Psalterium Americanum. The Book of Psalms, in a translation exactly conformed unto the original; but all in blank verse. : Fitted unto the tunes commonly used in our churches. Which pure offering is accompanied with illustrations, digging for hidden treasures in it; and rules to employ it upon the glorious and various intentions of it. : Whereunto are added, some other portions of the sacred Scripture, to enrich the cantional. Bible. O.T. Psalms. English. Mather. 1718. Approx. 824 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 464 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI : 2011-05. N01640 N01640 Evans 1946 APV9490 1946 99005126

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Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 1946. (Evans-TCP ; no. N01640) Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 1946) Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 1946) Psalterium Americanum. The Book of Psalms, in a translation exactly conformed unto the original; but all in blank verse. : Fitted unto the tunes commonly used in our churches. Which pure offering is accompanied with illustrations, digging for hidden treasures in it; and rules to employ it upon the glorious and various intentions of it. : Whereunto are added, some other portions of the sacred Scripture, to enrich the cantional. Bible. O.T. Psalms. English. Mather. 1718. Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728. [2], xxxv, [1], 426 p. ; 16 cm. (8vo) Printed by S. Kneeland, for B. Eliot, S. Gerrish, D. Henchman, and J. Edwards, and sold at their shops., Boston: in N.E. : 1718. Without music. Attributed to Cotton Mather by Evans and Holmes. Signatures: A-2F^8. Errors in paging: p. 121, 214-215 misnumbered 221, 114-115. Errata note, p. 426.

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PSALTERIUM Americanum.

The BOOK of PSALMS, In a Tranſlation Exactly conformed unto the ORIGINAL; BUT ALL IN Blank Verſe, Fitted unto the TUNES commonly uſed in our CHURCHES. Which Pure Offering is accompanied with ILLUSTRATIONS, digging for Hidden Treaſures in it; And RULES to Employ it upon the Glorious and Various Intentions of it. Whereto are added, Some other Portions of the SACRED SCRIPTURE, to Enrich the CANTIONAL.

BOSTON: in N. E. Printed by S. KNEELAND, for B. ELIOT, S. GERRISH, D. HENCHMAN, and J. EDWARDS, and Sold at their Shops. 1718.

THE INTRODUCTION: To be Attentively peruſed, that ſo the whole BOOK may have the Good and Great ENDS of it, the more effectually Accompliſhed.

§. 1.THERE have appeared in the World ſome Humane Compoſures, which have been ſo favoured, and perhaps flattered by Mankind, as to have it aſſerted concerning them, That no Mans Reproach could leſſen, and no Mans Applauſe could heighten, the Reputation which belong'd unto them. The Aſſertion may be made without Controverſy concerning the Divinely Inſpired Book of PSALMS; than which the Church of GOD is enriched with nothing more Glorious, among all its Incomparable Writings.

THE Commendations which the Ancients gave of this Unparallel'd Book, are as high, as the Tongue of Men can carry them; And the Commendations would not be too high, if the Tongue of Angels, who poſſeſſed the Writers of this Book, were employ'd for the giving of them. Let Chryſoſtom and Baſil alone be called in, to declare unto us the ſenſe of all the reſt! Chryſoſtom, who calls this wonderful Book, The Chriſtian Panoply; And Baſil, who Styles it, The Common Treaſure of all Good Precepts, and, A Compleat Body of Divinity.

THE PSALMS are in the Hebrew, divided into Five Books, like thoſe of Moſes; and ſo they may be called, A Second Pentateuch. Yea, They are a ſurprizing Epitome of all the Bible; For which cauſe, if we call the Pſalter, A Little Bible, we ſhall do no other than what Luther did before us. And ſuch are the Excellent Vertues, in the Leaves of this Tree of Life which our God has granted for the Healing of the Nations, that, as Proclus of Conſtantinople expreſſes the matter, To cure Heavineſs, to lay aſide trouble ſome Thoughts and Paſſions, to eaſe us of our Cares, and recreate thoſe who are oppreſſed with any, ſorts of Pains, as well as to move Compunction for Sin, and to ſtimulate unto Piety, no Book in the World, is to be compared with it, for ſuch important purpoſes.

MELANCTHON ſays very truly, concerning the Book of PSALMS, That it is the moſt elegant work extant in the World. It has indeed performed what Plato wiſh'd for, but what he thought meer Man could never come to: Plato, who ſaw there was no way of Inſtruction ſo efficacious, as that by Odes and Songs; but after all concludes, This muſt be the work of GOD, or of a Man that ſhall be full of GOD.

THERE have been profane, fooliſh, empty Pretenders to Literature, who have had no great Reliſh for the PSALMS of David. But with Men who have had a juſt ſenſe, a true guſt of Things, no Writings in the World have been ſo Reliſhed, as theſe matchleſs Gifts of Heaven unto the Children of Men. So Mattheus Vegius coming to himſelf, made a Declaration, which none who are not beſides themſelves will wonder at. Nunc pro Virgilio, quem alterum in Terris Deum eſſe arbitrabar, Nunc Davidem fideliorem vatem, colam, ſuſcipiam, amplectarque; et ejus mibi carmina, quae tanquam anilia deliramenta ſordebant, nunc mira aſpergunt animum ſu vit ••• .

§. 2. THEODORET informs us, The People in his time, were ſo well acquainted with our PSALMS, that both in City and Country it was the uſual Employment of all Chriſtians, To Sing them: And even they who had little Acquantance, with any other Book of the Sacred Scriptures, yet ſo had the PSALMS by heart, as to recreate themſelves with Singing them in the Streets, and in the Fields, as well as in their Houſes. And Verily, Theſe marvellous Poems, have not by their Age loſt any thing of their Spirit, or their Goodneſs. The Chriſtians in our days, may as well feed and live upon them, and Eat the Bread of Angels.

THE Truth is, It was no ill Advice of Jerom unto his Friend, That he would make the Pſalter his Vade mecum, his conſtant Companion and Counſellor on all occaſions. Chriſtian, Thou wilt find it ſo marvellouſly to anſwer all the occaſions of Chriſtianity, that thou wilt commend the prudence of the Ancient Conſtantinopolitan, who being driven out of the City, took no part of his Treaſures but This, which unto him was, Pro et prae Divitjis, preferrible to all periſhable Riches.

BEHOLD, A Prayer-Book which never had a Parallel. And tho' the very Words of this Book, may often ſupply us with the beſt Forms in the World for our Prayers, whe we may have need of ſuch; (which made Luther ſay, He that Prays a PSALM, ſhall be made thoroughly warm:) yet the principal uſe hereof would be, from hence to learn, for what Things, and with what Frames, we are to make our Prayers, and with a Fuel from hence, to keep that Holy Fire in its operation, The Spirit of Grace and of Supplications.

WHEN the Pardon of Sin is to be implored, the PSALMS will furniſh us, with the moſt Pathetical Expreſſions imaginable for that Grand Concern.

WHEN the Graces of the New Creature, and the Diſpoſitions of Piety are to be asked for, the PSALMS will not only furniſh us with Petitions for theſe Beſt of Bleſſings, but inſenſibly draw us in to the Poſſeſſion and Exerciſe of them.

WHATEVER Maladies we find our Minds diſtempered withal, we may repair to the PSALMS as to a Diſpenſatory fill'd with the nobleſt Remedies.

Do our Inviſi le Enemies infeſt us with grievous Temptations? The Weapons and the Outcries we find in the PSALMS, againſt the vexatious Adverſaries, may be as efficaciouſly as elegantly turned upon them. Davids Harp wiſely introduced, will cauſe our Enemies to turn back, the Evil-Spirits to retire before it.

WHEN we have our heavy Afflictions of many ſorts lying upon us, what can we do better, than repair to the Songs, which GOD our Maker has given for the Night, in the PSALMS which we now have in our hands? We ſhall not periſh in our Afflictions, if we take the Delights here provided for us.

FINALLY, If we would be well inſtructed in the Myſteries of the Great Salvation, or be well acquainted with the Prophecies of what is to be done in the Latter Days: Let the PSALMS be well ſtudied. The trueſt and the higheſt Wiſdom is here to be met withal.

AND if in the Proſecution of theſe Deſigns, we add the method of Singing, which is the way to be filled with the Spirit, from whence the PSALMS are dictated, Behold, the Spiritual Songs now put into a Cond tion for it, that we may in our Heart make Melody unto the Lord.

IT is a Thing to be obſerved, That all Nations make Singing, to be one part of the Worſhip which they pay unto their GOD. Thus All Pe ple walk even every one in the Name of his God; and thus we CHRISTIANS will walk in the Name of CHRIST who is the Lord our GOD, and who had directed us thus to do for ever and ever.

§. 3. OUR Poetry has attempted many Verſions of the PSALMS, in ſuch Numbers and Meaſures, as might render them capable of being Sung, in thoſe grave Tunes, which have been prepared and received for our Chriſtian Pſalmody. But of all the more than twice Seven Verſions which I have ſeen, it muſt be affirmed, That they leave out a vaſt heap of thoſe rich things, which the Holy SPIRIT of GOD ſpeaks in the Original Hebrew; and that they put in as large an Heap of poor Things, which are intirely their own. All this has been meerly for the ſake of preſerving the Clink of the Rhime: Which after all, is of ſmall conſequence unto a Generous Poem; and of none at all unto the Melody of Singing; But of how little then, in Singing unto the LORD! Some famous pieces of Poetry, which this Refining Age has been treated withal, have been offered us in Blank Verſe. And in Blank Verſe we now have the Glorious Book of PSALMS preſented unto us: The PSALMS fitted unto the Tunes commonly uſed in the Aſſembles of our Zion: But ſo fitted, that the Chriſtian Singer has hi •• Devotions now ſupplied, with ALL that the Holy SPIRIT of GOD has dictated, in this Illuſtrious and Caleſtial Beſtowment upon His Church in the World: and there is NOTHING BESIDES the pure Dictates of that Holy SPIRIT impoſed on him. Now, True PIETY, Thou ſhalt be Judge, whether ſuch a Divine matter for thy Songs thus diſencumbred from every thing that may give them any Humane Debaſements, be not really to be preferred before any Compoſitions thou haſt ever yet been entertain'd withal. Doubtleſs, the more that any are deſirous to offer unto the Glorious GOD what is purely His Own, and the more concerned that any are to have their Worſhip entirely Regulated and Animated, by the SPIRIT of GOD, the more agreeable to them, will be ſuch an Inſtrument of Devotion, as is here prepared. Tho' the Hymns have not the Triflle of Rhime, as a Lace to ſet them off, yet they are all Glorio •• within, which is the thing that Manly Chriſtianity has its eye moſt upon; and in the Spiritual Songs thus enjoyed and improved, thou mayſt moſt hope to have the Holy SPIRIT of GOD, who indited them ſpeaking unto thee, even ſuch Things as cannot be uttered.

