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 THE UNIVERSITY 
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A 
 
 COMMENTARY 
 
 ON 
 
 THE BOOK OF PSALMS, 
 
 IN WHICH 
 
 THEIR LITERAL OR HISTORICAL SENSE, AS THEY RELATE TO KING DAVID 
 
 a: d the people of Israel, is illustrated ; 
 
 AND THEIR APPLICATION TO MESSIAH, TO THE CHURCH, AND TO INDIVI¬ 
 DUALS AS MEMBERS THEREOF, IS POINTED OUT ; 
 
 WITH A VIEW TO RENDER TnE USE OF THE PSALTER PLEASING AND PRO¬ 
 FITABLE TO ALL ORDERS AND DEGREES OF CHRISTIANS. 
 
 DY 
 
 GEORGE, LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH, 
 
 AGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD. 
 
 All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Psalms concerning me. Luke Sii v. 44. 
 1 will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Cor. xiv. 15. 
 Thevsing the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb. Rev. sv. 3. 
 
 '?T!)e ftentl) (EUition* 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 II rmTtrm ♦ 
 
 rUBI Vi BAYNES, 
 
w * 
 
Ko $l!M G<L s I 
 
 12 3>4 • - 
 
 147 h 1 ' 0 , A 
 
 X COMMENTARY 
 
 ON 
 
 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 
 
 FIFTEENTH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 PSALM LXXV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The prophet, 1. gives thanks, with the church, to 
 God for the manifestation of his name, and the 
 wonders of salvation wrought thereby. 2. He 
 declares his'resolution ofexecutingjudgement and 
 justice in his kingdom, which, 3. had been in dis¬ 
 order and confusion ; 4, 5. he rebukes the wick¬ 
 ed; 6—8. reminds them of the power, providence* 
 counsels, and judgements of God; 9, 10. he con¬ 
 cludes with repeating his resolution to praise God, 
 to break the power of wickedness, and to esta¬ 
 blish righteousness. * j: 
 
 Ver. i. Unto thee , O God , do we give thanks , unto 
 thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near , thy 
 
 wondrous works declare . 
 
 The church offers up her "repeated praises to God 
 for deliverance ; she acknowledges the presence of 
 his name in the midst of her, which had been evi¬ 
 denced by the “ wonderful works” wrought for her 
 salvation. Upon whatever occasion these words 
 were originally endited, the Christian church now 
 
 celebrates in them that great deliverance which, by 
 vol. ir. * A 
 
 ()qq 
 
2 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 75. 
 
 so many miracles of mercy and power, hath been ac¬ 
 complished for her through Messiah, who is in Scrip¬ 
 ture frequently styled, “ the name of Jehovah.-” See 
 Isa. xxx. 27 . 
 
 2. When I shall receive the congregation^ I will 
 judge uprightly . 
 
 The first verse was spoken by many persons \ 
 cc unto thee, O God, do we give thanks;” here the 
 speaker is one, and that one is plainly a ruler, who 
 promises that when he shall have “ received the con- 
 “ gregation,” or, as some render it, “ when he shall 
 “ have gotten an appointed, or fit time, or season,” 
 that is, when he shall be established in power and 
 authority, at a fit time and place, he will “judgeup- 
 “ rightly,” and introduce a thorough reformation 
 into a kingdom, which, $s we shall find by the follow¬ 
 ing verse, stood greatly in need of it. From these 
 circumstances it should seem most probable, that 
 David is speaking of his advancement to the throne 
 of Israel, and the intended rectitude of his admini¬ 
 stration, when he should be settled thereon. What 
 David did in Israel, was done in the church uni- 
 versal, by him who sat upon the throne-of David, 
 when he “ received,” for his inheritance, the great 
 (c congregation” of the Gentiles, and the earth was 
 full of the “ righteousness” of Jehovah. 
 
 3. The earth , or, the land , and all the inhabitants 
 thereof, are 7 or, were, dissolved : I bear up the pillars 
 of it. 
 
 Civil distractions, and the continual irruptions of 
 foreign enemies, had thrown the Israelitish affairs 
 into confusion, and “ dissolved” the frame of govern¬ 
 ment ; until, by the re-establishment of royal au¬ 
 thority, countenance and support were again given 
 to all the subordinate magistrates; who are, in their 
 
Day 15. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 3 
 
 respective stations, the “ pillars,” of a community. 
 Such was the universal corruption and dissolution 
 of manners both among Jews and Gentiles, when 
 Messias, entering upon this regal office, reformed 
 the world, raised the glorious fabric of the church, 
 and made his apostles and their successors the “ pil¬ 
 lars’ 5 of his spiritual kingdom. Let men support 
 religion, and God will support them. 
 
 4. I said unto the fools , Deal notfoolishly ; and to 
 the wicked , Lift not up the horn : 5. Lift not up your 
 horn on high ; speak not with a stiff neck . 
 
 46 Where the word of a king is, there is power.” 
 The prophet addresses himself to the opposers of 
 his government, and the disturbers of Israel: he 
 urges the cc folly” of exalting themselves against 
 their prince; and exhorts them, for their own sakes, 
 to humility and obedience. Is not this the very 
 message which the ministers of Christ have received 
 from their King, and are commanded to deliver to 
 the world ? 
 
 6 . For promotion cometh neither from the east , nor 
 from the west , nor from the south • 7. But God is the 
 judge ; he putteih down one , and setteth up another . 
 
 The opposition, mentioned in the preceding 
 • verse, was called “ folly.” In these verses it is 
 proved to be such; as being an opposition, in effect, 
 to the counsels of heaven; for, not by worldly power 
 or craft, but by the designation and providence of 
 God hitnself, the supreme judge of princes, and dis¬ 
 poser of kingdoms, was the house of Saul 44 put 
 down” and the house of David 44 set up.” And are 
 not, then, the enemies of the Son of God in arms 
 against the Father ; who according to the promises 
 going before concerning him, hath highly exalted 
 him; hath committed all power and judgement to 
 
4- 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 75. 
 
 liim ; and hath put all things under his feet ? Yea, 
 and the hour is coming, when he shall put down all 
 rule, and all authority, and power, and the Lord 
 Jesus alone shall be exalted in that day. What will 
 then be the portion of his impenitent adversaries, 
 the next verse will inform us. 
 
 8. For in the hand of the Loiiq there is a cup , and 
 the nine is red ; it is full of ma ture ; and he poureth 
 out of the same: but the dregs thereof all the nicked of 
 the earth shall wring them out , and drink them. 
 
 As the choicest of heavenly blessings are frequent¬ 
 ly in Scripture represented by the salutary effects of 
 wine, a cup of which the master of the family is sup¬ 
 posed to hold in his hand, ready to distribute due 
 portions of' it to those around him j so from the 
 noxious and intoxicating qualities of that liquor, 
 when drunk strong, and in too large a quantity, is 
 borrowed a most tremendous image of the wrath 
 and indignation of Almighty God. Calamity and 
 sorrow, fear and trembling, infatuation and despair, 
 the evils oh the present life, and of that which is to 
 come, are the bitter ingredients which compose 
 this most horrible cup of mixture. It is entirely in 
 the hand and disposal of God, who, through every 
 age, has been pouring out, and administering of its 
 contents, more or less, in proportion to the sins of 
 men. But much of the strength and power of the 
 liquor still remains behind, until the day of final 
 'Vengeance. It will be then exhausted, even to the 
 dregs, by unrepenting rebels; when u burning 
 “ coals, fire, and brimstone,” and eternal “ tem- 
 “ pest,” shall be “ the portion of their cup.” 
 Ps. xi. 6. 
 
 9. But I will declare Jor ever; I will sing praises l» 
 the God of Jacob . 
 
Day 15. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 5 
 
 These dispensations of mercy and judgement the 
 prophet resolves to “ declare” to the world tor ever, 
 by thus u singing” the works and the “ praises” of 
 God, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs. 
 And while we now sing them, we declare our reso¬ 
 lution to be the same with his. 
 
 10 . Ah the horns oj the wicked also will I cut off; but 
 the horns oj the ri hteous s all be exulted . 
 
 l ie determines likewise, a- every good governor 
 should do, to exert the authority with which he was 
 intrusted ; to break the power of triumphant wick¬ 
 edness, and to exa t that righteousness which exalt- 
 eth a nation; hereby rendering himself a fit image of 
 Him, who hath since done away transgression, and 
 brought in everlasting ri hteousness, who will one 
 day turn the wicked into hell, and exalt his faithful 
 servants to reign with him in heaven. Already he 
 reigns in them upon earth ; causing “ all carnal afc 
 “ fections to die in them, and all things belonging 
 K to the Spirit to live and grow in them.” 
 
 PSALM LXXVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It is obvious., at first sight, to any one who reads 
 this Psalm, that it was composed,-as a thanksgiv¬ 
 ing hymn, on account of some great deliverance, 
 wrought for his people, by the immediate hand of 
 God. The miraculous destruction of the Assyrian 
 army by the angel, in the days of king Hezekiah, 
 is generally pitched upon, as the subject of if, 
 and affirmed to be so by the ancient Greek in¬ 
 scription prefixed to it in the LXX version. The 
 prophet, 1, 2. declares the glory which God hath 
 gotten him in Israel; 3—6. describes the circum- 
 
6 
 
 Psalm 7b. 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 stances of the deliverance, with, 7. a reflection 
 thereupon ; 8—10. he mentions the effects it had 
 produced among the nations, and, 11, 12. those 
 which it ought to produce in Israclitish hearts. 
 The ideas are to be transferred to the salvation of 
 the church universal, by the destruction of sin 
 and Satan, and the overthrow of the persecuting 
 powers. 
 
 1. In Judah is God known ; his name is great in 
 Israel. 2. In Salem also is his tabernacle , and his 
 dwelling place in Sion . 
 
 On occasion of some great deliverance, the pro¬ 
 phet speaks in transport concerning that presence 
 and protection of God, which the highly favoured 
 Judah once enjoyed. She enjoyed them while she 
 continued faithful, and really was what she professed 
 to be. Rut, on account of her infidelity, and rejec¬ 
 tion of her Messiah, an alteration of circumstances 
 has taken place. They are no longer Jews, who are 
 such outwardly ; nor is that circumcision, which is 
 outw’ard in the flesh but they are Jews, who be- 
 lieve in the Son of God ; and they are of the cir¬ 
 cumcision, who are cleansed by him from all filthi¬ 
 ness of flesh and spirit. The Gentile Christian church 
 hath succeeded to the privileges of the Israelitisln 
 In her now “ God is known” by the Gospel ; and 
 cc his Name is great” in her, by reason of all the 
 mighty wonders which he hath wrought for her: she 
 is the true tc Salem,” or city of peace ; she is the 
 true “ Sion,” the spiritual, holy, and beloved hill ; 
 and in her is the u tabernacle” and “ dwelling.place” 
 of God her Saviour, by the Spirit. 
 
 8. There brake he the arrows of the bow , the shield, 
 and the sword , and the battle. 
 
Day 15. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS 
 
 7 
 
 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 apparatus 
 of war became, in a moment, utterly useless. Such 
 was the event, when the holy Jesus entered the lists 
 against our spiritual adversaries, “ for’ us ; and 
 such ever will be the event, when he engages them 
 “ in” us. 
 
 4. Thou art more glorious and excellent Ilian the 
 mountains of prey. 
 
 This maybe a beautiful apostrophe to mount Sion 
 (mentioned ver. 2), as appearing infinitely more glo¬ 
 rious and excellent, through the favour and protec¬ 
 tion of her God, than the arm of flesh and the in¬ 
 struments of war could render the kingdoms of the 
 earth, which set themselves against her; and which, 
 for their tyranny and cruelty, and the ravages com¬ 
 mitted by them, are likened to those mountains, 
 where beasts of prey, with similar dispositions, rove, 
 and roar, and devour. The powers of the world 
 <c make war with the Lamb, whose station is upon 
 
 mount Sion but “ the Lamb shall overcome 
 ^ them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings y 
 “ and they that are with him are called, and chosen, 
 fC and faithful.” Itev. xiy. 1. xvii. 14. 
 
 5. The stout-hearted are spoiled , they have slept their 
 
 sleep : and none of the men of might have found their 
 hands . 0. At thy rebuke , O God of Jacob, both the 
 
 chariot , or, rider , and horse , are cast into a dead sleep . 
 
 It must be acknowledged, that these two verses 
 seem in a very particular manner to point at the 
 miraculous destruction of Senacherib’s army, when 
 the “ stout hearted,” who doubted not of taking 
 and spoiling the holy city, were themselves sudden¬ 
 ly “ spoiled” of strength and life ; they “ slept 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 76# 
 
 3 
 
 f c their sleep, and found not their hands;*■ they awak¬ 
 ed not again to the use of their powers and facul¬ 
 ties ; a rebuking blast was sent from the . ?od of Ja¬ 
 cob, under which the flower of Assyria withered in 
 the space of a night, and in the morning was no 
 more ; the horse and his rider were cast into a 
 dead sleep they slept the sleep of death. How, in 
 a moment, cc were the mighty fallen, and the wea- 
 “ pons of war perished!” How astonishing the down- 
 fal of the tvrant! How complete the triumph of the 
 daughter of Sion ! Such will be the destruction of 
 the world ; such the salvation of the people of God. 
 
 7. Thou, even thou, art to he feared; and who may 
 stand in thy sight when once thou art angry ? 
 
 Why are the miraculous exertions of omnipotence 
 recorded in the book of life, but to suggest to us 
 this reflection, that God, and God only, is she pro¬ 
 per object of our fear ; since neither the wisdom of 
 the wise, nor the power of the mighty, no, not the 
 world itself, can stand a single moment before him, 
 “ when once he is angry ?” Yet we continue to 
 dread any frowns but those of heaven ; and one 
 poor, vain, sinful man shall, through a course of six¬ 
 ty or seventy years, incessantly and undauntedly 
 tempt and provoke Him who destroyed 185,000 in 
 a night. What is this, but madness? 
 
 8 . Thou didst cause judgement to he heard from hea¬ 
 ven ; the earth feared, and was still; 9* When God 
 
 arose to judgement, to save all the nlee/c of the earth, or, 
 the afflict' d of the land . 
 
 A destruction so far exceeding human power, was 
 evidently the sentence of God’s judgement, audibly 
 pronounced from the eternal throne ; and it was 
 heard by all the earth with an awful silence, as when 
 he speaks to at tentive nature in thunder. Such was 
 
Day 15. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 9 
 
 the effect which this interposition in behalf of his 
 people produced among the surviving Assyrians, and 
 the neighbouring nations. Let us carry our thoughts 
 on to the sensations which will be felt in the hearts 
 of men, at that hour when the last trump shall sound 
 in the heavens, and the earth shall shake from her 
 . foundations ; when God shall arise to execute judge¬ 
 ment on the adversaries of his church ; and to save, 
 with an everlasting salvation, all the meek and afflict¬ 
 ed of the earth. 
 
 10 . Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the 
 remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain . 
 
 The wrath of man, and of Satan himself, against 
 the church, turns, in the end, to the praise and glory 
 of God, who represses it when at its height; and at 
 all times appoints those bounds which it cannot pass, 
 any more than the raging waves of the ocean can 
 overflow their appointed barrier of sand. 
 
 11. Vow and pay unto the L -rd your God: let all 
 that are round about him bring presents unto him that 
 ought to be feared. 12. He shall cut off or, restrain', 
 the spirit oj princes : he is terrible to the kings of the 
 earth. 
 
 If such should have been the gratitude andclevo- 
 iion of Israelites, for a temporary deliverance from 
 the fury of an earthly tyrant ; how much higher 
 ought that of Christians to rise, for eternal redemp¬ 
 tion from the great oppressor! How ought they to 
 “ vow 7 and pay their vows unto the Lord their God ; 
 “ to bring presents,” to offer all they have, and all 
 they are, to him who is so greatly “ to be feared,” 
 so highly to be loved ; to him who c; restrains” the 
 fury of evil angels, as well as the spirit of prin- 
 
I* A COMMENTARY Psalm fir. 
 
 ce§;” and is “ terrible” to the powers of darkness, 
 no less than to “ the kings of the earth !” 
 
 PSALM LXXVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 r * * 
 
 As the foregoing Psalm was evidently composed 
 when the church had obtained deliverance from 
 her enemies, this seems no less plainly to have 
 been written at a time when she was in captivity 
 under them. It contains, 1—4. a complaint of 
 sufferings ; and, 5—20. a description at large of 
 the struggle between distrust and faith ; which 
 latter prevails, by having recourse to the consi¬ 
 deration of ancient mercies; particularly, that of 
 redemption from Egypt. The Psalm is admirably 
 calculated for the use and consolation of any 
 church, or soul, when in affliction and distress. 
 
 1 . I cried unto God with my voice , even unto God 
 with my voice; and he gave ear unto me . 
 
 Uneasiness in the heart will utter itself by the 
 “ voice and when the pain is intense, the “ cry” 
 will be loud. Only let it take aright direction,and 
 ascend to heaven ; let the application be made to 
 “ God,” who will both “ hear” and help ; 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 sake; the cries of all other men 
 are heard for his sake. 
 
 i • - , . ’ * ■ i • 
 
 2. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my 
 sore ran in the. night , and ceased not; Heb. my hand 
 was stretched out in the night , and ceased not , or, with - 
 out intermission ; my soul refused to be comforted . 
 
 To a soul deeply sensible of the world ? s vanity, 
 and the misery of sin, every day a “ day of 
 
Day la . m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 11 
 
 “ trouble,” and the whole time of her pilgrimage is 
 a long, dark, and wearisome u night,” during which 
 she seeks after her beloved by prayer ; and, for the 
 sake of him, and those future joys which she expects 
 in his presence, the pleasures of sense are put away 
 from her, and she “ refuses to be comforted” by such 
 comforters. An Israelite cannot enjoy himself in 
 Babylon ; a Christian cannot find perfect satisfaction 
 in the world : a return to Jerusalem will employ the 
 thoughts of both. 
 
 3, I remembered God , and was troubled ; I complain- 
 ed , and my spirit was overwhelmed: or, I remembered 
 God . and made a noise , i. e. in prayer to him ; 1 medi¬ 
 tated ,and my spirit was obscured, or, darkened , through 
 grief and affliction. 
 
 This is a fine description of what passes in an af¬ 
 flicted and dejected mind. Between the remem¬ 
 brance of God and his former mercies, and the me¬ 
 ditation on a seeming desertion under present cala¬ 
 mities, the affections are variously agitated, and the 
 prayers disturbed, like the tumultuous waves of a 
 troubled sea ; while the fair light from above is in¬ 
 tercepted, and the face of heaven is overwhelmed 
 with clouds and darkness. 
 
 4. Thou boldest mine eyes waking : I am so troubled 
 
 that I cannot speak, * - 
 
 Through grief and anxiety it is, that the eyes are 
 made to keep all the watches of the night, and wait 
 in vain for sleep to relieve them from duty, until the 
 dawning of the morning. To a night so spent, may 
 a season of captivity or persecution be compared. 
 Thus the ancient church looked for the first advent 
 of Christ ; and thus doth the church which now is, 
 expect his second ; prolonging her vigils, even unto 
 the dawning of that morning, which is at once to 
 
I 
 
 12 A COMMENTARY Psalm 77. 
 
 put a period to darkness and to sorrow. In the 
 mean time, she giveth herself to meditation and 
 prayer. 
 
 5. / have considered the days of old , the years of an¬ 
 cient times . 6. call to remembrance my song in the 
 
 night . / commune with mine own heart; and my spirit 
 maketh diligt t search . 
 
 Recollection of former mercies is the proper anti- 
 dote against a temptation to despair, in the day of 
 calamity And as in the divine dispensations, which 
 are always uniform and like themselves, whatever has 
 happened happens again, when the circumstances 
 are similar ; the experience of “ ancient times” is to 
 be called in to our aid, and duly consulted. Nay, 
 we may perhaps “ remember” the time, when we 
 ourselves were led to compose and utter a <c song” 
 of joy and triumph, on occasion of signal mercies 
 vouchsafed us. Upon these topics we should, “ in 
 cc the night of affliction, commune with our own 
 
 hearts, and make diligent search,” as Daniel did 
 in Babylon, into the cause, the nature, and the pro¬ 
 bable continuance of our troubles; with the proper 
 methods of shortening, and bringing them to an 
 end, by suffering them to have their intended and 
 full effect, in a sincere repentance, and thorough re¬ 
 formation. 
 
 7. Will the Lord cast off for ever ? and will he he 
 favourable no more ? 8 .Is his mercy clean gone for ever? 
 doth his promise fail for evermore ? 9. Hath God for¬ 
 gotten to be gracious ? hath he in anger shut up his ten¬ 
 der mercies? 
 
 The Psalmist now relates the process of his medi¬ 
 tations, and of that controversy which arose in his 
 heart between faith and distrust. While he viewed 
 ^ilie distressful scene around him, he found himself 
 
 / 
 
Bay 15. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 13 
 
 strongly tempted to question God’s love of the 
 church : to think that he had finally rejected his 
 people ; that the promised mercy of redemption 
 would never be accomplished ; anil that indignation 
 had constrained the bowels of our heavenly Father, 
 which no longer yearned towards his afflicted chil¬ 
 dren. These were the thoughts suggested to a des¬ 
 ponding soul by the desolations of Sion at that time ; 
 and the state of things in the world may possibly be 
 such, as to suggest the like thoughts to many in the 
 Christian church, before our Lord shall appear again 
 for her final redemption Imaginations of the same 
 cast wi 1 offer themselves to the mind of the sinner, 
 when the hand of God has lain long and heavy upon 
 him, by the infliction of outward calamities, or the 
 terrors of conscience. 
 
 10. And I said , This is my infirmity ; but I will re¬ 
 member the years , or, changes , of the right hand of the 
 Most High . 
 
 To the insinuations of distrust, faith now begins 
 to reply. The sufferer checks himself in his former 
 train of thought, and humbly acknowledges it to 
 have sprung from a mind dispirited, and rendered 
 timid, by misfortunes : “ I said, This is my infirmity 
 but he immediately strengthens himself by reflecting 
 that all “ changes” in the conditions of men are ef¬ 
 fected, for reasons ot infinite wisdom and goodness, 
 by cc the right hand of the Most High which is 
 not shortened, but can still, as formerly, when he sees 
 fit, deliver and exalt, as well as punish and depress, 
 his people. What, therefore, though the daughter 
 of Sion be in captivity, and her enemies insult over 
 her ? Messias come h, who shall redeem her, and 
 all nations \ and then shall “ the right hand of the 
 
I 4 f 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 77. 
 
 Most 64 High” work an universal and a glorious 
 44 change” upon the earth. 
 
 11./ will remember the works of the Lord : surehf I 
 Will remember thif wonders of 'old. 12. / zcili meditate 
 also of all thi) works , and talk of thj defines. 
 
 Thus restored to a right frame of mind, the Psal m¬ 
 ist, instead of brooding any longer over the cala¬ 
 mities of his own time, resolves to turn his thoughts 
 towards the divine dispensations of old ; to meditate 
 on God’s former works and wonders ; his works of 
 justice and mercy, of power and wisdom, of nature 
 and grace ; and, by gratefully celebrating them, to 
 invigorate his faith in the salvation to come, of which 
 they were so many earnests and pledges. And it is 
 this consideration, which makes the eucharistic 
 Psalms ever pleasing, and ever comfortable to the 
 mind ; they are appeals to those attributes which 
 have been so often displayed in the cause of the 
 church ; they are acts of faith, looking backward to 
 the past, and forward to the future; they are praises, 
 and they are prayers. 
 
 13. Thy way, O God , is in the sanctuary , or, in holi¬ 
 ness ; who is so great a god as our God ? 
 
 Faith, now reinstated in its sovereignty over the 
 prejudices and fears of the soul, and again placed 
 upon the judgement-seat, pronounces the 44 ways” 
 or proceedings of God to be such, as when weighed 
 in the balance of the 44 sanctuary,” and judged of by 
 the divine rule and manner of acting, will be found 
 agreeable to the standard of perfect 44 holiness.” 
 An assurance is likewise expressed, that the power 
 of God, however it may, for a time, lie dormant, yet 
 still retains the same superiority, of which former 
 exertions show it to have been possessed, over the 
 gods of the nations, the elements of nature, and the 
 
Day 15. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 15 
 
 powers of the world; insomuch that nothing, which 
 was ever called by others, or called itself, “ god,” 
 was able to stand before Jehovah, the God of Is¬ 
 rael : 44 Who is so great a god as our God?” Thus;, 
 44 All power is given unto me in heaven and in 
 44 earth,” saith our blessed Lord, Matt, xxviii. 18. 
 for the everlasting consolation of the Christian 
 church. 
 
 14. Thou art the God that doest wonders; thou hast 
 declared thy strength among the people . 15. Thou 
 
 hast with thine arm redeemed thy people , the sons of 
 Jacob and Joseph . 
 
 Israel, in times of trouble and distress, was wont 
 to look back to the 44 wonders” wrought in Egypt, 
 and the redemption of all her tribes from that house 
 of bondage. We Christians are taught, while we 
 use the same words, to regard parallel, but more im¬ 
 portant transactions ; we reflect on the 44 wonders’ 5 
 wrought for the bodies and souls of men, by the 
 44 strength and the arm” of Jehovah, revealed and 
 manifested to the world in Christ; and we celebrate 
 the redemption, not of 44 the sons of Jacob and Jo- 
 44 seph” only, but of all nations, from the bondage 
 of corruption ; a redemption compared with which, 
 the deliverance from Egypt, though glorious in it¬ 
 self, hath yet no glory at all, by reason of the glory 
 that so far excelleth. Our confidence in God, during 
 the seasons of affliction, should therefore rise in 
 proportion. 
 
 16. The waters saw thee , O God , the waters saw . 
 thee; they were afraid: the depths also were trou¬ 
 bled. 
 
 The waters of the Red Sea are here beautifully re¬ 
 presented as endued with sensibility, as seeing, feel¬ 
 ing, and being confounded, even to the lowest 
 
 2 
 
16 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 77. 
 
 depths, at the presence and power of their great 
 C reator, when he commanded them to open a way, 
 and to form a wall on each side of it, until his 
 people were passed over ; until his people were 
 passed over whom he had redeemed. In this amaz¬ 
 ing transaction, let us behold, as in a glass, the 
 salvation of believers by baptism, through the death 
 and resurrection of Jesus < hrist, who made the 
 depths of the g ave, as he had done those of the 
 sea, a way for his ransomed to pass over ; and the 
 church like another Israel, saw her enemies, in 
 effect, dead at her feet. 
 
 17 . I he clouds poured out water ; the skies sent out 
 a sound: thine arrows also went aWoad. 18 . The 
 voice of thy thunder was in the heaven : the lightnings 
 lightened tue world : the earth trembled and shook. 
 
 It is said, Exod xiv. 24. that at the time when 
 Israel was passing the sea, “ the Lord looked upon 
 “ the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of 
 “ fire and the cloud, and troubled the host of the 
 “ Egyptians, and took off their chariot-wheels, and 
 “ made them to go heavily: so that the Egyptians 
 “ said, let us flee from the face of Israel; for the 
 * c Lord fightei!) for them against the Egyptians. The 
 verses of our Psalm now before us, seem to explain 
 more particularly the manner in which the Lord 
 « looked upon, and troubled, and fought against, 
 * the Egyptians,” upon that occasion ; namely, by 
 thunders and lightnings, storms and tempests, rain, 
 hail~and earthquake, the usual tokens and instru¬ 
 ments of Almighty displeasure. Josephus, in like 
 manner, relates, that the destruction of the Egyp¬ 
 tians was accompanied by storms of rain from 
 heaven ; by dreadful thunders and lightnings; and, 
 
 in short, by every possible circumstance or terror, 
 
 3 
 
Day 15. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 JIT 
 
 which could testify and inflict upon man the ven¬ 
 geance of an incensed God. From scenes like 
 these, we learn to form an idea of that power 
 which discomfited ;he infernal host; raised Christ 
 from the dead ; vanquished opposition and perse¬ 
 cution; subdued the world to the obedience of 
 faith ; supports and protects the church ; will over¬ 
 throw antichrist; raise the dead ; cast the wicked, 
 with death and Satan, into the lake of fire; and 
 exalt the righteous, to sing, with angels in heaven, 
 “ the song of Moses and of the Lamb.” See Rev. 
 XV. 3. 
 
 19. Thy way is in the sea , and thy path in the great 
 waters , and thy footsteps are not known. 
 
 The dispensations and ways of God, like the 
 passage through the Red Sea, arc all full of mercy 
 to his people ; but they are also, like that, often 
 unusual, marvellous, inscrutable ; and we can no 
 more trace his footsteps, than we could have done 
 those of Israel, after the waters had returned to 
 their place again. Let us resolve, therefore, to 
 trust in him at all times; and let us think we hear 
 Moses saying to us, as he did to the Israelites, when 
 seemingly reduced to the last extremity ; “ Fear ye 
 “ not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah.” 
 Exod. xiv. 13. 
 
 20. thou leddest thy people , like a flock , by the hand 
 of Moses and Aaron. 
 
 The loving kindness of God towards Israel did 
 not stop at the Red Sea, but he conducted his 
 chosen flock, by the guidance of faithful pastors, 
 through all the perils of the wilderness, to the land 
 of promise. We likewise, through thy mercy, O 
 blessed Lord Jesus, have passed the Red Sea at our 
 
 baptism[; and are now journeying in the wilderness, 
 
 vol. ir. a 
 
 / 
 
18 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 78. 
 
 Give us those meek, and lowly, and tractable dis¬ 
 positions, w T hich become the sheep of thy pasture ; 
 set over us skilful and vigilant shepherds ; and be, 
 thou ever both with them and with us ; until having 
 surmounted all difficulties and dangers, led by thy 
 grace, and supported by thy providence, we all 
 come, in perfect safety, to the land of everlasting 
 rest; there to live with thee, one fold under one 
 shepherd, world without end. 
 
 FIFTEENTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 PSALM LXXVIII 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm containeth a declaration of God’s deal* 
 ings with his people, and of their behaviour to 
 him, in Egypt, in the wilderness, and after their 
 settlement in Canaan, to the days of David. It 
 is written for the use and admonition of Chris¬ 
 tians ; who may here view 7 , as in a glass, the mer¬ 
 cies they have received, and the returns which,, 
 alas ! they have but too often made for them. 
 
 1. Give ear , O my people , to my law : incline your 
 ears to the words <j my mouth. 
 
 In this verse, the Psalmist opens his commission, 
 and speaks, as one having authority from above to 
 instruct the world. He demands a large and atten¬ 
 tive audience, while, by a series of examples, he sets 
 forth the goodness of God, and the ingratitude of 
 man, for the admonition of succeeding ages, to the 
 end of time. St Paul, speaking of the very trans¬ 
 actions related in our Psalm, saith of them, “ Now' 
 “ all these things happened unto them for ensamples, 
 
Day 15. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS 1 
 
 19 
 
 “ Or. tvttoi , types ; and they are written for our ad- 
 “ monition, upon whom the ends of the world are 
 “ come; 99 1 Cor. x. 11. We Christians, therefore, 
 must consider ourselves as the “ people” who are to 
 “ give ear to the law,” or “ doctrine” inculcated 
 by the following epitome of the Israelitish history; 
 we must “ incline our ears to the words of” the pro¬ 
 phet’s “ mouth.” 
 
 2. I will open my mouth in a parable : I will utter 
 dark sayings of old: 3. Which we have heard and 
 known , and our fathers have told us. 
 
 The Psalm, being in itself a plain narrative of 
 facts, can contain nothing parabolical or enigma¬ 
 tical in it, unless those facts were, what St Paul af¬ 
 firms them to have been, “ ensamples,” types, or re¬ 
 presentations of other facts relative to the Christian 
 church. As facts, they were “ heard and known,” 
 and handed down from father to son ; but, with re¬ 
 spect to the instructions and admonitions compre¬ 
 hended in them, and to be extracted by an applica¬ 
 tion to parallel times and circumstances, they had 
 the nature of a “ parable,” requiring wisdom and at¬ 
 tention so to understand and apply them. It is ob¬ 
 servable, that our Lord is, by St Matthew, said to 
 have spoken to the multitude altogether in parables, 
 “ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the 
 “ prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in para- 
 <c bles,” <§• c. citing the second verse of the Psalm 
 now before us: Matt. xiii. 35. If it doth not fol¬ 
 low from this citation, that the prophet actually 
 speaks the Psalm in the person of Christ, yet thus 
 much at least is evident from it, that the history of 
 old Israel somewhat resembles the letter of the Gos¬ 
 pel parables, and contains, shadowed out under it, 
 
 the history of a correspondent state of things in the 
 
 2 
 
 / 
 
20 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 7S* 
 
 new Israel, or church Christian*. And although 
 the Psalm, like a large and capacious palace, be laid 
 out into a multitude of different apartments ; yet, 
 perhaps, we may find, that the Scriptures of the New 
 Testament will furnish us with a key, which will 
 gain us admission into every one of them, and put 
 us in possession of the treasures of divine wisdom 
 therein deposited 
 
 4. We will' not hide them from their children , 
 showing to the generation to come , Heb. the latter gene- 
 ration , the praises of the Lord, and his strength , and 
 his wonderful works that he hath done . 
 
 The writer of this Psalm is desirous that <c the 
 “ praises of Jehovah, his strength, and the wonder- 
 “ ful works that he hath done,” an account of which 
 had reached his own time, should be transmitted 
 through all the periods of the Jewish economy, down 
 to the pnrttcrn, the “ latter generation,” or genera¬ 
 tion to arise in the “ latter days ;” the generation 
 of the faithful, to be begotten unto God, from 
 among the Gentiles, through the Gospel. Of this 
 generation are we, who now, in these words of the 
 holy Psalmist, do from age to age “ show the praises 
 “ of the Lord” our Saviour, <c and his strength and 
 
 his wondrous works that he hath done” for us, as 
 he promised and foreshowed in his dispensations of 
 old time. The glorious theme was delivered by the 
 Israelitish to the Christian church, and will be re¬ 
 sumed in heaven, there for ever to employ the 
 tongues of saints, and the harps of angels. 
 
 5. For he established a testimony in Jacob , and appoint¬ 
 ed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers , that 
 
 * “ In parabolis”—Aliud dicit $ aliud innuit; ac praeteritorum 
 specie fulura prsesagit. Id quoque ex persona Christi: Matt. xiii. 
 35. Bossuet. 
 
Da? 15. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 21 
 
 they should make them knoicn to their children: 6. That 
 the generation , to come , or, latter generation , might k nozo 
 them, even the children which should be born ; who 
 should arise , and declare them to their children . 
 
 The account of God’s dealing with his people to 
 be celebrated in our Psalm, begins with the “ law,” 
 or “ testimony, appointed and established in Israel,” 
 by the hand of Moses. Under these names are com¬ 
 prehended, not only the precepts and ceremonies, 
 but the several transactions to which they referred, 
 and in commemoration of which they were instituted ; 
 as also that future salvation, to which they as well, 
 as the transactions, had an aspect. Thus the pass- 
 over, for instance, looked backward to the redemp¬ 
 tion by Moses, and forward to that by Messiah. 
 The law thus considered, as involving the Gospel 
 within it, was, to understanding and pious Israelites, 
 the fountain of wisdom and source of delight. They 
 were to meditate therein day and night, and teach 
 their children to do likewise; until, with its types, 
 realized, and its prophecies accomplished, in the Re¬ 
 deemer, it should go forth out of Sion in perfect 
 beauty, and run and be glorified among the nations. 
 The “ law” and the “ testimony” are now become 
 ours; and it is our duty to transmit them down to 
 latest posterity, until Jesus shall return to judge¬ 
 ment. 
 
 7 - That they might set their hope in God , and not 
 forget the works of God , but keep his commandments: 
 8 . And might not be as their fathers , a stubborn and 
 rebellious generation; a generation that set not their 
 heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with 
 God. 
 
 The reason is here assigned, why God gave ferae! 
 a law, and commanded that fathers should teach it 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psai.m 78. 
 
 22 
 
 to their children, and their children’s children ; and 
 the same reason holds with regard to the Gospel; 
 namely, that the chosen people, renouncing the 
 world, with its idols and lusts, should believe and 
 “ set their hope in” the true “ God,” the only Sa¬ 
 viour; that they should “ not forget the works” which 
 he hath wrought for their redemption ; and that 
 ever mindful of those works, they should love.,him, 
 and “ keep his commandments not following tlie 
 examples of the fathers of Israel, who proved “ faith- 
 “less,” and “rebellious” in the wilderness, when 
 God had brought them out of Egypt. This is the 
 very use St Paul makes of those examples “ With 
 “ some of them,” says he, “ God was not well pleased, 
 “ for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now 
 “ these things were our examples,” twoi “ to 
 “ the intent we should not lust after evil t hi ngs, or 
 “ be idolaters, or commit fornication, &c. &c. as did 
 
 u some of them.” 1 Cor. x. 5. 
 
 * 
 
 9. The children of Ephraim , being armed, and 
 carrying bozvs , turned back in the day of battle . 
 
 As the context treats concerning the behaviour of 
 Israel in general, upon their coming out of Egypt; 
 and as the cowardice of the tribe of Ephraim in par¬ 
 ticular, at that time, is no where mentioned, it is 
 therefore most probable, that one tribe is here put 
 for all the rest; and that under the figure of nun, 
 when prepared for battle, turning their backs at sight 
 of an enemy, is pointed out that disposition of the 
 Israelites, after all their promises, resolutions, and 
 vows of serving and obeying God, to fall away, and 
 relapse into sin, upon the first temptation. How 
 often is this the case with the Christian soldier! Let 
 not him, who hath but just put on his spiritual ar- 
 
Bay 15. £» p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 2S 
 
 inour, boast, like him who is putting it off, when the 
 fight is over, and the victory obtained. 
 
 10. They kept not the covenant of God , and refused 
 to walk in his law ; 11. And for gat his works , and his 
 wonders, that he had shewed them, 12. Marvellous things 
 did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, 
 in the field of Zoan. 
 
 These verses, it is apprehended, describe in plain 
 terms, what was metaphorically expressed in the verse 
 preceding, namely, the proneness of the Israelites to 
 break the “ covenant,” transgress the “ law,” and 
 forget the “ works” of God, even those astonishing 
 works wrought in ts Egypt,” and in “ Zoan,” its 
 capital city. Let the Christian, who perhaps is 
 amazed at the frequent rebellions of stiff-necked 
 Israel, reflect a little within himself, w r ho he has 
 observed the baptismal “ covenant,” how he has 
 “ walked in the law,” and with what gratitude he 
 has remembered tlie “ marvellous works” of Jesus. 
 
 15. He divided the sea , and caused them to pass 
 through ; and he made the waters to stand as an heap . 
 
 From the miracles wrought in Egypt, the Psalmist 
 proceeds to what happened at the Exodus. And here 
 he fails not to mention that great work of Almighty 
 power, the division of the Red Sea, which was ever 
 uppermost in the thoughts of a devout Israelite; as 
 the passage of the church, in Christ her Saviour, 
 through the grave and gate of death, ought never tq 
 depart from the memory of a Christian. 
 
 14. In the day-time also he led than with a cloud , and 
 nil the night with a light of fire. 
 
 During the forty years pilgrimage of Israel in the 
 wilderness, a preternatural column of fire and cloud 
 attended the camp. It rested with them, and moved 
 ©n before them, directing and conducting them in 
 
24 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 78. 
 
 their journeys; in the night-season it was a bright 
 and shining light; and in the day-time it afforded a 
 grateful cooling shade from the burning heat of those 
 sultry deserts. Thus is Christ present with his church, 
 while she sojourns upon earth, by his Word and his 
 Spirit, guiding he«r steps, enlightening her darkness, 
 and mitigating her sorrows. 
 
 15. He clave the rocks in the wilderness , and gave 
 them drink as out of the great depths . 16. He brought 
 
 streams also out of the rock , and caused waters to run 
 down like rivers . 
 
 “ Let us,” saith bishop Taylor, “ by the aids of 
 memory and fancy, consider the children of Israel in 
 the wilderness, in a barren and dry land where no 
 water was, marching in dust and fire, not wet with 
 the dew of heaven, but wholly without moisture, save 
 only what dropped from their own brows. The air 
 was fire, and the vermin was fire ; the flying ser¬ 
 pents were of the same kindred with the firmament ; 
 their sting was a flame, their venom was a fever, and 
 the fever a calenture ; and the whole state of the 
 Israelites’ abode and travel was a little image of the 
 day of judgement, when the elements shall melt with 
 fervent heat. These men, like salamanders walking 
 in fire, dry with heat, scorched with thirst, and made 
 yet more thirsty by calling upon God for water; sup¬ 
 pose, I say, these thirsty souls, hearing Moses pro¬ 
 mise that he will smite the rock, and that a river 
 should break forth from thence ; observe how pre¬ 
 sently they run to the foot of the springing stone, 
 thrusting 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 sup¬ 
 pose the pleasure of their drink, the insatiableness of 
 their desire, the immensity of their appetite : they 
 
Day 15. e. p. ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 25 
 
 took in as much as they could, and they desired 
 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 
 same secret blessing, then is their thirst a significa¬ 
 tion of our duty*.” 
 
 17. And they sinned yet more against him , by pro¬ 
 voking the Most High in the wilderness . 18. And they 
 
 tempted God in their hearts , by asking meat for their 
 lust . 19. Yea, they spake against God; they said , Can 
 
 God furnish a table in the wilderness P 20. Behold , he 
 smote the rock , that the waters gushed out , and the 
 streams overflowed; can he give bread also , or provide 
 flesh , for his people ? 
 
 These frequent rebellions of Israel, with the pre¬ 
 sence of God in the midst of them, and his miracles 
 
 % 
 
 before their eyes, would seem incredible, had they 
 been related any where but in the oracles of truth; 
 and did not the heart of every self-knowing Chris¬ 
 tian at once acknowledge the picture which is here 
 drawn of human nature, its incredulity and per¬ 
 verseness. For hath not God delivered us from the 
 house of bondage, and supported us in the wilder¬ 
 ness ? is not Jesus present in the church, and are 
 not his miracles of love and mercy continually before 
 our eyes, in the Word and in the Sacrament ? Yet, 
 who does not still “ provoke” and “ tempt the 
 cc Most High?” who does not ask provision for his 
 “ lust,” when his necessities are satisfied? and who, 
 after all the proofs he has had of God’s power and 
 goodness, is not apt, upon every appearance of dan¬ 
 ger, to be diffident and distrustful of his providence? 
 Before we condemn others, let us try ourselves, and 
 
 judge righteous judgement. When David pro- 
 
 > ,, < * \ # * 
 
 * Worthy Communicant, p. P2. 
 
26 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 78, 
 
 nounced the words, “ The man that hath done this 
 “ thing shall surely die,” little did he think of being 
 told, by his faithful monitor, c * Thou art the man.” 
 Conscience, if duly interrogated, will be a Nathan 
 to every one, and show him his own transgressions, 
 in those of old Israel. 
 
 2 i . Therefore the Lord heard this, and zoas wroth : 
 so afire was kindled against Jacob , and anger also came 
 up against Israel; 22. Because the if believed not in God , 
 and trusted not ii his salvation: 23. Though he had 
 commanded the clouds from above , and opened the doors 
 of heaven , 24. And had rained down manna upon them 
 to eat , and had given them of the corn of heaven. 23. 
 Man did eat angels food : he sent them meat to the full 
 
 The discontents mentioned above, in verse 17, 
 &c. were posterior not only to the miracle at the 
 rock, but also to the gift of “ manna,” which, after 
 some little time, the people “ loathed,” and de* 
 manded “ flesh,” repenting that they had forsaken 
 Egypt, where they fared more to their satisfaction: 
 see Numb. xi. The cause of the discontents was in¬ 
 fidelity, and the effect of them a display of God’s in¬ 
 dignation: “ The Lord was wroth—because they be- 
 
 lieved not,” &c. Now as St Paul styles the water 
 (C spiritual,” or, sacramental “ drink,” proceeding 
 from cc a spiritual rock s which rock was Christ ; so 
 he terms the manna, spiritual,” or, sacramental 
 <c meat: They did all eat of that samcspiritual meat:” 
 1 Cor. x. 3. And our Lord, in John vi. discourses 
 at large upon the subject, to convince the Jews, that 
 God, who gave to their fathers manna in the wilder¬ 
 ness, had in him given them “ the ' true bread” of 
 eternal life, which the manna was intended to repre¬ 
 sent. “ I am the living bread which came down 
 <c from heaven; if any man eat of this bread he shall 
 
Day 15. e. p. ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 27 
 
 cc live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is 
 “ my flesh, which I will give for the life of the 
 “ world.” Christ crucified is the support of spiri¬ 
 tual and eternal life ; faith is the mouth by which 
 this support is received; manna was an outward and 
 visible sign of it to the Israelites in the wilderness; 
 the eucharistic bread is such to Christians in the 
 world. When that holy ordinance is celebrated, 
 “ the doors of heaven are opened,” spiritual food is 
 “ given from above, and man eats •spn’ON arf?, the 
 “ bread of the mighty ones whether by “ mighty 
 “ ones” we understand those who eat the bread, and 
 are invigorated thereby, or the blessed persons who 
 give the bread to man. Such is our manna, our 
 sustenance in the wilderness, our viaticum, while on 
 the road to Canaan. But how is it “ loathed,’’.and 
 despised, in comparison with “ the flesh-pots of 
 u Egypt,” by men who “ believe notin God, and trust 
 “ not in his salvation !” Will not the same cause pro¬ 
 duce the same effect? Will not “ Jehovah hear this, 
 “ and be wroth ?” Will not “ a fire be kindled 
 “ against Jacob, and anger also come up against 
 “ Israel ?” “ For this cause,” saith an apostle to the 
 irreverent Corinthian receivers, “ many are weak 
 £C and sickly among you, and many sleep.” 1 Cor. 
 xi. 30 . 
 
 26. He caused an east windto hhxo in ilie heaven: and 
 hi) his power he brought in the south wind. 27. He rain¬ 
 ed flesh also upon them as dust , andfeathered fowls like 
 as the sand of the sea. 2S. And he let it fall in the 
 midst of their camp , round about their habitations . 29. 
 
 So they did eat] and were well filled; for he gave them 
 their own desire : 30. They were not estranged for their 
 lust . But while the meat was yet in their months , 31. 
 
28 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 78. 
 
 The wrath of God came upon them , and slew the attest 
 of'them % and smote down the chosen men of Israel. 
 
 The people, discontented with manna, asked, in 
 a tumultuous and rebellious way, for flesh, at the 
 same time distrusting the power of God to give it 
 them in the wilderness. Flesh, however, was pro¬ 
 cured. A wind, proper for the occasion, went forth 
 from Jehovah, and brought a cloud of quails, which 
 furnished the whole camp with a most delicious kind 
 of flesh food, for the space of an entire month. But 
 from the event we learn that inordinate desires, 
 though sometimes complied with, and satisfied by 
 heaven, do not therefore go unpunished ; on the 
 contrary, they are often punished by being com¬ 
 plied with The blessings, chosen for us by God, 
 are blessings indeed, and, like the manna, bring no 
 sorrow with them: but when we choose for ourselves, 
 and are so unhappy as to be gratified in that choice, 
 our portion too often proves a curse ; and, while 
 the much-loved morsel is yet between our teeth, 
 “ the wrath of God comes upon us,” for making 
 a wrong choice. This will always be the case in 
 the end, whenever earth is pieferred to heaven, and 
 sense to faith. 
 
 32. For all this they shined stilly and believed not for 
 his wondrous works. 33. Therejoi'e their days did he 
 consume in vanity * and their years in trouble . 
 
 Mercies are followed by provocations ; provoca¬ 
 tions are punished with judgements ; to judgements 
 succeed repeated provocations, which call down fresh 
 judgements. Immediately after the history of the 
 quails, we read of a sedition stirred up by Aaron 
 and Miriam, and of new murmurs at the report, 
 brought by the spies, concerning the promised land; 
 in consequence of which last, the nation had been 
 
Day 15. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 29 
 
 destroyed, but for the intercession of Moses ; and 
 the whole generation of those who came out of 
 Egypt, except Joshua and Caleb, actually fell in 
 the wilderness, wasted and consumed by various 
 plagues and calamities, during a forty years pere¬ 
 grination : see Numb. xii. xiii. xiv St Jude makes 
 mention of such a generation in the early days of 
 the Christian church, speakers of “ hard speeches 
 u against Christ, murmurers, complainers, walking 
 “ after their own lusts $” and he therefore puts con¬ 
 verts “ in remembrance, how that the Lord, having 
 “ saved the people out of the land of Egypt, after- 
 cc ward destroyed them that believed not:" Jude 
 verse 5, and 15. Because, notwithstanding all that 
 Jesus had done, and continues to do for the church, 
 men “ sin yet more, and believe not for his won- 
 €C drous works,” but either despise the heavenly 
 country, or despair of obtaining it, therefore is the 
 hand of God heavy upon the world ; “ vanity and 
 “ trouble 1 wear out the life of man : and they 
 who have passed the waters of baptism, fall short of 
 the promised rest. 
 
 34. When he slew them, then t her/ sought him: and 
 they returned, and inquired ear/q after God. 35. And 
 thcij remembered that God was their rock , and the high 
 God their redeemer. 36. Nevertheless the;/ didflatter 
 him with their mouth , and they lied unto him with their 
 tongues, 37. For their heart was not right with him , 
 neither were the// s ted last in his covenant . 
 
 Several instances of this behaviour occur in the 
 history of Korah’s rebellion and punishment, of the 
 fiery serpents, and of Israel and Moab: see Numb, 
 xvi. xx. xxi. xxv. The Israelites, in this particular, 
 resembled their great persecutor Pharaoh; their re¬ 
 pentance, which came with the divine judgements. 
 
30 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 7S, 
 
 went also away with them, and appeared no more. 
 By night the dew falleth from heaven, and refresh- 
 eth the weary ground, and causeth the green herb 
 and the flower of the field to revive and spring; but 
 in the morning the sun ariseth with a burning heat, 
 
 and presently the dew is evaporated, the grass wi¬ 
 thered}, the flower fadefch, and the ground again be- 
 cometli parched and dry, as before. Thus it is with 
 man. Adversity is the night, and grace is the dew, 
 by which his heart is made tender and reliirious, and 
 good resolutions are formed, and begin to shoot; but 
 returning prosperity has the force and effect of a 
 summer sun : at its presence piety vanisheth, reso¬ 
 lutions come to nothing, and the heart is once more 
 hardened. “ O Ephraim” exclaims Jehovah by his 
 prophet, u what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what 
 “ shall I do unto thee ? for your goodness is as a 
 * c morning cloud, and as the early dew it passeth 
 “ away :” IIos. vi. 4. Who that hath been con¬ 
 versant in the house of mourning, and about the bed 
 of sickness, but must have seen frequent instances of 
 a temporary and deceitful repentance? Whose heart 
 doth not reproach him with some of these backslid- 
 ings of Israel? In the day, therefore, of health, and 
 strength, and prosperity, before the indignation of 
 heaven break forth, and the right-aiming thunder¬ 
 bolts fly abroad, from a motive of love, not of fear, 
 let us Ci seek early after God, and return from our 
 “ sins, remembering the rock of our salvation, and 
 “ the high God, our Redeemer.” Thus may we 
 entertain some hope, that our conversion is sincere; 
 that we do not ci flatter and lie” unto our Maker ; 
 that our cc heart is right with him,” and we shall 
 continue “ steadfast in his covenant.” And then, a 
 plant that is set and liyes in the heat of the day, 
 
Day 15. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 31 
 
 how will *it thrive and flourish under the cool and 
 moist influences of night! 
 
 38. But he being full of compassion , forgave their 
 iniquity, and destroyed them not : yea, many/ a time 
 turned he his anger away , and did not stir up all his 
 wrath. 39. For he remembered that iheij were but flesh ; 
 a wind , or, breath, that passeth away , &W cometh not 
 again. 
 
 Had God u stirred up all his wrath,” the Israel¬ 
 ites must have been exterminated in the wilderness* 
 But then the promises made to Abraham, of mercy 
 and “ compassion” to them, and by them to all man¬ 
 kind, had failed. Therefore they were “ forgiven,” 
 not “ destroyed judgement was executed, from 
 time to time, upon the person of offenders ; but still 
 a remnant was left; the nation subsisted until the 
 seed came to whom the promise was made. Nay, 
 although, in consequence of their last and greatest 
 crime, their polity was subverted with their city and 
 temple, the race is yet marvellously preserved ; and 
 we trust, preserved for mercy to be shown them in 
 the last days. Be not angry, O Lord Jesu, forever 
 with them, or with us ; but remember of what ma¬ 
 terials we are made, and into what a state we are 
 fallen ; how weak and how frail we arc; how liable 
 to be seduced into sin, and blinded bv error : re- 
 member 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 the wilderness , 
 and giieve him in the desert ! 41. l ea, they turned back , 
 and tempted God , and limited the holy One of Israel. 
 4 c 2. They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he 
 deli vered them from the hand of the enemy : 43. How he 
 had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the 
 field of Zoan. 
 
32 A COMMENTARY Psalm 78. 
 
 The question which the Psalmist here asks, con¬ 
 cerning Israel in the wilderness, is elsewhere asked 
 by him concerning mankind in general: “ Who can 
 “ tell how oft he offendeth ?” Ps. xix. 12. God in¬ 
 forms Moses, who had interceded for the people* 
 and, in the name of the great Mediator, obtained 
 their pardon, that “ those men which had seen his 
 cc glory, and his miracles which he did in Egypt and 
 ec in the wilderness, had tempted him ten times, and 
 cc had not hearkened to his voice ?” Numb. xiv. 22. 
 Forgetfulness of the mercies of redemption is the 
 beginning of sin ; and though every one knows how 
 to resent and detest the crime of ingratitude in anor 
 ther, he yet thinks that his best benefactor will 
 overlook the most flagrant instances of it in himself. 
 
 44. And had turned their rivers into blood ; and 
 their floods, that they could not drink . 43. He sent 
 
 divers sorts of flies , Heb. a mixture , whether of beasts, 
 
 or insects, noisome and destructive, among them, which 
 
 * 
 
 devoured them ; and frogs, which destroyed them. 46. 
 He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar , and their 
 labour unto the locust. 47. He destroyed their vines 
 with hail , and their sycamore-trees with frost . 43. He 
 gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to 
 hot thunderbolts , or , flashes of lightning. 
 
 The Psalm goes back to the subject of Xsraelitish 
 ingratitude, mentioned at the beginning, verse 11, 
 12. in order to introduce an account of the miracles 
 wrought in Egypt previous to the exodus. These 
 miracles were intended to evince the superiority of 
 Jehovah over the elements and powers of nature, 
 which at that t ; me were objects of worship amongst 
 the Egyptians, but plainly appeared to act at the 
 command of Moses, in subordination to their great 
 
 Creator, the God of the Hebrews. In the heavens, 
 
 3 
 
Day 15. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 33 
 
 on the earth, and in the waters, supremacy and inde¬ 
 pendency were demonstrated to belong to him only : 
 fire and air, thunder and lightning, wind, rain, and 
 hail, obeyed his word : rivers became blood, and 
 their inhabitants perished ; insects and animals left 
 their wonted habitations, to destroy vegetables, or 
 torment man : so that wherever the gods of Egypt 
 were supposed to reside, and to exert their influen¬ 
 ces in favour of their votaries, in all places, and all 
 circumstances, victory declared tor Jehovah Hence 
 modern as well as ancient idolaters may learn not to 
 put their trust in the world, but in him who made, 
 and who can and will destroy it; whose power can 
 render the most insignificant of his creatures instru¬ 
 ments of his vengeance, and, in a moment, arm all 
 the elements against sinners : and whose mercy will 
 employ that power in the final salvation of the 
 church ; when, as the author of the book of Wisdom 
 “ expressed) it, He shall make the creature hiswea- 
 “ pon for the revenge of his enemies, and the world 
 “ shall fight for him against the unwise Wisdom 
 v. 17- 20. The curious and striking reflections 
 which that author makes on the plagues of Egypt, 
 in chap xj, xvii, xviii, xix. are well worthy an atten¬ 
 tive perusal It is also to be observed, that St John 
 describes the judgements of the last days in terms 
 plainly alluding to those poured out upon the 
 Egyptians, “ as locusts and frogs, blood and dark¬ 
 ness,” &c. See Rev. ix. and xvi, et al. Under these 
 images are represented, false teachers and erroneous 
 doctrines, carnality and ignorance, and, in a word, 
 whatever contributes to ravage the moral or spiritual 
 world, to deface the beauty of holiness, and destroy 
 the fruits of faith And of all the divine judgements, 
 
 VOL. IT. Q 
 
 
'34 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 78. 
 
 these are by far the most dreadful, though generally 
 the least dreaded. 
 
 49. hie cast upon them the fierceness of his anger 
 Wrath and indignation, and trouble , by sending evil angels 
 among them 
 
 Some of the Egyptian plagues having been speci¬ 
 fied in the foregoing verses, others of them are here 
 thrown together, and the whole scene is affirmed to 
 have been a full display of wrath and vengeance, 
 executed upon the oppressors of the church by 
 
 46 evil angels, agents, or messengers 
 whether by this expression we understand the ma¬ 
 terial instruments of divine displeasure; or angels 
 employed as ministers of vengeance ; or the actual 
 appearance and ministration of evil spirits, suffered 
 to torment the wicked in this world, as they certain¬ 
 ly will do in the next. Tradition seems to have fa¬ 
 voured this last opinion, since the author of the book 
 of Wisdom, above referred to, describes the Egyp¬ 
 tian darkness as a kind of temporary hell, in which 
 there appeared to the wicked, whose consciences 
 suggested to them eveiy thing that was horrible, “ a 
 “ fire kindled of itself very dreadful; they were scar- 
 “ ed with beasts that passed by, and hissing^of ser- 
 “ pents; and they were vexed with monstrous ap- 
 “ paritions, so that they fainted and died for fear; 
 u while over them was spread a heavy night, an 
 “ image of that darkness which should afterwards 
 cc receive them.” Wisdom xvii. 
 
 oO. He made a way to his anger : he spared not their 
 soul from death , but gave their life over to the pestilence ; 
 5 1 . And smote all thefirst-born in Egypt; the chief of 
 their strength in the tabernacles of Ham. 
 
 The last plague was the death of the first born 
 both of man and beast; Exod. xii. 29. when God 
 
Day 15. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS: 
 
 35 
 
 having removed every obstacle that mercy had 
 thrown in the path of justice, “ made a way to his 
 “ indignation, which then rushed forth like a fiery 
 stream. An unlimited commission was given to rhe 
 destroyer, who at midnight passed through the land, 
 and gave the fatal stroke in every house. “ While 
 “ all things, O Lord, were in quiet silence, and 
 “ that night was in the midst of her swift course, 
 “ thine Almighty word leaped down from heaven 
 tC out of thy royal throne, as a fierce man of war 
 <c into the midst of a land of destruction, and 
 Cc brought thine unfeigned commandment as a sharp 
 “ sword, and standing up, filled all things with 
 46 death: and it touched the heaven, but it stood 
 <c upon the earth Wisdom xviii. 14. Pharaoh and 
 all his servants rose up in the night ; there was a 
 great cry throughout all the land of Egypt; and 
 universal consternation reigned, inferior only to that 
 which is to extend its empire over the world, when 
 “ the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be 
 fC raised.May we be saved, like Israel, in that 
 hour, through the blood of the true paschal Lamb, 
 slain to take away the sins of the world! 4C When I 
 (C see the blood,says Jehovah to his people, “ I 
 u will pass over you/* 
 
 52. But made his own people to go forth like sheep ; and 
 guided them in the wilderness like a flock ; 53. And he 
 led them on safely , so that theif feared not; but the sea 
 overwhelmed their enemies. 54. And he brought them to 
 the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which 
 his right hand had purchased. 55. He cast out the 
 heathen also before them , and divided them an inheri¬ 
 tance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in 
 their tents. 
 
 2 
 
3S A COMMENTARY *P*alm 78. 
 
 Having related the punishments inflicted on Egypt, 
 the Psalmist returns to those mercies experienced 
 by the Israelites, when God overthrew their enemies, 
 took them under his protection, fed and conducted 
 them in the wilderness, brought them to the promised 
 land, expelled the heathen, settled his people, and at 
 length fixed his residence on mount Sion, which is 
 represented as the conquest and acquisition of his 
 own arm ; since the victories of Joshua, &c. were all 
 owing to the divine presence and assistance. The 
 Christian church, after her redemption by “ the 
 “ blood of the Lamb,” passed 300 years in a state 
 of minority, as it were, and under persecution, which? 
 with illusion to what betel Israel of old, is called in 
 the Revelation, her flight and abode in the wilder¬ 
 ness : Rev. xii. 6. At length the true “Joshua,” 
 or Jesus, “ brought” her 44 into the possession of 
 ct the Gentiies see Acts vii. 45. and she enjoyed 
 a temporary rest and prosperity, but no terrestrial 
 Canaan, no secular advantages, should make us forget, 
 as the Jews did, and as Christians are apt to do, that 
 the chi rch is in the wilderness, while she is in the 
 world ; and that 44 there remaineth yet” another and 
 far more glorious 44 rest for the people of God,” 
 after which they ought ever to be aspiring. See 
 Heb. iv. 9- ' 
 
 56. Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God , 
 and kept not his testimonies: 57. But turned backhand dealt 
 unfaithfully like their fathers : they were turned aside 
 like a deceitful bow. 58. For theij provoked him to anger 
 with their high places , and moved him to jealousy with 
 their graven images . 
 
 The Israelites, when settled in the promised land, 
 soon, showed themselves to be the genuine descendants 
 of those men who tempted God in the desert. We 
 
Dat 15. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 85 
 
 can hardly read two chapters in the book of Judges, 
 
 but we meet with the words, “ And the children ol 
 
 “ Israel again did evil in the sight ot the Lord.’* 
 
 For this their frequent revolting thev are compared 
 
 to “ a deceitful bow,” which, when put to the trial, 
 
 is sure to disappoint 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 sensuality and indolence, or else turned 
 
 aside, and misplaced on false objects of worship. 
 
 Thus, in the present decline of religion, the devotion 
 
 or "he Romanists hath attached itself to saints, angels, 
 
 and images ; while that of Protestants sleepeth, and 
 
 must be awakened. In what manner, is known to 
 
 God only. 
 
 ^ • 
 
 59. When God heard this, he was wroth , and greatly 
 abhorred Israel: 60. So that he. forsook the tabernacle 
 of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; 6l. And 
 delivered his strength into captivity , and his glory into 
 the enemy's hand. 
 
 Rebellion against God, will, sooner or later, draw 
 down his vengeance, and cause the most beloved 
 nation to be “ abhorred” by him : he will forsake the 
 place of his residence, “ the tent placed among men s 
 where he dwelleth by his Spirit; and the church, by 
 which his 46 strength” anti his “ glory” are mani¬ 
 fested to the world, shall go “ into captivity, and 
 
 the enemy’s hand.” All this we are taught by that 
 which came to pass in Israel, when, for the sins of 
 priests and people, the ark of God, which then abode 
 in Shiloh, was suffered to fall into the hands of the 
 Philistines : 1 Sam. iv. The present state of Jeru¬ 
 salem, and of all the once flourishing Eastern and 
 African churches, speaks aloud the same awful and 
 
38 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 78, 
 
 concerning truth. “ He that hath ears to hear, let 
 “ him hear.” 
 
 62. He gave his people over also to the sword: and 
 zvas zeroth with kts inheritance. 63. The fire consumed 
 their young men : and their maidens were not given to 
 marriage . 64. Their priests fell by the sword; and their 
 widows made no lamentation . 
 
 These verses refer to the slaughter of Israel by the 
 Philistines, which was an effect of divine wrath, com¬ 
 pared here, as elsewhere, to “ a consuming lire 
 they refer likewise to the death of old Eli, of Hophni 
 and Phinehas, and the widow of Phinehas, who 
 expired in childbed, on bearing the mournful new r s : 
 
 1 Sam. iv. History abounds with the tragical stories 
 of wars and captivities: Scripture informs us, they 
 are the judgements of God against sin. But calami¬ 
 ties affect us not, till they become our own : it is well 
 if they reform ns, even when they do become so. 
 
 65. Then the Lord awaked , as one out of sleep, and 
 like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine* 
 
 While, by God’s permission, the Philistines were 
 chastising his people for their sins, he held his peace, 
 and seemed unconcerned, as one asleep. But when 
 due chastisement had brought the delinquents to 
 themselves, the cries of penitent Israel awakened, as 
 it were, and called forth the zeal of the Lord of 
 hosts, to vindicate his honour, and deliver his ser¬ 
 vants : and then the vigour of his operations was 
 such, as might be compared to the alacrity and 
 courage of a mighty champion, when, refreshed 
 and inspirited by wine, he attacks his adversaries, 
 and bears down all before him. Under all our 
 sufferings, let us rest contented with this assurance 
 that God acts the part of a father : and will there- 
 
Day 15. e. p. ON THE PSALMS. 39 
 
 fore remove the rod, when it has answered the end 
 proposed. 
 
 66. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he 
 put them to a perpetual reproach . 
 
 The former clause of this verse may be rendered, 
 “ and he repulsed, or, drove, his enemies back 
 as Psalm ix. 3. “ When mine enemies are turned 
 
 “ back the word being the same in both 
 
 places. But as that part of the sacred history is here 
 alluded to, in which the Philistines are said to have 
 been plagued with “ emerods,” or hemorrhoids, 
 while the ark was amongst them, the passage is ge¬ 
 nerally rendered, as in our translation, and supposed 
 to intend that particular plague. Thus much, how¬ 
 ever, is certain, that Dagon fell before the ark, 
 which his worshippers were glad to send back, with 
 acknowledgements of the vengeance inflicted on them 
 by the superior power of the God of Israel, who 
 could punish where, and when, and how, he pleased. 
 See 1 Sam. v. vi. 
 
 67. Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph , and 
 
 chose not the tribe of Ephraim : 6b. But chose the tribe 
 of Judah , the mount Sion which he loved . 69. And he 
 
 built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which 
 he hath established f or ever . 
 
 The ark, after its return, went no more to Shiloh, 
 which was in the tribe of Ephraim, the son of 
 Joseph, but was brought first to Kiriathaim, 1 Sam. 
 vi. 21. a city of the tribe of Judah, and from thence, 
 after a short stay at the house of Obed Edom, to 
 mount Sion, 1 Chron. xiv. and xv. which was the 
 chosen and highly favoured mount; where was after¬ 
 wards erected, by Solomon, a magnificent and per¬ 
 manent habitation for the God of Jacob, during the 
 continuance of the old dispensation; a resemblance 
 
40 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 78 . 
 
 of that eternal temple, in which all the fulness of 
 the Godhead hath since dwelt bodily. The divine 
 presence removed at this time to the tribe of Judah, 
 because out of that tribe, after the rejection of Saul, 
 came the great representative, as well as progenitor, 
 of King Messiah. 
 
 70. He chose David also Ills servant , and too/c him 
 from the sheepfolds: 71- From following the ewes great 
 with youngs he brought him to feed Jacob his people , and 
 Israel his inheritance . 72. So he fed them according to 
 the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilful¬ 
 ness of his hands . 
 
 The call of David from a sheepfold to a throne 
 teacheth us, that he who hath showed himself faith¬ 
 ful in a few and small concerns, is worthy of promo¬ 
 tion to more and more important cares; that the 
 qualifications requisite for the due discharge of high 
 offices, are best learned, at first, in an inferior station, 
 especially if it be one that will inure to labour 
 and vigilance ; and that kings are to consider them¬ 
 selves as 14 shepherds which consideration would 
 perhaps teach them their duty better than all the 
 precepts in the world. From the last verse, relative 
 to David’s manner of conducting himself after his 
 advancement, we learn that integrity and discretion, 
 when they meet in the same person, form a complete 
 ruler, and one fit to represent that blessed person 
 who entered, like his father David, through suffer¬ 
 ings into his glory; who governeth his church in 
 wisdom and righteousness ; and of which it is said, by 
 the evangelical prophet, “ He shall feed his flock like 
 “ a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, 
 <c and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead 
 “ those that are with young. Isa. xl. 11. 
 
Day 16. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 41 
 
 SIXTEENTH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM LXXIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The argument of this Psalm is nearly the same 
 with that of the Ixxivth. The church, persecuted 
 and afflicted, sets forth, 1—3. the sacrilegious 
 devastation, and cruel slaughter, made by the 
 enemy, with, 4. the reproach occasioned thereby. 
 5 —7. she prayeth for redress and deliverance; 
 8, 9- confessed], and entreateth forgiveness of the 
 sins which had brought these calamities upon her ; 
 and then, 10-—12. asketh a removal of her re¬ 
 proach and misery; promising, 13. endless grati¬ 
 tude and praise for the same. We meet with 
 passages of this Psalm, Jer. x. 23. 1 Macc. vii. 17. 
 but when it w r as composed is not known. 
 
 1. O God , the heathen are come into tlune inheritance; 
 tillf holy temple have theij defiled; they have laid Jerusa¬ 
 lem on heaps. 
 
 Three deplorable calamities are here enumerated 
 by the faithful ; the alienation of God’s inheritance, 
 the profanation of the sanctuary, and the desolation 
 of the beloved city. When we represent, in our 
 prayers, the sufferings and humiliation of the church, 
 we take an effectual method of awakening the com¬ 
 passion, and recalling the favour, of heaven. Every 
 redeemed soul is the inheritance, the temple, the 
 city of God. When sin enters, and takes possession, 
 the inheritance is alienated, the temple defiled, the 
 city desolated. 
 
 2. The dead bodies of thij servants have they given to 
 be meat unto the Jowls of heaven ; the flesh of thy saints 
 
42 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 7§, 
 
 unto the beasts of the earth . 6. Their blood have they 
 
 shed like water round about Jerusalem : and tnere was 
 none to bury them. 
 
 'lhat horrible carnage which attends the siege and 
 capture of a city, is the fourth of those calamities 
 bewailed in our Psalm. To behold, or even to ima¬ 
 gine, heaps of slaughtered bodies lying unburied, 
 and exposed to birds and beasts of prey, is inex¬ 
 pressibly shocking to humanity. But with what un¬ 
 concern are we accustomed to view, on all sides of 
 us, multitudes “ dead in trespasses and sins,” torn in 
 pieces, and devoured by wild passions, filthy lusts, 
 and infernal spirits, those dogs and vultures of the 
 moral world ! Yet to a discerning eye, and a think¬ 
 ing mind, the latter is by far the more melancholy 
 sight of the two. 
 
 4. We are become a reproach to our neighbours; a 
 scorn and derision to them that are round about us. 
 
 A fifth calamity, incident to an afflicted church, 
 is to become, like captive Israel, the “ scorn and 
 “ derision” of infidels, who fail not, at such seasons, 
 to reproach her, and blaspheme her God. YYe know 
 how to answer those who reproach us with our suf¬ 
 ferings, for so their predecessors reproached our 
 Mr ster ; but what shall we say, if we have given the 
 enemy occasion to reproach us with our sins ? The 
 only real disgrace of religion, is the wickedness of 
 its professors. 
 
 5. IIow long , Lord ? Wilt thou be angry for ever * 
 shall thy jealousy burn like fire ? 
 
 Parched and exhausted, amidst the flames of per¬ 
 secution, we behold ion panting for the comforts of 
 redemption. The extent and continuance of her 
 troubles, cause her to fear a total extermination ; 
 and by the questions here asked, she tacitly reminds 
 
Day 15. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 43 
 
 God of his promises not to give her up, and destroy 
 3ier “ for ever," on account of Messias, whom, 
 she was in the fulness of time to bring forth. 
 
 6. Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not 
 known thee , and upon the kingdoms that have not called 
 upon thy name . 7. For they have devoured Jacob, and 
 
 hid waste his dwelling place . 
 
 This though uttered in the form of a wish, or 
 prayer, is to be considered, like many other passages 
 of the same nature, as a prediction of what could 
 afterwards come to pass. Pagan ambition, and cruel¬ 
 ty, were often employed to chastise offending Israel; 
 but were themselves, notwithstanding justly punish¬ 
 ed, in their turn, by other powers raised up for tnat 
 end. That relation in which the church stands to 
 God, causes him. upon her repentance, to appear in 
 her behalf, and to execute vengeance on her op¬ 
 pressors, who “ know him not, nor call upon his 
 “ name.” 66 We are thine,” saith Isaiah, “ thou 
 “ never barest rule over them they were not called 
 “ by thy name lxiii. 19. The church for her sins, 
 may deserve to suffer; but her enemies are not there¬ 
 fore without guilt, nor will they escape without pu¬ 
 nishment. 
 
 8. O remember not against us former iniquities: let 
 ihif tender mercies speedilyprevent us; for we are brought 
 very low. 9- Help us f O God of our salvation,for the 
 glorif of thij na me : and deliver us, and purge away our 
 sins, for the/ name's sake . 
 
 Affliction hath then wrought its intended effect, 
 when it hath convinced us of sin, and led us to 
 repentance ; when, brought back by it, like the 
 returning prodigal, to the house and presence of our 
 heavenly Father, we acknowledge our guilt as the 
 cause of our misery, and entreat forgiveness of the 
 
44 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 79. 
 
 one, in order to obtain a release from the other; not 
 pleading our own merits, but the mercies of God 
 our Saviour, and the glory of his name. 
 
 10 W here fore should the he d hen >oy, Where is their 
 God ? Let him he known among the heathen in our sight 
 by the revenging of the blood of thy serV nts which is 
 shed; or. Let the vengeance of thy servo nts* blood that 
 is shed\ be lemon among the heathen that is in our sight . 
 
 It is for “ the glory of God’s name,” to deliver 
 his church; because, while she is in trouble, that 
 name is blasphemed by the enein^y, as if he wanted 
 either power, or will, to prevent or remove the ca¬ 
 lamities of his servants. Prayer is therefore here 
 made by the faithful, that God, not to gratify any 
 vindictive spirit of theirs, but to vindicate his own 
 attributes, would break the teeth of the oppressor, 
 and work a public and glorious salvation for his 
 chosen : at beholding which, the very adversaries 
 themselves might possibly be converted. 
 
 11. Let the sighing of the prisoner come f efore thee ; 
 according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou 
 those that are appointed to di". 
 
 Next to those who had been slain, the case of 
 such as groaned in captivity, lying bound in chains 
 and fetters, under sentence of death, to be inflicted 
 at the will of their cruel and insulting conquerors, 
 is recommended to God. The Christian, though he 
 may at present be subject to none of tnese external 
 calamities, forgets not that he is often persecuted, 
 and led captive, by his own desires, and bound in the 
 chains of his sins; that the world to him is a prison; 
 that sentence of death is passed upon him, and he 
 knoweth not how soon that sentence may be exe¬ 
 cuted. How properly therefore, and how fervently, 
 may he, at all times, pray, 46 O let the sighing of 
 
Day i5. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS* 
 
 45 
 
 “ the prisoner come before thee , according to the 
 66 greatness of thy power preserve thou those that 
 “ are appointed to die. ’ 
 
 12. And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into 
 their bosom their reproach , where ith they have re¬ 
 proached thee , O Lord. 
 
 That is, As they have reproached thee with weak¬ 
 ness, so manifest to others their weakness, who are 
 but sinful dust and ashes; as they have endeavoured 
 to make thee contemptible, so let the world have 
 just cause to despise them, who have thus presump¬ 
 tuously offended, according as it is written, “ Them 
 “ that honour me I will honour, and they that de- 
 “ spise me shall be lightly esteemedl bam. ii. 30. 
 And, however different the appearance of things 
 may now be, this will certainly be found true, in 
 every instance, at the last day. 
 
 13. So we thy people , and sheep of thy pasture , will 
 give thee thanks for ever : we will show forth thy praise 
 to all generations . 
 
 Such is the resolution of a church under persecu¬ 
 tion ; and such ought to be the practice of every 
 church, when delivered out of it, and restored to the 
 favour and protection of her God. The same is the 
 duty of every soul with regard to afflictions and mer¬ 
 cies of a private kind. Hut how glorious will be the 
 day, when triumphant over sin and sorrow, over 
 every thing that exalteth and opposeth itself, the 
 church universal shall behold the adversary disarm¬ 
 ed for ever ; while she herself, placed in pastures 
 of joy, and led to the waters of eternal comfort, 
 shall, from age to age, incessantly sing the praises 
 of her great Shepherd and IJishop, her King and her 
 God ! 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 80 . 
 
 
 PSALM LXXX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The church, still in captivity, 1—*3. crieth unto God 
 for help and redemption ; 4—7< complaineth of 
 her grievous afflictions; 8—13. describeth her 
 former exaltation, and present depression, under 
 the beautiful figure of a Vine : 14—16. returneth 
 again to her supplications, and 17—19. prayeth 
 for the advent of Messiah, to quicken and com¬ 
 fort her, vowing all loyal obedience, adoration., 
 and praise to him, as the author of her salva¬ 
 tion. 
 
 1. Give ear , 0 Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest 
 Joseph like a flock; thou that dive lies t between the 
 cherubims , shine forth. 
 
 The Christian church is now become the cc Israel” 
 of God: Jesus Christ is the “ Shepherd” of this 
 Israel, who leadeth his people “ like a flock; ’ he 
 dwelleth in the midst of them by his Spirit, as of 
 old he dwelt in the holy places, “ between the che- 
 “ rubims ” Let us beseech him to hearken to our 
 prayers, and to manifest the glory of his power in 
 our defence and deliverance. 
 
 2. Before Ephraim , Benjamin , and Manasseh , stir 
 up thy strength , and come and save uu 
 
 God is entreated to go forth, in his strength and 
 his salvation, before the tribes of Israel, as formerly 
 in the wilderness. Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manas- 
 «eh, are particularly mentioned ; perhaps, because, 
 according to the established order, those three 
 tribes immediately followed the ark and cherubim, 
 
Day 15. e. p. ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 47 
 
 the symbols of the divine presence. See Numb, 
 
 ii. 18. 
 
 3. Turn , or, restore , zzs again , O Got/, ftvy 
 
 face to shine ; and we shall be saved. 
 
 This verse is a kind of chorus, occurring three 
 times in the course of our Psalm. It implies, that 
 the church is in captivity, from which she prayeth to 
 be “ restored" to her former freedom and prosperi¬ 
 ty ; that she expecteth such restoration, not from 
 any might or merit of her own, but from the grace 
 and mercy of her Saviour; as well knowing, that 
 her night can be turned into day, and her winter 
 give place to spring, only by the Sun of righteous¬ 
 ness rising, and causing his face to shine upon her 
 desolations. This ought, therefore, to be the wish 
 and the prayer of every persecuted church, and of 
 every afflicted soul. 
 
 4. O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry 
 against the prayer of thy people ? 
 
 The sins of a people may for a time “ separate 
 “ between them and their God, and hide his face 
 
 from them that will not hear Isa. lix. 2. “ he 
 “ may cover himself with a cloud, that their pray- 
 “ ers should not pass through Lam. iii. 44. and 
 seem to reject even the devotions of his distressed 
 servants, while he is proving ihe strength of their 
 faith, and the sincerity of their repentance. Eut if 
 the former be strong, and the latter sincere, they 
 will continue to ask, till they have obtained ; nor 
 cease to knock till the door be opened. 
 
 5. Thou feedest them with the bread of tear s, or, of 
 weeping ; and givest them tears to drink in great mea¬ 
 sure. 
 
 There cannot be a more striking picture of Sion 
 in captivity. Her bread is dipped in tears, and her 
 
48 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 80. 
 
 « 
 
 / 
 
 cup is filled to the brim with them : no time is free 
 from grief and lamentation. They who sin, must 
 submit to penance ;which if a man doth not impose 
 on himself, God will impose it on him ; whereas, if 
 we judged ourselves, we should not be thus judged 
 of the Lord. The church hath appointed seasons, 
 and given directions, for this purpose : but who ob¬ 
 serves either the one or the other ? 
 
 6. Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours : and 
 our enemies laugh among themselves. 
 
 Israel, when forsaken by her God, was a prey for 
 which all the neighbouring nations contended, ex¬ 
 ulting over her, and scoffing at that condition to 
 which, not their counsels or armies, but her own 
 iniquities, had reduced her. Hence let us learn how 
 to form a just estimate of the real state b(Uh of com¬ 
 munities and individuals. Righteousness alone ex- 
 alteth man ; sin is his reproach, and will be his de¬ 
 struction. 
 
 7. Turn us again , O God of hosts , and cause thy 
 face to shine ; and zee shall be saved , See above ver. S. 
 
 8. Thou hast br tight a vine out of Egypt : thou hast 
 cast out the heathen , and planted it. 
 
 God is reminded of the favour once shown by him 
 to the church of Israel, and of that prosperity which 
 she once enjoyed. She is compared to a cc vine,’ 5 re¬ 
 moved, from the unkindly soil of Egypt, to the hap¬ 
 pier regions of Canaan, and there planted by Jeho¬ 
 vah, in the place of nations extirpated for their un¬ 
 fruitfulness. The vine is a plant weak and lowly, 
 and needing support, when supported, wild and 
 luxuriant, unless restrained by the pruning-knife : 
 capable of producing the most valuable fruit; but, 
 if barren, the most unprofitable among trees, and fit 
 
 only for the flames. In all these respects it is a 
 
 l 
 
Da? 16. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 49 
 
 • /' 
 
 lively emblem of the church, and used as such by 
 Isaiah v. 7 . by Ezekiel xv. xvii. xix. and by our 
 Lord himself, Matt. xxi. 33. The Christian church, 
 after her redemption, by the death and resurrection 
 of Jesus, was planted in the Heathen world, as 
 Israel had been in Canaan j and the description 
 suits one as well as the other. 
 
 Q. Thou preparedst room before it , and didst cause 
 it to take deep root , andJilted the land. 10. The hills 
 \mere covered with the shadow of it , and the boughs 
 thereof were like the goodly cedars ; or, and the goodly 
 cedars were covered with the boughs thereof 
 
 As the vine striketh its roots deep into the soil 
 prepared for it, and then diffuseth its numerous 
 branches all-around, covering the fertile hills, by 
 the sides of which it is planted, or running up the 
 lofty cedars, to the bodies of which it is joined ; such 
 was the growth and fruitfulness of the Israelitish 
 church ; but much greater was that of the church 
 Christian. Her roots were fast fixed in the hearts 
 and affections of the faithful, and her boughs shot 
 forth abundantly ; they often felt the knife, but in¬ 
 creased under it, both in number and vigour ; till, at 
 length, she overshadowed the Roman empire with 
 her branches, and replenished the earth with her 
 fruit, grateful to God and man. 
 
 11. She sent out her boughs unto the sea , and her 
 branches unto the river. 
 
 This relates to the extent of Palestine, which w T as 
 occupied by the tribes of Israel, even from the Me¬ 
 diterranean “ sea,” westward, to the 66 river” Eu¬ 
 phrates, eastward. This was promised, Deut. i. 
 24. cc From the river Euphrates to the uttermost 
 “ sea shall your coast be and fulfilled in the days 
 of Solomon. See 1 Kings iv. 21. Psal. lxxii. 8» To 
 
 VOL. II. D 
 
50 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 80 . 
 
 the Christian church the whole earth was the land 
 of promise, and the Gospel was preached to all na¬ 
 tions: “ 1 will give thee,” saith Jehovah to Christ, 
 
 the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utter- 
 cc most parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalm 
 ii. 8. 
 
 12. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges , so 
 that all they which pass by the way , do pluck her ? 
 
 The Psalmist, having described the exaltation of 
 Israel, under the figure of a vine, proceeds, under 
 the same figure, to lament her depression. She is 
 now represented as deprived of the protection of 
 God, the counsels of the wise, and the arms of the 
 valiant; of all her bulwarks and fortifications, and 
 whatever else could contribute to her defence and 
 security ; so that, like a vineyard without a fence, 
 she lay open on every side, to the incursions and ra¬ 
 vages of her neighbouring adversaries ; who soon 
 stripped her of all that was valuable, and trod her 
 under foot. 
 
 2 3. The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the 
 wild beast of the field doth devour it. 
 
 Fierce and unrelenting, her Heathen persecutor 
 issued, at different times, from his abode, like a 
 <c wild boar” out of the forest, resolved not only to 
 spoil and plunder, but to eradicate and extirpate her 
 for ever. Nor let the church Christian imagine, that 
 these things relate only to her elder sister. Greater 
 mercies, and more excellent gifts, should excite in 
 her greater thankfulness and call forth more excel¬ 
 lent virtues: otherwise, they will serve only to en¬ 
 hance her account, and multiply her sorrows. If she 
 sin, and fall after the same example of unbelief, she 
 must not think to be distinguished in her punish¬ 
 ment, unless by the severity of it. She may expect 
 
Dat 15. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 51 
 
 to see the favour of heaven withdrawn, and the se¬ 
 cular arm, instead of supporting, employed to crush 
 her; her discipline may be annihilated, her unity 
 broken, her doctrines perverted, her worship deform¬ 
 ed, her practice corrupted, her possessions alienated, 
 and her revenues seized ; till at length the word be 
 given from above, and some antichristian power be 
 unchained, to execute upon her the full vengeance 
 due to her crimes. Unclean desires, and furious 
 passions, are the enemies of the soul, which deface 
 her beauty, and devour all the productions of grace 
 in that lesser vineyard of God. 
 
 14. Return, we beseech thee , O God of hosts ; look 
 down from heaven , and behold , and visit this vine : 15* 
 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted 9 
 and the branch that thou madest so strong for thyself. 
 
 The church, thus distressed and desolated, offer- 
 eth a prayer for the return of the divine favour, and 
 for a gracious visitation from on high , she beseech- 
 eth God to look down, with an eye of pity, from hea¬ 
 ven, on the vineyard, which his own hands had 
 cc planted,” and on that royal branch, the family of 
 David, in particular, which he had raised and esta¬ 
 blished for himself, to accomplish his eternal purpose 
 of saving mankind by Messiah, who was, one day, to 
 spring from the root of Jesse. The Chaldee Para- 
 phrast .expounds “ the branch,” of Messiah himselfj 
 
 tc on King Messiah, whom thou hast 
 “ established,” &c. So do the rabbies, Aben Ezra 
 and Obadiah, cited by Dr Hammond. And the 
 LXX, instead of supposing the wordp c ‘ a son,” 
 to refer to u vine,” and so signify a “ branch,” 
 which, in the Hebrew style, is “ a son of the vine,” 
 have rendered the passage, m vm ctyfyaircu, on the 
 cc son of man an expression actually used by the 
 
 Psalmist, two verses below. To the advent of this 
 
 2 
 
52 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 80. 
 
 Son of man, Israel was ever accustomed to look for¬ 
 ward in time of affliction : on his second and glori¬ 
 ous advent the Christian church must fix her eye, 
 in the day of her calamities. 
 
 16 . It is burnt withJire ; it is cut down , or, dug up ; 
 they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance . 
 
 The sad estate of the vineyard is yet again set 
 Jorth, to excite the compassion of heaven. As to 
 the latter clause of this verse, if it be rendered, as 
 our translators have rendered it in the present time, 
 it seems to relate to the Israelites, and the destruc¬ 
 tion made among them by the wrath of God. If 
 it have a future rendering, “ they shall perish at the 
 “ rebuke of thy countenance,” it may be supposed 
 to predict the fate of the adversaries, when God 
 should deliver his people out of their hands. 
 
 17. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand , 
 upon the son of man, whom thou madest strong for 
 thyself 
 
 These phrases, “ the man of thy right hand,” and 
 6C the son of man,” if at all applicable, in a lower 
 and subordinate sense, to a temporal king of Israel, 
 considered as a representative of Messiah, are most 
 certainly, in their full and prophetical acceptation, 
 intended to denote King Messiah himself*. Assured 
 of his coming, the church prayeth that the cc 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 will not we go back from thee; quicken us , 
 and we will call upon thy name . 
 
 The end of our. redemption is, that w r e should 
 
 * “ Virura dexterae tuse Davidem a te designatum ct con&i* 
 inatum regem, et in ejus figura Christum. Bossuet. 
 
Day 16 . m. p^ 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 53 
 
 serve him who hath redeemed us, and “ go back” 
 no more to our old sins. That soul which hath 
 been “ quickened,” and made alive by Christ, should 
 live to his honour and glory ; that mouth which hath 
 been opened by him, can do no less than show forth 
 his praise, and “ call upon his” saving “ name.” 
 
 16. Turn us again, G Lord God of hosts, cause thy 
 face to shine ; and wc shall be saved . See ver. 3. 
 
 PSALM LXXXI. 
 
 jh- 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm, whensoever, or by whomsoever com¬ 
 posed, was, probably, intended to be sung at the 
 feast of trumpets, as also at any other feast-time. 
 It contains, 1—3. an exhortation duly to observe 
 the festivals of the church, 4, 5. as God had ap¬ 
 pointed, who is introduced expostulating with his 
 people, on account, 6—10. of his mercies, and, 
 11, 12. their ingratitude, and, IS — 16. under the 
 form of a most affectionate wish, renewing his 
 promises, on condition of their obedience. 
 
 1. Sing aloud unto God our strength : make a joy¬ 
 ful noise unto the God of Jacob. 2. Take a psalm and 
 bring hither the timbrel , the pleasant harp with the 
 psaltery . 
 
 If Israelites were thus exhorted to keep their feast 
 days with joy and gladness of heart; to exalt their 
 voices, and join together all their sweetest instru¬ 
 ments of music, in honour of him who had rescued 
 them from the Egyptian bondage, and given them 
 a law from Sinai; in what exulting strains ought 
 we to celebrate the festivals of the Christian church ? 
 
S 4 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 81. 
 
 With what triumph of soul, and harmony of affec¬ 
 tions, are we. bound to “ sing aloud to God our 
 cc strength, 5 ' who hath redeemed us from death, 
 and published the Gospel from mount Sion ? since, 
 as the apostle saith, “ holy days, new moons, and 
 “ sabbath days, 5 ’ of old, “ were” only “ a shadow 
 “ of things to come ; but the body is of Christ. 55 
 Col. ii. 16. 
 
 3. Blow up the trumpet in the new moon , in the time 
 appointed , on our solemn feast-day . 
 
 In the Jewish church, notice was given of feasts, 
 jubilees, &c. by sound of trumpet. All the new 
 moons, or beginnings of months, were observed in 
 this manner; see Numb. x. 1. but on the September 
 new moon, or first day of the seventh month, was 
 kept a great festival, called cc the feast of trumpets 
 Levit. xxiii. 24. Numb. xxix. 1. which, probably, 
 is here intended. This September new moon had a 
 particular regard paid to it, because, according to 
 the old calculation, before Israel came out of Egypt, 
 it was the first new moon in the year, which began 
 upon this day, the first of the (afterwards) seventh 
 month. The tenth of the same month was the 
 great day of atonement; and on the fifteenth was 
 celebrated the feast of tabernacles. See Levit. 
 xxiii. 27. and 34. Our Psalm, therefore, seems to 
 have been designed for the purpose of awakening 
 and stirring up the devotion of the people upon the 
 solemn entrance of a month, in which they were 
 to commemorate so many past blessings, prefigura- 
 tive of much greater blessings to come. We have 
 now our feast-days, our Christmas, Easter, Whitsun- 
 tide, &c. On these, and all other solemn occasions^ 
 let the evangelical trumpet give a sound of victory, 
 of liberty, of joy and rejoicing; of victory over 
 
Day 16 . m. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 55 
 
 death, of liberty from sin, of joy and rejoicing in 
 Christ Jesus our Saviour. 
 
 4. For this was a statute for Israel , and a law of the 
 God of Jacob . 5. This he ordained in Joseph , /or a 
 
 testimony , when he went out through , or, against , the 
 land of Egypt : where I heard a language that / 
 understood not . 
 
 The meaning is, that the observation of feasts, 
 with blowing of trumpets, was a statute, law, or 
 testimony, ordained in Joseph, or Israel, by God 
 himself, after he had destroyed the Egyptians, and 
 brought his people into the wilderness, where the 
 law was given. Concerning the words, “ I heard a 
 “ language that I understood not,” it is difficult to 
 account for the change of person ; but the sense 
 seems to be, That the children of Israel received the 
 law, when they had been in bondage under a people 
 of strange and barbarous language, or dialect. The 
 passage is exactly parallel to that in Psal. cxiv. 1. 
 66 When Israel went out of Egypt, and the house of 
 “ Jacob from a people of strange language,” &c.—. 
 The new law, with its sacraments and ordinances, 
 was promulged after the spiritual redemption by 
 Christ, as the old law, with its rites and ceremonies, 
 was published, after the temporal deliverance by 
 Moses. 
 
 6 . I removed his shoidder from the burden: his 
 hands were delivered from the pots . 
 
 From this verse to the end, it is plain, that God is 
 the speaker. Me reminds Israel of their redemption, 
 by his mercy, and power, from the burdens and the 
 drudgery imposed on them in Egypt. Moses de- 
 scribeth their then state of servitude, by saying, 
 “ The Egyptians made their lives bitter with hard 
 “ bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all 
 
5$ 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 81 . 
 
 “ manner of service in the field;” Exod. i. 14. that 
 is, probably, in making vessels of clay, as this verse 
 seems to imply. Let us remember, that we have 
 been eased of far heavier burdens, delivered from se¬ 
 verer task-masters, and freed from a baser drudgery; 
 the intolerable load of sin, the cruel tyranny of 
 Satan, the vile service and bitter bondage of con¬ 
 cupiscence. 
 
 7. Thou calledst in trouble , and I delivered thee : I 
 answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved 
 thee at the waters of Meribah . 
 
 God declares his readiness, at all times, to hear 
 the prayers and relieve the distresses of his people, 
 as he did when they cried unto him in Egypt, and in 
 the wilderness, and received answers from the cloudy 
 pillar. In that deep recess he had fixed his awful 
 throne, and from thence, on proper occasions, he 
 manifested his power and glory, protecting Israel, 
 and confounding their adversaries. In Psalm xcix. 6. 
 it is said of “ Moses, Aaron,” &c. “ They called 
 
 “ upon the Lord, and he answered them : he spake 
 “ unto them in the cloudy pillarwhich passage 
 seems exactly parallel to that in the verse under con¬ 
 sideration— u Thou calledst, and—I answered thee 
 
 in the secret place of thunder.” He who spake 
 unto Israel in the cloudy pillar, hath since spoken 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 , and I will testify unto thee ; 
 0 Israel , if thou wilt hear hen unto me ; p. There shall 
 no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship 
 any strange . od. 10 . I am the Lord thy God , which 
 brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth 
 yide, and I will Jill it . 
 
Day 16 . m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 57 
 
 God here addresseth himself to the Israelites, put¬ 
 ting them in remembrance of that first and great 
 commandment against idolatry; of his claim to their 
 obedience, as their God and Saviour; and of his 
 being both able and willing to satisfy the utmost de¬ 
 sires and wishes of such, as would apply to him for 
 blessing and comfort. Behold, then, the rebellion, 
 the ingratitude, and the folly, of that man, who saith 
 to any creature, “ Thou art my godwho bestow- 
 eth on the world that fear, love, and adoration, 
 which are due only to its Creator and Redeemer; 
 who wasteth his days in seeking after happiness, 
 where all, by their inquietude, acknowledge that it 
 is not to be found. * 
 
 11 . But my people would not hearken to my voice ; 
 and Israel would none of me. 12. So I gave them up 
 unto their own hearts 9 lust: and they walked in their 
 own counsels . 
 
 By the subject of an earthly prince, it is justly 
 deemed a great honour for his sovereign to converse 
 with him, to counsel and advise him: but from 
 * sinful dust and ashes, we hear the Majesty of heaven 
 complaining, that he cannot obtain an audience ; no 
 one will attend to, or observe, his salutary admoni¬ 
 tions. When we see men enabled, by wealth and 
 power, to accomplish the inordinate desires of their 
 hearts, and carry their worldly schemes into execu¬ 
 tion, without meeting with any obstructions in their 
 way, we are apt to envy their felicity; whereas such 
 prosperity in wickedness is the surest mark of di¬ 
 vine displeasure, the heaviest punishment of dis¬ 
 obedience, both in individuals and communities. 
 u My people would not hearken to my voice, and 
 “ Israel would none of me : so 1 gave them up 
 
58 A COMMENTARY Psalm 81, 
 
 C€ unto their own hearts’ lust; and they walked in 
 “ their own counsels.” 
 
 13. O that my people had hearkened unto me , and 
 Israel had walked in my ways ! 14. I should soon have 
 subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their 
 adversaries . ^ 
 
 Such are the tender mercies of our God, that he 
 is not only careful to provide for us the means of 
 salvation, but represents himself as mourning with 
 a paternal affection over his children, when their 
 frowardness and obstinacy disappoint the efforts of 
 his love. One cannot help observing the similitude 
 between the complaint here uttered, and one which 
 hath been since breathed forth, over the same 
 people: “ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often w r ould 
 6C I have gathered thy children together, even as a 
 “ hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and 
 “ ye would not 1” 
 
 15. The halers of the Lord should have submitted 
 themselves unto him ; or, should have failed , or, been 
 subdued to him ; but their time , i. e. the time of his 
 people, should have endured for ever. 
 
 The transgressions of the church give her enemies 
 all their power against her, calling the avenger from 
 afar, and setting an edge on the sword of the perse¬ 
 cutor. “ Where the carcase is,” w r here the spirit of 
 religion is departed, and has left the body to corrupt 
 and decay, “ there the eagles are gathered together;” 
 all the instruments of vengeance, terrestrial and infer¬ 
 nal, flock, by permission, to the prey. Had not this 
 been the case with regard to Israel, Jerusalem had 
 continued to be, through all ages, what she was in the 
 days of Solomon, the delight of the nations, and the 
 joy of the whole earth. 
 
Day 16 . e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 59 
 
 16 . He should have fed them also with the finest of 
 the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have 
 satisfied thee . 
 
 That is, the Israelites, if obedient, would still 
 have enjoyed the sweets of that good land, in which 
 the Lord their God had placed them, where the 
 fruits of the earth w T ere produced in the highest per¬ 
 fection, and honey streamed from the very rocks, so 
 that no part of the country was without its increase. 
 Upon the same conditions of faith and obedience 
 do Christians hold those spiritual and eternal good 
 things, of which the pleasant fields and fertile hills 
 of Canaan were sacramental. Christ is the c: bread” 
 of life, he is the “ rock” of salvation, and his pro¬ 
 mises are as cc honey” to pious minds. But they 
 who reject him, as their Lord and Master, must also 
 lose him as their Saviour and their reward. 
 
 SIXTEENTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 PSALM LXXXII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Psalmist addresseth himself to judges and ma¬ 
 gistrates ; 1. he remindeth them of the presence 
 of that God whom they represent, and to whom 
 they are accountable ; 2—4. he exhorteth them 
 to the due discharge oWieir office ; 5. reproveth 
 the ignorance and corruption among them ; 6, 7. 
 threateneth their fall and punishment; 8. prayeth 
 for the manifestation of Messiah, and the esta¬ 
 blishment of his righteous kingdom. 
 
60 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm SI. 
 
 1. God slandeth in the congregation of the mighty: 
 he judgeth among the gods . 
 
 Earthly judicatories are the appointment of God. 
 All magistrates act in his name, and by virtue of his 
 commission. He is invisibly present in their assem¬ 
 blies, and superintends their proceedings. He re¬ 
 ceives appeals from their wrongful decisions; he will 
 one day re-hear all causes at his own tribunal, and 
 reverse every iniquitous sentence, before the great 
 congregations of men and angels. Unjust judges 
 must either disbelieve or forget all this. God is, in 
 like manner, present to the heart of each individual; 
 he is privy to the various reasonings and pleadings of 
 grace and nature, of principle and interest, in that 
 lesser court; and he is a witness of its determina¬ 
 tions ; which also will by him be manifested to the 
 world, and openly canvassed, when he sitteth in 
 judgement. 
 
 2 . IIow long will ye judge unjustly , and accept the 
 persons of the wicked? 3, Defend the poor and father¬ 
 less : do justice to the ajflicted and needy. 4. Deliver 
 the poor and needy : rid them out of the hand of the 
 wicked. 
 
 A charge is here given, by the Spirit of God, to 
 all magistrates, much like that which king Jehosha- 
 phat gave to his judges: 2 Chron. xix. 6, 7- “ Take 
 “ heed what ye do ; for ye judge not for man, but 
 <c for the Lord, who is with you in the judgement. 
 “ Wherefore now, let theTear of the Lord be upon 
 “ you, take heed, and do it: for there is no iniquity 
 cc with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, 
 “ nor taking of gifts.” It is the glory of Jehovah 
 and his Christ, to “ accept no man’s person” in 
 judgement; to reward neither the quality nor the 
 station of the offender $ but to give to every man, 
 
Day 16 . m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 61 
 
 of whatever rank or degree in the world, according 
 to his works. All the sons of Adam were once 
 tc poor and fatherless, needy and afflicted,” when 
 God took their cause into his own hands, and, by a 
 method consistent with the strictest justice, “ deli- 
 “ vered them out of the hand of the wicked one.” 
 Every oppressor of the poor is a likeness of cc that 
 “ wicked one,” and every upright judge will endea¬ 
 vour to resemble the Redeemer. For this purpose 
 he will be always willing to admit, diligent to dis¬ 
 cuss, solicitous to expedite, the cause of a poor and 
 injured person, and to afford such an one the spee¬ 
 diest, the cheapest, and the most effectual redress, 
 equally contemning the offers of opulence, and the 
 frowns of power. A judge who acts in this manner, 
 takes the readiest way to obtain the favour of (Jod; 
 and the people will be sure to bless him. 
 
 5. They know not , neither will they understand; they 
 walk on in darkness : all the foundations of the earthy 
 or, the land , are out of course ; or, nod 9 or, shake . 
 
 We here find the prophet deploring, in magistrates, 
 a method of proceeding contrary to that above de¬ 
 scribed. He laments their voluntary ignorance in 
 the ways of righteousness, and their choosing to 
 “ walk in darkness.” In judges this is occasioned 
 by “ presents and gifts,” which, as saith the son of 
 Sirach, “ blind the eyes of the wise Ecclus. 
 xx. 29. And if once the cc pillars” and “ founda- 
 “ tions” are moved from their integrity, and “ sha- 
 <c ken” to and fro by every blast of fear and favour, 
 what shall become of the political fabric erected 
 upon them ? Verily it must fall ; and great and 
 terrible will be the fall thereof. A community, 
 
 %J ~ 
 
 whether ecclesiastical or civil, consisteth of great 
 numbers; but its well-being depended) on a few, 
 
62 
 
 A COMMENTARV 
 
 Psalm 82. 
 
 in whose hands the administration is placed. When 
 the salt hath lost its savour, the mass must putrefy; 
 when the light becometh darkness, how great must 
 be that darkness! 
 
 6. I have said , Ye are gods , and all of you are 
 children of the Most High. 7. But ye shall die like 
 men , or Adam , and fall like one of the princes. 
 
