Commentary on the Holy Bible

And will not repent'] Will n^ver change tlus purpose: it 'is perfectly without condition; and without contingency. Nothing is left here to the will of man or angel. Christ shall be incarnated, and the Gospel of his sal-'

, nttion shall be preached over, the whole earth. This k an irresistible decree of that God who loves mankind. Jlwu art a priest for ever] The word ]rO cohen. ' agbifies, not only a priest^ but also a prince; as, in the patriarchal times, most heads t)f families had and exercised both political and sacerdotal authority over all their descendants. Every priest had ti threefold office: L He'\vas an instructer of the family or tribe over

^^Hiidi he presided. ' 2. He offered sacrifices for the a^W'ttf the people, to reconcile them to God, and give tlfm ieeesB to his presence. 3. He was their media- fi^mA interceded for them. • So is Christ, the grand, iMTniversal Instructer, by his word and Spirit; the immib of God, who, by his sacrificial offering of himirif, takes away the sin of the world, and still continues to exhibit himself before the throne in his sacrificial character; and also the great Mediator between God

^ md man: and^n these characters he is a Prikst for ewer. He will instruct, apply the sacrificial offering, and intercede for man, till time shall be no more.

Afier the order ofMelchizedek.] For the elucidation of this point, the reader is requested to refer to the Botes on Gen. xiv. 18, 19, and to the observations at the en4<|^t^t chapter, where the subject, relative to. the pertmi^ name^ and office of this ancient king, is fully disci^^sed; and it will be neoessa;ry to read that note, &c., as if appended to this place.

MelcMzedek was king ofSalemj that is, hng of Je* rusaiem; tor Salem was its ancient name: but uhvf salem signifies ^aee, and pnsf isedek^ righteousness, - Christ is styled the Prirtte of peace f and he is the king that roloi in thie empire of righteonsness; and all peace and righteousness proceed firbm-him, Heb. xii^d* - He is priest after the order ofjdelchizedek — after his pattevi; in tiie same kind or manner of way in which this ancient king was priest. ^ \,

Caimet pro^rly observes that there were tkrte or^ ders • of priesthood. 1: That of royalty^ All a<icient kings being, in virtue of their office, priests also. This seems to h^ve been considered as the.no/ttro/ right of royalty, as it obtained in almost every nation of the.earih, from the beginning of the world down,tothe end of the Roman empire. 2'. That qf ibefir^t-bom. This right appertained naturally to Reubenraa the first-born in the family of Jacob. 3.. That of the Levites, instil tu{ed by God himself, aA4 taken irom Ifeuben because of his transgression. The Levitioal priesthood ended with the Jewish polity; and that also ot.the first-bom, whi^h had l»c«n. absorbed in it. ' This order, therefore, wae not peipetuU; it was intended to last only for a time. But Uiat of royalty is perpetual, though not now. in general use, because founded in what is called no* twral right, li is, therefore, according to this most ancient' oirder, that Christ is a Priest for ever. The Jdtigs of England as heade of the Churchy appointing * all bishops,. continue to assume, in a certain way, this original Jight.

Melohizedek ia, said to be*<* widiqat father, without mothelr, without, begimiing of days, or end of lif^.^' We have no account of his parents; nothing of his birth; nothing of hiis death. Christ, as to his Divine ^ nature,* is without father or mother, and without begixv- w ning of day»;' nor can he ha;re any.end. Other priests could hot continue by reason of death; but he is the- Eternal, he cannot die, and, therefore can have no successor: ^^ Be is a priest for eykb." Therefore, as Melchizedek was a priest and ^ king, and had no successor; so shall Christ be: of the increase and gvHvemment of his kingdom there shall he no end.

Melchizedek was priest of the Most High Qod; and consequently not of one people or nation, but of tl\e universe, Aaron was priest of one people, and for a timejonl^; Jcsvs-is priest of all mankind, and for ever., He taaf^sd death for every man; he is the King etemsd; he haai the keys of hell and of death. As God is the KLing aiid Governor of all human beings, Christ, being. the priest of the Most High God, must also be 'the priest for and over all whom this most high God made and goyeros; and therefore he is the priest, the atoning sacrifice, of the whole human race. In this the maiq ' similitude consists between, the order of Melchizedek and that of Christ, *

Verses. The Lord at thy right hanH Kere Venema thinks the Psalm speaks of David, A» Jesus is at the right hand of God, so he will be al thy l^fuid, giving thee all the> support and comfoit requisite.. "

of Abraham, Gen. sit. 1-16, (fbt.to this thore seems to-be an allusion,) where he smote four kmgst and filled $ke fits with the dead bodies of their (roops. That the ^ aUusion is to the above transaction seems the most.pioinble; because in the same chapter* where the defeat fif the four kings is mentioned, we have the aecount of MeUMzedek eomtttgr to meet Ahraham, wad receiying |he tenth of the spoils.

. Verse 6. HoshaU judge among iheMeMiken]J)vrid shall greatly extend his dominion, and laleoTei the JdumeansyMoahUesjPhUistines^fie.

fi[e shaU fiU-^wUh th€ dead hodies] He shaU fill pita — ^make heaps of slain; there -shall be an immense

He shall woin4 ike headsy He siudl so bring down ther power of all the neighbouring kings, ss to danse ^lem to acknowledge, him as their loi!l,'idid pay him iribute.. *

. Verse 7. He>skatl drink of the hrook in the way] He shall haye sore tilkVail, and \mf httle 'ease and re-' freshment: bat he shall q^U go on from oonquf^ring te conquer.

Therefore ^all he Itft up ihe head,] Or Ms h^. He shdl succeed in all his enterprises, and at last be peaceably, settle^ in his ample dominions, ^ iBut these terses, as well as the former, may be applied to our Lord. The fifVh Terse may be ]m address 4o JehoTsh: Adonai at thy right htmdj O Jphovah, fhail smite kings^-hnng down w* power^ hostile to Jiis empire, in ihe day of his wrath — when', after haying borne long, hd arises aiid -Brakes terribly the tillers of

Ver. 6. He shall judge, give laws, among the he^ then—^senA his Gospel to the whole Oentile worlds fie shall fill the fiel^ of battlo with the dead bodies of thfi slain, ^(Fho had -resisted Jiis empire, and would not have him to reign o?er iheuok.

He shall wound the heads over many countries* — ~ This must be spoken^ainst.some person possessing a very extensive sway. Perhaps Antichrist- is meant; he who- has so many countries onder his spiritual do^ rmnation. Christ shall destroynsvery person, and every thing, which opposes the universal spread ^of his own empire. He wfll be t^^ing, as well as a Priest for ever.

Ver 7. ffe shaU dfink of the hrook — he shall sufier sorely, and even die in ^e struggle: but in that death his enemies shall aH perish; and he shall lift up the head- — he shall rise again from the dead, possessing all power in heaven and earth, ascenfi tp the throne of giory, and reign till time shkll be no more. He must saffsr and die, in order to haye^the triumphs already mentioned..... ' ~

While all haive acknowledged that this Psalm^is of Ihe utmost importance, and ihat it speaks of Christ's ^priesthpod and viotories, it is smaaing how various the interpretations are which are giveti of different passi^s. ' I have •endeavoured to give the general sense in the preceding notes, and to explain all the part^sular expressions that have beeh thought most difficult: and by giving the various readings from the MSS., have left It to the learned reader to make farther improvements;

It has) however, long appeared to me that there is n key by which all the difficulties in the Psalm may be.unlocked. As this has not been suggested b? any other,

The hundred and tenth Psalm is a Was Soro, apd eveiy phrase «nd term in it is mujtabt. • 1. In die first place may be considered here die preclamaiian of the Divine purpose relative to the jscerdo^alr.prjophetie, and regal-officescfiheiAmD Jesus Christ: ^Jehovah smd unto my Lord^ Srr.xttov on

8. A grievous hattlSf,and consequent mctory awet the enemy, foretold: I wiij. uamm think nirKMiss tbb the banner shall be displayed, at the headofidfi Mremgth — hifl^ nnmerous and powerful forces,

4. Thft mscriplionig device, or motto on this ensign: " Rule thou m thk midst or thhik ■KRMiB8.'''Ver5 f •

6. The reginentalf or uniform in which they shall appear i'' **THfenEAVTiE6 pr holikess;'^ fcnp ''Tin hadrty kodesh, the splendid garments ofAoliness. The apparel showing ihe richness of ftie^King, and the worth and order of the soldiers; every man being determined to do his duty, and feeling •assured of conquest.\. The Lacedaemonian soldiers were clothed in icarlet^ and never went to battle without crowns snd-^vWsn^-iqion' their heada, being always sure of victory. Potter's Ant;, >.vol. ii., p. 66.

7. T^e numher of the troops: Thet shall re as THE DROPS OF PEW AT RREAK OF DAT ^ — innumermUef and this shall be in opnsequenee'piV yalduthecha,if' thy no/tvt/y— the manifestation of Jesus. Thou sbalt be. born, unto meni thet shall 'be born of thy Spirit, ver. 3. ■ A '.

B. The title o£ the commandtri "Thou art a PjiiEST,'' {TD coA^'a Priest' vblA a Prince, So was Agamemnon in Homer, and JEneas in Virgil, Bodi were princes / both were priests; and both were heroes,

9. The potpetviity ot thif office: " For ever;" 0*7>jrS leolam, fbr futurity — ^for all time — till the earth and the heavens are i^o mom,

10. The resolution o£ setting np such a Priest and King, and levying such an brsfy.* Accordih o to the ORDER OF Melobieeqek. The Commander, mtuter, and establishment of the corps sKall be aocording to the />2an of that ancient king' and priest; or, ' lating the words literally, p*l]r 'oSo '£1131 hp al i mdlkitsedek, all shall be -executed as I have speim to my righteous king; I have sworn, and will Mt change my purpose. All my purposes shall be fair filled. This "-speaking may refer to the purpose, ver. 1, confirmed by an oath, ver. 4.

11. Victory gained: Adonai at thy rioht ha9d hath transfixed (yno machats) kinos iir the day of ms WRATH, L e., of heUtle and victory. Jesus, the Almighty King and Conqueror, fights "knd gains his battles, while sitting at. the fight hand of the Mt^esty on high, ver. 6.

iS. FuUe religion^ supporting itself by the seetdar «nity under the name of true religi&n^ shaiU be destroyed^ HdS X^^ hj; BTKl yno machaU roih «/ erigU nihah; '^ He smites the he^ that is over an eztenciTe luid^ or country. The priegthood ihst is not- according to.the order of Melchizedek^hMii be destroyed; ^od tJl' government that is not according to him- who IB the eternal King and Priest, shall be brought d^wm •ad aOnihilaied. Who is- this great hkad.1 i\ua:Msurp^ ing power t this inUichristiiM authority / -Let.the italiaa archbishop answer, ver. 6. ' ^

14. Refreshment and^rei/, the Wts of th&Tietoriee which have been gained: '' Hi bralI/ muirK or

■M» HEAD.^' He and his vicforious army,- having deftiBted and pursued hid enemieis, and being 'qpent with fiaigue' and thirst, are refreshed by drinking from, a riTulet' providentiall]^ met with in iht wty. But |he root being now. complete and Qnal,

15. The emperor is proclaimed and Iriumphs: Ood' 1^ up the HEAD, — uncy roshf the Chief, the. CapjTAiir; as the word oflen means. JesUs, the. Captain of our s(Uvationj has a complete triumph; eternal peace and tranquiUity are established. The Messiah IB all in all — the last -eneiny. Heathy is destroyed. Jesus, having overcome, has sat down with the Father opoif his throne; and his soldiers, having also overeomei through the blood of the. Lamh,.seated with him on the same tlirone, are for ever with the Lord. They aee. him as he is; and eternally contemplate and enjoy hiB glory:—. ^. ^ -^

^ *^ Far from a world -of grief and sin, With God eternally shut in.*' '

This Psalm is short in appearance, but deep and eopiouB in mysteries. The subject, without doubt, is cSrist'; since both: St: Peter (Acts ii. 34) and St, Paul (Heb. i. 13) expound it of Christ; Rnd in Matt. vaL 44 Christ applies it ta himself.

In this Psahn Christ is described as a Priest and a King.

I. Christ^s kingdom, in the three first verses.

n. His priesthood, from the fourth to the seventh.