BUT that our Cantional may be furniſhed with a ſuperabundance, and the Faithful be plentifully feaſted with Angels Food, Behold, an Addition of Paſſages Collected in Metre, (but ſtill as exactly tranſlated) from ſome other parts of the Sacred Scriptures, to anſwer the various occaſions of Chriſtianity.

§. 4. FOR the New Tranſlation of the PSALMS, which is here endeavoured, an Appeal may be with much Aſſurance made, unto all that are Maſters of the Hebrew Tongue, whether it be not much more agreeable to the Original, than the Old one, or than any that has yet been offered unto the World. Perhaps there is more Liberty taken here in Tranſlating the Firſt Verſe of the Pſalter, than almoſt any Verſe in the whole Book beſide. It keeps cloſe to the Original; and even when a word of ſupply is introduced, it is uſually a needleſs Complement unto the care of exactneſs, to diſtinguiſh it at all, as we have done, with an Italica-Character; for it is really in the Intention and Emphaſis of the Original. Yea, the juſt Laws of Tranſlation had not been at all violated, if a much greater Liberty had been taken, for the beating out of the Golden and Maſſy Hebrew into a more Extended Engliſh, For, it may be obſerved, if you Tranſlate a French Book, ſuppoſe, into Engliſh, you turn it into Engliſh Phraſe, and make not a French Engliſh of it; For, If fait froid, for inſtance, you do not ſay, It makes Cold, but, It is Cold, We have tied our ſelves to Hebraiſm , more ſcrupulouſly, than there is real occaſion for.

BUT Particularly; The Reader will allow, JEHOVAH, to be Tranſlated, The ETERNAL GOD. It is the trueſt Engliſh of that Incommunicable Name: A Name, tho' not Unutterable, (according to the Jewiſh Superſtition,) yet what ſhould not be too commonly uttered. And the French Tranſlation will here ſpeak a Good Word for ours. And where's the wrong done, if Elohim ſhould be Tranſlated, GOD the Judge? or, Adonai, be Tranſlated, The GOD on whom I lean, or, The GOD from whom is my ſupport? It is in the Hebrew Term. What if, Col Haijom, ſhould be Tranſlated, All Day, and Every Day? What if Gnani, ſhould be ſo Tranſlated, as to carry both Suff ring and Meekneſs in it? What if G alam ſhould be Tranſlated, Who can tell the Term? 'Tis no more than what is in the Hebrew. When Two Engliſh Words are employ'd for One Hebrew Word, we have ſignifyed it ſometimes with an * Aſterisk. But, Reader, Know, that the He rew ſignifyed Both: and ſince it is not eaſy to determine, which to take, excluſive of the other, it will not be diſagreeable unto the Glorious Inditer, that Both be conſidered.

BRIEFLY, Upon any Difference in this, from the former and common Tranſlation, if the more Learned Reader will pleaſe to Examine the Original, there will be no Fear of its being Juſtified. But then, this Tranſlation may deſerve ſome Thanks from the Religious part of Mankind, for having tendred a plain, clear, fair ſenſe of many Paſſages, which have hitherto been ſo Tranſlated, that People could ſcarce tell how well to underſtand them: In which regard, this very Tranſlation alone, without any of the Notes that wait upon it, may be eſteemed a Commentary.

§. 5. MOST certainly, our Tranſlation of the PSALMS, without the Fetters of Rhime upon it, can be juſtly eſteemed no prejudice to the Character of Poetry in the performance. For indeed, however it is now appropriated, according to the true ſenſe of the Term, to Rhythme it ſelf a Similis Deſinentia, or, a likeneſs of ſound in the laſt Syllables of the Verſe, is not eſſential. Old Bede will give you ſuch a Definition of Rhythme, and bring other Authorities beſides Auſtins for it, that Scaliger thereupon holds, all Verſes wherein Regard is had unto the Number of Syllables, to have a claim unto it. Be that as the Criticks on the Term ſhall pleaſe, our Tranſlation is all in Metre; and really more tied unto Meaſure, than the Original appears to have been, by all the Examinations that have as yet been employ'd upon it. For, however it might be with the Song of Moſes in Deuteronomy, and with the Book of Job, and of the Proverbs; My incomparable Maſter Alſted allows me to ſay, That in the PSALMS, Nullum canticum ſit metricis legibus aſtrictum, ſed mera ſoluta ſit cratio, charactere Poetico animuta.

INDEED, that Queſtion, To what Rules the Poeſy of the Davidic PSALMS is to be adjuſted? has been as vexed a Problem to our Modern Criticks, as moſt that they have meddled with. It were endleſs to reckon up the ſeveral Methods wherein Learned Men have attempted an Account of the Hebrew Poeſy. Pfeiffer in his Dubia Vexota, has given us a Collection; Among which, that which Gomarus, has lit upon, looks as probable as any: And yet, the Rules invented by that Author, are ſo very lax, that you may according thereunto imagine, a Verſo, in every Line of almoſt any Author in the World. I am therefore ſtrongly of the Opinion, That the Poeſie of the Ancient Hebrews, knew no Meaſure, but that of the unknown Muſic, wherein it was to be accommodated. Our PSALMS in the Hebrew, are not ſo much Metrical as Muſical; And hence, the very Inſcriptions of them ſometimes intimate, that there was a ſort of Melody, unto which they were adapted. It is true, the Oriental Nations at this day, have their Metred Poetry; But it is of a late Original. However, 'tis very certain, that all the skill in the World, will hardly find the Rules of that Metred Poetry obſerved with any exactneſs in the Songs of the Sacred Scriptures. There is little value to be ſet on the Authority, of either Philo, or Joſephus, and and after them, of Jerom, who quotes Origen and Euſebius for it, when they go to reſolve the Hebrew P eſie, into I know not what, Lyricks and Hexameters. And therefore it may be hoped, that our Verſion may be releaſed from the Chime of a, Similis Deſinentia, without being cenſured for Unpoetical. The Sublime Thought, and the Divine Flame, alone is enough, to challenge the Character of Poetry for theſe Holy Compoſures. And if any Beauties be wanting, 'tis owing to the lowneſs of the Language, whereinto a ſtrict and cloſe Tranſlation, is what we are here tied unto.

§ 6. IT is a true Obſervation, which is made by Folengius, in his Commentaries on the PSALMS; Totius Voluminis PSALMORUM Argumentum CHRISTƲS: A Glorious CHRIST is the principal Thing appearing in them. It is very certain, That in the PSALMS, the Perſon, the Natures, the Vertues, the Humiliation, the Exaltation, the Extenſive Kingdom, and the admirable Glories of the MESSIAH, are every where ſcattered and glittering, after ſuch a manner, as calls for our Wonderment. The Goſpel according to DAVID, compared with, The Goſpel according to MATTHEW, affords a wonderful Entertainment. If a Jew would but believe the Songs of Zion, which once were ſung in his own Land, he would ſoon turn a Chriſtian, and would his Nation do ſo, it would not be long, that they ſhould be put upon Singing them in a Strange Land. Chriſtian, Dig in theſe Mines, and thou wilt ſoon be ſenſible of what thy SAVIOUR has told thee, Search the Scriptures, for they teſtify of me. Yea, Good Old Hilary has a Note, That the Book of PSALMS is a Bundle of Keys, which will open the Locks of all the other Scriptures. The Word, Mictam, is found in the Titles of ſeveral PSALMS; and Monſieur Gouſſets Diſcourſe upon it, has very much to demand a Reception for it. The Word ſignifies, A Thing that is covered with Gold. But another Word of the ſame Letters, does alſo ſignify, A Sanctified Thing. Our Great SAVIOUR, and His Works, are variouſly Exhibited, in the Types, and ſo in the Songs, of the Old Teſtament. The ſenſe which concerns the Types, is a piece of Canvas, on which the Holy Spirit has inlaid the Myſtical ſenſe, which concerns our SAVIOUR, as a Golden Embroidery. If David be the Canvas, in any of the Mictams, the Holy Spirit has inwrought a Golden Idea of our SAVIOUR into it, and curiouſly Embroidered it, with ſome of His Incomparable Glories. Verily, There are more Mictam's in our Pſalter, than thoſe which have this Term in the Titles of them. They are not the only ones, that have His Unutterable Glories Exquiſitely Embroidered in them. The German Divine, who wrote a Treatiſe, to prove, That there is not a Chapter in the Bible, wherein there is not a mention or a notice of our SAVIOUR, might find the Pſalter to be the eaſieſt part of the Bible for him to work upon. And now, when we diſcover our SAVIOUR in the PSALMS, we then have indeed the Quickening Spirit of them. In that Light of GOD, we ſee the Light wherein the true ſenſe of the PSALMS is made manifeſt unto us. We ſee every thing in a new Light. And how ſweet the Light? What a pleaſant thing, to behold the Sun of Righteouſneſs darting His Benign Beams upon us, thro' the clear and pure Glaſſes, wherewith His Holy SPIRIT here has furniſhed us!

BUT, O Eagle-Eye'd Believer, when thou art Singing the Graces, the Actions, the Sufferings, and the Grandeurs of the REDEEMER, and perhaps coming into Thoughts and Frames, that have ſome little Reſemblance to thoſe, which the Prophetic Spirit here aſſigns to thy REDEEMER, in the Time of His Working out thy Salvation for thee, what an Angelical Dignity art thou advanc'd unto! What a Token for Good haſt thou, that thy REDEEMER will one day bring thee to a Confort with Him, in the Songs and Joys of the Heavenly World!

