The Return of Prayers

This Psalm (as was said) was penned as a Prophecy of and prayer for the return of Gods people out of the Captivity of Babylon, and the settling and establishment of that Church and State upon its former Basis, yet so as therein there is a further and more especial aim had to the peace and glory to be brought in by Christ, till when this Prophecy otherwise had but a poor and slender accomplishment, in regard of much outward glory or peace that that Church enjoyed.

This Psalm (as was said) was penned as a Prophecy of and prayer for the returne of Gods people out of the Captivity of Babylon, and the setling and establishment of that Church and State upon its former Basis, yet so as therein there is a further and more especiall aime had to the peace and glory to bee brought in by Christ, till when this Prophecy otherwise had but a poore and slender accomplishment, in regard of much outward glory or peace that that Church enjoyed.

And therefore the peace here spoken of and ⟨p. 247⟩promised for the present is to be extended largelier then to outward prosperity, or an happy issue out of that calamity, even to speaking peace to drooping and weather-beaten consciences: and accordingly we find this kind of peace to have been specially promised by the Prophet Isaiah to the people at their return out of the Captivity, both in Isaiah 48. from 20. to the end, and Isaiah the 57. from the 14. to the end, there being many broken hearts that had wanted the light of Gods countenance long, having been during the Captivity, banished from the Ordinances ⟨p. 248⟩of the Temple, hanging up their harps mourning, whose thoughts were as if God had meant to destroy them, as appears Jer. 29. 11. who afterwards were refreshed with in ward peace, at the restoration of those Ordinances, as well as with outward, as by those places doth appear. Therefore in relation to this kind of peace only I will at this time handle the words.