Commentary on the Holy Bible

3 ^ The wicked are estranged from ' the

5 Which will • not hearken- to 4 ' Tlieir vpoison is ' like the the Toice of charmers^ ^ chsHrming

TtiJwir Pmtriek to have, called a council, when tbey, to iBgniiate themseWM with.the- mooareh, adjudged Dtmd to be gnilty of treason in aspinng to tho throne cf IsneL This being made known to Dayid was the, cattse'cff.lhia Psalm.; It* it a good lesson to alLking^, I JadgeSf and eiyil magistrates; and from it they obtain mygiwM to i^egnlate their conduct and influence their deeuMos; and at the same time they may discern the awfid Aocoimt-they must give to Grod, and the dresidful pdaiafameDt thejf shaU incur who prostitute justice to sanre sinister ends, yeise 1. Do ye indeed speak rigkieauenese] Or,

0 cabinet, seeing ye profess to,a^ aecoiding to the piiociples of- justice, why do ye not give righteous t^^ta^fiut^iM and just decisions, ye M>ns of men %. Or, it may lie an irony: What excellent judgea yoi» are i well do ye judge according to law and Jiistice, when ye give decisions not founded on any law, nor supported by say principle of justice! To please your master, ye perrert judgment; and take part against the iuEtocent, in order, po retain your places and their etnolu* ments. Saul's counsfiUors a{q)ear to have done ^o^ though in their consciences they must%ave been satisfied of David's innocence.

■ Terse S. Yedt. in heart ye liark wickedness] With thdir sangnes- they had spoken maliciously, and given

. evil cbnnseL In their hearts they meditioed nothing but wickedness. And though in their hands they held the scaUs of justice, yet in their use of them they! were balances of injustice and violence. This is the fad to which the psalmist alludes, and the figure which he uses is that oi justice with her scales or halanceSf which, though it might be the emblem of the courtj yet it did not prevail in the practice of these magistiates and counsellors.

Terse 3. The wicked are estranged from the w&mh] ** ThisT says Dr. Kennicott, " and the next two vc^raea,

1 take to be the answer of Jehovah to the question in the two ^xst verses, as the 6th, 7th, and 8th, are the answer of the psalmist, and the remainder coatains the decree of Jehovah.'' He calls these wicked men, men who had been always wicked, originally and naturally bad, and brought up in falsehood, flattery, and lying. The part they acted now wi^ quite in character.

V^rae 4. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent] When they bite, they convey poison into the woubd, as the serpent does. They not only JDjure you by outward acts, but l^ their malevolence they^ poison yCur reputation. They 'do jrou as much evil as they can, and propagate the worst reports that others may have you in abhorrence, treat yon as a bad and dangerous man; and thus, as the poison from the bite of the aerpent is conveyed into the whole masa of blood, and circulates with it through all the system, carrying death every where; so their iii)Ariou8 speeches and Tile inainuaf ions circqlate through society, and poison and blast yodr reputation, in every place. Sudi is the slanderer^ and such his influence in society. From such do reputation is safe; with such no cha* racter is sacred) and against ssch there kb no defeioce.. God alone can riiield the innocent from the envenomed tongue and lying lips of.such ijiward monsters in theshape of men.

Like the deaf adder ihst stoppet}i her ear] It ia.a. fact tha^ cannot be disputed with any show of Yeasqu^. that in ancient times there were persons, that charmed, lulled to inactivity, or professed to charm, serpents, so as to prevent them from biting. See Eccles. x. 1 1; Jer. viii. 17. The prince Vif Roman poets states the faet,TiAS. Eel. viii.^ver. 71.

Frigidus in pratis cantando rumpitur aoguis«

*' In< the meadows the cold snake is burst by incantation."

Quin et Marruhia venh de gente sacerdos, Fronde super galeatm, et felici comptus olivs, Archippi regis missu, fortissimos Vmbro;. Vipereogeneriy et graviter spirantibus hydris, Spargere qui somiios cantuque manuqne'solebat, Mulcebalque iras, et morsus arte levhbat.

*' JJmbro, the brave Marrulian priest, was there. Sent by the Marsian monarch to the war. The smiling olive with her verdant boughs Shades his bright helmet, apd adorns his brows. His charms in peace the furious serpent keep. And lull the envenomed viper's race to sleep: His healing hand allayed the raging pain; And at his touch the poisons fled again/' Pitt.

There is a particular sect 'of the Hindoos who pro- Tess to bring serpents into subjection, and deprive them of their poison, by in^antaium. See at the end of this Psahn«

Verse 6, Which will not hearken to the ifoice of charmers] The old Psalter translates and paraphrases these two verses curiously:—

Vulg, Furor illis secundum similitudinem serpentis; sicut aspidis surde et obturantis aures suas: Quae non exaudiet vocem incantantium et venefici incantantis aapienter.

Paraph. Right calles he tham tDObi (mad,) for thai hafe na witte to se whider thai ga: for thai louke thair eghen, and rennys till the are thaire wodnesa til* clumsthed that wil noght be turned as of the snake

6 ^ Break their teeth, 0 God, in their mouth-: break out the great teeth of the young lions, 0 LoftD. • ' -

7 " Let them melt away as waters wkkk vaxi continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as' cut in pieces.

8 As a snail u;Aic% molteth, let every one of them pass awaj; ^Uke the iltitimely birth of a womah^^Ao^ they may not see the sun.

that festifl {fastens) the ^ ere til the ertht and.'the tother ere stoppis.with hir taile: Sua do thai that t^ai here not Godia word; thai stqpe thair eria with Itiif of erthli.thing thai thai delite thaim in; and with thair taile, that' ea, with all aynnea, that thfii will noght amend.

Trans, (V^t tnJlUlljrallt lUfbt Wt tfyt)MI9tt of t!>atiiunbt anb of tlKi -lienlm in akace of ctiafinanb town-

Paraph. This enake stopia hir eres that she be noght Itfoth to light; for if she herd it,, shd come forth sone, he charmes swa wysli in his craftw Sva the wikkld jnen wil' noght here the voyce of Crist and his hifers that ' are wys charmes; lor thi wild {would) bring them till light of heven. Wyt ye well (know) that he (i- ^-i ^krisi) lufes noght charmi^s and venim makera but be (by) vices of bestes, he takes HckjBning of vices of meVi.

It sterns as if the)re were a species of snake or adder that- is neaWy - deaf; and as their instinct informs them that if they listen to the sounds which, charmers use they 'shall' become a prey; therefore they stop their ears to prevent the little hearing they have from, being the means of their destruction. To this the Old Psalter refers. We have also an account of a species of snake, which, if it cast its eye on the charmer, feels itself obliged to qpme out of its hole; it 'therefore keeps close, and takes care neither to see nor be seen. To this also ^he Old. Psalter alludes; and. of this /act, if it be one, he makes a good use.

Verse 6. Break, their teeth] He still compares Saul, his captains, and his courtiers, to lions; and as a lion^s power of doing mischief is greasy lessened if all hfe teeth be broken, so he prays that Ood may take. a^vay their power and means of p^uing dieir bloody purpose. But he' may probably have the serpents in view, of which he speaks in the preceding verse: hreak their teeth — destroy the fangs of these serpents, in which their poison is contained. This will amount to the same meaning ate above. Save me from the adders — the sly and. poisonous slanderers: save me also from the /toni-*-the -tyrannical and blood-thirsty men. ^

Verse 7. Let them melt away as waters] Let them be minished away like the waters which sometimes 'run in the desert, but are. soon ev]i^)orated by the, sunt or absorbed by the sand.

9 Before your pots can feel the ^ ^- ^^gj, thorns, he shall take theni away. 8iJi,Bsiis ' ® as with a whirlwind, ^ both liv* ing, and in his wrath.

-10 ^ The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: 'he shaU wash' his £oet in ^e blood of the wicked.

1 1 * So that a man shalhtty/ Verily there is ^ a reward for the rigliteous: verily he is a God that * judgetH in. the earth.

When he bendeth his bow] Wheif my adreiHiioo aim their envenomed shafts againot m^ let their alTOws npt only fall short of the mark, bat be hMkiea to pieces in their flight. Some apply this to OpD. When he beods his bow against them, thoy aholl' all be exteriainated...

\etwe 8. As a snail which meUeih] The CMIm reads the vOrse thus: ^ They shall meh away in tfwir sins as w|ter flown off; as the cre^ing snail thai smearo its track; as the untimely birth ud the bUnd mole, which do not see the sun^** • The original word h^h^0 shahlul, a Motf, is d(her fiom h'*3\ff shebil, a path, because it leaves a shkimg path after it bj emitting a portion of jImm, and tluis glaring the ground; and therefore might be emphatically called the path^makir$ or from 3V* yesheibf to dweUf 3 be, in, SiS lul, a toindit^ or spired oMZ, which is well known (6 be its houo9, and wliieh it ' always inhabits; for when it. is not ooilod m wi^ this shell, it carries it with it wheresoever it goes« See Bochart.. These figures need no ftuher ei^la- Jiation.

Verse 0. Before your pots can. fed tha tkanu] Ye shall be destroyed with a sadden deotndion. From the time that the fire of God's wyath io kindAed about you, it will be but as a moment before ye be entirely consumed by it: so v^ short. wiB bis the time, that it mny be likened to the heat of the first blaze of dry thorns under a pot, that has not as yet been able to penetrate the metal,.and warm wluA » eontained in it.

A whirlwind] Or the suffocating simoem that destroys life in an instant, without previoos waninf: so, without pining sickness — ^while ye. are

Verse 10. The righteous shall rejoiea when he seeth the vengeance] He shall have a strong prmff of the Divine providence, of God*k hatred against 8tnatfrs» and his continual care of his followers.

He Jihall wash his feet 'in the Mood cf the wteied.] This can only mean that the slaughter would be so great, and at the same time so very nigh to the dwelling of the righteous, that he could not go ool without dipping his feet in the. blood of t^e wtoked. The Syriac, Vulgate, S^tuagint, JEthiapiCf Arahie, and Anglo-Saxon, read hdnds instead of feet. Every thing that in vindicti^ ip the Psalms must be con-

M totally alien from the spirit of Uie Ooqiel, and not at* all, under oar diapenaation, io be imitated. If tlM paaaafe above bereoffy Tindictire, and it certainly wiB admit of the interpretation gi? en aboVe, it ia to be-donaidered as not -belongingr to that* atate in whiefa the Son of man iaeomet loot to iaircy ikien^s Uvea, hot to j«v.

