Commentary on the Holy Bible

I have given Ihe whole of the translation and comment of this Psalm from this ancient Psalter, as a curioni specimen of ihe doetrine and language of our $05

ANALlpfi or THE gU^TKlflTH F8AI.M.

Michtam D^pid ^ DaTid'n precious jewel, or Psalm of gold; Ulerally to be underatotMt of Davidt but primarily and principally of ChtJat, Acts ii., whom he calls T'Dn chasid^ God'a Huly One, ver* 10. And foretells his pa^ion, resurrectiont and ascensiont ver- U, 10. IL

L The petition begins Ihe Psalra. It ia for preser' ration: *^ Preserite me, O God/^ Ke«p me to the kingdom both temporal and eternal that thou hast pfomised. Guard me - guide me; keep tne. To induce the Lord to do this, he produces his reaaona: —

1. His tonfideiite: "For in thee I trual." This IS ft powerful plea; for to trust God ia Ihe highest honour we can do him; it acknowledges him »s Sovereign.

2. itia relation: ^^ 0 my soul, tboa hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my God."

3. For this I would thow myself tbankful, and return lUe best of my best. Bui what can I give^ save ra ffa c* rut' ffuti^, " thy own things from thy own property?" Mi/ goods or goodness, my bene fie euce or bounty, is nothing unto thee. Sacrifice thou need est ]i()t, V&tt. h B, nor art dehgbted tn them: but meicy tlirm requirest, HoBt'a, vi, 6.

4. Then I will seek out thy receivers t '^ Thy saints that are in the earth** The family of the saints w ere the* object of David^s bounty » and his delight. But my Ulierality and charity shall extend to the saints that are in the earthy and unto such as are excellent ^ " in whom is all my delight**'

* 5« But as for Ihe wicked men and idolaters, I have no delight in them.

These be points out by two characteristics: —

L They *' hasten after another god," or endmo another gnd. They spare ao coat, but are lavish in endowing their gods; " Israel, part with thy jewels," &c.

3. They oflfer their children to Molech: " Their driuk-olTeruiga of ai^oon will I not offer J* On tbejsa accouDla:^

1. " Their sorrows shall bfl multiplied." They shall he gTicvoualy punished,

3. I will not participate with them: *^ Their ofier* Ings I will not oifer."

3. They are objects of my detestation: '* I will not take up their tiamea into my lipa."

6* He gives another reaaon why he should show himself so thankful to God and bountiful to his eaints^ — God's great bounty and liberality to him,

1, That God bad given him a satisfactory portion: *' The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of sny enp."

2. That God defended him in it i *^Thou mainlainest my lot."

3. That it was a fair portion i " The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places,*' &c.

IL The second part of this Psalm is David's THANKsoiYiNo. It bcglns wilhf '^ I will htess the Lord," ver* 7, not only for the tentporal hleasinga jnentioned before, but for ihe following spiritual bleaaings I —

L For Ihe illumination of bis mind; that I may understand the thing thai is right: ** The Lord hath given me counsel/'

3* For the sanciifying influence on his heart ^ ^* My reins instruct me in the night seasons.*^ When he was most retired he seemed to hear a voice within him, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

3. For his confidence and watchfulness: *^ I have set the Lord always before me," 1 do not forget my God; and he does not forget me.

4. For the consciousness he had of the Di^ae presence: " The Lord is at my right hand;*' always ready to help and support me.

6, For his power to presence: ^' I shall not he moved." Satan may stand at my right hand to resist and trouble me; Zech. iii. I; but God is on my right hand to assist and comfort me; therefore^ " I shall not he moved." While Unvid prays and trusla, God supports; and while God supports, Sataii caonot conquer.

6. For hta in war J happiness: *' Therefore, my heart is glad." Wicked meft rejoice In t^^me^w^; but David rejoiced in heart. He was all happy". His heart, glory, flesh, spirit, soul, hoJy — all were overjoyed; and the reason was the prospect of his r^Mur^ rection.

I. ** My flesh shall rest or dwell in hope.** 1. In thia world, as in an tnn; 3. In the gravCf as in a rep(ysiiory; Z, In heaven^ as in an endless mansimi-

3. " Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,'* Thou wilt not suiTer death to have a final triumph \ my Hesh shall revive.

3. ** Neither wilt thoti wiffer thy Holy Okjk to iee corruption;" meaning the Messiah^ who should d«s<3cnd from his family. Chhst^s resuriection la the cnuofi and pledge of oars.

7. He is thankful for the promise of a foture life, which is here illustrated: —

3. From the hononr: "At thy right hand.**

6. From the ratise: " Thy presence.** The eight of God I the beatific vision. ^^ Tbou wilt show me the path of life: in Ihy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

For the application of the whole Psalm to Ckrisi alone^ see the preceding notes,

Dtmfitmplares the succour of God against Ms enemies; and professes his integrity and determination to liot i0 i^oi's g^ory^ 1. He fnwfs for support^ and expresses strong confideiu:e in God^ 5-^; describes the mmhee and crusty of Ms enemies^ and prays against them^ 10—14; receives a strong persuasion of support mnd final victory ^ 15.

S Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3 Thou hast proved mine heart; ^ thou hast Tisited me in the night; ^ thou hast tried me,

TVs tide is, A prayer of David; in which there is mrthfrg tl^ requires ezplanatioD. David was most prabfbly the anthor of this Psalm; and it appears to Jwve been written about the time in which Saul had earned his persecution against him to the hij^hest piteh. See 1 Sam. jucvii. The Arabic calls it " A pnjer of a perfect man, of Christ himself, or of any eee redeemed by him.^^ Dr. belaney, in his life of DUTJd, sapposes that this poem was written just after paitmg with Jonathan, when David went into exile. ■

Verse 1. Hear the right"] Attend to the justice of my eaose, pnST TWTV Yehovah tsedek, righteous Jehof^. ^ O righteous Jehovah, attend unto my cry.^^

Goeth nbt out of feigned lips.^ My suppUcatioB-4s ■aeere: and the desire of my heart accompanies the voids of my lips.

Veiae 9. My sentence come forth from thy premmed^ Thou knowest my heart, and my ways; judge me as thoa shall find; let me not fall under the judg-

Z#f ikuie eyes behold the things that are equal,'] Thoa knowest whether I render to all their due, and whether others act justly by me. Thou canst not be deeeived: do justice between me and my adversaries.

Verse 3. Thou hast proved mine heart] Thou well koowest whether there be any evil way in me. Thou hist given me to see many and sore trials; and yet, tluoogh thy mercy, I have preserved my integrity both to thee and to my king. Thou hast seen me in my most secret retirements, and knowest whether I have plotted mischief against him who now wishes to tike away; my life.

Thou hast tried me] una'^Y tseraphtani; Thou hast put me to the test, as they do metals^ in order to detect their alloy, and to purify them: well expressed by the Vulgate, Igne me examinasti, ** Thou hast tried me by fire;*^ and well paraphrased in my old Psalter,

— Thu examynd me the lykkenyng of the foumas, that purges metal, and imang al this, wykednes es nout fimden in me: that en, I am funden dene of syn, and

and shalt find nothing: I am g c'Jir' wse purposed that mf mouth shall Sauii, Regin

men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of llie destroyer.

5 * Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps ^ slip not.

6 » I have called upon thee, for thou will

SO ryghtwis. — He who is saved from his sin is right wisfi; he has found the true wisdom.

My mouth shall not transgress.] This clause is added to the following verse by the Vulgate and Septuagmt: " That my mouth may not speak according la th^ works of men, I have observed difficult ways beca,use of the words of thy lips.^' That is. So far from doing any improper action^ I have even refrained from all words that might be counted inflammatory or seditions by my adversaries; for 1 took thy word for the regulation of my conduct, and prescribed to myself the most painful duties, in order that I might, in every respect, avoid what would give oflence either to thee or to man. Among the genuine followers of God, ploU and civil broils are never found.

Verse 4. The paths of the destroyer.^ Some render, hard or difficult paths, the sense of which is given above. But the passage is exceedingly obscure. My old Psalter translates and paraphrases as follows: —

Trans, C|^t m^ moutlie sjeke noiflit tfie toedtes et men, fax t^z toovtieji oC tfit Wi^ii^tn X bat kepeti barH toa^se.

Par, ' That es, that nothing passe of my mouthe hot at falles to the louyng of the; neght til werkes of men, that dos o gaynes thy wil; als to say, I Ipak noght hot glide;, and /or the wordes of thi lippes, thai es, to ful fil the wordes that thi prophetes saide, / iepe hard waies of verteus and of tribulacioun, the qwilk men thynk hard; and for thi thai leve the hard way til heven, and takes the soft way til hel; but it es ful hard at the end.

Verse 6. Hold up my goings in thy paths] David walked in God^s ways; but, without Divine assistance, he could not walk steadily, even in them. The words of God's lips had shown him the steps he was to take, and he implores the strength of God^s grace to enable him to walk in those steps. He had been kept from the paths of the destroyer; but this was not sufficient; he must walk in God's paths — ^must spend his life in obedience to the Divine will. Negative holiness can save no man. " Every tree that bringeth not forth good frail is fiewn down, and cast into the fire.*'

thy right hand them which put their trust in

thee from those that rise up against them.

8 ^ Keep me as the apple of the eye, ' hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

9 From the wicked ■* that oppress me, /rom ^ my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

Vene 6. Incline thine ear unto me] Datid prayed from a conviction that God would hear: bat \ie could not be satisfied unless he receite^ an answer. In a believer^s mind the petition and the answer should not be separated.

Verse 7. Show thy marvellous lovingkindness] David was now exposed to imminent danger; conomon interpositions of Providence could not save him; if God did not work miracles for him, he must fall by the hand of Saul. Yet he lays no claim to such mipracnlous interpositions; he expects all from God*s lovingkindness.

The common reading here is *]nDn nSfin haphlek chasadeycha, ** distinguish thy ho]y ones:** but kSdh haphle, *' do wonders,** is the reading of about seventy MSS., some ancient editloM, with the Septuagint, Vulgate, Chaldeej Syriae, and Arabic. The marginal reading of this verse is nearar the original than that of the text.

Verse 8. Keep me as the apple of the eye] Or, as the black of the daughter of the eye. Take as much eare to preserve me now by Divine influence, as thou hast to preserve my eye by thy good providence. Thou hast entrenched it deep^in the skull; hast ramparted it with >the forehead and cheek-bones; defended it by the eyebrow, eyelids, and eyelashes; and placed it in that situation where the hands ciD best protect |t.

Hide me under the shadow of thy wings] Tfijft is a metaphor taken from the hen and her chickens. See it explained at large in the note on Matt, xxiii. 37. The Lord says of his followers, Zech. iL 6: << He that toucheth you, toncheth the apple of mine eye.** How dear are our eyes to us! how dear must his followers be to God!

Verse 9. From my deadly enemies, who compass tne about.] This is a metaphor taken from huntsmen, who spread themselves around aiarge t^aek of forest, driving in the deer from every part of the ciroumierence, till they are forced into the nets or traps which they have set for tliem in some particular narrow passage. The metaphor is carried on in the following verses.

' Verse 10. They are enclosed in their own fat] Dr.

11 They have now <t compassed us in our steps: 'they have

12 ' Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young Uon ^ lurking in secret plaees.

