Contemplations on Mortality, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Upon the words of the Pſalmiſt.
KIng David from his Royal Palace in Mount Zion, might feaſt his eyes with many delicious Proſpects.
1. The firſt and chiefeſt was the Tabernacle of the Lord of Hoſts, whoaPſ. 87.2. loved the gates of that mountain, more then all the dwellings of Jacob. This holy Prince delighted in communion with God and therefore is ſtyled a man after Gods own heart: hebPſ. 13.1, 2, 4, 5. ſwore againſt the ſlumber of his eye-lids, till he found a place for the Lord, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. And where did he fix the Tents of the holy One of Iſrael? did he not bring up the Ark from the houſe of Obed-Edam into the cSam. 6.12City af David with gladneſs? FordPſ. 132.13. the Lord had choſen Zion, he deſired it for his habitation. Thrice happy thoſe Princes, who entertain the pure worſhip of God within their Courts. They ſhalePſ. 89.15 know the joyfull ſound of Temple-muſick they ſhall walk, O Lord, in the ſhining light of thy countenance.
A Second lovely Proſpect with which David enamelled his eyes was the pleaſant City of Jeruſalem, fPſ. 122.3a City Compact together,gPſ. 48.2, 3. beautifull for ſcituation, the joy of the whole earth, God is known in her Palaces for a refuge.
A third, Was the valley of Kidron, a dark valley through ſhades and precipitious rocks. Its name from Kedar, obſcurities and thick ſhadows, environed with mountains and a ſwift torrent trilling along its caverns. This gave a comely off-ſet to the neighboring hills: here were the ſhady ſtrokes of natures pencil the more to illuſtrate the bright pieces of this holy Land-skip, Hence were redoubled the pleaſant and warbling ecchoes of the ſilver Trumpets at new Moons and Sacrifices.
The fourth and laſt, was the three-ridged mount of Olivet fruitfull, healthfull and pleaſant.
In the firſt of theſe Proſpects, he ſaw the holy One of Iſrael walking in his Sanctuary and enjoyed ſweet fellowſhip with the divine Oracles. From the ſecond, he took a view of the State of this vain life. In the third, he might raiſe Contemplations upon the houſe of all living. In the fourth, he beheld as in a glaſſe a glorious caſt of the Reſurrection,aZach. 14.4. the day of Judgment and Aſcention to Heaven.
The ſweet Singer of Iſrael had tuned in conſort with his Harp, many choice Meditations, near the murmuring waters of Kidron, and here in this Pſalm he playes upon the valley it ſelf. Let's deſcant on his Leſſon in four parts.
1. Here's a compariſon of the ſtate of death, to a walk in the ſhady valley of Kidron. I know it is uſuall to interpret the ſhadow of death, by great and deep afflictions, but I ſhal accept the phraſe in this method: In its firſt notion, that darkneſſe which ſeizes upon perſons ready to die, is repreſented. In a ſecond the grave and death it ſelf. Its plain by the conferences ofbJob 3.5. & 10.21. & 34.22. & 38.17. Job with his Arabian comforters, 'twas Eaſtern language. In a third by a Metalepſi, thoſe horrors and terrors that attend the agonies of dying mortals; yea, any grievous calamities that paint the face of death to the life in the glaſſe of imagination.
Here under an elegant Allegory holy David proſecutes the divine ſhepheardy: Gods gracious care and conduct. The green paſtures and the chryſtal ſtreams with which his ſoul was refreſht. Not doubting but goodneſs and mercy ſhould follow him all the dayes of his life, and although he ſhould be lead through the valley of the grave; the Lions and the Bears, the Tygers and the Wolves of thoſe fell bottomes ſhould not ſcare him. I will fear no evill for thou art with me. Aſſuring himſelf that the great Shepheard of Iſrael had wiſdome and power ſufficient to guide him ſafely and at length to encloſe this ſheep of his Paſture in the Folds of hiscPſ, 23.6. houſe of glory for ever. Other ſhepheards tremble at the yelling of the Lions, and the print of their foot ſtamps horror, much more to convey their Flocks under ſuch diſmall ſhadows be the ſlads never ſo verdant, and the gliding brooks never ſo ſweet and pleaſant; left they and their ſheep prove ſorry comforters to one another, when they ſlide together into the Maws of ſuch ravening Butchers. But here's a bleſſed and glorious ſhepheard,aMuſcul. in Loc. (qui ſciens prudenſ que ducet in mortem ipſam:) who purpoſes and reſolves to lead his Flock through the jaws of death; So that David ſings this Pſalm in the warm feelings of the divine Preſence, Ile fear no evil: thy crook and thy ſtaffe they ſhall comfort me.
Secondly, Here's the perſon, that walks through this tremendous valley, ruddy, royal and holy David. Thy ſanguin complexion muſt now turn blanck and melancholy, when Abiſhags arms ſhall be cold and feeble comforters, and thy reall body muſt ſhrink into this grimb1 Sam. 15 16. Michols bed. That conquering Sword at whoſe brandiſhing, Edam and Ammon trembled, muſt be ſhaped into deaths Sithe to mow thee from the Land of the Living. Thy holy heart muſt take Sanctuary in the divine Covenant,cPſ. 49, 15 89.48. that God will one day redeem thy life from corruption, and thy darling from the hand of the grave.
Thirdly, We ſhould muſter up the formidable evils that put on their armor, gird on their Swords, and whet their glittering Spears for a fatall encounter in this valley.
Fourthly, We muſt prepare the Cordialls, the Balms and all the ſuſtaining comforts and quickning promiſes to refreſh the Soul and uphold the ſpirit from ſinking; that we may fear no evil, ſince God is with us, his Crook and his Staffe ſhall comfort us.dBochar… de animal. l. 2. c. 44. col. 459. part. 1. foreign His Shebet [pedum paſtorale, eMich. 7.14. Lev. 27.32] his Shepheards Crook to guide and conduct to the Paſtures of Glory, his Miſhgnan, his ſtaffe, to beat off wild beaſts and enemies that might aſſault and annoy us.