 It is true, then, that magistrates are exalted above 
 other men ; that they are dignified with a commis¬ 
 sion from above; appointed to be the vicegerents 
 of heaven upon earth; and therefore called by the 
 name of him in whose name they act. But it is 
 likewise as true, that, notwithstanding all this ho¬ 
 nour conferred upon them, for the good of others, 
 and of themselves, if they use it aright, they still 
 continue to be the mortal sons of mortal “ Adam 
 like him, they must fall and perish ; God can, at 
 any time, cast them down from their high estate, as 
 lie did the Heathen “ princes 0 wffio misbehaved 
 themselves, and opposed his counsels : death cer¬ 
 tainly will strip them of all their authority, and lay 
 them low in the grave ; from thence the last trumpet 
 shall call them forth, to stand, with the rest of their 
 brethren, before the judgement-seat of Christ, there 
 to take their trial, and receive their everlasting sen¬ 
 tence. How necessary oftentimes is this considera¬ 
 tion, to check the spirit of tyranny and injustice, to 
 qualify the pride and insolence of office ! 
 
 8. Arise , O God, judge the earth : for thou shaltin - 
 herit all nations . 
 
 A view of that disorder and confusion in which 
 frequently the Jewish nation, as well as the rest of 
 the world, was involved, caused the prophets most 
 earnestly to wish and pray for the coming of that 
 time when “ God” should “ arise,” in the person of 
 
Dir 16. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 65 
 
 Messiah, to visit and “ judge the earth to deliver 
 it from the powers of darkness, and the tyranny of 
 sin ; to “ inherit all nations,” as purchased and re¬ 
 deemed by him; to establish his church among them ; 
 and to rule with a sceptre of righteousness, in the 
 hearts of his people. “ Arise” yet once again, O 
 Lord Jesu, from thy throne, where thou sittest at 
 the right hand ol the Father; “judge the earth,” 
 again corrupted and overwhelmed with iniquity; do 
 away sin, and put an end for ever to the power of 
 Satan ; “ inherit all nations,” redeemed from death, 
 and ransomed from the grave ; and reign to eternity, 
 King of Righteousness, Peace, and Glory, 
 
 PSALM LXXXIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Psalm the church, 1—8. complaineth to God 
 of the insolence, subtilty, rage, and malice, of her 
 enemies, united in close confederacy against her; 
 9—12. she prayeth for a manifestation of that 
 power which formerly discomfited Jabin, Sisera, 
 and the Midianites ; that so the hostile nations, 
 13—15. made sensible of the superiority of 
 Israel’s God, 16—18. might either themselves be 
 induced to acknowledge him, or else, by their de¬ 
 struction, become a warning and admonition to 
 others. As, while the world endureth there will 
 be a church, and while there is a church she will 
 have her enemies, who are to increase upon her 
 as the end approacheth, this Psalm can never be 
 out of date. And to the spiritual adversaries of 
 his soul, every private Christian may apply it at 
 all times. 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 82 , 
 
 Hi 
 
 1 . Keep not thou silence , O God * not thy 
 peace , and he not still , O GW. 2. Tbr, /o, thine 
 enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have 
 lifted up their head. 
 
 The churchentreateth God again and again to hear 
 and help her in the day of trouble. Her enemies 
 and haters are here said to be the enemies and haters 
 of God, because Christ and the church, like man and 
 wife, are one ; they have one common interest; they 
 have the same friends, and the same foes. To him 
 therefore she applieth, terrified by the tumultuous 
 noise oCconfederated nations, roaring against her 
 like the roaring of the sea, and “ lifting up their 
 “ heads/' as so many monsters of the deep, to devour 
 her at once. When temptations are urgent upon 
 the soul, and the passions rise in arms against her 
 peace and innocence, then do 66 the enemies of God 
 ct make a tumult, and they that hate him lift up 
 
 their heads and then is the time for her to be 
 instant in prayer. 
 
 M. They have taken crafty counsel against thy peo¬ 
 ple, and consulted against thy hidden ones . 4. They 
 
 have said , Come , and lei us cut them off from being a 
 nation ; that the name of Israel may be no more in re¬ 
 membrance. 
 
 The combination, so much dreaded, is described 
 as having been formed upon the best principles of 
 secular policy, with much subtilty, and the most 
 determined malice, against the “ people” of God, 
 and his “ hidden ones,” that is, his peculiar nation, 
 separated from the world, and taken under the cover 
 and protection of his wings. To root up the planta¬ 
 tions of paradise, to extirpate the holy seed, to ex¬ 
 tinguish the very u name of Israel,” was the scheme 
 
 intended by these associated adversaries of Zion. 
 
 2 
 
Day 16 . e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 65 
 
 Such are our spiritual enemies; such is their cunning, 
 their rage, and their resolution ; what prudence, 
 what vigilence, what courage are necessary, that we 
 may oppose them with success ! 
 
 5. For they have consulted together with one consent ; 
 they are confederate against thee . 
 
 When Christ was about to be crucified, it is ob¬ 
 served by St Luke, that “ the same day Pilate and 
 66 Herod were made friends together ; for before 
 “ they were at enmity between themselves Luke 
 xxiii. 12 And however the enemies of the church 
 may quarrel with one another, when they have no¬ 
 thing else to do, yet if a favourable opportunity offer 
 itself for making an attack upon her, they lay aside 
 their differences, and unite as one man : by no means 
 refusing the friendly aid even of infidels and atheists, 
 who are always ready to join in carrying on the war 
 against the common adversary. 
 
 6. the tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites ; of 
 
 Moab , and the Hagarenes ; 7. Gebal, and Ammon , 
 and Amalek ; the Philistines , with the inhabitants of 
 Tyre : 8. Assur also is joined with them ; they have 
 
 holpen the children of Lot. 
 
 These are the names of the confederates. The 
 Edomites were descended from Esau, that old ori¬ 
 ginal enemy of Jacob ; the Ishmaelites from Ishmael, 
 the son of the bond-woman, and sworn foe to Isaac, 
 heir of the promises ; the Moabites sprang from 
 Moab, one of the incestuous children of Lot ; the 
 Hagarelies were other descendants of Hagar ; who 
 the Gebalites were is uncertain ; the Ammonites 
 came from Ammon, the son of Lot, and incestuous 
 brother of Moab ; the Amalekites were the progeny 
 of Amalek, the grandson of Esau; Gen. xxvi. Id. 
 the Philistines and Tyrians are well known ; and to 
 
 YOL. II. E 
 
66 
 
 A COMMENTARY* 
 
 Psalm 82. 
 
 complete all, Assur, or the power of Assyria, was 
 called in by the children of * Lot, the Moabites and 
 Ammonites, to assist in the great work of extermi¬ 
 nating Israel from the face of the earth. These 
 were the ten nations banded together, by a solemn 
 league and covenant, against the people of God. 
 And as Israel was the grand figure of the Christian 
 church, which is now u the Israel of God,” so her 
 enemies are often represented by the above-recited 
 nations, and in prophetical language are called by 
 their names. Every age has its Edomites, and its 
 Ishmaelites, See. Sec. The actors are changed, and 
 the scenes are shifted ; but the stage and the drama 
 continue the same. 
 
 9. Do iinio them as unto the Miaianites: as to 
 Sisera , as to Jabin , at the brook of Kison; 10. 
 
 Which perisheth at Endor ; they became as dung for 
 the earth. 11. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeh: 
 yea, all their princes as Zeba and as Zalmunna; 12. 
 
 Who said , Let us take to ourselves the houses of Godin 
 possession . 
 
 The church having recounted the enemies which 
 compassed her about on every side, looks up for 
 succour to that Almighty power which had of old so 
 graciously interposed on her behalf, and rescued her 
 from her persecutors, in the days of Deborah, Barak, 
 and Gideon : see Judg. iv. viii. Fully sensible 
 that those deliverances were wrought by the imme¬ 
 diate hand of Jehovah, she offers the prayer of faith 
 for a like manifestation of- his glory, and a like vic¬ 
 tory over those who intended, in the same manner, 
 to seize and devour his inheritance. Of how great 
 use and comfort are the Old Testament histories to 
 us, in all our afflictions ! 
 
Day 16 . e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 67 
 
 13. O my God, make them like a wheel; or', like 
 thistle-down; as the stubble before the wind . 14. As 
 
 the fire burneth a wood, and as the fiame setteth the 
 mountains on fire; 15. So persecute, or, thou shall 
 pursue, them with thy tempest, and make, or, thou 
 shalt make, them afraid with thy storm . 
 
 The fate of those is here predicted, who invade 
 the inheritance of Jehovah, and say, “ Let us take 
 “ to ourselves the houses of God in possession. 55 
 The inconstancy and mutability of their fortunes is 
 resembled to “ thistle-down/’ or some such light 
 revolving body, and to “ stubble” or chaff, whirled 
 about and dissipated by the “ wind :” the sudden¬ 
 ness, horror, and universality of their destruction, 
 are set forth by the similitude of a cc fire” consum¬ 
 ing the dry trees in a “ forest,” or some combustible 
 matter on the “ mountains.” Such is the storm 
 and tempest of God’s indignation, which pursues 
 and terrifies the sacrilegious and ungodly. 
 
 16. Fill their faces with shame ; that they may seek 
 thy name, O Lord. 17. Let them, or, they shall, b c 
 confounded and troubled for ever ; yea, let them, or, 
 they shall, be put to shame and perish. IS. That men 
 may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art 
 the Most High over all the earth . 
 
 The punishments inflicted by heaven upon wicked 
 men, are primarily intended to humble and convert 
 them. If they continue incorrigible under every 
 dispensation of merciful severity, they are at last 
 cut off, and finally destroyed ; that others admo¬ 
 nished by their example, may repent, and return, 
 and give glory to God. Salutary are the afflictions 
 which bring men, and happy the men who are 
 brought by them, to an acknowledgement of “ Je- 
 
 “ hovah our Righteousness,” our exalted and glo- 
 
 2 
 
68 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 84. 
 
 rified Redeemer, “ the Most High over all the 
 Ci earth ;’ whom all must acknowledge, and before 
 whom all must appear to be judged, in the great 
 and terrible day. 
 
 PSALM LXXXIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm, for the subject-matter of it, bears a re¬ 
 semblance to the xliid. Under the figure of an 
 Israelite, deprived of all access to Jerusalem and 
 the sanctuary (whether it were David when driven 
 away by Absalom, or any other person in like cir¬ 
 cumstances at a different time), we are presented 
 with, j, 2. the earnest longing of a devout soul 
 after the house and presence of God ; 3 —7. a 
 beautiful and passionate eulogy on the blessedness 
 of his ministers and servants; 8—10. a fervent 
 prayer for a participation of that blessedness; and, 
 11, 12. an act of faith in his power and goodness, 
 which render him both able and willing to grant 
 requests of this nature. 
 
 1. How amiable are thy tabernacles , O Lord of 
 hosts ! 
 
 Thus ardently doth a banished Israelite express 
 his love for Sion, his admiration of the beauty of ho¬ 
 liness. Nay, Balaam himself, when from the top of 
 Peor he saw the children of Israel abiding in their 
 tents, with ’he Glory in the midst of them, could not 
 help exclaiming, “ How goodly are thy tents, O 
 <c Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel !” Numb, 
 xxiv. 5 C£ How amiable” then, may the Christian 
 say, are those eternal mansions, from whence sin and 
 
Day 16. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 69 
 
 sorrow are excluded ; how goodly that camp of the 
 saints, and that beloved city, where righteousness 
 and joy reign triumphant, and peace and unity are 
 violated no more ; where thou, O blessed Jesu, 
 ct Lord of hosts,” King of men and angels, dwellest 
 in glorious majesty, constituting by ttay presence 
 the felicity of thy chosen ! 
 
 2. My soul longeth, yea , even fainteth, for the courts 
 vf the Lord : my heart and my fesh crieth out , or, 
 shouteth^Jor the living God. 
 
 It is said of the queen of Sheba, that upon be¬ 
 holding the pleasantness of Jerusalem, the splendour 
 of Solomon’s court, and, above all, the magnificence 
 of the temple, with the services therein performed, 
 “ there was no more spirit in her:” 1 Kings x. 5. 
 What wonder, therefore, if the soul should be af¬ 
 fected, even to sickness and fainting, while, from 
 this land of her captivity, she beholdeth, by faith, 
 the heavenly Jerusalem, the city and court of the 
 great King, with all the transporting glories of the 
 church triumphant: while, in her meditations, she 
 draweth the comparison between her wretched state 
 of exile upon earth, and the unspeakable blessedness 
 of being delivered from temptation and affliction, 
 and admitted into the everlasting “ courts of Jeho- 
 
 vah ?” Whose 66 heart and flesh” doth not exult, 
 and “ si out” aloud for joy, at a prospect of rising 
 from the bed of death, to dwell with u the living 
 “ God ;” to see the face of him, <c in whom is life, 
 “ and the life is the light of men ?” John i. 4. Did 
 the Israelites, from all parts of Judea, go up, with 
 the voice of jubilee, to keep a feast at Jerusalem; 
 and shall Christians grieve, when the time is come 
 for them to ascend, and to celebrate an eternal 
 festival in heaven ? 
 
 / 
 
To 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 84. 
 
 3. Yea, the sparrow hath joiind an house, and the 
 swallow , or, ringdove , a for herself, where she may 
 lay her young , even thine altars , O Lord of Aosfr, wy 
 King and my God . 
 
 The Psalmist is generally supposed, in this verse, 
 to lament his unhappiness, in being deprived of all 
 access to the tabernacle, or temple, a privilege en¬ 
 joyed even by the birds, who were allowed to build 
 their nests in the neighbourhood of the sanctuary. It 
 is evidently the design of this passage to intimate to 
 us, that in the house, and at the altar of God, a 
 faithful soul findeth freedom from care and sorrow, 
 quiet of mind, and gladness of spirit; like a bird, 
 that has secured a little mansion, for the reception 
 and education of her young. And there is no heart, 
 endued with sensibility, which doth not bear its testi¬ 
 mony to the exquisite beauty and propriety of this 
 affecting image. 
 
 4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they 
 will be, or, are still praising thee. 
 
 Here the metaphor is dropped, and the former 
 sentiment expressed in plain language. “ Blessed 
 <c are,” not the mighty and opulent of the earth, but 
 cc they that dwell in thy house,” the ministers of the 
 eternal temple in heaven, the angels and the spirits 
 of just men made perfect; there every passion is re¬ 
 solved into love, every duty unto praise ; hallelujah 
 succeeds hallelujah ; “ they are still,” still for ever, 
 tc praising thee.” And blessed, next to them, are 
 those ministers and members of the church here be¬ 
 low who, in disposition, as well as employment, do 
 most resemble them. 
 
 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee: in 
 whose heart are (he ways of them ; Heb. the ways are 
 tn the heart of them. 
 
Day 16. e. Pc 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 71 
 
 Not only they are pronounced blessed who “ dwell” 
 in the temple, but all they also who are “ travelling’’ 
 thitherward (as the whole Jewish nation was wont 
 to do three times in a year), and who are therefore 
 meditating on their “ journey,” and on the “ way’’ 
 which leadeth to the holy city,' trusting in God to 
 “ strengthen,” and prosper, and conduct them to 
 the house of his habitation, the place where his 
 glory dwelleth. Such a company of sojourners are 
 Christians, going up to the heavenly Jerusalem ; 
 such ought to be their trust in God, and such the 
 subject of their thoughts*. 
 
 6. Who, passing through the valley of Baca , make it 
 a well: the rain also Jilleth the pools . 7. They go 
 
 from strength to strength , every one of them in Zion 
 appeareth before God ; or, the God of gods appeareth y 
 i. e. to them in Zion . 
 
 After numberless uncertain conjectures offered by 
 commentators upon the construction of these two 
 verses, it seemeth impossible for us to attain to any 
 other than a general idea of their true import; 
 which is this, that the Israelites, or some of them* 
 passed, in their way to Jerusalem, through a vailey 
 that had the name of “ Baca,” a noun derived from 
 a verb which signifies to “ weep $” that in this valley 
 
 * In ejus animo versantur semitae ferentes ad templum quo pro- 
 perat. Morali sensu , quicunque sanctus est, quotidie in priora 
 extenditur, et prseteritorum obliviscitur, cum Paulo, Phil. iii. 13. 
 Bossuet. Jerusalem is represented in the New Testament as a 
 type of heaven. I see nothing irrational, therefore, in supposing 
 that the inspired writer, in describing the ascent to Jerusalem, 
 might have in view also that spiritual progress, leading to the city 
 which is above, the mother of us all. The words before us are cer¬ 
 tainly very applicable to the advances made, in this progress, from 
 strength to strength, from one stage of Christian perfection to another 
 Merrick, 
 
72 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 84 
 
 they were refreshed by plenty of water ; that with 
 renewed vigour they proceeded from stage to stage, 
 until they presented themselves before God in Zion. 
 The present world is to us this valley of weeping; 
 in our passage through it, we are refreshed by the 
 streams of divine grace, flowing down from the great 
 fountain of consolation ; and thus are we enabled to 
 proceed from one degree of holiness to another, un¬ 
 til we come to the glorified vision of God in heaven 
 itself. Mr Merrick’s poetical version of this pas¬ 
 sage is extremely beautiful, and applies at once to 
 the case of the Israelite, and to that of the Chris¬ 
 tian . 
 
 t „ . . 
 
 Blest who, their strength on thee reclin’d, 
 
 Thy seat explore with constant mind, 
 
 And, Salem’s distant tower in view, 
 
 With active zeal their way pursue : 
 
 Secure the thirsty vale they tread, 
 
 While, call’d from out their sandy bed 
 (As, down in grateful showers distill’d, 
 
 The heavens their kindliest moisture yield.) 
 
 The copious springs their steps beguile, 
 
 And bid the cheerless desert smile. 
 
 From stage to stage advancing still, 
 
 Behold them reach fair Sion’s hill, 
 
 And, prostrate at her hallow’d shrine, 
 
 Adore the Majesty divine. 
 
 8. O Lord God of hosts , hear my prayer: give ear , 
 O God of Jacob. 9. Behold , O God our shield , and 
 look upon the face of thine anointed. 
 
 After extolling the happiness of those who dwelt 
 in the temple, and of those who had access to it, the 
 Psalmist breaks forth into a most ardent prayer to 
 his God, for a share in that happiness. Pie addresseth 
 him as 45 the Lord of hosts,” almighty in power ; 
 as “ the God of Jacob,” infinite in mercy and good- 
 
Day 16 . e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 73 
 
 ness to his people; as their 44 shield,” the object of 
 all their trust for defence and protection ; and be- 
 seecheth him to 46 look upon the face of his anoint- 
 44 ed,” that is, of David, if he were king of Israel 
 when this Psalm was written; or rather of Messiah*, 
 in whom God is always well pleased ; for whose sake 
 he hath mercy upon us, through whose 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 thousand: 
 I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God , 
 than to dwell in the tents oj wickedness . 
 
 One day spent in meditation and devotion, af- 
 fordeth a pleasure, far, far superior to that which an 
 age of worldly prosperity could give. Happier is the 
 least and lowest of the servants of Jesus, than the 
 greatest and most exalted potentate who knoweth 
 him not. And he is no proper judge of blessedness, 
 who hesitates a moment to prefer the condition of 
 a penitent in the porch, to that of a sinner on the 
 throne. If this be the case upon earth, how much 
 more in heaven ? O come that one glorious day, 
 whose sun shall never go down, nor any cloud ob¬ 
 scure the lustre of his beams ; that day, when the 
 temple of God shall be opened in heaven, and we 
 shall be admitted to serve him for ever therein! 
 
 11. For the Lord GW is a sun and shield: the 
 Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will 
 he witho/d from them that walk uprightly . 
 
 Jesus Christ is our 44 Lord,” and our 44 God he 
 is a 44 sun” to enlighten and direct us in the way, 
 and a 44 shield” to protect us against the enemies of 
 our salvation ; lie will give 4: grace’’ to carry us on 
 44 from strength to strength,” and 44 glory” to crown 
 
 * “ Christi tui regis, qui Christ: figura. Bossuet. 
 
T 4 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 85, 
 
 us when we “ appear before him in Zion he will 
 cc withold” nothing that is “ good” and profitable 
 for us in the course of our journey, and wili/iimself 
 be our reward when we come to the end of it. 
 
 12.0 Lord of hosts , blessed is the man that trusteth 
 in thee. 
 
 While, therefore, we are strangers and sojourners 
 here below, far from that heavenly country where 
 we would be, in whom should we trust to bring us 
 to the holy city, new Jerusalem, of which the Lord 
 God and the Lamb are the temple, but in thee, O 
 Saviour and Redeemer, who art the Head of every 
 creature, the Captain of the armies of heaven and 
 earth, the Lord of hosts, and the King of glory ? 
 €C Blessed/’ thrice “ blessed, is the man that trusteth 
 c£ in thee.” 
 
 PSALM LXXXV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm, appointed by the church to be used on 
 Christmas-day, 1—3. celebrateth the redemption 
 of the Israel of God from their spiritual captivity 
 under sin and death ; 4—7. teacheth us to pray 
 for the full accomplishment of that redemption in 
 ourselves; 8—11. describeth the incarnation of 
 Christ, with the joyful meeting of Mercy and 
 True Righteousness and Peace, at his birth, and, 
 12, 13. the blessed effects of his advent. 
 
 1. Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: 
 ikon hast brought back the captivity of Jacob . 2. Thou 
 
 hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast cover¬ 
 ed all their sin . 3. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath : 
 
Da.Y 16 . E. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 75 
 
 thou hast turned thys ett'from the fierceness of thine 
 anger . 
 
 These three verses speak of the deliverance from 
 captivity, as already brought about; whereas, in 
 the subsequent parts of the Psalm, it is prayed for 
 and predicted, as a thing future. To account for 
 this, some suppose that the Psalmist first returns 
 thanks for a temporal redemption, and then prophet 
 sies of the spiritual salvation by Messiah. Others 
 are of opinion, that the same eternal redemption is 
 spoken of throughout, but represented, in the begin¬ 
 ning of the l ; salm, as already accomplished in the 
 divine decree, though the eventual completion was 
 yet to come. The difficulty, perhaps, may be re¬ 
 moved, by rendering these first three verses in the 
 present time ; “ Lord, thou art favourable to thy 
 66 land, thou bringest back the captivity of thy peo- 
 “ pie,” $c. that is, Thou art the God whose pro¬ 
 perty it is to do this, and to show such mercy to thy 
 people, who therefore call upon thee for the same. 
 But, indeed, to us Christians, who now use the 
 Psalm, the difference is not material; since a part 
 of our redemption is past, and a part of it is yet to 
 come, for the hastening of which latter we daily 
 pray. God had already been exceedingly gracious 
 <c and favourable” to the whole “ earth,” in u bring- 
 “ ing back,” by the resurrection of Jesus, the spi- 
 iC ritual captivity of” his people ; he hath himself, 
 in Christ, cc borne,” and so taken away, “ the ini-. 
 cc quity of his people ;” he hath “ covered all their 
 u sins,” that they should no more appear in judge¬ 
 ment against them : propitiated by theSon of his 
 love, he hath removed his “ wrath,” and cc turned 
 
 himself from the fierceness of his anger.” So ex¬ 
 actly and literally do these words describe the means 
 
A COMMENTARY. 
 
 Psalm 85. 
 
 16 
 
 and method of Gospel-salvation, that a l hristian 
 can hardly affix any other ideas to them. 
 
 4 Turn us , O God of our salvation , and cause thine 
 an cr towards us to cease, 5, IVil thou be an .ry with 
 usjor ever ? IVilt tfi u draw ui thine ang r to all gene¬ 
 ra ions ? 6 . Wilt l ou not revive us again , that thy peo¬ 
 
 ple may rejoice in thee ? 7. Show us thy mercy , O Lord, 
 and grant us thy salvation. 
 
 The ancient church is here introduced as petition¬ 
 ing for the continuation and completion of those 
 blessings which had been mentioned in the foregoing 
 verses, namely, that God would 44 turn" his people 
 from their captivity, and 44 cause his anger towards 
 44 them to cease thar he would 44 revive* them from 
 sin and sorrow, and give then: occasion to 44 rejoice 
 44 in him, 1 their mighty deliverer; that he would 
 44 show them 11 openly that 44 mercy ' of which they 
 had so often heard, and 44 grant them that salvation,” 
 or that 44 Saviour,' that J sus. who had been so long 
 promised to mankind. And although it be true that 
 Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, and hath virtually 
 procured all these blessings tor the church, yet do 
 44 we ’ still continue to pray, in the same wurds, for 
 the actual application ofthem all to ourselves, by the 
 conversion of our hearts, the justification of our per- 
 7 sons, the sanctification of our souls, and the glorifi¬ 
 cation of our bodies. For this last blessing of 
 redemption, 44 the whole creation waiteth, groaning, 
 44 and travailing in pain together, until now.” 
 Rom. viii. 22. 
 
 8. I wiT hear what God the Loud will speak : for he 
 will speak peace unto his people , and to his saints , but 
 lei them not turn again to Jolly : or, that they may not 
 
 turn again to folly. 
 
 The prophet having prayed, in the name of the 
 
Day 16. E. p. 
 
 , ON THE PSALMS. 77 
 
 church, that Jehovah would “ show them his mercy, 
 tc and grant them his salvation,” declares himself 
 resolved, concerning this “ salvation, to inquire and 
 tc search diligently, what, or what manner of time 
 “ the Spirit of Christ which was in him did signify, 
 “ when it testified beforehand the coming of Christy 
 ct and the glory that should follow ; see 1 Pet i. 
 10. he would attend to 64 what God the Loud 
 “ shou d say, ’ and report it to the world. Now, 
 what was the message which the prophets had com¬ 
 mission to deliver from God, but that he would 
 “ speak peace,’ or reconciliation through a Saviour, 
 “ to hi people, and to his saints ? The Gospel is 
 accordingly styled by St Peter, 44 the word which 
 44 God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching 
 c: peace by Jesus t hrist;” Acts x. 3 . And what 
 was the end of this reconciliation between God and 
 men, but that men should become and continue the 
 servants of God'; that, being washed from their sins 
 by the blood of Christ, and renewed in their minds 
 by the grace of Christ, they should walk in the paths 
 of wisdom and holiness, and 44 turn not again to the 
 44 folly” they had renounced ? 
 
 9 . Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him , 
 that glory may dwell in our kind. 
 
 God, who 44 calleth things that be not as though 
 “ they were,” teacheth his prophets to do likewise. 
 The Psalmist therefore speaks with assurance of the 
 “ Saviour, ’ as if he then saw him before his eyes, 
 healing, by the word of his power, the bodies and 
 the souls of men upon earth, and manifesting forth 
 his 44 glory,” in human nature, to all such as, with 
 a holy 44 fear, ” and filial reverence, believed on him. 
 St John himself hardly useth plainer language when 
 he saitb, 44 the Word v^as made flesh and dwelt 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 85. 
 
 TS 
 
 c * 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 Christ was the true “ tabernacle,” or temple; 
 his Divinity was the glory which resided there, and 
 filled that holy place. The church is his mystical 
 <c body by his spirit he now and ever “ dwelleth 
 “ in our land ; and his salvation is always nigh them 
 cc that fear him ?” assaith the holy virgin in her song, 
 cc His mercy is on them that fear him, throughout 
 cc all generations.” 
 
 10. Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness 
 and peace have kissed each other. 11. Truth shall 
 spring out of the earth ; and righteousness shall look 
 down from heaven . 
 
 These four divine attributes parted at the fall of 
 Adam, and met again at the birth of Christ. Mercy 
 was ever inclined to save man, and Peace could not 
 be his enemy; but Truth exacted the performance 
 of God’s threat, “ The soul that sinneth, it shall 
 46 dieand Righteousness could not but give to 
 every one his due. Jehovah must be true in all his 
 ways, and righteous in all his works. Now there is 
 no religion upon earth, except the Christian, which 
 can satisfy the demands of all claimants, and restore 
 an union between them ; which can show how 
 God’s word can be true, and his work just, and the 
 sinner, notwithstanding, find mercy, and obtain 
 peace. Mahomet’s prayer, were it the prayer of a 
 righteous man and a prophet, could not satisfy di¬ 
 vine justice ; the blood of bulls and goats was al¬ 
 ways insufficient for that purpose, being a figure only 
 for the time then present, which ceased of course 
 when the reality appeared. “ Sacrifice and burnt- 
 “ offering thou w r ouldest not; then said I, Lo, I 
 
X)ay 16. E. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 79 
 
 come” A God incarnate reconciled all things in 
 heaven and earth. When Christ appeared in our 
 nature, the promise was fulfilled, and/ 6 Truth sprang 
 out of the earth .'” And now Righteousness, 66 look¬ 
 ing down from heaven,” beheld in him every thing 
 that she required ; an undefiled birth, a holy life, 
 an innocent death ; a spirit and a mouth without 
 guile, a soul and a body without sin. She saw, and 
 was satisfied, and returned to earth. Thus all the 
 four parties met again in perfect harmony: Truth 
 ran to Mercy, and embraced her ; Righteousness 
 to Peace, and kissed her. And this could happen 
 only at the birth of Jesus, in whom u the tender Mer- 
 “ cy of our God visited us, and who is the Truth ; 
 66 who is made unto us Righteousness, and who is 
 “ our Peace.” See Luke i. 78. John xiv. 6. 1 Cor. 
 i. 30. Ephes. ii. 14. Those that are thus joined, as 
 attributes, in Christ, ought not, as virtues, to be 
 separated in a Christian, who may learn how to re¬ 
 semble his blessed Lord and Master, by observing 
 that short, but complete, rule oflife,comprehended 
 in the few following words : Show Mercy, and speak 
 Truth : do Righteousness, and follow Peace. See 
 St Bernard, in his Sermon on the Annunciation; and 
 from him, bishop Andrews on these two verses of 
 our Psalm*. 
 
 12. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good: 
 and our land shall yield her increase . 
 
 Unless God vouchsafe a gracious rain from above, 
 the earth cannot “ yield her increase.” The effects 
 of the incarnation of Christ, the descent of the Spirit, 
 and the publication of the Gospel among men, are 
 
 * Soluta captivitate, felicem populi statum designat, omni bonorum 
 copia et virtutibus florentis; quae maxime impleta sunt, postquam 
 Christus, ipsa verit2s, indemque pax nostra, terra ortus e^t. Bossuet. 
 
 . 2 
 
so 
 
 ' A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 85. 
 
 frequently set forth in Scripture under images bor¬ 
 rowed from that fruitfulness caused in the earth by 
 the rain of heaven. Thus Isaiah : “ Drop down the 
 cc heavens from above*, and let the skies pour down 
 “ righteousness; let the earth open, and let them 
 “ bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring 
 up together xlv. 8. I will pour water upon him 
 that is thirsty, and floods upon theory ground : I 
 will pour my Spirit upon thy seed/ind my bless¬ 
 ing upon thine offspring. And they shall spring 
 up as among the grass, as willows by the water- 
 <c courses, xliv. 3. As the rain cometh down from 
 C£ heaven, and watereth the earth, and maketh it 
 cc bring forth and bud ; so shall my word be,” &c. 
 lv. iO. Give us evermore, O Lord, “ that which is 
 “ good, that our land may yield her increase ;” give 
 us that good gift, the gift of thy Spirit, that we be 
 <c neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of 
 <c our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. i. 8. 
 
 13. Righteousness shall go before him , and shall set 
 us in the nay of his steps ; or, and shall set his steps 
 
 (6 
 
 C C 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 6e 
 
 in the nay. 
 
 Upon the appearance of the Redeemer, C£ Righ- 
 “ teousness” is represented “ as going before him,” 
 like his harbinger the baptist, to prepare and make 
 ready his way. In that way, the way of righteous¬ 
 ness, cc he set his steps,” and walked therein, without 
 the least deviation, until he had finished his appoint¬ 
 ed course. Draw us, blessed Jesu, and we will run 
 after thee, in the path of life ; let thy mercy pardon 
 us, thy truth enlighten us, thy righteousness direct 
 ii£, to follow thee, O Lamb of God. whithersoever 
 thou goest, through poverty, affliction, persecution, 
 and death itself; that our portion may be for ever 
 
 in thy kingdom of peace and love. 
 
 3 
 
Day 17. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 Si 
 
 SEVENTEENTH D AY.—MORNING PRAYER, 
 
 PSALM LXXXVL 
 
 / .ARGUMENT. 
 
 4 
 
 This Psalm if entitled, cc A prayer of David,” and 
 supposed’.tO have been written in some of his 
 great distresses. Like others of the same kind, it 
 is calculated for the use of the church during her 
 sufferings here below, by which she is conformed 
 to the image of the true David, that man of sor¬ 
 rows. It contains, 1. an earnest supplication, 
 grounded on the poverty, 2. the holiness, faith, 
 3. importunity, and, 4. the devotion, of the sup¬ 
 pliant ; and on, 5—7. the goodness, and, 8. power 
 of God, 9, 10. to be one day acknowledged by all 
 nations, at their conversion. After this, follows, 
 11. a petition for wisdom, strength, and single¬ 
 ness of heart; 12, 13. a thanksgiving for redemp¬ 
 tion ; 14. a complaint of persecution from the 
 wicked ; 15. an act of faith ; 16, 17. a prayer for 
 help and salvation. 
 
 1. Bow down thine ear , O Lord, and hear me : for 
 1 am poor and needy . 
 
 All prayer is founded on a sense of our own wants, 
 and God’s ability to supply them. In the sight of 
 his Maker, every sinner is “ poor and needyand 
 lie must become so in his own, that his petitions may 
 be regarded ; he must pray, with the humility and 
 importunity of a starving beggar, at the gate of h^i- 
 ven, if he expect the great King cc to bow down his 
 “ ear and hear him. 55 “ The prayer of the humble,” 
 
S 2 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 8#* 
 
 saith the wise son ofSirach, 44 pierceth the clouds;; 
 44 and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and 
 44 will not depart till the Most High shall behold 
 Ecclus. xsxv. 17, The blessed Jesus, 44 though he 
 44 was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, and had 
 44 not where to lav his head;” nor is it to be doubted* 
 but that, in his state of humiliation, he oftentimes 
 made his prayer to the Father in these very words; 
 44 Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me; for 
 44 I am poor and needy.” If he sued in such a 
 form of words for us, shall we think of suing in any 
 other form for ourselves ? 
 
 2. Preserve thou my soul , for I am holy ; 0 thou 
 my God , save thy servant , that trusteth in thee . 
 
 The word here translated 44 holy” is, T>sn, the 
 same which is used in the xvith Psalm; 44 Thou shalt 
 44 not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” And 
 indeed, if we understand 44 holiness” in its strict 
 sense, no one but 44 he whom the Father sanctified, 
 44 and sent into the world,” to redeem lost man. 
 could say to him, 44 Preserve my soul, for I am holy.” 
 But the word properly signifies, 44 good, merciful* 
 44 pious, devoted to the service of God,” &c. The 
 Christian, therefore, only pleads, in this expression, 
 his relation to Christ, as being a member of Christ’s 
 body, the church, and a partaker of the gifts 
 which, by virtue of that membership, he has re¬ 
 ceived through the Spirit of holiness. So that this 
 first part of the verse, 44 Preserve my soul, for I am 
 44 holy,” when repeated by us, is equivalent to 
 another passage in the Psalms, 44 I am thine, O 
 <a save me cxix. 94-. The latter member of the 
 verse under consideration teaches us to pray for help 
 and salvation, as the 44 servants” of God, whose eyes 
 therefore look naturally to him, 44 as the eyes of ser- 
 
Day 17. m. p. 
 
 83 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 * 
 
 “ vants,” in affliction, “ look unto the hand of their 
 “ masters:” Psal. cxxiii. 2. uid happy,, surely, are 
 we in a Master, who himself, for our salvation, once 
 lived, and prayed, and suffered, and died, in “ the 
 “ form of a servant.” Phil. ii. 7. 
 
 3. Be merciful unto me , O Lo n.D,for I cry unto thee 
 daily. 
 
 There is no man upon the earth, but needeth 
 “ mercy;” he who is truly sensible of his need, will 
 “ cry daily” for it; and he who doth so, may com¬ 
 fort himself with the hope of obtaining it. The 
 prayers of Jesus, poured forth for the salvation of his 
 mystical body, in the days of his flesh, were frequent 
 and mighty ; his intercession for us in heaven is con¬ 
 tinual. Does the man believe this, who prays not 
 at all, or who prays without devotion ? 
 
 4. Rejoice the soul oj' thy servant; for unto thee , O 
 Lord, do I lift up my soul. 
 
 Sorrow was the portion of Christ in this world 
 and the church hath no reason to expect any other 
 from it. He that would have real “joy” in his 
 heart, must beseech God to give it him, for no crea¬ 
 ture hath it to give. Nay, the love of the world 
 must be renounced, before this divine gift can even 
 be “ received.” The affections must be loosened 
 from earth, and “ lifted up” to heaven, on the wings 
 of faith and love ; for in the soul that is full of sen¬ 
 sual pleasures and indulgences, there is neither room 
 nor taste for spiritual delights. 
 
 5. For thou , Lord, art good, and ready to forgive : 
 and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon 
 thee. 
 
 We arc encouraged to “ lift up our souls to God 7 
 in prayer, because his “ goodness,” and the “ plente- 
 4C outness of his mercy” in Christ Jesus, incline him 
 
. 84? 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 86. 
 
 to give his holy Spirit of peace and comfort to cc all 
 “ that call upon him/’ His favour is no longer con- 
 lined to Judea ; there is now no distinction of age 3 
 condition, or country : but the sinner, whoever or 
 wherever he be, if he call upon the saving name of 
 Jesus, is heard, pardoned, and accepted, upon the 
 terms of the evangelical covenant 
 
 6. Give car , O Lord, unto my prayer ; and attend 
 to the voice of my supplications . 7. In the day of my 
 
 trouble I mil call upon thee ; for thou wilt answer me. 
 
 In confidence of an “ answer,” nourished and 
 strengthened by all the foregoing considerations, the 
 suppliant renews his prayer, while “ the day of 
 “ trouble” lasts; and that day will not end, but with 
 this mortal pilgrimage ; since he who loves his coun¬ 
 try, will ever be uneasy while he is detained among 
 strangers and enemies, perils and temptations. But 
 the trouble is overpaid with profit, which rendereth 
 us adepts in the practice of devotion, which con- 
 vinceth us that we are abroad, and maketh us t© 
 wish and sigh for our true and only home. 
 
 8. Among the gods there is none like unto thee , O 
 Lord ; neither are there any works like unto thy 
 works . 
 
 Another reason why application should be made 
 to Jehovah, is his infinite superiority over all those 
 that, by infatuated men, were ever called “ gods.” 
 From the ancient idolatry, which taught adoration to 
 the sun, moon, and stars, to the light and the air, 
 we have been delivered by the Gospel : nor do we 
 any longer profess to worship Jupiter, and the other 
 Heathen gods and goddesses. But do not many still 
 trust in idols, and have they not, in effect, other ob¬ 
 jects of worship, from whose hands they expect their 
 reward ? Are not the hearts of the covetous, the am- 
 
J$AY l7. M. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 95 
 
 bitious, the voluptuous, so many temples of Mam¬ 
 mon or Plutus, of Jupiter or Mars, of Bacchus, 
 Comus, and Venus ? But what are these deities ; 
 what is their power r and what are their gifts ? What 
 is the whole world, and all that is therein, when com¬ 
 pared with its Maker and Redeemer; what is it 
 when applied to, for the ease and comfort of a 
 wounded spirit ?— 44 Among the gods there is none 
 44 like unto thee, O Lord ; neither are there any 
 44 works like unto thy works !” 
 
 9. Ail nations whom thou hast made , shall come 
 and worship before thee , O Lord ; and shall glorify 
 thy name . 
 
 The Psalmist predicteth that this superiority of 
 Jehovah should one day be acknowledged through¬ 
 out all the earth, when 44 neither in Jerusalem only, 
 64 nor in the mount of the Samaritans,” but in every 
 place, 44 should men worship the Father John iv. 
 21. when he who 44 made all nations” by his Son, 
 should by that Son redeem all nations, bringing 
 them from the world to the church, there to 44 wor- 
 44 ship before” the true God, and 44 in songs of 
 4i praise to glorify his holy name.” If in these our 
 times, we behold the nations again falling away 
 from God, departing from the purity of their faith, 
 and leaving their first love, let us comfort ourselves 
 with looking forward to that scene of things de¬ 
 scribed by St John, in which we hope to bear a 
 part hereafter: 46 I beheld, and, lo, a great multi- 
 44 tude, which no man could number, of all nations, 
 44 and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood be- 
 44 fore the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed 
 44 with white robes, and palms in their hands ; and 
 C4 cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation unto 
 
86 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 86. 
 
 <c our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto 
 “ the Lamb.” Rev. vii. 9. 
 
 10. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things : 
 thou art God alone . 
 
 “ Great’ is aehovah in his power, in his wisdom, 
 in his mercv ; “ wonderful” in the creation of the 
 world, wonderful in the preservation and the govern¬ 
 ment of it, wonderful in its redemption ; wonderful 
 in the incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and 
 ascension of Jesus, in the descent of the Spirit, the 
 propagation of the Gospel, the sufferings of saints, 
 and the conversion of sinners ; most wonderful will he 
 be when he shall raise the dead, judge the w’orld, 
 condemn the wicked, and glorify the righteous. And 
 then shall every tongue confess, <c Thou art God 
 <c alone !” 
 
 1 1 . Teach me thy way, O Lord ; I will walk in thy 
 truth : unite my heart tojear thy name . 
 
 It is the continual subject of the Mediator’s inter¬ 
 cession above, and of our prayers below, that we 
 may be “ taught the w 7 ay of Jehovah,” the way to 
 life eternal, prepared for us, through faith and love 
 which is in Christ Jesus; that being so taught, we 
 may likewise be enabled “ to walk in the truth,” 
 without error in doctrine, or deviation from duty; 
 believing all things which God hath revealed, and 
 doing whatsoever he hath commanded us ; that the 
 affections of the “ heart” may be withdrawn from 
 other objects, and, being no longer divided between 
 God and the world, become “ united” in the filial 
 <c fear of his name,” as the grand principle of action. 
 
 12. I will praise thee, 0 Lord my God, with all my 
 heart; and I will glorify thy name for evermore , 
 13. For great is thy mercy toward me ; and thou hast 
 delivered mij soul from the lowest hell. 
 
Day 17. m. p. ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 S7 
 
 Gratitucle for mercies already received, will obtain 
 a continuance and increase of those mercies. The 
 church is never in so afflicted a state, but she hath 
 still reason to intermingle hallelujahs with her hosan¬ 
 nahs, and, in the midst of her most fervent prayers, 
 to “ praise the Lord her God with all her heart, 
 * 6 and to glorify his name for evermore since, what¬ 
 ever she may suffer upon earth (and even those suf¬ 
 ferings) will turn to her advantage, “ great,’ most 
 undoubtedly, <c hath his mercy been toward her, in 
 “ delivering” her, by the resurrection of Jesus, from 
 the bondage of sin, the dominion of death, and the 
 bottomless pit of “ hell.” 
 
 14. O God , the proud are risen against me , and the 
 assemblies of ’violent men have sought ajler my soul; 
 and have not set thee be)ore their eyes , 
 
 From praises we return again to prayers. When 
 Christ was upon earth, we know the treatment lie 
 met with from “ proud and violent men, who had 
 “ not set God before their eyes;” from self-righteous 
 Jews, and conceited Gentiles, who rose up, and took 
 counsel together, against him. What his church 
 afterwards suffered at the hands of the same ene¬ 
 mies, is likewise well known. Plow much more she 
 is to undergo in the latter days, we know not as yet; 
 but this we do know, that the Spirit of the world 
 stands, now and ever, in opposition to the spirit of 
 God ; its design is always the same, although its 
 methods of working be divers. Nor can we be 
 ignorant of those domestic adversaries, that assem¬ 
 bly of haughty and turbulent passions, which are 
 continually making insurrections, and destroying the 
 peace of the soul. So that either from without, or 
 from within, every one, who is a Christian in deed, 
 shall be sure to have his portion of tribulation. 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 86. 
 
 38 
 
 15. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compas i n, 
 and gracious; long suffering, and plenteous in good¬ 
 ness and truth. 
 
 Having taken a view of those that are against ns, 
 it is now time to look up to those that are with us. 
 And can we have better friends, than all these 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, slow to anger ; and that we have 
 his truth pledged for the performance of his mercy ? 
 What a fountain of consolation is here opened for 
 the afflicted Christian ! “ Let him drink, and forget 
 cc his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” 
 Prov. xxxi. 7. 
 
 16. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me ; give 
 thy strength unto thy servant , and save the son of thine 
 handmaid . 
 
 On the consideration of the above-mentioned at. 
 tributes, a petition is in this verse put up to God, 
 that he would “ turn” his face towards us; that he 
 would of his cc mercy” pardon us, by his grace 
 
 strengthen” us, and by his power “ save” us from 
 all our adversaries. Every Christian is the “ ser- 
 “ vant 1 of Cod, and “ the son of his handmaid,” 
 the church ; which may say, in the same spirit of hu¬ 
 mility and obedience with the blessed Virgin, “ Be- 
 66 hold the handmaid of the Lord.” 
 
 17. Show me a token for goon, that they which hate me 
 may see it, and he ashamed ; because thou, Lord, hast 
 liolpen me, and comforted me. 
 
 Many outward signs and cc tokens” of the di¬ 
 vine favour were in old time vouchsafed to patri¬ 
 archs, prophets, and kings of Israel. The law itselr 
 was a collection of external and sacramental figure 
 
Day 17. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 9S 
 
 of grace and mercy. All these centred and had 
 their accomplishment in that grand and everlasting 
 sign and token of G od’s love to man, the incarnation 
 of Christ, which all faithful people from the begin¬ 
 ning wished and prayed for. On this sign, the 
 Christian looks with joy, as the great proof that 
 God has u holpen him and comforted him while 
 his faith in it doth not fail, he hath the witness in 
 himself, and his actions declare as much to all 
 around him ; “ that they which hate him may be 
 “ ashamed'’ and converted, before that day come, 
 w r hen shame shall be fruitless, and conversion im¬ 
 possible. 
 
 j / 
 
 PSALM LXXXVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT# 
 
 The prophet, 1—3. celebrates the stability and fe¬ 
 licity of Sion; 4, 5. foretels the accession of the 
 Gentiles to her, and, 6. their enrolment among 
 her citizens ; 7. extols her as the fountain of grace 
 and salvation. The Psalm was probably penned, 
 on a survey of the city of David, just after the 
 buildings of it w r ere finished. 
 
 1. His foundation is in the holy mountains : or, It 
 is his , i. e. God’s foundation in the mountains of holi¬ 
 ness * ! 2. The Lord lovetk the gates cf Sion more 
 
 than all the dwellings of Jacob. 
 
 The Psalmist, after having meditated on the 
 strength, the beauty, and the glory of Jerusalem, 
 
 * Some commentators suppose this verse to be a part of the title, 
 which will then run thus, “ For the sons of Korah, a Psalm ; a song 
 “ when he laid the foundation on the holy mountains” 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 90 
 
 PsALM 8?* 
 
 being smitten with the love of the holy city, and 
 imagining the thoughts of his hearers, or readers, to 
 have been employed on the same subject, breaks 
 forth at once in this abrupt manner, “ It is his 
 “ foundation on the holy mountains/’ By “ the holy 
 cc mountains” are meant those hills of Judea, which 
 Jehovah had chosen, and separated to himself from 
 all others, whereon to construct the highly favoured 
 city and temple. As the dwellings of Jacob, in the 
 promi ed land, were beloved by him more than the 
 dwellings of other nations, so he “ loved the gates 
 “ of Sion, more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” 
 
 Jeru Mem was exalted and fortified by its situation ; 
 but much more so by the protection of the Al¬ 
 mighty. What Jerusalem was, the Christian church 
 is; “built” by God CJ on the foundation of the 
 “ apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being 
 cc the chief corner stone ; in whom all the building 
 <c fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple 
 “ in the Lord : ’ Ephes. ii. 20. It is “ his fbunda- 
 “ tion in the holy mountains; 1 ’ she is beloved of 
 God above the kingdoms and empires of the earth, 
 which rise and fall only to fulfil the divine counsels 
 concerning her. When those counsels shall be ful¬ 
 filled, in the salvation of all believers, the world, 
 which subsists onlv for their sake, will be at an end. 
 
 3. Glorious things are spoken of thee , O city of God. 
 
 As the prophet began in a rapture, to speak of 
 the holy city, so now, in fresh transport, he changes 
 the person, and suddenly addresses himself to it. 
 The old lerusalem was 66 the city of God, and glo- 
 Ct rious things were therefore said of it” by the Spirit/ 
 Pleasant for situation, and magnificent in its build¬ 
 ings, it was the delight of nations, the joy of the 
 whole earth : there was the royal residence pf the 
 
 ' v ; 
 
 kings of Judah ; there was the temple, and the ark., 
 
©AY 17. M. 1*. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS, 
 
 $1 
 
 and the glory, and the King of heaven dwelling in 
 the midst of her ; her streets were honoured with the 
 footsteps of the Redeemer of men ; there he preach¬ 
 ed, and wrought his miracles, lived, died, and rose 
 again ; thither he sent down the Spirit, and there he 
 first laid the foundations of his church. To know 
 what Ct glorious things” are said of the new Jeru¬ 
 salem, the reader must peruse Isa. lx. and Rev. 
 xxi. xxii. 
 
 4. 1 will make mention of Rahab , or, Egypt, and 
 Babylon , to them that know me: Behold , Philistia , and 
 lijre , with Ethiopia , or, Arabia , this man was born 
 there . 5 . And oj Sion it shall be said , This and that 
 
 man was born in her : and the Highest himself'shall es¬ 
 tablish her. 
 
 The accession of the nations to the church is £e- 
 nerallv supposed to be here predicted, God declares 
 byh is prophet, “ I will make mention of,” or “ cause 
 “ to be remembered, Egypt and Babylon,” the 
 old enemies of Israel, “ to” or “ among them that 
 “ know me,” that is in the number of my worship¬ 
 pers ; “ Behold” also “ Philistia, and Tyre, with 
 “Arabia;' these are become mine; “ this,” or 
 each of these, “ is born there,” i. e. in the city of 
 God : thev are become children of God, and citizens 
 
 of Sion: so that of Sion, ' or the church, “ it 
 “ shall be said. This and that man,” Heb. “ a man 
 
 <c and a man i. e. great numbers of men in,suc- 
 
 * Dr Durell renders a/'**) V s /*, 4 The man, even the man,” that i* 
 
 The man of men or, “ the greatest of all men.” The reduplica¬ 
 tion, he thinks, according to the oriental phraseology, must mean the 
 superlative, or highest degree. He add>>—According to* this inter¬ 
 pretation, every one will see who this eminent personage was to be, 
 from whose birth Zion (used by a synecdoche for Judea) was to ac¬ 
 quire so nnx,h glory. The latter hemistic—“ And the Highest liirn- 
 “ self shall establish her”—seems to me to have reference not to God, 
 the Father, but to his Son ; it appearing to be exegetical of the pra- 
 
n 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 8T. 
 
 cession, “ are born in her 5” alluding to the multi¬ 
 tudes of* converts under the Gospel, the sons of that 
 Jerusalem, “ which is the mother of us all Gal. 
 iv. 26 . “ and the Highest himself shall establish her;’’ 
 as he saith, “ Upon this rock will I build my church, 
 “ and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” 
 Matt. xvi. 18 . 
 
 6. The Lord shall count when he writetk up the peo¬ 
 ple. that this man was horn there. 
 
 In the book of life, that register of heaven, kept 
 by God himself, our names are entered not as born 
 of flesh and blood by the will of man, but as born 
 of water and the Spirit by the will of God ; of each 
 person 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 ourselves upon, because 
 that alone gives us our title to “ the inheritance of 
 “ the saints in light. In Jesus Christ there is neither 
 “ Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, 
 “ barbarian, Scythian ’ noble nor ignoble, “ bond nor 
 “ free ; but Christ is all, and in all ” Col. iii. 1 1.* 
 
 7. As well the singers as the players on instruments 
 shall be there ; all my springs are in thee. 
 
 The literal version of the words, as Dr Chandler 
 observes, seems to be-—“ Cantantes erunt, sicut cho- 
 “ ream ducentes: omnes fontes mei in te.” “They 
 “ shall sing like those that lead up the dance,” i. e. 
 most joyfully ; singing and dancing frequently ac¬ 
 companying one another. And the burthen of the 
 song thus joyfully sung in praise of Sion, was to be 
 
 ceding one,- and to describe his Divine, as the other does his human 
 nature. Critical Remarks, p. 167. 
 
 * Dr Durell thinks this verse relates to the pedigree of our Lord, 
 recorde4 among the Jews, and given us by the evangelists—“ The 
 “ Lord will have this recorded, in registering the people, that HE,” 
 the crw mentioned above, “ was born there.” 
 
Day 17. m. p. ON THE PSALMS. 93 
 
 this, “ All my springs,” or fountains, “ are in thee.” 
 And if such be indeed the imcomparable excellence 
 of the church, and such the benefits of her commu¬ 
 nion, as they have been set forth in the foiwoino* 
 
 ** O 
 
 verses, what anthem better deserves to be performed 
 by all her choirs? In thee, O Sion, is the fountain 
 of salvation, and from thee are derived all those 
 springs of grace, which flow, by the divine appoint¬ 
 ment, while the world lasts, for the purification and 
 refreshment of mankind upon earth. 
 
 PSALM LXXXVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm, as Mr Mudge observes, may w y ell be 
 said to be composed, according to its title, 
 to create dejection, to raise a pensive gloom or 
 melancholy in the mind ; the whole subject of it 
 being quite throughout heavy, and full of the 
 most dismal complaints. The nature and degree 
 of the sufferings related in it; the strength of the 
 expressions used to describe them ; the consent of 
 ancient expositors ; the appointment of' the XXa]m 
 by the church to be read on Good Friday ; all 
 these circumstances concur in directing an appli¬ 
 cation of the whole to our blessed Lord. ins 
 unexampled sorrows, both in body and soul; his 
 desertion in the day of trouble ; his bitter passion, 
 and approaching death ; with his frequent and 
 fervent prayers for the accomplishment of the 
 promises, for the salvation of the church through 
 him, and for the manifestation of God’s glory; 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 88 r 
 
 these are the particulars treated of in this in¬ 
 structive and most affecting composition*. 
 
 1.0 Lord God of my salvation , I have cried day 
 and night before thee : 2. JjCt my prayer come before 
 
 thee : incline thine ear unto my cry. 
 
 We h ear in these words the voice of our suffering 
 Redeemer. As man he addresseth himself to his 
 Rather, cc the Lord God of his salvation,'” from 
 whom he expected, according to the promises, a 
 joyful and triumphant resurrection ; he pleadeth the 
 fervency and importunity of his prayers, offered up 
 continually, cc day and night,” during the time of 
 his humiliation and sufferings ; and he entreateth to 
 be heard in these his supplications of his body mys¬ 
 tical, as well as his body natural : for himself, and 
 for us all 
 
 3. For my soul is full of troubles ; and my life draw - 
 eth nigh unto the grave . 
 
 Is not this exactly parallel to what he said in the 
 garden, cc My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto 
 death? Full,” indeed, “ of troubles” was thy 
 soul,” O blessed Jesus, in that dreadful hour, 
 when under the united weight of our sins and sor¬ 
 rows, thou wert sinking into c the grave,” in order 
 to raise.us out of it. Let us judge of thy love by 
 thy sufferings, and of both by the impossibility of 
 our fully comprehending either. 
 
 4. I am counted with them that go down into the pit .* 
 
 I am as a man that hath no strength . 
 
 * Cum Psalmis xxii. et Ixix. ad omnia convenit Psalmus lxxxviii. 
 quod argamento est, earn eodem modo a nobis esse explicandum. Con- 
 tinet igitur pariter oralionem Christi ad Patrem e cruc us m. Auc- 
 tor hujus Cantici non alium in finem illi titulum dedit Vouno “ eru- 
 dientis,” quam ut Ecclesia p isleriorum temporum ex eo discert ul¬ 
 tima haec Messiee fata. Vitringa, Observat. Sacr. lib. ii. cap. 
 
Day 17. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 93 
 
 Next to the troubles of Christ’s soul, are men¬ 
 tioned the disgrace and ignominy to which he sub¬ 
 mitted. He who was the fountain of immortality, 
 he from whom no man could take his life, who 
 could in a moment have commanded twelve legions 
 of angels to his aid, or have caused heaven and 
 earth, at a word speaking, to fly away before him, 
 he was 44 counted with them that go down into the 
 pit he died, to all appearance, like the rest of 
 mankind; nay, he was forcibly put to death, as a 
 malefactor ; and seemed, in the hands of his exe¬ 
 cutioners, 44 as a man that had no strength,’’ no 
 power or might, to help and to save himself. 44 His 
 44 strength went from him ; he became weak, and 
 44 like another man.” The people shook their 
 heads at him, saying, 44 He saved others, himself he 
 44 cannot save.” 
 
 5 . Free among the dead , like the slain that lie in the 
 grave , whom thou rememberest no more; and they are 
 cut off from thy hand . 
 
 44 Free among the dead that is, set at liberty, 
 or dismissed from the world, and separated from all 
 communication with its affairs, as dead bodies are ; 
 44 like” other 44 corpses that lie in the grave, whom 
 44 thou rememberest no more,” i. e. as living objects 
 of providence upon earth; in this sense, 44 they are 
 44 cut off from God’s hand,” which held and sup¬ 
 ported them in life. And in no other sense can 
 these expressions be understood ; since to imagine 
 that the Psalmist, who so often speaks in plain 
 terms of the resurrection, should here, when per¬ 
 sonating Messiah, deny that doctrine, would l>e a 
 conceit equally absurd, and impious. 
 
 i 
 
AS 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 8 §. 
 
 6 . Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness , in 
 the deeps . 7. Thy wrath lietli hard upon me , and thou 
 
 ha t afflicted me with all thy waves . 
 
 The sufferings of Jesus are represented by his 
 being plunged into a dark and horrible abyss, with 
 the indignation of God, due to our sins, resting up¬ 
 on him, and all the waves of affliction rolling over 
 him. The same image is used in Psal. lxix. and 
 many other places. 
 
 8 . Thou has / put away mine acquaintance far from 
 me: thou hast made me an abomination unto them ; I 
 am shut up , and I cannot come forth . 
 
 At the apprehension of Christ, cc All his disciples 
 “ forsook him and fled Matt. xxvi. 56 . Peter 
 denied and abjured his Master, as if his acquaint¬ 
 ance had been a disgrace, and ct and abomination 
 at the crucifixion, it is observed by St Luke, that 
 “ all his acquaintance stood afar off, beholding these 
 cc things xxiii. 49. beholding the innocent vic¬ 
 tim environed by his enemies, and at length cc shut 
 €C up ” in the sepulchre. The day must come, when 
 each person who reads this, shall be forsaken by 
 the whole world ; when relations, friends, and 
 acquaintance, shall retire, unable to afford him any 
 help and assistance ; when he must die, and be con¬ 
 fined in the prison of the grave, no more to “ come 
 “ forth,” until that great Easter of the world, the 
 general resurrection. In the solitary and awful 
 hour of our departure hence, let us remember to 
 think on the desertion, the death, the burial, and 
 the resurrection of our Redeemer. 
 
 9 . Mine eye moumeth by reason of affliction : Lord, 
 J have catled daily upon thee , I have stretched out my 
 hands unto thee . 
 
 3 
 
Day 17. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 97 
 
 This verse contains a reiteration of the complaint 
 and prayer made at the beginning of the Psalm. 
 These, are some of the “ strong cryings with tears,” 
 which, during the course of his intercessions for us 
 upon earth, the Son of God poured forth “ in the 
 “ days of his flesh.” Heb. v. 7 . 
 
 10 . Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? shall the 
 dead rise and praise thee? 11. Shall thy loving kind¬ 
 ness he declared in the grave , or thy faithfulness in de¬ 
 struction ? 12 . Shall thy wonders he known in the dark ? 
 and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness ? 
 
 It hath been sometimes thought, that these verses 
 imply a denial, or at least a doubt of the resurrection 
 from the dead ; whereas they contain, in reality, the 
 most powerful plea that Christ himself, in his prayers 
 to the Father, could urge for it; namely, that, other¬ 
 wise, man w r ould be deprived of his salvation, and 
 God of the glory thence accruing. “ Wilt thou 
 cc show wonders to the dead,” while they continue 
 in that state; or if thou shouldest, will they be 
 sensible of those wonders, and make thee due 
 returns of thankfulness ? “ Shall the dead rise up” 
 in the congregation, “ and praise thee ?” Must 
 they not live again to do that ? “ Shall thy loving 
 kindness” to the sons of Adam, in me their Re¬ 
 deemer, “ be declared,” shall the Gospel be preach¬ 
 ed, “ in the grave ?” “ or thy faithfulness,” in ac¬ 
 complishing the promises concerning this loving 
 kindness, shall it be manifested “ in that destruction” 
 wrought by death upon the bodies of men ? “ Shall 
 thy wonders,” the wonders of light, and life, and 
 salvation, “ be known in the “ dark” tomb ? “ and 
 thy righteousness,” which characterizes all thy dis¬ 
 pensations, shall it be remembered and proclaimed 
 “ in the land” of silence and forgetfulness ?” A 
 
 VOL. II. G 
 
Psalm g$v 
 
 95 A COMMENTAPtY 
 
 Christian, upon the bed of sickness, may undoubt¬ 
 edly plead with God, in this manner, for a longer 
 •continuance of life, to glorify him here upon earth. 
 But every respite of that kind can be only tempo¬ 
 rary. All men, sooner or later, must die ; and then 
 they can never more experience the mercies, or 
 sing the praises of God, unless they rise again. 
 So that if the argument hold in one case, it cer¬ 
 tainly holdeth still stronger in the other. 
 
 13. But unto thee have,! cried , O Lord, and in the 
 morning shall my prayer prevent me. 14. Lord,, why 
 castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from 
 me ? 
 
 Since therefore the wonders, the loving kindness, 
 the faithfulness, and the righteousness of God, can¬ 
 not be manifested by man’s redemption, if Messiah 
 be left under the dominion of death, he redoubles 
 his prayers for the promised deliverance : and speaks 
 of his redemption in the hour of sorrow, as in PsaL 
 xxii. 1 . 44 My God, my God, why hast thou for- 
 
 44 saken me r” <kc. 
 
 15. 7 am afflicted and ready to die from my youth 
 up ; while I suffer thy terrors , I am distracted ; Heb» 
 I am distressed , not knowing which way to turn myself *, 
 16. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me , thy terrors have 
 cut me off. 17. They came round about me daily like 
 water: they compassed me about together. 
 
 We are not to imagine that the holy Jesus suffer¬ 
 ed for us only at Gethsemane, and on mount Cal- 
 vary. Elis whole life was one continued passion ; a 
 scene of labour and sorrow, of contradiction and 
 persecution ; 44 he was afflicted,” as never man was, 
 
 * Dominus ipse de se, Psal. lxxxviii. 16. “ Fero terrores tuos; 
 
 il animi linquor.” Lonquitur de extremis sius angoribus et dolor it U3* 
 Vitristga in J^sa'I. ii. 667. 
 
Day 17. m. p. 
 
 9g 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 cc from his youth up,” from the hour of his birth, 
 when, thrust out from the society of men, he made 
 his bed in the stable of Bethlehem ; he was 44 ready* 
 to die,” a victim destined and prepared for that 
 death which, by anticipation, he tasted of through 
 life ; he saw the flaming sword of God’s' 44 fierce 
 wrath " waiting to 44 cut him oft*” from the land of 
 the living; the 44 terrors” of the Almighty set 
 themselves in array against him, threatening, like 
 the mountainous waves of a tempestuous sea, to over¬ 
 whelm his amazed soul Let not the church be 
 offended or despond, but rather let her rejoice in 
 her sufferings, by which, through every period of 
 her existence, from youth to age, she 44 filleth up 
 44 that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ,” 
 who suffers and will be glorified in his people, as 
 he hath already suffered and been glorified for 
 them. See Col. i. 24. 
 
 18. Lover and friend hast tliou pul far from me , and 
 mine acquaintance into darkness . 
 
 It is mentioned again, as a most affecting circum¬ 
 stance of Christ’s passion, that he was entirely for¬ 
 saken, and left all alone, in that dreadful day. The 
 bitter cup was presented filled to the brim, and he 
 drank it off to the dregs. No man could share in 
 those sufferings by which all other men were to be 
 redeemed. His 44 lovers and friends,” his disciples 
 and acquaintance, 44 were put far from him they 
 all 44 forsook him, and fled,” to hide themselves from 
 the fury of the Jews, 44 in darkness,” in dark, i. e. 
 secret places. Thus it is written in the Psalms, 
 and thus in the Gospels it is recorded to have hap¬ 
 pened. Oftentimes, O blessed Jesu, do we forsake 
 thee ; but do not thou forsake us, or take thy holy 
 Spirit from us. 
 
 2 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 89. 
 
 1 M 
 
 SEVENTEENTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM LXXXIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm is appointed by the church to be read 
 on Christmas-day. It celebrates, ver. 1—4. the 
 mercies of God in Christ, promised to David ; 
 5 —is. the almighty power of Jehovah, manifested 
 in his works and dispensations ; 14. his justice,, 
 mercy, and truth ; 15—18. the happiness and se¬ 
 curity of his people; 19—37- his covenant made 
 with David, as the representative of Messiah* 
 who should come of his seed ; 38—45. the church 
 lamenteth her distressful state, at the time when 
 this Psalm was penned*; 46—51. she prayeth 
 for the accomplishment of the promise ; and, in 
 the mean time, 52. blesseth Jehovah. 
 
 1 . I uill sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever : 
 with my 7nouUi mil I make known thy faithfulness to all 
 generations . 
 
 The “ mercies of Jehovah” have ever employed 
 the voices of believers to celebrate them. These 
 mercies were promised to the human race, in their 
 great representative and surety, before the world 
 began ; 2 Tim. i. 9. Tit. i. 2 . they were prefigured 
 by ancient dispensations ; and, in part, fulfilled, at 
 the incarnation of Christ. The cc faithfulness” of 
 
 * Sedecia capto, domo David e solio deturbata, promissiones Dei 
 irritus videri propheta queritur, necdum adesse Christum. Boisuet. 
 Dr Kennicott imagines it to have been composed by Isaiah, as a 
 solemn and public address to God, at the time when Rezin and Pekah 
 were advancing against Jerusalem. 
 
Day 17. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 m 
 
 God, in so fulfilling them, is now cc made known,” 
 by the holy services of the Christian church, “ to 
 Ci all generations/’ 
 
 2 . For I have said , Mercy shall he built up fir 
 ever; thy Jaithfdlness shalt thou establish in the very 
 heavens . 
 
 Whatever be at any time the state of the church 
 on earth, she knoweth that the foundation of God 
 standeth sure; that the sacred edifice, raised thereon, 
 will be incorruptible and eternal as “ heaven’’ itself, 
 where only mercy and truth are to have their perfect 
 work, in the everlasting felicity of the redeemed. 
 Of this felicity, which is to be the consummation of 
 God’s promises, and our hopes, we behold some 
 faint resemblance, as often as we view the stability, 
 the beauty, and the glory of the visible material 
 <c heavens.” 
 
 3 . I have made a covenant with my chosen , I have 
 sworn unto David my servant: 4. Thy seed will I 
 establish for ever , and build up thy throne to all gene¬ 
 rations . 
 
 The two former verses set forth a profession of 
 faith in God’s mercy : these two assign the ground 
 of such faith; namely, the covenant which God is 
 here introduced as declaring that he had made with 
 David, and which he did make with him by the 
 prophet Nathan : 2 Sam. vii. 12, &c. The covenant 
 relates to David’s “ seed,” and to the “ establish- 
 “ ment of his throne” in that seed ; literally, in 
 Solomon for a time ; spiritually, in Christ for ever: 
 “ When thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt 
 <c sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after 
 “ thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and 
 tc I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an 
 “ house for my name, and I will establish the throne 
 
102 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 85. 
 
 cc of his kingdom for ever. 1 will be his father, and 
 “ he shah be my son.” These last words are cited 
 by the apostle, Heb. i. 5. as spoken of Christ, to 
 evince his superiority over the angels. Yet, that 
 the whole passage does, in the letter, relate to Solo¬ 
 mon, can admit of no doubt, he being the “ seed” 
 and immediate successor of David, and the person 
 appointed to cc build an house for God’s name.” 
 Here then we have an incontestible proof!, that the 
 covenant with David had Messiah for its object; 
 that Solomon was a %ure of him ; and that the 
 Scriptures hath sometimes a double sense*. It 
 is moreover to be observed, that the covenants 
 made with Abraham, David, &c. all had their ori¬ 
 ginal and foundation in the covenant made with 
 Messiah, wLo w T as the true Father of the faithful, 
 the Beloved and Chosen of God ; the great Prophet, 
 Priest, and King ; the only person qualified to be a 
 Sponsor, and to engage in a covenant with the 
 Father for mankind. His sufferings were the price 
 of our redemption : and because he suffered in the 
 flesh, as “ the Son of David,” therefore is he cc esta- 
 “ blished for ever, and his throne built up to all 
 cc generations.” Remarkable are the words of the 
 angel to'Mary : cc The ord God shall give unto him 
 cc the throne of his Father David; and he shall 
 “ reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his 
 “ kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke i. 32. 
 
 6 . And he heavens h l prate thy uonders , O 
 Lord ; thy faithfulness also in he congregation of the 
 saints : or, The heavens shall praise thy wonders , 
 
 • • • j „ , i. , r i \ ~ r ‘ A* 
 
 * “ Disposui testamentum percussi foedus cum electo meo : 14 
 est, Davide et Christo. Bossuet. 
 
Day 17. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 303 
 
 O Lord ; and the saints thy faithfulness in the con - 
 gregation. 
 
 Did not “ the heavens praise the wonders of 
 “ Jehovah,” when a choir of angels descended from 
 above, to sing an anthem, at the birth of Christ? 
 And how must the celestial courts have resounded 
 with the hallelujahs of those blessed spirits, when 
 they again received their King, returning in triumph 
 from the conquest of his enemies ? Nor do the 
 “ saints” omit to celebrate God’s “ faithfulness in 
 “ the congregation” upon earth, while “ with angels 
 “ and archangels, and all the company of heaven, 
 “ they laud and magnify his glorious name, evermore 
 “ praising him, and saying. Holy, holy, holy, Lord 
 tc God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy 
 <c glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord most high.” 
 
 6 . For who in the heaven can be compared unto the 
 Lord ? who among the sons of the mighty can be 
 likened unto the Lord ? 7. Go' is greatly to be feared 
 in the assembly of the saints ; and to be had in reve¬ 
 rence of all them that are about him. 8. O Lord 
 God of hosts , who is a strong Lord like unto thee ? or, 
 to thy faithjulness round about thee ? or, and thy faith¬ 
 fulness is round about thee . 
 
 Ti lese verses proclaim that right and title which 
 Jehovah hath to the praises of all his creatures in 
 44 heaven and earth.” No one of them, however 
 excellent and glorious, however deified and adored 
 by fond and foolish men, can enter the lists, and 
 contest the superiority with its Maker. High over 
 all is the throne of God : before him “ angels” veil 
 their faces, “ saints” prostrate themselves with 
 lowest reverence, and created nature trembles at 
 his word: his “ power” is almighty, and derived 
 from none : and with ^ truth” he is on all sides 
 
 r i 
 
104 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 89. 
 
 invested as w ith a garment: the former enables 
 him, the latter (if we may so express it) binds him, 
 to perform those gracious promises, which mercy 
 prompted him to make, concerning our eternal 
 redemption. 
 
 9. Thou ridest the raging of the sea: when the waves 
 thereof arise thou stillest them . 
 
 The extent of the ocean, the multitude of its 
 waves, and their fury when excited by a storm, ren¬ 
 der it, in that state, the most tremendous object in 
 nature ; nor doth any thing, which man beholds, 
 give him so just an idea of human impotence, and 
 of that divine power vdiich can excite and calm so 
 boisterous an element at pleasure. God himself 
 therefore frequently appeals to this instance of his 
 omnipotence, see Job xxxviii. 11. Jer. v. 2?. an 
 attribute of which our Lord shewed himself to have 
 been possessed, when, being with his disciples in the 
 ship, he arose and rebuked a tempestuous wdnd, and 
 a raging sea, and there w 7 as instantly a calm. In 
 all our troubles and temptations, be thou, blessed 
 Jesu, w'ith us, and then they shall never finally 
 overwhelm us. 
 
 10. Thou hast broken Rahab , i. e. Egypt, in pieces , 
 as one that is slain: thou hast scattered thine enemies 
 with thy strong arm . 
 
 The destruction of Pharaoh and the Egyptians is 
 here mentioned as another instance of God’s mighty 
 power. And it is probable, that the foregoing verse 
 was intended to allude more particularly to that 
 miraculous exertion of God’s sovereignty over the 
 waters, the division of the Red Sea, which happened 
 at the same time ; as these two events are generally 
 spoken of together. Thus Isaiah : “ Art thou not it 
 “ that hath cut Rahab,” i. e. Egypt, “ and wounded 
 
Day 17. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 105 
 
 ec the dragon,” i. e. Pharaoh ? “ Art thou not it 
 66 which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great 
 “ depth, that hath made the depths of the sea a way 
 “ for the ransomed to pass over ?” li. 9. The same 
 power which effected all this, hath since, in Christ 
 Jesus, overcome the world, destroyed the works of 
 the devil, and ransomed mankind from the depths 
 of the grave. 
 
 11 . The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine : 
 as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast 
 founded them . 12. The north and the south , thou 
 
 hast created them ; Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in 
 thy name . 
 
 The “ heavens,’’ and all the glorious bodies there 
 ranged in beautiful order; the “ earth,” with its 
 rich furniture, and the unnumbered tribes of its in¬ 
 habitants, through its whole extent, from cc north to 
 u south,” and from east to west; all these are so 
 many evidences of that wisdom and power which at 
 the beginning contrived and formed them ; all, in 
 their respective ways, declare the glory, and speak 
 the praises 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 seemed, as it were, to “ rejoice” and sing, 
 for the abundant favours showered down upon them 
 by the God of Israel, who hath since caused all 
 nations no less to exult and triumph in his saving 
 
 NAME. 
 
 13. Thou hast a mighty arm : strong is thy hand , 
 and high is thy right hand . 
 
 The Psalmist, having produced and meditated on 
 some eminent instances of divine power, draws this 
 general conclusion from the premises. Towards the 
 Christian church “ the arm of Jehovah” hath been 
 
106 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 
 
 revealed in a still more extraordinary manner. She 
 
 •/ 
 
 reflecteth on the wonders wrought by Jesus ; a con¬ 
 quest over fnore formidable enemies than Pharaoh 
 and his Egyptians; a redemption from more cruel 
 bondage; salvation from sin and death; a new 
 creation, new heavens, and new earth, a new Jeru¬ 
 salem, and a spiritual Sion. With additional con¬ 
 viction may she therefore exclaim, “ Thou hast a 
 mighty arm ; strong is thy hand, and high is thy 
 right hand V 9 
 
 14. Justice and judgement are the habitation , Heb. 
 the establishment of thy throne : mercy and truth shall 
 go before thy jdee. 
 
 Although the power of God be infinite, yet is it 
 never exerted, but under the direction of his other 
 attributes. When he gocth, as a judge, to his tribu¬ 
 nal, “ mercy and truth go before his face they 
 are represented as preceding him, to give notice 
 of his advent, and to prepare his way. “ All the 
 ways,” or dispensations “ of the Lord,” as it is 
 elsewhere observed, “ are mercy and truth ; Psal. 
 xxv. 10. they are the substance of all his revela¬ 
 tions, which either promise salvation, or relate the 
 performance of such promises. By these is man 
 warned and prepared for “ judgementwhich is 
 to be the last and finishing scene. And when the 
 great Judge of all the earth shall from his throne 
 pronounce the irreversible sentence, not a creature 
 then present shall be able to accuse that sentence 
 of injustice. After this model should the thrones 
 of princes, and the tribunals of earthly magistrates, 
 be constituted in “ justice and judgement,” adorned 
 with mercy and truth.” 
 
 ] 5. Blessed is the people that know' the joyful 
 sound: they shall walk , Q Lokd, in the light of thy 
 countenance . 
 
Bay 17. e. p. * ON THE PSALMS. X07 
 
 Next to the praises of Jehovah, is declared the 
 happiness of those who have him for their God; 
 who “ know the joyful sound, or sound of thetrum- 
 cc pet,” by which the festivals ol the Jewish church 
 were proclaimed, and the people were called to¬ 
 gether to the offices of devotion ; who enjoy the 
 “ light ’ of truth, and through grace are enabled to 
 “ walk” therein. These blessings are now become 
 our own: the evangelical trumpet hath sounded 
 through the once Heathen world ; the Sun of righ¬ 
 teousness hath risen upon all nations. Let us attend 
 to the “ joyful sound let us “ walk” in the glo¬ 
 rious 66 light.” 
 
 16 . In thy name shall they rejoice all the day : and 
 in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 17. For 
 thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy 
 favour our horn shall be exalted. 18 . For the 
 Lord is our dejence ; and the Holy One of Israel is 
 our King. 
 
 ° . . 
 
 It is the duty of Christians, as it was that of 
 
 Israelites, to ascribe all their strength, their success, 
 and their glory, whether in matters temporal or spi¬ 
 ritual, to Jehovah alone. Having heard the sound, 
 and experienced the illuminating and reviving in¬ 
 fluences of the Gospel, in the name and in the sal¬ 
 vation of God we rejoice all the day, and in his 
 righteousness only we trust to be exalted to heaven: 
 to him we attribute the glory of that strength, with 
 which, in tim a of temptation, we may find ourselves 
 happily endued ; and in his favour or grace, our 
 horn, or the efforts of our power, shall be exalted, 
 and crowned with victory ; our defence in all dan¬ 
 ger is from Jehovah, who was ever the shield of his 
 ancient people ; and the Holy One of Israel is our 
 Redeemer, and our King, 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm B9 t 
 
 10$ 
 
 19. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one , and 
 saidst , I have laid , or, placed , help upon , or, m, one 
 that is mighty ; I have exalted one chosen out of the 
 people . 
 
 The covenant made with David was mentioned 
 in general terms above, at verses 4, 5. But a more 
 particular account is now given of God’s dispensa¬ 
 tions relative to the son of Jesse, and his posterity. 
 We are presented with the substance of the revela¬ 
 tion made upon this subject, tc in vision/’ to one of 
 the prophets, perhaps Samuel, or Nathan,here styled 
 an “ holy one,” or religious person, one favoured 
 and accepted by God, who is introduced as mani¬ 
 festing to this his prophet the divine counsels con¬ 
 cerning David : “ I have placed help upon, or in 
 “ one, who shall become an eminent and mighty Sa- 
 “ viour of Israel; from among all the people I have 
 cc chosen, and determined to exalt him, for that pur- 
 “ pose, to the throne.” Thus was Messiah foretold, 
 in prophetical visions and revelations, as the person 
 designed to be the mighty Redeemer of his church ; 
 thus, in the fulness of time, was he chosen from 
 among all the children of men, and exalted, through 
 sufferings, to an eternal throne. 
 
 20 . I have found David my servant; with my holy 
 oil have I anointed him ; 21. With whom my hand shall 
 he established ; mine arm also shall strengthen him . 
 
 David was the servant of God ; he was, by the 
 prophet Samuel, anointed with oil; he was strength¬ 
 ened and established in his kingdom, by the hand 
 and arm of Jehovah. But never let Christians fail,, 
 in this eminently figurative character, to contemplate 
 that true david (for so he is called, Ezek. xxxiv* 
 23. xxxvii. 25.) the beloved Son of God ; cc the 
 “ servant and elect of Jehovah, in whom his soul 
 
Day 17. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS, 
 
 1Q9 
 
 tc delighted, and on whom he put his Spirit;’* Isa. xlii. 
 1 . whom he “ anointed with his holy oil, with the oil 
 “ of*gladness, with the Holy Ghost and with power;” 
 Ps. xlv. 7 . Acts x. 38. whom he strengthened, and 
 established in his spiritual kingdom, with his hand 
 and arm, and the might of his omnipotence. 
 
 22 . The enemy shall not exact upon, or, deceive , him: 
 nor the son of wickedness afflict , or, subdue , him. 23. 
 And I will beat down his foes before his face , and plague 
 them that hate him. 24. But my faithfulness and my 
 
 mercy shall be with him : and in my name shall his horn 
 be exalted. 
 
 These promises were fulfilled to David, when God 
 delivered him out of the hand of Saul, and of all his 
 other adversaries. See 2 Sam.xxii. 1 . And in what 
 a full, perfect, and divine sense, were they verified to 
 Christ! That subtle enemy, “ which deceiveth the 
 “ whole world,” was not able to deceive him; neither 
 the sons nor the father of wickedness could over¬ 
 throw and subdue him: all opposition fell before him, 
 and they who hated him suffered unparalleled deso¬ 
 lation ; the promised faithfulness and mercy of Jeho¬ 
 vah were ever with him, and his kingdom was exalt¬ 
 ed with glory and honour. 
 
 25. I will set his hand also in the sea , and his right 
 hand in the rivers. 
 
 % 
 
 The dominions of David and his son Solomon 
 extended from the Mediterranean “ sea” to the 
 
 rivers” Euphrates, &c.: the empire of Christ is 
 universal over Jews and Gentiles, throughout all the 
 earth. See Ps. lxxii. 8 , &c. 
 
 26. He shall cry unto me , Thou art my father , my 
 
 God , and the rock of my salvation . 27 . Also 1 will 
 
 make him my first-born , higher than the kings of the 
 earth . 
 
no 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 8 &. 
 
 All this, if in some respects true of David, is 
 much more emphatically so of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 46 Son of God’ is one of his distinguished titles; of 
 the Father” he continually spoke, and to the 
 Father he addressed his prayers and cries, in the 
 days of his flesh ; as man he was raised and exalted 
 by the power and glory of the Divinity; he was c< the 
 <c first born of every creature, the first begotten from 
 the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. 1 ’ 
 Col. i. 15. Rev. i. o. Make us, blessed Lord, the 
 sons of God, and teach us to cry, Abba, Father ; 
 give us victory and dominion over sin and death, 
 that we may live and reign with thee for ever. 
 
 2 S. Mi) mercy will 1 keep Jor, or, to, him for ever - 
 more, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29. 
 Ills seed also will 1 make to endure Jor ever , and his 
 throne as the days of heaven . 
 
 God kept his mercy and covenant with David, by 
 preserving the line of his posterity, until his great 
 antitype, Messiah, the subject of all the promises, 
 came, by whom the kingdom was established for 
 ever, being changed into a spiritual one, which is to 
 be transferred from earth to heaven, and rendered 
 coeval with those eternal mansions of the blessed. 
 
 50. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my 
 judgements ; 31. If they break, or, profane, my statutes 
 and keep not my connmandmcnts ; 32. Then will I visit 
 their transgression with the rod , and {heir iniquity with 
 stripes. 33. Nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not 
 utterly take from him , nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 
 34*. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing 
 that is gone out of my Ups. 
 
 The posterity of David were to enjoy God's fa¬ 
 vour, or be deprived of it, as they proved obedient 
 or disobedient to his “ law as they executed 
 or perverted its “ judgements ; as they observed. 
 
Bay 17. £. f. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 ill 
 
 or neglected its ceremonial “ statutes,” or religious 
 institutions ; as they kept or broke its “ command- 
 C£ mcnts,” or moral precepts. When they became 
 rebellious, idolatrous, and profligate, the rod was 
 lifted up, and due chastisement inflicted, sometimes 
 by the immediate hand of Heaven, sometimes by the 
 instrumentality of their heathen adversaries; famine 
 and pestilence, war and captivity, were at different 
 times employed to reclaim backsliding Israel. But 
 still, the “ covenant” of God in Christ stood sure; 
 the Jewish nation was preserved, through all changes 
 and revolutions, “ until the Seed came to whom the 
 u promise was made nor was Jerusalem destroyed, 
 before the new and spiritual kingdom of Messiah 
 was set up in the earth. Christian communities, and 
 the individuals that compose them, are in like man¬ 
 ner corrected and punished for their offences. “ Ne- 
 “ vertheless, God’s loving kindness will he not ut- 
 “ tcrly take from us, nor suffer his faithfulness to 
 “ fail. His covenant will he not break, nor alter 
 “ the thing that is gone out of his lips.” So— 66 I 
 cc am with you always,” says the Redeemer, “ even 
 “ to the end of the world ; and the gates of hell shall 
 c: not prevail against my church Matt, xxviii. 20. 
 xvi. IS. Nor shall the world be destroyed, until 
 Christ come again, and his glorious kingdom be ready 
 to appear. 
 
 35. Once have I sworn by my holiness , that I will 
 not lie unto David . 36. Ilis seed shall endure for 
 
 evei\ and his throne as the sun before me . 37 -It shall 
 
 be established for ever as the moon , and as a faithful 
 witness in heaven. 
 
 The promise, covenant, and oath of God, which 
 he declareth shall never fail, are here repeated. 
 They relate to Christ, that “ Seed,” or Son of 
 
 1 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 84* 
 
 1 12 
 
 “ David,” who endureth for ever.” His throne is 
 resplendent as the “ sun,” and shall continue, after 
 that luminary is extinguished : his church is per¬ 
 manent as the “ moon,” though, likelier, subject to 
 vicissitudes, and liable, for a time, to be obscured 
 by eclipses, during her present state upon earth. 
 And while the rainbow shall be seen in the clouds, 
 man has “ a faithful witness in heaven” of the im¬ 
 mutable truth of God's word, and the infallible ac¬ 
 complishment of what he promises. “ Look upon 
 46 the rainbow,” saith the wise son of Sirach, cc and 
 “ praise him who made it: very beautiful it is in 
 u the brightness thereof: it compasseth the heaven 
 <c about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the 
 “ most High have bended it:” Ecclus. xliii. 11. 
 But let us not forget likewise, when we look upon 
 the rainbow, to praise him who made it to be a sign 
 and sacred symbol of mercy ; in which capacity we 
 behold it, to our great and endless comfort, com¬ 
 passing the throne of Christ with a gracious, as well 
 as glorious, circle. “ There was a rainbow round 
 about the throne.” Rev. iv. 3. Ezek. i. 28. 
 
 38. But thou hast cast off and abhorred , thou hast 
 made void the covenant of thy servant; thou hast pro¬ 
 faned his crown , by casting it to the ground. 
 
 In the former part of our Psalm, we have seen 
 what tire divine promises w r ere, which had been 
 made to the house of David. By the latter part 
 upon which we are entering, it appears, that the 
 Psalm was written at a time, when the church of 
 Israel was in such a manner oppressed and reduced 
 by her enemies that her members began almost to 
 despair of those promises receiving their accom¬ 
 plishment. God seemed to have “ cast off” and 
 
 44 abhorred” his “ anointed” and “ servant,” that is, 
 
 2 
 
Day 17. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 113 
 
 David, or rather the prince of his family, who was 
 upon the throne when this captivity and desolation 
 happened ; the “ covenant” seemed to be over¬ 
 turned and “ made void,” when the “ crown” of 
 Israel was defiled in the dust. 
 
 40. Thou hast broken down all his hedges , thou hast 
 brought his strong holds to ruin. 41. All that pass by 
 the way spoil him : he is a reproach to his neighbours . 
 42. Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries : 
 thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. 43. Thou 
 hast also turned the edge of his sword , and hast not 
 made him to stand in the battle. 44. Thou hast made 
 his glory to cease , and cast his throne down to the 
 ground. 45. The days of his youth hast thou shorten¬ 
 ed ; thou hast covered him with shame. 
 
 The manifold calamities of Sion are in these verses 
 enumerated : The demolition of fences and fortifica¬ 
 tions ; the cruel ravages consequent thereupon ; the 
 shame of defeats ; the reproaches and insults of vic¬ 
 torious adversaries ; the dishonours of violent and 
 untimely death. In days like these here described, 
 when the church and the king are permitted to fall 
 into the hands of those who hate them, and to drink 
 thus deeply of the cup of affliction, distrust and de¬ 
 spondency are apt to seize upon the minds of men. 
 Nay, when the faithful few beheld the true “ Son of 
 u David,” and “ Anointed” of Jehovah, in the day 
 of his sufferings ; when they saw him without help, 
 or defence, “ spoiled and reproached by his neigh- 
 cc boars:” when they viewed “ the right hand of his 
 “ adversaries set up,” and all his enemies rejoi- 
 Cfi cing” over him ; his “ glory made to cease,” and 
 his “ crown profaned in the dust; the days of his 
 cc youth shortened,” and himself delivered over to 
 a “ shameful” as well as painful death; they then 
 
 VOL. IT. H 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 89. 
 
 114 
 
 began to think “ the covenant made void,” and the 
 promises at an end. We trusted,” said they, 
 & that it had been he who should have redeemed 
 
 65 Israel!” Luke xxiv. 21. And although Christ be 
 long since risen from the dead, and ascended into 
 heaven, yet the prevalence of iniquity, and the op¬ 
 pression of the church, have been, and in the last 
 days will be such, as to put the faith and hope of his 
 servants to a sore trial, while they wait for his second, 
 as the ancient Jews did for his first advent. 
 
 46. How long , Lord ? Wilt thou hide thyself for 
 ever f shall thy wrath burn like fre ? 47. Remember 
 how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all 
 men in vain ? Or, as Ainsworth translates the verse. 
 Remember how transitory 1 am , unto what vanity thou 
 hast created all the sons of Adam. 48. What man is 
 he that liveth , and shall not see death ? shall he deliver 
 his soul , or, animalframe , from the hand of the grave ? 
 49. Lord, where are thy former loving kindnesses , 
 which thou swarest unto David in thy truth ? 
 
 This is the humble and dutiful expostulation of 
 the church with God in all her distresses upon the 
 earth. By asking, cc How long, Lord ? wilt thou 
 “ be angry for ever ?” she tacitly pleadeth his pro¬ 
 mise not to be so : she urgeth the shortness of man’s 
 life here below, the universality of the fatal sentence, 
 the impossibility of avoiding death, and, if nothing 
 farther was to happen, the frustration of the divine 
 counsels concerning man. From thence she entreat- 
 eth God to remember the “ loving kindnesses” once 
 promised by him with an oath to David,- as related 
 in the former part of the Psalm. These “ loving 
 “ kindnesses” are called, in Isaiah lv. 3. “ the sure 
 
 66 mercies of David which “ sure mercies of Da- 
 tc vid” are affirmed by St Paulj Acts xiii. 34. to 
 
Day 17. e. p. V ON THE PSA.LMS. 115 
 
 I 
 
 have been then conferred on Israel, when, in the 
 person of Jesus, God raised our nature from he 
 grave. To a resurrection, therefore, believers have 
 ever aspired; thither have they directed their wishes, 
 and on that event have they tixed their hopes, as the 
 end of temporal sorrows, and the beginning of eter¬ 
 nal joys. 
 
 50. Remember , Lord, the reproach of thy servants ; 
 how 1 do bear in my bosom the reproach of ah the 
 ni ghty people ; 51. Wherewith thine enemies have re - 
 proache d, O Lord ; wherewith they have reproached 
 thejootsteps of thine anointed . 
 
 The last argument urged by the church, in her 
 expostulation with God for a speedy redemption, 
 is, the continual reproach to which she was subject, 
 on account of the promise being delayed. The 
 “ mighty people/’ or Heathen nations, who held 
 hjer in captivity, and were witnesses of her wretched 
 and forlorn estate, ridiculed her pretensions to per¬ 
 petuity of empire in the house of David ; they 
 blasphemed the God, who was said to have made 
 such promises ; and “ reproached the footsteps/ or 
 mocked at the tardy advent of his Messiah*, who 
 was to establish in Israel his everlasting throne. 
 All these cruel taunts and insults she was obliged 
 to “ bear in her bosom,” and there to suppress them 
 in silence, having nothing to answer in the day of 
 her calamity and seeming destitution. St Peter 
 gives us a like account of the state of the Christian 
 church in the latter days : he exhorts us to be 
 <£ mindful f of the words which were spoken before 
 
 * li Exprobraverunt vestigia Christi tui : ,r tarditaVm vestigio- 
 rum Christi tui. Chald. Irridebant nos quod non adveniret expec- 
 tatusille Liberator, sive Cyrus, sive potius Christus de semine Davidi\ 
 r*gno ejus instaurando, et in seternum firmando. Bossult. 
 
11 5 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 90 * 
 
 €C by the holy prophets, and of the commandments 
 “ of the apostles of the Lord and Saviour, because 
 e£ there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking 
 after their own lusts, and saying. Where is the 
 promise of his coming?” 2 Pet. iii. 4. 
 
 52. Blessed be the Lord Jar evermore. Amen and 
 Amen. 
 
 But whatever be at any time our distress, either 
 as a community or as individuals, still are we to 
 believe, still to hope, still to bless and praise Je¬ 
 hovah, whose word is true, whose works are faith¬ 
 ful, whose chastisements are mercies, and all whose 
 promises are in Christ Jesus, yea, and amen, for 
 evermore. 
 
 < • 
 
 EIGHTEENTH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM XC. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm is called, in its title, 66 A prayer of 
 “ Moses, the man of God.” By him it is ima¬ 
 gined to have been composed when God shortened 
 the days of the murmuring Israelites in the wilder¬ 
 ness. See Numb. xiv. It is, however, a Psalm 
 of general use, and is made by the church, a part . 
 of her funeral service. It contain eth, ], 2. an 
 address to the eternal and unchangeable God, the 
 Saviour and Preserver of his people ; 3 —10, a 
 most affecting description of man’s mortal and 
 transitory state on earth since the fall; 11. a 
 complaint, that few meditate in such a manner 
 upon death, as to prepare themselves for it; 12. 
 a prayer for grace so to do ; 1*3—17. and for the; 
 mercies of redemption. 
 
Day is. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 m 
 
 1. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all 
 generations . 2. Before the mountains were brought 
 
 forth , or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the 
 world , even from everlasting to everlasting thou art 
 
 God . 
 
 The Psalmist, about to describe man's fleeting and 
 transitory state, first directeth 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 com¬ 
 fort to his people in the world, as he promised to be 
 before the world began, and will, in a more glorious 
 manner, continue to be after its dissolution. See, 
 for a parallel, Ps. cii. 25. &c. with St Paul’s appli¬ 
 cation, Heb. i. 10. 
 
 3. Thou turnest man to destruction ; and sayest , Re¬ 
 turn, ye children of men . 
 
 Death was the penalty inflicted on man for sin. 
 The latter part of the verse alludes to the fatal sen¬ 
 tence, Gen. iii 19. “ Dust thou art, and unto dust 
 
 “ slialt thou return.” How apt are we to forget 
 both our original and our end ! 
 
 4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as 
 yesterday when it is past , and as a watch in the 
 night. 
 
 The connexion between the verse preceding and 
 the verse now before us, seems to be this. God sen¬ 
 tenced man to death. It is true, the execution of 
 the sentence was at first deferred, and the term of 
 human life suffered to extend to near a thousand 
 years. But what was even that, what is any period 
 of time, or time itself, if compared with the dura¬ 
 tion of' the Eternal ? All time is equal, when it is 
 past; a thousand years, when gone, are forgotten 
 
 yesterday; and the longest life of man, to a per- 
 
115 
 
 A COMMENTARY. * 
 
 Psalm 90 . 
 
 son who looks back upon it, may appear only as 
 three hours, or one quarter of the night. 
 
 5. Thou earnest them away as with a Jiood; they are 
 as a deep : in the morning they are like grass which 
 groweth up ; or, as grass that changeth . 6. In the 
 
 morning it Jtourisheth and groweth up ; in the evening 
 
 is cut down , and withereth. 
 
 The shortness of life, and the suddenness of our 
 departure hence, are illustrated by three similitudes. 
 Tire first is that of a “ flood,” or torrent pouring 
 unexpectedly and impetuously from the mountains 
 and sweeping all before it in an instant. The 
 second is that of “ sleep” from which when a man 
 awaketh he thinketh the time passed in it to have 
 been nothing. In the third similitude, man is com¬ 
 pared to the “ grass” of the field. In the morning 
 of youth fair and beautiful, he groweth up and 
 flourisheth ; in the evening of old age (and how 
 often before that evening !) he is cut down by the 
 stroke of death ; all his juices, to the circulation 
 of which he stood indebted for life, health, and 
 strength, are dried up ; he withereth, and turneth 
 again to his earth. ct Surely all fie h is grass, and 
 “ all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the 
 “ field !” Isa. xl. 6 Of this truth, the word of 
 God, the voice of nature, and daily experience, join 
 to assure us: yet who ordereth his life and conver¬ 
 sation as if he believed it? 
 
 7. For we are consumed by thine anger , and by 
 thy wrath we are troubled . 8. Thou hast set our 
 
 iniquities before thee; our secret sins in the light of 
 thy countenance . 
 
 The generations of men are troubled and con- 
 sumed by divers diseases, and sundry kinds of 
 death, through the displeasure of God; his dis- 
 
©AY 18. M. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 U9 
 
 pleasure is occasioned by their sins, all of which he 
 seeth and punisheth. If Moses wrote this Psalm, 
 the provocations and chastisements of Israel are 
 here alluded to. But the case of the Israelites in 
 the wilderness, is the case of Christians in the 
 world ; and the same thing is true both in them 
 and in us. 
 
 9. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath ; 
 we spend our years as a tale that is told. 
 
 Life is compared to a “ tale 1 ’ that is told and 
 forgotten ; to a “ word” which is but air or breath, 
 and vanisheth into nothing, as soon as spoken ; or 
 perhaps, as the original generally signifies, to a 
 “ meditation, a thought,” which is of a nature still 
 more fleeting and transient. 
 
 10. The days of' our years are threescore years and 
 ten , and if by reason of strength , they be fourscore 
 years , yet is their strength labour and sorrow : for it is 
 soon cut off and we fly away. 
 
 This again might be primarily spoken by Moses, 
 concerning Israel. The generation of those who 
 came out of Egypt, from twenty years old and up¬ 
 wards, fell within the space of forty years in the 
 wilderness ; Numb. xxiv. 29. ; and they who lived 
 longest experienced only labour and sorrow, until 
 they were cut off, like grass, and, by the breath of 
 God’s displeasure, blown away from the face of the 
 earth. Like the Israelites, we have been brought 
 out of Egypt, and sojourn in the wilderness ; like 
 them we murmur, and offend God our Saviour; like 
 them we fall and perish. To the age of seventy 
 years, few of us can hope to attain ; labour and sor¬ 
 row are our portion in the world ; we are mowed 
 down, as this year’s grass of the field ; we fly away, 
 and are no more seen in the land of the living. 
 
120 A COMMENTARY Psalm g<v 
 
 ] 1. Who Jcncrweth the power of thine anger ? Even 
 according to thy fear , so is thy wrath . 
 
 Houbigant renders the verse thus : “ Quis novit 
 “ vim irae turn ; et, prout terribilis es, furorem 
 “ tuum ?”—“ Who knoweth” or considereth, “ the 
 “ power of thine anger; and thy wrath, in propor- 
 <c tion as thou art terrible? 5 ’ that is, in other words, 
 Notwithstanding all the manifestations of God’s in¬ 
 dignation against sin, which introduced death and 
 every other calamity among men, who is there that 
 knoweth, who that duly considereth and layeth to 
 heart the almighty power of that indignation ; who 
 that is induced, by beholding the mortality of his 
 neighbours, to prepare himself for his own depar¬ 
 ture hence ? Such holy consideration is the gift of 
 God, from whom the Psalmist, in the next verse, di- 
 recteth us to request it. 
 
 12. So teach us to number our days , that we may ap+ 
 ply our hearts unto wisdom 4 
 
 He who c< numbereth his days,” or taketh a light 
 account of the shortness of this present life, com¬ 
 pared with the unnumbered ages of that eternity 
 which is future, will soon become a proficient in the 
 school of true wisdom. He will learn to give the 
 preference where it is due ; to do good, and suffer 
 evil, upon earth, expecting the reward of both in 
 heaven. Make us wise, blessed Lord, but wise unto 
 salvation. 
 
 13. Return , 0 Lord, how long? and let it repent 
 thee concerning , or, be propitiated , towards thy ser¬ 
 vants. 
 
 During the reign of death over poor mankind, 
 God is represented as absent; he is therefore by 
 the faithful entreated to “ return,' 5 and to satisfy 
 their longing desires after salvation ; to hasten the 
 
Day 14. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 121 
 
 day when Messiah should make a “ propitiation” 
 for sin, when he should redeem his servants from 
 death, and ransom them from the power of the grave. 
 The Christian, who knoweth that his Lord is risen 
 indeed, looks forward to the resurrection of the 
 just, when death shall be finally swallowed up in 
 victory. 
 
 14. O satisfy us early , or, in the mornings with thy 
 'mercy ; that we may rejoice and he glad all our days . 
 15 . Make us glad according to the days wherein thou 
 hast afflicted us , and the years wherein we have seen 
 evil. 
 
 The church prayeth for the dawning of that glo¬ 
 rious morning, when every cloud shall vanish at the 
 rising of the Sun of righteousness, and night and 
 darkness shall be no more. Then only shall we be 
 “ satisfied, or saturated, with the mercy” of Jehovah; 
 then only shall w r e cc rejoice and be glad all our 
 “ days.” The time of our pilgrimage upon earth is 
 a time of sorrow ; we grieve for our departed friends; 
 and our surviving friends must soon grieve for us ; 
 these are “ the days wherein God afflicteth us, these 
 “ the years w T herein we see evilbut he will here¬ 
 after “ make 11s glad according to them in pro¬ 
 portion to our sufferings, if rightly w T e bear those 
 sufferings, will be our reward ; nay, “ these light 
 “ afflictions, which are but for a moment, w T ork for 
 6C us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
 cc glory.” Tlnui shall our joy be increased, and 
 receive an additional relish from the remembrance 
 of our former sorrow; then shall we bless the days 
 and the years which exerciseth our faith, and per¬ 
 fected our patience ; and then shall we bless God, 
 
 who chastised 11s for a season, that he might save us 
 
 . . • > 
 
 for ever. 
 
122 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 91. 
 
 16 . Let thy work appear unto thy servants , and thy 
 glory unto their children . It. And let the beauty of 
 the Lord our God be upon us ; and establish thou the 
 work of our hands upon us , yea, the work of our hands 
 establish thou it. 
 
 The redemption of man is that <c work” of God 
 whereby his “ glory” is manifested to all genera¬ 
 tions, and which all generations do therefore long to 
 behold accomplished. For this purpose the faithful 
 beseech God to let his u beauty,” his splendour, the 
 light of his countenance, his grace and favour, be 
 upon them : to u establish the work of their hands,” 
 to bless, prosper, and perfect them in their Christian 
 course and warfare ; until, through him, they shall 
 be enabled to subdue sin, and triumph over death. 
 