THE Word, SELAH, Ever now and then occurs in the PSALMS. And now allow me to propoſe, every SELAH, as an Invitation for thee to make a pauſe, upon the Magnificence of thy SAVIOUR. I will not here make a long Recital, of the various, and very many Interpretations, which the Criticks have left that Word in the dark withal. It ſhall be enough to ſay, That in the large, Theſaurus Philologico-Theologicus lately Publiſhed, there is a Diſſertation upon that Word, which would perſwade us, That SELAH is a proper Name of the Bleſſed GOD our SAVIOUR, and that it ſignifies, The Magnificent One, or, One that is exalted on high. The Word muſt not be too much ſeparated from the reſt of the Diſcourſe, but it is to be look'd upon as a part of it. It belongs to the Period, and is to be rendred, ſometimes in the Nominative, ſometimes in the Genitive Caſe, and ſometimes in other Caſes; but moſt commonly in the Vocative, Chriſtian, In the PSALMS every where think on thy SAVIOUR. And if a SELAN ſtop thee, think, before thou go on, O my SAVIOUR, How Magnificent art thou! — Indeed, ſuch is the Fellowſhip ever between our SAVIOUR and His People, that the condition of the One in the PSALMS will not forbid, but invite us to confider the condition of the Other. And therefore, what is now propounded, about a Contemplation of our SAVIOUR, to be a principal ſtroke of our Devotions in Singing of the PSALMS, will not ſuperſede the Entertainments which are to be joined with it.

§ 7. THERE is a way of Reading the Scripture, which is now particularly and pathetically to be demanded for the Reading of the Pſalter. And that is, The Pariſmain way; Or, To Read with an Holy cate, to obſerve and educe, the Doctrines of Godlineſs, which this Rich Store-houſe of Truth will yield unto them that are ſeeking after it. Reader, Make a Pauſe upon every Verſe, and ſee what Leſſons of Piety are to be learnt from every Clauſe. Turn the Leſſons into Prayers; and ſend the Prayers up unto the Heavens: As Arrows from the hand of a mighty Man, ſend them with lively Ejuculations up unto the Heavens. The Singer gives himſelf Time, to do the part of ſuch a Reader; And, Oh, what a Melody does he make unto the Lord! They who have tried this way of Reading, with a Note and a Wiſh devoutly formed upon every Verſe, have ſeen cauſe to Bleſs a Glorious GOD, for inſtructing them in this Method of Communion with Him, and Rejoyce in this way of converſing with His Teſtimonies, more than if all Riches had been beſtowed upon them. Soul bound for Heaven, Thy Pſalter taken into thy hand on ſuch an Intention, and with ſuch a Management, would be the moſt ſerviceable, and the moſt comfortable, Inſtrument of Devotion, that any thing upon the face of the Earth could afford unto thee.

WHEN Zerduſht (or Zoroaſter) more than Two and Twenty Hundred Years ago, compoſed that famous Book, which is to this Day the Bible of the Magians under the Mahometan oppreſſions in the Orient, and which has a great part of the Davidic Pſalms inſerted in it, he put upon it the Title of Zendaveſta, or, The Fire-kindler, as pretending to kindle the Fire of Love to God and Religion, in the Hearts of the Readers. But with how much more Juſtice and Glory, may the BOOK, thou now haſt in thy Hands, claim ſuch a Title! Nothing upon Earth will more bring down the inextinguiſhable Fire of GOD from Heaven into thy Soul, than this BOOK employed as it ought to be; and as now, if it be not thy own Fault, it is like to be.

To aſſiſt the Reader in coming at the vaſt Profit and Pleaſure, which is to be found in this rare part of the Chriſtian Aſceticks, every PSALM is here Satellited with Illuſtrations, which are not fetched from the Vulgar Annotations, (whereof ſtill, Reader, continue thy eſteem and thy improvement:) But are the more Fine, Deep, and Uncommon Thoughts, which in a courſe of long Reading & Thinking, have been brought in the way of the Collector. They are Golden Keys, to the Immenſe Treafures of Truth, which have not been commonly uſed: But which will enable the conſiderate Reader, not only to ſee ſet in a Bright Light, the Paſſages to which they are annexed, but having them in his mind, he will be able to Read very many other Paſſages, of the Holy Book, with a greater ſatisfaction of mind, than ever he had before.

THERE had been a vaſt Addition to this Collection of Illuſtrations, if the dread of impoſing a Great Book upon the Reader, had not ſo ſtinted and ſtopped the Growth of the Volumn.

THERE had been alſo prepared and prefixed unto every PSALM, a Short Account of the Scope which it is aimed at; and ſuch an Argument as Dr. Roberts in his Key of the Bible, has given us. But upon a further conſideration, this has been laſd aſide; For it was conſidered, That there are ſo various and ſo glorious Things contained in every PSALM, as render it impoſſible to give any thing like a Full Account of what is intended in it, without requiring much more of Room for it, than the PSALM it ſelf does occupy. Nor has any Eſſay that was ever yet made this way, done a Juſtice (it may have done a Damage) to a BOOK in every Paragraph whereof, there are all manner of pleaſant Fruits, new and old, laid up for the Beloved. Certainly, To cramp and ſtint the Thoughts of him that Reads, with confining him to ſome Few Things as the Intention of a PSALM, when an Attentive Reader will find that the Argument which the Short-ſighted Analyſis has offered contains not a Temb part of the Illuſtrious Things, in which the Holy SPIRIT has deſigned our inſtruction there: it appears in effect ſuch a wrong to the Divine Compoſure, as our PSALTERIUM did not care to be guilty of. Why ſhould a Bill of Fare be brought in, which does not mention one Temb part of the Delicacies, which an ordinary Attention will find on a Table that always yields, A Feaſt of Fat Things full of Marrow, of Wines on the Lees well refined: A Table more glorious by far then that of Ptolomies in the Temple?

§. 8. AND yet I ſhew unto you a more Excellent way. Go on, O People of GOD, in His Way, and in the Path of the Juſt which is now becoming plain before you; And proceed unto the Reading of the Pſalter, and of the Bible, in that which we will call, The Affectuous way, according to a PROPOSAL which is now to be ſeriouſly thought upon.

WE are to conſider, That the Holy Men of GOD, who wrote the SCRIPTURE, were moved by His Holy Spirit, in and for the Writing of it; and the Spirit of Holineſs at the Time of the Inſpiration made ſuitable Impreſſions on the Affections of His Faithful Servants, The Good Men had their Hearts Holily, Graciouſly, Divinely, and ſuitably Affected with the Matter, which the Spirit of GOD employ'd their Pens to leave upon, their Parchments. It might not meerly be ſaid of them, as it was of a Baloom, That the Lord put a Word into his MOUTH. No, A David who has an Heart after the Heart of GOD, moſt certainly had his HEART alſo Holily affected, with the Word of GOD, that came unto him. In the Written Paſſages here under our Contemplation, there will be found Evident Indications of ſuch AFFECTIONS working in the minds of the Inſpired Writers; as, A Flaming LOVE towards GOD; and then towards Men, for the ſake of GOD: LOVE, the Root of all Spiritual Affections.

A Lively FAITH, relying on the Exiſtence and Perfections, and Promiſes, or Threatnings of GOD; and on the Mediation of our SAVIOUR.

A Longing DESIRE, after ſuch Bleſſings as are in the view of a Soul that would Live unto GOD; Joined with an HOPE of obtaining them.

A Fervent ZEAL for GOD, and for the cauſe of His Kingdom, and the Enjoyments of His Houſe among the Children of Men.

A Mighty HATRED of Sin; accompanied with, a Abh rrence of, and yet a Compaſſion for, thoſe who abandon themſelves unto it.

A bitter SORROW for Sin, and for the Miſchiefs and Miſeries, which are brought by it, upon them that are guilty of it.

A Noble COURAGE, Reſolving upon an Adherence unto GOD in the ways of Godlineſs, notwithſtanding all Diſcouragements.

A Total DESPAIR to find that Help in Creatures, which is no where to be found but in their Great Creator.

A diſtreſſing FEAR of the Judgments, whereto all Wickedneſs does expoſe thoſe who are drawn into it.

A Triumphant JOY in GOD, and in His CHRIST, and in the Favours, which He beſtows upon His People.

A Rapturous ADMIRATION of Him, who is the Glorious Maker and Ruler of the World, and of His Glories; with a Magnifying of His Work which Men behold.

ALL True PIETY is begun by the Enkindling of theſe Affections in the Soul. It proceeds, it proſpers, it improves, as theſe Affections gain ſtrength and vigour there. O Lord, Ey theſe things Men live, and in all theſe things is the Life of my Spirit: ſo wilt thou recover me, and make me to live!

Now, Chriſtian, Diſcover which of theſe Affections may be moſt obvious and evident, in the Sentence, which may be now under thy conſideration: And make a Pauſe!— But Reſtleſs until thou find the ſame Affections beginning to ſtir in thy own Soul, and marvellouſly to Harmonize & Symphonize, with what the Holy SPIRIT of GOD raiſed in His Amanuenſis, at the moment of His Writing it. Be not at Reſt until thou feel thy Heart-ſtrings quaver, at the Touch upon the Heart of the Sacred Writer, as being brought into an Uniſon with it, and the Two Souls go up in a Flame together.

THE Hints which our Excellent Matthew Henry gives in his Expoſition on the PSALMS, at the cloſe of every Paragraph, what Affections the Verſes of that Paragraph are to be Sung withal, are a noble Commentary; And every Holy Heart who by reaſon of uſe may have ſenſes in Exerciſe to diſcern ſuch things, may add unto it, EASILY do I concur with my Excellent Franckius, in allowing, That an Unregenerat Mind is poorly qualified for ſuch an Exerc ſe as this. But then I will ſay, That I Soul preſſing after a true Regeneration, cannot readily take a more likely way to arrive unto a Bleſſed Experience of it, that by waiting upon the Holy SPIRIT of GOD, with proper Trials, whether He will not quicken ſuch Affections in it, as are to be found no where, but in a Soul Regenerated, and Animated and Actuated from Above. Try, O Soul wiſhing for Quickenings from Heaven, Try, whether upon obſerving the Heavenly Affections, which are very obſervable in the Writers of the Word by which we are Born again, and upon Attempting with an Eye on Help from Sovereign Grace, to expreſs the like Affections, in the Salley of Devotion towards the Glorious GOD, thou doſt not find ſome Vital Operations in thee, that ſhall be the Inchoations of a Life that ſhall never be extinguiſhed. Moſt certainly; If thou doſt become Affected, as thoſe Favourites of Heaven, whom GOD choſe for the Vehicles, and Enkindlers, and Preſervers of PIETY in His Church thro' all ſucceeding Ages, it will be an Infallible Mark of GOD upon thee, aſſuring thee of an Everlaſting Manſion with them in His Holy City. Nor is it poſſible to propound an Exerciſe, that will more Prepare and Ripen Men to be Partakers in the Inheritance of thoſe Diſtinguiſhed and Exemplary Saints; or Aſſure them, that they ſhall be Aſſociated with theſe Angelical Men in the Future Bleſſedneſs.