" They have closed their net upon me.*^ This tinaes the metaphor which was introdaced in the preceding verse, and which is continued in the two following: and requires only that "hp (di, *^ upon me,** should begin this verse instead of end the pfecediog; and that dSh cheleb, which signifies fat, shoiild he read S^n chebel, which signifies rope, cMe{OS net. This important reading requires only the mterchange of two letters. The Syriac translates it, shut their mouth: but the above' emendation is most likely to be true.

They speak proudly.] Having comj^ssed the moontain on which 1 had taken reAige, they.now exnh, being assured t^at they will soon be in posoesnon of their prey.-

Verse 11. They have now compassed us in oui^ steps] Instead of >ntBW ashshurenu, ** oar steps,** Dr. Kennicott and others recommend >J^erK aihreynuf ^ O lucky we, fit last we have compassed him.** fie cannot now escape; he is sure to faU into our hanils.

They have set their eyes bowing dovm to tka earth] All the commentators and critics have niissed Ibft veiy expressive and elegant metaphor contained in lUl clause. Kennicott says, They drove the hm$%lSs tks toils, and then shot him. Bishop HorslagUMflHimt tbn * clause. They have set their eyes bowii^%i0^l0-ike earth: "This is the aUitude of huntsmen li4n«iB at an animal upon the ground.** No, it is tyftratnde of the huntsman looking for the slot, or track of tlm hart*s, hindV, or antelope's foot on the ground. 8ee at the conclusion of the Psalm.

Verse 13. Like as a Hon ihtX isigreedy <f his prey] I believe the word lion is here used to express Smd in his strength, kingly power, and fierce rapacity. See tbi fbservations at the end of the Psalm.

Vdtfn 13. Arise, O Lord, disappoint him] When he arises td spring upon and tear me to pieces, arise thou, O Lord; disappoint him of his prey; seize him, and cast himi^wn.

Deliver n^ smtl] Save my life.

From the wicked, which is thy sw&rd] Saul is atOl meant, and we may understand the words as either implying the sword, the civil power, with which God had intrusted him, and which he was now grievoosly abusing; or, it may mean, deliver me hy tvf. e

14 ^From men which tire thy hand, O Loni), from men of the world, 7. wfiich have their portion ■ ^^ in this life, and whose belly thou

fiHest with thy hid treasure: "they are full of

est him off who wishes to cat me dff. On this'groood the next Terse should be reafl /romm«n, bt My hand. So the margin. ^The hand of Grod not only meaning his fotser, bet his providence.

Veifae 14. Pram men of the world, which hsTe] iSiD trUDO mimeikim mecheled, from mortal men of time; temfKmxers; men who shift with the times; who haTo BO iixad pnnciple but one, that of securing their own secular interest: and this agrees with what fi^lowa — which haTS their portion in this life; who never seek after any things jpirt/vo/; who have bartered heaTen for earth, and hare got the portion they desired; for thou fiUest their belly with thy hid trea- More. Their belly — their sensudl appetites — is their gad; and, when their animal desires are satisfied, ll|ey> fake their rest without consideration, like the beaalB that perish.

Tl^eir portion in this life] D^nS bachaiyim, in inpcs, probably meaning heritable lands and estates; §ag they leaye them to their' ehfldren, they descend to posterity, and eyer^ one haalua life portion in them. They are lands of lives,

Tkey are full of children] Have a numerous offspring, whom they educate in the same principles, and to whom they leave a large earthly patrimony, and who spend it as their fathers have done; and perhaps lore dissolutely: Often covetous fathers lay up which profligate sons scatter to all the winds ef heaves. I have seen many instances of this.

/ viff h^iold thy face] Nothing but an evidence of iiief^mpfirobatian can content ray soul.

K ittfl^taousness] I cannot have thy approbation ndaaa^firiii ta^ormed to thy wiU, I must be rightiMfitip^irftli^thia my heart and life may please thee.

I stiitB$aaiisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.] Nmhii^t %<! God can satisfy the wishes of an immortal spirit.. He made it with infinite capacities and desires; and he alone, the infinite Good, can meet and gratify these desires, and fill this all-capaeioos mind. No soul was ever satisfied but by God; and he satisfies thtf soul only by restoring it to his iamge, vrhich, by the /a//, it has lost.

I think there is an allusion here to the creation of Adam. When God breathed into him the br9a^ of lives, and he becatpe a living soul, he would appear as one suddenly awaked from sleep. The first object that met his eyes was his glorious Creator* and beiDg made in his image and in his likeness^ Wt could converse with him face to face — was c^iMe of the most intimate union, with him, because he fiaa filled with holiness and moral perfection. Thus was h? satisfied; the God of infinite perfection and purity filling aU the powers and faculties of his soul. David sees thia in

children, and' leave the rest of their subsiance to their bafBes.

15 As for me, •.! will behold thy face in righteousness: ^ I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

the light of the Divine Spirit, and knows that his happiness depends on being restored to this image and likeness) and he longs for the time when he shall completely arise out of the sleep and death of sin, and be created anew after the isnage of Ood, in righteousness and true holiness. I do not think that he refen to the resurrection of tha body, but to the resurrection of the soul in this lifi»; to the regaining the image which Adam lost.

The paraphrase in my M Psalter understands the whole of this Psahn as leierring to the persecution, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ; and so did several of the primitive fathers, particulaiiy St. Jerome and St. Augustine. I Aali ^ve a specimea from ver. 1 1-: — ^

Projicientes me, nunc eircomdederunt me: oculoa sues statuerunt declinare in telrram.

Par. — ^Forth hasten me out of the cite, als the stede had bene fyled of me: now thai haf umgyfen me ia the cros hyngand, als folk that gedyrs tU a somer gamen: for thai sett thair eghen, that es the entent of thaire hert to heeld ia the aide; that es, in erdly thyngea to eovayte tham, and haf tham. And thai wende qwen thai slew Crist that he had suflird al the ill, and thai nane.

Perhaps some of my readers may think that this needs translating, so far does our present differ from our ancient tongue.

Text, — They have now cast me forth; they have surrounded me: their eyes they set down to the

Par.-:— They have cast ma^#Qt of the cit}c, as if the state were to be defiled by me: now they have surrounded Ine hanging on the cross, as people gathered together at summer games. For they set their eyes, that M^ the intent of their heart, down to the earth; that is, earthly things, to covet them and to have them: and they thought, when they fl|6W Christ, thai he had suffered all the ill, and they none.

Bt the slot or track of the hart on the ground, referred to in ver. 11, experienced huntsmen can discern whether there have been a hart there, whether he has been there lately, whether the slot they see be the track of a hart or. a hind, and whether the animal be yotmg or old. All these can be discerned by the slot. And if the reader have that scarce book at hand, Tuberville on Hunting, 4to, 1!^75 or 1611, he will find all this information in chap, xxii., p. 63, entitled The Judgment and Knowledge by the Slot of a Hart; and on the same page a wood-cut, representing a huntsman with his eyes set, bowing down to the earthy examining three slots which he had just found. The d69 cat is a fine illastration of this clause. Saul and his men were hunting Dftyid, anil curiously searching every place to find out any track, mark^ or footstep, hy which they might learn whether he had been in such a place, and whether he had been there lately. Nothing can mord fully display the accuracy and intensity of this search than the metaphor contained in the above clause. He who has seen his late Majesty's huntsmen looking for the slot ia Windsor Forest will see the strength and propriety of the figure Used by the psalmist.,

Verse 12. Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey. — ^This is the picture- of Saul. While his huntsmen were beating every bush> paying into every cave, and crevice, and examiiling every foot of ground to find oat a track, Saul is ready, whenever the game is started, to spring upon, seize, and destroy it. The^meuq>hora are well connected, well sustained, and strongly expressive of the whole process of this persecution.

In the ninth verse the huntsmen beat the forest to raise and drive in the game. In the tenth they set their nets, and speak confidently of the expected success. In the eleventh, they felicitate themselves on having found the slot, the certain indication of the prey being at hand. And in the twelfth, the king of the sport is represented as just ready to spring upon the prey; or, as having his bow bent, and his arrow on the string, ready to let fiy the moment the prey appears. It is worthy of remark, that kings tMd qiteens were frequently present, and were the chiefs of the sport; and it was they who, when he had been killed, irdke up the deer: 1. Slitting down the brisket with their knife or sword; and, 3. Cutting off the bead. ' And, as TuberoilU published the first edition of his book in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, he gives a large woodout, p. 133, representing this princess just alighted from her horse — the stag stretched upon the ground — the huntsman kneeling, holding the fore foot of the animal with his left hand, and with his right presenting a knife to the queen for the purpose of the breaking up. As the second edition was published in the reign of James the First, the image of the queen is taken out and a whole length of James introduced in the place.

The same appears in Tuberville^s Book ofFalconrie, connected with the above. In p. 81, edition 1575, where the flight of the hawk at the heron is lepresented, the queen is seated on her charger: but in the edition of 1611 ^King James is placed on the same charger, the queen being removed.

The lion ia the monarch of the forest; and is used successfully here to represent Saul, king of Israel, endeavouring to hunt down David; hemming him in on every side; searching for his footsteps; and ready to spring upon him, shoot him with his bow, or pierce Aim with his javelin, as soon as h&ahould be obliged to flee from his last cover. The whole is finely imagined, and beautifully described.

Analtsis or the Seventeenth Psalm.

David^s appeal to God in justification of himself; and his petition for defence against his enemies. There are thbxe parts in this Psahn: — L A petition. 1. For audience, ver. 1 and 6. 9.

II. A narration; in which we meet with, 1. Hie appeal to God, and his own justification, ver; 3, 3,' 4. 2. The reasons of it: his enemies and their ehumeter, ver. 9 to 14.

in. A conclusion; which has two parts.' 1. One belonging to this life; and, 2. One belonging to the life to comO/ ver. 15.

1. 1. He begins with petition for aodienoe. And he urges it fot two reasons: 1. The justness of his cause: " Hear the right, O Lord." 2. The aiocerity of his heart: *< That goeth.not out of feigned lipe.**

2. Again, there were other reasons why he deaiied to be heard: 1. He felt himself prone to.s^ and.^ from God: ** Hold up my geiBgs,'^^&c, 2. He MWt in great danger, and nothing but a miracle could save him: " Show thy marvellous lovingkihdness.*' 3. His enemies were -insolent and mighty, and God's sword only could prevlul against them: " Arise, O Lord," ver. 13, 14..

II. A narration: His appeal to God. Since a verdict must pass upon - him, he desired that God should pronounce it: "Let my sentence come forth from thy presence." I know that thou art a rigfateoos Judge, and canst not be swayed by jHrejudice: *' Let thine eyes behold the ihing that is equal," and thee I know it must go well with me; " Thou hast ^ved my heart." Thou hast tried me before on tUe holiness, and hzaX found nothing,

1. Nothing in my HSAaT: ** Thou hast pirored my heart."

2.- Nothing in my tongue: " For I am purposed that my mouth shall not offend." ^ 3* Nothing in -my hand: "For, conceniing the works of men," which are mischievous,; iy the wards of thy lips, I have had so great a regard to thy oom* mandments that " I iiave kept myself from the.p^the of the wicked;" of him who, to satisfy his own desires, breaks all laws.

4. He confesses that he was poor and week, indh liable to fal^ unlesa sustained by the grace of God: " Hold up my goings in thy paths." ^

' And this first petition he renews, and UttiBeeoiiia^ from the assurance that he shall be heard: ''I will call upon thee, for thou wilt hear me." And-lM pots in a special petition, which has two parts:—

1. " Show thy marvellous lovingkindBess;" let ne have more than ordinary help. Apd this he orgee from the consideration that God saves them who trust. in him from those who rise up against them.

