Martin Luther on Psalms 122:5-6

Verse. 5. For there are the seates of iudgement: euen the seates of the house of Dauid.

This may be vnderstand both of the ciuill gouernment and also of the Church, but specially it is spoken of the church. And here note that iudgement is taken for doctrine. As if he sayd: This is the glory of this people, that in this place is stablished the chayre and seat in the which the word of the Lord is published & taught, weake consciences comforted and instructed, and the way of saluation layd open vnto men. Likewise in the first Psalme he sayth: The wicked shall not stand in iudgement: that is, they doe not perseuer and abide in the doctrine of faith, and therefore they are as chaffe which the winde scattereth from the face of the earth. The Church of Rome wil now be called the seate of iudgement, and euen there also the Lord had once his seate: but nowe through wicked doctrine and damnable idolatrie it is the seate of Satan, the chayre of pestilence and a denne of wicked spirites. This is then the true sense and meaning of these words: In this place the word of the Lord is fulfilled, promising that he will leaue a memoriall of his name. For here he is to be founde, here he dwelleth. Therefore here is life, here is saluation, here is remission of sinns, here is the tyranny of Satan vanquished, &c. For all these he meaneth when he nameth the seates of iudgement, that is, the administration of truth, the ministerie of faith, the voyce of Gods maiestie speaking vnto his people. For (as I sayd) iudgement signifieth here found & sincere doctrine concerning grace, faith, works, magistrates, ciuill ordinances, &c. Where this doctrine is, there are the seates of iudgement. As we also may nowe glory of our Churches for the sincere doctrine wherby men are truely taught out of ye word concerning grace, sinne, righteousnes, faith, works, obedience to parents and magistrats. This doctrin is as it weare, a bright shining sunne, from whence the Churches doe receiue their light. And contrarywise where the word of God is not, there are the seates of iniquitie and of Satan him selfe: For the worde maketh the seate, and not the seate the worde, as the Antichristian Church of Rome most damnably teacheth.

Now, whereas with a repetition he addeth: Euen the seates of the house of Dauid, this is the cause for that he looketh to the promise made vnto Dauid, namely that the seate of the tabernacle or the temple should be builded by his sonne Salomon in Ierusalem, where iudgement should be exercised, that is to say, mens consciences comforted, terrified, instructed by the word, and also because the Lord would that Dauids posteritie should reigne after him, vntill the eternitie of the heauenly Ierusalem should be reueiled.

Here is the image of the heauenly Ierusalem also to be consi[illegible: 1 letter]dered. The image of the heauenly Ierusalem. The earthly Ierusalem was builded on a hill, so that there was no accesse vnto it but by ascending vpward. The celestial Ierusalem is builded in heauen, whereunto none can come, but by mounting vp with alacritie of spirite, out of this earthly mansion and corruptible life, and therefore no earthly and carnall men can come there. The earthly Ierusalem was builded as a citie for the people of God, where they might meete together to serue & worship God. Likewise the celestial Ierusalem is builded for ye tribes of the Lord, the elect and faithfull people, there to meete togither, first in this life by faith, and afterwardes by eternall societie both in soule & body. Colo. 3. This Ierusalem Saint Paule meaneth when he saith: If ye be risen againe with Christe, seek for those thinges which are aboue. And the author of the Epistle to the Hebrues, admonisheth vs that by faith we are already come to this heauenly Ierusalem. Heb. 12. Ye are come (saith he) to the mount Sion and to the citie of the liuing God, the celestiall Ierusalem, and to the company of innumerable Angells, and to the congregation of the first borne, which are written in heauen, & to God the iudge of all, and to the spirites of iust and perfect men, and to Iesus the Mediatour of the newe testament, &c. The earthly Ierusalem celebrated the name of the Lord with praise and thankes giuing in the congregation. In the heauenly Ierusalem the Angells and company of holy spirites doe praise and shall praise the Lord for euer more. The earthly Ierusalem had in it the seate of Dauid. The heauenly Ierusalem hath the throne of Christ the sonne of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, of whom Dauid was a figure: The earthly Ierusalem had tribunall seates where all things were iudged with equitie. The celestiall Ierusalem hath the tribunall seate where iudgement is & shall be most iustly pronounced vpon the vniuersall world, and vppon all men that either haue beene, be, or shall be. The Lord graunt yt with an inuincible faith we may mount vp to this celestiall Ierusalem, ye citie of God where are such ioyes & felicitie as neither eye hath seene, nor eare hath heard, nor tongue can tel, nor yet heart can think, Verse. 6. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem, let them prosper that loue thee.

To pray for the peace of Ierusalem, is to pray for the safetie, prosperitie and welfare of the Church of God, that Satan haue no power to hinder the course and fruite of the word. Dauid sawe, first in spirit this horrible contempt of the word and ministery: & moreouer he saw that this glorious gift could not be preserued by mans diligence. Therefore he goeth about here to stirre vppe the harts of men to pray for the preseruation of this gift. As if he said: Here is the Lords owne seate and throne of iudgement: notwithstanding how few doe reuerence and regard it as they should doe? Yea, the greatest part of the world hateth it, and wisheth the subuersion therof. Wherfore I exhort you▪ O ye litle flock, to honour and reuerence this seate, to pray for the peace thereof, louingly to salute it, and to say: The Lord out of Sion blesse thee, &c. So long as this citie flourisheth, ye haue ye Lord him self speaking, saying, giuing victory against all the assaults of Satan, against sinne, the terrour of conscience, &c. What cause haue ye then to pray for the prosperitie of this citie, wherby ye inioy such heauenly benefites? When the church of God doth not prosper, it cannot go wel with any perticular member thereof. No maruell then why Dauid so earnestly exhorteth all the faithfull to pray for the peace and prosperitie of the Church. Wherefore if we will pray as we ought to do, we must first and principally commend vnto God the common state of the church. For he that seeketh his owne welfare and neglecteth the state and prosperitie of the Church, doth not only shew him selfe to be voyd of all sense and zeale of true piety, but also the prayers which he maketh for him selfe are in vaine & profite him nothing.

Let them prosper that loue thee. He wisheth vnto them which loue the word and reuerence this seat, that God would blesse them with all maner of blessing & felicitie. And this prayer is very necessary. For we see dayly, howe the true professors of the Gospell are in daunger by the ministers of Satan, the enemies of God & his truth, on euery side, which could be content rather to haue the Turke to reigne ouer them, yea the deuill him selfe and all the furies of hell, then to see vs prosper, and the Gospel to flourish, least their cursed workes of darknes and infidelitie should appeare vnto the world.