Commentary on the Holy Bible

Terse 97. But thou sit the same] KTTI t^mveattah. BOibut thoU'Qnt Hk, that is, 7^ Etkrmal; and, consequently, he who only has immortality, '

Thy yea're shall have no end.] 1??n' vh lo 'yittammu, ^ ^ey shall not he completed.'' ' Eyeiy thingvhas its reTolutioR* — its conception, growth, perfection,, decay, dissojidtion, and death, or corruption.. It ipa.^ he ^aid that regeiwration restores all these substances; and so. it does in a measure, but no^ without -deterioration. The ^«tf if o/*animaZ«, as' well as vegetoMes^ wears out; but GrOfd's eternal round has no. completion. 1 repeat it, — what i^ necessarily eternal is unchRn^able an4 imperishable; ^ created beings are perishable and mutable, because not eternal. God tJone is eternal; thereQ[>re God alone is imperishable and immutable.

Verse 38. The'ehUdrkn of thy servants shall continue Thj^ Church shall be. permanent, because founded on thee; 'it shall live throughout all the revolutions of time. And as thy followers are miu)e ^mitw taliers of the Dioine nature^ they shall live in union with God in thovotheif world/deriving eternal duration from the inexhaustible Fountain of. ieiiig.. Nothing can be permanent.biit by God's supporting and renewing influence. ". • ^

There are two general parts in this Psalm:—»^ - " I. A description of the calamities of the Church, under the person of an afflicted m|Ui, vef. 1—^1.

II« The consolation afforded in these calamities, ind the ground of it, vey. •12t38.". ' •...

I. The description, &c., is formed into a prayer^ proposed in the two first verses-:-^

In this prayer he^cotaplain's, and shows his* wretched state by various' metaphors or figures. •

3. From continual weeping: "My bones cleave to my slrin."

3. fVom his solitude: "Liker a pelican in the wilderness."..'

6. From the reproach of his enemi^: '.'Mine enemies reproach me."

6. From his sftdness: *'I have eaten ashes, like hread."'.

AH these increased, from a sense of God*s displeasure.

1. " Because of thine indignation."

2. Because of hfs sufferings: '^ Thou hast lifled me upr, and hast cast me down."

3., Thou seemest to -t^e no h^ed:. but ^ thoa wilt, arise;"

. 1. Bexsaiise the set ti$ne to favour- Zion was ooQe.

. Q. This he saw^more'clearlyfrom the concernyrOk

which God had fllTed the hearts of the people; ''Thy

servants take pleasure in her stones."

3\ 1& consoled himself in the. prospect of the coi$^ version of the heathien themsel^ee: ■ '' So the heathen shall fear thy name."...

4. For this he gives a.particular reason! jBedaose « the Lord Shall build up Zion."

.. 6. And he will do tbis, beci^ase of the prayers of thi people.- ^^ Be will reglurd the. prayer,". &c..

3. And it should be -a, blei^sing to thode that v^ uhhom: **The people which. shall be created shall •praise the Lord."

■ And (or this he assigns the proper reasons.. 'I. **The Lord looked down from heaven.^

3. " He heard the groans of tlie prisoners.*'.

3. And 'this wiU take place *'^hen the people aw. gathered together," &c. />

The psalmist fears th^t he shaU not live to tfee dus deliverance: — •

1. •" For hjB weakened my strength jUr the way,^— he^ shortened my days."'

' To strengthen this. pjstition, he * plesds God's unchangeableness f and he proves God to be eternd, because. he is immutable.-

.1. Not so the earth, tar it had a begmmngr •^Of " old thou hast laid,'? &c. ■ ",

3. Nor so the heatens; for they are "the wdik of thy hands.", " ',*.•

- But God is tdways the same. Every thisg tfiiaf iff mutable acquires by its change some property, quakty,' form or a<fcident,, which it had not bisfore: hot God/ being an infinite Spirit, and infinitely perfect,, can -suffer no loss, ^an have no addition. For «s he want9 nothing, npthing.can be added to him r as ^ u^aHtf «^mtVy, nothipg can 'be taken from, him;. In himf theirefore, there is no possibility of change f^and» eon« sequently, none of rfecay or T^eftjAw^.*

From these considerations the psalmist^ draws this comfortable conclusion:—

1. ITis Church' and servants shall continue also; " The children of thy servants,"—the apostles, with the pAriarchj», shall dwell' in thy kingdom^:— ia tb« neiv Jerusatem..- *

for hts benefits.

tinne beforp /A«»—UTe in thy presence for ever. As then art eternal, sp thou wilt unile them to thyself, and make ihem leterhally happf. ' '*

€M ul praised for his benefits to his people, ly9; he forgives' their nUivities, and he&ls their 4uea9t9^ S; redeems their liveii crowns them with loving-kindness, 4; satisfies them with good. things, ^renemeiheir " youths 5; he helps the oppressed, makes his ways known, is merciful and gracious, and keeps not his ange^ for ever, 6-^9; Aw forbearance, and pardoning^mercy, 10-12; he is a tender and considerate Father, 13,14; the frail stflte qf man, 15, 16^ God's everlasting mercy, and universal dominian, 17-1-9; atl his angets, his hosts, and his works, are invited to praise Aim,.20-99.

Jg LESS * the Lord,.0 my souir and all that is* within me, bless hici. holy name.. \2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

NOTES ON PSALM. GUI.. ^ "The inscription in' the Hebrew, and, in all the Ver-, aionsj gives this Psalm to IMid; and yet m&ny of 'tke anpient? believed ii to ifefer to tfaie. times of the

■ • hiin- •' Verse 1. Bless the Lord] He c^s on his soul, mi^ all its faculties and (wwers, ta magnify God/ for liiai mercies. Under such a weight of x>bligation the Itps'.can do little; the jioul and all its powers must b^ engaged.

Veise 2. Forget not all his benefits] Call them into recollection; particularize the chief of them; and

Verse.2. Who forgiveth] The benefits are the fol-,

• lowing^ 1. Forgiveness of sin. 9. Restoration of -linlth: '' Who healeth all thy diseases.*' - Verse 4..Who redeemeth]. 3.* Preservation from destruction, h^in haggoel, proj^riy, redemption of, Mfe by the kinsman; possibly looking forward, in the

. spirit of prophecy, to him'^who became partaker of oar ^h and blood, that he might have the right to ledeem our souls from death by dying in -our ste^: 4; Changing and ennobling his state; weaving a «own for him out of loving-kindness and. tender mercies,

-' Terse 6. Who satisfieth thy mouth]" ' 6. For conftnual communications- of spiritual and teipporal good;

Thy youth is renewed like the eaglets.] TTiere is Koch a Vast Tariety of the eagle, or genus Falco, that it is liot easy to determine wkich is meant here. The

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth tvith good things;

Hebrew ^j n^er is a general name for suck as were known in t|i^ land of Judea'; which.were probably soCh aJB belong to the genuA jifi/t/a,. comprehending forty-one species and seven varieties. * lliere are as many legends of the eagle among the ancient writers, as there are of some saints in the calendar; luidali equally Jrue, Eren among modem divines, Bible pictionary men, i^nd such like, the most ridiculqus tkles concerning this bird jcontinne to be propagated; and no small portion of them have been crowded into comments' on this very verse. One specimen my old Psalter affords, which,.for its curiosity, I shall lay before the reader: —

. Trans, Jjletneh ftal be atft of aettn tl|f youtlieb*

Par, The ame when he is greyed with gvete elde, his neb waxis so gretely, that he may nogt open his mouth and take mete: bot then he sm3rtes hia neb to the stane, and has away the slogh7 and than he gaes til mete, and be commes yong a gayne..Swa Criste duse a way fra us cure elde of syn and mortalite, that settes us to et^ oure brede in herene, and newes us in hym.

The plain English of all this is:— - '

"When the ame [eagle, from the Anglo-Saxon eajin, a word which Dr. Jamieson has not entered in his dictionary] is oppressed with old age, his biU grows so much that he cannot open his mouth in order to take meat. He then smites his bill against a stone, and breaks off the slough — the excrescence that prevented him froin eating; and then he goes to his ordinary food, and becomes young again. So Christ takes away from* us our old age of sin and death, and gives us to eat that bread which comes down from heaven; and thas gives us a new life in hunself."

Cyn, eo^iiess.and judgment for all that

cir. annum are Oppressed. P""^-. 7 ** He made- known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. • ' * * *..

8 ' The Lord is merciful asid gracious, slow to anger, and ^ plenteous in mercy.;

9 > He will not always chide: neitherwill he keep ^ts anger {at ever.

10 "He hath not dealt with us after ouf sinis;

he might as well 4iave'chosea, any bird, as this ia'eoiqmon to all the feathered. rac6; hat he chose the* king of Mft birds, because of hisboUt, his strength, ^ai^ vivacity. '.,.

The hmg life of th^ eagle might)iave induced the pSahtiist' to give it the preference. An. eagle waa nine years in the possession of Owen HoWandj Esq., of Conway, in Wales, and had lived thirty-tufo years in the possession of the. gentleman who made it a present to him: but of its previous.age, for it came from Ireland, we, are not informed. JiTj^Wer relates that an eagle died at -Vienna, after a confinement of one hundred and four ye9jca\ • ^. • "

The eagle can jnibsist a long^ time- without food. That first mentioned above, through the neglect' of a. servant, was twenty-one days without food, and y^ survived thi6 long fast.

The meaning and moral of the psalmist ^are. not diU ficult of comprehension. The Israelites, when redeemofi from their captivity, should Se.so blessed by their Grod that they should re-acquire their political strength and vigour; and should be so quickened by the Divine Spkit, that eld things should he jpassed away, and all things become new. -

Yerse 6. The Lord executeth]. This shall be doiie because the Jjord will avenge his elect vrho have cried unto him day and night for this deliverance: ** He is slow to anger;'* but, he will punish. ^ He is plenteous in mercy," and he will save. \ The persevering sinner shall be distroyed; the humble penitent shall be saved.

Verse 7. He 'made known his wa^s unto Moses] From the, earliest part of our history he has been x)ut protector and defenqe Hi;ft wonderful acts^ in behalf of the children of Israel are so many proofs of his mercy, power, and goodness; and so many reasons why we should now trust in> him.

Verse 9. He tsill not always chide] He will not contend with us continually. He has often reproved, oflen punished us ^ but his mercy ever rejoiced over judgment.

Verse 10. He hath not dealt with us.after our sins\ He has never apportioned our punishment. to • our sins, nor)ias he regulated the exercise of liis mercy by our merits. ^. '

11" For *^ as the heaven is cir. snnum high above the ea^h, so great is /^"^ his mercy toward (hem that fear him..

12 As f^ -as the east is from. the, west so tic. hath hie ^ removed our transgressions from us.

13* 'I Like as a father pitieth Ats children, so the' LoRD' pitieth them that fear him. ' '

14" Foi' he khoweth our frame; / he remainbereth that we ar.c dust.

.V-eise 1 1. For^u the, heaven is high above the etBortk] Great and provoking 'as our crimes may have been,; •yet his mercies have, in their magnitude and nprnber, surpassed these, as far as the hea^n^ are elevated beyond the earth. •

'Verse 13. As far {Uf the east is from the^west] As the east and the west can never meet in One point, hut be for. ever at the same distance from each oth'er,! -so our«ins an^ their' decreed punishment die removed to an eternal tiistaoce by his mercy.

Verse 13.* Like as a father pitieth hia chOdfen] This 18 a veiy' emphatic -verse, and' may be thustranslated: *'*A]B the tender compassions c^ a hxhef towards his* children; so the tender comjMSsibBi tf JehovaI\ towards them that fear him.'* Nothing eioor. place the 'tenderness and concern of God for his ereatures in a stronger light than this. What yeahi« ings of bovirels does a father fe^ toward t&e Os^ obedient child, who, sensible of his ingraliti«de tat disobedience, falls at his parent's - feet, covered witH confusion and melted into tears, wich,' **^ Feather, ^ ha^e sinned against hieaven, and be&re thee, and" l^ not worthy to be called thy tkm P' " The same is. kind, but infinitely more exquisite, does God iieel when the penitent falls at his feet, and iteploi^ hiv mercy through Christ crucified.