 PSALM XCI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The prophet, 1—10. declareth the security of the 
 righteous man under the care and protection of 
 heaven, in times of danger, when, 11, 12. a guard 
 of angels is set about him. 13 . His final victory 
 over the enemies of his salvation is foretold; and, 
 14 — 16 . God himself is introduced, promising him 
 deliverance, exaltation, g ? ory, and immortality. 
 The Psalm is addressed, primarily, to Messiah. 
 That it relateth to him, Jews and Christians are 
 agreed ; and the devil. Matt. iv. 6. cited two 
 verses from it, as universally known and allowed 
 to have been spoken of him. 
 
 1. He that dwclieth in the secret place of the Most 
 High , shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
 2. I will say of the Jjord , He is my refuge and my Jor - 
 Hess : my God , in him will 1 trust . 3 . Surely he shall 
 
Day 18. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 123 
 
 deliver the from the snare of the fouler , and from the 
 noisome pestilence . 
 
 In these verses, as they now stand, there is much 
 obscurity and confusion. Bishop Lowth, in his 
 xxvth Lecture, seemeth to have given their true 
 construction: 44 He who dwelleth in the secret place 
 “ of the Most High ; who abideth under the shadow 
 * of the Almighty; who saith of the Lord, He is my 
 44 refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I will 
 44 trust;”—leaving the sentence thus imperfect, the 
 Psalmist maketh a beautiful apostrophe to that per¬ 
 son whom he has been describing— 46 Surely he shall 
 44 deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and 
 C4 from the noisome pestilence. ,, The description is 
 eminently applicable to the man Christ Jesus*. He 
 is represented as dwelling, like the ark in the Holy 
 of holies, under the immediate 44 shadow” and pro¬ 
 tection of the Almighty, who was his 44 refuge and 
 44 fortress” against the open attacks of his enemies; 
 his preserver from the 44 snares” of the devil, and 
 from the universal contagion of sin, that spiritual 
 44 pestilence.” In all dangers, whether spiritual or 
 corporeal, the members of Christ’s mystical body 
 may reflect with comfort, that they are under the 
 same Almighty Protector. 
 
 4 . He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his 
 wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and 
 buckler. 
 
 The security afforded bv a superintending Provi¬ 
 dence, to those who trust therein, is here, with the 
 utmost beauty and elegance, compared to that shel¬ 
 ter, which the young of birds are always sure to find 
 under the 44 wings” of their dam, when fear causeth 
 
 * Ode Davidica insignis xci. agit directe et primolocode tegmine 
 et defen ione quani Deus Christo Jesu Doctori et apostolis ipsius prac- 
 staret. Vitringa, Comment, in Jesai. ii. 565. 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 91. 
 
 12 * 
 
 them to % thither for refuge: see Deut. xxxii. 11. 
 Matt, xxiii. 37. The “ truth” of God’s word, 
 wherein he promiseth to be our defence, is, to a be¬ 
 liever, his “ shield and buckler,” in the day of battle 
 and war. 
 
 5 . Thou shalt not he afraid for the terror by night; 
 nor for the arrow that flieth by day: 6. Nor for the 
 •pestilence that walketh in darkness : nor for the destruc¬ 
 tion that waste th at noon-day. 
 
 How much men standeth in need of the above- 
 mentioned protection of heaven, appeareth from a 
 survey of the dangers to which he is continually ex¬ 
 posed. Various are the terrors of the night.; mani¬ 
 fold the perils of the day ; from diseases whose in¬ 
 fection maketh its progress unobserved ; from as¬ 
 saults, casualties, and accidents, which can neither 
 be foreseen, nor guarded against. The soul hath 
 likewise her enemies, ready to attack and surprise 
 her at all hours. Avarice and ambition are abroad 
 watching for her in the day ; w r hile concupiscence, 
 like a pestilence, “ walketb in darkness.” In adver¬ 
 sity she is disturbed by terrors; in prosperity, still 
 more endangered by pleasures. Euc Jesus Christ has 
 overcome the world, to prevent us from being over¬ 
 come by it. 
 
 7 . A thousand shall fall at thy side , and ten thousand 
 at thy right hand : but it shall not come nigh thee. 
 
 This promise has oftentimes, in a wonderful man¬ 
 ner, been verified to those faithful servants of God, 
 whom the pestilence itself hath not deterred from 
 doing the duties of their station. The bishop and 
 some of the intendants of Marseilles, who continued 
 to perform their respective offices, during the whole 
 time of the plague there in 1720, are signal and 
 well-known instances. Sin is a pestilence, the con¬ 
 tagion of which no son of Adam ever escaped but 
 
Day 18 . ai. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALM& 
 
 i2$ 
 
 the blessed Jesus. He stood alone untouched by 
 its venom ; thousands and ten thousands, all the my¬ 
 riads of mankind, fell around him ; “ but it did not 
 “ come nigh Him.” Heal us of this our distemper, 
 O thou Physician of souls, and let it not prove our 
 everlasting destruction ; “ stand,” like thy repre¬ 
 sentative of old “ between the dead and the living, 
 “ and let the plague be stayed Numb. xvi. 47 , 48 . 
 
 8 . Only 'with thine eyes shall thou behold and see the 
 reward of the u icked. 
 
 The meaning is, that the righteous person all a- 
 long spoken of, himself secure from the judgements 
 of God, should in safety behold the destruction 
 wrought by them upon impenitent and incorrigible 
 sinners. This will be the case with the church, as 
 well as her glorious Head, at the last day. 
 
 9. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my 
 refuge , even the Most High , thy habitation; 10, There 
 shall no evil befall thee , neither shall any plague come 
 nigh thy dwelling . 
 
 The sentiment in these verses is evidently the 
 same with that in verses 5 , 6. namely, that God pre¬ 
 served such as trust in him, after the pattern of the 
 holy Jesus, from those evils, and from that perdition, 
 which are reserved for the ungodly. Dr. Durell 
 translates the 9 th verse, in the way of apostrophe, 
 literally thus—“ Surely, thou, O Lord, art my re- 
 £C fuge ; O Most High, thou hast fixed thine liabi- 
 “ tation i. e. in Sion, to be the protector of his 
 servant. 
 
 11 . For he shall give his angels charge over thee , to 
 keep thee in all thy ways. 12. They shall bear thee up 
 in their hands , lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
 
 Tiiis passage was cited by the devil, who tempted 
 our Lord to cast himself from a pinnacle of the tem¬ 
 ple, upon presumption of the promise here made, 
 
126 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 91. 
 
 that angels should guard and support him in all dan¬ 
 gers. But Christ, in his answer, at once detecteth 
 and exposeth the sophistry of the grand deceiver, 
 by showing, that the promise belonged only to those 
 who fell unavoidably into danger, in the course of 
 duty ; such might hope for the help and protection 
 of heaven; but that he who should wantonly and 
 absurdly throw himself into peril, merely to try whe¬ 
 ther Providence would bring him out of it, must ex¬ 
 pect to perish for his pains. “ Jesus saith unto him, 
 66 It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord 
 thy God.” Matt. iv. 7 . 
 
 13 . Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the 
 young lion and the dragon . halt thou trample under thy 
 feet . HHIh 
 
 The fury and the venom of our spiritual enemies 
 are often in Scripture portrayed by the natural qua¬ 
 lities of “ lions and serpents. 55 Messiah’s complete 
 victory over those enemies seemeth here to be pre¬ 
 dicted. Through grace he maketh us more than 
 conquerors in our conflicts with the same adversa¬ 
 ries. “ The God of peace,” saith St Paul, “ shall 
 66 bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. xvi. 
 20 . And it is observable that, when the seventy dis¬ 
 ciples return to Christ with joy, saying, “ Lord, even 
 66 devils are subject unto us through thy name f he 
 answers in the metaphorical language of our Psalm*: 
 
 “ Behold, 1 give unto you power to tread on scor- 
 cc pions and serpents, and over all the power of the 
 cc enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 
 
 “ Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spi- 
 “ rits are subject unto you,” &c. Luke x. 17 . 
 Give us, O Lord, courage to resist the “ lion’s” 
 rage, and wisdom to elude the wiles of the “ ser- 
 Ci pent.” 
 
Day 18 . m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 12? 
 
 14. Because he hath set his love upon me , therefore 
 mil I deliver him ; 1 mil set him on high, because he 
 hath known my name. 15. He shall call upon me, and 
 I will answer him ; I will be with him in trouble, I will 
 deliver him, and honour, or, glorify, him . 16 . With 
 long life will I satisfy him, and show Jam my salvation. 
 
 In the former part of our Psalm, the prophet had 
 spoken in his own person; here God himselfis plain¬ 
 ly introduced as the speaker. And, O how sweet, 
 how delightful and comfortable, are his words, ad¬ 
 dressed eminently to his beloved Son Messiah; 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 such are promised, an an¬ 
 swer to their prayers ; the presence of their heaven¬ 
 ly Father with them ; in the day of trouble, protec¬ 
 tion and deliverance ; salvation, and honour, and 
 glory, and immortality. All these promises have al¬ 
 ready been made good to our gracious Head and Re¬ 
 presentative. His prayers have been heard ; his 
 sufferings are over : he is risen and ascended ; and 
 behold, he liveth and reigneth for evermore. Swift 
 fly the intermediate years, and rise that long-expect¬ 
 ed morning, when He who is gone u to prepare a 
 “ place for us, shall come again, and take us to him- 
 “ self, that where he is we may be also!” 
 
 | k . J i , / 
 
 PSALM XCIL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The title of this Psalm is, “ A Psalm, or .Song, for 
 cc the Sabbath Day.” It teacheth, 1—5. the duty, 
 time, and manner, of giving thanks for the works 
 and dispensations of God. Thoughtless men are 
 admonished, 6. to reflect upon the final issue of 
 all these works and dispensations ; namely, 7—9. 
 the utter perdition of the ungodly, and, 10—14. 
 
I2S 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 92- 
 
 the exaltation of the church in Christ Jesus, 15, 
 to the praise and glory of God most High. 
 
 1 . It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, 
 and to sing praises unto thy name , 0 Most High: 2 . 
 To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning , and 
 thy faithfulness every night: 3. Upon an instrument of 
 ten strings , and upon the psaltery ; upon the harp with 
 a solemn sound. 
 
 “ Thanksgiving” is the duty, and ought to be the 
 delight, of a Christian. It is his duty, as being the 
 least return he can make to his great Benefactor: 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 u mercy” of God in promis¬ 
 ing salvation, and his “ fathfulness” in accomplish¬ 
 ing it, are inexhaustible subjects for u morning and 
 lc evening” praises ; every instrument should be 
 strung, and every voice tuned, to celebrate them, 
 until day and night come to an end. But more 
 especially should this be done on the “ sabbath day 
 which, when so employed, affords a lively resem¬ 
 blance of that eternal Sabbath, to be hereafter kept 
 by the redeemed, in the kingdom of God. 
 
 4. For thou , Lord, hast made me glad through thy 
 work : I will triumph in the works of thy hands . 
 
 A prospect of creation in the vernal season, fallen 
 as it is, inspires the mind with a joy which no words 
 can express. But how doth the regenerate soul 
 exult and triumph, at beholding that “ work” of 
 God’s “ hand,” whereby he hath created all things 
 anew in Christ Jesus 1 If we can be pleased with 
 such a world as this, where sin and death have fixed 
 their habitation ; shall we not much rather admire 
 
 those other heavens, and that other earth, wherein 
 
 l 
 
Day 18. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 129 
 
 dwell righteousness and life ? What are we to think 
 of the palace, since even the prison is not without 
 its charms! 
 
 5. O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy 
 thoughts a7'e very deep. 6. A brutish man knoweth 
 not ; neither doth a fool understand this. 
 
 Glorious are the works, profound the counsels, 
 marvellous the dispensations of God, in nature, in 
 providence, in grace. But all are lost to the man 
 void of spiritual discernment; who, like his fellow 
 “ brutes,” is bowed down to earth, and knoweth no 
 pleasures but those of sense. Here he hath chosen 
 his paradise, and set up his tabernacle : not consider¬ 
 ing that his tabernacle must shortly be taken down, 
 and he must remove hence for ever. 
 
 7. When the wicked spring as the grass , and when 
 all the workers of iniquity do flourish: it is that 
 they shall be destroyed for ever. 8. But thou , Lord, 
 art most high for evermore. 
 
 It is not improbable, that these verses should be 
 connected with that preceding, thus—“ A brutish 
 “ man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand 
 “ this; namely, that “ When the wicked spring as 
 “ the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do 
 “ flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for 
 “ ever;” they are only nourishing themselves like 
 senseless cattle in plentiful pastures, for the approach¬ 
 ing day of slaughter. He who is ignorant of the final 
 issue of things, who attendeth not ter his eternal in¬ 
 terest, he is, in Scripture-language, “ the brutish 
 “ man/’ and the “ fool” who knoweth not the works, 
 neither understandeth the designs of heaven. When 
 the “ grass” hath attained to its most flourishing 
 estate, and all the flowers of the field are in perfect 
 
ISO A COMMENTARY Psalm 92. 
 
 beauty, then the mower entereth with his scythe. 
 What a beautiful and instructive emblem is here held 
 forth to us ! what a forcible admonition to trust only 
 in him, who, without “ variableness or shadow of 
 “ turning,” is “ most high for evermore!” 
 
 p. For, lo, thine enemies , O Lord, lo, thine ene¬ 
 mies shall perish: all the workers of iniquity shall he 
 scattered . 10. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the 
 horn of an unicorn: 1 shall he, or, 1 am, anointed 
 with fresh oil . 
 
 The “ workers of iniquity” are the enemies of 
 “ Jehovah,” and will be “ scattered” by the breath 
 of his displeasure, as grass, after it is cut down, 
 dried up, and withered, is driven away by the whirl¬ 
 winds of heaven. “ But my horn, saith the Psalmist, 
 (it is likely in the person of Messiah), “ my horn,” 
 that is, the strength and power of my kingdom, “ shalt 
 “ thou exalt like the horn of the unicorn *,” like the 
 power of the strongest creatures, to which that of 
 states and empires is often compared ; “ I shall be,” 
 or, “ I am, anointed with fresh oil;” I am appointed 
 and consecrated king by the holy unction. Christians 
 have “ an unction from the Holy One,” by which 
 they are enabled to subdue their spiritual enemies; 
 they reign over their passions and affections; v they are 
 exalted in the Redeemer : they are “ made unto their 
 “ God kings and priests.” 1 John ii. 20. Rev. v. 10. 
 
 11. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine ene¬ 
 mies : and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wick¬ 
 ed that rise up against me. 
 
 The words, “ my desire,” are twice inserted by 
 our translators. But would it not be better, if we 
 Were to supply the elipsis in this manner, “ Mine eye 
 
 * Heb. D'*in, an eastern animal of the “ stag” or “ deer” kind, 
 remarkablt ftr its height, strength, and fierceness. 
 
Day 18. m. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 131 
 
 “ shall behold the fall of mine enemies; and mine 
 
 “ ear shall hear the destruction of the wicked that 
 * . » 
 
 “ rise up against me ?” The sense of the verse is plain. 
 
 It is intended to express an assurance of faith, an 
 
 humble confidence in the promises of God, that our 
 
 efforts shall at length be crowned with victory over 
 
 every thing which resisteth and opposeth itself; and 
 
 that the day is coming, when we shall view all the 
 
 enemies of our salvation dead at our feet. 
 
 12 . The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree: 
 he shall groiv like a cedar in Lebanon . 
 
 The momentary prosperity of the wicked was com¬ 
 pared above to the transient verdure of “ grass.” The 
 durable felicity of the righteous is here likened to the 
 lasting strength and beauty of “ palms” and cedars.” 
 But chiefly is the comparison applicable to that Just 
 One, the King of Righteousness, and Tree of Life ; 
 eminent and upright; ever verdant and fragrant; 
 under the greatest pressure and weight of sufferings, 
 still ascending toward heaven ; affording both fruit 
 and protection ; incorruptible and immortal. “ I sat 
 “ down,” saith the church, under his shadow with 
 “ great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” 
 Song ii. 3 . 
 
 13 . Those that be planted in the house of the Lord. 
 shall flourish in the courts of our God. 
 
 Believers are styled by Isaiah, “ Trees of righteous- 
 44 ness, the planting of Jehovah ch. lxi. 3 . They 
 are planted by the living waters of comfort, in the 
 44 house of God ;” where, under the means of grace, 
 they 44 flourish” in hope of glory; 44 fenced and en- 
 u closed by the discipline and orders of the church, 
 “ and by the consequent favour and protection of hea¬ 
 ven ; their verdure is conspicuous,, and ever con- 
 44 stant, whether in the summer of prosperity or the 
 
iyj 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 92 . 
 
 “ winter of adversity : their actions and principles 
 “ are ever upright and fair ; yea, their very leaf ex- 
 “ hales a delightful perfume, by a holy example and 
 “ conversation ; their affections and desires are ever 
 ** ascending towards the noblest and most sublime 
 u objects, the things that are above, the glorious 
 4 ‘ things of heaven 
 
 14 . They shall still bring forth fruit in old age : 
 they shall be fat and flourishing. 
 
 Happy the man whose goodness is always progres¬ 
 sive, and whose virtues increase with his years; who 
 loseth not, in multiplicity of worldly cares or plea¬ 
 sures, the holy fervours of his first love, but goeth on 
 
 • 
 
 burning and shining more and more, to the end of his 
 days. The church, like her representative Sarah, is 
 now “ well stricken in yearsbut we hope that, 
 like her, she will “ still bring forth fruit in her old 
 “ age ; we look for many more “ children of promise” 
 to be born unto Christ, born from among the Jews 
 and Gentiles. 
 
 15. To show that the Lord, is upright: he is my 
 rock , and there is no unrighteousness in him . 
 
 The fruit brought forth in the church redounds to 
 the glory of God, by whom the trees, in this his new 
 paradise, were planted ; it shows to all the world, 
 that he is just and “ upright” in his dealings ; that 
 he is true to his promises ; immoveable, as a “ rock,” 
 in his counsels; determined to punish the wicked, 
 and to reward the good ; so that when his proceedings 
 shall come to be unfolded at the last day, it will ap¬ 
 pear to men and angels, that “ there is no uiirigh- 
 “ teousness in him.” 
 
 Essay on the Proper Lessons* by Mr Wogarf, vol. iii. p. 4 . 9 -, 
 
Day IS. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 133 
 
 EIGHTEENTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM XCIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Jews acknowledge, that the kingdom of Messiah 
 is prophesied of in this Psalm, and in all those 
 which follow, to the hundredth. 1, 2. The church 
 celebrates the majesty, power, and glory, of the 
 eternal King ; 3 . describes the danger she is often 
 in from persecutions, &c. but, 4- strengthened her¬ 
 self in God her Saviour, whose house, 5. ought to 
 be, like himself, full of truth and holiness. 
 
 1. The Lord reigneth , he is clothed with majesty ; 
 the Lord is clothed with strength , wherewith he hath 
 girded himself: the world also is established ', that it 
 cannot be moved. 
 
 From the beginning, God, as Creator, was sove¬ 
 reign Lord of the universe. He was also formerly, in 
 a more especial manner, king of Israel. But since that 
 time, a new and spiritual kingdom hath been erected 
 by Jesus Christ, as Redeemer, whom the church now 
 celebrates, and whose praises she sings continually. 
 Risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, the 
 Lord Jesus reigneth, and shall reign, “ till he hath 
 4 ‘ put all enemies under his feet1 Cor. xv. 25. By 
 the glorification of his human nature, he is “ clothed 
 “ with majesty: All power is given unto him in hea- 
 “ ven and in earth;” Matt, xxviii. 18. so that he is 
 “ girded with strength and through that strength, 
 he hath “ established” the new “ world,” that is to 
 say, his church, that it “ cannot be moved,” o ( r sub¬ 
 verted, by all the powers of earth and hell. 
 
134 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 93. 
 
 2. Tliy throne is established of old ; than art from 
 everlasting. 
 
 Earthly thrones are temporary ; they are set up, 
 and cast down again, neither is any trust to be repos¬ 
 ed in them. But the throne of Christ is eternal and 
 unchangeable. Constituted before the foundation of 
 the world, it is to endure when no traces of such a 
 system having once existed shall any more be found., 
 
 3. The floods are lifted up , O Lord, the floods have 
 lifted up their voice ; the floods lift up their waves. 
 
 4 . The Lord, on high is mightier than the noise of 
 many waters , yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. 
 
 In the first of these verses, the church appears like 
 a ship in a stormy sea, to which she is often compar¬ 
 ed. Persecutions and afflictions are those “ floods,” 
 those 44 waves” of this troublesome world, which 
 threaten every moment to overwhelm and sink her. 
 With a fearful and desponding tone of voice, there¬ 
 fore, she crieth out, “ the floods have lifted up, O 
 44 Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods 
 44 lift up their waves !” But immediately she strengthen- 
 eth and comforteth herself in the Lord her God: “ The 
 44 Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many 
 44 waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.” He 
 can say to sorrows and temptations, as he doth to the 
 waters of the ocean, 44 Peace,” be still; hitherto shall 
 44 ye come, but no farther and his word is endued 
 with equal pow T er in both cases. 
 
 5. Thy testimonies are very sure ; holiness hecometh 
 thine house , O Lord, for ever. 
 
 God’s 44 testimonies” are the promises made in Scrip¬ 
 ture to the church, that he will be with her, during 
 the afflictions which befall her here below, and will, in 
 time, deliver her out of all her troubles. These 44 tes- 
 ff |imonies are very sure; these promises do not, they 
 
Day 18 . e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 135 
 
 cannot, fail. “ Holiness,” therefore, which consisteth 
 in obedience and patience, “ becometh,” is the pro¬ 
 per ornament, grace, and beauty of “ his house,” and 
 of Christians, those living stones that compose it. 
 Sacred and inviolable is the word of our King ; sacred 
 and inviolable should be the loyalty of his subjects. 
 
 PSALM XCIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Psalmist, complaining of corrupt and troublous 
 times, in the person of the church, 1—4. prayetk 
 for the downfall of prosperous wickedness ; 5, 6’. 
 he describeth the cruelty, and, 7—11. reproveth 
 the atheistical folly of those who persecute God’s 
 people ; 12, 13* he extolleth the blessedness of the 
 persecuted, if they are endued with faith and patience, 
 inasmuch as, 14, 15 . the divine promise and their 
 future reward are certain ; he, therefore, 16—19* 
 throweth himself wholly upon God, whose mercies 
 never fail, who, 20, 21. cannot be on the side of 
 iniquity, but, 22, 23* will preserve his saints, and 
 destroy their enemies. 
 
 1 . O Lord God , to whom vengeance belongeth , O 
 God to whom vengeance belongeth y show thyself. 2. 
 Lift up thyself thou judge of the earth ; render a 
 reward to the proud. 
 
 The church, however unjustly oppressed and afflict¬ 
 ed, remembereth that “ vengeance belongeth” not to 
 her, had she the power to inflict it, but “ to God ,? 
 oniy, who hath said, “ Vengeance is mine, I will re- 
 “ pay,” Rom. xii. 19. To him, therefore, she maketh 
 her supplication, that he would manifest his glory in 
 
 her salvation; that he would ascend the tribunal, 
 
 • * * 
 
136 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 9*. 
 
 “ as judge of the earth,” try her cause, and avenges 
 her of her insolent and cruel persecutors. 
 
 3 . Lord, how long shall the wicked , how long shall 
 the wicked triumph P 4. How long shall they utter 
 and speak hard things P and all the workers of iniquity 
 boast themselves ? 
 
 The “ triumphs” of wickedness, the “ hard 
 “ speeches,” taunt 3 , and scoffs of inhdelity, against 
 Christ, and all who belong to him, are a continual 
 grief of heart to the faithful in the world, who desire 
 nothing so much as to see the empire of sin at an 
 end, and the kingdom of righteousness established. 
 But for this great event they must wait with patience, 
 until the time appointed by the Father, when the 
 iniquities of the world, and the sufferings of the 
 church, shall be full. “ I saw under the altar,” saith 
 the well beloved John, “ the souls of them that were 
 “ slain for the word of God, and for the testimony 
 “ which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, 
 
 saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost 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 said unto them, that they 
 “ should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow- 
 “ servants also, and their brethren, that should be kill- 
 “ ed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Rev. vi. 9, 
 &c. / 
 
 5 . They break in pieces thy people , O Lord, and 
 afflict thine heritage. 6 . They slay the widow , and 
 stranger , and murder the fatherless . 
 
 Some instances of cruelty, exercised by the enemies 
 against the “ people and heritage” of God, are here 
 specified. “ Widows, strangers, and orphans,” are 
 destitute of the help and protection afforded by hus¬ 
 bands, friends, and fathers. Christ is become an hus- 
 
Bay IS. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 137 
 
 band to the church, a father to her children, and the 
 only friend to both in time of need. Else were we all 
 in the state of strangers and orphans, exposed, with 
 our widowed mother, to the unrelenting malice and 
 fury of the great oppressor and murderer. 
 
 7 . Yet they say, The Lord shall not see , neither 
 shall the God of Jacob regard it. 8 . Understand , ye 
 ye brutish among the people: and ye fools , when will 
 be wise * 9. He that planted the ear , shall he not 
 
 hear P he that formed the eye , shall he not see P 10. 
 He that chastiseth the heathen , shall not he correct ? 
 he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know ? 
 or, he that instructeth the nations, shall not he rebuke ; 
 even he that teacheth man knowledge ? 
 
 The Psalmist informeth us, that men are encouraged 
 in their injustice and villainy, by a persuasion, that 
 God doth not behold or regard what they do to his 
 people. The absurdity of such a conceit is shown 
 from these considerations; that it is God who be- 
 stoweth on man the powers of seeing and hearing, and 
 therefore that he himself must needs be possessed of 
 those powers in the highest perfection; that it is 
 God who hath instructed the world, by his revelations, 
 in religious knowledge, and consequently, without all 
 doubt, he cannot be ignorant of the use and abuse 
 which men make of that his unspeakable gift. 
 
 11 . The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that 
 they are vanity. 
 
 So far is God from being a stranger to the actions, 
 that he is privy to the first “ thoughts” of men, from 
 whence those actions flow ; he is acquainted with all 
 their counsels against his church, and knoweth them 
 to be as vain as the imagination that he is ignorant of 
 them. The wucked can no more escape the hand, 
 than they can elude the eye, of Heaven. 
 
13S 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm $4. 
 
 12 . Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest , or, 
 instructest , O Lord, r//zi/ teachest him out of thy law: 
 
 13 . That thou mayest give him rest from the days of 
 adversity , z//z ^7 £/ze pit be digged for the wicked. 
 
 Since, therefore, the schemes of the adversary are 
 vain, and the counsel of Jehovah shall infallibly stand, 
 happy is the man who, having learned, from the Scrip¬ 
 tures of truth, the lessons of faith and patience, enjoys 
 tranquillity of mind in time of trouble, while destruc¬ 
 tion is preparing for the impenitent. Then, when 
 “ the days of adversity” are over, shall pain and sor¬ 
 row take a final leave of the righteous to go and dwell 
 with the wicked, to eternal ages. The former shall enter 
 into the rest and joy of their Lord; the latter, into the 
 fire prepared originally for the devil and his angels. 
 
 14. For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither 
 will he forsake his inheritance, 15 . But judgement 
 shall return unto righteousness ; and all the upright in 
 heart shall follow it. 
 
 The faith and patience of the saints are built upon 
 the foundation of God’s promise not to “ cast off and 
 “ forsake,” however he may chasten and correct, his 
 ‘‘ people and inheritance.” At a fit time, “ judgement 
 shall return to righteousness,” which it might seem to 
 have forsaken: iniquitous oppressors shall meet with 
 the punishment they have deserved, and the faithful 
 shall experience the promised redemption. For thus 
 Dr Hammond renders and expounds the last clause of 
 the two verses under consideration—“ and after this,” 
 i. e. after “ judgement” shall have “ returned to righ- 
 “ teousness, all the upright in hearti. e. it shall be 
 their time; they shall succeed and flourish. Such 
 were those halcyon days enjoyed by the Jews, after the 
 fall of Babylon, and their return to their own land; 
 such those times of refreshment to the church Chris¬ 
 tian, when the Pagan persecutions were at an end, and 
 
Day 18 . e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 139 
 
 the Homan empire became Christian. Far more tram 
 scendent is the felicity of a soul when it exchanges the 
 miseries of the world for the delights of paradise, there 
 „ to wait, with its sister spirits, until the bodies of the 
 saints shall pass from the dishonours of thv. grave to 
 the glories of immortality. 
 
 lo. Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers ? 
 or, who wiL stand up for me against the workers of 
 iniquity P 17 - Unless the Lord had been my help , 
 my soul had almost dwelt in silence. 
 
 But in the mean season, while ‘ evil-doers’ are per¬ 
 mitted to prosper, and the “ workers of iniquity” 
 carry on their designs, the pro t het asks in the person 
 of the church, who is there that will or can protect, 
 defend, and deliver ? The answer is, God only can do 
 it: “ Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had 
 M almost dwelt in silence,” or, 1 had almost been in a 
 state of death. How often have our spiritual enemies 
 arisen against us threatening to bring us into a state 
 of eternal death, but the Lord Jtsus was our help and 
 our salvation! 
 
 18. When I said, My foot slippeth ; thy mercy, Q 
 Lord, held me up. 
 
 When the child of God, walking in the slippery 
 paths of life, findcth himself falling into temptation, if 
 he confesseth his inability to stand his ground, and 
 crieth out, like Peter on the water, to his heavenly 
 Father, “ Lord save me, I perisha merciful, graci¬ 
 ous, and powerful hand will immediately be stretched 
 out, to support his steps, and establish his goings. 
 
 IQ. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy 
 comforts delight my soul. 
 
 The excellent Norris, in a masterly sermon on this 
 verse, has given us the following elegant and affecting 
 paraphrase of it:—■“ When my mind sallies out into a 
 “ multitude of thoughts, and those thoughts make me 
 
140 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 94-. 
 
 44 sad and heavy, anxious and solicitous, as presenting 
 “ to my view my own weakness and infirmity, and 
 “ the universal vanity of all those seeming props and 
 “ stays, upon which my deluded soul was apt to lean; 
 “ the many great calamities of life, and the much 
 44 greater terrors of death; the known miseries of the 
 44 present state, and the darkness and uncertainty of 
 “ the future; still urging me with fresh arguments of 
 “ sorrow r , and opening new and new scenes of melan- 
 “ choly, till my soul begins to faint and sink under 
 44 the burthen she has laid upon herself: when I am 
 61 thus thoughtful, and thus sorrowful, then it is, O 
 “ my God, that I feel the relief of thy divine refresh- 
 44 ments ; I find myself supported and borne up by the 
 11 strong tide of thy consolations, which raise my 
 44 drooping head, strike a light into my soul, and make 
 44 me not only dismiss, but even forget, that sorrow 
 44 and melancholy, which my thoughtfulness had 
 44 brought upon me.” Who that reads this will not 
 thankfully take and follow the advice offered in another 
 part of the same discourse ? 44 Whenever, therefore, 
 44 thoughts arise in thy heart, and troubles from those 
 64 thoughts, when thy mind is dark and cloudy, and all 
 44 the regions of the soul are overcast; then betake 
 44 thyself to thy oratory, either to thy closet, or the 
 44 church, and there entertain thy soul with the plea- 
 44 sures of religion, and the satisfactions of a clear eon- 
 44 science.” See Norris’s Practical Discourses, vol. 
 iii. ser. 4* 
 
 20. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with 
 thee , which frameth mischief by a law ? 
 
 One consideration which affordeth comfort to the 
 faithful under persecution and affliction, is this, that 
 God can never be on the side of oppression and in¬ 
 justice, though, to answer wise and salutary purposes. 
 
Day 18. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 141 
 
 he may, for a time, suffer them to have the dominion, 
 and to establish iniquity by law. A distinction there 
 certainly must be between right and wrong; and the 
 former must as certainly triumph at the last day. 
 
 21 . They gather themselves together against the 
 soul of the righteous , and condemn the innocent 
 blood. 
 
 Righteousness and innocence are the most atrocious 
 crimes, in the eyes of wickedness and guilt. For 
 these crimes Cain slew his brother Abel, the Jews 
 crucified Christ, the Pagans tortured and murdered 
 his disciples, and bad men in all ages have persecuted 
 the good. “ Marvel not, my brethren, if the world 
 “ hate you.’’ 1 John iii. 13. 
 
 22. But the Lord is my defence: and my God is 
 the rock of my refuge. 23- And he shall bring upon 
 them their own iniquity , and shall cut them off in their 
 own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut 
 them off. 
 
 Jehovah is our “ defencewe fear not the fiery 
 darts of the enemy ; He is “ the rock of our refuge 
 we bid defiance to the rage and malice of earth and 
 hell. Armed with the shield of faith, and the sword 
 of the Spirit, we rise superior to every effort of diabo¬ 
 lical malice and secular power; waiting, in patience 
 and hope, for the coming of that day, when He who 
 hateth unrighteousness, and with whom the throne of 
 iniquity can have no fellowship, shall visit the wicked¬ 
 ness of the wicked upon them ; when the world of the 
 ungodly shall share the fate of apostate. Jerusalem, 
 and the righteous shall be glorified with their Lord 
 and Saviour. 
 
142 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 95. 
 
 NINETEENTH DAY—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM XCV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm hath been long used in the Christian 
 church, as a proper introduction to her hoi)’ services. 
 It containeth, 1, 2. an exhortation to praise Jehovah, 
 3. for his greatness, 4? 5. and for his works of crea¬ 
 tion ; 6. men are invited to worship him as their 
 Maker, and, 7* as their Preserver ; 8—11. they are 
 warned against tempting and provoking him, by 
 the example of the Israelites in the wilderness. ' The 
 author ol the Epistlie to the Hebrews hath taught 
 us to consider the Psalm as an address to believers 
 under the Gospel. 
 
 1. O come , let us sing unto the Lord : let us make 
 & joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 
 
 In this first verse, Christians now exhort and stir 
 up each other, as the Jews did of old, to employ their 
 voices in honour of Jehovah, to celebrate “ the rock 
 “ of their salvation.” Jesus, by redeeming us from 
 our enemies, hath opened our lips, and our mouths 
 ought, therefore, to show forth his praise. He is the 
 Rock of ages, in which is opened a fountain for sin 
 and uncleanness ; the Rock which attends the church 
 in the wilderness, pouring forth the water of life for 
 her use and comfort ; the Rock which is our fortress 
 against every enemy, shadowing and refreshing a weary 
 land. “ O come, then, let us sing unto this our 
 “ Lord ; let us make a joyful noise unto this rock of 
 ;i our salvation.” 
 
Day 19. m. r. . ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 143 
 
 2. Let us come before his 'presence with thanks¬ 
 giving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms . 
 
 The “ presence” of Jehovah dwelt formerly between 
 the cherubim, in a tabernacle, or temple, made with 
 hands, whither the Israelites were to resort, until God 
 became manifest in the flesh. After that time, the 
 divine presence left the synagogue, and removed into 
 the Christian church ; by her we are now invited to 
 “ come before that presence wi\.h thanksgiving,” and, 
 while we “ make a joyful noise,” by chanting these 
 divine “ Psalms,” to imitate, in some measure, the 
 heavenly choirs, “ who rest not,” from their blessed . 
 employment of praising God, “ day or night.” Eev. 
 iv. 8. 
 
 3- For the Lord is a great God, and a great King 
 above all gods. 
 
 It is not without reason, that we are exhorted to 
 give thanks and praise unto our God and King; for 
 he is worthy to receive glory and blessing :” Rev. v. 
 12. He is a God above all that are called by that 
 name; above those deities, which were once worship¬ 
 ped by the ancient Heathen ; above the world, which 
 still continues to be an object of adoration among in¬ 
 fatuated mortals. ITis throne is over all, and power 
 and dommron are his. 
 
 4- In his hand are the deep places of the earth ; 
 the strength of the hills is his also. 5. The sea is his, 
 and he made it ; and his hands formed the dry land. 
 
 The treasures, which lie hid in the “ deep places” 
 of the earth beneath ; the majestic pride and “ strength 
 “ of the hills,” which tower above, and lift up their 
 heads to heaven ; the unnumbered waves of the great 
 and wide “ sea,” which roll in perpetual motion 
 round the -world ; the rich and variegated produce of 
 the u drv land,” crowned with verdure and beautv ; 
 
 3 
 
IU A COMMENTARY Psalm 95. 
 
 together with every thing that livetli 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 worship and bow down: let us 
 kneel before the Lord our Maker . 
 
 As in the beginning of the Psalm we were called 
 upon to “ praise” Jehovah, so here we are invited to 
 humble ourselves before him in “ prayer.” From 
 him we had our being ; him, therefore, we are to sup¬ 
 plicate for every other blessing, both in this life, and 
 that which is to come. And since he made our bodies, 
 as well as our souls, it is meet and right that they 
 should bear their part in his service, and that internal 
 worship should he accompanied and signified by that 
 which is external. 
 
 7. For he is our God, and we are the people of his 
 pasture, and the sheep of his hand . 
 
 An additional reason why we should both praise 
 Jehovah, and pray to him, is the peculiar relation into 
 which he hath been pleased to put himself by the co¬ 
 venant of grace; “ he is our God we are the objects 
 of his tender care and unspeakable love : we are his 
 4 ‘ people,” and his “ sheep his chosen flock, which 
 he hath purchased w 7 ith his blood, which he feeds 
 wdth his word, and refreshes with his Spirit, in fair 
 and pleasant pastures. From those pastures, O thou 
 good Shepherd ! suffer us not to stray; or, if we do 
 stray, bring us speedily back again, by any means 
 which thou, in thine infinite wisdom, shalt think fit. 
 Wholesome is the discipline which drives us into the 
 fold, and keeps us there. 
 
 8. To-day if ye mil hear his voice, harden not your 
 hearts, as in the provocation, and as in the day of tempta - 
 
 1 
 
Bay 19 e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 145 
 
 tion in the wilderness , 9 . When your fathers tempted 
 
 me , proved me, and saw my work . 
 
 The first clause of these two verses may be joined 
 to the preceding verse, thus, “ He is our God, we 
 “ are the people of his pasture and the sheep of 
 “ his hand, if ye will here his voice to-day ;” that 
 
 is, if ye will be his obedient people, he will continue 
 to be your God. Or else the word Ott, translated 
 <c if,” may be rendered in the optative form, “ O 
 “ that you would hear his voice to-day,” saying 
 unto you, 66 Harden not, * &c. However this be, 
 what follows to the end of the Psalm is undoubtedly 
 spoken in the person of God himself, who may be 
 considered as addressing us, in these latter days, 
 by the Gospel of his Son : for so the apostle teaches 
 us to apply the whole passage, Heb. iii. iv. The 
 Israelites when they came out of Egypt, had a day 
 of probation, and a promised rest to succeed it; 
 but, by unbelief and disobedience, they to whom it 
 was promised, that is, the generation of those who 
 came out of Egypt, fell short of it, and died in the 
 wilderness. The Gospel, in like manner, offers, 
 both to Jew and Gentile, another day of probation 
 in this world, and another promised rest to succeed 
 
 it, which remaineth for the people of God, in hea¬ 
 
 ven. All whom it concerns are, therefore, exhorted 
 to beware lest they forfeit the second rest, as mur¬ 
 muring and rebellious Israel came short of the first. 
 The verses now before us allude to what passed at 
 the place called “ Massah,” and “ Meribah,” from 
 the people there “ tempting” and striving with 
 their God, notwithstanding all the mighty works 
 which he had wrought for them, before their eyes. 
 Exod. xvii. 7. \ 
 
 VOI 4 . n. K 
 
146 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 89. 
 
 10, Forty years long was I grieved, or, disgusted, 
 with this generation, and said. It is a people that do err 
 in their hearts, and they have not known my ways . 
 
 O the desperate presumption of" man that he 
 should offend his Maker 44 forty years!” O the 
 patience and long suffering of his Maker, that he 
 should allow him forty years to offend in ! Sin begins 
 in the 64 heart,” by its desires 44 wandering” and 
 going astray after forbidden objects ; whence follows 
 inattention to the 44 ways” of God ; to his dispensa¬ 
 tions, and our own duty. Lust in the heart, like 
 vapour in the stomach, soon affects the head, and 
 clouds the understanding. 
 
 11. Unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they 
 should not enter into my rest . 
 
 Exclusion from Canaan w r as the punishment of 
 Israelitish contumacy : exclusion from heaven is to 
 be the punishment of disobedienceamongChristians. 
 To take vengeance on those who reject the Gospel 
 terms, is no less a part of the covenant and oath of 
 God, than it is to save and glorify those who accept 
 them. Yet men continue deliberately to commit 
 those sins, which the Almighty standeth thus en¬ 
 gaged to punish with destruction* ! 44 Take heed,” 
 therefore, 44 brethren, lest there be in any of you an 
 44 evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living 
 44 God. But exhort one another daily, while it is 
 
 * Sensus hujus loci ex Paulo sic concinnandus ; nempe requiem a 
 Deo Israelitis esse promissam in terra Chanansea } omnes tamen interim 
 in deserto cecidisse hac requie frustrates} quare Spiritum Sanctum per 
 Davidem ad novem requiem invitasse } ad novum illud sabbatum ab 
 ipso mundi exordio diei septimae requie figuratum, novumque indixisse 
 diem quo sub Christo, in Ecclesia, ac ccclesti patria quiesceremus, nest 
 essemus increduli } unde sic concludit Paulus j “ Festinemus ingrecU 
 4 ‘ in illam requiem.” Bossuet.- 
 
Day 19. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 147 
 
 4< called, To-day; lest any of you be hardened 
 “ through the deceitful ness of sin. For we are 
 ct made partakers of Christ, if we hold the begin- 
 “ ning of our confidence steadfast unto the end j 
 <c while it is said, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, 
 “ harden not your hearts as in the provocation. 
 “ For some, when they had heard, did provoke; 
 
 howbeit, not all that came out of Egypt by Mo- 
 <c ses. But with whom was he grieved forty years ? 
 “ Was it not with them that had sinned, whose car- 
 
 “ cases fell in the wilderness ? And to wdiom sware 
 
 ; 
 
 “ he, that they should not enter into his rest, but to 
 “ them that believed not ? So we see that they 
 “ could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us 
 “ therefore fear, lest, a promise being made us of 
 “ entering into his rest, any of you should seem to 
 cc come short of it. For unto us was the Gospel 
 66 preached, as well as unto them ; but the word 
 “ preached did not profit them, not being mixed 
 “ with faith in them that heard it.” Hob. iii. 12, 
 &c. 
 
 PSALM XCVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 By common consent of the Jews and Christians, we 
 apply this Psalm to the times of Messiah. 1—4. 
 Men are exhorted to sing his praises; to declare 
 his salvation ; 4, 5. to acknowledge his supremacy 
 over the gods of the nations, with, 6. the glory 
 and beauty of his sanctuary ; 7, 9. to give him the 
 honour, the worship, and the obedience due unto 
 him, and, 10. to publish the glad tidings of his 
 kingdom being established: 11—13. the whole 
 
24S 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm q6. 
 
 creation is called upon to rejoice at this great 
 event. We find by 1 Chron. xvi. that David de¬ 
 livered out this Psalm, to be sung on occasion of 
 temporal blessings, prefigurative of future spiritual 
 ones. 
 
 1 . O smg unto the Lord a new song ; sing unto the 
 Lord, all the earth . 
 
 Jehovah, our Redeemer, is theperson whose praises 
 are to be sung. They are to be sung in a 44 new” song; 
 a song calculated to celebrate new mercies, prefi- 
 guredby old ones wrought for Israel in former times; 
 a song fit for the voices of renewed and regenerate 
 men to sing in the new Jerusalem, in those new heavens 
 and that new earth, which constitute the new crea¬ 
 tion, or kingdom of Jesus Christ. And as the 
 mercies of God are universal, extending themselves 
 not ohly to the Jews, but to all the nations of the 
 earth, all the nations of the earth are therefore ex¬ 
 horted to bear apart in this new song ; 44 Sing unto 
 44 the Lord a new song ; sing unto the Lord, all 
 44 the earth.” Thus St John, after reckoning up 
 the 144,000, or full number of those who were 
 sealed to salvation from among the tribes of Israel, 
 proceeds to tell us, that he 44 beheld, and, lo, a 
 “ great multitude, which no man could number, of 
 44 all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, 
 44 stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, 
 44 clothed with white robes, andpalmsin their hands.” 
 All these sung a new song, which none could learn 
 but the redeemed ; they 44 cried with a loud voice, 
 44 saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon 
 44 the throne, and to the Lamb” See Rev. v. vii. 
 xiv. 
 
 2 . Sing unto the Lord, bless his name ; show forth 
 his salvation Jrom day to day . 
 
Day 19. m. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 149 
 
 Again are we excited to sing unto the Lord 
 Jesus, and in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, 
 to bless his saving name. The latter clause of the 
 verse is very expressive in the original,“ preach,” 
 or, 46 evangelize his salvation from day to day;” let 
 it be the constant theme of all your discourses; 
 publish it to the world in every possible way, by 
 your words, and by your actions; and while God 
 allows you breath and life, let one day transmit the 
 glorious employment to another, until it be resumed 
 and continued in heaven to all eternity. 
 
 3. Declare his glory among the heathen ; his wonders 
 among all people . 
 
 The “ glory” of Messiah in his incarnation, his 
 life, his death, resurrection, ascension, and kingdom, 
 the iC wonders” or miracles by him wrought upon 
 the bodies and souls of men; these were the things 
 <c declared among the heathen,” even “ among all 
 cc people,” by the apostles and their successors 
 these things are still declared, by the Scriptures 
 read, and sermons preached, in the church, which 
 was gathered originally from among the Gentiles. 
 
 4. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised, 
 he is to be jeartd above all gods. £. For all the gods 
 of the nations are idols, or things of nought; but the 
 Lord made the heavens, 
 
 Christ is to be celebrated, his glory and wonders 
 are to be declared, because he is, in every possible 
 sense, “ greatgreat in dignity, in power, in mer¬ 
 cy; and therefore “ greatly to be praised 1 ' by every 
 creature. The heavens and heavenly bodies, adored 
 by the nations, were no gods, but the works of 
 cc his” hands, who had fixed his everlasting throne 
 high above them all. At the publication of th$ 
 
150 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 96, 
 
 Gospel, idolatry fell before it; and what is the 
 world itself but one great idol, which is to fall and 
 disappear in like manner ? 
 
 6 Honour and majesty are before him ; strength and 
 beauty are in his sanctuary . 
 
 What are the splendour and magnificence of 
 earthly courts, when compared with that glory and 
 majesty, the unutterable brightness of which fills 
 the court of the heavenly King? Some portion of 
 this celestial light is communicated, through grace, 
 to the Christian church, which is described by St 
 John, under images borrowed from the figurative 
 sanctuary, and the earthly Jerusalem, as an edifice 
 composed of gold and precious stones, illuminated 
 by the glory of God and the Lamb residing in the 
 midst of it. See Rev. xxl. 
 
 7. Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds , or, families , 
 or, tribes , of the people , give unto the Lord glory and 
 strength. 8. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto 
 his name ; bring an offering and come into his courts . 
 9. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness : fear 
 before him , all the earth . 
 
 In these three verses, the tribes of the spiritual 
 Israel are enjoined to ascribe to the Redeemer all 
 cc glory and strength,’? as essentially inherent in 
 him. and by him communicated to his people ; to 
 give him the entire M glory of his name,’ 5 and of 
 that “ salvation’ 5 imported by it: to bring the 
 u sacrifices” of the new law, and to assemble in 
 cc the courts’ 5 of his house ; to worship him in that 
 “ beauty of holiness” which is constituted by the re¬ 
 gular and solemn services of the church ; to “ fear 5 ’ 
 and obey him, as the subjects of a King invested 
 with plenitude of power in heaven and earth. 
 
 - 10. Say among the heathen, that the Lord reigneth : 
 
Day 19. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 151 
 
 the world also shall he established that it shall not he 
 moved : he shall judge the people righteously. 
 
 In other words—Make proclamation, therefore, 
 O ye apostles and preachers of the Gospel, that a 
 new and eternal kingdom is erected ; the usurped 
 empire of Satan is overthrown, and the Lord Jesus, 
 having redeemed mankind, reigneth in the hearts of 
 his people by faith : a community is formed, not 
 upon the plan of secular policy, but upon the divine 
 principle of heavenly love : it is established on im¬ 
 moveable foundations, nor shall the gates of hell 
 prevail against it: righteousness shall dwell in it, 
 since He, who is the King of Righteousness, pre¬ 
 sides, directs, and determines all things, by his 
 Word, and his Spirit. 
 
 11. Let the heavens rejoice , and let the earth he glad ; 
 let the sea roar , and the jillness thereof; 12. Let the 
 field he joyful , and all that is therein : then shall all the 
 trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord. 
 
 Transported with a view of these grand events, 
 and beholding in spirit the advent of King Messiah, 
 the Psalmist exults in most jubilant and triumphant 
 strains, calling the whole creation to break forth in¬ 
 to joy, and to celebrate the glories of redemption. 
 The heavens with the innumerable orbs fixed in 
 them, which, while they roll and shine, declare the 
 glory of beatified saints; the earth, which, made 
 fertile by celestial influences, showeth the work of 
 grace on the hearts of men here below ; the field, 
 which, crowned with the produce of an hundred 
 fold, displayeth an emblem of the fruit yielded by 
 the seed of the word in the church ; the trees of 
 the wood, lofty verdant, and diffuse, apt representa¬ 
 tives of holy persons, those “ trees of righteousness, 
 46 the planting of Jehovah,” Isa. lxi. 3. whose 
 
1&2 A COMMENTARY Psalm 96. 
 
 examples are eminent, fair, and extensive; all these 
 are, by the prophet, excited to join in a chorus of 
 thanksg.v ug to the Maker and Redeemer of the 
 world. 
 
 13. For he come th> for he cometh to judge the earth; 
 he shall judge the world with righteousness , and the 
 people with his truth . 
 
 The coming of Christ is twofold; first he came to 
 sanctity the creature, and he will come again to glo- 
 rify it. Either of his kingdoms, that of grace, or 
 that of glory, mav be signified by his “ judging the 
 56 world in righteousness and truth. 5 ’ If creation 
 be represented as rejoicing at the establishment of 
 the former, how much greater will the joy be at the 
 approach of the latter ! seeing that, notwithstanding 
 Christ be long since come in the flesh, though he be 
 ascended into heaven, and have sent the Spirit from 
 thence, yet “ the whole creation, 55 as the apostle 
 speaks, Rom. viii 22 46 groaneth and travaileth in 
 46 pain together until now, expecting to be delivered 
 from the bondage ot corruption, into the glorious 
 liberty of the sons of God. And not only they, 
 but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of 
 <c the Spirit, even we ourselves g; oan within our- 
 selves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the re- 
 <c demption of the body;” when at the renovation 
 of all things, man, new made, shall return to the 
 days of his youth, to begin an immortal spring, 
 and be for ever young, 
 
 PSALM XCVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Psalm, 1. the reign of Christ is again cele¬ 
 brated, and the nations are again called to rejoice 
 
jDAY 19. M. F. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 153 
 
 on that account: 2—7. He is described as taking 
 vengeance on his enemies, overthrowing idolatry 
 in the Heathen world, commanding adoration from 
 all creatures, and, 8, 9. inspiring gladness into 
 the church, by subduing her enemies: 10—12. 
 The duties of holiness, thankfulness, and religious 
 joy, are inculcated. 
 
 1. The Lord reigneth : let the earth rejoice ; let the 
 multitude of the isles he glad thereof. 
 
 Trumphant over death and hell, the Lord Jesus 
 is gone up on high, and “ reigneth.” What greater 
 cause can the whole earth have to “ rejoice yea, 
 even the most distant isles of the Gentiles, to “ be 
 K glad,” and to sing for joy ; since they are all be¬ 
 come his subjects, and share the unspeakable bles¬ 
 sings of so gracious a reign ? We Britons, as inha¬ 
 biting one of those heathen isles, and enjoying so 
 fair a portion of evangelical blessings, have reason 
 to repeat this verse, with a particular pleasure and 
 energy. The Hebrews called by the name of 
 isles,” not only countries surrounded by 
 
 the sea, but all the countries which the sea di¬ 
 vided from them ; so that the term became syno¬ 
 nymous with ‘ Gentiles.” Thus it is said, Isa. xlii. 
 4. “ The .sl.es shall wait for his lawwhich pas¬ 
 sage, Matt. xii. 21. is expounded as follows : “ In 
 “ him shall the Gehtilils trust.” 
 
 2. Clouds and darkness are round about h m ; righ¬ 
 teousness and judgement are the habitation , or, establish - 
 menty of his throne. 
 
 When the mercy and grace of our heavenly King 
 are to be' described, he is likened to the sun shining 
 in a clear firmament, and gladdening universal na¬ 
 ture with his beneficent rays. But when we are to 
 conceive an idea of him, as going forth, in “justice 
 
154 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 97* 
 
 * 6 and judgment,” to discomfit and punish his adver¬ 
 saries, the imagery is then borrowed from a troubled 
 sky ; he is pictured as surrounded by “ clouds and 
 “ darkness;” from whence issue lightnings and 
 thunders, storms and tempests, affrighting and con¬ 
 founding the wicked and impenitent. 
 
 3. Afire gocih before him , an d burneth up his enemies 
 round about. 4. His lightnings enlightened the world: 
 the earth saw and trembled . 5. The hills melted like 
 
 wax at the presence cf the Lord ; at the presence of the 
 Lord of the whole earth. 
 
 The judgements of God, and their effects upon 
 the world, are here set forth, under the usual simi¬ 
 litude of lightning and fire from heaven, causing 
 the earth to tremble, and the mountains to melt and 
 dissolve awav. The exaltation of Christ to the 
 throne of his kingdom, w*as followed by a dreadful 
 display of that vengeance which broke in pieces the 
 Jewish nation, and brought their civil and religious 
 polity to an utter dissolution. In the history of 
 their destruction, the world of the ungodly may 
 view a striking picture of the great and terrible 
 day, when the Lord Jesus shall render a recom¬ 
 pense to all his enemies. He is then to descend in 
 flaming fire ; lightnings shall be his harbingers ; the 
 earth shall tremble ; and the hills shall, literally, 
 
 melt like w r ax at the presence of Jehovah.” 
 
 6. The heavens declare his righteousness ; and all the 
 people see his glory. 
 
 “ The heavens,” by the manifestation of ven¬ 
 geance from thence, .reveal, “ declare,” and pro¬ 
 claim, the “ righteous” judgements of Messiah ; 
 and all the people” upon earth are witnesses of 
 the “ glory” of his victory over every thing that 
 opposeth itself to the establishment of his kingdom, 
 
Day 19 m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 155 
 
 This will be more eminently the case at the second 
 advent, when the trumpet of the archangel shall 
 proclaim his approach in the clouds of heaven, and 
 all the tribes of the earth shall see him coming in 
 the glory of his Father, with the holy angels. 
 
 7. Confoun led be, or, shall be, all they that serve gra¬ 
 ven images , that boast themselves of idols : worship him , 
 all ye gods . 
 
 WhWi Jesus was exalted, his Gospel published, 
 and his power and glory made known in the Hea¬ 
 then world, men grew, “ashamed” of their “images, 
 “ and boasted themselves in their idols” no more. 
 The last clause of our verse, “ Worship him, all ye 
 “ gods,” declares the supremacy of Christ over all 
 that are called gods, in heaven and in earth, 
 
 who are enjoined to pay adoration unto him, in¬ 
 stead of claiming it tor themselves. 
 
 8 Sion heard , and zcas glad; and the daughters of 
 Judah rejoiced , because of thy judgements, O Lord. 9. 
 For thou , Lokd, 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 idola¬ 
 try were fallen, and the Lord Jesus reigned trium¬ 
 phant ; they heard, and “ were glad ; the daughters 
 “ of Judah,” or Christian churches, “ rejoiced” in 
 the Holy Ghost, with joy unspeakable, “ because 
 “ of these judgements”’ of their God upon his ene¬ 
 mies, whereby lie evinced himself superior to the 
 powers of the earth, and the gods of the nations. 
 Thus, at the fall of Babylon, it is said, Rev. xviii, 
 20. “ Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy 
 “ apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you 
 “ on her.” And Eusebius speaks, in the following 
 terms, of the times under Constantine, which sue- 
 
15G 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 97. 
 
 ceeded the overthrow of Maxentius and Maximin; 
 
 A bright and glorious day, no cloud overshadow- 
 6i ing it, did enlighten, with rays of heavenly light, 
 
 the churches of Christ over all the earth ;—and 
 ce among all Christians there was an i .expressible 
 u joy, and a kind of celestial gladness/ 7 Ecclesi- 
 ast. Hist. b. x. 
 
 10. Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth 
 the soul of his saints , he delivereth them out of the hand 
 of the wicked . 
 
 Having sung the glory of the Redeemer, the 
 Psalmist delineates the duty of the redeemed. They 
 are characterized by their “love of God;” they 
 are enjoined to “ hate evilthis hatred is, indeed, 
 a consequence, and a sure proof of that love, when 
 it is genuine and sincere. Religion must be rooted 
 in the heart, and spring from thence. A Christian 
 must not only serve God outwardly, but must in¬ 
 wardly “ love” him; he must not content himself 
 with abstaining from overt acts of sin, but must 
 truly “ hate’ it. They who do so, are “ the saints 
 “ of God, whose souls he preserveth” from evil, 
 and will finally “ deliver” from the evil one, and 
 his associates, by a happy death, and a glorious re¬ 
 surrection. 
 
 11. Light is sown for the righteous ; and gladness 
 for the upright in heart . 
 
 However gloomy our prospect may at any time 
 be, let us wait patiently, as the husbandman doth, 
 all the winter, in expectation of a future crop, from 
 the seed which lieth buried in the earth. “ Light 
 “ and gladness are sown for the righteous and true 
 “ hearted,” though they may not yet appear: the 
 seed-time is in this world; the harvest will be in 
 
Day 19. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 157 
 
 that to come. “ In due season we shall reap, if we 
 “ faint not/’ Gal. vi. 9. 
 
 12. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous ; and give 
 thanks at the remembrance of his holiness . 
 
 Tribulation itself, therefore, should not prevent 
 our cc rejoicing in Jehovah our righteousness/’ who 
 justifieth us from our sins; no adversity ought to 
 make us negligent -in celebrating, with thanksgiv¬ 
 ing, the “ commemorations of bis holiness/’ which 
 the church hath appointed to be observed ; to the 
 end that we may always remember, with gratitude, 
 how great things he hath done for us already, and 
 reflect, with comfort, on those much greater things 
 which he hath promised to do for us hereafter. 
 
 NINETEENTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 PSALM XCVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this evangelical hymn, the prophet, 1—3. extols 
 the miracles, the victory, the salvation, the righ¬ 
 teousness, the mercy, and truth, of the Redeem¬ 
 er ; on account of which, 4—9. he calls upon 
 man, and the whole creation, to rejoice and praise 
 Jehovah. 
 
 1. O sing unto the Lord a new song , for he hath 
 done marvellous things: his right hand and his holy 
 arm hath gotten him the victory . 
 
 New mercies and wonders demand new songs. 
 And what mercies, what wonders, can be compared 
 with those wrought by the holy Jesus ? “ Go and 
 cc tell John,” saith he to John’s disciples; go and 
 tell all the world, saith lie to his own disciples, u the 
 
155 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm os. 
 
 46 things which ye see and hearthe marvellous 
 things which I do to the bodies and to the souls of 
 men. 44 The blind receive their sigh ,” and the 
 ignorant minds are enlightened with knowledge ; 44 the 
 44 lame walk,” and strength is communicated to im¬ 
 potent souls ; 44 the lepers are cleansed,” and the 
 lascivious rendered chaste ; 44 the deaf hear,” and 
 the obstinate listen to instruction and reproof; 44 the 
 44 dead are raised,” and sinners justified ; 44 the 
 44 Gospel is preached,” and the world converted. 
 44 His own right hand, and his holy arm,” hath done 
 these marvellous things, without and against all 
 worldly power ; not by spear and sword, but by 
 patience and charity, he hath 44 gotten the victory, 5 * 
 and gained the glorious day. 
 
 2. The Lord hath made known his salvation : his 
 righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the 
 heathen . 
 
 The 44 salvation” of Jehovah was 44 made known” 
 by the preaching of Christ himself in Judea, for the 
 space of three years ; his 44 righteousness,” whereby 
 sinners are justified, was 44 openly showed,” by the 
 sermons of his apostles, 44 in the sight of the hea- 
 44 then.” Still let that salvation be made known, 
 still let that righteousness be openly showed, by the 
 ministers of the Gospel, until the fulness of the 
 Gentiles be come in, and the remnant of the Jews 
 converted; until antichrist be overthrown, and 
 death himself fallen before the all conquering cross. 
 
 3. He hath remembered his mercy and truth towards 
 the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen 
 the salvation of our God . 
 
 In sending the Messiah, God showed himself 
 mindful of the promises, which 44 mercy” prompted 
 him to make, and 44 truth” required him to perform. 
 
Day 19. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 159 
 
 These promises were made to 44 the house of Israel •” 
 to the lost sheep of that house, Christ declared him¬ 
 self sent; and the apostles offered salvation first to 
 the Jews: but to them it was never intended that 
 evangelical blessings should be confined. The pro¬ 
 phets spake in plain terms of the call of the Gentiles, 
 who were to be adopted into the holy family, and 
 made the children of Abraham. The Gospel was 
 accordingly preached to the nations, the apostles 
 made their progress through the world, and 44 all 
 46 the ends of the earth saw the salvation of God.” 
 The Jews fell from the faith of their fathers, and, to 
 this day, continue in their apostasy. And are not 
 the Gentiles, in their turn, falling away, after the 
 same example of unbelief? 44 Remember,” yet once 
 again, O Lord, thy 44 mercy and truth toward the 
 44 house of Israelyet once again let 44 all the ends 
 44 of the earth see thy salvation/’ 
 
 4. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the 
 earth ; make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise . 
 5. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the 
 harp, and the voice of a psalm . 6. With trumpets 
 
 and sound of cornet make a joyful 7ioise before the 
 Lord the King. 
 
 The Psalmist, beholding in spirit the accomplish¬ 
 ment of the promises, the advent of Christ, and the 
 glory of his kingdom, thinks it criminal in any 
 creature to be silent; he bids the whole earth break 
 forth into joy, and exult in God our Saviour, with 
 every token of gratitude and thankfulness ; with 
 voices, and instruments of all kinds, in perfect har¬ 
 mony, with tempers and affections according in like 
 manner, men are enjoined to sound alcud the praises 
 of their great Redeemer. 
 
 7- Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the 
 
 l 
 
160 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 99. 
 
 world , and they that dwell therein . 8. Let the floods 
 
 clap their hands , let the hills be joyful together , Q. 
 Before the Lord ; for he cometh to judge the earth : 
 with righteousness shall he judge the world , and the 
 people with equity . 
 
 The inanimate parts of creation are called upon to 
 bear their parts in the new song, and to fill up the 
 universal chorus of praise and thanksgiving, in honour 
 of him that sitteth upon the throne. Or, perhaps, 
 the converted Heathen nations are intended under the 
 figures of the “ sea,” the “ rivers,” and the “ hills,” 
 and their exultations expressed by the noise of many 
 waters, their beauty and fruitfulness by those of the 
 hills, when, crowned with plenty, they, as it were, 
 laugh and sing, at the approach of harvest. The sub¬ 
 ject of this general joy is, as before, in Psalm xcvi. 13 . 
 the advent of ^Messiah to reform the world, to execute 
 judgement upon the wicked, and to establish a king-* 
 dom of righteousness upon the earth. We expect 
 his second advent to restore all things, to judge the 
 world, to i condemn his enemies, and to begin his 
 “ glorious” reign. Then shall heaven and earth re¬ 
 joice, and the joy of the redeemed shall be full. 
 
 PSALM XCIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Under images borrowed from the old dispensation, the 
 prophet celebrates, 1. The reign of Messiah, and 
 the submission of his enemies; 2— 4 ^ his exaltation, 
 holiness, power, and justice ; which, 5. men are ex¬ 
 horted to acknowledge and adore. 6 — 9 . The ex¬ 
 amples of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, are intro¬ 
 duced, to encourage us in worshipping and serving 
 God our Saviour. 
 
 3 
 
Day 19. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS, 
 
 161 
 
 ' 1 . The Lord reigneth , let the people tremble: he 
 sitteth between the cherubims ; let the earth be mov¬ 
 ed, or, bow . 
 
 Jehovah reigneth in the Christian church, as he did 
 of old in the Jewish temple; when he appeared be¬ 
 tween the cherubims in the holy of holies, in the 
 form and likeness of a man, encompassed with 44 glo- 
 u r y .» Ezek. i. 26 . Numb. vii. 89- he subdued the 
 enemies of Israel, when they raged most furiously a- 
 gainst his people; he will also bring into subjection 
 the adversaries of the Gospel, and finally render us 
 victorious over the powers of darkness. The passions 
 and affections may mutiny and rebel; but if Christ 
 reign in the heart by faith, they must soon tremble 
 and submit. 
 
 2 . The Lord is great in Sion , and he is high above 
 all people. 3 . Let them praise thy great and terrible 
 name : for it is holy. 
 
 The power and pre-eminence of the Redeemer, 
 whom no creature is able to resist, are reasons whv 
 all should save themselves, by yielding in time to his 
 sceptre; by taking the benefit of his protection,'in¬ 
 stead of incurring his displeasure; by 44 praising his 
 “ great, terrible, and holy name,” instead of suffering 
 the almighty vengeance, which he, who owns that 
 Name, can inflict. 
 
 4 . The King’s strength also loveth judgement ; thou 
 dost establish equity, thou executest judgement and 
 righteousness in Jacob. 5. Exalt ye the Lord our 
 God, and worship at his footstool: for he is holy. 
 
 For although the 44 strength” of our King be infi¬ 
 nite, yet it is never exerted, but in 44 righteousness” 
 and just 44 judgement,” which are his delight: they 
 compose the firm basis of his throne, and direct his 
 whole administration. Impenitent rebels must feel 
 
 VOL. 11. L 
 
1&2 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 9& 
 
 the weight of his arm, and none can accuse the jus¬ 
 tice of their punishment: hut in all other cases, he is 
 “ mighty only to save:” Isa. Ixiii. 1. This holiness of 
 his proceedings, this due temperament of justice with 
 mercy, the redeemed are exhorted to acknowledge 
 and to proclaim, falling down before the throne, and 
 uttering the angelical trisagion, “ Holy, Holy, Holy, 
 “ Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to 
 “ come.” 
 
 6 . Moses and Aaron among his priests , or, chief 
 rulers, and Samuel among them that call upon his 
 name ; they called upon the Lord, and he answered 
 them , 7 . He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar 
 
 they kept his testimonies , ancl the ordinance that he 
 gave them. 
 
 To encourage the faithful in the worship of God, 
 the examples of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, are ad¬ 
 duced, men of like infirmities with ourselves, whose* 
 prayers were heard, both for themselves and others, 
 and answers w T ere returned to them from the mystic 
 “ cloud,” that symbol of the divine presence, which, 
 or a while, was itinerant with the camp in the wil¬ 
 derness, and then became fixed in the tabernacle at 
 Shiloh, till its last removal to mount Sion. These 
 men were heard through the intercession of the great 
 Mediator, whom they represented. Through that 
 same intercession, our prayers also are heard, if we 
 44 keep his testimonies, and the ordinances that he 
 “ hath given us.” 
 
 8 . Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou 
 wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookesi 
 vengeance of their inventions . 
 
 The construction of the verse seems to be this : 
 
 “ O Lord our God, thou didst hear, or answer them,” 
 that is, the afore-mentioned typical mediators, Moses, 
 
\ 
 
 Pay 19. e. p. ON THE PSALMS. 1G9 
 
 Aaron, and Samuel; “ thou becamest a forbearing 
 “ God for them,” or, at their intercession; and that, 
 “ even when punishing,” or, when thou hadst begun, 
 to punish, “ the wicked deeds of them,” that is, not 
 of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, but of the people, who 
 had transgressed, and for whom they interceded. This 
 was the case, when Moses interceded for the idola¬ 
 ters ; Exod. xxxii. 32 . Aaron for the schismatics ; 
 Numb. xvi. 47 . and Samuel for the whole nation; 
 1 Sam. vii. Q. “ Pray one for another,” saith an apos¬ 
 tle to Christians, “ that ye may be healed: the effec- 
 “ tual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth 
 “ much.” James v. 16 . 
 
 9. Exalt the Lord our God , a ? id worship at his holy 
 hill: for the Lord our God is holy. 
 
 The Psalmist repeats his exhortation, enforced by 
 the preceding examples of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, 
 and again invites all people to worship a “ holy” God 
 in a “ holy” place, and to adore the consummate rec¬ 
 titude of all his proceedings, singing, with the spirits 
 above, “ Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord 
 “ God Almighty ; just and true are thy ways, thou 
 4 ‘ King of saints.” Rev. xv. 3 . 
 
 PSALM C. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Psalmist invites all the world to join with the Is¬ 
 raelites in the service of him who was kind and 
 gracious to them beyond expression. Accordingly, 
 we Christians now properly use this Psalm in ac¬ 
 knowledgement of God’s wonderful love to us in 
 Christ; by whom we offer up continually spiritual 
 sacrifices, for redeeming us by the sacrifice which 
 he made of himself; for making the world anew, 
 
 2 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 100 . 
 
 464, 
 
 and creating us again unto good works ; according 
 
 to his faithful promises, which we may depend up¬ 
 on for ever. 
 
 Patrick. 
 
 1. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands: 
 
 2. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his 
 presence with singing . 
 
 The prophet addresseth himself to “ all lands, 3 ’ or 
 to “ all the earthto Gentiles, as w T ell as Jews. He 
 exhorteth them to “ make a joyful noise, 33 a noise 
 like that of the trumpets at the time of jubilee, a 
 sound of universal triumph and exaltation, in honour 
 of “ Jehovah, 3 ’ now become their Lord and Saviour. 
 The service of this our Master is perfect freedom; it 
 is a service of love, a freedom from Pharaoh and the 
 task-masters, from Satan and our own imperious lusts; 
 it is a redemption from the most cruel bondage, into 
 the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Let us there¬ 
 fore do as we are commanded ; let us “ serve the 
 “ Lord with gladnessand when we come before 
 “ his presence 33 in the temple, let it be “ with singing” 
 to the praise and glory of our Redeemer. Thus he 
 is served in heaven, and thus he delighteth to be 
 served on earth. 
 
 3. Know ye that the Lord he is God , it is he that 
 hath made us, and not we ourselves ; we are his peo¬ 
 ple, and the sheep of his pasture . Or, He hath made 
 us, and we are his *, his people, and the sheep of his 
 pasture . 
 
 / 
 
 *“I am persuaded that the Masoretical correction JVl (and we 
 44 are his ) is right: the construction and parallelism both favour it.” 
 Bishop Lowth. A correspondent suggests—Might not the clause 
 be rendered interrogatively — 44 Are not we his people, and the sheep 
 44 of his pasture ?” 
 
Day 19. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS; 
 
 165 
 
 The motives here urged for serving and praising 
 Jehovah, are the same with those above, in Psalm 
 xcv. 6, 7. namely, that he is our “ God,” engaged by 
 covenant on our behalf; that his hands created us, 
 and have since new created us; that we stand in the 
 peculiar relation of his “ people,” whom he hath cho¬ 
 sen to himself, and over whom he presideth as King; 
 that we are “ the sheep of his pasture,” for whom the 
 good Shepherd laid down his life, and whom he nou- 
 risheth, by the word and sacraments, unto eternal life. 
 These are points which every Christian ought to 
 “ know” and believe, unto his soul’s health. And 
 whoever doth know them aright, will ever be ready 
 with heart and voice to obey the injunction which fol- 
 loweth in the next verse. 
 
 4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving , and into 
 his courts with praise: be thankful unto him , and bless 
 
 his name . 
 
 > 
 
 The Christian church is a temple, whose “ gates” 
 stand continually open, for the admission 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 sacrifices 
 of “ confession and praiseto express their gratitude 
 to their Saviour, and “ bless” his gracious and hal¬ 
 lowed “ name.” How glorious will be that day, 
 which shall behold the everlasting gates of heaven 
 lifting up their heads, and disclosing to view those 
 courts above, into which the children of the resurrec¬ 
 tion are to enter, there, with angels and archangels, to 
 dwell and sing for evermore ! 
 
 5. For the Lord is good ; his mercy is everlasting : 
 and his truth endureth to all generations . 
 
166 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 10L 
 
 “ Jehovah is goodhe is the source of all beauty 
 and perfection in the creature; how altogether lovely 
 must he needs be in himself! “ His mercy is everlast- 
 “ ing,” extending through time into eternity ; and 
 c ‘ his truth,” or fidelity in accomplishing his promises, 
 “ endureth to all generations,” evidenced to the whole 
 race of mankind, from Adam to his last born son. 
 The Psalms which celebrate these attributes, will 
 never, therefore, be out of date, but each successive 
 generation wfill chant them with fresh propriety, and 
 fresh delight, until by saints and angels they are sung 
 new in the kingdom of God. 
 
 PSALM Cl. 
 
 v *• i * 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In the person of David, advanced to the throne of 
 Israel, we hear king Messiah declaring how he in¬ 
 tended to walk, and to govern his household the 
 church ; and also describing the qualifications which 
 he should require in his ministers and servants. 
 
 1 .1 will sing of mercy and judgement: unto thee , O 
 Lord, will 1 sing . 
 
 David, having determined to sing unto Jehovah, 
 chooseth for his theme “ mercy and judgement 
 either that mercy which God hath shown to him, and 
 that judgement which hath been inflicted on his ene¬ 
 mies ; or else, that upright administration of mercy 
 and judgement, with which he himself intended to 
 bless his people. The righteous administration of 
 mercy and judgement in the kingdom of Messiah, is 
 a topic on which his subjects always expatiate with 
 pleasure and profit. His mercy encourageth the 
 
Day 19. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 167 
 
 greatest of sinners to hope; his judgements forbid the 
 best of men to presume. 
 
 2 . I will behave myself wisely in a perfect ivay: 0 
 when wilt thou come unto me P I will ivalk within my 
 house with a perfect heart , 
 
 In return for the favours of heaven, we hear the 
 Israelitish monarch declaring his resolution, to set his 
 court and kingdom an example of true wisdom, and 
 unshaken integrity ; at the same time, sighing for that 
 visitation of divine grace, which alone could enable 
 him to put his resolution in practice—“ O when wilt 
 u thou come unto me?” This was ever the voice of 
 the church, longing for the presence of God in human 
 nature, “ O when wilt thou come unto me?” And 
 this must ever be the wish qf a Christian, who knoweth 
 that though in himself he be nothing, yet that he can 
 do all things through Christ, who strengthened him 
 by his Spirit in the inner man. Messiah was the only 
 King of Israel, whose life held forth to his subjects a 
 pattern of wisdom and righteousness, and whose death 
 procured them grace, in their different measures and 
 degrees, to follow it. 
 
 3 . 1 will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate 
 the work of them that turn aside , it shall not cleave 
 to me. 
 
 “ I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes 
 that is, I will not propose to myself, or think of car¬ 
 rying into execution, any iniquitous scheme of poli¬ 
 tics, however advantageous and tempting it may ap¬ 
 pear; I will turn away my eyes and my attention, 
 and reject it at once : “ I hate the work of them that 
 “ turn asideof them who, in their counsels and 
 their actions, deviate from the divine law 7 to serve 
 their own interest; “ it shall not cleave to me no 
 such corrupt principle shall adhere to my soul, or 
 
I 
 
 16 * A COMMENTARY Psalm 101. 
 
 find a place in my affections. How noble a resolution 
 for a king to make; but how difficult an one for a 
 king to keep ! Thou only, O King of Fdghteousness, 
 didst never set any wicked thing before thine eyes; 
 thou only hadst a perfect aversion to the ways of 
 transgressors. 
 
 4 . A fToward heart shall depart from me: I will 
 not know a wicked person. 
 
 As is the king, so will be the court; as is the mas¬ 
 ter of the house, such will be those of hi\ household. 
 David, having resolved to “ walk within his house 
 “ with a perfect,” a sincere and upright “ heart,” de¬ 
 termines at the same time to expel from thence all whose 
 hearts were perverted and depraved: as he would 
 “ set no wicked thing before his eyes,” so neither 
 would he form any connexions with “ wicked per- 
 “ sons ;” they should not be of his acquaintance, much 
 less should they be his favourites. In the same man¬ 
 ner speaketh our heavenly King, with regard to the 
 appointment of his ministers and servants—“ I know 
 “ you not, whence you are ; depart from me, all ye 
 “ workers of iniquity.” Luke xiii. 27 . 
 
 5. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour , him will 
 1 cut off: him that hath an high look , and a proud, or, 
 extended , and therefore, insatiable , heart , will not I 
 suffer. 
 
 Detraction, ambition, and avarice, are three weeds 
 which spring and flourish in the rich soil of a court. 
 The Psalmist declareth his resolution to undertake the 
 difficult task of eradicating them, for the benefit of 
 his people, that Israelites might not be harrassed by in¬ 
 formers, or oppressed by insolent and rapacious mini¬ 
 sters. Shall we imagine these vices less odious in the 
 eyes of that King, whose character was composed of 
 humility and charity ? or will Christ admit those tem- 
 
1 
 
 Day 19. e. f. ON THE PSALMS. 169 
 
 pers into the court of heaven, which David determined 
 to exclude from his court upon earth ? 
 
 6. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land , 
 that they may dwell with me: he that walkerh in a 
 perfect way , he shall serve me. 
 
 The “ eyes” of princes cannot be better employed 
 than in looking around them, in order to chuse, from 
 among their own subjects, fit and able men to tran¬ 
 sact the public business; men of inviolable “ fidelity,” 
 and unshaken integrity ; men who know how to think 
 aright, and how to speak what they think ; men like¬ 
 wise who “ walk in the perfect way” of holiness, who 
 do not disgrace their politics by their lives, or preju¬ 
 dice their master’s cause by their sins, more than they 
 can ever advance it by their abilities. Bishops may 
 be called the “ eyes of Christthey are to “ overlook” 
 his people, and v 7 e pray him at the seasons of ordina¬ 
 tion, “ so to guide and govern their minds, that they 
 “ may faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons 
 “ to serve in the sacred ministry of the church.” 
 
 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell luithin my 
 house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight . 
 
 To .purge a court of “ deceit” &nd “ falsehood,” 
 was a resolution w 7 orthy king David, w r orthy the re¬ 
 presentative of him, who styleth himself the truth, 
 from whose heavenly palace and city will be for ever 
 excluded, as St John informeth us, “ wiiosoever loveth 
 “ and maketh a lie.” Bev. xxii. 15. 
 
 8. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land: 
 that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the 
 Lord. 
 
 Every earthly prince should consider himself as 
 raised to a throne, and invested with power, “ for the 
 “ punishment of wickedness and vice, and the mainte- 
 “ nance of God’s true religion and virtue.” “ Early,” 
 
no 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 102. 
 
 therefore, in the “ morning” of his reign, he should 
 set about the work of reformation, that so the bless* 
 ings of heaven may descend upon himself and his peo¬ 
 ple, according to the infallible promises of the Most 
 High. And let each individual, in like manner, and 
 for the same reason, be zealous and diligent to reform 
 his own heart and ways, ever mindful of that future 
 most awful morning, when the King of Righteousness 
 shall “ cut off,” with the sword of eternal judgement, 
 “ all wicked doers from that city of Jehovah,” the new 
 and heavenly Jerusalem. 
 
 TWENTIETH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm is entitled, “ A prayer of the afflicted, 
 “ when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his 
 u complaint before the Lord.” It seems to have 
 been written, during the captivity, by one ot the 
 prophets, who, like Daniel in parallel circumstances, 
 1, 2. maketh supplication before his God, 3—11. 
 setteth forth, in the most affecting strains, his 
 wretched and sorrowful estate, or rather, perhaps, 
 that of Jerusalem, which he personates; 12. he 
 comforteth himself, by reflecting on the eternity 
 and immutability of Jehovah; 13-—24- he predict¬ 
 ed! and describeth the restoration of Sion, with 
 her enlargement by the accession of the Gentiles, 
 when Messiah shall have visited and redeemed her; 
 
 t 
 
 23, 24* he returneth again to his lamentations; but 
 25—2(8. again reposetli his confidence on him who 
 created all things, and who would not fail to make 
 
Day 20. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 1T1 
 
 good his word and promise, if not to the generation 
 then present, yet to their posterity. This is the 
 fifth of those styled “ Penitential Psalmsand St 
 Paul, Heb. i. 10. hath asserted, that it is addressed 
 to the eternal Son of God, and Saviour of the world, 
 
 1- Hear my 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 , ans wer me speedily . 
 
 Sin and sorrow force “ prayers” and “ cries” from 
 the sons of Adam. The first petition here preferred 
 is, that these prayers and cries may be “ heard” in 
 heaven. The day of human life is “ a day of trou- 
 “ ble,” a day of darkness and gloominess, which 
 nothing can brighten, but the light of God’s ■* coun- 
 “ tenance nothing can render comfortable, but a 
 speedy answer” of mercy and peace from above. 
 
 3. For my days are consumed away like , or, in, 
 smoke , and my bones are burnt as an hearth , or, a fire 
 brand . 
 
 The effects of extreme grief on the human frame 
 are compared to those which fire produceth upon 
 fuel. It exhausts the radical moisture, and, by so 
 doing, soon consumes the substance. A man’s time 
 and his strength evaporate in melancholy, and his 
 “ bones,” those pillars and supports of his body, be T 
 come like wood, on which the fire hath done its work, 
 and left it without sap, and without cohesion. A 
 single penitent, or a whole church, bewailing their 
 respective transgressions, when under the rod of God, 
 may use these words, and will understand the force of 
 them. 
 
 r 
 
 4 . My heart'is smitten and withered like grass: s& 
 that I forget to eat my bread , 
 
172 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 102. 
 
 The metaphor is continued, and the “ heart” itself, 
 out of which flow the streams of life, is represented as 
 suffering that from grief, which the “ grass” of the 
 field suffers from the burning heat of the sun: it is 
 “ smitten, and withered.” And when grief hath thus 
 dejected the spirits, the man has no appetite for that 
 food which is to recruit and elevate them. Ahab, 
 smitten with one kind of grief, David with another, 
 and Daniel with a third, all “ forgot,” or “ refused to 
 “ eat their bread 1 Kings xxi. 4. 2 Sam. xii. 16. 
 
 Dan, x. 3. Such natural companions are “ mourning 
 and fasting,” 
 
 5. By reason of the voice of my groaning , my bones 
 cleave to my skin . 
 
 Extremity of sorrow causeth the flesh to waste, and 
 the bones to press upon the skin, through which they 
 are ready to force their way. Sickness is the chastise¬ 
 ment of heaven, inflicted often upon us, to supply the 
 want of that discipline, which we should exercise upon 
 ourselves. “ For if we would judge ourselves, we 
 “ should not be judged. But when we are judged, 
 “ we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be 
 
 condemned with the world.” 1 Cor. xi. 31. 
 
 6. / am like the pelican of the wilderness : I am like 
 
 an owl , or, bittern , of the desert , or, of waste , ruinous 
 places . 7- I watch , and am as a sparrow alone upon 
 
 the house-top. 
 
 The sorrowful man is naturally desirous of retiring 
 from the world, to vent his complaints in solitude, 
 and to pass the nights in watchfulness and prayer. 
 In such a situation the true penitent placeth himself, 
 worthily to bewail his sins, and deprecate the judge¬ 
 ments of his God. And in such a situation did cap¬ 
 tivity place the daughter of Sion, that she might do 
 
Day 20. m. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 175 
 
 likewise. The use which Daniel made of it for this 
 purpose, may be seen in his ixth chapter. 
 
 8. Mine enemies reproach me all the day : and they 
 that are mad against me , are sworn against me. 
 
 The scoffs and reproaches of men are generally 
 added to the chastisements of God; or rather, per¬ 
 haps, are a part, and sometimes the bitterest part, of 
 them. How the enemies of Jerusalem behaved, in 
 the day of her calamity, is well known. How carnal 
 and ungodly men behave to a penitent, when mourn¬ 
 ing for his sins, under the afflicting hand of heaven, 
 is as well known. 
 
 9. For , or, Therefore , I have eaten ashes like bread, 
 
 a?id mingled my drink with weeping . 10. Because of 
 
 thine indignation and wrath; for thou hast lifted me 
 up, and cast me down. 
 
 By “ eating ashes, and drinking tears,” we may 
 understand the-same as if it had been said, “ I have 
 “ eaten the bread of humiliation, and drank the wa- 
 “ ter of affliction ashes being the emblem of one, 
 and tears the consequence of,the other; while the 
 actions of “ eating and drinking intimate to us the 
 fulness and satiety which the sufferer had experienced 
 of both, from the “ wrath and indignation of God.” 
 Prosperity and adversity are from him ; “ he lifteth 
 “ up, and he casteth down he lifted up Jerusalem 
 above all the earth ; and he cast her down, to be trod¬ 
 den under foot by the Gentiles. 
 
 11. My days are like a shadow that declineth: and I 
 am withered like grass. 12. But thou, O Lord, 
 shalt endure for ever ; and thy remembrance unto all 
 generations. 
 
 A “ shadow” never continueth in one stav, but is 
 still gliding imperceptibly on, lengthening as it goes, 
 and at last vanisheth into darkness. The period of 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 102 , 
 
 m 
 
 its existence is limited to a day at farthest. The 
 rising sun gives it birth, and in that moment when the 
 sun sets it is no more. The “ grass” of the field, in 
 like manner, hath a being of the same duration. In 
 the morning, clothed with verdure and beauty, it re- 
 fresheth and delighteth the eye of the beholder ; but 
 the evening findeth it cut down, dried up, and wither¬ 
 ed. Such is the life of man, sojourning in the land of 
 his captivity, and doing penance for his sins. But the 
 eternity of Jehovah, the infallibility of his promises, 
 and the remembrance of his former works and mer¬ 
 cies, comfort our hearts, and encourage us to hope, 
 nay, even to rejoice, in the midst of sorrow and tri¬ 
 bulation. 
 
 13. Thou shalt arise , and have mercy upon Sion ; 
 for the time to favour her , yea , the set time , is come . 
 14- For thy servants take pleasure in her stones , and 
 favour the dust thereof. 
 
 From this passage, and what follows, it appears, 
 that the suppliant, in this Psalm, bewails not only his 
 own miseries, but those of the church. Israel was in 
 captivity, and Sion a desolation. A “ time” notwith¬ 
 standing, a “ set time,” there was at hand, when God 
 had promised to “ arise, and to have mercy upon 
 her.” The bowels of her children yearned over her 
 ruins ; they longed to see her rebuilt, and were ready, 
 whenever the word of command should be given, to 
 set heart and hand to the blessed work. Such ought 
 fo be our affection towards our Sion, however afflicted 
 and destitute she may, at any time, appear to be ; 
 such should be our faith in the promises of God con¬ 
 cerning the future glorification of his church, at the 
 time appointed. 
 
 15. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord : 
 and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16 . When 
 
1)ay 20. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 175 
 
 the Lord shall build up Sion, he shall appear in his 
 glory . 17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute , 
 
 and not despise their prayer . 
 
 The object to which the prophets of old had chiefly 
 respect, was not only the deliverance of Israel from 
 Babylon, and the rebuilding of the material temple, 
 but the salvation of sinners, and the erection of the 
 Christian church, in the days of Messiah’s kingdom. 
 “ When the Lord” Jesus thus “ built up Sion, he ap- 
 “ peared in his glory: the heathen feared his name, 
 “ and all the kings of the earth” adored his majesty, 
 because he had “ regarded the prayer of the destitute” 
 sons of Adam, in their worse than Babylonish capti¬ 
 vity, and had arisen himself to be their Saviour and 
 mighty Deliverer. We in these latter days, look and 
 pray for the second appearance of the same Redeemer, 
 with power and great glory, to raise the dead, and to 
 build up from the dust a Jerusalem which shall ex¬ 
 perience no more vicissitudes, but continue for ever 
 in unchangeable beauty and brightness. 
 
 18. This shall be written for the generaiioyi to 
 come; and the people which shall be created shall 
 praise the Lord. 
 
 The history of “ this” redemption and restoration 
 by Messiah, thus foretold, hath been “ written” in the 
 Gospel for the benefit of “ after generations,” to the 
 end that “ the people who are created” anew in Christ 
 Jesus may from age to age praise Jehovah, in Psalms, 
 and hymns, and spiritual songs ; as it is done at this 
 day in the church, and ever will continue to be done, 
 till the choirs of heaven and earth shall be united be¬ 
 fore the throne of the Lamb. 
 
 l.Q. For he hath looked down from the height of his 
 sanctuary: from heaven did the Lord behold the 
 earth ; 20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner , to 
 
176 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 102. 
 
 loose those that are appointed to death ; 21. To declare 
 the name of the Lord in Sion , and his praise in Jeru¬ 
 salem ; 22. When the people are gathered together , 
 and the kingdoms , to serve the Lord. 
 
 Redemption is the subject of praise in the Christian 
 church ; and the process of that great work is here 
 described by images borrowed Lorn the temporal de¬ 
 liverance and restoration of Israel. God is represented 
 as looking with an eye of pity from heaven upon poor 
 mankind ; as hearing the groans of sinners, fast bound 
 in the chains of their sins, and sentenced to death 
 eternal; as coming down to forgive and to release 
 them ; that, being so forgiven and released, they might 
 cause the church to resound with his praises, when, 
 upon the preaching of the Gospel, it should be filled 
 with converts, assembled from every people and king¬ 
 dom of the world. Look down, O Lord Jesu, yet once 
 again upon thy servants, still under the dominion of 
 death, and the bondage of corruption ; loose these 
 chains, even these also, O Lord, and bring us forth 
 into the glorious liberty of thy children; that, with 
 the whole assembly of the redeemed, in the heavenly 
 Jerusalem, we may bless and praise thy name for ever 
 and ever. 
 
 23. He weakened my strength in the way ; he 
 shortened my days. 
 
 The prophet, in the person of captive Sion, having, 
 from verse 13 . to verse 22. expressed his faith and 
 hope in the promised redemption, now returns to his 
 mournful complaints, as at verse 11 . Israel doubteth 
 not of God’s veracity, but feareth lest his heavy hand 
 should crush the generation then in being, before they 
 should behold the expiration of their troubles. They 
 were in “ the way,” but their “ strength” was so 
 “ weakened,” and their “ days shortened,” that they 
 
 2 
 
©ay 20. m. p. ON THE PSALMS. 177 
 
 almost despaired of holding out to their journey’s end. 
 A sore trial hath the Christian church to undergo in 
 the last days, before the second advent of her Lord 
 and Saviour. Strong faith and invincible patience 
 will be necessary, to enable her to endure until the 
 end shall come. 
 
 24. And I said, O my God , take me not away in 
 the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all 
 generations . 
 
 Israel prayeth that the holy seed might not be ex¬ 
 tirpated, and perish by a kind of untimely death, ere 
 yet the promise had been made good, and Sion had 
 seen the salvation of her God Every man hath rea¬ 
 son to pray, that God would not “ take him away in 
 “ the midst of his days,” or call upon him when un¬ 
 prepared ; but that time may be al ow d him to per¬ 
 fect his repentance, and to work om h^ salvation. 
 
 25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the 
 earth ; and the heavens are the work of thy hands . 
 
 26. They shall perish , but thou shalt endure ; yea , all 
 of them shall wax old like a garment , as a vesture 
 shalt thou change them , and they shall be changed '. 
 
 27. But thou art the same , and thy years shall have 
 710 end . 
 
 Amidst the changes and chances of this mortal life, 
 one topic of consolation will ever remain, namely, the 
 eternity and immutability of Cod our Saviour, of him 
 who was, and is, and is to come. Kingdoms and em¬ 
 pires may rise and fall; nay, the heavens and the 
 earth, as they were originally produced and formed by 
 the word of God, the Son, or second person in the 
 Trinity, to whom the Psalmist here addresseth him¬ 
 self, see Heb. i. 10. ; so will they, at the day ap¬ 
 pointed, be folded up and laid aside as an old and 
 
 worn-out garment; or, if the substance remain, the 
 
 VOL. II. M 
 
ns 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 105. 
 
 present form and fashion of them will perish, and they 
 will be utterly changed and altered from the state in 
 which they now are. But Jehovah is ever the same ; 
 his years have no end, nor can his promise fail, any 
 more than himself. “ Heaven and earth,” saith he, 
 “ shall pass away ; but my words shall not pass away.” 
 Matt. xxiv. 35. 
 
 28. The children of thy servants shall continue ; and 
 their seed shall be established before thee . 
 
 Whatever be the fate of the present generation, 
 whether they may live to see the accomplishment of 
 all that has been foretold, or not, yet the word of God 
 standeth sure; there shall be always a church, and a 
 holy seed, to whom the promises shall be made good. 
 They have already been fulfilled with regard to the 
 advent of Messiah, and the vocation of the Gentiles. 
 The events which are behind will be brought forward 
 and come to pass in their seasons, until the counsel of 
 God shall be finished, and every prediction receive its 
 full accomplishment in the glorification of the re¬ 
 deemed. 
 
 PSALM CIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this evangelical and most comfortable hymn, 
 
 _ f 
 
 David, after, 1, 2. exciting himself to the work, 
 3 —5. praiseth Jehovah for the mercies of redemp¬ 
 tion ; 6, 7. celebrateth his goodness to Moses and 
 Israel; 8—13. setteth forth the divine philan¬ 
 thropy, under various beautiful expressions and 
 images ; 14—id- described], in a manner wonder¬ 
 fully affecting, man’s frail and perishable state; 
 but, 17, 18. leadeth him, for consolation, to the 
 everlasting mercy of God in Christ, the stability of 
 
Day 20. m. f. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 179 
 
 whose throne and kingdom, 10. he declareth, and, 
 
 20 —22. calleth upon heaven and earth to join with 
 
 him in blessing and praising his holy name. 
 
 1. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is 
 within me, bless his holy name. 
 
 The Psalmist, about to utter a song of praise, first 
 endeavours to awaken and stir up his “ soul” to the 
 joyful task. He calleth forth all his powers and 
 faculties, “ all that is within him,” that every part of 
 his frame may glorify its Saviour; that the under¬ 
 standing may know him, the will choose him, the af¬ 
 fections delight in him, the heart believe in him, and 
 the tongue confess him. “ Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
 44 and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” 
 
 2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his 
 benefits. 
 
 Thanksgiving cannot be sincere and hearty, unless 
 a man bear impressed upon his mind, at the time, a 
 quick sense of 44 benefits” received ; and 44 benefits” 
 we are most of us apt to 44 forget;” those, especially, 
 which are conferred upon us by God. Therefore 
 David repeateth his self-awakening call, and sum* 
 inoiieth all his powers of recollection, that none of the 
 divine favours might continue unnoticed and unac¬ 
 knowledged. A catalogue of such particular mercies, 
 temporal and spiritual, as each individual hath expe¬ 
 rienced through life, might be of service, to refresh 
 the memory, upGn this important head. 
 
 3. IVho forgiveth all thine iniquities: who healeth 
 all thine infirmities. 
 
 At the head of God’s mercies must for ever stand 
 44 remission of sin,” or that full and free pardon pur¬ 
 chased for us by Jesus Christ, whereby, if we truly 
 repent and believe in him, our transgressions, though 
 
ISO 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 103. 
 
 ever .so many, and ever so great, are done away, and 
 become as if they had never been ; from a state of 
 guilt we pass into one of justification, from a state of 
 enmity into one of reconciliation, from a state of 
 servitude into one of liberty and sonship. Next to 
 the pardon of sin, considered as a crime, we are to 
 commemorate the cure of it, considered as a disease, 
 or indeed as a x complication of diseases—“ Who 
 “ healeth all thine infirmities.” The body experi- 
 enceth the melancholy consequences of Adam’s 
 offence, and is subject to many “ infirmities ;” but 
 the soul is subject to as many. What is pride, but 
 lunacy ; what is anger, but a fever ; what is avarice, 
 but a dropsy ; what is lust, but a leprosy ; what is 
 sloth, but a dead palsy ? Perhaps there are spiritual 
 maladies similar to all corporeal ones. When Jesus 
 Ch rist was upon earth, he proved himself the Physi¬ 
 cian of men’s souls, by the cures which he wrought 
 upon their bodies. It is he alone who “ forgiveth all 
 “ our iniquities it is he alone who “ healeth all our 
 4 ‘ infirmities.” And the person who findeth his sin 
 
 cured,” hath a well-grounded assurance that it is 
 “ forgiven.” 
 
 4- Who redeemeth thy life from destruction ; who 
 crowneth , or , encircleth , thee with loving kindness and 
 tender mercies. 
 
 Man hath two “ liveshe is, therefore, subject to 
 a double “ destructionand, consequently, capable 
 of a twofold “ redemption.” He who is recovered 
 from sickness, and thereby redeemed from that de¬ 
 struction which natural death bringeth upon the 
 body, will undoubtedly sing this strain in transports 
 of gratitude; and he ought so to do. Eut what will 
 be the sensations of him who celebrates, in the same 
 words, the spiritual redemption of his soul from 
 
Day 20. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 181 
 
 death and destruction everlasting ! How is he “crown- 
 “ ed” with the loving kindness” of Jehovah ; how is 
 he “ encircled” by the arms of “ mercy !” “ Length 
 
 44 of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand 
 “ riches and honour :” never ending length of days 
 44 true 44 riches,” that abide for ever; and 44 the 
 44 honour which cometh from God 44 only.” 
 
 5 . Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so 
 that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 
 
 It is God who giveth us the 44 gQod things” of this 
 world, and who giveth us likewise an appetite and a 
 taste to enjoy them. It is God who restoreth a body, 
 emaciated by sickness, to bloom, vigour, and agility. 
 And he doth greater things than these. He 44 satis- 
 fieth” all the desires of the soul with a banquet of 
 spiritual dainties, and bestoweth on her a relish for 
 the same. By the renovating power of his Spirit, he 
 restoreth her from decrepitude, to the health and 
 strength of a young 44 eagle*,” so that she can ascend 
 up on high, and contemplate the splendour of the Sun 
 of Righteousness. Thus, at the day of the resurrec¬ 
 tion, clothed anew with salvation and glory, the body 
 likewise shall arise from the earth, and fly away as an 
 eagle toward heaven, to begin an immortal life, and 
 be for ever young. 
 
 6. The Lop.d execuicth righteousness and judgement 
 
 * Of all birds it is known jthat they have yearly their moulting 
 times, when they shed their old, and are afresh furnished with a new- 
 stock of feathers. This is most observable of hawks and vultures, 
 and especially of “ eagles,” which, when they are near an hundred 
 years old, cast their feathers, and become bald and like young ones, 
 and then new feathers sprout forth. Thus St Ambrose, “ Aquila 
 <4 longarn aetatem ducit, dum vetustis plumis >fatiscent|bus, nova pen- 
 '• <£ narum suecessione juvenescit.” Dr Ha:.imonij. 
 
JS2 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 103. 
 
 for all that are oppressed. 7. He ?nade known his 
 ways unto Moses , his acts unto the children of Israel . 
 
 From a consideration of his own particular case, 
 the Psalmist maketh a general reflection on that at¬ 
 tribute of God, w 7 hich inclineth him to deliver his 
 people, and to punish their oppressors, of w T hat kind 
 soever they be. And here that grand display of the 
 “ ways” and “ works” of Jehovah the redemption 
 of “ Israel” by the hand of “ Moses,” immediately 
 occurs, and is celebrated. Thus each private mercy, 
 w 7 hetner of a temporal or of a spiritual nature, should 
 remind us of that public and universal blessing of re¬ 
 demption by Jesus Christ, from which every other 
 blessing floweth, as a stream from its fountain, and 
 for w r hich God ought, therefore, upon all occasions, to 
 be praised and glorified. 
 
 8. The Lord is merciful and gracious , slow to an¬ 
 ger, and plenteous in mercy . 
 
 When Moses desired Jehovah to shew him his 
 “ w r ay” and his “ glory,” Exod. xxxiii. 13. 18. “ Je- 
 “ hovah passed by, and proclaimed himself, as here, 
 Jehovah, merciful, and gracious,” &c. Exod. xxxiv, 
 6. Flow 7 full of consolation to the penitent soul are 
 all the words of this verse ! The Lord “ is merciful,” 
 £1.1“!, the bow T els of his tender compassion yearn over 
 us, as those of a mother yearn over the child of her 
 womb ; “ yea, the woman may forget her sucking 
 “ child, yet can he not forget us :” Isa. xlix. 15. He 
 is “ gracious,” pin, ready to give us freely all things 
 that are needful for our salvation. He is “ slow to 
 “ anger,” bearing with the frow T ardness of his children, 
 with their provocations and relapses for 40, 50, 60, 
 70 years together, before he strikes the blow; giving 
 them, by this his long suffering, time for repentance. 
 And he is “ plenteous in mercy,” "Drop, great, mightv 
 
Day 20. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 183 
 
 “ in mercy,” placing his chief glory in this attribute, 
 and hereby teaching us how to estimate true great¬ 
 ness. 
 
 9. He vcill not always chide: neither' will he keep 
 his anger for ever, 10. He hath not dealt with us 
 after our sins ; nor rewarded us according to our ini¬ 
 quities, 
 
 God’s chastisements are some of the most eminent 
 proofs of his mercy. They are sent to reclaim us, 
 and to save us from eternal punishment. They con¬ 
 tinue not always, but are removed when they have 
 done their work; and while they last, are as nothing 
 in comparison of those heavy stripes which our sins 
 have deserved. 
 
 % 
 
 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth , so 
 great is his mercy towards them that fear him, 12. 
 As far as the cast is from the ivest , so far hath he re¬ 
 moved our transgressions from us, 13. Like as a fa¬ 
 ther pitidth his children , so the Lord pitieth them that 
 fear him. 
 
 We are here presented with three of the most 
 beautiful, apposite, and comforting similitudes in the 
 world. When we lift up our eyes, and behold around 
 us the lofty and stupendous vault of heaven, encir¬ 
 cling, protecting, enlightening, refreshing, and che¬ 
 rishing the earth, and all things that are therein, we 
 are bidden to contemplate in this glass the immeasur¬ 
 able height, the boundless extent, and the salutary in¬ 
 fluences of that mercy which, as it were, embraceth 
 the creation, and is over all the works of God. Often 
 as we view the sun arising in the east, and darkness 
 flying away from before his face towards the opposite 
 quarter of the heavens, we may see an image of that 
 goodness of Jehovah, whereby we are placed in the 
 regions of illumination, and our sins are removed and 
 
184 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 103. 
 
 put far away out of his sight. And that our hearts 
 may, at all tunes, have confidence towards God, he is 
 represented as bearing towards us the fond and tender 
 affection of a “ father,” ever ready to defend, to nou¬ 
 rish, and to provide for us, to bear with us, to forgive 
 us, and to receive us in the parental arms of everlast¬ 
 ing love. 
 
