Commentary on the Holy Bible

Verse 9. When your fathers tempted me] Tried mB^ by^ their* insolence, unbelief, and blasphemy. They.proved me — they had fdll proof of my power to save and to destroy. There they sauf my taorks — they saw tl|al; nothing was too hard for God. *

Verse 10. Forty years long]' They* did nothing but murmur, disbelieve, and rebel, from the time they began their journey at the Red Sea till they passed over Jordan, a period ot forty years.. During all this time (xod was grieved by that generation; yet he seldom diowed fgrth that judgment which (hey most righteously had deserved. ' " \

It is- a people that do err in their heart] Or, according to the Chaldee, These are a people vfhase idols. ette in their hearts. At any rate they had not Goo dieie.

• They have not known my ways] The verb JTT yada^ io know^ is used here, as in many other parts of Scrip-' tote, to express approbation. They knew God's Ways' well enough; but they did not like them;' and would Dot walk in them. ** These wretched mens*^ says the

M Psalter, •• were gifheh to the lufe of this lyfe: kn6we noght my ways of mekenes, and charite: for thi in my wreth I sware to fhaim; that es, I sett iBtabely that if thai MQ^entre in till my reet-;'^ that is, they shall not

This ungrateful people did not approve of God'9 ways — they did not enter into his designs — 4hey did Dot conform to his commands-^they paid qo attentibn Co his miracles — and did not acknowledge the benefits Vfaich they received from his hands; therefore God determined that they should not enter into the rest which he had promised to them on condition that, if they were obedient, they should inherit the promised land. So Done of those.who csune' out of Egypt, except 'Joshua Bod Calebs entered into Canaan; all the rest died in

10 *» Forty years lon^ was I grieved ivith this goner^tion," and said, It is a people that do err in their, heart, and they have not known my ways: -.

the wilderness, wherein, because of their disobedience, God caused themr.to wander /or^y years. * It is well known that the land of Canaan was a type of heaven, where, atter.all his toils, the good and faithful servant is to enter into the joy of his Lord. And as those Israelites in the wildemeas were not permitted to enter into the lan'd X>f dahaan because of their unbelief, tfaei^ distrust of God's providence, and coqsequent disobedience, St. Paul hence takes occa^^oii to exhort the Je'wti, Heb. iv. 2-1 h, to' accept readily the. terms offered to thetn hy the Gospel. He shows that the words' of the present Psalm are applicable to the state of Christiamt^; and intimates to them that, if they persistied in obstinate refusal.of, those gracious offers j M^hkewise would.fall according to (he same example of unbelief —^Ddtfrf.

AnaJiTsis of the NiNETT-ir^i*rH.Psalm.

II. Reasons to persdade to it,

2. 'His^udgnfents in punishing his own4)eople Israel for neglect of this. duty.

- I. The psajmist begins this Psalm with an earnest invitation, including himself; saying,-r-

2. And the assefnbly being come together, he acquaints them what -they Qame for i-^ '

2. " To worship, tb bow down, to kneel," ver. 6. Adoration, humble adoration ] -outward worship — ^that of. the body, as well as inward — that of the soul, is his due; and that for these reasons:^.

* II. 1. Because he is *tthe Rock of our salvation;" whether temporal or spiritual. So long as we rely on him a^ a Rock, we are safe from the tyranny of men, from the wrath of God, irbm the power of the devil, death, and hell. -

- 2. Because he is ** a great God, arid a great King above all gods," jEUoYKKj-tL God whose name is, /am, an incommunicable name to any other; for his essence is from himself, and immutable; all others derivative and mutable; and the great Jcvotah, gwat in power, 7; for he '* is above all gods."

majesty, and glory;

sJaudd praise Oad.

3. The whole orb of tl^e etrth is under his power and doininion: *' In his hands are all the comers of the earth; the strength of the l^ila'is his alJBO.'**' The globe in all its extensiona is subject, to him.-

4. And no wonder, for he is the Creatont^f bbth,. which is another Argument: •** The sea is his, and he' jnade it; and bis hands formed the dry lai\d;" •. 4 5. *' Hels oitr Maker," the. Creator and l4ord of men also. • ' ^<

6. Our Lor4 Ood ui particular^ for he hath called us to be his inheritiUice: ^ ^orwe are the people, of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.** '

III which doty, if we &il,' he proposeth what is to be expected' bj the example of- the«lmi(e/t<e#.

1. God gate them a day, and he gires it to yon; it is the kadiiy to-day, of your life.. 2. In t|||,day he speaks, he utters his Foice: out- ' wardly halpeaks^ his. word; inwardly,. by hit Spirit. 3. Thils you axe bo\md to'hearf to ob^y.. 4. And it is your 6wn fault ifr you hear it not, for you may -bear., it it yon Fill;. to that purpose he hathVi^n y^ ^ day: *<'To^day if.yotf will hear Jiis voice.". *. '- •,

5. Suppose you hear it not; the cause is, the hardiness of your hearts: and take heed of.it; ** harden not your hearts.", >.

For theh it Villbe witli you Ha it wis with tlie Israelites. • •

1. *^ Ab In the day of temptation in the wildemeea,** 9,t Meribah and Massah,

2. '' When your fathers," the Israelites that -then livddv "tempted me and proved me," They asked whether God was among them or noti They < tioned my power, whether I was abl^.to give bread and «wate^4Hiid flesh 1.

3v And thojr iknd that I was able to do it: '^ Tbej saw my woxks i* fe I brought them Wrater i[>ui^of ^ rock, and gave them bread from heaven, and desh also., Their stubbonme^r was of long continuaneey and oflen repeated»/br it lasted /or^y years: ^ Forty yeais was I grieved with this generation;" which drew God to pasS'this censure and verdict upon them >-*

1. His censui^ was, that they weiB «n otMiMIs perverse people, **a peq>le that ^o always enr in'Qilr hearts j". that ' were led by their own deeiresi - wluek epuneduhem to- err; the way oT God' they would not go in; they knew it not| tiMt i^ they liked* it. not.

S. -This verdict upon ^em: ^Unto whom I swue in my w)rath, that they should not enter into' Yny rest;** L e., literally j into the land of Canaah that I promiMd thein. The oath is ^jctant. Num. xiv: "As I live, saith the Lord, your, carcasses Aall iall in the wilderness;" and in- the vnldemess they did -&11, eveiy om, excep^ CtM ai|d Joshua^ a fear&l. exapiple agaiiiic stubbornness an^ disobedience. Let him th^t readeth understand.

AU the inhabitants of the tarth an. invited to pn^ise the Lord^ 1-3.. His supreme majesty, 3-361 The tribes of Israel are nwited to glorify Mm, 7-9'; and to proclaim him among the heathen, 10. The keapens mid ' the' earth are commanded Jo rejoice in jkun,il-l3.

Q ',SIJNfG unto the Lo^d a new ^ong: sing Aintb.the LoRix, all the earth. 2 Sing uhto the Lqrd, bless

NQTES ON PSALM XQVL ' This'Psahn ha^ no tiile, either in the Hebrew or. Chaldee. ■ The Syriac:' " Of David'. A prophecy of-,ihe advent V Chrisi, and the calling of ^e Gentiles to believe in him." The Vulgate^ Septuagint, JEthio- 'pic, and Arabu^ have, "A Song of David, when the House was Built ailer the Captivity.",We have seen ' in 1 Chron. xvi. 23-33 a Psalm nearly like this, cojnposed by David, on bringing the ark to Sion, from the house of Obed<>^om. See^ the notes on the above plice. But the Psalm, as it stiwds in the Chronicles,' has. thirty verses; and this is only ^ section of it, from the turenty-third to the thirty-third. It is very likely ihat this part was taken, from the Psalm above mentioned,^ to be used at the dedication of the second triple. The one hundred ^d fifth Psalm is almost the same as that in Chronicles,- but much more extensive. "VVhere they are in the main the same, there are differences for which it is not easy to* account.

of peoalijr «xee]ience, for. in this sense the term new is repeatedly taken in the Scriptureiu' He- has done extraordinary things for us, and.we dtooNi esxd m praiie andahanks^ving..

Verse 3. Declare his ghtry among the heatAenJ The heathen do not knew the true Ood: as his being and attributes are at the foundation of all religion, these ara the first subjects of instruction for the Gentile world. Declare, 1">aD sapperu, detail, number out his glory, ni33 kebodo, his splendoUr and excellence. ^ ■

His wonders among all people. 1 £>eclare also to the JetJQS his bonders, rniM7&3 niphleothaiv, his miracles. Dwell on the works which he shall perform in

6 Honour and majesty are before him: sfirength and 5 beauty are in his sanctuary.

T ^ Gire unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength..

a Gi?e unto the Lord the glory * due unto, hivname: bring an offering, and come into his courts.

9 O worship the Lord ^ in ' the beauty of'

Jndea: The miracles which Christ wrought among IIm Jews were fall proof that he was not only <he Mlusish, but the mighty powef of God,

Verse 4. He -is to he- feared abov9 all gods.] I dunk the two clauses of this verse shoold'be read thus:

Jehovah is great, and greatly to be praised. £lohim is to be feared above all.*

f 'doubt whether the word. 0^n*7K Elohim is erer^ byfikir construetion, applied to false gods or idols. The emUraefed form in the following verse appearB to have diio meaning.

Verse 6. All the gods of the nations are idols] 'TiSk dohey. All those reputed or worshipped as gods unoDg the heathens are D*V*^M elilim, wmities, emptinesteSj things of nought. Instead of being Elo^irr^, they are elilim; they are not only not God, but they are nothing. " Jehovah made the beavens.^^ He who is the -Creator is alone worthy of adoration.

Verse 6. Honour and majesty wre before him\ Does this refer to the cloud of his glory that preceded the ark in their journeying through the wilderaeasl The words strength and beauty, and glory aad strength, Ter. 7, are those by wiiich the ark is described, Psa. Izxriii. 61.

Verse 7. Te kindreds of the people] Ye families, an the tribes oT Israel in your respectiv'e divisions.

Verae 8. Come into his courts.] Probably referring to the second temple. The reference must be eitherto Xhe 'tabernacle or temple.

■ Verae 9. W&rship the Lord in the beauty of holiness] I think Bflp nilH^ behadrath kodesh, signifies fujly omamentsy such as the high priest wore in his tDuristrations. These were given him for glory and heauly; and the psalmist calls on him to put on his aacerdotal garments, to bring his offering, T\T\iO mtficAoA, and come into the courts of the Lord, and * perform his functions, and make intercession for the pepple.

V.erse 10. Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth] Justin Martyr, in his dialogue with JYypho the Jew^ quotes this passage thus: Ei^lxrf sv coi^

also shall be established that il shall not be moved: "he shall judge the people righteously.

11 ® Let the heavens rejpice, and let the earth be glad; p let the sea roar, and the fulness Iheredf...