Verse 14.. For he knoweth, our fram^ \rnf yits^ renus "pur formation;^ the manner tk Whieh v^e are constructed, and the materials of which^'we are made. He knoii^s we cannot contend, with him; • and. if he uses* his power against us, we must be*, crushed to' destruction. In all his conduct towards us he /considers the frailty of oiir nature, the Qnto« wardness of -our circumstances, 'the. strength* andlv subtlety of temptation, and the - sore party. (titf the heart is renewed) that the templ^ haa ^thin na Though all these things are against us, yet it.mnaC ever' be said, whatever use we make of it, ** the grace of God is sufficient for u&'' But alas.! alas! who makes use of that sufficient grace 1 Hefe, then, is cause for coAdemnation. But, O amazing inercy! if any man siu, we have an advocate with the Fathet^ Jesbs Christ the righteous. And like as. a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him*; for he knoweth our frame, he rememberethtkat we are but dust. The mati who- can say, in the hte of' these Scriptures; 'i>r tMs sin' that gracs may

Cyri, as grass: * as a flower of tha primiun. jg Yox the wind passeth over it, sad ^ it i» gone; and ^ die place thereof shall know it no more.

• It But tire mercy of the Lo&d i^ from everlastipg to everlasting upon tkem that fear him» and his righteousness unto "^ childreif s children; 18 * To such as keep Ma covenant, and to those that remember his, commandments t9 do

.Verse 16^ The wind passeth qver il] ReferriAg.^erhi^M to some blasting pestilenthd wina..

.Verse 17. T/ie mercy of the Lord, is Jrom everjjt^tin^ to everlasting} non ckesed signifies * nior^ fiarticularly the exuberant goodness of Qod. This k an attribute of his nature, and most be Irom eyerkaliBg-to ^verliasting; and hence, his righteousness (Opl2( tsidkath) — his merciicd mode of Justifying A9 nngi9dlyy is extend^ 'fiom one generation to Another.

'-Unto children's children,'] It is still in force,, and the doctrine of reconciliation through Christ shall contmoe to be preached till the conclusion of time.

Versfe 18.. To such as keep his x:(h)enant] The spirit of which was, / loiH be your God; wi wiU be tkjf PBOPLK. From the covenant came the command-. M«n£r, and their obligatioh to remember and do them; and xm such keepers of the covenant, and doers of the commandments, God promises to pour out' his mercy tluough all generations.

Verse 19. The Lord hath prepared his throne iff the heavens] There he is. Sovereign; but his dominion extends equally over all the earth; for his kingdom — regal government, inflaence, and sway, ruleth over aU.

Verse 30. Bless the Lord, ye his angels] Every person who has a sense of Gqd's goodness to his soul feels his own powers inadequate to Xhe prabe which lie ought to offer; and therefore natundly caUs upon the holiest of men, and the supreme angels,.to assist 'him in this work.

That excel in strength] Some t^e HD ^^21 gibhcrey coach, ihe mighty in strength^ for another class of the hierarchy, — they that do his commandments, hearkening to his words; and consider 'them to be that order of. beings who are particularly employed in operations among and for the children of men; probably such as are called powers in the New Testament.

Verse 2j. ^U ye his hosts;' ye ministers of his] We know almost nothing of the economy of the hea-

1^0 * Blesfr the Lobd, ye' his angels, ^ that excel in strengtli, that *^'do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice' of his word.

91 Bless ye the Lord, ^llye <^his hosts; * ye minivers of his, that do his pleasure.

Tonly host i and,, therefore, ciumot- tell what is ^e difference between angels, mighij/ powers, hosts, and ministers' who do- his plea^nre. All owe their being and all its blessings to God; all depend upon hitf bounty; and. without him they cvi do nothmg; therefore, all.dhould praise him.

. Verse 23. Bless the Lord, all his works] Let every thing he has done be so considered as to show forth his i^aiiie.. ^

Bless the Lord, O my soul.] Jjei me noTer forget niy obligation to his mercy; for with tender mercietf «nd loving-kindness has he. crowned me. I will therefore be thankful onto him, end speak good of his namOi

There are three parts in this Psalm: —

I. The exordium, in which the psalmist invites hu^ own soul to praise the Lord, ver. t, 2.

II. The narration, b^ing a declaration of GodV benefits conferred on him and others, and tihe causetr of those benefitSj ver. 3-19;

III. The conclusion, in which he c^ on ad creatures to assist him in praising^ the Ixntd, ver.

2. Lei the soul Join in this. Let it be done heartily j lip-labour is little worth.

4. ** Bless Jehovah," who gave thee thy being, and all thy blessings. »,

6. " Forget not his benefits." Most' forget their oUigations both to. God and man; but ingratitudci which is the source o( forgetfulness, is abominable;

6. ^ All his benefits." Thou hast already forgotten many ( fijrget no more. The word ^hx31 gemuley, signifies, literally, retributions or recompenses, as the Vulgate has well expressed it. And of what kind. are these recompenses? Invariably good for evil}^ nor hast thou erer offered him one accent of praise' »45

Analysis cfthe one

hunSrid and 4hird Psabn.

that he has not compenaated with a blessing of infiniu value.

Third' spiritual hene&t^—redemption from the first Imd second death, -yi conseqaence of being thus Justified and sanctified.

The iempord benefits ai«r,-e^.

I. Abundance of the necessaries of life: HWho sadsfielh thy mouth with good things." - > 3. Health add long Hfe: "Thy youth is renewed liJke the eagle's." See thp note on diis passage. '

Thcf benefits to the whole CAtircA lire,—

3. Manifestation of his wiU: " He made known his ways," &c.

All these spring from the four attributes mentioned below,— ^

1. " He is mercifiil," pin*l fachum, bearing a paterlutl sifiection to his intelligent creatures, especially to those who fear him.

2. "-Gracious," Jon cAttnntm, the Giver of -grace and farour; for he who has a fatherly heart will gtoSj. • 3. ••^Slow to anger/' D^flK ^IH erech 'oppayvn^ long in nostrils, not hasty; not apt 4o be angry,.

4. " Plenteotis in mercy," ibn yv rob chesed, ntultipiying kindness.^ Giires abundantly firom. his own bimnty, not according to Oar mirit, '

The eflfects of jll these are, — ^ 1. Beicatise he is merciful^ "He will not always ihide." ' -

9; Because he is gracious: " He deals not with us after frttt sin."

3. Because he is slow to anger: " He will not keep* his anger for ever."

4. Because he is plenteous in mercies:-ll\9 mercies surpass our sins as much as heaven surpasses the earth.

5. Because he is like a father: He "pities his children;" considers their frame, and makes all the allowance that justice mingled with mercy cart nmke.

6. And as he SsriglUeous — true, and faithful in performing his covenant, lus mercy is everlasting to those that fe^r him.

But let i|^ remeinbered who they are that have a right to eipM such blessings; —.1. "Those who fear him.".

2. " Those who keep his covenant."

Sv " Those who remember his commandments, itnd do them."

That he 'is aUe to do all that he has pi'omised, the psalmist marks his dominion:-^

' I, It is not circuxnscribdd: " His thsone is in heaven.*' ■, •

2. It takes in all places and all nations. For " his kingdom ruleth^yer all;'^ he is King of kings, and Lord of lordiil.

. HI. The conclusion. F^ these benefits lie invites.*11 ereatures^ praise the Lord.- ' 1. The arrets J whom he describes, — 1. From their escsUence: " Ye that excel in strength." 2t From their obedience: " Ye that do his commandment^" 3. From their readiness and cheerfulness in it: " Ye that hearken to the voice of his words," — ^who are ever reidy, at the slightest, intimation, to perform his wiU.

. 3. He invites all ^e creatiures of Go^ t6 praise hinr, whether animate or inanimate: "All creatures, in ail places of his dominion." T!his e^nds throoghont im« mensityi. For this there ih the strongest reason — he made is^— rules oy^ aU — •* is iq all places" with aH — preserves 9l[-r-nuwes all. ^.

A.^ To show that her who calls upon others will not be backward himself to praise God; as.he began,.so he concludes, with "Bless the Lord, O my sOul!" Thus- he had the high praises o( God continually inhb mouth. ' • '. *

And thutt finishes this most excellent and inimitable Psalm. The old Psalter concludes thus:'. "31ystes to

Lorde al his werks in ilk stede of his Lordsehip: blisse my sanle to Lorde. When men well lyf^ al thair •werks blysses God. Fra biyssyng we cum. forth to Uyssyngs, gawe agayne, and tharein dwell we."

The more we praise God, the mbse oce{Mion we shaD see to praise him, and the moie- spiritually ihinded we shall become: Praise proceeds from gratitude; gratitude from a sense of obligation; and -both praise and gratitude wiU be ia proportion to the weight of that obligation; and the weight wiU.be in proportion to the sense we have of God's great ^goodness and our own unworthiness. As the reader's heart maybe in.a heavenly fmme, I shall help him to express his feelings by the following inimitable verses, which express the snhstance of the preceding Psahn: —

From all that dwell below the skies •. Let the Creator's praise arisd!.. •

Let the Redeemer's, grace be sung In every labd, by. every tongue!

Eternal are thy mercies, Lord f

Eternal truth attends thy word V

Thy praise shall ^ound from shore to shore.

Till sun shall rise and set no more.

Praise Gon,. from whoni all blessings flow! Praise Hiif)) all creatures here below! Praise Him above, ye heavenly host! Praise Fathxr, SoV) and Holt Ghost!

The nk^esty and power of Ood fMnifesttd m the creation of the heavens and the atmosph^, 1^3 \.of^h4 earth and sea, 4~9l; of the sptings, fountains^ phd-rivers, 10-13; rfvegetMes and. trees, 14-18; oftM sun and moon, 19; of tlay and flight, and their uses, ^0— 93; of the riches of the earth, 24; of the sedi its inhabitants, and'its uses, 26, 26;,of God's general providence m providing food for aU kifids of aasi* mah, S7-31; of earthquakes ani-volcanoes, 33. Qod is jpraised for hismajeity, and the ihstruction'whict ius works afford, 33v 34. Sinners shall he destroyed, Zbi-

O Lord my G^, thou art veiy great; ^ thou art clothed with ^ honour and majesty.

This Ps&Im. has no titfe either in. the fiefarei^ or Ctuildee.; but.it is.attributed to DaTid by the Viiigate» Septnagint, iEthiopic, Arabic, andt Syriac. It has tfaie following title in the.Septuagint, as i^ ftaniis in the Complutensian Polyglot: HfaXfjie; r^J AaviJ d«'s; t«2( row xotffi-ou <f\)<fra(fsu)^' " A Psalm of David coqceriiing the formation of the world." The Syriac says it is ** A Psalm of David when he went with the priests to adpre the Lord before the ark." It*seem/i a continuation of the preceding PsaUi^;.and it is.written as a part prit in nine of Kenpicott^s and De Rbssi^s lilSS.. Jt 18 properly a poem on the works of Grod in the citBation aild gpvernment of the world; and spme have cotisidered it a sort of epitome of the history of the creation, as given j|n the book of Genesis. '

Verse 1. Q Lord my Qod,'ihfiu art veHf great] l*he 'Vforks of God, which are the^ subject of this Psalm, particdarly show the grandeur and majesty, of God. The atrongest proofs of the being of God, for common anderstandiogs, are derived from the worlcs of creation, their magnitude, variety, number, economy, and use. And a proper consideration of those wofJLS presents. a greater* number of the attributes of the Divine natare than we can learn from any other source* Revelation alone is superior.

Verse 2." Who coverest thyself with light] Light, insuperable splendour, is the robe of the Divine Majesty. Light and ^rc aTe generally the accompaniments of the Supreme Being, when he manifests his presence to his creatiires. He apposed thns to Abraham when he made a covenant with him. Gen. xv. 17; and to Moses when he appointed him to bring the people out of Egypt, Exo<l. iii. ^; and when (le gave him his law on Sinai, Exod. xix. 18. Moses calls (rod a consuming Jire, Deut. iv. 24. When dhrist i^ transfigured on the mount, his face shone like the sitn, and his garment was white as the light, Matt. xvii. 3. And when, the Lord manifests himself to the prophets, he is sQways surrounded with Jire, and the most brilliant light.