 14. For lie knoweth our frame; he remembereth 
 that we are dust, 15. As for man , his days are as 
 grass ; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth . 10. 
 
 For the wind passeth over it , and it is gone ; and the 
 place thereof shall know it no more. 
 
 The consideration of man’s frail and perishable 
 estate weighs with the Almighty, and prevails upon 
 him to spare his creature. And doth not the tear of 
 compassion start in the eye of him, who reads the de¬ 
 scription which David hath given of it in these verses ? 
 “ Man,” fallen, mortal man—“ his days are as 
 “ grass;” like that he cometh out of the earth, and 
 continuetli but a short time upon it; “ asa fiow 7 er of 
 “ the field,” fair but transient, “ so he” unfoldeth his 
 “ beauty in youth, and “ flourisheth” awhile in the 
 vigour of manhood; but, lo, in a moment, the breath 
 of Heaven’s displeasure, as a blighting “ wind passeth 
 over him, and he is gone ;” he boweth his drooping 
 head, and mingleth again with his native dust; his 
 friends and his companions look for him at the ac¬ 
 customed spot, which he once adorned—but in vain— 
 the earth has opened her mouth to receive him, and 
 “ his place sh&ll know him no more.” 
 
 17. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting 
 to everlasting upon them that fear him ; and his righ¬ 
 teousness unto children's children: 18 To such as 
 keep his covenant , and to . those that remember his com¬ 
 mandments to Uq them. 
 
Day 20. E. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 385 
 
 Let not man presume, who withereth like the green 
 herb; but then, let not man despair, whose nature, 
 with all its infirmities, tiie Son of God hath taken up¬ 
 on him. The flower which faded in Adam, blooms 
 anew in Christ, never to fade again. “ The mercy of 
 “ Jehovah,” in his Messiah, “ is everlasting;” and of 
 “ that everlasting mercy, poor frail man is the object. 
 It extendeth to all the generations of the faithful ser¬ 
 vants of God. Death shall not deprive them of its 
 benefits, nor shall the grave hide them from the effica¬ 
 cious influence of its all-enlivening beams, which shall 
 pierce even into those regions of desolation, and a- 
 waken the sleepers of six thousand years. Man must 
 pay to justice the temporal penalty of his sins; but 
 mercy shall raise him again, to receive the eternal re¬ 
 ward, purchased by his Saviour’s righteousness. A 
 passage in the First Epistle of St Peter doth most 
 admirably illustrate this part of our Psalm ; “ We 
 “ are born again not of corruptible seed, but of incor- 
 “ ruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and a- 
 “ bideth for ever.. For all flesh is grass, and all the 
 •* glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass wither- 
 “ eth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but the 
 “ word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is 
 “ the word which by the Gospel is preached unto 
 “ you.” 1 Pet. i. 23 , &c. 
 
 IQ. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the hea¬ 
 vens ; and his kingdom ruletli over all. 
 
 The glorious Person who worketh all these wonders 
 of mercy for his people, the word of God, and Savi¬ 
 our of the world, is triumphantly seated upon his 
 “ throne in heaven,” and is possessed of all power to 
 accomplish his will, even until all things shall be sub¬ 
 dued unto him. The glories of his throne, the bright¬ 
 ness of his excellent majesty, and the might of his jjv 
 
186 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 103. 
 
 resistible power, are described at large by St John, 
 Rev. iv. v. xix. 
 
 20. Bless the Lord, ye his angels , that excel in 
 strength , that do his commandments , hearkening unto 
 the voice of his word. 21. Bless ye the Lord, all ye 
 his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 
 22 . Bless the Lord, all his works , in all places of his 
 dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. 
 
 Joy is observed to be of a diffusive and communi¬ 
 cative nature. The heart of the Psalmist is full and 
 overxlowcth with it. Unable worthily to praise Jeho¬ 
 vah for his mercies vouchsafed to the church, he in- 
 viteth heaven and earth to join with him, and to cele¬ 
 brate, in full chorus, the redemption of man. St 
 John saw the throne of Messiah prepared; he beheld 
 the universal band assembled; and he heard when 
 “ all the angels round about the throne, ten thousand 
 iiir.es ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 
 “ with every creature in heaven, earth, and sea,” lift¬ 
 ed up their voices, and sang together, “ Blessing, and 
 “ honour, and glory, and power be unto him that sit- 
 “ teth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever 
 “ and ever.” 
 
 TWENTIETH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is an eucliaristic hymn, full of majesty and 
 sw r eetness, addressed to Jehovah, as Creator of the 
 world. It setteth forth his glory, wisdom, good¬ 
 ness, and power, displayed, 1—9. in the formation 
 
Day 20. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 187 
 
 of the heavens and earth; 10—18. in the various 
 provision made for beasts, and birds, and for man, 
 the Lord of all; 19—24. in the revolutions of the 
 celestial bodies, and the consequent interchanges of 
 day and night, of labour and rest; 25, 26. in the 
 sea, and every thing that moveth in or upon the 
 waters. 27—30. The dependence of the whole 
 creation upon God for its being and well-being, is 
 beautifully represented, with, 31, 32. the glory 
 which the Creator receiveth from his works, the 
 pleasure which he taketh in them, and the power 
 which he hath over them. 33. The Psalmist de- 
 clareth his resolution ever to praise Jehovah, and, 
 34. predicteth the destruction of those who refuse 
 
 As there is a similitude be¬ 
 
 er neglect to do so. 
 
 tween the natural and the spiritual creation, allu¬ 
 sions of that sort are frequently made in the ensu¬ 
 ing comment, which may, perhaps, point out the 
 reason why the church hath appointed this Psalm 
 to be used on Whit-sunday. 
 
 1 . Bless the Lord, O ray soul: O Lord my God , 
 thou art very great , thou art clothed with honour and 
 ‘majesty; Heb. ivith glory and beauty . 2. Who co- 
 
 verest thyself with light as with a garment; ivho 
 stretchest out the heavens like a curtain , i. e. of a tent , 
 or pavilion . 
 
 The Scriptures inform us, that the same Person, 
 who redeemed the world, did also create it. In the 
 ciid Psalm, as we are assured by St Paul, “ to the 
 “ Son it is said, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast 
 “ laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are 
 “ the works of thy hands.” To him, therefore, as 
 Creator, is the civth Psalm likewise addressed. He 
 is described as invested with “ the glory which he 
 
188 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 104 
 
 “ had with the Father before the world wasa 
 glimpse of which he vouchsafed to the three disciples, 
 who were present at his transfiguration, when “ his 
 “ face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white 
 “ as the light.” The first instance of his creating 
 “ power is afforded us by the “ heavens,” which form 
 a magnificent “ canopy or pavilion,” comprehending 
 within it the earth, and all the inhabitants thereof. 
 It is enlightened by the celestial orbs suspended in it, 
 as the holy tabernacle was, by the lamps of the gol¬ 
 den candlestick, and it was originally framed, erected, 
 and furnished by its Maker, with more ease than man 
 can construct and pitch a “ tent” for his own tem¬ 
 porary abode. Yet must this noble pavilion also be 
 taken down ; these resplendent and beautiful heavens 
 must pass away, and come to an end. How glorious 
 then shall be those “ new heavens,” which are to suc¬ 
 ceed them, and to endure for ever! 
 
 3 . Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the 
 waters: ivho maketh the clouds his chariot: who 
 walketh upon the icings of the wind. 
 
 The divine Architect is here represented as “ laying 
 the beams of his chambers,” as compacting his lofts 
 or stories, “ in the waters.” Some think the formation 
 of the terrestrial strata in the waters, which at the 
 beginning covered all things, is here alluded to. If it 
 be objected, tkat the Psalmist, in the course of his 
 description, is not yet arrived at the formation of the 
 earth, but is still in the upper regions of the air ; may 
 we not suppose that the subject is, in this particular, 
 a little anticipated, which is no uncommon case in the 
 sacred writings ? The generality of expositors, however, 
 interpret the passage of those dark waters, compacted 
 “ into thick clouds of the skies,” which the Almighty 
 is elsewhere said to make the “ secret place, or cham- 
 
Day 20. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 189 
 
 “ her” of his residence, and a kind of “ footstool” to 
 his throne. Ps. xviii. Q, 11. And thus, indeed, the 
 former part of our verse is plainly and immediately- 
 connected with what follows; “ who maketh the 
 “ clouds his chariot, and walketh upon the wings of 
 “ the wind,” How astonishingly magnificent and 
 tremendous is the idea which these words convey to 
 us, of the great king riding upon the heavens, encom¬ 
 passed with clouds and darkness, attended by the 
 lightnings, those ready executioners of his vengeance, 
 and causing the world to resound and tremble at the 
 thunder of his power, and the noise of his chariot 
 wheels ! By these ensigns of royalty, these emblems 
 of omnipotence, and instruments of his displeasure, 
 doth Jehovah manifest his presence, when he visiteth 
 rebellious man, to make him own and adore his ne¬ 
 glected and insulted Lord. See and compare Ps. xviii. 
 10. and the context. 
 
 4. Who maketh his angels spirits ; his ministers a 
 flam ing fire. 
 
 From the manner in which these words are intro¬ 
 duced, and the place where they stand, one should 
 conceive the meaning of them to he, that God em- 
 ployeth the elements of air and fire, the winds, Wfli, 
 and the lightnings, as his messengers, and mi¬ 
 
 nisters, to execute his commands upon the earth 
 But tire apostle, Pleb. i. 7 - informeth us, that they 
 have a further reference to immaterial angels; either 
 because those angels often appeared in the likeness, or 
 because they were endued with the properties, of 
 “ wind and flame.” Intellectual beings of the highest 
 order in the realms above, are as ready to fulfil the 
 
 * In the French translation it is— u who maketh the winds his 
 “ angels, the flaming fire his ministers.'” 
 
190 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 104. 
 
 word of Jehovah, as are the elements of this lower 
 world. Both teach a lesson of obedience to the sons 
 of men; to those of them more especially, who are 
 appointed “ angels of the churches, and ministers” of 
 Christ. 
 
 5. Who laid the foundations of the earth , that it 
 should not he removed for ever . 
 
 In the original it is, “ Who hath founded the earth 
 “ upon its basis.” The formation of this globe on 
 which we tread, is a wonderful instance of divine wis¬ 
 dom and power, whether we consider the manner in 
 which the parts of it are put and kept together, or its 
 suspension in the circumambient fluid, which, as some 
 philosophers suppose, by pressing upon it on every 
 side, forms so many columns, as it were, to support, 
 and keep it balanced. The words, “ that it should 
 “ not be removed for ever,” do by no means imply, 
 “ that the earth is stationary, or that it is eternal; 
 but only thus much, that it is so constructed, as to 
 answer the end, and to last the time, for which it was 
 created and intended. It shall continue the same in 
 itself, and with relation to other bodies, neither alter¬ 
 ing its shape, nor changing its course, till the day ap¬ 
 pointed for its dissolution; after which as there are 
 to be “ new heavens,” so will there ah o “ be a new 
 “ earth.” 
 
 6. Thou coverest it with the deep , as with a gar¬ 
 
 ment: the waters stood above the mountains. 7* At 
 thy rebuke they fled: at the voice of thy thunder they 
 hasted away . 8 . They go, or, went , up by the moun¬ 
 
 tains : they go, or, went, down by the valleys, unto the 
 place which thou hast founded for them . 9 . Thou hast 
 set a bound that they may not pass over: that they 
 turn not again to cover the earth. 
 
 Most interpreters suppose this to be a description 
 
Day 20. e. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 191 
 
 of the situation of things, and of what was effected 
 by the power of God, on the third day ©f the crea¬ 
 tion, when he said, “ Let the waters be gathered to- 
 “ gether into one place, and let the dry land appear ; 
 “ and it was so.” Indeed, the process at the creation 
 was so exactly similar to that at the deluge, with re¬ 
 gard to the circumstances here mentioned, that it mat¬ 
 ters not to which we apply the beautiful and truly 
 poetical passage before us. In both cases the earth 
 was covered with the waters, as with a garment, in 
 every part; in both cases, they fled at the Almighty 
 word, like the scattered remains of a routed army ; 
 from the heights of mountains, whether they had as¬ 
 cended, they sunk down into the valleys; from the 
 valleys they retired to the bed of the ocean, and a part 
 of them descended from thence into the great deep 
 that lieth beneath. Bounds were set them, beyond 
 which they should never pass, to overwhelm us any 
 more for ever. And the experience of 4000 years hath 
 taught us, that where the Creator hath laid his com- 
 • mands, plain sand is a sufficient barrier. Thus the 
 church hath been delivered from her spiritual ene¬ 
 mies; and she hath a promise, on which she may with 
 full confidence rely, that “ the gates of hell shall ne- 
 “ ver prevail against her.” 
 
 10 . He sendeth the springs into the valleys , which 
 run among the hills . 11. They give drink to every 
 
 beast of the field ; the wild asses quench their thirst . 
 
 The waters of the sea are not only prevented from 
 destroying the earth, but by a wonderful machinery, 
 are rendered the means of preserving every living 
 thing which moveth thereon. Partly ascending from 
 the great deep through the strata of the earth, partly 
 exhaled in vapour from the surface of the ocean into 
 the air, and from thence falling in rain, especially on 
 
 2 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 104-. 
 
 m 
 
 the tops and by the sides of mountains, they break 
 forth in fresh springs, having left their salts behind 
 them; they trickle through the valleys, between the 
 hills, receiving new supplies as they go; the} become 
 large rivers, and after watering, by their innumerable 
 turnings and windings, immense tracts of country, 
 they return to the place from whence they came. 
 Thus every animal hath an opportunity of quenching 
 that thirst, which must otherwise soon put a period 
 to its existence. The 44 wild asses” are particularly 
 mentioned, because they live in remote and sandy de¬ 
 serts; yet even such creatures, in such places, are by 
 the God of nature taught the way to the waters; in¬ 
 somuch that the parched traveller, when in search of 
 a fountain, findeth them to be the best guides in the 
 world, and needeth only to observe and follow the 
 herds cf them descending to the streams. In the spi¬ 
 ritual system or new 7 creation, there are wells of sal¬ 
 vation, living springs, w 7 aters of comfort, of which all 
 nations, even the most savage and barbarous, are in¬ 
 vited to come and drink freely. They flow among the 
 churches ; they descend into the hearts of the lowly ; 
 and they refresh us in the passage through the wilder¬ 
 ness : for even there 44 do waters break out, and 
 44 streams in t.ne desert.” Isa. xxxv. 6. 
 
 12 . By them shall the fowls of the air have their 
 habitation, which sing among the branches . 
 
 “ By them,” that is, by “ springs of w 7 ater,” in 
 the “ valleys,” the birds delight to have their habi¬ 
 tations, and to sing amidst the verdant branches, 
 which conceal them from our sight. “ The music of 
 “ birds,” as one hath w 7 ell observed, “ was the first 
 “ song of thanksgiving w 7 hich w 7 as offered on earth 
 “ before man was formed. All their sounds are dif- 
 44 ferent, but all harmonious, and altogether compose 
 
 3 
 
Day 20. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 193 
 
 “ a choir which we cannot imitate If these little 
 choristers of the air, when refreshed by the streams 
 near which they dwell, express their gratitude by 
 chanting, in their way the praises of their Maker and 
 Preserver, how ought Christians to blush, who, be¬ 
 sides the comforts and convenencies of this world, are 
 indulged with copious draughts of the water of eter¬ 
 nal life, if, for so great blessings, they pay not their 
 tribute of thanksgiving, and sing not unto the Lord 
 the songs of Sion! “ He that at midnight, when the 
 “ very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I have 
 “ often done, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the 
 “ natural rising and falling, the doubling and redoub- 
 “ ling, of the nightingale’s voice, might well be lifted 
 “ above earth, and say, Lord, what music hast thou 
 “ provided for the saints in heaven, when thou af- 
 “ fordest bad men such music upon earth !” Walton’s 
 Complete Angler, p. £)• 
 
 13. He watercih the hills from his chambers: the 
 earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works . 14. 
 
 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle , and herb 
 for the service of man: that he may bring forth food 
 out of the earth ; 15 . And wine that maketh glad the 
 heart of man, knd oil to make his face to slime , and 
 bread , which strengtheneth man's heart . 
 
 The fertility of the earth is owing to God, who 
 for that purpose “ watereth” it, “ 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 ; hence the grass, 
 which nourisheth the cattle, that they may nourish 
 the human race ; hence the green herb, for food and 
 
 * Wesley’s Survey of the Wisdom of God io the Creation, I. 149 , 
 
 VOL, TJ. 
 
 N 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 104*. 
 
 f94 
 
 for medicine; hence fields covered with corn, for the 
 support of life ; hence vines and olive-trees laden with 
 fruits, whose juices exhilarate the heart, and brighten 
 the countenance. Nor let us forget the spiritual be¬ 
 nedictions corresponding to these external ones; the 
 fruitfulness of the church through grace, the bread of 
 everlasting life, the cup of salvation, and the oil of 
 gladness. 
 
 16 . The trees of the Lord are full of sap ; the 
 cedars of Lebanon , which he hath planted. 
 
 The whole earth is a garden, planted by the hand, 
 and w atered by the care, of Jehovah. But in a more 
 especial manner is his glory set forth by the lofty 
 and magnificent cedars, -which, growing wild on the 
 mountain and in the forest, otve nothing to the skill 
 and industry of men. The moisture of the earth, 
 rarefied by the heat of the sun, enters their roots, 
 ascends in their tubes, and by due degrees expands 
 and increases them, till they arrive at their growth. 
 God hath also another garden, in which there are 
 other trees of his planting, called by Isaiah, ch. lxi. 
 3 . “ trees of righteousness.” These are his faithful 
 servants, wTo, through the Spirit which is given unto 
 them, become eminent and steady in goodness; their 
 examples are fragrant, and their charity diffusive. 
 
 17 . Where the birds make their nests : as for the 
 stork , the fir-trees are her house. 
 
 Most admirable is that vdsdom and understanding, 
 -which the Creator hath imparted to the birds of the 
 air, whereby they distinguish times and seasons, 
 choose the properest places, construct their nests with 
 an art and exactness unattainable by man, and secure 
 and provide for their young. “ Is it for the birds, O 
 44 Lord, who have no knowledge thereof, that thou 
 44 hast joined together so many miracles ? Is it for the 
 
Day 20. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 195 
 
 “ men who give no attention to them ? Is it for those 
 “ who admire them, without thinking of thee ? Ra- 
 “ tlier is it not thy design, by all these wonders, to 
 “ call us to thyself; to make us sensible of thy wis- 
 “ dom, and fill us with confidence in thy bounty, 
 “ who watchest so carefully over those inconsiderable 
 “ creatures, two of which are sold for a farthing * ?” 
 
 18 . The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats , 
 and the rocks for the coneys . 
 
 The same force of what we call instinct prevails in 
 terrestrial animals, and directs them to places of re¬ 
 fuge, where they may be safe from their enemies. 
 Thus the wild goats climb with ease to the tops and 
 crags of mountains, where they deposit their young. 
 And thus animals of another kind, which are more 
 defenceless than the goats, and not able to climb like 
 them, have yet a way of intrenching themselves, in a 
 situation perfectly impregnable, among the rocks f ; 
 we find them, on that account, numbered by Solo¬ 
 mon among the “ four” kinds of animals, which, 
 though “ little upon the earth, are exceeding wise. 
 “ The are but a feeble folk, yet make they 
 
 “ their houses in the rocks Prov. xxx. 26. They 
 
 m 
 
 who in themselves are “ feeble” and helpless, should 
 look out betimes for a mountain of refuge, and a 
 rock of safety. 
 
 19- He appointeth the moon for seasons : the sun 
 knoweth his go mg down. 
 
 From a survey of the w r orks of God upon earth, 
 the Psalmist proceedeth to extol that divine wisdom 
 which is manifested in the motions and revolutions of 
 
 * Wesley, as above. 
 
 f It is uncertain what species of animals is here intended by the 
 word o-asp. But is enough for our purpose, that they are creatures 
 remarkable fr securing themselves in the manner here mentioned. 
 
196 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 104. 
 
 the heavenly bodies, and in the grateful vicissitude of 
 day and night occasioned thereby. A beautiful pas¬ 
 sage in the book of Ecclesiasticus will, perhaps, be 
 the best comment on the former part of this verse: 
 “ He made the moon to serve in her season, for a de- 
 “ claration of times, and a sign to the world. From 
 “ the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth 
 44 in her perfection. The month is called after her 
 44 name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being 
 44 an instrument of the armies above, shining in the 
 44 firmament of heaven ; the beauty of heaven, the 
 4> glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the 
 44 highest places of the Lord ch. xlii. 6. .The latter 
 part of the verse expresseth the obedience of the 
 44 sun,” or 44 solar light,” to the law of its Creator; 
 it seemeth to 44 know” the exact time of its coming 
 on, and going oft', and fulfilleth the course prescribed 
 to it, without the least deviation. O that we who are 
 endowed with sense and reason, could in like manner 
 fulfil our course ; and that God’s will were 44 done on 
 44 earth,” as it is even 44 in” this lower and material 
 “ heaven 1” 
 
 20 . Thou makest darkness , audit is night ; wherein 
 all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. 21. The 
 young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat 
 from God. 
 
 Night and darkness invite the wild beasts of the 
 forest and desert from their dens and recesses, to 
 fc< seek” the 44 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 measure of its iniquities, the Sun of 
 Righteousness knoweth the time of his departure 
 from it; the light of the Gospel is darkened, and a 
 
Day 20. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 197 
 
 horrible night succeeds : the executioners of ven¬ 
 geance are in motion, and a commission from above 
 is given them to seize upon the prey. 
 
 22 . The sun arise th, they gather themselves toge¬ 
 ther , and lay them down in their dens. 23. Man ga¬ 
 rth forth to his work and to his labour, until the even- 
 ing. 
 
 At the return of day, the sons of ravage retire, and 
 sculk away to their several hiding-places, that man, 
 the lord of the creation, may arise, and perform, un¬ 
 molested, the task which his Maker hath appointed 
 him. When the light of truth and righteousness 
 shineth, error and iniquity fly away before it, and the 
 “ roaring lion” himself departeth for a time. Then 
 the Christian goeth forth to the work of his salvation, 
 and to his labours of love, until the evening of old age 
 warns him to prepare for his last repose, in faith of 
 a joyful resurrection. 
 
 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works ! In wis¬ 
 dom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy 
 riches. 
 
 Transported with a survey of the wonders which 
 present themselves in heaven above, and on earth be¬ 
 low, the Psalmist breaks forth into an exclamation 
 (and what heart hath not already anticipated him ?) 
 on the variety and magnificence, the harmony and 
 proportion, of the w r orks of God, in this outward, and 
 visible, and perishable world. What then are the 
 miracles of grace and glory? What are those invisible 
 and eternal things, which God hath prepared for them 
 that love him, in another and a better world, and of 
 which the things visible and temporary are no more 
 than shadows? Admitted To that place, where we 
 shall at once be indulged with a view O; all the divine 
 dispensations, and of that beatitude in which they 
 
198 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 104. 
 
 terminate, shall we not, with angels and archangels, 
 cry out, “ O Lord, how manifold are thy works ! Irh 
 “ wisdom hast thou made them all; heaven and earth 
 “ are full of thy riches, ar\d of thy glory 1” 
 
 25 . So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things 
 creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts, or, 
 living creatures. 26. There go the ships ; there is 
 that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein . 
 
 There is not in all nature a more august and strik¬ 
 ing object than the ocean. Its inhabitants are as nu¬ 
 merous as thou upon the land, nor is the wisdom and 
 the power of the Creator less displayed, perhaps, in 
 their formation and preservation, from the smallest 
 fish that swims, to the enormous tyrant of the deep, 
 the leviathan himself. By means of navigation, Pro¬ 
 vidence hath opened a communication between the 
 most distant parts of the globe ; the largest solid bo¬ 
 dies are wafted with inconsiderable swiftness, upon 
 one fluid, by the impulse of another, and seas join the 
 countries which they appear to divide. In the ocean 
 we behold an emblem of the world ; under a smooth 
 deceitful surface it conceals dangerous rocks, and de¬ 
 vouring monsters ; its waves are ever restless, and 
 oftentimes it is all over storm and tempest, threaten¬ 
 ing to overwhelm the helpless, despairing mariner, in 
 a moment; such is the voyage we have all to make, 
 ere we can reach the desired haven, and attain that, 
 happy clime, where, as we are told, there is “ no more 
 “ sea.” Rev. xxi. I. 
 
 27- These wait all upon thee : that thou mayest give 
 them their meat in due season. 28. That thou givest 
 them, they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are 
 filled with good. 
 
 In various ways hath God provided food for the 
 support of all living creatures, and directed them to 
 
Day 20. e, p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 199 
 
 seek, and to find it. How pleasing a speculation is 
 it, to consider the whole family of the air, earth, and 
 sea, as “ waiting upon” the Father and Lord of all 
 things, expecting when he should “ open his hand,” 
 and distribute to each member his “ portion of meat 
 “ in due season!” The case is the same with regard 
 to beings intellectual and spiritual, of which is com¬ 
 posed the church and family of Christ in heaven and 
 earth ; these wait all upon him, by whom Jehovah 
 hath opened the hand of mercy, and abundantly sup¬ 
 plied all our needs, through the riches of his grace. 
 
 29. Thou hidcst thy face , they are troubled: thou 
 takest away their breath , they die , and return to their 
 dust . 30. Thou sendest forth thy spirit , they are cre¬ 
 
 ated: and thou renewest the face of the earth . 
 
 When God, in the season of winter, seemeth to hide 
 his face, and to have withdrawn his beneficent influ¬ 
 ences, we hear the cries of the creation in distress ; if 
 he recal the breath of life from any creature, to which 
 he had communicated it, that creature presently 
 ceaseth to be what it was ; sense and motion are at 
 an end ; the form and figure of it perish ; and it is 
 resolved into its original dust. But again he exerteth 
 his quickening power, and, lo, fresh generations of 
 animals are produced ; fresh crops of vegetables shoot 
 forth to nourish them ; and there is a renovation of 
 universal nature. The presence of God, in like man¬ 
 ner, is the life, his absence is the death, of the soul. 
 If he withdraw his grace, we perish everlastingly ; but 
 when he “ sendeth forth his Spirit,” as he did on the 
 day of Pentecost, “ old things pass away, and all 
 “ things become new ;” the winter is over, and spring 
 succeeds in its place. Nay, the hour is coming, when 
 through the same .Spirit, he shall also quicken our 
 
200 A COMMENTARY Psalm 104, 
 
 mortal bodies, and thus, in a more evident and won¬ 
 derful manner, “ renew the lace of the earth.” 
 
 31. The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: 
 the Lord shall rejoice hi his works. 32. He looketh 
 on the earth , and it tremhleth ; lie toucheth the hills , 
 arid they smoke. 
 
 Such being the works of God, so manifold and so 
 marvellous, the prophet rbretelleth, that his “ glory,” 
 displayed and declared by the same, should “ endure 
 “ for everthat creatures would never be wanting, 
 to give him the praise and honour due unto him; in¬ 
 somuch that, graciously accepting this their tribute, 
 and pleased to find a proper return made him, Jeho¬ 
 vah should, as at the first creation, acquiesce and re¬ 
 joice in all his works and dispensations. In the mean 
 time, let the unruly and disobedient reflect upon the 
 greatness of his power, and the terrors of his ven¬ 
 geance, who with a look can shake the earth, and with 
 a touch can fire the mountains, as when he once 
 descended on Sinai. 
 
 33. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I 
 will sing praise unto rny God , while I have my being , 
 
 34. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be 
 glad in the Lord. 
 
 And who, O divine Psalmist, will not “ sing” with 
 thee, that hath an understanding to apprehend, and a 
 tongue to celebrate, the works of his Maker and Re¬ 
 deemer ? To whom will not thy heavenly meditations 
 be sweet as honey, fragrant as the breath of spring, 
 pleasant and cheering as the fruit of the vine? Who 
 doth not long to partake of thy spiritual joy, and holy 
 gladness ? 
 
 35 . Let the sinners , or, the sinners shall , be con¬ 
 sumed out of the earth , and lei the wicked , or, the 
 
Day 21. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 201 
 
 wicked shall, be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O 
 my soul. Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 “ The sinners,” and “ the wicked,” are they of 
 whom it is elsewhere said, that they “ consider not 
 “ the works of Jehovah, nor regard the operations of 
 “ his hands,” to give him praise and glory for them. 
 These shall one day experience the power of that God, 
 whose wisdom and goodness they would never ac¬ 
 knowledge. They shall be 44 consumed,” and “ perish 
 “ from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory 
 ■“ of his power, when he arisetli to shake terribly the 
 “ earth.” The Psalmist, therefore, endeth as he 
 began ; 44 Bless thou the Lord, O my soulad- 
 44 ding, by way of exhortation to us, and to all the 
 world, “ Praise ye the Lord.” Let us, then, with the 
 “ four and twenty elders, fall down before him that 
 44 sitteth upon the throne, and worship him that liveth 
 44 for ever and ever, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, 
 44 to receive glory, and honour, and power ; for thou 
 44 hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are 
 < 4 and were created.” Rev. iv. 10, 11. 
 
 i -L 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 / . H * • 
 
 PSALM CV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm, the first part of it at least, to verse 15 . 
 w'e know, from 1 Chron. xvi. to have been com¬ 
 posed by David, and given out on occasion of his 
 placing the ark of God on Sion. It containeth, 
 1 —8. an exhortation to praise Jehovah for his 
 works of mercy and power, wrought in favour of 
 Israel. 9—44. These are traced from their source, 
 namely, the covenant made with Abraham, through 
 
202 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 105. 
 
 the patriarchal history, to the deliverance of the 
 nation from the Egyptians, and its settlement in 
 Canaan; the end of all which, 45. is declared to 
 have been, that God might have a people to serve 
 him. The same is true of our redemption by Jesus 
 Christ, which was the grand subject of the promise 
 made to Abraham, and of which the temporal mer¬ 
 cies, vouchsafed to the patriarchs and their posterity, 
 were so many pledges and figures. 
 
 1 . O give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name; 
 make known his deeds among the people . 
 
 God who formerly resided in Mount Sion, vouch¬ 
 safing his presence in a tabernacle made with hands 
 hath since blessed the church with his appearance in 
 the flesh; and we Christians are bound to “ make 
 “ known his deeds,” and the mercies which he hath 
 wrought for us, “ among the peoplethat so all the 
 world may know him, and love him, and partake of 
 his salvation. 
 
 2 . Sing unto him , sing psalms unto him: talk ye of 
 all his wondrous works. 
 
 Music and conversation are two things, by which 
 the mind of man receiveth much good, or a great deal 
 of harm. They who make “ Jehovah” and his “ won- 
 “ drous works” the subjects of both, enjoy a heaven 
 upon earth. And they who do in reality love their 
 Saviour, will always find themselves inclined to “ sing 
 “ to him,” and to “ talk of him.” 
 
 3 . Glory ye in his holy name : let the heart of them 
 rejoice thai seek the Lord. 
 
 In whom should the redeemed “ glory,” exult, and 
 triumph, but in their Redeemer, who hath made him¬ 
 self one with them, that they may be one with him ? 
 They who “ seek” the Lord Jesus by prayer, should 
 
Day 21. m. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 203 
 
 do it with a cheerful and joyous heart, because better 
 it is to “ seek” him, than to find all things else; and 
 the soul that is brought to seek him will soon ex¬ 
 change the galling cares, and tormenting desires of 
 the world, for the light yoke and easy burden of her 
 Saviour, in whom she will find rest, and peace, and 
 comfort. Therefore, 
 
 4. Seek the Lord and his strength: seek his face 
 evermore . 
 
 By faith we find our Redeemer in this life, and ex¬ 
 perience the power and comfort of his grace; but 
 hope and love still seek, and wish, and aspire after the 
 sight and enjoyment of him in heaven, whither he is 
 ascended. 
 
 5. 'Remember his marvellous works that he hath 
 done , his wonders , and the judgements of his mouth : 
 
 6. O ye seed of Abraham his servant , ye children of 
 Jacob his chosen. 
 
 As an encouragement to “ seek Jehovah evermore,” 
 “ the seed 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 protect and deliver them, as also “ the judgements 
 “ of his mouth,” whether by this phrase we under¬ 
 stand the righteous laws given to his people, or the 
 denunciations and executions of vengeance against 
 their enemies. But, alas! “ the seed of Abraham” 
 kept not the faith of their great progenitor; “ the 
 “ children of Jacob” have forfeited the blessing which 
 their father obtained. We Gentiles have been, for a 
 long season, the adopted “ seed of Abraham,” and have 
 inherited the benediction of “ Jacob.” Let us not 
 forget the marvellous works” of God in Christ, and 
 the “ judgements of his mouth.” 
 
204 A COMMENTARY Psalm 1@3. 
 
 7. He is the Lord our God , his judgements are in 
 all the eay'th . 
 
 If Jehovah were the “ God” of Israel, on account of 
 what, in covenant, he promised and performed for 
 them, he is now the God of us all, on account of what 
 he promised and hath performed in Christ Jesus for 
 them and for us. If, when he settled Israel in Canaan, 
 “ his judgements” were manifested to “ all the earth,” 
 were they not manifested also when the Christian 
 church was established, and the idolatrous powers of 
 the world were overthrown by the Gospel ? 
 
 8. He hath remembered his covenant for ever , the 
 word which he commanded to a thousand generations . 
 
 9. Which covenant he made with Abraham , and his 
 oath unto Isaac: 10. And confirmed the same unto 
 Jacob for a law , and to Israel for an everlasting cove - 
 nant: 11. Saying , Unto thee will I give the land of 
 Canaan , the lot of your inheritance. 
 
 Upon bringing the ark to Mount Sion, David teach- 
 eth Israel to bless and praise God for his having “ re- 
 w membered his covenant,” made with an “ oath” to 
 their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that he 
 would, in due time, settle his people in the land of 
 Canaan. Now, it is very observable, that in the hymn 
 uttered by Zacharias, the Father of St John the Bap¬ 
 tist, on the subject of our redemption by Christ, thanks 
 are given to the Lord God of Israel, because he had 
 a remembered his holy covenant, and performed the 
 f< oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham.” 
 And what was that ? Why, “ that we being delivered 
 44 out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him 
 44 without fear, in holiness and righteousness.” But 
 'when, or where did God promise any such thing to 
 Abraham, except when he told him, 44 that his seed 
 “ should be in bondage four hundred years,” but that 
 
Day 21. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 205 
 
 *• the nation,” which detained them in bondage, should 
 afterwards be “ judged,” and that they should be 
 “ brought out,” and come to “ Canaan,” Gen. xv. 13. 
 where they were to “ serve” him ? The case seems to 
 be this : Zacliarias, under the immediate influence 
 and direction of the Holy Spirit, transfers the language 
 of the old dispensation to the affairs of the new one; 
 he celebrates the redemption of the world, by Christ, 
 from sin and death, in words which literally describe 
 the redemption of Israel from Egypt by Moses; to 
 teach us, that we should regard one as a sacramental 
 pledge and figure of the other ; that there is another 
 bondage, in which the people of God are held ; ano¬ 
 ther Moses, who is to deliver them ; another land of 
 promise and of rest, where they are to be settled. 
 This the Hebrews might have known, as St Paul tells 
 them, ITeb. iv. from a passage in the xcvth Psalm, 
 where, long after they had been in possession of Ca¬ 
 naan, David speaks of another “ day” of probation, 
 and another “ rest.” The Jev. 7 s have since had a me¬ 
 lancholy proof of the same thing, by being dispos¬ 
 sessed of that earthly inheritance, which they falsely 
 deemed to have beeii perpetual, and vainly regarded 
 as the end of all the promises, made to a “ thousand 
 “ generations,” that is (a definite number being put 
 for an indefinite), to them, and to us, and to “ as 
 “ many as the Lord our God shall call,” while the 
 world shall last. 
 
 12. When they were but a few men in number ; yea , 
 very few , and strangers in it. 13. When they went 
 from one nation to another , from one kingdom to ano¬ 
 ther people. 
 
 How v/onderful was the display of God’s wisdom 
 and power, in his choosing a single family, and that 
 a small one the members of which were literally 
 
206 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 105. 
 
 “ strangers and pilgrims upon earthin his promis¬ 
 ing to that family, in those circumstances, a large and 
 fertile country, where the thrones of many princes 
 were then firmly established; and, lastly, in his put¬ 
 ting them into actual possession of it, at the time ap¬ 
 pointed ! Thus the family of the holy Jesus was at 
 first, but small ; “ the members of it were a few, yea, 
 44 a very fewthey were sojourners in a land not 
 theirs; 44 they went from one nation to another 
 44 nay, they were accounted the 44 refuse of the world, 
 44 and the offscouring of all things.” Rut, 44 fear not, 
 44 little flock,” saith he unto them, 44 for it is your Fa- 
 44 ther’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom 
 Luke xii. 22. Let us view Israel brought into Ca¬ 
 naan, nor doubt but that believers shall inherit the 
 kingdom of heaven, and succeed to the thrones of 
 apostate angels. 
 
 14. He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea , he 
 reproved kings for their sakes ; 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; Gen. xx. Isaac, in a similar case ; Gen. xxvi. 
 Jacob from Laban; Gen. xxxi. and from his brother 
 Esau ; Gen. xxxiii. Yet, destitute as they were of 
 earthly help, the mightiest kings could not hurt them. 
 Their 44 ways pleased the Lord, and he made even 
 44 their enemies to be at peace with them.” Prov. 
 xvi. 7 * They were the typical 44 prophets, and Mes- 
 44 sias, or Christs of Jehovah ; and kings'were for- 
 
 * Ideo autem Christi sive Uncti dicuntur, quod essent et sacer- 
 dotes et reges : sumtna quippe potestate praediti, nullique obnoxii. 
 Hinc foedera aequo jure pacta cum regibus: liinc bella suscepta, et 
 quidem nutu suo, auspiciis, ut aiunt, suis. Gen. xiv. 21. Hinc Hethsei 
 ad Abrahamum : “ Audi nos, Domine: Princeps Dei es apud nos.'” 
 
Day 21. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 207 
 
 bidden to lift up a hand against them. Plow doth 
 the same kind Providence watch over the body and 
 the members of the true Christ ; how often hath it 
 interposed to protect and preserve them from the 
 powers of the world ! 
 
 1(3. Moreover he called for a famine upon the land; 
 he brake the whole staff of bread. 
 
 When Jacob had escaped other perils, we find him 
 and his family likely to perish with hunger. Gen. 
 _xlii. “ Famine” is here finely represented as a ser¬ 
 vant, ready to come and go, at the “ call” and com¬ 
 mand of God ; for calamities, whether public or pri¬ 
 vate, are the messengers of divine justice. “ Bread” 
 is the “ staff” which supports life ; when that staff is 
 
 broken,” the body fails, and sinks to the earth. The 
 word of God is the staff of spiritual life, the food and 
 support of the soul; and the sorest of heaven’s judge¬ 
 ments is that mentioned by the prophet Amos, ch. viii. 
 11. “ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, 
 
 “ that I will send a famine in the land ; not a famine 
 “ of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the 
 “ words of the Lord.” Such a famine was sore in all 
 lands, when Christ made his appearance in the flesh ; 
 whose advent, with the blessed effects of it, is wonder¬ 
 fully shadowed forth in the prophetical history of the 
 patriarch Joseph. 
 
 17. He sent a man before them , even Joseph , who 
 was sold for a servant; 18. Whose feet they hurt with 
 fetters ; he was laid in iron. 
 
 Ibid, xxiii. 6. nemini obnoxius, nisi Deo. Quo jure Isaacus et Ja¬ 
 cobus usi sunt. Gen. xxvi. &.c. Ad haec prophetae erant; ut hie, 
 et Gen. xx. 7. Quos omnes titulos unum Christi nomen complectitur. 
 Christi autem dieuntur. in typo Christi ipsius ab eis orituri. Bos- 
 3SUF.T. 
 
 O 
 
 ■■mt 
 
20S 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 105. 
 
 Joseph and Jesus were both envied, hated, and sold 
 by their brethren ; both suffered by a false accusa¬ 
 tion ; the former was laid in irons, the latter cruci¬ 
 fied, and confined in the prison of the grave, fast 
 bound with the bands of death. The wickedness of 
 man, in working its own will, did unwittingly accom¬ 
 plish the counsels of God. “ As for you,” saith Jo¬ 
 seph to his brethren, Gen. 1. 20. “ ye thought evil a- 
 ‘ 5 gainst me; but God meant it unto good, to bring 
 ‘ 4 to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” 
 And how doth St Peter address the brethren of that 
 other Joseph? 44 Plim, being delivered by the deter- 
 44 minate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have 
 44 taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and 
 44 slain—And now, brethren, I wot that through igno- 
 44 ranee ye did it—But those things which God before 
 44 had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that 
 44 Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.” Acts ii. 
 23. and iii. 17- 
 
 IQ. Until the time that his word came : the word of 
 the Lord triedxhim . 
 
 Joseph continued in prison, 44 until the time that 
 44 his word, or cause, *0,1, came” before the king, and 
 was 44 known,” according to our old translation; or, 
 44 until bis word,” or prediction concerning the chief 
 butler’s promotion 44 came to passfor this was the 
 means of Joseph’s enlargement and justification ; since 
 a person, guilty of the crime with which he stood 
 charged, would not have been inspired to foretel future 
 events. 44 Can we find,” said Pharaoh, such an one 
 44 as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” 
 “ Gen. xli. 38. I 11 the mean time, the 44 word,” com¬ 
 mandment, or decree, rHEK, 44 of the Lord tried him” 
 in the furnace of affliction, there refining and prepar¬ 
 ing him for his approaching exaltation to glory and 
 
 1 
 
Bay 21. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 209 
 
 honour. Thus was there a time appointed for the a- 
 
 4 
 
 bode of Jesus in the grave, at the expiration of which, 
 all his promises and predictions were fulfilled: he 
 came forth, “ made perfect through sufferings,” and 
 ready to “ enter into his glory.” 
 
 20. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler 
 of the people , and let him go free . 21. He made him 
 
 lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance ; 22. 
 To bind his princes at his pleasure , and teach his sena¬ 
 tors wisdom. 
 
 The circumstances of Joseph’s advancement, here 
 alluded to, are related, Gen. xli. &c. Those of our 
 Lord’s resurrection and glorification afford a marvel¬ 
 lous parallel. At the determined hour, “ The king” 
 of heaven “ sent” his angel, “ and loosed him” from 
 the bands of death; “ the Ruler of the 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 house, the church, and Ruler of all h s 
 “ substance” in heaven and in earth, that he might, 
 by his holy discipline, “ bind princes at his pleasure,” 
 and by his Gospel “ teach” true wisdom” to the “ se- 
 “ nators” and politicians of the world; he was clothed 
 with the robes of majesty, he was adorned with all the 
 ensigns of royalty, and to him it was ordained that 
 “ every knee should bow.” The storehouses of grace 
 and salvation were opened; the nations came to be 
 supplied by him with the bread of life; and we look 
 or that happy day when the Jews shall do the same, 
 and “ Joseph shall be made known to his brethren.” 
 
 23. Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob so¬ 
 journed in the land of Ilam , 24. And he increased his 
 
 people greatly; and made them stronger than their 
 enemies . 25. JIc turned their heart to hate his people , 
 
 to deal subtilely with Iris servants . 
 
 VOL. 11. o 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 106V 
 
 no 
 
 The Psalmist now exhibiteth to our view a fresh 
 scene of tribulation and affliction, which occasioned 
 repeated mercies, and a new deliverance. Israel, by 
 means of Joseph, obtained an establishment in Egypt. 
 But in process of time, the increase and prosperity of 
 Israel excited the envy and jealousy of Egypt, and 
 brought on a persecution. The kindness and love of 
 God to his people “ turned the hearts” of the Egypti¬ 
 ans against them, and caused animosity to take place 
 of friendship. A king arose who knew not Joseph* 
 and measures were concerted to keep the Hebrews 
 under; a royal edict was issued to prevent their in¬ 
 crease, by putting the males to death ; and the gene^ 
 ration then in being was reduced to a state of the 
 most abject servitude and cruel bondage. Such usage 
 the people of God have often experienced from the 
 world, at the instigation of him, who in Scripture is 
 styled, “ the prince of this world.” 
 
 26. He sent Moses his servant , and Aaron whom he 
 had chosen ... 27* They showed his signs among them , 
 and wonders in the land of Ha?n. 
 
 When the tyranny and oppression of Pharoah were 
 at the highest, and Israel cried unto Jehovah because 
 of the bondage, he remembered his promise to Abra¬ 
 ham, and sent Moses, with Aaron, to effect that migh¬ 
 ty deliverance, which was to be the. grand pledge and. 
 figure of our salvation by Jesus Christ. Of him Mo¬ 
 ses prophesied, when he said, “ A prophet shall the 
 “ Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, 
 like unto me.” Deut. xviii. 15. cited and applied, 
 Acts iii. 22. He came to rescue mankind from a spi¬ 
 ritual bondage, and to deliver all who were “ oppress- 
 “ ed by the devil:” Acts x. 38. he came at a time 
 when that oppression was most grievous among Jews 
 and Gentiles: his birth was signalized by an order 
 
Day 21. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 211 
 
 from another Pharaoh, to slay the infants; and Egypt 
 afforded him a refuge from the tyrant’s fury: he 
 wrought innumerable “ signs and wonders but 
 they were all signs of mercy, and wonders of love. 
 Those of terror and vengeance were reserved for a fu¬ 
 ture advent, foreshowed in the destruction of Jeru¬ 
 salem. 
 
 28. He sent darkness, and made it dark : and they 
 rebelled not against his word: or, and did they not still 
 rebel against his word ? 29. He turned their waters 
 
 into blood, and slew their fish . 30. Their land brough t 
 forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their 
 kings. 31. He spake, and there came divers sorts of 
 flies, Heb. a mixture came , and lice in all their coasts . 
 32. He gave them hail for rain and flaming fire in 
 their land. 33. He smote their vines also, and fig 
 trees ; and break the trees of their coasts. 34. He 
 spake, and the locusts came, and catterpillars, and that 
 without number ; 35* And did eat up all the herbs in 
 
 their land; and devoured the fruit of their ground , 
 36. He smote also all the first-born in their land, the 
 chief of all their strength. 
 
 Who can behold this army of divine judgements 
 thus passing in dreadful array before him, without 
 trembling very exceedingly at that power, which is 
 able to send them, singly, or in conjunction, upon a 
 sinful land ? Who can reflect upon their number and 
 variety, without adoring that goodness, patience, and 
 long suffering, which tried so many different methods, 
 and waited so long, to lead the offenders to repentance ? 
 For more particulars see the comment on Ps. lxxviii. 
 43—51. 
 
 37- He brought them, i. e. the people of Israel, 
 forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one 
 feeble person among their tribes. 38. Egypt teas glad 
 
 2 
 
212 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 106- 
 
 when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon 
 them. 
 
 The Israelites not only came forth from Egypt, but 
 came forth laden with the spoils of their enemies, 
 which they were commanded to take, by him who is 
 the absolute Loyd of all property, and who, as a righ¬ 
 teous judge, did thus award to his people the wages 
 due to their incredible labours, the Egyptians being 
 now willing and ready to furnish them with any¬ 
 thing required, in order to dismiss them. “ The E- 
 “ gyptians were urgent upon the people, that they 
 “ might send them out of the land in haste : for they 
 “said, We be all dead men.”. Exod. xii. 33. And 
 what was very extraordinary, among such a number 
 of men, women, children, and cattle, nothing was 
 weak and “ feeble,” nothing unable to perform the 
 journey. The order was, that “ not a hoof should be 
 “ left behind Exod, x. 26 . and he who commanded 
 gave strength to obey. Thou hast also enjoined us, 
 thy servants, O Lord, to quit Egypt and march for 
 Canaan; let thy grace invigorate us, from time to 
 time, so that we faint not by the way. 
 
 39- He spread a cloud for a covering ; and fire to 
 give light in the night. 40. The people- asked , and he 
 brought quails; and satisfied them with the bread oj 
 heaven. 4]. He opened the rock , and the waters 
 gushed out: they ran in the dry places like a river. 
 
 “ Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant 
 “ how that all our fathers were under the cloud ; and 
 “ were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud; and did 
 “ all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink 
 “ the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that 
 “ spiritual Rock that followed them ; and that Rock 
 “ was Christ.” 1 Cor. x. 1—4. In our passage 
 through tljis wilderness of life, over barren sands, and 
 
Day 21. e. f. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 213 
 
 amidst fiery serpents, be thou, blessed Lord, our guide 
 and our guard ; protected by thy providence, support¬ 
 ed by thy word, and refreshed by thy Spirit, lead us 
 even where, and in what manner, it shall seem good 
 to thee y only do not thou forsake us, and we ask no 
 more. 
 
 42. For he remembered his holy promise, and Abra¬ 
 ham his servant. 43- And he brought forth his people 
 with joy, and his chosen with gladness. 
 
 The same God hath since “ remembered again his 
 “ promise to Abrahamhe hath visited his people, 
 and redeemed them from the bondage of sin, under 
 the tyranny of Satan; which redemption they daily 
 celebrate in the church, with “ joy and gladness,’’ 
 waiting for their final deliverance from death and the 
 grave, when they are to sing in heaven “ the song of 
 “ Moses 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 observe his statutes , and keep his laws. Praise 
 ye the Lord. 
 
 It was not, therefore, intended that the Israelites 
 should regard Canaan as their paradise, and look no 
 farther; but that, being rescued from their enemies, 
 and settled in peace and plenty, they should improve 
 the opportunity, thereby afforded them, of serving the 
 Lord their God, and of securing to themselves, through 
 the obedience of faith, an inheritance in “ a better 
 ‘‘ country that is to say, an heavenly.” And let all 
 the children of faithful Abraham, whose lot hath fall¬ 
 en in “ a land flowing with milk and honey,” upon 
 earth, reflect, that God hath given them riches, and 
 the leisure which riches procure, not for the purpose 
 of indulging and corrupting themselves and others, 
 but that they may glorify him. benefit their jicigh- 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 100’. 
 
 214 
 
 bours, and save their own souls; “ that they may ob- 
 “ serve his statutes, and keep his laws.” Israel was 
 delivered by Moses, and the church redeemed by 
 Christ, that God might “ purify to himself a peculiar 
 “ people, zealous of good works.” Tit. ii. 14. 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST DAY_EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Psalmist here again commemorates the divine 
 benefits, upbraiding withal the ingratitude of those 
 -who received them. 1, 2. He exhorteth men to 
 the praise of Jehovah ; 3—5. proclaimetli the bless¬ 
 edness, and longeth for the felicity of the saints ; 6. 
 confesseth the sins of Israel, and giveth a detail of 
 their rebellions ; 7—12. at the Red Sea; 13—15. 
 when they lusted for flesh in the wilderness; 16— 
 18. in the matter of Korah; 19—23- in that of the 
 golden calf; 24—27* at the report of the spies ; 
 28—31. in the affair of Baal-peor; 32, 33* at the 
 waters of Meribah ; 34—39- in not destroying ido¬ 
 latry, but being seduced by it. 40—46. God’s fre¬ 
 quent judgements, and as frequent mercies, are re¬ 
 lated ; 47* a prayer is made, that Jehovah would 
 gather Israel from among the Heathen, which shows 
 the Psalm to have been written during some capti¬ 
 vity or dispersion. The . last verse contains an act 
 of blessing and praise. 
 
 * 
 
 1. O give t/iafiks unto the Lord, for he is good, for 
 his mercy endureth for ever. 
 
Bay 20. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 215 
 
 In the person of a penitent nation, the prophet in¬ 
 vites mankind to “ give thanks unto Jehovah” for 
 that “ goodness” which preventeth us, with blessings, 
 and for that “ mercy” which forgiveth our transgres¬ 
 sions ; that mercy which was shown to our fore- 
 fathers upon their repentance, and will “ ever,” be 
 shown, upon the same condition, to us and our pos- 
 rity; that mercy which will bring sin and misery to 
 an end, itself continuing eternal and unchangeable. 
 
 2. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord ? 
 who can shew forth all his praise ? 
 
 But who is sufficient for a work that demandeth the 
 “ tongues and harps of angels ? “ When you glorify 
 
 the Lord,” saith the son 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 strength 
 “ and be not weary, for you can never go far enough.’ 
 Ecclus. xliii. 30* 
 
 3. Blessed are they that keep judgement; and he 
 that doeth righteousness at all times . 
 
 Next to angels, they are blessed and qualified to 
 praise God with the voice, who glorify him in their 
 lives; who having experienced in themselves the 
 “ mighty acts” of mercy, pardoning the guilt, and 
 breaking the power of sin, are become the servants of 
 Jesus, and render to their Saviour “ at ail times,” in 
 adversity no less than in prosperity, the due tribute 
 of unfeigned love and obedience. 
 
 4. Remember me , O Lord, with the favour that 
 
 thou bearest unto thy people ; 0 visit me with thy sal- 
 vat urn. 5. ! hat T may see the good o f thy chosen ; 
 
 that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation ; that 
 1 may glory with thine inheritance . 
 
 The Psalmist offereth a prayer for himself, or 
 rather for the church of Israel, that she, with him- 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 106. 
 
 216 
 
 self, might partake of such blessedness. The words 
 might have a reference to a temporal restoration 
 and felicity; but they certainly extend much farther, 
 and form the most spiritual and heavenly petition 
 that the devoutest Christian can prefer to the throne 
 of grace. 66 Remember me, O Lord, with the fa- 
 44 vour” which thou hast always shewn to 44 thy peo- 
 44 pie,” in whom thou hast delighted from the foun¬ 
 dation of the world, and on whom it is thy good 
 pleasure to confer a glorious kingdom. 44 O visit 
 46 me with thy salvation,” with which so many pa¬ 
 triarchs, prophets, and kings, have desired to be 
 visited, the salvation of thy Christ, the justifler of 
 all them that believe, and the rewarder of his saints : 
 44 that I may see the good of thy chosen,” their fe¬ 
 licity in beholding thy countenance, and living for 
 ever in thy presence ; 44 that I may rejoice in the 
 44 gladness of thy nation,” the unspeakable gladness 
 of those who enter into the joy of their Lord ; 44 and 
 64 glory with thine inheritance,” singing hallelujahs 
 before thine everlasting throne, in the Jerusalem 
 which is above. The Israelitish church, when in 
 
 . * * '■ i - » • • * 
 
 peace and tranquillity, serving her God, and chant¬ 
 ing the songs of Sion, afforded a very lively repre¬ 
 sentation of this eternal felicity. 
 
 6. We have sinned with our father's : we have com¬ 
 mitted iniquity ; we have done wickedly . 
 
 They who have joined with the prophet in his af¬ 
 fectionate aspiration after the divine favour, may 
 here learn the surest way to attain it; namely, by 
 confessing their own sins, and those of their ances¬ 
 tors. 44 We have sinned with our fathers,” that is, 
 after their example of unbelief and disobedience, of 
 which an account immediately followeth. The fa¬ 
 thers’ sins are often reflected in their children, and 
 
Day 21. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 217 
 
 each new reflection, instead of being weaker, is 
 stronger than the foregoing ; as in the case of the 
 J ews. 
 
 7. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; 
 they remembered not the midtitude of thy mercies ; but 
 provoked him at the sea , even at the Red Sea. 
 
 The Israelites did not profit, as they should have 
 done, by the miracles wrought f r them in Egypt; 
 they increased not in the wisdom and knowledge of 
 God their Saviour; but when they saw' themselves 
 pursued lay Pharaoh, their faith failed, they mur¬ 
 mured against Moses, and wished themselves again 
 in the bondage from which they were just delivered : 
 Exod, xiv. 10, kc. Thus, when the penitent find- 
 eth himself beset with difficulties and dangers; 
 when he seeth before him that death unto sin, 
 through w T hich he must pass to a life of righteous¬ 
 ness, while the devil and the world follow hard after 
 him, to destroy or bring him back to a more cruel 
 bondage, how apt is he to forget all that Christ hath 
 done for him 1 Fear puts out the light of faith, and 
 hides the prospect of the promised land; imagina¬ 
 tion recalls the former gratifications of sense; he 
 is tempted to regret the desertion of Egypt, and to 
 wish for a return to it again. 
 
 8. Nevertheless , he saved them for his name's sake ; 
 
 that he might make his mighty power to be known . 9. 
 
 He rebuked the Red Sea also , and it was dried up : so 
 he led them through the depths , as through the wi lder¬ 
 ness. 10. And he saved them from the hand of him 
 that hated them : and redeemed them from the hand of 
 the enemy. 11. And the waters covered their enemies : 
 there was not one of them left. 12. Then believed they 
 his words ; they sang his praise. 
 
21S 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 106 . 
 
 Comforted and encouraged by VIoses, the armies 
 of Israel advanced to the shore ; and, ]•., the waves, 
 at the lifting up of the powerful rod, instantly 
 parted, and, like so many well-disciplined troops, 
 arranging themselves in two columns, disclosed a 
 new and strange path, by which the people of God 
 were conducted, in perfect security, to the opposite 
 shore; when the waters, falling down, and reas- 
 suming their ancient habitation, overwhelmed the 
 infidel host, and left not a man to carry the news to 
 Egypt. Through all the difficulties and dangers of 
 the Christian course, faith will ever find a way 
 opened, by the power of Jesus, from sin to righte¬ 
 ousness, and from death to life : the enemies of our 
 salvation, how formidable soever, shall disappear, 
 and be no more ; and we shall sing, like Israel, a 
 song of triumph to the Lord our God 
 
 13. They soon for gat his works , Heb. They made 
 haste , they for gat his works ; they waited not for his 
 counsel . 14. But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness , 
 
 and tempted God in the desari . 15. And he gave them 
 
 their request; but sent leanness into their souls . 
 
 Soon after the Israelites had experienced the 
 power and goodness of Jehovah, at the Red Sea, we 
 find them murmuring against him, Exod. xv 24. 
 They grew impatient, they looked upon themselves 
 as forgotten, and given over to destruction. They 
 loathed manna, and required flesh ; flesh was sent N 
 them, on which they surfeited themselves; the 
 wrath of God smote them, and many were carried 
 off by a grievous plague : Numb xi 4. 33. Let us 
 learn to wait God’s time and counsel, for the sup¬ 
 ply of necessaries, much more of conveniences ; re¬ 
 membering that he hath given us his Son, and there¬ 
 fore will not deny us such inferior corporeal bless* 
 
Day 21. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 219 
 
 ings, as he foreseeth will really prove blessings to 
 ns. Let us be duly thankful for that “ bread 
 “ which cometh down from heaven,” cautious how 
 we request the good things of this world, and strict¬ 
 ly temperate in the use ol them when given. 
 
 16. i hey envied Moses also in the camp , and Aaron 
 the saint of the Lord. 17. The earth opened , and 
 swallowed up Bath an , and covered the company of 
 A hi) am 8. And a fire was kindled in their company ; 
 the fame burnt up the wicked. 
 
 Moses *and Aaron were the divinely appointed 
 governors of Israel, in church and state. Lnvyand 
 ambition led Korah, Dathan, and A biram, to accuse 
 the former of tyranny, anti the latter of priestcraft. 
 Jehovah was appealed to, a day appointed, and a 
 decision made. One bodv of the malcontents went 
 down alive into the pit, another was consumed by 
 fire from heaven : Numb. xvi. Let schismatics 
 and rebels beware of that “ pit,” which is bottom¬ 
 less, and of that “ fire, 5 ’ which shall never be 
 quenched. 
 
 19. They made a calf in Horeh , and worshipped the 
 molten image . 20. Thus they changed their glory into 
 
 the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. 21, They for- 
 gal God their Saviour , which had done great things in 
 Egypt: 22. Wondrous works in the land of Ham , and 
 terrible things by the Red Sea. 
 
 While the terrible presence of God abode upon 
 Mount Sinai, and Moses was gone up thither to re¬ 
 ceive the law, even then, and there, “ at Horeb,” 
 the people apostatized to the old favourite sin of 
 idolatry, and persuaded Aaron to make them a 
 cc calf,” or cc ox,” before which they prostrated them¬ 
 selves, acknowledging it, or the power represented 
 by it, whatever that was, to have been the author 
 
220 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 106 . 
 
 of their deliverance from Egypt; Exod. xxxii.: 
 “ for as to Moses, they knew not what was become 
 of him,” nor ever expected to see him any more. 
 Thus they exchanged their “ glory,” the glory 
 which had accompanied them in the mystic cloud, 
 nay, which was then present before their eyes on 
 the top of the mount, “ for an image made like to 
 “ a four footed beast,” as it is said of the Heathen 
 in their worst estate; Rom. i. 23. and thus they 
 forgat Jehovah, who had wrought his works and 
 wonders for them in Egypt and at the Red Sea. It 
 is to be hoped, we shall never live to see a time, 
 when the miracles of our Redemption shall be for¬ 
 gotten ; when the return of Jesus Christ from hea¬ 
 ven shall be despaired of; and when the people 
 shall solicit their teachers to fabricate a new phiIo T 
 sophical deity, for them to worship, instead of the 
 God of their ancestors, to whom glory hath been 
 ascribed, from generation to generation. 
 
 23. Therefore he said that he would destroy them , 
 had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach , 
 to turn away his wrath , lest he should destroy them. 
 
 When we hear Jehovah saying to Moses, on ac¬ 
 count of his people’s monstrous ingratitude, and 
 atrocious wickedness, “ Let me alone, that my wrath 
 “ may wax hot against them, and that I may con- 
 cc sume them, and I will make of thee a great na- 
 cc tion when we hear Moses, notwithstanding 
 this, interceding for his countrymen, with the of¬ 
 fended Majesty of heaven ; urging to Cod the glory 
 of his name, the relation in which he stood to Is¬ 
 rael, the covenant he had made with their fathers ; 
 and if they must be cast off, desiring himself to 
 perish with them ; “ if thou wilt, forgive their sin ; 
 
 and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book 
 
Day 21. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 221. 
 
 “ which thou hast written how are we astonished 
 at an instance of such invincible fortitude, fervent 
 piety, unadulterated patriotism, triumphant faith, 
 and unbounded charity \ Once, and but once, was 
 this instance exceeded, bv Him, in whose name the 
 intercession of Moses was made and accepted ; who, 
 really taking upon himself the sins of his people, 
 suffered the vengeance due to them ; and who is 
 now at the right hand of God interceding for us all. 
 See Exod. xxxii. 10—14, and 32. 
 
 24. Yea, they despised the pleasant land; they be¬ 
 lieved not his word ; 25. But murmured in their tents , 
 
 and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord. 26. 
 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them , to over¬ 
 throw them in the wilderness. 27. To overthrow their 
 seed also among the nations , and to scatter them in the 
 lands . 
 
 The history here alluded to is contained in Numb, 
 xiii. and xiv. The spies brought back a favourable 
 account of the promised land and its productions, 
 but. communicated to the people those terrible ap¬ 
 prehensions, with which themselves were possessed, 
 concerning the power of the Anakims, and other in¬ 
 habitants of Canaan. Infidelity presently discovered 
 itselfby its usual fruit, disobedience. They thought 
 they should never be able to surmount all these dif¬ 
 ficulties, but should become a prey, with their wives 
 and children, to the sword; and a return to Egypt 
 was once more the cry of the camp of Israel. 
 Therefore did Jehovah “ lift up his hand against 
 “ them he declared, that none of the generation 
 then in being, Joshua and Caleb only excepted, 
 should enter into his rest, but that they should fall 
 in the wilderness, without setting foot in that plea¬ 
 sant and most desirable land. Discomfiture and 
 ✓ 
 
222 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 106 . 
 
 dispersion were also threatened to their posterity, 
 that is, if they should goon in the same spirit of re¬ 
 bellion, and fill up the measure of their fathers’ ini¬ 
 quities : which they have since done, and are ac¬ 
 cordingly cc overthrown among the nations, and 
 “ scattered among the lands’’ to this day. But do 
 not thou suffer us, O Lord, to despise that “ plea- 
 “ sant land,’ which thou designedst to be the inhe¬ 
 ritance of thy saints; whatever obstructions may 
 be thrown in our way, suffer us not, through sloth 
 and cowardice, to “ disbelieve thy word,’ to doubt 
 the accomplishment of thy promises, or to “ mur- 
 * c mur” against thy dispensations. 
 
 28 . They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor , and 
 ale the sacrifices of the dead. 29. Thus they provoked 
 him to anger with their inventions ; and the plague 
 brake in upon them. dO. Then stood up Phinehas , and 
 executed judgement; and so the plague was stayed . 
 SI. And that was counted unto him for righteousness , 
 unto all generations for evermore . 
 
 By Balaam’s advice, Numb. xxxi. 16 . the Moab¬ 
 ites and Midianites sent their daughters among the 
 people of Israel, who soon yielded to the tempta¬ 
 tion, and fornication ended in idolatry; nay, per¬ 
 haps it might be a part of the Moabitish ritual; as 
 we know it was among the religious services paid 
 bv the latter Heathens to some of their deities. By 
 the “ sacrifices of the dead,” may be meant sacri¬ 
 fices which were offered either to dead idols, or to 
 men deified after death. To punish this apostacy, 
 the wrath of Jehovah went forth, and 24,000 perish¬ 
 ed by the plague, which at length ceased, when 
 Phinehas had ci executed judgement” upon Zimri 
 and Cosbi, who seemed, indeed, to call aloud for 
 it, by indulging their lawless passions in the midst 
 
Day 21. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 223 
 
 of so grievous a calamity, at a time when the whole 
 congregation were humbling themselves before God 
 at the door of the tabernacle. u Wherefore,” saith 
 God, “ behold 1 give unto him my covenant of 
 “ peace; and he shall have it, and his seed after 
 “ him, even the covenant of an everlasting priest- 
 cc hood, because he was zealous for his God, and 
 cc made atonement for the children of Israel 
 Numb. xxv. 12. It is most probable, as Dr Ham¬ 
 mond observes, that Phinehas, being the son of 
 Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was one of the judges of 
 Israel ; and if so, he had a clear commission for 
 what he did, from Moses, ho had “ said to the 
 “ judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his man, that 
 “ were joined to liail-peor Numb. xxv. 5. The 
 case of Phinehas, therefore, is no precedent for un¬ 
 commissioned zealots. In general we learn from 
 this part of the sacred history, how acceptable to 
 God is a well-timed zeal for his service ; as also, 
 how dangerous it is to converse too freely with those 
 of the other sex, especially when they have been 
 educated in a false religion, or in no religion at all. 
 
 32. They angered him also at the waters of strife^ so 
 that it went ill with Moses for their sakes : 33. Be¬ 
 
 cause they provoked his spirit , so that he spake unad¬ 
 visedly with his lips . 
 
 This instance of disobedience was, in point of 
 time,prior to that mentioned in the preceding verses. 
 It is related, Numb. xx. 2—13. The spirit of Mo¬ 
 ses, though he was the meekest man upon earth, 
 was so exasperated and imbittered by continual 
 murmurings and rebellions, that he is charged with 
 6C not having believed God, to sanctify him in the 
 cc eyes of the children of Israel ; ’ and he was, on 
 that account, denied the honour of bringing them 
 
 o 
 
 •J 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 106. 
 
 224 
 
 into the land of promise. He had been commanded 
 to smite the rock, that water might come forth. In 
 anger he smote it twice, thus upbraiding the peo¬ 
 ple: “ Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you 
 water out of this rock ? ’ He showed not that af¬ 
 fiance in God, that disposition to glorify him before 
 his people, which became him in the execution of 
 his office. cc The wrath of man” found admission, 
 and that “ worketh not the righteousness of God.” 
 Thou, blessed Jesus, art the only perfect pattern of 
 patience and love ; O grant to all, but above all, 
 to the pastors of thy flock, a “ spirit” not easy to 
 be provoked,” and lips not hasty to 6C speak unad- 
 visedly ” 
 
 34. They did not destroy the nations , concerning 
 whom the Lord commanded them: 35. But were 
 
 mingled among the heathen , and learned their works . 
 36. And they served their idols ; which were a snare 
 unto them . 
 
 When the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, it 
 pleased God to extirpate the race, and Israel w^as 
 commissioned to execute upon them the vengeance 
 determined. Bat the conquerors suffered them¬ 
 selves frequently to be seduced into all the abomi¬ 
 nations of the conquered, and spared their idola¬ 
 trous altars, till themselves came to bow down be¬ 
 fore them. Judg. ii. 2, 3. The Canaanites, against 
 whom we Christians militate, are our lusts, which, 
 if they are spared and treated with, will prove “ a 
 snare” to us, and in time become our masters. 
 Mercy shewn to them is cruelty to ourselves, and 
 will always be found so in the end. 
 
 37. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daugh¬ 
 ters unto devils: 38. And shed innocent blood, even 
 
 the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they 
 
 ‘ 1 
 
Day 21. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 22$ 
 
 sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan : and the land was 
 polluted with blood . 
 
 It is plain, that the “ devils,” mentioned in the 
 former of these two verses, are “ the idols of Ca- 
 “ naan,” mentioned in the latter. The word trans¬ 
 lated “ devils, 1 ” is'O’HtP, literally, “ the pourers 
 “ forth by which it is highly probable, that the 
 idolaters meant the great agents of nature, or the 
 heavens, considered as giving rain, causing the earth 
 to send out springs, and to put forth her increase, 
 vegetables to yield and nourish their fruit, and ani¬ 
 mals to abound with milk, for the subsistence of 
 their young 1 *. Idolatry being a work of the devil, 
 it is true, in fact, that what is offered to an idol, is 
 offered to the devil; though the word, doth 
 
 by no means imply it. We stand astonished, doubt¬ 
 less, at this horrid, barbarous, and unnatural impiety, 
 of offering children by fire to a Moloch : but how 
 little is it considered, that children brought up in 
 the ways of ignorance, error, vanity, folly, and vice, 
 are more effectually sacrificed to the great adver¬ 
 sary of mankind ! 
 
 39. Thus were they defiled with their own works , 
 and went a whoring with their own inventions . 40. 
 
 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against 
 his people ; insomuch that he abhorred his own inheri¬ 
 tance. 41. And he gave them into the hand of the hea¬ 
 then , and they that hated them ruled over them . 42. 
 Their enemies also oppressed them , and they were 
 brought into subjection under their hand. 43. Many 
 times did he deliver them , but they provoked him with 
 their counsel , and were brought low for their iniquity .. 
 
 * See the account given of the word by the learned and ingenious 
 Mr Parkhurst, in his excellent Hebrew-Englbh Lexicon. 
 
 vol. ir. f 
 
226 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 106 . 
 
 44. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction , when he 
 heard their cry . 45. he remembered for them his 
 covenant , and repented according to the multitude of his 
 mercies . 46. fYe made them also to be pitied of all those 
 that carried them captives . 
 
 This is an epitome of the history of the Israelites, 
 from the time when they took possession of Canaan, 
 downwards. Transgressions brought on chastise¬ 
 ments ; chastisements produced repentance ; and 
 repentance obtained mercy. For their last and 
 grand rebellion against the Son of God, and their 
 King Messiah, whom they murdered, the sore bur¬ 
 den of heaven’s displeasure hath now rested upon 
 the nation these seventeen hundred years ; but their 
 eyes are not yet opened; their hearts have not, 
 hitherto, relented. How hath the “ wrath of Je- 
 “ hovah been kindled against his people, insomuch 
 u that he hath abhorred his own inheritance How 
 hath he “ given them into the hand of the Hea- 
 cc then, and caused them that hated them to rule 
 C€ over them !” How have their enemies oppressed 
 <c them how have they been “ brought into sub- 
 “ jection under their hand! Nevertheless, O Lord, 
 4t regard their affliction, when thou hearest their 
 “ crygrant them repentance first, and then par¬ 
 don ; “ remember for them thy covenantlet them 
 change their mind, and do thou “ change thy pur- 
 <c pose, according to the multitude of thy mercies ; 
 <c make them also to be pitied of all those that have 
 
 carried them captives cause them, upon their 
 conversion, to find favour in the eyes of the nations; 
 and do Thou, who hast so long been “ a light to 
 “ lighten the Gentiles , 99 become once more “ the 
 “ glory of thy people Israel/’ 
 
Day 21. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS, 
 
 227 
 
 47. Save us, O Lord our God , and gather us from 
 among the heathen , to give thanks unto thy holy name , 
 and to triumph in thy praise . 
 
 It appears from this verse, that the Psalm was 
 written at a time when Israel was in captivity 
 cc among the Heathen.” Such will be the petition 
 of the Jews hereafter to him whom they crucified; 
 and such is now the petition of the Christian church, 
 that the elect may be finally gathered together, and 
 united in one congregation, cc to give thanks unto 
 “ the name, and triumph for ever in the praises, of 
 “ Jesus.” 
 
 48. Blessed he the Lord God of Israel from ever¬ 
 lasting to everlasting ; and let all the people say , Amen . 
 Praise ye 'he Lord. 
 
 At all times, in all places, and by all persons, on 
 earth and in heaven, in prosperity and in adversity, 
 peace or persecution, “ the Lord God of Israel,” 
 the Saviour and Redeemer of his church, is to be 
 ct blessed nor can any situation exempt a believer 
 from saying, “ Amen, Hallelujah,” that is, from 
 blessing God, himself, and exciting others to do the 
 
 .same. 
 
 * 
 
 TWENTY-SECOND DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CVII. 
 
 4 • ' 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The redeemed of the Lord are exhorted in this 
 Psalm, 1—3. to praise him for his goodness in re¬ 
 deeming and gathering them from the four quar¬ 
 ters of the world. Their danger and their de¬ 
 liverance are represented under the four striking 
 images, 4—9. of travellers lost in a wilderness. 
 
225 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 107, 
 
 but directed and conducted home ; 10—16. of 
 prisoners rescued from captivity ; 17—22. of sick 
 and dying men restored to health ; 23—32. of 
 mariners preserved in a storm at sea, and brought 
 safe into port. 33 —41. Some other instances of 
 God’s providence in the government of the world, 
 and of the church, are adduced and insisted on, 
 for, 42. the consolation of the righteous, and, 43. 
 the instruction of all. 
 
 1. O give thanks loito the Lord,^?* he is good , for 
 his mercy endurethybr ever. 2. Let the redeemed of 
 the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemedfrom the hand 
 of the enemy: 3. And gathered them out of the lands 9 
 
 from the east , and from the west , from the north , and 
 from the south . 
 
 Eternal mercy is the theme here proposed ; and 
 they who have tasted its sweets are invited to join 
 in setting forth its praises. The members of the 
 Christian church are now, in the most proper and 
 emphatical sense of the words, “ the redeemed of 
 “ Jehovah, whom he hath redeemed from the hand 
 “ of the enemy, and gathered them,” by the Gospel, 
 out of all lands, and from all the four quarters of the 
 world, to form a church, and to supply the place of 
 the apostate Jews ; whose forefathers experienced, 
 in type and shadow, the good things prepared for 
 them and for us, in truth and substance. “ Many,” 
 saith our Lord to the Jews, ct shall come from the 
 “ east, and from the west, and from the north, and 
 <c from the south, and shall sit down in the king- 
 “ dom of God—and ye yourselves shall be thrust 
 “out:” Matt. viii. 11. Luke xiii. 29 . We, con¬ 
 verted Gentiles, are the happy people ; and we are 
 
Day 22. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 229 
 
 taught in this Psalm to celebrate that mercy which 
 made us so. 
 
 4. They wandered in the wilderness , in a solitary 
 way, they found no city to dwell in. 5 . Hungry and 
 thirsty , their soulfainted in them. 6. Then they cried 
 unto the Lord in their trouble , and he delivered them 
 out of their distresses. 7. And he led them forth by the 
 right way , that they might go to a city of habitation . 
 
 The spiritual blessings of redemption are repre¬ 
 sented by the Psalmist under four exquisitely beau¬ 
 tiful and expressive images; which images are 
 themselves four special acts of God’s providential 
 care and love, shown toward the bodies of men in 
 the world ; corresponding with as many works of 
 grace, wrought on the souls of believers, in the 
 church. The first of these pictures exhibiteth to 
 our view a set of travellers lost in a pathless desart, 
 and well nigh famished through want of necessary 
 provisions. They make their distresses known by 
 prayer to Jehovah, and, lo, he appears, as their 
 guard, and their guide ; he supplies all their neces¬ 
 sities upon the journey, and conducts them in safe¬ 
 ty to their place of abode. Thus he dealt with Is¬ 
 rael of old, in their passage, through the waste and 
 howling wilderness, from Egypt to Canaan. And 
 thus he is ready to deal with us all. “ The world,” 
 saith Lord Bolingbroke *, “ is a great wilderness, 
 cc wherein mankind have wandered about from the 
 cc creation—We are not only passengers or sojourn- 
 “ ers, but absolute strangers at the first steps we 
 “ make in it.” We are so, indeed ; and too often, 
 through our own fault, continue such to the last; 
 we find not the way which leads to heaven, nor, if 
 
 * Reflections on History, vol. i. p. 244. and 1*71. 
 
$30 A COMMENTARY Psalm 107. 
 
 we did find it, have we strength to travel in it, with- 
 our, the viaticum which cometh from thence, and 
 which alone can bring us thither. Fervent and 
 importunate prayer to the God of our salvation 
 will procure, from above, knowledge to dispel our 
 ignorance, and grace to help our infirmities; the 
 former will discover 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 habi- 
 “ tation.” 
 
 8. O that men would praise the Lord for his good¬ 
 ness, and for his wonaerfui works to the children of 
 men l Q. For he satisfieth the longing , or, thirsty , 
 soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness . 
 
 The former of these two verses is a chorus, repeated 
 after the celebration of each of the four mercies here 
 
 i . . , v 
 
 related. Literally it is, “ Let them acknowledge to 
 “ Jehovah his mercy, and his wonders for the children 
 “ of Adam.” And w T hat can better deserve our ac¬ 
 knowledgement, than the provision made for the bodies 
 anu souls of Christian travellers, in their way to that 
 heavenly country and city, “ where they shall hunger 
 “ no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the 
 “ sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb 
 “ which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, 
 “ and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: 
 “ and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” 
 Rev. vii. 16 . 
 
 10- Such as sit in darkness , and in the shadow of 
 death , being hound in affliction and iron: 11. Because 
 they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned 
 the counsel of the Most High: 12. Therefore he 
 brought down their heart with labour ; they fell down , 
 and there was none to help. 13 . Then they cried unto 
 the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of 
 
Day 22. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 231 
 
 their distresses . 14- He brought them out of darkness , 
 
 and the shadow of death , and brake their bands in 
 sunder . 15. O that men would praise the Lord for 
 
 his goodness , and for his wonderful works to the chil¬ 
 dren of men! 16 . For he hath broken the gates of 
 
 brass , and cut the bars of iron in sunder . 
 
 In this second piece of divine scenei’y, we behold a 
 people groaning under all the miseries of captivity, 
 deprived of light and liberty, chained down in horrid 
 dungeons, and there expecting the day of execution. 
 These calamities they are represented as having 
 brought upon themselves by their rebellion against 
 God, who takes this method of humbling them. It 
 succeeds, 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 frees 
 them from the house of bondage. To a state of 
 corporal servitude the Israelites, for their transgres¬ 
 sions, were frequently reduced, and many times 
 experienced, upon their repentance, the goodness of 
 Jehovah in rescuing them from it. But the grand 
 and universal captivity is that of sin and death ; the 
 grand and universal deliverance, for which all the 
 redeemed of the Lord ought to praise his mercy, is 
 that by Jesus Christ. Adam and all his posterity 
 “ rebelled against the words of God, and contemned 
 “ the counsel of the Most High.” By so doing, they 
 subjected themselves to a slavery the heaviest and 
 bitterest of all others. The devil led them captive at 
 his will, and set over them their own insatiable lusts 
 and passions, as so many taskmasters, to afflict, and 
 keep them under. By these the soul is confined so 
 close in prison, and bound with so 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 state 
 
232 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 107. 
 
 how truly may it be said, and how often in Scripture 
 is it said, under these and the like figures, “ They sit 
 “ in darkness, and in the shadow of death, being fast 
 “ bound in misery, and bands stronger than iron— 
 “ He also brought down their heart through heaviness, 
 “ they fell down, and there was none to help !” 
 sense of this his woful condition forces the sinner to 
 “ cry unto the Lord Jesus in his trouble,” and to say, 
 “ O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me 
 “ from this body of death !” Bring my soul out of 
 “ prison, that I may give thanks unto thy name.’’ 
 And now his prayer is heard, the grace of Christ 
 cometh to his assistance, and he is made “ free 
 “ indeed.” His chains, like those of St Peter, fall off 
 at the word of his deliverer ; he is “ saved out of his 
 distress“ he is brought out of darkness and the 
 “ shadow of death,” into the glorious light and liberty 
 of the sons of God. The joy consequent upon such a 
 deliverance will be exceeded only by that which shall 
 take place in the hearts, and be expressed by the voices 
 of the redeemed, on the day when Christ shall accom¬ 
 plish the redemption of their bodies also, as he bath 
 already effected that of his own, from the power of 
 the grave; when he shall dash in pieces the brazen 
 gates and adamantine bars of that prison-house, put 
 an end for ever to the bondage of corruption, and lead 
 captivity captive into the highest heavens. 
 
 17 . Fools , because of thair transgressions , and bc~ 
 cause of their iniquities , are afflicted . 18. Their soul 
 
 abhorreth all manner of meat , and they draw near unto 
 the gates of death . 19- Then they cry unto the Lord 
 
 in their trouble , and he saveth them out of their dis¬ 
 tresses. 20. He sent his word and healed them , and 
 delivered them from their destruction . 21 . O that 
 
 men would praise the Lord for his goodness, arid for 
 
Day 22. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 23a 
 
 his wonderful works to the children of men! 22. And 
 let them sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving , and 
 declare his works with rejoicing . 
 
 The recovery of men from sickness affords a third 
 image of the benefits conferred on our nature, by the 
 Redeemer. Sickness, as we are here informed, is the 
 punishment of human folly and iniquity. When it is 
 extreme, it deprives man of all relish and appetite for 
 his food; nay, it makes him loathe and detest the 
 very sight and smell of that which should nourish and 
 support him; in which case, he must waste away, 
 and soon “ draw near to the gates of death.” But 
 from those dreadful gates the power of God can snatch 
 us when we are just about to enter them. To an 
 infirm and emaciated body ho can restore health, 
 strength, and beauty; for diseases are his ministers 
 and messengers; they visit us at his command, and 
 at his command they retire, and we recover again. 
 The Israelites in the wilderness, 44 because of their 
 64 transgressions, and because of their iniquities, were 
 44 often afflicted” with a plague. But when they re¬ 
 pented, and atonement was made, the plague ceased. 
 They were stung by fiery serpents; but when they 
 u cried unto Jehovah, he sent his word, and healed 
 44 them.” 44 They were troubled,” as the author of 
 the book of Wisdom observes, 44 for a small season, 
 44 that they might be admonished, having a sign of 
 44 salvation to put them in remembrance of the com- 
 44 mandment of thy law. For he that turned himself 
 44 towards it, was not saved by the thing that he saw. 
 44 but by thee who art the Saviour of all.” Wisdom 
 xvi. 6 , 7- Sentence of death was passed upon Hezc- 
 kiah ; he already saw himself at 44 the gates of the 
 44 grave,” and expected no more to 44 behold man with 
 * 4 the inhabitants of the world.” Yet his prayer pi:c- 
 
28 4 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 107. 
 
 vailed for a respite, and fifteen years were added to 
 his life. Isa. xxxviii. Now the mind, by reason of 
 sin, is not less subject to infirmities than the body. 
 These infirmities reduce a man to a state of languor 
 and listlessness ; he finds himself incapable of action, 
 indisposed for the reception of divine truths, without 
 taste for knowledge, or inclination for virtue ; he even 
 nauseates the book of God, and the bread of heaven ; 
 and the life of faith is in great danger. But the case 
 is not desperate, while there is breath enough left to 
 call in, by prayer, the great Physician of spirits. The 
 most inveterate malady gives place to his elficacious 
 medicines ; appetite revives, health returns, and the 
 believer is reinstated in the vigour and beauty of holi¬ 
 ness. Let all who have been thus “ healed, and saved 
 “ from destruction,” either of body or soul, “ acknow- 
 “ ledge to Jehovah his mercy, and his wonders 
 “ wrought for the children of Adam : let them sacri- 
 “ fice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his 
 44 works with rejoicing.” 
 
 23 . They that go down to the sea in ships , that do 
 business in great wavers: 24- These see the works of 
 the Lord, and his wonders in the deep . 25. For he 
 
 commandeth , and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth 
 up the waves thereof \ 26 . They mount up to heaven , 
 
 they go down again to the depths, their soul is melted 
 because of trouble . 27 . They reel to and fro, and 
 stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end ; 
 Heb all their wisdom, or skill, is swallowed up. 
 28. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble , and 
 he bringeth them out of their distresses . 20 . He 
 
 maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are 
 still. 30. Then are they glad because they be quiet; 
 so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 * O 
 that men would praise the Lord for his goodness , and 
 
Day 22. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 355 
 
 for his wonderful works to the children of men! 
 32 . Let them exult him also in the congregation of the 
 people , and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 
 
 The fourth similitude chosen to portray the dangers 
 of our present state, and the goodness of God dis¬ 
 played in our salvation, is taken from that signal 
 instance of the divine power and providence, the pre¬ 
 servation of mariners in a storm at sea. The descrip¬ 
 tion which the Psalmist hath given us of such an event 
 admitteth of no comment. Experience alone can il¬ 
 lustrate its beauty, evince its truth, and point out the 
 propriety of the circumstances which are selected to 
 furnish us with a full and complete idea of the whole. 
 Few of us, indeed, are ever likely to be in that terri¬ 
 ble situation. But then we cannot help reflecting, 
 that there is a ship, in which we are ail embarked ; 
 there is a troubled sea, on which we all sail; there 
 are storms, by which we are all frequently overtaken; 
 and there is a haven, which we all desire to behold and 
 to enter. For the church is a ship ; the world is a 
 sea ; temptations, persecutions, and alflictions, are the 
 waves of it; the prince of the power of the air is the 
 stormy wind winch raises them; and heaven is the 
 only port of rest and security. Often during the 
 voyage, for our punishment, or our trial, God per- 
 mitteth us to be thus assaulted. The succession and 
 the violence of our trouble, the elevations and depres¬ 
 sions of mind and fortune, the uncertainty of our 
 counsels, and our utter inability to help ourselves, are 
 finely represented by the multitude and impetuosity 
 of the waves, the tossings and agitations of the vessel, 
 the confusion, terror, and distress among the sailors. 
 In both cases, prayer is the proper effect, and the only 
 remedy left. With the earnestness of affrighted ma¬ 
 riners, who will then be devout, though they never 
 
236 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 107. 
 
 were so before, we should “ cry unto the Lord Jesus 
 “ in our troublewe should, as it were, “ awake” 
 him, like the disciples, with repetitions of “ Lord, 
 “ save us, we perish !” Then will he arise, and re¬ 
 buke the authors of our tribulation, saying unto them, 
 “ Peace, be still;” and they shall hear and obey his 
 voice. “ He will make the storm a calm, so that the 
 “ waves thereof shall be stilland at length he will 
 “ bring us” in peace, joy, and gladness, “ to our de- 
 “ sired haven,” there to “ exalt him in the congrega- 
 “ tion” of his chosen, and “ praise him in the” great 
 “ assembly” of saints and angels. This is the con¬ 
 summation so devoutly wished and requested by the 
 church for all her children, at the time of their bap¬ 
 tism, that they, “ being delivered from God’s wrath, 
 “ mav be received into the ark of Christ’s church; 
 
 •j y 
 
 “ and, being steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, 
 “ and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this 
 44 troublesome world, that finally they may come to 
 44 the land of everlasting life.” Thus w T e see there is 
 no spiritual 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 conduct us thither. Are we bound 
 with the chains of sin and death ? He will loose and 
 deliver us. Are our minds diseased and languid ? 
 He will heal and invigorate them. Are we in danger 
 of being overwhelmed by the troubles of the world ? 
 He will preserve us in the midst of them, until he bid 
 them cease. Of his power and inclination to do these 
 things for our souls, he hath given assurance to all 
 men, by those pledges of his love, the benefits and 
 blessings conferred on the bodies of his people, in lead¬ 
 ing them through the wilderness to Canaan; in 
 rescuing them so often from the miseries of captivity : 
 
Bay 22. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 237 
 
 # 
 
 in healing their diseases ; and in saving those of them 
 who “ did business in great waters,” from the perils 
 of the sea. Certainly the mind of man cannot have a 
 nobler subject for meditation in this world, than the 
 wonders of providence, considered as representing the 
 mercies of redemption. 
 
 33. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the 
 water springs into dry ground. 34* A fruitful land 
 into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell 
 therein. 35. He turneth the wilderness into a standing 
 water, and dry ground into water springs ; 36 . And 
 there he maketh the hungry to dwell , that they may 
 prepare a city for habitation ; 37* And sow the fields, 
 and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. 
 38 . He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied 
 greatly, and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. 
 
 In this latter part of the Psalm, the prophet farther 
 exemplifieth the power, the justice, and the goodness 
 of God: his power, in being able to change the very 
 nature of things ; his justice and his goodness, in so 
 doing, either to punish the rebellious, or to reward 
 the obedient. A well watered and fertile country 
 shall, for the sins of its inhabitants, be converted into 
 a dry and a barren one. The plain of Jordan, which, 
 before the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, was 
 4 ‘ well watered every where, like the garden of Je- 
 “ hovah,” Gen. xiii. 10. hath, since that overthrow, 
 been a land of salt and sulphur, and perpetual sterility. 
 Nay, even the once fruitful palestine itself, that flowed 
 with milk and honey, is at this day a region of such 
 utter desolation, that the very possibility of its ever 
 having sufficed to maintain the people who formerly 
 possessed it, is now called in question. And, indeed, 
 while the rain of heaven shall continue to be in the 
 hand of God, how easy it is for him, by withholding 
 
238 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 107. 
 
 it during a few months, to blast all the most promising 
 hopes of man; and, instead of plenty, joy, and health, 
 to visit him with famine, pestilence, and death 1 On 
 the other hand, when the ways of a people please him, 
 he can rid them of these dreadful guests; the rain 
 shall descend from above, the springs shall rise from 
 beneath, the earth shall yield her increase, the cattle 
 shall feed in large pastures, the seasons shall be kindly, 
 the air salutary, and the smiling face of nature shall 
 attest the loving kindness of the Lord. Thus, in the 
 dispensations of grace, hath he dealt with Jews and 
 Gentiles. The synagogue of the former, once rich in 
 faith, watered with the benedictions of heaven, fruit¬ 
 ful in prophets and saints, adorned with the services 
 of religion, and the presence of Jehovah, hath been, 
 since the murder of the Son of God, cursed with infi¬ 
 delity, parched like the withered tops of the moun¬ 
 tains of Gilboah, barren and desolate as the land of 
 their ancient residence, whose naked rocks seem to 
 declare to all the world the hard-heartedness and un¬ 
 profitableness of its old possessors. When the “ fruit- 
 “ ful field” thus became a “ forest,” the “ wilderness,” 
 at the same time, became a “ fruitful field.” A 
 church was planted in the Gentile world, and the 
 “ Spirit was poured out upon it from on high.” In 
 that “ wilderness did waters break out, and streams 
 “ in that desert.” There was faith sown, and holiness 
 was the universal product. “ The wilderness and the 
 “ solitary place was glad, and the desert rejoiced, and 
 “ blossomed as the rose. It blossomed abundantly ? 
 “ and rejoiced even with joy and singing ; the glory 
 “ of Lebanon was given unto it, the excellency of 
 “ Carmel and Sharon ;” the privileges and honours of 
 the synagogue were conferred* upon the church ; and 
 the nations now “ saw the glory of Jehovah, and the 
 
Day 22. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 239 
 
 “excellency of God:” Isa. xxxii. 15. xxxv. 1, 2. 
 Spiritual increase, health and plenty, spiritual peace, 
 joy and happiness, appeared in beauteous and lovely 
 procession, and the blessing of Jesus was upon this his 
 new inheritance in every way. 
 
 39. Again they are minished and brought low , 
 through oppression , affliction , and sorrow . 40 . He 
 poureth contempt upon princes , and causeth them to 
 wander in the wilderness , where there is no icay, 
 41 . Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction , and 
 maketh him families like a flock. 
 
 But let not those who have received the largest 
 share of heaven’s favours therefore boast and presume. 
 The continuance of those favours dependeth upon the 
 continuance of their fidelity and obedience. Mighty 
 empires, with their “ princes,” have, for their wicked¬ 
 ness, been 44 brought low” by the arm of Jehovah, 
 and laid in the dust, while nations “ poor” and feeble, 
 and never thought of, have 44 been taken from thence, 
 41 and exalted over them.” What revolutions have, 
 in like manner, happened, and probably are still to 
 happen, in the church ! Jerusalem is fallen, through, 
 unbelief; and the Gentile church standeth only by 
 faith, from w r hich, if she depart, vengeance will be 
 executed on her likewise. Yet, even in the worst 
 of times, there is a promise, that 44 the poor” in 
 spirit, the faithful and humble disciples of the holy 
 Jesus, shall be preserved from the evil, and 44 set on 
 41 high from affliction yea, that they shall be mul¬ 
 tiplied 44 like a flock,” under the care of the goo^ 
 shepherd, to preserve his name, and to continue a 
 church upon the earth, until he shall return again. 
 
 42 . The righteous shall see it, and rejoice ; and all 
 iniquity shall stop her mouth . 
 
 Two consequences will follow from this alternate 
 
 3 
 
240 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 107, 
 
 display of the mercy and the judgement of God. The 
 righteous finding themselves still the objects of the 
 former, will have cause to rejoice and give thanks; 
 and the wicked, when visited with the latter, will be 
 forced, by their silence at least, to own that their 
 punishment is just. This will certainly be the case 
 at the last day, when the dispensations of God, and 
 the perfect rule of equity observed in them, shall be 
 manifested to all the world. 
 
 43* Whoso is wise and will observe these things, 
 even they shall understand the loving kindness of the 
 Lord : or, Who is wise ? and he will observe these 
 things ; and they shall understand the loving kindness 
 of the Lord. 
 
 A truly “ wise” person will treasure up in his heart 
 the contents of this most instructive and delightful 
 Psalm. By so doing, he will fully “ understand” and 
 comprehend the weakness and wretchedness of man, 
 and the power and “ loving kindness” of God, who, 
 not for our merit, but for his mercy’s sake, dispelleth 
 our ignorance, breaketh off our sins, liealeth our infir¬ 
 mities, preserveth us in temptations, placeth us in his 
 church, enricheth us with his grace, shelteretli us 
 from persecution, blesseth us in time, and will crown 
 us in eternity. 
 
 TWENTY-SECOND DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CVIIL 
 
 f **. : 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm is composed of parts taken, without any 
 material alteration, from two others. The first 
 five verses occur in Ps. Ivii. 7—11. 5 the last eight 
 
 1 
 
Day 22. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 241 
 
 are found in Ps. lx. 5—12. The reader is therefore 
 referred to the exposition already given of those 
 Psalms. 
 
 PSALM CIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 St Peter, Acts i. 20. hath taught us to apply the 
 predictions in this Psalm to the betrayers and mur¬ 
 derers of Messiah, who is, consequently, the person 
 here speaking, and, 1—5. complaining of the inju¬ 
 ries which he suffered from them; after which, 
 6—20. he forewarneth them of all the judgements 
 and sore calamities that should come upon them 
 and their posterity ; 21—25. he returneth to the 
 subject of his passion ; 26 — 29 * repeateth his sup¬ 
 plications for himself and his church; and, 30, 31 . 
 concludetn with an act of praise.—In this light was 
 the Psalm considered and interpreted in the ancient 
 church, by Chrysostom, Jerome, Augustine, Theo- 
 doret and others. 
 
 • . , • 
 
 1. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise: i. e. 
 
 tv ho art the subject of my praise. 2. For the mouth 
 of the wicked, and the mouth of the deceitful, are 
 opened against me; they have spoken against me 
 with a lying tongue . 3. They compassed me about 
 
 also with words of hatred; and fought against me 
 without a cause. 4 . For my love, they are my adver¬ 
 saries ; but I give myself unto prayer . 5. And they 
 have rewarded me evil for good , and hatred for my 
 love. 
 
 The holy Jesus, in these words, maketh supplica¬ 
 tion to the Father for redress and deliverance. He 
 complaineth of the manner in which he w T as treated, 
 VOL. IX. *) 
 
242 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 109, 
 
 when “ he came unto his own, and his own received 
 “ him notJohn i. li. Sometimes “ the mouth of 
 “ the wicked was opened upon him*,” roaring against 
 him, like the roaring of lions, while they cried out, 
 “ He is a Samaritan and hath a devil, and is mad; 
 “ away with him, aw r ay with him, crucify him, cru- 
 “ cifyhim.” Sometimes, “deceitful and lying tongues” 
 were employed, either to entangle and entrap him in 
 his walk, or to bear false witness against him. And 
 all this was done, not only “ without a cause,” hut 
 men were his bitter and implacable “ adversaries,” in 
 return for that “ love” which brought him from hea¬ 
 ven,** to save them with an everlasting salvation. Let 
 the afflicted and traduced disciple rejoice, in that he 
 is conformed to the image of his Master. And from 
 the example of that Master let him learn what course 
 to take, when in such circumstances—'“ But I give 
 “ myself unto prayer.” 
 
 G. f Thou wilt set a wicked man , or, the wicked 
 one , over him, and Satan shall stand at his right 
 hand. 7. When he is judged , he shall he condemned y 
 and his prayer shall become sin. 
 
 A transition is here made to the adversaries of 
 Messiah : primarily to Judas, “ who w T as guide to 
 “ them that took you;” Acts i. 16 . secondly to the 
 synagogue, of whom Judas may be considered as an 
 epitome and representative. It is foretold, that by 
 
 * Haec autem cecinit David spiritual! sensu in persona Christi 
 Judaeis impetiti ©mnimodis blasphemiis. Bossuet. 
 
 •f- As most of the following verbs are in the future tense, and the 
 rest have evidently a predictive and future import, the same liberty 
 is here taken, as in Ps. lxix* of rendering them throughout uniformly 
 in that tense •, by which means the curses pronounced in this Psalm 
 will at once appear to be of the same import with those in the xxviiith 
 chapter of Deuteronomy. The reader is entreated, when he sh. " have, 
 perused the Psalm, to turn to that chapter and judge for himself. 
 
Day 22. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 24 S' 
 
 betraying and murdering- the best of Masters, they 
 should subject themselves to the tyranny of the worst; 
 that they should become slaves to the “ wicked one,” 
 who should justly be “ set over them,” when they 
 had delivered themselves into his hands: that “ Satan,” 
 who had stood by them to tempt them, should “ stand 
 “ at their right hand” to accuse them at the tribunal 
 of God; that when tried, they would be convicted 
 and “ condemned,” and even their “ prayer” would 
 be abomination in the sight of the Lord, as being of¬ 
 fered without true contrition and repentance, without 
 faith, hope, or charity. Such is the wretched state 
 of the Jews, estranged from God, and in bondage to 
 the devil; such the prayers, which, from hardened 
 and malignant hearts, they continually utter, for the 
 excision of all Christians, and for the extirpation of 
 that blessed Name, on which Christians call. These 
 prayers, instead of lightening the burden of their sins, 
 certainly add to its weight. Enable us, O Lord 
 Jesus, to resist Satan as a tempter, that he may not be 
 our accuser ; and grant us always so to pray, that our 
 prayers may be heard. 
 
 S. His days shall be few; and another shall take 
 his office. 
 
 This is the verse which St Peter hath cited and ap¬ 
 plied in his discourse-to the disciples, at the election 
 of Matthias into the place of Judas. “ Men and 
 brethren, this scripture must needs have been ful¬ 
 filled, which the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of Da¬ 
 vid spake before concerning Judas, who was guide 
 “ to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with 
 us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now 
 this man purchased a held with the reward of ini¬ 
 quity, and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the 
 midst, and all his bowels gushed out—For it is writ¬ 
 
 es 
 
 u 
 
 il 
 
 ii 
 
 a 
 
 li 
 
244 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 109, 
 
 “ ten in the hook of Psalms, Let his habitation be de- 
 “ solate, and let no man dwell therein: and, his bi- 
 44 shopric let another take.” The former of these two 
 citations is made from Ps. lxix. 25. the latter is a 
 part of the verse now before us. If Judas, therefore, 
 be the person whose destruction the sufferer foretel- 
 leth, the person speaking in this prophetical Psalm 
 must of necessity be our Lord himself, who suffer¬ 
 ed by the treachery of Judas. In Psalm lxix. 25. 
 the prediction is in the plural number, “ Their 
 “ habitation shall be void;” yet St Peter applies it, in 
 the singular number, to Judas. The passage in our 
 Psalm is singular, yet applicable not to Judas only* 
 but to the whole nation of the Jews; whose “ days,” 
 after they had crucified the Lord of glory, “ were few;” 
 who were dispossessed of the place and “ office” which 
 they held as the church of God, and to which, with 
 all its honours and privileges, the Gentile Christian 
 church succeeded in their stead, when the Aaronieal 
 priesthood w T as abolished, and that of the true Mel- 
 chizedek established for ever. 
 
 Q. His children shall he fatherless , and his wife a 
 widow. 10. His children shall he continually vaga¬ 
 bonds , and heg; they shall seel: their bread also out o 
 their desolate 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 
 thousands and ten thousands of the same nation, 
 whose husbands and fathers came afterwards to a 
 miserable end, at the destruction of Jerusalem. Their 
 children, and children’s children, have since been 
 “ continually vagabonds” upon the earth, in the state 
 of Cain, when he had murdered his righteous brother, 
 not cut of, but marvellously preserved for punishment 
 
Dat22. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 I 
 
 245 
 
 and woe. Having nothing of their own, they roam 
 through all parts of the world, civilized or barbarous, 
 the scorn and contempt of mankind. And even if 
 they are able to amass wealth, their unparalleled ava¬ 
 rice still keeps them poor and beggarly in the midst 
 of it. Thus Dr Hammond, in his Annotation on 
 these verses— 44 By this is described, in a very lively 
 “ manner, the condition of the Jewish posterity, ever 
 44 since their ancestors fell under that signal vengeance, 
 44 for the crucifying of Christ. First, their desolations 
 >4 and vastations in their own country, and being eject- 
 44 ed thence; secondly, their continual wanderings 
 44 from place to place, scattered over the face of the 
 44 earth ; and, thirdly, their remarkable covetousness, 
 44 keeping them always poor and beggarly, be they ne- 
 44 ver so rich, and continually labouring and moiling 
 44 for gain, as the poorest are wont to do ; and this is 
 44 continually the constant curse attending this peo- 
 44 pie wheresoever they are scattered.” 
 
