Srom  t^e  feifirari?  of 
 
 (profeseor  ^amuef  (gXtffer 
 
 in  (Ulemor^  of 
 
 3ttbge  ^dmuef  (gitffer  (jBrecEinrtb^e 
 
 gjresenteb  6^ 
 
 ^amuef  (gliffer  (grecftinribge  feong 
 
 fo  t^e  &i6rarg  of 
 
 (Princeton  C^eofo^icaf  ^entinarj^ 
 
COMMENTARY 
 
 ON    THE 
 
 BOOK    OF    PSALMS. 
 
 IN    WH  ICH 
 
 Tlteir  htkrai.  cr  historical  Sense,  as  they  relate  to  King  David,  and  the 
 People  of  Israel,  is  illuftrated; 
 
 And  their  Application  to  Messiah,  to  the  Church,  and  to  Individuals,  as 
 Members  thereof,  is  pointed  out: 
 
 With  a  view  to  render  the  ufe  of  the  Psalter   pi^easing  and  profitable  to 
 all  Orders  and  Degrees  of  Christians. 
 
 VOLUME  THg  SECOND. 
 
 THE    SEVENTH    EDITION. 
 
 BY  GEORGE,  LORD  BISHOP  OF  NORWICH, 
 
 AND    PRESIDENT    OF    MAGDALEN    COLLEGE,    OXFORD. 
 
 All  things  mujl  be  fulfilled,  ivhich  -were  ivr'itten  in  the  Pfalms  concerning  me,  Luke  xxiv.  44. 
 /  ivilljliig  tvith  tbeffirit^andliuilljtng  -witb  the  underjianding  alfo,     I  Cor.  xiv.  15. 
 Tbeyftng  tbefong  of  Mofes,  andthefong  of  the  Lamb.     Rev  xv.  3. 
 
 LONDONi 
 
 PRINTED     FOR     G.    AND    J.    ROBINSON,    PATER-NOSTBR-ROW 
 
 AND    JOSHUA    COOKE,    OXFORD. 
 
 By  G.  Woodf.in,  Patcrnoftcr-rmv. 
 
 1802. 
 
COMMENTARY 
 
 ON    THE 
 
 BOOiC   OF   PSALMS. 
 
 FiFtEENTH   DAY.       MORNING   PRAYER, 
 
 PSALM     LXXV. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  prophet,  1*  gives  thanks,  with  the  cliurcli^ 
 to  God  for  the  mahifeflation  of  his  name, 
 and  the  wonders  of  falvation  wrought  there- 
 by. 2.  He  declares  his  refolution  of  exe- 
 cuting judgment  and  juftice  in  his  kingdom, 
 which  3.  had  been  in  diforder  and  confufion  * 
 4 — 6,  he  rebukes  the  wicked  ;  e,  7.  reminds 
 them  of  the  power^  providence,  counfels, 
 and  judgments  of  God  ;  P,  10.  he  concludes 
 with  repeating  his  refolution  to  praife  God ; 
 to  break  the  power  of  wickednefs;  and  to 
 eflablifh  righteoufnefs* 
 
 « 
 
 "ITER.  I.  U?ifo  thee,  O  God,  do  we  give  thanks, 
 ^     unto  thee  do  zve  give  thanks:  for  that  thi/ 
 
 name  is  near,  thy  wondrous  works  declare. 
 
 The  church  offers  up  her  repeated  praifes  to  God 
 
 for  deliverance;  (he  acknowledges  the  prefence  of  his 
 
 VOI.  Ik  A  NAME 
 
2  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  75. 
 
 NAME  in  the  midftof  her,  which  had  been  evidenced 
 by  the  "  wonderful  works"  wrought  for  her  falva- 
 tion.  Upon  whatever  occafion  thefe  words  were  ori- 
 ginally indited,  the  Chriftian  church  now  celebrates 
 in  them  that  great  deliverance,  which,  by  fo  many 
 miracles  of  mercy  and  power,  hath  been  accomplifti- 
 ed  for  her,  through  Meffiah,  who  is  in  Scripture 
 frequently  ftyled,  "  the  name  of  Jehovah."  See 
 Ifai,  XXX.  27. 
 
 2.   Whefi  1  Jhall  receive  the  congregation,  I  will 
 judge  uprightly. 
 
 The  firft  verfe  was  fpoken  by  many  perfons ; 
 *'  unto  thee,  O  God,  do  we  give  thanks;"  here  the 
 fpeaker  is  one,  and  that  one  is  plainly  a  ruler,  who 
 promifes,  that  when  he  Ihall  have  **  received  the  con- 
 **  gregation,"  or,  as  fome  render  it,  "  when  he  (hall 
 <*  have  gotten  an  appointed,  or  fit  time,  or  feafon," 
 that  is,  when  he  (hall  be  eflabliflied  in  power  and 
 authority,  at  a  fit  time  and  place,  he  will  "  judge 
 "  uprightly,"  and  introduce  a  thorough  reformation 
 into  a  kingdom,  which,  as  we  (hall  find  by  the  fol- 
 lowing verfe,  flood  greatly  in  need  of  it.  From  thefe 
 circumftances  it  Ihould  feem  moft  probable,  that 
 David  is  fpeaking  of  his  advancement  to  the  throne 
 of  Ifracl,  and  the  intended  reditude  of  his  admini- 
 ftration,  when  he  Ihould  be  fettled  thereon.  What 
 David  did  in  Ifrael,  was  done  in  the  church  univer- 
 fal,  by  him  who  fate  upon  the  throne  of  David, 
 when  he  "  received,"  for  his  inheritance,  the  great 
 **  congregation"  of  the  Gentiles,  and  the  earth  was 
 full  of  the  "  righteoulhels"  of  Jehovah. 
 
 3.  The 
 
Day  15.  M.  p.      ON  THE  PSALMS.  ^ 
 
 3»  The  earthy  or,  the  landy  and  all  the  hihahi- 
 tants  thereof  are^  or,  were  dijjblved:  I  bear  up  the 
 pillars  of  it. 
 
 Civil  diftradions,  and  the  continual  irruptions  of 
 foreign  enemies,  had  thrown  the  Ifraelitilh  affairs 
 into  confufion,  and  "  diffolved"  the  frame  of  govern- 
 ment j  until,  by  the  re*efl:ablifliment  of  royal  au- 
 thority, countenance  and  fupport  were  again  given 
 to  all  the  fubordinate  magiftrates ;  who  are,  in  their 
 refpedive  ftations,  the  "  pillars"  of  a  community. 
 Such  was  the  univerfal  corruption  and  diffolution  of 
 manners  both  among  Jews  and  Gentiles,  when  Mef- 
 fias,  entering  upon  his  regal  office,  reformed  the 
 world,  raifed  the  glorious  fabric  of  the  church,  and 
 made  his  apoflles  and  their  fucceflbrs  the  "  pillars" 
 of  his  fpiritual  kingdom.  Let  men  fupport  religion  i 
 and  God  will  fupport  them. 
 
 4.  /  faid  tinto  the  foolsi  deal  not  fooliflily  ;  and 
 to  the  wicked,  lift  not  up  the  horn :  5.  Lift  not  up 
 your  horn  on  high  ;  fpeak  not  with  a  Jiiff  neck. 
 
 "  Where  the  word  of  a  king  is,  there  is  power.'* 
 The  prophet  addrefles  himfelf  to  the  oppofers  of  his 
 government,  and  the  difturbers  of  Ifrael :  he  urges 
 the  "  folly"  of  exalting  themfelves  againft  their 
 prince  j  and  exhorts  them,  for  their  own  fakes,  to 
 humility  and  obedience.  Is  not  this  the  very  mef* 
 fage  which  the  minifters  of  Chrift  have  received  from 
 their  king,  and  are  commanded  to  deliver  to  the 
 world  ? 
 
 6.  For  promotion  cometh  neither  from  the  eajt, 
 
 nor  from  thewejly  nor  from  the  fouth  :  7.  But  God 
 
 A  2  is 
 
4  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  75 
 
 is  the  judge ;  he  putteth  down  one,  and  fetteth  up 
 another. 
 
 The  oppofition,  mentioned  in  the  preceding  verfe, 
 was  called  *'  folly."  In  thefe  verfes  it  is  proved  to 
 be  fiich  j  as  being  an  oppofition,  in  efFedl,  to  the 
 counfels  of  heaven ;  for,  not  by  worldly  power  or 
 craft,  but  by  the  defignation  and  providence  of  God 
 himfelf,  the  fupreme  judge  of  princes,  and  difpofer 
 of  kingdoms,  was  the  houfe  of  Saul  "  put  down," 
 and  the  houfe  of  David  ''  fet  up."  And  are  not, 
 then,  the  enemies  of  the  Son  of  God  in  arms  againft 
 the  Father;  who,  according  to  the  promifes  goings 
 before  concerning  him,  hath  highly  exalted  him ; 
 hath  committed  all  power  and  judgment  to  him ;  and 
 hath  put  all  thmgs  under  his  feet  ?  Yea,  and  the 
 liour  is  coming,  when  he  fnall  put  down  all  rule, 
 and  all  authority,  and  power,  and  the  Lord  Jefus 
 alone  fhall  be  exalted  in  that  day.  What  will  then 
 he  the  portion  of  his  impenitent  adverfaries,  the  next 
 verfe  will  inform  us. 
 
 8.  For  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord  there  is  a  cup,  and 
 theivine  is  red:  it  is  full  of  mixture;  and  he  poureth 
 out  of  the  fame;  but  the  dregs  thereof  all  the  xvicked 
 of  the  earth  Jhall  wring  them  out,  and  drink  them. 
 
 As  the  choiceft  of  heavenly  bleffings  are  frequently 
 in  Scripture  reprefented  by  the  falutary  effeds  of 
 wine,  a  cup  of  which  the  Mailer  of  the  family  is 
 fuppofed  to  hold  in  his  hand,  ready  to  diftribute  due 
 portions  of  it  to  thofe  around  him;  i^o  from  the 
 noxious  and  intoxicating  qualities  of  that  liquor, 
 when  drank  ftrong,  and  in  too  large  a  quantity,  is 
 1  bor- 
 
Day  15.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  5 
 
 borrowed  a  moft  tremendous  image  of  the  wrath  and 
 indignation  of  Almighty  God.  Calamity  and  forrow, 
 fear  and  trembling,  infatuation  and  defpair,  the  evils 
 of  the  prefent  life,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come,  are 
 the  bitter  ingredients  which  compofe  this  moft  hor- 
 rible cup  of  mixture.  It  is  entirely  in  the  hand  and 
 difpofal  of  God,  who  through  every  age,  has  been 
 pouring  out,  and  adminiftering  of  it's  contents,  more 
 or  lefs,  in  proportion  to  the  fins  of  men.  But  much 
 of  the  ftrength  and  power  of  the  liquor  ftill  remains 
 behind,  until  the  day  of  final  vengeance.  It  will  be 
 then  exhaufted,  even  to  the  dregs,  by  unrepenting 
 rebels  J  when  "  burning  coals,  fire,  and  brimftone," 
 and  eternal  *'  tempeft,"  fhall  be  "  the  portion  of  their 
 "  cup."     Pf.  xi.  6. 
 
 9.  But  I  ivill  declare  for  ever-,  I  willfnig  praifes 
 to  the  God  of  Jacob, 
 
 Thefe  difpenfations  of  mercy  and  judgment  the 
 prophet  refolves  to  "  declare"  to  the  world  for  ever, 
 by  thus  "  finging"  the  works  and  the  "  praifes"  of 
 God,  in  pfalms,  and  hymns,  and  fpiritual  fongs. 
 And  while  we  now  fing  them,  we  declare  our  refolu- 
 tion  to  be  the  fame  with  his. 
 
 10.  AIL  the  horns  of  the  wicked  alfo  will  I  cut  off. 
 but  the  horns  of  the  righteous  fhall  be  exalted. 
 
 He  determines  likewife,  as  every  good  governor 
 fhould  do,  to  exert  the  authority  with  which  he  was 
 entrufted  ;  to  break  the  power  of  triumphant  wicked- 
 nefs ;  and  to  exalt  that  righteoufnefs  which  exalteth 
 a  nation;  hereby  rendering  himfelf  a  fit  image  of 
 Him,  who  hath  fince  done  away  tranfgreffion,  and 
 brought  in  everlafting  righteoufnefs,  who  will  one 
 A  3  day 
 
6  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  76, 
 
 day  turn  the  wicked  into  hell,  and  exalt  his  faithful 
 fervants,  to  reign  with  him  in  heaven.  Already  he 
 reigns  in  them  upon  earth  :  caufing  "  all  carnal  af- 
 ^*  fedions  to  die  in  them,  and  all  things  belonging 
 **  to  the  Spirit  to  live  and  grow  in  them." 
 
 PSALM    LXXVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 It  is  obvious,    at  firfl:  fight,   to  any  one  who 
 reads  this  Pfalni,  that  it  was  compofed,  as 
 a  thankfgiving  hymn,  on  account  of  fome 
 great  deliverance,  wrought  for   his   people, 
 by  the  immediate  hand  of  God.     The  mi- 
 raculous deftru6tion  of   the  Aflyrian  army, 
 by  the    angel,   in  the  days  of   king  Heze- 
 kiah,  is  generally  pitched  upon,  as  the  fub- 
 je6t  of  it,  and  affirmed  to  be  fo  by  the  an- 
 cient Greek  infcription  prefixed  to  it  in  the 
 ISKK  verfion.     The  prophet,  1,  2,  declares 
 the  glory  which   God   hath  gotten   him   in 
 Ifrael ;    3 — 6.    dcfcribcs    the    circqm fiances 
 of  the  deliverance,  with  7.  arefle6tion  there- 
 upon;   8 — 10.    he    mentions    the  effccls  it 
 had  produced  among  the  nations,    and   11, 
 J 2,  thofe  which   it  ought  to  produce  in  If- 
 raelitiih  hearts.     The  ideas  are  to  be  tranf- 
 ferred  to  the  falvation  of  the  church  unjver- 
 fal,  by  the  ^eftrudion  of  fin  and  Satan,  and 
 the  overthrow  of  the  perfecuting  powers. 
 
 1.  In 
 
Day  15.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  7 
 
 I.  In  Judah  is  God  k?io:v?i,  his  Name  is  great  in 
 Ifrael,  2.  In  Salem  alfo  is  his  tabernacle,  and  his 
 dwelling  in  Si  on. 
 
 On  occafion  of  fome  great  deliverance,  the  pro- 
 phet fpeaks  in  tranfport  concerning  that  prefence  anti 
 protecVion  of  God,  which  the  highly  favoured  Judah 
 once  enjoyed.  She  enjoyed  them  while  (he  continued 
 faithful,  and  really  was,  what  fhe  profefled  to  be. 
 But  on  account  of  her  infidelity,  and  rejedion  of 
 her  Meffiah,  an  alteration  of  circumft^nces  has  taken 
 place.  They  are  no  longer  Jews,  whp  arc  fuch  out- 
 wardly, nor  is  that  circumcifion,  which  is  outward 
 in  the  flefli ;  but  they  are  Jews,  who  believe  in  the 
 Son  of  God  j  and  they  are  of  the  circumcifion,  who 
 are  cleanfed  by  him  from  all  filthinefs  of  fleOi  and 
 fpirit.  The  Gentile  Chriftian  church  hath  fucceeded 
 to  the  privileges  of  the  Ifraelitifli.  In  her  now  "  God 
 *^  is  known"  by  the  Gofpel ;  and  "  his  Name  is 
 ^*  great"  in  her,  by  reafon  of  all  the  mighty  wonders 
 which  he  hath  wrought  for  her;  fhe  is  the  true  "  Sa- 
 "  lem,"  or  city  of  peace;  (lie  is  the  true  "  Sion," 
 the  fpiritual,  holy,  and  beloved  hill ;  and  in  her  is 
 the  <*  tabernacle"  and  *'  dwelling  place"  of  God  her 
 Saviour,  by  the  fpirit. 
 
 3.  There  brake  he  the  arrows  of  the  bozo,  the 
 Jhield,  the /word,  and  the  battle. 
 
 When  God  appeared  in  the  defence  of  his  ancient 
 people,  the  weapons  of  their  enemies  were  at  once 
 blunted  and  broken,  and  all  the  formidable  appara- 
 tus of  war  became,  in  a  moment,  utterly  ufelefs. 
 Such  was  the  event,  when  the  holy  Jefus  entered  the 
 A  4  lifts 
 
$  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  76, 
 
 lifls  againft  our  fplrltual  adverfaries,  *'  for"  us  j 
 and  fuch  ever  will  be  the  event,  when  he  engage^ 
 them  "  in"  us. 
 
 4.  Thou  art  more  glorious  and  excellent  than  the 
 Vioiintains  of  prey. 
 
 This  may  be  a  beautiful  apoftrophe  to  mount  Sion, 
 (mentioned,  ver.  2.)  as  appearing  infinitely  more 
 glorious  and  excellent,  through  the  favour  and  pro- 
 teftion  of  her  God,  than  the  arm  of  flefli  and  the 
 inftruments  of  war  could  render  the  kingdoms  of  the 
 earth,  which  fet  themfelves  againft  her;  and  v^^hich, 
 for  their  tyranny,  and  cruelty,  and  the  ravages  com- 
 mitted by  them,  are  likened  to  thofe  mountains, 
 where  beafts  of  prey,  with  fimilar  difpofitions,  rove, 
 and  roar,  and  devour.  The  powers  of  the  world 
 *'  make  war  with  the  Lamb,  whole  ftation  is  upon 
 "  mount  Sion;"  but  "  the  Lam.b  (h.ili  overcome 
 *'  them,  for  he  is  Lord  of  lords,  and  King  of  kings; 
 ^'  and  they  that  are  with  him  are  called,  and  chofen, 
 ^'  and  faithful."     Rev.  xiv.  i.  xvii.  14. 
 
 5.  The  fiout  hearted  are /polled,  they  have  Jlept  their 
 Jleep-  (^nd  none  of  the  wen  of  might  have  found  their 
 hands.  6.  At  thy  rebuke^  O  God  of  Jacob,  both  the 
 chariot,  or,  rider,  and  horfe,  are  cafi  into  a  dead  Jleep. 
 
 It  muft  be  acknowledged,  that  thefe  two  verfes 
 feem  in  a  very  particular  manner  to  point  at  the 
 miraculous  deftruftlon  of  Senacherib's  army,  when 
 the  "  ftout  hearted,"  who  doubted  not  of  taking 
 ^nd  fpoiling  the  holy  city,  were  themfelves  fuddenly 
 ?*  fpoiled'*  of  ftrength  and  life  ;  they  "  flept  their 
 ^'  ileep,  and  found  not  their  hands  ^"  they  awaked 
 
 not 
 
Day  15.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  9 
 
 not  again  to  the  ufe  of  their  powers  and  faculties ;  a 
 rebuking  blaft  was  fent  from  the  God  of  Jacob, 
 under  which  the  flower  of  AfTyria  withered  in  the 
 fpace  of  a  night,  and  in  the  morning  was  no  more  ; 
 "  the  horfe  and  his  rider  were  caft  into  a  dead 
 ^'  fleepj"  they  flept  the  fleep  of  death.  How,  in  a 
 moment,  were  the  mighty  fallen,  and  the  weapons 
 of  war  periflied  !  How  aftonifliing  the  downfal  of 
 the  tyrant  !  How  complete  the  triumph  of  the 
 daughter  of  Sion  !  Such  will  be  the  deftrudion  of 
 the  world ;  fuch  the  falvation  of  the  people  of  God. 
 
 7.  Thou^  even  thou  art  to  be  feared,  and  who 
 mayjiand  in  thy  fights  zvhen  once  thou  art  angry? 
 
 Why  are  the  miraculous  exertions  of  omnipotence 
 recorded  in  the  book  of  life,  but  to  fuggefl  to  us 
 this  refledion,  that  God,  and  God  only,  is  the  pro- 
 per objed  of  our  fear  :  fince  neither  the  wifdom  of 
 the  wife,  nor  the  power  of  the  mighty,  no,  not  the 
 world  itfelf,  can  ftand  a  fingle  moment  before  him, 
 ^*  when  once  he  is  angry  ?"  Yet  we  continue  to 
 dread  any  frowns  but  thofe  of  heaven ;  and  one 
 poor,  vain,  fmful  man  fhall,  through  a  courfe  of 
 fixty,  or  leventy  years,  inceflantly  and  undauntedly 
 tempt  and  provoke  Him,  who  deftroyed  185,000  in 
 a  night.     What  is  this,  but  madnefs  ? 
 
 8.  Thou  didfi  caufe  judgment  to  be  heard  from 
 heaven;  the  earth  feared^  and  was  fill ;  9.  When 
 God  aroje  to  judgment,  to  five  all  the  meek  of  the 
 earthy  or,  the  afflicted  of  the  land. 
 
 A  deftrudion  fo  far  exceeding  human  power,  was 
 evidently  the  fentence  of  God's  judgment,  audibly- 
 pronounced  from  the   eternal   throne  i    and   it  was 
 
 heard 
 
lo  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  76. 
 
 heard  by  all  the  earth  with  an  awful  filence,  as  when 
 he  Ipeaks  to  attentive  nature  in  thunder.  Such  was 
 the  effed  which  this  interpofition  in  behalf  of  his 
 people  produced  among  the  furviving  Alfyrians,  and 
 the  neighbouring  nations.  Let  us  carry  our  thoughts 
 on  to  the  fenfations  which  will  be  felt  in  the  hearts 
 of  men,  at  that  hour,  when  the  laft  trump  (hall 
 found  in  the  heavens,  and  the  earth  fhall  (hake  from 
 her  foundations;  when  God  fliall  arife  to  execute 
 judgment  on  the  adverfaries  of  his  church ;  and  to 
 fave,  with  an  everlafting  falvation,  all  the  meek  and 
 afflided  of  the  earth. 
 
 10.  Surely  the  ivrath  of  vian  fliall  praife  thee ; 
 tfre  remaindei^  of  wrath  fJialt  thou  rejlrain. 
 
 The  wrath  of  man,  and  of  Satan  himfelf,  againft 
 the  church,  turns,  in  the  end,  to  the  praife  and 
 glory  of  God,  who  repreffes  it,  when  at  its  height  i 
 and  at  all  times  appoints  thofe  bounds  which  it  can- 
 not pafs,  any  more  than  the  raging  waves  of  the  ocean 
 can  overflow  their  appointed  barrier  of  fand.- 
 
 11.  Votv  and  pay  inito  the  hoKT> your  God;  let 
 all  that  are  round  ahout  him  bring  prefents  unto 
 him  that  ought  to  he  feared.  12.  Hejkall  cut  offy 
 or,  rejlrain  the  J'pirit  of  princes ;  he  is  terrible  to 
 the  kings  of  the  earth. 
 
 If  fuch  Ihould  have  been  the  gratitude  and  devo- 
 tion of  Ifraelites,  for  a  temporary  deliverance  from 
 the  fury  of  an  earthly  tyrant ;  how  much  higher 
 ought  that  of  Chriftians  to  rife,  for  eternal  redemp- 
 tion from  the  great  opprelTor !  How  ought  they  to 
 *'  vow  and  pay  their  vows  unto  the  Lord  their 
 *'  God  i  to  bring  prefents,"  to  offer  all  they  have, 
 
 and 
 
Day  15.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  11 
 
 and  all  they  are,  to  him  who  is  fo  greatly  to  be 
 «  feared/'  fo  highly  to  be  loved  ;  to  him  who  "  re- 
 «  ftrains"  the  fury  of  evil  angels,  as  well  as  "  the 
 "  fpirit  of  princes;"  and  is  "  terrible''  to  the  powers 
 of  darknefs,  no  lefs  than  to  *'  the  kings  of  the 
 «  earth  !" 
 
 PSALM    LXXVIL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 As  the  foregoing  Pfalm  was  evidently  compo- 
 fed,  when  the  church  had  obtained  deliver- 
 ance from  her  enemies,  this  feems  no  Icfs 
 plainly  to  have  been  written  at  a  time  when 
 fhe  was  in  captivity  under  them.  It  con- 
 tains 1 — 4.  a  complaint  of  fufferlngs ;  and 
 5—20.  a  defcription  at  large  of  the  Itruggle 
 between  diftruft  and  faith  ;  which  latter  pre- 
 vails, by  having  recourfe  to  the  confidera- 
 tion  of  ancient  mercies ;  particularly,  that 
 of  redemption  from  Egypt.  The  Pfalm  is 
 admirably  calculated  for  the  ufe  and  confo- 
 lation  of  any  church,  or  foul,  when  in  af- 
 flidlion  and  diftrefs. 
 
 I.  /  cried  unto  God  zvith  my  voice;  even  unto 
 God  with  my  voice,  and  he  gave  ear  unto  me, 
 
 Unealinefs  in  the  heart  will  utter  itfelf  by  the 
 "  voice;"  and  when  the  pain  is  intenfe,  the  "  cry" 
 will  be  loud.     Only  let  it  take  a  right  dirediion,  and 
 
 afcend 
 
f2  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  77. 
 
 afcend  to  heaven ;  let  the  application  be  made  to 
 "  God,"  who  will  both  "  hear,"  and  help  j  not  to 
 the  world,  which  will  not  do  one,  and  cannot  do  the 
 other.  The  cries  of  the  Son  of  God  alone  were  heard 
 for  his  own  fake ;  the  cries  of  all  other  men  are  heard 
 for  his  lake. 
 
 1.  In  the  day  of  my  trouble  I  fought  the  Lord;  my 
 fore  ran  in  the  night,  and  ceafed  not ;  Heb.  my  hand 
 zoas  fir  etched  out  in  the  night,  and  ceafed  not,  or, 
 zviihout  intermijjioui  my  foul  refufed  to  he  comforted. 
 
 To  a  foul  deeply  fenfible  of  the  world's  vanity, 
 and  the  mifery  of  fin,  every  day  is  a  "  day  of  trouble," 
 and  the  whole  time  of  her  pilgrimage  is  a  long, 
 dark,"  and  wearifome  "  night,"  during  which  flie 
 feeks  after  her  beloved  by  prayer ;  and  for  the  fake 
 of  him,  and  thofe  future  joys  which  flie  expends 
 in  his  prefence,  the  pleafures  of  fenfe  are  put  away 
 from  her,  and  (he  "  refufes  to  be  comforted"  by 
 fuch  comforters.  An  Ifraelite  cannot  enjoy  himfelf 
 in  Babylon ;  a  Chriflian  cannot  find  perfed  fatisfac- 
 tion  in  the  world  ;  a  return  to  Jerufalem  will  employ 
 the  thoughts  of  both. 
 
 3.  I  remembered  God,  and  was  troubled :  I  com- 
 plained, and  my  fpirit  xvas  overwhelmed.  Or,  / 
 remembered  God,  and  made  a  noife,  i.  e.  in  prayer 
 to  him  J  I  meditated,  and  my  fpirit  zvas  obfcured, 
 or  darkened,  through  grief  and  aifliclion. 
 
 This  is  a  fine  defcription  of  what  pafTes  in  an  af- 
 flided  and  dejecled  mind.  Between  the  remembrance 
 of  God  and  his  former  mercies,  and  the  meditation 
 on  a  Teeming  defertion  under  prefent  calamities,  the 
 aflfedions  are  varioully  agitated,  and  the  prayers  dil- 
 
 turbed. 
 
©AY  15.  M.  P.         OX  THE  PSALMS.  I J 
 
 turbed,  like  the  tumultuous  waves  of  a  troubled 
 fca;  while  the  fair  light  from  above  is  intercepted, 
 and  the  face  of  heaven  overwhelmed  with  clouds 
 and  darknefs. 
 
 4.  Tfiou  //oldest  mine  eyes  xvakhg :  I  amfo  troii- 
 hled  that  I  cannot  J  peak. 
 
 Through  grief  and  anxiety  it  is,  that  the  eyes  are 
 made  to  keep  all  the  watches  of  the  night,  and  wait 
 in  vain  for  ileep  to  relieve  them  from  duty,  until  the 
 dawning  of  the  morning.  To  a  night  fo  fpent,  may 
 a  feafon  of  captivity,  or  perfecution,  be  compared. 
 Thus  the  ancient  church  looked  for  the  firil  advent 
 of  Chrift ;  and  thus  doth  the  church,  which  now  is, 
 exped;  his  fecond  ;  prolonging  her  vigils,  even  unto 
 the  dawning  of  that  morning,  which  is  at  once  to 
 put  a  period  to  darknefs  and  to  forrow.  In  the 
 mean  time,  llie  giveth  herfelf  to  meditation  and 
 prayer. 
 
 5.  /  have  confidered  the  days  of  oldy  the  years  of 
 ancient  times:  6.  I  call  to  remembrance  viy  fang  in 
 the  night,  I  commune  with  mine  own  heart,  and  my 
 
 J'pirit  maketh  diligent  fearch. 
 
 Recolledion  of  former  mercies  is  the  proper  anti- 
 dote againft  a  temptation  to  defpair,  in  the  day  of 
 calamity :  and  as,  in  the  divine  difpenfations,  which 
 are  always  uniform  and  like  themfelves,  whatever  has 
 happened,  happens  again,  when  the  circumftances 
 are  fimilar;  the  experience  of  **  ancient  times"  is  to 
 be  called  in  to  our  aid,  and  duly  confulted.  Nay, 
 we  may  perhaps  "  remember"  the  time,  when  we 
 ourfelves  were  led  to  compofe  and  utter  a  "  fong" 
 oi  joy  and  triumph,  on  occafion  of  fignal  mercies 
 
 vouch- 
 
14  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  77* 
 
 vouchfafed  us.  Upon  thefe  topics  we  (hould,  "  in 
 "  the  night  of  afflidion,  commune  with  our  own 
 "  hearts,  and  make  dihgent  fearch,"  as  Daniel  did 
 in  Babylon,  into  the  caufe,  the  nature,  and  the  pro- 
 bable continuance  of  our  troubles;  with  the  proper 
 methods  of  (hortening,  and  bringing  them  to  an 
 end  j  by  fuffering  them  to  have  their  intended  and 
 full  eifed,  in  a  fincere  repentance,  and  thorough  re- 
 formation. 
 
 7.  Will  the  Lord  cajl  off  for  ever  ?  andzvill  he  be 
 favourable  no  more  f  8.  Is  his  mercy  clean  gone  for 
 ever^  Doth  his  f>romife  fail  for  evermore  ?  <).  Hath 
 God  forgotten  to  be  gracious?  Hath  he  in  afiger 
 JhiU  up  his  tender  mercies? 
 
 The  Pfalmift  now  relates  the  procefs  of  his  medi- 
 tations, and  of  that  controverfy  which  arofe  in  his 
 heart  between  faith  and  diftruft.  While  he  viewed 
 the  diftrefsful  fcene  around  him,  he  found  himfelf 
 (Irongly  tempted  to  qucftion  God's  love  of  the 
 church  ;  to  think  that  he  had  finally  rejefted  his 
 people ;  that  the  promifed  mercy  of  redemption 
 would  never  be  accompliQied  j  and  that  indignation 
 had  conftraincd  the  bowels  of  our  heavenly  Father ; 
 which  no  longer  yearned  towards  his  afflided  children. 
 Thefe  were  the  thoughts  fuggefted  to  a  defponding 
 foul  by  the  defolations  of  Sion  at  that  time  j  and  the 
 ftatc  of  things  in  the  world  may  poffibly  be  fuch, 
 as  to  fuggeft  the  like  thoughts  to  many  in  the  Chrif* 
 tian  church,  before  our  Lord  (hall  appear  again, 
 for  her  final  redemption.  Imaginations  of  the  fame 
 caft  will  offer  themfeives  to  the  mind  of  the  finner, 
 when  the  hand  of  God  has  lain  long  and  heavy  upon 
 
 him. 
 
Dat  15.  M.  P.      ON  THE  PSALMS.  15 
 
 him,  by  the  infliftion  of  outward  calamities,  or  the 
 terrors  of  confcience. 
 
 lo.  And  I /aid,  this  is  my  infirmity :  but  I  will  re- 
 member the  yearsy  or,  changes  of  the  ?'ight  hand  of 
 the  moji  High, 
 
 To  the  infinuations  of  diftruft,  faith  now  begins 
 to  reply.  The  fufferer  checks  himfelf  in  his  former 
 train  of  thought,  and  humbly  acknowledges  it  to 
 have  fprung  from  a  mind  difpirited,  and  rendered 
 timid,  by  misfortunes ;  "  I  faid,  this  is  my  infirnai- 
 "  ty;"  but  he  immediately  flrengthens  himfelf  by 
 refledling,  that  all  "  changes"  in  the  conditions  of 
 men  are  effedfed,  for  reafons  of  infinite  wifdom  and 
 goodnefs,  by  "  the  right  hand  of  the  moft  High  ;'* 
 which  is  not  fhortened,  but  can  ftill,  as  formerly, 
 when  he  fees  fit,  deliver  and  exalt,  as  well  as  punifh 
 and  deprels  his  people.  What,  therefore,  though  the 
 daughter  of  Sion  be  in  captivity,  and  her  enemies 
 infult  over  her  ?  Meffias  cometh,  who  fliall  redeem 
 her,  and  all  nations  j  and  then  (hall  "  the  right 
 *•  hand  of  the  moft  High"  work  an  univerfal  and  a 
 glorious  "  change"  upon  the  earth. 
 
 11./  ivill  remember  the  works  of  the  Lord :  furely 
 I  ivill  remember  thy  wonders  of  old.  12.  I  will  medi- 
 tate alfo  of  all  thy  works,  and  talk  of  thy  doings. 
 
 Thus  reftored  to  a  right  frame  of  mind,  the 
 Pfalmift,  inftead  of  brooding  any  longer  over  the 
 calamities  of  his  own  time,  refolves  to  turn  his 
 thoughts  towards  the  divine  difpenfations  of  old ;  to 
 meditate  on  God's  former  works  and  wonders ;  his 
 works  of  juftice  and  mercy,  of  power  and  wifdom, 
 of  nature  and  grace ;  and,  by  gratefully  celebrating 
 
 them. 
 
i6  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  77. 
 
 them,  to  invigorate  his  faith  in  the  falvatlon  to  come, 
 of  which  they  were  fo  many  earnefts  and  pledges. 
 And  it  is  this  confideration,  which  makes  the  eucha- 
 riftic  Pfiilms  ever  pleafingj  and  ever  comfortable  to 
 the  mind  ;  they  are  appeals  to  thofe  attributes  which 
 have  been  fo  often  difplayed,  in  the  caufe  of  the 
 church;  they  are  adts  of  faith,  looking  backward  to 
 the  paft,  and  forward  to  the  future  ;  they  are  praifes, 
 and  they  are  prayers. 
 
 13.  Thyivay,  O  Gody  is  in  the  fanctuary ^  or,  in 
 hoUnefs  ;  ivho  is  fo  great  a  God  as  our  God  ? 
 
 Faith,  now  reinftated  in  its  fovereignty  over  the 
 prejudices  and  fears  of  the  foul,  and  again  placed 
 upon  the  judgment  feat,  pronounces  the  "  ways"  or 
 proceedings  of  God  to  be  fuch,  as,  when  weighed 
 in  the  balance  of  the  '*  fandcuary,"  and  judged  of  by 
 the  divine  rule  and  manner  of  ading,  will  be  found 
 agreeable  to  the  flandard  of  perfeft  "  holinefs."  An 
 aflurance  is  likewife  expreffed,  that  the  power  o^ 
 God,  however  it  may,  for  a  time,  lie  dormant,  yet 
 Hill  retains  the  fame  fuperiority,  of  which  former 
 exertions  (hew  it  to  have  been  poflefTed,  over  thd 
 gods  of  the  nations,  the  elements  of  nature,  and  the 
 powers  of  the  world  :  infomuch  that  nothing,  which 
 was  ever  called  by  others,,  or  called  itfelf  "  God," 
 was  able  to  ftand  -before  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Ifrael ; 
 "  Who  is  fo  great  a  God  as  our  God  ?"  Thus> 
 "  All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in 
 "  earth,"  faith  our  bleflcd  Lord,  Matt,  xxviii.  18. 
 for  the  everlafting  confolation  of  the  Chriftian 
 church. 
 
 14.  Thou  art  the  God  that  dcrjl  zvondcrs ;  thou  hajl 
 
 declared 
 
Day  15.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  17 
 
 declared  thy  firengtk  among  the  "people.  15.  Thou 
 haft  with  thine  arm  redeemed  thy  people,  the  fons 
 of  Jacob  andJofeph. 
 
 Ifrael,  in  times  of  trouble  and  diftrefs,  was  wont 
 to  look  back  to  the  **  wonders"  wrought  in  Egypt, 
 and  the  redemption  of  all  her  tribes  from  that  houfe 
 of  bondage.  We  Chriflians  are  taught,  while  we 
 ufe  the  fame  words,  to  regard  parallel,  but  more  im- 
 portant tranfad:ions ;  we  refle<ft  on  the  "wonders" 
 wrought  for  the  bodies  and  fouls  of  men,  by  the 
 **  ftrength  and  the  arm  of  Jehovah,"  revealed  and 
 manifefted  to  the  world  in  Chrift ;  and  we  celebrate 
 the  redemption,  not  of  "  the  fons  of  Jacob  and  Jo- 
 *'  feph"  only,  but  of  all  nations,  from  the  bondage 
 of  corruption ;  a  redemption  compared  with  which, 
 the  deliverance  from  Egypt,  though  glorious  in  it- 
 felf,  hath  yet  no  glory  at  all,  by  reafon  of  the  glory 
 that  fo  far  excelleth.  Our  confidence  in  God,  during 
 the  feafons  of  afflidlion,  (hould  therefore  rife  in  pro- 
 portion. 
 
 16.  The  waters  f aw  thee,  OGod^  the  waters  f aw 
 thee;  they  were  afraid:  the  depths  alfo  were  troubled* 
 
 The  waters  of  the  red  fea  are  here  beautifully  re- 
 prefented  as  endued  with  fenfibility,  as  feeing,  feeling, 
 and  being  confounded,  even  to  the  loweft  depths,  at 
 the  prefence  and  power  of  their  great  Creator,  when 
 he  commanded  them  to  open  a  way,  and  to  form  a 
 wall  on  each  fide  of  it,  until  his  people  were  paflcd 
 over ;  until  his  people  were  pafled  over,  whom  he 
 had  redeemed.  In  this  amazing  tranfadion,  let  us 
 behold,  as  in  a  glafs,  the  falvation  of  believers  by 
 baptifm,  through  the  death  and  refurredion  of  Jefus 
 
 Vol.  IL  B  Chrift, 
 
i8  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  77. 
 
 Chrift,  who  made  the  depths  of  the  grave,  as  he  had 
 done  thofe  of  the  Tea,  a  way  for  his  ranfomed  to  pafs 
 over;  and  the  church,  like  another  Ifrael,  faw  her 
 enemies,  in  effecft,  dead  at  her  feet. 
 
 1 7.  The  clouds  poured  out  water,  the ^fkiesfent  out 
 a  found;  thine  arroxos  alfo  went  abroad.  \%.The  voice 
 of  thy  thunderwas  in  the  heaven  .■  the  lightnings  light' 
 ened  the  tvorld,  the  earth  trembled  andfJiook. 
 
 It  is  faid,  Exod.  xiv.  24.  that  at  the  time  when 
 Ifrael  was  paffing  the  Tea,  "  the  Lord  looked  upon 
 "  the  hoft  of  the  Egyptians  through  the  pillar  of  fire 
 "  and  the  cloud,  and  troubled  the  hofl  of  the  Egyp- 
 "  tians,  and  took  off  their  chariot  wheels,  and  made 
 "  them  to  go  heavily;  fo  that  the  Egyptians  faid.  Let 
 *'  us  flee  from  the  face  of  Ifrael ;  for  the  Lord  fight- 
 "  eth  for  them  againft  the  Egyptians."  The  verfes 
 of  our  Pfalm  now  before  us,  feem  to  explain  more 
 particularly  the  manner  in  which  the  Lord  "  look- 
 "  ed  upon,  and  troubled,  and  fought  againft  the 
 *'  Egyptians,"  upon  that  occafion ;  namely,  by 
 thunders  and  lightnings,  florms  and  tempefls,  rain, 
 hail,  and  earthquake,  tlie  ufual  tokens  and  inftru- 
 ments  of  Almighty  difpleafure.  Jofephus,  in  like 
 manner,  relates,  that  the  deflradion  of  the  Egyp- 
 .tians  was  accompanied  by  florms  of  rain  from  heaven; 
 by  dreadful  thunders  and  lightnings  ;  and,  in  lliort, 
 by  every  poflible  circumilance  of  terror,  which  could 
 teftify  and  inflict  upon  man  the  vengeance  of  an  in- 
 cenfed  God.  From  fcenes,  like  thefe,  we  learn  to 
 form  an  idea  of  that  power,  which  difcomfited  the 
 infernal  hoft ;  raifed  Chrift  from  the  dead ;  van- 
 quiflied    oppofition  and  perfecution ;   fubdued   the 
 
 v/orld 
 
Day  15.  M.  p.       ox  THE  PSALMS.  19 
 
 world  to  the  obedience  of  faith;  fupports  and  pro- 
 tects the  church ;  will  overthrow  antichrlft ;  raife 
 the  dead;  caft  the  wicked,  with  death  and  Satan, 
 into  the  lake  of  fire  ;  and  exalt  the  righteous,  to 
 fing,  with  angels  in  heaven,  "  the  fong  of  Mofes 
 *'  and  of  the  Lamb."     See  Rev.  xv.  3. 
 
 19.   Till/  zoay  is  in  the  fea^  and  thy  paths  in  the 
 great  xaaters,  and  thy  footfteps  are  not  knoxon. 
 
 The  difpenfations  and  ways  of  God,  like  the  paf- 
 fage  through  the  red  fea,  are  all  full  of  mercy  to  his 
 people;  but  they  are  alfo,  like  that,  often  unufual, 
 marvellous,  infcru table ;  and  we  can  no  nlore  trace 
 his  footfteps,  than  we  could  have  done  thofe  of  Ifrael, 
 after  the  waters  had  returned  to  their  place  again. 
 Let  us  refolve,  therefore,  to  truft  in  him  at  all 
 times;  and  let  us  think  we  hear  Mofes  faying  to  us, 
 as  he  did  to  the  Ifraelites,  when  feemingly  reduced 
 to  the  laft  extremity;  "  Fear  ye  not,  ftand  ftill,  and 
 **  fee  the  falvation  of  Jehovah."     Exod.  xiv.  13. 
 
 20.   Thou  leddeft  thy  people ,  like  a  flock ,  by  the 
 hand  of  Mofes  and  Aaron. 
 
 The  loving  kindnefs  of  God  towards  Ifrael  did  not 
 ftop  at  the  red  fea,  but  he  conduced  his  ehofen  flock, 
 by  the  guidance  of  faithful  paftors,  through  all  the 
 perils  of  the  wildernefs,  to  the  land  of  promife.  We 
 like  wife,  through  thy  mercy,  O  bleffed  Lord  Jefus, 
 have  paffed  the  red  fea  at  our  biptifm ;  and  arc  now 
 journeying  in  the  wildernefs.  Give  us  thofe  meek, 
 and  lowlyj  and  tradable  difpofitions,  which  become 
 the  Iheep  of  thy  pafture ;  let  over  us  Hdlful  and  vi- 
 gi^lant  fliepherds;  and  be  thou  ever,  both  with  theiij 
 and  with  us ;  until,  having  furmounted  all  difficul- 
 B  2  ties 
 
20  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  7S. 
 
 ties  and  dangers,  led  by  thy  grace,  and  fupported  by 
 thy  providence,  we  all  come,  in  perfed  fatety,  to 
 the  land  of  everlafting  reft ;  there  to  live  with  thee, 
 one  fold  under  one  (hepherd,  world  without  end. 
 
 XV  DAY.    EVENING    I'RAYER. 
 
 PSALM  LXXVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 -Orhis  Pfalm  containeth  a  declaration  of  God*s 
 dealings  with  his  people,  and  of  their  beha- 
 viour to  him,  in  Kgypt,  in  the  wildernefs, 
 and  after  their  fettlement  in  Canaan,  to  the 
 days  of  David.  It  is  written  for  the  ufe  and 
 admonition  of  Chriftians ;  who  may  here 
 view,  as  in  a  glafs,  the  mercies  they  have 
 received,  and  the  returns,  which,  alas,  they 
 have  but  too  often  made  for  them. 
 
 I.  Give  ear,  0  my  people,  to  7nij  law:  incline  your 
 ears  to  the  words  of  my  mouth. 
 
 In  this  verfe,  the  Pfalmift  opens  his  commifTion, 
 and  fpeaks,  as  one  having  authority  from  above  to 
 inftrud  the  world.  ■  He  demands  a  large  and  atten- 
 tive audience,  while,  by  a  feries  of  examples,  he  fets 
 forth  the  goodnefs  of  God,  and  the  ingratitude  of 
 man,  for  the  admonition  of  fucceeding  ages,  to  the 
 end  of  time.  St.  Paul,  fpeaking  of  the  very  tranf- 
 adions  related  in  our  Pfalm,  faith  of  their,  "  Now 
 
 "  all 
 
Day  15.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  21 
 
 "  all  thefe  things  happened  unto  them  for  en- 
 "  famples,  Gr.  Tt^^ro*,  types  j  and  they  are  written  for 
 *'  our  admonition,  upon  whom  the  ends  of  the  world 
 "  are  come."  i  Cor.  x.  11.  We  Chriftians,  there- 
 fore, muft  confider  ourfelves  as  the  *'  people"  who 
 are  to  "  give  ear  to  the  law,"  or  "  dodlrine,"  incul- 
 cated by  the  following  epitome  of  the  Ifraelitifh  hif- 
 toryj  WE  muft  *'  incline  our  ears  to  the  words  of" 
 the  prophet's  "  mouth." 
 
 2.  Ixvill  open  my  mouth  in  a  parable:  I  will  utter 
 dark  fayings  of  old.  3.  Which  toe  have  heard  and 
 known,  and  our  fathers  have  told  us. 
 
 The  Pfalm,  being  in  itfelf  a  plain  narrative  of 
 fa<5ts,  can  contain  nothing  parabolical  or  ^enigmatical 
 in  it,  unlefs  thofe  fads  were,  what  St.  Paul  affirms 
 them  to  have  been,  "  enfamples,"  types,  or  rcpre- 
 fentations  of  other  fads,  relative  to  the  Chriftian 
 church.  As  fads,  they  were  "  heard  and  known," 
 and  handed  down  from  father  to  fon  ;  but  with  re- 
 fped  to  the  inftrudions  and  admonitions  comprehend- 
 ed in  them,  and  to  be  extraded  by  an  application 
 to  parallel  times  and  circumftances,  they  had  the  na- 
 ture of  a  "  parable,"  requiring  wifdom  and  attention, 
 fo  to  underftand  and  apply  them.  It  is  obfervable, 
 that  our  Lord  is,  by  St.  Matthew,  faid  to  have  fpo- 
 ken  to  the  multitude  altogether  in  parables,  *'  that 
 "  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  fpoken  by  the  pro- 
 "  phet,  faying,  I  will  open  my  mouth  in  parables,  &c." 
 citing  the  fecond  verfe  of  the  Pfalm  now  before  us. 
 Matt.  xiii.  35.  If  it  doth  not  follow,  from  this  ci- 
 tation, that  the  prophet  adually  fpeaks  the  Pfalm  in 
 the  perfon  of  Chrift,  yet  thus  much  at  leaft  is  evi- 
 B  3  dent 
 
22  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  78, 
 
 dent  from  it,  that  the  hiftory  pf  old  Ifrael  fomewhat 
 refembles  the  letter  of  the  Gofpel  parables,  and  con- 
 tains, fliadowed  out  under  it,  the  hiftory  of  a  cor- 
 refpondent  flate  of  things  in  the  new  Ilrael,  or  church 
 Chriftian*.  And  although  the  Pfahii,  like  a  large 
 and  capacious  palace,  be  laid  cut  into  a  multitude  of 
 different  apartments ;  yet,  perhaps,  we  may  find, 
 that  the  Scriptures  of  the  New  Teftament  will  furnifh 
 us  with  a  key,  which  will  gain  us  admiflion  into 
 every  one  of  them,  and  put  us  in  poffeffion  of  the 
 treafures  of  divine  wifdom  therein  depofited. 
 
 4.  Wezvill  not  hide  them  from  tlicir  children,  JJiewing 
 to  the  generation  to  come^  Heb.  the  latter  generation^ 
 the  praifes  of  the  Lord,  and  his  Jirength^  and  his 
 wonderful  works  that  he  hath  done. 
 
 The  writer  of  this  Pfalm  is  defirous  that  *'  the 
 *'  praifes  of  Jehovah,  his  ftrength,  and  the  wonder- 
 "  ful  works  that  he  hath  done,"  an  account  of  which 
 had'  reached  his  own  time,  Oiould  be  tranfmitted, 
 through  all  the  periods  of  the  Jewifh  ceconomy, 
 down  to  the  p-ini;  in  the  "  latter  generation,"  or 
 generation  to  arife  m  the  ''  latter  days;"  the  genera- 
 tion of  the  faitiiful,  to  be  begotten  unto  God,  fi-om 
 among  the  Gentiles,  through  the  Gofpel.  Of  this 
 generation  are  we,  who  now,  in  thcfe  words  of  the 
 holy  Pfalmift,  do  from  age  to  age  "  fliew  the  praifes 
 "  of  the  Lord,"  our  Saviour,  "  and  his  ftrength,  and 
 *'  his  wondrous  works  that  he  hath  done"  for  us,  as 
 he  promifed  and  forefhewed,  in  his  difpenfations  of 
 
 •  "In  parabolis" — Aliud  dicit ;  aliud  innuit ;  ac  prxterito- 
 Tum  fpecie  futura  prajfagit.  Id  quoque  ex  perfona  Chrifli. 
 Matt.  xiii.  35.     Bossuet. 
 
 old 
 
Day  15.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  23 
 
 old  time.  The  glorious  theme  was  delivered  by  the 
 Ifraelitifh  to  the  Chriftian  church,  and  will  be  re- 
 fumed  in  heaven,  there  for  ever  to  employ  the 
 tongues  of  faints,  and  the  harps  of  angels. 
 
 5.  For  he  ejlablijhed  a  tejlimony  in  Jacobs  and  ap- 
 pointed a  law  in  Ifrael;  which  he  commanded  our 
 fathers  that  they  JJiould  make  them  known  to  their 
 children-  6.  That  the  generation  to  co?ne,  or,  latter 
 generatio7i  might  knotv  thenij  even  the  children  which 
 Jhoiild  be  born  •  zvho  JJiould  arife,  and  declare  them 
 to  their  children. 
 
 The  account  of  God's  dealings  with  his  people  to 
 be  celebrated  in  our  Pfalm,  begins  with  the  "  law," 
 or  *'  teftimony,  appointed  and  eftablifhed  in  Ifrael," 
 by  the  hand  of  Mofes.  Under  thefe  names  are  com- 
 prehended, not  only  the  precepts  and  ceremonies, 
 but  the  feveral  tranfadions  to  which  they  referred, 
 and  in  commemoration  of  which  they  were  inftituted; 
 as  alfo  that  future  falvation,  to  which  they,  as  w^ell 
 as  the  tranfaclions,  had  an  afpedl.  Thus  the  paffover, 
 for  inftance,  looked  backward  to  the  redemption  by 
 Mofes,  and  forward  to  that  by  Meffiah.  The  law 
 thus  conljdered,  as  involving  the  Gofpel  within  it, 
 was,  to  underftanding  and  pious  Ifraeiites,  the  foun- 
 tain of  wifdom,  and  fource  of  delight.  They  were 
 to  meditate  therein  day  and  night,  and  teach  their 
 children  to  do  likewifei  until,  with  it's  types  rea- 
 lized, and  if  s  prophecies  accompliOied  in  the  Re- 
 deemer, it  (hould  go  forth  out  of  Sion  in  perfedt 
 beauty,  and  run  and  be  glorified  among  the  nations. 
 The  "  law"  and  the  "  teftimony"  are  now  become 
 ours ;  and  it  is  our  duty  to  tranfmit  them  down  to 
 B  4  lateil 
 
14  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  78. 
 
 latcft  pofterlty,  until  Jefus    (hall    return  to  judg- 
 ment. 
 
 7.  That  theymightfet  their  hopeuiGod,  and  not  for- 
 get the  works  ofGod^  but  keep  his  cojumandments:  8, 
 Andynight  not  be  as  their  fathers,  a  jiiihborn  and  re- 
 bellious  generation;  a  generation  thatjet  not  tJicir  heart 
 aright,  and  whofe  Spirit  was  not  Jiedjajt  zoith  God. 
 
 The  reafon  is  here  affigned,  why  God  e  .v.-  Ifraei 
 a  law,  and  commanded  that  fathers  fhould  i'v  '  it 
 to  their  children,  and  their  child; en's  children;,  nd 
 the  fame  reafon  holds  with  regard  to  theGof;  -Ij 
 namely,  that  the  chofen  people,  renouncing  the 
 world,  with  it's  idols  and  lufts,  fliouid  believe  and 
 **  fet  their  hope  in"  the  true  '*  God,"  the  only  Savi- 
 ours that  they  (hould  *'  not  forget  the  works"  which 
 he  hath  v^rougut  for  their  redemption  j  and  that 
 ever  mindful  of  thofe  works,  they  (hould  love  him, 
 and  **  keep  his  commandments  j'  not  following  the 
 examples  of  the  fathers  of  Ifraei,  who  proverl  "  faith- 
 *'  lefs,"  and  "  rebellious"  in  the  wildernefs,  when 
 God  liad  brought  them  out  of  Egypt.  This  is  the 
 very  ufe  St.  raul  makes  of  thofe  examples.  "  With 
 "  feme  of  them,"  fays  he,  "  God  was  not  well  pleafed, 
 "  for  they  were  over^'^rown  in  the  wildernels.  Now 
 **  thefe  things  were  our  examples,'  -wToi  vfxuv,  "  to  the 
 "  intent  we  (hould  not  lull  after  evil  things,  or  be 
 *'  idolaters,  or  commit  fornication,  &c.  &c.  as  did 
 "  fome  of  them."     1  Cor.  x.  5. 
 
 9.  The  children  of  Ephraim,  being  armed,  and 
 carrying  boivs,  turned  back  in  the  day  of  battle. 
 
 As  the  context  treats  concerning  the  behaviour  of 
 Ifraei  in  general,  upon  their  coming  out  of  Egypt ; 
 
 and 
 
Day  15.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  25 
 
 and  as  the  cowardice  of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim  in  par- 
 ticular, at  that  time,  is  no  where  mentioned ;  it  is 
 therefore  moft  probable,  that  one  tribe  is  here  put 
 for  all  the  reft ;  and  that  under  the  figure  of  men, 
 when  prepared  for  battle,  turning  their  backs  at  fight 
 of  an  enemy,  is  pointed  out  that  difpofition  of  the 
 Ifraelites,  after  all  their  promifes,  relblutions,  and 
 vov/s  of  ferving  and  obeying  God,  to  fall  away,  and 
 relapfe  into  fin,  upon  the  firft  temptation.  How 
 often  is  this  the  cafe  with  the  Chriftian  foldier?  Let 
 not  him,  who  hath  but  juft  put  on  his  fpiritual  ar- 
 mour, boaft,  like  him  who  is  putting  it  off,  when 
 the  fight  is  over,  and  the  vidlory  obtained. 
 
 10.  They  kept  not  the  covenant  of  God,  and  rC' 
 fufed  to  walk  in  lu's  law.  1 1.  And  forget  his  zvorks^ 
 and  his  zvonders  that  he  hadjhtwed  them.  1 2.  Mai^- 
 velloiis  things  did  he  in  the  fight  of  their  fathers,  in 
 the  land  of  Egypt^  in  the  field  of  Zoan. 
 
 Thefe  vcrfes,  it  is  apprehended,  defcribe  in  plain 
 terms,  what  was  metaphorically  exprelfed  in  the 
 verfe  preceding,  namely,  the  pronenefs  of  the  Ifraelites 
 to  break  the  "  covenant,"  tranfgrefs  the  "  law,"  and 
 forget  the  "  works"  of  God,  even  thofe  aftonilhing 
 works  wrought  in  *'  Egypt,"  and  in  *'  Zoan,"  it's 
 capital  city.  Let  the  Chriftian,  who  perhaps  is 
 amazed  at  the  frequent  rebellions  of  fi:ifF-necked 
 Ifrael,  refled:  a  little  within  himfelf,  how  he  has  oh- 
 ferved  the  baptifmal  "  covenant:''  how  he  has  "  walk- 
 "  ed  in  the  law,"  and  with  what  gratitude  he  has  re- 
 membered the  *'  marvellous  works'  of  Jefus. 
 
 13.  He  divided  the  fea,  and  caufed  them  to  pafs 
 through y  and  he  made  thezvaters  tojiandas  an  heap. 
 
 From 
 
26  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  78. 
 
 From  the  miracles  wrought  in  Egypt,  the  Pfal- 
 mift  proceeds  to  what  happened  at  the  Exodus.  And 
 here,  he  fails  not  to  mention  that  great  work  of  Al- 
 mighty power,  the  divifion  of  the  red  Tea,  which 
 was  ever  uppermoft  in  the  thoughts  of  a  devout 
 Ifraelite;  as  the  paflkge  of  the  church,  in  Chrift  her 
 Saviour,  through  the  grave  and  gate  of  death,  ought 
 never  to  depart  from  the  memory  of  a  Chriftian.-. 
 
 14.  In  the  day  time  alfo  he  led  them  xvith  a  cloudy 
 and  all  the  night  zvith  a  light  fire. 
 
 During  the  forty  years  pilgrimage  of  Ifrael  in  the 
 wildernefs,  a  preternatural  column  of  fire  and  cloud 
 attended  the  camp.  It  refted  with  them,  and  moved 
 on  before  them,  direfting  and  condudling  them  in 
 their  journeys;  in  the  night  feafon  it  was  a  bright 
 and  fhining  light ;  and  in  the  day  time  it  afforded  a 
 grateful  cooling  Oiade  from  the  burning  heat  of  thofe 
 fultry  deferts.  Thus  is  Chrift  prefent  with  his  church, 
 while  flie  fojourns  upon  earth,  by  his  Word  and  his 
 Spirit,  guiding  her  fteps,  enlightening  her  darknefs, 
 and  mitigating  her  forrows. 
 
 15.  lit  clave  the  rocks  in  the  wildernefs^  and  gave 
 them  drink  as  out  of  the  great  depths.  16.  He 
 brouijht  Jircams  alfo  out  of  the  rock,  and  caufed 
 waters  to  run  down  like  rivei^s. 
 
 Let  us,  faith  Bifliop  Taylor,  by  the  aids  of  me- 
 mory and  fancy,  confider  the  children  of  Ifrael  in 
 the  wildernefs,  in  a  barren  and  dry  land  where  no 
 water  was,  marching  in  duft  and  fire,  not  wet  with 
 the  dew  of  heaven,  but  wholly  without  moifture, 
 fave  only  what  dro})ped  from  their  own  brows.  The 
 air  was  fire,  and   the  vermin  was  fire;    the   flying 
 
 ierpents 
 
Day  i5p  e.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  27 
 
 ferpents  were  of  the  fame  kindred  with  the  firma- 
 ment;  their  fting  was  a  flame,  their  venom  was  a 
 fever,  and  the  fever  a  calenture;  and  the  whole  ftate 
 of  the  Ifraelites  abode  and   travel  was  a  little  image 
 of  the  day  of  judgment,  when   the  elements   fliall 
 melt  with  fervent  heat.     Thefe  men,  like  falamanders 
 walking  in  fire,  dry  with  heat,  fcorched  with  thirft, 
 and   made  yet  more  thirfty  by  calling  upon  God  for 
 water;    fuppofc,  I  fay,    thefe    thirfty   fouls,   hearing 
 Mofes  promife  that  he  will  fmite  the  rock,  and  that 
 a  river  Ihould  break  forth  from  thence ;  obferve  how 
 prefently  they  run  to  the  foot  of  the  fpringing  (tone, 
 thrufting  forth  their  heads  and  tongues  to  meet  the 
 water,  impatient  of  delay,  crying  out  that  the  water 
 did  not  move,  like  light,  all  at  once :  and  then  fup- 
 pofe  the  pleafure  of  their  drink,  the  infatiablenefs  of 
 their  defire,  the  immenfity  of  their  appetite  :    they 
 took   in   as  much   as   they  could,  and   they  defired 
 much  more.      This  was  their  Sacrament,    and  this 
 was  their  manner  of  receiving  it.      And  if  that  water 
 was  a  type  of  our  Sacrament,  or  a  Sacrament  of  the 
 fame  fecret  bleffing,  then  is  their  thirft  a  fignification 
 of  our  duty*. 
 
 17.  And  they Jinned  yet  more  againjt  him,  by  pro- 
 voking the  vioji  High  in  the  wildernefs.  1^.  A?id 
 they  tempted  God  in  their  hearts,  by  ajking  meat  for 
 their  luJL  19.  Yea  they  /pake  againjl  God ;  they 
 /aid,  Can  God  furnijli  a  table  in  the  wildernefs  ? 
 10.  Behold,  hefmote  the  rock,  that  the  ivaters  giifJied 
 out,  and  the  Jtreams  overflowed,  cari  he  give  bread 
 alfo,  or  provide flefi  for  his  people  f' 
 
 *  Worthy  Communicant,  p.  92. 
 
 ..  Thefe 
 
28  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  78. 
 
 Thefe  frequent  rebellions  of  Ifrael,  with  the  pre- 
 fenceof  God  in  the  midft  of  them,  and  his  miracles 
 before  their  eyes,  would  feem  incredible,  had  they  been 
 related  any  where  but  in  the  oracles  of  truth ;  and 
 did  not  the  heart  of  every  felf-knowing  Chriftian  at 
 once  acknowledge  the  picture  which  is  iiere  drawn  of 
 human  nature,  it's  incredulity  and  perverfenefs  For 
 hath  not  God  delivered  us  from  the  houfe  of  bondage, 
 and  fupported  us  in  the  wildernefs :  is  not  J^^lus  pre- 
 fent  in  the  church,  and  are  not  his  miracles  of  love 
 and  mercy  continually  before  our  eyes,  in  the  Word 
 and  in  lite  Sacrament?  Yet,  who  does  not  ftill 
 "  provoke"  and  *'  tempt  the  moft  High:'*  who  does 
 not  afk  provifion  for  his  "  luft,''  when  his  neceffities 
 are  fatisfied  :  and  who,  after  all  the  proofs  he  has 
 had  of  God's  power  and  goodnefs,  is  not  apt,  upon 
 every  appearance  of  danger,  to  be  difficult,  and 
 diftruftful  of  his  providence  ?  Before  we  condemn 
 others,  let  us  try  ouifelves,  and  judge  righteous  judg- 
 ment. When  David  pronounced  the  words,  "  The 
 «  man  that  hath  done  this  thing  (liall  furely  die," 
 little  did  he  think  of  being  told,  by  his  faithful  mo- 
 nitor, "  Thou  art  the  man."  Confcience,  if  duly  in- 
 terrogated, will  be  a  Nathan  to  every  one,  and  (hew 
 him  his  own  tranfgreffions,  in  thofe  of  old  Ifrael. 
 
 21.  Therefore  the  Lord  heard  this,  and  was 
 ivroth;  fo  a  fire  urns  kindled  againjl  Jacob,  and 
 anger  alfo  came  up  againjl  JJrael;  22.  Becaufe  thei/ 
 believed  not  in  God,  and  trujled  not  in  his  J'ahafion: 
 2.3.  Though  he  had  commanded  the  clouds  from 
 aboi'Cy  and  opened  the  doors  of  heaveuy  24.  ^Ind  had 
 
 rained 
 
Day  15.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  t^ 
 
 rained  doivn  mamia  itpon  them  to  eat^  and  had  given 
 them  of  the  corn  of  heaven.  25.  Man  did  eat  angels 
 food:  ]ie  fent  them  meat  to  the  full. 
 
 The  difcontents,  mentioned  above,  in  verfe  17, 
 &c.  were  poflerior  not  only  to  the  miracle  at  the 
 rock,  but  alfo  to  the  gift  of  '*  manna,*'  which,  after 
 Ibme  little  time,  the  people  "  loathed,"'  and  demand- 
 ed *'  fiefli,"  repenting  that  they  had  forfaken  Egypt, 
 where  they  fared  more  to  their  fatisfaftion.  See 
 Numb.  xi.  The  caufe  of  the  difcontents  was  infide- 
 lity, and  the  efFe<5t  of  them  a  difplay  of  God's  indig- 
 nation ;  "  The  Lord  was  wroth — becaufe  they  be- 
 "  lieved  not,  &c."  Now,  as  St.  Paul  flyles  the  water, 
 "  fpiritual,"  or,  "  facramental  drink,"  proceeding  from 
 *^  a  fpiritual  rock,  which  rock  was  Chriftj"  fo  he 
 terms  the  manna,  "  fpiritual,"  or  "  facramental 
 *'  meat ;  they  did  all  eat  of  that  fame  fpiritual  meat," 
 I  Cor.  X.  3.  And  our  Lord,  in  John  vi.  difcourfes 
 at  large  upon  the  fubjed,  to  convince  the  Jews,  that 
 God,  who  gave  to  their  fathers  manna  in  the  wilder- 
 nefs,  had  in  HIJVE  given  them  *'  the  true  bread" 
 of  eternal  life,  which  the  manna  was  intended  to  re- 
 prefent.  "  I  am  the  living  bread  which  came  down 
 "  from  heaven ;  if  any  man  eat  of  this  bread  he  (hall 
 *'  live  for  ever;  and  the  bread  that  I  will  give,  is  my 
 "  flelh,  which  I  will  give  for  the  life  of  the  world.** 
 Chrift  crucified  is  the  fupport  of  fpiritual  and  eter- 
 nal life;  faith  is  the  mouth  by  which  this  fupport  is 
 received,  manna  was  an  outward  and  vifible  fign  of 
 it  to  the  Ifraelites  in  the  wildernefs ;  the  euchariftic 
 bread  is  fuch  to  Chriftians  in  the  world.  When  that 
 holy  ordinance  is  celebrated,  '*  the  doors  of  heaven 
 
 «<  are 
 
30  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  78. 
 
 ^'  are  opened,"  fpiritual  food  is  given  from  above, 
 "  and  man  eats  D^^^W  OTib  the  bread  of  the  mighty 
 "  ones;"  whether  by  "  mighty  ones"  we  underftand 
 thofe  who  eat  the  bread,  and  are  invigorated  thereby;'' 
 or  the  blelied  perfons  who  give  the  bread  to  man. 
 Such  is  our  manna,  our  iuflenance  in  the  wildernefs, 
 our  viaticum,  while  on  the  road  to  Canaan.  But 
 how  is  it  "  loathed,"  and  defpifed,  in  comparifon 
 with  "  the  flefh  pots  of  Egypt,"  by  men  who,  "  be- 
 "  lievc  not  in  God,  and  truft  not  in  his  falvation  !"' 
 Will  not  the  fame  caiife  produce  the  fame  effed  ? 
 Will  not  "  Jehovah  hear  this,  and  be  wroth  ?"  Will 
 not  "  a  fire  be  kindled  againft  Jacob,  and  anger 
 *'  alfo  come  up  againft  Ifrael !  For  this  caufe,"  faith 
 an  Apoftle  to  the  irreverent  Corinthian  receivers, 
 "  many  are  weak  and  fickly  among  you,  and  many 
 *'  fleep."      I  Cor.  xi.  30. 
 
 26.  He  cau/ed  an  eaft  wind  to  blow  in  the  heaven :  and 
 by  his  power  he  brought  in  the  font  h  xvijid.  27.  He 
 rained  Jlejh  alfo  upon  them  as  diijt,  and  feathered 
 fowls  like  as  the  find  of  the  fea.  28.  And  he  let  it 
 fall  in  the  midji  of  their  camp,  round  about  their  ha- 
 bitations. 29.  So  they  did  eat,  and  were  well  filled : 
 for  he  gave  them  their  own  defire,  30.  They  were 
 not  ef  ranged  from  their  Inft ;  but  xvhile  the  meat 
 zvas  yet  in  tlieir  ?nouths,  31.  The  zvrath  of  God 
 came  upon  them,  and  Jlew  the  fattcjl  of  them,  and 
 fmote  down  the  chofen  men  of  Ifrael, 
 
 The   people,  difcontented  with   m.anna,  aiked,  in 
 a  tumultuous   and   rebellious  way,  for  flelli,  at  the 
 lame   time  diftrufling   tjie  power  of  God  to  give  it 
 them  in  the  wildernefs.     Fielh,   however,  was  pro- 
 cured. 
 
Day  15- E.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  31 
 
 cured.  A  wind,  proper  for  the  occafion,  went  forth 
 from  Jehovah,  and  brought  a  cloud  of  quails,  which 
 furniOied  the  whole  camp  with  a  mofl  delicious  kind 
 of  fleOi  food,  for  the  fpacc  of  an  entire  month.  But 
 from  the  event  wc  learn,  that  inordinate  defires, 
 though  fometimes  complied  with,  and  fatisfied  by- 
 heaven,  do  not  therefore  go  unpunilhed  ;  on  the 
 contrary,  they  are  often  puniQied,  by  being  com- 
 plied with.  The  bleffipgs,  chofen  for  us  by  God, 
 are  bleffings  indeed,  and,  like  the  manna,  bring  no 
 forrow  with  them  :  but  when  we  choofe  for  ourfelves, 
 and  are  fo  unhappy  as  to  be  gratified  in  that  choice, 
 our  portion  too  often  proves  a  curfe;  and  while  the 
 much  loved  morfel  is  yet  between  our  teeth,  "  the 
 "  wrath  of  God  comes  upon  us,"  for  making  a 
 wrong  choice.  This  will  always  be  the  cafe  in  the 
 end,  whenever  earth  is  preferred  to  heaven,  and  fenfe 
 to  faith. 
 
 32.  For  all  this  they  Jinned Ji ill :  and  believed  710 1 
 for  his  wondrous  zvorhs.  33.  Therefore  their  days 
 did  he  confume  in  vanity,  and  their  years  in  trouble. 
 
 Mercies  are  followed  by  provocations ;  provoca- 
 tions are  puniflied  with  judgments  j  to  judgments 
 fucceed  repeated  provocations,  v/hich  call  down  frefb 
 judgments.  Immediately  after  the  liiftory  of  the 
 quails,  we  read  of  a  fedition  ftirred  up  by  Aaron  and 
 Miriam,  and  of  new  murmurs  at  the  report,  brought 
 by  the  fpies,  concerning  the  promifed  land  ;  in  con- 
 fequenceof  which  laft,  the  nation  had  been  deftroy- 
 ed,  but  for  the  intercefllon  of  Mofes  ;  and  the  whole 
 generation  of  thofe  who  came  out  of  Egypt,  except 
 Jolliua  and   Caleb,    adually   fell  in  the  wildernefs, 
 
 wafted 
 
32  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  78. 
 
 wafted  and  confumed  by  various  plagues  and  calami- 
 ties, during  a  forty  years  peregrination.  See  Numb, 
 xii.  xiii.  xiv.  St.  Jude  makes  mention  of  fuch  a  ge- 
 neration in  the  early  days  of  the  Chriiiian  church, 
 fpeakers  of"  hard  fpeeches  againft  Chrift,  murmurers, 
 complainers,  walking  after  their  own  lufts;"'  and  he 
 therefore  puts  converts  "  in  remembrance,  how  that 
 "  the  Lord,  having  faved  the  people  out  of  the  land 
 "  of  Egypt,  afterward  deftroyed  them  that  believed 
 "  not."  Jude,  verfe  5,  and  ly  Becaufe,  notwith- 
 ftanding  all  that  Jefus  has  done,  and  continues  to  do 
 for  the  church,  men  *'  fin  yet  more,  and  believe  not 
 *'  for  his  wondrous  works,"  but  either  defpife  the 
 heavenly  country,  or  defpair  of  obtaining  it,  there- 
 fore is  the  hand  of  God  heavy  upon  the  world ; 
 "  vanity  and  trouble"  wear  out  the  life  of  man  ;  and 
 they  who  have  paffed  the  waters  of  baptifm,  fall 
 Ihort  of  the  promifed  reft. 
 
 34.  When  hejlew  them,  then  they  fought  him'  and 
 they  returned,  and  enquired  early  after  God.  35.  A?id 
 they  remembered  that  Godxvas  their  rock,  and  the  high 
 God  their  Redeemer.  3  6 .  Never  thelefs  did  they  flatter 
 him  ivith  their  mouth,  and  they  lyed  unto  him  with 
 their  tongues.  37.  For  their  heart  was  not  right 
 iviih  him,  neither  were  they  Jiedfajt  in  his  covenant. 
 
 Several  inftances  of  this  behaviour  occur  in  the 
 hlftory  of  Korah*s  rebellion  and  punilhment,  of  the 
 fiery  ferpents,  and  of  Ilrael  and  Moab.  See  Numb, 
 xvi.  XX.  xxi.  XXV.  The  Ifraelites,  in  this  particular, 
 tefembled  their  great  perfecutor  Pharaoh  ;  their  re- 
 pentance, which  came  with  the  divine  judgments, 
 went  alfo  away  with  them,  and  appeared  no  more. 
 
 By 
 
Day  15-  fe.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  33 
 
 by  night  the  dew  falleth  from  heaven,  and  refredieth 
 the  weary  ground,  and  caufeth  the  green  herb  and 
 the  flower  of  the  field  to  revive  and  fpringi  but  in 
 the  morning  the  fun  arifetli  with  a  burning  heat, 
 and  prefently  the  dew  is  evaporated,  the  grafs  wither- 
 eth,  the  flower  {;ideth,    and   the  ground   again  be- 
 cometh  parched  and  dry^  as  before.    Thus  it  is  with 
 man.     Adverfity  is  the  nightj  and  grace  is  the  dew, 
 by  which  his  heart  is  made  tender  and  rehgious,  and 
 good  refolutions  are  formed,  and  begin  to  fhoot  j  but 
 returning  profperity  has  the  force  and  effed  of  a 
 fummer  fun 5   at  it's  prefence  piety  vanifheth,  refo- 
 lutions come  to  nothing,  and  the  heart  is  once  more 
 hardened.     "  O  Ephraim,"  exclaims  Jehovah  by  his 
 prophet,  "  what  fhall  I  do  unto  thee  ?  O  Judah,  what 
 *'  (liall  I  do  unto  thee.-*    for  your  goodnefs  is  as  a 
 "  morning   cloud,   and  as  the  early  dew  it   pafles 
 "  away."  Hof.  vi.  4.     Who,  that  hath   been  con- 
 verfant  in  the  houfe  of  mourning,  and  about  the  bed 
 of  ficknefs,  but  mud  have  feen  frequent  inftances  of 
 a  temporary  and  deceitful  repentance?  Whofe  heart 
 doth  not  reproach  him  with  fome  of  thefe  backflidings 
 of  Ifrael?    In  the   day,    therefore,    of   health,    and 
 ftrength,    and  profperity^    before  the  indignation  of 
 heaven  break  forth,  and  the  right  aimxing  thunder- 
 bolts fly  abroad,  from  a  motive  of  love,  not  of  fear, 
 let  us  "  feek  early  after  God,  and  return  from  our 
 "  fins,  remembering  the  rock  of  our  falvation,  and 
 "  the  high  God,  our  Redeemer."    Thus  may  we  en- 
 tertain fome  hope,    that   our  converfion  is   fincere; 
 that  we  do  not  ^'  flatter^  and  lie"  unto  our  Maker; 
 that  our  "  heart  is  right  with  him,"  and  we  fliall 
 Vol.  II.  C 
 
34  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  78. 
 
 continne  "  ftedfaft  in  his  covenant."  And  then,  a 
 plant  that  is  fet  and  lives  in  the  heat  of  the  day,  how 
 will  it  thrive,  and  flourilli,  under  the  cool  and  moid 
 influences  of  night! 
 
 38.  But  he  being/«//  of  covipa(Jion,  forgave  their 
 iniquity y  and  dejh'oyed  i\-\QU\not ;  yea,  many  a  time 
 turned  he  is  anger  away,  and  did  notjlirup  all  his 
 wrath.  39.  For  he  remembered  that  they  were  but 
 flefJii  a  zvindy  or,  breath,  that  pajeth  away,  and 
 Cometh  not  again. 
 
 Had  God  "  ftirred  up  all  his  wrath,'*  the  Ifraelites 
 muft  have  been  exterminated  in  the  wildernefs.  But 
 then  the  promiies  made  to  Abraham,  of  mercy  and 
 "  compaffion*'  to  them,  and  by  them  to  all  mankind, 
 had  failed.  Therefore  they  were  "  forgiven,"  and 
 not  *'  deilroyed:"  judgment  was  executed,  from 
 time  to  time,  upon  the  perfons  of  offenders;  but  flili 
 a  remnant  wa«  left;  the  nation  fubfifted,  until  the 
 Seed  came,  to  whom  the  promife  was  made.  Nay, 
 although,  in  confequence  of  their  laft  and  greateft 
 crime,  their  polity  was  fubverted  with  their  city  and 
 temple,  the  race  is  yet  marvelloufly  preferved;  and, 
 we  truft,  preferved  for  mercy,  to  be  (hewn  them  in 
 the  laft  days.  Be  not  angry,  O  Lord  Jefu,  for  ever, 
 with  them,  or  with  us ;  but  remember  of  what  ma- 
 terials we  are  made,  and  into  what  a  ftate  we  are 
 fallen;  how  weak  a  ad  how  frail  we  are;  how  liable 
 to  be  feduced  into  fm,  and  blinded  by  error:  remem- 
 ber this,  O  Lord,  and  forgive  us;  and  teach  us  to 
 remember  it,  that  we  may  forgive  one  another. 
 
 40.  How  oft  did  they  provoke  him  in  (he  xvilder- 
 nefs,  and  grieve  him  in  the  defertf     41.  Yea,  they 
 
 turned 
 
Day  15.  E.  r.       on  the  PSALMS.  35 
 
 turned  back,  and  tempted  God,  and  limited  the  holy 
 One  of  IJrael.  42.  They  remembered  not  his  hand, 
 nor  the  day  when  he  delivered  them  from  the  hand  of 
 the  enemy:  43.  How  he  had  ivrought  his  figns  in 
 Egypt,  and  his  zvonders  in  the  f  eld  of  Zoan. 
 
 The  queftion  which  the  Pfalmift  here  afks,  con- 
 cerning Ifrael  in  the  wildernefs,  is  elfewhere  afked  by 
 him,  concerning  mankind  in  general:  "  Who  can 
 *'  tell  how  oft  he  offendeth?"  Pf.  xix.  12.  God 
 informs  Mofes,  who  had  interceded  for  the  people, 
 and,  in  the  name  of  the  great  Mediator,  obtained 
 their  pardon,  that  "  thofe  men  which  had  (ttn  his 
 *'  glory,  and  his  miracles  which  he  did  in  Egypt  and 
 "  in  the  wildernefs,  had  tempted  him  ten  times,  and 
 *'  had  not  hearkened  to  his  voice."  Numb,  xiv,  22. 
 Forgetfulnefs  of  the  mercies  of  redemption  is  the 
 beginning  of  fm  j  and  though  every  one  knows  how 
 to  refent  and  detefl  the  crime  of  ingratitude  in 
 another,  he  yet  thinks  that  his  beft  benefador  will 
 overlook  the  moft  flagrant  inftances  of  it  in  himfelf. 
 
 44.  And  had  turned  their  rivers  into  blood:  and 
 their  floods,  that  they  could  not  drink.  45.  Hefent 
 divers  forts  of  flies,  Heb.  a  mixture^  whether  of  beafls, 
 orinfeds,  noifomeanddeftruclive,  <?/«{; ;2o-Me?/z,  which 
 devoured  them;  and  frogs,  ichich  deftroyed  them..  46. 
 lie  gave  alfo  their  increafe  unto  the  caterpillar,  and 
 their  labour  unto  the  locifc.  47.  He  deflroyed  their 
 vines  with  hail,  and  their  fycamore  trees  withfroji. 
 48.  He  gave  up  tiieir  cattle  alfo  to  the  hail,  and  their 
 flocks  to  hot  tJiunderbolts,  ox.flafhes  of  lightning. 
 
 The  Pfaim  goes  back  to  the  fubjed  of  IfraeHtifh 
 
 ingratitude,   mentioned  at  the  beginning,  verfe  11, 
 
 C  2  1% 
 
36'  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  78- 
 
 12.  in  order  to  introduce  an  account  of  the  miracles 
 wrought  in  Egypt,  previous  to  the  Exodus.  Thefe 
 miracles  were  intended  to  evince  the  fuperiority  of 
 Jehovah  over  the  elements  and'  powers  of  nature^ 
 which  at  that  time  were  objefts  of  worihip  amongft 
 the  Egyptians,  but  plainly  appeared  to  ad  at  the 
 command  of  Mofes,  in  fubordination  to  their  great 
 Creator,  the  God  of  the  Hebrews.  In  the  heavens, 
 on  the  earth,  and  in  the  waters,  fupremacy  and  inde- 
 pendency were  demonftrated  to  belong  to  him  only: 
 fire  and  air,  thunder  and  lightning,  wind,  rain,  and 
 hail  obeyed  his  word:  rivers  became  blood,  and  their 
 inhabitants  peri(hed ;  infefts  and  animals  left  their 
 wonted  habitations,  to  deftroy  vegetables,  or  torment 
 man:  fo  that  wherever  the  gods  of  Egypt  were  fup- 
 pofed  to  refide,  and  to  exert  their  influences  in  favour 
 of  their  votaries,  in  all  places,  and  all  circumftances, 
 vidory  declared  for  Jehovah.  Hence  modern  as  well 
 as  ancient  idolaters  may  learn,  not  to  put  their  trult 
 in  the  world,  but  in  him  who  made,  and  who  can 
 and  will  d'eftroy  it;  whofe  power  can  render  the  moft 
 infignificant  of  his  creatures  inftruments  of  his  ven- 
 geance, and,  in  a  moment,  arm  all  the  elements 
 againft  finners;  and  whofe  mercy  will  employ  that 
 power  In  the  final  falvation  of  the  church  ;  when,  as 
 the  author  of  the  book  of  wifdom  expreffeth  it, 
 "  He  fliall  make  the  creature  his  weapon  for  the  re- 
 "  venge  of  his  enemies,  and  the  world  fhall  fight  for 
 "  him  againft  the  unwi-fe."  Wifd.  v.  17,  20.  The 
 curious  and  flriking  refledions  which  that  author 
 makes  on  the  plagues  of  Egypt,  in  Chap,  xi,  xvii, 
 sviijj  xix..  are  well  worthy  an  attentive  perufal.     It 
 
 5.S 
 
DaV  I^.  E.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  '^^ 
 
 is  alfo  to  .be  obferved,  that  St.  John  defcrlbes  the 
 judgments  of  the  laft  days  in  terms  plainly  alluding 
 to  thofe  poured  out  upon  the  Egyptians,  "  as  locufts 
 "  and  frogsi  bJood  and  darknefs,"  &c.  See  Rev  ix, 
 and  xvi,  etal.  Under  thefe  images  are  reprefented, 
 falfe  teachers  and  erroneous  doftrines,  carnality  and 
 ignorance,  and,  in  a  word,  whatever  contributes  to 
 ravage  the  moral  or  fpiritual  world,  to  deface  the 
 beauty  of  holinefs,  and  dcftroy  the  fruits  of  faith. 
 And  of  all  the  divine  judgments,  thefe  are  by  far  the 
 moft  dreadful,  though  generally  the  lead  dreaded. 
 
 49.  He  cajlupon  them  the  fiercenefs  of  his  anger ^ 
 zvrathy  and  indignation ,  and  trouble,  bi/  fending  evil 
 angels  among  them. 
 
 Some  of  the  Egyptian  plagues  having  been  fpeci- 
 fied  in  the  foregoing  verfes,  others  of  them  are  here 
 thrown  together,  and  the  whole  fcene  is  affirmed  to 
 have  been  a  full  difplay  of  wrath  and  vengeance, 
 executed  upon  the  oppreflbrs  of  the  church  by 
 Q'';^"!  DOi^'^D  "  evil  angels,  agents,  or  meflengers:*' 
 whether  by  this  expreflion,  we  underftand  the  ma- 
 terial inftrumcnts  of  divine  difpleafurej  or  angels  em- 
 ployed as  minifters  of  vengeance;  or  the  afluai  ap- 
 pearance and  miniftration  of  evil  fpirits,  fuffered  to 
 torment  the  wicked  in  this  world,  as  they  certainly 
 will  do,  in  the  next.  Tradition  feems  to  have  fa- 
 voured this  laft  opinion,  fince  the  author  of  the  book 
 of  Wifdom,  above  referred  to,  defcrib^s  the  Egyp- 
 tian darknefs  as  a  kind  of  temporary  hell,  in  which 
 there  appeared  to  the  wicked,  whofc  confciences  fug- 
 gefted  to  them  every  thing  that  was  horrible,  "  a  fire 
 »*  kindled  of  itfelf  very  dreadful ;  they  were  feared 
 C  3  "  with 
 
38  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  78. 
 
 •*  with  beafts  that  pafled  by,  and  hiffing  of  ferpentsj 
 "  and  they  were  vexed  with  mpftrous  apparitions, 
 "  fo  that  they  fainted,  and  died  for  fear ;  while  over 
 "  them  was  fpread  an  heavy  night,  an  image  of  that 
 *'  darknefs  which  Ihould  afterwards  receive  them."^ 
 Wifd.  xvii. 
 
 50.  He  made  a  way  to  his  angei^  he  f pared  not 
 their  foul  from  death,  but  gave  their  life  over  to  the 
 "pejlilence;  5 1 .  Andfmote  all  the  fir fi  horn  in  Egypt; 
 the  chief  of  their  frength  in  the  tabernacles  of  Ilavu 
 
 The  lafl  plague  was  the  death  of  the  firft  born 
 both  of  man  and  beaft;  Exod.  xii.  29.  when  God, 
 having  removed  every  obftacle  that  mercy  had 
 thrown  in  the  path  of  juftice,  "  made  a  way  to  his 
 '*  indignation,"  which  then  rudied  forth  like  a  fiery 
 flream.  An  unlimited  commiffion  was  given  to  the 
 deftroyer,  who  at  midnight  pafled  through  the  land, 
 and  gave  the  fatal  flroke  in  every  houfe.  "  While 
 "  all  things,  O  Lord,  were  in  quiet  filence,  an4 
 "  that  night  was  in  the  midfl:  of  her  fwift  courfe, 
 "  thine  Almighty  word  leaped  down  from  heaven 
 "  out  of  thy  royal  throne,  as  a  fierce  man  of  war 
 "  into  the  midft  of  a  land  of  deftruftion,  and 
 "  brought  thine  unfeigned  commandment  as  a  fliarp 
 "  fword,  and  {landing  up,  filled  all  things  with 
 "  death:  and  it  touched  the  heaven,  but  it  flood 
 *'  upon  the  earth."  Wifd.  xviii.  14.  Pharaoh  and 
 all  his  fervants  rofe  up  in  the  night  j  there  was  a 
 great  cry  throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt ;  and 
 univerfal  confternation  reigned,  inferior  only  to  that 
 which  is  to  extend  it's  empire  over  the  world,  when 
 "  the  trumpet  fhall  found,  and  the  dead  (hall  be 
 
 "  raifed.'* 
 
Day  15.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  39 
 
 *'  raifed."  May  we  be  faved,  like  Ifrael,  in  that 
 hour,  through  the  blood  of  the  true  pafchal  Lamb, 
 llain  to  take  away  the  fins  of  the  world!  "  When  I 
 "  fee  the  blood,"  fays  Jehovah  to  his  people,  "  I  will 
 "  pafs  over  you." 
 
 52.  Bift  made  his  own  people  to  go  forth  likejheepj 
 and  guided  them  in  the  zvildernefsy  like  a  flock; 
 53.  And  he  led  them  onfafelyjo  that  they  fear  cdnol; 
 but  the  fea  overwhelmed  their  enemies.  54.  And  he 
 brought  them  to  the  border  of  his  Sanctuarij^  even 
 to  his  mountain^  which  his  right  hand  had  pur- 
 chafed.  55.  He  caji  out  the  heathen  alfo  before  them; 
 and  divided  them  an  inheritance  by  line:  and  made 
 the  tribes  of  Ifrael  to  dwell  in  their  tents. 
 
 Having  related  the  punifhments  inflided  on 
 Egypt,  the  Pfalmift  returns  to  thofe  mercies  ex- 
 perienced by  the  Ifraelites,  when  God  overthrew 
 their  enemies,  took  them  under  his  protedlion,  fed 
 and  conduced  them  in  the  wildernefs,  brought  them 
 to  the  promifed  land,  expelled  the  heathen,  fettled 
 his  people,  and  at  length  fixed  his  refidence  on 
 mount  Sion,  which  is  reprefented  as  tlie  conquefl 
 and  acquifition  of  his  own  arm;  (ince  the  victories 
 of  Jofhua,  &c,  were  all  owing  to  the  divine  prefence 
 and  affiftance.  The  Chriftian  church,  after  her  re- 
 demption by  "  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,"  pafled  300 
 years  in  a  ftate  of  minority,  as  it  were,  and  under 
 perfecution,  which,  with  allufion  to  what  befel 
 Ifrael  of  old,  is  called  in  the  Revelation,  her  flight 
 and  abode  in  the  wilderness.  Rev.  xii.  6.  At 
 length,  the  true  "  Jofliua,"  or  Jesus,  "  brought" 
 her  "  into  the  polfefTion  of  the  Gentiles;"  fee  Ads 
 C  4  vii. 
 
40  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  78. 
 
 vli,  45.  and  (lie  enjoyed  a  temporary  reft  and  pro- 
 fperity  But  no  terreftrial  Canaan,  no  fecular  advan- 
 tages (hould  make  us  forget,  as  the  Jews  did,  and  as 
 Chriftians  are  apt  to  do,  that  the  church  is  in  the 
 wildcrnefs,  while  (he  is  in  the  world  j  and  that  "  there 
 *'  remaineth  yet"  another  and  far  more  glorious  "  reft 
 *'  for  the  people  of  God,"  after  which  they  ought 
 ever  io  be  afpiring.     See  Heb.  iv.  9. 
 
 56.  Yet  they  tempted  and  provoked  the  mojl  high 
 God,  and  kept  not  his  tejlimonies :  c^'j .  But  turned 
 backy  and  dealt  unfaithfully  like  their  fathers'  they 
 zv ere  turned  afide  like  a  deceitful  bow.  58.  For  they 
 provoked  him  to  anger  with  their  high  places,  arcd 
 moved  him  to  jealoufy  with  their  graven  images. 
 
 The  Ifraelites,  when  fettled  in  the  promifed  land, 
 foon  ftiewed  themfelves  to  be  the  genuine  defcendants 
 of  thofe  men,  who  tempted  God  in  the  defert.  We 
 can  hardly  read  two  chapters  in  the  book  of  Judges, 
 but  we  meet  with  the  words,  *'  And  the  children  of 
 «'  Ifrael  again  did  evil  in  the  fight  of  the  Lord." 
 For  this  their  frequent  revolting  they  are  compared 
 to  "  a  deceitful  bow/'  which,  when  put  to  the  trial, 
 is  fure  to  dilappoint  the  archer,  either  dropping  the 
 arrow  at  his  feet,  or  carrying  it  wide  of  the  mark. 
 Their  zeal  and  love  were  either  wholly  relaxed  and 
 enervated  by  fenfuality  and  indolence,  or  elfe  turned 
 afide,  and  mifplaced  on  falfe  objefts  of  worlhip. 
 Thus,  in  the  prefent  decline  of  religion,  the  devotion 
 of  the  Romanifts  hath  attached  itfelf  to  faints,  angels, 
 and  imager;  while  that  of  Proteftants  fleepeth,  and 
 muft  be  awakened.     In  what  manner,  is  known  to 
 
 God  only. 
 
 59,  When 
 
Day  15,  E.  p,       ON  THE  PSALMS.  4? 
 
 59.  W/ien  God  heard  this^  he  zvas  rvrofh,  and 
 greatlij  abhorred  Ifrael:  60.  So  that  heforfook  the 
 tabernacle  of  Shiloh,  the  tent  which  he  placed 
 among  7nen;  61.  And  delivered  his  ftrength  into 
 captivitij^  and  his  glory  into  the  enemies  hand. 
 
 Rebellion  againfl:  God  will,  fooner  or  later,  draw 
 down  his  vengeance,  and  caufe  the  moft  beloved  na- 
 tion to  be  "  Jibhorred"  by  him:  he  will  forGike  the 
 place  of  his  refidence,  "  the  tent  placed  among  men,'* 
 where  he  dwelleth  by  his  Spirit  i  and  the  church,  by 
 which  his  "  ftrength,"'  and  his  *'  glory"  are  mani- 
 fefted  to  the  world,  fliall  go  "  into  captivity,  and 
 ^*  the  enemies  hand."  All  this  we  are  taught  by  that 
 which  came  to  pafs  in  Ifrael,  when  for  the  fins  of 
 priefts  and  people,  the  ark  of  God,  which  then  abode 
 in  Shiloh,  was  fufFered  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
 Philiftines.  i.Sam.iv.  The  prefent  ftate  of  Jeru- 
 falem,  and  of  all  the  once  flouriOiing  eaftern  and 
 African  churches,  fpeaks  aloud  the  fame  awful  and 
 concerning  truth.  "  He  that  hath  ears  to  hear  let 
 him  hear.'* 
 
 62.  He  gave  his  people  over  alfo  to  the  /word: 
 and  zvas  zvroth  with  his  inhejHtance,  63.  The , fire 
 confumed  their  young  men-  and  their  maidens  were 
 7iot  given  to  marriage.  64.  Their  priejis  fell  by  the 
 fword:   and  their  widows  made  no  lamentation. 
 
 Thefe  verles  refer  to  the  flaughter  of  Ifrael  by  the 
 Philiftines,  which  was  an  cfFedl  of  divine  wrath,  com- 
 pared here,  as  elfewhere,  to  "  a  confuming  fire;'* 
 they  refer  likewife  to  the  death  of  old  Eli,  of  Hophni 
 and  Phinehas,  and  the  widow  of  Phinehas,  who  ex- 
 pired in  child-bed,  on  hearing  the  mournful  news, 
 
 I  Sam, 
 
42  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  7S. 
 
 I  Sam.  iv.  Hiftory  abounds  with  the  tragical  ftories 
 of  wars  and  captivities:  Scripture  informs  us,  they 
 are  the  judgments  of  Gcd  againft  fin :  but  calamities 
 affed  us  not,  till  they  become  our  own :  it  is  well  if 
 they  reform  us,  even  when  they  do  become  fo. 
 
 65.7  hen  the  Lon  d  azcaked^  as  one  oulqfjieep^  and 
 like  a  mighty  iiuuiy  ihatJJwuteth,  by  reafon  of  wine. 
 
 While,  by  God's  permiflion,  the  PhiHftines  were 
 chaflifing  his  people  for  their  fins,  he  held  his  peace> 
 and  feemed  unconcerned,  as  one  afleep.  But  when 
 due  chaftifement  had  brought  the  delinquents  to 
 themfelves,  the  cries  of  penitent  Ifrael  awakened,  as 
 it  were,  and  called  forth  the  zeal  of  the  Lord  of 
 hofts,  to  vindicate  his  honour,  and  deliver  his  fer- 
 vants:  and  then  the  vigour  of  his  operations  was 
 fuch,  as  might  be  compared  to  the  alacrity  and  cou- 
 rage of  a  mighty  champion,  when,  refreflied  and  in- 
 fpirited  by  wine,  he  attacks  his  adverfaries,  and  bears 
 down  all  before  him.  Under  all  our  fufferings,  let 
 us  reft  contented  with  this  aflurance,  that  God  adls 
 the  part  of  a  father;  and  will  therefore  remove  the 
 rod,  when  it  has  anfwered  the  end  propofed. 
 
 66.  And  he  f mote  his  enemies  in  the  hinder  parts; 
 he  put  them  to  a  perpetual  reproach. 
 
 The  former  claufe  of  this  verfe  may  be  rendered, 
 *'  And  he  repulfed,  or,  drove  his  enemies  back;" 
 as  Pfalm  ix.  5.  "  WJicn  mine  enemies  are  turned 
 "  back;"'  the  word  THi^  being  the  fame,  in  both 
 places.  But  as  that  part  of  the  facred  hiftory  is  here 
 alluded  to,  in  whicli  the  PhiHftines  are  faid  to  have 
 been  pl.igued  with  "  emerods,"  or  "  hemorrhoids," 
 while  the  ark  was  amongft  them,  the  palTage  is  ge- 
 3  ne  rally 
 
Day  15,  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  43 
 
 nerally  rendered,  as  in  our  tranflation,  and  fuppofed 
 to  intend  that  particular  plague.  Thus  much,  how. 
 ever,  is  certain,  that  Dagon  fell  before  the  ark, 
 which  his  worfliippers  were  glad  to  fend  back,  with 
 acknowledgments  of  the  vengeance  inflidtd  on  them 
 by  the  fuperior  power  of  the  God  of  Ifrael,  who 
 could  punifli  where,  and  when,  and  how  he  pleafed. 
 See  I  Sam.  v.  vi. 
 
 67.  Moreover  he  refufed  the  tabernacle  of  Jofeph^ 
 and  chofe  not  the  tribe  of  Ephraim.  68.  Bnt  chofe 
 the  tribe  of  Judah,  the  mount  Sion  ivhich  he  loved. 
 69.  And  he  built  his  fanctuary  like  high  palaces,  like 
 the  earth  which  lie  hath  ejtablifhedfor  ever. 
 
 The  ark,  after  it's  return,  v/ent  no  more  to  Shiloh, 
 which  was  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  the  fon  of 
 Jofeph,  but  was  brought  firft  to  Kiriathaim,  i  Sam. 
 vi.  21.  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  and  from  thence, 
 after  a  (hort  flay  at  the  houfe  of  Obed  Edom,  to 
 mount  Sion,  i  Chron.  xiv.  and  xv.  which  was  the 
 chofen  and  highly  favoured  mount:  where  was  after- 
 wards ereded,  by  Solomon,  a  magnificent  and  per- 
 manent habitation  for  the  God  of  Jacob,  during  the 
 continuance  of  the  old  difpenfation;  a  refemblance 
 of  that  eternal  temple,  in  which  all  the  fulnefs  of 
 the  Godhead  hath  fmce  dwelt  bodily.  The  divine 
 prefence  removed  at  this  time  to  the  tribe  ot  Judah, 
 becaufeout  of  that  tribe,  after  the  rejedion  of  Saul, 
 came  the  great  reprefentative,  as  well  as  progenitor^ 
 of  King  Meffiah. 
 
 70.  He  chofe  David  alfo  his  fervant,  and  took  him 
 from  the  fJieep  folds.  71.  From  folloxving  the  ewes 
 great  zvith  young,  he  brought  him  to  feed  Jacob  his 
 
 people. 
 
44  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  7S. 
 
 people^  and  Ifrael  his  inheritance.  72.  So  he  fed 
 them  according  to  the  integrity  of  his  heart,  and 
 guided  them  by  the  fdlfulnefs  of  his  hands. 
 
 The  call  of  David  from  a  llieepfold  to  a  throne 
 teacheth  us,  that  he  who  hath  fliewed  himfelf  faith- 
 ful in  a  few  and  fmall  concerns,  is  worthy  of  promo- 
 tion to  more  and  more   important  cares;    that  the 
 qualifications,  requifite  for  the  duedifcharge  of  high 
 offices,  are  beft  learned,  at  firft.  in  an  inferior  flation, 
 efpecially    if   it    be   one   that  will   inure  to  labour 
 ^nd  vigilance;  and  that  kings  are  to  confider  them- 
 felves  as  '*  fliepherds;"   which  confideration  would 
 perhaps  teach    them  their  duty  better  than  all  the 
 precepts  in  the  world.     From  the  laft  verfe,  relative 
 to  David's  manner  of  condufting  himfelf  after  his 
 advancement,  we  learn,  that  integrity  and  difcretion, 
 when  they  meet  in  the  fame  perfon,  form  a  complete 
 Ruler,   and  one  fit  to  reprefent  that  bleffed  perfon, 
 who  entered,  like  his  father.  David,  through  fuffer- 
 ings  into  his  glory;   who  governeth  his  church  in 
 wifdom  and  righteoufnefs;  and  of  whom  it  is  faid,  by 
 the  evangelical  prophet,  "  He  fliallfeed  his  flock  like 
 **  a  Qiepherd,  he  (hall  gather  the  lambs  with  his  arm, 
 "  and  carry  them  in  his  bofom,  and  fhall  gently  lead 
 "  thofe  that  are  with  young."     Ifai.  xl.  11. 
 
 XVI, 
 
Day  i6.  3^1.  p.      ON  THE  PSALMS.  4^ 
 
 XVI  DAY.       MORNING   PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM     LXXIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  argument  of  this  Pfalm  is  nearly  the  fame 
 with  that  of  the  Ixxivth.  1  he  church  per- 
 fecuted  and  afflicted,  fets  forth,  1 — 3.  the 
 facrilegious  devaflation,  and  cruel  flaughter, 
 made  by  the  enemy,  with  4.  the  reproach 
 occafioned  thereby;  5 — 7.  flie  prayeth  for 
 redrefs  and  deliverance  ;  8,  9,  confefl'eth,  and 
 entreateth  forgivenefs  of  the  fnis,  which  had 
 brought  thefe  calamities  upon  her;  and  then, 
 10 — -12.  afeth  a  removal  of  her  reproach 
 and  mifery;  promiling  13.  endlefs  gratitude 
 and  praife  for  the  fame.  We  meet  with 
 pafTages  of  this  Pfalm,  Jer.  x.  25.  1  Mace, 
 vii.  17.  but  when  it  was  compofed,  is  not 
 known. 
 
 i.  O  God,  the  heothe?i  arc  come  into  thme  inhe- 
 ritance j  thy  holy  temple  have  they  defiled:  they  havs 
 laid  Jeriifalein  on  heaps. 
 
 Three  deplorable  calamities  are  here  enumerated 
 by  the  faithful  j  the  alienation  of  God's  inheritance, 
 the  profanation  of  the  fandluary,  and  the  defolation 
 of  the  beloved  city.  When  we  reprefent,  in  our 
 prayers,  the  fufferings  and  humiliation  of  the  church;, 
 I  wc 
 
46  A  COMMENTARY        PsaL.  79. 
 
 we  take  an  effeclual  method  of  awakening  the  com- 
 paffion,  and  recalling  the  favour  of  heaven.  Every 
 redeemed  foul  is  the  inheritance,  the  temple,  the 
 city  of  God.  When  fm  enters,  and  takes  poffeilion, 
 the  inheritance  is  alienated,  the  temple  defiled,  the 
 city  defolated. 
 
 2.  The  dead  bodies  of  thy  ferv ants  have  they  given 
 to  be  meat  unto  the  fowls  of  heaven^  the  fiejh  of  thy 
 faints  unto  the  heajis  of  the  earth.  3.  Their  blood 
 have  they  filed  like  water  round  about  Jerufalem- 
 and  there  was  7ione  to  bury  them. 
 
 That  horrible  carnage,  which  attends  the  fiege  and 
 capture  of  a  city,  is  the  fourth  of  thofe  calamities 
 bewailed  in  our  Pfalm.  To  behold,  or  even  to  ima- 
 gine, heaps  of  flaughtered  bodies  lying  unburied^ 
 and  expofed  to  birds  and  beafls  of  prey,  is  incx- 
 preffibly  (hocking  to  humanity.  But  with  what  un- 
 concern are  we  acciiftomed  to  view,  on  all  fides  of 
 us,  multitudes  "  dead  in  trefpafles  and  fins,"  torn  in 
 pieces,  and  devoured  by  wild  paflions,  filthy  lufls, 
 and  infernal  fpirits,  thofe  dogs  and  vultures  of  the 
 moral  world !  Yet  to  a  difcerning  eye,  and  a  think- 
 ing mind,  the  latter  is  by  far  the  more  melancholy 
 fight  of  the  two. 
 
 4.  U'e  are  beco?ne  a  reproach  to  our  neighbours  ; 
 afcorn  and  deri/ion  to  them  that  are  roundabout  us. 
 A  fifth  calamity,  incident  to  an  afflicted  church, 
 is  to  become,  like  captive  Ifrael,  the  "  fcorn  and  de- 
 "  rifion"  of  infidels,  who  fail  not,  at  fuch  feafons, 
 to  reproach  her,  and  blalpheme  her  God.  We  know 
 how  to  anfwer  thofe,  who  reproach  us  with  our  fuf- 
 icrines,  for  fc  their  predecefil^rs  reproached  our  Mat- 
 ter^ 
 
Day  i6.  m.  p.       on  the  PSALMS.  47 
 
 ter;  but  what  (liall  we  fay,  if  wc  have  given  the 
 enemy  occafion  to  reproach  us  with  our  fins  ?  The 
 only  real  difgrace  of  religion,  is  the  wickednefs  of 
 it's  profefibrs. 
 
 5.  How  long.  Lord?  zvilt  thou  be  angry  for 
 everf  Shall  thy  jealoufy  burn  like  Jire? 
 
 Parched,  and  exhaufted,  amidfl:  the  flames  of  per- 
 fecution,  we  behold  Sion  panting  for  the  comforts  of 
 redemption.  The  extent  and  continuance  of  her 
 troubles  caufe  her  to  fear  a  total  extermination;  and, 
 by  the  queftions  here  afked,  flie  tacitly  reminds  God 
 of  his  promifcs  not  to  give  her  up,  and  dellroy  her 
 "  for  ever,"  on  account  of  Meflias,  whom  fhe  was 
 in  the  fulnefsof  time  to  bring  forth. 
 
 6.  Pour  out  thy  wrath  upon  the  heatlien  that 
 have  not  knozvn  thee,  and  upon  the  kingdoms  that 
 have  not  called  upon  thy  name,  7.  For  they  have 
 devoured  Jacob,  and  laid  wajie  his  dxvclling  place. 
 
 This,  though  uttered  in  the  form  of  a  wifh,  or 
 prayer,  is  to  be  confidered,  like  many  other  paflages 
 of  the  fame  nature,^  as  a  predidon  of  what  would 
 afterwards  come  to  pals.  Pagan  ambition  and  cruelty 
 were  often  employed  to  chaftife  offending  Ifrael;  but 
 were,  themfelves,  notwithflanding,  juftly  punillied, 
 in  their  turn,  by  other  powers,  railed  up  for  that 
 end.  That  relation,  in  which  the  church  fiands  to 
 God,  caufes  him,  upon  her  repentance,  to  appear  in 
 her  behalf,  and  to  execute  vengeance  on  her  oppref- 
 fors,  who  "know  him  not,  nor  call  upon  his  name." 
 "  We  are  thine,"  faith  Ifaiah,  ''  thou  never  beared 
 "  rule  over  them,  they  were  not  called  by  thy  name." 
 ixiii.  19.     The  church,  for  her  fins,  may  deferve  to 
 
 fuffer  i 
 
48  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  7^. 
 
 fufFer ;   but  her  enemies  are  not  therefore  without 
 guilt,  nor  will  they  efcape  without  punifhment. 
 
 8.  O  remember  not  againji  il'=>  former  iniquities : 
 let  thy  tender  mercies  fpeedily  prevent  us:  for  we 
 are  brought  very  loiv.  9.  Help  us,  O  God  of  our 
 /alvation,for  the  glory  of  thy  name:  and  deliver  us, 
 and  purge  azvay  our  fins  for  thy  name's  fake. 
 
 Affliftion  hath  then  wrought  it's  intended  effed, 
 when  it  hath  convinced  us  of  fin,  and  led  us  to  re- 
 pentance; when  brought  back  by  it,  like  the  re- 
 turning prodigal,  to  the  houfe  and  prefence  of  our 
 heavenly  father,  we  acknowledge  our  guilt  as  the 
 caufe  of  our  mifery,  and  entreat  forgivenefs  of  the 
 one,  in  order  to  obtain  a  releafe  from  the  other;  not 
 pleading  our  own  merits,  but  the  mercies  of  God  our 
 Saviour,  and  the  glory  of  his  name. 
 
 10.  Wheref ore fhouldthelieathen  fay.  Where  is  their 
 God?  let  him  be  known  ajnong  the  heathen  in  our  fght, 
 by  the  revenging  of  the  blood  of  thy  fervants  zvhich  is 
 filed;  or,  let  the  vengeance  of  thy  fervants  blood  that  is 
 filed,  be  known  among  the  heathen  that  is  in  our  fight. 
 
 It  is  for  "  the  glory  of  God's  name,"  to  deliver 
 his  church;  becaufe,  while  flie  is  in  trouble,  that 
 name  is  blafphemed  by  the  enemy,  as  if  he  wanted 
 either  power,  or  will,  to  prevent  or  remove  the  ca- 
 lamities of  his  fervants.  Prayer  is  therefore  here 
 made  by  the  faithful,  that  God,  not  to  gratify  any 
 vindidive  fpirit  of  theirs,  but  to  vindicate  his  own 
 attributes,  would  break  the  teeth  of  the  oppreflbr, 
 and  work  a  public  and  glorious  falvation  for  his 
 chofen:  at  beholding  which,  the  very  adverfaries 
 themfelves  might  poffibly  be  converted. 
 
 11,  Let 
 
Day  1 6.  m.  p.       on  the  PSALMS.  49 
 
 11.  Let  the  Jighing  of  the  prifoner  come  before 
 thee :  according  to  the  greatnefs  of  thy.  power  pre- 
 
 ferve  thou  thofe  that  are  appointed  to  die. 
 
 Next  to  thofe  who  had  been  flain,  the  cafe  of  fuch 
 as  groaned  in  captivity,  lying  bound  in  chains  and 
 fetters,  under  fentence  of  death,  to  be  inflided  at 
 the  will  of  their  cruel  and  infulting  conquerors,  is 
 recommended  to  God.  The  Chriftian,  though  he 
 may  at  prefent  be  fubjed  to  none  of  thefe  external 
 calamities,  forgets  not  that  he  is  often  perfecuted, 
 and  led  captive,  by  his  own  deli  res,  and  bound  in 
 the  chains  of  his  fins ;  that  the  world  to  him  is  a 
 prifon  ;  that  fentence  of  death  is  palTed  upon  him, 
 and  he  knoweth  not  how  foon  that  fentence  may  be 
 executed.  How  properly,  therefore,  and  how  fer- 
 vently may  he,  at  all  times,  pray,  "  O  let  the  figh- 
 *'  ing  of  the  prifoner  come  before  thee ;  according 
 "  to  the  greatnefs  of  thy  power  preferve  thou  thofe 
 "  that  are  appointed  to  die." 
 
 12.  And  render  unto  our  neighbours  fevenfold  into 
 their  bofom  their  reproach,  wherewith  they  have 
 reproached  thee,  O  Lord. 
 
 That  is.  As  they  have  reproached  thee  with  weak- 
 nefs,  fo  manifeft  to  others  their  weaknefs,  who  are 
 b>ut  fmful  dull  and  afties ;  as  they  have  endeavoured 
 to  make  thee  contemptible,  fo  let  the  world  have  jufl 
 caufe  to  defpife  them,  who  have  thus  prefumptuoully 
 offended ;  according  as  it  is  written,  "  Them  that 
 "  honour  me  I  will  honour,  and  they  that  defpife 
 "  me  (hall  be  lightly  efleemed."  i  Sam.  ii.  30.  And 
 however  different  the  appearance  of  things  may  now 
 
 Vol.  IL  D  be. 
 
5©  A  COMMENTARY        Psai.  8o 
 
 be,  this  will  certainly  be   found   true,  in  every  in- 
 ftance,  at  the  laft  day. 
 
 13.  So  we  thy  people ,  and  Jieep  of  tliy  pafture^ 
 will  give  thee  thanks  for  ever :  zve  iv ill  fJtew  forth 
 thy  praife  to  all  generatiom. 
 
 Such  is  the  refolution  of  a  church,  under  perfecu- 
 tion;  and  fuch  ought  to  be  the  pra6tice  of  every 
 church,  when  deHvered  out  of  it,  and  reftored  to 
 the  favour  and  protection  of  her  God.  The  fame  13 
 the  duty  of  every  foul,  vi^ith  regard  to  afflidlions  and 
 mercies  of  a  private  kind.  But  how  glorious  will  be 
 the  day,  when,  triumphant  over  fin  and  forrow,  over 
 every  thing  that  exalteth  and  oppofeth  itfelf,  the 
 church  univerfal  fball  behold  the  adverfary  difarmed 
 for  ever  J  while  (he  herfelf,  placed  in  paftures  of  joy, 
 and  led  to  the  waters  of  eternal  comfort,  fliall,  from 
 age  to  age,  incefTantly  fing  the  praifes  of  her  great 
 Shepherd  and  Bifhop,  hei  King,  and  her  God  1 
 
 PSALM    LXXX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  church,  flill  in  captivity,  1 — 3.  crieth 
 unto  God  for  help  and  redemption ;  4 — 7. 
 complaineth  of  her  grievous  affli6tions ;  8 — 
 13.  defcribeth  her  former  exaltation,  and 
 prefent  deprefsion,  under  the  beautiful  figure 
 of  a  Vine;  14 — 1^.  returneth  again  to  her 
 fuppllcations,  and  17 — ly.  prayeth  for  the 
 advent  of  Mefsiah,  to  quicken  and  comfort 
 
 her- 
 
Day  i6.  m.  p.       on  the  PSALMS.  51 
 
 her,  vowing  all  loyal  obedience,  adoration, 
 and  praife  to  him,  as  the  author  of  her 
 fa  1  vat  ion. 
 
 t.  Give  ear ^  O  Jliepherd  of  tfraeU  thou  that  leadejt 
 Jofeph  like  a  Jlock ;  thou  that  ckuellejt  between  the 
 cheru h ims,  Jhine  fortii . 
 
 The  Chriftian  church  is  now  become  the  *'  Ifrael" 
 of  God  :  Jefus  Chrift  is  the  "  fliepherd'*  of  this 
 lirael,  who  leadeth  his  people  "like  a  flock;"  he 
 dwelleth  in  the  midft  of  them  by  his  Spirit,  as  of  old 
 he  dwelt  in  the  holy  places,  "  between  the  cheru- 
 bims.''  Let  us  befeech  him  to  hearken  to  our 
 prayers,  and  to  manifell  the  glory  of  his  power,  in 
 our  defence  and  deliverance. 
 
 2.  Before  Ephraim,  Benjamin,  and  Manajfehi 
 ftir  up  thy  firengtliy  and  come  andfave  us. 
 
 God  is  entreated  to  go  forth,  in  his  ftrength  and 
 his  falvation,  before  the  tribes  of  Ifrael,  as  formerly 
 in  the  wildernefs.  Ephraim,  Benjamin,  and  ManafTeh 
 are  particularly  mentioned,  perhaps,  becaufe,  ac- 
 cording to  the  eftablifhed  order,  thofe  three  tribes 
 immediately  followed  the  ark  and  cherubim,  the 
 fymbols  of  the  divine  prefence.     See  Numb.  ii.  18. 
 
 3.  Turn,  or,  rejtore  us  again,  O  God,  and  caufe 
 thy  face  tojhine;  andzvejhall  be  faved. 
 
 This  verfe  is  a  kind  of  Chorus,  occurring  three 
 times  in  the  courfe  of  our  Pfalm.  It  implies,  that 
 the  church  is  in  captivity,  from  which  (he  prayeth  to 
 be  ^'  reftored"  to  her  former  freedom  and  profpcrityj 
 that  fhe  expedeth  fuch  reftoration,  not  from  ^ny 
 might  or  merit  of  her  own,  but  from  the  grace  and 
 D  2  mercy 
 
51  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  8o. 
 
 mercy  of  her  Saviour;  as  well  knowing,  that  her 
 night  can  be  turned  into  day,  and  her  winter  give 
 place  to  fpring,  only  by  the  fun  of  righteoufnefs 
 rifingj  and  caufing  his  face  to  fhine  upon  her  defola- 
 tions.  This  ought,  therefore,  to  be  the  wiQi  and 
 th6  prayer  of  every  perfecuted  church,  and  of  every 
 afflifted  foul, 
 
 4.  O  Lord  God  of  hojis^  how  long  wilt  thou  be 
 angry  againjt  the  prayer  of  thy  people  f 
 
 The  fins  of  a  people  may  for  a  time  "  feparate  be- 
 ^'  [ween  them  and  their  God,  and  hide  his  face  from 
 *'  them  that  he  will  not  hear:"  Ifai.  lix.  2.  he  may 
 *'  cover  hirafelf  with  a  cloud,  that  their  prayers  (hould 
 *'  not  pafs  through  ;'*  Lam.  iii.  44.  and  feem  to  rejed 
 even  the  devotions  of  his  diftreffed  fervants,  while  he 
 is  proving  the  ftrength  of  their  faith,  and  the  fince- 
 rity  of  their  repentance.  But  if  the  former  be  ftrong, 
 and  the  latter  fincere,  they  will  continue  to  aik,  till 
 they  have  obtained ;  nor  ceafe  to  knock,  till  the  door 
 be  opened. 
 
 5.  Thou  feedeji  them  with  the  bread  of  fears^  or, 
 of  weeping ;  and  giveft  them  tears  to  drink  in  great 
 meafure. 
 
 There  cannot  be  a  more  ftriking  piflure  of  Sion 
 in  captivity!  Her  bread  is  dipped  in  tears,  and  her 
 cup  is  filled  to  the  brim  with  them :  no  time  is  free 
 from  grief  and  lamentation.  They  who  fin,  mufl 
 fubmit  to  penance ;  which  if  a  man  doth  not  impofe 
 on  himfelf,  God  will  impofe  it  on  him :  whereas,  if 
 we  judged  ourfelves,  we  (hould  not  be  thus  judged 
 of  the  Lord.     The  church  hath  appointed  feafons. 
 
Day  i6.  m.  p.      on  the  PSALMS.  5j 
 
 and  given  direftions  for  this  purpofe ;  but  who  ob- 
 ferves  either  the  one,  or  the  other  ? 
 
 6.  Thou  inakejt  us  a  Jlrife  unto  our  neighbours : 
 a?id  our  enemies  laugh  among  themfelves. 
 
 Ifrael,  when  forfaken  by  her  God,  was  a  prey,  for 
 which  all  the  neighbouring  nations  contended,  ex- 
 ulting over  her,  and  fcoffing  at  that  condition,  to 
 which,  not  their  counfels,  or  armies,  but  her  own 
 iniquities,  had  reduced  her.  Hence  let  us  learn  how 
 to  form  a  juft  eftimate  of  the  real  ftate  both  of  com- 
 munities and  individuals.  Righteoufnefs  alone  ex- 
 alteth  man ;  fm  is  his  reproach,  and  will  be  his  dcf 
 ftrudion. 
 
 *j.  Turn  us  again,  O  God  of  hojis,  and  caufe  thy 
 face  to  /Iiine,  a?id  xve  fhall  he  faved.  See  above, 
 ver.  3.  8.  Thoti  haji  brought  a  vine  out  of  Egypt: 
 thou  haft  caft  out  the  heathen,  and  planted  it. 
 
 God  is  reminded  of  the  favour  once  (hewn  by  him 
 to  the  church  of  Ifrael,  and  of  that  profperity  which 
 (he  once  eajoyed.  "She  is  compared  to  a  "  vine,"  re- 
 moved, from  the  unkindly  foil  of  Egypt,  to  the 
 happier  regions  of  Canaan,  and  there  planted  by 
 Jehovah,  in  the  place  of  nations  extirpated  for  their 
 unfruitfulnefs.  The  vine  is  a  plant  weak,  and  lowly, 
 and  needing  fupport  \  when  fupported,  wild  and  luxu- 
 riant, unlefs  reftrained  by  the  pruning  knife ;  ca- 
 pable of  producing  the  moit  valuable  fruit;  but, 
 if  barren,  the  mofl  unprofitable  among  trees,  and  fi-t 
 only  for  the  flames.  In  all  thefe  refpeds  it  is  a  lively 
 emblem  of  the  church,  and  ufed  as  fuch  by  Ifaiah, 
 V.  7.  by  Ezekiel,  xv.  xvii.  xix.  and  by  our  Lord 
 himfelf.  Matt.  xxi.  33.  The  Chriftian  church,  after 
 D  3  her 
 
54  A  COMMENTARY        Fsal.  So, 
 
 her  redemption,  by  the  death  and  refurreftion  of  Je- 
 fus,  was  planted  in  the  heathen  world,  as  Ifrael  had 
 been  in  Canaan  ;  and  the  defcription  fuits  one  as  well 
 as  the  other. 
 
 9.  Thou  preparedjl  room  before  it,  anddidjl  canfe 
 it  to  take  deep  root,  and  Unfilled  the  land.  10.  The 
 hills  were  covered  zvith  the  Jliadow  of  it,  ajid  the 
 houghs  thereof  ^^xz  like  the  goodly  cedars ;  or,  and  the 
 goodly  cedars  were  covered  zvith  the  boughs  thereof. 
 
 As  the  vine  ftriketh  it's  roots  deep  into  the  foil 
 prepared  for  it,  and  then  dlfFufeth  it's  numerous 
 branches  all  around,  covering  the  fertile  hills,  b)^  the 
 fides  of  which  it  is  planted,  or  running  up  the  lofty- 
 cedars,  to  the  bodies  of  which  it  is  joined  ;  fuch  was 
 the  growth  and  fruitfulnefs  of  the  Ifraelitilh  church  j; 
 but  much  greater  was  that  of  the  church  Chriftian. 
 Her  roots  were  faft  fixed  in  the  hearts  and  affe<5tions 
 of  the  faithful,  and  her  boughs  (hot  forth  abundantly  j 
 they  often  felt  the  knife,  but  increafed  under  it, 
 both  in  number,  and  vigour;  till  at  length,  (he 
 Gverfhadowed  the  Roman  empire  with  her  branches, 
 and  repienifhed  the  earth  with  her  fruity  grateful  to 
 God  and  man. 
 
 II.  She  fent  out  her  boughs  unto  thefea,  and  her 
 branches  unto  the  river. 
 
 This  relates  to  the  extent  of  Paleftine,  which  was 
 occupied  by  the  tribes  of  Ifrael,  even  from  the  Me- 
 diterranean "  fea,"  weftward,  to  the  "  river"  Eu- 
 phrates, eaftward.  This  was  promifed,  Deut.  xi.  24. 
 **  From  the  river  Euphrates  to  the  uttermoft  fea  (hall 
 "  your  coaft  be  i"  and  fulfilled  in  the  days  of  Solo- 
 mon.    See  1  K.  iv.  21.     Pf.  Ixxii.  8.     To  the  Chrif- 
 
 I  tian 
 
Day  i6.  m.  p.       on  the  PSALMS.  55 
 
 tian  church  the  whole  earth  was  the  land  of  promife, 
 and  the  Gofpel  was  preached  to  all  nations.  "  I  will 
 ^'  give  thee,"  faith  Jehovah  to  Chrift,  "  the  heathen. 
 *'  tor  thine  inheritance,  and  the  uttermoft  parts  of 
 "  the  earth  for  thy  poffeffion."     Pf.  ii.  8. 
 
 1 2.  Why  haft  thou  then  broken  down  her  hedges,  fo 
 that  all  they  which  pafs  by  the  way,  do  pluck  her? 
 
 The  Pfalmift,  having  defcribed  the  exaltation  of 
 Ifrael,  under  the  figure  of  a  vine,  proceeds,  under 
 the  fame  figure,  to  lament  her  depreffion.  She  is  now 
 reprefented  as  deprived  of  the  protecftion  of  God,  the 
 counfels  of  the  wife,  and  the  arms  of  the  valiant ;  of 
 all  her  bulwarks  and  fortifications,  and  whatever  elfe 
 could  contribute  to  her  defence  and  fecurity  ;  fo  that, 
 like  a  vineyard  without  a  fence,  fhe  lay  open,  on 
 every  fide,  to  the  incurfions  and  ravages  of  her  neigh- 
 bouring adverfaries ;  who  foon  ftripped  her  of  all  that 
 was  valuable,  and  trod  her  under  foot. 
 
 13.  The  boar  out  of  the  zvood  doth  zvajle  it,  arid 
 fhe  zvild  beaf  of  the  field  doth  devour  it. 
 
 Fierce,  and  unrelenting,  her  heathen  perfecutor 
 iflfued,  at  different  times,  from  his  abode,  like  a 
 *'  wild  boar"  out  of  the  foreft,  refolved  not  only  to 
 fpoil  and  plunder,  but  to  eradicate  and  extirpate  her 
 for  ever.  Nor  let  the  church  Chriftian  imagine,  that 
 thefe  things  relate  only  to  her  elder  filler.  Greater 
 mercies,  and  more  excellent  gifts,  Ihould  excite  in 
 her  greater  thankfulnefs,  and  call  forth  more  excel- 
 lent virtues ;  otherwife,  they  will  ferve  only  to  en- 
 hance her  account,  and  multiply  her  forrows.  If  fhe 
 fin,  and  fall  after  the  fame  example  of  uftbelief,  (he 
 xnuft  not  think  to  be  diftinguifhed  in  herpunilhment, 
 D  4  unlefs 
 
S6  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  8o. 
 
 unlefs  by  the  feverity  of  it.  She  may  exped  to  fee 
 the  favour  of  heaven  withdrawn,  and  the  lecular 
 arm,  inftead  of  fupporting,  employed  to  cruQi  her; 
 her  difcipline  may  be  annihilated,  her  unity  broken, 
 her  dodrines  perverted,  her  worfliip  deformed,  her 
 practice  corrupted,  her  poffeflions  alienated,  and  her 
 revenues  feized;  till  at  length  the  word  be  given 
 from  above,  and  fome  antichriftian  power  be  un- 
 chained, to  execute  upon  her  the  full  vengeance  due 
 to  her  crimes.  Unclean  defires,  and  furious  paffions, 
 are  the  enemies  of  the  foul,  which  deface  her  beauty, 
 and  devour  all  the  productions  of  grace,  in  that  lefler 
 vitieyard  of  God. 
 
 14.  Return,  xve  befeech  thee,  OGod  of  hojls  ;  look 
 down  from  heaveiiy  and  behold,  and  vi/it  this  vine ; 
 15.  And  the  vineyard  which  thy  right  hand  hath 
 planted^  and  the  branch  that  thou  madefi  fo  firong 
 for  thine  own  f elf. 
 
 The  church,  thus  diftreffed  and  defolated,  offereth 
 a  prayer  for  the  return  of  the  divine  favour,  and  for 
 a  gracious  vifitation  from  on  high ;  (he  befeecheth 
 God  to  look  down,  with  an  eye  of  pity,  from  hea- 
 ven, on  the  vineyard,  which  his  own  hands  had 
 "  planted,"  and  on  that  royal  branch,  the  family 
 of  David,  in  particular,  which  he  had  raifed  and 
 cftablilhed  for  himfelf,  to  accomplifh  his  eternal 
 purpofe  of  faving  mankind  by  Mefliah,  who  was, 
 one  day,  to  fpring  from  the  root  of  Jefle.  The 
 Chaldee  Paraphraft  expounds  "  the  branch,"  of 
 •Meffiah  himfelf,  l<n^K;D  «3*?D  b^  "  On  King  Mef- 
 **  fiah,  whom  thou  haft  eilablifhed,*'  &c.  So  do  the 
 Rabbies,  Aben  Ezra,   and   Obadiah,  cited  by  Dr. 
 
 Hammond. 
 
Day  i6.  m.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  57 
 
 Hammond.  And  the  lxx,  Inftead  of  fuppofing  the 
 word  T2  "  a  fon,"  to  refer  to  *'  vine,"  and  fo  fignify 
 a  "  branch,"  which,  in  the  Hebrew  ftyle,  is  "  a  fon 
 **  of  the  vine,"  have  rendered  the  pafllige,  tm  it^* 
 a»9§«9rov,  *'  on  the  fon  of  man ;"  an  expreflion,  ac- 
 tually ufed  by  the  Pfalmift,  two  verfes  below.  To 
 the  advent  of  this  fon  of  man,  Ifrael  was  ever  ac- 
 cuftomed  to  look  forward,  in  time  of  afflidion ; 
 on  his  fecond  and  glorious  advent  the  Chriflian 
 church  muft  fix  her  eye,  in  the  day  of  her  cala- 
 mities. 
 
 16.  It  Is  bur?it  ivith  Jire:  it  is  cut  doivn,  or,  dug 
 up:  they  perijh  at  the  rebuke  of  thy  countenance. 
 
 The  fad  eftate  of  the  vineyard  is  yet  again  {&t 
 forth,  to  excite  the  compaffion  of  heaven.  As  to 
 the  latter  claufe  of  this  verfe,  if  it  be  rendered,  as 
 our  tranflators  have  rendered  it,  in  the  prefent  time, 
 it  feems  to  relate  to  the  Ifraelites,  and  the  deftruc- 
 tion  made  amongft  them  by  the  wrath  of  God.  If 
 it  have  a  future  rendering,  "  they  fhall  perifh  at  the 
 "  rebuke  of  thy  countenance,"  it  may  be  fuppofed 
 to  predi<ft  the  fate  of  the  adverfaries,  when  God 
 ihould  deliver  his  people  out  of  their  hands. 
 
 17.  Let  thy  hand  he  upon  the  man  of  thy  right 
 hand,    upon  the  fon  of  maiiy   whom   thou  madeft 
 
 Jtrongfor  thy f elf 
 
 Thefe  phrafes,  *'  the  man  of  thy  right  hand,"  and 
 **  the  fon  of  man,"  if  at  all  applicable,  in  a  lower 
 and  fiibordinate  fenfe,  to  a  temporal  king  of  Ifrael, 
 confidered  as  a  reprefentative  of  Meffiah,  are  mofl 
 certainly,  in  their  full  and  prophetical  acceptation, 
 
 intended 
 
|S  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  Si. 
 
 intended  to  denote  King  MefTiah  himfeif  *.  Affured 
 of  his  coming,  the  church  prayeth,  that  the  "  hand,"" 
 the  protection,  and  the  power  of  Jehovah  might  be 
 *'  upon''  him,  over  him,  and  with  him  in  his  great 
 undertaking,  finally  to  deliver  her  out  of  all  her 
 troubles,  and  to  "  lead  her  captivity  captive." 
 
 18.  So  xvill  not  ice  go  back  from  thee :  quicken 
 vs,   and  zve  zvill  call  upon  thy  name. 
 
 The  end  of  our  redemption  is,  that  we  fiiould 
 ferve  him  who  hath  redeemed  us,  and  "  go  back" 
 no  more  to  our  old  fins.  That  foul  which  hath  been 
 «'  quickened"  and  made  alive  by  Chrift,  fliould  live 
 to  his  honour  and  glory  ;  that  mouth  which  hath 
 been  opened  by  him,  can  do  no  lefs  than  (hew  forth 
 his  praife,  and  "  call  upon  his"*  laving  "  name." 
 
 19.  Turn  us  again,  O  Lord  God  of  hojis'-  caufe 
 thy  face  tofhine,  andwejhall  be  faved.     Seeverfe3. 
 
 *  *'  Virum  dextera;  tux:"  Davidem  a  te  defignatum  et  confir- 
 matum  Regem,  et  in  ejus  figura  Chrillum.     Bossuet. 
 
 PSALM     LXXXI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm,  whcnfoever,  or  by  wliomfoever 
 compofed,  was,  probably,  intended  to  be 
 fung  at  the  feait  of  trumpets,  as  alfo  at  any 
 other  feali  time.  It  contains  1 — 3.  an  ex- 
 liortation  duly  to  obferve  the  feftivals  of  the 
 church,  4,  5.  as  God   had   appointed,  whp 
 
 i$ 
 
Bay  i6.  m.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  59 
 
 is  introduced  expoltulating  with  his  people, 
 on  account  <> — 10.  of  his  mercies,  ^id  11, 
 1^2.  their  ingratitude,  and  13 — 16.  under 
 the  form  of  a  moft  affeaionate  wifh,  re- 
 newing his  promifes,  on  condition  of  their 
 obedience. 
 
 1.  Sing  aloud  unto  God  our  Jirength:  make  a 
 joyful  noife  unto  the  God  of  Jacob.  2.  Take  a 
 Pfalm,  and  bring  hither  the  timbrel,  t^^e  pleafant 
 harp  with  the  pfaltery. 
 
 If  IfraeliteS  were  thus  exhorted  to  keep  their  feaft 
 days,  with  joy  and  gladnefs  of  heart;  to  exalt  their 
 voices,  and  join  together  all  their  fweetefl  inflruments 
 of  mufic,  in  honour  of  him  who  had  refcued  them 
 from  the  Egyptian  bondage,  and  given  them  a  law 
 from  Sinai;  in  what  exulting  drains  ought  we  to  ce- 
 lebrate the  feftivals  of  the  Chriftian  church  ?  With 
 what  triumph  of  foul,  and   harmony  of  affeftions, 
 are  we  bound  to  *'  fing  aloud  to  God  our  flrength,'* 
 who  hath   redeemed  us  from  death,  and   publKhed 
 the  Gofpel  from   Sion  ?  Since,  as  the  Apoftle  faith^ 
 "  holy  days,  new  moons,  and  fabbath  days,"  of  old, 
 '*  were"  only  "  a  fhadow  of  things  to  come ;  but 
 "  the  body  is  of  Chrift."     Col.  ii.  16. 
 
 3.  Blow  lip  the  trumpet  in  the  new  moon,  in  the 
 time  appointed  on  our  folemn  feafl  day. 
 
 In  the  Jewilh  church,  notice  was  given  of  feafts, 
 jubilees,  &c,  by  found  of  trumpet.  All  the  new 
 moons,  or  beginnings  of  months,  were  obferved  in 
 this  manner;  fee  Numb.  x.  i.  but  on  the  September 
 jnew  moon,  or  firft  day  of  the  feventh  month,  was 
 
 kept 
 
6o  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  Si. 
 
 kept  a  great  feflival,  called  "  the  feaft  of  trumpets;" 
 Levit.  xxiii.  24.  Numb.  xxix.  i.  which,  probably, 
 is  here  intended.  This  September  new  moon  had  a 
 particular  regard  paid  to  it,  becaufe,  according  to 
 the  old  calculation,  before  Ifrael  came  out  of  Egypt, 
 it  was  the-  firft  new  moon  in  the  year,  which  began 
 upon  this  day,  the  firft  of  the  (afterwards)  feventh 
 month.  The  tenth  of  the  fame  month  was  the  great 
 day  of  atonement ;  and  on  the  fifteenth  was  cele- 
 brated the  feaft  of  tabernacles.  See  Levit.  xxiii,  27, 
 and  34.  Our  Pfalm  therefore  feems  to  have  been 
 defigned  for  the  purpofe  of  awakening  and  ftirring 
 up  the  devotion  of  the  people  upon  the  folemn  en- 
 trance of  a  month,  in  which  they  were  to  comme- 
 morate fo  many  paft  bleffings,  prefigurative  of 
 much  greater  bleffings  to  come.  We  have  now 
 our  feaft  days,  our  Chriftmas,  Eafter,  Whitfuntide, 
 &c.  On  thefe,  and  all  other  folemn  occafions,  let 
 the  evangelical  trumpet  give  a  found  of  vidory,  of 
 liberty,  of  joy  and  rejoicing ;  of  vidtory  over  death, 
 of  liberty  from  fin,  of  joy  and  rejoicing  in  Chrift 
 Jefus  our  Saviour. 
 
 4.  For  this  was  a  fiatiite  for  Ifrael,  and  a  law  of 
 the  God  of  Jacob.  5.  This  he  ordained  in  Jofeph, 
 for  a  tejlimony,  zvken  he  xvent  out  through,  or, 
 againji  the  land  of  Egypt:  where  /  heard  a  lan- 
 guage that  1  unde.rjiood  not. 
 
 The  meaning  is,  that  the  obfervation  of  feafls, 
 with  blowing  of  trumpets,  was  a  flatute,  law,  or 
 teftimony,  ordained  in  Jofeph,  or  Ifrael,  by  God 
 himfelf,  after  he  had  deftroyed  the  Egyptians,  and 
 brought  his  people  into  the  wildernefs,  where  the 
 9  law 
 
Dayi6.  m.  p.         on  the  psalms.  6i 
 
 law  was  given.  Concerning  the  words,  "  I  heard  a 
 "  language  that  I  undcrftood  not,"  it  is  difficult  to 
 account  for  the  change  of  perfon ;  but  the  fenfe 
 feems  to  be,  that  the  children  of  Ifrael  received  the 
 law,  when  they  had  been  in  bondage  under  a  people 
 of  flrange  and  barbarous  language,  or  dialed.  The 
 paflage  is  exadlly  parallel  to  that  in  Pf.  cxiv.  i. 
 "  When  Ifrael  went  out  of  Egypt,  and  the  houfe  of 
 "  Jacob  from  a  people  of  flrange  language;"  &c. — 
 The  new  law,  with  it's  facraments  and  ordinances, 
 was  promulged  after  the  fpiritual  redemption  by 
 Chrift,  as  the  old  law,  with  it's  rites  and  ceremo- 
 nies, was  publifhed,  after  the  temporal  deliverance 
 by  Mofes. 
 
 6.  /  removed  his  Jlioulder  from  the  burthen  :  his 
 hands  zvere  delivered  from  the  pots. 
 
 From  this  verfe  to  the  end,  it  is  plain,  that  God 
 is  the  fpeaker.  He  reminds  Ifrael  of  their  redemp- 
 tion, by  his  mercy,  and  power,  from  the  burthens 
 and  the  drudgery  impofed  on  them  in  Egypt.  Mofes 
 defcribeth  their  then  ftate  of  fervitudc;,  by  faying, 
 "  The  Egyptians  made  their  lives  bitter  with  hard 
 "  bondage,  in  mortar,  and  in  brick,  and  in  all 
 "  manner  of  fervice  in  the  field  i"  Exod.  i.  14.  that 
 is,  probably,  in  making  veffels  of  clay,  as  this  verfe 
 feems  to  imply.  Let  us  remember,  that  we  have 
 been  eafed  of  far  heavier  burthens,  delivered  from 
 feverer  tafk-maflers,  and  freed  from  a  bafer  drudgery; 
 the  intolerable  load  of  fm,  the  cruel  tyranny  of 
 Satan,  the  vile  fervice  and  bitter  bondage  of  con- 
 cupifcence. 
 
 7.  Thou  calledj  271  (rouble,  and  I  delivered  thee:  I 
 
 anfivered 
 
62  A  COMMENTARY        TsAl.  8i. 
 
 anficered  thee  in   the  fecret  place  of  thunder:    I 
 proved  thee  at  the  zvafers  of  Meribah. 
 
 God  declares  his  readinefs,  at  all  times,  to  hear  the 
 prayers,  and  relieve  the  diftrefles  of  his  people  as  he 
 did  when  they  cried  unto  him  in  Egypt,  and  in  the 
 wildernefs,  and  received  anfwers  from  the  cloudy 
 pillar.  In  that  deep  recefs  he  had  fixed  his  awful 
 throne,  and  from  thence,  on  proper  occafions,  he  ma- 
 nifefted  his  power  and  glory,  protecting  Ifrael,  and 
 confounding  their  adverfaries.  In  Pf.  xxix.  6.  it  is 
 faid  of  "  Mofes,  Aaron,"  &c.  "  They  called  upon 
 "  the  Lord,  and  he  anfwered  them :  he  fpake  unto 
 "  them  in  the  cloudy  pillar;"  which  pafllige  feems 
 exactly  parallel  to  that  in  the  verfe  under  confidera- 
 tion — "  Thou  calledft,  and — I  anfwered  thee  in  the 
 "  fecret  place  of  thunder."  He  who  fpake  unto  If- 
 rael in  the  cloudy  pillar,  hath  fince  fpoken  to  us  by 
 his  Son :  he  who  *'  proved  them  at  the  waters  of 
 **'  Meribah,"  Exod.  xvii.  6,  7.  now  proves  us,  by- 
 various  trials,  in  the  world. 
 
 8.  Hear,  O  my  people j  and  I  will  tejlify  unto 
 thee'-  O  Ifrael,  if  thou  wilt  hearken  unto  me;  9. 
 There fhall  no  Jirange  God  be  in  thee;  neither  flialt 
 thou  zvorjhip  any  Jirange  God.  10.  /  am  the  Lord 
 thy  God,  which  brought  thee  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt:  open  thy  mouth  wide,  and  I  will  ^fi II  it. 
 
 God  here  addreffeth  himfelf  to  the  Ifraelites,  put- 
 ting them  in  remembrance  of  that  firft  and  great 
 commandment  againft  idolatry ;  of  his  claim  to  their 
 obedience,  as  their  God  and  Saviour ;  and  of  bis 
 being  both  able  and  willing  to  fatisfy  theutmofhde- 
 fires  and  wifhes  of  fuch,  as  would  apply  to  Him,  for 
 
 bleffing 
 
Day  1 6.  m.  p.         o\-  the  PSALMS.  63 
 
 bleffing  and  comfort.  Behold,  then,  the  rcbclUon, 
 the  ingratitude,  and  the  folly  of  that  man,  who  faith, 
 to  any  creature,  **  Thou  art  my  God  j"  who  beftow- 
 cth  on  the  world  that  fear,  love,  and  adoration, 
 which  are  due  only  to  it's  Creator  and  Redeemer; 
 who  wafteth  his  days  in  feeking  after  happinefs, 
 where  all,  by  their  inquietude,  acknowledge,  that  it 
 is  not  to  be  found. 
 
 1 1.  Bui  my  people  ucGidd  not  hearken  to  my  voice, 
 and  Ifrael  zvouid  none  of  me.  12.  kSo  I  gave  them 
 up  unto  their  own  heart's  luj2 :  and  they  zvallced  in 
 their  ozvn  couvjels. 
 
 By  the  fubjedt  of  an  earthly  prince,  it  is  juftly 
 deemed  a  great  honour,  for  his  fovereign  to  converfe 
 with  him,  to  counfel,  and  advife  him :  but  from 
 fmful  duft  and  allies,  we  hear  the  Majefty  of  heaven 
 complaining,  that  he  cannot  obtain  an  audience;  no 
 one  will  attend  to,  or  obferve  his  falutary  admoni- 
 tions. When  we  fee  men  enabled,  by  wealth  and 
 power,  to  accomplifli  the  inordinate  defires  of  their 
 hearts,  and  carry  their  worldly  fchemes  into  execu- 
 tion, without  meeting  with  any  obftruftions  in  their 
 way,  we  are  apt  to  envy  their  felicity ;  whereas  fuch 
 profperity  in  wickednefs  is  the  fureft  mark  of  divine 
 difpleafure,  the  heaviefl  punifhment  of  difobedience, 
 both  in  individuals  and  communities.  "  My  people 
 "  would  not  hearken  to  my  voice,  and  Ifrael  would 
 **  none  of  me :  fo  I  gave  them  up  unto  their  own 
 "  heart's  lull :  and  they  walked  in  their  own  coua- 
 «  fels." 
 
 13.  O  that  my  people  had  hearkened  unto  me,  and 
 Ifrael  had  walked  in  my  way  si  \^,  I  Jhould  Joon 
 
 have 
 
64  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  Si, 
 
 have  fiibdued  their  enemies^  and  tuinied  my  hand 
 againjt  their  adverfaries. 
 
 Such  are  the  tender  mercies  of  our  God,  that  he 
 is  not  only  careful  to  provide  for  us  the  means  of 
 falvation,  but  reprefents  himfelf  as  mourning  with 
 a  paternal  affedion  over  his  children,  when  their 
 frowardnefs  and  obftinacy  difappoint  the  efforts  of 
 his  love.  One  cannot  help  obferving  the  fimilitude 
 between  the  complaint  here  uttered,  and  one  which- 
 hath  been  fince  breathed  forth,  over  the  fame  peo- 
 ple; "  O  Jerufalcm,  Jerufalem,  how  often  would  I 
 *'  have  gathered  thy  children  together,  even  as  a  hen 
 "  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings,  and  ye 
 **  would  not!" 
 
 15.  The  haters  of  the  IjO-b.!)  Jhould  have  fubmitted 
 themfelves  unto  him;  or,  JJiov  Id  have  failed,  or,  been 
 
 fubdued  to  him;  but  their  time,  i.  e.  the  time  of  his 
 people,  flioidd  have  endured  for  ever. 
 
 The  tranfgrefTions  of  the  church  give  her  enemies 
 all  their  power  againft  her,  calling  the  avenger  from 
 afar,  and  fetting  an  edge  on  the  fword  of  the  perfe- 
 cutor.  *'  Where  the  carcafe  is,"  where  the  Spirit  of 
 religion  is  departed,  and  has  left  the  body  to  corrupt 
 and  decay,  *•  there  the  eagles  are  gathered  together;" 
 all  the  inftruments  of  vengeance,  terreftrial  and  in- 
 fernal, flock,  by  permiffion,  to  the  prey.  Had  not 
 this  been  the  cafe  with  regard  to  Ifrael,  Jerufalem 
 had  continued  to  be  through  all  ages,  what  Ihe  was 
 in  the  days  of  Solomon,  the  delight  of  the  nations, 
 and  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth. 
 
 16.  Hejhould  have  fed  them  alfo  with  thefneft  of 
 the  zvhtat:  andivith  honey  out  of  the  rock  fkou Id  I 
 have  fatisfied  thee. 
 
 That 
 
Day.  i6.  e.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  65 
 
 That  is,  the  Ifraelites,  if  obedient,  would  ftill 
 have  enjoyed  the  fweets  of  that  good  land,  in  which 
 the  Lord  their  God  had  placed  them,  where  the 
 fruits  of  the  earth  were  produced  in  the  higheft  per- 
 fection, and  honey  ftreamed  from  the  very  rocks,  fo 
 that  no  part  of  the  country  was  without  it's  increafe. 
 Upon  the  fame  conditions  of  faith  and  obedience, 
 do  Chriftians  hold  thofe  fpiritual  and  eternal  good 
 things,  of  which  the  pleafant  fields  and  fertile  hills 
 of  Canaan  were  facramental.  Chrifl  is  the  "  bread'* 
 of  life,  he  is  the  "  rock"  of  falvation,  and  his  pro- 
 mifes  are  as  "  honey"  to  pious  minds.  But  they  who 
 rejed  him,  as  their  Lord  and  Mafter,  muft  alfo  lofe 
 him,  as  their  Saviour  and  their  Reward. 
 
 XVL    DAY.      EVENIXG    PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM   LXXXIL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  Pfalmifl  addrefleth  himfelf  to  judges  and 
 magiftrates ;  I,  he  remindeth  them  of  the 
 prefence  of  that  God  whom  they  reprefent, 
 and  to  whom  they  are  accountable;  2 — 4. 
 he  exhorteth  them  to  the  due  difcharge  of 
 their  office;  5.  reproveth  the  ignorance  and 
 corruption  among  them;  6,  7.  threateneth 
 their  fall  and  punifhment;  8.  prayeth  for 
 the  manifcftation  of  Mefsiah,  and  the  efta- 
 blifliment  of  his  righteous  kingdom. 
 
 Vol.  II.  E  i.  Ood 
 
66  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  82, 
 
 I.  Godjlajideth  in  the  congregation  of  the  mighty' 
 he  judgcth  among  Gods. 
 
 Earthly  judicatories  arc  the  appointment  of  God. 
 All  magiftrates  aft  in  his  name,  and  by  virtue  of  hi& 
 commiliion.  He  is  invifibly  prefent  in  their  aflem-: 
 biies,  and  fuperintends  their  proceedings.  He  re- 
 ceives appeals  from  their  wrongful  decifions ;  he  will 
 one  day  rehear  all  caufes  at  his  own  tribunal,  and 
 reverfe  every  iniquitous  fentence,  before  the  great 
 congregation  of  men  and  angels.  Unjuft  judges  muft 
 cither  difbelieve,  or  forget  all  this.  God  is,  in  like 
 manner,  prefent  to  the  heart  of  each  individual ;  he 
 is  privy  to  the  various  reafonings  and  pleadings  of 
 grace  and  nature,  of  principle  and  iiitereft,  in  that 
 lefler  court  j  and  he  is  a  witnefs  of  its  determina- 
 tions j  which  alfowill  by  him  be  manifefted  to  the 
 world,  and  openly  canvafled,  when  he  fitteth  in  judg- 
 ment. 
 
 2.  H&iu  lentg  xvill  ye  judge  nnjujlly^  and  accept  the 
 ;perfons  of  the  wicked^  '^.Defend  the  poor  and  father- 
 lefs '  do  JujUice  to  the  afflicted  and  needy.  4.  Deli- 
 ver  the  poor  and  needy '^  rid  the7n  &itt  of  the  hand 
 of  the  tvicked. 
 
 A  charge  is  here  given,  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  to 
 all  magiftrates,  much  like  that,  which  king  Je- 
 hofhaphat  gave  to  his  judges ;  2  Chron.  xix.  6,  7, 
 "  Take  heed  what  ye  do;  for  ye  judge  not  for  man, 
 *'  but  for  the  Lord,  who  is  with  you  in  the  judg- 
 "  ment.  Wherefore  now,  let  the  fear  of  the  Lori> 
 **  be  upon  you,  take  heed,  and  do  it :  for  there  is 
 "  no  iniquity  with  the  Lord  our  God,  nor  refpe(^ 
 **  of  perfons,  nor  taking  of  gifts.'*    It  is  the  glory 
 
 of 
 
Day  i6.  e.  p.        ok  the  PSALMS.  67 
 
 of  Jehovah  and  his  Chrill  to  "  accept  no  man's  per- 
 "  fon"  in  judgment ;  to  regard  neither  the  quality, 
 nor  the  ftation  of  the  offender ;  but  to  give  to  every 
 man,  of  whatever  rank  or  degree  in  the  world,  ac- 
 cording to  his  works.  All  the  fons  of  Adam  were 
 once  "  poof  and  fatherlefs,  needy  and  afHided," 
 when  God  took  their  caufe  into  his  own  hands,  and, 
 by  a  method  confident  with  the  ftrideft  juftice, 
 "  delivered  them  out  of  the  hand  of  the  wicked  one." 
 Every  oppreffor  of  the  poor  is  a  likenefs  of  "  that 
 "  wicked  one,"  and  every  upright  judge  will  en- 
 deavour to  refemble  the  Redeemer.  For  this  purpofe 
 he  will  be  always  willing  to  admit,  diligent  to  dif- 
 cufs,  folicitous  to  expedite  the  caufe  of  a  poor  and 
 injured  perfon,  and  to  afford  fuch  a  one  the  fpeedi- 
 eft,  the  cheapeft,  and  the  moft  effedual  redrefs, 
 equally  contemning  the  offers  of  opulence,  and  the 
 frowns  of  power.  A  judge,  v/ho  afts  in  this  man- 
 ner, takes  the  readied  way  to  obtain  the  favour  of 
 God  i  and  the  people  will  be  fure  to  blefs  him. 
 
 5.  T/iey  knoio  not,  neither  xoill  they  tniderjland  i 
 they  zvalk  on  in  darknefs  ;  all  the  foundations  of  the 
 earth,  or,  the  land,  are  out  ofcourfe;  or,  nod,  ox y  f hake. 
 
 We  here  find  the  prophet  deploring,  in  magif- 
 trates,  a  method  of  proceeding  contrary  to  that 
 above  defcribed.  He  laments  their  voluntary  igno- 
 rance in  the  ways  of  righteoufnefs,  and  their  chufing 
 to  "  walk  in  darknefs."  In  judges  this  is  occafioned 
 by  *'  prefents  and  gifts,"  which,  as  faith  the  fon  of 
 Sirach,  "  blind  the  eyes  of  the  wife."  Ecclus.  xx. 
 29.  And  if  once  the  *'  pillars"  and  "  foundations" 
 are  moved  from  their  integrity,  and  *^  fliaken"  to 
 £  2  and 
 
68  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  82, 
 
 and  fro  by  every  blafl  of  fear  and  favour,  what  (hall 
 become  of  the  political  fabrlck  ereded  upon  them  ? 
 Verily  it  muft  fall,  and  great  and  terrible  will  be  the 
 fall  thereof.  A  community,  whether  ecclefiaftical  or 
 civil,  confifteth  of  great  numbers  i  but  it's  well-be- 
 ing dependeth  on  a  few,  in  whofe  hands  the  adminif- 
 tration  is  placed.  When  the  fait  hath  loft  it's  favour, 
 the  mafs  muft  putrefy;  when  the  light  becometk 
 darknefs,  how  great  muft  be  that  darknefs  1 
 
 6.  /  have  /aid  ye  are  gods,  and  all  of  you  are 
 children  ofthemojl  High.  7.  But  ye  Jliall  die  like 
 vieji,  or,  Adam,  and  fall  like  one  of  the  princes. 
 