12 Let the;field be joyful, and all thatV^ therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.

13 Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he Cometh to judge; th^ earth: \ he shall judge the world with Hghteousnessi and fbB people with his truth.

ffdvJ<fi, h ku^io^ «i3a(fiXjv(nf oMTo rou guXou, ** Say »mong the nations, thp Lord luleth by theteood,** meaning the cross; and accuses the Jews of -having blotted^ this word. but. of their Bibles, because of, the evidence it. gave of the truth of Christianity. It appears that this ' reading did exist anciently in the Septuagint, br at least in some arfeient copies of ^hat work, for the reading has been quoted by TertuUian, Lactaniius^ Arnobius, Augttstine, Cassiodorus, Pope Leo, Gregory of 'fours, and olhers. * The reading is still extant in the « ancient Romctn Psalter, Dominus regnacit a ligno, and in some others. Itr an ancient MS. copy of the Psalter before me, while the text exhibits the commonly received reading, the niargin has the following gloss: * Regnavit a ligno cruets, ** The Lord. reigns by.the wood of the cross." My old JScotico- Latin Psalter has. not a Vgno in the text, but seems to refer to it in the pataphrase: ifot €t^te re^nfb tfttt t\)t bebe on tf)e ttt^ff0t* ' It i^ necessary, however, to add, that no such words exist in any copy of the Hebrew text now extant, nor in any MS. yet cdljttpd, ndr in any of the ancient Versions., Neither Eusebiui nor Jerome even refer to it, who wrote comments on the Psalms; nor is it.mentioned by any Greek ^Titer eicept Justin Martyr, The world also shall be estMishedj The word h^n tebel si^ifies the habitable globe, and may be a metonymy here, the container put fof the contained. And many think that by* it. the Church is intended; as the Lord, who is announce^d to the heathen as reigning, is understood to be Jesus Christ; and his judging # among the peoplcj hia establishing the holy Gospel -% among thera» and governing the nations by its laws.

'Verse 1 1. Let the heavens rejoice] The publica- ^If' tion of the Gospel is here represented as a universal blessing; the. heavens, the earth, the sea, and its inhabitants, the field, the grdss^ and the trees (Si the wood, are all called to rejoice at this glorious event.- This verse is well and harmoniously translated in the old Psalter:— - ^

,^tprbe be the jsfee,— anb the fulnejsf of tt;

9!3p.jari\l felbejar>— anb al tt)at ete tn tftainu

And the paraphrase b at least^curieos:—

I shalbgive the remaining part'of this' ancient paraphrase, which is an e«ho.of the opinion of most of the Latin fathers!.« '

j^e jBTal l^eme in ^beneier t^ ttt^ r— anb folk in -^Ui. -;foti)fajB{tnejBf* Nothing is evener, or sothfaster, than that he geder wiih bjrm perfyte men; to deme and to deperttf to the lig hande (thaim) thai did mmcj: — pase to the lefle hande (thaim) that did it nogt.

The psalmist here in the trqe spirit of poetry, gives life and intelligence' to universal, nature, producing. them all a[8 exulting- in the reign of the Me88iah,:lmd -the happiness which jriiould \ake place in the earth when the Gospel should be universally preached. These predictions seem.to be xtk the'^bve of completefulfilment. Lord, hasten the time! Fox a fuller ex- 'planation see the fbllowing analysis.

Analysis of the Ninety-sixt^ P^alm.

Although this Psalm was composed -by David at the bringing back of the ark, yet most ancient and mo-

* dern Christian expositors acknowledge it a prophecy of ChHst's kipgdom, to be enlarged by the accessi6n 6f all the Gentiles, ^d finally, hid coming to judgment.

There are two parts in this PssUh;—

2. His judicature in it, ver^ll-l:S. • * ' L' 1. The invitation to praise God for the benefits

conferred on- the whole earth by Christ, ver. 1-3. 1. That the praise be full, he thrice repeats, " D sing, sing, sing;" to the honour of the Trinity, says Bellar^ minei obscurely intimated in the Old, but plainly ^tb be

" ' Carry good news-r^he Gospel of glad tidings.

• 2. The song to be sung must be new: " Bing unto the Lord a new song." New, for a new benefit; new, to be sung by new. people; new, as beitfg on a most

• excellent subject.

3. -It w&s to be sung " by the whole earth." By new men, and idl the world over; for God was not now to be known in Judea enly, but by -Idl nations;. -

4. It must be continually sung, ffom^.day to day, without cessation; for as- one day suqceeils another, so should.there be a continual succession in his praise.

• Aflerwards he expresses the behefits for which the whole earth is to praise him, which is for the redemp^ tion. of the world by his Son.

1. He shews forth his salvation, which he has confirred on mankind by Christ. • 626

2. " Declare' bis glory amon^ the heathen,' his wpndeis among all people.^ Salvation was tL glorious work, full of wondera. And this' was td b^ evangeliaed, as before to the Jews by the prophets, so bow te «U peopie by the apostles. • ^

JI. And that this e](hortation. might, apipear inoit reasonable, he pirea^nts God as a Icing, and sets down the greatneaar^aniplitude, ajid equity of his kingdom. '

1. •" Singio the Lord all the earth, for he is Lord of the ¥iioIe earth." 1. " The Lord ia great.** Grett in power, wisdom, goodness, mercy, dominion, riches; great in eveiy way of greatnctss. ' 2^ *' He* is greatly to be praised," or wdrthy of all praise, for his innameraUe benefits. He bestows them, spiritnally ani temporally, in his creation, redemption^ and preaemtion lof the world. What is prai^wonhy in any Bag may be found superlatively in him.

2*. v" Kb is to be feared ahan all gods^" for lie can cast body and soul into hell. They, though.called gfA», can do neither good nor hnit; the devils, who set them uf), believe ths^ he is above them, and they^ tremble.. Sing to him' then, for the supremacy is his; be is above all, gods. If t^ere be ether gods; show their worka; produce the heavens they have made^ or the earth they have framed. It iIb jHir -God alone who *< made the heavens, and all.things that aie ii) them;" fear him, and not them.. /..

, The prophet elegantly derides the- heathenish gods, and the heathen for fearing them.

1. For the rauHitnde of them, for they were many; Vhich is contrary to the nature of Godv who must be but one, for there can Jbe but one Supreme.

'2. For their division: one of the Ammonites; taothex* of the Moabites; one of the Philistines; -mv^y of the Assyrians, Egyptians, 'Greeks, Ramans: their gods were according.to the number of their citieai three hundredjupiters, thirty thousand dahiea..

3.' They^ were elilim, Dii minores. Moiock had thfi rule of the sun; Astarte, of the moons • Ceres, of com; Pluto, of hell; Neptune, of the sea, &c. Their power waa not univenal, aa the power of God oo^ to be.. ^

4. Lastly, in the opposition, which plainly shows the difference between God and idols.. They are but the work of men^s hands. Our God is a crei^; he made the heavens, and all. that is oontained in and under them. He then is terrible, and to be feared; not thoaa diminutive, vain, unprofitable gods of tfaa'nationa. -

And &>, having removed out o£ hii way all the gods of the nations, he returns 4p our Grod and King. Hav>.ing said " he was gi^at, greatly to be feared, and praised above all gods^" he now sets forth his majesty.to the eye of the aubject aiwl stranger*, ^ioneur, majesty, strength, beauty; so says our prophet: *' Honour and majesty are before him, strength and beauty are in his sanctuary." God is invisible; but his honour and majesty, strength and beauty, may be easily observed in his ordering, governing, and preserving the whole world. and his Church; both which may be justly called his sanctuary, and the last his holy place, - •. He has proved Qod l6 be a universal King, and now he endeavours to.persuade his. subjects, all kindredsV)f people, to return to their king his tribute, his honour and worship, which he comprehend^ in Oiesc words:

1. "Give^into the Lord;" and again, " Give unto the Lord glory aiid strengtb/' Give freely to him, and alone «t^ate to him the glory of your being and yqHbeing, that he made and redeemed yeu^ and ttmt by Uie strength of his right hand he. has plurked you out. -of the {Ands of your enemies. Thif was tl)e- gioriouB ' work of hi3 mercy and power.. ' J8. '^Givd unto the Lord the lionoor due to his i^ame.^ If isL a debt.; and a debt, in equity, must be>paid. ^ The *)ioiiour due t6 his name is to acknowledge h^ t6 be holy, just, true, powerful: ^VXhe JiOrd, the fi&ithful God,'*— **♦ good, merciful, Jong-suffering,'' &c. ' Delirmud not his name of the least honour.

3. ^ Bring an offering, and come into his cooxts.*' Ajtfkedr not before the Lor4 empty, as the Jews • were eoounanded; to whieh the prophet alludes: **They had their sacrifieeit and we *al^ have out spiritual ■aerifices,. acceptable to God Uuough Jesiis Christ^'* to bring; 1 Peter ii. 5. These are the sacrifices bf a 'otHitrite heart. Bring these when y.oa enter into his courts, and into his house of prayei;

4v ^ Q worship the Lord in^he beauty of hoIiiiee8.4* They who enter into the presence of a king 4>xeseiftly fiJl oo their. knees in token of submission and homage; in the presence of jrour King do the Same. ' Jidore, and remember to do it in the b^uty of holiness; refared to the.material temple, it i» by relation a holy^ pUee, and -should not be profaned;,a beautiful place,; and ahoold not be defaced, but kept beautiful. If - jeferred to the spiritual temple, the temple of the Holy Gho^t iato be beautified, with holiness; a holy life, holy virtues, beautiful garment3, righteousness and true holiness.

6. " Fear before Wm, alLthe earth." Join fear to yonv- worship, for a man may be bold in the preSetk<ie of his king. ^ Serve the Lord with feat, afkd rejoice with reverence." There is^a fear which arises out of ao apprehension of greatness and excellency in the person, together with our dependence on and- pur submission to him, which in body and mind makes us step back, and keep at a distance. This kind of fear prodiieee reference and adoration, and this the prophet here means.

' 6. '-^ Say among the heathen, the Lord leigna;*' or, as some say; " The Lord reigns among the heathen." Bis heralds'; and proclaim, with the sound of,tfie trumpet, God reigntj God is King,

The prophel begins to set forth the amplitude ^of Chritt's kingdom: —

1. Before, it was confined to- Jodea, but is now en- Jarged: ** All nations are become his subjects; he reign.* among the heathen." -. • -. St. Its 'stability: "The world shall be-established,' that it shall not be moved." The laws of this kingdom are not to be altered, as were the laws of Moses, but fix6d and established for ^ver. T6e GospePis an eternal Gospel, a standing taw.

'3. Xhe eqni^r to be obsfrv'ed ^in jt: *' He shaD" judge.the- p^ple righteously," for he <shall give to those who observe his latirs, rewards; to those who despise them, break th^m, and say," We will;not'hav6 thismaii to rei^n orer us," condign punishment.