Vme 11. 80 thai a mm shail say] That ia, pM^fe, seeing these jnat judgmeiOa of Gtod, ahall aay, There is a reward (nfl-fm, frmi] to the righteooa nan. He hastiot 'sown his seed in TaiA; he haa not planted »aiid- watered in vain: he haa the froit of his bboars, he eab the fniit of his doings. B^t wo to 4he, k la ill with him; for-tfiad reward of his hands

A if « God that judgtih in ike eoHh.] There is a (3od who does not entirely dd&r judgqient till the Jadgment<iay; 'but executes judgment now, eren in this earth; and thus cdntinuea to give 'such proof of his hatred to ain and love to his ' followera, thai eviny-eonaiderale mind is convinced of it.* And hence arise the indisputable maxims: ^ There is, even kercy t rewud ^r the righteous;" '*there is a 'God who, Ms» Jndgeth in the earth.**

I have seen Indi^ priests who professed to charm, pol only aerpeiits, but the mpst ferocious wild beasts; evdn the enraged dephant, and the royal tiger ^ Twd prfesfta of Budkooy educated under. my oWn care, repealiMf the SajucrU iiicantatiom to me, and solemnly ■ssefteii that they had seen the power of them repeatr fdf^'Sad soeoessfiilly put to the test. I have mislaid these iacantationsi els^ I should insert them ais a vun0Kfy\ for to charms of the same nAtore-the f— Vi^ most undoubtedly alludes. ' The term' nam chcher^ which we translate charmer ^ comea from "Utl to jam, or jnU together; i. e., certain unintelligible wwds or sentences, which formed ibeepai.

I once met with a man who professed to remdve diseases by pronouncing an unintelligible jingling jargon of words oddly tacked together. I met with him one morning proceeding to th^ core of a horse' aieeted with the farcin. With a very grave countenance he stood before the diseased animal, and, taking off his hat, devoutly muttered the following wmds; wfaieh, as a matter of peculiar favour, he afterwards taught me, well knowing that /- could nSTer vse. them euccessfully, because not taught me 1$ a woman; *^ for,** said he, " to use them with success, va inan must be taught them by a womany and. itweman by a manJ'^ What the genuine orthography may be I cannot pretend to say, as^I am entirely ignorant of the language, if the words' belong to any kn^uage: but the following words exactly express his sounds: —

Murry fin a liff cree Murry fin a liss cree ' Ks^ fin deriv dhop Murry fin firey fu Murry fin elph yew;

When he had repeated these words nme times, he pot on 4iis hat and walked off; but he was' to return the next morning, and so on for urns mornings successively, always before he jufd bivkenhie fast. The mother of the aboie person, a* very eid woman,, and by many reputed a witeh^ professed to do mirackMs by pronoCttcing, or rather wMUering^ '^rtain words or saundsy and by measurmg with a cord the diwased parts of the sick person. I saw her practise twice: - ls^ on a person sfflioted with a vi<deot headache, or rather the efifects of^a coup de scleil; and, 2ndly, on o^'who had got » dangerous mi^or stdinter in' his eye. In \}m first ease she b^gan to measure the head, round the^ temples, < marking* the.length; then -from the vertdxi under the^obiin,.and so.\ip to the vertex ag^n,, marking^ that lengUi. ' Then, by ob- 'serving'^the din\ensions, parsed judgment' on the want of proportion in the two admeasureo^ents, and said the braid was. compressed by the. sinking down of the skull..She then began her incantatioas, mff/tering under her breath a supplication to oertainf divill^ and langelic beingb, <o come ahd Hjiup the bones, tht^t thetf might.no longer compress -the hrain. She th^ repeated her admeesuremenf^- and 'shouted how much* was gained' towards, a restoration of the proportions * from th^ sp^ already muttered. The spell was again muttered, i^ measurements repeated, and at bach ^e a comparison of the &rst messurement was made with the succeeding, till af last she said she had the due proportions; that the disease, or rather thd* cause of it, was removed; and ihat the operations were no longer necessary. * •; -

In the case of the diseased eye, \ifis ■ manner was different. She took a cup of clean pure water, and washed her mouth well. Having done so, she filled her mouth with the same water, and walked. to and fro in the apartment (the^ patient aittinj^ in the midst of'the'^oor) muttering hex speU, of which nothing could be heard but a gnunbUng noise. She then emptied her mouth into a clean white bason, ahd showed the motes which had been conveyed out of the patienfs ey6 into the* water in her mouth, while engaged in muttering the incantation! She proffered to teach" me her wonder- working words; but the sounds i^ere so very uncouth, if not barbarous, that I know. no combination of letters by whieh I /Bould convey the pronunciation.'.: '

Ridiculous as all this may appear, it shcA^rs (hat this incantation work is conducted in the present day, both ' in Asia and Europ^ivrhete it is professed, in precisely the sittne manner in which it was conducted formerly, by pronouncing, or rather muttering certain words ox soundsj'to Which they attach supernatural power and efficiency. And from this came the term spell: Anglo- Saxon rpoUt a word, a charm, composed of such supposed potoerful words; and py^can rpell wyrhan spell signified among our ancestors to use enchantments.

David deprecates the danger that hung over \ud head JfromSanl and his conncilr

-II. An imprecation, or denunciation of God*s judgment on them, ver. ©t©.

77^ psalmist prays against

the tiHfrkers cf imquiijf.

m. The benefits that from thence redontad to the righteous, ver. JIO, 11.. ^

I.. 1. Darid begiiM -with an apostrophe, and figures it with an eroUsis, which makeff his reproof the 8hai3>er. 1. '< O congregatibn;*' O ye cdon^el of Saul. 9/ ^ Do you indeed speak lighteoosly?** 8. ''Do ye Judge; uprightly, O ye- sons of menl** ^whidi be intimates that indeed they do neither.

S. 'Which in^the next Verse he iiffirms in-^lain terms, and brings home to thipir charge: ^ Yea, in heart you work ^ckedness^ yon weigh, the Violence of your hands in the earth;'*-*heait and hand are^^bent to do evil, which the words, well considered^ d6 exaggerate.- 1. They were iniquities, a piprafity of them.; 9. It was their "work. 3. Thfliir hearty work. 4.*'i!heir handy work. 5. Weighed out by their scale of jus-, tice. 6. ■ Which, indeed, under the colour of justice, was but Vielenoe. 7. And it was jm this eajth— in Jirae/^. where- no su^h thing- was to be done.

3. This, their wickedness, he amplifite, both from their origin and progress i-^-* •

, *' l^ The root of it was rery old; 'Inrought into the worid'with ^emi' 1. V ^^ wicked are estranged from^the womb:" from God ^pd all goodness. 9. '* They go astray:" from their cradle they take the wrong way. 3. "As sooi^.as they b^ bom, speaking, lies:" from their birth inclined to falsehood.

9. And in this then: falsehood they are malicious and obstinate. 1. Malicious. The poison of their tongue is like the poison of a serpent, innate,.deadly. 9. Obstinate. For they will tiot be reclaimed by any counsel or admonition: They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,, which refuseth to hear the roice of the chiurmer, charm he never so wisely,'^ ' '

.11. Theh wfokedhess, malice, and obstinacy, being 80 great, he now prays against and devotes them' to God^s judgment. He prays* in general, for their

1. To God he turns his speech; and prays agmlost their m^ns to hurt, whether near or aftr' oC

9. An4 thence, against their persons:' '^-O Godt break their teeth in their mouth;- bveak out the gregt teeth of the lions." O Lord, remove their sixeagth; their nearest instruments to hurt, to destroy: ** O God, when they pujtpose to harm us, le( it be in vain;' when he bends his bow to shoot hl^ - arrows, let them be as cut in pieote.^ ■ Z" * ■

Thus let it fall to their arms: bat as for their persons,"—

1. " Let 'them melt away as waters.^- Great brooks, that run with greaf force from' the mountains, and orerrun for a li^e while the vjiHeys;.but run quickly info the channelii; and thence to the sea, and are swallowed up.

9. Let them be as a ^naU that inHts in lier)mb^ sage, and leaves a slimy track behind, which yel quickly pass^th' away. So let them he like a snafl, which, when its shell is taken off, ^ws cold and dies. ' 3. Let them be " like the untimely fniit of a woman, that Ihey may not see the suif."

4. "Before your pots can feel the' thoras*^ fie they do mischief, " He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living and in his wralh.**

III. The benefits which, from his Judgment npdn the wicked, shall' flow to the. righteous.

1. Joyfulness-: -" The 'righteous shaH rejoice when he seeth the vengeance.**

« 9. Amendment. Being warned thii^ "^He^ahaD. wash his footsteps in their blood.^' Their siangiiier shall be. ^fteax; and he shall be near it, yet tmhurt.

3.* Confirmation of their faith, and giving ^gkny to Grod: "iSo that a man shall say, Verihj^, there «1s a reward for the righteous; doubitess, there is a God that judgeth in the earth." • ^

The psalmist prays for deliveranee from his (snemieji, whose desperate vnciedness he describes^ l-7< frofess^s strong.confidence in Chd, 8-1 0; speaks of the destruction of his enemies, 11-16; praises Chdfor beme/Us alreoify received; 'and determines to trust in him, 1 6,. 17..""

2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me frqm bloody men/

my soul; ' the mighty are gathered against « me; « not for my transgression, nor far iny sin, O Lord, *

NOTES QN PSALM LIX. The title, ^' To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David," haa ahready ooowred: and- perhaps means no more than that the present Psalm is to.be sung as Psa^ Ivii., Che^irjf which bears this title. But there is here added the supposed occasiDn on ^0« which David made this Psalin: it wa», ^ when 8anl sent, and they watched the house to 'kill hiih.** When the reader considers the whole of this Psalm carefully, he win be convinced that the title does not. jtorrespoad to the contents, 'there- is scarcely any thing in it that can apply to tha circuinstsnces 4)f Saal's' of hosts, the. God of Israel, awake '.to xisU all the healtien: *be not' merciful to any wickckl tran^H^ssors, Selah.

6 "^Tbey return at eveningi-'they make a noisiie like a dog, and go round about the city.

7 Behold,.they, belch out with their mouth:

tending his gsaidt by night to keep the avenues to the.house of David, that when the morning capue they might seise «nd sUy him; and -of his being sated Uuoygh the infonnatieti given hilki by his wife Michal, is icomieqaenCe of which he was let down through a window,.and so escaped.. 'See 1 S^ql xix. 10,' li. There ia. not in Che whole Psalm any positive allusion to this, lustbry; and there are many things in it which diow it to be utterly inconsistent with the facts- of that history. Hie Psalm most evidently agrees to the time of.Neh^miah, when he wzlb end^vouring. to rebuild th^w^s of Jerusalem, when the enterprise was first mocked; then opposed by Sanballat theHorpnite,!robi)Ji the Ammonite, and Ge^hem the 'Arabian, who. watched day and night that they mi^t cause the work to caise; and laid" unbuscades for the life of Nehemiah

* himself.' Every part of the Psalm agrees' to -thiB: and I.am therefore of CaUneV* opinion, that the Psalm was composed in that time, and probably by Nehemiah^.or by EsJtas,

Verse 1. Deliver me from mine enemies^ O my Godl A very proper prayer in the mouth of Nehemiah, when resisted in. his- attempts to rebuild the walls of Jeru-, salem by Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, wl^o op-, posed the work, and endeavoured t5 take away the -life of the person whom God had raised up to restore and rebuild Jeruaaleni. ' I conceive the Psalm to have been made on this occasion; and on this hypothesis aloue 1 think it capable of consistent ex-. planation.

