I would, in conclusion, have all godly souls (whom Satan, without
ceasing, harasses with temptations,) to bear in mind that all the
laudatory Psalms, or Psalms of thanksgiving, are also promises of God,
designed to lift up, to sustain, and to refresh afflicted consciences,
and to furnish them with arguments against the devil; assuring them
that God is the God of peace, of life, of consolation, and not the God
of misery, cruelty, and damnation. For when David and other saints
thus joyfully, and with all possible abundance of expression, praise
God, they thereby show forth unto all the afflicted, that God never
forsakes his own in their temptations, but pities all such; and that
he gives them breathing-times in their conflicts, succours them in
their distresses, beholds their contrite hearts, gives them in due
time an end of their afflictions, delivers them from all evils, and
oft-times most sweetly and marvellously comforts them.
Wherefore, every thanksgiving in the Psalms, is at the same time, a
promise of grace, and a sweet doctrine to the tempted and the
afflicted: because thereby is shown, by the example of David and of
others, that God regardeth the afflicted, heareth all that call upon
him, and giveth peace unto them in all the various afflictions under
which they labour.
Learn thou well then how to gather, throughout the book of Psalms, the
blessed argument against the devil, contained in the words, “PRAISE YE
THE LORD!” It was this that comforted David himself while praising
God: for they are not the dead that praise the Lord, nor they that are
swallowed up of sorrow, nor they that go down into hell!
As therefore God ceaseth not, during this short and momentous life, to
try and prove his church, by causing her to undergo these many and
great offences, temptations, and afflictions, and these most bitter
hatreds of Satan and of the word; so he will, as surely, most
marvellously and excellently comfort her from heaven, and deliver her,
and save her!
All, therefore, that believe, how many soever they be, and how many or
great soever their afflictions, are ever lifted up by the consolations
of God. And hence God will comfort us also, and all saints; and he
will open our mouths to praise him; that Satan may be confounded in
all his devices and in all his works, and that Jesus Christ, the Lord
our God, may be glorified! who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
liveth and reigneth, One God, blessed for evermore. Amen.