visible Church, are divided into godly men, that seek to be blessed in Gods way; and ungodly men, who seeke blessednesse, but not in Gods way…; for so are they here all ranked. 3. To determine the Question, who is the blessed man, is competent to God only, in whose hand alone it is to make a man blessed; for here he taketh it upon him, to pronounce the godly man to be the blessed man. 4. The ungodly doe think themselves very wise in following the counsell of their own heart, and of others like themselves, that they may be blessed; But this is not the way of the blessed man, He walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. 5. The ungodly do obstinately continue in the course of sinning, but the blessed man, if he be overtaken in a sinne, doth not defend his sinne, nor persist in it: Hee standeth not in the way of sinners. 6. The ungodly may come to that height at length, as to mock godlinesse, as meet folly, and to scorne admonitions and reproofs: But the blessed man doth never harden his heart so, as to mock piety in others, or instruction offered to himselfe, He sitteth not in the seat of the scornfull. 7. The blessed man maketh the word of God in holy Scripture, to be his Counseller concerning the remedie of sinne and misery, and to be the rule to walk by, til his blessednesse be perfected; for the Scripture to him, for the obedience of faith, is a Law, and that fenced with supreme authority: It is the Law of the Lord. 8. In that measure that a man is godly and blessed, hee maketh the word of God, which holdeth forth the way of reconciliation with God, through the Messiah, Christ, the way of growing in communion with God through him, the matter of his chief delight, and contentment; His delight is in the Law of the Lord. 9. In that measure that a man delighteth in the Law of the Lord, he verseth himselfe therin upon all occasions. In his Law doth he meditate day and night.
Ver. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season: his leafe also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doth shall prosper.
Ver. 4. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaffe which the wind driveth away.
This is the first reason proving the Godly man to bee the only Blessed man, and not the ungodly: Hence learn, 1. In that measure a man studieth holy Communion with God, by delighting and meditating in his word, he shall bee fixed and furnished with the influence of Grace from Christ, for the entertaining of Spiritual Life in him; Hee shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. 2. The man that maketh the word of God his delight, shall be made fruitfull in every good worke, as opportunity is offered to him; Hee shall bee like the tree that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. 3. This man shall be enabled to bear out a holy profession of his faith in, and obedience to God, in adversity, as well as in prosperity: His leaf also shall not wither. 4. Whatsoever Duty or Service to God this man goeth about, shall not want the assistance of God, nor successe, nor acceptance at his hands; Whatsoever hee doth shall prosper. 5. The ungodly man (whatsoever hee may seeme to be before the world) yet hee is destitute of all Spirituall Life, and alien from the fellowship of Gods grace, unfit for every good work, ready when tempted hard, to quit his counterfeit profession of Religion, and is cursed in all that hee doth; for what the blessed Godly man is here said to bee, the wicked is the contrary; The ungodly are not so. 6. Whatsoever appearance of godlinesse, or temporal prosperity, or hope of happinesse the ungodly man seemeth to have, it shall be found but counterfeit, and shal stand him in no stead in his greatest need▪ The ungodly are like the chaffe which the wind bloweth away.
Ver. 5. Therfore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
The second reason proving the Godly man to be the Blessed man, and not the ungodly, is a consequence of the first: Whence learn, 1. Not only shall all that the ungodly man soweth to his fleshly Felicity, prove chaffe; but also for his paines he shall answer to God in the day of judgement, and there be condemned; for it is said, Therfore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment. 2. Howsoever the Godly cann… enjoy one anothers fellowship in this life, for many reasons; yet at last they shall meet in a generall Assembly of all Saints, in the full fellowship of God; for there is a day of Judgement to bee, wherein they shall stand, and not be casten or condemned, but shall be fully absolved, and remain in the standing Congregation of the Righteous. 3. Albeit now the ungodly and godly do live together, mixed in one Kingdome, City, Incorporation, visible Church, Family, and Bed, possibly, yet there shall be a perfect separation at last, of the one from the other; for sinners (or servants of sin) shall not stand in the Congregation of the Righteous.
Ver. 6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shal perish.
The third reason confirmeth the former two: Whence learn, 1. Albeit there be no man that liveth and sinneth not, yet the godly man, being justified by faith, and carefull to bring forth the fruits of faith, is not a sinner in Gods esteeme; for hee is here called Righteous. 2. However there be many imperfections and failings of the Godly mans actions, yet the course hee keepeth, and way which hee endeavoureth to walke in, is holy and acceptable to God; For the Lord knoweth, or appro…eth the way of the Righteous. 3. Let the men of this world please themselves, and applaud one another in their Godlesse carriage; yet the end of their course shall be everlasting destruction; for the way of the ungodly shall perish.