2. That he would save him with the greatest cue and vigilance, as a man would preserve the a|^e of his eye, or as a hen would guard her young: " JKeep me as the apple of the eye; hide me," &c.

And to prevail in this special petition, he brings his atonements from his present necessity. He was eia-' compassed with enemies, whom he describes: —

1. They were capital enemies; they hemmed him in on every side.

2. They were powerful, proud, and rich: HMen enclosed in their own fat, ftpealdng proudly with their tpognes," ver.. 10.

3. Thmr eounaelB were fixed, and bent to ruin him: ^They set their eyes, bowiog do.wn to the earth," Ter. IL

4. Thej were each enemies as prospered in their designs, Ter. 14. 1. Men of the world. 3. They had their portion in this life, and. sought for none other. 3. They fed diemselves without fear: ♦* Their bellies were fiill.** 4. They had a numerous offspring, and therefore more to be dreaded because of their famOy eooDeetioos. 5. They left much substance behind

them, so that their plans might be all continued and brought to effect.

ni. The conclusion^ containing the expectation of Dayid, opposed to his enemies' felicity.

1. In this life: ^ As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness."

3. In the life to come: " When I awake," rise from the dead, " after thy lik^ess, I shall be satisfied with it."

On each of these divbions the reader is referred to the notes.

Barnes address of thanks to JehovaAj 1-3. A relation of sufferings undergone, and prayers made for assist' 'OMca^ 4—6. Amagmfieent description of Divine interposition in behalf of the sufferer, 7-15; and of the ddioertnee wrought for kim, 16—19. That this deliverance was in consideration of his righteousness, 20-34; and according to the tenor of Oods equitable proceedings, 35-38. To Jehovah is ascribed the gh»y of the victory, 39-36; which is represented as complete by the destruction of aU his opponents, 37-43. Ol» these eoents the heathen suffmit, 43-45. And for all these things Ood is glorified, 46-50.

T» the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, «the senrant of the * Lean, who spake onto the Lobd the wozds of ^thia sonf in - the day tkaiUte Losd delivered him from the hand of all his euBmheSfMod from the hand of Saul: And he said,

The title: " To the chief Mnsician, A Psakn of Darid, tlie serrant of the Lord, ^ho spake unto the Lord the- words of this song in the day that the Lord d^Tcpred him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul."

Ezoept the first clanse, this title is taken from 2 Sam. zxii. 1. The reader is requested to turn to the notes on 2 Sam. xzii. 1, for some curious inf(^mation oo this Psalm, particularly what is extracted froln Dr. Kenmcott. This learned writer supposes the whole to he a song of the Messiah, and divides it into fioe parts, whieh he thus introduces: —

''The Me8siah*8 sublime thanksgivings, composed by. David when his wars were at an end, towards the eooelnsion of his life. And in this sacrisd song the goodness of God is celebrated, 1. For Messiah's resorrection from the dead, with the wonders attending that awful event, and soon following it. 2. For the ponishoient inflicted on the Jews; particularly by the destroction of Jerusalera. And, 3. For the obedience of the Gentile nations. See Rom. xv. 9; Heb. ii. 13; and Matt, xxviii. 2-4; with xxiv. 7, and 29.''

And that th» title now prefixed to this hymn faAie and in 2 Sam. xxii. 1, describes only the time of its eomposition, seems evident; for who can ascribe to David himself^ the subject, verses 6, 6, 8-17, 21- 26, 30, 42, 44, &C.1

In Dr. KennicotCs reinarks there is a new translation of the whole Psahn, p. 178, dl^c.

3 I will caH upon the Lord, ' who is worthy to foe praisred: so shall I be saved from mine enenries.

The strong corrent of commentators and critics apply this Psalm to Christ; and to oppose a whole host of both ancients and modems woald argue great self-confidence. In the main I am of the same mind; and on this principle chiefly I shall proceed to its illustration; still however considering that there are many things in it which concern David, and hfan only. Drs. Chandler atid Delaney have been very successful in their illustration of various passages in it; all the best critics have brought their strongest powers to bear on it; and most of the commentators have laboured it with great success; and Bishop Home has applied the whole of it to Christ. My old Psalter speaks highly

in its praise: '' This Psalme contenes the sacrement of al chosyn men, the qwilk doand- the law of God thurgh the seven fald grace of the Haly Gast fra al temptaciouns, and the pouste of dede and of the devel lesid: this sang thai syng til God; and thankes him and says, / sal luf the Lord, noght a day or twa, hot ever mare: my strength, thurgh quam I am stalworth in thoght."

Verse I. I will love thee] Love always subsists on motive and reason.. The verb DXV^ racham signifies to love with all the tender feelings of nature, ** From my inmost bowels will I love thee, O Lord!" Why should he love Jehovah 1 Not merely because he was infinitely great and good, possessed of all possible perfections, but because he was good to him: and he here ennmerates some of the many blessings he received from him.

6 The * sorrows of Kell compassed me about: the ^ snares of death prevented me. 6 tn my distress I called upon the Lord,

My strength,'] 1. Thou who hast given mc power over my adversaries, and hast enabled me to avoid evfl and do good.

Verse 3. The Lord is my rock] 3. I stand on him as my foundation, and derive every good from him who is the soaroe of good. The word jirSo seta signifies those eraggy preeipices which afford shelter to men and wild animals; where the bees oAan made their nests, and whence honey was collected it gnat abandance. ** He made him to sock- honey ont of the rock,** Dent, xxxii. 13. 3« He was his fortress; a place of strength and safety, fortified by nature and art, where he coold be safe from his enemies. He r^fem to those inaccessible heights in the rocky> mountainoiw country of Judea, where he had of)en found refuge from the punuil of Saul. What fhese have been to my body, such has the Lord been to my soul.

Delwerer] 4. ^oSdO mephalleti, he wJho causes ma to escape. This refers to his preservation in straits and difilculties. He wa)B often almost surrounded and taken, but still the Lord made a way for his escape^ txMe a way out as his enemies got in; so that, while they got in at one side of his strong hold, he got out of the other, and so escaped with his life. These escapes were so narrow and so unlikely |(hat he plainly saw the hand of the Lord was in them. 5. My Ood, ^Sm eh, my strong God, not only the object of my adoration, but he who puts strength in my soul. 6. My strength, ^HiTt tswri,.This is a different word from that in the first verse. Rabhi Maimon has observed that ")iy tfttf » when applied to God, signifies /otnitotil, source, origin^ &c. God is^ot only the source whence my being was derived, but he is the fountain Whence I derive all my good; in whom, says David, / %inU trust. And why t Because he knew him to be an eternal and inexhaustible fountain of goodness. This fine idea is lost in our translation; for we render two He^ brew words of widely different meaning, by the same term in English, #/renj^M. 7. Mybuckler,^nDmagtnm, my ihield, my defender, he who covert my head and my heart, so that I am neither slain nor wounded by the darts of my adversaries. 6. Horrt of my solvation^ Horn was the emblem of power, and power in exercise. This has been already explained; see on 1 Sam. ii. 1. The ham of salvation means 9i powerful, soi efficient salvation. 9. My high tower; not only a place of defence, but pne from which 1 can discern the country round about, and always be able to discover danger before it a^noaches me.

Verse 3. I will call upon the Lord] When he was conscious that the objeot of his worship was such a» he has pointed out in the above nine psrticulais, it is no wonder that he resolves to call upon kim,* and no wonder that he expects, in conseqsencef to h% -saTed 97S

7 ^ Then the earth shook and trembled; thk foundations also of the hills moved woA

from his enemies; for who can destroy him wImmb such a God undertakes to save? ' Verse 4. The sorrows of death compassed me"] ^3n nip thMeymaveth, the cables oor cards €f4eaih. fle was almost U|ken in those nets cft stratagems, by whid^ if he had* been entangled, he would have kMt his UB. The stratagems to which h<d refers were, those tbst were intended for his destructioo; henoe- oaliad <At cables of cords of death.

The floods of ungodly inen} Troops of wickfld.nea were 'rushing upon him like an irresistible torreBt; or like the waves of the sea, one iqipelling another forward in successive ranks; so' that, thinking tie most be overwhelmed by them, he was for the momenl e^frigkudi but God turned the torrent asid^f aad.Jie

Verse 5. The sorrows ofheU] VlKVr 'Ssn dbsMty shmt, die caUcf t>t cards of the grave. Is d<^ fStm a referene^ to the cards ix ropes with which they Umefwi the corpse ints the grave f or the bandages by wMdi the dead wo^ swatibed 1 He was as good as dead.

T^ snares cf death prevented me.] I was Jost on the point of dropping into the pit Which ihey bad digged for me. In short, I was all but a dead man; a^ nothing less than the immediafo intefferenee of G^ coulfi have saved my life;

' Verse 6. In my distress I called] His i to hope of his destruction unless God shoold i him. They hoped that this was the case, therefore they should prevail. But €rod Aemd *Aw cry and came down to his help:; and this inleiteeiioe is most majestically described in the tth and f<rilo#inf verses. Dr. Dodd has colldoted some excellent observations on these verses from Chandler, Ddaney-f atfi odiei«i which! shall transcribe, as I know boI Cb^ ai^ thing bettefr can be offered on the sabjeet

Verse 7. Then the earth shook and 4renMei\ > ^ la this and the following verses David describes^ ^^ sublimest expressions and grandest, tetms, the mfljltef of Ghody and the awful manner in which he atfw to his assistance. The representation of the slQtm m these Yorses must be allowed by all skOfoI and te^ partial judges to be truly sublime and noble, and inlliA genuine spirit of poetry. The majesty of God*, aai the manner in which he is represented 4s comiaf to the aid of his favourite king, surrounded with all tbo* powers of nature as his attendants and ministers, and arming (as it were) heavert and earth to light his battles, and execute his vengeance, is described in thm loftiest and most striking terms. The shaking of iha earth; the trembling of the mountains and pillais of heaven; the smoke that drove but of his nostrils; t]i» firnnes of devouring ibe that.lbished from his inoath; the heavens bending down to convey him to tht battto; e

" out of his nostrils, and fire out

kit riding upon a cherub, and rapidly flying on the wfMgM of a whirlwind; his concealing his majesty in the tkiek eiaudt oi heaven; the banting of the Ughi" magM from the horrid darkneks; the uttering of his •ner in peal^ of thunder; the storm o^ fiery hod; the meitmg of the hemfens, and their disaolTing into floods of iempesiuous rain; the eUoving of the earthy and disckwing of the bottom^of the hills, and the subterra- ■eooa channels or torrents of water, by the very hieath of the noatrils of the Almighty; are all of them circamstaocea which create admiration, excite a kind of horror, and exceed every thing of this nature that is to be Ibund in any of the remains of heathen antitjnity. See Longinus on the Sublime, sec. 9, and Hesiod^s deaeriptioo of Jupiter fighting against the Titans, which is one of the grandest things in all pagan antiqoity; though upon comparison it will be iband infi* ^telj short of this description of the psdmiafs; thronghout the whole of which God is lepreseoled as a mighty warrior going forth to fight the battles of David, and highly incensed at the opposition his enemies made to his power and authority.

** When he descended to the engagement the very Itevens bowed down to render bis descent more awful; his miliiory tent was substantial darkness; the voice of his thunder was the warlike alarm which sounded to the hattle; the chariot Jn which he rode was the tkiek clouds of heaven, conducted by cherubs, and cifrried on by the irresistible force and rapid wings pf an impetuaue tempest; and the darts and weapons he emjdoyed were thunderbolts^ lightnings, fiery hail, deiugisig rains, and stormy winds!