4. The prophet, having described the King, and the state of his kingdom, exults in spirit, as if he had seen him coming to sit upon the throne. * He calls,' not the dentUes o^y, irhbm it did very nearly coneern, but all creatures, to rejoice in him y'heaiwen, ^arthj sea, trees, fields^ Ac\ Although there are who by A^o^^ understand angels; by the iarth, men; by the sea, troublesome spirits; by tree^ sad- fields, ihe Gentiles whowere to. believe; yet this" need not -be thought strange, hecause such prosopopctuts aw. frequent in Scripture. The fueaning i^ that^as the salvation was tiniversal, so he inrouTd have the joy to be undversal:' "Let the heavebs rejoice, and Jet the- earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the Hdness' thereof. Let the field be joyful, and nil that is theceii^^ then -shall the trees of the wood regmce before the Lord."

H^ incites aU creatures to rejoice for Christ's coming,, both for the first and for the second: for the first, in which he consecrated all things; for the second, m which he wtll free all things ^ro corruption, Ronf. viii^..

1. "For he cometh,. for he cometh td judge- the earth." — -Which "iftrst part of the verse the fathers- refer to bis first coming, when he ifa^ incarnate, and qame to redeem the world by his 'death: ai^d was to the end to judge, ihat is to rule and govern, the world by his word, ordinances, and* Spirit. '

. 2. Arid again: " He shall come- to judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth:" which coming, though ^eirible to the wickedj will be joyful and comfortable to the righteous. For, says our Lordi "Lift up your heads, for your redemption drawr eth near;" and to cpmfort them, andHerrify the:wicked, he tells them l^e will judge -with equity, that is, in justice and in truth, according to his wtird and promise. He will accept no man's person, but render to every man according to his woiks.

Tie reign 0/ Jehovah^ its nature and blessedness, 1, d. He is fearful to the wicked, 3-6. be destroyed, 7. the blessedness ef the- righteous, 8-19.

. NOJE^ ON PSALM XCVll. -r.Tbia' Psalm haa no <i/2e either in ihe ISdfrew or Chaldee; and in /(nir(e^ ofKennicoifs add I>0 RossCs ^SlS. it is wriUen^as'a part of the preceding. Fir the Vulgate it is thua entitled,' PsaUnus Davidi guaiUo 'Urra ejus restUuia e$L "A Psahn of Payid when his land yna restored;" the meaning' of which J suppose to be, after' he had obtained 'possession of the kinsdom of Israel and "Ijodah, and became king over all the tribes; or perhaps, after Jie had gained possession of all Uipse* countries whicU.were originally granted to the Israelites in the Divine* promise. 6e^ 1 ChroA. -xviii. r, 9.. The Septuagint js nearly to. the same purpose, ^1 ^ yu-aoTou sco^o'racou, •fwhen liis land was* established:•* so ^ JEthiopic and Arabic. The Sjfriac has, '* A Psalm 'of David, Sn.wlych.he predicts the advent of Christ, (i. e., in the ftesht) and through it his la^t appearing, (i. e.^to judgment.") The author of the Epistle (q the Hebrews, ohap. i. 6, quotes a part 6f ihe seventh verse of this Psalm, and applies it to Christ. Who the author was is uncertain: 'i|: is much in the spirit of David's Mest compositions; and yet many learned men suppose ^it wa» written to celebrate the L6rd's p<>\if«r an^ goodhess in the restoration. of thiB Jews from tfie Babylomsh captimttf.

Verse I. The Lord reigneth] Here is a simple proposition, which is a self-evident axiom, and requires no proof: JviOYAB is infinite and eterngl; is^ possess^ "of Unlwiited power ahd unerring wisdom '; as he is the Maker, so' he m'ust be the Xsooemor, of all things, • His authority* is absolute, and hj^ government therefore universal. In all' places, on all oocfurions, and in all times, Jehovah^ reigns. *

But this -supreme King is not oply called nin^.YcHOYAH, which signifies his infinite and eternal beiqg, unlimited power, and unerring wisdom; and, as Creator, his unioersal. 'government; but he is also.' *yTM AdonAi, the Director and Judge. He directs huQian. actions by his word. Spirit, and Providence. Hence are his laws aod revelation in general-; 'for the governed should know tHeir governor, and should be acquainted with his laws, and the reasons on which obedience is founded. As Adonai or Director, he shows them the 'difference between good and evil; and their duty to their God, their neighbours, and themselves: and hi finally becomes the Judge of their actions. Qut as his law is holy, and his commandment holy, just,.and gOod, and man is in a' fallen, sinful state; hence he reveals himself as D'hSx Elohim* G^o<f, entering into z, gracious covenant with mankind, tu enlighten hid darkness, and help his infirmities; that he may see what ia just, and be able to do it.. But as this will not caff^el the sins already committed, hence the necessity of a Saviour, an ^tooement; and hence the incarnation, passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jjesnt. This is the provision made by the great God for the more efiiectual administration of hitf Idngdc^ upon- eaidt Jehav^i Adonair Etbhim reigneth; et his anhnadvenis^ and ^hese points-considered, it is no wonder 'thu the psalmist, should' add,

Lit the earth rejoico'; let the ffiultiiude ef isl^ be glad] The earth, the terraqueous globe; especially, here, the vast continents^ over every part of which God^s dominibn extends. But it is not' confined to them.; it takes in the islands of the sea;< all the m^ titude of (hose islands, even to the soMdlest inhabited rock; which are as touch the objeeis of his care,- the number of their inhabitants considered, aa the- vastest contintots on which are founded the mightiest empires. All this goreAitfient springs from his holiness^, r^kt-. ep\isne'ss, and benignity; and is exercised in what we call propidenccj firom jpro, for, before, and vifeo, to see, which wprd: Is.well defined atid applied.by Cicbbo r Provid^ntia est, per ^quam fiUurum aliquid videhsr^ antequ4m factum sit. "-Providence is that by whieh ^ny thing Aiture is seep before It takes plaee.^ Ht Invent. 0. 63. And; in reference to a..Dttrifitf provitdence, he took np the- general opinion, vix.,>i5c«e im, et eorui(n providentia mundum administrarii. De- Di^ vinat. 0. 61, ad finem. " There are gods;. mnd Jby their providence the affairs of the world- are adnilkk* istered." ^...

This providence ia not^nly general, taking in dis eift/l and its inhabitants, en masse; ' giving aiid establishing htws. by which all things slwll he govern^: but it is ^so particuiar; it takes in the maltitii3e» of the isles, as vpell as the vast continents; the differ- ^eni species, as well as the genera; the indimdual, at well as the family. As every whole ia eompoeed of its parts, without the smallest.of which it cooUL jnot be a whole', so all generals are composed ot particulars. And by the 'particular providence of €fodt the general providehce is formed^, he takes care of each individual; and, consequently, he takes eao of the whobh Therefore, On the p&rtiMar -foroyidence of GU>d, the general providence is built; and the general providence could not; ezkl withoot the 'particular, ■ any.more than a whole 'could sqbsiat independently of its parts. It is by. this parficular providenpe tliat 'God governs ihe" multitude of the isles, notices the fall of a sparrow, bottles the tears of the mourner, and numbers the hairs of his followers. Now, as God is tn infinitely wise mnd good Being, and governs the world in jwisdom and goodness, the earth may well rejoice, and the mpltitude of the isles be glad.

Verse 2. Clauds and darkness ure' rottnd about him] It as gnlnted that this is 'a subject which cannot be comprehended. And whyl Becaase God is. infi^ nite; he acts from ^his own counsels^ whteh are infinite ( in Teference to ends which are ajso infinite; therefore, the reasons of his government cannot be

the wf^ld: the earth saw, and trembled. 5 ^ The hills melted like wax at the presence

eomprehehded by the feeble, Uinited powers of- man. Ther^ mast "he clouds and darkness — ad impejietrable obecority, round about him; and we can bo mo^ comprehend (dm in what is called atemiUis a j>grte «n/e— the eternity '*^at pas^ before tifn^ commenced, than we tsjoi in the nBtimitas 'a parte post — the eternity that m to come, when dme shall bC no iBore. 'Yet sndi a Being cannot Jlmt see all ^np deariyt and do all things well; therefore thd psalmist properly asserts, —

Righteousness and judgment aJre the habUation of his throne,'] Righteousness^ plV tsedek-, the principle that acts acQording to justice and equity; that giVes to all (heii' due^ and ever holds in all things ap. even hatdnee. And judgment. OSjem tnishpat, the principle that discerns, orders, directs, and determines every thif^g ' according to tnlth and justice: these^ Ibrni the hesitation of his throne; that is, his goyernmeptaiid. management of 'the world are according to tliese;' and though we cannot see the springs, the se^et tounsels, and. the times, which this omniscient and ^ibmghty Father must ever have irf his own'poWer, yet we may rest assui-ed that 'all his adminstratipn is wise, just,, holy, good, and kind. For, althQilgh his - eomisels be inscrutable, and the 4i8pensation8 of his providtoce be sometimes apparently unequal, yet figl^ebusness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

In this most sublime description the psalmist, by the figure termed prosopopaia, or personification, gites viidity and thought to all the subjects he taiploys; here, the very throne of God is animated; righteousness and judgment are two intetlectual beings who support it. 1*116 fire, the lightnings, the eafth, Xbe heUvens themselves, are all intellectual beings, which either accompany, go 'before him, ot proclaim tns majesty.

• Verse 3. Afire goetk before AtM]^ Literally,.this tod the following verse may refer to the electric fluid; or to manifestations of the Divihe displeasure,- in which, by met^ns of ethereal fire, God consumed his •Qemies. But fire is generally represented as aft SecompanimeiTt 6f the appearances* of the Supreme Being. He appeared on Mount tinai in the midst df fire, thunder,, und lightnings, fixodl xix. 16-18. Daniel, chap. vji. 9, 10, represents the Sovereign Jtudga as b^ing on a throne which was a fiery flame, and the wheels of liis chariot like ' burning Jij-e; a,n6 ^ fiery 'stream^ issuing from it, and coming fojth from Ijefore him. St. Paiil tells us (2 thess. i. 8) tha^ the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in /nrnin^ ^r^; and St. Peter, (2 Epist iii. T, 10^ 11,) that.when the Lord shall come to jndgmeilt the heavens and the earth shall be destroyed by fire, the heavens shall pass away with 2 great noise, thi6 elements melt with fervent heat, and! the earth and its ^orks be hitiU up. Here.then, will * appear,-^.. *.

Burneth up hH enemies round about.] The fire i^ his pioneer which destroys all the hfnd^nuices ip hitf way, and makes him a -plain* paasagel

Versp 4. Hi* ' lightnings eHlightened. tht wdrld\ Though this be no morjs thah a ihajestic deseriptioiif of the coming ef the Lord, to confdund }A -enemiecf and succour his follcfyeis, yfe some spiritualize thd passage, and say, the lightninge signify this apostlesf who enlightened' the world by their heavenly doctrinei.