 11 . The extortioner , or, creditor , shall catch , or, 
 seize > all that he hath ; and the stranger shall spoil 
 his labour . 12. There shall be none to extend mercy 
 
 to him : neither shall there be any to favour his fa~ 
 therless children . 
 
 Since the destruction of Jerusalem, how often hath 
 this race been seized, pillaged, stripped, and impove¬ 
 rished, by prince and people, in all the nations of the 
 known w 7 orld ; none appearing, as in other cases, to 
 44 favour and extend mercy” to them *! They have had 
 44 no nation, none to avenge their grievous wrong, 
 44 which the Lord God of their forefathers hath ordain- 
 
 * Thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man 
 shall save thee—The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a 
 nation which thou knov.'est not, eat up ; and thou shalt be only op¬ 
 pressed and crushed alway, Dent, xxviii. 29, 90. 
 
246 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 109, 
 
 “ ed they should suffer, at all times, and in all places, 
 
 “ wheresoever they have come, without redress. Nay, 
 
 “ their general carriage hath been so odious and pre- 
 “ posterous, that, albeit the Christian magistrates had 
 “ conspired together for their good, they would them- 
 “ selves have certainly provoked their own misery.” 
 Thus, that excellent divine, the learned and pious Dr 
 Jackson, vol. i. p. 142. and 135 *; whose reflections 
 upon the history of the Jews, at and since their dis¬ 
 persion, it were to be wished that every Christian 
 could peruse. For, as he himself observes, “ Christian 
 “ parents, whether bodily or spiritual, should be as 
 44 careful to instruct their children what the Lord 
 44 hath done to these Jews, as the Israelites should 
 
 have been to tell their sons what God hath done to 
 • 44 Pharaoh.” Ibid. p. 152 . 
 
 13- His posterity shall be cut off, and in the ge¬ 
 neration following , their name shall be blotted out . 
 14 - The iniquity of his fathers shall be remembered 
 with the Lord, and the sin of his mother shall not 
 be blotted out . 15. They shall be before the Lord 
 
 continually , that he may cut off the memory of them 
 from the earth . 
 
 The traitorous and rebellious 44 posterity” of trai- 
 
 * * 1 , » 
 
 torous and rebellious parents, suffered an 44 excision” 
 by the Roman sword, and 44 in the generation follow- 
 4k ing, their name,” as a church and civil polity, was 
 44 blotted out” of the list of states and kingdoms upon 
 earth. 44 The iniquity of their fathers,” which they 
 had fdled up, 44 was remembered with Jehovah, 
 
 44 and the sin of their mother,” that is, perhaps of 
 the synagogue of Jerusalem, now in bondage with 
 her children, 44 was not blotted out; that upon 
 44 them might come all the righteous blood shed * 
 44 from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood 
 44 of Zecharias, whom they slew between the temple 
 
Day 22. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 247 
 
 “ and the altar Matt, xxiii. 35 . The blood of the 
 prophets cried for vei\geance against those who cruel- 
 lied the Lord of the prophets. God hid not his face 
 any longer from all these horrible transgressions, but 
 “ they were before him continually,” and occasioned 
 him to “ cut off the memory” of his people, once 
 precious and fragrant, “ from the earth so that 
 while apostles and martyrs are annually commemo¬ 
 rated with honour, and their good deeds, blossoming 
 out of the dust, perfume the church, and delight the 
 souls of the faithful, the names of “ Judas,” and 
 “ Jew,” are never mentioned but w T ith contempt and 
 abhorrence. 
 
 16. Because that he remembered not to show mer¬ 
 cy ; but persecuted the poor and needy man , that he 
 might even slay the broken in heart. 
 
 The crime which brought upon its perpetrators all 
 the above-mentioned judgements and calamities, is 
 here pointed out too plainly to be mistaken. They 
 “ remembered not to show mercy” to him who show¬ 
 ed it to all the world; they “ persecuted” him who 
 for our sakes became “ poor,” and w 7 ho condescended 
 to ask of his creatures water to drink ; they betray¬ 
 ed and murdered the lowly and afflicted Jesus, whose 
 “ heart” was “ broken” with sorrow for their sins, 
 and with a sense of the punishment due to them. 
 How long will it be, ere the brethren of this most in¬ 
 nocent and most injured Joseph, “ say one to ano- 
 “ ther, We are very guilty concerning our brother, 
 “ in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he 
 “ besought us, and we would not hear: therefore 
 “ is this distress come upon us 1 ” Gen. xlii. 21. 
 
 17. As he loved cursing , so shall it come unto him : 
 as lie delighted not in blessing , so shall it be far from 
 him. 18 . As he clothed himself with cursing, like as 
 
248 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 109. 
 
 with his garment , so shall it come into his bowels like 
 water , and like oil into his bones . 19. It shall be unto 
 lumas the garment which covereth him , and for a 
 girdle wherewith he is girded continually . 20. TAzb 
 
 shall be reward of mine adversaries from the 
 Lord, and of them that speak evil against my soul. 
 
 They who reject Christ, reject the fountain of 
 “ blessing,” and choose a “ curse” for their portion ; 
 and this portion, when they had finally made their 
 choice, will certainly be given to them in full mea¬ 
 sure. The curse that lighted on the Jewish nation, 
 is resembled, for its universality and adhesion, to a 
 “ garment,” which covereth the whole man, and is 
 “ girded” close about his loins; for its diffusive and 
 penetrating nature, to “ water,” which, from the sto¬ 
 mach, passeth into the “ bowels,” and is dispersed 
 through all the vessels of the frame ; and to “ oil,” 
 which imperceptibly insinuates itself into the very 
 “ bones.” When that unhappy multitude assembled 
 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 garment, 
 which has stuck to and tormented the nation ever 
 since; then did they eagerly sw r ailow down that deadly 
 draught, the effects whereof have been the infatuation 
 and misery of 1700 years ! If such, in this world, be 
 “ the reward of Messiah’s adversaries, and of those who 
 spake evil against him,” what will hereafter be the 
 vengeance inflicted on those who “ crucify him afresh, 
 “ and put him again to an open shame ?” Keb. vi. 6. 
 And what will be the operation of the sentence, “ Go, 
 “ ye cursed,” upon the bodies and souls of the wicked ? 
 how will it at once affect all the senses of the former, 
 and all the faculties of the latter, with pain> anguish, 
 .horror, and despair! Think on these things, ye sin¬ 
 ners ; tremble, and repent ! 
 
Day 22. e. v. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 249 
 
 21. do thou for me, O God the Lord, Heb. 
 Jehovah the Lord, /or £/«/ name's sake : because thy 
 mercy is good, deliver thou me. 22. For I am £>oor 
 and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. 23. 
 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am 
 tossed up and dozen as the locust. 24 * My knees are 
 tceak through fasting, and my flesh faileth of fatness. 
 25 . I became also a reproach unto them: when they 
 looked upon me, they sbaked their heads. 
 
 In this last part of the Psalm, Messiah petitioned! 
 for deliverance, urging to his Father his power as 
 “ Lord,” the honour of his “ name,” and the great¬ 
 ness of his “ mercy.” He then pleadeth his own hu¬ 
 miliation and affliction, his “ poverty” and “ heart¬ 
 felt agony of grief. Drawing towards the evening of 
 his mortal life, he compareth himself to a “ shadow, 
 “ declining,” and about to vanish from the earth, 
 where he hath no rest, being persecuted from place to 
 place, as a “ locust” is driven hither and thither by 
 the stormy wind and tempest; while enfeeble and 
 emaciated by frequent “ fastings,” and long want of 
 food during his passion, he was ready to sink under 
 his burden ; and what aggravated all his sufferings, 
 was, that he met with no pity and compassion from 
 those around him; his enemies “ reproached” and 
 “ reviled him, shaking their heads, and saying, Ah 1 
 “ thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in 
 “ three days, save thyself,” &c. Mark xv. 2 Q. Nor 
 are we to suppose our Lord thus praying for his na¬ 
 tural body only, but also for his mystical body, the 
 church, that from all distresses, persecutions, and in¬ 
 sults, the members of that body may in time be de¬ 
 livered, like their blessed Head, by a joyful resur¬ 
 rection to eternal life. 
 
 26 . Help me, O Lord my God; O save me , ac- 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 109, 
 
 250 
 
 Cording to thy mercy . 27. That they may know that 
 
 this is thy hand; that thou Lord hast done it. 
 
 The resurrection of Christ was to be the great de¬ 
 monstration of Jehovah’s power ; and it was publish¬ 
 ed as such by the apostles to all the nations of the 
 world, who thereupon believed, and were converted. 
 The Jews alone hardened their hearts against that 
 proof, and continued impenitent. 
 
 28. They will curse, hut thou shali bless: when 
 they arise, they shall be ashamed: but thy servant 
 shall rejoice. 29. Mine adversaries shall be clothed 
 with shame: and they shall cover themselves with 
 their own confusion as with a mantle. 
 
 The apostate sons of Israel, though they have been 
 so long “ confounded” and blasted by the breath of 
 heaven's displeasure, yet continue “ cursing” and 
 blaspheming, as it is here foretold that they should do. 
 But God hath “ blessed” his Son Jesus, and, through 
 him in all nations, who haye been adopted into his 
 family, and made his children by baptism; yea, and 
 they shall be blessed, and enter, bv thousands and 
 millions, into the “ joy” of their Lord, in that day 
 when his crucifiers shall have no “ covering” but 
 /their own “ shame” and u confusion,” 
 
 SO. I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth: 
 yea, I will praise him among the multitude. SI- For 
 he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save 
 him from those that condemn his soul. 
 
 The former of these two verses is parallel to that 
 which St Paul citetli from Ps. xxii. 22 . “ He that 
 
 “ sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of 
 “ one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them 
 “ brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my 
 “ brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing 
 “ praise unto thee Heb. ii. II. Great is the joy of 
 
Day 23. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 251 
 
 the redeemed upon the earth ; greater will it be, after 
 the resurrection of the dead, in the courts of heaven,. 
 Jesus', unjustly put to death, and now risen again, is 
 a perpetual advocate and intercessor for his people, 
 ever ready to appear on. their behalf against the ini¬ 
 quitous sentence of a corrupt world, and the malice 
 of the grand accuser. 
 
 TWENTY-THIRD DAY—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CX. 
 
 argument. 
 
 In this Psalm David prophesieth concerning, 1. the 
 exaltation of Christ; 2. the sceptre of his king¬ 
 dom ; 3 . the character of his subjects ; 4- his ever¬ 
 lasting priesthood ; 5, 6. his tremendous victories 
 and judgements; 7 . the means of his obtaining 
 both kingdom and priesthood, by his sufferings and 
 resurrection. Part of this prophecy are cited and 
 applied in the New Testament, by our Lord him¬ 
 self, Matt. xxii. 43. by St Peter, Acts ii. 34 . by 
 St Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 25. Heb. v. 6. The church, 
 likewise, hath appointed it as one of the Proper 
 Psalms to be read on Christmas-day. It apper- 
 
 taineth literally and solely to king Messiah. 
 
 . • • , > . ■ . ^ * , 
 
 1 . The Lord said unto my Lord , Sit thou at my 
 right hand f until I make thine enemies thy foot¬ 
 stool. 
 
 We are here informed of Jehovah’s eternal and 
 unchangeable decree concerning the kingdom of Mes¬ 
 siah, its extension, power, and duration. That Messiah 
 should, after his sufferings, be thus exalted, was de¬ 
 termined in the divine counsel and covenant, before 
 
252 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 110. 
 
 the world began. Whether we suppose the Psalmist 
 to be speaking of that determination, or of its actual 
 'accomplishment at the time of Christ’s ascension into 
 heaven, it maketh no great difference. The substance 
 of the decree is the same. It was addressed by the 
 Father to the Son, by Jehovah to Messiah, whom Da¬ 
 vid in spirit styleth, , “ my Lord ;” one that should 
 come after him, as his offspring according to the flesh; 
 but one, in dignity of person, and greatness of power, 
 far superior to him, and to every earthly potentate ; 
 King of kings, and Lord of lords; God and man 
 united in one person. To this person it was said by 
 the Father, “ Sit thou at my right hand, until I make 
 “ thine enemies thy footstoolin other words, 
 Seeing, O my Son Messiah, thou hast glorified me on 
 the earth, and finished 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 w r orld; behold, all pow-er is given unto thee; 
 enter upon thy mediatorial kingdom, and reign till 
 every opposer shall have submitted himself to thee, 
 and sin and death shall have felt thy all-conquering 
 arm. 
 
 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out 
 of Sion : rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 
 
 In the foregoing verse, David related the wurds 
 spoken by the Father to the Son. In this, he him¬ 
 self, as a prophet, directeth his speech to King Mes¬ 
 siah, predicting the glorious consequences of bps en- 
 thronization, and the manner in which “ his enemies” 
 are to be “ made his footstool.” The “ rod,” or 
 sceptre of Christ’s “ strength” is his w ord, accompa¬ 
 nied by his Spirit. The law was given to Israel 
 from Sinai, but the Gospel Trent forth from “ Sion;” 
 it was “ preached to all nations, beginning at Jerusa- 
 
Day 23. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 253 
 
 44 lem,” Luke xxiv. 47* ; there began the spiritual 
 kingdom of Jesus ; there were the first converts made ; 
 and from thence the faith was propagated by the 
 apostles, to the ends of the earth. This David seeing 
 beforehand, cries out, “ Rule thou in the midst of 
 “ thine enemies !” Go on, victorious Prince ; plant 
 the standard of thy cross among the thickest ranks of 
 the adversary; and, in opposition to both Jew and 
 Gentile tumultuously raging against thee, erect and 
 establish thy church throughout the world ! This was 
 accordingly done with marvellous speed and success ; 
 and the church, thus erected and established among 
 the nations, hath been as marvellously preserved, 44 in 
 44 the midst of her enemies,” unto this day ; yea, and 
 the world shall sooner be destroyed, than she shall 
 cease to be preserved. 
 
 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy 
 power, in the beauties of holiness : from the womb of 
 the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth . 
 
 The blessed effects of the Gospel, upon its publica¬ 
 tion, are here foretold. 44 The people” of Christ are 
 those given him by his Father, and gathered to him 
 by the preachers of his word. 44 The day of his 
 44 power” is the season of their conversion, when the 
 corruptions of nature can no longer hold out against 
 the prevailing influences of grace ; when the heart, 
 will, and affections, turn from the world to God ; and 
 they make, as the first disciples did, a free and volun¬ 
 tary offer of themselves, and all they have, to their 
 Redeemer. Then it is that they appear 44 in the 
 44 beauties of holiness” adorned with humility, faith, 
 hope, love, and all the graces of the Spirit. With re¬ 
 gard to the last clause of this verse, bishop Lowth, in 
 his admired Lectures*, has observed, and proved, 
 
 * Prselect, x. 
 
2 54 
 
 A COMMENTARY’ 
 
 Psalm 110. 
 
 that it may be fairly construed to this effect:—“ More 
 “ than the dew from the womb of the morning is the 
 “ dew of thy progeny that is, Thy children, begot¬ 
 ten to thee through the Gospel, shall exceed in num¬ 
 ber, as well as brightness and beauty, the spangles of 
 early dew, which the morning discloseth to the de¬ 
 lighted eye of the beholder. The whole verse, there¬ 
 fore, containeth a lively character of the subjects of 
 Christ’s spiritual kingdom, who are described by their 
 relation to him as “ his peopleby their “ willing- 
 “ ness” to obey and serve him; by their honourable 
 attire, the rich and splendid robes of “ holiness and 
 by their multitudes, resembling the drops of “ dew” 
 upon the grass. 
 
 4. The Lord hath sworn , and will riot repent , Thou 
 art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 
 
 From Christ’s regal office, and the administration 
 thereof by the sceptre of his word and Spirit, the pro¬ 
 phet passeth to his sacerdotal office, which was also 
 conferred on him by the decree of the Father, and 
 that decree, as we are told, ratified by an oath; 
 “ Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent,” or, 
 
 , change his purpose. The oath of God rvas the great 
 seal of heaven, designed to intimate the importance of 
 the deed to which it was set, and “ to show to the 
 “ heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel 
 Fleb. vi. 17 . Whether this oath passed at the actual 
 consecration of Messiah to the priesthood upon his 
 ascension, or at his designation thereto by covenant 
 before the world, sufficient it is for our assurance and 
 comfort, that it did pass. We have a Priest in heaven, 
 who standeth continually pleading the merits of his 
 sacrifice once offered upon the cross: “ who ever 
 “ livcth to make intercession for us;” and who is 
 ready, at all times, to bless us, “ by turning away 
 
ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 255 
 
 Day 23. M. P. 
 
 # 
 
 “ every man from his iniquities,” Acts iii. 26 .; by 
 aiding us against our enemies, and supporting us 
 under our necessities. Oblation, intercessiqn, and be¬ 
 nediction, are the three branches of the sacerdotal 
 office, which our great High Priest now exerciseth for 
 us, and in the exercise of which the Father hath con¬ 
 descended in the most awful manner to promise, that 
 he / will hear and accept him on our behalf. His 
 priesthood is not, like that of Aaron, figurative, suc¬ 
 cessive, and transient, but real and effectual, fixed and 
 incommunicable, eternal and unchangeable, according 
 to that pattern of it exhibited to Abraham, before the 
 law, in the person of Melchizedek, Gen. xiv. 13—20. 
 and discoursed upon at large by the apostle, Keb. vii. 
 throughout- 
 
 5. The Lord upon thy right hand shall strike 
 through kings in the day of his wrath. 6. He shall 
 judge among the heathen , he shall Jill the places with 
 the dead bodies ; he shall wound the heads over many 
 countries ; Heb. the head over much country. 
 
 This is a description of the vengeance which King 
 Messiah should take on his impenitent adversaries. 
 By “ The Lord, or, my Lord, upon thy right hand,” 
 TOC* W, the same person must undoubtedly be 
 understood, who is mentioned in the first verse under 
 the same title, WK, as “ sitting at the right hand of 
 
 “ Jehovah.” And the Psalmist, who has hitherto ad- 
 
 ✓ 
 
 dressed himself to Messiah, or the Son, must be sup¬ 
 posed now to make a sudden apostrophe to Jehovah, 
 or the Father ; as if he had said, “ This my Lord 
 “ Messiah, who sitteth at thy right hand, O Jehovah, 
 “ shall smite through kings in the day of his wrath ; n 
 the kings of the earth will endeavour to destroy his 
 religion, and put an end to his kingdom ; the Neros, 
 the Domitians, the Dioclesians, the Maxentiuscs, the 
 
256 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm lio. 
 
 Julians, &c. &c. shall stand up, and set themselves in 
 array against him ; but “ the Lamb shall overcome 
 “ them he shall “ judge” and punish the “ Heathen” 
 princes, with their people, when in arms against his 
 church ; he shall raise up those who shall successfully 
 light his battles, and strew the ground with their 
 “ carcases.” As Messiah hath done to the antichristian 
 powers of old, so shall he do to all others, before or at 
 his second advent. There is a day of forbearance, 
 during which he will have his church to be, like him¬ 
 self, oppressed and afflicted, humble and resigned ; 
 but there is also a future day of wrath and recom¬ 
 pense, when the sins and provocations of her perse¬ 
 cutors shall be ripe for judgement; when their tri¬ 
 umphs and her sufferings shall be at an end ; when 
 they shall fall for ever, and she shall ascend to heaven. 
 
 7 . He shall drink of the brook , or, torrent, in the 
 way ; and therefore shall he lift up his head . 
 
 The means, by which Christ should obtain his 
 universal kingdom, and everlasting priesthood, seem 
 here to be assigned. In his “ way” to glory, he was 
 to drink deep of the * waters of affliction ; the swollen 
 
 * The Hebrew word signifies, in general, “ a current of 
 64 water , 11 which may be either a turbid, overwhelming torrent,” or 
 a clear and gentle 44 stream.” In Psal. xviii. 4. it denotes the 
 si floods of ungodliness.” In Psal. xxxvi. S. it is used to signify the 
 44 river of divine pleasures.” Plence arises an ambiguity in the in¬ 
 terpretation of the words. 44 He- shall drink of the brook in the 
 “ way,” which may be expounded either of the sufferings Christ 
 tasted, or the refreshments he experienced \ as the 44 waters” are 
 supposed to be those of 44 affliction,” or those of 44 comfort.” Either 
 way the sense is good and true, as it relates to Messiah. “ Torrents,” 
 or the “ overflowing of rivers,” in the Scripture language, certainly, 
 as Dr Durell observes, so often denote “ afflictions 5 ” as in Psal. xviii. 
 4. exxiv. 4, 5. cxliv. 7, &tc. 44 the being oppressed by them,” is also 
 described by the action of 4< drinking,” Psal. lx. 3. Ixxv. 8 , &c* 
 And the idea of a “ brook in the way,” or the road, seems to 
 
 l 
 
Day 23. m. p. 
 
 ON 1 ti& PSALMS. 25? 
 
 “ torrent” occurred in the way, and presented itself 
 between him and the throne of God. To this “ tor- 
 “ rent in the way” the Saviour descended ; he bowed 
 himself down, and “ drank” of it for us all; “ and 
 “ therefore, did he lift up his head that is, 
 
 he arose victorious, and, from the valley in which the 
 torrent ran, ascended to the summit of that holy and 
 heavenly mount, where he reigneth, till “ his enemies 
 “ be made his footstool.” St Paul hath expressed the 
 same sentiment in literal terms ; “ He humbled him- 
 “ self, and became obedient unto death, even the death 
 “ of the cross: wherefore, S/o, God, also hath highly 
 “ exalted him.” Phil. ii. 8. 
 
 PSALM CXI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is one of the Proper Psalms appointed by the 
 church to be read on Easter-day. It containeth, 
 1. a resolution to praise Jehovah in the congrega¬ 
 tion, 2, 3- for his great and glorious works, and, 
 4. for the appointed memorials of them : 5, 6. his 
 mercies to the church are celebrated, and, 7> 8. the 
 equity and the stability of his counsels declared ; 
 9. the blessings of redemption, and the new co¬ 
 venant, are mentioned, as they were prefigured of 
 old in God’s dispensations toward Israel, 10. Re¬ 
 ligion is proclaimed to be true wisdom. 
 
 1 . I will praise the Lord, with my whole heart , in 
 the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation, 
 Jehovah is to be “ praised,” not only with the 
 
 favour this exposition. But the author advances it, as becomes him to 
 do, with great deference and submission, since Bishop Lowth and Mr 
 Merrick are of a different opinion. 
 
 R 
 
 YOL. IT. 
 
A COMMEiN iAKY 
 
 Psalm ill. 
 
 2-58 
 
 voice and the understanding, but with the 44 heart,” 
 with the “ whole” heart, and all its affections tuned, 
 like the chords of the son of Jesse’s harp, to a song of 
 giatitude and love. Solitary devotion hath, doubtless, 
 its beauties and excellencies ; but how glorious is it to 
 hear the voices of a whole Christian “ congregation” 
 break forth into hallelujahs, like the sound of many 
 waters, and the noise of mighty thunder ings, while 
 each one, as it were, provokes another to continue the 
 blessed employment, with unremitted attention, and 
 unabated fervour! 
 
 2. The works of the Lord are great , sought out of 
 all them that have pleasure therein . 
 
 The subjects of man’s praise are the 44 works” of 
 God. Every one of these works, whether in the 
 natural or the spiritual system, is 44 great.” Nothing 
 cometh from the hands of the divine Artist, but 
 what is excellent and perfect in its kind, adapted 
 with infinite skill to its proper place, and fitted for 
 its intended use. Happy are they, who with hu¬ 
 mility and diligence, with faith and devotion, give 
 themselves to the contemplation of these works, and 
 take 44 pleasure,” and delight therein. To them 
 shall the gate of true science open ; they shall un¬ 
 derstand the mysteries of creation, providence, and 
 redemption ; and they who thus 44 seek” shall find 
 the treasures of eternal wisdom. 
 
 3. His work is honourable and glorious: and his 
 righteousness endureth for ever . 
 
 The 44 work,” of all others, in which the 44 ho* 
 44 nour and glorious majesty” of Jehovah appeared, 
 and which the Christian church celebrates with this 
 Psalm, is the salvation and exaltation of our na¬ 
 ture, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the 
 dead; an event which contained in it the accom- 
 
Day 23 . M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 259 
 
 plishment of the ancient promises, and thereby de¬ 
 monstrated to all the world the everlasting truth, 
 fidelity, and “ righteousness,” of him who hath 
 made them. 
 
 4. He hath made his wonderful works to be remem¬ 
 bered : or, he hath appointed a memorial for his won¬ 
 ders : the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 
 
 Jewish feasts were “ memorials* of the u won* 
 “ ders” wrought for Israel of old; Christian festi¬ 
 vals are “ memorials’* of the “ wonders” wrought 
 in Christ for all mankind to whom, no less than to 
 Israel, God hath now showed himself “ gracious 
 “ and full of compassion.” 
 
 5 . lie hath given meat unto them that fear him : he 
 will ever be mindful oj his covenant . 6 . He hath showed 
 his people the power oj his works , that he may , or, 
 might , give them the heritage of the heathen . 
 
 Agreeably to the c covenant” which God made 
 with Abraham, as concerning his children accord¬ 
 ing to the flesh, he u fed 1 and supported them in 
 the wilderness, he overthrew their enemies by the 
 might of his “ power,” and he put them in posses¬ 
 sion of Canaan, which before was 44 the heritage of 
 Cc the Heathen.” Agreeably to the covenant which 
 God made with the same Abraham, as concerning 
 all believers, those “ children of the promise which 
 are “ counted for the seed,” he feedeth them in the 
 world with the true manna *, the bread which com- 
 cth down from heaven ; he hath again 46 showed the 
 44 power of his works’* in the overthrow of idolatry ; 
 
 and again, by the conversion of the nations, given 
 
 • 
 
 * “ Escam dedit”—Manna: quae csetera Dei mirabilia in memo* 
 riam revocabat: nnde in Area scrvarl iussa Exnd. xvT. 32. Erat 
 autem Eucbaristiae figura, quae verb divini amoris in onu men turn aster* 
 num. Bossuet. 
 
260 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm IIL 
 
 to his church, “ the heritage of the Heathen al 1 
 though, like Israel, she is commanded, and hath 
 had frequent admonitions, not to fix her heart on 
 an earthly Canaan ; not to expect any permanent 
 habitation, any enduring city here below ; not to 
 stop short of an eternal and heavenly rest. 
 
 7 . The works of his hands are verity and judge¬ 
 ment ; all his commandments are sure. 8. They stand 
 fast for ever and ever , and are done in truth and up - 
 • rightness . 
 
 In all God’s dispensations towards his faithful 
 servants, and towards his impenitent adversaries, 
 we admire and adore his u verity” in the perfor¬ 
 mance of his promises to the former, and his “ jus- 
 <£ tice” in executing his vengeance on the latter. 
 Thus the time of fulfilling his promise to Abraham 
 came not till the iniquity of the Amorites was full. 
 The case is the same as to the coming of Christ, 
 the subversion of Paganism, the deaths of persecu¬ 
 tors, the rise and fall of nations, the conversion or 
 excision of individuals, and every other instance of 
 mercy or judgement. Another property of God’s 
 works is, that being “ done in truth and upright- 
 cc ness, they stand fast for ever and will then ap¬ 
 pear in perfect glory and beauty, when all the arts 
 and labours of man shall be no more. 
 
 9. He sent redemption unto his people , he hath com¬ 
 manded his covenant for ever ; holy and reverend , or, 
 terrible , is his name . 
 
 He who 66 sent redemption” to Israel by the hand 
 of Moses, hath now “ sent redemption” by the 
 power of Jesus to all the world : he who, at mount 
 Sinai, established his “ covenant” with his people, 
 and gave them a law, hath now established his “ co- 
 ?s venant” with the Gentiles, and published to them 
 
Day 23. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 26 1 
 
 his Gospel from Sion. “ Holy is his name,” and 
 therefore “ terrible” to those who, under all the 
 means of grace, continue unholy. 
 
 10. The fear of the Lord is the he finning of wisdom ; 
 a good understanding have all they that do his com¬ 
 mandments : his praise endureth for ever . 
 
 The “ fear of God” is the first step to salvation, 
 as it exciteth a sinner to depart from evil, and to do 
 good; to implore pardon, and to sue for grace ; to 
 apply to a Saviour for the one, and to a Sanctifier 
 for the other. Religion is the perfection of wis¬ 
 dom, practice the best instructor, and thanksgiving 
 the^sweetest recreation. 
 
 PSALM CXII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Psalmist enumerateth the blessings attending 
 the man who feareth Jehovah ; 1. the pleasure 
 which he taketh in doing his will; 2. the prospe¬ 
 rity of his seed; 3. the plenteousness in his 
 house ; 4. his comfort in trouble; 5. his internal 
 joys ; 6. the honour with which he is remem¬ 
 bered ; 7, 8. his holy confidence in God; 9. his 
 good deeds, and the reward of them ; 10. the en¬ 
 vy, wretchedness, and perdition of the wicked. 
 The blessings of the Gospel are spiritual and 
 eternal; and they are conferred upon the mem¬ 
 bers of the Christian church through Christ their 
 head, who is the pattern of all righteousness, and 
 the giver of all grace. 
 
 1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that 
 dclightcth greatly in his commandments ; or, he de¬ 
 li g hie th greatly in his commandments . 
 
262 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 112. 
 
 The man who duly “ feareth Cod,” is delivered 
 from every other fear ; the man who cc delighteth 
 in God s commandments,” is ireed from every in¬ 
 ordinate desire of earthly things ; and such a man 
 must needs be c * blessed.” Of this kind was thy 
 blessedness, O holy Jesu, on whom did rest “ the 
 c spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of Jehovah,” 
 and whose “ meat’ it was “ to do the will of him 
 ct that sent thee, and to brush his work.” Isa. xi. 2 . 
 John iv. 34 
 
 2 . His seed shall he mighty upon earth : t e genera¬ 
 tion oj the upright shail be blessed . 
 
 A father’s piety derives the benediction of heaven 
 upon his children. The posterity of faithful Abra¬ 
 ham were often spared and favoured on account of 
 their progenitor • as the whole family of believers, 
 Abraham and all, are blessed in Him who is the 
 great Father oi that family, and the Author of their 
 salvation. 
 
 3 . Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his 
 righteousness endure th for ever. 
 
 it sometimes please th God to bestow on his ser¬ 
 vants, a a he did on Israel of old, the good things of 
 this world. And a rich man is therefore happier 
 than a poor man, because “ it is more blessed to 
 cc give than to receive:” Acts xx. 35 . But the 
 true “ wealth” of Christians is of another kind ; 
 their c riches” are such as neither moth can cor¬ 
 rupt, nor thief steal. Grace and glory are in the 
 “ house” of Christ, and everlasting “ righteous- 
 GC ness” is the portion of his children. 
 
 4 . Unto the upright there ariseth light in the dark¬ 
 ness ; he is gracious , and full of compassion, and righ¬ 
 teous . 
 
 Yv hile we are on earth, we are subject to a three- 
 
Day 23. M. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 263 
 
 fold “ darknessthe darkness of error, the dark¬ 
 ness of sorrow, and the darkness of death. To dis¬ 
 pel these, God visiteth us,liy his word, with a three¬ 
 fold “ lightthe light of truth, the light of com¬ 
 fort, and the light of life. The Christian’s temper 
 is framed after the pattern of his Master ; and he is 
 ever ready to show to others that “ love'’ and 
 “ mercy” which hath been shown to him. 
 
 5. A good man showeth favour and lendetli; he will 
 guide his affairs with discretion. 
 
 The former part of this verse may be rendered, 
 with a little variation, “ It is well with the man who 
 6C is gracious and communicative.” Ill-nature and 
 avarice are their own tormentors ; but love and li¬ 
 berality do good to themselves by doing it to others, 
 and enjoy all the happiness which they cause. It 
 is not God’s intention, that any of the talents which 
 he bestoweth upon us should lie dead, but that our 
 brethren should have the use of them ; even as 
 Christ received the Spirit to communicate it to us, 
 and our salvation is his glory and jov. The latter 
 part of this verse is likewise capable of a different, 
 and, indeed, a more literal translation : “ He will 
 “ support, or maintain, his words, or his transac- 
 <c tions, in judgement;” that is, he who thus em¬ 
 ployed his talents for the benefit of mankind, will 
 be able to render a good account to his Lord who 
 intrusteth them with him. 
 
 6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righ¬ 
 teous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7. He shall 
 not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed trusting 
 in the Lord. 8. His heart is established , he shall not 
 be afraid , until he see his desire upon his enemies t 
 
 Nothing can deprive the person here described of 
 his felicity. When his work^is done, his body will 
 
264 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 112. 
 
 go to its repose in the dust, but the “ memorial” of 
 his name and of his good deeds will be still fresh as 
 the morning breeze, and^agrant as the flower of the 
 spring. “ He feareth no evil report,” no blast of 
 slander and malice can touch him ; no tidings of 
 calamity and destruction can shake his confidence 
 in God ; but he will hear the trump of judgement, 
 and behold the world in flames, rather with joy than 
 with dread; as knowing, by those tokens, that the 
 hour of his redemption is come, when “ he shall see 
 “ his enemies,” and even death, the last of them, 
 under his feet. 
 
 9 . He hath dispersed , he hath given to the poor ; his 
 righteousness endurctli for ever ; his horn shall be ex¬ 
 alted with honour. 
 
 His riches are not hoarded up, but “ dispersed” 
 abroad; and that not by others after his death, but 
 by himself in his life-time ; cc He hath dispersed.” 
 They are not squandered in the ways of vanity and 
 folly, but “ given to the poor ;” nor arc they given 
 indiscriminately and at random, but cs dispersed,” 
 like precious seed, with prudence and discretion, 
 according to the nature of the soil, -and in proper 
 season, so as to produce the most plentiful harvest. 
 Therefore “ his righteousness endureth for ever ;” 
 its fruits and its good report are lasting among 
 men, and it is never forgotten before God, who 
 hath prepared for it an eternal reward. u His horn 
 (C shall be exalted with honour, or, in glory;” what¬ 
 ever may be his lot upon earth, and even there the 
 charitable man will frequently be had in “ honour,’* 
 at the last day, certainly, when the thrones of the 
 mighty shall be cast down, and the sceptres of ty¬ 
 rants broken in pieces, then shall he lift up his head, 
 and be exalted to partake of the “ glory” of hi§ 
 
Day 23. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 265 
 
 Redeemer, the author of his faith, and the pattern 
 of his charity, who gave himself for us, and is now 
 seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the hea¬ 
 vens. 
 
 10. The wicked shall see it, and he grieved ; he shall 
 gnash with his teeth , and melt away ; the desire of the 
 wicked shall perish . 
 
 The sight of Christ in glory with his saints, will, 
 in an expressible manner, torment the crucifers of 
 the one, and the persecutors of the others ; as it will 
 show them the hopes and wishes of their adversaries 
 all granted to the full, and all their own “ desires'* 
 and designs for ever at an end ; it will excite an en¬ 
 vy which must prey upon itself, produce a grief 
 which can admit of no comfort, give birth to a 
 worm which can never die, and blow up those fires 
 which nothing can quench. 
 
 PSALM CXIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The servants of God are, 1. exhorted to praise his 
 name, 2. at all times, and, 3. in all places, on ac¬ 
 count, 4, 5. of his power and glory, 6 — 8. of his 
 mercy in redeeming man, and, 9. making the 
 Gentile church to be a joyful mother of children. 
 This Psalm is appointed to be read on Easter-day. 
 
 1. Praise , O ye servants of the Lord, praise the 
 name of the Lord. 2. Pissed he the name of the Lord, 
 from this time forth, and for evermore. 
 
 Christians are the “ servants’* of Jesus Christ; 
 and a most delightful part of their service it is, to 
 praise” his holy and saving name” in ths 
 
266 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 113. 
 
 church, which now useth this Psalm among others, 
 and with it u blesseth the name” of her Lord and 
 Saviour, from age to age. The Psalmist wished 
 and prayed that this might be done, and he foresaw 
 that it would be done, while the world should last, 
 upon earth, and afterwardo “ for evermore” in hea¬ 
 ven. 
 
 3. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of 
 the same , the Lord's name is to he praised ; or, is 
 praised. 4. The Lord is high above all nations , and 
 his glory above the heavens . 
 
 At the diffusion of the Gospel through the world, 
 the name of Christ was praised “ from the east to 
 “ the west,” in churches every where planted by 
 the apostles and their successors : and the grand 
 subjects of joy and triumph among believers w r ere, 
 the superiority of their Master over the “ Heathen 
 “ nations” and their idols; the exaltation of “ his 
 “ glory above the heavens,” and all the powers 
 therein ; the might of his arm, and the majesty of 
 his kingdom. 
 
 5. Who is like unto the Lord our God , who dwelleth 
 on high ? 6. Who humbletli himself to behold the things 
 that are in heaven and in earth. 
 
 Highly as our Lord is exalted above this system, 
 above these heavens and this earth of ours, yet he 
 condescendeth to regard every thing that passeth 
 here, and to make us, the inhabitants of this -lower 
 world, and, for our sakes, all the other creatures in 
 it. the obiects of his peculiar care, and paternal love. 
 
 7. He raiseth the poor out of the dust , and lifteth the 
 needy out of the dunghill ; 8 That he may set him with 
 princes , even with the privets of his people. 
 
 Such is his mercy to the poor sons of Adam in 
 their fallen estate, that from the lowest and most 
 
Day 23 M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 261 
 
 abject condition, from the pollutions of sin, and 
 from tiie dishonours of the grave, lie raiseth them 
 to righteousness and holiness, to glory and immor¬ 
 tality ; he setteth them on high, with the inhabi¬ 
 tants of the heavenly Jerusalem, “ with tiie princes 
 “ of his people, the leaders of the armies above, 
 with angels and archangels before his throne. 
 What is the exaltation of the meanest 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 ambi¬ 
 tion ; honour alter which all are alike invited to 
 aspire ; which all may obtain, who strive worthily 
 and lawfully ; and of which, when once obtained, 
 nothing can ever deprive the possessors 
 
 9. He makefh the barren woman to keep house , and 
 to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 In the sacred history of the O.-d Testament, we 
 meet with frequent instances of barren women who 
 were miraculously made to bear children. Isaac, 
 Joseph, Samson, and Samuel, were thus born of 
 Sarah, Rachel, the wife of Manoah, and Hannah. 
 To these may be added, from the history of the 
 New Testament, the instance of Elizabeth, thewi e 
 of Zacharias, and mother of St John the Baptist. 
 These examples may be considered as pre'udc^ to 
 that marvellous exertion of divine power, whereby 
 the Gentile church, after so many years of barren¬ 
 ness, 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 didst not 
 “bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, 
 “ thou that didst not travail with child : for more 
 “ are tiie children of the desolate, than the children 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 26S 
 
 Psalm 114. 
 
 “ of the married wife, saith the Lord.” Isa. liv. 1. 
 Gal. iv. 27 . 
 
 TWENTY-THIRD DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CXIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is another of the Psalms appointed by our 
 church to be read on Easier-day. It celebrates 
 the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, and the mira¬ 
 cles wrought for that people, prefiguring the re¬ 
 demption of our nature from sin and death, and 
 the wonders of mercy and love wrought for us by 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 1. When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Ja¬ 
 cob, from a people of strange language; 2. Judah was 
 his , that is, God's sanctuary , and Israel his dominion. 
 
 When Jehovah delivered Israel from the bondage 
 of Egypt, he chose them for his peculiar people ; 
 his presence resided in their camp, as in a “ sanc- 
 cc tuary,” or temple; and he ruled them, as an 
 earthly king exerciseth sovereignty in his “ domi- 
 “ nions.” This world, and the Prince of this 
 world, are to us, what Egypt and Pharaoh w r ere to 
 Israel. The redemption of our nature, by the re¬ 
 surrection of Christ, answereth to their redemption 
 by the hand of Moses. When we are baptized into 
 the death and resurrection of our Lord, we re¬ 
 nounce the world, its pomps and vanities ; and 
 should, therefore, quit its corrupt cc language,” 
 manners, and customs, with as much alacrity and 
 expedition, as the “ family of Jacob” left those of 
 Egypt. We are the “ sanctuary,” the temple, in 
 
Bay 23 . e. p. ON THE PSALJVI& 
 
 269 
 
 which Christ dwelleth by his Spirit; we are the 
 subjects of his spiritual “ kingdom,” w T e are his pe¬ 
 culiar people ; in one word, we are his “ church,” 
 and succeed, as such, to all the titles and privileges 
 formerly conferred on Israel. 
 
 3. The sea saw it and Jied ; Jordan was driven 
 hack. 
 
 Although forty years intervened between the two 
 events here mentioned, yet, as the miracles were of 
 a similar nature, they are spoken of together. In 
 the passage of Israel through the Red Sea, w r e may 
 contemplate our passage from a death of sin to a 
 life of righteousness through the waters of baptism ; 
 as our translation from death temporal to life eter¬ 
 nal, is figured by their entrance into the promised 
 land through the river Jordan. The w r aters in both 
 cases are poetically represented as sensible of their 
 Creator’s presence; and by their retiring, and 
 opening a path for the people of God, we are 
 taught, that if we continue faithful, all obstructions 
 will be removed in our way to heaven. 
 
 4 . The mountains skipped like rams , and the little 
 hills like lambs . 
 
 The tremours of mount Sinai and the neighbour¬ 
 ing hills, when the law was given, afforded some spe¬ 
 cimen of that pow r er which was afterwards exerted 
 in the overthrow of idolatry, and the casting down 
 of every high thing that exalted itself against the 
 Gospel at its publication. “ See, therefore, that ye 
 “ refuse not him that speaketh : for if they escaped 
 “ not, who refused him that spake on earth, much 
 C£ more shall not we escape, if we turn away from 
 “ him that speaketh from heaven; whose voice 
 “ then shook the earth ; but now he hath promised,. 
 
270 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 144. 
 
 cc saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, 
 “ but also heaven.' 1 Heb. xii. 25. 
 
 5. What ailed thee , O thou sea, that thou fpddcst ; 
 thou, Jordan , that thou wast driven back ? 6. Ye 
 mountain , that ye skipped li e rams; and ye little 
 hills, like lambs ? 7. Tremble, thou earth, at the pre¬ 
 sence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. 
 
 If the divine presence hath such an effect upon 
 inanimate matter, how ought it to operate on ra¬ 
 tional and accountable beings? Let us be afraid, 
 with an holy fear, at the presence of God, in the 
 world by his Providence, and by his Spirit in our 
 consciences ; so that w^e may have hope and courage 
 in the day when he shall arise to shake terribly the 
 earth ; when “ every island shall fly away, and the 
 cc mountains shall be no more found.” Rev. xvi. 2C. 
 
 8 . Which turned the rock into a standing water, the 
 flint into a fountain of waters. 
 
 He who brought water out of the sacramental 
 rock in the wilderness, hath since caused rivers of 
 living water to flow through the world, from the 
 Rock of our salvation ; nay, he hath dissolved the 
 stony hearts of sinners, and made to spring up in 
 them fountains of this water of life. For these great 
 instances of his power and his love, we are taught 
 to bless his holy name, when we sing this I’salm, as 
 an evangelical hymn, on the day of our Lord s re¬ 
 surrection, 
 
 PSALM CXV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The church, 1 , 2 . prayeth that God would glorify 
 himself in her salvation ; 3. she declarcth her 
 
Day 23. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 271 
 
 faith in him ; 4—8. exposeth the vanity and folly 
 of idolatry; 9 —11. exhorteth her children to 
 rely upon Jehovah ; 12—15. foretelleth how he 
 will bless, prosper, and increase his people, 16— 
 IS. never suffering the voice of praise and thanks¬ 
 giving to cease upon the earth. 
 
 1 . Not unto us , O Lord, not unto us , but unto thy 
 name give glory , for thy mercy , and for thy truth's 
 sake . 2. Wherefore should the heathen say , Where is 
 
 now their God ? 
 
 From these two verses it is evident, that the 
 Psalm is not a thanksgiving for victory, but a peti¬ 
 tion for deliverance. God is entreated to “ give 
 “ glory,” by such deliverance, “ not to us,” to our 
 works or endeavours, but “ to his own name ;” he 
 is requested to vouchsafe salvation, not on account 
 of our merits, but of his cc mercy,” which inclineth 
 him to be gracious; of his “ truth,” which dispos- 
 eth him to fulfil his promises ; and.of his 66 honour,” 
 that the enemy may not have occasion to blaspheme 
 him, and reproach his servants, as if their Master 
 either could not, or would not, help them in the 
 day of their distress. cc Wherefore, should the 
 
 “ Heathen say. Where is now their God ?” 
 
 * 
 
 3. But our God is in the heavens , he hath done what¬ 
 soever he hath pleased; or, he doeth whatsoever he 
 please th. 
 
 Should the insulting adversary ask the above 
 question, “ Where is now their God ?” the faith¬ 
 ful are ready with their reply, “ Our God is in the 
 “heavens;” he is, where he ever was, upon his 
 glorious throne, high over all the kingdoms of the 
 world, and the powers of created nature; from 
 thence he observeth and ordereth all things here 
 
272 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psal.ai 115. 
 
 below ; what we suffer is by his appointment; and, 
 at his good time and pleasure, he both can and will 
 relieve us: 44 lie doeth whatsoever he pleaseth.” 
 
 4. Their idols are silver and gold , the work of men's 
 hands . 5. They have mouths , hut they speak not; 
 
 eyes have they , hut they see not. 6 . They have ears 9 
 hut they hear not; noses have they , hut they smell not. 
 *7. I hey have hands , hut they handle not; feet have 
 they , hut theij walk not; neither speak they through 
 their throat. 
 
 A beautiful contrast is formed between the God 
 of Israel and the Heathen idols. Pie made every 
 thing, they are themselves made by men; he is in 
 heaven, they are upon earth ; he doeth whatsoever 
 he pleaseth, they can do nothing ; he seeth the dis¬ 
 tresses, heareth and answereth the prayers, acc'ept- 
 eth the offerings, cometh to the assistance, and ef- 
 fecteth the salvation of his servants ; they are blind, 
 deaf, and dumb, senseless, motionless, and impo¬ 
 tent. Equally slow to hear, equally impotent to 
 save in time of greatest need, will every worldly 
 idol prove, on which men have set their affections, 
 and to which they have, in effect, said, 44 Thou art 
 46 my God.” 
 
 8 . They that make them are like unto them ; so is 
 every one that trusteth in them. 
 
 Idolaters, like the objects of their worship, are 
 rather lifeless images than real men. What our 
 Lord said of the Jews, is applicable to them, and 
 indeed to all who reject the knowledge of the true 
 God, and the doctrines of salvation : 44 Having eyes 
 44 they see not, having ears they hear not.” They 
 see not the things which belong unto their peace ; 
 they hear not the word of instruction and exhorta¬ 
 tion ; they speak not of religion and the kingdom 
 
 1 
 
f 
 
 Day 23. e; p. ON THE PSALMS. 273 
 
 * f 
 
 of heaven ; they work not the works of piety and 
 charity ; they walk not in the path of the divine 
 commandments; they are spiritually blind, deaf, 
 dumb, lame, and impotent; and when their idols 
 are destroyed, they will perish in like manner. 
 
 9. O Israel , trust thou in the Lord ; he is their 
 help and their shield. 10. 0 house of Aaron, trust in 
 the Lord; he is their help and their shield. 11. Ye 
 that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord : he is their help 
 and their shield. 
 
 Let the men of the world make to themselves 
 gods, and vainly trust in the work of their own hands 
 or heads ; but let the church repose all her confi¬ 
 dence in Jehovah, her Saviour and Redeemer, who 
 alone can be her defender and protector ; more es¬ 
 pecially let her ministers, the sons of the true 
 Aaron, do this, who are the peculiar portion of their 
 God, employed continually in his service, and de¬ 
 signed to build up others in faith and hope; and 
 let all who have been instructed, by their ministry, 
 in the fear of the Lord, trust always in him, nor suf¬ 
 fer any apprehension of danger or distress to sepa¬ 
 rate them from him. 
 
 12 . The Lord hath been , or, is, mindful of us ; he 
 mil bless us ; he mil bless the house of Israel , he mil 
 bless the house of Aaron. 13. He mil bless them that 
 fear the Lord, botli small and great. 14. The Lord 
 shall increase you more and more , you and your cliiU 
 dren. 15. Ye are blessed of the Lord, ’which made 
 heaven and earth. 
 
 The heart of the Psalmist is full of u blessing,” 
 and on his tongue is the word of kindness and com¬ 
 fort. The “ blessings” formerly confined to Israel, 
 have since been extended to the whole race of man¬ 
 kind. Jehovah, ever “ mindful” of his creatures, 
 
 VOL. it. s 
 
 i 
 

 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 115 , 
 
 hath visited the world by his Son and by his Spirit; 
 he hath formed a church from among the Gentiles, 
 appointed a priesthood and ministry in it, and given 
 his benediction to both; he hath “ blessed,” with 
 the blessings of grace, “ them that fear him,” of all 
 nations, and of every degree ; he hath “ increased” 
 and multiplied his people exceedingly; and the 
 faithful members of the Christian church are now 
 cc the blessed of Jehovah, who made heaven and 
 c6 earth,” and who is, consequently possessed of all 
 power in both. 
 
 16. The heaven , even ihe heaven $, or, the heavens of 
 heavens are the Lord’s ; hut the earth hath he given to 
 the children of men . 16. The dead praise not the 
 
 Lord, neither any that go down into silence . 18. But 
 
 we will bless the Lord, from this time forth and for 
 evermore . Praise the Lord. 
 
 He who himself dwelleth in the highest heavens, 
 where he is praised and glorified by angels, hath 
 “ given the earth” for an habitation, at present, 
 “ to the sons of men,” whose duty it is to praise 
 and glorify him here below, as the angels do above. 
 Now as “ the dead cannot praise him,” as they who 
 sleep in the silent grave cannot celebrate him, we 
 may be certain, that he will not suffer his people to 
 be destroyed and extirpated, but will always pre¬ 
 serve a church to cc bless him” in all ages, till the 
 end of the worldwhen the dead shall be raised, 
 and the choirs of heaven and earth shall be united, 
 to praise and glorify him together before his throne 
 for evermore. 
 
Day 24 . m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 275 
 
 TWENTY-FOURTH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER, 
 
 PSALM CXVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It is not certain by whom, or upon what occasion, 
 this Psalm was composed. It plainly appears, 
 however, to be a song of thanksgiving for deliver¬ 
 ance from trouble, either temporal, or spiritual, 
 or both. To render it of general use, let it be 
 considered as an evangelical hymn, in the mouth 
 of a penitent, expressing his gratitude for salva¬ 
 tion from sin and death. 1, 2. He declareth his 
 love of God, who hath vouchsafed to hear his 
 prayer; 3—9. describeth his distress, his deliver¬ 
 ance out of it, and subsequent peace and com¬ 
 fort; 10, 11. he acknowledged himself to have 
 been tempted to despond, but was supported by 
 faith, in the day of trouble ; 12—19. he deter- 
 mineth to receive the cup of salvation, to praise 
 and to serve Jehovah, who thus delivereth the 
 souls of his people. 
 
 1 . I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice , 
 and my supplications . 2. Because he hath inclined his 
 
 ear unto me, therefore mil I call upon him as long as I 
 live. 
 
 In the original it is, “ I love *, because Jehovah 
 ,<c hath heard ,” &c. The soul, transported with 
 gratitude and love, seems at first to express her af¬ 
 fection without declaring its object, as thinking that 
 all the world must know who is the person intended. 
 Thus Mary Magdalene, in her conversation, at the 
 
 * Some critics prefer our old version,—“ I am well pleased.” 
 
 2 
 
27G 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 11& 
 
 sepulchre, with one whom she supposed to have 
 been the gardener, though no previous mention had 
 been made of Jesus, saith, “ Sir, if thou have borne 
 “ him hence, tell me where thou hast 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 consideration that, when we were not able to 
 raise ourselves up to him, he mercifully and tender¬ 
 ly “ inclined’’ and bowed down “ his ear” to us; 
 he “ heard our supplications,” and descended from 
 heaven to help and deliver us ? With hope,, there¬ 
 fore, and confidence should we <c call upon him,” 
 in all our troubles, “ as long as we live.” 
 
 3. The sorrows of death compassed me , and the pains, 
 of hell gat hold upon me ; I found trouble and sorrow . 
 4. Then called I upon the name of the Lord ; O Lord, 
 I beseech thee , deliver my souL 
 
 These cc sorrows,” or <c bands of death,” once 
 “ compassed” the human race: these cc pains of 
 “ hell” were ready to seize on every son of Adam. 
 The awakened and terrified conscience of a sinner 
 hath felt the oppression of the former, and experi¬ 
 enced some foretaste of the latter. In this situation 
 he is described by St Paul as crying out, “ O 
 “ wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me 
 “ from this body of death ?” Let him take the 
 course which the Psalmist took ; let him 66 call 
 ‘ s upon the name of the Lord,” even the Lord Je¬ 
 sus, who put himself in the sinner's place, and suf¬ 
 fered for him unspeakable cc sorrows and pains;” 
 let him do this, and he shall be saved ; and shall 
 sing the praises of his almighty Saviour, in the words 
 of this beautiful Psalm. 
 
 5. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous : yea , our 
 God is merciful. 6. The Lord preserveth the simple ; 
 I teas brought lore, and he helped me . 
 
Day 24. M. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 277 
 
 In the salvation of a sinner we contemplate God’s 
 “ grace,” by which the work is effected ; his “ righ- 
 “ teousness,” which causeth him to perform what 
 he hath promised through Christ; his “ mercy,” 
 which induced him to send his Son, and to make 
 the promise. This mercy is the mercy of a parent, 
 and such as a parent showeth to those young and 
 “ simple” ones, who hath been over-reached and 
 deceived by a crafty adversary; to those who fall, 
 and are unable of themselves to rise again : “ I was 
 “ brought low, and he helped me.” 
 
 7. Return unto thy rest , 0 my soul , for the Lord 
 hath dealt bountifully with thee . 8. For thou hast de¬ 
 
 livered my soul from death , mine eyes jrom tears , and 
 my feet from falling. 9. I will walk before the Lord 
 in the land of the living. 
 
 That peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy 
 Ghost, which the penitent experienceth, as the ef¬ 
 fect and fruit of pardon, afford him some idea of the 
 rest and felicity of heaven ; and, accordingly, he 
 speaks as one translated to those happy mansions, 
 where there is no more death, neither sorrow, nor 
 crying, because there is no more sin. A Christian, 
 delivered out of the miseries of this troublesome 
 world, and at rest in Abraham’s bosom, would ex¬ 
 press himself, as one should think, in these very 
 terms. Remission of sins ought to be followed by 
 newness of life, and the resolution of him whose 
 “ soul” hath been “ delivered from death, his eyes 
 “ from tears, and his feet from falling,” should al¬ 
 ways be this, “ I will walk before the Lord,” as 
 one under his inspection, “ in the land of the liv- 
 “ ing,” or amongst the redeemed in the church : 
 until the time come for me to depart hence, and to 
 be numbered with the saints in glory everlasting.. 
 
278 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 116. 
 
 10 . I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was 
 greatly afflicted; 11 . I said in my haste , all men are 
 
 liars . 
 
 In afflictions and distresses, those of the spirit and 
 conscience more especially, the soul is tempted to 
 despond, and can only be supported by faith exert¬ 
 ing itself in prayer: “ I believed, and therefore 
 “ have I spoken,” or “ therefore spake I,” that is, 
 as above, verse 4. “ I called upon the name of the 
 “ Lord 5 O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.” 
 And this I did, though so cc greatly afflicted,” that 
 
 1 had “ said in my haste,” in my hurry and trepi¬ 
 dation occasioned by fear and amazement, “ all 
 cc men are liars there is no credit to be given to 
 their promises of deliverance; I am lost and un¬ 
 done for ever. Yet my faith faileth not entirely, 
 and, lo, my prayer hath been heard and answered. 
 St Paul, relating the troubles which came upon him, 
 and the manner in which he sustained them, thus 
 citeth a part of the 10 th verse : “ We, having the 
 “ same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I 
 “ believed, and therefore have I spoken : we also 
 “ believe, and therefore speak ; knowing that he, 
 cc which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us 
 cc also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.” 
 
 2 Cor. iv. 13, 14. 
 
 12. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his 
 benef ts towards me P 13. / mil take the cup of salva¬ 
 tion , and call upon the name of the Lord. 14. / will 
 pay my votes unto the Lord now in the presence of all 
 his people. 
 
 The grateful penitent now asketh, what return he 
 shall make to his kind Benefactor, for the most va¬ 
 luable of all blessings conferred upon him. And 
 he presently resolveth to make the only return in 
 
Day 24*. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 279 
 
 his power, namely, to acknowledge and declare be¬ 
 fore men the goodness of Jehovah, ascribing all the 
 glory where it is all due. This he determineth to 
 do, by “ taking the cup of salvation,” which, as Dr 
 Hammond observes, among the Jews was twofold ; 
 one offered in a more solemn manner in the tem¬ 
 ple ; Numb, xxviii. 7. the other more private in 
 families, called the cup of thanksgiving, or comme¬ 
 moration of any deliverance, begun by the master 
 of the family, and attended, on festival days, with a 
 suitable hymn; such as was that sung by our Lord 
 and his disciples on the night when he advanced 
 that cup into the sacrament of his blood, which hath 
 ever since been to Christians “ the cup of salva- 
 “ tion,” and which all penitent should now receive 
 in the church, with invocation, thanksgiving, and 
 payment of the 66 vows” made in time of trouble. 
 
 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of 
 his saints. 
 
 The notion of the original word, in this place, 
 for “ rare,” or “ precious,” must be so taken as not 
 to signify that which is spoken of to be desirable 
 to, or in the presence of, the Lord; for it is the 
 life, not the death, of his servants which is precious, 
 in that sense, to God, the preserver of their lives. 
 But when it is said, that their “ death is precious,” 
 it means in effect no more, than that it is so con¬ 
 sidered, it is rated at so high a price by God, as 
 that he will not easily grant it to any one who most 
 desires it of him.—Thus far Dr Hammond. We 
 may add, that much less will God be easily pre¬ 
 vailed on to give up his people to death eternal. 
 Rather will he work wonders of mercy and loving 
 kindness to save them ; as the penitent happily ex- 
 perienceth in himself. 
 
280 A COMMENTARY Psalm 117. 
 
 f , >\ - 
 
 } . : . ■ 7 * . . ' / ' » * 
 
 16 . O Lord, truly I am thy servant , I am thy ser¬ 
 vant, and the son of thine handmaid ; thou hast loosed 
 my bonds . 17 - I will offer to thee the sacrifice of 
 
 thanksgiving , and will call upon the name of the Lord. 
 18. 1 will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the 
 presence of all his people . 19 . In the courts of the 
 
 Lord’s house , in the midst of thee , O Jerusalem . 
 Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 Every penitent is the “ servant” of God, “ the son 
 “ of his handmaid,” the church, “ loosed from his 
 [bonds,” and redeemed from a state of slavery under 
 sin, the world, and the devil, that he may serve a bet¬ 
 ter Master, whose “ yoke is easy, and his burden 
 light.” This blessed Master is from thenceforth the 
 object of his love, duty, and adoration : to him he 
 “ offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving,” to him he 
 <s payeth his vows,” among his fellow-servants in the 
 church on earth; longing for that day to come when, 
 loosed also from ihe bonds of death and the grave, he 
 sliall be admitted to sing hallelujahs with saints and 
 angels, in the “ courts” of the eternal temple, even 
 “ in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem,” the holy, heaven-. 
 Iv, and glorious city of God Most High! 
 
 t ' i I • - “■ + J . * « ' » ' • - *“ * . ' ' 
 
 PSALM CXVII. 
 
 A , . - . ~ 
 
 ARGUMENT* 
 
 This Psalm, like the cxth, seems to be altogether pro¬ 
 phetical of the joy that all the world should con¬ 
 ceive, at the coming of the Messiah, to give salva¬ 
 tion, first to the Jews, and then to all other nations, 
 according to his faithful promise. 
 
 Patrick, 
 
Day 24*. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 281 
 
 1 . O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him all 
 ye people . 2. For his merciful kindness is great 
 toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for 
 ever. Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 It is remarkable, that of so short a Psalm one verse 
 is quoted in the New Testament by St Paul; the se¬ 
 cond verse is explained, though not quoted. Two 
 questions naturally arise, upon reading the Psalm ; 
 first, who are the “ nations and people,” exhorted to 
 praise Jehovah ? secondly, what is that “ merciful 
 “ kindness,” and that “ truth,” for which they are 
 exhorted to praise him? The apostle hath given a 
 satisfactory and decisive answer to both these ques¬ 
 tions, Piom. xv. 8, 9, &c. “ Now, I say, that “ Jesus 
 
 Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the 
 “ truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto 
 “ the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify Gcd 
 i; for his mercy ; as it is written, Praise the Lord, all 
 * ye Gentiles, and laud him, all ye people.” Frcm 
 the apostle’s reasoning, the verse of our Psalm, which 
 he hath cited, appears to be a proof that “ the Gen- 
 “ tiles,” or the Heathen world, should one day “ glo- 
 “ rify God ;” they are, therefore, the “ people,” whom 
 the Psalmist, in the spirit of prophecy, exhorted to 
 “ praise Jehovah.” It appears also, why the Gentiles 
 were to glorify God; namely, for his “ mercy” and 
 
 “ truth,” shewn in confirming or accomplishing the 
 
 „ * 
 
 “ promises” concerning their vocation and conversion, 
 “made unto the fathers*;” to Abraham, and his 
 
 * Confirmata—et veritas Domini”—Promiserat enim Abrahamo 
 peus futurum, ut per Christum, benedictum illud Abrahami semen, 
 benedicerentur omnes Gentes, Gen. xii. 3. xv. 18. interprete Aposto- 
 lo, Gal. iii. 16. Quod cum praestitura videamus, jam intelligimus 
 vere advenisse CHri-tum, ac promissa Dei firms esse oumia.— 
 Kossuet. 
 
282 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 117. 
 
 seed for ever; to all believers, whether of the circum¬ 
 cision, or the uncircumcision. Such, then, is the 
 “ merciful kindness” of Jehovah, which is said, in the 
 Psalm, to be “ great,” mighty, and powerful, “ toward 
 “ us ;” such his “ truth,” which is affirmed to “ en- 
 “ dure for ever; as the promises were made good to 
 the Gentiles, when the Jews, because of unbelief, had 
 been cast off. Let the hallelujahs of the redeemed be 
 suitable to that “ mercy,” and co-eternal v T ith that 
 “ truth.” 
 
 PSALM CXVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Psalm, a king of Israel appears leading his 
 people in solemn procession to the temple, there to 
 offer up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for 
 the marvellous deliverance from his enemies, and a 
 glorious victory gained over them. After inviting 
 the whole nation, 1—4* to join with him upon this 
 joyful occasion, he describeth at large, 5 — 18 . his 
 danger, and his deliverance from it, which latter is 
 wholly attributed to the power and goodness of Je¬ 
 hovah. After this, as Mr M-udge has rightly ob¬ 
 served, there ensues a kind of sacred dialogue. 
 Being come to the temple, the victorious monarch 
 speaks the 19th verse; they that open the gate, the 
 20th; he again, as he enters, the 21st; they with 
 him seem to speak the next four verses, to the 
 25 th; the priests of the temple the 26th ; the first 
 part to the king, the other to the people; the peo¬ 
 ple the 27th; he the 28 th ; the 29th is the chorus 
 verse, concluding as it began. The repeated appli¬ 
 cation made of the 22d verse in the New Testa- 
 
Day 2t. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 28 3 
 
 ment, and the appointment of the Psalm, by the 
 
 church, to be used on Easter-day, lead us to con¬ 
 sider the whole as a triumphant hymn, sung by 
 
 King Messiah, at the head of the Israel of God, on 
 
 occasion of his resurrection and exaltation. 
 
 % 
 
 1. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: be¬ 
 cause his mercy endureth for ever . 2. Let Israel now 
 
 say , that his mercy endureth for ever . 3. Let the 
 house of Aaron now say , that his mercy endureth for 
 ever . 4 * Let them no w that fear the Lord say , that 
 his mercy endureth for ever . 
 
 The subjects of “ thanksgiving” here proposed are 
 Jehovah’s “ goodness” and his “ mercy.” He is the 
 sole fountain of absolute and essential “ goodness,” the 
 source of all excellency and perfection; and his 
 “ mercy” is the channel by which he communicateth 
 this goodness, in an everflowing stream, to his people, 
 who are, therefore, exhorted to praise him. The 
 Christian church is now “ the Israel of God;” her 
 ministers constitute the true “ house of Aaron,” be¬ 
 ing the spiritual progeny of our great High Priest; 
 and the Gentiles, not the Jews, are they who know r 
 and “ fear Jehovah.” Let these all celebrate, for 
 these all have experienced, the benefits and blessings 
 of “• eternal mercy,” by the resurrection of Jesus from 
 the dead. 
 
 5. 1 called upon the Lord in distress : the Lord an¬ 
 swered me, and set me in a large place . 
 
 The true value of every deliverance is to be esti¬ 
 mated by the nature of the “ distress” which required 
 it. The rescue of David from his enemies, or that of 
 Israel from captivity, might deservedly be extolled 
 with the songs of Zion. How much more, then, is 
 the church universal bound to lift up her voice in ho¬ 
 nour of Jehovah, who hath l’edeemed her from her 
 
284 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 118* 
 
 spiritual adversaries, and freed her from the bondage 
 of corruption, through Him who “ died for her sins, 
 “ and rose again for her justification who, in the 
 days of his flesh, being, on her account, in “ distress” 
 and affliction, “ called upon Jehovah, and was an- 
 “ swered,” by an “ enlargement” from the narrow 
 prison of the grave, to a boundless and glorious king¬ 
 dom ! 
 
 6. The Lord is on my side ; I will not fear ; what 
 can man do unto me? 7. The Lord taketh my part 
 with them that help me: therefore shall I see my de¬ 
 sire upon them that hate me. 
 
 By frequent experience of the divine power and 
 mercy, from time to time exerted on the behalf of 
 Israel, that nation was instructed to trust in Jehovah; 
 and, whenever they did so, success and victory never 
 failed to attend their steps. Would not the case be 
 the same with us in all our undertakings, if our faith 
 w r as right and steadfast in God, who raised up Jesus 
 from the dead, and who hath promised to make us 
 44 more than conquerors ?” 
 
 8. It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put con - 
 fdence in man. Q . It is better to trust in pfo Lord, 
 than to put confidence in princes. 
 
 Armies of “ men,” however numerous, and to ap¬ 
 pearance powerful, may he routed and dispersed at 
 once. “ Princes 5 ' 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 purpose. But that hope which is placed in God, 
 can never, by these, or any other means, be disappointed. 
 As we so often repeat these two verses, let us act 
 agreeably to the declaration which we then make, 
 and, instead of courting the world, by undue com¬ 
 pliances, for its deceitful smiles and treacherous fa- 
 
Day 24. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 2 8 S 
 
 vours, let us in all points do our duty, and leave the 
 event to God above. To encourage us in the per¬ 
 formance of such a resolution as this, let it be remem¬ 
 bered, that because our Saviour “ witnessed a good 
 “ confession before Pontius Pilate,” and with meek¬ 
 ness and patience resigned himself to the death of the 
 cross for it, therefore God exalted him to glory and 
 honour. 
 
 10 . All nations compassed me about: but in the 
 name of the Lord will i, or, 1 did , destroy them. 11. 
 They compassed me about , yea , they compassed me 
 about: but in the name of the Lord I will, or, I did , 
 destroy them. 12. They compassed me about, like 
 bees , they are quenched as the fire of thorns : for in the 
 name of the Lord I will , or, I did , destroy them . 
 
 The tenour of the Psalm being one of thanksgiving 
 for a deliverance already experienced, seemeth to re¬ 
 quire that the verb, at the close of each of these 
 verses, should be rendered in the past time ; not “ X 
 “ will destroy them,” but “ I did destroy themes¬ 
 pecially as it is said, “ they compassed me about,’ 
 and “ they are quenched.” As David and Israel were 
 encompassed by hostile nations, over whom, through 
 God’s assistance, they often triumphed ; so the Son 
 of David, in the day of his passion, v T as surrounded 
 by the furious multitude of Jew 7 s and Gentiles seeking 
 his life; and, after the same example, his mystical 
 body, the church, hath frequently been, on all sides, 
 vexed and persecuted in the world. But, through the 
 powder of Jehovah, Christ overcame, and is set down 
 on the right hand of the Majesty on high. The 
 church, likewise, hath often risen superior to the el-. 
 forts of her innumerable and malicious enemies, whose 
 fury hath blazed forth against her with the sudden 
 fierceness of “ fire,” when it is applied to a heap of 
 
286 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 118, 
 
 dry “ thorns and hath been as soon at an end; she 
 hath triumphed, yea, and she will finally triumph, 
 “ in the name of the Lord her God.” 
 
 13. Thou hast thrust sore at me , that I might fall: 
 hut the Lord helped me. 14. The Lord is my strength 
 and so?ig , and is become my salvation. 15 . The voice 
 of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the 
 righteous: the right hand of the Lord doth valiantly. 
 16. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right 
 hand of the Lord doth valiantly. 
 
 The church may consider herself as victorious over 
 her great adversary, the author of all evil, who had 
 made his grand effort to effect her destruction, by 
 putting to death her champion and king, Messiah. 
 But Jehovah appeared at the time appointed, to bring 
 him, and, virtually, all that should believe in him, 
 from the dead. “ Thou hast thrust sore at me, that 
 “ I might fall; but Jehovah helped me.” Risen, 
 therefore, with Christ, from the grave, we proceed to 
 praise Jehovah, in the words which Israel first used, 
 when they had ascended from the depths of the sea, 
 and beheld their enemies destroyed for ever ; “ Je- 
 “ hovah is my strength, and my song, and is become 
 “ my salvation :” Exod. xv. 2. And never doth that 
 sacred day come round, on which the resurrection of 
 Jesus is celebrated, but “ the voice of rejoicing is in 
 “ the tabernacles of the righteous there is a noise 
 of them that sing for joy, in the camp of the saints ; 
 the church militant resoundeth with thanksgiving, and 
 the voice of melody ; paradise is restored below, and 
 earth beareth some resemblance of heaven, while these 
 transporting hymns are sung in honour of our great 
 Redeemer. He is that “ Arm and Right Hand of Je- 
 “ hovah” which hath “ done valiantly,” which hath 
 crushed our strongest enemy, and is very highly “ ex- 
 
Day 24. m. p. ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 287 
 
 alted” over all. “ Thy right hand, O Lord, is become 
 “ glorious in power; thy right hand, O Lord, hath 
 “ dashed in pieces the enemy.” Exod. xv. 6. 
 
 17- I shall not die, hut live, and declare the works of 
 the Lord. 18 . The Lord hath chastened me sore: 
 hut he hath not given me over unto death . 
 
 As Christ is risen, “ we shall not die, but live 
 we shall not die eternally, but we shall live, in this 
 world, the life of grace; in the world to come, the 
 life of glory; that we may, in both, “ declare the 
 “ works” and chant the praises of God our Saviour. 
 We are “ chastened” for our sins, but “ not given 
 “ over to death” and destruction everlasting; nay, 
 our being “ chastened” is now a proof that we are 
 not so “ given over;” for “ what son is he whom 
 “ the father chasteneth not ?” Heb. xii. 7. 
 
 IQ. Open' to me the gates of righteousness ; I will 
 go in to them, and 1 will praise the Lord : 20. This 
 gate , or, This is the gate of the Lord, into which the 
 righteous shall enter . 21. 1 will thank thee, for thou 
 
 hast heard me, and art become my salvation . 
 
 The faithful, like David and his people of old, de¬ 
 mand admission into the courts of the Lord’s house, 
 there to praise him for his great and manifold mer¬ 
 cies. But we may extend our ideas much farther, 
 and consider the whole company of the redeemed, as 
 beholding the angels ready to unbar the gates of hea¬ 
 ven, and throw open the doors of the eternal sanctu¬ 
 ary, for the true disciples of the risen and glorified 
 Jesus to enter in. “ Open ye,” may believers ex¬ 
 claim in triumph to those celestial spirits, who de¬ 
 light to minister to the heirs of salvation, “ open ye 
 “ the gates of righteousness,” those gates, through 
 which nothing unclean can pass, “ that the righteous 
 “ nation, which keepeth the truth, may enter in,” 
 
688 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 118. 
 
 Isa. xxvi. 2. and sing, with your harmonious choirs, 
 the praises of him who sitteth upon the throne; for 
 he hath overcome the sharpness of death, he hath 
 opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. 
 
 This is the gate of the Lord, into which the righte- 
 “ ous shall enter,” to take possession of the inheri¬ 
 tance prepared for them, “ to thank” him who hath 
 “ heard them, and is become their salvation. 
 
 22. The stone which the builders refused , is become 
 the head stone of the corner . 23* This is the Lord’s 
 
 doing, it is marvellous in our eyes . 
 
 Whether this passage had first a reference to the 
 case of David *, who, as a figure of Messiah, was 
 brought from a state of rejection and persecution to 
 the throne of Israel; or whether there be any truth 
 in a Jewish tradition concerning a certain stone, 
 which, after having been, by the builders of the se¬ 
 cond temple, thrown aside among the rubbish, was at 
 last found to be exactly fitted for the honourable place 
 of a chief corner-stone; it is neither possible nor 
 needful to ascertain. That the verses belong, in a 
 full proper sense, to Messiah, is confessed by the 
 Babbis, and acknowledged by all. No text in the 
 Old Testament is quoted by the writers of the New^, 
 so often as this, which we meet with in six differen t 
 places; namely, Matt. xxi. 42. Mark xii. 10. Luke 
 XX. 17. Acts iv. 11 . Ephes. ii. 20 . 1 Pet. ii. 4. The 
 sum and substance of the New Testament applications 
 and expositions is, that Jesus Christ is the stone here 
 mentioned ; that he was rejected and set at nought 
 by the chief priests and Pharisees, the then builders of 
 
 * David a Saule et allquandlu a dccem trlb.ybus reprobatus ac 
 soli tribui Judae agmtus, deinde omnium princeps ; et sub figura ejus 
 Christus a Judseis ac Gentibus impetitus, mox utrorumque caput, ut 
 ipse interpretatur, Matt. xxi. 42. Bossuet. 
 
 1 
 
Day 24. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 289 
 
 the church ; but that, being chosen of God, and pre¬ 
 cious to him, this most valuable stone, thus despised 
 and rejected of men, thus thrown among the rubbish, 
 and buried in it, was, at length, from such a state, ex¬ 
 alted to be the chief corner stone in the building, the 
 main support of the edifice, and a centre of union for 
 Jew and Gentile, the two parts of which it consisted; 
 that this was the work of God, and the admiration of 
 
 X 
 
 man. And what can be more truly marvellous, than 
 that a person, put to death as a malefactor, and laid 
 in the grave, should from thence arise immortal, and 
 become the head of an immortal society; should 
 ascend into heaven, be invested with power, and 
 crowned with glory; and should prepare a way for 
 the sons of Adam to follow him into those mansions 
 of eternal bliss ? 
 
 24. This is the day which the Lord hath made ; we 
 will rejoice and be glad in it. 
 
 Of the day on which Christ arose from the dead, it 
 may, with more propriety than of any other day, be 
 affirmed, “ This is the day which Jehovah hath made.” 
 Then it was, that the “ rejected stone” became the 
 “ head of the coiner.” A morning then dawned 
 which is to be followed by no evening; a brighter sun 
 arose upon the world, which is to set no more; a day 
 began, which will never end ; and night and darkness 
 departed, to return not again. For thus saith the 
 Lord to his church by the prophet Isaiah, “ Thy sun 
 “ shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon with- 
 “ draw itself, for the Lord shall be thine everlasting 
 “ light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended:” 
 Isa. lx. 20. Easter-day is in a peculiar manner con¬ 
 secrated to Him, who, by his resurrection triumphed 
 over death and hell. On that day, through faith, we 
 
 von. it. 
 
 T 
 
290 
 
 X COMMENTARY 
 
 P SALM 118. 
 
 triumph with him ; we 44 rejoice and are glad in his 
 44 salvation.” 
 
 25. Save now , I beseech thee , O Lord : O Lord, I 
 beseech thee , send now prosperity . 26. Blessed be he 
 
 that cometh in the name of the Lord : we have blessed 
 you out of or, you that are of the house of the Lord. 
 
 As a prelude to the triumphant manner in which 
 Jesus Christ, after his resurrection, should ascend to 
 the heavenly Jerusalem, he entered the earthly city, 
 before his passion, amidst the acclamations of the 
 multitude, who hailed him as King of Sion, and with 
 palm-branches, the emblems of victory, in their hands. 
 Sung before him these words, partly taken from our 
 Psalm, “ Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is he 
 44 that cometh in the name of the Lord : Hosanna in 
 u the highest.” The word, 44 Hosanna,” is in the 
 original, JOnjPEftn, 44 Save now I” The form of words 
 used by the people was both a petition and a congra¬ 
 tulation ; as if they had said, Let us beseech Jehovah, 
 in the language of the cxviiith Psalm, to grant sal¬ 
 vation to the Son of David, and to send us now pros¬ 
 perity under him: Blessed is he who thus cometh, 
 not in his own name and powder, but in the name and 
 power of Jehovah, according to the prophecies con¬ 
 cerning him, to deliver us from all our enemies : rati¬ 
 fy, O Jehovah, in the highest, or in heaven, these pe¬ 
 titions which we make for the salvation and prosperity 
 of our king, that thy blessings upon him and us may 
 be established on earth. Since the resurrection of 
 our Lord, the faithful have expressed, in these two 
 verses, the same wishes and prayers for the increase 
 of his kingdom, and the prosperity of his house and 
 family, of his ministers and his people : 44 We bless 
 44 you that are of the house of Jehovah. 
 
Day 24. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 291 
 
 27. God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: 
 hind the sacrifice with cords , even unto the horns of 
 the altar . 
 
 As Jehovah had manifested his power and glory, by 
 raising Christ from the dead ; as he hath, by so do¬ 
 ing, “ showed us the light” of life and immortality; 
 let us observe the festival, which is designed to per¬ 
 petuate the memory of so great and joyful an event. 
 “ Christ, our passover,” saith an apostle, “ is sacri- 
 M ficed for us ; therefore let us keep the feast 1 Cor. 
 v. 7 . Let us keep it, only changing legal for evan¬ 
 gelical sacraments and ceremonies; let us go to the 
 altar, not to see a figure of the Lamb of God, as he 
 was to be slain; but to behold a representation of 
 him as he hath been slain ; to behold, in figure, his 
 body broken, and his blood poured out; to eat the 
 bread of life, and drink the cup of salvation. 
 
 28. Thou art my God , and I will praise thee: thou 
 art my God , I will exalt thee. 2Q. O give thanks 
 unto the Lord,/ or he is good: for his mercy endureth 
 for ever. 
 
 The prophet declareth his resolution to 44 praise” 
 and to 44 exalt,” to magnify and to glorify, his 
 44 God ;” he then concludes, as he began, with exhort¬ 
 ing all the world to do the same. Preserve to us, 
 blessed Lord, the use of these divine hymns in thy 
 church, until, at the resurrection of the just, we shall 
 celebrate an Easter in heaven, and sing them new in 
 the kingdom of God. 
 
 2 
 
 / 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 
 TWENTY-FOURTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CXIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm is divided (most probably for the advan¬ 
 tage of memory) according to the number of let¬ 
 ters which compose the Hebrew alphabet, into 
 twenty-two portions, of eight verses each ; and 
 not only every portion, but every verse of that 
 portion, begins with the letter appropriated to it. 
 David must, undoubtedly, have been the author. 
 He describeth, in a series of devotional medita¬ 
 tions, the instruction and the comfort which, 
 through all vicissitudes of mind and fortune, he 
 had ever found in the word of God. The many 
 strong expressions of love towards the law, and 
 the repeated resolutions and vows to observe it, 
 will often force us to turn our thoughts to the true 
 David, whose “ meat and drink it was, to do the 
 tc will of him that sent him.” The passages more 
 especially characteristic of him, as well as those 
 which allude primarily to any particular circum¬ 
 stances in the history of the patriarch David, are 
 pointed out in the course of the comment. But 
 the chief design through the whole hath been to 
 draw forth the lessons of heavenly wisdom and 
 comfort, contained in this interesting composition, 
 for the service of believers, who, while they are 
 accomplished their pilgrimage and warfare upon 
 earth, should continually solace themselves with 
 the cxixth Psalm, and repair to it as to a fountain 
 which can never be exhausted. Between the 
 verses of each portion, a connexion is frequently 
 
Day 24. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 293 
 
 to be traced, but it doth not often seem to extend 
 from one portion to another. The many words 
 employed to express the revelations of God’s will 
 have distinct significations, denoting different parts 
 or portions of the Scriptures, which it hath some- 
 ^ times been found of great use to take into consi¬ 
 deration, while at others the terms appear to be 
 used promiscuously, in a general sense, and for 
 the sake of variety. 
 
 ALEPH.—PART I. 
 
 1 . Blessed are the unde filed, Heb. perfect , or, sin¬ 
 cere, in the wap, who walk in the law of the Lord. 
 
 By sin, misery entered into the world ; holiness 
 alone, therefore, can lead us to happiness. “ The 
 “ law of Jehovah* is the path of life, and by “ walk- 
 <c ing in the way,” we shall attain to the end. But, 
 alas! we are out of the way ; we have walked in the 
 law of sin, after the lusts of the flesh ; who will di¬ 
 rect and strengthen us to walk in the law of God, 
 after the desire of the Spirit ? We are fallen from 
 our integrity ; who will raise us again? The Gospel, 
 which was preached to Abraham before the Mosaic 
 dispensation, and which was prefigured and believed 
 under it, returneth us, to all these questions, answers 
 of peace. The Redeemer hath prevailed for the 
 pardon of our errors ; the Redeemer hath raised us 
 from our fallen state ; he hath reconducted us to 
 the path of life; in his name we arise and walk; he 
 maketh us righteous, and, consequently, he maketh 
 us cc blessed.” For, “ Blessed are the sincere in the 
 “ wav, who walk in the law of Jehovah.*’ 
 
 2 . Blessed are t ey that keep his testimonies , and that 
 seek him with their whole heart. 
 
 The divine revelations and institutions, whether 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 294 
 
 of the old or the new law, are called God’s 44 testi- 
 “ monies ;” they are the witnesses of his will, and 
 the pledges of his love. They are committed to the 
 church as a precious deposit, or trust, to be by her 
 children 44 kept,” and observed. In and by these 
 God is to be sought; 44 they that seek him with their 
 “ whole heart,” with ardent and undivided affec¬ 
 tion, fail not to find him, as an instructor and a 
 comforter; and they who find him, find all things, 
 and are 44 blessed” indeed. 
 
 3 . They also that do no iniquity , they that walk in 
 his ways. 
 
 O blissful state of those, who are redeemed from 
 the earth, and all earthly desires ; who are delivered 
 from the dominion of sin ; who 44 follow the Lamb 
 64 whithersoever he goeth,” and, like Zacharias and 
 Elizabeth, 44 walk in the statutes and ordinances of 
 44 the Lord blameless Luke i. 6. Enrol us, O 
 Lord, in the happy number of these thy servants ; 
 pardon our offences ; give us a new nature, and new 
 desires, averse from sin, and inclined to sanctity : 
 and guard us, that the wicked one touch us not. 
 
 4 . Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts 
 diligently. 
 
 He who made us, and redeemed us, hath a double 
 risht to our service. 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 should 44 keep his precepts 
 44 diligently,” because in 44 keeping” them, and in 
 keeping them 44 diligently,” so as not to halt between 
 God and the world, but to serve one master only, 
 doth our happiness consist. Now, when the com¬ 
 mands of our Superior, and our greatest Benefac¬ 
 tor, of our Friend, our Father, and our God, 
 
Day 24. e. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 295 
 
 coincide with our own interests temporal and eter¬ 
 nal, what pretext can there be for disobedience and 
 rebellion ? 
 
 5. O that my ways were directed , or, prepared and 
 established , to keep thy statutes ! 
 
 The faithful soul, enraptured with the contem¬ 
 plation of that blessedness which is the consequence 
 of serving God, but conscious, at the same time, of 
 an inability to attain it, sighs after the refreshing 
 and strengthening influences of divine grace. She 
 beholdeth her Saviour afar off; she beholdeth the- 
 beauty and glorious majesty of his heavenly king¬ 
 dom ; she beholdeth the way which leads to it; but 
 she hath not power to walk therein. This considera¬ 
 tion causeth her to groan earnestly within herself, 
 and at length to breathe forth a wish that the Spirit 
 of truth and love would fix and establish her in a 
 holy course of thinking, speaking, and acting, upon 
 all occasions, and would prevent her from turning 
 aside out of it, to the right hand or to the left. 
 
 6 . Then shall I not be ashamed , when I have respect 
 unto all thy commandments . 
 
 All the commandments have the same author, 
 and the same sanction. He who thinketh to atone 
 for the breach of one, by the observation of another; 
 he who reserveth to himself a licence of indulging 
 any favourite, darling lust, while, in general, he 
 preserveth the appearance of an exemplary conduct, 
 is a hypocrite, and, unless he repent, will be 
 brought to cc shame,” if not before men here, yet 
 before men and angels hereafter. “ Shame” is 
 the fruit of sin ; confidence is the effect of righ¬ 
 teousness. Wherefore, in all our proceedings, let 
 us “ have respect,” not to the opinions of men, to 
 the corrupt customs of the w r orld, or to the deceit- 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 236 
 
 ful suggestions of our own hearts* but 44 to the 
 46 commandments, to all the commandments of 
 44 God ; let us, as St John exhorteth, 44 abide in 
 44 Christthat when 44 he shall appear, we may 
 44 have confidence, and not be ashamed before him 
 54 at his coming.” 1 John ii. 28 . 
 
 7. 1 will praise thee with uprightness of heart , when 
 I shall have learned thy righteous judgements . 
 
 Confidence in God will always be productive of 
 joy, and undissembled 44 praise ’ will accompany true 
 conversion. The Scriptures are styled God’s 44 righ- 
 44 teous judgements,’ as containing an account of his 
 decrees and determinations concerning us, wi h a 
 histoiv of cases and precedents, entered upon record * 
 for our admonition, dy these we are to form our 
 opinions, and to regulate our conduct. And when 
 we shall have so 44 learned” these, as to walk ac¬ 
 cording to them, w’e shall praise God with an 44 up- 
 44 right heart our tongues will utter what our 
 hearts feel. 
 
 8. 1 will keep thy statutes: 0 forsake me not ut¬ 
 terly. 
 
 The result of our meditations on God’s word, 
 and on the advantages of studying, in order to ob¬ 
 serve its directions, should always be a resolution 
 so to do, and a prayer for grace to execute that 
 resolution. Lord, we 46 will keep thy statutes 
 for love can do all things, when thou hast shed it 
 abroad in our hearts. 44 Love worketh no ill; 
 
 « therefore love is the fulfilling of the law,” Rom. 
 xiii. 10.; and mercy will accept what grace enableth 
 us to perform. Be thou, therefore, ever with us, 
 and 44 forsake us not- or if, at any time, to try our 
 faith, and to exercise our patience, thou shouldest 
 depart from us and leave us to ourselves for a time, 
 
Day 24. e. v. ON THE PSALMS. 297 
 
 % 
 
 short be thy absence, and speedy thy return ; c - O 
 forsake us not utterly 1” 
 
 BETH .—PART II. 
 
 9. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ? 
 By taking heed thereto according to thy word . 
 
 Youth enters upon the journey of life, headstrong 
 and inexperienced, with a bias of original corrup¬ 
 tion and all the passions awake. In such circum¬ 
 stances, how shall a young man direct his steps, so 
 as to “ escape the pollution that is in the world 
 u through lust ?” 2 Pet. i. 4. He must, for this 
 purpose, take with him t ie directions to be found 
 in the Scriptures of truth. u I have written unto 
 “ you, young men,” says the beloved disciple, 
 “ because ye are strong, and the word of God 
 “ abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked 
 <c one ” He who became man for our salvation, 
 parsed through this state of youth, undefiled, that 
 he might, as it were, reclaim and consecrate it 
 anew to God. Let every young man often meditate 
 on this circumstance. 
 
 10. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let 
 me not wander from thy commandments. 
 
 Despairing of sufficient assistance from any other 
 quarter, because no one rise can either show us the 
 way to heaven, or enable us to walk therein, even if 
 it could be shown, “ with our whole heart have we 
 cc sought thee,’ O God, thy direction and thine aid ; 
 and thou hast promised, that they who 66 seek shall 
 “ find like sheep without a shepherd are we given 
 to stray ; O preserve us from error in principle, 
 
298 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 and in practice; “ let us not wander from thy 
 <c commandments.’’ 
 
 11. Thy word have 1 hid in mine heart , that I might 
 ?70i sin against thee. 
 
 The young man who would cleanse his way, and 
 take heed according to God’s word, must “ lay up 
 “ that word in his heartfor from the heart are 
 the “ issues of life,” the thoughts, the words, and 
 the actions ; when God ruleth in the heart by his 
 word and Spirit, these become his subjects; then 
 “ the kingdom of heaven is within us,” and all is 
 obedience, peace, and love. Thou art our King, O 
 Lord Jcsu ; suffer no usurper to possess thy place 
 in our affections; permit no other Lord to have 
 dominion over us. 
 
 12. Blessed art thon^ O Lord : teach me thy sta - 
 iules . 
 
 He who is cc blessed” can make us so : he who 
 delighteth to communicate “ blessing,” will do it, 
 if we ask him, by “ teaching us his statutes,” which 
 conform ms to his nature, that we may live his life, 
 and bless his name for ever. When the word of 
 God is our lesson, the Spirit of God must be our 
 Master. 
 
 13. With my Ups have I declared all the judgements 
 of thy month . 
 
 The best sign that God hath “ taught us his sta- 
 <c tutes,” and the greatest inducement to him to 
 teach us still more and more, is a readiness to make 
 others partakers of those blessings, which we our¬ 
 selves have received from him. Jehovah fashions 
 the “ lips” of man, and he expects that they should 
 be employed in his service. “ Out of the abundance 
 “ of the heart the mouth speaketh,” and the stream 
 will always show the nature of the fountain. When 
 
D.4Y 24?. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 299 
 
 we make the Scriptures the subject of our conver¬ 
 sation, we glorify God, we edify our neighbours, 
 and we improve ourselves. 
 
 14. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies , as 
 much as in all riches, 
 
 Truth and holiness afford to the sincere believer 
 a pleasure more exquisite, as well as more solid 
 and enduring, than that which a miser feels at the 
 acquisition of his darling wealth. Let us no longer 
 envy the joys of worldly men, no longer be cha¬ 
 grined at the prosperity of the wicked. The “ true 
 6C riches” we may always acquire ; and, surely as 
 much as the heaven is higher than the earth, so 
 much are heavenly joys above earthly, in kind, 
 degree, and duration, 
 
 15. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect 
 unto thy ways. 
 
 Meditation is that exercise of the mind, whereby 
 it recalls a known truth, as some kinds of creatures 
 do their food, to be ruminated upon, until all the 
 nutritious parts are extracted, and fitted for the 
 purposes of life. By study we lay in knowledge, 
 by meditation we reduce that knowledge to practice. 
 And we have then duly “ meditated on God’s pre- 
 “ cepts,” when in all our proceedings we “ have 
 “ respect unto his ways,” comparing our actions 
 with the rule of his word. 
 
 16. / will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not 
 forget thy word. 
 
 By frequent meditation and continual practice, 
 the divine “ statutes” will become our “ delight;” 
 and from the pleasures, as well as from the cares 
 of the world, we shall gladly fly to them for re¬ 
 creation and comfort. Of holy exercises there is 
 great variety, and spiritual joys are without ruun- 
 
300 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Fsalm 119. 
 
 ber, Lord, make us to “ delight ourselves in thy 
 statutes,” and when we delight in what we learn, 
 we shall easily retain it in memory; “ we shall not 
 “ forget thy word.” 
 
 GIMEL.—PART III. 
 
 17. Deal bountifully with thy servant , that I may 
 live , and keep thy word . 
 
 In the foregoing parts of the Psalm we have 
 heard the believer declaring the excellency of God’s 
 word, and expressing both his desire and his resolu¬ 
 tion to observe its directions. He now beseecheth 
 God to remove all impediments, and to accomplish 
 this work in him. And as a man must 66 live,” in 
 order to “ work,” the first petition is, that God 
 would “ deal with his servant” according to the 
 measures of grace and mercy, enabling him to u live” 
 the life of faith, and strengthening him by the Spirit 
 of might in the inner man, to cc keep the word” of 
 truth, and to walk in the commandments of his 
 blessed Master all his days. 
 
 18. Open thou mine eyes , that I may behold wondrous 
 things out of thy law . 
 
 So far are we naturally from being able to 
 “ keep” the word, that we are not able to under¬ 
 stand it. The law of God is full of divine and spi¬ 
 ritual truths, concealed under literal histories, visible 
 signs, and external ceremonies. To discern these, 
 “ wondrous,” because the hidden, mysterious 
 “ things,” our cc eyes,” the eyes of our understand¬ 
 ing, must be “ unveiled that “ veil” must be 
 taken off, which St Paul affirmeth to be upon the 
 hearts of the Jews, “ in reading the Old Testament,” 
 
Day 24. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 301 
 
 and which will continue there, until they turn to the 
 Lord Jesus Christ. Then the veil will be taken 
 away, and they will behold him, and the redemption 
 by him, as prefigured in their law, and foretold by 
 their prophets*. Pride, prejudice, and interest, 
 will compose a veil, through which a Christian shall 
 see as little of the New Testament, as a Jew doth 
 of the Old. Lord, convince us of our blindness, 
 and restore us to our sight. 
 
 19. I am a stranger in the earth ; hide not thy com¬ 
 mandmentsjrom me. 
 
 The above request for divine illumination is en¬ 
 forced by this argument, that the petitioner is a 
 cc stranger,” and a sojourner upon “ the earth he 
 is travelling through a foreign country, to his native 
 city, where are his kindred, his treasure, and his 
 heart; as a sojourner, he hath renounced the world, 
 which is therefore become his enemy; as a stranger, 
 he is fearful of losing his way; on these accounts 
 he requesteth, that God would compensate the loss 
 of earthly comforts, by affording the light of hea¬ 
 ven ; that he would not “ hide his commandments,” 
 but show and teach him those steps, by which he 
 may ascend towards heaven, rejoicing in hope of 
 future glory. 
 
 20. My soul hreaketh for the longing that it hath 
 unto thy judgements at all times. 
 
 Another argument here urged, is that “ long- 
 * 6 ing” desire which the soul hath, during her state 
 
 * “ Revela oculus meos aperi, dispells umbras, tolle velamen- 
 tum, quo spirituals oculi conteguntur. “ Con*iderabo rairabilia ; 5 
 ut penitus introspiciam, non literam tantum, ac velut corticem 
 sed arcana spirituals, puta in sabbatis requiem sempiternarr., simpli- 
 citatem in arymis^ in vjctirris obedhntiam, tt ubinue Christum. 
 Bossuet. 
 
302 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 of pilgrimage below, unto the revelation of God’s 
 will. Grieved and vexed at the prospect of sin, 
 vanity, and folly, and finding nothing below that 
 will satisfy the desires of an immortal spirit, she 
 setteth her affections on the better things above, 
 which are proposed in the Scriptures as the proper 
 objects of our wishes. Her appetite for the divine 
 Word is keen, as that of hunger or thirst, and 
 “ hope deferred maketh the heart sick.” This dis¬ 
 position is not a transient fit, but it is constant and 
 uniform “ at all times.” 
 
 21. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed , 
 'which do err from thy commandments . 
 
 The consideration of the wretched condition of 
 impenitent sinners, is another reason, why we en¬ 
 treat God to set and to keep us in the way of his 
 commandments. “ Pride” produceth “ error,” and 
 obstinacy in that error ; obstinate transgressors re¬ 
 ject the call, the covenant, and the terms, of the 
 Gospel ; to such the “ curse” of the law is ratified 
 and sealed, and mercy consigns them over to justice, 
 which seldom fails to give them some “ rebukes” 
 even in this world, for a foretaste to them, and a 
 warning to others. 
 
 22. Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I 
 have kept thy testimonies. 
 
 “ Reproach and contempt” are liberally bestowed 
 by the world upon men who, being not of it, re¬ 
 prove its deeds by their exemplary conduct. These, 
 to beginners more especially, are sore lets and hin¬ 
 drances in the way of duty; and, after the example 
 of David, we may beseech God to “ remove” 
 them from us, when we suffer them in his cause, 
 and know ourselves to be innocent of the crimes 
 laid to our charge. In the meantime, to comfort 
 
Day 24. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 303 
 
 ourselves under them, let us remember, that he, 
 who alone, in the strict and unlimited sense of the 
 words, could say, 44 I have kept thy testimonies,” 
 sustained the utmost degree of 44 reproach and con- 
 44 tempt” for our sakes, and was patient and resigned 
 under it all, until God 44 removed” it from him by 
 a glorious resurrection. There remaineth likewise 
 a resurrection for the mystical body of Christ 
 and then, 44 Wisdom will be justified of all her 
 44 children.” 
 
 23. Princes also did sit and speak against me : but 
 thy servant did meditate in thy statutes . 
 
 44 Princes” and rulers have often 44 sat” in coun¬ 
 cil upon the 44 servants” of God, and 44 spoken,” in 
 judgement false things 44 against them,” as they did 
 against their blessed Master in the days of his flesh. 
 David hath taught us how to act in such circum¬ 
 stances. We are not to renounce the creed, or the 
 commandments, should it so happen that 44 the 
 44 rulers and the Pharisees,” neither believe the for¬ 
 mer, nor observe the latter ; but rather, we should 
 44 meditate,” more than ever, in the Scriptures; 
 that we may draw from thence comfort in the 
 troubles, and direction in the difficulties, which 
 persecution bringeth upon us ; always bearing in 
 mind, when princes command any thing contrary 
 to the word of God, that our service is due to a 
 higher Master ; 44 thy servant did meditate in thy 
 44 statutes.” 
 
 24?. Thy testimonies also are my delight , and my 
 counsellors . 
 
 Pleasure and wisdom, as the world hath ordered 
 matters, are almost incompatible ; insomuch that 
 Solomon, relating the experience he had had of 
 voluptuousness, mentions it as a thing out of the 
 
304 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 ordinary course, that “ his wisdom” all the time 
 “ remained with himEccles. ii 9. But they 
 who meditate in the word or God, find a pleasure, 
 which hath wisdom for its inseparable companion. 
 Their sorrow is dispelled, and their doubts are 
 resolved. For how can he be sorrowful, who sits 
 by the fountain of joy ? How can he be long in 
 d ubt, who hath the prophets and apostles for his 
 counsellors ? 
 
 DALETH.—PART IV. 
 
 25. My soul cleavetli to the dust: quiclcen thou me 
 according to thy word. 
 
 The P almist, in a state of affliction and humilia¬ 
 tion, still seeketh relief, by prayer, from the Scrip¬ 
 tures. His circumstances vary, but his affection to 
 the word of God continueth the same. Every one, 
 whose affections are set on things below, hath 
 reason to exclaim with David, “ My soul cleaveth 
 
 to the dust.” From this kind of death we are 
 cc quickened,” or made alive, by the Gospel, through 
 that same Spirit which raised Christ from the dead, 
 and which shall raise us also at the last day. Then 
 soul and body, perfected together, shall take their 
 final farewell of earth, and ascend to heaven, where 
 the soul shall feel no passion but the love of God, 
 and the body shall have no employment but to 
 express it 
 
 2 . 1 have declared my ways, and thou heardest me ; 
 teach me thy statutes . 
 
 We should freely and ingeniously “ declare” to 
 God in prayer our sins, our temptations, our sor¬ 
 rows, and our undertakings ; it argues love, confi¬ 
 dence, and sincerity, so to do; it is a means of 
 
 3 
 
Day 24. e. f. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 30,5 
 
 acquainting us with our own state, of which gene¬ 
 rally we are ignorant; and it will not fail to procure 
 us those aids from above, of which we stand in need. 
 God will “ hear” us; he will pardon our offences, 
 strengthen us in our trials, dispel our grief, and 
 prosper the work of our hands upon us. These 
 mercies, when received, should incline us to walk 
 worthy of them, and, for that purpose, to beg the 
 farther instruction and direction of the divine Spirit; 
 “ I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me— 
 cc teach me thy statutes.” 
 
 27. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts ; 
 so shall / talk , or meditate , of thy wondrous works , or, 
 thy mysteries. 
 
 The heart of the troubled Psalmist is intent upon 
 duty, and the deliverance which he chiefly requesteth 
 is that from ignorance and error. True knowledge 
 cometh from God, and it cannot be too often desired 
 of him. It is pleasant as the light, extensive as 
 the heavens, and more profitable than the treasures 
 of eastern kings. He who is led to “ understand” 
 the celestial u mysteries” of the Scriptures, will 
 never want subjects for cc meditation,” and should 
 never permit those subjects either to slip out of his 
 mind, or to lie unimproved in it. 
 
 28. My soul mellelh Jbr heaviness : strengthen thou 
 me according to thy xcord. 
 
 Let us not marvel, if sin bring us to the knowledge 
 of sorrow, since he who “ knew no sin,” was* yet, 
 on our account, so intimately “ acquainted with 
 grief.” In the garden, his soul “ melted for heavi- 
 
 ness,” and there appeared an angel from heaven 
 cc strengthening him Luke xxii. 43. Our trans¬ 
 gressions deserve an eternity of sorrow; let 11 s not, 
 therefore, repine at any part of it that may fall to 
 
 VOL, II, 1/ 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 306 
 
 our share in time. No, blessed Jesu ! let us suffer 
 with thee, as both a means and a pledge, of our 
 future glorification with thee. Only 44 strengthen us, 
 44 according to” the promises in 44 thy word.” In 
 this life, all we ask is faith and patience ; faith to 
 assure us that thou orderest all things for the best; 
 and patience, to preserve that faith. These were the 
 provisions with which thy best-beloved servants of 
 old travelled through this mortal life. Enable us, 
 upon whom the ends of the world are come, to do 
 the same ; that so, when the days of our earthly 
 pilgrimage shall be happily accomplished, we may 
 sit down, with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in 
 thy heavenly kingdom. 
 
 29. Remove from me the way of lying : and grant 
 ?ne thy law graciously. 30. I have chosen the way of 
 truth : thy judgements have I laid before me. 
 
