Commentary on the Holy Bible

' Verse 1. Give eur to my tqords] This.ia pjroperiy a morning Ayum, as the preceding -was an evening kymnr. We- have seen from, the conclusion- i>f tfieiast Psalm that Bavid'was very happy, and Jay down and slept in the p^'aee and love of hls'.Grod. When 'he opens his ^es on the following morning, hd'not only remeoabers but feels, tlie happiness of which he spoke; and with^his first recollecUons he meditates faa tlie ^foodness ^nd n^ercy of God, apd the g^lorteas itate of salvation iAto which he had been brought. He caJls on. God to give ear to his wc^^tt; probably words of God's promises, which be had been pleading.

Verse 8. Hearken unlo tlie 'voice qfmy cry] ' We may easily find the process |hrou^ which David's.9iind was now.passiqg: 1. We h&ve seen from the preceding Psalm that he lay do^n in a very happy frame of mind,. and that be had enjoyed prp&und re-> pose« 2> As soon as he-iiwiB&eA in the'momingVhis' li^>art, having a right direction, resmnes its work.' ' 3. fie meditates on. God's goodness; and 6n liis own happy stat^^ough pursued by enemies, and only safe as long as God preserved ' him by' an idmi^ty. b^d. and special providence. 4^ Ttjis shows him * the peed h9 has of' the etmiinual protection of.iho^ost Bi^h t and therefore he begins, tojbrm his me4itati^ and the desires^ of. hip b^art into wordsi ^> which he entreats the Lord to give ear, 5. Ajb he -was aeons, tomed to have answera t9'hi8 prayera, he feels. the oeceAsi^ diibeing importunate, i^d therefore IKU up Jbils voice, d, Sj^ing the workers of. imquiiy, 'liarst ^^d tlQod'thirity men st'ronj: to accomplish their lown purposes in the destruction of the* g9dly, ho bec<ftne9 greatly in earnest, and cries unto the Lqrd.: <* Hearken >into the yoice of -my cry." • 7^ He knows that, in ir to hi%ve aright aifttoer, he must have a propen Sisposition of mind, He Feels l^is' subjection to the oopreiDe authority of the M98t Bigh,'and is ready to do his will and obey his la%Ds; Iherefcne lie prays to God as his King: *< Hearken, m^ King and my G(^,^^' I have not only taken, thee* for my God, to save, defend, and make me happy; bnt I ha^e taken thee for my Kuio, to govern, direct, and rule over me. ' B, Knowing the necessity and success of prayer, he parposes 4o continue in the spirit and pritctice of it: '^Unto diee will I pray/': R. S. Jarchi gives this, a pretty and pioos turn { '< When I have power 'to pray, and to a^ for the things I need, then, O Lord, give ear to ivy* words'.; but when I hav|9 no power to plead with thee, and fear seizes on my heart, then, O Lord, conaid^i my meditation /'!

Verse 3. My voice shdt thou hear in the morning] We find from this tfeat he had not prayed in vain. He had reeioived a blessed answer; God had lifted ligmMnthf light of his countenanefi fore determines to be an early applicani at the throne' of grace: ** My voice shalt thoii hear in Ithe morning.**/ He finds'it good to begin die day -with Q^; to let Dii^e "things oecupy the first place in hia'wakiaf thoughts*; as that which fi]:8t oeinipies the quind on awaking is ^nbst likely to keep possession of^the htoH all the daf through. ' '.

In' the inoming wiO T direct my prayer] Here seems to be. a metaphor taken from an areher. He sees his ^hafk;. I9it9 his. arrow in his bow; directs' hia- 'shaft to the m^k, i. e., takes his aim'; -lets fly; and then looks up, to seis if he have hit his mark. Prayers thai have. a. right aiip, will 'have a prompt anslrer; Vid he who.'sends up^his '^petitions to God.throii^ Christ, Arom vl warm,'^afiectionate^ heart, may- eonlU deAtfy look t^ for an answer,* for it win come." If. an immediate answer be not given, let not the'ii]^nght heiart sbpp^se that die prayer is not heard.- ^ It 4|as found its way ^tp the throne; and there it* is xs« gistered. »•...-

Verse 4. ^Neither shaU evU dweU unfk4ke$,] As thod art holy, so tli6u hast pleasure oaly^'felAMSB; and^ as to ev^'men, they shall never eoW Isip thy gjoiy ( jn yiy^^h lo yegurechara, *<tho e?S Buui ^b«U. nqt even soj^nim with thee.", '

Verse 5. The foolish shaU npt.ttand\ He ist'a Ibol and a niadroan who is nftining himself out of kieath (or 'no prise, who is fighting against the Ahnighty.; this eveiy wicked man does; th^fore is every, widtedman a /(>o/ and a* madimon..; ' / ^ '

,Thpu hatest JM workers of if^qiiity,] ' Some sia nottf and tAe^, others genially; pome eMutenfiy, and some labour in it with alt their ^ might. These are the WoaxcRs of iniquity. Such eten-the-God'of infinite love and saeroy h<Ues, -. Alas! what ajiwftsii havie the workers of iniquity'! the hatred oC'Obd Almighty-!... *

. The Lord will abhor the bloody tmd deceit/^ men,] XD^Dl ITK ish dafni^i, the man of bloods; for he who has the spirit of. a murderer; Will rarely end with one bjoiodshedding. So the Xews, who clamoored for the blood of our Lqri, added to that, as far and as long ak they could, the blood of his disciples*

Verse 7. In the multitude of thy mercy\.David considered- it an inexpressible privilege to be permit-, ted to atteifd)9tt^tc worship; and he |cnew that it was only through the multitude of (rod's mercy Iknt he, or any man else, could enjoy such a privilege. lie knew fhAsr that, from the tnultiiude of this merey^ U4 he tbera^ I he mifht^reselTa innumerable hlefsinge i^ Ws hswie.

in the midtitade of thy mciicy: ^nd in thy fear will I worship ^ towari^ thy hdy temf^le.

9 For tbmx is no * faithfulness ^ iii their mouth; their inward pait is- ^ y.ery wickedness; ' their throat is an open 3e]3ulcfare; *.they flat-r ler wdtb. dieir tonguQ.

Li this, spirit, and with this dependence, he went to the hodae of the Lord. He who takes David^s riews of this sabject will nerer, willingly, be absent fvom the means of grace.

Im' iky fear]' Puly oonsidering the^inftnite holineas- • of thy ihajesty, will I worship, numBTM eshiaehauehy will J bow and prostrate myself, in the deejpest selfahsMment and Imiuility.

• Tmcard thy holy tcmpk.]' If Dayidwas the author of this Psalm, as is generally agreed, the temple was.ribt boilt at this timec only the /a&efnac/e then. existed; and in the preceding clause he. speaks of coming into the h&uui by ^'hich he must mean 'thd tabema^e. Bat ien^it here may signify the holy of holiisy before whiob Jlsrid might proetratehipiaelf' while in the Amss, L •. tlv court of the tabernacle.. Even in the hmse i^€MLt there is the temple of Odd;.\hi^pla£e where the Divine Shechinah dwells. God was in Christ reconciling the world. to himself. In him dwelt an the fulness of (he Godhead bodily, la all ages' and dispensations, Jesus was ever the /em^e; where the Supreme Deity was met with ^nd worshipped. ■ The human nature of Jesus was the real temple of the Deity. Ndwbereelse can God be found. -

Terse 8. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousnesi] When entered- into the house, and prostrated before the temple, he knew' that, unless God continued to Uad -and direct, -he was not' likely to profit even "by sQch great advantages..We need Qod not* ottly'to bring ^ns to his house, but to keep. our feet while we aie there. " ^. *•

Beemue of mine enefnie»\ Hjs conduct was mal'k-. ed; his eneipies looked upon aAd wstched him with an evil pje. They would have beeu glad of his halting, that they might have brought a reproach, on- the good cause which he had. espoused; O how qiutibusly ahobkl those walk who make a profession. of living to God^ of knowing themselves to. be in his favour, and of being delivered from all sin in this life \

Make thy way straight] Show me that I must go right on; and let thy light always « shine on my path, that I may see how to moceed.

Verse 9. No faithfulness m their mouth] They BMke professions of friendship; but all is hollow and deceitful: " They^ttcr with their tongue.**

£blH Tby their own counsels;' capt * them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.. li But let all those that put their trust in thee ^ rejoice: let them ever shout for jo^, because ' thou defendest them: let them'olso that love thy nai^e be. joyful in thee..

12 For thou, Lord,./ wilt ^ bless the right eous; with favour wilt thou * compass him^aK with a sirield. • "..

Their throat is ah open sepulchre]. It is continuadly gaping for the- dead:* -and sends forth effluvia destructive to the living. I. fear that ^is is too true a picture.of the whole htunan race; totally corrupt within, and abomiuable without. The. heart is. the centre ^M spring of this cofruption; jiod the words and actions, of Aiej9, which proceed from this soutce, will send opt incessant streams of various impurity; and thus they contlBua till the grace of God chisuiges -and puriftiss' the heart.

. t^erse 10. Destroy thou them, O Ood^ All ^ese apparetet)y tm/(r«(;a^ory^ declarations -should be translated in the future tense, to which thiay helong; and jyhich shpws thein to*1)e "prophetic. Thou wilt destroy them; thou wftT oast them out, &c.

Verse 1 1. I^ allihosit that put their trust in thet rejoice] Such expressions aS these should be translated.in die same Way, declarativfly and propheticaUy: " Ail. those who put their tarust in thee shall lejoice, •^— SHALL ever «hout for joy."

Verse 13. For thou. Lord, wilt bless the righteous\ A. righteous soul is a peculiar object of God's affectignate- regards; and therefore will be a subject of continual blessing..^'

With favour] laterally. Like a Meld, thy faom0 will crown him, GXid loves such; and ^this love is 'their defence. In aJil.places, times, and circumstances, it win.preserve them; "-Keep yourselves,*' says tfasj apc^de, " in the love of God." He who abides fn dSdi^ love need not fe\r the face of aoy adversary. Thus * ended die moming'e devot^pn of this excellent man: a model faj which every Christianimay friMi^s his own.

' Analysis or the Fifth Psalm,

I This Psalm consists of pnri parU;— -

,1. An introduction; in which he petitions -to be heard; professes his earnestness about it, ver. 1,3, 3; and his confidience of audienc^.

II. He delivers his petition, ver. 8; and the reasba of it-^-his enemies,

III. These enemies he circumstaptially describes,

IV. He prophesies that God will destroy them,

y. He prays for the Church, that God would proserve it, ver. 11, 13..

I. 1. In the e^tra^be he prays veiy eanastljr fiqr 331..

t^ ■.. ' ■ andiei^; he 'showQ that lie aoi^DC to.be aeiioiift and ferrem in it; and he ohQeiye a* yariety of words to etpreaa the s/xme things ymStk rise by degrees in the description: 1. He. rises ftom mtditatioih S. To Vfords i 3. 'From words to a voice; 4^ From a voice' to a ifrjL Then he desires God; 1. To'c^nik^. 9. f ogive ear. -3. To hearken, I. He consider*, who weighs the justice of -the caase... S. He gives • ear, who yroM ande^tand what the suppliant means. 3. I{e attends and. hearkens,' who intends to satisfy tjM petiti<inen;

..' S. The reasons he uses here* to beget audience are Tdry consider^le: —.. ' ^.

r. The Telation that was between him and his God: ^ Thou art my Kling and -my God." \ -9. Thai he would sua to no]j(e other: *^'To thee vil) I pray;'* which he lUiistrateS) l.-Fitim the tirne. It is a ijDoming petition; 3. It was a well (^mposed and ordered prayer. 3. He won\i lifi up its eyes with it; that is,'ha.Te /aU- his hope and expectation exercised in it;." My voice shalt then hear.in the nomingi I wil( direct my pra^rer unto thee, and lookup." *, '^ * ':;

3. 'Tlie third reason is takdn from the nature of God: Whom he will anid whom he will not hear,. I. Perse- >enBg sii&ners God will net regard. S. To the upright' he is readjT to look. The sinners whom God wQl not

r.he dins describes: 1. Men who delighted in uHckevU^ fooUshi %porkers of iniquity-^r^^s: — HfiOd-thirst^ Ukd tdeceitfid. Now it.was Hot likely that God should heay-such: <<.9or thou art not a G(m1 who hast pleasure in wickednese, neither shall.evil dwelicwith thee." These it is said he hmied; thes^ he would destroy I thete he did ohkor. 2. J3ut on; the contrary, he who vr^Bfaithfuli -who relied on Ood; who fear^the Lordi who attended the ordinances of kis housed who worshifped towards, his temple; • and

Uf CM^ mercy.

who same, jMt trusting to himm(f$ bur iA the muUiliuCt of Qo^s mercies; Ubi he would hpsx...

n. IHvid, having petitioned ftr andienoe, and dellvered the' grounds ot his confidence, brings forth hie petition, that his life aoay be hciy wiAmnac^ni i —

1. -** Lead me in thy righteousness.''