Verse 3. The workers of iniquiiy] Principally Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian; who were the chief enemies of,the poor retarned captives.

Bloody jnen.l The above^ who sought the destruclion of the Israelites; and particularly, that of Nehemiah, whom /oi/r. several times they endeavoured to bring into an" ambush, that theyjoiight take away his life, ^ee Neh. vi. 1-4.

Verse 3. For, lo, they lie in wait for my souI\ For my l\fe. See the passages referred io above.

Verse 4. <rhey run and prepare themselves] They leave no stone unturned that they may effect my destruction, and prevent the building. • Verse 5. O Lord God of hosts] This was a proper view to take of God, whon Israel, a handful of poor distressed baptives were surrounded and opposed by the heathen chie& above mentioned, and their several

10 iTie God of my m^rcy shall « preyem me: God shall let me see ^ my desire upSim * mine enemies.. '

tribes. But Jehp[vah, O.od of hosts^ was the God of Isra/di and^hence Israel had little to fear.

Be not merciful to 'any %picked transgresstmt.] Bo not favour the cause of these wielded men.. They ard pM ^m bogedey at?«n, ^* changers of iniquity:\' they go through th(B whole ipoun'd of evil; find oa\ and exercise themselves in all the varieties of 'transgreSsioiL- How exactly does this apply ^ to Nehemiah^s.foes! They sou^t, by tipen attack, wiles, flattery, fool speeches, fair speeches, il^reats, 4n4 ambuscades, to: take away Ids life. Do not' show them favour, that^ they may not succeed in their wicked designs. The' prayer here is exactly the same in sentiment wiUi that of Nehemiah, chap. iv. 4, 5. Hear, our God*, -for we are despised; turn their tlBproach upon their own heads;— cover not their iniquity, '* and let not their sin be blotted out.*'

Verse 6. They return at evening].When the beaato of prey Ipave - their dens, and go prowling about the cities and villages to get offalj and entrap domestio animals, these come about the city to see if they may get an entrance, destroy the work, and those engaged in it. ■. ■ •

Verse.7. They belch out with their mouth] They use the lowest insult, the basest abuse. They deal in sarcasm, ridicule, slander, and lies.

YevBe S. Thou, O Lord, shall laugh at them] Tl|ey have mocked us; God wiH turn them and tbeii schemes into ridicule ^d contempt: f'Thou shah have all these heathenish nations in derision.'^ "

Verse 9. Because of his strength will I wait iqt^n thee] With this reading, I oan make no sense of the paasage. But instead of Mp uzzo, ** his strength,** ^ uzzij *^my strength,** is the reading of fourteen d KennicotVs and De RossCs MSS., of the VulgatSf.Septuagint, Chaldee, and, in effect, of the JEthiOpief SyriaCf and Arabic; and also ^of the Anglo^Saxom, To thee I commit all biy strength; alll have I derive from thee, and all the good I possess I attribute to thee. The old. Psalter translates, JAp Jftumi^t f Ify^XL fcepc rill tbtt fot mpn nptaiiec tl|on Att» Sea on'ver. 17.

Verse 10. The God of my mercy shaU preveni me] The mercy of God shall ga; before me, and> thus hdp me in all my doings..

God shall let me. see my desire] The sentenee is short.* God wiU let mf see concerning my enemies^ i. e., hpw he will treat them.

Id "" For the ^in of their mouth and the w<»ds of. their lips let them even be taken iii their pride: apd for cursing, and lying. u;&icA they speak..

\% ^ Consume (Aem in, wrath, consunr^e {Aem, that they may not be: and "^ let them know that God rul^ in Jacob unto the' ends of tlie earth. Sclah.

V«ni| 11. SUtif them 114/, hs^ my pe'opU forget], I beliere the Chaldee.gives the' tnie sense' of this verse: ** Do not si&y them suddenly, lest my people should forget. iDrive them from their habitations by thy powor, and reduce them to poverty by the loesof their pipperty.*^ Preserve Uiom long in. a Mate of cha8tiite>. ment, that Israel may see thou hast undertaken for.them: that thjr hand i$ on the wicked for evil, and on them for good. The Canaani^es were not suddenly destroyed; they were' left to be pdcks in the eyes and thorns in the sides of the Israelitias. It is in a sensd somewhit similar that the words are used here..

Verse |l 3. For the em i^jheir mouthY This verse, has pusxied all the commentator^. If we take;>MI9n ehtUtath for Jtn-q/fertng' 'instead of nt» we shall get a better sense. Some of Nehemiah*s enemies mlule a profession of the Jewish religion. Tobiah and his s6n were allied, by marriage to the Jews; for Eliashib the priest had married his grand^n to the danghtier of. SanbaUat; and this produced a connexion with TVitoA, the fast friend of Sanballat. Besides, this very priest had given Tobiah one of the great chambers in' yie kouee 9/ the Lord^ where formefly the meat-offerings, the frankincense, the tfesseU, laid the tithe of the corn anjl wine and ot/.were kept; Neh. xiii. 4, 6, 7, B, 9. And there were ckUdren of Tobiah {probably the same family) who pcpfessed to be of ^e' Levites, Nethimm, or children of MomovCs servants; but as they could not show their fatherU house and their seedy whether they were/ of Israel; these, and others whieli were ehildren of the priests, were put out of the priesthood, and 01^ of the saored service, as polluted; |m having sprung from intermarriages with' heathens. See Ezra iL 59, ed, ei, 68. ' Tobiah was expelled from the house of the Lord by Nehemkh, -and all |us household stuff thrown out of doorf:• Neh. xiii. 7, 8. And this was doubtless one ground -of the enmity of Tobiah to Nehemiah; and in this verse of the Psalm -he may allude parliculaily to his occupancy of the chamber of oflbrings, which ofibrings, instead of being -given to the Levites, were consuihed by Tobiah and his household. This may be fairly gathered from Neh. xiii. 5, 10, 1 1. Here then we have the sin of their mouth; their eating the offeringB that belonged to the Levites; so that the temple service was deserted, the. Levites being obliged to go and till the ground in order to obtain the

L5 Let them ^wander np and* down '.for meat, *and grudge if they be not satisfied.

1.6 But I will sing of thy power; ^a, I will sing' aloud of thy mercy in the morning: f6)r thou* haet been my defence and refugis in the day of my trouble. -

moaia of life. And if we take. mtDn chattaik ftr sin-offering, it may.rofer to promises' oi^ sacrifice- aad oQering which Tobiah.and. his family made, bot never performed. They ate instead of offenqg them; aad here was Nthe sin of their mouthy,m connexion with the words of their tips, and their cursing emst iying whith they 'spake, for whit;h the psalmisT calls hpoA the. Lord Ut consume them^ that they may nat^^

Verse 14. At evehing let them.return{ -He'hadf mentioned before, ver. 6, that these persons cam^ lite beasts of prey toxoA the city striving to get in; that they might take. possession. Nqw, tcing fhUy Sasned • of God^a. protection, and that they shall soon he miide, a public example, he Bays,.i><. them return and meH. a noise like a dog, &c., like dogs, jackals, andothat. famished creatures, who come howling about the eitywalls for' something to eat, and wander ap and damfor meat, gTurol)ling- because they are not satislSed, ver. 15. Nehemiah had made up all the breaches; and had thceity guarded so well day and mghL by walches^hq cAmtinuaHy relieted each otherrth%t tnere was no longer anyjfea.r of being taken by surprise: knd ' notir they must fed like the hungry' beasts who vrart'.. disappointed of their prey.'

Verse 16. / wHl sing of thy potoer]. For ft was because thy hand was upon me for good, that I have thus succeeded.in my enterprises.

Yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy], I diill poV lish abroad wh|it thou hast done; and done luit ^ mjr worthiness, nor for the worthiness of the people; but for thy own mercy^s sake.

In the day of my trouMe.] When I tjame with. stnall means and feeble' help, and had the force aad fraud of many enemies to contend with*, besides the' corruption -and unfaithfiilness of my own people; Ctoi - wast then my defence; and in all attacks, whether. open or covered, fny sure refuge. I will, therefore, **»^ of- thy mercy in the morning — ^1 vnll hasten to acquit myself of u duty I owe to th^<for such singular interpositions of mercy and power.

Verse 17. Unto thee, O my strength] A simihur sentiment to.that expressed, ver. 9. But the words are very emphatic: God is my strength; Jtod is my* elevation. My God is my mercy. I have nothing good but what I have from God. And all springs froh)

Am WMny penons may still think that' the inaepption to this Fsalm is correct, the fitUowing analysis may be ap||Kie4- in that way; iOi oonsidpred as eontaining^agener^ re»olntion n^ the Psalm, withoat'refmiag it to Mf pettieelar oeeasioii.

U. He eotnplains of and expresses his memies' ctneky aod-imivobity, Ter. 3-^. • IIL tte^comfortk jiimself, beixfg confident of his own ptreserrationf ver. 8-10.

I. He begins w^th "^ petition for ^detiteranoe, defence, salvation; and urges at from the qualities of his

•i. And yet, more particularly, he expresses thpir eraekj and. tceadiery; to iiggravate which he pIMs his innocence towards them.

9l Their treachery > *'The mighty -ive gathered against me.** Tliey run and prepare themselves.

3. 1. They are diligent abiot it: '<They return at eveapig.*^ S. Mad^ and set to do it': ^ They make a ■oiee like a dog," and threaten, boldly. -3. Unwearied and obdnrBte in their purpose: /' They go round about the eity.** 4. Impudent, and brag what they will do to OM: ^ Behold; they belch oat with their mouth.** 5. And their words are bloody: " 8words are in their

4. And the canse of this is, that they •aiis proud and* Who, say they, doth heart They tjiink

ves secure, Apposing they may contemn God* iod man; neither regarding what is done or becomes oflMMxr Diarid.

6. in the midst of which aggravations he asserts Usownjnnocence: ** They gather themselves together, not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.**

Then he renews his petition: —

1.' Awake to. help me, and behold: **Thou, therefore, the Lord God of hosti, the God of Israel.** 1. The Lord God of hosts; therefore, powerful. 2^ The God of Israel;. therefore, merciful.

3. ** Awake to visit all the heathen,** i. «., punish the htethen; and the Israelites, in this no better.

3. And be not merciful to any- wicked transgressors, t. e., obstinate nations.

ni. To this rage and implacable hatred of his enemies he now begins to oppose the comfort' he had in God*s promises. This I know,—

- 9« Positively; the first degree of which is dispersiotf, vagrancy, banishment. '&aM0r/A«m, which hWever severe a judgment, let the Jews viritnem.-

And nd\r he. assigns t&e' cause why he would hav« tliem teatter^,'and brought low; that their blasphe^ inies and lies may never be forgotten,' but stlnd as a terror to -ail liars and bliwphemers:

'1. " For the sm. of their. mouth, add the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride;'*. the Jews cried Beelzebub, nolumus hunc; and they were taken. \

2. " And for clnrsing and lying Which they speak." They cursed themselves: ** Hik.blood be upon us;** and upon thenr, indeed, it was.