"No wonder that when God thus arose, all his enemiea should be scattered, and those who hated him shoold flee before him.

**' It does not appear from any part of David's hialory that there was any such storm as is here described, which proved destructive to his enemies, and salutary to himself. There might, indeed, have been such a oae, theugh there is no particular mention of it: unless it may be thought that something of this nature is intimated in the account given of David's second battle with the Philistines, 3 Sam. v. 83, 94. It is undoobted, however, that the storm is represented as real; though David, in describing it, has heightened and embellished it with all the ornaments of poetry. See Chandler, Delaney, and Lowth's ninth Prelection.

" Verse 8. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils— Or, * IThere ascended into his nostrils a smoke,' as the words, literally rendered, signify. The ancients placed the seat of anger in the nose, or nostrils; because when the passions are warm and violent, it discovers itself by the heated vehement breath which proceeds from them. Hence the physiognomists con-

10 "And he rode upon a cherub, ^ and did fly: yea, >" he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

" This description of* a smoke arising into and a fire breaking forth from the nostrils of God, denotes, by a poetioal figtire, the greatness of his anger and indignation.

"/Vre out of his moutk.devouredr-'faiBena that consuming fire israed out of his mouth. Coals were kii^ died by i/, thna we render the next clause; but the words do not mean that fire proceeding from God kindled coals, but that burning coals imned from his month; and it sboiild be render^ * living coals from hia month burned, and consumed around hioL' — Chandler.

** Verse 0. He bowed the heavens alsOf and came <{bisii— He made the heavens bend under him when he descended to take vengeance on his enemies. The pealnust seems here to express the appearance of the Divine majesty in a glorious cloud, descending from heaven, which underneath was substantially dark, bat above, bright, and shining with exceeding lustre; and which, by its gradual approach to the earth, wonid appear as though the heavens themselves were bend* ing down and approaching towards us.

'* Verse 10. He rode upon a cherub, and didfly-"^ That is, as it is immediately explained. Yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind, God was in the storm, and by the ministry of angels guided the course of it, and drove it on with such an impetuous force as nothing could withstand. He ' rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.' Angels are in a peculiar sense the attendants and messengers of the Almighty, whom he employs as his ministers in efiecting many of those great events which take place in the administration of his providence; and particularly such as manifest Ms immediate interposition in the extraordinary judgments which h^ inflicts for the punishment of sinful nations. See Psa. ciii. 30, civ. 4. The cherub is paiticnlariy mentioned as an emblem of the Divine presence, and especially as employed in supporting and conveying the chariot of the Almighty, when he is represented as riding in his majesty through the firmament of heaven: —

This seems to be the image intended lo be conveyed in the jdace before us. ** He rode npon a eherub, and did fly; he flew on the wings of the wind," i. e* * the cherub supported and led on the tempest, in which

dr. wmum * him Were dark waters and thick ^ clouds of the skiea.

12 'At the brightness thai was before him his thick clouds passed; hail-jfonejr and coals of fire.

the Almighty rode as in Km chariots This \s agreeable to the office elsewhere asriribed to the cherubtm. Thus Utey supported the mercy-aeat, which was pecuhsirly ihe throne of God under the Jew] eh eeoooEny. God is expressly sakl to ^* miike the clotids his chariot,^^ Paa. elr. 3; ^d to " nde upon a swift cloud," Isa. xix. 1: so that " riding^ upon a cherub," and ** riding upon i swift clond,^^ is riding in the cloud aa hi$ chariot^ supported mnd guided by the miniatry of the cherubim. The next clause in the parnllel place of Samuel is, '* He was seen on the wings of the wind;" KT* yera^ he waj ieen^ being used for KT' tjede^ he ^fiew, *T dahth being changed into 1 rt^h. Either of them may be the true readings for the MSS. are greatly divided on these places; but on the whole SfT*! vai^tra appears lo be the better reading: '^ And he wa9 ^een on the wings of the wind."

As the original has been smpposcd by adequftta judges lo eithihit a fine specimen of that poetry which, in the choice of iu terms, conveys both ^ense and ^ound, I will itgnin lay it before the reader^ as I have done in the parallel place, t Sara* xxii. S. The words ia Uaik to be read from right to left.

Yea, he flet^' on the wings of the wind I The word nt*i ruach ^ in the laat line, should be pronounced, not niak^ which is na llebrew word; but as a Scottish man would pronounce it, were jt written rvtigh. With thia observation, how astonishingly ts the rushtng of th^ wind he an! in the. last word of each henritstich! Sternkold and Hopkins have succeeded in Iheir version of this place, not only beyond all ihey aver did, but beyond -every ancient imd modern poet on a similar subject: —

"On cherub and on chertibtn Full royallj he rode; And ott the wings of mighty winds Came flying all abroad,^'

£liiTi te fiet»i|t Kb0ben tjjnrubiin an^ jie Botoj Wit tlob aboticri t^t fctbers ef tovnlirs.

\ arse 1 1, Ife made darkness his secret place] God ii repreaented as dwelling in the thick darkness t Deut. iv. 11, Psa. icvii. 3. This reoresentation in the place c 274

and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings,. and discomfited them. I

15^ Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were disco?-

before as is peculi^ty ptoper; m ibtef heavy elouda deeply charged, and with lowering Mpects, are always the forerunners and attendanta of a tempest, and greaUy heighten the horrors of the appearance: and the representation of them, spread about the Almighty as a teni, is truly grand and poetic.

Dark waiers] The vapours strongly condenaed into clouds; which, by the stroke of the lightning, are about to be precipiiated in torrents of rain. See the next verse.

Verse 12* At the brighlnext that wms befire him kis thick clouds passed] The word HJl nogah signifies ihehghtnittg. This gotj beft/re him; the ^nj A is seen before the ihunder is heard, and before the rrnn de^ seends; and then the tfack ettmd paitses. Its confenis are precipitated on the earthy and the aloud is entirely dissipated.

ifcriZ-stones and coal^ of fire.] This was the st&rm that followed the Jlash and the peal; for it is inune* diately added- —

Yene 1 3. The Lord aha thundered in the he&veni^ and ihe Highest gave Air raice] And then followed the hail and coal^ of fire. The former verse mentioned the lightnings with its eflects; this gi^et us the report of the thunder r and the increasing storm of hml and fire that attended it. Some think the words hailstones and coals of fire are entered here by some careless transcribers from the preceding verse; and it is true that they are wanting in the Septuagint and the Arabic, in the parallel place in S SamueK and in fiuc of Kennkott^s and De Rossi^s MSS* I should railicr, with Bishop Horshy, suppose Ihem to be an interpolation in the preceding verse: or in thai to have been borrowed from this; for this most certainly it their true place.

Ver^e 1 4, He sent out his arrows~^^e shot &ut lightnings] I belic\ e the latter clause to be an illustration of the former. He sent out hts arrows^^xh^i ts, he shot out light nings; for lightnings are the mrr<nps of the Lord, and there is something very like the arrom' head apparent in the zigzag lightning. Seme and sound are wonderfully combined in the Hebrew of Ibis laat clause: DOn"! 21 D'D^IT vberaktm rah vaihumm^m, *' and thunderings he multiplied and confounded them." Who does not hear the burstings hratiling, and pounding of thunder in these words! See Dclaney J

Terse 15. The channels of water wer^ seen] This must refer to an earthquake; for in such easesi the ground being rent, water frequently gushes out gl the fissures, and often rises to a tremendous height. Wkole rivers were poured out of the chasms made ( iS')

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which baled ra&: for they were Joo strong for roe,

IS They prerented mc in the day of my ihf I but the Lord was my. stay. * He brought me fortli also into a large ftce; he delivered me, because he delighted me.

\ 20 ^ The LoRB rewarded me according to Dy righteousness i according to the cleanness my h&iuU hath he recompensed me.

22 For alt his judgments were

tbe earthquake in Jamaica, A* D. 1604; and new I of wmter u-ere furmed, covering a ih&mand acres

Vefse 1 8. lie drettj me out a/" mani^ waters.] Here ^lusioti is null carried on. The waters ttma red on I were sweeping the people away; but God, miracolouo interference^ sent and drew Datid I'tiit. Sometimes waters ure used to denote muhiiude$ ^peopfit; and here the woitl may have that reference; odes wert ir^lhcred together againat David, but, delivered him from them alL Thia seems to he ntenaneed by the following i-erse, V^erae 17* He d^livertd me from my strong enemy] es not this refer to hi? conflict wiih Ishbi-benobi f.^And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the Bl — -ihought to hare slain David, fiut Ahi.^}jaj the of Zerniah succoured him, and a mote the Fhilis^ Jline^ and killed him^ Then the men of David sware |«*nto him, saying, Thou shall go no more out with us I to bstttle, that thou quench not the light of Israel;^^ Sam. xxL 16, l^* It appears that at this time he l^ss m the moat imminent danger of his life, and that I lie must have fallen by the hands of the gianti if God I kad not «etil Ahishai to his assietaoce^ They were too strong for me. He waa nearly overpowered by the Flulijitines; and his escape was such as evidently to ilhow it to be supernatural,

Tcrae 18, They pretenl^d me in the day &/ m^ \ <dAs#uly] They took advantage of the time in which I ^^as least able to make head againat them, and their I Attack wae Sfudden aud powerful, l should have been I dfverthrown, hul the Lord was my ttay. He had been riy exhauffied by the fatigue of the day, when the; ftTuled himself of this advantagc- Verse 19. He br aught me fttrih also into a large pUce] He enabled me to clear the conntry of my jbea, w^ho ba^d before cooped me up in holes and corners. Thii appears to be the alluaion.

Verse 20. The Lord reiBarded me} David proceeds lo give the reasons why God had so marvellously interposed to his behajr

before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me,

23 I was also upright * before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 * Therefore hath the Loan recompensed mc according* to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands ^ in his eyesightp

25 * With the merciful thou wilt show thy* f elf merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show tiiyself upright;

According to my nghieousness] Instead of being an enemy to Saul, I was his friend. I dealt right— eously with him while he dealt unrighteously with ma.

Verse 91, I hui2€ kept the ways of the Lord\ I was neither an injidel nor a pr&ftigute; I trusted ill God, and carefuhy observed all the oidinancea of his teligion.

Verse 22. All his judgments were before tne] 1 kept his law before my eyes, that I might see my duty, and know how to walk' and please God,

Verse 23. / wax also upright] The times in which David was most afflicted were the times of his greateat uprightness. Adversity was always to him a time of spiritual prosperity.

Mine ttnquil^.] Probably meaning what is generally termed the easUy^besettmg sin; the sm of his em* stitutiortf or that to which the temperament uf his body most powerfully disposed him. What this waa, is a subject of useless conjecture,

Yerse 25, With the merctfui ihou will ^kow thy* self merciful] Thou wilt d«al with men as they deal with each other. This is the general tenor of God^s providential conduct towards mankind; well expressed by Mr. Pope in his universal prayer:-^

"Teach me to feel anothei's wo; To hide the fault I see; The mercy I to others show, Til at mercy show to me-"

lo pray: " Forgive us our trespasses, aa we ibrgive them that trespass against usJ^ If we net feelingly and mercifvdly towards our fellow creatufesj God will act tenderly and compassionately towards us. The merciful, the upright, and the pure^ will ever have the God of mercy, uprightnesa, and purity, to defend and support them.