 It  is  true  then  that  magiftratcs  are  exalted  above 
 other  men ;  that  they  are  dignified  with  a  commilTion. 
 from  above ;  appointed  to  be  the  vicegerents  of  hea- 
 ven upon  eartji ;  and  therefore  called  by  the  name  of 
 him,  in  whofe  name  they  adt.  But  it  is  likewife  as 
 true,  that  notwithftanding  all  this  honour  conferred 
 upon  them,  for  the  good  of  others,  and  of  them- 
 felves,  if  they  ufe  it  aright,  they  ftill  continue  to  be 
 the  mortal  fons  of  mortal  "  Adamj'*  like  him,  they 
 muft  fill  and  perifti ;  God  can,  at  any  time,  caft 
 them  down  from  tlieir  high  eftate,  as  he  did  the  hea- 
 then "  princes,"  who  mifbeiiaved  themfelves,  and 
 oppofed  his  counfels:  death  certainly  will  ftrip  them 
 of  all  their  authority,  and  lay  them  low  in  the  grave; 
 from  thence  the  laft  trumpet  (liall  call  them  forth, 
 to  ftand,  with  the  reft  of  their  brethren,  before  the 
 judgment  feat  of  Chrift,  there  to  take  their  trial, 
 and  receive  their  everlaftingfcntence.  How  neceflary 
 oftentimes  is  this  confideration,  to  check  the  fpirit 
 
 of 
 
Day  1 6.  e.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  69 
 
 of  tyranny  and  injuftlce,  to  qualify  the  pride  and  in- 
 folenec  of  office ! 
 
 8.  Arife,  O  God,  judge  the  earth  ;  for  thoujialt 
 inherit  all  natioiis. 
 
 A  view  of  that  difoider  and  confufion  in  which 
 frequently  the  Jewifh  nation,  as  well  as  the  reft  of 
 the  world,  was  involved,  canfed  the  prophets  moft 
 earneftly  to  wifli  and  pray  for  the  coming  of  that 
 time,  when  "  God"  fhould  '*arife,"  in  the  perfon  of 
 Mefliah,  to  vifit  and  "judge  the  earthy"  to  deliver 
 it  from  the  powers  of  darknefs,  and  the  tyranny  of 
 fin;  to  "  inherit  all  nations,"  as  purchafed  and  re- 
 deemed by  him;  to  eftablifh  his  church  among  them; 
 and  to  rule  vvith  a  fceptre  of  righteoufnefs,  in  the 
 hearts  of  his  people.  ''  Arife"  yet  once  again,  O 
 Lord  Jefu,  from  thy  throne,  where  thou  fitteft  at 
 the  right  hand  of  the  Father;  "judge  the  earth,'* 
 again  corrupted  :.nd  overwhelmed  with  iniquity ;  do 
 away  fin,  and  put  an  end  for  ever  to  the  power  of 
 Satan;  *'  inherit  all  nations,"  redeemed  from  death, 
 and  ranfomcd  from  the  grave :  and  reign  to  eternity. 
 King  of  Righteoufnefs,  Peace,  and  Glory. 
 
 PSALM     LXXXm. 
 
 ARGUMENT, 
 
 In  this  Pfalm,  the  church  1 — 8.  complaineth 
 to  God  of  the  infolence,  fubtilty,  rage,  and 
 malice  of  her  enemies,  united  in  clofe  con- 
 federacy agahifl  her;  9 — 12.  ihe  prayeth 
 for  a  manifeftation  of  that  power,  which 
 E  S  formerly 
 
70  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.Sj. 
 
 formerly  difcomfited  Jabin,  Sifera,  and  the 
 Madianites;  that  fo  the  hoftile  nations,  13 
 — 15.  made  fenfible  of  the  fiiperiority  of 
 Ifrael's  God,  16 — 18,  might  either  them- 
 felves  be  induced  to  acknowledge  him,  or 
 elfe,  by  their  deftru6tion,  become  a  warning 
 and  admonition  to  others.  As,  while  the 
 world  endureth,  there  will  be  a  church,  and 
 while  there  is  a  church,  flie  will  have  her 
 enemies,  who  are  to  increafe  upon  her  as 
 the  end  approacheth,  this  Pfalm  can  never 
 be  out  of  date.  And  to  the  fpiritual  adver- 
 faries  of  his  foul  every  private  Chriftian  may 
 apply  it  at  all  times. 
 
 I.  Keep  not  thou  Jilence,  O  God-,  hold  not  thy 
 ■peace ^  and  he  notjiilly  O  God.  i.  For  loy  thine 
 enemies  make  a  tumult-'  and  they  that  hate  thee 
 have  lift  up  their  head. 
 
 The  church  entreateth  God  again  and  again  to 
 hear  and  help  her  in  the  day  of  trouble.  Her  ene- 
 mies and  haters  are  here  faid  to  be  the  enemies 
 and  haucrs  of  God,  becaufe  Chrift  and  the  church, 
 like  man  and  wife,  are  one;  they  have  one  com- 
 mon intereft ;  they  have  the  fame  friends,  and  the 
 fame  foes.  To  him  therefore  fhe  applieth,  terrified 
 by  the  tumultuous  noife  of  confederated  nations, 
 roaring  againft  her  like  the  roaring  of  the  fea,  and 
 *'  lifting  up  their  heads,"  as  fo  many  monflers  of  the 
 deep,  to  devour  her  at  once.  When  temptations  are 
 urgent  upon  the  foul,  and  the  paffions  rife  in  arms 
 I  againft 
 
Day  1 6.  n.  v.  on  the  PSALMS.  7t 
 
 ao'ainft  her  peace  and  innocence,  then  do  "  the  ene- 
 «  mies  of  God  make  a  tumult,  and  they  that  hatd 
 *'  him  lift  up  their  heads ;"  and  then  is  the  time  for 
 her  to  be  inftant  in  prayer. 
 
 3.  Thei/ have takencrafty coimfdagainjl Ihypeopky 
 and  confulted  again  ft  thy  hidden  ones,  4.  They  have 
 /aid.  Come,  and  let  us  cut  them  offfro7n  being  a  nation : 
 that  the  name  oflfraelmay  be  np  more  in  remembrance. 
 The  combination,  fo  much  dreaded,  is  defcribed 
 as  having  been  formed  upon  the  beft  principles  of 
 fecular  policy,  with  much  fubtilty,  and  the  moft 
 determinate  malice,  againft  the  "  people"  of  God, 
 and  his  "  hidden  ones,"  that  is,  his  peculiar  nation, 
 feparated  from  the  world,  and  taken  under  the  cover 
 and  protedion  of  his  wings.  To  root  up  the  planta- 
 tions of  paradife,  to  extirpate  the  holy  feed^  to  ex- 
 tinguifh  the  very  "  name  of  Ifrael,"  was  the  fchemc 
 intended  by  thefe  aflbciated  adverfaries  of  Sion. 
 Such  are  our  fpiritual  enemies ;  fuch  is  their  cun- 
 ning, their  rage,  and  their  refolution;  what  pru- 
 dence, what  vigilance,  what  courage  are  neceflary, 
 that  we  may  oppofe  them  with  fuccefs ! 
 
 t.  Fdr  they  have  confulted  together  zvith  one  con- 
 fent;  they  are  confederate  againft  thee. 
 
 When  Chrift  was  about  to  be  crucified,  it  is  ob- 
 ferved  by  St.  Luke,  that  "  the  fame  day  Pilate  and 
 "  Herod  were  iiiade  friends  together ;  for  before 
 "  they  were  at  enmity  between  themfelves."  Luke 
 xxiii.  12.  And  however  the  enemies  of  the  church 
 may  quarrel  with  one  another,  when  they  have  no- 
 thing elfe  to  do,  yet  if  a  favourable  opportunity  offer 
 itfelf  for  making  an  attack  upon  her,  they  lay  afide 
 E  4  their 
 
72  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  83. 
 
 their  differences,  and  unite  as  one  man ;  by  no  means 
 rcfuiing  the  friendly  aid  even  of  infidels  and  atheifts, 
 who  are  always  ready  to  join  in  carrying  on  the  war 
 againfl  the  common  adverfary. 
 
 6.  The  tabernacles  o/Edom,  and  the  IJhmaelites  ■' 
 of  Moab,  and  the  H agar enes.  7.  Gehal,  and  Ani' 
 moiii  and  Ajnalek  ■  the  PhiliJtlneSy  zvith  the  I'nha- 
 hitants  of  Tyre*  8.  Affiir  alfo  is  joined  with  them: 
 they  have  holpen  the  children  of  Lot. 
 
 Thefe  are  the  names  of  the  confederates.  The 
 Edomites  were  defcended  from  Efau,  that  old  origi- 
 nal enemy  of  Jacob;  the  Ifhmaelites  from  Ifhmael, 
 the  fon  of  the  bond  woman,  and  fworn  foe  to  Ifaac, 
 heir  of  the  promifes;  the  Moabitcs  fprang  from 
 Moab,  one  of  the  incefluous  children  of  Lot  5  the 
 Hagarenes  were  other  defcendants  of  Hagar;  who  the 
 Gebalites  were,  is  uncertain ;  the  Ammonites  came 
 from  Ammon,  the  fon  <>f  Lot,  and  inceftuous  bro- 
 ther of  Moab;  the  Amalekites  were  the  progeny  of 
 Amalek,  the  grandfon  of  Efau;  Gen.  xxxvi.  16. 
 the  Philiftines  and  Tyrians  are  well  known ;  and  to 
 complete  all,  Aflur,  or  the  power  of  Aflyria,  was 
 called  in  by  the  children  of  Lot,  the  Moabites  and 
 Ammonites,  to  afTift  in  the  great  work  of  extermi- 
 nating Ifrael  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  Thefe  were 
 the  ten  nations  banded  together,  by  a  folemn  league 
 and  covenant,  againil  the  people  of  God.  And  as 
 Ifrael  was  the  grand  figure  of  the  Chriftian  church, 
 \yhich  is  now  "  the  Ifrael  of  God,"  fo  her  enemies 
 are  often  reprefented  by  the  above  recited  nations, 
 and  in  prophetical  language  are  called  by  their 
 nanics,     fjvery  ^ge  has  it's  Edomites,  and  it's  I(h- 
 
 maelites. 
 
Day  i6.  e.  p.  o>r  the  PSALMS.  73 
 
 maelltes,  &c.  &c.  The  adtors  are  changed,  and  the 
 (cenes  are  Ihifted;  but  the  ftage  and  the  drama  con- 
 tinue the  fame. 
 
 9.  Do  unto  them  asviuto  the  Madianites -  as  to  Si- 
 fera^  as  to  Jabin,  at  the  brook  of  Kifon  :  10.  Which 
 perijlied  at  Endor:  they  became  as  the  dung  of  the 
 earth.  11.  Moke  their  nobles  like  OrebandZeeb: 
 Tjjea  all  their  princes  like  as  Zeba  and  Zalmunna  .* 
 12.  Whofaid,  Let  us  take  to  ourfelves  the  houfes  of 
 God  inpojeffion. 
 
 The  church,  having  recounted  the  enemies  which 
 oompafled  her  about  on  every  fide,  looks  up  for  fuc- 
 cour  to  that  Almighty  power  which  had  of  old  fo 
 gracioufly  interpofed  on  her  behalf,  and  refcued  her 
 from  her  perfecutors,  in  the  days  of  Deborah,  Barak, 
 and  Gideon.  See  Judg.  iv — viii.  Fully  fenfible, 
 that  thofe  deliverances  were  wrought  by  the  imme- 
 diate hand  of  Jehovah,  flie  offers  the  prayer  of  faith 
 for  a  like  manifeftation  of  his  glory,  and  a  like  vic- 
 tory over  thofe  who  intended,  in  the  fame  manner, 
 to  feize  and  devour  his  inheritance.  Of  how  great 
 ufe  and  comfort  are  the  Old  Teftament  hiftories  to 
 us,  in  all  our  afflictions ! 
 
 13.  O  my  Gody  make  them  like  a  xoheel:  or,  like 
 thijik-doivn;  as  thejtubble  before  fhezvind.  14.  As 
 the  fire  burnetii  the  wood^  and  as  the  flame  fetteth  the 
 •mountains  on  fire  \  15.  So  perfecute,  or,  thoufhalt 
 purfue  them  with  thy  tempeji^  and  make^  or,  thoufhalt 
 Viake  them  afraid  with  thy  ftoryn. 
 
 The  fate  of  thofe  is  here  predided,  who  invade  the 
 
 inheritance  of  Jehovah^  and  fay,  "    Let  us  take  to 
 
 "  ourfelves  the  houfes  of  God  in  pofleffion."  The  in- 
 
 cpnftancy  and  mutability  of  their  fortunes  is  refem- 
 
 3  bled 
 
74  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  83. 
 
 bled  to  "  thiftle-down,"  or  fome  fuch  light  revolving 
 body,  and  to  "  ftubble'*  or  chaff,  whirled  about  and 
 diffipated  by  the  "  wind :"  the  fuddennefs,  horror, 
 and  unlverfality  of  their  deftrudlion  are  fet  forth  by 
 the  fimilitude  of  a  "  fire"  confuming  the  dry  trees  in 
 a  *'  foreft,"  or  fome  combuftible  matter  on  the 
 '*  mountains.'*  Such  is  the  ftorin  and  tempeft  of 
 God*s  indignation,  which  purfues  and  terrifies  the 
 facrilegious  and  ungodly. 
 
 16.  Fill  their  faces  with  Jliame-  that  they  may  feek 
 thy  namcy  0  Lord.  17.  Let  them,  or,  theyJJiall  be 
 confounded  and  troubled  for  ever  ;  yea,  let  them,  or, 
 theyJJiall  be  put  tojliavie  andperijh.  18.  That  men 
 may  know  that  thou,  whofe  name  alone  is  Jehovah, 
 art  the  mojl  High  over  all  the  earth. 
 
 The  punilhments  inflidled  by  heaven  upon  wicked 
 men  are  primarily  intended  to  humble  and  convert 
 them.  If  they  continue  incorrigible  under  every  dif- 
 penfation  of  merciful  feverity,  they  are  at  laft  cut 
 off,  and  finally  deftroyed ;  that  others,  admoniflied 
 by  their  example,  may  repent,  and  return,  and  give 
 glory  to  God.  Salutary  are  the  afflidions  which 
 bring  men,  and  happy  the  men  who  are  brought  by 
 them.,  to  an  acknowledgment  of  "  Jkhovah  our 
 "  Righteoufnels,"  our  exalted  and  glorified  Re- 
 deemer, "  the  mod  High  over  all  the  earth;"  whom 
 all  mufh  acknowledge,  and  before  whom  all  muft  ap- 
 pear to  be  judged,  in  the  great  and  terrible  day. 
 
 PSALM 
 
Day  i6.  e.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  75 
 
 PSALM    LXXXIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm,  for  the  fubjecl  matter  of  it,  bears 
 a  refemblance  to  the  xHid.  Under  the  figure 
 of  an  Ifraclite,  deprived  of  all  accefs  to  Je- 
 rufalcm  and  the  fanduary,  (whether  it  were 
 David,  when  driven  away  by  Abfalom,  or 
 any  other  perfoii  in  Hke  circumflances,  at  a 
 different  time)  we  are  prefented  with  1,  2. 
 the  earneft  longing  of  a  devout  foul  after  the 
 houfe  and  pre  fence  of  God  ;  3 — 7.  a  beauti- 
 ful and  pafsionate  eulogy  on  the  bleffednefs 
 of  his  minifters  and  fervants ;  8 — 10.  a 
 fervent  prayer  for  a  participation  of  that 
 bleffednefs;  and  11,  12.  an  a6l  of  faith  in 
 his  power  and  goodnefs,  which  render  him 
 both  able  and  willing  to  grant  requefls  of 
 this  nature. 
 
 I.  Hoio  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles^  O  Lord  ^ 
 hop  ! 
 
 Thus  ardently  doth  a  baniflied  Ifraelite  exprefs  his 
 love  for  Sion,  his  admiration  of  the  beauty  of  holi- 
 nefs.  Nay,  Balaam  himfelf,  when  from  the  top  of 
 Peor  he  faw  the  children  of  Ifrael  abiding  in  their 
 tents,  with  the  Glory  in  the  midft  of  them,  could 
 not  help  exclaiming,  "  How  goodly  are  thy  tents, 
 i\  O  Jacob,  and  thy  tabernacles,  O  Ifrael!"  Numb. 
 
 xxiv. 
 
76  A  COMMENTARY        PsAt.  84: 
 
 xxiv.  5.  "  How  amiable,"  then,  may  the  Chriflian 
 fay,  are  thofe  eternal  manfions,  from  whence  fin  and 
 forrow  are  excluded;  how  goodly  that  camp  of  the 
 faints,  and  that  beloved  city,  where  righteoufnefs  and 
 joy  reign  triumphant,  and  peace  and  unity  are  vio- 
 lated no  more;  where  thou,  O  blefled  Jefu,  "  Lord 
 "  of  hofts,"  King  of  men  and  angels,  dwelleft  in 
 glorious  majefty,  conftituting  by  thy  prefence  the 
 felicity  of  thy  chofen ! 
 
 2.  My  foul  longethy  yea  eveyi  fainteth  for  the 
 courts  of  the  Lord  :  my  heart  and  my  flefh  crieth 
 out,  or,  fiouteth  for  the  livhig  God. 
 
 It  is  laid  of  the  queen  of  Sheba,  that  upon  be- 
 holding the  pleafantnefs  of  Jerulalem,  the  fplendour 
 of  Solomon's  court,  and  above  all,  the  magnificence 
 of  the  temple,  with  the  fervices  therein  performed, 
 "  there  was  no  more  fpirit  in  her."  i  King.  x.  5. 
 What  wonder,  therefore,  if  the  foul  (hould  be  af- 
 fedted,  even  to  ficknefs  and  fainting,  while,  from 
 this  land  of  her  captivity,  fhe  beholdeth,  by  faith, 
 the  heavenly  Jerufalem,  the  city  and  court  of  the 
 great  King,  with  all  the  tranfporting  glories  of  the 
 church  triumphant:  while,  in  her  meditations,  fhe 
 draweth  the  comparifon  between  her  wretched  Hate 
 of  exile  upon  earth,  and  the  unfpeakable  bleffednefs 
 of  being  delivered  from  temptation  and  afflidion, 
 and  admitted  into  the  everlafting  "  courts  of  Jeho- 
 «  vah?"  VVhofe  "  heart  and  fleQi'*  doth  not  exult, 
 and  "  fhout  '  aloud  for  joy,  at  a  profpedt  ofrifing 
 from  tiie  bed  of  death,  to  dwell  with  "  the  living 
 **  God;"  to  fee  the  face  of  him,  *'  in  whom  is  life, 
 "  and  the  life  is  the  light  of  men?"  John  i.  4.    Did 
 
 thQ 
 
Day  i6.  e.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  77 
 
 the  Ifraelites,  from  all  parts  of  Judea,  go  up,  with 
 the  voice  of  jubilee,  to  keep  a  feaft  at  Jerufalem ; 
 and  (hail  Chriftians  grieve,  when  the  time  is  come 
 for  them  to  afcend,  and  to  celebrate  an  eternal  fefti- 
 val,  in  heaven  ? 
 
 3.  Vea  thefparrow  hath  found  an  hoiifey  and  the 
 /wallow,  or,  ringdove  a  nejifor  herfelf  wherejlie  may 
 
 lay  her  youngs  even  thine  altars ^  O  Lord  of  hojisy 
 tny  Kingy  and  my  God. 
 
 The  Ffalmift  is  generally  fuppofed,  in  this  verfe, 
 to  lament  his  unhappinefs,  in  being  deprived  of  all 
 accefs  to  the  tabernacle,  or  temple,  a  privilege  en- 
 joyed even  by  the  birds,  who  were  allowed  to  build 
 their  nefts  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  fanduary.  It 
 is  evidently  the  defign  of  this  paflage  to  intimate  to 
 us,  that  in  the  houfe,  and  at  the  altar  of  God,  a 
 faithful  foul  findeth  freedom  from  care  and  forrow, 
 quiet  of  mind,  and  gladnefs  of  fpirit ;  like  a  bird, 
 that  has  fecured  a  little  manlion,  for  the  reception  and 
 education  of  her  young.  And  there  is  no  heart,  en- 
 dued with  fenfibility,  which  doth  not  bear  it's  teflii- 
 mony  to  the  exquilite  beauty  and  propriety  of  this 
 affeding  image. 
 
 4.  Blefed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  houfe  :  they 
 zvill  bey  or,  are  fill  praifng  thee. 
 
 Here  the  metaphor  is  dropped,  and  the  former 
 fentiment  exprefledin  plain  language.  "Blefledare,'* 
 uot  the  mighty  and  opulent  of  the  earth,  but  "  they 
 *'  that  dwell  in  thy  houfe,"  the  minifters  of  the  eter- 
 nal temple  in  heaven,  the  angels  and  the  fpirits  of 
 juft  men  madeperfed;  their  every  paffion  is  refolved 
 into  love,  every  duty  into  praife  j  haliclujal^  fucceeds~ 
 
 hal- 
 
7$  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.   S4 
 
 hallelujah  J  "  they  are  ftill,'*  ftill,  for  evefj  '*  praifing 
 "  thee."  And  blefled,  next  to  them,  are  thofe  mi- 
 Bifters  and  members  of  the  church  here  below,  who^ 
 in  difpofition,  as  well  as  em.ployment,  do  moft  re- 
 lemble  them. 
 
 5.  BU/Jed  is  the  manwhoje  Jlrength  is  i7i  thee:  in 
 zvhofe  heart  are  the  ways  of  them ;  Heb.  the  ways 
 are  in  the  heart  of  them. 
 
 Not  only  they  are  pronounced  blefTed,  who  *'  dwell" 
 in  the  temple,  but  ail  they  alfo  who  are  "  travelling" 
 thitherward,  (as  the  whole  Jewifh  nation  was  wont  to 
 do,  three  times  in  a  year)  and  who  are  therefore  me- 
 ditating on  their  "  journey,"  and  on  the  "  way"  which 
 leadeth  to  the  holy  city,  trufling  in  God  to  "  flrength- 
 "  en,"  and  profpcr,  and  conduct  them  to  the  houfe 
 of  his  habitation,  the  place  where  his  glory  dwelleth. 
 Such  a  company  of  fojourners  are  Chriftians,  going 
 up  to  the  heavenly  Jerufalemj  fiich  ought  to  be 
 their  trufb  in  God,  and  fuch  the  fubjed  of  their 
 thoughts*. 
 
 6.  WhopaJJing  through  thevalleyofBacaymakeita 
 zvell:  the  rain  alfoJiUeth  the  pools,  7.  Theygofrovi 
 
 *  In  ejus  animo  verfantur  feinitae  ferentes  ad  templum  quo  pro^ 
 perat.  Morali  fenfu  ;  Quicunque  fanftus  eft,  quotidie  in  priora 
 e.xtenditur,  et  praeteritorum  oblivifcitor,  cum  Paulo,  Phil.  iii.  13. 
 BossuET.  Jerufalem  is  reprefented  in  the  New  Teftament  as  a 
 type  of  heaven.  I  fee  nothing  irrational,  therefore,  in  fuppoiing, 
 that  the  infpired  writer,  in  defcribing  the  afcent  to  Jerufalem, 
 might  have  in  view  alfo  that  fpiritual  progrefs,  leading  to  the 
 eity  which  is  above,  the  mother  of  us  all.  The  words  before  us 
 are  certainly  very  applicable  to  the  advances  made,  in  this  pro-^ 
 grefs,  from  ftrength  to  ftrength,  from  one  ftagc  of  Chriftian  per- 
 fedion  to  another,     Merrigic. 
 
 ^rejigih 
 
Day  i6.  e.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  751 
 
 Jnngth  tojirengthj  every  one  of  them  in  Zion  ap- 
 peareth  before  God  ;  or,  the  God  of  gods  appeareth, 
 i.  e.  to  them  in  Zion. 
 
 After  numberlefs  uncertain  conjedures  offered  by 
 commentators  upon  the  conftruction  of  thefe  two 
 verfes,  it  feemeth  impoffible  for  us  to  attain  to  any- 
 other  than  a  general  idea  of  their  true  import ;  which 
 is  this,  that  the  Ifraelites,  or  fome  of  them,  pafled, 
 in  their  way  to  Jerufalem,  through  a  valley  that  had 
 the  name  of  "  Baca,"  a  noun  derived  from  a  verb 
 which  fignifies  to  "  weep ;"  that  in  this  valley  they 
 were  refreflied  by  plenty  of  water  j  that  with  renewed 
 vigour  they  proceeded  from  ftage  to  ftage,  until  they 
 prefented  themfelves  before  God  in  Zion.  The  pre- 
 fent  world  is  to  us  this  valley  of  weeping;  in  our 
 paflage  through  it,  we  are  refrefhed  by  the  flreams 
 of  divine  grace,  flowing  down  from  the  great  foun- 
 tain of  confolation  ;  and  thus  are  we  enabled  to  pro- 
 ceed from  one  degree  of  holinefs  to  another,  until  we 
 come  to  the  glorified  vifion  of  God,  in  heaven  itfelf. 
 Mr.  Merrick's  poetical  verfion  of  this  paflage  is  ex- 
 tremely beautiful,  and  applies  at  once  to  the  cafe  of 
 the  Ifraelite,  and  to  that  of  the  Chrifl:ian. 
 
 Bleft,  who,  their  ftrength  on  thee  reclin'd. 
 Thy  feat  explore  with  conftant  mind. 
 And,  Salem's  diftant  tow'rs  in  view. 
 With  aftive  zeal  their  way  purfue : 
 Secure  the  thirfty  vale  they  tread. 
 While,  call'd  from  out  their  fandy  bed, 
 (As  down  in  grateful  fliow'rs  difl:ilPd 
 The  heav'ns  their  kindliefl:  moifture  yield) 
 
 The 
 
to  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  84. 
 
 TheXopious  fprings  their  fteps  beguile. 
 And  bid  the  chearlefs  defert  fmile. 
 From  flage  to  flage  advancing  ilill. 
 Behold  them  reach  fair  Sion's  hill, 
 And  proftrate  at  her  hallowed  (lirine^ 
 Adore  the  Majefly  divine. 
 
 8.  O  luORD  God  of  hojis,  hear  my  prayer :  give 
 ear^  O  God  of  Jacob.  9.  Behold,  OGod  our  fiiield, 
 and  look  upon  the  face  of  thine  anointed. 
 
 After  extolling  the  happinefs  of  thofe  who  dwelt 
 in  the  temple-,  and  of  thofe  who  had  accefs  to  it,  the 
 Pfahnift  breaks  forth  into  a  moft  ardent  prayer  to  his 
 God,  for  a  fhare  in  that  happinefs.  He  addrefletti 
 him  as  "  the  Lord  of  hofts,"  Almighty  in  power ; 
 as  "  the  God  of  Jacob,"  infinite  in  mercy  and  good- 
 nefs  to  his  people  i  as  their  "  lliield,"  the  objed  of 
 all  their  truft,  for  defence  and  protedion  j  and  be- 
 feecheth  him  to  "  look  upon  the  face  of  his  Anoint- 
 "  ed,"  that  is,  of  David,  if  he  were  king  of  Ifrael 
 when  this  Pfalm  was  written  ;  or  rather  of  Mefliah  *, 
 in  whom  God  is  always  well  pleafed;  for  whofe  fake 
 he  hath  mercy  upon  us ;  through  whofe  name  and 
 merits  our  prayers  are  accepted,  and  the  kingdom  of 
 heaven  is  opened  to  all  believers. 
 
 10.  For  a  day  in  thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thou- 
 fand'-  I  had  rather  be  a  door  keeper  in  the  houfe  of 
 my  Gody  than  to  dwell  in  the  tents  of  zvickedncfs. 
 
 One  day,  fpent  in  meditation  and  devotion,  af- 
 fordeth  a  pleafure,  far,  far  fuperior  to  that,  which  an 
 age  of  worldly  prolperity  could  give.     Happier  is  thc- 
 
 ■*  *'  Chrifti  tuj  ;"  RegU,  qiii  Chri{|i  iigura.    Bossuet. 
 
 leaft 
 
!Day  i6,  e.  p.        on  the  psalms.  ti 
 
 Icaft  and  lovvefl  of  the  fervants  of  Jefus,  than  the 
 greateft  and  moft  exalted  potentate>  who  knowetli 
 him  not.  And  he  is  no  proper  judge  of  bleffednefs, 
 who  hefitates  a  moment  to  prefer  the  condition  of  a 
 penitent  in  the  porch,  to  that  of  a  finner  on  the 
 throne.  If  this  be  the  cafe  upon  earth,  how  much 
 more  in  heaven?  O  come  that  one  glorious  da)% 
 whofe  fun  fhall  never  go  downj  nor  any  cloud  ob- 
 fcure  the  luftre  of  his  beams ;  that  day,  when  the 
 temple  of  God  fhall  be  opened  in  heaven,  and  we 
 ihall  be  admitted  to  ferve  him  for  ever  therein ! 
 
 11.  For  the  LofiD  God  is  a  fun  andjhleld:  the 
 Lord  zvill  give  grace  aiul  glory :  no  good  thing 
 will  he  withhold  from  them  that  walk  uprightly. 
 
 Jefus  Chrift  is  our  "  Lord,"  and  our  "  God;"  he 
 is  a  "  fun,"  to  enlighten  and  direct  us  in  the  way, 
 and  a  "  fhield,"  to  proted  us  againft  the  enemies  of 
 our  falvation;  he  will  give  "  grace"  to  carry  us  on 
 ^'  from  ftrength  to  ftrengt.h,"  and  "  glory"  to  crown 
 U3  when  we  '*  appear  before  him  in  Zion;"  he  will 
 "  withhold"  nothing  that  is  "  good"  and  profitable 
 for  us  in  the  courfe  of  our  journe)^  and  will  himfelf 
 be  our  reward,  when  we  come  to  the  end  of  it. 
 
 12.  O  Lord  of  hojisy  hlejfed  is  the  man  that 
 triifleth  in  thee. 
 
 While,  therefore,  we  are  fttangers  and  fojourners; 
 here  below,  far  from  t^iat  heavenly  country  where 
 we  would  be,  in  whom  (hould  we  trull,  to  bring  us 
 to  the  holy  city,  new  Jerufalem,  of  which  the  Lord 
 God  and  the  Lamb  are  the  temple,  but  in  thee,  O 
 Saviour  and  Redeemer,  who  art  the  Head  of  every 
 
 Vol,  IL  F  creature. 
 
g2  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  S5. 
 
 creature,  the  Captain  of  the  armies  of  heaven  and 
 earth,  the  Lord  of  hofts,  and  King  of  glory  ? 
 "  Bleffed,"  thrice  "  bleffed  is  the  man  that  trufteth 
 "  in  thee." 
 
 PSALM     LXXXV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm,  appointed  by  the  church  to  be 
 ufed  on  Chrilbnas  day,  1—3.  celebratetli 
 the  redemption  of  the  Ifrael  of  God  from 
 their  fpiritual  captivity  under  iin  and  death ; 
 
 '  4^-7.  teacheth  us  to  pray  for  the  full  ac- 
 complifhment  of  that  redemption  in  our- 
 felves;  8 — 11.  defcribeth  the  incarnation 
 of  Chrifl:,  with  the  joyful  meeting  of  Mercy 
 and  Truth,  Righteoufnefs  and  Peace,  at  his 
 birth,  and  12,  13.  the  blefled  effe6ls  of  his 
 advent. 
 
 I.  Lord,  thou  liajl  been  favourable  unto  thy 
 land:  thou  haji,  brought  back  the  captivity  of  Jacob. 
 1.  Thou  haft  forgiven  the  iniquity  of  thy  people, 
 thou  haft  covered  all  their  fin.  3.  Thou  haft  taken 
 away  all  thy  rorath:  thou  haft  tu?med  thyMf  from 
 thefiercenefsof.  thine  anger. 
 
 Thefe  three  verfes  fpeak  of  the  deliverance  from 
 captivity,  as  already  brought  about;  whereas,  in 
 the  fubfequent  parts  of  the  Pfalm,  it  is  prayed  for 
 ^nd  predided,   as  a  thing  future.     To  account  for 
 
 this. 
 
t)AY  I  6.  E.  P.  OX   THE  PSALMS.  S$ 
 
 this,    fome  fuppofe  that  the  Pfalmift  firfl:   returns 
 thanks  for  a  temporal  redemption,  and  then  prophe- 
 fies  of  the  fpiritual  falvation  by  Meffiah.    Others  are 
 of  opinion,    that    the   fame    eternal   redemption    is 
 fpoken  of  throughout,  but  reprefented,  in  the  begin- 
 ning of  the   Pfaim,   as  already  accomplifhed  in  the 
 divine  decree,  though  the  eventual  completion  was 
 yet   to  come.     The  difficulty,  perhaps,   may  be  re- 
 moved, by  rendering  thefe  three  firft  verfes  in  the 
 prefent  time;  ^'  Lord,  thou  art  favourable  to  thy 
 "  land,  thoubringeft  back  the  captivity  of  thy  peo- 
 "  pie,"  &c.  that  is.  Thou  art  the  God  whofe  pro- 
 perty it  is  to  do  this,  and  to  (hew  fuch  mercy  to  thy 
 people,  who   therefore  call  upon  thee  for  the  fame. 
 But,   indeed,    to  us   Chriftians,    who    now  ufe  the 
 Pfalm,  the  difference  is  not  material;  fince  a  part  of 
 our  redemption   is  paft,    and  a  part  of  it  is  yet  to 
 come,  for  the  haftening  of  which  latter  we  daily  pray. 
 God  hath    already   been    exceedingly  gracious   and 
 *' favourable''  to  the  whole  "earth,"  in  "bringing 
 "  back,"  by  the  rcfurredion  of  Jefus,  the  fpiritual 
 "  captivity   of"     his   people;    he   hath   himfelf,   in 
 Chrift,  "  borne,"  and  fo  taken  away,   "  the  iniquity 
 "  of  his  people;"  he  hath  "  covered  all  their  fins," 
 that  they  fhould  no  more  appear  in  judgment  againft 
 them :   propitiated  by  the  Son  of  his  love,  he  hath 
 removed  his  "  wrath,"  and   "  turned  himfelf  from 
 "  the  fiercenefs  of  his  anger."     So  exadly  and  lite- 
 rally do  thefe  words  defcribe  the  means  and  method 
 of  Gofpel  falvation,  that  a  Chriftian  can  hairdly  affix 
 any  other  ideas  to  them. 
 
 F  2  4.  Tur?i 
 
84  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  85-. 
 
 4.  Turn  us,  O  God  of  ourfalvatimj,  and  caiife 
 thine  anger  towards  us  to  ceafe.  e^.Wiltthou  be  angrj/ 
 with  usjor  ever?  Wilt  thou  draw  out  thine  anger  to 
 all  geyierations?  6.  Wilt  thou  not  revive  us  again, 
 that  thy  people  7nay  rejoice  in  thee?  7,  SJiexv  us  tin/ 
 viercy^  O  Lord,  and  grant  us  thy  falvation. 
 
 The  ancient  church  is  here  introduced  as  petition- 
 ing for  the  coiitinuation  and  completion  of  thofe 
 bleffings  which  had  been  mentioned  in  the  foregoing 
 verfes,  namely,  that  God  would  "  turn"  his  people 
 from  their  captivity,  and  "  caufe  his  anger  towards 
 '*  them  to  ceafe;"  that  he  would  "  revive"  them  from 
 fm  and  forrow,  and  give  them  occafion  to  *'  rejoice 
 "  in  him,"  their  mighty  deliverer;  that  he  would 
 "  flievv  them"  openly  that  "  mercy"  of  which  they 
 had  fo often  heard,  and  "grant  them  that  falvation,'* 
 or  that  "  Saviour,"  that  Jesus,  who  had  been  fo  long 
 promifed  to  mankind.  And  although  it  be  true,  that 
 Jefus  Chrift  is  come  in  the  flefh,  and  hath  virtually 
 procured  all  thefe  bleffings  for  the  church,  yet  do 
 "  we"  flill  continue  to  pray,  in  the  fame  words,  for 
 the  aftual  application  of  them  all  to  ourfelves,  by  the 
 converfion  of  our  hearts,  the  juftification  of  our  per- 
 fons,  the  fa  ndi  fie  at  ion  of  our  fouls,  and  the  glorifi- 
 cation of  our  bodies.  For  this  lafl  blefTmg  of  re- 
 demption, "  the  whole  creation  waiteth,  groaning,  and 
 "  travailing  in  pain  together,  lntil  now."  Rom, 
 viii.  21. 
 
 %.  I  will  hear  what  God  the  Lord  will /peak: 
 for  he  zvillfpeak  peace  unto  his  people,  and  to  his 
 faints;  hut  let  them  not  turn  again  to  folly ;  or, 
 that  they  may  not  turn  again  to  folly. 
 
 The 
 
Day  i6.  e.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  85 
 
 The  prophet  having  prayed,  in  the  name  of  the 
 church,  that  Jehovah  would  "  (hew  them  his  mercy, 
 **  and  grant  them  his  falvation,"  declares  himfclf  re- 
 folved,  concerning  this  "  falvation  to  enquire  and 
 *'  fearch  diligently,  vv^hat,  or  what  manner  of  time 
 "  the  Spirit  of  Chrifl;  which  was  in  him  did  fignify, 
 "  when  it  teftified  before-hand  the  coming  of  Chrift, 
 *'  and  the  glory  that   fliould  follow :"  See  i  Pet.  i. 
 10.    he  would  attend    to    "  what   God  the  Lord 
 *'  fhould  fay,"  and  report  it   to  the  world.     Now, 
 what  was  the  meffage,  which  the  prophets  had  com- 
 miffion    to   deliver  from  God,    but  that  he  would 
 "  fpeak  peace,"  or  reconciliation  through  a  Saviour, 
 "  to  his  people,  and  to  his  faints  ?"  The  Gofpel  is 
 accordingly  flyled  by  St.  Peter,  "  the  word  which 
 "  God   fent  unto  the  children  of  Ifrael,  preaching 
 *•  peace  by  Jefus  Chrift."     Ads  x.  36.     And  what 
 •was  the  end  of  this  reconciliation  between  God  and 
 men,  but  that  men  Ihould  become,  and  continue  the 
 fervants  of  God ;  that,  being  walhed  from  their  fins 
 by  the  blood  of  Chrift,  and  renewed  in  their  minds 
 by  the  grace  of  Chrift,  they  (liould  walk  in  the  paths 
 of  wifdom  and  holinefs,  and  "  turn  not  again  to  the 
 "  folly"  they  had  renounced  ? 
 
 9.  Siireli/  Jiis  falvation  is  nigh  them  that  fear  him  ^ 
 that  glory  may  dicell  in  our  land. 
 
 God,  who  "  calleth  things  that  be  not  as  though 
 "  they  were,"  teacheth  his  prophets  to  do  likewife. 
 The  Pfalmift  therefore  fpeaks  with  affurance  of  the 
 "  Saviour,"  as  if  he  then  faw  him  before  his  eyes, 
 healing,  by  the  word  of  his  power,  the  bodies  and 
 the  fouls  of  men  upon  earth,  and  manifcfting  forth 
 F  3  his 
 
85  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  B^, 
 
 his  "  glory,"  in  human  nature,  to  all  fuch  as,  with 
 an  holy  "  fear,"  and  filial  reverence,  believed  on  him. 
 St.  John  himfelf  hardly  ufeth  plainer  language  when 
 he  faith,  *'  The  Word  was  made  flelh,  and  dwelt, 
 "  or  tabernacled  among  us  :  and  we  beheld  his  glory, 
 "  the  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father, 
 "  full  of  grace  and  truth."  John  i.  14.  The  body 
 of  Chrift  was  the  true  "  tabernacle,  or,  temple ;" 
 his  Divinity  was  the  glory  v/hich  refided  there,  and 
 filled  that  holy  place.  The  church  is  his  myftical 
 *'  body;"  by  his  Spirit  he  now  and  ever  "  dwelleth 
 "  in  our  land  ;  and  his  falvation  is  always  nigh  them 
 "  that  fear  him ;"  as  fgith  the  holy  virgin  in  her  fong, 
 ''  His  mercy  is  on  them  that  fear  him,  throughout 
 "  all  generations." 
 
 10.  Mercy  and  truth  are  met  together'-  righteouf- 
 nefs  and  peace  have  Id  (Jed  each  other.  11.  Truth 
 Jhallfpring  out  of  the  earth  s  and  righteoufnefs  Jliall 
 look  doianjrom  heaven. 
 
 Thefe  four  divine  attributes  parted  at  the  fall  of 
 Adam,  and  met  again  at  the  birth  of  Chrifl.  Mercy 
 was  ever  inclined  to  fave  man,  and  Peace  could  not 
 be  his  enemy;  but  Truth  exaded  the  performance 
 of  God's  threat,  "  The  foul  that  fmneth  it  fhall 
 "  die;"  and  Righteoufnefs  could  not  but  give  to 
 every  one  h.s  due.  Jehovah  muft  be  true  in  ah  his 
 ways,  and  righteous  in  all  his  works.  Now  there  is 
 no  religion  upon  er.rth,  except  the  Chriftian,  which 
 can  facibfy  the  demands  of  all  thefe  claimants,  and  re- 
 flore  an  union  between  them;  which  can  ihew  how 
 God's  word  can  be  true,  and  his  work  juft,  and  the 
 fmner,    notwithHanding,    find    mercy,    and   obtain 
 
 peace. 
 
Day  i6.  e.  p.  on  the  PSALMS.  87 
 
 peace.     Mahomet's  prayer,  were  it  the  prayer  of  a 
 righteous  man  and  a  prophet,  could  not  fatisfy  divine 
 juftice  ;  the  blood  of  bulls  and  goats  waa  always  in- 
 fufEcient  for  that  purpole,  being  a  figure  only  for 
 the  time  then  prefent,  which  ceaicc  of  courfe  when 
 the  rcal:ty  appeared.     "  Sacrifice  and  burnt  offering 
 "  thou  wouldeil  not  j  then  faid  T.  Lo  I  come."     A 
 God  incarnate  reconciled  all  things  in  heaven  and 
 earth.  When  Chrifl  appeared  in  our  nature,  the  pro- 
 mile  was  fulfilled,  atxi  "  Truth  fprang  out  of  the 
 "  earth."    And  now,  Righteoufnefs,  "  looking  down 
 **  from  heaven,"  beheld  in  him  every  thing  that  Ilie 
 required  j   an  unde6ied   birth,  an  holy  life,  an  in- 
 nocent death  ;  a  fpirit  and  a  mouth  without  guile,  a 
 foul  and  a  body  without   fin.     She  faw,   and  was 
 fatisfied,'  and  returned  to  earth.     Thus  all  the  four 
 parties   met  again,  in  perfedl  harmony :  Truth  ran 
 to    Mercy,  and    embraced    her ;    Righteoufnefs    to 
 Peace,  and  kiffed  her.  And  this  could  only  happen  at 
 the  birth  of  Jefus,  in  whom  "  the  tender  Mercy  of 
 "  our  God  vificcd  us,  and  who  is  the  Truth;  who 
 **  is  made  unto   us   Righteoufnefs,  and  who  is  our 
 "  Peace."    See  Luke  i.  78.  John  xiv.  6.     i  Cor.  i. 
 30.     Ephef.  ii.  14.     Thofe  that  are  thus  joined,  as 
 attributes,   in  Chrifl,  ought   not,  as  virtues,  to  be 
 feparated  in  a  Chriftian,  who  may  learn  how  to  re- 
 fembie  his  UlefTed  Lord  and  Mafler,  by  obferving 
 that  Ihort,  but  complete  rule  of  life,   comprehended 
 in   the    few    following    words :    Shew    Mercy,    and 
 fpeak  Truth;  do  Righteoufnefs,  and  follow   Peace. 
 3ee  St.  Bernard,  in  his  Sermon  on  the  Annunciation, 
 F  4  ^nd, 
 
S8  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  85. 
 
 and,  from  him,  Bifliop  Andrews  on  thefe  two  verfes 
 of  our  Pfalm  *. 
 
 12.  Yea,  the  Lord /lall  give  that  which  is  good  : 
 and  our  landjhall  yield  her  increafe. 
 
 Unlefs  God  vouchfafe  a  gracious  rain  from  above, 
 the  earth  caijnot  "  yield  her  increafe.*'  The  efFe<fls 
 of  the  incarnation  of  Chrift,  the  defcent  of  the  Spirit, 
 and  the  publication  of  the  Gofpel  among  men,  are 
 frequently  fet  forth  in  Scripture  under  images  bor- 
 rowed from  that  fruitfdlnefs  caufed  in  the  earth  by 
 the  rain  of  heaven.  Thus  Ifaiah,  **  Drop  down  ye 
 **  heavens  from  above,  and  let  the  Ikies  pour  down 
 ♦'  rjghteoulnefs  i  let  the^  earth  open,  and  let  them 
 "  bring  forth  falvation,  and  let  righteoufnefs  fpring 
 *'  up  together,  xiv.  8.  I  will  pour  water  upon  him 
 *'  that  IS  thirfly,  and  floods  upon  the  dry  ground  :  I 
 *'  will  pour  my  Spirit  upon  thy  feed,  and  my  bleffmg 
 *'  upon  thine  offspring.  And  they  fliall  fpring  up  as 
 "  among  the  grafs,  as  willows  by  the  water  courfes, 
 "  "■xliv.  3.  As  the  rain  cometh  down  from  heaven, 
 *'  and  watereth  the  earth,  and  maketh  it  bring  forth 
 **  and  budi  fo  il^all  my  word  be,"  &c.  Iv.  10.  Give 
 us  evermore,  O  Lord,  "  that  which  is  good,  that 
 "  our  land  may  yield  her  increafe ;"  give  us  that 
 good  gift,  the  gift  of  thy  Spirit,  that  we  be  *'  neither 
 "  barren  nor  unfruitful  in  the  knowlege  of  our  Lord 
 ♦'  Jefus  Chrift."     2  Pet.  i.  8. 
 
 *  Soluta  captivitate,  felicem  populi  ftatum  defignat,  omni 
 bonorum  copia  et  virtutibus  florentis ;  quas  maxime  impleta  funt, 
 poftquamChriftus  ipfa  Veritas,  idemque  pax  noftra,  e  terra  ortus 
 ^il.      BOSSUET. 
 
 13.  Righteoufnefs 
 
Day  17.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  89 
 
 13.  Bighteoufnefs  Jliall  go  before  him,  and  fl^  all  ft 
 us  in  the  zv ay  of  his  Jieps ;  or,  andfJiallfct  his  Jieps 
 in  the  zvay. 
 
 Upon  the  appearance  of  the  Redeemer,  "  B  ighte- 
 "  oufnefs"  is  reprefented  "  as  going  before  him,'* 
 like  his  harbinger  the  B.iptift,  to  prepare  and  make 
 ready  his  way.  In  that  way,  the  way  of  righteoufnefs, 
 "  he  fet  his  fleps,"  and  walked  therein,  without  the 
 lead  deviation,  until  he  had  finifhed  his  appointed 
 courfe.  Draw  us,  blefled  Jefu,  and  we  will  run  after 
 thee,  in  the  path  of  life ,  let  thy  mercy  pardon  us, 
 thy  truth  enlighten  us,  thy  righteoufnefs  diredl  us, 
 to  follow  thee,  O  Lamb  of  God,  whitherlbever  thou 
 goeft,  through  poverty,  afHidtion,  perfecution,  and 
 death  itfelf ;  that  our  portion  may  be  for  ever  in  thy 
 liingdom  of  peace  and  love. 
 
 XVII  DAY.       MORNING   PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM    LXXXVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalin  is  entitled,  A  prayer  of  David, 
 and  fuppofed  to  have  been  written  in  fome 
 of  his  great  diltrefies.  Like  others  of  the 
 fame  kind,  it  is  calculated  for  the  ufe  of  the 
 church,  during  her  fufFerings  here  below,  by 
 which  file  is  conformed  to  the  image  of  the 
 true  David,  that  man  of  forrows.  It  con- 
 tains, 1.  an  eamelt  fupplication,  grounded 
 
 on 
 
90  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  86. 
 
 on  tlie  poverty,  2.  the  holinefs,  faith,  3.  im- 
 portunity, and  4.  devotion,  of  the  fuppliant; 
 and  on  5 — 7.  the  goodnefs,  and  8.  power  of 
 God,  9,  10.  to  be  one  day  acknowledged  by 
 all  nations,  at  their  converfion.  After  this 
 fellows,  11.  a  petition  for  wifdom,  llrength, 
 and  fliiglenefs  of  heart;  12,  13.  a  thankf- 
 giving  for  redemption;  14.  a  complaint  of 
 pcrfecution  froiii  the  wicked  ;  15.  an  acl  of 
 faith ;  IG,  17.  a  prayer  for  help  and  falvation, 
 
 I.  Bow  doitm  thine  ear,  O  Lord,  mid  hear  me ; 
 for  I  am  poor  and  needy. 
 
 All  prayer  is  founded  on  a  fenfe  of  our  own  wants> 
 and  God's  ability  to  fupply  them.  In  the  fight  of 
 his  Maker,  every  fmner  is  "  poor  and  needy  j"  and 
 he  muft  become  fo  in  his  own,  that  his  petitions  may 
 be  regarded ;  he  muft  pray,  with  the  humility  and 
 iiiiportunity  of  a  ftarving  beggar,  at  the  gate  of  heaven, 
 if  he  exped  the,  great  King  to  ''  bow  down  his 
 "  ear  and  hear  him."  "  The  prayer  of  the  humble," 
 faith  the  wi'e  ton  of  Sirach,  "  pierceth  the  clouds; 
 "  and  till  it  come  nigh,  he  will  not  be  comforted  i 
 *'  and  will  not  depart  till  the  moft  High  Ihall  behold." 
 Ecclus.  XXXV.  17.  The  bleffed  Jefus,  "  though  he 
 "  was  rich,  yet  for  our  fakes  became  poor,  and  had 
 "  not  where  to  lay  his  head ;"  nor  is  it  to  be  doubt- 
 ed, but  that  in  his  ftate  of  humiliation,  he  oftentimes 
 made  his  pr  yer  to  the  Father  in  thefe  very  words  j 
 "  Bow  down  tiime  ear,  O  Lord^,  and  hear  me;  foi^ 
 
 «  I  am 
 
Day  17.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  91. 
 
 *'  I  am  poor  and  needy."  If  he  fued,  in  fuch  a  form 
 of  words,  ror  us,  (hail  we  think  of  fuing  in  any  other 
 form,  for  ourfcives  ? 
 
 2.  Freferve  thou  myfouUfor  /am  holy  ;  O  thou 
 my  God.Jave  thy  fervant,  that  Ivujlcth  in  thee. 
 
 The  word  here  translated  "  holy,"  isTDH  the  fame 
 which  is  ufed  m  the  xvith  Pfalm^  "  Thou  (halt  not 
 "  fufFer  thine  Holy  One  to  fee  corruption."  And 
 indeed,  if  we  underftand  "  holinefs"  in  it's  ftrict 
 fenfe,  no  one  but  "  he  whom  the  Father  fandtified, 
 "  and  fent  into  the  world,"  to  redeem  lofl  man,  could 
 fay  to  him,  "  Freferve  my  foul,  for  I  am  holy."  But 
 the  word  properly  fignifies,  "  good,  merciful,  pious, 
 "  devoted  to  the  fervice  of  God,"  &c.  The  Chrif- 
 tian,  therefore,  only  pleads,  in  this  expreffion,  his 
 relation  to  Chrift,  as  being  a  member  of  Chrifl's 
 body,  the  church,  and  a  partaker  of  the  gifts,  which, 
 by  virtue  of  tliat  memberlhip,  he  has  received  through 
 the  Spirit  of  holinefs.  So  that  this  firft  part  of  the 
 verfe,  "  Freferve  my  foul.^  for  I  am  holy,"  when 
 repeated  by  us,  is  equivalent  to  another  paffage  in 
 the  Pfalms,  "  I  am  tuine,  O  fave  me."  cxix.  94. 
 The  lattef  member  of  the  verfe  under  conlideration 
 teaches  us  to  pray  for  help  and  falvation,  as  the 
 "  fervants"  of  God,  whofe  eyes  therefore  look  natu- 
 rally to  him,  "  as  the  eyes  of  fervants,"  in  afflidion, 
 "  look  unto  the  hand  of  their  mailers."  Pf  cxxiii. 
 2.  And  happy,  furely,  are  we  in  a  mafter,  who, 
 himfelf,  for  our  falvation,  once  lived,  and  prayed, 
 and  fuffered,  and  died,  in  "  the  form  of  a  fervant." 
 Phil.  ii.  7. 
 
 3.  Be 
 J 
 
92  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  86, 
 
 3.  Be  meixiful  unto  me^  O  Lord,  for  I  cru  unto 
 thee  dailij. 
 
 There  is  no  man  upon  the  earth,  but  needeth 
 "  mercy;"  he  who  is  truly  fenfible  of  his  need,  will 
 **  cry  daily"  for  it ;  and  he  who  doth  fo,  may  com- 
 fort himfelf  with  hope  of  obtaining  it.  The  prayers 
 of  Jefus,  poured  forth  for  the  falvation  of  his  myfti- 
 cal  body,  in  the  days  of  his  flefh,  were  frequent  and 
 mighty ;  his  interceffion  for  us  in  heaven  is  continual. 
 Does  the  man  believe  this,  who  prays  not  at  all,  or 
 who  prays  without  devotion  ? 
 
 4.  Rejoice  the  foul  of  thy  few  ant ;  for  unto  thee, 
 O  Lord,  do  I  lift  up  my  foul. 
 
 Sorrow  was  the  portion  of  Chrift  in  this  world, 
 and  the  church  hath  no  reafon  to  exped:  any  other 
 from  it.  He  that  would  have  real  "  joy"  in  his  heartt 
 muft  befeech  God  to  give  it  him,  for  no  creature  hath 
 it  to  give.  Nay,  the  love  of  the  world  muft  be  re- 
 nounced, before  this  divine  gift  can  even  be  "  re- 
 *'^  ceived."  The  affections  muft  be  loofened  from 
 earth,  and  "  lifted  up"  to  heaven,  on  the  wings  of 
 faith  and  love;  for  in  the  foul  that  is  full  of  fenfual 
 pleafures  and  indulgences,  there  is  neither  room  nor 
 tafte  for  fpirituai  delights. 
 
 5.  For  thoUy  Lord,  art  good,  and  ready  to  for- 
 give:  and  plenteous  in  mercy  unto  all  them  that  call 
 upon  thee. 
 
 We  are  encouraged  to  ''  lift  up  our  fouls  to  God'* 
 in  prayer,  becaufe  his  **  goodnefs"  and  the  "  plente- 
 *'  oufnefs  of  his  mercy"  in  Chrift  Jefus  incline  him 
 to  give  his  holy  Spirit  of  peace  and  comfort  to  *'  all 
 ^'^  that  call  upon  him."     His  favour  is  no  longer 
 
 con- 
 
Day  17.  M.  p.      ON-  THE  PSALMS.  9^ 
 
 confined  to  Judea;  there  Is  now  no  di{lin(5lion  of 
 age,  condition,  or  country:  but  the  fmner,  whoever 
 or  wherever  he  be,  if  he  call  upon  the  laving  name 
 of  Jefus,  is  heard,  pardoned,  and  accepted,  upon 
 the  terms  pf  the  evangelical  covenant. 
 
 6.  Give  ear,  O  Lord,  unto  my  prayer:  and  attend 
 to  the  voice  of  my  Jupplications.  7.  In  the  day  of  my 
 trouble  1  zvill  call  upon  thee:  for  thou  wilt  anjwer  me. 
 
 In  coniidence  of  an  *'  anfwer,"  nourilhed  and 
 ftrengthened  by  all  the  foregoing  con Hderat ions,  the 
 fuppliant  renews  his  prayer,  while  "  the  day  of  trou- 
 "  ble"  lafts ;  and  that  day  will  not  end,  but  with 
 this  mortal  pilgrimage  j  fmce  he  who  loves  his  coun- 
 try, will  ever  be  unealy  while  he  is  detained  among 
 ftrangers  and  enemies,  perils  and  temptations.  But 
 the  trouble  is  overpaid  with  profit,  which  rendereth 
 us  adepts  in  the  praflice  of  devotion,  which  con- 
 vinceth  us  that  we  are  abroad,  and  maketh  us  to  wifh 
 and  figh  for  our  true  and  only  home. 
 
 8.  Among  the  gods  there  is  ?w?ie  like  unto  thee,  O 
 Lord  J  neither  are  there  any  works  like  inito  thy 
 zvorks. 
 
 Another  reafon  why  application  (liould  be  made  to 
 Jehovah,  is  his  infinite  fuperiority  over  all  thofe, 
 that,  by  infatuated  m.en,  were  ever  called  "  gods." 
 From  the  ancient  idolatry,  which  taught  adoration 
 to  the  fun,  moon,  and  ftars,  to  the  light  and  the  air, 
 we  have  been  delivered  by  the  Gofpe]  :  nor  do  we 
 any  longer  profefs  to  v/orfhip  Jupiter,  and  the  other 
 heathen  gods  and  goddefles :  but  do  not  many  ftill 
 truft  in  idols,  and  have  they  not,  in  effed,  other  ob- 
 jects of  worfhip,  from  whofe  hands  they  exped  their 
 
 reward  ? 
 
94  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  U. 
 
 reward  ?  Are  not  the  hearts  of  the  covetous,  the 
 ambitious,  the  voluptuous,  fo  many  temples  of 
 Mammon,  orPlutus;  of  Jupiter,  or  Mars ;  of  Bac- 
 chus, Comus,  and  Venus  ?  But  what  are  thefe  dei- 
 ties; what  is  their  power  ;  and  what  are  their  gifts  ? 
 What  is  the  whole  world,  and  all  that  is  therein, 
 when  compared  with  its  Maker  and  Redeemer; 
 what  is  it,  when  applied  to,  for  the  eafe  and  comfort 
 of  a  wounded  ipirit  ? — "  Among  the  gods  there  is 
 "  none  like  unto  thee,  O  Lord;  neither  are  there 
 **  any  works  like  unto  thy  works  !"' 
 
 9.  All  nnfions  whom  thou  haft  made,  JJiall  come 
 and  ivorjhlp  before  thee:,  O  Lord,  and Jhall  glorify 
 thy  name. 
 
 The  Pfalmift  predicteth  that  this  fuperiority  of 
 Jehovah  fliould  one  day  be  acknowledged  throughout 
 all  the  eart!:,  when  "  neither  in  Jerufalem  only,  nor 
 "  in  the  mount  of  the  Samaritans,"  but  in  every 
 place,  "  fhould  men  worOiip  the  Father;"  John  iv. 
 21.  v/hen  he  who  "  made  all  nations,'*  by  his  Son, 
 fliouJd  by  that  Son  redeem  all  nations,  bringing  them 
 from  die  world  toihe  Church,  there  to  "  worfhipbe- 
 "  fore"  the  true  God,  and  *'  in  fongs  of  praife  toglo- 
 *'  rify  his  holy  name."  If  in  thefe  our  times,  we 
 behold  the  nations  again  falling  away  from  God,  de- 
 parting from  the  purity  of  their  faith,  and  leaving 
 their  firft  love,  let  us  comfort  ourfelves  with  looking 
 forward  to  that  fcene  of  things  defcribed  by  St.  John, 
 in  which  we  hope  to  bear  a  part  hereafter.  *'  I  be- 
 "  held,  and  lo,  a  great  multitude,  which  no  man 
 «  could  number,  of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and 
 *'  people,  and  tongues,  flood  before  the  throne,  anc^ 
 
 **  before 
 
Day  17.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  9^ 
 
 *^«  before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and 
 "  palms  in  their  hands;  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice, 
 "  faying,  Salvation  unto  our  God  which  fitteth  upon 
 *'  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb."  Rev.  vii.  9. 
 
 10.  For  thou  art  great,  and  doejt  wondrous  things: 
 thou  art  God  alone. 
 
 "  Great"  is  Jehovah  in  his  power,  in  his  wifdom, 
 in  his  mercy;  "  wonderful"  in  the  creation  of  the 
 world,  wonderful  in  the  prefervation  and  the  g<^vern- 
 ment  of  it,  wonderful  in  its  redemption ;  wonderful 
 in  the  incarnation,  life,  death,  refurredion,  and  afcen- 
 iion  of  Jefus,  in  the  defcent  of  the  Spirit,  the 
 propagation  of  the  Gofpel,  the  fufferings  of  faints, 
 and  the  converfion  of  finners ;  mod  wonderful  will 
 he  be,  when  he  fhall  raife  the  dead,  judge  the  Vvorld, 
 condemn  the  wicked,  and  glorify  the  righteous.  And 
 then  (hall  every  tongue  confcf^j  "  Thou  art  God 
 «  alone!" 
 
 11.  Teach  me  thy  way,  O  Lord  ;  /  will  walk  in 
 thy  truth :  unite  my  heart  to  fear  thy  name. 
 
 It  is  the  continual  fubjed  of  the  Mediator's  inter- 
 ceffion  above,  and  of  our  prayers  below,  that  we 
 may  be  '*"  taught  the  way  of  Jehovah,"  the  way  to 
 life  eternal,  prepared  for  us,  through  faith  and  love 
 which  is  in  Chrift  fefus;  that  being  fo  taught,  we 
 may  likewife  be  enabled  "  to  walk  in  the  truth,** 
 without  error  in  dodrine,  or  deviation  from  duty; 
 believing  all  things  which  God  hath  revealed,  and 
 doing  whatfoever  he  hath  commanded  us ;  that  the 
 affedions  of  the  "  heart"  may  be  withdrawn  from 
 other  objeds,  and  being  no  longer  divided  between 
 
 G04 
 
§6  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  S6. 
 
 God  and  the  world,  become  "  united"  In  the  filial 
 "  fear  of  his  naitiC,"  as  the  grand  principle  of  adion. 
 
 12.  /  will  praife  thee,  O  Lord  my  Gody  with  all 
 my  hea^i  •  and  I  will  glorify  thy  name  for  ever^ 
 more.  13.  For  great  is  thy  mercy  toward  me :  and 
 thou  hajl  delivered  my  foul  from  the  loweji  hell. 
 
 Gratitude  for  mercies  already  received,  will  ob- 
 tain a  continuance  and  increafe  of  thofe  mercies. 
 The  church  is  never  in  fo  afflided  a  ftate,  but  (lie 
 hath  ftiil  reafon  to  intermingle  hallelujahs  with  her 
 hofannas,  and,  in  the  midft  of  her  mofl  fervent 
 prayers,  to  "  praife  the  Lord  her  God,  with  all 
 "  her  heart,  and  to  glorify  his  name  for  evermore  j" 
 fince,  whatever  (he  may  fufFer  upon  earth  (and  even 
 thofe  fufferings  will  turn  to  her  advantage)  *'  great," 
 mofl:  undoubtedly,  *'  hath  his  mercy  been  toward 
 *'  her,  in  delivering"  her,  by  the  refurredlion  of 
 Jefu"?,  from  the  bondage  of  fin,  the  dominion  of 
 death,  and  the  bottomlefs  pit  of  "  helL" 
 
 14.  O  God,  the  proud  are  rifen  againji  7ne,  and- 
 the  qjfemblies  of  violent  men  have  fought  after  my 
 foul,  and  liave  notfet  thee  before  their  eyes. 
 
 From  praifes  we  return  again  to  prayers.  When 
 Chrift  was  upon  earth,  we  know  the  treatment  he 
 met  with  from  "  proud  and  violent  men,  who  had 
 *'  not  fet  God  before  their  eyes;"  from  felf-righteous 
 Jevv's,  and  conceited  Gentiles,  who  rofe  up,  and  took 
 counfel  together  againfi:  him.  What  his  church  af- 
 terwards fufFered  at  the  hands  of  the  fame  enemies,  is 
 likewife  well  known.  How  much  more  fhe  is  to  un- 
 dergo in  the  latter  days,  we  know  not  as  yet;  but 
 this  we  do  know,  that  the  fpirit  of  the  world  ftaiids, 
 
 now 
 
Day  17.  M.  p.         01^  THE  PSALMS.  97 
 
 now  and  ever,  in  oppofition  to  the  fpirit  of  God  ; 
 it's  defign  is  always  the  fan,ie,  although  it's  methods 
 of  working  be  divers.  Nor  can  we  be  ignorant  of 
 thofe  domeftic  adverfaries,  that  affembly  of  haughty 
 and  turbulent  pafTions,  which  are  continually  making 
 infurredions,  and  dellroying  the  peace  of  the  foul. 
 So  that  either  from  without,  or  from  within,  every 
 one,  who  is  a  Chrillian  in  deed,  fliail  be  fure  to  have 
 his  portion  of  tribulation. 
 
 15.  But  thoUy  O  Loud,  art  a  God  full  of  com- 
 pafion,  ami  gracioKS :  long  fuffering^  and  plenteous 
 in  goodnefs  and  truth. 
 
 Having  taken  a  view  of  thofe  that  are  againft  usj 
 it  is  now  time  to  look  up  to  thofe  that  are  with  us. 
 And  can  we  have  better  friends,  than  all  thefe  gra- 
 cious and  favourable  attributes  of  heaven  ?  Can 
 more  comfortable  and  joyful  tidings  be  brought  us, 
 than  that  God  loveth  us  with  a  father's  love ;  that 
 he  is  ready  to  pardon,  flow  to  anger  y  and  that  we 
 have  his  truth  pledged  for  the  performance  of  his 
 mercy  ?  What  a  fountain  of  confolation  is  here  open- 
 ed for  theafflifted  Chriftianl  "  Let  him  drink,  and 
 "  forget  his  poverty,  and  remember  his  mifery  no 
 **  more."  Prov.  xxxi.  7* 
 
 16  •  O  tur7i  unto  me ^  and  have  mercy  upon  me; 
 give  thy  Jirength  unto  thy  ferv ant,  and  fave  the  fon 
 of  thine  handmaids 
 
 On  the  confideration  of  the  abovementioned  at- 
 tributes, a  petition  is  in  this  verfe  put  up  to  God> 
 that  he  would  "  turn"  his  face  towards  us;  that  he 
 would  of  his  "  mercy"  pardon  us,  by  his  griice 
 *'  flrengthen'*  us,  and  by  his  power  "  fave*'  us  from 
 
 Vol.  IL  G  all 
 
98  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  87. 
 
 all  our  adverfaries.  Every  Chriftian  Is  the  «  fervant" 
 of  God,  and  "  the  fon  of  his  handmaid,"  the  church, 
 which  may  fay,  in  the  fame  fpirit  of  humility  and 
 obedience,  with  the  blefled  virgin,  "  Behold  the. 
 *'  hand  maid  of  the  Lord." 
 
 17.  Sheiv  me  a  token  for  goody  that  they  ivhich 
 hate  me  may  fee  it,  and  be  afJiamed-y  becaufe  thou. 
 Lord,  haft  holpen  me,  and  comforted  me. 
 
 Many  outward  "  figns"  and  "  tokens"  of  the  di- 
 vine favour  were  in  old  time  vouchfafed  to  patri- 
 archs, prophets,  and  kings  of  Ifrael.  The  law  itfelf 
 was  a  colledion  of  external  and  facramental  figures 
 of  grace  and  mercy.  All  thefe  centred  and  had  their 
 accomplifhment  in  that  grand  and  everlafting  lign 
 and  token  of  God's  love  to  man,  the  incarnation  of 
 Chrifl,  which  all  faithful  people  from  the  beginning 
 wifhed  and  prayed  for.  On  this  fign,  the  Chriftian 
 looks  with  joy,  as  the  great  proof  that  God  has  "  hol- 
 "  pen  him  and  comforted  himj"  while  his  faith  in 
 it  doth  not  fail,  he  hath  the  witnefs  in  himfelf,  and  his 
 anions  declare  as  much  to  all  around  him  ;  *'  that 
 "  they  which  hate  him  may  be  afhamed"  and  con- 
 verted, before  that  day  come,  when  fliame  (hall  be 
 fruitlefs,  and  converfion  impoflible. 
 
 PSALM     LXXXVIL 
 A    R    G    U    M    E    N    T. 
 
 The  prophet   1  — 3.  celebrates  the  {lability  and 
 
 felicity  of  Sion ;  4,  5.  foretels  the  accefsion 
 
 of  the  Gentiles  to  her,  and  6.  their  enroll- 
 
 3  ment 
 
DAYiy.M.  p.         ON  TttE  PSALMS.  99 
 
 ment  among  her  citizens;  7.  extols  her  as 
 th(^  fountain  of  grace  and  falvation.  The 
 Pfahn  was  probably  penned,  on  a  furvey  of 
 the  city  of  David,  juft  after  the  buildings  of 
 it  were  finifhed. 
 
 T.  His  foimdation  is  in  the  holy  mountains:  or, 
 //  is  his,  i  e.  God's,  foundation  in  the  viountains  of 
 holinefs*  !  2.  The  Lord  loveth  the  gates  cf  Sioii 
 more  than  all  the  dwellings  of  Jacob. 
 
 The  Pfalmift,  after  having  meditated  on  the 
 ftrength,  the  beauty,  and  the  glory  of  Jerufalem, 
 being  fmitten  with  love  of  the  holy  city,  and  imagin- 
 ing the  thoughts  of  his  hearers,  or  readers,  to  have 
 been  employed  on  the  fame  fubjed,  breaks  forth  at 
 once  in  this  abrupt  manner:  "  It  is  his  foundation 
 "  on  the  holy  mountains."  By  "  the  holy  moun- 
 «  tains"  are  meant  thofe  hills  of  Judea,  which  Jeho- 
 vah had  chofen,  and  feparated  to  himfelf  from  all 
 others,  whereon  to  conftrud  the  highly  favoured  city 
 and  temple.  As  the  dwellings  of  Jacob,  in  the  pro- 
 mifed  land,  were  beloved  by  hirti  more  than  the 
 dwellings  of  other  nations,  fo  he  "  loved  the  gates 
 ^'  of  Sion,  more  than  all  the  dwellings  of  Jacob.'* 
 jerufalem  was  exalted  and  fortified  by  it's  fituation  ; 
 but  much  more  fo  by  the  proteftion  of  the  Al- 
 mighty.    What  Jerufalem  was,  the  Chridian  Church 
 
 *  Some  commentators  fuppofe  this  verfe  to  be  a  part  of  the 
 title,  which  will  then  run  thus:  "  For  the  fons  of  Korah,  a 
 ^«  Pfalm;  a  fong,  when  he  laid  the  foundation  on  the  holy 
 *♦  mountains." 
 
 G  2  is; 
 
100  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  87. 
 
 is;  **  built"  by  God  "  on  the  foundations  of  the 
 "  Apoftles  and  Prophets,  Jefus  Chrift  himfelf  being 
 *'  the  chief  corner  ftonc;  in  whom  all  the  building, 
 **  fitly  framed  together,  groweth  unto  an  holy  tern- 
 *'  pie  in  the  Lord."  Ephes.  ii.  20.  "  Jt  is  his  foun- 
 "  dation  in  the  holy  mountains;"  (he  is  beloved  of 
 God  above  the  kingdoms  and  empires  of  the  earth, 
 which  rife  and  fall  only  to  fulfil  the  divine  counfels 
 concerning  her.  When  thofe  counfels  fliall  be  ful- 
 filled, in  the  falvation  of  all  believers,  the  world, 
 which  fubfifls  only  for  their  fake,  will  be  at  an  end. 
 
 3.  Glorious  thi)!gs  are  fpoken  of  tlieCi  t/iou  cifi/ 
 of  God. 
 
 As  the  prophet  began,  in  a  rapture,  to  fpeak  of 
 the  holy  city,  fo  now,  in  frefli  tranfport,  he  changes 
 the  perfon,  and  fuddenly  addreffes  himfelf  to  it.  The 
 old  Jerufalem  was  "  the  city  of  God,  and  glorious 
 *'  things  were  therefore  faid  of  it"  by  the  Spirit. 
 Pleafant  for  fituation,  and  magnificent  in  it's  build- 
 ings, it  was  the  delight  of  nations,  the  joy  of  the 
 whole  earth;  ther^  was  the  royal  refidence  of  the 
 kings  of  Judah;  there  was  the  temple,  and  the  ark, 
 ^nd  the  glory,  and  the  King  of  heaven  dwelling  in 
 the  midft  of  her;  her  flreets  were  honoured  with  the 
 footfteps  of  the  Redeemer  of  men;  there  he  preached, 
 and  wrought  his  miracles,  lived,  died,  and  rofe 
 again;  thither  he  fent  down  the  Spirit,  and  there  he 
 firft  laid  the  foundations  of  his  church.  To  know 
 what  "glorious  things"  are  faid  of  the  New  Jerufalem, 
 the  reader  muft  perufe  Ifai'.  Ix.  and  Rev.  xxi  xxii. 
 
 4.  I  ivill  make  mention  of  Ruhab,  or,  E^ypty  and 
 Baby  Icn^  to  them  that  knoiv  me :  Behold,  Philijtia,  and 
 
 Tyre, 
 
Day  17.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  loi 
 
 Tyre,  zvith  Ethiopia,  or  Arabia,  this  man  rvas  born 
 there.  5.  AndofSion  itfiallbe  faicU  This  and  that 
 man  zvas  born  in  her ;  and  the  Highejl  liimfclfjhall 
 eftablijh  her. 
 
 The  acceirion  of  the  nations  to  the  church  is  ge« 
 nerally  fuppored  to  be  here  predicled.     God  declares 
 hj    his    prophet,    "  I  v/ill   make  mention    of,"    or 
 «  caufe  to  be  remembered   Egypt    and   Babylon," 
 the  old  enemies  of  Ilrael,  ''  to"  or  "  among  them 
 *'  that  kaow  me,"  that  is,  in   the  number  of  my 
 worfhippers ;  "  Behold"  alfo  ''  Philiftia,  and  Tyre, 
 "  with  Arabia;"  thefe  are  become   mine;  "  this," 
 or  each  of  thefe,  "  is  born  there,"  i.  e.   in  the  city 
 of  God;  they  are  become  children  of  God,  and  ci- 
 tizens of  Sion ;  fo  that  '*  of  Sion,"  or  the  church, 
 «  it  fliall  be  faid.  This  and  that  man,"  Heb.  «  a 
 "  man  and  a   man*,"  i.e.  great  numbers  of  vath 
 in  fucceffion,   "are  born  in   her;"  alluding  to    the 
 multitudes  of  converts  under  the  Gofpel,  the  fons 
 of  that  Jerufalem,  "  which  is  the  mother  of  us  all  ;" 
 Gal.  iv.  26.  "  and  the  Higheft  himfelf  (hall  eftablilh 
 
 *  Dr.  Durell  renders  u;'«T  tt"«  "  The  man,  even  the  man/* 
 that  is,  "  the  man  of  men;"  or  "  The  greateft  of  all  men.-" 
 The  reduplication,  he  tttinks,  according  to  the  oriental  phra- 
 feology,  mull  mean  the  fuperlative,  or  higheft  degree.  He 
 adds— According  to  this  interpretation,  every  one  will  fee  who 
 this  eminent  perlonage  was  to  be,  from  whofe  birth  Zi on  (ufed 
 by  a  fynecdoche  for  Judea)  was  to  acquire  fo  much  glory.  The 
 latter  Hemiftic— "  And  the  Higheft  himfelf  (hall  eftablilh  her'* 
 
 feems  to  me  to  have  reference,  not  to  God  the  Father,  but  to 
 
 his  Son ;  it  appearing  to  be  exegetical  of  the  preceding  one, 
 and  to  defcribe  his  Divine,  as  the  other  does  his  h-uman  nature. 
 Critical  Remarks,  p.  167. 
 
 G  3  "  herj" 
 
I02  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  87. 
 
 "  her;"  as  he  faith,  "  Upon  this  rock  will  I  build 
 "  my  church,  and  the  gates  of  hell  (hall  not  prevail 
 "  agaijift  it."     Matt.  xvi.   18. 
 
 6.  The  hoRj) J/iall  count  ■when  lie  writeth  up  the 
 people^  tJiat  this  man  ipasborn  there. 
 
 In  the  book  of  life,  that  reglfter  of  heaven,  kept 
 by  God  himfelf,  our  names  are  entered,  not  as  born 
 of  flefh  and  blood  by  the  will  of  man,  but  as  born 
 of  water  and  the  fpirit  by  the  will  of  God;  of  each 
 perfon  it  is  written,  "  that  he  was  born  there,"  in  the 
 church  and  city  of  God.  That  is  the  only  birth 
 which  we  ought  to  value  ourfelyes  upon,  becaufe 
 that  alone  gives  us  our  title  to  *'  the  inheritance  of 
 "  the  faints  in  light.  In  Jefus  Chrift  there  is  neithe;- 
 "  Greek  nor  Jew,  circumcifion  nor  uncircumcifion, 
 **  barbarian,  Scythian,"  noble  or  ignoble,  "  bond 
 "  or  frees  but  Chrift  is  all,  and  in  all."  Col.  iii. 
 II*. 
 
 7.  As  znell  thejingers  as  tJie  players  on  injiru,- 
 ments  Jhall  he  there,  all  myfprings  are  in  thee. 
 
 The  literal  verfion  of  the  words,  as  Dr.  Chandler 
 bbferves,  feems  to  be — "  Cantantes  erunt,  ficut  cho- 
 "  ream  ducentes :  omnes  fontes  mei  in  te.  They 
 "  fliall  fing  like  thofe  that  lead  up  the  dance,"  i.  e. 
 .moft  joyfully;  finding  and  dancing  frequently  ac- 
 companying one  another.  Ancj  the  burthen  of  the 
 fong  thus  joyfully  fung  in  praife  of  Sion,  was    to 
 
 •  Dr.  Durell  thinks  the  verfe  relates  to  the  pedigree  of  our 
 Lord,  recorded  among  the  jews,  and  given  us  by  the  Evange- 
 iifts— "  The  Lord  will  have  this  recorded,  in  "  regiflering  the 
 •'  people,  that  he,"  the  ly'H?  u;'H  mentioned  above,  *«  was  bora 
 '«   there." 
 
 be 
 
Day  17.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  103 
 
 be  this:  "  All  my  fprings,"  or  fountains,  "  are  in 
 "  thee.'*  And  if  fuch  be  indeed  the  incomparable 
 excellence  of  the  church,  and  fuch  the  benefits  of 
 her  communion,  as  they  have  been  fet  forth  in  the 
 foregoing  verfes,  what  anthem  better  defcrves  to  be 
 performed  by  all  her  choirs  ?  In  thee,  O  Sion,  is 
 the  fountain  of  falvation,  and  from  thee  are  derived 
 all  thofe  fprings  of  grace,  which  flow,  by  the  divine 
 appointment,  while  the  world  lafts,  for  the  purifica- 
 tion and  refrelhment  of  mankind  upon  earth. 
 
 PSALM     LXXXVIII. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm,  as  Mr.  Mudge  obferves,  may  well 
 be  faid  to  be  compofed,  according  to  it's 
 title,  n"):}}^  to  create  dejedlion,  to  raife  a 
 penlive  gloom  or  melancholy  in  the  mind ; 
 the  whole  fubje^t  of  it  being  quite  through- 
 out heavy,  and  full  of  the  molt  difmal  com- 
 plaints. The  nature  and  degree  of  the  fuf- 
 ferings  related  in  it ;  the  ftrength  of  the  ex- 
 prefsions  ufed  to  defcribe  them  ;  the  confent 
 of  ancient  expoHtors ;  the  appointment  of  the 
 Pfalm  by  the  church  to  be  read  on  Good 
 Friday;  all  thefe  circumftances  concur  in 
 directing  an  application  of  the  whole  to  our 
 blelled  Lord.  His  unexampled  forrows,  both 
 in  body  and  foul ;  his  defertion  in  the  day  of 
 trouble ;  his  bitter  pafsion,  and  approaching 
 G   i  death; 
 
IQ4  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  88. 
 
 death  ;  with  his  frequent  and  fervent  prayers 
 for  the  accompHfhment  of  the  promifes,  for 
 the  falvation  of  the  church  through  him,  and 
 for  the  manifellation  of  God's  glory ;  thefe 
 are  the  particulars  treated  of  in  this  inftruc- 
 tive  and  moft  affe6ling  compofition*. 
 
 1.  O  Lord  God  of  my  falvation,  I  have  cried 
 day  and  night  before  thee  ■  2.  Let  my  prayer  come 
 before  thee :  incline  thine  ear  unto  my  cry. 
 
 We  hear  in  thefe  words  the  voice  of  our  fufferlng 
 Redeemer.  As  man,  he  addrefleth  himfelf  to  his 
 Father,  "  the  Lord  God  of  his  falvation,"  from 
 whom  he  expefted,  according  to  the  promifes,  a, 
 joyful  and  triumphant  refurre6lion :  he  pleadetn  the 
 fervency  and  importunity  of  his  prayers,  offered  up 
 continually,  "  day  and  night,"  during  the  time  of 
 his  humiliation  and  fufFerings;  and  he  entreateth 
 to  be  heard  m  thefe  his  fupplications  for  his  body 
 myftical,  as  well  as  his  body  natural  j  for  himfelf, 
 and  for  us  all. 
 
 3.  For  my  foul  is  full  of  troubles;  and  my  life 
 drdweih  nigh  to  the  grave. 
 
 Is  not  this  exaftly  parallel  to  what  he  faid  in  the 
 garden,  *^  My  foul  is  exceeding  forrovvfui,  even  unto 
 
 *  Cum  Pfalmis  xxii  et  Ixix  ad  omnia  convenit  Pfalmus 
 Ixxxviii,  quod  argumento  eft,  eum  eodem  mode  a  nobis  efTe  ex- 
 plicandum.  Continet  igitur  pariter  orationem  Chrifti  ad  Patrem 
 e  cruce  fufam.  Auftor  hujus  Cantici  non  alium  in  finem  illi 
 titulum  dedit  ^>3tt>o  "  erudientis,"  quam  ut  Ecclefia  pofteriorum 
 temporum  ex  eo  defceret  ultima  liaec  Meffiae  fata.  Vxtringa, 
 Obfervat.  Sacr.  Lib.  II,  Cap.   ix, 
 
 1  "  death  ? 
 
Day  17.  m.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  105 
 
 **  death  ?  Full,"  indeed,  "  of  troubles"  was  thy 
 *'  foul,"  O  bleffed  Jefus,  in  that  dreadful  hour, 
 when,  under  the  united  weight  of  our  fins  and  for- 
 rovvs,  thou  wert  ffnklng  into  the  "  grave,"  in  order 
 to  raife  us  out  of  it.  Let  us  judge  of  thy  love  by 
 thy  fufferings,  and  of  both  by  the  impofljbility  of 
 our  fully  comprehending  either. 
 
 4.  /  am  counted  zvith  them  that  go  down  info  the 
 pit-  I  am  as  a  man  that  hath  nojirength. 
 
 Next  to  the  troubles  of  Chrill's  foul,  are  men- 
 tioned the  difgrace  and  ignominy  to  which  he  fub« 
 mitted.  He  who  was  the  fountain  of  immortality, 
 he  from  whom  no  one  could  take  his  life,  who  could 
 in  a  moment  have  commanded  twelve  legions  of  an* 
 gels  to  his  aid,  or  have  caufed  heaven  and  earth,  at 
 a  word  fpeaking,  to  fly  away  before  him,  he  was 
 "  counted  with  them  that  go  down  into  the  pit ;"  he 
 died,  to  all  appearance,  like  the  reft  of  mankind; 
 nay,  he  was  forcibly  put  to  death,  as  a  malefador; 
 and  feemed,  in  the  hands  of  his  executioners,  *'  as  a 
 "  man  that  had  no  itrength,"  no  power,  or  might,  ' 
 to  help  and  to  fave  himfelf.  "  His  ftrength  went 
 *'  from  him;  he  became  weak,  and  like  another 
 "  man."  The  people  fhook  their  heads  at  him,  fayr 
 ing,  "  He  faved  others,  himfelf  he  cannot  fave." 
 
 5.  Free  among  the  dead,  like  the  Jlain  that  lie  in 
 the  grave,  zvhom  thou  rememberejl  no  more-  and 
 they  are  cut  off  from  thy  hand. 
 
 "  Free  among  the  dead ;"  that  is,  fet  at  liberty, 
 or  difmiffed  from  the  world,  and  feparated  from  all 
 communication  with  it's  affairs,  as  dead  bodies  are ; 
 *'  like"  other  "  corpfes  that  lie  in  the  grave,  whoni 
 
 "  thou 
 
io6  A  COMMENTARY        P$al.  88. 
 
 "  thou  remembereft  no  more,"  i.  c.  as  living  objeds 
 of  providence  upon  earth;  in  this  fenfe,  "  they  are 
 "  cut  of  from  God's  hand,'*  whichheld  and  fupport- 
 ed  them  in  life.  And  in  no  other  fenfe  can  thefe  ex- 
 preflions  be  underftood;  fince  to  imagine  that  the 
 Pfalmift,  who  fo  often  fpeaks  in  plain  terms  of  the 
 lefurredion,  (hould  here,  when  perfonating  Meffiah, 
 deny  that  dodrlne,  would  be  a  conceit  equally  abfurd 
 and  impious. 
 
 6.  Thou  haft  laid  me  in  the  lowejtpity  iji  darknefs, 
 in  the  deeps,  7.  Thy  wrath  lieth  hard  upon  we,  and 
 thou  hajl  afflicted  mc  zvith  all  thy  waves. 
 
 The  fufFerings  of  Jefus  are  reprefented  by  his  be- 
 ing plunged  into  a  dark  and  horrible  abyfs,  with  the 
 indignation  of  God,  due  to  our  fins,  refting  upon 
 him,  and  all  the  waves  of  afflicflion  rolling  over  him. 
 The  fame  image  is  ufed  in  Pf.  Ixix.  and  many  other 
 places. 
 
 8.  Thou  hoji  put  away  mine  acquaintance  far 
 from  me  •"  thou  hafi  made  me  an  abomination  to 
 them:  J  amfJmt  itp^  and  I  cannot  come  forth. 
 
 At  the  apprehenficn  of  Chrifl,  "  All  his  difclples 
 '*  forfook  him  and  fled."  Matt.  xxvi.  56.  Peter 
 denied  and  abjured  his  Mailer,  as  if  his  acquaintance 
 had  been  a  difgrace,  and  "  an  abomination :"  at  the 
 crucifixion,  it  is  obferved  by  St.  Luke,  that  *'  all 
 "  his  acquaintance  flood  afar  off,  beholding  thefe 
 "  things;"  xxiii.  49.  beholding  the  innocent  vidim 
 environed  by  his  enemies,  and  at  length  '*  fliut  up'* 
 in  the  fepulchre.  The  day  mufl  come,  when  each 
 perfon,  who  reads  this,  fliall  be  forfaken  by  the 
 whole  world ;  when  relations,  friends,  and  acquaint- 
 ance 
 
Day  17.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  107 
 
 ance  (hall  retire,  unable  to  afford  him  any  help  and 
 afliftance ;  when  he  muft  die,  and  be  confined  in  the 
 prifon  of  the  grave,  no  more  to  "  come  forth,"  until 
 that  great  Eafter  of  the  world,  the  general  refurec- 
 tion.  In  the  folitary  and  awful  hour  of  our  departure 
 hence,  let  us  remember  to  think  on  the  defection, 
 the  death,  the  burial,  and  the  refurredion  of  our 
 Redeemer. 
 
 9.  Mine  eye  moiirneih  by  reafon  of  affliction: 
 Lord,  I  hate  called  daily  upon  thee,  I  have  Jiretched 
 out  my  hands  unto  thee. 
 
 This  verfe  contains  a  reiteration  of  the  complaint 
 and  prayer  made  at  the  beginning  of  the  Pfalm. 
 Thefe  are  fome  of  the  *'  flrong  cryings  with  tears,'* 
 which,  during  the  courfe  of  his  intercellions  for  us, 
 upon  earth,  the  Son  of  God  poured  forth,  "  in  the 
 "  days  of  his  fie Ih."  Heb.  v.  7. 
 
 10.  Wilt  thoujhew  wonders  to  the  dead?  Shall  the 
 dead  rije  and praife  thee?  1 1 .  Shall  thy  lovUig  kind- 
 ncfs  be  declared  in  the  grave y  or  thy  faithfulnefs  in 
 dejiruction?  12.  Shall  thy  zvonders  be  known  in  the 
 dark  ?  and  thy  righteoiifnefs  in  the  land  of  forgetful- 
 nefs  P 
 
 It  hath  been  fometimes  thought,  that  thefe  verfes 
 imply  a  denial,  or  at  lead  a  doubt  of  the  refurreclion 
 from  the  dead  j  whereas  they  contain,  in  reality,  the 
 moft  powerful  plea  that  Chrift  himlelf,  in  his  prayers 
 to  the  Father,  could  urge  for  it ;  namel)%  that,  other- 
 wife,  man  would  be  deprived  of  his  ialvation,  and 
 God  of  the  glory  thence  accruing.  "  Wilt  thou  (hew 
 **  wonders  to  the  dead,"  while  they  continue  in  that 
 l^atej  or  if  thou  (houldeft,  will  they  be  fenfible  of 
 
 thofe 
 
I'oS  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  85. 
 
 thofe  wonders,  and  make  thee  due  returns  of  thank- 
 fulnefs?  "  Shall  the  dead  rife  up"  in  the  congrega- 
 tion, "  and  praife  thee  ?"  Mud  they  not  live' again 
 to  do  that?  '^  Shall  thy  loving  kindnefs"  to  the  Tons 
 '^  of  Adam,  in  me  their  Redeemer,  be  declared," 
 (hall  the  Gofpel  be  preached,  "  in  the  grave?"  "  Or 
 **  thy  faithfulnefs,'^  in  accomplilhing  the  promifes 
 concerning  this  loving  kindnefs,  (hall  it  be  manifeft- 
 ed  "  in  that  deftrudion"  wrought  by  death  upon  the 
 bodies  of  m.en  ?  "  Shall  thy  wonders,"  the  wonders 
 of  light,  and  life,  and  falvation,  "be  known  in  the 
 "  dark"  tomb?  ''  And  thy  righteoufnefs,"  which 
 charaderifes  all  thy  difpenfations,  fhall  it  be  remem- 
 bered and  proclaimed  "  in  the  land"  of  filence  and 
 **  forgetfulnefs  ?"  A  Chriftian,  upon  the  bed  of  fick- 
 nefs,  may  undoubtedly  plead  with  God,  in  this  man^ 
 ner,  for  a  longer  continuance  of  life,  to  glorify  him 
 here  upon  earth.  But  every  refpite  of  that  kind  can 
 be  only  temporary.  All  men,  fooner  or  later,  muft 
 die;  and  then  they  can  never  more  experience,  the 
 mercies,  or  fing  the  praifes  of  God,  unlefs  they  rife 
 again.  So  that  if  the  argument  hold  in  one  cafe,  it 
 certainly  holdeth  fiill  ftrongerin  the  other. 
 
 13.  But  vnto  thee  have  I  cried,  O  Lord,  and  in 
 the  morning JJiall  my  prayer  prevent  me.  14.  Lord^, 
 why  cajlejl  thou  off  my  J  out  f  Why  hidejt  tliou  thy 
 face  from  me? 
 
 Since  therefore  the  wonders,  the  loving  kindnefs, 
 the  faithful  nefs,  and  the  righteoufnefs  of  God  cannot 
 be  manifcfted  by  man's  redemption,  if  Meffiah  be 
 left  under  the  dominion  of  death,  he  redoubles  his 
 prayers   for   the   prbmifed  deliverance;  and   fpeaks 
 
 of 
 
Day  ly.  M.  p;  on  the  PSALMS.  105 
 
 of  his  redemption  in  the  hour  of  forrow,  as  in  Pf. 
 xxii.  1.  "  My  God,  my  God,  why  haft  thou  for- 
 **  faken  me,"  kc. 
 
 1 5.  lam  afflicted  and  ready  to  die  from  my  tiouth  up: 
 while  Ifnffer  thy  terrors,  I amdiftracted  ;  Heb.  /«?« 
 dijirejed,  7iot  Jawiving  which  zvay  to  turn  myfelf*. 
 16.  Thy  fierce  xcrath  goeth  over  me,  thy  terrors 
 have  cut  me  off,  1 7.  They  came  round  about  me  daily 
 nice  water ;  they  compafjedme  about  together. 
 
 We  are  not  to  imagine  that  the  holy  Jefus  fuffered 
 for  us  only  at  Gethfemane,  and  on  mount  Calvary. 
 His  whole  life  was  one  continued  paffion ;  a  fcene  of 
 labour  and  forrow,  of  contradiftion  and  perfecution ; 
 "  he  was  afflidled,"  as  never  man  was,  ''  from  his 
 "  youth  up,"  from  the  hour  of  his  birth,  when, 
 thruft  out  from  the  fociety  of  men,  he  made  his  bed 
 in  theftableat  Bethlehem;  he  was  "  ready  to  die;"' 
 a  vi6tim  deftined  and  prepared  for  that  death,  which, 
 by  anticipation,  he  tafted  of  through  life;  he  faw 
 the  flaming  fword  of  God's  *'  fierce  wrath"  waiting 
 to  "  cut  him  off"  from  the  land  of  the  living;  the 
 "  terrors"  of  the  Almighty  fet  themfelves  in  array 
 againft  him,  threatening,  like  the  mountainous  waves 
 of  a  tempeftuous  fea,  to  overwhelm  his  amazed  foul. 
 Let  not  the  church  be  offended,  or  defpond,  but 
 rather  let  her  rejoice  in  her  fufferings,  by  which, 
 through  every  period  of  her  exiftence,  from  youth 
 to  age,  file  "  filleth  up  that  which  is  behind  of  the 
 "  afflictions  of  Chrift,"  who  fuffers  and  will  be  glo- 
 
 *  Dominus  ipfe  de  fe,  PC  Ixxxviii.  16.  "  Fero  terrores  tuos; 
 «'  animi  linquor."  Loquitur  de  e,  tremis  fuis  angoribus,  et  do- 
 leribus.     VixiiiNGA  injefai.  ii.  667. 
 
 rifled 
 
no  A  COMMENTAFvY        Ps^l.  89. 
 
 rlfied  IN  his  people,  as  he  hath  already  fufFered  and 
 been  glorified  for  them.     See  CoJ.  i.  24. 
 
 18.  Lovtr  and  friend  hajl  thou  put  Jar  from  mCy 
 andmine  acquaintance  into  darknefs. 
 
 It  is  mentioned  again,  as  a  mod  affecting  circum- 
 ftance  of  Chrift's  paffion,  that  he  was  entirely  for- 
 faken,  and  left  all  alone,  in  that  dreadful  day.  The 
 bitter  cup  was  prefented,  filled  to  the  brim,  and  he 
 drank  it  off,  to  the  dregs.  No  man  could  {hare  in 
 thofe  fufferings,  by  which  all  other  men  were  to  be 
 redeemed.  His  "  lovers  and  friends,"  his  difciples 
 and  acquaintance,  "  were  put  far  from  him  j"  they 
 all  "  forfook  him,  and  fled,"  to  hide  themfelves  from 
 the  fury  of  the  Jews,  "  in  darknefs,  in  dark,  i.  e. 
 "  fecret  places."  Thus  it  is  written  in  the  Pfalms, 
 and  thus  in  the  Gofpels  it  is  recorded  to  have  hap-^ 
 pened.  Oftentimes,  O  bleffed  Jefu,  do  we  forfake 
 thee ;  but  do  not  thou  forfake  us,  or  take  thy  holy 
 Spirit  from  us. 
 
 XVII    DAY.       EVENING    PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  LXXXIX. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm  is  appointed  b}^  the  church  to  be 
 read  on  Chriftmas  Day.  It  celebrates,  ver- 
 1 — 4'.  the  mercies  of  God  in  Chrift,  pro- 
 mifed  to  David;  5 — 13.  the  almighty 
 power  of  Jehovah,  manifefted  in  his  works 
 
 and 
 
Day  17.  M.  p.        ON  TH£  PSALMS.  in 
 
 and  difpenfatlons ;  14.  his  juflice,  mercy, 
 and  truth;  15 — 18.  the  happinefs  and  fe- 
 curity  of  his  people;  19 — 37.  his  covenant 
 made  with  David,  as  the  rcprefentative  of 
 Mefsiah,  who  flioiild  come  of  his  Seed  ;  38 
 ,-'^45.  the  church  lamenteth  her  diftrefsful 
 ilate,  at  the  time  when  this  Pfalm  was  pen- 
 ned*; 4^6 — 51.  flie  prayeth  for  the  accom- 
 plifhment  of  the  promifc;  and,  in  the  mean 
 time,  5y.  blefleth  Jehovah. 
 
 1.  Iivillfing  of  the  mercies  of  the 'Lojk'D  for  ever: 
 zvith  my  mouth  will  1  make  known  thy  faithfulnefs  to 
 all  generations. 
 
 The  "  mercies  of  Jehovah"  have  ever  employed 
 the  voices  of  believers  to  celebrate  them.  Thefe 
 mercies  were  promifes  to  the  human  race,  in  their 
 great  rcprefentative  and  furety,  before  the  world  be- 
 gan; 2  Tim.  i.  9.  Tit.  i.  2.  they  were  prefigured  by 
 ancient  difpenfations;  and,  in  part,  fulfilled,  at  the 
 incarnation  ofChrift.  The  *' faithfulnefs"  of  God, 
 in  fo  fulfilling  them,  is  now  "  made  known,*'  by 
 the  holy  fervices  of  the  Chriftian  church,  ''  to  all 
 "  generations." 
 
 2.  For  I  have  faid  mercy  fJiall  be  built  up  for 
 ever;  thy  faithfulnefs  flialt  thou  efablifli  in  the  very 
 heavens, 
 
 •  Sedecla  capto,  domo  David  e  folio  deturbata,  promiffiones 
 Del  irritas  viderl  Propheta  queritur,  necdum  adefle  Chriftum. 
 BossuET.  Dr.  Kennicott  imagines  it  to  have  been compofed  by 
 Ifaiah,  as  a  folemn  and  public  addrefs  to  God,  at  the  time  when 
 Rezin  and  Pekah  were  advancing  agalnft  Jerufalem. 
 
 What- 
 
Ill  A  COMMENTARY  -      PsAL.89, 
 
 Whatever  be  at  any  time  the  ftate  of  the  church 
 on  earth,  (be  knowetb  that  the  foundation  of  God 
 flancieth  fure  ;  that  the  facred  edifice,  raifed  thereon, 
 will  be  incorruptible  and  eternal  as  *'  heaven"  itfelf, 
 where  only  mercy  and  truth  are  to  have  their  perfeA 
 work,  in  the  everlafting  felicity  of  the  redeemed. 
 Of  this  felicity,  which  is  to  be  the  confummation  of 
 God's  promifes,  and  our  hopes,  we  behold  fome 
 faint  "refemblancc,  as  often  as  we  view  the  flability, 
 the  beauty,  and  the  glory  of  the  vifible  material 
 "  heavens." 
 
 3.  /  have  made  a  covenant  imih  my  chofen,  1 
 have/worn  unto  David  my  fervant .-  4.  Thy  feed 
 will  I  eJiabUJk  for  ever^  and  build  up  thy  throne  to 
 all  generations. 
 
 The  two  former  vcrfes  (^t  forth  a  profeffion  of 
 faith  in  God's  mercy  :  thefe  two  affign  the  ground  of 
 fuch  faith;  namely,  the  covenant  which  God  is  here 
 introduced  as  declaring  that  he  had  made  with  Da- 
 vid, and  which  he  did  make  with  him  by  the  pro- 
 phet Nathan.  2  Sam.  vii.  12,  Sec.  The  covenant 
 relates  to  David's  "feed,"  and  to  the  " eftablifliment 
 *'  of  his  throne"  in  that  feed ;  literally,  in  Solomon, 
 for  a  time  ;  fpiritually,  in  Chrift,  for  ever.  "  When 
 *'  thy  days  fhail  be  fulfilled,  and  thou  flialt  fleep 
 "  with  thy  fathers,  I  will  fet  up  thy  feed  after  thee, 
 "  which  fliall  proceed  out  of  thy  bowels,  and  I  will 
 **  eilablifh  his  kingdom.  He  fliall  build  an  houfe 
 "  for  my  name,  and  I  will  eftablifh  the  throne  of  his 
 "  kingdom  for  ever.  I  will  be  his  father,  apd  he 
 "  (hall  be  my  fon."  Thefe  laft  words  are  cited  by 
 the   Apoftle,  Heb.   i.    5.  as  fpoken  of  Chrift,   to 
 
 evince 
 
Day   17.  E.  p.         Oxv  the  IPSALMS.  113 
 
 evince  his  fuperiority  over  the  angels.  Yet,  that  the 
 whole  paffage  does,  in  the  letter,  relate  to  Solomon, 
 can  admit  of  no  doubt,  he  being  the  "  feed"  and  im- 
 mediate "  fuccellbr''  of  David,  and  the  perfon  ap- 
 pointed to  "  build  an  hoafe  for  God's  name."  Here 
 then  we  have  an  inconteftable  proof,  that  the  cove- 
 nant with  David  had  Meffiah  for  it's  objeft  ;  that 
 Solomon  was  a  figure  of  him  ;  and  that  the  Scrip- 
 ture hath  fometimes  a  double  fenfe  *.  It  is  moreover 
 to  be  obferved,  that  the  covenants  made  with  Abra- 
 ham, David,  &c.  all  had  their  original  and  foun- 
 dation in  the  covenant  made  with  Messiah,  who 
 was  the  true  Father  of  the  faithful,  the  Beloved  and 
 Chofen  of  God;  the  great  Prophet,  Prieft,  and 
 King  ;  the  only  perfon  qualified  to  be  a  Sponfor,  and 
 to  engage  in  a  covenant  with  the  Father,  for  man- 
 kind. His  fufferings  were  the  price  of  our  redemp- 
 tion: and  becaufe  he  fuffercd  in  the  fielh,  as  "  the 
 "  fon  of  David,"  therefore  is  he  "  eftablilhed  for 
 "  ever,  and  his  throne  built  up  to  all  generations.'* 
 Remarkable  are  the  words  of  the  angel  to  Mary; 
 "  The  Lord  God  (liall  give  unto  him  the  throne  of 
 "  his  father  David;  and  he  fliall  reign  over  the  houfe 
 "  of  Jacob  for  ever,  and  of  his  kingdom  there  fliall 
 "  be  no  end."     Luke  i.  32. 
 
 5 .  And  the  heavensjhallpraifc  thy  wonders,  0  Lo  r  d  ; 
 thy  fait  Jifidnefs  alfo  In  the  congregation  of  the  faints: 
 Or,  The  heavens  Jhalt  praife  thy  wonders,  OLord; 
 and  the  faints  thy  fdithfnlnefs  in  the  congregation. 
 
 *  "  Difpofui  teftamentum :"  perculfi  foedus  cum  eledo  meo : 
 id  eft,  Davide  etChrifto.     Bossuet. 
 
 Vol.  \l  H  Did 
 
114  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  89, 
 
 Did  not  '*  the  heavens  praife  the  wonders  of  Je- 
 "  hovah,"  when  a  choir  of  angels  defcended  froin 
 above,  to  fing  an  anthem,  at  the  birth  of  Chrift? 
 And  how  muft  the  celeftial  courts  have  refounded 
 with  the  hallelujahs  of  thofe  blefled  fpirits,  when 
 they  again  received  their  King,  returning  in  triumph 
 from  the  conqueft  of  his  enemies  ?  Nor  do  **  the 
 "  faints"  omit  to  celebrate  God's  "  faithfulnefs  in 
 "  the  congregation"  upon  earth,  while  "  with  angels 
 "  and  archangels,  and  all  the  company  of  heaven, 
 "  they  laud  and  magnify  his  glorious  name,  evermore 
 "  praifmg  him,  and  faying.  Holy,  holy,  holy.  Lord 
 "  God  of  hofls.  Heaven  and  earth  are  full  of  thy 
 glory.     Glory  be  to  thee,  O  Lord  mofl  high/' 
 
 6.  For  who  in  the  heaven  can  be  compared.- 
 unto  the  Lord?  Who  amovig  the  fans  of  the 
 7nighty  can  be  likened  unto  Me  Lord?  7.  God  is 
 greatly  to  be  feared  in  the  ajjembly  of  the  faints; 
 and  to  be  had  in  reverence  of  all  them  that  are 
 about  him.  8.  O  Lord  God  of  hojh,  who  is  a 
 Jlrong  Lord  like  unto  thee  ?  Or  to  thy  faithfulnefs 
 round  about  thee?  Or,  and  thy  faithfulnefs  is 
 roJind  about  thee. 
 
 Thefe  verfes  proclaim  that  right  and  title  which 
 Jehovah  hath  to  the  praifes  of  all  his  creatures  in 
 *'  heaven  and  earth."  No  one  of  them,  however  ex- 
 cellent and  glorious,  however  deified  and  adored  by 
 fond  and  foolifh  man,  can  enter  the  lifts,  and  conteft 
 the  fuperiority  with  it's  Maker.  High  over  all  is  the 
 throne  of  God:  before  him  "  angels"  veil  their  faces, 
 "  faints"  proftrate  themfelves  with  loweft  reverence, 
 and  created  nature  trembles  at  his  word:  his  *'  power" 
 
Day  17.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  115 
 
 is  almighty,  and  derived  from  none;  and  with 
 "  truth"  he  is  on  all  fides  invefted  as  with  a  gar- 
 ment :  the  former  enables  him,  the  latter  (if  we  may 
 fo  exprefs  it)  binds  him  to  perform  thofe  gracious 
 promifes,  which  mercy  prompted  him  to  make,  con- 
 cerning our  eternal  redemption. 
 
 9.  Thou  rulejl  the  raging  of  the  Jea :  when  the 
 waves  thereof  arife,  thou  Jillleji  them. 
 
 The  extent  of  the  ocean,  the  multitude  cf  it's 
 waves,  and  their  fury,  when  excited  by  a  ftorm,  ren- 
 der it,  in  that  (late,  the  moft  tremendous  objedt  in 
 nature ;  nor  doth  any  thing,  which  man  beholds, 
 give  him  lb  juft  an  idea  of  human  impotence,  and 
 of  that  divine  power,  which  can  excite  and  calm  fo 
 boifterous  an  element,  at  pleafure*  God  himfelf 
 therefore  frequently  appeals  to  this  inftance  of  his 
 omnipotence:  See  Job  xxxviii.  11.  Jer.  v.  22.  an 
 attribute,  of  which  our  Lord  fhewed  himfelf  to  have 
 been  poflelTed,  when,  being  with  his  difciples  in  the 
 Ihip,  he  arofe  and  rebuked  a  tempeftuous  wind  and 
 a  raging  fea,  and  there  was  inftantly  a  calm.  In  all 
 our  troubles  and  temptations,  be  thou,  bleffed  Jefu, 
 with  us,  and  then  they  fliall  never  finally  overwhelm 
 us. 
 
 10.  Thou  haji  broken  Rahab,i.  e.  Egypt,  in  pieces, 
 as  one  that  is Jlain^  thou  haJi  fcattered  thine  ene* 
 mies  zvith  thy  Jtrong  arm. 
 
 The  deftrudion  of  Pharaoh  and  the  Egyptians  is 
 here  mentioned,  as  another  inftance  of  God's  mighty 
 power.  And  it  is  probable,  that  the  foregoing  verfe 
 was  intended  to  allude  more  particularly  to  that  mi- 
 raculous exertion  of  God's  fovereignty  over  the  wa- 
 H  2  ters^ 
 
ii6  A  COMVIENTARY         Psal.  89. 
 
 ters,  the  divifion  of  the  Red  Sea,  which  happened  at 
 the  fame  time;  as  thefe  two  events  are  generally 
 fpoken  of  together.  Thus  Ifaiah  :  "  Art  thou  not  it 
 "  that  hath  cut  Rahab,  i.  e.  Egypt,  and  wounded 
 *'  the  dragon,  i.  e.  Pharaoh  ?  Art  thou  not  it  which 
 "  hath  dried  the  fea,  the  waters  of  the  great  deep, 
 "  that  hath  made  the  depths  of  the  fea  a  way  for  the 
 "  ranfomed  to  pafs  over  ?"  li.  9.  The  fame  power, 
 which  effedted  all  this,  hath  tince,  in  Chrift  Jefus, 
 overcome  the  world,  deftroyed  the  works  of  the 
 devil,  and  ranfomed  mankind  from  the  depths  of  the 
 grave. 
 
 II.    The  heavens  are  thuie,  the  earth  alfo  is  thine  : 
 
 as  for  the  uwrld,  and  the  fulnefs  thereof^  tho2i  hofi 
 
 founded  them.    12.   The  north  and  the  font h,    thou 
 
 hajl  created  them ;  Tabor  and  Jiermanfiall  rejoice  ia 
 
 thy  name. 
 
 The  "  heavens,"  and  all  the  glorious  bodies  there 
 ranged  in  beautiful  order;  the  "  earth,"  with  it's 
 rich  furniture,  and  the  unnumbered  tribes  of  it's  in- 
 habitants, through  it's  whole  extent,  from  "north  to 
 "  fouth,"  and  from  eaft  to  weft;  all  thefe  are  fo 
 many  evidences  of  that  wifdom  and  power,  which  at 
 the  beginning  contrived  and  formed  them;  all,  in 
 their  refpeftive  ways,  declare  the  glory,  and  fpeak 
 the  praifes  of  their  great  Creator;  but  chiefly  the 
 holy  land,  and  the  fruitful  hills  which  adorned  it. 
 "  Tabor"  in  one  part,  and  '*  Hermon"  in  another, 
 formerly  feemed,  as  it  were,  to  *•  rejoice"  and  fing, 
 for  the  abundant  favours  fhowered  down  upon  them 
 "by  the  God  of  Ifrael,  who  Jiath  fince  caufed  all 
 nations  no  lefs  to  exult  and  triumph  in  his  faving 
 
 13.   Thou 
 
Day  17.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  117 
 
 13.  Thou  haji  a  mighlij  arm: Jlrong  is  thy  hand, 
 ami  high  is  fh^/  right  hand. 
 
 The  Pfalmift,  having  produced  and  meditated  on 
 fome  eminent  inftances  of  divine  power,  draws  this 
 general  conclufion  from  the  premifes.  Towards  the 
 Chriilian  church  "the  arm  of  Jehovah"  hath  been 
 revealed  in  a  dill  more  extraordinary  manner.  She 
 reficdeth  on  the  wonders  wrought  by  Jefus  j  a  con- 
 qneil  over  more  formidable  enemies  than  Pharaoh  and 
 his  Egyptians ;  a  redemption  from  more  cruel  bond- 
 age;  falvation  from  fin  and  death;  a  new  creation,. 
 new  heavens,  and  new  earth,  a  new  Jerufalem,  and. 
 a  fpiritual  Sion.  With  additional  convidion  may  Hie 
 therefore  exclaim,  "  Thou  halt  a  mighty  arm;  ftrong 
 "  is  thy  hand,  and  high  is  thy  right  hand  I" 
 
 14.  Jujtice  and  judgment  arc  the  habitation,  Heb. 
 the  ejiablijhment  of  thy  tlirone .-  mcrcij  and  truth 
 Jhall  go  before  thy  face. 
 
 Although  the  power  of  God  be  infinite,  yet  is  it 
 never  exerted,  but  under  the  direcflion  of  his  other 
 attributes.  When  lie  goeth,  as  a  judge,  to  his  tribu- 
 nal, "  mercy  and  truth  go  before  his  face;"'  they 
 are  reprefented  as  preceding  him,  to  give  notice  of 
 his  advent,  and  to  prepare  his  way.  "  All  the  ways," 
 or  difpenfations  "of  the  Lord,''  as  it  is  elfewhere 
 ohferved,  '^  are  mercy  and  truth ;"  Pf.  xxv.  10.  they 
 are  the  fubftance  of  all  his  revelations,  which  either 
 promife  falvation,  or  relate  the  performance  of  fuch 
 promifes.  By  thefe  is  man  warned  and  prepared  for 
 '*  judgment;"'  v^hich  is  to  be  the  laft  and  finifhing 
 Icene.  And  when  the  great  judge  of  all  the  earth 
 ihall  from  his  throne  pronounce  the  irreverfible  fen- 
 H  3  tence. 
 
11^  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  89. 
 
 tence,  not  a  creature  then  prefent  fliall  be  able  to 
 accufe  that  fentence  of  injuftice.  After  this  model 
 fliould  the  thrones  of  princes,  and  the  tribunals  of 
 earthly  magiftrates,  be  conftituted  in  *'  juftice  and 
 ^^  judgment,"  adorned  with  "  mercy  and  truth." 
 
 15.  Blefed  is  the  people  that  know  the  joyful  found: 
 they  f mil  walk^  O  Lord,  in  the  light  of  thy  coun- 
 tenance. 
 
 Next  to  the  prailes  of  Jehovah,  is  declared  the 
 happinefs  of  thofe  who  have  him  for  their  God  ;  who 
 **  know  the  joyful  found,  or  found  of  the  trumpet," 
 by  which  the  feftivals  of  the  Jewilh  church  were  pro- 
 claimed, and  the  people  were  called  together  to  the 
 offices  of  devotions  who  enjoy  the  *^  light"  of  truth, 
 and  through  grace  are  enabled  to  ^*  walk"  therein. 
 Thefe  bleffings  are  now  become  our  own ;  the  evar)- 
 gellcal  trumpet  hath  founded  through  the  once  liea- 
 ^hei)  world  J  the  fun  of  righteoufnefs  hath  rifen  upon 
 all  nations.  Let  us  attend  to  the  "  joyful  found  j" 
 let  us  "  walk"  in  the  glorious  "  light." 
 
 16.  Jn  thy  namefhall  they  rejoice  all  the  clay:  and 
 hi  thy  righteoufnefs fhall  they  be  exalted.  1 7.  For  thou 
 art  the  glory  of  their  Jlrength  '  and  in  thy  favour  our 
 hornfJiall  be  exalted,  18.  For  the  Lord  is  our  de- 
 fence J  and  the  holy  One  of  Ifrael  is  our  King. 
 
 It  is  the  di|ty  of  Chriftians,  as  it  was  that  of  If- 
 raelites,  to  afcribe  all  their  llrength,  their  fuccefs, 
 and  their  glory,  whether  in  matters  temporal  or  fpir 
 ritual,  to  Jehovah  alone.  Having  heard  the  found, 
 and  experienced  the  illuminating  and  reviving  in- 
 iiuences  of  the  Gofp^l,  in  the  name  and  in  the  falva- 
 %\m  of  God  we  rejoice  all  the  day,  and  in  his  righ- 
 teoufnefs 
 
Day  17.  £.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  119 
 
 teoufnefs  only  we  truft  to  be  exalted  to  heaven:  to 
 him  we  attribute  the  glory  of  that  ftrength,  with 
 which,  in  time  of  temptation,  we  may  find  ourfelves 
 happily  endued ;  and  in  his  favour,  or  grace,  our 
 horn,  or  the  efforts  of  our  power,  (hall  be  exalted, 
 and  crowned  with  victory ;  our  defence  in  all  dan- 
 gers is  from  Jehovah^  who  was  ever  the  fhield  of  his 
 ancient  people:  and  the  Holy  One  of  Ifrael  is  our 
 Redeemer,  and  our  King. 
 
 19.  The?i  thou  Jpakejt  in  vijioji  to  thy  holy  one, 
 andfaidji,  I  have  laid,  or,  placed  help  upon,  or,  in 
 one  that  is  mighty  '•  1  have  exalted  one  chofenoutof 
 the  people. 
 
 The  covenant,  made  with  David,  was  mentioned 
 in  general  terms,  above,  at  verfe  4,  5.  But  a  more 
 particular  account  is  now  given  of  God's  difpenfa- 
 tions,  relative  to  the  Ion  of  JelTe,  and  his  pofterity. 
 We  are  prefented  with  the  fubflance  of  the  revelation 
 made,  upon  this  fubjed,  *'  In  vifion,"  to  one  of  the 
 prophets,  perhaps  Samuel,  or  Nathan,  here  flyled 
 an  *'  holy  one,"  or  religious  perfon,  one  favoured 
 and  accepted  by  God,  who  is  introduced  as  mani- 
 fefling  to  this  his  prophet  the  divine  counfels  con- 
 cerning David.  "  I  have  placed  help  upon,  or  in 
 "  one,  who  fhall  become  an  eminent  and  mighty  Sa- 
 "  viour  of  Ifrael ;  from  among  all  the  people  I  have 
 **  chofen,  and  determined  to  exalt  him,  for  that  pur- 
 "  pofe,  to  the  throne."  Thus  was  Mefliah  foretold, 
 in  prophetical  vifions  and  revelations,  as  the  perfon 
 defigned  to  be  the  mighty  Redeemer  of  his  church  ; 
 thus,  in  the  fulncfs  of  time,  was  he  chofen  from 
 H  4  among 
 
120  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  89. 
 
 among  all  the  children  of  men,  and  exalted,  through 
 fufferings,  to  an  eternal  throne. 
 
 20.  /  have  found  David  my  few  ant  •  with  my  holy 
 oil  have  I  anointed  him;  21.  With  whom  my  hand 
 fhallbe eJiablifJied ,  mine  arm  alfofhallfrcngthen  him. 
 David  was  the  fervant  of  God;  he  was,  by  the 
 prophet  Samuel,  anointed  with  oil ;  he  was  ftrength- 
 ened  and  eftablidied  in  his  kingdom,  by  the  hand 
 and  arm  of  Jehovah.  But  never  let  Chriftians  fail, 
 in  this  eminently  figurative  charader,  to  contemplate 
 that  true  david  (for  fo  he  is  called,  Ezek.  xxxiv, 
 ■23.  xxxvii.  25.)  the  beloved  Son  of  God;  "  the 
 "  fervant  and  elect  of  Jehovah,  in  whom  his  foul  de- 
 "  lighted,  and  on  whom  he  put  his  Spirit ;"  Ifai.  xlii. 
 1.  whom  he  "  anointed  with  his  holy  oil,  with  the  oil 
 *'  ofgladnefs,  with  the  Holy  Ghoft  and  with  power;** 
 Pi*,  xlv.  7.  A6ts  x.  38.  whom  he  ftrcngthened,  and 
 eftablidied  in  his  fpiritual  kingdom,  with  his  hand, 
 and  arm,  and  the  might  of  his  omnipotence. 
 
 22.   The  enemy  fJiall  not  exact  npon^  or,  deceive 
 
 him  •■  nor  the  fan  of  tvickednefs  afflict,  or,  fuhdue 
 
 him.     23.  And  I  will  beat  down  his  foes  before  his 
 
 Jace.  and  plague  them  that  hate  him.     24.  But  niy 
 
 faith filnefs  and  my  mercy  fliall  be  xvith  him-   and  in 
 
 my  name  fJi all  his  horn  he  exalted. 
 
 Thefe  promifes  were  fulfilled  to  David,  when  God 
 delivered  him  out  of  the  hand  of  Saul,  and  ot  all  his 
 Other  adverfaries.  See  2  Sam.,  xxil.  i.  And  in  what 
 a  full,  perfed,  and  divine  fenfe  were  they  verified  to 
 Chrift  1  That  fubtle  enemy,  "  which  deceiveth  the 
 *'  whole  world,"  was  not  able  to  deceive  him ;  neither 
 
 the 
 
Day  17.  e.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  i2t 
 
 the  Tons  nor  the  father  of  wickedncfs  could  over- 
 throw and  fubdue  him  :  all  oppofition  fell  before  him, 
 and  they  who  hated  him  fuffered  unparalleled  defoia- 
 tion  ;  the  promifed  faithfulnefs  and  mercy  of  Jehovah 
 were  ever  with  him,  and  his  kingdom  was  exalted 
 with  glory  and  honour. 
 
 25.  /  will  Jet  his  hand  alfo  in  the  Jea^  and  his  right 
 hand  in  the  rivers. 
 
 The  dominions  of  David  and  his  fon  Solomon  ex- 
 tended from  the  Mediterranean  "  fea"  to  the  ''  rivers" 
 Euphrates,  &c.  the  empire  of  Chrift  is  univerfa),- 
 over  Jews  and  Gentiles,  throughout  all  the  earth. 
 See  pV.  Ixxii.  8,  &c. 
 
 26.  Hejhall  cry  unto  mc^  Thou  art  my  father^  my 
 Gody  and  the  rock  of  my  falvation.  27.  Alfo  1  zvill 
 make  him  my  fir  ft  born,  higher  than  the  kings  of. 
 the  earth. 
 
 All  this,  if  in  fome  refpedis  true  of  David,  Is 
 much  more  emphatically  fo  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift. 
 ^'  Son  of  God'  is  one  of  his  diftinguiftied  titles  ;  of 
 "  the  Father"  he  continually  fpoke,  and  to  the  Fa- 
 ther he  addrefled  his  prayers  and  cries,  in  the  days 
 of  his  flefli ;  as  man,  he  was  raifed  and  exalted  by 
 the  power  and  glory  of  the  Divinity;  he  was  "  the 
 "  firft  born  of  ev^ry  creature,  the  firft  begotten  from 
 "  the  dead,  and  the  Prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth.'* 
 Col.  i.  15.  Rev.  i.  5.  Make  us,  blefled  Lord,  the 
 fons  of  God,  and  teach  us  to  cry,  Abba,  Father ; 
 give  us  vidory  and  dominion  over  fm  and  death, 
 that  we  may  live  and  reign  with  thee  for  ever. 
 
 28.  My  mercy  will  I  keep  for,  or,  to  him  for  ever- 
 
 more,  and  my  covenant  f hall  ft  and  f aft  xvith  him.  29, 
 
 I  '  His 
 
J  22  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  89. 
 
 His  feed  alfo  will  I  make  to  endure  for  ever,  and 
 his  throne  as  the  days  of  heaven. 
 
 God  kept  his  mercy  and  covenant  with  David,  by 
 preferving  the  line  of  his  pofterity,  until  his  great  an- 
 titype, MeflTiah,  the  fubjed  of  all  the  promifes,  came, 
 by  whom  the  kingdom  was  eftablifhed  for  ever,  being 
 changed  into  a  fpiritual  one,  which  is  to  be  transferred 
 from  earth  to  heaven,  and  rendered  coeval  with  thofc 
 eternal  manfions  of  the  blefTed. 
 
 30.  If  his  childi'en  forfake  my  laxv^  and  walk  not  in 
 my  judgments ;  "T^i.  If  they  break,  or,  profane  my 
 faf.ufesy  and  keep  not  my  commandments  \  32.  Then 
 will  Ivifit  their  tranfgrejfion  xoith  the'rod^  and  their 
 iniquity  with  Jlripes.  33.  Never thelefsy  my  loving 
 kindnefs  will  I  not  utterly  take  from  him^  norfuffer 
 my  faithfulnefs  to  fail.  34.  My  covenant  zvill  I  not 
 break,  nor  alter  the  thing  that  is  gone  out  of  my  lips. 
 
 The  pofterity  of  David  were  to  enjoy  God's  fa- 
 vour, or  be  deprived  of  it,  as  they  proved  obedient 
 or  difobedient  to  his  "  lawj"  as  they  executed  or 
 perverted  it's  civil  "  judgments  ;**  as  they  obferved 
 or  negleded  it's  ceremonial  "  ftatutes,"  or  religious 
 inftitutions  ;  as  they  kept  or  broke  it's  "  command- 
 "  ments,"  or  moral  precepts.  When  they  became 
 rebellious,  idolatrous,  and  profligate,  the  rod  was 
 lifted  up,  and  due  chadifement  inflifted,  fometimes 
 by  the  immediate  hand  of  heaven,  fometimes  by  the 
 inftrumentality  of  their  heathen  adverfaries;  famine 
 and  peftilence,  war  and  captivity,  were  at  different 
 times  employed  to  reclaim  backfliding  Ifrael.  But 
 flill,  the  "  covenant"  of  God  in  Chrift  flood  fure ; 
 the  Jewidi  nation  was  preferved,  through  all  changes 
 
 and 
 
Day  17.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  123 
 
 and  revolutions, "  until  the  Seed  came  to  whom  the 
 "  promife  was  made  ;"  nor  was  Jerafalcm  deftroyed, 
 before  the  new  and  fpirltual  kingdom  of  Meffiah 
 was  fet  up  in  the  earth.  Chriftian  communities,  and 
 the  individuals  that  compofe  them,  are  in  like  man- 
 ner correfted  and  punished  for  their  oifences.  "  Ne- 
 "  verthelefs,  God's  loving  kindnefs  will  he  not  ut- 
 "  terly  take  from  us,  nor  fuffer  his  faithfulnefs  to 
 "  fail.  His  covenant  will  he  not  break,  nor  alter 
 "  the  thing  that  is  gone  out  of  his  lips."  So — "  I 
 "  am  with  you  always,"  fays  the  Redeemer,  "  even 
 "  to  the  end  of  the  world  ;  and  the  gates  of  hell  (hall 
 **  not  prevail  againft  my  church."  Matt,  xxviii.  20. 
 xvi.  18.  Nor  (hall  the  world  be  deftroyed,  until 
 Chrift  come  again,  and  his  glorious  kingdom  be  ready- 
 to  appear. 
 
 35.  Once  have  I  Jworn  by  my  hoUnefsy  that  I 
 will  not  lie  unto  David.  36.  His  feed  Jhall  endure 
 for  every  and  his  throne  as  the  fun  before  me.  37, 
 Itfliall  be  efabli/hed for  ever  as  the  moon^  and  as  a 
 faithful  witnefs  in  heaven. 
 
 The  promife,  covenant,  and  oath  of  God,  which  he 
 declareth  fhall  never  fail,  are  here  repeated.  They 
 relate  to  Chrift,  that  *'  Seed^"  or  "  Son  of  David," 
 who  "  endureth  for  ever  :"  His  throne  is  refplendent 
 as  the  "  fun,"  and  Qiall  continue,  after  that  lumi- 
 nary is  extinguiftied  :  his  church  is  permanent  as  the 
 *•  moon,"  though,  like  her,  fubjed  to  vicifTitudes, 
 and  liable,  for  a  time,  to  be  obfcured  by  eclipfes, 
 during  her  prefent  ftate  upon  earth.  And  while  the 
 rainbow  (hall  be  fecn  in  the  clouds,  man  has  "  a 
 "  faithful  witnefs  in  heaven"  of  the  immutable  truth 
 
 df 
 
134  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  89. 
 
 of  God's  word,  and  the  Infallible  accon-splidiment 
 of  what  he  promifes.  "  Look  upon  the  rainbow," 
 faith  the  wife  fon  of  Sirach,  "  and  praife  him  who 
 **  made  it  :  very  beautiful  it  is  in  the  brsghtncis 
 "  thereof:  it  compaffeth  tiie  heaven  about  with  a 
 **  glorious  circle,  and  the  hands  of  the  mod  High 
 *'  have  bended  it."'  Ecclus.  xliii.  11.  But  let  us 
 not  forget  likewife,  when  we  look  upon  the  rainbow, 
 to  praife  him  who  made  it  to  be  a  fign  and  facred 
 fymbol  of  mercy  ;  in  which  capacity  we  behold  it, 
 to'  our  great  and  endlcis  comfort,  compaffing  the 
 throne  of  Chrifh  with  a  gracious,  as  well  as  glorious 
 circle.  "  There  was  a  hainbow  round  about  the 
 *'  throne."     Rev.  iv.  3.  Ezek.  i.  28. 
 
 38.  Bui  thou  hafi  cajt  off  and  abhorred,  thou  haft 
 been  wrotJi  xvith  thine  anointed.  39.  Tliou  haft  made 
 void  the  covenant  of  thy  fervant ;  thon  haft  pro- 
 phaned  his  cj'ozvn,  by  cafiiingit  to  the  ground. 
 .  In  the  former  part  of  our  Flalm,  we  have  [ten 
 what  the  di\ine  promifes  were,  which  had  been  made 
 to  the  houfe  of  David.  By  the  latter  part,  upon 
 which  we  are  entering,  it  appears,  that  the  Plalm 
 was  written  at  a  time,  when  the  church  of  Ifrael  was 
 in  fuch  a  manner  opprelied  and  reduced  by  her  ene- 
 mies that  her  members  began  almoft  to  defpair  of 
 thofe  promifes  receiving  their  accompliOiment.  God 
 fcemed  to  have  "  cafl  off "  and  "  abhorred"  his 
 *'  anointed"  and  "  fervant,"  that  ^s  David,  or  rather 
 the  prince  of  his  family,  who  was  upon  the  throne^ 
 when  this  captivity  and  defolatioln  happened  ;  the 
 "  covenant"  feemed  to  be  overturned  and  *'  made 
 
 "  void," 
 
Day  17.  E.  ?.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  125 
 
 "  void,"  when  the  "  crown"  of  Ifrael  was  defiled  in 
 the  duft. 
 
 40.  Thuu  haji  broken  dozen  all  his  hedges,  thou  hajt 
 brought  his  Jirong  holds  to  ruin.  41.  All  thatpujs 
 hij  the  icai/  fpoilhini  ;  he  is  a  reproach  to  his  neigh- 
 bours. 42.  Thou  haft  Jet  up  the  right  hand  of  his 
 advcjf dries :  tiiou  hajl  made  all  his  enemies  to  rejoice. 
 43.  Thou  had  alfo  turned  the  edge  of  hisfword,  and 
 iiafi  not  made  him  to  f  and  in  the  battle.  44.  Thou 
 haft  made  his  glory  to  ceafe,  and  caft.  his  throne  down 
 to  the  ground.  45.  The  days  of  his  youth  haft  thou 
 fkortened:  thou  haft  covered  him  u-ithfhame. 
 
 The  manifold  calamities  of  Sion  are  in  thefe  verfes 
 enumerated  :  The  demolition  of  fences  and  fortifica- 
 tions ;  the  cruel  ravages  confequent  thereupon  ;  the 
 fliame  of  defeats;  the  reproaches  and  infults  of  vic- 
 torious adverfaries;  the  diOionours  of  violent  and- 
 untimely  death.  In  days  like  thefe  here  defcribed, 
 when  the  church  and  the  king  are  permitted  to  fall 
 into  the  hands  of  thofe  who  hate  them,  and  to  drinfiT 
 thus  deeply  of  the  cup  of  afflidion,  diftruft  and  de- 
 fpondency  are  apt  to  feize  upon  the  minds  of  men. 
 Nay,  when  the  faithful  few  beheld  the  true  "  Son  of 
 "  David,"  and  *'  Anointed"  of  Jehovah  in  the  day 
 of  his  fufFerings ;  when  they  faw  him,  without  help 
 or  defence,  "  fpoiled  and  reproached  by  his  neigh- 
 **  bours  :"  when  they  viewed  **  the  right  hand  of  his 
 "  adverfaries  fet  up,"  and  all  his"  enemies  rejoicing" 
 over  him ;  his  "  glory  made  to  ceafe,"  and  his 
 "  crown  prophaned  in  the  duft ;  the  days  of  his  youth 
 "  fliortened,"  and  himfelf  delivered  over  to  a. 
 *'  (hameful"  as  well  as  painful  death;  they  then  be- 
 gan 
 
126  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  89. 
 
 gan  to  think  "  the  covenant  made  void,"  and  the 
 promifes  at  an  end.  "  We  trufted,"  faid  they 
 "  that  it  had  been  he  who  (hould  have  redeemed 
 "  Ifrael  !"  Luke  xxiv.  21.  And  although  Chrift  be 
 long  fince  rifen  from  the  dead,  and  afcended  into  hea- 
 ven, yet  the  prevalence  of  iniquity,  and  the  oppref- 
 fionsof  the  church,  have  been,  and,  in  the  Jaft  days 
 will  be  fuch,  as  to  put  the  faith  and  hope  of  his  fer- 
 vants  to  a  fore  trial,  while  they  wait  for  his  fecond, 
 as  the  ancient  Jews  did  for  his  firfl  advent. 
 
 46.  IIozv  longy  Lord?  Wilt  thou  hide  thy/elf  for 
 ever  P  Shall  thy  wrath  burn  like, fire?'  4^.  Remem- 
 ber howJJiort  my  time  is  ;  loherefore  haft,  thou  made 
 all  men  in  vain  f  Or,  as  Ainfworth  tranllates  the 
 verfe.  Remember  how  tranjilory  I  am,  unto  what 
 vanity  thou  haji  created  all  the  fons  of  Adavi. 
 48.  What  man  is  he  that  liveth,  and  fiiall  not  fee 
 death  ?  Shall  he  deliver  his  foul,  or  animal  frame, 
 from  the  hand  of  the  grave  F  49.  Lord,  where  are 
 thy  forvier  loving  kindnrj/es,  which  ihoufwareji  unto 
 David  in  thy  truth  ? 
 
 This  is  the  humble  and  dutiful  expoftulation  of 
 the  church  with  God,  in  all  her  difbrefles  upon  the 
 earth.  By  afking,  "  How  long.  Lord  ?  Wilt  thou 
 "  be  angry  for  ever  ?"  Qie  tacitly  pleadeth  his  pro- 
 mife  not  to  be  fo :  Oie  urgeth  the  fhortnefs  of  man's 
 life  here  below,  the  univerfality  of  the  fatal  fentence, 
 the  iiiipofTibility  of  avoiding  death,  and,  if  nothing 
 farther  was  to  happen^  the  fruftration  of  the  divine 
 countels  concerning  man.  From  thence  fhe  entreateth 
 God  to  remember  the  "  loving  kindnefles"  once 
 f  romifed  by  him  with  an  oath  to  David,  as  related 
 3  in 
 
Day  17.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  li'j 
 
 in  the  former  part  of  the  Pfalm.  Thefe  "  loving 
 "  kindnefles"  are  called,  in  Ifaiah  Iv.  3.  "  the  furo 
 "  mercies  of  David  j"  which  "  fure  mercies  of  Da 
 "  vid"  are  affirmed  by  St.  Paul,  Afts  xiii.  34.  tw- 
 have  been  then  confirmed  on  Ilrael,  when,  in  tho 
 perfon  of  Jefus,  God  raifed  our  nature  from  the 
 grave.  To  a  refurreAion,  therefore,  believers  have 
 ever  afpired  ;  thither  have  they  dired:ed  their  wifhes, 
 and  on  that  event  have  they  fixed  their  hopes,  as  the 
 end  of  temporal  forrows,  and  the  beginning  of  eter- 
 nal joys. 
 
 50.  Remember,  Lord,  ihe  reproach  of  thy  fer- 
 vants ;  how  I  do  bear  in  my  bo/om  the  reproach  (k 
 all  the  mighty  people  ;  51.  Wherewith  thine  enemies 
 have  reproached,  O  Lord  ;  wherewith  they  have 
 reproached  thefootjteps  of  thine  anointed. 
 
 The  laft  argument  urged  by  the  church,  in  her 
 expoftulation  with  God  for  a  fpeedy  redemption, 
 is,  the  continual  reproach  to  which  (he  was  fubje<5l, 
 on  account  of  the  promife  being  delayed.  The 
 "  mighty  people,"  or  heathen  nations,  who  held  her 
 in  captivity,  and  were  witneffes  of  her  wretched  and 
 forlorn  eflate,  ridiculed  her  pretenfions  to  perpetuity 
 of  empire  in  the  house  of  David ;  they  blafphemec*, 
 the  God,  who  was  faid  to  have  made  fuch  promifes; 
 and  "  reproached  the  footileps,"  or  mocked  at  the 
 tardy  -advent  of  his   Mefliah*,  who  was  to  eftablilh 
 
 •  "  Exprobraverunt  veftigio  Chrifti  tui :"  tarditatem  veftiglo, 
 rum  Chridi  tui.  Chald.  Irridebant  nos  quod  non  adveniret  ex- 
 pedlatus  ille  Liberator,  five  Cyrus,  five  potius  Chriftus  de  fe- 
 mine  Davidis,  regno  ejus  inAaurando,  et  in  sternum  firmando, 
 
 BOSSVET. 
 
 in 
 
128  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  90. 
 
 in  Ifrael  his  everlafting  throne.  AW  thefe  cruel  taunts 
 and  inlults  (he  was  obliged  to  "  bear  in  her  bofom," 
 and  thereto  fupprefs  them  in  filence,  having  nothing 
 to  anfwer  in  the  day  of  her  calamity,  and  feeming 
 deftitution.  St.  Peter  gives  us  a  like  account  of  the 
 flat e  of  the  Chriftian  church,  in  the  latter  days  :  he 
 exhorts  us  to  be  "  mindful  of  the  words  which  were 
 "  fpoken  before  by  the  holy  prophets,  and  of  the 
 "  commandments  of  the  Apoftles  of  the  Lord  and 
 "  Saviour,  becaufe  their  iLall  come  in  the  laft  days 
 "  fcofFers,  walking  after  their  own  lufts,  and  fay- 
 "  ing,  Where  is  the  promife  of  his  coming  !"  2  Pet. 
 iii.  4. 
 
 52.  BleJ/ed  be  the  Lord  for  evermore.  Amen, 
 and  Amen. 
 
 But  whatever  be  at  any  time  our  diftrefs,  either  as 
 a  community  or  as  individuals,  flill  are  we  to  be- 
 lieve, ftill  to  hope,  flill  to  blefs  and  praife  Jehovah, 
 whofe  word  is  true,  whofe  works  are  faithful,  whole 
 chaftifements  are  mercies,  and  all  whofe  promifes 
 are,  in  Chrill  Jefus,'  yea  and  amen,  for  evermore. 
 
 XVIII    DAY.       MORXING    PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  XC. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm  is  called,  in  it's  title,  "  A  prayer 
 "  of  Mofes,  the  man  of  God."  By  him  it 
 is  imas;incd  to  have  been  compofed^  when 
 
 God 
 
Day  1 8.  m.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  129 
 
 .  God  fliortened  the  days  of  the  murmunng 
 Ifraelites  in  the  wildernefs.  See  Numb.  xiv. 
 It  Is,  however,  a  Pfahn  of  general  ufc,  and 
 is  made,  by  the  church,  a  part  of  her  fune- 
 ral fervice.  It  containeth,  1,  ^.  an  addrefs 
 to  the  eternal  and  unchailgeable  God,  the 
 faviour  and  preferver  of  his  people;  3  --10. 
 a  mod  afte6ling  defcription  of  man's  mortal 
 and  tranfitory  ftate  on  earth,  fmce  the  fall  i 
 1 1.  a  complaint,  thatfeW  meditate  In  fuch  a 
 manner  upon  death,  as  to  prepare  thcm- 
 felves  for  it ;  12.  a  prayer  for  grace  fo  to  do  ; 
 13 — 17.  and  for  the  mercies  of  Redemption. 
 I.  Lord,  thou  haji  been  our  divellmg  place  in  all 
 generations.  1.  Before  the  mountains  xaere  brought 
 forth.or  ever  thou  hadjl formed  the  earth  andtheworld: 
 even  from  everla/iing  to  everlajiing  thou  art  God. 
 
 The  Pfalmift,  about  to  defcribe  man's  fleeting  and 
 tranfitory  ftate,  firft  diredled  us  to  contemplate  the 
 unchangeable  nature  and  attributes  of  God,  who 
 hath  always  been  a  "  dwelling-place,"  or  place  of 
 defence,  and  refuge,  affording  protection  and  comfort 
 to  his  people  In  the  world,  as  he  promifed  to  be 
 b«fore  the  world  began,  and  will,  In  a  more  glorious 
 manner,  continue  to  be,  after  its  dllfolution.  See, 
 for  a  parallel,  Pf.  cii.  25,  &c.  with  St.  Paul's  appli- 
 cation, Heb.  i.  10. 
 
 3.  Thou  turnefi  man  to  dejiruction ;  cindfai/ejly 
 Return,  ye  children  of  men. 
 
 Death  was  the  penalty  inflifted  on  man  for  lin. 
 
 The  latter  part  of  the  verfe  alludes  to  the.fatal-^feft- 
 
 VoL.  II.  I  tence. 
 
130  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  90. 
 
 tence,  Gen.  iii.  19.  "  Dufl:  thou  art,  and  unto  duft 
 "  Hialt  thou  return."  How  apt  are  we  to  forget 
 both  our  original  and  our  end  ! 
 
 4  For  a  thoiifand  years  in  thy  Jight  are  but  as 
 yejlerday  zvhen  if  is  paji^and  as  a  watch  in  thenight. 
 
 The  connexion  between  the  verfe  preceding  and 
 the  verfe  now  before  us,  feems  to  be  this.  God  fen- 
 tenced  man  to  death.  It  is  true,  the  execution  of 
 the  fentence  was  at  firft  deferred,  and  the  term  of 
 human  lite  fuffered  to  extend  to  near  a  thoufand 
 years.  But  what  was  even  that,  what  is  any  period 
 of  time,  or  time  itfelf,  if  compared  with  the  dura- 
 tion of  the  Eternal  ?  All  time  is  equal,  when  it  is 
 pad ;  a  thoufand  years,  when  gone,  are  forgotten  as 
 yefterday ;  and  the  longefl  life  of  man,  to  a  perfon 
 who  looks  back  upon  it,  may  appear  only  as  three 
 hours,  or  one  quarter  of  the  night. 
 
 5.  Thou  carriejt  them  away  as  with  a  flood,  they 
 are  as  a  fleep  in  the  morning ;  they  are  like  grafs 
 which  groweth  up ;  or,  as  grajs  that  changeth.  6.  In 
 the  inorning  it  flouriJJieth  and  groweth  up  j  in  the 
 evening  it  is  cut  down^  and  ivithereth. 
 
 The  fhortnefs  of  life,  and  the  luddennefs  of  our 
 de'parture  hence,  are  illuftrated  by  three  fimilitudes. 
 The  firft  is  that  of  a  "  flood,"  or  torrent  pouring 
 unexpededly  and  impetuoufly  from  the  mountains, 
 and  fweeping  all  before  it  in  an  inftant.  The  fecond 
 is  that  of"  fleep,"  from  which  when  a  man  awaketh, 
 he  thinketh  the  time  pafled  in  it  to  have  been  no- 
 thing. In  the  third  fimilitude,  man  is  compared  to 
 the  ''  grafs"  of  the  field.  In  the  morning  of  youth 
 fair  and  beautiful,  he  groweth  up  and  flourifheth ; 
 
 in 
 
Day  i8.  m.  p.         on  the  fSALMS.  131 
 
 in  the  evening  of  old  age,  (and  how  often  before  that 
 evening  !)  he  is  cut  down  by  the  ftroke  of  death  ;  all 
 his  juices,  to  the  circulation  of  which  he  flood  in- 
 debted for  life,  health,  and  ftrength,  are  dried  up  ;  he 
 withereth,  and  turneth  again  to  his  earth.  "  Surely 
 "  all  flefh  is  grafs,  and  all  the  goodlinefs  thereof  is  as 
 **  the  flower  of  the  field  !"  Ifai.  xl.  6.  Of  this  truth, 
 the  word  of  God,  the  voice  of  nature,  and  daily  ex- 
 perience join  to  affure  us :  yet  who  ordereth  his  life 
 and  converfation,  as  if  he  believed  it  ? 
 
 7.  For  ive  are  confumed  by  thine  anger^  and  by 
 thy  wrath  are  zve  troubled.  8.  Thou  hajifet  our 
 iniquities  before  thee  -,  our  fecret  fins  iu  the  light  of 
 thy  countenance. 
 
 The  generations  of  men  are  troubled  and  con- 
 fumed  by  divers  difeafes,  and  fundry  kinds  of  deaths 
 through  the  difpleafure  of  God;  his  difpleafure  is 
 occafioned  by  their  fins,  all  of  which  he  feeth  and 
 punilheth.  If  Mofes  wrote  this  Pfalm,  the  provoca- 
 tions and  chaftifements  of  Ifrael  are  here  alluded  to. 
 But  the  cafe  of  the  Ifraelites  in  the  wildernefs  is  the 
 cafe  of  Chriftians  in  the  world,  and  the  fame  thing 
 is  true  both  in  them  and  in  us. 
 
 9.  For  all  our  days  are  pajfed  away  in  thy  zvrath, 
 we  fpend  our  years  as  a  tale  that  is  told. 
 
 Life  is  compared  to  a  "  tale"  that  is  told  and  for- 
 gotten; to  a  "  word"  which  is  but  air,  or  breath, 
 and  vanifiieth  into  nothing,  as  foon  as  fpoken;  or 
 perhaps,  as  the  original  generally  fignifies,  to  a"  medi- 
 "  tation,  a  thought,"  which  is  of  a  nature  ftill  more 
 fleeting  and  tranfient. 
 
 10,  The  days  of  our  years  are  three/tore  years  and 
 
 I  a  teny 
 
132  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  ^&. 
 
 ten,  and  if  by  reafon  of  Jlrength  they  be  four/core 
 yearSi  yet  is  their  Jlrength  labour  and  for  row :  fur 
 it  isfoon  cut  off,  and  we  fy  away. 
 
 This  again  might  be  primarily  fpoken  by  Mofes, 
 concerning  Ifrael.  The  generation  of  thofe  who 
 came  out  of  Egypt,  from  twenty  years  old  and  up- 
 wards, fell  within  the  fpace  of  forty  years,  in  the  wil- 
 dernefs  j  Numb.  xxiv.  29.  and  they  who  lived  longed 
 experienced  only  labour  and  forrow,  until  they  were 
 cut  off,  like  grafs,  and,  by  the  breath  of  God's  dif- 
 pleafure,  blown  away  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 
 Like  the  Ifraelites,  we  have  been  brought  out  of 
 Egypt,  and  fcjourn  in  the  wildernefs ;  like  them  we 
 murmur,  and  offend  God  our  Saviour;  like  them  we 
 fall  and  perifh.  To  the  age  of  feventy  years  few  of 
 us  can  hope  to  attain  ;  labour  and  forrow  are  our  por- 
 tion in  the  world  ;  we  are  mowed  down,  as  this  year's 
 grafs  of  the  field  ;  we  fly  away  and  are  no  more  feen 
 in  the  land  of  the  living. 
 
 1 1.  Who  knoweth  the  power  of  thine  anger  f  Even 
 according  to  thy  fear,  fo  is  thy  wrath. 
 
 Houbigant  renders  the  verfe  thus :  "  Quis  novit 
 <«  vim  irse  tuse;  et,  prout  terribilis  es,  furorem 
 *'  tuum  ?'* — "  Who  knoweth"  or  confidereth,  "  the 
 "  power  of  thine  anger ;  and  thy  wrath,  in  propor- 
 "  tion  as  thou  art  terrible  ?"  That  is,  in  other 
 words,  Notwithftanding  all  the  manifeflations  of 
 God's  indignation  againft  fin,  which  introduced 
 death  and  every  other  calamity  among  men,  who  is 
 there  that  knoweth,  who  that  duly  confidereth  and 
 layeth  to  heart  the  almighty  power  of  that  indigna- 
 tion; who  that  is  induced,  by  beholding  the  mor- 
 tality 
 
Day  1 8.  m.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  133 
 
 tality  of  his  neighbours  to  prepare  himfelf  for  his 
 own  departure  hence  ?  Such  holy  confideration  is  the 
 gift  of  God,  from  whom  the  Pfalmift,  in  the  next 
 verfe,  diredeth  us  to  requelt  it. 
 
 12.  So  teach  iis  to  number  our  daySy  that  we  may 
 apply  our  hearts  unto  wifdovi. 
 
 He  who  "numbereth  his  days,"  or  taketh  a  right 
 account  of  the  fliortnefs  of  this  prefent  hfe,  com- 
 pared with  the  unnumbered  ages  of  that  eternity 
 which  is  future,  will  foon  become  a  proficient  in  the 
 fchool  of  true  wifdom.  He  will  learn  to  give  the 
 preference  where  it  is  due;  to  do  good,  and  fuflfer 
 evil,  upon  earth,  expeding  the  reward  of  both  in 
 heaven.  Make  us  wife,  blefled  Lord,  but  wife  unto 
 falvation. 
 
 13.  Return^  O  Lord,  how  long?  And  let  it  re- 
 pent thee  concerning  J  or,  be  propitiated  towards  thy 
 fervants. 
 
 During  the  reign  of  death  over  poor  mankind, 
 God  is  reprefented  as  abfentj  he  is  therefore  by  the 
 faithful  entreated  to  "  return,"  and  to  fatisfy  their 
 longing  defires  after  falvation  ;  to  haften  the  day 
 when  Mefliah  Qiould  make  a  "  propitiation"  for  fin, 
 when  he  fhould  redeem  his  fervants  from  death,  and 
 ranfom  them  from  the  power  of  the  grave.  The 
 Chriftian,  who  knoweth  that  his  Lord  is  rifen  indeed, 
 looks  forward  to  the  relurreftion  of  thejuft,  when 
 death  fhall  be  finally  fwallowed  up  in  vidory, 
 
 14.  O  fatisfy  us  early ^  or,  in  the  morning y  with  thy 
 mercy  •  that  ive  may  rejoice  and  be  glad  all  our  days. 
 15.  Make  us  glad  according  to  the  days  wherein  tko2i 
 hdji  afflictedusj  and  they  ear syi\iQiQ'm  v^ehavefeen  evil. 
 
 J  ^  The 
 
IJ4  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  90. 
 
 The  church  prayeth  for  the  dawning  of  that  glo- 
 rious morning,  when  every  cloud  fhall  vanilh  at  the 
 riling  of  the  fun  of  righteoufnefs,  and  night  and 
 darknefs  (hall  be  no  more.  Then  only  fhall  we  be 
 "  fatisfied,  or  faturated  with  the  mercy"  of  Jehovah  ; 
 then  only  (hall  we  "  rejoice  and  be  glad  all  our 
 *'  days."  The  time  of  ^ur  pilgrimage  upon  earth  is 
 a  time  of  forrow;  we  grieve  for  our  departed  friends; 
 and  our  furviving  friends  muft  foon  grieve  for 
 us;  thefe  are  "  the  days  wherein  God  afflideth 
 **  us,  thefe  the  years  wherein  we  fee  evil :"  but  he 
 will  hereafter  "  make  us  glad  according  to  them  ;'* 
 in  proportion  to  our  fufferings,  if  rightly  we  bear 
 thofe  fufferings,  will  be  our  reward;  nay,  "  thefe 
 **  light ,  afflidions,  which  are  but  for  a  moment, 
 "  work  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
 *'  weight  of  glory."  Then  fhall  our  joy  be  iqcreafed, 
 and  receive  an  additional  relifh  from  the  remem- 
 brance of  our  former  forrow;  then  fhall  we  blefs 
 the  days  and  the  years  which  exercifed  our  faith,  and 
 perfefted  our  patience ;  and  then  fhail  we  blefs  God, 
 who  challifed  us  for  a  feafon,  that  he  might  favc  us  for 
 pver. 
 
 16.  Lei  thy  work  appear  unto  thy  Jtrvants^  and 
 thy  glory  luito  their  children.  1 7 .  And  let  the  beauty 
 of  the  Lord  our  God  be  tipon  us ;  and  ejiablijh  thou 
 the  work  of  our  hands  iipon  us,  yca^  the  work  of  our 
 hands  eflablifli  thou  it. 
 
 The  Redemption  of  man  is  that  *'  work"  of  God, 
 whereby  his  *'  glory'  is  manifelled  to  all  genera- 
 tions, and  which  all  generations  do  therefore  long 
 to  behold  accomplifhed.  For  this  purpofe  th^  faith- 
 ful 
 
Day  1 8.  m.  p;        on  the  PSALMS.  135 
 
 ful  befeech  God  to  let  his  "  beauty,"  his  fplendor, 
 the  light  of  his  countenance,  his  grace  and  favour, 
 be  upon  them:  to  "  eftablifli  the  work  of  their 
 "  hands,'*  to  blefs,  profper,  and  perfed  them  in 
 their  Chriftian  courfe  and  warfare ;  until,  through 
 him,  they  fliall  be  enabled  to  fubdue  fin,  and  triumph 
 over  death. 
 
 PSALM   xcr 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  prophet  1 — 10.  declareth  the  fecuiity  of 
 the  Righteous  Man  under  the  care  and  pro- 
 te(5tion  of  heaven,  in  times  of  danger,  when 
 11,  12.  a  guard  of  angels  is  fet  about  him, 
 13.  His  final  victory  over  the  enemies  of 
 his  falvation  is  foretold;  and  14 — 1^.  God 
 himfelf  is  introduced,  promifing  him  de- 
 liverance, exaltation,  glory,  and  immorta- 
 lity. The  Pfalm  is  addrefled,  primarily,  to 
 Mefsiah.  That  it  relateth  to  him,  Jews  and 
 Chriftians  are  agreed  ;  and  the  devil.  Matt, 
 iv.  6,  cited  two  verfes  from  it,  as  univerfally 
 known  and  allowed  to  have  been  fpoken  of 
 him. 
 
