Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 49:4

4. I will incline mine ear to a parable , I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

This is another Arg[illegible: 1+ letters]ment to perswade them to h[illegible: 1+ letters]rken to him: I will hearken what God by his Spirit speaks to me, and that and nothing else will I now speak to you: and therefore it is well worth your hearing. I also shall joyn with you in attending to it, that whilst I [illegible: 1+ letters]each you, I my self may learn the same Lesson. For as Ministers now teach themselves whilst they teach others, so the Holy Prophets did oft times search into, and study to find out the meaning of their own Prophecies, as appears plainly from 1 [illegible: 1 word]. 1▪ 10. 11. The Phrase is thought to be taken from the Musicians, who lay their Ear close to the Instrument when they Tune it, and by their Ear try how the Voyce and Instrument agree.

Which properly is a figurative and allegorical Speech, but is oft more largely taken for any excellent and important, and withal dark or Difficult, Doctrine or Sentence, See Numb. 23. 7. and 24. 3. 15. Psal. 78. 2. Comp. with Mat. 13. 35.

(i. e.) I will not smother it in my own Breast, but publish it to the World.

So he justly calls the following Discourse, because the thing in question, is and ever hath been thought Difficult, and hard to be understood.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]. 13. 3[illegible: 1+ letters].