Verse 26, WUh thefr&ward] Wpy ikktsh, the perverse man; lie that is crooked in his tempem and ways*

Thou wUt show thyself froward^ ] Snsnn tUhpatialt thou wilt set thyself to twist, tmne^ and wrestle. If 37&

28 'For thou wilt lif^t my ^candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by thee I hare 'run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a waU.

30 As for God, ^ his way is perfect: I the word of the Lord is ^ tried: he » a buckler

he contend, thou wilt contend with him. Thoa wilt follow him through all his windings; thoa wilt trace him through all his crooked ways; untwist him in all his cunning wiles; and defeat aJl his schemes of stubbornness, fraud, overreaching, and deceit.

My old Psaller has, Orrtfi t|e Mtth t^oto sal U Mtf. Here the term wicked is taken in its' true eriginal sense, crooked, or perverse. With (he toCtteH, the perverse, thou wilt show thyself tsfte, i. e., perverse; firom piccaa, to draw back, to slide. As he draws hack from thee, thou wilt draw, hack from lum. It.may, as before intimated, come from piecian, to seek Anr enchantments; leaving God, and going to devils; to act like a witch: but here it must mean as' above. The plain import is, "If thou perrersely oppose thy Maker, he will oppose thee: no work or project shall prosper that is not begun in his name, and conducted in his fear.^'

Verse S7. For thou wiit save the afflicted] The alBicted are the humble; and those thou hast ever befriended.

Verse 36. For thou wilt light my candle] Thoa wilt restore me to prosperity, and give me a happy iasoe out of all my afflictions. By the lamp of David the Messiah may be meant: thou wilt not suffer my fiunfly to become extinct, nor the kingdom which thou iMSt promised me otierly to (ail.

Verse 39. / have run through a troop] This may relate to some remarkable victory;■ and the taking of some fortified place, possibly Zion, from the Jebusites. See the account 3 Sam. t. 6-8.

Verse 30. Ood, his way is perfect] His conduct is like his nature, absolutely pure.

The word of the Lord is tried] Literally tried in the fire. It has stood all tests; and has never failed those who pleaded it before' its author.

He IB a buckler] A sure protection to every simple believing soul. We cannot believe his word too implietly; nor trust too confidently in him.

Verse 31. For who is God save the Lordt] "For who b Eloah, except Jehovah V None is worthy of adoration bat the self-existent, eternal, infinitely perfect, and all-meroifhl Being.

81^ For who if God aave the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?

32 Jitif God that I'girdeth me with strength, and maheth my way perfect

33 <t He maketh my feet like hihds*feei, and ' setteth me upon my high places.

34 ' He teacheth my hands to wvr, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. *

35 Thou hast also given me the shieU of

Verse 39. God-^rdeth me with strength] Tlie girdle was a necessary part «f the Eastern dress; it strengthened and supported the loins; served to cot^ fine the garments dose to the body; and in it they tacked them up when jonmejring. The strength of Ood wastohisjmiiwhatllis^if^e was toibeMy; I need not add, that the girdle was also an omamemtai part of the dress, and froiii it the sword was suspended.

And maketh my way petfket,] He direets dm so that I 4o not go astray; he blesses me in my andertakings; and by dim the issue of my labovs is erowned with prosperity.

Verse 33. My feet like hinds' feet] SwiMeas, or speed of foot,.was a necessary qaalifiqalioii of an ancient hero. This was of great adyantage in paming, combating, or escaping from a fallen Ibe. IMbr €Mnf Kxi^^^evc, ** the swifV-footed Achilles,** is ficeqnenilh ly giren by Homer as a. most honourable qnalifieatien of his hero.

Upon my high places,] In allusion to the hinds, antelopes, mountain goats, &c., which firequanted sueh places, and in which they found both food and safety, God frequently preserred the life of David by meaas of these. '

Verse 34. He teacheth my hands to war] The snccess which I have had in my military eaergses I owe to the Divine help. How few of the < of numkind can say so! And 'how few. who call themselves Christian warriors dare to say so! War is as contrary to the spirit of Cliristianily as murder. Nothing can justify Christian nilioos in shedding each other's blood! AH men should lire ia peace; all men might live in peace;. and the aaSion that IB first to break it is under a heayy curse.

A how of steel is broken by mine arms,] All 'the versions render this: ** Thou hast made my am like a brazen bow." A bow ot steel is out of the qoestioo. In the days of David it is not likely that the method of making steel was known. The method of making brass out of copper was knowi^ at a very early period of the world; and the ancients had the art of hmtd^ ening it, so as to work it into the most efRoient swords. From his own account David was swift, courageous, and strong.

dr.-untuB gentleness hath made me great. ^ 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps

37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

38 I have wounded diem that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast "^ subdued under me thoae that rose up against mc.

40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine ^enemies; that I might destroy them that

battles and dangers CM defended him. He was con- Mantly safe because he possessed the salvation of God. Everywhere Grod pvotected him. Thy gewdtmisSf yyy^ anvalheekai thy meekness or humility. Thoa hast enabled me to bear and forbear; to behaTO with eoorage in adversity, and with humility in prosperity; and thus I am become great. By Uiese means fhmi hast mulUplied me. The Vulgaie reads, Discipiina tmm ^ea me docebii; *' And thy discipline itself shaU teaeh nie." In this sense it was understood by most •f the versions. The old Psalter paraphrases thus:

Thi ehastying suffers roe noght to erre fra the end to.eoin.

Veiae 36. Enlarged my steps\ See on rer. 19. Tnm the hand of God he had continual prosperity; and while he walked with God no enemy was able to prerail against him. He details his successes in the ibUowing verses.

Verse 40. The necks of mine enemies] Thou hast Bide me a complete conqueror. Treading on the neck of an enemy was the triumph of the conqueror, and the utmost disgrace of the vanquished.

Verse 41. They cried] The Philistines called upon their gods, but there was none to save them.

Even umto the Lord] Such as Saill, Ish-bosheth, Absalom, Ac.f who, professing to worship the true God, emiled on him while in their opposition to David; Sot God no more beard them than their idols heard the Philistines.

Vene 4S. Then did I beat them] God was with hiMf and they had only an arm of flesh. No wonder then that his enemies were destroyed*

Qmall as the dust before the wind] This well expresses the manner in which he treated the Moabites, Ammonites, and the people of Rabbah: " He pot them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron; and made them pass through the brick-kiln," &c. See 9 Sam. xii. 31, and the notes there.

none to save them: ' even unto Bmdis, R«gi8 the Lord, but he answered tbem dr.^annam*

42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did X cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

43 ■ Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and • thou hast made me the head of the heathen: ^ a people ii;Aom I have not known shall serve me.

44 ° As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: '^ the strangers * shall ' submit 'themselves unto me.

45 ^The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

tions and insorrectiods among my own subjects, as in the revolt of Absalom f the civU war of Abner in faronr of Ish'bosheth, &c.'

The head of the heathen] D^U VIH rosh goyim, " the chief," or " governor, of the nations;" all the circomjacent hea(hen people; all these were subdued by David, a^d brought under tribute.

A people' vrham I have not known] The people whom he knew were those of the twelve tribes; those whom he did not know were the Syrians, Philistines, Idumeans, &c. All these served him^ that is, paid him tribute.

Verse 44. As soon as they hear of me] His victories were so rapid and splendid over powerful enemies, that they struck a general terror among the people, and several submitted without a contest.

Strangers shall submit themselves unto me.] Some translate this: ** The children of the foreign woman have lied unto me.** This has been understood two ways: My own people, who have sworn fealty to me, have broken their obligation, and followed m^ rebellious son. Or, The heathens, who have bead brought under my yoke, have promised the most cordial- obedience, and flattered me with their tongues, while their hearts felt enmity against me and my government Nevertheless, e?lBu in this bhwilling sulvjeetion I was secure, my police being so efficient, and my kingdom so strong.

Verse 45. The strangers shall fade away] *03 '^3 beney neehar^ the same persons mentioned above* They shall not be able to effect any thing against me; ^hT yibbolu, " they shall fall as the leaves fall off the tree* in winter.**

And be afraid out of their dose places.] Those who have formed themselves into banditti, and have taken possession of rocks and fortified places, shall be so afraid when they hear of my successes, that they shall surrender at discretion, without standing a siege. Perhaps all these verbs should be nndenlood in the perfect tense, for David is here orldently «77

DftTidis, R«fis ed be my Rock: and let the God c^umam of my Salvation be e;calted. ^ 47 It is God that * avengeth

^peaking of a kingdom at rest, all enemie8''having hten s¥idued; or, as the HUe is, when the Lord had idioeni Mm from all kit enemiee.

Verse 46. The Lord liveth] By him, alone* I have gainad all my victories; and he conlinueth^ and will be my ^ck^ the Source whence! I may at all times derive help and salvstion. May his name be blessed! May his kingdom be exalted!

. Vena 47. God that avengeth me] The way that I taok was after his own h^art; therefore he sustained Be in it, and did me justice over my enemies.

Subdueth the people under me.] He keeps down the spirits of the disaffected, and weakens their hands. They are subdued, and they oontinue, under me; and this is the Lord's doing.

Verse 48. He delivereth me] That is, he hath delivered me, and continues to delifer me, from all ihat rise up against me.

' Verse 49. Will I give thanks unto thee^^among the heathen] Quot^ by St. Paul, Rom. xv. 9, to prove that the calling of the Gentiles was predicted, and that what then took place was the fulfilment of that prediction.

But there is a sense in which it applies particulaily to David, well observed by Theodoret: ** We see," says he, ** evidently the fulfilment of this prophecy; for even to the present day David praises the Lord among the Gentiles by the mouth of true belieTcrs; seeing there is not a town, village, hamlet, country, nor even a desert,* where Christians dwell, in "which God is not praised by their singing the Psalms of David,"

Verse 60. Great deliverance giveth he to his king] David was a king of God*s appointment, and was peculiarly favoured by him. Literally, He is magnifying the salvations of his king' -He not only delivers, but follows up those deliverances with innumerable blessings.

. Shaweth mercy -lo David] I have no claim upon hia boimtj, I deserve nothing from him, but be oontiiraes to show mercy.

To his seed] His posterity. So the words JHT zera and onepfM^ m the Old and Neiv Testament, should be universally translated. The common translation is totally improper, and now more so than formerly* when anatomy was less understood.

For evermore,] th^ Ip ad eiam^for ever; through all toation of created worlds. And mortf^-^the eter- Bi^ ttH as bayopd time. This shows that another

the heathen, and sing praises, unto thy name.

50 ^ Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed 'for evermore..

Dacid fs meant, with anotlier kind of posterity^ and another sort of kingdom. From the fdmdy of David came the man Christ Jesus; his posterity are the genuine Christians; his kingdom, in which they are subjects, is spiritual. This government shall last through all time, for Christianity will continue to ptevail till the end of the world: and it will be extended through eternity; for that is the kingdom of gl6ry in which Jesus reigns on the throne of his Father, and in which his followers shall reign with him for ertr and ^ver.