I. Xb reference to Us kingdom the prophet acquaints OB, 1. With his person; 2. With his power, and the Bcqjdsition of it; 3. The coqtinuance of i(; 4. The execution of it — First, Over his enemies; Secondly* Over his own people, which is the sum of 4he three first versee.,

1. The person who was to reign was Bavid^s Lord; lUB son according to the flesh, bMt his Lord as equal to God; Phil. ii. 6, 7. As made flesh, and* bom of a virgin, the son of David; but a? Immanuely the Lord of David, which the Jews not understandiog could hot reply to Christ's question, Matt, xxii 45.

@. As to his power, the Author of it was God;

<*The Lord'Baid to my Lord," d^o. Decreed it from everlasting. And again, <* The Seed of the woman," &c.

3. And of his ldogdom< He took posBetsion, wheii (he L<fid said unto him, *^ Sit thou on my right hand.^ Ciirist, as the Son of God^Vas evet at God^s right hand, equal ^ him* in might and majesty; but, as man, was exalted to honour, not before his glorious ascension. Acts ii. 34; Ephes. i. SO; PhO. ii.- 9.

'4. FoiLthe Continuanee df it. It is to be vntil, which notes, not a poitiofi of time, bel a perpetuity. '' Sa TILL I make,'' &e. Sit at God's right hand,that. ia^.in power and glory, till he sba^ sa^ to all the wicjeed, ^ Depart from' me," Maft. zrr., but not so as |o be then dethroned.* But' when once aH his enemies shall be made hia fo^tstbol, then he shall visibly mle, '* ^t-. ting at his Father's nright hand for evermore;** go oni to. reign, neither desist to propagate and enlarge thy kingdom, till aU men bow the knee to thy name, till all opponents be overthrown.

The beginning of tidy kingdom w48 in Zion: <^ The Lord shall send," &c.

And now the prophet tiomes to the execution of hiB ppwer: *' Rnle thou in the midst,^' &c. Converting all such as believe his Gospel, and confounding those who will. nq^ have him- to reign over them» Now these enemies are the moQt in number; foi* the Church, however greatly increased, in stiU surrounded by Turks, Jews, &o. Rule thou; be thou Ruler; go on, and set up thy standard universally; for behevers are easily dealt with; they loVe thy government..

1. " For ihy people shaU be willing." Not forced by compulsion; ** they shall flow together as watei,'* Isa« ii.. '

- 2. But not before thy grace has brought down their hearts > " In the day of thy power," that is, in the' days of thy solenkL assemblies, whei). the Gospel light shall be sent' forth, and the apoetlea.and messengers • go abroad to pi^eacfa thy truth.

' 3. The third quality of this good people is, ** that they be holy." Fpr soitfe read the worda thusi: " They shall oflfer freewill^flferings with a holy worship." Our. last translators point it, "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." Here they pause, and read on- thus: " In the beauty of holiness, from the womb of the morning-" The Vulgate, In fsplendoribns sanctorum, " In the * splendour of the saints," Q,nd stops there; but let tfie reading be aa It will, all expopitors are agreed that holiness must be the ornament of Christ's Church:-^—

4.. Which sanctity tl^ese good people have not from - themselves,.but by the influence of the Holy Spirit, for " they shall Worship in the beauty," &c. This ia a very difficult place, and the rendering of it is so various, so perplexed by the several modes of pointing *. it.- that the difficulty is increased. Bat see the notes. The fathers expound this passage of Christ himself; 585*

Amuj/ns uf ike one

hundred and 'tenth Piutiu

and the later diriDea^ of hia ^eopie, which ia moat prob&bla. By their yotuh they tmderstieind their regeneration; hy the dews^ the graces bestowed on them; which ^ eomtt ''immediately from Gpd.".The ptophet pfirases it, ** From the W6mb of the morning." ^ if the Holy Ghost had said, ^ Tha preaching of thy word shall bhng forth a great and good people, plentiful as the drops of the morning deW. As the secret, and refreshing dews come from hei^Ven to refresh the earth, so thy power, regenerating the hearts of men by the secret operation of thy Holy Spirit,- shall produce an immortij aeed, children begotten to God,

* Thou hast the dew,' the grace of Grbd, to* beautify thy youth, aad.tb make them holy by the direct influx ence of thy 'Spirit, to produce entire regeneration. "

* II. The prophet, having foretold Christ's kingdom, now predicts his priesthood, under which his propheti-. eal office may be implied. vThat Messiah was to be a priest at his coining, 6od sware:^ —

l.."The Lord sware." His word of assuranee was given with his oath. In the' priesthood 'of Christ lies the main weight of.but redemption; therefore Grod swears thsft he-^hall be a priest to offer himself, and to intercede -for us, without whiqh he-Jbad in vain bienour Prophet and our. King. *

2. " And will not repent." This is also added for our greater assurance.' God is sometime^si represented as^ repenting, as in the case of M'?ie««A;'but4io\^ that he was to save the world by this Priest, his Son, he takes an.oath to, do it, and he will, not repent; His sentence for judgment is.eTer conditional; but his decree for mercy is absolute. *' He will not*repent,'V&c.

The matter of the tmOi follows: '<* Thou art a prieat for ever, afier the order of Melchiiedek.**

1. Thou is enQ>hatical: Thau-r^David*s Lord, artf a Priest, and none such a Priest as thou.

6. After the order^-The right, the law, the custom, the rites. See the notes.

6. Of Melehizedek.^^Which is opposed to the order of Aaron. - Hd was i\ot then to.be a priest after the order of Aaron biit by a former and'liigher or4er.

The difference lies in this: —.1. In the constitution of him to the priesthood. He 'was made wi^h an oath; aiyd so weranot any 'of Aaron^s order, Heb. vii. 20» 2 1.. ' »

'2. In the itoccessioa. • In Aaron^s priesthoodr the higl\ piiest, being mortal, died, and another succeeded; but this priest, as Melchizedek, **4mu1- neither: beginning of days nor end of life,'^ Heb. vii. *.

' 3. Melchizedek was priest and4dng': so was Christ. Aaron- was only a priest.

5. "Aaron was a local priest; liut Christ an universal priest," John iv. 22.

6. " Aaron was anointed with miiterial oil; Christ, with the Holy Ghost," Luke iv, 1«, 21-

1. A person taken from among men, but aeteet* ft for the office; thus was Christ a perfect man.

3. The high priest was ordaineid of men in things pertaikpng. to God, to be theur advocate, madiatinr, Interpreter,.and teeonciler, in all those things 'ur'Wludi men make their addresses to God, or God is to signify lus wiU to them; and so was Christ, for- he ia the Advcteate, the Mediator for lus people; he reconcilea them to God, he interprets his will to us by preaching hii Godpel to >he pooi^..

4. The high priest was ordained that ^ might ofo gifts and sacrifices for sin. 'fhehr sacrifkses'v^ere ths blood of ball%'&c.; but Christ was' most infinits^ precious, even his ownhloo'dy Eph.'.T. 8;. Heb. iz. 26, X. 10-12. •.

- 5. The high priest must have compassion on -the ignorant, and those who are out.4>f the way;. such wss Christ: "l?or we have not," &e„ Heb. iv.. 16.

6. Lastly, the high priest was compassed with* infirmities;. and so was Christ: " In all things it became him," Ac. ** He totok our infirmiUes," &c. ^

1. How he is "a -priest for ever!"

2. How a priest " afler the order of Melohizedek V* He is " a priest for erer," in respect t6 his person,

V 1. In respect of his' person and office. For hi succeeded no priest, lus vocition being imme^^. Neither is any to- succeed him in this priesthood; " for he lives for exer,".and therefore- needs not, as the priests under the old law, any suocessot to continue his priesthood. <.

^ ^. A.puest he is for' ever in respect of the effect;- bebsuse by that aacrifice whieh he once offered on the cioss he purchased the inestimable effects of redemption and eternal salvation, iji which sense tbe priesthood is eternal. * '

" That •Christ is a priest for ever" is evident^ but it> remains to be shown how he is a priest t^fter the orrfet^-rthe rite, the manner, the word, and power given and prescribed to Melchizedek.

1. This Melchizedek jrzsi king of Salem, and priest of the most high ^ God, Gen. xiv.; so wss Christ a Kipg' of Jerusalem above, God^ own city, and a priest, ** offisring himself a sacrifice for sin.^

3\ Melehizedek is king of Salem j i. e.f peaoe; so. Christ is the Prince of peace, Isa. ix. 6.

4. " Meldiizedek was without father or mother;" ao was this our priest, as revealed* by"* God to u$, " without beginning of days or end of life,^' as touching his Godhecui.

6. ".Melchizedek blessed Abraham;" so Christ us, "in turning every. one of us away from his iniquities;"

6. " Melchizedek brought forth bread and' wine to refresh Abraham^ * army;" so Christ instituted th^

. Miiillineiit, set J^rth in bread and wM|^ to refresh the longry and thirty souls of his genuine, foyowers.

After the profphet had eaid *' that the Messiah shall to a priest^'* M., he intimates- in this Terse that, notwttHniiiiliiig all opposition that shiB ^ made agaiobt liiiii»..3»t his priesthood ^ould; be eternal; for, ^ 1. *< The Lord is^n thy right hand." GiTing thee ' power in defence «f his Church...9. V iOtid this thy Lord shall strike tiirongh kings,** Ac. The greatest o^ thy enemies. ■. 3.. ^'Inthe day gf his wrath." For sqch a day fshfH^ is, and it will eome, when the proudest tyrant ttiUjn&t escape.

1. *' He shall rule and judge.^ Not on)y the J^ws, out all people.

S. '' He shall fill the pkces,** &c. Make "sooh a •Unghter apaoog bis enemies,* as enraged soldiers do in -the storming of a city, when they fill -the trenches with the dead bodies,.,. ',

" He shall wound the heads," &c.' Eyen kinga and mAnarchs, those in the greatest power and authority. i CThe. prophet, through the whole of the Psalm, had "^■pokfen of Christ's exaltation: that h« was set at God's right lutnd; by oath was made » priest; and that, in defence of his kingdom and priesthood, he would sabdue, conquer, and break to pieces his enemies. — In lhi» last verse be tells us by what means- he eamis to

this honour: lus cross was ^e way.to>th^ crown; his passion and humiliation, to his exaltation: ^^Iftf* saith Dayid, ** shall drink of the brook bjr the way; therefore,, shall he lift up his head;" as If he had said, with the apostle: '* He humbled himself, and became obedient to death,** &c. * -

8. "• He shall drink of the brook," Sn3 nackal; of the*torrent; and thaC is more than of the cup, for a^iip contains but a certain portion of sorrowsybyt a torrent, k whole flood of miseries. In a cup, that which iar drunk may be,clcar and <$lean'; but in a torrent,«a man. can:ex^t nothing but muddy and -troubled water; Thus the prophet intimates here that the drink ofiered hiid should be much and troubled. -And in' his passion hedesceqded into the -depth c^ the torrent, and drank deef>'of it/ •.

- But ^:larita9 humilUatis prtanntm,. ^.gbry is tlie rewijM of humitity." BecansO'he thus linmbled himself, and'wilfingly uDdetwenChis death and passion, for the glory of Jiis Father,* and the salvation of man; there-, fore; shall God "lift up his head.*.* He shall ascend iQto heavjBiis * ait on his right hand, and be constituted the Jud^ of quick und dead. He:^all rise from the dead and hki^ all power commitled. to tiim in heavc^ and^jBarth.

The psalmist praises the Lord, and ixiols his toerks as great, honouratHe, glorious, and magnificent, 1-^4; his providence and kindness to his followers, 5-8; the redertiption he has granted to Am people, 9. The fear ' of the Lord^is the beginning of wisdom, 10.. -.

3 His Tirork is • honourable and '^""^"^' glorious; andhisrighteousnessendureth for ever;

will praise the Lord with my whole heart, m 'the assembly of the upright, andtn the.con-

NOTES ON PSAJ.M. CXI. This is one of the alphabetical or acrostic Psalms: but it is rather different from those we haVe already seen, as the first eight verses contain, each two fjnem^ hers; and each member, commences with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. But the two last verses are composed of three members each, characterized the same Way, making twenty-two members or hemistichs' in the whole, ^o eslcb of which a consecutire letter of the alphabet is. prefixed. But this division is not proper: it should follow the arrangement in the Hebrew poetry, where every hemistich stands by itself, and each contains a complete sense. The Psalm has no title in the Hebcew, tfniess'the word HaUelujah be considered as such; and the' thanksgivings which it contains were probably coihposed for jtbe Jb^n^t lof the Jews after their reti^n £rom captivity.

