Davids Harp Strung and Tuned, 4 [i.e. 5] (cont.) · Psalm 150 – Authors note
PSAL. CL. A Hymn.
THIS Pſalm is of the ſame Subject that the former. In the 148. All creatures are invited to praiſe God. In the 149. Men eſpecially, and thoſe that are in the Church: But in this, that they praiſe him, and that with all kind of Inſtruments.
The parts are.
1. An Invitation to praiſe God, which word is ingeminated thirteen times, according to the number of the thirteen Attributes of God, as the Rabbins reckon them.
2. That this be done with all ſorts of Inſtruments, intending thereby that it be performed with all the zeal, care, alacrity, ardency of affections that may be.
1. The firſt part.In the beginning, and all along the Pſalm, he calls on men to praiſe God. Ver. 1
1. He invites to praiſe God.Praiſe, praiſe, praiſe, praiſe.
2. Praiſe God in his Sanctuary: In his Temple; or in your hearts, which are the Temples of the Holy Ghoſt: Or praiſe him, that dwells in Sanctis; that is, in his holy Heaven.
3. Praiſe him in the firmament of his power: For his power, magnificence, which is firm: Or, who ſhewes his power in the Firmament, when he ſits as in his Throne or Palace. Some underſtand the Church by it, in which his Saints ſhine as Stats in the Firmament.
4. Ver. 2 Praiſe him for his mighty Acts; the works of power he doth.
5. Praiſe him according to his excellent greatneſs. That greatneſs whereby he excels all other things; he being abſolutely great, they only comparatively.
2. The ſecond partHe deſires that no kind of way be omitted, by which we may ſhew our zeal, alacrity and ardency in praiſing him, With zeal, and all kind of Muſick.and to that end he makes mention of all ſorts of Inſtruments, which either make Muſick, being touch'd with the hand, or forc'd to ſound with wind.
1. Praiſe him with the ſound of Trumpet: An Inſtrument then uſed in their ſolemn Feaſts. Tuba flatu ſonitum reddet.
2. Praiſe him with the Pſaltery and Harp: Pulſu chordarum reſonant: Ver. 3 And to theſe they ſung; ſo that the Muſick was made by hand and voyce.
3. Praiſe him with the Tymbrel, and dance. Tympano & Choro. Vulg. in the Quire, where, with the conſent and harmony of many voyces.
4. Praiſe him with ſtringed Inſtruments; Lutes, Viols, &c. and Organs. Ver. 5
5. Praiſe him upon the loud Cymbals. They are round, and being ſhaken, make a tinkling noiſe.
6. Praiſe him upon the high ſounding Cymbals: An Inſtrument that yielded a great ſound, as Bells do amongſt Chriſtians. Bellar.That he be praiſed by all.
His Concluſion is univerſal: Let every thing that hath breath, praiſe the Lord. Praiſe ye the Lord. Allelujah.
1. Every thing that breaths; whatever hath ſtrength or faculty to do it.
2. Every thing that hath life; whether ſpiritual, as Angels, or animal, as Beaſts, or both as men: Or Metaphorically, all other things; which, though they be inanimate, yet may be ſaid to live to God, becauſe they obey his Order and Decree. The Prophets intent may be, that all things praiſe God, becauſe all things that have life or being, have it from him.
A Thankſgiving occaſioned by the laſt Pſalm.
O Eternal God, Lord and Creator, Ver. 1 Governour and Diſpoſer of all things both in the firmament of thy power, and in the earth, which is thy footſtool, who loadeſt us with bleſſings, and only expects our Tribute of thanks; we thy obliged creatures and ſervants in all humility appear before thée to pay that reverence and worſhip, and devotion, which is thy due, and our duty. Ver. 2 We praiſe thee for thy mighty Acts, and we deſire to praiſe thee according to thy excellent greatneſs.
Thy wiſdom is infinite, thy mercies are glorious, and we are not worthy, O Lord, to appear before that preſence at which the Angels cover their faces; yet ſince thou, O Lord, art worthy to receive glory, and honour, and power, Ver. 6 ſince thou art to be praiſed in thy Sanctuary, becauſe thou haſt made, preſerved, and redéemed us. We unworthy wretches do in all humility and obedience offer thée all poſſible land and honour; while we have breath, we will praiſe the Lord.
And that we do it with the greater alacrity, and more attentive zeal, Ver. 3 with more chearful hearts, and warmer affections, let us chooſe to our ſelves ſuch apt and melodious inſtruments, that may raiſe our ſouls in this Service, and that the unity and melody of our devotions may be as ſwéet and pleaſing in thy ears, as the harmony is delightful to ours. We cannot be too joyful in the preſence of our God, we cannot be too thankful to our Salvation, and therefore we will ſing Hallelujah after Hallelujah, and call for Hymn after Hymn, with Pſalms and ſpiritual Songs, voyces and inſtruments of Muſick, we will praiſe the Lord; praiſe thy power, praiſe thy wiſdom, praiſe thy goodneſs, praiſe thy mercy, thy bounty, thy love to us for ever and ever.
And here I in particular thank thee for thy aſſiſtance in this work, which I wholly attribute to thy Grace, and dedicate to thy Honour.
And if I have done well, and truly expreſſed the ſenſe of the Spirit of God, who inſpired into the Prophet theſe Pſalms and Hymns, it is that I deſired: But if ſlenderly and meanly, it is that which I could attain to.
Analyticam hanc Pſalmorum explicationem per gratiam Dei abſolvi, & devotiones inde collectas Anno. 1658. Octob. 22. Hallelujah.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Nicholson, Davids Harp Strung and Tuned (1662)