The earth saw, and'trembted.] • The earth is represented as a sentient being. It saw the terrible majesty of God; <and trembled through tierror, fearing it- should be destroyed on accoVmt of the wickedness of its inhabitants.

Verse 5. The hills ntetted like^wdaij The fire o^ Go4 seised qA and liquefied them} eo that th^y nd longer opposed his march'; and, the momrtains before him -became a plain.

The Lord ofdhe whole emrtK.^ pKH Sj \r\y( Mdofi col haarets, the Director^ Stay, and Support 6f the' whole earth..The; universal" Governor,. whose. juriiB^ didtion -is not confined to any one plac6; tm't4 whd/ ' having created all, ^vems aU that he has made.

, Verse 6. The heavens declare his righteousness]. They also,^ in this poetic deteription, become intel' ligent beings, and proclaiih the majesty and the xdexef of the Most High. Metaphorically, they may be ftaid to declure his glory. Their iliagnitude, ftumW, re— - volqtions, order, influence, and hqtaony, proclaim thcT wondrous skilly matchless wisdom, and unlimited powei^ of the Sovereign of the universe. See the noteeT oil t^salm xix. ■ ' '

And (fil the people see his glory.] Whatsoever God bas made proclaims his etefnal power and Godbead: an'd who, fro^ a contemplation of the work 0^ his harids^ can be ignoraiit of his being and pro^' videnceT, ^ '

•Verse 7. Coftfoundtd be. all they] Rather, They shall be -eonfounded (hai boast therhsehes in idols i There id a remarkable play ot thid letters here, Xfhhty\rT\hamxnithhalelim,w\io move like madmen^ referring to the vioFeiit gestures practised in idolatrous rites.-. Of idols] D^y7K3 baelilim, in vapities, emptineiBses; who 'imake mtfeh ado about nothing,? and ^ take a mad bim painful pleasure in tidiculous and un-" printable cdiemoi^ies of reli^on.

"Worship him] Who? Jksus: so says the apostle^ Heb. i. 0. Who will dare to dispute his authority?

images, that boai^t themselves of idols: ^ worsim) him» all ye gdds. 8 < Zion heaio, $ind was glad; a]nd the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord..9 For thou, Lord, art •'^high abovQ all the earth: ^'tho^i art exalted far above ^ gods. 10 Ye that love. the Lord, > hate evil: ' he

AU ye gods.l 0> cc^sXoi a.\)r^My his air^els: bo the SeptuagirU aAd the apostle: '** Let all the angeb of God worohip him:" and the words- aiQ most cerUinTy applied to the Saviour of the world by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews; %e& the note there. The Chald€6 s^ys: ** All nations who'-worshij^ idols «Hall adore him."^ '.;*

Verse 8.. Zion fieard, and'was glad\ All tlie land iQf Israel, long desolated, heai^. of the judgments which God had shown. aniong the enemies of his

And the daughters of judah\ All the villagei of the XzxiAr^Zion a^ the, mother, find. aU.the vUlage^ in the country as her daughters, rejoice;in the deliver- ' toce of God^s peopl^., ^'.

Verse 9. For thou. Lord, art high] Thou, art infinitely exalted above men and- on^e^. ^

Verse 10, Ye' that IpveXhe Loifd, hate e^H] Because it JA Inconsistent with' his ^JoVe to you, as well as your lOve to him. ' '

. He preserveth the fouis of his'sainis{ The saintSj I'TOn chasidaiv, his merciful people: their souls — lijes^ are precious in his pi^l^t. He preserves them; keep^ them from every vvil, and every enemy«

V^rse 11. Light is sowt^for the righteous^ ' The Divine light in thk 'ftoul of m$n is a seed which takes root,. and springs up and increases thirty, sis^ty, and a hundred fold..Gladness is also a seed: it is sown, and, if Carefully improved and cultivated, \vjll also multiply itself inttf thousands. Every ^grace qf God is a seed, which he intends should produce a.thousand fold. in the hearts of' genuine believets. We dp not so much require more grace from God, as the cultivtUion of what we have received. God will not give more, unless we improve -what we have got Remember the parable of the talents. Let the lig^ and gladness be faithfidly cultivated, and they will multiply ^emselves till the wholp body shall be full of light, andthe^idMe soul full.of ^happiness. But *it is the righteous only for whom the light is sown; and t)^e fifriglU in h^art alone for whom' the gladness is sown. '. '.

The words may also signify that, however distressed or perseculed the righteous and the upright ^raay be, it shall not be always so. A surely as the grain Aat is 'sown in the earth shall vegetate, and bring forth its proper fruH in its seasooy fo surely shaU /vr^—prosperity, and ^laJntf^^ppooaifort and 530 "

preserveth the.sool8 of his saints; 'he (delivereth them. out' of the hand of the wicked.. 1: 1 ■ Light is -sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heaxt. 12 '^Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; ^ and -give thanks ^ at the' remeihbrance ofiiis holiness.. '

Yerae 13. Rty'oice in the Lord, y§ righte<n^s\ It ■ your privflege to.be happy. Exult in him thxoogl^ whom.^e have 'received the atonement. 12i!;oiee; but let it be' in the Lord. Allothe^ joy is the mirtk ' of fools, which is as the crackling of thorns under a pot — It is a luminous blaae for a momentj^-and leaves nothing >ut smoke and ashes behind.

At the 'remembrance of his holiness.'] ^ BfU why should yon* give thanks at' the remembrance 4hat God is holy i ' Because he has said. Be ye holy; for I am holy: and in holiness alone true fmppiness is to be /ound. 4' he, therefore^Vfho hath called you. is holy; so be ye holy in all manner vf coiwersation; False Christies, hate the doctrine o£ Christian holiness; they are willing to be.hdy in another, but not holy idr UijNnselves. There is too much cross^b^aring and self-dejiiBl in the doctrine of holiness for -them. A perfect he&rt they neither expect nor -wisli. • '

The analysis considers the whole Psalni as relating to Jesus Christ and the last judgment: so it was imdersibod by several of the ancient fathers. ^ The reader may take it in -either sense.

Akalvsis of the NiNETv-sBVKirrH Psalm.

There are three parts in this Psalm, ijf w€ interpret it as referring to our blessed liOJrd: —

I. A prophetical description ^f his power and glory especially at the Jay ofjudgmentf vftr. 1-6.

II. A manifest difference between the states of idolaters and the people of God, ver. 7—9.

ill. An ethortation to love God and hate evil; and the- reas<hi on which' it is founded: a two-fold ^acious reward, ver. 10-13.. 1..The. psalmist begin^s with ^ solemn acclamation: ** The Lord reign^th.'* He is the sapreme Kling; ami he will use his kingly power both, now sad in the day of judgment* I., For the good of his subjects. S ^ For the confilsion, of 1;^ enemies.

1. For' '* clouds, and darkness are ronnd about him,'' -as when he gave the law on Mount Siinai. 2. "Righteousness and judgment are tite habitation of his throne V' and therefore a just sentence shaU come forth against hia enemies, ^nd in behalf ^C his friends, ver..2-5. -3. His appearance shall be very glorious; for the " heavens shall declare it, and all people shall "see if," ver. 6. '

- n. Tho difference between the State of idolaters and the people of Go^. ' "

Cod is c^iv'atedfor

his ibondrmts KM)rJb«

. 3/ fie exhorts all in power, men-:-inagistrat€s\ dec, and aU*who fexcel in strength — angels, to worship him: ^ WcMrahip him,.aH je^^gods," ver. 7. All confidenee should be reposed in him. • ^

3. God's people rejoice when they find that it is iteir own Lord who is coming to judgment: ** Zion bisard, alid was glad; the daughters of Judah rejoiced,** Tcr. 8.

4^ And they rejoiced* chiefly iir lp:iowing that their.€kNi^« was high tLbove all the earth, land exalted fsoc abore 'alj gods," ver. 9.. '

. • ill. The expostulaiu^y which gives us the character by vAasik Gbd's people may be kndwn. ' Jle exhorts' them to Icfve trod, and to hate enil. Hence we see that the true followers of God, 1. LoTe.him;' S'. Hate evil, as the infallible conseqoenbe of loving him, ver. It).

JLe shows, them the gracious reward which God pnvmises. -^

1. ** He preaerveth the souls of his saints." Often their lioes, in an especiieJ manner,Ureprei0n7«</byhim; hut always their souls. The'^cnser of the brethren shall not hurt them.

- 2. " He delivereth them out of ther hlmds of the tricked." Sometimes out of their- hind, that they fall ■ot into it; and sometimes out. of their hand, when they are in it. This is their >Snil reward, verl lO:

A second reward js in the next verse: that in iheit iniseries they sKall be filled with spiritual h^>pines8i when perhaps ^ey little expect it: ** L%ht is sewn for the righteous, ibid gflaidneas fdr th6 upright in heare," ver. 11..

1. By light we may uoderstand a peculiar bian|fest&« tion of God's favour; comfort, peace, and joy;. or deliver-* ahoe from their spiritual and temporal oppressors. ' 9. This ii.soum as a seed." Tot the light of comlbrt| of peace of consciencb, and joy in the HolyBpiritf though it may be.clouded in times of h^aviness^ trough.manifold iemjRations^ yet it will spring forth again, like. the com, which, after 'it lis sown, lies hidr.den for some titaie under the clods* of the eaiih;. jret all that time it is vegetating and coming fonh to public view. And deliverance - from their 'enemies,. ^ough slow, will j^ome; thqiiigh thQ xod of the wicked conCt intd the lot of the just, it shall not rest there.

3. From these premises the psalmist di^ws this donchision: Since God is preparing those blessings for you 4hat fear apd lov^ him, then, 1. '« Aejoice in. the. Loid;!^ glory in him as the Fountain of your blessedness. S. ''^Grive thauks at the remem^anoe of his hdlisess." Remember the good he has dond you, thd jgrace he has bestowed on: you, and the holiness yoa may yet receive from him; an^ rejoice in the encourage^ ment^ and give thanks. Rejoice that ye may be holfft for in. that jour holiness consists*

Offd is celebrated fot his won^Hnts ft>otks,l, 3? for the eitact ftUfilment of his gfacioUs promises, 3. ' 7%4 manner in which he is to be praised 4^. Inanimate creation called to beat a part in this concert, 7» B* ne justice of his judgmentSi 9\ ' # '

In the Hebrew this is simply termed lioTD mizmor, a tsalm. In the Chaldee, A prophetic Psalm. ' In the Vulgate, Septuagint, Mthiopic, A Psalm of Datid. In the Syriac it4s attributed to David, and stated to "be composed concerning the " Restoration of the Israelites from Eg3rpt; but is to l)e understood spititually of the advent of the Messiah, and the vocation of the Grcntiles to the Christian faith."