 T.  He  that  dxvelleth  in  the  fecret  place  of  the  moft 
 
 HigKJhall  abide  under  the  Jhadoio  of  the  Almighty, 
 
 2.  I  will  fay  of  the  Lordy  He  is  my  refuge  and  my 
 
 fortrefs:  my  Godj  in  him  will  I  truji.  3.  Surely  he 
 
 I  4  M^l 
 
136  A  COMMENTARY        PsAL.9r, 
 
 Jhall  deliver  thee  from  the  fnare  of  the  fowler^  and 
 from  the  noifome  pejiilence' 
 
 In  thefe  verfes,  as  they  now  ftand,  there  is  much 
 obfcurity  and  confufion.  BiQiop  Lowth,  in  his 
 xxvith  Lefture,  feemeth  to  have  given  their  true 
 conftruftion.  "  He  who  dwelleth  in  the  fecret  place 
 *'  of  the  moft  High ;  who  abideth  under  the  fh.'.dow 
 "  of  the  Ah-nighty  ;  who  faith  of  the  Lord,  He  is  my 
 '«  refuge  and  my  fortrefs,  my  God,  in  whom  I  will 
 "  truft;" — leaving  the  fentence  thus  imperfed,  the 
 Pfalmift  maketh  a  beautiful  apoftrophe  to  that  perfon 
 whom  he  has  been  defcribing — "  Surely  he  ihall  de- 
 "  liver  thee  from  the  fnare  of  the  fowler,  and  from  the 
 **  noifome  peftilence."  The  defcription  is  eminently 
 applicable  to  the  man  Chrift  Jefus*.  He  is  re- 
 prefented  as  dwelling,  like  the  ark  in  the  Holy  of 
 holies,  under  the  immediate  "  fliadow"  and  protec- 
 tion of  the  Almighty,  who  was  his  "  refuge  and 
 **  fortrefs"  againfl  the  open  attacks  of  his  enemies ; 
 his  preferver  from  the  "^^  fnares"  of  the  devil,  a,nd  from 
 the  univeiial  contagion  of  fm^,  that  fpiritual  "  pefti- 
 *'  lencc."  In  all  dangers,  whether  fpiritual  or  cor- 
 poreal, the  members  of  Chrift's  myftical  body  may 
 refled:  with  comfort,  that  they  are  under  the  fame 
 almighty  protedor. 
 
 4.  HefJuill  cover  thee  xvitk  his  feathers,  aiicl  under 
 his  wings  fialt  thou  trujl :  his  truth  fliall  be  ihyjiidd 
 and  buckler. 
 
 *  Ode  Davidica  infxgnis  xci  agit  direde  et  primo  loco  de 
 tegmine  et  defenfione  quam  Deus  Chrifto  Jefu  Doftori  et  apoftolis 
 ipfius  praertaret.    Vitringa,  Comment,  in  Jefai.  ii.  ^6^. 
 
 The 
 
Day  1 3.  m.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  137 
 
 The  feciirity  afforded  by  a  fuperintending  Provi- 
 dence, to  thofe  who  trufl.  therein,  is  here,  with  the 
 utmoft  beauty  and  elegance,  compared  to  that  fliel- 
 ter,  which  the  young  of  birds  are  always  lure  to  find 
 under  the  "  wings"  of  their  dam,  when  fear  caufeth 
 them  to  fly  thither  for  refuge.  See  Deut.  xxxii.  11. 
 Matt,  xxiii.  37.  The  *'  truth"  of  God's  word,  where- 
 in he  promiieth  to  be  our  defence,  is,  to  a  believer, 
 his  '*  fliield  and  buckler,"  in  the  day  of  battle  and 
 war. 
 
 5.  Thoujlialt  not  he  afraid  for  the  terror  hy  night ; 
 nor  for  the  arrow  thzt  flieth  by  day  •'  6.  Nor /or  the 
 peji Hence  that  walketh  in  darlinefs  :  nox  for  the  dc" 
 firuction  that  wajieth  at  noon  day. 
 
 How  much  man  ftandeth  in  need  of  the  above- 
 mentioned  protection  of  heaven,  appeareth  from  a 
 furvey  of  the  dangers,  to  which  he  is  continually  ex- 
 pofed.  Various  are  the  terrors  of  the  night  \  mani- 
 fold the  perils  of  the  day  5  from  difeafes,  whofe  in- 
 feftion  maketh  it's  progrefs  unobOrved  ;  from  af- 
 faults,  cafualties  and  accidents,  which  can  neither 
 be  forefeen,  nor  guarded  againft.  The  foul  hath 
 likewife  her  enemies,  ready  to  attack  and  furprife 
 her  at  all  hours.  Avarice  and  ambition  are  abroad 
 watching  for  her  in  the  day ;  while  concupifcence, 
 like  a  peftilence,'  '*  walketh  in  darknefs."  In  adver- 
 fity  fhe  is  diflurbed  by  terrors;  in  profperity,  ftill 
 more  endangered  by  pleafures.  But  Jefus  Chrift  has 
 overcome  the  world,  to  prevent  us  from  being  over- 
 come by  it. 
 
 7.  A  thoufandfliallfall  at  tliyfule^  and  ten  thou- 
 fqnd  at  thy  rig /it  hand:  but  kjliallnot  come  nigh  ihee. 
 
 This 
 
138  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  91. 
 
 This  promife  has  oftentimes,  in  a  wonderful  man- 
 ner, been  verified  to  thofe  faithful  fervants  of  God, 
 whom  the  peftilence  itfelf  hath  not  deterred  from 
 doing  the  duties  of  their  flation.  The  bifliop,  and 
 fome  of  the  intendants  of  Marfeilles,  who  continued 
 to  perform  their  refpedive  offices,  during  the  whole 
 time  of  the  plague  there,  in  1720,  are  fignal  and 
 well  known  inftances.  Sin  is  a  peftilence,  the  con- 
 tagion of  which  no  fon  of  Adam  everefcaped,  but  the 
 blefled  Jefus.  He  ftood  alone  untouched  by  it's 
 venom  j  thoufands  and  ten  thoufands,  all  the  my- 
 riads of  mankind,  fell  around  him^;  "  but  it  did  not 
 "  come  nigh  Him."  Heal  us  of  this  our  diftem- 
 per,  O  thou  phyfician  of  fouls,  and  let  it  not  prove 
 our  everlafting  deftrudion ;  "  ftand,"  like  thy  re- 
 prefentative  of  old,  *'  between  the  dead  and  the 
 "  living,  and  let  the  plague  be  ftayed."  Numb.  xvi. 
 47,  48. 
 
 8.  Only  with  thine  eyesjhalt  thou  behold  and  fee 
 the  reward  of  the  wicked. 
 
 The  meaning  is,  that  the  righteous  perfon,  all 
 along  fpoken  of,  himfelf  fecure  from  the  judgments 
 of  God,  (hould  in  fafety  behold  the  deftruftion 
 wrought  by  them  upon  impenitent  and  incorrigible 
 finners.  This  will  be  the  cafe  with  the  church,  as 
 well  as  her  glorious  Head,  at  the  laft  day. 
 
 9.  Becaufe  thoit  hajl  made  the  Lord,  which  is  my 
 refuge  J  even  the  mojl  High  thy  habitation :  10.  There 
 
 JJiall  no  evil  befal  thee^  neither fhall  any  plague  come 
 nigh  thy  dwelling. 
 
 The  fentiment  in  thefe  verfes  is  evidently  the  fame 
 with  that  in  verfes  5,  6.  nannely,  that  God  preferveth 
 
 fuch 
 
Day  1 8.  m.  p.      on  the  PSALMS.  139 
 
 fuch  as  truft  in  him,  after  the  pattern  of  the  holy 
 Jcfus,  from  thofe  evils,  and  from  that  perdition, 
 which  are  referved  for  the  ungodly.  Dr.  Durell 
 tranllates  the  9th  verfe,  in  the  way  of  apoflrophe, 
 literally  thus — *'  Surely,  thou,  O  Lord,  art  my  re- 
 ^'  fugei  O  moft  High,  thou  haft  fixed  thine  habi- 
 "  tation;"  i.  e.  in  Sion,  to  be  the  protedor  of  his 
 fervant. 
 
 II.  For  hejiiall give  his  angels  charge  over  thee^ 
 to  keep  thee  in  all  thy  zvays.  12.  TheyJJiall  hear  thee 
 up  in  their  hands ^  left  thou  dajli  thyfootagainftaftone. 
 
 This  paflage  was  cited  by  the  Devil,  who  tempted 
 our  Lord  to  caft  himfelf  from  a  pinnacle  of  the  tem- 
 ple, upon  prefumption  of  the  promife  here  made, 
 that  angels  (hould  guard  and  fupport  him  in  all  dan- 
 gers. But  Chrift,  in  his  anfwer,  at  once  detedeth 
 and  expofeth  the  fophiftry  of  the  grand  Deceiver,  by 
 fliewing,  that  the  promife  belonged  only  to  thofe  who 
 fell  unavoidably  into  danger,  in  the  courfe  of  duty; 
 fuch  might  hope  for  the  help  and  protedion  of  hea- 
 ven; but  that  he  who  (hould  wantonly  and  abfurdly 
 throw  himfelf  into  peril,  merely  to  try  whether  Pro- 
 vidence would  bring  him  out  of  it,  muft  expeft  to 
 perilh  for  his  pains.  "  Jefus  faith  unto  him,  It  is 
 ^*  written  again.  Thou  fhalt  not  tempt  the  Lord 
 **  thy  God."  Matt,  iv.  7. 
 
 13.  Thou  Jlialt  tread  upon  the  lion  and  adder-, 
 the  young  lion  and  the  dragon  JJialt  thou  trample 
 under  thy  feet. 
 
 The  fury  and  the  venom  of  our  fpiritual  enemies 
 
 are  often  in  Scripture  pourtayec^  by  the  natural  qua- 
 
 Jitjes  of  **  lions  and  ferpents."     Meffiah's  complete 
 
 ,  vidory 
 
140  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  91. 
 
 viftory  over  thofe  enemies  feemeth  here  to  be  pre- 
 dided.  Through  grace  he  maketh  us  more  than 
 conquerors  in  our  conflids  with  the  fame  adverfaries. 
 ♦'  The  God  of  peace,"  faith  St.  Paul,  "  fhall  bruife 
 "  Satan  under  your  feet  (hortly."  Rom.  xvi.  20. 
 And  it  is  obfervable,  that  when  the  feventy  difciples 
 return  to  Chrift  with  joy,  faying,  «  Lord,  even  the 
 "  devils  are  fubjed  unto  us  through  thy  names"  he 
 anfwers  in  the  metaphorical  language  of  our  Pfalm  i 
 "  Behold,  I  give  unto  you  power  to  tread  on  fcor- 
 <*  pions  and  ferpents,  and  over  all  the  power  of  the 
 **  cneray,  and  nothing  fhall  by  any  means  hurt  you. 
 "  Notwithftanding,  in  this  rejoice  not,  that  the  spi-. 
 **  KITS  are  fubjed  unto  you,  &c."  Luke  x.  17. 
 Give  us,  O  Lord,  courage  to  refift  the  *'  lion's"  rage, 
 and  wifdom  to  elude  the  wiles  of  the  "  ferpent." 
 
 14.  Becaufe  he  hath  Jet  his  love  upon  me,  therefore 
 zvill  I  deliver  him 3  I  will  fet  him  on  high,  becaufe 
 he  hath  know?i  my  name.  ic^.  He  Jhall  call  upon 
 7ne,  and  I  will  anfwer  him;  I  will  be  ivith  him  in 
 trouble,  I  zoill  deliver  him^  and  honour,  or,  glorify 
 him.  16.  With  long  life  zvill  I  fatisfy  him,  and 
 JJiexv  him  my  falvaiion. 
 
 Li  the  former  part  of  our  PHilm,  the  prophet  had 
 fpoken  in  his  own  perfon  ;  here  God  himfelf  is  plain- 
 ly introduced  as  the  fpeaker.  And  O  how  fweet, 
 how  delightful  and  comfortable  are  his  words,  ad- 
 drefled  eminently  to  his  beloved  Son  Meffiahj  and 
 in  him  to  all  of  us,  his  adopted  children  and  the 
 heirs  of  eternal  life;  to  all  who  love  God,  and  have 
 **  known  his  name!"  To  fuch  are  promifed,  an  an- 
 fwer to  their  prayers  j  the  prefence  of  tteir  heavenly 
 I  Father 
 
Bay  i8.  m.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  141 
 
 Father  with  them  ;  in  the  day  of  trouble,  proteaion 
 and  deliverance;  falvation,  and  honour,  and  glory, 
 and  immortality.  All  thefe  promifes  have  already 
 been  made  good  to  our  gracious  Head  and  Repre- 
 fentative.  His  prayers  have  been  heard ;  his  fuffer- 
 ings  are  over ;  he  is  rifen  and  afcended ;  and  behold, 
 he  liveth  and  reigneth  for  evermore.  Swift  fly  the 
 intermediate  years,  and  rife  that  long  expeded  morn- 
 ing, when  He  who  is  gone  "  to  prepare  a  place  for 
 "  us,  (hall  come  again,  and  take  us  to  himfelf,  that 
 "  where  he  is  we  may  be  alfo  !" 
 
 PSALM    XCII. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  title  of  this  Pfalm  is,  "  A  Pfalm,  or  Song,, 
 "  for  the  Sabbath  day."  It  teacheth  1 — 5. 
 the  duty,  time,  and  manner  of  giving  thanks 
 for  the  works  and  difpenfations  of  God.^ — 
 Thoughtlefs  men  are  admonilhed  6.  to  re- 
 flect upon  the  final  iflue  of  all  thefe  works 
 and  difpenfations ;  namely,  7 — 9.  the  utter 
 perdition  of  the  ungodly,  and  10 — 14.  the 
 exaltation  of  the  church  in  Chrifl  Jefus, 
 15.  to  the  praife  and  glory  of  God  moft 
 high. 
 
 I.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord, 
 and  to  fing  praifes  unto  thy  name^  O  moft  High ; 
 2.  To  Jliew  forth  thy  loving  kindnefs  in  the~  morn' 
 
 ing. 
 
142  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  92. 
 
 ingi  and  thy  fait  hfidnefs  evejy  night:  3.  Upon  an 
 injlrument  of  ten  firings^  and  upon  the  pfaltery  s 
 upon  the  harp  zvith  a  folemnfound. 
 
 "  Thankfgiving"  is  the  duty,  and  ought  to  be  the 
 delight  of  a  Chriftian.  It  is  his  duty,  as  being  the 
 leaft  return  he  can  make  to  his  great  benefaftor:  it 
 ought  to  be  his  delight,  for  it  is  that  of  angels,  and 
 will  be  that  of  every  grateful  heart,  whether  in  hea- 
 ven or  on  earth.  The  "  mercy"  of  God  in  promif- 
 ing  falvation,  and  his  "  faithfulnefs"  in  accomplllh- 
 ing  it,  are  inexhauflible  fubjeds  for  morning  and 
 '*  evening"  praifes ;  every  inftruraent  fliould  be 
 flrung,  and  every  voice  tuned  to  celebrate  them, 
 until  day  and  night  come  to  an  end.  But  more 
 efpecially  (liould  this  be  done  on  the  "  fabbath" 
 day  J  which  when  io  employed,  affords  a  lively  re- 
 fcmblance  of  that  eternal  fabbath,  to  be  hereafter 
 kept  by  the  redeemed,  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 4.  For  thouy  Lord,  ha^  inade  me  glad  through 
 thy  work :  I  will  triumph  in  the  works  of  thy  hands. 
 
 A  profpeft  of  creation,  in  the  vernal  feafon,  fallen 
 as  it  is,  infpires  the  mind  with  a  joy,  which  no  words 
 can  exprefs.  But  how  doth  the  regenerate  foul  exult 
 rand  triumph  at  beholding  that  "  work"  of  God's 
 "  hand,"  whereby  he  hath  created  all  things  anew 
 in  Chrift  Jefus  i  If  we  can  be  pleafed  with  fuch  a 
 world  as  this,  where  fui  and  death  have  fixed  their 
 habitation ;  (hall  we  not  much  rather  admire  thofe 
 other  heavens,  and  that  other  earth,  wherein  dwell 
 Wghteoiiincfs  and  life  r  What  are  we  to  think  of 
 the  palace,  fince  even  the  prifon  is  not  without  its 
 charms ! 
 
Day  i8.  m.  p.       on  the  PSALMS.  HS 
 
 5.  OLoRD,  how  great  are  thy  works!  and  thy 
 thoughts  are  very  deep.  6.  A  hrutijh  man  knoweth 
 noty  neither  doth  afoot  understand  this. 
 
 Glorious  are  the  works,  profound  the  counfels, 
 marvellous  the  difpenfations  of  God,  in  nature,  in 
 providence,  in  grace.  But  all  are  loft  to  the  man 
 void  of  fpiritual  difcernment ;  who,  like  his  fellow 
 "  brutes,"  is  bowed  down  to  earth,  and  knoweth  no 
 pleafures'  but  thofe  of  fenfe.  Here  he  hath  chofen  his 
 paradife,  and  fet  up  his  tabernacle  :  not  confidering 
 that  his  tabernacle  muft  Ihortly  be  taken  down,  and 
 he  muft  remove  hence  for  ever. 
 
 7.  When  the  wicked  fpring  as  the  grafs,  a?idwhen 
 all  the  zvorkers  of  iniquity  do  fiourifi ;  it  is  that 
 theyjhallbe  destroyed  for  ever,  8.  But  thou  Lord, 
 art  moft  high  for  evermore. 
 
 It  is  not  improbable,  that  thefe  verfes  ftiould  be 
 connefted  with  that  preceding,  thus—"  A  brutiih 
 <«  man  knoweth  not ;  neither  doth  a  fool  underftand 
 *'this;"  namely,  that  "  When  the  wicked  fpring  as 
 «  the  grafs,  and  when  all  the  workers  of  iniquity  do 
 «  flourilh  5  it  is  that  they  Hiall  be  deftroyed  for  ever;" 
 they  are  only  nourifhing  themfelves  like  fenfelefs  cat- 
 tie  in  plentiful  paftures,  for  the  approaching  day  of 
 flaughter.  He  who  is  ignorant  of  the  final  iffue  of 
 things,  who  attendeth  not  to  his  eternal  interest,  he 
 is,  in  Scripture  language,  "  the  brutiih  man,"  and 
 the  **  fool*'  who  knoweth  not  the  works,  neither 
 underftandeth  the  defigns  of  heaven.  When  the 
 "  grafs"  hath  attained  to  its  moft  fiouriibmg  eftate, 
 and  all  the  flowers  of  the  field  are  in  perfcd  beauty, 
 then  the  mower  entcreth  with  his  fcythe.    What  a 
 
 beautiful 
 
144  A  COMMENTARY        VsAt.  gi. 
 
 beautiful  and  inftrudive  emblem  is  here  held  forth 
 to  us  ;  what  a  forcible  admonition  to  truft  only  in 
 him,  who  without  '•'  variablenefs  or  fliadow  of  turn- 
 "  ing,"  is  *'  moft  high  for  evermore  1" 
 
 9.  Forloj  thine  enemks^  OLord,  lo,  thine  ene- 
 mies Jhall  peri/k  :  all  the  zvorkers  of  iniquity  Jkall 
 be  fcattered.  10.  But  my  horn  Jlialt  thou  exalt  like 
 the  horn  of  an  unicorn :  I  Jhall  be,  or,  1  am 
 anointed  zvith  frejh  oil, 
 
 ,  The  "  workers  of  iniquity"  are  the"  enemies  of 
 *'  Jehovah,"  and  will  be  "  fcattered"  by  the  breath 
 of  his  difpleafure,  as  grafs,  after  it  is  cut  down, 
 dried  up,  and  withered,  is  driven  away  by  the  whirl- 
 winds of  heaven.  "  But  my  horn,"  faith  the  Pfal- 
 mift,  (  it  is  likely  in  the  perfon  of  Meffiah, )  "  my 
 "  horn,"  that  is,  the  ftrength  and  power  of  my 
 kingdom,  "  {halt  thou  exalt  like  the  horn  of  the 
 "  unicorn*"  like  the  power  of  the  flrongeft  crea- 
 tures, to  which  that  of  ftates  and  empires  is  often 
 compared  ;  "  1  Qiall  be,"  or,  "  1  am  anointed  with 
 "  frefh  oil ;"  I  am  appointed  and  confecrated  king 
 by  the  holy  undion.  Chriflians  have  "  an  undion 
 "  from  the  Ht)ly  One,"  by  which  they  are  enabled 
 to  fubdue  their  fpiritual  enemies  j  they  reign  over 
 their  pafTions  and  affedions;  they  are  exalted  in  the 
 Redeemer ;  they  are  "  made  unto  their  God  kings 
 *'  and  priefts."    1.  John  ii.  20.  Rev.  v,  10. 
 
 II.  Mine  eye  alfo  JJiall  fee  my  defire  on  mine 
 enemies .-  and  mine  cars  Jhall  hear  my  defire  of  the 
 wicked  that  rife  up  againji  vie. 
 
 *  Heb.  an«  An  eaftern  animal  of  the  "  ftag"  or  "  deer^' 
 kind,  remarkable  for  it's  height,  Ilrerigth,  aiid  fiercenefs. 
 
 The 
 
Day  i8.  m.  p.        on  the  PSALMS,  145 
 
 The  words,  "  my  delire,"  are  twice  inferted  by 
 our  tranllators.  But  would  it  not  be  better,  if  we 
 were  to  fupply  the  ellipfis  in  this  manner  ?  "  Mine 
 "  eye  fliall  behold  the  fall  of  mine  enemies ;  and 
 "  mine  ear  Ihall  hear  the  deftruftion  of  the  wicked, 
 "  that  rife  up  againft  me."  The  fenfe  of  the  verfe 
 is  plain.  It  is  intended  to  exprefs  an  aflurance  of 
 faith,  an  humble  confidence  in  the  promifes  of  God, 
 that  our  efforts  (hall  at  length  be  crowned  with  vic- 
 tory over  every  thing  which  refifteth,  and  oppofeth 
 itfelf;  and  that  the  day  is  coming,  when  we  fhall 
 view  all  the  enemies  of  our  falvation  dead  at  our 
 feet. 
 
 12.  The  righteous  pialljiourish  like  the  palm  tree: 
 he  shall  grozv  like  a  cedar  in  Lebanon. 
 
 The  momentary  profperity  of  the  wicked  was 
 compared  above  to  the  tranfient  verdure  of  "  grafs." 
 The  durable  felicity  of  the  righteous  is  here  likened 
 to  the  lafting  ftrength  and  beauty  of  "  palms"  and 
 "  cedars."  But  chiefly  is  the  comparifon  applicable 
 to  that  Jufl  One,  the  King  of  Right eoufnefs,  and 
 Tree  of  Life;  eminent  and  upright;  ever  verdant 
 and  fragrant;  under  the  greateft  preflure  and  weight 
 of  fufferings,  ftill  afcending  toward  heaven;  affording 
 both  fruit  and  protedion;  incorruptible  and  immor- 
 tal. "  I  fate  down,"  faith  the  Church,  "  under  hij 
 *'  fhadow  with  great  delight,  and  his  fruit  was  fweet 
 **  to  my  tafte."     Song  ii.  3. 
 
 13.  Thoje  that  he  planted  in  the  houfe  of  tlee 
 Lord,  jkallfiourijh  in  the  courts  of  our  God, 
 
 Believers  are  ftyled  by  Ifaiah,  "  Trees  of  righteouf- 
 
 **    nefs,    the  planting   of   Jehovah."     Ch.  Ixi.  3. 
 
 VouIL  K  They 
 
t^6  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  92, 
 
 They  are  planted  by  the  living  waters  of  comfort, 
 "  in  the  houfe  of  Godj"  where  under  the  means  of 
 grace,  they  "  flourifh"  in  hope  of  glory;  "  fenced 
 "  and  inciofed  by  the  difcipline  and  orders  of  the 
 "  church,  and  by  the  confequent  favour  and  pro- 
 "  te<flion  of  heaven;  their  verdure  is  confpicuous, 
 "  and  ever  conftant,  whether  in  the  fummer  of  pro- 
 *'  fperity,  or  the  winter  of  adverfity:  their  anions 
 "  and  principles  are  ever  upright  and  fair;  yea,  their 
 "  very  leaf  exhales  a  delightful  perfume,  by  an  holy 
 *'  example  and  converfation;  their  affeftions  and  de- 
 *^  fires  are  ever  afcending  towards  the  noblefl  and 
 *'  mofl  fublime  objeds,  the  things  that  are  above, 
 *'  the  glorious  things  of  heaven*." 
 
 14.  TheyJIiall  JiilL  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  agc: 
 tliey  fJiall  be  fat  and  four  if  king. 
 
 Happy  the  man  whofe  goodnefs  is  always  pro- 
 greffive,  and  whofe  virtues  increafe  with  his  years; 
 who  lofeth  not,  in  multiplicity  of  worldly  cares  or 
 pleafures,  the  holy  fervours  of  his  firft  love,  but 
 goeth  on  burning  and  (hining  more  and  more,  to  the 
 end  of  his  days.  The  church,  like  her  reprefentative 
 Sarah,  is  now  "  well  ftricken  in  years;"  but  we  hope 
 that,  like  her,  fhe  will  "  ftill  bring  forth  fruit  in  her 
 "  old  age;"  we  look  for  many  more  "  children  of 
 "  promife"  to  be  born  unto  Chrift,  both  from  among 
 the  Jews  and  Gentiles. 
 
 15.  To  fhew  that  the  Lord  is  upright:  he  is  my 
 •rockt  and  there  is  no  unrighteoufnefs  in  him. 
 
 The  fruit  brought  forth  in  the  church  redounds  to 
 
 »  Effay  oa  the  Proper  Leflbns,  by  Mr.  Wogan,  vol.  iii.  p-  49" 
 
 the 
 
Day  i8.  e.  p.         on  tHE  PSALMS.  147 
 
 the  glory  of  God,  by  whom  the  trees,  in  this  his 
 new  paradife,  were  planted;  it  (hews  to  all  the  world, 
 that  he  isjuft  and  "  upright"  in  his  dealings;  that 
 heistrue  to  hispromifes;  immoveable,  as  a  "rock/* 
 in  his  counfels;  determined  to  puniQi  the  wicked,  and 
 to  reward  the  good;  (o  that  when  his  proceedings 
 fhall  come  to  be  unfolded  at  the  lail  day,  it  will  ap- 
 pear to  men  and  angels,  that  "  there  is  no  un- 
 "  righteoufnefs  in  him. 
 
 XVIII  DAY.        EVENING   PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  XCIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  Jews  acknowledge,  that  the  kingdom  of 
 Mefsiah  is  prophefied  of  in  this  Pfalm,  and 
 in  all  thofe  which  follow,  to  the  hundredth. 
 1,  '2.  The  church  celebrates  the  majefty, 
 power  and  glory  of  the  eternal  King ;  3. 
 defcribes  the  danger  fhe  is  often  in  from 
 perfecutions,  &cc.  but  4.  ftrengtheneth  her- 
 felf  in  God  her  Saviour,  whofe  houfe  5, 
 ought  to  be,  like  himfelf,  full  of  truth  and 
 holinefs. 
 
 T.  The  Lord  reigneth,  he  is  clothed  with  ma' 
 jejiy,  the  Lord  is  clothed  with  Jirengthy  wherewith 
 he  hath  girded  himfelf;  the  world  alfo  is  ejiablifhed, 
 that  it  catmot  be  7noved. 
 
 K  2  From 
 
148  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  93. 
 
 From  the  beginning,  God,  as  Creator,  was  fove- 
 •rcign  Lord  of  the  univerfe.  He  was  alio  formerly, 
 in  a  more  efpecial  manner,  King  of  Ifrael.  But 
 fmce  that  time,  a  new  and  fpiritual  kingdom  hath 
 been  eredted  by  Jefus  Chrift,  as  Redeemer,  whom 
 the  church  now  celebrates,  and  whofe  praifes  flie 
 fmgs  continually.  Rifen  from  the  dead,  and  afcend- 
 ed  into  heaven,  the  Lord  Jefus  reigneth,  and  (hall 
 reign,  ''  till  he  hath  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet." 
 I  Cor.  XV.  25,  By  the  glorification  of  his  human 
 nature,  he  is  "  clothed  with  majefty:  All  power  is 
 "  given  unto  him  in  heaven  and  in  earth;"  Matt, 
 xxviii.  18.  fo  that  he  is  "  girded  with  ftrength;**  and 
 through  that  ftrength,  he  hath  "  eftabliOied"  the 
 new  "  world,"  that  is  to  fay,  his  church,  that  it 
 "  cannot  be  moved,"  or  fubverted,  by  all  the  powers 
 of  earth  and  hell. 
 
 2.  Thy  throne  is  efiahlijhed  of  old;  thou  zxtfrom 
 everlajiing. 
 
 Earthly  thrones  are  temporary;  they  are  fet  up, 
 and  caft  down  again,  neither  is  any  truft  to  be  re- 
 pofed  in  them.  But  the  throne  of  Chrift  is  eternal 
 and  unchangeable.  Conftituted  before  the  found- 
 ation of  the  world,  it  is  to  endure  when  no  traces  of 
 iiich  a  fyftem  having  once  exifted  (hall  any  more  be 
 found. 
 
 3.  Thejloods  have  lifted  up,  OLord,  the  floods  have 
 lifted  up  their  voice  ^  the  floods  lift  up  their  waves. 
 4.  The  Lord  on  high  is  mightier  than  the  noife  of 
 many  waters :>  yea,  than  the  mighty  zvaves  ofthefea. 
 
 In  the  firft  of  thefe  verfes,  the  church  appears 
 like  a  fliip  in  a  ftormy  fea,   to  which  fhe  is  often 
 
 compared. 
 
Day  i8.  e.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  149 
 
 compared.  Perfecutlons  and  aSlldions  are  thofe 
 *'  floods,"  thofe  "  waves"  of  this  troublefome  world, 
 which  threaten  every  moment  to  overwhelm  and  link 
 her.  With  a  fearful  and  defponding  tone  of  voice, 
 therefore,  (he  crieth  out,  '*  The  floods  have  lifted 
 "  up,  O  Lord,  the  floods  have  lifted  up  their 
 "  voice;  the  floods  lift  up  their  waves!''  Bat  im- 
 mediately (he  fl.rengtheneth  and  coraforteth  herfelf 
 in  the  Lord  her  God:  *'  The  Lord  on  high  is 
 "  mightier  than  the  noife  of  many  waters,  yea,  than 
 "  the  mighty  waves  of  the  fea:"  He  can  fay  to  for- 
 rows  and  temptations,  as  he  doth  to  the  waters  of 
 the  ocean,  "  Peace,  be  fl:ill;  hitherto  fliall  ye  come, 
 **  but  no  farther;"  and  his  word  is  endued  with 
 equal  power,  in  both  cafes. 
 
 5.  Till/  tejiimonies  are  very  furei  holhiefs  bc" 
 Cometh  thine  houfe,  O  Lord,  for  ever. 
 
 God's  "  teftimonies'*  are  the  promifes  made  in 
 Scripture  to  the  church,  that  he  will  be  with  her, 
 during  the  afilidions  which  befal  her  here  below, 
 and  will,  in  time,  deliver  her  out  of  all  her  troubles. 
 Thefe  "  teftimonies  are  very  fure;"  thefe  promifes 
 do  not,  they  cannot  fail.  *'  Holinefs,"  therefore, 
 which  confifteth  in  obedience  and  patience,  "  be* 
 *'  Cometh,"  is  the  proper  ornament,  grace,  and  beauty 
 of '^  his  houfe,"  and  of  Chriftians,  thofe  living  ftones 
 that  compofe  it.  Sacred  and  inviolable  is  the  word 
 of  our  King;  facred  and  inviolable  fhould  be  the 
 loyalty  of  his  fubjeds. 
 
 K  3  PSALM 
 
150  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  94. 
 
 PSALM  XCIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  Pfalmift,  complaining  of  corrupt  and 
 troublous  times,  in  the  perfon  of  the  church, 
 1 — 4.  prayeth  for  the  dovvnfal  of  profper- 
 ous  wickednefs;  5,  6.  he  defcribeth  the  cru- 
 elty, and  7  —  11.  reproveth  the  atheiftical 
 folly  of  thofe  who  perfecute  God's  people; 
 12,  13.  he  extolleth  the  bleffednefs  of  the 
 perfecuted,  if  they  are  endued  with  fiaith  and 
 patience,  inafmuch  as  14-,  15.  the  divine  pro- 
 niife  and  their  future  reward  are  certain ;  he 
 therefore  16 — 19.  throweth  himfelf  wholly 
 upon  God,  whofe  mercies  never  fail,  who 
 20,  21.  cannot  be  on  the  fide  of  iniquity, 
 but  22,  23.  will  preferve  his  faints,  and  de- 
 ftroy  their  enemies. 
 
 I.  O  Lord  Gody  to  whom  vengeance  helongeth  ;  O 
 God  to  whom  vengeance  helongeth,^  Jhew  th\)felf.  2. 
 Lift  up  thyfelf^  thou  judge  of  the  earth ;  render  a 
 reward  to  the  proud. 
 
 The  church,  however  unjuflly  opprefTed  and  af- 
 flidled,  remembereth  that "  vengeance  belongeth"  not 
 to  her,  had  (lie  the  power  to  inflid  it,  but  "  to  God" 
 only,  who  hath  faid  "  Vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  re- 
 "  pay."  Rom.  xii.  19.  To  him,  therefore,  fhe 
 maketh  her  fupplication,  that  he  would  manifeft  his 
 
 glory 
 
DayiS.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  151 
 
 glory  in  her  falvatlon  ;  that  he  would  afcend  the  tri- 
 bunal, as  "judge  oF  the  earth,"  try  her  caule,  and 
 avenge  her  of  her  infolent  and  cruel  perfecutors. 
 
 3.  Lord,  how  long  Jhali  the  zvickedy  how  long 
 ^/Jiall  the  zoicked  triumph  P  4.  How  long  Jhall  they 
 utter  a.nd /peak  hard  things  P  and  all  the  workers  of 
 iniquity  hoajt  thernfelves  f 
 
 The  "  triumphs"  of  wickednefs,  the  "  hard 
 "  fpeeches,"  taunts,  and  feoffs  of  infidehty  againft 
 Chrift,  and  all  who  belong  to  him,  are  a  continual 
 grief  of  heart  to  the  faithful  in  the  world,  who  defire 
 nothing  fo  much  as  to  fee  the  empire  of  fm  at  an 
 end,  and  the  kingdom  of  righteoufnefs  eftablifhed. 
 But  for  this  great  event  they  muft  wait  with  patience, 
 until  the  time  appointed  by  the  Father,  when  the 
 iniquities  of  the  world  and  the  fufferings  of  the 
 church  fliall  be  full.  *'  I  faw  under  the  altar,"  faith 
 the  well  beloved  John,  "  the  fouls  of  them  that 
 *'  were  flain  for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  the  tefti- 
 "  mony  which  they  held.  And  they  cried  with  a 
 "  loud  voice,  faying.  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and 
 "  true,  dofl  thou  not  judge  and  avenge  our  blood 
 *'  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?  And  white 
 "  robes  were  given  unto  every  one  of  them,  and  it 
 "  was  faid  unto  them,  that  they  fhould  reft  yet  for  a 
 "  little  feafon,  until  their  fellow  fervants  alfo,  and 
 "  their  brethren,  that  lliould  be  killed  as  they  were, 
 "  ihould  be  fulfilled."     Rev.  vi.  9,  &c. 
 
 5.  They  break  in  pieces  thy  people^  O  Lord,  and 
 afflict  thine  heritage.  6.  Theyjlay.  the  zvidow,  and 
 Jtrajiger,  and  miirder  the  father lefs. 
 
 Some  inftances  of  cruelty,  exercifed  by  the  enemies 
 K  4  againft 
 
ISZ  A  COMMENTARY        Fsal.  94. 
 
 againft  the  "  people  and  heritage"  of  God,  are  here 
 Specified.  *'  Widows,  ftrangers,  and  orphans"  are 
 deftitute  of  the  help  and  protedion  afforded  by  huf- 
 bands,  friends,  and  fathers.  Chrift  is  become  an 
 hufband  to  the  church,  a  father  to  her  children,  and 
 the  only  friend  to  both  in  time  of  need.  Elfe  were 
 we  all  in  the  ftate  of  ftrangers  and  orphans,  expofed, 
 with  our  widowed  mother,  to  the  unrelenting  malice 
 and  fury  of  the  great  oppreflbr  and  murderer. 
 
 7.  Yet  they  fay  ^  the  L.o-RDj}iallnotfee^  neither  fliall 
 the  God  of  Jacob  regard  \t.  8.  Underftand^ye  hrutifh 
 among  the  people  ;  andycfools,  zvheii  will  ye  be  wife? 
 9.  He  that  planted  the  ear^fJiall  he  not  hear?  He  that 
 formed  the  eyefhall  he  not  fee?  10.  He  that  chafiifeth 
 the  heathen,  fJiall  not  he  correct  ?  He  that  teacheth 
 •man  knowledge,  fhall  not  he  know  ?  Or,  He  that 
 injtructeth  the  nations^  fhall  not  he  rebuke  ;  even  he 
 that  teacheth  man  knowledge  ? 
 
 The  Pfalmift  informeth  us,  that  men  are  encou- 
 raged in  their  injuftice  and  villainy  by  a  perfuafion, 
 that  God  doth  not  behold  or  regard  what  they  do  to 
 his  people.  The  abfurdity  of  fuch  a  conceit  is  (hewn 
 from  thefe  confiderations  ;  that  it  is  God  who  be- 
 ftoweth  on  man  the  powers  of  feeing  and  hearing, 
 and  therefore  that  he  himfelf  mull:  needs  be  poflelfed 
 of  thofe  powers  in  the  higheft  perfedlion ;  that  it  is 
 God  who  hath  inftrudted  the  world,  by  his  revela- 
 tions, in  religious  knowledge,  and  confequently,  with- 
 out all  doubt,  he  cannot  be  ignorant  of  the  ule  and 
 abufe  which  men  make  of  that  his  unfpeakable 
 gift. 
 
Day  1 8.  e.  p.  on  the  PSALMS.  153 
 
 11.  The  Lord  knoweth  the  thovghts  of  man,  that 
 they  are  vanity. 
 
 So  far  is  God  from  being  a  ftranger  to  the  adbionSr 
 that  he  is  priv-y  to  the  firft  "  thoughts"  of  men, 
 from  whence  thofe  ad  ions  flow  ;  he  is  acquainted 
 with  all  their  counfels  againft  his  church,  and  know- 
 eth them  to  be  as  vain  as  the  imagination  that  he  is 
 ignorant  of  them.  The  wicked  can  no  more  efcape 
 the  hand,  than  they  can  elude  the  eye  of  heaven. 
 
 12.  BleJJed  is  the  man  zohom  thou  chajtenejt,  or,  lU' 
 Jiructejty  O  Lord,  and  teachejl  him  out  of  thy  law: 
 
 13.  That  thou  may  eji  give  him  reft  from  the  days  of 
 adverjityy  until  the  pit  be  digged  for  the  wicked. 
 
 Since,  therefore,  the  fchemes  of  the  adverfary  are 
 vain,  and  the  counfel  of  Jehovah  fliall  infallibly  ftand, 
 happy  is  the  man  who,  having  learned,  from  the 
 Scriptures  of  truth,  the  leffons  of  faith  and  pa- 
 tience, enjoys  tranquillity  of  mind  in  time  of  trouble, 
 while  deftrudion  is  preparing  for  the  impenitent. 
 Then,  when  "  the  days  of  adverfity"  are  over,  (hall 
 pain  and  forrow  take  a  final  leave  of  the  righteous, 
 to  go  and  dwell  with  the  wicked,  to  eternal  a  es. 
 The  former  Iliall  enter  into  the  reft  and  joy  of  their 
 Lord,  the  latter  into  the  fire  prepared  originally  for  the 
 devil  and  his  angels. 
 
 14.  For  the  Lord  xvill  not  caft  off  his  people y 
 neither  will  he  forfake  his  inheritance.  15.  But 
 judgment  fhall  return  unto  righteoufnefs  -  and  all 
 the  upright  in  heart  fhall  follow  it. 
 
 The   faith  and   patience  of  the  faints   are   built 
 
 upon  the  foundation  of  God's  promife  not  to  "  caft 
 
 **  off  and  forfake,"    however  he  may    chaften  and 
 
 3  cocred. 
 
154  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  94. 
 
 corred;,  his  "  people  and  inheritance."  At  a  fit  time, 
 "  judgment  Ihall  return  to  righteoufnefs,"  v/hich  it 
 might  feem  to  have  forfaken ;  iniquitous  oppreffors 
 fhall  meet  with  the  punifhment  they  have  deferved, 
 and  the  faithful  fliall  experience  the  promifed  re- 
 demption. For  thus  Dr.  Hammond  renders  aiid 
 expounds  the  laft  claufe  of  the  two  verfes  under  con- 
 fjderation — "  and  after  this,"  i.  e.  after  "judgment*' 
 fhall  have  "  returned  to  righteoufnefs,  all  the  up- 
 "  right  in  heart ;"  i.  e.  it  fhall  be  their  time ;  they 
 fhall  fucceed  and  flourilh.  Such  were  thofe  halcyon 
 days  enjoyed  by  the  Jews,  after  the  fall  of  Babylon, 
 and  their  return  to  their  own  land ;  fuch  thofe  times 
 of  refrefliment  to  the  church  Chriftian,  when  the 
 pagan  perfecutions  were  at  an  end,  and  the  Roman 
 empire  became  Chriflian.  Far  tranfcendent  is  the 
 felicity  of  a  foul  when  it  exchanges  the  miferies  of 
 the  world  for  the  delights  of  paradife,  there  to  wait, 
 ■with  its  filler  fpirits,  until  the  bodies  of  faints  fl^all 
 pafsfrom  the  dilhonours  of  the  grave  to  the  glories  of 
 immortality. 
 
 1 6.  JV/io  zvill  rife  up  for  me  agaiitf  the  evil  doers  P 
 Or  zvho  zviUjiand  up  for  me  againf  the  zvorkers  of 
 iniquity  f  17.  Uniefs  the  Lord  had  been  my  help, 
 my  foul  had  almof  dwelt  infilence. 
 
 But  in  the  mean  feafon,  while  "  evil  doers"  are 
 permitted  to  profper,  and  *'  the  workers  of  iniquity" 
 carry  on  their  defigns,  the  prophet  alks,  in  the  per- 
 fon  of  the  church,  who  is  there  that  will,  or  can 
 proted,  defend,  and  deliver  ?  The  anfwer  is,  God 
 only  can  do  it:  "  Uniefs  the  Lord  had  been  my 
 "  help,  my  foul  had  almoil  dwelt  in  filence,"  or,  I 
 
 had 
 
Day  1 8.  e.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  155 
 
 had  almoft  been  in  the  ftate  of  death.  How  often 
 have  our  fpiritual  enemies  arifen  aganid  us,  threaten- 
 ing to  bring  us  into  a  fhate  of  eternal  death,  but  the 
 Lord  Jefus  was  our  help  and  our  falvation. 
 
 18.  JFhen  I faid,  my  foot  Jlippeth  •  thy  merely  O 
 Lord,  held  me  up. 
 
 When  the  child  of  God,  walking  in  the  llippery 
 paths  of  life,  findeth  himfeif  falling  into  temptation, 
 if  he  confeffeth  his  inabiHty  to  ftand  his  ground,  and 
 crieth  out,  like  Peter  on  the  water,  to  his  heavenly- 
 Father,  "  Lord,  fave  me,  I  periili;"  a  merciful, 
 gracious,  and  powerful  hand  will  immediately  be 
 ftretched  out,  to  fupport  his  fteps,  and  eftablifh  his 
 goings. 
 
 19,  hi  the  multitude  of  my  thoughts  xvithin  me, 
 thy  comforts  delight  my  foul. 
 
 The  excellent  N orris,  in  a  mafterly  fermon  on 
 this  verfe,  has  given  us  the  following  elegant  and 
 affeding  paraphrafe  of  it — "  When  my  mind  faUies 
 *^  out  into  a  multitude  of  thoughts,  and  thofe 
 "  thoughts  make  me  fad  and  heavy,  anxious  and 
 "  folicitous,  as  prefenting  to  my  view  my  owa 
 "  weaknefs  and  infirmity,  and  the  univerfal  vanity  of 
 "  all  thofe  feeming  props  and  ftays,  upon  which  my 
 "  deluded  foul  was  apt  to  lean;  the  many  great 
 "  calamities  of  life,  and  the  much  greater  terrors  of 
 "  death;  the  known  miferies  of  the  prefent  ftate, 
 "  and  the  darknefs  and  uncertainty  of  the  future  j 
 "  ftill  urging  me  with  frelh  arguments  of  forrow, 
 "  and  opening  new  and  new  fcenes  of  melancholy, 
 *'  till  my  foul  begins  to  faint  and  fmk  under  the 
 ^'  burthen   flie  has  laid  upon  herfelf :  when  1  am 
 
 "  thus 
 
ts6  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  94. 
 
 "  thus  thoughtful,  and  thus  forrowftil ;  then  it  is,  O 
 •*  my  God,  that  I  feel  the  relief  of  thy  divine  re- 
 •'  frefliments;  I  find  myfelf  fupported  and  borne  up 
 "  by  the  ftrong  tide  of  thy  confolations,  which  raife 
 "  my  drooping  head,  ffrike  a  light  into  my  foul, 
 **  and  make  me  not  only  difmifs,  but  even  forget 
 "  that  forrow  and  melancholy,  which  my  thought- 
 "  flilnefs  had  brought  upon  me."  Who,  that  reads 
 this,  will  not  thankfully  take  and  follow  the  ad- 
 vice offered  in  another  part  of  the  fame  difcourfe  ? 
 "  Whenever  therefore-  thoughts  arife  in  thy  heart, 
 "  and  troubles  from  thofe  thoughts,  when  thy  mind 
 '*  is  dark  and  cloudy,  and  all  the  regions  of  the  foul 
 "  are  overcaflj  then  betake  thyfelf  to  thy  oratory, 
 "  cither  to  thy  clolet,  or  the  church,  and  there  en- 
 "  tertain  thy  foul  with  the  pleafures  of  religion,  and 
 **  the  fatisfadions  of  a  clear  confcience."  See  Nor- 
 ris's  Pradical  Difcourfes,  Vol.  III.  Serm.  IV. 
 
 20.  Shall  the  throne  of  iniquity  have  fellowjhip 
 tvith  thee:,  which  frameth  mif chief  by  a  law  ? 
 
 One  conlideration  which  af!brdeth  comfort  to  the 
 faithful  under  perfecution  and  afHidion,  is  this,  that 
 God  can  never  be  on  the  fide  of  opprelTion  and  in- 
 juftice,  though  to  anfwer  wife  and  falutary  purpofes, 
 he  may,  for  a  time,  fuffer  them  to  have  the  domi- 
 nion, and  to  eftablidi  iniquity  by  law.  A  diflinc- 
 tion  there  certainly  mufl  be  between  right  and  wrong: 
 and  the  former  mud  as  certainly  triumph,  at  the  lad 
 day. 
 
 21.  They  gather  themfelves  together  againji  the 
 foul  of  the  righteous,  andco?idem?i  the  innocent  blood. 
 
 Righteoufnefs  and  innocence  are  moft   atrocious 
 
 crimes, 
 
Day  19.  5t.  P.      ON  THE  PSALMS.  157 
 
 crimes,  in  the  eyes  of  wlckedneis  and  guilt.  For 
 thefe  crimes,  Cain  flew  his  brother  Abel,  the  Jews 
 crucified  Chrift,  the  pagans  tortured  and  murdered 
 his  difciples,  and  bad  men  in  all  ages  have  perfecuted 
 the  good.  •'  Marvel  not,  my  brethren,  if  the  world 
 "  hate  you.'*     i  John  iii.  13. 
 
 22.  But  the  Lord  is  viy  defence  •'  a?id  my  God  is 
 the  rock  qf  my  refuge.  23.  And  he  f hall  Inking  upon 
 thsni  their  oxvn  iniquity,  and  fhall  cut  them  off  in 
 their  own  wickednefs s  yea,  the  L.0RI) our  God fiiall 
 cut  the?n  off". 
 
 Jehovah  is  our  "  defence  j"  we  fear  not  the  fiery 
 darts  of  the  enemy ;  He  is  "^  the  rock  of  our  re- 
 "  fugej"  we  bid  defiance  to  the  rage  and  malice  of 
 earth  and  hell.  Armed  with  the  fhield  of  faith,  and 
 the  fword  of  the  Spirit,  we  rife  fuperior  to  every  ef- 
 fort of  diabolical  malice,  and  fecular  power  j  wait- 
 ing, in  patience  and  hope,  for  the  coming  of  that 
 day  when  He  who  hateth  unrighteoufnefs,  and  with 
 whom  the  throne  of  iniquity  can  have  no  fellowfliip, 
 (hall  vilit  the  wickednefs  of  the  wicked  upon  them.; 
 when  the  world  of  the  ungodly  fhall  (hare  the  fate  of 
 apoftate  Jerufalem,  and  the  righteous  (hall  be  glori- 
 fied with  their  Lord  and  Saviour. 
 
 XIX.    DAY.    MORNING    PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  XCV. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm  liath  been  long  ufed  in  the  Chrif- 
 tian  church,  as  a  proper  introdudion  to  her 
 
 holy 
 
I5S  A    COMMENTARY       Psal.  9^, 
 
 holy  fervlces.  It  contalneth  1,  2.  an  ex* 
 hortation  to  praife  Jehovah,  3.  for  his  great- 
 iiefs,  4,  5.  and  for  his  works  of  creation  ; 
 6.  men  are  Invited  to  vvorfliip  him,  as  their 
 Maker,  and  7.  as  their  Preferver :  8 — 11, 
 they  are  warned  againft  tempting  and  pro- 
 voking him,  by  the  example  of  the  Ifraelites 
 in  the  wildernefs.  The  author  of  the  epiftle 
 to  the  Hebrews  hath  taught  us  to  confider 
 the  Pfalm  as  an  addrefs  to  believers  under  the 
 Gofpel. 
 
 1.  O  cofney  let  us  Jing  unto  the  Lord:  let  us 
 make  a  joyful  noife  to  the  rock  of  our  falvation. 
 
 In  this  firft  verfe,  CLriflians  now  exhort  and  flir 
 up  each  other,  as  the  Jews  did  of  old,  to  employ 
 their  voices  in  honour  of  Jehovah,  to  celebrate  *'  the 
 *'  rock  of  their  falvation."  Jcfus,  by  redeeming  us 
 from  our  enemies,  hath  opened  our  lips,  and  our 
 mouths  ought,  therefore,  to  fhew  forth  his  praife. 
 He  is  the  Rock  of  ages,  in  which  is  opened  a  foun- 
 tain for  fin  and  uncleannefs  ;  the  Rock  which  attends 
 the  church  in  the  wildernefs,  pouring  forth  the  water 
 of  life,  for  her  ufe  and  comfort ;  the  Rock  which  is 
 our  fortrefs  againft  every  enemy,  (hadowing  and  re- 
 freQiing  a  weary  land.  "  O  come,  then,  let  us  fing 
 *'  unto  this  our  Lord,  let  us  make  a  joyful  noife 
 *'  unto  this  rock  of  our  falvation." 
 
 2.  Let  us  come  before  his  prefence  with  thankfgiv* 
 ingy  and  make  a  joyful  noife  unto  him  with  Pfalms. 
 
 The  "  prefence"  of  Jehovah  dwelt  formerly  be- 
 tween 
 
Day  19.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  159 
 
 tween  the  cherubim,  in  a  tabernacle,  or  temple,  made 
 with  hands,  whither  the  Ifraelites  were  to  refort,  un- 
 til! God  became  manifell  in  the  flefh.  After,  that 
 time,  the  divine  prcfence  left  the  fynagogue,  and  re- 
 moved into  the  Chrillian  church;  by  her  we  are  now 
 invited  to  "come  before  that  prefence  with  thankf- 
 "  giving,"  and,  while  we  "  make  a  joyful  noife," 
 by  chanting  thefe  divine  "  Pfalms,"  to  imitate,  in 
 fome  meafure,  the  heavenly  choirs,  who  "  reft  not,'* 
 from  their  blelTed  employment  of  prailing  God,  ''  day 
 '*  or  night/'  Rev.  iv.  8. 
 
 3.  For  the  Lord  is  a  great  Gody  and  a  great 
 King  above  all  god.:;. 
 
 It  is  not  without  reafon,  that  we  are  exhorted  to 
 give  thanks  and  praife  unto  our  God  and  King;  for 
 he  is  "  worthy  to  receive  glory  and  bleffing:"  Rev. 
 V.  12.  he  is  a  God  above  all  that  are  called  by  that 
 name;  above  thofe  deities,  which  were  once  wor- 
 ihipped  by  the  ancient  heathen;  above  the  world, 
 which  ftill  continues  to  be  an  objed  of  adoration 
 among  infatuated  mortals.  His  throne  is  over  all, 
 and  power  and  dominion  are  his. 
 
 4;  Jn  his  hand  are  the  deep  places  of  the  earthy 
 the  firength  of  the  hills  is  his  alfo.  5.  The  fea  is  his, 
 and  he  made  it;  and  his  hands  formed  the  dry  land. 
 
 The  treafures,  which  lie  hid  in  the  "  deep  places'* 
 of  the  earth  beneath ;  the  majeftic  pride  and  "  ftrength 
 "  of  the  hills,"  which  tower  above,  and  lift  up  their 
 heads  to  heaven;  the  unnumbered  waves  of  the  great 
 and  wide  "  fea,"  which  roll  in  perpetual  motioa 
 round  the  world;  the  rich  and  variegated  produce  of 
 the  '^  dry  land,"  crowned  v,'ith  verdure  and  beauty; 
 I  together 
 
i6o  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  95. 
 
 together  with  every  thing  that  liveth,  in  the  waters, 
 or  on  the  earth ;  all  are  under  the  government  of  our 
 God;  by  him  were  all  things  created;  by  him  have 
 all  things  been  redeemed. 
 
 6.  O  come,  let  us  ivorfhipy  and  how  down-  let  us 
 kneel  before  the  Lord  our  Maker. 
 
 As  in  the  beginning  of  the  Pfalm  we  were  called 
 upon  to  "  praife"  Jehovah,  fo  here  we  are  invited  to 
 humble  ourfelves  before  him  in  "  prayer."  From 
 him  we  had  our  being;  him,  therefore,  we  are  to 
 fupplicate  for  every  other  bleffing,  both  in  this  life, 
 and  that  which  is  to  come.  And  fince  he  made  our 
 bodies,  as  well  as  our  fouls,  it  is  meet  and  right  that 
 they  ihould  bear  their  part  in  his  fervice,  and  that 
 internal  worfhip  (hould  be  accompanied  and  fignified 
 by  that  which  is  external. 
 
 7.  For  he  is  our  God,  and  zve  are  the  people  of 
 his  pajiure.,  and  thefheep  of  his  ha?id. 
 
 An  additional  reafon,  why  we  fhould  both  praife 
 Jehovah,  and  pray  to  him,  is  the  peculiar  relation 
 into  which  he  hath  been  pleafed  to  put  himfelf  by 
 the  covenant  of  grace;  "  he  is  our  God;"  we  are  the 
 objedls  of  his  tender  care,  and  unfpeakable  love ;  we 
 are  his  *'  people,''  and  his  "  fheep;"  his  chofen  flock, 
 which  he  hath  purchafed  with  his  blood,  which  he 
 feeds  with  his  Word,  and  refreflies  with  his  Spirit, 
 in  fair  and  pieafant  paflures.  From  thofe  paftures, 
 O  thou  good  Shepherd,  fuffer  us  not  to  ftray;  or, 
 if  we  do  ftray,  bring  us  fpeedily  back  again,  by  any 
 means,  which  thou,  in  thine  infinite  wifdom,  flialt 
 think  fit.  Wholefome  is  the  difcipHne,  which  drives 
 •^is  into  the  fold,  and  keeps  us  there. 
 
 8.  To 
 
Day  19.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  161 
 
 8.  To  day  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice.  Harden  not 
 your  hearts^  as  in  the  provocation,  and  as  in  the  day 
 of  temptation  in  the  xvildernefs,  9.  When  your  fa- 
 thers tempted  me,  proved  me,  andfazv  my  zvork. 
 
 The  firft  claufe  of  thefe  two  verfes  may  be  joined 
 to  the  preceding  verfe,  thus,  "  He  is  our  God,  we 
 "  are  the  people  of  his  pafture  and  the  fheep  of 
 "  his  hand,  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice  to-day  j"  that 
 is,  if  ye  will  be  his  obedient  people,  he  will  continue 
 to  be  your  God.  Or  elfe,  the  word  Dt*,  tranflated 
 "  if,"  may  be  rendered  in  the  optative  form.  "  O 
 **  that  you  would  hear  his  voice  to-day,"  faying 
 unto  you,  "  Harden  not,"  &c.  However  this  be, 
 what  follows  to  the  end  of  the  Pfalm  is  undoubt- 
 edly fpoken  in  the  perfon  of  God  himfelf,  who  may 
 be  confidered  as  addreffing  us,  in  thefe  latter  days, 
 by  the  Gofpel  of  his  Son;  for  fo  the  Apoftle  teaches 
 us  to  apply  the  whole  paflage,  Heb.  iii.  iv.  The 
 Ifraelites,  when  they  came  out  of  Egypt,  had  a  day 
 of  probation,  and  a  promifed  Reft  to  fucceed  it ; 
 but  by  unbelief  and  difobedience,  they  to  whom  it 
 was  promifed,  that  is,  the  generation  of  thofe  who 
 came  out  of  Egypt,  fell  fhort  of  it,  and  died  in  the 
 wildernefs.  The  Gofpel,  in  like  manner,  offers, 
 both  to  Jew  and  Gentile,  another  day  of  probation 
 in  this  world,  and  another  promifed  Reft  to  fucceed 
 it,  which  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God,  in  hea- 
 ven. All  whom  it  concerns  are,  therefore,  exhorted 
 to  beware  left  they  forfeit  the  fecond  Reft,  as  mur- 
 muring and  rebellious  Ifrael  came  ihort  of  the  firft. 
 The  verfes  now  before  us  allude  to  what  pafTed  at 
 the  place  called  *'  Maifah,*'  and  **  Meribah,"  fron^ 
 
 Vol.  II.  L  the 
 
i62  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  95. 
 
 the  people  there  *'  tempting,  and  driving"  with  their 
 God,  notwithftanding  all  the  mighty  works  which 
 he  had  wrought  for  them,  before  their  eyes.  Exod. 
 xvii.  7. 
 
 10  Forty  years  long  was  I  grieved^  or,  difgitjied 
 wifli  this  generation^  and/aid^  it  is  a  people  that  do 
 err  in  their  hearts^  and  they  have  not  known  my  ways. 
 
 O  the  defperate  prefumption  of  man,  that  he  Ihould 
 offend  his  Maker,  "  forty  years;"  O  the  patience 
 and  long  fuffering  of  his  Maker,  that  he  Qiould 
 allow  him  forty  years  to  offend  in  !  Sin  begins  in  the 
 "  heart,"  by  it's  defires  "  wandering"  and  going 
 aftray  after  forbidden  objefts ;  whence  follows  inat- 
 tention to  the  "  ways"  of  God  ;  to  his  difpenfations, 
 and  our  own  duty.  Lull  in  the  heart,  like  vapour 
 in  the  ftomach,  foon  affeds  the  head,  and  clouds  the 
 underftanding. 
 
 1 1 .  Unto  whom  I  /ware  in  my  wrath,  that  they 
 /liould  not  enter  into  my  reji. 
 
 Exclufion  from  Canaan  was  the  punifhment  of 
 Ifraelitifli  contumacy;  exclufion  from  heaven  is  to 
 be  the  puniHiment  of  difobedience  among  Chriftians. 
 To  take  vengeance  on  thofe  v/ho  rejed:  the  Gofpel 
 terms,  is  no  lefs  a  part  of  the  covenant  and  oath  of 
 God,  than  it  is  to  lave  and  glorify  thofe  who  accept 
 them.  Yet  men  continue  deliberately  to  commit  thofe 
 fins,  which  the  Almighty  ftandeth  thus  engaged  to 
 puniQi  with  deftruftion  I  *     "  Take  heed,  therefore, 
 
 *  Senfus  hujus  loci  ex  Paulo  fic  concinnandus :  nempe  re- 
 quiem a  Deo  Ifraiilitis  e&  promifiam  in  terra  Chananeea  :  omnes 
 tamen  interim  in  deferto  cecidifle  hac  requie  friiilratos  :  quare 
 Spiritum  Sanftum  per  Davidem  ad  novam  requiem  invitafTe ; 
 
 ad 
 
Day  19.  M.  ?.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  16$ 
 
 "  brethren,  left  there  be  in  any  of  you  an  evil  heart 
 "  of  unbelief,  in  departing  from  the  living  God. 
 "  But  exhort  one  another  daily,  while  it  is  called  to 
 *'  day;  left  any  of  you  be  hardened  through  the  dc- 
 "  ceitfulnefs  of  fin.  t'or  we  are  made  partakers  of 
 "  Chrift,  if  we  hold  the  beginning  of  our  confidence 
 "  ftedfaft  unto  the  end;  while  it  is  faid.  To  day,  if 
 "  ye  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts  as 
 "  in  the  'provocation.  For  fome,  when  they  had 
 '*  heard,  did  provoke;  howbcit,  not  all  that  came 
 "  out  of  Egypt  by  Mofes.  But  with  whorti  was  he 
 "  grieved  forty  years  ?  Was  it  not  with  them  that 
 "  had  finned,  whofe  carcafes  fell  in  the  wildernefs  ? 
 "  And  to  whom  fware  he,  that  they  fhould  not  enter 
 "  into  his  reft,  but  to  them  that  befieved  not  ?  So 
 "  we  fee  that  they  could  not  enter  in  becaufe  of  un- 
 "  belief.  Let  us  therefore  fear,  left,  a  promifc  being 
 '*  made  us  of  entering  into  his  reft,  any  of  you 
 "  (hould  feem  to  come  ftiort  of  it.  For  unto  us 
 **  was  the  Gofpel  preached,  as  well  as  unto  them ; 
 "  but  the  word  preached  did  not  profit  them,  not 
 "  being  mixed  with  faith  in  them  that  heard  it.'* 
 Heb.  iii.   12.  &c. 
 
 ad  novum  illud  fabbatum  ab  ipfo  irivihdi  ixtrdlo  Aitl  feptimsfi 
 requie  figuratum,  novumque  indixilTe  diem  quo  fub  Chrifto,  in 
 Ecclefia,  ac  caelefti  patria  quiefceremus,  nifi  effemus  increduli ; 
 undefic  concludit  Paulus:  *<FeilinemuJ  ingtedi  in illam  requiem." 
 
 BOSSVET, 
 
 1 1  PSALM 
 
i64  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  96. 
 
 PSALM    XCVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 By  common  confent  of  Jews  and  Chriftians, 
 We  apply  this  Pfalm  to  the  times  of  Mef- 
 fiah.  1 — 4.  Men  arc  exhorted  to  fing  his 
 praifes;  to  declare  his  falvation ;  4,  5.  to 
 acknowledge  his  fuprcmacy  over  the  gods  of 
 the  nations,  with  6.  the  glory  and  beauty 
 of  his  fan6luary;  7 — 9.  to  give  him  the 
 honour,  the  worfliip,  and  the  obedience  due 
 unto  him,  and  JO.  to  publifh  the  glad  tidings 
 of  his  kingdom  being  eftabliflied  :  11 — 13. 
 the  whole  creation  is  called  upon  to  rejoice 
 at  this  great  event.  We  find,  by  1  Chron. 
 xvi.  that  David  delivered  out  this  Pfalm, 
 to  be  fung  on  occafion  of  temporal  blefsings, 
 prefigurative  of  future  fpirituai  ones. 
 
 I.  O  Jing  trnto  the  Lord  a  nexvfongi  (ing  unto 
 the  Lord,  all  the  earth. 
 
 Jehovah,  our  Redeemer,  is  the  perfon  whofe  praifes^ 
 are  to  be  fung.  They  are  to  be  fung  in  a  "  new'* 
 fong;  a  fong  calculated  to  celebrate  new  mercies, 
 prefigured  by  old  ones  wrought  for  Ifrael  in  former 
 times;  a  fong  fit  for  the  voices  of  renewed  and  rege- 
 nerate men  to  fing  in  the  new  Jerufalem,  in  thofe 
 new  heavens  and  that  new  earth,  which  conftitute 
 
 the 
 
Day  19.  M.  p.        GN  THE  PSALMS.  165 
 
 the  new  creation,  or  kingdom  of  Jefus  Chrift. 
 And  as  the  mercies  of  God  are  univerfal,  extending 
 the^Tifelves  not  only  to  the  Jews,  but  to  all  the 
 nations  of  the  earth,  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  are 
 therefore  exhorted  to  bear  a  part  in  this  new  fong ; 
 "  Sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  fong;  fing  unto  the 
 **  Lord,  all  the  earth."  Thus  St.  John,  after  reckon- 
 ing up  the  144000,  or  full  number  of  thofe  who 
 were  fealed  to  falvation  from  among  the  tribes  of  If- 
 rael,  proceeds  to  tell  us,  that  he  "  beheld,  and  lo,  a 
 "  great  multitude,  which  no  man  could  number,  of 
 "  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and  people,  and  tongues, 
 *'  flood  before  the  throne,  and  before  the  Lamb, 
 "  clothed  with  white  robes,  and  palms  in'  their 
 "  hands."  All  thefe  fung  a  new  fong,  which  none 
 could  learn  but  the  redeemed;  they"  cried  with  a 
 "  loud  voice,  faying.  Salvation  to  our  God  which 
 **  fitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  to  the  Lamb."  See 
 Rev.  V.  vii-  xiv. 
 
 2.  Sing  unto  the  Lord,  hlefs  his  name :  Jhcw  forth 
 his  falvation  from  day  to  day. 
 
 Again  are  we  excited  to  fing  unto  the  Lord  Jesvs, 
 and  in  Pfalms  and  hymns,  and  fpiritual  fongs,  to 
 blefs  his  faving  name.  The  latter  claufe  of  the  verfe 
 is  very  expreflive  in  the  original,  ywi  "  Preach," 
 or  '*  Evangelize  his  falvation  from  day  to  day ;"  let 
 it  be  the  conftant  theme  of  all  your  difcourfesj 
 publifh  it  to  the  world  in  every  poffible  way,  by 
 your  words,  and  by  your  aftions ;  and  while  God 
 allpws  you  breath  and  life,  let  one  day  tranfmit  the 
 L  3  glorious 
 
i66  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  96. 
 
 glorious  employment  to  another,  until  it  be  refumed 
 and  continued  in  heaven,  to  all  eternity. 
 
 3.  Declare  his  glory  among  the  heathens  hisivon- 
 4ers  among  all  people. 
 
 The  *'  glory"  of  Meffiah  in  his  incarnation,  his 
 life,  his  death,  refurredion,  afcenfion,  and  kingdom, 
 the  "  wonders"  or  miracles  by  him  wrought  upon 
 the  bodies  and  fouls  of  men ;  thefe  were  the  things 
 ^'  declared  among  the  heathen,"  even  *'  among  all 
 **  people,"  by  the  Apoflles  and  their  fucceflbrs;  thefe 
 things  are  ftill  declared,  by  the  Scriptures  read,  and 
 fermons  preached  in  the  church,  which  was  gathered 
 originally  from  among  the  Gentiles. 
 
 4.  For  the  Lord  is  greats  and  greatly  to  be 
 praifed:  he  is  to  be  feared  above  all  gods.  5.  For. 
 all  the  gods  of  the  nations  are  idols:  or,  tilings  of 
 noughty  but  it  is  the  Lord  that  made  the  heavens. 
 
 ([thrift  is  to  be  celebrated,  his  glory  and  wonders 
 are  to  be  declared,  becaufe  he  is,  in  every  pol^ble 
 fenfe,  *'  great  j"  great  in  dignity,  in  power,  in  mer- 
 cy; and  therefore  "  greatly  to  be  praifed"  by  every 
 creature.  The  heavens  and  heavenly  bodies,  adored 
 by  the  nations,  were  no  gods,  but  the  works  of 
 "  his'"  hafids,  who  had  fixed  his  everlafting  throne 
 high  above  them  all.  At  the  publication  of  the 
 Gofpel,  idolatry  fell  before  it ;  and  what  is  the  world 
 itfelf,  but  one  great  idol,  vyhich  is  to  fall  and  difap- 
 pear  in  like  manner  ? 
 
 6.  Honour  and  majefy  are  before  him  ;  frength 
 ftnd  beauty  are  in  his  fanctuary. 
 "^hat  are  the  fplendour  and  magnificence  of  earthly 
 3  courts. 
 
Day  19.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  167 
 
 court?,  when  compared  with  that  glory  and  majefly, 
 the  unutterable  brightnefs  of  which  fills  the  court  of 
 the  heavenly  King?  Some  portion  of  this  ceJeftial 
 light  is  communicated,  through  grace,  to  the  Chrif- 
 tian  church,  which  is'^defcribed  by  St.  John,  under 
 images  borrowed  from  the  figurative  faiiduary,  and 
 the  earthly  Jerufalem,  ^s  an  edifice  compofed  of  gold 
 and  precious  ftones,  illuminated  by  the  glory  of  God 
 and  the  Lamb,  refiding  in  the  midft  of  it.  See 
 Rev.  xxi. 
 
 7.  Give  tinfo  the  Lord,  O  ije  kindreds,  or,  fa- 
 milies, or,  tribes  of  the  people,  give  unto  the  Lord 
 glory  and  jirtngth.  8.  Give  unto  the  Lord  the 
 glory  due  unto  his  name;  bring  an  'offering,  and  come 
 info  his  courts.  9.  O  worjhip  the  I>ori)  in  the  beauty 
 of  holinefs :  fear  before  him  all  the  earth. 
 
 In  thefe  three  verfes,  the  tribes  of  the  fpiritual 
 Ifrael  are  enjoined  to  afcribe  to  their  Rec!eemer  all 
 "  glory  and  ftrength,"  as  eflcntially  inherent  in  him, 
 and  by  him  communicated  to  his  people;  to  give 
 him  the  entire  '^  glory  of  his  name,"  and  of  that 
 "  falvation"  imported  by  it ;  to  bring  the  '•  facri- 
 "  fices''  of  the  new  law,  and  to  alfemble  in  the 
 "courts'*  of  his  houfe;  to  worlbip  him  in  that 
 "  beauty  of  holinefs,"  which  is  con^ituted  bv  the 
 regular  and  folemn  fervices  of  the  church  ;  to  *"fear" 
 and  obey  him,  as  the  fubjecls  of  a  Kiii^  invefled 
 with  plenitude  of  power  in  heaven  and  earth, 
 
 10.  Say  among  the  heathen,  that  the  Lord  reiow 
 eth:  the  ivorld  alfofliali  be  ejtab  ijked  that  it  f hall 
 not  be  moved:  he  Jhall  judge  the  people  rigiittoufly, 
 L4  In 
 
i6$  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  97. 
 
 In  other  words — Make  proclamation,  therefore, 
 O  ye  Apoftles  and  preachers  of  the  Gofpel,  that  a 
 new  and  eternal  kingdom  isereded;  the  ufurped  em- 
 pire of  Satan  is  overthrown,  and  the  Lord  Jefus, 
 having  redeemed  mankind,  reigneth  in  the  hearts  of 
 his  people  by  faith ;  a  community  is  formed,  not  upon 
 the  plan  of  fecular  policy,  but  upon  the  divine  prin- 
 ciple of  heavenly  love ;  it  is  eftabliQied  on  immoveable 
 foundations,  nor  fliall  the  gates  of  hell  prevail  againil 
 it  J  righteoufnefs  (hall  dwell  in  it,  fince  He,  who  is 
 the  King  of  Righteoufnefs,  prefides,  directs,  and  de- 
 termines all  things,  by  his  Word,  and  his  Spirit. 
 
 1 1 .  Let  the  heavens  rejoice,  ana  let  the  earth  he  glads 
 let  the  fea  roar,  and  the  fidnefs  thereof :  z.  Let 
 the  field  l)e  joyful,  and  all  that  is  in  it:  then  fliall 
 all  the  trees  of  the  zvood  rejoice  before  the  Lord. 
 
 Tranfported  with  a  view  of  thefe  grand  events, 
 and  beholding  in  Spirit  the  advent  of  King  Meffiah, 
 the  Pfalmift  exults  in  mofl  jubilant  and  triumphant 
 ftrains,  calling  the  whole  creation  to  break  forth  into 
 joy,  and  to  celebrate  the  glories  of  red^^mption.  The 
 heavens,  with  the  innumerable  orbs  fixed  in  them, 
 which,  while  they  lo.'l  and  fliine,  declare  the  glory 
 of  beatified  faints j  the  eartii,  which,  made  fertile 
 by  celeiiial  influences,  Iheweth  the  work  of  grace  on 
 the  hearts  of  men  here  below;  the  field,  which, 
 crowned  with  a  produce  of  un  hundred  fold,  dif- 
 pbyeth  an  emblem  of  the  fruit  yielded  by  the  feed 
 of  the  Word  in  the  church;  the  trees  of  the  wood, 
 lo  ly,  verdant,  and  difFufe,  apt  reprefentaiives  of 
 holy  perfons,  thofe  "   trees   of  righteoufnefs,     the 
 
 "  planting 
 
Day   19.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  169 
 
 "  planting  of  Jehovah,"  Ifai.  Ixi-  3.  whofe  examples 
 are  eminent,  fair,  and  extenfive ;  all  thefe  are,  by 
 the  prophet,  excited  to  join  in  a  chorus  of  thankf- 
 giving  to  the  Maker  and  Redeemer  of  the  world. 
 
 13.  For  he  cometh,forh€Cometh  to  judge  theearth  ; 
 he  JJiall  judge  the  ivorld  with  righteoufnefsy  and  the 
 people  zvith  his  truth. 
 
 The  coming  of  Chrift  is  twofold ;  firft,  he  came  to 
 fandlify  the  creature,  and  he  will  come  again  to  glo- 
 rify it.  Either  of  his  kingdoms,  that  of  grace,  or 
 that  of  glory,  may  be  fignified  by  his  "  judging  the 
 "  world  in  righteoufnefs  and  truth."  If  creation  be 
 reprefented,  as  rejoicing  at  the  eftablifliment  of  the 
 former,  how  much  greater  will  the  joy  be  at  the  ap- 
 proach of  the  latter,  feeing  that,  notwithftanding 
 Chrift  be  long  fince  come  in  the  flelh,  though  he  be 
 afcended  into  heaven,  and  have  fent  the  Spirit  from 
 thence,  yet  "  the  whole  creation,"  as  the  Apoftle 
 fpeaks,  Rom.  viii.  22.  "  groaneth  and  travaileth  in 
 *'  pain  together  until  now,  expeding  to  be  delivered, 
 "  from  the  bondage  of  corruption,  into  the  glorious 
 "  liberty  of  the  fons  of  God.  And  not  only  they, 
 **  but  ourfelves  alio,  which  have  the  firft  fruits  of 
 *'  the  Spirit,  even  we  ourfelves  groan  withm  our- 
 "  felves,  waiting  for  the  adoption,  to  wit,  the  re- 
 **  demption  of  the  body ;"  when  at  the  renovation 
 of  all  things,  man,  new  made,  fhall  return  to  the 
 days  of  his  youth,  to  begin  an  immortal  fpring,  and 
 be  fox  ever  young. 
 
 PSALM 
 
lyo  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  97. 
 
 PSALM  XCVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In  this  Pfalm,  1.  tlie  reign  of  Chrifl  is  again 
 celebrated,  and  the  nations  are  again  called 
 to  rejoice  on  that  account:  2 — 7.  He  is 
 defcribed  as  taking  vengeance  on  his  enemies, 
 overthrowing  idolatry  in  the  heathen  world, 
 commanding  adoration  from  all  crcatures,and 
 8,  9.  infpiring  gladncfs  into  the  church,  by 
 fubduing  her  enemies-:  10 — 12.  The  duties 
 of  holinefs,  thankfulnefs,  and  religious  joy, 
 are  inculcated. 
 
 I.  T//^LoRD  reignethi  let  the  earth  rejoice  ^  let 
 the  multitude  of  the  ijlts  be  glad  thereof. 
 
 Triumphant  over  death  and  hell,  the  Lord  Jefus 
 is  gone  up  on  high,  and  "  reigneth."  What  greater 
 caufe  can  the  whole  earth  have  to  "  rejoice;"'  yea, 
 even  the  nioft  diftant  illes  of  the  Gentiles,  to  "  be 
 "  glad,"  and  to  fing  for  joy;  fince  they  are  all  be- 
 come hisfubjedts,  and  Ihare  the  unfpeakable  bleffings 
 of  io  gracious  a  reign  ?  We  Britons,  as  inhabiting 
 one  of  thofe  heathen  ifles,  and  enjoying  fo  fair  a 
 portion  of  evangelical  bleffings,  have  realon  to  repeat 
 this  verfe,  with  a  particular  pleafure  and  energy. 
 The  Hebrews  called  by  the  name  of  "  ifles,"  D''''i^, 
 not  only  countries  furrounded  by  the  fea,  but  all  the 
 countries  which  the  fea  divided  from  thera ;  fo  that 
 
 the 
 
Day  19.  M.  p,         ON  THE  PSALMS.  171 
 
 the  term  became  fynonymous  with  "  Gentiles." 
 Thus,  it  is  faid,  Ifa.  xlii.  4.  "  The  isles  Ihall  wait 
 "  for  his  law  j"  which  paffage,  Matt.  xii.  21.  is  ex- 
 pounded as  follows,  "  In  him  fliall  the  Gentiles 
 "  truft." 
 
 2.  Clouds  and  darkncfs  are  round  about  him: 
 righteoufnefs  and  judgment  are  the  habitatioUy  or, 
 eJlahliJJiment  of  his  throne. 
 
 When  the  mercy  and  grace  of  our  heavenly  King 
 are  to  be  defcribed,  he  is  likened  to  the  fun  lliining 
 in  a  clear  firmament,  and  gladdening  unive'-fal  na- 
 ture with  his  beneficent  rays.  But  when  we  are  to 
 conceive  an  idea  of  him,  as  going  forth,  in  "  juftice 
 ^'  and  judgment,"  to  dilcomfit  and  puniQi  his  adver- 
 faries,  the  imagery  is  then  borrowed  from  a  troubled 
 fky;  he  is  pidured  as  furrounded  by  "  clouds  and 
 "  darknefs ;"  from  whence  iflue  lightnings,  and 
 thunders,  ftorms  and  tempefts,  affrighting  and  con- 
 founding the  wicked  and  impenitent. 
 
 3.  Afiregoeth  before  khn,  and  burneth  tip  his  ene- 
 mies round  about.  4.  His  tighfnings  enlightened  the 
 world:  the  earth  f aw  and  trembled.  5.  The  hills 
 vielted  like  wax  at  the  prefence  of  the  Lord  :  at  the 
 prefence  of  the  Lord  of  the  zvhole  earth. 
 
 The  }'udgments  oi  God,  and  their  effects  upon 
 the  world,  are  here  fet  forth,  under  the  ufual  fimiii- 
 tude  of  lightning  and  fire  from  heaven,  caufing  the 
 earth  to  tremble,  and  the  mountains  to  melt  and 
 diflbive  away.  The  exaltation  of  Chrift  to  the  throne 
 of  his  kingdom,  was  followed  by  a  dreadful  difpl-.ty 
 of  that  vengeance,  which  bioke  in  pieces  the  Jev'tili 
 nation,  and  brought   their  civil  and  religious  pc.ity 
 
 to 
 
172  A  COMMENTARY        PsAL.97. 
 
 to  an  utter  diflblution.  In  the  hiftory  of  their  de- 
 ftru6i:ion,  the  world  of  the  ungodly  may  view  a 
 ftriking  pidure  of  the  great  and  terrible  xiay,  when 
 the  Lord  Jefus  Qiall  render  a  recompenfe  to  all  his 
 enemies.  He  is  then  to  defcend  in  flaming  fire ; 
 lightnings  (hall  be  his  harbingers ;  the  earth  fhall 
 tremble;  and  the  hills  (hall,  literally,  "  melt  like 
 "  wax,  at  the  prefence  of  Jehovah." 
 
 6.  The  heavens  declare  his  righteoufnefs  -  and  all 
 the  people  fee  his  glomj. 
 
 "  The  heavens,"  by  the  manifeftation  of  vengeance 
 from  thence,  reveal,  ''  declare,"  and  proclaim  the 
 *'  righteous"  judgments  of  Meffiah  ;  and  *'  all  the 
 **  people*'  upon  earth  are  witneffes  of  the  "  glory" 
 of  his  victory,  over  every  thing  that  oppofeth  itfelf 
 to  the  eftabUfhment  of  his  kingdom.  This  will  be 
 more  eminently  the  cafe  at  the  fecond  advent,  when 
 the  trumpet  of  the  archangel  (hall  proclaim  his  ap- 
 proach in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  all  the  tribes 
 of  the  earth  (hall  fee  him  cpming  in  the  glory  of  his 
 Father,  with  the  holy  angels. 
 
 7.  Confounded  be^  ox.Jhall  be  all  they  thatferve 
 graven  images;  that  boajl  themfelves  of  idols  •  wor- 
 JJiip  him,  all  ye  gods. 
 
 When  Jefus  was  exalted,  his  Gofpel  publi(hed, 
 and  his  power  and  glory  made  known  in  the  heathen 
 world,  men  grew  "afhamed"  of  their  *'  images,  and 
 "  boafted  themfelves  in  their  idols"  no  more.  The 
 laft  claufe  of  our  verfe,  "  Worfhip  him,  all  ye  gods," 
 declares  the  fupremacy  of  Chrift,  over  all  that  are 
 called  gods,  D'Tlbi^,  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  who  are 
 
 enjoined 
 
Day  19.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  173 
 
 enjoined  to  pay  adoration  unto  him,  infl^ad  of  claim- 
 ing it  for  themfelves. 
 
 8.  Sion  heard,  and  was  glad,  and  the  daughters  of 
 Judah  rejoiced ;  becatife  of  thy  judgments,  O  Lord. 
 9.  For  thou.  Lord,  art  high  above  all  the  earth : 
 thou  art  exalted  far  above  all  gods. 
 
 The  inhabitants  of  the  new  "  Sion,"  or  the 
 people  of  God,  *'  heard"  the  tidings,  that  idols  and 
 idolatry  were  fallen,  and  the  Lord  Jefus  reigned 
 triumphant  j  they  heard,  and  *'  were  glad ;  the 
 **  daughters  of  Judah,"  or  Chriftian  churches,  "  re- 
 "  joiced"  in  the  Holy  Ghoft,  with  joy  unfpeakable, 
 "  becaufe  of  thefe  judgments"  of  their  God  upon 
 his  enemies,  whereby  he  evinced  himfelf  fuperior  to 
 the  powers  of  the  earth,  and  the  gods  of  the  nations. 
 Thus,  at  the  fall  of  Babylon,  it  is  faid,  Rev.  xviii. 
 20.  "  Rejoice  over  her,  thou  heaven,  and  ye  holy 
 "  Apoftles  and  Prophets,  for  God  hath  avenged  you 
 "  on  her."  And  Eufebius  fpeaks,  in  the  following 
 terms,  of  the  times  under  Conftantine,  which  fuc- 
 ceeded  the  overthrow  of  Maxentius  and  Maximin ; 
 *'  A  bright  and  glorious  day,  no  cloud  overfhadowing 
 **  it,  did  enlighten,  with  rays  of  heavenly  Hght, 
 **  the  churches  of  Chrift  over  all  the  earth ; — and 
 "  among  all  Chriftians  there  was  an  inexpreflible 
 **  joy,  and  a  kind  of  celeftial  gladnefs."  Ecclefiaft. 
 Hift.  B.  X. 
 
 10.  Ye  that  love  the  Lord,  hate  evil:  hepreferveth 
 the  fouls  ofhisfaintSy  he  delivereth  them  out  of  the 
 hand  of  the  wicked. 
 
 Having  fung  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer,  the 
 Pfalmift  delineates  the  duty  of  the  redeemed.     They 
 
 are 
 
174  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  97. 
 
 are  characlerifed  by  their  "  love  of  God;'*  they  are 
 enjoined  to  "  hate  evil;"  this  hatred  is,  indeed,  a 
 confequence,  and  a  lure  proof  of  that  love,  when  it 
 is  genuine  and  fmoere.  Religion  muft  be  rooted  in 
 the  heart,  and  fpring  from  thence.  A  Chriftian 
 muft  not  only  ferve  God  outwardly,  but  muft  in- 
 watdly  "  love"  him;  he  muft  not  content  himfelf 
 with  abftaining  from  overt  adls  of  fin,  but  muft 
 truly  "  hate"  it.  They  who  do  fo,  are  "  the  faints 
 "  of  God,  whofe  fouls  he  preferveth"  from  evil, 
 and  will  finally  "  deliver"  from  the  evil  one,  and  his 
 aflbciates,  by  a  happy  death,  and  a  glorious  re- 
 furredion. 
 
 11.  Light  is  foivnfor  the  righteous:  and gladnefs 
 for  the  upright  in  heart. 
 
 However  gloomy  our  profpedl  may  at  any  time 
 be,  let  us  wait  patiently,  as  the  hufbandman  doth, 
 all  the  winter,  in  expeftation  of  a  future  crop,  from 
 the  feed  which  lieth  buried  in  the  earth.  *'  Light 
 "  and  gladnefs  are  fown  for  the  righteous  and  true 
 "  hearted,"  though  they  may  not  yet  appear;  the 
 feed-time  is  in  this  world  ;  the  harveft  will  be  in  that 
 to  come.  "  In  due  feafon  we  fhall  reap,  if  we  faint 
 "  not."     Gal.  vi.  9. 
 
 12.  Rejoice  in  the  Lord,^/^  righteous;  and  give 
 thanks  at  the  remembrance  of  his  holinefs. 
 
 Tribulation  itfelf,  therefore,  ftiould  not  prevent 
 our  *'  rejoicing  in  Jehovah  our  righteoufnefsj"  who 
 juftifieth  us  from  our  fms;  no  adverfity  ought  to 
 make  us  negligent  in  celebrating,  with  thankfgiving, 
 the  "  commemorations  of  his  holinefs,"  which  the 
 Church  hath  appointed  to  be  obferved;  to  the  end 
 
 that 
 
Day  19.  e.  p.      on  the  PSALMS.  175 
 
 that  we  may  always  remember,  with  gratitude,  how 
 great  things  he  hath  done  for  us  already,  and  refled 
 w.th  comfort,  on  thofe  much  greater  things,  which 
 he  hath  promifed  to  do  for  us  hereafter. 
 
 XIX    DAY.    EVENING    PRAYER.     , 
 
 PSALM    XCVIIL 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In  this  evangelical  hymn,  the  Prophet,  1 — 3« 
 extols  the  miracles,  the  viftory,  the  falvation, 
 the  righteoufnefs,  the  mercy,  and  truth  of 
 the  Redeemer  ;  on  account  of  which,  4 — 9, 
 he  calls  upon  man,  and  the  whole  creation, 
 to  rejoice  and  praife  Jehovah. 
 
 I.  Ofing  unto  the  Lord  a  vezvfong,  for  he  hath 
 done  7narvelloiis  things:  his  right  hand  and  his 
 holy  arm  hath  gotten  him  the  victory. 
 
 New  mercies  and  wonders  demand  new  fonga. 
 And  what  mercies,  what  wonders,  can  be  compared 
 with  thofe  wrought  by  the  holy  Jefus  ?  *'  Go  and 
 "  tell  John,"  faith  he  to  John's  difciples;  go  and 
 tell  all  the  world,  faith  he  to  his  own  difcipleS, 
 "  the  things  which  ye  fee  and  hear;"  the  marvel- 
 lous things  which  I  do  to  the  bodies,  and  to  the 
 fouls  of  men.  "  The  blind  receive  their  fight," 
 and  the  ignorant  minds  are  enlightened  with  know- 
 ledge ; 
 
176  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  98. 
 
 ledge;  '' the  lame  walk,"  and  ftrength  is  communi- 
 cated to  impotent  fouls ;  "  the  lepers  are  cleanfed/' 
 and  the  lafclvious  rendered  chafle  ;  **  the  deaf  hear,'* 
 and  the  obftinate  liften  to  inftrudion  and  reproof; 
 "  the  dead  are  raifed,"  and  finners  juftified ;  "  the 
 "  Gofpel  is  preached,"  and  the  world  converted. 
 "  His  own  right  hand,  and  his  holy  arm/'  hath  done 
 thefe  marvellous  things,  without  and  againft  all 
 worldly  power ;  not  by  fpear  and  fword,  but  by  pa- 
 tience and  charity,  he  hath  "  gotten  the  vidory,'* 
 and  gained  the  glorious  day. 
 
 2.  The  Lord  Jiath  made  known  his  Jalvationi- 
 his  righteoufnefs  hath  he  openly  Jhewed  in  the  fight 
 of  the  heathen. 
 
 The  "  falvation"  of  Jehovah  was  "  made  known" 
 by  the  preaching  of  Chrift  himfelf  in  Judea,  for  the 
 fpace  of  three  years;  his"  righteoufnefs,"  whereby 
 finners  are  juftified,  was  "  openly  fliewed,"  by  the 
 fermons  of  his  apoftles,  "  in  the  fight  of  the  bea- 
 "  then."  Still  let  that  falvation  be  made  known, 
 ftill  let  that  righteoufnefs  be  openly  fhewed,  by  the 
 minifters  of  l!)e  Gofpel,  until  the  fulnefs  of  the 
 Gentiles  be  come  in,  and  the  remnant  of  the  Jews 
 converted,  until  antichrift  be  overthrown,  and  Deatli 
 himfelf  fallen  before  the  all-conquering  crofs. 
 
 3.  He  hath  remembered  his  mercy  and  truth  to- 
 wards the  houjeof  Jj'raeli  all  the  ends  of  the  earth 
 havefeen  the  falvation  of  our  God. 
 
 In  fending  the  Melfiah,  God  (hewed  himfelf 
 mindful  of  the  promifes,  which  "  mercy"  prompted 
 him  to  make,  and  "  truth"  required  him  to  per^ 
 form.     Thcfe  promiies  were  made  to  "  the  houfe  of 
 
 '*   liracU" 
 
Day  19.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  i^y 
 
 **  Ifrael;"  to  the  loft  fheep  of  that  houfe,  Chrift 
 declared  himfelf  fent ;  and  the  Apoftles  offered  falva- 
 tion  firft  to  the  Jews:  but  to  them  it  was  never  in- 
 tended that  evangelical  bleffings  lliould  be  confined. 
 The  Prophets  fpake  in  plain  terms  of  the  call  of  the 
 Gentiles,  who  were  to  be  adopted  into  the  holy  fa- 
 mily, and  made  the  children  of  Abraham.  The  Gof- 
 pel  was  accordingly  preached  to  the  nations,  the 
 Apoftles  made  their  progrefs  through  the  world,  and 
 '*  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  faw  the  falvatioh  of  God." 
 The  Jews  fell  from  the  faith  of  their  fathers,  and, 
 to  this  dayj  continue  in  their  apoftafy.  And  are  not 
 the  Gentiles,  in  their  turn,  falling  away,  after  the 
 fame  example  of  unbelief  ?  "  Remember,"  yet  once 
 again,  O  Lord^  thy  "  mercy  and  truth  toward  the 
 "  houfe  of  Ifrael  i"  yet  once  again  let  "  all  the  ends 
 "  of  the  earth  fee  thy  falvation." 
 
 4.  Make  a  joyful  noife  unto  the  Lord,  all  Ihe  earth  ; 
 make  a  loud  noife ^  and  rejoice,  andjingpraife.  c^.^ing 
 unto  the  Lord  with  the  harp;  zvith  the  harp,  and  the 
 voice  of  a  Pfalm.  6.  With  trumpets  and  found  of  cor- 
 net 7nake  a  joyful  noife  before  the  Lord  the  king. 
 
 The  Pfalmift,  beholding  in  fpirit  the  accomplilh- 
 ment  of  the  promifes,  the  advent  of  Chrift,  and  the 
 glory  of  his  kingdom,  thinks  it  criminal  in  any 
 creature  to  be  filent  -,  he  bids  the  whole  earth  break 
 forth  into  joy,  and  exult  in  God  our  Saviour,  with 
 every  token  of  gratitude  and  thankfulnefs ;  with 
 voices,  and  inftruments  of  all  kinds,  in  perfedt  har- 
 mony, with  tempers  and  affedions  according  in  like 
 manner,  men  are  enjoined  to  found  aloud  the  praifes 
 of  their  great  Redeemer. 
 
 Vol.  IL  M  7.  Let 
 
178  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  99. 
 
 7.  Let  the  fed  roar,  and  the  fulnefs  thereof;  the 
 world,  and  they  that  dxoell  therein.  8.  Let  the  floods 
 clap  their  hands,  let  the  hills  he  joyful  together, 
 9.  Before  the  Lord;  ./or  he  cometh  to  judge  the 
 earth:  with  righteoufncfs  Jliall  he  judge  the  worldy 
 and  the  people  with  equity. 
 
 The  inanimate  parts  of  creation  are  called  upon 
 to  bear  their  parts  in  the  new  fong,  and  to  fill  up 
 the  univerfal  chorus  of  praife  and  thankfgiving,  in 
 honour  of  him  that  fitteth  upon  the  throne.  Or, 
 perhaps,  the  converted  heathen  nations  are  intended 
 under  the  figures  of  the  "  fea,"  the  "  rivers,"  and 
 the  "  hills,"  and  their  exultations  exprefled  by  the 
 noife  of  many  waters,  their  beauty  and  fruitfulnefs 
 by  thole  of  the  hills,  when,  crowned  with  plenty, 
 they,  as  it  were,  laugh  and  fing,  at  the  approach  of 
 harveft.  The  fubjeft  of  this  general  joy  is,  as  be- 
 fore, ifi  Pf.  xcvi.  13.  the  advent  of  Meffiah  to  re- 
 form the  world,  to  execute  judgment  upon  the  wick- 
 ed, and  to  eftablifh  a  kingdom  of  righteoufnefs  upon 
 the  earth.  We  expe«5t  his  fecond  advent  to  reftore 
 all  things,  to  judge  the  world',  to  condemn  his  ene- 
 mies, and  to  begin  his  "  glorious"  reign.  Then 
 ihall  heaven  and  earth  rejoice,  and  the  joy  of  the 
 redeemed  fliall  be  full. 
 
 PSALM   XCIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 tender  images  borrowed  from  the  old  difpenfa- 
 tion,  the  Prophet  celebrates  L  the  reign  of 
 
 Mefsiahj 
 
Day  19.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  179 
 
 Mefslab,  and  the  fubmifsion  of  his  enemies ; 
 2 — A',  his  exaltation,  holinefs,  power,  and 
 juftice;  which  5.  men  are  exhorted  to  ac- 
 knowledge and  adore.  6 — 9.  The  examples 
 of  Mofes,  Aaron,  and  Samuel  are  introduced, 
 to  encourage  us  in  worfhipping  and  ferving 
 our  God  and  Saviour. 
 
 1.  77zeLoRD  j^eignel/i,  let  the  people  tremble :  he 
 fitteth  between  the  cherubims;  let  the  earth  be  moved, 
 
 or,  bow. 
 
 Jehovah  reigneth  In  the  Cbriftian  church,  as  he 
 did  of  old  in  the  Jev.'ifh  temple;  when  he  appeared 
 between  the  cherubims  in  the  holy  of  holies,  in  the 
 form  and  likenefs  of  a  man,  encompaffed  with 
 "  glory:"  Ezek.  i.  26.  Numb.  vii.  89.  he  fubdued 
 the  enemies  of  Ifrael,  when  they  raged  moft  furi- 
 oully  againft  his  people ;  he  will  alfo  bring  into 
 fubjeftion  the  adverfaries  of  the  Gofpeh  and  finally 
 render  us  vidorious  over  the  powers  of  darknefs. 
 The  pafiions  and  affedions  may  mutiny  and  rebel  j 
 but  if  Chrift  reign  in  the  heart  by  faith,  they  muft 
 foon  tremble  and  fubmit. 
 
 2.  The  Lord  is  great  in  Sion,  and  he  is  high  above 
 all  people.  3.  Let  them  praife  thy  great  and  terrible 
 name :  for  it  is  holy. 
 
 The  power  and  pre-eminence  of  the  Redeemer, 
 whom  no  creature  is  able  to  refift,  are  reafons  why 
 all  (hould  fave  themfelves,  by  yielding  in  time  to 
 his  fceptre ;  by  taking  the  benefit  of  his  protedion, 
 inftead  of  incurring  his  difpleafure;  by  "  praifing 
 "  his  great,  terrible,  and  holy  name,"  inftead  of 
 M  2  fuf- 
 
i8o  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  gg: 
 
 fuffering  the  almighty  vengeance,   which    he,    who 
 owns  that  Name,  can  inflift. 
 
 4.  The  King's  Jlreiigth  alfo  love th  judgment ^  thou 
 dojt  eftahlijh  equity,  thou  executeji  judgment  and 
 rightcoufnefs  in  Jacob.  5.  Exalt  ye  the  Lord  our 
 God,   and  worJJiip  at  his  footflool  •'  for  he  is  holy. 
 
 For  although  the  "  ftrength"  of  our  King  be 
 infinite,  yet  it  is  never  exerted,  but  in  "  righteouf- 
 "  nefs"  and  juft  "judgment,"  which  are  his  delight; 
 they  compofe  the  firm  bafis  of  his  throne,  and  direcfc 
 his  whole  ad  mini  drat  ion.  Impenitent  rebels  muft 
 feel  the  weight  of  his  arm,  and  none  can  accufe  the 
 juftice  of  their  punifhment :  but  in  all  other  cafes, 
 he  is  *'  mighty  only  to  fave."  Ifai.  Ixiii.  i.  This  ho- 
 linefs  of  his  proceedings,  this  due  temperament  of 
 juftice  with  mercy,  the  redeemed  are  exhorted  to 
 acknowledge  and  to  proclaim,  falling  down  before  the 
 throne,  and  uttering  the  angelical  trifagion,  "  Holy, 
 "  Holy,  Floly,  Lord  God  Almighty,  which  was,  and 
 *'  is,  and  is  to  come." 
 
 6.  Mofes  and  Aaro7i  among  his  priejls,  or,  chief 
 rulers,  and  Samuel  among  them  thatcallupon  hisname; 
 they  called  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  anjwered  them. 
 7 .  He  f pake  unto  them  in  the  cloudy  pillar  ■  they  kept  his 
 tejlimonies,  and  the  ordinance  that  he  gave  them. 
 
 To  encourage  the  faithful  in  the  worfhip  of  God, 
 the  examples  of  Mofes,  Aaron,  and  Samuel  are  ad- 
 duced, men  of  like  infirmities  with  ourfelves,  whofe 
 prayers  were  heard,  both  tor  themfelves  and  others, 
 and  anfwers  were  returned  to  them  from  the  myftic 
 "  cloud,"  that  fymbol  of  the  divine  prefence,  which, 
 for  a  while,  was  itinerant  with  the  camp  in  the  wil- 
 
 dernefs, 
 
Dat  19.  e.  p.        ojf  the  psalms,  181 
 
 dernefs,  and  then  became  fixed  in  the  tabernacle  at 
 Shiloh,  till  it's  laft  removal  to  mount  Sion.  Thefe 
 men  were  heard  through  the  intercefTion  of  the  great 
 Mediator,  whom  they  reprefented.  Through  that 
 fame  interceflion,  our  prayers  alio  are  heard,  if  we 
 "  keep  his  teftimonies,  and  the  ordinances  that  he 
 "  hath  given  us." 
 
 8.  Thou  niifweredji  Ihem,  O  Lord  oii?^  God;  thou 
 wall  a  God  that  forgdvejl  them,  though  thou  tookejl 
 vengeance  of  their  inventions. 
 
 The  conftrudion  of  the  verfe  feems  to  be  this. 
 *'  O  Lord  our  God,  thou  didft  hear,  or  anfwer 
 "  them,"  that  is,  the  aforementioned  typical  me- 
 diators, Mofes,  Aaron,  and  Samuel;  "  thou  be- 
 "  camefl  a  forbearing  God  for  them,"  or,  at  their 
 intercefTion;  and  that,  "  even  when  puniQiing,"  or, 
 when  thou  hadft  begun  to  punifh,  "  the  wicked 
 *'  deeds  of  them,"  that  is,  not  of  Moles^^  Aaron, 
 and  Samuel,  but  of  the  people,  who  had  tranfgreff-^ 
 ed,  and  for  whom  they  interceded.  This  was  thq 
 cafe,  when  Mofes  interceded  for  the  idolaters;  Exod. 
 xxxii.  32.  Aaron  for  the  fchifmatics;  Numb.  xvi. 
 47.  and  Samuel  for  the  whole  nation;  i  Sam.  vii.  9. 
 *'  Pray  one  for  another,"  faith  an  Apoftle  to  Chrif- 
 tians,  "  that  ye  may  be  healed:  the  effedual  fervent 
 *^  prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much."  James? 
 V.  1 6, 
 
 9.  Exalt  the  Lord  our  Gody  and  zvorjhip  at  his 
 holy  liill:  fur  the  Lord  our  God  is  hoiy- 
 
 Th§  Pfalmift  repeats  his  exhortation,  enforced  by 
 
 the   preceding    examples    of    Mofes,     Aaron,    and 
 
 Samuel,   ^n4  again  invites  all  people  to  worfhip  a 
 
 M  3  *•  holy" 
 
i8a  ACOMMENTARY         Psal.  loo, 
 
 "  holy'*  God  in  a  "  holy"  place,  and  to  adore  the 
 confummate  re6litude  of  all  his  proceedings,  fing- 
 ing  with  the  Spirits  above,  "  Great  and  marvellous 
 *'  are  thy  works,  Lord  God  Almighty;  juft  and 
 *^  true  are  thy  ways,  thou  King  of  Saints."  Rev. 
 XV.  3. 
 
 PSALM     C. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  Pfalmift  invites  all  the  world  to  join  with 
 the  Ifraelites  in  the  fervice  of  him  who  was 
 kind  and  gracious  to  them  beyond  expref- 
 fion.  Accordingly,  we  Chriftians  now  pro- 
 perly life  this  Plalm  in  acknowledgment  of 
 God's  wonderful  love  -  to  us  in  Chrift;  by 
 whom  we  offer  up  continually  fpiritual  fa- 
 crifices,    for   redeeming  us  by   the  facrifice 
 
 ]  which  he  made  of  himfelf ;  for  making  the 
 world  anew,  and  creating  us  again  unto 
 good  works;  according  to  his  faithful  pro- 
 mifes,  which  we  may  depend  upon  for  ever. 
 
 Patrick. 
 
 I.  Make  a  joyful  noife  unto  the  Lord,  all  ye 
 lands:  1.  Serve  the  Loud  with  gladnefs :  come  be- 
 fore his  prefcnce  withfinging. 
 
 The  prophet  addreffeth  himfelf  to  "  all  lands,"  or 
 to  "  all  the  earth;'  to  Gentiles,  as  well  as  Jews.  He 
 exhorteth  them  to  "  make  a  joytul  noife,"  a  noife 
 like  that  of  the  trumpets  at  the  time  of  jubilee,  a 
 
 found 
 
Day  19.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  183 
 
 found  of  univerfal  triumph  and  exultation,  in  honour 
 of  "  Jehovah,"  now  become  their  Lord  and  Saviour. 
 The  fervice  of  this  our  Mafter  is  perfect  freedom;  it 
 is  a  fervice  of  love,  a  freedom  from  Pharaoh  and  the 
 tafk-mafters,  from  Satan  and  our  own  imperious- 
 lulls;  it  is  a  redemption  from  the  mod  cruel  bond- 
 age, into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  fons  of  God. 
 Let  us  therefore  do  as  we  are  commanded ;  let  us 
 *'  ferve  the  Lord  with  gladnefs;"  and  when  we 
 **  come  before  his  prefence"  in  the  temple,  let  it  be 
 "  with  finging"'  to  the  praife  and  glory  of  our  Re- 
 deemer. Thus  he  is  ferved  in  heaven,  and  thus  he 
 delighteth  to  be  ferved  on  earth. 
 
 3.  Knoxvye  that  the  Lord  he  is  God,  it  is  he  that 
 hath  made  us,  ami  not  we.  our/elves  ;  we  are  his  people, 
 and  theJJieep  ofhispajture.  Gr,  He  hath  made  us, and 
 wearehis*,  his  people,  and  theJJieepofhispaJiure, 
 
 The  motives  here  urged  for  ferving  and  praifing 
 Jehovah,  are  the  fame  with  thofe  above,  in  Pf  xcv. 
 6,  7.  namely,  that  he  is  our  "  God,"  engaged  by 
 covenant  on  our  behalf;  that  his  hands  created  us, 
 and  have  fmce  new  created  us ;  that  we  {land  in  the 
 peculiar  relation  of  his  "  people,"  whom  he  hath 
 chofen  to  himfelf,  and  over  whom  he  prefideth  as 
 King ;  that  we  are  "  the  (beep  of  his  pafture,"  for 
 whom  the  good  fhepherd  laid  down  his  life,  and 
 whom  he  nouriflieth,  by  the  word  and  facraments, 
 
 *  'M  am  perfuaded  that  the  Maforetical  correftion  '\h^  (and 
 f  we  are  his)  is  right :  the  conftrudion  and  parallelifm  both  fa- 
 "  vour  it."  Bifhop  Lowth.  A  correfpondent  fuggefts — Might 
 not  the  claufe  be  rendered  interrogatively.—"  Are  not  we  his 
 people,  and  the  fheep  of  his  pafture?" 
 
 M4  untQ 
 
i84  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  ioo. 
 
 unto  eternal  life.  Thefe  are  points  which  every 
 Chriftian  ought  to  "  know"  and  believe,  unto  his 
 foul's  health.  And  whoever  doth  know  them  aright, 
 will  ever  be  ready  with  heart  and  voice  to  obey  the 
 injundion  which  followeth  in  the  next  verfe. 
 
 4.  Enter  into  his  gates  zvith  thank/giving^  and  into- 
 his  courts  zoith  praifc:  be  thankful  unto  him,  and 
 blefs  his  name. 
 
 The  Chriftian  Church  is  a  temple,  whofe  "  gates'* 
 ftand  continually  open,  for  the  admiflion  of  the  na- 
 tions from  all  the  four  quarters  of  the  world.  Rev. 
 xxi.  13.  25.  Into  the  ^*  courts"  of  this  temple, 
 which  are  now  truly  *'  courts  of  the  Gentiles,"  all 
 men  are  invited  to  come,  and  offer  their  evangelical 
 facrifices  of  "  confeflion  and  praife ;"  to  exprefs  their 
 gratitude  to  their  Saviour,  and  "  blefs"  his  gracious 
 and  hallowed  *^  name."  How  glorious  will  be  that 
 day,  which  Ihall  behold  the  everlafting  gates  of  hea- 
 ven lifting  up  their  heads,  and  diiclofmg  to  view 
 thofe  courts  above,  into  which  the  children  of  the 
 refurrediion  are  to  enter,  there,  with  angels  and  arch- 
 angels, to  dwell  and  fing  for  evermore  ! 
 
 5.  For  the  Lord  is  good;  his  mercy  is  everlajl- 
 ing :  and  his  truth  endureth  to  all  generations. 
 
 "  Jehovah  is  good ;"  he  is  the  fource  of  all  beauty 
 and  perfeftion  in  the  creature  ^  how  altogether  love- 
 ly muft  he  needs  be  in  himfelf  1  "  His  mercy  is 
 **  everlafting,"  extending  through  time  into  eternity; 
 *'  and  his  truth,"  or  fidelity  in  accomplidiing  hi;! 
 promifes,  *'  endureth  to  all  generations,"  evidenced 
 to  the  whole  race  of  mankind,  from  Adam  to  his  laft 
 
 bori> 
 
Day  19.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  185 
 
 born  fon.  The  Pfalms,  which  celebrate  thefe  attri- 
 butes,  will  never,  therefore,  be  out  of  ^^te,  but 
 each  fucceffive  generation  will  chant  them  with  fre(h 
 proprietv,  and  frefli  delight,  until  by  faints  and 
 angels  they  are  fung  new  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 PSALM    CL 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In  the  perfon  of  David,  advanced  to  the  throne^ 
 of  Ifrael,  we  hear  King  Mefsiah  declaring 
 how  he  intended  to  walk,  and  to  govern  his 
 houfehold  the  church,  and  alfo  defcribing 
 the  qualifications  which  he  fliould  require  in 
 his  minilters  and  fervants, 
 
 I.  Iivillfing  of  mercy  and  judgment ;  unto  thee, 
 PLoKD,  will  IJing. 
 
 David,  having  determined  to  fing  unto  Jehovah, 
 choofeth  for  his  theme  "  mercy  and  judgment ;" 
 either  that  mercy  which  God  had  (liewn  to  him, 
 and  that  judgment  which  had  been  inflided  on  his 
 enemies;  or  elfe,  that  upright  adminiftration  of 
 mercy  and  judgment,^ with  which  be  himfeif  intended 
 to  blefs  his  people.  The  righteous  adminiftration  of 
 mercy  and  judgment  in  the  kingdom  of  Meffiah,  is 
 Atopic  on  which  his  fubjeas  always  expatiate  with 
 pleafwre  and  profit.  His  mercy  encourageth  the 
 ^  gre^tefi; 
 
i86  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  ioi. 
 
 greateft  of  Tinners  to  hope^  his  judgments  forbid  the 
 beft  of  men  to  prefume. 
 
 2.  /  xoill  behave  my f elf  wifely  in  a  perfect  way  :  O 
 when  wilt  thou  come  unto  me  ?  1  will  walk  within 
 my  houfe  with  a  perfect  heart. 
 
 In  return  for  the  favours  of  heaven,  we  hear  the 
 Ifraelitilli  monarch  declaring  his  refolution,  to  fet  his 
 court  and  kingdom  an  example  of  true  wifdom,  and 
 unfliaken  integrity ;  at  the  lame  time,  fighing  for  that 
 vifitation  of  divine  grace,  which  alone  could  enable 
 him  to  put  his  refolution  in  pradice — "  O  when  wilt 
 **  thou  come  unto  me  ?"  This  was  ever  the  voice 
 of  the  church,  longing  for  the  prefence  of  God  in 
 human  nature,  "  O  when  wilt  thou  come  unto  me  ?" 
 And  this  muft  ever  be  the  wifli  of  a  Chriflian,  who 
 knoweth  that  though  in  himfelf  he  be  nothing,  j^et 
 that  he  can  do  all  things  through  Chrift,  who  flrength- 
 cneth  him  by  his  Spirit  in  the  inner  man.  Meffiah 
 was  the  only  King  of  Ifrael,  whofe  life  held  forth  to 
 his  fubjefts  a  perfe6t  pattern  of  wifdom  and  righte-r 
 oufnefs,  and  whofe  death  procured  them  grace,  in 
 their  different  meafures,  and  degrees,  to  follow  it. 
 
 3.  I  will  fet  no  wicked  thing  before  7nine  eyes :  I 
 hate  the  zvork  of  them  that  turn  afide,  it  Jhall  not 
 cleave  unto  me. 
 
 "  I  will  fet  no  wicked  thing  before  mine  eyes  s'* 
 that  is,  I  will  not  propofe  to  myfelf,  or  think  of 
 carrying  into  execution,  any  iniquitous  fcheme  of 
 politics,  however  advantageous  and  tempting  it  may 
 appear;  I  will  turn  away  my  eyes  and  my  attention, 
 and  rejed  it  at  once:  "  1  hate  the  work  of  them  that 
 
 *'  turn 
 
DAYIp.  E.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  187 
 
 ^*  turnafide;"  of  them  who,  in  their  counfels  and 
 their  ad;ions,  deviate  from  the  divine  law,  to  ferve 
 their  own  intereftj  "  it  fliall  not  cleave  unto  me;" 
 no  fuch  corrupt  principle  fliall  adhere  to  my  foul,  or 
 find  a  place  in  my  affedions.  Hovv^  noble  a  refolu- 
 tion  for  a  king  to  make ;  but  how  difficult  an  one  for 
 a  king  to  keep  !  Thou  only,  O  King  of  Righteouf- 
 nefs,  did  ft  never  fet  any  wicked  thing  before  thine 
 eyes;  thou  only  hadlf  a  perfed  averfion  to  the  ways 
 of  tranfgreflbrs. 
 
 4.  Afroward  heart  Jhali  depart  from  me:  I  will 
 not  know  a  zvicked^Qvion. 
 
 As  is  the  king,  fo  will  be. the  court;  as  is  the 
 mafler  of  the  houfe,  fuch  will  be  thofe  of  his  houfe- 
 hold.  David,  having  refolved  to  "  walk  within 
 "  his  houfe  with  a  perfed,"  a  fincere  and  upright 
 "  heart,"  determines  at  the  fame  time  to  expel 
 from  thence  all  whofe  hearts  were  perverted  and 
 depraved  :  as  he  would  "  fet  no  wicked  thing  before 
 his  eyes,"  fo  neither  would  he  form  any  connexions 
 with  "  wicked  perfons;"  they  fliould  not  be  of  his 
 acquaintance,  much  lefs  fhould  they  be  his  favou- 
 rites. In  the  fame  manner  fpeaketh  our  heavenly 
 King,  with  regard  to  the  appointment  of  his  mini- 
 fters  and  fervants — "  I  know  you  not,  whence  you 
 ^'  are ;  depart  from  me,  all  ye  workers  of  iniquity." 
 Luke  xiii.  27. 
 
 5.  Whojo  privily  Jlandereth  his  neighbour,  him 
 will  I  cut  off:  him  that  hath  an  high  look,  and  a 
 uroud,  or,  extended,  and  therefore,  infatiable  hearty 
 will  not  I  Suffer. 
 
 DetradioHj, 
 
i88  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  ioi. 
 
 Detradllon,  ambition,  and  avarice,  are  three  weeds 
 whicii  fpring  and  flourifh  in  the  rich  foil  of  a  court* 
 The  Pfalmift  declareth  his  refolution  to  undertake 
 the  difficult  tafk  of  eradicating  them,  for  the  bene- 
 fit of  his  people,  that  Ifraelites  might  not  be  ha- 
 rafled  by  informers,  or  opprefTed  by  infolent  and  ra- 
 pacious minifters.  Shall  we  imagine  thefe  vices  lefs 
 odious  in  the  eyes  of  that  King,  vvhofe  charafler  was 
 compofed  of  humility  and  charity ;  or  will  Chrill 
 admit  thofe  tempers  into  the  court  of  heaven,  which 
 David  determined  to  exclude  from  his  court  upon 
 earth  ? 
 
 6.  Mine  eyes  fhali  be  upon  the  faithful  of  the 
 land,  that  thcijmay  dwell  with  me'-  he  that  walketh 
 in  a  perfect  zvaij^  hefkallferveme. 
 
 The  "  eyes"  of  princes  cannot  be  better  employed, 
 than  in  looking  around  them,  in  order  to  choofe, 
 from  among  their  own  fubjefts,  fit  and  able  men  to 
 tranfadl  the  public  bufmefs  ;  men  of  inviolable  *'  fide- 
 lity," and  unlhaken  integrity ;  men  who  know  how 
 to  think  aright,  and  how  to  fpeak  what  they  think  j 
 men  likewife  who  '*  walk  in  the  perfect  way"  of  ho- 
 linefs,  who  do  not  difgrace  their  politics  by  their 
 lives,  or  prejudice  their  mailer's  caufe  by  their  fins, 
 more  than  they  can  ever  advance  it  by  their  abilities. 
 Bifliops  may  be  called  the  *'  eyes"  of  Chrift;  they 
 are  to  "  overlook"  his  people,  and  we  pray  him  at 
 the  feafons  of  ordination,  "  fo  to  guide  and  govern 
 *'  their  minds,  that  they  may  faithfully  and  wifely 
 ^'  make  choice  of  fit  perfons  to  ferve  in  the  facred 
 <*  miniflry  of  the  Church," 
 
 7-  H^ 
 
DaV  19.  E.P.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  189 
 
 7.  He  that  xvorketh  deceit  Jhall.  not  dwell  within 
 my  Iioiife :  he  that  telleth  lies  Jhall  not  tarrij  in  my 
 JIght. 
 
 To  purge  a  court  of  "  deceit"  and  "  falfehood," 
 was  a  refolution  worthy  king  David,  worthy  the  re- 
 prefentative  of  him,  who  ftyleth  himfelf  the  truth, 
 from  whofe  heavenly  palace  and  city  will  be  for  ever 
 excluded,  as  St.  John  informeth  us,  "  whofoever 
 "  loveth  and  maketh  a  lie."     Rev.  xxii.   15. 
 
 §.  /  will  early  dejlroy  all  the  wicked  of  the  land: 
 that  I  may  cut  off  all  zvicked  doers  from  the  city  of 
 the  ho RD, 
 
 Every  earthly  prince  fhould  confider  himfelf  as 
 raifed  to  a  throne,  and  inverted  with  power,  "  for 
 "  the  punifliment  of  wickednefs  and  vice,  and  the 
 "  maintenance  of  God's  true  religion  and  virtue." 
 "  Early,"  therefore,  in  the  "  morning,"  of  his  reign, 
 he  fhould  fet  about  the  work  of  reformation,  that  fo 
 the  bleflings  of  heaven  may  defcend  upon  himfelf 
 and  his  people,  according  to  the  infallible  promifes 
 of  the  moft  High.  And  let  each  individual,  in  like 
 manner,  and  for  the  fame  reafon,  be  zealous  and  di- 
 ligent to  reform  his  own  heart  and  ways,  ever  mind- 
 ful of  that  future  moft  awful  morning,  when  the 
 King  of  Righteoufnefs  fhall  "  cut  off,"  with  the 
 fword  of  eternal  judgment,  *'  all  wicked  doers  from 
 "  that  city  of  Jehovah,"  the  new  and  heavenly  Je- 
 xufalem. 
 
 XX  DAY 
 
19©  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  102. 
 
 XX  DAY.       MORNIXG    PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  CII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm  is  intitlcd,  "  A  prayer  of  the 
 "  afflid:ed,  when  he  is  overwhelmed,  and 
 "  poureth  out  his  comphiint  before  the 
 "  Lord."  It  feems  to  have  been  written, 
 during  the  captivity,  by  one  of  the  prophets, 
 who,  like  Daniel  in  parallel  circumftances, 
 1,  2.  maketh  fupplication  before  his  God  ; 
 3 — n.  fetteth  forth,  in  the  moft  affe6iing 
 ftrains,  his  wretched  and  forrowful  eftate, 
 or  rather,  perhaps,  that  of  Jerufalem,  which 
 he  perfonates ;  12.  he  comforteth  himfelf, 
 by  reflecting  on  the  eternity  and  immutabi- 
 lity of  Jehovah  ;  13 — 24.  he  predi61eth 
 and  defcribeth  the  reftoration  of  Sion,  with 
 her  enlargement  by  the  accefsion  of  the  Gen- 
 tiles, when  Mefsiah  flrali  have  vifited  and  re- 
 deemed her ;  23,  24.  he  returneth  again  to 
 his  lamentations;  but  25 — 28.  again  rc- 
 pofeth  his  confidence  on  him  who  created 
 all  things,  and  who  would  not  fail  to  make 
 good  his  word  and  promife,  if  not  to  the  ge- 
 neration then  prefent,  yet  to  their  pofterity. 
 
 This 
 
Day  20.  M.  p.  ON  THE  I'SALMS.  191 
 
 This  is  the  fifth  of  thofe  ftylf^d  Penitential 
 Pfalms;  and  St.  Paul,  Heb.  i.  10.  hath  af- 
 ferted,  that  it  is  addrefled  to  the  eternal  Son 
 of  God,  and  Saviour  of  the  world. 
 
 I .  Hear  mij prayer,  O  Lord,  and  let  my  cry  come 
 unto  thee,  2.  Hide  not  thy  face  from  me,  in  the  day 
 when  I  am  in  trouble,  incline  thine  ear  unto  me-  in 
 the  day  when  I  call,  anfwer  me  fpeedily. 
 
 Sin  and  forrow  force  **  prayers"  and  "  cries"  from 
 the  Tons  of  Adam.  The  firft  petition  here  preferred 
 is,  that  thefe  prayers  and  cries  may  be  "  heard'*  in 
 heaven.  The  day  of  human  life  is  *^  a  day  of  trou- 
 ble," a  day  of  darknefs  and  gloominefs,  which  no- 
 thing can  brighten,  but  the  light  of  God's  "  coun- 
 "  tenance;""  nothing  can  render  comfortable,  but  a 
 "  fpeedy  anfwer"  of  mercy  and  peace  from  above. 
 
 3.  For  my  days  are  confumed  away  like,  or,  m 
 fmoke,  and  7ny  bone^  are  burnt  as  an  hearth,  or,  a 
 Jire  brand. 
 
 The  efFefts  of  extreme  grief  on  the  human  frame 
 are  compared  to  thofe  which  fire  produceth  upon 
 fuel.  It  exhaufls  the  radical  moifture,  and,  by  fo 
 doing,  foon  confumes  the  fubftance.  A  man's  time 
 and  his  ftrength  evaporate  in  melancholy,  and  his 
 "  bones,"  thofe  pillars  and  fupports  of  his  body, 
 become  like  wood,  on  which  the  fire  hath  done  its 
 work,  and  left  it  without  fap,  and  without  cohefion. 
 A  fingle  penitent,  or  a  whole  church,  bewailing  their 
 refpedive  tranfgrefTions,  when  under  the  rod  of  God, 
 may  ufe  thefe  words,  and  will  underfland  the  force 
 of  them. 
 
 4.  My 
 
tpa  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  103. 
 
 4  il/j/  heart  is  fmitten  and  withered  like  grafs  ' 
 fo  that  I  forget  to  eat  my  bread. 
 
 The  metaphor  is  continued,  and  the  "  heart"  it- 
 felf,  out  of  which  flow  the  ftreams  of  life,  is  repre- 
 fented  as  fuffering  that  from  grief,  which  the  "  grafs'* 
 of  the  field  fuffers  from  the  burning  heat  of  the  fun  : 
 it  is  "  fmitten,  and  withered."  And  when  grief  hath 
 thus  dejeded  the  fpirits,  the  man  has  no  appetite  for 
 that  food  which  is  to  recruit  and  elevate  them.  Ahab, 
 fmitten  with  one  kind  of  grief,  David  with  another, 
 and  Daniel  with  a  third,  all  "  forgot,"  or  "  refufed, 
 **  to  eat  their  bread."  i  Kings  xxi.  4.  2  Sam.  xii. 
 16.  Dan.  X.  3.  Such  natural  companions  are  *'  mourn- 
 *'  ingand  fafting." 
 
 5.  By  reafon  of  the  voice  of  my  groaning ,  my 
 bones  cleave  to  my  Jkin. 
 
 Extremity  of  forrovv  caufeth  the  flefh  to  vvafte, 
 r.nd  the  bones  to  prefs  upon  the  ikin,  through  which 
 they  are  ready  to 'force  their  way.  Sicknefs  is  the 
 chaflifement  of  heaven,  infiided  often  upon  us,  to 
 fupply  the  want  of  that  difcipline,  which  we  fliould 
 exercife  upon  ourfelvcs.  *'  For  if  we  would  judge 
 "  ourfelves,  we  Ihould  not  be  judged.  But  when 
 "  we  are  judged,  we  are  chaftened  of  the  Lord,  that 
 "  we  (liould  not  be  condemned  with  the  world." 
 I  Cor.  xi.  31. 
 
 6.  J  am  like  the  pelican  of  the  wildernefs :  I  am 
 like  an  owl,  or,  bittern  of  the  defert,  or,  of  xcajle 
 ruinons  places.  7.  I  ivatchy  and  ain  as  afparrow 
 alone  upon  the  hoiife-top. 
 
 The  forrowful  man  is  naturally  defirous  of  retiring 
 from  the  world,  to  vent  his  complaints  in  folitude, 
 
 and 
 
Day  20.  M.  p.         ON  the  PSALMS.  193 
 
 and  to  pafs  the  nights  in  watchfulncfs  and  prayer. 
 In  fuch  a  fituation  the  true  penitent  placeth  him- 
 felf,  worthily  to  bewail  his  fins,  and  deprecate 
 the  judgments  of  his  God.  And  in  fuch  a  fitua- 
 tion did  capt'vity  place  the  daughter  of  Sion, 
 that  (he  might  do  likewife.  The  ufe  which  Daniel 
 made  of  it  for  this  purpofe,  may  be  {^^n  in  his  ixth 
 chapter. 
 
 8.  Mine  enemies  reproach  me  allthe  day :  and  they 
 that  are  mad  againjl  me,  are /worn  againjl  me. 
 
 The  feoffs  and  reproaches  of  men  are  generally 
 added  to  the  chaftifements  of  God ;  or  rather,  per- 
 haps, are  a  part,  and  fometimes  the  bittereft  part  of 
 them.  How  the  enemies  of  Jerufalem  behaved,  in 
 the  day  of  her  calamity,  is  well  known.  How  car- 
 nal and  ungodly  men  behave  to  a  penitent,  when 
 mourning  for  his  fins,  under  the  afflidling  hand  of 
 heaven,  is  as  well  known. 
 
 9.  For^  or,  Therefore  I  have  eaten  ajlies  like  bread^ 
 and  miiigled  my  drink  with  zveeping,  10.  Becaufe 
 of  thine  indignation  and  wrath  ;for  thou  haft  lifted 
 me  up,  and  caji  me  down. 
 
 By  "  eating  allies,  and  drinking  tears,"  we  may 
 underfland  the  fame  as  if  it  had  been  faid,  "  I  have 
 "  eaten  the  bread  of  humiliation,  and  drank  the  wa- 
 "  ter  of  afflidion  j"  aQies  being  the  emblem  of  one, 
 and  tears  the  confequence  of  the  other  ;  while  the 
 a(5tions  of  "  eating  and  drinking"  intimate  to  us  the 
 fulnefsand  fatiety  which  the  fufferer  had  experienced 
 of  both,  from  the  "  wrath  and  indignation  of  God." 
 Profpenty  and  adverfity  are  from  him  ;  "  he  lifteth 
 "  upland  he  cailethdown  i"  he  lifteth  up  Jerufalem 
 
 Vol.  II.  N  above 
 
194  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  \o% 
 
 above  all  the  earth,  and  he  caft  her  down,  to  be  trod- 
 den under  foot  by  the  Gentiles. 
 1 1 .  Ml/  days  are  likeaJJiadow  that  deplineth :  and  lam 
 withered likegrafs.  1 2.  But thoUy O Lord ^lalt endure 
 forever,  and  thy  remembrance  unto  all  generations. 
 
 A  "  (hadow"  never  contjnueth  in  one  ftay,  but  is 
 ilill  gliding  imperceptibly  on,  lengthening  as  it  goes, 
 and  at  laft  vanifheth  into  darknefs.  The  period  of 
 it's  exiftence  is  limited  to  a  day  at  fartheft.  The  ri- 
 fing  fun  gives  it  birth,  and  in  that  moment  when  the 
 fun  fets  it  is  no  more.  The  "  grafs"  of  the  field,  in 
 like  manner,  hath  a  beirjg  of  the  fame  duration.  In 
 the  morning,  clothed  with  verdure  and  beauty,  it 
 refreflieth  and  delighteth  the  eye  of  the  beholderj 
 but  the  evening  findeth  \t  cut  down,  dried  up,  and 
 withered.  Such  is  the  life  of  man,  fojourning  in  the 
 land  of  his  captivity,  and  doing  penance  for  his  fins. 
 But  the  eternity  of  Jehovah,  the  infallibility  of  his 
 promifes,  and  the  remembrance  of  his  former  works 
 ?,nd  mercies,  comfort  our  hearts,  and  encourage  us 
 to  hope,  nay  even  to  rejoice,  in  the  midft  of  forrow 
 and  tribulation. 
 
 13.    Thoujhalt  tirife^  and  have  mercy  upon  Sion\ 
 for  the  time  to  favour  her,  yea  the  fet  time  is  come, 
 •i6f.For  thy  fervants  take pleafure  in  herjlones,  and 
 favour  the  dujt  thereof. 
 
 From  this  pafTage,  and  what  follows,  it  appears 
 that  the  fuppliant,  in  this  Pfalm,  bewails  not  only 
 his  own  miferies,  but  thofe  of  the  church.  Ifrael 
 was  in  captivity,  and  Sion  a  defoiation.  A"  time," 
 iiotwithftanding,  a  "  fet  time"  there  was  at  hand, 
 when  God  had  promifed  to  "  arife,    and  to  have 
 
Day  20.  xM.  p.      ON  the  PSALMS.  19s 
 
 «  mercy  upon  her.'*  The  bowels  of  her  children 
 yearned  over  her  ruins;  they  longed  to  fee  her  re- 
 built, and  were  ready,  whenever  the  word  of  com- 
 mand (hould  be  given,  to  fet  heart  and  hand  to  the 
 bleffed  work.  Such  ought  to  be  our  affedion  to- 
 wards our  Sion,  however  afflidled  and  deftitute  Ihe 
 may,  at  any  time,  appear  to  be ;  fuch  fhould  be  our 
 faith  in  the  promiles  of  God  concerning  the  future 
 glorification  of  his  church,  at  the  time  appointed. 
 
 i^.So  the  heathaijfiallfear  the  name  of  the  Lord  : 
 and  all  the  kings  of  the  earth  thy  glory.  16.  When  the 
 Lord  fliall  build  up  Sion,  he  fhall  appear  in  his 
 glory.  17.  He  zvill  regard  theprayerofthe  deftitute^ 
 and  not  defpife  their  prayer. 
 
 The  objed  to  which  the  prophets  of  old  had 
 chiefly  refped,  was  not  only  the  deliverance  of  Ifrael 
 from  Babylon,  and  the  rebuilding  of  the  material 
 temple,  but  the  falvation  of  finners,  and  the  eredioa 
 of  the  Chriflian  church,  in  the  days  of  Mefliah's 
 kingdom.  "  When  the  Lord"  Jefusthus  "  built  up 
 "  Sion,  he  appeared  in  his  glory:  the  heathen  feared 
 "  his  name,  and  all  the  kings  of  the  earth"  adored 
 his  majefty,  becaufe  he  had  "  regarded  the  prayer  of 
 "  the  deftitute"  fons  of  Adam,  in  their  worfe  than 
 Babylonilh  captivity,  and  had  arifen  himfelf  to  be 
 their  Saviour  and  mighty  Deliverer.  We,  in  thcfe 
 latter  days,  look  and  pray  for  the  fecond  appearance 
 of  the  fame  Redeemer,  with  power  and  great  glory, 
 to  raife  the  dead,  and  to  build  up  from  the  duft  a 
 Jerufalem  which  fliall  experience  no  more  viciflitudes, 
 but  continue  for  ever  in  unchangeable  beauty  and 
 brightnefs. 
 
 N  2  18.  This 
 
196  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  102 
 
 18.  Thisjkall  be  xvrittenfor  the  generation  to  come; 
 and  the  people  which  JhaLl  be  created Jhall  praife  the 
 Lord. 
 
 The  hiflory  of  "  this"  redemption  and  refloration 
 by  MefTiah,  thus  foretold,  hath  been  "  written"  in 
 the  gofpe]  for  the  benefit  of  "  after  generations,"  to 
 the  end  that  "  the  people,  who  are  created"  anew  in 
 Chrift  Jefus,  may  from  age  to  age  praife  Jehovah,  in 
 Pfalms,  and  hymns,  and  fpiritiial  fongs  j  as  it  is 
 done  at  this  day  in  the  church,  and  ever  will  con« 
 tinue  to  be  done,  till  the  choirs  of  heaven  and  earth 
 (hall  be  united  before  the  throne  of  the  Lamb. 
 
 19.  For  he  hath  looked  down  from  the  height  of  his 
 fanctuary '  from  heaven  did  tiie  Lord  behold  the 
 earth  i  20.  To  hear  the  groaning  of  theprijoner^  to 
 loofe  thofe  that  are  appointed  to  death  j  21.  To  de- 
 clare the  name  of  the  LoRDZw  Sion,  and  his  praife  in 
 Jerufalem:  11,  When  the  people  are  gathered  toge- 
 ther, and  the  kingdoms  to  fervethe  Lord. 
 
 Redemption  is  the  fubjed:  of  praife  in  the  Chriftian 
 church :  and  the  procefs  of  that  great  work  is  here 
 defcribed  by  images  borrowed  from  the  temporal  de^ 
 liverance  and  reftoration  of  Ifrael.  God  is  reprcfent- 
 ed  4S  loojcingwith  an  eye  of  pity  from  heaven  upon 
 poor  mankind  ;  as  hearing  the  groans  of  finners,  faft 
 bound  in  the  chains  of  their  fms,  and  Icntenced  to 
 death  eternal ;  as  coming  down  to  forgiye  and  to 
 releafe  them  i  that,  being  fo  forgiven  and  releafed, 
 ^hey  might  caufe  the  church  to  refound  with  his 
 praifes,  when,  upon  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel,  it 
 (hculd  be  filled  with  converts,  afifembled  from  every 
 
 people 
 
Day  20.  M.  p.         o^  THE  PSALMS.  197 
 
 people  and  kingdom  of  the  world.  Look  down»  O 
 Lord  Jefu,  yet  once  again  upon  thy  fervants,  ft  ill 
 under  the  dominion  of  death,  and  the  bondage  of 
 corruption;  loofe  thefe  chains,  even  thefe  alfo,  O 
 Lord,  and  bring  us  forth  into  the  glorious  liberty  of 
 thy  children ;  that  with  the  whole  aflembly  of  the 
 redeemed,  in  the  heavenly  Jerufalem,  we  may  blefs 
 ^nd  praife  thy  name  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 23.  He  weakened  my  Jtrength  in  the  way;  he 
 Oiortened  my  days. 
 
 The  prophet,  in  the  perfon  of  captive  Sion,  hav- 
 ing, from  verfe  13.  to  verfe  22.  exprefled  his  faith 
 and  hope  in  the  promifed  redemption,  now  returns  to 
 his  mournful  complaints,  as  at  verfe  1 1.  Ifrael  doubt- 
 eth  not  of  God's  veracity,  but  feareth  left  his  heavy 
 hand  fliould  crufti  the  generation  then  in  being,  be- 
 fore they  Qiould  behold  the  expiration  of  their  trou- 
 bles. They  were  in  "  the  way,"  but  their  "  ftrength'* 
 was  fo  "  weakened,"  and  their  "  days  (hortened,'* 
 that  they  almoft  defpaired  of  holding  out  to  their 
 journey*s  end.  A  fore  trial  hath  the  Chriftian  church 
 to  undergo  in  the  laft  days,  before  the  fecond  advent 
 of  her  Lord  and  Saviour.  Strong  faith  and  invin- 
 cible patience  will  be  neceflary,  to  enable  her  to  en- 
 dure, until  the  end  (hall  come. 
 
 24.  And  I  faidy  O  my  God,  take  me  not  away  in 
 the  midft  of  my  days  ;  thy  years  are  throughout  all 
 generations^ 
 
 Ifrael  pr&yeth  that  the  holy  feed  might  not  be  ex- 
 tirpated, and  perilh  by  a  kind  of  untimely  death, 
 ere  yet  the  promife  had  been  made  good,  and  Sion 
 had  fecn  the  falvation  of  her  God,    Every  man  hath 
 N  3  reafon 
 
igt  A    COMMENTARY       Psal.  102 
 
 reafon  to  pray,  that  God  would  not  "  take  him  away 
 "  in  the  midft  of  his  days,"  or  call  upon  him  when 
 unprepared  ;  but  that  time  may  be  allowed  him  to 
 perfed  his  repentance,  and  to  work  out  his  falvation. 
 
 25.  Of  old  hajt  thou  laid  the  foiuulation  of  the  earth; 
 and  the  heavens  are  the  zvork  of  thy  hands.  26.  They 
 fhallperijhy  but  thou  fJialt  endure  i  yea,  all  of  them 
 fhall  wax  old  like  a  garment,  as  a  vejiure  Jhalt  thou 
 change  them t  and  they  Jliall  be  changed.  27.  But 
 thou  art  the  fame ,  and  thy  years  fhall  have  no  end. 
 
 Amidft  the  changes  and  chances  of  this  mortal 
 life,  one  topic  pf  confolation  will  ever  remain,  name- 
 ly, the  eternity  and  immutability  of  God  our  Saviour  j 
 of  Lim  who  was,  and  is,  and  is  to  como.  Kingdoms 
 and  empires  may  rife  and  fall ;  nay,  the  heavens  and 
 the  earth,  as  they  were  originally  produced  and  form- 
 ed by  the  word  of  God,  the  Son,  or  fecond  perfon 
 in  the  Trinity,  to  whom  the  Pfalmift  here  addrefleth 
 himfelf ;  Sec  Heb.  i.  10.  fo  will  they,  at  the  day 
 appointed,  be  folded  up,  and  laid  afide,  as  an  old 
 and  worn  out  garment ;  or,  if  the  fubftance  remain, 
 the  prefent  form  and  faftiion  of  them  will  periih,  and 
 they  will  be  utterly  changed  and  altered  from  the 
 ftale  in  which  they  now  are.  But  Jehovah  is  ever 
 the  fame  ;  his  years  have  no  end,  nor  can  his  promife 
 fail,  any  more  than  himfelf.  "  Heaven  and  earth," 
 faith,  he,  **  ftiall  pafs  away  ;  but  my. words  (hall  not 
 "  pafs  away."  Matt.  xxiv.  2>S' 
 •  aS-  The  children  of  thy  fervants  fhall  continue; 
 und  their  feedfliall  be  ejtabliflied  before  thee. 
 ..  Whatever  be  the  fate  of  the  prefent  generation, 
 :whethcr  they  may  live  to  fee  the  accompli Ih men t  of 
 .■         •         '  all 
 
t)AY  20.    M.  f.  ON    THE   PSALMS.  I99 
 
 all  that  has  been  foretold,  or  not,  yet  the  word  of 
 God  ftandeth  fure;  there  (hall  be  always  a  church, 
 and  an  holy  feed,  to  whom  the  promifes  (hall  be 
 made  good.  They  have  already  been  fulfilled  with 
 regard  to  the  advent  of  Meffiah,  and  the  vocation 
 of  the  Gentiles.  The  events  which  are  behind  will 
 be  brought  forward  and  come  to  pafs  in  their  fcafons, 
 iintil  the  counfel  of  God  (hall  be  finiQied,  and  every 
 predidion  receive  it's  full  accomplilhment,  in  the 
 glorification  of  the  redeemed. 
 
 PSALM  cm. 
 
 ARGUMENT- 
 
 In  this  evangelical  and  mod  comfortable  hymn^ 
 David,  after   1,  2v  exciting  himfelf  to  the 
 work,  3 — 5.  praifeth  Jehovah  for  the  mer- 
 cies   of  redemption ;    6,   1.  celebrateth   his 
 goodnefs  to   Mofes  and  Ifrael ;  8 — 13.  fet- 
 teth  forth  the  divine  philanthrophy,  under 
 various  beautiful    exprefsions    and    images; 
 14. — 16,  defcribeth  in  a  manner  wonderfully 
 affe6ting,  man's   frail  and  perifliable  ftate  ; 
 but  17,   18.  leadeth  him,  forconfolation,  to 
 the  everlafting  mercy  of  God  in  Chrift,   the 
 lability  of  v^hofe  throne  and  kingdom    19. 
 he  declareth,  and  20— 22,  callethupon  hea- 
 ven arid  earth  to  join  with  him  in  blefsing 
 and  praifmg  his  holy  name. 
 
 N  4  I.  Ble/s 
 
2O0  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  103. 
 
 1.  Blefs  the  Lord,  O  my  foulj  and  all  that  is 
 zvithiji  mc  blefs  Ids  holy  name. 
 
 ThePralmlft,  about  to  urter  a  fong  of  praife,  firft 
 endeavours  to  awaken  and  ftir  up  his  "  foul"  to  the 
 joyful  talk.  He  calleth  forth  all  his  powers  and 
 faculties,  "  all  that  is  within  him,"  that  every  part 
 of  his  frame  may  glorify  it's  Saviour;  that  the  un- 
 derftanding  may  know  him,  the  will  chufe  him,  the 
 affections  delight  in  him,  the  heart  believe  in  him, 
 and  the  tongue  confefs  him.  "  Blefs  the  Lord,  O 
 "  my  foul,  and  all  that  is  within  me  blefs  his  holy 
 "  name." 
 
 2.  Blefs  the  Lord,  O  my  foulj  and  forget  not  all 
 his  htntfits. 
 
 Thanfgiving  cannot  be  fincere  and  hearty,  unlefs 
 a  man  bear  impreffed  upon  his  mind,  at  the  time,  a 
 quick  fenfe  of"  benefits'*  received  ;  and  "  benefits'*, 
 we  are  moft  of  us  apt  to  "  forget ;"  thole,  efpecially, 
 which  are  conferred  upon  us  by  God.  Therefore 
 David  repeateth  his  felf-awakening  call,  and  fum- 
 moneth  all  his  powers  of  recolledion,  that  none  of  the 
 divine  flivours  might  continue  unnoticed  and  un- 
 acknowledged. A  catalogue  of  fuch  particular  mer- 
 cies, temporal,  and  fpiritual,  as  each  individual  hath 
 experienced  through  life,  might  be  of  fervice,  to  re- 
 frefti  the  memory,  upon  this  important  head. 
 
 3.  Who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities :  ivho  healeth 
 all  thine  infirmities. 
 
 At  the  head  of  God's  mercies  mufl  for  ever  ftand 
 **  remiffion  of  fin,"  or  that  full  and  free  pardon 
 purchafed  for  us  by  Jefus  Chrift,  whereby,  if  we 
 truly  repent  and  believe  in  him,  our  tranfgreffions, 
 
 though 
 
Day  20.  M.  p.  ON  the  PSALMS.  201 
 
 though  ever  To  many,  and  ever  fo  great,  are  done 
 away,  and  become  as  if  they  had  never  been;. from 
 a  ftate  of  guilt  we  pafs  into  one  of  juftlficatlon,  from 
 a  ftate  of  enmity  into  one  of  reconciliation,  from  a 
 ftate  of  fervitude  into  one  of  liberty  and  fonfhip. 
 Next  to  the  pardon  of  fm,  confidered  as  a  crime,  we 
 are  to  commemorate  the  cure  of  It,  confidered  as  a 
 difeafe,  or  indeed  as  a  complication  of  difeafes — 
 "  Who  healeth  all  thine  infirmities."  The  body  eX- 
 perienceth  the  melancholy  confequences  of  Adam's 
 offence,  and  is  fubjed  to  many  "  infirmities ;"  but 
 the  foul  is  fubjed  to  as  many.  What  is  pride,  but 
 lunacy;  what  is  anger,  but  a  fever;  what  is  avarice, 
 but  a  dropfy;  what  is  luft,  but  a  leprofy;  what  is 
 floth,  but  a  dead  palfy  ?  Perhaps  there  are  fpiritual 
 maladies  fimilar  to  all  corporeal  ones.  When  Jefus 
 Chrift  was  upon  earth,  he  proved  himfelf  the  phyfi- 
 cian  of  men's  fouls,  by  the  cures  which  he  wrought 
 upon  their  bodies.  It  is  he  alone  who  "  forglveth 
 "  all  our  iniquities ;"  it  is  he  alone  who  "  healeth  ali 
 "  our  infirmities/'  And  the  peribn  who  findeth  his 
 fm  "  cured,"  hath  a  well  grounded  afTurance  that  it 
 is  "  forgiven." 
 
 4.  JF/io  redeemeth  thy  life  from  dejiriiction  ;  who 
 crowiietht  or,  encircUth  thee  with  loving  hndnefs^ 
 and  tender  mercies. 
 
 Man  hath  two  "  lives ;"  he  is  therefore  fubjed  to 
 a  double  "  deftrudion  ;"  and,  confequently,  capable 
 of  a  twofold  "redemption."  He  who  is  recovered 
 from  fickncfs,  and  thereby  redeemed  from  that  de- 
 ftrudion which  natural  death  bringeth  upon  the 
 body,  will  undoubtedly  fing  this  ftrain  in  tranfports 
 
 of 
 
201  A  COMMENTARY        PsAt.  103. 
 
 of  gratitude;  and  he  ought  To  to  do.  But  what  will 
 be  the  fenfations  of  him,  who  celebrates  in  the  fame 
 words,  the  fpiritual  redemption  of  his  foul  from 
 death  and  deftrudion  everlafting  ?  tlow  is  he 
 "  crowned"  with  the  "  loving  kindnefs"  of  Jehovah; 
 how  is  he  *'  encircled"  by  the  arms  of  "  mercy  !'* 
 **  Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand,  and  in  her 
 "  left  hand  riches  and  honour;"  never  ending 
 "  length  of  days;"  true  "  riches,"  that  abide  for 
 ever;  and  "  the  honour  which  cometh  from  God 
 «  only." 
 
 5.  Who  fatisfieth  thy  mouth  zvith  good  things  :  (o 
 that  thy  youth  is  renetved  like  the  eagles. 
 
 It  is  God  who  giveth  us  the  "  good  things"  of 
 this  world,  and  who  giveth  us  likewife  an  appetite 
 and  a  tafte  to  enjoy  them.  It  is  God  who  reftoreth 
 a  body,  emaciated  by  ficknefs,  to  bloom,  vigour  and 
 .agility.  And  he  doth  greater  things  than  thefe.  He 
 "  fatisfieth"  all  the  defires  of  the  foul  with  a  banquet 
 of  fpiritual  dainties,  and  beftoweth,  on  her  a  relifli 
 for  the  fame.  By  the  renovating  power  of  his  Spirit 
 he  reftoreth  her  from  decrepitude  to  the  health  and 
 ftrength  of  a  young*  "  eagle,"  fo  that  fhe  can  afcend 
 
 •  Of  all  birds  it  is  known,  that  they  have  yearly  their  moult*- 
 ing  times,  when  they  fhed  their  old,  and  are  afrelh  furnifhed^ith 
 a  new  ftock  of  feathers.  This  is  moft  obfervable  of  hawks  and 
 vultures,  and  efpecially  of"  eagles,"  which,  when  they  ate  near 
 an  hundred  years  old,  caft  their  feathers,  and  become  bald  and  like 
 young  ojies,  and  then  new  feathers  fprout  forth.  Th«s  St.  Am* 
 brofe,  "  Aquila  longam  setatem  ducit,  dum  vetuftis  plumis  fatif-* 
 centibus,  nova  pennarum  fucceffione  juvenefcit."  Dr.  Hammokd^ 
 
Day  20.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  203 
 
 up  on  high,  and  contemplate  the  fplendor  of  the 
 Sun  of  Rightcoufncfs.  Thus,  at  the  day  of  the  re- 
 furred  ion,  clothed  anew  with  falvation  and  glory, 
 the  body  likewife  Ihall  arife  from  earth,  and  fly  away 
 as  an  eagle  toward  heaven,  to  begin  an  immortal  life, 
 and  be  for  ever  young. 
 
 6.  The  Lord  execiittth  righteoufnefs  and  judgment 
 for  all  that  arc  opprejhd.  7.  He  made  known  his  zuays 
 unto  MofeSy  his  acts  unto  the  children  of  IJrael. 
 
 From  a  confideration  of  his  own  particular  cafe, 
 the  Plalmift  maketh  a  general  refledion  on  that 
 attribute  of  God,  which  inclineth  him  to  deliver  hjs 
 people,  and  to  punilh  their  oppreflbrs,  of  what  kind 
 foever  they  be.  And  here  that  grand  difplay  of  the 
 "  ways"  and  "  works"  of  Jehovah,  the  redemption 
 of"  Ifrael"  by  the  hand  of  a  "  Mofes,"  imniediately 
 occurs,  and  is  celebrated.  Thus  each  private  mercy, 
 ^yhether  of  a  temporal  or  fpiritual  nature,  fhould 
 remind  us  of  that  public  and  univerfal  bleflingof  Re- 
 demption by  Jefus  Chrift,  from  which  every  other 
 blefling  floweth,  as  a  ftream  from  it's  fountain,  and 
 for  which  God  ought,  therefore,  upon  all  occafions, 
 to  be  praifed  and  glorified. 
 
 8.  The  Lord  is  merciful  and  gracious,  flow  to 
 anger ^  and  plenteous  in  mercy. 
 
 When  Mofes  defired  Jehovah  to  (hew  him  his 
 "  way,"  and  his  *'  glory,"  Exod.  xxxii.  13.  18. 
 Jehovah  pafled  by,  and  proclaimed  himfelf,  as  here, 
 "  Jehovah  merciful,  and  gracious,"  &c.  Exod. 
 xxxiii.  6.  How  full  of  confoldtion  to  the  penitent 
 foul  are  all  the  words  of  this  verfe  !  **  The  Lord 
 "  is  merciful,"  Dirq*  the  bowels  of  his  tender  com- 
 
 paflion 
 
S04  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  103. 
 
 paffion  yearn  over  us,  as  thofe  of  a  mother  yearn 
 over  the  child  of  her  womb ;  "  yea  a  woman  may 
 "  forget  her  fucklin^  child,  yet  can  he  not  forget  us.'* 
 Ifai.  xlix.  15.  He  is  "  gracious,"  p:)n,  ready  to  give 
 us  freely  all  things  that  are  needful  for  our  falvation. 
 He  is  "  (low  to  anger,"  bearing  with  the  froward- 
 nefs  of  his  children,  with  their  provocations  and 
 relapfes,  for  40,  50,  6c,  70  j^ears  together,  before 
 he  ftrikes  the  blow ;  giving  them,  by  this  his  long 
 fuffering,  time  for  repentance.  And  he  is  "  plente- 
 '*  ous  in  mercy,"  TDnil,  "  great,  mighty  in  mercy,'* 
 placing  his  chief  glory  in  this  attribute,  and  hereby 
 teaching  us  how  to  eftimate  true  greatnefs. 
 
 9^.  He  will  not  always  chide-  neither  ivill  he 
 keep  his  anger /or  ever,  10.  He  hath  not  dealt  with 
 us  after  our  fins ;  nor  rewarded  us  according  to  our 
 iniquities. 
 
 God's  chaflifements  are  fome  of  the  moft  eminent 
 proofs  of  his  mercy.  They  are  fent  to  reclaim  us, 
 and  to  fave  us  from  eternal  punifhment.  They  con- 
 tinue not  always,  but  are  removed  when  they  have 
 done  their  work ;  and  while  they  laft,  are  as  nothing 
 in  ccmparifon  of  thofe  heavy  flripes  which  our  fins 
 have  deferved. 
 
 II.  For  as  the  heaven  is  high  above  the  earthy  fo 
 great  is  his  mercy  towards  them  that  fear  him.  12.  As 
 far  as  the  eajl  is  from  the  wefl^fo  far  hath  he  removed 
 eur  tranfgrejjionsfrom  us.  13.  Like  as  afatherpitieth 
 h\s  children,  fo  the  LoKry  pitieth  them  that  fear  him. 
 
 We  are  here  p/elented  with  three  of  the  mod 
 beautiful,  appofue,  and  comforting  fimilitudes  in 
 the  world.     When  we  lift  up  our  eyes,  and  behold 
 
 around 
 
Day  20.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  205 
 
 around  us  the  lofty  and  flupendous  vault  of  heaven, 
 incircling,  proteding,  enlightening,  refrelhing,  and 
 cheridiing  the  earth,  and  all  things  that  are  therein, 
 we  are  bidden  to  contemplate  in  this  glafs  the  im- 
 meafurable  height,  the  boundlefs  extent,  and  the 
 falutary  influences  of  that  mercy,  which,  as  it  were, 
 embraceth  tlie  creation,  and  is  over  all  the  works  of 
 God.  Often  as  we  view  the  fun  arifmg  in  the  eaft, 
 and  darknefs  flying  away  from  before  his  face  to- 
 wards the  oppofite  quarter  of  the  heavens,  we  may 
 fee  an  image  of  that  goodnefs  of  Jehovah,  whereby 
 we  are  placed  in  the  regions  of  illumination,  and  our 
 fins  are  removed  and  put  far  away  out  of  his  fight. 
 And  that  our  hearts  may,  at  all  times,  have  confi- 
 dence towards  God,  he  is  reprefented  as  bearing  to- 
 wards us  the  fond  and  tender  affedion  of  a  "father,'* 
 ever  ready  to  defend,  to  nourilb,  and  to  provide  for 
 us,  to  bear  with  us,  to  forgive  us,  and  to  receive  us 
 in  the  parental  arms  of  everlaiting  love. 
 
 14.  For  he  knoxveth  our  frame  ;  he  rememheretk 
 that  zve  are  diiji.  15.  As  for  man,  his  days  are  as 
 grafs  ;  as  a  Jlower  of  the  field,  fo  he  fiourifheth, 
 16.  For  the  wind  paffeth  over  it,  and  it  is  gone ; 
 and  the  place  thereof  fhall  knozo  it  no  more. 
 