1). <« Make thy way straightr before me." Eof which he gifes this reason; " Beoauee of mine enemies."

in. These his ^nemlea lie circumstantiaPy deeeribes: —

* 1. By thQir MOUTH: *' There is no fidthfnhiess ia theij mouths"

3. By their throat: " Their &roat is ap open aor "pulchre.".

' 4. By their ToNOca: ** llley fiatter with their tongue^"

d. They shall fall, by their oion counsels, ~ 3. They shall he east mU in the multiiude of their transgressionr,^ For whkh predictions he gtvea this reason: '*Phey are- rebels. For they have rebeUed against thee: Rebels, not against David, but agairnl 'Ood, -They have notjrejected me, but they Jiave re-. iectod thee: \ ■ *;. -^

. And he jphiys ibr them, that, 1. They wn^ ha haf* py; that they my shout for joy, 8. Thigr nqr ha joy/ul^tnOod,.' J

And he expects an answer; because, I. God drfenJs them. 9. He will continue to bless ihem. 3. Hf will witk \dM favour compass them tA with a slUiW^

, enforced from a consideration of the psalmist^s sufj^rings^ 8^ from thai of the Divine nievty, 4; from thai of the praise and glpry which Oqd^would fail to receive if man were destroyed, 6; from that of his humiHaii&i^ and contrition, 6, 7. Being successful in his i^pf^alion,' he exultA in God, 8,'^.; dnd predicts the damt^

3 My soul is al3o sore vexed:.

and modems, show us that nothing is kqown ( ing it. Wb have already seen that neginoth probaMy signifies all instruments which emitted soiqula.by strokes, ot stringed instruments in general. Thia Psalm was'to be accompanied with such instruments) but one of aparticular lulid is specified, viz., shemMtM.

•o called irom its havihg eigki vtrinp^' The ekUf tnuncM»i8 directed 'to accompaay the recital df thia Fnlm with t^ above instnunenU

Terse 1. O Lord^ rebuke me. flo^ This Psalm, which is one of the seven Peniiential' JPsalms, is supposed to kaye -been wifiUea. daring some grievous.disease with' which David wa^i offlipted after his traasgression with Bath-sheba.. • It argues a deep of sin, and s|>prelienaioa of the Just) of Grod. It is the very Jangaage of a tme i who is kx^dng around for help, and who sec^ sa Bisk^ llarne well expresses it, " above-, aa aagry GfifijTe^y totake vengeance; beneathy flie fiery gulf; ready to receive him; ibiiKout, a world in flames; wiikim, the gnawing Werm.'* ' Of all Ihese; none ^so dw^dfai as an angry God; his wrath he particularly deprecates. God rebukes and chastens him, and he hot he prays not to be rebuked' tn angeri nor im kai displeasure, because he knows, that t bring him down to. total and 6nal desthicUen. Verse 3. Have m^rcy]. I have ne merit, I de^ serve all I feel and all I fear.

O Ler4t keai fiUi] No earthly physickui can pare my malady. Body and spid are both diseased, and ody God can help me. ' woncers of Huqnity; Svtbe xjOrb Dvidis, Refu hath ^heaid the,v0ice of my ^STlHSX'. weeping. '..... ^

9 The Lord hath Ke^^rd my suj^licsrtioli; the. Lord win receive my prayer.

10 Let all mine encunies be ashamed and -sore vexed: let them return and he asbluned swldenly. •,

Verse 3. Jffow long f] How. long shall I continue aader this malady \ How long will; it be before *^thou speak peace to my troubled heart!. Verse 4l. Return, 0 I^onf] Once I had the light ei th^ ooantenance; by 'sin I have forfe^^. ihis;. I have provoked thee to depart: O Lord, return! It is an awiul thing to be obligdd to say, Return, O Lord, for this supposes backsliding; and yet what a inercy it is that, a backslider may aaruaN to Chd, with -the ezpedation that God ^Ul return to him!

Verse 6. In death thete is no re^mbrance of thee] Ifab iato glorify thee on earth.. The end, for which he was bom cannot be accomplished in the grave; beal my body,. and 'heal my souH that I may be.rendered capable.of loving and serving thee here below. A dead body*" in the grave can do^no good to men, nor bring any glory te thy name! -

Verse 7. Mine eye is consumed] 7W19^ ettkeshah, is blasted, witheted, sunJc in my head.

It seeais that while ^ was ahffl^ng.grievoully ^hrohgh die disease, his eaemies hanTinsulted and mocked him; -^^pbraided liim with* his transgressions, not- to in« crease his penitence, but 4o cast him into despair.

The Lord "hath hearf the voice of my weeping.] The Ldrd pitifully beheld the sorrows of bis hear£,.and mercifslly forgave- his sins.

Verse. 1 0. Ashamed and sore vexe4] May they aa deeply deplore their trane^gr^Bsioos as! T have dona, ^ine! May they return; *may they Be suddenly con* verted! The original will bear this tneaning, and it is the most congenial to" Ch'riAtian principles. •

Analysis op the Sixth Psau^.

Tbe parts of t^ Fsalm ace two, in general:—

. II. The aiM^bunt of his rtitor'ation, contained- in the thrie last.

I. The petition consists of two parts: t. Deprecation of evil; 3. Petition for good: ■ ^

He enforces his petition by divers weighty reasons:

1. Froin the quantity and degrees of his calamity^ which he shows to be great from the effects, 1. la general; he was in a hmguishing disease:." I am weak.'^ '3. la pcartioidar; J* Pains ip hia -bones: *'My bones are vexed.'' - 3. Trouble in liis soul: " My soul also is troubled."

8. From the continuance of it. It was 9^l&ng dis-:ease; a lingering sickness'; and he found no ease,. no,, not ftrom his God. Tbe pam I •could the better bear if I had comfort fiV>m heaven. ".But then, O Lord, how- long V* Long hast thou withdrawn. the light of thy-eountenatice from thy servant..

3« From the eonsequence-^dX was likely to -follow;• deathi and the event upon it. It is my intention to celebrate and praise thy name; the /imn^ only can do this: therefoDB, let me live; for tn death there is no remembrimee of thee; in thUe grave who shall give thee thanks t ' *,

4". And that he was brought now to the gates of *

and groans, which had almost broken his healt; Ae

The piofmist prays

agaimt Ks emmiei.

• groaning w" 8. The ^bondanee of hia Mtrs had dried and waated hia)>ody-^ " Hn flude hia bedlo a^nrim, fuid watered hia'conpli with hia teara.'^ 3. Hia eytB aJto melted awtnf, and grew dimf ao that he aeemed old before hia time: ** My eye ia conanmed becaoae of gfi^f > itwaxeth o)d." ' ^..

5. That whicljf added to his aoirow iiTaa, he had many iU-wishers who' inaulted over him: ** Mine eye ia waxen *oId becaoae of tninb i^nemiea.^

II. But a't last reoeiring conkfort and joy, he is enabled to look up; and then he tarna upon his ene- Aniea, who w^re longing Tor hia deatriictioa; <* Depart from me, all ye* workera of iniquity."

He magnifiea God'b mercy; and mentiona ita.manifeatation thrice diatinctly: 1. *< The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping:" 8. ^* The Lord hath heard my aupplication." ' 3. '* The Lord will reoei¥6 my prayer."

Then foUowa hia.pm^hetit declaration oonptoniiBg them: 1. Shame and, eonfnaioa, to; aae their hope fruatrated.: '* Th^y Uiall be coBfoimded.'^ 9. Yention, to aee the objaet of their eifty reatored to baaltli and proaperity: ** They ahall be aote vexed." 3. Hiej ahall liBttam to their aompaniona with shmaij beeaeae their wiahea and plots have Duacarried. 4. He intih matee that this ahame and confiiaion ahall be speedy: " They ahtdl'retnm, and be eshamed auddenly." Or, piociajbly, this may be a wbh fbr their cohxeraioo^ \2W* yashubu, let them be ooirvxaTED, J^^l raga^ suddenly,, lest audden.deatni6tioD from the Lprd ahould fall npoe them. Thua the gennftte folfower of Odd prttyay '* That ii may please thee to have mercy apon our eniamiea,~peraecntor8, and alanderera; and to «^ui l^eir HXAa'ra." A Christian ahoi^d take np every thing ot thia kind In a Christian aenae. '* '

J%e psalmist prays against the fnaiice of his enemies^ IV 3; 'protests his Of/m innocence, Z—6 \ pfuy^ ta 6o€ thai Ike would vindidate hwhfor the edificdiidn of his people, 6-8'; prayragdinst the wickednkss of his

- enemies, 9; expresses strong confidenlte in God, H); threatens transgrMOrs wOh Ctod^s judgments, li/-13; shows the conduct and end of" the ungodly, 44^16 \ and etults in the, mercy and hmngl^ndness ^f-^ Maker, 17., \-

Thia Paahn^'entitled, Shlggdion of Davidy which he sang Unto the Lord,- eancemi^g the words of Cush the Benjamite. The word |pjar shiggay/oneome* from mor shagah, to wander, a wandering aong; L e., a Paalm eompoa^ by David in hia wanderinga, when he waa ohliged to hide himaelf from the.fnry of Saul.

Biahop ^H<iir«^ thinl^a it may have its name, a wandering ode, from fts' being in different p^urta, taking np diflferebt subjecta^ in different atylea of compeaition. But he haa aometimea thongj^t that shiggaion fnlght be an unpremeditated aong; -an improviso,

AaHo Ctishdhe Benjamite, he is a peraoq unknown in the Jewiah history' >;, the name ia p/obably a tiame of disguise: and by it he, may covertly, mean Saul himaelf, the sonpf Ifishywho waa of the tribe of Benjaminl The aubjecit of the Paakn will better anawer te Saul'a onjuat pexaecution and David*8 innocence^ than. to any -other aubject in die history of David..

Verae h O Lord my God] Tl^K mn' Yehovah Elohai, worda expreaeive Of the atrongeat confidence the aoul can have 'in the Supreme Being. Thou aelfexistent, incomprehensible, almighty, and eternal Being, who neither needeat nor hateat. any thing thlit thoo haat made; thou art njy God: God in covenant with

Deliver me\ ~ 'TVom.the'coun^ls whi^ they Eave,devised« and from tl)e anarea and gina they have laid id my path. ' '.

Verae 3. Lest he tear my soul liktia.li4m] Theaa worda aeem to anawer well tp Saul*. Aa the KoA la king in the forest; so War Saul king jprer iho land. Aa the lion, ift his fierceness, seizea at once, andieani hia prey in pieces; so David expected to be aeised. and auddenly deatroyed by Saul,, He had alxeady« ia his rag^, thrown his javelin at, him, intending 4o have pierced hhn. to the Wall with it. Aa from the power of the. lion, no beast in the forest eoiild deiirer any thing; so -Day id know that SauPs power waa irreaiMible, and that none of liia frienda -or wellrwiahera could aave or deliver him out of aoch handa.' '* Laat he tear my aoul {my life) like a Hon» rending i| k piecea, while there is none to deliver.** All thia answers to Saul, and to none else. •Verae Z. If I have done this] David waa aoepaad thy ereatnre n^an; and my G6d and portion partien^l hj Sjuil vt affecting the kingdoiAi and of twCiiiig^ for

. 5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and tak^ il; yea, let him tread down my life apon the eartfi"^ and lay aaiaa hcniour in the. dust. SclAh.

thyself because, of the rage of mine enemies:

7 So shall the congregation of the people com*

an opportaoity to take away the life of Aur Tn^% his foir^nj and Yob. friend,.In Ihs application to God he refins to th^se charges; meeti^ (hem with indignation; and eleazs himself of tliem.lo^* a strong appeal to h|ft Judge; mad an impro^cation that, if he had meditated 0K teign^ anj such thing, he might m^ with nothing* but eone ak|d'Calamit|[ either (rom God or man:

Yene 4. Yea, / hmoe detiperfd'him] When* in Oi^ eomae of thy providence, thou didst put his life io my. hand in the oroe; I contented myself with cutting off (lis akiit» merely to show him the 'danger he. had been is, and the ^irit of the man whom. lie accused of dengns against his life; &nd yet er^a^or this my heart SB90te ms, beeaose it iu>peared. to.be av indignity oflTeied to hnn who was the Lord'r anointed. This het, and my Tcnturing my life frequentTy for his good and the safety of fhe state, sufficiently show the hUmtj of soch accusations, and the innocence of my life.

Verse 5.- Let the. enemy ptrrectste my soui] If I, haye been guilty of the things laid to iny charge, let the WcRBt evils &11 utwn me.

<Tene 6. Arisej, O Lord^ in thine anger] To thee TeoBiiaut my cause; arise, and sit -on the throne of ' thy Judgment in my behalf.. "

Verse 7. Far their sakes therefore teturn thou' on k^.) Thy own people who compass thy altar, the fiJthful of the land,. are.full of gloomy Apprehensions. They hear the charges agaiiist me; and see how I am persecuted. 'Their minds ^re divided; they know not ^what to. think. For their sakes^ return thou on high-r^ Upeod the judgment-seat; and let them. see, by the dSspensations.of thy providence, who is innocent and wfio ia guilty, David feared not to make this appeal toOod;'for the oonscioosnesa of his innocence showed him at once how the discrimination would be. made.

