Psalms 79

The first witness in the Christian Church after the Lord's ascension, Stephen, a man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, was stoned to death. (Psalm 79:2) The bodies of your servants have they given to be meat to the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of your saints to the beasts…

For many Prophets, Martyrs, and holy personages have been deprived of burial. We hear how the Church complains, that the bodies of God's servants were cast out to the beasts and birds, and that there was none to bury them (Psalm 79:2). And we daily behold how they burn, drown, a…

Hence we gather a very sweet consolation, to wit, that the Lord joins his own glory with our salvation, as we have often showed you before. I will not give.] That is to say, I will not endure that any should rob me of my glory: but this had fallen out if the people had been utte…

Indeed, in Jeremiah 17:1 he says yet more expressly, that the sin of Judah was written with an iron pen, and with the point of a diamond. To render into their bosom, is a phrase of speech much used in the Scriptures (Psalm 79:12; Jeremiah 32:18), because men think their sins are…

That an estate of bondage is a miserable restless estate. There the prisoners rest together; captives and bondmen have little rest until they rest in the grave: the language of prisoners is a sorrowful language; their speech is sighs (Psalm 79:11): "Let the sighing of the prison…

God expects that London should meet him in the way of his judgments, not only with weepings for their sins, that they have provoked him to so great displeasure, but also with supplications for his mercies. When Jacob was devoured, and his dwelling-place laid waste (Psalm 79:7),…

They have been a people subject to all manner of evil speaking of them. This the Church of God complains of in Psalm 79:4 they were not only a reproach, but God himself gave them over to be a scorn and reproach. Isaac that was the son of the promise, we know how he was reproache…

And so Isa. 63:9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted: The sufferings and troubles of Gods people are the sufferings and troubles of Christ, he is sensible of them; and therefore in Acts 9:4 Christ cryes out, Saul, Saul, why persecutest you me? Further, compare two places t…

The main thing, which God intends should be the main thing in our requests, is, the praise of his glorious grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:6) And therefore this is the main thing which the soul intends: (Psalm 79:9) Help us, O God of our salva…

In all cases as to danger it is mercy which appears, partly because God's great argument to move him is the misery of his people (Deuteronomy 32:36): "The Lord will repent for his people; when he sees that all their power is gone, and none shut up and left, no manner of defense,…

For it does not consider what is due or deserved, but what is needed. Therefore first, the needy and miserable have some hope; for misery as misery is the object of mercy: and therefore when our afflictions are pressing and sore, our miseries and straits are some kind of argumen…

That body which is moldered to dust shall revive. Sometimes the saints do sow the land with their bodies (Psalm 142:7), and water it with their blood (Psalm 79:3). But these bodies, whether imprisoned, beheaded, sawn asunder, shall arise and sit down with Christ upon the throne.

Our turning away our eye from the Covenant is the cause why we succumb; Christ, under his sorest assault with hell and hell's pursuivants and officers, devils, and the felt anger of a forsaking God, doubles his grips on the Covenant, my God, my God (Psalm 22:1) (Matthew 27), O m…

Ex Profundis Clamavi—Out of the depths have I cried unto thee O Lord. Psalm 79:8. Let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us, for we are brought very low.

Our Duty it is to pray that God would pour forth his Spirit even on them also, who will quickly cause them to look on him whom they have pierced and mourn. And it appears two ways how great a Mercy it is to enjoy and improve this privilege, (1.) In that both the Psalmist and the…