BUT, O you who are indeed Born again, Be prevailed withal, to make this Exerciſe of PIETY more uſual with you. When you would bring your ſelves into the Beſt Frames that can be wiſhed for, take a ſhort Paragraph of the Word by which Men live, and with humble Addreſſes to Heaven pertinent unto the occaſion, Conſider, What Affections of Piety are plainly diſcernable in the Word now before you: And then, with a Soul Turning to the Lord, aſſay to utter the Language of the like Affections. Perhaps the CXIX Pſalm, is as likely a Portion for this Purpoſe as any under Heaven, that the Experiment may be made upon. Friend, Ere thou art aware, thou wilt be caught up into Paradiſe, in ſuch and Exerciſe. Thou will mount up as with the Wings of Eagles.

'Tis true, They that can Examine the Original Tongues, have peculiar Advantoges for their Diſcoveries, when this Deſign is to be proſecuted. But yet out Tranſlation affords enough, to furniſh the Illiterate Chriſtian, for This and every Good Work And if I conſtantly affirm this, That all the Gommentators in the World, are poor Things to interpret the Bible, in compariſon of a Illiterate Chriſtian, thus coming with 〈◊〉 ſanctified Soul, to make his practical Commentary; I could quote a very Great Perſon who will not leave me alone, but will affirm, That a Commentary made without an Experimental Acquaintance, with ſuch Tempers and Motions, as were in the Minds of the Holy Writers,—Commentarius ſine hac Adminiculo, (pio ſacrorum motuum ſcrut into) conſcriptus, eſt vere Commentarius, et Nom ne et Omine talis. i. e. Commentis cerebri refertus. Among all the Hermeneutic Instruments for the the opening of the Scripture we may ſay of this, There is none like in And certainly, a Preacher of the Goſpel, cannot more effectually do the part of a Workman that needs not be aſhamed, than by firſt of all making ſure, that he have thoſe Affections in his own Soul, which are in the Text that he is going to Preach upon. Very Notable is the Direction given by Spener; Premiſſis pjis procibus, Affectum Scriptorum ſacrorum devota attentione obſervent, cumqus affectum aſſumere ſtudeant. And very undoubted the Aſſertion made by Luther; Scio ſuturum, ſiquis exercitatus in hac re suerit, plura per ſe inventurum, quam omnes omnium Commentarii eribuere poſſiut.

Now, Chriſtian, Go thy way; Repair to thy Pſalter. Go this way to work upon it, and ſay, That thou haſt in thy Hands, the moſt Glorious Book of Devotions, that ever was in the World!

AND here, Let one Admonition be given once for all, which the Devout Singer will often have occaſion to think upon; and which comes in as a Retainer to that Exerciſe of Godlineſs which is now in proſecution. Chriſtian, When thou art in the PSALMS that have Imprecations upon Adverſaries in them, Let thy Arrows be ſhot at thy Interiour Adveſaries. Thy Indwelling Sin, is an Antichriſt in thy Soul; and of all Adverſaries the moſt worthy to have all the curſes in this Book, fulminated at it. That Old Man within thee, is too like the Violent Man, the Malicious and Injurious one, which is in the PSALMS complained of. Thy Lusts are the Enemies that Roar and Blaſpheme, and Purſue, and indeed the worſt of Enemies. And Satan too, with whom theſe are confederate; he is, the wicked one; the Den'd Lion, that lurks to catch the poor. His Evil Angels are the wicked ones, who wait with hopes to ruine thee, under their moleſtations, thy Soul is with Lions, and among a fiery Crew.

SING with ſuch Thoughts, and ſo carry on the Wars of the Lord. Thy Succeſſes will be, Wonderful! Wonderful!

§. 9. THERE is a wonderful Thing to be obſerved concerning our PSALMS, which has hitherto been too much overlooked by all the Uninſpired Interpreters; But it is a Thing which our SAVIOUR, and His Apoſtles who have quoted the PSALMS near Fifty Times, have led us into the Apprehenſion of. This is, That they are full of Prophecies, and our Pſalter is indeed the moſt Prophetical Book in the World.

IT is more particularly, but not without holy Aſtoniſhments—to be obſerved, That the Deſign of the PROPHETIC SPIRIT, in the PSALMS, all along has been to deſcribe the Sufferings of the Jewiſh Nation, as well as of the Chriſtian Surregate, under the Tyranny of Antichriſt; and foretel the Characters and Confuſions of that Wicked One, and of his Followers; and predict the Recovery of the Jewiſh Nation from their long Diſperſion, and a long Felicity for them, and the Converted Gentiles aſſociated with them, under the ſucceeding Reign of the MESSIAH; and that Happy ſtate of the New Earth, in which, under the Influences of the New Heavens, there ſhall dwell Righteouſneſs; and the Tabernacle of GOD ſhall be with Men, and He ſhall dwell with them, and they ſhall be His People, and GOD Himſelf ſhall be with them, and be their GOD.

IT may be, The Word which we render, To the Chief Muſician, but which may be rendred, (and was of Old ſo,) For the End, may be to intimate that the PSALMS are calculated eminently with an Eye to the Things which are to be done, at that which the Bible calls, The Time of the End. Indeed Jerom long ago found Antichriſt in the PSALMS; And Austin affirm'd, That the PSALMS ought all to be underſtood, of CHRIST and His Church, and many of them refer to After Ages. But we now improve in our Diſcoveries.

ACCORDINGLY, Upon the PSALMS, as we go along, the Devout Reader will find this Key of David here communicated unto him. And when he becomes a Devout Singer too, then like the Beloved Diſciple, he ſhall be carried away in the Spirit into the wilderneſs, and be ſhown the Judgment of the Great Whore thee ſitteth upon many Waters. He ſhall alſo in theſe Viſions of GOD, ſee the Holy City, New Jeruſalem, coming down from GOD out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband. Very depraved muſt be that Soul, that has not a reliſh for ſuch Contemplations, more than for any Earthly Entertainments; and that will not moſt heartily ſay, They're more deſirable than Gold, yea, than much ſolid Gold; than Honey alſo ſweeter much, or dropping Honey-comb.

YEA, and who can tell, but the PSALMS put into the hands of the Jews, with ſo Entertaining a Commentary thereupon, may be a powerful and perſwaſive Engine in the Arm •• of the LORD, for the Enlightening and Overcoming of them, to Look on Him whom they have Pierced! Were One to ſingle out 〈◊〉 preſent for a JEW, it ſhould be a Pſalter with ſuch a Commentary! Which no doubt he will conſider the more Attentively becauſe he will find his own Rabbi's continually brought in as Vouchers for it. However It is an agreeable circumſtance, to encourage our Hopes, that the Redemption of Iſrae and the Time to favour Zion, the ſet time, is coming on, in that the condition of the Jewiſh Nation as repreſented in the PSALMS, is now like to be more confidered by the Holy Singers of them, than in the former Ages. When the Holy Singers then begin to Sing and to Praiſe, who knows, what Ambuſhments our GOD may ſet againſt the Powers of ANTICHRIST, and of MAHOMET; cauſing them to deſtroy one another, and making way for, The Glorious Things which are ſpoken of thee, O Thou City of GOD!

§ 10. IT has been among the Glories of our PSALMS, that wherever the Kingdom of GOD has been upon making any New and Great Appearance, the Singing of THEM, has been very notably Subſervient and Inſtrumental unto it. More particularly, It is well-known, That when the Reformation in France began, the PSALMS were turned into French Metre, and agreeable Tunes were ſet unto them. The Singing of THESE charm'd the Souls of Court and City, Town and Countrey. They were Sung in the Louvre itſelf, as well as in the Proteſtant Churches: Ladies, Nobles, Princes, the King himſelf Sang them. All Ranks of Men practiſed it; A Gentleman of the Reformed Religion would not Eat a Meal without it. This One Thing mightily contributed unto the Downfall of Popery; which the Popiſh Chergy railing at, they never gave over until the profane and obſcene Odes of the Pagan Poets, had among many People of Quality thruſt out the PSALMS of David. And Juel writing from England unto Peter Martyr beyond Sea, 1560, reported, That a Change now appeared viſibly among the People, but nothing promoted it more, than the Inviting of People unto the Singing of PSALMS. This was begun at one Church in London, and quickly ſpread itſelf unto the Neighbouring Places; and ſometimes at Pauls Croſs, there would be no leſs than Sir Thouſand People Singing together. Truly, a growing Regard unto the Book of PSALMS, allowing us to ſay, The Time of Singing is come, and the voice of the Turtle is heard in the Land, will be among the hopeful Signs of the Times, and give as cauſe to hope, that it won't be long before it be ſaid, The Winter is paſt, and the Rain is over and gone.

DOUBTLESS, The Day approaches wherein the Kingdom of GOD will appear in brighter diſplays of it, than the World has ever yet been Enlightened withal. There are certain MAXIMS of PIETY, wherein all Good Men are United, whatever Different Perſwaſions they may have in other matters: MAXIMS wherein all that are cordially United, are Good Men, and the Children of GOD. Good Men will come to an Explicit Union upon theſe MAXIMS, and know no other Terms of Communion, than thoſe Terms of Salvation, and the Priviledges, the Emoluments, and the Expreſſions of Brotherly Charity, which of Right belong to all Good Men, as well in the Church as in the State, will be granted unto all that embrace theſe Glorious MAXIMS. GOD will bring His People, to Receive one another upon theſe Generous MAXIMS, and keep leſſer Points in a due Subordination to them, and manage their Controverſies on theſe leſſer Points, with another Spirit, than what has been too frequent among the Diſputers of this World; And all Invaſions upon the Throne of the Great GOD in the Conſcience of Men, will be abominated. There ſhall be a Reign of Righteouſneſs, and an admirable Peace and Joy will ariſe from the operations of the Holy Spirit accompanying of it; and Joels Prophecy will be accompliſhed. There will be Men Qualified like, and Influenced by, the ANGELS of GOD; and thoſe Boanerges, and Sons of Commotion, ſhall Fly thro' the midſt of Heaven, having the Everlaſting Goſpel of theſe Uniting MAXIMS, to Preach unto the Inhabitants of the Earth: And our Glorious LORD will ſhake all Nations, until this Goſpel be complied withal. That Cry, Babylon is fallen, will enſue upon it; and wondrous Changes upon the World, will turn an horrid and howling Wilderneſs into a Paradiſe, and GOD will give wondrous Tokens of His Gracious Preſence among the Children of Men.