Verse 8. The Lord shall judge the people] He will execQte justice and maintain truth among them. They shall tiot be as sheep without a shepherd.

Judge me,' O Lord], Let my innocence (^'brought lo the light, and my just dealing made clear as the noonday.

8 The Lord shall judge the people s judjje me, O IiORt>, "according to my righteousness, and* according to mine integrity that is; in me. '9 O let the wickedness of the wicked come to, an end; but establish the just: ^ for the rigfateoys God trietb* the hearts and reins.-

10 " My defence is pf Gdrf, which saveth the *i upright in heart.

Verse 10^ My defence is of God] I now'le4ve my cause in the hands of my Judge. I hare no uneasy or fearful apprehensions) becaijise I know God* will save the upright in heiirt.

' Verse li. Ood'is angry with the.wicked every day.X The Hebreuf'iox this sentence is tlie following: C>r 733 0^7 Sxi reel zff^m becol yom; which, aceording to the points, is^ And OoU is angry every day. Our translfition seem»to.have been borrowed from the Chaldee, where the whol^ Terse is as ibilows': KH^.: lepr Jto -y^r 1 ^ tUl "Jipnai niOt wn elaha daiyana taecaah ubithkoph rageiz al reshiey col yom^: ^* God is a. righteous Judge; and in strength he is angry against the wicked every day."

The Sbptuagivt: '© BeocKpirjic ^ucaiocf kOi ioxvpof^ KOI /lOKpoOv/ioc, fuj opyrpf enayuv KoSt. itctumiv ^/upav; ^* God is a righteous Judge, strong imd longsufiering; not bringing forth hU anger every day.'^

The JSthiopic: " God is a just Judge, and strong and longsufiering;' he will not.bring forth tribulation daily."

-Caromardbx: ^iqii fs a r(g|iteotts fulige, [strong anH jfat^e^itx anHCRoly fs jvoboiieli eberv)iaj».. Cardffuirden has borrowed' i^on^aiK/ patient from the Vutjgaie or Septuagint; hut as he found nothing in th^ Hebrew to express them, he put the words in a smaller letter, and included them in brackets. This is followed by the prose version in our Prayer Book,

The Gs^KVAtr version, printed by ^ Barker, the king's printer, TO 15, tranidates thus: "God judgeth the righteous, and hin^ that contemneth God every day." On which there is tbis marginal note: ** He doth continually call the widied to.repentance, by some signs of his judgments."

12 If he turn not, he will "whet his aword; he hath bent ULs baw, and made it^ready. 1 3; £[• hath also prepared for him the instruments of death;V he grdaineth his arrows af^inst the perseeutprs. "^ *.14 ^Behold, he frataikth with iniquity, and hath conceived^ mischief, and brought forth falsehood. • \

My ancient Scdtico-English MS. Psaktr only beguis with the conolusion of this Psahn.

I have judged it t>f consequence te trace this retac through all the ancient Versions in'order to^be ahle to' ascertain what is the>/rtie rcitftn^V where the evidence on one side amounts to a positive offirmatiaA, ** God IS angry every day;" and,' on the other hid»i to as positive WLnegatiahj **.He is not angry every day.'* The mass of evidence supports the latter rea^ingi The Chaldee first corrupted -^e text, by making the •additiojn, with iJte wicked^ which our translators have followed, ihqugh they have put thtf words into italic*^ as oot being in the Hebrew- text.. In the MSS.^ collated by Kenmcott »nd De Roisi there is jao various reading on thi^ tex>.

Sk e/, with the vowel point Uerey signifies ^qd; Sk a/, the ^ame letters, with the point j^Ka^h^ signifies not. Several of the versions hsve^read itjn this way;.*' God judgeth the r\^hteous,.and is mot angry every day." He is hot always 'chiding[, nor is he daily punishing; 'notwithstanding the; continual wickedqess' of men: hencCj;, the ideas of patieiUe and longsuffering which severld of the versions introduce. Were I. to take* any of the translations m preference to the above, I should feel moA inclined to "adopt that of Caverdale,

Verse 12,' If he turn not] This clause the Si^riac adds to *the t)receding verse. Most of* the versions read, '* If ye return' not.** Some contend, and not without a great show of probability, that Ihe two verses should. b& read in connection, ^ns: " God is a just Judge; a God who is provoked every day. If (the sinner) turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath Jbent his bow, and made it ready.**' This, ni) doubt, giv^ the sebse of both., ' ^

Verse 13. HeJutth also prepared for him the instrur ments of death] This appears to be^ a*prophecy of the tragical death of SatU, He was wounded by the' arrows of the Philistines; and his own keim sword, on which he fell, terminated his woful days!. '

Verse 14. He travaileth with iniquity^ All these tenns show the pitch of envy, wrath, and malevolence, 'to which Saul had carried his opposition against Da— vid. He conceived mischief; he travailed with iniguity; he brought forth falsehood — all his expecta; tions were blasted.. -

16 ^ His nuschief shall return '^; ^ upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come, down upon his own pate.. «

17 I wiU praise Uie ^Lord according: to his rightepusness } and" will sing praise Ve* the name of the Lorb^ modt high.

He determined ^.de-1 of death.

stmction of David. He laid ^is plans with mirah ^tifice; he executed them with seal and diligence; aftd. when he had, as 'he supposed^ the gvava oC DtTidt digged, he &li into it himself! The metaphor is talfea from pits' dug in the earth, and slightly covered, over with reeds, d^c, so as «ot to be -discerned, from tin solid ground*; but the aniin^l stepson them, the- srfrface-breaksy and he falls'into the pit\and ^ taken:.^ AQ the world agreerto iMd^nowledgethe equity of thi^?mbtence, which influ^ts upon the guilty ibB pnniJifahjBat intended by them tor the irmocerU,^ — Aome.; ^

Yerse \i,\ Shall come iown upon hie itwn pette^ Upon his scalp, '\Q^6 Jcodkod, the.top of the heaid. ^ mar refer to knocjfing the ^criminal an the head^ in ordd^ to deprive him of Jife. &ad scalping been known ^iii thosei days, I should' have thought the reference m^ be to th^ barbarous custom.

' Verse IT'. • rwill praise the Lord according' io &$ righteousness] I shall cef ebrate both his Jostiee^ jand. his mercy. I ^ill sing praise to the nan^js of tlie Lmd •Mnst' High. The Aahe of God * is^ often, put » fat ^his perfections,' So here, \vhf 'n^r}^ Vi^V shemYehopmk Ely on; *'Thd perfections of Jehovah, 'who is above alKV My old Scoiico-English MS., mentioned at Uie conclusion of the tritroduction, begins * at.t&isyezney whece are'the following Vords by way of parapbrasf: Aangtalles ta fajf; nrCtk*^ "tl^t singes tnHltln.fltemft M» ro$ es mare tl)an f tan telL Those ^fao ai« lisppy may sing; and he who can duly cfelebraie the nainija of God, who knows it to bd^a strong tower into -which-lM can run. and find safety, iias inexpressible' tttppinesii That is the sense of the ^ve. V '

I. He begins his appeal with a petition for deliverance from his persecutors: "Save me, and deliver me," ver. 1. In which he desites God to be, -

1. ^-^tentive to him: 1. Becaote of the refattfaxiibetween them. For he wate the Lord his God,- 9.- He trusted in him: ** O Lord my God, I trust in thee,** veV. i,

3. Benevolent to him. For he was now in daogev

lU^hry s^ CM

tnanifhted in hu Iporlbt.

$. Pezaecatipg enemies. 4. But one abore the itst, WLhom ready to rend him m jneees; ao thai if Gedfor^ •ook him, he woilld do it; ^ Sare roe from ^^oee that peiaeeate m^" &c<, Ter. 2.^ * *

II. AndUhen he givto his reaacma why he doth appeal to Ids 6ocl, which are: T. 'His own itmoeenee. 8. GM's/Mlfce. •

1. He makes a protestation of his innocence. He was aeeoBed that he lay in wait, and^ plotted for SadFs fifo and kiagdosi; but he clears himself, shows the iapessibility of it, and that with a fearfol imprecation. 1. p ik>r4^ — if I have done any such thing as theyofcject; ifJhaverewacded evil- to him that toasaipeaee' mik mty Ter. 3, 4, which was indeed "an impoilsible matter. For I have detioered him — as Sool inr the esse, 1 Sam^. xxiy. ft. Ifis iaiprecation — ThenUt mume ffemy perMeettig fiie^^ei him take both my life and my honqiir, kingdoro, property, and whatever thon hast fcomised me. •

9. And, which is t^e second re^n of this appeal, being innocent, he call8>for justice^ *' Arise, O Lord — 4ifl^ op, thyself— 4LWakB for me to jqdgment.** For, 1. -"Ate rage of my enemies is great, g. The jndg- ■001 was tfiine that chose me to^ be king of thy people. Awake f<n> me. 3.. This wilCbe for thy honour, and. the edaftoation-of thy Chnrch. '. ** The congregation of thy pe<i^ shall compass thee' about. For their sakes retnm thon oir'high." Ascend the tribonsll, aoid do joittice.. Now, upon this' argument of God's justice, he dwells and iosists to the last Terse of the Psalm.

1. He STOWS Grod to ba his Judge.

S. He prays for justice to be done to him and to tha mkked. I, To him^ an ihnocent person: ** Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness^*'' 9. *To the wicked: ^ O lei the wickedness of the wicked eoB^eto an dnd!"

3. He prays, not only for himself, but for all good men: ** Establish the just." And adds, this ressoo, that as <<Go<l tne'th the hearts. and reins," he. is fittest to be judgfO^ in whom is.required knowledge and prudence,

A, The other two propeHies of a judge ere, to save^ Uttd to punish; and thejnamph of his faith is, ihat he kpows He will do bdtlT 1. He will save the just and iipright in' heart, and^erefore his defence is in God.. 2.r He will punish, the wtcheji, for he is angry with them every day; and yet eyen to them he show* much clemency and forbearance. He Waits for their conversioo. He'wbets, binds' onr and sharpens his instrumente of death; but he sboOts not till there is no remedy. Buii^Ifthey will not return he wiH whet his sword, Ac,,

5. But the LonTs longsuffering had no. good effect upon. Saul; he grew worse and wone: He travailed Utith mischief; conceived iniquity; hrought forth falser hood^ and digged a pit for his' innocent neighbour, int6 which he fell' himself.^ Tbuk the xighiedus God executed judgment amd Vindicated innocence.

IIL The close of the Psalm is a doxplogy. Thanks Ch&t a good and merciful God wOufd judge- for the rightcQusi save ' Uiose* yrhd are true^ of heart, establish the just, and Xake vengeance upon t^e wicked.. For this, saith David, ^ I' wil] praise the Lord* according to his tigh^eonsness, and I will 'sing praise to the name* •of the Lofd the Most High.*' '

The righteous may be oppressed, but they shall not be forsaken: nor can they lose even by their aiOictions, for they -shall - be tuiued- to their 'advantage^ Every occurrence helps a good man^ whether prmperous or adverse; but to the wicked every thing* is a curse. By his wickedness, even hi^ blessings are tamed to -a bane.

7%e itory and excellence of God manifested by his worksj 1, 3; particularly iri the starry heavens y 3; in SMii, -4 ^ th his formation, 5; and in the dominion which Ood has given him over the earth, the air, the sea and their inhabitants, 6, 7,9: Jn consequence of which Ood*s name is celebrated over aH the earth, 9.

f\ LORD, our Lord,, how * excellent is thy name in ail the eartlT! who ^ hast set thy glory above th^ heavens.

NOXES eN PSALM VIH. The inscription to this Psahn is the following: To the chief Musician upon Gitlith, A Pscdm of David. TkoB has been metapjyrased, ** To the conqueror, coneeniing the wine-presses */' and has been supposed to be a FMm intended for 'the time of vintage: and as that happened about the time of the year in which It is sopposed the world was created, hence there is -a general celebration of those works, and of the creation, and the high privileges of man. The Chaldee gives it a dilfereBt Vin^ *« A Pfealm of David, tor be sung

;2 ^Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hiist thou • ordained strength. because of thine'' enemies, that thou mightest still ^ the enemy and the avenger.