It ha9 already been remarked that this whole Fsaba has been understood as relating to the passion and vtctories «f Christ, and the success of the Gospfl ta Use earth. In this way Bishop Home has understood aoid paraphrased it; and in the same way it is cooaidaied by the ancient Psalter, so of^n mentioned. Many of the primitive fathers and modem interpreters hvwa taken the same view of it. Those pasSiiges wjuek I ]ttdgc<f to have this meaning 1 have pointed oot, and hsYO only to add that, as David was a type xf Ckrisf^ many things spoken of him primarilyt refer to oar Lord ultimately; but npkich judgment and cantion aili required in their application. To apply the whole Pjudm in this Way appears to me very injudicious, and o{ten derogatory from the majesty of Christ Let thia be my excuse for not following the same traek m which many of my predecessors have gone.

ASalysis of the EiGHTKKin-H Psalm.

David^.s Emvuciov, or song of triumph after his eo»« qnest of all his enemies; > This Psalm may be divided into four parts:— -

h David shows what God is to his servants, and iIm effect it wrought upon him, ver. 1, 3, 3.

II. The great danger in which he was from the power and multitude of his enemies, ver. 4-98.

'Ill: His glorious victories, and their cooseqaeneasy

IV^ His thanksgiving for those tictories, ver. 45-60.

The effect it verought in him. It produced, 1. Love: "I will love the Lord." 9. Confidence: "In him will I trust.** 3. The spirit of prayer: *< I will eall on the Lord.*' Th^ liruit of all which was his safety:. " So shall I be saved fi-om mine enemies,** ver. 3.

II. The great dangers in which he was, and of his

1. ffis danger was great; for, 1. He was encom-'. puMtd wUh the sorrows of death. 8. Was terrified wiih the Jloods of ungodly men, 3. Surrounded by tbe sorrows of hell. And, 4. Prevented by the snares rfdemthy Ter. 4, 6.

9. He shows how he behaved is these dangers, and fnoi whom he sought for help: 4. '' He called upon the Loid." 9. *« He eried unto his God.**

3. He shows the goodness of God to him, and his readiness to help him: L. *' He heard me out of his hiAj temple.** 3. *' My cry came into his ears.**

4. The cause of his escape was the immediate hand of God, who testified his presence by many sapematml signs. 1. Eartrquasbs: ''The earth shook and trembled.** 9. Hili^ and mountains were'tnoved from theii: places: ** The hills moved,** &c., ver. 7. 3. Shokb came out of his nostrils. 4. A consaming wmm eame oat of his mouth; and became permanent, far eamU were kindled bj it, Ter. 6. - 5. A thick darkmess announced his presence; and the atmosphere was gnatly confused: " He bowed the heavens; darkness was luider his feet,** ver. 9^. 6. There were migh(y wmda and tempests: '' He flew on the wings of the wind,** ver. 10. 7. There were violent inundations, with Uaekness -of the atmosphere, dark waters, thick doiids of the sky, ver. 11. 8. Great THUNDsas: " The Lord thundered; the Highest gave his voice.** 9. There was greet hail, and ruRT MCTEoas: ** Hailstones und cools of fire,*' ver.- 19, 13. 10. Tremendmu Li6BTii»os, ^d fearful 'CHABMB opened in the earth: "He sent out,** &c., ver. 14, 15.

5. He reckons' op his deliverances^ with the maimer and eeuMs.- —

9. He did this in a supematoral way: " He sent from above,** ib.

6. He describes his enemies from whom God delivered him. 1. They were very numerous, compared to matty waters, ver. 16: " He drew me out of many waters.** 9. They were very strong. 3. Full of wsedie0. 4. Too strong for him. 6. Insidious and OBVKL: ** They* prevented me in the day of my calamity,** ver. 17, 18.

7. But God was his stay: and the causes- which moved God to help him werOj 1. His own good wHl: ^Because he delighted in me.** 9. David*s timoeenee; which he declares from ver. 90 to ver. 95.

8. And then, ab hypothesi, from his own particular ease, he takes occasion to discoune in thesi, that this is not only true in David's person, but shall be verified in all that are upright as he was: which he proves from the nature and usual manner of God*s proceedings with good snd bad men, from ver. 95 to 98.

1. His vietoiylie expresses and amplifies many ways:—

1. From ttie opposition which he conquered. Nor troops nor walls hindered, ver. 99.

9. From God*8 stngnlar protection. He was his Buckler, his Rock.

3. From his omuHir. He was made ^e^; and had military knowledge, strength, and defence, from God,

4. From his safety. He was not wounded in the battle.

5. From his success. He routed his enemies; thej fled, and he pursued, ver. 37. %■

6. From the greatness of the eic0ry. It wa« a complete conquest; for his enemies were takem^ or coik sumed, or wounded, so as to be unable to r^. Thgr fell under his feet; their necks were brought downi ver. 38 to 49.

7. From the cause. All was of God; he takes nothing to himself. Thou hast girded me. Thou hast subdued. Thou hast given me, 4«.

9. The consequences of these victories were A^ propagation and enlargement of David's kingdom:-a

1. Before these victories there were mormuringe and insurrections among his people: but now, beiqg conqueror, they are all quiet: *5 Thou hast deliverei roe from the strivings of the peoj>le," ver. 43.

9. He was exalted to be head of the heathen: Moabites, Ammonites, &c., served him^ ver. 44.

3. People whom he had not known became tributarj to him: ** Aliens shall serve me,*' ver. 44.

4. This, it is true,, they did out of /ear, not affection. They dissembled in their fidelity; and several feU off: but still they were obliged to submil, ver.. 45.

IV. David's thanksoivino. This is the main scope of ihe Psalm; to celebrate and extol the name and mercy of God for his victories. This has two parts: 1. His /»rtf jenMhanksgiving. 9. His profession for the future.

1. He magnifies God: "The Lord liveth; and blessed be my Rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted;" ver. 46. And to this end,' in the two next verses, he makes mention again of his victories, and attributes the whole success to God, ver. 47, 48.

9. He professes still to do it; hC' will not cease even among the heathen: *< Therefore will I givo thanks," ver. 49.

3. And he shows how much reason he had to do so: because, 1. He had great deliverances. 9. He was the man of God's choice; his king — his anointed. 3. This goodness was to survive him, and go to his posterUy: « To David, and to his seed." 4. It was to have no end: it was to be for evermore, ver. 50.

Here the true David and the spiritual seed s» leferred to; and for this the reader \k requested te amine the notes, and the remark before this i

Tie heavens and their host pr^laim the mafesty of Ood, 9-6; the exeettence end perfection of the Dioim law, 7-10; Us usefulness^ 1 1. The psalmist prays for pardon and preservation from sin^ 19, 19; md that his words and thoughts may be holy, 14.

T^HE ' heaTcns declare the glory of God r and the firmament showeth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttcrcth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language * where « their Toice is not heard.

4 d Their • line is gone out through all the

NOTES ON PSALM XIX. The title of this Psalm has npthin|r particular in it; but it is not Tery dear that it was written by David, to whom it is attributed; though some think that he composed it in the wilderness, while persecuted by Saul. For this opinion, however, there is no solid ground. There is no note in the Psahn itself to lead as to know when^ where, or 5y whom it was written. It is a higlily finished and beautiful ode.

Verse 1. The heavens declare the glory of God] LiteraUy, The heavens number out the glory of the Strang God. A first. view of the starry heavens strikes every beholder with astonishment at the power by which they were made, and by which they are supported. To find out the wisdom and skill displayed in their contrivance requires a measure of science: but when the vast magnitude of the celestial bodies is eoBsidered, we feel increasing astonishment at these works of the strong God.

The firmament] The whole visible expanse; not only containing the celestial bodies above leferred to, but also the of'r, light, rains, dews, &c., &c. And vrhen the composition of these principles is lexamined, and their great utility to the earth and its inhabitants property understood, they afford matter of astonishment to the wisest mind, and of adoration and gratitude even to the most unfeeling heart. *

Verse 3. Day unto day uttereth speech] Each day is represented as teaching another relative to some new excellence discovered in these manifold works of God. The nights also, by the same figure, are represented as giving information to each other of the increase of knowledge already gained.

** The labours of these our instructers know no intermission; but they continue incessantly to lecture us in the science of Divine wisdom. There is one glory of the sun, which shines forth by day; and there are other glories of the moon and of the stars, which become visible by night. And because day and night interchangeably divide the world between them, they are therefore represented as transmitting, in succession, each to other» the task enjoined them, like the two parts of a choir, chanting forth alternately the pndses of God." — Bishop Home,

Veise 3. There is no speech nor language. vfUere their voice is not heard.] Leave out the expletives hem, whioh pervert the sense; and what remains is a tolerable translation of the original:; —

Bechd haarets yatsa katvain: Ubiktsey thehel milley hem..^ "Into all the earth hath gone out their sonirf; •Jod to the extremity of the habitable worid, their eloquence."

The word)p kav, which we translate line, ie rendered sonus, by the Vulgate, and f^oyyof, sound, by the Septuagint; and St. Paul, Rom. Jt. 18, neee the same term. Perhaps the idea here is taken from a streUhed cord, that emiu a sound on being struck; and hence both ideas may be included in the word; and D)p kavvam may be either their line, or cord, or their sound. But I rather think that tbe Hebrew word originally meant sound or noise; for in Arabic the verb V^ kavaha signifies he -^eiied Mrf, cried, clamavU. The sense of the whole ie this, as Bishop Home has well expressed it: —

« Although tJio heavjMis are thus appointed to teaoht yet it is not by articulate sounds that they do it. They are not endowed, hke man, with the Realty of speech; but they address themselves to the mind of the. intelligent beholder in another way, and that, when understood, a no less forcible way, die way of picture -or representation.. The instruction which th^ heavens spread abroad is as universal as (heir substance, which extends itself in lines, or raye. By thie means their words, or rather tlieir significant acHems or operations, DH'Sd,,are everywhere present; and thereby they preach to all the nations the power aad wisdom, the mercy and lovingkindness, of the Ixiid.** St. Paul applies Uiis as a propheey relative to the universal spread of the-Gospel of Christ, Rom. z. 18; for God designed that the light of the Gospel be diffused wfieresoever the light of Ihe celestial 1 naries shone; and be as useful and benefiotat, is a moral point of view, as that is in a natural. AU As inhabitants of the earth shall benefit by the Gospel of Christ, as they all benefit by the solar, lunary asd stellar light. And, indeed, all have thus benefited, even where the words are not yet come. " Jesos is the true Light that lighteth every man that eometh into thjB world." His light, and the voice of his $piriif have already gone throi^jfh the earth; and bis «onls» and the words of his- aposdes, wib by means oC^ Bihle and missionaries going out to all the extremities of the habitable globe.

On these words I shall conclude with the translation of my old Psalter.•—

Verse 1. »rbtn» tclles tlie foj of «Ioti; an^ tic tBcrkes sC W ^anUrs sctjctaifs tte ffrmament.

earth, aDd their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which tif as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, ' and rejoiceth as a strong man to ran a race.

. AU the versions^ except ttie Chaldee, reader the last danse of the /ourth- verse thus: '* In the son he hath placed Ms tabernacle;** as the old Psalter hkewiae does. They supposed that if the Supreme Being had a local dwelling, this must be its ss it was to all JauDan appearances the fittest pku^. But the. Hebrew ky ** Among them hath he set a tabernacle "for the aon.*^ He is the centre of the universe; all the other besTenly bodies appear to serve him. He is like a gemerml in his pavilioo,. surrounded by his troops, to whom he givfls his orders, and by whom he is obeyed. So. the solar influence gives motion, activity, light, llSd heat to all the planets. To none of the other heavealy bodies does the psahaist assign a tabernacle^ wnofb is said to havjB 9^ fixed dwellings but the sun.