 It is plain that 44 the way of truth,” in the latter 
 of these two verses, is opposed to 44 the way of 
 64 lying,” or of falsehood in the former. The one 
 comprehends every thing in doctrine and in practice 
 that is right, and therefore u true ;” the other de¬ 
 notes every thing which is wrong, and therefore 
 64 false.” Of these two ways man hath his choice. 
 God points out to him the former by his word, and 
 offers to conduct him in it by his Spirit. Satan 
 shows him the latter, and endeavours to seduce him 
 into it by his temptations. The Psalmist declareth 
 himself to have 44 chosen” God’s way, and to have 
 44 laid” the Scriptures 46 before him,” as the chart 
 by which he was to direct his course. He therefore 
 prays that the other way may be far 44 removed” 
 from him ; and that God would vouchsafe him such 
 a thorough acquaintance with the 44 way” of truth, 
 as might prevent him from ever wandering into the 
 
Day 24. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 30? 
 
 path of error. How much depends upon the road 
 we choose ! How difficult is it, in a divided and 
 distracted world, to choose aright! Yet this choice, 
 so important, so difficult, frequently remains to be 
 made by us, when we have neither judgement to 
 choose, nor strength to travel! 
 
 31. / have stuck unto thy testimonies : O Loro, put 
 me not to shame 
 
 Having once chosen our road, it remains th it we 
 persevere in it; since better had it been tor us never 
 to have known the way of truth, than to forsake it, 
 when known ; and we have the same reasons to go 
 on, which induced us to begin ; nay, though the 
 love of the world may require novelty and variety to 
 support it, yet, in the blessed union of the soul with 
 its Redeemer, true affection will increase with time 
 and acquaintance. The Psalmist doth not only say, 
 cc I have followed,” but “ I have stuck unto, thy 
 46 testimonies ; I have adhered so closely and firmly 
 to them, that temptation has in vain essayed to al¬ 
 lure, and persecution as vainly attempted to force, 
 me from them. And therefore he beseecheth God 
 so to continue his grace and favour, that he may 
 never, by falling from his steadfastness, disgrace his 
 Master, his cause, his brethren, himself, nor be put 
 to shame at the last day. tc O Lord, put me not 
 “ to shame V* 
 
 32. I will run the way of thy commandments , when 
 thou shall enlarge my heard. 
 
 The true Christian is always proceeding in the 
 way of godliness, though not always with equal pace. 
 In grief, whether for temporal or spiritual loses the 
 heart is contracted, and the spirits are all summoned 
 home to comfort and support it, so that the faculties 
 are left feeble and sluggish ; and then the progress 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm Hi. 
 
 305 
 
 can be but slow. This was the Psalmist’s case. But 
 even then he promises, that when God, by sending 
 him joy and gladness, should “ enlarge his heart,” 
 dilate his spirits, and put life and strength into his 
 actions, he would quicken his pace in proportion, 
 and, with renewed vigour and alacrity, u run the 
 “ way” of the divine “ commandments,” until it 
 should have brought him to rest and felicity in the 
 bosom of God. 
 
 TWENTY-FIFTH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 HE.—PART V. 
 
 33. Teach me O Lord, the nay oj thy statutes; and 
 1 shall keep it unto the end . 
 
 Instruction from above is necessary for the chil¬ 
 dren of God, while they continue in this world. 
 The more we know, the more we shall desire to 
 know ; we shall beg a daily supply of grace, as well 
 as of bread ; and a taste of the cluster of Eshcol 
 will make us long after the vintage of Canaan : 
 Numb. xiii. 23. Religion is the art of holy living, 
 and then only known when it is practised ; as he is 
 not a master of music who can read the notes which 
 compose it, but he who has learned how to take a 
 lesson readily from the book, and play it on his 
 instrument; after which, the pleasure it affords will 
 be a sufficient motive for continuing so to do. 
 cc Teach me, O Lord, the w^ay of thy statutes ; and 
 cc I shall keep it unto the end.” 
 
 34. Give me understanding , and I shall keep thy law; 
 yea , I shall observe it with my whole heart. 
 
 Much “ understanding” is needful in order to the 
 “ observation of the law,” that we may know what 
 
Day 24. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 309 
 
 is commanded, and what is forbidden, and how far; 
 that we may avoid the snares laid for us in the way 
 of duty ; that we may respect things according to 
 their due rank and worth ; that we may do good 
 works in their proper time, place, and manner; 
 above all, that the affections may be directed by the 
 judgement, and not the judgement by the affections. 
 The law cannot be observed, unless it be under- 
 stood; and it is understood in vain, unless it be 
 observed ; or rather, if it be indeed understood, if 
 there be upon the minds at all times, a full convic¬ 
 tion of divine truths, and their excellency, not only 
 in themselves, but compared with the offers of the 
 world, the flesh, and the devil, then it will certainly 
 operate in hearty obedience. “ Give me under- 
 “ standing, and I shall keep thy law ; yea, I shall 
 “ observe it with my whole heart.” 
 
 35. Make me to go, or, conduct me , in the path of 
 thy commandments ; for therein do I delight . 
 
 He who teacheth us the way to heaven, must also * 
 “ conduct'’ us in it, and the same grace must give 
 light and strength. "JThe 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 pleasant “ path of his com- 
 ** mandments a path which leads us far from the 
 noise and pollution of the world, through a paradise 
 of promises and comforts, grateful as the fragrance 
 of early spring, or the incense ascending from the 
 holy altar. Happy the soul that can say to God, 
 
 <c therein do I delightwhich is, at the same time, 
 a reason for her to ask, and for him to grant, a con¬ 
 tinuance and perseverance therein. 
 
 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to 
 covetousness. 
 
310 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 The wit of man may conceive, and his tongue 
 may utter, great things of God and holiness, while 
 his heart is aversefrom both; therefore David saith, 
 not only “ give me understanding, but “ incline 
 “ my heart.” Our true characters are formed by 
 the desires of our hearts, which, not finding satis¬ 
 faction in themselves, must seek it in something 
 without them. The world offers itself first; and 
 cu tom, as well as nature, inchneth us to the love 
 of that, and of money, which commandeth all things 
 in it. 3uch love is contrary to .he love of God, 
 being one of the thorns which choke the seed, and 
 render it unfruitful. Therefore the Psalmist re- 
 questeth, that his heart may be “ inclined to the 
 
 divine testimonies, and not to covetousness, 55 
 And as God only can change the disposition of the 
 heart to God he preferreth*his petition. It is to 
 be observed, that by the words, “ Incline not my 
 cc heart to covetousness, 55 is meant, “ suffer not 
 cc my heart to be inclined, 55 or, “ give it not over 
 “ to covetousness.’ 5 
 
 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity: 
 and quicken ihou me in thy way. 
 
 “ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity ; 55 
 and what is there else on earth to behold ? What is 
 there which, when possessed, doth not dissappoint 
 the expectation conceived of it, the possessors them¬ 
 selves being judges ? Solomon took an inventory of 
 the world, and all the best things in it; he cast up 
 the account, and the sum total was vanity. The 
 
 eye 55 is the grand inlet of temptation, and by 
 6C beholding,” we come to desire and long after the 
 objects of sense ; from which time our affection to¬ 
 ward the objects of faith waxeth cold. “ Turn away 
 u our eyes 55 therefore, O Lord, “ from beholding 
 
I 
 
 Day 25. m. p. ON THE PSALMS. 3LI 
 
 cc vanity, and quicken us in thy way mortify the 
 flesh, and the spirit shall live. 
 
 38. Stablish thy word unto thy servant , who is de¬ 
 voted to thy fear ; 
 
 The 44 word” here intended is the word of pro¬ 
 mise, which the believer entreateth God to 44 sta- 
 44 Wish,” confirm, or accomplish, to him by his 
 sanctification, that so he may walk in the way of 
 truth and life. He pleadeth his title to the pro¬ 
 mise, as a 44 servant” of God, and one who 44 feared” 
 to offend him. 
 
 39. Turn away my reproach which 1 fear ; for thy 
 judgements are good. 
 
 The 44 reproach” which we have almost reason 
 to dread, and to pray that God would keep far from 
 us here and hereafter, is that of having forsaken 
 and apostatized from those statutes and 44 judge- 
 44 ments” revealed in the Scriptures, which we own 
 to be so 44 good,” so pleasant, and so profitable. 
 
 40. Behold , I have longed after thy precepts: q uicken 
 me in thy righteousness. 
 
 The Psalmist appealeth to God, the searcher of 
 hearts, for the truth of the protestation he was about 
 to make, that the desire of his soul was toward the 
 divine Word not only toward the promises, to be¬ 
 lieve and embrace them, but also toward the a pre- 
 64 cepts,” to observe and to do them. Me therefore 
 prayeth, with confidence, that God would finish the 
 work he had begun, and enable him to carry his 
 wishes into execution, by continually 44 quickening” 
 and enlivening him more and more through grace, to 
 finish his course in 44 righteousness,” and to obtain 
 that crown which is to be the reward of it. 
 
312 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119 . 
 
 VAU.—PART VI. 
 
 41. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, 
 even thy salvation , according to thy word. 
 
 Persecution and affliction, of which they never 
 fail, in some way or other, to have their share who 
 live godly in Christ Jesus, should teach us, like Da¬ 
 vid, to fly for “ refuge to that “ mercy,” from 
 whence proceedeth all “ salvation/’ temporal and 
 eternal; and to pray, without ceasing, for the ac¬ 
 complishment of that “ Word,” which promiseth to 
 the people of God deliverance out of all their 
 troubles. 
 
 42. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that re- 
 pro ache th me : for I trust in thy word . 
 
 A believer, trusting in the promises of God, 
 when the w r hole world hath forsaken him, and no 
 sign or probability appears of their being fulfilled, 
 is always, among the wicked, an object of scorn 
 and “ reproach.” Such was David, when Shimei 
 cursed him. Such w r as our blessed Master, when 
 men said, “ He trusted in God that he would de- 
 “ liver him, let him deliver him now if he will have 
 “ him.” And his disciples are not to expect better 
 usage. “ Therefore,” saith one of them, “ we both 
 “ labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in 
 <c the living God 1 Tim. v. 10. To silence these 
 reproaches, we beseech God to manifest his mercy 
 in our salvation. The resurrection of Jesus was an 
 “ answer” to his blasphemers ; and the mouth of 
 all wickedness will be stopped at the last day. 
 
 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my 
 mouth ; for 1 have hoped in thy judgements . 
 
 In the mean time, while affliction presseth hard 
 upon ys, while our deliverance is deferred, and the 
 
Day 25. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 313 
 
 enemy is suffered to reproach and blaspheme, our 
 prayer must be, that God would give us courage, 
 and utterance, still to confess him before men, and 
 boldly to speak his “ word of truth,” for the edifi¬ 
 cation of some, and the confutation of others; as 
 knowing, that our faith is not vain, nor shall we be 
 disappointed of our “ hope,” since both are built 
 upon the “ judgements,” or revealed decrees, of him 
 who can neither err nor deceive. 
 
 44. So shall I keep thy law continually, for ever and 
 ever. 
 
 By means of strength and power from above, we 
 shall be enabled to serve God, in adversity, as well 
 as in prosperity ; and amidst all difficulties and dan¬ 
 gers, into which the path of duty may lead us. Cha¬ 
 rity will persevere in it, till, arriving at the gate of 
 heaven, and there taking leave of her companions 
 and fellow-travellers. Faith and Hope, she shall enter 
 those blissful regions, to perform to eternity that 
 perfect will of God, which the infirmities of fallen 
 nature prevented her from having so fully perform¬ 
 ed here below. 
 
 45. And I will walk at liberty , for I seek thy pre¬ 
 cepts. 
 
 No external pressure can take away that spiritual 
 
 liberty,” which the faithful Christian experienceth 
 when he hath made an open confession of the truth, 
 and determined at all events to do his duty. Then 
 he is no longer straitened by fear, but set at large 
 by love. cc The truth maketh him free, and he 
 “ walketh in the liberty of the children of God a 
 liberty which they only obtain “ who seek his pre- 
 66 cepts,” and, by the performance of them, arc 
 rescued from the bondage both of tyrannical de¬ 
 sires and slavish fears. 
 
314. 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 113. 
 
 46. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings , 
 and will not be ashamed. 
 
 A prophet may be called “ before kings,” either 
 in the course of his office, to instruct them, or else 
 in a judiciary way, to give an account of his faith. 
 In either case, if he “ walketh at liberty,” he will 
 “ speak of God’s testimonies,” with due reverence 
 to the person and authority of his prince, but as 
 one who is neither afraid nor cc ashamed” to declare 
 the whole counsel of heaven to any being upon 
 earth. 
 
 47. And I will delight myself in thy commandments , 
 which I have loved. 48. My hands also will I lift up 
 unto thy commandments , which I have loved: and I 
 will meditate in thy statutes . 
 
 He who would preach boldly to others, must 
 himself cc delight” in the practice of what he preach- 
 eth. If there be in us a new nature, it will “ love 
 cc the commandments of God,” as being congenial 
 to it: on that which we love, we shall continually 
 be cc meditating and our meditation will end in 
 action ; we shall “ lift up the hands which hang 
 “ down,” Heb. xii. 12. that they may “ work the 
 “ works of God, while it is day ; because the night 
 ct cometh, when no man can work.” John ix. 4. 
 
 ZAIN.—PART VII. 
 
 * p 
 
 49. Remember the 'word unto thy servant , upon which 
 thou hast caused me to hope. 
 
 God promiseth salvation before he giveth it, to 
 excite our desire of it, to exercise our faith, to prove 
 our sincerity, to perfect our patience. For these 
 purposes, he seemeth to have sometimes forgotten 
 
Day 25. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 315 
 
 Iiis word, and to have deserted those whom he had 
 engaged to succour and relieve; in which case, he 
 would have us, as it were, to remind him of his 
 promise, and solicit his performance of it. The 
 Psalmist here instructeth us to prefer our petition 
 upon these grounds; first, that God cannot prove 
 false to his own word; “ Remember the word unto 
 iC thy servantsecondly, that he will never disap¬ 
 point an expectation which himself hath raised ; 
 “ upon which thou hast causest me to hoped' 
 
 50. This is my comjort in my affliction : for thy word 
 kadi quickened me . 
 
 While performance is delayed, we cc rejoice in 
 u hope;” Rom. xii. 12. and the promise is our 
 “ comfort in affliction ; 1 a comfort, divine strong, 
 la ting ; a connort, that will not, like all others, fail 
 us when we most want it, in the day of sickness, and 
 at the hour of death ; but will always keep pace 
 with our necessities, increasing in proportion as the 
 pi asures of the world and the flesh decrease 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 sins, or in sorrow; 46 thy 
 ct word hath quickened me.” 
 
 51. The proud hath had me greatly in derision : vet 
 have not declinedjrom thy law . 
 
 A true servant of God believeth the promises, and 
 practiseth the precepts of his blessed Master. The 
 haughty infidel will scoff at him for one part of his 
 conduct; the insol nt worldling will ridicule him 
 fOr tiie other, tint neither will induce him to dis¬ 
 believe, or to disobey. Let us be certain that we 
 have the divine “ law ’ ior cur warrant in what we 
 believe, and in what we do; and then, let not the 
 
$16 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 113* 
 
 “ derision of the proud” prevail upon us to “ de« 
 t; dine from it.” 
 
 52. I remembered iliy judgements of old , O Lord ; 
 and have comforted myself. 
 
 The great remedy against that temptation which 
 ariseth from the reproaches of our scornful and in¬ 
 sulting adversaries, is here prescribed, namely, a 
 <c remembrance of God’s judgements of old,” whe¬ 
 ther we understand the “ judgements” of his mouth, 
 or those of his hand ; his righteous decrees for the 
 punishment of bad, and reward of good men, or the 
 many and wonderful instances of his executing those 
 decrees, from the beginning of the world, recorded 
 in the sacred history. These are sources of real and 
 endless cc comfort’ 1 upon such occasions ; because 
 nothing can happen to us, which hath not happened 
 to God’s people “ of old no case, of which there 
 is not a precedent in Scripture, where we may 
 read the process of similar trials, their issue, and 
 the final sentence of the judge, who is still the same, 
 and whose rule of procedure and determination is 
 invariable. 
 
 53. Horror hath taken hold upon me? because of the 
 wicked thatforsake thy law. 
 
 The consequence of a due meditation on God’s 
 judgements, will be a compassion for the “ wicked,” 
 on whom/those judgements, in the end, fall ; so that 
 ' instead of feeling for ourselves, on account of the 
 injuries they do us, we shall feel for them, who are 
 thereby drawing down vengeance and destruction 
 on their own heads. “ Daughters of Jerusalem,” 
 said the blessed Jesus, when led to be crucified, 
 4 * weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for 
 44 vour children.” Luke xxiii. 23. 
 
Day 25. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 317 
 
 54. Thy "statutes have been my songs in the house of 
 my pilgrimage. 
 
 The soul, which descended from above, and longs 
 to return thither again, is a stranger and sojourner 
 upon earth. The body is “ the house of her pil- 
 «« primage,” in which she is confined during her 
 state of exile. And, how harsh soever the usage 
 may be which she receiveth from the world, she 
 ever findeth joy and comfort, as once did the fugi¬ 
 tive and wandering son of Jesse, in making God's 
 « statutes” the subjects of her psalms, and hymns, 
 “ and spiritual songs,” until death shall restore her 
 to liberty. Then, ascending to heaven from whence 
 she came, and, like the early lark, singing as she 
 ascends, she will seek her native abode, there to 
 celebrate her redemption from the earth, and to 
 chant forth the praises of Him who hath redeemed 
 her, in a new song, before the throne. 
 
 55. I have remembered thy name , 0 Lord, in the 
 nighty and have kept thy law. 
 
 By the “ name” of God, his nature, so much at 
 least of it as we are concerned to know, and are 
 capable of receiving, isfevealed to us. Such a love 
 had the Psalmist for it on that account, that, as in 
 the day God’s statutes were his songs, in the night 
 God’s name was the subject of his meditation. 
 With his tongue he praised him in the day, with his 
 heart he desired him in the night-watches. At 
 night, the dissipation, noise, and hurry of business, 
 cease ; external silence produceth internal calmness 
 and composure, inviting us to celestial contempla¬ 
 tion ; the world is dead to us, and we are dead to 
 
 • 
 
 the world ; the 6oul is then most alive, and seemeth 
 to experience a foretaste of that time, when the 
 body and its' concerns shall no more molest and 
 
* ls A COMMENTARY Psalm 1 10 . 
 
 impede her. The good effect of hours thus se¬ 
 cretly passed in holy exercises, will appear openly 
 in our lives and conversations: “ I have remem- 
 “ bered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and,” as 
 the fruit of it, “ have kept thy law ’ 
 
 56. 7 his i had , because i kept thy commandments. 
 
 As one sin is often the consequence and the pu¬ 
 nishment of another, so one act of obedience is the 
 issue and the reward of another; and, to him who 
 hath well used the grace already received* shall 
 more be given. “ This I had,” this ability to per¬ 
 form my duty, and to delight in the performance of 
 it day and night, was vouchsafed unto me “ because 
 <c I kept thy commandments,” because I was not 
 heretofore disobedient, but employed the strength 
 with which thou, O Lord, hast endued me, not in 
 doing mine own will, bui thine. 
 
 CHETH -—PART. VIII. 
 
 57. Thou art my portion , O Lord : I have said 
 that I would keep thy words. 
 
 Happy the man, who can sincerely say, “ Thou 
 cc art my portion, O Lord I have considered, 
 and made my choice; from henceforth, I renounce 
 all things for the love of thee; thou art sufficient 
 for me ; thee only I desire to enjoy, and therefore, 
 thee only I desire to please; “ I have said that I 
 “ would keep thy words.” 
 
 58. I entreated thy favour with my whole heart : be 
 merciful unto me , according to thy word. 
 
 He who hath chosen God for “ his portion,” will 
 earnestly seek his cc favour,” and the light of his 
 countenance ; he who hath promised and vowed to 
 “ keep the words” of uod, hath need to seek that 
 
Day 25. m. p. ON THE PSALMS. 315 
 
 favour and that light, that he may have grace and 
 power to fulfil his engagements. Mercy is the sole 
 fountain of every good gift for which we ask, and 
 God’s promise the only ground upon which we ask 
 it; “ be merciful unto me, according to thy word.” 
 
 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto 
 thy testimonies . 
 
 The Psalmist did not content himself with barely 
 praying for strength and grace, but his faith, rely¬ 
 ing on the word of promise, put itself in motion. 
 He considered his “ ways,” his course of thinking, 
 speaking and acting; how far he had proceeded in 
 it, and whither it led him ; and this consideration 
 produced a conversion of the whole man, of the 
 heart and its affections, from the creature to the 
 Creator, as he hath revealed himself in the Scrip¬ 
 tures of truth; u I turned my feet unto thy testi- 
 “ monies.” 
 
 60. I made haste , and delayed not to keep thy com¬ 
 mandments. 
 
 A true penitent suffereth no time to be lost be¬ 
 tween his good resolutions and the performance of 
 them. “ Draw me,” saith the church, “ and we 
 <c will run after thee :” Cant. i. 4. Andrew, Peter, 
 and others, stayed not for a second call from Christ, 
 but followed him immediately upon the first. By 
 deferring our return to duty, we lose many com¬ 
 fortable fruits, which it would have produced both 
 in ourselves and others, while the difficulties of ever 
 returning, and the danger of never returning, are 
 daily and hourly increasing. 
 
 61. The bands , or, troops , of the ungodly hate rob - 
 bed me ; but I have not forgotten thy law. 
 
 To be robbed, or plundered of his possessions in 
 tins world, was by no means a case peculiar to Da.- 
 
320 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119 . 
 
 vid. The primitive Christians were continually so 
 treated ; and our Lord gives all his disciples warn¬ 
 ing to stand prepared for such events, ready in dis¬ 
 position, in heart and mind, to quit all, as they who 
 first followed him literally did. The apostle tells 
 us of some, who not only bore patiently, but even 
 <c took joyfully, the spoiling of their goods the 
 reason he assigns for so extraordinary a behaviour, 
 deserves to be noted and remembered; knowing 
 “ that they had in heaven a better and an enduring 
 “ substanceHeb. x. 34. They’who part with 
 earth to gain heaven, and exchange the world for 
 its Maker, certainly lose nothing by the bargain. 
 Nay, there will come an hour, when, for that fore¬ 
 taste of glory which a good conscience affordeth to 
 its happy possessor, the dearest lover of mammon 
 would joyfully give up all the gold of Peru, and all 
 the diamonds of Indostan. 
 
 62. At midnight I mil rise to give thanks unto thee , 
 because of thy righteous judgements. 
 
 So far were temporal losses from causing the 
 Psalmist to forsake God, that he sought him the 
 more earnestly and fervently on that account, rising 
 <c at midnight to give thanks” for all his “ righte- 
 “ ous judgements” and dispensations towards his 
 servants. Thus Paul and Silas, not only impover¬ 
 ished, but imprisoned, for the testimony of Jesus, 
 vet in that situation, with their feet fast in the stocks, 
 sang “ praises at midnight,” thereby turning their 
 night into day, and their prison into a paradise; 
 when, lo, their hallelujahs ascended to heaven, and 
 God arose to judgement; the earth trembled, the 
 doors were opened, the chains fell off, the gaoler 
 and his family were converted, and the apostles 
 
 set at liberty. And although there be no obligation 
 
 X 
 
Day 25. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS, 
 
 321 
 
 upon men to “ rise at midnight,” in order to “ give 
 « thanksyet, if they who awake at that, or any 
 other time, would accustom their hearts, at least, to 
 so divine an exercise, they would find it always pro¬ 
 ductive of the most comfortable effects. 
 
 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee , and 
 oj them that keep thy precepts. 
 
 As no sufferings should make us neglect our in¬ 
 tercourse with God, so neither should they tempt 
 us to forsake the communion of saints, or fellowship 
 of them who “ fear God, and work righteousness.” 
 These are knit together in love, as members of the 
 same mystical body, insomuch that <c if one mem- 
 cc ber suffer, or be honoured, all the members should 
 6C suffer or be honoured with it;” these we should 
 own at all times, in prosperity and in adversity; 
 with these should our acquaintance and conversa¬ 
 tion be, for the mutual improvement and consola¬ 
 tion of them and of ourselves. Of such was David 
 a “ companion,” and such the Redeemer himself 
 cc is not ashamed to call brethren.” Heb. ii. 11. 
 
 64. The earth , O Lord, is full of thy mercy : teach 
 me thy statutes . 
 
 Heaven and earth, and all that are therein, de¬ 
 clare, from day to day, the u mercy” of their Crea¬ 
 tor and Preserver, which is “ over all his works.” 
 And his goodness, thus displayed through the out¬ 
 ward and visible world, forbids us to doubt of his 
 loving kindness towards those immortal spirits, 
 which, in tenements of mortal clay, make, for a 
 while, their abode here below ; during which short 
 period, they beseech him earnestly to grant them 
 such a portion of that saving knowledge, which is 
 his gift, as may secure to them, when they shallde- 
 
 vol. ti. x 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 11<K 
 
 s) 
 
 part hence, a place in a happier country, and a 
 more enduring city, 44 Teach me thy statutes l” 
 
 TETJL—PART IX. 
 
 65. Thou hast dealt well ^ith thy servant, O Lord, 
 according to thy word . 
 
 As the sense of our wants should prepare the 
 mind for prayer, so gratitude for blessings received 
 should tune the heart to praise, in preferring our 
 petitions, self-love may sometimes have a share ; 
 but thankfulness is the offspring of an ingenious 
 spirit, and the love of God. Let a man carefully 
 recount the divine mercies shown to him from his 
 birth, considering withal how unworthy he hath 
 been of the least of those mercies, as also how far 
 preferable his state is to that of many others; and 
 he will find reason 44 in all things to give thanks,” 
 to acknowledge with David, the goodness and truth 
 of Jehovah, and to say, 44 Thou hast dealt well with 
 “ thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word.” 
 
 66. Teach me good judgement and knowledge : for I 
 have believed thy commandments . 
 
 From thanksgiving, the Psalmist returneth again 
 to prayer, as, while we continue in this world, we 
 must all do. The gift, for which he now prayeth, 
 is that of 44 a good judgement with knowledge 
 as the former must enable us to make a proper use 
 of the latter. The word which is here tran¬ 
 
 slated 44 judgement,signifies bodily 44 taste,” and 
 that faculty in the mind which answers to it, the fa¬ 
 culty of discerning, distinguishing, and judging 
 rightly of, things moral and spiritual, as the palate 
 doth of meats, their different flavours and qualities. 
 Without this taste, or discretion, we mistake false- 
 
Day 25. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 323 
 
 hood for truth in our studies, and wrong for right 
 in our practice ; superstition and enthusiasm may 
 pass with us for religion, or else licentiousness may 
 intrude itself upon us, under the name and notion 
 of liberty : in a word, our learning and knowledge 
 prove useless, if not prejudicial, to us. A sound 
 mind therefore should, above all things, be desired 
 of God in our prayers ; and those prayers will be 
 heard, when we can sincerely profess a readiness 
 to be directed by God’s laws, through faith in their 
 Author, his promises and threatenings; on which 
 ground David urgeth his request; “ for I have be- 
 “ lieved thy commandments.” 
 
 67. Before I zcas afflicted , I Kent astray: but now 
 have I kept thy word. 
 
 We collect from this verse, that prosperity is too 
 often the parent of sin ; that adversity is, first, its 
 punishment, then, its remedy ; and that every con¬ 
 siderate man, who hath been afflicted, will thank¬ 
 fully acknowledge as much. “ When afflictions fail 
 C£ to have their due etfect, the case is desperate. 
 ct They are the last remedy which indulgent Provi- 
 “ dence uses ; and if they fail, wc must languish 
 cc and die in misery and contempt. Vain men ! 
 <c how seldom do we know what to wish or to pray 
 66 for ! When we pray against misfortunes, and when 
 6C we fear them most, we want them most. The 
 66 shortest and the best prayer which we can ad- 
 <c dress to Him who knows our wants, and our 
 “ ignorance in asking, is this—Thy will be done/’ 
 Lord Bolingbroke’s Reflections on Exile, p. 276. 
 
 68. Thou art good, and doest good: teach me thy 
 statutes. 
 
 In other words, as Bishop Patrick hath w r cll con¬ 
 nected and paraphrased it, c; Thou art in thine own 
 
324* 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 “ nature kind and good ; and nothing else can pro- 
 “ ceed from thee, who designest our good, even 
 <c when thou affiictest us; take what methods thou 
 C€ pleasest with me, only teach me effectually to do 
 <c as thou wouldst have me.” 
 
 69. The proud have forged a lie against me : but I 
 will keep thy precepts with iny whole heart. 
 
 Every disciple of Christ, who, like his Master, 
 goeth contrary to the ways of the world, and con- 
 demneth them, must expect to be, like that Master, 
 slandered and calumniated by the world. To such 
 slanders and calumnies, a good life is the best an¬ 
 swer. When a friend once told Plato, what scan¬ 
 dalous stories his enemies had propagated concern¬ 
 ing him, “ I will live so,” replied that great philo¬ 
 sopher, “ that nobody shall believe them.” 
 
 70. Their heart is as fat as grease ; but I delight in 
 thy law, 
 
 “ The fatness of the heart” implieth, in this 
 place, two things in whom it is affirmed ; luxury, 
 and its consequence, insensibility to those spiritual 
 and divine truths, which are not only the study, but 
 the “ delight,” of temperate and holy persons, who 
 gladly fly from large companies, full tables, costly T 
 meats, and rich wines, to enjoy in private the more 
 exalted pleasures of abstinence, meditation, and 
 prayer. 
 
 71 . It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that 
 I might learn thy statutes. 
 
 God’s statutes are best learned in the school of 
 affliction, because by affliction the great impedi¬ 
 ments to our learning them are removed ; pride is 
 subdued, and concupiscence is extinguished. “ He 
 “ that hath suffered in the flesh,” saith an apostle, 
 £C hath ceased from sin :” 1 Pet. iv. 1. and in an im- 
 
Day 25. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 325 
 
 munity from sin consisteth one of the greatest feli¬ 
 cities of heaven, which thus descends into the af¬ 
 flicted soul, so as to render even the state of sick¬ 
 ness itself, in some sort, desirable. Strange as this 
 proposition may appear, the reader will find its truth 
 demonstrated, by the inimitable bishop Jeremy 
 Taylor, in that truly golden tract, “ The Rule and 
 “ Exercises of Holy Dying,” chap. iii. sect. 6. on 
 u The Advantages of Sickness.” 
 
 72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thou* 
 sands of gold and silver . 
 
 Affliction taketh from us the inclination to offend, 
 and it giveth us in return, a knowledge of that la\V 
 which “ is better,” and which, when we are thor¬ 
 oughly acquainted with it, we shall esteem to be 
 better, “ than thousands of gold and silver bet¬ 
 ter in its nature, for it is from heaven, they are from 
 the earth ; better in its use, for it bringeth salvation 
 to our souls, whereas they can only procure suste¬ 
 nance for the body; better in point of duration, 
 for the benefits of one are certain and eternal, the 
 advantages of the other temporal and uncertain. 
 Blessed are they who seek in the Scriptures the 
 true riches ; who traffic for the spiritual gains of 
 celestial wisdom; for surely “ the merchandise of 
 “ it is better than the merchandise of silver, and 
 “ the gain thereof than fine gold.” Prov. iii. 14. 
 
 TWENTY-FIFTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 JOD.—PART X. 
 
 73. Thy hands have made me , and fashioned me ; 
 give me understandings that I may learn thy command¬ 
 ments , 
 
326 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 PsalM 119 * 
 
 The formation of man was the last and noblest 
 work of God, and it is a standing miracle of divine 
 wisdom and power. The consideration, that God 
 made us, is here urged as an argument why he 
 should not forsake and reject us, since every artist 
 hath a value for his own work, proportioned to its 
 excellence. It is at the same time, an acknowledge¬ 
 ment of the service we owe him, founded on the 
 relation which a creature beareth to its Creator. 
 And the petition implieth in it a confession of our 
 present inability to know his will without his reve¬ 
 lation, and to do it without his grace. 
 
 74. They that fear thee mil be glad when they see 
 me : because 1 have hoped in thy word . 
 
 They who “ fear God” are naturally cc glad when 
 <c they see"' and converse with one like themselves ; 
 but more especially so, when it is one whose 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 disappointed. Every such instance affordeth 
 fresh encouragement to all those who, in the course 
 of their warfare, are to undergo like troubles, and 
 to encounter like temptations. In all our trials, let 
 us therefore remember, that our brethren, as well 
 as ourselves, are deeply interested in the event, 
 which may either strengthen or weaken the hands 
 of multitudes. 
 
 75. I know , O Lord, that thy judgements are right, 
 and that thou inJaithfulness hast afflicted me. 
 
 This humble, pious, and dutiful confession, will 
 be made by every true child of God. when under 
 the correction of his heavenly Father. From what- 
 ever quarter afflictions come upon us, they are “ the 
 44 judgements of God,” without whose providence 
 
Day 25. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 327 
 
 nothing befalleth us. His judgements are always 
 “ right, or just,” duly proportioned to the disease 
 and strength of the patient; in sending them, . ,od 
 is “ faithful” and true to his word, wherein he hath 
 never promised the crown without the cross, but 
 hath, on the contrary, assured us, that one will be 
 necessary in order to our obtaining the other; 
 and that they who are beloved by him shall not sin 
 with impunity, nor go astray without a call to 
 return. All this we ought to “ know,” or to be 
 assured of beyond doubt, as we may be from the 
 many declarations in . .cripture, from our own ex¬ 
 perience, and from that of others. 
 
 7t>. Let, i pray thee , thy mercy and kindness be for 
 my com]or!, according to hy word unto t y servant . 
 
 In the former verse the criminal, finding that the 
 hand of God was upon him, had owned the justice 
 and the faithfulness of his judge in the punishment 
 inflicted. Judgement having thus had her perfect 
 work, the offender, now humbled and penitent, 
 maketh application to the throne of grace, a;.d 
 sueth for that mercy, which God, by his “ word,” 
 ha h promised to his servants, who are chastened, 
 not for their destruction, but for their salvation. 
 When God’s “judgements” have brought us to an 
 acknowledgement of our sins, his “ merciful kind¬ 
 ness” will speedily be our “ comfort ” 
 
 77. Let thy tender mere es come unto me, that I may 
 live: for thy law is my delight. 
 
 The mercies of God are “ tender mercies,” they 
 are the mercies of a father to his children, nay, ten- - 
 der as the compassion of a mother over the son of 
 her womb. They “ come unto” us when we are 
 not able to go to them. By them alone we “ live” 
 fhe life of faith, of love, of joy and gladness. And 
 
$28 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119*. 
 
 to such as ec delight” in his law, God will grant 
 these mercies, and this life ; lie will give them par¬ 
 don, and by so doing, he will give them life from 
 the dead. 
 
 78. Let the proud be ashamed , for they dealt per¬ 
 versely with me without a cause ; but I will meditate in 
 thy precepts. 
 
 This complaint of the Psalmist hath been made 
 by the faithful in all ages, that the men of the 
 world “ dealt perversely with them without a cause,” 
 or oppressed them falsely, first spreading slanders 
 and calumnies concerning them, and then perse¬ 
 cuting them for those supposed crimes. Such usage 
 should have no other effect upon us, than it had 
 upon David. He prayed that “ shame” and disap¬ 
 pointment might teach humility to the “ proud,” 
 and applied himself still more and more to medi¬ 
 tate in the “ precepts” of his God. 
 
 79. Let those that fear thee turn unto me , and those 
 
 '■ < k‘ - 
 
 that have known thy testimonies . 
 
 David beseecheth God, if any good men had been 
 alienated from him, either through fear, prejudice, 
 or offence, that they might return to him, join, and 
 acknowledge him. ‘ To thee, O thou Son of David 
 and King of the spiritual Israel, let those among 
 thy people, who, through any temptation, have 
 fallen from their allegiance, return and be subject. 
 
 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes ; that I be 
 not ashamed . 
 
 This is a prayer necessary for all men to use at all 
 times, but more particularly in seasons of persecu¬ 
 tion and temptation. By “ soundness of heart” is 
 meant solidity and steadfastness in grace and vir¬ 
 tue, as opposed to the mere form of godliness or 
 fair show of the hypocrite, which conceal the rot- 
 
Day 25. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 329 
 
 tenness aud corruption lurking within ; and also to 
 the sudden and vanishing goodness of the tempo¬ 
 rary convert, which quickly disappears like the 
 morning dew, and withers like the seed sown on a 
 rock. When internal holiness accompanies and ac¬ 
 tuates that which is external, when the word is 
 thoroughly rooted, and faith hath acquired the so¬ 
 vereignty over our desires, then our “ hearts” are 
 u sound in God's statutes,” and there is hope that, 
 in the day of trial, we shall not give our breth¬ 
 ren cause to be ashamed of us, nor be ourselves 
 66 ashamed” before God. 
 
 CAPH.—PART XI. o ■ 
 
 81. My soul famteth for tliy salvation ; but I hope 
 in thy word, or, I have expected thy word . 
 
 Thus have the true servants of God, in every age, 
 expressed their ardent desire of his salvation. Thus 
 did the patriarchs, the prophets, the kings, and the 
 faithful people, formerly wish to behold the advent 
 of their Saviour in the flesh; until Simeon, taking 
 him in his arms, spoke what they would all have 
 spoken had they been present. “ Lord, now let- 
 “ test thou thy servant depart in peace, according 
 <c to thy word ; for mine eyes have seen thy salva- 
 “ tion.” But the bridegroom was soon taken 
 away, and the heavens have received him, until the 
 restitution of all things; for which the church 
 upon earth at this day waiteth and prayetli; that 
 she may be delivered from all her troubles, and in¬ 
 separably united to him in whom she deligliteth. 
 Every individual, when oppressed by sin and sor¬ 
 row, may make his supplication in the same words, 
 for that salvation which is by grace., through faith. 
 
330 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm lid. 
 
 88. Mine eyes fail for thy word saying , When wilt 
 thou comfort me? 
 
 While the promised salvation is delayed, the af¬ 
 flicted soul thinketh every day a year, and looketh 
 toward heaven for the accomplishment of vod’s 
 word, saying to “ her Friend and her Beloved, 
 “ When wilt thou comfort me ? Come, Lord Jesu, 
 gc come qu.ckiy * ! ’ 
 
 88. For 1 am become like a bottle in the smo e * yet 
 1do not j or gel thy statute*.. 
 
 cc Bottles'' among the Jews were made of skins. 
 One of these, if exposed to heat and “ >mok:f’ 
 would become shrivelled and useless. Such a change 
 will l^ponr and sorrow cause in the human frame j 
 and the Psalmist litre complained), tiiat his beauty 
 and his strength were gone ; the natural moisture 
 was dried up ; in consequence of which, the ktn 
 shrivelled, and both colour and vigour departed 
 from him. Disease and old age will produce the 
 same sad effects in us all; but the body’s weakness, 
 is the soul’s strength ; as the outward man decay¬ 
 ed), the in • ard man is renewed : “ I do not forget 
 c; thy statutes.” 
 
 * “ Defecerunt oculi mei.” Ambrosius : “ Nonne quando ali- 
 “ quem desideramus tt speraraus adfore, eo dirigitnus oculoe unde 
 ii speramus esse venturum ? Sic tenor ae uxor aetatis, de specula lito- 
 rali indefessa exp<-ctatione conjugis ptaestolatur adventum : utquam- 
 ‘ 4 cunque navim viderit, illic putat conjugem navigare v metuatque ne 
 “ videndi gratia dilecti, alius antevertat, nee ipsa possit prima dicere, 
 “ Video te, mi marite.” Vide reliqua apud Ambrosium, ejusdem 
 plane spiritus, nee tamen potui temperare, quin haec cxscriberern. 
 Sic affectus est quisquis cum Paulo disiolvi cupit, et esse cum Christo. 
 Sic denique qui scmcl guslato bono Dei verbo, ut idem Paulis ait, si- 
 bi postea relictus, deficit, tsedio sui, ac redcii sibi postulat piaegusta- 
 tam suavissimi amoris dulcedinem. Bossuet. 
 
Bay 23. e. f. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 S3l 
 
 84. How many arc the days of thy servant ? When 
 wilt thou execute judgement on them that persecute me ? 
 
 The well-beloved John heard a question, of the 
 same import with this, asked by the spirits of the 
 martyrs, that had left their bodies, and were waiting, 
 in the separate state, for the day of retribution. 
 The answer, which was made to them, may likewise 
 satisfy our impatience, when suffering affliction and 
 persecution : “ 1 saw under the altar the souls of 
 “ them that were slain for the word of God, and 
 “ for the testimony which they held. And they 
 “ cried with a loud voice, saying. How long, O 
 “ Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and 
 cc avenge our blood on them that dwell on the 
 “ earth ? And white robes were given unto every 
 “ one of them, and it w^as said unto them, that they 
 cc should rest yet for a little season, until their fel- 
 “ low-servants also, and their brethren, that should 
 
 be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Lev. 
 vi. 9, &c. 
 
 85. The proud have digged pits for me , which are 
 not after thy taw. 
 
 The manner of taking wild beasts was by cc dig- 
 u ging pits,” and covering them over with turf, upon 
 which when the beast trod, he fell into the pit, and 
 w’as there confined and taken. But there was a 
 “ law 7 ,” that if a pit were left open, and a tame 
 beast, an ox, or an ass, fell into it, the owners of 
 the pit should make good the damage : Exod. xxi, 
 33. Much more shall men be called to a severe ac¬ 
 count, who purposely lay snares and stumbling- 
 blocks before the feet of their innocent brethren, 
 to cause them to fall and perish. 
 
 86. All thy commandments are faithful: they per¬ 
 secute me wrongfully ; help thou me. 
 
332 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 Man is perfidious and deceitful, God is cc faithful” 
 and true ; he hath promised to <c help” those who 
 suffer “ wrongfully,” and he will, in the end, show 
 himself to be the avenger of all such. Let them 
 wait with patience, since the King of Righteousness 
 himself suffered as a malefactor, before he entered 
 into his glory. 
 
 87. They had almost consumed me upon earth ; hut 
 Ijorsook not thy precepts . 
 
 However low the church, or any member thereof, 
 may, by persecution and tribulation, be brought 
 upon earth, yet nothing can separate them from the 
 love of God, while they “ forsake not his precepts,” 
 nor disbelieve his promises. The soul, we know, 
 must forsake the body ; but God will forsake neither. 
 
 88. Quicken me after thy loving-kindness, so shall I 
 keep the testimony of thy mouth . 
 
 Through the “ loving kindness” of God our Sa¬ 
 viour, the Spirit of life is given unto us, by whose 
 c; quickening” influences we are revived, when sunk 
 in sins, or in sorrows, and are enabled with joy and 
 gladness, to persevere in “ keeping the testimony 
 
 of his mouth.” 
 
 LAMED.—PART XII. 
 
 89 . For ever, 0 Lord, thy word is settled in heaven : 
 or, Thou art for ever , O Lord, thy word is settled in 
 heaven. pO. Thy fait)fulness is unto all generations : 
 thou hast established the earth , and it abide tin pi. 
 They continue this day according to thine ordinances ; 
 
 for all are thy servants. 
 
 The eternity of Jehovah, and the immutability of 
 his counsels, are considerations which afford comfort 
 
Day 25. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 333 
 
 and encouragement to his people, when their ene¬ 
 mies are in arms against them. Even in this world 
 the unwearied “ heavens” continue to perform in¬ 
 variably their operations upon themselves and the 
 bodies placed in them ; while the globe of the 
 “ earth,” retaining its original form and coherence 
 of parts, still, as at the beginning, supports and 
 maintains the successive “ generations” of men, 
 which live and move upon it, to whom the faithful 
 promises of God are fulfilled from age to age. Thus 
 doth the unchangeable order of nature itself point 
 out to us the truth of her great Author, and at the 
 same time reprove the eccentric motions of rebellious 
 man. The heavens and the earth “ continue this 
 <e day according to thine ordinance,” O Lord, “ for 
 <5 all things are thy servant;*all invariably serve 
 thee, except man, who alone was endowed with 
 reason that he might obey and glorify thee in this 
 life, and that which is to come ! 
 
 92. Unless thy lave had been my delights , I should 
 then have perished in mine affliction. 
 
 Tim Psalmist assureth us, from his own expe¬ 
 rience, how pleasant and how profitable, in time of 
 trouble, is the meditation on the fidelity of God, 
 as displayed in the stability of his works. The 
 “ delights,” by this afforded, sustained his soul in 
 “ afflictions,” which must otherwise have brought 
 him to an end. And the sam e everlasting Word 
 shall be the believer’s support an.d consolation, even 
 when the heavens shall melt abound him with fer¬ 
 vent heat, and the earth, and all that is therein, 
 shall be burnt up. “ Heaven a;nd earth shall pass 
 “ away,” saith he who made them, “ but my word 
 shall not pass awav.” 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 334? 
 
 93- 1 will never forget thy precepts: for with than 
 thou hast quickened me. 
 
 Great are the necessities, and many the disorders 
 of the soul; but in the Scripture there is provision 
 and medicine for them all ; and according to our va¬ 
 rious wants and maladies, God relieveth and “ quick- 
 “ eneth” us, sometimes with one part of his word, 
 sometimes with another. Now, when we have found 
 ourselves thus benefited, at any time, by a particular 
 passage of holy writ, we should “ never forget,” but 
 remember and treasure it up in our minds, against a 
 like occasion, when the same affliction and temptation 
 may again befal us. 
 
 94 . 1 am thine j save me, for I have sought 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 purchase of his blood, is a 
 most endearing and prevailing argument with him, to 
 “ save” us from our enemies. Rut then let it be re¬ 
 membered, that no man can say to God with a good 
 conscience, “ I am thine,” unless he can also go on, 
 and say, “ I have sought thy precepts,” I desire to 
 serve and obey thee alone ; since, after all, “ his ser- 
 “ vants we are to whom we obey;” and if sin be our 
 master, how can we say to a master, whose interest is 
 directly opposite, “ I am thine?” 
 
 95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: 
 but I will consider thy testimonies. 
 
 In the preceding verse, David besought God to 
 “ save” him. The reason of that prayer is here as¬ 
 signed, namely, because 44 the wicked lay in wait for 
 “ him to destroy him,” as they afterwards did to de- 
 stroy one, whom the afflicted and persecuted Psalmist 
 represented. Spiritual enemies are continually upon 
 
Day 25 . e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 33.5 
 
 the watch to destroy us all; and we can no way escape 
 their wiles, but by “ considering,” so as to understand 
 and observe God’s testimonies. 
 
 96. I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy 
 commandment is exceeding broad. 
 
 Of “ all perfection” in this woi Id, whether of beau¬ 
 ty, wit, learning, pleasure, honour, or riches, experi¬ 
 ence will soon shew us the “ end.” But where is the 
 end or boundary of the word of God ? Who can 
 ascend to the height of its excellency ; who can fa¬ 
 thom the depth of its mysteries ; who can find cut 
 the comprehension of its precepts, or conceive the ex¬ 
 tent of its promises; who can take the dimensions of 
 that love of God to mail which it describeth, or that 
 
 - * 1 
 
 love of man to God which it teacheth ! The knowledge 
 of one thing leadeth us forward to that of another, 
 and still, as we travel on, the prospect opens before 
 us into eternity, like the pleasant and fruitful moun¬ 
 tains of Canaan, rising on the other side of Jordan, 
 when viewed by Moses from the top of Pisgah. O 
 happy reign of celestial wisdom, permanent felicity, 
 true riches, and unfading glory ; while we contem¬ 
 plate thee, how doth the world lessen, and shrink to 
 nothing in our eyes ! Thy blessings faith now behold- 
 eth, but it is charity which shall hereafter possess and 
 enjoy them. 
 
 MEM.—PAPtT XIII. 
 
 97* O how I love thy law ! It is my meditation alt 
 
 the day. 
 
 Words cannot express* the love which a pious mind 
 entertaineth for the Scriptures. They afe the epistle 
 of God to mankind, offering reconciliation, peace, and 
 union with himself in glory ; containing reasons wl 
 
 t \> t? 
 
SStf 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 we should love him and each other, with directions 
 how to show' forth that love, which, as the apostle 
 saith, is 44 the fulfilling of the law T :” Rom. xiii. 10. 
 On some portions of these Scriptures should our “ me- 
 “ dilation” be continually, and 44 each day” should 
 add something to our knowledge, to our faith, to our 
 virtue. 
 
 98 . Thou through thy commandments hast made me 
 miser than mine enemies : for they are ever with me . 
 99- I have more under standing than all my teachers : 
 for thy testimonies are my meditation . 100. I under¬ 
 
 stand more than the ancients: because I keep thy 
 jprecepts . 
 
 The “ commandments” of God were “ ever with” 
 David; the “ testimonies” of God were his 44 medi- 
 “ tation and the “ precepts” of God it w'as his care 
 to 44 observe therefore his wisdom exceeded thepo* 
 licy of his “ enemies,” the learning of his 44 teachers,” 
 and the experience of the 44 ancients.” Thus, by the- 
 wisdom of the Scriptures, did the holy Jesus, in the 
 days of his flesh, confound his adversaries, astonish 
 the teachers of the law, and instruct the aged. And 
 it is the high prerogative of the Scriptures, at all 
 times, to render youth and simplicity superior to the 
 inveterate malice and subtilty of the grand deceiver 
 and his associates. 
 
 101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way 9 
 that I might keep thy word . 
 
 The foundation of all religion must be laid in mor¬ 
 tification and self-denial; for since the will of fallen 
 men is contrary to the will of God, we must abstain 
 from doing the one, in order to do the other. The 
 affections may he styled the 44 feet” of the soul, and 
 unless these be 44 refrained from evil ways,” no pro- 
 
 1 
 
Bay 2 6 . e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 337 
 
 gress can be made in that way which alone is good 
 and right; we cannot “ keep God’s word.” 
 
 102. I have not departed from thy judgements ; for 
 
 _ • M 
 
 thou hast taught me. 
 
 Perseverance is the effect of instruction from above, 
 by the Spirit, through the word : and our heavenly 
 Teacher ditfereth from all others in this, that, with 
 the lesson, he bestowetli on the scholar both a dispo¬ 
 sition to learn, and an ability to perform. 
 
 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste ! yea, 
 sweeter than honey to my mouth. 
 
 The soul hath its “ taste,” as well as the body, and 
 that taste is then in good order, when the “ words” 
 of Scripture are “ sweet” to the soul, as “ honey” is 
 to the mouth. If they are not always so, it is because 
 our taste is vitiated by the world and the flesh ; and 
 we shall ever find our relish for the word of God to be 
 greatest, when that for the. world and the flesh is 
 leasts in time of affliction, sickness, and death; for 
 these are contrary, one to the other. In heaven the 
 latter will be no more, and therefore the former will 
 be all in all. 
 
 104. Through thy precepts I get understa?iding: 
 therefore I hate every false way. 
 
 He who delighteth to study the Scriptures, will 
 ** understand,” from them, the true nature of righte¬ 
 ousness, and of sin; he who doth understand the na¬ 
 ture of each, will love the former ; and, in proportion, 
 “ hate” the latter; and with that which we thoroughly 
 hate, we will not bear to have any connexion; with 
 suspicion and jealousy we shall eye it approaching; 
 with courage and constancy we shall arm and fight 
 against it; we shall make no peace, nor so much as 
 a truce with it; but, as faithful soldiers and servants 
 of Jesus Christ, we shall aim at that utter cxtcrmiria ■ 
 
 vol. n. y 
 
358 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119„ 
 
 tion of it, which we have vowed, and which, through 
 the Spirit of grace and power, will he accomplished, 
 but not, perhaps, totally, till our life and warfare shall 
 end together. 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 * 
 
 . nun.—PART XIV. 
 
 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet , and a light 
 unto my path . 
 
 Man is a traveller, his life is a journey, heaven is 
 his end, his road lies through a wilderness, and he is 
 in the dark. *Thus circumstanced,>how earnestly and 
 devoutly ought he to pray, “ O send out thy light 
 “ and thy truth ; let them lead me, let them bring 
 me to thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles !” Psalm 
 xliii. 3* Tor surely, “ the commandment is a lamp, 
 “ and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are 
 “ the way of life :” Prov. vi. 23 • The word of God 
 discovereth to us our errors ; it showeth us where we 
 lost our way, and how we may recover it again. If 
 we take this “ lamp” in our hand, it will not. only 
 point out our course in general, but also direct us in 
 every step, and guide our “ feet” aright in the “ path” 
 of holiness and peace. Thus through the devious and 
 lonely wilds of Arabia, was Israel once conducted to 
 the land of promise, by the illuminating pillar, or 
 rather by Him whose presence dwelt in the midst 
 of it. 
 
 106 . I have sworn , and I will perform it, that I 
 will keep thy righteous judgements. 
 
 Such being the direction afforded by the w T ord of 
 God to a benighted pilgrim, David had obliged him¬ 
 self, in the most solemn manner, to follow that direc- 
 
Day 26. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 339 
 
 tion. Every Christian doth, at his baptism, in like 
 manner, “ promise and vow to keep God’s command- 
 “ ments, and to walk in the same ail the days of his 
 “ life.” The nature and extent of these engagements 
 must be interpreted according to the covenant of 
 grace, under which |hey are made. The command to 
 us sinners is, th t we should repent and believe in 
 him, who will pardon our failings, and strengthen our 
 infirmities, that we may walk as becometh his disci¬ 
 ples, who, though they ought not to commit sin, may 
 yet, by divine grace, be restored and saved from it. 
 “ These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. 
 “ And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the 
 “Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the 
 “ propitiation for our sins.” I John ii. 1. 
 
 107- I afflicted very much : quicken me , O Lord, 
 according to thy word. 
 
 The faithful servants of God may be “ afflicted 
 they may be “ very much” and grievously afflicted : 
 but let them consider, that by afflictions, their c* t ”~ 
 ruptions are purged away, their faith is tried, their 
 patience perfected, their brethren are edified, and 
 their Master is glorified. Let them still firmly rely 
 on the divine promise of grace and salvation; still 
 humbly pray for its accomplishment in themselves : 
 “ quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word.” 
 
 108. Accept , I beseech thee , the free-will offerings 
 of my mouth , O Lord ; and teach me thy judgements. 
 
 The “ offerings” of the believer are prayer, praise, 
 and holy resolutions and vows, like that of the Psalmist 
 above, “ to keep God’s righteous judgements,” in 
 which he therefore petitioneth to be every day more 
 and more “ taught” and instructed by the Spirit of 
 truth. Christians are called by St Peter, “ a royal 
 “ and holy priesthood, appointed to offer up spiritual 
 
340 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119, 
 
 \ 
 
 » 
 
 “ sacrifices, acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ.” 
 1 Pet. ii. 5. [). 
 
 IOC). My soul is continually in my hand ; yet do I 
 not forget thy law . 
 
 To have one’s “ soul,” titej or life, “ in one’s hand,’*" 
 is a phrase often used in Scripture, and implieth 
 going in continual danger of one’s life : see Judg. xii. 3. 
 
 1 Sam. xix. 5. and-xxviii. 21. Job xiii. 14. Great 
 
 ♦ 
 
 and incessant as David’s perils Were, he did not “ for- 
 “ get” God’s promises, nor his precepts, but trusted 
 in the former, and performed the latter. St Paul 
 knew, that “ in every city bonds and afflictions 
 “ awaited him : but none of these things,” saith he, 
 “ move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself,, 
 “ so that I might finish my course with joy.” Acts 
 
 XX. 23. 
 
 110. The wicked have laid a snare for me : yet 1 
 erred not from thy precepts. 
 
 When open violence fails to move a man from his 
 steadfastness, 44 the wicked will lay snares” for him, 
 to entice him into sin-, by the baits of honour, plea¬ 
 sure, or profit; by exposing him to unavoidable temp¬ 
 tations, as, when David was driven out of his own 
 land, to live among idolaters, of which usage he com- 
 plaineth, 1 Sam. xxvi. 10. 1 or else, by making laws 
 which an honest man cannot obev without sin, or re- 
 fuse to obey without danger. Numberless are the 
 traps of one kind or other, which human wit and dia¬ 
 bolical malice, in conjunction, have set for the 
 consciences of those who profess themselves to be the 
 servants of God ; .and happy is that servant, whom 
 they have not caused to “ err from the precepts” of 
 his Master. 
 
 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as mine heritage 
 for ever ; for they are the rejoicing of my heart . 
 
Day 26 . m. p. 
 
 341 
 
 ON THE PSALMS,. 
 
 The “ testimonies” of God’s will, his word and his 
 sacraments, are the bonds and the deeds by which we 
 hold our heavenly “ inheritance, as heirs of God and 
 “ joint heirs with Christ.” Of these deeds, and this 
 inheritance, no power can deprive us; and when 
 “ they are the rejoicing of our hearts,” we shall not, 
 by preferring an earthly inheritance, deprive ourselves 
 of them. 
 
 112. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy 
 statutes always , even unto the end. 
 
 The “ inclination of the heart” to good, is the 
 work of God; but man is, nevertheless, in this as in 
 other instances, said' to perform it, when he listens to 
 the call, and obeys the motions, of his grace. We are 
 not to judge of ourselves by what we sometimes say 
 and do, but by the general disposition and tendency 
 of the heart and its affections. When, after repeated 
 trials, we find that the love of God casts the scale 
 against the love of the world ; when it is our glory, 
 our delight, our treasure, our meat and drink, to do 
 his will, and, against all opposition, to persevere in 
 doing it, “ even unto the endthen are we the true 
 disciples of that Master, whose heart was evermore 
 inclined to good ; who alone performed a perfect and 
 spotless obedience, and persisted in working tbe work 
 of him that sent him, until, with his last breath, he 
 declared, upon the cross, it is finished. 
 
 SAMECH.—PART XV. 
 
 113 . I hate vain thoughts : hut thy law do I love. 
 
 “ Love and hatred” are the two great and influ¬ 
 encing affections of the human mind. Since the fall, 
 they have been misplaced. By nature we “ love vain 
 “ thoughts,” and “ hate the law of God. The carnal 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 P^ALM 119, 
 
 342 
 
 “ mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to 
 “ the law of God, neither indeed can be Rom. viii. 
 7* But in a renewed mind the case is altered ; its 
 delight is in the law of God, and therefore it cannot 
 bear “ vain thoughts,” which are contrary to that 
 law, and exalt themselves against it. Thoughts are 
 often said to be free ; from human censure they are, 
 but not from the cognisance and judgement of the 
 Omniscient. The mind should be well lurnished with 
 proper materials, on which to employ itself. We 
 shall then be secured against the incursions of rambling, 
 conceited,, worldly, impure, and revengeful thoughts, 
 which otherwise will devour half our time, and appear 
 against us, to our unspeakable amazement, in that day 
 when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed. 
 
 114- Thou art my hiding-place, and my shield: I 
 hope in thy word » 
 
 From vain thoughts, and vain persons, the Psalmist 
 teacheth us to fly, by prayer, to God, as our refuge 
 and protector. This course a believer will as naturally 
 take, in the hour of temptation and danger, as the 
 offspring of the hen, on perceiving a bird of prey 
 hovering over their heads, retire to their “ hiding 
 “ place,” under the wings of their dam : or as the 
 warrior opposeth his “ shield” to the darts which are 
 aimed at him. 
 
 115. Depart from me, ye evil-doers: for I will keep 
 the commandments of my God . 
 
 Safe under the protection of the Almighty y David 
 bids the wicked “ depart from him ;” he neither fears 
 their malice, nor will follow' their counsels, being re¬ 
 solutely determined to adhere to his duty, and to 
 “ keep the commandments of his God.” He w 7 ho 
 hath formed David’s resolution, must, like him, dis¬ 
 claim and renounce the society of “ evil-doers j” for 
 
Day 26 . m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 S4t3 
 
 every man will insensibly contract the good or bad 
 qualities of the company which he keeps; and should, 
 therefore, be careful to keep such as will make him 
 wiser and better, and fit him for the goodly fellowship 
 of saints and angels. 
 
 116 . Uphold me according to thy word , that I may 
 live: and let me not he ashamed of my hope. 
 
 117 . Hold thou me up , and I shall be safe: and I will 
 have respect unto thy statutes continually. 
 
 A resolution to fly from evil, and to do good, is 
 properly followed by an earnest and repeated prayer, 
 to be “ upheld” in the performance of it, by divine 
 grace, “ according to God’s word” and promise ; that 
 so our “ hope” in that word may not fail, and put us 
 to “ shame” before our enemies ; that we may be 
 “ saved ’ from falling, and enabled, in 0111 walking, to 
 have “ respect unto the divine statutes continually.” 
 How necessary is this prayer to be made by creatures, 
 whose tempers and dispositions are ever varying; 
 who have so many and so formidable adversaries to 
 contend with ; and on whom their temporal condition 
 hath so much influence ! 
 
 118. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from 
 thy statutes : for their deceit is falsehood. 
 
 The dreadful judgements which God, from time to 
 time, in all ages of the world, hath executed, and 
 which he still can and will execute, upon impenitent 
 sinners, afford a kind of admonition, and a powerful 
 motive, to obedience. As no force can counteract 
 the power of God, so no “ cunning” can deceive his 
 wisdom, but will always, in the end, miserably “ de- 
 “ ceive” those who trust in it, and employ it against 
 the counsels of heaven ; “ their deceit, or subtilty, is 
 “ falsehood,” Ip&Ht will fail, and ruin its owners. Of 
 this, history furnisheth instances in abundance. And 
 
344 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 it will be evident to all the world, when simplicity 
 and innocence shall reign triumphant with the Lamb, 
 on mount Sion ; and deceit and guile shall have their 
 portion with the serpent, in the lake of fire. » 
 
 HQ. Thou put test away all the ungodly of the 
 earth like dross : therefore I love thy testimonies . 
 
 “ Ungodly” men and hypocrites are mingled among 
 the sons and servants of God, as dross” is blended 
 with the pure metal, and appeareth to be part of it. 
 But the fiery trial of divine judgement soon discovereth 
 the difference. The false pretences of the hypocrite 
 are detected, and the glory of the wicked vanisheth 
 away. These dispensations of God’s providence in¬ 
 crease our “ love” of his “ word ;” because they give 
 us sensible experience of its truth, they show us the 
 justice of God in punishing others, together with his 
 mercy in sparing us, and removing those who might 
 have corrupted us, and turned the silver itself into 
 dross. In times of visitation, Christ sitteth among 
 his people, “ as a refiner and purifier of silver,” 
 purging away all dross, that out of what remains may 
 be made “ vessels of honour, meet for the Master’s 
 “ use,” to serve and to adorn the sanctuary. See 
 Mai, iii. 3 . Isa. i. 25. 2 Tim. ii. 21. 
 
 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee ; and I 
 am afraid of thy judgements. x 
 
 At the presence of Jehovah, when he appeareth in 
 judgement, the earth trembleth and is still. His best 
 servants are not exempted from an awful dread upon 
 such occasions ; scenes of this kind, shown in vision 
 to the prophets, caused their flesh to quiver, and all 
 their bones to shake. Encompassed with a frail body, 
 and a sinful world, we stand in need of every possible 
 tie; and the affections both of fear and love must be 
 employed to restrain us from transgression ; we must, 
 
Day 26. m. f. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 S4S 
 
 at the same time, * “ love God’s testimonies, and fear 
 “ his judgements.” 
 
 AIN.—PART XVI. 
 
 ! • i 
 
 * 1 
 
 121. I have done judgement and justice: leave me 
 ?iot to mine oppressors . 
 
 He who is engaged in a righteous cause, and hath 
 acted uprightly in the support of it, may, so far, 
 without incurring the censure of boasting, or trusting 
 to his own righteousness, make David’s plea, “ I have 
 • ‘ done judgement and justiceas if he had said, Thou, 
 O my God, knowest that I am innocent of the crimes 
 whereof my implacable enemies accuse me, and that 
 I have done no wrong to those who seek to take away 
 my life ; deliver mot thine injured servant, therefore, 
 into their hands ; “ leave me not to mine oppressors.” 
 The Son of David might use the words in their full 
 and absolute sense, and plead for a glorious resurrec¬ 
 tion, on the foot of his having performed a perfect 
 obedience to the law. 
 
 . 122. Be surety for thy servant for good: let not 
 the proud oppress me. 
 
 The Psalmist finding himself ready to be seized by 
 his insolent adversaries, like a helpless and insolvent 
 debtor, entreateth the Almighty to appear in his de¬ 
 fence, to take the matter into his own hands, to in¬ 
 terpose and plead his cause, as his surety and advo¬ 
 cate, in the day of trouble. Good Hezekiah uses the 
 same word in the same sense, speaking of the time 
 when death was about to make his claim upon the 
 mortal part of him ; “ O Lord, I am oppressed, 
 
 “ undertake, be surety for me Isa. xxxviii. 14. 
 Happy the creatures, whose Creator is their surety. 
 
346 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm i 19 . 
 
 and hath interposed to. rescue them, from those great 
 oppressors, sin, deatn, and Satan ! 
 
 123* Mine eyes Jail for my salvation , and for the 
 word of liiy righteousness , 
 
 Salvation, whether temporal or spiritual, may be 
 delayed; the “ eyes” of the sufferer may “ fail” with 
 looking upward, and his earnest expectation may be 
 ready to break forth, in the words of Sisera’s mother, 
 “ Why is his chariot so long in coming-? Why tarry 
 “ the wheels of his chariot?” But what saith God, 
 by his prophets and apostles? “ Though it tarry, 
 
 % “ wait for it, because it will surely comeJiab. ii. 
 
 (■ 
 
 3. “ Yet a little while, and he that shall come, will 
 
 “ come Heb. x. 37- The “ word” which hath 
 promised it, is the word of truth, faithfulness, and 
 “ righteousness the attributes of God are engaged 
 for its accomplishment, and he cannot deny himself. 
 
 124- -Deal with thy servant according unto thy 
 mercy , and teach me thy statutes. 125. I am thy 
 servant: give me understanding , that I may know thy 
 testimonies. 
 
 The/consideration, that we are the “ servants” of 
 God, if indeed we are so, will always he successfully 
 urged to the best of masters, as an argument wl y be 
 should “ deal with us according to his mercy,” in 
 the pardoning of our offences ; “ teach us his statutes,” 
 that we may know and do his will ; and instruct us 
 in bis “ testimonies,” that we may believe aright con¬ 
 cerning him. 
 
 1 26. It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they 
 have made void thy law. 
 
 The “ law” of God “ is made void” by those -who 
 deny its authority, or its obligation; by those who 
 render it of none effect through their traditions, or 
 their lives. When a deluge of wickedness and im- 
 
Day 26 . M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 1 
 
 547 
 
 piety entering at these gates, hath overwhelmed a 
 land, “ ii is time for the Lord to work ;” the great 
 lawgiver will then exert his power, and vindicate his 
 authority speedily. There is a certain measure of 
 iniquity, which when communities, or individuals 
 respectively, have filled up, the destroying angel 
 comes forth, and executes his commission. How 
 ought a man to fear, lest the next sin he commits 
 should fill up his measure, and seal his eternal doom ! 
 
 127 - Therefore I lore thy commandments above 
 gold ; yea, above fine gold . 
 
 As the wickedness of those increaseth wlio “ make 
 “ void the divine law,” the zeal and “ love” of be¬ 
 lievers should increase in proportion, to stem the tor¬ 
 rent ; and this may be done, to a surprising degree, 
 by a few persons, who, after the example of the first 
 Christians, can forsake all, to follow their Master; 
 who have the sense and the courage to prefer truth, 
 wisdom, holiness, and heaven, to falsehood, folly, sin, 
 and the world ; who can resolutely reject the flitter¬ 
 ing temptation, and say, without hypocrisy, to their 
 God, “ I love thy commandments above gold ; yea, 
 
 above fine gold.” 
 
 128. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning 
 all things to be right ; or, Therefore all thy precepts, 
 even all, have I approved ; and I hate every false way . 
 
 For the same reason that the children of God, in 
 the worst of times, “ love his commandments, ’ they 
 love them “ all,” not observing such only as they can 
 observe without giving offence, but, regardless of the 
 censures of the world doing their duty in every par¬ 
 ticular ; not “ hating” some “ evil ways,” and at the 
 same time walking in others, but extending and ma¬ 
 nifesting their aversion to all alike. Of such persons 
 it is evident, that they make a conscience of their 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 54$ 
 
 doings, and their conduct appears to be uniform; the 
 adversary will have no evil thing to say of them ; they 
 will do real service to the cause which they maintain; 
 and, after having honoured their Master before men, 
 they will by him be honoured before men and angels. 
 
 PE.—PART XVII. 
 
 129. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth 
 my soul keep, or, observe, them . 
 
 The Scriptures are “ wonderful,” with respect to 
 the matter which they contain, the manner in which 
 they are written, and the effects which they produce. 
 They contain the sublimest spiritual truths, veiled 
 under external ceremonies and sacraments, figurative 
 descriptions, typical histories, parables, similitudes, 
 &c. When properly opened and enforced, they ter¬ 
 rify and humble, they convert and transform, they 
 console and strengthen. Who but must delight to 
 study and to “• observe” these “ testimonies” of the 
 will and the wisdom, the love and the power, of God 
 most high ! While we have these holy writings, let us 
 not waste our time, misemploy our thoughts, and 
 prostitute our admiration, by doating on human 
 follies, and wondering at human trifles. 
 
 130 . The entrance pf thy ivords giveth light: it 
 giveth understanding to the simple . 
 
 The Scriptures are the appointed means of “ en- 
 “ lightening” the mind with true and saving know¬ 
 ledge. They show us what we were, what we are, 
 and what we shall be ; they show us what God hath 
 done for us, and what he expecteth us to do for him ; 
 they show us the adversaries we have to encounter, 
 and how to encounter them with success ; they show 
 us the mercy and the justice of the Lord, the joys of 
 
Day 26. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 349 
 
 heaven, and the pains of hell. Thus will they “ give 
 “ to the simple,” in a few days, an “ understanding” 
 of those matters, which philosophy, for whole cen¬ 
 turies, sought in vain. 
 
 131. I opened my mouth and panted ; for I hnged 
 
 for thy commandments . < 
 
 An eastern traveller, fatigued through toil, and 
 parched by heat, doth not, with more vehement de¬ 
 sire, gasp for the cooling breeze, than the servant of 
 God, in time of temptation and trouble, “ panteth” 
 after that spirit of refreshment and consolation, which 
 breathes in the Scriptures of truth. The affections 
 are the springs of human actions ; no arguments are 
 needful to impel, and no difficulties are sufficient to 
 retard, the man who is in pursuit of an object which, 
 with ail his heart, he loves and “ longs for.” How 
 happy is it when heaven, instead of earth, is that 
 object! 
 
 132. Look thou upon me , and be merciful unto me, 
 as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name . 
 
 A child of God is never so much afflicted, as when 
 his heavenly Father seemeth, for a time, to have 
 turned away his face from him. All lesser troubles 
 vanish, when God doth but vouchsafe a “ look” of 
 paternal compassion. And since the love of Jehovah 
 to his people is unchangeable as his nature, mercies 
 formerly shown to others are most forcibly urged by 
 the Psalmist in his petition for the like ; “ Be merci- 
 “ ful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love 
 “ thy name.” 
 
 133. Order 7ny steps in thy word ; and let not any 
 iniquity have dominion over me. 
 
 By the instruction of his “ word,” God bringeth us 
 into the way of life ; by the aids of his grace he 
 “ dirccteth” and “ supporteth” our “ steps” in that 
 
/ 
 
 850 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 11$. 
 
 way, enabling us, as we proceed, to overcome the sins 
 which do beset us, so that they prevail not to turn us 
 back, or to make us desist from travelling toward the 
 city of our eternal habitation. 
 
 134. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so 
 will I keep thy precepts. 
 
 He truly loveth God, who requesteth “ deliver- 
 “ ance” from “ oppression” and persecution, that he 
 may again enjoy the opportunities, of “ keeping his 
 “ precepts,” and of serving him without distraction. 
 And gratitude for his deliverance will be, with such 
 an one, an additional reason for using those opportu v 
 nities, when they are restored, to the best advantage. 
 
 135. Make thy face-to shine upon thy servant: and 
 teach me thy statutes . 
 
 The same sentiment is again expressed in different 
 language. The Psalmist 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 tempestuous night; but 
 Jehovah causeth “ his face to shine” upon his people, 
 and the effects are like those produced-by the sun at 
 his rising, when universal nature revives and rejoices, 
 and clouds and darkness fly away. 
 
 136* Rivers of ■waters run down mine eyes , because 
 they keep not thy law. 
 
 David, who, through this whole Psalm, so often 
 and so ardently beseecheth Gcd to “ teach him his 
 “ statutes,” declareth in this verse, his continual grief 
 of heart, occasioned by seeing others break those sta¬ 
 tutes. Thus Lot, among the Sodomites, was “ vexed 
 “ from day to day,” not so much at their usage of 
 himself, as at “ seeing and hearing their unlawful 
 “ deeds2 Pet. ii. 8. Thus Jeremiah telleth the 
 ungodly of his time, “ If ye will not hear, my soul 
 
 / 
 
r 
 
 Day 26. m. p. ON THE PSALMS. 351 
 
 “ shall weep in secret places for your pride; and 
 “ mine eyes shall weep sore, and run down with 
 u tears :” Jer. xiii. 17. Thus the holy Jesus “ looked 
 “ round about on the Pharisees, being grieved for the 
 “ hardness of their hearts ;” Mark iii. 5. and “ wept 
 “ over” a city which had always persecuted, and was 
 then about to crucify him, because it knew not the 
 “ things which belonged to its peace Luke xix. 41. 
 Accept, O Lord, the tears which our blessed Redeemer 
 shed, in the days of his flesh, for us, who should, but 
 alas ! too often cannot, weep for our brethren, or for 
 ourselves; and give us, at least, the grace of holy 
 mourning, which in thy sight is of great price. 
 
 TZADDL—PART XVIII. 
 
 137. Righteous art thou, 0 Lord, and upright are 
 thy judgements . 
 
 This portion of our Psalm is employed in celebrating 
 the righteousness of God, manifested'to us by his 
 word, and by his dispensations, which that word both 
 recordeth and explaineth. It is said of the emperor 
 Mauritius, that, upon seeing all his children slain be¬ 
 fore his face, at the command of that bloody tyrant 
 and usurper, Phocas, himself expecting the next stroke, 
 with a philosophy truly divine, he exclaimed aloud, in 
 these words of David, “ Righteous art thou, O Lord, 
 “ and upright are thy judgements*.” By faith he 
 was assured of this great truth, and nobly confessed 
 it, notwithstanding all appearances to the contrary. 
 The last day will demonstrate the same thing to the 
 whole world, and open the mouths of men and angels 
 to declare, concerning all the divine proceedings, what 
 
 * Baren. Annal. ad Ann. 602 . 
 
 V 
 
352 A COMMENTARY Psalm 119, 
 
 the good Mauritius acknowledged, at the time, with 
 regard to the murder of his children. 
 
 138. Thy testimonies that thou hast co?nmanded > 
 are righteous and very faithful. 
 
 The revelations of God’s will are “ righteousness” 
 and “ truthhis commands are just, and ought to 
 be obeyed ; his promises and his threatenings will in¬ 
 fallibly come to pass, and deserve, above all things, 
 to be regarded. 
 
 139. My zeal hath consumed me ; because mine' 
 enemies have forgotten thy words. 
 
 “ Zeal” is a high degree of love; and when the 
 object of that love is ill-treated, it venteth itself in a 
 mixture of grief and indignation, which are sufficient 
 to wear and “ consume” the heart. This will be the 
 case, where men rightly conceive of that dishonour 
 which is continually done to God by creatures w r hom 
 he hath made and redeemed. But never could the 
 verse be uttered, with such fulness of truth and pro¬ 
 priety, by any one, as by the Son of God, who had 
 such a sense of his Father’s glory, and of man’s sin, 
 as no person else ever had. And, accordingly, when 
 his zeal had exerted itself in purging the temple, St 
 John tells us, “ his disciples remembered that it was 
 •* written, The zeal of thiiie house hath eaten me 
 “ up.” The place where it is so written, is Psalm 
 Ixix.^Q. and the passage is exactly parallel to this be¬ 
 fore us. 
 
 140. Thy word is very pure ; therefore thy servant 
 loveth it. 
 
 “ Thy wmrd is very pure;” in the original, “ tried 
 “refined, purified, like gold in the furnaceabso¬ 
 lutely perfect, without the dross of vanity and falli¬ 
 bility, w r hich runs through human writings. The 
 more we try the promises, the surer w*e shall find 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
Day 26. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 353 
 
 them *. This pure word hath likewise in it a power 
 of purifying us. It containeth precepts and examples 
 of purity, helps and encouragements to purity, and 
 the Spirit of purity goeth with it, and worketh by it. 
 “ Therefore thy servant loveth it and no one, but a 
 true servant of God, can “ therefore” love it, be¬ 
 cause it is pure; since he who loves it must desire to 
 be like it, to feel its efficacy, to be reformed by it, and 
 conformed to it. 
 
 141. /am small and despised: yet Ido not forget 
 thy precepts. 
 
 Faithfulness to God will often reduce men to straits, 
 and bring upon them the contempt of the world ; 
 happy are they who, under these difficulties and dis¬ 
 couragements, “ forget not his precepts,” but still 
 “ continue faithful, looking unto Jesus, who once en- 
 “ dured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set 
 “ down at the right hand of God.” Heb. xii. 2. 
 
 142- Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteous¬ 
 ness, and thy law is the truth. 
 
 Men may decree wickedness by a law, or they may 
 change their decrees, and, with them, what was right 
 to-day, may be wrong to-morrow. But the law of 
 God is “ righteousness,” and it is “ truth,” to-day, 
 and for ever. His justice, goodness, and fidelity are 
 unchangeable ; he will never forsake us, unless we for¬ 
 sake him, but will remember us in our lowest estate, 
 if, in that estate, we “ do not forget his precepts.” 
 
 143. Trouble and anguish have taken hold upon , 
 or, have found, me, yet thy commandments are my 
 delights. 
 
 * Pure gold is so fixed, that Boerhaave informs us of an ounce of 
 it set in the eye of a glass-furnace for two months, without losing a 
 single grain. 
 
 vol. n. 
 
354 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 We need not take pains, as many do, “ to find • 
 “ trouble and anguish,” for they will one day “ find 
 “ us.” In that day, the revelations of God must be 
 to us instead of all worldly “ delights” and pleasures, 
 which will then have forsaken us; and how forlorn 
 and desolate will be our state, if we shall have no 
 other delights, no other pleasures to succeed them, 
 and to accompany us into eternity ! Let our study be 
 now in the Scriptures, if we expect our comfort from 
 them in time to come. 
 
 144. The righteousness of thy testimonies is ever¬ 
 lasting : give me understanding , and I shall live. 
 
 In every sense, O Lord Jesu, thy righteousness is 
 “ everlasting: Grant us the “ understanding” of it, 
 in every sense, and we “ shall live,” in thee now, and 
 with thee for ever. 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH DAY—EVENING PRAYER. 
 KOPH.—PART XIX. 
 
 145. I cried with my whole heart; hear me , O 
 Lord : I will keep thy statutes. 146. I cried unto 
 thee ; save me , and I shall keep thy testimonies. 
 
 Believers, in time of affliction, make their prayer 
 to God with fervour and importunity, petitioning for 
 deliverance, that they may the better serve their De¬ 
 liverer, and keep his laws. 
 
 147. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and 
 cried: I hoped in thy word. 148. Mine eyes prevent 
 the night watches , that I might meditate in thy 
 word. 
 
 It is a certain sign that our hearts are set upon a 
 work, when the thoughts of it cause sleep to depart 
 from us, and we awake readily, constantly, and early, 
 
* 
 
 Day 26 . e. p. ON THE PSALMS. 355 
 
 to the performance of it. David delighted in the 
 holy exercises of prayer and meditation ; therefore he 
 “ prevented the dawning of the morning,” and was 
 beforehand with the light itself; therefore his “ eyes 
 “ prevented the watches,” that is, the last of those 
 watches, into which the night was by the Jews di¬ 
 vided ; he needed not the watchman’s call, but was 
 stirring before it could be given. Climate and con¬ 
 stitution will, doubtless, make a difference, and claim 
 considerable allowance; but by Christians, who enjoy 
 their health, in temperate weather, the sun should not 
 be suffered to shine in vain, nor the golden hours of 
 the morning to glide aw ay unimproved; since of 
 David’s Lord, as well as of David, it is said, “ in 
 “ the morning rising up, a great while before day, he 
 “ w 7 ent out and departed into a solitary place, and 
 “ there prayed.” Mark i. 35. 
 
 149. Hear my voice , according unto thy loving 
 kindne.ss: O Lord, quicken me according to thy 
 judgement , that is, j hy word. 150. They draw nigh 
 that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. 
 151. Thou art near , O Lord ; and all thy command¬ 
 ments are truth . 
 
 If our enemies “ draw nigh” to destroy us, God 
 is still “ nearer” to preserve us; and, however, his 
 “ word” may be rejected by the wdeked, the faithful 
 always find it to be “ true” to their great and end¬ 
 less comfort. 
 
 152. Concerning thy testimonies , I have known of 
 old , that thou hast founded them for ever . 
 
 This portion of our Psalm endeth with the triumph 
 of faith over all dangers and temptations. “ Con- 
 “ cerning thy testimonies,” the revelations of thy 
 will, thy counsels for the salvation of thy servants, 
 “ I have known of old,” by faith, and by my own 
 
356 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 PsALMT Ilf, 
 
 experience, as well as that of others, “ that thou hast 
 44 founded them for everthey are unalterable and 
 everlasting as the attributes of their great author, and 
 can never fail those who rely upon them, in time, or 
 in eternity. 
 
 RESH.—PART XX, 
 
 153. Consider mine affliction , and deliver me : for 
 I do not forget thy law. 
 
 It is happy when our 44 afflictions” do not make 
 us to 44 forget the law of God then have we con- 
 lidence toward him in our prayers, that he will 
 44 consider” and regard our sufferings, as he did those 
 of Israel in Egypt, and come down to 44 deliver” us- 
 out of all our troubles ; for Israel is still in Egypt, 
 while the church is in the world ; but let us remem¬ 
 ber the promise and rejoice in hope. 
 
 154- Plead my cause , and deliver me : quicken me 
 according to thy word. 
 
 God is the Patron of his people, to 44 plead” their 
 44 cause their Redeemer, to 44 deliver” them out of 
 troubles; the Author and Fountain of their life, to 
 44 quicken” and support them. We may, therefore, 
 have recourse to him at all times, as an Advocate, a 
 Saviour, and a Comforter, for the defence of our 
 cause, the deliverance of our persons, and the sup¬ 
 port of our hearts. And all this, 44 according to his 
 “ .word,” in which he hath engaged thus to patronize,, 
 to rescue, and to strengthen, those who trust in him* 
 and apply to him. 
 
 155. Salvation is far from the wicked ; for they 
 seek not thy statutes. 
 
 The 44 salvation” which is nigh to the faithful, be¬ 
 cause they diligently and earnestly seek to know and 
 
Bay 26 . e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 35*7 
 
 to do the will of God revealed to them in his word, 
 is “ far from the wicked,” because “ they seek not his 
 “ statutes,” nor concern themselves to know what 
 they are, much less to observe and practise them. 
 
 150 . Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken 
 me according to thy judgements, that is, thy word . 
 157 . Many are my persecutors , and mine enemies: 
 yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. 158 . I be¬ 
 held the transgressors , and was grieved ; because the 
 kept not thy word. 
 
 Persecution tempteth men to apostasy, and is the 
 great trial of our fidelity to God and to his word. He 
 who, in such circumstances, forgetteth his own suffer¬ 
 ings, to commiserate the sin and folly of his perse¬ 
 cutors, is a true follower, as David was a forerunner, 
 of Jesus Christ. 
 
 159 . Consider how I love thy precepts : quicken me, 
 O Lord, according to thy loving kindness . l60. Thy 
 
 word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy 
 righteous judgements endureth for ever. 
 
 It is observable how the Psalmist delighteth to 
 dwell on these two sweet notes; the “ loving kind- 
 “ ness” of God in promising salvation, and his 
 “ truth” in the constant performance of that pro¬ 
 mise to his church, while she “ loves” and adheres to 
 “ his precepts.” Thus it hath been “ from the be- 
 “ ginning,” and thus it will be, until the whole coun¬ 
 sel of heaven shall at length be fulfilled, by the resur¬ 
 rection and salvation of the just. 
 
 SCHIN.—PAPiT XXI. 
 
 l6l. Princes have persecuted me without a cause : 
 but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. l6 c 2. I re¬ 
 joice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. 
 
358 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 119. 
 
 David was “ persecuted,” by Saul and his asso¬ 
 ciates, “ without a cause.” The life of Saul was spared 
 by him, because “ he stood in awe of God’s word,” 
 and preferred the comfortable reflection of having 
 obeyed its injunctions, to all the “ spoil,” and to those 
 many advantages, that would have accrued to him, 
 by the overthrow and death of his implacable adver¬ 
 sary, who acknowledged upon the occasion, “ Thou 
 “ art more righteous than I 1 Sam. xxiv. 17. The 
 sufferings of the body are soon over; the joys of 
 conscience have no end. 
 
 103 * I hate and abhor' lying: but thy law do I 
 love. 
 
 The word of truth is the proper object of our 
 
 love,” and every thing which is contrary to it de- 
 serveth our “ hatred and abhorrence; nor is life it¬ 
 self worth preserving, at the expense either of our 
 faith or our virtue. 
 
 164* Seven t imes a day do I praise thee , because of 
 thy righteous judgements , 
 
 They who, like David, during the time of persecu¬ 
 tion and affliction, put their trust in God, and wait 
 his decision of their cause, will always find reason, as 
 David did, to “ praise him seven times a day,” or 
 continually, for his just decrees and “ righteous judge- 
 “ ments” concerning them. 
 
 105 . Great peace have they which love thy law; 
 and nothing shall offend them. 
 
 Amidst the storms and tempests of the World, 
 there ig a perfect calm in the breasts of those 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 themselves, by the answer of 
 a good conscience, and the subjection of those desires 
 which war against the soul; at peace with all men. 
 
Day 26. £. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 3 59 
 
 by the spirit of charity; and the whole creation is so 
 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 stumbling- 
 blocks which are thrown in their way by persecution 
 or temptation, by the malice of enemies or the apo¬ 
 stasy of friends, by any thing which they see, hear of, 
 or feel, can detain or divert them from their course. 
 Heavenly love surmounts every obstacle, and runs 
 with delight the way of God’s commandments. 
 
 166. Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation , and 
 done thy commandments . 
 
 This is the true posture of a Christian, in which 
 he need not fear to be found by his last and great 
 enemy, death, “ doing” his duty, and “ hoping” for 
 salvation from the person who is his Master, as well 
 as his Redeemer, and who, consequently, expecteth 
 to be obeved, no less than to be believed in. 
 
 167* dfz/ soul hath kept thy testimonies , and I love 
 them exceedingly. 168. I have kept thy precepts and 
 thy testimonies: for all my mays are before thee. 
 
 The “ love of God’s testimonies,” and the consi¬ 
 deration, that all “ our ways are before him,” and 
 subject to his immediate inspection, are two powerful 
 motives to obedience. The plea of having “ kept 
 “ the divine precepts,” &c. in the mouth of David, 
 or any other believer, intendeth sincerity, not per¬ 
 fection, and is alleged as an evidence of grace, not as 
 a claim of merit. Christ alone kept the old law, and 
 he enableth us to observe the new. 
 
 TAU.—PART XXII. 
 
 169. Let my cry come near before thee , O Lord : 
 give me understanding according to thy word. 170. 
 
360 A COMMENTARY Psalm 119. 
 
 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me ac¬ 
 cording to thy word. 
 
 The Psalmist still continueth instant in prayer for 
 “ understanding,” to direct him in the midst of dan¬ 
 gers and temptations, and for “ deliverance” out of 
 them all, when God shall see fit to accomplish the 
 promises made in his “ word.” These are blessings, 
 for which a man cannot be too frequent, or too ear¬ 
 nest, in his petitions to the throne of heaven. 
 
 171 . My lips shall utter praise , when thou hast 
 taught me thy statutes. 172. My tongue shall speak 
 of thy word: for all thy commandments are righ¬ 
 teousness. 
 
 He who obtaineth his requests, and is made a par¬ 
 taker of that grace and salvation for which he so 
 fervently prayed, will edify men, by singing the 
 “ praises,” and proclaiming the “ righteousness” of 
 God his Saviour. 
 
 173 - Let thine hand help me : for I have chosen thy 
 precepts. 174* I have longed for thy salvation , O 
 Lord : and thy law is my delight. 
 
 “ Salvation” by the “ Hand,” or Arm of Jehovah 
 (which is often in Scripture a title of Messiah), hath 
 been the object of the hopes, the desires, and “ long- 
 “ ing” expectation of the faithful, from Adam to this 
 hour; and will continue so to be, until He, who, 
 hath already visited us in great humility, shall come 
 again in glorious majesty, to complete our redemption, 
 and take us to himself. 
 
 175. Let my soul live , and it shall praise thee ; and 
 let thy judgements help me. 
 
 The “ life” which God granteth and preserveth to 
 us, whether it be the natural life of the body, or the 
 spiritual life of the soul, (for both are from him), 
 should be employed in “ praising” him. This return 
 
Bay 26. e. f. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 361 
 
 for his mercies we are always ready to promise, when 
 we are in danger, but often forgetful to perform, when 
 delivered out of it. 
 
 176 . I have gone astray like a lost sheep : seek thy 
 servant; for I do not forget thy commandments . 
 
 It is doubtful, whether David here speaks of his 
 misery, or his sin; of his “ wandering” as an exile in 
 foreign lands, or of his “ going astray” from the 
 “ commandments” of his God, though he had not al¬ 
 together “ forgotten,” but was desirous of returning 
 again to the observance of them, and therefore be¬ 
 seeches the great Shepherd to “ seek” and bring back 
 his “ lost sheep In the application of the passage 
 to ourselves, it matters not which interpretation we 
 adopt, since we are both sinners and exiles; exiles, 
 because sinners; “ we have erred and strayed from 
 “ God’s ways, like lost sheep,” and are, for that rea¬ 
 son, excluded from our heavenly city and country, to 
 wander for a time in the wilderness. Restore us, O 
 Lord Jesu, by thy grace to righteousness, and by thy 
 power to glory! 
 
 * “ Erravi sicut ovis—Omnes nos quasi oves erravimus.” Isa. 
 liii. 6 . Sed nos bonus file Pastor humeris reportavit. Luc. xv. 5 . 
 Bossuet. Mr Merrick’s Poetical Paraphrase of this verse is so beau¬ 
 tiful and affecting, that I cannot refrain from subjoining it— 
 
 : I * * , | . 4» w '•»I •/.'* ft ' 
 
 Thine eyes in me the sheep behold, 
 
 Whose feet have wander’d from the fold j , 
 
 That, guideless, helpless, strives in vain 
 To find its safe retreat again j 
 
 Now listens, if perchance its ear \ 
 
 The Shepherd’s well-known voice may hear 5 
 Now, as the tempests round it blow, , 
 
 In plaintive accents vents its woe. 
 
 Great Ruler of this earthly ball, 
 
 Bo thou my erring steps recall : 
 
 O seek thou him who thee has sought, 
 
 Nor turns from thy decrees his thought. 
 
362 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 120. 
 
 TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 % 
 
 PSALM CXX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This, and the fourteen Psalms which follow it, are 
 entitled, “ Psalms of Degrees, or of Ascensions.” 
 For what reason they were so called, is altogether 
 uncertain. Certain, however, it is, that they are 
 most instructive and pleasing compositions, won¬ 
 derfully calculated to elevate the soul to God ; and 
 that the Christian, as he proceeds from one degree 
 of virtue to another, in his way towards eternal fe¬ 
 licity, cannot employ himself better than in medi¬ 
 tation on them. In the first of these Psalms, the 
 Author, most probably David, complaineth of the 
 falsehood, the treachery, and the violence of men, 
 amongst whom he grieveth that his pilgrimage is 
 prolonged. 
 
 I. In my distress, I cried unto the Lord, and he 
 heard me. 2 . Deliver my soul , O Lord, from lying 
 Ups, and from a deceitful tongue. 
 
 The prophet relateth the success of his prayer 
 made to Jehovah in time of trouble. He “ cried,” 
 and was “ heard.” The particular species of trouble, 
 under which he then laboured, was that caused by the 
 malice and treachery of his adversaries, who either 
 with “ lying lips” bore false witness against him, or 
 with a “ deceitful tongue” tried to ensnare him, and 
 to draw something from him, on which they might 
 ground an accusation. Thus the Jews dealt with 
 Christ; and men of their cast and complexion have, 
 in all ages, dealt thus with his true followers. From 
 
Day 2 . m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS, 
 
 363 
 
 such “ lips,” and such “ tongues,” God only can 
 “ deliver” the persons and the reputations of the most 
 innocent. 
 
 3. What shall be given unto thee P or what shall be 
 done unto thee , thou false tongue P 4 * Sharp arrows 
 of the mighty, with coals of juniper. 
 
 Some render the first of these two verses a little 
 differently : “ What shall a false tongue give thee, 
 “ or what shall it add to thee ?” The sense will he 
 much the same, whether the Psalmist be supposed to 
 address his question to the false tongue, or to him 
 who is the owner of it. The purport of the question 
 plainly is this : What profit or advantage do you ex¬ 
 pect to reap from this practice of lying and slander¬ 
 ing? what will at last be its end and its reward? 
 Then folio we th the answer : “ Sharp arrows of the 
 “ mighty one,” "VOa, who is the avenger of truth and 
 innocence ; with a fire that burns fiercely, and burns 
 long, like that which was made of “ juniper,” or some 
 wood used in those days, remarkable for increasing 
 and retaining heat; punishments justly inflicted on a 
 tongue, the words of which have been keen and kill¬ 
 ing as arrows, and v 7 hich, by its lies and calumnies, 
 hath contributed to set the world on fire. We read 
 in the Gospel, of one who exclaimed, “ Send Lazarus, 
 “ that he may dip the tip of his finger in w 7 ater, and 
 “ cool my tongue ; for I am tormented in this 
 
 “ FLAME.” 
 
 5 . Woe is me that 1 sojourn in Mesech, that 1 dwell 
 in the tents of Kedar! 
 
 The Psalmist lamenting his long continuance among 
 those deceitful and malicious men, whom he compar- 
 eth to the wild, barbarous, and idolatrous Arabs, the 
 descendants of “ Kedar,” the son of Ishir.ael: Gen. 
 xxv. 13. The former part of the verse is, with greater 
 
364 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 120. 
 
 propriety perhaps, rendered, by many of the transla¬ 
 tors and expositors, thus : “Woe is me that my so- 
 “ journing is prolonged—” igfo WU * 0 , “ I dwell, or, 
 “ my dwelling is, among the tents of Kedar.” When 
 our Lord was upon earth, the Jews were become the 
 spiritual Ishmaelites, sons of the bond-woman, perse¬ 
 cutors of the sons of the free woman, and the children 
 of promise. “ O faithless and perverse generation,” 
 saith he, “ how long shall I be with you ? how long 
 “ shall I suffer you?” Matt. xvii. 17. “ And as then 
 
 “ he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him 
 “ that was bom after the Spirit, even so it is 
 “ nowGal. iv. 29. The church daily sigheth and 
 groaneth, because her “ sojourning is prolonged,” and 
 she dwelleth among adversaries of various denomina¬ 
 tions, among those who take delight in vexing and 
 troubling her. These are “ the tents of Kedar,” 
 among which we dwell in the wilderness, longing to 
 depart, and to be with Christ in the city of the living 
 God. 
 
 6 . My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth 
 peace . 7. I am for peace ; or, I am a man of peace ; 
 
 but when I speak , they are for war . 
 
 If this was the case of David, much more might 
 the Son of David make the same complaint, that he 
 “ dwelt with them that hated peace that although 
 he was “ a man of peace,” meek, lowly, and gracious 
 in his deportment to all around him; although he 
 came to make peace and to reconcile all things in 
 heaven and earth; although his conversation and his 
 preaching were of peace and love, and the kingdom of 
 God ; yet no sooner did he open his mouth to “ speak” 
 upon these divine subjects, but his enemies were up 
 in arms, ready to apprehend, to accuse, to condemn, 
 and to crucify him. Marvel not, O disciple of Jesus ! 
 if the world hate and oppose thee ; but pray only, 
 
Day 27 . m.f. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 S GS 
 
 that when thou shalt be used as he was, thou mayest 
 be enabled to bear that usage as lie did. 
 
 PSALM CXXI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Psalm, the prophet, 1, 2. introduceth a per¬ 
 son, most probably an Israelite on his way to Jeru¬ 
 salem, expressing his trust and confidence in Je¬ 
 hovah, the Maker of heaven and earth, of whose 
 favour and protection, at all times, and in all dan¬ 
 gers, the prophet, 3“8. assureth him. These pro¬ 
 mises, like those in the xcist Psalm, were, in their 
 full and spiritual sense, made good to Messiah, and 
 are now daily accomplishing in the members of his 
 mystical body, the Christian church. Bishop 
 Lowth supposeth the first two verses to be spoken 
 by David, when going out to war, and the answer 
 of encouragement to be made by the high priest 
 from the Holy Place. In this case, the idea of war¬ 
 fare is added to that of pilgrimage, and the Psalm 
 rendered still more applicable to us, as well as to 
 the true David our King. 
 
 1. I icill lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence 
 cometh my help . 2. My help cometh from the Lord, 
 tchieh made heaven and earth. 
 
 The truly Israelite, amidst the dangers of his 
 earthly pilgrimage and warfare, looketh continually 
 towards the heavenly city, whither he is travelling. 
 “ Faith showeth him afar off the everlasting “ hills, 
 “ from whence cometh the help,” which must bring 
 him in safety to them. He “ lifteth up his eyes” in 
 prayer to the Almighty, whose temple and habitation 
 
366 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 122. 
 
 are thereon. He putteth not his trust in any crea¬ 
 ture, but imploreth aid immediately of “ him who 
 “ made heaven and earth,” and, who, consequently, 
 hath power over all things in both. 
 
 3. He mil not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that 
 keepelh thee mil not slumber . 4. Behold , he that keep - 
 eth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep . 
 
 In the first two verses, we heard the believer de¬ 
 claring his resolution to trust in God. The prophet 
 now commendeth that resolution, and encourageth 
 him to persevere in it. As if he had said, Thou dost 
 well to expect help from Jehovah alone; to over¬ 
 look the vanities here below; to place thy confi¬ 
 dence, and set thy affections, on him who dwelleth 
 above. Know therefore assuredly, that he will be 
 with thee in the way which thou goest; he will pre¬ 
 serve thee from falling, and defend thee from all 
 dangers ; for in him thou hast a guardian, who is 
 not, like all others, liable to remit his care, by be¬ 
 ing subject to sleep or death. The eye of his pro¬ 
 vidence is upon thee, and that is always open. “ Be- 
 ec hold, he thatkeepeth Israel shall neither slumber 
 <c nor sleep.” - 
 
 5. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade 
 upon thy right hand . 6. The sun shall not smite thee 
 
 by day , nor the moon by night . 
 
 The meaning is, that the good man, during his 
 journey through life, shall be under God’s protec¬ 
 tion at all seasons ; as Israel in the wilderness was 
 defended from the burning heat of the sun, by the 
 moist and refreshing shadow of the cloud ; and se¬ 
 cured against the inclement influences of the noc¬ 
 turnal heavens, by the kindly warmth and splendour 
 diffused from the pillar of fire. Be thou with us, thy 
 servants, O Lord, in the world, as thou wast with 
 
Day 27. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 367 
 
 Israel in the wilderness; sutler not our virtue to 
 dissolve before the sultry gleams of prosperity ; 
 permit it not to be frozen by the chilling blast 
 of adversity. 
 
 7. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he 
 shall preserve thy soul, 8. The Lord shall preserve 
 thy going out , and thy coming in, from this time forth 
 for evermore. 
 
 To dissipate our fears, and remove every ground 
 of diffidence, Jehovah promiseth, by his holy pro¬ 
 phet, to “ preserve us from all evil,” which might 
 befall us in the way, either by turning it aside, or 
 turning it finally to our advantage, so that we shall 
 not perish, but see our labours happily begun and 
 ended in him ; he “ shall preserve our going out, 
 “ and our coming in,” until, through all the vicissi¬ 
 tudes of this mortal state, he shall have brought us 
 into his holy “ temple,” there to become “ pillars,” 
 and to “ go no more out.” Rev. iii. 12. 
 
 PSALM CXXII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The author of this Psalm, as we are informed by its 
 title, was David. The subject of it is that joy 
 which the people were wont to express, upon 
 their going up in companies to keep a feast at 
 Jerusalem, when the divine services were regu¬ 
 lated, and that city was appointed to be the place 
 of public worship. Every thing which can be said 
 upon this topic, must naturally hold good in its 
 application to the Christian church, and the ce¬ 
 lebration of her feasts ; at which seasons the be¬ 
 liever will as naturally extend his thoughts to the 
 
368 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 122. 
 
 Jerusalem above, and to that festival which shall 
 
 one day be there kept by all the people of God. 
 
 1 .1 was glad when they said unto me> Let us go into 
 the house of the Lord. 
 
 Great was the joy of an Israelite, when his breth¬ 
 ren called upon him to accompany them on some 
 festive occasion, to the tabernacle, or temple at Je¬ 
 rusalem ; great is the joy of a Christian, when he 
 is invited, in like manner, to celebrate the feasts of 
 the church, to commemorate the nativity, or the 
 resurrection, and to eat and drink at the table of 
 his Lord. Such, in kind, but far greater in degree, 
 is that gladness, which the pious soul experiences, 
 when she is called hence; when descending an¬ 
 gels say unto her, Thy labour and sorrow are at an 
 end, and the hour of thy enlargement is come ; put 
 off' mortality and misery at once ; quit thy house of 
 bondage, and the land of thy captivity ; fly forth, 
 and u let us go together into the house of the Lord, 
 
 not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 55 
 
 2. Our feet shall stand within thy gates , O Jerusa¬ 
 lem ! 
 
 Yes, O thou holy and happy city of peace, and 
 love, and everlasting delight, our God will in time 
 bring us to behold, and to enter thee; u our feet, 59 
 which now, with many a weary step, tread the earth, 
 ic shall” one day, “ stand within thy gates,” which 
 are opened to all believers; we shall at length rest 
 in thy celestial mansions, and converse for ever 
 with thy blest inhabitants ! 
 
 3. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact to - 
 gether . 
 
 We see thee not, indeed, as yet, but we hear of 
 thy stability, thy unity, thy beauty, and thy magni- 
 
 I 
 
Day 27. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 ficence. Thy foundations are firm upon the holy 
 hills; they are garnished with all manner of pre¬ 
 cious stones; and in them are the names of the 
 twelve- apostles of the Lamb. Thy gates are of 
 pearl, twelve in number, and open to all quarters, 
 for the tribes of the spiritual Israel to come in. 
 Thy streets are of pure gold, as it were transparent 
 glass; thou art crowned with the unfading bright¬ 
 ness of eternal glory ; and the Lord God Almighty 
 and the Lamb, are the temple in the midst of thee. 
 All these glorious things are spoken of thee, thou 
 city of God ! And yet, when we come to see thee 
 with our eyes, we shall be forced to confess, as the 
 queen of Sheba did upon viewing the earthly Jeru¬ 
 salem, with its material temple, and the court of its 
 mortal king, that thou far “ exceedest the lame 
 cc which we had heard,” and that “ the half was not 
 
 i J 
 
 “ told us.” 1 Kings x. 7. 
 