Upon the harp, which he bfoaght -out of Gath," That the Psalm has respect to onf Lord and the time of the Gospel, is evident from the reference made to v^. 9 in Matt. xi. 35, the express quotation of it in B(att. 3pxi.' 16, and another reference to' it in 1 Cor. i. V\. The /<mr< A and sixth verfces are quoted Heh. ii. 6-9. See also 1 Cor. xv. 21, and Eph. i. 2l3. The first 9jiA. second Adam are both referred to, and the first and second creation siso; and the glory which (?od has riiceived, and is to receive, through both. It relates Suhply to Christ and redemption. * '

^ Veree h O Lord our Lord] tr^TK 7^\^r^^: Yehovak JJoneynu; O Jehovah' our Prop, our Stay, or Support. ^JIK Aionai is fluently uBed: sometime^, indeed often, for the word Tlin; Ye^iwaA itocff. The root- p dan signifies to direct, rule, judge, support. So Adonai is the director, Riiler, Judge, Supporter of menr It is wen joined with JeKbiDah; this showing what God is in hiniself; that, what God is to man; jand may here yery properly. refer to our Lord Jesus.

How excellent is thy name in aU the earth!] How iUnstridos.is the name of Jesus throughout UiQ world! Itis incarnation, birth, Jiumhle and obscure life, preaching, miracles, passionj death, resurrection, and ascension, are celebrated through* the whole world. His roligion, the gifts and graces gf his Spirit^ hh people-—

. Christians^^hii Gospel and the preachers- of it, are ererywhere spoken of. No name is so uniyertel, np

.power and'in^u^ce so generally feltj as those of the. Saviour of maokiud.. Amen.

Thy glory above ihe^ heanensJ] The heavens are glorious, the most glorious of all the works q£ CM' yrinch the eye of m^ can reach; but the glory of, God

.18 infinitely above even these. The words also seem ^.intimate 'that no power, earthly or' diabolidd, can lessen -or 'injure that glory. The glory Und honour which Go^ has by the Gospel shall last through time, juid through etemi^; and of that glory none shall be able to rob hini,^to whom majesty and doqiinidii-arfi eternally due.. This has been applied by some to the resurrection of our Lord.' He rose from the dead, and ascended zboye all heavens; and by these his glory was sealed, his mission ac/6ompn^hed, a^ the last proof given to -his preceding miracles.-

Verse d. Out of. the mouth of babes and sucklings] We have seen how our Lord applied this passage to the- Jewish children, who, seeing his' miracles, cried out in the temple, '* Hosanna to the Son. of David!" Ma^t^ xxi« 16. And We. have seen how the enemy and the avenger~-^he chief priests and the scribes — were offended because of these things; and as the Psalm wholly concern^ Jesus Christ, it is' most l^bable

.that in this act of the Jewish children the prophecy had 'xtBprim<try fulfilment; and was left to the Jewsas a witness and a sign oF the. Messiah, which they ilhould have acknowledged wh^n our Lord directed their attontion to it.*

There is also -a very obvious sense in which the mouths of babes and sucklings s7u>w forth the praises of Chd; viz;, the means by which' they derive their first noufisfament. In order to extract the milk fromi ihe breasts of thei^ mothers, they ate obliged to empty their own nundhs-.entirely of air, that the external air, pressing on the breast, may force, the milk through its proper canals into the mouth of the child, where there is no resistance, the child having extracted all air from its own mouth, which in this case- resembles a perfectly exhausted receiver on the plate of an airpump; and the action of sucking is pexibrmed on tho same principle that the receiver is eidiaosteid bylha w^ikiAf of the airpump. Of..this curious pnetoaliD aecioa the child is CKpsMe the moment it famihee; juidf' its' strength poneidered, performs it as ptatelty liie (nt hour a& it.does in any other period of its ehiUboodl lifr infancy. What does all this argue? Why p^imcL And pray what is instinct? You eannoC teifl. IfnX here is an-ope^tionby which the pure BoyUan oaetmai is made; and this by an infant wUhosU any prmimus teaching 1 Do you suppose thltt diis is an easy t^ ration, and that it requires little skill I.Totf tie jnis* taken. You have done this yoursdf whild ant inftBt, under the sole guidance of God. Can yov do it worn? You are startled! Shall I.tell you what appears lo you a seoret? There.is not one tki ten tltoomid adults,' who hav^ hid their first nourishment, from tbe breasts of t)yeir tnothers. Who can perform the'ifilM dperation ag^n! ' And those wha have bad oecawcwi to* practise, it hare founS great difl^culty to iMm Mel art wh^eh, in the' first, mcmient' of their birth,^tliey performed toperfeption! Here. & the fingST of' 6od; sikI here, <mt ^f the mouths ofbofys anASMcBrngi^ \m has ordained such' a strength of evidence and etrgumaU in favour of his being, liis provid^ce,-and his good* new, as is suffi<^ent to stUl wadconfnmd ereiy inlWiel and atheist in the universe, all the enemies of ligfateousness, and all the vindicdtors of deqwrafe and hopeless causes and systems.

The words mi^ also be a]tplied to the t^^attles mei primitive preachers of the. Gospel; to the sif$pi9, aqi corfiparatively unlearned ibllowers of.-ChrisI, wjio; through his teaching, 5¥eTe able to Oonfouiid the wi$9 among the Jeyos, and the mighty among the hoaiktfu: and in thiq sei;i8e our fjord uses the tenh bafieSfMstL. xi. 25: ** I thank ihee, O Father — bec^Qse thotf ki$L hid these things' from the wise and prudekiy and hisl revealed, them to &a^#.** •>.•/.

We may ako-witnessj in the esperiene^ of mol^- ' tudes of simple people who have been, by the presehing of tBe Gospel, converted from' the error of their ways, such a strength of testimony in^ favour of the wink'af God in Ui^ A«aWj.and^his' effectual' teaching in the mind,'ia is calculated to still, or reduce to -eileBeeb every thing but bigotry and prejudice, neither of whjeh has either eyes or ears. This teaching/ and these changing or converting infiuences, come from CM. They are not acquired by human leamiHg;- and fhosis whp put this innhe place of tbe Divine teaching never grow wise td^ salvation. To* entf r into the kingdoSs of heaven, a man must become ia a little child.

Verse 3. When I consider thy heavens] mriM ^D ki ereh; because I will see. He, had often seen the heavejas with astonishment, and he purposes to males them frequent subjects of cnontemplation.;.and he eonjA not behold them without hevom affected with-the-skilJ, contrivance, and power, nismilsd in their fonnstion.

The work ofig fingers] What a view does this. give of the majesty of Godi The earth is utalfy^ighi

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angela, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 ^ Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; ^ thou -hast put. all things, xmdei his feet:

Englisli miles in diaineter: but to fann an '.coDeepiioa. of its msgnitade, we must con-,

> il in its sttftrficitd sod solid {^nUents^ * Upon the lMl4iie eazth's poUur dismeier is ssvpt^ tikmtmmd nme hsmdred mnd forty miles, ssd.its e^tia- Unslt'Osnom thousand nine hmdrtd cmd seoenhf^w^ (Si^Inistes eonsidered to be very nesr spprozimsMoas Is^tte tmlh,) the-wbole^iperfioies.of'thb teirs^aeoos l^obe wiU aoKNmt to shout one hundred. tmd mnetysi^ nmttionM^ nmshmndred and eighty thousand, seaem ksmdred eqosre miles; Snd 4t8 aolid contents, in tskie wtU^Sy will be expressed by the following fignres:.864,644,867,944, i. e., two hundred and' Sixty-four tksmstmi Jk/s hundred and forty-four miilions^ eight ktsndisd and J(jffy^sooen thoueand, nins hundred and farty-faut^, Grest as weiiSTe shown the hvlk fi>i the eszth to be, from the most sccnrste estvnates of its di&-

I and a halfgntter thsn the earth; Saturn, nine hundred and ninety-five times greatei:; JttpiteTrone fisfwrf Hoo: hundred and eighty-one. times grester; aai the sun, the most jirodigidus body in the system^ ens wsiUian three hunJbred and ' eiglUy-four thousand, fstlr hundred and sixty-two times greater. The (tremmfennce of the son contaiiw, not feioer than' two wuCtfons seven hundred and seventy^even thousand English imles; snd a degree of latitude, which on the parth amoants only to sixty-nine miles and a half, will on the am. (the circle being supposed in both instances to be diTided into three hundred and sixty degrees) contain sot Isas than about seven thousand seven hundred and ' yW^jr ii(ale#,s qoantity almost equal to the terrestrial axis. ftut.the immense volume (in cubic miles) which the •Qbr snrface includes amoants -to the following most ineonoeiTable quantity: 366,253,303,118,866,128, L e., three hundtefi and sixty-six thousand fwo hundred and Jffiy-two hillionsr three ^hundred and three thousand sue hundred and eighteen miUurtis, eight hundred snd sixty-six thousand, onehundred and twenty-eight. Notwithstanding the amasing. magnitdde of the sun, we bsTe slmndant'reflteon to believe.. that some of the fixed Stan a^e much hqgef; and jret we are told they are the work of God*s ForoKse! ^What a hand, to more^ form, and launch these globes! This expression is much more sublime than even that of the prophet: ^ Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out the heavens with a span, ssd comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure; snd weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance!** {sa. xl. 12. This is grand; but 4he hesstens being the work of God's finoxrs is yet more sublime.

The moofi- and> lAS'tMsTf] The sun is not mentioned^ becanse the hstfrens-— the iwon, planets^ and ftar8—«ooiM net haTe-aMptfed, hst he been present.

Those he wished to introduce Dtocause of their immenso ▼ariety, and astonishing splendour; and, therelbre, he sktMully leaves out the.sun, whichwould hsTS affovied him but one object, and one idea. To have mentioned him with the others would hsve been as ridiculous in astronomy, as^tfae exhibition of the top and bottom of a Tosser would he Iq pSrspeetive* Various critics hai:e endeavoured tt> restore the sun to this place: aiid. eveA Bishop ifori/tfy says, *flt is qertainly stnmge that the son should be omitted, when the m,oon and the stars are so particularly mentioned.** But with great deference to him, and to Dr. '^enni' cott,' who both show how the' text may be mended, I ssy> it wedld be most strange had the psalmist 'intra* duced the sun, for the reasons already assigiied. The Spirit of Ood is always right; our heads sometimes^.oat^hearts seldom so.

Which thou hast ordained] HAJJO conantah, which thou hsst prepared snd estsblished:' Made their req>ectiTe\ spheres, and fitted them for their places. Space to matter, and matter to t^^sce; all adjusted in nuoriier, weight, and msssure..

Terse 4. What is man] VIM no mdh enosh, wlesi is wretched, miseraUe man; man in his &Uen stste, full of infirmity, ignorance, and sin 1

That thoU art mindful of him t] TbAfr^ thou settest thy heart upon him,' keepest him continually in thy merciful view.., x

And the son of man] Ollt pi uden Adam,.kDd the son of Adam, the first great rebel; the fallen chOd of ^ fallen [Mirent. See the note on Job viL 17. Some, think eminent meir are here intended. What is man in common; what the fnost ^eminent men; that.thou'shouldst be Qiindful of them, or deign to visit them t. ' '

That thou visitesi himf]. By sending thy Holy Spirit to convinoe him of sin, righteousness, and judg* ment. It is by these visits that n^in is preserved in a ^vable state. Were God to withhold them, there would bo nothing in the soul of man but Vin^ darkness, hardness, corruption, and death.

Verse 5.- Thou hast made him a little lower than the^ angels] The original is certainly very emphatic: tS^n^KD fi3;^D.in*l0nni vattechasserchu meat-meelohim, Th6a hast lessened him for a little time from God, Or, Thou hast made him less than God for a little time.. See these passages explaiiied at large in the notes on Heb. ii. 6, &c., which I need not repeat here. '.

Verse 6. T%m mstdest him to have dominion] Jesus Christ, who, being im the form of God, and equal with God,/<9r a time emptied himself, and toade himself of no reputation; was afterwards highly exalted, and^had a name above every name. - See the notes referred to above, and those on. Phi|. ii. 6^9.

Thou hast put, all things under his feet] Though the whole of the brute creation yvas made subject to^ Adam in his state of~innocence;.ytst-it could never be literally said of li\iii,.tliat €k>d had pat ^ things ander his feet, or- thai he had dominioo oTorthe-i^ork of God's hands; imt all this is inost literally true of oar liord Jesos; apdto fain\^the apostls, Heb. iL 6, Ac, applies all these passages.. /« - "^

Verse 7. AU she^ and,oxisnl All domestic animalS| and those to be eipployed in agriadture.

Verse. 8. The fowl of the mir]. AXi these Wejw giren to man in the ' beginning; and ho has still a genersl dominion over them; for thvs saith the Lord: " The fear of yoa, and the dread of yon,, shall be open STery bbast of the SARTH^and apon every* rowj. of the AIR, aAd open all that IcoTrrH apon the earth, and upon all the fishkb of the sea; into youic hand are ^ey delivered;" Gen.ix..2. To this passage the psalmist most ol^iously refers.

Terse 9. O Lord our Lord\ The. psalmist eonchides as he began. Jehovah, oor prop and support!. his name is exoellent in ail the ewth. The name of Jisus is cetebrateil in almost every part of the habitable.globe; for his Gospel has 'been preached, or. IS in the progress of beiiig' preached, through the vehoFe world: BMe^ and missionaries are novr carrying liis name, and proclaiming his ialBS^tothe utmost nations of the earth.. >.

