AS the whole Scripture is by inspiration from God : so this Booke of the Psalmes seemeth to challenge a kinde of preheminence above the rest ; inasmuch as the Authour of it was not onely a Prophet and a King , but a man after Gods owne heart , a Figure of Christ ; or , as Euthymius speaks , primi regis & ●or , & lingua , & calamus , the tongue , and pen , and heart , of the King of Heaven .

The several passages of this book are more frequently and particularly quoted by Christ and his Apostles , then of any other of the ould Testament . It was , and still is , more usually both sung and read , not onely in the Iewish Synagogues , but Christian Assemblies , as well by the People as the Minister ; & that with more outward reverence then any other part of holy Writ . It is put for al the Books of the old Testament , as they are differenced from the law of Moses and the Prophets , Luke 24. 44. And lastly , more Sermons , Commentaries , Meditations , Expositions , Enarrations , upon it have been made and published , as well by the Iewish Rabbins , as by the Doctors of the Christian Church , then upon any other scripture whatsoever . Nay , the very Turks themselves swear as solemnly by the Psalms of David , as by the Alcoran of Mahomet . And in truth , hee that hath either practically tried , or shall duly consider , what a rich store-house it is of all manner of Prayers , Precepts , Exhortations and Comforts , how this one celestiall Fountaine yeeldeth all good necessarily to bee knowne , or done , or had ; what a familiar introduction it is to beginners , a mighty augmentation of vertue & knowledge in such as are entred before , a strong confirmation to the most perfect ; may easily conceive the reason why it hath in all Ages bin esteemed even of the best and most learned , as a rare and precious Iewell , worthy to be laid up in that Persian Casket imbroidered with gould and pearle , which Alexander reserved for Homers Iliads . In regard whereof , our good King Alured translated the Psalter himself into his Saxon tong : and one of the Emperours caused this Book to bee bound up in a little volume by it self , for the special and daily use of himselfe and his attendants , to serve them as a Manuall , & alwaies to attend them in their running Library . And as I would not sooner commend the reading of any book to a Courtier then this : so would I specially commend this Psalm to the carefull reading and serious meditation both of my Gracious Master the Prince , and his religious Followers . They shall both finde their duties lively expressed in it , as in a mirrour , howbeit it were indeed first composed rather to expresse the former then the later , and my present choice of it bee chiefly intended and directed to that purpose .

This Psalme , by the consent of Writers , is a vow of David : whether made before or after his comming to the Crowne , it is not certain , neither skilleth it much ; but , that it is a vow , all agree . Since then , for the Person , the maker of it was both of understanding and power to make it ; since , for the Matter , the thing therein vowed is both lawfull and possible ; since , for the Manner , hee made it both deliberately and freely with advice and without constraint ; and lastly , since the End of it was to serve both as a bridle to prevent and redresse sinne , and as a spur to stirre him up and incite him to vertue , and keep him close to the duties therein promised : we are to hould it not onely for a warrantable but a commendable vow ; nor only commendable in David , but with like commendation imitable by us in like case . And as David made this vow , so had hee speciall care to pay it , 2. Sam. 8. 15. willing others to do the like , Psal. 50 ; it beeing indeed better ( as his Son tells us , Eccles. 5. 5 ) not at all to vow , than to vow and not perform . Yet in wicked vowes , as that of the Iewes , Acts 23. or in rash vows , as that of Herod & Iephte , that of the Canonists houlds true ; In malis promissis rescinde fidem , in turpi voto muta decretum : In wicked promises hould not thy word , in shameful vows change thy purpose : wherupon St. Hierome worthily censures Iephte , that hee was in vovendo stultus , in praestando impius ; naught in making such a vow as he did , but worse in performing it .

The thing heer vowed is either generall , in the first verse : or particular , touching his own Person , from the second verse to the fift ; touching his Attendants , Counsellers and Officers , from the fift to the eight ; and lastly , touching the Church and Common-wealth , in the last .

