Psalms 51

Psalms 51:1

BLot out] sinne hath in it the staine of spirituall pollution, and makes one liable to punishment, God blots it out, when notwithstanding the said staine he looks graciously upon the soule by vertue of his sonnes justice and satisfaction, which presents it selfe between the sinner and him; and together with that, cancels the debt of the offence in his judgement, and so gives peace to the conscience.

Psalms 51:2

Wash mee] a frequent terme to signifie the lively application and imputing of Christs bloud to the sinfull soule, whereby it is put into such an estate, that God doth not abhorre it as foule and impure; but accepts of it as beautifull and and cleane, see Heb. 9. 14. 1 Iohn 1. 7.

Psalms 51:3

I acknowledge] I doe judge rightly of it, without dallying or lulling my selfe asleep: I am ashamed thereof, and am in anguish therefore, and doe confesse the fault: [And my sinne]my conscience doth alwayes set it before me as it is, horrible and abominable.

Psalms 51:4

Against thee] David had sinned against men also, as well through private injury as by publike scandall, but for to aggravate his offence, and to seek pardon and remedy, there where onely it is to be had, he makes himself guilty towards God alone, the offence towards man being nothing in regard of the offence towards him, whose Majesty is offended, and Law violated in every sin. And also to shew that no excuse, pardon, acceptation of persons, or want of power on mens side, could free him from Gods judgement, though as he was King, he was exempted from the punishment of men, see Gen. 20. 6. & 39. 9 Lev. 5. 19. & 6. 2 [That thou] I doe thus confesse it, because that all glory may bee given to thee, for all the judgements, and punishments, which thou shalt lay and inflict upon me.

Psalms 51:5

I was shapen] I do not only confesse my sin in this action, but in generall also by reason of the corruption of my nature through originall sinne, which hath passed into me in my begetting: As if he should say, I have not only sinned, but am also wicked of nature, see Iob 14. 4. Iohn 3. 6. Romans 5:12. Ephes. 2. 3. [Conceive] the Hebrew, warme me, a tetme taken from birds that hatch their egges.

Psalms 51:6

Thou desirest] the Italian, it hath pleased thee to teach me, that is to say, to regenerate me with thy Spirit, creating a new spirituall light in mine underderstanding and wisdome in mine heart, see Isaiah 54:13. Ier. 31. 34. Ioh. 6. 45. Romans 12:2. Ephes. 4. 23. Others translate it, thou delightest in truth in the inward parts, and hast taught mee wisdome inwardly: that is to say, thou hast made mee by thy Spirit such as thou requirest man to bee in sincerity and uprightnesse; but alas, I have not employed this talent in resisting of temptation, but have spoiled this good work of grace, even as that of nature was already corrupted in mee. Yet those small reliques which remaine in me, doe yet revive some hope of pardon, and restorement in me [In the hidden] the Italian, in the inward, Hebrew, in the secret, see Romans 2:29. 1 Peter 3:4.

Psalms 51:7

With hysop] working in me that effect, which is figured by hysop in ceremoniall purifications, Lev. 14. 4. 49. 51. 52. Numbers 19:18. Hebrews 9:19. which is that God doth not onely cleanse the filthinesse of sinne, but doth also cure the malady, doth onely take away the stink of it, but conferreth also upon man the sweet savour of his sonnes justice, by in puting it unto him.

Psalms 51:8

Make me] as thou hast humbled and bruised me by Nathans message; so let me either by thy Spirit inwardly, or by some minister outwardly, receave the sweet ambassage of peace, and reconciliation, to comfort me after so much terror, see Job 33:24.

Psalms 51:10

Right spirit] or a constant spirit and well settled in a resolution to serve and obey thee, or to doe well.

Psalms 51:12

Thy free Spirit] the Italian, thy voluntary Spirit, or free, that is to say, the Spirit of grace, which is the author of true spirituall liberty in the faithfull, Romans 8:2. And freeth them from sin and death, and causeth them to serve him willingly: Others translate it, the principall or reall spirit, which is ruler and governour of the soule, and all the thoughts and motions of it, as the soule is of the body, see Iob 30. 15.

Psalms 51:14

From blood guiltinesse] namely, from Vriahs murther, or generally the capitall punishment which I have deserved: [Thy righteousnesse] not that of the law which condemneth irre-missibly: but that of the Gospel, which observes the promises of grace, and according to them doth grant pardon, Romans 3:26.

Psalms 51:15

Open thou] that is to say, give me cause, and together with that, a will and holy motion to give thee thanks for thy forgivenesse.

Psalms 51:16

For thou] the meaning is, the corporall sacrifices are not of any value, in respect of the Elects true spirituall sacrifices; yea the first, without these are abominable: Now there are two sorts of these spirituall sacrifices, the one for to obtaine grace, such as your acts of repentance and contrition were; the other after that wee have obtained it; such as the sacrifices of thanksgiving were. I doe now present the first unto thee, give mee occasion hereafter to yeeld thee the second, see Psal. 50. 14. 23.

Psalms 51:17

Broken Spirit] that is to say, extreamly afflicted and humbled with griefe for sinne, yet without dispaire, but offering up such a heart unto God, by a faithfull calling upon him in his sonnes name, see Isa. 57. 15. & 61. 1. & 66. 2.

Psalms 51:18

Build] maintaine, strengthen, and defend thy Church. It seemes that he hath a regard to that; that Princes sinnes doe take away Gods safe-guard from the people, Exodus 32:25. and they oft-times are punished for them, 2 Samuel 24:17.

Psalms 51:19

Then] namely, when thou hast purged my sinne, by which the whole body of the people is defiled through me who am their head: thou shalt look upon us in favour to accept of our service: [Of righteousnesse] done rightly according to thine appointment, Psalme 4. 5. [Burnt offerings] see Levit. 6. 22. 23.