Bishop Zowth has some fine remarks on the imagery and metaphors of this Psalm. The.exordium, says he, is peculiarly magnificent, wherein the noajesty of God is described,' so far as we can investigate and comprehend it, from the -admirable constaruction of nature ',' ufi which pass^e, as it was for the most part necessary to use trani^tjltious iiMgss, the sacred poet has prii»^ oipally applied those which ^o^ld be esteemed by tbtf Hebrews the most elevated, and worthy such an argament; for they all, as it seems fo me, are taken front the tabernacle. We will give these j>assage6 r^rbaBy/ vniix a short illuatiation:«-^

Hie original, J^BTdS, is frequently ofted when speaking^ of the clothing m dres\ of the priests.

A manifest symbol of the Divine Presence ^ ^e lighi conspicuous in the holiest is pointed out under the samcT idea; and from this single^«xample a simile is educed to express the inetfable glory of Ood generally an<l nniv'ersally. ' -,

* The wont n;rn*, rendered here curtain, is that whicfa.denotes the curtains or uncovering of the whole taber^ nacier. This may also be an allusion to those curtains or awnings, stretched over an area, under which com«.panics sit at weddings^ feasts, religious festivals, cu' riously painted under, to give them the i^pearance of' the visible heavens in the night-season.

\[*he sacred writer expresses the wonderful nature, of the air aptly, and regularly eonstmcted, from various anitf flux elements, into one continued and stable seriesjr by a metaphor drawn from the singokt^barmation of the tabernacle, which, consisting of manyfnd different parts, and easily reparable when tJiere tvas need, waS kept together by S perpetual juncture and contign^iod of them all together. The poet goes on: —

6 ^ Who ^ laid the foundations of the.earth, tAa^'it should not be removed for ever. 6 "Thou coveredst it with the deep a^ with

■ He had.first expressed ah 'image of the Divine Majesty, sach as it resided in the holy of holies, discernible by a certain investiture of the most splendid light;. he now denotes the same from that light of itself Whldi the Divine Macjesty eiduhited* wl^n it moved together with the 'aik, sitting on a circomambient ^loiid, and* ekrried on high through the.iliz. 'That seat of the IMvjne -Presence is eyen called hy the sacred historiahs, as its proper name, ns^ncn)iammercabahj thi.Chariot^

The elements are described as prompt a,pd exfiedite to perform the Divine commands, like angels or ministersjBcrving in the tabernacle; the fiebrew word rnnero mesharetluuv bebg a word most common in -the sacred ministrstions.

^ This image Bishop Lowth thinks evidently taken from the tabernacle^ which was so laid upon its foundations 'that nothing could move it, and the di8])ensattbii to which it was attached, till the end pilr^sed by * the secrercounsel of God was accomplished: and thus the earth is established, till the end of its creation shall be fuUy answered; and then it and its works shall be burnt up. On the above ground, the stability of -the ^ sanctuary and the stability of the earth are sometimes iMitioitod in the same words.

Vdrse 6. Thou coveredst it with the deep] This seems to be spoken in allusion to the creation of the earth, when it was without form and void, and darkness was upon ttke face of the de^p, and the waters invested the whole, till God separated ihe dry land. from them; thus forming the seas and the terraqueous globe. ThiT'Poet Ovid has nearly the same fdea: —

Densior his tellus, elementaque grandia traxit, Et pressa est gravitate sua; circumfiuus humor.Ultima possedit, solidumque coercuit orbem.

Earth sinks beneath, s^d draws a numerous throngs Of ponderous, thick, unwieldy seeds along: About her coasts unruly waters roar; ^ And, rising on a ridge, insult the shore. Drvden.

8 • They p go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys Unto ^ the place which thou' hast founded for them-, 9 ' Thou hast, set a bound that they may

• Verse T. At thy rebuke they fled] When God sepip rated the waters which were above^ ihe firmament from those betow^ and cainsed tiie' dry land to appear^ He commanded the separation to take place; and the waters, as if Instinct with life, hastened to obey.,. At the voice ef thy thunder]. k is very Hkdj God employed the electric fluid as ah agent in this separation. • •." '

' Verse 8. They go up by: the mountains; they go down by the valleys] Taking the words as they stand hdibf'^sprJngs seem to be what &re intended. Bat it is difficult to conceive how the water coold ascend, through the fissures of mountains,.to their tops, and then. come down their sides so as to'fbrm rivulets to Water' the valleys. Most probably all the springs in DKiantaans and hills are formed from waters which fall on their tops in the form of rain, orfromclonds tet, piassing over them, are arrested,' and precipitate thdr contents, which, sinking down, are stopped by some soljd strata, till, foroiiig their way at some^apertnre at their' sidesv.they form springs and fountains'. PbesiUy, however,* vapours and exhalations are ^deiMood; thjese by evaporation ascend to the tops of mcrantains, whei^ they are condensed and precipitated. Thus (he vapours ascend, and then cojne down to the valleys, forming fountains and rivulets ip.those places which the providence of God has allotted tbem; that is,* continuous valleys^ with such a -degree of tncUnation as determines their waters to run in th&t direction till they reach another river, or fall into the ocean.

Some have thought there is a reference.to the breaking up of the fountains of the great deip,9i the time of the flood;' while the protrusion of the waters woold raise'the circumambient crust, so as to form mountains, the other- parts, falling in t0 fill up the'Vacuuiro occabioned by the waters which were thrown up^from the central zbyas, would constitute valleys. •

*< He shades the woods, tbe valleys he restrains With rocky mountains, and extends the plains."

Verse ^i Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass] And what is this bound? Theflua and reflux of the sea, occasioned by the sola)- and lunar attraction, the rotation of the earth on it9 owi^ axis, and the

Cyri, not again to cover the earth. • cir. uinum 10 ^ Jie se^oeth the spings P^^, into the valleys,.ti;AicA « run aiQong the hiUs.. v,,

1 1 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses "" quench their thirst. * 12 fiy them shall the fowls, of the heaven have their habitation, which ^ sing an^ong the branches..13 'He watereth the hills from his cham-

gfwritation of the waters to the centre ofihe earth. And what is the cause of all these! - The will and energy of God. Thus the sea is prevented horn drowning the earth equally where there zxeflat chores as where the sea seems hemmed in by huge ihoimdr of land and mountains. The o^ove, not M««e, are the haui^ which it cannot passy so that they cannot turp pgain to cover the earth. c.

Yerse 10. He sendeth the springs into the palleys] Hvaporation is guided and regulated by Dirine Providence. The sun has a certain poi^rer to raise a certain portion of vapours from a given space. €k>d has apportioned the aqueous to the terrene surface^ and the Mar attraction to both. There is just as much apte-, emf surface as affords a. sufficiency of vapours to be xmised by the solar attraction to water the earthy surface.' Experiments have been instituted which- prove. Uuit, it requires a given - space of aqueous surface to provide vapours, for a given space of terrene surface; and the proportion appears ordinarily., to be seventeen ^ef footer to three of earth; and thiff is the proportion tha( the aqueous bears.to the terrene surface of the ^obe. See Ray's three Physico-theologiclh IHscoiurses.

. Verse 1 1. The wild asses quench their thirst.] The KiD Jfere, onager or wild, ass, differs in nothing ^m the titme ass, only it has not a broken spirit, and is eooaequently more lively and. active. It is so yery swift that no horse except the Arab b^rb can overtake ilL It is a gregarious animal, and they go in troops to feed and to drink. It is very.timid, or rather jealous of its liberty, and therefore retires deep into, the desert: 3ret even there the provideqce of God regards it; firings are provided, and it has the instinct to find them out.

Verse 12. By them shall thfi fowls 4>f the heaven have their habitation] All fowls love verdure, and have their residence where they can find wood and water.

Verse li. He cause th the grass to grow for the catife] Doth God care for oxen? Yes, and there ia not a beast of the field that deee not share his merciful regards.

And herb for the service of man] Plants, esculent iierbe, and^nutritive grain in general; and thus he brings

14 •He causeth the grass to ^iifr^S^ grow for the cattle, and herU for p^'^. the service of mao '- that he ma^ bring forth '* food out of the earth;. '.

15 And "^ wine that maketh gfad the heart of man, and ^ oil to make his /ace to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. > -

^ 16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon', * which he hath planted;

forth food (pn^ leehem, bread) out of the^ earth. In the germination and.growth of a grain of wheat there ib Si i«ofusion of mirtusles^ God takes pare of maiit and of an those animals which, are so necessary to tha convenience and comfprt of man.

Verse 15. And wine} Wine, in moderate qu3atity« has a wondrous tendency to revive and invigorate the human being. Ardent spirits ei^ilarate^ but they eos haust the strenjgth; and every dose leaves man the worse. Unadulterated wine, on the contrary, exhilarates and invigorates; it makes him cheerful, -and provides for the continuance of that cbeerfiilness b]^ strengthening the muscles, and bracing the nerves'. This is its use..Those who •^continue idrinking till wiiie inflames them, abuse this mercy of God.

OU^ to make his face to shine] That is, to anoint the body; and particularly those parts most exposed to the sun.and weather. This is of ^high imp6r|ance in all arid lands and sultry, climates. By it the, pores arb kept open, and perspiration maintained.

i^retuf, which strengtheneth nunCs heart.] In hunger not only the strength is prostrated, but the natural courage is also abated.' Hunger has no enterprise, i^ emulfUioir, nor courage. But when, in such circum'* stances a little bread is received into the stomach, even before concoction can haye time to prepare it for nutriment, the- strength is restored, and die spirits re^ -vived. This is a surprising efifect; and it has not yet beea satis&ctorijy accounted for.

Three of the choicest and most important articles of Ufe are here mentioned: win c, for tha fl[||iport of the Tital and intellectual spirits; bread, fiir the knp^ port of the nervous and muscular system; and oil, as a seasoner of food, and for those unctions so necessary ^r the maintenance of health. Where wine, oil^ and fyread can be had in sufficient quantities, there animal food] ardent spirits, and. all high-seasoned ali^ ments, may be well dispensed with. Heavy taSces oa these necessaries of life are taxes on life, itself; and infallibly lead to adulteration of the articles themselves; especially wine and oil, which, in countries where they are highly taxed, are no longer to!» found pure.

Verse 16. The trees of the Lord are full of sapj \Va«f' yisbeu, " are saturated."

The cedars of Lebanon] God's providence not only extends to men and catHe, hut also to the trees of }j^e ftdfi

18 The high hills are a refiige for the wild goats; omJ the rocks for 'the qonies. •

1 9 'He appointed the moon for seasons: the. sun ^ knoweth his going down. -

20 * Tdou makest darkness, and it i9 nighty wheireui ^ all the beasts of the forests do creep forth... '-

' field and fofost.* Many of thesb aie not only sustained, but pUmted by his providence. Wh6 ever j>lanted th9 fieed^ of the cedars of Lebanon, or of the. thousands- of ^¥Dods and forests on th^. globe? God himself sowed IhosO seeds, and they -have sprung np and flourished vnthout the'care of man.' ■ *

Verse 17. Where the hirds fkake theirnests} pnDV Uippofim signifies swailmtSf eporrawSf and small bird^ Vi general; here opposed to the m^DM ohasidah or stark. Perha^M the heron may be understood^ whioh'is said to be the first of aU birds to build her nest, and she builds it on the very highest trees. The general meaning is, that God haB pipvided shelter and support for the greats ^st and smallest birds; they are all objects, of his provi- 4entiai regard.

Verse 18. The high hills are a refuge} Tlie bazreo lops 0^ the highest hiUs, and the craggy ateipt precipices 4)f the most stupendous rocks, are not without ^eir uses: they affbi^ protection, refoge, and food, for creatures whose di^Ositions and habits are^ suited 1»> |o such" places \ and thbs no part of the creation is useless. The oreature^ who are their inhabitants are necessary links in the great chain of animated beings, and show the wisdom and prqyidence of God. • -.