: 3. He goes on in his desires. " Consume them, O Ijord,** Emphatically, " consume them in wrath, that they may net be;** which, at* first sight, appears ' contrary to the first-desire, *' Slay them not:** but he speaks not of their life- as if he- would have it consumed; -but he desires only a consumption of their power, royalty, command. And so these 'words an a 'fkriher explication of his second desire, *VBring them down.** He Would have them, brought down in their strength, dignity, command, wealth, riches, which made them proud; that they nntght never be able to. oppose God any more, hurt his people,'trample upon i«iigion and his Church; -but he would have them live. ^ • 4. And shows the end why he would have them, live, and still remain^— that they might know by their' calamities *vtd miseries, that ** it is God that roleth in Jacob, and unto the ends of the earth;** that he doth wonderfully govern and preserve his Ch^irch that is scattered over all the earth.

5. And now by a Intter epitrope, or-ratber synehoresi^^ he insults over them. Iti the siitK ve«i^he showed their double diligence to do mischief^

The, psalmist complains

vf defeat bj/^hu

1. "^^ Let them wander upjuid down for meat.*- Let them find no settled habitation, 4Mit- veek necessary food* in a strange nation. •..

lY. The oondlusion is a doxolbgy, fmd 'eontainsL. David's thanks that God isAis defence, his refUge,.hisstrength.. Of him, therefore, he makes his sotig. • I. **l'wiH sing of thy power."

3.,The ireason he gi^M: '* For thoo hast been my' refage and defence in -the day of my tronUQ.** ■. Both he repeats again: — ^. % '

And he Joins these jtwo attribntes, itringtk and merest.. Tah6 aa^ay strength Aronrhimi tad be eaabpt, remove mercy, and hewiU not, protect,.•fidth imvt go together; power that he can, meretf that lie -win'; otherwise it is in vain that we hope for h^ from him. DaiTid found God to b^ both, aitid^for both We extols him.' ' ' r* ■

The psalmisf complmns of ike desolaiiens whieh hadfidUnpn the'Umd; prays far delwertmcef 1-6; and pnhmisee-Mimseifmctory over Skechemj JSuccoth^ Oilead, Epkraim, Moab, Idumea, and V^^Philutmks^ by ike special kelp and aesisUmlbe of God^.6-lik. '. '' ■

To the chief Musiciaii Aiipop'Shoithan-edufh, bMichtam of Da- ', vid. to teach;.'whea he strove with Aram-naharaiiQ aiid * with Amv-xoliah, wtoi Joab retafaedf and amote of 'Eddin i» the Taliey of salt twelve thousand. • '. •:,

NOTES ON PSALM LX. The title, <<To the chief Musician upon jthe.iUdw-r chprdj oc lily.of the testimony, a gohien Psalm of David, for instruction; -when he strove with Axam Nlaharaim, Syria of the two rivers (Mesopotamia), and Aram-Z6bah« Syria of the watchmen^ (Ccdosyria,) whea Joab returned, and smote twelve thousand Edomi^ in the Valley of 8alt^'* I have only to remark here that, there is nothing in the contents of this Psalnr that bears any reUtio|i to this^tide: According to the title it should be a song of viitory and trwmpk; instcvid of which the first part of it is a tissue of complainis of disaster- 93^ defeat,' cwaati by the Divine desertion. Besides, it was' not Joab (hat slew twelve thousand men in the Valley qfSt^t; it was Abishai, the brother of Joab; and the number tw^ve ikautand here is. not correct; for there we^ eighteen

' thousand slain in that battle, as we Iwn from 1 Chrbn. xviii. 18. ' The valley of salt or salt pits is *in Idtimea. Ta reconcile the difference hetween the numbers, various expedients have been, hit.on; but still the

' insuperable objection 'remains; the -contents of * this Psalm and this title are in oppKisition to each' other. That the Psalm deplores a defeat, is evident from the

' three first add two last verses. And the Targuniiet seems to have yiewed it in this light, perhaps the propel one, by expressing the title' thus; " To give praise for the ancient testimony, (xnnnD sahadutha,) of the sons of Jacob and Laban, (see Gen. xzxi. 47,)

ah exemplar' by the'haod of David, to^re 1 when he gathered together the people, and padbed -by the AecQ? of testimony, (KHnno 1JI>K ayegar saJUide^ka,) and set the battle in array against Aram, which ia^by the Euphrates; and against Aram,^^ which. is by Iiofaah. And after this Joab retained and smote theldnneans in the Valley of Salt; and of the armias of David and Joab there fell twelve thousand men." The Psalm, therefore, sieems to dep)6re this disastrous, event;■ fiv •although they had the victoiy at last, twelve ikausakd •of (he troops of Israel were justly considered too great a sacrifice fl>r such a conquest, and 'a.prooT that CMhad not afforded them tha( succour which they had long been in (he-habit of receiving., The lattor part of 41ie Psalm adeems to be intended to put Cxoid in remembraiise of his -ancient promise of putting Israel inposaosfw of the whole land by driving out the ancient iniqaiUNUi inhabitants. ' Others consider the Psalm as descriptive of the distracted state of th'e.land after the fatal liattle of Gilboa, till Darid waa anointed king of the wh<do at 'Hebron:

This is the last of the six Psalms. to which 0n3Q michtam is prefixed; the others are Pea. Xvi., Ivi., Irii.,; Iviii., and lix. X have said something relative lo thia word in the introdustion to Psa. xvi.; but some observations of Mr. Harmer lead me to consider the subject more. at large. U is well known that there were seven most eminent Arabic poets, who)lourishe!d before and at the commencement of the career of Mohammed > ofyopwUL. to them that feared thee, that it. nriHUBT m&y he displayed because of the their names were AmriolkaiSf Amnty Hareth, Thara-^ fahj Zahair, Lebei'df nod Antiarah. These poe|sprodaeed gmeh a poem, which l^aiise of its* ex^lience #M Apemed.worthy to be suspended on the wailB of the temple. qf Mecca; aad hence the coUectioft of the seven poems was termed M Moallakat, The Suspended; and. Al Modhahebat, TheGiiSUd or OMen, because they trere. written in letiers of gold npon the EJgyptito psr pyms. The six michtams of David might have this title ibr^jthe same reason; they mi^ht. have.been written in, letters *of gold, or on gil,ded vellum, or the Egyptianpupyrus; fov. the word DTOO michtam is genenOy suppose 'to signify golden, 4ind DTb kethem jus used to aig-' niiy gold, ^tfibMy' stanSped or engraven.with figures or letiers. That the Moalldkat were written '4n this way, there can be no question; and that the works of men of great eminence in Asiatic countries are still thus «ntteo,iify own library affords ampl^evidence. Copies ^ the following works are written on paper all pow- 4ered wUh gold, with gold borders, and highly illuminated amaansor titles: The IjIisnavi of Jelaluddeen Raumy; The Debvan of Zuheer Faryahi; The' Hat mKATtrsANi, or:Qarden of Ptaise; ^he.SuBBiT al Abkab; Thd Dbkyan of Hafiz,vGulistaii of Saady; Df EVAH of iSAoAy, with many more, all ^vorks of eminent anthors; written in the finest manner, ruled with gold bopders, &c.

Copies of the Korai\ are often done in the.san^e manner: one in 13mo., so thicjslY potpdered over wUh. gold tliat the ground on ^ which the teiU is written appears to be almost totally gilded; another large octavo, aU powdered with gold, and golden fiower\ doWn every margin; anoither smaU octavo, thsX might be almost called the Codex Aureus, with rich golden.herders on every page. And, lastly ^ one in \aige folio, 'which besides superbly illuminated anwans, has three gaUJines in.every page; one at the top, one in the midMe, and one at the bottom. To -the above may be added a small folia, that opens out about eleven feet, eveiry page of which is like a plate of solid gold, with the characters engraven on it. It 'is a collection of: degmU Extracts. Another of Uie jome ^iiu^, large fqlio, opens out sixty-two feet, on which every page is finished in the same maimer, with a vast variety of bord/srs, iprigs, and flowers. And to close the whole, a copy of the Borda, supposed to be the most el^ant MS. in ^nrqpe, entirely covered with g<Ad fiowers' znd lines, the writing- the most perfect I ever saw; so that of this MS.* it might be truly said, splendid as it is, matetiam superabit opus. ^ '.

As Mr. Harmer has aOuded to account which he has collected from other writers in order to illustrate t)ie michtams of David, I have above produced a number of evidences to.bear witness to thjs/ic/ that such is and such was the custom in the east, to write the works of. the most eminent authors* in letters of gold, ot on a page highly ornamented with the utmost profusion of golden linesyfigures, flowers, &e. 'In this way these Psalms might- have bemi written, and from this, circumstance.thdy may have derived their name. I may j<ist add, that I thinly these titles w'e^ made long aifler tiie Psalms were composed.'

be set instead of the three first verses of Psa. Ixxxv.,

Because of the iritthS] tSffp ^^D mipptney koshei, from the face qjf. truth;. which has-been thus paraphra£|ed: If we have displayed the ensign of Isra^ and gone fbith against these our.enemies/ who have nowmade such a terrible breacfi among us, (ver. 1-3,) it was because of thy truth — the promises of victory which we supposed would attend us at all times.

Mr. Mudge, thus: " Thou givest to them that fear thee a signal to be displayed before the trutfi.' That thy favoured ones may be.'delivered, clothe- thy right arm with vietoiy, and answer us. God speaketh in his sanctaary, I wiH e^t; I shall portion out-Shechem, and measure the valley of Succoth.^ The fourth verse seems to mean Uiat God had appointed for. the consolation of his people a certain sigyud of favour, witli which therefore ho prays him to answer them. This, accordingly, jie does. God speaketh m.411

sell is mine;* ^ Ephraim also is the strength of mine head;; ^ Judah is my lawgiver:

9 Who will bring me into the* "^strong

his sanctuary y called T3*t debif or oracle for that very reason. What he desires then, as he stands implbrihg the mercy of God before the onicle, is, that he may see the usual signal of favour ytoceei from It; a voiced perhaps joided withr some lumintnu emanation, whence the phrase of the light bf 'CfotTs countenance. The expression in the sixth verse setims to ^ proverbial, and.ineans, '' I shall dinde the spoils of xliy enemies with as much ease as the sons of Jacob poftioned. out Shechem) and measured, put for th^ir tents the valley of Succoth.*' Mr. Hanger gives a very ingenious illustration of the giving the banner, *^ Alhertus Aquensis informs us that wheh Jexusalem was taken in 1099 by the crusaders, about thrte hundred SariCcens got on the roof of a veiy high building, find earnestly'begged for qcCarter; but could not beindiiced by. any jpromises of safety to come down, till they ha) received the banner of Tmcred, one of the eriisade generals, as a pledge of life. The event showed the faithlessness of these zealots^ they put the whole to the sword. But the STaracens surrendering them-' selves ' upon \he delivering of a stqhdard to them^ proves in how strong, a light they looked upon the giving a banner^ smce it induced them' to trust t7, when they would hot trust.any premises. Perhaps the delivery of a ^ann^ 'wab- anciently esteemed in like manner an obligation to protect i and the psalmist might here consider it in this light when hfe say^, Thou hast shoton thy people hard things; • but thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee. -Though thou didst for a time' give up thy Israel into the hands of their enemies,, thou hast now giv^n them ah assurance of thy 'having received th^m under thy prc^^ction. Thus Goj g<tve them a banner or' standard that it-might be displayed, or. lifted up; or rather, that they may lift up a banner to themselves^ or encourage themselves with the confident {fiersuasion that they are under the. protection of God: biscause of the truth — the word of promise, which is an assurance of protection — like the giving me and my people a baimer, the surest of pledges.*^ — Harmer*s Observations. Se6 at the end of the chapter.