 The  confideration  of  man's  frail  and  perifliable 
 eftate  weighs  with  the  Almighty,  and  prevails  upon 
 him  to  fpare  his  creature.  And  doth  not  the  tear  of 
 compafl[ion  ftart  in  the  eye  of  him,  who  reads  the 
 defcription  which  David  hath  given  of  it  in  thefe 
 verfes?  "  Man,"  fallen,  mortal  man — *'  his  days 
 "  are  as  grafs  j'*  like  that  he  cometh  out  of  the 
 earth,   and  continueth  but  a  (hort  time  upon  it; 
 
 "  as 
 
2o6  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  103. 
 
 "  as  a  flower  of  the  field,"  fair  but  tranfient,  "  fo 
 "  he"  unfoldeth  his  beauty  in  youth,  ai^  '*  flourifh- 
 eth"  awhile  in  the  vigour  of  manhood ;  but  Id, 
 in  a  moment,  the  breath  of  heaven's  difpleafure,  as  a 
 bhghting  "  wind  pafleth  over  him,  and  he  is  gone;" 
 he  boweth  his  drooping  head,  and  mingleth  again 
 with  his  native  duft;  his  friends  and  his  companions 
 look  for  him  at  the  acciiftomed  fpot,  which  he  once 
 adorned — but  in  vain — the  earth  has  opened  her 
 mouth  to  receive  him,  and  "  his  place  (hall  know 
 "  him  no  more." 
 
 17.  But  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  is  from  everlajl- 
 ing  to  everlajiing  upon  them  that  fear  him;  and  his 
 righteoufnefs  unto  children  s  children:  18.  Tofuch 
 as  keep  his  covenant^  and  to  thofe  that  remember  his 
 commandments  to  do  them. 
 
 Let  not  man  prefume,  who  withereth  like  the 
 green  herb 5  but  then,  let  not  man  defpair,  whofe  na- 
 ture, with  all  it's  infirmities,  the  Son  of  God  hath 
 taken  upon  him.  The  flower  which  faded  in  Adam, 
 blooms  anew  in  Chrift,  never  to  fade  again.  "  The 
 "  mercy  of  Jehovah,"  in  his  Mefljah,  *'  is  everlaft- 
 •*  ing;"  and  of  that  everlafting  mercy  poor  frail 
 man  is  the  objecfl.  It  extendeth  to  all  the  genera- 
 tions of  the  faithful  fervants  of  God.  Death  fliall 
 not  deprive  them  of  it's  benefits,  nor  fliall  the  grave 
 hide  them  from  the  efficacious  influence  of  it's  all- 
 enlivening  beams,  whicb  fliall  pierce  even  into  thofe 
 regions  of  defolation,  and  awaken  the  fleepers  of  fix 
 thoufand  years.  Man  mufl  pay  to  juflice  the  tem- 
 poral penalty  of  his  fins;  but  mercy  fliall  raife  him 
 again,  to  receive  the  eternal  reward,  purchafed  by 
 
 his 
 
Day  20.  M.  p.        o>f  the  PSALMS.  soy 
 
 his  Saviour's  righteoufnefs.  A  paflage  in  the  firft 
 jepiftle  of  St.  Peter  doth  mofl  admirably  illuftrate 
 this  part  of  oqr  Pfalm.  **  We  are  born  again  not 
 ^*  of  corruptible  feed,  but  of  incorruptible,  by  the 
 ^*  WORD  of  God,  which  liveth  and  abideth  for  ever. 
 ?*  For  all  fle[h  is  grafs,  and  all  the  glory  of  man  as 
 "  the  flower  of  grafs.  The  grafs  withereth,  and 
 "  the  flower  thereof  falleth  awayj  but  the  word  of 
 **  the  Lord  endureth  for  ever.  And  this  is  the 
 f*  WORD  which  by  the  Gofpel  is  preached  unto  you." 
 I  Pet.  i.  23,  &c. 
 
 19.  The  Lord  hath  prepared  his  throne  in  the 
 heavens  ;  and  his  kingdoin  rideth  over  all. 
 
 The  glorious  perfon  who  worketh  all  thefe  wonders 
 of  mercy  for  his  people,  the  word  of  God,  and 
 Saviour  of  the  world,  is-  triumphantly  feated  upon 
 his  "  throne  in  heaven,"  and  is  poflefled  of  all  power 
 to  accomplifli  his  will,  even  until  all  things  fliali  be 
 fubdued  unto  him.  The  glories  of  his  throne,  the 
 brightnefs  of  his  excellent  majefty,  and  the  might  of 
 his  irrefiftible  power,  are  defcribed  at  laae  by  St. 
 John,  Rev  iv.  v.   19.  ^ 
 
 20.  Blefs  the  Lord,  ye  his  angelsy  that  excel  in 
 Jtrength,  that  do  his  commandments^  hearkening  unto 
 
 the  voice  of  his  word.  21.  Blefs  ye  the  Lord,  all  ye 
 his  hoJiSi  ye  mi?i?yiers  of  his,  that  do  his  pleafure, 
 22.  Blefs  the  Lord,  all  his  works,  in  all  places  of 
 his  dominion  ;  blefs  the  ho  rd,  O  my  foul. 
 
 Joy  is  obferved  to  be  of  a  difl'ufive  and  communi- 
 cative nature.     The  heart  of  the  Pfalmift  is  full  and 
 overfloweth  with  it.     Unable  worthily  to  praile  Je- 
 hovah for  his  mercies  vouchfafed  to  the  church,  he 
 3  inviteth 
 
2o8  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  104. 
 
 inviteth  heaven  and  earth  to  join  with  him,  and  to 
 celebrate,  in  full  chorus,  the  redemption  of  man. 
 St.  John  faw  the  throne  of  Mefliah  prepared;  he 
 beheld  the  univerfai  band  aflembled ;  and  he  heard 
 when  '*  all  the  angels  round  about  the  throne,  ten 
 "  thoufand  times  ten  thoufand,  and  thoufands  of 
 "  thoufands,  with  every  creature  in  heaven,  earth, 
 "  and  fea,"  lifted  up  their  voices,  and  fang  together, 
 *'  Blefling,  and  honour,  and  glory,  a})d  power  be 
 **  unto  him  that  fitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto 
 "  the  Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever." 
 
 XX  DAY,       EVENING  PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  CIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  is  an  euchariflic  hymn,  full  of  majefly 
 and  fweetnefs,  addrefTed  to  Jehovah,  as 
 Creator  of  the  world.  It  fetteth  forth  his 
 glory,  wifdom,  goodnefs,  and  power,  dif- 
 played  1—9.  in  the  formation  of  the  hea- 
 vens and  earth;  10 — 18.  in  the  various 
 provifion  made  for  beafts,  and  birds,  and 
 for  man,  the  lord  of  all ;  19—24.  in  the 
 revolutions  of  the  celeftial  bodies,  and  the 
 confequent  interchanges  of  day  and  night,  of 
 labour  and  reft;  25,  26.  in  the  fea,  and 
 every  thing  that  moveth  in,  or  upon   ^he 
 
 waters. 
 
Day  20.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  209 
 
 waters.     27—30;     The  dependence  of  the 
 whole  creation  iipOti  God,  for  it*s  hehig  and 
 well  heuig,  is  beautifully  reprefented,  with 
 31,   32.    the   glory,    Which  the  Creator  re- 
 ceiveth  from   his  works,  the  plcafure  which 
 he  taketh    in  them,  and   the  power  which 
 he  hath  over  them.     33.  The  Pfalmill:  de- 
 clareth  his  refolution  ever  to  praife  Jehovah, 
 and   34.   predi6leth  the  deftruaioti  of  thoftt 
 who  refufe,  or  neglect  fo  to  do.     As  there 
 •  is  a  fimilitude  between  the  natural  and  the 
 fpiritual  creation,   allufions  of  that  fort  are 
 frequently  made,  in  the  enfuing  comment, 
 which  may,    perhaps,  point  out  the  reafoii 
 why  the  church  hath  appointed  this  Pfalm^ 
 to  be  u fed  on  Whitfunday.: 
 
 I.  Blefs  the  Lord,  O  my  foul:  O  Lord  my  God, 
 thou  art  very  great,  thou  art  clothed  ivilh  honour 
 and  majefty ;  V{z\>.  with  glory  and  beauty,  i.  tFhb 
 covereji  thyfelf  with  light  as  with  a  gatinent;  zvho 
 jiretcheji  out  the  heavens  like  a  curtain;  i.  e.  of  ct 
 tenti  or,  pavilion. 
 
 The  fcriptures  inform  us*  that  the  farhe  perfbri, 
 who  redeemed  the  world,  did  alfo  create  it.  In  the 
 ciid  Pfalm,  as  we  arealTured  by  St.  Paul,  "  to  the  Son" 
 "  it  is  faid,  Thou,  Lordj  in  the  beginning  haft  laid 
 "  the  foundation  of  the  earth,  and  the  heavens  are 
 •'  the  works  of  thy  hands."  To  him,  thereforej  as 
 Creator,  is  the  civth  Pfalm  likewife  addrelfed.  He 
 is  defcribed  as  inverted  with  "  the  glory  which  he 
 
 Vol.  II.  O  ^^'had 
 
2ia  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  104. 
 
 *'  had  with  the  Father,  before  the  world  was  j"  a 
 glimpfe  of  which  he  vouehfafed  to  the  three  difciples, 
 who  were  prefent  at  his  transfiguration,  when  "  his 
 "  face  did  (hine  as  the  fun,  and  his  raiment  was 
 *'  white  as  the  light."  The  firft  inftance  of  his  cre- 
 ating power  is  afforded  us  by  the  "  heavens,"  which 
 form  a  magnificent  "  canopy,  or  pavilion,"  compre- 
 hending within  it  the  earth,  and  all  the  inhabitants 
 thereof.  It  is  enlightened  by  the  celeftial  orbs  fuf- 
 pended  in  it,  as  tire  holy  tabernacle  was,  by  the 
 lamps  of  the  golden  candleftick.  And  it  was  origin- 
 ally framed,  ereded,  ami  furnifhed  by  it's  Maker, 
 with  more  eafe  than  man  can  conflru(ft  and  pitch  a 
 "  tent,"  for  his  own  temporary  abode.  Yet  muft 
 this  noble  pavilion  alfo  be  taken  down  y  thefe  re- 
 iplendent  and  beaiuiful  heavens  muft  pats  away,  and 
 come  to  an  end.  How  glorious  then  (hall  be  thofe 
 "  new  heavens,"  which  are  to  fucceed  them,  and  to 
 endure  for  everl 
 
 3.  Who  tayeth  the  beams  of  his  chambers  in  the 
 waters:  zvJio  maheth  the  clouds  his  chariot:  who 
 xcalketh  itpon  the  wings  of  the  wind. 
 
 The  divine  architect  is  here  reprefented  as  **  laying 
 "  the  beams  of  his  chambers,  as  compadting  his  loftSy. 
 **  or  ftories,  in  the  waters."  Some  think  the  formation 
 of  the  terreflrial  ftrata  in  the  waters,  which  at  the  be- 
 ginning covered  all  things,  is  here  alluded  to.  If  it 
 be  objeded,  that  the  Pfalmi-ft,  in  the  eourfe  of  his 
 defcription,  is  not  )^et  arrived  at  the  formation  of  the 
 earth,  but  is  ftill  iii  the  upper  regions  of  the  air  j- 
 may  we  not  fuppofe,  that  the  fubjedb  is,  in  this  par- 
 ticular, a  little  anticipated,,  which  is  no  uncommon 
 
 cafe 
 
DAYilO.  E.P.  ONTltE  PSALMS.  itil 
 
 cafe  in  the  facred  writings?  The  generality  of  ex- 
 pofitors,  however,  interpret  the  paflage  of  thofe 
 ^'  dark  waters,  compared  into  thick  clouds  of  the 
 "  ikies,"  which  the  Almighty  is  elfewhere  faid  to 
 make  the  "  fecret  place,  or  chamber"  of  his  refi- 
 dence,  and  a  kind  of  "  footftool"  to  his  throne. 
 Pf.  xviii.  9,  II.  And  thus,  indeed,  the  former  part 
 of  our  verfe  is  plainly  and  immediately  conned:ed 
 with  what  follows;  "  who  maketh  the  clouds  his 
 "  chariot,  and  walketh  upon  the  wings  of  the 
 *'  wind."  How  aftonifliingly  magnificent  and  tre- 
 mendous is  the  idea  which  thefe  words  convey  to  us, 
 of  the  great  King,  riding  upon  the  heavens,  encom- 
 pafled  with  clouds  and  darknefs,  attended  by  the 
 lightnings,  thofe  ready  executioners  of  his  vengeance, 
 and  caufing  the  world  to  refound  and  tremble  at  the 
 thunder  of  his  power,  and  the  noife  of  his  chariot 
 wheels!  By  thefe  enfigns  of  royalty,  thefe  emblems 
 of  omnipotence,  and  inftruments  of  his  difpieafure, 
 doth  Jehovah  manifeft  his  prefence,  when  he  vifiteth 
 rebelHous  man,  to  make  him  owr'  and  adore  his  neg- 
 leded  and  infulted  Lord.  See  and  compare  Pf.  xviii. 
 I  p.  and  the  context. 
 
 4.  Who  nmketk  his  angels  fpirits:  his  viinijlers  a 
 fMiniiigfire. 
 
 From  the  manner  in  which  thefe  words  are  intro- 
 duced, and  the  place  where  they  ftand,  one  flioukl 
 conceive  the  meaning  of  them  to  be,  that  God  em- 
 ployeth  the  elements  of  air  and  fire,  the  winds 
 riimi  and  the  lightnings,  as  his  mefTengers  rD^^'?© 
 and  minifters,  to  execute  his  commands  upon  the 
 O  2  earth. 
 
212  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  104 
 
 earth*.  But  the  Apoftle,  Heb.  i.  7.  informeth  us, 
 that  they  have  a  further  reference  to  immaterial  an- 
 gels; either  becaufe  thofe  angels  often  appeared  in 
 the  likenefs,  or  becaufe  they  were  endued  with  the 
 properties  of  "  wind  and  flame."  Intelledual  beings, 
 of  the  htgheft  order  in  the  realms  above  are  as  ready 
 to  fulfil  the  word  of  Jehovah,  as  are  the  elements  of 
 this  lower  world.  Both  teach  a  leflbn  of  obedience 
 to  the  fons  of  men;  to  thofe  of  them  more  efpecially, 
 who  are  appointed  "  angels"  of  the  churches,  and 
 *'  minifters,"  of  Chrift. 
 
 5.  Who  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earthy  that  it 
 fJiould  not  be  removed  for  ever. 
 
 In  the  original  it  is,  *'  Who  hath  founded  the 
 "  earth  upon  it's  bafcs,"  The  formation  of  this 
 globe,  on  which  we  tread,  is  a  wonderful  inftance 
 of  divine  wifdom  and  power,  whether  we  confider 
 the  manner  in  which  the  parts  of  it  are  put  and  kept 
 tof^ether,  or  its  fufpenfion  in  the  circumambient 
 fluid,  which,  as  fome  philofophers  fuppofe,  by  prefs- 
 ing  upon  ic  on  every  fide,  forms  fo  many  columns, 
 as  it  were,  to  fupport,  and  keep  it  balanced.  The 
 words,  "  that  it  lliould  not  be  removed  for  ever," 
 do  by  no  means  imply,  that  the  earth  is  flationary, 
 or  that  it  is  eternal;  but  only  thus  much,  that  it  is 
 lo  confi:ru6led,  as  to  anlvvcr  the  end,  and  to  lad:  the 
 time,  for  which  it  was  created  and  intended.  It  fliall 
 continue  the  fame  in  itfelf,  and  with  relation  to  other 
 bodies,  neither  altering  it's  iLape,  nor  changing  it's 
 
 *  In  the  French  tranflation  it  is—**  Who  maketh  the  winds 
 **  his  angels,  the  flaming  fire  his  minifters." 
 
 courfe, 
 
DaY20.  E.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  2I3 
 
 courfe,  till  the  day  appointed  for  it's  diflbliition; 
 after  which,  as  there  are  to  be  "  new  heavens,"  fo 
 will  there  alfo  be  "  a  new  earth." 
 
 6.  Thou  covered/l  if.  zcith  the  deep,  as  with  n  gar- 
 ment: the  waters  Jioodabove  the  mount  aim.  7.  At  thy 
 rebuke  theyfied:  at  the  voice  of  thy  thunder  they  hafied 
 aivay.  8.  They  go^  or  zvent  up  by  the  mountains:  they 
 go,  or,  zve?it  dozvn  by  the  vallies,  unto  the  place  which 
 thou  hadjl founded  for  them.  9.  Thou  hajlfet  a  bound 
 that  they  may  not  pafs  over:  that  they  turn  7iot 
 again  to  cover  the  earth. 
 
 Mod  interpreters  fuppofe  this  to  be  a  defcription 
 of  tlie  fituation  of  things,  and  of  what  was  effeded 
 by  the  power  of  God,  on  the  third  day  of  the  crea- 
 tion, when  he  faid,  "Let  the  waters  be  gathered  to^ 
 "  gether  into  one  place,  and  let  the  dry  land  appear ; 
 *'  and  it  was  fo."  Indeed,  the  procefs  at  the  creation 
 was  fo  exadly  fimilar  to  that  at  the  deluge,  with  re- 
 gard to  the  circumftances  here  mentioned,  that  it 
 matters  not  to  which  we  apply  the  beautiful  and 
 truly  poetical  paflage  before  us.  In  both  cafes,  the 
 earth  w-as  covered  with  the  waters,  as  with  a  garment 
 in  every  partj  in  both  cafes,  they  fled  at  the  Al- 
 mighty word,  like  the  fcattered  remains  of  a  routed 
 army ;  from  the  heights  of  mountains,  whither  they 
 had  afcendcd,  they  funk  down  into  the  vallies;  from 
 the  vallies  they  retired  to  the  bed  of  the  ocean,  and 
 a  part  of  them  defcended  from  thence  into  the  great 
 deep,  that  lieth  beneath.  Bounds  were  fet  them, 
 beyond  which  they  fhould  never  pafs,  to  overwhelm 
 us  any  more  for  ever.  And  the  experience  of  4000 
 years  hath  taught  us,  that  where  the  Creator  hath 
 O3  laid 
 
214  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  104. 
 
 laid  his  commands,  plain  fand  is  a  fufficient  barrier* 
 Thus  the  church  hath  been  dehvered  from  her  fpi- 
 ritual  enemies ;  and  (he  hath  a  promlfe,  on  which  Ihe 
 may  with  full  confidence  rely,  that  "  the  gates  of 
 **  hell  fliall  never  prevail  againft  her." 
 
 10.  Hefendcth  thefprings  into  the  valley s^  which 
 run  amo?2g  the  hills.  1 1 .  They  give  drink  to  every 
 heafi  of  the, field i  the  tvild  ajjes  quench  tlieir  thirji. 
 
 The  waters  of  the  fea  are  not  only  prevented  from 
 deftroying  the  earth,  but  by  a  wonderful  machinery 
 are  rendered  the  means  of  preferving  every  living 
 thing  which  moveth  thereon.  Partly  afcending  from 
 the  great  deep  through  the  ftrata  of  the  earth,  partly 
 exhaled  in  vapour  from  the  furface  of  the  ocean  into 
 the  air,  and  from  thence  falling  in  rain,  efpecially 
 on  the  tops  and  by  the  fides  of  mountains,  they 
 break  forth  in  frefh  fprings,  having  left  their  falts 
 behind  them;  they  trickle  through  the  valleys,  be- 
 tween the  hills,  receiving  new  fupplies  as  they  go; 
 they  become  large  rivers,  and  after  watering,  by  their 
 innumerable  turnings  and  windings,  immenfe  tracfls 
 of  country,  they  return  to  the  place  from  whence 
 they  came.  Thus  every  animal  hath  an  opportunity 
 of  quenching  that  thirfi,  which  muft  otherwife  foon 
 put  a  period  to  it's  exiftence.  The  "  wild  affes"  are 
 particularly  mentioned,  becaufe  they  Uve  in  remote 
 and  fandy  defertsj  yet  even  fuch  creatures,  in  fuch 
 places,  are  by  the  God  of  nature  taught  the  way  to 
 the  waters;  infomuch  that  the  parched  traveller, 
 v^hen  in  fearch  of  a  fountain,  findeth  them  to  be  the 
 bed  guides  in  the  v\orld,  and  needeth  only  toobferve 
 and  follow   the  herds   of  them  defcending  to   the 
 
 itreams. 
 
Day  20.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  215 
 
 flreams.  In  the  fpiritual  fyftem,  or  new  creation, 
 there  are  wells  of  falvation,  living  fprings,  waters  of 
 comfort,  of  which  all  nations,  even  the  moft  favage 
 and  barbarous,  are  invited  to  come  and  drink  freely. 
 They  flow  among  the  churches ;  they  defcend  into 
 the  hearts  of  the  lowly ;  and  they  refrefli  us  in  our 
 paflage  through  the  wildernefs :  for  even  there  "  do 
 "  waters  break  out,  and  flreams  in  the  defert."  Ifai. 
 XXXV.  6. 
 
 12.  By  them  Jl tall  the  fowls  of  the  air  have  their 
 habitation^  which  Jing  among  the  branches. 
 
 "  By  them,"  that  is,  by  "  fprings  of  water,"  in 
 the  "  valleys,"  the  birds  delight  to  have  their  habi- 
 tations, and  to  fmg  amidll  the    verdant    branches, 
 which  conceal  them  from  our  fight.     "  The  mufic 
 *'  of  birds,"  as  one  hath  well  obferved,  *'  was  the 
 "  firfl  fong  of  thankfgiving  which  was  offered  on 
 "  earth  before  man  was  formed.     All  their  founds 
 **  are  different,  but  all  harmonious,  and  all  together 
 "  compote  a  choir  which  we  cannot  imitate  *."     If 
 thefe  little  chorifters  of  the  air,  when  refrefhed  by 
 the  flreams  near  which    they  dwell,    exprefs  their 
 gratitude  by  chanting,  in  their  way,  the  praifes  of 
 their  Maker  and  Preferver,  how  ought  Chriflians  to 
 bluQi,  who,  befides  the  comforts  and  conveniences 
 of  this  world,  are  indulged  with  copious  draughts  of 
 the  water  of  eternal  life,   if,  for  fo  great  bleflings, 
 they  pay  not  their  tribute  of  thankfgiving,  and  fing 
 not  unto  the  Lord  the  fongs  of  Sion !  "  He  that 
 "  at  midnight,   when  the  very  labourer  fleeps  fe- 
 
 *  Wefley's  Sarvey  of  the  Wifdom  of  God  in  the  Creation, 
 I.  149. 
 
 O  4  "  curely, 
 
ii6  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  104. 
 
 "  curdy,  fhould  hear,  as  I  have  often  done,  the 
 «  clear  airs,  the  fvveet  descants,  the  natural  rifing 
 *'  and  falling,  the  doubling  and  redoubling  of  the 
 ^*  nightingale's  voice,  might  well  be  lifted  above 
 *'  earth,  and  fay.  Lord,  what  mufic  haft  thou  pro- 
 *'  vided  for  the  faints  in  heaven,  when  thou  aftbrdeft 
 'f  bad  men  fuch  mufic  upon  earth  1"  Walton's 
 Complete  Angler,  P.  9. 
 
 13.  He  xvatereth  tJie  hills  from  his  chambers  :  the 
 earth  is  fatisfied  xoith  the  fruit  of  thj  xvorks.  14.  He 
 caufeth  thegrafs  to  grow  for  the  cattle ^  and  herbfsr 
 ihe  f^rvke  of  man  -  that  he  may  bring  forth  food  out 
 of  the  earth;  15.  And  zvine  that  maketh  glad  the 
 heart  of  man,  and  oil  to  make  his  face  tofhinc^  and 
 bread  v^\{\^\  Jirengtheneth  man's  heart. 
 
 The  fertility  of  the  earth  is  owing  to  God,  who 
 for  that  purpofe,  *'  watereth"  it  rnv'?;;^  -'  from  his 
 "  chambers,"  whether  the  word  hath  a  reference  to 
 the  clouds  above,  or  the  depths  below,  for  both  are 
 concerned  in  the  operation.  Hence  all  the  glory  and 
 beauty  of  the  vegetable  world  5  hence  the  grafs, 
 which  nourifheth  the  cattle,  that  they  may  nourifh 
 the  hviman  race  ;  hence  the  green  herb,  for  food  and 
 for  medicine;  hence  fields  covered  with  corn,  for 
 the  fupport  of  life ;  hence  vines  and  olive  trees  la- 
 den \yith  fruits,  whofe  juices  exhilarate  the  heart,  and 
 brighten  the  countenance.  Nor  let  us  forget  the  fpi- 
 ritual  benedictions  correfponding  to  thtfe  exte.nal 
 onesj  the  fvuitfulnefs  of  the  church  through  grace, 
 the  bread  of  everiafting  life,  the  cup  of  falvation, 
 and  the  oil  cf  gladpefs. 
 
 16.  The  trees  of  the  Lord  are  full  oi  fag;  the 
 fedars  oj  Lebanon  wkic/-j  he  hath  planted, 
 
 '        '  The 
 
Day  20.  E.  r.         on  the  PSALMS.  ziy 
 
 The  whole  earth  is  a  garden,  planted  by  the  hand, 
 and  watered  by  the  care  of  Jehovah.  But  in  a  more 
 elpecial  manner  is  his  glory  let  forth  by  the  lofty  and 
 magnificent  cedars,  which,  growing  wild  on  the 
 iTiountain  and  in  the  forell,  owe  nothing  to  the  fkill 
 and  induftry  of  man.  The  moifture  of  the  earth, 
 rarefied  by  the  heat  of  the  fun,  enters  their  roots, 
 afcends  in  their  tubes,  and  by  due  degrees  expands 
 and  increafes  them,  till  they  arrive  at  their  growth. 
 God  hath  alfo  another  garden,  in  which  there  are 
 other  trees  of  his  planting,  called  by  Ifaiah,  ch.  Ixi. 
 3.  "  Trees  of  righteoufnefs."  Thefe  are  his  faithful 
 fervants,  who,  through  the  Spirit  which  i«  given 
 unto  them,  become  eminent  and  fleady  in  goodnefs ; 
 their  examples  are  fragrant,  and  their  charity  dif- 
 fufive. 
 
 17.  IVhere  the  birds  vuike  their  nejis :  as  for  the 
 Jlork,  the  fir  trees  are  her  hoitfe. 
 
 Moft  admirable  is  that  wifdom  and  underftanding, 
 which  the  Creator  hath  imparted  to  the  birds  of  the 
 air,  whereby  they  diftinguilh  times  and  feafons,  chufe 
 |he  propereft  places,  conflruft  their  nefts  with  an  art 
 and  exadtnefs  unattainable  by  man,  and  fecure  and 
 proyide  for  their  young.  "  Is  it  for  the  birds,  O 
 "  Lord,  who  have  no  knowledge  thereof,  that  thou 
 "  haft  joined  together  lb  mony  miracles  ?  Is  it  for 
 **  the  men  who  give  no  attention  to  them  ?  Is  it  for 
 "  thofe  who  admire  them,  without  thinking  of  thee  ? 
 "  Rather  is  it  not  thy  defign,  by  all  thefe  wonders, 
 **  to  call  us  to  tliyfelf?  To  make  us  fenfible  of 
 ^*  thy  wifdom,  and  fill  us  with  confidence  in  thy 
 *^  bouaty,  who  watcheft  fo  carefully  over  thefe  in- 
 
 "  confiderable 
 
2i8  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  104. 
 
 •*  conficlerable  creatures,  two  of  which  are  fold  for  a 
 "  farthing*?" 
 
 18.  The  high  hills  are  a  refuge  for  the  wild  goats, 
 and  the  rocks  for  the  conies. 
 
 The  fame  force  of  what  we  call  Inftind  prevails  in 
 terreflrial  animals,  and  diredls  them  to  places  of  refuge, 
 v/here  they  may  be  fafe  from  their  enemies.  Thus 
 the  wild  goats  climb  with  eafe  to  the  tops  and  crags 
 of  mountains,  where  they  depofit  their  young.  And 
 thus  animals  of  another  kind,  which  arc  more  de- 
 fencelefs  than  the  goats,  and  not  able  to  climb  like 
 them,  have  yet  a  way  of  intrenching  themfelvcs  in  a 
 fituation  perfedly  impregnable,  among  the  rocks  >f ; 
 w^e  find  them,  on  that  account,  numbered  by  Solo- 
 mon among  the  "  four"  kinds  of  animals,  which, 
 though  "  little  upon  the  earth,  are  exceeding  wife. 
 "  The  xyys^  are  but  a  feeble  folk,  yet  make  they 
 "  their  houfes  in  the  rocks."  Prov.  xxx.  26,  They 
 who  in  themfelves  arc  "  feeble"  and  helplefs,  Iliould 
 look  out  betimes  for  a  mountain  of  refuge,  and  a  rock 
 of  fafety. 
 
 19.  He  appointcth  the  moon  for  feafons  ;  the  fun 
 hioxveth  his  going  down. 
 
 From  a  furvey  of  the  works  of  God  upon  earth, 
 the  Pfalmift  proceedeth  to  extol  that  divine  wifdom, 
 which  is  manifefted  in  the  motions  and  revolutions 
 of  the  heavenly  bodies,  and  in  the  grateful  viciflitode 
 
 *  Wefley,  as  above, 
 
 f  It  is  uncertain  what  fpecies  of  animals  is  here  intended  by 
 the  word  Q'Jsiy.  But  it  is  enough  for  our  purpofe,  that  they 
 are  creatures  remarkable  for  fecuiing  themfelves  in  the  manner 
 here  mentioned, 
 
 of 
 
Day  20.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  219 
 
 of  day  and  night,  occafioned  thereby.  A  beautiful 
 pafTage  in  the  book  of  Ecclefiafticus  will,  perhaps, 
 be  the  bed  comment  on  the  former  part  of  this  verfe. 
 **  He  made  the  moon  to  ferve  in  her  feafon,  for  a 
 "  declaration  of  times,  and  a  fi^m  to  the  world. 
 *'  From  the  moon  is  the  fign  of  feafts,  a  light  that 
 *'  decreafeth  in  her  perfedion.  The  month  js  called 
 "  after  her  name,  increafing  wonderfully  in  her 
 *'  changing,  being  an  inflrument  of  the  armies  above, 
 "  fliining  in  the  firmament  of  heaven  ;  the  beauty 
 "  of  heaven,  the  glory  of  the  flars,  an  ornameat 
 *'  giving  light  in  the  higheft  places  of  the  Lord.'* 
 Ch.  xlii.  6.  The  latter  part  of  the  verfe  exprefleth 
 the  obedience  of  the  "  fun,"  or  "  folar  light,"  to 
 the  law  of  its  Creator  j  it  feemeth  to  *'  know"  the 
 exact  time  of  its  coming  on,  and  going  off,  and 
 fulfilleth  the  courfe  prefcribed  to  it,  without  the  leafh 
 deviation.  O  that  we  who  are  endowed  with  fenfe 
 &nd  reafon,  could  in  like  manner  fulfil  our  courfe  j 
 and  that  God's  will  were  ^'  done  on  earth,  as  it  is 
 *'  even  in"  this  lower  and  material  "  heaven!" 
 
 ao.  Thou  makeji  darknefs,  and  it  is  night;  wherein 
 all  the  beajis  of  the  foreji  do  creep  {o:ih.  2U  The 
 young  lions  roar  ajter  their  prey^  and  feek  their 
 meat  from  God. 
 
 Night  and  darknefs  invite  the  wild  beafts  of  the 
 forefl  and  defert  from  their  dens  and  recelfes,  tQ 
 *'  feek"  the  "■  prey"  allotted  them  by  the  providence 
 of  that  God,  who  feedeth  the  young  lions,  as  well 
 as  the  young  ravens,  when  hunger  enforceth  them, 
 as  it  were,  to  call  upon  him.  Thus,  when  a  nation 
 hath  filled  up  the  meafure  of  its  inic^uities,  the  Sun 
 
 of 
 
220  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  104, 
 
 of  R  ighteoufnefs  knowcth  the  time  of  his  departure 
 from  it;  the  light  of  the  Gofpel  is  darkened,  and  an 
 horrible  night  fuccecds  :  the  executioners  of  venge- 
 ance are  in  motion,  and  a  commiflion  from  above  is 
 given  them  to  i'eize  upon  the  prey. 
 
 22.  The  fun  arifeth,  they  gather  themfelves  to- 
 gether^ and  laxj  them  down  in  their  dens.  23.  Man 
 gueth  forth  to  Iiis  tverk  and  to  his  labour,  until  the 
 evening. 
 
 At  the  return  of  day,  the  fons  of  ravage  retire,  and 
 fculk  away  to  their  feverai  hiding  places,  that  man,  the 
 lord  of  the  creation,  may  arife,  and  perform,  unmo- 
 lefled,  the  taik  which  his  Maker  hath  appointed  him. 
 When  the  light  of  truth  and  righteoufnefs  (hineth, 
 error  and  iniquity  fly  away  before  it,  and  the  "  roar- 
 "  ing  lion"  himfelf  departeth  for  a  time.  Then  the 
 Chriftian  goeth  forth  to  the  work  of  his  falvation, 
 and  to  his  labour  of  love,  until  the  evening  of  old 
 age  warns  him  to  prepare  for  his  laft  repofe,  in  faith 
 of  a  joyful  refurreclion. 
 
 24.  O  Lord,  hoxv  manifold  are  thy  zcorks  !  In 
 •tvifdom  haft  thou  made  them  all:  the  earth  is  full  of 
 thy  riches. 
 
 Tranfported  with  a  furvey  of  the  wonders  which 
 prefent  themfelves  in  heaven  above,  and  on  earth  be- 
 low, the  Pfalmifl:  breaks  forth  into  an  exclamation 
 (and  what  heart  hath  not  already  anticipated  him?)  on 
 the  variety  and  magnificence,  the  harmony  and  pro- 
 portion of  the  works  of  God,  in  this  outward,  and 
 vifible,  and  perifhablc  wcrld.  What  then  are  the 
 miracles  of  grace  and  glory  }  What  are  thofe  invifi- 
 ble  and  eternal  things,  whrch  God  hath  prepared  for 
 
 them 
 
Day  20.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  221 
 
 them  that  love  him,  in  another  and  a  better  world, 
 and  of  which  the  things  vifible  and  temporary  are  no 
 more  than  fliadows  ?  Admitted  to  that  place,  where 
 we  fliall  at  once  be  indulged  with  a  view  of  all  the  di- 
 vine difpenfations,  and  of  that  beatitude  in  which  they 
 terminate,  (hall  we  not,  with  angels  and  archangels, 
 cry  out,  "  O  Loi^d,  how  manifold  are  thy  works  I 
 ''  In  wifdom  haft  thou  made  them  all ;  heaven  and 
 "  earth  are  full  of  thy  riches,  and  of  thy  glory  !" 
 
 25.  So  is  this  great  and  widefe.a^  wherein  are  things 
 creeping  innumerable,  both  fmall  and  great  heajls^  or, 
 living  creatures.  26.  There  go  the /hips;  there  is  that 
 leviathan,  whom  thou  haji  made  to  play  therein. 
 
 There  is  not  in  all  nature  a  more  auguft  and  itrik- 
 ing  objefV  than  the  ocean.  Its  inhabitants  are  as 
 numerous  as  thofe  upon  the  land,  nor  is  the  wifdom 
 and  the  power  of  the  Creator  lefs  difplayed,  perhaps, 
 in  their  formation  and  prefervation,  from  the  fmalleft 
 filh  that  fwims,  to  the  enormous  tyrant  of  the  deep, 
 the  leviathan  himfelf.  By  means  of  navigation,  Pro- 
 vidence hath  opened  a  communication  between  the 
 moft  diftant  parts-  of  the  globe  ;  the  largeft  folid 
 bodies  are  wafted  with  incredible  fvviftnefs,  upoa 
 one  fluid,  by  the  impulfe  of  another,  and  leas  join 
 the  countries  which  they  appear  to  divide.  In  the 
 ocean  we  behold  an  emblem  of  the  world ;  under  a 
 fmooth  deceitful  furface  it  conceals  dangerous  rocks, 
 and  devouring  monfters ;  its  waves  are  ever  re^ilefs, 
 and  oftentimes  it  is  all  over  ftorm  and  tempeft,  threat- 
 ening to  overwhelm  the  helplefsdefpairing  mariner,  in 
 a  moment ;  fuch  is  the  voyage  we  all  have  to  make, 
 ere  we  can  reach  the  defired  haven,  and  attain  that 
 
 happy 
 
S22  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  104. 
 
 happy  clime,  where,  as  we  are  told,  there  is  "  no 
 *'  more  sea."     Rev.  xxi.  iw 
 
 27.  Tliefi  wait  all  upon  thee '-  that  thou  mayejt 
 give  them  their  meat  in  due  feafon.  28.  That  thou 
 giveji  them^  thty  gather  -  thou  ope neji  thine  hand, 
 they  are  filled  icilh  good. 
 
 In  various  ways  hath  God  provided  food  for  the 
 fupport  of  all  living  creatures,  and  direded  them  to 
 feek,  and  to  find  it.  How  pleafing  a  fpeculation  is 
 it,  to  coniider  the  whole  family  of  air,  earth,  and 
 fca,  as  *'  waiting  upon"  the  Father  and  Lord  of  all 
 things,  expeding  when  he  fliould  '*  open  his  hand," 
 and  diftribute  to  each  member  his  "  portion  of  meat 
 "  in  due  feafon  1"  The  cafe  is  the  fame  with  regard 
 to  beings  intelleftual  and  fpiritual,  of  which  is  com- 
 pofed  the  church  and  family  of  Chrift,  in  heaven 
 and  earth ;  thefe  wait  all  upon  him,  by  whom  Je- 
 hovah hath  opened  the  hand  of  mercy,  and  abun- 
 dantly fupplied  all  our  needs,  through  the  riches  of 
 his  grace. 
 
 29.  Thou  hidejl  thy  face,  they  are  troubled:  thou 
 takejl  away  their  breathy  they  die,  and  return  to  iheir 
 diijl.  30.  Thou  fendejl  forth  thy  fpirit,  they  are 
 created:  and  thou  renewejl  the  face  of  the  earth. 
 
 When  God,  in  the  feafon  of  winter,  feemeth  to 
 hide  his  face,  and  to  have  withdrawn  his  beneficent 
 influences,  we  hear  the  cries  of  the  creation  in  dif- 
 trefs ;  if  he  recal  the  breath  of  life  from  any  crea- 
 ture, to  which  he  had  communicated  it,  that  creature 
 prefently  ceafeth  to  be  what  it  was  j  fenfe  and  mo- 
 tion are  at  an  end  ;  the  form  and  figure  of  it  perifh  ; 
 and  it  is  refolved  into  its  original  dufl.  But  again 
 c  he 
 
Day'20.  E.  p.  on    the    psalms.  12J 
 
 he  exerteth  his  quickening  power,  and  lo,  frefh  ge- 
 nerations of  animals  are  produced  ;  frefli  crops  of  ve- 
 getables (lioot  forth  to  nourifh  them  ;  and  there  is 
 a  renovation  of  univerfal  nature.  The  prefence  of 
 God,  in  like  manner,  is  the  life,  his  abfence  is  the 
 death  of  the  foul.  If  he  withdraw  his  grace,  we 
 perifh  evcrlaftingly ;  but  when  he  "  fendeth  forth 
 **  his  fpirit,"  as  he  did  on  the  day  of  Pentecoft, 
 **  old  things  pafs  away,  and  all  things  become  new  ;'' 
 the  winter  is  over,  and  fpring  fucceeds  in  its  place. 
 Nay,  the  hour  is  coming,  when  through  the  fame 
 Spirit,  he  (hall  alfo  quicken  our  mortal  bodies,  and 
 thus,  in  a  more  evident  and  wonderful  manner,  *'  re- 
 "  new  the  face  of  the  earth." 
 
 31.  The  glory  of  the  Lord  J/iall  endure  for 
 ever:  the  hoiiDjha II  rejoice  in  his  zvorks.  32.  He 
 looketh  on  the  earth,  and  it  trembleth  i  he  touchet li- 
 the hills  J  ajid  they  f moke. 
 
 Such  being  the  works  of  God,  fo  manifold  and  (o 
 marvellous,  the  prophet  foretelleth,  that  his  "  glo- 
 "  ry,"  difplayed  and  declared  by  the  fame,  fliould 
 "  endure  for  ever  j"  that  creatures  would  never  be 
 wanting,  to  give  him  the  praife  and  honour  due  unto 
 himj  infomuch  that,  gracioufly  accepting  this  their 
 tribute,  and  picafed  to  find  a  proper  return  made 
 him,  Jehovah  fliould,  as  at  the  firft  creation,  ac- 
 quiefce  and  rejoice  in  all  his  works  and  difpenfations* 
 In  the  mean  time,  let  the  unruly  and  difobedient  re- 
 fiedt  upon  the  greatnefs  of  his  power,  and  the  terrors 
 of  his  vengeance,  who  with  a  look  can  fliake  the 
 earth,  and  with  a  touch  can  fire  the  mountains,  as 
 when  he  once  defcended  on  Sinai. 
 
 33/ 
 
224  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  104. 
 
 33.  /  will  /i?ig  iLiilo  the  Lord  as  long  as  I  live  •' 
 I  xvilljing  praife  unto  my  God,  zvhile  I  have  my 
 being.  34.  My  meditation  of  him  Jliall  be  Jiveet  ^ 
 I  will  be  glad  in  the  Loud. 
 
 And  who,  O  divine  Pfalmifl,  will  not  "  fihg" 
 with  thee,  that  hath  an  underflanding  to  apprehend, 
 and  a  tongue  to  celebrate  the  works  of  his  Maker  and 
 Redeemer?  To  whom  will  not  thy  heavenly  medi- 
 tations be  fvveet  as  honey,  fragrant  as  the  breath  of 
 fpring,  pleafant  and  cheering  as  the  fruit  af  the  vine  ? 
 Who  doth  not  long  to  partake  of  thy  fpiritual  joy^ 
 and  holy  gladnefs  ? 
 
 Q^U).  Let  the  finners,  or.  the  Jinners  JJiall  be  con- 
 fumed  out  of  the  earth,  and  let  the  wicked,  or,  the 
 xiiicked fliall  be  no  more:  blefs  thou  the 'L.ok'd,  O 
 my  foul.    Fraife  ye  the  Lord. 
 
 The  "  finners,"  and  the  "  wicked"  are  they,  of 
 whom  it  is  elfewhere  faid,  that  they  "  confider  not 
 "  the  works  of  Jehovah,  nor  regard  the  operations 
 "  of  his  hands,"  to  give  him  praife  and  glory  for 
 them.  Thefe  fliall  one  day  experience  the  power  of 
 that  God,  whofe  wifdom  and  goodnefs  they  would 
 never  acknowledge.  They  ihall  be  "  confumed," 
 and  "  peridi  from  the  prefence  of  the  Lord,  and  from 
 "  the  glory  of  his  power,  when  he  arifeth  to  fliake 
 "  terribly  the  earth."  The  Pfaimift,  therefore, 
 endeth  as  he  began j  "  Blefs  thou  the  Lord,  O 
 *^  my  foul;"  adding,  by  way  of  exhortation  to  us, 
 and  to  all  the  world,  '♦  Praife  ye  the  Lord."  Let 
 us,  then,  with  "  the  four  and  twenty  elders,  fall 
 "  down  before  him  that  fitteth  upon  the  throne,  and 
 
 "  worfhip 
 3 
 
I)aY   21.    M.  P.  ON    THE    PSALMS.  225 
 
 "  worfhip  him  that  liveth  for  ever  and  ever,  faying, 
 "  Thou  art  worthy,  O  Lord,  to  receive  glory,  and 
 *'  honour,  and  power ;  for  thou  haft  created  all  things* 
 *'  and  for  thy  pleafure  they  are,  and  v/ere  created." 
 Rev.  iv.    io>   II. 
 
 XXL    DAY.    MORNING    PRAYER, 
 
 P  S  A  L  M  CV. 
 
 ARGUMENT, 
 
 this  Pfalm,  the  firft  part  of  it^  at  leafl,  tci 
 verfe  15.  we  know,  from  1  Chroii;  xvi.  to 
 have  been  compofed  by  David,  and  given 
 out  on  occaiion  of  his  placing  the  ark  of 
 God  in  Sion.  It  containeth  1 — 8.  an  ex- 
 hortation to  praife  Jehovah  for  his  works  of 
 mercy  and  power,  wrought  in  favour  of  If- 
 Tael.  9 — 44.  Thefe  are  traced  from  their 
 fource,  namely,  the  covenant  made  witli 
 Abraham^  through  the  Patriarchal  hiftory, 
 to  the  deliverance  of  the  nation  from  the 
 Egyptians,  and  its  fettlement  in  Canaan  ; 
 the  end  of  all  which  45.  is  declared  to  have 
 been,  that  God  might  have  a  people  to  ferve 
 him.  The  fame  is  true  of  our  redemption 
 by  Jefus  Chrift,  which  was  the  grand  fub- 
 je6l  of  the  promife  made  to  Abraham,  and 
 Vol,  IL  P  of 
 
2i6  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  105. 
 
 of  which  the  temporal  mercies,  vouchfafed 
 to  the  Patriarchs  and  their  pofterity,  were 
 fo  many  pledges  and  figures. 
 
 1.  O  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  call  upon  his 
 name;   make  knoivn  his  deeds  amon^  the  people. 
 
 God,  who  formerly  refided  in  mount  Sion,  vouch- 
 fafing  his  prefence  in  a  tabernacle  made  with  hands, 
 hath  fince  blefled  the  church  with  his  appearance  in 
 the  flelh  ;  and  we  Chriflians  are  bound  to  "  make 
 <^  known  his  deeds/'  and  the  mercies  which  he  hath 
 wrought  for  us,  "  among  the  people  j"  that  fo,  all 
 the  world  may  know  him,  and  love  him,  and  par- 
 take of  hisfalvation. 
 
 2.  Sing  unto  hi}n,  Jing  Pfalnis  unto  him:  talk  ye 
 of  all  his  zvondrous  xvorks. 
 
 Mufic  and  converfation  are  two  things,  by  which 
 the  mind  of  man  receiveth  much  good,  or  a  great 
 deal  of  harm.  They  who  make  "  Jehovah'*  and  his 
 "  wondrous  works"  the  fubjedls  of  both,  enjoy  a 
 heaven  upon  earth.  And  they  who  do  in  reaUty 
 love  their  Saviour,  will  always  find  themfelves  inclined 
 to  "  fing  to  him,"  and  to  *'  talk  of  him.*' 
 
 3.  Glory  ye  in  his  holy  name:  let  the  heart  of 
 them  rejoice  thatjeek  the  Lord. 
 
 In  whom  ihould  the  redeemed  "  glory,'*  exult, 
 and  triumph,  but  in  their  Redeemer,  who  hath  made 
 himfelf  one  with  them,  that  they  may  be  one  with 
 him  ?  They  who  "  feek"  the  Lord  Jefus  by  prayer, 
 (hould  do  it  with  a  chearful  and  joyous  heart,  be- 
 caufe  better  it  is  to  '*  feek"  him,  than  to  "  find**  all 
 
 things 
 
Day  21.  ivi.  p.        On  the  PSALMS.  227 
 
 things  elfe  ;  and  the  foul  that  is  brought  to  feek  him, 
 will  foon  exchange  the  galling  cares  and  tormenting 
 defires  of  the  world,  for  the  light  yoke  and  eafy  bur- 
 den of  her  Saviour,  in  whom  Ihe  will  find  reft,  and 
 peace  and  comfort.     Therefore, 
 
 4.  Seek  the  Lord  and  hisjlrength :  feek  his  face 
 evermore. 
 
 By  faith  we  find  our  Redeemer  in  this  life,  and 
 experience  the  power  and  comfort  of  his  grace  j  but 
 hope  and  love  ftill  feek,  and  with,  and  afpire  after 
 the  fight  and  enjoyment  of  him  in  heaven,  whither 
 he  is  afcended. 
 
 5.  Remember  his  marvellous  works  that  he  hath 
 dojie,  his  wonders,  and  the  judgment  of  his  mouth  ; 
 6.  O  ye  feed  of  Abraham  hisfervant,  ye  children  of 
 Jacob  his  chofen. 
 
 As  an  encouragement  to  "  feek  Jehovah  evermore, 
 "  the  feed  of  Abraham  and  the  children  of  Jacob" 
 are  exhorted  to  bear  in  mind  the  marvellous  works 
 **  which  he  had  done"  for  them  from  the  beginning, 
 to  proted  and  deliver  them,  as  alfo  "  the  judg- 
 "  ments  of  his  mouth,"  whether  by  this  phrafe  we 
 underftand  the  righteous  laws  given  to  his  people,  or 
 the  denunciations  and  executions  of  vengeance  againft 
 their  enemies.  But  alas,  '*  the  feed  of  Abraham'* 
 kept  not  the  faith  of  their  great  progenitor;  "  the 
 "  children  of  Jacob"  have  forfeited  the  bleffing 
 which  theii  father  obtained.  We  Gentiles  have  been 
 for  a  long  feafon,  the  adopted  "  feed  of  Abraham,'* 
 and  have  inherited  the  benedidion  of  *'  Jacob."  Let 
 us  not  forget  the  "  marvellous  works'*  of  God  in 
 Chrift,  and  the  "  judgments  of  his  mouth." 
 
 P  2  ^,  He 
 
228  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  lo^ 
 
 7.  He  is  the  Lord  our  God ^  his  judgments  zxt 
 in  all  the  earth. 
 
 If  Jehovah  were  the  "  God"  of  Ifrael,  on  account 
 of  what,  in  covenant,  he  promifed,  and  performed 
 for  them,  he  is  now  the  God  of  us  all,  on  account 
 of  what  he  promifed,  and  hath  performed,  in  Chrift 
 Jefus  for  them  and  for  us.  If,  when  he  fettled 
 Ifrael  in  Canaan,  "  his  judgments"  were  manifefted 
 to  "  all  the  earth,"  were  the)^  not  manifefted  alfo 
 when  the  Chriftian  church  was  eftablilhed,  and  the 
 idolatrous  powers  of  the  world  were  overthrown  by 
 the  Gofpel  ? 
 
 8.  He  hath  remembered  his  coveimnt  for  ever,  the 
 t£;o7'<jJ  which  he  commanded  to  a  thouj and  generations^ 
 9.  Which  covenaht  he  made  tvith  Abraham,  and  his 
 oath  unto  Ijaac :  10.  And  confirmed  the  fame  unto 
 Jacob  for  a  taw,  and  to  Ij'rael  for  an  everlajiing 
 covenant  ••  11.  Saying,  Unto  thee  will  I  give  the 
 Land  of  Canaan,  the  lot  of  your  inheritance. 
 
 Upon  bringing  the  ark  to  mount  Sion,  David 
 teacheth  Ifrael  to  blefs  and  praife  God  for  his  having 
 "  remembered  his  covenant,"  made  with  an  *'  oath" 
 to  their  forefathers,  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  that 
 he  would,  in  due  time,  fettle  his  people  in  the  land 
 of  Canaan.  Now,  it  is  very  obfervabie,  that  in  the 
 hymn  uttered  by  Zacharias,  the  father  of  St.  John 
 the  Baptift,  on  the  fubjedt  of  our  redemption  by 
 Chriil,  thanks  are  given  to  the  Lord  G*U  of  Ifrael, 
 bccaufehehad  "  remembered  his  holy  covenant,  and 
 "  performed  the  oath  which  he  fware  to  our  fore- 
 "  fatlier  Abraham."  And  what  was  that  ?  Why, 
 *'  that  we  being  delivered  out   of  the  hand  of  our 
 
 "  enemies, 
 
Day  21.  M.  p.       ox  the  PSALMS.  229 
 
 "  enemies,  (hould  ferve  him  without  fear,  in  holinefs 
 "  and  righteoufnefs."  But  when,  or  where  did  God 
 promife  any  fuch  thing  to  Abraham,  except  when  he 
 told  him,  '*  that  his  feed  fliould  be  in  bondage  four 
 "  hundred  years,"  but  that  "  the  nation,"  which 
 detained  them  in  bondage,  fliould  afterwards  be 
 "  judged,"  and  that  they  fliould  be  "  brought  out," 
 and  come  to  *'  Canaan,"  Gen.  xv.  ij.  where  they 
 were  to  "  ferve"  him  ?  The  cafe  feems  to  be  this : 
 Zacharias,  under  the  immediate  influence  and  direc- 
 tion of  the  Holy  Spirit,  transfers  the  language  of 
 the  old  difpenfation  to  the  affairs  of  the  new  one;  he 
 celebrates  the  redemption  of  the  world,  by  Chrifl:, 
 from  fm  and  death,  in  words  which  literally  defcribe 
 the  redemption  of  Ifrael  from  Egypt  by  Mofes;  to 
 teach  us,  that  we  fliould  regard  one  as  a  facramentai 
 pledge  and  figure  of  the  other;  that  there  is  another 
 bondage,  in  which  the  people  of  God  are  held; 
 another  Mofes,  who  is  to  deliver  them  ;  another  land 
 of  promife  and  of  refl:,  where  they  are  to  be  fettled. 
 This  the  Hebrews  might  have  known,  as  St.  Paul 
 tells  them,  Heb.  iv.  from  a  paflage  in  the  xcvth 
 Pfalm,  where,  long  after  they  had  been  in  pofleflion 
 of  Canaan,  David  fpeaks  of  another  "  day"  of  pro- 
 bation, and  another  "  Refl:."  The  Jews  have  fince 
 had  a  melancholy  proof  of  the  fame  thing,  by  being 
 difpoflTeffed  of  that  earthly  inheritance,  which  they 
 falfely  deemed  to  have  been  perpetual,  and  vainly 
 regarded  as  the  end  of  all  the  promifes,  made  to  a 
 "  thoufand  generations,"  that  is,  (a  definite  number 
 being  put  for  an  indefinite)  to  them,  and  to  us, 
 P  3  aad 
 
230  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.   105. 
 
 and  to  "  as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  (liall  call,'* 
 while  the  v  orld  (haH  laft. 
 
 12.  JFhen  they  ncre  but  a  few  men  hi  number  i 
 yea.  very  few,  and  Jirangcrs  in  it.  13.  When  they 
 wntt  from  one  nation  tu  another^  from  one  kingdom 
 to  ai'other  peop'e. 
 
 How  wonderful  was  the  difplay  of  God's  wifdom 
 and  power,  in  his  chufing  a  fingle  family,  and  that  a 
 fmall  one,  the  members  of  which  were  literally 
 *'  ftrangers  and  pilgrims  upon  earth;"  in  his  pro- 
 miling  to  that  family,  in  thofe  circumftances,  a  large 
 and  fertile  country,  where  the  thrones  of  many 
 princes  were  then  firmly  eftabliflied  j  and  laftly,  in 
 his  putting  them  into  aflual  pofTeffion  of  it,  at  the 
 time  appointed  !  Thus  the  family  of  the  holy  Jefus 
 was,  at  firft,  but  fmall ;  "  the  members  of  it  were 
 *'  a  few,  yea,  a  very  few;"  they  were  fojourners  in  a 
 land  not  theirs ;  "  they  went  from  una  nation  to  an- 
 *^  other;"  nay,  they  were  accounted  the  "  refufe  of 
 *'  the  world,  and  the  offscouringof  all  things."  But 
 "  Fear  not,  little  flock,"  faith  he  unto  them,  "  for 
 **  it  is  your  father's  good  pleafure  to  give  you  the 
 "  kmgdom."  Luke  xii.  32.  Let  us  view  Ifrael 
 brought  into  Canaan,  nor  doubt  but  that  believers 
 fhall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  fucceed  to 
 the  thrones  of  apollate  angels. 
 
 14.  He  fuffered  no  man  to  do  them  zvrong  s  yea^ 
 he  reproved  kings  for  their  fakes:  15.  Saying,  Touch 
 not  mine  anointed,  and  do  my  prophets  no  harm. 
 
 The  patriarchs,  during  their  peregrinations,  were 
 often  in  imminent  danger;  as  Abraham  on  account 
 of  Sarah  j  Gen.  xx,   Ifaac,  in  a  firailar  cafej  Gen. 
 
 xxvi. 
 
Day  21.  M.  p.         057  THE  PSALMS.  231 
 
 xxvi.  Jacob  from  Laban ;  Gen.  xxxi.  And  from 
 his  brother  Efau ;  Gen.  xxxiii.  Yet,  deftitute  as 
 they  were  of  earthly  help,  the  mightieft  kings  could 
 not  hurt  them.  Their  '*  ways  pleafed  the  Lord,  and 
 *'  he  made  even  their  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with 
 "  them."  Prov.  xvi.  7.  They  were  the  typical 
 "  prophets,  and  Meffiahs,  or  Chrifts*,'*  of  Jehovah  j 
 and  kings  were  forbidden  to  lift  up  a  hand  againft 
 them.  How  doth  the  fame  kind  providence  watch 
 over  the  body  and  the  members  of  the  true  Christ; 
 how  often  hath  it  interpofed  to  protect  and  prefervc 
 them  from  the  powers  of  the  world  ! 
 
 16.  Moreover  he  called  for  a  famine  upon  the 
 land  ;  he  brake  the  xchole  Jlaff  of  bread. 
 
 When  Jacob  had  efcaped  other  perils,  we  find  him 
 and  his  family  likely  to  periQi  with  hunger.  Gen. 
 xlii.  "  Famine"  is  'lere  finely  reprefented  as  a  fer- 
 vant,  ready  to  cone  and  go,  at  the  "  call"*  and  com- 
 mand of  God;  for  calamities,  whether  public  or  pri- 
 vate, are  the  meflengers  of  divine  juftice.  "  Bread" 
 is  the  "  ftafF"  which  fupports  life;  when  that  ftaff 
 is  "  broken,"  the  body  fails,  and  finks  to  the  earth. 
 The  word  of  God  is  the  ftaff  of  fpiritual  life,  the 
 
 •  Ideo  autem  Chrilli  five  Unfti  dicuntur,  quod  effent  et  facer* 
 dotes  et  reges:  fumma  quippe  poteftate  prsditi,  nulUqueobnoxii. 
 Hinc  foedera  xquo  jure  pafta  cum  reglbus  :  hlnc  bella  fufcepta, 
 et  quidem  nutu  fuo,  aufpiciis,  ut  aiunt,  fuis.  Gen.  xiv.  21.  Hinc 
 HethcDi  ad  Abrahamum  :  <«  Audi  nos,  Domine:  Princeps  Dei  es 
 **  apud  nos."  Ibid,  xxiii.  6.  nemini  obnoxiijs,  nifi  Deo.  Quo 
 jure  Ifaacus  et  Jacobus  ufi  funt.  Gen.  xxvi.  &c.  Ad  hxc  Pro- 
 phets erant ;  ut  hie,  et  Gen.  xx.  7.  Quos  omnes  titulos  ununi 
 Chrifti  nomen  compleftitur.  Chrifti  autem  dicuntUF,  in  typp 
 Chrifti  ipfius  ab  eis  Qrituri.    Boss  vet. 
 
 ?4  foQ4 
 
232  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  105. 
 
 food  and  iupport  of  the  foul ;  and  the  foreft  of  hea- 
 ven's judgments  is  that  mentioned  by  the  prophet 
 Amos;  Ch.  viii.  11.  *' Behold,  the  days  come,  faith 
 "  the  Lord  God,  that  I  will  fend  a  famine  in  the 
 "  land  ;  not  a  famine  of  bread,  nor  a  thirft  of  water, 
 *'  but  of  hearing  the  words  of  the  Lore*."  Such 
 a  famine  was  fore  in  all  lands,  when  Chrift  mad.-  Ins 
 appearance  in  the  fledi,  whofe  advent,  with  the  b'.eiled 
 eifecls  of  it,  is  wonderfull)'- (liadowed  forth  in  the  pro- 
 phetical hiftory  of  the  patriarch  Jofeph. 
 
 17.  Hefcnt  a  man  before  them.,  even  Jofeiih,  who 
 was  fold  for  a  fervani ;  18.  Whofe  fc id  they  hurt 
 with  fetters  'y  he  was  laid  in  iron. 
 
 Jofeph  and  Jeius  were  both  envied,  hated,  and 
 fold  by  their  brethren;  both  fuffered  by  a  falfe  accu- 
 fation;  the  former  was  laid  in  irons,  the  latter  cru- 
 cified, and  conhned  in  the  pnfjn  of  the  grave,  faft 
 bound  With  the  bands  of  death.  The  wickednefs  of 
 man,  in  working  it's  own  will,  did  unwittingly  ac- 
 compiilh  the  counfels  of  God.  ''  As  for  you,"  faith 
 Jofeph  to  hio  bretljren,  Gen.  I.  20,  '*  ye  thought 
 "  evil  againft  me;  but  God  meant  it  unto  good,  to 
 "  bring  to  pafs,  as  it  is  this  day,  to  fave  much  peo- 
 **  pie  alive."  And  hovv  doth  St  Peter  addrefs  the 
 brethren  of  that  other  Jofeph  }  "  Him,  being  deli- 
 **  vered  by  tl^e  determinate  counfel  and  foreknow- 
 '*  ledge  of  God,  ye  have  taken,  and  by  wicked  hands 
 "  have  crucified  and  flain — And  now  brethren,  1  wot 
 "  that  through  ignorance  ye  did  it — But  thofe  things 
 **  whicli  G  jd  before  had  (hiewcd  by  the  mouth  of  all 
 "  his  prophets,  that  Chrifh  fhould  fuffer,  he  hath  fo 
 *'  fulfilled."  Ads  ii.  2j.  and  iii.   17. 
 
 19.  Until 
 
Day"  21.  m.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  233 
 
 19.  Until  the  time  that  his  zvord  came :  the  zvord 
 of  the  Lord  tried  him. 
 
 Jofeph  continued  in  prlfon,  "  until  the  time  that 
 ?'  his  word,  or  caufe,  nni,  came"  before  the  king, 
 and  was  "  known,"  according  to  our  old  tranflation; 
 or,  "  until  his  word,"  or  prediftion  concerning  the 
 chief  butler's  promotion  "  can-aC  to  pafs;"  for  this 
 was  the  means  of  Jofeph 's  enlargement  andjuftifica- 
 tion  ;  fince  a  perlbn,  guilty  of  the  crime  with  which 
 he  ftood  charged,  would  not  have  been  infpired  to 
 foretel  future  events.  "  Can  we  find,"  faid  Pharaoh, 
 *'  fuch  an  one  as  this  is,  a  man  in  whom  the  Spirit  of 
 "  God  is?"  Gen,  xli.  38.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
 "  word,  commandment,  or  decree,  nit^i^  of  the 
 "  Loud"  tried  him,  in  the  furnace  of  affhction,  there 
 refining  and  preparing  him  for  his  approaching  ex- 
 altation to  glory  and  honour.  Thus  was  there  a 
 time  appointed  for  the  abode  of  Jefus  in  the  grave, 
 at  the  expiration  of  which,  all  his  promifes  and  pre- 
 diclions  were  fulfilled  :  he  came  forth,  "  made  per- 
 "  fed:  through  fufferings,"  and  ready  to  "  enter  into 
 "  his  glory." 
 
 20.  The  king  fent  and  loofed  him:  even  the  ruler 
 of  the  people,  and  let  him  go  free.  21.  He  made 
 him  lord  of  his  honfe,  a?id  ruler  of  all  his  fub- 
 fiance  i  2z.  To  bind  his  princes  at  his  pie  afar  e  i 
 and  teach  his  fenators  wifdom. 
 
 The  circumftances  of  Jofeph's  advancement,  here 
 alluded  to,  are  related.  Gen.  xli,  &c.  Thofe  of  our 
 Lord's  refurreclion  and  glorification  afford  a  mar- 
 vellous parallel.  At  the  determined  hour,  "  The 
 *'  king"  of  heaven  "  fent"  his  angel,  **  and  loofed 
 "  him"  from  the  bands  of  death;  "  the  ruler  of  the 
 3  **  world 
 
234  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  105. 
 
 "  world  let  him  go  free"  from  the  penalty  which  he 
 had  undertaken  to  pay,  and  had  now  fully  paid. 
 *'  He  made  him  lord  of  his  hoiife,  the  church,  and 
 **  ruler  of  all  his  fubftance"  in  heaven  and  in  earth, 
 that  he  might,  by  his  holy  difcipline,  "  bind  princes 
 "  at  his  pleafure,"  and  by  his  Gofpel  "  teach"  true 
 "  wifdom"  to  the  *'  fenators"  and  politicians  of  the 
 world;  he  was  clothed  with  the  rcbes  of  majefty, 
 he  was  adorned  with  all  the  enfigns  of  royalty,  and 
 to  him  it  was  ordained  that  *'  every  knee  fliould 
 *'  bow."  The  ftorehoufes  of  grace  and  falvation 
 were  opened ;  the  nations  came  to  be  fupplied  by 
 him  with  the  bread  of  life ;  and  we  look  for  that 
 happy  day,  when  the  Jews  Ihall  do  the  fame,  and 
 "  Jofeph  (hall  be  made  known  to  his  brethren." 
 
 23.  I/rael  alfo  came  into  Egypt ;  and  Jacob  fo- 
 jouvned  in  the  land  of  Ham.  24.  Ajid  he  increafed 
 his  people  greatly  ;  a, id  made  them  ftronger  than 
 their  enemies.  25.  He  turned  their  heart  to  hate 
 his  people,  to  deal  fubtilly  loith  hisfervants. 
 
 The  Pialmift  now  exhibiteth  to  our  view  a  frefli 
 fcene  of  tribulation  and  afflidion,  which  occafioned 
 repeated  mercies,  and  a  new  deliverance.  Ifrael,  by 
 means  of  Jofeph,  obtained  an  eftablifhment  in  Egypt. 
 But  in  procefs  of  time,  the  increafe  and  p^ofperity 
 of  Jfrael  excited  the  envy  and  jealoufy  of  Egyptj 
 and  brought  on  a  perfecution.  The  kindnel:;  and 
 love  of  God  to  his  people  "  turned  the  hearts"  of 
 the  Egyptians  againft  them,  and  caufed  animofity  to 
 take  place  of  friendOiip.  A  king  arofe  who  knew 
 not  Jofeph,  and  meafures  were  concerted  to  keep 
 the  Hebrews  under;  a  royal  edicV  was  iffued  to  pre- 
 vent their  increafe,  by  putting  the  males  to  death  j 
 I  ancl 
 
Day  21.  M.  p.      OK  THE  PSALMS.  235 
 
 and  the  generation  then  in  being  was  rednced  to  a 
 ftate  of  the  mod  abjeft  fervitude,  and  cruel  bon- 
 dage. Such  iifage  the  people  of  God  have  often 
 experienced  from  the  world,  at  the  inftigation  of 
 him,  who  in  Scripture  is  ftyled,  "  the  prince  of  thi§ 
 "  world." 
 
 26.  Hefent  Mofes  his  fervant,  and  Aaron  whom 
 he  had  chofen.  27.  They  Jheived  hisfigns  among 
 them,  a?id  wonders  in  the  land  of  Ham. 
 
 When  the  tyranny  and  oppreffion  of  Pharaoh 
 were  at  the  higheft,  and  ifrael  cried  unto  Jehovah 
 becaufe  of  the  bondage,  he  remembered  his  promife 
 to  Abraham,  and  fent  Mofes,  with  Aaron,  to  eff:;d 
 that  mighty  deliverance,  which  was  to  be  the  grand 
 pledge  and  figure  of  our  falvation  by  Jefus  Chrift. 
 Of  him  Mofes  prophefied,  when  he  faid,  "  A  pro- 
 "  phet  fliall  the  Lord  your  God  raife  up  unto  you 
 "  of  your  brethren,  like  unto  me.'*  Deut.  xviii. 
 15.  cited  and  applied  Adts  iii.  22.  He  came  to 
 refcue  mankind  from  a  fpiritual  bondage,  and  to 
 deliver  all  who  were  "  opprefled  by  the  devil:** 
 Ad:s  X.  38.  he  came  at  a  time  when  that  oppreffion 
 was  mod  grievous  among  Jews  and  Gentiles :  his 
 birth  was  fignalized  by  an  order  from  another  Pha- 
 raoh, to  flay  the  infants  j  and  Egypt  afforded  him  a 
 refuge  from  the  tyrant's  fury  :  he  wrought  innume- 
 rable "  figns  and  wonders  ;"  but  they  were  all  figns 
 of  mercy,  and  wonders  of  love.  Thofe  of  terror 
 and  vengeance  were  referved  for  a  future  advent, 
 forefhewed  in  thedeflrudtion  of  Jerufalem 
 
 28.  Hefent  darknefs^  and  made  it  dark'-  and  they 
 nbelkd  not  againji  his  word :  or,  and  did  they  not 
 
 Jiill 
 
13^  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  105. 
 
 Jill  rebel  againji  his  word  ?  29.  We  turned  their 
 waters  into  bloody  and  Jlexv  their  ,/i/k.  30.  Their 
 land  brought  forth  frogs  in  abundaficey  in  the 
 chambers  of  their  kings.  31.  He  fpake^  and  there 
 came  divers  forts  of  fiies^  Heb.  a  mixtu,re  camey 
 and  lice  in  all  their  coajls.  32.  He  gave  them  hail 
 for  rain:  a.nd  faming ,^re  in  their  land.  33.  He 
 fmote  their  vines  alfo,  and  fig  trees  ;  and  brake  the 
 trees  of  their  coajls.  34.  Hefpake,  and  the  locujis 
 camey  and  caterpillars,  and  that  without  number-, 
 33.  And  did  eat  up  all  the  herbs  in  their  land :  and 
 devoured  the  fruit  of  their  ground,  i^^.  He  fmote 
 alfo  all  fhefrji  born  in  their  land-'  the  chief  of  all 
 their  Jirength. 
 
 Who  can  behold  this  army  of  divine  judgments 
 thus  paffing  in  dreadful  array  before  him,  without 
 trembling  very  exceedingly  at  that  power,  which  is 
 able  to  fend  them,  fingly,  or  in  conjunction,  upon 
 a  llnful  land  ?  Who  can  refled  upon  their  number 
 and  vanety,  without  adoring  that  goodnefs,  patience, 
 and  long  fuffering,  which  tried  fo  many  different 
 methods,  and  waited  fo  long,  to  lead  the  offenders 
 to  repentance  ?  For  more  particulars,  fee  the  com- 
 ment on  Pf.  Ixxviii.  43 — 51. 
 
 37.  He  brought  them,  i.  e.  the  people  of  Ifrael, 
 forth  alfo  with  fiber  and  gold  •  and  there  was  not 
 one  feeble  perfon  among  their  tribes.  '^Z.  Egypt 
 was  glad  when  they  departed  -'  for  the  fear  of  thejn 
 fell  upon  them. 
 
 The  Ifraeiites  not  only  came  forth  from  Egypt, 
 but  came  forth  laden  with  the  fpoiis  of  their  ene- 
 mies, which  they  were  commanded  to  take,  by  hini 
 
 who 
 
Day  21.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  237 
 
 who  is  the  abfolute  lord  of  all  property,  and  who, 
 as  a  righteous  judge,  did  thus  award  to  his  people 
 the  wages  due  to  their  incredible  labours,  the  Egyp- 
 tians being  now  willing  and  ready  to  furnilh  them 
 with  any  thing  required,  in  order  to  difmifs  them. 
 "  The  Egyptians  were  urgent  upon  the  people,  that 
 "  they  might  fend  them  out  of  the  land  in  hafte  :  for 
 "  they  faid,  We  be  all  dead  men."  Exod.  xii.  33. 
 And  what  was  very  extraordinary,  among  fuch  a 
 number  of  men,  women,  children,  and  cattle,  no- 
 thing was  "  weak  and  feeble,"  nothing  unable  tp 
 perform  the  journey.  The  order  was,  that  ''  not  a 
 "  hoof  Oiould  be  left  behind;"  Exod.  x.  26.  and 
 he  who  commanded  gave  ftrength  to  obey.  Thou 
 haft  alfo  enjoined  us  thy  fervants,  O  Lord,  to  quit 
 Egypt,  and  march  for  Canaan ;  let  thy  grace  invi- 
 gorate us  from  time  to  time,  that  To  we  faint  not 
 by  the  way. 
 
 39.  He/preada  cloud  for  a  covering :  and  fire  to 
 give  light  in  the  night.  40.  The  people  ajked,  a?id  he 
 brought  qiiails  '  and/atisfied  them  with  the  bread  of 
 heaven,  41.  He  opened  the  rock^  and  the  waters 
 gufiied  out '  they  ran  ifi  the  dry  places  like  a  river. 
 
 "  Brethren,  I  would  not  that  ye  (hould  be  ig- 
 <*  norant,  how  that  all  our  fathers  were  under  the 
 "  cloud;  and  were  all  baptized  unto  Mofes  in  the 
 "  cloud;  and  did  all  eat  the  fame  fpiritual  meat; 
 **  and  did  all  drink  the  fame  fpiritual  drink ;  for 
 ''  they  drank  of  that  fpiritual  Rock  that  followed 
 k"  them;  and  that  Rock  was  Christ."  i  Cor.  x. 
 /— 4.  In  our  paffage  through  this  wildernefs  of 
 life,  over  barren  fands,  and  amidft  fiery  ferpents,  be 
 
 thou. 
 
t^^  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  1^5, 
 
 thou,  blefled  Lord,  our  guide  and  our  guard  ;  pro- 
 teded  by  thy  providence,  fupported  by  thy  word, 
 and  refrefhed  by  thy  fpirit,  lead  us  even  where,  and 
 in  what  manner  it  fliall  feem  good  to  thee  5  only  do 
 not  thou  forfake  us,  and  we  afk  no  more. 
 
 42.  For  he  remembered  his  holy  promife,  and 
 Abraham  his  fervanf.  43.  And  lie  brought  forth 
 his  people  with  joy,  and  his  chofen  xvith  gladnefs. 
 
 The  fame  God  hath  fince  "  remembered  again  his 
 "  promife  to  Abraham;"  he  hath  vifited  his  people, 
 and  redeemed  them  from  the  bondage  of  fin,  under 
 the  tyranny  of  Satan  ;  which  redemption  they  daily 
 celebrate  in  the  church,  with  *'  joy  and  gladnefs,'* 
 waiting  for  their  final  deliverance  from  death  and  the 
 grave,  when  they  are  to  fing  in  heaven  "  the  fong  of 
 "  Mofes  and  of  the  Lamb."     Rev.  xv.  3. 
 
 44.  And  gave  them  the  lands  of  the  heathen  '  and 
 they  inherited  the  labour  of  the  people :  45.  That 
 they  might  obferve  his  Jlatutes,  and  keep  his  laws. 
 Praifeye  the  Lord. 
 
 It  was  not,  therefore.  Intended,  that  the  Ifraelites 
 (hould  regard  Canaan  as  their  paradife,  and  look  no 
 farther ;  but  that,  being  refcued  from  their  enemies, 
 and  fettled  in  peace  and  plenty,  they  fliould  im- 
 prove the  opportunity,  thereby  afforded  them,  of 
 ferving  the  Lord  their  God,  and  of  fecuring  to 
 thenifefves,  through  the  obedience  of  faith,  an  in- 
 her'tance  in  "  a  better  country,  that  is  to  fay,  an 
 "  heavenly."  And  let  all  the  children  of  faithful 
 Abrahaui,  whofe  lot  hath  fallen  in  "  a  land  flowing 
 "  with  milk  and  honey,"  upon  earth,  refled,  th^ 
 God  hath  given  them  riches,  and  the  leifure  which 
 
 riches 
 
Day  II.  E.  P.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  239 
 
 riches  procure,  not  for  the  purpofe  of  indulging  and 
 corrupting  themfelves  and  others,  but  that  they  may- 
 glorify  him,  benefit  their  neighbours,  and  fave  their 
 own  fouls;  ''  that  they  may  obferve  his  flatutes,  and 
 "  keep  his  laws."  Ifrael  was  delivered  by  Mofes, 
 and  the  church  redeemed  by  Chrift,  that  God  might 
 *'  purify  to  himfelf,  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good 
 "  works."*     Tit.  ii.   14. 
 
 XXI    DAY.    EVENING    PRAYER, 
 
 PSALM     CVL 
 
 ARGUMENT.- 
 
 The  Pfalmifl  here  again  commemorates  the 
 divine  benefits,  upbraiding  v/ithal  the  ingra- 
 titude of  thofe  who  received  them.  L  2.  He 
 exhorteth  men  to  the  praife  of  Jehovah ;  3-— 
 5.  proclaimeth  the  blelfednefs,  and  longeth 
 for  the  felicity  of  the  faints;  6.  confelieth 
 the  fms  of  Ifrael,  and  giveth  a  detail  of  their 
 rebellions;  7 — 12.  at  the  red  fea  ;  13 — 15. 
 when  they  lufted  for  flefli  in  the  wildernefs ; 
 16 — 18.  in  the  matter  of  Korah  ;  19—23. 
 in  that  of  the  golden  calf;  24- — 27.  at  the 
 report  of  the  fpies ;  28 — 31.  in  the  affair  of 
 Baal  Peor ;  32,  33.  at  the  waters  of  Meribah  ; 
 34 — 39.    in    not    deftroying   idolatry,    but 
 
 being 
 
240  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  lob. 
 
 being  feduced  by  it.  40 — 46,  God's  fre- 
 quent judgments,  and  as  frequent  mercies, 
 are  related  ;  47.  a  prayer  is  made,  that  Je- 
 Jiavah  would  gather  Ifrael  from  among  the 
 heathen,  which  1hews  the  Pfalm  to  have 
 been  written  during  fome  captivity,  or  dif- 
 perfion.  The  latt  verfe  contains  an  a6l  of 
 blefsing  and  praifc. 
 
 1.  O  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is  good, 
 for  his  mercy  endureth/or  ever. 
 
 In  the  perfon  of  a  penitent  nation,  the  prophet 
 invites  mankind  to  "  give  thanks  unto  Jehovah,'* 
 for  that  "  goodnefs"  which  preventeth  us  with  bleff- 
 ings,  and  for  that  *'  mercy"  which  forgiveth  our 
 tranfgreflions  i  that  mercy  which  was  (hewn  to  our 
 forefathers,  upon  their  repentance,  and  will  "  ever" 
 be  fhewn,  upon  the  fame  condition,  to  us  and  our 
 pofierity;  that  mercy,  which  will  bring  fin  and 
 mifery  to  an  end,  itfelf  continuing  eternal  and  un- 
 changeable. 
 
 2.  Who  can  utter  the  mighty  acts  of  the  Lord  ? 
 Who  can Jheiv forth  all  his  praife  ? 
 
 But  who  is  fufficient  for  a  work,  which  demand- 
 eth  the  tongues  and  harps  of  angels  ?  "  When  you 
 "  glorify  the  Lord/'  faith  the  fon  of  Sirach,  "  exalt 
 «*  him  as  much  as  you  can ;  for  even  yet  will  he  far 
 '«•  exceed :  and  when  you  exalt  him,  put  forth  all 
 "**  your  ftrcngth,  and  be  not  weary ;  for  you  can 
 **  never  go  far 'enough."     Ecclus.  xHii.  30. 
 
 3.  Blejjed  are  they  that  keep  judgment :  and  he 
 that  dceth  righlcGufhefs  at  all  times. 
 
 Next 
 
Day  21.  E.  p.        OK  tHE  PSALMS.  241 
 
 Next  to  angels,  they  are  ''  blefled,"  and  qualified 
 to  praife  God  with  the  voice,  who  glorify  him  in 
 their  lives ;  who  having  experienced  in  themfelves 
 the  '^  mighty  ads"  of  mercy,  pardoning  the  guilt, 
 and  breaking  the  power  of  fin,  are  become  the  fer- 
 vants  of  Jefus,  and  render  to  their  Saviour  "  at  all 
 *'  times,"  in  adverfity  no  lefs  than  in  profperity,  the 
 due  tribute  of  unfeigned  love  and  obedience. 
 
 4.  Remember  me,  O  Lord,  zvith  the  favour  which 
 thou  beared  unto  thy  people  '  O  vijit  me  with  thy 
 falvatioii.  5.  That  I  may  fee  the  good  of  thy  chofeii, 
 that  I  may  rejoice  in  the  gladnefs  of  thy  nation ; 
 that  I  may  glory  with  thine  inheritance. 
 
 The  Pfalmift  offereth  a  prayer  for  himfelf,  or 
 rather  for  the  church  of  Ifrael,  that  (he,  with  him- 
 felf, might  partake  of  fuch  bleffednefs.  The  words 
 might  have  a  reference  to  a  teniporal  reftoration  and 
 felicity;  but  they  certainly  extend  much  farther, 
 and  form  the  moft  fpiritual  and  heavenly  petition, 
 that  the  devouteft  Chriftian  can  prefer  to  the  throne 
 of  grace.  "  Remember  me,  O  Lord,  with  the 
 *'  favour"'  which  thou  haft  always  fnewn  to  "  thy 
 "  people,"  in  whom  thou  hail  delighted  from  the 
 foundation  of  the  world,  and  on  w^iom  it  is  thy 
 good  pleafure  to  confer  a  glorious  kingdom.  "  O 
 "  vifit  me  with  thy  falvation,"  with  which  fo  many 
 patriarchs,  prophets,  and  kings,  have  defired  to  be 
 vifited,  the  falvation  of  thy  Chrift,  the  juftilier  of 
 all  them  that  believe,  and  the  rewarder  of  his  faints: 
 "  that  I  may  fee  the  good  of  thy  chofcn,"  their  feli- 
 city in  beholding  thy  countenance,  and  living  for 
 ever  in  thy  prefencej  "   that  I  may  rejoice  in  the 
 
 Vol.  II.  Q  "  gladnefs 
 
242  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  io6. 
 
 **  gladnefs  of  thy  nation,"  the  unfpeakable  gladnefs 
 of  thofe  who  enter  into  the  joy  of  their  Lord  ;  *'  and 
 "  glory  with  thine  inheritance,"  Tinging  hallelujahs 
 before  thine  everlafting  throne,  in  the  Jerufalem 
 which  is  above.  The  Ifraelitifli  church,  when  in 
 peace  and  tranquillity  ferving  her  God,  and  chanting 
 the  fongs  of  Sion,  afforded  a  very  lively  reprefcntation 
 of  this  eternal  felicity. 
 
 6.  JFe  have  finned  with  our  fathers:  zve  have 
 committed  iniquity ^  we  have  done  zvickedly. 
 
 They  who  have  joined  with  the  prophet,  in  his 
 aifedlionate  afpiration  after  the  divine  favour,  may 
 here  learn  the  fureft  way  to  attain  it  j  namely,  by 
 confefiing  their  own  fins,  and  thole  of  their  ancef- 
 tors.  "  We  have  fmned  with  our  fathers,"  that  is, 
 after  their  example  of  unbelief  and  difobedience,  of 
 which  an  account  immediately  followeth.  The  fa- 
 thers' fins  are  often  refledted  in  their  children,  and 
 each  new  refledion,  inftead  of  being  weaker,  is 
 llronger  than  the  foregoing;  as  in  the  cafe  of  the 
 Jews. 
 
 7.  Oitr father sunderjtoodnot  thy  wonders  in  Egypt, 
 they  remembered  not  the  multitude  of  thy  mercies, 
 but  provoked  him  at  thefea,  even  at  the  redfca. 
 
 The  Ifraelites  did  not  profit,  as  they  fhould  have 
 done,  by  the  miracles  wrought  for  them  in  Egypt ; 
 they  incrcafed  not  in  the  wifdom  and  knowledge  of 
 God  their  Saviour;  but  when  they  faw  themfelves 
 purfued  by  Pharaoh,  their  faith  failed,  they  mur- 
 mured againft  Mofes,  and  wifhed  themfelves  again 
 in  the  bondage  from  which  they  were  juft  delivered. 
 Eicod.  xiv.  10.  &c.  Thus,  when  the  penitent  find- 
 
 eth 
 
t)AY  21.  K.   P.  ON  THE  P^ALMS.  24^ 
 
 cth  hlmfelf  befet  with  difficulties  and  dangers ;  when 
 he  Teeth  before  him  that  death  unto  fin,  through 
 which  he  muft  pafs  to  a  Ufe  of  righteoufnefs,  while 
 the  devil  and  the  world  follow  hard  after  him,  to 
 deftroy  or  bring  him  back  to  a  more  cruel  bondage, 
 how  apt  is  he  to  forget  all  that  Ghrift  hath  done  for 
 him  !  Fear  puts  out  the  light  of  faith,  and  hides  the 
 profped  of  the  promifed  land;  imagination  recals 
 the  former  gratifications  of  fenfe ;  he  is  tempted  to 
 regret  the  defertion  of  Egypt,  and  to  wilh  for  a  re- 
 turn to  it  again. 
 
 8 .  Neverthelefs,  he  faved  them  for  his  riame'sfake  ; 
 that  he  might  make  his  migJitij  power  to  be  knoivit.  9. 
 He  I'ebiiked  the  redjca  alfo,  and  it  was  dried  up :  Jb 
 he  led  them  throitgh  the  depths,  as  through  thezvH^ 
 dernefs.  10.  And  he  fav  ed  them  from  the  hand  of  him 
 that  hated  them:  and  redeemed  them  from  tlie  hand 
 of  the  enemy.  11.  And  the  loaters  covered  their  ene- 
 mies: there  zvas  not  one  of  them  left.  12.  Tlien  be^ 
 lieved  they  his  words ;  they  fang  his  praife. 
 
 Comforted  and  encouraged  by  Mv^fes,  the  armies 
 of  Ifrael  advanced  to  the  fhorc  ',  and  lo,  the  waves* 
 at  the  lifting  up  of  the  powerful  Rod,  inftantly 
 parted,  and,  like  fo  many  well  difciplined  troops, 
 arranging  themfelves  in  two  columnsj  difclofed  a  new 
 and  ftrange  path,  by  which  the  people  of  God  were 
 conduded,  in  perfed  fecurity,  to  the  oppofite  fliorcj 
 when  the  waters,  falling  down,  and  reafluming  their 
 ancient  habitation,  overwhelmed  the  infidel  hoft,  and 
 left  not  a  man  to  carry  the  news  to  Egypt.  Through 
 all  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  the  Chriftian 
 courfe,  faith  will  ever  find  a  way  opened,  by  the 
 Q  2  power 
 
244  A  COMiMENTARY       Psal.  106. 
 
 power  of  Jefus,  from  fin  to  righteoufnefs,  and  from 
 death  to  life:  the  enemies  of  our  falvation,  how  for- 
 midable foever,  (hall  difappear,  and  be  no  more; 
 and  we  (hall  fing,  like  Ifrael,  a  fong  of  triumph  to 
 the  Lord  our  God. 
 
 13.  They  Joon  forgot  Ids  ivorks  ;  Heb.  They  made 
 hajle,  they  forgot  his  zvorks^  they  waited  not  for  his 
 counfel.  1 4.  But  lujled  exceedingly  in  the  wildernefsy 
 and  tempted  God  in  the  dcfert.  15.  And  he  gave  them 
 their  reqvef,  but  fent  leannefs  into  their  fouls. 
 
 Soon  after  the  Ifraelites  had  experienced  the  power 
 and  goodnefs  of  Jehovah  at  the  red  fea,  we  find 
 them  murmuring  againft  him,  Exod.  xv.  22.  They 
 grew  impatient,  they  looked  upon  themfelves  as  for- 
 gotten, and  given  over  to  deftrudion.  They  loathed 
 manna,  and  required  flerti  j  fleOi  was  fent  them,  on 
 which  they  furfeited  themfelves  j  the  wrath  of  God 
 fmote  them,  and  many  were  carried  ofFby  a  grievous 
 plague.  Numb.  xi.  4,  o^2'  Let  us  learn  to  wait 
 God's  time  and  counfel,  for  the  fupply  of  neceflaries, 
 much  more  of  conveniences ;  remembering  that  he 
 hath  given  us  his  Son,  and  therefore  will  not  deny 
 us  fuch  inferior  corporeal  bleffings,  as  he  forefeeth 
 will  really  prove  bleffings  to  us.  Let  us  be  duly 
 thankful  for  that  "  bread  which  cometh  down  from 
 "heaven,"  cautious  how  we  requeft  the  good  things 
 of  this  world,  and  ftridly  temperate  in  the  ufe  of 
 them,  when  given. 
 
 1 6.  They  envied  Mofes  alfo  in  the  camp,  and  Aaron 
 
 the  faint  of  the  Lord.     jy.   The  earth  opened,  and 
 
 fwallowedup  Dathan^  andcovered  the  company  ofAbi- 
 
 c  ram. 
 
Day  21.  E.  p.         ox  the  PSALMS.  245 
 
 ram.  iS.  A^id  a, fire  was  khidled  in  their  company , 
 thejiame  burnt  up  the  wicked. 
 
 Mofes  and  Aaron  were  the  divinely  appointed 
 governors  of  I frael,  in  church  and  (late.  Envy  and 
 ambition  led  Korah,  Dathan,  and  Abiram,  to  ac- 
 ciile  the  former  of  tyranny,  and  the  latter  of  prieft- 
 craft.  Jehovah  was  appealed  to,  a  day  appointed, 
 and  a  decifion  made.  One  body  of  the  malecontents 
 went  down  alive  into  the  pit,  another  was  confumed 
 by  fire  from  heaven.  Numb.  xvi.  Let  fchifmatics 
 and  rebels  beware  of  that  "  pit,"  which  is  bottom- 
 Icfs,  and  of  that  "  fire,"  which  fliall  never  be 
 quenched. 
 
 1 9.  They  made  a  calf  in  Iloreh,  andworJ}iipped  the 
 molten  image.  20.  Tints  they  changed  their  glory  into 
 tlie  fimililudc  of  an  ox  that  eateth  grafs.  21.  They 
 forgat  God  their  Saviour y  zuhich  had  done  great 
 things  in  Egypt :  22.  Wondrous  works  in  the  land  of 
 Ham^  and  terrible  things  by  the  redfea. 
 
 While  the  terrible  prefence  of  God  abode  upon 
 mount  Sinai,  and  Mofes  was  gone  up  thither  to  re- 
 ceive the  law,  even  then,  and  there,  "  at  Horeb,** 
 the  people  apoflatifed  to  the  old  favourite  fin  of 
 idolatry,  and  perfuaded  Aaron  to  make  them  a 
 "  calf,  or  ox,"  before  which  they  proftrated  them- 
 felves,  acknowledging  it,  or  the  power  reprefented 
 by  it,  whatever  that  was,  to  have  been  the  author 
 of  their  deliverance  from  Egypt ;  Exod.  xxxii.  for 
 "  as  to  Moles,  they  knew  not  what  was  become  of 
 **  him,"  nor  ever  expefted  to  fee  him  any  more. 
 Thus  they  exchanged  their  '*  glory,"  the  glory 
 which  had  accompanied  them  in  the  myftic  cloud, 
 Q  3  nay, 
 
24^  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  io6. 
 
 pay,  which  wos  then  prefent  before  their  eyes  on  the 
 top  of  the  mount,  for  *'  an  image  made  like  to  a 
 *'  four-footed  beaft,"  as  it  is  faid  of  the  lieathen  h\ 
 their  word  efi;ate  ;  Rom.  i.  23.  and  thus  they  forgat 
 Jeho\'ah,  who  had  wrought  his  works  and  wondersi 
 for  them  in  Egypt,  and  at  the  red  fea.  It  is  to  be 
 hoped,  we  fliall  never  live  to  fee  a  time,  wheri  tlie 
 miracles  of  our  Redemption  fliall  be  forgotten  j 
 when  the  return  of  Jefus  Chrift  from  heaven  Oiall  be 
 defpairedofi  and  when  the  people  (hall  folicit  their 
 teachers  to  fabricate  a  new  philolophical  deity,  for 
 them  to  vyorfliip,  inftead  of  the  God  of  their  ancef-. 
 tors,  to  whom  glory  hath  been  afcribed,  from  gene- 
 ration to  generation. 
 
 23.  Thei^efore  he  /aid  that  he  would  dejiroij  t)iem, 
 hadnot Mofes his cJiofen flood  before  himin  thebreachy 
 to  turn  axoay  his  wrath,   left  he  fhould  defiroy  them. 
 
 When  we  hear  Jehovah  faying  to  Mofes,  on  ac- 
 count pf  his  people's  mcnftrous  ingratitude,  and 
 atrocious  wickednefs,  "  Let  me  alone,  that  my 
 ^'  wrath  may  wax  hot  againft  them,  and  that  I  may 
 ^'  confume  them,  and  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great 
 "  nation  ;"  when  we  hear  Mofes,  notwithftanding 
 this,  interceding  for  his  countrymen,  with  the  of- 
 fended majefty  of  heaven  j  urging  to  God  the  glory 
 of  his  name,  the  relation  in  which  he  ftood  to  Ifrael, 
 the  covenant  he  had  made  with  their  fathers ;  and  if 
 they  muft  be  caft  off,  defiring  himfelf  to  perifh  vyith 
 thern ;  "  if  thou  wilt,  forgive  their  fin  j  and  if  not, 
 *'  blo|:  me,  I  pray  thee,  out  of  thy  book  which  thou 
 ^'  haft  written  j"  how  are  we  aflonilhed  at  an  in- 
 ftance  of  fuch  iiivincible   fortitudcj  fervent  piety, 
 
 un- 
 
Day  21.  e.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  247 
 
 unadulterated  patriotifm,  triumphant  faith,  and  un- 
 bounded charity  !  Once,  and  but  once,  was  this 
 inftance  exceeded,  by  Him,  in  whofe  name  the  in- 
 terceflion  of  Mofes  was  made  and  accepted  ;  who, 
 really  taking  upon  himfelf  the  fins  of  his  people, 
 fuffered  the  vengeance  due  to  th'emj  and  who  is 
 now  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  interceding  for  us  all; 
 See  Exod.  xxxii.  10 — 14,  and  32. 
 
 24.  Yea,  they  defpi/ed  the pleaf ant  land;  they  believed 
 not  his  word ;  25.  But  murmured  in  their  tents ^  and 
 hearkened  not  unto  the  voice  of  the  Lo  it  d  .  26 .  There- 
 fore he  lifted  up  his  hand  againjt  them,  to  overthrow 
 them  in  the  wilder  nefs  -^  27.  To  over  throiv  their  feed 
 alfo  among  the  nations,  and  tofcatter  them  in  the  lands. 
 The  hiftory  here  alluded  to  is  contained  in  Numb, 
 xiii.  and  xiv.  The  fpies  brought'  back  a  favourable 
 account  of  the  promifed  land,  and  it's  produdions, 
 but  communicated  to  the  people  thofe  terrible  ap- 
 prehenfions,  with  which  themfelves  were  poffefled, 
 concerning  the  power  of  the  Ana.kims,  and  other 
 inhabitants  of  Canaan.  InfideUty  prefently  difcover- 
 ed  itfelf,  by  it's  ufual  fruit,  difobediencc.  They 
 thought  they  fnould  never  be  able  to  furmount  ali 
 thefe  difSculties,  but  fliould  become  a  prey,  with 
 their  wives  and  children,  to  thefword;  and  a  return 
 to  Egypt  was  once  more  the  cry  of  the  camp  of 
 Jfrael.  Therefore  did  Jehovah  "  lift  up  his  hand 
 "  againll  them;"  he  declared,  that  none  of  the  ge- 
 neration then  in  being,  JoQiua  and  Caleb  only  eJC' 
 cepted,  Ihould  enter  into  his  reft,  but  that  they 
 fliould  fall  in  the  wildernefs,  without  fetting  foot  in 
 that  pleafant  and  moft  defirable  land.  Dilcomfiturc 
 Q  4  and 
 
243  A    COMMENTARY       Psal.  io6, 
 
 and  difperfion  were  alfo  threatened  to  their  pofterity, 
 that  is,  if  they  (hould  go  on  in  the  fame  fpirit  of  re- 
 bellion, and  fill  up  the  meafure  of  their  fathers'  ini- 
 quities; which  they  have  fince  done,  and  are  accord- 
 ingly "  overthrown  among  the  nations,  and  fcattered 
 *'  among  the  lands"  to  this  day.  But  do  not  thou 
 fuffer  us,  O  Lord,  to  defpife  that  "  pleafant  land,'* 
 which  thou  defignedft  to  be  the  inheritance  of  thy 
 faints;  whatever  obflrudions  may  be  thrown  in  our 
 way,  fuffer  us  not,  through  floth  and  cowardice,  to 
 *'  difbelieve  thy  word,"  to  doubt  the  accomplifli- 
 ment  of  thy  promifes,  or  to  "  murmur"  againft  thy 
 difpenfations. 
 
 28.  They  joined  them/elves  alfo  unto  Baal  Peor^ 
 and  ate  the  facrifices  of  the  dead.  29.  Tims  they  pro- 
 voked him  to  anger  ivith  their  inventions  ;  and  the 
 plague  brake  in  upo?i  them.  30.  Then  food  up  Phi- 
 nehasy  and  executed  judgment ;  and  fo  the  plague- 
 was  fayed.  31.  J7id  that  ivas  counted  unto  him  for 
 righteoufnefs,  unto  all  generations  far  evermore. 
 
 By  Balaam's  advice.  Numb,  xxxi.  16.  the  Moab* 
 ites  and  Midianites  fent  their  daughters  among  the 
 people  of  Ifrael,  who  foon  yielded  to  the  temptation, 
 and  fornication  ended  in  idolatry ;  nay,  perhaps  it 
 might  be  a  part  of  the  Moabitilh  ritual;  as  we  know 
 it  was  among  the  religious  fervices  paid  by  the  latter 
 heathens  to  fome  of  their  deities.  By  the  "  facrifices 
 <*  of  the  dead,"  may  be  meant  facrifices  which  were 
 offered  either  to  dead  idols,  or  to  men  deified  after 
 death.  To  punifh  this  apoilacy,  the  wrath  of  Jeho- 
 vah went  forth,  and  24000  periflied  by  the  plague, 
 which  at  length  ceafed,  when  Phinehas  had  "  exe^ 
 
 *'  cyte4 
 
Day  21.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  249 
 
 *'  cuted  judgment"  upon  Zimrl  and  Cofbi,  who 
 Teemed,  indeed,  to  call  aloud  for  it,  by  indulging 
 their  lawlefs  paflions  in  the  midft  of  fo  grievous  a 
 calamity,  at  a  time  when  the  whole  congregation 
 were  humbling  themfelves  before  God,  at  the  door 
 of  the  tabernacle.  *'  Wherefore,"  fairh  Got},  "  be- 
 ^'  hold  1  give  unto  him  my  covenant  of  peace;  and 
 *^  he  (hall  have  it,  and  his  feed  afrer  him,  even  the 
 "  covenant  of  an  everlafting  prieflhood,  becaufe  he 
 **  was  zealous  for  his  God,  and  made  an  atonement 
 *'  for  the  children  of  Ifrael."  Numb.  xxv.  i  2.  It 
 is  moft  probable,  as  Dr.  Hammond  obferves,  that 
 Phinehas,  being  the  fon  of  Eleazar,  the  fon  of 
 Aaron,  was  one  of  the  judges  of  liVael;  and  if  fo^ 
 he  had  a  clear  commifiion,  for  what  he  did,  from 
 Mofes,  who  had  "  faid  to  the  judges  of  Ifrael,  Slay 
 *'  ye  every  one  his  man,  that  were  joined  to  Baai 
 *'  Feor."  Numb.  xxv.  5.  The  cafe  of  Phinehas, 
 therefore,  is  no  precedent  for  uncommi/honed  zealots. 
 In  general  we  learn  from  this  part  of  the  facred 
 hiflory,  how  acceptable  to  God  is  a  well-timed  zeal 
 for  his  fervice ;  as  alfo,  how  dangerous  it  is  to  converfe 
 too  freely  with  thofe  of  the  other  lex,  efpecially  when 
 they  have  been  educated  in  a  falfe  religion,  or  in  no 
 religion  at  all. 
 
 32.  The]/  angered  him  alfo  at  the  waters  ofjlrife^ 
 fo  that  it  went  ill  xvith  Mofcs  for  their  fakes  '•  33. 
 Becauje  they  provoked  his  fpirit,  fo  that  he  Jpake 
 unadvifedli/  with  his  lips. 
 
 This  inftance  of  difobedience  was,  in  point  of  time, 
 prior  to  that  mentioned  in  the  preceding  vcrfes.  It 
 is  related,  Numb.  xx.  z— 13.  The  fpirit  of  Mofes, 
 
 though 
 
afo  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  ic6. 
 
 though  he  was  the  meekeft  man  upon  earth,  was  fo 
 exafperated  and  embittered  by  continual  murmurings 
 and  rebellions,  that  he  is  charged  with  "  not  having 
 **  believed  God,  to  fanftify  him  in  the  eyes  of  the 
 **  children  of  Ifracl ;"  and  he  was,  on  that  account, 
 denied  the  honour  of  bringing  them  into  the  land  of 
 promife.  He  had  been  commanded  to  fmite  the  rock, 
 that  water  might  come  forth.  In  anger  he  fniote  if 
 twice,  thus  upbraiding  the  people:  "  Hear,  now,  ye 
 *'  rebels ;  mud  we  fetch  you  water  out  of  this  rock?'* 
 He  fhewed  not  that  affiance  in  God,  that  difpofition 
 to  glorify  him  before  his  people,  which  became  him 
 in  the  execution  of  his  office.  •*  The  wrath  of  man" 
 found  admiffion,  and  that  "  worketh  not  the  right- 
 "  eoufnefs  of  God."  Thou,  blelfed  Jefus,  art  the 
 only  perfe«ft  pattern  of  patience  and  love ;  O  grant 
 to  all,  but  above  all,  to  the  paftors  of  thy  flock,  a 
 "  fpirit"  not  eafy  to  be  "  provoked,"  and  lips  not 
 hafty  to  *'  fpeak  unadvifedly." 
 
 34.  Theydidnotdtjiroy  the  nations^  concerning  whom 
 the  Lord  commanded  them.  35,  Bui  were  mingled 
 among  the  heathen  and  learned  their  xoorks.  36.  Aiid 
 they  fervcd  their  idols:  which  xvereafnare  unto  them. 
 When  the  iniquity  of  the  Canaanites  was  full,  it 
 pleafed  God  to  extirpate  the  race,  and  Ifrael  was 
 commiiTioned  to  execute  upon  them  the  vengeance 
 determined.  But  the  conquerors  fuffered  thetnielves 
 frequently  to  be  feduced  into  -all  the  abominations  of 
 the  conquered,  and  fpared  their  idolatrous  altars,  till 
 themfelves  came  to  bow  down  before  them.  Judg.  ii. 
 2,  3.  The  Canaanites,  againft  whom  we  Chriftians 
 militate,  are  our  lufls,  v,'hich,  if  they  are  fpared  and 
 
 treated 
 
D.vY  21.  E.  P.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  251 
 
 treated  withi  will  prove  "  a  fnarc"  to  us,  and  in 
 time  become  our  mafters.  Mercy,  fliewn  to  them 
 is  cruelty  to  ourfelves,  and  will  always  be  found  fo, 
 in  the  end. 
 
 37.  Fea,  they  facrificed  their  fans  and  their 
 daughters  uiifo  devils:  38.  Andjhed  innocent  blood, 
 even  tiie  blood  of  their  Jons  and  of  their  dmighters, 
 zvlioni  they  facrificed  unto  the  idols  of  Canaan-'  and 
 ihe  land  ivas  polluted  with  blood. 
 
 It  is  plain,  that  the  "  devils,"  mentioned  in  the 
 former  of  thefe  two  verfes,  are  "  the  idols  of  Ca- 
 "  naan,"  mentioned  in  the  latter.  The  word  tranllatcd 
 ''  devils,"  is  Dnt:^,  literally,  "  the  pourers  forth  ;" 
 by  which  it  is  highly  probable,  that  the  idolators 
 mearft  the  great  agents  of  nature,  or  the  heavens, 
 confidered  as  giving  rain,  caufing  the  earth  to  fend 
 out  fprings,  and  to  put  forth  her  increafe,  vegetables 
 to  yield  and  nouriQi  their  fruit,  and  animals  to  abound 
 with  milk,  for  the  fubfiftence  of  their  young*. 
 Idolatry  being  a  work  of  the  devil,  it  is  true,  in  fadt, 
 that  what  is  offered  to  an  idol,  is  offered  to  the  devil; 
 though  the  word  DHlt^  doth  by  no  means  imply  it. 
 We  fland  aflonifhed,  doubtlefs,  at  this  horrid,  bar- 
 barous, and  unnatural  impiety,  of  offering  children 
 by  fire  to  a  Moloch:  but  how  little  is  it  confidered, 
 that  children,  brought  up  in  the  ways  of  ignorance, 
 error,  vanity,  folly,  and  vice,  are  more  eifedually 
 facrificed  to  the  great  adverfary  of  mankind  I 
 
 39.  Thus  xvere  they  defiled  zvith  their  ozvn  works, 
 <ind  went  a  xvhoring  with    their    oivn   inventions. 
 
 *  See  the  account  given  of  the  word  by  the  learned  and  inge- 
 filous  Mr.  Parkhurft,  in  his  excellent  Hebrew-Englilh  Lexicon. 
 
 40.   There- 
 
252  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  106. 
 
 40.  Thertfore  zvas  the  wrath  of  tlie  Lord  kindled 
 againjl  his  people,  infomuch  that  he  abhorred  his 
 own  inheritance.  41.  And  he  gave  them  into  the  hand 
 of  the  heathen,  and  they  that  hated  them  ruled  over 
 them.  42.  Their  enemies  alfo  oppre^fed  them,  and 
 they  were  brought  into  fiibjection  under  their  ha?id. 
 43.  Many  times  did  he  deliver  them,  but  they  pro' 
 voked  him  with  their  counfel,  and  were  brought  loxv 
 for  their  iniquity,  44.  Nevertheless  he  regarded 
 their  affliction,  when  he  heard  their  cry.  45.  And 
 he  remembered  for  them  his  covenant,  and  repented 
 according  to  the  multitude  of  his  mercies.  46.  He 
 made  them  alfo  to  be  pitied  of  all  thofe  tliat  carried 
 them  away  captives. 
 
 This  is  an  epitome  of  the  hiflory  of  the  Ifraelites, 
 from  the  time  when  they  took  poflefilon  of  Canaan> 
 downwards.  Tranfgreffions  brought  on  chaftifements ; 
 challifements  produced  repentance-;  and  repentance 
 .obtained  mercy.  For  their  laft  and  grand  rebelHon 
 againft  the  Son  of  God,  and  their  King  Meffiah, 
 whom  they  murdered,  the  fore  burden  of  heaven's 
 difpleafure  hath  now  refted  upon  the  narion,  thefc 
 fcventeen  hundred  years ;  but  their  eyes  are  not  yet 
 opened;  their  hearts  have  not,  hitherto,  relented. 
 How  hath  the  *'  wrath  of  Jehovah  been  kindled 
 '*  againft  his  people,  infomuch  that  he  hath  abhor- 
 *'  red  his  own  inheritance!"  How  hath  he  "  given 
 "  them  into  the  hand  of  the  heathen,  and  caufed  them 
 '*  that  hated  them  to  rule  over  them!"  How  have 
 *^  their  enemies  opprelfcd  them ;"  how  have  they  been 
 *"  brought  into  fubjedion  under  their  hand  !  Never- 
 
 "  thelefs. 
 
Day  21.  e.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  253 
 
 "  tbelefs,  O  Lord,  regard  their  afflldlion,  when  thou 
 **  heareft  their  cry  ;''  grant  them  repentance  firft,  and 
 then  pardon  ;  "  remember  for  them  thy  covenant  j" 
 let  them  change  their  mind,  and  do  thou  "  change  thy 
 "  purpofe,  according  to  the  multitude  of  thy  mercies; 
 "  make  them  alfo  to  be  pitied  of  all  thofe  that  have 
 "  carried  them  captives ;"  caufe  them.,  upon  their 
 converfion,  to  find  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the  nations; 
 and  do  Thou,  who  haft  fo  long  been  "  a  light  to 
 "  lighten  the  Gentiles,"  become  once  more  "  the 
 **  glory  of  thy  people  Ifrael." 
 
 47.  Savensy  O  Lord,  our  God,  and  gather  us 
 from   among  the  heathen,  to  give  thanks  unto  thy 
 
 holi)  name,  and  to  triumph  in  thy  praife. 
 
 It  appears  from  this  verfe,  that  the  Pfalm  was 
 written  at  a  time  when  Ifrael  was  in  captivity 
 "  among  the  heathen."  Such  will  be  the  petition  of 
 the  Jews  hereafter  to  him  whom  they  crucified  ;  and 
 fuch  is  now  the  petition  of  the  chriftian  church,  that 
 the  eled  may  be  finally  gathered  together,  and  united 
 in  one  congregation,  "  to  give  thanks  unto  the  name, 
 "  and  triumph  for  ever  in  the  praifes  of  Jesus." 
 
 48.  Blefed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Ifrael  from  ever- 
 lajiing  toeverlajiing,  and  let  all  the  people  fay ,  Amen, 
 Fraife  ye  the  Loud. 
 
 At  all  times,  in  all  places,  and  by  all  perfons,  on 
 earth  and  in  heaven,  in  profperity  and  adverfity, 
 peace  or  perfecution,  "  the  Lord  God  of  Ifrael,'* 
 the  Saviour  and  Redeemer  of  his  church,  is  to  be 
 *'  blefled  ;"  nor  can  any  fituation  exempt  a  believer 
 from  faying,  "Amen,  Hallelujah,"  that  is,  from  blefT- 
 ing  God,  himfelf,  and  exciting  others  to  do  the  fame. 
 
 XXII    DAY. 
 
254  -A  COMMENTARY        Psal.   107. 
 
 XXII  DAY.       MORNING   PRAYEIJ. 
 
 PSALM     CVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  Redeemed  of  the  Lord  are  exhorted,  in 
 this  Pfalm,  1 — 3.  to  praife  him  for  his 
 goodnefs  in  redeeming,  and  gathering  them 
 from  the  four  quarters  of  the  world.  Their 
 danger  and  their  dehverancc  arc  reprefented 
 under  the  four  llriking  images,  4 — 9.  of 
 travellers  loll  in  a  wildernefs,  but  directed 
 and  condu61ed  home;  10 — 16,  of  prifoners 
 refcued  from  captivity;  17 — 22.  of  lick 
 and  dying  men  reltored  to  health  ;  23 — 32. 
 of  mariners  prcferved  in  a  llorm  at  fea,  and 
 brought  fafe  into  port.  33 — 41.  Some  other 
 inliances  of  God's  Providence  In  the  govern- 
 ment of  the  world,  and  of  the  church,  are 
 adduced  and  infided  on,  for  42.  the  confo- 
 lation  of  the  righteous,  and  43.  the  inftruc- 
 tion  of  all. 
 
 1.  O  give  t/ia?ilcs  7(nto  the  Lord,  ybr  he  is  go»dy 
 for  his  rncrc}/  enduretb  for  ever.  2.  Let  the  re-' 
 deemed  of  the  Lord  fa]/  fn,  xchom  he  hath  redeemed 
 from  the  iumd  of  the  enemy  :  3.  And  gathered  them 
 out  of  the  lajidsy  from  the  eaft  and  from  the  weji, 
 from  the  ?iorth  and  from  the  font  h. 
 
 Eternal 
 
Day  22.  M.  p.         OS  the  PSALMS.  255 
 
 Eternal  mercy  is  the  theme  here  propofed  j  and 
 they  who  have  tafted  it's  fweets,  are  invited  to  join 
 in  letting  forth  it's  praifes.     The  members   of  the 
 Chriftian''  church  are  now,  in  the  moft  proper  and 
 emphatical  fenfe  of  the  words,  "  the  redeemed  of 
 "  Jehovah,  whom  he  hath  redeemed  from  the  hand 
 "  oftheeDemy,  and  gathered  them,"  by  the  Gofpel 
 out  of  all  lands,  and  from  all  the  four  quarters  of 
 tiie   world,  to  form   a  church,  and    to  fupply   th^ 
 place  of  the  apoftate  Jews:  whofe  forefathers  expe- 
 rienced, in  type  and  Ihadow,  the  good  things  pre- 
 pared for  them  and  for  us,  in  truth  and  fubftance. 
 «  Many,"  faith  our  Lord  to  the  Jews,  "  Qiall  come 
 *'  from  the  eaft,  and  from  the  weft,  and  from  the 
 «  north,  and  from  the  fouth,  and  (hall  fit  down  in 
 *'  the  kingdom  of  God— and  you  ^ourfelves  fliall  be 
 "  thruft  out."     Matt.  viii.  11.  Luke  xiii.  29.  V/e, 
 converted  Gentiles,  are  the  happy  people,  and  we  are 
 taught  in  this  Pfalm  to  celebrate  that  mercy  which 
 
 m^de  us  fo. 
 
 4.  Thei/  zvandered  in  the.  wilder ncfs,  in  afolitary 
 way,  they  found  no  city  to  dwell  in.  5.  Hungry  and 
 thirjly,  their  fold  fainted  in  them.  6.  Then  they  cried 
 unto  the  Lord  in  their  trouble,  and  he  delivered  theni, 
 out  of  their  dijtrefes.  7.  And  he  led  them  forth  by  the 
 right  zvay,  that  they  might  go  to  a  city  of  habitation. 
 
 The  fpiritual  bleffings  of  Redemption  are  repre- 
 Tented  by  the  Pfalmiil  under  four  exquifitely  beauti- 
 ful and  expreflive  images ;  which  images  are  them- 
 felves  four  fpecial  ads  of  God's  providential  care  and 
 love,  (hewn  toward  the  bodies  of  men  in  the  world  ; 
 correfponding  with  as  many. works  of  grace,  wrought 
 
 3 
 
256  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  107. 
 
 on  the  fouls  of  believers,  in  the  church.  The  firil 
 of  thefe  pidlures  exhibiteth  to  our  view  a  fet  of  tra* 
 vellers  loft  in  a  pathlefs  defert,  and  well  nigh  famidied, 
 through  want  of  necefTary  pro vi lions.  They  make 
 their  diftreffes  known  by  prayer  to  Jehovah,  and  lo, 
 he  appears,  as  their  guard,  and  their  guide  ;  he  fup- 
 plies  all  their  neceffities  upon  the  journey,  and  con- 
 duds  them  in  fafety  to  their  place  of  abode.  Thus 
 lie  dealt  with  Ifrael  of  old,  in  their  paflage,  through 
 the  wafte  and  howling  wildernels,  from  Egypt  ta 
 Canaan.  And  thus  he  is  ready  to  deal  with  us  all. 
 •'  The  world,"'  faith  Lord  Bolingbroke*,  "  is  a 
 •*  great  wildernefs,  wherein  mankind  have  wandered 
 **  about  from  the  creation — We  are  not  only  paf- 
 •*  fengers,  or  fojourners,  but  abfolute  ftrangers  at 
 **  the  firft  fteps  we  make  in  it.'  We  are  fo,  indeed ; 
 and  too  often,  through  our  own  fault,  continue  fucb, 
 to  the  lafl;  we  find  not  the  way  which  leads  to  hea- 
 ven, nor,-  if  we  did  find  it,  have  we  ftrength  to 
 travel  in  it,  without  the  viaticum  which  cometh 
 from  thence,  and  which  alone  can  bring  us  thither. 
 Fervent  and  importunate  prayer  to  the  God  of  our 
 falvation  will  procure,  from  above,  knowledge  to 
 difpel  our  ignorance,  and  grace  to  help  our  infirmi- 
 tiesj  the  former  will  difcover  to  us  our  road,  the 
 latter  will  enable  us  to  walk  in  it,  and  both  together 
 will  carry  us,  in  due  time,  to  "  the  city  of  our  eternal 
 "  habitation." 
 
 8.  O  that  men  zvould praife  the  Lord  for  his good- 
 nefs,  ajidioT  his  wondejfulivorks  to  the  cliildven  of  men  t 
 
 •  Reiledions  on  Hiftory,  Vol.  I.  P.  244,  and  171. 
 
 9.  For 
 
Day  22.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  257 
 
 9.  For  he  fatisfieth  the  longing,  or,  thirjiy  foul, 
 andfillcih  the  hungry  foul  ivith  goodnefs. 
 
 The  former  of  tliefe  two  verfes  is  a  chorus,  re- 
 peated after  the  celebration  of  each  of  the  four  mer- 
 cies here  related.  Literally  it  is,  *'  Let  them  acknovv- 
 "  ledge  to  Jehovah  his  mercy,  and  his  wonders  for 
 *'  the  children  of  Adam."  And  what  can  better  de- 
 fcrve  our  acknowledgment,  than  the  provision  made 
 for  the  bodies  and  fouls  of  Chriftian  travellers,  in  their 
 way  to  that  heavenly  country  and  city,  "  where  they 
 "  (hall  hunger  no  more,  neither  third  any  more, 
 "  neither  (hall  the  fun  light  on  them,  nor  any  heatj 
 *'  for  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midft  of  the  throne 
 "  Qiall  feed  them,  and  Ihall  lead  them  unto  living 
 *'  fountains  of  waters:  and  God  fliall  wipe  away  ail 
 "   tears  from  their  eyes/-'    Rev.  vii.  17. 
 
 10.  Such  as  ft  in  darkncfs,  and  in  the  fhadow  of 
 death,  ht\ng  bound  in  affliction  andiron:  11.  Be- 
 caufe  they  rebelled  againf  the  words  of  God,  and  con- 
 temned the  connfel  of  themofl  High'-  \i.  Therefore 
 he  brought  down  their  heart  with  labour;  they  fell 
 down,  and  there  was  7io?ie  to  help.  Then  they  cried 
 nnto  the  Lord  in  their  trouble,  and  hefavedthem  out 
 of  their  diftreffes.  14.  JIc. brought  them  out  of  dark- 
 nejs,  andthefiadowqf  death ^^  and  brake  their  bands 
 in  finder.  1 5.  O  that  men  would  praife  the  Lo  R  d  for 
 his  goodnefs,  andfov  hiszvonderfulzvorks  to  the  chil- 
 dren of  ment  16.  For  he  hath  broken  the  gates  of 
 brafs,  and  cut  tlic  bars  of  iron  infunder. 
 
 In  this  fecond  piece  of  divine  fcenery,  we  behold 
 a  people  groaning  under  all  the  miferies  of  captivity, 
 deprived  of  light  and  liberty,  chained  down  in  hor- 
 
 \oL.  II.  r'  rid 
 
258  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  107. 
 
 rid  dungeons,  and  there  expedling  the  day  of  execu- 
 tion. Thefe  calamities  they  are  reprefented  as  having 
 brought  upon  themfelves,  by  their  rebellion  againft 
 God,  who  takes  this  method  of  humbling  them.  It 
 fucceeds,  and  brings  them  upon  their  knees  to  Him, 
 who  alone  is  able  to  deliver  them.  Moved  by  their 
 cries,  he  exerts  his  power  on  their  behalf,  and  free 
 them  from  the  houle  of  bondage.  To  a  flate  of 
 corporal  fervitude,  the  Ifraelites,  for  their  tranfgref- 
 fions,  were  frequently  reduced,  and  many  times  ex- 
 perienced, upon  their  repentance,  the  goodnefs  of 
 Jehovah  in  refcuing  them  from  it.  But  the  grand 
 and  univerfal  captivity  is  that  of  fin  and  death;  the 
 grand  and  univerfal  deliverance,  for  which  all  the 
 redeemed  of  the  Lord  ought  to  praife  his  mercy, 
 is  that  by  Jefus  Chrift.  Adam  and  all  his  pofterity 
 *'  rebelled  againft  the  words  of  God,  and  contemned 
 *'  the  counfelof  themofl  High."  Byfo  doing,  they 
 fubjedled  themfelves  to  a  flavery,  the  heavieft  and 
 bittereft  of  all  others.  The  devil  led  them  captive  at 
 his  will,  and  fet  over  them  their  own  infatiable  lulls 
 and  paffions,  as  fo  many  tafkmaflers,  to  afflid,  and 
 keep  them  under.  By  thefe  the  foul  is  confined  fo 
 clofe  in  prifon,  and  bound  with  fo  many  chains,  that 
 it  cannot  get  forth  to  do  the  will  of  God,  even  when 
 that  is  made  known  to  it.  Of  mankind  in  this  ftate 
 how  truly  may  it  be  laid,  and  how  often  in  Scripture 
 is  it  faid,  under  thefe  and  the  like  figures,  "  They 
 "  fit  in  darknels,  and  in  the  fibadow  of  death,  being 
 "  fafl  bound  in  miferj'-,  and  bands  ftronger  than 
 "  iron-  -He  alio  brought  down  their  heart  through 
 '^  heavinefs,    they  fell  down,  and  there  was  none  to 
 
 "  help!*' 
 
Day  22.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS,.  259 
 
 *'  help!"  A  fenfe  of  this  his  woful  condition  forces 
 the  finner  to  "  cry  unto  the  Lord  Jefus  in  his  trou- 
 "  hie,"  and  to  fay,  "  O  wretched  man  that  I  am» 
 "  who  Ihall  deliver  me  from  this  body  of  death! 
 **  Bring  my  foul  out  of  prifon,  that  I  may  give 
 *'  thanks  unto  thy  name."  And  now,  his  prayer  is 
 heard,  the  grace  of  Chrift  cometh  to  his  afliftance> 
 and  he  is  made  "  free  indeed."  His  chains,  like 
 thofe  of  St.  Peter,  fall  off  at  the  word  of  his  deli- 
 verer j  he  is  "  faved  out  of  hisdiftrefs;  he  is  brought 
 "  out  of  darknefs  and  the  fhadow  of  death,"  into  the 
 glorious  light  and  liberty  of  the  fons  of  God.  The 
 joy  confequent  upon  fuch  a  deliverance  will  be  ex- 
 ceeded only  by  that  which  fliall  take  place  in  the 
 hearts,  and  be  expreffed  by  the  voices  of  the  redeem- 
 ed, on  the  day  when  Clirift  Ihall  accompHQi  the  re- 
 demption of  their  bodies  alfo,  as  he  hath  already  ef- 
 fedled  that  of  his  own,  from  the  power  of  the  grave  . 
 when  he  (liall  da(h  in  pieces  the  brazen  gates  and 
 adamantine  bars  of  that  prifon-houfe,  put  an  end  for 
 ever  to  the  bondage  of  corruption,  and  lead  captivity 
 captive  into  the  higheft  heavens. 
 
 17.  Fools  becaufe  of  their  tranfgrejfwns^  andbecau/e 
 of  their  iniquities  are  afflicted.  18.  Their  foul  abhor' 
 reth  all  maimer  of  meal,  and  they  draw  near  unto  the 
 gates  of  death.  19.  Then  they  cry  unto  t lie  L,ord  in 
 their  trouble,  he  Javeth  them  out  of  their  dijtrefes. 
 20.  Hefent  his  zvoj-d,  and  healed  them,  and  deli' 
 vered  them  from  their  deftruction.  21.  O  thai  men 
 would  praife  the  Lord /or  his  goodnefs,  and  for  his 
 wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men,  22.  And  let 
 R  2  them 
 
26o  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  107, 
 
 them  facrijice  the  facrifices  of  thank/giving,  and  de- 
 clare his  xvorks  with  rejoicing. 
 
 The  recovery  of  men  from  ficknefs  affords  a  third 
 image  of  the  benefits  conferred  on  our  nature,  by 
 the  Redeemer.  Sicknefs,  as  we  are  here  Informed,  is 
 the  punifhment  of  human  folly  and  iniquity.  When 
 it  is  extreme,  it  deprives  man  of  all  reliQi  and  appe- 
 tite for  his  food  J  nay,  it  makes  him  loath  and  deteft 
 the  very  fight  and  fmell  of  that  which  fliould  nouriffi 
 and  iupport  him;  in  which  cafe,  he  muft  wafle 
 away,  and  foon  "  draw  near  to  the  gates  of  death." 
 But  from  thofe  dreadful  gates  the  power  of  God  cari 
 fnatch  us,  when  we  are  juft  about  to  enter  them.  To 
 an  infirm  and  emaciated  body  he  can  reftore  health, 
 flrength,  and  beauty  ;  for  difeafes  are  his  minifter-s 
 and  meffengers;  they  vifit  us  at  his  command,  and 
 at  his  command  they  retire,  and  we  recover  again. 
 The  Ifraelites  in  the  wildernefs,  "  becaufe  of  their 
 '^  tranfgreflions,  and  becaufe  of  'their  iniquities,  were 
 "  often  afflided"  with  a  plague.  But  when  they  re- 
 pented, and  atonement  was  made,  the  plague  ceafed. 
 They  were  ftung  by  fiery  ferpents ;  but  when  they 
 «'  cried  unto  Jehovah,  he  fent  his  Word,  and  healed 
 "  them.  They  were  troubled,"  as  the  author  of  the 
 book  of  Wildom  obferves,  "  for  a  fmall  feafon, 
 «'  that  they  might  be  admoniQied,  having  a  fign 
 "  of  Salvation  to  put  them  in  remembrance  of  the 
 *'  commandment  of  thy  law.  For  he  that  turned 
 «'  himfelf  towards  it,  was  not  faved  by  the  thing  that 
 "  he  fawj  but  by  thee  who  art  the  Saviour  of  all.'^ 
 Wifd.  xvi.  6,  7.  Sentence  of  death  was  paffed  upon 
 Hczekkhj  he  already  faw  himfelf  at   "  the  gates  of 
 
 "  ths 
 
Day  22.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.'  %6i 
 
 "  the  grave;"  and  expefted  no  more  to  "  behold  man 
 *'  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  world."  Yet  his  prayer 
 prevailed  for  a  refpite,  and  fifteen  years  were  added  to 
 his  life-  Ifai.  xxxviii.  Now  the  mind,  by  reafon 
 of  fin,  is  not  lefs  fubjed  to  infirmities  than  the  body. 
 Thefe  infirmities  reduce  a  man  to  a  ftate  of  languor 
 and  liftleffnefs;  he  finds  himfelf  incapable  of  adion, 
 indifpofed  for  the  reception  of  divine  truths,  without 
 tafte  for  knowledge,  or  inclination  for  virtue;  he 
 even  naufeates  the  book  of  God,  and  the  bread  of 
 heaven;  and  the  life  of  faith  is  in  great  danger.  But 
 the  cafe  is  not  defperate,  while  there  is  breath  enough 
 left  to  call  in,  by  prayer,  the  great  Phyfician  of 
 fpirits.  The  mofi  inveterate  malady  gives  place  to 
 his  efficacious  medicines ;  appetite  revives,  health 
 returns,  and  the  believer  is  reinlUted  in  the  vigour 
 and  beauty  of  hoHnefs.  Let  all  who  have  been  thus 
 "  healed,  and  faved  from  deftrudion,"  either  of  bo- 
 dy or  foul,  ^*  acknowledge  to  Jehovah  his  mercy, 
 "  and  his  wonders  wrought  for  the  children  of 
 "  Adam:  let  them  facrifice  the  facrifices  of  thankf- 
 *'  giving,  and  declare  his  works  with  rejoicing." 
 
 23.  Tkej^  that  go  dozmi  to  the  fea  injhips,  that  do 
 bujinefs  in  great  waters :  24.  Theje  fee  the  works  of 
 the  Lord,  a?id  hiszvonders  in  the  deep.  25  For  he 
 commandeth,  andraifeth  thejlormy  wind,  which  Ujteth 
 tip  the  waves  thereof.  26.  They  mount  up  to  heaven, 
 they  go  down  again  to  the  depths,  their  foul  is  melted 
 hecaufe  of  trouble.  27.  ^They  reel  to  and  fro,  and 
 Jlagger  like  a  drunken  man,  and  are  at  their  wits 
 endi  Heb.  all  their  ivifdum  ox  Jkillis  Jioallowed  up. 
 aS.  Then  they  cry  unto  the  Lord  in  their  trouble, 
 R  3  and 
 
z62  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  107, 
 
 a7id  he  brlngeth  them  out  of  their  diflrefes.  29.  lie 
 tnaketh  the  Jtorm  a  cahn^  fo  that  the  waves  thereof 
 are  fill.  3  o.  Then  are  they  glad  becaiifc  they  be  quiet ; 
 fo  he  brlngeth  them  unto  their  defired  haven.  3  i .  O 
 that  men  would praife  the  LoRD/or  his  goodnefs,  and 
 for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men  / 
 32.  Let  them  exalt  him  aljo  in  the  congregation  of 
 the  people^  and  praife  him  in  the  a^fembly  of  the  elders. 
 The  fourth  fimilitude  chofen  to  portray  the  dan- 
 gers of  our  prefent  ftate,  and  the  goodnefs  of  God 
 difplayed  in  our  falvation,  is  tak^n  from  that  fignal 
 inflance  of  the  divine  power  and  providence,  the  pre- 
 fervation  of  mariners  in  a  dorm  at  fea.  The  de- 
 fcription  which  the  Pfalmift  hath  given  us  of  fuch 
 an  event  admitteth  of  no  comment.*  Experience 
 alone  can  illuftrate  it's  beauty,  evince  it's  truth,  and 
 point  out  the  propriety  of  the  circumftances  which 
 are  fele(fled  to  furnilh  us  with  a  full  and  complete 
 idea  of  the  whole.  Few  of  us,  indeed,  are  ever  likely 
 to  be  in  that  terrible  fituation.  But  then,  we  can^ 
 not  help  refleding,  that  there  is  a  fhip,  in  which  we 
 are  all  embarked;  there  is  a  troubled  fea,  on  which 
 we  all  fail;  there  are  dorms,  by  which  we  are  all  fre- 
 quently overtaken;  and  there  is  a  haven,  which  we 
 all  defire  to  behold,  and  to  enter.  For  the  church  is 
 a  fhip;  the  world  is  a  fea ;  temptations,  perfecutions, 
 and  afflidions  are  the  waves  of  it;  the  prince  of  the 
 power  of  the  air  is  the  ftormy  wind  which  raifes  them; 
 and  heaven  is  the  only  port  of  reft  and  fecurity.  Of- 
 ten during  the  voyage,  for  our  puniQiment,  or  our 
 trial,  God  permitteth  us  to  be  thus  alfaulted.  The 
 fucceffion  and  the  violence  of  our  trouble,  the  eleva- 
 tions 
 
Day  22.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  263 
 
 tlons  and  deprefTions  of  mind  and  fortune,  the  un- 
 certainty of  our  counfels,  and  our  utter  inability  to 
 help  ourfelves,  are  finely  reprefented  by  the  multi- 
 tude and  impetuofity  of  the  waves,  the  toffings  and 
 agitations  of  the  vefTel,  the  confufion,  terror,  and 
 diftrefs  among  the  failors.  In  both  cafes,  prayer  is 
 the  proper  effeft,  and  the  only  remedy  left.  With 
 the  earneftnefs  of  affrighted  mariners,  who  will  then 
 be  devout,  though  they  never  were  fo  before,  \v6 
 fhould  "  cry  unto  the  Lord  Jefus  in  our  trouble;"  we 
 fhould,  as  it  were,  "  awake"  him,  like  the  difcpiles, 
 with  repetitions  of  "  Lord,  fave  us,  we  peridi  !'♦ 
 Then  will  he  arife,  and  rebuke  the  authors  of  our 
 tribulation,  faying  unto  them,  "  Peace,  be  (1111;" 
 and  they  fhall  hear,  and  obey  his  voice.  "  He  will 
 "  make  the  ftorm  a  calm,  fo  that  the  waves  thereof 
 "  (liall  be  flillj"  and  at  length  he  will  *«  bring  us" 
 in  peace,  joy,  and  gladnefs,  "  to  our  defired  haven,'* 
 there  to  '^  exalt  him  in  the  congregation"  of  his 
 chofen,  and  *'  praife  him  in  the"  great  "  afTembly" 
 of  faints  and  angels.  This  is  the  confummation  fo  de- 
 voutly wifhed  and  requefted  by  the  church  for  all 
 her  children,  at  the  time  of  their  baptifm,  that  they, 
 *<  being  delivered  from  God's  wrath,  may  be  received 
 *'  into  the  Ark  of  Chrift's  church  j  and  beincr  fled- 
 "  faft  in  faith,  joyful  through  hope,  and  rooted  in 
 "  charity,  may  fo  pafs  the  Waves  of  this  trouble- 
 *'  fome  world,  that  finally  they  may  come  to  the 
 **  Land  of  everlafting  life."  Thus  we  fee  there  is  no 
 fpiritual  evil,  out  of  which  God  is  not  both  able  and 
 willing  to  deliver  us,  when  we  call  upon  him.  Are 
 we  ignorant  of  the  way  to  the  heavenly  city  ?  He 
 will  guide  and  condud  us  thither.  Are  we  bound 
 R  4  with 
 
264  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  107. 
 
 with  the  chains  of  fin  and  death?  He  will  loofe  and 
 deliver  us.  Are  our  minds  difeafed  and  languid? 
 He  will  heal  and  invigorate  them.  Are  we  in  dan- 
 ger of  being  overwhelmed  by  the  troubles  of  the 
 world.?  He  vvill  preferve  us  in  the  midfl  of  them, 
 until  he  bid  them  ceafe.  Of  his  power  and  incli- 
 nation to  do  thefc  things  for  our  fouls,  he  hath  given 
 affurance  to  all  men,  by  thofe  pledges  of  his  lo.e, 
 the  benefits  and  bleffings  conferred  on  the  bodies  of 
 his  people,  in  leading  them  through  the  wildernefs 
 to  Canaan;  in  refcuing  them  fo  often  from  the  mi- 
 feries  of  captivity;  in  healing  their  difeaies ;  and  in 
 faring  thofe  of  them,  who  "  did  bufmefs  in  great 
 "  waters,"  from  the  perils  of  the  fea.  Certainly,  the 
 mind  of  man  cannot  have  a  nobler  fubjed  for  medi^ 
 tation  in  this  world,  than  the  wonders  of  Provi- 
 dence, confidered  as  reprefenting  the  mercies  of  Re- 
 demption. 
 
 33.  He  tiirneth  rivers  into  a  wildernefs,  and  the 
 tvater  fprings  into  dry  ground.  34.  A  Jruitfid  land 
 into  barrennefsyfor  the  icickednefs  of  them  that  diucL^ 
 therein.  35.  He  tiirneth  the  ivildernefs  into  a  fanding 
 ivat.er.,  and  dry  ground  into  tvater  fprings  ;  36.  And 
 there  he  maketh  the  hungry  to  dzcell^  that  they  may 
 prepare  a  city  for  habitation  j  37,  Andfoiv  thefeldsy 
 and  plant  vineyards^  ivhich  may  yield  fruits  of  in- 
 creafe.  38.  i/e  blefcd  them  alfojo  that  they  are  mul- 
 tiplied  greatly^  and  fuffereth  not  tJteir  cattle  to  dc- 
 creafe. 
 
 In  this  latter  part  of  the  Pfalm,  the  prophet  far- 
 ther exem.piiiieth  the  power,  the  juftice,  and  the 
 goodnefs  of  God  :  his  power,  in  being  able  to 
 change  the  very  na,ture  of  things;   his  juftice,   and 
 
 his 
 
Day  2l.  M.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  265 
 
 his  goodnefs,  in  fo  doing,  either  to  punifli  the  rebel- 
 lious, or  to  reward  the  obedient.  A  well  watered 
 and  fertile  country  fliall,  for  the  fins  of  it's  inhabi- 
 tants, be  converted  into  a  dry  and  a  barren  one.  The 
 plain  of  Jordan,  which,  before  the  overthrow  of  So- 
 dom and  Gomorrah,  was  "  well  watered  every  where, 
 *'  like  the  garden  of  Jehovah,"  Gen.  xiii.  10.  hath, 
 fince  that  overthrow,  been  a  land  of  fait  and  ful- 
 phur,  and  perpetual  fterility.  Nay,  even  the  once 
 fruitful  Paleftine  itCelf,  that  flowed  with  milk  and 
 honey,  is  at  this  day  a  region  of  fuch  utter  deiola- 
 tion,  that  the  very  poffibility  of  it's  ever  having  fuf- 
 ficed  to  maintain  the  people  who  formerly  pofTefTed 
 it,  is  now  called  in  qucftion.  And  indeed,  while 
 the  rain  of  heaven  fliall  continue  to  be  in  the  hand 
 of  God,  how  eafy  it  is  for  him,  by  withholding  it 
 during  a  few  month's,  to  blaft  all  the  moft  promifmg 
 hopes  of  man  ;  and,  inftead  of  plenty,  joy,  and 
 health,  to  vifit  him  with  famine,  peflilence,  and 
 death  !  On  the  other  hand,  when  the  ways  of  a 
 people  pleafe  him,  he  can  rid  them  of  the. fe  dreadful 
 guefis;  the  rain  flTall  defcend  from  above,  the  fprings 
 fliall  rife  from  beneath,  the  earth  (hall  yield  her  in- 
 creafe,  the  cattle  (hall  feed  in  large  pafturcs,  the  fea- 
 fons  Ihall  be  kindly,  the  air  falutary,  and  the  fmiling 
 face  of  nature  lliall  atteft  the  loving  kindnefs  of  the 
 Lord.  Thus,  in  the  difpenfations  of  grace,  hath  he 
 dealt  with  Jews  and  Gentiles.  The  fynagogue  of 
 the  former,  once  rich  in  taith,  watered  with  the  be- 
 nedidions  of  heaven,  fruitful  in  prophets  and  faints, 
 adorned  with  the  fer vices  of  religion,  and  the  pre- 
 fence  of  Jehovah,  hath  been,  Imce  the  murder  of 
 the  Son  of  God,  curled  with  infidelity,  parched  like 
 5  the 
 
266  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  107. 
 
 the  withered  tops  of  the  mountains  of  Gilboah,  bar- 
 ren and  defolate  as  the  land  of  their  ancient  refidence, 
 whofe  naked  rocks  feem  to  declare  to  all  the  world 
 the  hard-heartednefs  and  unprofitablenefs  of  its  old 
 poffcffors.  When  the  ''  fruitful  field"  thus  became 
 a  "  foreft,'*  the  "  wildernefs,"  at  the  fame  time,  be- 
 came a  "  fruitful  field."  A  church  was  planted  in 
 the  Gentile  world,  and  the  "  Spirit  was  poured  out 
 "  upon  it  from  on  high."  In  that  "  wildernefs  did 
 "  waters  break  out,  and  ftreams  in  that  defert." 
 There  was  faith  fown,  and  holinefs  was  the  univerfal 
 produdV.  "  The  wildernefs  and  the  folitary  place 
 **  was  glad,  and  the  defert  rejoiced,  and  bloffomed 
 **  as  the  rofe.  It  bloffomed  abundantly,  and  rejoiced 
 "  even  with  joy  and  finging ;  the  glory  of  Lebanon 
 "  was  given  unto  it,  the  excellency  of  Carmel  and 
 "  Sharon;"  the  privileges  and  honours  of  the  fyna- 
 gogue  were  conferred  upon  the  church ;  and  the  na- 
 tions now  *'  faw  the  glory  of  Jehovah,  and  the  ex- 
 "  cellency  of  God."  Ifai.  xxxii.  15.  xxxv.  i,  2. 
 Spiritual  increafe,  health,  and  plenty,  fpiritual  peace, 
 joy,  and  happinefs,  appeared  in  beauteous  and  lovely 
 proceffion,  and  the  bleffing  of  Jefus  was  upon  this 
 iiis  new  inheritance,  in  every  way. 
 
 39.  Again  they  are  viini/Jied,  and  brought  lozvj 
 through  opprejiouy  affliction.,  and  forrozv.  40.  He 
 ■poureth  contempt  upon  princes,  and  caiifeth  them  to 
 wander  in  the  ivildernefs,  where  there  is  no  way.  41. 
 Yet  fettcth  he  the  poor  on  high  from  affliction^  and 
 maketh  him  families  like  a  flock. 
 
 But  let  not  thofe,  who  have  received  the  largeft 
 (hare  of  heaven's  favours,  therefore  boaft  and  pre- 
 
 fume, 
 
Day  22.  M.  p.        <^N  THE  PSALMS.  i"67 
 
 fume.  The  continuance  of  thofe  favours  dependeth 
 upon  the  continuance  of  their  fidelity  and  obedience. 
 Mighty  empires,  with  their  "  piinces,"  have,  for 
 their  wickednefs,  been  "  brought  low"  by  the  arm 
 of  Jehovah,  and  laid  in  the  duft,  while  nations 
 "  poor,''  and  feeble,  and  never  thought  of,  have 
 *'  been  taken  from  thence,  and  exalted  over  them.'*' 
 What  revolutions  have,  in  like  manner,  happened, 
 and,  probably,  are  flill  to  happen,  in  the  church  I 
 Jerufalem  is  fallen,  through  unbelief;  and  the  Gen- 
 tile church  ftandeth  only  by  faith,  from  which,  if 
 (lie  depart,  vengeance  will  be  executed  on  her  like- 
 wife.  Yet,  even  in  the  worft  of  times,  there  is  a 
 promife,  that  "  the  poor"  in  fpirit,  the  faithful  and 
 humble  difciples  of  the  holy  Jefus,  fliall  be  preferved 
 from  the  evil,  and  *'  fet  on  high  from  afflidion  j" 
 yea,  that  they  fhall  be  multiplied  *'  like  a  flock," 
 under  the  care  of  the  good  Shepherd,  to  preferve  his 
 name,  and  to  continue  a  church  upon  the  earth, 
 until  he  (hall  return  again. 
 
 42.  The  righfeousfiallfee^  and  rejoice;  and  all 
 iaiqnitij  Jhall  Jlop  her  moulh. 
 
 Two  confequences  will  follow  from  this  alternate 
 difplay  of  the  mercy  and  the  judgment  of  God. 
 The  righteous,  finding  themfelves  Hill  the  objcds 
 pf  the  former,  will  have  caufe  to  rejoice  and  give 
 thanks;  and  the  wicked,  when  vifited  with  the 
 latter,  will  be  forced,  by  their  filence  at  leafl:,  to 
 own  that  their  punilhmcnt  is  juft.  This  will  cer- 
 tainly be  the  cafe  at  the  laft  day,  when  the  dif- 
 penfations  ©f  God,   and  the  perfedt  rule  of  equity 
 
 obferved 
 
268  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  107. 
 
 obferved  in  them,  (hall  be  manifefled  to  all  the 
 world. 
 
 43.  Whofo  is  wife  and  xvill  ohferve  thefe  tJdngs, 
 even  thei/  Jfiall  underjiand  the  loving  kindnefs  of  the 
 Lor  D.  Or,  Who  is  wife  ?■  and  he  will  ohferve  thefe 
 things;  and  they  fnall  underjiand  the  loving  kind- 
 nefs of  the  Lord. 
 
 A  truly  '*  wife"  pcrfon  will  treafure  up  in  his  heart 
 the  contents  of  this  mod  inftrudive  and  delightful 
 Pfalm.  By  fo  doing,  he  will  fully  *'  underftand'* 
 and  comprehend  the  weaknefs  and  wretchedncfs  of 
 man,  and  the  power  and  "  loving  kindnefs"  of  God, 
 who  not  for  our  merit,  but  for  his  mercy's  fake,  dif- 
 pelleth  our  ignorance,  breaketh  off  our  fins,  healeth 
 our  infirmities,  preferveth  us  in  temptations,  placeth 
 us  in  his  church,  enricheth  us  with  his  grace,  fhelter- 
 eth  us  from  perfecution,  bleffeth  us  in  time,  and  will 
 crown  us  in  eternity. 
 
 XXII  DAY.       EVENING    PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  CVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm  is  compofed  of  parts  taken  without 
 any  material  alteration,  from  two  others. 
 The  firft  five  verfcs  occur  in  Pf.  Ivii.  7 — 1 1 ; 
 the  lail  eight  are  found  in  Pf.  Ix.  5 — 12, 
 The  reader  is  therefore  referred  to  the  expo- 
 fiton  already  given  of  thofe  Pfalms. 
 
 PSALM 
 
Day  22.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  269 
 
 PSALM   CIX. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 St.  Peter,  Afts  i.  20.  hath  taught  us  to  apply 
 the  predidions  in  this  Pfahn  to  the  betray- 
 ers and  murderers  of  Mefsiah,  who  is,  con- 
 fcquently,  the  perfon  here  fpeaking,  and 
 1 — 5.  complaining  of  the  injuries  which  he 
 fuffered  from  them ;  after  which,  6 — 20. 
 he  forewarneth  them  of  all  the  judgments 
 and  fore  calamities  that  fhould  come  upon 
 them  and  their  pofterity ;  21 — 25.  he  re- 
 turneth  to  the  fubje6f  of  his  pafsion  ;  26 — 
 29.  repeateth  his  fupplications  for  himfelf 
 and  his  church;  and  30,  31.  concludeth 
 with  an  a6l  ot  praife. — In  this  light  was  the 
 Pfalm  confidered  and  interpreted  in  the  an- 
 cient church,  by  Chryfoftom,  Jerome,  Au- 
 guftine,  Theodoret,  and  others, 
 
 I.  Hold  not  thy  peace ^  O  God  of  tny  praife :  i.  e, 
 who  art  the  fubject  of  my  praife.  2.  For  the  mouth  of 
 the  wickedy  and  the  mouth  of  the  deceitful  are  opened 
 againji  me :  they  havefpoken  againf  me  zciih  a  lying 
 tongue.  3.  They  computed  me  about  alfo  ivith  words 
 of  hatred ;  and  fought  againft  me  without  a  caufe, 
 4.  For  my  love  they  are  my  adverfaries  :  but  /give 
 myfeif  unto  prayer.  5.  And  they  have  rexvarded  me 
 evil  for  good^  and  hatred  for  7?iy  love. 
 
 The 
 
270  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  169. 
 
 The  holy  Jefus,  in  thefe  words,  maketh  fupplica- 
 tlon  to  the  Father  for  redrefs  and  deliverance.  He 
 complaineth  of  the  manner  in  which  he  was  treated, 
 when  "  he  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own  received 
 "  him  not.'*  John  i.  11.  Sometimes,  "  the  mouth 
 *'  of  the  wicked  was  opened  upon  him  *,"  roaring 
 againft  him,  like  the  roaring  of  lions,  while  they 
 cried  out,  "  He  is  a  Samaritan  and  hath  a  devil, 
 *'  and  is  mad  ;  away  Vv'ith  him,  away  with  him,  cru- 
 !^'  city  him,  crucify  him."  Sometimes,  "  deceitful 
 *'  and  lying  tongues"  were  employed,  either  to  in- 
 tangle  and  entrap  him  in  his  talk,  or  to  bear  falfe 
 witnefs  againft  him.  And  all  this  was  done,  not 
 only  "  without  a  caufe,"  but  men  were  his  bitter 
 and  implacable  '*  adverfaiies,  in  return  for"  that 
 •'  love"'  which  brought  him  from  heaven,  to  fave 
 ihcm  with  an  everlaRing  falvation.  Let  the  afflided 
 and  traduced  difciple  rejoice,  in  that  he  is  conformed 
 to  the  image  of  his  Mailer.  And  from  the  example 
 of  that  Mader  let  him  learn  what  courfe  to  take, 
 when  in  fuch  circumftances — "  But  I  give  myfelf 
 "  unto  prayer." 
 
 6.  f  Thou  wilt  fee  a  wicked  mariy  or,  the  tvic/ced 
 
 *  Hacc  autem  cecinit  David  fpiritaali  fenfu  in  perfor.a  Chrifli 
 2  Judffiis  impetiti  omnimodis  blalphemiis.     Bossuet. 
 
 f  As  rnofl  of  the  following  verbs  are  in  the  future  tenfe,  and 
 the  reft  have  evidently  a  prediftive  and  future  import,  the  fame 
 liberty  is  here  taken,  as  in  Pf.  Ixix.  of  rendering  them  through- 
 oat  uniformly  in  that  tenfe:  by  which  means  the  curfes  pro- 
 nounced in  this  Pfalm  will  at  once  appear  to  be  of  the  fame  im- 
 port with  tiiofe  in  the  xxviiith  chapter  of  Deuteronomy.  The 
 reader  is  entreated,  when  he  (hall  have  perufed  the  Ffalm,  to 
 turn  to  that  chapter,  and  judge  for  himfelf. 
 
 one 
 
Day  22.  E.  p.       ox  the  PSALMS.  271 
 
 0726  over  him^  and  Satan  Jhall  ft  and  at  his  right 
 hand.  7.  When  he  is  judged^  he  Jhall  be  condemned, 
 and  his  prayer  Jhall  become  Jin. 
 
 A  tranfition  is  here  made  to  the  adverfaries  of 
 Meffiah ;  primarily  to  Judas,  "  who  was  guide  to 
 '*  them  that  took  Jefus  j"  Ads  i.  16.  fecondarily  to 
 the  fynagogue,  of  whom  Judas  may  be  confidered 
 as  an  epitome  and  reprefentative.  It  is  foretold,  that 
 by  betraying  and  murdering  the  beft  of  mafters,  they 
 ihould  fubjed  themfelvcs  to  the  tyranny  of  the 
 worfli  that  they  fliould  become  ilaves  to  the  "  wick- 
 "  ed  one,"  who  fliould  juftly  be  "  fet  over  them,"** 
 when  they  had  delivered  themfelves  into  his  hands  5 
 that  "  Satan,"  who  had  flood  by  them  to  tempt 
 them,  fl-jould  *'  llr.nd  at  their  right  hand"  to  accuie 
 them,  at  the  tribunal  of  God  j  that  when  tried,  they 
 would  be  convided  and  "  condemned,"  and  even 
 their  *'  prayer"  would  be  abomination  in  the  fight 
 of  the  Lord,  as  being  offered  without  true  contrition 
 and  repentance,  without  faith,  hope,  or  charity. 
 Such  is  the  wretched  (late  of  the  Jews,  ellranged 
 from  God,  and  in  bondage  to  the  devil ;  fuch  the 
 prayers,  which,  from  hardened  and  malignant  hearts, 
 they  continually  utter,  for  the  excifion  of  all  Chrif- 
 tians,  and  for  the  extirpation  of  that  bleffed  Name, 
 on  which  Chriftians  call.  Thefe  prayers,  inftead  of 
 lightening  the  burden  of  their  fins,  certainly  add  to 
 its  weight.  Enable  us,  O  Lord  Jefu,  to  refift  Satan 
 as  a  tempter,  that  he  may  not  be  our  accuferj  and 
 grant  us  always  fo  to  pray,  that  our  prayers  may  be 
 beard. 
 
 8.  Ui: 
 
272  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  109, 
 
 8.  His  daijsjhall  be  few,  and  another  Jliall  take 
 his  offxe. 
 
 This  is  the  verfe  which  St.  Peter  hath  cited  and 
 applied,  in  his  difcourfe  to  the  difciples,  at  the  elec- 
 tion of  Matthias  into  the  place  of  Judas.  "  Men 
 "  and  brethren,  this  fcripture  muft  needs  have  been 
 **  fulfilled,  which  the  Holy  Ghoft  by  the  mouth  of 
 •*  David  fpake  before  concerning  Judas,  who  was 
 "  guide  to  them  that  took  Jefus.  For  he  was  num- 
 **  bered  with  us,  and  had  obtained  part  of  this  mi- 
 *'  niftry.  Now  this  man  purchafed  a  field  with  the 
 "  reward  of  iniquity,  and  falling  headlong,  he  burft 
 "  afunder  in  the  midft,  and  all  his  bowels  guflied 
 «c  Q^t — por  it  is  written  in  the  book  of  Pfalms,  Let 
 **  his  habitation  be  defolate,  and  let  no  man  dwell 
 *'  therein  :  and,  His  biflioprick  let  another  take." 
 The  former  of  thefe  two  citations  is  made  from  Pf. 
 Ixix.  '25.  the  latter  is  a  part  of  the  verfe  now  before 
 us.  If  Judas,  therefore,  be  the  perfon  whofe  de- 
 ftruftlon  the  fuflerer  foretelleth,  the  perfon  fpeaking 
 in  this  prophetical  Pfalm  muft  of  neccffity  be  our 
 Lord  him-felf,  who  fuffered  by  the  treachery  of 
 Judas.  In  Pf.  Ixix.  25.  the  predidion  is  in  the 
 plural  number,  *'  Their  habitation  Ihall  be  void  j" 
 yet  St.  Peter  applies  it,  in  the  lingular  number  to 
 Judas.  The  paffage  in  our  Flalm  is  fingular,  yet 
 applicable  not  to  Judas  only,  but  to  the  whole  na- 
 tion of  the  Jews;  whofe  "  days,"  after  they  had 
 crucified  the  Lord  of  glory,  "  were  few;"  who 
 were  difpolfeffed  of  the  place  and  "  office'^  which 
 they  held  as  the  church  01  God,  and  to  which,  with 
 all  its  honours  and  privileges,  the  Gentile  Chriftian 
 
 church 
 
Day  22.  E.  T.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  273 
 
 church  fucceeded  In  their  (lead,  when  the  Aaronical 
 prieflhood  was  aboHfhed,  and  that  of  the  true  Mel- 
 chizedek  eftabHihed  for  ever. 
 