The whole of this PsidmrVid the seventh and eighth Verses hi particular, have beeii the -subject of much sjnrauaUzation in anci^tand modem times.. FshaD give two examples: one ^m the pious Bishop Home; the other from ^thc ancient- LaiinO'ScotieO'English PMdter, mentioned before. - ■

Vet. 1. Domine Beus jioster, ^obniam admirabile est nomen tuom in unurersa tbrra.

Par. The prophete in louing,. bygynqos and aiijs;. Lohl of si', thOw ert specialy our. Lord 'that diedeS the, loves the. Thi name that Ob thaioy and fha hfoB of thi naine Ihesu: for the cieaturs that tha kss noM and bought qwat itss wonderful. Als ss aaf withouten end: for Jiane suffis for to. knaw ri'sisa tura:; in qinlk wonder of the, snd> that in al the EiS, nought in a party anely.

Quoniam elevata est magnificencia toa Soper-Celos.

Trans.. Jot Ijifte^ es t|f tootc^sp ahSbnuKhSffff,. 'Par. That es at >say, thu ert mere woHhj tOLtie loued and wirchepyd than any AungeFor haly SstiS ' m^ thynlc.

Ver. 2. Ex. ore infancinm et lactencium perfeldsCi laudem, propter inimicos tuos, ut destruss et ultorein.. * » •,

Pai\ Nought anely thow ert loued of perilts hot of the mouthe^of baraes that spejEes'HoaghtT Zit there er tha that: ksh nought- speke the'wisddB of this world: and of soukand, the qwilk gla^dely fsssyvesthe lare of haly Kyrk theare moder. Thow haS nwie thi luf thug 'per(yte for thin oAmys } fsls cristen men; to sehame and to schende for thsi er wer thsa eir haythen men. That thu destroy the emny \ that es, he that es wyse in his awen egfaen';, and-.vdl nought be underloutQ til thi wil: and the venger: that es he - \hat defendes his Sjm; and sais that he.synnes nought'; or that his syn es les than other monnes.

Ver. 3. Quoniam videbo celos tuos, et opera digt' torum tuoram, lonam et Stellas qnss tu fundasli. '

Par, Tkow deatnias «1 that es contrarlmBd til tl^e; bot i in al thjrog confoarodi roe to do tlii wil; for.thi^ i Ml 86 'io^lyf witbonten end. TM hevens, that* es Ailgete and. Apgotcls the qwilk er werkea of thi iegen: that eSf thai er mode perfyte thurgh the Ualj Goat, of i|wam ea 8e?en gyftea. Of he be boi -A Spirit,, ala raani fydgera ^ in a hand. And i ^ aee JLhe Afoae, ibat ea haly ityrk i and the stemea that- ea ilk a ryghtwiie man by hyni aelfe, the qwiili the groondid in charite. * •.

y-€r. 4. Quid eat homo quod niemdr ea ejoa^ ant fiiaa baniiiua, qaoniam Tiaitas earn f

Thaw. <0^Ht es maic tlit tin trt menafU of If in: 'm am at.«an tn tlaa bisftcs If jn T.

'Pari Ala it war with despyte, he aaia tfumt erdelj. and ayafid, qwat ea he, that tbv haa mynd of hyp. Ala mjf aect fra t|^e;l <t the lest gyfandfaym hele aiid eae. of body. Or.#47a of man: that es^ he that es gastely, and berea the yitiage of heven. Qwat es he,. -in thon vi^tis bym. ' AJs present the qwilk es nere*. the for cleniles of lyf. Or son ofnu^i he ckUes prist, ifimgh qy^am he visitis m^nnes kynd.

Ver. -5'. Minoisti earn pauUo nunos'sb angelis: -glo^ ris at hpnore coronasti earn; et eonstitoisti eum super opera manuum tuaiiipi.

Par^ Crist was lessedfra aungeU^ for he was dede- ]y, and moght suffer pyne; but ^ littel; for in -other thyng, es he aboneo aungel^ thair Kyng and Sychtha thoa eoroood hym with ioy, tbat^ ea with brighthede af body, na mare sufferand pyne; and honour, for he eahonooraUe til al: and thou sett' hym aboueo aungels and id creatures.

Ver. 6, 7. Omnia subjecisti sab pedibu9 ejus: oVes et bores insuper et pecora campi.

Par, That nndjrr hys Lordschyp and hys mygh(, ia haa ceatyn al tfayng: tha er schepe that er.ianocentea, als well aongels als'meo. Ahd oxen, tha er, ifSTeland 4nen gast^y, in haly ICyrk, over that; and the ^al€j of thefeld; tHai er lufers of this werUi, weuand, in the fold of flescbly losts; noght in hillia of Yertoe; and so be the brode w^y thai ga. tikeB. ^

Ter. 8. Vcdtfcres cell et pieces maris qui peraro-

Par, Fowls ofhetferti er prowde men that wald' bee thaulr setil abouen al other. Fysches of the see, er coraytos men, the. qwilk in the ground of the werld, •ekea ertbdiy godes, that all stretes tn the see, sone wither oway. Al thir sal be undeflout til Crist ODther herta in grace, or thare in pine.

Par, Als he bigan, swa he endes, schewand that bygyning and endyog of al gode, is of Gode; and til bis loaing agh it for to be done.. '..

PSALM VIII. of the preceding Psalm,

The reader wil) no doubt bejstntck wi^h.the remarkable agreemeiit between the pious bishop of Norwich and this ancient translator and paraphra8t,>^particolarly on the 7th and 6th rerses. The language also is bk several respects singulalr. The partici|^e-6f the pre-^ sent tense, which we terminate with ingi is here slmoat always teftninated with and. So' speidnd, sowMandf g%ffarid^ sufferand^ fraveland, for speakinfg, ' sacking, giTing, snffering, travelling, d^o. ' - \ Aa'the ^otioipfe sigailfes'th^ cokiinmanee ot the aotion, the terminatiqn and seems nraoh more proper than ingf speak-andt i. e., continuing to speak; ^eednd, eofiHffuing ' to give; svffer-andi • soffer ' moris $ tratel^df trartA oi^, &ck There are^some words in this ancient MS. whiplixl have qiet noTwhc/^ else* i ' • ■ ■ •. ^ ' ' -

Akaltsis of the Eighth PsALik.

This Psalm begins and ends wtith a ffeAeral propomtion, figured by an exclaroscticrti, wbicb contains an* admifttion; for he adroifes what he cannot peffeotly comprehend. ** Q Ijord bur Loard^ Infw excellent is thy name in alt the earth! who hatet set -thy glory above the heavensr?* Such is the glory of tHy divinity, pother, and gogdn^ss, that (t fills not only the earth, but fraqscedds the vj^ry heavens, in which angels and blessed.spirits, though' they bnow.moch more than we. on e2^,'yet cannot comprehend thy Majesty,* which fills.all a%Rl'exeeeds all- ' ^

This geoefai proposition b^urg premised, the prophet desoends to some particular ifistancei^ itf wlrich the excellence of Ged^s name particularly appears; ^xA ^he mentions /^ree; I. InfanU. Hi The Aeaven^, with tfa!Br moon and siars, ' III. Mom Mmself^

I. The excellence of^Grod's power, divinity, and goodness, appears i;i infants { " Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast' ordained strength!" f. The sucking of babes, and speaking of young children, are evident den^onstrations of God^s exdellent name;^ for who tacrght the bsAm to eack, or the dunib infant to speak, but the' Lord,our Cfotfemor 1 - 9. The children that cried " Hosanna!" in the' temple, struck with the miracles of our Lord; while the priests, throagh tnvy, were dumh, 3. Or by habei may be meant 8uc}i as the worldly-wise repute no better than children ^nd fools,. By simple prophets, ignorant fish&men, hum6|e cimfessorst. and faithful martyr s^,

hath he stiU^d the enenttf tSsA the apenger i eonfouodejl the wisest philosofrfiers, and stopped the months ofderils. ^,

II. The next instance in which (he glory and et* cellence of God's name appears is the heavens, the moon. anct. the stars: - these are the works ef his fingers, and therefore called Thy heavens; whose amplitude is great, order and sorbs wonderful beauty admirable, matter durabte, and motions various jret stable; together with the stars, whose multitude is innumferablcf magnitude vast and various, order admirable, and influences secret and wonderful. The varying} yet ^gular and constant pourse of. the moony her changes, phasesf and influences on the earth and the waters, OA men and other.animals. AU^hese have been ordained by the all-wise'Gdd; and- the.terth and ita inhabitants are receiving continual benefits from thenL

When 'Leoruider these things, theiv I say to myself: III. ^ What is man, (hat tboa art mrndful oP him 1 or the son of mi^i,-that thon visitesl hiitfl*^ This is die psalmist's' Mtrjflf instance to manifest.Ihe ezeellehce of GocTs^provideiiee wfid government of the world, in which -he reflects upon man in hiB- baseness and io. his dignity.'

1. In his baseness, Tiieneas, and misery, signified by thQ question, Whal is tnant As if he shookl si^, ' What a poor creature! how miserable! What exeepC dost^ and* ashes, as to his body, when he was at the best; for he was iaken from the dust of the'grimndy eten when his soul' was formed. m ihe image Jf God* But now miserable dust while he Ures^vid to dust he shall return when he dies. What then is this miserable creature, of what wc6rth, that thoo^ so great, and so glorious a Being, who art higher- than the hea- Tons, sbouldat vM^ and iake ctare of him!. •

'9. This is his dignity; he can knqw, lore, senre, mod enjoy thee for er/Br; ahd thou settest thy Ioto

'/or kU hen^ts.

upon him above aU other creatures. This thou hast 'showed in the following ways:— ^

l.*In visiting him, and in- being mmdfuL of 1. Thou Tisitest him by conferring otf hun temporal blesisings. 2.. In illuminating his miMl by thy Holy Spirit. 3. In sending him thy lam and t|iy Oospel, by fnvphets and dpQstles. 4. lir giving thy i$0ft to take upoa himself hi\man nature, and to ^die, the just for the unjust, thaf thou mightesi bdng him to thyself, through whom he is to reeeive; of sins, and an - etiemai inheritance among the in fight. 5. In making him, £dleh and wretched as he' is, lord pf thy ereatiires; giving him ^ sbeepaBd oxeji, the beasts of the field, the fowls of keaveir, and the fish of the sea. 6. But this univ6if|al doninioii Belongs principally to 'the Lord Jeausi through mham. and 6yN whom all good comes to'man) and Id whoni^ glpry should be given,' world without 'end. - Lei 6od?s excellent name be exalted thnnigholtt all' the earth! •?

Damd praises Ood for the benefits which he has granted to Israel in general, and to himself in particukarf.l~9.

He encourages himself in the Lord^ knowing that he ^ will ever judge righteously, and be a refugfs far the distressed^ 7-10.. He exhorts the pe&ple- to, praise Ood for his judgments, 11; 19; prays for- matey and support-; and<hanks Ood for his jtidgments^ executed upon the heathen, 137I6. He foretella the

AJi>oat a hundred MSB, and printed editiom onile^ the words as above. Some translate n^ohpalamaikf ** coneeming the youth or infancy; the infkney of-tlii^ ^n.'* Several of the fathers have on this QHRp' ' interpreted it,.** concerning the incamiatum ofoor lJ||^' Indeed, the title afid the Psalm have beep eo varioqaly understood, that it would be as painful as it would be useless to follow the different oonfmentators, both ancient and raoderii, thrpugh all their conjeetnres.

Verse 1. / will praise iheer O Lord, with my wheia hean^[ And it is only when the whole heart is employed in the work that God can look npon. It } acceptance. f!

I wiU show forth] n'^aOK asapperah, ■ *' I will i bei' out, or reckon up;" a very difficnlt task, ynniSDJ niphleotheycha, " thy miracles;" supernatural interventions of thy p<^wer and goodness. lie whose eye is attentive to. the operatio'h of God% hand will find many of these. In the Vulgate this Psalm begfps wiUi Confitebor tibi, Domine, **I will confess nalp the^, Oi I/?rd,'* which my old MS. above quoted tnns- ' 0

The inscription to this Psalm in the Hibrkw text is, To the chief Musician upon Muth-labben, A Psalm of -David. The Ciuldke ha?, *' A Song of David, to be sung concerning.the Death of the Strong* Man, (or champion, msjin degabra,) who w^ht out between the Camps;'' that is, Goliath, on ^ account of whose defeat this Psalm has been supposed by many to have been composed. The date in the margin is several years posleriof ta the death of. Goliath.- See. the introduction,,■ ^

The VuLOATE:. " A Psalm of David, for the end; concerning the secrets of the Son.'*

The Syriac: " A Psalm of David concerning ChHst^s receiving the throne, and the kingdom, and defeating his enemies.'*.^ •. ^

The Arabic: '* Concerning the mysteries of the Son, as to the glory.of Christ, his resurrection, and kingdom, and the -destruction of all the disobedient."