The Psalm in its elibject* is very jike the mnetysixth. It was probably written to jcelebrafe the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity; but is to be understood prophetically of the tedemptiou of the world fcr Jesds Christ.

3 He bath » remembered his y"^*^'^ ' mercy and his trutb toward the house o{ Isrfiel:. ^all the «nds of the earQi. hate Seen the salvation. of our God..4 * Make a joyful noise utlto the Lord, all

Verse 1. A new song] A song of excellence: Gbre hini the highest praise. See on Psa. xcvi. 1.

Hath done marvellous things] TWVhQ'i niphlaothi ^ miracles.;" the same word as iti Psit. xcvi. 3, where we translate it wonders. ' Ha holy ami] His Almighty power,— »

Hath gotten him the victory. \ iS nj^UfMl hoshiah llq^ >' hath made salvation to himsof."

Vetse 2.' Made knoum his salvation] He has delivered his pcMiple in such a way as to show that' it was superoaturalj^d thiU their cotifidence in the unseen God WM Hot hi vain.

VtfiM 9;^ He hath remembered his mercy]. His gt^ cioue ptmajfifB to^ their forefathers.

And M9 trtUh] FaithfiilTj accompliahing what he hadpromised. All this Was fulfilled under tb^ Gospel.

- Verse6. With trunks] n)r\itxnchatsotferoth. Seme kipd of tubolar instruments, of the form and managp^ ment of which we know nothing;.

^And sound of comet] nOHBf shophar, the word comnbtdy ufsed for what we of^^ trumpet, <,

Verse 7. Let tlie sea roar\ ' Tliese are either ^e j^tic images; or, if we iake theftr as refeiting to the promulgation of the Grospel, by the sea all maritime. countries and commercial nations may be intended. - ' Verse 8. Let the floods clap Ih^it hands] niiTl^fMkaroth, properly the w^^— possibly meaning imi fitense continents, where only large rivers are found; thus including inland people, as well as maritime nations, and those on the searcoasts generally; as in those early times Httle more.than the coasts pf the -sea were known. The Gospel shall ^be preached in the most secluded nations, of tha world.

Verse 9. For he cometh to judge the eartii] He comes.to. make known his salvation, ^and show his merciful designs fp sdl the children of men. ' >

With righteousness shall he judge the wdiid] His word shall not be x;onfined;.aU shall know him, from the- lea^.to the greatest i he shall show that he is. toying to erery man, and haCeth nothing that he hath made. See the notes on Psa. xcri.. There is a Very

Seat similarity between this Paalm and ^e Song or agnifieat of the Blessed Virgin. I shall note smn^ •f the parallels, chiefly from Bishop Nicholson.

Thiv Psaloi is an evident prophecy oC Christ's coming to save the world; and what is here foretold by David is, in the Blessed Virgin* s song, chanted Ibrth as being accomplished. ■ David is the Voice, and lilary is the Echo,

Mab^. ** My soul doth magmfy the Lord.*'* (The Echo.) 8. David. •* He hath done marvellous tWn^" (The Voice.) Mary. " He ^at is mighty hath done great things." (The Echo.) ' 3..DATFD. " Withliis own right hand and hdy arm ^,. hath he gotten himself the notory."

9 Before the Lord; ''for he 6oineth,to judge the earth: i/vith righteousness ^hall he judge the World, and the people with equity.

Mart. " He hath showed strength with bis ann« and scattered* the* prpud ja the *iiiMgiiia-. tio»of their hearts." (Hhe Echo.) ', 4. David, ^ The Lord hath made known his aslvation; his righteousness hath: he opeofy • showed," &c (The Voice.) Mart.' " His mercy is on them that fear hiiB, from genei^ion to generation**' - (Xhe EcKo.).' *'

These parallels are very striking; -and it seems ai if Mary had this Psalm in l^r. eye when she. com-* posed her song of triumph; And this. is a Either argument that the whole Psalm,, whether it record the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, oY the' Jews from. Che Babylonish paptivity, is yet to be ulthnately nnder- 'Stood.of the redemption of the world by Jesus Chr^^ and the proclamation of his Gospel thioagh all tfaenations of the earth:• and taken in this view, no laagaagacan be too strong, nor po^ic imagery too high, to point 'out the unsearchable riches of Christ.

» Akaltsis of the NiNETT-EioHTa' Psalm.

This' Psalm has the two following part^:-^

II. A new invitation to praise him, and that it be universal, ver. 4—9.

For this exhortation -and command he gives the rsa-. sons. His w(nk was a. work of- power and holiness. '

1. '^He hath done' marvellous things." He has evened his gte'atness and goodness in th^ wprk of re* d^mption. What marvels has* not Christ done 1 ' L He was. conceived by the Holy Ghost. 2. Bom of a firgin. 3. Healed all manner of diseases, 4. Fed thdusands with a few loav^ and fishes. 5. Raised the dead^ 6.. And what wai^ more marvellous, died himself. '7. Rose again by his owp power. 8. Ascended to heaven. 9. Sent down the Holy Ghost. 10, And made his apostles and their testimony)he instruments of enlightening, and nltimately convertingy the world. ' "

3. t ** His right hand and hisholy arm hath got him the vif^tory." 1. It was all his own woriy whatwei

The smpir9.of:God in

the world and ihe Chutch^

w^re th« instrun^ents i tot without his energy they eqold do-nothing. 2. It >^as h\s holy arm-— no bloody jftpordj but a holy. handy to do i holy work. 3. *^He 'g9i liimielf the victory" over sin, Sataiii death^ tLudMll. * -3. This sailvfLtion wajs made Itnown: — 1. By iimself ta the Jews-. 2, By his apostles to allnatiohs. ^ 4. This salvation h^ been, applied..1.. He hath ■ ahowed his righteousness— \i\B method of jtAstifying mtmers through hia own iflood, and sanctifying theip bf his. owd Spirit. 2. This he batb openly showed^ pkidy reve^ng the Whole, in bis Gospel.. 3. He^hfts 'i»he this in the sight of the heathen^ calling them to- 'be partakers of. the same salvation promised to Abra- «.liaiii and to his posterity, both J^ws knd Gentiles, b. That whieh moved him to do this; his mercy ^ find truth: I. «^He hath remembered his mercy." This miercy was to the house' of Israel, and through •th^ to the Gentiles; for the Grentiles were the first in the promise and covienant. There was no Jew when the covenant was made with Abraham: it wa3 made with him while he was yet in nncircumeiaion;. consequentlf^' the Gentiles, ihe whole human race,. were originally included in that covenant. The descendants of Jacpb were made depositaries of k fbr a 'iMason; but they, not having benefited by! it, were rejected, and the salvation of Christ was given, to the Gentiles, for whom it was ^ originally intended, and /.who have kept the faith, and. are daily proJiting by,tt., 9. It is -called meroy; tor it was the merest mercy that said: ^'*^ The seed of the woman sludk bruise' the wrpent's head.^^ -3. He remembered this; it was never oot of the Divine mind; " Jesus was the Lamb slain from the /oundation of th^ world.^ 4. As this mercy was intended for every human soul ^ so it is here prop^ticaUy said: '* All the ends of the. earth have seen^ the salvation of our God.*' This 'Gospel has been preached, is now in the course of being preached, and shortly will be preached to every people under heaven.

n. a' new invitation io praise God; and to do this in every possible way.

1. '* Make a joyfdl noise.** Jump for joy, because of this most glorious neWs. >

3. In all possible ways. Wi^ harp^ psaltery, trum^ pety comet; with vocal, chordal, and pneumatic mnsic^ But it is the joyful i^usicj the heart music, which the Lord seeks.. - ' ^

4. "Before the Lord." In bis immediate presence. Let all be sincere, pure, and holy. Hemember the eye of the Lord is 'upon you-: do pot draw near with yoat UpM, pipes,. at stringed instruments, while your hearts are far from him.

5. And to make the* mnsie /oU; as if the inanimate creation 'had ears and hands to give an applause at the relation, and feet to dance because of it, he ssys: ** Let the sea roar, the floods clap their hands, and the hills be joyfVil togethor<**

And.fer all this he gives a reason, with which he cpndlttdes: " For he fometh to jndge the earth;** wfiieh may he refen'ed to his first and second coming;.

1. If to the first, then the sense is — Let all crea* tures vejoide because he comes td judged that, is, to enlighten, order, and govern the worlds For this porpose he was incarnated, suffered, died, and rose again for the red^emptio» of mankind; and haS sent Bis holy Gospel to enlighten the world, and his Spirit t6 apply its truths to the hearts of men. /

2. If we consider this sis referring to his last coming; then let all m^o rejoice, as he comes to destroy evil, to root out incorrigible sinners, and to -make a new heaveii and a new earth.

' 3. AU this, shall be done ^with that- rectitude of judgment, that there shall be nothing crooked, oblique, or savouring of iniquity in it: " For he shaU judge the world, and the people with equity."

Theempire of God in (he world and the Church, 1, 2. He ought to be praised, 3.' Justice and judgm^: are his chief glory, 4. He should be worshipped as ankfing the- saints of old, whom he graciously answered and saved, 5-Q. Exalt him because- he is holy, 9,

NOTES ON PSALM XCIX. ' TThe tiebrexo and Chaldee have no title; all the versions.but the CAa/rfe^ attribute it to David. The Syriac says it concerns "<the slaughter of the Midi^- Jtes which. Moses and the children of Israel had taken eaptire; and is a prophecy concerning the glory of the kingdom of Christ." But the mention of Samuel shows that it cannot be referred to the timis of Moses. Calmet thinks that it was s^ng at the dedication of the exty, or of the second temple, after the retain from the o

3 Let them prai^

Babylonish captivity. lEight of Kenhitott^s and De RqssCs lilSS. join it to the precieding psalm.

. Let the people tremble] He will establish his king, dom in spite of his enenues;iet those who oppose him tremble for ^he consequences.

He sitteth between the cherubims] This is in rtfer^ ence to the ark, at each end of which was a chenib of glory; and the shechinah, e> fijmhol.of th9 J)pfW0

6. 'Exalt ye. the Lord ou^ GocI, and VrcMrship at ^ Ihs foolsToor; far * h/e ^is holy. *.1. 6 ^ Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call Upon his name;

Predence,' appeared on the lid of the ark, called also ihe mefq/seati between the cherubim. Sitting between ^$he cheriibim iiii]^lie8 God-s gracummes^ -and mercy. While then,, in his reign, he was terrible to sinnerS) he is on the throne of grace to all who feav love, and ebey him..Though this symhol wer^not ih^e second ternpie, yel the Divine B^ing might yei^ well be thus /denominated, hecisiu^' it had become one of.hib titles, he having thus appeared under the tabernacle wadJirsUennple.

