A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 110
PSALME CX.
THis Psalme containeth the doctrine of Christ, God and man in one person, concerning his everlasting Kingdom and Priesthood, whose Kingdom albeit begun to be manifested among the Jewes, yet was to be extended unto the Gentiles with great success, v. 1, 2, 3 As for his Priesthood, he is setled therin for ever by an Oath, v. 4. and that with the overthrow of his enemies, how great or many soever, v. 5, 6. yet not without Christs sufferings, by which he was first to be humbled, and then to be exalted, v. 7.
Ver. 1. THE LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand: until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
In the first place, the Prophet being taught of God, describes the Person of Christ, in both his Natures, and in his Kingly office, which he exerciseth in heaven from the beginning of the world to the end thereof, until all his enemies shall be destroyed. Whence learn, 1. Albeit the understanding of Christs person and offices be necessary unto the Church, yet none know the Son save the Father, and they to whom he will reveal him: for David knew Christ only by the Fathers teaching; The Lord said, saith he. 2. Christ is Davids Son, and Davids Lord also: Davids Son, in regard Christ assumed his humane nature of Davids seed; and Davids Lord, because he is God, very God and very man in one person; The Lord said to my Lord, that is, God the Father revealed to me concerning God the Son, my Lord and Redeemer. 3. Christ in his Kingly office is exalted to the fellowship of glory and power with the Father, authorized by him in his Kingdome, and established therein by divine decree: The Lord said to my Lord. 4. Christ since the beginning of the world hath had, and to the end of the world shall have enemies to his Kingdome, who shall fight against him, but he shall prevaile over them complea…ly and gloriously, to their shame and confusion: Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 5. No lesse then divine power is able to subdue the enemies of Christs Kingdome; for devils and wicked men, sin, death and hell are opposite to his throne; Sit there until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 6. Albeit this victory is not fully obtained, till the end of the world, because of the renewing of the battel by new instruments, from generation to generation, yet till then and for ever Christ the King enjoyeth his glory in heaven, and sitteth judging and ruling powerfully all things for the good of his Church; Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Ver. 2. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
In the second place he sheweth the meanes and manner of his Conquest and governing, to wit, by the preaching the Gospel. Whence learn, 1. Christ wanteth not a rod and scepter whereby to govern, but he hath the Word of God preached for the Ensign of his Princely power and preheminencie, which is the arme and power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth▪ and which is able to throw down every strong hold exalted against the knowledge of him; This is the rod of thy strength. 2. Christ was King in his Church, and was in exercise of his office before his Incarnation, and that by his Word preached, which is the rod of his mouth, Isa. 11.4. For he shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion, presupposeth the rod of his strength in Sion. 3. It was decreed, that Christs Kingdome, howsoever first and most clearly manifested among the Jewes, yet should not be limited within Iudea, but should go forth unto the Gentiles for subduing them; The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion. 4. How many enemies soever shall oppose the Kingdome of Christ, and how powerful soever they shall be, yet Christ shall bear rule, enjoy his Kingdome, maintaine his subjects, and go on in his Conquests; Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Ver. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holinesse from the wombe of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
In the third place he sheweth what successe Christ shall have; for he shall have abundance of Converts, who shall come to his Church offering themselves▪ as the free-will-offerings were brought to the beautiful holy Temple, and that in such multitudes and Con…uence, as his young Converts shall be innumerable, like the dew upon the grasse, which dew issueth out as it were from the mornings wombe as its daily birth. Whence learn, 1. Whatsoever course our Lord shall take, for inviting and compelling guests to come to his feast, and to the society of his visible Church, yet only his Elect, his redeemed ones, all of them are made most willing Converts by his Omnipotent power, effectually inclining their hearts, and making them willing; Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. 2. Christs Church by the administration of holy Ordinances, by the setting forth of the Lords holinesse, by her teaching and perswading effectually unto the duties of holinesse, is exceeding beautiful in the eyes of God, and of spiritual beholders; Thy people shall be willing in the beauty of holinesse. 3. True Converts by the power of the Gospel are Christs children and off-spring, who shall grow up before him in simplicity and harmlesnesse, as the youth in each generation do grow, and shall be for multitude as the starres of Heaven, as the sand on the sea-shore: or as the morning dew descending from the Heaven: From the wombe of the morning, thou hast the dew of thy youth.