The matter by him vowed in generall is contained in the first verse ; I will sing mercy and iudgement : unto thee , O Lord , will I sing . Wherein , without any curious descant or division , wee may observe first the manner of expressing this vow : it is by way of singing , which implieth cheerfulnesse and alacrity : for , Is any merry , let him sing ? Iames 5. And , How should wee sing the Lords song in a strange land ? Psal. 137. As God loves a cheerfull giver : so doth hee a cheerfull vower . Secondly , the ditty , or rather the burden of this song : Mercy and Iudgement . Thirdly , the Person to whom hee both sings and vowes : it is the Lord .

First then of his maner of expressing this vow ; I will sing . As ancient and manifold as is the use of Musick , Gen. 4. 21. so excellent was David in the use thereof ; a thing which delighteth all Ages , and beseemeth all estates ; a thing as seasonable in grief as in joy ; as decent being added to things of greatest weight and solemnity , as beeing used when men most sequester themselves from action . It is apt both to quicken the spirits , & to allay that which is too eager ; able both to move and moderate all affections : yea , such is the force and efficacy thereof upon that very part of man which is most divine , that some have beene thereby induced to think , that the soule of man is composed of harmony . Which being ( to speak properly ) of high and lowe in sounds , a due proportionable disposition , whether it be by instrument or by voice ; our Prophet , the sweet Singer of Israel , having singular knowledge in them both , as also in the art of Poetry , judged them all , as very usefull in civill affairs , so in sacred actions and religious exercises even in the house of God it selfe not unusefull ; leaving behinde him to that purpose a number of divinely indited poems ( howbeit their metre in the originall bee now unknowne ) and adding unto his poetry melody , both vocall and instrumentall , by ordaining some of the Levites skilled in musicke to praise the Lord by singing and playing on instruments , to the number of foure thousand , 1. Chro. 23. 5. who , divided into severall companies , by course served the Lord in his Sanctuary for the raising up of mens hearts , and sweetning their affections towards God .

The instruments they used in praising the Lord are most of them reckoned up in the last Psalm : all which may be reduced to two sorts , whereof one is called Negenoth , such as made a sound by touching ; the other , Nechiloth , such as being hollow made a sound by breathing . Sometime the musicall instrument began , and the singing voice followed , and then the song was called Canticum Psalmi : somtime again the song was first sung with the voice , and the musicall instrument followed , and then it is called Psalmus Cantici : of which sort it seems was this Psalm , both sung privately by David for his better remembrance therof , and by him appointed to bee sung publikely in the Congregation ; as for the good of others , so thereby to oblige himself the more strictly to the performance thereof .

Before Davids time this singing of sacred hymns was in use , as may appear by the songs of Moses and Miriam , Exod. 15. and of Deborah and Barach , Iudg. 5. After him , his Sonnes songs were no less then a thousand and five , 1. Kings 4. 32. And one speciall one of his we yet enjoy at this day , by the name of Canticum canticorum , the Song of songs ; setting forth unto us the mystical union between Christ & his Church . Christ himself and his Disciples , according to the custome of the Iewes , sung a Psalme , Mat. 26. 30. Paul and Silas sung in prison , Acts 16. 25. And , to shew that it was a duty to continue in the Church , Eph. 5. 19. both S. Paul and S. Iames not onely exhort us to it , Col. 3 16. but give us rules for the practice of it . Iames 5. 13. In consideration whereof , the Church of Christ doth likewise at this present day retain it as an ornament to Gods service , and an helpe both to our edification and devotion : neither can they well bee excused from profanenesse , who eyther scorn to doo it themselves , or scorn others for the dooing of it . I will shut up this point with an excellent speech of S. Basils , touching this use of singing psalms in Christian Families or Congregations . Whereas ( saith he ) the holy Spirit saw , that mankinde is unto vertue hardly drawen , and that righteousnes is the lesse accounted of , by reason of the pronenesse of our affections to that which delighteth ; it pleased the wisedome of the same Spirit to borrow from melody that pleasure , which , mingled with heavenly mysteries , causeth the smoothnesse and softnesse of that which toucheth the ●are , to convay as it were by s●ealth the treasure of good things into mans minde . To this purpose were those harmonious tunes of the Psalmes devised for us , that they which are either in years but tender and greene , or touching perfection of vertue as yet not growne to ripenesse , might , when they think they sing , learn . O the conceit of that heavenly Teacher ! which hath by his skill found out a way , that , dooing those things wherein we delight , we may also learn that wherby wee profit . And so I com from our Prophets manner of expressing his vow ( I will sing ) to the burden of his song , Mercy and Iudgement . I will sing Mercy and Iudgement .

