John Trapp on Psalms 33:1

PSAL. XXXIII.

Verſ. 1. Rejoyce in the Lord, O yee righteous] That is, O yee upright [illegible: 1 span], as it followeth here, and as Pſal. 32.11. For as there he ended, ſo here he begineth, calling upon the Saints to be cheerful; and indeed there is hardly any duty more preſſed in the Old and New Teſtamen, or leſs practiſed. To quicken them therefore to ſo necessary but [illegible: 2 letters]ch neglected a duty, this Pſalm [illegible: 1 word] to be added to the former, purposely to excite us by many Arguments, [illegible: 1 span] whole lives to the [illegible: 1 span] forth of Gods worthy praiſes. In which regard [illegible: 1 span] faith [illegible: 1 span] Pſalm; andif it were well practiſed we might have a very heaven here as becauſe it is not, we loſe very much of the comfort of our lives. Only that cautionating counſel of Berward would not be forgotten, Laeti ſ[illegible: 3 letters], non ſecuri; gaudentes in ſpiritu ſancte[illegible: 1 letter] ſed vera caventes a [illegible: 1 letter]ecidive; Let us be cheerful, but not ſecure; and rejoyce in the Holy Ghoſt, but take heed we let not fall the watch of the Lord. Crede mibi res ſev[illegible: 1 letter]ra eſt gaudium verum, Beleeve me, true joy is a ſevere matter, ſaid Seneca, Wee may better ſay ſo of Spiritual joy, which he never taſted of, neither doth any ſtranger meddle with. And if Plato could tell the Muſicians, Philoſophers could tell how to be merry without Muſick; much more may Gods people. Quid nobis cum Fabulis, cum riſu? ſaith Bernard, What have we to do with carnal mirth, and jollity, &c? we have Meat to eat, and Muſick to our Meat, that the World knoweth not of; let us make us merry with it.

For praiſe is comly for the upright] For them, and for none but them; High words are not fit for a fool, ſaith Solomon. Laudari ab illaudato, to be praiſed by a praiſeleſs perſon,Seneca. is no praiſe at all. That State in ſtory would not approve of good words from an evil mouth: no more doth God, Pſal. 50.15, 16. Chriſt would not ſuffer the Devil to confeſs him. Hypocriſie ſlurrieth all it toucheth. If a man ſhould ſing a good Song with his voyce, and play a bad one on his Inſtrument, it would make but a black ſanctis: Such is the praiſe of the unupright; who had better therefore be ſilent, unleſs themſelves were better, ſith they do not only loſe their labour, but commit ſin. Diſpleaſing ſervice is double diſhonour; and diſſembled ſanctity, double iniquity.