 4. Whither the tribes go up , the tribes of the Lord, 
 unto^ or, according to , the testimony of Israel , to give 
 thanks unto the name of the Lord. 
 
 As all the “ tribes” of Israel, three times in the 
 year, were seen “ going up” to the old Jerusalem 
 in compliance with the ct testimonies,” the injunc¬ 
 tions and institutions of their law, to acknowledge 
 the mercies, and to give thanks unto the name of 
 “ Jehovah,” who had done such great things for 
 them ; so from the ends of the earth are the re¬ 
 deemed of the Lord, out of every nation, and kin¬ 
 dred, and people, continually ascending, by faitli 
 and charity, to the new Jerusalem. St John saw 
 the nations of them that were saved, walking in the 
 light of the heavenly city, and he heard her streets 
 resound with the hallelujahs of ten thousand times 
 ten thousand. 
 
 VOL. TI. 
 
 -A A 
 
370 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 122. 
 
 3. For there are set thrones of t 'judgement, the thrones 
 of the house of David. 
 
 The Israelites resorted to Jerusalem, because it 
 was the metropolis of the country, and there was 
 the residence of their monarchs, after the kingdom 
 was established in tc the house of David.” But, 
 alas! that metropolis is desolate, and “ the thrones 
 “ of judgement,” which were therein, have been 
 long since cast down to the ground. A Jerusalem, 
 however, remains, which shall never be moved ; in 
 that Jerusalem is the throne of eternal judgement 
 erected, and the Son of David sitteth upon it. Of 
 him it was said by the angel to Mary, The Lord 
 cc God shall give unto him the throne of his father 
 “ David : and he shall reign over the house of Ja- 
 “ cob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no 
 “ end Luke i. 32. And he himself thus address¬ 
 ed his apostles : “ Verily, I say unto you, that ye 
 “ w T hich have followed me, in the regeneration, 
 <c when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of 
 “ his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, 
 tc judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matt. xix. 
 28. 
 
 * ‘ «v.| 
 
 6 . Pray for the peace of Jerusalem ; they shall pros¬ 
 per that love thee. 
 
 In this latter part of our Psalm, the members of 
 the Israelitish church, are exhorted to pray for its 
 peace and welfare. What that church was, the 
 Christian church militant upon earth now is, and 
 demandeth, in like manner, the prayers of all Chris¬ 
 tian people for its peace and welfare in a trouble¬ 
 some and contentious world. Its increase here be¬ 
 low, is in reality the increase of Jerusalem above, of 
 which it is a part, and ought to be a resemblance. 
 Heaven has therefore decreed, that they who con- 
 
Dav 27. m. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 371 
 
 tribute their labours, as well as their prayers, to 
 promote so good and so glorious an end, shall enjoy 
 its protection, and its blessings shall be upon the 
 work of their hands; “ They shall prosper that love 
 “ thee.” 
 
 7. Peace be within thy walls , and prosperity , or, 
 plenteousness , within thy palaces . 
 
 Come, O thou divine Spirit of peace and love, 
 who didst reside in the soul of the holy Jesus, de¬ 
 scend into his mystical body, and fill us, who com¬ 
 pose it, with all his heavenly tempers ; put an end 
 to heresies, heal all schisms, cause bitter contentions 
 to cease, abolish every enmity, and make us to be 
 of one mind in thy holy city ; that so, “ peace being 
 “ within her walls,” her citizens may give them¬ 
 selves to every profitable employment, and “ plen- 
 “ teousness” of grace, wisdom, and truth, as well 
 as of earthly blessings, may be in all her “ palaces.” 
 Thus will she become a lively portrait of that place 
 which is prepared for them that love one another, 
 where, with one heart and one voice, they shall 
 ascribe “ salvation and glory to God and to the 
 “ Lamb.” 
 
 8. For my brethren and companion's sake , I will now 
 say , Peace be within thee. 9. Because of the house 
 of the Lord our God £ will seek thy good. 
 
 In these concluding verses, the Psalmist declareth 
 the two motives which induced him to utter his 
 best wishes, and to use his best endeavours, for the 
 prosperity of Jerusalem ; namely, love of his breth¬ 
 ren, whose happiness was involved in that of their 
 city ; and love of God, who had there fixed the re¬ 
 sidence of his glory. These motives are ever in 
 force, and ought, surely, to operate with marvellous 
 energy upon our hearts, to stir us up to imitate the 
 
 2 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 122, 
 
 372 
 
 pattern now before us, in fervent zeal and unwearied 
 labour, tor the salvation of men, and the glory of 
 their great Redeemer; both which will then be 
 complete, when the church militant shall become 
 triumphant, and the heavenly paradise shall be 
 tilled with plants taken from its terrestrial nursery. 
 
 Theodore Zuinger, of whom some account may 
 be found in Thuanus, when he lay on his death-bed, 
 took his leave of the world, in a paraphrase on the 
 foregoing Psalm ; giving it in the same turn with 
 that given above. I have never been able to get a 
 sight of the original * ; but one may venture, I be- 
 
 * Since the publication of the first edition, a learned friend has 
 obliged me with a copy of these Latin verses of Zuinger, transcribed 
 from the 303d page of Vitae Germanorum Medicorum, by Melchior 
 Adamus. They are as follow : 
 
 O lux Candida, lux mihi 
 Laeti conscia transitus! 
 
 Per Christi meritum patet 
 
 Vitae porta beatae. . .. . 
 
 Me status revocat dies 
 
 j 
 
 Augustam Domini ad domum : 
 
 Jam sacra aetherii premam 
 Laetus limina templi. 
 
 Jam visam Solymae edita 
 Coelo culmina, et aedium 
 Coetus angelicos, suo et 
 Augustam populo urbem : 
 
 Urb w m quam procul infimis 
 Terrae finibus exciti 
 
 v Petunt Christiadae, et Deum 
 
 Laudent voce perenni : 
 
 Jussam ccelitus. oppidis 
 Urbem jus dare caeteris, 
 
 Et sedem fore Davidis 
 Cuncta in saecla beati. 
 
 Mater nobilis urbium ! 
 temper te bona pax amat : 
 
Day 27. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 373 
 
 lieve, to say, that it has lost nothing in a translation 
 of it by the late learned and pious Mr Merrick; 
 which is so excellent, that. I must beg leave to pre¬ 
 sent it to the reader. Some of the lines are retain¬ 
 ed in his more literal poetical version, published in 
 176^. It may serve as a finished specimen of the 
 noble and exalted use which a Christian may and 
 ought to make of the Psalms of David. 
 
 PSALM CXXII. 
 
 I. 
 
 What joy, while thus I view the day 
 That warns my thirsting soul away, 
 What transports fill my breast! 
 For, lo, my great Redeemer’s pow’r 
 Unfolds the everlasting door, 
 
 And leads me to his ret>t. 
 
 II. 
 
 The festal morn, my God, is come, 
 That calls me to the hallow’d Gome, 
 Thy presence to adore ; 
 
 My feet the summons shall attend, 
 With willing steps thy courts ascend. 
 And tread th’ ethereal door. 
 
 Et te semper amantibus 
 Cedunt omnia recte. 
 
 Semper pax tua moenia 
 Colit j semper in atrfis 
 Tuis copia dextera 
 Larga munera fundit. 
 
 Dulcis Christiadum domus, 
 
 Civem adscribe novitium : 
 
 Sola comitata Caritas— 
 
 Spesque Fidesquc valete 
 
374 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 122, 
 
 III. 
 
 E’en now to my expecting eyes 
 The heav’n-built towers of Salem rise ; 
 
 E’en now, with glad survey, 
 
 I view her mansions, that contain 
 Th’ angelic forms, an awful train, 
 
 And shine with cloudless day. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Hither from earth’s remotest end, 
 
 Lo, the redeem’d of God ascend. 
 
 Their tribute hither bring : 
 
 Here, crown’d with everlasting joy, 
 
 In hymns of praise their tongues employ, 
 And hail th’ immortal King : 
 
 V. 
 
 Great Salem’s King ; who bids each state 
 On her decrees dependent wait; 
 
 In her, ere time begun, 
 
 High on eternal base uprear’d, 
 
 His hands the regal seat prepar’d 
 For Jesse’s favour’d son. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Mother of cities ! O’er thy head 
 See peace, with healing wings outspread, 
 Delighted fix her stay. 
 
 How blest, who calls himself thy friend ! 
 Success his labours shall attend, 
 
 And safely guard his way. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Thy walls, remote from hostile fear, 
 
 Nor the loud voice of tumult hear, 
 
Day 27. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 375 
 
 Nor war’s wild wastes deplore ; 
 
 There smiling plenty takes her stand, 
 
 And in thy courts with lavish hand 
 Has pour’d forth all her store. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Let me, blest seat, my name behold 
 Among thy citizens enroll’d, 
 
 In thee for ever dwell. 
 
 Let charity my steps attend, 
 
 My sole companion and my friend, 
 
 And faith and hope farewell! 
 
 PSALM CXXIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm containeth, 1, 2. an act of confidence 
 in God, with, 3, 4. a prayer for deliverance from 
 that reproach and contempt which infidelity and 
 sensuality are wont to pour upon the afflicted peo¬ 
 ple of God. 
 
 1. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes , 0 thou that dwellest 
 in the heavens. 
 
 The church, when distressed and persecuted up¬ 
 on earth, “ lifteth up her eyes to him that dwelleth 
 u in the heavens,” from thence beholding and or¬ 
 dering all things here below. It is by his permis¬ 
 sion that she is depressed and insulted ; and he 
 only can deliver her out of the hands of her ene¬ 
 mies. 
 
 2. Behold , as the eyes of servants look unto the hand 
 of their masters , and as the eyes of a maiden unto the 
 hand of her mistress ; so our eyes wait upon the Lord 
 our God , until that he have mercy upon us. 
 
376 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 122 . 
 
 The servants of God, like other servants, if they 
 are injured and suffer violence, expect redress and 
 protection from the Master whose they are, and 
 whom they serve. Under the law of Moses, a mas¬ 
 ter was to demand satisfaction, and to have it made 
 him, for any hurt done to his servant And shall 
 not the best of masters avenge the wrongs done to 
 those who serve him ; and done, perhaps, because 
 they serve him ? Without doubt, he will avenge 
 them speedily, and reward the sufferers gloriously. 
 
 3. Have mercy upon us> O Lord, have mercy upon 
 us ; for we are exceedingly filed with contempt. 4. 
 Our scml is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those 
 that are at ease , and with the Contempt of the proud . 
 
 Unbelieving, ungodly, and w T orldly men, who are 
 tc at ease,” and boast themselves in the multitude of 
 their riches, will always be ready to cast upon the 
 afflicted servants of Christ some portion o'that re¬ 
 proach and contempt, which were so plentifully 
 poured upon their blessed Master,, in the day of 
 his passion^ and indeed through his whole life. 
 With these they may justly complain that 64 their 
 cc souls are exceedingly filled,” insomuch that they 
 are compelled to exclaim with redoubled earnest¬ 
 ness, u Have mer'cy upon us, O Lord, have mercy 
 cc upon‘usd’ And let them know for their comfort, 
 that the Lord will “ have mercy upon them” in that 
 day, when sensuality shall be succeeded by tor¬ 
 ment, and pride shall end in shame and confusion ; 
 when patient poverty shall inherit everlasting riches, 
 and oppressed humility shall be exalted to a throne 
 above the stars. 
 
Day 27. m. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 377 
 
 PSALM CXXIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Psalm, which, as we arc informed by the 
 title, hath David for its author, the church de- 
 scribeth the danger in which she had been, and 
 giveth to God alone the glory of her deliverance 
 out of it. 
 
 1. Jfit had not been the Lord who was on our side, 
 now may Israel say ; 2. If it had not been the Lord 
 who was on oar side , when men rose up against us : 3. 
 Then they had swallowed us up quid , when their wrath 
 was kindled against us. 
 
 The people of Israel, rescued from impending 
 ruin, break forth into a joyful acknowledgement of 
 that almighty aid, to which they were indebted for 
 their deliverance. “ Men” rose up against them, 
 but “ Jehovah” was on their side ; men intended 
 to devour, but God interposed to save. May not 
 “ the Israel of God” say, in like manner, “ If the 
 “ Lord had not been on our side,” when our spiri¬ 
 tual enemies, sin, death, and hell, were in arms 
 against us, surely now, “ they had swallowed us up 
 cc quick,’ and we had perished everlastingly ? It is 
 thou, O Lord Jesu, who hast wrought for us this 
 great salvation ; it is thou who from the beginning 
 Last preserved thy church in the world, amidst the 
 perse cutions which must otherwise have put an end 
 to its very existence. 
 
 4. / hen the waters had overwhelmed us ; the stream , 
 or, torrent, had gone over ur soul: 5. I hen the proud, 
 or, swelling , waters had gone over our soul. 
 
 I he redeemed are astonished, upon looking back, 
 at the greatness of the danger to which they had 
 
37$ 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 124. 
 
 been exposed. They can compare the fury and in¬ 
 solence of their adversaries to nothing but over¬ 
 whelming floods and desolating torrents ; and they 
 consider themselves as snatched by a miracle from 
 instant destruction. Happy they, who are taken 
 from the evil to come, and have passed from the 
 miseries of earth to the felicities of heaven, where 
 they are neither tempted nor molested more. The 
 devout Christian, whom in perilous times, and to¬ 
 wards the close of life, a gracious Providence has 
 thrown ashore in some sequestered corner, from 
 whence he views those secular tumults with which 
 he hath no farther concern, is perhaps arrived at 
 the next degree of happiness to that of just spirits 
 made perfect. 
 
 6. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a 
 prey to their teeth . 7* Our soul is escaped as a bird 
 
 out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and 
 we are escaped. 
 
 The marvellous deliverance of Israel is illustrated 
 by two other images. It is compared to the escape 
 of a lamb from the jaws of a w T olf, or a lion ; and to 
 that of a bird, by the breaking of the snare, in which 
 it had been entangled, before the fowler came to 
 seize and to kill it. Save us, O God, from the rage 
 and the subtilty of our spiritual adversary ; save us 
 from his teeth, when he would devour ; from his 
 snares, when he would deceive : suffer us not, either 
 by persecution or temptation, to fall from thee ; let 
 the lion gnash his teeth, and the fowler look lor his 
 captive, in vain ; that so we too may sing the song 
 of Zion, in thy heavenly kingdom, and say, “ Blessed 
 cc be the Lord, who hath not given us over for a 
 <c prey unto their teeth. Our soul is escaped as ^ 
 
Day 27. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 379 
 
 « bird out of the snare of the fowlers : the snare is 
 “ broken, and we are escaped.” 
 
 8. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made 
 
 heaven and earth . 
 
 The great lesson which this Psalm, from the be¬ 
 ginning to the end, inculcates, is, that for every de¬ 
 liverance, whether of a temporal or spiritual nature, 
 we should, in imitation of the saints above, ascribe 
 46 Salvation to God and to the Lamb.” 
 
 PSALM CXXV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Psalm, the church is comforted with the 
 promises, 1 , 2. of God’s protection, and, 3, of his 
 removing, in due time, from his inheritance the 
 rod of the oppressor; when, 4. the faithful will be 
 rewarded, and, 5 . apostates punished with other 
 workers of iniquity. Aben Ezra, as cited by Dr 
 Hammond, applieth the Psalm to the days of 
 Messiah. 
 
 1. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount 
 Zion , which cannot he removed , but ahideth for ever . 
 2. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem , so the 
 Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for 
 ever . 
 
 The stability of the church, and the protection 
 afforded her by Jehovah, were of old represented by 
 the mountain on which the divine presence resided, 
 and by the hills which encompassed Jerusalem, so as 
 to render that eity in a manner impregnable. While 
 her inhabitants continued to “ trust in the Lord,” 
 this was the case. But when they became faithless 
 j^nd disobedient, she became weak, and like another 
 
380 
 
 A COMMENT A flY 
 
 PsA'I-M 125. 
 
 city. Let not our “ trust in God” be a presumptu¬ 
 ous, ungrounded assurance ; but let it be a confi¬ 
 dence springing from faith unfeigned, out of a pure 
 In art, a good conscience, and fervent charity. Then 
 shall our situation, whether as a church, or as indi¬ 
 viduals, resemble that of the holy mount in the be¬ 
 loved city, and our God will be unto us a fortress, 
 and a wall round about. But let us never forget, 
 that the promises to us, like those to Israel, are 
 conditional: “ Because of unbelief they were bro- 
 61 ken off; and we stand by faith.” 
 
 3. For the rod of the wicked sha l not rest upon the 
 lot of the righteous : lest the righteous put forth their 
 hands unto iniquity, 
 
 God may, and often doth, permit cc the rod” or 
 power of the wicked to fall upon the lot of the 
 “ righteous” in this world. But it is only for the 
 purposes of chastisement or probation. The rod 
 is not suffered to “ rest,” or abide, there too long, 
 
 lest the righteous, ’ harrassed and worn down by 
 oppression, and seeing no end of their calamities, 
 should be tempted to “ put their hands to iniquity,” 
 and practise that wickedness, which they find to 
 prosper so well here below. The import of this 
 verse seemeth to be the same with that of our Lord s 
 
 prediction concerning the troubles of the latter 
 days. cc Then shall be great tribulation, such as 
 6C was not since the beginning of the wor d to this 
 “ time, no nor ever shall be. And except those 
 cc days should be shortened, there should no flesh 
 “ be saved. But for the elect’s sake those days 
 cc shall be shortened. Matt. xxiv. 21, 22. 
 
 4. Do good , O L rd, unto those that be good, and 
 to them that are upright in heart 5. As for such as 
 turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead - 
 
Day 27. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 381 
 
 them forth with the workers of iniquity ; but peace shall 
 be upon Israel. 
 
 The “ good and upright in heart” are they who 
 stand steady in every change of circumstances;/who 
 complain not of God’s dispensations, but, believing 
 every thing to be best which he ordains, adhere to 
 him with a will entirely conformed to his, in adversity 
 no less than in prosperity. To these Jehovah will 
 finally “ do goodand they shall receive the reward 
 of their faith and patience ; while such as, in time of 
 trial, have fallen away, and returned no more, shall 
 be “ led forth” to punishment “ with the workers 
 “ of iniquity,” to whose company their apostasy hath 
 joined them. - And then, “ peace shall be upon the 
 “ Israel of God,” with joy and gladness, for evermore. 
 
 TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CXXVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Psalm the children of Zion, 1 — 3 . describe 
 
 the joy consequent upon their restoration from 
 
 captivity ; 4 . they pray God to bring back the rest 
 
 of their countrymen, jrnd to complete his work ; 
 
 5 , 6 ‘. they foresee and predict the success of then- 
 
 labours in rebuilding their ruined city with its 
 
 temple, and cultivating again their desolated 
 
 country. The return of Israel from Babylon holds" 
 « * 
 
 forth a figure of the same import with the exodus 
 of that people from Egypt. And this Psalm, like 
 the prophecies of Isaiah, representeth the blessed 
 effects of a spiritual redemption, in words primarily 
 alluding to that temporal release. 
 
382 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 126. 
 
 1. When the Lord turned again the captivity of 
 Zion , we were like them that dream. 
 
 That Cyrus should issue a decree for the Jews to 
 return to their own country, and to rebuild their city 
 and temple; that he should dismiss such a number 
 of captives, not only without money and without 
 price, but should send them home laden with pre¬ 
 sents; Ezra i. 1—4* this was the work of Jehovah, 
 who only could thus “ turn the captivity of Zion.” 
 A restoration so complete, so strange and unlooked 
 for, brought about at once, without any endeavours 
 used on the side of Israel, seemed in all these respects, 
 as a “ dream and the parties concerned, when they 
 saw and heard such things, could scarcely believe 
 themselves to be awake. That the King of kings, of 
 his own mere love and mercy, should take pity on 
 poor mankind, in their more grievous captivity under 
 sin and death ; that he should send his only Son to 
 purchase their liberty, his Spirit to enrich, and con¬ 
 duct them to their country above, and his heralds to 
 proclaim such unexpected deliverance to all the world ; 
 this likewise was the work of the same Jehovah, w 7 ho 
 only could thus “ turn again the captivity of his 
 “ Zion.” Sinners, when the tidings of a salvation so 
 great and marvellous are preached to them, think 
 themselves in a “ dream,” and with difficulty give 
 credit even to the royal proclamation, though the 
 great seal of heaven be affixed to it. 
 
 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter , and our 
 tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen , 
 The Lord hath done great things for them. 3 . The 
 Lord hath done great things for us ; whereof we are 
 glad. 
 
 The people of God soon find, that they are not 
 mocked with illusions, but that all about them is 
 
Day 27. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 383 
 
 reality and truth. Then sorrow and sighing, fear and 
 distrust, fly away together. Joy fills their hearts, and 
 overflows by their tongues, in songs of praise. The 
 nations hear, and are astonished, and own the hand of 
 Jehovah in the restoration of his people ; “ Jehovah 
 “ hath done great things for them.” The chosen 
 people echo hack the gladsome sound, and reply, with 
 transports of gratitude, “ Jehovah hath done great 
 “ things for us, whereof we are glad.” Every word 
 of this agreeth not more exactly to the return from 
 Babylon, than it doth to that eternal redemption 
 thereby prefigured, which is the grand subject of 
 thanksgiving in the Christian church. 
 
 4. Turn again our captivity , O Lord, as the 
 streams in the south . 
 
 The joy occasioned by Cyrus’s proclamation having 
 been described in the former part of the Psalm, we 
 may now suppose some of the Jews ready to set out 
 on their return home ; at which time, and duringtheir 
 journey, they prefer this petition to God, that he 
 would be pleased to bring back the rest of their coun¬ 
 trymen, who, like “ floods” rolling down upon the 
 thirsty regions of the “ south*,” might people the 
 land, and by their labours put an end to the desola¬ 
 tions of Judah. That God would daily increase the 
 
 * I think the Image Is taken from the “ torrents” In the deserts 
 to the south of Judea : In Idumaea, Arabia Petrsea, &c. a mountain¬ 
 ous country. These torrents -were constantly dried up in the sum¬ 
 mer j see Job vi. 17, 18. and as constantly “returned” after the 
 rainy season, and filled again their deserted channels. The point of 
 the comparison seems to be the “ return” and renewal of these (not 
 “ rivers” but) “ torrents j” which yearly leave their beds dry, but 
 fill them again ; as the Jews had left their country desolate, but now 
 “ flowed again” into it. Bishop LoiVTH, in Merrick’s Annota¬ 
 tions.—Dr Durell renders this verse as follows—“ The turning of 
 “ our captivity, O Lord, is as streams in the south.” 
 
 2 
 
384* 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 126 . 
 
 number of true converts from the world to the 
 church, to clear and cultivate the mystical vineyard, 
 to build and to ornament the holy city, should be the 
 prayer of every labourer in that vineyard, of every 
 citizen in that city. 
 
 5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy . 6. He 
 
 that goeth forth and weepeth , bearing precious seed , 
 shall doubtless come again with rejoicings bringing his 
 sheaves with him. 
 
 The fatigue of * travelling from Babylon to Judea ; 
 the melancholy prospect of a long-depopulated coun¬ 
 try, and mined city; the toil necessary to be under¬ 
 gone, before the former could be again brought into 
 order, and the latter rebuilt; all these considerations 
 could not but allay the joy of the released captives, 
 and even draw many tears from their eyes. They are 
 therefore comforted with a gracious promise, that God 
 would give a blessing to the labours of their hands, 
 and crown them with success, so that they should 
 once more see Jerusalem in prosperity, and behold in 
 Zion the beauty of holiness. This promise is conveyed 
 under images borrowed from the instructive scenes of 
 agriculture. In the sweat of his brows the husband¬ 
 man tills his land, and casts the seed into the ground, 
 where, for a time, it lies dead and buried. A dark 
 and dreary winter succeeds, and all seems to be lost. 
 But at the return of spring, universal nature revives, 
 and the once-desolate fields are covered with corn, 
 which, when matured bv the sun’s beat, the cheerful 
 reapers cut down, and it is brought home with tri¬ 
 umphant shouts of joy. Here, O disciple of Jesus, 
 behold an emblem of thy present labour, and thy 
 future reward. Thou “ sowest,” perhaps, “ in tears f 
 thou doest thy duty amidst persecution and affliction, 
 sickness, pain, and sorrow; thou labourest in the 
 
 o 
 
 O 
 
Day 27. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 385 
 
 
 x 
 
 church, and no account is made of thy labours; no 
 profit seems likely to arise from them. Nay, thou 
 must thyself drop into the dust of death, and all the 
 storms of that winter must pass over thee, until thy 
 form shall be perished, and thou shalt see corruption. 
 Yet, the day is coming, when thou shalt “ reap in 
 “ joy ;” and plentiful shall be thy harvest. For thus 
 thy blessed Master “ went forth weeping, a man of 
 “ sorrows, and acquainted with grief, bearing precious 
 “ seed,” and sowing it around him, till at length his 
 own body was buried, like a grain of wheat, in the 
 furrow of the grave. But he arose, and is now in 
 heaven ; from whence he “ shall doubtless come again 
 “ with rejoicing,” with the voice of the archangel and 
 the trump of God, “ bringing his sheaves with him.” 
 Then shall every man receive the fruit of his works, 
 and have praise of God, 
 
 PSALM CXXVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 If this Psalm were written by Solomon, or by David 
 for Solomon, as the title importeth, it was probably 
 used again at the time of rebuilding the city and 
 temple, after the return from Babylon. But indeed 
 it is a Psalm which can never be out of season, the 
 design of its author being to teach us the necessity 
 of a dependence upon God and his blessing, in every 
 work to which we set our hands. What is said 
 with regard to an earthly house, city, and family, 
 extcndeth also to the spiritual house, city, and fa¬ 
 mily of Christ, which are now, what Jerusalem, the 
 temple, and the people of Israel, were in old time. 
 VOL. II. B B 
 
386 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 127 , 
 
 1 . Except the Lord build the house , they labour in 
 vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city , the 
 watchman waketh but in vain . 
 
 In every undertaking, the blessing of God must ac¬ 
 company the labours of man, to render them effectual. 
 No work can prosper without him, nor can any design 
 miscarry under his favour and protection, which are 
 equally necessary to be obtained by the builder in 
 time of peace, and by the soldier in time of war. But 
 they, above all men, ought to implore the divine grace 
 and benediction, who are employed either in building 
 or defending the spiritual house and city of God ; 
 especially as the same persons, like the Jews after the 
 captivity, surrounded by enemies always ready to 
 obstruct the v r ork, are often obliged to hold a sword 
 in one hand, while they build with the other. Our 
 own edification in faith and holiness must likewise be 
 carried on by us in this attitude, by reason of the 
 many temptations which are continually assailing us. 
 It mav also be remarked, that both Solomon and Ze- 
 rubbabei had vainly laboured to construct the first or 
 the second material temple, unless Jehovah himself 
 had built the true house for the reception of his glory* 
 that is to say, the temple of Christ’s body, and, after 
 it was fallen down, had reared it again by a resurrec¬ 
 tion from the dead. 
 
 2. It is vain for you to rise up early , to sit up late , 
 to eat the bread of sorrows : for so he giveth his beloved 
 sleep . 
 
 The Psalmist doth not, certainly, intend to say, that 
 labour and diligence are vain, but that they are so, 
 except the Lord be with the labourer : the business is 
 not to be done by all the industry and pains, all the 
 carking and caring in the world, without Kim; 
 whereas, if his aid be called in, if part of our time be 
 
Day 27. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 387 
 
 spent in prayer, not the whole of it in prayerless toil¬ 
 ing and moiling, our work will become easier, and go 
 on better ; a solicitude and anxiety for its success and 
 completion will no longer prey upon our minds by 
 day, and break our rest at night; we shall cheerfully 
 fulfil our daily tasks, and then, with confidence and 
 resignation, lay our heads upon our pillows, and God 
 will “ give to his beloved” a sweet and undisturbed 
 “ sleep,” which shall fit them to return every morning, 
 with renewed vigour and alacrity, to their stated em¬ 
 ployments. This seemeth to be the import of the 
 verse. An obscurity has been occasioned in the trans¬ 
 lations, by rendering the adverb fa so ; “ so he giveth 
 “ his beloved sleepin which form, this last part of 
 the verse will not connect with what goes before. 
 But if, fa be translated, like its kindred particle, faK, 
 “ surely * he giveth “ his beloved sleep; or, as Dr 
 Hammond renders it “ since he giveth his beloved 
 “ sleep,” the difficulty will vanish, and the sense ap¬ 
 pear to be as above. Nor can we easily find a more 
 profitable piece of instruction, with regard to the ma¬ 
 nagement of all our concerns, temporal and spiritual. 
 
 3. Lo , children are an heritage of the Lord : and 
 the fruit of the womb is his reward\ 
 
 The labours of mankind, first in building houses 
 and cities, and then in guarding and securing their 
 possessions, are undergone, not with a view to them¬ 
 selves alone, but to their families, which they would 
 establish and perpetuate. The Psalmist, therefore, 
 in the preceding verses, having taught men to expect 
 a happy settlement only from the favour of Jehovah, 
 now directs them to look up to him for the farther 
 blessing of a numerous and virtuous progeny. He 
 
 * This is the second of the senses given to tin's particle by Noldiu';, 
 ■who cites, in confirmation of it, 1 Sam. ix. 13. 1 Kings xx. 40. 
 
388 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 1ZT« 
 
 can in a moment blast the most fruitful stock, or he 
 can “ make the barren woman to keep house, and to 
 “ become a joyful mother of children.” “ Lo, chil- 
 “ dren are an heritage of Jehovah ;” an heritage which 
 he bestows on those who fear him; “ the fruit of the 
 “ womb is a reward” conferred by him, where he sees 
 it will be a blessing indeed, upon faithful and pious 
 parents. St Paul calls the converts made by his mi¬ 
 nistry, his “ children;” and all believers are the chil- 4 
 dren of Christ, the “ heritage” given him by his 
 Father, the “ reward” of his righteous life, and me¬ 
 ritorious death ; as it is written, “ I will give thee. 
 “ the heathen for thine inheritance.” “ He shall see 
 “ of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” 
 Psalm ii. 8. Isa. liii. 11. 
 
 4. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man ; so 
 are children of the youth . 
 
 Children, when well educated, are like so many 
 “ arrows in the hand of a strong man ready winged 
 with duty and love, to fly to the mark ; polished and 
 keen, to grace and maintain the cause of their parents, 
 to defend them from hostile invasions, and instantly 
 to repel every assailant. The apostles and first 
 Christians were arrows in the hand of Messiah, with 
 which he encountered his enemies, and subdued the 
 nations to the faith. When by the splendour of 
 their sanctity, the power of their miracles, and the 
 efficacy of their preaching, they pierced the hearts of 
 thousands and ten thousands, wffiat w 7 ere they but 
 “ arrows in the hand of, "pJ, the Mighty One?” And 
 in this instance likewise it may truly be said, that no 
 well-nurtured son of Christ and the church wall hear 
 his father dishonoured, or despise his mother when 
 she is old. 
 
 5 . Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of 
 
Day 27. e. p. 
 
 OK THE PSALMS. 
 
 389 
 
 them: they shall not be ashamed , but they shall speak 
 with the enemies in the gate . 
 
 In a house full of dutiful children consisteth the 
 happiness of their parents, who then can never want 
 friends ; friends, that will at no time be • ‘ ashamed,” 
 but will at all times rejoice to appear for them, to 
 meet their “ enemies” and accusers “ in the gate,” 
 or place of judgement * ; there to answer any charge 
 against them, to vindicate them in their persons, their 
 good name, or their property. It is a glorious sight 
 to behold children thus standing forth in the defence 
 of their parents. In the multitude of true believers 
 consist the glory of Christ, and the riches of the 
 church. How forward were the primitive Christians 
 to meet the enemies of these their spiritual parents 
 “ in the gate how ready, in their cause, to speak 
 openly, and, having witnessed a good confession, to 
 die by the hand of the executioner ! Therefore shall 
 they not be ashamed at the judgement of the last day, 
 but shall then stand with great boldness before the 
 face of such as have afflicted, persecuted, and tor¬ 
 mented them. For their heavenly Father will then 
 be their Judge, and will own, in his turn, the cause 
 of his dutiful children, who for his sake endured tri¬ 
 bulation, and loved not their lives unto the death. 
 Confusion shall overwhelm the accuser of the breth¬ 
 ren, with all the instruments of his malice; but. 
 glory, honour, and immortality, shall be given to the 
 children of God. 
 
 * Mr Merrick observes, that the gate was sometimes the seat or 
 >var, as well as the 'place of judicature. “ Then was war in the 
 “ gates Judges v. 8. He mentions a remarkable Chinese proverb : 
 “ When a son is born into a family, a bow and arrow are hung before 
 “ the gate.” 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 128., 
 
 390 
 
 PSALM CXXVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm containetli a promise made to him who, 
 1. feared Jehovah, and walked in his ways, that he 
 should be blessed, 2. in his person, and, 3, 4* in his 
 family, and that he should see the good of Jeru¬ 
 salem. The Psalm was, probably, sung at the mar¬ 
 riages of the Israelites, as it is now a part of the 
 matrimonial service among us. In its prophetical 
 and exalted sense, it hath respect to the person, 
 marriage, family, and city, of Messiah. 
 
 1. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord : that 
 walketh in his ways. 
 
 Happiness belongeth not to the rich, the powerful, 
 and the prosperous, as such ; but in every state and 
 condition, blessed is the man that “ feareth Jehovah,” 
 that so feareth him as to obey him, and to “ walk in 
 “ his ways,” notwithstanding all the obstructions he 
 may meet with from the world, the flesh, and the 
 devil. Blessed above all the sons of men, and the 
 author of blessing to them all, w^as the man Christ 
 Jesus, because above them all, and for them all, he 
 feared, he loved, and he obeyed. 
 
 2. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: 
 happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee . 
 
 The person is here beautifully changed, and to the 
 man who feareth Jehovah is addressed an enumera¬ 
 tion of those blessings which shall 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; 
 that he is not to be niggardly, but to “ eat,” when he 
 
©AY 27. E. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 3$1 
 
 has laboured ; that lie is neither to be unjust, by living 
 upon the labours, nor enslaved, by depending upon* 
 the bounty, of others, but to eat of “ his own” la¬ 
 bours ; and that he, whose labours procure him a 
 sustenance, hath enough to be “ blessed” and happy. 
 “ Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with 
 “ thee :” every thing shall happen, which Goa seech 
 to be best for thee in this life, and (as saith the Chaldee 
 Paraphrast on the place) “ it shall be good to thee in 
 “ the world to come.” The glory of Chust, and the 
 salvation of mankind, were the fruits of his actions 
 and his suiierings in the days of his llesh ; so that, in 
 the enjoyment of them, he doth no more than “ eat 
 “ of the labours of his hands or, to use the woids 
 of Isaiah, “ he seeth of the travail of his soul, and is 
 “ satisfied.” Before he went hence, he took comfort 
 in the reflection, “ I have glorified thee on the earth, 
 “ I have finished the work which thou gavest me 
 “ to do John xvii. 4. Happy shalt thou be, O 
 Christian, and it shall be v 7 ell with thee, if at thy 
 latter end thou shalt be able to draw comfort from the 
 same consideration. 
 
 3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides 
 of thine house: thy children like olive-plants round 
 about thy table. 
 
 Marriage was ordained by God to complete the fe¬ 
 licity ol man in a state of innocence ; and the bene¬ 
 diction ol heaven will ever descend upon it, when 
 undertaken in fear of the Loid.” The vine, a lowly 
 plant, raised with tender care, becoming, by its lu; a- 
 riancy, its beauty, its fragrance, and its clusters, the 
 ornament and glory oi the house to which it is joined, 
 and by which it is supported, forms the finest ima¬ 
 ginable emblem of a fair, virtuous, and faithful wflfe. 
 The olive-trees- planted by the inhabitants ot the 
 
392 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 128, 
 
 eastern countries around their tables, or banqueting- 
 • places in their gardens *, to cheer the eye by their 
 verdure, and to refresh the body by their cooling 
 shade, do no less aptly and significantly set forth the 
 pleasure which parents feel, at the sight of a numerous 
 and flourishing offspring. As marriage was from the 
 beginning intended to represent the mystical union 
 between Christ and his church, which union is spoken 
 of in matrimonial language, through the Scriptures 
 both of the Old and New Testament, we need but ex¬ 
 tend our view, to behold, under the imagery of the 
 vine and the olive-plants, the prolific spouse of Mes¬ 
 siah, and the children of peace assembled round the 
 table of their heavenly Father. See Psal. lxxx. 8 . 
 Rom. xi. 17. 
 
 4, Behold , that thus shall the man he blessed that 
 feareth the Lord. 
 
 Are temporal blessings, then, the reward of piety ? 
 They are not its only, nor chief reward, but are often 
 “ added,” even under the new. dispensation, to those 
 who “ first seek the kingdom of God, and his righte- 
 “ ousness.” When they are withholden, or withdrawn, 
 it is for the security or increase of those more valuable 
 blessings which are spiritual. There are times, when 
 father, mother, brethren, sisters, wife, children and 
 lands, must be given up for Christ’s and the Gospel's 
 sake. But ample amends are promised to be made to 
 
 * This is bishop Patrick’s idea. The learned and ingenious Mr 
 Harmer, in his very valuable “ Observations on divers Passages of 
 “ Scripture,” (Vol. I. p. 197, 2d edit.) disapproves of it : as, he 
 says, u we find no such arbours in the Levant, nor is the tree very 
 il proper for the purpose.” He thinks therefore the “ table” refers 
 to the “ children” only, and not to the “ olives.” But Mr Merrick, 
 in his Annotations, produces some very good arguments on the side 
 of bishop Patrick. 
 
Day 27. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 393 
 
 all who thus part with earthly relations and posses¬ 
 sions. They find in the church other fathers, mothers, 
 brethren, sisters, children, &-c. and at the resurrection 
 they will “ inherit all things,” Rev. xxi. 7. and 
 brighter coronets of glory shall sparkle from their 
 heads. The Scriptures show us the servants of God 
 in every state and condition'; we view them rich and 
 poor, honoured and despised, sick and in health, mar¬ 
 ried and single, childless and otherwise, in prosperity 
 and in adversity; to teach us, that all things work 
 togethey for good to them who love God: so that the 
 believer hath comfort always. If temporal blessings 
 he granted him, he accepteth them as shadows of those 
 which are eternal; if they are denied, he remember- 
 eth that they are only shadows, and are therefore de¬ 
 nied, that he may fix his thoughts and affections more 
 firmly on the substance. 
 
 5. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion : and thou 
 shalt see the good of Jerusalem, all the days of thy 
 life, 6. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children , and 
 peace upon Israel . 
 
 Every true Israelite rejoiceth in the prosperity of 
 Zion ; a blessing upon the church diffuseth itself to 
 all the members thereof; and the good of Jerusalem, 
 with peace upon Israel, is all the good we can desire 
 to see upon earth. Hereafter we shall see greater 
 things than these. Jehovah from the heavenly Zion 
 will bless us with the vision of his immortal glory ; 
 we shall see the good of the new Jerusalem, the 
 wealth, beauty,' and majesty of that holy city; we 
 shall see the generations of the faithful walking in 
 the light of it; with that everlasting peace and rest, 
 which remain for the Israel of God. These are the 
 blessings promised to Messiah, and to his seed, for¬ 
 evermore. 
 
594 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 129. 
 
 PSALM CXXIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In the former part of this Psalm, 1—4. the church 
 declareth herself to have been often assailed and 
 persecuted by hei enemies, but a> often rescue aid 
 preserved by Jehovah ; in the latter part of it, 5— 
 8. she predicted: die miserable end of ail those who 
 hate Zion. 
 
 1. 2 d any a time have they afflict eel me from 7 ny 
 youth , may Israel now say: 2. Many a time have 
 they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not 
 ■prevailed against me. 
 
 Affliction is nothing new to the people of God. 
 Many a time have the righteous been under persecu¬ 
 tion, from the hour when Cain rose up against his 
 brother Abel, to this day. Like the bush which 
 Moses beheld in the desert, the church hath “ burned 
 “ with fire,” but is not yet “ consumedand for the 
 same reason, because God is in the midst of her *. 
 Ke who took our nature upon him, was also “ af- 
 44 dieted from his youth,” but his enemies “ prevailed 
 44 not finally against him A And it is observable, 
 that what God spake, by his prophet Rosea, concern¬ 
 ing Israel, “ When Israel was a child, then I loved 
 41 him, and called my son out of Egypt,’ is by 
 
 Ecclesia jam inde ab initio in Abel, in Enoch, in N r e in 
 Abraham, in Lot, in AEgyptiflca servitute, in Moyse, et Prophetis, 
 graves perpessa inimicos *, dicit ilia quidem saepe a juventute se luisse 
 oppugnatam ; nihilo tamen <ecius pervenisse ad - r.ectut^m, ac ne in 
 senectute quidem opprimi posse. Victus enim qui saeviebat, vicit quj 
 suffcreDat. Eossult. 
 
Day 27. z. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 395' 
 
 > 
 
 St Matthew applied to Christ; “ Joseph took the 
 “ young child and his mother by night, and departed 
 “ into Egypt, ana was there until the death of Elerod: 
 “ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the 
 “ prophet, Gut of Egypt have 1 called my son 
 Matt. ii. 14 - Hos. xi. 50 . The truth is, that there 
 subsisted between Christ and the church an union 
 like that between the head and the members of the 
 same body ; they are therefore called by the same 
 name, Israel, and what is said concerning one, fre¬ 
 quently admitteth of an application to the other. He 
 became iike us by taking our nature, and we become 
 like him by receiving his grace. Our sufferings are 
 accounted as- his ; and his righteousness spoken of 
 as ours. 
 
 3. The plowers plowed upon my back ; they made 
 long their furrows. 4. The Lord is righteous: he 
 hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. 
 
 The former of these two verses expresseth a state 
 of great affliction, the latter, a deliverance from that 
 state. The word which signifies to dig, or cut 
 
 the ground, and so, to plow, is also used simply for 
 cutting, carving, or graving; see Exod. xxxv. 33. 
 Jer. xvii. 1. Being here applied to the back of cap¬ 
 tives, and cords having been the instruments of it, in 
 all reason it is to be understood of scourging, which 
 cuts, and, as it were, digs, and plows, and makes fur¬ 
 rows in the flesh; and the longer the cord of the 
 scourges are, the longer are the wounds and furrows. 
 For our sakes he who knev T no sin “ gave his back to 
 “ the sinkers,” Isa. 1 . 6.: and permitted those 
 “ plowers to make long their furrows upon it.” But 
 “ the righteous Lord cut asunder the cords of the 
 “ wicked;” vengeance overtook the wretched instru¬ 
 ments of his sufferings; and the persecutors of his 
 
5 36 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 130. 
 
 servants shall perish in like manner, as the Psalmist 
 proceedeth to assure us in the verses following. 
 
 5 . Let them all , or, they all shall , he confounded and 
 turned hack that hate Zion . 
 
 Since the ways of God are equal, the destruction 
 which hath lighted on former persecutors of the 
 church affordeth an assurance, that all, in every age, 
 who hate Zion, shall, 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 shall, he as the grass upon 
 
 the house-tops, which withereth afore it groweth up: 
 Heb. is pulled up *. 7. Wherewith the mower filleth 
 
 not his hand: nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom . 
 8 . Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of 
 the Lord be upon you : ice bless you in the name of 
 the Lord. 
 
 The transient prosperity of mortal man is often in 
 sacred writ compared to grass, the history of which 
 is contained in these few words, “ It cometh up, and 
 “ is cut down.” But here the comparison is carried 
 still farther. Not the common grass in the field, but 
 64 grass growing on the house-tops,” is selected to 
 convey the idea of bad men ; grass* which having no 
 depth of earth, into which it may strike its roots, 
 doth not wait the hand of the gatherer, but “ wither- 
 u eth” even “ before it is plucked up.” And then, 
 so thin, so wretched, and so unprofitable, is the crop, 
 that none are employed to collect and carry it in; 
 none to whom passengers might address those accla¬ 
 mations and salutations, customary at such times, as, 
 
 “ The Lord be with you, bless you,” &c. Ruth ii. 4. 
 Thus, while the felicity of Zion's children is rooted 
 
 * Mr Harmer takes the idea of the Psalmist to be, “ Which 
 81 withereth before it unsheaths its ear." Observ. 11. 463. 
 
Day 27. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS., 
 
 397 
 
 and grounded in Christ, that of her enemies hath no 
 foundation at all. While the church subsisteth from 
 generation to generation, the kingdoms and empires, 
 that have persecuted her, fade and wither away of 
 themselves. And at the general harvest of the world, 
 when the righteous shall be carried by angels, with 
 joyful acclamations, into the mansions prepared for 
 them above, the wicked, unregarded by the heavenly 
 reapers, and unblessed by all, shall become fuel for a 
 lire that goeth not out; resembling, in this their sad 
 end, likewise, that worthless grass, “ which to-day is, 
 “ and to-morrow is cast into the oven.” 
 
 % 
 
 PSALM CXXX. ' 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is the sixth of those which are styled “ Peni- 
 “ tential Psalms.” It is calculated for the use of 
 the church, or any member thereof; and contain¬ 
 ed, 1 , 2. a complaint of great distress ; 3. a con¬ 
 fession of man’s sinfulness ; 4— 8 . an act of faith in 
 the divine mercy, and the promised redemption. 
 
 1 . Out of the depths have I cried unto thee , O Lord. 
 3 . Lord, hear my voice: let thine ear's be attentive to 
 the voice of my supplications. 
 
 From the depths of sin, and the misery occasioned 
 by sin, the penitent, like another Jonas, entombed in 
 the whale’s belly, and surrounded by all the waves of 
 the ocean, crieth unto God for help and salvation. 
 Fervent prayer w T ill find its way, through every ob¬ 
 struction, to the ears of him who sitteth upon his 
 holy hill. And may not the bodies of the faithful, 
 buried in the dust, be said to cry, out of the depths 
 
393 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 130. 
 
 of the grave, for a joyful resurrection, according to 
 the promise and pattern of Christ, who, after three 
 days, came forth from the heart of the earth, as Jonas 
 did from the belly of the whale ? 
 
 , 3 - If thou , Lord, shouldest mark iniquities , O 
 
 Lord, who shall stand P 
 
 A reason is here urged, why God should spare and 
 pardon the suppliant, namely, because, was he accurately 
 to note the offences of the best men, and to produce 
 them in judgement against the offenders, no man 
 could stand in that judgement, but the whole race of 
 Adam must continue to eternity under the dominion 
 of sin and death ; which a gracious and merciful God 
 will not permit to be the case. It is accordingly de¬ 
 clared in the next verse, that measures had been taken 
 to prevent so deplorable a catastrophe. 
 
 4. But there is forgiveness with thee , that thou may• 
 est be feared. 
 
 True repentance is founded upon the sense of 
 our own wretchedness, and faith in the divine mer¬ 
 cy. Without the former, we should never seek for 
 pardon and grace; without the latter, we should 
 despair of finding them. The Psalmist, therefore, 
 having in the three preceding verses, expressed the 
 one, now maketh profession of the other. “ There 
 <£ is forgiveness with theethou wilt not cc mark 
 cc iniquities/’ or leave us to the rigours of strict jus¬ 
 tice, but thou hast devised means that we perish 
 not for ever : thou hast provided an atonement, 
 and in virtue of that atonement, the sinner may ob¬ 
 tain pardon ; he need not, therefore, reject thy ser¬ 
 vice, and cast himself away in despair, but is en¬ 
 couraged to serve thee acceptably through faith, 
 with godly fear : “ there is forgiveness with thee, 
 cc that thou mayest be feared.” Or, the meaning 
 
Day 27. e. f. ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 may be, Thou forgivest man, that so, being restor¬ 
 ed to thy favour, and endued with thy grace, he 
 may thenceforth fear, or serve thee, as it becomes 
 one who hath obtained mercy to do. 
 
 5 . I waitfor' the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his 
 word do I hope. 6. My soul waiteth for the Lord, 
 more than they that watch Jor the morning: I say, 
 more than they that watch Jor the morning . 
 
 The repetitions here do beautifully express that 
 ardent desire which the contrite soul hath for the 
 salvation of God. Dr Hammond seemeth to have 
 given the true construction of ver 6. 
 
 44 My soul to the Lord, that is, riseth, cometh, or 
 44 hasteneth to the Lord, CTHBEto from the 
 
 44 morning watches, that is, in the time when they 
 44 hasten to their watches, in other words, the 
 46 guards every morning that hasten to their watches, 
 n are not earlier than I am in my daily addresses to 
 4t God. Who these watches or guards of the morn- 
 44 ing are, the Chaldee hath best expressed : They 
 44 that observe the morning watches, that they 
 44 may offer their morning oblation, that is, the 
 44 priests which in their turns officiated ; or rather, 
 44 some officers of theirs, which were peculiarly ap- 
 44 pointed from a tower to expect the first appear- 
 44 ance of break of day.” With such earnestness 
 did the ancient church expect the appearance of 
 that day-spring from on high, which was, in the 
 fulness of time, to visit the world. With equal ear¬ 
 nestness have the faithful since looked out for the 
 dawning of that last morning, which is to abolish 
 sin, and put an end to sorrow. 
 
 7. Let Israel hope in the Lord : for with the Lord 
 "‘here is meixy, and with him is plenteous redemption . 
 
 3 
 
*00 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 130, 
 
 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities 9 
 Or sins. 
 
 These verses are perfectly evangelical. The 
 church of Israel was exhorted to “ hope’ 5 in Jeho¬ 
 vah, because with him there was “ mercy, and plen¬ 
 teous redemption.” And of what nature was that 
 redemption ? A redemption from sin ; “ he shall 
 “ redeem Israel from all his sins consequently, 
 from all trouble and misery, which are but the ef¬ 
 fects of sin, and will cease w r hen their cause shall 
 be finally taken away. Now what is this, but the 
 Gospel itself? or where is the difference between 
 this of the Psalmist, “ He shall redeem Israel from 
 “ all his sins,” and that of the Evangelist, “ Thou 
 “ shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his 
 “people from their sms?” Mat. i. 21. The 
 Israel of God, or church universal, “ hoping” in 
 the same “ mercy” and the same “ plenteous re- 
 “ demption,” expecteth the full accomplishment of 
 this gracious promise, at the second advent of her 
 Saviour, w hen the penalty of sin shall be taken off, 
 and death be swallowed up in victory. 
 
 PSALM CXXXI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm containeth, 1, 2. a description of true 
 humility, and resignation to the will of God, with, 
 3. an exhortation to the practice thereof. It is 
 most probably a Psalm of David, and is eminent¬ 
 ly applicable to Messiah, in his state of humilia¬ 
 tion on earth. Happy would it be for the world, 
 if all his disciples could imbibe the spirit of this 
 short but lovely Psalm, and copy after the exam¬ 
 ple which it setteth before them. 
 
 1 
 
Day 27. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 401 
 
 1. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes 
 lofty : neither do I exercise myself in great matters , or 
 in things too high for me . 
 
 Pride beginneth in the ct heart,” and discovereth 
 itself in the “ eyes,” the countenance, and the car¬ 
 riage ; thinking nothing “ too high for it,” it is al¬ 
 ways aiming at still “ greater matters,” scheming to 
 be at the top of earthly grandeur ; and, when there, 
 restless, because it can go no further. Of this dis¬ 
 position the Son of David, like his father and re¬ 
 presentative of old, was by his enemies affirmed to 
 be; he was accused of affecting the sovereignty, 
 and therefore hunted and persecuted even to the 
 death. But how truly do these words of the Psalm¬ 
 ist delineate his real character! He was not 
 “ haughty,” but u meek and lowly in hearthis 
 “ eyes” were not “ lofty,” but kindly regarded the 
 meanest object that presented itself to them; he 
 looked not to “ great matters,” and “ high things,” 
 but chose to be, and to be esteemed, the least and 
 lowest of all. 
 
 2 . Surely I have behaved , or, subdued , and quieted 
 myself as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul 
 is even as a weaned child. 
 
 A child newly weaned mourneth because of the 
 favourite aliment which is withdrawn from him, but 
 depending absolutely on the mother for every thing, 
 learneth to acquiesce in her treatment of him, and 
 quietly to accept what it shall please her to give* 
 Such was the humble resignation of the Lamb of 
 God to the will of his heavenly Father, under the 
 severest dispensations, when even the divine pre¬ 
 sence, and that support which it afforded, seemed 
 to have been withdrawn : “ Father, into thy hands 
 “ I commend my spirit !” Who, then, can expect 
 
 VOL. II. C C 
 
402 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 131. 
 
 to enter into the kingdom of heaven, ct except he be 
 “ converted, and become as a little child ?” Matt, 
 xviii. 3. 
 
 3. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and 
 for ever . 
 
 After the example, therefore of the King of Is¬ 
 rael, who thus demeaned himself in his afflictions, 
 lowly, and contented, and resigned, casting all his 
 care upon the Father who cared for him, and pa¬ 
 tiently waiting his time for deliverance and salva¬ 
 tion ; after this their example and pattern, let his 
 faithful people hope and trust, not in themselves, 
 their wisdom, 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 
 steps. 
 
 TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CXXXII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is one of the Proper Psalms, which the church 
 hath appointed to be used on Christmas-day. It 
 containeth, 1— 5 . a petition that Jehovah would 
 be mindful of the zeal shown by his servant Da¬ 
 vid, 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. their resolution to worship at the place 
 which he had chosen for that purpose ; 8—10. 
 an address to Jehovah, used by Solomon at the 
 dedication of the temple, whence some have 
 thought him to have been the author of the 
 Psalm ; 11 — 18 . the substance of God’s promises 
 
/ 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 403 
 
 Day 28 . m. f. 
 
 made to David and to his seed. The whole 
 Psalm is perfectly well adapted to the festival of 
 the incarnation, as the following comment will, 
 it is hoped, abundantly demonstrate. 
 
 1. Lord, remember David , and all his afflictions. 
 Israel beseecheth Jehovah to be mindful of those 
 
 sorrows and sufferings, which had been undergone 
 by his servant David, ere he attained to Jite throne, 
 and established the ancient church in tWb beauty of 
 holiness. That God would cc remember” the far 
 greater u afflictions” sustained for our sake by Mes* 
 siah in the days of his humiliation, when, through 
 much tribulation, he accomplished our redemption, 
 and entered into his glory, is the petition preferred, 
 in these words, by us Christians. 
 
 2 . How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto 
 the mighty God of Jacob ; 3. Surely, I will not come 
 into the tabernacle of my house , nor go up into my bed ; 
 4. I will not give sleep to mine eyes , or slumber to mine 
 eyelids , 5 . Until Ifind out a place for the Lord, an ha¬ 
 bitation for the mighty God of Jacob. 
 
 In all circumstances and situations, David was so¬ 
 licitous for the tabernacle and service of God. Of 
 the oath and vow here mentioned, we have, indeed, 
 no account in the sacred history; but we read, 2 
 Sam. vii. 2. of the uneasiness which he expressed 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 2 Chron. xvi. 43. that he did not bless, and con¬ 
 sequently did not inhabit, his own house, until he 
 had brought the ark to Zion, where the temple was 
 afterwards erected. He could take neither pleasure 
 nor rest, until a place was prepared for the resj- 
 
 2 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 132. 
 
 404 
 
 deuce of Jehovah in the midst of his people; and 
 from thenceforth he gave himself, with unwearied 
 diligence, to lay in a plentiful store of the most 
 costly materials, silver, gold, and precious stones, 
 which were employed by his son and successor So¬ 
 lomon, in constructing the magnificent and mystic 
 edifice. Thus, in the covenant of grace, did the 
 Son of God engage not to take possession of his 
 heavenly Wace, nor to enter into his eternal rest, 
 until he haoff prepared upon the earth a place for 
 the residence of the Lord ; a building framed of 
 materials more precious than gold and silver, more 
 bright and beautiful than rubies, emeralds, and dia¬ 
 monds. All this was planned and executed by one 
 and the same person, who first suffered in meekness 
 and patience, like David, then reigned in glory and 
 peace, like Solomon. The believer should spare no 
 pains, no time, no thought, to find out and prepare 
 in his heart an habitation for the God of Jacob, 
 since our Lord hath graciously vouchsafed to make 
 this general promise 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 xv. 
 23. 
 
 6. Lc, we heard of it at EphrataJi: we found it in 
 the fields of the wood. 
 
 In other words, as bishop Patrick hath para¬ 
 phrased this verse, “ And now, behold, .the Lord 
 cc himself, to our great joy, hath told us the very 
 “ place where he will fix his habitation, 1 Chron. 
 ct xxi. 18, 26. in the territory of Bethlehem Ephra- 
 “ ta*, Gen. xxxv. 15, 19. in the fields of that for- 
 
 * Jerusalem, as Mr Merrick observes from Geierus, being situa¬ 
 ted not far from Bethlehem, might be comprehended in the region o' 
 Ephrata •, or, may be rendered 44 near Ephrata.” 
 
Day 23 . M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 405 
 
 “ est, where the angel stood and directed David to 
 “ build an altar to the Lord:” 1 Chron. xxi. IS. 
 xxii. 1. Bethlehem Ephratah was the city of Da¬ 
 vid ; it was likewise the city wherein the Son of 
 David was born, as the prophet Micah hath fore¬ 
 told : cc And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 
 cc art not the least among the cities of Judah, for 
 “ out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule 
 “ my people Israel,” Micah v. '2. cited by the chief 
 priests and scribes to Herod, Matt. ii. 6. Chris¬ 
 tians, as well as Jews, may therefore say, and upon 
 the festival of Christ’s nativity, using this Psalm, 
 they do say, “ Lo, w T e heard of it at Ephratah 
 for there the angel first proclaimed the new~s of the 
 incarnation to the shepherds : “ Behold, I bring 
 “ you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to 
 “ all people; for unto you is born this day, in the 
 cc city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ, the 
 
 Lord Luke ii. 10. There was “ found" the 
 true tabernacle and temple, “ not made with hands, 
 “ the place of Jehovah, the habitation for the 
 <c mighty God of Jacob.” 
 
 7. We will go into his tabernacles : we will worship 
 at his footstool. 
 
 If this w r ere the resolution of Israelites, who saw T 
 the incarnation only in type and figure, how much 
 more ought it to be ours, w r ho live since the accom¬ 
 plishment of that which was foreshewm ; since the 
 AVord, made flesh, hath dwelt upon the earth, and 
 the church hath been erected among the nations ? 
 If they worshipped the God of Israel, who then 
 dwelt in the holy of holies between the cherubim, 
 shall not we worship the same divine person,,who, 
 though ascended up on high above all heavens, yet 
 hath assured us, that w T herc two or three arc era- 
 
406 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 132. 
 
 thered together in his name, there is he in the 
 midst of them ? 
 
 8 . Arise , 0 Loud, into thy rest ; thou , and the ark 
 of thy strength . 
 
 When the ark marched before the children of 
 Israel, to find out a resting-place, it is recorded, 
 Numb. x. 35, 36. that Moses said, “ Rise up, Jeho- 
 “ vah, and let thine enemies be scattered, and let 
 cc them that hate thee, flee before theeand when 
 it rested, he said, “ Return, or bring back, the 
 cc many thousands of Israel.” The verse before us 
 was used, with the two succeeding verses, by Solo¬ 
 mon, as the conclusion of his prayer at the dedica¬ 
 tion of the temple, 2 Chron. vi. 41. The purport 
 of the petition, therefore, was, that the presence of 
 Jehovah might rest upon Zion, and dwell in the 
 house prepared for it, as the same presence hath 
 since dwelt in Christ, and is to be with the Chris¬ 
 tian church to the end of the world. 
 
 9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness ; and 
 let thy saints shout with joy. 
 
 The ark being placed in the temple, prayer is 
 next made for the ministers of religion, that they 
 might, through grace, be invested with righteous¬ 
 ness as with a garment, and be both covered and 
 adorned with a robe of inviolable sanctity ; that 
 spiritual joy might fill their hearts, and break forth 
 in songs of praise to the Lord God of Israel". Let 
 not those, who have obtained the evangelical priest¬ 
 hood, be exceeded by the sons of Levi, in holiness 
 and alacrity. 
 
 10. For thy servant David's sake , turn not away the 
 face of thine anointed. 
 
 Solomon beseccheth God, for the sake of his fa¬ 
 vourite servant David, and the promises made to 
 
Day 28. m. p. 
 
 OjM the psalms. 
 
 407 
 
 him and his seed, that he would not deny the re¬ 
 quest of David’s son, now “ anointed” to be king 
 over Israel, and, by so doing, confound, put him to 
 shame, or <c turn away his face.” That this is the 
 meaning of the phrase, is plain from 1 Kings ii. 16. 
 where Adonijah says to Bathsheba, “ And now I 
 “ ask one petition of thee, deny me notin the 
 Hebrew, “ turn not away my face.” A Christian 
 asketli nothing but in the name, and for the sake, 
 of the Son of David, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom 
 all the promises are Yea and Amen, and in whom 
 whosoever believeth shall never be confounded, or 
 denied that which is really good and profitable for 
 him to receive. 
 
 11. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David: he 
 will not tarn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set 
 upon thy throne . 
 
 That this is a prophecy of Messiah, we have the 
 authority of St Peter to say ; Acts ii. 30. “ David 
 cc being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn 
 cc with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, 
 “ according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ 
 “ to sit on his throne,” &c. This promise to Da¬ 
 vid, occurs 2 Sam. vii. 12. and hath a twofold sense, 
 relating to Solomon in type and shadow, to Christ 
 in truth and substance. See more on Ps. Ixxxix. 
 3, 4. 
 
 12. If thy children will keep my covenant and my 
 testimony that I shall teach them , their children shall al¬ 
 so sit upon thy throne for evermore. 
 
 The promises of God to Christ are absolute ; but 
 to his u children,” as well as those of David, they 
 are conditional; so that our interest in them de- 
 pendeth on our faith, our obedience, our perseve¬ 
 rance. “ Behold,” saith St Paul, “ the goodness 
 
40S 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 132. 
 
 “ and severity of God : on them which fell, severi- 
 “ ty ; but towards thee, goodness, if thou continue 
 “ in that goodness; otherwise, thou shalt also be 
 “ cut off.’ Rom. xi. 22. 
 
 13. For the Lord hath chosen Zion : he hath desired 
 it for his habitation. 14. This is my rest for ever : 
 here will 1 dwell; for I have desired it. 
 
 How ineffable is the love of God to man, that he 
 should use such expressions as these concerning his 
 church ! He is pleased to say, that it is his desire 
 to dwell with us; yet how little do we desire to 
 dwell with him ! In Zion he fixed his abode, and 
 there continued, till the iniquities of Israel provoked 
 him to forsake his holy mountain, and to give up 
 Jerusalem for a prey to the spoilers. Since that 
 time, his tabernacle has been removed into the pos¬ 
 session of the Gentiles. Forsake not this thy new 
 Zion, O God, and deliver us not thy people, in like 
 manner, sinful as we are, into the hands of the 
 enemy and the avenger. 
 
 15. / will abundantly bless her provision: I will sa¬ 
 tisfy her poor with bread. 16. I will also clothe her 
 priests with salvation ; and her saints shall shout aloud 
 
 for joy. l l ' l 
 
 That city in which the king of heaven deigns to 
 
 place his throne, can want no manner of thing that 
 is good. There will be always plenty of provision 
 for the body and for the soul. The poor will be 
 satisfied with bread, and to the poor in spirit will 
 be given the bread of eternal life. Salvation will 
 God appoint for a wall and a bulwark around the 
 priests and the temple ; joy and gladness shall be 
 heard within, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. 
 What a dreadful reverse of all this do we behold in 
 the present state of the once glorious, but now de- 
 
Bay 28. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 409 
 
 solated Jerusalem ! Let not any Christian church, 
 after what has happened to that city, be high- 
 minded, but let all fear. 
 
 17. There mil I make the horn of David to hud: I 
 have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. 
 
 Bishop Patrick hath well paraphrased this verse : 
 <c There, namely, in Jerusalem, will I make the 
 “ regal power and majesty of David to put forth 
 <c itself afresh in his royal successors: no sooner 
 “ shall one be extinguished, but another shall shine 
 
 in such splendour, as shall give a lustre to the 
 “ name of that anointed servant of mine, till the 
 cc great prince, the Messiah, appearthen will the 
 horn of salvation be raised up in the house of 
 David, to subdue the empires of the world, and to 
 vanquish all opposition ; then shall the Branch of 
 Jehovah bud into beauty and glory upon the earth ; 
 then shall the lamp of Israel become a sun of righ¬ 
 teousness, burning and shining with lustre inextin¬ 
 guishable, to all eternity. That this verse doth 
 mystically refer to Christ, the Jews confess, as 
 Dr Hammond lias observed. So saith It. Saadiah, 
 “ The Lamp is the King, which illuminates the 
 “ nationsand Kimchi, “ The Horn of David, is 
 “ the Messias.” 
 
 18. His enemies mil I clothe with shame: hut upon 
 himself shall his crown flourish. 
 
 It is here predicted, that God would blast and 
 bring to nothing every design formed to destroy tiie 
 house of David, until King Messiah should arise 
 out of it, to sit upon the throne of his father. In 
 him all the promises centre, and the kingdom is 
 established for ever: cc His enemies,” who will not 
 have him to reign over them, shall, at the last day, 
 be “ clothed with shame,” and everlasting confu- 
 
4? 10 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 133. 
 
 sion ; cc but upon himself shall his crown flourish,” 
 filling heaven and earth with the brightness of its 
 glory. 
 
 PSALM CXXXIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 % 
 
 This short but pleasing Psalm was composed either 
 to recommend unity among the tribes of Israel, 
 or to celebrate it when it had taken place. Bishop 
 Patrick justly observes, that “ it was as fitly used 
 cc by the first Christians, to express their joy for 
 “ the blessed unity of Jews and Gentiles ; and 
 “ may now serve the uses of all Christian so- 
 “ cieties, wfiiose happiness lies in holy peace and 
 “ concord.” It containeth, 1. a rapturous ex¬ 
 clamation on the comforts and advantages of 
 union, which, 2, 3. are illustrated by the two 
 exquisite similitudes of the holy anointing oil 
 and of dew. 
 
 i 
 
 1. Behold , how good , and how pleasant it is, jor 
 brethren to dwell together in unify. 
 
 * Many things are good which are not pleasant: 
 and many pleasant, which are not good. But unity 
 among brethren, whether civil or religious, is pro¬ 
 ductive both of profit and pleasure. Of profit be¬ 
 cause therein consisteth the welfare and security of 
 every society ; of pleasure, because mutual love is 
 the source of delight, and the happiness of one be¬ 
 comes, in that case, the happiness of all. It is unity 
 alone, which gives beauty, as well as strength, to 
 the state ; which renders the church, at the same 
 time, “ fair as the moon, and terrible as an army 
 tc with banners.” Cant. vi. 10. 
 
Day 28 . M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 411 
 
 2. It is like the precious ointment upon the head , that 
 ran down upon the heard , even Aaron's beard , that 
 went down to the shirts of his garments ; 3. As the 
 
 dew of Hermon *, and as the dew that descended upon 
 
 the mountains of Zion : for there the Lord commanded 
 the blessing , even lifefor evermore . 
 
 44 Unity, beginning in the prince, and diffused 
 44 through the people, is here illustrated,” saith Doc¬ 
 tor Delany, 44 by two images, the most apt and 
 44 beautiful that ever was imagined. Kingdoms are . 
 44 considered as bodies politic, of which the king 
 44 is the head, and the people, in their several ranks 
 44 and orders, the parts and members. A spirit of 
 44 union beginning upon the prince, whose person 
 44 is sacred, is like oil poured upon the head of 
 44 Aaron, which naturally descends, and spreads it- 
 44 self over all the parts of the body, and diffuses 
 44 beauty and fragrance over the whole, reaching 
 44 even to the skirts of the garment. Oil is, without 
 44 question, the finest emblem of union that ever 
 44 was conceived. It is a substance consisting of 
 44 very small parts, which yet, by their mutual 
 44 adhesion, constitute one uniform, well united, 
 44 and useful body. The sacred oil carries the idea 
 44 and the advantage of union yet farther ; which 
 44 being extracted from various spices, yet made i^p 
 44 one well cohering and more valuable compound. 
 44 The next image carries the exhortation to unic/n, 
 
 44 and the advantages of it, still higher. Hermon 
 
 / 
 
 * / 
 
 * Bishop Lowth seemeth fully to have justified our translators in 
 supplying the ellipsis as they have done, and thereby removing the 
 absurdity of making the dew of Hermon, a mountain on or/e side 
 of Jordan, towards the eastern extremity of Canaan, descend bn the 
 mountain of Zion, which was situated on the other side of jordan, 
 at Jerusalem. 
 
 i y 
 
412 A COMMENTARY Psalm 133. 
 
 “ was the general name of one mountain, compre- 
 cc hending many lesser and lower hills, under the 
 “ surround of a greater* Union in any nation is 
 the gift of God ; and therefore unity among bre- 
 “ thren, beginning from the king, is like the dew 
 “ of heaven, which falling first upon the higher 
 “ summit of Hermon (refreshing and enriching 
 “ wherever it fills), naturally descends to Zion, a 
 “ lower; and thence even to the humble valleys. 
 “ Zion was the centre of union to all the tribes ; 
 u there God himself had promised his people rest, 
 “ and peace from their enemies; which, however, 
 6C were of little value without union and harmony 
 “ among themselves*/” Thus far this learned and 
 pious author, whose explanation of the Psalmist’s 
 imagery, as descriptive of civil unity in the state, 
 is so just and elegant, that I could not forbear 
 transcribing the passage at length. It only remains 
 to be added, that these divine pictures receive an 
 additional beauty, and the colouring is much height¬ 
 ened, by their being viewed in another light, as 
 representations of spiritual unity in the church. 
 The spirit of heavenly love was that oil of gladness 
 which Jehovah poured without measure on him who 
 is the high-priest and head of his church. Insinuat¬ 
 ing and healing, comforting and exhilarating, it is 
 diffused from him over his body mystical, even 
 down to the least and lowest members ; “ of his 
 “ fulness have v/e all received and as it is said of 
 Mary’s box of spikenard in the Gospel, “ the house 
 “ is filed with the odour of the ointment.” Nor 
 did the dew of heaven, in time of drought, ever 
 prove more refreshing and beneficial to the moun- 
 
 * Life of King David, vol. iii. p. 204. 
 
 
Day 28 . M. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 415 
 
 tains of Judah, than are the influences of grace, 
 when descending in soft silence from above upon 
 the church ; in the union and communion of which, 
 God hath 64 commanded the blessing, even life for 
 44 evermore.” O come the day, when division shall 
 cease, and enmity be done away ; when the tribes 
 of the spiritual Israel shall be united in a bond of 
 eternal charity, under the true David, in the Jeru¬ 
 salem which is above ; and saints and angels shall 
 sing this lovely Psalm together! 
 
 PSALM CXXXIV. 
 
 i 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 With this Psalm, Christians in the church, like the 
 Levites of old in the temple, 1, 2, call upon 
 each other to bless God, and, 3. upon God to 
 bless them all. 
 
 1. Behold , bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the 
 Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. 
 2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary , and bless the 
 Lord. 
 
 The first word in this verse, 44 Behold,” seemetli 
 to point at the reasons which the priests in the 
 temple had to bless Jehovah ; as if it had been said. 
 Behold, the house of God is built, the holy services 
 are appointed, and the Lord hath given you rest 
 from your enemies, that you may serve him ac¬ 
 ceptably ; set about it, therefore, with gratitude 
 and alacrity. We read, 1 Chron. ix. 33. that the 
 Levitical singers were 44 employed in their work 
 44 day and nightto the end, doubtless, that the 
 earthly sanctuary might bear some resemblance of' 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 133. 
 
 414 
 
 that above, where, St John tells us, the redeemed 
 6C are before the throne of God, and serve him day 
 cc and night in his temple Rev. vii. 15. Christians 
 are the redeemed of the Lord, redeemed from the 
 guilt and dominion of sin, delivered out of the 
 hands of their enemies, the world, the flesh, and the 
 devil, that they may become the servants of Christ. 
 He hath built his church, and in it he wills that 
 men pray, lifting up holy hands, and that they offer 
 the sacrifices of thanksgiving. “ Behold,” there¬ 
 fore, C£ bless the Lord Jesus, all ye servants of his 
 bless him in the cheerful and busy hours of day ; 
 bless him in the solemn and peaceful watches of 
 the night; making melody, even then, in your 
 hearts at least, if not with your voices. The pious 
 Mr Nicholas Farrer exhibited, in the last century, 
 an instance of a Protestant family, in which a con¬ 
 stant course of psalmody was appointed, and so 
 strictly kept up, that through the whole four and 
 twenty hours of day and night, there was no por¬ 
 tion of time, when some of the members were not 
 employed in performing that most pleasant part of 
 duty and devotion. The reader may' see the curious 
 life of this extraordinary person, as drawn up by 
 Dr Turner, bishop of Ely, in the Christian Maga¬ 
 zine, vol. ii. p. 356. 
 
 3. The Lord that made heaven and earth , bless thee 
 out of Zion. 
 
 The two preceding verses, as Mr Mudge observes, 
 seem directed to the priests of the temple, by some 
 person, probably of consequence, come up to pay 
 his devotions. This third verse is therefore returned, 
 as from the priests. And thus it is, that prayer and 
 praise, which by grace are caused to ascend from 
 our hearts to God, will certainly return in the 
 
Day 28. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 415 
 
 benedictions of heaven upon our souls and bodies, 
 our persons and our families, our church and our 
 country; like the vapours, which exhaled by the 
 warmth of the sun from the bowels of the earth, 
 mount upwards into the air, but soon fall again in 
 fruitful showers, causing the little hills to rejoice, 
 and the valleys to laugh and sing. 
 
 PSALM CXXXV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Psalmj 1, 2. the servants of Jehovah are 
 exhorted to praise him, 3. on account of his good¬ 
 ness ; of the pleasure to be found in the employ¬ 
 ment ; 4. of his peculiar mercies shown to Israel; 
 5. of his infinite superiority over the gods of the 
 nations, manifested, 6, 7. in the works of crea¬ 
 tion, 8—14. in his dealings with the church, and 
 with her adversaries. 15—18. The folly of ido- 
 latry, and of those who practise it, is described ; 
 and, 19—21. Israel is again stirred up to praise 
 Jehovah. 
 
 1. Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the 
 Lord ; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord. 2. Ye 
 that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of 
 the house of our God. S. Praise the Lord ; for the 
 Lord is good: sing praises unto his name ; for it is 
 pleasant. 
 
 All the servants of God, they more especially, 
 who minister in the temple, are repeatedly, as in the 
 foregoing Psalm, excited to praise their blessed 
 Master. Two reasons are assigned why they should 
 do this. First, the goodness.of that Master, and, 
 
416 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 135, 
 
 secondly, the pleasantness of the employment. The 
 latter of these reasons hath a natural and necessary 
 dependence on the former. A sense of the divine 
 mercy will tune our hearts and voices to praise. We, 
 who are upon earth, often find ourselves indisposed 
 for the duty of thanksgiving, because the concerns 
 of the body, the cares and pleasures of life, extinguish, 
 for a time, this sense in us, until grace, prayer, and 
 meditation, render it again, lively and active. In the 
 inhabitants of heaven, who behold God without the 
 veil of matter interposed, it is always so; and, there¬ 
 fore, they rest not day or night from singing halle¬ 
 lujahs, nor cease one moment to rejoice in God their 
 Saviour. 
 
 4. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and 
 Israel for his peculiar treasure . 5. For I know that 
 
 the Lord is great , and that our Lord is above all gods. 
 
 A third reason why the children of Israel should 
 praise the name of Jehovah, was the circumstance of 
 their having been selected from among the nations 
 to be his church, to receive the lav/, and the pro¬ 
 mises, to have his presence residing in the midst of 
 them, and to be the guardians of the true faith and 
 worship. And a fourth reason, was the superior¬ 
 ity of Jehovah their God over the gods of the hea¬ 
 then, and consequently over those who worshipped 
 them ; from whence followed this comfortable in¬ 
 ference, that he was able to protect and to defend 
 Iiis people against every enemy that had evil will at 
 Zion. Shall not we Christians, then, praise the same 
 gracious Lord, who hath chosen us out of the world, 
 who hath given unto us his Gospel, who dwelleth 
 in us by his Spirit, and who, by that Spirit, maketh 
 us more than conquerors over our spiritual adver¬ 
 saries ? 
 
 1 
 
Pay 28. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 417 
 
 6. Whatsoever the Lord pleased , that did he in hea¬ 
 ven , and in earth , in the seas , and all deep places . 
 
 The pre-eminence of Jehovah above the gods of 
 the nations is evinced by this consideration, that he, 
 at the beginning, created and formed those powers 
 of nature, whose operations in the heavens, the earth, 
 and the waters, led the heathen world, after it had 
 lost the knowledge of the Creator, to adore the 
 creature as independent. Let us praise him, who, in 
 the intellectual as in the material world, is Lord and 
 King ; who is obeyed by the angels in heaven, serv¬ 
 ed by the church upon earth, and feared by the 
 spirits imprisoned in deep places beneath. 
 
 7 . He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of 
 the earth ; he malceth lightnings for the rain ; he bring - 
 eth the wind out of his treasuries . 
 
 They who in old time paid their devotions to the 
 elements, imagined those elements to be capable of 
 giving or withholding rain at pleasure. 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 cause rain ? or can the heavens 
 “ give showers ? Art thou not he, O Jehovah our 
 “ God ? Therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou 
 “ hast made all these things:” Jer. xiv. 22. Among 
 the Greeks and Romans we meet with a Jupiter, pos¬ 
 sessed of the thunder and the lightning, and an ^Eolus 
 ruling over the winds. The Psalmist teacheth us to 
 restore the celestial artillery to its rightful owner. 
 Jehovah the God of Israel, and the Creator of the 
 universe, contrived the wonderful machinery of light 
 and air, by which vapours are raised from the earth, 
 compacted into olouds, and distilled in rain. At his 
 command the winds are suddenly in motion, and as 
 
 VOL. II. D D 
 
418 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 135. 
 
 suddenly at rest again ; we hear the sound, but can¬ 
 not tell whence the) come, or whither they go ; as 
 il they were taken from secret storehouses of the Al¬ 
 mighty, and then laid up till their service was re¬ 
 quired again. The same idea ood himself is pleased 
 to give us in the book of Job, where he describeth 
 the instruments of his power, as so many weapons 
 of war in the arsenal oi a mighty prince : “ Hast 
 “ thou entered into the treasures of the snow ? or 
 cc hast thou seen the treasures of the hail which I 
 “ have reserved against the time of trouble, against 
 cc the day of battle and war ? By what way is the 
 cc light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon 
 £C the earth ? Who hath divided a watercourse for 
 “ the overflowing of waters? or a way for the light- 
 “ ning of thunder, to cause it to rain on the earth ?” 
 Job xxxviii. 22, &c. It is a great instance of the 
 divine wisdom and goodness, thatlightning should be 
 accompanied by rain, to soften its rage, and prevent 
 its mischievous effects. Thus, in the midst of judge¬ 
 ment, does God remember mercy. The threatenings 
 in his word against sinners are like lightning; they 
 would blast and scorch us up, were it not for his 
 promises made in the same word to penitents, which, 
 as a gracious rain, turn aside their fury, refreshing 
 and comforting our affrighted spirits. 
 
 8. Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man 
 and beast. 9. Who sent tokens and wonders into the 
 midst of thee , O Egypt , upon Pharaoh , and upon all his 
 servants. 
 
 Egypt was the theatre of the grand contest between 
 the God of Israel and the crods of the heathen. The 
 
 o 
 
 superiority of the former over the latter was shown 
 in every possible way by the miracles of Moses, 
 which demonstrated all the powers of nature to be 
 under the dominion of Jehovah, and to act at his 
 
Day 28. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 419 
 
 command ; so that, instead of being able to protect, 
 they were made to torment and destroy their deluded 
 votaries. See more on Psalm lxxviii.44, &c. The 
 objects of a man’s sin, frequently become, in the end, 
 the instruments of his punishment. 
 
 10. Who smote great nations , and slew mighty kings; 
 11. Sihon king of the Amorites , and Og king of 
 Bashan , and all the kingdoms of Canaan: 12. And 
 gave their land for an heritage , an heritage unto Israel 
 his people. 
 
 The victories gained by Israel, over Sihon and Og, 
 in their passage to Canaan, and afterwards over the 
 idolatrous kings of that country, are more proofs of 
 the same point. For Israel therefore conquered, be¬ 
 cause Jehovah fought for them, and put them in 
 possession of that good land, when the iniquity of 
 its old inhabitants was full, and cried to heaven for 
 vengeance. The enemies we have to encounter in 
 our way to the promised inheritance, will also, if vi¬ 
 gorously opposed, fail before us. “ The kingdom 
 “ of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take 
 “ it bv force.” But it is God who fighteth for us, 
 and with us, who giveth us the victory, and putteth 
 us in possession, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 13. Thy name , O Lord, endureth /or cvei' ; and thy 
 memorial , O Lord, throughout all generations. 14. For 
 the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent him¬ 
 self concerning his servants. 
 
 By the destruction of Pharaoh, with his Egyptians, 
 and by the battles and victories of Joshua: much 
 more, by the overthrow of the spiritual Pharaoh, 
 with his infernal host, and by the batdes and victo- 
 ries of the true Joshua; Jehovah hath gotten him 
 glory, and his name is magnified in the church from 
 age to age. The people whom he hath redeemed. 
 
420 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 135. 
 
 may, indeed, for the chastisement of their iniquities, 
 be sometimes delivered into the hands of their ene¬ 
 mies, and oppressed by them. But it is only to show 
 them their transgressions, and lead them to repent¬ 
 ance. When this effect is wrought, he is always 
 ready to “judge them,” to plead and avenge their 
 cause ; he “ repenteth him” of the evil, and avert- 
 eth it; he is entreated for the land, and becometh 
 gracious to his servants. 
 
 15. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold , the 
 work of men’s hands. 16. They have mouths , but they 
 speak not; eyes have they , but they see not . 17 . They 
 
 have ears , but they hear not; neither is there any 
 breath in their mouths . 18. They that make them are 
 like unto them ; so is every one that trusteth in them. 
 
 In these verses is set forth the difference between 
 the God of Israel, and the idols of the nations, as 
 also between the worshippers of each ; all tending 
 to confirm the truth of what was asserted, ver. 5. 
 “ I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord 
 “ is above all gods.” As the same words occur. 
 Psalm cxv. 4, &c. the reader is referred thither for 
 the explication of them. 
 
 19. Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the 
 Lord, O house of Aaron: 20. Bless the Lord, O 
 house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. 
 21. Blessed be the Lord out of Zion , which dwelleth at 
 Jerusalem . Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 He who proved himself superior to the objects of 
 ancient idolatry, is no less superior to every object, 
 on which deluded man can place his affections. The 
 Lord gave, and the Lord will take them away. Let 
 cc the house of Israel,” therefore, and ce the sons of 
 Ci Aaron,” the church and the ministers thereof, let 
 all who “ fear the Lord,” bless and praise his holy 
 
Day 28. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 4fl 
 
 name in the temple here below, until they shall be 
 admitted to do it for evermore, in that which is 
 above. 
 
 TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CXXXVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is a delightful hymn of praise and thanksgiving 
 to Jehovah, 1—3. God of gods and Lord of lords, 
 for the wonders, 4—9. of creation, 10—26. of pro¬ 
 vidence and grace ; which were probably cele¬ 
 brated in due order by one half of the choir, 
 while the other half, or perhaps the whole in full 
 chorus, took up the burden of each verse, cc For 
 “ his mercy endureth for ever ! 5> a form of ac¬ 
 knowledgement, as bishop Patrick observes, pre¬ 
 scribed by David, 1 Chron. xvi. 41. to be used 
 continually in the divine service ; a form highly 
 proper for creatures, and sinful creatures, to 
 use, whose great employment it is now, and 
 will be for ever, to magnify the mercy and loving 
 kindness of their God. 
 
 1. 0 give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good-. 
 Jor his mercy endureth for ever, 2. O give thanks 
 unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever, 
 3. O give thanks to the Lord of lords : for his mercy 
 endureth for ever. 
 
 We are called upon to praise Jehovah, first, for 
 his own essential attributes ; then, for the exertion 
 of those attributes in his works. The attributes 
 here mentioned are those of “ goodness 55 and 
 <c power;” the one renders him willing, the other 
 able, to save ; and what can we desire more, but 
 that he should continue to be so ? Of this likewise 
 
422 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 136. 
 
 we are assured, by contemplating the unchangeable¬ 
 ness of his nature. O’is disposition altereth not, 
 and his kingdom none can take from him : “ his 
 “ mercy endureth for ever.” 
 
 4. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his 
 mercy endureth for ever. 
 
 All the works of God are ct wonderful,” and speak 
 him “ alone” to have been their author. The esta¬ 
 blished course of the world, is in reality, no less ad¬ 
 mirable, than are those extraordinary interpositions 
 of omnipotence, whereby it hath been sometimes 
 interrupted and suspended ; though the latter, on 
 account of their novelty, are apt to affect us more 
 than the former doth, which is ever before our eyes, 
 and therefore less regarded by us. How many of 
 those, for whom the w r onders of creation, provi¬ 
 dence, and redemption have been wrought, think 
 none of them worthy their attention ! Angels ad¬ 
 mire and adore, where man will not deign to cast 
 an eye, or employ a thought. 
 
 5. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his 
 mercy endureth for ever. 6 . To him that stretcheth 
 out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth 
 for ever . 
 
 The heavens above, and the earth beneath, de¬ 
 clare the wisdom of their great Maker, and proclaim 
 aloud, to an intelligent ear, the di inity of the hand 
 that formed them. The heavens display 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 cir¬ 
 cumference of heaven, the variegated surface of the 
 earth, and the profusion of good things that distin¬ 
 guish the seasons, contaminated as they all have 
 been by man’s transgression, even now yield a pro- 
 
Day 28. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 423 
 
 spect which annihilates all human grandeur. What 
 idea, then, are we to frame of those new heavens 
 and earth, from which sin and corruption are ex¬ 
 cluded, and where righteousness hath fixed her 
 eternal throne ? 
 
 7. To him that made great lights : for his mercy en- 
 dureth for ever : 8. The sun to rule by day : jor his 
 'mercy endureth for ever. Q. The moon and stars to 
 rule by iiifht: for his mercy endureth for ever. 
 
 Light is the life and soul of the universe, the no¬ 
 blest emblem of the power and glory of Cod, who 
 in the night season leaves not himself without wit¬ 
 ness, hut gives us some portion of that light reflect¬ 
 ed, which by day we behold flowing from its great 
 fountain in the heart of heaven. Thy church and 
 .thy saints, O Lord, “ are the moon and the stars,” 
 which by the communication of doctrine, and the 
 splendour of example, guide our feet, while we 
 travel on in the night that hath overtaken u% wait¬ 
 ing for the dawn of everlasting day. Then we shall 
 behold thy glory, and see thee as thou art. 
 
 10. To him that smote Egypt in their fir t-born ; 
 Jor his mercy endureth Jor ever : 11. And brought out 
 Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth Jor 
 ever. With a strong hand , and with a stretched out 
 arm: for his mercy endureth for ever . 18. To him 
 
 which divided the Red Sea into parts: Jor his mercy 
 endureth for ever . 14. And made Israel to pass 
 through the midst of it: jor his mercy endureth for 
 ever. 15. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the 
 lied Sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. ' 16. 10 
 him which led his people through the wilderness : Jor 
 his mercy endureth for ever. 17. To him which smote 
 great kings : for his mercy endureth for ever. 18. And 
 slezv famous kings : Jor his mercy endureth for ever. 
 
424 1 A COMMENTARY Psalm 136*. 
 
 1 9c Sikon king of the A morites: for his mercy endureth 
 for ever, 20. And Og the king of Bashan : for his 
 mercy endureth for ever. 21. A??d gave their land for 
 an heritage : for his mercy endureth for ever. 22. 
 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy 
 endureth for ever . 23. Who remembered us in our 
 
 low estate : for his mercy endureth for ever . 24. And 
 hath redeemed us from our enemies : for his mercy en¬ 
 dureth for ever . 
 
 From the works of creation, the Psalmist pro¬ 
 ceeds to those of providence and grace. He cele¬ 
 brates that mercy which rescued Israel from op¬ 
 pression, brought them out of the house of bondage, 
 divided the sea to make a way for them, supported 
 and conducted them through the waste, howling 
 wilderness, crushed the might and power of those 
 who opposed them, and at length settled them in 
 the inheritance promised to their fathers. Eternal 
 mercy hath in Christ Jesus realized all these figures, 
 and accomplished the great redemption, thus fore¬ 
 shadowed of old. The Israel of God hath been re¬ 
 scued from the oppression of Satan, and brought 
 out of the house of spiritual bondage. In the wa¬ 
 ters of baptism the old man of sin is buried, and we 
 arise triumphant, to sing the praises of God our Sa¬ 
 viour, who from thenceforth supports and conducts 
 ms in our passage through the world, strengthening 
 us in the day of battle against every enemy that op- 
 poseth us, until we enter the heavenly Canaan, pro¬ 
 mised to the fathers of our faith, and dwell for ever 
 in the possession of peace. When we consider 
 how God has thus “ remembered us in our low 
 <c estate, 5 ’ and thus “ redeemed us from our ene- 
 “ mies,” can we be weary of repeating, “ For his 
 
 u merev endureth for ever. 55 
 «/ 
 
Day 28. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 425 
 
 25. Who givetli food to all Jlesh : for his mercy en- 
 dureth for ever . 26. 0 give thanks unto the God of 
 
 heaven : for his mercy endureth for ever. 
 
 The same bounty, which, in the natural world, 
 provideth proper nutriment for every creature, hath 
 also provided for the spirits of all flesh the bread of 
 eternal life. In either sense, Jehovah, “ opened his 
 “ hand, and filleth all things living with plenteous- 
 “ ness.” Be, therefore, his praise as universal and 
 lasting as his mercy ! 
 
 PSALM CXXXVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Israelites, captive in Babylon, 1, 2. describe 
 their woful estate ; and, 3, 4. the insults of their 
 masters. 5, 6. They declare their inviolable af¬ 
 fection for Jerusalem ; 7. pray that God would 
 remember the behaviour of Edom ; and, 8, 9. 
 predict the destruction of Babylon. The Psalm 
 admits of a beautiful and useful application to 
 the state of Christians in this world, and their ex¬ 
 pected deliverance out of it. 
 
 1. By the rivers of Babylon , there we sat down , yea , 
 we wept, when we remembered Zion . 
 
 What an inexpressible pathos is there in these 
 few words ! How do they at once transport us to 
 Babylon, and place before our eyes the mournful 
 situation of the Israelitish captives! Driven from 
 their native country, stripped of every comfort and 
 convenience, in a strange land, among idolaters, 
 wearied and broken-hearted, they sit in silence by 
 those hostile waters. Then the pleasant banks of 
 Jordan present themselves to their imaginations; 
 
426 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 137. 
 
 the towers of Salem rise to view ; and the sad re¬ 
 membrance of much-loved Z : on causes tears to run 
 down their cheeks : 44 By the waters of Babylon we 
 44 at down, yea, we wept, when we remembered 
 46 Zion !” Besides the use which may lie made of 
 this Psalm by any church, when, literally, in a state 
 o captivity, there is a sense in which it may be u ed 
 bv us a!L For Zion is, in Scripture: the standing 
 type of heaven, as Babylon is the grand figure of the 
 w -rid the seat of confusion, the oppressor and per- 
 secutOi of the people of God. In these, or the like 
 terms, we may, therefore, oppose a sinner to be¬ 
 moan himself upon the earth—O Lord, I am an Is¬ 
 raelite, exiled by my sins, from thy holy city, and 
 left to mourn in this Babylon, the land of my cap¬ 
 tivity. Here I dweli in sorrow, by these transient 
 waters, musing on the restless and unstable nature 
 of earthly pleasures, which pass swiftly by me, and 
 are gone for ever. Yet for these, alas ! I have ex¬ 
 changed the permanent joys of Zion and parted 
 with the felicity of thy chosen. Wherefore my 
 heart is pained within me, and the remembrance of 
 my folly will not let me rest night or day. O Zion, 
 thou holy and beautiful city, the temple of the 
 Lamb, the habitation of the blessed, the seat of de¬ 
 light, the land of the living, when shall 1 behold 
 thee ? When shall I enter thy gates with thanks¬ 
 giving, and thy courts with praise ? The hope of a 
 return to thee is my only comfort in this vale of 
 tears, where 1 am and will be a mourner, till mv 
 captivity be brought back, and my sorrow be turned 
 into joy. 
 
 2. We hanged our harps up n the willows in the midst 
 thereof. 
 
Day 28. e. ?. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 427 
 
 The additional circumstance, which the divine 
 painter hath here thrown into his piece, is, to the 
 last degree, just and striking. It was not enough to 
 represent the Hebrew captivesweeping, on the banks 
 of the Euphrates, at the remembrance of Zion, 
 but, upon looking up, we behold their harps un¬ 
 strung, and pendent on the willows that grew there. 
 The sincere penitent, like them, hath bidden adieu 
 to mirth ; his soul refuseth to be comforted with 
 the comforts of Babylon; nor can he sing any more,- 
 till pardon and restoration shall have enabled him to 
 sing, in the temple, a song of praise and thanksgiv- 
 ing. 
 
 3 For there they that carried us away captives re - 
 quired oj' us a song ; and they that wasted us required 
 of us mirth, , saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 
 4. How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange 
 land * ? 
 
 The Babylonians are introduced as insulting over 
 the Israelites, and scoffing at their faith and wor¬ 
 ship, not without a tacit reflection on their God, 
 who could not protect his favoured people against 
 their enemies. “ Now sing us one of your songs of 
 “ Zion ; now let us hear you sound the praises of 
 “ that God, of whom ye boasted, that he dwelt 
 “ among you in the temple which we have laid 
 “ waste, and burnt with fire.” Thus the faithful 
 have been, and thus they will be, insulted by infi- 
 
 * Many singers were carried captives: Ezra ii. 4i. These 
 would of course take their instruments with them, and be insulted, 
 as here. Their songs were sacred, and uniit to be sung before ido¬ 
 laters. But the words, “ How shall we sing,” &c. are not an an- 
 6wer given to them, but the free utterance afterwards of the feelings 
 of the Jews among themselves. Anonymous notes jn Merrick’s 
 Annotations. 
 
428 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 137. 
 
 dels in the day of their calamity. And 66 how,” 
 indeed, “ can they sing the Lord’s song in a strange 
 
 “ land? ’ How can they tune their voices to festive 
 and eucharistic strains, when God, by punishing 
 them for their sins, calleth to mourning and weep¬ 
 ing? But then, Israel in Babylon foresaw a day of 
 redemption ; and so doth the church in the world ; 
 a day when she shall triumph, and her enemies 
 shall lick the dust. No circumstances, therefore, 
 should make us forget her, and the promises con¬ 
 cerning her. 
 
 5. If I forget thee , O Jerusalem , let my right hand 
 forget her cunning. 6 . If I do not remember thee , 
 let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I 
 prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy . 
 
 The whole nation may be supposed in these words 
 to declare, as one man, that neither the afflictions 
 nor the allurements of Babylon should efface from 
 their minds the remembrance of Jerusalem, or pre¬ 
 vent them looking forward to her future glorious re¬ 
 storations. If any temptation should induce them 
 to employ their tongues and their hands in the ser¬ 
 vice of Babel rather than in that of Zion, they wish 
 to lose the use of the former and the skill of the 
 latter. The thoughts and affections of true peni¬ 
 tents, both in prosperity and adversity, are fixed 
 upon their heavenly country and city ; they had 
 rather be deprived of their powers and faculties, 
 than of the will to use them aright; and the hope 
 of glory, hereafter to be revealed in the church, is 
 the flower and crown of their joy. 
 
 7. Remember , O Lord, the children of Edom in the 
 day of Jerusalem ; who said , Raze it, raze it, even to 
 the foundations thereof 
 
Day 28. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 429 
 
 The people of God beseech him to take their 
 cause in hand, and to avenge them on their adver¬ 
 saries, particularly on the Edomites, who, though 
 their brethren according to the flesh, being de¬ 
 scended from Esau, the brother of Jacob, yet in the 
 day of Jerusalem’s affliction, when the Chaldeans 
 came against it, were aiding and encouraging those 
 pagans to destroy it utterly. Edom is charged with 
 this unnatural behaviour, and threatened for it, by 
 God himself, in the prophecy of Obadiah, ver. 10, 
 &c. “ For thy violence against thy brother Jacob, 
 
 <c shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off 
 “ for ever. In the day that thou stoodest on the 
 “ other side, in the day that the strangers carried 
 “ away captive his forces, and foreigners entered 
 “ into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even 
 <c thou wast as one of them. But thou shouldest 
 not have looked on the day of thy brother in the 
 “ day that he became a stranger : neither shouldest 
 Ci thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in 
 “ the day of their destruction—For the day of the 
 “ Lord is near upon all the heathen : as thou hast 
 “ done, it shall be done unto thee, thy reward shall 
 “ return upon thine own head—but upon mount 
 “ Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be ho- 
 cc liness, and the house of Jacob shall possess their 
 “ possessions.” It may be observed, that the Jews 
 afterwards acted the same part towards the Chris¬ 
 tian church, which the Edomites had acted toward 
 them, encouraging and stirring up the Gentiles to 
 persecute and destroy it from off the face of the 
 earth. And God “ remembered” them for the 
 Christians* sakes, as they prayed him to “ remem- 
 “ ber Edom” for their sakes. Learn we lienee, 
 what a crime it is, for Christians to assist the com- 
 
430 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 137. 
 
 in on enemy, or call in the common enemy to assist 
 them, against their brethren. 
 
 8 O daughter of Babylon , who art to be destroyed ; 
 happy shall he be, that rewar deth thee , as thou hast 
 served us . 9. Happy shall he be, that takelh and 
 dasheth thy little ones against the stones. 
 
 The subject of these two verses is the same with 
 that of many chapters in Isaiah and Jeremiah, name¬ 
 ly, the vengeance of heaven executed upon Baby¬ 
 lon by Cyrus, raised up to be king of the Medes 
 and Persians, united under him for that purpose. 
 The meaning of the words, “ happy shall he be,” 
 is, He shall go on and prosper, for the Lord of hosts 
 shall go with him, and fight his battles against the 
 enemy and oppressor of his people, empowering 
 him to recompence upon the Chaldeans the works 
 of their hands, and to reward them as they served 
 Israel. The slaughter of the very infants, mention¬ 
 ed in the last verse, is expressly predicted by Isaiah, 
 ch. xiii. 16. “ Their children also shall be dashed 
 
 cc to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be 
 cc spoiled, and their wives ravished.” The destruc¬ 
 tion was to be universal, sparing neither sex nor age. 
 Terrible, but just, are thy judgements, O Lord ! 
 The fall of the mystical “ Babylon” is described. 
 Rev. xviii. in terms and phrases, 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 subsequent ones concerning the triumph of 
 Messiah, and the glory of the new Jerusalem, will 
 be able to form proper ideas of the world and the 
 church, and will know where to choose his portion. 
 
Day 28. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 451 
 
 PSALM CXXXVIII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm containeth, 1—3* a resolution to praise 
 God for a deliverance vouchsafed ; 4 , 0 . a prophecy 
 that the kings of the earth should glorify Jehovah 
 for his mercy, shown, 6. in exalting the humble, 
 and abasing the proud; 7, 3. an act of faith and 
 confidence in God. 
 
 1 . I will praise thee with my whole heart: before 
 the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 2. 1 will wor¬ 
 ship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name, for 
 thy loving kindness and for thy truth : for thou hast 
 magnified thy word above all thy name ; or, thou hast 
 magnified thy name, even thy word, above all . 
 
 In these verses we evidently hear the voice of one 
 whom God had delivered from a state of great af¬ 
 fliction and danger, and who therefore determines to 
 make the due acknowledgements in public ; to give 
 thanks “ before the gods,” that is, before 44 kings” 
 and “ rulers” in the great congregation ; to “ wor- 
 “ ship in the temple,” and there to set forth the 
 “ loving kindness” and “ truth” of Jehovah, in having 
 accomplished the promised salvation, and thereby 
 “ magnified” his holy “ name” and his faithful “ word” 
 over every thing that opposeth itself against it. The 
 Christian church cannot find stronger and more cni- 
 phatical terms, in which to express her sense of the 
 greatest of all mercies, the redemption of the worJ'l 
 by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and his 
 exaltation “ above every name that is named in heaven 
 “ and earth.” 
 
432 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 138. 
 
 3 . In the day when I cried , thou answeredst ?ne, and 
 strengthenedst me with strength in my soul 4 . All 
 the kings of the earth shall praise thee , O Lord, when 
 they hear the tuords of thy mouth . 5. Yea they shall 
 
 sing in the ways of the Lord : for great is the glory 
 of the Lord. 
 
 From this part of the Psalm it appears to be a pro¬ 
 phetical one. The deliverance which it celebrates is 
 of such a nature, that, when the glad tidings of it 
 should be published to the world, we are told, it 
 should induce the nations, with their princes, to adore 
 Jehovah, to walk in his ways, and to chant forth his 
 praises. The call of the Gentiles to the Gospel is here 
 foretold in words which cannot he mistaken; and the 
 redemption of the church, in Christ her head, is 
 spoken of as the subject of thanksgiving among the 
 kings of the earth. “ In the day when I cried, thou 
 “ answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength 
 44 in my soul.” For this reason, “ All the kings of 
 44 the earth shall praise thee, O Lord,” &c. 
 
 6 *. Though the Lord be high , yet hath he respect 
 unto the lowly : but the proud he knoweth afar off. 
 
 Humility is the way to salvation and glory. It is 
 said of our blessed Lord, that “ because he humbled 
 “ himself, therefore God highly exalted him and 
 the great potentates of the world must tread in his 
 stens, if they would be exalted with him. As to the 
 proud, God “ knoweth” and he detesteth them; he 
 beholdeth and keepeth them at a 4i distance.” 
 
 7. Though 1 walk in the midst of trouble , thou wilt 
 revive me : thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against 
 the wrath of mine enemies , and thy right hand shall 
 save me. 
 
 Who doth not “ walk in the midst of trouble,” 
 while his pilgrimage is prolonged upon the earth ? 
 