Houbigant causes the Hebrew tiUe lo agree'with the Vulgate, Septuagint, and JEthiopic, by uniting niO Sy dl muth, *<* concerning ihe dealh/.'' into the 249 >

4 For ^.thou hast* maintained my light and my cause; thou 9atte8t in the thnme judging

5 Thou hast rcfbuked the lieaAen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast * pat out their Banie for ever and e^er. • ' *6^ O thou enemy, destructions ^re come to a perpetual, end: «nd ' thou hast destpoyed cities; rtheir memorial is perished witlT them.

7 ' But the Lord shall eudiire for ever: he hath prepared his tfrrone for judgment.

8 And' ^ he shall judge the world in righteoUanesSy h^ shall minister judgmont to the people iQ uprightness.

hies tlnis: « sal scj^b -iacs, tn tj^e, fn at nifflert, I sal tel at W tesntitrs; On which we find the Iblkywing carious paraphrase: '*Htfre the prophete wpekee agajne^ that gniccbes with ine cff il men:. and the trarel mod angois of gade inen« / sal,schrifi^ til. tke Lard; that is, I sal Infe the in al mj hett, hally gad«^rant it til thi luf: ^d gjrfasd na party tharof tjrl erroor, na to coTatyse: ne til fleschly Inf. A rfle enwir H is that some men says, that Cod dose BBzJgbtwisly ia mani thingeS in erth^: for tHam thynk. tet tay sold noght be done. Als I hard say nOght^ lang sytlien,* of a' man of religyon, and of grete fame, th^ qwen h^ >was in the see, in poynte to pcryshe, he •aid tyl 6ode: Lard tfau dos unryghtwysly if thou •ofyr os^tb perysch here. God jnyght haf answered tnd saidy My rightwysnes reches to sofer a beter man than thott ert to perisse here: for I hope, had he ben aiyghtwyse man, he had noght sayd swa: for al ar amyghtv^se, that hopes that any unrightwysncs may be in Codes wylle. Bot I sal luf the in al thi workes'; sad tel al thy wonders; that is, bathe that er senc, and that ar nogfat sene; visibels and invisibels.'*

• "^^pse 3*. •/ Ml he glad and rejoice in thee\ I am l^ajlhaS thon hast heard my prayer, and showed xne Btflaj; and J will rejoice in thee, in having thee as my portion, dwelling and working in my heart.

Verse '3. When. mine tfnemies are turned hack] It is a aura, sign of a nearly approachifig complete con- ^oest OTsr sin, when, by resistance to its influences, it begins to lose its power. That is the time to foUqw sa U know the Lord.

' Tfemo if Thou hast rebuked the heathen] We know ael'wliat this particularly refers to, but it is most probably to the Canaanitish nations, whioh God destroyed from off the face of the earth; hence it is said, Thimt hast jmt out their name for ever and ever, ITi toh)]^. leoUm vaedt endlessly. Here tZjSyr olam has its proper si^ification, without end. He who conteais it means only a limited time, let him tell ns wher/s the HiVites, Periktites, Jebusites, &c., now dwell; r aai when it is likely they are to be restored ^to Caiman.

refuge for the oppressed, a refuge Shiri^i R^ in times erf trouble.. ^ \ cTiiSST

10 And di'ey that * know thy ^^ name will put their tnist in thee j for thou, li^iio, hast not forsaken, them that seek thee.

1 1 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth inr Zion: "* declare kmong the people his doings.

12 ■ When he maketh inquisition- for blood, he-remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the • huinble.

. 13 Hav? mercy upon me, O Lord; conside^ tiiy trouble which I suffer of thein that hate me, thou that tiftest me up from the gatea of death:

Vtfrse e...Desiruciiorks are come to a perpetual eiii\ Rather, " The enemy Is desolated for -eY^'; for thoa hast destrqy^ <heir cities, and their memory is perished with them. ** Multitudes of the cities pf the Cadaahitea have per^ihed so utterly that neither name nor yestige' remains of them. *.

Verse 7. But the L^rd sfiall endure] All things shidl have an end but.Qod and holy spirits.

Vetse 8. He shdll judge the world^in righteousness] Air the dispensations of God's providence are founded in righteonsness and troth.

Verse 9. A refuge] 3 JTO misgab, a high place, where their, eaemies can neither reach nor see them. He who has God for his portion has all safety in. him.. Verse 10. They that know thy name] Who have aa experimental acquaintance with thy mercy, ^wiU put their trust in thee, from the conyiction that thou never hast forsaken, and never will forsake, therh that trust in thee.

Verse 1 1. Declare among the people hu doings.] It is ^e duty of aH those who have received the salvation of God, to reconmiend him and his salvation to the Whole circle of their acquaintailce< Christians, so called, when they meet, seldom speak about G.od! Why is this? Because they have nothing to say.

Verse 13. When he makfith inquisition Jhr blood] This not only applies to the Canaanites, Mpdbitest Ammonites, and Philistines, who shed. the, blood of God's people vnjostly, but to all the nations of the earth who, to enlarge their territory, increase theur. wealth, or extend ih^ir commerce, have made der structive wars. For the blood which such nations have shed, their blood Shall be shed. If man should. make no inquisition for this iniqoitbusly spih blosd, God will do it, for he remembers them; and the cry of the humbled, distressed people, driven to distraction and ruin by such wars, is not forgotten before him.

15 < Tjhe heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot Uiken.

16 The Lord is ^ known by the judgment K^AtcA heexecuteth: the wicked is snared. in the work of his owniiands. "Higgaiqn.^ Selah..:*..;. '

the gates of death; have mercy on, me, and.lift me up, that, being saved from the gates of death, I may show forth thy praise in the gates of the daughter, df Zion. The gates of death — an open grave, leading to a yawning heU, The gates of the daughter of Zionr-^ all the ordinances of God, by which Che soal is helped forward to heaven. •., * '

Verse l5. Ther hedthen are -sunk down in the pii] See on Psa. vii. 16! '

Verse 16. The Lord is knotmhj the judgment] It is not every casualty that can properly be Called ^ judgment of God, Judgment is hfs strangjs worlt; bat when he executes 4ts)u8 hand is plainly to be seen. ' There.are no ntatural causes to which such calamities can be legally attributed.

The wicked is srlared in the work of his own hands.] There is nothing that a wicked nian dobs that i6 not against his own interest. Ha is cpntinually doing himself hahn, and takes mote pains to destroy his soul than the righteous mto does 'to get his saved onto eternal life. This is a weighty truth; and the psalmist adds: Higgaion; Selah,. Meditate on this; mark it well. See on Psa. iii. 3. Some think tbat it is a direction to the musicians, something like our Presto, Largo, Vivace, Allegro, " Play (briskly and boldly; beat away; and- let sense and sotsrtd accompany each other."

Verse 17. The wicked shaU he turned into h^l] nSlKtfrS lisholahf headlong into hell, down into hell. The original iiBvery emphatic.

AU the nations that forget God.] They will not live in his fear..There, are both nations and individuals who, though they know God, forget him, that is, sire unmindful of him-, do not acknowledge him in their designs, ways, and works., These are all to ^e thrust down ihto hell. Reader, art thou forgetful of^ thy Maker, and of Him who died for thee 1.

Verse 18. The needy shall not alway be forgotten] The needy, and the poor, whose expectation 'is from the Lord, are never forgolten, though sometimes their deliverance is delayed for the greater confusion of their enemies, * the greater manifestation of God^s mercy, and the grei^r benefit to theipselves.

Verse 19. Arise, O Lord] Let this be the tiide in which thou wilt deliver thy poor people under oppression and persecution*

19 4-rise, 0 Lord; let not man prevail} let the heathen be judged in tliy sij;ht. v, -

. Verse 30. Put them in fear] OnVmiO HWT lin^ shithah Yehovah mXfrah lahem, " O Lord, plsice a teaeW among thein-,^' that they may know, they also are^ ascountable creatures, -grow wise unto iBalTatioo, and be' prepared for a state of blessedness.. Several MSSl iesA K110 morre, fear; but teacher or legislator is tlie reading of ail i^tie- versions except the Chaldee. - C«- verdale has hit the sense, translating thus: ^ l.at)tc, vet 8 Ac^oiemastet olicr tfiem; and the old Psalteri iktit %ottt a brsnjter ajt HatD nbolu^ t^m,

• That the nations may know themselves to be but mfii] JBhM €nosh;'.Let the Qentiles be taught by the preaching of thy Gospel tiiat they are weak and hdplesSf add stand in need of the salvation w^ch. Christ has provided for them. This may be the spirit of the peli- • tion. And this is marked by the extraordinary note Seliih; Mark ^ell, take notice. So. the term may bo understood.

" This wliole Psalm,'^ says Dr. Hoitiey,''^ seems iuk ^rally to divide into thfee parts. The first tefiVecaes make the first part; the nx -following, the* sipoiw; and the remaining /our the THIRD.

** The FIRST part is prophetic of the nttor extonaination of the irreligious persecuting faotioii.j The {ftophecy is delivered in the form of an ^ntvimev^ or song of victory, occasioned by the promise given in the fifteenth verse of the tenth Psalm; and through the whole of this song the psalmist, in the heigfat^of a proi^et^c enthusiasm, speaks of the threatened vea* geance as accomplished.

** The SECOND part opens with an exhortation (6 the people of God to praise him as the Aven^r of their wrongs, and the watchful Guardito of the helptesb; find, as if the flame of the prophetic joy which the. oracular voice had lighted in the psalmist^'s, raind was beginning to die away, the strain |s gradually loweiedi and the notes of triumph are mixed with soppUeatlDa and complaint, as if the mind of the psalmist were flittering between things present and to come, and made itself alternately present to his actual con4ition a^ his future hope; *

" In the THIRD part the psalmist-seems quite returned from the. prophetic enthusiasm to his natural state, and closes the whole song with explicit but cool assertioos of' the future destruction oif the wicked, and the deliverance of the ^rsecuted saints, praying for the ereiit.''

This Psalm cpBsists of^e chief parts t — /

L Darid's tbanksgiying,?er. 1« 3, amplified and ewtumed till the terUkrmtL \

n. An exhoEtation to- others to do the Uke^ver. II, aad the rtason of it, Ter.'t3.

IV. A reiQcmbraoce of God*8 mercj in the overthfbw of his enemieS) for which he sings a.' song- of - triamph^ from ver. t6~19.

I.- His profession of praise is set doKn in the twofirst Teraes, in Which we may perceiTC,- —

1. The matter of it» with the extent.: 4U the mar' veilmis wcrks of God.

,^.. That he Yaries the syncmyn^s.^ / wiU peaise- thee; i wil show forth;.'/ will be glad and rejoice in thee; I'wiU sing.^prmse to thy name, O thou Most Higkl in whi^h.there is'a c/tnuix..

3. The jninciple whence this- praise fldw^: 1. Not ftom the lips, bat Crom the hearts 8; From the whole heart: '^I^will praise thee with my whole heart.". • • '..;*,

This he amplifies iVom the -cause, which is doable:

1. That which outwardly moved Mm, and gave him a just occasion to do.so; the. pyerthrow of his enor ■den: ** When my enemies are turned ba:ck i" who wen not overcome by strength or valour, but by the pnsence and power of God.

8. They shall fall ^md perish at thy presence. Thoa wast the. chief cause of this victory; and, therefiire, deservest the thanks. Of this the prophet niakes a full narrative in thetwo next verses,, setting God as it were upon the bench, and doing the ofljce of Judge. 1. ''Tfaou inaintainest my right, and n^ cause.*'. 3. ** Thop sattest on the throne judging i?ght.'* 3. " Thoa hast rebuked the heathen.". 4. *' Thou hast destroyed the wicked; thou hast put oat their name for ever." In a whifd, Thou art a just Judge, and defendest the innocent, and puoishest their joppressors; And therefore I wiU praise thee. ".

'3. And.then, upon the con,^dence of God's justice and power, he.exults over his enemies^ O thou enemy, iestmetions are ^ome to a perpetual end. *Tby power of hnrting and destrcgf ing is taken away; the fortified cities in' which thou. dwelleist are overthrown; and their memory and.thine are perished.

4. Next, to make his asseition clearer; to the enemies' power he opposes that of God; his kingdom to their kingdom. But the Lord, in the administratioo of his kingdom, is, 1. Eternal: ^'The Lord shall endare for ever." 8. His ofilce to be Judge: " He hath prepared his throne for judgment." 8. He. is a miiversa} Jndge: " He shall judge the whole world." 4: He is a jost Judge: "'He shall judge in righteousness; he shall mipister judgment to the people in uprightness." 5. He is.a merciful. Judge: '' For the Lord wiir be a refuge for the oppressed; a refiige m tincA of trouble."

6. The eflect of this execution of justice. His people are oncoaraged: who are here described, 1« By theii knowing him; '^They thia^ knoiy thy name."