For a description of the con^y, see Lev. xi. 5. The hp"* yad, translated: here the toild goat, is na doubt a iBreature of the stag or deer Jond; the ibwr ehanunsj antdope^iie, verse 10. He aqspoifJt'ed the moon for seasons] The hedlhens. thought Uiat the sun and moon were gods, ^nd won^ped them as such. The psalmist shows, 1. That they are creatures dependent on God fbr their being and continuanee; and, S|. That they were made for the use Of man. See what has been said on these luminaries in the not^jon Gen. |. '. Verse.30. Thou makest darkness] It i» not the design of God that there should be either constant darkness or constant light. That man may tumour, he gives him, by means of the sun, the light of the day,;, and that he may rest from his labour, and get his ^strength recruited, he jfives him night, and comparative darkness. And as it would not be convenient fbr man and the wild beasts of the forest to collect their food at the same Ume, he has given the night to tl^em

work and to his labour- until the evening.

24 '^ O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thoil made them all: ihe earth is full of thy ridh^s..

.29 jSois'this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumeiuble^ both smaB and great bea^s. * '.

26 There go the. ships: there is that ® leviathan, whom thou hast i^ made to play thereiq.

as the proper time to procure their prey, and the day to rest in. When- man labours, tbit rest; when luii i'ests, rwEY labffur.

• Verse 9^1. 7%« young lions roaf ajter their ffrey] It is said of the liqnj that his roaring is so terriUe as to astonish and qiiite unnerve the beast which he pusues; so that,^ough fleeter than himis^li', it falls down and becomes sn easy pr^y. '\.

' Verse 23. The sun ariseth] The dawn of day is the warning for man to ariiie and betake himself to his work; and. is the warning to them to retire to their -dens.:

Verse 84, O Lord, how manifold are thy works] fn this xerse there are three propositions: U The worici 4)f the Lord are multitudinous and varied. 2. They are so constructed as io aiipw the most consummite wisdom in their desigh, and in the end for which they are.formed.. Sv'They are all' God^ fropertf, and should be used only in reference to the end fof 'whiph'^ they were- created. All ahuse vid waste of God*s creatures are spoil and robbery on the property of the Creator. On this verse Mr. Ray has published an exeellent work, entitled, *<The Wisdom of God in the Creation," which the reader will do well, not onl^ to consult, but carefully to read over and study.

Verse 95. This great and wide sea] The^ original is very emphatic': un" 3mi h)iy DTI. HT zek haiyam gadol urechab yadayim, " Tliis very sea, great and extensive of.hands." Its waters, like afrns, encompassing all the terrene pa]Ks of the globe. J suppose the^psahnist was l^ithiq sight pf the Mediterranean-wheii he wrote these words. ' •

Verse 26. There go the ships] By means of iiavigation countries the most remote are connected, and ail the inhibitants of the eartl^ become known to each other. He appears at this time to have seen the ships under saO.

That. levia^?ian] This may m^n the whale, or any of the large marine animals. The Septuagini and Vulgate call it dragon. Sometimes the crocodile is intended by- the original word.

To play therein.] Dreadful and -tempestuous as the sea may appear, and uncontrollable in its billows and surges, it is onlj^ the field of spo7't, die play-ground, th^ bowling-grein to those huge marine monsters.

cir. annam. meat, ui due Beason. P^"°^ 28 That thou givest ihem, they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled \ridi good.

^29^ Thou hidest Ay face, tliey. are troubled: ' thou takest away their breath, they die,, and letfim to their dust. —

31. The glory of the Lord * shall endure for eTCr: the Lord ^ shall rejoice in his worksJ

38 ^ I will sing unto the Lonp as long as I Uve: I wi\l sing praise to my God whije'l h&ve my being.

34 Mymeditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.'

35 Let ^ the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. • Btes9 thou the Lord, O n)y soul.. Praise ye the Lord.. / - • •

y^se 27. These wait all upon thee] The innamerable/ry of the smaller aquatic aaimaLs, as weU as wkaleAj dolphins, porpoises, and sharks, all have their meat from God. He has in his gxaciojBS provideoce foxnished that sort of food • which \b, suitable to. all. And this provision is various; doI o&ly for efiery k^td 9f fiah does God provide food, -hut a different kind 9^ aliment for each in ' its different periods of grt>ufth. HjBre are displayed the goodness and infinitely yaried" pfovidence of God: ^ Hq giveth them their meat in. doe season.^'

Verse 28. Th&t thou givest them they gather] All eteatofea are -formed with such* and euch digestive tiigaos, and the food proper for them is provided. JOnfiidtely varied as^iure living creatures in their habits sad internal ecfonomy, so are the aliments which.Ood has caused theai>, the ecrrth, and th^ trol^j^ to' produce.

Thou openest thine hamf] An allusion to the act of •ettttering grain among fowls.

Verse 39. Thou hidest thy face] If thou bring dearth or famine on the land, contagion ii^ the air, or ady destruction on the provision made by' the waters, tlien beasts, fowl, and fish die, and are dissolved.

^ Verse 30. iThou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created] |1K"»D"' yibbareun, " They are created again^" * And thou renewest the face of the earth,] Do not theae words plainly imply a resurrection of the bodieswhic& have.died, been dissolved, or turned to dust t And is pot the t)rute creation principally intended hero? Is. it not on this account it is said, ver. 3:1, •* the -glory of the Lord shall endure for ever, (obljrS Uolami)" to be manifest in those ^tme^ which zie'secret, when Jehovah himself shall rejoice in his works,; when the brute creation shall be delivered from the bondage of its corruption T See the notes oa Rom. Tiii 19^-23..

Verse ^2. He looketh on the earth] Even the look of God terrifies all createjd nature! "

He toucheth the hills] So easy is it for God to burn op ther earth and the works thereof,. that even his touch kindles. the mountains into flames.!. See Etna^ Vesuvius, Slrom^oli, &c.; these sure ignited by the touch of God. How majestic ure these figures!

The renewal of the earth, and re-creation of de- ceased- animals, shall take place w^en he shall shake terribly the heaven9 and th6 earth; when.thdy sliall be wrapped together as a scroll, and the earth and it« woris b^ dissolved, that is, after the general convulsion and conflagration of the world.

Verse 33. / wiU *ing unto ^he Lord] The psalmist, exulting in the glorious prospect of the renovation of all things, breaks -out in triumphant anticipation of tho great event, and says, I. will ^ing unto the Lord ^^HD bechtdyai, with my lives, the Ufe that I now have,,.and the Itfe that I shall have, hereafter. • ' / will sing praise to my God] ni^3 heodi, " in my eternity;^ my going on, my endless progression. * Wha^ astenii^hg i4eas 1 ' But then, "how shall this gre^ work be brought about?. and how shal) the new earth b^ inhabited' with tighteou3 spirits only \ The answer is.

Verse 35. Let the. sinners hje consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked he no more,] ^ Or, He shall cooQume the wicked and ungodly, till nom6re of them be found. Then the wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the nations that fcnrget God. No wonder, with thesfs prdspects before his eyes, he cries out, ^ Bless Jehovah, O my soiil! Hallelujah!" All ye that h§ar of these things,,&/«^j the Lord also.

The scope of this Psalm is the saxne with that of ^e former, 1. ^., to excite*them to praise God inconsidera^ tion of his benefits; btit yet on a different ground. Jn the former, for tha benefits.of grace confen^d upon his -Church; in this, for the giflts of nature bestowed in general upon aill. Those flow^ immediately from hit qaercy"; these, fron^ his power, wisdom, ind goodness, and depend upon his providence, and are manifest in the creation, governance, and preservation of all things. The creature then is the subject of this Psalm, relative to which we have a long but very methodical narration.. *, •

II. The exhortation urged by the inspection of the fabric, the beauty, order, and government of the world,

JLnaiysis of ike me

hundred and^finirtk Psdbu

1. To his own soul, to praise God i " Bless ihe Lord, O my soul;'^. which was the conclusion of the feimer Psalm.

8. To his God: ** Q I|Ord my God,** whom he describes to be great and glorious. That he may set forth his majesty and glory, borrowing his figure froiai the person of some great king, presenting himself yery glorious to his people in his robes, in his payilion, witK ^ glittering canopy extended -over his throne; solnelimes in his chariot, di:awn by the swiftest horses, with - his nobles, ministers, and servants, waiting on his pleasure^ -.

In this way he. describes the tnajesty of God in the ^orks of the first and second day; fhr by that order he proeeeds in setting fjoqrth God*s works, that in which fhey were made.

I. His robe is the light, the work of the first dinr, which -is the purest, the most illustriotts and cheerral of all God-s creatures. With this " he is clothed ais with a garment,'' for he is light, John i. 1; and he' dwells in that inaccessible light that no man hath 4wen, por can see, 1 Tioi. vi. IQ.'

,2. His pavilion stretched round about him is the lieavens, the work of the second day. These are as ^e hangings and curtains of his vhainber of presence,)>y his fiat and power -stretched out as we now see jhenv; ^ He stretched qot the honvens as a curtain.^

, 3. His palace built in a most mirjiculons manner. The beams a^re laid, not as usual on a solid body, but' ftpon that which is most fluent: '* He lays t^ beams pf his chambers in the waters.** In Gen. i. 7 we read pf the ^ waters above the firmament,''* which were a part pf the second day's work; and o^ these the prophet ifurely speaks.

4. His chariot, the clouds: ^ Who makes ihe plouds hia chariot" Upon these he Tides in a mOst wonderful n^anner, in all places he pleases; y^hioh are |iow in this place, smd then instantly feinoved to another.

5. The horses that diaw it, the toindsj alipedesjva the poets feigned the horseij who drew the' chariot of the sun. The psalmist intends to show that by thepower of €H>d they are brought upon the face of heaven, and removed at his pleasure.

6. His attendante, angels: << He maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fite." No creature of greater quickness and agility than a j^'nV, no dement more active than^e. These blessed spirits he sends forth as he pleases, tq defend his servants; ind'ss a flame of fire to consume anil bum.up his enemieil: in

.-^flkich appears his might and majesty.

II. Next, the prophet descends from the heavens, ahd 0^ of the air, and speaks of die work of the third day; arid begins with the eart^, that element which is best known to lis, in which he shows the pow;er and wisdom of God mdny ways.

li In the foundation of it upon its centre. Stttoge it is that so great and heavy a body should remain in the midst of it and not sink; this. the prophet attributes to the power and providence of God: " Who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed forever." • "

9. Aikotfaer part di his.providence about the earth was^ that the water, being the lighter element, covered the ear^, and thus. rendered it nsdess. Gjod, either ' by taking some parts^ofthe upper superficies out of the earfh in Some places, mide 11 more hollow, and putting them in others,^ made it convex; 4ir. in other words, by raising scnne and depressing othen, made room for the sea; this was the work of God's word, ind the prophet speadcs. of this in (he tfiree following versus.

4. He shows in what condition the eartk was in the first creation; it w^ coveredy and oi^er wat«r: ^ Thou ooveredst it wi^ the deep as with a garment ^ the waters stood above the niountains."^

9. He shows that the earth hecame uncovered by the voice, power, and fiat of God: ** Let the wateis be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land ^pear.". This the psalmist here' caDs the rehuke of God, the voice of thunder; for God no sooner spake than it was done: " At thy rebuke they fled, at the voice of thy thunder they were afirsud,'^

3. And so therd became a new world. The^iaoin* tains and valleys take the lower place; the mists and vapours ^ up by the mountains,'

4. Thei39 they inclose them: "Thou hast set a bound," &c. Yet not violently kept there, but restrained by ah ordinary faw of nature j it being patund for water to descend to the Igwer placeii..

in. He next apeaks of the rivers and springs; and •shows God's wonderful providence over them i-*- •

1. "He sendeth the springs," the streams of watMv from the hills *f into the valleys.".

3. "The end of this infinitely declares God's providence; it is for thfe sustenance of beajsts and fowlii, or they must. perish fi>r thirst': "The springs and rivers give driidc to every beast of the '^Id, the wfld asses," Ac.

rV. ^nt the springs and riveij; cannot water all parts of the earth; therefore, his wisdom devised the rain ahd the clouds.

^< He watereth the hills from his chambers." The effect of which isr-:

1. In genera], the' satisfaction of the earth, which, being thirs^y^ g^pes'for rain: " Tl^ eMi is satisfied with the fruit of thy -^orks."