Verise S. The Lord is great in Zion] Itjs amoitg his own worshippcbrs that he hag manifested his power and glory in an especial manner., There he is koown, imd there he is worthily magnified..^ ^

Veise 3. Let them praise thy great and tefribl&r^gme] Let them confess -thee to be great and terrible: let them* tremble before thee,

' For it is holy,] Kin tEHip kadosh^ Ati. A9 this not only ends this verse hut the ^A also, aud in effect the ninth, it seems to be a species of' chorus which was sung in a very solemn manner at the conclusion of each of * these parts*. His ^oliness-^itie itnmaci^ate purity.of his nature, was the reason why he.should be exsdtiBd, praised, and worshipped. *

Verse 4. The king's strength] If this Psalm were written by David, he must mean by it that he was God's vicegerent or deputyf and that« even as king, God was his strength, and the* pattern according to which equity^ judgment, and riglueousnesa should be executed- in Jacob,

Verse 5. Worship at hi^ fiotstooi] Probably meaning the ark oft which the Divhie glory was manifested. Sometimes the for/A is called God'^Joots^ool, Matt. v. 85, Isa. Ixvi. I; sometimes,Ji?r(i5a/em; sometimes the. temple, Lam. ii. -1; sometimes the iabemade', Psa. xxxii. 71; and sometimes the irk, 1 Qhron. xxviii.~ 3. The Israelites, when they worshipped, turned ^ir &ces toward the ark, because that w$is the place where was the symbol of the Divine Presence.

Verse Q. Moses and Auron] As Moses and Aaron among the priests, and as Samuel among the prophets, worshipped God in humility, gratitude, and the -spirit of obedience, and received the strongest tokens of the Divine favour; so worship ye the Lord, that he may bless, support, and save you, Moses was properly the, priest of the Hebrews befb^ Aaron and)u9 fai^ily were appointed to that offico.

7 '■He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testifnonies, and the ordinance thatf he gave them.

8 Thou answeredst them, O Lord our<jdd: '"thou wast a. God thatcforgayesVthem, thpu'gh >* thoti tookest vengeance of their idventipns.. ' 9 *i Exalt'the Lord our God; and worship a| his holy hiUj^ for the LoRp our God is ^holy..

. They kept histesHhtonies]; Do ye the same, and God will be your portion as he was theirs.

Verse 8. Thou— forgapest them] When the. peopt«r liad sinned, and.^nrath was about to* deadend on them, Moses and Aaron interceded for them, and they were riot destroyed.'

Tookest vengeance of their inventions.] God spared them, biit showed his displeasure at their misdoipgs.' He chastised) but did not consume them. * This is ami^y proVed in th§ iiistory. of this people.

For the Lord our God is holy.] The words of the chorus; as in ihe third and fifth verses..

There are two parts in this Psalm:—•

I. A description of the kingdom of God.

1^ From the majesty and terror of it against his enemies, ver. 1-3.

9; From its equity in the exe<^tioa of juJigment and justice, ver. 4.

3. From his patience and clemency in giving audience to his servants, ver. 6-8. J.:

n. A demand of priiise and honour of aU that acknowledge him for their King, begun at the third verse, repeated at the fifth, and continued in the last. The Psalm' contain^ a pr<^hecy of the kingdond of Christ, and its;glory. ^, -

I. 1. The terror, power,' and majesty of ^his kingdom: *« The Lord reigneth," I. He bids defiance to. his enemies: *< Let the people tremble." 3: ^ He-sitteth between the oh^iubim." He is always present with his people; they need ffot fear, though the eofth be moved.. 3. ' *♦ He js greet* in Zion." More potent and higher than all people. 4. "His naaie is great and terrible." His enemies have every thing tp /ear, while Ymjnends have ev^ry thing to hope, ->

^. The psalmist describes this kingdom, froin its justice and equity. 1, ^ He loveth judgment." Tbi* is one 'of his perfections.. 3. t'He establishes equity.'* Gives just and equal laws to all. ' 3. ^' He executes judgment in. Jacob." None of his followers shall live without 1|iw i the^ are ob^diflftt children, Uvinj^ accoi^^

AU. mankind exhorted '

inf to his will..4^;And thei^loie he-requires.them to estate €md adore \^m.. 5. Lhej[ wih' ib,4catship Qt his fooUtooi — pA their approaches aze to be made in the deepest reverence, with the truest self-4sbasement,' 6. "For he is' holy;" and he requires ail his ibllowers' to be holy also.

And now he adds the reason why he heard them: — ^

• 1. "They>kept his testimonies.** Those precepts tbat were coinmon to all others.

S. ^ And the ordinances ihat he gaVe them.** As puhlie peiraons who were to rule in Church and state*.

And that it was a great mercy -that the Lord heard them^'the prophet acknowledges by this apostrophe^

whom they prayed: fim in Hehcew the rdative la ofiien.put without «n antecedent.."...;

3. **Thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.*^ The golden -calf was Broken to pieces, Exod. xxxii.; and. the fals^ godi "were put away, 1 Sam. vii. The people were not consumed, though their sin was in % certain; manner visited upon them. See Num. ziv. 23, 30, and icx. IjJ. ',

li. The ^saJmist cottchde^ with % demand of praise to this kind God.

9. '* Worship at his holy hDl.** Attend his puUie worship, an4 shew a godly e^^arople in this way to all ethers; He whb is indifferent > about t^ie puUic worship of GrOd is generally not less bo in private devotion-. -

3. The veason -for all this is: "The Lord our ($od is holy.** He requires this worship because it is axhief means by which* he communieates Jus harness to his followers. Without this holiness thexe is nd happineiis here, and without it Bona shall ever see Ood; Gei holiness, that y6a may get happinese'Aerv, and hesreii hereafter.

AH nations are exhorted to praise the Lord, I, 9;' to acknowledge him to h the Sovereign Gqpd ajad their Creator, and that they one his people and the flock of his pasture, 3; to worship him publicly^ and he grateful for his mercies, 4. The reasons on which this is founded; his own goodness, his -everlastifff

This Psalm is entiUed in the^Hebrew rmnS niDTO migmor lethodah, not " A Psalm of Praise,'' as we hare it, bnt «< A Psalm for the confession, m for the confession-offering,^^ very propeily translated by the Chal— dpe: Ibim piip hp vn^V shibcha al kurban todetha, « Praise for the sacrifice (or offering) of confession." The Vulgate, Septuagint, wd^thiopic haytf followed ihi8 4«n8e. The Arabic attributes it to David. The Syriac has the following prefixed: ** Without a name. Concerning Joshua the son of NuU, when.he had ended the war with the Ammonites: but in' the new eotenant it riBlates to the conversion of the Gentiles to the faith," It is likely that it was composed after the captivity, as » form of thanksgiving to God for that great deliver- 'ance, as well as an inducement to the people to conseermte themselves to iiim,>and to be e^^act in- the performance of th^ acts of public worship.

1 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: ^it is \it that hath made us; ^ and not we ourselves; t we are his peo-

• yer8e.S. Serve the Lord with gladness] It is your privilege and du^ to be happy in yoiur religious Worship. Th^ religion of the trOe God irlntended to remove human misery, and to make mankind happy. He whom the religion of Christ has not made happy does not understand that religion^ or does not make a prQper use of it.

Verse 3. Know, ye thdt the Lord Ae is God\ Aeknowledge iii every possible way, both in pubitc and private, that Jehovah, the uncreated, self-existent, imd eternal Beings is Elohim, the God who is in oovensnt with man, to.instruct,' redeem, love, and make him finally happy..

' It iB^he that hath made us] He is our Creator, an^ has consequently the enly right in and over ufe.

^arth, howerei giomiiy hestheniab, thsl-did behevis, or could beliere, that they had made themaelvee t In Hoenty^ 0iw of J^em^Uatfe, tnd Ih BossCm, MS8. im have iSl UnJK ve/o anachnuj '^aod bis ve-am;'^ lS /o, the pn>- oonn, being put for rS /0, the negaiwe paitide, This Is the reading oC the nrgum,Hiit Chaldee paraphrase,:iunjM n^Sni veiUeyh maeknih ^ sod his we are /^ and IB the reading ot- the. text ^ the Complutenaian Polyglot, of both thd Fealters which were pnntedT in 1477, fOid is the keri or marginal reading in most Maaotetic Bibles. Every person must see, from'the nature of the (mbject,*tfaat it is the genuine reading. The position |9 founded on the maxhn that wfaal a man faiTents, conptraots out 6f his 0^ materials, without assistance in gtsolus, materials or execution from any other person, -|s HIS o^; and to it, its uae,^ and produce, he has the only right. O^ made lu; therefore u/e are bis: we are his people, and should acknowledge him for ourOod; we are the sheep of bis pasture, and should devote the Uv6s to him constantly which he continually supports.

Verse 4. Enter into his gates with ihaiUsgiving] Publicly wonhip. GM; snd when 3^ com^ to the faoUse pf prayer, be thankful that you haye.wioh a priVllegfe; |uid when you enter kis o<mri«,* praise him for the perinission. The wotd min:i bethodah^ which we render ^''Uh thanksgivjing, is properly witkihe catkfession^fferjf^ or sacrifice. ' See on the tiUe.

Bless his name,'\ Bless Jehav^ that he is your Slohim; see ver. 3. In our liturgic service We say,' ^ Speak good of his.name f we cannot do otherwise; we have nothing hut good to speak of our God.

Verse 5,. For, the Lord is good\ GoonNsss, the. {>erfect, eternal opjposition to aU badness and evU^ is, essential to CM. Mercy and compdssion are modifies-^ tibns of his goodness; and as his natttre is etemalf so his mercy, springing from iaagoodneis, must be everfos/tn^. And as tsuth is ah essential chaNurteiistic of an infinitely intenigeht and perfect nature; therefore Ood^s truth mokt endure from ganeraiicn to generation, Whatsoever he has promised must be fulfilled, through sU the successive gene^ons of men, as long as sun an4 moon shall last. * •

. As this is. a very impo^rtant Psalm., and has long msde a part of bur pMic worship, rshall lay it before the rente in the oldest vemanular Versions I have ^ hithscto met with, — the Angio-Saxon ^d t^e' Anglo- Scalfi^ with a literal intsrlii\eary trafislation of the vmner. •- ■ \ ■

The Anglo-Saxon Hundredth Psalm.. Rhyme ye the Lord all earthy serve the, Lord in 1. Io]iyaieS ^lOhrne, «aU eOpVe, OeOfian «]i^cne on bliss;.'

The reader will see tha^^ in order to make this traa»i iatioS as literal as 'possible, I have |preserved some old English words which we had from the Anglo-Saxoo, and which have nearly become. bbs<^ete: e. g., Infan, ' ^ to go in;^^ blithness,^ joy,' exultation;^ wit. ye, ^ kpow ye;" did, the preterite of. to do,** made, created^"* the literal translation of the Hebrews TVff^ asah, Jtejnadei leeseway, '''pasturage on a common f winsom, ^ cheeo^ fnl, merry;*' mUdKeartedness, ** tenderness of hear^ compassion;" iothfastness, '* steady to the sobth or troth, fast- to truth."