-Verse 6. God hath spoken] Jiidah shall not only be re-establislied in Jerusalem, but shall possess Samaria, where Shechem is, and the country b^ond' Jordan, in which is situated the valley of Succoth,. Dividing and meting out signify possession.

God, which didst.^ not go* out with our armies?

12 Throuj^h God.* We shall do taliantly: for he it is that shall ^ tread •down, our

be3rDnd ^Jordan; bxiA.- Manasseh and EpKratm are^^put for the tribes that formed the kingdom of larmel. All..these,. alter the return from the. captivity, fomied but one -people, the Jews and Israelites lleing Anited.

The strength of minp head] It shaH berthe'principal -suppoit of the new-formed kingdom, when all distiDC^ tions shall be buried.

Judafi Is niy lawgiver] This tribe was pfaidf 6f all those who returned from the captivity; and ZerMd" bely who was their leade.r, was chief of that tribe, and of the family 6f David* As this paft of the Psahn - appears to rolate to the return of the captives from Babylon, and their repossession of their own laiid,'tiie psalmist May refer, not only to the promises of their restocatipp, but also to the principal person imd6r wftdse super intendence^ they returned. -.

' Verse 8. Moab is my washpot] The Moabftes aKall -be reduced to the meontfff^ slavery. • Over Edom will I cast oui my shoe] I will n^Jte a' complete conquest of. Idumea, and subject the Edoiaites to the meanest offices, *as well as the MoHiites.- *

Philistia, triumph thou because of me,] J6tm 'Hyrcanus subdued the Idumeans, and caused them^te' receive circumcisron, and pi'ofess the Jewish religion. The words here seem to predict thebr entke sobjiigation. ' •. '

In an essay for a new translation of the. Bible, tliere is what appears to mC Sr correct paraphrase df tbe seventh nnd eighth verses-: ** Gilead and Manaaaeh hsfve submitted unto me; Ephraim fumifthes me with vfdiant men, and Judah with men of prudeace and wisdom. I will*^ reduce the Moabites to seryitade; I wyi triumph over the Edomites; and make them my"^ slaves; and the Philbtines shall add to niy triumph.**

Verse 9. Who tcill bring me into the strong cityt] If this part of the Psalm, from the sixth to the twelflJk verse, Te^t to the return of the captives from Babyiem, as I think probable; then the strong, city may mean either Petra^ the capital of Idumea; Bozra, in AraUsy near the mountains p£ Gilead; Rabba, the oapital of the Ammonites;. or Tyre, according to th^ 'Chaldee, the -capital of Phoenicia; or Jerusalem itself, which, although dismantled, had long been one of the strongest cities of the east. Or it may imply, Whb shall give me the dominion- over the countries abeady mentioned? who will lead me into Edom % who will give me the dominion over that people t.

fiMT "WlM^'trB ean expect ow ^enlaigement ' He wIm ha8.oeet «• off, and has abendoniMlJin in battle; it ie llMt very God alone from whom We* expect oomplete CBlariienient, tlie repoeseaeion of odr *own land, aai the Mbdoetiondf tbe 8onroiuiduig'natioaB;'and we ddBylieeanee he haa^giaoMNuly jN'oeia^ tfaeae

Vfliae 11. Owe tu kelp firom troMe: f&r VM is the kelp of num.] We haye done all- we can do,, and hMre tnuied too nmeh in ooiaebA; noW|^Lord,.aii^- tdtefbrna.

. Verae IS. -^Tkrmigk. Ood we skall do vaHanay] Throagk thee Mne. shall we de taliantlj^ tboa ahne

. Ite anduir toi whom iilsniier -lefeni.iflf^ ^the note -on the femrA rene, ia one of the wHteia in a woric enr tiped'(7ef<a det per. Fr^cncwi^ fol..HanoriBe, 1611, 9 Vila.' And tHe plaoea tiooted by Harmer may be^innd in ^oL L, p. ^89; and.as the passage issinpilar, and a'goo^ nee hab been n»de of it for the illnstratjon of a diHsab paasagei I shall lay the words of the origi* ial before the rnder: J* Proxima ab l|mc die sabbati daieedente, qnidam Sanacenonun wpt Tits iif^samiautnea teeti domns pmCelsfe Soloinonip ab annis' elapet, cirotter tieoenti, oonfogeradt; Qai'mqJtta-pBBoe pro

. Tita Hagitantes, in inortir articnlo positi, unlliiis fidoeia art protmssSone andebant desoendere, ^vsiiifHe Mvitf^ IVniifwdi m eigmtm protectimus vivitHdi Tntseepenm4> 8^ miainie miseUia.profiiit. Nam plarihus super hoc indigiduitibasi et Chnstiani^ finore eommotas, nto liniis fBidem JUonHb evasit."

It ia rery properly added by Albertue^ that the Imk Ue apirit.of Toncred was fiDed wi^ indi^natioa at this flust herfible breach of fiuth; and>he wa^ aliont to tpke « anmmaiy reTenge en the instig^toft and pexpe* lialois ef Ihia unprincipled batcbery, when ihie'ikiefs

■ interposed, and not only maintained the expediency of the tessaere that had already beefi committed^ but tke fmeetHUf^qf put'Ung'tUl ike inhMtanis t& ike sword, ihk thia the sarage fiends, called CkristianSf flew. to arms; and made a nnivetsal alaoghter of all that ramuned of the inhabitants. They dtew oat the prisoneEi,.ebopped off their heads, stabbed all they met with in'tker streets, and ■■ bat I can translate no iarther v k.ie too horrible. I shall* give my anther's wotds, who was an ecclesiastic* and wrote dowh the account finoai.eye-:witaesses: ** Goncillo hoc acoepto, (die delennHiitimi of the chiefs to pot all io the sword,) teiu tio die' post victoAam e^ressa est sententia a mt^fhi' hu: et eece nniyexi^i arms* r^pinnt, et miserabili cttde in pmne Icolgua^ Gentiliam, quod adhneeral -residuum^ Mwurgnnt, alios pibdacentes e^'vioculis et decollahtes: alios ^ vicos et plateas civitatte ieTontos tincidantes, qalbos antea caosa pecuniis, ant fatpnaaa pietate pepereenmtl Puellaavero^ molieres, matronas nobiles, ei fartas'cam p^ellis tenellis detnmeabant, aut lapidiboft obmebant, in nuUis aliquaioa considerantes etatem. £ contra, puellfli, molieres, matrons, metu nkqfnenta^ nesB mortis aogOstiat« et horrore giavissinue i^ecis concusse Christianos in jugnlum utriusqae sexus debacchantes ac sacvientes, medios pro Uberanda Tita amplexabantur, quaedam pedibus^ eorum advolTebantur, de^yita.et.salnte sua illos iu]h|dm.*miserand6 fletn el ejnlatci soliqjitantes. Pueri rero quinqnennes ant tri- - ennes matrttm patramque cradelem casma intnentes, nna misdmm o)ama^m' et fletnm mn&ipliealMnt. 8ed dnsttia hsc pieti^ el miserieorduB signa fiebaht: nam Christiani sie neci totom laxardrnnt animnm, at noa higens mysenlns ant fapw^jnaj nednm'inians nnins tjimi irirdns, mannm perenssoiis eraderet. Undo *platev totini^ cmtatis VehiMfom ootperi^ia ^ctinctis yiromm et -mnlierimi, Isoeriaqnef membria inftntinm) adeo stratpr et opcTte fmsse-xeferantor, ya^ non solnm in.Tieis^jsoliis eCpaktiis, seid etiam id looie deserts soUtndinis copia oc^isqrom reperiretnr mnamenlnlis.!? Oxsta Dbi» Vol. I.,* p. 383:. ••

' This is one 4»eeimeA ef the sp£dt of the msadefs; and la it any wonder that Ood did not diine on Bnoh ▼illanoos mofMOies! No.wonder thtt th6 Mohammaddanb hare aolongjlatod. the name t)( Okristimt, when they had no other specimen of Christianity t£a& whit the condnct-oC these ierocibaa faroted exhibited; aikl these were called Gesia Dei^ -the trmhsaeti&ns tji'QMl There sie mJuny'difficnltiea in this Psafan; whethet diey;are ih general remored^fay the pireeedin^ notes, the reader Qmst*>|ndge. * l*lie following analyais is conttMeted'on'the supposition that the Psalm spofiks. of the distnurted state ef the kingdom from the fhtsi battle.of.Qilboa; in wllieh Sanl.feU, to. the 4eaA ef> Ish-bosheth, when the whole* k^igdom was ynited under Darid.

Before DaTid's.tlkne, and in the beginaing of his leign, Israel was in a distressed eonditioa; -he com^ posed* ami qaleted the wjif^. £dbm< otaly was-sfbt Tsnquiahed. In this Psilqi he gives. thanks for his ▼ictortea, tfnd pvays /or Sssistance fyt the conquest ol Edom.

There ar^ tkree general parts, in this Psalm: — -

I. A commemeration of the former lamentably di»-. tracted oonditifNi of the Israetites, ver. '1, 9, 3. ** II. The condition of it under his reign moch bettef, ver. 4-9.. ' '

III. His thankfulness in hsci^ing all his victories taGo4,-vpr. 9rl9..X

I. In th9' first. he shows -that God Was angfy with Israel. On which' he laments- ^e effects -of his anger: ' 9. And then pn^ /for the aversion: 1.. "-0 'Ldidy thoo hftst (or hadst) cast, us off.'*'- 9. '<Thou haqt scattered ua abroad; thou hast been displeased.^ 3« "< Thou hast made the earth io tremble.'' 4.. " Thou hast broken its*' 6. " Thou' hasl showed thy people haxd thitgs." 6. " Thou hast given, us to drink the wine of astonishment." Every syllabic of wi$ch eoihgeries will appear io be most true when we examine the history of the Israelites h^fore SauCs reign, updcn his gotemment, and ppon his death; and the first entranee. of -Dqoid upon his reign; his wars with the house ofSeW, uiitil Isk-bosketk was taken ojot of the way.

All which wars,' civil and external, with the calamities that flowed from them, he imputes to God's an^: "Thou hast been displeased," ver. 1.