5. In particular, the effect^ and consequences of the dewsl' 1. Grass for the cattle: ** He canaeththe grass to grow fbr the cattle." 9. Herbsfor meat ai^ medicine: "And herbs for the service of man." 9. Al! kinds of food^ "And that he may bring forth food." 4. " And wirie that makes glad the heiCrt of mftn," lawfully used. 5. " And ofl to make his face to sl^ine." Oil supples and strengthens t}ie nervesi and keeps the flesh smooth, fresh; and youthful. 6. "And bread which strengtheneth man's heart;" fbr it IB always the chief and necessary part of. the service.

V. Neither hath the Qod of providence forgotten tq provide us trees for shade, buOding^ and fuel, as well as to yield us fruit..

1. " The trees of the T>)Td also." His trees, because he first made them, and now causes them to^^row. " They are full of sap," which ia another effect of thfl rain. ^.

9. " Where the birds make their nests.'*

.AnafyBis of ihe

. preceding -Psalm.

3. Oth€r creaUqres are not forgotteii; not the goats nor the conies: " For the high: hill^'^ Sic^-

The psalmist next mentions the work of the fourtli day; thiB creation oif Xhfi two great lominapes, the snn and (h? moon. •' /

1. *' God appointed the moon for certain seasons." 9. *' And the. sun knowcth his going down." And in this division of time, the providence of CM i»*admirable: ^Thon makest darlcness, and it is

1. For the good of the heasis, even the. wiideqt, that the]? be sustained.. I. The night come^v snd the beasts of the forest creep forth: *' The young lions," ftc. 9. Again, the day "Sppears: ** Theu son wseth, and they appear not," Sic.

. 2. For the good of msn: ^ (fan goeth forth to. his labour." Labour he must all day, and theniake rest: *• Labour till the evening."

Upon the consideration of all whicK the prophet exclaims: '* O God, how manifold are thy. works! in wisdom hast ^ou made them all: 'the earth is fuH of thy riches."

1. " How manifold are thy works." How great, how -excellent, how worthy of pnuse! such that 1 cahoot ^press them.

* 1^. *Mn wisdom hast thou made them all." ^ NoChing. i^done by chance or rashness, but with great reason; neither too much nor too little. ' ' ^,. a. " All the earth is full of thy riclies." ^No place, ■o part of it, but thy works prbelaim that tlrtm art a 'bountiful and most wise CreaXor; an open handed and Hberal bestower of riches.'- -,. /

The prophet ha» hitherto set forth God's wisdom in Ids works; in the ^heavens, air, the earthy and now he.descendlB into the sea..1. In the amplitude of it: It is the ggreat and wide

9. In the abundance of the fish,' the work of the fifth day: " Wherein are things creeping innumerable," ' 3. In the useful art of navigation,, which God taoght >y Noah's irk: " There go the ships."

4. Ju the wHale: " There is that leviathan.". • And the conservation of the creature now follows;

firpm Verse 37 to 30; where their depeodenee is shown i^on the providence of God,< both for their meat, life, and eontinuation of their species. *1. "These all wait upon thee;" they expect till [ givest. » *

9. <' That thou mayeit^lfa them their meat." Meat fit' for every season of the year, and ^hen they want it.

3. ^ That (turn givest them they gaiber." That, and no more nor less: and his power and blessing must co-operate' with tiie aoeoftd causes:

4. This he fajther explains: *' Thou openest thine hand, and t£ey are filled with gopd^'^.

Farther, life aAd death f^^ in thy poWex. Death, and the forerunner, of it; tiouble.

1., ** Thott hidest diy face;'^ seemed displeased, and withdrawest help and asristance; ^ and they are troubled."-

And life also.

9. And by this /' thou renewest the &ce of the earth r" which, if not done, the whole woiild fail in an age..

Now,' after this long- catalogue of the cr^latures, and God's power, wisdom, and goodness mademosttnanifest^ in the crea^on, governance, and sostentation of them, he descends, ver. 39.

. - 1. " Let the glory of the "Lord," 4us glory, for hia wisdom, and goodness and power, "enduiB for ever." Hallowed be his name! '

9. "The Lord shall rejoicOin^ works%" Lrt man be so^carefol to use th^m well, that by the abuse he grieve not Grod, and cause him to r^>ent that he made them; ■ \ ' ^.

3. Which if it hap^n, it would be remembered that ^ he is a* God, and able to punish the ungratefol.person: "For if he look^th on the earth'with a threatening^ brqw, it trembleth."

He makes.theft afi open profofsion of his own

,i, "I 'will sing unto the Lord as long as I live," &c

9. And this, he would do with delight: " My meditation of him^ shall be sweet," &c.

3. And he concludes with An imprecation against nnthankiul and negligent persons, who regard not the works; of God, and will m>t see his gbry, power, wisdom, and goodness, in his creating, goveniing, and sustaining this universe-; and ther^ece irvry little praise him. Against these he prays that Higr may'be confounded or -converted. •; * '•

J^M Bshortatian to prmse Ood for his wondrous works, 1-5; his goodness to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacobs 6-16; to Joseph in Egypt, 17-29; to Israel in Egypt, 93-95; to Moses in the' same land, 26; ihe plagues sent on the Egyptians, 27-36; the deliverance of the IsraMes out £f.Egypt, 37, 38; Jotf^ he Ifupported them in tho wilderhess, 39^3; and brought them into Canaan^ 44, 46.:

3 Gloiy ye in his holy name; let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord...

4 Seek Uie Lord, and his strength: ^ seek his face evermore. '.

6 • Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of.his mouth;_.

6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children 'of Jacob his chosen. •

7 He is the Loanour God: -^ his judgments are in all the earth. v **

8 He hath » remembered his covenant for

•We find jBeyeral ▼erses of this Psalm in 1 Ohron. xri., horn which it is evident that David was the author of the prioqipai part, of it: btlt it. was. probably enlarged * and sung at. the re8to]:atioD of. the people. from the Babylonish captivity. The- halUlujfih which terininates the preceding Psalm* is madp the title of this by the Vulgate, Septuagint, JEthiopU, add Arabic: bu^^it has no title either in the Hebrew or Chal4ee.. The Syriac considers it n paraphrase on the worids, "^Fear not, Jacob, to go down into EgypI; and teach us spiritually not to fear when we are obliged t^ oonteqd with devils; for God is our shield, and. will fight for us»!'- The Psalm is a history pf Crod-is dealings with.Abvaham and his postevity, tiU their s^ttlen^nt in- the promiised land.

Verse 1. O give thanAs] He had l^en meditating on 6od*s ^n^us dealings with' their fatherrs; and h» calls upon hhnself and alt others tt> magnify Grod*ibr his mercies.

V6rse 9. Talk ye of all his %b<j(ndrous works.], vnvh^} niphleothaiv, '* of his miracles." Who have so miiuny of these to boast of as Christians I QhrisUanity id a tissue.of miracles; and ev6ry part* of the work of grace on the soul is a miracle. Oenuine Christian converts may talk of miracl^ from morning to night; and they should talk of them, and recommend to others their miracleworking God and Saviour.

.Verse 3. Glory ye in his holy name] Show the name Jesu9: exult in it—prai8e it. His name was called Je-. svs; because he cam&to save hia people from their sins.

Let the heart of them rejoice] Thftt is, the heart of those shall rejoice who seek the Lord: therefore it is added, —

'Verse 4. Seek the Lord] Worship the one only Supreme Being, as the only and all-sufficient good for the soul of man. ^ *

10.And confirmed the sanie unto Jacob for a law^ and to Israel /<:>r£in everlasting covenant:

1 1 Saying, * Unto thee will I give tlie lahd of Canaan, ^ the lot of your inheritance:

13 When they went irom oiie nation to ano-. ther, from 6nd kingdom to another people;

14 '^ He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, • he reproveef kings for their sakes;

16 Moreover i' he called for a famine upon

And his'' strength] Man is weak; and needa connexion with the strong God, that he may he enabled to avoid evi) and do g^od..

' Seek his face] ' Reooncillation io him. Lhe not •without a senSQ of his, favour..... Hvirmore,] Xet this be thy ohief^ business, tn and abover all thy seeking, seek this:

Verse 5. RfmemberMs mtirveUous works] Keep up cbnununion with thy Maker, that thou mayest neither forget him nor hitf works.

The judgments of his mouth] 'VVhatsoever he hasspoken concerning. good or evil. His comnumdq. pie^ mises^^threatenings; and particularly what he has foretold, and what he has done.. ', Verse 6. Oytf seed of Abraham] Ve Jews.«8pecia]ly, who have beepUie peculiar objects of the pivine fitvour.

Verse 7. Jle is the Lord our God] H6 is Jehovah, the self-existent and* eternal God. He is ovr God\ he is our portion; has taken us for his j>eople, and makes us happy In his love.

The following)ibstract of the history of the laoraelitet presents but few difficulties. S^e^the jiotes on^Wm botviii. •

Verse 13. But a few men]. MHien all appesQrandes were agamst them, and 'nothing but the arm of-Grod could have brought them through their difficulties, and given them a settlement in the promised land.

Verse 13.. When they went from one nation to4n^ other] From several circumstaneef in the history of the travels of the antient Hebrews, we find that' the wilderness through which they then passed was well peopled*

.Verse 16. Touch not'mine anointed] It is supp^Mfod that the patriarchs are here intended; but the whole people of Israel may be meant llicy were a kingdom of priests and kings unto God; and prophets, priests, and kings were alway» anointed,

18 * Whose feet they hurt with fetters: ' he was laid in iron: ' '

19 Until the time 'that his word c^xae: ' the woid of the Lord triod hhn.

.20 " The king sent and loosed him; evenikit ruler of the people^ and^Iet him go free.

21' He made him lord of his hou^e, and ruler of all his ^ substance v

-22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

9^ And-** he increased his people.greatly; aiid made them stronger than their enemies.

25 ^ He turned their heart to hate his peor pie, to deal subtilly with his servants..

27 ^ They showed » his signs aipbng.them, ^ and wonders in. the land of Ham.

28 * He sent darkness, and made it dark; and ^ they rebelled noi against his wotd..

Verse 19. Until tU time that his ward came] This appears io r$fer to the comi^etion of Jooeph's interpret tation of the dreams of the chief hmler and U^er.

The 'word of the Lord tried him.] This seems to ' s^er to the interpretation 6i Pharaoh's, dreams, called rWT r»-lDK i^rath Yehovah, " the 6racle pf the Lord," because sent by him to Pharaoh. See Gen. ^."26, and. Jfennicotl in loco, - ^

' Verse 25. He turned their heOtt] ^^Theiihe^atwiLB tamed. ^^ So the Syriac and' Arabic. Af^r befiriending t^ Hebrews on Joseph's account, tO/ whom they Werie 90 deeply indebted, finding them to multiply greatly in the land, and at last to become more ppweriul than the Egyptians themselves, they turned their attention. to $he adoption of measures, in order to prevent the He-, brews from possessing themselves of tfie government of the whole land; tliey curtailed them of their privilege, and endeavoured tp depress them by all possible fneans, and by a variety of legal enactments. This appears to be the sole meaning of the phrase,," He tnioed their heart f or, " their heart was turned."

- 31 '^ He spake, and there canore divers sorts of flieSy ondAice in all their coasts.

3d } He smote their vines also and their ig-J trees; and brake the trees of 'dieir/ coasts..

35 And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and'devoured-4he fruit Of their ground.

36. "^He smote also all the first-bom. in their land, * the chief of all their strength.

37 ^ He brought them forth also with silver and ^d: and there td<zs not one feeble person among their tribes.^

38 "^ Eg^t was glad when they departed: for the fear of them feH upon them.

39 ^"^ He spread a cloud for a Ooveririg; and fire to give light in ^the night.

40 '* Tfie people asked, and he brought quails^' and T satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

to the jddgues yrith which God afflicted the Egyptiajts. See the plaees in the margin, and the notes on tiieifi.*

Verse 28. They rebelled nof against his word.]^ Instead of no kVi velo marur^^thej rebeUed,*' some. think that a Jff shin has 'been.Iqst from before Uie word, and that it should be read l^V kSi velo-shamruy " they did not observe or keep hi? word." Qr ihfi words may be spoken of Moses and Aaron; they received the comm^dmen^ of God, and they did not rebel against it. • They believed what he had spoken, and acted according ifi his orders. It could not 1)0. spoken of the Egyjh' tiani; for thay Rebelled agiinst his words through the whole oourse of the transactions.