Anglo-Seottish Version of the Hundredth Psedm.

4. irsli»df»pm.anbjifcbepeorirf[tf9n]irtns(; cntcn^

Thus our forefathers said and sung in heart and mouth; and with their tongue^ made confession to sal« vation. ' There are but few woids he|re which require explanation: Ver. 3, Wittes, '^wot ye; knoW ye." Ver. A,Schrift, " confessiotf;" schryves, " confess ye." Ver. 5, Loues, "praise ye, laud ye." Sothfast^es$^ as above, steadfastness in the truth.

There are two parts in this Psalm: —.

'I. Xn eshprtation to praise Ood, and tEe manner m which it is to be done, ver. 1*^.

11^ The reasons on which this is fonnded, ver. 3-^5.

1. That the praise be wuversal: ** Ail ye landa.*^. S.. That it b& hearty: "Make a joyful noise?' Let the soul be cheerful in- the work.

I show the completeness of this blesited word.

4. That it be sincere^-done in his presence.

5. That it be an inteUigerU service: " Know ye.''. 6.* That it he frequent and /m^/tc s '* Enter his gates

7. That gratitwfe.shall be « pairt of it: ^ With

' II. The reasons on which ih^ is grounded; they

1. Drawn from the nature of God: ** Know ye that

Jekprah is Elohim," the true €rod; therefore, alone

irathy to be worshipped.;,

. 9. Bra^mfiEom the &efi^ bestowed oh US'! l./*He has made us ^'r— capable of knowing him, and being etemalfy happy with him.'. 3. He has called upon us by his^oce-to be "his-.^ople, and the sheep of iiis pasture.'* He both governs Bnd feeds us.. '

And that we may be the more cheerful in this work, he puts us ia mizid of the Pivine attrihuies engaged in our r^mption, goodness, niercy,.znd truth.

3. ^'He is dme;" 'keeping corenaot for- ever with thera that fear liim; and fulfiUng all his promises to the helievii^ and obedient.

And that w^ may have the more con^enoe, *. 1. '* His mercy is eve^asting." It contintles thr6ugh all the change and chances of this life to them.who trust in hinf; and extends through all the generalioin. of men. ' »,

3. His truth is like his m^rcy, it is.pledged to fulfil his promises. U God is not nuui that he shoidd lii;'* he has promised, and will save. to the'utterinost all who oqime to him throttj^. Christ. Jesus: • ""Be therefore, thankful to him, and speak good of his

The subject proposed^ mercy and jiu^ynenff I. 'The psabnist^s resohUian in rented to his private conduct j 3. He will put away evdi inward and putwas^dj 3. No evil person shall stand in his presence^ 4;• neir dh)f danderei^of his neighbour^ 4, &. He will encourage th^ faithful and upright^ 6-; but the deceitful, tjie. limrs, and the profligate, he v^ cast out dfthe dty of Ood^'iy 8. • •

The Hebrew and all the Versions' attribute this Psalm to David. It shows us the resolutions he formed when he eame to the throne; and it is a perfect model aceocding to which a wise prii^ce should regiilate his eOndilet and his goyernment.

YetBel. Iwillsingof mercy and judgment"] David nugflit say, Adverse and prosperous providences have been of the utmost use to my soul;/ therefore, I will thank God 'for both. Or, as he was probably now called to the government of all the tribes, he might make a Ipeaolution that he would show noP chesed, incessant b^evolence^ to the upright; and OSlftfD mishpat, the ekecfution of judgment, to the wicked; and would make ' the conduct of God the model of his own.

Verse 2. / will behave myself wisely] God's law prescribes a perfect way of life; in this perfect way I luive professed to walk, and I must act wisely in order Id walk in it,

When wilt thou come unto me 1] I can neither walk fn this way, nor grow wise unto salvation, unless thou

" walk, within my house with a Condiuuir perfect hearti. ^^'

3 I will set no* ^,wiqked thing before mine

/ unU walk within my house] * It is easier for most men to walk with a perfect heart in the Church, or even in the world, than in their own families. HoAr tnitny are as meek as lapibs among others, when at home t^y are u>asps or tigers! The man who, In the midst <yf family provocations,, maintains a Christian character, being meek, gentle,'9nA long-suffering to his wife, his children, and his servants, has got a perfect heart, and adorns the doctrine of God his Savioar in all things..

The original is very emphatic: iSnnK ethhatheh, "1 will set myself to walk," I will make it a determllwJ point thus to walk.. I will bear and forbear with children, aervants, Ac, not speaking rashly, nor giving way to bad tempers. Through various motives a man will behave with propriety and decorum among others; but none of these motives operate in^his own house, where he feels himself master, and consequently undei no restraint.

5 WKoso privily sfandereth his neij^boiirv him will I cut off: ^ him that hath a high look and a preud heart will hot I suffen

6. Mine eyeB' shall be upon the iaitHur of the

Verse, 6. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour] All batterers and time-senters,.and those- who by insinuations a&d false accusations endeavour to suj>plant the upright, that they may obtain their offices for themselves or their dependants, will I consider 'as enemies to th^ state, I will abominate,;ind 6xpel them ftpm my court,. ^. •

The CHaldee gives a remarkable meaning 'to the Pebrew, mj;! *>n03 'JItSd mekuheni bassether reehu, which we translate. Whoso privily slandereth his neighhour, and which it renders thus, ^ wSn jarS TrWD"^ man demiAtaey lishanjelitai al chqbreyah:,*^ He who s^niks with the triple tongue against his neighbour.'* That is, the tongue by ^ich he slays three persons, ▼iz., 1. Th^e man whom he slanders; 3. Him to whom he^communicates the slander; and, 3. Himself the tenderer. Every slanderer has this triple tonguoiUtd by every slander inflicts those three deadly < wounds. §uch a person deserves to be qut.off. On this- subject * St. Jnome speaks nearly in the. same way: lUe qui ^etrahit; et se, et ilium qui audit, demergit; >* He who 4 daaders ruins both himself and him who heara>him;** he might have added, and him who is slandered^ for this is Often the case; the innocent are ruined by detraction. ',

A high lopk and a proud heart] One who is seeking preferment; who sticks at nothing to gain it; and one who behaves himself haughtily and insolently in iiipwffice.

7 He that worketh deceit sh-ftll __ not dw^H i/^ithin my house: ii6 that telleth lies ^ shall ndt tany in my sight. '81 will > eady destroy all the wicko^ of the land; that I. may cut off all wicked doers ■'from' the city of the Loud.

'Will riot I suffer.} Sdw kS huchal, I caipotjiway with.:.These persons especially will X drive from my nreaende, and from all state employments.;^ •

The^ they may dweU with^me] Be ijay ponfidants and privy counsellors. No irreligious or wicked nnn, n^tiatever his abilities may be, rtiall be countenanced or su^pcMrt^ by me. I will piitify my court from the base, the irreligious^ the avaricious, the. venal, the profligate*, and. the wicked.

He that walketh in a perfect way] He jthat is truly religious.

He shall serve ine.] Shall be my prime minister, and the chief officer in my army, and over my finances.

Verse 7.. He that worketh deceit — that telleth lies] I wOl expel from my court all sycophants and flatterers< Tiberius encouraged flatterers; Titus burned some, banished several others, and sold many for slaves.

Verse 8^ / will early destroy] I will take the first opportunity of destroying all the wicked of the land. I will purify my court, purge Jerusalem, and cleanse, the whole land jof every abomination and abominable person; so that the city of my God^ where holmess aJofie should dwe](^ shall indeed become tile Holy City^ that the state may be made prosperous, and the peoplehappyi Such an administration must have been a good one, where such pious caution w&s used in choosing •U the officers of the state.

There are two parts of this Psalm: —.

f. The #tfm, with the dedication of it, verT 1.

n. The fall expianation of mercy, and judgment^ and how I»ractisQd: — -^: '

I. The sum of the Psahn, mercy and judgment^ the two great virtiies ef a king.

S. Judgment in discountenancing, b^g a terror t<^ and punishing the evil doers.

IT. He begins with his own reformation an<l that of his Aottfe, that he may set a. godly example to lui kingd^ph

9. '*! am in a perfect way:" I have; professed to belieye in the God of Israel, and I must walk suitably t6 duB profession.; • * ^ -

3. ^ When wilt thcftt come unto me'1" I am sincm in my resolves; bat without thee I can do nothing. Stand by me, and I will walk uprightly... Jn h^ house he. resolves, "T will walk within my hooM with a perfect heart." *.l. '^ I will walk:" it shall hemyeonstant employment.

%, '^ I will walk ia my house:" I will see that my fmmify fear God. /

. 8. *^I will walk widi.a perfect. heart:" I shall do txnthiBg for show; aU' shall be sincere and pious.

In order to walk in this perfect way, he promises, —

1. "I will set Jio wicked thipg before my ^yes;" eril desires enter more frequently into the.soul by ihe €ye than by any of the other senses.

I3. /^ I hate the work of them that turn aside:" he)ftfti would leave sin must hate and abhor it: he that haves God is an object of abhcMrrence. -

SS "It'stedl.not cleave to me':" it will cleave to Jdm who cleaves to it. ' He who does not hate it, will ehave- to it. '

He shows what he will be towards the ungodly.

i. "A frbward heart shall depart from me:" ithe IwAdstrong, stubborn, and refractory.

2. The ambitious: **J9im; that hath a hig^ looft,^ who wants influeikce and honour..

. 3. The' proud: the haughty, who thinks all bom to be his vassals., '

I. "His eye «hall' be qpon the faithful." Of them he, will take especial care; he shall dwell'^tfar me.. S.. The truly relis[ieu9, **)ie that* walks in a perf4^t way," shall be iomptoyed by Himself. *^'He shall serve me."^ ■ * '

He farther states what he will do in reference to t^ ungodly,

I, No fraudulent.person shall dwell in his house:. ''He, that worketh ^eceit,^' &c^

3. Liars shalt be bamsked out of his sight: * In tins ^ork lie tella us how he would prbeeed.

• 2. The end, inoreference to the CBttrch: ** I will cUt off the wicked from the city of the t^ord." The city, the seat bf government, the place- of God's altars y must be kept pure. There must be a thorough, a radical reform. No ^orruptiotf or abuse, either in ihinga political, dffmestic^" 6r religious, hhdll be tolerated. All musi t>e holy, as \i6 who has;caUed us is holy. Tliis vras a refonnation according to God's word; not aceovdin^ to the caprice of the multitude..

ne complaint an^d miserable state of the poor cajdives, l-*!!; the expectation of deliveranee, lS-rI4; the eonversion of the heathen, l6r^8; -the termination of the captivity, 4 9-22; the great ftaUty vf man, 93, j24; the.unchangeableness of Cfod,- 25-^27;, tKe permanence of tKe Church, 28.