9. And upon it he prays: '* O tunt thee to us figtasi** Let us again, ejijoy thy countenance. 9. " Heal the 413 •

AntUysii pf ti»

breaches of the land.", ' Cloae t&e wounds made by these contentioiis.' they were not closed; for it' adds, "Itshaketh."!:

II. An4 now \bB condition of it was mnch better; all being brought undet one long, aijd he.victcirioiili over his foreign enenues..

1. ^ Thou hast now given a banner to. tfaeta that fear thee.** AH- Israel^-r^ those that are thy ter- ▼ants,.are brought to acknowIedg\3 thee, and* fight noder ohe standard} in 9ffeot^ have received 'me.as their >ole king, their fiustilms and parties being quieted..

'3« ^ Because oC thy truth.^' Who by this liast made it appear that it. was no ficfion- nor^ ambition ofmine to set up thi^ standard; but a truth that l was by Sathuel^ by diy \special appointdient, anointed td be king; and I am now mvested witl^.the crown for the performance' of thy truth and promise. * *

4. -And the -end is especially, that 1 should brmg deUverance to thy servants^: it was thftt ** thy beloved may.be delivered.'' - Tbat th^. godly anid 'good)nen', and those that fear thee, living hitfaefto^ oppressed, and. in (he9e distractions kept low, might be'ddtvei^.*

6. Which, that it may be done, he inserts a short ejaciflation for himself and tl]|em: " Save with thy right hand, and hear thou me."- And now he begins to cotnmemorate the particulars that God had done for him, and the severjd victories he had obtained; alsoy in what manner he- ruled, this people.' All which he prefaces with thi^ oracle:r^. x

** God hath spoken in his holiness.'** He certainly and. /ni/y hath promised Uj^ ^ve us l **! will be g)ad and rejoice m it." With mudh joy and.'g^adne8s 1 will enter upon the kmgdbm, being cohfirmed by ^hifi- promise, which I Kill -administer ifi a different manner; my government shall be paiernttl to th^: Israditesy which are his people; but more severe to the Moabm itesj Ammonites, EdomUes, and Syrittns, because they are aliens to. the commonwealth ot- Israel: ■ ■ ' ' ' • 1. " lovill divide 'Sheeh^m, and mete" out the valley of Succoth.!' I will. bung* under my power those places of Israel^, and, as a true lord of th^m,.1 wUl dhnde hnd measure out whi^pprtions I shall think fit to the inhabitants. *'.-•'*'■.

'^. *<.6ilead also is mine, and Manasseh is mine." The Israelites thftt- followcMi the house- of Said are come'into.my power, and. I wiU divide and ap]portion them also; Yet, as being mine, I will deal niilAy with thoQi., ' ^.' *

3. Of:.£y>Af)0im I shall xnake reckoning. IBphraim <« shall be the strenglh of my head." As this tribe had inore-men than any other, so they werd great. ^oZ-^ dierjf and these h^ esteemed as his liferguard.

. 4. *^ Judah is my lawgiver." His chief counsel were of thiA tribe, in whom, with himself^ was the legislative.power, according to the prophecy of Jacob;

^.The soep^ riiall Aot depart firom Judah, nor a4Kwgiver from between his feet, till Shiloh come^". And thus, having showed his kingdom, and the mhniiirtur tion over the Iteaelites, he /pa^jBes to itits sirangftt.whom Kf had oonquered,yover whom he would eniy a severe hand, putting them into a slavish sabjec^taoo, and. to base offices. •..

3. ** Philistia, triumph thoa because of ne:".w|j^ Is either.^ken ironically, is if he would say: ** O Philistine, whom I hate subdued, go, go trhntaph because I have conquered thee." Qr* else,,** Tiiniivh 'tifou in the triumphal shall celebrate for my oonqaest; ■ bear- amcmg-* $e rest thy part;-, though.ttnwillingly^ Follow the train with acclamations, aiid proclaim me thy king.", • ».

m. After the enumerations of his Victories, aiid form of ^gijDvemment, that no n^an should take this for a yaur boast of his own strength, h^ tfaatfkfiilly aaohbes all the glory to God, both of what he had done, and ■what he, was ^et to' do. Onci people he had yet to conquer^ and that could not be done except that God« ¥idio-had hitherto gpne otft with his armies, wonid again vouchSfife to lead' them; and, > theieforey hr ■asksr-^ -"..'•-/

' I, ^ WhQ will bring ide^iito the strpn^ citytL vHw will lead me into Edomt" • No question, hid Joakt JLhishai^ &o.i or.any of his worthies, beoi by, th0j would 'have-' striven who khould have petfomM this service. Every <^ne would have said, ** I will it tba ms3a.^

%. I3ut he prevents them aD; and returns this answer to^ himself, that none but Gtaf didUd do il^ and that* Jie was, pmuaded that he wouM do it; fnm that t^od who Was formeriy displeased with thear,lHd cast them Off*, -but yras now recbncfl^: "Will' not. thou, CX Qod, lead iu into the strong cijky wfaidi hadst cast us offi and thou, O God, bring us • into 'JBdoOt which didst nqt go forth with our armies.". 3. And to. that purpose, he prays, **.Give us he^ from trouble." And he adds his reason, that* nibthiaig can bei well done without God's assistance; fos C|ie strength, powei-, prudence, and skill of man,* withs out Gpd, are to little purpose: ^ Vain is the help, oif man."

And' he- concludes, all with this epiphonema: ** Is Grod we shall do great or valiant acts; for he it is that shall treaSi down our demies." In war tfiess two must be joined, and indeed in all actions., Ibn toe; God %nd iTisfi.

9. And yet, tiiat heing done, the' work is his: **Bb shall tread down;" the hioW ^nd oveYthrow are not to be attributed to tij, but to him.

Tki ju^imii's prater for thas& who were kmuhed flom fheir otpn Umd^ and, from the ordinaneeM ofOad^l^ 9. HeyraiMee God for his pasi mercies^ 3; purposcM toiiepoie himseif entirely to his service^ 4; 5. He fr^i for the iingt 6f 7; and promises to ferform his vou^ to the Lord Saily^ 8.,. ^

4 ® I will abide in thy tabernacle fojr6ver:-* I will'* trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

The tiOey To the chief Musician vpon Neginaihj ATJJ. The rerb \\} nagan flignifles to strike or pldy en a mudieal iflstrutnentf especiaUy one of Uie stringed kind; bot tberwynneginoth, ^ it ia written in about thitiy MSS., maj signify.either the fdayers on the inetruments or Hit insirugrnenU themjMjyes.- It^e ftafan appeals to have been writtefr «boat the-.clpse of the'ei^tivity; and the most judicioiir interpreters refier U to that period. Oa this sappoaition the notes ue ifonned.. - *!

Venie 1. Hear my ery^ O God]. In the midst of a kmg -and painful captivityyv^^ressed with sujQferiQg, enedmpassed with cruel enemies and insbliont masters, I address jay humble prayer to thb'b, 0-my God,

Versus. From the end of the earth] y^iv^ arets diodd bef h^re translated land, not earthy and so it ' aliould 'be' in numerous places besides. ^ 9ut here it seems- to mean the counlry beyond the Euphrates; as it is thought to dbyPsa. lxy>-.5, 8, •called there aUo the ends of the earth or land. It may be remarked that the Jbwb were always more pious and devoted to God in their afflictions and captiVities, than when in their own land, ^in ease and affluence. Bot who,can beajf prosperity! How many heabrts filled with heavenly ardour in affliction and persecution hav^. grown cold under the beams of the sun of prosperity J. ^.

' Lead me to the rock that is higher than L^ Direct me to a place of refuge and safety. It is a metaphori< ^eal expression; and Calmet interprets it- of the liberty granted to the Jews by Cyrus to return to their Qwn land. This was a privflege far higher than aiiy thing they could expect. The fathers think Jesus Christ 10 meant by this high rock. ■ -.

Verse 3. Thou hast been a shelter for me] During the whole duration of the captivity God marvellously dealt with the poor Jews; so that, although they were cast down, they were not utterly forsaken.

Verse 4. / will' abide in thy tabernacle] The greater portion of thoscL Psahns which were composed

7 He shall abide before God for ^ver: O prepare mercy*'' and truth, u;AicA may preserve hinaf. ". *

8 So will' I sing 'praise uflto thy name lor ever; that I may daily perform' my vd^s.

during and after the ti^ilivity, says Calmet^ had Levites mA priests 'foT their authors. Hence we find the ardent desire so frequently eiqpreased of peeing the temple; of praising Qod tfere;. of ^lending their lives in that place, pMnnning the funetions of their sacred office. There I ehall sojourn | — ^there I shall dwell^^ he at rest, — be in safety i-^ covered with thy. wings f as a bird in its nest is covered with the wings ot its mother, These simple comparisonis, drawn from rural affairs find ordinary occnirenoes, are more pfeasing and consolatory in the circtmistanc^ in. question, tlian aUegeries' derived frpm subjects the most noble and sublime.. ' •. " *

Verse 6. Has^heard my vows] Often have I purposed to be wholly thine, — \fi serve thee alone, — to give up ipy whole life to thy service: and thou hast heard me, ai^d taken me at my word; and given me that; heritage, the privilege of enjoying thee in thy ordinances, which is the lot of them that jfeor thy name. The.Psalm seems <o have been composed either after ^ the captivity, or at. the time that Cyrus^ published his decree in their favour, as has beeii> remarked before.

Verse 6.' Thou wilt prolong the king'^life] The words are very en^ihafic, and' can reftr to no ordinuy person. Literacy, " pays upon dajrs.thou *wilt add -to the king; an(f his years shidl be like the generatioaaof this world, andihe generations of the world to come.** This -is precisely the paraphrase I had given to thia text before' I had looked into the Chaldee Version; and to which r need add nothing, as. I am persuaded no earthly king is intended: and it is Christ, as M^diator^ that ''shall abide before God for ever," ver. 7. Neither to David, nor to any earthly sovereign, can these words be applied..

Verse 7. He shall abide before God for' erer] Literally,;" He shall. sit for ever before the iacCs of God.*^ Ho'shall ever appear in the. presence of Qod*.. /or aa. And he ever sits at the right hand of- thi. Majesty on high; for he undertook this office after having, by his sacrificial offering, made atonement for our sins.

« Prepnre mercy and truth, which may preserve Mm'.] Aa Mediator J his attendants will ev6r be mercy and truth. He vd^ dispense the mercy df God, i^nd thus fblfi] the tnUk of the Vartdiui promises and predictiafie whidi had |lr6oeded his ineariiation. Therd ii^*aii JbbC scurity in this. cUiise, m'Viy p HDMI ibH chesed ve-, emeth mah.yintieruhu, oiMfing to. the particle p mq^h which some translate who-ot,whal; and others, nvmber thoUf^hom niD fiMnMiA,'to eooat. Hauhigantjknd ' he is foUoMc^ by Bishop Lowth^ would ]c«ad hin^D ' miy^ikwdA, Mercy and truth from Jehovah shall pre-*, servis him. The '.Ai^^^Sojco'^ ^i milplieoiiciiyrr^ '*j T^Vfh^^TTT^ hir, • hpilc. reo«>?. Mildheartedness, and soothfasindss his, 'W^o seeketh 1 which is ^nearly the rendering- of the tfld'Psalt^ C JiSitttfi 09^ ^fttM fasnnt0 of tiimf li4a Jtall)Mr { Br. KennicQU sa^A ]p f?km n a Syruism; and should he translated, ^fkfooutinamk I beseech thee, — ^I wish, — O that! ' On tbi^ xery ground Coverdale appears' to bsnre translaied.