Verse 33. He smote Iheir vines also, and their Jig'- trees] This iff not mentioned in Exodus; but we have had it before, Psalm Ixxviii. 47.

Verse 41. He opened the Yock, and the waters gushed out] See the note on Exod. xvii. 6, to which I can now add, that a piece of this rock, broken off by the hand of my nephew,' E. ^. A. Clarke, in the oourse of the present year >[ 1822,] now lies before me. It i» fine granite; and So well distinguished m a granite, H^ '55? ■ gilshed 01^; they ran in* the,dry places 'like a river. 42 Fprheremembered^hisholy promise, cmd Abraham his servant. 43 And he brought ferth his people with joy, and his chosen with.^gladness;. ^ the f^ldt'spar^ the mica, aifdUiQ ^^^lor/c, of whiph grar nite is CMDppsed, appear reiy distinctly. It is woryiy of temark, that, as granite is 8up{>08e<r, ia the'-nnwt accredited systems of geology, to be the very iom of the. earth, the original roek, and all other sitbetanees to be superimpositions upon it, and as the decom)>ositions of the feldt-spar produce pure yegetable earth, this- rock should be used for.this purpose, and should be an em-^ blem of Jesus Christ, the Creator and 'Redeemer of the^ human race; an4 that it should sigrnify him who is the, basis of all things; who upholds all by the word of his power; without whom nottuilg is stable, nothing fruitful; from whom alone the water of life proceeds; and in whose name only is salvation.. An4 thai roek (in the wilderness) was Christ! and it is the only remaining emblem of him in creation...

Verse 45. That they might vbserve his stat%Ues] That they jnight be properly instructed* and properly disciplined. This is the end proposed, by Divine revelation: men are to be made wise unto salvation, and then to' be brought under the yoke of obedience. He wha is not* conformed to Grod*s word 'shall not enter into Christ's kingdom. -.

Analysis of tbb IJuiq>RKD and TiwrrR Psalm;

The title of. this Psahals HaUelujah, as are also the two foUoirang; an4 the first fifteen verses of it 9^&te sung. «t the bringing up o^ the ark by Dagfid, I Cfaron.xvi.'

The scope of it is the same with the two former psalms, ** that we praise God;*' but yet with this difference: in the hundred and third, that he be jinagnified '* for his benefits of redeinption;'* in the hundred and fourth, "for the manifestation of his power and providence in creating, governing, and sustaining the worid;" but in this, ** for the gracious covenant he made with Abraham, and,- in him, with his whole Church.^. K An exhortation to praise God, ver. 1-7. '

H. An enumeration of the favours God bestowed to persuade to it^ from ver. 7 to the end. * ^

I! He that loves his prince truly desires also that >[>ther8 should magnify and honour him. This was Dar Tid's case; he was a tiue lover of his God, and set a J Forget them not,

tine -estimate upon him.. He honoured and praised Ood himself, and diesired that others should do the s&me outwardly and inwardly, with heart and' tongue: he thought all too little, and therefore he repeats the duty often, and shows* how it is to be "done. •

1. By giving of thanks: ** O give thanks unto the Lord.". "

2. By invocation: ** Call upon his name:"

3. By communication: **Make known his dee^s among the people."

44. ^-And'-gaTe.them t&e lands of the heathen: and they inherited th(^ laboigr of the people;.

4r5 ^ That they might observe his. statutes, and keep his laws, the Lord.

6. By frequent colloqnies of his works: ** Talk ye of all his wondrous works.'*

•He invites all outwardly to exhibit praise; snd imw he advises that it be done inwardly also, with exultation and gladness of heart.

' l'. *< Let the heart of them rejoice.** The Holy Spirit does not sing but out of a joyous heart.

3. "Let -them seek the Lord.*' For, indeed, they only who seek him rejoice heartily:. Uiey can acquiesce in God,* in his promises of grace, pardon, and acceptance; which is so necessary to every one, who Will make his approaches to. the throne of grace, and have his praise rendered acceptable, that the prophet senonsly urges the duty: —

(1) "Seek the Lord.** Cast all impiety and wickedliess away: -seek him.

(d) " Seek his strength.** Which at that time was the ark, it being tlm symbol of his presence. Seek hisa.in his Church.

(4) " Eviermore seek him.** Now and then is too little; it must be our- constant work. «- Ilavingf thds spoken of the heart,^he comes to the likemory: " Remember, fdrget not." And the things to be remembered are, 1. His marvellous woris.. 9. His wonders, 3. His jitdgments; which three are the substance 4>f this who]e>}*salm, and are explained according to their heads. They ought to he particulariy remembered by the Israelites, the pk)sterity of Abraham,, and the.sons of Jacob.

" liemember. his marvellous works,** &c. ** O ye seed of Abraham, his servant; ye^ children of 5aeob, his. chosen*^* Hcmember that he made Abraham and chose Jacob to be^his servants,- gave yon laws, and sHowed you with what ritl^s he would be worshipped.

tl. - But at the seventh verse the prophet begins his narration;. and tells the Israelites, and in them us, what marvellous works-God had done for his people, all which he presses as arguments to his people that they should praise, honour, worship, and obey him. There is much reason for it.

1. " He is the Lord dur God.** The.same argument prefaces the commandments: ** I am the Lord thy God.**

3% <* His judgments are in all the earth.*' He is a mighty Monarch, and has aH nature under his empire.*

And if neither of these move, yet there is another, drawn from his many and -infinite flours: *f On jou

. Digitized by

Andlynr of the

Israelites,^ and all mankind as well; for on tlle'faH of nan his covenant was,' That the s^d of the woman, shauid'h-uUedhe 'serpetU^s Head; and this he forgot not i ^'^ He hath remembered his corenant,'' &c.

'l. "Which covenant he made with Abraham," and confirmed it by sacrifice, Oen. XT. 13.

4. The form of the corenant recited: ** Saying, Fnto thee.will I give,'' Ste.; for it was divided to the tribes by lots;

Which covenant God tnade with their 'fath6^' and ^em, not oat of any merit that coiil J be in them; Dent, ▼iii. 4, &, 6; Josh, xxiv, 2. *.

9. And they ^ strangers" in the land. * For the patriarchs only sojoQiiied in Canaan, ". -. S: Yea, *' When they went Amra one nation to another,'^&c.

1. "He suifered no man to do them wrong,*' Ac.; no', noC the greatest, for "lie reproved even kings for tlwdr Bakes. ''

9. For he gave the>^omman4: " Tonch' not mine anointed,"— ^A^roAom, Isaac^ and Jacobs who were anointed with the Holy Ghost, though not with material ofl; "and do my prophets no hann,"'i# cr., the same fiien, for they were prophetar. Ahrdham foresaw the bondage of his seed in Egypt; Isaac foretold what <dKrald befall Esau's posterity, (G^cfn. xxvii.; and/dbo^*, by a prophetical spirit, gave his blessings, Gen. xlix. Of Abraham it is expressly said, " He is a prophet, and he shall prsy for thee," Gen. xx. 7.

Two of these mercies, the covenant ani protection, aife already named; and now he goes on and insists npon the third, verses 16— 23> for which there was infinite matter of praise for the wonderful wisdom of God, that brought out of the greatest evils (he chiefest goodj by preserving their lives in Egypt in the midst of faniney Geo. xxxvii.

1^ " Moreover he called for a famine npon the land." It came not by chance^

a, " He brake the whole staff of bread," the upholder of onr lives; and this he brake when he drdered that there sboold be no ploughing, sowiiig, nor harvest. Gen. xlv.

3. By this famine the patriarchs were to suffer; yef God provided for their subsistence: "He sent a man, (a wise man,) before them," — Joseph. - 4.' This Joseph was sold by the envy and cruelty of lus brethren.

And now he comes, 1. To his base usage. 9. His ajSvancement.

1, By the false accusation of Potiphar's wife, who tamed her base love into hatred) " His feet were hurt with fetters of iron."

9. " He was laid in iron;" or, as some read, " the iron entered into his sod." Grief that lie should lie nnder foul aspersions.

There he lay: " Until the time that his M^ord came." So long then h^ ]ay in prison, and no longer.

1. " Until fhe time that bit word came:" hh word — God's word for his deliverance. Or; as olhers:." Jo- *s6ph's wqrd to the batler."

• d. " The word of the Lprd tried T|im." God tried his patience; or the interpretation of the dreams proved that by the Lord be spake.

And now foHows his honour and advancement-:-^

9. '< £ven the ruler of the pec^e fet him go'firee.*' A work fit for a -king.

And his advancement follows: —

1. "He made him lord of his house."

The king's end iA it; not onlyin the fiuxKkie to prb^ vide bread for their bodies, but for the good of their ' •onls.

1. To punish the rebellious: "T6 land bis prineea at his pleasure."

^. To' instreet his. eouliselkvs in wisdom^ aits, aojiences, reli^on. It is supposed t^ all the learning in which the Egyptians -exceed* was first.taught them by Joseph: • '

' The fourth benefit Yellows of God towards his people, ver. 99-37, which wa^ their nourishment, increase in Egypt, their oppression, and deHTerance.

9. He proceeds with their strange increase there ^ for it is wondeffol Chat in so short a time they should grow into such a multitude, Exod. i. t. At their going oat they were six hundred thousand, 'besides children, Exod. xii. 37 '. "And he increased* his peo{^e greatly, andmadd them stronger than their enemies," Exod. i. 9.

This was the occasion of their afflictions, bondage, and sufferings; for, — ^

' 1. " He turned the Egyptians' hearts to hate his people." He suffered them to be turned: " For there arose -another kin^,".&e.

"^Tp set over them -taskmasters," &c.; Exod. i. 1 1. But when they saw*" that the more they afilicted them, the mofe they, multiplied^" Ver. 19; then they ordered " that all the male children should be strangled by the mid wives," ver. "16. And When even this would not do, then Pharaoh charged **-that every son that waji bom," ^&c., ver. 92. Thus aubtilly they dealt; but it did not. hinder their multiplication. There ih na counsef against

Now God, seeidg their afiiiction, and hearing their groans, sent them a deliverer. »

1. "He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen." ^

9," They showed his sigiw among them." 1. To the Israelites; 9. "And- wonders in the land of Ham." ■ The catalogue follows: —

9. *''He turned their waters into Wdod," &c.

3. " The land brought forth frogs," &c.

4. "He spake, and there came jii vers sorts of iiies," &c.

fxqd is praised for,

6. "He' smote the vines also, and the fig-trees,*V&c.

8. " He smot^ also the first-born of their land,** &e. These were the i/^onders that God wrought in

Egypt by the hand, of Moses and ^arim' for the deliverance of his people, which the* psalmist briefly records that they might remembier — ^be than|cful, and praise t)lm.

The fifth benefit that the psalmist rdcordis is, that G6d brought not out his people beggars, J[>u^ enriched them with the spoils of Egypt. -..

1. ** He brought them forth with silver and gold."' For they were sent by Grod to ask jewels: i^d when the Jews pretend by th^ir example to rob more honest inen than theniselyes, when they Isan show an immediate coQUooission from God to do it, I "am fiOjaXetA that.Ihey borrow, and never^restorjs; ' rob and spoil whtim they please. Till this be shown, thQy are thieves and sacrilegious persons.

* 3. Parthef, they left the Egyptians afiKcted with some stiange disease, of whlcji their^ first4x)ni had died j yet they were healthy: "There was not onfe, no, not one feeble person, among them.'* -.

The terror of them wa^ so great, and the fear of death ao ' instant, that, i^egarding not their jewels, they urged them to be gone — they thrust them out; vhich the prophet ei^iesses: >* Egypt was glad when they departed." •

- The sixth betfsfit foUowa after their departure,,wh|ch was " the 'pillar of cloud by day, aad of fire by.night. }ie spread a cloud for a. covering^,*' &e.; which most interpret as if the doi^d kepi bfifthe heat of the sun; and therefore the, prophet says*: " He spread it for a covering.^'.