 9.  His  c/nldren  Jhall  befatherlefs,  and  his  wife 
 a  zvidow.  10.  His  children  JJiall  be  continually 
 vagabonds^  and  beg  ;  they  Jhall  feek  their  bread  alfo 
 out  of  defolate  places. 
 
 If,  by  the  wretched  death  of  Judas,  his  wife  be- 
 came a  widow,  and  his  children  orphans,  vagabonds, 
 and  beggars,  their  fate  was  but  a  prelude  to  that  of 
 thoufands  and  ten  thoufands  of  the  fame  nation, 
 whofe  hufbands  and  fathers  came  afterwards  to  a 
 miferable  end,  at  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem.  Their 
 children,  and  children's  children,  have  fince  been 
 *'  continually  vagabonds"  upon  the  earth,  in  the 
 ftate  of  Cain,  when  he  had  murdered  his  righteous 
 brother,  not  cut  off,  but  marvelloufly  preferved  for 
 punirhment  and  woe.  Having  nothing  of  their  own, 
 they  roam  through  all  parts  of  the  world,  civilized 
 or  barbarous,  the  fcorn  and  contempt  of  mankind. 
 And  even  If  they  are  able  to  amafs  wealth,  their 
 unparalleled  avarice  ftill  keeps  them  poor  and  beg- 
 garly in  the  midfh  of  it.  Thus  Dr.  Hammond,  in 
 his  Annotation  on  thefe  verfes — "  By  this  is  defcrlb- 
 ''  ed,  in  a  very  lively  manner,  the  condition  of  the 
 "  Jewifli  pofterity,  ever  fince  their  anceftors  fell 
 "  under  that  fignal  vengeance,  for  the  crucifying  of 
 "  Chrift.  Firft,  their  defolations  and  vaftations  in 
 **  their  own  country;  and  being  ejecled  thence; 
 "  Secondly,  their  continual  Wanderings  from  place 
 "  to  place,  fcattered  over  the  face  of  the  earth;  and, 
 "  Thirdly,  their  remarkable  Covetoufnefs,  keeping 
 Vol.  II.  S  "  them 
 
274  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  109- 
 
 "  them  always  Poor  and  Beggarly,  be  they  never  (o 
 '^  rich,  and  continually  labouring  and  moiling  for 
 "  gain  as  the  pooreft  are  wont  to  do;  and  this  is 
 **  continually  the  conftant  curfe  attending  this  peo- 
 '*  pie,  wherefoever  they  are  fcattered." 
 
 1 1 .  The  extortioner^  or,  creditor  Jliall  catch,  or, 
 feize  all  that  he  hath,  and  the  Jirangcr  Jliall  fpoil 
 his  labour.  1 2.  There  Jliall  he  none  to  extend  mercy 
 to  him:  neither  Jliall  there  be  any  to  Javour  hisja- 
 iherlejs  children. 
 
 Since  the  deftru6lion  of  Jerufalem,  how  often  hath 
 this  race  been  feized,  pillaged,  ftripped,  and  impo- 
 veriflied  by  prince  and  people,  in  all  the  nations  of 
 the  known  world,  none  appearing,  as  in  other  cafes, 
 to  "  favour  and  extend  mercy"  to  them*  I  "  They 
 "  have  had  no  nation,  none  to  avenge  their  grievous 
 ^  wrong,  which  the  Lord  God  of  their  forefathers 
 "  had  ordained  they  fhould  fuffer,  at  all  times,  and 
 *'  in  all  places,  wherefoever  they  have  come,  without 
 "  redrefs.  Nay,  their  general  carriage  hath  been  fo 
 "  odious  and  prepofterous,  that  albeit  the  Chriftian 
 *'  magiflrates  had  confpired  together  for  their  good, 
 *'  they  would  themfelves  have  certainly  provoked 
 "  their  own  mifery."  Thus  that  excellent  Divine,  the 
 learned  and  pious  Dr.  Jackfon,  Vol.  I.  p.  142,  and 
 135.  vvhofe  reflexions  upon  the  hiftory  of  the  Jews, 
 at  and  fince  their  difperfion,  it  w^ere  to  be  wifhed  that 
 every  Chriftian  could  perufe.     For,  as  he  himfelf  ob- 
 
 »  Thou  fhalt  be  only  opprefTed  and  fpolled  evermore,  and  no 
 man  Ihall  fave  thee— The  fruit  of  thy  land,  and  all  thy  labours, 
 iTiall  a  nation  which  thoo  knoweft  not,  eat  up,  and  thou  (halt  be 
 only  opprefTed  and  crulhed  al way.     Deut.  xxviii.  29.  33. 
 
 ^  ferves. 
 
Day  22.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  27^$ 
 
 ferves,  "  Chriftian  parents^  whether  bodily  or  fpiritual, 
 *'  fhould  be  as  careful  to  inftrudt  their  children  what 
 "  the  Lord  hath  done  to  thefe  Jews,  as  the  Ifraelites 
 "  fhould  have  been  to  tell  their  Tons  what  God  had 
 "  done  to  Pharaoh."     Ibid.  p.  152. 
 
 13.  His  pojlcritij  Jliall  be  cut  off^  and  in  the  ge- 
 nevation  following^  their  name  Jhall  he  blotted  otit^ 
 14.  The  iniquity  of  liis  fathers  Jhall  he  remembered 
 with  the  Lord,  and  the  Jin  of  his  mother  fhall  not 
 be  blotted  out.  15.  They  JImll  be  before  the  Lord 
 continually,  that  he  may  cut  off  the  memory  of 
 them  from  the  earth. 
 
 The  traitorous  and  rebellious  "  pofterlty"  of 
 traitorous  and  rebellious  parents  fuffered  an  "  exci- 
 **  fion"  by  the  Roman  fword,  and  '*  in  the  genera- 
 "  tion  following,  their  name,"  as  a  church  and  civil 
 polity,  was  "  blotted  out"  of  the  lift  of  ftates  and 
 kingdoms  upon  earth.  *'  The  iniquity  of  their  fa- 
 "  thers,"  which  they,  had  filled  up,  **  was  remem- 
 "  bered  with  Jehovah,  and  the  fin  of  their  mother," 
 that  is,  perhaps,  of  the  fynagogue  of  Jerufalem,  now 
 In  bondage  with  her  children,  "  was  not  blotted  out ; 
 **  that  upon  them  might  come  all  the  righteous  blood 
 "  fhed,  from  the  blood  of  righteous  Abel  unto  the 
 "  blood  of  Zacharias,  whom  they  flew  between  the 
 *'  temple  and  the  altar."  Matt.  xxli.  25.  The  blood 
 of  the  prophets  cried  for  vengeance  againft  thofe 
 who  crucified  the  Lord  of  the  prophets*  God  hid 
 not  his  face  any  longer  from  all  thefe  horrible  tranf- 
 greffions,  but  "  they  were  before  him  continually," 
 and  occafioned  him  to  "  cut  off  the  memory"  of 
 his  people,  once  precious  and  fragrant,"  from  the 
 "  earth i"  fo  that  while  apoftles  and  martyrs  are 
 S  2  annually 
 
1^6  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  109. 
 
 annually  commemorated  with  honour,  and  their  good 
 deeds,  bloffoming  out  of  the  duft,  perfume  the 
 church,  and  delight  the  fouls  of  the  faithful,  the 
 names  of  "  Judas'"  and  "  Jew,"  are  never  mentioned 
 but  with  contempt  and  abhorrence. 
 
 16.  Becaufe  that  he  rernembered  not  tojliew  mer- 
 cij,  but  perfeciited  the  poor  and  needy  man,  that  he 
 7?ught  evenfiay  the  broken  in  heart. 
 
 The  crime  which  brought  upon  it's  perpetrators 
 all  the  abovementioned  judgments  and  calamities, 
 is  here  pointed  out  too  plainly  to  be  miflaken.  They 
 "  remembered  not  to  (hew  mercy"  to  him,  who 
 fhewed  it  to  all  the  world;  they  "  perfecuted"  him 
 who  for  our  fakes  became  "  poor,"  and  who  conde- 
 fcended  to  aik  of  his  creatures  water  to  drink ;  they 
 betrayed  and  murdered  the  lowly  and  afflidled  Jefus, 
 whofe  "  heart"  was  "  broken"  with  forrow  for  their 
 fms,  and  with  a  fenfe  of  the  punifhment  due  to 
 them.  How  long  will  it  be,  ere  the  brethren  of 
 this  mofh  innocent  and  mofb  injured  Jofeph  "fay 
 "  one  to  another,  We  are  verily  guilty  concerning 
 "  our  brother,  in  that  we  law  the  anguilh  of  his  foul, 
 "  when  he  befought  us,  and  we  would  not  hear: 
 "  THEREFORE  is  this  diftrefs  come  upon  us !"  Gen. 
 xlii.  21. 
 
 17.  As  he  loved  curfing.,  fo  Jliall  it  come  unto 
 him:  as  he  delighted  not   in  blejlng,  fo  JJiall  it  be 
 
 far  from  him.  i^.  As  he  clothed  himfelf  zvith  ciirf- 
 2 tig,  like  as  zvith  his  garment,  fo  fliall  it  come  into 
 his  botvels  like  water,  and  like  oil  into  his  bones. 
 19.  It  (hall  be  unto  him  as  the  garment  which 
 covereth  him,  and  for  a  girdle  wherewith  he  is 
 girded  continually.     20.  This  fhall  be  the  reward 
 
 of 
 
Day  22.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  277. 
 
 of  mine  adv erf aries from  ihc  Lord,  and  of  tJiem 
 thatfpeak  evil  againft  my  foul. 
 
 They  who  rejed  Chrlft,  rejecft  the  fountain  of 
 "  bleffing,"  and  choofea  "  curie"  for  their  portion  ; 
 and  this  portion,  when  they  have  finally  made  their 
 choice,  will  certainly  be  given  to  them  in  full  mea- 
 fure.  The  curfe,  that  lighted  on  the  Jewifh  nation, 
 is  refembled,  for  it's  imiverfality  and  adhefion,  to  a 
 "  garment,"  which  covereth  the  whole  man,  and  is 
 "  girded"  clofe  about  his  loins;  for  it's  diffufive  and 
 penetrating  nature,  to  "  water,"  which  from  the 
 ftomach  paiTeth  into  the  "  bowels,"  and  is  difperied 
 through  all  the  veffels  of  the  frame  ;  and  to  "  oil," 
 which  imperceptibly  infinuates  itfelf  into  the  very 
 "  bones."  When  that  unhappy  multitude,  aflem- 
 bled  before  Pontius  Pilate,  pronounced  the  words, 
 *'  His  blood  be  on  us,  and  on  our  children,"  Matt, 
 xxvii.  25.  then  did  they  put  on  the  envenomed  gar- 
 ment, which  has  ftuck  to  and  tormented  the  nation 
 ever  fince;  then  did  they  eagerly  fwallow  down -that 
 deadly  draught,  the  effefts  whereof  have  been  the 
 infatuation  and  mifery  of  1700  years  !  If  fuch,  in 
 this  world,  be  <'  the  reward  of  Meffiah's  adverfaries, 
 "  and  of  thofe  who  fpake  evil  againft  him,"  what 
 will  hereafter  be  the  vengeance  inflidled  on  thofe 
 who  *^  crucify  him  afrefli,  and  put  him  again  to  an 
 '^  open  fliame  ?"  Heb.  vi.  6.  And  what  will  be  the 
 operation  of  the  fentence,  "Go,  ye  curfed,"  upon 
 the  bodies  and  fouls  of  the  wicked  ;  how  will  it  at. 
 once  afFedt  all  the  fenfes  of  the  former,  and  all  the 
 faculties  of  the  latter,  with  pain,  anguifli,  horror, 
 S  3  and 
 
278  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  109. 
 
 and   defpair !     Think    on   thefe  things,  ye  finners, 
 tremble,  and  repent  ! 
 
 21.  But  do  thou  for  me,  OGod  the  Lord,  Heb. 
 Jehovah  the  Lord,  for  thy  name^s  fake'-  becaufe 
 thy  mercy  is  good,  deliver  thou  vie.  22.  For  1  am 
 poor  aud  needy,  and  my  heart  is  ivoundedrvithin  me, 
 23.  I  ajn  gone  like  thefliadoiv  when  it  declinetJi :  I 
 am  tojfed  up  and  down  as  the  locujl.  24.  My  knees 
 are  weak  through  fafiing,  and  my  fiefh  faileth  of 
 fatnefs.  25.  /  became  alfo  a  reproach  unto  them  ' 
 when  they  looked  upon  me,  they  fJiaked  their  heads. 
 
 In  this  lad  part  of  the  Pfalm,  Meffiah  petitioneth 
 for  dehverance,  urging  to  the  Father  his  power  as 
 *'  Lord,"  the  honour  of  his  *'  name,"  and  the  great- 
 iiefs  of  his  **  mercy."  He  then  pleadeth  his  own 
 humihation,  and  affliclion,  his  ^'  poverty,"  and 
 "  heart"  felt  agony  of  grief.  Drawing  towards  the 
 evening  of  his  mortal  life,  he  compareth  himfelf  to 
 a  "  fliadovv,  declining,"  and  about  to  vanifh  from 
 the  earth,  where  he  hath  no  reft,  being  perfecuted 
 from  place  to  place,  as  a  '*  locuft"  is  driven  hither 
 and  thither,  by  the  ftormy  wind  and  temped;  while 
 enfeebled  and  emaciated  by  frequent  '*  fadings,"  and 
 long  want  of  food  during  his  paffion,  he  was  ready 
 to  link  under  his  burden  ;  and  what  aggravated  alt 
 his  fufferings,  was,  that  he  met  with  no  pity  and 
 companion  from  thofe  around  him ;  his  enemies 
 *'  reproached"  and  reviled  him,  **  diaking  their 
 "  heads,  and  faying.  Ah  thou  that  dedroyed  the 
 <*  temple,  and  buildeft  it  in  three  days,  fave  thyfelf," 
 &c.  Matt,  xxvii.  39.  Nor  are  we  to  fuppofe  our 
 Lord  thus  praying  for  his  natural   body  only,  but 
 
 ^IfQ 
 
Day  22.  E.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  279 
 
 alfo  for  his  myftical  body,  the  church,  that  from  all 
 diftrefles,  perfecutions,  and  infults,  the  members  of 
 that  body  may  in  time  be  delivered,  like  their  bleflbd 
 Head,  by  a  joyful  refurredion  to  eternal  life. 
 
 26.  Help  me,  O  Lord  my  God ;  O  fave  vie,  ac- 
 cording to  thy  mercy,  27.  That  they  may  know 
 that  this  is  thy  hand  ;  that  thou  Lord  haji  done  it. 
 
 The  refurreftion  of  Chrift  was  to  be  the  great  de- 
 monftration  of  Jehovah's  power;  and  it  waspubliQi- 
 ed,  as  fuch,  by  the  Apoftles,  to  all  the  nations  of  the 
 world,  who  thereupon  believed,  and  were  converted. 
 The  Jews  alone  hardened  their  hearts  againft  that 
 proof,  and  continued  impenitent. 
 
 28.   They   zvill  curfe,  but  thou  Jlialt  hie fs '■  xvhen 
 
 they  arife,  they  JJiall  he  ajliamed ;  but  thy  Jervant 
 
 Jhall  rejoice.     29.  Aline  adverfaries  Jliall  be  clothed 
 
 withjliame:  and  they  Jliall  cover  themfelves  ivith 
 
 their  ozvn  confufion  as  with  a  mantle. 
 
 The  apoftate  fons  of  Ifracl,  though  they  have 
 been  fo  long  "  confounded"  and  blafted  by  the 
 breath  of  heaven's  difpleafure,  yet  continue  "  curf- 
 "  ing"  and  blafpheming,  as  it  is  here  foretold  that 
 they  (hould  do.  But  God  hath  "  blefled"  his  Son 
 Jefus,  and  through  him  all  nations,  who  have  been 
 adopted  into  his  family,  and  made  his  children  by 
 baptifm  ;  yea,  and  they  fliall  be  blefled,  and  enter, 
 by  thoufands  and  millions,  into  the  "  joy"'  of  their 
 Lord,  in  that  day  when  his  crucifiers  (hall  have  no 
 *'  covering,"  but  their  own  "  ihame"  and  "  con- 
 ''  fufion." 
 
 30.  /  will  greatly    praife    the  Lord  with   my 
 
 mouth'  yea^  I  will  praife  him  among  the  multitude, 
 
 S  4  J  I.  For 
 
28o  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  no. 
 
 31.  For  he.  Jliall  fiand  at  the  right  hand  of  the  poovy 
 tofave  \\\mfrovi  tho/e  that  condemn  his  foul. 
 
 The  former  of  thefe  two  verfes  is  parallel  to  that 
 which  St.  Paul  citeth  from  Pf.  xxii.  22.  "  He  that 
 "  fanftifieth  and  they  who  are  fandified  are  all  of 
 "  one:  for  which  caufe  he  is  not  adiaraed  to  call 
 "  them  brethren,  faying,  I  will  declare  thy  name 
 '*  unto  my  brethren,  in  the  midft  of  the  church  will 
 "  I  fing  praife  unto  thee."  Heb.  ii.  11.  Great  is  the 
 joy  of  the  redeemed  upon  earth  5  greater  will  it  be> 
 after  the  refurredion  of  the  dead,  in  the  courts  of 
 heaven.  Jefus,  unjuftly  put  to  death,  and  nowrifen 
 again,  is  a  perpetual  advocate  and  interceflbr  for  his 
 people,  ever  ready  to  appear  on  their  behalf  againft 
 the  iniquitous  fentence  of  a  corrupt  world,  and  the 
 malice  of  the  grand  Accufer. 
 
 XXIII    DAY.    MORNING    PRAYER, 
 
 PSALM  ex. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In  tills  Pfalm,  David  prophefieth  concerning 
 1.  the  exaltation  of  Chrift  ;  2.  the  fceptre 
 of  his  kingdom;  3.  the  chara6ler  of  his 
 fiibjetfls :  4.  his  everlalling  priefthood ;  5, 
 Q.  his  tremendous  vi6lories  and  judgments  ; 
 7.  the  means  of  his  obtaining  both  king- 
 dom an  I  priefthood,  by  his  fufferings  and 
 refurredion.  Parts  of  this  prophecy  are  cited 
 
 and 
 
Day  23.  M.  p.         ox  the  PSALMS.  281 
 
 and  applied  in  tlie  New  Tcftament,  by  our 
 Lord  himfclf.  Matt.  xxii.  43.  by  St.  Peter, 
 Aas  ii.  34.  by  St.  Paul,  1  Cor.  xv.  25.  Heb. 
 V.  6.  The  church,  likewife,  hath  appointed 
 it  as  one  of  the  Proper  Pfalms  to  be  read  on 
 Chriftmas  Day.  It  appertaineth  literally  and 
 folely  to  king  Mefsiah. 
 
 I.  The  L,oRDfaid  unto  my  Lord^  Sit  tJiou  at  my 
 right  handi  until  1  make  thine  enemies  thy  foot  (tool. 
 
 We  are  here  informed  of  Jehovah's  eternal  and 
 unchangeable  decree  concerning  the  kingdom  of 
 Meffiah,  it's  extenfion,  power,  and  duration.  That 
 Meffiah  fhould,  after  his  fufFerings,  be  thus  exalted, 
 was  determined  in  the  divine  counfel  and  covenant, 
 before  the  world  began.  Whether  we  fuppofe  the 
 Pfalmift  to  be  fpeaking  of  that  determination,  or  of 
 its  adualaccomphfhment  at  the  time  of  Chrift's  af- 
 cenfion  into  heaven,  it  maketh  no  great  difference. 
 The  fubftance  of  the  decree  is  the  fame.  It  was  ad- 
 drefled  by  the  Father  to  the  Son,  by  Jehovah  to 
 Meffiah,  whom  David  in  fpirit  ftyleth  Ul^*  "  my 
 "  Lord;"  one  that  Ihould  come  after  him,  as  his 
 offspring  according  to  the  fle(h ;  but  one,  in  dignity 
 of  perfon,  and  greatnefs  of  power,  far  fuperior  to 
 him,  and  to  every  earthly  potentate ;  King  of  kings, 
 and  Lord  of  lords ;  God  and  man  united  in  one 
 perfon.  To  this  perfon  it  was  faid  by  the  Father, 
 "  Sit  thou  at  my  right  hand,  until  I  make  thine  ene- 
 "  mies  thy  footilool ;"  in  other  words.  Seeing,  O 
 my  Son  Mefliah,  thou  hafl  glorified  me  on  the  earth, 
 I  and 
 
282  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  no. 
 
 and  finlflied  the  work  which  I  gave  thee  to  do,  the 
 great  work  of  man's  redemption;  take  now  the 
 throne  prepared  for  thee  from  the  foundation  of  the 
 world ;  behold,  all  power  is  given  unto  thee ;  enter 
 upon  thy  mediatorial  kingdom,  and  reign  till  every 
 oppofer  fhall  have  fubmitted  himfelf  to  thee,  and  fin 
 and  death  fliall  have  felt  thy  all-conquering  arm. 
 
 2.  The  Lord  Jhallfend  the  rod  of  thy  Jlrength 
 out  of  Sion:  rule  thou  in  themidji  of  thine  enemies. 
 
 In  the  foregoing  verfe,  David  related  the  words 
 fpoken  by  the  Father  to  the  Son.  In  this,  he  himfelf, 
 as  a  prophet,  diredeth  his  fpeech  to  King  Meffiah, 
 prediding  the  glorious  confequences  of  his  inthroni- 
 zation,  and  the  manner  in  which  "  his  enemies"  are 
 to  be  "  made  his  footftool."  The  "  rod,  or  fceptre" 
 of  Chrift's  ''  ftrength"  is  his  Word,  accompanied 
 by  his  Spirit.  The  law  was  given  to  Ifrael  from  Si- 
 nai, but  the  Gofpel  went  forth  from  "  Sion  ;"  it  was 
 *'  preached  to  all  nations,  beginning  at  Jerufalem  ;'* 
 Luke  xxiv.  47.  there  began  the  fpiritual  kingdom 
 of  Jefus ;  there  were  the  firft  converts  made;  and 
 from  thence  the  faith  was  propagated,  by  the 
 Apoftles,  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  This  David 
 feeing  beforehand,  cries  out,  *'  Rule  thou  in  the 
 *'  midfl  of  thine  enemies  !"  Go  on,  victorious  prince ; 
 plant  the  ftandard  of  thy  crofs  among  the  thickeft 
 ranks  of  the  adverfary;  and,  in  oppofition  to  both 
 Jew  and  Gentile,  tumultoully  raging  againft  thee, 
 erect  and  eftablifh  thy  church  throughout  the  world ! 
 This  was  accordingly  done  with  marvellous  fpeed 
 and  fuccefs;  and  the  church,  thus  erected  and  efta- 
 blilhed  among  the  nations,  hath  been  as  marvelloully 
 
 pre' 
 
Day  23- M.  p.      on  the  PSALMS.  aSj 
 
 preferved,  "  in  themidftof  her  enemies,"  unto  this 
 day ;  yea,  and  the  world  I"hall  fooner  be  deftroyed, 
 than  fhe  Ihall  ceafe  to  be  preferved. 
 
 3.  Thy  people  Jhall  be  willing  in  the  day  of  thy 
 pozver,  in  the  beauties  of  holinefs  '  from  the  womb 
 of  the  morning  thou  haft  the  deiv  of  thy  youth. 
 
 The  blefled  effefts  of  the  Gofpel,  upon  its  publi- 
 cation, are  here  foretold.     "  The  people"  of  Chrift 
 are  thofe  given  him  by  his  Father,  and  gathered  to 
 him  by  the  preachers    of  his  word.     "  The  day  of 
 **  his  power"  is  the  feafonof  their  converfion,  when 
 the   corruptions   of  nature  can  no  longer  hold  out 
 againfl:  the  prevailing  influences  of  grace  ;  when  the 
 heart,  will,   and   affedions   turn  from   the  world  to 
 God  J  and  they   make,  as   the  firft  difciples  did,  a 
 free  and  voluntary  offer  of  themfelves,  and  all  they 
 have  to  their  Redeemer.     Then   it  is,   that  they  ap- 
 pear "  in  the  beauties  of  holinefs,"  adorned  with  hu- 
 mility, faith,  hope,  love,  and  all  the  graces  of  the 
 Spirit.     With  regard  to  the  laft  claufe  of  this  verfe, 
 Bifliop  Lowth,  in  his   admired  Ledures*,  has  ob- 
 ferved,  and  proved,  that  it  may  be  fairly  conltrued 
 to  thisefFed— "  More  than  the  dew  from  the  womb 
 "  of  the  morning  is  the  dew  of  thy  progeny  j"  that 
 is.  Thy  children,  begotten  to  thee  through  the  Gof- 
 pel, (hall  exceed   in    number,  as  well  as  brightnefs 
 and  beauty,  the   fpangies  of  early   dew,  which  the 
 morning   difclofeth  to  the  delighted  eye  of  the  be- 
 holder.    The  whole   verfe,    therefore,    containeth  a 
 lively  charader  of  the  fubjeds  of  Chrift's  fpiritual 
 Jcingdom,  who  are  defcribed  by  their  relation  to  him 
 
 ♦  Praeka  x, 
 
 as 
 
284  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  no. 
 
 as  "  his  people  ;"  by  their  "  willingnefs"  to  obey 
 and  ferve  him;  by  their  honourable  attire,  the  rich 
 and  fplendid  robes  of  "  holinefs  ,"  and  by  their  mul- 
 titudes, reiembling  the  drops  of  "  dew"  upon  the 
 grafs. 
 
 4.  The  Lord  hath  J  worn  j  and  zv  ill  not  repent. 
 Thou  art  a  priejt  for  ever  after  the  order  of  Mel- 
 chizedek. 
 
 From  Chrift's  regal  office,  and  the  adminiftration 
 thereof  by  the  fceptre  of  his  Word  and  Spirit,  the 
 prophet  paficth  to  his  facerdotal  office,  which  was 
 alfo  conferred  on  him  by  the  decree  of  the  Father, 
 and  that  decree,  as  we  are  here  told,  ratified  by  an 
 oath ;  *'■  Jehovah  hath  fworn,  and  will  not  repent, 
 *'  or,  change  his  purpofe."  The  oath  of  God  was 
 the  great  feal  of  heaven,  defigned  to  intimate  the 
 importance  of  the  deed  to  which  it  was  fet,  and  "  to 
 "  (hew  to  the  heirs  of  promife  the  immutability  of 
 *'  his  counfeL"  Heb.  vi.  17.  Whether  this  oath 
 paired  at  the  actual  confecration  of  Meffiah  to  the 
 priefthood  upon  his  afcenfion,  or  at  his  defignation 
 thereto  by  covenant  before  the  world,  fufficient  it  is 
 for  our  aflurance  and  comfort,  that  it  did  pafs.  We 
 have  a  iVieft  in  heaven,  who  ftandeth  continually 
 pleading  tl^.c  merits  of  his  facrifice  once  offered  upon 
 the  crofs  :  "  who  ever  liveth  to  make  interceffion  for 
 "  us;"  and  who  is  ready,  at  all  times,  to  blefs  us^ 
 "  by  turning  away  every  man  from  his  iniquities ;" 
 Acts  iii.  26.  by  aiding  us  againft  our  enemies,  and 
 fupporting  us  under  our  neccffitics.  Oblation,  in- 
 terceffion, and  benediction,  are  the  three  branches -of 
 the  facerdotal  office,  which  our  great   High  priefk 
 
 now 
 
Day  23.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  28^ 
 
 now  exercifeth  for  us,  and  in  the  exercife  of  which 
 the  Father  hath  condefcended  in  the  moft  awful 
 manner  to  promife.  that  he  will  hear  and  accept  him 
 on  our  behalf.  His  priefthood  is  not,  like  that  of 
 Aaron,  figurative,  fucceflive,  and  tranfient,  but  real 
 and  efFedual,  fixed  and  incommunicable,  eternal 
 and  unchangeable,  according  to  that  pattern  of  it 
 exhibited  to  Abraham,  before  the  law,  in  the  perfon 
 of  Melchizedek,"  Gen.  xiv.  18  — 20.  and  difcourfed 
 upon  at  large  by  the  Apoftle,  Heb.  vii.  throughout. 
 
 5.  The  Lord  upon  thy  right  hand  Jhall  ftrike 
 through  kings'  in  the  daj/  of  his  lorath.  6.  He  Jhall 
 Judge  among  the  heathen,  he  Jhall  fill  the  places  with 
 the  dead  bodies;  he  Jhall  wound  the  heads  over  many 
 countries i  Heb.  the  head  over  much  counirij. 
 
 This  is  a  defcription  of  the  vengeance  which  King 
 Mefliah  fhould  take  on  his  impenitent  adverfaries. 
 By  "  The  Lord,  or,  my  Lord  upon  thy  right 
 *'  hand,"  li^D^  byi  ^T,"^  the  fame  perfon  mud  undoubt- 
 edly be  underftood,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  firfi: 
 verfe  under  the  fame  title,  ''JIN*  as  "  fitting  at  the 
 "  right  hand  of  Jehovah."  And  the  Pfalmift,  who 
 has  hitherto  addreffed  himfelf  to  Meffiah,  or  the  Son, 
 muft  be  fuppofed  now  to  make  a  fudden  apoftrophe 
 to  Jehovah,  or  the  Father ;  as  if  he  had  faid,  "  This 
 «  my  Lord  Meffiah,  who  fitteth  at  thy  right  hand, 
 "  O  Jehovah,  iliall  fmite  through  kings  in  the  day 
 '^  of  his  wrath;"  the  kings  of  the  earth  will  endea- 
 vour to  deftroy  his  religion,  and  put  an  end  to  his 
 kingdom;  the  Ncros,  the  Domitians,  the  Diocle- 
 fians,  the  Maxentiuses,  the  Julians,  &c.  &c.  Ihall 
 ftand  up,  and  fet  themfelves  in  array  againft  him ; 
 
 but 
 
286  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  no. 
 
 but  "  the  Lamb  i"hall  overcome  them;"  he  Hiall 
 **  judge'*  and  punilh  the  "^  heathen"  princes,  with 
 their  people,  when  in  arms  againft  his  church ;  he 
 fiiall  raife  up  thofe  who  Ihall  ruccefsfully  fight  his 
 battles,  and  ftrew  the  ground  with  their  "  carcafes." 
 As  Meffiah  hath  done  to  the  antichriftian  powers  of 
 old,  Co  fliall  he  do  to  all  others,  before,  or  at  his  fe- 
 cond  advent.  There  is  a  day  of  forbearance,  dur- 
 ing which  he  will  have  his  church  to  be,  like  him- 
 felf,  opprefled  and  afflicted,  humble  and  refigned  5 
 but  there  is  alfo  a  future  day  of  wrath  and  recom- 
 pence^  when  the  fins  and  provocations  of  her  per- 
 fecutors  fhall  be  ripe  for  judgment ;  when  their 
 triumphs  and  her  lufferings  (hall  be  at  an  end ; 
 when  they  (hall  fall  for  ever,  and  (lie  (hall  afcend  to 
 heaven. 
 
 7.  Hejhall  drink  of  the  brooJc,  or,  torrent,  in  the 
 way i  and  therefore  Jhali  he  lift  up  his  head. 
 
 The  means,  by  which  Chrift  (hould  obtain  his 
 univerfal  kingdom,  and  everlafliing  priefthood,  feem 
 here  to  be  affigned.  In  his  "  way"  to  glory,  he  was 
 to  drink  deep  of  the  *  waters  of  afflidion ;  the 
 fwollen  "  torrent"  occurred  in  the  way  and  prefented 
 
 •  The  Hebrew  word  Vn:i  fignifies,  in  general,  "  a  current 
 *'  of  water,"  which  may  be  either  a  turbid,  overwhelming 
 "  torrent,"  or  a  clear  and  gentle  "  ftream."  In  Pf.  xviii.  5.  it 
 denotes  the  "  floods  of  ungodlinefs  :"  in  Pf.  xxxvi.  8.  it  is  ufed 
 to  fignify  the  "  river  of  divine  pleafures."  Hence  arifes  an  am- 
 biguity in  the  interpretation  of  the  words.  **  He  Ihall  drink  of 
 "  the  brook  in  the  v.-ay,"  which  may  be  expounded  either  of 
 the  "  fufFerings"  Chrift  tafted,  or  the  "  refre(hments"  he  expe- 
 rienced; as  the  *'  waters"  are  fuppofed  to  be  thofe  of  "  afflic- 
 "  tion,"  or  thofe  of  "  comfort."     Either  way  the  fenfe  is  good 
 
 and 
 
Day  23.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  287 
 
 itfelf  between  him  and  the  throne  of  God.  To  this 
 *«  torrent  in  the  way"  the  Saviour  defcended ;  he 
 bowed  himfelf  down,  and  "  drank"  of  it  for  us  all ; 
 "  and  THEREFORE,  OlV;^  did  he  lift  up  his  head  ;" 
 that  is,  he  arofe  viaorious,  and  from  the  valley,  in 
 which  the  torrent  ran,  afcended  to  the  fummit  of 
 that  holy  and  heavenly  mount,  where  he  reigneth, 
 till  "  his  enemies  be  made  his  footftool."  St.  Paul 
 hath  expreflfed  the  fame  fentiment  in  literal  terms; 
 "  He  humbled  himfelf,  and  became  obedient  unto 
 "  death,  even  the  death  of  thecrofs:  wherefork, 
 *'  ^.„  God  alfo  hath  highly  exalted  him.'*  Phil.  ii.  8. 
 
 PSALM    CXT. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  is  one  of  the  Proper  Pfalms  appointed  by 
 the  church  to  be  read  on  Earter  Day.  It 
 containeth  L  a  refolution  to  praife  Jehovah 
 in  the  congregation,    2,  3.  for  his  great  and 
 
 ,     glorious   works,  and   4-.  for   the    appointed 
 
 and  true,  as  it  relates  to  Meffiah.  "  Torrents,"  or  the  «'  over- 
 <'  flowing  of  rivers,"  in  the  Scripture  language,  certainly,  as 
 Dr.  Durell  obferves,  do  often  denote  "  affliftions ;"  as  in  Pf. 
 xviii.  4.  cxxiv.  4,  5.  cxliv.  7,  &c.  "  the  being  opprefTed  by 
 "  them,"  is  alfo  defcribed  by  the  aftion  of  drinking,"  Pf.  Ix. 
 3.  Ixxv.  8,  &c.  And  the  idea  of  a  "  brook  in  the  way,  or  the 
 "  ROAD,"  feems  to  favour  this  expofition.  But  the  author  ad- 
 vances it,  as  becomes  him  to  do,  with  great  deference  and  fub- 
 miflion,  fmce  Bifliop  Lowth  and  Mr.  Merrick  are  of  a  different 
 opinion, 
 
 me- 
 
283  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  iit. 
 
 memorials  of  them  :  5,  (5.  his  mercies  to 
 the  church  are  celebrated,  and  7,  8.  the 
 equity  and  the  ftability  of  his  counfels  de- 
 clared ;  9.  the  blefsing?  of  Redemption,  and 
 the  new  covenant,  are  mentioned,  as  they 
 were  prefigured  of  old  in  God's  difpenfations 
 toward  Ifrael.  10.  Religion  is  proclaimed 
 1o  be  true  wifdom. 
 
 1.  /  zvill  praife  the  Lord  zvith  my  whole  hearty 
 in  the  ajfemblij  of  the  upright^  midin  the  congregation* 
 
 Jehovah  is  to  be  ''  praifed,"  not  only  with  the 
 voice,  and  the  underftanding,  but  with  the  "  heart,'* 
 with  the  ''  whole"  heart,  and  all  it's  affedlions, 
 'tuned,  like  the  chords  of  the  fon  of  Jefle's  harp,  to 
 a  fong  of  gratitude  and  love.  Solitary  devotion 
 hath,  doubtiefs,  its  beauties  and  excellencies  ^  but 
 how  glorious  is  it  to  hear  the  voices  of  a  whole 
 Chriflian  "  congregation"  break  forth  into  Halle- 
 lujahs, like  the  found  of  many  waters,  and  the 
 noife  of  mighty  thunderings,  while  each  one,  as  it 
 were,  provokes  another  to  continue  the  blefled  em- 
 ployment, with  unremitted  attention,  and  unabated 
 fervor ! 
 
 2.  The  zcorks  of  the  Lord  are  great,  fonght  out 
 of  all  them  that  have  pleafure  therein. 
 
 The  fubjefts  of  man's  praife  are  the  "  works"'  of 
 God.  Every  one  of  thefe  works,  whether  in  the 
 natural,  or  the  fpiritual  fyflem,  is  *'  great."  Nothing 
 cometh  from  the  hands  of  the  divine  artift,  but  what 
 is  excellent  and  perfed  in  its  kind,  adapted  with 
 infinite  Ikili  to  it's  proper  place,  and  fitted  for  it's 
 
 intended 
 
t)AY   23.    M.   P.  ON    THE    PSALMS.  289 
 
 intended  ufe.  Happy  are  they,  who  with  humility 
 and  diligence,  with  faith  and  devotion,  give  them- 
 Telves  to  the  contemplation  of  thefe  works,  and  take 
 *'  pleafure,"  and  delight  therein.  To  them  fliall  the 
 gate  of  true  fcience  open  ;  they  fhall  underftand  the 
 myfteries  of  Creation,  Providence,  and  Redemption  ; 
 and  they  who  thus  *'leek,"  lliail  find  the  treafures  of 
 eternal  wifdom. 
 
 3.  His  woj^k  is  hunoiirahle  and  glorious:  and  his 
 righteoufnefs  endurcth  for  ever. 
 
 The'*  work,"  of  all  others,  in  which  the  '*  honour 
 "  and  glorious  majefly"  of  Jehovah  appeared,  and 
 which  the  Chriftian  church  celebrates  with  this  Pfalm^ 
 is  the  falvation  and  exaltation  of  our  nature,  by  the 
 refurre6iion  of  Jefus  Chrift  from  the  dead  ;  an  events 
 which  contained  in  it  the  accomplilhment  of  the 
 ancient  promifes,  and  thereby  demonftrated  to  all  the 
 world  the  everlafting  truth,  fidelity,  and  '^  righte- 
 "  oufnefs"  of  him  who  made  them. 
 
 4.  He  hath  made  his  wonderful  zvorks  to  be  re- 
 memhered:  or,  he  hath  appointed  a  memorial  for  his 
 wonders  i  the  Lorv  is  gracious  and  full  of  compafion. 
 
 Jewifli  feafts  were  "  memorials"  of  the  "  wonders** 
 wrought  for  Ifrael  of  old ;  Chriftian  feftivals  afe 
 "  memorials"  of  the  "  wonders"  wrought  in  Chrift 
 for  all  mankind,  to  whom,  no  lefs  than  to  Ifrael, 
 God  hath  now  Qiewed  himfelf  "  gracious  and  full  of 
 "  compaffion." 
 
 5.  He  hath  given  meat  to  them  that  fear  him:  he 
 zcill  ever  be  mindful  of  his  covenant.     6.  He  hath 
 
 fheioed  his  people  the  power  of  his  zvorks^  that   he 
 
 may^  or,-  might  give  them  the  heritage  of  the  heathen. 
 
 Vol.  IL  T  Agreeably 
 
290  A  COiMMENTARY        Psal.  hi. 
 
 Agreeably  to  the  "  covenant"  which  God  made 
 with  Abraham,  as  concerning  his  children  according 
 totheflcfli,  he"  fed"  and  fupported  them  in  the 
 wildernefs,  he  overthrew  their  enemies  by  the  might 
 of  his  *'  power,"  and  he  put  them  in  pOflefiion  of 
 Canaan,  which  before  was  "  the  heritage  of  the  hea- 
 *'  then."  Agreeably  to  the  covenant  which  God 
 made  with  the  fame  Abraham^  as  concerning  all  be- 
 lievers, thofe  "  children  of  the  promife  which  arc 
 "  counted  for  the  feed,"  he  feedeth  them  in  the 
 world  with  the  true  manna*,  the  bread  which  cometh 
 down  from  heaven;  he  hath  again  "  (hewed  the 
 "  power  of  his  works"  in  the  overthrow  of  idolatry; 
 and  again  by  the  converfion  of  the  nations,  given  to 
 his  church  "  the  heritage  of  the  heathen;"  although, 
 like  Ifrael,  (he  is  commanded,  and  hath  had  frequent 
 admonitions,  not  to  fix  her  heart  on  an  earthly  Ca- 
 naan; not  to  exped  any  permanent  habitation,  any 
 enduring  city  here  below;  not  to  flop  (hort  of  an 
 eternal  and  heavenly  Reft. 
 
 7.  The  zvorks  of  his  hands  are  verity  and  judg- 
 ment; all  his  commandments  are  fure.  8.  Theij 
 Jtand  fafi  for  ever  and  ever,  and  are  done  in  truth 
 and  uprightnefs. 
 
 ■  In  all  God's  difpenfations  towards  his  faithful  fer- 
 vants,  and  towards  his  impenitent  adverfaries,  we 
 admire  and  adore  his  "  verity"  in  the  performance  of 
 his  promifes  to  the  former,  and  his  "  juflice  in  exe- 
 cuting his  vengeance  on  the  latter.    Thus  the  time  of 
 
 *  •'  Efcamdedit" — Manna:  quse  c?etera  Dei  mlrabllia  in  mc- 
 moriam  revocabat :  unde  in  Area  fervari  juffa.  Exod.  xvi.  3a, 
 Erat  autem  Eucharifliac  figura,  quse  vere  divini  amoris  mono- 
 ttientum  seternum,     Bojsubt. 
 
 fulfilling 
 
Day  23.  M.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  291 
 
 fulfilling  his  promife  to  Abraham  came  not  till  the 
 iniquity  of  the  Amorites  was  full.  The  cafe  is  the 
 fame  as  to  the  coming  of  Chrift,  the  fubverfion  of 
 paganifm,  the  deaths  of  perfecutors,  the  rife  and  fall 
 of  nations,  the  converfion  or  excifion  of  individuals, 
 and  every  other  inftance  of  mercy  or  judgment. 
 Another  property  of  God's  works  is,  that,  being 
 "  done  in  truth  and  uprightnefs,  they  Hand  fafl  for 
 *'  everj"  and  will  then  appear  in  perfed  glory  and 
 beauty,  when  all  the  arts  and  labours  of  man  (liall  be 
 no  more. 
 
 9.  He  fent  redemption  unto  his  peoplcy  he  hath 
 commanded  his  covenant  for  ever  ^  holy  and  reverend^ 
 or,  terrible  is  his  ?iame. 
 
 He  who  "  fent  redemption"  to  Ifrael  by  the  hand 
 of  Mofes,  hath  now  *'  fent  redemption"  by  the 
 power  of  Jefus,  to  all  the  world:  he  who,  at  mount 
 Sinai,  eflabliQied  his  "  covenant"  with  his  people, 
 and  gave  them  a  law,  hath  now  eflablifhed  his  "  co- 
 "  venant"  v/ith  the  Gentiles,  and  publiihed  to  them 
 his  Gofpel  from  Sion.  "  Holy  is  his  name,"  and 
 therefore  "  terrible"  to  thofe  who,  under  all  the 
 means  of  grace,  continue  unholy. 
 
 io.  The  fear  of  the  honD  is  the  bcgijim'ng  of 
 wifdom:  a  good  tinderfanding  have  all  the]/  that  do 
 his  commandments:  his praife  endiireth  for  ever. 
 
 The  "  fear  of  God"  is  the  firft  ftep  to  falvation, 
 as  it  exciteth  a  finner  to  depart  from  evil,  and  to 
 do  good;  to  implore  pardon,  and  to  fue  for  grace; 
 to  apply  to  a  Saviour  for  the  one,  and  to  a  Sandifier 
 for  the  other.  Religion  is  the  perfedion  of  wifdom, 
 pradice  the  beft  inftrudor,  and  thank fgiving  the 
 fweetefl  recreation. 
 
 T  2  PSALM 
 
292  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  112. 
 
 PSALM  CXII. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  Pfalmlft  enumerateth  the  blcfsings  attend- 
 ing the  man  who  feareth  Jehovah;  1.  the 
 pleafure  which  he  taketh  in  doing  his  will ; 
 2.  the  profperity  of  his  feed;  3.  the  plen- 
 teoiifnefs  in  his  houfe ;  4.  his  comfort  in 
 trouble;  5,  his  internal  joys;  6.  the  honour 
 with  which  he  is  remembered;  7,  8.  his 
 holy  confidence  in  God  ;  9.  his  good  deeds, 
 and  the  reward  of  them;  10.  the  envy, 
 wretchednefs,  and  perdition  of  the  wicked. 
 The  blefsings  of  the  Gofpel  are  fpiritual  and 
 eternal;  and  they  are  conferred  upon  the 
 members  of  the  Chriftian  church  through 
 Chrifl  their  head,  who  is  the  pattern  of  all 
 rigbteoufnefs,  and  the  giver  of  all  grace. 
 
 I.  Bleffed  is  the  man  \.\\2X feareth  the  Lord,  that 
 delighteth  greatly  in  his  cummandmtnts 3  or,  he  de- 
 lighteth  greatly  in  his  commandments. 
 
 The  man  who  duly  "  feareth  God,"  is  delivered 
 from  every  other  fear  j  the  man  who  "  delighteth  in 
 *'  God's  commandments,"  is  freed  from  every  inor- 
 dinate defire  of  earthly  things;  and  fuch  a  man  muft 
 needs  be  "  bleiled."  Of  this  kind  was  thy  blefled- 
 nefs,  O  holy  Jcfu,  on  whom  did  reft  *«  the  Spirit 
 "  of  knowledge  and  ot  the  fear  of  Jehovah,"  and 
 2  whofe 
 
Day  23.  Jt.  P.         o>r  the  PSALMS.  293 
 
 whofe  "  meat"  it  was  '*  to  do  the  will  of  him  that- 
 "  fent  thee,  and  to  finifh  his  work."  Ifai.  xi.  2. 
 John  iv.  34. 
 
 2.  His  feed  ftiall  he  mighty  upon  eartlr-  the  gene- 
 ration of  the  upright fiall  he  bleffid. 
 
 A  father's  piety  derives  the  benedidion  of  heaven' 
 upon  his  children.  The  pofterity  of  faithful  Abra- 
 ham were  often  fpared  and  favoured  on  account  of 
 their  progenitor ;  as  the  whole  family  of  believers, 
 Abraham  and  all,  are  bleiTed  in  Him,  who  is  the 
 great  father  of  that  family,  and  the  author  of  their 
 Talvation. 
 
 3.  Wealth  and  riches  (liall  be  in  his  hoiife'  and 
 Ids  righteovfnefs  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 It  fometimes  pleafeth  God  to  bcftow  on  his  fer- 
 vants,  as  he  did  on  Ifrael  of  old,  the  good  things  of 
 this  world.  And  a  rich  man  is  therefore  happier  than 
 a  poor  man,  becaufe  "  it  is  more  blefled  to  give  than 
 "  to  receive."  Afts  xx.  2^,  But  the  true  *' wealth" 
 of  Chriftians  is  of  another  kind ;  their  "  riches"  are 
 fuch  as  neither  moth  can  corrupt,  nor  thief  fteal. 
 Grace  and  glory  are  in  the  "  houfe"  of  Chrift,  and 
 everlafting  "  righteoufnefs"  is  the  portion  of  his 
 children. 
 
 4.  Unto  the  upright  there  arifeth  light  in  the 
 darknefs;  he  \s  gracious ^  andfullofcompajjiony  and 
 righteous. 
 
 While  we  are  on  earth,  we  are  fubjed  to  a  three- 
 fold "  darknefs;"  the  darknefs  of  error,  the  dark- 
 nefs of  forrow,  and  the  darknefs  of  death.  To  difpel 
 thefe,  God  vifiteth  us,  by  his  Word,  with  a  three- 
 fold "  light;"  the  light  of  truth,  the  light  of  com- 
 T  3  fort 
 
294  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  112, 
 
 fort,  and  the  light  of  life.  The  Chriflian's  temper 
 is  franked  after  the  pattern  of  his  Matter ;  and  he  is 
 ever  ready  to  (hew  to  others  that  "  love"  and 
 "  mercy,"  which  have  been  (hewn  to  him. 
 
 5.  A  good  inan^/heweth  fdvour  and  kndeth  ;  he 
 will  guide  his  affairs  wilh  difcretion. 
 
 The  former  part  of  this  verfe  may  be  rendered, 
 with  a  little  variation,  "  It  is  well  with  the  man  who 
 *'  is  gracious  and  communicative;"  ill-nature  and 
 avarice  are  their  own  tormentors,  but  love  and  libe- 
 rality do  good  to  themfelves  by  doing  it  to  others, 
 and  enjoy  all  the  happinefs  which  they  caufe.  It  is 
 not  God*s  intention,  that  any  of  the  talents  which  he 
 bedoweth  upon  us  (hould  lie  dead,  but  that  our  bre- 
 thren (liould  have  the  ufe  of  themj  even  as  Chrift 
 received  the  Spirit  to  communicate  it  to  us,  and  our 
 falvation  is  his  glory  and  joy.  The  latter  part  of 
 this  verfe  is  likewife  capable  of  a  different,  and,  in- 
 deed, a  more  literal  tranilation  ;  *'  He  will  fupport, 
 "  or,  maintain  his  words,  or,  his  tranfa^^ions  in 
 **  judgment ;"  that  is,  he  who  thus  employed  his 
 tale  us  for  the  benefit  of  mankind,  will  be  able  to 
 render  a  g^  ;d  account  to  his  Lord  who  entrufteth 
 them  vvilli  him. 
 
 d.  Surely  he  Jiall  not  be  moved  for  ever:  the 
 righteous  Jhall  be  had  in  everlajling  remembrance. 
 7.  He  Jhall  not  be  afraid  of  evil  tidings :  his  heart 
 is  fixed^  irujiing  in  the  Lord.  8.  His  heart  is 
 eJlabliJJied,  he  Jhall  not  be  afraid,  until  he  fee  his 
 defire  upon  his  enemies. 
 
 Nothing  can  deprive  the  perfon  here  defcribed  of 
 hij  felicity.     When  his  work  is  done,  his  body  will 
 
Day  23.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  295 
 
 go  to  it's  repofe  in  the  duft,  but  the  "  memorial"  of 
 his  name  and  of  his  good  deeds  will  be  ftill  frefli  as 
 the  morning  breeze,  and  fragrant  as  the  flower  of  the 
 fpring.  "  He  feareth  no  evil  report;"  no  blaft  of 
 ilander  and  malice  can  touch  him  ;  no  tidings  of  ca- 
 lamity and  deftrudlion  can  fliake  his  confidence  in 
 God  ;  but  he  will  hear  the  trump  of  ^judgment,  and 
 behold  the  world  in  flames,  rather  with  joy  than  with 
 dread  ;  as  knowing,  by  thofe  tokens,  that  the  hour 
 of  his  redemption  is  come,  when  *'  he  fliall  fee  his 
 "  enemies,"  and  even  death,  the  laft  of  them,  under 
 his  feet. 
 
 9.  He  hath  difperfed,  he  hath  given  to  the  poor^ 
 his  righteoufnefs  endurethfor  ever  i  his  horn  Jliall 
 be  exalted  with  honoiir- 
 
 His  riches  are  not  hoarded  up,  but  "  difperfed" 
 abroad  ;  and  that  not  by  others  after  his  death,  but 
 byhimfelf  in  his  life  time;  "  He  hath  difperfed." 
 They  are  not  fquandered  in  the  ways  of  vanity  and 
 folly,  but  "  given  to  the  poor;"  nor  are  they  giveo 
 indifcriminately  and  at  random,  but  "  difperfed," 
 like  precious  feed,  with  prudence  and  difcretion,  ac- 
 cording to  the  nature  of  the  foil,  and  in  proper  fea- 
 fon,  fo  as  to  produce  the  mofl  plentiful  harveft. 
 Therefore  "  his  righteoufnefs  endureth  for  ever;"  it*s 
 fruits  and  it's  good  report  are  lafting  among  men, 
 and  it  is  never  forgotten  before  God,  who  hath  pre- 
 pared for  it  an  eternal  reward.  *'  His  horn  fhall  be 
 "  exalted  with  honour,  or,  in  glory;"  whatever  may 
 be  his  lot  upon  earth,  and  even  there  the  charitable 
 man  will  frequently  be  had  in  "  honour,"  at  the  lafl 
 day,  certainly,  when  the  thrones  of  the  mighty  fliall 
 T4,  be 
 
296  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  113. 
 
 be  caft  clown,  and  the  fceptres  of  tyrants  broken  in 
 pieces,  then  fliall  he  lift  up  his  head,  and  be  exahed 
 to  partake  of  the  *' glory"  of  his  Redeemer,  the  au- 
 thor of  his  faith,  and  the  pattern  of  his  charity,  who 
 gave  himfelf  for  us,  and  is  now  feated  at  the  right 
 hand  of  the  majefty  in  the  heavens. 
 
 10.  The  zvicked  Jiall  fee  if,  and  be  grieved ;  lie 
 Jliall  gnnfh  toith  his  feetJiy  and  melt  away -,  the  dc- 
 Jire  of  the  wicked  Jhall  perijh. 
 
 The  fight  of  Chrifh  in  glory,  with  his  faints,  will, 
 in  an  inexpreffible  manner,  torment  the  crucificrs  of 
 the  one,  and  the  perfecutors  of  the  others;  as  it  will 
 fhew  them  the  hopes  and  wifhes  of  their  adverfaries 
 all  granted  to  the  full,  and  all  their  own  "  defires,'' 
 and  defigns  for  ever  at  an  end;  it  will  excite  an  envy 
 which  muft  prey  upon  itfelf,  produce  a  grief  which 
 can  admit  of  no  comfort,  give  birth  to  a  worm  which 
 can  never  die,  and  blow  up  thofe  fires  which  nothing 
 can  quench. 
 
 PSALM  CXIII. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Ihe  fervants  of  God  are  1.  exhorted  to  praife 
 his  name,  2.  at  all  times,  and  3.  in  all 
 places,  on  account  4,  5.  of  Jiis  power  and 
 glory,  6 — 8.  of  his  mercy  in  redeeming 
 man,  and  9.  making  the  Gentile  chiu'ch  to 
 be  a  joyful  mother  of  children.  This  Pfalm 
 js  appointed  to  be  read  on  Eafter  Day. 
 
 1.  Praif€:^ 
 
Day  23.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  297 
 
 I.  Praife,  Oye  fervanta  of  the  Lord,  pratfe.  the 
 jiame  of  the  Lord.  2.  Blef/hd  he  the  name  of  the 
 Lord,  from  this  timeforthy  and  for  evermore. 
 
 Chriftians  are  the  "  feivants"  of  Jelus  Chrift  ;  and 
 a  mofl.  delightful  part  of  their  fervice  it  is  to  "  praife"' 
 bis  holy  and  faving  *'  name"  in  the  church,  which 
 now  ufeth  this  Pfalm  among  others,  and  with  it 
 '^^  bleffeth  the  name"  of  her  Lord  and  Saviour,  from 
 age  to  age.  The  Pfahnift  wKhed  and  prayed  that 
 this  might  be  don^,  and  he  forefaw  that  it  would  be 
 done,  while  the  world  fnould  laft,  upon  earth,  and 
 afterwards  "  for  evermore,"   in  heaven. 
 
 3.  From  the  rifing  of  the  fun  unto  the  going  down 
 of  the  fame  ^  the  LordV  name  is  to  be  praifed  ;  or, 
 is  praifed.  4.  The  Lord  is  high  above  all  nations, 
 and  his  glory  above  the  heavens. 
 
 At  the  diffufion  of  the  Gofpel  through  the  world, 
 the  name  of  Chrift  was  praifed  "  from  the  eaft  to  the 
 ^*  weft,"  in  churches  every  where  planted  by  the 
 Apoftles  and  their  fuceeffors  :  and  the  grand  fubjects 
 of  joy  and  triumph  among  believers  were,  the  fupe- 
 riority  of  their  Mafter  over  the  "  heathen  nations," 
 and  their  idols  i  the  exaltation  of  "  his  glory  above 
 "  the  heavens,"  and  al)  the  powers  therein :  the 
 might  of  his  arm  and  the  majefty  of  his  kingdom. 
 
 5.  Who  is  like  wito  the  Lord  our  God,  zvho 
 dwelleth  on  high  /*  6.  Who  hninbleth  himfelf  to  be- 
 hold  the  things  that  are  in  heaven  and  in  earth. 
 
 Highly  as  our  Lord  is  exalted  above  this  fyftem, 
 above  thefe  heavens  and  this  earth  of  ours,  yet  he 
 pondefcendeth  to  regard  every  thing  that  paffeth  here, 
 and  to  make  us,  the  inhabitants  of  this  lower  world, 
 
 and, 
 
198  A  COMiMENTARY      Psal.  iij. 
 
 and,  for  our  fakes,  all  the  other  creatures  in  it,  the 
 objcds  of  his  peculiar  care,  and  paternal  love. 
 
 7.  Heraifeth  the  poor  out  of  the  dujl,  and  Ufleih 
 the  needy  out  of  the  dunghill ;  8 .  77m/  he  may  fet  him 
 tvith  priuceSy  even  zvifh  the  princes  of  his  people. 
 
 Such  is  his  mercy  to  the  poor  fons  of  Adam  in 
 their  fallen  eftate,  that  from  the  lowed  and  mod  ab- 
 jed  condition,  from  the  pollutions  of  fin,  and  from 
 the  dlflionours  of  the  grave,  heraifeth  them  toright- 
 eoufnefsand  holinefs,  to  glory  and  immortality;  he 
 ictteth  them  on  high,  with  the  inhabitants  of  the 
 heavenly  Jerufalem,  "  with  the  princes  of  his  peo- 
 *'  pie,"  the  leaders  of  the  armies  above,  with  angels 
 and  archangels  before  his  throne.  What  is  the  ex- 
 altation of  the  meanefl  beggar  from  a  dunghill  to  an 
 earthly  diadem,  when  compared  with  that  of  human 
 nature  from  the  grave  to  the  throne  of  God  ?  Here 
 is  honour  worthy  our  ambition  ;  honour,  after  which 
 all  are  alike  invited  to  afpire  :  which  all  may  obtain, 
 who  ftrive  worthily  and  lawfully ;  and  of  which, 
 when  once  obtained,  nothing  can  ever  deprive  the 
 polTelibrs. 
 
 9.  He  maketJi  the  barren  zvoman  to  keep  houfe,  and 
 tobe  ajoyfnl  mother  of  children  Praifeye  the  Lord. 
 
 In  the  facred  hiftory  of  the  Old  Teftament,  we 
 meet  with  frequent  inftances  of  barren  women,  who 
 were  miraculouily  made  to  bear  children.  Ifaac,  Jo- 
 lepli  Sampfon,  and  Samuel,  were  thus  born  of  Sarah, 
 Rachel,  the  wite  of  Manoah,  and  Hannah.  Tothefe 
 may  be  added,  from  the  hiftory  of  the  New  Tefta- 
 ment, the  inftance  of  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Zacha- 
 nas,  and  mother  of  St.  John  the  Baptift,  Thefe  ex- 
 5  amplcs 
 
Day  23.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  299 
 
 amples  may  be  confidered  as  preludes  to  tliat  mar- 
 vellous exertion  of  divine  power,  whereby  the  Gentile 
 Church,  after  fo  many  years  of  barrennefs,  became, 
 in  her  old  age,  **  a  fruitful  parent  of  children,  and 
 "  the  mother  of  us  all."  Wherefore  it  is  written, 
 "  Sing,  O  barren,  thou  that  didft  not  bear;  break 
 "  forth  into  finging,  and  cry  aloud,  thou  that  didll 
 **  not  travail  with  child  :  for  more  are  the  children 
 "  of  the  defolate,  than  the  children  of  the  married 
 *'  wife,  faith  the  Lord."     iia.  liv.  i.  Gal.  iv.  ^7. 
 
 JlXIII  day.  evenixg  prayer^ 
 
 PSALM  CXIV. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  is  another  of  the  Pfalms  appointed  by  our 
 church  to  be  read  on  Ealter-Day.  It  cele- 
 brates the  Exodus  of  Ifracl  from  Egypt,  and 
 the  miracles  wrought  for  that  people,  prefi- 
 guring the  Redemption  of  our  nature  from 
 lin  and  death,  and  the  wonders  of  mercy  and 
 love  wrought  for  us  by  Jefus  Chri{l» 
 
 1 .  When  Ifrael  went  out  of  Egypt^thc  hoiife  of  Ja^ 
 cob  from  a  people  ofjlrange  language  ^  2.  Jiidah  xcas 
 his  J  that  is,  Gad's  f and  uaiy,  andJfrael  his  dominion. 
 
 When  Jehovah  delivered  Ifrael  from  the  bondage 
 of  Egypt,  he  chofe  them  for  his  peculiar  people  ; 
 }ms  pretence  refided  in  their  camp,  as  in  a  *'  lanc- 
 
 "  tuary,," 
 
300  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  114. 
 
 "  tuary,"  or  temple ;  and  he  ruled  them,  as  an 
 earthly  king  exercifeth  fovereignty  in  his  "  domini- 
 *'  ons."  This  world,  and  the  prince  of  this  world, 
 are  to  us,  what  Egypt  and  Pharaoh  were  to  Ifrael. 
 The  redemption  of  our  nature,  by  the  refurredtion 
 of  Chrift,  anfwcreth  to  their  redemption  by  the 
 hand  of  Moles.  When  we  are  baptifed  into  the 
 death  and  refurredion  of  our  Lord,  we  renounce  the 
 world,  it's  pomps  and  vanities ;  and  fliould,  there- 
 fore, quit  it's  corrupt  "  language,"  manners,  and 
 cuftoms,  with  as  much  alacrity  and  expedition,  as 
 *'  the  family  of  Jacob"'  left  thofe  of  Egypt.  We 
 are  the  "  fanduary,  the  temple,"  in  which  Chrift 
 dwelleth  by  his  Spirit  ;  we  are  the  fubjeds  of  his 
 fpiritual  "  kingdom;"  we  are  his  peculiar  people ; 
 in  one  word,  we  are  his  *'  Church,"  and  fucceed,  as 
 fuch,  to  all  the  titles  and  privileges  formerly  confer- 
 red on  Ifrael. 
 
 3 .  Thejea  fazu  it  andjied;  Jordan  was  driven  back. 
 
 Although  forty  years  intervened  between  the  two 
 events  here  mentioned,  yet,  as  the  miracles  were  of  a 
 limilar  nature,  they  are  fpoken  of  together.  In  the 
 paflage  of  Ifrael  through  the  red  fea  we  may  con- 
 template our  pillage  from  a  death  of  fm  to  a  life  of 
 righteoufnefs,  through  the  waters  of  baptifm;  as  our 
 tranflation  from  Death  temporal  to  life  eternal  is 
 figured  by  their  entrance  into  the  promifed  land, 
 through  the  river  Jordan.  Tne  waters  in  both  cafes 
 are  poetically  reprefented  as  icnlible  of  their  Creator's 
 prefence  i  and  by  their  retiring,  and  opening  a  path 
 for  the  people  of  God,  v/e  are  taught,  that  if  we 
 
 poa-. 
 
Day  23- E.  p.    '     on  the  PSALMS.  301 
 
 continue  faithfal,  all  obftrudions  will  be  removed 
 in  our  way  to  heaven. 
 
 4.  The  mountains  Jlcipped  like  rams^  and  the  little 
 hills  like  lambs.     . 
 
 .  The  tremors  of  mount  Sinai  and  the  neighbouring 
 hills,  when  the  law  was  given,  afforded  Tome  fpeci- 
 men  of  that  power  which  was  afterwards  exerted  in 
 the  overthrow  of  idolatry,  and  the  calling  down  of 
 every  high  thing,  that  exalted  itfeif  againll  the  Gof- 
 pel  at  it's  publication.  "  See,  therefore,  that  ye  re- 
 **  fufe  not  him  that  fpeaketh :  for  if  they  efcaped 
 **  not,  who  refufed  him  that  fpake  on  earth,  much 
 **  more  fliall  not  we  efcape,  if  we  turn  away  from  him 
 "  that  fpeaketh  from  heaven  ;  whofe  voice  then  (liook 
 "  the  earth  :  but  now  he  hath  promifed,  faying.  Yet 
 "  once  more  I  (liake  not  the  earth  only,  but  alfo  hea- 
 "  ven."    Heb.  xii.  25. 
 
 5.  TFhat  ailed  thee,  Othoufea,  that  thou  fieddeji ? 
 Thou,  Jordan,  that  thou  ivas  driven  back  f  6.  Ye 
 mountains,  that  ye  Jkipped  like  rams ;  and  ye  little 
 hills,  like  lambs  ?    7.  Tremble  thou  earth  at  the  pre- 
 
 fcnce  of  the  Lord,    at  the  preftnce  oj  the  God  of 
 Jacob. 
 
 If  the  divine  prefence  hath  fuch  an  effect  upon  in- 
 animate matter,  how  ought  it  to  operate  on  rational 
 and  accountable  beings  ?  Let  us  be  afraid,  with  an 
 holy  fear,  at  the  prefence  of  God,  in  the  world  by 
 his  Providence,  and  by  his  Spirit  in  our  confciences ; 
 fo  that  we  may  have  hope  and  courage  in  the  day 
 when  he  (liall  arife  to  ihake  terribly  the  earth  ;  when 
 *•  every  ifland  fnall  fly  away,  and  the  mountains  Ihali 
 "  be  no  more  found."     Pvcv,   xvi.   20, 
 
 8.  Which 
 
S02  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  115. 
 
 8.  Which  turned  the  rock  into  a  Jianding  water, 
 the  flint  into  a  fountain  of  waters. 
 
 He  who  brought  water  out  of  the  facramental 
 rock  in  the  wildernefs,  hath  fince  caufed  rivers  of 
 living  water  to  flow  through  the  world,  from  the 
 Rock  of  our  falvation  j  nay,  he  hath  diffolved  the 
 ilony  hearts  of  fmners,  and  made  to  fpring  up  in 
 them  fountains  of  this  water,  of  life.  For  thefe  great 
 inflances  of  his  power  and  his  love,  we  are  taught 
 to  blefs  his  holy  name,  when  we  fing  this  Pfalm,  as 
 an  evangelical  hymn,  on  the  day  of  our  Lord's 
 refurrection. 
 
 PSALM     CXV. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  church  1,  2.  prayeth  that  God  would 
 glorify  himfclf  in  her  faivation  ;  3.  flic  de- 
 clareth  her  faith  in  him  ;  4 — 8.  expofcth 
 the  vanity  and  folly  of  idolatry;  9 — IL 
 exhorteth  her  children  to  rely  upon  Jehovah ; 
 
 .  12 — 15.  foretelleth  how  he  will  blefs,  prof- 
 per,  and  increafe  his  people,  16 — 18.  never 
 fuffering  the  voice  of  praifeand  thankfgiving 
 to  ceafe  upon  the  eartli. 
 
 I.  iVr;/  unto  iis^  O  Lord,  7iot  inito  its,  hut  nnto 
 thy  name  give  glory,  for  thy  mercy ^  and  for  thy 
 truilts  fake.  2.  Wlierefore  fhould  the  heathen  fay^ 
 Where  is  now  their  God  ? 
 
 From 
 
Day  13.  E.  p.         OF  THE  PSALMS.  30^ 
 
 From  thefe  two  verfes  it  is  evident,  that  the  Pfalm 
 is  not  a  thankfgiving  for  vidory,  but  a  petition  for 
 deliverance.  God  is  entreated  to  "  give  glory,"  by 
 fuch  deliverance,  "  not  to  us,"  to  our  works,  or  en- 
 deavours, but  "  to  his  own  name;"  he  is  requefled 
 to  vouchfafe  faivation,  not  on  account  of  our  merits, 
 but  of  his  *'  mercy,"  which  inclineth  him  to  be  gra- 
 cious; of  his  "  truth,"  which  difpofeth  him  to  fulfil 
 hispromifes;  and  of  his  "  honour,"  that  the  eneni)' 
 may  not  have  occafion  to  blafpheme  him,  and  re- 
 proach his  fervants,  as  if  their  Mafter  either  could 
 not,  or  would  not  help  them,  in  the  day  of  their  dif- 
 trefs.  *' Wherefore  fliould  the  heathen  fay.  Where  is 
 *'  now  their  God  ?'* 
 
 3  But  our  God  is  in  the  heavens,  he  hath  done  ivhat^ 
 foevcr  lie  pleafed ;  or,  he  doeth  xvhaffoever  he plcafeth. 
 
 Should  the  infulting  adverfary  afk  the  above  quef- 
 tion,  "  Where  is  now  their  God  r"  the  faithful  are 
 ready  with  their  reply,  "  Our  God  is  in  the  hea- 
 *^  yens ;"  he  is,  where  he  ever  was,  upon  his  glo- 
 rious throne,  high  over  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
 wodd,  and  the  powers  of  created  natixe  ;  from  thence 
 he  obferveth  and  ordereth  all  things  here  below;  what 
 we  fuffer  is  by  his  appointment:  and,  at  his  good  time 
 and  pleafure,  he  both  can  and  Vv'ill  relieve  us :  "  he 
 "  doeth  whatfoever  he  pleafeth." 
 
 4.  Their  idols  are ^filver  and  gold,  thezvorkofjnens 
 hands.  5.  They  have  months,  hit  tJieyfpeak  not;  eyes 
 have  they,  hut  they  fee  not.  6.  They  have  ears,  hut  they 
 hear  not  j  nofes  have  they,  but  they  fmell  not.  7.  They 
 have  hands,  but  they  handle  not  -.feet  have  they,  but  I  hey 
 walk  not ;  neither  fpeak  they  through  their  throat, 
 
 A  beau« 
 
304  COxMMENTAkY         Fsal.   115. 
 
 A  beautiful  contrail  is  formed  between  the  God 
 of  Ifrael  and  the  heathen  idols.  He  made  every  thing, 
 they  are  themfelves  made  by  men  j  he  is  in  heaven, 
 they  are  upon  earth  j  he  doeth  whatfoever  he  pleafeth, 
 they  can  do  nothing;  he  feeth  the  diftreffes,  hearetli 
 ^nd  anfwereth  the  prayers,  accepteth  the  offerings, 
 Cometh  to  the  afiiftance,  and  effe<fleth  the  falvation  of 
 his  fervants  ;  they  are  blind,  deaf,  and  dumb,  fenfelefs, 
 motionlefs,  and  impotent.  Equally  flow  to  hear, 
 equally  impotent  to  iave,  in  time  of  greateft  need, 
 ivill  every  worldly  idol  prove,  on  which  men  have 
 fet  their  affedions,  and  to  which  they  have,  in  ef- 
 fecr,  faid,   "  Thou  art  my  God." 
 
 8.  7yici/  that  make  them  are  like  unto  them  -^  fo 
 is  evtry  one  that  trujieth  in  them. 
 
 Idolaters,  like  the  objefts  of  their  worfhip,  are 
 rather  lifelefs  images,  than  real  men.  What  our 
 Lord  faid  of  the  Jews,  is  applicable  to  them,  and  in- 
 deed to  all  who  reject  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God, 
 and  the  dodrines  of  fajvation;  "  Having  eyes  they 
 "  fee  not,  having  ears  they  hear  not."  They  fee  not 
 the  things  which  belong  unto  their  peace  :  they  hearnot 
 the  word  of  inflruction  and  exhortation ;  they  fpeak 
 not  of  religion  and  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  they 
 work  not  the  works  of  piety  and  charity  ;  they  walk 
 not  in  the  path  of  the  divine  commandments;  they 
 are  fpirituaily  blind,  deaf,  dumb,  lame,  and  impo- 
 tent; and  when  their  idols  are  deilroyed,  they  will 
 perlfh  in  like  manner. 
 
 •    9.  O  Ifrael,  tniji  thou  in  the  Lokd  ;  he  is  their  hell) 
 and  their  Jhield.  10.  O  hoiije  of  Aaron y  truft  in  the 
 
 Lord; 
 
JDay  23.  E.  p.        o^^  THE  PSALMS.  305 
 
 Lord  :  he  is  iheir  help  and  U^.cirJJiield.  1 1,  Ye  that 
 fear  the  Lord,  frujf  hi  the  Lord;  Jie  is  their  help 
 and  their  fhield. 
 
 Let  the  Q-icii  of  the  world  make  to  tljcrr^clves 
 gods,  and  vainly  triift  in  the  work  of  their  own  hands 
 or  heads;  but  let  the  church  repofe  all  her  confi- 
 dence in  Jehovah,  her  ?.ivio':r  and  Redeemer,  who 
 alone  can  be  her  dqiendci  and  proiedor ;  more  efpe- 
 cially  let  her  minifters,  the  Tons  of  the  true  Aaron, 
 do  this,  who  are  the  peculiar  portion  of  their  God, 
 employed  continually  in  his  fervice,  and  defigned  to 
 build  up  others  in  faith  and  hope ;  and  let  all  who 
 have  been  intruded,  by  their  miniftry,  in  the  fear 
 of  the  Lord,  truft  always  in  him,  nor  fufFer  any  ap- 
 prehenfion  of  danger  or  diftrefs  to  feparate  them 
 from  him. 
 
 J  2.  77?^  Lord  hath  heen^  or,  is  mindful  of  us,  he 
 zvill  blefs  iis^  he  will  blefs  the  houfc  of  Ifrael,  he  will 
 blefs  the  houfe  of  Aaron.  13.  He  will  blefs  them 
 that  fear  the  Lord,  both  f mall  and  great.  14.  The 
 l^OR-D  fhall  increafe  you  -more  and  viore,  you  and 
 your  children.  ■  15.  You  are  blejed  of  the  Lord, 
 which  made  heaven  and  earth. 
 
 The  heart  of  the  Pfalmift  is  full  of  "  bleffing," 
 and  on  his  tongue  is  the  word  of  kindnefs  and  com- 
 fort. The  ''  bleffings"  formerly  confined  to  Ifrael, 
 have  fince  been  extended  to  the  whole  race  of  man- 
 kind. Jehovah,  ever  ^^  mindful"  of  his  creatures, 
 hath  vifited  the  world  by  his  Son,  and  by  his  Spirit ; 
 he  hath  formed  a  church  from  among  the  Gentiles, 
 appointed  a  priefthood  and  miniftry  in  it,  and  given 
 
 Vol.  II.  U  his 
 
3c6  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  115; 
 
 his  benedI(5lIon  to  both;  he  hath  *'  bleffed,"  with 
 the  bleffings  of  grace,  "  them  that  fear  him,"  of  all 
 nations,  and  of  every  degree;  he  hath  "  increafed" 
 and  multiplied  his  people  exceedingly ;  and  the  faith- 
 ful members  of  the  Chriftian  church  are  now  "  the 
 *'  bleffed  of  Jehovah,  who  made  heaven  and  earth," 
 and  who  is,  confequently,  poffeffed  of  all  power  in 
 both. 
 
 16.  The  heaven,  even  the  heavens,  or,  ilie  heavens 
 of  heavens  are  the  hoRn's;  but  the  earth  hath  he 
 given  to  the  children  of  men.  ij.  The  dead  prai/e 
 not  the  Lord,  neither  any  that  go  down  intojilence. 
 18.  But  we  zvill  hlefs  the  'LoRD,f?^o/n  this  time  forth 
 arid  for  evermore.     Praife  the  Lord. 
 
 He  who  himfelf  dwelleth  in  the  higheft  heavens, 
 ■where  he  is  praifed  and  glorified  by  angels,  hath 
 "  given  the  earth"  for  an  habitation,  at  prefent,  "  to 
 *'  the  fons  of  men,"  whofe  duty  it  is  to  praife  and 
 glorify  him  here  below,  as  the  angels  do  above.  Now 
 as  "  the  dead  cannot  praife  him,"  as  they  who  fleep 
 in  the  filent  grave  cannot  celebrate  him,  we  may  be 
 certain,  that  he  will  not  fuffer  his  people  to  be  de- 
 ftroyed  and  extirpated,  but  will  always  preferve  a 
 church  to  "  blefs  him"  in  all  ages,  till  the  end  of  the 
 world ;  when  the  dead  fliall  be  raifed,  and  the  choirs 
 of  heaven  and  earth  fhall  be  united,  to  praife  and 
 glorify  him  together  before  his  throne,  for  evermore. 
 
 XXIV  DAY. 
 
Day  24.  m.  p.      on  the  PSALMS.  307 
 
 XXIV    DAY.    MORNING  PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM     CXVL 
 
 ARGUMENT, 
 
 It  Is  not  certain  by  whom,  or  upon  what  occa- 
 fion  this  Pfalm  was  compofed.  It  plahily 
 appears,  however,  to  be  a  fong  of  thankf- 
 giving  for  deliverance  from  trouble,  cither 
 temporal,  or  fplritual,  or  both.  To  render 
 it  of  general  iife,  let  it  be  confidered  as  an 
 evangelical  hymn,  in  the  mouth  of  a  peni- 
 tent, exprefsing  his  gratitude  for  falvation 
 from  fm  and  death.  1,  2.  He  declareth  his 
 love  of  God,  who  hath  vouchfafed  to  hear 
 his  prayer;  3 — 9,  defcribeth  his  dilfrefs, 
 his  deliverance  out  of  it,  and  fubfequent 
 peace  and  comfort ;  10,  H.  he  acknowledg- 
 eth  himfelf  to  have  been  tempted  to  defpond, 
 but  was  fupported  by  faithj  in  the  day  of 
 trouble;  12 — 19.  he  dctermineth  to  receive 
 the  cup  of  falvation,  to  praife  and  to  ferve 
 Jehovah,  who  thus  delivereth  the  fouls  of 
 his  people. 
 
 1.  I  love  the  Lord,  hecaufe  he  hath  heard  my 
 voice y  and  viy  fupplications.  2.  Becaufe  he  hath 
 inclined  his  ear  Unto  me,  therefore  ivill  I  call  upon 
 hina  as  long  as  I  live. 
 
 U  2  In 
 
3o8  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  ii6. 
 
 In  the  original  it  is,  '^  I  love  *,  becaufe  Jehovah 
 "  hath  heard,  &c."  The  foul,  tranfported  with  gra- 
 titude and  lovcj  feems  at  firft  to  exprefs  her  affedtion 
 without  declaring  its  object,  as  thinking  that  all 
 the  world  muft  know  who  is  the  perfon  intended. 
 Thus  Mary  Magdalen,  in  her  converfation,  at  the 
 fepulchre,  with  one  whom  flie  fuppofed  to  have  been 
 the  gardener^  though  no  previous  mention  had  been 
 made  of  Jefus,  faith,  "  Sir,  if  thou  have  borne  him 
 *'  hence,  tell  me  where  thou  haft  laid  him,  and  I 
 "  will  take  him  away."  John  xx.  15.  And  ought 
 not  the  love  of  God  to  be  excited  in  all  our  hearts 
 by  the  confideration,  that  when  we  were  not  able  to 
 raife  ourfelves  up  to  him,  he  mercifully  and  tenderly 
 "  inclined"  and  bowed  down  "  his  ear"  to  us ;  he 
 "  heard  our  fupplications,"  and  defcended  from  hea- 
 ven to  help  and  deliver  us  ?  With  hope,  therefore^ 
 and  confidence,  Ihould  we  "  call  upon  him,"  in  all 
 our  troubles,  "  as  long  as  we  live." 
 
 3.  Theforroivs  of  death  compaffed  me,  and  the 
 pains  of  hell  got  hold  upon  me  j  I  found  trouble  and 
 forroiv.  4.  Then  called  I  upon  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  i  O  Lord,  /  befeech  thee,  delive?-  my  foul. 
 
 Thefe  "  forrows,"  or  "  bands  of  death,"  once 
 "  compaffed"  the  human  racej  thefe  *'  pains  of  hell'' 
 were  ready  to  feize  on  every  fon  of  Adam.  The 
 awakened  and  terrified  confcience  of  a  finner  hath 
 felt  the  oppreffion  of  the  former,  and  experienced 
 fome  foretafte  of  the  latter.  In  this  fituation  he  is 
 defcribed  by  St.  Paul  as  crying  out,  ''  O  wretched 
 
 *  Some  critics  prefer  our  old  verfion, — **  I  am  well  pleafed.'* 
 
 "  man 
 
Day  24.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  309 
 
 "  man  that  I  am,  who  fhall  deliver  me  from  this 
 "  body  of  death  ?"  Let  him  take  the  courfe  which 
 the  Pfahiiiil  took;  let  him  *'  call  upon  the  name  of 
 "  the  Lord,"  even  the  Lord  Jefus,  who  put  himlei* 
 in  the  Tinner's  place,  and  fuffered  for  him  unlpeak- 
 able  "  forrows  and  pains  j"  let  him  do  this,  and  he 
 ihall  be  faved ;  and  (hall  fmg  the  praifes  of  his  al- 
 mighty Saviour,  in  the  words  of  this  beautiful 
 Pfalm. 
 
 5.  Gracious  is  the  Lord,  and  righteous:  yea,  our 
 God  is  mercifu  I.  6.  The  Lo  r  d  preferveth  thefimple  • 
 I  was  brought  low,  and  he  helped  me. 
 
 In  the  falvation  of  a  fmner  we  contemplate  God's 
 "  grace,"  by  which  the  work  is  efFeded  ;  his  "  righte- 
 "  oufnefs,"  which  caufeth  him  to  perform  what  he 
 hath  promifed  through  Chrill;  his  "  mercy,"  which 
 induced  him  to  fend  his  fon,  and  to  make  the  pro- 
 mile.  This  mercy  is  the  mercy  of  a  parent,  and  fuch 
 as  a  parent  fheweth  to  thofe  young  and  "  fimple" 
 ones,  who  have  been  over-reached  and  deceived  by  a 
 crafty  adverfary ;  to  thofe  who  fall,  and  are  unable 
 of  themfelves  to  rife  again ;  "  I  was  brought  low, 
 "  and  he  helped  me." 
 
 7.  Return  unto  thy  reft,  O  my  foul,  for  the  Lord 
 hath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee.  8.  For  thou  haft 
 delivered  my  foul  from  death,  mine  eyes  from  tears\ 
 and  my  feet  from  falling.  9.  /  zuill  walk  before  the 
 Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living. 
 ,  That  peace  of  confcience,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
 Ghoft,  which  the  penitent  experienceth,  as  the  efted 
 and  fruit  of  pardon,  afford  him  fome  idea  of  the  reft 
 and  felicity  of  heaven  >  and,  accordingly,  he  fpeak§ 
 U  3  as 
 
3 TO  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  ii6. 
 
 as  one  tranllated  to  thofe  happy  manfions,  where 
 there  is  no  more  death,  neither  forrow,  nor  crying, 
 becaufe  there  is  no  more  fin.  A  Chriftian,  delivered 
 out  of  the  miferies  of  this  troublefome  world,  and  at 
 reft  in  Abraham's  bofom,  would  exprefs  himfelf,  as 
 one  fhould  think,  in  thefe  very  terms.  Remiffion  of 
 fms  ought  to  be  followed  by  newnefs  of  life,  and  the 
 refolution  of  him,  whofe  "  foul"  hath  been  "  deli- 
 "  vered  from  death,  his  eyes  from  tears,  and  his  feet 
 "  from  falling,"  fliould  always  be  this,  "  I  will  walk 
 '*  before  the  Lord,"  as  one  under  hi§  infpedion, 
 '^  in  the  land  of  the  living,"  or  amongfl  the  redeemed 
 in  the  church  ;  until  the  time  come  for  me  to  depart 
 hence,  and  to  be  numbered  with  the  faints,  in  glory 
 evcrlafting. 
 
 lo. I  believed,  therefore  have  Tfpoken;  I  was  greatly 
 afflicted:   1 1.  If  aid  in  my  hafie,  all  7nen  are  liars. 
 
 In  afflidlions  and  diftrelfes,  thofe  of  the  fpirit  and 
 confcience  more  efpecially,  the  foul  is  tempted  to 
 defpond,  and  can  only  be  fupported  by  faith  exert- 
 ing itfelf  in  prayer  j  "  I  believed,  and  therefore  have 
 "  I  fpoken,  or,  therefore  fpake  I,"  that  is,  as  above, 
 verfe  4,  "  I  called  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  O 
 *'  Lord,  I  befeech  thee,  deliver  my  foul."  And 
 this  I  did,  though  fo  "  greatly  afHided,"  that  I  had 
 *'  Hiid  in  my  hafte/'  in  my  hurry  and  trepidation, 
 occafioned  by  fear  and  amazement,  '*  all  men  are 
 *'  liars;"  there  is  no  credit  to  be  given  to  their pro- 
 mifes  of  deliverance ;  I  am  loft  and  undone  for  ever. 
 Yet  my  faith  failed  not  entirely,  and  lo,  my  prayer 
 hath  been  heard,  and  anfwered.  St.  Paul,  relating 
 the  troubles  v/hich  came  upon  him,  and  the  manner 
 
 ir. 
 
Day  24.  M.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  311 
 
 in  which  he  run:P-incd  them,  thus  citeth  a  part  of  the 
 TOlii  vcrfe;  "  We,  having  the  fame  I'pirit  of  faith, 
 "  according  as  it  is  written,  I  believed,  and  therefore 
 "  have  I  fpoken :  we  alfo  believe,  and  therefore 
 *'  fpeak ;  knowing  that  he,  which  raifed  up  the 
 *'  Lord  Jefus,  (hall  raife  up  us  alfo  by  Jefus,  and 
 "  fliall  prefent  us  with  }Ou/'    1  Cor.  iv.    13,  14, 
 
 12.  What  Jhall  I  render  unt>  the  \-,ov.-D^  for  all  his 
 benefits  towards  me  ?  13.  /  will  take  the  cup  offal- 
 vation,  and  call  npon  the  name  of  the  Lord.  14.  / 
 will paij  my  voxvs  unto  the  Lord  now  in  the  pre* 
 fence  of  all  his  people. 
 
 The  grateful  penitent  now  afketh,  what  return  he 
 fliail  make  to  his  kind  Benefador,  for  the  moft  valu- 
 able of  all  blefiings  conferred  upon  him.  And  he  pre- 
 fentiy  refolveth  to  make  the  only  return  In  his  power, 
 namely,  to  acknowledge  and  declare  before  men  the 
 goodnefs  of  Jehovah,  afcribing  all  the  glory  where 
 it  is  all  due.  This  he  determineth  to  do,  by  "  takino- 
 "  the  cup  of  falvation,"  which,  as  Dr.  Hammond 
 obferves,  among  the  Jews,  was  twofold  ;  one  offered 
 in  a  more  folemn  manner  in  the  temple ;  Numb, 
 xxviii.  7.  the  other  more  private  in  families,  called 
 the  cup  of  thankfgiving,  or  commemoration  of  any 
 deliverance  ;  begun  by  the  Maflcr  of  the  flimily,  and 
 attended,  on  feftival  days,  with  a  fuitable  hymn  ; 
 iuch  as  was  that  fung  by  our  Lord  and  his  difciples, 
 on  the  night  when  he  advanced  that  cup  into  the  fa- 
 crament  of  his  blood,  which  hath  ever  fmce  been  to 
 Chriftians  '*  the  cup  of  falvation,"  and  which  all  pe- 
 nitents Ihould  now  receive  in  the  church,  with  invo- 
 tJ  4  cation. 
 
312  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  ii6, 
 
 cation,  thankfgiviniT,  and   payment  of  the  "  vows,'* 
 made  in  time  of  trouble. 
 
 15.  Precious  in  the  fight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death 
 of  his  faints. 
 
 The  notion  of  the  original  word  np''  in  this  place, 
 for  "  rare,  or  precious,"  mufl;  be  fo  taken,  as  not  to 
 lignify  that  which  is  fpoken  of  to  be  "  defirable  to, 
 "  or  in  the  prefence  of  the  Lord;"  for  it  is  the 
 "  life,"  not  the  "  death"  of  his  fervants,  which  is 
 precious,  in  that  fenfe,  to  God,  the  preferver  of  their 
 live.'j.  But  when  it  is  faid,  that  their  '^  death  is  pre- 
 "  cious/'  it  means  in  effed;  no  more,  than  that  it  is 
 fo  confidered,  it  is  rated  at  "  fo  high  a  price"  by 
 God,  as  that  he  will  not  eafily  grant  it  to  any  one 
 who  moft  defires  it  of  him. — Thus  far  Dr.  Ham- 
 mond. We  may  add,  that  much  lefs  will  God  be 
 eafily  prevailed  on  to  give  up  his  people  to  death 
 eternal.  Rather  will  he  work  wonders  of  mercy  and 
 loving  kindnefs  to  lave  them ;  as  the  penitent  hap- 
 pily experienceth  in  himfelf. 
 
 16.  O  Lord,  truly  I  am  thy  fervant,  I  am  thy 
 fervanti  and  the  fon  of  thy  handmaid  j  thou  haji 
 
 loojed  my  bonds.  17.  I  will  offer  to  thee  the  facri- 
 Jice  of  thankf giving^  and  tvill  call  upon  the  name  of 
 the  LoR-D.  18.  I  will  j)ay  my  vozvs  unto  the  Lord 
 nolo  in  the  prefence  of  all  his  people.  1 9.  In  the 
 courts  of  the  hoBD^s  houfe,  in  the  midft  of  theCy  O 
 Jerufa lem .     Pra ife  ye  the  Lord 
 
 Every  penitent  is  the  ''  fervant"  of  God,  "  the 
 "  fon  of  his  handmaid,"  the  church  "  loofed  from 
 *'  his  bonds,"  and  redeemed  from  a  fcate  of  flavery 
 
 under 
 
Day24.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  313 
 
 under  fin,  the  world,  and  the  devil,  that  he  may 
 ferve  a  better  Mafter,  whofe  yoke  is  eafy,  and  his 
 "  burden  light."  ,  This  blefled  Mafter  is  from  thence- 
 forth the  objed  of  his  love,  duty,  and  adoration: 
 to  him  he  "  offercth  the  facrifice  of  thankfgiving," 
 to  him  he  "  payeth  his  vows,"  among  his  feilow- 
 fervants,  in  the  church  on  earth ;  longing  for  that 
 day  to  come,  when,  loofed  alfo  from  the  bonds  of 
 death  and  the  gru'e,  he  (hall  be  admitted  to  fing 
 Hallelujahs,  with  faints  and  angels,  in  the  "  courts"'' 
 of  the  eternal  temple,  even  "  in  the  midft  of  thee,  O 
 "  Jerufalem,"  the  holy,  heavenly^  and  glorious  city 
 of  God  moft  High ! 
 
 PSALM   cxvir. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm,  like  the  cxth,  feems  to  be  altoge- 
 ther prophetical  of  the  joy  that  all  the  world 
 Ihould  conceive,  at  the  coming  of  the 
 Mcfsiah,  to  give  falvation,  firft  to  the  Jews, 
 and  then  to  all  other  nations,  according  to 
 his  faithful  promife.     Patrick. 
 
 I.  O  praife  //z<?Lord,  all  ye  nations:  praife  him^ 
 all  ye  people.  2.  For  his  merciful  kindnefs  is  great 
 towards  us:  and  the  truth  of  the  Lord  endureth/or 
 ever.     Praife  the  L.ort>. 
 
 It  is  remarkable,  that  of  fo  fliort  a  Pfalm  one 
 verfe  is  quoted  in  the  New  Teftament  by  St.  Paul; 
 the   fecond  verfe  is  explained,  though  not  quoted. 
 
 Two 
 
314  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  117. 
 
 Two  qneilions  naturally  arife,  upon  reading  the 
 Pfalm;  firft,  who  are  the  "  nations  and  people," 
 exhorted  to  praife  Jehovah;  fecondly,  what  is  that 
 "  merciful  kindnefs,"  and  that  "  truth,"  for  which 
 they  are  exhorted  to  praife  him?  The  Apoftle  hath 
 given  a  fatisfaftorv  and  deciiive  anfwer  to  both  thefe 
 queftions,  Rom.  xv.  8,  9,  &c.  '*  Now  I  fay,  that 
 *'  Jefus  Chrifh  was  a  minifter  of  the  circumcifion  for 
 "  the  TiiDTii  of  God,  to  confirm  the  promifes  made 
 "  unto  the  flithers,  and  that  the  Gentiles  might  glo- 
 *'  rify  God  for  his  mercy;  as  it  is  written,  Praife 
 ^'  the  Lord,  all  ye  Gentiles,  and  laud  him,  all  ye 
 "  people."  From  the  Apoftle's  reafoning,  the  verfe 
 of  our  Pfalm»  which  he  hath  cited,  appears  to  be  a 
 proof,  that  "  the  Gentiles,"  or  the  heathen  world, 
 fhould  one  day  "  glorify  God;"  they  are,  therefore, 
 the  "people,"  whom  the  Pfalmift,  in  the  Spirit  of 
 prophecy,  exhorted  to  "  praife  Jehovah."  It  ap- 
 pears alfo,  why  the  Gentiles  were  to  glorify  God  -, 
 namely,  for  his  "  mercy"  and  "  truth,"  fhewn  in 
 confirming,  or  accomplilhlng  the  "  promifes,"  con- 
 cerning their  vocation  and  converfion,  "  made  unto 
 "  the  fathers*;"  to  Abraham,  and  his  feed  for  ever; 
 to  all  believers,  whether  of  the  circumcifion,  or  the 
 uncircumcifion.  Such  then,  is  the  "  merciful  kind- 
 "  nefs"   of  Jehovah,  which  is  faid,  in  the  Pfalm,  to 
 
 *  "  Confirmata — et  Veritas  Domini" — Promiferat  enim  Abra- 
 hamo  Deus  futurum,  ut  per  Chriiium,  benedidum  illud  Abra- 
 ham! femeii,  benedicerentur  omnes  Gentes,  Gen.  xii.  3.  xv.  18. 
 interprete  Apoftolo,  Gal.  iii.  16.  Quod  cum  praelHtum  videa- 
 iBus,  jam  iiitelligimus  vere  advcnifle  Chriitum,  ac  promiffa  Dei 
 finna  effe  omnia.     Dossuet. 
 
 be 
 
Day  24.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  315 
 
 be  "  great,"  mighty,  and  powerful  "  towards  us;'* 
 fuch  his  "  truth,"  which  is  affirmed  to  "  endure  for 
 ^*  ever;"  as  the  promifes  were  made  good  to  the 
 Gentiles,  when  the  Jews,  becaufe  of  unbelief,  had 
 been  caft  off.  Let  the  hallelujahs  of  the  redeemed 
 be  fuitable  to  that  "  mercy,"  and  co-eternal  with 
 that  ''  truth." 
 
 PSALM    CXVIIT. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In  this  Pfalm,  a  King  of  Ifrael  appears  lead-, 
 ing  his  People  in  folemn  procefsion  to  the 
 temple,  there  to  offer  up  the  facrifice  of 
 praife  and  thankfgiving,  for  the  marvellous 
 deliverance  from  his  enemies,  and  a  glori- 
 ous victory,  gained  over  them.  After  invit- 
 ing the  whole  nation,  1 — 4.  to  join  with 
 him,  upon  this  joyful  occafion,  he  defcrib- 
 eth  at  large,  5 — 18.  his,  danger,  and  his 
 deliverance  from  it,  which  latter  is  wholly 
 attributed  to  the  power  and  goodnefs  of  Je- 
 hovah. After  this,  '  as  Mr.  Mudge  has 
 rightly  obferved,  there  enfues  a  kind  of 
 facred  dialogue.  Being  come  to  the  temple, 
 the  victorious  monarch  fpeaks  the  19th  verfe ; 
 they  that  open  the  gate,  the  20th ;  he  again, 
 as  he  enters,  the  21ft;  they  with  him  feem 
 tq  (peak  the  four  next  verfes  to  the  25th; 
 
 the 
 
3i4  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  ii8. 
 
 the  pricfts  of  the  temple,  the  26th;  the  firfi: 
 part  to  the  King,  the  other  to  the  people  ; 
 the  people  the  27th;  he  the  28th;  the  29th 
 is  the  chorus  verfe,  concluding]:  as  it  he^an. 
 The  repeated  application,,  made  of  the  22d 
 verfe  in  the  New  Tcftament,  and  the  ap- 
 pointment of  the  Pfalm,  by  the  church,  to 
 be  ufcd  on  Eaiter  Bay,  lead  us  to  confider 
 the  whole  as  a  triumphant  Hymn,  fung  by 
 King  Mefslah,  at  the  head  of  the  Ifrael  of 
 God,  on  occafion  of  his  refurredion  and  ex- 
 altation. 
 
 I.  O give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is  good: 
 hccaufe  his  mercy  endurethybr  ever.  i.  Let Ifraelnozv 
 fay^  that  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever.  3.  Let  the 
 houfe  of  Aaron  Jiorv  fay,  that  his  mercy  endureth./br 
 ever.  Let  iJiem  now  that  fear  the  h(jRjy  fay,  that 
 his  mercy  endureth /o?"  ever. 
 
 The  fubjeds  of  "  thankfgtving"  here  propofed 
 are  Jehovah's  "  goodnefs"  and  his  "  mercy/'  He  is 
 tiie  fole  fountain  of  abfoiute  and  eflential  *'  good- 
 *'  iiefs,"  the  fource  of  all  excellency  and  perfedion; 
 and  his  "  mercy"  is  the  channel,  by  which  he  com- 
 municatcth  this  goodnefs,  in  an  everflowlng  flream, 
 to  his  people,  who  are,  therefore,  exhorted  to  praife 
 him.  The  Chrifblan  church  is  now  *^  the  Ifrael  of 
 "  God:"  her  minifters  con^itute  the  true  "  houfe  of 
 ^'  Aaron,"  being  the  fi-iritual  progeny  of  our"  great 
 High  Prieflij  and  the  Gentiles,  not  the  Jews,  are 
 they  who  know  and  *'  fear  Jehovah."     Let  thefe  all 
 
 celebrate, 
 
Day  24.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  317 
 
 celebrate,  for  thefe  all  have  experienced,  the  benefitj 
 and  bleffings  of  "  eternal  mercy,"  by  the  refurredion 
 of  Jefus  from  the  dead. 
 
 5.  /called  upon  the  Lord  in  dijlrefs :  the  ho  rj> 
 anfwered  me,  and  fet  me  in  a  large  place. 
 
 The  true  value  of  every  deliverance  is  to  be  efli- 
 mated  by  the  nature  of  the  *'  diftrefs"  which  re- 
 quired it.  The  refcue  of  David  from  his  enemies, 
 or  that  of  Ifrael  from  captivity,  might  defervecly  be 
 extolled  with  the  fongs  of  Sion.  How  much  more, 
 then,  is  the  church  univerfal  bound  to  lift  up  her 
 voice  in  honour  of  Jehovah,  who  hath  redeemed  her 
 from  her  fpiritual  adverfaries,  and  freed  her  from 
 the  bondage  of  corruption,  through  Him  who  *'  died 
 *'  for  her  fins,  and  rofe  again  for  her  juitificationi'* 
 who,  in  the  days  of  his  fleili,  being,  on  her  account, 
 in  "  diftrefs"  and  affliclion,  "  called  upon  Jehovah, 
 **  and  was  anfwered,"  by  an  "  enlargement"  from 
 the  narrow  prifon  of  the  grave,  to  a  boundlefs  and 
 glorious  kingdom ! 
 
 6.  The  Lord  is  on  my  fide,  1  will  not  fear'-  ivhat 
 can  man  do  unto  mef  7.  The  Lord  taketh  my  pari 
 with  them  that  help  ine-  thereforefialll  fee  my  defire 
 upon  them  that  hate  me. 
 
 By  frequent  experience  of  the  divine  power  and 
 mercy,  from  time  to  time  exerted  on  the  behalf  of 
 Ifrael,  that  nation  was  inftruded  to  truft  in  Jehovah  ; 
 and  whenever  they  did  fo,  fuccefs  and  vidory  never 
 failed  to  attend  their  fteps.  Would  not  the  cafe  be 
 the  fame  with  us,  in  all  our  undertakings,  if  our  faith, 
 was  right  and  fledfaft  in  God,  who  raifed  up  Jefus 
 I  from 
 
31^  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  ng. 
 
 from  the  dead,  and  who  hath  promifed  to  make  us 
 "more  than  conquerors?" 
 
 8.  It  is  better  to  triijt  in  the  Lord,  than  to  put 
 confidence  in  man.  9.  It  is  better  to  trujt  in  the 
 Lord,  than  to  put  confidence  in  princes. 
 
 Armies  of  ^'  men,"  however  numerous,  and,  to 
 appearance,  powerful,  may  be  routed  and  difperfed 
 at  once.  "  Princes"  may  not  be  able  to  help  us ; 
 if  able,  they  may  fail  us,  as  not  being  willing  to  do 
 It;  if  both  able  and  willing,  they  may  die,  ere  they 
 can  execute  their  purpofe.  But  that  hope  which  is 
 placed  in  God,  can  never,  by  thefe,  or  any  other 
 means,  be  difappointed.  As  we  fo  often  repeat  thefe 
 two  verfes,  let  us  ad  agreeably  to  the  declaration 
 which  we  then  make,  and  inftead  of  courting  the 
 world,  by  undue  compliances,  for  it's  deceitful 
 fmiles,  and  treacherous  favours,  let  us  in  all  points 
 do  our  duty,  and  leave  the  event  to  God  above.  To 
 encourage  us  in  the  performance  of  fuch  a  refolution 
 as  this,  let  it  be  remembered,  that  becaufc  our  Sa- 
 viour "  witnelTed  a  good  confeffion  before  Pontius 
 "  Pilate,"  and  with  meeknefs  and  patience  refigned 
 himfelf  to  the  death  of  the  crofs  for  it,  therefore  God 
 exalted  him  to  glory  and  honour. 
 
 10. All  nations  compajedme  abont:  but  in  the  name 
 of  the  Lord  zvill  /,  or,  I  did  dejiroy  them.  11.  Ttiey 
 compaj'ed  me  about,  yea,  they  camp  a  (fedme  about  •  but 
 in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Izoill,  or,  I  did  dejiroy  them. 
 12.  They  compared  me  about  like  bees,  they  are 
 quenched  as  the  fire  of  thorns-  for  in  the  name  of 
 the  Lord  I  zoill,  or,  I  did  dejiroy  them. 
 
 The  tenor  of  the  Pfalm,  being  one  of  tliankfgiv- 
 
 ing 
 
Day  24.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  319 
 
 ing  for  a  deliverance  already  experienced,  feemeth  to 
 require  that  the  verb,  at  the  clofe  of  each  of  thefe 
 verfes,  ihould  be  rendered  in  the  paft  time ;  not  "  I 
 "  will  deftroy  them,"  but  "  I  did  deftroy  them  ;'* 
 efpecialiy  as  it  is  faid,  "  they  compaffed  me  about,'* 
 and  *'  they  are  quenched."  As  David  and  Ifrael 
 were  encompaffed  by  hoftile  nations,  over  whom, 
 through  God's  affiftance,  they  often  trluniphedj  fo 
 the  Son  of  David,  in  the  day  of  his  paffion,  was 
 furrounded  by  the  furious  multitude  of  Jews,  and 
 Gentiles,  feeking  his  life;  and,  after  the  fame  ex- 
 ample, his  myftical  body,  the  church,  hath  frequent- 
 ly been,  on  all  fides,  vexed  and  perfecuted  in  the 
 world.  But,  through  the  power  of  Jehovah,  Chrift 
 overcame,  and  is  fet  down  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
 majefty  on  high.  The  church,  likewife,  hath  often 
 rifen  fuperiour  to  the  efforts  of  her  innumerable  and 
 malicious  enemies,  whofe  fury  hath  blazed  forth 
 agalnft  her  with  the  fudden  iiercenefs  of  "  fire,"  v/hen 
 it  is  applied  to  a  heap  of  dry  "  thorns;"  and  hath 
 been  as  foon  at  an  end;  (lie  hath  triumphed,  yea, 
 and  flie  will  finally  triumph,  "  in  the  name  of  the 
 "  Lord  her  God." 
 
 13.  Thou  hajt  thriijl  fore  at  mSy  that  I  might  fall: 
 but  the  Lord  helped  me.  14.  The  Lord  is  my 
 firength  aiid  my  fong,  and  is  become  my  falvation. 
 15,  77?^  voice  of  rejoicing  and  falvation  is  in  the  ta- 
 bernacles of  the  righteous :  the  right  hand  of  the  Lord 
 doth  valia?itly.  16.  The  right  hand  of  the  Lord  is 
 exalted;  the  right  hand  of  the  Lord  doth  valiantly. 
 
 The   church  may  confider    herfelf   as  vidtorlous 
 over  her  great  adverfary,  the  author  of  all  evil,  who 
 
 had 
 
S20  ^.  COMMENTARY  Psal.  ii8. 
 
 had  made  his  grand  effort  to  effcd  her  deftruftion, 
 by  putting  to  death  her  champion,  and  king,  Mef- 
 fiah.  But  Jehovah  appeared,  at  the  time  appointed, 
 to  bring  him,  and  virtualljr^  all  that  (hould  believe 
 in  him,  from  the  dead.  "  Thou  haft  thruft  fore  at 
 "  me,  that  I  might  fall  ;  but  Jehovah  helped  me." 
 Rifen,  therefore,  with  C  hrift,  from  the  grave,  we 
 proceed  to  praife  Jehovah,  in  the  words  which 
 Mofes  and  Ifrael  firft  ufed,  when  they  had  afcended 
 from  the  depths  of  the  fea,  and  beheld  their  enemies 
 deftroyed  for  ever  ;  "  Jehovah  is  my  fhrength,  and 
 "  my  fong,  and  is  become  my  falvation."  Exod. 
 XV.  2.  And  never  doth  that  facred  day  come  round, 
 on  which  the  refurreAion  of  Jefus  is  celebrated,  but 
 "  the  voice  of  rejoicing  is  in  the  tabernacles  of  the 
 "  righteous  j"  there  is  a  noife  of  them  that  fing  for 
 joy,  in  tlie  camp  of  the  faints ;  the  church  militant 
 refoundeth  with  thankfgiving  and  the  voice  of  me- 
 lody; paradile  is  reftored  below,  and  earth  beareth 
 fome  refemblance  of  heaven,  while  thefe  tranfporting 
 hymns  are  fung  in  honour  of  our  great  Redeemer. 
 He  is  that  "  Arm  and  Right  Hand  of  Jehovah," 
 which  hath  "  done  valiantly,"  which  hath  crufiied 
 our  ftrongeft  enemy,  and  is  very  high  "  exalted" 
 over  all.  "  Thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  is  become 
 "  glorious  in  power ;  thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  hath 
 "  dallied  in  pieces  the  enemy."     Exod.  xv.  6. 
 
 17.  IJhall  not  die,  but  live,  and  declare  theziwrks 
 of  the  Lord.  iS.  The  Lord  hath  chajiened  me 
 fore :  but  he  hath  not  given  7ne  over  unto  death. 
 
 As  Chrift  is  rifen,  ''  we  fliall  not  die,  but  live;" 
 we  (hall  not  die  eternally,  but  we  Ihall  live,  in  this 
 
 world. 
 
Day  24.  M.  p.         OS  the  ?^5ALMS.  321 
 
 world j  the  life  of  grace  j  in  the  world  to  come,  the 
 life  of  glory;  that  we  may,  in  both,  declare  the 
 "  works,"  and  chant  the  praifesof  God  our  Saviour. 
 We  are  "  chaflened'*  for  our  fins,  but  "  not  given 
 "  over  to  death"  and  dellrudlion  everlafliingj  nay, 
 our  being  *'  chaftened"  is  now  a  proof  that  we  are 
 not  fo  "  given  over;  for  what  fon  is  he  whom  the 
 father   "  cbafteneth   not  ?"     Heb.  xii.   7. 
 
 19.  Open  to  me  the  gates  of  righteoufnefs i  1  ivill 
 ^o  into  them,  and  I  xvill praife  the  Lord  ;  20.  This 
 gate,  or.  This  is  the  gate  of  the  Lord,  into  xuhick 
 the  righteous  Jliall  enter.  21.  I  will  thank  thee ,  for 
 thou  haji  lieard  me,  and  art  become  my  falvation. 
 
 The  faithful,  like  David  and  his  people  of  old,  de- 
 mand admiffion  into  the  courts  of  the  Lord's  houfe> 
 there  to  praife  him  for  his  great  and  manifold  mer- 
 cies. But  we  may  extend  our  ideas  much  farther, 
 and  conlider  the  whole  company  of  the  redeemed, 
 as  beholding  the  angels  ready  to  unbar  the  gates 
 of  heaven,  and  throw  open  the  doors  of  the  eternal 
 Hmcluary,  for  the  true  difciples  of  the  rifen  and  glo- 
 rified Jefus  to  enter  in.  "  Op&n  ye,"  may  believers 
 exclaim  in  triumph  to  thofe  celcftial  fpirits,  who 
 delight  to  minifter  to  the  heirs  of  falvation,  "  open 
 *'  ye  the  gates  of  righteoufnefs,"  thofe  gates,  through 
 which  nothing  Unclean  can  pafs,  "  that  the  rip-hte^* 
 "  ous  nation,  which  keepeth  the  truth,  may  enter 
 "  in,"  Ifai.  xxvi.  2.  and  fing,  with  your  harmonious 
 choirs,  the  praifes  of  him  who  fitteth  upon  the 
 throne;  for  he  hath  overcome  the  fliarpnefs  of  death, 
 he  hath  opened' the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  all  be- 
 lievers. *'  This  is  the  gate  of  the  Lord,  into  which 
 Vol.  IL  X  the 
 
322  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  ii8. 
 
 the  **  righteous  fliall  enter,"  to  take  poffeflion  of  the 
 inheritance  prepared  for  them,  to  "  thank"  him  who 
 hath  "  heard  them,  and  i^  become  their  falvation." 
 
 22.  The  Jlone  which  the  builders  refufedy  is  be- 
 come the  head  Jtone  of  the  corner,  23.  This  is  the 
 Lord's  doing y  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes. 
 
 Whether  this  paflage  had  firfl  a  reference  to  the 
 cafe  of  David*,  who,  as  a  figure  of  Meffiah,  was 
 brought  from  a  ftate  of  rejedion  and  perfecution,  to 
 the  throne  of  Ifrael ;  or  whether  there  be  any  truth 
 in  a  Jewidi  tradition  concerning  a  certain  ftonc, 
 which,  after  having  been,  by  the  builders  of  the 
 fecond  temple,  thrown  afide  among  the  rubbifh,  was 
 at  laft  found  to  be  exadly  fitted  for  the  honourable 
 place  of  a  chief  corner  flone ;  it  is  neither  poffible 
 nor  needful  to  afcertain.  That  the  verfcs  belong,  in 
 a  full  and  proper  fenfe,  to  Mefiiah,  is  confeffed  by 
 the  Rabbles,  and  acknowledged  by  all.  No  text  in 
 the  Old  Teftament  is  quoted  by  the  writers  of  the 
 New,  fo  often  as  this,  which  we  meet  with  in  fix 
 different  places  s  namely,  Matt.  xxi.  42.  Mark  xii. 
 10.  Luke  XX.  17.  Adlsiv.  11.  Ephefi  ii.  20.  i  Pet. 
 ii.  4.  The  fum  and  fubftance  of  the  New  Teftament 
 applications  and  expofitions  is,  that  Jefus  Chrift  is 
 the  ftone  here  mentioned ;  that  he  was  rejedted  and 
 fet  at  nought  by  the  chief  priefts  and  pharifees,  the 
 then  builders  of  the  church  ;  but  that,  being  chofen 
 
 *  David  a  Saiile  et  aliquandiu  a  decern  tribubus  reprobatus, 
 ac  foil  Tribui  Juda;  agnitus,  deinde  omnium  princeps ;  et  fub 
 figura  ejus  Chriftus  a  Judjcis  ac  Gentibus  impetitus,  mox  utro- 
 rumque  caput,  ut  ipfe  interpretatur.     Matt.  xxi.  42.  Bossuet. 
 
 of 
 
I>AY  24.    M.  P.  ON    THE    PSALMS.  323 
 
 of  God,  and  precious  to  him,  this  mofl:  valuable 
 (tone,  thus  defpifed  and  rejeded  of  men,  thus  thrown 
 among  the  rubbiQi,  and  buried  in  it,  ;was,  at  length, 
 from  fuch  a  ftate,  exalted  to  be  the"  chief  cornet 
 ftone  in  the  building,  the  main  fupport  of  the  edifice, 
 and  a  centre  of  union  for  Jew  and  Gentile,  the  two 
 parts  of  which  it  confifted;  that  this  was  the  wotk 
 of  God,  and  the  admiration  of  man.  And  what  can 
 be  more  truly  marvellous,  than  that  a  perfon,  put  to 
 death  as  a  malefaftor,  and  laid  in  the  grave,  (hould 
 from  thence  arife  immortal,  and  become  the  head  of 
 an  immortal  fociety;  fliould  afcend  into  heaven,  be 
 inverted  with  power,  and  crowned  with  glory;  and 
 fhould  prepare  a  way  for  the  fons  of  Adam  to  follow 
 him  into  thofe  manfions  of  eternal  blifs ! 
 
 24.  This  is  the  day  which  the  Lord  hath  made, 
 zve  will  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  it. 
 
 Of  the  day  on  which  Chrift  arofe  from  the  dead, 
 it  may,  with  more  propriety  than  of  any  other  day, 
 be  affirmed,  "  This  is  the  day  which  Jehovah  h^th 
 "  made."  Then  it  was,  that  the  "  rejcded  (Tone'* 
 became  the  "  head  of  the  corner."  A  morning  thien 
 dawned,  which  is  to  be  followed  by  no  evening j  a 
 brighter  fun  arofe  upon  the  world,  which  is  to  fet 
 no  more;  a  day  began,  which  will  never  end;  and 
 night  and  darknefs  departed,  to  return  not  again, 
 t'or  thus  faith  the  Lord  to  his  church  by  the  pro- 
 phet Ifaiah,  "  Thy  fun  fhall  no  more  go  down, 
 "  neither  (ball  thy  moon  "Withdraw  itfelf,  for  the 
 *'  Lord  Ihall  be  thine  everlafling  light,  atid  the  days 
 "  of  thy  mourning  fliall  be  ended."  Ifai.  xl.  20* 
 Eafter  day  is  in  a  peculiar  manner  confecrated  to 
 X  2  Him. 
 
324  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  ii8. 
 
 Him,  who,  by  his  refurreclion,  triumphed  over 
 death  and  helL  On  that  day,  through  faith,  we 
 triumph  with  himj  we  "  rejoice  and  are  glad  in  his 
 "  falvation," 
 
 25.  Save  noWy  I befeech  thee,  O  Lord:  O  Lord^ 
 /  befeech  thee,  fend  now  prof  per  ity.  26.  BleJJ'ed  be 
 he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  :  zve  have 
 blejed  you  out  of  o\;  you  that  are  of  the  hoiife  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 As  a  prelude  to  the  triumphant  manner  in  which 
 Jefus  Chrift,  after  his  refurredion,  fliould  afcend  to 
 the  heavedly  Jerufalem,  he  entered  the  earthly  city, 
 before  his  pallion,  amidft  the  acclamations  of  the 
 multitude,  who  hailed  him  as  King  of  Sion,  and 
 with  palm  branches,  the  emblems  of  vidory,  in  their 
 hands,  lung  before  him  thefe  words,  partly  taken 
 from  our  Pfalm,  "  Hofanna  to  the  Son  of  David: 
 *'  blelTed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ; 
 "  Hofanna  in  the  higheft."  The  word,  "  Hofanna," 
 is  in  the  original,  KJnv^tt'in,  *'  Save  now!'*  The  form 
 of  words  ufed  by  the  people  was  both  a  petition  and 
 a  congratulation;  as  if  they  had  faid.  Let  us  be- 
 feech Jehovah,  in  the  language  of  the  cxviiith  Pfalm, 
 to  grant  falvation  to  the  Son  of  David,  and  to  fend 
 us  now  profperity  under  him.  Bleired  is  he  who 
 thus  cometh,  not  in  his  own  name  and  power,  but 
 in  the  nam.e  and  power  of  Jehovah,  according  to 
 the  prophecies  concerning  him,  to  deliver  us  from 
 all  our  enemies.  Ratify,  O  Jehovah,  in  the  higheft, 
 or  in  heaven,  thefe  petitions  which  we  make  for  the 
 lalvation  and  profperity  of  our  King,  that  thy  bleff- 
 ings  upon  him  and  us  may  be  eftablifhed  on  earth. 
 Since  the  refurredion  of  our  Lord,  the  faithful  have 
 
 expreffed, 
 
Day  24.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  3^5 
 
 expreffed,  in  thefe  two  verfes,  the  fame^  wifhes  and 
 prayers  for  the  increafe  of  his  kingdom,  and  the 
 profperity  of  his  houfe  and  family,  of  his  minifters 
 and  his  people.  "  We  blefs  you  that  are  of  the 
 "  houfe  of  Jehovah." 
 
 27.  God  is  the  Lord,  zohich  hathjheiued  usligfU' 
 bind  the  facrijice  with  cords ^  even  unto  the  horns  of 
 the  altar. 
 
 As  Jehovah  hath  manifefted  his  power  and  glory, 
 by  raifing  Ch rift  from  the  dead;  as  he  hath,  by  fo 
 doing,  *'  (hewed  us  the  light"  of  life  and  immorta- 
 lity; let  us  obferve  the  feftival,  which  is  defigned  to 
 perpetuate  the  memory  of  fo  great  and  joyful  an 
 event.  "  Chrift  our  paflbver,"  faith  an  Apoftle,  "is 
 "  facrificed  for  us ;  therefore  let  us  keep  the  feaft." 
 I  Cor.  v.  7.  Let  us  keep  it,  only  changing  legal  for 
 evangelical  facraments  and  ceremonies;  let  us  go  to 
 the  altar,  not  to  fee  a  figure  of  the  lamb  of  God,  as 
 he  was  to  be  flain  ;  but  to  behold  a  reprefentation  of 
 him  as  he  hath  been  flain  ;  to  behold,  in  figure,  his 
 body  broken,  and  his  blood  poured  out;  to  eat  the 
 bread  of  life,  and  drink  the  cup  of  falvation. 
 
 28.  Tiiou  art  my  God,  andl  willpraife  thee:  thou  art 
 my  God,  I  will  exalt  thee.  29.  Ogive  thanks  unto  the 
 Lo  KDjfor  he  is  good- for  his  mercy  endureth/or  ever. 
 The  prophet  declareth  his  refolution  to  "  praife" 
 and  to  "  exalt,"  to  magnify  and  to  glorify  his 
 "  God;"  he  then  concludes,  as  he  began,  with  ex- 
 horting all  the  world  to  do  the  fame.  Preferve  to  us, 
 blefled  Lord,  the  ufe  of  thefe  divine  hymns  in  thy 
 church,  until,  at  the  refurredion  of  the  juft,  we 
 Ihall  celebrate  an  Eafter  in  heaven,  and  fing  them  new 
 in  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 X  3  XXIV  DAY, 
 
326  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119. 
 
 XXW    DAY.       EVEN'ING    PRAYER. 
 PSALM       CXIX. 
 
 A    R    G    U    M    E    N     T. 
 
 This  Pfiilm  is  divided  (moll  probably  for  tlie 
 advantage  of  memory)  according  to  the 
 number  of  letters  which  compofe  the  He- 
 brew alphabet,  into  twenty-two  portions,  of 
 eight  .  orfcs  each ;  and  not  only  every  por- 
 tion, bu*:  every  verfe  of  that  portion,  begins 
 with  the  letter  appropriated  to  it.  David 
 mull:  undoubtedly  have  been  the  author. 
 He  defcribeth,  in  a  feries  of  devotional  me- 
 ditations, the  inilru6lion  and  the  comfort, 
 which,  through  all  vicifsitudes  of  mind  and 
 fortune,  he  had  ever  found  in  the  word  of 
 God.  The  many  Itrong  exprefsions  of  love 
 towards  the  law,  and  the  repeated  refolu- 
 tions  and  vovys  to  obferve  it,  will  often  force 
 us  to  turn  our  thoughts  to  the  true  David, 
 ityhofe  "  meat  and  drink  it  was,  to  do  the 
 •'  will , of  him  that  fent  him.*'  The  parages 
 more  efpecially  characterirtic  of  him,  as 
 well  ^s  thqfe  which  allude  primarily  to  any 
 particular  circum fiances  in  the  hiftory  of 
 the  patriarch  David,  are  pointed  out  in  the 
 courfe  of  the  comment.     But  the  chief  de- 
 
Day  24.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  327 
 
 fign  through  the  whole  hath  been,  to  draw 
 forth  the  leffons  of  heavenly  wifdom  and 
 comfort,  contained  in  this  interelting  com- 
 pofition,  for  the  fcrvice  of  believers,  who, 
 while  they  are  accomplifliing  their  pilgrim- 
 age and  warfare  upon  earth,  ihould  con- 
 tinually folace  thcmfelves  with  the  cxixth 
 Pfalm,  and  repair  to  it  as  to  a  fountain, 
 which  can  never  be  exhaufled.  Between 
 the  verfes  of  each  portion,  a  conne6lion  is 
 frequently  to  be  traced,  but  it  doth  not 
 often  feeni  to  extend  from  one  portion  to 
 another.  The  many  words  employed  to  ex- 
 prefs  the  revelations  of  God's  will,  have 
 diflindl  fignifications,  denoting  different  parts 
 or  portions  of  the  Scriptures,  which  it  hath 
 fometimes  been  found  of  great  ufe  to  take 
 into  confideration,  while  at  others  the  terms 
 appear  to  be  ufed  promifcuoufly,  in  a  general 
 fenfe,  and  for  the  fake  of  variety. 
 
 ALE  PH.     Part  L 
 
 I.  Blejhd  are  the  undefUedy  Heb.  perfect y  or y  Jin- 
 cere  in  the  wai/y  who  walk  in  the  law  of  the  Lord. 
 
 By  fin,  mifery  entered  into  the  world ;  holinefs 
 alone,  therefore,  can  lead  us  to  happinefs.  "  The 
 "  law  of  Jehovah'*  is  the  path  of  life,  and  by 
 "  walking  in  the  way,"  we  Ihall  attain  to  the  end. 
 But,  alas,  w§  are  out  of  the  way ;  we  have  walked 
 X  4  in 
 
328  A  COMMENTARY        P$al.  119 
 
 in  the  law  of  fin,  after  the  lufts  of  the  flefh  ;  vvho 
 will  direct  and  flrengthen  us  to  walk  in  the  law  of 
 God,  after  the  defire  of  the  Spirit?  We  are  fallen 
 from  our  integrity  ;  who  will  raife  us  again  ?  The 
 Gofpel,  which  was  preached  to  Abraham  before  th.e 
 Mofaic  difpenfation,  and  which  was  prefigured  and 
 believed  under  it,  returneth  us,  to  all  thefe  queftions, 
 anfwers  of  peace.  The  P^edcemer  hath  prevailed  for 
 the  pardon  of  our  errors;  the  Redeemer  hath  raifcd 
 las  from  our  fallen  (late;  he  hath  reconducled  us  to 
 the  path  of  life;  in  his  name  we  arife  and  walk;  he 
 maketh  us  righteous,  and,  coniequently,  he  maketh  us 
 "  blefled."  For,  "  Bleiied  are  the  fincere  in  the  way, 
 "  who  walk  in  the  law  of  Jehovah." 
 
 2.  Blejfed  are  they  that  keep  his  tejUmonies^  a,nd 
 ihditfetk  him  with  their  zvhole  heart. 
 
 The  divine  revelations  and  inftitutions,  whether 
 of  the  old  or  the  new  law,  are  called  Gcd's  "  tefti- 
 **  monies;"  they  are  the  witnefles  of  his  will,  and 
 the  pledges  of  his  love.  They  are  committed  to  the 
 church,  as  a  precious  depolit,  or  truft,  to  be  by  her 
 children  *'  kept,*'  and  obierved.  In  and  by  thefe 
 God  is  to  be  fought;  "  they  that  feek  him  with  their 
 ••'  whole  heart,"  with  ardent  and  undivided  affeclion, 
 fail  not  to  find  him,  as  an  inflruftor  and  a  comforter ; 
 and  they  who  find  him,  find  all  things,  ^nd  aie 
 '*  blefTcd"  indeed. 
 
 3.  TJiey  alfo  that  do  no  iniquity,  they  that  loalk 
 in  his  ways. 
 
 O  biifbful  fiate  of  ^hofe,  who  are  redeemed  from 
 the  earth,  and  all  earthly  defires;  who  are  delivered 
 from  the  dominion  of  fin ;  who  "  follow  the  Lamb 
 
 *'  whither- 
 
Day  24.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  329 
 
 "  whltherfoever  he  goeth,"  and,  like  Z.icliarias  and 
 Elizabeth,  "  walk  in  the  ftatiites  and  ordinances  of 
 **  the  Lord  blamelefs."  Luke  i.  6.  Enroll  us,  O 
 Lord,  in  the  happy  number  of  thefe  thy  fervants; 
 pardon  our  offences;  give  us  a  new  nature,  and  new 
 defires,  averfe  from  fin,  and  inclined  to  fancflity:  and 
 guard  us,  that  the  wicked  one  touch  us  not. 
 
 4.  Thoit  hajt  commanded  us  to  keep  thij  precepts 
 dIU gently. 
 
 He  who  made  us,  and  redeemed  us,  hath  a  double 
 right  to  our  fervice.  We  are  not  our  own,  having 
 been  bought  with  the  blood  of  our  Lord;  his  will, 
 therefore,  and  not  our  own,  is  to  be  done  by  us.  And 
 his  will  is,  that  we  (hould  "  keep  his  precepts  diH- 
 "  gently,"  becaufe  in  "  keeping"  them,  and  in  keep- 
 ing them  '*  diligently,"  \o  as  not  to  halt  between  God 
 and  the  world,  but  to  ferve  one  Mafler  only,  doth 
 our  happinefs  confift.  Now,  when  the  commands  of 
 our  Superior,  and  our  greatefl  Benefaftor,  of  our 
 Friend,  our  Father,  and  our  God,  coincide  with  our 
 own  interefts  temporal  and  eternal,  what  pretext  can 
 there  be  for  difobedience  and  rebellion.? 
 
 5.  0  that  my  ways  ivere  directed^  or,  prepared, 
 and  ejtahlijhed^  to  keep  thy  Jiatutes  I 
 
 The  faithful  foul,  enraptured  with  the  contem- 
 plation of  that  bleffednefs,  which  is  the  confequence 
 of  ferving  God,  but  confcious,  at  the  fame  time,  of 
 an  inability  to  attain  it,  fighs  after  the  refrefliing 
 and  ftrengthening  influences  of  divine  grace.  She 
 beholdeth  her  Saviour  afar  off;  fhe  beholdeth  the 
 beauty  and  glorious  majefty  of  his  heavenly  king- 
 dom;  fhe  beholdeth  the  way  which  leads  to  it;  but 
 fhe  hath  not  power  to  walk  therein.     This  confi- 
 
 deration 
 
530  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119. 
 
 deration  canfeth  her  to  gi'oan  earneftly  within  herfelf, 
 and  at  length  to  breathe  forth  a  wifli,  that  the  Spirit 
 of  truth  and  love  would  fix  and  eftablilh  her  in  a  holy 
 courfe  of  thinking,  fpeaking,  and  afting,  upon  all 
 occafions,  and  would  prevent  her  from  turning  afide 
 out  of  it,  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left. 
 
 6.  Thenjhall  1  not  he  ajhamedy  xvhen  1  have  re- 
 fpect  unto  atl  thy  commandments. 
 
 All  the  commandments  have  the  fame  author,  and 
 the  fame  fandion.  He  who  thlnketh  to  atot^k?  for  the 
 breach  of  one,  by  the  obfervation  of  another ;  he 
 who  referveth  to  himfelf  a  licence  of  indulging  any 
 favourite  darling  luft,  while,  in  general,  he  preferveth 
 the  appearance  of  an  exemplary  condud,  is  a  hypo- 
 crite, and  unlefs  he  repent,  will  be  brought  to 
 *'  fhame,"  if  not  before  men  here,  yet  before  men 
 and  angels  hereafter.  "  Shame"  is  the  fruit  of  fm  ; 
 confidence  is  the  efFe6t  of  righteoufnefs.  Wherefore, 
 in  all  our  proceedings,  let  us  "  have  refped,''  not  to 
 the  opinions  of  men,  to  the  corrupt  culloms  of  the 
 world,  or  to  the  deceitful  fug^eftions  of  our  own" 
 hearts,  but  "  to  the  commandm^ts,  to  all  the  com- 
 "  mandments  of  Gocl;*'  let  us,  as  St.  John  exhort- 
 eth,  "  abide  in  Chnft^  that  when  he  (hall  appear,  we 
 "  may  have  confidence,  and  not  be  afliamed  before 
 "  him  at  his  coming.''     i  John  ii.   28. 
 
 7.  /  xv'dl  praife  thee  loiih  uprightnejs  of  hearty 
 when  I Jhall  have  learned  thy  ri'ghteoits Judgments, 
 
 Confidence  in  God  will  always  be  productive  of 
 joy,  and  undiifembled  "  praife"  will  accompany  true 
 converfion.  The  Scriptures  are  ftyled  God's  "  right- 
 "  eous  judgments,"  us  containing  an  account  of  his 
 
 decrees 
 
Day  24.  E.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  331 
 
 decrees  and  determinations  concerning  us,  with  a 
 hiftory  of  cafes  and  precedents,  entered  upon  record 
 for  our  admonition.  By  tliefe  we  are  to  form  our 
 opinions,  and  to  regulate  our  conduct.  And  when 
 we  fliall  have  fo  "  learned"  thefe,  as  to  walk  ac- 
 cording to  them,  we  (hall  praife  God  with  an  "  up- 
 right heart  i"  our  tongues  will  utter  what  our  hearts 
 feel. 
 8. 1  tvill  keep  thy  Jiatiites :  Oforfake  mc  not  utterli/. 
 The  refult  of  our  meditations  on  God's  worJ,  and 
 on  the  advantages  of  ftudying,  in  order  to  obferve  ir's 
 diredions,  (hould  always  be  a  refolution  fo  to  do,  and 
 a  prayer  for  grace  to  execute  that  refolution.  Lord, 
 we  "  will  keep  thy  ftatutes;"  for  love  can  do  all 
 things,  when  thou  haft  fhed  it  abroad  in  our  hearts. 
 "  Love  worketh  no  ill;  therefore  love  is  the  fulfili- 
 **  ing  of  the  law;**  Rom.  xiii.  10.  and  mercy  will 
 accept  what  grace  enableth  us  to  perform.  Be  thou, 
 therefore,  ever  with  us,  and  *'  forlake  us  not;"  or  if, 
 at  any  time,  to  try  our  faith,  and  to  exercife  our  pa- 
 tience, thou  fliouldeft  depart  from  us,  and  leave  us  to 
 ourfelves  for  a  time,  (hort  be  thy  abfence,  and  fpeedy 
 thy  return  1  "  O  forfake  us  not  utterly !" 
 
 BETH.    Part  IL 
 
 9.  Wherewithal  JJiall  a  young  man  cleanfe  his 
 way  ?   By  taking  heed  thereto  accordini",  to  thy  word. 
 
 Youth  enters  upon  the  journey  of  life,  headftrong 
 and  inexperienced,  with  a  bias  of  original  corrup- 
 tion, and  all  the  paffions  awake.  In  luch  circum- 
 ftances,  how  fhall  a  young  man  direft  nis  fteps,  fo 
 
 as 
 
332  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  119 
 
 as  to  *•  efcape  the  pollution  that  is  in  the  world 
 "  through  luft?"  2  Pet.  i.  4.  He  muft,  for  this 
 purpofe,  take  with  him  the  diredlions  to  be  found 
 in  the  Scriptures  of  truth.  "  1  have  written  unto 
 "  you,  young  men,"  fays  the  Beloved  Difciple^  "  be- 
 "  caufe  ye  are  ftrong,  and  the  word  of  God  abideth 
 "  in  you,  and  ye  have  overcome  the  wicked  one." 
 He  who  became  man  for  our  falvation,  pafifed 
 through  this  ftate  of  youth,  undefiled,  that  he  might, 
 as  it  were,  reclaim  and  confecrate  it  anew  to  God. 
 Let  every  young  man  often  meditate  on  this  cir- 
 cumflance. 
 
 10.  WiUi  my  xvliole  heart  have  I  fought  thee.-  O 
 lat  me  not  ivander  from  thy  commandments. 
 
 Defpairing  of  fufFicient  affillance  from  any  other 
 quarter,  becaufe  no  one  elfe  can  either  fiiew  us  the 
 way  to  heaven,  or  enable  us  to  walk  therein,  even  if 
 it  could  be  ihewn,  "  with  our  whole  heart  have 
 we  fought  thee/*  O  God,  thy  diredion,  and  thine 
 aid ;  and  thou  hafb  promifed,  that  they  who  "  feek 
 "  fhall  find;"  like  (beep  without  a  (hepherd  are  we 
 given  to  flray;  O  preferve  us  from  error  in  prin- 
 ciple, and  in  pradice;  *'  let  us  not  wander  from  thy 
 "  commandments." 
 
 11.  Thy  icord  have  I  hid  in  mine  heart,  that  I 
 might  not  fin  againji  thee. 
 
 The  young  niai>-who  would  clcanfe  his  way,  and 
 take  heed  according  to  God's  word,  mufl  "  lay  up 
 "  that  word  in  his  heart ;"  for  from  the  hear  tare 
 "  the  illues  of  life,"  th.e  thoughts,  the  words,  and 
 the  adions;  when  God  ruleth  in  the  heart  by  his 
 v;ord  and  f[)!rit,    thcfc    become    his   fubjecftsj-   then 
 
 "  the 
 
Day  24.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  333 
 
 "  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  within  us,"  and  all  is 
 obedience,  peace,  and  love.  Thou  art  our  King, 
 O  Lord  Jefu;  fuffer  no  ulurper  to  poflefs  thy  place 
 in  our  affedions ;  permit  no  other  Lord  to  have  do- 
 minion over  us. 
 
 1 2.  BleJJtd art  fhov,OLoKT>:  teach  me  thyjiatutes. 
 He  who  is  "  blefled''  can  make  us  fo;  he  who  de- 
 
 lighteth  to  communicate  "  blcffing,"'  will  do  it,  if  we 
 afk  him,  by  "teaching  us  his  ftatutcs,"  which  conform 
 us  to  his  nature,  that  we  may  live  his  life,  and  blefs 
 his  name  for  ever.  When  the  Word  of  God  is  our 
 leflbn,  the  Spirit  of  God  muft  be  our  Mafter. 
 
 1 3.  IVitiL  my  lips  have  1  declared  all  the  judgments 
 of  thy  mouth. 
 
 The  beft  figa  that  God  hath  "  taught  us  his  fl:^- 
 *'  tutes,"  and  the  greateft  inducement  to  him  to  teach 
 us  ftill  more  and  more,  is  a  readinefs  to  make  others 
 partakers  of  thofe  bleffings,  which  we  ourfelves  have 
 received  from  him.  Jehovah  falhions  the  "  lips"  of 
 man,  and  he  expeds  that  they  fhould  be  employed 
 in  his  fervice.  "  Out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart 
 "  the  mouth  fpeaketh,"  and  the  ftream  will  always 
 (hew  the  nature  of  the  fountain.  When  we  make 
 the  Scriptures  the  fubjed  of  our  converfation,  we 
 glorify  God,  we  edify  our  neighbours,  and  we  improve 
 ourfelves. 
 
 14.  /  have  rejoiced  in  the  way  of  thy  teJlimonieSj 
 as  much  as  in  all  riches. 
 
 Truth  and  holinefs  afford  to  the  fincere  believer  a 
 plcafure  more  exquifite,  as  well  as  more  folid  and  en- 
 during, than  that  which  a  mifer  feels  at  the  acquifi- 
 tion  of  his  darling  wealth,     Let  us  no  loonger  envy 
 
 the 
 
334  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119. 
 
 the  joys  of  worldly  men,  no  longer  be  chagrined  at 
 ^  the  profperlfy  of  the  wicked.  The  "  true  riches"  we 
 may  always  acquire  j  and,  furely,  as  much  as  tire  hea- 
 ven is  higher  than  the  earth,  fo  much  are  heavenly 
 joys  above  earthly,  in  kind,  degree,  and  duration. 
 
 15.  I icilhnc dilate  in  Ihy  precepts y and  have  refpect 
 unto  thy  xoaxjs. 
 
 Meditation  is  that  exercife  of  the  mind,  whereby  it 
 recalls  a  known  truth,  as  fome  kinds  of  creatures  do 
 their  food,  to  be  ruminated  upon,  until  all  the  nu- 
 tritious parts  are  extracted,  and  fitted  for  the  pur- 
 pofes  of  life.  By  ftudy  we  lay  in  knowledge,  by  me- 
 ditation we  reduce  that  knowledge  to  practice.  And 
 we  have  then  duly  "  meditated  on  God's  precepts," 
 when  in  all  our  proceedings  we  "  have  refpect  unto 
 "  his  ways,"  comparing  our  anions  with  the  rule  of 
 his  word. 
 
 \(i.  I  will  delight  my f elf  in  thy  Jlatutes :  I  will 
 not  forget  thy  zvord. 
 
 By  frequent  meditation  and  continual  pra6lice,  the 
 divine  "  flatutes"  will  become  our  "  delight;"  «nd 
 from  the  pleafures,  as  well  as  from  the  cares  of  the 
 world,  we  fiiall  gladly  fly  to  them,  for  recreation  and 
 comfort.  Of  holy  exercifes  there  is  great  variety,  and 
 fpiritual  joys  are  without  number.  Lord,  make  us  to 
 "  delight  ourfelves  in  thy  flatutes,"  and  when  we  de- 
 light in  what  we  learn,  we  fliall  eafily  retain  it  in  me- 
 mory; **  we  fhali  not  forget  thy  word." 
 
 GIMEL.    Part  III. 
 
 17.  Deal  bountifully  with  thy  fervant^  that  /  may 
 livey  and  keep  thy  icord.^* 
 
 In 
 
Day  24.  E.p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  335 
 
 In  the  foregoing  parts  of  the  Pfahn,  we  have  liearcl 
 the  believer  declaring  the  excellency  of  God's  word, 
 and  expreffing  both  his  delire  and  his  refolution  to 
 obferve  it's  diredtions.  He  now  befeecheth  God  to 
 remove  all  impediments,  and  to  accomplidi  this  work 
 in  him.  And  as  a  man  muft  "  live,"  in  order  to 
 *'  work,"  the  firft  petition  is,  that  God  would 
 "  deal  with  his  fervant,"  according  to  the  mea- 
 fures  of  grace  and  mercy,  enabling  him  to  "  live" 
 the  life  of  faith,  and  flrengthening  him  by  the  Spirit 
 of  might  in  the  inner  man,  to  "  keep  the  word"  of 
 truth,  and  to  walk  in  the  commandments  of  his 
 blcfled  Mafter,  all  his  days. 
 
 18.  Open  thou  jnine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  won- 
 drous things  out  of  thy  laiv. 
 
 So  far  are  we  naturally  from  being  able  to  "  keep" 
 the  word,  that  we  are  not  able  to  underlland  it.  The 
 law  of  God  is  full  of  c^ivine  and  Ipiritual  truths,  con- 
 cealed under  literal  hiftories,  vifible  figns,  and  ex-^ 
 ternal  ceremonies.  To  difcern  thefe  /TlJ^te  *'  won- 
 "  drous,"  becaufe  hidden,  myfterious  things,  our 
 "  eyes,''  the  eyes  of  our  underftanding,  muft  be 
 "  unveiled;"*  that  "  veil"  muft  be  taken  off,  which 
 St.  Paul  affirmeth  to  be  upon  the  hearts  of  the  Jews, 
 "  in  reading  the  old  Teftament,"  and  which  will 
 continue  there,  until  they  turn  to  the  Lord  Jefus 
 Chrift.  Then  the  veil  will  be  taken  away,  and  they 
 will  behold  him,  and  the  redemption  by  him,  as  pre- 
 figured in  their  law,  and  foretold  by  their  prophet?*. 
 
 *  "  Revela  oculos  meos:"  aperl,  difpelle  umbras  tolle  vclamen- 
 
 tum,quo  fpirituales  oculiconteguntur.   •'  Confiderabomirabilia:'* 
 
 ■t  penjtus  introfpiciam,  non  literam  ti.nt^in,  ac  velut  corticem. 
 
 3  ^^gis. 
 
r^36  A  COMMENTARY       PsAl.  119, 
 
 Pride,  prejudice,  and  intereft'  will  compofe  a  veil, 
 through  which  a  Chriflian  fliall  fee  as  little  of  the 
 Ne.v  Teftament,  as  a  Jew  doth  of  the  Old.  Lord, 
 convince  us  of  our  blindnefs,  and  reftore  us  to  our 
 fight. 
 
 19.  /  a?}i  a  fir  anger  in  the  earth,  hide  not  thy  covi- 
 mandnients  from  me. 
 
 The  above  requeft  for  divine  illumination  is  en* 
 forced  by  this  argument,  that  the  petitioner  is  a 
 *'  ftranger,"  and  a  fojourner  upon  "  the  earth;"  he 
 is  travelling,  through  a  foreign  country,  to  his  na- 
 tive city,  where  are  his  kindred,  his  treafure,  and  his 
 heart;  as  a  fojourner,  he  hath  renounced  tht  world, 
 which  is  therefore  become  his  enemy  i  as  a  ftranger, 
 he  is  fearful  of  lofing  his  way;  on  thefe  accounts  he 
 requefteth,  that  God  would  compenfate  the  lofs  of 
 earthly  comforts,  by  affording  the  light  of  heaven; 
 that  he  would  not  *■'  hide  his  commandments,"  but 
 ftiew  and  teach  him  thofe  fteps,  by  which  he  may 
 afcend  towards  heaven,  rejoicing  in  hope  of  future 
 glory. 
 
 20.  My  foul  hreakcthfor  the  longing  that  it  hath 
 ujito  thy  judgme?its  at  all  times. 
 
 Another  argument  here  urged,  is  that  "  longing" 
 desire,  which  the  foul  hath,  during  her  flate  of  pil- 
 grimage below,  unto  the  revelation  of  God's  will. 
 Grieved  and  vexed  at  the  profped  of  fin,  vanity, 
 and  folly,  and  finding  nothing  below  that  will  fa- 
 tisfy  the  defires  of  an  immortal  fpirit,  llie  fetteth   her 
 
 legis,  fed  arcana  fpiritualia,  puta  in  fabbatis  requiem  fempi- 
 ternam,  fimplicitatem  in  azymis,  in  viftimis  obediendara,  et 
 ubique  Chrirtum.     BOssuet. 
 
 affeclions 
 
t>AY  24.  E.  P.  ON  THE  PSALMS.'  337 
 
 affedions  on  the  better  things  above,  which  are  pro- 
 jpofed  in  the  Scriptures,  as  the  proper  objects  of  our 
 wifhes.  Her  appetite  for  the  divine  Word  is  keen 
 as  that  of  hunger,  or  thirft,  and  "  hope  deferred 
 "  maketh  the  heart  Tick."  This  difpofitlon  is  not  a 
 tranfient  fit,  but  it  is  conftant  and  uniform  "  at  all 
 "  times." 
 
 21.   Thou  hajl  rebuked  the  proud  that  are  curfed, 
 which  do  err  from  thy  commandments. 
 
 The  confideration  of  the  wretched  condition  of 
 impenitent  fmners,  is  another  reafon,  why  we  entreat 
 God  to  fet  and  to  keep  us  in  the  way  of  his  com- 
 mandments. *'  Pride"  produceth  "  error,"  and  ob- 
 ilinacy  in  that  errorj  obftinate  tranfgrelfors  rejed  the 
 call,  the  covenant,  and  the  terms  of  the  Gofpelj  to 
 fuch  the  "  curie"  of  the  law  is  ratified  and  fealed, 
 and  mercy  configns  them  over  to  juftice,  which  fel- 
 dom  farh  to  give  them  fome  "  rebukes'*  even  in 
 this  world,  for  a  foretafte  to  them,  and  a  warning  to 
 others. 
 
 22.  Remove  from  me  reproach  and  contempt  ^  for 
 1  have  kept  thy  teftimonies. 
 
 "  Reproach  and  contempt"  are  liberally  beftowed 
 by  the  world  upon  men,  who,  beiug  not  of  it,  re- 
 prove its  deeds  by  their  exemplary  condudt.  Thefe, 
 to  beginners  more  efpecialiy,  are  fore  lets  and  hin- 
 drances in  the  way  of  duty;  and.  after  the  example 
 of  David,  we  may  befeech  God  to  "  remove"  them 
 from  us,  when  we  fuffer  them  in  his  caufe,  and  know 
 oUrfelves  to  be  innocent  of  the  crimes  laid  to  our 
 charge.  In  the  mean  time,  to  comfort  ourfeives  un- 
 der them,  let  us  remember,  tnat  He,  who  alone. 
 Vol.  II.  Y  in 
 
J38  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  119. 
 
 in  the  ftrld  and  unlimited  fenfe  of  the  words,  could 
 fay,  *'  I  have  kept  thy  teftimonies,"  fuftained  the 
 utmoft  degree  of  "  reproach  and  contempt,"  for  our 
 fakes,  and  was  patient  and  refigned  under  it  all, 
 until  God  "  removed"  it  from  him  by  a  glorious 
 refurredion.  There  remaineth  likewife  a  refurreclion 
 for  the  myftical  body  of  Chrift^  and  then,  "  Wif- 
 "  dom  will  be  juftified  of  all  her  children." 
 
 23.  Princes  alfo  did  fit  ^^nd /peak  againji  me:  but 
 ihy  fervant  did  meditate  in  thy  Jiatutes. 
 
 "  Princes"  and  rulers  have  often  "  fate*'  in  coun- 
 cil upon  the  "  fervants"  of  God,  and  *'  fpoken,"  in 
 judgment,  falfe  things  "  againft  them,"  as  they  did 
 againft  their  bleffed  Mafter,  in  the  days  of  his  flefli. 
 David  hath  taught  us  how  to  ad,  in  fuch  circum- 
 ilances.  We  are  not  to  renounce  the  creed,  or  the 
 commandments,  fhould  it  fo  happen  that  '*  the  rulers 
 "  and  the  pharifees"  neither  believe  the  former,  nor 
 obferve  the  latter j  but  rather,  we  fhould  "  medi- 
 **  tate,"  more  than  ever,  in  the  Scriptures  j  that  we 
 may  draw  from  thence  comfort  in  the  troubles,  and 
 direftion  in  the  difficulties,  which  perfecution  bring- 
 cth  upon  usi  always  bearing  in  mind,  when  princes 
 command  any  thing  contrary  to  the  word  of  God, 
 that  our  fervice  is  due  to  a  higher  Mafterj  "  thy 
 **  SERVANT  did  meditate  in  thy  ftatutes." 
 
 24.  Thy  tejlimoiiies  alfo  are  7ny  delight,  and  m^ 
 counfellors. 
 
 Pleafure  and  wifdom,  as  the  world  hath  ordered 
 matters,   are    almoft   incompatible  3    infomuch  that 
 Solomon,  relating  the  experience  he  had  had  of  vo- 
 luptuoufnefs,  mentions  it  as  a  thing  out  of  the  ordi- 
 nary 
 
JDay  24.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  339 
 
 nary  courfe,  that  ''  his  wifdom"  all  the  time  "  re- 
 "  mained  with  him."  Ecclef.  ii.  9.  But  they  who 
 meditate  in  the  word  of  God,  find  a  pleafure,  which 
 hath  wifdom  for  it's  infeparable  companion.  Their 
 forrow  is  difpelled,  and  their  doubts  are  refolved. 
 For  how  can  he  be  forrowful,  who  fits  by  the  foun- 
 tain of  joy?  How  can  he  be  long  in  doubt,  who 
 hath  the  prophets  and  apoftles  for  his  counfellors? 
 
 D  A  L  E  T  H.     Part  IV. 
 
 25.  My  foul  cleaveth  to  the  dufi:  quicken  thou  me 
 according  to  thy  word. 
 
 The  Pfalmifl:,  in  a  ftate  of  afflidlion  and  humilia- 
 tion, fi:ill  feeketh  relief,  by  prayer,  from  the  Scrip- 
 tures. His  circumflances  vary,  but  his  affeflion  to 
 the  word  of  God  continueth  the  fame.  Every  one, 
 whofe  affeftions  are  fet  on  things  below,  hath  reafon 
 to  exclaim  with  David,  "  My  foul  cleaveth  to  the 
 "  duft."  From  this  kind  of  death  we  are  '^  quicken- 
 "  ed,"  or  made  alive,  by  the  Gofpel,  through  that 
 fame  fpirit  which  raifed  Chrift:  from  the  dead,  and 
 which  fiiall  raife  us  alfo  at  the  lafi:  da)?-.  Then  foul 
 and  body,  perfeded  together,  (hall  take  their  final 
 farewell  of  earth,  and  afcend  to  heaven,  where  the 
 foul  (hall  feel  no  pafiion  but  the  love  of  God,  and 
 the  body  (hall  have  no  employment  but  to  ex- 
 prefs  it. 
 
 26.  /  have  declared  my  zvaysy  and  thou  heardejt 
 me  ;  teach  me  thy  Jlatutes. 
 
 We  fliould  freely  and  ingenuoufly  "  declare"  to 
 
 God  in  prayer  our  fins,  our  temptations,  our  for- 
 
 Y  2  rows, 
 
346  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  i  i  5. 
 
 rows,  and  our  undertakings;  it  argues  love,  confi- 
 dence, and  fincerity,  fo  to  do;  it  is  a  means  of  ac-^ 
 quainting  us  with  our  own  ftate,  of  which  generally 
 we  are  ignorant ;  and  it  will  not  fail  to  procure  us 
 thofe  aids  from  above,  of  which  we  ftand  in  need. 
 God  will  *' hear'*  us;  he  will  pardon  our  offences, 
 lirengthen  us  in  our  trials,  difpel  our  grief,  and 
 profper  the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us.  Thefe 
 mercies,  when  received,  fhould  incline  us  to  walk 
 worthy  of  them,  and,  for  that  purpofe,  to  beg  the 
 farther  inftruttion  and  diredlion  of  the  divine  Spirit, 
 **  I  have  declared  my  ways,  and  thou  heardefl  me — 
 "  teach  me  thy  ftatutes." 
 
 27.  Make  me  to  underjiand  the  way  of  thy  pre- 
 cepts: fojhall  I  talk,  or,  meditate  of  thy  wondrous 
 •works,  or,  thy  my  ft  cries. 
 
 The  heart  of  the  troubled  Pfalmifl:  is  intent  upon 
 duty,  and  the  deliverance  which  he  chiefly  requefteth 
 is  that  from  ignorance  and  error.  True  knowledge 
 Cometh  from  God,  and  it  cannot  be  too  often  defired 
 of  him.  It  is  pleafant  as  the  light,  extenfive  as  the 
 heavens,  and  more  profitable  than  the  treafures  of 
 eaftern  kings.  He  who  is  led  to  "  underftand"  the 
 Celeflial  "  myfteries"  of  the  Scriptures,  will  never 
 Want  fubjefts  for  "  meditation,"  and  fhould  never 
 permit  thofe  fubjedls  either  to  flip  out  of  his  mind, 
 or  to  lie  unimproved  in  it. 
 
 28.  My  foul  meltethfor  heaviiiefs  •  ftrengthen  thou 
 me  according  to  thy  xvord. 
 
 Let  us  not  marvel,  if  fin  bring  us  to  the  know- 
 ledge of  forrow,  fince  he,  who  "  knew  no  fin,"  was 
 yet,  on  our  account,  fo  intimately  "  acquainted  with 
 
 «  grief/' 
 
Day  24.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  341 
 
 ^■'  grief."  In  the  garden,  his  foul  "  melted  for  hea- 
 *'  vinefs,"  and  "  there  appeared  an  angel  from  hea- 
 "  ven  flrengthening  him."  Luke  xxii.  43.  Our 
 tranfgreffioHs  deferve  an  eternity  of  forrow  j  let  us 
 not,  therefore,  repine  at  any  portion  of  it,  that  may 
 fall  to  our  (hare,  in  time.  No,  bleflcd  Jefu,  let  us 
 luffer  with  thee,  as  both  a  means  and  a  pledge  of  our 
 future  glorification  with  thee.  Only  "  ftrengthen  us, 
 *^  according  to"  the  promifes  in  "  thy  word."  Ih 
 this  life,  all  we  alk  is  faith  and  patience;  faith,  to 
 aflure  us  that  thou  ordereft  all  things  for  the  beft;  and 
 patience,  to  preferve  that  faith.  Thefe  were  the  pro- 
 vifions  with  which  thy  befh  beloved  fervants  of  old  tra- 
 velled through  this  mortal  life.  Enable  us,  upon 
 whom  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come,  to  do  the  fame ; 
 that  fo,  when  the  days  of  our  earthly  pilgrimage 
 (liall  be  happily  accompliQied,  we  may  fit  down, 
 with  Abraham,  and  Haac,  and  Jacob,  in  thy  hea- 
 venly kingdom. 
 