Verse 1. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart] If we profess to *' ising to the praise and glory of God," the heart, and the wliole heart, without division and distraction, must be employed in the work'. -

In the assembly] *1103 besod', i^ the secret assembly — ^the private religious meetings.(6t the communion of • saints. And in the congregation, ni]f edah, the gene" ral assembly — ^the public cohgregati'on, ^ There were such meetings 'Ss the former ever since God had a Church on the earth; and to convey general information, •there mQst.be public asiemblies:

Verse 3. The works of the fjord are great] tAlX gedolim, vast in magnitude; as D^3*l rabbim sigiiifie» their r^ultittide and variety,

..l$ought out] Investigated, carefully examined. • ' Of all them that have pleasure therein.^ By all that delight in them: by every genuine philosopher; ev^ 687.

' 4 He hatb made hit wonderful works to-be rememberM:.'the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

5 He hath giT|p < ^leat ^ unto theiA that fear him: he will ever be mindful of hi^covenant.

6 He hath showed his people' the power of his^ works, that he may give, them the heritage of the hdlathen.

7 The works of his hands are * verity and judgment; ^ all his commandments are sure.-

lover of nature; ke who traces out the groat Firrt Caute by means of his works. And jthe man that does so will be astonished at the perftetions of ^le Cireatdr,. and admire all the operations of his hands.

Vene 3. His work is /wnourable; ^t:.] He has done nothing in nature or gtxtce that does not fedoond to his owir honour and gjorj; and because all iSxdone in righteousness, it endureih for ever. '

Verse 4. He hath made his wonderful Works] He who seeks them out will nerer forget them; and every thing of Ood^ framing is done in such a way, as to strike the imagination, interest the senses, and charm.and edify the intellect. But the psalmist may here intend principally the works of God in behalf of the Jewish people; and particularly in their deliverance from the 'Babylonish /saptivily, which 'this Psalm is ' supposed to celebrate.

Verse's. He kath given meat] '\10 tereph, pmy. This' may allude to ihbjfuaiU in the wilderness. The word signifies what is*taken in hunting — wild beasts', Tenison, or fowls of any kitad; particularly such, as were pfoper for. food. It also signifies spoil' taken from enemies. And he may- also refer to the wondrous manner in which (he^ were fed and supported during their captivity; and by his support he proved that he was mindful of liis'covenant • He had promised snch blessing; he was faithful tp his promises.

Verse 6. The power of his works] They haye seen that th6se things did not arrive in the common coXirse. of nature; it was pot by might nor by power,- but by the Spirit of the.Lord of hosts they were doqe. And it required a display of the power oT God to give them the heritage of the heathen.

Verse 7. Verity and judgfnent] His works are verity or truth, because they were>.M?onght for the tuiftkn^t of the promises he made to their fathers. A.nd they were /iM^; for their punishment was in con* sequence of their infiTdelitiea: and the punishment of the Babylonians was only in consequence of their gross iniquities; and in both respects he had proved his work to be according to justice and judgment.

Verses. They stand fast for ever] DO1?30 tfcmtithim, they are propped up, buttressed; for ever. They can never fail; for God's power supports his works, aftd his providence preserves the record of what he has done. ■ ' ^

10 4 The fear of the Lord is the' begimking of wisdom ^r' a good un^leiitanding have aH they that ■do his commaniments': endureth ior. ertr,..

redeem thein out of Egypt; vanons judges to deliver them oat of the hiM^dsr of their oppressors; Eua» Nehemiah, and- Zerabbabd, tO deliver them frmn Baby<»^ lonv and the Lord Jesus to redeem a whole tet wqdd fVom sin, misery, atad* death.

Holy and-reverend is h\s name.] -The wtrrd reveremi comes to as from the Latin?, reverendusf and is cqpk pounded of re, intensive, and vereor^ to be ftared i Jmd most or right reverend^ reverendissisnus^ signifiei to he gteatly fearffi. These terms are now only^titks of ecclesiastical respect, especially in the ProtestasU ' ministry; but there was a time in M^ch these weto no dfaipty titles. Such was the power of the cleigy, that, when they waUced nbt in *the fear of the Loi4« they caused the people to fear, and they- themselves were to he feared; but, when the sefiular power wm added to the spiritual, they were then truly revertndi and reverendissimi^ to be feared a^nd greatly to be feared. But reverend is. not applied to Godwin this Way; nor ^oes the wosd tOU nora bear this signifieation; it rather means terrible: Holy and terrible, or hdly and tremendous, is his' name. This title bekhigt not to man; nor does any minister, in assuminf the title reverend, assume this. Indeed, the word weverend^ as now used, gives us a very imperfect conception of the original term. Holy and tremendous is God's name. He is glorious in holiness, fearful* ia praises* doing wotiders, both in the way of judgment and in the way of mercy.

Verse 10, The fear of the Lord, in the- heginrtnig of wisdom] The original ^stands thus: noDTT rwiO 7\\ry P9ry reshiih chokmah, yirath Yehovah, The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Jehovah, Wisdom itself begins with this fear; true wisdom has this fox; its commencement. It is the $rst ingmiient in it, and is an essential part of it. In t«in does any man pretend to be wise who does not. fear the Lord; and he who fears the Lord departs from ^il: he who lives in sin neither fears God, nor is wise.

A good understanding have ail they thai do his commandments] These last wofds we add as necessary t6 make up the sense; but there is no need of this expedient, as the words of the original literally read thus \ " The "beginning of wisdom is the fear.of Jehovah; good- discernment to the doers.^' That is, ' They who act according to the dictates of wisdom, the eommencement of which is the fear of Jehonh^

_^ sound juiderBtaiidiiig, diaodjft tfiek daty and ' interestriSid live to secure their ^n peace, their iieiffhboar^s goo<L>nd God's gbry:

Jfjfj9 supposed that this hymn was set hy the author

^ to MTMiiig at the passover; and tHat it might he the

more reajHy leariMd and remembered, the eolons are

ia jiQmbCT as many as, and arranged in the order of,

the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It is an exhorta*

tioQ to praise -God (9^ his wonderful benefits besto^ifed

oiiiihe wirid at 'large,^aiid especially on Israel and the

^ I. A resolution of the psalmist to- praise God; the

mmnner in which he would do so 4 and the company

n. Ati expression of the reasons which moTod hikn

Tlh Att inference from the premises by \i^ay of. imtiment, in which he commends the fear of (xod, ▼er. liy,

I. The title of this Psahn is, <*HaUplujah, praise ye tins Lord;" and he adds, —

" 9; Not hypocritically; not with the lips only,. hut "with, the heart."

3. "With the whole heart*'* ' 4. Not only secretly, but 'also ''is Iha assembly^ of the upright,*' &c. 1. Both in the.assembly, Uliere these good and.upright, then are. 2. And also in amixed multitude, and secretly among good men.

n. And, having made a pious confession of his ijadiness to-practise the 'duty, he next sets down the gnrand and matter of hiq praise.

First.' H\a works of power, in the creation and eonserration of the world, ox the favours shown to the £nilirch: ^ And these works of the Lord are great." 1. (h^atj not only for variety and beauty, but also iij bftse creatures- his wisdom is admirable, and to be 9/Axahed. 2. Chreat; for it was great to take to himself a people out of another people, tb make a "eoveliaiit with them, and to reveal his promises, and give tibem a law, to settle among them a policy tor Church p£d state. 3. Fools and impious men, itideed, buf J^fdb consider th^se works; they think not of their Author: but in the eyes of ail wise men *Uhey are sought out," Ac.

8econd9y. His works of wisdoniy in governing the creatures he has created, and in guiding and collecting his Church. 1. It is honourable; and much more so it» Author.,2. And -glorious; far above the works of princes. 3. And righteous: "He is a righteous God, and his righteoustiess endoreth for ever*..*' For fie never departs from the exact rule of justice.

Which record must be kept: — -.' •* He hath made his wonderful works," &c. As in die Jewish hosts.

Thirdly. His works of mercy.' They proceed from mere mercy: " For the Lord is gracious," &c. I. " Gracions," in doing these works. 2. „" Full of eorilpassion," as a father towards his 45hildren.

Of these the prophet gives several instances: —

1. '* He hath given meat," &c.^ He nounihed his people for forty years in the wUdemess, giriiig them meat from heaven.

'3. "He hatk showed his peopft," &c. A» in the tamiHg of n/ardan backvi^)surds, overthrowing Jericho, staying the snn and moon^ dee.

i. " That he might give them," &c. By the expulsion of the Ciimuwites: ** The works of the Lord are great," &c'.

He now uses an acelamation: ''The works of fiis hands ate," —

* 1. Verity. Making good his promise to Abraham. ' 2. Judgment. Executed on idolaters and profane

And shows nnto all the world that, —.

1. " All his commandments are sure." That Iub lawe^ especially his moral law% are of everlasting obligation on all.-'

'2. That these conmiands " stand fast for erer;*' for they are established in truth, equity, jostice, and reason. * •

The prophet next speaks of a mercy, far exceedin|r aU the rest, the 'work of human redemption by Christ/ This may be thus expounded, and better than in refhrenCe to the redemption of Israel out ' of Egypt..'• •

2. ^ He hath commanded his covenant," &c..Which is still extant.

HL The prophet, havmg enumerated many of Qod'9 works of power, wisdom, and, mercy, concludes the Psalm.with three acclamations.-

*' Holy and reverend," &o. Either in his service, or whenever he is signified.

1. Holy — unpolluted by hypoeri^.; Thelcommand iar, " Be ye holy, for I am holy.'?

• 5J. Reverend — ^not rashly or negligently performed. Or, as soine read it, terrible;.and it is a fearful thmg to fall into 4he hands of the living; God.

1. This fear "is the beginning oT wisdom." For these men begin to' be wise; " to Eschew evU, and do good.". •

2. This fear, if it We right, will be practical-: " For a good understanding," &c.

The third acclamation is, •* His pmise endureth for evir." Which- some refer to God, others to man; but both are true. For the praise must continue for ever: " HiaT power, m^rcy," ftc.

If referred to man, then the sense will he, —

2. Or " his praise." The commendation of a good man" will be had in everiasting remembrance," Psa. cxii. 6.. " The name of the wicked shell rot," &c.\ Prov. X, 7. " Well done, thou good and faithful servjmt," &c.; Matt, xxv.,21. His praise. is in this Vrorld lastting, but in the world to come everlastbg.

The Uessedness of the man that fears M« Lord^ Ifdth as it regards hknself and his/amily, 1-3; Ms canimi to his famUyy his fiajghinmrSf and the poor^ 4-9; the enoy of ihejmcked at his prosperity^ ^^- >

.2 ^His seed shall be mighty, upon 'earth:

3 * Wealth aiid riches shall he in his house: and his righteousness isndureth for ever.

4 'Unto the upright there ari^eth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

& ^A good man showeth favour, and lendeth:. he will guide his affairs ^ with. 'discretion*. '.

That delighteth greatM It is ntft enough to fegr God, we must also lovehun: feaf will deter us from evU; dove will lead,us to 0bedie9iCe, And the more k man fears and loves Godjfthe more obedient will he be; till At last he ubill delight greatly in the commandments of his Maker.. • - ^

Verse 3. His seed shall %e mighty] -I];*)? zan^^ his posterity, ' So the* word shoujd always be understood in this connection. « Yerse 3. Wealth and riches shaU be in his house] l*his is often, the case: a godly man must save both time and money. Before he wfis converted. he lost much time, and squandered his money. All thia he now saves, and therefore wealth jsnd riches must.be in hia house; and if }ie do not distribute to the necessities of -the poor, they will continue to accumulate till they be his curse; or God wiU, by his *. providence, sweep them away. Bpth Hp'XJf isedakah and ^iXaio(fuvv) are oflen used- to signify, not only, justice and righteousness^ but also beneficence, and

7 "^He'shall not be afraid of. evil tiding > his >^ lieart is fixed, ® trusting in the Lorb.

9 '''He hath dispersed, he^ hath given to^e poor; "his righteousness endureth for ever; his ^ horn shall be exalted with honour.' ■ 1 Q- ''^ The wicked shall see it, and be ^eved; ^ he* sh^l gnash with his teeth, and ^"^ melt -away: ^the desire of the.wicked shall perish.

almsgiving; and- this is most probably the meaning here. See ver. 9..

Verse 4. * Viere - ariseth light- in t^e darkness] The upright are always happy; and when tribolatioos c6me, God lifts ap^ the light of.his couitenance upon hii9i and causeb all occorrencea 16 work ^together fox • his. good.