BUT certainly, The Everlaſting Goſpel has a very Illuſtrious Exhibition in the Book of PSALMS; which now demands a Paſſage among the Inhabitants of the Earth, under ſome ſingular Advantages.

AND perhaps there are many Thouſands, to whom ſuch a Verſion as we have now before us, will be much more acceptable, than any Verſion, which only for the ſake of a little Jingle at the end of the Line, has left out much of that which the Holy SPIRIT has provided for us, and put in much more that is none of His Proviſion. A Pure Offering is here prepared for them!

AND if it were needful to quote any Authors for ſuch a Remark, we could eaſily bring more than one, whoſe Words may now be the Apples of the preſent Entertainment. The Divine, Book of PSALMS, is an Excellent Collection of Devout Hymns and Forms, which being Inſpired from Heaven in their Original, are ſure to be Acceptable there in their Uſe. And from this Rich Treaſury we may be furniſhed at all times, with proper Forms for our Devotions, ſuitable to the preſent ſtate of the Church, and Every Ones particular Caſe in all Emergencies: We have here a plentiful Proviſion for the Matter of our Duty, and the Manner of performing it.

An Admonition Concerning the TUNES.

OUR VERSION is fitted unto all the Common TUNES, the Notes whereof are Eight and Six.

BUT ſome of them are accommodated for a well-known Longer Metre, by putting in Two Syllables of the Black Letter, which are, without any Damage to the Truth of the Tranſlation, found encloſed between Two ſuch Crotchets as theſe, [] And which being left out, the Metre, with the Senſe yet remaining entire, is again reſtored unto the uſual, Eight & Six.

AND ſome of them are ſo contrived, that by leaving out what is in the Black Letter, between the Two Crotchets, [] which may be done without any manner of Damage, they are accommodated unto a well-known Shorter Metre.

THE Director of the Pſalmody, need only to ſay, Sing with the Black Letter, or, Sing without the Black Letter, and the Tune will be ſufficiently directed.

IN the Addition to the CANTIONAL, the Singer will find, That beſides what is done for the Tune, which uſes to go by the Name of, The CXLVIII Pſalm-Tune, or, the Hallelujatic Tune; by Taking or Dropping the Two Syllables of Black Lettet, between the Crotchets, [] a Variety of Other T •••• s is provided for.

THE SONGS of Zion,
THE FIRST BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM I.

1. O What the Bleſſings of the Man ‖ who is not walking in ‖ the counſel of the Men that are ‖ ſet for impiety! ‖ The Man who ſtands not in the way ‖ of ſinful wanderers: ‖ The Man who ſits not in the ſeat, ‖ of ſcornful cavillers! ‖

2. But his delight is in the Law ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ and in his Law he meditates ‖ both in the day and night. ‖

3 Sure he ſhall be like to a tree ‖ planted by ſtreams of water; ‖ which in its ſeaſon yields its fruit: ‖ its leaf too ſhall not fade: ‖ and whatſoever it does bear ‖ ſhall proſper very well. ‖

4 Th'ungodly are not ſo; but like ‖ Chaff which the wind does chaſe. ‖

5 Therefore ſhall not ungodly ones ‖ ſtand in the Judgment Day; ‖ neither ſhall Sinners ſtand in the ‖ Aſſembly of the juſt. ‖

6 For the ETERNAL God regards ‖ the way of righteous Men; ‖ But the way of ungodly ones ‖ ſhall periſh utterly. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the I. PSALM.

1 BEhold the Pſalter beginning like the Sermon of our SAVIOUR, with a Diſcourſe on the Supreme and Final Happineſs of Man. Baſit conſiders the Firſt Pſalm, as the Foundation o all the Pſalter. The Terms uſed for the Wicked here, are ſuch as the Holy Oracles put on the Members of Antichriſt. A thing here to be deeply thought upon. See Iſai. XI. 4. and 2 Pet. III. 3, 4.

3 Behold, the New Law of God in His Goſpel ſtanding like the Tree of Life, and imparting its nature to its Diſciples! Here pauſe upon the alluſion to the Bleſſing of Joſeph. Gen. XLIX. 22. — Shall proſper! Chriſtian, Is Devoti n an hindrance to Buſineſs? The ſame Idea that is here employed, is it not more fully purſued, in the Happineſs of the Faithful under the Reign of our SAVIOUR, after the Fall of Antichriſt? Iſai. LX. & LXI.

4 Compare the Fate of the Adherents to Antichriſt. Dan. II. 35. — Like duſt ſcattered by the wind. Behold! What comes of their Eſſays to Root themſelves.

5 Ponder the Alluſion to the Fate of Corah.

6 The Vulgar Latin explains it; The life of the Wicked. On, The Ungodly, mentioned four Times in the Firſt Pſalm, R. Aba gives a notable touch; Et ſimiliter ſunt quatuor Monarchiae. Behold the Four Monarchies!

PSALM II.

1 THE Nations, why do they concur ‖ with ſuch tumultuous rage! ‖ And why the People meditate ‖ a thing that is but vain? ‖

2 Kings of the Earth do ſet themſelves, ‖ and Rulers do conſult, ‖ againſt th' ETERNAL, and againſt ‖ [CHRIST] His Anointed One. ‖

3 What they ſay, is, Let us throw off ‖ at once their curbing bands; ‖ And let us caſt away from us ‖ the yokes they bind us to. ‖

4 He who ſits in the Heav'ns above ‖ ſhall there but laugh at them. ‖ Th' ETERNAL God ſhall them expoſe ‖ unto contemptuous ſcorn. ‖

5 At that time He ſhall ſpeak with ſtrokes ‖ in anger unto them; ‖ and fill them with perplexity ‖ in His incenſed wrath. ‖

6 What He will ſay, is, I have ſet ‖ Him I anoint my King ‖ on Zion which is unto me ‖ an hill of holineſs! ‖

7 I [who am He] proclaim the act; ‖ Th' ETERNAL a d to me, ‖ Th u art my Son; this very day ‖ have I bego •• en thee.‖

8 Ask me, and Nations will I give ‖ for thy Inheritance; ‖ And the remo e ends of the Earth ‖ for thy Poſſeſſion. ‖

9 Thou with a rod o' Iron ſhalt, ‖ a Shepherd, govern them; ‖ Like to a Potters veſſel thou ‖ ſhalt break them all to ſhreds. ‖

10 And now be wiſe, ye Kings; be taught, ‖ ye Judges of the Earth. ‖

11 Serve ye the Lord with fear; and yet ‖ with trembling ſtill rejoyce. ‖

12 Kiſs ye the Son, leſt He be wroth, ‖ and you fail in vour way: ‖ For His hot wrath will quickly flame. ‖ Bleſt all tha truſt in Him. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the II. PSALM.

THE Jewiſh Writers themſelves, in the form •• A es, generally underſtood the Second Pſalm of the M ſſiah. Behold, Iſraelites themſelves refu ••• the Kingdom of CHRIST, become as bad as Heath ••

4 God has the wicked in Deriſion, when He expoſ th n to Deriſion.

12. So then, the Meſſiah muſt be more than a Man For, Curſed is be M n who truſteth in Man! JEW Think of this, and leave thy Judaiſm.

PSALM III. A Pſalm of David, when he fled from Abſ dom his S ••

1 ETERNAL GOD, how they're increas'd ‖ who greatly trouble me? ‖ How many are the Men that ſtand ‖ in triumph over me? ‖

2 Many there be who ever are ‖ ſaying unto my Soul, ‖ There's no Salvation to be had ‖ for him in God at all. ‖ Selah. ‖

3 But now about me thou'rt a ſhield, ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou art my Glory, and thou art ‖ th'uplifter of my head. ‖

4 Unto th' ETERNAL God, I cried, ‖ with my extended voice, ‖ And He gave anſwer unto me ‖ out of His holy hill. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 I laid me down, and took my ſleep; ‖ and then I did awake: ‖ Becauſe that the ETERNAL God ‖ ſuſtain'd me all along. ‖

6 Tho' there ſhould be ten thouſands of ‖ thoſe people who do ſet ‖ themſelves againſt me round about; ‖ I will not be afraid. ‖

7 ETERNAL, riſe; ſave me, my God; ‖ For thou haſt ſmitten all ‖ my Foes on the cheek-bone; Thou haſt ‖ broken the wicked's teeth. ‖

8 Salvation is what does belong ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ On thoſe that are thy People is ‖ thy benediction ſtill. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the III. PSALM.

1 SInger, Now meditate on the Suferings of thy SAVIOUR. The Fifth Verſe evidently mentions His Death and Reſurrection. Compare the Third Pſalm with the Sixteenth.

2 They thought the Crimes of David paſt Expiation This is the Jewiſh gloſs upon it. But Old Arnobius invites us to conſider this Paſſage, as fulfill'd in the flouts of the Jews at our dying Saviour. And all the reſt as fulfill'd in Him.

7 Is here no Alluſion to Sampſon's Victory? Wa it not literally fulfill'd in the Deaths of Abſalom and of Ahitophel!

8 What? A Bleſſing wiſh'd for ſuch an ungrateful People! Chriſtian, imitate this Goodneſs! Compare Gal. VI. 16.

PSALM IV. To the chief Muſician. On Neginoth. A Pſalm David.

1 O Thou God of my righteouſneſs, ‖ hear me when I do call: ‖ Thou haſt enlarg'd me when I was ‖ in trouble ſome Reſtraint. ‖ O be thou gracious unt me, ‖ and O hear thou my prayer. ‖

2 Ye Sons of Men, how long ſhall my Glory be turn'd to ſhame? ‖ How long will you love vanity; ‖ and how long ſeek a lie?

3 But know, th' ETERNAL ſets apart the pious for Himſelf. ‖ Th' ETERNAL God will hear when I ‖ do call to Him for help.

4 Be you much mov'd; but do you not then any more offend. ‖ Commune with your own heart upon ‖ your bed, and ſo be ſtill. ‖

5 Offer the Sacrifices which ‖ belong to righteouſneſs: ‖ And therewith place your confidence ‖ on the ETERNAL God. ‖

6 Many there be that ſay, O who ‖ will ſhow us what is good! ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, do thou ‖ ſignally over us, ‖ like as a banner, lift the light ‖ of thy bright countenance. ‖

7 Thou haſt beſtow'd, in doing thus, ‖ a joy upon my heart, ‖ more than the time wherein their Corn ‖ and their Wine did increaſe. ‖

8 I will both lay me down in peace, ‖ and I will take my ſleep; ‖ For, O ETERNAL, Thou alone ‖ doſt make me dwell ſecure. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the IV. PSALM.

