A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

¹1. Quietness. Hence this waiting it self is sometimes expressed by silence. To wait, is to be silent, Lam. 3. 6. It is good both to hope, [Greek or Hebrew] and to be silent for the salvation of the Lord; that is, to wait quietly, as we have rendered the word. And the same word we render sometimes to rest. as Psal. 37. 7. Rest on the Lord, [Greek or Hebrew] be silent unto him; where it is joined with hoping or waiting, as that which belongs unto the nature of it; and so in sundry other places. And this God in an especial manner calleth souls unto in straights and distresses. In quietness and confidence, saith he, shall be your strength, Isa. 30. 15. And the effect of the Righteousness of God by Christ, is said to be Quietness and Assurance for ever, Isa. 32. 17. First Quietness, and then Assurance. Now this silence and quietness which accompanieth waiting, yea which is an essential part of it, is opposed first to Haste; and Haste is the souls undue lifting up its self, proceeding from a weariness of its condition, to press after an end of its troubles, not according to the conduct of the Spirit of God. Thus when God calleth his people to waiting, he expresseth the contrary acting unto this duty, by the lifting up of the soul, Hab. 2. 3, 4. Though the vision tarry, wait for it; behold his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, but the Just shall live by faith. God hath given unto the soul a vision of Peace, through the discovery of that forgiveness which is with him; but he will have us wait for an actual participation of it unto rest and comfort. He that will not do so, but lifts up his soul, that is, in making haste beyond the Rule and Method of the Spirit of God in this matter, his heart is not upright in him, nor will he know what it is to live by faith. This ruins and disappoints many a soul in its attempts for forgiveness. The Prophet speaking of this matter, tells us, that He that believeth shall not, nor will not make haste, Isa. 28. 16