Again God is to be praised for his goodness towards his peculiar people, 4. yea towards all the world: 7. but most abundantly towards his Church.Againe God is to be praiſed for his goodnes towards his peculiar people, 4. yea towards al the world: 7. but moſt abundantly towards his Church.✦

Alleluia. O Jerusalem praise our Lord: praise thy God O Sion.Alleluia. O a Ieruſalem praiſe our Lord : praiſe thy God ô Sion.Alleluja. Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum ; lauda Deum tuum, Sion.

1609 marginJerusalem in the latter part of David's time, all the time of Solomon, and part of other kings' reigns till the captivity, had peace and prospered. Again after the captivity, the City was repaired, the Temple reedified, and the whole land received and enjoyed many blessings. But all this was no more than a figure of the excellent benefits here prophesied, and more evidently verified in Christ's Catholic Church: partly here militant in the whole world, and especially in the glorious Jerusalem, and Sion, the perfect vision of peace, and contemplation of God, in eternal life.Gods prouidence eſpecially towards the Church. the 6. key. · The Hebrews ioyne this Pſalme with the precedent. · a Ieruſalem in the latter part of Dauids time, al the time of Salomon, and part of other kings reignes til the captiuitie, had peace & proſpered. Againe after the captiuitie, the Citie was repared, the Temple reedified, and the whole land receiued and enioyed manie bleſſinges. But al this was no more then a figure of the excellent benefites here prophecied, and more euidently verified in Chriſts Catholique Church: partly here militant in the whole world, and eſpecially in the glorious Ieruſalem, and Sion, the perfect viſion of peace, and contemplation of God, in eternal life.

2Because he hath strengthened the of thy gates: he hath blessed thy children in thee.Becauſe he b hath ſtrengthened the lockes of thy gates : he c hath bleſſed thy children in thee.Quoniam confortavit seras portarum tuarum ; benedixit filiis tuis in te.

1609 marginIn comparison of other cities, and peoples of the world, the gates of Jerusalem were strongly fenced, and the citizens blessed: much more the Church of Christ is built upon a sure rock, her faithful children endued with all spiritual graces; and most of all, heaven itself is free from all danger of calamity, and the Saints are most secure and most happy, enjoying eternal fruition of God.b In compariſon of other cities, and peoples of the world, the gates of Ieruſalem were ſtrongly fenſed, c and the citizens bleſſed: much more the Church of Chriſt is built vpon a ſure rock, her faithful children indued with al ſpiritual graces; and moſt ofal, heauen it ſelfe is free from al danger of calamitie, and the Sainctes are moſt ſecure & moſt happie, enioying eternal fruition of God.

3Who hath set thy borders peace: and filleth thee with the fat of .Who d hath ſet thy borders peace : and filleth thee with e the fatte of corne.Qui posuit fines tuos pacem, et adipe frumenti satiat te.

1609 marginHath given peace in thy borders, and the very best corn, and all other fruits: wine, oil, milk, honey, and the rest. Allegorically in the Church, reconciliation with God, by remission of sins, and peace of conscience, in the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance; with the most spiritual food of Christ's Body and Blood in the Eucharist, and graces of other Sacraments. In heaven most assured peace and joy without end.d Hath geuen peace in thy borders, e and the very beſt corne, and al other fruictes: wine, oyle, milke, honey, and the reſt. Allegorically in the Church, reconciliation with God, by remiſſion of ſinnes, and peace of conſcience, in the Sacraments of Baptiſme & Penance; with the moſt ſpiritual food of Chriſts Bodie and Bloud in the Euchariſt, and graces of other Sacraments. In heauen moſt aſſured peace and ioy without end.

4Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth swiftly.Who ſendeth forth f his ſpeach to the earth : his word g runneth ſwiftly.Qui emittit eloquium suum terræ : velociter currit sermo ejus.

5Who giveth snow as wool: scattereth mist as ashes.Who geueth h ſnow as wool : ſcatereth i miſt as aſhes.Qui dat nivem sicut lanam ; nebulam sicut cinerem spargit.

1609 marginSnow nourisheth the earth, making it warm by Antiperistasis, as is evident in natural Philosophy, and noisome air is changed into clear weather. In the Church by penance and austere life men are purged from sins and vices, evil spirits are also driven away. If your sins shall be as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow, and if they be red as vermilion, they shall be white as wool. Isaiah 1:18.h Snow nouriſheth the earth, making it warme by Antiperiſtaſis, as is euident in natural Philoſophie, i and noyſome ayre is changed into clere weather. In the Church by penance & auſtere life men are purged from ſinnes and vices, euil ſpirites are alſo driuen away. If your ſinnes ſhal be as ſcarlet, they ſhal be made white as ſnow, and if they be redde as vermilion, they ſhal be white as wool. Iſaie. 1. v. 18.

6He casteth his as morsels: before the face of his cold who shall endure?He caſteth k his cryſtal as morſeles : before the face of his cold l who ſhal endure ?Mittit crystallum suam sicut buccellas : ante faciem frigoris ejus quis sustinebit ?

7He shall send forth his word, and shall melt them: his spirit shall blow, and waters shall flow.He m ſhal ſendforth his word, and ſhal melt them : n his ſpirit ſhal blowe, and o waters ſhal flowe.Emittet verbum suum, et liquefaciet ea ; flabit spiritus ejus, et fluent aquæ.

8Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices, and judgements to Israel.Who declareth his word to p Iacob : his iuſtices, and iudgements to Iſrael.Qui annuntiat verbum suum Jacob, justitias et judicia sua Israël.

9He hath not done in like manner to any nation: and his judgements he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia.He hath q not done in like maner to anie nation : and his iudgements he hath not made manifeſt to them. r Allelu-ia.Non fecit taliter omni nationi, et judicia sua non manifestavit eis. Alleluja.

The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.

St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary on Psalms 147 — verse-by-verse exposition→

Chapter 147 of 150