The seventh beftefit was guaUs and vumiui.*—

. 8. ^*And satisfied them with the'br^ ofhe^ ven^-i^-fiumna, because it was made of the sweet dear, descending 'from the air, and therefore called heavenly bread; the earth having nothing to do vnth its pnK duction'... •

The eighth benefit was the water oat of the* xoek, " fer they travelled through a dry v^ildeiness."

1. " Hs opened the rock." He. did not turn therock into water, but opened a passage 'lor the fountain he had made.. _

. 2. Far. the waters' gushed out upon the passage being made for them.

Now" here he inserts the reason both of the former and latter benefits^ which was. his covenant and promise to Abraham: " For he remembered lus hxAj Ac. - -

The ninth benefit was, he hrought them > not only out of. Egypt; but that too in 6ach a manner that they, had reason to exult and triumph, Exod. xv.: "-And he brought forth his people with joy," &c.. A^d to make the number oif his. benefits comjrfete< he adds a tenth, which was the. exact fulfilling of his promise> his introduction of them into Canaanj ejection of the inhabitants, and the donation of.their inheritances to his people,. which they afterwards possessed^

"He gave them the lands of the heathen," &e. The houses they built not, the vines they planted not, (he lands they tilled not, fell.tp them. ',

For which benefits God requires ' no more than their obedience i this he requires as his due and tii- ' bute. He bestowed so many benefits on them tot one end only: " That they might observe his statutes, an^ keep his laws." Hallelujah! " Let your light so. shine before men, that they nuiy glorify your Father who is m heavea.".

GW is fraiseifor his manifold mercies, 1-3.' The prophet prays for himself 4, 6. A reeapitulaium of tit history of the Hebrew people-: of God's'^mercies toward -them, and their rebellions, 6-»-39. The judgments and afflictions which, their transgressions brought Upon them, 40— 43« God's mercy to them notwithstanding their transgressions, AZ-^^^ ^ He prays for their restoration, 4t7, AS.

pRAlSE • ye the Lord. ^ O « give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his metcy endurethfor ever.

NOTES ON PSALM CVl. As a part of the preceding Tsalm is found iii 1 Chron. xvi., so the first and two last verses of this are found in the same place, (ver. 34-36,) and 3^t it is supposed by eminent, commentators to be a prayer of the captives in Babylon, who acknowledge the mercies of God, confess their own ^ins, and those of their forefathers, and implore the Lord to gather them from amtaig the heathen, and, restore them to 568.

^.^Who can. litter the mighty acts of the LottD? who can show forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are they that keep judgments am2 he that • doeth righteousness ^t 'all times.

their own country. In none of the Versions except the Syriac has it any title, except fiALLELUJAH,. Praise ye the Lord, the word with which the. original commences. The Syrwc gives us a sort of table of its contents; or rather shows us the subjects to 'M'hich it may be applied, and the uses we should make of it. Afler stating that it has no title, it says, ** It calls upon men to observe the Divine precieptS) and teaches us that the more the Jews transgressed, t^e more we

^' 5* That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the glactne^sof thy natioQ, that I may glory with thine inheritsmce.

6 * We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

-fllii>ald f)eac. That we should Jiot talk together in the Church, nor ever contend- with our brethren cm any account; and especially ^hen we assist mAhib celebnUion of the Divine mystel^es and -in prayer: and that when we sin we ahoold.'liep^if ^ Ah, this yr ▼evj goodj^ butx it would be diijicnlt to find these subjects in" the Psalm, or.any thing on which they ciould be rationally founded. Bat it shows ns that - the 'Scripttties were very easily accommodated, to paxticolar uses, not originally intended: 'and hence aroee much of the practice of spiritualizing. and aUegOrrizing; which, to say the least of it, lias been of na use to the Church of Chribt:. '

Verse 1. Praise ye the Lord] 'This, which is a aort of iitle^ is wanting in sereral MSS., and ih the 8yjiac Version.

O give (hanks unto the Lord; for lie \B'gooi[\ Ye.who live by his bounty should praise his mercy. QfA Is the good Being, and of all kinds of good he is the Aiithor and Dispenser. ThaX the term God amiing our Anglo-Saxon ancestors, expressed both the Su'- inreme Being and-^oo<^ or goodness, is evident from the Anglo-Saxon version of this clause: an««ccan ^jahcne popvon sot>, jrojibon on pojiuloa milpheopi.,njjj^ *• Confess Lord. for that God, {or good,) ibr that on world mildheartness^ his.'^ Which the old Ptaltef thus translates and p'araphrases: —

Par. Schryfes synes, and louyngs to God, for he is gnde of kynde, that nane do hot aske his meroy; for it lastes to the worlds ende in wriches whame it com-' fortes and dely vers: and the blysfulhede that is gyfen thrugh mercy is endles.' That is: —

Confess your sins, and give praise to God,* for he is good in his nature to all that ask his mercy; for it' lasts lo the world's end in comforting and ^delivering the 'wretched: and the blessedness that is given through mercy is endless.

Verse 3. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord f] His acts are all acts of migkt; and particu> llrly those in behalf of his followers. •

Verse 3. Blessed are they, that keep judgment, ei|d he that doeth righteousness at all times.] How aear -do the Anglo-Saxon, the ancient Scottish Version, and the present translatipn, approach to each other!

Anglo-Saxon, eaT>i5 >a»e headloats txmi, -^ t>o> juhr. pijnjfye on elceiie rR>e. " Blessed they that holdeth doofil, and doth righteousness in ilkere tide."

Anglo- Scottish. Blisful tha that kepes dome, 'and dose rightwisnes in ilk tyme.

Those are truly blessed, of happy, whoAa. h^ols

7 Our fathers understood not. diy wonders in,£gypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; ^ but provoked: him at Shb sea, fiven at the Red Sei.

6 Nevertheless he saved them ^ for his name^i sake, ^ that he might mak6 his mighty power to be known.. 9 " Hq rebuked the Red. Sea also, tod it was are devoted ' to Goji an^ who live.in- the habit of obedience. Those, the general tenor of whose life is not confdnned to the will of God, ha:ve. no true. happiness. *' '

. Verse 4. jRimemher me] This and the following clauses are read in the plural by several MSS.:. Remember us-'-zAjii/ WE may rejoiccf^-that wb may £ldry,' Ac-.K' tnd^^uB all the 'Versions except, the Chaldee; and this is more agreeably to' the dpntext.

Vente 5j That I may see the good of thy. chosen] That I may enjoy the good, for so -the word see b understood among the Hebrews.. "Blessed are the pure in. heart, fot they shall see God,*^ — ^they shall enjoy him, possess his favour, and be madelike unto him.

Verse 6. We have sirined] Here the tsonfession begins; what preceded was only the introduction, to what follows: Our forefathers sinned, apd. suffered; we, like- them, have sinned, and do suffer^

Veirse 7. Our fathers understood not] They dfd not' regard!the operation^f 'God^s hands;* and therefore they understood neither his deigns nor thek owninterest. ■

At the sea, even at the Red ^a.] Some of the rabbins suppose that the repetition of the words point out two faults of the Israelites at the Red Sea. 1. They murmured ' against Mo^es for bringing them out of Egypt, when they saw the sea before then), and Pharaoh behind them. 2. ''When the wate^B were divided, they were afraid to enter in, le6t they should stickpinthe mud which appeared at the bottom. The word seems to be added 4>y ^ay of iBxplanation, and perhaps may ref(^ to the above: they provoked D* hy dl yam,- "at the sea;" «J1D D'3 beyam suph, "m the sea iStfpA," er Red Sea/ They pitovoked him at it and in it. * • •

Verse 8. He saved them for his" name'* s sake] \yr:h vyo lemaan shemo, " on account of his name;" to manifest his own power, goodness, and perfections. There was Nothing which he could draw from them as a reason why he should save them; therefore!he drew the reason from himself. There is a singular' gloss in the old- Psalter on this verSe: ** Whan thai cam oute of ^T

E^ypt to the rede Se, whare thai were closied on a syde with a hylle that na man mygt passe: on another side was the rede See: behynde tham was men'^f Eg3rpt foluand; and for this thai be^an to gruch, forgetand Gods mygt: hot than he safed tham, depertand the Se in twelfe, to ilk kynde of Isiel a passage.*' It

seems as if this author thought there were twehe passages made through the Red Sea, thai, each tribe should have a passage to itself.

10 And he « saved them from the hand (ff him that hated tAem, and redeemed' them from the* hand of the enemy. ' '

11 ' And the wat^i:? covered their enemies:.there was not one of them left. ^

14 *But ™ lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. '1& ^And he gave them their request; but ^ sent leanness into dieir soul. • - "

IB. fThey envied Moses alsa.in^the camp, and Aaron, the saint of the Lord.

17 7 The earth opened and swallowed up DatHan, and covered the company of Abirain.

1 8 * And a fijre was kindled in their company; ibe flame burned up the wicked.

19 ' They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the. molten image.

20 Thus **they changed their glory "into the •flilnilitude- of an ox that eateth grass.

21 They « forgat God their SavibUr, wtich

tioDs of the pealmist evtry iking h4» Hfe^.The seakb an animated ^etn^, behaves iteelf-proudly, is fehuked, and retires in confusion.

Verse 12. Then believed Viey] Jnst while the mitacle was before tfieir eyes.

Verse 13. They so<m forgat his ioorks] Three days ifterwards, at' the waters of Marah, Exod. xv. 34.

They waittd not for his courksel] They were impatient, and vfoM not wait |ill God shatild in his own '% way fulfil his own design!.-

Verse 16; Sent leanness] They despised the mannai and called it light, tha^ is, innutritive, bread. God gate fleih as they desired^ but gave no blessing with it; and iti cohseqaence they did not fatten^ but. grew lean upon it. ^ Their souls also suffered want.

22 Wondrous^ works in ^the land of Ham, a»d terrible tiling by the Red Sea.

23 ^ Therefore he 'said that he would destroy them, had not Moses.his chosen ^ stood befoi^ him in the bireach, to turn away bis*Wrath, \oaX he should.destroy fAem. '

25 ^ But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.

26 ^Therefore he "lifted up his hdidd agaiiisl them* to overthrow them in the wilderoess: "

27 '^ To ® overthrdw their seed also among ' ihe nations, and ta 'Matter them in the lands.

28 i^They joined themselves also unto Baal peor, and,ate the sacrifices' of. the dead«

29 Thus they provoked- him- to.anger with their inrventicitis: and the plague brake in upon •them. •;..

30 ^Then stood up Phinebas, and etxecuted judgment: • and 90 the plague was stayed.

31 And that was counted unto him 'for righteousness unto all generations, fwr ever* more.. ^

32 ' They angered him also at the waieis of strife, ^so that it-went ill with Mosesfcnr their

ia, their Gred, who was their glory; aad tftey w<w-r shipped' an ox in his stead. See the.use St. Paul makes- of this,. Bom. i. S3; see also the note there« The. incorruptible God was thus serred by:iU the hea* then world.

Vecse S2.* Wondrous works in the land of ^^smj The plagaes inflicted on ti^e Egyptians,. £gypt it called the- Land of Ham or Cham, becaoae it waa peopled by Misraim the son of Cham,

Verse S3. Mdses his 'chosen]' Or elect; (Vdgal^ electus ^us; Septuaglnt, h sxXsxro^ ovrou;) the per^ son that he had appointed for this work. It wonlif be very difficult to show, that this word in my part of the Old Testameht refers^ to. the eternal state ef any man, much less to the doctrine of uneondUionai election and reprobation.

Verse 28. They joined themselves also unto iRaal" peor] The Vulgate, Septuagint, and others, have Belphegor; the Syriac and Arabic, the idol Phegbr,^ar Pkaaur i the y ain in the word being pronounced as gh.

Ate the sacrifices of the dead} D'HO methim, of dead mei». Most %i the hei^hoB idefis were hmh, wbo

33 i^Bepause they prdvoked his spirit, so th&t he spake unad'nscdly with his lips.

34 ^ They did not destroy die nations ^ concerning whom the Lord commanded ihem:.