3. By trusting in him: " Will pat their trust in thee.^ 3. By their seeking him: " For thou,. Lord, hsst 'not forsaken them that seek th6e."

n. An exhortation to others to praise God: " Sing praises to the Lord:** The reason of thicr, 1. Be dweUs in Zion* d. He works gtaciousljr^here: " Sing ^hiises to the Lqrd that DWf lls in Zion: declare ivnon^ the people his DoiNod.". 3. That will destroy their oppressors; and avisnge their blood: '* When he maketh inqdisitlon for bloDd| he remembereth 'them; he'forgtfttetb not the ciy'df the humble.",

; ni. A petition for himself: " Have mercy on me, 0.Lord; consider my trouble," (&c.; for which 'he gires these reasons:-^

3. " Inr the gates of the daughter.of Zion."

4. That I may do it wifh joyful lips. -

IV. Then he sings forth his song, of triumph over his enemies^'— ^. '

'^. "In the net. which they hid are their own feet takeft.-". ' -

r3. This is.the Lord's work. Though wicked men did' doubt before of hi^ providence and justice; 'yet now " the Lord was known by the judgment whic& he executed."

4. For " the wicked wa^ snared in the w6rk of his own hands. 'Higgaion,.'Selah." Whicb is a thing exceedingly to be meditated upon, and no^ forgotten.

5. " The wicke'd shiAl be turned into hell, and all the peopld'that forget God." 1. Their breath is in their nostrils, and die they must. 3. F they repent net,' th^y ^all suffer eternal punishment. 3. However this may be, God's goodness shall be manifested to the irmocent: " The expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever."

' V. A prayer in.the conclusion against the prevalence of the heathen/ in which he shows great earnest ■ ness and faith: —

1. "Arise, O Lord; let net man prevail." 8. " Let the heathen be judged in ^y sight."

3. " Put them iff fear, O Lord!" Now they fear nothing, being in their h^ght of prosperity. They are insolent and proud; manifest thy Divine presence to their terrer.

4. For then* they will know themselves to be bat men — ^infirm -and mort^.creatures; and not- insolt over- thy people, nor glory in their own strength and' prosperity.

The original word has been translated teacher, laW' giver, governor. Then send them, 1. A teacher, who may make. them wise unto salration. 3.- Alawgiverp who shkll rule them in thy fear. '.3.* A governor, tbul shall t^e and reduce to order their fierce and savage nature. Let the nations be' converted unto thee. This will be the noblest triumph. IiCt their hearts be conquered by> thy mercy. And thus the Psalm will con** elude as it began. To the Conqueror, on whose vesture and thigh is the mime written, KING or KIN039 4)|i) LOHD OF LORDS.

The psaimUt eomphini to God -of the oppressioru which the' poor suffer from the wicied -moHf whom^kar^fk scribes qs the hater of the poor, 1, 3; pr<mdr 3; ^ne who will not seeh God, 4; and it regmrdless of kit ' judgmenlSf ^; self-confident, 6; blasphemous and deceitful, 7 ', itrives.by subtlety and treacherf t& dasirojf the poor, 8-10*; and supposes that God it regardless- of his conduct, 11.' The psalmist adUeamestiy om God to prosortm the poor and humble, and cast down ihc oppressor, 13-15.. He foresees thai his is heard; that judgment ^^ill bo executed, and the poor delivered, 1(^18,

O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? ^'. 2 *.The wicked in to pride

doth persepute the poor: ^ let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined

6' He sittetkin the lurking places of the tillages: " in the secret places doth he vinrdi^ the innocent:' ^ his eyes afe ^ privily set afainil the poor.

4 The wicked, thrpugh the pride of his.countenance, « will hot seek after God: ^ God is lioX -in nil his i thouglits. ' " 6 His ways, are always' grievous

NOTES ON PSALM X. Verse 1. Why standest tliou afar off,'^- I/^d f] This Psalm makes a part of the preceding in fhe Fu/- fate and Septuagint; and in four of. Kemiicott^s and)e RossCs 'MSS. * It seems to belong to tb^ iime of the captivity, or the return of the captives. It was probabljr'made in, reference to $anballat, and the other enemies of the Jews. There is a great similarity between thi9 and Psal ms xiii., xiv., ixzv., and liii. In these, «s Calmet remarks, we find the same, complaints, the same sentiments, and almost the same^expressions. •. - God is. represented here <4L8 Manding at some distance, behokling the oppression of his people, and yet apnurently oisregarding it.

Verse 9* The wicked in his pride\. On.no principle of nature or reason^ can we account for a wicked inan persecutilig a htanble follower of 6<Hf.because of his religion. The devil bates godliness \ and ^e wickisd idan hates it also, beoaase the devil is in his heart. Verse.3> Boasteth of his hearCs desire'] Boasts among his fellows how often- he has'gratified snch ^aqd such passions, in such and such circumstances. This shows the excess of a depraTod and imbruted spirit. He who eao* boast of fiis iniquity,' is in the broad road to perdition. Should tnoir a one repeat and turn to God, it would be equ^ to any miracle.

Blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.] Or, He blesseth the copetous, he sAhorreth the Lffrd: Tbbse who are lilte himself he commends,, and with them lie associates; and tk^y abhor the Lord — they have a mortal hatred against every thing thai is holy; and they are under the full influence of Ihat earnal mind which is enmity to the Lovdf «4»

Terse 4. WHl not seek afler Qod] H« is t^ proud U» bend hia knee before his JuiJge; he ia Um haughty to pat on sackcloth, a:n<t lay himself in tho dust; though without deep repentance and hamilialjaQ be must ^ without doubt perish e re r lastingly.

VorsB §. 'His ways are always grtevous] Or, Ht ii Iratailing' in |Hii>f to bring fprth ini^iiy at oM Ab^i.. He is full of lust,. or * trre^/iir and- milgiy. desires} he conceives tMd brings forth sm-; wad tik being finished, time, place, aqd opportunity ooaeonriligt dedth is soon brought forth.

Thy judgments, nie far above out ofhis.s^ht] Ha is so blinded with sin, that he canitot see Jth^opeiiatiftia' of God*s liand.

He puffeth at them.]' He whistles at them 4 inadta 'Grod,*and despises men>. He overthrows th«n widi his breath's be has only to give Orders, and tliej are destroy Of}. " Bring me tbe^iead of Giafler,^ said an Asiatic despot. The h^ was immediately brmq^lBt! No trial, no judge, no jury; but the'^despoC^s yriU «nd caprfce.

Verse 6. I shall not be moved] * I likve whatever I covet. I hold whatsoever I h4ve gotten/ I bave money and goods to procure me every gratilloatum.

Verse 7. His mouth if full of cursing, and deeeiif and fraud] What a finished character!' A bias— phemer, a deceitful man, and a knave I

Verse d. Hesitleih in the lurking' places] hi tlua and the following ve?^ there appeara to be an allujalfR to espionage, or seitUi^. ^f spies on a man's eondoet; or to the, conduct of an assassin or private tnurderer. He sitteth in lurking places — in Mgret places;r. hii ityei-'o^piea-^patw.fnw/y set; he lietRn ymU seeretiff

•^ij^^ jgf* 9. He » lieth in wait? secretly as a. Hon in his den: he Ueth ih wait to catch the pooir: he doth catch the poor, when he- draweth' him into.his net.

id « He- croucheth, bnd huihbletli ^himself, duff tlie poor may fall *by his strong ones.

1 1 He hath said in his hearty God hatli for? gaaen:.^ Jie hidepi his f^ce*; he will never sec if. • -

13 Wherefore doth- the wicked contemn Gqd?

lie hath Said in his heart, Thou wilt not requite it.

hb dodi aUek the poor, when he draweth him intd hie He b like a hunter that hiys his traps and gins, his pit», oeu his nets; and when the prey falls he destroys its Jife7 ' • '. •

1 10, Ih eroueheik] Of the ^offing, mocking, I and in^Uums condact of SanMlat, TM(^r the fourth imd sixth ehaptJUrs of Neheahtindutt proof; and possibly the allusion The lion squats down and -gathers liim- '- Of ether, that ho may make the greater spring-.' H^^ mid 11. God hath ^/orgoiien] He has cast off ^HW fieopie, and he wUl ne^er more re-establish them.. ^H^JSbiU<t//af thought.

Verse 1 3. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn Qod f] How is it that the Lord permits such persons to tritmph IB their iniquity? The longauffering of God leadeth 4hem to repentance.

Verse 14. Thou hast uen it] Nothing 'Caa escape Aj notice. Thoa hast not forgotten thy jnstice, though judgment is not speediTy executed oh aa otU wotIe.. Bpt thon wilt requite it- with thy hand. By thy fmaer thou wUt cast down and destroy the wicked. * ^nitf foor eommitteth himself unto thee] 'To thee he has giren up bis body, his soql, and his cause; with •dw full conviction that thou who art the helper of faikerieMj will not forget him.

Verse 16. Break thou the ami] Bestroy his;?oto«r, depiire him of his if^uence, that he may be no longer aUe to oppress.

Seek out his wickedness till thou find none.] All Ui paUic haunts and private ways shall be inrestigated; thoo wBt bring all. his villanies to light, and continue to iniliet punishment, while there is a crime to punish. Or, ^Continue to judge and ^punish transgressors, till Sol one is to bejGMind." This agrees with ths foUow-^ isg vcise.

With thy hand: the poor * com-.Artaxerxi*. mittieth "^ himself imto^ thee -, ' thou. ^'iT^iISl^* art the helper of the fatherless. - 20.

15^ Break thou the arm of the wicked and the eVil man: seek out his wickedness till thou findngne.'".

1 6 * The LoRp. is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished. out of his laiid.

17 Lord, thou hast heard the ddsirer of the humble.: thou wilt * prepare ^ thcii: "heart, thou wilt cause thine ear^o near:

18 To '"judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the- jeardi may no more ** oppress.- '

Verse 16..,The Lord iaJting for eveii^ He lu», and ever will haver the supreme power.

^ The heathen aii perished out of his land.] They are all either cot off or converted. This may refer to the CanaanUes..What a mercy, that we can say this of oar ewn coontfy! Onc6 it was entirely heathen; npw not one heathen fs^mily in the. whole land.

Verse 17. 'Lord, thou JSdst hearZ] Thou h$ist not permitted thy tempted and afflicted ft^wers to pray in- Tain.. ' *

Thou tfifc prefiare their heart] See. the economy of the grace of Gpd; 1. God prepares'ihe heart; 9. Suggests the prayer; Z. Hears what is prayed; 4. Answers the petition. Jle who has got a cry in hitf heart afler God, may rest assured that that ciy proceeded from a Diving preparation, and that an answer will soon arrive. No man ever had a cry in his ho^irt after salvation, but from God. He who continues to cry shall infallibly be h^ard.

Verse 18. That the man of the earth may no more oppress.] I believe, the Hebrew will be better translated thus:. *^ That he may not add any more to dxyre^ away the wretched man from the land.*- Destroy the influence of the tyrant; and let him not.have it a^^ in his power to add even pne additional act of oppress sion to those which he has already committed.

How many for the sake of their religion, and because they would serve God with a pure conscience, fiave,'by wicked hrds, prbud and arrogant land owners^ ■ been driven off Iheir farms, turned out of their houses, deprived of their employments, and etpbsed to wretchedness! While they served the devil, and were regardless of their souls, they had quiet and peaceable possession) but. when Jthey tunied to the Lord, and became sober and industrious^ attended the means of grace, read their Bible, and were frequent in prayer, Chen the \nle man of* this earth drov^ them from their dwellings! In the si|^ of sucl^ Philistines,, jiiety towards God is.the highest of crimes. What a dreadful acoounLmust these g^ve to $he Judge of the father* less end Ike oppressedl

* This Psalm divides itself into three parts:

I. A complaiot against tlie enemies of tkfi godly.

II. A narration of the enemies* malice. - III. A petition to be delivered from theml

I. h He complains of God^s al^nee, which is qaickened by the qu(e8tion, 1^ -'< Why standest thou afar off?'* 3. " Why hic|est thou thyself in times of trouble r rer. 1..

II., He complains of ih6 enemies: <*The witfked ip his pride doth persecute the poor,**

3; The wicked man glories in mischufi which is a sign of extreme' jpalice-: *' The wic\ed' bMsteth of ^is l^eaxt^s desire," ver. 8.

3. He applauds and encourages others in. their rapine and spoH, to which they, are moved by their piw'eiousness; *< He blesseth.the covetous,"' rer. -3.

4. }Ib contemns God ju^ man, 1. Man. He nev^ thinks of being called to an account; God's " juogments are out of his sight, and he puQTs^ his enemies." 8. Qoo. Him he^reverences not i <* He will not seek after Gbd; neither is he in all his t)ioughtSi**^4v 5.

6. He Utes in profane security,: '* He -saith in hifl heart, I shall never be moved; I shall ' hevejr be in adve^it^;" I am elevated beyond the reach of misfortuM, ver. 6* ■ •

6. He is full of Ifklsehood i&nd deceit: ** His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and frai^d." He will not stick at ah oath. He will curse hin^lf; and take God to witness in his exactions, tha^ he is. doing nothing but what 4s right, v^r. 7.