 29.  Remove  from  me  the  loay  of  lying:  and  grant 
 vie  thy  law  gracioiijlij.  30.  /  Jtave  cho/'en  the  way  of 
 truth :  thy  judgments  have  I  laid  before  me. 
 
 It  is  plain  that  "  the  way  of  truth,"  in  the  latter 
 of  thefe  two  verfes,  is  oppofed  to  *^  the  way  of 
 "  lying,"  or  of  ^'  falfehood,"  in  the  former.  The 
 one  comprehends  every  thing  in  dodrine  and  prac- 
 tice that  is  right,  and  therefore  ^^  true;"  the  other 
 denotes  every  thing  which  is  wrong,  and  therefore 
 *^  falfe,"  Of  thefe  two  ways  man  hath  his  choice. 
 God  points  out  to  him  the  former  by  his  word,  and 
 offers  to  condudt  him  in  it  by  his  Spirit.  S^tan 
 Ihews  him  the  latter,  and  endeavours  to  feduce  him 
 y  3  into 
 
342  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119, 
 
 into  it  by  his  temptations.  The  Pfalmift  declareth 
 himfelf  to  have  "  chofen"  God's  way,  and  to  have 
 "  laid"'  the  Scriptures  *'  before  him,"  as  the  chart  by 
 which  he  was  to  direct  his  courfe.  He  therefore  prays 
 that  the  other  way  may  be  far  "  removed"  from  him5^ 
 and  that  God  would  youchfafe  him  fuch  a  thorough 
 acquaintance  with  the  *  ■  way"  of  truth,  as  m.ight  pre- 
 vent him  from  ever  wandering  into  the  path  of  error. 
 How  much  depends  upon  the  road  we  choofe !  How 
 difficult  is  it,  in  a  divided  c.nd  diftrafted  world,  to. 
 choofe  aright!  Yet  this  choice,  io  important,  fo  dif- 
 ficult, frequently  remains  to  be  made  by  us,  when, 
 we  have  neither  judgment  to  choofe,  nor  ftrength  to 
 travel! 
 
 31.  I  have  Jiuck  unto  thy  teftimonies ;  O  Lord, 
 put  me  not  toJJiame. 
 
 Having  once  chofen  our  road,  it  remains  that  we 
 perfevere  in  it;  fmce  better  had  it  been  for  us  never 
 to  have  known  the  way  of  truth,  than  to  forfake  it, 
 when  known;  and  we  have  the  fame  reafons  to  go 
 on,  which  induced  us  to  begin;  nay,  though  the 
 love  of  the  world  may  require  novelty  and  variety  to 
 fupport  it,  yet  in  the  blefled  union  of  the  foul  with 
 it's  Redeemer,  true  afiedion  will  increafe  with  time 
 and  acquaintance.  The  Pfalmift  doth  not  fay  only, 
 "  I  have  followed,"  but  "  I  have  (luck  unto  thy 
 "  teftimonies;"  1  have  adhered  fo  clofely  and  firmly 
 to  them,  that  temptation  has  in  vain  effayed  to  al- 
 lure, and  perfecution  as  vainly  attempted  to  force 
 me  from  them.  And  therefore  he  befeecheth  God 
 fo  to  continue  his  grace  and  favour,  that  he  may 
 never,  by  falling  from  his  fledfaftnefs,  difgrace  his 
 
 Maftier, 
 
Day24.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  343 
 
 Mailer,  his  caufe,  his  brethren,  himfelf,  nor  be  put 
 to  fliame  at  the  laft  day.  "  O  Lord,  put  me  not 
 "  to  Oiame!" 
 
 32.  /  zvitl  run  the  way  of  thy  commandments, 
 when  thoujlialt  enlarge  my  heart. 
 
 The  true  Chriftian  is  always  proceeding  in  the  way 
 of  godlinefs,  though  not  always  with  equal  pace,  la 
 grief,  whether  for  temporal  or  fpiritual  loffes,  the. 
 heart  is  contraded,  and  the  fpirits  are  all  fummoned 
 home  to  comfort  and  fupport  it,  fo  that  the  faculties 
 are  left  feeble  and  fluggiflij  and  then  the  progrefs 
 can  be  but  flow.  This  was  the  Pfalmift's  cafe.  But 
 even  then  he  promifes,  that,  when  God,  by  fending 
 him  joy  and  gladnefs,  fliould  "  enlarge  his  heart," 
 dilate  his  fpirits,  and  put  life  and  ilrength  into  his 
 adions,  he  would  quicken  his  pace  in  proportion, 
 and,  with  renewed  vigour  and  alacrity,  **  run  the 
 *'  way"  of  the  divine  "  commandments,"  until  it 
 ihould  have  brought  hirn  to  reft  and  felicity  in  thq 
 bofom  of  God. 
 
 XXV   DAY.       MORNING   PRAYER. 
 
 HE.     PartV. 
 
 33.  Teach  me,  O  Lord,  the  way  of  thy  fiakites i 
 and  Ifhall  Iteep  it  unto  the  end, 
 
 Inftrudion  from  above  is  necefTary  for  the  children 
 of  God,  while  they  continue  in  this  world.  The 
 more  we  know,  the  more  we  fhall  defire  to  know  j 
 we  (hall  beg  a  daily  fupply  of  grace,  as  well  as  of 
 bread i  and  a  tafte  of  "  the  clufter  of  Eflicol"  will 
 Y  4  make 
 
344  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119. 
 
 make  us  long  after  the  vintage  of  Cnnaan.  Numb. 
 xiii.  23.  Religion  is  the  art  of  hoiy  living,  and 
 then  only  known  when  it  is  praiftifed;  as  he  is  not  a 
 mafter  of  mufic,  who  can  re^d  the  notes  which  com- 
 pofe  it,  but  he  who  has  learned  how  to  take  a  lelToa 
 readily  from  the  book,  and  piay  it  on  his  inftrument  •„ 
 after  which,  the  pleafure  it  affords  will  be  a  fufficient 
 motive  for  continuing  fo  to  do.  *'  Teach  me,  O 
 "  Lord,  the  way  of  thy  flatutes;  and  I  fliall  keep  it 
 "  unto  the  end." 
 
 34.  Give  me  underjianding,  and  I  Jkall  keep  thy 
 lazo  ;  yeay  IJhall  obferve  it  with  my  whole  heart. 
 
 Much  '^  underftanding"  is  needful  in  order  to  the 
 "  obfervation"  of  the  law,  that  we  may  know  what 
 is  com.manded,  and  what  is  forbidden,  and  how  far; 
 that  we  may  avoid  the  fnares  laid  for  us  in  the  way 
 of  duty;  that  we  may  refpeft  things  according  to 
 their  due  rank  and  worth;  that  v^q  may  do  good 
 works  in  their  proper  time,  place,  and  manner; 
 above  all,  that  the  affed^jns  may  be  directed  by  the 
 judgment,  and  not  the  judgment  by  the  affections. 
 The  law  cannot  be  obferved,  unlefs  it  be  underflood  ; 
 and  it  is  underflood  in  vain,  unlefs  it  be  obferved; 
 or  rather,  if  it  be  indeed  underflood,  if  there  be  upon 
 the  mind,  at  all  times,  a  full  conviftion  of  divine 
 truths,  and  their  excellency,  not  only  in  themfelves, 
 but  compared  with  the  offers  of  the  world,  the  flelli, 
 and  the  devil,  then  it  will  certainly  operate  in  hearty 
 obedience.  "  Give  me  underflanding,  and  I  fhall 
 "  keep  thy  law;  yea,  I  lliall  obferve  it  with  my  whole 
 «'  heart," 
 
 35.  Maki: 
 
Day  25.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  345 
 
 35.  Make  vie  to  go,  or,  conduct  me  in  the  path  of 
 thy  commandments,  for  therein  do  I  delight. 
 
 He  who  teacheth  us  the  way  to  heaven,  mud  alfo 
 "  condudl"  us  in  it,  and  the  lame  grace  muft  give 
 light  and  ftrength.  The  Scripture  is  our  rule,  the 
 Spirit  is  our  guide;  and,  from  beginning  to  end,  it 
 is  God  who  inclines,  prepares,  and  enables  us  *'  to 
 "  go  in  the"  clean  and  pleafant  "  path  of  his  com- 
 "  mandmentsj"  a  path  which  leads  us  far  from  the 
 noife  and  pollution  of  the  world,  through  a  paradife 
 of  promifes  and  comforts,  grateful  as  the  fragrance  of 
 early  fpring,  or  the  incenfe  afcending  from  the  holy 
 altar.  Happy  the  foul,  that  can  fay  to  God,  '*  therein 
 <*  do  I  delight:"  which  is  at  the  fame  time  a  reafon. 
 for  her  to  afk,  and  for  him  to  grant,  a  continuance 
 and  perfeverance  therein. 
 
 36.  Incline  my  heart  unto  thy  teJlimonieSi  and  not 
 to  covetoufnefs. 
 
 The  wit  of  man  may  conceive,  and  his  tongue 
 may  utter,  great  things  of  God  and  holinefs,  while 
 his  heart  is  averfe  from  both;  therefore  David  faith, 
 not  only,  "  Give  me  underftanding,"  but  "  incline 
 '*  my  heart.'*  Our  true  charafters  are  formed  by  the 
 defires  of  our  hearts,  which,  not  finding  fatisfadion 
 jn  themfelves,  muft  feek  it  in  fomething  without 
 them.  The  world  offers  itfelf  firft;  and  cudom,  as 
 well  as  nature,  inciineth  us  to  the  love  of  that,  and 
 of  money  which  commandeth  all  things  in  it.  Such 
 love  is  contrary  to  the  love  of  God,  being  one  of 
 the  thorns  which  choke  the  feed,  and  render  it  un- 
 fruitful. Therefore  the  Pfalmift  requefteth,  that  his 
 ^leart  may  be  *'  inclined  to  the  divine  tefiimonies^ 
 
 "and 
 
346  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  119. 
 
 <^  and  not  to  covetoufnefs."  And  as  God  only  can 
 change  the  difpofition  of  the  heart,  to  God  he  pre- 
 ferreth  his  petition.  It  is  to  Idc  obferved,  that  by  the 
 words,  "  Indine  not  my  heart  to  covetoufnefs,"  is 
 meant,  "  fuffer  not  my  heart  to  be  incHned,"  or, 
 *'  give  it  not  over  to  covetoufnefs." 
 
 37.  Turn  away  mine  eyes  from  beholding  vanity : 
 and  quicken  thou  me  in  thy  way. 
 
 "  Turn  away  mine  eyes  from  beholding  vanity  j" 
 and  what  is  there  elfe  on  earth  to  behold  ?  What  is 
 there  which,  when  poflefled,  doth  not  difappoint  the 
 expeclation  conceived  of  it,  the  poflefTors  themfelves 
 being  judges  r  Solomon  took  an  inventory  of  the 
 world,  and  all  the  befh  things  in  it ;  he  cad  up  the 
 account,  and  the  fum  total  was,  vanity.  The 
 "  eye"  is  the  grand  inlet  of  temptation,  and  by  "  be- 
 *'  holding,"  we  come  to  defire  and  long  after  the  ob- 
 jedls  of  fenfe  j  from  which  time  our  affeftion  toward 
 the  objects  of  faith  waxeth  cold.  *'  Turn  away  our 
 *'  eyes,"  therefore,  O  Lord,  "  from  beholding  vanity, 
 *'  and  quicken  us  in  thy  way  ;"  mortify  the  flefli,  and 
 the  fpirit  fliall  live. 
 
 38.  StabliJJi  thy  'word  unto  thy  fervant,  who  is 
 devoted  to  thy  fear. 
 
 The  "  word"  here  intended  is  the  word  of  pro- 
 mife,  which  the  believer  entreateth  God  to  "  flablifh," 
 confirm,  or  accompliOi  to  him  by  his  fandtification, 
 that  fo  he  may  walk  in  the  way  of  truth  and  life.  He 
 plcadeth  his  title  to  the  promife,  as  a  "  fervant"  of 
 God,  and  one  who  '*  feared"  to  offend  him. 
 
 39.  Turn  away  my  reproach  lohich  I  fear :  for 
 thy  judgments  are  good. 
 
 The 
 
Day  25.  M.  P.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  347 
 
 The  "  lepr  -ach"  whic'^  we  have  all  moft  reafoi^ 
 to  dread,  2nd  *:o  pray  that  God  woul'1  keep  far  from 
 us  here  and  hcreafier,  is  that  of  liaving  foifaken 
 ^nd  apoftat'led  from  thofe  ftatutes  and  "judgments'* 
 revealed  in  the  fcnptures,  which  we  own  to  be  fo 
 "  good,"'  fo  pleafant,  and  fo  profitable. 
 
 40.  Behold,  I  have  longed  after  tJiy  precepts;, 
 quicken  me  in  thy  righteoiifnefs. 
 
 The  Plalmift  appcaleth  to  God,  the  fearcher  of 
 hearts,  for  the  truth  of  the  proteftation  he  was  about 
 to  make,  that  the  defire  of  his  foul  was  toward  the 
 divine  Wordj  not  only  toward  the  promifes,  to  be-  ' 
 lieve  and  embrace  them,  but  alfo  toward  the  "  prc- 
 *'  cepts,"  to  obferve  and  to  do  them.  He  therefore 
 prayeth,  with  confidence,  that  God  would  finilli  the 
 work  he  had  begun,  and  enable  him  to  carry  his 
 wilhes  into  execution,  by  continually  "  quickening'* 
 and  enlivening  him  more  and  more  through  grace,  to 
 finifti  his  courfe  "  in  righteoufnefs,"  and  to  obtaii; 
 that  crown  which  is  to  be  the  reward  of  it. 
 
 VAU.     Part  VI. 
 
 41.  Let  thy  mercies  come  alfo  unto  me,  O  Lord, 
 even  thy  falvation  according  to  thy  zvord. 
 
 Perfecution  and  afflidion,  of  which  they  never 
 fail,  in  fome  way  or  other,  to  have  their  fhare,  who 
 live  godly  in  Chrift  Jefus,  fliould  teach  us,  like  David^ 
 to  fly  for  refuge  to  that  "  mercy,"  from  whence  pro- 
 ceedeth  all  "  falvation,"  temporal  and  eternal  j  and 
 to  pray,  without  ceafing,  for  the  accomplilhment  of 
 that  *'Word,"  which  promifeth  to  the  people  of 
 God  deliverance  out  of  all  their  troubles. 
 
 42.  So 
 
348  A  COMMENTARY    Psal.  119. 
 
 42.  So  Pialllhave  to  anfwer  him  that  reproacheth 
 me:  fori  trujt  in  thy  word. 
 
 A  believer,  trufting  in  thepromifes  of  God,  when 
 the  whole  world  hath  forfaken  him,  and  no  fign  or 
 probability  appears  of  their  being  fulfilled,  is  al- 
 ways, among  the  wicked,  an  objedl  of  fcorn  and 
 *'  reproach."  Such  was  David,  when  Shimei  curfcd 
 him.  Such  was  our  blefied  Mafter,  when  men  faid, 
 ^'  He  trufteth  in  God  that  he  would  deUverhim,  let 
 *'  him  deliver  him  now  if  he  will  have  him."  And  his 
 difciples  are  not  to  exped  better  ufage.  ''Therefore," 
 faith  one  of  them,  "  we  both  labour  and  fufFer  re- 
 *^  proach,  becaufe  we  trufl  in  the  living  God." 
 1  Tim.  iv.  TO.  To  filence  thefe  reproaches,  we  be- 
 feech  God  to  manifeft  his  mercy  in  our  falvation. 
 The  refurredion  of  Jefus  was  an  "  anfwer"  to  his 
 blafphemersj  and  the  mouth  of  all  wickednefs  will 
 be  flopped  at  the  laft  day. 
 
 43.  A)icl  take  not  the  word  of  truth  utterly  out  of 
 TDiy  mouth;  fori  have  hoped  in  thy  judgment. 
 
 In  the  mean  time,  while  affliction  preffeth  hard 
 upon  us,  while  our  deliverance  is  deferred,  and  the 
 enemy  is  fuffered  to  reproach  and  blafpheme,  pur 
 prayer  mufl  be,  that  God  would  give  us  courage, 
 and  utterp^nccj  ftill  to  confefs  him  before  men,  and 
 boldly  to  fpeak  his  "  word  of  truth,"  for  the  edifi- 
 cation of  feme,  and  the  confutation  of  others  5  a? 
 knowing,  that  our  faith  is  not  vain,  nor  (hall  we  be 
 difappointcd  of  our  "  hope,"  fince  both  are  built 
 upon  the  "judgments,"  or  revealed  decrees  of  him, 
 who  can  neither  err,  nor  deceive. 
 
 44.  So  Jliall  I  keep  thy  law  continually,  for  ever 
 aud  ever. 
 
 By 
 
t)AY  25.  M.  P.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  349 
 
 By  means  of  ftrength  and  power  from  above,  we 
 fhall  be  enabled  to  ferve  God,  in  adverfity,  as  well 
 as  in  profperityj  and  amidft  all  difficulties  and  dan- 
 gers, into  which  the  path  of  duty  may  lead  us,  Cha- 
 rity will  perfevere  in  it,  till  arriving  at  the  gate  of 
 heaven,  and  there  taking  leave  of  her  companions  and 
 fellow  travellers.  Faith  and  Hope,  (he  fliall  enter 
 thofe  blifsful  regions,  to  perform  to  eternity  that 
 perfed  will  of  God,  which  the  infirmities  of  fallen 
 nature  prevented  her  from  having  fo  fully  performed 
 here  below. 
 
 45.  And  I  ivill  xvalk  at  liherti),  for  I  feek  thy 
 precepts. 
 
 No  external  preffure  can  take  away  that  fpiritual 
 "  liberty,"  which  the  faithful  Chriftian  experienceth 
 when  he  hath  made  an  open  confeflion  of  the  truth, 
 and  determined  at  all  events  to  do  his  duty.  Then 
 he  is  no  longer  ftreightened  by  fear,  but  fet  at  large 
 by  love.  "  The  truth  maketh  him  free,  and  he 
 "  walketh  in  the  liberty  of  the  children  of  God  j"  a 
 liberty,  which  they  only  obtain,  who  *'  ieek  his  pre- 
 "  cepts,"  and,  by  the  performance  of  them,  are 
 refcued  from  the  bondage  both  of  tyrannical  defires 
 and  ilavifli  fears. 
 
 46.  /  will  /peak  of  thy  tejiimonies  alfo  before 
 kings,  arid  will  not  he  afliamed. 
 
 A  prophet  may  be  called  "  before  kings,"  either 
 in  the  courfe  of  his  office,  to  inftrud  them,  or  elfc, 
 in  a  judiciary  way,  to  give  an  account  of  his  faith. 
 In  either  cafe,  if  he  "  walketh  at  liberty,"  he  will 
 **  fpeak  of  God's  teftimonies,"  with  due  reverence 
 to  the  perfon  and  authority  of  his  prince,  but  as 
 
 9flC 
 
2S0  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  119^ 
 
 one  who  is  neither  afraid  nor  "  alhamed"  to  declare 
 the  whole  counfel  of  heaven  to  any  being  upon  earth. 
 
 47.  And  I  will  delight  my f elf  in  thy  command- 
 ments^ which  I  have  loved.  48.  My  hands  alfo  will 
 I  lift  lip  unto  thy  commandments^  which  1  have 
 loved:  and  I  will  meditate  in  thy  Jiatutes. 
 
 He  who  would  preach  boldly  to  others,  mufl  him- 
 felf  "  delight"  in  the  pradice  of  what  he  preacheth. 
 If  there  be  in  us  a  new  nature,  it  will  *'  love  the 
 "  commandments  of  God,"  as  being  congenial  to  it: 
 on  that  which  we  love  we  (hall  continually  be  *'  me- 
 "  ditating;"  and  our  meditation  will  end  in  aftion  5 
 we  fliall  "  lift  up  the  hands  which  hang  down,"  Heb. 
 xii.  12.  that  they  may  "  w'ork  the  works  of  God, 
 "  while  it  is  day  -,  becaufe  the  night  cometh,  when 
 "  no  man  can  work."  John  ix.  4* 
 
 ZAIN.     Part  VIL 
 
 49,  liemember  the  x'cord  unto  thy  fervant,  upon 
 which  thou  haft  caiifed  me  to  hope. 
 
 God  promifeth  falvation,  before  he  giveth  it,  to 
 excite  our  defire  of  it,  to  exercife  our  faith,  to  prove 
 our  fmcerity,  to  perfedl  our  patience.  For  thefe 
 purpofes,  he  feemeth  to  have  fometimes  forgotten 
 his  word,  and  to  have  deferted  thofe  whom  he  had 
 engaged  to  fuccour  and  relieve;  in  which  cafe,  he 
 would  have  us,  as  it  were,  to  remind  him  of  his 
 promife,  and  folicit  his  performance  of  it.  The: 
 Pfalmill  here  inftrudeth  us  to  prefer  our  petition 
 upon  thefe  grounds;  firft,  that  God  cannot  prove 
 falfe  to  his  own  word :  "  Remember  the  word  unto 
 I  ['  thy 
 
Day  25.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  i^z^i 
 
 "  thy  fervant  i"  fecondly,  that  he  will  never  difap- 
 point  an  expectation  which  himlelf  hath  raifed  ^ 
 *'  upon  which  thou  haft  caufed  me  to  hope." 
 
 50.  This  is  my  comfort  in  my  affliction :  for  thy 
 word  hath  quickened  me. 
 
 While  performance  is  delayed  we  "  rejoice  ia 
 *'  hope;"  Rom.  xii.  12.  and  the  promife  is  our 
 •*  comfort  in  afflidion ;"  a  comfort,  divine,  ftrong 
 lafting ;  a  comfort,  that  will  not,  like  all  others,  fail 
 us  when  we  moft  want  it,  in  the  day  of  ficknefs,  and 
 at  the  hour  of  death  ;  but  will  always  keep  pace  with 
 our  neceffities,  increafing  in  proportion  as  the  plea- 
 fures  of  the  world  and  the  flefii  decreafe  in  us,  and 
 then  becoming  complete,  when  they  are  no  more. 
 So  powerful  is  the  word  of  God  to  revive  us,  when 
 dead,  either  in  fins,  or  in  forrow ;  "  thy  word  hath 
 "  quickened  me." 
 
 51.  The  proud  hath  had  me  greatly  in  derijion  : 
 yet  have  I  not  declined  from  thy  law. 
 
 A  true  fervant  of  God  believeth  the  promifes,  and 
 pradlifeth  the  precepts  of  his  bleffed  Mafter.  The 
 haughty  infidel  will  feoff  at  him  for  one  part  of  his 
 condud: ;  the  infolent  worldling  will  ridicule  him  for 
 the  other.  But  neither  will  induce  him  to  difbelieve, 
 or  to  difobey.  Let  us  be  certain  that  we  have  the 
 divine  "  law"  for  our  warrr.nt  in  what  we  believe, 
 and  in  what  we  do;  and  then,  let  not  the  "  derifion  of 
 *'  the  proud"  prevail  upon  us  to  "  decline  from  it." 
 
 52.  /  remembered  thy  judgments  of  old^  O 
 Lord  ;  and  have  comforted  myfelf. 
 
 The  great  remedy  againft  that  temptation  which 
 arifeth  from  the  reproaches  of  our  fcornful  and  in- 
 
 fulting 
 
352  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  119. 
 
 fulting  adverfaries,  is  here  prefcribed,  namely,  a 
 "  remembrance  of  God's  judgments  of  old,"  whe- 
 ther we  underftand  the  "  judgments"  of  his  mouth, 
 or  thofe  of  his  hand  -,  his  righteous  decrees  for  the 
 j)ilni{hment  of  bad,  and  reward  of  good  men,  or 
 the  many  and  wonderful  inftances  of  his  executing 
 thofe  decrees,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  re- 
 corded in  the  facred  hiftory.  Thefe  are  fources  of 
 real  and  endlefs  "  comfort"  upon  fuch  occafions  5 
 becaufe  notiilng  can  happen  to  us,  which  hath  not 
 happened  to  God's  people  "  of  old ;"  no  cafe,  o£ 
 which  there  is  not  a  precedent  in  Scripture,  where 
 v.e  may  read  the  procefs  of  fimilar  trials,  their  iffucji 
 and  the  final  fentence  of  the  judge,  who  is  ftill  the 
 fame,  and  whofe  rule  of  procedure  and  determination 
 is  invariable. 
 
 53.  Horror  hath  taken  hold  upon  me ^  becmife  of 
 the  wicked  thatjorfake  thy  law. 
 
 The  confequence  of  a  due  meditation  on  God's 
 judgments,  will  be  a  compaffion  for  the  *'  wicked,'* 
 on  whom  thofe  judgments,  in  the  end,  fall  j  fo  that 
 inftead  of  feeling  for  ourfelves,  on  account  of  the 
 injuries  they  do  us,  we  fliall  feel  for  them,  who  are 
 thereby  drawing  down  vengeance  and  deftruftion  on 
 their  own  heads.  **^  Daughters  of  Jerufalem,"  faid 
 the  blefled  Jefus,  when  led  to  be  crucified,  "  weep 
 "  not  for  me,  but  weep  for  youfelves,  and  for  your 
 "  children."     Luke  xxlii.  28. 
 
 54.  Thy  Jiatuies  have  been  my  fongs  in  the  houfi 
 of  my  pilgrimage. 
 
 The  foul,  which  defcended  from  above,  and  longs 
 to  return  thither  again,  is  a  flranger  and  a  fojourner 
 
 upon 
 
Day  25.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  ^s3 
 
 upon  earth.  The  body  is  "  the  houfe  of  her  pilgrim- 
 "  age,"'  in  which  fhe  is  confined,  during  her  ftate  of 
 exile.  And,  how  harfli  foever  the  ufage  may  be 
 which  fhe  receiveth  from  the  world,  (he  ever  findeth 
 joy  and  comfort,  as  once  did  the  fugitive  and  wan- 
 dering fon  of  Jefle,  in  making  God's  "  ftatutes"  the 
 fubjeds  of  her  Pfalms,  and  hymns,  and  fpiritual 
 "  fongs,"  until  death  fliall  reftore  her  to  liberty. 
 Then,  afcending  to  heaven  from  whence  (lie  came, 
 and,  like  the  early  lark,  (inging  as  (lie  afcends,  (lie 
 will  feek  her  native  abode,  there  to  celebrate  her  re- 
 demption from  the  earth,  and  to  chant  forth  the 
 praifcs  of  Him  who  hath  redeemed  her,  in  a  ricw 
 ibng,  before  the  throne. 
 
 ^5.  I  have  remembered  thy  name,  O  Lord,  in 
 the  night i  and  have  kept  thy  law. 
 
 By  the  "  name"  of  God,  his  nature,  fo  much  at 
 leaft  of  it  as  we  are  concerned  to  know,  and  are 
 capable  of  receiving,  is  revealed  to  us.  Such  a  love 
 had  the  Pfalmift  for  it,  on  that  account,  that  as  in 
 the  day  God's  ftatutes  were  his  fohgs,  in  the  night 
 God's  name  was  the  fubjedt  of  his  meditation.  With 
 his  tongue  he  praifed  him  in  the  day,  with  his  heart 
 he  defired  him  in  the  night-watches.  At  night,  the 
 difTipation,  noife,  and  hurry  of  bufinefs  ceafej  ex- 
 ternal filence  produceth  internal  calmnefs  and  com- 
 pofure,  inviting  us  to  celeftial  contemplation  ;  the 
 world  is  dead  to  us,  and  we  are  dead  to  the  world; 
 the  fbiil  is  then  moft  alive,  and  feemeth  to  experience 
 a  foretafte  of  thdt  time,  when  the  body  and  it's  con- 
 cerns (liall  no  more  moleft  and  impede  her.  The 
 good  efFed   of   hours  thus  fecretly  pafTed  in  holy 
 
 Vol.  II.  Z  exercifes 
 
354  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  119. 
 
 exercifes  will  appear  openly  In  our  lives  and  con- 
 verfations;  "  I  have  reniembered  thy  name,  OLord, 
 "  in  the  night,  and,"  as  the  fruit  of  it,  *'  have  kept 
 **  thy  law." 
 
 56.  This  I  had,  hecaiife  I  kept  thy  commandments. 
 As  one  fin  is  often  the  confequence  and  the  punifh- 
 
 ment  of  another,  fo  one  ad  of  obedience  is  the  iflue 
 and  the  reward  of  another;  and,  to  him  who  hath  well 
 ufed  the  grace  already  received,  (hall  more  be  given. 
 "  This  I  had,"  this  ability  to  perform  my  duty,  and 
 to  delight  in  the  performance  of  it  day  and  night, 
 was  vouchfafed  unto  me  "  b.ecaufe  I  kept  thy  com- 
 "  mandments,"  becaufe  I  was  not  heretofore  dlfobe- 
 dient,  but  employed  the  ftrength  with  vvhich  thou,  O 
 Lord,  haft  endued  me,  not  in  doing  mine  own  will, 
 but  thine. 
 
 CHETH.     Part  VIII. 
 
 57.  Thou  art  my  portion,  OLord:  I  have  faid 
 that  I  would  keep  thy  ivords. 
 
 Happy  the  man,  who  can  fincercly  fay,  "  Thou 
 "  art  my  portion,  O  Lord;"'  I  have  confidered, 
 and  made  my  choice;  from  hencefortli^  I  renounce 
 all  things  for  the  love  of  thee;  thou  art  fufficient  for 
 me;  thee  only  I  defire  to  enjo}'-,  and,  therefore,  thee 
 only  I  defire  to  pleafe ;  "  I  have  faid  that  I  would 
 **  keep  thy  words." 
 
 58.  I  entreated  thy  favour  ivith  my  whole  heart: 
 be  merciful  unto  me,  according  to  thy  zvord. 
 
 He  who  hath  chofen  God  for  "  his  portion,"  will 
 earneftiy  feek  his  "  favour,"    and  the  light  of  his 
 
 coun- 
 
Day  25.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  35^ 
 
 countenance;  he  who  hath  promlfed  and  vowed  to 
 *'  keep  the  words"  of  God,  hath  need  to  feek  that 
 favour  and  that  Hght,  that  he  may  have  grace  and 
 power  to  fulfil  his  engagements.  Mercy  is  the  fole 
 fountain  of  every  good  gift  for  which  we  afk,  and 
 God's  promife  the  only  ground  upon  which  we  afk  it; 
 *'  be  merciS.}!  unto  me^  according  to  thy  word." 
 
 59.  /  thought  on  imj  ways,  and  turned  my  feet 
 unto  thy  tejiimonies. 
 
 The  Pfalmift  did  not  content  himfelf  with  barely 
 praying  for  ftrength  and  grace,  but  his  faith,  rely- 
 ing on  the  word  of  promife,  put  itfelf  in  motion. 
 He  confidered  his  "  ways,"  his  courfe  of  thinking, 
 fpeaking,  and  afting;  how  far  he  had  proceeded  in 
 it,  and  whither  it  led  him;  and  this  confideration 
 produced  a  converfion  of  the  whoie  man,  of  the 
 heart  and  it's  afFedtions,  from  the  creature  to  the 
 Creator,  as  he  hath  revealed  himfelf  in  the  Scrip- 
 tures of  truth;  "  I  turned  my  feet  unto  thy  tefli- 
 "  monies." 
 
 60.  /  made  hajte^  and  delayed  not  to  keep  thy 
 commandments. 
 
 A  true  penitent  fuffereth  no  time  to  be  lofl  be- 
 tween his  good  refolutions  and  the  performance,  of 
 them.  "  Draw  me,*'  faith  the  church,  "  and  we 
 **  will  RUN  after  thee."  Cant.  i.  4.  Andrew,  Peter, 
 and  others,  flayed  not  for  a  fecond  call  from  Chrifl, 
 but  followed  him  immediately  upon  the  firft.  By 
 deferring  our  return  to  duty,  we  lofe  many  comfort- 
 able fruits,  which  it  would  have  produced  both  ia 
 ourfeives  and  others,  while  the  difficulties  of  ever 
 Z  2  return* 
 
J56  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119. 
 
 returning,  and   the  danger  of  never  returning,  are 
 daily  and  hourly  increafing. 
 
 61.   The  bands  J  or,  troops  of  the  ungodly  havt 
 robbed  me ;  but  I  have  not  forgotten  thy  law. 
 
 To  be  robbed,  or  plundered  of  his  pofleflions  in 
 tliis  world,  was  by  no  means  a  cafe  peculiar  to 
 David.  The  primitive  Chriftians  were  continually 
 To  treated;  and  our  Lord  gives  all  his  difciples 
 vvarning  to  fland  prepared  for  fuch  events,  ready  in 
 difpofition,  in  heart  and  mind,  to  quit  all,  as  they 
 who  firft  followed  him  literally  did.  The  Apoftic 
 tells  us  of  fome,  who  not  only  bore  patiently,  but 
 even  "  took  joyfully  the  fpoiling  of  their  goods:" 
 the  reafon  he  afligns  for  fo  extraordinary  a  behaviour, 
 deferves  to  be  noted  and  remembered  j  "  knowing 
 **  that  they  had  in  heaven  a  better  and  an  enduring 
 "  fubflance."  Heb.  x.  34.  They  who  part  with 
 earth  to  gain  heaven,  and  exchange  the  world  for  its 
 Maker,  certainly  lofe  nothing  by  the  bargain.  Nay, 
 there  will  come  an  hour,  when  for  that  foretafte  of 
 glory  which  a  good  confcience  afFordeth  to  its  happy 
 poffeflbr,  the  deareft  lover  of  mammon  would  joyfully 
 give  up  all  the  gold  of  Peru,  and  all  the  diamonds 
 of  Indoftan. 
 
 62.  At  midnight  I  zvill  rife  to  give  tha?iks  unto 
 thee.,  becaufe  of  thy  righteous  judgments. 
 
 So  far  were  temporal  loffes  from  caufing  the 
 Pfalmiil  to  forfake  God,  that  he  fought  him  the 
 more  earneftly  and  fervently  on  that  account,  rifmg 
 fit  "  midnight  to  give  thanks"  for  all  his  **  righteous 
 <*  judgments"  and  difpenfations  towards  his  fervants. 
 Thus  Paul  and  Silas,  not  only  impoverifhcd,  but 
 
 impri- 
 
Day  25.  M.  p.         ON  THK  PSALMS.  357 
 
 imprifoned,,  for  the  teftimony  of  Jefus;  yet  In  that 
 fituation,  with  their  feet  faft  in  the  flocks,  fang 
 "  praifes  at  midnight,"  thereby  turning  their  night 
 into  day,  and  their  prifon  into  a  paradife  ;  when,  io, 
 their  hallelujahs  afcended  to  heaven,  and  God  arofe 
 to  judgment;  the  earth  trembled,  the  doors  were 
 opened,  the  chains  fell  off,  the  gaoler  and  his  family 
 were  converted,  and  the  Apoftles  fet  at  liberty.  And 
 although  there  be  no  obligation  upon  men  to  "  rife 
 "  at  midnight,"  in  order  to  "  give  thanks/'  yet,  if 
 they  who  awake  at  that,  or  any  other  time,  would 
 accuftom  their  hearts,  at  lead,  to  fo  divine  an  exer- 
 cife,  they  would  find  it  always  produdive  of  the  mofl 
 comfortable  effeds. 
 
 63.  I  am  a  companioii  of  all  them  that  fear  thee,  ^ 
 a?id  of  them  that  keep  thy  precepts. 
 
 As  no  fufferings  Qiould  make  us  negleft  our  in- 
 tercourfe  with  God,  fo  neither  fliould  they  tempt  us 
 to  forfake  the  communion  of  faints,  or  fellowfhip  of 
 them  who  "  fear  God,  and  work  righteoufnefs.'* 
 Thefe  are  knit  together  in  love,  as  members  of  the 
 fame  myftical  body,  infomuch  that  *'  if  one  member 
 "  fuffer,  or  be  honoured,  all  the  members  Ihould 
 "  fuffer  or  be  honoured  with  it  j"  thefe  we  Ihould 
 own  at  all  times,  in  profperity,  and  in  adverfity; 
 with  thefe  (liould  our  acquaintance  and  converfation 
 be,  for  the  mutual  improvement  and  confolation  of 
 them  and  of  ourlelves.  Of  fuch  was  David  a  "  com- 
 "  panion,"  and  fuch  the  Redeemer  himfelf  "  is  not 
 "  aOiamed  to  call  brethren."     Heb.  ii.   11. 
 
 64.  The  earthy  O  Lord,  is  full  of  thy  mercy: 
 teach  me  thy  jiatutes. 
 
 Z  3  Heavea 
 
■35S  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  119 
 
 Heaven  and  earth,  and  all  that  are  therein,  de- 
 clare, fi*om  day  to  day,  the  "  mercy"  of  their  Creator 
 and  Preferver,  which  is  "  over  all  his  works."  And 
 his  goodnefs,  thus  difplayed  through  the  outward 
 and  vifible  world,  forbids  us  to  doubt  of  his  loving 
 kindnefs  towards  thofe  immortal  fpirits,  which,  in 
 tenements  of  mortal  clay,  make,  for  a  while,  their 
 abode  here  below ;  during  which  fhort  period,  they 
 befeech  him  earneftly  to  grant  them  fuch  a  portion 
 of  that  faving  knowledge,  which  is  his  gift,  as  may 
 fecure  to  them,  when  they  fliall  depart  hence,  a  place 
 in  a  happier  country,  and  a  more  enduring  city. 
 "  TeachmethyilatutesI" 
 
 T  E  T  H.     Part  IX. 
 
 (>^.  Thou  haji  dealt  well  with  thy  fervant^  O 
 Lord,  according  to  thy  zoord. 
 
 As  the  fenfe  of  our  wants  (hould  prepare  the 
 mind  for  prayer,  fo  gratitude  for  bleffings  received 
 fhould  tune  the  heart  to  praife.  In  preferring  our 
 petitions,  felf-love  may  fometimes  have  a  fliarej  but 
 thankfulnefs  is  the  offspring  of  an  ingenuous  fpirit, 
 and  the  love  of  God.  Let  a  man  carefully  recount 
 the  divine  mercies  (hown  to  him  from  his  birth,  con- 
 fidering  withal  how  unworthy  he  hath  been  of  the 
 leaft  of  thofe  mercies,  as  alfo  how  far  preferable 
 his  ftate  is  to  that  of  many  others;  and  he  will  find 
 reafon  "  in  all  things  to  give  thanks,"  to  acknow- 
 ledge, with  David,  the  goodnefs  and  truth  of  Jeho- 
 Vah,  and  to  fay,  "  Thou  haft  dealt  well  with  thy 
 *f  fervant,  O  Lof.d,  according  to  thy  word." 
 
 66.    Teach 
 
f)AY  25.  M.  P.  ON   THE  PSALMS.  359 
 
 66.  Teach  me  good  judgment  and  knowledge:  for 
 I  have  believed  fhij  com  ma  n  dments. 
 
 From  thankrgiving  tiie   Pfalmift  returneth  again 
 to  prayer,  as,  while  we  continue  in   this  world,  we 
 muft  all  do.     The  gift,  for  which  he  now  prayeth,  is 
 that  of"  a  good  judgment  with  knowledge,"  as  the 
 ■former  muft  enable  us  to  make  a   proper  ufe  of  the 
 latter.     The    word   ay^   which    is    here   tranilated 
 "  judgment,"  fignifies  bodily  "  tafte,"  and  that  fa- 
 culty in  the   mind    which  anfwers  to  it,  the  faculty 
 of  difcerning,  diftinguiQiing,  and  judging  rightly  of 
 things   moral  and  fpiritual,   as   the  palate  doth  of 
 meats,  their  different  flavours,  and  qualities.     With- 
 out this  tafte,  or  difcretion,   we  miftake  falfehood 
 for  truth  in  our  ftudies,  and  wrong  for  right  in  our 
 praftice;  fuperftition  and  enthufiafm  may  pafs  with 
 us  for  religion,  or  elfe  licentioufnefs  may  intrude  it- 
 felf  upon  us.  under  the  name  and  notion  of  liberty : 
 in  a:  word,  our  learning  and  knowledge  prove  ufelefs, 
 if  not  prejudicial  to  us.     A  found   mind,  therefore, 
 Ihould,  above  all  things,  be  defired  of  God  in  our 
 prayers ;  and  thofe  prayers  will  be  heard,  when  we 
 can  fmcerely  profefs  a  readinefs  to  be  direded  by 
 God's  laws,  through  faith  in  their  author,  his  pro- 
 mifes   and   threatenings ;   on  which   ground    David 
 urgeth  his  requeft ;  *'  for  I  have  believed  thy  com- 
 **  mandment." 
 
 ■     67.  Before  I  was  afflicted,  I  went  afraij:  but  now 
 have  I  kept  thy  word. 
 
 We  colled  from  this  verfe,  that  profperity  is  too 
 
 often  the  parent  of  fin ;  that  advcrfity  is,  firft,   it's 
 
 punifhment,  then,  it's  remedy  j  and  that  every  con- 
 
 Z  4  fideratc 
 
36o  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  119. 
 
 fiderate  man,  who  hath  been  afflided,  will  thank- 
 fully acknowledge  as  much.  *'  When  afflictions  fail 
 "  to  have  their  due  etfed,  the  cafe  is  defperate. 
 "  They  are  the  lad  remedy  which  indulgent  Provi- 
 ^'  dence  ufesj  and  if  they  fail,  we  mud  languidi 
 "  and  die  in  miferyand  contempt.  Vain  men  !  How 
 "  feldom  do  we  know  what  to  wifli,  or  to  pray  for  ! 
 "  When  we  pray  againft  misfortunes,  and  when  we 
 '*  fear  them  mofl,  we  want  them  moll.  Xhe  (horteft 
 "  and  the  bed  prayer  which  we  can  addrefs  to  Him 
 "  who  knows  our  wants,  and  our  ignorance  in  alk- 
 "  ing,  is  this — Thy  will  be  done"  Lore}  Boling- 
 broke's  Reflexions  on  Exile,  p.  276. 
 
 68.  Thou  art  goody  and  doejt  good:  teach  me  thij 
 Jtatutes. 
 
 Jn  other  words,  as  Bifliop  Patrick  hath  well  con- 
 neded  and  paraphrafed  it,  "  Thou  art  in  thine  own 
 **  nature  kind  and  good  j  and  nothing  elfe  can  pro- 
 **  ceed  from  thee,  who  defigneft  our  good,  even 
 "  when  thou  afflided  us ;  take  what  methods  thou 
 "  pleafeft  with  me ;  only  teach  me  effedually  to  do 
 "  as  thou  wouldd  have  me." 
 
 69.  The  proud  have  forged  a  lie  againjt  me-  but 
 I  will  keep  thij  precepts,  with  my  whole  heart. 
 
 Every  difciple  of  Chrid,  who,  like  his  Mader, 
 goeth  contrary  to  the  ways  of  the  world,  and  con» 
 demneth  them,  mud  exped  to  be  like  that  Mader, 
 flandered  and  calumniated  by  the  world.  To  fuch 
 ilanders  and  calumnies,  a  good  life  is  the  bed  anfwer. 
 When  a  friend  once  told  Plato,  what  fcandalous 
 flories  his  enemies  had  propagated  concerning  hir^i, 
 
 I  will 
 
D,\7  25.  M.  p.         ox  THE  PSALMS.  361 
 
 I  will  livefo,  replied  that  great  philofopher,  that  no- 
 body (hall  believe  them. 
 
 70.  Thcij'  heart  is  as  fat  as  greafe  _;  but  I  delight 
 in  thy  lazv. 
 
 The  fatnefs  of  the  heart"  implleth,  in  this  place, 
 two  things  in  thofe  of  whom  it  is  affirmed  ;  luxury, 
 and  it's  confequence,  inlenfibility  to  thofe  fpiritual 
 and  divine  truths,  which  are  not  only  the  ftudy,  but 
 the  "  delight"  of  temperate  and  holy  perfons,  who 
 gladly  fly  from  large  companies,  full  tables,  coftly 
 meats,  and  rich  wines,  to  enjoy  in  private,  the 
 more  exalted  pleafures  of  abftinence,  meditation,  and 
 prayer. 
 
 71.  It  IS  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted: 
 that  I  might  learn  thy  Jlatutes. 
 
 God's  ftatutes  are  befh  learned  in  the  fchool  of  af- 
 flidion,  becaufe  by  affliclion  the  great  impediments 
 to  our  learning  them  are  removed  ;  pride  is  fubdued, 
 and  concupifcence  is  extinguifhcd.  "  He  that  hath 
 "  fuffered  in  the  ilefb,"  faith  an  apoftle,  "  hath 
 "  ceafed  from  fm."  i  Pet.  iv.  i.  and  in  an  immu- 
 nity from  fin  confifteth  one  of  the  greateft  felicities 
 of  heaven,  which  thus  defcends  into  the-  afflided 
 foul,  fo  as  to  render  even  the  ftate  of  ficknefs  itfclf, 
 in  fome  fort,  defirable.  Strange  as  this  propofition 
 may  appear,  the  reader  will  find  it's  truth  demon- 
 ftrated,  by  the  inimitable  Bilhop  Jeremy  Taylor,  in 
 that  truly  golden  trad,  "  The  Rule  and  Exercifes 
 "  of  Holy  Dying,"  Chap.  iii.  Sed.  6.  on  "  The 
 "  Advantages  of  Sicknefs." 
 
 72.  The  law  of  thy  mouth  is  better  unto  me  than 
 thoufands  of  gold  andftker. 
 
 Afflidion 
 
362  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119. 
 
 AfHi<flion  taketh  frorti  us  the  inclination  to  offend, 
 and  it  giveth  us,  in  return,  a  knowledge  of  that  law 
 which  •'  is  better,*'  and  which,  when  v/e  are  tho- 
 roughly acquainted  with  it,  we  fhall  efteeni  to  be 
 better,  "  than  thoufands  of  gold  and  filver ;"  better 
 in  it's  nature,  for  it  is  from  heaven,  they  are  from 
 the  earth;  better  in  it's  ufe,  for  it  bringeth  falva- 
 tion  to  our  fouls,  whereas  they  can  only  procure 
 fuftenance  for  the  body;  better  in  point  of  duration, 
 for  the  benefits  of  one  are  certain  and  eternal,  the 
 advantages  of  the  others  temporal  and  uncertain. 
 BlelTed  are  they,  who  feek  in  the  Scriptures  the  true 
 riches;  who  traffic  for  the  fpiritual  gains  of  celeftial 
 wifdom;  for  fu rely  "  the  merchandife  of  it  is  better 
 *'  than  the  merchandife  of  filver,  and  the  gain  there- 
 '*  of  than  fine  gold."  Prov.  iii.   14. 
 
 XXV    DAY.       EVENIMG    PRAYER. 
 
 JOD,     Part  X. 
 
 73.  Thy  liandshavemademejandfajhionedme :  give 
 meundcrjiandingyihat  I  may  learn  thy  commandments. 
 
 The  formation  of  man  was  the  laft  and  nobleft 
 work  of  God,  and  it  is  a  fi:anding  miracle  of  divine 
 wifdom  and  power.  The  confideration,  that  God 
 made  us,  is  here  urged  as  an  argument  why  he  ihould 
 not  forfake  and  rejed  us,  fince  every  artift  hath  a  va- 
 lue for  his  own  work,  proportioned  to  it's  excellence. 
 It  is,  at  the  fame  tim^,  an  acknowledgment  of  the 
 fervice  we  owe  him,  founded  on  the  relation  which  a 
 creature  beareth  to   his  Creator.     And  the  petition 
 
 implieth 
 
Day  25.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSAL]?ClS.  363 
 
 implieth  in  it  a  confeffion  of  our  prefent  inability  to 
 know  his  will  without  his  revelation,  and  to  do  it 
 without  his  grace. 
 
 74.,  They  that  fear  thee  will  be  glad  u>hen  thcj/ 
 fee  me  ;  hecaufe  I  have  hoped  in  thy  reward. 
 
 They  who  "  fear  God"  are  naturally  "  glad  when 
 *'  they  fee"  and  converfe  with  one  like  themfelves ; 
 but  more  efpecially  fo,  when  it  is  one  whofe  faith 
 and  patience  have  carried  him  through  troubles,  and 
 rendered  him  victorious  over  temptations;  one  who 
 hath  "  hoped  in  God's  word,"  and  hath  not' been 
 difappointed.  Every  {lich  inftance  affordeth  freOi  en- 
 couragement to  all  thofe,  who,  in  the  courfe  ot  their 
 warfare,  are  to  undergo  like  troubles,  and  to  en- 
 counter hke  temptations.  In  all  our  trials  let  us, 
 therefore,  remember,  that  our  brethren,  as  well  as 
 ourfelves,  are  deeply  interefted  in  the  event,  which 
 may  either  flrengthen  or  weaken  the  hands  of  the 
 multitudes. 
 
 75. 1  knoxv,  OLoRD,  that  thy  judgments  tlxq  right, 
 and  that  thsu  in  faithfulnefs  haji  afflicted  me. 
 
 This  humble,  pious,  and  dutiful  confeffion  will  be 
 made  by  every  true  child  of  God,  when  under  the  cor- 
 rection of  his  heavenly  Father.  From  whatever  quar- 
 ter affliftionscome  upon  us,  they  are  "  the  judgments 
 **  of  God,"  without  whofe  providence  nothing  befal- 
 leth  us.  His  judgments  are  always  "  rights  or  juft/* 
 duly  proportioned  to  the  difeafe  and  ftrength  of  the 
 patient;  in  fending  them,  God  is  ". faithful*'  and  true 
 to  his  word,  wherein  he  hath  never  prorriifed  the 
 crown  without  the  crofs,  but  hath^  on. the  contrary, 
 alTured  us,  that  one  will  be  neceflary,  in  order  to  our 
 
 obtaining 
 
364  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  119. 
 
 obtaining  the  other;  and  that  they  who  are  beloved 
 by  him  fhall  not  fin  with  impunity,  nor  go  aflray 
 without  a  call  to  return.  All  this  we  ought  to 
 "  know,"  or  to  be  aflured  of  beyond  doubt,  as  we 
 may  be,  from  the  many  declarations  in  Scripture, 
 from  our  own  experience,  and  from  that  of  others. 
 
 76.  Let,  J  pray  thee^  thy  merciful  kindntfs  he  for 
 my  comfort,  according  to  thy  word  unto  thy  fervant. 
 
 In  the  former  verfe  the  criminal,  finding  that  the 
 hand  of  God  was.  upon  him,  had  owned  the  jullice 
 and  the  faithfulnefs  of  his  judge  in  the  punifliment 
 infliAed.  Judgment  having  thus  had  her  perfe<5t 
 work,  the  offender,  now  humbled  and  penitent,  mak- 
 eth  application  to  the  throne  of  grace,  and  fueth  for 
 that  mercy  which  God,  by  his  "  word,"  hath  pro- 
 mifed  to  his  fervants,  who  are  chaftened,  not  for  their 
 deftruftion,  but  for  their  falvation.  When  God's 
 "  judgments"  have  brought  us  to  an  acknowledgment 
 of  our  fins,  his  "  merciful  kindnefs"  will  fpeedily  be 
 our  "  comfort." 
 
 77.  l^et  thy  tender  mercies  come  unto  me,  that  I 
 may  live:  for  thy  law  is  viy  delight. 
 
 The  mercies  of  God  are  "  tender  mercies,"  they 
 are  the  oiercies  of  a  father  to  his  children,  nay,  ten- 
 der as  the  compaflTion  of  a  mother  over  the  Ton  of 
 her  worpb.  They  "  come  unto"  us  when  we  arc 
 not  able  tq  go  to  them.  By  them  alone  we  "  live" 
 the  life  of  faith,  of  love,  of  joy  and  gladnefs.  And  to 
 fiich  as  **  delight**  in  his  law,  God  will  grant  thefe 
 mercies,  and  this  life ;  be  will  give  them  pardon,  and 
 by  fo  doing,  he  will  give  them  life  from  the  dead. 
 
 78.  Let  the  proud  be  afliamcdjfor  they  dealt  per- 
 
 verfely 
 
Day  25.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  jS^ 
 
 verfely  zvith  me  ivitfwut  a  caiife ;  but  Izulll  meditate 
 in  thy  precepts. 
 
 This  complaint  of  the  Pfalmift  hath  been  made  by 
 the  faithful  in  all  ages,  that  the  men  of  the  world 
 "  dealt  perverfely  with  them  without  a  caufe,"  or 
 opprefled  them  falfely,  firft  fpreading  flanders  and 
 calumnies  concerning  them,  and  then  perfecuting 
 them  for  thofe  fuppofed  crimes.  Such  ufage  Ihould 
 have  no  other  effeft  upon  us,  than  it  had  upon 
 David.  He  prayed  that  *'  (hame"  and  difappoint- 
 ment  might  teach  humility  to  the  "  proud,"  and  ap- 
 plied himfelf  flili  more  and  more  to  meditate  in  the 
 "  precepts"  of  his  God. 
 
 79.  Let  thofe  that  fear  thee  turn  unto  me,  and 
 thofe  that  have  k?iozv?i  thy  tejiimonies. 
 
 David  befeecheth  God,  if  any  good  men  had  been 
 alienated  from  him,  either  through  fear,  prejudice,  or 
 offence,  that  they  might  return  to  him,  join,  and  ac- 
 knowledge him.  To  thee,  O  thou  Son  of  David, 
 and  King  of  the  Spiritual  Ifrael,  let  thofe  among  thy 
 people,  who,  through  any  temptation,  have  fallen 
 from  their  allegiance,  return  and  be  fubjedt. 
 
 80.  Let  my  heart  be  found  in  thy  Jlatutes ;  that  [ 
 he  not  ajhamcd. 
 
 This  is  a  prayer  neceflary  for  all  men  to  ufe  at  all 
 times,  but  more  particularly  in  feafons  of  perfecu- 
 tion  and  temptation.  By  "  found nefs  of  heart"  is 
 meant  folidity  and  ftedfaftnefs  in  grace  and  virtue, 
 as  oppofed  to  the  mere  form  of  godlinefs  or  fair  (hew 
 of  the  hypocrite,  which  conceal  the  rottennefs  and 
 corruption  lurking  within;  and  aifo  to  the  fudden 
 and   vanilhing  goodnefs  of  the  temporary  convert, 
 
 which 
 
366  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  119, 
 
 which  quickly  difappears  like  the  morning  dew,  and 
 withers  like  the  feed  Town  on  a  rock.  When  internal 
 holinefs  accompanies  and  afluates  that  which  is  ex- 
 ternal, when  the  word  is  thoroughly  rooted,  and  faith 
 hath  acquired  the  Ibvereignty  over  our  defires,  then 
 our  "  hearts"  are  "  found  in  God's  ftatutes,"  and 
 there  is  hope  that,  in  the  day  of  trial,  we  (hall  not 
 give  our  brethren  caufe  to  be  albamed  of  us,  nor  be 
 ourfelves  "  afhamed"  before  God. 
 
 CAPH.     Part  XL 
 
 81.  My  foul  fainteih  for  thy  falvation:  but  / 
 hope  ill  thy  ivorcU  or,  /  have  expected  thy  word. 
 
 Thus  have  the  true  fervants  of  God,  in  eveiy  age, 
 cxprefTed  their  ardent  defire  of  his  falvation.  Thus 
 did  the  patriarchs,  the  prophets,  the  kings,  and  the 
 faithful  people,  formerly  widi  to  behold  the  advent  of 
 their  Saviour  in  the  fleQi;  until  Simeon,  taking  him 
 in  his  arms,  fpoke  what  they  would  all  have  fpoken 
 hud  they  been  prefent,  "  Lord,  now  letteft  thou  thy 
 **  fervant  depart  in  peace,  according  to  thy  word ; 
 **  for  mine  eyes  have  feen  thy  falvation."  But  the 
 Bridegroom  was  foon  taken  away,  and  the  heavens 
 have  received  him,  until  the  reftitution  of  all  things ; 
 for  which  the  church  upon  earth  at  this  day  waiteth 
 and  prayeth  -,  that  (he  may  be  delivered  from  all  her 
 troubles,  and  infeparably  united  to  him  in  whom  (lie 
 delighteth.  Every  individual,  when  oppre(red  by  fui 
 and  forrow,  may  make  his  fupplication  in  the  fame 
 words,  for  that  falvation,  which  is  by  grace,  through 
 faith. 
 
 82.  Mine 
 
Bay  25.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  567 
 
 82.  Mine  eyes  fail  for  thy  word,  faying^  When 
 wilt  thou  comfort  mef 
 
 While  the  promifed  falvatlon  is  delayed,  the  af- 
 flidled  foul  thinketh  every  day  a  year,  and  looketh 
 toward  heaven  for  the  accomplilhinent  of  God's 
 word,  faying  to  "  her  Friend  and  her  Beloved,  When 
 "  wilt  thou  comfort  me?  Come,  Lord  Jefu,  come 
 **  quickly*!" 
 
 83.  For  1  am  become  like  a  bottle  in  the  fmokei 
 yet  do  I  not  forget  thy  ftatiites. 
 
 "  Bottles"  among  the  Jews  were  made  of  ikins.. 
 One  of  thefe,  if  expofed  to  heat  and  '^  fmoke,"  would 
 become  ihri veiled  and  ufelefs.  Such  a  change  will 
 labour  and  forrow  caufe  in  the  human  frame;  and 
 the  Pfalmift  here  complaineth,  that  his  beauty  and  his 
 ftrength  were  gone;  the  natural  moiflure  was  dried 
 up;  in  confequence  of  which,  the  fliin  fliriveiled, 
 and  both  colour  and  vigour  departed  from  him.  Dif- 
 cafe  and  old  age  will  produce  the  fame  fad  effed:s  iri 
 us  all;  but  the  body's  weaknefs  is  the  foul's  ftrength j 
 
 •  **  Defecerunt  oculi  mei:'*  Ambrofius:  **  Ncnne  quando 
 **  aliquem  defideramus  et  Iperamus  adfore,  e6  dirigimus  oculos 
 **  unde  fperamus  effe  venturum?  Sic  tenerse  uxor  setatis,  de 
 •'  fpecula  litorali  indefelTa  expedatione  conjugis  praeftolatur  ad- 
 *'  ventum;  ut  quamcunque  navim  viderit,  illic  putat  conjugem 
 «*  navigare,  metuatque  ne  videndi  gratia  dilecli,  alius  antevertat, 
 "  nee  ipfa  poffit  prima  dicere,  video  te,  mi  marite."  Vide  reli- 
 qua  apud  Ambrofium,  ejufdem  plane  Ipiritus,  nee  tamen  potui 
 temperare,  quin  ha:c  exfcriberem.  Sic  affeftus  eft  quifquis  cum 
 Paulo  diffolvi  cupit,  et  efle  cum  Chrillo.  Sic  denique  qui  femel 
 guftato  bono  Dei  verbo,  ut  idem  Paulus  ait,  fibi  poftea  reliftus, 
 deficit  ta-dio  fui,  ac  reddi  fibi  poltulat  pr^egufiatam  fuaviflimi 
 amoris  dulccdinem.     Bossuet. 
 
 3  as 
 
368  A  COMMENTARY        I^sal.  119. 
 
 as  the  outward  man  decayeth,  the  inward  man  is  re- 
 newed ;  "  T  do  not  forget  thy  ftatutes." 
 
 84.  Ilmvviany  are  the  days  of  thrj  fertant  ?  Wlien 
 tmlf  thou  execute  judgment  on  them  that  perfecute  me  ? 
 
 The  well  beloved  John  heard  a  queftion,  of  the 
 fame  import  with  this,  afked  by  the  fpirits  of  the 
 martyrs,  that  had  left  their  bodies,  and  were  wait- 
 ing, in  the  feparate  ftate,  for  the  day  of  retribution. 
 The  anfwer,  which  was  made  to  them,  may  likewife 
 fatisfy  our  impatience,  when  fuffering  affliction  and 
 perfecution.  "  I  faw  under  the  altar  the  fouls  of 
 "  them  that  were  ilain  for  the  word  of  God,  and  for 
 "  the  teftimony  wh'ch  they  held.  And  they  cried 
 **  with  a  loud  voice,  faying.  How  long,  O  Lord, 
 **  holy  and  true,  doll  thou  not  judge  and  avenge 
 **  our  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?  And 
 "  white  robes  were  given  unto  every  one  of  theriii 
 *'  and  it  was  faid  unto  them,  that  they  Qiould  reft 
 '*  yet  for  a  little  feafon,  until  their  fellow-fervants  alfo, 
 •*  and  their  brethren,  that  Qiould  be  killed  as  they 
 '*  were,  (hould  be  fulfilled."    Rev.  vi.  9,  &c. 
 
 85.  The  proud  have  digged  pits  for  mCy  which  are 
 not  after  thy  law. 
 
 The  manner  of  taking  wild  beafts  was  by  "  dig- 
 ging pits,"  and  covering  them  over  with  turf,  upon 
 which  when  the  beaft  trod,  he  fell  into  the  pit,  and 
 was  there  confined  and  taken.  But  there  was  a 
 "  law,"  that  if  a  pit  were  left  open,  and  a  tame  beaft* 
 an  ox,  or  an  afs,  fell  into  it,  the  owners  of  the 
 pit  fliould  make  good  the  damage.  Exod.  xxi* 
 ,31.  Much  more  fhall  men  be  called  to  a  fevere  ac- 
 count, who  purpofely  lay  fnares  and  ftumbling- block* 
 
 before; 
 
Day  25.  K.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  369 
 
 before  the  feet  of  their  innocent  brethren,  to  caufe 
 them  to  fall  and  perifn. 
 
 86.  J II  thy  commandments  are  faithful-'  they 
 perfecute  me  wrongfully ^  help  thou  me. 
 
 Man  is  perfidious  and  deceitful,  God  is  "  faith- 
 "  ful"  and  true  J  he  liath  prornifed  to  "  help"  thofe 
 who  fufFer  "  wrongfully,'*  and  he  will,  in  the  end^ 
 flievv  himfelf  to  be  the  avenger  of  all  fuch.  Let 
 them  wait  with  patience,  fince  the  King  of  Righteouf- 
 nefs  himfelf  fufFered  as  a  malcfaftor,  before  he  en- 
 tered into  his  glory. 
 
 87.  Thcij  had  almoji  confiimed  me  Upon  earth- 
 but  Iforfook  not  thij precepts. 
 
 However  low  the  church,  or  any  member  thereof, 
 may,  by  perfecution  and  tribulation,  be  brought  upon 
 earth,  yet  nothing  can  feparate  them  from  the  love  of 
 God,  while  they  *'  forfake  not  his  precepts,"  nor  dif- 
 believe  his  promifes.  The  foul,  we  know,  muft  for- 
 fake the  body ;  but  God  will  forfake  neither. 
 
 88.  Quicken  me  after  thy  loving  kindnefs,  fofJiall 
 I  keep  the  teftimony  of  thy  ynouth. 
 
 Through  the  "  loving  kindnefs"  of  God  our  Sa- 
 viour, the  Spirit  of  life  is  given  unto  us,  by  whofe 
 "  quickening"  influences  we  are  revived,  when  funk 
 in  fins,  or  in  forrows,  and  are  enabled  with  joy  and 
 gladnefs,  to  perfevere  in  "  keeping  the  teftimony  of 
 **  his  mouth." 
 
 LAMED.     Part  XII. 
 
 89.  Forever^  O  Lord,  thy  word  is  fettled  iii 
 heaven:  or,  Thou  art  for  ever,  O  Lord,  thy  wor4 
 
 Vol.  II.  A  a  u 
 
370  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  119. 
 
 is  fettled  in  heaven:  90.  Thy faithfulnefs  is  unto 
 all  generations  •'  thou  hajt  eJlabli/Jied  the  earthy  and 
 it  abide th.  91.  They  continue  this  day  according 
 to  thine  ordinances  :  jor  all  are  thy  fervants. 
 
 The  eternity  of  Jehovah,  and  the  immutability  of 
 his  counfels,  are  confiderations  which  afford  comfort 
 and  encouragement  to  his  people,  when  their  enemies 
 are  in  arms  againft  them.  Even  in  this  world  the 
 •unwearied  "  heavens"'  continue  to  perform  invaria- 
 ably  their  operations  upon  themfelves  and  the  bodies 
 placed  in  themj  while  the  globe  of  the  ^'  earth"  re- 
 taining its  original  form  and  coherence  of  parts,  ftill, 
 as  at  the  beginning,  fupports  and  maintains  the  fuc- 
 ceffive  *'  generations"  of  men,  which  live  and  move 
 upon  it,  to  whom  the  faithful  promifes  of  God  are 
 fulfilled,  from  age  to  age.  Thus  doth  the  unchange- 
 able order  of  nature  itfelf  point  out  to  us  the  truth 
 of  her  great  author,  and  at  the  fame  time  reprove  the 
 eccentric  motions  of  rebellious  man.  The  heavens 
 and  the  earth  "  continue  this  day  according  to  thine 
 "  ordinance,"  O  Lord,  "  for  all  things  are  thy  fer- 
 vants;" all  invariably  ferve  thee,  except  man,  who 
 alone  was  endowed  with  reafon,  that  he  might  obey 
 and  glorify  thee  in  this  life,  and  that  which  is  to 
 come  ! 
 
 92.  Unlefs  thy  law  had  been  viy  delights,  IJfiould 
 then  have  per ijlied  in  mine  affliction. 
 
 The  Pfalmift  afllireth  us,  from  his  own  experience, 
 how  pleafant  and  how  profitable,  in  time  of  trouble, 
 is  the  meditation  on  the  fidelity  of  God,  as  difplayed 
 in  the  ftability  of  his  works.  The  "  delights,"  by 
 this  afforded,    fuflained   his   foul  in  '*  afflidtions," 
 
 which 
 
T^AY   l^.E.V.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  27^ 
 
 which  muft  otherwlfe  have  brought  him  to  an  end. 
 And  the  fame  everlafting  Word  (liall  be  the  beHever's 
 fuppcrt  and  confolation,  even  when  the  heavens  (hall 
 melt  around  him  with  fervent  heat,  and  the  earth, 
 and  all  that  is  therein,  Qiall  be  burnt  up.  "  Heaven 
 **  and  earth  fhall  pais  away,"  faith  He  who  made 
 them,    "  but  my  word  Ihail  not  pafs  away." 
 
 93.  /  zvi'll  never  forget  thy  precepts :  for  zvith 
 them  thou  hajt  quickened  me. 
 
 Great  are  the  neceffities,  and  many  the  diforders 
 of  the  foul  i  but  in  the  Scripture  there  is  provifion 
 and  medicine  for  them  all;  and  according  to  our  va- 
 rious wants  and  maladies,  God  relieveth  and  "  quick- 
 *'  eneth"  us,  fometimes  with  one  part  of  his  word, 
 fometimes  with  another.  Now,  when  we  have  found 
 ourfelves  thus  benefited,  at  any  time,  by  a  particular 
 "^aflage  of  holy  writ,  we  fhould  "  never  forget,"  but 
 remember  and  treafure  it  up  in  our  minds,  againft  a 
 like  occafion,  when  the  fame  afflidlion  or  temptation 
 may  again  befal  us. 
 
 94.  /  am  thine  :  fave  me,  for  I  have  fought  thy 
 precepts. 
 
 The  double  relation  which  we  have  the  honour  to 
 bear  to  God,  by  creation,  and  by  redemption,  as  the 
 work  of  his  hands,  and  the  purchafe  of  his  blood, 
 is  a  mod  endearing  and  prevailing  argument  with 
 him,  to  "  fave"  us  from  our  enemies.  But  then  let 
 it  be  remembered,  that  no  man  can  fay  to  God  with 
 a  good  confcience,  "  I  am  thine,"  unlefs  he  can  alfo 
 go  on,  and  fay,  "  I  have  fought  thy  precepts,"  I 
 defire  to  ferve  and  obey  thee  alone  j  fmce,  after  all, 
 "  his  fervants  we  are  to  whom  we  obey;"  and  if  fin 
 A  a  2  be 
 
375^*  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119, 
 
 be  our  mafter,  how  can  we  fay  to  a  Matter,  whofe 
 intereft  isdireftly  oppofite,  "  I  am  thine  ?" 
 
 95.  The  wicked  have  waited  for  me  to  dejiroy 
 me :  but  I  will  cnnjider  thy  tejlimomes. 
 
 In  the  preceding  verfe,  David  befought  God  «to 
 **  fave"  him.  The  reafon  of  that  prayer  is  here  af- 
 figned,  namely,  becaufe  "  the  wicked  lay  in  wait  for 
 "  him  to  deflroy  him,"  as  they  afterwards  did  to  de- 
 ftroy  one,  whom  the  afflicted  and  perfecuted  Pfalmifl 
 reprefented.  Spiritual  enemies  are  continually  upon 
 the  watch  to  deflroy  us  all;  and  we  can  no  way 
 efcape  their  wiles,  but  by  "  confidering,"  fo  as  to 
 underftand  and  obferve,  God's  "  teftimonies." 
 
 96.  /  havefeen  an  end  of  all  perfection  :  but  thy 
 commandment  is  exceeding  broad. 
 
 Of  "  all  perfedion"  in  this  world,  whether  of 
 beauty,  wit,  learning,  pleafure,  honour,  or  riches, 
 experience  will  foon  fliew  us  the  "  end."  But  where 
 is  the  end  or  boundary  of  the  word  of  God  ?  Who 
 can  afcend  to  the  height  of  it's  excellency  ;  who  can 
 fathom  the  depth  of  it's  myfteries  ;  who  can  find  out 
 the  comprehenfion  of  it's,  precepts,  or  conceive  the 
 extent  of  it's  promifes  3  who  can  take  the  dimenfions 
 of  that  love  of  God  to  man  which  it  defcribeth,  or 
 that  love  of  man  to  God  which  it  teacheth  !  The 
 knowledge  of  one  thing  leadeth  us  forward  to  that  of 
 another,  and  ftill,  as  we  travel  on,  the  profped  opens 
 before  us  into  eternity,  like  the  pleafant  and  fruitful 
 mountains  of  Canaan,  rifing  on  the  other  fide  of 
 Jordan,  when  viewed  by  Mofes  from  the  top  of 
 Pifgah.  O  happy  region  of  celeflial  wifdom,  per- 
 manent  felicity,   true   riches,   and  unfading  glory; 
 
 while 
 
Day  25-  E.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  373 
 
 while  we  contemplate  thee,  how  doth  the  world  leflen, 
 and  Ihnnk  to  nothing  in  our  eyes  !  Thy  bleflings  faith 
 now  beholdeth,  but  it  is  chanty  which  Ihall  hereafter 
 pollefs  and  enjoy  them. 
 
 MEM.     PartXIII. 
 
 97.  O  how  I  love  thy  laiv  !  It  is  my  meditation 
 all  the  day. 
 
 Words  cannot  exprefs  the  love  which  a  pious 
 mind  entertaineth  for  the  Scriptures.  They  are  the 
 epiflle  of  God  to  mankind,  offering  reconciliation, 
 peace,  and  union  with  himfelf  in  glory j  containing 
 reafons  why  we  fliould  love  him  and  each  other,  with 
 directions  how  to  (hew  forth  that  love,  which,  as  the 
 Apoftle  faith,  is  "  the  fulfilling  of  the  law."  Kom. 
 xiii.  ID.  On  fome  portions  of  thefe  Scriptures  fliould 
 our  "  meditation"'  be  continually^  and  "  each  day'* 
 Ihiould  add  fomething  to  our  knowledge,  to  our  faith, 
 to  our  virtue. 
 
 98.  Thou  through  thy  commandments  haji  made 
 me  zcifej'  than  mine  enemies  •'  for  they  are  ever  zvith 
 me,  99.  /  have  more  underjianding  than  all  my 
 teachers:  for  thy  tefiraonies  are  my  meditation. 
 100.  I  underjland  more  than  the  ancients :  becaufe 
 J  keep  thy  precepts. 
 
 The  "  commandments"  of  God  were  "  ever  with^* 
 David;  the  *^  teftimonies"  of  God  were  his  "  medi- 
 "  tationi"  and  the  "  precepts"  of  God  it  was  his 
 care  to  *'  obferve ;"  therefore  his  wifdom  exceeded 
 the  policy  of  his  "  enemies,"  the  learning  of  his 
 "  teachers,"  and  the  experience  of  the  "  ancients." 
 Thus,  by  the  wifdom  of  the  Scriptures,  did  the  holy 
 A  a  3  Jei'uSj 
 
374  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  119. 
 
 ■Jefus,  in  the  days  of  his  flefh,  confound  his  adver- 
 faries,  aftonifli  the  teachers  of  the  law,  and  inftrud 
 the  aged.  And  it  is  the  high  prerogative  of  the 
 Scriptures,  at  all  times,  to  render  youth  and  fimpli- 
 city  fuperior-to  the  inveterate  malice  and  fubtlety  of 
 the  grand  Deceiver,  and  his  affociates. 
 
 1 01.  7  have  refrained  viy  feet  from  every  evil  waijy 
 that  I  might  keep  thy  ivord. 
 
 The  foundation  of  all  religion  mufl  be  laid  in 
 mortification  and  feif-denial  j  for  fince  the  will  of 
 fallen  men  is  contrary  to  the  will  of  God,  we  muft 
 abfiain  from  doing  tlie  one,  in  order  to  do  the  other. 
 The  aifeftions  may  be  ftyled  the  "  feet"  of  the  foul, 
 and  unlefs  thefe  be  "  refrained  from  evil  ways,"  no 
 progrefs  can  be  made  in  that  way  which  alone  is  good 
 and  right  ;  we  cannot  "  keep  God's  word." 
 
 102.  /  have  not  departed  from  thy  judgments  - 
 for  thou  haft  taught  me. 
 
 Perfeverance  is  the  effeifl  of  inftruflion  from  above, 
 by  the  Spirit,  through  the  Word:  and  our  heavenly 
 Teacher  differeth  from  all  others,  in  this,  that,  with 
 the  leffon,  he  beftoweth  on  the  fcholar  both  a  difpo- 
 fition  to  learn,  and  an  ability  to  perform. 
 
 103.  How  fveet  are  thy  ivords  unto  my  tafte  / 
 yea  fweeter  than  honey  to  my  mouth. 
 
 The  foul  hath  it's  "  tafte,"  as  well  as  the  body, 
 and  that  tafte  is  then  in  right  order,  when  the  "words" 
 of  Scripture  arc  "  fvveet"  to  the  foul,  as  "  honey"  is 
 to  the  mouth.  If  they  are  not  always  fo,  it  is  bec^ufe 
 our  tafte  is  vitiated  by  the  world  and  the  ftefli ;  and 
 we  (hall  ever  find  our  relilh  for  the  word  of  God  to 
 "be  greateft,  when  that  for  the  world  and  the  fle(h  is 
 
 leaft^ 
 
Day  26.  xM.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  375 
 
 lead,  in  time  of  afflidion,  (icknefs,  and  death;  for 
 thefe  are  contrary  one  to  the  other.  In  heaven  the 
 latter  will  be  no  more,  and  therefore  the  former  will 
 be  all  in  all. 
 
 104.  ThrougJi  thy  precepts  I  get  underfianding- 
 therefore  I  hate  every  Jalfe  way. 
 
 He  who  delighteth  to  ftudy  the  Scriptures,  will 
 *'  underftand,"  from  them,  the  true  nature  of  righte- 
 oufnefs  and  of  fin;  he  who  doth  underftand  the  na- 
 ture of  each,  will  love  the  former,  and,  in  propor- 
 tion, "  hate"  the  latter;  and  with  that  which  we 
 thoroughly  hate,  we  will  not  bear  to  have  any  con- 
 nection; with  fufpicion  and  jealoufy  we  ftiall  eye  it 
 approaching;  with  courage  and  conftancy  we  (liall 
 arm,  and  fight  againfl  it ;  we  (liall  make  no  peace, 
 nor  fo  much  as  a  truce  with  it;  but,  as  faithful  fol- 
 diers  and  fervants  of  Jefus  Clirift,  we  fhall  aim  at 
 that  utter  extermination  of  it,  which  we  have  vowed, 
 and  which,  through  the  Spirit  of  grace  and  power, 
 will  be  accomplilhed,  but  not,  perhaps,  totally,  till 
 our  life  and  warfare  (liall  end  together. 
 
 '&" 
 
 XXVI    DAY        MORNING    PRAYER. 
 
 NUN.     Part  XIV. 
 
 105.  Thy  zvord  is  a  lamp  unto  my  feet ^  and  a 
 light  unto  wy  paths. 
 
 Man  is  a  traveller,  his  life  is  a  journey,  heaven  is 
 
 his  end,  his  road  lies  through  a  wildernefs,  and  he  is 
 
 in    the   dark.     Thus  circumftanced,    how   earneftly 
 
 and  devoutly  ought  he  to  pray,  "  O  fend  out  thy 
 
 A  a  4  "  ligl^t 
 
376  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  119. 
 
 "  light  and  thy  truth ;  let  them  lead  me,  let  them 
 *'  bring  me  to  thy  holy  hill,  and  to  thy  tabernacles!" 
 Pfal.  xliii.  3.  For  furely,  "  the  commandment  is  a 
 *'  lamp,  and  the  law  is  light;  and  reproofs  of  in- 
 "  ftrudlion  are  the  way  of  life/'  Prov.  vi.  i3.  The 
 Word  of  God  difcovereth  to  us  our  errors;  it  fliew- 
 eth  us  where  we  loft  our  way,  and  how  we  may  re- 
 cover it  again.  If  we  take  this  '« lamp"  in  our  hand, 
 it  will  not  only  point  out  our  courfe  in  general,  but 
 alfo  direft  us  in  every  ftep,  and  guide  our  "  feet" 
 Alright  in  the  "  path"  of  holinefs  and  peace.  Thus, 
 through  the  devious  and  lonely  wilds  ot  Arabia,  was 
 Ifrael  once  conduded  to  the  land  of  promife,  by  the 
 illuminating  pillar,  or  rather  by  Him,  whofe  pre- 
 fence  dwelt  in  the  midft  of  it. 
 
 106.  /  have  fwo7'?i,  and  I  will  perforin  it,  thai  I 
 will  keep  thy  righteous  judgments. 
 
 Such  being  the  direction  afforded  by  the  Word  of 
 God  to  a  benighted  pilgrim,  David  had  obliged  him- 
 felf,  in  the  moft  folemn  manner,  to  follow  that  di- 
 re<5lion.  Every  chriltian  doth,  at  his  baptil'm,  in  like 
 manner,  "  promife  and  vow  to  keep  God's  command- 
 "  ments,  and  to  walk  in  the  fame  all  the  days  of  his 
 "  life."  The  nature  and  extent  of  thefe  engage- 
 ments muft  be  interpreted  according  to  the  covenant 
 of  grace,  under  which  they  are  made.  The  command 
 to  us  finners  is,  that  we  Iliould  repent,  and  believe 
 in  him,  who  will  pardon  our  failings,  and  ftrengthen 
 our  infirmities,  that  we  may  walk  as  becometh  his 
 difciples,  who,  though  they  ought  not  to  commit  fin, 
 may  yet,  by  divine  grace,  be  reftored  and  laved  from 
 it.     *'  Thefe  things  write  I  unto  you,  that  ye  fin  not. 
 
 ♦*  And 
 
Day  26.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  377 
 
 "  And  if  any  man  fin,  we  have  an  advocate  with  the 
 "  Father,  Jefus  Chrift  the  righteous;  and  he  is  the 
 ".  propitiation  for  our  fins."      1  John  ii.  i. 
 
 107.  /  am  afflicted  very  much:  quicken  mCy  O 
 Lord,  according  to  thy  word. 
 
 The  faithful  fervants  of  God  may  be  "  afflided;" 
 they  may  be  *'  very  much"  and  grievouHy  afRided; 
 but  let  them  confidcr,  that,  by  afHidions,  their  cor- 
 ruptions are  purged  away,  their  faith  is  tried,  their 
 patience  perfeded,  their  brethren  are  edified,  and 
 their  Mafter  is  glorified.  Let  them  flill  firmly  rely 
 on  the  divine  promife  of  grace  and  falvationj  flill 
 humbly  pray  for  it's  accomplifliment  in  themfelves; 
 *^  quicken  me,  O  Lord,  according  to  thy  word." 
 
 108.  Accept,  I  befeech  thee.,  the  free  zvilt  qferings 
 of  my  mouth  J  O  Lord,  and  tench  me  thy  judgments. 
 
 The  "  offerings"  of  the  believer  are  prayer,  praife, 
 and  holy  refolutions  and  vows,  like  that  of  the  Pfal- 
 mifh  above,  "  to  keep  God's  righteous  judgments," 
 in  which  he  therefore  petitioneth  to  be  every  day 
 more  and  more  "  taught"  and  inflruded  by  the  Spi- 
 rit of  truth.  ChrifLians  are  called  by  St.  Peter,  "  a 
 *'  royal  and  holy  priefthood,  appointed  to  offer  up 
 *'  fpiritual  facrifices,  acceptable  to  God,  by  Jefus 
 *^  Chrift."     I  Pet.  ii.  5.  9. 
 
 109.  My  foul  is  continually  in  my  hand;  yet  do  I 
 not  forget  tliy  law. 
 
 To  have  one's  "  foul,"  i:;D2  or  life,  "  in  one's 
 *^  hand,"  is  a  phrafe  often  ufed  in  Scripture,  and  im- 
 plieth  going  in  continual  danger  of  one's  life.  See 
 Judg.  xii.  3.  I  Sam.  xix.  5,  and  xxviii.  21.  Job 
 xiii,  14.  Great  and  inceffant  as  David's  perils  were, 
 I  he 
 
57S  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  119. 
 
 he  did  not  "Torget"  God's  promifes,  nor  his  precepts, 
 but  truRed  in  the  former,  and  performed  the  latter. 
 St.  Paul  knew,  that  "  in  every  city  bonds  and  afflic-- 
 "  tions  waited  for  him  5  but  none  of  thefc  things,'' 
 faith  he,  "  move  me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear 
 •  ■*'  unto  myfelf,  fo  that  I  might  finifn  my  courfe  with 
 "joy."     Ads  XX.  23. 
 
 1 10.  The  xv'icked  have  laid  a  fnare for  me-  yet  I 
 erred  not  from  thy  precepts. 
 
 When  open  violence  fails  to  move  a  man  from  his 
 fledfaflnefs,  "  the  wicked  wiU  lay  fnares"  for  him,  to 
 entice  him  into  fm  by  the  baits  of  honour,  pleafure, 
 or  profit;  by  expofing  him  to  unavoidable  tempta- 
 tions, as  when  David  was  driven  out  of  his  own  land, 
 to  live  amongft  idolaters,  of  which  ufage  he  complain- 
 eth;  I  Sam.  xxvi.  19.  or  elfe  by  making  laws  which 
 an  honeft  man  cannot  obey  without  fin,  or  refufe  to 
 obey  without  danger.  Numberlefs  are  the  traps,  of 
 one  kind  or  other,  which  human  wit,  and  diabolical 
 malice,  in  conjunftion,  have  fet  for  the  confciences  of 
 thofe,  who  profefs  themfelves  10  be  the  fervants  of 
 God  J  and  happy  is  that  fervant,  whom  they  have  not 
 caufed  to  **  err  from  the  precepts"  of  his  Mafter. 
 
 HI.  Thy  te/limonies  have  I  taken  as  mine  heritage 
 for  ever:  for  they  are  the  rejoicing  of  my  heart. 
 
 The  "  teftimonies"  of  God"s  will,  his  word  and  his 
 facraments,  arc  the  bonds  and  the  deeds,  by  which  we 
 hold  our  heavenly  "  inheritance,  as  heirs  of  God  and 
 "  joint  heirs  with  Chrift."  Of  thefe  deeds,  and  this 
 inheritance,  no  power  can  deprive  us;  and  when 
 •"  they  are  the  rejoicing  of  our  hearts,"  we  (hall  not, 
 by  preferring  an  earthly  inheritance,  deprive  ourfelves 
 
 of  them. 
 
 112.  / 
 
Day  26.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  379 
 
 112.  I  have  inclined  mine  heart  to  perform  thy 
 Jiatutes  always,  even  unto  the  end. 
 
 The  "  inclination  of  the  heart"  to  good,  is  the 
 work  of  Godi  but  man  is,  neverthelefs,  in  this,  as 
 in  other  inftances,  faid  to  perform  it,  when  he  liftens 
 to  the  call,  and  obeys  the  motions  of  his  grace.  We 
 are  not  to  judge  of  ourfelves  by  what  we  fometimes 
 fay  and  cto,  but  by  the  general  difpofition  and  ten- 
 dency of  the  heart  and  it's  affeclions.  When,  after 
 repeated  trials,  we  find  that  the  love  of  God  cads 
 the  fcale  againft  the  love  of  the  world  j  when  it  is 
 our  glory,  oar  delight,  our  treafure,  our  meat  and 
 drink,  to  do  his  will,  and,  againft  all  oppofition,  to 
 perfevere  in  doing  it,  "  even  unto  the  endj"  then 
 are  we  the  true  difciples  of  that  Mafter,  v/hofe  heart 
 was  evermore  inclined  to  good ;  who  alone  performed 
 a  perfed;  and  fpotlefs  obedience,  and  perfilled  in 
 working  the  work  of  him  that  fent  him,  until,  with 
 his  laft  breath,  he  declared,  upon  the  crofs,  it   is 
 
 FINISHED. 
 
 SAMECH.     Part  XV. 
 
 113./  hate  vain  thoughts :  but  thy  law  do  I  love;, 
 "  Love  and  hatred"  are  the  two  great  and  in- 
 fluencing aifedions  of  the  human  mind.  Since  the 
 fall,  they  have  been  mifplaced.  By  nature  we  *'love 
 "  vain  thoughts,"  and  "  hate  the  law  of  God.  The 
 **  carrial  mind  is  enmity  againft  God,  for  it  is  not 
 "  fubjed  to  the  law  of  God,  neither  mdeed  can  be." 
 Rom.  viii.  7.  But  in  a  renewed  mind  the  cafe  is 
 alteredj  it's  delight  is  in  the  law  of  God/and  there- 
 
 for^ 
 
SSo  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  119. 
 
 fore  it  cannot  bear  "  vain  thoughts,"  which  are  con- 
 trary to  that  law,  and  exalt  themfelves  againft  it. 
 Thoughts  are  often  faid  to  be  free;  from  human  cen- 
 fure  they  are,  but  not  from  the  cognizance  and  judg- 
 ment of  the  Omnifcient.  The  mind  (hould  be  well 
 furniQied  with  proper  materials,  on  which  to  employ 
 itfclf.  We  fliall  then  be  fecured  againft  the  incurfions 
 of  rambling,  conceited,  worldly,  impure,  and  revenge- 
 ful thoughts,  which  otherwife  will  devour  half  our 
 time,  and  appear  againft  us,  to  our  unfpeakable  amaze- 
 ment, in  that  day,  when  the  fecrets  of  all  hearts  (liall 
 be  revealed. 
 
 114.  77wu  art  my  hiding-place^  and  my  ftiield:  I 
 hope  in  thy  icord. 
 
 From  vain  thoughts,  and  vain  perfons,  the  Pfal- 
 mift  tcacheth  us  io  fly,  by  prayer,  to  God,  as  our 
 refuge  and  protedor.  This  courfe  a  believer  will  as 
 naturally  take,  in  the  hour  of  temptation  and  danger, 
 as  the  olfspring  of  the  hen,  on  fCfceiving  a  bird  of 
 prey  hovering  over  their  heads,  retire  to  their  *'  hid- 
 *'  ing  place,"  under  the  wings  of  their  dam ;  or  as  the 
 warrior  oppofeth  his  "  Hiield"  to  the  darts  which  are 
 aimed  at  him. 
 
 115.  Depart  from  me,  ye  evil  do:rs :  for  L  will 
 Meep  the  commandments  of  my  God. 
 
 Safe  under  the  protection  of  the  Almight)^,  David 
 bids  the  wicked  "  depart  from  him;"  he  neither 
 fears  their  malice,  nor  will  follow  their  counlels, 
 being  refolutely  determined  to  adhere  to  his  duty, 
 and  to  "  keep  the  commandments  of  his  God."  He 
 who  hath  formed  David's  refolution,  muft,  like  him, 
 difglaim  afid  renounce  the  fociety  of  "  evil  doers;'* 
 
 for 
 
Day  26.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  3S1 
 
 for  every  man  will  infenfibly  contrad  the  good  or 
 bad  qualities  of  the  company  which  he  keeps,  and 
 fhould,  therefore^  be  careful  to  keep  fuch,  as  will 
 make  him  wifer  and  better,  and  fie  him  for  the  gooc'ly 
 fellowfliip  of  faints  and  angels. 
 
 1 16.  Uphold  me  according  to  thy  nwrd,  that  I  may 
 live:  and  let  me  not  he  ajhamed  of  my  hope.  117, 
 Hold  thou  me  up,  and  1 /hall  he  fafe:  and  I  zviil 
 have  refpect  unto  thy  Jiatutes  continually, 
 
 A  refolution  to  fly  from  evil,  and  to  do  good,  is 
 properly  follo-vved  by  an  earncft  and  repeated  prayer, 
 to  be  "  upheld"  in  the  performance  of  it.  by  divine 
 grace,  *'  according  to  God's  word"  and  promile  ; 
 that  fo  our  *'  hope"  in  that  word  may  not  fail,  and 
 put  us  to  "  fname"  before  our  enemies;  that  we  may 
 be  *'  faved"  from  falling,  and  enabled,  in  our  walk- 
 ing, to  have  ''  refped  unto  the  divine  flatutes  con- 
 "  tinually."  Hov/  neceffary  is  this  pra}er  to  be 
 made  by  creatures,  whofe  tempers  and  difpolitlons 
 are  ever  varying;  who  have  fo  many  and  fo  formid- 
 able adverfaries  to  contend  with;  and  on  whom 
 their  temporal  condition  hath  fo  much  influence ! 
 
 n8.,  Thou  hadji  trodden  down  ail  them  that  err 
 from  thy  Jiatutes:  for  their  deceit  is  faljliood. 
 
 The  dreadful  judgments  which  God,  from  time  to 
 time,  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  hath  executed,  and 
 which  he  ftill  can,  and  will  execute,  upon  impeni- 
 tent finners,  afford  a  kind  of  admonition  and  a  power- 
 ful motive  to  obedience.  As  no  force  can  counteract 
 the  power  of  God,  fo  no  "  cunning"  can  deceive  his 
 wifdom,  but  will  always,  in  the  end,  miferably 
 •'  deceive"  tho.e   who   trufl   in   it,  and  emplcy  it 
 
 aaainft 
 
3S2  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119. 
 
 againft  tlie  counfels  of  heaven;  "  their  deceit,  or 
 **  fubtlety,  is  falfliood,"  npttS  it  will  fail  and  ruin  it's 
 owners.  Of  this,  hiftory  furnifheth  inftances  in 
 abundance.  And  it  will  be  evident  to  all  the  world, 
 when  fimplicity  and  innocence  fliall  reign  triumph- 
 ant, VN^ith  the  Lamb,  on  mount  Sion;  and  deceit  and 
 guile  (hall  have  their  portion  with  the  ferpent,  in  the 
 lake  of  fire. 
 
 119.  Thnu  puttejl  away  all  the  ungodly  of  the 
 earth  like  drofs:  therefore  I  love  thy  tefiimonies. 
 
 "  Unp;odly"'  men  and  hypocrites  are  mingled 
 among  the  fons  and  fervants  of  God,  as  "  drofs"'  is 
 blended  with  the  pure  metal,  and  appeareth  to  be 
 part  of  it.  Bat  the  fiery  trial  of  divine  judgment 
 foon  difcovereth  the  difference.  The  falfe  pretences 
 of  the  hypocrite  are  deteded,  and  the  glory  of  the 
 wicked  vanifheth  away.  Thefe  difpenfations  of  God's 
 providence  increafe  our  *'  love"  of  his  "  word;" 
 becaufe  they  give  us  fenfibie  experience  of  it's  truth, 
 they  fliew  us  the  juftice  of  God  in  punifhing  others, 
 together  with  his  mercy  in  Iparing  us,  and  removing 
 thofe  who  might  have  corrupted  us,  and  turned  the 
 filver  itfelf  into  drofs.  In  times  of  vifitation,  Chrift 
 fitteth  among  his  people,  "  as  a  refiner  and  purifier 
 "  of  filver,"  purging  away  all  drofs,  that  out  of 
 what  remains  may  be  made  "  veffels  of  honour,  meet 
 *'  for  the  Matter's  ufe,"  to  ferve  and  to  adorn  the 
 fanduary.     See  Mai.  iii.  3.  Ifai.  i.  25.  2  Tim.  ii.  21. 
 
 120.  My  flefh  trembleth  for  fear  of  thee,  and  1 
 am  afraid  of  thy  judgments. 
 
 At  the  prefence  of  Jehovah,  when  he  appeareth 
 in  judgment,  the  earth  trembleth  and  is  flill.     His 
 
 heft 
 
Day  a6.  m.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  383 
 
 befl  fervants  are  not  exempted  from  an  awful  dread ^ 
 upon  fuch  occafions;  fcenes  of  this  kind,  Ihewn  in 
 vifion  to  the  prophets,  caufe  their  flefli  to  quivern 
 and  all  their  bones  to  fhake.  Encompaffed  with  a 
 frail  body»  and  a  fmful  world,  we  fland  in  need  of 
 every  polTible  tie;  and  the  affedions  both  of  fear 
 and  love  mud  be  employed,  to  reftrain  us  from 
 tranfgreflion;  we  muft,  at  the  fame  time,  "  love 
 "  God's  teftimonies,  and  fear  his  judgments." 
 
 A  IN.     Part  XVI. 
 
 121.  /  have  done  judgment  and  jujiice :  leave  me 
 not  to  mine  opprejjors. 
 
 He  who  is  engaged  in  a  righteous  caufe,  and  hath 
 afted  uprightly  in  the  fupport  of  it,  may,  fo  far, 
 without  incurring  the  cenfure  of  boafting,  or  truft- 
 ing  to  his  own  righteoufnefs,  make  David's  plea, 
 *'  I  have  done  judgment  and  juftice;"  as  if  he  had 
 faid.  Thou,  O  my  God,  knoweft  that  I  am  innocent 
 of  the  crimes  whereof  my  implacable  enemi'^s  accufe 
 me,  and  that  I  have  done  no  wrong  to  thofe  who 
 feek  to  take  away  my  life;  deliver  not  thine  injured 
 fervant,  therefore,  into  their  hands;  "  leave  me  not 
 ^*  to  mine  oppreflbrs."  The  Son  of  David  might 
 ufe  the  words  in  their  full  and  abfolute  ka^Q,  and 
 plead  for  a  glorious  refurredion,  on  the  foot  of  his 
 having  performed  a  perfed  obedience  to  the  law. 
 
 122.  Befurety  to  thy  fervant  for  good.:  Ut  not  the 
 proud  opprefs  me. 
 
 The  Pfalmift,  finding  himfelf  ready  to  be  feized 
 by  his  infolent  adverfaries,  like  a  heiplefs  and  infol- 
 
 vent 
 
384  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  119. 
 
 vent  debtor,  entreateth  the  Almighty  to  appear  In 
 his  defence,  to  take  the  matter  into  his  own  hands, 
 to  interpofe,  and  plead  his  caufe,  as  his  farety  and 
 advocate,  in  the  day  of  trouble.  Good  Hezekiah 
 ufes  the  fame  word  in  the  fame  fenfe,  fpeaking  of  the 
 time  when  death  was  about  to  make  his  claim  upon 
 the  mortal  part  of  him;  "  O  Lord,  I  am  opprefled, 
 "  ^221}^  undertake,  be  furety  for  me.**  Ifai.  xxxviii. 
 14.  Happy  the  creatures,  whofe  Creator  fs  their 
 furety,  and  hath  interpofed  to  refcue  them  from  thofe 
 great  oppreiTors,  fin,  death,  and  Satan! 
 
 123.  Mineetjes  fail  for  thyfalvatioiiy  and  for  the 
 word  of  thy  righteoufnefs. 
 
 Salvation,  whether  temporal,  or  fpiritual,  may  be 
 delayed;  the  ''eyes"  of  the fufferer  may  "  fail"  with 
 looking  upward,  and  his  earned  expedation  may  be 
 ready  to  break  forth,  in  the  words  of  Sifera's  mo- 
 ther, "  Why  is  his  chariot  fo  long  in  coming.^  Why 
 "  tarry  the  wheels  of  his  chariot  ?'*  But  what  faith 
 God,  by  his  Prophets  and  Apoflles?  "  Though  it 
 "  tarry,  wait  for  it,  becaufe  it  will  furely  come.'* 
 Hab.  ii.  3.  "  Yet  a  little  while,  and  he  that  (hall 
 **  come,  will  come."  Heb.  x.  37.  The  '•  word" 
 which  hath  promifed  it,  is  the  word  of  truth,  faith- 
 fulnefs,  and  ''  righteoufnefs;"  the  attributes  of  God 
 are  engaged  for  It's  accompliihment,  and  he  cannot 
 deny  himfelf 
 
 124.  Deal  with  thy  fervant  according  unto  thiy 
 mercy,  and  teach  ??ie  thy  ftatntes.  125.  /  am  thy 
 fervant,  give  me  under fanding,  that  I  may  knoio 
 thy  tefiimonies. 
 
 The  confideration,  that  we  are  the  "  fcrvants"  of 
 God,  if  indeed  we  are  io^  will  always  be  fuccefsfully 
 
 urged 
 
Day  26.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  385 
 
 urged  to  the  beft  of  mafters,  as  an  argument  why  he 
 fliould  "  deal  with  us  accordino  to  his  mercy,"  in 
 the  pardoning  of  our  offences;  "teach  us  his  ftatutes,'* 
 that  we  may  know  and  do  his  will;  and  inftrud:  us 
 in  his  *'  teftimonies/'  that  we  may  believe  aright 
 concerning  him. 
 
 126.  It  is  time  for  thee,  Lord,  to  zvork-  for  theij 
 have  made  void  thy  law. 
 
 The  "  law"  of  God  "  is  made"  void  by  thofe  who 
 deny  its  authority,  or  its  obligation;  by  thofe  who 
 render  it  of  none  effed  through  their  traditions,  or 
 their  lives.  When  a  deluge  of  wickednefs  and  im- 
 piety, entering  at  thefe  gates,  hath  overwhelmed  a 
 land,  "  it  is  time  for  the  Lord  to  work;'*  the  great 
 lawgiver  will  then  exert  his  power,  and  vindicate  his 
 authority  fpeedily.  There  is  a  certain  meafure  of  ini- 
 quityj  which  when  communities^  or  individuals,  re- 
 fpeftively,  have  filled  up,  the  deftroying  angel  comes 
 forth,  and  executes  his  commiflion.  Mow  ought  a 
 man  to  fear,  left  the  next  fin  he  commits  (hould  fill 
 up  his  meafure,  and  feal  his  eternal  doom  1 
 
 127.  Therefore  I  love  thy  cvvwiandments  above 
 gold,  yea,  above  fne  gold. 
 
 As  the  wickednefs  of  thofe  increafeth,  who  "  make 
 "  void  the  divine  law,"  the  zeal  and  "  love"  of  be- 
 lievers (hould  increafe  in  proportion,  to  ftem  the  tor- 
 rent; and  this  may  be  done,  to  a  furprifing  degree, 
 by  a  few  perfons,  who,  after  the  example  of  the  firft 
 Chriftians,  can  forfake  all,  to  follow  their  Mafter; 
 who  have  the  fenfe  and  the  courage  to  prefer  truth, 
 wifdom,  holinefs,  and  heaven,  to  falfehood,  folly,  fin, 
 and  the  world;  who  can  rcfciutely  rejedt  the  gljtter- 
 
 VoL.  II.  B  b  ing 
 
386  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  119. 
 
 ing  temptation,  and  fay,  without  hypocrify,  to  their 
 God,  "  I  love  thy  commandments  above  gold,  yea, 
 "  above  fine  gold." 
 
 128.  Therefore  I  ejleem  all  thy  precepts  J  concerning 
 all  things  to  be  7'ight;  or,  Therefore  all  thy  precepts, 
 even  all  have  I  approved ;  and  I  hate  every  falfe  way. 
 For  the  fame  reafon  that  the  children  of  God,  in 
 the  worft  of  times,  "  love  his  commandments,"  they 
 love  them  "  all,"  not  obferving  fuch  only  as  they 
 can  obferve  without  giving  offence,  but  regardlefs 
 of  the  cenfures  of  the  world,  doing  their  duty  in 
 every  particular;  not  "  hating'*  fome  **  evil  ways," 
 and  at  the  fame  time  walking  in  others,  but  ex- 
 tending, and  manifefting  their  averfion  to  all  alike. 
 Of  fuch  perfons  it  is  evident,  that  they  make  a  con- 
 fcience  of  their  doings,  and  their  condud  appears 
 to  be  uniform;  the  adverfary  will  have  no  evil  things 
 to  fay  of  them;  they  will  do  real  fervice  to  the  caufe 
 which  they  maintain;  and,  after  having  honoured 
 their  Mafter  before  men,  they  will  by  him  be  honoured 
 before  men  and  angels. 
 
 PE.    Part  XVII. 
 
 129.  Thy  t€fiimonies2LXQ  wonderful:  therefore  doth 
 my  foul  keepy  or  obferve  them. 
 
 The  Scriptures  are  "  wonderful,"  with  refped  to 
 the  matterwhich  they  contain,  the  manner  in  which 
 they  are  written,  and  the  effeds  which  they  producer 
 They  contain  the  fublimefl  fpiritual  truths,  veiled 
 under  external  ceremonies  and  facraments,  figurative 
 defcriptions,  typical  hiftories,  parables,  fmiilitudes, 
 he.  When  properly  opened  and  enforced,  they  ter- 
 rify 
 
Day  26.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  387 
 
 rify  and  humble,  they  convert  and  transform,  they 
 confole  and  flrengthen.  Who  but  muft  dehght  to 
 ftudy  and  to  "  obferve"  thefe  "  teftimonies"  of  the 
 will  and  the  wifdom,  the  love  and  the  power  of  God 
 moft  high !  While  we  have  thefe  holy  writings,  let 
 us  not  wafte  our  time,  mifemploy  our  thoughts,  and 
 proftitute  our  admiration,  by  doating  on  human 
 follies,  and  wondering  at  human  trifles. 
 
 130.  The  entrance  of  thy  ivords  giveth  light:  it 
 giveth  underfianding  to  the  fimple. 
 
 The  Scriptures  are  the  appointed  means  of  "  en- 
 "  lightening"  the  mind  with  true  and  faving  know- 
 ledge. They  (hew  us  what  we  were,  what  we  are, 
 and  what  we  fhall  be;  they  fhew  us  what  God  hath 
 done  for  us,  and  what  he  expedeth  us  to  do  for 
 him;  they  (hew  us  the  adverfaries  we  have  to  en- 
 counter, and  how  to  encounter  them  with  fuccefs; 
 they  fhew  us  the  mercy  and  the  juflice  of  the  Lord, 
 the  joys  of  heaven,  and  the  pains  of  hell.  Thus 
 will  they  "  give  to  the  fimple,"  in  a  few  days,  "  an 
 "  underftanding"  of  thofe  matters,  which  philofophy, 
 for  whole  centuries,  fought  in  vain. 
 
 131 .  /  opened  my  mouth  and  panted ;  for  I  longed 
 for  thy  commandments. 
 
 An  eaftern  traveller,  fatigued  through  toil,  and 
 parched  by  heat,  doth  not,  with  more  vehement  de- 
 fire,  gafp  for  the  cooling  breeze,  than  the  fervant  of 
 God,  in  time  of  temptation  and  trouble,  "  panteth'* 
 after  that  Spirit  of  refrefliment  and  confolation,  which 
 breathes  in  the  Scriptures  of  truth.  The  affedions 
 are  the  fprings  of  human  adions;  no  arguments  are 
 needful  to  impel,  and  no  difficulties  are  fufficient  to 
 B  b  2  retard 
 
388  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119. 
 
 retard  the  man,  who  is  in  purfuit  of  an  objed:;  which, 
 with  all  his  heart,  he  loves,  and  "  longs  for."  How 
 happy  is  it,  when  heaven,  inftead  of  earth,  is  that 
 objed ! 
 
 1^2.  Look  thou  upon  me,  and  be  vierciful  unto  me^ 
 as  thou  ufefi  to  do  tinto  tho/e  that  love  thy  name. 
 
 A  child  of  God  is  never  fo  much  afflidted,  as  when 
 his  heavenly  Father  feemeth,  for  a  time,  to  have 
 turned  away  his  face  from  him.  All  lefler  troubles 
 Vanifh,  when  God  doth  but  vouchfafe  a  *'  look"  of 
 paternal  compaflion.  And  fmce  the  love  of  Jehovah 
 to  his  people  is  unchangeable  as  his  nature,  mercies 
 formerly  fhewn  to  others  are  moft  forcibly  urged  by 
 the  Pfalmift,  in  his  petition  for  the  like;  "  Be  mer- 
 *•  ciful  unto  me,  as  thou  ufeft  to  do  unto  thofe  that 
 "  love  thy  name." 
 
 133.  Order  my  fieps  in  thy  words  and  let  not  any 
 iniquity  have  dominion  over  me. 
 
 By  the  inftrudion  of  his  "  word,"  God  bringeth 
 us  into  the  way  of  life;  by  the  aids  of  his  grace  he 
 "  diredeth"  and  "  fupporteth"  our  "  fleps"  in  that 
 way,  enabling  us,  as  we  proceed,  to  overcome  the 
 fins  which  do  befet  us,  fo  that  they  prevail  not  to 
 turn  us  back,  or  to  make  us  defift  from  travelling 
 toward  the  city  of  our  eternal  habitation. 
 
 134.  Deliver  me  from  the  opprejfion  of  man  ;  fo 
 will  I  keep  thy  precepts. 
 
 He  truly  loveth  God,  who  requefteth  "  deliver- 
 "  ance"  from  "  oppreffion"  and  perfecution,  that  he 
 may  again  enjoy  the  opportunities  of  "  keeping  his 
 "  precepts,"  and  of  ferving  him  without  diftraftion. 
 And  gratitude  for  his  deliverance  will  be,  with  fuch 
 
 an 
 
Day  26.  M.  p.         OF  THE  PSALMS.  389 
 
 an  one,  an  additional  reafon  for  ufing  thofe  oppor- 
 tunities, when  they  are  reftored,  to  the  bed  advan- 
 tage. 
 
 135.  Make  thy  face  tojhine  upon  thy  fervant;  and 
 teach  me  thy  Jlatiites. 
 
 The  fame  fentiment  is  again  exprefled  in  different 
 language.  The  Pralmifl:  prayeth  for  a  return  of  the 
 divine  favour,  and  for  better  days,  that  in  peace  and 
 tranquillity  he  may  learn  and  do  the  will  of  God. 
 Tribulation  is  a  dark  and  tempeftuous  night  j  but 
 Jehovah  caufeth  "  his  face  to  fliine"  upon  his  people, 
 and  the  effefts  are  like  thofe  produced  by  the  fun  at 
 his  riling,  when  univerfal  nature  revives  and  rejoices, 
 and  clouds  and  darknefs  fly  away. 
 
 136.  Rivers  of  waters  run  doivn^nineeyes,  becaufe 
 they  keep  not  thy  lazv. 
 
 David,  who,  through  this  whole  Pfalm,  fo  often 
 and  fo  ardently  befeecheth  God  to  "  teach  him  his 
 "  flatutes,"  declareth,  in  this  verfc,  his  continual  grief 
 of  heart,  occafioned  by  feeing  others  break  thofe  fta- 
 tutes.  Thus  Lot,  among  the  Sodomites,  was  *  *  vexed 
 **  from  day  to  day,*'  not  fo  much  at  their  ufage  of 
 himfelf,  as  at  "  feeing  and  hearing  their  unlawful 
 »^  deeds/'  2.  Pet.  ii.  8.  Thus  Jeremiah  telleth  the 
 ungodly  of  his  time,  "  If  ye  will  not  hear,  my  foul 
 *'  (hall  weep  in  fecret  places  for  your  pride  -,  and  mine 
 "  eyes  (hall  weep  fore,  and  run  down  with  tears." 
 Jer.  xiii.  17.  Thus  the  holy  Jefus  **  looked  around 
 *♦  about  on  the  Pharifees,  being  grieved  for  the 
 <*  hardnefs  of  their  hearts  j"  Mark  iii.  5.  and  "  wept 
 **  over'*  a  city  which  had  always  perfeguted,  and  was 
 then  about  to  crucify  him,  becaufe  it  **  knew  not 
 B  b  J  «  the 
 
390  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  1:9. 
 
 "  the  things  which  belonged  to  it's  peace."  Luke 
 xix.  41.  Accept,  O  Lord,  the  tears  which  our  blefl- 
 ed  Redeemer  flied,  in  the  days  of  his  flefh,  for  us, 
 who  fhould,  but  alas,  too  often,  cannot  weep  for 
 our  brethren,  or  for  ourfelves ;  and  give  us,  at  leaft, 
 the  grace  of  holy  mourning,  which  in  thy  light  is  of 
 great  price, 
 
 TZADDL     Part  XVIII. 
 
 137.  Righteous  art  thou,  O  Lord,  and  upright  Vixo. 
 thy  judgments. 
 
 This  portion  of  our  Pfalm  is  emplo)^ed  in  celebrat- 
 ing the  righteoufnefs  of  God,  manifefted  to  us  by  his 
 word,  and  by  his  difpen  fat  ions,  which  that  word  both 
 recordeth  and  explaineth.  It  is  faid  of  the  emperor 
 Mauritius,  that  upon  feeing  all  his  children  llain  be- 
 fore his  face,  at  the  command  of  that  bloody  tyrant 
 andufurper,Phocas,himfelf  expelling  the  next  ftroke, 
 with  a  philofophy  truly  divine,  he  exclaimed  aloud, 
 in  thefe  words  of  David,  "  Righteous  art  thou,  O 
 **  Lord,  and  upright  are  thy  judgments*."  By  faith 
 he  was  aflured  of  this  great  truth,  and  nobiy  confeffed 
 it,  notwithftanding  all  appearances  to  the  contrary. 
 The  lad  day  will  demonftrate  the  fame  thing  to  the 
 whole  world,  and  open  the  mouths  of  men  and  angels 
 to  declare,  concerning  all  the  divine  proceedmgs,  what 
 the  good  Mauritius  acknowledged,  at  the  time,  with 
 regard  to  the  murder  of  his  children. 
 
 138.    Thy  tejlimoniesy  that  thou  hajl  commanded, 
 ■SiXt  righteous  and  very  faithful. 
 
 *  Baron.  Annal.  ad  Ann.  602. 
 
 The 
 
Day  a6.  m.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  391 
 
 The  revelations  of  God's  will  are  "  righteoufnefs'' 
 and  "  truth;"  his  commands  are  juft,  and  ought  to 
 be  obeyed;  his  promifes  and  his  threatenings  will  in- 
 fallibly come  to  pafs,  and  deferve  above  all  things  to 
 be  regarded. 
 
 139.  My  zeal  hath  confumed  vie ;  becaufc  mine 
 enemies  have  forgotten  thy  words> 
 
 "  Zeal"  is  a  high  degree  of  love;  a'^d  when  the 
 objefl  of  that  love  is  ill-treated,  it  venteth  itfelf  in 
 a  mixture  of  grief  and  indignation,  which  are  fuffici- 
 ent  to  wear  and  "  confume"  the  heart.  This  will  be 
 the  cafe,  where  men  rightly  conceive  of  that  difho- 
 nour,  which  is  continually  done  to  God,  by  creatures 
 whom  he  hath  made  and  redeemed.  But  never  could 
 the  verfe  be  uttered,  with  fuch  fulne.fs  of  truth  and 
 propriety,  by  any  one,  as  by  the  Son  of  God,  who 
 had  fuch  a  fenfe  of  his  Father's  glory,  and  of  man's 
 fin,  as  no  perfon  elfe  ever  had.  And,  accordingly, 
 when  his  zeal  had  exerted  itfelf  in  purging  the  tem- 
 ple, St.  John  tells  us,  *'  his  difciples  remembered 
 "  that  it  was  written,  The  zeal  of  thine  houfe  hath 
 "  eaten  me  up."  The  place  where  it  is  fo  written, 
 is  Pfal.  Ixix.  9.  and  the  paflage  is  exadly  parallel  to 
 this  before  us. 
 
 140.  Thy  ivord  is  very  pure  ;  therefore  thy  fer- 
 vant  loveth  it. 
 
 *'  Thy  word  is  very  pure;"  in  the  original,  "  tried, 
 "  refined,  purified,  like  gold  in  the  furnace,"  abfo- 
 lutely  perfect,  without  the  drofs  of  vanity  and  falli- 
 bility, which  runs  through  human  writings.  The 
 more  we  try  the  promifes,  the  furer  we  iliall  find 
 B  b  4  them 
 
392  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119 
 
 them*.  This  pure  word  hath  likewife  in  it  a  power 
 of  purifying  us.  It  containeth  precepts  and  exam- 
 ples of  purity,  helps  and  encouragements  to  purity, 
 and  the  Spirit  of  purity  goeth  with  it,  and  worketh 
 by  it.  "  Therefore  thy  fervant  loveth  it ;"  and  no 
 one,  but  a  true  fervant  of  God,  can  "  therefore" 
 love  it,  becaufe  it  is  pure ;  fmce  he  who  loves  it 
 muft  defire  to  be  like  it,  to  feel  it's  efficacy,  to  be  re- 
 formed by  it,  and  conformed  to  it. 
 
 141.  /  iimf?7iall  and  defpifed :  yet  do  not  I  forget 
 thy  precepts. 
 
 Faithfulnefs  to  God  will  often  reduce  men  to 
 flraits,  and  bring  upon  them  the  contempt  of  the 
 world;  happy  are  they,  who,  under  thefe  difficulties 
 and  difcouragements,  "  forget  not  his  precepts,"  but 
 ilill  continue  faithful,  looking  unto  Jefus,  who  once 
 "  endured  the  crofs,  defpifing  the  fliame,  and  is  now 
 '*  fet  down  at  the  right  hand  of  God."  Heb.  xii.  2. 
 
 142.  Thy  righteoufnefs  IS  an  everlajiing  righteouf- 
 nefSy  and  thy  lazv  is  the  truth. 
 
 Men  may  decree  wickednefs  by  a  law,  or  they  may 
 ehange  their  decrees,  and,  with  them,  what  was  right 
 to-day,  may  be  wrong  to-morrow.  But  the  law  of 
 God  is  "  righteoufnefs,"  and  it  is  "  truth,"  to-day 
 and  for  ever.  His  juftice,  goodnefs,  and  fidelity,  are 
 unchangeable;  he  will  never  forfake  us,  unlefs  we 
 forfake  him,  but  will  remember  us  in  our  lowed 
 eftate,  if,  in  that  eftate,  we  "  do  not  forget  his  pre- 
 "  cepts." 
 
 *  Pure  <jold  is  fo  fixed,  that  Boerliaave  informs  us  of  an  ounce 
 of  it  fet  in  the  eye  of  a  glafs  furnace  for  two  months,  without 
 iofxng  afmgle  grain. 
 
 I  ?43,  Trouble 
 
Day  26.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  393 
 
 143.  Trouble  and  angmJJi  have  taken  hold  upon,  or, 
 havefunndmet  yet  thy  commandments ixx^viy  delights. 
 
 We  need  not  take  pains,  as  many  do,  *'  to  find 
 *'  trouble  and  anguifli,"  for  they  will,  one  day,  "  find 
 *'  us."  In  that  day,  the  revelations  of  God  muft  be 
 to  us  inftead  of  all  wordly  <'  delights"  and  pleafures, 
 which  will  then  have  forfaken  us  ;  and  how  forlorn 
 and  defolate  will  be  our  ftate,  if  we  fhall  have  no 
 other  delights,  no  other  pleafures,  to  fucceed  them, 
 and  to  accompany  us  into  eternity  !  Let  our  ftudy 
 be  now  in  the  Scriptures,  if  we  exped  our  comfort 
 from  them  in  time  to  come. 
 
 144.  The  righteoufnefs  of  thy  tefiimonies  is  ever* 
 lajling-  give  me  under Jtanding^  and  IJhall  live. 
 
 In  every  fenfe,  O  Lord  Jefu,  thy  righteoufnefs 
 is  "  everlafting :"  Grant  us  the  "  underftanding"  of 
 it,  in  every  fenfe,  and  we  "  fhall  live,"  in  thee  now, 
 and  with  thee  for  ever. 
 
 XXVI    DAY.    EVENING    PRAYER, 
 
 K  O  P  H.     Part  XIX. 
 
 1^^.  I  cried  zvith  my  whole  heart;  hear  me,  OLord  ; 
 /  will  keep  thy  ftatutes.  1 46.  7  cried  unto  thee  j  fave 
 ?ne,  and  IJIiall  keep  thy  tefiimonies. 
 
 Believers,  in  time  of  afllidion,  make  their  prayer 
 to  God  with  fervour  and  importunity,  petitioning 
 for  deliverance,  that  they  may  the  better  ferve  their 
 Peliverer,  and  keep  his  laws. 
 
 i47«  I  prevented  the  dawning  of  the  morning,  and 
 
 criedi 
 
394  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119. 
 
 cried:  I  hoped  In  thy  word.   148.  Mine  eyes  prevent 
 the  night  watches,  that  I  might  meditate  in  thy  word. 
 
 It  is  a  certain  fign  that  our  hearts  are  let  upon  a 
 work,  when  the  thoughts  of  it  caufe  Heep  to  depart 
 Irom  us,  and  we  awake  readi])^  conftantly,  and  early, 
 to  the  performance  of  it.  David  delighted  in  the 
 holy  exercifes  of  prayer  and  meditation;  therefore 
 he  "  prevented  the  dawning  of  the  morning,"  and 
 was  beforehand  with  the  light  itfelf ;  therefore  his 
 "  eyes  prevented  the  watches,"  that  is,  the  laft  of 
 thofe  watches,  into  which  the  night  was  by  the  Jews 
 divided  j  he  needed  not  the  watchman's  call,  but  was 
 ftirring  before  it  could  be  given.  Climate  and  con- 
 ftitution  will,  doubtlefs,  make  a  differencej  and  claim 
 confiderable  allowance  ;  but  by  Chriftians,  who  enjoy 
 their  health,  in  temperate  weather,  the  fun  fhould 
 not  be  fuftered  to  fnine  in  vain,  nor  the  golden  hours 
 of  the  morning  to  glide  away  unimproved ;  fince 
 of  David's  Lord,  as  well  as  of  David,  it  is  faid, 
 *'  in  the  morning  rifing  up,  a  great  while  before 
 *'  day,  he^\'ent  out  and  departed  into  a  folitary  place, 
 "  and  there  prayed."     Mark  i.  i^. 
 
 i^g.IIearmy  voice  ^according  unto  thy  loving  kind- 
 ne/s:  O  Lo  r^, quicken  me  according  to  thy  judgment ; 
 that  i.s,  thy  word.  150.  They  draw  nigh  that  follow 
 after  mifchief:  they  are  far  from  thy  laiv.  151.  Thou 
 art  near^O'Lo?.^:) ;  and  all  thy  commandments  2irt  truth. 
 
 If  our  enemies  "  draw  nigh"  to  deftroy  us,  God 
 is  ftili  *'  'nearer"  to  preferve  us ;  and  however  his 
 *'  word"  may  be  rejefted  by  the  wicked,  the  faithful 
 always  find  it  to  be  "  true'*  to  their  great  and  end- 
 lefs  comfort. 
 
 152.  Con- 
 
Day  26.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  395 
 
 152.  Concerning  thy  tejiimoniesy  I  have  known  of 
 old,  that  thou  hajt  founded  them  for  ever. 
 
 This  portion  of  our  Pfalm  endeth  with  the  triumph 
 of  faith  over  all  dangers  and  temptations.  "  Con- 
 "  earning  thy  teftimonics,"  the  revelations  of  thy 
 will,  thy  counfels  for  the  falvation  of  thy  ferv^ants, 
 *'  I  have  known  of  old,"  by  faith,  and  by  my  own 
 experience,  as  well  as  that  of  others,  "  that  thou 
 "  haft  founded  them  for  ever,"  they  are  unalterable 
 and  everlafting  as  the  attributes  of  their  great  author, 
 and  can  never  fail  thofe  who  rely  upon  them,  in  time, 
 or  in  eternity. 
 
 R  E  S  H.     Part  XX. 
 
 153.  Confider  mine  affliction^  and  deliver  me:  for 
 I  do  not  forget  thy  lazv. 
 
 It  is  happy  when  our  "  afflidions*'  do  not  make 
 us  to  "  forget  the  law  of  God;"  then  have  we 
 confidence  toward  him  in  our  prayers,  that  he  will 
 "  confider"  and  regard  our  fuflferings,  as  he  did  thofe 
 of  Ifrael  in  Egypt,  and  come  down  to  "  deliver"  us 
 out  of  all  our  troubles ;  for  Ifrael  is  ftill  in  Egypt, 
 while  the  church  is  in  the  world  ;  but  let  us  remem- 
 ber the  promife,  and  rejoice  in  hope. 
 
 154.  Plead  my  caiife,  and  deliver  me  -'  quicken  me 
 according  to  th  y  word. 
 
 God  is  the  Patron  of  his  people,  to  *'  plead"  theii 
 "  caufe ;"  their  Redeemer,  to  "  deliver"  them  out 
 of  troubles;  the  Author  and  Fountam  of  their  life, 
 to  "  quicken"  and  fupport  them.  We  may,  there- 
 fore, have  recourfe  to  him  at  all  times,  as  an  Advo- 
 cate, a  Saviour,  and  a  Comfortev,  for  the  defence  of 
 3  our 
 
39^  A  COMMENTARY         Psal   119. 
 
 our  caufe,  the  deliverance  of  our  perfons,  and  the 
 fupport  of  our  hearts.  And  all  this,  "  according  to 
 "  his  word,"  in  which  he  hath  engaged  thus  to  pa- 
 tronize, to  refcue,  and  to  ftrengthen  thofe  who  truft 
 in  him,  and  apply  to  him. 
 
 155.  Salvation  hfarfrovi  the  wicked:  for  they 
 feek  not  thy  Jio tides. 
 
 The  "  falvation"  which  is  nigh  the  faithful,  be- 
 caufe  they  diligently  and  earneflly  feek  to  know  and 
 to  do  the  will  of  God  revealed  to  them  in  his  word, 
 is  *'  far  from  the  wicked,"  becaufe  they  *'  feek  not  his 
 "  ftatutes,"  nor  concern  themfelves  to  know  what  they 
 are,  much  lefs  to  obferve  and  pradife  them. 
 
 1 56.  Great  are  thy  tender  mercies j  O Lo r d  :  quicken 
 me  according  to  thy  judgments,  that  is,  thy  word.  157. 
 Many  are  my  perfecutorSy  and  mine  enemies;  yet  do  I 
 not  decline  from  thy  tejiimonies.  158.  I  beheld  the 
 tranfgrejhrsy  and  ivas  grieved^  hecaiife  they  kept 
 not  thy  word. 
 
 Perfecution  tem.pteth  men  to  apoftafy,  and  is  the 
 great  trial  of  our  fidelity  to  God  and  to  his  word. 
 He  who,  in  fuch  circumftances,  forgetteth  his  own 
 fufferings,  to  commiferate  the  (in  and  folly  of  his  per- 
 fecutors,  is  a  true  follower,  as  David  was  a  forerunner 
 of  Jefus  Chrift, 
 
 159.  Cmijider  how  I  love  thy  precepts:  quicken  mCy 
 O  Lord,  accoi-ding  to  thy  loving  kindnejs.  160.  Thy 
 word  is  true  from  the  beginning:  and  every  one  of 
 thy  righteous  judgments  endureth/or  ever. 
 
 It  is  obfcrvabie  how  the  Pfalmift  delighteth  to 
 dwell  on  thefe  two  fweet  notes;  the  "  loving  kind- 
 '*  nefs"  of  God  in  promifmg  falvation,  and  his  "  truth'* 
 in  the  conftant  performcince  of  that  promife  to  his 
 
 church. 
 
Day  26.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  397 
 
 church,  while  (he  "  loves"  and  adheres  to  his  "  pre- 
 **  cepts.'*  Thus  it  hath  been  *'  from  the  beginning," 
 and  thus  it  will  be,  until  the  whole  counfel  of  heaven 
 fliall  at  length  be  fulfilled,  by  the  refurredion  and 
 falvation  of  the  juft. 
 
 SCHIN.     Part  XXI. 
 
 161.  Princes  have  perfecuted  me  zvithoul  a  caitfe: 
 hut  my  heart  Jlandeth  in  awe  of  thy  word.  162.  / 
 rejoice  at  thy  zvordy  as  one  tliat,findeth  great  f pail. 
 
 David  was  "  perfecuted"  by  Saul  and  his  aflb- 
 ciates,  "  without  a  cauf©."  The  life  of  Saul  was 
 fpared  by  him,  becaufe  "  he  ftood  in  awe  of  God's 
 "  word,"  and  preferred  the  comfortable  refledion  of 
 having  obeyed  it's  injnnftions,  to  all  the  *•  fpoil," 
 and  to  thofe  many  advantages,  that  would  have  ac- 
 crued to  him,  by  the  overthrow  and  death  of  his 
 implacable  adverfary,  who  acknowledged,  upon  the 
 occafion,  *'  Thou  art  more  righteous  than  I."  1  Sam. 
 xxiv.  17.  The  fufferings  of  the  body  are  foon  over; 
 the  joys  of  confcience  have  no  end. 
 
 163.  I  hate  and  abhor  lyi?ig :  but  thy  law  do  Hove, 
 
 The  word  of  truth  is  the  proper  objed  of  our 
 "  love,"  and  every  thing  which  is  contrary  to  it  de- 
 fcrveth  our  "  hatred  and  abhorrence;"  nor  is  life 
 itfelf  worth  preferving,  at  the  expence  either  of  our 
 faith  or  our  virtue. 
 
 164  Seven  times  a  day  do  I praife  thee,  becaufe  of 
 thy  righteous  judgments. 
 
 They,  who  like  Dafid,  during  the  time  of  perfe- 
 cution  and  afflidion,  put  their  truft  in  God,  and  wait 
 his  decifion  of  their  caufe,  will  always  find  reafon, 
 as  David  did,  to  *^  praife  him  feven  times  a  day,"  or 
 
 conti-j 
 
398  A  COMMENTARY        PsAL.119. 
 
 continually,   for   his  juft   decrees   and    "  righteous 
 "  judgments"  concerning  them. 
 
 165.  Gi^eat  peace  have  they  which  love  thy  lazv: 
 ajid  nothing  Jliall  offend  them. 
 
 Amidft  the  ftorms  and  tempefts  of  the  world, 
 there  is  a  perfed:  calm  in  the  breafls  of  thofe,  who 
 not  only  do  the  will  of  God,  but  "  love"  to  do  it. 
 They  are  at  peace  with  God,  by  the  blood  of  recon- 
 ciliation ;  at  peace  with  themfelves,  by  the  anfwer 
 of  a  good  confcience,  and  the  fubjedion  of  thofe 
 defires  which  war  againft  the  foul;  at  peace  with  all 
 men,  by  the  fpirit  of  charity;  and  the  whole  crea- 
 tion is  fo  at  peace  with  them,  that  all  things  work 
 together  for  their  good.  No  external  troubles  can 
 rob  them  of  this  "  great  peace,"  no  "  offences"  or 
 Humbling  blocks,  which  are  thrown  in  their  way 
 by  perfecution,  or  temptation,  by  the  malice  of  ene- 
 mies, or  the  apoftafy  of  friends,  by  any  thing  which 
 they  fee,  hear  of,  or  feel,  can  detain  or  divert  them 
 from  their  courfe.  Heavenly  love  furmounts  every 
 obftacle,  and  runs  with  delight  the  way  of  God's 
 commandments. 
 
 166.  Lord,  1  have  hoped  for  thy  falvation,  and 
 done  thy  commandments. 
 
 This  is  the  true  pofture  of  a  Chriflian,  in  which 
 he  need  not  fear  to  be  found  by  his  laft  and  great 
 enemy.  Death,  "  doing"  his  duty,  and  "  hoping"  for 
 falvation  from  the  perfon,  who  is  his  Mafter,  as  well 
 as  his  Redeemer,  and  who,  confequcntly,  expecteth 
 to  be  obeyed,  no  lefs  than  to  be  believed  in. 
 
 167.  My  foul  hath  kept  thy  tcjUmonies,  and  loved 
 them  exceedingly.  168.  I  have  kept  thy  precepts  and 
 tejlimonies:  for  all  my  ways  are  before  thee. 
 
 The 
 
Day  26.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  399 
 
 The  '*  love  of  God's  teftimonies,"  and  the  confi- 
 deratlon,  that  all  **  our  ways  are  before  him,"  and 
 rubject  to  his  immediate  infpedion,  are  two  power- 
 ful motives  to  obedience.  The  plea  of  having  "kept 
 *'  the  divine  precepts,"  &c.  in  the  mouth  of  David, 
 "  or  any  other  believer,  intendeth  fmcerity,  not  per- 
 fection, and  is  alledged  as  an  evidence  of  grace,  not 
 as  a  claim  of  merit.  Chrift  alone  kept  the  old  Jaw, 
 and  he  enableth  us  to  obferve  the  new. 
 TAU.     Part  XXII. 
 
 169.  Let  my  cry  come  near  before  thee,  O  Lord: 
 give  me  luiderjianding  according  to  thy  word.  170. 
 Let  my  fupplication  cor?ie  he/ore  thee:  deliver  ?Re  ac- 
 cording to  thy  word. 
 
 The  Pfalmift  ftill  continueth  inftant  in  prayer  for 
 *'  underflanding,''  to  dired  him  in  the  midft  of  dan- 
 gers and  temptations,  and  for  *'  deliverance"  out  of 
 them  all,  when  God  (liall  fee  fit  to  accomplifli  the 
 promifes  made  in  his  "  word."  Thefe  are  bleffings, 
 for  which  a  man  cannot  be  too  frequent,  or  too  ear- 
 ned, in  his  petitions  to  the  throne  of'heaven. 
 
 17  r.  My  lips  Jli all  utter  praifcy  when  thou  hajl 
 taught  me  thy  Jlatutes.  172.  My  tongue JJiall /peak 
 of  thy  zvord:  for  all  thy  commandments  are  righte- 
 oufnefs. 
 
 He  who  obtaineth  his  requefts,  and  is  made  a 
 partaker  of  that  grace  and  falvation,  for  which  he 
 fo  fervently  prayed,  will  edify  men,  by  finging  the 
 "  praifes,"  and  proclaiming  the  "  righteoufnefs'*  of 
 God  his  Saviour 
 
 173,  Let  thine  hand  help  me:  for  /  have  chofcn 
 thy  precepts.  1 74.  /  have  longed  for  thyfalvationyO 
 Lord  :  ajid  thy  law  is  iny  delight. 
 
 «  Sal- 
 
406  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  119 
 
 "  Salvation"  by  the  «  Hand,  or  Arm  of  Jehovah  i" 
 (which  is  often  in  Scripture  a  title  of  Mefliah)  hath 
 been  the  objeft  of  the  hopes,  the  defires,  and  "  long- 
 "  ing"  expedation  of  the  faithful,  from  Adam  to 
 this  hour;  and  will  continue  fo  to  be,  until  He,  who 
 hath  already  vifited  us  in  great  humility,  (hall  come 
 again  in  glorious  majefty,  to  complete  our  redemp- 
 tion, and  take  us  to  himfelf* 
 
 175.  Let  my  foul  live,  and  itJJiallpraife  thees  dnd 
 let  thy  judgments  help  me. 
 
 The  "  life"  which  God  granteth  and  preferveth  to 
 us,  whether  it  be  the  natural  life  of  the  body,  or  the 
 fpiritual  life  of  the  foul  (for  both  are  from  him) 
 (hould  be  employed  in  "  praifing"  him.  This  return 
 for  his  mercies  we  are  always  ready  to  promife,  when 
 we  are  in  danger,  but  often  forgetful  to  perform,  when 
 delivered  out  of  it. 
 
 176.  /  have  goneajlray  like  a  lofijlieep-  feek  thy 
 fervant;  for  I  do  notforget  thy  commandments. 
 
 It  is  doubtful,  whether  David  here  fpeaks  of  his 
 mifery,  or  his  fm;  of  his  "  wandering,"  as  an  exile, 
 in  foreign  lands,  or  of  his  "  going  aftray"  from  the 
 *'  commandments"  of  his  God,  though  he  had  not 
 altogether  "  forgotten,"  but  was  defirous  of  return- 
 ing again  to  the  obfervance  of  them,  and  therefore 
 befeeches  the  great  Shepherd  to  "  feek"  and  bring 
 back  his  "  loft  flieep*."     In  the  application  of  the 
 
 *  "  Erravl  ficut  Ovis — Omnes  nos  quali  oves  erravimus.'* 
 Ifai.  liii.  6.  Sed  nos  bonus  ille  Paftor  humeris  reportavit.  Luc. 
 XV.  5.  BossuET.  Mr.  Merrick's  Poetical  Paraphrafe  of  this 
 verfe  isfo  beautiful  and  affefting,  that  1  cannot  refrain  from  fub- 
 joining  it-» 
 
 Thine 
 
IDaY  27.  M.  P.  ON   THE  PSALMS.  401 
 
 paffage  to  ourfelves,  it  matters  not  which  interpreta- 
 tion we  adopt,  fince  we  are  both  finners  and  exiles  ; 
 exiles,  becaufe  finners ;  we  have  erred  and  flrayed 
 from  God's  ways,  like  loft  flieep,  and  are,  for  that 
 reafon,  excluded  from  our  heavenly  city  and  country, 
 to  wander  for  a  time  in  the  wildernefs.  Reftore  us, 
 O  Lord  Jefu,  by  thy  grace  to  righteoufnefs,  and  by 
 thy  power  to  glory. 
 
 Thine  eyes  in  me  the  fheep  behold, 
 
 Whofe  feet  have  wander'd  from  the  fold; 
 
 That,  guidelefs,  helplefs,  ftrives  in  vain 
 
 To  find  it's  fafe  retreat  again ; 
 
 Now  liftens,  if  perchance  its  ear 
 
 The  Shepherd's  well-known  voice  may  hear ; 
 
 Now,  as  the  tempefts  round  it  blow. 
 
 In  plaintive  accents  vents  it's  woe. 
 
 Great  Ruler  of  this  earthly  ball. 
 
 Do  thou  my  erring  fteps  recall : 
 
 O  feek  thou  him  who  thee  has  fought. 
 
 Nor  turns  from  thy  decrees  his  thought. 
 
 XXVII  DAY.       MORNING    PRAYER. 
 PSALM    CXX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This,  and  the  fourteen  Pfalms  which  follow 
 it,  are  entitled  "  Pfalms  of  Degrees,  or  of 
 "  Afcenfions.'*  For  what  reafon  they  were 
 fo  called,  is  altogether  uncertain.  Certain, 
 however,  it  is,  that  they  are  moft  inftrudive 
 Vol.  ir.  C  c  and 
 
402  A  COMMENTARY        I'sal.  12(3. 
 
 and  pleafing  compofitions,  wonderfully  cal- 
 culated to  elevate  the  foul  to  God  ;  and  that 
 the  Chriftian,  as  he  proceeds  from  one  de- 
 gree of  virtue  to  another,  in  his  way  towards 
 eternal  felicity,  cannot  employ  himfelf  better 
 than  in  meditation  on  them.  In  the  firft 
 of  thefe  Pfalms,  the  Author,  moll  probably 
 David,  complaineth  of  the  falfehood,  the 
 treachery,  and  the  violence  of  men,  amongfl: 
 whom  he  grieveth  that  his  pilgrimage  is 
 prolonged. 
 
 I.  Inmy  dijirefs  I  cried  unto  the  Lord,  aiid  he 
 heard  vie.  1 .  Deliver  my  fouly  O  Lo  r  d,  fi'om  lying 
 lips,  and  from  a  deceitful  tongue. 
 
 The  prophet  relateth  the  fuccefs  of  his  prayer 
 made  to  Jehovah  in  time  of  trouble.  He  "  cried," 
 and  was  "  heard."  The  particular  fpecies  of  trouble, 
 under  which  he  then  laboured,  was  that  caufed  by 
 the  malice  and  treachery  of  his  adverfaries,  who  either 
 with  '*  lying  lips"  bore  falfe  witnefs  againft  him,  or 
 with  a  *'  deceitful  tongue"  tried  to  enfnare  him,  and 
 to  draw  fomething  from  him,  on  which  they  might 
 ground  an  accufation.  Thus  the  Jews  dealt  with 
 Chrift;  and  men  of  their  call  and  complexion  have, 
 in  all  ages,  dealt  thus  with  his  true  followers.  From 
 fuch  "  lips,'*  and  fuch  ''  tOngiies,"  God  only  can 
 **  deliver'*  the  perfons  an'd  the  reputations  of  the 
 moft  innocent. 
 
 3>  Whatjkall  be  given  unto  thee  ?  or  whatjliall 
 be  done  unto  thee^  thou  falfe  tongue  ?  4.  Sharp 
 arrows  of  the  mighty  y  with  coals  of  Juniper. 
 
 Some 
 
Day  27.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  403 
 
 Some  rendw  the  firft  of  thefe  two  verfes  a  little 
 differently;  "  What  fhall  a  falfe  tongue  give  thee, 
 ''  or  what  fliall  it  add  to  thee?"  The  fenfe  will  be 
 much  the  fame,  whether  the  Pfalmift  be  fuppofed  to 
 addrefs  his  queftion  to  the  falfe  tongue,  or  to  him 
 who  is  the  owner  of  it.  The  purport  of  the  quef- 
 tion plainly  is  this ;  What  profit  or  advantage  do 
 you  exped  to  reap  from  this  pradice  of  lying  and 
 flandering;  what  will  at  laft  be  it's  end  and  it's  re- 
 ward ?  Then  foUoweth  the  anfwer ;  "  Sharp  arrows 
 "  of  the  mighty  one,"  ")"in:i,  who  is  the  avenger  of 
 truth  and  innocence ;  with  a  fire  that  burns  fiercely, 
 and  burns  long,  like  that  which  was  made  of  "  ju- 
 "  niper,"  or  fome  wood  ufed  in  thofe  days,  remark- 
 able for  increafing  and  retaining  heat ;  punifliments 
 juftly  inflided  on  a  tongue,  the  words  of  which  have 
 been  keen  and  killing  as  arrows,  and  which,  by  it's 
 lies  and  calumnies,  hath  contributed  to  fet  the  world 
 on  fire.  We  read  in  the  Gofpel,  of  one  who  exclaim- 
 ed, "  Send  Lazarus,  that  he  may  dip  the  tip  of  his 
 "  finger  in  water,  and  cool  my  tongue  j  for  I  am 
 "  tormented  in  this  flame." 
 
 5.  Wo  IS  me  that  Ifojoiirn  in  Mefech,  that  Idzvell 
 in  the  tents  of  Kedar. 
 
 The  Pfalmift  lamenteth  his  long  continuance 
 among  thofe  deceitful  and  malicious  men,  whom  he 
 compareth  to  the  wild,  barbarous,  and  idolatrous 
 Arabs,  the  defcendants  of  "  Kedar,"  the  fon  of  IQi- 
 mael.  Gen.  xxv.  i^,.  The  former  part  of  the  verfe 
 is  with  greater  propriety,  perhaps,  rendered,  by  many 
 of  the  tranflators  and  expofitors,  thus;  *'  Woe  is  me 
 **  that  my  fojourning  is  prolonged — "  l^'D  ^Jn"i3  ^3  "  I 
 C  c  2  "  dwell, 
 
404  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  120. 
 
 "  dwell,  or,  my  dwelling  is,  among  the  tents  of 
 *'  Kedar."  Wlien  our  Lord  was  upon  earth,  the 
 Jews  were  become  the  fpiritual  Ifhmaelites,  fons  of 
 the  bond-woman,  perfecutors  of  the  fons  of  the  free 
 woman,  and  the  chi-ldren  of  promife.  "  O  faithlefs 
 "  and  perverfe  generation,"  faith  he,  "  how  long 
 "  (hall  1  be  with  you  ?  How  long  (hall  I  fufFer  your'* 
 Matt.  xvii.  17.  "  And  as  then  he  that  was  born 
 "  after  the  flelh,  perfecuted  him  that  was  born  after 
 **  the  Spirit,  even  fo  it  is  now."  Gal.  iv.  29.  The 
 church  daily  (igheth  and  groaneth,  becaufe  her  "  fo- 
 "  journing  is  prolonged,"  and  (he  dwelleth  among 
 adverfaries  of  various  denominations,  among  thofe 
 who  take  delight  in  vexing  and  troubling  her.  Thcfe 
 are  "  the  tents  of  Kedar,"  among  which  we  dwell  in 
 the  wildernefs,  longing  to  depart,  and  to  be  with 
 Chrift,  in  the  city  of  the  living  God. 
 
 6.  My  foul  hath  long  dwelt  xvith  him  that  hateth 
 peace.  7.  /  am /or  peace;  or,  I  am  a  man  of 
 peace :  but  when  I  f peak,  they  are /or  xvar. 
 
 If  this  was  the  cafe  of  David,  much  more  might 
 the  fon  of  David  make  the  fame  complaint,  that  he 
 •*  dwelt  with  them  that  hated  peace ;"  that  although 
 he  was  "  a  man  of  peace,"  meek,  lowl)^,  and  graci- 
 ous, in  his  deportment  to  all  around  him;  although 
 he  came  to  make  peace,  and  to  reconcile  all  things 
 in  heaven  and  earth ;  although  his  converfation  and 
 his  preaching  were  of  peace,  and  love,,  and  the  king- 
 dom of  God ;  yet  no  fooner  did  he  open  his  mouth 
 to  "  fpeak"  upon  thefe  divine  fubjecfls,  but  his  ene- 
 mies were  up  in  arms,  ready  to  apprehend,  to  accufe, 
 to  condemn,  and  to  crucify  him.     Marvel  not,  O 
 
 difciple 
 
Day  27.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  405 
 
 difciple  of  Jefus,  if  the  world  hate  and  oppofe  thee ; 
 but  pray  only,  that  when  thou  flialt  be  ufed  as  he 
 was,  thou  mayeft  be  enabled  to  bear  that  ufage  as  he 
 did. 
 
 PSALM    CXXL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In  this  Pfalm,  the  Prophet  1,  2.  introduceth  a 
 perfon,  moll  probably  an  Ifraelite  on  his 
 way  to  Jerulaleni,  exprefsing  his  trult  and 
 confidence  in  Jehovah,  the  Maker  of  heaven 
 and  earth,  of  whofe  favour  and  protection, 
 at  all  times,  and  in  all  dangers,  the  prophet 
 3 — 8.  aflureth  him.  Thefe  promifes,  like 
 thofe  in  the  xcifl:  Pfalm,  were,  in  tlicir  full 
 and  fpiritual  fenfe,  made  good  to  Mefsiah, 
 and  are  nov^  daily  accomplifhing  in  the 
 members  of  his  myftical  body,  the  Chriltiaii 
 phurch,  Bifliop  Lowth  fuppofeth  the  two 
 firlt  verfes  to  be  fpoken  by  David,  when  go- 
 ing out  to  war,  and  the  anfwer  of  encourage^ 
 ment  to  be  made  by  the  High  Prielt  from  the 
 Holy  Place.  In  this  cafe,  the  idea  of  War- 
 fare is  added  to  that  of  Pilgrimage,  and  the 
 Pfalm  rendered  Itili  more  applicable  to  us,  as 
 well  as  to  the  true  David  our  King. 
 
 I.  /  will  lift  up  mine  eyes  to  the  /lills,  from 
 whence  cometh  my  help.  2.  My  help  cometh/ro;?; 
 the  Lord,  zvhich  made  heaven  and  earth, 
 
 C  c  3  The 
 
4o6  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  121. 
 
 The  truly  Ifraelite,  amidft  the  dangers  of  his  earth- 
 ly pilgrimage  and  warfare,  looketh  continually  to- 
 wards the  heavenly  city,  whither  he  is  travelling. 
 Faith  (heweth  him  afar  off  the  everlafting  "  hills, 
 "  from  wjience  cometh  the  help,'*  which  miift  bring 
 him  in  fafety  to  them.  He  "  lifteth  up  his  eyes,'* 
 in  prayer  to  the  Almighty,  whofe  temple  and  habir 
 tation  are  thereon.  He  putteth  not  his  truft  in  any 
 creature,  but  imploreth  aid  immediately  of  "  him 
 "  who  made  heaven  and  earth,"  and  who,  confe- 
 quently,  hath  power  over  all  things  in  both. 
 
 3.  He  will  not  fnffer  thy  foot  to  be  moved:  he  that 
 keepeth  thee  will  not  Jliimber.  4.  Behold,  he  that 
 keepeth  IfraeUJIiall  neither  Jlumber  norjleep. 
 
 In  the  two  firfb  verfes,  we  heard  the  believer  de- 
 claring his  refolution  to  truft  in  God.  The  prophet 
 now  commendeth  that  refolution,  and  encourageth 
 him  to  perfevere  in  it.  As  if  he  had  faid,  Thou  doll 
 well  to  expeft  help  from  Jehovah  alone ;  to  over- 
 look the  vanities  here  below;  to  place  thy  confi- 
 dence, and  fet  thy  affcdions,  on  him  who  dwelleth 
 above.  Know,  therefore,  alTuiedly,  that  he  will  be 
 with  thee  in  the  way  in  which  iliCU  goeft ;  he  will 
 preferve  thee  from  falling,  and  defend  thee  from  all 
 dangers  i  for  in  him  thou  haft  a  guardian,  who  is 
 not,  like  all  others,  liable  to  remit  his  care,  by  being 
 fubjeft  to  ileep  or  death.  The  eye  of  his  Providence 
 is  upon  tlite,  and  that  is  always  open.  "  Behold,  he 
 "  that  keepeth  Ifrael  Ihall  neither  flumber  nor  fleep." 
 
 5.  The  Lord  is  thij  keeper-,  the  Lord  is  thy 
 Jhade  upon  thy  right  hand.  6.  The  fun  fJiall  not 
 fniite  thee  by  day^  nor  the  moon  by  night. 
 
 The 
 
Day  27.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  407 
 
 The  meaning  is,  that  the  good  man,  during  his 
 journey  through  life,  (hall  be  under  God's  protedion 
 at  all  feafonsi  as  Ifrael  in  the  wildernefs  was  defend- 
 ed from  the  burning  heat  of  the  fun,  by  the  moid 
 and  refrefliing  (hadovv  of  the  cloud ;  and  fecured 
 againft  the  inclement  influences  of  the  nodurnal 
 heavens,  by  the  kindly  warmth  and  fplendour  dif- 
 fufed  from  the  pillar  of  fire.  Be  thou  with  us 
 thy  fervants,  O  Lord,  in  the  world,  as  thou  waft 
 with  Ifrael  in  the  wildernefs;  fufFer  not  our  virtue  to 
 diflblve  before  the  fultry  gleams  of  profperity;  per- 
 mit it  not  to  be  frozen  by  the  chilling  blafts  of 
 adverfity, 
 
 7.  The  hoim  Jhall  preferve  thee  from  all  evil: 
 he  Jliall  preferve  thy  foul.  8.  The  L.okt:>  fliall pre- 
 ferve  thy  going  out,  and  thy  coming  in,  from  this 
 time  forth  for  evermore. 
 
 To  diflipate  our  fears,  and  remove  every  ground 
 of  diffidence,  Jehovah  promifeth,  by  his  holy  pro- 
 phet, to  "  preferve  qs  from  all  evil,"  which  might 
 befal  us  in  the  way,  either  by  turning  it  afide,  or 
 turning  it  finally  to  our  advantage,  fo  that  we  lliall 
 not  penlh,  but  fee  our  labours  happily  begun  and 
 ended  in  him;  he  "  (hr.U  preferve  our  going  out,  and 
 *'  our  coming  in,"  until,  through  all  the  viciifUudes 
 of  this  mortal  ftate,  he  (hall  have  brought  us  mto  his 
 holy  "  temple,*'  there  to  become  "  pillars,"  and  to 
 "  go  ao  more  out."     Rev.  iii.  12. 
 
 C  c  4  PSALM 
 
4o8  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  122. 
 
 PSALM  cxxir. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  author  of  this  Pfalm,  as  we  are  informed 
 by  it's  title,  was  David.  The  fubjeel  of  it 
 is  that  joy  which  the  people  were  wont  to 
 exprefs,  upon  their  going  up  in  companies 
 to  keep  a  feafi:  at  Jerufalem,  when  the  divine 
 fervices  were  regulated,  and  that  city  was 
 appointed  to  be  the  place  of  public  worfliip. 
 Every  thing  which  can  be  faid  upon  this 
 topic,  mull:  naturally  hold  good  in  it's  appli- 
 cation to  the  Chriltian  church,  and  the  cele- 
 bration of  her  feafls;  at  which  feafons  the 
 believer  will  as  naturally  extend  his  thoughts 
 to  the  Jerufalem  above,  and  to  that  feliival 
 which  fliall  one  day  be  there  kept  by  all  the 
 people  of  God, 
 
 1.  /  zvas  glad  token  they  faid  ujito  met  Let  us  go 
 into  the  houfe  of  the  Lord. 
 
 Great  was  the  joy  of  an  Ifraelite,  when  his  brethren 
 called  upon  him  to  accompany  them,  on  feme  feftive 
 dccafion,  to  the  tabernacle,  or  temple  at  Jerufalem; 
 great  is  the  joy  of  a  Chriftian,  when  he  is  invited, 
 in  like  manner,  to  celebrate  the  fearts  of  the  church, 
 to  commemorate  ihe  nativity,  or  the  relurredlion,  and 
 to  eat  and  drmk  at  the  tabic  of  his  Lord.  Such,  in 
 kind,  but  far  greater  in  degree,  is  that  gladnefs, 
 I  which 
 
Day  27.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  409 
 
 which  the  pious  foul  experiences,  when  flic  is  called 
 hence;  when  defcending  angels  fay  unto  her,  Thy 
 labour  and  forrow  are  at  an  end,  and  the  hour  of  thy 
 enlargement  is  come;  put  off  mortahty  and  mifery 
 at  once;  quit  thy  houle  of  bondage,  and  the  land  of 
 thy  captivity;  fly  forth,  and  *'  let  us  go  together 
 **  into  the  houfe  of  the  Lord,  not  made  with  hands, 
 «  etern.U  in  the  heavens." 
 
 2.  Our  feet  Jliall  jiand  loithin  thy  gates,  O  Jeru- 
 
 falem. 
 
 Yes,  O  thou  holy  and  happy  city  of  peace,  and 
 love,  and  everlafting  delight,  our  God  will  in  time 
 bring  us  to  behold,  and  to  enter  thee;  "  our  feet,"' 
 which  now,  with  many  a  weary  flep,  tread  the  earth, 
 «  fliall"  one  day  "  ftand  within  thy  gates,"  which 
 are  opened  to  all  believers;  we  fliall  at  length  reft  in 
 thy  celeftial  manfions,  and  converfe  for  ever  with  thy 
 bleft  inhabitants. 
 
 3.  Jerufalem  is  builded  as  a  city  that  is  compact 
 together. 
 
 We  fee  thee  not,  indeed,  as  yet,  but  we  hear  of 
 thy  ftabihty,  thy  unity,  thy  beauty,  and  thy  magni- 
 ficence.     Thy  foundations  are  firm  upon  the  holy 
 hills;  they  are  garnilhed  with  all  manner  of  precious 
 Hones;  and  in  them  are   the   names  of  the   twelve 
 apoftles  of  the  Lamb,     Thy  gates  are  of  pearl,  twelve 
 in  number,  and  open  to  all  quarters,  for  the  tribes 
 of  the  fpiritual  Ifrael  to  come  in.     Thy  ftreets  are  of 
 pure   gold,  as    it    were  tranfparent  glals;    thou  art 
 crowned    with   the    unfading   bright nefs    of   eternal 
 glory;  and  the  Lord  God  Almighty  and  the  Lamb 
 are  the  temple  in  the  midft  of  thee.     All  thefe  glori- 
 pus  things  are  fpoken  of  thee,  thou  city  of  God ! 
 
 Anqf 
 
410  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  122. 
 
