John Trapp on Psalms 32:9

Verſ. 9. Bee yee not as the horſe, or as the [illegible: 1 word] ] David having according to the title Maſchil promiſed to teach, uſeth this preface to beſpeak attention: Be not uncounſeilable, irreclaimeable, ſuch as Baſil complaineth of, qui ne que Ad Evag. Epiſt. 10. quid ſit veruns ſciun[illegible: 1 letter], ne que ſuſtineut diſcers, who neither knew, not would bee taught what was true, and fit to be practiſed. Of the Rhinoceros, ſome write, that ſlain he may be, caught he cannot be. Others, that he is animal an[illegible: 2 letters]e [illegible: 1 word], a moſt untameable creature; for if he be taken, he preſently dyeth of ſullenneſſe. Such ſpirits we meet with not a few, who yet would take it in foul ſcorn to bee reckoned horſes, and Aſſes that have no underſtanding, neither will be taught any. To theſe the Pſalmiſt here ſaith, No obſt upeſaite, & obbruteſcite ad exercitations Dai, &c. Be not as horſe or mule, leſt ye be led thorough a fools Paradiſe into a true priſon. Bee not headlong, headſtrong, untameable, untractable, &c. The horſe and mule are inſtanced, as well known amongſt the Jews; and uſed to bee ridden on.

Which have no underſtanding] And yet the horſe knoweth his owner, &c. Strange things are reported of Bucephalus, and Julius Ceſars great horſe. Of the Egpptian Mamalukes horſes it is reported, that they were ſo docible, that at certain ſignes or ſpeeches of the rider, they would with their teeth reach him up from the ground a launce, an arrow, or ſuch like thing; and as if they had known the enemy,Turk. hiſt. 529. run upon him with open mouth, and laſh at him with their heeles; and had by nature and cuſtome learned not to be afraid of any thing.

Wheſe mouth muſt be held in with bit and bridle] Leſt they kick and bite thee.Ne morde[illegible: 1 letter] noceatve [illegible: 1 word] Jun. Such is the mad Worlds wages and uſage of the moſt faithfull Preachers. B. Ridley lamented it in his time, the great ones ſpurned privily againſt thoſe that went about moſt buſily and whole[illegible: 1 letter]omely to cure their ſore backs.Act. & [illegible: 1 word] 1616. As for Latimers Lever, Bradford, Knox (ſaith he) their tongues were ſo ſharp, they ripped in ſo deep to their galled backs, to let out the filthy matter, that they could never abide them. Thus He, and much more concerning King Edward the ſixth his Courtiers. The words may be read thus, whoſe mouth, except it be held with bit and bridle, they wilnot come nigh unto thee, that is, thou wilt not be able to rule them. It is a good obſervation of a modern Divine, Not the unruly colt only, but the horſe that is broken, hath a bitt and bridle alſo; So even the godly need the bridle of the Law, n[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 1 span] excutiant, leſt they caſt their rider.