35 'But were mingled among die heathes^ and learned their works. -

37 Yea, * they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto ^devils. '.

. 38 And shed innocent blood, 'et;en^e blood of their sons and of tbeir daughters, wliom they sacrificed unto the idols' of Ganaan s and * the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus were they *'defiled*witb their own works,.and. * went, a whoring with their own iDTentions.

40 Therefore ^was the wrath of the Loed

bad been deified after their death;.iiiiuqr of.whom had beeh execFated daring ^heir life.

Verse 33. They provoked hU sprii] pOTI himru, honi n*^73 marahy to rebel: they brought it into « rebeUions state; he was soured* and irritated, and was otf his guard.

' was transported with anger. See the notes on Num. xx.

Verse 36. They served their idob]. Drr33f|r atsabheyhemy their labours or. griefs — ^idols, So called bec^se of the pains^ taken in forming thpm, the lahour iq wor- Mpping them, and the ^>f occasioned by the Dwine judgments against the people for the^ idolatry.

Verse 37; They sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils."] See the places referred to in the margin. That causing their sons and their dough-. ters to pass through the fire to Moloch did not always. mean ihey burnt them to death in the flames, is veiy probable. But all the heathen had human sacrifices; of this their history isfuU. ' IJnlo devifs, D^vh lashshedim, tp demons'. Devif is neyer in Scripture usod in the plural; there is but om devil, though there are H^mr. demons.

Verse 39. And went a whoring.] By fofnicationi tohoredom, and i^o^a/ry, the Scripture often expresses idolatry and idolatrous acts. I hatve giten the reasoni of this in oth^r placed. Besides being false to the true Grod, to ^hom they are represented, as betrothed and mdrriedf (and their KCts> bf iidlolat^ wete breaches c»f this solemn engagement,) the worship of idols -Was Ire^ently accompanie<L with iarious acts of impurity.

kindled against his people, insointicli thai he abhorred ^his own inheritance.

41 And ^ he gave thetn into the band of the heathen; and they thathated them^ed over thetn.

.42. Their enemies also oppressed then), and they verel>rought into subjection under their hand...

48 ''Many times did he deliver them; but they prpvoked him with their counsel, &nd were ^ brought low for their iniquity..

45 " And be remembered for them* his cove-' nant, and '^ repented ^'•according to the multi* tude of his mercies.

' The tfandatiotl iii the Anglo-Saxon is verj remark- ' aUe: ^ hipy eiili2e]««t>on, and they fomicdted. In Anglo'8axoru,.jjjKejiBigai&i^ Uifitei %a ignite; ^fienani to commit adultery. So pyjienhKijeiiT) is i. prostitute^ a whofe; and ^jten lisjtMiiivi b to go a whoring, td fornicate; ^ohMy frgm typ, or jTpem to fir^^ aiui lijsari, to lie, orkceejia, a glutton; — -one who ties with fire, wild is ignited by it, who is greedily intent npon the act by which he is inflamed. And do not the( words themiBeWes.'show that in formei times whore^^ do9Bi njrab pimished, as it is now, by a disease whictt produces the sensaHan of bumihg-in the unhappy pros-' titates, whetiier male or female, 1 Affd to this meaning the followin^^eems particol^ly to be appiicdble:

Verse 40. Therefore ufas ike Sorath of the Lqfd ^ndledl Opd kindled a fire in his judgments for those who by their flagitious iconduct had inflamed themselves with their idols, and the impure rittsmih which they were worshipped.

Verse 43. Jiany times did he_ deliver them] - l^eef the Book of Judges; ft -Is a history of the rebellions and deliverances of the Israelites. ^ • Verse 46» He made- them also to be pitied] TTiur was particularly thie asf -to the Babylonish captivity ^ f6r Cyrus g^e them their liberty; Darius fkyooiei them» and glianted them seVetal privileges; and Artaxerxes sent, back Ndiemiah, andlielped him to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. See the Books of jB^ra and Nehemish; tod see Ca/m«/.. • ^

Ver86^7. Save us, O Lotd—^-and gather us] iTiese words, says Calmety ure found in the hymn that ivas sung at the ceremony of bringing the ark to JhiifUhm^ i Chron. xvi.; but it is supposed they wttfi jtHded by 'Ezra or some other prophet: here they are in theii^ nataral place. The author of the Psalm begs the Lord v us from amcmg the heathen, fo give thank-s unto,tfay holy name, and to triumph in thy jo gather tli6 Israelites who were' dispersed through different <;ountries; for at th< dedication' of the second temple, under Neheniiah, (where it is •probable this Piiahxr, with the cvth and the cyiith, was sung,) there were very few Jews who had as yet returned from their captiyityi. Verse. 48. Blessed be the Lard Ggd qf Israel^ ' Here both gratitude and cortfidence are expressed'; gratitude for what God had already wrought, ^d confidence that he would &nish the great work of i))eir restoration.

' JFV-om everlastings to everlasting] njn dVij^H |0 thyyn min haolam vead haoldnh "(rom ihe hidden term to the hidden term,'' from the beginning of time to.the' end of time, from eternity and on to eternity. «.pnvo yojiulT) '3 on 'pO]talT>e, Anglo-Saxon, jftSi tvotlhe OltD Into Uioiplbe, old Psalter; which it paraphrases thus; Fra with outen beginning, & withouten endyug..

And iet aU^the people say. Amen.] ' L^t th^ people join in ihe prayer and in.the thanksgiving, that God may hear and answer. ' Anglo-Sasoni ^ Cfebe ealT pojc, beo hi« bco hic; ".Ana, quoth' all folk, be it, be it." Hallelujah — Praide ye Jehovah! ' Let his. name be eternally magnified 1 Amen...

This is the eiid of Oie fourth hooh of the Pjsalms. •

The. intention of the prophet in this Psalm is to express God's, long-suffering in bearuig with rebeUipus sinners, and yet in pardoning theo^upon the confessicm.of their sins, and tiuming to him; both which he ex-> emplifiea by a long narmtion of rsraePs rebeUions, repentancor and turning ta God, and God's dealing- with •them, which gave bin) just occasion to praise God,.and to pray for his Chur6h and people.. '

1/ An eidiortation to 'j^raise God, with the reasons iq general, ver. 1;. and who are fit to perform this <duty, ver. 2, 3. •

II. A petition and' prayer dhrected to God in his Vown person for the whole Church, and the end of.it,

III. A confession of sin, particularly of ^e Israelites', together with God's patience with them, and their repentance, ver. 6-46.

IV. His prayer that GcmJ would collect his Chureh out of all nati(fns, that they niight meet apd'pnuse him, ver. 47, 48. -

I. "Praise ye the Lord, 0 give thanks unto the JiOrd." To this the prophet invites, for two reasons: —

1. "Because he.is good." He is beforehand with us, and prevents.'men with many benefits.

A. " Because his mercy endures for ever."' It is everlasting, and far exceeds our sins and miseries; for after men -have- ofifended him, and deserve no mercyi' jot iie receives the penitent oflTenders. But who is.ftuffieient for these things? XVho is. fit to praise him, and set forth his mercies? "Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?" That is, the infinite bene-

fits exhibited to his people. Or, WJio can show forth all his, praise in presetying, pardoning, axid propa^p;ating his Church? •

•' They alone are happy men " who keep judgment, and do righteousness at all times."

\f They are happy in prosperity and adversity; they dwell in th^ house of God, under his protection.

'2. "They keep^ his judgments." Follow in their lives the strict ^es jof the Divine law, by whi^h they judge «11 their actions, and so keep faith and a good conscience. -.

•''3; "They dd righteousness at all times." 'They approve that wliich is right, true, ahd just; condemn, lute, and punish what is unjust ^ such are fit to praise God with their tongues, beescyse they praise him u.their lives.,*.

n. Afiet the prophet had invited men. to praise God, and showed who were fit to do it, he begins lus petition, which' he.proposes in his own person for the whole Church.

1. " Remember me." Me^ but not me alone, rather thy whole Church. -.By "what we suffer, thou hast seemed to forget thy covenant and promise; but now call it to mind again. • ~

2. Which t expect,.not for any desert of mine^ hut mefeelyfrbm' thy good- will: " Remember me with the filvour," &c.

3'. " 0 visit me.;" but not in wrath, for vuch « visi' tation there is; but in mercy and grace. '.;

4. "With thy salvation^" Save me at this time from my sins, and froni my present calamities. ' And ^^this end I desire thy favour, thy sajvatioo. ^ 1. " That! jnay. see the good of thy choeen^"- Be a p^taker lof and in their happiness.

2. " That I may rejoice iu the gladnesa of thy nation.". Partake of it., '.

But observe here the three, eminent titles ^ven to God's Church: —.

l.^They are a "chosen" people; jWhich is a glorious and gr^ipus title, and intimates favour.. 2. They are his "nation," iiis peculiar people

III. In the fpliowiiig part of the Psalm, from ver. 7 to 46, he makes uise of a new argument to mov6 God to mercy. jFId repfesents not ^ present copdition the people. of God are^ in, not their captivily, miseries, and afflictions, bul ingenuously confesses How they had oflTended God, and how justly they sofiTered.

1. " We have sinned with Qur fathers." Trodden in their^stepsv and filled up the measure of their, sins.

2. " We have conuhitted iniquity." Not only from infimflityi but choice.

3. "We have jdone wickedly." The intent and purpose in it was evil. » And by -theise three steps he exaggerates.the sin; the act, the frequency, the tntenii as every true eonfesiTionist to God ought never

Anafy^ of the

to exteimate, but to aggravale the offence ^^dnst

And Because he had mentioned their fiithers at laige, now he instances their rebellions ^ ***Oiir' faihe?s understood hot thy. wonders in B^gypt f that is, they laid tkeiQi not to heart.' ' •

'1. /^They remembered not the multitude of thy Meseies,*^ ^o, Wh^n they- saw Pharaoh78 army on one sidCj and -the sea on the other^ they grew heait- IcMS, diffident, and murmured.

- 8. This was their sin at that time; but God was then Merciful to them: *' Nevertheless he sared them-**

For which he assigns two reasona: —. • /

1. ^ For his name's sake." ^ To advance his glory and honour. ^

si. ** That he. might xnake his qighty ^wer to be known.'' Pharaoh and the Egypttanslnight have taken of it by the pli^fues. he had abeady brought L them.. ' \

Ih.the following versesr by a distribotion, he ahoVs the manner of their deliverance. * 1. By. God's. rebuke, and* drying up of the sea: ^ He rebuked the Red Sea also,'' &c»

%9. By the unheard-of way: *' He led them through the dejiths as throiigh the wilderness;" there was no' nKnre water there to> offend them thigi in the ^sands of ' Arabia.

' 3/By the consequenee of it: ^' And he saved them by ^e hand of him,". &c.

1. It extorted from them a confession that God was tnM in his promises: <* Then believed they his Woids."

5)i It ^excited them to praise him i ** They sang his iHfaise," Exod. xv. But these very men who were ibrced to confess his po^er and sing his praises forlhe overthrow of^Phataoh in the Red Sea, were oearcely depaited from those banks, when they, for want of a little bread and water, grew as impatient and distrust^ lul4M they were before.

1. They. made haste to forget: *<They soon. forgot;" which aggravates their sin. •. 9. They forgot his omnipotence, his providence. ' -J.." They waited not for hia counseL" With pafieiiee' they, expected not the end,' why God in his ynsn dom suffered them now io want, which was, to prove tbeii faith, hope, and love. •

4. And what they did at this time they did alsd. at others: *^For they luste.d exceedingly in. the *^ildemess."

Now God 3rielded to these desires of the people: **Ho gave them bread,. flesh, and water."

1. And he gave them their request, Exod. xvi. 13.

9. ''But he sent leanness into their souls.".. Which tf^tainly has.reference to the quails in Num. xi. 20 •nd 33, where the people ate, and died of the plague.

Another rebellion the prophet, now touches, which WW, when they rose up against the king and the priest.

1. ''They envied also Moses in the camp;" objecting tha^ he had usurped a power over themy and taken it upon his own head.

3. " And Aaron', the saint of the Lord." He whom Gpd. had chosen, anointed, and sanctified to the priest's office. •