Verse 5. Which \b as a Mdegroom, ^,] This is a lefereaee to the rising of the sun, as the following Tease is to the. selling. He makes his appearance above the horixon with splendour and majesty; every crestnre seems to rejoice at his approach; and during the whols of his course, through his whole circuit, bis appaient revolution from east to west, and from one taofiio to the same again, no part of the earth is deprived of its proper proportion of light.and heat. The san is compared to a bridegroom in his ornaments^ beeanse of the glory and splendour of bis n$ys; and to a ^isal -or strong man running a race, because of the power oi his Ught and heat. The apparent motion of ihe san, in his diurnal and annual progress, are here both referred to. Yet both of these have been deoDonstrated to be mere appearances. The sun*s diurmal motion arises from the earth's rotation on its axis from west to east in twenty-three hours, fifty-six mimUes, and four seconds, the mean pr equal time which elapses between the two consecutive meridiantiaaaits 6f the same fixed star. But on account of the snn's apparent ecliptic motion in the same dacectioB, the earth mast make about the three hundred and, sixty-fifth part of s second revolution on its axis before any given point of the earth's surface can be again brought into the same direction with the sun as before: so that the length of a natural day is twentyfour hours at a mean rate. The apparent revolution of the san through the twelve constellations of the aodiae in a sidereal je^t, is caused by the earth's making one complete revolution in its erbit in the a

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 » The ^ law of the Lord is perfect, * converting the -soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

same time. And as the earth's axis makes an angle with the axis of the ecliptic of about twenty-three degrees and twenty-eight minutes, and always maintains its parallelism, L e., is always directed to the same point of the starry firmament; from these circumstances are produced the regular change of the seasons, and continually differing lengths of the days and nights in all parts of the terraqueous globe, except at the poles and on the equator. When we say that the earth's axis is always directed to tlie same point of the heavens, wo mean to be understood only in a general sense; for, owing to a very slow deviation of the terrestrial axis from its parallelism, naimed the preces" sion of the equinoctial points, which becomes sensible in the lapse of some years, and which did not escape the observation of the ancient astronomers, who c]early perceived that it was occasioned by a slow revolution of the celestial poles around the. poles of the ecliptic, the complete revolution of the earth ih its orbit is longer than the natural year, or the earth's tropical revolution, by a little more than /tr^/y minutes; so that in twenty-five thousand seven hundred and sixty^ three entire terrestrial revolutions round the sun, the seasons will be renewed twenty-five thousand.seven hundred and sixty -four times. And in half this period of twelve thousand eight hundred and eighty-two natural years, the points which are now the north and south poles of the heavens, around which the whole starry firmament appears to revolve, will describe circles about the then north and south poles of the heavens, the semi-diameters of which wUl be upwards of forty-seven degrees.

Coming out of his chamberl IDfin? mechuppatho, from under his veil. It was a sort of canopy erected on four poles, which four Jews held over the bridegroom's head.

Verse 7. The law of the Lord] And here are two books of Divine Revelation: 1. The visible heavens, and the works of creation in general. 3. The Bible, or Divinely inspired writings contained in the Old and New Testaments, These may all be called the law of the Jjord; niin, torah, firom TiT yarah, to instruct^ direct, put straight, guide. It is God's system of mstruction, by' which men are taught ijie knowledge of God and themselves, directed how to walk so as to please GOD, redeemed from crooked paths, and guided in the way everlasting. Some think that TVWn torah means the preceptive part of Revelation. Some of ihe primitive fathers have mentioped three laws given by God to man: l.The law of nature, which teaches the knowledge of God, as to his eternal power and Deity, by the visible creation. 3. The law given to Moses and the prophets, which teaches more perfectly the knowledge of God, his naturef.hu wiUt and our

6 The Btatates of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: ^the commandment of the Lord is pure, ^enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord » dean, enduring for

duty. 3. The law of grace giren by Christ Jesus, whieh shows the doctrine of the atonement, of jfurification^ and of the resurrection of the body. The first JM written in hieroglyphics in the heavens and the earth. The second was writtien on tables of stone, and in mady rites and ceremonies. The third is to be written on the heart by the power of the Holy Ohost.

Is perfect] no^DP temimahj it is perfection. It is perfect in itself as a law, and reqoires perfection in the hearts and Hoes of men. This is rrs character.

Converting the soul] Turning it back to God, Restoring it to right reason, or to a sound mind; teaching it its own interest in reference to both worlds. This is ITS use.

The testimony of the Lord] nnjT eduth, from Ij; ad, beyond, forward. The various types and appointments of the law, whioh refer to something beyond themselves, and point forward to the Lamb of God who takes away Uie sin of the world.' Some understand, the doctrinal parts of the law.

Is sure] 7\}DM neemanah, Kte faithful; they point out the things beyond them fairly, truly, and fully, and make no vain or false report. They all bear testimony to the great atonement. This is their character.

Making wise the simple.] The simple is he who has but one end in view: who is concerned about his soul, and earnestly inquires, *' What shall I do to be saved V^ These testimonies point to the atonement, and tins the simple-hearted is made wise unto salva^ tion. This is thbib use.

Verse 8. The statutes of the Lerd] CTIlpi) pikkudim, from IpO pakad, he visited, eared, took notice of, appointed to a charge. The appointments, or charge delivered by God to man for his regard and observance.

Are right] Dner yesharim, from IST yashar, to make straight, smooth, right, upright, opposed to crookedness in mind or conduct; showing what the man should be, both within and without. This is tbeib character.

Rej'oicing the heart] As they show a man what he is to observe and keep in chaige, and how he is to please God, and the Divine help he is to receive from the visitations of God, they contribute greatly to the happiness of the upright — thejrefaice the heart, This is theib use.

The commandment] niYO mitsvah, from my tsavah, to command, give orders, ordain. What God has ordered man to do, or not to do. What he has commandedf and what he has prohibited.

ever: the judgments of the Lord are and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gdd, * yea, than much fine gold: * aweeter alao than honey, and ^ the honey-comb.

Enlightening the eyes.] Showing men what they should do, wad what they should avoid. It is by God*8 commandments that we see the exceeding sinftdkess of sin, i|nd the necessity oV redemption, mo- thaX we may love the Lord with all our heait^ and ov neighbour as ourselves. For this is the ^end of the commandment, and thos to enlighten the eyes is rrs use.

Verse 9. The fear of the Lord] rUtT yirmkt front m" yara, to fear, to venerate; often put fur the whole of Divine worship. The reverence we owe H the Supreme Being.

Is clean] nnino tehotah, from ino tahar^ to be pure, clean; not differing much from rro batah^ (see above,) to be clean and bright as the heavens; as purified silver. Its object is to purge awaylD deJUk* ment, to make a spotless character.

Enduring for ever] 1^ niO^ omedeth toady standing up to PERPETUITY. The fear thai prevents us from offending God, that causes us to^mrrvfice him, and is the beginning as it is the safeguard of wisdom, must be carried all through life. No soul is safe fm a moment without it. Il prevents departqre froim Qa^ and keeps that clean whioh God has puriiled. llib is ITS use.

The judgments of the Lord] DHSfiVO. i from Dfiier shmphat, he judged, regulated^ diepe^vd^ All God's regulationst all his decisions; whahiM haa pronounced to be right and proper. ^

Are true] nox emeth, truth, fronr DK ad^to n^ party confirm, -make stable, and certain.' This il tbe character of God*s judgments. They shall all simmd. All dispensations in providence and grace confirm thea; they are certain, ^nd have 3, fixed character.

And righteous altogether.] They are not only aocordlng to truth r but they are righteous, Itny teodekm, they give to aU their due. They show what belongs to Ood, to man, and to ourselves. And hence the word altogether, MXV yachdao, equally, is added; or truth and righteousness united.

Verse 10. More to be desired are they than geild[ This is strictly true; but who believes it? By nmt men gold is preferred both to Ood and hvs ju^misMs; and they will barter every heavenly portion for goH and silver!

Sweeter also than honey] To those whose mental taste is rectified, who have a spiritual dliseemment.

Honey-^omb.] Honey is sweet; but honey just oot of the c&mb has a sweetness, richness, and flavour, far beyond what it has after it becomes exposed to tlie atr« Only those who have eaten of honey from the comb.ean feel the force of the psalmist^s coapemNi: it is bettor than gold, yea, thvk fine gold in ttognatest quantity; it ia Mseel^ than Aoney, yea, t*^ ~ * ^ " the cmk''^' "

1 1 Moreover, by theitt ii ihy serr ant warned: and ''10 keeping of them there is great revrard.

1 2 ' Who can understand his enors T 'cleanse. tiioti me from * secret faults.

'^mwm IL By them U ihy servant warned] inu Imixk^r* from VI f zahar^ to be c/eur, pellucid* By these {Iaws, lefttiinonie*, &c Iby servant va fxdly instrucUd; ' j*«il aW clearly; and be discerns that iti keeping of > CAer« u lETffl/ r«ffflr<i r ©very m&n is wise, holy, hippf, who observea ihertr. All Chj-istian expefieiiee con fircns this Iryth, Header, what says thine f V*r»e 12. ^Vho ^ji undersiftnd his errors f] It is possible, witbout much of the Divine hgbt, to nn- [4eatand all ouf devtattons from, not only ibe letter ^ i the tpiriiu&litjf^ of the Phiae law. Frequent selfr», snd walking in the ligbt, are eaaentially [ aeecMKiy to ihe requisite fiegree df spiritual per-

Vcrae 13> Frofn presumpiu&uA sins] Sins cominmed not through /r a i/^y or stirprisey but those which t ofl^priflg of thoug^hi., purpose^ and deiiherQlion* BiDi afainst judgment, light, and conscience. The |Wnrdi might be translated, PresereA ihy senmni alhi^ frmn ihe proud i from tynnuieat governors, i. e., from iv|t spirits^-^Btsbop Horsley. So most of the versions nnderataQd the place.

Ijst tkem ii<>^ have dommioa over me] Let me never be hroitght into a haifit of sinning. He who sini pre- ^ mempiu&usly will soon be hardened ibrough the deceit* Iblneaa of tin.

Tkenth^l I he uprtght} Let roe be preserTed from alt the evil thai the crafl and malice of the devil or man work against me, then ahall I continue to walk uprightly^ and shall be tnnoceni from the greal truftS' grtMMiim — from habitual ainning, from apostasy j from my tiisily -beset tmg sm. He who would be innocent from Ihe great transgression, most take care that he indulge not himself in any. See Bishop Nome. Most men have conmiitted some particular sin which they l-l^il to deplore aa long as they breathe, and on ae* of the enormity of which they should for ever be bumbled.

%^erse I 4, Let the words of my m&utK\ He has praye^l against practical sifii the sins of the hody; DOW| against the sim of the mouth and of the kemi^ Let toy m*mih sfieak nothing but what is irne^ kind, and projiinhie; and my heart meditate nothing bul what is huiu* puret atu] chaste.

sumpiuotts sins: ^ let them not hare dominion over me; then shall I be upright^ and I shall be innocent from * the great transgression,

14 * Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight| 0 LoRDf ^ my strength, and my * redeemer*

Acceptable in thy sighi\ Like a sacrifice without spot or blemiah, offered up with a perfect heart to God-

My redeemer.] "iHX goalt, my kiiumtm^ he whose right it is to redeem the forfeited inheritanee; for so was the word used under the old law. This prayer is properly concluded; he was tueak^ he fell the need of God's atre^ngih. He had sinned and tost alt title to the heavenly inherttance^ and iherefore needed the interference of the Dwme kiTtsman; of Him who, becaose the children were partakers of flesh and bond, also partook of the same. No prayer can be accepta— He before God whieh is not offered up in his strength; through HtM who took our nature upon him, that he might redeem ua unto God^ and restore tlie long-lost inheritance. ILovli mil litlpar antr m^ b^^rr, — Old Psalter* He who is my only Ae/p, and he that bought me with his blood. This prayer is often, with great propriety f uttered by pious people when they eniei a place of worship.

