The Prophet bestows a whole Psalm against this sin, Psalm 83. The Centre of it, upon whom all the lines and projections of his invectives meet, are those ver. 12. that say, Let us take to our selves the houses of God in possession. He calls them Gods enemies, tumultuous, proud, God-haters, ver. 2. Crafty enemies, with their plots, ⟨p. 26⟩tricks, subtleties; much like our Impropriators legal▪ justifyings. ver. 3. Confederate enemies, combining themselves to annihilate a Church; Come, let us cut them off from being a Nation. ver. 4. endeavouring to extinguish the very Name of Israel; breaking down the pale, that the xBore the depopulator, and the wild beast the corrupt Patron, may waste and devour it. They would plough up the Universities, and sow them with the seed of Barbarism. Now mark how he prays for them. ver. 9. Do unto them, as unto the Midianites: ywho were by the trumpets and lamps so terrified, that they drew their swords one upon another: so that these by the trumpets of the Law, and lamps of the Gospel, might be awaked. As to Sisera & to Jabin at the brook of Kison: athat great Captain, whom God delivered into the hands of a woman. ver. 11. Make their Nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea all their Princes as Zebah, and Zalmunna. All Princes, yet died violent and ignominious deaths, and became like dung for the earth. Doth he stay here? No, ver. 13. O my GOD, make them like a wheel, and as the stubble before the wind: Infatuate all their plots, turn their brains, and disperse their stratagems. Is he yet satisfied? No. ver. 14. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth on fire the mountains; so persecute them with thy tempest. He useth imprecations to open the flood-gates of Gods wrath; that like fire it might consume them, either naturally as fire burns the wood, or miraculously, as it inflameth the Mountains. ver. 16. Fill their faces with shame. If this be to take Gods houses in possession, who dares lay sacrilegious hands upon them? Yet for all this, those men did not what they desired. Let us take, ver. 12. they said it, they did it not. Perhaps no thanks to them, they would if they could. We have done it, taken, inhabited, inherited: as Elijah said to Ahab; bWe have killed, & also taken possession. His tithes, his offerings, all his holy rites, yea his very Churches:
The Prophet bestowes a whole Psalme against this sinne, Psalme 83. The Center of it, vpon whom all the lines and proiections of his inuectiues meet, are those ver. 12. that say, Let vs take to our selues the houses of God in possession. He calls them Gods enemies, tumultuous, proud, God-haters, ver. 2. Crafty enemies, with their plots, ⟨p. 26⟩tricks, subtilties; much like our Impropriators legall▪ iustifyings. ver. 3. Confederate enemies, combining themselues to annihilate a Church; Come, let vs cut thē off from being a Nation. ver. 4. endeuouring to extinguish the very Name of Israel; breaking downe the pale, that the xBore the depopulator, and the wild beast the corrupt Patron, may waste and deuoure it. They would plow vp the Vniuersities, and sowe them with the seed of Barbarisme. Now marke how hee prayes for them. ver. 9. Doe vnto them, as vnto the Medianites: ywho were by the trumpets and lampes so terrified, that they drew their swords one vpon another: so that these by the trumpets of the Law, and lampes of the Gospel, might be awaked. As to Sisera & to Iabin at the brooke of Kison: athat great Captaine, whom God deliuered into the hands of a woman. ver. 11. Make their Nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea all their Princes as Zebah, and Zalmunna. All Princes, yet died violent and ignominious deaths, and became like dung for the earth. Doth he stay here? No, ver. 13. O my GOD, make them like a wheele, and as the stubble before the vvind: Infatuate all their plots, turne their braines, and disperse their stratagems. Is he yet satisfied? No. ver. 14. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth on fire the mountaines; so persecute them with thy tempest. Hee vseth imprecations to open the floud-gates of Gods wrath; that like fire it might consume them, either naturally as fire burnes the wood, or miraculously, as it enflameth the Mountaines. ver. 16. Fill their faces with shame. If this be to take Gods houses in possession, who dares lay sacrilegious hands vpon them? Yet for all this, those men did not what they desired. Let vs take, ver. 12. they said it, they did it not. Perhaps no thanks to thē, they would if they could. We haue done it, taken, inhabited, inherited: as Elias said to Ahab; bWe haue killed, & also taken possession. His tithes, his offerings, all his holy rites, yea his very Churches:
- xPsal. 80. 13.
- yJudg. 7. 22.Iudg. 7. 22.
- aJudg. 4. 9.Iudg. 4. 9.
- b1. King. 21. 19
