Commentary upon the Fifteen Psalms Called Psalmi Graduum

p. 1CONCERNING THE TITLE WHEREFORE THESE ARE CALLED THE PSALMES OF DEGREES.

COncerning the title of these Psalmes, first here riseth a question, wherefore they are called y• Psalmes of degrees or steares, or after some translations, of the ascendings vp. Wherein the opinions of the interpreters be diuers, all which it shall not be here needefull to rehearse. Some wryte that they were so called because the Leuites or Priestes did sing them in the ascending vp to the temple, or on the steares of the temple (for in the history of the Kings it is wrytten that the◊ went vp by steares to the temple,) and those steppes were numbred to be fifteene, & that there were Psalmes appoynted to be song on euery steare. Whether this be true or not, it is no great matter, but to me it seemeth not to be true. Albeit it can not be denyed but the hebrew word signifieth steares or ascendinges vpward. Therefore I abide in the simple and plaine sense as much as I may, and iudge that they are so called because the Leuites or Priestes were wont to sing them vpon the steares or some high place: Euen as with vs he that beginneth the Psalmes or preacheth, standeth in a place aboue the rest, that he may be the better seene and heard. For it seemeth not that these Psalmes were song of the multitude which were in the temple, or of the rest of the quiere, but of certaine which were appoynted to sing them, or at least wise to begin them on the steares to the rest, & so haue their name: like as some other of the Psalmes haue their name & title of the singer. But how should a man know all their rites & ceremonies, especially after so long a time, wherby p. 2they are now cleane worne out of the memory of all men? Seeing therefore among such a multitude of Psalmes, when the lawe was yet in his full force & power, some were wont to be song with one maner of ceremony and some with an other, according to the time and place, as the vse and custome then was, let this suffice vs to thinke that this title pertaineth to no poynt of doctrine, but only to the ceremony of the singers, what maner of ceremony soeuer it was.

p. 2There were 24. orders of Priests which serued in the temple. It might be therefore that sometimes the quiere song alone, and not the people: sometimes but a part thereof, and sometimes they song by course, and afterwards also the people song & gaue a consent, as it were, vnto the other. But of these thinges (as I sayd) we can haue no certaintie, & also they helpe litle to the vnderstanding of the Psalmes, and therefore I leaue to speake any further thereof, omitting also to shew why they are fifteene in number, & why they haue specially this title. For albeit we busie our selues herein neuer so much, yet the matter remayneth in doubt and our labour is but in vaine.

Some expound these Psalmes of steppes or ascendings vp, to signfie a completing or finishing, because they were commonly song in the ende when the people should depart and the diuine seruice was finished, and therefore were called the Psalmes of the ascendings vp, for the finishing & closing vp of the diuine seruice: And in deede, because they are briefe and set forth very notable doctrine, therefore they were most meete for the conclusion and closing vp of all.

p. 2The 120. Psalme. I called vnto the Lord in my trouble, &c.

[The argumēt of the Psalm.] This Psalme I iudge to be an inuocation or prayer for the helpe of God against euill and pestilent tongues, or against such euils as pestilent tongues, that is to say, heretikes bring into the Church of God when they teach any thing against true and sound doctrine. For that is a most perilous tentation when doctrine is assayled and impugned. For the Deuil hath two wayes whereby he vexeth the Church of God, heresies and the sword or persecution. p. 3For this cause our Sauiour Christ also calleth him a lyer and a murtherer. Therefore all the Psalmes almost consist in these two points, namely to call vpon God for his helpe and protection either against Satan the murtherer, [The Psalmes pray in two respctes agaynst Satan.] or against Satan the lyer: that is, either against pestilēt doctrine, or els vnder the crosse and persecution, against cruell tyrannes. Of murther there be diuers kindes, whereby Satan afflicteth the Church of God. Some he exerciseth with the feare of death, [Satan how he is a murtherer.] some with sclaūders, some with iniurie and oppression of enemies, some with hatred and malice, and some with other troubles and calamities, and these do belong to persecution & cruelty. [How he is a lyer.] To lying doe belong those things which he worketh by his ministers, specially in ye church of God, through false doctrine and wicked opinions, whereby he troubleth mens consciences: also through inward tentations, when he vexeth the godly with the venimous dartes of desperation, mistrust and blasphemy, and so vnder the name of God, whom he may, murthereth and carieth vnto hell: for all these lying comprehendeth.

Of these perilous tentations we see the church of God to haue greuously complained, not only in the Psalmes, but also throughout the whole Scriptures, that it hath be◊◊◊sore assayled with tyranny, errour, heresie, &c. But this Psalme (as I sayd) doth properly pertayne to the former kinde of tentation concerning pestilent doctrine▪ albeit it toucheth the other also. For it can not be, but that false and lying teachers must be also bloody and cruel, being bent to defend their wicked doctrine & impiety by all meanes possible. The Deuill also begnileth the hearts of men with lying and falshoode, that he may thereby stirre vp occasions of murther and bloodshed, as among many other examples of the church, the murther of our first parents in paradise doth well declare: [Our first parents deceiued by lying.] for Satan with lying deceiued them, that he might bring them to destruction. And because the Church of God, through lying and selaunderous conga◊es suffereth now euery where the like tentation, the cruell hatred of the worl◊, and all calamities for the confession of pure and sincere doctrine, it is therefore necessary for vs to be feruent in prayer against y• like pestilēt tongues in those our dayes, that they may haue no power to hurt so much as they would▪ p. 3Verse .1.