THE Term which we render, To the chief Muſician, may be rendred alſo, To, or, For the End. An Intimation, that theſe things are eminently calculated for that Period, which is called, The Time of the End.

2 Sons of Men; eſpecially means the Rulers of the People. [See Pſal. LVIII. 1.] The Son of Man, (when the word Adam is uſed,) means the Greateſt of Men. [See Iſai. LI. 12.] The Hebrews call the chief of any Kind, by the Name of the whole Kind. Man is called Creature. Son of Man is the Chief among the Sons of Men. Ezekiel and Daniel were acknowledged very Great Men, by this Appellation.

4 It may be read, Are ye Angry? (That I have the Kingdom?) yet do not Sin; have a care what you do. Munſt r notes here, An Admonition to tremble at Enmity and Rebellion againſt the CHRIST of God and ſuppreſs the firſt riſing of all thoughts that have ſuch a tendency.

6 Is not here the Language of Good Men, longing for the appearing of the Meſſ ah?—He is, The Go d One. His Name is, The Face of GOD.

PSALM V. To the Chief Muſician. Upon Nebiloth. A Pſath of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, do thou give eat unto my words. ‖ Let th conſideration weigh ‖ what I do meditate.

2 O hearken thou unto the voice ‖ of m lamenting cry; ‖ Thou art my King; th art my God; ‖ and I will pray to thee. ‖

3 O thou ETERNAL, thou ſhalt in ‖ th morning hear my voice. ‖ I in the morni •• will prepare ‖ for thee, and will look u

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleaſure in wickedneſs: ‖ nor ſhall a dw ••• ling be with thee ‖ for any evil thing. ‖

5 None of them that are ſcornful fools ſhall ſtand before thine eyes; ‖ The worke of iniquity, ‖ thou hateſt all of them. ‖

6 Thou ſhalt bring a perd' ••• n on ‖ the who do ſpeak a lye; ‖ Th' •• ERNAL Go •• will much abhor ‖ the man of blood an guile. ‖

7 But I in thy large mercy will ‖ enter into thy houſe: ‖ Towards thy holy Tem ple I ‖ will worſhip in thy fear. ‖

8 O thou ETERNAL do thou lead ‖ me in thy righteouſneſs; ‖ For my obſervers ſake, make lai ‖ the way before my face. ‖

9 Truth's in the mouth of none of them; ‖ within they've g ievous frauds; ‖ their throat's an open Sepulchre: ‖ they flatter with their to g e. ‖

10 O God, condemn them; let them fall ‖ from counſels of their own: ‖ expel them in their many crimes; ‖ for they've provoked thee. ‖

11 But let all them that hope in thee, ‖ joy; ever ſi g for joy. ‖ Since thou hid'ſt them; let them that love ‖ thy Name, rejoyce in thee. ‖

12 For, O ETERNAL, thou doſt uſe ‖ to bleſs the righteous one: ‖ with crowning favour as a ſhield ‖ thou wilt encompaſs him. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the V. PSALM.

THere are even Jews themſelves, who re er the whole Pſ •• m, to the Time of the Meſſiah. It muſt be the Seco d coming of the Lord, when there •• ll b •• Temple, wherein will be no Sacrifices but 〈◊〉 of Pra ſes. The Followers of An ichriſt, are here deſcribed; with the joy of the Church in their D •••• uction, Compare, Rev. XI. 17, 18.

3 Man, wouldeſt thou have an e rly and ſpeedy help from GOD? •• ce what is to be nde voured.

5 Who he that ſpeaks a Lye? Old Arnobius in •• prets it ••• cially of them, who deny the Son of God.

7 W •••• be driven out of the Houſe of God, than 〈◊〉 of ou ••• wn!

9 It ſeems the Slanders of the Wicked againſt Good Men, are but preparatives to their Death, if they can accompliſh it; the opening of a Sepulchre for them!

12 This Righteous One,—The Arabian Interpreter does well to underſtand it of the Meſſiah.

PSALM VI. To the Chief Muſician, On Neginoth. Upon Sheminith. A Pſalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, in thine anger rebuke me not. ‖ And in thy fiercely burning wrath, ‖ O do not chaſten me. ‖

2 Pity me, O ETERNAL God; ‖ for I am languiſhing. ‖ O Lord, reſtore me; for my bones ‖ are greatly terrified. ‖

3 Yea, more than this; my very Soul ‖ is greatly terrified. ‖ But, O thou, the ETERNAL God, ‖ how long ſhall it be ſo?

4 Return, O thou ETERNAL God; ‖ deliver thou my Soul. ‖ O grant Salvation unto me, ‖ for thy kind mercies ſake. ‖

5 For no commemoration can ‖ be made of thee in death: ‖ And who is there to celebrate, ‖ thy praiſes in the Grave? ‖

6 I'm with my groaning ſpent; all night ‖ I make my b d to ſwim. ‖ With my continual ſweeping I ‖ water my lodging place. ‖

7 My eye is meerly worn away ‖ thro •• forrow of my mind; ‖ It is becoming old becauſe ‖ of all my enemies. ‖

8 All workers of iniquity, ‖ Depart away from me! ‖ Becauſe that the ETERNAL One ‖ hath heard my weeping voice. ‖

9 Now the ETERNAL God, He hath ‖ my ſupplication heard: ‖ Th'ETERNAL will receive my prayer, ‖ kindly approving it. ‖

10 My Enemies be all aſham'd ‖ and greatly terrify'd; ‖ Let them return, and ſuddenly ‖ let them be put to ſhame. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the VI. PSALM.

CHriſtian Singer, Among other things make the cond tion of the Jewiſh Church in her Diſperſion, a Subject of thy Meditation. Heal me, is anſwered, Iſc, LVII. 18. The ſudden ſtroke of the Idolatrous Oppreſſors, praedicted, 1 Theſ. 5.3. is here ſpoken of.

5 O our dear SAVIOUR; Hadſt thou been left in thy Grave, thy People muſt all have periſhed; God would have had no Praiſes from them! Some of the Ancients thus apply theſe Paſſages.

6 —Moſt penitently done! David, Was not thy Bed the place of thy Crime? — Theodoret has a glance of this importance.

PSALM VII. Shaggajon of David; which he Sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cuſh the Benjamite.

O Thou ETERNAL God, my God; ‖ in Thee I put my truſt. ‖ From all my perſecutors ſave ‖ me, and, Oh! Reſcue me, ‖

2 Leaſt he to pieces tear my Soul, ‖ like as a Lion tears; ‖ To pieces rending it, while there ‖ is no deliverer. ‖

3 O Thou ETERNAL God, my God; ‖ if I have done this thing ‖ wherewith I'm charg'd; if in my hands ‖ there be iniquity: ‖

4 If I have rendred ill to him ‖ that was at peace with me; ‖ (yea, I have reſcued him that was ‖ my cauſeleſs enemy!) ‖

5 The Enemy then purſue my Soul, ‖ and overtake it too! ‖ yea, tread my life to th' Earth, & lay ‖ my honour in the duſt. ‖ Selah. ‖

6 LORD, in thine anger riſe; lift up, ‖ for the rage of my foes: ‖ Wake for me; There's a Judgment which ‖ thou giveſt Commandment for. ‖

7 So ſhall the Congregation of ‖ the People compaſs thee: ‖ For their ſakes therefore, O do thou ‖ return unto the heighth. ‖

8 The People ſhall th' ETERNAL Judge: ‖ Me, O ETERNAL, Judge; ‖ as is my righteouſneſs, and as ‖ my innocence in me. ‖

9 The wickedneſs of wicked ones, ‖ Oh let it have an end. ‖ But fix the juſt; for the juſt God ‖ does try the hearts & reins. ‖

10 The Shield for my defence, it is ‖ ſtill to be ſound with God; ‖ who is a Saviour unto thoſe ‖ that are upright in heart. ‖

11 God is a Judge on His behalf ‖ that is a righteous Man; ‖ And God is grievouſly provok'd ‖ no leſs than every day. ‖

12 Except he ſhall be turn'd about, ‖ He'l ſharply whet His Sword, ‖ He hath already hent His Bow, ‖ and hath prepared it ‖

13 He alſo has prepar'd for him ‖ the inſtruments of Death. ‖ His arrows He hath wrought againſt ‖ the perſecuting ones. ‖

14 Behold, he is in travail to ‖ bring forth iniquity; ‖ He has conceived miſchief, and ‖ he ſhall bring forth a lye. ‖

15 He hath with digging made a pit, ‖ and he hath hollow'd it: ‖ but he hath fall'n into the ditch ‖ which was his workmanſhip. ‖

16 Upon his own head ſhall return ‖ the miſchief done by him; ‖ upon his own crown from on high ‖ his violence ſhall come down. ‖

17 According to His righteouſneſs ‖ I'll Praiſe th' ETERNAL God; ‖ and ſing the Name of Him that is ‖ th' ETERNAL, the moſt High. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the VII. PSALM.

WAS not Shimei, who was related unto the Family of Kiſh, concerned here? Behold, ſome enterrainment for the reviled Servants of God!

5.—q. d. I am willing to be as much Reproached when I am dead, as I have been Honoured in my Life.

6—This Judgment, is by Munſter underſtood of the Jus Regni, which by the Prophecy of Jacob, was to be transferr'd unto the Tribe of the Pſalmiſt; Then the Gathering of the People would be to him.

12. Behold an Alluſion to the Judgment upon Antichriſt, as deſcribed in Deut. XXXII. 41, 42. Rev. XIX. 11, 12, 16. It calls for the deepeſt Meditation. The Chief Characters of the Government, are aſſign'd in the ſalm now before us.

