John Trapp on Psalms 98

PSAL. XCVIII.

A Pſalm] The Greek addeth, of David; A man might think it were rather of John Baptiſt pointing out Chriſt, and his Kingdom, as it already come, with the great good thereby accrewing to the Saints.

Verſ. 1. O ſing unto the Lord a new ſong] See Pſal. 96.1. and obſerve how the compiler of the Pſalms hath hereabout ſet together ſundry Pſalms of the ſame ſubject.

His right hand and his holy arm] His is emphatical, and excluſive, q.d. Chriſt alone hath done the deed, he is our ſole Saviour, Iſa. 59.16. & 63.5. In the juſtification of a ſinner, Chriſt and faith are alone, ſaith Luther, Tanquam ſponſus & ſponſa in thalamo. As Wax and Water cannot meet together, ſo neither can Chriſt and any thing elſe in this work. Away then with that devilliſh Doctrin of the Saints Merits, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Ariſtot, in Meteor. Quibuſcun que tandem pigmentis illita obtrudatur. If any commend or go after any other way to Salvation beſides Chriſt, hee doth according to the Greek Proverb, draw miſchiefs to himſelf; as the Wind Caecius doth Clouds.

Verſ. 2. The Lord hath made known his ſalvation] His way of ſaving his people by his Som Chriſt, Mat. 1.21. this Myſtery, ſo long kept ſecret, is now made known to all Nations for the obedience of faith, Rom, 16.25, 26.

His Righteouſneſs] Made ours by imputation; this, the Jews to this day deride, and the Papiſts call it putative, in a jeer.

Verſ. 3. He hath remembred his mercy, and his truth] His Mercy moving him to promiſe, and his Truth binding him to perform, 2 Sam. 7.18, 21. and hence all our happineſs.

Verſ. 4. Make a joyful noyſe] Bleſs God for a Chriſt. The Argives when delivered by the Romans from the tyranny of the Macedonians and Spartans, Quae gaudia, quae vociferationes fuerunt? quid florum in Conſulem profuderunt? what great joys expreſſed they? what loud out-crys made they? the very Birds that flew over them fell to the ground,Plut. in Flamin. aſſonied with their noyſes. They Cryer at the Nemean Games was forced to pronounce the word Liberty Iterum que iterum que again, and again.

Verſ. 5. Sing unto the Lord with the Harp] Tum cithararum tum vocum mutuis vicibus; do your utmoſt in the ſuperlativeſt manner you can deviſe.

Verſ. 6. Make a joyful noyſe] By the repeating, and inculcating of this exhortation is intimated our dulneſs, and backwardneſs to a buſineſs of this nature; the neceſſity of the duty, and the excellency of the mercy that can never be ſufficiently celebrated.

Verſ. 7, 8, 9. See the Notes on Pſal. 96.11, 12, 13.