He is gracious, and full of compassias^ and, righteous.] He enjoys the favour of God;* that ^raee • makes him compassionate; and in the- general tenor of his. conduct he^ is righteous. From th^se fosr ciples jhe shows favodr (y«r. 5) to hkn that nekth Tt\ that is, to the real poor he gives of his subetaAce; tt£ Others he obliges by lending, they not being Qtterly m want, but standing in need only of a little present help. But he takes heed to whom' he gives and to whom he lends; that in the^ first ease his bounty may be well applied, an^ in the second he may not oblige the ^^raon ' who only seeks, under the notion of a loan, t^ appropriate the money borrowed. To prevent erila of tlu|^ kind he- acts prudently, and guides his affairs with dm^ eretion, ver. 6..

Verse 7. He shcM not be afrai4 of evil ii4ings] He knows that God.governs the world, therefore he fears not for futurity. And as to the ceiwemies of men, he fears ^/^em not, l^cau8e.A» heart is fixed — determined to WAlk in the path of duty, whatever persecutions he may suffer, for he trusts in the Lord,

Verse 8. His heart is established] uS "pofi samuch li^bo, *^his heart is propped, up f he is buttressed up, by the strength of his Maker.

: Verse. 9. Hi hath dispersed] He has scattered abroad hta^ munificence.; he has given particularly to tl\e./wwr; his righteousness — his almsgiving, his charity, remainethfor evfir^ • See on ver. 3', « Mf horn]. His power andaathqrity shall be i m&k h4ntoUf^ He shall riap^to inflaeiiee onlj through his own worth, and not by extortion or flattery.

Verse 10. ^The wicked shall see it] j;vn rt^sha^ the wicked tme. Some think Satan is meant. It is distingiiished from D^]ryn reshaim^ wicked meth in tjae conclusion of th? verse.

'And melt away] Through envy and hopeless expectation of similar good; for his desire in reference to himselfs and in reference tq him who is the object 4>f his envy^ shall perish — ie^iall come to nothing.

The psahnist, haying put it down for an infallible maliBl, IB the close of the former Psalm, *f Uiat- the fen of the Lord is the beginning of 's^asiom,^' in this sets down the felicity of that mail who fears Grod, in ^ereral particulars.

There are two parts in this Psidm: — X A general proposition, 4hat he is blessed. II. An enumeration ^ particidarft. in' whi^h ifaX bleseodiyss consists, from ver. 9 to the en^. /. I. To the first paurt he prefixes a hallelujalu-" praise the Lord," which is the intent sDnd scope of the Psalm; ' that he be praised for thos^ rewards ol piety, he bestows on such as fear him.

He delivers this one general proposition to i>ertaade them jto piety: ** Blessed ii the man," Ac, ^t believes, honours, add serves Mm, •

For fear a man should mistake, M|fniij| he fears the Lord when he reaUy does not, he adds these three VQStrictions to his proposition * —;. I. '* Keep his commandments." An obedient fear.. 1^. ** He delights in them,*? &c. lA pleased with* tiisir equity, and loves them. *

3. '' He delights greatly," &c. It must be a t|iankhSL and ready fear, performed with alacrity and earnest*, done with all the heart; • II. In the rest of the Psalm he insists pn what this dness consists in:— ^ *

• 9. That though they shall enjoy them* they are not exempted from crosses, 9 Tim. iii. 12'.

3. /That God' distributes these temporal blessings ' not equally, but most prbfitably for him. • t^,.'^'^^^^? premised V he enunierates the blessings jHerp proi^ised; —

9. " Wealth and richee,''' Ac. That i^, abundance of all things fhaU he in his house, and remain in it for his jiist dealings and contentment preserves his well obtained goods to his posterity.

3. "Unto the upright theicarisethlight,'^&c. The light of counsel and p(wsolation, in the midst of doubts, tribulations^ and afflictions, which the prophet ascribes to God^s mercy and goodness.

'4. He hath bowels^ compassion, of which ti^ shows two effects: 1. " A good vAan showeth favonr," Ac. Easily forgives an injury. 9. Imaginesiie is not bora fdr iimself, but to do goo^to others.

5. "He wiU guide his a&irs with discretion." Discern between truth add falsehood; be' no itccepter of persoosi but ii^ all things just and upright. **.6. He is patient and constant. Troubles and dangers may increase; but in the midst of all hQ.looks to heaven, and remains firm in))is principles^

7. " The righteous shall be had," &c. His name is written in the book of life, and it is precious in the Ghurch, such as those of the martyrs r wbSe the wicked are detested, such as Judas, Uain, PflsliL At the^ last di^ the one shall have' " Come, ye Meeoed;" the other, ^*Go, ye cursed.".

8. '* 9e sliall Hot be afraid df evil tidings." Scandals may arise;.but^he remembers "the servant is not above his lord," therefore he hefos all padenthr, and fQf ihese reasons: 1. 'f* Because- his heart is nxed," &0. He. has a sure rock; God will clear his inno* ofDcy. 9. "His heart is establuBthed,". &c. • He knows God will take care of* him.

9. The ninth felicity to the righteous is, God has given him a charitable heiurt. 1. " I{e hath dispersed," acts liberally, that others as well as himself may. reap. 9. He does ii* frs^y, without looking for any thing again: "He gifea." 3.. *^He hath given ta the* poor.". To those wbo need his kindness.

For this liberality he is a great gainer in two respects:—

1. ■** The good vork he hSth done," &c. His char rity aud piety are increased by.it.

His last felicity is,. ' "

. 9. "He shall gnash his teeth" as a mad dog, and seek his ruin.. '

. 3. But shall not be able tohsnn him-: "'The desire of the wicked shall perish."^ He that fears God is a happy man; he that fears' him not, most unhappy.

Reader^ in what' state art thou! • Happy or unhappy 1

Am txhorloHm to Ue$$ Ood far kit awn efceHencies,' l*-6; and for his great mercy to ike poor and rkeces^ cir.*ammim*' the LoRp, praise the name of;

2 ® Ble9se(l be the name of the Lord fiom this time forth and for evermore.

3 * From tl\e rising of die sun mito the^oing down of the same the Lord's name is to be j^sed.

.8 c^Who is like, unto the I^qrd our

PnlKui cxiii., cxiT., exy.\ oxrL*, czriL, itad cxriii.,, form lli^ greii HaUel, and were sang by the Jews on their * moet solemn festivals, and parttcniarly at the passaver. To these reference is made by the «vafigehsUy Matt. xzVL 30, and Jdaric xir. S6, there called the hymn which Jesus ahd his disciples song at the passover, for the whole tS the Psalma were eonsidered a».one grand hymn er thanksgiv|iig. It was probably composed after the return from the captiTity, It has no^ title bi)t HaUelujah in the /Te^eur ■ and anpient Versions, ••,. •

' Verse 1. Prais9fO ye servants].probably an address to the I^Tftes.. Tlie AngJo^i^Yi has heiaaooaapan oidhe, praike the Lordy ye^lenace^. Knapa' or knaye signified among our «{ibe8tor8% servant ^* aomQr. 'times a. mo/e, a ^Min^ num.

Verse 3. From the rising.of th4 stmj From inomiag to eTeniqg be a] wa3rs. employed in the work. 6c it may be a c41 on all tnaTikihd to praijie^ God -for his ionomerable mercies to the human race, Phuse him from one end dfthe world unto the other, *And there*^ fore the, psalmist adds^

Verse 4. The Lord i^ 'high above all naHariu\ He governs all, he^royldes for all; therefore let all give him praise.' ^ * ' *

Verse 6. Who is like unto the Lord] Those who djjt highly etalted are generally nnapproaehaUe; they •are proud and overbearing, or so surrounded with magnifieenfce and flatterersy that to them the poor. have no access; but God, though infinitely exalted, huMleth himself' to behold even heaven itself, and mu6h jnore. does ]S» hutfible himself vrhiea he oondesoends to behold earth' 9Md hex inhabitants, (ver. 6.) But so does* he love bis creatures that he rejoices over even the est of them to do them good.'

Verse 7. He raiseth up the poor] The poorest man/ in the meanest and. m(wt abject circumstapces, ^ an objeM of his meroiful rogards. He may here allude ta the wretched state of the captives in Babylon, whom. God raised up out of that dust ^nd dunghill. Others apply jt to the resurrection of the dead. ^■ yerse 8. With the princes] DOni nedehxm.itrj properly translated Jqt the Anglo-Saxon, ealoojunannum, the aldermen, the most respectable of his people.

j6. '» Who humbleth himself to behold the things that, are in '••"^°"- heayen* and in the earth! • 7 ^ He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, arid lifteth the needy out* of the dunghill;

8 That; he may 'set him with princes, evpt with the princes of Jiis people.. d "■ He maketh the barren woman ■ to keep house, and to be a joytvA mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.

yerse'9. He maketh' the barren woman to ke9p iMue] • This is a figure to point ool the desolate^ decreasing •stdfe of the captives in Bfibylon, and the hapfyy change which toc^L place on their return to their fiwn"1]uid.( Thpse ace nearly the words of Hannah, 1- Sam. iL 5.

AnaLt^IS of TAE HuNDRCD >LND THIRtEEIfTB PsALM.

The scope of this Psalm is the sama with those tfaaC went before, that is, to excite men to praise Godr Thiis Psalm contains thred parts:— ^

I. Ah exhortation ta God's -senranta to praise hiiiL

II. A foatm set down how and whera to prpise him, Tor.. 9, 3.

if He doubles and trebles his eXhbrfktioiiy tSftt itfie,not coldly but zealously jdone, or -else to show thai he alond -is wo^y.of praise.

2. " Praise. the Lord, O ye serrant©,'^ Ac, i TIrtf are io phuse him, for £e is their Lord ppraxse him likewise with a pure heart.

IL The manlier of praising him. Say,

1. "Blessed be the name of theLo^^'' Job k.

2. /^ From this time forth^" &c.: In jnoaperity or adversity,* in this Jif^ or the future.

HI. And now follow the reasons, to peraoade mej> to praise God.

* 1. Because of his majesty, infinite (rawer, and |^ ry, which extend n6t to ^arth aloofly bat hearen also: " The Lord is hi^h above,'' &c.

S. Because of his providence, benignity, and bounty, which Ifeing united with so nuich majesty, appear the more admirable. "Who is like the Lord,'^&c. None in heaven or' on earth are to be compared to him. "-Yet he humbleth himself^" &c. He is present with the highest angels, and with the poorest of his creatoes, to help them..

In " humbling hhnself to behold the things on earth*' he^ gives two instances: 1.- In states and kingdo 3. la private fiuniliea.....

Mirades perforcmei at

-ihe eosoius finom Egypt

1. In states: *<He raiseth up the poor,^ Ac: Leu then no man say, that God does not regard them that are of low estate; lb» raiseth iip the poor, to the ^epd *'that he may set him with the prxnces," &9.', • -

S. In pjnvUt fiunilies: ''He maketh the barren woman,^* &e, " Children are a heritage of the Lord.** Some ezppeitors refer the meaning of this last Terse to the Chorch of the OenfiUs: " Rejoice, O buieoy** ^c. Isa. Ihr. 1.

MtmeU* wroughi at the exodus of the IsraelUee from Egyptjjti the Red Sea^ and. at Jordan^ 1-6; and at the

. 4 ^The mountains skipped like rams, and the littFe hills like lam\)s. *

This Psalm has no tUle, The word Hallelujah t^ prefixed in all the Versions exce^ die Chxddee a.tid Syriac. It seems like a fragment, or apart of another Psalm. In many MSS. it is. only the beginning of (he following; both making but one Psalm in aH the' Versions, except the Chaldee. It b elegjaqtly and ener* getically composed; but begins and ends vei^ ahniptlv. if we separate it from the following. As to the anthor of this Psahn, there have been Taripos opinions;.#ome haye given the honour of it tb Shadrach^ Me* ehechj and Abed-nego; others, to Esther f and others, to Mordecai,

•Verse 1. A people of strange language} This may * mean no more* than a barbarous people; a people whcm they ^id not know, and who did not worship their God. But it is a fact that the language of the Eg3rptians in the time of Joseph was so different from that of the Hebxews that they could not understand each other. See Psa. Ixxxi. 5; Gen. xlil. 23.