 And  yet,  when  we  come  to  fee  thee  with  our  eyes, 
 we  (hall  be  forced  to  confefs,  as  the  queen  of  Sheba 
 did,  upon  viewing  the  earthly  Jerufalem,  with  it's 
 material  temple,  and  the  court  of  it's  mortal  king, 
 that  thou  far  "  exceeded  the  fame  which  we  had 
 "  heard,"  and  that  "  the  half  was  not  told  us." 
 I  Kings  X.  7. 
 
 4.  Whither  the  tribes  go  up^  the  tribes  of  the 
 Lord,  unto,  or,  according  to  the  tejlimony  of  IJraely 
 to  give  thanks  unto  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 As  all  the  "  tribes"  of  Ifrael,  three  times  in  the 
 year,  were  {ten  "  going  up"  to  the  old  Jerufalem,  in 
 compliance  with  the  *'  tellimonies,"  the  injundions 
 and  inftitutions  of  their  law,  to  acknowledge  the 
 mercies,  and  to  give  thanks  unto  the  name  of  "  Je- 
 *'  hovah,"  who  had  done  fuch  great  things  for  them; 
 fo  from  the  ends  of  the  earth  are  the  redeemed' of  the 
 Lord,  out  of  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  people, 
 continually  afcending,  by  faith  and  charity,  to  the 
 new  Jerufalem.  St.  John  faw  die  nations  of  them 
 that  were  faved,  walking  in  the  light  of  the  heavenly 
 city,  and  he  heard  her  llreets  refound  with  the  hal- 
 lelujahs of  ten  thoufand  times  ten  thoufand. 
 
 5.  For  there  are  fet  thrones  of  judgment,  the 
 thrones  of  the  houfe  of  David. 
 
 The  Ifraelitesreforted  to  Jerufalem,  becaufe  it  was 
 the  metropolis  of  the  country,  and  there  was  the  re- 
 fidence  of  their  monarchs,  after  the  kingdom  was 
 eftablilhed  in  "  the  houfe  of  David."  But  alas,  that 
 metropolis  is  defolate,  and  *'  the  thrones  of  judg- 
 "  ment,"  which  were  therein,  have  been  long  fincc 
 caft  down  to  the  ground.     A  Jerufalem,  however, 
 
 remains. 
 
Day  27.  m.  p.       on  the  PSALMS.  411 
 
 remains,  which  (liall  never  be  moved  ;  in  that  Jeru- 
 falem  is  the  throne  of  eternal  judgment  ereded,  and 
 the  Son  of  David  fitteth  upon  it.  Of  him  it  was  faid 
 by  the  angel  to  Mary,  "  The  Lord  God  fliall  give 
 **  unto  him  the  throne  of  his  father  David:  and  he 
 *^  fliall  reign  over  the  houfe  of  Jacob  for  ever,  and  of 
 "  his  kingdom  there  fliali  be  no  end."  Luke  i.  32. 
 And  he  himfelf  thus  addreffcd  his  Apoftles;  "  Verily, 
 "  I  fay  unto  you,  that  ye  which  have  followed  me, 
 "  in  the  regeneration,  when  the  Son  of  Man  fliall  fit 
 "  on  the  throne  of  his  glory,  ye  alfo  Ihall  fit  upon 
 **  twelve  thrones,  judging  the  twelve  tribes  of  Ifrael.'* 
 Mat.  xix.  28. 
 
 6.  Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jenifalem  :  they  Jhall 
 profptr  that  love  thee. 
 
 in  this  latter  part  of  our  Pfalm,  the  members  of 
 the  Ifraelitifli  church  are  exhorted  to  pray  for  it's 
 peace  and  welfare.  What  that  church  was,  the  Chrif- 
 tian  Church  militant  upon  earth  now  is,  and  demand- 
 eth,  in  like  manner,  the  prayers  of  all  Chriftian 
 people  for  it's  peace  and  welfare  in  a  troublefome  and 
 contentious  world.  It's  increafe  here  below  is  in 
 reality  the  increafe  of  Jcrufalem  above,  of  which  it 
 is  a  part,  and  ought  to  be  a  refemblance.  Heaven 
 has  therefore  decreed,  that  they  who  contribute  their 
 labours  as  well  as  their  prayers,  to  promote  fo  good 
 and  fo  glorious  an  end,  fhall  enjoy  it's  protedioo^ 
 and  it's  blefling  fliall  be  upon  the  work  of  their  handss 
 "  They  fliall  profper  that  love  thee." 
 
 7.  Peace  he  within  thy  walls,   and  profperity,  or 
 plenteoufnefsy  within  thy  palaces. 
 
 Come,  O  thou  divine  Spirit  of  peace  and  love, 
 who.didfl:  refide  in  the  foul  of  the  holy  Jefus,  defcend 
 
 into 
 
4T2  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  122 
 
 into  his  myft^cal  body,  and  fill  us,  who  compofe  it, 
 with  all  his  heavenly  tempers 3  put  an  end  to  here- 
 lies,  heal  all'fchirms,  caufe  bitter  contentions  toceafe, 
 abolifh  every  erimity,  and  make  us  to  be  of  one 
 mind  in  thy  holy  city;  that  fo,  "  peace  being  with- 
 "  in  her  walls,''  her  citizens  may  give  themfelves  to 
 every  profitable  employment,  and  *'  plenteoufiiefs'* 
 of  grace,  vvifdom  and  truth,  as  well  as  of  earthly 
 bleffings,  may  be  in  all  her  "  palaces."  Thus  will 
 file  become  a  lively  portrait  of  that  place  which  is 
 prepared  for  them  that  love  one  another,  where,  with 
 one  heart  and  one  voice,  they  (hall  afcribe  ^*  falva- 
 "  tion  and  glory  to  God  and  to  the  Lamb." 
 
 8.  For  my  brethren  ajid  companions' fake  ^  I  will 
 now  fay.  Peace  be  zoithin  thee.  9.  Becaufe  of  the 
 hoiife  of  the  Lord  our  God  Iwillfeek  thy  good. 
 
 In  thefe  concluding  verfes,  the  Pfaimilt  declareth 
 the  two  motives,  which  induced  him  to  utter  his  beft 
 wifhes,  and  to  ufe  his  beft  endeavours,  for  the  profpe- 
 rity  of  Jerufalem;  namely,  love  of  his  brethren,  whofe 
 hnppinefs  was  in  .oivid  in  that  of  their  city;  and  love 
 of  CoQ:,  who  had  there  fixed  the  refidence  of  his 
 glory.  Thefe  motives  are  ever  in  force,  and  ought, 
 furely,  to  operate  with  marvellous  energy  upon  our 
 hearts,  to  flir  us  up  to  imitate  the  pattern  now  be- 
 fore us,  in  ferv'Lit  zeal  and  unwearied  labour,  for 
 the  falvation  of  men,  and  the  glory  of  their  great 
 Kccieemcr;  bcth  v;b  rii  will  then  be  complete,  when 
 the  church  miiitMiC  Ihall  become  triumphant,  and 
 the  heaveiily  paiadife  fiiall  be  filled  with  plants  taken 
 from  its  terreftriai  nurfery. 
 
 Theodore  Zuinger,  of  whom  fome  account  may 
 be  found  m  Thuanus,  when  he  lay  on  his  death-bed, 
 
 took 
 
Day  2*'.  M.  V,  ON  the  PSALMS.  4TJ 
 
 took  his  leave  of  the  world,-  in  a  paraphrafe  on  the 
 foregoing  Pfalmj  giving  it  the  fame  turn  with  that 
 given  to  it  above.  I  have  never  been  able  to  get  a 
 fight  of  the  original*;  but  one  may  venture,  I   be- 
 
 *  Since  the  publication  of  the  firft  edition,  a  learned  friend 
 has  obliged  me  with  a  copy  of  thefe  Latin  verfes  of  Zuinger, 
 tranfcribed  from  the  303d  page  of  Vitas  Germanorum  Medico- 
 rum,  by  Melchior  Adamus :  They  are  as  follow : 
 
 O  lux  Candida,  lux  mihi 
 Laeti  confcia  tranfitus ! 
 Per  Chrifti  meritam  patet 
 
 Vitae  porta  beatze. 
 Me  flatus  revocat  dies 
 Auguftam  Domini  ad  domum  : 
 Jam  facra  zetherii  premam 
 
 Laetus  limina  templi. 
 jam  vifam  Solymae  edita  < 
 
 Coelo  culmina,  et  aedium 
 Castus  angelicos,  fuo  et 
 
 Auguflam  populo  urbem  j 
 Urbem,  quam  procul  infimis 
 Terrae  finibus  exciti 
 Petunt  Chriftiada;,  ut  Dcum 
 
 Laudent  voce  perenni; 
 Juffam  coelitus  oppidis 
 Urbem  jus  dare  caeteris, 
 Et  fedem  fore  Davidis 
 
 Cunfla  in  fascia  beatl. 
 Mater  nobilis  urbium ! 
 Semper  te  bona  pax  amat : 
 Et  te  femper  amantibus 
 
 Cedunt  omnia  re£te. 
 Semper  pax  tua  mcenia 
 Colit ;  femper  in  atriis 
 Tuis  copia  dextera 
 
 Larga  munera  fundit- 
 ,  iDulcis  Chriftiadum  domus, 
 
 Civem  adfcribe  novitium : 
 Sola  comitata  Caritas — 
 
 Spefque  Fidefque^valete, 
 
 lleve, 
 
414  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  122. 
 
 lieve,  to  fay,  that  it  has  loft  nothing  in  a  tranllation 
 of  it  by  the  late  learned  and  pious  Mr.  Merrick; 
 which  is  To  excellent,  that  I  muft  beg  leave  to  pre- 
 fent  it  to  the  reader.  Some  of  the  lines  are  retained 
 in  his  more  literal  Poetical  Verfion,  publidied  in 
 1765.  It  may  ferve  as  a  finiflied  fpecimen  of  the 
 noble  and  exalted  ufe,  which  a  Chrillian  may,  and 
 ought  to  make  of  the  Pfalms  of  David 
 
 PSALM     CXXII. 
 
 I. 
 
 What  joy,  while  thus  I  view  the  day. 
 That  warns  my  thirfting  foul  away. 
 
 What  tranfports  fill  my  breaft ! 
 For,  lo,  my  great  Redeemer's  power 
 Unfolds  the  everlafting  door. 
 
 And  leads  me  to  his  reft. 
 
 II. 
 
 The  feftal  morn,  my  God,  is  come. 
 That  calls  me  to  the  hallow 'd  dome. 
 
 Thy  prefence  to  adore; 
 My  feet  the  fummons  ftiall  attend^ 
 With  willing  fteps  thy  courts  afcend. 
 
 And  tread  th'  etherial  floor. 
 
 III. 
 E*en  now  to  my  expefting  eyes 
 The  heav'n-built  towers  of  Salem  rife, 
 
 E*en  now,  with  glad  furvey, 
 I  view  her  manfions,  that  contain 
 Th'  angelic  forms,  an  awful  train. 
 
 And  (bine  with  cloudlefs  day. 
 
 -  IV. 
 
Day  27/irrp'.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  4.15 
 
 IV. 
 
 Hither  from  earth's  remoteft  end, 
 Lo,  the  redeemed  of  God  afcend. 
 
 Their  tribute  hither  bring: 
 Here  crown'd  with  everlaftingjoy, 
 In  hymns  of  praife  their  tongues  employ. 
 
 And  hail  th'  immortal  King : 
 
 V. 
 Great  Salem's  King;  who  bids  each  ftatc 
 On  her  decrees  dependent  wait; 
 
 In  her,  ere  time  begun, 
 High  on  eternal  bafe  uprear'd. 
 His  hands  the  regal  feat  prepar'd 
 
 For  Jefle's  favour'd  Son. 
 VI. 
 Mother  of  cities !    O'er  thy  head 
 See  Peace,  with  healing  wings  outfpread. 
 
 Delighted  fix  her  flay. 
 Howbleft,  who  calls  himfelf  thy  friend! 
 Succefs  his  labours  (hall  attend, 
 
 And  fafety  guard  his  way. 
 Y  VII. 
 
 Thy  walls,  remote  from  hoftile  fear, 
 Nor  the  loud  voice  of  tumult  hear. 
 
 Nor  War's  wild  waftes  deplore ; 
 There  fmillng  Plenty  takes  her  ftand. 
 And  in  thy  courts  with  lavifh  hand 
 
 Has  pour'd  forth  all  her  ftore. 
 VIII. 
 Let  me,  bleft  feat,  my  name  behold 
 Among  thy  citizen's  enroU'd, 
 
 la. 
 
^i6  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  125. 
 
 In  thee  ^or  ever  dwell. 
 Let  charity  my  fteps  attend, 
 My  fole  companion  and  my  friend, 
 
 And  Faith  and  Hope  farewell ! 
 
 PSALM  cxxm. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm  containeth  1,  2.  an  a6t  of  con- 
 fidence in  God,  with  3,  4.  a  prayer  for  deli- 
 verance from  that  reproach  and  contempt 
 which  infidehty  and  fenfuality  are  wont  to 
 pour  upon  the  afflided  people  of  God. 
 
 T.  Unfo  the  I  lift  up  mine  eyes^  O  thou  that 
 dwellejl  in  the  Jieavens. 
 
 The  church,  when  diftrefled  and  perfecuted  upon 
 earth,  "lifteth  up  her  eyes  to  him  that  dwelleth  in 
 "  the  heavens,"  from  thence  beholding  and  ordering 
 all  things  here  below.  -  It  is  by  his  permilfion  that  (he 
 is  deprefTed  and  infulted;  and  he  only  can  deliver  her 
 out  of  the  hands  of  her  enemies. 
 
 2.  Behold,  as  the  eyes  of  fervants  look  un^o  the 
 hand  of  their  majiers,  and  as  the  eyes  of  a  maiden 
 unto  the  hand  of  her  mijlrefs^  fo  our  eyes  wait  upon 
 the  Lord  our  God,  until  that  he  havevie^cy  Upon  us. 
 
 The  fervants  of  God,  like  other  fervants,  if  they 
 are  injured  and  fufFer  violence^  expeft  redrefs  and 
 protedion  from  the  Mafter,  whofe  they  are,  and 
 whom  they  ferve.  Under  the  law  of  Mofes,  a  mafter 
 was  to  demand  fatisfadion,  and  to  have  it  made  him, 
 
 for 
 
Day  27.  M.  P.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  4^7 
 
 for  any  hurt  done  to  his  fervant.  And  fnall  not  the 
 bea  of  mafters  avenge  the  wrongs  done  to  thofe  who 
 ferve  him;  and  done,  perhaps,  becaufe  they  ferve 
 him  ?  Without  doubt,  he  will  avenge  them  fpeedily, 
 and  reward  the  fufFerers  glorioufly. 
 
 3.  Have  mercy  upon  us,  O  Lord,  have  mercy  upon 
 us;  for  xve  are  exceedingly  f Med  with  contempt.  4. 
 Our  foul  is  exceedingly  filled  ivith  the /corning  of  thofe 
 that  are  at  eafe,  and  with  the  Contempt  of  the  proud. 
 
 Unbelieving,  ungodly,  and  worldly  men,  who  are 
 "  at  cafe,"  and  boaft  themfelves  in  the  multitude  of 
 their  riches,  will  always  be  ready  to  caft  upon  the  af- 
 flided  fervants  of  Chrift  Tome  portion  of  that  reproach 
 and  contempt,  which  were  fo  plentifully  poured  upon 
 their  blefled  Mafter,  in  the  day  of  his  paffion,  and  in- 
 deed through  his  whole  life.  With  thefe  they  may  juft- 
 iy  complain  that  "  their  fouls  are  exceedingly  filled,'* 
 infomuch  that  they  are  compelled  to  exclaim  with  re- 
 doubled earneflnefs,  *'  Have  mercy  upon  us,  O  Lord, 
 "  have  mercy  upon  us."  And  let  them  know,  for 
 their  comfort,  that  the  Lord  will  "  have  mercy  upon 
 *'  them"  in  that  day,  when  fenfuality  (hall  be  fuc- 
 ceeded  by  torment,  and  pride  fhall  end  in  fliame  and 
 confufion;  when  patient  poverty  (hall  inherit  ever^ 
 lafting  riches,  and  oppretTed  humility  (hali  be  exalted 
 to  a  throne  above  the  ftars. 
 
 PSALM  CXXIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 in  this  Pfalm,  which,  as  w^e  are  informed  by 
 
 the  title,  hath  David  for  it's   author,    the 
 
 Vol.  IL  D  d  church 
 
41?  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  124: 
 
 church  defcrlbeth  the  clanger  in  which  Ihe 
 had  been,  and  giveth  to  God  alone  the  glory 
 of  her  deliverance  out  of  it. 
 
 I.  If\t.  had  not  been  the  Lord  who  was  on  our 
 fide^  nowmay  Ifrael  fay  ;  i.  If\t  had  not  been  the 
 LrORD  xvho  ivas  on  oiirjide^  when  men  rofe  up  againfi 
 ns:  3.  Then  they  had  fwalloived  us  lip  quick^  xvhen 
 their  wrath  zoas  kindled  againji  us. 
 
 The  people  of  Ifrael,  reicued  from  impending 
 ruin,  break  forth  into  a  joyful  acknowledgment  of 
 that  almighty  aid,  to  which  they  were  indebted  for 
 their  deliverance.  "  Men''  rofe  up  againft  them,  but 
 "  Jehovah"  was  on  their  fide;  men  intended  to  de- 
 vour, but  God  interpofed  to  fave.  May  not  **  the 
 *'  Ifrael  of  God*'  fay,  in  like  manner,  "  If  the  Lord 
 *'  had  not  been  on  our  fide,"  when  our  fpiritual  ene- 
 mies, fin,  death,  and  hell,  were  in  arms  againft  us, 
 furely  now  "  they  had  fwallowed  us  up  quick,"  and 
 we  had  periflied  everlaftingly.  It  is  thou,  O  Lord 
 Jefu,  who  haft  wrought  for  us  this  great  falvation  ;• 
 it  is  thou  who  from  the  beginning  haft  preferved' 
 thy  church  in  the  world,  amidft  the  perfecutions 
 which  muft  otherwife  have  put  an  end  to  it's  very 
 exiftence. 
 
 4.  7  hen  the  wafers  had  overwhehnedus;  thejlream^ 
 or,  torrent  had  gone  over  our  foul  •'  5.  Then  the 
 proud,  or,  fwelling  ivafers  had  gone  over  our  foul. 
 
 The  redeemed  are  aftoniflied,  upon  looking  back, 
 at  the  greatnefs  of  the  danger  to  which  they  had  been 
 expofed.  They  can  compare  the  fury  and  infolence 
 of    tiiJi  adverfaries  to  nothing  but  overwhelming 
 
 floods. 
 
Day  27.  M.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  419 
 
 floods,  and  defolating  torrents;  and  they  confider* 
 themfelves  as  fnatched  by  a  miracle  from  inftanf  de- 
 flrudion.  Happy  they,  who  are  taken  from  the  evil 
 to  come,  and  have  pafled  from  the  miferies  of  earth 
 to  the  felicities  of  heaven,  where  they  are  neither 
 tempted  nor  molefted  more.  The  devout  Chriflian, 
 whom,  in  perilous  times,  and  towards  the  clofe  of 
 life,  a  gracious  Providence  has  thrown  aOiore  in  fome 
 fequeftered  corner,  from  whence  he  views  thofe  fecu- 
 lar  tumults  with  which  he  hath  no  farther  concern,  is 
 perhaps  arrived  at  the  next  degree  of  happinefs  to 
 that  of  juft  Spirits  made  perfed:. 
 
 6.  Blc/Jedht  the  Lord,  zvho  hath  not  given  z/i-as 
 a  prey  to  their  teeth.  7.  Our  foul  is  ejcaped  as  a 
 bird  out  of  the  fnare  of  the  fowlers'-  the  fnare  is 
 broken,  and  we  are  efcaped. 
 
 The  marvellous  deliverance  of  Ifrael  is  illuftrated 
 by  two  other  images.  It  is  compared  to  the  efcape 
 of  a  lamb  from  the  jaws  of  a  v/olf,  or  a  lion  ;  and  to 
 that  of  a  bird,  by  the  breaking  of  the  fnare,  in  which 
 it  had  been  entangled,  before  the  fowler  came  to  feize 
 and  to  kill  it.  Save  us,  O  God,  from  the  rage  and  the 
 fubtlety  of  our  fpiritual  advcrlary;  fave  us  from  his 
 teeth,  when  he  would  devour;  from  his  fnares,  when 
 he  would  deceive;  fufFer  us  not,  either  by  perfecu- 
 tion,  or  temptation,  to  fall  from  thee;  let  the  lion 
 gnalh  his  teeth,  and  the  fowler  look  for  his  captive  in 
 vain;  that  fo  we  too  may  iing  the  fong  of  Zion  in  thy 
 heavenly  kingdom,  and  fay,  '•■  BlelTed  be  the  Lord, 
 "  who  hath  not  given  us  over  for  a  prey  unto  their 
 "  teeth.  Our  foul  is  efcaped  as  a  bird  out  of  the 
 D  d  2  "  fnare 
 
420  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  125^ 
 
 "  fnarc  of  the  fowlers  j  the  fnare  is  brokea,  and  we 
 "  are  efcaped." 
 
 8.  Our  help  is  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who 
 made  heaven  and  earth. 
 
 The  great  leffon  which  this  Pfalm,  from  the  begin- 
 ning to  the  end,  inculcates,  is,  that  for  every  deUver- 
 ance,  whether  of  a  temporal  or  fpiritual  nature,  wc 
 fliould,  in  imitation  of  the  faints  above,  afcribe 
 *'  Salvation  to  God  and  to  the  Lamb." 
 
 PSALM    CXXV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In  this  pfalm,  the  church  is  comforted  with  the 
 promifes  1,  2.  of  God's  prote6lion,  aitd  3.  of 
 his  removing,  in  due  time^  from  his  inheri- 
 tance, the  rod  of  the  oppreifor;  when  4.  the 
 faithful  will  be  rewarded,  and  5.  apollates 
 punilhed  with  other  workers  of  iniquity. 
 Aben  Ezra,  as  cited  by  Dr.  Hammond,  ap- 
 plieth  the  Pfalm  to  the  days  of  Mefsiah. 
 
 I.  They  that  trujl  in  the  Lord  (hall  be  as  mount 
 Zio7i,  which  cannot  be  removed,  but  abideth  for 
 ever,  2.  As  the  mountains  are  round  about  Jeru- 
 falein,  fo  the  Lord  is  round  about  his  people  from 
 henceforth  even  for  ever. 
 
 The  flability  of  the  church,  and  the  protedion 
 afforded  her  by  Jehovah,  were  of  old  reprefented  by 
 the  mountain  on  which  the  divine  prefence  refided, 
 -and  by  the  hills  which  encompaffed  Jerufalera,  fo  as 
 
 to 
 
Day  27.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  421 
 
 to  render  that  city  in  a  manner  impregnable.  While 
 her  inhabitants  continued  to  "  truft  in  the  Lord," 
 this  was  the  cafe.  But  when  they  became  faithlefs 
 and  difobedient,  Ihe  became  weak,  and  like  another 
 city.  Let  not  our  "  truft  in  God"  be  a  prefump- 
 tuous  ungrounded  affurance,  but  let  it  be  a  confi- 
 dence fpringing  from  faith,  unfeigned,  out  of  a  pure 
 heart,  a  good  confcience,  and  fervent  charity.  Then 
 fliall  our  (ituation,  whether  as  a  church,  or  as  indi- 
 viduals, referable  that  of  the  holy  mount  in  the  be- 
 loved city,  and  our  God  will  be  unto  us  a  fortrefs, 
 and  a  wall  round  about.  But  let  us  never  forget, 
 that  the  promifes  to  us,  like  thofe  to  Ifrael,  are  con- 
 ditional. "  Becaufe  of  unbelief  they  were  broken  off, 
 "  and  we  ftand  by  faith." 
 
 3.  For  the  rod  of  the  zvicked  Jliall  not  reji  upon 
 the  lot  of  the  righteous  :  left  the  righteous  put  forth 
 their  hands  unto  iniquity. 
 
 God  may,  and  often  doth  permit  "  the  rod"  or 
 power  "  of  the  wicked  to  fall  upon  the  lot  of  the 
 *'  rightepus,"  in  this  world.  But  it  is  only  for  the 
 purpofes  of  chaftifement,  or  probation.  The  rod  is 
 not  fuffered  to  "  reft,  or  abide"  there  too  long,  "  left 
 "  the  righteous,"  harafled  and  worn  down  by  op- 
 preftion,  and  feeing  no  end  of  their  calamities,  lliould 
 be  tempted  to  **  put  their  hands  to  iniquity,"  and 
 pradife  that  wickednefs,  which  they  find  to  profpef 
 fo  well  here  below.  The  import  of  this  verfe  feem-; 
 eth  to  be  the  faine  with  that  of  our  Lord's  predidion 
 concerning  the  troubles  of  thp  latter  days.  ^«  Then 
 "  ftiall  be  great  trilDulation,  fuch  as  was  not  fmce 
 *'  |he  beginning  of  the  world  to  this  ^ime,  no  nor 
 D  d  3  '«  ever 
 
422  A  COMMENTARY         ?sal.  126. 
 
 *'  ever  fliall  be.  And  except  thole  days  (liould  be 
 "  ihortened,  there  Ihould  no  fiolh  be  faved.  But  tor 
 "  the  elects'  fake  thole  days  (hall  be  fliortened." 
 Matt.  xxiv.   21,  22. 
 
 4.  ho  good.  O  Lord,  inifo  thofe  that  be  good,  and 
 to  them  that  are  upright  in  heart.  5.  As  f'orjuch  as 
 fi/^n  ajide  unto  their  crooked  waj/s,  the  Loud /kail 
 lead  them  forth  zcith  the  icorhers  oj  initjuity  '  but 
 peace  ihall  be  iipon  J/'racl. 
 
 The  "  good  and  upright  in  heart"  are  they  who 
 fland  Heady  in  every  change  ol"  circumftances ;  who 
 complain  not  of  God's  dllpenfations,  but,  believing 
 every  thing  to  be  bell  which  he  ordains,  adhere  to 
 him  with  a  will  entirely  conformed  to  his,  in  adver- 
 fity  no  lefs  than  in  profperity.  To  tliefe  Jehovah 
 will  finally  *'  do  good^"  and  they  (liall  receive  the 
 rewrrd  of  their  fliith  and  patience ;  while  fuch  as,  in 
 tlnij  o't  trial,  have  fallen  away,  and  returned  no 
 more,  ihall  be  "  led  forth"  to  punilhment  "  with  the 
 "  workers  of  iniquity,"  to  whole  company  their  apo- 
 ftacy  hath  joined  them.  And  then,  "  peace  (hail  be 
 "  upon  the  Ifrael  of  God,"  with  joy  and  gladnefs,  for 
 evermore. 
 
 XXVII    DAY.       EVENING    PR  AVER, 
 
 PSALM     CXXVL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 InthisPlalm,  the  children  of  Zion    1 — 3.  dc- 
 fciibc   the  joy  conlcqucnt  upon  their  relto- 
 
 ration 
 
Day  27.  E.  p.  ON  THK  PSALMS.  423 
 
 ration  from  captivity  ;  4.  tlicy  pray  God  to 
 bring  back  the  red  of  their  countrymen, 
 and  to  complete  his  work  ;  5,  G.  they  fore- 
 fee  and  pre(h6t  tlie  fuccefis  ot'  their  labours 
 in  rebuilding  their  ruined  city  with  it's  tem- 
 ple, and  cultivating  agiin  their  defolated 
 country.  The  return  of  Ifrael  from  Babylon 
 holds  forth  a  figure  of  the  fame  import  with 
 the  exodus  of  that  people  from  Lgypt,  And 
 this  Pfalm,  like  the  propricciesof' llaiah,  re- 
 prefenteth  the  blefred  effects  of  a  fpiritual 
 redemption,  in  words  primarily  alluding  to 
 that  temporal  releafe. 
 
 I.  JF/ieti  the  Lord  turned  a'^ain  the  captivity  of 
 Ziojiy  we  were  like  them  that  drerni. 
 
 That  Cyrus  fhould  iffue  a  decree  for  the  Jews  to 
 return  to  their  own  country,  and  to  rebuild  their 
 city  and  temple  ;  that  he  fhould  difmifs  fuch  a  num- 
 ber of  captives,  not  only  without  money  and  without 
 price,  but  (hould  fend  them  home  laden  with  pre- 
 fents;  Ezra  i.  1 — 4.  this  was  the  work  of  Jehovah, 
 who  only  could  thus  '*  turn  the  captivity  ot  Zion.'* 
 A  reftoration  fo  complete,  fo  flrange  and  unlooked 
 for,  brought  about  at  once,  without  any  endeavours 
 ufed  on  the  fide  of  Ifrael,  feemed  in  all  thefe  refpedts, 
 as  a  "  dream;"'  and  the  parties  concerned,  when  they 
 faw  and  heard  fuch  things,  could  fcarce  believe  them- 
 felves  to  be  awake.  That  the  King  of  kings,  of  his 
 own  mere  love  and  mercy,  fhould  take  pity  on  poor 
 mankind,  in  their  more  grievous  captivity  under  fin 
 D  d  4  and 
 
424  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  126. 
 
 and  death ;  that  he  fliould  fend  his  only  Son  to  pur- 
 chafe  their  liberty,  his  fpirit  to  enrich,  and  condud: 
 them  to  their  country  above,  and  his  heraldi  to  pro- 
 claim fuch  unexpected  deliverance  to  all  the  world ; 
 this  iikewile  was  the  work  of  the  fame  Jehovah, 
 wh©  only  could  thus  "  turn  again  the  captivity 
 *•  of  his  Zi^n."  Sinners,  when  the  tidings  of  a  fal- 
 vation  fo  great  and  marvellous  are  preached  to  them, 
 think  themielves  in  a  "'  dream,"  and  with  difficulty 
 give  credit  even  to  the  royal  proclamation,  though 
 the  greai  feal  of  heaven  be  affixed  to  it. 
 
 2.  Then  zvas  >>ur  mouth, filled  with  laughter y  and 
 our  tongue  zvifh  fnging:  thenjaid  they,  among  the 
 heathen^  The  Lurd  hath  done  great  things  for 
 them.  3.  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for 
 lis  i  whereof  zve  are  glad. 
 
 The  people  of  God  foon  find,  that  they  are  not 
 mocked  v;ith  iilunons,  but  that  all  about  them  is 
 reality  and  truth.  Then  forrow  and  fighing,  fear  and 
 diftruft,  fly  away  together.  Joy  fills  their  hearts,  and 
 overflows  by  their  tongues,  in  fongs  of  praife.  The 
 nations  hear,  and  are  aftonixQied,  and  own  the  hand 
 of  Jehovah  in  the  reftoration  of  his  people;  "  Jeho- 
 "  vah  hath  done  great  things  for  them.''  The  cho- 
 fen  people  echo  back  the  gladfome  found,  and  reply, 
 with  fanipcrts  of  gratitude,  "  Jehovah  hath  done 
 "  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad."  Every 
 word  of  tnis  agreeth  not  more  exactly  to  the  return 
 from  Babylon,  than  it  doth  to  that  eternal  redemp- 
 tion thereby  prefigured,  which  is  the  grand  fubjed  of 
 thankfgiving  in  the  Chrifl:ian  church. 
 
 4.  Turn  again  our  captiviti/y  O  Lord,  as  the 
 fir  earns  in  thefoiith. 
 
 The 
 
Day  27.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  425 
 
 The  joy  occafioned  by  Cyrus's  proclamation  hav- 
 ing been  defcribed  in  the  former  part  of  the  Plahii, 
 we  may  now  fuppofe  Tome  of  the  Jews  ready  to  fet 
 out  on  their  return  home  ;  at  which  time,  and  during 
 their  journey,  they  prefer  this  petition  to  God,  that 
 he  would  be  pleafed  to  bring  back  the  rell  of  their 
 countrymen,  who,  like  *'  floods"  rolling  down  upon 
 the  thirfty  regions  of  the  "  fouth*,"  might  people 
 the  land,  and  by  their  labours  put  an  end  to  the  de- 
 folations  of  Judah.  That  God  would  daily  increafe 
 the  number  of  true  converts  from  the  world  to  the 
 church,  to  clear  and  cultivate  the  myftical  vineyard, 
 to  build  and  to  ornament  the  holy  city,  lliould  be 
 the  prayer  of  every  labourer  in  that  vineyard,  of  every 
 citizen  in  that  city. 
 
 5.  They  thatfow  in  tears  JJiall  reap  in  joy.  6.  He 
 that  goeth  forth  and  zveepethj  hearing  precious  feed^ 
 Jhall  douhtlefs  come  again  with  rejoicings  bringing 
 hisjheaves  with  him. 
 
 The  fatigue  of  travelling  from  Babylon  to  Judea ; 
 the  melancholy  profped  of  a  long  depopulated  coun- 
 
 ♦  I  think  the  image  Is  taken  from  the  "  torrents"  in  the  de- 
 ferts  to  the  fouth  of  Judea;  in  Idumsea,  Arabia  Petrsa,  &c.  a 
 mountaninous  country.  Thefe  torrents  were  conftantly  dried  up 
 inthef^mmer;  See  Job  vi.  17,  18.  and  as  conftantly  "  return^ 
 **  ed"  after  the  rainy  feafon,  and  filled  again  their  deferted  chan- 
 nels. The  point  of  the  comparifon  feems  to  be  the  "  return" 
 and  renewal  of  thefe  (not  "  rivers"  but)  "  torrents;"  which 
 yearly  leave  their  beds  dry,  but  fill  them  again  ;  as  the  Jews  had 
 left  their  country  defolate,  but  now  "  flowed  again"  into  it. 
 Bifhop  LowTH,  in  Merrick's  Annotations. — Dr.  Dureli.  ren- 
 ders this  verfe  as  follows — **  The  turning  of  our  captivity,  O 
 ♦*  JjOrd,  is  as  ftreams  in  the  fouth..'* 
 
 try, 
 
426  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  126. 
 
 try,  and  ruined  city;  tlie  toil  necefTary  to  be  under- 
 gone, before  the  former  could  be  again  brought  into 
 order,  and  the  latter  rebuilt  ;  all  theie  confiderations 
 could  not  but  allay  the  joy  of  the  releafed  captives, 
 ^nd  even  draw  many  tears  from  their  eyes.  They  are 
 therefore  comforted  with  a  gracious  promife,  thaf 
 God  would  give  a  blefiing  to  the  labours  of  their 
 hands,  and  crown  them  with  fuccefs,  lb  that  they 
 fhould  once  more  fee  Jerufalem  in  profperity,  and 
 behold  in  Zion  the  beauty  of  hclinefs.  This  promife 
 is  conveyed  under  images  borrowed  from  the  inftruc- 
 tive  fcenes  of  agriculture.  In  the  fweat  of  his  brows 
 the  hufbandman  tills  his  land,  and  cafts  the  feed  into 
 the  ground,  where,  for  a  time,  it  lies  dead  and  bu- 
 ried. A  dark  and  dreary  winter  fucceeds,  and  all 
 fecms  to  be  lod.  But  at  the  return  of  fpring,  uni- 
 verfal  nature  revives,  and  the  once  defolate  fields  are 
 covered  with  corn,  which,' when  matured  by  the  fun's 
 heat,  the  cheerful  reapers  cut  down,  and  it  is  brought 
 home  with  triumphant  fiiouts  of  joy.  Here,  O  dif- 
 ciple  of  Jefus,  behold  an  emblem  of  thy  prefent  la- 
 bour, and  thy  future  reward.  Thou  *'  foweft,"  per- 
 haps, "  in  tears  i"  thou  doefl  thy  dutv^midfl  perfe- 
 cution  and  aiflieiion,  ficknefs,  pain ^^jPlor row ;  thou 
 laboureft  in  the  church,  and  no  3^Bf^i  is  made  of 
 thy  labours;  no  profit  feems  lia|p^^  to  aiife  from 
 them.  Nay,  thou  mufl  thyfeltd^  into  the  dufl  of 
 death,  and  all  the  florms  of  that  winter  muft  pafs 
 over  thee,  until  thy  fojm  fhall  be  perilhed,  and  thou 
 ilialt  fee  corruption.  Yet,  the  day  is  coming,  when 
 thou  Ihalt  "  reai>  in  joy  j"  and  plentiful  fhall  be  thy 
 harvefl.     For  thus  thy  blefled  Mafler  "  went  forth 
 
 *'weep- 
 
Day  27.  e.  p.         on  the  PSAT.MS.  427 
 
 *'  weepin*?;,  a  man  of  forrows,  an-i  acquainted  with 
 *'  grief,  blearing  precious  feed,''  and  Towing  it  around 
 hiin,  till  at  length  his  own  body  was  buried,  like  a 
 grain  of  wh^at,  in  the  furrow  of  the  gr.'vve.  But  he 
 arofe,  anl  is  now  in  heaven  ;  from  whence  he*'  ihall 
 "  doubtiefs  come  again  with  rejoicing,"  with  the 
 voice  of  the  archangel  and  the  trump  of  God,  "bring- 
 ^*  ing  his  (heaves  with  him."  Then  (hall  every  man 
 receive  the  fruit  of  his  works,  and  have  praife  of 
 God, 
 
 PSALM     CXXVII. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 If  this  Pfalm  were  written  by  Solomon,  or  by- 
 David  for  Solomon,  as  the  title  importeth, 
 it  was  probably  ul'ed  again  at  the  time  of  re- 
 building the  city  and  temple,  after  the  re- 
 turn from  Babylon.  But,  indeed  it  is  a 
 Pfalm  which  can  never  be  out  of  feafon,  the 
 delign  of  it*s  author  being  to  teach  us  the 
 necefsity  of  a  dependance  upon  God  and  his 
 blefsing,  in  every  work  to  which  we  fet  our 
 hands.  What  is  faid  with  regard  to  an  earth- 
 ly houfe,  city,  and  family,  extendeth  alfo 
 to  the  fpiritual  houfe,  city,  and  family  of 
 Chrifi:,  which  are  now,  what  Jerufalcm,  the 
 temple,  and  the  people  of  Ifrael,  were  in  old 
 time. 
 
 I.  Except  the  Lord  build  the  houfe y  they  labour 
 I  in 
 
428  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  127. 
 
 in  vain  that  build  it'  except  the  Lord  keep  the  city , 
 the  zvatchvian  xvaketh  but  in  vain. 
 
 In  every  undertaking,  the  bleffing  of  God  muft 
 accompany  the  labours  of  man,  to  render  them  ef- 
 feiftual.  No  work  can  profper  without  Him,  nor  can 
 any  defign  mifcarry  under  his  favour  and  protedion, 
 which  are  equally  necelTary  to  be  obtained  by  the 
 builder  in  time  of  peace,  and  by  the  foldier  in  time 
 of  war.  But  they,  above  all  men,  ought  to  implore 
 the  divine  grace  and  benedidion,  who  are  employed 
 either  in  building  or  defending  the  fpiritual  houfe 
 and  city  of  God;  efpecially  as  the  fame  perfons,  like 
 the  Jews  after  the  captivity,  furrounded  by  enemies 
 always  ready  to  obftruft  the  work,  are  often  obliged 
 to  hold  a  fword  in  one  hand,  while  they  build  with 
 the  other.  Our  own  edification  in  faith  and  holinefs 
 muft  likewife  be  carried  on  by  us  in  this  attitude,  by 
 realon  of  the  many  temptations  which  are  continual- 
 ly aflailing  us.  It  may  alfo  be  remarked,  that  both 
 Soiomon  and  Zerubbabel  had  vainly  laboured  to 
 conf.iuft  the  firft  or  the  fecond  material  temple,  un- 
 hh  Jehovah  himfelf  had  built  the  true  Houfe  for  the 
 recepiion  of  Lis  glory,  that  is  to  fay,  the  Temple  of 
 Chriil's  body,  and,  after  it  was  fallen  down,  had  rear- 
 ed it  again,  by  a  refurredion  from  the  dead. 
 
 2.  It  is  vain  for  you  to  rife  up  early  ^  to  fit  tip 
 late,  in  eat  the  bread  of  fgrrpivs:  ior/o  he  giveth  his 
 li^ovtd  fleep, 
 
 T:.e  Pfalmift  doth  nqt,  certainly,  intend  to  fay, 
 that  iaboLir  and  diligence  are  vain,  but  that  they  are 
 fc,  except  the  Lord  be  with  the  labourer:  the  bufi- 
 jiefb  IS  not  to  be  done  by  i^U  the  induflry  and  pains, 
 
 all 
 
Day  27.  E.  p.      ON  THE  PSALMS.  42^ 
 
 all  the  carklng  and  caring  in  the  world,  without 
 Him;  whereas,  if  his  aid  be  called  in,  if  part  of  ouf 
 time  be  fpent  in  prayer,  not  the  whole  of  it  in  prayer- 
 lefs  toiling  and  moiling,  our  work  will  become  eafier, 
 and  go  on  better;  a  folicitude  and  anxiety  for  it's 
 fuccefs  and  completion  will  no  longer  prey  upon 
 our  minds  by  day,  and  break  our  reft  at  night;  we 
 fliall  cheerfully  fulfil  our  daily  tafks,  and  then,  with 
 confidence  and  refignation,  lay  our  heads  upon  our 
 pillows,  and  God  will  "  give  to  his  beloved"  a  fweet 
 and  undifturbed  ''  lleep,"  which  fliall  fit  them  to  re- 
 turn every  morning,  with  renewed  vigour  and  alacri- 
 ty, to  their  Hated  employments.  This  feemeth  to 
 be  the  import  of  the  verfe.  An  obfcurity  has  been 
 occafioned  in  the  tranflations,  by  rendering  the  ad- 
 verb p  fo;  "  fo  he  giveth  his  beloved  fleep;"  in 
 which  form,  this  laft  part  of  the  verfe  will  not  con- 
 ned with  what  goes  before.  But  if  p  be  tranflated, 
 like  its  kindred  particle  p^*  "  surely*  he  giveth 
 *'  his  beloved  fleep;"  or,  as  Dr.  Hammond  renders 
 it,  "since  he  giveth  his  beloved  fleep;"  the  diffi- 
 culty will  vanifh,  and  the  fenfe  appear  to  be,  as 
 above.  Nor  can  we  eafily  find  a  more  profitable 
 piece  of  inftrudiion,  with  regard  to  the  management 
 of  all  our  concerns,  temporal  and  fpiritual. 
 
 3.  LOi  children  2lxq.  an  heritage  of  the  Lord:  and 
 the  fruit  of  the  womb  is  his  reward. 
 
 The  labours  of  mankind,  firft  in  building  houfes 
 and  cities,  and  then  in  guarding  and  fecuring  their 
 
 *  This  is  the  fecond  of  the  fenfes  given  to  this  particle  by 
 Noldius,  who  cites,  in  confirmation  of  it,  i  Sam.  ix.  13. 
 I  Kings  XX.  40. 
 
430  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  i27> 
 
 poiTeffions,  are  undergone,  not  with  a  view  to  them- 
 felves  alone,  but  to  their  families,  which  they  would 
 eftablifh  and  perpetuate.  The  Pfalmift,  therefore, 
 in  the  preceding  veifes,  having  taught  men  to  expect 
 a  happy  fettlement  only  from  the  favour  of  Jehovah, 
 now  directs  them  to  look  up  to  him  for  the  farther 
 blefiing  of  a  numerous  and  virtuous  progeny.  He 
 can  in  a  moment  blatl:  the  mod  fruitful  ftock,  or  he 
 can  "  make  the  barren  woman  to  keep  Houfe,  and  to 
 "  become  a  joyful  mother  of  children.  Lo,  children 
 *■'  are  an  heritage  of  Jehovah;'*  an  heritage  which 
 he  befcows  on  thofe  who  fear  him;  "  the  fruit  of  the 
 *'  womb  is  a  reward"  conferred  by  him,  where  he 
 fees  it  will  be  a  blefling  indeed,  upon  faithful  and 
 pious  parents.  St.  Paul  calls  the  converts  made  by 
 his  miniftry,  his  "  children;"  and  all  believers  are 
 the  Children  of  Chrill,  the  "  heritage"  given  him  by 
 his  Father,  the  "  reward"  of  his  righteous  life,  and 
 meritorious  death;  as  it  is  written,  **  I  will  give  thee 
 *'  the  heathen  for  thine  inheritance.  He  fliall  fee  of 
 "  the  travail  of  his  foul,  and  fliall  be  fatisfied."  Pf. 
 ii.  8.     Ifai.  liii.  1 1. 
 
 4.  Js  arrozvs  Sire,  in  the  hand  of  a  mighty  man:  fo 
 are  children  of  the  youth. 
 
 Children,  when  well  educated,  are  like  fo  many 
 «'  arrows  in  the  hand  of  a  ftrong  man;"  ready  wing- 
 ed with  duty  and  love,  to  fly  to  the  mark;  polifhed 
 and  keen,  to  grace  and  maintain  the  caufe  of  their 
 parents,  to  defend  them  from  hoftile  invafions,  and 
 inftantly  to  repel  every  affailant.  The  Apoflles  and 
 firft  Chriftians  were  arrows  in  the  hand  of  Mefiiah, 
 with  which  he  encountered  his  enemies,  and  fubdued 
 
 the 
 
Day  27.  E.'v.        ON  the  PSALMS,  431, 
 
 the  nations  to  the  faith.  When  by  the  fplendor  of 
 their  fandlity,  the  power  of  their  miracle-;,  and  the 
 efficacy  of  their  preaching,  they  pierced  the  hearts  of 
 thoufands  and  ten  thoufands,  what  were  they  but 
 "  arrows  in  the  hand  of  n3:i  the  Mighty  One  ?"  And 
 in  this  inftance  likevvife  it  may  truly  be  faid,  that  no 
 well  nurtured  fon  of  Chrift  and  the  Church  will  hear 
 his  father  dillionoured,  or  defpife  his  Mother  when 
 flie  is  old. 
 
 5.  Happy  is  i/ie  man  that  hath,  his  quiver  full  of 
 them  :  they  Jliall  not  he  afliamed^  but  thty  Jhallfpcak 
 with  the  enemies  in  the  gate. 
 
 In  a  houfe  full  of  dutiful  children  confifteth  the 
 happinefsof  their  parents,  who  then  can  never  want 
 friends,  friends,  that  will  at  no  time  be  "  alhamed," 
 but  will  at  all  times  rejoice,  to  appear  for  them,  to 
 meet  their  "  enemies"  and  accufers  "  in  the  gate,", 
 or  place  of  judgment*  ;  there  to  anfwer  any  charge 
 againll  them,  to  vindicate  them  in  their  perfons,  their 
 g-ood  name,  or  their  property.  It  is  a  glorious  fight 
 to  behold  children  thus  (landing  forth  in  the  defence 
 of  their  parents.  In  the  multitude  of  true  believers 
 confift  the  glory  of  Chrift,  and  the  riches  of  the 
 church.  How  forward  were  the  priniiiive  ChriRians 
 to  meet  the  enemies  of  thefe  their  fpiritual  parents 
 "  in  the  gate;"  how  re'ady,  in  their  caufe,  to  fpeak 
 openly,  and,  having  witnefled  a  good  confeffion,  to 
 
 *  Mr.  Merrick  obferves,  that  the  gate  was  fometimes  the  feat 
 of  war,  as  well  as  the  place  of  judicature.  "  Then  was  war  ia 
 *'  the  gates."  Judges  v.  8.  He  mentions  a  remarkable  Chinefe 
 {Jroverb  :  "  When  a  fon  is  born  into  a  family,  a  bow  aad  arrow 
 "  arc  hung  before  the  gate." 
 
 die 
 
43a  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  12I 
 
 die  by  the  hand  of  the  executioner!  Therefore  fhall 
 they  not  be  aOiamed  at  the  judgment  of  the  laft  day, 
 but  fliall  then  ftand  with  great  boldnefs  before  the 
 face  of  fuch  as  have  afflicted,  perfecuted,  and  tor- 
 mented them.  For  their  heavenly  Father  will  then 
 be  their  Judge,  and  will  own,  in  his  turn,  the  caufc 
 of  his  dutiful  children,  who  for  his  fake  endured  tri- 
 bulation, and  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the  death. 
 Confufion  (hall  overwhelm  the  accufer  of  the  bre- 
 thren, with  all  the  inftruments  of  his  malice;  but 
 glory,  honour,  and  immortality  {haU  be  given  to  the 
 cliildren  of  God. 
 
 PSALM     CXXVIIL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm  containeth  a  proinife  made  to  him 
 who  1.  feared  Jehovah,  and  walked  in  his 
 ways,  that  he  fliould  be  bleffed  2.  in  his  per- 
 fon,  and  3,  4.  in  his  family,  and  that  he 
 IhoLild  fee  the  good  of  Jerufalem.  The  Pfalm 
 was,  probably,  fung  at  the  marriages  of  the 
 Ifraelites,  as  it  is  now  a  part  of  the  matri- 
 monial fervice  among  us.  In  it's  prophetical 
 and  exalted  fenfe,  it  hath  refpecl  to  the  per- 
 fon,  marriage,  family,  and  city  of  Mefsiah. 
 
 I.  Bleffed  is  everyone  thatfeareth  the  Lord: 
 that  walketh  in  his  ways. 
 
 Happinefs  belongeth  not  to  the  rich,  the  powerfut- 
 and  the  profperous,  as  fuch;   but  in  every  ftate  and 
 
 con- 
 
Day27.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  433 
 
 condition,  blefled  is  the  man  that  "  feareth  Jehovah,*' 
 that  fo  feareth  him  as  to  obey  him,  and  to  "  walk  in 
 "  his  ways,"  notwithftanding  all  the  obftrudions  he 
 may  meet  with  from  the  world,  the  flefli,  and  the 
 devil.  BlelTed  above  all  the  fons  of  men,  and  the 
 author  of  bleffing  to  them  all,  was  the  man  Chrift 
 Jefus,  becaufe  above  them  all,  and  for  them  all,  he 
 feared,  he  loved,  and  he  obeyed. 
 
 2.  For  thou  JJialt  eat  the  labour  of  thine  hands : 
 happy  fhalt  thou  be,  and  it  fliall  be  well  with  thee. 
 
 The  perfon  is  here  beautifully  changed,  and  to  the 
 man  who  feareth  Jehovah  is  addrelTed  an  enumera- 
 tion of  thofe  bleffings  which  fhall  attend  him.  He 
 is  to  "  eat  the  labour  of  his  hands,"  that  is,  the  fruit, 
 or  returns  of  his  labours.  Hereby  it  is  implied,  that 
 he  is  not  to  be  idle,  but  to  "  labour,"  that  he  may- 
 eat  i  that  he  is  not  to  be  niggardly,  but  to  "  eat," 
 when  he  has  laboured  j  that  he  is  neither  to  be  ua- 
 juft,  by  living  upon  the  labours,  nor  enilaved,  by 
 depending  upon  the  bounty  of  others,  but  to  eat  of 
 "  his  own"  labours;  and  that  he,  whofe  labours  pro- 
 cure him  a  fuftenance,  hath  enough  to  be  "  blefled" 
 and  happy.  "  Happy  fhalt  thou  be,  and  it  fhall  be 
 "  well  with  thee:"  every  thing  fliall  happen,  which 
 God  feeth  to  be  befl  for  thee  in  this  life,  and  (as  faith 
 the  Chaldee  Paraphraft  on  the  place)  "  it  fhall  be 
 "  good  to  thee  in  the  world  to  come."  The  glory 
 of  Chrift,  and  the  falvation  of  mankind,  were  the 
 fruits  of  his  adions  and  his  fufFerings  in  the  days  of 
 his  flelh;  fo  that,  in  the  enjoyment  of  them,  he  doth 
 no  more  than  *'  eat  of  the  labours  of  his  hands;"  or, 
 to  ufe  the  words  of  Ifaiah,  "  he  feelji  of  the  travail 
 
 Vol.  II.  Ec  **  of 
 
434  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  128 
 
 "  of  his  foul,  and  is  fitisfied."  Before  he  went  hence, 
 he  took  comfort  in  the  reflexion,  "  I  have  glorified 
 **  thee  on  the  earth,  I  have  finidied  the  work  which 
 **  thou  gaveft  me  to  do."  John  xvii.  4.  Happy 
 (lialt  thou  be,  O  Chriftian,  and  it  fhall  be  well  with 
 thee,  if  at  thy  latter  end  thou  (halt  be  able  to  draw 
 comfort  from  the  fame  confideration. 
 
 3.  Thy  wife  fliail  be  as  a  fruitful  vine  by  the  fides 
 of  thine  houfe :  thy  children  like  olive  plants  round 
 about  thy  table. 
 
 Marriage  was  ordained  by  God  to  complete  the 
 felicity  of  man  in  a  ftate  of  innocence;  and  the  bene- 
 diction of  heaven  will  ever  defcend  upon  it,  when  un- 
 dertaken in  "  the  fear  of  the  Lord."  The  vine,  a  lowly 
 plant,  raifed  with  tender  care,  becoming,  by  it's  luxu- 
 riancy,  it's  beauty,  it's  fragrance,  and  it*s  clufters, 
 the  ornament  and  glory  of  the  houfe  to  which  it  is 
 joined,  and  by  which  it  is  fupported,  forms  the  fineft 
 imaginable  emblem  of  a  fair,  virtuous,  and  fruitful 
 wife.  The  olive  trees  planted  by  the  inhabitants  of 
 the  eaftern  countries  around  their  tables,  or  banquet- 
 ing places  in  their  gardens*,  to  cheer  the  eye  by 
 their  verdure,  and  to  refrefli  the  body  by  their  cool- 
 ing fhade,  do  no  lefs  aptly  and  fignificantly  fet  forth 
 
 *  This  is  Bifhop  Patrick's  idea.  The  learned  and  ingenious 
 Mr.  Harmer,  in  his  very  valuable  "  Obfervations  on  divers  Paf- 
 "  fages  of  Scripture,"  (Vol.1,  p.  197,  2d  edit.)  difapproves  of 
 it :  as,  he  fays,  **  we  find  no  fuch  arbours  in  the  Levant,  nor  is 
 *'  the  tree  very  proper  for  the  purpofe."  He  thinks  therefore  the 
 *'  table"  refers  to  the  "  children"  only,  and  not  to  the  "  olives."' 
 But  Mr.  Merrick,  in  his  Annotations,  produces  fome  very  good 
 arguments  on  the  fide  of  Eiiliop  Patrick. 
 
 the 
 
Day  27.  E.  p.        ON  TUE  PSALMS.  435 
 
 the  pleafure  which  patents  feel,  at  the  fight  of  a  nu- 
 merous and  flouriQiing  offspring.  As  marriage  was 
 from  the  beginning  intended  to  reprefent  the  myfli- 
 cal  union  between  Chrift  and  his  church,  which 
 union  is  fpoken  of  in  matrimonial  language,  through 
 the  Scriptures  both  of  the  Old  and  New  Teflament, 
 we  need  but  extend  our  view,  to  behold,  under  the 
 imagery  of  the  vine  and  the  olive  plants,  the  prolific 
 Spoufe  of  Mefliah,  and  the  Children  of  Peace  af- 
 fembled  round  the  Table  of  their  heavenly  Father. 
 See  Pf.  Ixxx.  8.  Rom.  xi.  17. 
 
 4.  Behold,  that  thus  JJiall  the  man  he  hleffed  thai 
 feareth  the  Lord. 
 
 Are  temporal  bleflings,  then,  the  reward  of  piety? 
 They  are  not  it's  only,  or  chief  reward,  but  arc  often 
 **  added,"  even  under  the  new  difpenfation,  to  thofe 
 who  "  firft  feek  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  his  righte- 
 *'  oufnefs."  When  they  are  withholden^  or  with- 
 drawn, it  is  for  the  fecurity  or  incfeafe  of  thofe  more 
 valuable  bleflings  which  are  fpiritual.  There  are 
 times,  when  father,  mother,  brethren,  fifters,  wife, 
 children,  and  lands  muft  be  given  up  for  Chrift's 
 and  the  gofpel's  fake.  But  ample  amends  arc  pro- 
 mifed  to  be  made  to  all  who  thus  part  with  earthly 
 relations  and  pofTeflions.  They  find  in  the  church 
 other  fathers,  mothers,  brethren,  lifters,  children,  &c, 
 and  at  the  refurreftion  they  will  **  inherit  all  things,'* 
 Rev.  xxi.  7.  and  brighter  coronets  of  glory  fhall 
 fparkle  from  their  heads.  The  Scriptures  fliew  us 
 the  fervants  of  God  in  every  ftate  and  condition  j  we 
 view  them  rich  and  poor,  honoured  and  defpifed,  fick 
 and  in  health,  married  and  fingle,  childlefs  and  other- 
 E  e  a  wife. 
 
436  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  128. 
 
 wife,  in  profperlty  and  in  adverfity;  to  teach  us,  that 
 all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  who  love 
 God;  fo  that  the  believer  hath  comfort  always.  If 
 temporal  bleffings  be  granted  him,  he  accepteth  them 
 as  fhadows  of  thofe  which  are  eternal;  if  they  are  de- 
 nied, he  remembereth  that  they  are  only  (hadows,  and 
 are  therefore  denied,  that  he  may  fix  his  thoughts  and 
 affedions  more  firmly  on  the  fubftance. 
 
 5.  The  Lord  JIuill  hlefs  thee  out  of  %ioni  and 
 thou  Jh:iU  fee  the  good  of  Jerufalem,  all  the  days  of 
 thy  life,  6.  Yea  thou  fJialt  fee  thy  diUdrens  chil- 
 dren  and  peace  upon  Ifrael. 
 
 Every  true  Ifraelite  rejoiceth  in  the  profperlty  of 
 Zion;  a  blefling  upon  the  church  diffufeth  itfelf  to 
 all  the  members  thereof;  and  the  good  of  Jerufalem, 
 with  peace  upon  Ifrael,  is  all  the  good  we  can  defire 
 to  fee  upon  earth.  Hereafter  we  (hall  fee  greater 
 things  than  thefe.  Jehovah  from  the  heavenly  Zion 
 will  blefs  us  with  the  vifion  of  his  immortal  glory; 
 we  fliall  fee  the  good  of  the  new  Jerufalem,  the 
 wealth,  beauty,  and  majefty  of  that  holy  city;  we 
 (hall  fee  the  generations  of  the  faithful  walking  in 
 the  light  of  it;  with  that  everlafting  peace  and  reft, 
 which  remain  for  the  Ifrael  of  God.  Thefe  are  the 
 bleiTmgs  promifed  to  Meffiah,  and  to  his  feed,  for 
 evermore. 
 
 PSALM 
 
Day  27.  E.  p.         ox  THE  PSALMS.  437 
 
 PSALM    CXXIX. 
 A    R    G    U    M.  E    N    T. 
 
 In  the  former  part  of  this  Pfahn,  1—4,  the 
 church  declareth  herfelf  to  have  been  often 
 alfailed  and  perfccuted  by  her  enemies,  but  as 
 often  refcucd  and  prcferved  by  Jehovali ;  in 
 the  latter  part  of  it,  5—8,  Ihe  prediaeth  the 
 miferable  end  of  all  thofe  who  hate  Zion. 
 
 I.  Many  a  time  have  they  afflicted  me  from  my 
 youth,  may  Ifro.el  now  fay  '-  1.  Many  a  time  have 
 they  afflicted  me  from  my  youth:  yet  they  have  not 
 prevailed  againfl  me. 
 
 Affliftion  is  nothing  new  to  the  people  of  God. 
 Many  a  time  have  the  righteous  been  under  perfecu- 
 tion,  from  the  hour  when  Cain  rofe  up  againft  his 
 brother  Abel,  to  this  day.  Like  the  bulh  which 
 Mofes  beheld  in  the  defert,  the  church  hath  "  burn- 
 *'  ed  with  fire,"  but  is  not  yet  "  confumedi"  and  for 
 the  fame  reafon,  becaufe  God  is  in  the  midft  of  her*. 
 He  who  took  our  nature  upon  him,  was  alfo  *'  af- 
 "  flifted  from  his  youth,"  but  his  enemies  "  prevail- 
 "  ed  not  finally  againft  him."  And  it  is  obfervable, 
 that  what  God  fpake,  by  his  prophet  Hofea,  con- 
 
 *  Ecclefia  jam  inde  ab  initio  in  Abel,  in  Enoch,  in  Noe,  in 
 Abraham,  in  Lot,  in  ^gyptiaca  fervitute,  in  Moyfc,  et  i  rophetis, 
 graves  perpeffa  inimicos;  dicit  ilia  quidem  faspe  a  juventute 
 fe  fuiffe  oppugnatam  ;  nihilo  tamen  fecius  pervenifle  ad  fenec- 
 tutem,  ac  ne  in  fenedltute  quidem  oppiimi  poffe.  Vi<5lus  enim 
 qui  fsviebat,  vicit  qui  fufFerebat.     Bossuet. 
 
 E  e  3  cerning 
 
438  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  529. 
 
 cerning  Ifrael,  "  When  Ifrael  was  a  child,  then  I 
 "  loved  him,  and  called  my  Ton  out  of  Egypt,"  i§ 
 by  St.  Matthew  applied  to  Chrift;  "  Jofeph  took 
 "  the  young  child  and  his  mother,  by  night,  and  de- 
 ^'  parted  into  Egypt,  and  was  there  until  the  death 
 "  of  Herod:  that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was 
 "  fpoken  by  the  prophet,  Out  of  Egypt  have  I  called 
 "  my  fon."  Mat.  ii.  14.  Hof  xi.  i.  The  truth  is, 
 that  there  fubfifted  between  Chrift  and  the  church 
 an  union  like  that  between  the  head  and  the  members 
 of  the  lame  body;  they  are  therefore  called  by  the 
 fame  name,  Israel,  and  what  is  faid  concerning 
 one,  frequently  admitteth  of  an  application  to  the 
 other.  He  became  like  us  by  taking  our  nature, 
 and  we  become  like  him  by  receiving  his  grace.  Our 
 fufFerings  are  accounted  as  his;  and  his  righteoufnefs 
 fpoken  of  as  ours. 
 
 3.  The ploiuers  plowed  upon  my  back:  they  made 
 long  their  fit rrocvs.  4.  The  "Lo^T)  is  righteous:  he 
 hath  cut  a/under  the  cords  of  the  zvicked. 
 
 The  former  of  thefe  two  verfes  expreffeth  a  ftate 
 of  great  affliftion,  the  latter,  a  deliverance  from  that 
 flate.  The  word  tnn  v/hich  figniiies  to  dig,  or  cut 
 the  ground,  and  fo,  to  plow,  is  alfo  ufed  fimply  for 
 cutting,  carving,  or  graving;  See  Exod.  xxxv.  23- 
 Jer.  xvii.  i.  Being  here  applied  to  the  back  of  cap- 
 tives, and  cords  having  been  the  inftruments  of  it, 
 in  all  reafon  it  is  to  be  underftood  of  fcourging, 
 which  cuts,  and,  as  it  were,  digs,  and  plows,  and 
 makes  furrows  in  the  fleOi;  and  the  longer  the  cords 
 c)S  the  fcourges  are,  the  longer  are  the  wounds  and 
 furrows.     For  our  fakes  he  who  knew  no  fm  "  gave 
 
 «*  his 
 
Day  27.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  439 
 
 "  his  back  to  the  fmiters,"  Ifai.  1.  6.  and  permitted 
 thofe  "  plowers  to  make  long  their  furrows  upon  it/* 
 But  "  the  righteous  Lord  cut  afunder  the  cords  of 
 "  the  wicked  j'*  vengeance  overtook  the  wretched  in» 
 flruments  of  his  fufferings;  and  the  perfecutors  of 
 his  fervants  Ihall  perilh  inHke  manner,  as  the  Pfalmift 
 proceedeth  to  affure  us  in  the  verfes  following. 
 
 5.  Let  them  ally  or,  tliey  allJJiall  be  confounded 
 and  turned  back  that  hate  Zion. 
 
 Since  the  ways  of  God  are  equal,  the  de{lru(5lion 
 which  hath  lighted  on  former  perfecutors  of  the 
 church  afFordeth  an  affurance,  that  all,  in  every  age, 
 who  hate  Zion,  lliall,  at  the  day  of  final  retribution, 
 if  not  before  that  day,  feel  the  weight  of  his  arm, 
 who  is  the  Saviour,  the  King,  and  the  God  of  Zion. 
 
 6.  Let  them,  or,  they  (hall  be  as  the  grafs  upon  the 
 houfe  tops,  xvhich  zvithereth  afore  it  groweth  tip ; 
 Heb.  is  pulled  up* ,  7.  Wherewith  the  viower  Jilleth 
 not  his  hand:  nor  he  that  bindeth  Jlieaves  his  bofom. 
 8.  Neither  do  they  zvhich  go  by  fay ,  The  blejfmg  of 
 the  Lord  be  upon  you:  we  bleCs  you  in  the  name  of 
 the  Loud. 
 
 The  tranfient  profperity  of  mortal  man  is  often  in 
 facred  writ  compared  to  grafs,  the  hiftory  of  which 
 is  contained  in  thefe  few  words,  It  comet h  up,  an4 
 is  cut  down.  But  here  the  comparifon  is  carried  ftill 
 farther.  Not  the  common  grafs  in  the  field,  but 
 "  grafs  growing  on  the  houfe  tops"  is  feleded  to  con- 
 vey the  idea  of  bad  men;  grafs,  which  having  no 
 depth  of  earth,  into  which  it  may  flrike  it's  roots, 
 
 *  Mr.  Harmer  takes  the  idea  of  the  Pfalmift  to  be,  "  Wkich 
 "  withereth  before  it  unfheaths  it's  ear."    Obferv.  1 1 .  463. 
 
 E  e  4  doth 
 
440  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  ijo, 
 
 doth  not  await  the  hand  of  the  gatherer,  but  *'  wl- 
 •*  thereth"  even  "  before  it  is  plucked  up."  And 
 then,  fo  thin,  fo  wretched,  and  fo  unprofitable  is  the 
 crop,  that  none  are  employed  to  colled  and  carry  it 
 inj  none  to  whom  paflengers  might  addrefs  thofe 
 acclamations  and  falutations,  cuftomary  at  fuch  times, 
 as  "  The  Lord  be  with  5^ou,  blefs  you,"  &c.  Ruth 
 ii.  4.  Thus,  while  the  felicity  of  Zion's  children  is 
 rooted  and  grounded  in  Chrift,  that  of  her  enemies 
 hath  no  foundation  at  all.  While  the  church  fub- 
 fiflcth  from  generation  to  generation,  the  kingdom^ 
 and  empires,  that  have  perfecuted  her,  fade  and  wither 
 away  of  themfelves.  And  at  the  general  harveft  of 
 the  world,  when  the  righteous  fliall  be  carried  by  an- 
 gels, with  joyful  acclamations,  into  the  manfions 
 prepared  for  them  above,  the  wicked,  unregarded  by 
 the  heavenly  reapers,  and  unbleffed  by  all,  Ihall  be- 
 come fuel  for  a  fire,  thatgoeth  not  out;  refembling, 
 in  this  their  fad  end,  likewife,  that  worthlefs  grafs, 
 f*  which  to-day  is,  and  to-morrow  is  caft  into  the 
 f*  oven," 
 
 PSALM  CXXX. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  is  the  fixth  of  thofe  which  are  flylcd  Pe- 
 nitential Pfalms.  It  is  calculated  for  the  ufe 
 of  the  church,  or  any  member  thereof ;  and 
 contaiir.th  1,  2.  a  complaint  of  great  diftrefs ; 
 3.  a  confefsion  of  man's  finfulnefs;  4 — 8. 
 an  a6l  of  faith  in  the  divine  mercy,  and  the 
 promifed  redemption, 
 
 I.  Out 
 
Day  27.  e.  p.         on  the  PSALMS.  441 
 
 I.  Out  of  the  depths  have  I  cried  unto  thee^  O 
 Lo'.D.  2.  Lord,  hear  my  voice:  let  thine  ears  be 
 attentive  to  the  voice  of  my  fupplications. 
 
 From  the  depths  of  fin,  and  the  mifery  occafioned 
 by  fin,  the  penitent,  like  another  Jonas,  intombed  in 
 the  whale's  belly,  and  furroiinded  by  all  the  waves 
 of  the  ocean,  criethunto  God  for  help  and  falvation. 
 Fervent  prayer  will  find  it's  way,  through  every  ob- 
 ftrudion,  to  the  ears  of  him  who  fitteth  upon  his 
 holy  hill.  And  may  not  the  bodies  of  the  faithful, 
 buried  in  the  duft,  be  faid  to  cry,  out  of  the  depths 
 of  the  grave,  for  a  joyful  refurredion,  according  to 
 the  pronufe  and  the  pattern  of  Chrift,  who,  after  three 
 days,  came  forth  from  the  heart  of  the  ear:h,  as  Jonas 
 did  from  the  belly  of  the  whale  ? 
 
 3.  If  thou.  Lord,  JJwuldeJt  mark  iniquities,  O 
 Lord,  who JliaUftand? 
 
 A  reafon  is  here  urged,  why  God  fliould  fpare  and 
 pardon  the  fuppliant,  namely,  becaufe  was  he  accu- 
 rately to  note  the  offences  of  th«  bed  men,  and  to 
 produce  them  in  judgment  againft  the  offenders,  no 
 man  could  ftand  in  that  judgment,  but  the  whole 
 race  of  Adam  mufl  continue  to  eternity  under  the 
 dominion  of  fm  and  death;  which  a  gracious  and 
 merciful  God  would  not  permit  to  be  the  cafe.  It  is 
 accordingly  declared  in  the  next  vtx{Q,  that  meafures 
 had  been  taken  to  prevent  fo  deplorable  a  cataftrophe. 
 
 4.  But  there  is  forgivenejs  with  thee,  that  th^ou 
 mayeft  he  feared. 
 
 True  repentance  is  founded  upon  the  fenfe  of  our 
 own  wretchednefs,  and  faith  in  the  divine  mercy. 
 Without  the  former,  we  (hould  never  feek  for  par- 
 
 cion 
 
442  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  130. 
 
 don  and  grace;  without  the  latter,  we  fhould  de- 
 fpair  of  finding  them.  The  Pfahnift,  therefore,  hav- 
 ing in  the  three  preceding  verfes,  expreffed  the  one, 
 now  maketh  profeffion  of  the  other.  *'  There  is  for- 
 "  givenefs  with  thee;"  thou  wilt  not  *'  mark  iniqui- 
 "  ties,"  or  leave  us  to  the  rigours  of  drift  juftice; 
 but  thou  haft  devifed  means  that  we  perifli  not  for 
 ever:  thou  haft  provided  an  atonement,  and  in  vir- 
 tue of  that  atonement,  the  (inner  may  obtain  pardon; 
 he  need  not,  therefore,  rejeft  thy  fervice,  and  caft 
 himfeif  away  in  defpair,  but  is  encouraged  to  ferve 
 thee  acceptably  through  faith,  with  godly  fear; 
 "  there  is  forgivenefs  with  thee,  that  thou  mayeft  be 
 "  feared."  Or  the  meaning  may  be,  Thou  forgiveft 
 man,  that  fo,  being  reftored  to  thy  favour,  and  en- 
 dued with  thy  grace,  he  may  thenceforth  fear,  or 
 ferve  thee,  as  it  becomes  one,  who  hath  obtained 
 mercy,  to  do. 
 
 5.  I  wait  for  tkehoR-o,  7711/ foul  doth  xmity  andin 
 his  word  do  I  hope.  6.  My  foul  waiteth^br  the  Lord, 
 more  than  they  that  watch  J  or  the  morning-  1  fay, 
 more  than  they  that  zvatch  for  the  morning. 
 
 The  repetitions  here  do  beautifully  exprefs  that 
 ardent  dcfire  which  the  contrite  foul  hath  for  the  fal- 
 vation  of  God.  Dr.  Hammond  feemeth  to  have 
 given  the  true  conftruftion  of  ver.  6.  ^T\^  ^li/SJ  "  My 
 "  foul  to  the  Lord,  that  is,  rifeth,  cometh,  or  haften- 
 "  eth  to  the  Lord,  npa^  anDt:?D .  from  the  morning 
 "  watches,  that  is,  from  the  time  when  they  haften 
 "  to  their  watches,  in  other  words,  the  guards  every 
 "  morning  that  haften  to  their  watches,  are  not  earher 
 *'  than  I  am  in  my  daily  addrcfles  to  God.     Who 
 
 "  thefe 
 
Day  27.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  443 
 
 "  thefe  watchers  or  guards  of  the  morning  arc,  the 
 -  Chaldee  hath  beft  exprefled  :  They  that  obferve 
 f^  the  morning  watches,  that  they  may  offer  their 
 ,c  morning  oblation,  that  is,  the  priefts  which  in 
 "  their  turns  officiated;  or  rather,  iome  officers  ot 
 «'  theirs,  which  were  peculiarly  appointed  from  a 
 «  tower  to  expea  the  firft  appearance  of  break  of 
 "  day."  With  fuch  earneftnefs  did  the  ancient  church 
 expea  the  appearance  of  that  day  fpring  from  on 
 high,  which  was,  in  the  fulnefs  of  time,  to  vifit  the 
 world.  With  equal  earneftnefs  have  the  faithful  fince 
 looked  out  for  the  dawning  of  that  laft  morning, 
 which  is  to  abolilh  fin,  and  put  an  end  to  forrow. 
 
 7.  Let  Ifrael  hope  in  the  Lord: /or  zmth  the 
 Lord  there  is  mercy,  and  with  him  is  plenteous  re- 
 demption,  8.  And  he  Jhall  redeem  Ifrael  from  all 
 his  iniquities,  or  fins.  ^  nn,       1       u 
 
 Thefe  verfes  are  perfeftly  evangelical.    The  church 
 of  Ifrael  was  exhorted  to  "  hope"  in  Jehovah,  be- 
 caufe  with  him  there  was  «  mercy,  and  plenteous  re- 
 «  demption."  And  of  what  nature  was  that  redemp- 
 tion ?  A  redemption  from   fin;    "  he  (hall  redeem 
 ?*  Ifrael  from  all  his  sins  ;"  confequently,  from  all 
 trouble  and  mifery,  which  are  but  the  effeds  of  fin, 
 and  will  ceafe  when  their  caufe  (hall  be  finally  taken 
 away.     Now  what  is  this,  but  the  Gofpel  itfelf  ?  Or 
 where  is  the  difference  between  this  of  the  Pfalmift, 
 «  He  thall  redeem  Urael  from  all  his  fins,"  and  that 
 of  the  Evangelift,  -  Thou  (halt  call  his  name  Jesus, 
 ''  for  he  (hall  save  hts  people  from  their  sins 
 Matt.  i.  21.  The  Ifrael  of  God,  or  church  univerial, 
 «'  hoping"  in  the  fame  "  mercy"  and  the  fame  «  plen- 
 
 teous 
 
444  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  131. 
 
 "  teous  redemption,"  expedeth  the  full  accomplifli- 
 ment  of  this  gracious  promife,  at  the  fecond  advent 
 of  her  Saviour,  when  the  penalty  of  fin  (hall  be  taken 
 off,  and  death  be  fwallowed  up  in  victory. 
 
 PSALM    CXXXI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm  containeth  1,  2.  a  defcnption  of 
 true  humility,  and  refiguation  to  the  will 
 of  God,  with  3.  an  exhortation  to  the  prac- 
 tice thereof.  It  is,  moil  probably,  a  Pfalm 
 of  David,  and  is  eminently  applicable  to 
 Mefsiah,  in  his  (late  of  humiliation  on  earth. 
 Happy  would  it  be  for  the  world,  if  all  his 
 difciples  could  imbibe  the  fpirit  of  this  iliort 
 but  lovely  Pfalm,  and  copy  after  the  example 
 which  it  fetteth  before  them. 
 
 I.  Lord,  viy  heart  is  not  haughty,  nor  mine  eyes 
 lofty  *  neither  do  I  cxercife  myfelf  in  great  matters, 
 or  in  thiyigs  too  high  for  nie. 
 
 Pride  beginneth  in  the  "  heart,"  and  difcovereth 
 itfelf  in  the  "  eyes,"  the  countenance,  and  the  car- 
 riage i  thinking  nothing  "  too  high  for  it,"  it  is  al- 
 ways aiming  at  ftill  "  great  matters,"  fcheming  to 
 be  at  the  top  of  earthly  grandeur;  and  when  there, 
 reftlefs  becaufe  it  can  go  no  further.  Of  this  difpo- 
 fition  the  Son  of  David,  like  his  father  and  repre- 
 fentative  of  old,  was  by  his  enemies  affirmed  to  be; 
 
 he 
 
Day  27.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  445 
 
 he  was  accufed  of  affeding  the  fovereignty,  and  there- 
 fore hunted  and  perfecuted  even  to  the  death.  But 
 how  truly  do  thefe  words  of  the  Pfalmift  dehneate 
 his  real  charader !  He  was  not  "  haughty,"  but 
 "  meek  and  lowly  in  heart  ;*'  his  *'  eyes"  were  not 
 *'  lofty,"  but  kindly  regarded  the  meaneft  objed  that 
 prefented  itfelf  to  them  ;  he  looked  not  to  "  great 
 **  matters,"  and  "  high  things,"  but  chofe  to  be  and 
 to  be  efteemed  the  lead  and  loweft  of  all. 
 
 2.  Surely  I  ha-oe  behavedy  or^fubdued  and  quieted 
 myfelf,  as  a  child  that  is  zveaned  of  his  mother : 
 my  foul  is  even  as  a  weaned  child. 
 
 A  child  newly  weaned  mourneth  becaufe  of  the 
 favourite  aliment  which  is  withdrawn  from  him,  but 
 depending  abfolutely  on  the  mother  for  every  thing, 
 learneth  to  acquiefce  in  her  treatment  of  him,  and 
 quietly  to  accept  what  it  fhall  pleafe  her  to  give. 
 Such  was  the  humble  refignation  of  the  Lamb  of 
 God  to  the  will  of  his  heavenly  Father,  under  the 
 fevereft  difpenfations,  when  even  the  divine  prefence, 
 and  that  fupport  which  it  afforded,  feemed  to  have 
 been  withdrawn.  "  Father,  into  thy  hands  I  com- 
 "  mend  my  Spirit!"  Who  then  can  exped  to  enter 
 into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  "  except  he  be  convert- 
 "  ed,  and  become  as  a  little  child  ?"  Matt,  xviii.  3. 
 
 3.  Let  Ifrael  hope  in  the  IuOrd  from  henceforth 
 and  for  ever. 
 
 After  the  example,  therefore,  of  the  king  of  Ifrael, 
 who  thus  demeaned  himfelf  in  liis  afflidions,  lowly, 
 contented,  and  refigned,  calling  all  his  care  upon  the 
 Father  who  cared  for  him,  and  patiently  waitmg  his 
 time  for  deliverance  and  falvationi  after  this  their 
 3  exauiple 
 
446  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  132. 
 
 example  and  pattern,  let  his  faithful  people  hope 
 and  truft,  not  in  themfelves,  their  wifdom,  or  their 
 power,  but  in  Jehovah  alone,  who  will  not  fail  to 
 exalt  them,  as  he  hath  already  exalted  their  Redeemer, 
 if  they  do  but  follow  his  fteps. 
 
 XXVIII    DAY.    MORN^ING   PRAYER* 
 
 PSALM   CXXXII. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  is  one  of  the  proper  Pfalms,  whicli  the 
 church  hath  appointed  to  be  ufed  on  Chrift- 
 nias  day.  It  containeth  1 — 5.  a  petition 
 that  Jehovah  would  be  mindful  of  the  zeal 
 fhewn  by  his  fervant  David,  in  preparing  a 
 place  for  his  habitation ;  6.  the  exultation 
 of  the  faithful  upon  hearing  the  glad  tidings, 
 that  God  would  dwell  among  them;  and  7. 
 tlieir  refolution  to  vvorihip  at  the  place  which 
 he  had  chofen  for  that  purpofc ;  8 — 10.  ail 
 addrcfs  to  Jehovah,  ufed  by  Solomon  at  the 
 dedication  of  the  temple,  whence  fome  have 
 
 ,  thought  him  to  have  been  the  author  of  the 
 Pfahn;  11  — 18.  the  fubftance  of  God's  pro-* 
 mifes  made  to  David  and  to  liis  feed.  The 
 whole  Pfalm  is  peFtccfly  v/ell  adapted  to  the 
 feftival  of  the  incarnation,  as  tlie  follow- 
 ing comment  v/ill,  it  is  hoped,  abundantly 
 demoiiliratc. 
 
 I.  Lord, 
 
Day  28.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  447 
 
 1.  Lord,  remember  Davids  and  all  his  afflictions  : 
 
 Ifrael  befeecheth  Jehovah  to  be  mindful  of  thofe 
 forrows  and  fufferings,  which  had  been  undergone  by 
 his  fervant  David,  ere  he  attained  to  the  tlirone,  and 
 eftabliflied  the  ancient  church  in  the  beauty  of  holi- 
 nefs.  That  God  would  "  remember"  the  far  greater 
 "  afflidions"  fuftained  for  our  fake  by  Meffiah  in 
 the  days  of  his  humihation,  when  through  much 
 tribulation  he  accomplifhed  our  redemption,  and  en- 
 tered in  his  glory,  is  the  petition  preferred,  in  thefe 
 words,  by  us  Chriflians. 
 
 2.  How  he /ware  unto  the  Lord,  and  vowed  unto 
 the  mighty  God  of  Jacob  j  3.  Surely  I  will  not  come 
 into  the  tabernacle  of  my  houfe^  nor  go  up  info  my 
 bed ;  4.  /  zoill  not  givefleep  to  mine  eyeSy  ovjlimiber 
 to  mine  eye  lids ,  5.  Until  I  find  out  a  place  for  the 
 Lord,  an  habitation  for  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob, 
 
 In  all  circumftances  and  fituations,  David  was  fe- 
 licitous for  the  tabernacle  and  fervice  of  God.  Of 
 the  oath  and  vow  here  mentioned  we  have,  indeed, 
 no  account  in  the  facred  hiilory;  but  we  read,  2  Sam. 
 vii.  2.  of  the  uneafinefs  which  heexprefled  to  Nathan 
 the  prophet,  at  the  thought  of  his  dwelling  in  a  palace 
 of  cedar,  while  the  ark  of  God  dwelt  only  within 
 the  curtains  of  a  tent.  Nay,  we  find  by  i  Chron. 
 xvi.  43.  that  he  did  not  blefs,  and  confequently,  did 
 not  inhabit  his  own  houfe,  until  he  had  brought  the 
 ark  to  Zion,  where  the  temple  was  afterwards  ered- 
 ed.  He  could  take  neither  pleafure  nor  reft,  until  a 
 place  was  prepared  for  the  refidence  of  Jehovah  in 
 the  midft  of  his  people;  and  from  thenceforth  be  gave 
 himfelf,  with  unwearied  diligence,  to  lay  in  a  plen- 
 tiful 
 
448  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  132. 
 
 tiful  {lore  of  the  moft  coflly  materials,  filver,  gold, 
 and  precious  ftoncs,  which  were  employed  by  his  Ton 
 and  fucceffor  SoloQion,  in  conftruding  the  magnifi- 
 cent and  myftlc  edifice.  Thus,  in  the  covenant  of 
 grace,  did  the  Son  of  God  engage  not  to  take  poffef- 
 fion  of  his  heavenly  palace,  nor  to  enter  into  his 
 eternal  reft,  until  he  had  prepared  upon  the  earth  a 
 place  for  the  refidence  of  the  Lord ;  a  building  fram- 
 ed of  materials  m^ore  precious  than  gold  and  filver, 
 more  bright  and  beautiful  than  rubies,  emeralds,  and 
 diamonds.  All  this  was  planned  and  executed  by  one 
 and  the  fame  perfon,  who  firfl;  fuffered  in  meeknefs 
 and  patience  like  David,  then  reigned  in  glory  and 
 peace,  like  Solomon.  The  believer  fhould  fpare  no 
 pains,  no  time,  no  thought,  to  find  out  and  prepare 
 in  his  heart  an  habitation  for  the  God  of  Jacob,  fince 
 our  Lord  hath  gracioufly  vouchfafed  to  make  this 
 general  promife  to  us  all,  "  If  a  man  love  me,  my 
 "  Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him, 
 *'  and  make  our  abode  with  him."     John  xiv.   23. 
 
 6.  Loy  we  heard  of  it  at  Ephi^atah  '  we  found  it 
 in  the  ^fields  of  the  wood. 
 
 In  other  words,  as  Bifiiop  Patrick  hath  paraphrafed 
 this  verfe,  "  And  now,  behold,  the  Lord  himfelf,  to 
 **  our  great  joy,  hath  told  us  the  very  place  where 
 "  he  will  fix  his  habitation,  i  Chron.  xxi.  18.  26.  in 
 "  the  territory  of  Bethlehem  Ephrata  *,  Gen.  xxxv. 
 "   13,  19.  in  the  fields  of  that  foreft,  where  the  angel 
 
 *  Jerufalem,  as  Mr.  Merrick  obferves  frem  Geierus,  being 
 fituated  not  far  from  Bethlehem,  might  be  comprehended  in 
 the  »egion  of  Ephrata;  or  nmDt^a  may  be  rendered  "  near 
 "  Ephrata.'* 
 
 «  flood. 
 
1)-AY  28.  M".  P.  ON  THE  PSALMS,  449 
 
 "  flood  and  direifted  David  to  build  an  altar  to 
 "  the  Lord."  i  Chron.  xxi.  18.  xxii.  i.  Bethlehem 
 Ephratah  was  the  city  of  David  ;  it  was  likewife  the 
 city  wherein  the  Son  of  David  was  born,  as  the  pro  - 
 phet  M;cah  had  foretold.  "  And  thou  Bethlehem 
 **  in  tlie  land  of  Judah^  art  not  the  leaft  among  the 
 "  cities  of  Judah,  for  out  of  thee  (hall  eoiiie  a  Go- 
 "  vernor,  that  fliall  rule  rhy  people  Ifrael."  Micah 
 V.  2.  cited  by  the  chief  priefts  and  fcribes  to  Herod, 
 Matt.  ii.  6.  Chtiftians,  as  well  as  Jews,  may  there- 
 fore fay,  and  upon  the  feftival  of  Chrift's  nativity, 
 uQng  this  Pfalmj  they  do  fay,  "  Lo,  we  heard  of  it 
 "  at  Ephratah  ;"  for  there  the  angel  firft  proclaimed 
 the  news  of  the  incarnation  to  the  fliepherds  :  "  Be* 
 "  hold,  I  bring  you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which 
 "  (hall  be  to  all  people ;  for  unto  you  is  born  this 
 *'  day,  in  the  city  of  David,  a  Saviour,  which  is 
 **  Chrift,  the  Lord."  Luke  ii.  10.  there  was "  found" 
 the  true  tabernacle  and  temple  "  not  made  with 
 *'  hands,  the  place  for  Jehovah,  the  habitation  for 
 "  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob." 
 
 7.  fFe  will  go  into  his  tabernacles  •  we  zvill  wor* 
 flip  at  his  footJtooL 
 
 If  this  were  the  refolution  of  Ifraclites,  who  faw  the 
 incarnation  only  in  type  and  figure,  how  much  more 
 ought  it  to  be  ours,  who  live  fince  the  accomplifh- 
 ment  of  that  which  was  forefhewn ;  fince  the  Word, 
 made  fiefh,  hath  dwelt  upon  the  earth,  and  the  church 
 hath  been  erefled  among  the  nations  ?  If  they  wor- 
 fhipped  the  God  of  Ifrael,  who  then  dwelt  in  the 
 holy  of  holies  between  the  cherubim,  fhall  not  wc 
 worftiip  the  fame  divine  perfon,  who,  though  afcended 
 
 Vol.  II.  Ff  up 
 
45©  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  132. 
 
 up  on  high  above  all  heavens,  yet  hath  aflured  us, 
 that  where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  his 
 name,  there  is  he  in  the  midft  of  them  ? 
 
 8.  Arife^  O  Lord,  into  thy  reji,  tliouy  a?id  the 
 ark  of  thy  Jlrength. 
 
 When  the  ark  marched  before  the  children  of 
 Ifrael  to  find  out  a  refting  place,  it  is  recorded. 
 Numb.  X.  '^6.  that  Mofes  faid,  "  Rife  up,  Jehovah, 
 *'  and  let  thine  enemies  be  fcattered,  and  let  them 
 "  that  hate  thee,  flee  before  thee.  And  when  it  reft- 
 '*  ed,  he  faid,  Keturn,  or  Bring  back  the  many 
 "  thoufands  of  Ifrael."  The  verfe  before  us  was 
 ufed,  with  the  two  fucceeding  verfes,  by  Solomon,  as 
 the  conclufion  of  his  prayer  at  the  dedication  of  the 
 temple,  2  Chron.  vi.  41.  The  purport  of  the  peti- 
 tion, therefore,  was,  that  the  prefence  of  Jehovah 
 might  reft  upon  Zion,  and  dwell  in  the  houfe  pre- 
 pared for  it,  as  the  fame  prefence  hath  fince  dwelt 
 in  Chrift,  and  is  to  be  with  the  Chriftian  church  to 
 the  end  of  the  world. 
 
 9.  Let  thy  priejls  he  clothed  with  righteovfnefs ; 
 and  let  thy  faints  Jhout  for  joy. 
 
 The  ark  being  placed  in  the  temple,  prayer  is  next 
 made  for  the  minifters  of  religion,  that  they  might, 
 through  grace,  be  invefted  with  righteoufnefs  as  with 
 a  garment,  and  be  both  covered  and  adorned  with 
 a  robe  of  inviolable  fanftity ;  that  fpiritual  joy  might 
 fill  their  hearts,  and  break  forth  in  fongs  of  praife 
 to  the  Lord  God  of  Ifrael.  Let  not  thofe^  who 
 have  obtained  the  evangelical  priefthood,  be  ex- 
 ceeded, by  the  fons  of  Levi,  in  holinefs  and  ala- 
 crity. 
 
 io»  For 
 
t)AY28.  M.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  45I 
 
 10.  For  thy  fervant  David's  fake  turn  fiot  away 
 the  face  of  thine  anointed. 
 
 Solomon  befeecheth  God,  for  the  fake  of  his  fa- 
 vourite fervant  David,  and  the  promifes  made  to 
 him  and  his  feed,  that  he  would  not  deny  the  requcfl: 
 of  David's  fon,  nov/  "  anointed"  to  be  king  over 
 Ifrael,  and,  by  fo  doing,  confound,  put  him  to 
 (hame,  or  "  turn  away  his  face."  That  tlus  is  the 
 meaning  of  the  phrafe,  is  plain  from  i  Kings  ii.  16. 
 where  Adonijah  fays  to  Bathfheba,  "  And  now  I  afk 
 "  one  petition  of  thee,  deny  me  not ;"  in  the  He- 
 brew, "  turn  not  away  my  face."  A  Chriftian  afketh 
 nothing  but  in  the  name,  and  for  the  fake  of  the 
 Son  of  David,  Jefus  Chritt  our  Lord,  in  whom  all 
 the  promifes  are  yea  and  Amen,  and  in  whom  who- 
 foever  believeth  fliall  never  be  confounded,  or  denied 
 that  which  it  is  really  good  and  profitable  for  him  to 
 receive. 
 
 11.  The  Lord  hath  foam  in  truth  mito  David: 
 he  will  not  turn  from  it;  Of  the  fruit  of  thy  body 
 will  Ifet  upon  thy  throne. 
 
 That  this  is  a  prophecy  of  Meffiah,  we  have  the  aa* 
 thority  of  St.  Peter  to  fay ;  A6ts  ii.  30.  "  David, 
 "  being  a  prophet,  and  knowing  that  God  had  fwofn 
 "  with  an  oath  to  him,  that  of  the  fruit  of  his  loins, 
 **  according  to  the  flefh,  he  would  raife  up  Christ 
 "  to  fit  on  his  throne  ;"  &c.  This  promife  to  David 
 occurs,  2  Sam.  vii.  12.  and  hath  a  twofold  fenfe,  re- 
 lating to  Solomon  in  type  and  fhadow,  to  Chrift  in. 
 truth  and  fubftance.     See  more  on  Pf.  Ixxxix.  3,  4. 
 
 12.  If  thy  children  will  keep  wy  covenant  and  my 
 
 F  f  a  teflimony 
 
452  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  132. 
 
 tejlimony  thai  IJhall  teach  them,  their  childrenJJiall 
 a  If 0  Jit  upon  thy  throne  for  evermore. 
 
 The  promifes  of  God  to  Chrifl:  are  abfolute ;  but 
 to  his  "  children,"  as  well  as  thofe  of  David,  they 
 are  conditional,  fo  that  our  intereft  in  them  depend- 
 eth  on  our  faith,  our  obedience,  our  perfeverance. 
 "  Behold,"  faith  St.  Paul,  "  the  goodnefs  and  feve- 
 •'  rity  of  God :  on  them  which  fell,  feverity ;  but 
 '*  towards  thee,  goodnefs,  if  thou  continue  in  that 
 *'  goodnefs;  otherwife,  thou  alfo  fli alt  be  cut  off.** 
 Rom.  xi.  22. 
 
 13.  For  the  Lokd  hath  chofen  Zion  :  he  hath  de- 
 fired  it  for  his  habitation.  14.  This  is  ?ni/  reft  for 
 ever :  here  will  I  dwells  for  I  have  defred  it. 
 
 How  ineffable  is  the  love  of  God  to  man,  that  he 
 fhould  ufe  fuch  expreffions  as  thefe  concerning  his 
 church  !  He  is  pleafed  to  fay,  that  it  is  his  defire  to 
 dwell  with  us ;  yet  how  little  do  we  defire  to  dwell 
 with  him  !  In  Zion  he  fixed  his  abode,  and  there  con- 
 tinued, till  the  iniquities  of  Ifrael  provoked  him  to 
 forfake  his  holy  mountain,  and  to  give  up  Jerufalem 
 for  a  prey  to  the  fpoilers.  Since  that  time,  his  taber- 
 nacle has  been  removed  into  the  pofleffion  of  the 
 Gentiles.  Forfake  not  this  thy  new  Zion,  O  God, 
 and  deliver  not  us  thy  people,  in  like  manner,  Anful 
 as  we  are,  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  the 
 avenger. 
 
 15.  I  will  ahnndantly  blefs  herprovifion:  I  will 
 fatisfy  her  poor  zvith  bread.  16.  /  will  alfo  clothe 
 her  priefts  with  Jalvation :  and  her  faints  fiall  Jhoint 
 aloud  for  joy. 
 
 That  city,  in  which  the  King  of  heaven  deigns  to 
 
 place 
 
Day  28.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  45J 
 
 place  his  throne,  can  want  no  manner  of  thing  that 
 is  good.  There  will  be  always  plenty  of  provifion  for 
 the  body  and  for  the  foul.  The  poor  will  be  fatisfied 
 with  bread,  and  to  the  poor  in  fpirit  will  be  given 
 the  bread  of  eternal  life.  Salvation  will  God  ap- 
 point for  a  wall  and  a  bulwark  around  the  priefts 
 and  the  temple ;  joy  and  gladnefs  (hall  be  heard 
 within,  thankfgiving  and  the  voice  of  melody.  What 
 a  dreadful  reverfe  of  all  this  do  we  behold  in  the  pre- 
 lent  ftate  of  the  once  glorious,  but  now  defolated  Je- 
 rufalem  !  Let  not  any  Chriftian  church,  after  what 
 has  happened  to  that  city,  be  high  minded,  but  let  all 
 fear. 
 
 17.  There  xvilllmake  the  horn  of  David  to  bud: 
 J  have  ordained  a  lamp  for  ynine  anointed. 
 
 Bifhop  Patrick  hath  well  paraphrafed  this  verle. 
 "  There,  namely,  in  Jerufalem,  will  I  make  the  regal 
 "  power  and  majefty  of  David  to  put  forth  itfelf 
 **  afrefh  in  his  royal  fucceflbrs  :  no  fooner  (hall  one 
 **  be  extinguifhed,  but  another  (hall  (hine  in  fuch 
 **  (plendor,  as  (hall  give  a  luftre  to  the  name  of  that 
 "  anointed  fervant  of  mine,  till  the  great  prince,  the 
 **  Me(]iah,  appear  :'*  then  will  the  horn  of  falvation 
 be  raifed  up  in  the  houfe  of  David,  to  fubdue  the 
 empires  of  the  world,  and  to  vanquifh  all  oppofition  ; 
 then  (ha)l  the  Branch  of  Jehovah  bud  into  beauty 
 and  glory  upon  the  earth ;  then  (hall  the  lamp  of 
 Ifrael  become  a  fun  of  righteoufnefs,  burning  and 
 (hining  with  luftre  inextinguilhable,  to  all  eternity. 
 That  this  verfe  doth  myftically  refer  to  Chrift,  the 
 Jews  confefs,  as  Dr.  Hammond  has  obferved.  So 
 faith  R.  Saadiah,  "  The  Lamp  is  the  King,  which 
 F  f  3  "  illuminates 
 
454  A  COMMENTAPvY      Psal.  133. 
 
 "  illuminates  the  nations ;"  and  Kimchi,  "  The 
 «  Horn  of  David,  is  the  Meffias." 
 
 18.  His  enemies  xvill  1  clothe  with  Jliame '•  but 
 upon  himfelf  Jliall  his  crown  flourijk. 
 
 It  is  here  predicfled,  that  God  would  blaft  and 
 bring  to  nothing  every  defign  formed  to  deftroy  the 
 houfe  of  David,  until  King  Meffiah  fnould  arife  out 
 of  it,  to  fit  upon  the  throne  of  his  facher.  In  him 
 all  the  promifes  centre,  and  the  kingdom  is  eftablifl-ied 
 for  ever.  '^  His  enemies,"  who  will  not  have  him 
 to  reign  over  t^em,  fhall,  at  the  lafl:  day,  be  '*  clothed 
 **  with  fhame,"  and  evedafting  confufion  j  "  but 
 "  upon  himfelf  (hall  his  crown  flourifli,"  filling  hea- 
 ven and  earth  with  the  brightnefs  of  its  glory. 
 
 PSALM  CXXXIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  fliort  but  pleafing  Pfalm  was  compofed 
 either  to  reconnmend  unity  among  the  tribes 
 of  Ifrael,  or  to  celebrate  it  when  it  had  taken 
 place.  Biihop  Patrick  juftly  obfervcs,  that 
 *'  it  was  as  fitly  ufcd  by  the  firll  Chriftians, 
 **  to  exprefs  their  joy  for  the  bielFcd  union 
 "  of  Jews  and  Gentiles;  and  may  now  ferve 
 ^'  the  ufes  of  all  Chrillian  Societies,  whofc 
 ♦'  happinefs  lies  in  holy  peace  and  concord." 
 It  contameth  J.  a  rapturous  exclamation  on 
 the  comforts  and  advantages  of  union,  which 
 ^,  3,  are  illuibated   by  the    two   exquifite 
 
 fimilitudes 
 
If 
 
 Day  28.  M.  p.         ON  THi:  PSALMS.  455 
 
 fimilitudes  of  the  holy  anointing  Oil,  and  of 
 Dew. 
 
 I .  Behold,  how  good  and  how  pleafant  it  is,  for 
 brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity  ! 
 
 Many   things  are  good  which   are  not   pleafant; 
 and  many  pleafant,  which  are  not  good.     Bat  unity 
 among  brethren,  whether  civil  or  religious,  is  pro- 
 dudive  both  of  profit  and  pleafure.     Of  profit,  be- 
 caufe  therein  confifteth  the  welfare  and  fecurity  of 
 every  fociety;    of  pleafure,  becaufe  mutual    love  is 
 the  fource  of  delight,  and  the  happinefs  of  one  be- 
 comes, in  that  cafe,  the  happinefs  of  all.     It  is  unity 
 alone,  which  gives  beauty,  as  well  as  ftrength,  to 
 the  {late;   which   renders  the  church,  at  the  fame 
 time,  **  fair  as  the  moon,  and  terrible  as  an  army 
 <*  with  banners."     Cant.  vi.  10. 
 
 2.  It  is  like  the  precious  ointment  upon  the  head, 
 that  ran  down  upon  the  beard,  even  Aaron's  beard: 
 that  went  down  to  the  Jldrts  of  his  garments;  3.  As 
 the  dew  of  Hermon*,  and  as  the  dew  that  defcended 
 vpon  the  mountains  of  Zion :  for  there  the  Lord 
 commanded  the  blefing,  even  life  for  evermore. 
 
 "  Unity,  beginning  in  the  prince,  and  difFufed 
 "  through  the  people,  is  here  illufi:rated,"  faith  Doc- 
 tor Delany,  "  by  two  images,  the  moft  apt  and  beau- 
 
 •  Bifhop  LowTH  feemeth  fully  to  have  juftified  our  tranflators 
 in  fupplying  the  Ellipfis  as  they  have  done,  and  thereby  remov- 
 ing the  abfurdity  of  making  the  dew  of  Hermon,  a  mountain  on 
 one  fide  of  Jordan,  towards  the  eaftern  extremity  of  Canaan, 
 defcend  on  the  mountain  of  Zion,  which  was  fituated  on  the 
 other  fide  of  Jordan,  at  Jerufalem. 
 
 F  f  4  "  tiful 
 
456  A  COMMENTARY       PsAt.  133. 
 
 **  tiful  that  ever  were  iqiagined.  Kingdoms  are  con- 
 *'  fidered  as  bodies  politic,  of  which  the  king  is  the 
 "  head,  and  the  people,  in  their  feveral  ranks  and 
 *•  orders,  the  parts  and  members.  A  fpirit  of  union 
 "  beginning  upon  the  prince,  whofe  perfon  is  facred, 
 "  is  like  oil  poured  upon  the  head  of  Aaron,  which 
 'f  naturally  defpends,  and  fpreads  itfelf  over  all  the 
 **  parts  of  the  body,  and  diffufes  beauty  and  fra- 
 **  grance  over  the  whole,  reaching  even  to  the  /kirts 
 **  of  the  garment.  Oil  is,  without  queftion,  the  fined 
 **  emblem  of  union  that  ever  was  conceived.  It  is 
 **  a  fubftance  confiding  of  very  fmall  parts,  which 
 *^  yet,  by  their  mutual  adhefion,  conftitute  one  uni- 
 ♦*  form,  well  united,  and  ufeful  body.  The  facred 
 "  oil  carries  the  idea  and  the  advantage  of  union  yet 
 •'  farther  J  which  being  extraded  from  various  fpices, 
 '*  yet  made  up  one  well  cohering  and  more  valuable 
 *f  compound.  The  next  image  carries  the  exhorta- 
 "  tion  to  union,  and  the  advantages  of  it  ftill  higher. 
 ^'  Hermon  was  the  general  name  of  one  mountain, 
 **  comprehending  many  lelTer  and  lower  hills,  under 
 f*  the  furround  of  a  greater.  Union  in  any  nation  is 
 **  the  gift  of  God  J  and  therefore  unity  among  bre« 
 **  thren,  beginning  from  the  king,  is  like  the  dew  of 
 **  heaven,  which  falling  firfl  upon  the  higher  fummit 
 **  of  Hermon,  (refrefliing  and  enriching  wherever 
 "  it  falls,y  naturally  defcends  to  Zion,  a  lower;  and 
 "  thence  eyen  to  the  humble  valleys.  Zion  was  the 
 "  centre  of  union  to  all  the  tribes;  there  God  him- 
 **  felf  had  promifed  his  people  refi:,  and  peace  from 
 >?  their  enemies;  which,  however,  were  of  little  value 
 
 ^*  without 
 
Pat  28.  M.  P.        OH  THi  PSALMS.  457 
 
 "  without  union  and  harmony  among  themfelves.*** 
 Thus  far  this  learned  and  pious  author,  whofe  expla- 
 nation of  the  Pfaimift's  imagery,  as  de(criptive  of 
 civil  unity  in  the  (late,  is  fo  juft  and  elegant,  that  I 
 could  not  forbear  tranfcribing  the  paffage  at  length. 
 It  only  remains  to  be  added,  that  thefe  divine  pidures 
 receive  an  additional  beauty,  and  the  colouring  is 
 much  heightened,  by  their  being  viewed  in  another 
 light,  as  reprefentations  of  fpiritual  unity  in  the 
 church.  The  Spirit  of  heavenly  love  was  that  oil  of 
 ^ladnefs  which  Jehovah  poured  without  meafure  on 
 him  who  is  the  High  Prieft  and  Head  of  his  church. 
 Infinuating  and  healing,  comforting  and  exhilarating, 
 it  is  diffufed  from  him  over  his  body  myftical,  even 
 down  to  the  leaft  and  lowed  members;  "  of  his  ful- 
 "  nefs  have  we  all  received  i"  and,  as  it  is  faid  of 
 Mary's  box  of  fpikenard  in  the  Gofpel,  "  the  houle 
 ^*  is  filled  with  the  odour  of  the  ointment."  Nor  did 
 the  dew  of  heaven,  in  time  of  drought,  ever  prove 
 more  rcfrefliing  and  beneficial  to  the  mountains  of 
 Judah,  than  are  the  influences  of  grace,  when  def» 
 cending  in  foft  filence  from  above  upon  the  church; 
 in  the  union  and  communion  of  which,  God  hath 
 ^'  commanded  the  blefling,  even  life  for  evermore.'* 
 O  come  the  day,  when  divifion  fliall  ceafe,  and  en- 
 mity be  done  away;  when  the  tribes  of  the  fpiritual 
 Ifrael  (hall  be  united  in  a  bond  of  eternal  charity, 
 under  the  true  David,  in  the  Jerufalem  which  is 
 above;  and  faints  and  angels  ihall  fing  this  lovely 
 Pfalm  together! 
 
 •  Life  of  King  David,  Vol.  iii.  p.  204. 
 
 PSALM 
 
458  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  134. 
 
 PSALM    CXXXIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 AVith  this  Pfalm,  Chrlftians  in  the  church,  like 
 the  Levites  of  old  in  the  temple,  1,  2.  call 
 upon  each  other  to  blefs  God,  and  3.  upon 
 God  to  blefs  them  all. 
 
 1 .  Behold,  blefs  ye  the  Lo  rd,  all  y^fervmits  of  the 
 Lord,  which  by  night  f  and  in  the  hoiife  of  the  Lord. 
 2.  Lift  up  your  hands  in  the  fanctuary ^  and  blefs  the 
 Lord. 
 
 The  fir  ft  word  in  this  verfe,  "  Behold/'  feemeth 
 to  point  at  the  reafons  which  the  priefts  in  the  temple 
 had  to  blefs  Jehovah;  as  if  it  had  been  faid,  Behold, 
 the  houfe  of  God  is  built,  the  holy  fervices  are  ap- 
 pointed, and  the  Lord  hath  given  you  reft  from  your 
 enemies,  that  you  may  ferve  him  acceptably;  fet 
 about  it,  therefore,  with  gratitude  and  alacrity.  We 
 read,  1  Chron.  ix.  33.  that  the  Levitical  fingers  were 
 *'  employed  in  their  work,  day  and  night;"  to  the 
 end,  doubtlefs,  that  the  earthly  fanduary  might  bear 
 fome  refemblance  of  that  above,  where,  St.  John  tells 
 us,  the  redeemed  '*  are  before  the  throne  of  God,  and 
 "  ferve  him  day  and  night  in  his  temple."  Rev.  vii. 
 15,  Chriftians  are  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord,  re- 
 deemed from  the  guilt  and  dominion  of  fin,  delivered 
 out  of  the  hands  of  iheir  enemies,  the  world,  the 
 flefti,  and  the  devil,  that  they  mr.y  become  the  fer- 
 vants  of  Chrift.  He  hath  built  his  church,  and  in 
 3  it 
 
Day  28.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  459 
 
 it  he  wills  that  men  pray,  lifting  up  holy  hands,  and 
 that  they  offer  the  facrifices  of  thankfgiving.  "  Be- 
 "  hold,"  therefore,  "  blels  the  Lord  Jefus,  all  ye 
 "  fervants  of  his;"  blefs  him  in  the  cheerful  and 
 bufy  hours  of  day ;  blefs  him  in  the  folemn  and 
 peaceful  watches  of  the  night;  making  melody,  even 
 then,  in  your  hearts,  at  leaft,  if  not  with  your  voices. 
 The  pious  Mr.  Nicholas  Farrer  exhibited,  in  the  laft 
 century,  an  inftancc  of  a  proteftant  family,  in  which 
 a  conflant  courfe  of  pialmody  was  appointed,  and  fo 
 flriftly  kept  up,  that,  through  the  whole  fourand- 
 twenty  hours  of  day  and  night,  there  was  no  portion 
 of  time,  when  fome  of  the  members  were  not  employ- 
 ed in  performing  that  moft  pleafant  part  of  duty  and 
 devotion.  The  reader  may  fee  the  curious  life  of 
 this  extraordinary  perfon,  as  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Tur- 
 ner, Bilhop  of  Ely,  in  the  Chriftian  Magazine,  Vol, 
 ii.  p.  356. 
 
 3.  The  Lord  thai  made  heaven  and  earth  blefs 
 thee  out  of  Zion. 
 
 The  two  preceding  verfes,  as  Mr.  Mudge  obferves, 
 feem  direded  to  the  priefhs  of  the  temple,  by  fome 
 perfon,  probably  of  confequence,  come  up  to  pay 
 his  devotions.  This  third  verfe  is  therefore  returned, 
 as  from  the  priefts.  And  thus  it  is,  that  prayer  and 
 praife,  which  by  grace  are  caufed  to  afcend  from  our 
 hearts  to  God,  will  certainly  return  in  the  benedic- 
 tions of  heaven  upon  our  fouls  and  bodies,  our  per- 
 fons  and  our  families,  our  church  and  our  country; 
 lilcc  the  vapours,  which  exhaled  by  the  warmth  of 
 the  fun  from  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  mount  up- 
 wards into  the  air;  but  foon  fall  again  in  fruitful 
 
 (bowers. 
 
4^0  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  135. 
 
 fliowcrs,  caufing  the  little  hills  to  rejoice,  and  the 
 vallies  to  laugh  and  ling. 
 
 PSALM  CXXXV, 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In  thisPfalm,  1,  2.  the  fervants  of  Jehovah 
 are  exhorted  to  praife  him,  3.  on  account  of 
 his  goodnefs ;  of  the  pleafure  to  be  found  in 
 the  employment;  4.  of  his  peculiar  mercies 
 /liewn  to  Ifrael;  5.  of  his  infinite  fuperio- 
 rity  over  the  gods  of  the  nations,  manifelled 
 6y  7.  in  the  works  of  creation,  8 — 14.  in 
 his  dealings  with  the  church,  and  with  her 
 adverfaries,  15 — 18.  The  folly  of  idolatry, 
 and  of  thofe  who  practice  it,  is  defcribed  ; 
 and  19 — 21.  Ifrael  is  again  ftirred  up  to 
 praife  Jehovah. 
 
 I.  Praife  ye  the  Lord.  Praife  ye  the  name  of  the 
 Lord;  pra//<f  him,  O  ye  fervants  of  the  L.okt).  2.  Ye 
 thatfland  in  the  houfe  of  the  Lord,  in  the  courts  of 
 the  houfe  of  our  God,  3.  Praife  the  Lord;  for  the 
 Lord  is  good:  fug  praifts  unto  his  name:  for  it  is 
 pleafant. 
 
 All  the  fervants  of  God,  they,  more  efpecially, 
 who  minifter  in  the  temple,  are  repeatedly,  as  in  the 
 foregoing  Pfalm,  excited  to  praife  their  blefled  Maf- 
 ter.  Two  reafons  are  afligned  why  they  Ihould  do 
 this.   Firft,  the  goodncfo  of  that  matter,  and  fccond- 
 
Day  28.  M.  p.      ON  THE  PSALMS.  461 
 
 ly,  the  pleafantnefs  of  the  employment.  The  latter 
 of  thefe  reafons  hath  a  natural  and  necelTary  depen- 
 dance  on  the  former.  A  fenfe  of  the  divine  mercy- 
 will  tune  our  hearts  and  voices  to  praife.  We,  who 
 are  upon  earth,  often  find  ourfelves  indifpofed  for 
 the  duty  of  thankfgiving,  becaufe  the  concerns  of  the 
 body,  the  cares  and  pleafures  of  life,  extinguifli,  for 
 a  time,  this  fenfe  in  us,  until  grace,  prayer  and  me- 
 ditation render  it  again  lively  and  aftive.  In  ihe  in- 
 habitants of  heaven,  who  behold  God  without  the 
 veil  of  matter  interpofed,  it  is  always  foj  and,  there- 
 fore, they  reft  not  day  or  night  from  finging  halle- 
 lujahs, nor  ceafe  one  moment  to  rejoice  in  God  their 
 Saviour. 
 
 4.  For  the  Lord  hath  chofen  Jacob  unto  hirnfelfy 
 and  Ifradfor  his  peculiar  treafure.  5.  For  I  know 
 that  the  Lord  is  great,  and  that  our  Lord  is  above 
 all  gods. 
 
 A  third  reafon  why  the  children  of  Ifrael  fhould 
 praife  the  name  of  Jehovah  was  the  circumftance  of 
 their  having  been  fcleded  from  among  the  nations 
 to  be  his  church,  to  receive  the  law  and  the  pro- 
 mifes,  to  have  his  prefence  refiding  in  the  midft  of 
 them,  and  to  be  the  guardians  of  the  true  faith  and 
 worfliip.  And  a  fourth  reafon  was  the  fuperiority  of 
 Jehovah  their  God  over  the  gods  of  the  heathen,  and 
 confequently  over  thofe  who  worlhipped  them;  from 
 whence  followed  this  comfortable  inference,  that  he 
 was  able  to  proted  and  to  defend  his  people  againft 
 every  enemy  that  had  evil  will  at  Zion.  Shall  not  we 
 Chnftians,  then,  praife  the  fame  gracious  Lord,  who 
 hath  chofen  us  out  of  the  world,  who  hath   given 
 
 unto 
 
462  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  135. 
 
 unto  us  his  Gofpel,  who  dwelleth  in  us  by  his  Spirit, 
 and  who,  by  tliat  Spirit,  maketh  us  more  than  con- 
 querors over  our  fpiritual  adverfaries  ? 
 
 6.  Whaffoever  the  Lord  pleafed,  that  did  he  in 
 heaven,  mid  in  earth,  intliefeas,  and  all  deep  places. 
 
 The  pre-eminence  of  Jehovah  above  the  gods  of 
 the  nations  is  evinced  by  this  confideratlon,  that  he, 
 at  the  beginning,  created  and  formed  thofe  powers 
 of  nature,  whofe  operations  in  the  heavens,  the  earth, 
 and  the  waters,  led  the  heathen  wodd,  after  it  had  loft 
 the  knowledge  of  the  Creator,  to  adore  the  creature 
 as  independent.  Let  us  praife  him,  who,  in  the  in- 
 teiledlual,  as  in  the  material  world,  is  Lord  and 
 King;  who  is  obeyed  by  the  angels  in  heaven,  ferved 
 by  the  church  upon  earth,  and  feared  by  the  fpirits 
 imprifoned  in  deep  places  beneath. 
 
 7.  He  caufcth  the  vapours  to  afcendfrom  the  ejids 
 of  the  earth ;  he  maketh  lightnings  for  the  rain;  he 
 hringeth  the  wind  out  of  his  treafuries. 
 
 They  who  in  old  time  paid  their  devotions  to  the 
 elements,  imagined  thofe  elements  to  be  capable  of 
 giving  or  withholding  rain  at  pleafure.  Therefore 
 we  find  the  prophet  Jeremiah  reclaiming  that  power 
 to  Jehovah,  as  the  God  who  made  and  governed  the 
 world.  *'  Are  there  any  among  the  Vanities  of  the 
 **  Gentiles  that  can  cauferain?  or  can  the  Heavens 
 "  give  (bowers?  Art  not  thou  he,  O  Jehovah  our 
 *'  God?  Therefore  we  will  wait  upon  thee:  for  thou 
 *'  haft  made  all  thefe  things."  Jer.  xiv.  22.  Among 
 the  Greeks  and  Romans  we  meet  with  a  Jupiter  pof- 
 fefled  of  the  thunder  and  the  lightning,  and  an  Mo^ 
 lus  ruling  over  the  winds.     The  Pialtnift  teacheth  «s 
 
 to 
 
Day  28.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  463 
 
 to  reftore  the  celeftlal  artillery  to  it's  rightful  owner. 
 Jehovah,  the  God  of  Ifrael,  and  the  Creator  of  the 
 univerfe,  contrived  the  wonderful  machinery  of  light 
 and  air,  by  which  vapours  are  raifed  from  the  earth, 
 compaded  into  clouds,  and  diftilled  in  rain.     At  his 
 command  the  winds  are  fuddenly  in  motion,  and  as 
 fuddenly  at  reft  again;  we  hear  the  found,  but  can- 
 not tell  whence  they  come,  or  whither  they   go;  as 
 if  they  were  taken  from  fecret  ftorehoufes  of  the  Al- 
 mighty, and  then  laid  up,    till  their  fcrvice  was  re- 
 quired again.     The  fame  idea  God  himfelf  is  pleafed 
 to  give  us,  in  the  book  of  Job,  where  he  defcribeth 
 the  inftruments  of  his  power,  as  fo  many  weapons 
 of  war  in   the  arfenal  of  a  mighty  prince.     "  Haft 
 "  thou  entered  into  the  trcafures  of  the  fnow  ?  Cr4iaft- 
 *'  thou  feen  the  treafures  of  the  hail  which  I  have  re- 
 *'  ferved  againft  the  time  of  trouble,  againft  the  day 
 *'  of  battle  and  war?    By  what  way  is  the  light  part- 
 "  ed,  which  fcattereth  the  eaft  wind  upon  the  earth  ? 
 "  Who  hath  divided  a  water  courfe  for  the  overflovv- 
 *Mng  of    waters?    or   a  way  for    the    lightning  of 
 "  thunder,  to  caufe  it   to  rain  on  the  earth?"    Job 
 xxviii.  22,  &c.     It  is  a  great  inftance  of  the  divine 
 wifdom  and  goodnefs,  that  lightning  (hould  be  ac- 
 companied by  rain,  to  foften  it's  rage,  and  prevent 
 it's  mifchievous  efFefts.    Thus,  in  the  midft  of  judg- 
 ment, does  God  remember  mercy.    The  threatenings 
 in  his  word  againft  fmners  are  like  lightning;   they 
 would  blaft  and  fcorch  us  up,  were  it  not  for  his 
 promifes  made  in  the  fame  word  to  penitents,  which, 
 as  a  grarious  rain,  turn  afide  their  fury,  refrefhing 
 and  comforting  our  affrighted  fpirits. 
 
464  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  13^ 
 
 8.  Whofviofe  the  ,firjl  born  of  Egypt,  both  of 
 man  and  beajl.  9.  Whoy^?^;  tokens  and  zvonders  into 
 the  midjl  of  thee^  O  Egypt,  upon  Pharaoh,  and 
 upon  all  hisfervanfs. 
 
 Egypt  was  the  theatre  of  the  grand  conteft  between 
 the  God  of  Tfrael  and  the  gods  of  the  heathen.  The 
 fuperiority  of  the  former  over  the  latter  was  (hewn 
 in  every  poffible  way  by  the  miracles  of  Mofes,  which 
 demonftrated  all  the  powers  of  nature  to  be  under 
 the  dominion  of  Jehovah,  and  to  aft  at  his  com- 
 mand, fo  that,  inftead  of  being  able  to  proted,  they 
 were  made  to  torment  and  deftroy  their  deluded  vo- 
 taries. See  more  on  Pf.  Ixxviii.  44,  &c.  The  ob- 
 jefts  of  a  man's  fin  frequently  become,  in  the  end, 
 the  inftruments  of  his  punifhmcnt. 
 
 10.  JVhof mote  great  nations,  andjlewmighty  kings; 
 1 1 .  Sihon  king  of  the  Amorites,  andOg  kingof  BafJian, 
 and  all  the  kingdoms  of  Canaan :  1 2.  And  gave  their 
 land^ox  an  heritage^  an  heritage  unto  If rael  his  people* 
 
 The  vidories  gained  by  Ifrael  over  Sihon  and  Og, 
 in  their  paflage  to  Canaan,  and  afterwards  over  the 
 idolatrous  kings  of  that  country,  are  more  proofs  of 
 the  fame  point.  For  Ifrael  therefore  conquered,  be- 
 caufe  Jehovah  fought  for  them,  and  put  them  inpof- 
 feflion  of  that  good  land,  when  the  iniquity  of  it's  old 
 inhabitants  was  full,  and  cried  to  heaven  for  ven- 
 geance. The  enemies  we  have  to  encounter,  in  our 
 way  to  the  promifed  inheritance,  will  alfo,  if  vigo- 
 roully  oppofed,  fall  before  us.  "  The  kingdom  of 
 "  heaven  fuffereth  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it 
 "  by  force.'*     But  it  is  God  whofighteth  for  us,  an4 
 
 with 
 
Day  28.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  465 
 
 with  us,  who  givelh  ur,  the  viftory,   aiid  putteth  us 
 in  pofleffion,  through  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift. 
 
 13.  Thy  ?ia??iey  O  Lord,  enduYQth  for  ever  j  and 
 thy  memorialy  O  Lord,  throughout,  all  generations. 
 14.  For  the  Lord  ivill  judge  his  people,  and  he  ivill 
 repent  himfelf  concerning  his  Servants. 
 
 By  the  deflrudlion  of  Pharaoh,  with  his  Egyptians, 
 and  by  the  battles  and  victories  of  JoQiua;  much 
 more,  by  the  overthrow  of  the  fpiritual  Pharaoh, 
 with  his  infernal  hofb,  and  by  the  battles  and  vifto- 
 ries  of  the  true  Joihua,  Jehovah  hath  gotten  him 
 glory,  and  his  name  is  magnified  in  the  church,  from 
 age  to  age.  The  people  whom  he  hath  redeemed, 
 may,  indeed,  for  the  chaftifement  of  their  iniquities, 
 be  fometimes  delivered  into  the  hands  of  their  ene- 
 mies, and  oppreffed  by  them.  But  it  is  only  to  Ihew 
 them  their  tranfgreflions,  and  lead  them  to  repent- 
 ance. V/hen  this  effe(5l  is  wrought,  he  is  always 
 ready  to  "  judge  them,"  to  plead  and  avenge  their 
 caufe;  he  "  repenteth  him"  of  the  evil,  and  averteth 
 it;  he  is  entreated  for  the  land,  and  becometh  graci- 
 ous to  his  fervants. 
 
 T  5.  The  idols  of  the  heathen  are  filver  and  gold^ 
 the  work  of  men  s  hands.  16.  They  have  mouths, 
 but  they  fpeak  not ;  eyes  have  they,  hut  they  fee  not. 
 17.  They  have  ears,  but  they  hear  not ;  neither 
 is  there  any  breath  in  their  mouths.  18.  They  that 
 7fiake  them  are  like  unto  them :  fo  is  every  one  that 
 trufeth  in  them. 
 
 In  thefe  verfes  is  fet  forth  the  difference  between 
 the  God  of  Ifrael,  and  the  idols  of  the  nations,  as 
 alfo  between  the  worfhippers  of  each  ;    all  tending  to 
 
 Vol.  II.  Gg.  confirm 
 
466  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.    136. 
 
 confirm  the  truth  of  what  was  afferted,  ver.  5.  "  I 
 "  know  that  the  Lord  is  great,  and  that  our  Lord  is 
 "  above  all  gods."  As  the  fame  words  occur,  Pf. 
 cxv.  4,  &c.  the  reader  is  referred  thither  for  the  ex- 
 phcation  of  them. 
 
 ig.  Blefs  the  laOK-D,  O  hoiife  of  Ifrael :  hlejs  the 
 Lord,  O  houft  of  Aaron:  10.  Blefs  the  Lord,  O 
 houfe  of  Levi:  ye  that  fear  the  Lord,  blefs  the 
 Lord.  21.  Blejed  be  the  Lord  out  of  Zion,  xvliich 
 dwelletli  at  Je.rufalem.     Fraife ye  the  Lorjx 
 
 He  who  proved  himfelf  fuperior  to  the  objeds  of 
 ancient  idolatry,  is  no  lefs  fuperior  to  every  object 
 on  which  deluded  man  can  place  his  affedions.  The 
 Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  will  take  them  away.  Let 
 *'  the  houfe  of  Ifrael,"  therefore,  and  "  the  fons  of 
 "  Aaron,"  the  church  and  the  miniflers  thereof,  let 
 all  who  "  fear  the  Lord,"  blefs  and  praife  his  holy 
 name  in  the  temple  here  below,  until  they  fhall  be 
 admitted  to  do  it  for  evermore,  in  that  which  is 
 above. 
 
 XXVCII    DAY.       EVENING    PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  cxxxvr. 
 
 A    R    G    U    A/[    E    N    'J\ 
 
 This  is  a  delightful  hymn  of  praife  and  thankf- 
 giving  to  Jehovah,  1 — 3.  God  of  gods  and 
 Lord  of  lords,  for  the  wonders  4 — 9.  of 
 Creation,  10 — 26.  of  Providence  and  Grace; 
 which  were  probably  celebrated  in  due  order 
 
 by 
 
Day  28.  E.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  467 
 
 by  one  half  of  the  choh*,  while  the  other 
 half,  or  perhaps,  the  whole  in  full  chorus, 
 took  up  the  burden  of  each  verfe,  "  For  his 
 "  mercy  endureth  for  ever  !'*  A  form  of  ac- 
 knowledgment, as  Biihop  Patrick  obferves, 
 prcfcribed,  by  David,  1  Chron.  xvi.  41.  to 
 ])e  ufed  continually  in  the  divine  fervicc.  A 
 form  highly  proper  for  creatures,  and  finful 
 creatures,  to  ufe,  whofe  great  employment  it 
 is  now,  and  will  be  for  ever,  to  magnify  the 
 mercy  and  loving  kindnefs  of  their  God. 
 
 I.  O  give  thanks  ujito  the  Lord  j  for  he  Is  good  •' 
 for  his  mercy  endureth /or  ever.  2.  O  give  thanks 
 unto  the  God  of  gods :  for  his  mercy  endureth  ybr 
 ever.  3.  O  give  thanks  to  the  Lord  of  lords  :  for 
 his  mercy  endureihyb;'  ever. 
 
 We  are  called  upon  to  praife  Jehovah,  firft,  for 
 his  own  eflential  attributes  ;  then,  for  the  exertion 
 of  thofe  attributes  in  his  works.  The  attributes  here 
 mentioned  are  thofe  of  "  goodnefs"  and  "  power  ;'* 
 the  one  renders  him  willing,  the  other  able  to  fave  : 
 and  what  can  we  defire  more,  but  that  he  fhould  con- 
 tinue to  be  fo  ?  Of  this  likewife  we  are  afTured,  bjr 
 contemplating  the  unchangeablenefs  of  his  nature. 
 His  difpofition  altereth  not,  and  his  kingdom  none 
 can  take  from  him  :  "  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever.'* 
 
 4.  To  him  zvho  alone  doeth  great  zvonders  •'  for 
 his  mercy  endureth /(;r6't;^;\ 
 
 All  the  works  of  God  are"  wonderful,"  and  fpeak 
 
 him  "  alone"  to  have  been  their  author.     The  efta- 
 
 G  g  2  bliftied 
 
468  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  136. 
 
 bliflied  courfe  of  the  world  Is  In  reality  no  lefs  ad- 
 mirable, than  are  thofe  extraordinary  interpofitlons 
 of  ominipotence,  whereby  it  hath  been  fometimes  in- 
 terrupted and  fufpended ;  though  the  latter,  on  ac- 
 count of  "their  novelty,  are  apt  to  affect  us  more  than 
 the  former  doth,  which  is  ever  before  our  eyes,  and 
 therefore  lefs  regarded  by  us.  How  many  of  thofe, 
 for  whom  the  wonders  of  Creation,  Providence,  and 
 Redemption  have  been  wrought,  think  none  of  them 
 worthy  their  attention  !  Angels  admire  and  adore, 
 where  man  will  not  deign  to  cad  an  eye,  or  employ  a 
 thought. 
 
 5.  To  hhn  that  hij  ivijdom  made  the  heavens :  for 
 his  mercy  endureth/cr  ever.  6.  To  hhn  thatjlretched 
 out  the  earth  above  the  waters  ■  for  his  mercy  en- 
 dureth/o7*  ever. 
 
 The  heavens  above,  and  the  earth  beneath,  declare 
 the  wifdom  of  their  great  Maker,  and  proclaim  aloud, 
 to  an  intelligent  ear,  the  divinity  of  the  hand  that 
 formed  them.  The  heavens  difplay  the  love  of  God 
 to  man  ;  the  earth  teaches  the  duty  of  man  to  God. 
 Heaven  is  glorious  and  gracious,  earth  verdant  and 
 fruitful.  The  bright  and  ample  circumference  of 
 heaven,  the  variegated  furface  of  the  earth,  and  the 
 profufion  of  good  things  that  diftinguifh  the  feafons, 
 contaminated  as  they  all  have  been  by  man's  tranf- 
 greflion,  even  now  yield  a  profped  which  annihilates 
 all  human  grandeur.  What  idea,  then,  are  we  to 
 frame  of  thofe  new  heavens  and  earth,  from  which 
 fin  and  corruption  are  excluded,  and  where  rlghte- 
 oufnefs  hath  fixed  her  eternal  throne  } 
 
 7.  To  him  that  made  great  lights :  far  his  mercy 
 
 endureth 
 
Day  28.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  469 
 
 endureth>7-  ever-  8.  The  fun  to  rule  by  day:  for 
 his  mercy  endureth/(;r  ever.  9.  The  moon  andftars 
 to  rule  by  night:  for  his  mercy  endureth/or  ever. 
 
 Light  is  the  life  and  foul  of  the  univcrle,  the 
 nobleft  emblem  of  the  power  and  glory  of  God,  who 
 in  the  night  fealbn  leaves  not  hinilelf  without  wit- 
 nefs,  but  gives  us  fome  portion  of  that  light  refleded, 
 which  by  day  we  behold  flowing  from  it's  great  foun- 
 tain in  the  heart  of  heaven.  Thy  church  and  thy 
 faints,  O  Lord,  '"are  the  moon  and  the  ftars,"  which, 
 by  the  communication  of  dodrine,  and  the  fplendor 
 of  example,  guide  our  feet,  while  we  travel  on  in  the 
 night  that  hath  overtaken  us,  waiting  for  the  dawn 
 of  everlafting  day.  Then  we  ihall  behold  thy  glory, 
 and  fee  thee  as  thou  art. 
 
 10.  Tu  him  thaifmote  Egypt  in  their firft  born:  for 
 his  mercy  endureth/6>r  ever:  11.  And  brought  out 
 Ifraelfrom  among  them--  for  his  mercy  endureth/or 
 ever.  12.  With  ajirong  hand,  and  zvith  a  f  retched 
 out  arm:  for  his  mercy  endureth/t^r  ever.  13.  To 
 hitn  zvhich  divided  the  red  fea  into  parts:  for  his 
 mercy  endureth/<9r  ever.  14.  And  made  Ifrael  topafs 
 through  the  midjl  of  it:  for  his  mercy  endureth/or 
 ever.  15.  But  overthrew  Pharaoh  and  his  hojl  in  the 
 red  fea:  for  his  mercy  endureth/or  ever.  16.  To 
 him  zohich  led  his  people  through  the  loildernefs '■  for 
 his  juercy  endurethyb?"  ever.  ij.  To  him  which  fmotc 
 great  kings.-  for  his  mercy  endureth/o;- fi;^;-.  18. 
 And  few  famous  kings-  for  Ids  mercy  cnduitih  for 
 ever.  1 9 .  Sihon  king  of  the  Amorites :  for  h  is  mercy 
 endureth/or  ever.  20.  And  Og  the  king  of  Bajhan  : 
 for  his  7?iercy  endureth>7'  ever,     2 1 .  And  gave  their 
 
470  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  126 
 
 land  for  an  heritage:  for  his  mercy  endureth  for 
 ever:  22.  Even  an  heritage  unto  Ifrael  his  fervant: 
 for  his  mercy  endureth /or  ever.  23.  Who  remem- 
 bered us  in  uur  low  ejiate:  for  his  mercy  endureth/or 
 ever.  24.  And  hath  redeemed  us  from  our  enemies'- 
 for  his  mercy  endureth /or  ever. 
 
 From  the  works  of  Creation  the  Pfalmift  proceeds 
 to  thofe  of  Providence  and  Grace.  He  celebrates  that 
 mercy  which  refcued  Ifrael  from  oppreffiori,  brought 
 them  out  of  the  houfe  of  bondage,  divided  the  fea  to 
 make  away  for  them,.fupported  and  conduced  them 
 through  a  wade  liowling  wildernefs,  cruflied  the 
 might  and  power  of  thofe  who  oppofed  them,  and 
 at  length  fettled  them  in  the  inheritance  promifed  to 
 their  flithers.  Eternal  mercy  hath  in  Chrift  Jefus 
 realized  all  thefe  figures,  and  accompliflied  the  great 
 redempiion,  thus  foreOiadowed  of  old.  The  Ifrael  of 
 God  hath  been  refcued  from  the  oppreffion  of"  Satan, 
 and  brought  out  of  the  houfe  of  fpiritual  bondage. 
 In  the  waters  of  baptifm  the  old  man  of  fin  is  buried, 
 and  we  arlfe  triumphant,  to  fing  the  praifes  of  God 
 our  Saviour,  who  from  thenceforth  fupports  and  con- 
 ducts us  in  our  paflage  through  the  world,  ftrength- 
 ening  us  in  the  day  of  battle  againft  every  enemy 
 that  oppofeth  us,  until  we  enter  the  heavenly  Canaan, 
 promifed  to  the  fathers  of  our  faith,  and  dwell  for 
 ever  in  the  poffeffion  of  Peace.  When  we  confider 
 how  God  has  thus  "  ren:embered  us  in  our  low 
 "  eflate,"  and  thus  *'  redeemed  us  from  our  enemies," 
 can  we  be  weary  of  repeating,  "  For  his  mercy  en- 
 *'  dureth  for  ever.?" 
 
 25.   Who  giveth  food  to  all  fief i:  fur  his  mercy 
 
 endureth 
 
Day  28.  E.  V,         o:<T  the  PSALMS.  471 
 
 cndurethfoj'  eve?'.     26.  O  give  tfianks  unto  the  God 
 of  heaven:  for  his  mercy  endurethybr  ever. 
 
 The  fame  bounty,  which  in  the  natural  world, 
 provideth  proper  nutriment  for  every  creature,  hath 
 alfo  provided,  for  the  fpirits  of  all  flefli,  the  bread 
 of  eternal  life.  In  either  fenfe,  Jehovah  "  openeth 
 "  his  hand,  and  .filleth  all  things  living  with  plen- 
 "  tcoufnefs."  Be  therefore  his  praife  as  unlverfal 
 and  lading  as  his  mercy. 
 
 PSALM     CXXXVIL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  IfracUtcs,  captives  in  Babylon,  1,  2.  de- 
 fcrlbe  their  v^^oful  eftate,  and  3,  4.  the  in- 
 fiilts  of  their  cruel  mailers.  5,  6.  They  de- 
 clare their  inviolable  affeetlon  for  Jerufalem  ; 
 7.  pray  that  God  would  remember  the  beha- 
 viour of  Edom  ;  and  8,  9.  predict  the  de- 
 ilru6fion  of  Babylon.  The  Pfalm  admits  of 
 a  beautiful  and  ufeful  application  to  the  ftate 
 of  Chriliians  in  this  world,  and  their  ex- 
 pe61ed  deliverance  out  of  it. 
 
 I.  By  the  rivers  of  Babylon^  there  no e  fat  dozvn, 
 yea^  we  xvept^  when  we  remembered  Zion. 
 
 What  an  inexpreffible  pathos  is  there  in  thefe  few 
 words !  How  do  they  at  once  tranfport  us  to  Baby- 
 lon, and  place  before  our  eyes  the  mournful  fituation 
 of  the  IfraelitiOi  captives !  Driven  from  their  native 
 G  g  4  country, 
 
472  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  137^ 
 
 country,  ftrlpped  of  every  comfort  and  convenience, 
 in  a  ftrange  land,  among  idolaters,  wearied  and  broken- 
 hearted, they  fit  m  (ilence  by  thole  hoftile  waters. 
 Then  the  pleafant  banks  of  Jordan  prefent  them- 
 felves  to  their  imaginations;  the  towers  of  Salem  rife 
 to  view ;  and  the  fad  remembrance  of  much -loved 
 Zion  caufes  tears  to  run  down  their  cheeks :  "  By 
 "  the  waters  of  Babylon  we  fat  down,  yea,  we  wept 
 *^  when  we  remembered  Zion  I"  Belldes  the  ufe  which 
 may  be  made  of  this  Pflilni  by  any  church,  v/hen, 
 literally,  in  a  (late  of  captivity,  there  is  a  fenfe  in 
 vv'hich  it  may  be  ufed  by  us  all.  For  Zion  is,  in 
 Scripture,  the  ftanding  type  of  heaven,  as  Babylon 
 is  the  grand  figure  of  the  world,  the  feat  of  confufion, 
 the  oppreflbr  and  perfecutor  of  the  people  of  God. 
 In  thefe,  or  the  like  terms,  we  may,  therefore,  fup- 
 pofe  a  finncr  to  bemoan  himfelf  iipon  the  earth — 
 O  Lord,  I  am  an  Ifraelitc,  exiled  by  my  fins  from 
 thy  holy  city,  and  left  to  mourn  in  this  Babylon,  the 
 land  of  my  captivity.  Here  1  dwell  in  forrov/,  by 
 thefe  tranfient  waters,  mufing  on  the  reftlefs  and 
 unftable  nature  of  earthly  plealures,  which  pals  fwift- 
 ly  by  me,  and  are  foon  gone  for  ever.  Yet  for  thefe, 
 alas,  I  have  exchanged  the  permanent  joys  of  Zion, 
 and  parted  with  the  fehcity  of  thy  chofen.  Where- 
 fore my  heart  is  pained  within  me,  and  the  remem- 
 brance of  my  folly  will  not  let  me  reft  night  or  day. 
 O  Zion,  thou  holy  and  beautiful  city,  the  temple  of 
 the  Lamb,  the  habitation  of  the  blelTed,  the  feat  of 
 delight,  the  land  of  the  living,  when  Qiall  I  behold 
 thee  ?  When  fhall  I  enter  thy  gates  with  thankfgiv- 
 ing,  and  thy  courts  with  praife  ?  The  hope  of  a  re- 
 turn 
 
Day  28.  E.  p.         o.v  THE  PSALMS.  473 
 
 torn  to  thee  Is  my  only  comfort  in  this  vale  of  tears, 
 where  lam  and  will  be  a  mourner,  till  my  captivity 
 be  brought  back,  and  my  forrow  be  turned  into 
 joy. 
 
 2.  IFe  hanged  our  harps  upon  the  willows  in  the 
 midji  thereof. 
 
 The  additional  circumftance,  which  the  divine 
 painter  hath  here  thrown  into  his  piece,  is,  to  the  lafl: 
 degree,  juft  and  ftriking.  It  was  not  enough  to  re- 
 prefent  the  Hebrew  captives  weeping,  on  the  banks 
 of  the  Euphrates,  at  the  remembrance  of  Zion,  but, 
 upon  looking  up,  we  behold  their  harps  unftrung, 
 and  pendent  on  the  willows  that  grew  there.  The 
 fmcere  penitent,  like  them.,  hath  bidden  adieu  to  mirth; 
 his  foul  refufeth  to  be  comforted  with  the  comforts 
 of  Babylon ;  nor  can  he  fing  any  more,  till  pardon 
 a'nd  reftoration  fhall  have  enabled  him  to  fing,  in  the 
 temple,  a  fong  of  praife  and  thankfgiving. 
 
 3.  For  there  they  that  carried  us  away  captive  re- 
 quired of  us  a  fong;  and  they  that  ivajled  us^  re- 
 quired of  us  mirth  J  faying,  Sing  us  one  of  the  fongs 
 of  Zion.  4.  How  fhall  we  fing  the  L.ord' sfojig  in 
 a  f  range  land*  f 
 
 The  Babylonians  are  introduced  as  infulting  over 
 the  liraelites,  and  fcoffing  at  their  faith  and  worfliip, 
 
 *  Many  fingers  were  carried  captives,  Ezr.  ii.  41.  Thefe  would 
 of  courfe  take  their  inftruments  with  them,  and  be  infulted,  as 
 here.  Their  fongs  were  /acred,  and  unfit  to  be  fung  before  ido- 
 laters. But  the  words,  "  How  flia'.l  we  fing,"  &c.  are  not  an 
 anfwer  given  to  them,  but  the  free  utterance  afterwards  of  the 
 feelings  of  the  Jews  among  themfelves.  Anonymous  Notes 
 JN  Merrick's  Annotations. 
 
 OOt 
 
47+  A  COiMMENTARY         Psal.  137. 
 
 not  without  a  tacit  refledion  on  their  God,  who  could 
 not  proteA  his  favoured  people  againft  their  enemies. 
 "  Now  fing  us  one  of  your  fongs  of  Zion ;  now  let 
 "  us  hear  you  fouod  the  praifes  of  that  God,  of  whom 
 "  ye  boafhed,  that  he  dwelt  among  you  in  the  temple 
 •'  which  we  have  laid  wafle,  and  burnt  with  fire." 
 Thus  the  faithful  have  been,  and  thus  they  will  be 
 infulted  by  infidels,  in  the  day  of  their  calamity. 
 And  "  how,"  indeed,  "  can  they  ling  the  Lord's 
 "  fong  in  a  ftrange  land  .?"  Plow  can  they  tune  their 
 voices  to  fefiive  and  euchariftic  drains,  when  God, 
 bypunifning  them  for  their  fins,  caUeth  to- mourning 
 and  weeping.?  But  then,  Ifrael  in  Babylon  forefaw 
 a  day  of  redemption  ;  and  [o  doth  the  church  in  the 
 world ;  a  day,  when  (lie  Ihail  triumph,  and  her  ene- 
 mies (hall  lick  the  duft.  No  circumftances,  there, 
 fore,  Oiould  make  us  forget  her,  and  the  promifes  con- 
 cerning her. 
 
 5.  If  I  forget  thee:,  O  Jerufalem,  let  my  right  hand 
 forget  her  cunning.  6.  If  I  do  not  remember  thee^ 
 let  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth  i  if  I 
 prefer  not  Jerufalem  above  my  chief  joy. 
 
 The  whole  nation  may  be  fuppofed  in  thefe  words 
 to  declare,  as  one  man,  that  neither  the  afflictions 
 nor  the  allurements  of  Babylon  fliould  efface  from 
 their  minds  the  remembrance  of  Jerufalem,  or  pre- 
 vent their  looking  forward  to  her  future  glorious  re- 
 ftoration.  If  any  temptation  (hould  induce  them  to 
 employ  their  tongues  and  their  hands  in  the  fervice  of 
 Babel  rather  than  in  that,  of  Zion,  they  wi(h  to  lofe 
 the  ufe  of  the  former,  and  the  ikill  of  the  latter.  The 
 thoughts  and  affedions  of  true   penitents,  both  in 
 
 profperity 
 
Day  28.  E.  P.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  475 
 
 profperity  and  advcrfity,  are  fixed  upon  their  heavenly 
 country  and  city;  they  had  rather  be  deprived  of 
 their  powers  and  faculties,  than  of  the  will  to  ufe 
 them  aright;  and  the  hope  of  glory,  hereafter  to  be 
 revealed  in  the  church,  is  the  flower  and  crown  of 
 their  joy. 
 
 7.  Bcmemhei\  O  Lord,  f/ie  children  of  Edom  in 
 the  day  of  Jerufakm  ;  who/aid^  Rufc  it,  rafe  it,  even 
 tu  the  foundations  thereof. 
 
 The  people  of  God  befeech  him  to  take  their  caufe 
 in  hand,  and  to  avenge  them  on  their  adverfaries,  par- 
 ticularly on  the  Edomites,  who,  though  their  brethren 
 according  to  the  flefh,  being  defcended  from  Efau, 
 the  brother  of  Jacob,  yet  in  the  day  of  Jerufalem's 
 afflidion,  when  the  Chaldean's  came  againft  it,  were 
 aiding  and  encouraging  thofc  pagans  to  deftroy  it  ut- 
 terly. Edom  is  charged  with  this  unnatural  beha- 
 viour, and  threatened  for  it,  by  God  himfelf,  in  the 
 prophecy  of  Obadiah,  ver.  10,  &c.  "  For  thy  vio- 
 "  lence  againft  thy  brother  Jacob  fliame  iLall  cover 
 "  thee,  and  thou  flialt  be  cut  off  for  ever.  In  the 
 '*  day  that  thou  ftoodefh  on  the  other  fide,  in  the  day 
 "  that  the  flrangers  carried  away  captive  his  forces, 
 "  and  foreigners  entered  into  his  gates,  and  cafb  lots 
 "  upon  Jerufalem,  even  thou  waft  as  one  of  them.  But 
 "  thou  fliouldeft  not  have  looked  on  the  day  of  thy 
 "  brother  in  the  day  that  he  became  a  ftranger :  nei- 
 ''  ther  Ihouldeft  thou  have  rejoiced  over  the  children 
 "  of  Judah  m  the  day  of  their  deftrudion — For  the 
 **  day  of  the  Lord  is  near  upon  all  the  heathen:  as 
 "  thou  haft  done,  it  fhall  be  done  unto  thee,  thy  re- 
 **  ward  Ihall  return  upon  thine  own  head — but  upon 
 I  "  mount 
 
476  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  137. 
 
 "  mount  Zion  fhall  be  deliverance,  and  there  (hall 
 '*  be  holinefs,  and  the  hoiife  of  Jacob  fhall  poflefs 
 **  their  poffeffions."  It  may  be  obferved,  that  the  Jews 
 afterwards  aded  the  fame  part  towards  the  Chriftian 
 church,  which  the  Edomites  had  afted  toward  them, 
 encouraging  and  ftirring  up  the  Gentiles  to  perfccute 
 and  deftroy  it  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth.  And 
 God  "  remembered"  them  for  the  Chriftians'  fakes, 
 as  they  prayed  him  to  "  remember  Edom''  for  their 
 fakes.  Learn  we  hence,  what  a  crime  it  is,  for  Chrif- 
 tians to  affift  the  common  enemy,  or  call  in  the  com- 
 mon enemy  to  affift  them,  againft  their  brethren. 
 
 8.  O  daug/iter  of  Babylon^  zvlio  art  to  be  dejiroyed^ 
 happy  fliall  he  be,  that  rtwardeth  thee^  as  thou  haji 
 Jcrved  vs.  9.  Happy  Ihall  he  be,  that  taketh  and 
 dq/Jieth  thy  little  ones  againft  the  /tones. 
 
 The  fubjedl  of  thefe  two  verfes  is  the  fame  with 
 that  of  many  chapters  in  Ifaiah  and  Jeremiah;  name- 
 ly, the  vengeance  of  heaven  executed  upon  Babylon, 
 by  Cyrus,  raifed  up  to  be  king  of  the  Medes  and 
 Perfians,  united  under  him  for  that  purpofe.  The 
 meaning  of  the  words,  "  happy  (hall  he  be,"  is,  He 
 fhall  go  on  and  profper,  for  the  Lord  of  hofts  fhall 
 go  with  him,  and  fight  his  battles  againft  the  enemy 
 and  oppreffor  of  his  people,  impowering  him  to  re- 
 compenfe  upon  the  Chaldeans  the  works  of  their 
 hands,  and  to  reward  them  as  they  ferved  Ifrael.  The 
 ilaughter  of  the  very  infants,  mentioned  in  the  lafl 
 verfe,  is  exprefsly  predided  by  Ifaiah,  Ch.  xiii.  16. 
 ^'  Their  children  alfo  (hall  be  dalhed  to  pieces  before 
 "  their  eyes;  their  houfes  fhall  be  fpoiled,  and  their 
 "  wives  ravifhed,"     The  deftrudion  was  to  be  uni- 
 
 verfal, 
 
Day  2S.  e.  p.        on  the  PSALMS.  477 
 
 verfal,  fparing  neither  fex  nor  age.     Terrible,  but 
 jua  are  thy  judgments,  O  Lord!     The  fall  of  the 
 myftical  "  Babylon"  is  defcribed.  Rev.  xviii.  in  terms 
 and  phrafes  borrowed  from  this  and  other  prophecies, 
 relating,  primarily,  to  the  ancient  city  called  by  that 
 name.°  Whoever  will  carefully  read  over  the  Chapter 
 referred  to,  with  the  three  fubfequent  ones  concern- 
 ing the  triumph  of  Meffiah,    and  the  glory  of  the 
 new  Jerufalem,  will  be  able  to  form  proper  ideas  of 
 the  world  and  the  church,  and  will  know  where  to 
 choofe  his  portion, 
 
 PSALM  CXXXVIII. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Thjs  Pfalm  containeth   1—3.  a  refolutlon  to 
 praife  God  for  a  deliverance  vouchfafed ;  4, 
 
 5.  a  prophecy  that  the  kings  of  the  earth 
 Ihould  glorify  Jehovah  for  his  mercy,  Ihewn 
 
 6.  in  exalting  the  humble,  and  abafmg  the 
 proud  ;  7,  8.  an  ad  of  faith  and  confidence 
 in  God. 
 
 I.  I  zvill praife  thee  with  my  whole  heart :  before 
 the  gods  ivill  Ifing  praife  unto  thee.  2.  1  zvill  ivor- 
 flip  toward  thy  holy  temple,  and  praife  thy  name,  for 
 thy  loving  kindnefs  and  for  thy  truth:  for  thou  hajt 
 magnified  thy  word  above  all  thy  name;  or,  thou  haft 
 magnified  thy  Jiayie,  even  thy  word,  above  all. 
 
 In  thefe  verfes  we  evidently  hear  the  voice  of  one 
 whom  God  had  delivered  from  a  ftate  of  great  af- 
 
 fliaioa- 
 
478  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  138. 
 
 flldlon  and  danger,  and  who  therefore  determines  to 
 make  the  due  acknowledgments  in  pubHc;  to  give 
 thanks  "  before  the  gods,"  that  is,  before  *'  kings" 
 and  "  rulers"  in  the  great  congregation;  to  "  wor- 
 "  ihip  in  the  temple,"  and  there  to  fet  forth  the 
 "  loving  kindnefs"  and  "  truth"  of  Jehovah,  in 
 having  accompliQied  the  promifed  faivation,  and 
 thereby  "  magnified"  his  holy  "  name"  and  his 
 faithful  "  word"  over  every  thing  that  oppofeth  itfelf 
 againft  it.  The  Chriftian  church  cannot  find  ftronger 
 and  more  emphatical  terms,  in  which  to  exprefs  her 
 fenfe  of  the  greatefl  of  all  mercies,  the  redemption  of 
 the  world  by  the  refurredion  of  Jefus  from  the  dead, 
 and  his  exaltation  "  above  every  name  that  is  named 
 *'  in  heaven  and  earth." 
 
 3.  In  the  day  ivhen  I  cried  thou  anjzveredjl  me,  and 
 ftrengthenedjt  me  With  Jlrength  in  my  foul.  4.  All  the 
 kin;:s  of  the  earth  Jhall  praife  thee,  O  Lord,  zvhen 
 they  hear  the  zvords  of  thy  mouth.  5.  Yea,  they 
 JJiallfng  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord:  for  great  is  the 
 glory  of  the  Lord. 
 
 From  this  part  of  the  Pfalm  it  appears  to  be  a  pro- 
 phetical one.  The  deliverance  which  it  celebrates  is 
 of  fuch  a  nature,  that  when  the  glad  tidings  of  it 
 (hould  be  publilhed  to  the  world,  we  are  told,  it 
 (hould  induce  the  nations,  with  their  princes,  to 
 adore  Jehovah,  to  walk  in  his  ways,  and  to  chant 
 forth  his  praifes.  The  call  of  the  Gentiles  to  the 
 Gofpel  is  here  foretold  in  words  which  cannot  be  mif- 
 taken,  and  die  redemption  of  the  church,  in  Chrill 
 her  head,  is  fpoken  of  as  the  fubjed  of  thank fgiv- 
 ing  among   the  kings  of  the  earth.     "  In  the  day 
 
 "  when 
 
Day  28.  E.  p.         OF  THE  PSALMS.  479 
 
 "  when  T  cried,  thou  anfweredft  me,  and  ftrength- 
 "  eneft  me  with  ftrength  in  my  foul."  For  this  ;-ea- 
 fon,  "  All  the  kings  of  the  earth  fliall  praife  thee, 
 "  O  Lord,"  &c. 
 
 6.  Though  the  Lord  be  high, yet  hath  he  refpect 
 nnto  the  lowbj  ■    but  the  proud  he  knoxveth  afar  off'. 
 
