John Trapp on Psalms 8:1

PSAL. VIII.

TO the chief Muſician upon Gittith] Upon the Cittern, or Gittern brought from Gath, ſaith the Chaldee Paraphraſt; or that was uſed by the Sons of Obed-Edom the Gittite, 2 Sam. 6.10. or, that was ſung at the Wine-preſſes, as the Greek hath it, for a thankſ-giving in time of Vintage. This laſt Aben-Ezra diſliketh, though I ſee no reaſon why he ſhould.

Verſ. 1.Vani homines exponunt de torculari. Ab. Ezra. O Lord, our Lord &c.] The ſcope of this whole Pſalm is, to ſet us a wondering at, and magnifying the Majeſty and Magnificence of the Almighty; together with his inexpreſſible goodneſs to Mankind;

1 In our Creation in Adam.

2 In our Reſtauration by Chriſt: which laſt is the true end of this Pſalm, as appeareth Mat. 21.15. 1 Cor. 15.27. and Heb. 2.8.

How excellent is thy Name] This, David ſpeaketh as one ſwallowed up with admiration at that Nomen illud Magnificum & Majeſtativum, that Glory, Honour, Power, Wiſdom, Goodneſs, &c. that being inveſted in God, and manifeſted in the Creature (Gods Handy-work) ſhould make us both wonder and inquire into Gods excellencies, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Ariſt. Rhet. lib. 1. cap. 11 according to that of Ariſtotle, to admire, and learn at once is a pleaſant thing: and ſure that which is admirable, ſtirreth up deſire to ſee further into it. Admiratio peperit Philoſophiam, ſaith another, Admiration brought forth Philoſophy; let it breed devotion in us, and a deſire to praiſe God, who hath therefore diſplayed his excellencies in his Works, that we might give him his due glory. The Angels ſhouted at the Creation, Job 38.4, 5, 6, and ſhall we be dul, and dumb? God tells Job of his own great Works, (the Elephant, and Whale eſpecially) and thereby brings him to a right temper. The Elephant is in Chaldee called Pil, of a word that ſignifieth Wonderful; becauſe the Wonders of Gods glory do ſo marvellouſly appear in him. See Job 40.15, 16, &c with the Notes. The Philoſophers make Iris, Plate. or the Rainbow, the Daughter of Thaumas, or Admiration; but becauſe that when they knew God, ſcil. Per ſpecies Creaturarum, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations — therefore were they given up to a reprobate ſenſe, Rom. 1.21.28.

In all the earth?] Where a man cannot look beſide a Miracle, ſo full of God are all places.

Who haſt ſet thy glory above the Heavens] Nam in eis robu[illegible: 1 letter] Dei maximè apparet; for in the Heavens (how much more above them) doth the glory of God chiefly appear: the Earth is a ſmall point in compariſon of the Heavens, and is governed by them, as R. David here noteth.