The Chaldee has here 'Kiana ^JTO meammey harharey, which gives reason to believe that the word is Chaldee^ or more properly. PAiv^scumi See this word fully explained in the note on Acts xxviii.. 3. My. old J^salter understood the word as referring to the reitgums state of the Egyptians: %tL gang?ng of 3^\ oute of jlEgipt. of t^e l)on^e of 3|atob fta fiettjen foHte«

Verse 2. Judah was his sanctuary^ He set uphia. true worship among the Jews, and took them for hb •peculiar people.:,

. And Israel his dominionJ] These words are a praof^ -were there none other, that this Psalm was composed qfter the dajTS of David^ and after the division pf the tribes, for then the distinction of Israel and Judah took place.

5 'What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? *;

7 Tremble, thou, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the preseiice of the God of Jacob; -,

8 ^ Which turned the rock into a standing water, the Hint into a foimtain of waters.

has properly' oheei^ed (seei Spect^ No.- 461) that the ahthor of • this Psalm designedly works for ^effect, in pointing out the tniraculdns diMng'4>8ck the Red Sea and the river Jovdan, and the commotion of the hilJe and mountains, without mentioning any agent, ^ At last,' when the reader sees the 6ea rapidly retiring, from the shore, Jordan retreating- to its source, and the mountains and hills running liway like a flock of afiiighted sheep, that the paai&age of the Israelites might be every where uninterrupted; then the cause of all is suddenly introduced, and the presence of Ood in his grandeur solves every difficulty.

Verse 5. What ailed thee, O thou sea] The original ienrery abrupt; and the prosopopetia^ or personifieation, very fine and expressive: —

Ye mountains, that ye leaped like raAia! And ye hills, like the young of the fold!

After these very sublime interrogations, God appears; 4nd the psaknist proceeds as if answering his own questions: — '

1 know the present Hebrew text reads ^TVTcMi/i, "tremble thou," in the imperative; but almost all the Versions understood the word in the past tense, and read as if the psabnist was answering his own questions, as suted in the trandatioft.-above. " Tremble thou, O earth.'' As if he had said, Thoa mayest we))

tremble, O earth, at the.presence of the Lord, at the ineeeDce of the God of Jacob.

Verse 8. Thefiini] I hvwe translated. eripSfl chaUamishj oEANrn; for 'such is the rock of Horeb, a piece of which now lies before me.

fliink I shall gratify the reader.by laying it before him.

finb trfljor aljfiriambier of iBfcbt^e*. Ver. 7. jfta tbe face of Hotbe ^tpcbe ijsr t^ir ectl),.

tfltf. 0. OCiiat turnejBr tlje lertanf in jsrtank of Ur^ret^,; Unb coclie in toelier of toatetjer^ -

' And, as a still more ancient specimen of our laugoage, i shidl insert the Anglb-Sazon, with a literal reading, line for line, as near to the Saxoh as possible, merely to show the affinity of ^e languages, jer. 1/ Ob ac^aiise Ifjiael op ^j^pcan;. y ' hU|> Ii^oob.op roloa 9lTSeo«isnm.

And thou iiver for that thou turned is un- • derback 1 ' Vert 6. Mourns ye fained (rejoiced) So so rams; ■And hills so so lambs-sheep. Ver. 7. From sight Lord's stirred is earth; From sight God of Jacob.. -Ver. 8. Who tuned stone in mere waters; And cliffs in weUs waters.

I have retained some words aboTC in nearly their Saxon forra,'beoause they still exist in our' old writers; or, with littTe Tariation, in those of the present day: —

Ver. S. AndweeUd, ^ovetnment. Hence weal and w'etdlK, commonweal or. wealth; the g^eral government, that which produces the ufel/are of the country.

Ver. 4^ Burgh, a hill — a mound or heap of earth, such as was raised Up over the dead. Hence a barrow; and hence the word dury, to inhnpie the dead.

Ver. 8. Mere, or meer, a large pool of water, a lake, a lougih, still in use in the north of England. Gentlemen's ponds, or large sheets of water so called; and henee Winander-mere, a large lake in WoQiBiOKfandi 'Mere also.signifies limit or boundary; hbObe the Jdershff the river which, divides Lancaahirft from Cheshire, and serves as a houndary^ to both counties. The mirrr>xhat spreads itself out to the sea.

Instead of cludas, which signifies rocks, one MS. has clyr clyf, which signifies a craggy mouniam or broken rock,,. " *, '

The reader will see Trom this (fpecimen how mneb of out ancient' language still rf mtdns in the present; and perhaps also how much, in.hi3 opinion, "^e bave amplified and improved' our mother tongue.

David in this Psalm chants forth the wonderful works and miracles that God wrought, when he brought forth Israel out of Egypt.

lliis Psalm has iwo porta: — *.

II. A prosopopceia set down by way of dialogue:

1. The prophet asks the sea and Jordan ^hj they fled, ver. -6, e.* 2. To which the answer is, that •* the earth trembled,7j Ac, ver. 7, 8...

I. In the narration, Israel's condition is set down by way oT -comparison, in order that theii deliverance mjght make the deeper impression. We muat recollect that * Jacob^ and Judah in this place signify the whole nation of the Israelites that descended out of Jacob's loins; but of the house of Jacob there is made particular mention, because with him they came into' Egypt; and of Judah, because from hiin they were called Jeijos. Tlus being premised, 1. We are presented with the condition of the Jews before their deliverance; before they were formed into a state orChusch: they were among ^a people of a strange language.'*'

.!3. The condition of the Jews after, their deliverance: "When Israel went out of Egypt," &c.^ then ** Judah was his sanctuary,*' &c. I. " His sanctuary:" A people sanctified and adopted by him, consecrated to his worship as holy temples and sanctuaries, and hav-. ing a holy priest to govern thpm in points of piety.

2. "His dominion:" In which he reigned as King by his laws i^d Spirit, and appointed godly magistrates to rule them in matters of policy; for the government was a theocracy, till they cast it off by choosing a king.

Th^ proflwt exidains the mannei^ of their deliver-

God alone is

^nce, which was hf mhucles and signs; and gives as these instances:—

.1. /^The sea saw it, and fled,** as the people advanced to it. "At the presence of the Lord it turned back all night,^' Exod. xiv. In a poetical strain he attributes this tot^ sense of ttie sea: "The sea ■avr'' &c.

9. " Jordan was driven back,". &c. Ferty years after, whan they were entering the promised land, then Jordan suffered a long reflux,. Josh. iv. ' 3. At Sinai, when the law was giVen, then the mtfuntains and hills quaked: " The mountains- skipped like rams,'^ &c.

II. This Psalm abounds' with poetical imagery; and having related the wonderful deliverances wrought for God's people, the psalmist expostolates with the sea and mountains, and interrogate them as. to -what so stzangel^ altered their course. *' What ailed thee, O

thou s^a, &6. t— Te mountains, that ye skipped Ilka rams," &c.

To which, in thQ person of the earth speaking to herself, the prophet answers; thiis making both a frth' ^ sopopfitia and an apostrophe^

1. "Tremble, thou earth, at the piesencd ^ ihA ^ Lord,'' &c. As if it had been said. Would yoa know '

the reason why we fly t The canse is, the Lord has' appeared and showed his foroe and power,, and laid his commands upon ns'; and therefore, not abiding his pr&i sence, the mountains are moved, ftc» *

S. Of hi» power this miracle is sufficient for an instance: ^\ Which turned ihe rock into a standing wa- ^ ^' ter, the flint into, a fountain of waters.". Causing not only waters to flow from &ence, but turning the very substance 4)f a flint, which is *apter to yield fire thui water, into that fluid element, Nuisu xz. [See the noM on ver. 8.]

Ood alone is to he glorified, 1-3. The vanity of idols, 4-8. Fsrael, ihe house of Aaron, and aO fJU^yW God, are exhorted to trust in the Lord, 9-1 1*. The Lord's goodness to his people, and his graeumM pro^, mises, 12—16. As the dead cannot praise him, the living should^ 17^18^

■ 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, * Where is now their God?

This Psalm is written as a part of thjs preceding by eighteen of KennicotVs 2Jid 'fifty-three o( De RossVs ' M5S.; by some ancient editions,- th^ SeptuagirU, the Syriac, the Vulgate, the JEthiopic, the ArtSdc, and the, Anglo- Sa:eon. The old Anglo- Scottish Psalter reads it consecutively with the foregoing. Who the 'anthbr of both was, we know not, nor on what occasion it was written. It seems to be an epinikion or triumphal song, in.' which the victory gained is entirely ascribed to Jehovah.

, Verse 1. Not unto us, O Lord] We tal^e no merit to ourselves; as thine is the kingdom, and the power in that kingdom, so is thy glory.

For thy mercy, and for thy truth^s sa%e.] Thy mercy gave thy promise, thy truth fulfilled ir.

Verse 2. Wherefore should the heathen say] This appears, to refer to a time iii which the Israelites had, Buffered some sad reverses, so as- to be brought very low, and to be mocked by the heathen.

Verse 3. He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.] There was too much cause for his abandoning us to our enemies;. yet he still lives and rules in -heaven and in earth.

Vetee 4. Their idols are sifver, <J-c.] They are metal, stone, and wood. They are generally made in the form of man, but can neither see, heari smell, feel,

5 They have mouths, but they speak not i

walk, nor speak. How brutish to trust in such! and next to th^se, in stupidity and. inanity, must they be whaform them,. with the expectation of' deriving any good from them. So Obviously vain was the whole system, of -idolatry, that the more serious heathens ridiculed it, and it wad a butt for the jests of their iree^ thinkers and bujOfoons. How keen are those words of Juvenal!—

Jupiter, 'hec! nee labra^ moves,' eum mittete vocem; ' Debueras, vel marmoreus vel aheneos t aut cur *.In carbone tuo charta pia thura soluta- Ponimus, et sectum vituli jeeUr, albaque porci Omental ut video, -nullum discrimen habendum est Effigies inter vestras, statuamque Bathylli.

".Dost thou hear, O Jupiter, theie thiflgs t nor move thy lips when thou oughtest to t^peak out, whether thou art of marble or of bronze t Or, why do ^e put the Inhered idcense op thjr altar from the opened paper, and the extracted liver of a talf, and the white oaul of a hog?. As far as I can discerui there is no difference between thy statue and that of Bathyllas."

This irony will appear the keener, wheit it is known

7 They hare hatid^j, but they handle not: feci have they, but. th^y walk not: neither speak they through their throat

8 ' They that make them are like unto them; so is evefy one that trust eth in them,

9 ' 0 Israel^ trust ihou in the Lord: » he is tlieir iielp and iheir shield.

10 0 house of Aaron, trust in the Lomo; he is their help and thdr shield,

11 Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the LoRu: he is iheir help and their shield,

12 The Lord hath been mindful of us: "he

T%r»e n, Ye that fear the Lard] All red ^^ilents, and sincere believers, trust m the Lord^ in fbe almig^htVi omni^ient^ and infinitely good JehoTah.

He w their hdp and Meld.] He is the succour, supiKul, guardian, and defence of all who put their ooniidenee in him.,

Terse 12. The Lord hath been mindfu!] He has never yet wholly abandoned as to our enemies.

He wiii biess the hotise of Israeli He will bless the people t& a nation; lie will bless the pirieftthoftd and Levites; he will bless alt them who fear him, great aiid small I jn whatsoever statical or eircumstancea fbund. There is a great deal of emphasis in this verse: several words are redoubTed to njake the subject the more affecting, I give a literal transbtion;-:-;

Ver. 12: " The Lord has been mindful^of as; he will bless the house of ttrael; he will bleaa the house of Aaron. Yet. 13: He-wiU bless Uiem that fea/ Jchovahi the small with the great, Ver, H: Jehovah will add upon you, upon you and upon all your children. Ver, 1 5; Blessed are ye of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Yer, 10: The henvei^ of hca^ vens are ihe Lord'^i *but the earth he hat^ give/i to the sons of Adam." ' ' '

Jehovah is absolute Master of the universe. He has made the heavens of heavens, and alao the earth: and this he gives to the children of Adam, \Vhen he exiled him from jwirarfi.se, he turned him out into the ianh, and gave it to him and his aotis for ever, that they might dress, till, and 6ai of its produce all their days.

Verse 1 7, The dead praise mt ihe Lord] cnDH hammethimf those dead men who worshipped as gods »

14 The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children,

1 5 Ye are > blessed of the Lohh ' which made heaven and earth.

