John Trapp on Psalms 133

PSAL. CXXXIII.

VErſ. 1 Behold how good and how pleaſant it is] This, David is thought to have ſaid to the people, when after eight years unnaturall war, they came together to Hebron, to anoint him King over all Iſrael, 2 Sam. 5. Behold; bee affected with that happineſs of yours which no tongue can utter. Accipe quod ſentitur antequam diſcitur, as Cyprian ſaith in another caſe.

How good and how pleaſant] Precious and profitable, ſweet and delectable, [non-Latin text not transcribed], dainty and goodly, as Rev. 18.14. Communion of Saints is the next happineſs upon earth, to communion with God.

For Brethren] Whether by Place, Race, or Grace, which laſt is the ſtrongeſt tye; and ſhould cauſe ſuch an harmony of hearts as might reſemble that concord and concent that ſhall bee in Heaven. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. [illegible: 1 letter]thenaeus. [illegible: 2 letters] 3. The Th[illegible: 1 letter]bans in their armies had a band of men they called The holy Band; conſiſting of ſuch only as were joyned together in the bonds of love, as would live and dye together: theſe they made great account of, and eſteemed the ſtrength of their armies.

To dwell together] Heb. Even together, that is, even as God dwelleth with them, Pſal. 132. to bee kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, Rom. 12.10. to bee as thoſe Primitive Chriſtians were, Act. 2. of one heart, and of one ſoul. The number of two hath by the Heathens been accounted accurſed; becauſe it was the firſt that departed from Unity.

Verſ. 2 It is like the precious ointment] This ſimilitude ſetteth forth the pleaſure and amaenity of it; as the other (from the dew) the profit and commodity. — Sic miſcuit utile dulci. This ointment was moſt rich (as made up of the chiefeſt ſpices, Exod, 30.) and very fragrant, refreſhing the ſenſes, not of Aaron only, but of all about him; [illegible: 1 letter]al. 5. ſo doth Chriſtian unity and amity (that fruit of the Spirit) far beyond that common friendſhip ſo highly extolled by Cicero, and other Heathens; and is therefore here fitly compared to that Non-ſuch odoriferous ointment.

Upon the head, that ran down upon the beard] So the Spirit of grace, that oil of gladneſſe, Pſal. 45.7.) poured out abundantly, even to a redundancy, upon Chriſt the head, runneth down upon all the members of his body myſticall, even to the meaneſt, ſo that they have grace for grace.

Verſ. 3 As the dew of Hermon] Moiſteneth and maketh fertil the Country of Baſhan. Hermon is a very high hill ever covered with ſnow; whence ariſeth a perpetuall vapour, the originall and fountain of dew, to all Jury.

And as the dew that deſcended] The ſpirituall dew diſpenſed from God in Sion, where hee is ſincerely ſerved.

For there the Lord commanded the bleſſing] A powerfull expreſſion, highly commending brotherly love as a complexive bleſſing, and ſuch as accompanieth ſalvation.