PSALM VIII. To the Chief Muſician; upon Gittith. A Pſalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, our Lord! ‖ Thy Name, how great is it ‖ in all the Earth That thou haſt ſet ‖ thy Praiſe above the Heav'ns! ‖

2 Out of the mouths of Infant Babes, ‖ and them that ſuck the Breaſt, ‖ a firm foundation thou haſt laid ‖ for an admired ſtrength. ‖ By reaſon of thine Enemies; ‖ that thou may'ſt make to ceaſe ‖ the Adverſary ſo, and him, ‖ that does revenge himſelf. ‖

3 When I do look upon the Heav'ns, ‖ the work the ſingers made; ‖ When I look on the Moon and Stars, ‖ the which thou haſt diſpos'd, ‖

4 I ſay, What is forgetful Man ‖ that thou remembreſt him? ‖ And what the Son of Earthly Man, ‖ that thou doſt viſit him? ‖

5 For thou a little mad'ſt him be ‖ lower Than Angels are; ‖ Then thou haſt crown'd him with a bright ‖ Glory and Majeſty. ‖

6 Over the works of thy hands thou haſt given him to rule: ‖ under his feet thou haſt put them ‖ into ſubjection all. ‖

7 The Sheep and Beeves, ev'n all of them, and the Beaſts of the Fields. ‖

8 Of Heav'ns the Fowls, of Seas the Fiſh what paſſes the Seas paths. ‖

9 O Thou ETERNAL God, thou art ‖ our Lord on whom we lean; ‖ how admirably glorious is ‖ thy Name in all the Earth! ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the VIII. PSALM.

WAS not the Pſalm compoſed on the Victory over Goliah of Gath? A lively Emblem of the Conqueſt which our SAVIOUR has had over the Devil! Chriſtian Singer, Behold, and Adore the Second Adam.

1 Above the Heavens!—Done in the Aſcenſion of our SAVIOUR.

2. Founded. In Matth. XXI. 16. it is, Perfected. Chryſoſtom has a Note upon it. Where GOD has laid a Foundation for any thing, it ſhall come to Perfection.

3 Why is the Sun omitted? Perhaps the Pſalm was compoſed in the Night. Or ſhall we rather ſay, The MAN here Crowned is the SUN! Aben-Ezra ſays, one cannot behold the Sun, as one may the Moon and the Stars.

4 Man, ENOSH. Euſebius notes, The Term ſigniſies, Forgetful or Forgotten Man. That GOD ſhould Remember ſuch a thing!

8 Are there any things paſſing thro' the paths of the Sea beſides the Fiſh? Yes, Kimchi, and Aben-Ezra, Two Jewiſh Rabbi's, and our Chryſoſtom, apply it unto Veſſels and Sailors. Oh! That ſuch would ſubmit unto the Dominion of our SAVIOUR!

PSALM. IX. To the Chief Mnſician, upon Muth-labben. A Pſalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, I will ‖ praiſe thee with all my heart, ‖ I'll give a full relation of ‖ all of thy wondrous works. ‖

2 I will be glad within, and will ‖ rejoyce without in thee; ‖ I will ſing praiſe unto thy Name, ‖ O thou that art moſt high. ‖

3 When that my Adverſaries be ‖ returned back again, ‖ they ſhall with ſtumbling fall, and ſhall ‖ periſh before thy face. ‖

4 Becauſe that thou haſt done the right, ‖ and what was judg'd for me; ‖ Thou ſatteſt down upon the Throne, ‖ O Judge of righteouſneſs. ‖

5 Thou haſt rebuk'd the heathen; Thou ‖ deſtroy'ſt the wicked one: ‖ their name thou haſt quite blotted out ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

6 O Enemy, Deſtructions are ‖ come to perpetual end: ‖ and Cities which thou haſt deſtroyed ‖ their Name is loſt with them. ‖

7 But now JEHOVAH ſhall endure ‖ to all Eternity: ‖ For Judgment to proceed fr m thence, ‖ He hath prepar'd His Throne. ‖

8 He, even His own ſelf will judge ‖ the World in righteouſneſs: ‖ He'll judge the People with ſuch things ‖ as are forever right ‖

9 And the ETERNAL God will be ‖ a refuge for the poor; ‖ a refuge in the proper times, ‖ when trouble comes on him. ‖

10 And they that know thy Name will place ‖ their confidence in thee: ‖ For thou orſak'ſt not them that ſeek ‖ Thee, O ETERNAL God. ‖

11 To the ETERNAL God, who dwells ‖ in Zion, ſing with praiſe: ‖ Among the People tell abroad ‖ the things which He has wrought. ‖

12 When He inquireth after Blood, ‖ He will remember them: ‖ He's not unmindful of the cry ‖ made by the humbled poor. ‖

13 Have Mercy, O ETERNAL God ‖ on me: behold my grief ‖ from them that hare me; raiſing me ‖ up from the gates of death. ‖

14 For this, that I may utter all ‖ thy praiſes in the gates ‖ of Sions daughter; I'll rejoyce ‖ in thy ſalvation ſtill. ‖

15 The Nations are ſunk down into ‖ the pit themſelves have made; ‖ their own foot's taken in the net ‖ which they themſelves have hid. ‖

16 Known is th' ETERNAL God by this, ‖ the Judgment He hath done! ‖ The wicked is inſ ared in ‖ the work of his own hands, ‖ Higgajon. Selah. ‖

17 The wicked ſhall be turned back, ‖ even down into the pit: ‖ And all the Nations ſhall be ſo ‖ that do forget a God. ‖

18 For that the needy one ſhall not ‖ for ever be forgot: ‖ And the hope of the humbled poor ‖ ſhall not for ever fail. ‖

19 Riſe, O ETERNAL God; let not ‖ a wretched man prevail: ‖ The Nations ſhall have Judgment done ‖ on, them before thy face. ‖

20 O thou ETERNAL God, ſtrike thou ‖ a terror into them: ‖ And let the Nations underſtand ‖ they are but ſorry men. ‖ Selah. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the IX. PSALM.

THE Ancients make this a Funeral Song upon the Ruin of Antichriſt. Vicars in his Decapla quotes an Ancient MSS which gives this Title to the Pſaim; Oſtendit, quod Chriſtus adventu ſuo oppreſſ •• ns eſt Antichriſtum. The Syr ac Tit c is, Of the Kingdom of Chriſt. Compare Iſai. XI. 4.

17 They that forgot what God has done unto others, are very particular y intended here.

PSALM X.

1 WHY, O ETERNAL God doſt thou ‖ ſtard ſo far off from us? ‖ Why doſt thou hide thy ſelf in times ‖ when we are in diſtreſs? ‖

2 In the pride of the wicked one ‖ the humbled poor's on fire: ‖ May they be taken in the plots ‖ the which they have devis'd. ‖

3 The wicked one does glory much ‖ upon his hearts deſire; ‖ and he does bleſs the covetous ‖ th' ETERNAL doth abhor. ‖

4 Thro' the pride of his angry look ‖ the wicked won't enquire; ‖ All of his thoughts do run on this, ‖ That there is not a God. ‖

5 His ways do always grieve; In's view ‖ thy judgments are above: ‖ For all His enemies, he thinks, ‖ to blow them all away. ‖

6 'T s what he ſays within his heart, ‖ I never ſhall be mov'd, ‖ from age to age I never ſhall ‖ be in adverſity. ‖

7 His mouth's of execration full, ‖ and of deceits and frauds; ‖ under his tongue there lies conceal'd ‖ miſchief and vanity. ‖

8 He ſits in lurking-holes of towns; ‖ he in by-places kills ‖ the innocent; his eyes are ſet ‖ ſliely againſt the poor. ‖

9 Like a den'd lion cloſ he lurks; ‖ he lurks to catch the poor: ‖ he ſeizes on the poor when he ‖ draws him into his net. ‖

10 He's broke to pieces; he's brought down; ‖ and by his potent ones ‖ there falls the congregation of ‖ the miſerable ones. ‖

11 This he hath ſaid within his heart, ‖ God hath forgotten all; ‖ He hath quite turn'd away his face; ‖ He doth not ever ſee. ‖

12 Ariſe, O thou ETERNAL God; ‖ O God, lift up thy hand: ‖ O be not thou forgetful of ‖ the poor afflicted ones. ‖

13 For what cauſe does the wicked one ‖ caſt ſuch contempt on God! ‖ 'Tis what he ſays within his heart, ‖ Thou'lt bring to no account. ‖

14 Thou ſeeſt; thou look'ſt on Sin and ſpite ‖ to take't into thy hand; ‖ The poor leaves all to thee; thou doſt ‖ relieve the Fatherleſs. ‖

17 To ſhivers break the arm of him ‖ that is an impious man: ‖ And looking then for wickedneſs, ‖ thou'lt find no wicked one. ‖

16 Now the ETERNAL One is King; ‖ ever and ever ſo. ‖ The Nations of the heathen are ‖ periſh'd out of His land. ‖

17 O thou ETERNAL, Thou haſt heard ‖ the humbled ones deſire; ‖ Thou doſt prepare the heart of ſuch; ‖ thou giv'ſt a liſtning ear. ‖

18 For judging of the fatherleſs, ‖ and ſmall oppreſſed ones; ‖ He'll then go on no more to break ‖ frail man from off the Earth ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the X. PSALM.

THE Syriac Title is, Concerning the Devil tempting Adam. This might lead one to ſome ne and curious Ideas in reading of the Pſalm. The Jewi •• Note of R. Obadiah, is a very Chriſtian one. 'Tis 〈◊〉 Pſalm concerning the Captivity of Iſrael under th Fourth Beaſt, or Monarchy. The Midraſh Tilli •• takes, the Tim s of Trouble to be the Time, the Times, and the half Time, foretold by Daniel. Yea, on that, He lutks like a Lion, 'tis a Paſſage of Auſtin; Perſ cutio per An ichriſtum ventura eſt violenta et fraudulenta.

1 Compare Deut. IV. 7. What Nation hath G •• ſo n gh unto them?

5 qd. All his Buſineſs is to moleſt his Neighbours

7 He'l call for one Curſe after another on himſelf, to confirm the Promiſes he never intends to keep.

PSALM. XI. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 IN the ETERNAL God I have ‖ repos'd my confidence: ‖ How ſay ye to my Soul, flee thou ‖ a Bird unto thy mount? ‖

2 For lo, the wicked bend their bow, ‖ fix their ſhaft on the ſtring, ‖ to ſhoot in darkneſs at the Men ‖ that are upright in heart. ‖

3 When that the firm foundations are, ‖ all utterly deſtroy'd: ‖ It may be ask't, The Righteous One ‖ what is't he has to do? ‖

4 Why? the ETERNAL One is in ‖ His holy Temple ſtill; ‖ And the ETERNAL One has in ‖ the Heav'ns above His Throne. ‖ His eyes exactly do behold ‖ all that is done below: ‖ His eye-lids do diſcover well ‖ the Sons of Earthly Man. ‖

5 Th' ETERNAL God makes tryal of ‖ him that's a righteous Man: ‖ But his Soul hates a wicked man, ‖ and him that loves to force. ‖

6 Upon the wicked He ſhall rain, ‖ ſnares fre and ſulphur down; ‖ a Spirit alſo full of ſtorm's ‖ the portion of their cup. ‖

7 For the ETERNAL God who's juſt ‖ loves the things that are juſt; ‖ His favourable aſpects are ‖ upon the righteous Man. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XI. PSALM.