16 The heaven, even the heanrensi are the LoRD*s: but the earth hath he^ given to the children of men.

17 fliThe dead praise not tlie LorDj neither any. that go down into silence,

18° Biit W(j will blc^s the Lord from lhi«, ^4i me forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord-;,

dumh idolSf dyin^ in their sins, worship not Jehovi^; nor ean any of those who go dotvn tnio sdence praise thee: earih is the place in which to praise the L«r^ fet his mercies, and get a preparation for his glory.

VciiSD 18. But toe wilf M£S,f thn Lard] Our fathers, who received ho much*(^om thy bouniVt are dfsd; their timgitfn are *ii*?i^/n the grave; we are in Iheir place, and wish to magtiify thy name, for ihou h^t dealt hiKmti fully w ah us. But gr^nt ua those farther blesaingi liefore we die which we iso much need; aad we will praise thee as Ihing njonamenls of thy^rrtertj, and the praise we begin now shall continue for ever and ever.

The T&rgwfn, for ** neither any that go down into silence,^' has ^* nor sny thut descend into the houBe of eartl d V sepult ure, " that is, ihe tomb* The Anglo^axon: ^ ns cijille j»ft^c ny^epftrriji^ on hrJU, neither all Mcy

that go down into M. i^0gl) tbt Hebe 0ikl tmt t\)i liaitie. ne al that ipgtjrejgt m WL Did Psalter. The

word heii among our ancestors meant originaUy the covered^ or hidden ohseur^ place, from helan, to cover or cancEal r it now expresses only ihe place of oidleM^ torment,

AirALVSia"oF the Hundbed and Fifteiktb PsiX-at.

The ptophei, being zealous of GmJ^s honour, whifrh the heathens were soUcitous to give to their idola, earnestly beseeches God to manifest that power whiiih belongs to him alone, and which he wilt not give to aijpther.

Tills PsaJm has four parts:^—

L His petition for God's hcmonrr ver, 1; which belongs to no idol, ver. 3-9,

II. An exhortation to praise God, and hope m Juni| ver. 10-lS.

HI. The benefit that will artae from it; a hleasing»

JTie psalmht praue$

God for ddiverance.

h Some join tttia Pa&lm lo tkd fonner, cooceiring

that the pfophrv ' -^ " i^xprefised the gipiidneesof God

in the deltrerij |M?ople from Egypt ^ would not

wholtj to God. 1'herefoTe he begins:-;—.

3. "But iijito xhy name/' &c. We aeek it noi; take it wlittlly to thyself.

And tht0f for these reasotiti he desiiea might alwa^B be shown to bis people.

3. ** Wherefore shouEd the heathen say," &e. "Gbte them not occmioh lo blaspheme, a»^ if flbou hadst for* saken thy people. Should the heathen aak, we can answer: ** As for our God^ be is in the heavens, which hia miracles testify., He can deliver or nffliot hm people as he pl&asea.*^

1* "Their idols are silver and gold," Th© npiere produetbns of the earth.

3. " The work of men** handa." Works, and aot makeTs of works.

3. They are of no use orpower^ though formed like men: ** For they have mouths," &c. ♦* They have hands, but they handle not,** &c* Th^y have not the power of aniedating sotmds; they are lower than ereo the beasts that petish.

The prophet, having th^oa described the idol«, now notices their makers. -

2. ** So is every one that puts his trust," See. Christ ■ays, " Having eyes," &c,j Mark viU.

If, The prophet^ having passed this sarcasm D|Kin the idols and idolaters, teaves them, and eidions the Israeiites*

Iv " O Israeli trust thou/' dte. You are God's servants; and to encourage them he adds, '^ He is their help/' &c. The protector of the whole nation.

gpdda in religion; and therefore, yoti ought espeeially 10 trust in him who ia the shit^d of your tribe.

3. '* Ye that fear the Lord/' Sic In whatever nation you live; fiir aii who fear him, and do righleotisly, are accepted of him.

in. That ibis cxhortatlmi might be the deeper rooted, h^ puts them in mind tliat God ** halh been mindful of tia," by hii special providence.

2. ^ He will Mms the house of Aaron" as the priesthood.

The prophet, laking his example. from God^ pourt hja blessing upon them also, antt upon their children.

2. «* Ye are the blessed of the Lgtd/' &KJ. T^liOQglt the world speak ef iJ of you.

S. **The Lord which made heaven and earth,".Which words are added that they may be aasured thai their blessings are real, and com^ forth from lus hand directly and alone,

4. They come from one able to bfcss; for, 1. The heaveut even ike hea^enSt &c. In them he eapeeially shows his presence, majesty, and glory; but sends his dews and rain upon the earth. 9. As for the earth, he hath given ii, &c., that by his blessing upon their labours cbey might have food and raiment; therefore praise him.

IV, For this m the true end of their being: which be illustrates by an antitheaia^

1. " For ibe dead praise not tHe Lord," &c. These temporal' blessings are not felt by the dead — ^hey need them not: but the living should render continual thanks for them to God their author,

2. But we that are upon earth enjoy hia protection and temporal care of us; and besides we have his far richer spiritual bleBslngs^ therefore, ** we wilt bless the Lord," &c.p by oursefvea while we live, and aim by our instructions and prayers that our posterity may do the same when we are gone down into silence.

3. However, ye that ate alive this day, " praise vt* the Lord."

The psaimiil praUes God for Au deliv^ance from thraldom^ whi^h he eompare* to de&th and ihn grave j 1^0. The exepcises through tphich he had passed^ 10, IL Hix graiiiude for these mercies^ and restflution to ihe to God"^ glory, 12-19.

T ■ LOVE the Lord, because he halh heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath -inclined

NOTES ON PSAL.M CXVI. This PsaTm is al$o without a title, and its mtihor is unknown. It appears to have been written after the captivity, and to be a ihanksgiving to God for that

his ear ixnto mcj therefore will I call upon him *• as long as I Hire. 3 * The sotTOWS of death compassed me, and the pains of hell ^ gat hold upon me; I found troohle and aorro%v,

glorious event. The psalmist compares thi^ captivity to deoih and ibe ^are; and shows tlie happy return to the promised land, called here The land of the tiring. The people lecoUect the vows of God which were upon

4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord;. O Lord, I • beseech theOi deliver my

6 The LoikUD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped ine.

them, and purpose to fulfil them. They exult at beihg enabled to woiiship God in the temple at Jerusalem.

The Syriact which abounds in conjectural prefaces,. mpposes this Psalm to hare been written on the occasion of Stol coming to the month of the cave in which David lay hidden; but spiritually taken, it ^relates to the bringing of a new people, the Gentiles, to the Chris-, tian faith. In a few MSS. this Psajm is joined to the precieding. Many tKink it relates wholly to the passion, death, and triumiii of Ohrlst. Most pfthe fathers were of this opinion.

Verse 1. / lave the Lord^ because he h^h.heard\. How Tain and f<>olish is the talk, " To love God for his benefits to us is ntercenary, and cannot be pure love!" Whether pure or impure, there is no other love that can flow from the heart of the creature to its Creator. We Igve him, said the holiest of Christ's disciples, because he first Idbed tu; and the increase of our love and filial obedience is in proportion to the increased sense we have of our oblivion to him. Weioye him for the benefits bestowed on uS. Love- begets lave.

Verse 9. Because he h^ inclined his ear] The psalmist represents himself to be so si6k and weak„that he conld scaurcely spe^. The Lord, in condescensiim 'to this weakness, is here considered as bowing dowh his ear to the mouth of the feeble suppliant ^ that he ma5' receive every word of his prayer.

Therefore will I call upon hiin] I have had such blessed success in my application to. him, that I purpose to invoke him as long as I shall live.> He. that prays much will be emboldened to -pray more, because none oan supplicate the throne of grace in vain.

Verse S. The sorrows of death] nn ''San chebley fnavetht the cables or cords of death i alluding to their bonds i^d fetters during their captivity; or to the cords by which a. criminal is bound, who is about to be -led oat to execution; or to the bandages in which the dead were enveloped, wlien head, arms, body, and limbs, were all laced down together.

The pains of hell] Sliwr 'H^fO m^Uarey sheol, the ettraitnesses of the grave. So little expectation was there of life, that he speaks as if he were condemned, executed, and closed up in the tomb. Or, he may refer here to the sthoII niches in cemeteries, where the coffins of the dead were placed.

■ Because this Psalm has been used in the thanksgiving of women after safe delivery, it has been sup- |>osed that the pain sufifered in the act of parturition was equal, for the time, to the torments of the damned. Bnl this supposition is shockingly absurd; the utmost power of human nature could not, for a moment, en-

8 ' Forjthpu hast delivered my "'^"°^ soul from death, mine eyes from tears, aTtc^ my feet from falHng.. -

9 I will walk before, the Lord ^in the land of the living.,

dure the wrath of God, the deathless worm, and the unquenchable fire. The body must die, be decompotod, and be buiH up on indostroctible pfincfples, before this punishment can be home.., -,

Verse 6. The Lord preserveth the, simple] D^KHi) pethaim, which all the Versions • render little ones. Those who are meek and lowly of heart, who feel the spirit of little children, these he preserves, as he ^oe9 Uttle children; and he mentions this circumstance, because the Lord has a peculiar regard for these young ones, and. gives his angels charge cdaceming them. Were it otherwise, children are exposed to so many dangers.and deaths, that most of them wo^ld fall victims to aceidents in their infancy. - Verse 7. Return unto thy rest, O my soul] God is the centre to which all immortal spirits tend, and in connexion with which alone they caii fiiid rest. Every thing separated from its centre is in a state of violence;. and, if intelligent, cannot be happy. All human souls, while separated from God by* sin, a^e in a state of violence, agitation, and misery, From God all spirits come; to him all must return, in order to be fihally happy. This is true in the general case; though, probably* the rest spoken of here means the promised land, into which they were now returning,

A proof of the latd origin of this Psahn is exhibited in this verse, in the words ' JTn3t:S Hmetmchaichit " to thy rest," and '*yhy alaichi, " to thee," which are both Chaldaismr,

Verse 8. Thou hast delivered my soul from death] Thou hast rescued my life from the destruction to ^hich it was exposed. ^

My feet from falling.] Thou hast taken me out of the land of snares and pitfalls, and brought me into a plain path. How very near does our ancient mother tongue come. to this:—>popr^n he nejiOT>e j-aplo inme op «ea«e« ea^an mine op reapum, per mme op plioo. For thou he nerode sawle mine ofdealhe; eagan mine oftearum; fet mine of slide. And this language is but a little improved in the old Psalter: —

Verse 9. / will walk before the Lord] ^SrinK ethhattech, I will set myself to walk. I am determined to walk; my eyes arp now brightened, so that I can sesf my feet are strengthened. So that I can walk; and my #««/ ia o/i^e, 80 that I can-'tooM with the living.

The Vulgate, the Septuagtnt, the JEthiopie, the Arabic, aod the Anglo-Saxon end thia Psaltti here» which is numbered the cxivth; and begin with the te^h.Verse another Psalm, which they number exvtb; but cms division is not acknowledged by the Hebrew,, ChtUdee, and Syriac,

' my confidence; for my afflictions were gre^t, oppressive, and pf long standing.

It is scarcely worth observing that the letters trailed keemantic by the Hebrew grammarians, and which are oaed in forming the derivatives from the roots, are taken from the first word in this verse, '^jyyyucy^ heemanti, ** I have believed;'* as the preJUfes in that language

* are found in the technicaf words 3^31 ntBTO Mosheh vecaleb, *' Moses and Caleb;" and th^ formatives of the future are found in the word {n*K eythan,

* Verse 11. / said in my haste] This is v^iously^ translated: I said in my flight, Chaldi^.b.- In my exeess, or, ecstasy, Vuloatb. In my ecstasy, sx<fTa4et^ Skptuaoint. ^j^^^ ijf fi tahdyury, in my giddiness, AraSic. In my fear or tremor, Svriac. Ic opsBV on orsanse nunutn, / quoth in outgoing mincj when 1 vnB beside myself, Aicolo-Saxon. fit tfijin ottte pajlfier? pngt old Psalter. When passion got the better of nfy" reason, when I looked not at God, but at my afflictions, and the impossibility of human relief.

AU m^ are. liars.] 3.0 DIKTI Sd cai haadam cozeh, ''the whole of man is a lie.^* f^alsity is diffused through his nature; deception proceeds from his fongne; his actions are often counterfeit. He is imposed OQ by others, and imposes in his tnm y and on none is there any dependence till God converts their heart..