8, He ts a cloee atheist: ''He hath said in hit he8rf;'Gdd hath forgotten; he hideth his face, and will neVer see it:" which is the cause of liis cmetty, false* hood, security, &c., ver. 11.

I. 'That thereby Qod would assert his own glorf. For why should the wicked be'suffered thus U> Uuipheme 1 *' Wherefore doth the wicked contemp Goi^ 1 He hath said.in.hi8 Hearti 'Ehou wilt not require it," ver. IS..

6. The second ^rgunient i3 taken horn God*s ftotere and work, ' \,*ln punishing wicked men. 9. In deifending the helpless. *' Surely thou hast teen it; for thov heholdest mischief and spite to requite it,** &c.« ver.' 14.

Then he returns -to his prayer, and enforces hie second argument takeiiP>from xMe^ustite and oJtceoCdod: ' 1. That he would deprive the wicked of bis j^ver and strength: " Break thou the arm of the wickcfd**- seek out his wicked oqss till thou find none," ver. 4$* Let none, escape — let them appear no more.. '

9. That henvould hear aQd defend the rightcona. Be io thy people what thou hast been in times pest. 1. "The Lord is King" for ever and ever,^ -9. H« had erpeUed the Canaanites before -them: ''The heathen are periled out of the land.** 3. " Ti|oa hast, heard the desire, of the humble," ver. I69 17.

Upon which he concludes wit£ profession of strong lOonfidence:«-^ * t. " Thou wilt prepare the 'heart of the hnmUe,** ' 9. «* Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear." 1. To tho safety of the oppressed:. " To judge the fatherless and the poor," ver 18. 3. To the ruin of the oppreaeor: " That the man of the earth may no more oppiofs;** that Re may have neither power nor influence left fay which he may be a- plague; to the uprigfal, or a Slip* porter of infidelity, rer. 18, *

David's friends advise him to flee to the wilderness from St^tTsfiiry, 1-3. He answers thai, honing put hts trust in God, knowing thai he forsakes not those who cihfid^ in him, and thai he will punish the ungodfyt he is 'perfectly saHsfled thai he shall be in safety, 4-7. - '

• TN the Lord put I my trust: *^how say ye to my soul^ Flee ae « bird to your mountain? X

NOTES ON PSALM Xl! The inacription ia. To the chief Musician^ A Faalin of David, By the chief muskian we may understand the master-singer; the leader of (he band; the pefkon who directed the choiri hut we know that ihe.wovd has been tranalat^, To (he Oonqueror; a^

2. For, lo, «the wicked bend. ^^«^;'^- ^Aetr bow, * they - make ready iHeir arrow upon the string, that they may •privily shoot at the upright in heart.

deep ai^l myatica) aeqles hace been attributed to if, with which I believe the text has nothing tp do., • • Verse 1. In the Lord put Irjuy trust.: haw say ye} Some of David's friends seem to have given him this advice vhen they saw Saul bent on his.destnieuoa: *' Fine as a bin{ to ypur mountaM);** you "iMtv^jM)! a e moinent to loqe; your ruin ii^ determined; escape for yoHT Kft; get off as sxciftly as-pMsibl^ to the hilleoaalry, to fome x^AxaA inaceessible fortretees best -known to yjbarself; and.bide yonrself the^ firom the eraelty of Saul. - To which advice he answers, ** In tltf Loid put I my-lmst;''« shalt I actt as if | were ettaeioos of evil, and 0^ mj wicked* deeds were UkAf- to be discoTered 1 Or shall I act as one -who belieYes lie is fovsaken of the ph>teetion of Ih^ A\* ■igkty I No: I pot my trust in him, and lam snre I shall never be confounded.

Versed, For^ hf th^ wicked bend their ^bow] Perhaps these are more of the words pf- his advisers: Every, thing is ready for thy destruction; the atrow that is to pierce thy heart is already set on. the b^wsbing; and the person' who fiopes to despatch ]thee ii coneealed in ambush.

Terse 3. If the foundations be destroyed] If Saul« who is the vicegerent of God, has cast aside Kis fear, and BOW regirda neither troth nor jostic^, ^ nghteoos man -has no security for his life. This is at present tbj case;- therefore flee!' They h&ve utterly destroyed the foaodatiofn; (of truth' and. equity;) what can right- * edmoess now effect? Kimchi supposes thid' refers.to t^frieMis who were tnurdered by Deeg, at the com^- mand of Saul. The prie^ are destroyed, the preaervera of knowledge and truth; the' 'Divine worship ii overthrown; and what can the righteous man work! These I think to be also the words of DsTid^s advisers. To all of which he answers:-^

Verse 4. The Lord'w in his holy temj^e\ He is still to be sought and- found in the place where^ he hto segisiered liBi name. Though the priesta be destroyed, • tLe (jiod in whose worship they were employed still Uvea, and is to be found in his temple by his upright wwshippers. And he tries the heart and the reins of bo<h sinners and saints^ Nothing can pass wit^hoot his notice. I may expect his)>resence in Khe temple; he haia not propoised to meet me in the mountain.

Verse 5. The Lord trieth the rigJUeouji] He does not abandon them; he tries them to show their faithfubess, and he afflicts them for their good.

His soul hateth.] ''■ The wicked man must ever be abhorred of the Lord; and the violent man — the de- •tiroyer and murdereif-^-^A^ sotU hateth; an expression of uncommon strength and energy: all the perfections of the Divine nature have such in abomination.

Verse 6. Upofi the wicked he shall rain] This is a •manifest allusion lo the destruction of Sodom aod Go* morrah.

Brimstone]. MBlted by the fire, 'for their drink! This shall be the portion of their cup.

A horrible tempest] DTSj^S? nn riioch zUaphoth^ *' the spirit of terrors.** Suflfering much, and being threatened with more, they shall be iilled' with confusion apd dismay. -My old MS. has gost of stprmts. See at the end. Oi:, the blast of destructions. This may refer to the.horribly suffocating Arabian wind, called p>*^ Sritum.

Mohammed*, in describing his Ae//, saysj ** The wicked, shall drink 'nothing there but hot stinking wati^; breathe nothing but burning winds; and eat nothing but the fi^t of the tree- zakon, whioh shall be in their bellies like burning pitch.^. HeU enough!

. The portion of their cup.] Cup is sometimes put for plenty^ for abundance; but here it -seems to be used to express the quantiim of sorrow and misery which. the wicked shall have oh the earth, ^ee Psa. Ixxv. 8; Isa. Ii. 17, 21, {^2^2.3; Jer. xxv. 1ft, xlix. 12; Xiam. iv. 21, 22. It is also i^sed in reference to ' the sLfflielions of the righteous, Matt, xx. 22, xxvi. 39, 42; John xviii. 11.

'Of yap eneKXtsaoifTo Bfoi d£ih>tdi ppojoioi^ Zweiv axvvfitvov^'^ onrpi 6e t* OKtfdee^ iioi. Aom yap re niiotr KarcucetaTai tv-Aioq ovdti Atjpovy old SiSuot, KOicov* irep^ de tauv ■ 'O pev Ko/ifii^ac dw^ Zevf reprnKepawocr

Such is, ajas! the gods*' severe decree, They, only they ^are blessed, and only iree. ' ^ ■ Two urns by Jove's high throne have ever stood, TJbe source of evU^ one, and ene of good. - Frotn thence the cup of mortal man he, fills:' Blessings' to these; -to these distributes ills. To most he mingles both; the wretch* decreed To taste the bad unmixV, iscurs'd.indeed. — Pope.

• • Verse 7. The righteous Lord loOeth righteousness] He loves that which resembles himself. His counter nance—^\i\s face — is ever open and unclouded to the upright. They always enjoy his salvation^ and know that he is pleased* with them.

The preceding yme my old M3* thmslates send paraphrases thus: — '

Par. — He JstX xayne on synful in this weiid, inar^9, that ed wiked Lare I'fjfre is covatyse: MiiM/ane, that CUB stynk of il werkes: zxt^'gost of siofmis, that es a stormy thoOgh that es nvithoutyn rest in Ihesu Crist," and ay es trav^ld with the wynd of^the deTol. Or ihe gast of stpnnys, ea the last depeftyng of syiiful fra ryghtwis men, and there fyre, hninston,.jitarm, eir part of the dhalyce* of thaim: that es, thai ar thatr pari in pyne. He cals thair pyn^ a Cop, for. ilk dampned man bal drynk of the sorow of Heir eftir «the mesure of hysSyn. Behald the pynes of wikid. men: fyrst, God raynes upon thaim snares, that es qwen he suffers faU prophetes that. comes- in clathiog of melcenes; and'withinnen er, wers.tfaan wolves, to desayf thaim thorgh errour. Sythen the fyre ' of ^ lyehtty, and'Co?atys wastes al the.gude that thaihaf.done: eflirward for stynk of il werkes thai er cast^n fra Crist, aind al his Halpws, and thea er in l»Bntei|ce* of dome; as in a'grete storme dryven in til.a pitte Qf He], to hryn in fyre. withq^^tyn ende. This. es the entent of this wers.

Verse 7. jor rj»0ttD(s es %m:tn anH |e lnU» xvffiVaalBnts; ebennes sato Qe Utt. ef j^sm]. Yf ge ask qwy ourq lorde yelded pyne to synful? lo ^ere ananswere; jfor he es ryghtwis. Als so- if ge wil wilt qwy he gifes iqy til.gude men t Lo. here an afiswere^ for he lufed ryghtwisnes: that es, ryghtwis men, in.the qwifk er many ryghtwisneses: thof ane" be the ryghtwisnes of God, in the qwilk al- ryghtwise men er paceenel. Evenes saw his face:. that.es, eyenes es sene in' his knawyitg inence, both the party s of gud and il. This es* ogayne wryches at sais. If God saf me noght, I. dar say he es unryghtwis: hot 4hof thai say it now, qwen he suffriiB wryched men erroor in thought, and worde and dede; thai sal noght be bo hardy to speke a worde qwen he comes to dampne thaire errour. Botwho so lufes hers, and haldes/j^hat na.unet4ip may be in hym, qwam so he dampnes, or qwam so he saves, he ssd 4iave thaire mygbt to stand and to 8{>eke gude space. Now er swilk in a wonderful wodenes, that wenes for grete wordes to get ought of God.

The former part of this Psalm, Fiee as a hird, Ac, this ancient author considers as the voice of heresy inviting the true Church to go away into error; and. intimates that those who were separating frotn haly kyrk'were very pure, and unbjameiCble in all their -conduct; and thai ^mountain or hill, as he translates it, signifies eminent virtues, of wh^ch they had an appa-' rently good stock. So it appears that those called il^reftc^ lived '4hep « holier life- than those called. Aa/<m» or saints.

This P«Ki]m is composed dialoguewise, betwixt Da^ rid and those of his counsellors that persuaded him to 250 '

Hj to'so^ie tplace 6f safety ifom SaqlV Airy; which, if he did not, he was in a desperate eonditioD. The Psalnthas tioo parts.

1. The greatness of <tbe. danger X am in: ** For, M, ihe wicked bend their bow,^

S. The want of aid; therela no hope of hdp. For the ffnindatians are cast doutn^,.Saul has hrokeft afl the leagues and covenant^ he has made wi^ yoa# He ^aS slain the priests wiUi the sword, iias taJieB thy fortresses, laws subvei;ted. If thou stay, peiosh thou inus^: some righteous inen, it is true, are left; hot wha^ pan the righteous do f

. II. To these their arguments and counsel David returns. his answer in a sharp reprehension. I UXL you,

1.' "I trust Xn God: how say you then to my soal.** And h^ gives his reasons for it (rom the sufficiency aqd efficiencjr of God. *.

1. Present 'in his holy tempU; he can defend: '. 3^ He is a great King,.tod his throne is. in heaven,,

4. He is a just God, and this is. seen- m his pxo* ceedings both to the just and unjust... L J^e tri^ the ^righteous, by a fatliedy and -gentle correcliop. 8.." But the wicked, and him that loveth Tioieiiee,*bii soul hateth." *. ^...

These two last, propositions he expounds soTeraOj,. and begins. with the toicA^if. '.-.

1. ** Upog the wicked he shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone,** dto. 1. He shall rain upon 'them when tbey leasl think of it, even in the midst of their jollily, as rain Gdls on a fair day. S. Or, He-shall rmn i^mm the vengeance.- when he sees good, for.it, rains tkU alioays. Though he defer it, yet ittrib rainl. 3, Tfe punishment* shall come to their utter subversion, as Iha fire on Sodom, &c. 4. This is the portioQ of tUi^. cup, that which^ they must eitpect from hun.

3. But ^e does good to the just.: << For the.'rig^,eou8 Lord loveth righteousness ^ his cOttAtenanci^doCli behold the upright.** He hears him good.wiUj and is' careful to- defend him.