Ver. 4. The LORD hath sworne, and will not repent, thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedech.
In the fourth place, is his Priesthood setled. Whence learn, 1. Christ as he is King of his Church, so he is Priest also, for the teaching of Gods will to his subjects, for reconciling them to God by his propitiatory sacrifice, for sanctifying them, for making their services acceptable, for bearing the iniquity of their holy things, for interceding alwayes for them, and blessing them effectually in the Name of the Lord: Thou art a Priest, saith the Lord unto our Lord. 2. Christ is an everlasting Priest, who liveth for ever to make intercession for us, and neither needeth nor can admit any successor, or suffragan to himself in his office; Thou art a Priest for ever. 3. Christ in his office is no Usurper, for he is called to it, his Priesthood is unchangeable, confirmed by an Oath, having the glory of God laid in pawne for its stability and continuation without change: The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, thou art a Priest for ever. 4. Aarons order was not confirmed by an oath, but was an imperfect type of Christs Priesthood▪ to endure only till the Lord came, till the time of Reformation came, and was to be changed at Christs coming; for seeing a change behoved to be made of the Priesthood. a change behoved also to be made of the Levitical law: Thou art a Priest for ever▪ (not after the order of Aaron, but) after the order of Melchizedech. 5. Melchizedechs order, was not the patterne, but a type and shadowing resemblance of Christs Priesthhood: for as Melchizedech in his Scriptural being is mentioned and brought in, without shewing who was his father or mother, and had both the offices of King and Priest joyned in his person, and was first King of righteousnesse, and then King of peace; as is more largely described by the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrewes: so is Christ really without beginning and ending, both King and Priest, who bringeth perfect righteousnesse and peace to his subjects; Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedech.
Ver. 5. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath.
6. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies: he shall wound the heads over many countreys.
In the fifth place is set down the victory of Christ over his enemie. Whence learn, 1. Christ the Mediatour, and King of his Church, and every believer in him, have God ready at hand in all that they have to do: for as Christ is at the right hand of the Father for glory, so the Father is at Christs right hand for cooperation and assistance: The Lord at thy right hand, saith he. 2. As the Kings and Rulers of the earth are usually great enemies to Christs Kingdome, so he is the hardest party that ever they sha…l meet with: The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings. 3. The Lord hath a time of patience wherein he beareth with his enemies, and a day of wrath when he will break forth against his adversaries: He shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath. 4. Christs Government is wise and just, convincing some of sin, and pordoning the penitent; convincing others of sin, and sealing them up to condemnation, casting down the proud, and comforting the cast down, and doing all things for the good of the subjects most discreetly; He shall judge among the heathen. 5. Were there never so many enemies to Christ, they are all dead men before him, whom he wili kill, and will cast their carcases in the ditches of their own campes; He shall fill the places with dead bodies. 6. As he will punish the multitudes of people, who under wicked Commanders do oppose his Kingdome: so will he in special punish wicked Rulers, that lead on their people against him, how many soever they be who are joyned in conspiracy; He shall wound the heads over many countreys.
Ver. 7. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
In the last place is set down the manner of Christs carrying on his Kingdome and Priesthood in his Church, to wit, by suffering and enderlng hardship, as a good souldier pursuing the victory: for which his humiliation it is promised he shall be exalted. Whence learn, 1. It behoved Christ first to suffer, and then enter into glory: He shall drink of the brook in the way; or, he shall partake of the waters of affliction. 2. Whatsoever a good souldier doth, or suffereth in his warfare against, and in pursuit of his enemies, Christ did and suffered in pursuing his enemies in his own person, and shall do and suffer in his mystical body; He shall drink of the brook, that is, content himself with any obvious entertainment, which he meeteth with in the chase of his enemies, and not be retarded with any care of better fare, then what may further his purpose. 3. As Christs personal sufferings were not to endure any longer then the time he was on his way to his glory, so neither are the sufferings of his souldiers or his Church militant, his mystical body, to endure any longer then they are in their way to the triumph, that is, during this short life: He shall drink of the brook in the way. 4. As Christ in his person was exalted after his sufferings as Victor, and did enter into his glory: so shall he exalt every member of his mystical body after their suffering, and lift up their head: for it is appointed even for the…, through many afflictions to enter into glory; Therefore shall he lift up the head.