** O what a thing were man, if his attires Should alter with his mind. And, like a dolphin's skin. His clothes combine with his^d^ires! Surely if each one saw another's heart. There would be no commerce;,,->. AU woukl disperse. And live apart.'' HkrbbAt.

14 • I will pay my vows unto the LfORD now in the presence of all his people.

15 >* Precious in the sight of the Lomo is the.death of his saints.

. Con inganno e con arte Si vive Taltrd parti. ■ " Men live half the year by tieceit and by art; By art>nd deceit men live the other part."

For his' benefits] TIlSlD^ tagmulohi,^" His rptribcK tiojis,-" the returns he had made to my prayers and faith.

Verse 18. IwiHtake the cup of salvation] Literally, The^'cup of salvati&n, or deliverance, will I lift up. Alluding to the action in taking the ct^ of blessing among the Jews, which*' when the person or master of the family lifted, up, he said these wofds, " Blessed be the Lord, the Maker of the world, who has created the fruit of the vine!"

But it may probably allude to the.libation-ofierin^, Num. xzviii. 7; for the three last verses seem to intimate that the psalmist ws9 now at the temple, ofibring the raeitt-offering, drink-offering, and Sacrifices to the Lord. Clip is often, used by the Hebrew to denote plenty or abundance. So, the cup of trembling, an abundance of misery; the cup of salvation, an ab^n« dance of happiness.

And call upon the name of the J^ord.] I will' invoke his name, that I may get more of the same blessings ( for the on\y return that God requires is, that we. ask for more. Who is like God! One reason why we should never more come to s fellow-mortal for iji favour is, we* h^ve received so many already. A strong reason why we should claim the utmost salvation of God is, because'.we are already so much -in debt to his mercy. Now this is the only way we have of discharging our debts to God; and yet, strange to tell, every such attempt to discharge the debt only serves to increase it! Yet, notwithstanding, the debtor and creditor are represented as both pleased, both profited, and both happy in each other! Reader, pray to him, invoke his name; receive the cup— accept the abundance of salvation which he has'provided thee, that then mayest bve and serve him.with a perfect heart. - V^rse 14. I will pay my vows unto the Lord- noio in the presence of all his people.] He was probably now bringing his offering to the temple. These words are repeated, ver. 18.

Verse 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord] Many have understood this verse as meaning, ** the saints are too precious in the Lord's sight, lightly to give them over to death:" and this, Calmet contends, is the tree sense of the 'text. Though they have, many enemies, their Hves are precious in his sight, imd their ibes sh^| not prevail ag[ain8t them.

16 O Lord, tfuly «I am thjf servant; lam thy senrant, and '^he son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my^ bonds, 17 I will offer to thee • the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name ojf the Loed.

Verse ih. *! va thy servant] Thoa bast preserved me alive. I live with, for,. wad l» Tbu. I am thy vnUing" domestic^ the son of thine AoiK&nat J— like one bom in thy hoose of a ^omao already.thy property. I -am ft servantr son of thy servani^ macto free by thy kindnen; bat, refusing to' go ou/,'1 have liad m3r ear bored to thy doorrpost, and am to contipae hj free choici in thy hooM for ever.* He alliides here to the.case of the servsnt.who, in* the year of jubilee being;-entitl^. to his libejrty, refiised to leave bis master's >|stuio; and suffered his ear to be bored to tl^a 'doorpost, as a proof that *by his owp consent he agreed to continue in hia master's house for evdr.

Verse 1 7. 'I will offer to thee] As it is most probable that this Paalm celebrates the deliverance from Bafy- Ion, it is no wonder that we find the psalmist so intent on performing the rites of his religion* iq the temple jU Jerujsalem, which had been burnt with fixe, and was now reviring out of its ruyis, ^e temple service having been, wbc^y interrupted for. nearly Tourscore yietan.

Verse 19. In ffie midst of thee,, O Jerusalem.] He speaks as if present in the city, offering lus vdwed f pcr^es in tljie temple to the Lord. ' *

Most of. this P^alm has been applied to -our Lord and his ChureH; and in this way it- has been considered SB prophetic; apd,. taken thus, it is innocently a6commodated, and" is veiy edifying. This is the interpretation given-of the whoJeV the.o/J Psalter: *.. *

Analysis or tbb Hundrbd and Sixtbentii Psalm.

• This Psalm is gratulatory; for it shows liow gre^ sCraits the psalooiiBt'was brought into, fVom which Gpd

. This Psalm has three parts: — J, The peahnist makes profession cf his love, and shows the reasons of it: God's goodhess.in hearing and delivering- him from his low and sad condition,

• I. He begins with the' expression of his content and love: <' I love the Lord.'' And he gives these rea^

1. " Because >he hath heard,^ Ice. This is reason isnoogh why Ishbuld love him.

fi. "Because he hath inclined," &c An evidence that he was heard. Ifpon which experience that he was heard he adds: «< Therefore will I call," Ac.

Another treason which moved him to love God was, that he heard him in the extremity of his deep distressj for, —.

3. '«* The pains Of hell," '^c. He feared the angw of God for his sins:

*3. ^'I found trouble and sorrow." This psahnisi was sensible of his condition: though others ml^ suppose him compassed with prosperity, yet he knew himself distressed.

But' he prayed to the Lord.

1. "Then."^ In these tronbles and pangs.-

And th9n,^^at lie might show 'that he pnyed to God in faith and. hope, he points'. out tbei att^bntes of God. for the enconragenient of 'others..

i. *$ God is gracious." It is he who inspii^ prayer apd repentance, remits fdir, and pardons thosis ^vHio ftf in fait^ to. him for mercy!.

. 3t " Tea, our God is merciful." He mingles mercy with lus justice; he corrects with a father's hand, and loves to forgive- rather than to punish. Of which David gives an instance in himself: **! was brought low, and he helped me.". And all others may find 'the samer who come in- the way that 1 did to him for pardon.. * -

.Another rease^ he gives for loving Grod was, the tranquillity of soul he found afier this storm was over:' ** Therefore, return unto thy rest, O my soul." Hitherto 'thou haSt been t6ssed up and down on die waves of sorrow, finding no port or haven: now foith has opened to thee a harbour where thou mayest be safe: ** For the Lord hath dealt)" &c.: but of his inifinite mercy he bas given thee joy for sadness. *. «

He attributes to him the. whole of his work. -.

I. " Thou hast deliyered," Ac. Turned my heaviness into joy, by reinoving all fear of death.

3. " Thou hast delivered my feet," &c. When my infirmity is great, the devil takes advantage of me that I might fall; but now thou hast settled my feetmade me able to resist him. And this God does for all who caH upon him, and trust in him.

II. The pralmist, having expressed his sorrows and God's goodness, now professes his dutiful attachment, 1. By his obedience; 3. By a foithful confession of his errors, and future confidence.

1. «» I will walk before the Lord," &c. Be careful to please God, by walking, not after the flesh, bat after the Spirit.

He professes his faith, on which he will evermi>re rely.

AU nolftofitf ore imitcd

tojiiruise ttke Lord^

9. *" I. was greatly afflicted,'* &c.; liut I doBite aad humble to. the Spirit of God. Wh«n DaTid Was tossed. between hope* and d^pair, he found those sorrows were not easily quieted; for ** I said in my bMte,^ &e.

..Wbioh clause is differently understood by cofoomeniators.,

. 1. Some suppose it to be An amplification ofhis for- BMBr griefk I was so amazed, aqd oyerwjieUned with sorrowi-that if any oqe rieminded me of jGrod!s ^ronusesf "I said in my haste,. All nien are liars.** I witl not believe God; he hath no care for me.

. S. Others again refer this clause to the preceding: They talk of happiness and felicity, bu| i^ne is to be found in the land df the living.

4. Again, others suppose that he taxed eieti' Samuel liiniself that lie spoke not by God*s. Spirit,, when)ie anointed hjjn king over Israel; because, during 'Sanl*s persecution, there appeared so little hope of4t. But the fir^t sense is the mo^t oOgent.

ni. Henceforth,^ to the end of the Psalm,, -David Glares his gratitude: " What shall I regder to -the' Lord,** '&C. As if he had said, I acknowledge the hQiieflts God. has bestowed upojv'me;.but in what way e^n I. best evince my gratitude 1...1* "I will take the cup of salvation.** Here inter-* pCBte)rS vloury as to what is to 4)6 (tn^rstdod by the cup

tf stUvation, 1. Some refer it to* the. eucharistieal.vjorship is not very likely to keep up private devotion,

sacrifices of the old laV,*in which,' when a man offered sacrifice to God for some deliverance; he made a

Att te the people, as did David, 1 Chron. i., iL, iii..8. The lathers understood it of the cup of patience and affliction,.which is often in Scripture caU(^ 'a cup, Matt. XX. 3^ 3. But here it seems to signify plenty, abundance, dl&(^ Bee the iiote. - a. "1 will pay toy vows,**, &c. 'It was usual in God's service to make vowsi or to confess his name in an open assembly. God tees for all his people, however eireumstaneed; ftr precious m the sight of the -Lord is ike death of his saints. The servants of God firot^^ thems^ves hi -vain - \dien they distMist him; foi in lifer he is with them, and in death he will not forsake them.., •.

The psalmist does not becpsne proud upon God*s favours; bdt yi all humility, tholigh a king, bs exclaims,—' ' ".

1.,*< b Lorj, truly I am thy aervanV ^• ' -S. And yet no slave, but a willing servant: <*Thou h^t loosed my bonds,**— taken from my neck the* bbnds^of fear: thou hast made me thy servant through love /.

. 2^. And therefbre lidll I do what thy servants ooght to do.

Showing his earnestnesB he^ repeats again, " I will offer td thee the. sacrifice bf thanki^ving, and will call upon' the name of the Lord. - 1 will pay my vows unto ^e Lord now in the*presence of alliiis people, in the courts of the Lord*s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.*' Within the Churc^, and at all,times, he would praise and do him 'worship. What- is not done according to God's word and Spirit is of little service. He wKo neglects public

either -in bin family or in his closet.. *'i will pay my vows in the midst of thee, O Jertasalem.'^,

T%e psalmist tolls upon the nations of the woM to praise the Lord for his mercy and kindness, and for. the

2 For his merciful^ kindness

NOTES ON P^ALM CXVII. ' This is the shortest Psalm in the whole collection; it is written as a part of the preceding in thiny-two of Kenmeott^s and De RossCs MSS., and is found thus printed in some ancient editions. ^Thci whole Psalm is' omitted in one of KennicotCs and in two of De RqssVs MSS. It celebrates the redemption from the Babylonish captivity, the grand' type of the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus.

The Syriac says^ '* It Was spoken, coneeming Ananias and his follo>vers when they came out of the furnace; but it also foretells the vocation of the Gentiles }}y the preaching of the Gospel/' In this way 6t Paul applies it, Rom. xv. 11.^ is great toward us.: and the ^ truth of the LorI) eniwr^ e^A for ever.* Praise ye^lhe Lord..

Verse 1.0 prmse the Lord, all ye' nations] Let all the. Gentiles praise him, for he provides for their eternal salvation.

Praise Jiim, all ye people^ All ye Jews, praise him; for ye have long been his peculiar peddle. And while he sends his Son to be a light to tlie Gentiles, he sends hJm also to he the glory of his people Israel.

. Verse 2. For his merciful kindness is great] IDJ gabar,\B strong: it is not only great in bulk or nvmber, hvLt it is powerfut; it prevails over sin, Satan^ death, and helL • ' ■

And the truth df the Lord -endureth y<w" ever,] Whatsoever he has promised, that he wilLtest infallibly fulfil. He ha^ promised to send hi^^inio the «01

This Pflpdm contains a doxology to Qddforhis m^rcy ^ and truth; and it is propheticait having reierenee.to ' the calling oif the Geptiles; Rpm. xy. 1 1.

It contains two parts; —

I. An exhortation to praite God. '. '

(hid for tmmtrcf/.

tion; and then, when fulfilled, praise him for the enjoymtent of tliis salvation, — for. the remissim t>f sin^ and gifi.of the Holy GhosL,.