I aip in trouble;; incline thine ear unto me: in the day wheh^ I call answer- me speedily.,

4 My heart is •smitten, and ^ withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my- bread.

-A 'S^tafci M>f the afflicted,- 1» when he is oterwhelmed, andpooreth out his complajnt before the LoRi>.

AR my prayer, O Lord, and let my. cry ^ come unto thee. 8 ^ Hide not thy face from me in the day when

^wken he is overwhelmed, and pours out his sighing be- /brp^ thfi Lord, There seems to l>e little, doubt that due is the prayer of the captives in Babylpn, when, to* irlxds the end of the captivity, they were almost worp OQt with oppression, cruelty, and distress. The Psahn

Jmr been attributed to Daniel, to Jeremiah, to Nehemiah, or to some of the other prophets who flourished daring.the time of the captivity. The aathor of the Epistle t6 the Hebrews has applied the twenty-fifth, tmenty-sixth, and twenty-seventh verses to our Lord, 904 the perpetuity T>f his kingdom*

. Verse 1. 6ear my prayer] The chief parts of the Psalm aiwwer well to the title: it is the language of the deepest.distress, and well directed to Him from whom alone help can. come..

. Verse 3. My days are consumed like smoke\ He represents himself (for the psalmist speaks in the name of the people) under the notion of a pile of combustible - matter, placed upon a fire, which, soon consumes it; part flying away in smoke, and the residue lying oh the hearth, in the form of charred coal and ashes. The Chaldeans were the fire, »nd the captive. Jews the fuel, thus-converted into smoke and ashes.

Verse 4. My heart ii smitten, and withered Uke grass] The metaphor here is taken frotai gnuftreut

5 By reason of the'^voiQe of my gpoaning- * my bones cleave to ray Vskm. \.

8 Mine enemies reprpach me. all thie day; and they that are ^msid iigainst me are. 'sworn against njei,,.\. ' ■ ' ■

• 9 For i hate eaten ashes like bread, and ■mingled my drink with weeping,* ' ^

rlO Because of thine indignation ^ and thy wrath: for ^ thou hast lifted me up, and cast'

down in the meadow. ^It is first smitten w^th the scythe^ and then withered by the nun. Thus the Jew» were smitten widi the jjidgmentsof God; and they ar^ now' withered undenthe fin^of the- CAo/ieoiv.

Terse 6. I. am Hie a pelican of the wildemess\ '. It may j)e ihe jMican er the bittern. • The origiQsJtj FWp kaaihi is mentioned Ler. xi. 18, and is theze 4esorihed. 3ee the npt^.

Owl of the desert J\ DO c^*, some species of owl; probahly the night raven. See the notes referred to above. •.'-,.

Verse Y. As q sparrow alone"] lU)^ tsippor^ seems to be ofVen used for any small, bird, such -as the swat-. fowi sparrow, or the likoi BocharL supposes the screech flwl is intended.. •

Verse d. They that are mad against me are st^om Against me:] The Chaldeans ' are determined to destroy US; 1e^ they have hound themselyes ^ oeUh to do it. See' a simihu: ctfse related Acts;zxiii. lS-i4, where a number of Jews had. bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor driidc till they had «lain Paul.. ^

Verse 0. I ha»(B eeOen ftshes like bread] Fearful <)f' what they might do, we idl humbled barselves Man thee, and sought thy protection; well knowing that, un* less we were super naturally assisted, ii^e must all have perished; our enemies having sworn onr destruction:

13 Thoii shalt arise,* and ^have mercy upon 2ion: for the time to favour her,.yea, the' » set time is'come. ^ -. '

14 For thy seiraistr take, pleasure in ^her urtones, and favour Ae dust thereof.

15 So' the heathen shall ^ fear the name of the Lord, and all. the kongs of the earth, thy glory..; •

.16. When the Lord shall build up Zion, «-le.^hall appear in iiir glory.

mer is e^ded, and we are not tnaved.^''. There is now scarcely any human hope of our deliverance.

' Verse 12/ But thou^ OLordi shalt endure for ever] Our life is a shadow; we can scarcely he called bmngs when. compared with thee, fot thou art eternals Ht^e mercy upon us, creatures of a day,^ and thy kindness shall he «t memorial in all our generatidns, y^rse 13. Thou shalt arise^ and have mercy igPfii Zion] While he is humbled at the footstool of mercy, an^ earnestly praying for mercy, an answer of peace - is given; he is assured, not only that they shaU be delivered, hut ^hat tbe time of deUveraace is at' hand,. The jet t^ns — the seventy yevjs predicted by Jeremiah, was ended; and God gave him U> seo that he was erer mindful of his prpnus^.

Verse 14.- Thy servants take pleasure in herjiimus) Though Jerusalem was at this time in a heaprof mins, yet even 'her hibbish was sacred in the eyes of the pious; for tikis had been the city of the great King,

\ Verse 15. 8o the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord] It is granted that afler the edict of Cyms lo restore and rebuild Jerusalem^ which was about four hundred and ni^ty years before ChHst, the. name of the true God was more generally known among the heathen; and.the translhtins the Sacred Writings into Greek, by the command of Ptolemy Philadelphus, \aag of £g3rpt, about two hundred and eighty-Jive' ye^ before the Christian era, spread a measure of Uiq light of €rod ill the Crentile world which they had not befm seen. Add to tbis, the dispersion of the- Jews into different parts or the Roman empire, after Judea bb^ eame a Hojnaa province, which took place about jfcfy years before the advent.ef our Lord*, and we -may colr^' sider these as so many preparatory steps to the oooversion of the heathen by the Gospel of our Lord Jesus ^ Christ. And to this last general illumination of the Genfile- world the psaknist must allude here, when be speaks of " the heathen fearing God's mune, and -all the kings of the earth his "glory."

Verse 16, When the Lord shall build up Zion] It is such a difficult thing, so wholly improoable, so* te

17 ^ He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.. ^ ^

18- This shall be? written for the generation to come: and ^the people which. shall be created.shall praise the Lord.

19 For he hath ^looked down from the height of his sanctulairy; from heaven did the Lord, behold the earth;.V

a(X ** To hear the groaning of the prispner; to \iMer ' those that are appointed to death;

21 To ^declare the name of the. Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

22 When the people are gathered together, wod the kingdoms, to serve the LoRp. '

23 He ' weakened my strength in the way; he " shortened my days.

ooi of the reach of human power, that when God does iCy lie must manifest hia power aq^ glory in a most extnordinary manner.

Verse 17. The prayer of the destitute] WH AgMrar, of him who iff laid in utt«r rain, who is entirely

Verse 18. The people which shaUM create^ " The Gentiles, who shall be brought to the knowledge of*

' nidation by Christ,^' as the Syriat states in its inscriptimi to ^his Psalm: how often the cfbuTorsion of:the KMll to God is represented as a new creation, no reader of\ the New Testament need be told. See Eph. ii.' la, iT% 24; 2 Cor. v. 17; Gal. vi. 15. JEven the publication of the Gospel, and its influence among men/' ii represented - under the notion of ** creati^ a new hteveB and a new earth," Isa. Ixv..17, 18.

Hbe three following verses, seems to me to contain a glorions prophecy of the incarnation of Christ, and the gsibering in of the Jews and the G^entilesto him. The Jjoird looks down from heaven, and sees the whole earth gioaiUDg and travailing in pain; his eye affects his ImMi and he purposes theit salvation.

V«ne 20. To hear the groaning] By' sin, all the inhabitants of the earth are miserable. They ha^e hNAen the Divine laws, are under the arrest ef judgneoC, and all cast into prison. They have been tried,./otmd guilty, and appointed to die; they groan under ibeir chains, are alarmed at the- prospect of death, and ioipksre mercy.

\ Verse 21. To declare the name of the Lord] To piibUsh that Messenger of the Covenant tn whom the name of the Lord is^ that Messiah in whom thefulness of the Godhead dwelt; and to commence at Jerusalem, timl the first offers of mercy might be made to the Jews, from whom the word of reconciliation' was to go oiit to all the ends of the earth.

Verse 22. When the people are gathered together] When all the Gentiles zre enlightened, and the kings of the earth bronght to pay homage to the King of kings.

24 ■! said, O my God, take me not away iji the midst of my days:' " thy years Ore throughout" all geni^ratioiis. '

* 25l. p Of old hast thod laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hsirids...

27 3ut / thou' art the same, and thy years shall ' haye)io endi

28 • The children of thy servants shall coYitinue, and. their seed shall be established before thee.... -,

\etjse 23. He weakened my strength in the way] We are broaght so- -low in our captiyity by oppi^ssion, by ^yeiy speeies of hard asage, and by death, that there is now no liope of oar restoration by jiny eflbrts of our own.

Verse 84: / said, O my Chi]- This and the foU lowing yerses seem- to be. the form of prayer which the captives used preyiously to their deliyeraoce.

ny years are throughout all generations.] This was a frequent argument used to induce- God to hear prayer. We are frail and perishing; thou art ever^ lasting: deliver us/ and we will gl6rify thee.

Verse • 26. Cf old h^t ihou laid the foundation] Nom^ taught of Crod ever imagined, the wor!d to have been eternal. Of old, CTJsS lephanim, before there were any faces or appearances, thou didst lay the foundations of the «arth. It was created by thee; it did not grow by accretion- or aggregation from ^ preexistent nucleus. There was nothing; and thbu didst produce. ^ffin^< — substance or matter. Out of that created*' matter' thou didst make the earth and the heavens.

Verse 26. They shall perish] Nothing can be eternal a parte ante, or a parte, post, but. thyself. Even 'that which thou hast created, because not necessarOy eternal, inust be perishable; necessary duralion belongs to God only; and it is by his will and energy aIon»that.uniyeiial nature is preserved in existende, and preserved from running into speedy disorder, decay, and ruin.

Yea, all of them shall wax old] Every thing most de^ teriqrate, tinless preserved hy thy renewing and invigorating energy.' Even the heavens and the earth are subject to this law; for that which is not, grom the infinite perfection of its owri nature, eti^rkal, must be perishable; therefore the heavens and the earth must necessarily come tq. an end. They contain the seeds of their own dissolution. It is true that in sublunary things, the vicissitudes of seasons is a sort of check to the principle of dissolution; hot it only partially co^ Ml reals this tebdency. Eren Uid prodactions of the «arth wear out or deteriorate. ' Plant the same seed or gnm for severtl years coBaeouiiyely, and it degenerate^ so as at last not to he wprth the labour of -tillage, hower^r expensively the soil may beonanured iii which it is planted. I may instaaQe in wheat and in the pbtatoe^ the iwo grand! sappditelr^* of life In European cbunlries. Afl 'other seeds and plants, as fisir as they hair fidlen under my obseryiuion,. aie subject to the aoiHB-law..'.'