Ver^ 8-. So wHl J- sing praise unto thy ikane for eiver] For the benefits Which t hive ifeceitai, and hope to receive endlessly from thete,*I.'wiU'to all perpetuity pjraise thee.,. •' ■

Tikai I'may daily perforfi my. vows,] ' WhUe I hye, I shall m^ fir yom^ yom^ ^ day |i^ day;" each day as it 8u<;ceeds, render to thee my Tows-r-aet acoording to whj^ I'have often putposedj ^nd as often promifed, Th^ Chaldee' ends remarkably:.'* Thus L will praise thy name fiir ever, when I shaXL perform my yows in the day of (he redempti0n;tof Israel-; vod in thi^ day in which the King MedaUi >^ be anomted, that he inay xeign.''. '..•.*'•■.*

' The anci^.J^ws were full of the etpectatioft vf the Messiah; the Jems of the present day hare given np theiz hope...

The author of this Psafan prays afld vows perpetual service to Grod. ' II^ is coniposed of OMpaits:■---- ' L His pray^, rer. i,-2, 3.. '. n. His >row, Tor. 4-8/

S. The' reason to enforqe it.!

1. He was in banishment^ in the farther part of the land of Judah: " Froin the end of the earth will T cry unto thee."... ^

' 8. Fmr defence:, " L^ad pie to i^ reck that is higher than I;'' that is, 1% some safe and defeoced.plae^ to which qiy enemies inay h^ve no access, tvfaither witbont thy help I cannot ascend. *

3. " I' will trust isK the cdrert. of thy wingSw?^ 'H9 alludes tonbe chernbim, whose -wing* eorer the tok.

^ S. "-Thou hast given me the heritage.i>r.those that fear thy name ^^' niade me* Ming over thy people, aiid more' fiilly performed lo'me the proodse made te Abraham^ in the Jand of Canaan.

^And now I]^^di assuring hknself ofvthe evowa^aid that his poeterity shonld inherit it, pots ferfii aa eivnest ¥ote for' that whiph should establish it: **X>.|kepare meicy and truth, which may pre^nre him; i. e., me thy king;!' for these two virtues^ mercy ^ i.*e., c/e-. mfneyi and trutl^ do eonibeial e fcing, and aMfce^ium dear to his sobjects; for in the praotioe* of diBse il ia not potaihle that Jus government should beJlMk, m-.Just, or tyrannical.

Which if it please Qbd to bestow npopi hitai, dM he' makes a oew tow: " So will I sing' ^raipd mito Htsf name for eYer."....

' «Tliough herO'this'i^petLra tolhe a new vow^.ykx he had vt>wied it before, and ^gaged to discharge; fiir in singing praise to God's naooe, he sboeld hot pay what by v^ow he*liad often undertaken: " I wall i praise unto thy name for evev, that i may 4uly ' focm my vowB."

Daivid, ininwiimnt danger^, flees to God for help and safety, V^9; poinis out the designs efhis tt»ugy«ww#, • 3, 4;. encourages his soul to wait -on God, 1-8;• shows 4he vanity tf trusting in man, and of trusUkfin riches, 0, ^0; and concludes with assevjtk^ that power and mercy belong to God, and that he will give to every man according to his works, 11, 18. -

2 • He only is.my rock and my salvation; he is my ^ defence;« I shiall not be greatly moved.

3 How long will he.imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain' alT of you: ^ as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a Pottering fence...

4 They only consult to cast him dovm from

The iHUj "^To the chief Musician, Co Jednthon,]* msy meatk that the Psalm was sent to him who was the chief or leader of the bahd of the family of Jedathon. It -appears that Aiaph^ Jeduthum, snd Heman, were chief singers in the time of David; that they, with their families, presided over different departments of the Tocal and- instrumental worship in the tabernacle,. 1 CRiron. icxv. 1, See,; that they \vere holy men, fall of the Divine Spirit, (a thing very rare among singera Md performerrin these latter da3rs,)-and that they profkuied with harps ^ with psalteries^ and with eyn^bals; ttutt 'Jeduthnn had six sons -thus.employed; that himself prophesied with a harp to give thanks and praise to God, ver. 3; and that the sons of Jeduthun wer6 appointed by let to the different Qburses. Th6 eighth coarse fell to his son Jeshaiahy Ver. 1 5; the ttoelfth, to 'Hashabiahj ver. 19; and the feurteerUhy to Mattithiahj ver. 2.1.

.Will our modem performers on instruments of music in churches and chapels, pretend to the prophetic influence? If they do not, and cannot, how dare they quote such passages in vindication of their practice, which can be no better than a dulaet noise without its Original meaniirg, and alien from its primary tise V Do they indeed prophesy with harps, and psallSrieSy 9Xii eymhals f or with their play-house aggregate of fiddles and flutes, bass-viols and bassoons, clarionets 'and kettle-drams 1 Away with such trumpery and pollution from the worship and Church- of Christ!

Though it is not very clear from the Psalm itself on what occasion it was composed, yet it is most- likely it was during the rebellion of Absalom; and perhaps at the particular time when David was obliged to flee from Jerusialem.

Verse 1. Truly my soul waiteth upon God\ I do not think that the original will warrant* this translation, 'Br33 7\^:^y'\ BTI^i* "?« ■;« ah el Elohim dumiyah naphshi, ** Surely to God only is my soul dumb." I am subject to God Almighty. He has a right to lay on me what be pleases; and what he lays on me is much less than I deserve: therefore am I dumb before God. The Ktti^a/ff,flUiA' almost aU the Versions, have andenHMd it in this sense: Nonne Deo subjeota erit aniottdkal Vol. III. ( 97 > liesr >they bless with their Davidis, Regis mouth, but they cube ^ inwardly. ^JJST' Selah. g-

6 ^ My soul, wait tKou only upen-fJod; {(a my expectation is from Him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be "moved.

7 " In God is iny salvation and my glory: the pock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God*

8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, ^ pour out your heart before him: God is ^ a refugb for us. Selah.

Verse "8. / shall not he greatly moved.] Having God for my rodk — strong fortified placci for my salva" t»(m— continual safety, and my defence — ^my deyated tower, which places me ont of the reach of my ene-* mies; / shaH not be greatly moved — ^I may heshakeHi bat cannot be east down.

Verse 3. ffow long will ye inaxgine mischief] The original word, V\mnn tehothethu, ha»'been translated variously; *rush upon, rage against, stir yourselves up} thrust against: the root is nnn hathath or nnn hathahf to rush violeritly upon, to assault. It points oat the disorderly riotous manner in which this rebellion wa^ conducted.

As a boteing wall — a tottering fence. \ ^Te are just ready to Ml upon others, and destroy them; and in that fall yourselves shall be destroyed: " Ye shall be, slain the whole of you."

Verse 4. To cast him down froni his excetleneyl They are consulting to dethrone me, and use treachery and falsehood in order to bring it aboat: ** They delight in lies."

They bless un^ their mouth] Probably alluding Co Absalom^s blandishments of the people. He flattered them in order to get the sovereign rule.. Or it may refer to the people of Jerusalem, whose perfidy he saw, while they were full of professions qf loyalty, &c,; but he could not trust them, and therefore retired from Jerusalem.

Verse 6. Wait thou only upon God] There is none but him in whom thou canst safely trust; and to. get his help, resign thyself into his hiemds; be subject to him, and be silent before him; thou hast what tlion hast deserved. See on ver. 1, ' Verse 7. In God is my salvMion] O^nSx Sj? al Elohim, ** Upon God is my salvation;" he lias taken it upon himself. And my glory — the preservation of ^ HBiy Mtfitg, and the safety of my kingdom.

Vierse 8. Trustt in him — ye people] All ye who are faithful to your king, continue to trust in God. The usurper will sOon be cast down, and your rightful sovereign restored to his government. Fear not ike

Verse 0. Men ofAow degree are vanUy\ D*1>( ^3- heney Adani^ which we here trsnAace men. of low degree^ litenlly, sons of Adam, me put in (Opposition to r^K ^22 beney mA, men of Ai^A'c(e^re^,.litenilly, the eons of st^staneoj or chOdr«i of sabstantiid men. Adam. Was the name of the first. man when fonned eat of the earth; tsh Was his naine when united to lys wife, and'they beoime one fleslu Befi/rt, he was. the inoomplete mSn; after, he was the complete man; -for it -seems, in the sight of God, it.requires the male and female to make one complete human betng,. enjK enosh is another name given to m^n; but this concerns him in his low, fallen, wretched estate: it propiedy signifies weak, po&r, qfflicted, wretthed man..

Common mej^cangiVe no help. They are voniiy. an<t it is folly to trust in them; for idtnough they may be willing, yet they have noa5i/tly to 'help' yoi^: " Rich men are a Ue.*^. They promise much, but petfoim nothing'; they cause you to hope, but n^xsk your expectation.

To be laid in the baUnice].mSjrS D'iWD3 hemozenayim laaloth. In the balances they ascend: exactly answerable to our phrase, they kick the beam.

They are altogether lighter than vanity.] Literally, JBoth of them united are vanity, TH' Sanp noTI hemmah mehebel yachad'. Put both together in one scale, and truth in the opposite, and both will kick the beam. They weigh nothing, they avail nothmg.

Verse JO. Trust not in oppression] Do not^suppose thai my unnatural son and his paftisans can succeed. •,

Become not vain in robbery] If yc have laid-your hands on the spoils of my house, do not Imagine that these ill-gotten riches wili prosper. God will soon scatter them to all the winds of heaven. All oppressors come to an untiipely end; and all property acquired by injustice has God's curse on it. '

Vecse 11. Crod hath spoken once] God has once addressed his people in givuig the law on MooM Sinai. The Chaldee translates the whole passage thus-: " God hath spoken one law, and twice have we heaid this from the mouth of Mos^ the ffreat scribe, that strength is berbre God.: ana ii oecomes thee, O God, to show mercv co tne nffnteou«(; tor thou renderest to man according to his works.^

Twice have I heard this] Except some of the ancient Versions, almost every version, translation, and commentary nas missea tne sense and meaning of this verse. I shall set dptrn the text: "Ul nmt • ^l\prSVf K D'nv DTiSk achath dibber EUhim; ^tayim xu shamati; of whiah the true version is this: Once hath Odd spoken; these' two things have I heard. Now what are the two things he had heard 1 1% OTiSkS rp ''D ki oz lelohim, '< That strength is the Lord's;** that is. He is the Origin o( power. S. 'pt non ^JIM ulecha Adonai, chased; '* and to thee, Lbvd, is mercy;'' that is. He is the Fountain of mercy. These, then, are the two grand.truths that the laWf yea, the whole revelation of God, declares Uurddgh every page. He is the Almighty; he is the n^ati merciful^ and hence the inference: The powSifilt just, and holy God,. the most merciful and compes* sionate Lord, wiU by and by judge the world, and tsitf tender to nutn according to his works. How Ais beautiful raeatiing Should have been unseen by sbioili every interpreter, is hard to say: these verses smn. tain one of the most' instructive truths in* the BiUe»-«^

The intent of this Psalm is to teach men to trust hi Grod; and not to trust in wealth, pt strength, nor ia the power or promise of men.