9 He speaks to the converted- Jetri, Whom he nbtes

unier thd namcof />eo^e» as they are called Psa. ii. 1, Aefi iv. S5. As. they and the Gentihs aie intended, t6 make one Church,- sO they should join in the psmise of him ojf whom the whole fansUy m h^av^ mul earth is named. ••..•_•••

I. *3ecsiuse his mercy is great. It is sf^tmff ^ eoii^ fim^ed towaid us, in sending^ his Son to save both Jews and Gentiles from their sins. ^ «

•S. ' IJecause the truth of his promises -ia fidfiUed. The promised Messiah is come, and hqs performed aO that wa^piophesied of him.^ *,

3.. Because this txiith is for ever. His promises and their /t4(/!/men/ belong to ail generations, lliere will nevef be another Messiah; Jesus is the trae one: he tast\ed death foi" every roan; he forgives iniquity, t];an9gre88ion, and sin; <and'his blood cleanses firooi

all ye nations.*' Praise him for the promise of salv'a- aH uncighteDUsness. 'Now, fqr all this; ^ PraCse ye

{"S. B, Broclaimiiig the eternal mercy ef God 'in Christ icrjnore likdy to persuade sinnerh to leftim to their Maker than alt the &re of hell.] '

A^gehergl exhortation^ to praise God for his m^rcy,.1-4. TVie psaltoist, by his own e^sperience^ encburagei Ih^ peopfe to trust in God, and shows them the advantage of it, 5-9 V then describes his enerni^s, and shows how^ God enabled him to destroy them, 10-13. The people rejoice on the account, 15, 16. ' He speaks again of the help he received from the 'Lord; and desires admission int4> ihe_ temple, that he m4fy enter' and praise the Lord, 17*-19. - The gate is opened, 20. He offers praise, 21. The priest^, &c., ttckmn^^dg^ the hand of the Lord in' the deliverance wroujght, 22-2'4. The j>salrnist- prays for j)rosperitj^,'^S.,• lie priest performs his office^ blesses' the pedple,'and all joih in praise, 26, 27', The ps^mist expresses his confidence, iS. The getenl ^oxology, or chorus, 29. ' ^ - ^ *.

C\ • GIVE thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his naercy endureth^tewQx.

Most probably I>avid was the author of this. Psalm, though- many think it was written after the captivity. It paCk^kes of David^s spirit, and ev6ry where shows the hand of s^ master. - The style is ^rand and noble; the subyeet^t majestic. ^ '

Dr. Kenriicoit, Wlio joins this and the hundred and 'seventeenth Psalm together, considers the 'whole jets a dialogue, and divides it accordingly. The whole of ihe: hundred and seventeenth he gives to the jtsalmist as parJ the firsts vrith the first four verse»-.of the hundred and eighteenth. The second part, which is from the^/A veHe to the twenty -first inclusive, he gives to th^ Messiedt. The third part, from the • twe^ntysecond ietBe ig the twentymsevehth, he gives to the cho-. rus. And\he fourth part,i)\etwenty-eighth void twentyninth verses, he gives to the psalmist. Of the whole lie has given an improved Version.

Bishop Horsley is stilt different. He considers the hundred and Seventeenth Psalm as only the exordium of this. The whole poem, Re. states, is a triumphant processional song. The scene passes at the front gate of the taniiile. A conqueror witli his train appears before it"! he demands admittance to rctOrii thanks 605> for his deliV'erance and fihal suc&ess, ijhan ex{»ed{tioii of great difficulty and danger. The conqueror and his train sing tKe hundred and setenteenth Psah^, and the first four verses of the hundred and eighteenth, a? they Advance to the gate of the teinpi^ in this QiaiAier^ — The hundred and seventeenth Psalm, Ckonm of the whole procession* '^The first verse of the hundred and eighteenth Psahn,A single voice. The second. Another single voice. The third, A third single tbice. The ffiurth. Chorus of the whole procession. "Arrived at the temple gate, the conqueror alone sings the fifth, sixth, 9xiA^ seventh verses. The eighth and ninth are sung by his train in chorus. The conqueror, again. a/(m^, sings the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirieernth^ void fourteenth verses. His train, in chorus, sing the fifteenth and sixteenth. The conqueror alone sings the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth verses. The' twentieth As sung by the priests wd Levites.vnihirf, in chorus. The twenty-fifth by the conqueror alone within the gates. The twenty-sixth, by the priests arid Levites in chorus. The twenty-seventha by the cdrupteror's Train in chorus. The twenty-eighth, by ihe conqueror alone. The twenty-ninth, by the united chorus ef priesis a^id Levites^ arid the conqueror's traiikx il&

3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy, enduretk for ever.^^

4 Let' them now that fear the Lord say^that his mercy endureth for eyer.

6 ^The Lord w «.on my side j I. will not fear:. what can man do unto me If

.7 ** The Lord t^keth my paftt with theoi that help me: therefore shall ' I ^e. my desire uppn them that hate. me. *. *...

withio the. gates. '." Now,*^ the learned bishop adds,. ** the Jewish temple v^za a type of heaven; the priests^ within represent the angelic host attending round the' throne of Grod in heaven; the Conqueror is Messiah; mnd his train, the redeemed J^ On tliis distribution the bjriiop has given a new version. The single distribn-' tidn into parts, which I have giv^'n in the contents^ is, in my opinion, the best. Ingrenions as Dr. Kennicott and Bishop Hersley are, they seem.- to me^Uxf ihechqnical. This is the last of these Psalms which form the gre^tJuUlel, which (he Jews'sung ^t the end of. the passover.

Yerse 2. Lei Israel now say] Sieeing the haqd of the Lprd so visibly, and the delivdhmce gaihed, that Qod*s mercy endureth for ever.

Yenfe 3. The house of Aaron] The priesthood is sun preserved, and the temple worship restored.

Verse 4. That fear the Lord] All sincere penitents and genuine believers. See the notes on Psa. crv. 9-il.

.Verse 5^ 7 called upon the Lord] I "am- a standing proof and living witness of God^s mercy. Take encouragement from me.

Verse 7^ 1!he Lord taketh my part with them "that help me] Literally, The Lord is to me <mong tny helpers. Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me... Literally, And I shalHiook among them that hi^e mfi- As God is onjny side, I fear not to look the whole of them in the face. I shall see them, defeated.

Verse. 8. Better to trust in the Lord] Mantis feeble, iffnorant, fickle, ajid capricious; it is better to trust in Jehovah than in such.. <

Verse 9. In princes.] Men of high estate are-^neladTy proud, vainrgloriouSt self-for^fident, and rash: it b. befter to trust in God than in them. Often iHej cannot deliver, and often they will not when they can.^ However, in the concerns of oqr salvation, and in matters which belopg to Providence, they • po^ do fiothuig.

Verse 10. All nations compassed me about] This is by some supposed to relate to David, at the commencement T)f his- reign, when all the neighbouring Philistine nations endeavoured to prevent him from ^s^tabljshing himssli* in Xh^ kingdom; Others suppose

8 ^ It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

9 ^ It is better to trdst in the Lord than to put* confidence in princes.

.10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of ^ Lord will I ^ destroy them.

1 1 T^y ^ compfMsed me about; yea, they coippas^ed riie about: but in the name, of the Lord I wift destroy tliem.

12 They compassed me aibeut *like bees; they are quenched p a^ the fire of thorns: fot in the name of the Lord I will ^ destroy them.

it may refer to the ^amaritansj^umeana, Ammonites^ ' \ and others, who 'endeavoured to prevent the Jews* irom rebuilding- their city and their temple after their «

But in the nanie qf the JLord SB I destrqy /A^m.]^ Dr. Kennicott renders dVok amOamy, 'i I shall dis- *

Verse 13. T%ey compassed m> ahout like bees; they are quenched as the fare of therns] I shall refer to Qr. Dplaney^s qote on this.passage. The reader has here in miniatur^ two of the finest images in Homer; which,, if hib (furiosity demands. to be gratified, he will find illustrated and enlarged, Iliad ii.' ver. 86. •

Poored- forth by thoosandsy darkens, all the coast. AsJ&om«some rocky cleft the sKepherd sees, Clustering in heapis on heaps, the driving |>ee8,, Rolling and blackening, swarms- succeeding swarms^ With deeper murmurs and nqore hoar^ alarms; Dusky- they spread a close* embodied crowd, And o'er the vale descends the living cloud: ' ^ So 4Vom the tents and ships a lengthening train Spreads al^ the beach, and wide o'ershades the plain: Along the region runs a deafening sound; Beneath theiir footsteps groans the trembling ground.

13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that- 1 mi^t fall: but the Lord hetped me. '

14'fThe Lord is my strength suid song, and is become my salration. • '

15 The voice of rejoicing and saivatidn is iu the -tabernacles of the righteoiis: the right hand of the Lord doeth yfliUantly. ^

16 ' The right hand of the LoRb. is exacted: the right hand of the Lord doeth *Yaliantly.'.

18 The LotiD hath ^ chastened mcr sore: but

Je hath not given me.over unto death. n^ "^ Open to me the gates of righteousness: I witt^o^m to them, and I will praise the- Lord '. 20. « This gate ol^e Lori^ y- into which the tighteous shall enter. 21 I will praise thee: for thou hast * heard' ftoie, and ^ad^tb^pidme my salvation... •

Verse 13. Thou hqst thrust sore at me] Inpashihg; thou hast pushed me. thi^ I might fUl.

J^ut the L&td helped oie.] Though- he possessed skill, courage, and strength, yet these'could not have prevailed had not God be^n }n&.helper; and to him he. gives the glory of the victory.

Verse 15. The' voke of rejoicing} Fohnerly iSaQte was nothing but wailings; but now there is ynivefrsal joy because of the salvation — the deliverance, which God has wrought for us.

* VdVse 16.' the right hand of the Lord is exaUed\ Jehovah lifted. up \ii& right hand, and with it performed prodigies of power.

Verse 17. J sheiU not die] I was nigh unto death; but I um preserved,— ^rese^ed to publish th^ wondrous works of the iiord.

Verse 19. Open to me the gates] Throw open the dooirs of the temple, «that I may enter and perform my vows unto tKe Lord. -

Verse 20. This gate of the Lord] Supposed^ to be the <mswer*of the Levites to the request of the king.

Verse 31. I will praise thee] He is now got within the gates, and breaks out into thanksgivings for the mercies he had received. He is become mysidval^ — he himself hath saved me from all mine enemies. ^

22 ^The* Btohe which the builders rrfosed is become the head sUm^ o{ the corner.

2^ This isr the day- tD^cA the Lord hath made; w© wijl rejoice and* be glad in it.

26 ^ Blessed 6« he that cometh in the liame

of the Lord; we haye blessed* you 6ut of the

27.God U the Lord, which hath^owed-as •light:* bind the sacrifice with cords, cwn unto the horns of the, altar.

V«rs^23, 23. TheMone which the huildisrs r^u£ei[ See a full elucidation of these two verses iif ^e notes on Matt. xxi. 4!^.

yerse^ 34. 'Th^ 19 the day which th^ Lor4 hath.made] As the Lord hath called me to triamphi ^ 'is the day which he hath appointed for ^that ^Uipose. Tliis is a gracious opportunity i I wlU iniprove'it.to his glory.. * ^

Verse 96. Saioe now\ I beseech thee] TheM words were supg by the Jews on the feast of tabernacles^ when carrying green ' btahbhes in their hands; and from the t(j nir*Bnn hoshi^ nna, We have tfa«. word hdsan^- This was sung by the Jewish chil^ea w6en Christ made his public entry iato Jerusalem. See'Matt, xxi. 0, and see the ndte there, «in which the word 'and the circumstance are' both exphined.. \ene 26, We have blessed you] The answer of the Levites to the kfng. '. "..

; Verse 37. God is thrLord}' Rather rVBV Sk El 'Yehovahf. the strong God Jehov^.

Which hath showed us light] uS ^K*l vaiyaer kmu, " And he will illuminate us.'' Perhaps at this time a. Divine sfilendour shone upon the whole procession.; a proof of God's approbation.

Bint^ the sacrifice with cords] The Chaldee pmphrases this verse thus: " Samuel the prophet said, Bind the little one with chains for a solemn sacrifice, until ye have sacrificed him, tmd sprinkled his blood on the horns of the altar." It is supposed that' the words' refer to the feast of tabernacles, and in chog here means the festival victim. Several transfate the original " keep the festival with thick boughs of the horns of the altar." In this sense the Vulgate and Septuagint understood the passage. David in this entry into the temple was a type of our blessed Lord, who made a similar entry, as related Matt. xxi. 8-10.

Yme 90. Ogive thanks unto the Lord] This ia the general doxology or chorus. Al} joik^ in thanksgiving, and Jiiey end as they began: *' ^iB niercy endnreth Cor ever.** It began at the creation of man; it will continue till* the earih is bom't up.