The ditty or subject-matter of his song hee promiseth should bee modest , and grave , and useful ; not light and vain , or unsavory and fabulous , much less filthy and unclean , fit for nothing ; but , as a sacrifice offred to the Divell , to defile the mouth and hart of the singer , to corrupt others , and to offend chaste ears . For , if evill words corrupt good manners , much more lewd songs ; which , the more artificiall they are , the more dangerous and pestilent are their effects ; the pleasantnes of their tune with more facility and less suspicion convaying their poison unto the soule . Vse not the company of a woman that is a singer and a dancer , neither hear her , lest thou bee taken by her craftinesse , Ecclus. 9. 4. To which purpose it was not unfitly spoken by the Roman Historian touching Sempronia a gentlewoman of Rome , Salust . that shee was taught psallere & saltare elegantiùs quàm modestam decebat , to sing and dance more gracefully then becam a modest woman . Besides , these amorous and wanton songs and sonnets , as they serve the Divels turn to convay poison into the minde : so doo they abate the edge of the masculine vigour thereof , bending and turning it by degrees from a manly martiall disposition to an effeminate softness .

Witnes the great Alexander ; who among other monuments of Troy being presented with Paris his Lute , replied , Achillis cytharam mallem . Witnes Themistocl●s that famous warriour ; who , beeing desired at a banquet to touch a Lute , answered , that hee could not fiddle , but he could make of a little Town a great City . And lastly , let Nero himselfe bee a witnes heerof ; who , seeing apparant death before his eyes , cryed out , Qualis artifex per●o , in regard of his extraordinary skill in singing .

Now , as the matter of our Prophets song was not fabulous or wanton : so was it not diffamatory or libelling stuffe , impeaching any mans reputation , such as the drunkeards made upon him , Psal. 69. 12 ; a lash which the greatest Princes cannot avoid , and the best sometimes feel : but the knowne authors thereof are by so much the more severely to be censured , as they deeply wound , and are hardly discovered . Finally , the matter of his song was not his own triumphs and victories , though they were many and glorious , aswel against strangers abroad , as rebels at home ; hee left that to others , Saul hath slain his thousand , and David his ten thousand . And thus having taken a brief view what the matter of our Prophets song was not , though too too rife now-adaies both in Court , and City , and Country ; let us now consider what it was : Mercy & Iudgement . And first take them jointly : not Mercy without Iudgement , nor Iudgement without Mercy , but Mercy and Iudgement both together , like Rahel and Leah , which twain did build the house of Israel ; or like Moses and Elias at the transfiguration of Christ , whereof the one was the meekest man upon earth , and the other the most zealous of the Prophets .

As the badge of the Ship S. Paul●ailed-in ●ailed-in was Castor and Pollux , two twinnes ; so the badge of this Psalm is Mercy and Iudgement , inseparable companions : of whom it may bee said , as our Prophet sometime spake of Saul and Ionathan , they were lovely and pleasant in their lives , and in their deaths they were not divided . The two brightest Stars they are in the firmament of Majesty ; the two fairest Flowers , and choicest Iewels in the Imperiall Crown ; like the Carnation and the Lilly , the Ruby and the Saphire , or the Carbuncle and the Diamond , yeelding a mutuall and interchangeable Iustre each to other , They resemble not unfitly the two supporters of the Kings armes , or the two Seraphins stretching out their golden wings over the Propitiatory ; or the white and red Rose in the same Escutchion .