It may be divided into the five following parts >—

n. The misphievoua but vain attempts of his ene- * raies,'ver. Svi-

III. ^^ encourages himself and others in the same C4^dence, ver. 5-0. -

.rv. That no trast is to be put in men, nor Hehes^ ter. Q, 10.,

V« The grounds of our confidence in God; ver. 11, IS.. I. In the first verses David expresses^ or ralber khours to e3q)ress, as appears by his frequent repetition of the same thing in divers words, his trust, hope, end confidence in God: —

2. ''< From him comes my salvation." If I be ssqfg in my greatest troubles, it is from him.

3. "He.only is my rock, and my- salvation; he is my defence so that I shalLnot greatly be moved." ■ He ^ to me what a rock or t6wer of defence is to such as flee to them.

n. And upon this he infers that the mischievous attempts of his bitterest adversaries ue but vain; with thena.he expostulates; them he checks, sad over them he^Milts* *

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fuyi>piness in God,

9. ** Ye shall be slain all of you;-' and their ruin he declares by a double similitude; ** Ye shall he as a bowing wall;" whence when some stones begin to start. oat or fall, the rest follow: or as a tottering fencej that is easily thrown down.

Next, by the xlescription' of their mannefs, he intimates the cause of their nun.

1. ^* They only consult to cast him down from his excellency;" their counsel is to destroy David. • 9. "They delight in lies;'' invent.lies and. tales to destroy hinK

' 3. Flatterers and dissemblers are they: '< They ' Mess with their mouth bat thigy qurse inwardly;" no wonder then, if -destined to the slanghter, ** if they be as a broken wall,'* Ac.

HI. And lest his heart Cunt and fail tlgmigfa the muhitode of temptations, he first encoorages himseli to-be confident still. Secondly, persuades -otliers to do so;

1. He- encourages himself, making use of the words of tber first 'and second verses for reasona: -^ My soal, wait tbOa only upon (xod; for mj. expectation is from him: he only is my rock, and my salvalioii; he is my defence, I shall Jiot be moved. In God is my salvation, and my glory; the rock of my strength, and way refuge, is in Xxod."

. 8. He exhorts others to do the like: "* Trust iir fcfall, ye people,'* which he ainplifies: — I 1. By assignation of the time: ''Trust in him at «fl times:" in jhxisperity, that' he be not.secure; in adversity, that he be not heartless.

9. And in our 'saddest occasions, he shows what is td be done, that we bring our grievances and complaints before God, and with an. honest heart open them: ''Pour oat your heart (that is,.the griefe of yoUr, hearts) befose him."

IV. So are not other things; whether, 1. MeH' 9« Wealthy especially unjustly got

1. Not men; there is no credit or trust to be pal in them of any degree. 1. " Surely men of)gW degree are vanity," 3. " And men of high degree tn a lie." The hw toe not able; the high decerns ma hopes.

" Put them into the balance; tliey are altogether lighter than vanity." Make trial of them^ as of things in a scale, and you shall find them so Vain and ISght* that they.carry no proportion to what is weighty, hoi ascend as anr empty scale.

3. Nor' wealthy nor riches; especially if unjustly heaped together: " Trust not in oppression, and become not vain, in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.'!

y. In the c^ie, he sets down the grounds ef hii dmfidence, taken upon God's wotd: " God hath q>ekea; twi<5iB"have J heard the same,^' or^ "I have heard these two things:"—

1. "That power belongs to. Godj" andtberefors he is to be trusted.^

S. "That mercy belongs to^God;'^ and therefoN^ also, you may have the utmost Confidence in him.

The consequence of both is, " Xhou renderest td every one according to his works," bonis vera, maUs mala: rely upop him. Bad work cannot Rave good vrages; good work -cannQt have bad wages. '.' A^hai a min soweth, that shall he also reap.*^ " The right* eous shall inH'erit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools." A man may deserve hell by a wicked. Kfe; but he. cannot merit heaven by a good life> because he cannot do good but through the grace of God, and the, merit of the work belongs to the grace ^ which it was wrought; Reader, hear God's sentence on this subject: "The wages of sin is death.** This is desert. " But the gift of God is eternal life.'* Here is no desert, for it is " by Jesus Christ our Lord*^ To him be glory for erer. Ainen*

Demi's soul thirsts after God, while absent from the sanctuary, and tongs to be restored to the Divine orJ^ ^ nances, 1, 3. He expresses sttong confidence in the Most High, and praises him for his goodness, Z-*9\ sh&ws the misery of those who do not seek Ood, '9, 10; and his own safety as king of the people, 11.

NOTES ON PSALM LXIIL The title of this Psalm is, A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judea; but instead of Judea, the Vulgate, Septuagini^ JEthiopic, Arabic, several of the ancient Latin Psalters, and several of the Latin fathers, read Jdumea, or Edom; stiU there is no evidence that David had cwet taken refilge in the deserts of Idumea. The Hebrew text is that whicl: should be preferrisd;^and all the MSS. are in its favour. The Syfiac has, " Of David, when he sai«! to the king of Moab, My father ajid mother fled to thp« from the face of Saul; and I also take refuge with thee/' It is most pr9bable that the Psalm was writtec when David took refbge in the forest of Hareth, in th»

3 'Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

s while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 6 My soul shall be ^ satisfied as with * marfQW and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

« When » I remember thee ^[c.'di.iwi: upon my bed, and meditate on Sanij. Regit thee in tbe night watches. c^.

7 Because thou hast been my ^ help, therefore * in 'the shadbw of thy wings will I rejoice. ',

8 My soul foUoweth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

wilderness of Ziph, when he fled from, the cpnrt of Achish. But Calmet nnderstand^ it as a prayer by the captives in Babylon.

Verse 1. O God^ thou art my God] He who can say wo( and felels wfaat he says,, need not fear the face of any adTersary. He has God, and all sufficiency in him.

. E^ly jcUl I seek thee] Ftom the ^wn of day. De /fice, from. the light, Vulgate; as soon as day breaks; and often before this^ for his eyes prevented the night-watches; and he longed and watched for God more than they who watched for the morning.

The old Psalter says, 4!Sob mp 4E»ol^> til tl^ftam lig^t jl toahe; and paraphrases thiis: God of all, thurgh myght; thu is my God, thurgh lufe ^d derocion.; speciali till the 1 wak. fX9L ligljt, that is, fra thy tym that tbe light of thi grace be in me, that excites fra »ig^ of sine. And makes roe wak till the:in delite of lof, and swetnes in saul. Thai tvak till God, that setes all thar thpght on God, ^d for getns the werld. Thai ^le|li till God, that settis thair hert on ani creator. — I Inak till the, and that gats me thunt in saole and body.

What first lays hold of the heart in the morning' is likely to occupy the place all the day. First impre^ •ions are the most durable, because there is not a multitude of ideas- to drive them out, or prevent them from.being deeply fixed in the moral feeling.

. In a dry arid thirsty Umd] j^'VCD beerets, in a land: but several MSS. have yno keefets, ajb a dry and thirsty land, &c.

Verse 3. To see thy power and thy glory — in the. sanctnaryt] In his public ordinances God had often showed 'his power in the judgments he ei^ecuted, in the terror he impressed, and in awakening the sinful; and his glory in delivering the tempted, succouring the distressed, and diffusing peace and pardon through the hearts of his followers. God shows his power and glory in his ordinances; therefore ptiblic worship should never be neglected. We must see God, says the old Psalteri that he m^ see us. In his temple he dispenses his qlioicest blessings.

Verse 8. Thy loving-kindness is better than life] This is the language of every regenerate soul. But O how few prefer the approbation of God to the blessings of life, or even to life itself in any 'circumstances! But the psalmist says, Thy loving-kindness, •|10n chasdecha, thy effusive mercy, is better D'^D mechaiyim, than lives: it is better than, at good beyond, countlesii ages of hunum existence.

wellf of power, glory, honour, riches, worldly prospects and pleasures; -but ihe truly religiobs speak * well -of God, in whom they find infoiitely more satisfaction and happiness than worldly men can find in the possession of all earthly good, " •.

Verse 4. / will lift- up my hands in thy name.] I will4ake Go>d for my portion. I will dedicate myself to him, and will take him tp witness that I am uptight in what I. profess and do. Pioiis Jews, 'in evevy place of their dispersion, in all their prayers, [ praises, codtracls, &,c., stretched out th^t hands towards JerutO' lem, where the true God had his temple, and where lie manifested hi» presence.

Verse 6.- My soul shall be satisfied] I shall have, in the true worshipping of thee, as complete a sensation <}f spiritual sufficiency and ha^tpineasy so that no desire shall be left unsatisfied, as asj man can have who enjoys health of body, and a Hit ness of all the necessaries, conveniences^ and Qomf<nts oflife.

Verse 6. When I remember thee upon fdky M) r wiM lie down in thy fear and love; that I maj sleep sdundly' under thy protection, and awakcr with a sense of ^y presence and approbation; and when I awake in the night watches, or be awakened by them, I will spend the waking moments in me4itaiion upon thee.

Verse 7. Therefore in the sKadour of thy %eings] I ^ill get into the very secret of thy presence, into the holy of holies, to the mercy-seat, over which the cherubs extend their wings. If the psalmist does not allude to the overshadowing of the mercy-seal by the extended wings of tike cuerubim, he may have in view, as a metaphori^'the yoilng of fowls, seeking shelter, protection, and warmth under the wings of their mothers. See the same metaphor, 'Psa. Ixi, 4. When a bird of prey appears, the chickens will, hy natnral instinct, run under the wii^gs of their mothers for pfbtection.

The old Psalter translates, 9nb in letting of tH toengejtf ft Ifall ^* liie paraphrase is curious. " Thou art my helper, in perels; and I can ^ joy in gode dedes in thi hiling, (covering,) for I am thi bride, (bird,) and if thou hil (cover) me noght, the glede (kite) will rawis roe, (carry me iaway.")

Verse 8. My soul followeth hard after thee] TIjjOl *fnK nSTdJ dabekah naphshi achareycha, **My seal cleaves (or) is glued sfter tliee." This phrase not only shows the diligence of the pursuit, and tfie nearness tk the attainment, but also the fast hold he had got of the mercy Of his Ged.

9 But those tJiat seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 -They «» shall fall by the sword: thiey shall be a portion for foxes.