Analysis or th« NprrrEKfrm Fbalm.

r There are two parts in this Realm. The ^r*l is doctrtnal; the second t penitential. The doctrinal part has two members:—

1. The first leaches us to know God by naturat reason, from the book of crtatton^ from ver. 1 to \er» 7-

S. But because this way is insufficiem lo save a soul, therefore in the second part we have a better way presojrihed, which is the ho&k of the Scriptures; the excellences of which are deserihed from ver, 7 to ver 1 L

IL The penitential part begins at the twelfth verse; for since the reward to be expected proceeds from the keeping of God*s law, and David^s heart told him he had not kept it, therefore, he begs pardon and grac^f Ter, 12 to Tcr, 14.

L '* The heavens declaFe/* Ste, By the glory &f God we are to understand his goodnesst wisdom, pijwer; in a word, all his attributes, of which we have a double declaration: —

t, A testimony from the creatures^ but especially the htat'ens, w^hose magnitude, beauty, order, variety, perpetual motioni light, Lnjlupuces, &c., declare that there is an omnipotent, wise, good, and gracious God, who b their Creator, with this David begins: *' The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showetb forth," &c.

2. The vicissitude of day and niglit, proceeding from their motions, declares this also: •* Day unto day uttereib speech/* &c. 1. The heavens are ddigeni preachers; for they preach all day and all night, without intermission, 0, They are learned preachere, for

they prcaeh in all tongues: *' Thete ia m> ipeech — where their voice is not heard/* 3. They are universal prcachersi for I hey preach to ihc whole world: " Their sound b gone through all ibe earth/* &c,

3. But among all these creatures iho sijn^ for which God in heaven Uair set a throne^ majcea the fairest and clearest evidence, and th:it in lite three foUowing ways: —

1. By bis splendour, light, and beatity; he ri^th an glorioualy as a Uridegroom coming from under his canopy*

i. By his \&0}%derftd celerU^^ not only in revolving round his own axis, whieh revolution, although he is &ne miiiipu three hundred and eighiyrfour ih&usand four hundred and sixty -two times bigger than the earilii be performs in twenty -five days fourteen hours of our lime, but also in the swifiness with which bia light comes to tho earth. It travels at tlie rale of one hundred and ninety-four thousand one hundred and tighty*eighf miles in a second of lune; and reaehes our earth in eigid minutes and about tiQehe seeonds, a distance of nineiy-five millions fioe hundred and thifieen thoustind seven hundred and ninety-four Ktig^lisb miles, at a mean rate.

3. His strange and miraculous heatj from which no* thing ts hidden J and by which every thing is benefited.

IL But OB the declaration, even from Ibe most glo* rious of creatures, is not sufficient to make men wise and happy, be has been pleased to declare himself by his wRiTTEJt woBD» Called here the law generally; and is commended to us by tb^ following reasons i^^

1. From the author; U is the " law of Jehovah."

2. From its sujlciency: It is ^* perfect."

3* Prom its utility: "It converts the soul: — gives wisdom lo the simple.*'

4* From iu tty'allibility: " The testimony of the I^rd is jure."

5« From its perspicuily: " The statutes of the Lord are rights*

6* From the effects it works on llic soul: " They rejoice the heart." They cjuiet the troubled cunsoience; "being justified by faith, we have peace with God."

7. From its purity: " The commandment of Ibe Lord IS pure," It is opposed to all bad tfpinions and evil practices,

8. From its effects in the understanding: ^* It enlightens the eyes." It dispels all darkness and ignorance, all doubts and fears, dLfUdcnce^ carnal seen* lity* false worship, Sic, and gives us to see our own defamtities.

9. From its unc&rruptness; " The fear of the Lotd is clean." Oilier loligiona are polluted with human inventions^ sinngo eetemonies, uncommanded saci^ifio«a| faM gods, ^c.

10, From its perpetuity: '* It endoreth for evei-"

It is m endless law, and an everlasting Gospel.

IL From its /ruM and equity; "It is altogether true and righteous,"

From all whieh David concludes, that it is hoih precious and ddi^htfuL

1. The pnce of il is beyond the heat gold: ** Moft to he desired than gold; yaSf than much fine gold.^

S, It is delightful: *' Sweeter than honey and the honey- comb/'

3. This he knew hy his own tTperienct: *' Moteorer, hy tbem is th? servant illuminated."

III. But this last consideration sent David to the throne of mercy. What J a reward, a great rewa.rd! and only to those who keep God^s law F My conscience tells me that the reward is not for me; I cannot plead this obsemance. David had public sins, secret faults and errors, to deplore. But he bad at hand three means of help; 1. Confessi&n of Wn. 2. PeUtum fur grate. 3. Faith in the Divine mercy, Ihrough the great Redeemer.

I> He knew he was an offender^ hut he knew not how greatly he had offended. He saw that he was guilt y, and asked pard*in. He felt that he ivas im* pure, and asked cleanstng: ** Who can understand his errors \ cleanse thou me from my secret faults.^*

2* He prays that he may he preserved from presumptuous sins; that he might not be hardened in transgression: ** Keep back also tby servant from presumptuous sins." For which be gives heo rea* sons i 1. If he were not kept back from them, sin would get the dominion over him. Sin would become a king, who would commafHii rule, and enslave bim. i. If thus kept back, he would he tnnoteni from the grtat transgressiofi; for be that gets under the strong habit of sin tnay at last deny God tiimselC renounce the blood of the covenant, and become a castaway.

3. Lastly, that his prayer may be heard, be prii3'8 for bis pifayer: " Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in tby «igbt." This is pleading, or supplication. •

That prayer and supplication may be aneoessful, he 3Xiis faith in God, whom he,

1. Ckims as his strength; literally, his roek^ by whom alone he could resist and overcome.

2. His redeemer, through whom alone he could get pardon for the past, and grace to help him in tune of need. To this word be adds nothing, as it Includes every tiling necessary to saint and sinner* See the notes.

A prayer for ihg king in his enierprises^ that his prayers may be heard, his offerings accepted, and his wishes fulfilled, 1-4. Confidence of tfictory e^tpressed^ 5, 6, Vatn hopes exposed i and suppUcation made for ihe king. Q i prayer for ihe king PSALM XX.

day of trouble; • the name of ihe God of Jacob ^ defend thee*

5 We will * rejoice in^lhy salvation, and * in the name of our God we will «et up our banners: the' Load

% Send " thee help from ^ the sanctuary, and fulfil all thy peiii ions * slreiigthen thee out of Zion, 6 Now know I that the Lord savcth ^ hia

3 Remember all thy offenngs, and ^ accept anointed; he will hear him " from his holy

KOTKS ON PSALM XX. It is most Silcely that Ihis Paalm waa penned on the waaton of Darid'^s going io war; and most probaljly flmik the Ammonites aniJ SyTians, who came with greal I Btunbers of kor*e^ and ckartots to fight with htm. See [ f Sam* X. 6—8; 1 Chroii. xis. 7, It i« one of the I Dialogue Psaltns, and appears to be thus divided: I PreTiooalj to his nndertaking the nrari David cornea 1 1(1 the tabernacle to offer sacrifice. Thb being done, I Ihe pc€ip/r, in the ktng'» behalf^ olfer up their prayers; ' thr^ are included in the three (ttdt vertex: the/ourth IS pitibftbly spoken by the high priest; the Jifth^ by \I^9m4 SJid his aflcndanft; the lant clause, by the fkagh |irtevl; the j^t.rrA, by the high pnest, after the I victim w^a consumed; the xev^th and eighih^ by Da* [ md and his men; and the ninth, as a chm%ia by all tbe [ gomgregattim*

Veroe I. The l^ord hear thee] David bad already Ditfered the ^acrifict and prntjtd. The people implore [God to soccoyrhim in the day of trouble; of both ^irl>»fvaf ^d tmhimal danger.

We ftome o/ Me Gorf o/ Jacob] This refers to L Jacob's wreetUng with the Angel; Gen. xxxii. 34, &c. [ And who was this Angel? Evidently none other than I the Angtl ^f ihe Covenant^ the Lord Jesus, in whom ^'as the rmm€ of Godt the fulness of ihe Godhead bo- > Jt/^* He was the Got/ of Jacob, who blessed Jacob, wsd gvre him a n^ic msrn^ and a new naiure* Sea [ iie tu^ej on the above place in Genesis,

Verse 2, Send thee help from the saneiuary] This \ waa the place where God recorded his name; the place ' where he was to be sought, snd the place where ke t ^nanifetted himself. He dwelt between the chentbim ' over Ihe mercy-seat. He is now in Christ, reconciling the woHd to himself. This is the txne sanctuary where God must be sought.

Sirengtheti Ihee out tf Zwn\ The temple or tahematle where his prayers and sacrifices were to be offered.

Verse %: Remember all (Ay offerings] The min^ ehaht which is here mentioned, was a gratitude'&ffering* Ft ia r^u-oly used to signify a bloody sacrifice.

Bitmt sacrifice] The olah here mentioned was a Moody sacriJiGe. The blood of the victim w^ ipilt ȣ the altati and the flesh consumed. One of these offering implied a consciousness of sin in the offerer; tnd ibis sacrifice he brought as an atonement: the

heaven » with the saving strength of his right hand*

I Ver^e 4» Otant thee according io thine &wn heart] May God give thee whatsoever thou art setting thy heart upon, and accomplish all thy desires I This was probably the prayer of the high priest.

Verse 5. We will rejoice in thy sahoiion] We expect help from thee alone; it is in thy cause we engage; and to t/ieet as our war is a just one, we consecrate our banners, inscribed with thy name. Ft is said that the Maccabees had Iheir name fiom the inscription on their baimers; which was taken from Exod, KV. II, niH' O^HD ri3t»D *3 mi camochah baelim Vehovahf " Wlio is like unto Ihee, O Lord, among the gods V^ The word being formed from the milial let* tera D M, 0 C, 1 B, M, ^330 Ma Ca B I, whence Maccabeus and Maccabees.

The words of this verse were spoken by David and his officers; immediately after which I suppose the high priest to have added, The Lord fulfil all thy petitions!

Verse 6. Nmtf inmo I that the Lord saveth A*r anointed] These are probably Ihe words of the priest after the tictim had been consumed; and those signs had accompanied the offering, which were proofs of God's acceplance of the sacrifice; and, consequently, that the campaign would have Et successful issue. David is God^s antyintcd; dtefefore, he m under his especial care. He will hear him. David must continue to pray, and to depend on God; else he cannot ^JCpect contiaual salvation. Dftvid has ViLSt muUitudes of enemies against him ^ he, therefore, rerjuiies supematorai help. Because of this, God will hear hifn wtih the saving strength of his right hand.

The HKitii of God ia his power; the bioht htmd^ bis almighty power; the strkncth of his right hand, his almighty power in action; the saving strength of his right handt the mtraculous effects wrought by his almighty power brought into act ton. This is what David was to expect \ and it was the prospect of thii

8 They are brought down and fallen: but