We read , 1 Kings 7. that Salomon set up two goodly pillars in the porch of the Temple , the one called Iachin , the other Boaz ; which signifie Stability and Strength : such pillars of the State are Mercy and Iudgement . The Throne of the King is borne up by them , as Salomons was with Lions of Ivory on each side . Therefore , as in one place it is said , that the Throne is established by iustice , pro. 16. 12. so in another , that it is upheld with Mercy : pro. 20. 28. Iustice beeing as the bones and sinewes in the body politicke , and Mercy as the veins & arteries . They are the two hands of Action , the two eies of Vertue , and the two wings of Honour . And as the eyes , if they bee rightly set , doo both look one way : so do Mercy and Iudgement ; how-ever in the apprehension of the vulgar they seem to look contrary waies . And as the Trebble and the Base accord best in Musick : so do they in managing the Common-weal●h . Wherefore David promiseth to make them both ●ound tuneable in his song without jarre or discord : I will sing Mercy and Iudgement .

The answer of Apollonius to Vespasian is full of excellent instruction . Vespasian asked him what was Nero's overthrowe : he answered ; Nero could touch and tune the Harp well , but in government sometimes hee used to winde the pinnes too high , and sometimes to let them down too lowe ; thereby intimating , that hee applied Causticks and Corrosives where gentle Lenitives would have served the turne , & again he applied Lenitives where Corrosives were needfull . Sometimes hee administred Iustice without Mercy , and sometimes Mercy without Iustice ; Iustice without Mercy beeing nothing else but cruelty , like Esau red and rough , bitter as wormwood ; and Mercy without Iustice , but fond pity & foolish partiality . As Mercy then serves to abate the edge and rigour of Iustice : so doth Iustice , to quicken the slownes , and sharpen the dulness of Mercy . As Mercy without Iustice is contemned : so Iustice without Mercy is hated .

Astronomers conceive , that the Crystalline Sphear , which they suppose to be the waters above the heavens ( mentioned in the first of Genesis ) is set next the first Mover , for allaying the heat thereof ; which , by reason of the incomprehensible swiftnes of its motion , would otherwise set the whole world on fire . This I take to bee but a fancy of theirs : but Mercy , I am sure , is set so neer Iustice , for the cooling and tempering of it . Hee that iustifieth the wicked , and he that condemneth the righteous , they are both an abomination to the Lord , Pro. 17. 15. Now , he that pretends Mercy , but without Iustice , will bee sure to justifie the wicked ; and again , hee that pretends Iustice , but without Mercy , cannot but condemne the righteous : but the right mixture and true temper of both , justifies the righteous , and condemns the wicked . Which temper is by S. Paul commended to the publique Magistrate , Rom. 13 : If thou doo well , hee is the Minister of God for thy good ; but , to take vengeance of thee , if thou do evill . And by S. Peter in his first Epistle and second chapter , They are sent of God for the punishment of evill doers , and the praise of them that do well . All precepts touching supream Governours are in effect comprehended in these two Remembrances ; Memento quod es homo , and Memento quod es Deus , or vice Dei : Remember thou art a man , remember thou art a God , or in stead of God ; the one to bridle their power , the other their will . From the former of which issue the acts of Mercy , and from the other of Iustice : nay , the verie remembrance that they are vice-gods , is sufficient to put them in minde of both , inasmuch as Gracious and righteous is the Lord , and all his paths are Mercy and Truth , Psal. 25. Hee hath not one path of Mercy , and another of Truth : but all his paths are Mercie and Truth ; like Crimsin and White Silk twisted together , or woven one within the other . His red Cross of Iustice is ever set in the white streamer of Mercy ; as the rod of A●ron and the pot of Manna were by his commandement laid up in the same Ark.