 Humility  is  the  way  to  ialvation  and  glory.  It  is 
 faid  of  our  blefled  Lord,  that  "  becaufe  he  humbled 
 "  himfelf,  therefore  God  highly  exalted  him:"  and 
 the  great  potentates  of  the  world  mult  tread  in  his 
 fleps,  if  they  would  be  exalted  with  him.  As  to  the 
 proud,  God  "  knoweth'"  and  he  detefteth  thems  he 
 beholdeth  and  kecpeth  them  at  a  "  diftance." 
 
 7.  Though  I  walk  in  the  midji  of  trouble^  thou 
 idlt  revive  me  •'  thou  fhalt  (iretch  forth  thine  hand, 
 againjl  the  wrath  of  viine  enemies^  and  thy  right 
 hand  fliall  fave  vie. 
 
 Who  doth  not  **  walk  in  the  midft  of  trouble," 
 while  his  pilgrimage  is  prolonged  upon  the  earth? 
 Who  hath  not  "  enemies"  encompaffing  him  on  every 
 fide?  O  how  comfortable,  then,  the  refleftion  that 
 he  is  with  us,  who  can  "  revive"  the  deadj  that 
 we  are  under  the  protedion  of  an  "  arm,"  which  is 
 almighty !  Yes,  blefled  Lord,  we  believe  that  this 
 faying  of  thy  holy  Pfalmift  wall  be  verified  to  every 
 child  of  thine,  even  as  it  was  to  him,  and  to  thy  Son 
 Jefus,  in  whofe  perfon  he  might  fpeak  it,  as  a  pro- 
 phet. Great  indeed  were  the  "  troubles,"  in  the 
 midfl  of  which  the  true  David  "•  walked"  up  and 
 down  amongft  us.  He  carried  all  our  forrows,  be- 
 caufe he  bare  all  our  fins.  "  Yet  didft  thou  revive 
 "  himi"   thou  didft  raife  him  from  the  dead,  and 
 
 exalt 
 
480  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  139. 
 
 exalt  him  to  thy  throne  in  heaven,  where  he  ever  liveth 
 to  make  interceffion  for  us,  that  we,  who,  in  the  days 
 of  our  flefh,  do  alfo  "  walk  in  the  midft  of  trouble,'* 
 may  be  revived  by  thy  Spirit,  the  giver  of  life  and 
 holinefs. 
 
 8.  The  Lord  will  perfect  that  which  coyicerneth 
 me-  thy  mercy ^  OLord,  tw^MXt'C^  for  ever '  forfake 
 not  the  works  of  thine  ozvn  hands. 
 
 In  troublous  times,  and  the  days  of  affliftion,  we 
 muft  look  back  on  that  which  God  hath  already  done 
 for  us,  and  from  thence  draw  an  argument,  that  he 
 vvill  "  perfcdl"  that  which  remains,  and  not  leave  his 
 work  unfinifhed:  we  muft  remember,  that  his  mer- 
 cies fail  not,  after  a  time,  but  "  endure  for  ever'"  the 
 fame;  and  when  we  call  to  mind,  that  we  are  "  the 
 work  of  his  ov/n  hands,"  how  can  we  think  he 
 will  "  forfake  us"  unlefs  we  utterly  and  finally  for- 
 fake him  ? 
 
 XXIX   DAY.       MORNING    PRAYER. 
 
 rSALM  CXXXIX; 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It  fccms  evident,  from  the  latter  part  of  tliie 
 noble  and  inftriuitive  Pfalm,  that  the  author 
 penned  it,  at  a  time  when  he  was  perfecuted 
 and  calumniated,  as  an  appeal  to  the  all-fee- 
 ing Judge  between  him  and  his  adverfaries. 
 lie  takes  the  opportunity  of  expatiating  in 
 
 the 
 
Day  29.  M.  ?.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  4gt' 
 
 the  fubllmefl:  manner,  1—12.  on  the  omni- 
 prefence  and  omnifcience  of  hirti  who  13— 
 1^.  formeth  man  In  the  womb  by  his  power, 
 and  17.  preferveth  hun  through  Hfe  by  his 
 providence.  He  then  19,  20.  exprefieth  his 
 confidence,  tliat  God,  as  knowing  all  things, 
 would  deliver  him  from  his  enemies;  21^ 
 22.  he  declareth  his  zeal  and  fidelity  in  the^ 
 fervice  of  his  divine  Mafter,  by  whom,  23, 
 24.  he  petitioneth  to  be  proved,  purified,  and 
 perfe6ted  in  the  way  of  hollnefs. 
 
 I.  O  Lord,  thou  hajlfearched  me,  and  known  me: 
 2.  Thou  knowejl  my  down  fitting  and  mine  iiprifing^ 
 thou  underjlandefi  my  thought  afar  off.  3.  Thou 
 compajejt  my  pathj  and  my  lying  down,  and  art  ac- 
 quainted  with  all  my  ways.  4.  For  there  is  not  a, 
 word  in  my  tongue,  but  lo,  O  Lord,  thou  knozveji  it 
 altogether^  or.  When  thefe  is  not  a  zvord  in  my 
 tongue,  loy  O  Lord,  &c.  5.  Thou  hajl  befetme  be- 
 hind and  before,  and  laid  thine  hand  upon  me.  6. 
 Such  knowledge  is  too  wonderful  for  me ;  it  is  highg 
 J  cannot  attain  unto  it. 
 
 The  Pfalmift  employeth  a  beautiful  variety  Of  63^- 
 preflTions  to  denote  his  faith  in  the  omniprefence 
 and  omnifcience  of  Jehovah,  to  whom^  in  the  latter 
 part  of  the  Pfalm,  he  appealeth,  as  the  proper  judge 
 between  him  and  his  implacable  enemies.  He  de- 
 fcribeth  his  God  as  having  that  complete  knowledge 
 of  him  and  his  affairs,  which,  among  men,  the  mod 
 accurate  "  fearch,"  and  the  ftrideft  fcrutiny  couki 
 Dpt  obtain  i  as  being  thoroughly  "  acquainted  with 
 
 Vol.  IL  H  h  « all 
 
482  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  139. 
 
 "  all  his  ways"  or  proceedings,  nay  with  his  very 
 "  thoughts"  while  yet  exifting  only  in  embryo,  in  his 
 own  mind;  as  watching  and  obferving  him  at  all 
 feafons,  during  the  aftions  of  the  day,  and  his  repofe 
 at  night;  and,  in  fhort,  as  having  fo  "  befet"  him 
 on  all  fides,  and  ''  laid  his  hand  upon  him/'  that  he 
 could  not  move  without  his  knowledge  and  confent. 
 When  we  refled  that  "  all  things  are  thus  naked  and 
 *'  open  to  him  with  whom  we  have  to  do;"  that,  al- 
 though he  dwelleth  in  the  hlgheft  heavens,  he  fur- 
 veyeth  not  only  the  Qutward  ads,  but  the  very  hearts 
 and  imaginations  of  men  upon  earth — muft  we  not 
 each  of  us  cry  out,  "  Such  knowledge  is  too  won^ 
 **  derful  for  me;  it  is  high,  I  cannot  attain  unto  it;" 
 I  cannot  admire  it  enough,  for  I  cannot  conceive  of 
 it  aright  ! — "  The  adual,  conftant  confideration  of 
 "  God's  prefence  would  be  the  readieft  way  in  the 
 "  world  to  make  fm  to  ceafe  from  among  the  chil« 
 **  dren  of  men,  and  for  men  to  approach  to  the  blef- 
 *'  fed  eflate  of  the  faints  in  heaven,  who  cannot  fin, 
 "^  for  they  always  walk  in  the  prefence,  and  behold 
 «  the  face  of  God."  See  Bifiiop  Taylor's  *'  Holy 
 "  Living."     Chap.  i.  Sed.  3. 
 
 7.  Whither Jliall  I  go  from  thy  Spirit?  Orwli^thcr 
 Jhall  I  Jieefrovi  thy  prefence?  8.  If  I  afcend  up  into 
 heaven^  thou  art  there:  If  I  make  my  bed  in  helly  or 
 the  grave^  behold  thou  art  there.  9.  If  /  take  the 
 xoings  of  the  morning,  and  dzuell  in  the  uttermofi  parts 
 ofthefea:  10.  Even  there  fJiall  thy  hand- lead  me, 
 and  thy  righ  t  handfliall  hold  me.  1 1 .  If  If  ay  ^  Surely 
 the  darknefs  fhall  cover  me;  even  the  night  fhall  be 
 light  about  me.  12.  Yea,  the  darknefs  hideth  not 
 from  thee;  but  the  night fliineth  as  the  day:  the 
 darknefs  and  the  light  are  both  alike  to  thee. 
 
 We 
 
Day  29.  M.  p.         bN  the  PSALMS.  483 
 
 We  can  never  fin  with  fecurlty,  but  In  a  place 
 where  the  eye  of  God  cannot  behold  us.     And  where 
 is  that  place?  Had  we  a  mind  to  efcape  his  infpec- 
 tion,  "  whither  fhould  we  go?"     Heaven  Is  the  feat 
 of  his  glory,  creation  the  fcene  of  his  providence, 
 and  the  grave  itfelf  will  be  the  theatre  of  his  power; 
 fo  that  our  efforts  will  be  equally  vain,  whether  we 
 afcend,  or  defcend,  of  fly  abroad  upon  the  wings  of 
 the  morning  light,  which  diffufeth  itfelf  with  fuch 
 velocity  over  the  globcj  from  eaft  to  weft.     The  arm 
 of  the  Almighty  will  ftill  at  pleafure  prevent,  and  be 
 ready  to  arreft  the  fugitives  in  their  progrefs.    Dark- 
 nefs  may,  indeed,  conceal  us  and  our  deeds  from  the 
 fight  of  men;  but  the  divine  prefence,  like  that  o^ 
 the  fun,  turns  night  into  day,  and  makes  all  things 
 manifeft  before  God.     The  fame  confideration  which 
 fliould  reftrain  us  from  fin,   fliould  alfo    encourage 
 ts  to  work  righteoufnefs,  and   comfort  us  under  all 
 our  forrows;  namely,  the  thought,  that  we  are  never 
 out  of  the  fight  and  proteftion  of  our  Maker.     The 
 piety  and  the  charity  which  are  pradifed  in  cottages; 
 the  labour  and  the  pain  Vv^hich  are  patiently  endured 
 in  the  field,  and  on  the  bed  of  ficknefs;  the  mifery 
 and  torment   inflided  by  perfecution  in  the  mines, 
 the  gallies,  and  the  dungeons;  all  are  under  the  in- 
 fpedion   of  Jehovah,  and  are  noted  down  by  him 
 againft  the  day  of  recompenfe.     He  fees,  and  he  will 
 reward  all  we  do,  and  all  we  fuffer,    as   becometh 
 Chriftians.     He  who,  for  our  fakes,  caufed  his  Son 
 to  defcend  from  heaven  to  the  lower  parts  of  the  earth, 
 and  from  thence  to  afcend  to  heaven  again,  will  watch 
 over,    preferve,    and   re-aflemble   the   parts   of  our 
 H  h  2  bodies, 
 
484  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  139. 
 
 bodies,  though  dlflblved  in  the  grave,  buried  in  the 
 ocean,  or  difperfed  to  the  four  winds.  So  that,  with 
 allufion  to  this  event  alfo,  a  dying  fervant  of  God 
 may  exclaim,  Whither  can  I  go  from  thy  fpirit?  Or 
 whither  can  I  flee  from  thy  prefence?  If,  as  to  my 
 fpirltual  part,  I  afcend  into  heaven,  thou  art  there 
 to  receive  me;  if,  as  touching  my  body,  I  make  my 
 bed  in  b)m  or  the  grave,  behold  thou  art  there,  to 
 fecure  me.  If  I  take  the  wings  of  the  wind,  or 
 thofe  yet  more  expeditious  ones  of  the  morning,  and 
 am  carried  by  them  to  dwell  in  the  midft  of  the  fea, 
 inftead  of  the  bowels  of  the  earth;  ftill  fliall  I  be  un- 
 der thy  power  and  providence;  even  there  fhall  thy 
 hand  lead  me,  and  thy  right  hand  fliall  hold  me  fafl, 
 preferving  me  for  a  joyful  refurredion  at  the  time 
 appointed. 
 
 13.  For  thou  haji  po^/fejed,  ox ^  formed  my  reins: 
 thou  hajl  covered  me  in  my  mother's  womb.  14.  Iivill 
 praife  thee;  for  I  am  fearfully  and  xvonderfully 
 made:  marvellous  are  thy  works i  and  that  my  foul 
 hioweth  right  zvell. 
 
 That  God  feeth  in  darknefs,  and  that  from  him 
 nothing  is  hidden,  his  knowledge  of,  and  power  over 
 our  mofl;  inward  parts,  do  plainly  fliew.  He  "  form- 
 ed," and  he  therefore  "  poflTefleth,"  as  his  own  pro- 
 perty, our  "  reins,"  and  is  confequently  privy  to 
 all  thofe  affedions  and  defires  which  flow  from 
 thence.  It  was  he  who  "covered"  us  in  the  womb, 
 or,  as  it  is  elfewhere  expreflTed,  Job  x.  2.  who  "  cloth- 
 *'  ed  us  with  fkin  and  flelh,  and  fenced  us  with  bones 
 "  and  finews.*'  A  work  fo  aftonifliing,  that  before 
 the  Pfalmifl  proceeds  in  his  defcription  of  it,  he  can- 
 not help  breaking  forth  in  rapture  at  the  thought; 
 
 "  I  will 
 
Day  29.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  4S5 
 
 "  I  will  praife  thee,  for  I  am  fearfully  and  wonder- 
 **  fully  made!" 
 
 *'  Obftupeo,  et  memet  lasta  formidlne  luftro, 
 
 "  Divini  monumentum  operis!" Lowtii. 
 
 With  awful  j  ^y  I  view  this  frame  of  mine. 
 Stupendous  monument  of  power  divine! 
 15.  My  /lib  fiance  zvas  not  hid  from  thee,  xvhen  I 
 was  made  in/ecret,  and  curioujly  xvrovght,  or  varie- 
 gated, like  needle  zuork,  in  the  loweji  parts  of  the 
 earth,  16.  Thine  eyes  did  fee  my  fuhjlance,  yet 
 being  imperfect;  and  in  thy  book  all  my  members 
 were  written,  which  in  continuance  were  fafhionedy 
 zvhen  as  yet  there  was  none  of  them. 
 
 By  the  "  lower  parts  of  the  earth"  is  undoubtedly 
 to  be  underftood  the  "  womb,"  where  the  foetus  is 
 gradually  formed  and  matured  for  the  birth,  like 
 plants  and  flowers  under  ground.  The  procefs  is  com- 
 pared to  that  in  apiece  of  work  wrought  with  a  needle, 
 or  falhioned  in  the  loom;  which,  with  all  it's  beau- 
 tiful variety  of  colour,  and  proportion  of  figure, 
 arifeth  by  degrees  to  perfection  under  the  hand  of 
 the  artift,  framed  according  to  a  pattern  lying  before 
 him,  from  a  rude  mafs  of  filk,  or  other  materials. 
 Thus,  by  the  wifdom  and  power  of  God,  and  after 
 a  plan  delineated  in  his  book,  is  a  fhapelefs  mafs 
 wrought  up  into  the  moft  curious  texture  of  nerves, 
 veins,  arteries,  bones,  mufcles,  membranes,  and  ikin, 
 moll  Ikilfully  interwoven  ai:d  conneded  with  each 
 other,  until  it  becometh  a  body  harmonioufly  diver- 
 fified  with  all  the  limbs  and  lineaments  of  a  man,  i^ot 
 one  of  which  at  firlt  appeared,  any  more  than  the 
 figures  were  to  be  k^n  in  the  ball  of  filk.  But  then 
 H  h  3  (which 
 
4S6  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  139, 
 
 (which  is  the  chief  thing  here  infilled  on  by  the  Pfal-r 
 mid),  whereas  the  human  artificer  mufl  have  the 
 cleared  Hght  whereby  to  accomphfli  his  tafk,  the  di- 
 vine work-mafter  feeth  in  fecret,  and  efFedeth  all  his 
 wonders  within  the  dark  and  narrow  confines  of  the 
 womb.  The  reformation  of  our  corrupted  and  dif- 
 folved  bodies,  which  is  to  be  wrought,  at  the  laft  day, 
 in  the  womb  of  the  earth,  in  order  to  their  new  birth, 
 will  crown  all  the  works  of  the  Almighty. 
 
 17.  How  precious  alfo  are  thy  thoughts  unto ^  or, 
 concerning  me,  O  God  I  Hozv great  is  thefum  of  them  / 
 ^8.  Vi  IJJioidd  count  them,  they  are  more  in  numhev 
 than  the  J'and:  zvhen  I  awake,  I  ayn /till  with  thee. 
 
 From  the  wonders  of  Gpd's  forming  hand,  the 
 Pfalmift  proceeds  to  thofe  of  his  all-direding  Provi- 
 dence, which  afford  additional  proofs  of  the  divine 
 omnifcience  and  omniprefence.  The  "  thoughts'* 
 and  counfels  of  Jehovah  concerning  David,  his  ap- 
 pointment to  the  throne,  his  troubles,  and  his  pre- 
 fervation  in  the  midft  of  them,  were  "  precious"  and 
 delightful  fubjeds  of  meditation  and  praife,  never  tq 
 be  exhaufted  of  the  rich  matter  they  contained.  With 
 thefe  in  his  mind  he  lay  down  at  night  to  reft,  and, 
 "  when  he  awoke"  in  the  morning,  his  thoughts  na- 
 turally recurred  to  the  pleating  theme  j  he  began 
 where  he  had  left  off,  and  found  himfelf,  in  heart  and 
 foul,  "  ftill  prefent  with  God,"  ftill  ruminating  on 
 him  and  his  works.  The  mercies  of  heaven  in  the 
 redemption  of  the  church,  by  the  fufferings  and 
 exaltation  of  the  true  David,  according  to  the  divine 
 decree  concerning  him — how  precious  are  they  to, 
 believers  !  How  great  is  the  fum^  how  far  exceeding 
 
 all 
 
Day  29.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  487 
 
 nil  human  arithmetic  to  number  them  !  Let  them  be 
 to  us  the  conftant  fubjefts  of  contemplation,  admira- 
 tion, and  thankigiving,  day  and  night ;  and  let  death, 
 that  laft  ileep,  find  us  engaged  in  an  employment, 
 which,  when  we  awake,  and  arife  from  the  grave,  we 
 fhall  refume,  and  profecute  to  eternity,  in  the  pre- 
 fence  of  God. 
 
 19.  Surelx)  thou  wilt  Jlay  the  wicked^  O  God :  or, 
 Wilt  thou  not  Jlay  the  xvicktd,  O  GodP  depart  from 
 me y  therefore,  ye  blood- thirjiy  men.  20.  For  they 
 /peak  againfi  thee  ivickedly^  and  thine  enemies  take 
 thy  name  in  vain. 
 
 David  now  draws  the  intended  conclufion  from 
 the  premifes,  fo  largely  expatiated  upon  in  the  for- 
 mer part  of  the  Pfalm.  As  if  he  had  faid — And  wilt 
 thou  not,  O  God,  thou  who  art  every  where  prefent, 
 feeing  and  knowing  all  things :  thou  to  whom  the 
 juftice  of  my  caufe,  and  the  iniquity  of  mine  adver- 
 iaries,  are  equally  open ;  thou  who  haft  formed,  and 
 hitherto,  in  fo  wonderful  a  manner,  watched  over, 
 and  prcferved  thy  fervant  ;  "  wilt  thou  not  flay  the 
 **  wjcked,"  and  deliver  me,  as  thou  haft  promiled  to 
 do,  out  of  their  hands  ?  I  know  thou  wilt ;  '^  depart 
 ^'  from  me,  therefore,  ye  blood-thirfty  men;"  I  truft 
 in  my  God,  and  will  have  no  connedion,  in  the  way 
 of  treaty  or  friendlliip,  with  you.  You  are  not  my 
 enemies,  but  thofe  of  Jehovah,  againft  whom,  not 
 confidering  that  he  is  privy  to  all  your  words,  and 
 even  to  your  thoughts,  you  "  fpeak"  prefumptuoufly 
 and  "  wickedly,"  and  whofe  "  name"  you  "  take 
 "  in  vain,"  no  lefs  when  you  do  evil  under  a  godly 
 pretence,  and  call  him  to  witnefs  the  truth  of  your 
 H  h  4  lies 
 
48$  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  135, 
 
 lies  and  calumnies,  than  when  you  openly  blafphem^ 
 him.  Such  feemeth  to  be  the  full  import  of  thefe 
 two  verfes  ;  and  their  application  to  the  members  ox 
 the  church,  when  at  any  time  irj  fimjlar  pircumftance?, 
 ;s  obvious. 
 
 21,  Do  not  I  hate  them,  O  Lord,  that  hate  thee  f^ 
 and  am  not  I  grieved  zvith  thofe  that  rife  tip  againjl 
 thee?  22.  J  hate  them  with  perfect  hatred'  J  QQunt 
 them  mine  enemies, 
 
 A  faithful  fervant  hath  the  fame  interefts,  the  fame 
 friends,  the  fame  enpmjes,  with  his  Mafter,  whofp 
 caufe  and  honour  he  is,  upon  all  occafions,  in  duty 
 ^Dound  to  fupport  and  maintain.  A  good  man  hates, 
 as  God  himfelf  doth ;  he  hates  not  the  perfons  qf 
 men,  but  their  fms;  not  what  God  made  them,  but 
 what  they  have  made  themfelves.  We  are  neither  tp 
 hate  the  men,  on  account  of  the  vices  they  pr^dife  j 
 nor  to  love  the  vices,  for  the  fake  qf  the  men  whp 
 praflife  them.  He  who  obferveth  inyariably  this 
 diftindion,  fulfilleth  the  perfed  law  of  charity,  and 
 hath  the  love  of  God  and  of  his  neighbour  abiding  in 
 ^im. 
 
 23.  Search  7jie,  O  God,  a)i4  hm^  wj/  heart:  try 
 me,  and  know  my  thoughts :  24.  And  fee  i/there  be  any 
 wicked  way  iii  me^  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlafiing. 
 
 In  the  firft  yerfe  of  the  Pfalm,  David  declared, 
 that  Jehovah  had  "  fearched  him  out,  and  knowp 
 ?'  him;"  |ie  concludes  with  a  petition,  that  his  pro- 
 ceedings, and  even  his  thoughts,  might  be  ftilj  fcru- 
 tinized  by  his  Maker,  in  oj'der  to  their  perfgdl  puri- 
 fication from  any  evil  which  might  be  in  thern,  or 
 adhere  to  them.     Should  the  hotted  furpace  of  ad- 
 
 verfitv 
 
Day  29.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  489 
 
 verfity  be  found  neceflary  to  purge  the  drofs  from  the 
 filver,  he  refufeth  not  to  be  diflblved  in  it,  and  new 
 formed,  fo  that  he  might  only  become  a  velfel  of  ho- 
 nour, fitted  for  the  mafter's  ufe  here  below,  and 
 vouchfafed  a  place  afterwards  in  his  temple  above. 
 ^'  See  if  there  be'any  wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead  mc 
 '■   in  the  way  everlafting  1" 
 
 PSALM    CXL. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  Pfalm  containcth,  1 — 8.  a  prayer  for 
 deliverance  from  perfecutors  and  calumnia- 
 tors, their  violence  and  their  wiles;  9 — IL 
 a  prophecy  of  their  final  deftruc^tion,  and  12, 
 13.  the  falvation  of  the  afRidled  righteous. 
 It  was  compofed  by  David  in  his  troubles, 
 and  is  applicable  to  Chrifl:  and  to  the  church, 
 fefpedively,  in  theirs. 
 
 I.  Deliver  me  y  OhoRDjfrom  the  evil  man:  pre" 
 Jerve  me  from  the  violent  man  ;  1.  Which  imagine 
 Viifchiefs  in  their  heart;  continually  are  they  ga- 
 thered together  for  war. 
 
 "  Evil  and  violent  men"  exift  in  all  ages,  to  harafs 
 and  opprefs  the  fervants  of  God  ;  their  thoughts  are 
 employed  in  "  imagining  mifchief "  againft  fuch,  and 
 their  hands  are  ready  at  all  times  for  the  "  war." 
 Had  we  no  enemies  without,  there  are  thofe  within, 
 )vho  are  ever  fighting  and  troubling  us.     We  cannot 
 
 put 
 
490  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  140. 
 
 put  off  our  Chriftian  armour  for  a  moment  in  this 
 world,  nor  enter  into  peace  and  reft,  but  by  a  happy 
 death,  and  a  joyful  refurredion.  Then  God  will 
 "  deliver"  us,  as  he  delivered  David,  and  our  blefled 
 Lord  and  Mafter,  the  Son  of  David,  from  their  re- 
 fpeclive  enemies. 
 
 3.  They  have JJiarpened  their  tongues  like  afer- 
 "pent  J-  adders  poifon  is  under  their  lips. 
 
 Slander  and  calumny  mufl  always  precede  and  ac- 
 company perfecution,  becaufe  malice  itfelf  cannot  ex- 
 cite people  againft  a  good  man,  as  fuch ;  to  do  this, 
 he  muft  firft  be  reprefented  as  a  bad  man.  What 
 can  be  faid  of  thofe,  who  are  bufied  in  this  manner> 
 but  that  they  are  a  *""  generation  of  vipers,"  the  brood 
 of  the  old  "  Serpent,"'  that  grand  accufer  and  calum- 
 niator of  the  brethren,  having  under  their  tongues  a 
 bag  of  "  poifon,"  conveying  inftant  death  to  the 
 reputation  on  which  they  fatten.  Thus  David  was 
 hunted  as  a  rebel,  Chrift  was  crucified  as  a  blaf- 
 phemer,  and  the  primitive  Chriftians  were  tortured 
 as  guilty  of  inceft  and  murder. 
 
 4.  Keep  me,  O  hoRD,f?-om  the  hands  of  the  zmicked; 
 prejervc  me  from  the  violent  men,  who  have  purpofed 
 to  overthrow  my  goings.  5.  The  proud  have  hid  a 
 fnare  for  me-,  and  cords  ;  they  have  fpread  a  net  by 
 the  way  fide  i  tJiey  have  ftt  gins  J  or  me. 
 
 David  here  defcribeth  the  fubtlety  and  induftry 
 employed  by  his  enemies  to  effed  his  deftrudion,  by 
 lying  in  wait  for  him,  as  a  fkilful  fowler  doth  for  his 
 game,  fo  that  they  thought  it  impoffible  he  (liould 
 efcape  their  hands.  Such  was  the  condud  of  the 
 Jews,  with  regard  to  the  Son  of  David.     And  O  how 
 
 refinecj 
 
Day  29.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  491 
 
 refined  the  policy,  how  \]n wearied  the  apphcation  of 
 our  fpiritual  adverfaries,  to  *'  overthrow  our  goings" 
 in  the  path  of  Hte  and  ialvation,  to  circumvent,  and 
 to  deftroy  us  for  ever !  How  are  ■'  the  fnares,  the 
 "  nets,  and  the  gins,"  placed  for  us,  by  that  cunning 
 and  experienced  artift,  who  takes  care  that  nothing 
 fhould  appear  in  view,  but  the  alluring  baits  of 
 honour,  pleafure,  and  profit,  while  of  the  toils  we 
 have  no  notice,  till  we  find  ourfelves  entangled  and 
 caught  in  them  !  Who  flialj  preferve  us  thus  walking 
 in  the  midft  of  dangers  ?  He  to  whom  David,  in  the 
 following  verfes,  preferreth  his  prayer,  and  teacheth 
 us  to  do  likewife. 
 
 6.  I /aid  unto  the  Lord,  Thou  art  7ny  God:  hear 
 the  voice  of  wy  fupplications,  O  Lord.  7.  O  God 
 the  Lord,  the  Jirength  of  my  fahation^  thou  haji 
 covered  my  head  in  the  day  of  battle.  8.  Grant  not, 
 O  Lord,  the  defires  of  the  xvicked :  further  not  his 
 tvicked  device  ;  left  they  exalt  themfelves. 
 
 Jehovah,  the  God  of  David,  is  alfo  our  God,  and 
 be  is  always  ready  to  hear  our  fupplications.  \^z  is 
 our  ftrength,  and  hath  often  covered  our  head  with 
 the  helmet  of  falvation,  in  the  day  of  battle  and  open 
 war  with  our  fpiritual  enemies.  Nor- will  he,  for  the 
 glory  of  his  name,  grant  their  defires,  or  permit  theiF 
 more  fecret  "  devices"  and  machinations  to  work  the 
 deftrudion  of  his  people  ^  lefb  they  exalt  themfelves, 
 as  having  fruftrated  his  counfels  for  the  redemption  of 
 his  fervants. 
 
 9.  As  for  the  head  of  thofe  that  compafs  me  about, 
 
 the  mifchief  of  their  own  lipsjliali  cover  thnn.     10. 
 
 Burning  coals  JJialtfaU  upon  them  s  theyjhall  be  caft 
 
 I  into- 
 
492  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  140. 
 
 inio  the.flre^  into  deep  pits,  that  they  rife  not  up  again. 
 11,  An  evil  Speaker Jhall  not  be  ejiablijhed  in  the  earthy 
 eviljliall  hunt  the  violent  man  to  overthrow  him. 
 
 The  prophet,  in  thefe  three  verfes,  predidled  thofc 
 jufl  judgments,  which  heaven  will  inflict  on  the  flan- 
 derers  and  perfecutors  of  the  righteous.  Their  lips^ 
 which  uttered  milchief  againft  others,  (hall  be  the 
 means  of  covering  themlelves  with  confufion,  when 
 out  of  their  own  mouths  they  (hall  be  judged.  Thofe 
 tongues,  which  have  contributed  to  fet  the  world  on 
 fire,  fliall  be  tormented  with  the  hot  burning  coals 
 of  eternal  vengeance:  and  they  who,  with  fo  much 
 cagernefs  and  diligence,  have  prepared  pits  for  the 
 deftrudlion  of  their  brethren,  fliali  be  caft  into  a  deep 
 and  bottomlefs  pit,  out  of  which  they  will  not  rife 
 up  again  any  more  for  ever.  Evil  fpeakers  and  falfe 
 accufers  fhall  gain  no  lafting  eftablilhment,  but  pu- 
 nifliment  fhall  hunt  fin  through  all  its  doubles,  and 
 feize  it  at  laft  as  its  legal  prey.  Let  thefe  great 
 truths  be  firmly  rooted  in  our  hearts,  and  they  will 
 keep  us  fteady,  in  the  word  of  times. 
 
 12.  /  knozv  that  the  Lord  will  maintain  the  cau/e 
 of  the  afflictedy  and  the  right  of  the  poor.  13.  Surely 
 the  righteous  fiall  give  thanks  unto  thy  name  ^  the 
 upright  fhall  dwell  in  thy  prefence. 
 
 That  unjuft  and  opprefTive  men  (hall,  in  the  end, 
 fufFer  proportionably  to  their  deferts,  we  are  aflured 
 from  this  confideration,  namely,  that  the  Almighty 
 is  the  patron  of  the  injured  and  opprefled.  He  will 
 plead  the  caufe  of  the  meek  and  lowly,  who  are  ufed 
 by  the  world,  as  their  blelfed  Mailer  was  ufed  before 
 them.     A  day  will  come,  when,  delivered  out  of  all 
 
 their 
 
Day  29.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  493 
 
 their  troubles,  they  fhall  "  give  thanks  unto  thy 
 "  name/'  O  Lord,  and  *' dwell  in  thy  prefence"  for 
 evermore. 
 
 PSALM   CXLL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 David  feems  to  have  compofed  this  Pfalm  juft 
 before  his  flight  to  Achifli  king  of  Gath  ; 
 when  he  had  a  fecond  time  fpared  Saul's 
 iife,  but  could  trufl  him  no  longer.  See 
 1  Sam.  xxvi.  and  xxvii.  I.  1,  2.  He  prayeth 
 earneftly  for  help,  and  entreateth  to  be  heard, 
 as  when  able  to  attend  the  fervice  of  the  ta^ 
 bernacle;  3 — 5.  he  petitioneth  to  be  pre- 
 ferved  from  the  fnares  of  idolatry,  in  the 
 country  whither  he  was  going;  6,  7.  he  re- 
 lateth  his  own  condu6l  toward  Saul,  and  that 
 of  Saul  toward  him;  8,  9.  he  profefleth  his 
 faith  in  Jehovah,  and  redoubleth  his  prayer 
 to  him;  10.  he  predi(Sleth  the  deftruclion  of 
 his  enemies,  and  his  own  deliverance.  Many 
 parts  of  the  expofition  of  this  Pfalm,  given 
 by  the  late  learned  Mr.  Peters,  in  his  Critical 
 Diflertation  on  the  Book  of  Job,  have  been 
 adopted  in  the  enfuing  comment. 
 
 I.  Lord,  I  willcry  unto  thee,  make  hajle  unto  me i 
 
 give  ear  unto  my  voice,  when  I  cry  unto  thee.  2.  Lei 
 
 2  mif 
 
494  A  COMMENTARY        PsAt.  141; 
 
 wy  prayer  be  fet  forth   before  thee  as  incenfe  ;  and 
 the  lifting  tip  of  my  hands  z.%  the  evening  facrijice. 
 
 Tl\e  earned  and  repeated  fupplication  for  help,  in 
 the  firfl  of  thefe  verfes,  fufficiently  declares  the  Pfal- 
 mift  to  have  been,  at  the  time,  in  a  fitiiation  of  the 
 utmoft  diflrefs.  And  the  fecond  verfe  as  plainly 
 fheweth,  that  he  was  then  at  a  diftance  from  the  ta- 
 bernacle, where  all  the  folemn  prayers  of  the  Ifrael- 
 ites,  together  with  their  daily  facrifices,  were  offered 
 up.  And,  therefore,  with  his  face,  probably,  dired- 
 ed  thither,  like  Daniel  in  Babylon,  praying  towards 
 Jerufalem,  he  btgs  that  God  would  accept  of  all 
 which  it  was  in  his  power  to  perform,  namely,  the 
 devotion  of  his  heart,  and  the  elevation  of  his  hands 
 in  prayer  J  that  the  one  might  afcend  to  heaven,  fra- 
 grant and  well  pleafmg,  as  the  cloud  of  "  incenfe'* 
 mounting  from  the  holy  altar;  and  the  other,  in  con- 
 junftion  with  it,  prevail  infcead  of  the  "  eveni'ng 
 "  oblation,"  for  the  deliverance  of  himfelf  and  his 
 companions. 
 
 3.  Set  a  watch,  O  Lord,  before  my  mouth  ;  keep 
 the  door  of  my  lipsj  or,  agua'-d  over  the  door  of  my 
 lips,  4.  Incline  not  mine  heart,  i.  e.  fuffer  not  my 
 heart  to  be  inclined,  to  any  evil  thing,  to  practifc 
 wicked  zvorks  with  men  that  zvork  iniquity,  or,  ido- 
 latry;  and  let  vie  not  eat  of  their  dainties, 
 
 David  was  now  going  to  feek  a  retreat  from  the 
 perfccutions  of  his  mafter  Saul  amidft  a  race  of  ido- 
 laters, who  would  be  curious  to  obferve  all  his  words 
 and  adlions,  and  would  attempt  to  draw  him  in  to 
 be  a  partaker  with  them  in  their  idol  worfliip,  or  to 
 fufped  him  as  a  fpy  and  an  enemy,  if  he  refufed  to 
 
 comply 
 
Day  29.  Jvi.  y.     ON  the  PSALMS.  49^ 
 
 comply  with  them.  He  therefore  befceches  God  to 
 "  fet  a  watch  before  his  mouth,  a  guard  over  the 
 "  door  of  his  hps,"  that  he  might  neither  endanger 
 his  own  fafety  by  his  imprudent  carriage^  nor  violate 
 his  religion  by  any  weak  compliances.  He  entreats 
 to  be  prefcrved  from  that  greateit  of  all  evils,  the 
 renouncing  Jehovah  to  follow  vain  and  flrange  gods. 
 He  defires  that  he  might  not  be  guilty  of  this  heinous 
 and  prefumptuous  fm,  no  not  fo  much  as  in  thought 
 — "  Suffer  not  mine  heart  to  be  inclined  to  any  evil 
 *'  thing;"  that  he  might  abhor  to  play  the  hypocrite, 
 by  joining  in  tlie  abominations  of  the  heathen,  "  the 
 "  men  that  work  idolatry,"  though  but  in  fliew  and 
 appearance  only ;  and  that  he  might  never  be  allured 
 by  the  pomp  and  pleafure  of  their  feafts,  by  their 
 luxurious  meats»  and  lafcivious  rites,  to  mix  in  their 
 religious  feftivals,  to  eat  and  drink,  and  rife  up  to 
 play — "  neither  let  me  eat  of  their  dainties."  A 
 Chriftian,  living  among  unbelievers  and  fenfualifls  in 
 the  world,  hath  abundant  reafon  to  put  up  the  fame 
 prayers,   and  to  ufe  the  fame  precautions. 
 
 5.  Let  the  righteous  finite  me;  it  fliall  be  a  kind- 
 nefs-  and  let  him  reprove  7ne;  it  Ihall  be  an  excellent 
 oil,  vfhichjliull  not  break,  or,  deprefs  my  head'  for 
 yet  my  prayer  alfo  fhall  be  in  their  calamities,  or, 
 againf  their  zuickednefs. 
 
 David  continueth  his  prayer,  and  beggeth  of  hea- 
 •ven,  as  one  of  it's  bed  and  choiceft  bleffings,  that  if 
 at  any  time,  through  the  frailty  of  nature,  he  Ihould 
 be  inclined  to  yield  to  the  above  mentioned  tempta- 
 tions, he  might  find,  among  his  attendants,  fome 
 "  righteous"  and  faithful  friend,  who  might,  with  a 
 
 kind 
 
496  A  COMMENTARY         ?sal.  141. 
 
 kind  fe verity,  check  and  "  reprove'*  him.  Such  re- 
 proof, he  fays,  would,  at  that  feafon,  be  to  him  as 
 the  i!;><'l  pi:?  the  "chief,"  or  moft  "  precious  and  ex- 
 *'  cellent  oil ;"  See  Exod.  xxx.  23.  it  it  would  not  "de- 
 *'  prefs  his  head,"  ^wi^-^  >y  bik  or  caufe  him  to  "  hang 
 **  it  down,"  as  people  in  forrow  do,  but  it  would  be 
 "  the  oilof  gladnefs,"  refrefliing, enlivening,  ftrength- 
 ening,  and  enabling  him  to  lift  up  his  head  aboye  the 
 temptation,  againft  which  he  had  been  praying,  and, 
 with  renewed  vigour,  would  ftill  continue  to  pray; 
 "  for  yet  my  prayer"  (hall  be  an''Diyi3  "  againft 
 "  their  wickednefles."  The  blefled  effefts  of  reproof, 
 when  given  and  taken  as  it  ought  to  be,  never,  furely, 
 were  more  exadly,  or  more  beautifully  defcribed. 
 
 6.  When  their  judges  are  overthrow7i  in  Jlony  places, 
 they  JJiall  hear  my  zvordsj  for  they  are  fweet. 
 
 Of  this  verfe,  as  it  ftands  in  our  tranflation,  I 
 know  not  what  can  be  made.  When  literally  ren- 
 dered from  the  Hebrew,  it  runs  thus — "  Their  judges 
 **  have  been  difmifled  in  the  fides  of  the  rock,  and 
 "  have  heard  my  words  that  they  were  fweet."  David, 
 reflefting  on  Saul's  cruelty,  in  driving  him  out  of  his' 
 country,  to  wander  amongft  aliens  and  idolaters, 
 very  naturally  calls  to  raind  and  mentions  his  own 
 different  behaviour  towards  that  implacable  enemy, 
 whofe  life  he  had  fpared  at  two  feveral  times,  when 
 he  had  it  in  his  power  to  deftroy  him  as  he  pleafed. 
 •'  Their  judges,  or  princes,  leaders,  generals,"  &c. 
 according  to  the  frequent  ufageof  the  word  in  Scrips 
 ture,  V^^nm  "  have  been  difmifled"  (the  common  fig- 
 nification  of  the  verb  uy^})  "  in  the  fides  of  the  rock," 
 when  I  had   ihem  at  an  advantage  there;    i  Sam, 
 
 xxir. 
 
Day  29.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  497 
 
 xxiv.  3.  "and have  heard  my  words,  that  they  were 
 "  fweet*;*'  they  only  heard  me  expoftulate  with 
 them  in  a  manner  (o  mild  and  humble,  that  even  Saul 
 himfelf  was  overcome,  and  "  lift  up  his  voice  and 
 "  wept,  faying.  My  fon  David,  thou  art  more  righte- 
 *'  ous  than  I — The  Lord  reward  thee  good  for  that 
 "  thou  haft  done  unto  me  this  day."  i  Sam.  xxiv.  16. 
 Such  hath  been  my  conduft  towards  the  fervants  of 
 Saul.  Yet  how  have  my  people,  alas,  been  by  them 
 moft  miferably  butchered  ! 
 
 7.  Ou7'  bones  are  fcattered  at  the  grave's  mouthy 
 as  when  onecutteth  and  cleavethwood  upon  the  earth. 
 
 This  probably  alludes  to  the  bloody  maflacre  of 
 Ahimelec  and  the  priefts  that  were  in  Nob,  who  to 
 the  number  of  eighty-five  perfons,  all  of  a  facred  cha- 
 reder,  and  all  innocent,  were  inhumanly  llaughtered, 
 together  by  Docg  the  Edomite.  Such  havock  as  this 
 might  well  be  compared  to  the  cutting  and  cleaving 
 of  wood,  like  the  fragments  of  which,  the  bones  of 
 the  fufFerers  lay  fcattered  here  and  there  upon  the 
 ground,  as  many  of  the  bodies  might  be  devoured, 
 before  pits  were  prepared,  near  the  field  of  llaughter, 
 for  their  interment.  To  feel  the  force  of  the  Pfal- 
 mift's  expreffions  in  this  verfe,  we  need  not  have  re- 
 courfe  to  fuch  extraordinary  fcenes  of  tyranny  and 
 cruelty.  The  daily  diffolution  and  deftruftion  of  our 
 bodies,  in  the  common  way,  will  be  found  abun- 
 dantly fufficient  for  the  purpofe.  For  who  can  at- 
 tend the  digging  of  a  grave,  and  view  the  ruins  then 
 
 •  This  is  Mr.  Peters's  interpretation  of  the  verfe,  and  Dr. 
 DuRELL  hath  fallen  upon  the  fame. 
 
 Vol.  n.  I  i  dif- 
 
498  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  141; 
 
 difclofed,  without  exclaiming,  "  Our  bones  lie  fcat- 
 "  tered  at  the  grave's  mouth  j  as  when  one  cutteth 
 *'  and  cleaveth  wood  upon  the  earth  ?'*  Indeed, 
 Rachel  hath  often  had  occafion  to  bemoan  her  chil- 
 dren, thus  untimely  llain  by  the  unrelenting  fword 
 of  perfecution.  But  let  her  refrain  her  voice  from 
 weeping,  and  her  eyes  from  tears.  Her  children 
 fhall  return  again  from  the  dead,  and  their  bones 
 (hall  rejoice  and  flouriCh  as  an  herb.  Jer.  xxxi.  15. 
 Ifai.  Ixvi.   14. 
 
 8.  Butmine  eyes  are  unfo  thee,  O  God  the  Lord  : 
 in  thee  is  my  truft ;  leave  not  my  foul  dejiitute. 
 9.  Keep  me  from  the  fnares  vAi\z\\  they  have  laid  for 
 me,  ajid  the  gins  of  the  workers  of  iniquities. 
 
 The  principle  upon  which  David  afted,  and  fup- 
 ported  himfelf  under  his  troubles,  was  a  firm  truft  in 
 God,  and  a  fteady  refolution  to  obey  him.     With 
 confidence,  therefore,  he  made  his  prayer,  that  Je- 
 hovah would  keep  him  from  the  fnares  which  Saul 
 and  his  counfellors  had  laid   for  him  on  one  hand, 
 and  from  thofe  of  the  idolaters,  among  whom  he  was 
 driven,  on  the  other;  that  fo  he  might  not  be  left 
 deftitute  and  lofe  his  life,  or,  which  he  prized  more, 
 his  faith.     For  it  is  remarkable,  that  in  his  laft  fpeech 
 to  Saul,  I  Sam.    xxvi.  19.  where  he  mentions   the 
 wicked  policy  of  his  enemies,  who  had  contrived  to 
 force  him  into  banifhment,  he  mentions  not  the  dan- 
 ger of  his  life,  but  only  that  of  his  religion — "  They 
 **  have  driven  me  out  this  day  from  abiding  in  the 
 **  inheritance  of  the  Lord,  faying.  Go  ferve  other 
 **  gods;"  intimating,  that  they  had  done  what  lay  in 
 their  power  to  drive   him   to  idolatry,  by   forcing 
 
 him 
 
DAt  29.  t.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  499 
 
 him  into  a  country,  where  he  would  have  the  ftrong- 
 eft  temptation  to  it. 
 
 10.  Let  the  wicked,  or,  the  zvickedjliallfall  into 
 their  oxvn  nets  together,  whilji  that  I  withal  efcape. 
 
 From  the  fequel  of  the  hiftory  we  find  that  the 
 hope  and  affurance  here  exprefled  by  the  Pfalmift 
 were  not  vain.  He  efcaped  all  the  fnares  that  were 
 laid  for  him  on  every  fide  j  he  lived  to  fee  the  death 
 of  Saul,  who  fell  in  a  battle  with  the  Philiftines,  and 
 thofe  Philiftines  fubdued  by  himfelf  and  his  fubjeds. 
 So  will  the  devices  of  all  our  enemies  be  in  the 
 end  turned  againft  themfelves:  they  fliall  fall  and 
 perifli,  but  we  (hall  triumph,  with  our  Redeemer,  to 
 eternity. 
 
 XXIX    DAY.       EVENIXG    PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM    CXLIL 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  title  of  this  Pfalm  informs  us,  that  it  was 
 a  prayer  of  David,  when  he  was  in  the  cave, 
 that  is,  mofl  probably,  the  cave  of  Adullam, 
 whither  he  fled,  when  in  danger  both  from 
 Saul  and  from  the  Philiftines.  1  Sam.  xxii.  1, 
 Itcontaineth  1,  2.  a  f application  ;  3 — 5.  an 
 a6l  of  confidence  in  God  at  that  feafon  of 
 danger  and  deftitution;  6,  a  tender  com- 
 plaint of  His  fufferings,  and  7.  a  petition  for 
 deliverance.  Our  tranflators  haying  render- 
 I  i  2  ed 
 
50O  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  142, 
 
 ed  fome  of  the  verbs  in  the  pad  tenfe,  the  li- 
 berty hath  been  taken  to  alter  them,  agree- 
 ably to  the  Hebrew,  and  to  the  tenor  of  the 
 Pfalm,  which  feemeth  to  be  an  actual  prayer, 
 and  not  the  relation  of  one. 
 
 1.  7  xvill  cry  unto  the  Lord  with  my  voice  i  zvith 
 my  voice  unto  the  Lord  loill  I  make  my  f application. 
 2.  I  zvill  pour  out  my  complaint  before  him  ;  I  will 
 JJiew  before  him  my  trouble. 
 
 The  ftate  of  David  in  the  cave  of  AduUam  was  a 
 {late  of  utter  deftitution.  Perfecutcd  by  his  own 
 countrymen,  difmilTed  by  Achifli,  and  not  yet  joined 
 by  his  own  relations,  or  any  other  attendants,  he 
 took  refuge  in  the  cave,  and  was  there,  alone.  But 
 in  that  difconfolate,  and  feemingly  defperate  fituation, 
 he  defponded  not.  He  had  a  friend  in  heaven,  into 
 'vvhofe  bofom  he  "  poured  forth  his  complaint,"  and 
 told  him  the  fad  ftory  of  his  trouble  and  diftrefs. 
 When  danger  befetteth  us  around,  and  fear  is  on 
 every  tide,  let  us  follow  the  example  of  David,  and 
 that  of  a  greater  than  David,  who,  when  Jews  and 
 Gentiles  confpircd  againft  him,  and  he  was  left  all 
 alone,  in  the  garden,  and  on  the  crofs,  gave  himfelf 
 unto  prayer. 
 
 3.  When  my  fpirit  is  overwhelmed  within  me ^  then 
 thou  knowejt  my  path.  In  the  way  wherein  I  zvalk, 
 have  they  privily  laid  a  fnare  for  me» 
 
 The  meaning  is.  Though  my  thoughts  are  fo 
 broken  and  confufed,  that  I  am  not  able  to  counfel 
 and  dire<5t  myfelf  in  thefe  ftraits,  yet  thou  knowefl 
 the  path  wherein  I  walk,  thou  art  with  me,  and  wilt 
 
 preferve 
 
Day  29.  E.  p.         ov  THE  PSALMS.  501 
 
 prcferve  me  from  thofe  who  watch  all  my  fteps,  and 
 lie  in  ambufli  for  me.  Such  (hould  be  at  all  times 
 the  confidence  of  believers  in  the  wifdom,  the  power, 
 and  the  goodnefs  of  God,  even  when  human  prudence 
 has  done  it's  utmoft,  and  is  at  it's  wit's  end. 
 
 4.  Look  on  my  ?-ight  hand,  and  fee  that  there  is 
 no  man  that  zvill  know  me-  refuge  faileth  me;  no 
 man  careth  for  my  fuiil.  5.  I  cry  unto  thee,  OLord, 
 Ifayy  Thou  art  viy  refuge,  and  my  portion  in  the 
 land  of  the  living. 
 
 David  befeecheth  God  to  confiderhis  deftitute  con- 
 dition, to  "  look  on  his  right  hand,"  the  place  where 
 the  advocate  ufed  to  ftand,  and  to  "  fee  that  there 
 *'  was  no  man  that  would  know,"  acknowledge  him, 
 and  take  his  part;  "  refuge  failed  him;"  there  was 
 on  earth  no  patron  to  whom  he  could  commit  him- 
 felf  and  his  caufe;  no  one,  tt/'iTT  that  would  "  feek, 
 "  require,  or  avenge  his  foul."  Thus  Dr.  Hammond 
 expounds  the  words  in  a  forenfic  fenfe.  How  afFed- 
 ingly  do  they  defcribe  the  deflitution  of  David  in  the 
 cave,  and  that  of  the  fon  of  David  in  the  day  of  his 
 paflion,  death,  and  burial!  Death  will,  in  like  man- 
 ner, ftrip  us  of  all  our  earthly  connedions  and  de- 
 pendences. But  even  at  that  hour,  may  we,  each  of 
 us,  *'  cry  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  and  fay.  Thou  art  my 
 "  refuge  and  my  portion  in  the  land  of  the  living!" 
 
 6.  Attend  unto  my  cry  ;  for  I  am  brought  very  loiv; 
 deliver  me  from  my  perfecutors  ;  for  they  are  fironger 
 than  /.  7.  Bring  my  foul  out  of  prifon,  that  1  may 
 praifelhy  name-'  the  righteous fliall  compafs  me  about i 
 for,  or,  when  thoufhalt  deal  bountifully  with  me. 
 This  prayer  of  David  was  heard  and  anfwered ;  he 
 I  i  3  wn?; 
 
502  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  143. 
 
 was  delivered  from  his  perfecutors,  enlarged  from 
 his  diftrefs,  exalted  to  the  throne,  and  joined  by  all 
 the  tribes  of  Ifrael.  The  true  David  was  delivered 
 from  his  ftronger  perfecutors,  brought  from  the  fe- 
 pulchre,  exalted  to  his  heavenly  throne,  owned  and 
 fubmitted  to  by  the  converted  nations,  who  became 
 the  Ifrael  and  people  of  God.  Nor  let  us  fear,  though 
 we  be  brought  very  low  and  our  perfecutors,  the 
 world,  the  fleOi,  and  the  devil,  be  at  any  time  too 
 flrong  for  us.  God  will  deliver  us  from  the  bondage 
 of  fin,  and  redeem  us  from  the  prifon  of  the  grave, 
 to  join  the  great  alTembly  before  the  throne,  and 
 there  to  praife  his  name  for  ever. 
 
 PSALM    CXLIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This  is  the  feventh  and  laft  of  the  Penitential 
 Pfalms ;  and  as  we  are  not  informed  of  any 
 particular  temporal  calamities,  which  gave 
 occafion  to  it's  being  compofed,  .we  iliall  ex- 
 plain it  according  to  the  general  ufe  now 
 made  of  it  in  the  church,  for  which,  indeed, 
 it  feems  to  have  been  originally  and  entirely 
 defigned.  After  the  example  of  David,  the 
 penitent  1.  maketh  his  prayer  to  God  for 
 pardon;  2.  acknowledgeth  the  impofsibility 
 of  any  man  being  faved,  but  by  grace  ;  3, 
 
 4.  deplorech   the   lamentable  efFe6ls  of  fin  ; 
 
 5.  comforteth  himfelf  with  a  retrofpe6l  of 
 
 God'? 
 
Day  29.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  503 
 
 God*s  mercies  of  old;  and  6 — 12.  prayeth, 
 in  a  variety  of  exprefsions,  for  remifsion  of 
 fin,  fan6tification,  and  redemption. 
 
 1.  Hear  my  prayer^  O   Lord,  give  ear  to  my 
 fiipplications:  in  thy  faithfulnefs  anfwerme^  and  in 
 
 thy  righteoiifnefs. 
 
 When  Mary  Magdalene  wafhed  the  feet  of  Chrift 
 with  her  tears,  he  knew  what  the  petition  was  which 
 her  foul  defired  to  have  granted  and  anfwered  it, 
 accordingly,  before  it  was  made  in  words,  by  faying, 
 «  Thy  fins  are  forgiven  thee."  Thus  the  penitent, 
 without  mentioning  thefubje<5l  of  his  requeft,  as  be- 
 ing well  known  to  God,  begs  that  his  "  prayer  and 
 "  fupplication  may  be  heard  and  anfwered,"  agree- 
 ably to  the  "  faithfulnefs  and  righteoufnefs  of  Je- 
 «  hovah." 
 
 2.  And  enter  not  into  judgment  with  thy  fervant : 
 for  in  thy  fight  Jhall  no  man  living  be  jujiified. 
 
 In  the  firft  vcrfe,  the  fuppliant  appealed  to  the 
 promifes  of  God,  and  his  fidelity  in  performing  them. 
 Here  he  urgetli  the  fallen,  fmful,  wretched  ftate  of 
 human  nature,  which  hath  rendered  it  abfolutely  im- 
 pofTible  that  any  fon  of  Adam  can  be  faved,  fhould 
 God,  "  enter  into  judgment  with  him,"  and  exad  the 
 punifhment  due  to  his  offences  according  to  the  law, 
 inftead  of  pardoning  them  by  an  ad  of  grace.  The 
 thoughts  of  fuch  a  trial  are  enough  to  appal  the  foul 
 of  the  beft  man  living,  to  make  his  flefh  tremble, 
 and  all  his  bones  (hake,  as  if  he  flood  at  the  foot  of 
 Sinai,  and  beheld  Jehovah  ready  to  break  forth  upon 
 him  in  the  flame  of  devouring  fire. 
 
 114  3>  F^^ 
 
504  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  143. 
 
 3.  For  the  enemy  hath  perfeciited  my  foul ;  he 
 hath  fmitten  my  life  down  to  the  ground  ;  he  hath 
 77iade  me  to  dwell  in  darknefs\  as  thofe  that  have 
 been  long  dead.  4.  Therefore  is  my  fpirit  over- 
 whelmed zvithin  me  ;  my  heart  within  me  is  defolate. 
 We  have  an  "  enemy,"  who  "  perfecutes"  us  with 
 unrelenting  malice;  he''  fmites  our  life  down  to  the 
 "  ground,"  as  often  as  we  yield  to  temptation,  and 
 fall  from  our  ftate  of  holinefs,  to  grovel  in  bafe  and 
 earthly  defires ;  he  "  makes  us  to  dwell  in  darknefs,'* 
 when  he  has  thus  withdrawn  us  from  the  light  of 
 heaven,  which  before  illuminated  us,  while  we  walked 
 in  it ;  the  fpiritual  life,  for  a  time,  is  extinguiOied, 
 and  we  become,  for  all  the  purpofes  of  faith  and  cha- 
 rity, "  like  thofe  that  have  been  long  dead.  There- 
 "  fore,"  at  the  confideratlon  of  this  our  fad  eftate, 
 when  God  has  enabled  us  to  fee  and  know  it,  our 
 *'  fpirit  is  overwhelmed  within  us,"  with  remorfe, 
 anxiety,  and  defpondency ;  and  "  our  heart  within 
 **  us,"  deprived  of  the  comforts  of  confcience,  the 
 joys  of  the  Spirit,  and  the  prefence  of  the  Beloved, 
 *'  is  defolate,'*  forlorn,  miferablc.  To  refcue  the 
 fmner  from  this  difconfolate  and  loft  condition,  our 
 blefled  Saviour  was  forfaken  on  the  crofs ;  "  his 
 "  fpirit  was  overwhelmed  within  him,  and  his  heart 
 "*'  within  him  was  defolate  ;  the  enemy"  was  fuffered 
 to  "  fmitehis"  precious  "  life  down  to  the  ground,'* 
 and  he  "  dwelt,"  for  three  days,  "  in  darknefs,  as  the 
 "  men  that  have  been  long  dead," 
 
 5.  I  remember  the  days  of  old;  I  meditate  on  all 
 thy  works  ;  I  mufe  on  the  work  of  thy  hands.    ' 
 
 When  fin  has  thus  laid  us  low,  and,  as  it  were, 
 
 flain 
 
Day  29.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  505 
 
 flain  and  entombed  us,  we  begin  to  revive  and  to 
 arife  from  the  dead,  through  hope  of  f'crgivenefs  and 
 reftoration  to  the  divine  favour,  by  "  rerr.embring 
 "  the  days  of  old,  and  meditating  on  all  the  works'* 
 of  love  and  mercy,  which  Jehovah  then  wrought  to- 
 wards thofe  who  were  tinners,  like  oarfeives.  While 
 we  "  mufe  on  fuch  inftances  of  his  goodnefs,  the 
 refledion  is  obvious,  Is  he  not  ftill  the  fame  gracious 
 God  ?  Will  he  not  do  as  much  for  us,  upon  our  re- 
 pentance, as  he  hath  formedy  done  for  others,  upon 
 theirs?  "  Lee  us  arife,  and  go  to  our  Father!" 
 
 6.  I Jlretch  forth  my  hands  unto  thee;  my  foul 
 thirfleth  after  thee  as  a  thirjly  land. 
 
 Prayer  is  the  voice  of  faith.  The  finner  who  views 
 his  fituation,  and  believes,  on  having  confidered 
 God's  works  of  old,  that  he  (hall  be  delivered  out 
 of  it  will  foon  "  ftretch  forth  his  hands,"  in  fuppli- 
 cation  to  heaven.  His  foul  will  gafp  and  pant  after 
 that  grace  and  mercy  which  defcend  from  above,  like 
 the  rain  in  it's  feafon,  to  bellow  refrefhment,  beauty, 
 and  fertility,  on  a  parched  and  "  thirfty  land." 
 While  we  recite  this  verfe,  let  us  not  be  unmindful 
 of  Him,  whofe  hands  were  often  ftretched  forth  in 
 prayer  for  his  people,  and  whofe  foul  thirfleth  after 
 our  falvation,  even  then,  when  he  felt  the  extremity 
 of  bodily  third,  on  the  crcfs. 
 
 7.  HeremefpeedilyyO'LoKJii  my  fpirit  faileth  : 
 hide  not  thy  face  from  me,  left  1  be  like  unto  them 
 that  go  dowji  into  the  pit. 
 
 Tliefe  words  would  come  with  propriety  from  the 
 mouth  of  one  in  danger  of  temporal  death.  They  are 
 no  iefs  proper  in  the  mouth  of  him  who  is  in  danger 
 
 of 
 
5o6  A  COIVIMENTARY         Psal.  143. 
 
 of  death  eternal.     Rather,  they  receive  an  additional 
 force  and  energy,  when  ufed  in  this  latter  fenfe. 
 
 8.  Caufe  vie  to  hear  thy  loving  kmdnefs  in  the  morn- 
 ing; for  in  thee  do  I  triiji'-  caufe  me  to  knozv  the  way 
 wherein  Ifliould  walk;  I  lift  up  my  foul  unto  thee. 
 
 The  penitent  prayeth,  that  he  may  "  hear  the  voice 
 «  of  God's  loving  kindnefs,"  fpeaking  pardon  and 
 peace  to  his  foul,  "  in  the  morning"  fpeedily  and 
 early,  after  the  long  dark  night  of  fear  and  forrow, 
 through  which  he  is  pafling.  This  he  hopes,  be- 
 caufe,  difclaiming  all  other  reliance,  he  placeth  his 
 confidence  in  God  alone;  "  in  thee  do  I  truft."  Nor 
 is  he  only  folicitous  for  the  forgivenefs  of  what  is 
 paft,  but  for  future  direction  in  the  courfe  of  duty; 
 *'  (hew  thou  me  the  way  wherein  I  fliould  walk.'* 
 And  to  the  end  that  he  may  follow  fuch  diredions, 
 he  hath  withdrawn  his  affedions  from  things  below, 
 and  fet  them  on  things  above;  "  I  lift  up  my  foul 
 *'  unto  thee." 
 
 9.  Deliver  meiOhoR-D,  from  mine  enemies-'  I  flee 
 unto  thee  to  hide  me.  10.  Teach  me  to  do  thy  will;  for 
 thou  art  my  God:  thy  fpirit  is  good;  lead  me,  or,  lei 
 thy  good  Spirit  lead  me  into  the  land  ofuprightnefs. 
 
 He  continueth  to  pray  that  he  may  be  "  delivered 
 "  from  his  enemies,"  the  world,  the  fiefh,  and  the 
 devil,  from  whofe  temptations  he  "  fleeth,"  by  re- 
 pentance and  faith,  to  the  Almighty,  to  "  hide"  and 
 proted  him.  He  requefteth  to  be  fully  inftruded 
 in  the  "will"  of  him,  whom,  as  his  Lord  and  his 
 *'  God,"  he  hath  determined  to  ferve  and  obey.  But 
 confcious  of  his  own  inability  to  do  the  will  of  Je- 
 hovah, even  when  kqown,  he  entreateth  the  good 
 
 Spirit 
 
Day  29.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  507 
 
 Spirit  of  God  to  *Mead'  him  out  of  the  ma^es  of 
 error,  and  the  pollutions  of  \ic-',  into  the  pleafant 
 "  land'  of  truth  and  holin  fs*. 
 
 II.  2uicken  me,  O  Lo r  i>,/or  thv  Name* s fake:  for 
 thy  righteousnefs  fake  bring  my  foui  out  of  trouble, 
 12.  And  of  tin;  mercy  cut  off  mine  enemies^  and  de- 
 flroy  all  them  that  afiic t  iJiyfo u I 'f or  l-dm  thyfervant. 
 
 The  verbs  in  thefe  two  laft  verfes,  as  Dr.  Ham- 
 mond hath  noted,  fliould  be  rendered  in  the  future; 
 *'  Thou  (halt  quicken,"  &c.  and  then  the  Pfalm 
 will  end,  as  ufual,  with  an  adl  of  faith  and  aflfurance, 
 that  all  thofe  mercies,  which  have  been  afked,  fhall 
 be  obtained;  that  God,  for  the  fake  of  his  "  Name," 
 and  his  *'  righteoufnefs,"  of  his  glory,  and  his  faith- 
 fulnefs  in  the  performance  of  his  promifes,  will  not 
 fail  to  be  favourable  and  gracious  to  his  fervants, 
 *'  quickening"  them,  even  when  dead  in  trefpafles 
 and  fins  and  bringing  them,  by  degrees,  "  out  of 
 "  all  their  troubles ;"  going  forth  with  them  to  the 
 battle  againft  their  fpiritual  "  enemies,"  and  enabling 
 them  to  vanquidi  the  authors  of  their  "  afflidion" 
 and  mifery,  to  mortify  the  flefh,  and  to  overcome 
 the  world;  that  fo  they  may  triurnph  with  their  Re- 
 deemer, in  the  day  when  he  fliall  likewife  quicken 
 their  mortal  bodies>  and  put  all  enemies  under  theiif 
 feet. 
 
 *  Mr.  Merrick  mentions  the  fimilar  phrafe  of  weJtoi/  aXr^eia?, 
 and  ^n//,a.'v  aXrjSna?,  among  the  Greeks.  Or  aiiy^n  V"ii^  niay  fignify 
 "  the  land  that  is  plain,  and  diredl,  even  and  ftraight,"  where 
 he  might  purfue  his  intended  courfe  of  piety  and  goodnefs,  with-, 
 out  fear  of  meeting  with  obftruftions  in  the  way,  or  danger  of 
 wandering  out  of  it» 
 
 ^XX  DAY. 
 
$oS  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  144 
 
 XXX  DAY.       MORNING   PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  CXLIV. 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It  appears,  from  verfe  2.  and  verfe  10.  of  this 
 Pfalm,  that  it  was  compofcd  after  David^s 
 accefsion  to  the  throne.  And  it  is  evident^ 
 from  verfe  5,  &c.  that  he  had  more  enemies 
 ilill  to  conquer,  fuch  as  the  Philiftines,  &c. 
 He  therefore,  I,  2.  blefleth  Jehovah^  and  3, 
 4.  expreiTeth  his  aftoniihment  at  the  divine 
 goodnefs  fhevvn  to  fuch  a  creature  as  man, 
 5 — 8.  He  befeecheth  God  to  perfect  his 
 work,  and  fubdue  the  remaining  adverfaries 
 by  the  might  of  his  power.  9,  10.  He 
 breaks  forth  again  into  a  ftrain  of  thankf- 
 giving,  and  11 — 15.  again  returns  to  his 
 prayers  for  the  complete  redemption,  and  the 
 profperity  of  Ifrael.  If  we  fubftitute  in  our 
 minds,  Mefsiah  for  David,  the  church  for 
 Ifrael,  and  fpiritual  for  temporal  blefsings, 
 the  Pfalm  will  prefent  itfelf  to  us,  as  a  noble 
 evangelical  hymn. 
 
 I.  Blejed  be  the  Lord  my  Jirength^  tvhich  teach- 
 eth  my  hands  to  zcar,  and  my  fingers  to  fight; 
 
 What  David  here  acknowledgeth,  with  regard  to 
 bis  vidories,  and  that  fkill  or  might  by  which  they 
 
Day  30.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  509 
 
 were  obtained,  (hould  be  likewlfe  acknowledged  by 
 all  earthly  kings  and  generals,  in  the  day  of  battle 
 and  conqueft.  For  fuccefs  in  our  fpiritual  warfare, 
 we  depend  on  the  grace  of  God,  which  alone  can 
 give  us  wifdom  and  "  ftrength  to  have  vidory,  and 
 "  to  triumph  againft  fin,  the  world,  and  the  devil." 
 Even  the  captain  of  our  falvation  fought  and  over- 
 came by  a  power  that  was  divine.  '*  Jehovah  taught 
 "  HIS  hands  to  war,  and  his  fingers  to  fight."  And 
 '*  bleffed,"  on  that  account,  be  the  name  of  Jehovah, 
 in  the  church,  for  evermore. 
 
 2.  My  goodnefSy  Heb.  my  mercy  *,  aiid  myfortrefs; 
 my  high  tower  and  my  deliverer;  my  Jliield^  and  he 
 in  whovi  I  trujl ;  zvhofubdueih  7ny  people  wider  me. 
 
 The  "  goodnefs,'*  or  "  mercy"  of  God  inclineth 
 U5  in  time  of  trouble,  to  fly  to  him  as  to  a  "  for- 
 '*  trefs,"  or  "  tower,"  in  which  we  find  refuge;  and 
 when  we  have  thus  put  ourfelves  under  his  patron- 
 age he  becometh  our  "  deliverer"  from  prefent  dan- 
 ger; our  "  fliield"  or  protector,  againft  any  that  may 
 afterwards  arife;  the  obje<5t  of  our  unlimited  "  trufl'* 
 and  confidence;  and,  at  laft,  the  "  fubduer"  of  all 
 oppofition  "  under  us." 
 
 3.  Lord,  what  is  mauy  that  thou  takeji  knowledge 
 of  him?  Or  the  fon  of  man^  that  thou  makeft  ac* 
 count  of  him  f  4.  Man  is  like  to  vanity:  his  days 
 are  as  afliadow  thatpajjeth  away. 
 
 *  That  is,  "  who  are  merciful  to  me,"  the  abftraft  being  put 
 for  the  concrete,  as  in  Pf.  xii.  i.  Prov.  x.  29.  Ezek.  xliv.  6. 
 Hof.  viii.  9.  Dr.  DuRELL  thinks  we  ftiould  read  'non  •*  my 
 "  refuge,"  as  in  other  parallel  places. 
 
 After 
 
'5 10  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  144. 
 
 After  a  thank fglving  for  the  works  which  Jehovah 
 had  wrought,  followeth  a  refleftion  on  the  creature 
 *'  man,"  for  whom  they  were  wrought.  Such  a  re- 
 fledtion,  introduced  in  the  fame  manner,  and  almoft 
 in  the  fame  words,  we  meet  with  in  Pf.  viii.  4.  which 
 paflage,  being  cited  by  the  Apoftle,  Heb.  ii.  6.  and 
 apphed  to  Chrift,  affords  an  argument,  as  Dr.  Ham- 
 mond hath  juftly  obferved,  for  a  Hke  application  of 
 the  verfes  now  before  us,  in  their  more  eminent, 
 prophetic,  myftical  fenfe.  For,  certainly,  if  David, 
 upon  the  remembrance  of  what  God  had  done  for 
 him,  could  break  forth  into  this  reflection,  much 
 more  may  we  do  fo,  for  whom  the  Redeemer  hath  been 
 manifefled  in  the  form  of  a  fervant,  and  in  that  form 
 hath  humbled  himfelf  to  the  death  of  the  crofs,  to 
 gain  us  the  vidory  over  principalities  and  powers, 
 to  put  all  things  under  our  feet,  and  to  make  us 
 partakers  of  his  everlafting  kingdom.  Lord,  what, 
 indeed,  is  man,  DIK  or  what  is  the  fon  of  fuch  a  mi- 
 ferable  creature,  ^:n:l^^^p  that  thou  fhouldft  take  this 
 Icnowledge,  and  make  this  account  of  him  ?  Man, 
 who  is  now  become  like  vanity,  or  inftabiJity  itfelf; 
 whofe  days  are  fleeting  and  tranfient  as  a  fhadow, 
 which  glides  over  the  earth,  vaniflies,  and  is  feen 
 no  more!  Such  was  human  nature:  but  the  Son  of 
 God  hath  taken  it  upon  himfelf,  rendered  it  immor- 
 tal, and  exalted  it  to  heaven;  whither  all  will  follow 
 him  hereafter,  who  follow  him  now  in  the  paths  of 
 righteoufnefs  and  holinefs. 
 
 5.  Bow  thy  heavens,  O  Lord,  and  come  down; 
 
 touch  the  viowitainsy  and  they  Jliallfmoke.     6.  Cajl 
 
 forth  lightning,   and  fcatter  them i  Jlioot  out  thine 
 
 I  arrows. 
 
Day  30.  M.  p.        ON  THE  PSALMS.  511 
 
 arrows,  anddejlroy  them.  7.  Send  thine  hand  from 
 above;  rid  me,  and  deliver  me  out  of  great  waters, 
 from  the  hand  of  Jlrange  children;  8.  Whofe  mouth 
 fpeaketh  vanity,  and  their  right  hand  is  a  right  hand 
 of  Jalfehood. 
 
 David,  having  celebrated  his  vidoiies  over  fome 
 of  his  enemies,  and  extolled  the  mercy  and  goodnefs 
 of  God,  to  whom  he  afcribeth  the  atchievement  of 
 them,  now  proceedeth  to  requeft  a  farther  mani- 
 feftation  of  the  omnipotent  arm  in  his  favour,  againft 
 other  hoftile  forces,  which  dill  threatened  his  coun- 
 try, upon  his  acceffion  to  the  throne ;  fuch  as  the 
 Philiftines,  Moabites,  Ammonites,  &c.  See  2  Sam. 
 V.  and  viii.  Thefe  are  called,  metaphorically,  "  great 
 **  waters,"  threatening  to  overwhelm  and  deftroy  every 
 thing;  and,  in  plainer  terms,  "  ftrange  children,"  or 
 aliens  from  the  covenant  of  Jehovah,  and  the  com- 
 monwealth of  Ifrael;  children  who  "  fpeak  lies,  and 
 *'  work  wickednefs;"  or,  as  Dr.  Hammond  inter- 
 preteth  the  8th  verfe,  "  whofe  mouth  fpeaketh,  or 
 "  maketh  profeffion  of  vanity,  KV^  that  is,  idolatry  ; 
 "  and  their  right  hand,"  that  on  which  they  depend 
 for  fupport,  the  objeA  of  their  confidence,  "  is  a 
 "  right  hand  of  falfehood,"  TW  and  one  that  will  fail 
 all  who  rely  upon  it  for  help.  Jehovah,  the  God  of 
 Ifrael,  is  therefore  entreated  once  more  to  appear 
 in  the  caufe  of  his  Anointed;  to  go  forth,  as  of  old, 
 to  the  battle  againft  the  enemies  of  his  people,  with 
 all  the  tokens  of  dilpleafure  and  vengeance,  difmay- 
 ing  and  putting  to  flight  thefe  "  armies  of  aliens." 
 In  like  manner,  the  church,  or  myftical  body  of 
 Chrift,  is  inftant  in  prayer  for  the  final  completion 
 of  her  hope.    She  wifheth  for  the  glorious  day,  when 
 
 her 
 
Siz  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  144. 
 
 her  God  and  Saviour  fliall  bow  the  heavens,  and  come 
 down  to  judgment,  caufing  the  mountains  to  fmoke, 
 and  flame,  and  diflbive,  and  flow  down  before  himj 
 when  his  lightnings,  thofe  arrows  of  his  indignation, 
 and  miniflers  of  his  vengeance,  fhall  fcatter  the  hoft 
 of  darknefs,  and  deftroy  the  antichriftian  powers; 
 when  we  (hall  be  delivered  from  every  enemy,  and 
 from  all  that  hate  us,  and  David  oitr  King. 
 
 9.  /  willjing  a  newfong  unto  thee^  O  God:  upon 
 a  pfaltery  and  an  injirument  oftenjirings  willl  Jing 
 praifes  unto  thee.  10.  It  h\\Q  that  givethfalvatloH 
 unto  kings:  tvhe  delivereth  David  his  fervant  from 
 the  hurtful  /word. 
 
 In  the  mean  time,  as  the  Ifraelitifli  church  praifed 
 Jehovah  for  the  mercies  already  vouchfafed  to  the 
 fon  of  Jefle,  fo  do  we  daily  magnify,  with  voices 
 and  inflruments  of  mufic,  that  falvation  which  God 
 hath  effeded  for  us,  by  the  deliverance  of  his  Son, 
 our  Lord,  from  death  and  the  grave. 
 
 II.  Rid  mcy  and  deliver  me  from  the  hayid  of 
 ftrange  children,  whofe  mouth  fpeaketh  vanity,  and 
 their  right  hand  is  a  right  hand  of  falfehood: 
 12.  That  our  fons  may  be  as  plants  grown  up  in 
 their  youth  y  that  our  daughters  may  be  as  corner 
 Jlonesy  polijhed  2S\.tx  the  fimilitude  of  a  palace,  ij. 
 That  our  garners  may  h^fulh  affording  all  manner 
 ofjiore,  that  our  flieep  may  bring  forth  t.hoiifands 
 and  ten  thoufands  in  our  f  reels ;  or,  fields-'  14. 
 That  our  oxen  may  bejirong  to  labour i  that  there 
 be  710  breaking  in,  nor  going  out;  that  there  be 
 no  complaining  in  our  free  ts. 
 
 Prayer  is  again  made  for  a  continuance  of  God's  . 
 favour,  and  a  complete  vidory  over  every  enemy; 
 
 the 
 
Day  30.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  313 
 
 the   happ3'  confequcnces  of  which,  in  the  eftablifli- 
 ment  of  Ifrael,  and  the  profperity  of  Jerufalem,  are 
 particularly    defcribed.      Vidory    is    produdlive   of 
 peace,  and  peace  is  the  mother  of  all  earthly  blelT- 
 ings  to  communities,  and  the  families  that  compofe 
 them;  whofe  happinefs  confiileth  in  a  numerous  and 
 hopeful  progeny  of  fons  and  daughters  j  the  former 
 healthy  and  well  nurtured,  growing  up,  Hke  young 
 plants  in  a  kindly  foil,  until  they  attain  to  their  full 
 ftrength   and  ftature ;  the  latter,  fair  and  virtuous, 
 like  fo  many  tall,  well-proportioned,  highly  polithed, 
 and  richly  ornamented   columns,  gracing  the  houfe 
 to  which  they  belong.   When  to  thefe  we  have  added 
 plenty  of  corn,  and  all  other  provifions,  in  the  gra- 
 naries and  ftorehoufes ;  flocks  and  herds,  ever  thriv- 
 ing and   increafing ;  freedom  from  hoftile  invafions 
 and  domeftic  complaints,  fo  that  there  be  "  no  break- 
 "  ing  in,  nor  going  out,"  no  irruption  of  aliens  into 
 the  commonwealth,  nor  emigration  of  inhabitants  to 
 foreign    countries,    by  captivity,    or   otherwife;    we 
 fliall  tind  ourfelves  poffelTed  of  moil  of  the   ingredi- 
 ents, which  enter  into  the  compofition  of  temporal 
 felicity.     Such   felicity  God  promifed  to  his  people 
 rfrael,  and   bellowed  on  them,  while  they  kept  his 
 llatutes,  and  obferved  his  laws.     And  therefore  there 
 is  no  reafon  for  fuppofing,  as  the  Fathers,  with  many 
 others,    have   done,    that    thefe  wiflies  for   '^  fons, 
 "  daughters,  corn,  Iheep,  oxen,  &c."  are  uttered  by 
 the  "  ftrange  children,"  the  aliens  and  idolaters,  men- 
 tioned in  the  nth  verfe.     The  good  things  of  this 
 world  may  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  righteous,  who  are 
 diftinguilhed  from  the  wicked  by  the  ufe  which  they 
 Vol.  II.  Kk  "^ake 
 
5T4  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  145 
 
 make  of  them,  when  given;  and  by  their  meek  re- 
 fignation  of  them,  when  taken  away.  Whatever  be 
 the  will  of  God  concerning  our  having  or  wanting 
 thefe  outwdrd  comforts,  we  know  that  we  have,  as 
 the  faithful  fervants  of  God  in  every  age  had  before 
 us,  greater  and  more  precious  promifes,  a  better  and 
 an  enduring  fubftance,  pleafures  that  fade  not,  and 
 riches  that  fly  not  away,  referved  for  us  in  a  heavenly 
 country,  and  a  city  which  hath  foundations. 
 
 15.  Happy  is  that  people  that  is  iiifnch  a  cafe : 
 yea,  happy  is  that  people^  tvho/e  God  is  the  Lord. 
 
 The  Plalmift  concludes  with  pronouncing  the  hap- 
 pinefs  of  the  Ifraelites,  when  in  the  ftateof  profperity 
 above  defcribed,  and  their  far  greater  happinefs  in 
 *'  having  Jehovah  for  their  God,"  who,  by  fettling 
 them  in  peaceful  pofleflion  of  the  land  of  Canaan, 
 and  the  Jerufalem  below,  gave  them  a  pledge  and 
 foretafte  of  that  love,  which  flood  engaged  by  cove- 
 nant to  bring  them  and  us  to  his  everlafling  Reft,  in 
 the  Jerufalem  above. 
 
 PSALM   CXLV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Hitherto,  in  this  divine  book,  we  have  been 
 prefented  with  checkered  fcenes  of  danger 
 and  deliverance,  diftrefs  and  mercy.  The 
 voice  of  complaint  hath  fometimes  been  fuc- 
 ceeded  by  that  of  thankfgiving ;  and  praife, 
 at  other  times,  hath  terminated   in  prayer. 
 
 But 
 
Day  3C5.  m.  p.  dx  the  PSALMS*  515 
 
 But  now,  as  if  the  days, of  mourning  in  Zion 
 were  ended,  we  hear  no  more  of  Mefsiali,  as 
 a  man  of  forrows ;  or  of  the  church,  as  de- 
 fpifed  and  afflicted,  after  the  fame  example, 
 in  the  world.      Henceforth  we  fccni   not  to 
 he  upon  earth,  but  in  heaven,  minglin^^  with 
 ccleftial  fpirits  around  the  th^rone,  and  linsj- 
 ing,    as   in  the  following   Pfalm,    1,  2.  the 
 ■  praifes  of  our  God    and    King;  extolling  3. 
 liis  grcatnefs,  4.  his  might,  5.  his  glory,  6, 
 7.  his  juftice,  8,  9.  his  mercy;  10 — 13.  the 
 majefty  of  his  kingdom,  and    14 — 21.  all  his 
 adorable  perfections,    and   wondrous   works. 
 This  is  an  alphabetical  Pfalm.     The  verfe, 
 which  Ihould  begin  With  the  letter  Nun,  is 
 wanting.     But,  as  Dr.  Hammond   hath   ob- 
 ferved,  it  is  not  uncommon  fox  one  letter, 
 or  more,  to   be  left  out  in  an  alphabetical 
 Pfalm,  as  in  Pf.  xxv.    where  1  being  twice 
 repeated,  p  is  certainly  omitted.     We   ihall 
 therefore   content  ourfelves,   with   what  we 
 find   in    the   original    Hebrew,    and   in    the 
 Chaldee,  without  inferting  the  verfe  which 
 is   now  read   in  the  Ixx,  and  other  tranlla- 
 tions.     Bifliop  Patrick  mentions  a  faying  of 
 the  ancient  Hebrews,    taken   notice  of  by 
 Valentine   Schindler,  that  "  He  could   not 
 "  fail  to  be   a   child  of  the  world  to  come, 
 "  who    would  fay    this  Pfalm  three    times 
 K  k  2  "  every 
 
5i6  A  COMMENTARY  Fsal.  14^. 
 
 "  every  day."  Perhaps  tbcy  who,  while  they 
 chant  it  in  lull  choir,  enter  thoroughly  into  the 
 fpirit  of  it,  do  experience  as  lively  a  foretafte  of 
 the  next  world,  as  can  be  experienced  in  this. 
 
 I .  /  zvill  extol  thee^  my  Gody  O  King  ;  and  will  hlefs 
 thy  name  for  ever  and  ever.  1.  Every  day  xvill  I  blejh 
 thee  ;  and  I  will  praife  thy  name  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 The  fame  divine  perfon,.  who  was,  in  a  peculiar 
 manner,  the  "  God"  and  "  King"  of  Ifrael,,  now 
 ftandeth  in  thofe  relations  to  the  Gentile  Chriflian 
 eburch,  and  by  her  is  "  extolled"  in  the  words  of 
 this  Pfalm,  originally  coLnpofed  and  ufed  for  that 
 purpofe  among  the  Ifraelites.  Chrift  is  our  "  God,^' 
 who  hath  faved  us,  according  to  his  covenant  and 
 promife;  he  is  our  **•  King/'  who  hath  fet  up  the 
 univerfal  and  everlaftlng  kingdom,  foretold  by  Da- 
 niel, and  the  other  prophets;  who  hath  '*  all  power 
 "'  in  heaven  and  earth;"  andvvho"muft  reign  till 
 "  he  hath  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet,  and  fwal- 
 "  lowed  up  death  in  vidory."  In  the  meantime 
 is  the  daily  employment  of  us,  his  redeemed  fubjeds 
 and  fervantSy  to  chant  forth  the  praifes  of  his  faving 
 and  glorious  "  name/'  with  which  the  church,  on 
 earth,  and  in  heaven,  will  refound  '*  for  ever  and. 
 ^*  ever." 
 
 3.  Great  is  the  Lord,  and  greatly  to  he  praifed  , 
 and  his  greatnefs  is  unfearchahle.  4.  One  genera- 
 tion Jhall  praife  thy  ivorks  unto  another y  and  JJiall 
 declare  thy  mighty  acts. 
 
 The  "  greatnefs"  of  Jehovah,  whether  we  confider 
 it  as  relating  to  hi,s  eUcnce,  or  bis  works,  is  never  to 
 
 be 
 
Day  jo.  m.  p,       ox  the  PSALMS.  517 
 
 be  fulfy  comprehended  by  his  faints,  who-fe  delight 
 it  is  to  contemplate  "  the  breadth,  and  length,  and 
 "  depth,  and  height;''  Ephef.  iii.  18.  the  extent  and 
 duration  of  his  Being  and  his  Kingdom,  the  profun- 
 dity of  his  counfels,  and  the  fublimity  of  his  power 
 and  glory.  Thefe  are  the  inexhauftible  fubjeds  of 
 divine  meditation,  tranfmitted  from  age  to  age.  And 
 as  the  greatnefs  of  God  our  Saviour  hath  no  bounds, 
 fo  his  praifes  fhould  have  no  end,  nor  fliould  t he- 
 voice  of  thankfgiving  ever  ceale  in  the  church.  As 
 "  one  generation"  drops  it,  "  anoil'.er"  fliould  take 
 it  up,  and  prolong  the  delightful  drain,  till  the  fua 
 ^nd  the  moon  (ball  withdraw  their  light,  and  the  ftars 
 fall  extinguifhed  from  their  orbs. 
 
 5.  /  ivillfpeak  of  the  glorioifs  honour  of  thy  ma- 
 jefty^  and  of  thy  wondrous  works.  6.  And  mtnJJiall 
 fpeak  of  the  might  of  thy  terrible  acts .-  and  I  ivill 
 declare  thy  greatnefs.  7.  They  fhall  abnndanily 
 litter  the  viemory  of  thy  great  goodnefs. 
 
 Thofe  works  of  God,  which  demand  to  be  cele- 
 brated by  the  tongues  of  men,  are  here  divided  into 
 three  kinds.  Firft,  fuch  as  declare  his  glory,  and  ex- 
 cite our  admiration,  whenever  Vve  behoid  them.  Of 
 this  fort  are  the  fhining  frame  of  the  heavens,  and  all 
 the  bodies  which  move  therein  ;  the  earth,  with  its 
 furniture  without,  and  its  contents  within  ;  the  magr 
 nificent  and  (tupendous  ocean,  which  (lows  around 
 it;  the  different  tribes  of  jjnimals  inhabiting  both 
 the  one  and  the  other ;  and  above  all,  the  conftruc- 
 tion  of  man,  the  lord  of  this  lower  world.  Under  the 
 fecond  clafs  of  God's  works  are  ranged  all  thofe  which 
 the  Pfalrpift  flyleth  his  "  terrible  ads,''  or  the  exer- 
 K  k  3  tions 
 
5i8  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  145. 
 
 tions  of  his  power  againft  his  enemies ;  fuch  as,  the 
 deftrudion  of  the  old  world  by  water;  of  Sodom  and 
 Gomorrah  by  fire ;  of  Pharaoh  and  his  hoft  in  the 
 red  fea ;  of  the  Canaanitifh  nations  by  the  fword  ; 
 and  the  vidory  gained  over  fin  and  death  by  the  re- 
 furreftion  of  Chrift.  In  the  third  rank  Hand  thofe 
 works  which  have  proceeded  from  the  "  goodnefs"  of 
 GoJ,  and  bis  "  righteoiifncfs"  m  the  performance 
 of  his  promiics.  And  among  thefe  we  may  reckon 
 all  t'^e  .'ifT^renr  fpecies  of  proviilon,  vdiich  have  been 
 made  by  providence  for  the  bodies  of  men  in  the 
 wo]^d,  and  by  grace  for  their  ibius  in  the  church.  On 
 aiiy  of  tliele  iubjects  meditation  cannot  he  long  em- 
 ployed, vithoLit  breakmg  forth  into  wonder,  grati- 
 tude, and  praife. 
 
 y.  The  Lord  is  gracious,  and  full  of  compajfwn  ^ 
 foiv  fo anger,  andof great  mercy.  9.  Thelu.cv.T>  r.good 
 to  all:  and  his  lender  mercies  are  over  all  his  zvorks. 
 
 Mercy  bath  mifery  for  its  objed,  and  is  that  atr 
 tribul.j  towards  which  the  eyes  of  a  fallen  world 
 muft  naturdly  be  turned.  The  Pfalmift  hath,  ac- 
 cordingly, introduced  her  laft,  with  great  pomp  and 
 fplendor,  feated  in  her  triumphal  chariot,  and  in- 
 vellcd  with  a  lupren^acy  over  all  tlie  works  of  God. 
 She  is  above  the  heavens,  and  over  all  the  earth,  fo 
 that  the  whole  creation  fir.deth  that  refuge  under  the 
 fhadow  of  her  v/mgs,  of  which,  by  reafon  of  man's 
 tranfgreffion,  it  ftandcth  in  need.  The  original  word 
 for  •'  his  tender  mercies,"  is  rr^n")  the  fmgular  of 
 which,  Dni,  fignificsthe  "  womb."  The  '^  mercies'* 
 of  God  t.^^vards  man  are,  therefore,  reprefented,  by 
 this  word,  to  be  like  thofe  of  a  mother  towards  the 
 
 child 
 
Day  ^o.M.T.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  519 
 
 child  of  her  "  womb."  And  this  is  the  very  iimili- 
 tude  which  he  himfelf  hath  macie  ufe  of,  in  that  moft 
 affeding  and  comforting  patiage  of  the  prophecy  of 
 ifaiahi  Chap.  xhx.  15.  *^'  Can  a  woman  forget  her 
 "  fucking  chi\d,  that  fhe  flioukl  not  have  compaffion 
 "  on  the  fon  of  her  womb  ?  Yea,  they  may  forget, 
 '*  yet  will  I  not  forget  thee." — And  now,  what  fol- 
 lows .?  Are  fuch  "  tender  mercies"  in  God  ?  And  are 
 they  "  over  all  his  works  ?"  Wliy  then, 
 
 10.  All  Ihi/  works  Jh all praije  thee,  O  Lord  ;  and 
 thy  faints  Jhall  blefs  thee,  11.  They  JJiall /peak  of 
 the  glory  of  thy  klugdum,  and  talk  of  thy  pexcer  ; 
 12.  To  make  knozvn  to  the  Jons  of  men  his  ?nighty 
 acts,  and  the  glorious  majejiy  of  his  kingdom.  13. 
 Thy  kingdom  is  an  everlafting  kingdom,  and  thy  do- 
 viinion  endureih  throughout  all  generations. 
 
 As  *'  all  the  works"  ot  God,  in  their  feveral  ways, 
 make  a  due  return  for  the  mercy  vouchilifed  unto 
 them,  and  fet  forth  his  glory,  1o  more  efpecially 
 ought  this  to  be  done  by  man,  who  is  the  principal 
 party  concerned  in  the  fall  and  redemption.  The 
 "  faints"  are  the  fubjects  of  Meflialfs  kingdom ^  and 
 of  that  kingdom  it  is  thiir  duty  to  publiOi  to  the 
 world  the  bleffings  and  the  glories,  to  the  end  that, 
 when  thefe  are  made  known,  the  nations  may  be 
 thereby  induced  to  fubmit  their  hearts  to  fo  gracious  a 
 fceptre,  and  the  dominion  of  Chrift  may  become  as  uni- 
 verfal  in  its  extent,  as  it  is  everlafting  in  its  duration. 
 
 14.  The  Lord  upholdeth  all  that  fall,  and  raifeth 
 up  all  thofe  that  be  bowed  doivn. 
 
 After  having  proclaimed  the  glory  and  eternity  of 
 
 the  kingdonj,  the  prophet  draws  a  charadter  of  the 
 
 K  k  4         '  King, 
 
S20  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  145. 
 
 King,  who,  in  the  execution  of  his  regal  and  paftoral 
 office,  is  ever  miiicltul  ct  the  neceflities  of  his  fub- 
 jedls.  To  thcfe  who,  like  Peter  on  the  water,  are 
 finking  under  temptation,  he  ftretcheth  out  his  lav- 
 ing arm,  fupporting  and  "  upholding"'  them  by  his 
 grace;  and  to  thofe  who,  like  the  woman  in  the 
 Gofpel,  liave  long  been  "  bowed  down"  wit'n  £.1  or 
 forrow,  he  hoideth  forth  a  pardon,  "•'  raifing"  and  fet- 
 ting  them  upright  again  by  his  mercy.  The  cafe  is 
 the  fame  with  regard  to  outward  diftrefles,  from 
 which  God  either  prefcrves  or  delivers  his  people,  as 
 he  fees  bed  for  them. 
 
 15.  The  eyes  of  all  wait  upon  ihec ;  and  thou 
 giveft  them  their  meat  in  duefenfon.  1 6.  Thou  opcneji 
 thy  hand, and fatisficth  the  dcfire  of  every  living  thing. 
 What  a  jufL  and  beautiful  picture  is  here  prefented 
 to  view  !  We  fee  the  whole  animal  world  aifem.bJed 
 before  us^  with  their  eyes  fixed  on  the  great  King 
 and  Father  of  all  things,  like  thofe  of  a  flock  on  their 
 Shepherd,  when  he  enters  the  field,  in  time  of  dearth, 
 with  provender  for  them.  From  the  fame  divine  jjer- 
 fon,  as  the  Saviour  of  men,  as  the  Ki:ig,  Father, 
 and  Pallor  of  the  church,  do  believers,  witii  earned 
 expedation,  wait  for  the  food  of  eternal  life.  And 
 neither  one  nor  the  other  look  and  wait  in  vain.  To 
 both  hegiveth  their  meat  in  due  feafon ;  "  he  opcn- 
 ^'^  eth  his  hand,  aiid  fatisfieth  the  defire  of  every 
 "  living  thing." 
 
 17.   The  Lord  is  righteous  in  all  his  zvaySy  and 
 holyy  or,  good,  merciful  in  all  his  zcorks. 
 
 Thus,  "  in  all  his  ways,"  or  dilpenlations  towards 
 
 his  creatures,  whether  in  nature,  or  in  grace,  "  Je- 
 
 I  "  hovah 
 
Day  30.  M   p.  ON  T2IE  PSALMS.  521 
 
 *'  hovah  is  righteous,"  faithful  and  jufl:,  in  extend- 
 ing his  promifed  care,  by  making  due  provifion  for 
 their  wants;  and  "  all  his  works,"  which,  from  tlie 
 beginning  of  the  world,  he  hath  wrought  in  behalf 
 of  the  fbns  of  men,  are  full  of  "  mercy  and  loving 
 "  klndneis  " 
 
 .18.  77:e  Lord  is  nis;h  unto  all  them  that  call  upon 
 hint,  to  ail  that  call  vpo?i  hhn  in  truth.  19.  He 
 null  fulfil  the  defire  of  them  that  fear  hhn:  he  alfo 
 zvill  hear  their  cry,  and  willfave  them. 
 
 It  is' our  happinefs  to  have  a  King,  who  is  not, 
 like  earthly  princes,  difFcclt  of  accefs,  but  one  of 
 whom  the  meaneft  fubjcft  may  at  any  time  obtain 
 an  audience,  and  be  certain  of  having  his  requeft 
 granted,  if  it  be  made  '  in  truth,"  vvithoiit  waver- 
 ing, and  without  livpocrify,  with  humble  confidence, 
 and  with  unwearied  conftcincy,  expeding  falvation 
 from  God,  from  none  but  him,  and  from  him  only 
 in  the  way  of  duty  and  obedience ;  "  he  will  fulfil  the 
 *'  defire  of  them  that  fear  him." 
 
 20.  The  Lord  prejerveth  all  them  that  love  him : 
 but  all  the  wicked  will  he  dejiroy. 
 
 To  proteft  his  fubjeds,  and  deftroy  their  enemies, 
 is  the  finifi^iing  part  of  the  regal  charader,  as  here 
 drawn  from  its  great  original  in  "  the  King  of  faints. '• 
 3y  his  grace  he  now  prefer  vet  h  us  from  innumerable 
 dangers  and  temptations,  and  gradually  defiroyeth  fin 
 in  us :  and  by  his  power  he  will  hereaiter  execute,  in 
 the  fullefl  and  mofl  extenfive  fenfe,  this  part  of  his 
 office,  *'  v;hen  the  wicked  fhall  be  confumed  with 
 "  the  fpirit  of  his  mouth,  and  deftroyed  with  the 
 ^'  brightnefs  of  his  coming."     Then  the  bodies  of 
 
 the 
 
522  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  146. 
 
 the  righteo'js,  prefcrved  to  a  joyful  refurreftion, 
 lliail  be  reunited  to  their  fouls,  and  both  together, 
 perfeded  and  glorified,  (hall  reign  and  fhine  with  him 
 for  ever.  Thus  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  "  preferveth 
 ''  all  that  love  him,"  and  maketh  good  his  promife, 
 "  There  (hall  not  an  hair  of  your  head  peri(h."  Luke 
 sxi.   18. 
 
 11.  My  mouth  f mil  fpeak  (he  praife  of  the  Lord  : 
 and  let  allfiejh  hlefs  his  holy  name  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 The  Plahnift,  having  now  given  the  reafons  why 
 he  had  refclved  to  "  extol  his  God  and  King,  and 
 "  to  blefs  his  name  for  ever  and  ever,"  concludes 
 with  repeating  his  refolution,  and  exhorts  all  the 
 world  to  follow  his  example,  in  time  and  eternity. 
 
 PSALM  CXLVL 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In.  Ibis  Pfalm,  the  church  is  taught  1,2.  to 
 prolong  the  praifcs  of  Jehovah,  as  her  God 
 and  King ;  3 — Q,  to  beware  of  trufting  In 
 the  powers  of  the  world,  and  to  rely  on  the 
 world's  Creator  and  Redeemer,  whofe  mi- 
 racles of  love  and  mercy,  wrought  for  the 
 cliiidrcn  of  ^ucn,  7 — 9.  are  enumerated, 
 and  the  eternity  of  whofe  kingdom  10.  is 
 proclaimed. 
 
 I .  Praife  ye  the  Lo R d .  Fraife  the  LoRT>,0?ny 
 foul.  2.  While  I  live  I  v/ill  praife  the  Lord  :  Izvill 
 fng  prai/es  luito  my  Cod,  tvhile  I  have  any  being. 
 
 No 
 
Pay  30.  M.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  523 
 
 No  fooner  is  oiiv.  H-Allelujah  ended,  but  another 
 begins;  and  the  prophet,  in  imitation  of  t'lofe  who 
 "  reft  not  chy  or  night/'  Itirs  himfelf  up  afrelh  to 
 praife  the  King  of  j:,lory,  tl  c  Creator  and  P.edeemer 
 of  men,  djclirihg  hinifelf  rcfolved  to  employ  the 
 powers  and  facuhies  of  his  foul  ii  the  fcrvice  of  that 
 God,  who  gave  and  preferv'.d  them. 
 
 3.  Pulnot  your  fruji  in  princes^  nor  vi  the  fon  of 
 mafu  in  ivhoni  there  is  no  help.  4.  His  breath  goeth 
 forth^  he  rcfiirncth  to  his  earth;  in  that  very  day  his 
 thoughts  pcrijh.  5.  Happy  is  he  that  hath  the  God  of 
 Jacob  for  his  help,  rvhofe  hope  is  i?i  the  Lord  his 
 God:  6.  Which  made  heaven,  and  earth,  thefea,  and 
 all  that  therein  is:  which  kecpeth  truth  for  ever: 
 
 From  Hiui,  who  is  **  the  prince  of  the  kings  of 
 *'  the  earth,"  Sion  looks  for  deliverance,  and  by  Him 
 iier  true  fons  expect  to  be  exalted.  He  "  keepeth 
 *'  truth  for  ever;"'  he  is  able  and  willing  to  perform 
 his  promifes,  and  never  disappoints  thofe  who  rely  011 
 him.  There  are  no  changes  in  the  politics  of  heaven. 
 The  faithful  fervant  of  his  mafter  is  by  that  mafter 
 infallibly  approved  and  rewarded.  Earthly  princes, 
 if  they  have  the  will,  often  want  the  power,  even  to 
 protect  their  friends.  And  fhould  they  want  neither 
 will  nor  power  to  advance  them,  yet  ftill  all  depends 
 upon  the  breath  in  their  noftrils,  which,  perhaps,  at 
 the  very  critical  moment,  "  goeth  forth;  they  return 
 "  to  their  earth;  their  thoughts,"  and  all  the  thoughts 
 of  thofe  who  had  hoped  to  rife  by  their  means,  fall 
 into  the  fame  grave,  and  are  buried  with  them  for 
 ever.  "  Ceafe  ye  from  man,  whofe  breath  is  in  his 
 "  noflrils;    for  wherein  is  he   to  be  accounted  of? 
 
 "But 
 
524  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  14^. 
 
 *'  But  trnfl:  ye  in  the  Lord  for  ever;  for  In  the  Lord 
 *'  Jehovah  ir>  evcrlafting  ftrength."  Ilai.  ii.  22.  xxvi.  4. 
 
 7.  IVhich  exe.uteih  judgment  for  the  oppreOed : 
 which  giveth  fo od  to  the  h ungri/ .  77/^  Lo  r  d  toofetk 
 the prif oners :  8.  The  Lord  openeth  the  eye?  of  the 
 blind:  the  Lord  raijeth  than  that  are  bowed  down- 
 the  Lord  toveth  the  righteous-  9.  l^ie  Lord  pre- 
 J'erveth  the  fir  anger  s  ;  he  relieveth  the  fatherlefs  and 
 widow :  but  the  way  of  the  wicked  he  turneth  upjidc 
 down. 
 
 That  the  Lord,  of  whom  all  thefe  things  are 
 fpoken,  i.  the  MefTiah,  or  Jehovah  incarnate,  appears, 
 as  Dr.  Hammond  hath  juftly  obferved,  from  what  is 
 faid  of  him  in  vcrfe  8.  "  The  Lord  openeth  the  eyes 
 **  of  the  blind;"  tlie  miracle  of  redoring  fight  to 
 men  born  blind  being  one  referved  for  the  Son  of 
 God  to  work,  at  his  coming  in  the  fleOi.  "  Since 
 "  the  world  began,"  fliith  the  man  to  whom  fight  had 
 been  thus  reftored,  ''  was  it  not  heard,  that  any  man 
 ''  o])cned  the  eyes  of  one  that  was  born  blind."  John 
 ix.  32.  This  therefore  was  the  firft  of  thofe  tokens 
 given  by  Jefus  to  the  difciples  of  John,  whereby  it 
 might  be  known,  that  he  was  the  expected  Chrift; 
 *'  Go  and  tell  John  !;he  things  which  ye  have  heard 
 "  and  fecn;  The  blind  receive  their  fight,"  &c.  But 
 how  did  t^iis  evince  him  to  be  th.c  Meffiah?  Plainly, 
 becaufe  it  had  been  foretold  by  the  prophets  (as  in 
 Ifaiah  xxxv.  5.  xxix.  18.  xlii.  18.  fo  in  this  paffage 
 of  our  Pfalm,  which  is  exactly  fimllar  to  thofe  texts), 
 that  Meffiah,  when  he  came,  fliould  give  fight  to  the 
 blind.  Now,  if  one  part  of  the  Pfalmift's  defcrip- 
 tion  belong  to  Chrifl,  the  other  members  of  it  muft 
 cjo  fo  likewife,  it   being  evident  that  the  whole  is 
 
 fpokeu 
 
Day30.  M.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  525 
 
 fpoken  of  the  fame  perfon.     He,  therefore,  is    "  the 
 •*  God   of  Jacob,  who   made  heaven  and  earth,  the 
 **  fea,   and  all  that  therein  is;"   and  upon  his  appear- 
 ing among  men  in  the  body  of  our  flefh,  he  Ihewed 
 himfclf  poflelTed  of  power  to  relieve  all  the  wants, 
 corporal  and  fpiritual,  of  poor  loll  mankind.     When 
 he  refcued  men  from  the  bondage  of  Satan,  he  "  exe- 
 *'  cuted  judgment   for  the  opprefled;"  when  he  fed 
 thoufands  by  a  miracle,    or  when   he  preached   the 
 word  to  fuch   us  defired  to  hear  and  receive  it,  he 
 **  gave  food  to  the  hungry:"    when,  by  pardon  and 
 grace,   he  releafed   thole  who  were  bound  with  the 
 chains  of  their  fins,  he  "  loofed  the  prifoners:'*  when 
 he  poured  light  into  the  fightlefs  eye-ball,  or  illumi- 
 nated with  laving  knowledge  the  underftanding  ot  the 
 ignorant,  he  "  opened  the  eyes  of  the  blind:"  when 
 he  made  the  crooked  woman  ftraight,  or  redlified  the 
 obliquity  of  a  depraved  will,    he    "  railed  thofe  that 
 "were  bowed  down:"  while  he  protedeth,  and  guid- 
 eth  to  the  city  of  their  eternal  habitation,  the  fons  of 
 Adam,  who  are  exiles,  pilgrims,  and  fojourners  upon 
 earth,  he  *'  preferveth  the  ftrangcrs;"  when  he  be- 
 came a  hufband  to  the  church,  and  a  parent  to  her 
 deftitute  children,  he   "  relieved  the  fatherlefs  and 
 **  widow:"  and  when   he  fhall  come  in  his  glorious 
 majefty,  to  reward  his  fervants,  and  to  confound  their 
 enemies,  it  will  be  feen  how  *'  he  loveth  the  righte- 
 ''  ous,  and  turneth  the  way  of  the  wicked   upfide 
 "  down."  Happy  the  people  of  fuch  a  God;  happy 
 the  fubjcfts  of  fuch  a  King !  Rejoice,  and   fing,  and 
 ihout  aloud ;  for  lo, 
 
 10.  I'/ie  LoRj>  yhall  reign  for  ever^  even  thy  Qod, 
 O  Zion,  unto  all  generations.   Praije  ye  the  Lo-rd. 
 
 XXX  DAY, 
 
526  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  147. 
 
 XXX  DAY.        rVENlXG   PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM  CXLVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It  hath  been  conjectured,  from  ver.  2.  that  this 
 Plalm  was  written  to  celebrate  the  return  of 
 Ifrael  from  Babylon,  when  Jerufalem  and 
 the  temple  were  rebuilt.  1 — 3.  The  people 
 of  God  are  exhorted  to  praife  Iiim  for  the 
 mercies  \  ouchfafed  to  them  ;  4 — 6.  for  his 
 wifdom,  power,  and  goodnefs;  7^ — 9.  for 
 his  providential  care,  and  10,  II.  the  won- 
 derful falvation  wrought  by  his  arm;  12 — 
 14.  for  the  fecurity,  increafe,  and  profperity 
 of  the  church;  15. — 18.  for  the  happy  change 
 of  her  condition,  like  that  produced  in  na- 
 ture, when  fpring  fucceeds  to  winter;  19, 
 20.  and  for  the  glorious  privilege  of  the  di- 
 vine word,  revealed  and  committed  to  her. 
 
 1 .  Prai/c  ye  the  Lord:  for  it  is  good  to  Jing  praifcs 
 unto  our  God;  for  it  is  pteajant;  ■a.v.d praife  is  comelif. 
 
 Praife  is  "  good"  and  acceptable  to  God  our  Sa- 
 viour, whofe  glory  is  the  great  end  of  man's  creation 
 and  redemption:  and  it  is  '"•  pleafaiic  snd  comely"  for 
 man,  being  the  only  return  he  ca  .  make  for  thofe 
 and  all  other  mercies;  the  offspriiig of  gratitude,  and 
 the  expreffion  of  love;  the  elevation  of  the  foul,  and 
 
 the 
 
Day  30.  E.  p.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  527 
 
 the  antepaft  of  heaven;   it's  own  reward  in  this  Hfe, 
 and  an  introdudion  to  the  feUcities  of  the  next. 
 
 2.  The  Lord  doth  build  up  Jcritfalcm:  he  ga- 
 ther eth  together  the  oittcajl  of  Ifrael. 
 
 If  this  Pfalm  were  written  on  occafion  of  the  retura 
 from  Babylon,  and  the  rebuilding  of  the  earthly  city, 
 the  ideas  are  to  be  transferred,  as  in  other  Pialms  of 
 the  fame  kind,  to  a  more  important  reftoration  from 
 a  much  worfe  captivity,  and  to  the  building  up  of 
 the  church  under  the  Gofpcl,  when  Chrifl;  "gathered 
 "  together  in  one  the  children  of  God  that  were  fcat- 
 "  tered  abroad;''  John  xi.  52.  that  is,  in  the  words 
 of  our  Pfalm,  he  "  gathered  together  the  outcafts  of 
 "  Ifrael."  So  fhall  he  again,  at  the  refurredion, 
 "  gather  together  his  elcft  from  the  four  winds," 
 Mat.  xxiv.  31.  and  "  build  up  a  Jerufalem,"  in 
 which  they  (liall  ferve  and  praife  him  for  ever. 
 
 3.  He  Jiealeth  the  broken  in  hearty  and  bindetk 
 up  their  zvoimds. 
 
 The  "  broken  hearts  and  wounded  fpirits"  of  the 
 Ifraelites  were  "  healed  and  made  whole,"  when  they 
 returned  to  their  own  land,  when  they  beheld  Jeru- 
 falem  rifing  again  in  beauteous  majefty,  and  lung  the 
 fongs  of  Zion  in  the  courts  of  the  temple.  Thus 
 Chrift  came  "  to  preach  deliverance  to  the  captives, 
 '*  and  to  bind  up  the  broken  hearted  ;"  Ifai.  Ixi.  i. 
 Luke  iv.  18.  to  fpeak  pardon  and  peace  to  the  wound- 
 
 .  ed  and  contrite  fpirit,  and  to  put  a  new  fong  of 
 thankfgiving  in  the  mouth  of  the  penitent,  which  he 
 
 ^ight  fing,  when  reftored  to  the  holy  city,  and  the 
 houfe  of  his  heavenly  Father.  The  hour  is  coming, 
 when  God  (hall  heal  the  breaches  which  death  has 
 
 made 
 
52S  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  147. 
 
 made  in  the  bodies  of  his  people,  and  tranflate  them 
 likewife  from  Babylon  to  Jerufalem. 
 
 4.  He  telleth  the  nuniher  of  thejlar.u  he  calletk 
 them  all  hy  their  names. 
 
 And  he  who  does  this,  cannot  be  ignorant  of  the 
 fituation  and  circumftances  of  his  eled.  He  know-* 
 eth  each  individual,  and  numbereth  all  the  atoms 
 which  go  to  the  compofition  of  his  frame.  He  can 
 call  his  faints,  from  the  depths  of  earth  and  fea,  "  by 
 "  their  names,"  as  when  once  "  he  cried  with  a  loud 
 *'  voice,  Lazarus,  come  forth;"  and  he  can  fix  them 
 in  radiant  circles  round  his  throne  in  the  kingdom 
 of  glory,  vj'ing,  for  multitude  as  well  as  fplendor, 
 with  thofe  bright  orbs  which  glitter  by  night  in  the 
 fpangled  firmament  of  heaven;  fo  that  what  Baruch 
 faith  of  the  ftars,  may  well  be  applied  to  the  feed  of 
 Abraham,  of  whom  it  was  foretold,  that  they  fhould 
 equal  the  Rars  in  number;  Gen.  xv.  5.  "  The  ftars 
 *'  (bine  in  their  watches,  and  rejoice;  when  he  calleth 
 "  them,  they  fay,  Here  we  be;  and  fo  with  cheerful* 
 "  nefs  they  (hew  light  unto  him  that  made  them." 
 Baruch,  iii.  34. 
 
 5.  Great  is  our  Lord,  and  of  great  power:  hisun-^ 
 dtrfianding  is  infinite'  Heb.  of  his  undcrjianding 
 there  is  no  number^  ox  computation ;  "iBDQ  ^^*. 
 
 This  is  a  proper  conciufion  drawn  from  the  for- 
 m:er  part  of  the  Pfalm,  and  efpecially  from  the  pre- 
 ceding verfe.  The  greatnefs  of  God's  power,  which 
 overcometh  all  difficulties  to  effeft  the  falvation  of 
 his-people,  is  not  to  be  grafped  by  the  human  mind^ 
 and  that  wifdom  which  numbers  the  ftars  of  heaverij^ 
 and  the  fand  of  the  fea,  and  the  generations  of  iht 
 
 fons 
 
Day  30.  e.  p.         on  tiik  PSALMS.  529 
 
 fons  of  Abraham,  can  itfelf  be  fubjed  to  the  rules  of 
 noarithnietic. 
 
 6.  The  Lord///?^///  Ill)  the  meek:  he  cajieth  the 
 wicked  down  to  the  ground. 
 
 To  exalt  and  reward  the  hamble,'  penitent,  believ- 
 ing, and  obedient;  to  deprefs  and  punifli  t\\t  proud, 
 impenitent,  unbelieving,  and  difohedient;  thefe  are 
 the  meafures  and  ends  of  all  the  divine  difpenfations.' 
 And  as  a  man  ranks  himfelfinone  or  other  of  thefe 
 two  divifions,  he  mav  expeft  from  heaven  Itorm  or 
 funlhine,  mercy  or  judgment. 
 
 7.  Sing  unfa  th2  Lokp  imth  thank/giving ;  Jing 
 praife  upon  the  harp  unto  our  God.  \i.  Who  cover- 
 eth  the  heaven  zvith  cloud,  y  tvho  prepareth  rain  for 
 the  earthy  who  maketh  grafs  to  grow  upon  the  moun- 
 tains.    9.  He  giveth  to  the  beajl  his  food,  and  to  the 
 
 4)0ung  ravens  which  cry^ 
 
 The  faithful  praife  God  for  his  goodnefs  to  the 
 animal  world,  both  on  account  of  that  goodnefs  irt 
 itfelf,  and  alfo  becaufe  they  behold  therein  an  em- 
 blem and  afTurance  of  his  mercy  to  themfelves.  The 
 watchful  care  of  Providence  over  all  creatures  fpeaks 
 the  fartie  language  to  us,  which  Jehovah  made  life  of 
 to  Jodiua,  and  which  the  Apoflle  hath  applied  to" 
 Chridians:  *'  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forfake 
 *  thee."  Jofh.  i.  _^.  Heb.  xiii.  5.  He  who,  by  fend- 
 ing rain  on  the  mountains,  which  could  not  otherwifd 
 be  watered,  providefh  food  for  the  wild  beads  inha- 
 biting thofe  mountains,  will  never  leave  the  Iambs  of 
 his  flock  deftitute.  And  he  who  feedeth  the  young 
 of  the  unclean  raven,  when  they  cry,  and,  as  it  were,' 
 in  their  way,  call  upon  him  for  a  fupply  of  theit 
 .  Vol.  II.  LI  wa^ts,- 
 
530  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  147, 
 
 wants,  will  he,  in  the  day  of  dearth  and  calamity, 
 forfake  the  meek  and  harmlefs  dove,  that  mourneth 
 continually  in  pra5^er  before   him?    The  defponding 
 fervant  of  God  need  only  therefore  put  to  himfelf 
 the  queftion  which  we  find  afked  by  the  Creator,  in 
 the  book  of  Job,  Chap,  xxxviii.  41.     **  Who  pro- 
 "  videth  for  the  raven  his  food  ?     When  his  young 
 "  ones  cry  unto  God,  they  wander  for  lack  of  meat;'* 
 they  wander  and  find  it.     Our  Lord  prelTed  this  ar- 
 gument on  his  difciplesi  Luke  xii.  24.     "  Confider 
 "  the  ravens;"  Matt.  vi.  26.     "  Behold  the  fowls  of 
 *^  the  air;  for  they  fow  not,  neither  do  they  reap,  nor 
 "  gather  into  barns;  yet  your  heavenly  Father  feed- 
 "  eth  them.     Are  ye  not  much  better  than  they  ?" 
 Behold,  and  look  away  your  low  defpair; 
 See  the  light  tenants  of  the  barren  air: 
 To  them,  nor  ftores  nor  granaries  belong, 
 !Nought    but   the  woodland,   and  the  pleafing 
 
 fong; 
 Yet,  your  kind  heav'nly  Father  bends  his  eye 
 On  the  leaft  wing  that  fiits  along  the  fky. 
 To  him  they  fmg,  when  fpring 
 To  him  they  cry,  in  winter's 
 Nor  is  their  mufic,  nor  their  pk 
 He  hears  the  gay,  and  the  diftrefsful  call. 
 And  with  unfparing  bounty  fills  them  all. 
 Will  he  not  care  for  you,  ye  faithlefs,  fay  ? 
 Is  he  unwife }  Or,  are  ye  lefs  than  they  ? 
 
 Thomson. 
 
 10.  He  delighieth  not  in  ihejlrength  of  the  horfe: 
 he  taketh  notpleafure  in  the  legs  of  a  man.    11.  The 
 
 Lord 
 
 aiong  me  iK.y. 
 ng  renews  the  plain,! 
 s  pinching  reign;       >■ 
 \\v  plaint,  in  vain  :    j 
 
Day  30.  E.  V.       ON  the  PSALMS.  531 
 
 Lord  taketh  pkafiirein  them  that  fear  himy  in  thofe 
 that  hope  in  his  mercy. 
 
 If,  therefore,  the  inference  deduced  above  be  a 
 juft  one,  namely,  that  God,  who  takes  care  of  the 
 wild  beafts,  and  the  birds  of  the  air,  will  fupport 
 and  defend  his  church,  then,  however  weak  flie  may 
 be,  and  however  ftrong  her  adverfaries  may  be,  yet 
 (he  may  reft  fecure,  as  having  him  on  her  fide,  to 
 whom  it  is  equal,  to  fave  by  many,  or  by  few ;  who 
 giveth  not  the  victory  to  the  pomp  and  pride  of  car- 
 nal ftrength,  to  thoufands,  or  ten  thoufands,  but  to 
 "  thofe  who  fear  him,  and  hope  in  his  mercy."  The 
 hiftory  of  Ifrael  is  one  continual  exemplification  of 
 this  truth ;  and,  in  our  fpiritual  warfare,  '*  this  is 
 *'  the  viftory  which  overcometh  the  world,  even  our 
 "  FAITH."  John  V.  4. 
 
 12.  Praife  the  luOix-D^  O  Jenifalem  ;  praife  thy 
 God,OZio?i.  13.  For  he  hath  Jlrengthened  the 
 bars  of  thy  gates  ;  he  hath  ble^ffedthy  childre7i  zvithin 
 thee.  14.  He  maketh  peace  in  thy  borders j  and 
 filleth  thee  with  thefinejt  of  the  zvheat. 
 
 The  church,  like  Jerufalem  of  old,  eredled  and  pre- 
 ferved  by  the  wifdom,  and  power,  and  goodnefs 
 of  God,  is  exhorted  to  praife  him  for  all  the  benefits 
 and  blefiings  vouchfafed  unto  her;  for  the  increafe 
 of  "  her  children  within  her ;"  for  the  "  peace"  which 
 flie  at  any  time  enjoyeth  "  in  her  borders,"  while  (he 
 is  here  below  5  for  the  plentiful  provifion  made  by 
 herpaftors,  to  fatisfy  the  needs  of  thofe  who  "  hun- 
 "  ger  and  thirft  after  righteoufnefs ;"  and  for  the  pro- 
 tection of  the  Almighty,  "  (trengthening  the  bars  of 
 "  her  gates,"  and  fecuring  to  her  the  poffeflion  of  all 
 LI  a  thefe 
 
532  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  147. 
 
 thefe  comforts;  which,  in  the  heavenly  Jerufalem, 
 (ball  be  rendered  perfed  and  indefeafible  for  ever- 
 more. 
 
 15.  He  Jendeth  forth  his  commandment  upon 
 earth:  his  word  runneth  very  fwiftty.  16.  He  giv- 
 ethfnoiv  like  zvool-  he  fcattereth  the  hoar  frofi  like 
 ajhes.  17.  He  cajieth  forth  his  ice  like  viorfels-  zvho 
 can  Jland  before  his  cold P  18.  He  fendeth  out  his 
 zvord,  and  melteth  them :  he  caiifeth  his  wind  to  blow, 
 and  the  waters  flow. 
 
 The  wonders  of  nature  rcprefent  to  us  the  miracles 
 of  grace,  and  the  change  of  feafons  produceth  not 
 greater  alterations  in  the  world,  than  thofe  which 
 take  place  in  the  church,  when  her  God  hideth  from 
 her,  or  reftoreth  to  her,  the  light  of  his  countenance, 
 which,  like  its  emblem,  the  bright  ruler  in  the  hea- 
 vens, at  it's  departure  leaves  winter  behind  it;  and 
 brings  the  fpring  with  it  at  it's  return.  "  The  fun," 
 fays  BiOiop  Sherlock,  '•  is  the  great  fpirit  of  the 
 *'  world,  in  the  light  of  which  all  things  are  made  to 
 "  rejoice;  perpetual  fpring  attends  his  courfe;  all 
 "  things  revive  at  his  approach,  and  put  on  a  new 
 "  face  of  youth  and  beauty;  winter  and  froft  lag, 
 "  behind  him;  nature  grows  deformed,  and  fickens 
 "at  his  departure."  Difc.  Vol.  v.  P.  88.  What 
 the  fun  is  to  the  world,  the  fame  is  Chrift  to  the 
 church.  When  the  heart  of  man  turns  away  from 
 him,  and  deprives  itfelf  of  his  gracious  illumination; 
 when  ignorance  fucceeds  to  knowledge,  that  is,  dark- 
 nefs  to  light;  when  faith  fails,  and  all  it's  fair  pro- 
 ductions wither  away;  when  "  the  love  of  many  is 
 "  waxen  cold,"  and  the  fertilizing  ilreams  of  charity 
 are  frozen  to  the  bottom:  On  the  other  hand,  when 
 J  God 
 
Day  30.  E.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  $^5 
 
 God  "  fendeth  out  his  word,  aod  melteth  them;'* 
 when  he  "blowethwith  his  spiri  r,  and,"  by  thefe 
 genial  influences  from  above,  *^  the  waters  are  made 
 "  to  flow;"  when  faith  revives,  and  fhoots  into  vigour, 
 and  beauty,  and  fruitfulnefs;  and  when  the  hearts 
 of  men  are  warmed,  as  well  as  their  underftahdings 
 illuminated ;  what  is  all  this,  but  a  winter,  and  a 
 fpring,  like  thofe  which,  in  their  turns,  annually  de- 
 form and  renew  the  face  of  the  earth,  at  the  "  word 
 "  and  command  of  God,"  in  either  cafe,  *'  running 
 "  fwiftly,"  and  operating  efficacioufly  ? 
 
 19.  He  Jheweth  his  word  unto  Jacob,  his  ft  a  tides 
 and  his  judgments  unto  Ifrael.  20.,  He  hath  not 
 dealt  fo  ivith  any  nation  :  and  as  for  his  judgments, 
 they  have  not  known  them.     Praife  ye  the  Lord. 
 
 That  "  word,"  the  effeds  of  which  upon  the  fpi- 
 ritual  fyftem  are  fimilar  to  thofe  experienced  by  na-- 
 ture  in  the  vernal  feafon,  that  "  word  was  fhewcd 
 "  unto  Jacob,"  and  became  the  property  of  "  Ifrael," 
 while  Ifrael  continued  to  be  the  church  of  God.  It 
 hath  fince  been  made  over,  with  all  it's  types  realiz- 
 ed, and  it's  prophecies  accomplidied  in  Jefus,  to  the 
 church  Chriftian ;  it  is  that  peculiar  bleffing,  which 
 diftinguilhes  her  from  the  refi:  of  the  world,  and  for 
 which  her  children  are  bound,  at  all  times,  to  "  praifq 
 «  the  Lord." 
 
 LI  3  PSALM 
 
534  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  148, 
 
 PSALM  CXLVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 All  the  creatures  in  the  invlfible  and  vlfible 
 world  are  called  upon  by  the  Pfalmift  to  unite 
 in  a  grand  chorus  of  praife  and  thankfgiving. 
 The  various  parts  are  to  be  performed  by  1 ,  2. 
 the  angelic  hods;  3 — 6.  the  material  hea- 
 vens, and  the  luminaries  placed  in  them;  7. 
 the  ocean,  with  it's  inhabitants;  8.  the  me- 
 teors of  the  air  ;  9,  10.  the  earth,  as  divided 
 into  hills  and  vallies,  with  the  vegetables  that 
 grow  out  of  it,  and  the  animals  that  move 
 upon,  or  about  it;  11  — 13.  the  human  race 
 of  every  degree,  of  each  fex,  and  of  every 
 age  ;  14.  more  efpecially  the  Ifrael,  or  church 
 of  God. 
 
 i.Prai/eye  the  Lord.  Praife  ye  the  hoKn  from 
 the  heavens:  praife  him  in  the  heights.  1.  Praife 
 ye  him,  all  ye  angels  ;  praife  ye  him^  all  his  hojls. 
 
 When  St.  John  faw  in  vifion  the  King  of  glory 
 feated  on  his  throne,  he  tells  us  that  he  heard  all  the 
 angels  which  ftood  around  the  throne,  with  the  elders, 
 and  every  creature  in  heaven,  earth,  and  fea,  lifting 
 up  their  voices,  and  finging  together  a  hymn  of 
 thankfgiving  in  honour  of  him.  Such  a  choir  we 
 find  here  fummoned  by  the  infpiied  Pfalmift,  and 
 exhorted  to  join  and  aflift  him  in  prailmg  the  fame 
 J  divine 
 
Day  30.  E.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  535 
 
 divine  perfon,  whom  the  elders,  in  the  Revelation, 
 declare  "  worthy  to  receive  glory  and  honour,  and 
 "  power,"  becaufe  he  "  created  all  things,  and  for 
 "  his  pleafure,  they  are,  and  were  created."  Rev.  v. 
 13.  iv.  J  I.  From  the  heavens  and  thofe  unutterable 
 heights,  where  hofts  of  immortal  fpirits,  admitted  to 
 a  fight  of  their  King,  enjoy  unfading  pleafures,  the 
 fong  is  to  begin.  And  when  the  ftrain  is  thus  fet  by 
 the  celeflial  part  of  the  choir,  it  is  to  be  taken  up, 
 and  echoed  back,  by  the  creatures  of  this  lower  world, 
 animate  and  inanimate,  which  have  all  their  feveral 
 parts  affigned  them,  in  the  great  work  of  glorifying 
 their  Creator. 
 
 3.  Praifeye  him j  fun  and  moon :  praife  him^  all  ye 
 Jiarsof  light.  4.  Praife  him.ye  heavens  of  Jieavens,  and 
 yewaters  thatb^  above  the  heavens.  5.  Let  them  praife 
 the  name  of  the  Lord  \for  he  commanded^  and  they 
 zvere  created.  6.  He  hath  alfofablijhed  them  for  ever 
 and  ever :  he  hath  made  a  decree  which  fJialL  notpafs. 
 
 The  material  heavens,  through  all  their  various 
 regions,  with  the  luminaries  placed  in  them,  and  the 
 waters  fuftained  by  them,  though  they  have  neither 
 fpeech  nor  language,  and  want  the  tongue  of  men, 
 yet,  by  their  fplendor  and  magnificence,  their  mo- 
 tions and  their  influences,  all  regulated  and  exerted 
 according  to  the  ordinance  of  their  Maker,  do,  in 
 a  very  intelligible  and  ftriking  manner,  declare  the 
 glory  of  God:  they  call  upon  us  to  tranllate  their 
 adions  into  our  language,  and  copy  their  obedience 
 in  our  lives  ;  that  fo  we  may,  both  by  word  and 
 deed,  glorify,  with  them,  the  Creator  and  Redeemer 
 of  the  univerfe. 
 
 L  1  4  7.  Praife 
 
J3^  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  148. 
 
 7.  Praife  the  1l.ord  from  the  earth, ye  dragojis^  or, 
 whales,  and  all  deeps: 
 
 From  heaven  above,  the  Prah-nKl  defcendeth  to 
 the  deep  beneath,  which,  while  it  proclaims  the 
 power,  obferves  the  laws  and  decrees  of  him  who 
 made  it,  and  poured  it  abroad.  And  the  fame  may 
 be  faid  of  its  enormous  inhabitants,  which  are  under 
 the  comrnand  of  Jehovah,  and  of  none  but  him. 
 
 8.  Fire  and  hail  if  now  and  vapour  ;  formij  wind 
 f unfiling  his  word  •' 
 
 Thefe  are  fo  many  meffengers,  always  ready  to  gq 
 forth,  at  the  command  of  the  moft  High,  for  the 
 purpofes  of  mercy,  or  judgment.  They  praife  and 
 glorify  God  after  their  manner,  while  they  **  fulfil  his 
 "  word"  upon  the  earth. 
 
 9.  Mountains^  and  all  hills ;  f-u  if ful  trees ,  and  all 
 cedai's:  10.  Beafs^  and  all  cattle  ;  creeping  things, 
 and  flying  fowl- 
 
 Who  (hall  ever  underftand  and  comprehend  all 
 thewifdom  of  God  difplaved  in  the  vegetable  world, 
 from  the  cedar  to  the  hyffop  j  in  the  animal,  from 
 the  elephant  to  the  pifmire,  from  the  eagle  to  the 
 fparrow  ?  The  more  we  ftudy  them,  the  more  we 
 fliall  find  him  glorified  in  themj  and  the  more,  ou 
 that  account  will  he  be  glorified  by  us. 
 
 II.  Kings  of  t  lie  earth,  and  all  people;  princes,  and 
 all  judges  of  the  earth-  12.  Both  young  men:,  and  mai- 
 dens;  old  men  and  children  ;  1  3.  Let  them  praije  the 
 name  of  the  Lord;  for  his  name  alone  is  excellent  i 
 his  glory  is  above  the  earth  and  heaven,* 
 
 *  Nee  ad  folos  Hebraeos  haec  pertinet  adhortatio,  fed  ^d  om- 
 nes  omuino  homines  :  eftque  adeo  veluti  proludium   vocationis 
 
 Gentilium. 
 
Day  30.  E.  P.         ON  THE  PSALMS.  537 
 
 After  the  whole  creation  hath  been  called  upon  to 
 praife  Jehovah;  man,  for  whom  the  whole  was 
 made;  man,  the  laft  and  moft  perfed  work  of  God  ; 
 man,  that  haih  been  fmce  redeemed  by  the  blood  of 
 the  Son  of  God  incarnate,  is  exhorted  to  join  and  fill 
 up  the  univerfal  chorus  of  heaven  and  earth,  as  being 
 connefled  with  both  worlds,  that  which  now  is,  and 
 that  which  is  to  come.  Perfons  of  every  degree,  of 
 each  fex,  and  of  every  age;  '*  kings,"  whofe  power 
 God  hath  made  an  image  of  \ns  own,  an  '  who  are 
 the  funs  of  their  refpedive  fyftems;  "  judges,"  and 
 magiflrates  of  all  kinds,  who  derive  their  power,  as 
 the  moon  and  planets  do  their  light,  froai  it's  original 
 fource;  "  young  men  and  maidens,"  in  the  fiower 
 of  health,  flrength,  and  beauty;  "  old  men,"  who 
 have  accomplifhed  their  warfare,  and  are  going  out 
 of  life;  "  children,"  who  are  juft  come  into  it, 
 and  fee  every  thing  new  before  them ;  all  thefe  have 
 their  feveral  reafons  for  "  praifing  the  Lord,  whofe 
 "  name  is  excellent,  and  his  glory  above  heaven  and 
 ^'  earth." 
 
 14.  He  alfo  exalteth  the  horn  of  his  people,  the 
 praife  of  all  his  faints,  even  of  the  children  of  Ifrael, 
 a  people  near  unto  him.     Praife  ye  ^//e  Lord. 
 
 As  men  above  all  other  creatures,  fo,  above  other 
 men,  the  "  Ifrael"  of  God,  the  "  people"  that  are 
 admitted  to  draw  "  near  unto  him,"  in  his  houfe,  by 
 faith  and  charity,  by  prayer  and  participation  of  the 
 
 Gentilium.  Deum  enim  laudare,  ut  par  eft,  non  poffunt,  qui 
 eum  non  bene  norunt ;  ncc  eum  fads  norunt,  qui  Evangelium 
 nunquam  audiverunt;  e  quo  maxima;  Dei  laudes  effiorefcunt. 
 Plbricus  in  loc. 
 
 facra- 
 
538  A  COMMENTARY      Psal.  14I!, 
 
 facraments,  are  bound  to  pralfe  him,  who  now  '*  ex- 
 "  alteth"  them  from  fin  to  righteoufnefs,  and  will 
 hereafter  exalt  them  from  duft  to  glory. 
 
 Since  few  of  my  readers  may,  perhaps,  have  met 
 with  a  paraphrafe  on  the  foregoing  Pfalm,  that  has 
 hitherto,  I  believe,  only  made  it's  appearance  in  a 
 periodical  publication,  or  two,  I  Qiall  take  the  liberty 
 to  fubjoin  it,  as  a  piece,  which  cannot  but  be  ac- 
 ceptable to  all  true  lovers  of  facred  poetry.  It  was 
 written,  as  I  have  been  lately  informed,  by  the  learn- 
 ed and  ingenious  Dr.  Ogilvie,  at  fixteen  years  of 
 age. 
 
 PSALM  CXLVIII. 
 I. 
 
 Begin,  my  foul,  th*  exalted  lay. 
 Let  each  enraptur'd  thought  obey. 
 
 And  praife  the  Almighty's  name. 
 Lo!  heaven  and  earth,  and  feas  and  ikies. 
 In  one  melodious  concert  rife. 
 
 To  fwell  th*  infpiring  theme. 
 
 II. 
 
 Ye  fields  of  light,  celeftial  plains, 
 Where  gay  tranfporting  beauty  reigns. 
 
 Ye  fcenes  divinely  fairj 
 Your  Maker's  wondrous  power  proclaim, 
 Tell  how  he  form*d  your  fliining  frame. 
 
 And  breath'd  the  fluid  air. 
 
 III. 
 
 Ye  angels,  catch  the  thrilling  found; 
 
 While  all  th'  adoring  thrones  around 
 
 His 
 
D^\Y  30.  E.  P.        ON  THE  PSALMS,  S39 
 
 His  boundlefs  mercy  fing; 
 Let  ev'ry  lift'ning  faint  above 
 Wake  all  the  tuneful  foul  of  love. 
 
 And  touch  the  fweeteft  firing. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Join,  ye  loud  fpheres,  the  vocal  choir; 
 Thou,  dazzling  orb  of  liquid  fire. 
 
 The  mighty  chorus  aid: 
 Soon  as  grey  ev'nlng  gilds  the  plain. 
 Thou,  moon,  protrad  the  melting  flrain. 
 
 And  praife  him  in  the  fhade. 
 
 V.       . 
 Thou,  heav'n  of  heav'ns,  his  vaft  abode; 
 Ye  clouds,  proclaim  your  forming  God, 
 
 Who  caird  yon  worlds  from  night; 
 "  Ye  (hades,  difpel!"— th'  Eternal  faid; 
 At  once  th'  involving  darknefs  fled, 
 
 And  nature  fprung  to  light, 
 
 VI. 
 
 Whatever  a  blooming  world  contains. 
 That  wings  the  air,  that  fkims  the  plains. 
 
 United  praife  beflow: 
 Ye  dragons,  found  his  awful  name 
 To  heaven  aloud ;  and  roar  acclaim. 
 
 Ye  fwelling  deeps  below. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Let  every  element  rejoice: 
 
 Ye  thunders,  burft  with  awful  voice 
 
 To 
 
540  A  COMMENTARY         Psal.  14S. 
 
 To  him  who  bids  5'ou  roll : 
 His  praife  in  ibfter  notes  declare. 
 Each  whifpering  breeze  of  yielding  air, 
 
 And  breathe  it  to  the  foul. 
 
 VIII. 
 To  him,  ye  graceful  cedars,  bow; 
 Ye  tow'ring  mountains,  bending  low. 
 
 Your  great  Creator  own: 
 Tell,  when  affrighted  nature  (hook. 
 How  Sinai  kindled  at  his  look. 
 
 And  trembled  at.  his  frown. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Ye  flocks  that  haunt  the  humble  vale. 
 Ye  infeds  flutt'ring  on  the  gale. 
 
 In  mutual  concourfe  rifej 
 Crop  the  gay  rofe's  vermeil  bloom. 
 And  waft  it's  fpoils,  a  fweet  perfume. 
 
 In  incenfe  to  the  ikies. 
 
 X. 
 
 Wake,  all  ye  mountain  tribes,  and  fing; 
 Ye  plumy  warblers  of  the  fpring. 
 
 Harmonious  anthems  raife 
 To  him,  who  Ihap'd  your  finer  mould. 
 Who  tipp'd  your  glittering  wings  with  gold. 
 
 And  tun'd  your  voice  to  praife. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Let  man,  by  nobler  paffions  fway'd, 
 The  feeling  heart,  the  judging  head. 
 
 In 
 
Day  30.  E.  p.  ON  THE  PSALMS.  541 
 
 In  heavenly  pralfe  employ  ; 
 Spread  his  tremendous  name  around. 
 Till  heaven*s  broad  arch  rings  back  the  found, 
 
 The  gen'rai  burft  of  joy. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Ye,  whom  the  charms  of  grandeur  pleafe, 
 Nurs'd  on  the  downy  lap  of  eafe. 
 
 Fall  proftrate  at  his  throne ; 
 Ye  princes,  rulers,  all  adore  ; 
 Praife  him,  ye  kings,  who  makes  your  power 
 
 An  image  of  his  own. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Ye  fair,  by  nature  form'd  to  move, 
 O  praife  th'  eternal  fource  of  love, 
 
 With  youth's  enlivening  fire  : 
 Let  age  take  up  the  tuneful  lay. 
 Sigh  his  blefs'd  name — then  foar  away. 
 
 And  aik  an  angel's  lyre. 
 
 PSALM    CXLIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The  children  of  Zion  are  excited  I — 3.  to  re- 
 joice, and  fing  the  praifes  of  their  King,  on 
 account  4.  of  the  falvation  which  he  has 
 already  wrought  for  them,  and  which  will 
 hereafter  be  completed  in  them,  when  5. 
 they  ihall  enter  into  his  Reft,  and  6 — 9. 
 triumph    with    him    over    the   perfecuting 
 
 powtT.>> 
 
542  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  149. 
 
 powers  of  the  world,  and  all  the  oppofers  of 
 Chrift,  on  whom  will  then  be  executed  the 
 judgment  written.  The  Jews,  midaking,  as 
 ufual,  the  time,  place,  and  nature  of  Mef- 
 fiah's  glorious  kingdom,  imagine  this  Pfahn 
 will  receive  its  accomplifhment,  by  their 
 being  made  rulers  of  the  nations,  and  lords 
 of  all  things  here  below. 
 
 I.  Praife  the  Lord:  Shig  unto  the  Lord  ^  new 
 fong^  and  his  praife  in  the  congregation  of  faints, 
 2.  Let  Ifrael  rejoice  in  him  that  made  him :  let  the 
 children  of  Zion  he  joyful  in  their  King.  3.  Let 
 them,  praife  his  name  in  the  dance-,  let  thenifing 
 praifes  unto  him  with  the  timbrel  and  harp. 
 
 Chriftians  are  now  the  people,  to  whom  belong 
 the  names  and  charaders  of  "  faints,  Ifrael,  and  cbil- 
 "  dren  of  Zion."  They  *'  fing"  this  holy  '*  fong,'* 
 as  the  Pfalmift  hath  enjoined  them  to  do.  They  fmg 
 it  "  new"  in  its  evangelical  fenfe,  as  new  men,  ce- 
 lebrating new  vidories,  new  and  greater  mercies,  a 
 fpiritual  falvation,  an  eternal  redemption.  They 
 "  rejoice*'  with  hearts,  voices,  inftruments,  and  every 
 other  token  of  joy,  "  in  him  who  hath  made,"  or 
 created  them  asiain,  in  rio;hteoufnefs  and  true  ho)i- 
 nefs;  they  are  "  joyful  in  their  King,"  who  hath 
 himfelf  overcome,  and  is  now  leading  them  on  to 
 final  conqueft  and  triumph,  to  honour  and  im- 
 mortality. 
 
 4.  For  the  Lord  taketh  plcafure  in  his  people : 
 he  ivill  bcautifif  the  meek  idlh  falvation,     5.  The 
 
 faints 
 
Day  30.  E.p.       ON  Tn£  PSALMS.  543 
 
 faults*  Jfiall  be  joyful  with  glory :  they  fJiall  fng 
 aloud  upon  their  beds,  or  places  of  rej. 
 
 Such  "  plcafure"  the  King  of  Zion  taketh  In  his 
 people,  that  he  hath  not  difdained  to  become  Hke 
 one  of  them  J  to  partake  of  their  flefh  and  blood, 
 and  to  give  them  his  Spirit ;  he  was  made  man,  to 
 purchafe  them  by  his  death  ;  and  as  a  man,  he  is  gone 
 into  heaven,  to  prepare  a  place  for  them.  From 
 thence  he  will  return,  to  "  beautify  the  meek  with 
 "  falvation,"  and  place  on  the  heads  of  his  true  dif- 
 ciples,  the  lowly,  patient,  and  peaceable  ones,  a 
 bright  and  incorruptible  crown.  Therefore  are  "  the 
 *'  faints  joyful  in  glory;  they  fing  aloud,"  in  a  flate 
 of  perfed  eafe  and  fecurity,  reding  from  their  la- 
 bours, but  not  from  their  hallelujahs. 
 
 6.  The  high  praifes  of  God  in  their  mouth,  and 
 a  tzvo-edgedfzvprd  in  their  hand;  7.  To  execute  vea^ 
 geance  upon  the  heathen,  and  punifliments  upon  the 
 people  ;  8.  To  bind  their  kings  with  chains,  and  their 
 nobles  zvith  fetters  of  iron  ;  9.  To  execute  upon  them 
 the  judgment  xvritten :  this  honour  have  all  his  faints, 
 Praife ye  the  Lord. 
 
 To  thofe  who  are  saints  indeed,  and  who  are 
 acquainted  with  the  genuine  fpirit  of  the  Gofpel,  how 
 obvious  is  it,  that  the  fcene,  of  which  we  have  here 
 a  prophetical  exhibition,  is  one  that  cannot  take 
 place,  till  after  the  refurred ion,  becaufe  the  follow- 
 ers of  the  Lamb  have  certainly  nothing  to  do  with 
 vengeance  in  this  world,   though  they  are  to  judge, 
 
 *  In  this  verfe,  the  Hebrew  verbs  are  in  the  future  time.  In 
 the  verfe  following,  the  original  hath  no  verb  at  all.  The  liberty 
 is  therefore  taken  to  render  theia  accordingly. 
 
 not 
 
544  A  COMMENTARY        Psal.  i5d. 
 
 not  only  men,  but  angels,  in  the  next ;  i  Cor.  vi.  2, 
 3.  when  they  (liall  be  called  up  to  fit  on  thrones,  as 
 afleflbrs,  at  the  condemnation  of  their  once  iniult- 
 ing  perfecutors,  who  will  be  cut  afunder  with  the 
 "  two-edged  fword,"  and  bound  with  indiflblul^le 
 "  chains."  Thus  will  be  executed  upon  them  the 
 **  eternal  judgment  written"  and  announced  againft 
 the  enemies  of  Meffiah,  in  the  Scriptures  of  truth. 
 '*  This  honour  will  all  his  faints  then  have." 
 
 PSALM     CL. 
 
 41IGUMENT. 
 
 The  Pfalmirt  exliorteth  men  to  pralfe  Jehovah, 
 1.  for  his  holinefs,  and  the  firmament  of  his 
 power,  2.  for  the  wonders  of  his  might,  and 
 for  his  excellent  greatnefs,  3 — 5.  with  all 
 kinds  of  mufic.  6.  He  concludeth  his  di- 
 vine book  of  praifes,  by  calling  upon  every 
 thing  that  hath  breath,  to  employ  that  breath 
 in  declaring  the  glory  of  him  who  gave  it. 
 
 I.  Praife ye  the  Lord.  Praife  God  in  his  fanc' 
 tuary,  01^  for  his  holinefs  ;  praife  him  in,  or,  for  the 
 firmament,  or,  expanfion  of  his  power. 
 
 If  our  tranflation  be  retained,  the  meaning  is,  that 
 God  (hould  be  praifed  in  the  "  fandtuary,"  or  temple, 
 below,  and  likewife  in  "  heaven"  above ;  the  for^ 
 mer  being  planned  and  conftrudted,  as  a  refemblance 
 of  the  latter.  But  the  context  rather  perhaps  requires 
 us   to  fuppofe  the  Pfalmift   giving  the  reafons  why 
 
 God 
 
Day  30.  E.  p.       ON  THE  PSALMS.  545 
 
 God  fliould  be  pralfed ;  namely,  on  account  of  his 
 "  holinefsj"  and  of  his  "  powerj"  which  power  is 
 more  efpecially  difplayed  in  the  formation  of  the 
 "  firmament,"  or  "  expanfion"  of  the  material  hea- 
 vens, and  their  inceffant  operations,  by  means  of  the 
 lightj  and  the  air,  of  which  they  are  compofed^  upon 
 the  earth,  and  all  things  therein.  Thefe  are  the  ap- 
 pointed inftrumentsof  life  and  motion  in  the  natural 
 world,  and  they  afford  us  ibme  idea  of  that  power 
 of  God  unto  falvation,  which  is  manifefled  in  the 
 church,  by  the  effedts  produced  on  the  fouls  of  men, 
 through  the  gracious  influences  of  the  light  divine^ 
 and  the  spirit  of  holinefs,  conftituting  the  "  firma- 
 "  ment  of  God^s  power,"  in  the  new  creation. 
 
 2.  Ptaife  him  far  his  mighty  acU :  praife  hint 
 according  to  his  excellent  greatnefs. 
 
 "Mighty"  were  the  "  adls"  which  God  wrought 
 for  Ifrael,  and  "  great"  was  the  Holy  One  in  the 
 midft  of  his  ancient  people ;  but  far  mightier  ads 
 did  he  perform  in  Chrifl  Jefus^  for  the  redemption  of 
 the  world  j  and  mote  "  excellent  greatnefs"  hath  he 
 manifefted  in  the  converfion  of  the  nations,  the  over- 
 throw of  paganifnij  and  the  eredlion  and  prefervation 
 of  the  Chriftian  Church.  O  that  her  gratitude  bore 
 ibme  proportion  to  his  goodnefs ! 
 
 3.  Praife  him  zvith  the  found  of  the  trumpet  i 
 praife  him  zvith  the  pfaltery  and  harp.  4.  Praife 
 him  zvith   the  timbrel  and  dance:  praife  him  xoith 
 
 fringed  inftruments  and  organs.  5.  Praife  him  upon 
 the  loud  cymbals y  praife  him  upon  the  high  founding 
 cyjnbals. 
 
 It  is  impoffible  for  us  to  dlflinguifl>  and  defcribe 
 Vol.  TI.  M  m  the 
 
546  A  COMMENTARY  Psal.  150. 
 
 the  feveral  forts  of  mufical  inftruments  here  men- 
 tioned, as  the  Hebrews  themfelves  acknowledge  their 
 Ignorance  in  this  particular.  Thus  much  is  clear, 
 that  the  people  of  God  are  enjoined  to  ufe  all  the 
 various  kinds  of  them,  in  the  performance  of  their 
 divine  fervices.  And  why  (hould  they  not  be  fo  ufed, 
 under  the  Gofpel  ?  We  read  of  facred  mufic  before 
 the  law,  in  the  inftance  of  "  Miriam,  the  prophetefs, 
 *'  the  fifter  of  Aaron,"  who,  to  celebrate  the  deliver- 
 ance from  Pharaoh  and  the  Egyptians,  "  took  a  tim- 
 "  brel  in  her  hand,  and  the  women  went  out  after 
 "  her,  with  timbrels  and  dances."  Exod.  xv.  20. 
 The  cuftom,  therefore,  was  not  introduced  by  the 
 law,  nor  abolidied  with  it.  Well  regulated  mufic, 
 if  ever  it  had  the  power  of  calming  the  paffions,  if 
 ever  it  enlivened  and  exalted  the  affedlions  of  men  in 
 the  worlhip  of  God  (purpofes  for  which  it  was  for- 
 merly employed),  doubtlefs  hath  flill  the  fame  power, 
 and  can  flill  afford  the  fame  aids  to  devotion.  When 
 the  beloved  difciple  was,  in  fpirit,  admitted  into  the 
 celeflial  choir,  h«  not  only  heard  them  "  finging" 
 hymns  of  praife,  but  he  heard  likewife  "  the  voice  of 
 "  harpers  harping  upon  their  harps."  Rev.  xiv.  2. 
 And  why  that,  which  faints  are  reprefented  as  doing 
 in  heaven,  (hould  not  be  done,  according  to  their 
 Ikill  and  ability,  by  faints  upon  earth ;  or  why  in- 
 ftrumental  mufic  fhould  be  aboli(hed  as  a  legal  cere- 
 mony, and  vocal  mufic,  which  was  as  much  fo, 
 fhould  be  retained,  no  good  reafon  can  be  alfigned. 
 Sacred  mufic,  under  proper  regulations,  removes 
 the  hindrances  of  our  devotion,  cures  the  diftradbions 
 of  our  thoughts,   and  banilhes  wearinefs  from  our 
 
 xnijids. 
 
Day  30.  E.  p.      ON  THE  PSALMS.  547 
 
 minds.  It  adds  folcmnity  to  the  public  fervlce,  raifei 
 all  the  devout  paflions  in  the  foul,  and  caufes  our 
 duty  to  become  our  delight.  "  Of  the  pleafures  of 
 **  heaven,"  fays  the  eloquent  and  elegant  Bilhop  At- 
 terbury,  "  nothing  further  is  revealed  to  us,  than 
 "  that  they  confift  in  the  pradlice  of  Holy  Mufic, 
 *'  and  Holy  Love;  the  joint  enjoyment  of  which, 
 "  we  are  told,  is  to  be  the  happy  lot  of  ail  pious 
 "  fouls,  to  endlefs  ages."  It  may  be  added,  that 
 there  is  no  better  method  of  combating  the  mifchiev- 
 ous  effedts  flowing  from  the  abufe  of  mufic,  than  by 
 applying  it  to  its  true  and  proper  ufe.  If  the  wor- 
 (hippers  of  Baal  join  in  a  chorus  to  celebrate  the 
 praifes  of  their  idol,  the  fervants  of  Jehovah  (hould- 
 drown  it,  by  one  that  is  ftronger  and  more  powerful, 
 in  praife  of  him  who  made  heaven  and  earth.  If  the 
 men  of  the  world  rejoice  in  the  object  of  their  adora- 
 tion, let  the  children  of  Sion  be  joyful  in  their  King. 
 
 6.  Let  every  thing  that  hath  breath  praife  the 
 Lord.    Praife  ye  the 'Lord . 
 
 The  breath  of  natural  life,  which  God  hath  breath- 
 ed into  our  noftrils,  and  the  breath  of  that  new  and 
 eternal  life,  which  he  hath  given  us  through  Chrift 
 Jefus  our  Lord,  (hould  be  returned  in  hallelujahs. 
 And  then  the  church,  compofed  of  many  and  diife- 
 rent  members,  all  actuated,  like  the  pipes  of  a  well- 
 tuned  organ,  by  the  lame  Spirit,  and  confpiring  to- 
 gether in  perfed  harmony,  would  become  one  great 
 inftrument,  founding  forth  the  praifes  of  God  moft 
 high. 
 
 Let  every  thing  that  hath  breath  praisb 
 3  the 
 
548  A  COMMENTARY       Psal.  150. 
 
 TifK  Lord! — With  this  wi(h  the  fvveet  Pfalmifl:  of 
 Ifrael  doles  the  ibngs  of  Sion.  With  the  fame  wifli 
 the  author  defines  to  clofe  thefe  meditations  upon 
 them ;  giving  thanks  to  the  Father  of  mercies,  and 
 the  God  of  all  comforts,  by  vvhofe  mofl  gracious  fa- 
 vour and  aid  they  have  been  be^un,  continued  and 
 ended;  and  humbly  praying,  that  no  errors,  or  im- 
 proprieties, from  which,  through  human  infirmity, 
 during  the  courl'e  of  a  long  work,  the  mod  diligent 
 and  careful  are  not  exempt,  may  prevent  his  labours 
 from  contributing,  in  fome  fmall  degree,  to  promote 
 the  improvement  and  confolation  of  the  redeemed, 
 the  honour  and  glory  of  the  Redeemer,  who  is  the 
 
 ROOT  AND   THE   OFFSPRING   OF    DAVID,    AXD   THE 
 BKIjGHT  and  MOIINIXG   STAR*.       AMEN. 
 
 *  Rev.  xxii.  16. 
 
 THE    END. 
 
 C.Wootlfall,  Printer,  Paiernoftcr-row, 
 
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