Day 28. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 433 
 
 Who hath not “ enemies” encompassing him on every 
 side ? O how comfortable, then, the reflection that 
 he is with us, who can “ revive” the dead; that we 
 are under the protection of an “ arm” which is al¬ 
 mighty ! Yes, blessed Lord, we believe that this say¬ 
 ing of thy holy Psalmist will be verified to every child 
 of thine, even as it was to him, and to thy Son Jesus, 
 in whose person he might speak it, as a prophet. 
 Great indeed were the “ troubles,” in the midst of 
 which the true David “ walked” up and down amongst 
 us. He carried all our sorrows, because he bare all 
 our sins. Yet didst thou revive him;” thou didst 
 raise him from the dead, and exalt him to thy throne 
 in heaven, where he ever liveth to make intercession 
 for us, that we, who, in the days of our flesh, do also 
 “ walk in the midst of trouble,” may be revived by 
 thy Spirit, the giver of life and holiness. 
 
 8. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me : 
 thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not 
 the works of thine own hands . 
 
 In troublous times, and the days of affliction, we 
 must look back on that which God hath already done 
 for us, and from thence draw an argument, that he 
 will “ perfect” that which remains, and not leave his 
 work unfinished : we must remember, that his mercies 
 fail not after a time, but “ endure for ever” the same ; 
 and when we call to mind that we are “ the work of 
 
 “ his own hands,” how can we think he will “ forsake 
 
 . * 
 
 us” unless we utterly and finally forsake him ? 
 
 r 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 E E 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 139. 
 
 4S4< 
 
 TWENTY-NINTH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CXXX1X. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It seems evident, from the latter part of this noble 
 and instructive Psalm, that the author penned it at 
 a time when he was persecuted and calumniated, as 
 an appeal to the all-seeing Judge between him and 
 his adversaries. He takes the opportunity of expa¬ 
 tiating in the sublimest manner, 1— 12 . on the 
 omnipresence and omniscience of him who, 13 — 1 Q, 
 formeth man in the womb by his power, and, 17 , 
 18. preserveth him through life by his providence. 
 He then, 19 , 20 . expresseth his confidence that God, 
 as knowing all things, would deliver him from his 
 enemies ; 21 , 22 . he declareth his zeal and fidelity 
 in the service of his divine Master, by whom, 23 , 
 24 * he petitioneth to be proved, purified, and per¬ 
 fected in the way of holiness. 
 
 1 . O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me. 
 2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising , 
 thou wnderstandest my thought afar off, 3 . Thou 
 compassest my path , and my lying down , and art ac¬ 
 quainted with all my tvays. 4- For there is not a 
 
 word in my tongue , but, lo , O Lord, thou knowest it 
 altogether , or. When there is not a word in my tongue , 
 /o, O Lord, Sfc, 5. Thou hast beset me behind and 
 before , and laid thine hand upon me, 6. Such know¬ 
 ledge is too wonderful for me ; it is high , I cannot 
 attain unto it , 
 
Day 29. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 435 
 
 The Psalmist employeth a beautiful variety of ex¬ 
 pressions to denote his faith in the omnipresence and 
 omniscience of Jehovah, to whom, in the latter part of 
 the Psalm, he appealetli, as the proper judge between 
 him and his implacable enemies. He describeth his 
 God as having that complete knowledge of him and 
 his affairs, which, among men, the most accurate 
 “ search” and the strictest scrutiny could not obtain ; 
 as being thoroughly “ acquainted with all his ways” 
 or proceedings, nay, with his very “ thoughts,” while 
 yet existing only in embryo, in his own mind; as 
 watching and observing him at all seasons, during the 
 actions of the day, and his repose at night; and, in 
 short, as having so “ beset” him on all sides, and 
 “ laid his hand upon him,” that he could not move 
 without his knowledge and consent. When we reflect 
 that “ all things are thus naked and open to him with 
 “ whom we have to do ;” that although he dwelletli 
 in the highest heavens, he surveyeth not only the out¬ 
 ward acts, but the very hearts and imaginations, of 
 men upon earth—must we not each of us cry out, 
 “ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me ; it is high, 
 “ I cannot attain unto itI cannot admire it enough, 
 for I cannot conceive of it aright!—“ The actual, 
 “ constant consideration of God’s presence would be 
 “ the readiest way in the world to make sin to cease 
 “ from among the children of men, and for men to 
 “ approach to the blessed estate of the saints in heaven, 
 “ who cannot sin, for they always walk in the pre- 
 “ sence, and behold the face, of God.” See bishop 
 Taylor’s “ Holy Living,” chap. i. sect. 3 . 
 
 7* l\ hither shall I go from thy Spirit P or whither 
 shall I flee from thy presence ? 8 . If I ascend up into 
 
 heaven , thou art there: if I make my bed in hell , or, 
 the grave , behold thou art there. 9 . If 7 take the 
 
436 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 139. 
 
 wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts 
 of the sea ; 10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and 
 thy right hand shall hold me. 11. If Isay, Surely the 
 darkness shall cover me ; even the night shall be light 
 about me. 12. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee ; 
 hut the night shineth as the day ; the darkness and the 
 light are both alike to thee. 
 
 We can never sin with security, but in a place 
 where the eye of God cannot behold us. And where 
 is that place ? Had we a mind to escape his inspec¬ 
 tion, “ whither should we go r” Heaven is the seat of 
 his glory, creation the scene of his providence, and the 
 grave itself will be the theatre of his power ; se that 
 our efforts will be equally vain, whether we ascend, or 
 descend,.or fly abroad upon the w T ings of the morning- 
 light, which diffuseth itself with such velocity over 
 the globe from east to west. The arm of the Almighty 
 will still at pleasure prevent, and be ready to arrest, 
 the fugitives in their progress. Darkness may, indeed, 
 conceal us and our deeds from the sight of men ; but 
 the divine presence, like that of the sun, turns night 
 into day, and makes all things manifest before God. 
 The same consideration which should restrain us from 
 sin, should also encourage us to work righteousness, 
 and comfort us under all our sorrows ; namely, the 
 thought, that vve are never out of the sight and pro¬ 
 tection of our Maker. The piety and the charity 
 which are practised in cottages ; the labour and the 
 pain which are patiently endured in the field, and on 
 the bed of sickness ; the misery and torment inflicted 
 by persecution in the mines, the galleys, and the dun¬ 
 geons ; all are under the inspection of Jehovah, and 
 are noted down by him against the day of recompense. 
 He sees, and he will reward, all we do, and all we 
 suffer, as becometh Christians. He who, for our 
 
Day 29. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 437 
 
 sakes, caused his Sou to descend from heaven to the 
 lower parts of the earth and from thence to ascend to 
 heaven again, will watch over, preserve, and re-assem- 
 ble, the parts of our bodies, though dissolved in the 
 grave, buried in the ocean, or dispersed to the four 
 wind 9 . So that, with allusion to this event also, a 
 dying servant of God may exclaim, Whither can I go 
 from thy Spirit ? or whither can I flee from thy pre¬ 
 sence ? If, as to my spiritual part, I ascend into 
 heaven, thou art there to receive me ; if, as touching 
 my body, I make my bed in or the grave, be¬ 
 
 hold thou art there, to secure me. If I take the wings 
 of the wind, or those yet more expeditious ones of the 
 morning, and am carried by them to dwell in the 
 midst of the sea, instead of the bowels of the earth, 
 still shall I be under thy power and providence ; even 
 there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall 
 hold me fast, preserving me for a joyful resurrection 
 at the time appointed. 
 
 13 . For thou hast possessed , or, formed , my reins: 
 thou hast covered me in ?ny mother's womb . 14 . 1 
 
 will praise thee ; for I am fearfully and wonderfully 
 made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul 
 knoweth right well. 
 
 That God seeth in darkness, and that from him 
 nothing is hidden, his knowdedge of, and pow er over, 
 our most inw r ard parts, do plainly show 7 . He “ formed,” 
 and he therefore “ possesseth,” as his own property, 
 our “ reins,” and is consequently privy to all those 
 affections and desires wdiich flow 7 from thence. It was 
 he wdio “ covered” us in the womb, or, as it is else¬ 
 where expressed, Job x. 11. w ho “ clothed us with 
 “ skin and flesh, and fenced us with bones and 
 “ sinew’s ;” a work so astonishing, that before the 
 Psalmist proceeds in his description of it, he cannot 
 
438 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 139, 
 
 help breaking forth in rapture at the thought: “ I 
 “ will praise thee, for 1 am fearfully and wonderfully 
 “ made !” 
 
 “ Obstupeo, et niemet laeta formidine lustro, 
 
 “ Divini monumentum operis !”- LowtiI. 
 
 With awful joy 1 view this frame of mine, 
 
 Stupendous monument of pow'r divine ! 
 
 15. My substance was not hid from thee, when 1 
 was made in secret, and curiously wrought , or, vari¬ 
 egated like needle-work, in the lowest parts of the 
 earth. 16 . Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being 
 imperfect; and in thy book all my members were 
 written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as 
 yet there was none of them. 
 
 By the “ lower parts of the earth” is undoubtedly 
 to be understood the “ womb,” where the fetus is 
 gradually formed and matured for the birth, like 
 plants and flowers under ground. The process is 
 compared to that in a piece of work wrought with a 
 needle, or fashioned in the loom ; which, with all its 
 beautiful variety of colour, and proportion of figure, 
 ariseth by degrees to perfection under the hand of the 
 artist, framed according to a pattern lying before him, 
 from a rude mass of silk, or other materials. Thus, 
 by the wisdom and power of God, and after a plan 
 delineated in his book, is a shapeless mass wrought up 
 into the most curious texture of nerves, veins, arteries, 
 bones, muscles, membranes, and skin, most skilfully 
 interwoven and connected with each other, until it 
 hecometh a body, harmoniously diversified with all 
 the limbs and lineaments of a man, not one of which 
 at first appeared, any more than the figures were to 
 be seen in the ball of silk. But then (which is the 
 chief thing here insisted on by the Psalmist), whereas 
 
Day 29. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 +.39 
 
 the human artificer must have the clearest light where¬ 
 by to accomplish his task, the divine Work-master 
 seeth in secret, and effecteth all his wonders within 
 the dark and narrow confines of the womb. The re¬ 
 formation of our corrupted and dissolved bodies, which 
 is to be wrought, at the last day, in the womb of the 
 earth, in order to their new birth, will crown all the 
 works of the Almighty. 
 
 17 . How precious also are thy thoughts unto, or, 
 concerning me, O God ! hou) great is the sum of them ! 
 18. If I should count them, they are more in number 
 than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee . 
 
 From the winders of God’s forming hand, the 
 Psalmist proceeds to those of his all-directing provi¬ 
 dence, which afford additional proofs of the divine 
 omniscience and omnipresence. T he “ thoughts” and 
 counsels of Jehovah concerning David, his appoint¬ 
 ment to the throne, his troubles and his preservation • 
 in the midst of them, were “ precious” and delightful 
 subjects of meditation and praise, never to be exhausted 
 of the rich matter they contained. With these in his 
 mind he lay down at night to rest, and “ when he 
 “ aw r oke” in the morning, his thoughts naturally re¬ 
 curred co the pleasing theme; he began where he had 
 left off, and found himself, in heart and soul, “ still 
 44 present with God,” still ruminating on him and his 
 works. The mercies of heaven in the redemption of 
 the church, by the sufferings and exaltation of the true 
 David, according to the divine decree concerning 
 him—how precious are they to believers! How great 
 is the sum, how far exceeding all human arithmetic to 
 number them ! Let them be to us the constant sub¬ 
 jects of contemplation, admiration, and thanksgiving, 
 day and night; and let death, that last sleep, find us 
 engaged in an employment, which, w 7 hen we awake 
 
44© A COMMENTARY Psalm m. 
 
 and arise from the grave, we shall resume, and prose¬ 
 cute to eternity in the presence of God. 
 
 19 . Surely thou wilt slay the wicked , O God: or, 
 Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God 9 depart from 
 me, therefore, ye blood-thirsty men . 20. For they 
 speak against thee wickedly , and thine enemies take 
 thy name in vain . 
 
 David now draws the intended conclusion from the 
 premises, so largely expatiated upon in the former part 
 of the Psalm. As if he had said—And wilt thou not, 
 O God, thou who art every where present, seeing and 
 knowing all things : thou to whom the justice of my 
 cause, and the iniquity of mine adversaries, are equally 
 open; thou who hast formed, and hitherto, in so won¬ 
 derful a manner, watched over and preserved thy ser¬ 
 vant; “ wilt thou not slay the wicked,” and deliver 
 me, as thou hast promised to do, out of their hands ? 
 
 I know thou wilt; “ depart from me, therefore, ye ' 
 “ blood-thirsty men ;” I trust in my God, and will 
 have no connexion, in the way of treaty or friendship, 
 with you. You are not my enemies, but those of 
 Jehovah; against whom, not considering that he is 
 privy to all your words, and even to your thoughts 
 you “ speak” presumptuously and “ wickedly,” and 
 whose “ name” you “ take in vain,” no less when you 
 do evil under a godly pretence, and call him to witness 
 the truth of your lies and calumnies, than w r hen you 
 openly blaspheme him. Such seemeth to be the full 
 import of these two verses ; and their application to 
 the members of the church, when at any time in 
 similar circumstances, is obvious. 
 
 21. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee 9 
 mid am Yiol I grieved with those that rise up against 
 thee 9 22. I hate them with perfect hatred: I count 
 
 them mine enemies . 
 
1)AY 29. M. P. 
 
 ON THE PSALM& 
 
 441 
 
 A faithful servant hath the same interests, the same 
 friends, the same enemies, with his Master, whose 
 cause and honour he is, uj)on all occasions, in duty 
 bound to support and maintain. A good man hates, 
 as God himself doth ; he hates not the persons of 
 men, but their sins ; not what God made them, but 
 what they have made themselves. We are neither to 
 hate the men, on account of the vices they practise; 
 nor to love the vices, for the sake of the men who 
 practise them. He who observeth invariably this 
 distinction, fulfilleth the perfect law of charity, and 
 hath the love of God and of his neighbour abiding 
 in him. 
 
 23 . Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, 
 mid know 7ny thoughts: 24- And see if there be any 
 wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 
 
 In the first verse of the Psalm, David declared, that 
 Jehovah had “ searched him out, and known him 
 he concludes with a petition, that liis proceedings, and 
 even his thoughts, might be still scrutinized by his 
 Maker, in order to their perfect purification from any 
 evil which might be in them, or adhere to them. 
 Should the hottest furnace of adversity be found ne¬ 
 cessary to purge the dross from the silver, he refuseth 
 not to be dissolved in it, and new'-formed, so that he 
 might only become a vessel of honour, fitted for the 
 Master’s use here below, and vouchsafed a place after¬ 
 wards in his temple above. “ See if there be any 
 “ wicked way in me, and lead me in the way ever- 
 “ lasting!” 
 
442 
 
 A commentary 
 
 Psalm 140. 
 
 PSALM CXL. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This Psalm containeth, 1—8. a prayer for deliver¬ 
 ance from persecutors and calumniators, their vio¬ 
 lence and their wiles ; g —11. a prophecy of their 
 final destruction, and, 12, 13. the salvation of the 
 afflicted righteous. It was composed by David in 
 his troubles, and is applicable to Christ and to the 
 church, respectively, in theirs. 
 
 1. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: pre^ 
 serve me from the violent man ; 2. Which imagine 
 mischiefs in their heart: continually are they gather¬ 
 ed together for war. 
 
 “ Evil anu violent men” exist in all ages, to harrass 
 and oppress the servants of God ; their thoughts are 
 employed in “ imagining mischief” against such, and 
 their hands are ready at all times for the “ war.” 
 Had we no enemies without, there are those within, 
 who are ever fighting and troubling us. We cannot 
 put off our Christian armour for a moment in this 
 world ; nor enter into peace and rest, but by a happy 
 death and a joyful resurrection. Then God will “ de- 
 “ liver” us, as he delivered David, and our blessed 
 Lord and Master, the Son of David, from their re¬ 
 spective enemies. 
 
 3. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; 
 adders 9 poison is under their lips. 
 
 Slander and calumny must always precede and 
 accompany persecution, because malice itself cannot 
 excite people against a good man, as such ; to do 
 this, he must first be represented as a bad man. 
 
Day 29. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 445 
 
 What can be said of those who are busied in this 
 manner, but that they are a 44 generation of vipers,” 
 the brood of tne oid 44 serpent,” that grand accuser 
 and calumniator of the brethren, haying under their 
 tongues a bag of 44 poison,” conveying instant death 
 to the reputation on which they fasten ? Thus David 
 was hunted as a rebel, Christ was crucified as a 
 blasphemer, and the primitive Christians were tortur¬ 
 ed as guilty of incest and murder. 
 
 4. Keep me , O Lord, from the hands of the wick¬ 
 ed ; preserve me from the violent men, who have pur¬ 
 posed to overthrow my goings. 5. The proud have 
 hid a snare for me, and cords: they have spread a net 
 by the ivay-side ; they have set gins for me. 
 
 David here describeth the subtilty and industry 
 employed by his enemies to effect his destruction, by 
 lying in wait for him, as a skilful fowler doth for his 
 game, so that they thought it impossible he should 
 escape their hands. Such was the conduct of the 
 Jews, with regard to the Son of David. And, O how 
 refined the policy, how unwearied the application of 
 our spiritual adversaries, to 44 overthrow our goings” 
 in the path of life and salvation, to circumvent, and 
 to destroy us for ever! How are 44 the snares, the 
 44 nets, and the gins,” placed for us, by that cunning 
 and experienced artist, who takes care that nothing 
 should appear in view, but the alluring baits of ho¬ 
 nour, pleasure and profit, while of the toils we have 
 no notice, till we find ourselves entangled and caught 
 in them ! Who shall preserve us thus walking in the 
 midst of dangers ? He to whom David, in the follow¬ 
 ing verses, preferreth his prayer, and teacheth us to do 
 likewise. . 
 
 6. I said unto the Lord : Thou art my God: hear 
 the voice of my supplications, O Lord. 7* O God 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 140. 
 
 444 
 
 the Lord, the strength of my salvation , thou hast 
 covered my head in the day of battle . 3. Grant not , 
 
 O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his 
 ivicked device ; lest they exalt themselves . 
 
 Jehovah, the God of David, is also our God, and 
 he is always ready to hear our supplications. He is 
 our strength, and hath often covered our head with 
 the helmet of salvation, in the day of battle and open 
 war with our spiritual enemies. Nor will he, for the 
 glory of his name, grant their desires, or permit their 
 more secret “ devices” and machinations to work the 
 destruction of his people ; lest they exalt themselves 
 as having frustrated his counsels for the redemption 
 of his servants. 
 
 Q. As for the head of those that compass me about 
 the mischief of their own lips shall cover them . 10. 
 
 Burning coals shall fall upon them ; they shall be 
 cast into the fire , into deep pits , that they rise not up 
 again . 11. An evil speaker shall not be established 
 
 in the earth ; evil shall hunt the violent man to over¬ 
 throw him. 
 
 The prophet, in these three verses, predicteth those 
 just judgements which heaven will inflict on the 
 slanderers, and persecutors of the righteous. Their 
 lips, which uttered mischief against others, shall he 
 the means of covering themselves with confusion, 
 when out of their own mouths they shall be judged. 
 Those tongues, which have contributed to set the 
 world on fire, shall he tormented with the hot burning 
 coals of eternal vengeance : and they who, with so 
 
 much eagerness and diligence, have prepared pits for 
 
 •' £ • 
 
 the destruction of their brethren, .shall be cast into a 
 deep and bottomless pit, out of which they will not 
 rise up again any more for ever. Evil speakers and 
 false accusers shall gain no lasting establishment, but 
 
Day 29. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 445 
 
 punishment shall hunt sin through all its doubles and 
 seized it at last as its legal prey. Let these great truths 
 be firmly rooted in our hearts, and they will keep us 
 steady in the worst of times. 
 
 y 
 
 12. I know that the Lord ivill maintain the cause 
 of the afflicted, and the right of the poor, 13 * Surely 
 the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the up¬ 
 right shall dwell in thy presence . 
 
 That unjust and oppressive man shall, in the end, 
 suffer proportionably to their deserts, we are assured 
 from this consideration, namely, that the Almighty is 
 the patron of the injured and oppressed. He will 
 plead the cause of the meek and lowly, who are used 
 by the world as their blessed Master was used before 
 them. A day will come, when delivered out of all 
 their troubles, they shall “ give thanks unto thy 
 “ name,” O Lord, and dwell in thy presence” for¬ 
 evermore. 
 
 PSALM CXLI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 David seems to have composed this Psalm just before 
 his flight to Achish king of Gath; when he had a 
 second time spared Saul’s life, but could trust him 
 no longer : see 1 Sam. xxvi. and xxvii. 1, 2. He 
 prayeth earnestly for help, and entreateth to be 
 heard, as when able to attend the service of the ta¬ 
 bernacle ; 3—5. he petitioneth to be preserved 
 from the snares of idolatry, in the country whither 
 he was going; 6, 7- he relateth his own conduct 
 toward Saul, and that of Saul toward him; 8, 9. 
 he professeth his faith in Jehovah, and redoubleth 
 his prayer to him ; 10. he predicteth the destruc- 
 
446 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 141. 
 
 tion of his enemies, and his own deliverance. Many 
 parts of the exposition of this Psalm, given by the. 
 late learned Mr Peters, in his “ Critical Disserta¬ 
 tion on the Book of Job,” have been adopted in the 
 ensuing comment. 
 
 1. Lord, I will cry unto thee, make haste unto me; 
 give ear unto my voice , when 1 cry unto thee . 2. Let 
 my prayer be set forth before thee as incense ; and the 
 lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice . 
 
 The earnest and repeated supplication for help, in 
 the first of these two verses, sufficiently declares the 
 Psalmist to have been, at the time, in a situation of 
 the utmost distress. And the second verse as plainly 
 showeth, that he w T as then at a distance from the ta¬ 
 bernacle, vrhere all the solemn prayers of the Israel¬ 
 ites, together with their daily sacrifices, were offered 
 up. And, therefore, with his face, probably, direct¬ 
 ed thither, like Daniel in Babjdon, praying towards 
 Jerusalem, he begs 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; that the one might ascend to heaven, fra¬ 
 grant and well pleasing, as the cloud of “ incense’ 7 
 mounting from the holy altar; and the other, in con¬ 
 junction with it, prevail instead of the “ evening 
 “ oblation,” for the deliverance of himself and his 
 companions. 
 
 3. Set a watch , O Lord, before my mouth ; keep 
 the door of my lips ; or, a guard over the door of my 
 lips. 4- Incline not ?nine heart , i. e. suffer not my 
 heart to be inclined , to any evil thing , to practise wick¬ 
 ed works with men that work iniquity , or, idolatry; 
 and let me not eat of their dainties. 
 
 David was now going to seek a retreat from the 
 
' Day 29. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 447 
 
 persecutions of his master Saul amidst a race of ido¬ 
 laters, who would be curious to observe all his words 
 and actions, and would attempt to draw him in to be 
 a partaker with them in their idol-worship, or to 
 suspect him as a spy and an enemy, if he refused to 
 comply with them. He therefore beseeches God to 
 “ set a watch before his mouth, a guard over the 
 “ door of his lips,” that he might neither endanger his 
 
 own safety by his imprudent carriage, nor violate his 
 religion by any weak compliances. He entreats to 
 be preserved from that greatest of all evils, the re¬ 
 nouncing Jehovah to follow vain and strange gods. 
 He desires that he might not be guilty of this heinous 
 and presumptuous sin, no, not so much as in thought 
 —“ Suffer not mine heart to be inclined to any evil 
 “ thingthat he might abhor to play the hypocrite, 
 by joining in the abominations of the heathen, “ the 
 “ men that work idolatry,” though but in show and 
 appearance only; and that he might never be allured 
 by the pomp and pleasure of their feasts, by their 
 luxurious meats, and lascivious rites, to mix in their 
 religious festivals, to eat and drink and rise up to play 
 —“ neither let me eat of thAr dainties.” A Christian, 
 living among unbelievers ana sensualists in the world, 
 hath abundant reason to put up the same prayers, 
 and to use the same precautions. 
 
 5. Let the righteous smite me ; it shall be a kind¬ 
 ness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent 
 oily which shall not break , or, depress , my head: for 
 yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities, or, 
 against their wickedness. 
 
 David continuetli his prayer, and beggeth of hea¬ 
 ven, as one of its best and choicest blessings, that if 
 at any time, through the frailty of nature, he should 
 be inclined to vield to the abov°-mentioned tempta- 
 
 « j. 
 
 9 
 
 O 
 
44S 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm HI * 
 
 tions, he might find, among his attendants, some- 
 44 righteous” and faithful friend, who might with a 
 kind severity, check and 44 reprove” him. Such re¬ 
 proof, he says, would, at that season, be to him as 
 JtDttf, the “ chief,” or most precious and 44 excel- 
 “ lent oil;” see Exod. xxx. 23. it would not depress 
 “ his head,” ^ or cause him to hang it 
 44 down” as people in sorrow do, but it would be 
 44 the oil of gladness,” refreshing, enlivening, strengthen- 
 44 ing, and enabling him to lift up his head above the 
 temptation against which he had been praying, and, 
 with renewed vigour, would still continue to pray; 
 * 4 for yet my prayer” shall be tS/TmjTD, 44 against 
 14 their wickedness.” The blessed effects of reproof, 
 when given and taken as it ought to be, never, surely, 
 were more exactly or more beautifully described. 
 
 6. When their judges are overthrown in stony places , 
 they shall hear my ivords ; for they are sweet . 
 
 Of this verse, as it stands in our translation, I know 
 not what can be made. When literally rendered from 
 the Hebrew, it runs thus— 44 Their judges have been 
 44 dismissed in the sides of the rock, and have heard 
 44 my words that they w 7 ejp swxet.” David, reflecting 
 on Saul’s cruelty in driving him out of his country, 
 to wander amongst aliens and idolaters, very natural¬ 
 ly calls to mind, and mentions, his own different be¬ 
 haviour toward that implacable enemy, whose life he 
 had spared at tw’o several times, when he had it in 
 his pow v er to destroy him as he pleased. “ Their 
 44 judges,” or princes, leaders, generals, &c. according 
 to the frequent usage of the word in Scripture, JDDUtt 
 44 have been dismissed” (the common signification of 
 the verb 44 in the sides of the rock,” when I 
 
 had them at an advantage there; 1 Sam. xxiv, 3; 
 
 1 
 
Bay 29. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 449 
 
 “ and have heard my words, that they were sweet 
 they only heard me expostulate with them in a man¬ 
 ner so mild and humble, that even Saul himself was 
 overcome, and “ lift up his voice and wept, saying, 
 “My son David, thou art more righteous than I 
 “ —The Lord reward thee good for that thou hast 
 “ done unto me this day 1 Sam. xxiv. 16. Such 
 hath been my conduct towards the servants of Saul. 
 
 Yet how have my people, alas! been by them most 
 
 « 
 
 miserably, butchered ! 
 
 7. Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouthy 
 as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the 
 earth . 
 
 This probably alludes to the bloody massacre of 
 Ahimelech and the priests that were in Nob, who, to 
 the number of eighty-five persons, all of a sacred 
 character, and all innocent, were inhumanly slaugh¬ 
 tered together by Doeg the Edomite. Such havoc 
 as this might well be compared to the cutting and 
 cleaving of wood, like the fragments of which the 
 bones of the sufferers lay scattered here and there 
 upon the ground, as many of the bodies might be 
 devoured, before pits were prepared, near the field 
 of slaughter, for their interment. To feel the force 
 of the Psalmist’s expressions in this verse, we need not 
 have recourse to such extraordinary scenes of tyranny 
 and cruelty. The daily dissolution and destruction of 
 our bodies, in the common way, will be found abun¬ 
 dantly sufficient for the purpose. For who can at¬ 
 tend the digging of a grave, and thus view the ruins 
 then disclosed, without exclaiming, “ Our bones lie 
 “ scattered at the grave’s mouth ; as when one cut- 
 • 
 
 * This is Mr Peters’s interpretation of the verse, and Df 
 Purell hath fallen upon the same. 
 
 F F 
 
 VOt,. IT. 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 14E 
 
 “ teth and cleaveth wood upon the earth ?” Indeed,. 
 Rachel hath often had occasion to bemoan her chil¬ 
 dren, thus untimely slain by the unrelenting sword of 
 persecution. Rut let her refrain her voice from weep¬ 
 ing, and her eyes from tears. Her children shall re¬ 
 turn again from the dead, and their bones shall re¬ 
 joice and flourish as an herb. Jer. xxxi. 15. Isa. 
 
 lxvi. 14 . 
 
 8. But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord : 
 in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute . 9„ 
 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, 
 and the gins of the workers of iniquity* 
 
 The principle upon which David acted, and sup¬ 
 ported himself under his troubles, was a firm trust in 
 God, and a steady resolution to obey him. With con¬ 
 fidence, therefore, he made his prayer, that Jehovah 
 would keep him from the snares which Saul and his 
 counsellors had laid for him on one hand, and from 
 those of the idolaters, among whom he was driven, on 
 the other ; that so he might not be left destitute and 
 lose his life, or, which he prized more, his faith. For 
 it is remarkable, that in his last speech to Saul, 1 Sam. 
 xxvi. 19 . where he mentions the w icked policy of his 
 enemies, w ho had contrived to force him into banish¬ 
 ment, he mentions not the dangei**of his life, but only 
 that of his religion—“ They have driven me out this. 
 “ day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, 
 “ saying, Go serve other gods intimating, that they 
 had done w 7 hat lay in their power to drive him to ido¬ 
 latry, by forcing him into a country where he would 
 have the strongest temptation to it. 
 
 10. Bet the wicked, or, the wicked shall, fall into 
 t heir own nets together, whilst that I withal escape . 
 
 From the sequel of the history w'e find that the 
 hope and assurance here expressed by. the Psalmist 
 
Day 29. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 451 
 
 were not vain. He escaped all the snares that were 
 laid for him on every side; he lived to see the death 
 of Saul, who fell in a battle with the Philistines and 
 those Philistines subdued by himself and his subjects. 
 So will the devices of all our enemies be in the end 
 turned against themselves : they shall fall and perish, 
 but we shall triumph, with our Redeemer to eternity. 
 
 TWENTY-NINTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CXLII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 I 
 
 The title of this Psalm informs us, that it was a 
 prayer of David, when he was in the cave, that 
 is, most probably, the cave of Adullam, whither 
 he fled when in danger both from Saul and from 
 the Philistines: 1 Sam. xxii. 1. It containeth, 
 1, 2. a supplication ; 3 —5. an act of confidence 
 in God at that season of danger and destitution ; 
 6. a tender complaint of his sufferings, and, 7. a 
 petition for deliverance. Our translators having 
 rendered some of the verbs in the past tense, the 
 liberty hath been taken to alter them, agreeably 
 to the Hebrew, and to the tenour of the Psalm, 
 which seemeth to be an actual prayer, and not 
 the relation of one. 
 
 1. I will cry unto the Lord with my voice ; with my 
 voice unto the Lord will 1 male my supplication. 2. 
 J will pour out my complaint before him ; I will show 
 before him my trouble. 
 
 The state of David in the cave of Adullam was 
 
 a state of utter destitution. Persecuted by his own 
 
 * 
 
 / 2 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 132. 
 
 4-52 
 
 countrymen, dismissed by Achish, and not yet join¬ 
 ed by his own relations, or any other attendants, he 
 took refuge in the cave, and was there alone. But 
 in that disconsolate, and seemingly desperate, situ¬ 
 ation, he desponded not. He had a friend in heaven, 
 into whose bosom he “ poured forth his complaint/’ 
 and told him the sad storv of his trouble and distress. 
 When danger besetteth us around, and fear is on 
 every side, let us follow the example of David, and 
 that of a greater than David, who, when Jews and 
 Gentiles conspired against him, and he was left all 
 alone in the garden, and on the cross, gave himself 
 unto prayer. 
 
 3. When my spirit is overwhelmed within me , then 
 thou k nowest my path . In the way wherein I walk , 
 have they privily laid a snare for me . 
 
 The meaning is. Though my thoughts are so 
 broken and confused, that I am not able to counsel 
 and direct myself in these straits, yet thou knowest 
 the path wherein I walk, thou art with me, and wilt 
 preserve me from those who watch all my steps, and 
 lie in ambush for me. Such should be at all times 
 the confidence of believers in the wisdom, the power, 
 and the goodness of God, even when human pru¬ 
 dence has done its utmost, and is at its wit's end. 
 
 4. Look on my right hand , and see that there is no 
 man that will know me : refuge faileth me: no man careth, 
 for my soul . 5 . I ay unto thee , O Lord ; I say , 
 
 Thou art my refuge , and my portim in the land if the 
 living. 
 
 David beseecheth God to consider his destitute 
 condition, to “ look on his right hand,” the place 
 where the advocate used to stand, and to, “ see that 
 
 there was no man that would know,” acknowledge 
 
Day 28. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 458 
 
 / 
 
 i 
 
 him, and take his part; “ refuge failed him there 
 was on earth no patron to whom he could commit 
 himself and his cause ; no one, tgnp, that would 
 u seek, require, or avenge his soul.” Thus Dr 
 Hammond expounds the words in a forensic sense. 
 How affectingly do they describe the destitution of 
 David in the cave, and that of the Son of David in 
 the day of his passion, death, and burial! Death 
 will, in like manner, strip us of all our earthly con¬ 
 nexions and dependences. But even at that hour, 
 may we, each of us, “ cry unto thee, O Lord, and 
 “ say, Thou art my my refuge and my portion in 
 “ the land of the living !’* 
 
 6. Attend unto my cry ; for I am brought very low ; 
 deliver me from my persecutors ; for they are stronger 
 than I. 7. Br'mg my soul out of prison , that I may 
 
 praise . thy name: the righteous shall compass me 
 about; for , or, when thou shall deal bountifully with me. 
 
 This prayer of David was heard and answered ; 
 he was delivered from his persecutors, enlarged 
 from his distress, exalted to the throne, and joined 
 by all the tribes of Israel. The true David was 
 delivered from his stronger persecutors, brought 
 from the sepulchre, exalted to his heavenly throne, 
 owned and submitted to by the converted nations, 
 who became the Israel and people of God. Nor 
 let us fear, though we be brought very low, and our 
 persecutors, the world, the flesh and the devil, be at 
 any time too strong for us. God will deliver us 
 from the bondage of sin, and redeem us from the 
 prison of the grave, to join the great assembly be¬ 
 fore the throne, and there to praise his name for 
 ever. 
 
 i 
 
Psalm 14*3. 
 
 454 A COMMENTARY 
 
 PSALM CXLIIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 This is the seventh and last of the Penitential 
 Psalms ; and as we are not informed of any par¬ 
 ticular temporal calamities, which give occasion 
 to its being composed, we shall explain it accord¬ 
 ing to the general use now made of it in the 
 church, for which, indeed, it seems to have been 
 originally and entirely designed. After the 
 example of David, the penitent, I. maketh his 
 prayer to God for pardon : 2. acknowledged the 
 impossibility of any man being saved but by 
 grace; 3, 4. deplored the lamentable effects of 
 sin ; comforted himself with the retrospect of 
 God’s mercies of old; and, 6—12. prayeth, in a 
 variety of expressions, for remission of sin, sancti¬ 
 fication and redemption. 
 
 1. Hear my prayer , O Lord, give ear to my suppli¬ 
 cations : in thy faithjulness answer me, and in thy right¬ 
 eousness . 
 
 When Mary Magdalene washed the feet of Christ 
 with her tears, he knew what the petition was 
 which her soul desired to have granted, and answer¬ 
 ed it accordingly, before it was made in words, by 
 saying, “ Thy sins are forgiven thee.” Thus the 
 penitent, without mentioning the subject of his re¬ 
 quest, as being well known to God, begs that his 
 * 6 prayer and supplication may be heard and answer- 
 c< ed,” agreeably to the “ faithfulness and righteous- 
 a ness of Jehovah.” 
 
Day ' Ft , fu p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 455 
 
 2. A/ztZ enter not into judgement with thy servant: for 
 in thy sight shall no man living he justified . 
 
 In the first verse, the suppliant appealed to the 
 promises of God, and his fidelity in performing 
 them. Here he urgeth the fallen, sinful, wretched 
 state of human nature, which hath rendered it ab¬ 
 solutely impossible that any son of Adam can be 
 saved, should God “ enter in to judgement with him, 5 ' 
 and exact the punishment due to his offences ac¬ 
 cording to the law, instead of pardoning them by 
 an act of grace. * The thoughts of such a trial are 
 enough to appal the soul of the best man living, to 
 make his flesh tremble, and all his bones shake, as if 
 jhe stood at the foot of Sinai, and beheld Jehovah 
 ready to break forth upon him in the flame of de¬ 
 vouring fire. 
 
 3. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath 
 smitten my life down to the ground ; he hath made me 
 to dwell in darkness , as those that have been long dead . 
 
 4 . Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me ; my 
 heart within me is desolate. 
 
 We have an “ enemy'* who “ persecutes 5 * us 
 with unrelenting malice ; he “ smites our life down 
 “ to the ground,” as often as we yield to temptation, 
 and fall from our state of holiness, to grovel in base 
 and earthly desires: he “ makes us to dwell in dark- 
 * c ness,’* when he has thus withdrawn us from the 
 light of heaven, which before illuminated us, while 
 we walked in it; the spiritual life, for a time, is ex¬ 
 tinguished, and we become, for all the purposes of 
 faith and charity, “ like those that have been long 
 “ dead. Therefore,” at the consideration of this 
 our sad estate, when God has enabled us to see and 
 knovy it, our “ spirit is overwhelmed within usf* 
 with remorse, anxiety, and despondency ; and “ our 
 
 / 
 
45$ 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 143 
 
 “ heart within us,” deprived of the comforts of 
 conscience, the joys of the Spirit, and the presence 
 of the Beloved, u is desolate,” forlorn, miserable. 
 To rescue the sinner from this disconsolate and lost 
 condition, our blessed Saviour was forsaken on the 
 cross ; “ his spirit was overwhelmed within him, and 
 
 his heart within him was desolate : the enemy” 
 was suffered to <c smite his” precious “ life down to 
 cc the ground,” and he “ dwelt,” for three days, 
 cc in darkness, as the men that have been long 
 “ dead.” 
 
 5. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all 
 thy works ; I muse on the work of thy hands . 
 
 When sin has thus laid us low, and, as it were, 
 slain and entombed us, we begin to revive and to 
 arise from the dead, through hope of forgiveness and 
 restoration to the divine favour, by “ remembering 
 “ the days of old, and meditating on all the works” 
 oflove and mercy, which Jehovah then wrought to¬ 
 wards those who were sinners like ourselves. While 
 we “ muse” on such instances of his goodness, 
 the reflection is obvious, Is he not still the same 
 gracious God ? Will he not do as much for us, 
 upon our repentance, as he hath formerly done 
 for others, upon theirs ? cc Let us arise, and go to 
 “ our Father !” 
 
 6. 1 stretch forth my hands unto thee; my soul 
 thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land . 
 
 Prayer is the voice of faith. The sinner who views 
 his situation, and believes, on having considered 
 God ? s works of old, that he shall be delivered out 
 of it, will soon “ stretch forth his hands,” in suppli¬ 
 cation to heaven. His soul will gasp and pant after 
 that grace and mercy which descend from above, 
 like the rain in its season, to bestow refreshment. 
 
Day 29. E. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 457 
 
 beauty, and fertility, on a parched and cc thirsty land.” 
 While we recite this verse, let us not be unmindful 
 of Him, whose hands were often stretched forth in 
 prayer for his people, and whose soul thirsted after 
 our salvation, even then, when he felt the extremity 
 of bodily thirst on the cross. 
 
 7. Hear me speedily, O Lord : my spirit failetk ; 
 hide not thy face from me, lest I he like unto them that 
 go down into the pit . 
 
 These words would come with propriety from the 
 mouth of one in danger of temporal death. They 
 are no less proper in the mouth of him who is in 
 danger of death eternal. Rather, they receive an 
 additional force and energy when used in this latter 
 sense. 
 
 8. Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morn - 
 ing; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the 
 way wherein I should walk ; for I lift up my sold unto 
 thee . 
 
 The penitent prayeth, that he may <c hear the 
 <c voice of God’s loving kindness,” speaking pardon 
 and peace to his soul, “ in the morning” speedily 
 and early, after the long dark night of fear and 
 sorrow, through which he is passing. This he hopes, 
 because, disclaiming all other reliance, he placeth his 
 confidence in God alone; “ in thee do 1 trust.” Nor 
 is he only solicitous for the forgiveness of what is 
 past, but for future direction in the course of duty; 
 tc show thou me the way wherein I should walk.” 
 And to the end that he may follow such directions, 
 lie hath withdrawn his affections from things below, 
 and set them on things above ; “ I lift up my soul 
 “ unto thee.” 
 
 9. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I fee 
 unto thee to hide me. 10. Teach me to do thy will; 
 
458 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 143. 
 
 for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me , 
 or, let thy good Spirit lead me , into the land of upright¬ 
 ness. 
 
 He continueth to pray that he may be “ delivered 
 “ from his enemies,” the world, the flesh, and the 
 devil, from whose temptations he “ fleeth,” by rer 
 pentance and faith, to the Almighty, to “ hide” and 
 protect him. He requesteth to be fully instructed 
 in the “ will” of him, whom, as his Lord and his 
 “ God,” he hath determined to serve and obey. But 
 Conscious of his own inability to do the will of Je¬ 
 hovah, even when known, he entreateth the good 
 Spirit of God to cc lead” him out of the mazes of 
 error and the pollutions of vice, into the pleasant 
 <c land” of truth and holiness*. 
 
 11 . Quicken me , O Lord, for thy name's sake ; for 
 thy righteousness ’ sake , bring my soul out of trouble. 
 12. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies , and destroy 
 all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant . 
 
 The verbs in these two last verses, as Dr Ham¬ 
 mond hath noted, should be rendered in the future; 
 “ Thou shalt quicken,” &c. and then the Psalm will 
 end, as usual, with an act of faith and assurance, 
 that all those mercies which have been asked shall 
 be obtained ; that God, for the sake of his “ name,” 
 and his “ righteousness,” of his glory, and his faith¬ 
 fulness in the performance of his promises, will not 
 fail to be favourable and gracious to his servants,, 
 quickening” them, even when dead in trespasses 
 
 * Mr Merrick mentions the similar phrase of mcliov xX-tfcic',c, 
 and Xiiuojv c&XridiLctSy among the Greeks. Or may signify 
 
 the land that is plain and direct, even and straight,” where he 
 might pursue his intended course of piety and goodness, without 
 fear of meeting with obstructions in the way, or danger of wandering 
 out of it. 
 
Day 29. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 ± o9 
 
 and sins, and bringing them, by degrees, ^ out of 
 “ all their troubles going forth with them to the 
 battle against their spiritual “ enemies,” and ena¬ 
 bling them to vanquish the authors of their “ afflic¬ 
 tion” and misery, to mortify the flesh, and to over¬ 
 come the world; that so they may triumph with 
 their Redeemer, in the day when he shall likewise 
 quicken their mortal bodies, and put all enemies 
 under their feet. 
 
 / 
 
 THIRTIETH DAY.—MORNING PRAYER. 
 
 PSALM CXLIV. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It appears from verse 2. and verse 10. of this Psalm, 
 that it was composed after David’s ascension to 
 the throne. And it is evident, from verse 5, &c. 
 that he had more enemies still to conquer, such as 
 the Philistines, &c. He, therefore, 1, 2. blesseth 
 Jehovah ; and, 3, 4. expresseth his astonishment 
 at the divine goodness shown to such a creature as 
 man ; 5—8. He beseechcth God to perfect his 
 work, and subdue the remaining adversaries by 
 the might of his power. 9, 10. He breaks forth 
 again into a strain of thanksgiving, and, 11 —15. 
 again returns to his prayers for the complete re¬ 
 demption, and the prosperity of Israel. If we 
 substitute in our minds, Messiah for David, the 
 church for Israel, and spiritual for temporal bless¬ 
 ings, the Psalm will present itself to us, as a noble 
 evangelical hymn. 
 
 1. Blessed be the Lord my strength , which teachelh 
 piy hands to xca?\ and my fingers to fight. 
 
460 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm lH. 
 
 What David here acknowledged!, with regard to 
 his victories, and that skill or might by which they 
 were obtained, should be likewise acknowledged by 
 all earthly kings and generals, in the day of battle 
 and conquest. For success in our spiritual warfare, 
 we depend on the grace of God, which alone can 
 give us wisdom and cc strength to have victory, and 
 66 triumph against sin, the world, and the devil.” 
 Even the Captain of our salvation fought and over¬ 
 came by a power that was divine. “ Jehovah taught 
 cc his hands to war, and his fingers to fight.’ , And 
 44 blessed,” on that account, be the name of Jehovah, 
 in the church for evermore. 
 
 2. My goodness ) Heb. my mercy *, and my fortress ; 
 my high tower , and my deliverer ; my shield , and he in 
 whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 
 
 The cc goodness,” or “ mercy,” of God inclineth 
 us in time of trouble, to fly to him as to a cc fort- 
 * c ress,” or tower,” in which we find refuge; and 
 when we have thus put ourselves under his patron¬ 
 age, he becometh our “ deliverer” from present dan¬ 
 ger ; our “ shield,” or protector, against any that 
 may afterwards arise ; the object of our unlimited 
 
 trust” and confidence; and, at last, the “ subduer” 
 of all opposition cc under us.” 
 
 3. Lord, what is man, that thou takcst knowledge 
 of him P or the son of man, that thou makest account 
 of him? 4 . Man is like to vanity: his days are as a 
 shadow that passeth away. 
 
 After a thanksgiving for the works which Jehovah 
 had wrought, followcth a reflection on the creature 
 
 * That is, “ who art merciful to me,” the abstract being put for 
 the concrete, as in Ps. xii. 1. Prow x. 29. Ezek. xliv. 6. Hos. viii. P. 
 Dr Durell thinks we should read s nDH, “ my refuge,” as in other 
 ■parallel places. 
 
Day 30. M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 46* 
 
 “ man” for whom they were wrought. Such a reflec¬ 
 tion introduced in the same manner, and almost in 
 the same w T ords, we meet with in Ps. viii. 4 . which 
 passage, being cited by the apostle, Heb. ii. 6 . and 
 applied to Christ, affords an argument, as Dr Ham¬ 
 mond hath justly observed, for a like application of 
 the verses now before us, in their more eminent, pro¬ 
 phetic mystical sense. For, certainly, if David, upon 
 the remembrance of w T hat God had done for him, 
 could break forth into this reflection, much more may 
 we do so, for whom the Redeemer hath been mani¬ 
 fested in the form of a servant, and in that form hath 
 humbled himself to the death of the cross, to gain us 
 the victory over principalities and powei'S, to put all 
 things under our feet, and to make us partakers of his 
 everlasting kingd^h. Lord, what, indeed, is man, 
 or, what is the son of such a miserable creature, 
 that thou shouldst take this knowledge and 
 make this account, of him ? man, who is now become 
 like vanity, or instability, itself; whose days are fleet¬ 
 ing and transient as a shadow, which glides over the 
 earth, vanishes, and is seen no more ! Such was hu¬ 
 man nature : but the Son of God hath taken it upon 
 himself, rendered it immortal, and exalted it to hea¬ 
 ven ; whither all will follow him hereafter, who fol¬ 
 low him now in the paths of righteousness and holi* 
 ness. 
 
 5. Bow thy heavens , O Lord, and come down; 
 touch the mountains, and they shall smoke . 6 . Cast 
 
 forth lightning, and scatter them ; shoot out thine ar¬ 
 rows, and destroy them. 7* Send thine hand from 
 above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, 
 from the hand of strange children; 8 . Whose mouth 
 speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand 
 of falsehood. 
 
462 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 PdALM 144. 
 
 David, having celebrated Ins victories over some 
 of his enemies, and extolled the mercy and goodness 
 of God, to whom he ascribeth the achievement of 
 them, now proceedeth to request a farther manifesta¬ 
 tion of the omnipotent arm in his favour, against other 
 hostile forces, which still threateneth his country, upon 
 his accession to the throne ; such as the Philistines, 
 Moabites, Ammonites, &-c. see 2 Sam. v. and viii. 
 These are called, metaphorically, “ great waters,” 
 threatening to overwhelm and destroy every thing; 
 and, in plainer terms, 44 strange children,” nr aliens 
 from the covenant of Jehovah, and the commonwealth 
 of Israel; children who “ speak lies, and work wick- 
 44 edness;” or, as Dr Hammond interpreteth the 8th 
 verse, “ whose mouth speaketh, or maketh profession 
 “ of, vanity, KV^, that is, idolatry and their right 
 44 hand,” that on which they depend for support, the 
 object of their confidence, 44 is a right hand of false- 
 44 hood,” 5W, and one that will fail all who rely upon 
 it for help. Jehovah, the God of Israel, is therefore 
 entreated once more to appear in the cause of his 
 anointed; to go forth, as of old, to the battle against 
 the enemies of his people, with all the tokens of dis¬ 
 pleasure and vengeance, dismaying and putting to 
 flight these 44 armies of aliens.” In like manner, the 
 church, or mystical body of Christ, is instant in prayer 
 for the final completion of her hope. She wisheth for 
 the glorious day, when her God and Saviour shall 
 bow the heavens, and come dowm to judgement, caus¬ 
 ing the mountains to smoke, and flame, and dissolve, 
 and flow dow n before him ; when his lightnings, those 
 arrow s of his indignation, and ministers of his ven¬ 
 geance, shall scatter the hosts of darkness,, and destroy 
 the antichristian powers; when we shall be delivered 
 
 1 
 
Day SO. -M. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 from every enemy, and from all that hate us, and Da- 
 ' vid our King. 
 
 Q. I will sing anew song unto thee , O God: upon 
 a psaltery , and an instrument of ten strings , toill I 
 sing praises unto thee. 10 . It is he that giveth salva- ■ 
 tion unto kings: who delivered David his servant from 
 the hurtful sword. 
 
 In the mean time, as the Israelitish church praised 
 Jehovah for the mercies already vouchsafed to the son 
 of Jesse, so do we daily magnify, with voices and in¬ 
 struments of music, that salvation which God hath ef¬ 
 fected for us, by the deliverance of his Son, our Lord, 
 from death and the grave. 
 
 11 . Bid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange 
 children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right 
 hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12 . Thai our sons 
 
 may he as plants grown up in their youth, that our 
 daughters may be as corner stones , polished after the 
 similitude of a palace. 13 . That our garners may be full, 
 affording all manner of store, that our sheep may bring 
 forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets, or, 
 felds : 14 . That our oxen may be strong to labour > 
 
 that there be no breaking in, nor govig out that there 
 be no complaining in our streets. 
 
 Prayer is agsin made for a continuance of God’s 
 favour, and a complete victory over every enemy; 
 the happy consequences of which, in the establishment 
 of Israel, and the prosperity of Jerusalem, are particu¬ 
 larly described. Victory is productive of peace, and 
 peace is the mother of all earthly blessings to com¬ 
 munities, and the families that compose them ; whose 
 happiness consisteth in a numerous and hopeful pro¬ 
 geny of sons and daughters; the former healthy and 
 well nurtured, growing up, like young plants in a 
 kindly soil, until they attain to their full strength and 
 stature ; the latter, fair and virtuous, like so many 
 
4*64* 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm H4. 
 
 tall, well proportioned, highly polished, and richly or¬ 
 namented columns, gracing the house to which they 
 belong. When to these we have added plenty of corn, 
 and all other provisions, in the granaries and store¬ 
 houses ; flocks and herds, ever thriving and encreas- 
 ing; freedom from hostile invasions and domestic 
 complaints, so that there be “ no breaking in, nor 
 “ going out,” nor irruption of aliens into the com¬ 
 monwealth, nor emigration of inhabitants to foreign 
 countries, by captivity, or otherv/ise; we shall find 
 ourselves possessed of most of the ingredients, which 
 enter into the composition of temporal felicity. Such 
 felicity God promised to his people Israel, and be¬ 
 stowed on them, while they kept his statutes, and ob¬ 
 served his laws. And therefore there is no reason for 
 supposing, as the fathers, with many others, have 
 done, that these wishes for “ sons, daughters, corn, 
 sheep, oxen, &c.” are uttered by the “ strange 
 “ children,” the aliens and idolaters, mentioned in 
 the 11th verse. The good things of this world may 
 fall to the lot of the righteous, who are distinguished 
 from the wdcked by the use which they make of 
 them, when given; and by their meek resignation of 
 them, when taken away. Whatever be the w r ill of 
 God concerning our having or wanting these outward 
 comforts, we know that we have, as the faithful ser¬ 
 vants of God in every age had before us, greater and 
 more precious promises, a better and an enduring sub¬ 
 stance, pleasures that fade not, and riches that fly not 
 away, reserved for us in a heavenly country, and a 
 city which hath foundations. 
 
 15. Happy is that people that is in such a case : yea, 
 happy is that people , whose God is the Lord. 
 
 The Psalmist concludes with pronouncing the hap¬ 
 piness of the Israelites, when in the state of prosperity 
 
 1 
 
Day 30. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 46S 
 
 above described, and their far greater happiness in 
 “ having Jehovah for their God,” who, by settling 
 them in peaceful possession of the land of Canaan, and 
 the Jerusalem below, gave them a pledge and foretaste 
 of that love, which stood engaged by covenant to 
 bring them and us to his everlasting rest, in the Jeru¬ 
 salem above. 
 
 PSALM CXLY. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 Hitherto, in this divine book,we have been presented 
 with checkered scenes of danger and deliverance, 
 distress and mercy. The voice of complaint hath 
 sometimes been succeeded by that of thanksgiving; 
 and praise, at other times, hath terminated in 
 prayer. But now, as if the days of mourning in 
 Zion were ended, we hear no more of Messiah, as a 
 man of sorrows ; or of the church, as despised and 
 afflicted, after the same example, in the world. 
 Henceforth we seem not to be upon earth, but in 
 heaven, mingling with celestial spirits around the 
 throne, and singing, as in the following Psalm, 1, 2. 
 the praises of our God and King ; extolling, 3. his 
 greatness, 4- his might, 5. his glory, 6, 7- his jus¬ 
 tice, 8, Q. his mercy; 10—13- the majesty of his 
 kingdom, and, 14—21. all his adorable perfections, 
 and wondrous works. This is an alphabetical Psalm. 
 The verse, which should begin with the letter Nun, 
 is wanting. But, as Dr Hammond hath observed, 
 it is not uncommon for one letter, or more, to be 
 left out in an alphabetical Psalm, as in Ps. xxv. 
 where ^ being twice repeated, p is certainly omitted. 
 VOL. u. <s o 
 
466 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 14 > 5 + 
 
 We shall therefore content ourselves, with what we 
 find in the original Hebrew, and in the Chaldee, 
 without inserting the verse which is now read in the 
 LXX, and other translations. Bishop Patrick men¬ 
 tions a saying of the ancient Hebrews, taken notice 
 of bv Valentine Schindler, that “ He could not fail 
 “ to be a child of the world to come y who would 
 “ say this Psalm three times every day.” Perhaps 
 they who, while they chant it in full choir, enter 
 thoroughly into the spirit of it, do experience as 
 lively a foretaste of the next world, as can be ex¬ 
 perienced in this. 
 
 1. I will extol thee , my God , O King ; and will bless 
 thy name for ever and ever. 2. Every day will 1 
 bless thee ; and I will praise thy name for ever and 
 ever. 
 
 The same divine person, who w'as, in a peculiar 
 manner, the “ God” and “ King” of Israel, now stand- 
 eth in those relations to the Gentile Christian church, 
 and by her is “ extolled” in the words of this Psalm, 
 originally composed and used for that purpose among 
 the Israelites. Christ is our “ God,” w T ho hath saved 
 us according to his covenant and promise; he is our 
 “ King,” who hath set up the universal and everlast¬ 
 ing kingdom, foretold by Daniel, and the other pro¬ 
 phets ; who hath “ all power in heaven and earth 
 and who “ must reign till he hath put all enemies 
 “ under his feet, and swallowed up death in victory.” 
 In the mean time it is the daily employment of us, 
 his redeemed subjects and servants, to chant forth the 
 praises of his saving and glorious “ name,” with which 
 the church on earth, and in heaven, will resound 
 “ for ever and ever/’ 
 
Day 30. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 467 
 
 3 . Great is the Lord, and greatly to he praised; 
 and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 . One generation 
 
 shall praise thy works unto another, and shall declare 
 thy mighty acts. 
 
 The “ greatness” of Jehovah, whether we consider 
 it as relating to his essence, or his works, is never to 
 he fully comprehended by his saints, whose delight it 
 is to contemplate “ the breadth, and length, and 
 “ depth, and height,” Ephes. iii. 18. the extent and 
 duration of his Being and his kingdom, the profundity 
 of his counsels, and the sublimity of his power and 
 glory. These are the inexhaustible subjects of divine 
 meditation, transmitted from age to age. And as 
 the greatness of God our Saviour hath no bounds, so 
 his praises should have no end, nor should the voice 
 of thanksgiving ever cease in the church. A a “ one 
 “ generation” drops it, “ another” should take it up, 
 and prolong the delightful strain, till the sun and the 
 moon shall withdraw their light, and the stars fall ex¬ 
 tinguished from their orbs. 
 
 5. I will speak of the glorious honour of tliy majesty , 
 and of thy wondrous works . 6. And men shall speak 
 
 of the might of thy terrible acts : and I will declare 
 thy greatness. 7- They shall abundantly utter the 
 memory of thy great goodness , and shall sing of thy 
 righteousness. 
 
 Those works of God, which demand to be celebrated 
 by the tongues of men, are here divided into three kinds. 
 First, such as declare his glory, and excite our admi¬ 
 ration whenever we behold them. Of this sort arc 
 the shining frame of the heavens, and all the bodies 
 which move therein; the earth, with its furniture 
 without, and its contents within; the magnificent 
 
 and stupendous ocean, which flows around it ; the 
 
 •- 
 
 O 
 
 ^ * 
 
468 A COMMENTARY Psalm 145. 
 
 different tribes of animals inhabiting both the one and 
 tiie other , and, above all, the construction of man, 
 the lord of this lower world. Under the second class 
 of God's works are ranged all those which the Psalmist 
 styleth his “ terrible acts," or the exertions of his 
 power against his enemies; such as, the destruction 
 of the old world by water ; of Sodom and Gomorrah 
 by fire; of Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; of 
 the Canaanitish nations by the sword; and the vic¬ 
 tory gained over sin and death by the resurrection of 
 Christ. In the third rank stand those works which 
 have proceeded from the “ goodness" of God, and his 
 4 ‘ righteousness" in the performance of his promises. 
 And among these we may reckon all the different spe¬ 
 cies of provision, which have been made by provi¬ 
 dence for the bodies of men in the world, and by grace 
 for their souls in the church. On any of these sub¬ 
 jects meditation cannot be long employed, without 
 breaking forth into wonder, gratitude, and praise. 
 
 8. The Lord is gracious , and full of compassion ; 
 slow to anger , and of great mercy . 9. The Lord is 
 
 good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his 
 works . 
 
 Mercy hath misery for its object, and is that at¬ 
 tribute towards which the eyes of a fallen world must 
 naturally be turned. The Psalmist hath, accordingly, 
 introduced her last, with great pomp and splendour, 
 seated in her triumphal chariot, and invested with a 
 supremacy over all the works of God. She is above 
 the heavens, and over all the earth, so that the whole 
 creation findeth that refuge under the shadow of her 
 wings, of which, by reason of man’s transgression, it 
 standeth in need. The original word for “ his tender 
 “ mercies," is VOTy the singular of which, Dm, sig¬ 
 nifies the “ womb." The “ mercies” of God towards 
 
Day 30. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 469 
 
 man are, therefore, represented, by this word, to be like 
 those of a mother towards the child of her “ womb.” 
 And this is the very similitude w 7 hich he himself hath 
 made use of, in that most affecting and comforting 
 passage of the prophecy of Isaiah, chap. xlix. 15 . : 
 “ Can a w 7 oman forget her sucking child, that she 
 “ should not have compassion on the son of her womb? 
 “ Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”—• 
 And now 7 , what follows ? Are such “ tender mercies” 
 in God ? and are they “ over all his works ?” W hy 
 then, 
 
 10 . All thy works shall praise thee , O Lord ; and 
 thy saints shall bless thee. 11. They shall speak f 
 the glory of thy kingdom , and talk of thy power ; 
 12 . To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts , 
 and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 . Thy 
 kingdom is an everlasting kingdom , and thy dominion 
 endureth throughout all generations. 
 
 As “ all the works” of God, in their several ways? 
 make a due return for the merev vouchsafed unto 
 
 J 
 
 them, and set forth his glory; so more especially 
 ought this to be done by man, w 7 ho is the principal 
 party concerned in the fall and redemption. The 
 “ saints” are the subjects of Messiah’s kingdom; and 
 of that kingdom it is their duty to publish to the 
 world the blessings and the glories, to the end that, 
 w 7 hen these are made known, the nations may be 
 thereby induced to submit their hearts to so gracious 
 a sceptre, and the dominion of Christ, may become 
 as universal in its extent, as it is everlasting in its 
 duration. 
 
 14. The Lord upholdeth all that fall , and raisethup 
 all those that be bowed dov:n. 
 
 After having proclaimed the glory and eternity of 
 the kingdom, the prophet draws a character of the 
 
470 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 146’. 
 
 King, who, in the execution of his regal and pastoral 
 office, is ever'mindful of the necessities of his subjects. 
 To those who, like Peter on the water, are sinking 
 under temptation, he stretcheth out his saving arm, 
 supporting and “ upholding” them by his grace; and 
 to those who, like the woman in the Gospel, have 
 long been “ bowed down” with sin or sorrow, he 
 holdeth forth a pardon, “ raising” and setting them 
 upright again by his mercy. The case is the same 
 with regard to outward distresses, from which God 
 either preserves or delivers his people, as he sees best 
 for them. 
 
 15 . The eyes Gf all wait upon thee: and thou 
 givest them their meat in due seasoji. 16. Thou open- 
 est thy hand , and satisjiest the desire of every living 
 thing. 
 
 What a just and beautiful picture is here presented 
 to view ! We see the w 7 hole animal world assembled 
 before us, with their eyes fixed on the great King 
 and Father of all things, like those of a flock on their 
 shepherd, when he enters the field, in time of dearth, 
 with provender for them. From the same divine per¬ 
 son, as the Saviour of men, as the King, Father, and 
 Pastor of the church, do believers, with earnest expec¬ 
 tation, wait for the food of eternal life. And neither 
 one nor the other look and wait in vain. To both he 
 
 l f t * - - > 
 
 giveth their meat in due season; “ he openeth his hand 
 “ and satisfieth the desire of every living thing.” 
 
 17 . The Lord is righteous in all his ways , and 
 holy , or, good , merciful , in all his WGrks. 
 
 Thus, “ in all his ways,” or dispensations towards 
 his creatures, whether in nature, or in grace, “ Je- 
 “ hovah is righteous,” faithful, and just, in extending 
 his promised care, by making due provision for their 
 wants; and “ all his works,”*which, from the begin- 
 
 * 
 
Day 30. M» r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 *71 
 
 rung of the world, he hath wrought in behalf of the 
 sons of men, are full of “ mercy and loving kindness.” 
 
 17. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon 
 him , to all that call upon him in truth. 19. He will 
 
 fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will 
 hear their cry, and will save them. 
 
 It is our happiness to have a King, who is not, 
 like earthly princes, difficult of access, but one of 
 whom the meanest subject may at any time obtain 
 an audience, and he certain of having his request 
 granted, if it be made “ in truth,” without waver¬ 
 ing, and without hypocrisy, with humble confidence, 
 and with unwearied constancy, expecting salvation 
 from God, from none but him, and from him only in 
 the way of duty and obedience: “ he will fulfil the 
 ** desire of them that fear him ” 
 
 20. The Lord preserveth all them that love him: 
 hut all the wicked will he destroy. 
 
 To protect his subjects, and destroy their enemies, 
 is the finishing part of the regal character, as here 
 drawn from its great original in “ the King of saints.” 
 By his grace he now preserveth us from innumerable 
 dangers and temptations, and gradually destroyeth 
 sin in us : and by his power he will hereafter execute, 
 in the fullest and most extensive sense, this part of 
 bis office, “ when the wicked shall he. consumed with 
 “ the spirit of his mouth, and destroyed with the 
 “ brightness of his coming.'” Then the bodies of the 
 righteous, preserved to a jo)ful resurrection, shall be 
 reunited to their souls, and both together, perfected 
 and glorified, shall reign and shine with him for ever. 
 Thus the Lord Jesus Christ “ preserveth all that love 
 “ him,” and maketh good his promise, There shall 
 “ notan hair of your head perish.” Luke xxi. 18 . 
 
 21 . My mouth shall' speak the praise of the 
 
£72 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 14(>. 
 
 Lord : and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever 
 and ever. 
 
 The Psalmist, having now given the reasons why 
 he had resolved to “ extol his God and King, and to 
 “■ bless his name for ever and ever,” concludes with 
 repeating his resolution, and exhorts all the world to 
 follow his example, in time and eternity. 
 
 PSALM CXLVI. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 In this Psalm, the church is taught, 1, 2. to prolong 
 the praises of Jehovah, as her God and King; 
 2 —6’. to beware of trusting in the powers ot the 
 world, and to rely on the world’s Creator and Re¬ 
 deemer, whose miracles of love and mercy, wrought 
 for the .children of men, 7—* 9 - are enumerated, 
 and the eternity of whose kingdom, 10. is pro¬ 
 claimed. 
 
 1 . Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my 
 soul. 2 . While I live will I praise the Lord : / will 
 sing praises unto my God , while I have any being. 
 
 No sooner is one Hallelujah ended, but another 
 begins; and the prophet, in imitation of those who 
 “ rest not day or night,” stirs himself up afresh to 
 praise the King of glory, the Creator and Redeemer 
 of men, declaring himself resolved to employ the 
 pow 7 ers and faculties of his soul in the service of that 
 God, who gave and preserved them. 
 
 3 . Put not your trust in princes , nor in the son of 
 man , in whom there is no help. 4 * His breath goeth 
 forth , he returneth to his earth in that very day his 
 thoughts perish. 5 . Happy is be that hath the God 
 
 V 
 
Day 30. m. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 473 
 
 of Jacob for his help , whose hope is in the Lord his 
 God; d. Which made heaven and earth, the sea, and 
 all that therein is : which keepeth truth for ever : 
 
 From Him, who is “ the prince of the kings of the 
 44 earth,” Sion looks for deliverance, and by Him her 
 true sons expect to be exalted. He “ keepeth truth 
 44 for everhe is able and willing to perform his pro¬ 
 mises, and never disappoints those who rely on him. 
 There are no changes in the politics of heaven. The 
 faithful servant of his Master is by that Master infal¬ 
 libly approved and rewarded. Earthly princes, if 
 they have the will, often want the power, even to pro¬ 
 tect their friends. And should they want neither will 
 nor power to advance them, yet still all depends upon 
 the breath in their nostrils, which perhaps, at the very 
 critical moment, 4 ‘goeth forth ; they return to their 
 “ earth; their thoughts,” and all the thoughts of 
 those who had hoped to rise by their means, fall into 
 the same grave, and are buried with them for ever. 
 “ Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; 
 44 for wherein is he to be accounted of? But trust ye 
 4 in the Lord for ever ; for in the Lord Jehovah is 
 44 everlasting strength.” Isa. ii. 22. xxvi. 4. 
 
 7. Which executeth judgement for the oppressed: 
 which giveth food to the hungry . The Lord looseih 
 the prisoners: 8 . The Lord openeth the eyes of the 
 
 blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: 
 the Lord loveth the righteous: 9. The Lord pre¬ 
 served the strangers ; he relieved the fatherless and 
 widow ; but the way of the wicketh he turneth upside 
 down . 
 
 That the Lord of whom all these things are spoken, 
 is the Messiah, or Jehovah incarnate, appears, as Dr 
 Hammond hath justly observed, from what is said of 
 him in verse 8. “ The Lord openeth the eyes of the 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 146* 
 
 474 
 
 “ blindthe miracle of restoring sight to men born 
 blind being one reserved for the Son of God to work, 
 at his coming in the flesh. “ Since the world began/* 
 saith the man to whom sight had been thus restored, 
 “ was it not heard, that any man opened the eyes of 
 “ one that w T as born blind John ix. 32. This there¬ 
 fore was the first of those tokens given by Jesus to the 
 disciples of John, whereby it might be known, that 
 he was the expected Christ; “ Go and tell John the 
 “ things which ye have heard and seen; the blind 
 “ receive their sight/’ &c. But how did this evince 
 him to the Messiah? Plainly, because it had been fore¬ 
 told by the prophets (as in Isaiah xxxv. 5. xxix. 18 . 
 xlii. 18 . so in this passage of our Psalm, which is 
 exactly similar to those texts), that Messiah, when he 
 came, should give sight to the blind. Now, if one 
 part of the Psalmist’s description belong to Christ, the 
 other members of it must do so likewise, it being evi¬ 
 dent that the whole is spoken of the same person. He, 
 therefore, is “ the God of Jacob, who made heaven 
 64 and earth, the sea and all that therein is;” and, upon 
 his appearing before men in the body of our flesh, he 
 showed himself possessed of power to relieve all the 
 wants, corporal and spiritual, of poor lost mankind. 
 When he rescued men from the bondage of Satan, he 
 ii executed judgement for the oppressed when he 
 Jed thousands by a miracle, or when he preached the 
 word to such as desired to hear and receive it, he 
 “ gave food to the hungry when, by pardon and 
 grace, he released those who were bound with the 
 chains of their sins, he “ loosed the prisoners 
 when he poured light into the sightless eye-ball, or 
 illuminated with saving knowledge the understanding 
 of the ignorant, he “ opened the eyes of the blind 
 when lie made the crooked woman straight, or recti- 
 
.Day 30. e. r. ON THE PSALMS. . 475 
 
 Tied the obliquity of a depraved will, he “ raked 
 those that were bowed downwhile he protecteth, 
 and guideth to the city of their eternal habitation, the 
 sons of Adam, who are exile f sgpilgrims, and sojourners 
 upon the earth, he “ preserveth the strangers !” wheii 
 he became a husband to the church, and a parent to 
 her destitute children, he “ relieved the fatherless and 
 “ widow and when he shall come in his glorious 
 majesty, to reward his servants, and to confound their 
 enemies, it will be seen how “ he loveth the righteous, 
 “ and turneth the way of the wicked upside down.’ 5 
 Happy the people of such a God; happy the sub¬ 
 jects of such a King ! Rejoice, and sing, and shout 
 aloud ; for lo, 
 
 10. The Lord shall reign for ever , even thy God , 
 O Zion , unto all generations . Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 THIRTIETH DAY—EVENING PRAYER. 
 PSALM CXLVII. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 It hath been conjectured from ver. 2. that This Psalm 
 was written to celebrate the return of Israel from 
 Babylon, when Jerusalem and the temple were re¬ 
 built. 1—3. The people of God are exhorted to 
 praise him for the mercies vouchsafed to them ; 
 4—6. for his wisdom, power, and goodness ; 7—0. 
 for his providential care, and, 10,11. the wonderful 
 salvation wrought by his arm; 12—14. for the 
 security, increase, and prosperity of the church ; 
 15 — 18 . for the happy change of her condition, 
 like that produced in nature, when spring succeed^ 
 
*76 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 147 . 
 
 to winter; 1(), 20. ana for the glorious privilege of 
 
 the divine word, revealed and committed to her. 
 
 1 . Praise ye the : for it is good to sing 
 
 praises unto our God ; for it is pleasunt; and praise 
 is comely. 
 
 Praise is “ good” and acceptable to God our Sa¬ 
 viour, whose glory is the gieat end of man’s creation 
 and redemption: and it is pleasant and comely” for 
 man, being the only return he can make for those, and 
 all other mercies; the offspring of gratitude, and the 
 expression of love ; the elevation of the soul, and the 
 antepast of heaven; its own reward in this life, and 
 an introduction to the felicities of the next. 
 
 2. The Lord, doth build up Jerusalem : he gather- 
 eth together the outcasts of Israel. 
 
 If this Psalm -were written on occasion of the re¬ 
 turn from Babylon, and the rebuilding of the earthly 
 city, the ideas are to be transferred, as mother Psalms 
 of the same kind, to a more important restoration 
 from a much worse captivity, and to the building 
 up of the church under the Gospel, when Christ 
 “ gathered together in one the children of God 
 “ that were scattered abroad;” John xi. 52 . that is, 
 in the words of our Psalm, he “ gathered togei j r 
 “ the outcasts of Israel!’’ So shall he again, at ibe 
 resurrection, “ gather together his elect from the lour 
 “ winds,” Matt. xxiv. 31. and “ build up a Jerusa- 
 “ lem,” in which they shall serve and praise him lor 
 ever. 
 
 3 . He healeth the broken in heart , and bindeth up 
 their wounds. 
 
 The “ broken hearts and w r ounded spirits” of the 
 Israelites were “ healed and made whole,” when they 
 returned to their own land, when they beheld Jeru- 
 
Day 30. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 477 
 
 salem rising again in beauteous majesty, and sung the 
 songs of Zion in the courts of the temple. Thus 
 Christ came “ to preach deliverance to the captives, 
 “ and to bind up the broken-hearted;” Isa. lxi. 1. 
 Luke iv, 18 . to speak pardon and peace to the wounds 
 ed and contrite spirit, and to put a new song of 
 thanksgiving in the mouth of the penitent, which he 
 might sing, when restored to the holy city, and the 
 house of his heavenly Father. The hour is coming, 
 when God shall heal the breaches which death has 
 made in the bodies of his people, and translate them 
 likewise from Babylon to Jerusalem. 
 
 4. He telleth the number' of the stars: he calleth 
 them all by their names . 
 
 And he who does this, cannot be ignorant of the 
 situation and circumstances of his elect. He knoweth 
 each individual, and numbereth all the atoms which 
 go to the composition of his frame. He can call his 
 saints from the depths of earth and sea, “ by their 
 “ names,” as when once “ he cried with a loud voice, 
 “ Lazarus come forth and lie can fix them in ra¬ 
 diant circles round his throne in the kingdom of glory, 
 vying, for multitude, as well as splendour, with those 
 bright orbs which glitter by night in the spangled fir¬ 
 mament of heaven; so that w 7 hat Baruch saith of 
 the stars, may well be applied to the seed of Abra¬ 
 ham, of whom it was foretoid, that they should equal 
 the stars in number, Gen. xv. 5 . The stars shine in 
 “ their watches and rejoice; when he calleth them, 
 “ they say, Here we be ; and so with cheerfulness 
 “ they show 7 light unto him that made them.” Baruch 
 iii. 34 - 
 
 5. Great is our Lord and of great power : his un¬ 
 derstanding is infinite : Heb. of his understanding there 
 is no number , or, computation ; *£0D 
 
475 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 147. 
 
 This is a proper conclusion drawn from the former 
 part of the Psalm, and especially from the preceding 
 verse. The greatness of God’s power, which over¬ 
 come th all difficulties to effect the salvation of his 
 people, is not to be grasped by the human mind ; 
 and that wisdom which numbers the stars of heaven, 
 and the sand of the sea, and the generations of the 
 sons of Abraham, can itself be subject to the rules of 
 no arithmetic. 
 
 6 . The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the 
 wicked down to the ground. 
 
 To exalt and reward the humble, penitent, believ¬ 
 ing, and obedient; to depress and punish the proud, 
 impenitent, unbelieving, and disobedient; these are 
 the measures and ends of all the divine dispensations. 
 And as a man ranks himself in one or other of these 
 two divisions, he may expect from heaven storm or 
 sunshine, mercy or judgement. 
 
 7. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing 
 praise upon the harp unto our God. 8. Who covereth 
 the heaven with clouds , ivho prepareth rain for the 
 earth , who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains . 
 Q. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ra¬ 
 vens which cry. 
 
 The faithful praise God for his goodness to the ani-v 
 mal world, both on account of that goodness in itself, 
 and also because they behold therein an emblem and 
 assurance of his mercy to themselves. The watchful 
 care of Providence over all his creatures, speaks the 
 same language to us, which Jehovah made use of to 
 Joshua, and which the apostle hath applied to Chris¬ 
 tians : “ I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee 
 Josh. i. 5 . Heb. xiii. 5 . He who, by sending rain on 
 the mountains, which could not otherwise be watered, 
 provideth food for the wild beasts inhabiting those 
 
Day 30. e. r. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS: 
 
 479 
 
 mountains, will never leave the lambs of his flock 
 destitute. And he who feedeth the young of the un¬ 
 clean raven, when they cry, and, as it were, in their 
 w r ay, call upon him for a supply of their wants, will 
 he in the day of dearth and calamity, forsake the 
 meek and harmless dove, that mourneth continually 
 in prayer before him ? The desponding servant of God 
 heed only therefore put to himself the question which 
 we find asked by the Creator, in the book of Job, 
 chap, xxxviii. 41.: “ Whoso provideth for the raven 
 “ his food ? When his young ones cry unto God, they 
 “ wander for lack of meatthey wander and find it. 
 Our Lord pressed this argument on his disciples ; 
 Luke xii. 24. “ Consider the ravens Matt. vi. 26. 
 
 Behold the fowls of “ the air; for they sow not, nei- 
 “ ther do they reap, nor gather into barns ; yet your 
 “ heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much 
 “ better than they ?” 
 
 Behold, and look away your low despair \ 
 
 See the light tenants of the barren air: 
 
 To them, nor stores, nor granaries belong, 
 
 Nought but the woodland, and the pleasing song 5 
 Yet, your kind heav’nly Father bends his eye 
 On the least wing that flits along the sky. 
 
 To him they sing, when spring renews the plain, 
 
 To him they cry, in winter’s pinching reign} j 
 
 Nor is their music, nor their plaint, in vain : 
 
 He hears the gay, and the distressful call, 
 
 And with unsparing bounty fills them all. 
 
 Will he not care for you, ye faithless, say ? 
 
 Is‘he unwise ? Or,'are ye less than they ? 
 
 Thomson. 
 
 10 . He delighteth not in the strength of the horse : 
 he triketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 11. The 
 
 1 
 
480 A COMMENTARY Psalm 147. 
 
 *X 
 
 Lord taketli pleasure in them that fear him , in those 
 that hope in his mercy . 
 
 If, therefore, the inference deduced above be a just 
 one, namely, that God, who takes care of the wild 
 beasts, and the birds of the air, will support and de¬ 
 fend his church; then, however weak she may be, 
 and however strong her adversaries may be, yet she 
 may rest secure, as having him on her side, to whom 
 it is equal, to save by many, or by few; who giveth 
 not the victory to the pomp and pride of carnal 
 strength, to thousands or ten thousands, but to “ those 
 “ who fear him, and hope in his mercy.” The history 
 of Israel is one continual exemplification of this truth; 
 and, in our spiritual warfare, “ this is the victory 
 “ which overcometh the world, even our faith.” 
 1 John v. 4* 
 
 12 . Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem ; praise thy 
 God , O Zion. 13. For he hath strengthened the bars 
 of thy gates ; he hath blessed thy children within thee. 
 14. He maketh peace in thy borders , and filleth thee 
 with thefinest of the wheat . 
 
 The church, like Jerusalem of old, erected and pre¬ 
 served by the wisdom, and power, and goodness of 
 God, is exhorted to praise him for all the benefits and 
 blessings vouchsafed unto her; for the increase of 
 “ her children within her;” for the “ peace” which 
 she at any time enjoyeth “ in her borders,” while she 
 is here below ; for the plentiful provision made by 
 her pastors, to satisfy the needs of those who “ hun- 
 “ ger and thirst after righteousness ;” and for the pro¬ 
 tection of the Almighty, “ strengthening the bars of 
 “ her gates,” and securing to her the possession of all 
 these comforts ; which, in the heavenly Jerusalem, 
 shall be rendered perfect and indefeasible for ever¬ 
 more. 
 
Day 30. e. p. ON THE PSALMS. . 481 
 
 15 . He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: 
 his word runneth very swiftly. 16. He giveth snow 
 like wool: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes . 
 17. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can 
 stand before his coldP 18 . He sendeth out his word , 
 and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow , and 
 the waters flow . 
 
 The wonders of nature represent to us the mira¬ 
 cles of grace, and the change of seasons produceth 
 not greater alterations in the world, than those which 
 take place in the church, when her God hideth from 
 her, or restoreth to her, the light of his countenance, 
 which, like its emblem, the bright ruler in the hea¬ 
 vens, at its departure leaves winter behind it; and 
 brings the spring with it at its return. “ The sun,” 
 says bishop Sherlock, “ is the great spirit of the 
 “ world, in the light of which all things are made to 
 “ rejoice; perpetual spring attends his course, all 
 “ things revive at his approach, and put on a new face 
 “ of youth and beauty ; winter and frost lag behind 
 “ him ; nature grows deformed, and sickens at his de- 
 “ parture.” Discourses, vol. v. What the sun is to 
 the world, the same is Christ to the church. When the 
 heart of man turns away from him, and deprives it¬ 
 self of its gracious illumination ; when ignorance suc¬ 
 ceeds to knowledge, that is, darkness to light; when 
 faith fails, and all its fair productions wither away; 
 when “ the love of many is waxen cold,” and the fer¬ 
 tilizing streams of charity are frozen to the bottom: 
 On the other hand, when God “ sendeth out his word, 
 “ and melteth them ;” when he “ bloweth with his 
 “ spirit, and,” by these genial influences from above, 
 “ the waters are made to flow;” when faith revives, 
 and shoots into vigour and beauty, and fruitfulness; 
 and when the hearts of men are warmed, as well as 
 
 VOL. 11. >1 H 
 
482 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 148, 
 
 their understandings illuminated : What is all this, 
 but a winter, and a spring, like those which, in their 
 turns, annually deform and renew the face of the 
 earth, at the “ word and command of God,” in either 
 Case, “ running swiftly,” and operating efficaciously ? 
 
 19 . He showeth his word unto Jacoby his statutes 
 and his judgements unto Israel . 20. He hath not dealt 
 so with any nation : and as for his judgements , they 
 have not known them . Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 That “ word,” the effects of which upon the spi¬ 
 ritual system are similar to those experienced by na¬ 
 ture in the vernal season, that “ word was showed 
 “ unto Jacob,” and became the property of “ Israel,” 
 while Israel continued to be the church of God. It 
 hath since been made over, with all its types realized 
 and its prophecies accomplished in Jesus, to the 
 church Christian; it is that peculiar blessing, which 
 distinguishes her from the rest of the world, and for 
 which her children are bound, at all times, to “ praise 
 M the Lord.” 
 
 PSALM CXLVIIL 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 All the creatures in the invisible and visible world 
 are called upon by the Psalmist to unite in a grand 
 chorus of praise and thanksgiving. The various 
 parts are to be performed by, 1, 2. the angelic 
 hosts ; 3—6. the material heavens, and the lumina¬ 
 ries placed in them; 7* the ocean, with its inhabit¬ 
 ants ; 8. the meteors of the air; 9> 10. the earth, 
 as divided into hills and valleys, with the vegetables 
 that grow out of it, and the animals that move 
 upon, or about it; 11—13- the human race of every 
 
Day SO. e. p. ON THE PSALMS. ‘ 48S 
 
 ' ,4 v- ( 
 
 degree, of each sex, and of every age; 14 * more 
 
 especially the Israel, or church of God. 
 
 I. Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from 
 the heavens: praise him in the heights . 2. Praise ye 
 
 him , all ye angels ; praise ye him , all his hosts . 
 
 When St John saw in vision the King of glory 
 seated on his throne, he tells us that he heard all the 
 angels which stood around the throne, with the elders, 
 and every creature in heaven, earth, and sea, lifting 
 up their voices, and.singing together a hymn of 
 thanksgiving in honour of him. Such a choir we 
 find here summoned by the inspired Psalmist, and 
 exhorted to join and assist him in praising the same 
 Divine Person, whom the elders, in the Revelation, 
 declare “ worthy to receive glory, and honour, and 
 “ power,” because he “ created all things, and for his 
 “ pleasure they are, and w r ere created Rev. v. 13 „ 
 iv. 11. From the heavens and those unutterable 
 heights, where hosts of immortal spirits, admitted to 
 a sight of their King, enjoy unfading pleasures, the 
 song is to begin. And when the strain is thus set by 
 the celestial part of the choir, it is to be taken up, 
 and echoed back, by the creatures of this low r er world, 
 animate and inanimate, which have all their several 
 parts assigned them, in the great work of glorifying 
 their Creator. 
 
 3. Praise ye him , sun and moon : praise him , all ye 
 stars of light. 4. Praise him , ye heavens of heavens , 
 and ye waters that be above the heavens. 5. Let thetn 
 praise the name of the Lord : for he commanded , and 
 they were created. 6. He hath also established them 
 for ever and ever : he hath made a decree which shall 
 not pass. 
 
 The material heavens, through all their various 
 
484 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm I4& 
 
 regions, with the luminaries placed in them, and the 
 waters sustained by them, though they have neither 
 speech nor language, and want the tongue of men, 
 yet, by their splendour and magnificence, their motions 
 and their influences, all regulated and exerted accord¬ 
 ing to the ordinance of their Maker, do, in a ver j 
 intelligible and striking manner, declare the glory of 
 God : they call upon us to translate their actions into 
 our language, and copy their obedience in our lives ; 
 that so we may, both by word and deed, glorify, with 
 them, the Creator and Redeemer of the universe. 
 
 7. Praise the Lord from tlie earth , ye dragons , or. 
 whales , and all deeps. 
 
 From heaven above, the Psalmist desccndeth to the 
 deep beneath, which, while it proclaims the power,, 
 observes the laws and decrees, of him who made it, 
 and poured it abroad. And the same may be said of 
 its enormous inhabitants, which are under the com¬ 
 mand of Jehovah, and of none but him. 
 
 8. Fire and hail; snow and vapours ; stormy wind 
 fulfilling his word. 
 
 These are so many messengers, always ready to go 
 forth, at the command of the Most High, for the 
 purposes of mercy, or judgement. They praise and 
 glorify God after their manner, while they “ fulfil his 
 “ word” upon the earth. 
 
 Q. Mountains , and all hills ; fruitful trees , and all 
 cedars : 1G. Beasts , and all cattle ; creeping things , 
 and flying fowl: 
 
 Who shall ever understand and comprehend all the 
 wisdom of God displayed in the vegetable world, from 
 the cedar to the hyssop ; in the animal, from the ele¬ 
 phant to the pismire, from the eagle to the sparrow 1 
 The more we study them, the more we shall find him* 
 
Day 30. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 435 
 
 glorified in them ; and the more, on that account, 
 will he be glorified by us. 
 
 11. Kings of the earth , and all people ; princes , and 
 all judges of the earth: 12. Both young men , and 
 maidens ; old men ami children: 13 . Let them praise 
 the name of the Lord : for his name alone is excellent ; 
 his glory is above the earth and heaven *. 
 
 After the whole creation hath been called upon to 
 praise Jehovah ; man, for whom the whole was made ; 
 man, the last and most perfect work of God ; man, 
 that hath been since redeemed by the blood of the 
 Son of God incarnate, is exhorted to join and fill up 
 the universal chorus of heaven and earth, as being 
 connected with both worlds, that which now is, and 
 that which is to come. Persons of every degree, of 
 each sex, and of every age ; “ kings,” whose power 
 God hath made an image cf his own, and who are the 
 suns of their respective systems ; “judges,” and ma¬ 
 gistrates of all kinds, who derive their power, as the 
 moon and planets do their light, from its original 
 source; “ young men and maidens,” in the flower of 
 health, strength, and beauty ; “ old men,” who have 
 accomplished their warfare, and are going out of life; 
 
 children,” who are just come into it, and see every 
 tiling new before them ; all these have their several 
 reasons for “ praising the Lord, whose name is excel- 
 lent, and his glory above heaven and earth.” 
 
 14 - Be also exalteth the horn of his people , the 
 praise of all his saints , even of the children of Israel , 
 a people near unto him . Braise ye the Lord. 
 
 * Nec ad solos Plebrceos haec pertinet adTiortatio, sed ad omnes 
 omnino homines : estque adeo veluti proludium vocationis Gentilium. 
 Deum enirn laudare, ut par est, non possunt, qui eum non bene 
 norunt ; nec eum satis norunt, qui Evangelium nunquam audivervmt 3 
 e quo maximre Dei laudes eH!ore c cunt. Clericus in loc. 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 148. 
 
 486 
 
 i 
 
 As men, above all other creatures, so, above other 
 men, the “ Israel” of God, the “ people” that are 
 admitted to draw “ near unto him,” in his house, by 
 faith and charity, by prayer and participation of the 
 sacraments, are bound to praise him, who now “ ex- 
 “ alteth” them from sin to righteousness, and will 
 hereafter exalt them from dust to glory. 
 
 Since few of my readers may, perhaps, have met 
 ‘with a paraphrase on the foregoing Psalm, that has 
 hitherto, I believe, only made its appearance in a 
 periodical publication or two, I shall take the liberty 
 to subjoin it, as a piece, which cannot but be accept¬ 
 able to all true lovers of sacred poetry. It was writ¬ 
 ten, as I have been lately informed, by the learned and 
 ingenious Dr Ogilvie, at sixteen years of age. 
 
 PSALM CXLVIII. 
 
 . . ’ i * ' 
 
 l 
 
 Begin, my soul, th’ exalted lay, 
 
 Let each enraptur’d thought obey, 
 
 And praise the Almighty’s name. 
 
 Lo ! heaven and earth, and seas and skies, 
 
 ^ c » 
 
 In one melodious concert rise, 
 
 * ' 
 
 To swell th’ inspiring theme. 
 
 II. 
 
 Ye fields of light, celestial plains, 
 
 Where gay transporting beauty reigns. 
 
 Ye scenes divinely fair; 
 
 Your Maker’s wondrous power proclaim, 
 Tell how he form’d your shining frame, 
 
 And breath’d the fluid air. 
 
 * 
 
Bat 80. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 487 
 
 III. 
 
 Ye angels, catch the thrilling sound ; 
 
 While ail th* adoring thrones around 
 His boundless mercy sing; 
 
 Let every listening saint above 
 
 Wake all the tuneful soul of love, 
 
 And touch the sweetest string. 
 
 V ' iv. 
 
 Join, ye loud spheres, the vocal choir ; 
 
 Thou, dazzling orb of liquid fire, 
 
 The mighty chorus aid : 
 
 Soon as grey evening gilds the plain, 
 
 Thou, moon, protract the melting strain, 
 And praise him in the shade. 
 
 V. 
 
 Thou heaven of heavens, his vast abode; 
 
 Ye clouds, proclaim your forming God, 
 Who call’d yon worlds from night; 
 
 44 Ye shades, dispel!”—th’ Eternal said; 
 
 At once th’ involving darkness fled, 
 
 And nature sprung to light. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Whate’er a blooming world contains, 
 
 That wings the air, that skims the plains, 
 United praise bestow: 
 
 Ye dragons, sound his awful name 
 
 To heaven aloud ; and roar acclaim. 
 
 Ye swelling deeps below. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Let every element rejoice : 
 
 Ye thunders, burst with awful voice 
 
48$ 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 14$. 
 
 To him who bids you roll: 
 
 His praise in softer notes declare, 
 
 Each whispering breeze of yielding air, 
 
 And breathe it to the soul. 
 
 VHI. 
 
 To him ye graceful cedars, bow; 
 
 Ye towering mountains, bending low. 
 
 Your great Creator own : 
 
 Tell, when affrighted nature shook, 
 
 How 7 Sinai kindled at his look, 
 
 And trembled at his frown. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Ye flocks that haunt the humble vale. 
 
 Ye insects flutt’ring on the gale, 
 
 In mutual concourse rise; 
 
 Crop the gay rose’s vermeil bloom, 
 
 And waft its spoils a sweet perfume, 
 
 In incense to the skies. 
 
 X. 
 
 Wake, all ye mountain tribes, and sing; 
 
 Ye plumy warblers of the spring, 
 
 Harmonious anthems raise 
 To him who shap’d your finer mould, 
 
 "Who tipp’d your glitt’ring wings with gold, 
 
 And tun’d your voice to praise. 
 
 • #■ 
 
 XI. 
 
 Let man, by nobler passions sway’d, 
 
 The feeling heart, the judging head, 
 
 In heav’nly praise employ; 
 
 Spread his tremendous name around, 
 
 Till heav’n’s broad arch rings back the sound, 
 The gen’ral burst of joy. 
 
Day SO. e. f. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 489 
 
 XII. 
 
 Ye whom the charms of grandeur please, 
 
 Nurs’d on the downy lap of ease. 
 
 Fall prostrate at his throne; 
 
 Ye princes, rulers, all adore ; 
 
 Praise him, ye kings, who makes your pow’r 
 An image of his own. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Ye fair, by nature form’d to move, 
 
 O praise th’ eternal Source of love. 
 
 With youth’s enlivening fire : 
 
 Let age take up the tuneful lay, • ? 
 
 Sigh his bless’d name—then soar away, 
 
 And ask an angel’s lyre. 
 
 PSALM CXLIX. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The children of Zion are excited, 1—3. to rejoice, 
 and sing the praises of their King, on account, 
 4. of the salvation which he has already wrought 
 for them, and which will hereafter be completed 
 in them, when, 5. they shall enter into his rest, 
 and, 6—9. triumph with him over the persecuting 
 powers of the world, and all the opposers of 
 Christ, on whom will then be executed the judge¬ 
 ment written. The Jews, mistaking, as usual, 
 the time, place and nature of Messiah’s glorious 
 kingdom, imagine this Psalm will receive its ac¬ 
 complishment, by their being made rulers of the 
 nations, and lords of all things here below. 
 
 1. Fraise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new 
 song , and his praise in the congregation of saints . 
 
A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm H 9 . 
 
 2 . Let Israel rejoice in him hat made him ; let the chil¬ 
 dren of Zion be joiful in their King. X Let them 
 praise his name in the dance ; 11 them sing praises unto 
 him with the timbrel and harp. 
 
 Christians are now the people, to whom belong 
 the names and characters of “ saints, Israel, and 
 “ children of Z.on.” They “ sing” this holy 
 “ song,” as the Psalmist hath enjoined them to do. 
 They sing it « new” in its evangelical sense, as 
 new men, celebrating new victories, new and great- 
 er mercies, a spiritual salvation, an eternal redemp¬ 
 tion. They “ rejoice,” with hearts, instruments, and 
 every other token of joy, “ in him who hath made” 
 or created them again, in righteousness and true 
 holiness ; they are “ joyful in their King,” who 
 hath himself overcome, and is now leading them 04 
 to final conquest and triumph, to honour and im¬ 
 mortality. 
 
 4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he 
 \will beautify the meek with salvation. 5. The saints * 
 shall be joyful with glory : they shall sing aloud upon 
 their beds , or, places of rest. 
 
 Such “ pleasure” the King of Zion taketh in his 
 people, that he hath not disdained to become like 
 one of them; to partake of their flesh and blood, 
 anti to give them his Spirit; he was made man, to 
 purchase them by his death; and as a man, he is 
 gone into heav n, to prepare a place for them. 
 From thence he wdl return, to “ beautify the meek 
 cc with salvation,” and place on the heads of his 
 true disciples, the lowly, patient, and peaceable 
 ones, a bright and corruptible crown. Therefore 
 
 * Tn this verse, the Hebrew verbs are in the future time In the 
 verse following, the original hath no verb at all. Tne liberty if 
 therefore taken to rentier tnem accordingly. 
 
Day 30. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 491 
 
 are “ the saints joyful in glory ; they sing aloud,” 
 in a state of perfect ease and security, resting from 
 their labours, but not from their hallelujahs. 
 
 6. The high praises of God in their mouthy and a 
 two-edged sword in their hand; 7. t o execute ven¬ 
 geance upon the heathen , and punishments upon the 
 people; 8 To bind their kings with chains , and their 
 nobles with fetters of iron ; 9. To execute upon them 
 the judgement written : this honour have all his saints . 
 Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 To those who are saints indeed, and who are ac¬ 
 quainted with the genuine spirit of the Gospel, 
 how obvious is it, that the scene, of which we have 
 here a prophetical exhibition, is one that cannot 
 take place till after the resurrection, because the 
 followers of the Lamb have certainly nothing to 
 do with vengeance in this world, though they are 
 to judge, not only men, but angels in the next, 
 
 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3 ; when they shall be called to sit on 
 thrones, as assessors, at the condemnation of their 
 once-insulting persecutors, who will be cut asunder 
 with the u two-edged sword,” and bound with in¬ 
 dissoluble cc chains.” Thus will be executed upon 
 them the eternal “ judgement written” and an-* 
 nounced against the enemies of Messiah, in the 
 Scriptures of truth. “ This honour will all his 
 “ saints then have.” 
 
 PSALM CL. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Psalmist exhorteth men to praise Jehovah, 1. 
 for his holiness, and the firmament of his power, 
 2. for the wonders of his might, and for the ex- 
 
492 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 150 . 
 
 cellent greatness, 3 — 5 . with all kinds of music. 
 6. He concludeth his divine book of praises, by 
 calling upon every thing that hath breath, to em¬ 
 ploy that breath in declaring the glory of him 
 who gave it. 
 
 1. Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary , 
 or, for his holiness ; praise him in , or, for ^ the firma¬ 
 ment^ or, expansion , of his power. 
 
 If our translation be retained, the meaning is, 
 that God should be praised in the “ sanctuary, M or 
 temple, below, and likewise in “ heaven” above; 
 the former being planned and constructed as a re¬ 
 semblance of the latter. But the context, rather, 
 perhaps, requires us to suppose the Psalmist giving 
 the reasons whj God should be praised ; namely, 
 on account of his “ holiness,” and of his “ power 
 which power is more especially displayed in the 
 formation of the “ firmament,” or “ expansion,” of 
 the material heavens, and their incessant opera¬ 
 tions, by means of the light and the air of which 
 they are composed, upon the earth, and all things 
 therein. These are the appointed instruments of 
 life and motion in the natural world, and they af¬ 
 ford us some idea of that power of God unto salva¬ 
 tion which is manifested in the church, by the ef¬ 
 fects produced on the souls of men, through the 
 gracious influences of the light divine and the spr- 
 
 ■o 
 
 hit of holiness, constituting the “ firmament of 
 God’s power” in the new creation. 
 
 2 . Praise him for hit mighty acts: praise him ac¬ 
 cording to his excellent greatness. 
 
 “ Mighty” were the “ acts” winch God wrought 
 for Israel, and “ great” was the Holy One in the 
 midst of his ancient people ; but far mightier acts 
 
Bay 30. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 49$ 
 
 did he perform in Christ Jesus, for the redemption 
 of the world ; and more “ excellent greatness” hath 
 he manifested in the conversion of the nations, the 
 overthrow of paganism, and the erection and pre¬ 
 servation of the Christian church. O that her gra¬ 
 titude bore some proportion to his goodness ! 
 
 3. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise 
 him with the psaltery and harp . 4. Praise him with 
 
 the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed in¬ 
 struments and organs . 5. Praise him upon the loud 
 
 cymbals ; praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals . 
 
 * It is impossible for us to distinguish and describe 
 the several sorts of musical instruments here men¬ 
 tioned, as the Hebrews themselves acknowledge 
 their ignorance in this particular. Thus much is 
 clear that the people of God are enjoined to use all 
 the various kinds of them, in the performance of 
 their divine services. And why should they not be 
 so used under 'the Gospel ? We read of sacred 
 music before the law, in the instance of “ Miriam, 
 “ the prophetess, the sister of Aaron,” who, to 
 celebrate the deliverance from Pharaoh and the 
 Egyptians, “ took a timbrel in her hand, and the 
 “ women went out after her with timbrels and 
 “ dances Exod. xv. 20. The custom, therefore, 
 was not introduced by the law, nor abolished with it. 
 Well regulated music, if ever it had the power of 
 calming the passions, if ever it enlivened and exalt¬ 
 ed the affections of men in the worship of God 
 (purposes for which it was formerly employed), 
 doubtless hath still the same power, and can still 
 afford the same aids to devotion. When the be¬ 
 loved disciple was, in spirit, admitted into the ce¬ 
 lestial choir, he not only heard them “ singing” 
 h vmns of praise, but he heard likewise c; the voice 
 
460 
 
 A COMMENTARY 
 
 Psalm 150, 
 
 “ of harpers harping upon their harps Rev. xiv. 
 2 . And why that, which saints are represented as 
 doing in heaven, should not be done, according to 
 their skill and ability, by saints upon earth ; or why 
 instrumental music should be abolished as a legal 
 ceremony, and vocal music, which was as much so, 
 should be retained, no good reason can be assigned. 
 Sacred music, under proper regulations, removes 
 the hindrances of our devotion, cures the distractions 
 of our thoughts, and banishes weariness from our 
 minds. It adds solemnity to the public service, 
 raises all the devout passions in the spul, and causes 
 our duty to become our delight. “ Of the plea- 
 M sures of heaven,” says the eloquent and elegant 
 bishop Atterbury, “ nothing farther is revealed to 
 “ us, than they consist in the practice of holy 
 “ music, and holy love; the joint enjoyment of 
 “ which, we are told, is to be the happy lot of all 
 
 pious souls, to endless ages.” It may be added, 
 that there is no better method of combating the 
 mischievous effects flowing from the abuse of music, 
 than by applying it to its true and proper use. If 
 the worshippers of Baal join in a chorus to celebrate 
 the praises of their idol, the servants of Jehovah 
 should drown it, by one that is stronger and more 
 powerful, in praise of him who made heaven and 
 earth. If the men of the world rejoice in the object 
 of their adoration, let the children of Zion be joyful 
 in their King. 
 
 6. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord, 
 Praise ye the Lord. 
 
 The breath of natural life, which God hath breath¬ 
 ed into our nostrils, and the breath of that new r 
 and eternal life, which he hath given us through 
 Christ Jesus our Lord, should be returned in halle- 
 
Day 28. e. p. 
 
 ON THE PSALMS. 
 
 453 
 
 Jujahs. And then the church, composed of many 
 and different members, all actuated like the pipes of 
 a well tuned organ, by the same spirit, and conspir¬ 
 ing together in perfect harmony, would become one 
 great instrument sounding forth the praises of God 
 most high. 
 
 Let every thing that hath breath praise the 
 Lord! —With this wish the s-veet Psalmist of Israel 
 closes the songs of Zion. With the same wish the 
 author desires to close these meditations upon them ; 
 giving thanks to the Father of mercies, and the 
 God of all comforts, by whose most gracious favour 
 and aid they have been begun, continued, and ended; 
 and humbly praying, that no errors, or improprie¬ 
 ties, from which, through human infirmity, during 
 the course of a long work, the most diligent and 
 careful are not exempt, may prevent his labours 
 from contributing, in some small degree, to promote 
 the improvement and consolation of the redeemed, 
 the honour and glory of the Redeemer, who is the 
 
 ROOT AND THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID, AND THE BRIGHT 
 AND MORNING STAR*. AMEN. 
 
 * Rev. xxii. 16 . 
 
 END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. 
 
 Thomas Turnbull, Printer, Edinburgh. 
 
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
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