Through the thickest & blackest cloud of his Iustice alwaies appears some beams or sparks of Mercy : and the clearest sunshine of his Mercy is overshadowed with showres of Iustice . What infinite Mercy did hee shew in the redemption of mankind , when he might justly have tumbled them down , as hee did the Apostate Angels to the bottomless pit of hel● and yet withall , what infinite Iustice did hee express in the same action , in laying the sinnes of the whole world , and the punishment due to sinne , upon the shoulders of his innocent , best-beloved , and only-begotten Son ! And thus did his wisedom finde out a way for the making of his Mercy and Truth one path : much like Zal●uchus , who shewed his Iustice in causing one of his sons eyes to bee put out for comitting adultery , according to a law newly before made by himselfe ; and his Mercy , in putting out one of his owne for the sparing of the other of his sons , which the law also required to have been put out . Hence S. Peter represents God unto us both as a Father and as a Iudge , in one & the same verse , 1. 1. 17 ; to shew , that he is mercifull as a Father , and righteous as a Iudge . So ought his Vicegerents heer on earth ; having therefore a sceptre given them to putte them in minde of Mercy , & a sword that they forget not Iustice ; Scarlet and Purple to think upon Iustice , and white Miniver or Ermins to remember Mercy : that so the people committed to their charge may sing with joyfull & thankfull harts , Mercy and Truth are met together ; ● psal. 85. Righteousnes & Peace have kissed each other . And themselves at last may finde Salomons saying true ; Hee that followeth after Righteousnes and Mercy , pro. 21. 21. shall finde life , righteousnes and glory : as holy Iob did , who in his prosperity did not onely put on Iustice as a robe and as a crowne , by breaking the iawes of the unrighteous , and plucking the prey out of his teeth ; but , expressed works of Mercy , in beeing eyes to the blinde , and feet to the lame , and a father to the poor , Iob. 29. 14. 15. 16. 17.

Having thus handled these two Vertues jointly together , let us now take a view of them single & apart : for , though they neither be , nor can be , really and in action severed each from other , yet may they by conceit and imaginary abstraction . First then of Mercy , because it is both heer and elsewhere set in the first place : and that not casually , but of purpose , and by due desert ; as Peter is commonly first named of the Apostles , like the Fore-man of the Iury , having a primacy of order before them , though not a supremacy of Iurisdiction over them . And as Mercy is heer set in the first pl●ce : so shall the Sentence of Mercy & Absolution bee first pronounced at the last Day . And it is a laudable custom of Princes , at their first entrance to their Kingdoms , to shew Mercy , by hearing the mourning of the Prisoner , and delivering the children of death , by loosing the bands of wickednes , by taking off the heavie burdens , by letting the oppressed goe free , and by breaking every yoke of former extortions . Thus , our Prophet himself , as soon as the Crowne was settled on his head , made enquiry if there remained yet alive any of the house of Saul , on whom he might shew Mercy , 2. Samuel 9. O how fair a thing is this Mercy in the time of anguish and trouble ! It is like a cloud of rain that commeth in the time of drouth . But this Mercy , heer spoken of in the first part of our Prophets song , stretcheth further ; unfolding it self in Clemency , in Courtesie , and in Compassion : In Clemencie , by pardoning malefactors ; in Compassion , by releeving the afflicted ; in Courtesie , towards all . Of this later I shall heerafter have occasion to speak , in handling those words , A froward heart shall depart from me . For the present then it shall suffice to commend unto your consideration and practice the two former ; Compassion and Clemency .

Compassion is a vertue , saith Aquinas , non quâ mo●us est sensitivi appetitussed intellectivi , a ratione directus & dirigens inferioris appetitus motum ; not as it mooves the sensitive appetite but the rationall , being directed by reason , and directing the motion of the inferiour appetite . It consisteth in releeving the afflicted , and righting the oppressed ; by receiving their petitions , by hearing their grievances , by granting their reasonable sutes , by dispatch of Iustice , Cap. 32. 11. by beeing unto them ( as the Prophet Esay speakes ) a hiding place from the winde , a refuge from the tempest , as rivers of waters in a dry place , and as the shadow of a great rocke in a wearisome land . It was well said of Augustus , that Petitions should not bee given to a Prince , as meat to an Elephant that one is afraid of .