1 BEhold, the Church flying from Antichriſt. Compare Rev. XIII. 2. 'Tis remarkable, the deſtruction of Antichriſt, by Fire & Brimſt ne, is her foretold. Compare, Iſ . XXXIV. 9. and Rev. XVI. and XXI. Old Commentators expound the Pſalm from Iſa. XI. 4.

3 Patrick ſo paraphraſes; If Men have no regard unto Laws, and publick Decrees, which are the Fo •• dation of Humane Society, what ſecurity can an hon •• Man have? or, what ſhould he do, but get away fro thoſe who are ſo arbitrary and perfidious? Mun •• by Foundations underſtands the Oaths and the Ter •• of Peace, wh ch Saul had ſo often violated. — W ſee what is done by Antichriſt. Now ſee what th Righteous God will do!

4 While God ſeems to wink, and cloſe his Eyes, if He took no notice of Men; He is now trying them. 'Tis old Mr. Dickſon's Note.

6 — The Fate of Sodom is alluded to. Snare •• One of the Ancients has an awful Gloſs. Laquei ſ •• vetera peccata (et cupidines) iterum predomina •• O lave to ungoverned Paſſions, conſider, whether th alſo haſt not, A Spirit full of Storms!

PSALM XII. To the Chief Muſician, Upon Sheminith. A Pſalm of David.

1 HElp, O ETERNAL God, becauſe ‖ t •• pious Man doth ceaſe: ‖ the faith ••• are diminiſh'd from ‖ among the Sons 〈◊〉 Men. ‖

2 Each one unto his neighbour doth ſpeak lying vanity; ‖ with a moſt flatteri •• lip they ſpeak, ‖ and with a double heart

3 Th' ETERNAL God will cut off a •• lips full of flatteries; ‖ the tongue that ſet ſelf to ſpeak ‖ things of a mighty ſound. ‖

4 They ſay; We with this tongue of ours ‖ will carry ſtill the day; ‖ Our lips we have them for our own; ‖ who is a Lord to us? ‖

5 For the ſpoil of the humbled ones, ‖ for the cry of the poor, ‖ Now, ſays th' ETERNAL God, I'll riſe, ‖ I'll ſave whom he enſnares. ‖

6 The words of the ETERNAL God ‖ are words exceeding pure; ‖ Silver tried in an earthen forge, ‖ purified ſeven times. ‖

7 Thou, O ETERNAL God, wilt have ‖ them in thy cuſtody: ‖ From this vile Generation, thou ‖ wilt him forever keep. ‖

8 When they whom once the ſons of •• en ‖ did baſely vilify ‖ ſhall be exalted, wicked men ‖ walk ſad on every ſide. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XII. PSALM.

'TIS Remarkable, Daniel deſcribes the Antichriſtian Party, with expreſſions taken from this Pſalm. An Arabian Copy, from Sheminith, [or, The Eighth] in the Title has this hint, De fine mundi, qui continget in Die O tavo. Et prophetia de adventu Chriſti. So the Syriac, De adventu Chriſti. Quaere, How far the Seven times in the Sixth Verſe, may refer to the Seventh Age, or Sabbatiſm

6 — The Promiſes of God, not like yours, O Falſe Men; Deceitful.

8 The Patrician Paraphraſe is; This will make the Wicked not know which way to turn themſe ves, but be ready to burſt with vexation, when they ſee thoſe Men, whom they vilified, not only preſerved, ut exalted by thy favour to di nity.

PSALM XIII. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, How long ‖ wilt thou forget me? Ever! ‖ How long wilt thou with anger hide ‖ thy face away from me? ‖

2 How long conſult I in my Soul? ‖ Griefs daily in my heart. ‖ And how long ſhall my Enemies be ‖ exalted over me? ‖

3 O thou ETERNAL God, my God, ‖ look, liſten unto me; ‖ enlighten thou mine eyes, leſt I ‖ do fall aſleep in death. ‖

4 Leſt that my adverſary ſay, ‖ againſt him I've prevail'd! ‖ Leſt that my troublers do reicyce ‖ when I am ſtaggering. ‖

5 But I have plac'd my truſt upon ‖ thy kind benignity: ‖ my heart in thy ſalvation ſhall ‖ triumphing ſtill rejoyce. ‖

6 Now alſo with my voice I'll ſing ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ ſince in a recompencing way ‖ thou haſt dealt well with me. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XIII. PSALM.

R. Solomon thinks, that the How long, repeated Four times, may refer to the Oppreſſion of Iſ ael under the Four Beaſts in Daniel; the Four Mo archies. The Midr ſh Tillin takes notice of this Myſtery; and adds. That herein was the juſt Vengeance of God upon Iſrael, for putting him to complain Four times of them in the Wilderneſs, How long! [S.e •• od. XVI. & Numb. XIV.]

4 My Adverſary! The Chaldee Parapraſt underſtands it of our Evil Imagination; that is our Original Sin. Chriſtian, Improve the Hint. Have 〈◊〉 found thee, O mine Enemy?

PSALM XIV. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 THE Fool hath ſaid within his heart ‖ That there is not a God. ‖ Thus they corrupt; they do the thing ‖ that is abominable. ‖ There is not one among them all ‖ who does the thing that's good. ‖

2 From Heaven the ETERNAL God ‖ looks on the ſons of Men: ‖ He looks to ſee if that there be ‖ one who does mind at all ‖ to underſtand, or, one who is, ‖ a ſeeker after God. ‖

3 They're every one declin'd; they are ‖ together putrified; ‖ There is not one doer of good, ‖ no, not ſo much as one. ‖

4 All that work evil, know they not? ‖ They eat my people up, ‖ as they eat Bread, they do not call ‖ on the ETERNAL One. ‖

5 Ev'n then and there with terror they ‖ were greatly terrified; ‖ for God is in the race of him ‖ that is the righteous one. ‖

6 The counſel of the humbled one, ‖ you would put that to ſhame; ‖ Becauſe he does for refuge fly ‖ to the ETERNAL God. ‖

7 From Zion who gives Iſrael's health? ‖ When the ETERNAL turns ‖ His captiv'd people, Jacob will ‖ joy, Iſrael will be glad ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XIV. PSALM.

WHO are intended by the Wicked, who are here deſcribed? — All the fall'n and ſinful Children of Men have a ſhare in the deſcription. Sank Court may have a peculiar ſhare. But ſome Jewiſh Expoſitors, have a notable hint, That the Holy Spirit intends yet more particularly, the Romiſh Babylon; by which the Iſrael of God, was to be oppreſſed, until the Secord Coming of the Meſſiah, when the Salvation of Iſrael is to come out of Zion, and the Lord will bring back the Captivity of His People. How elegan •• then, how appoſitely, how convictively, and with how much cogency, does the Apoſtle chuſe the Paſſages of this very Pſalm, in writing unto the Romans, to co vince them of their being ſuch ſinful Creatures as at here deſcribed?

1 — Yea, and as Arnobius notes, when they ſaw the humble ſtate wherein our Lord appeared, they ſaid, H •• is no God.

3 Auſtin reads it, There is none who doth Good; 〈◊〉 Except ONE. This ONE is our Bleſſed JESUS!

6 The counſel of the Poor! This, Becauſe the Lord is his Refuge; He looks to be Juſtified only by Faith in the Lord, not by any works of his own. If I don't miſremember, 'tis Autſtins curious gloſs upon it.

PSALM XV. A Pſalm of David.

1 WHO is it, O ETERNAL God ‖ ſhal ſojourn in thy tent? ‖ His dwelling who ſhall have in the ‖ mount of thy holtneſs? ‖

2 He that walks with integrity ‖ and that works righteouſneſs: ‖ and he that ſpeaks the very truth, ‖ even what is in his heart. ‖

3 He with his tongue backbiteth not, ‖ nor doth his Neighbour harm: ‖ And takes not up a culumny ‖ againſt one near to him. ‖

4 A deſpicable perſon is ‖ deſpiſed in his eyes; ‖ but he puts honour on the Men ‖ that fear th' ETERNAL God. ‖ He changes not when he hath ſworn, ‖ tho' it may do him hurt. ‖

5 His Coin he does not put unto ‖ a biting Uſury. ‖ Nor does he take a bribe to hurt ‖ one that is innocent. ‖ He that's a doer of theſe things ‖ ſhall never be thrown down. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XV. PSALM.

SOme think, the Pſalm was compoſed by David, either when he had brought the Ark to Zion, or when he was himſelf reſtored thither, after the Rebellion of Abſalom. Then was very ſeaſonable an Admonition to live better, and as under the Government of God. So Theed ret.

1 Chriſtian, Thou loveſt, I know, to ſee thy SAVIOUR! All the World agrees, the Citizen of Zion to be every Godly Man. But, Old Arnobius, invites us, to conſider, whether our Bleſſed JESUS may not be deſcribed in the Pſalm; and that with Ten Characters anſwering to the Ten Commandments. I'll touch on an Article or two. He has honoured them that fear the Lord. How? By giving them a power to become the Sons of God. He hath Sworn and not Changed. How? In the Premiſes of the Goſpel. He hath not put out This Money to Uſury. That is in the Spiritual Gifts beſtowed on His Diſciples, whereof He ſaid, Freely ye have received, freely give. He took not a reward againſt the Innocent; No, He freely gave Himſelf a Ranſom for the Guilty.

3 Takes not up! The Original goes further, He cannot hear it.

4 The Munſterian Reading is. In his own eyes, he is a vile perſon and contemned. To his hurt.—Or 〈◊〉 may be read, unto an ill Man. The wickedneſs of others, won't releaſe us from our Obligations to them

5 In the Holy Land where Mortgages were f •• ſpecial Reaſons made unlawful, Uſury was for the cauſe alſo forbidden. But among the Gentiles, there is no diſallowance of Mortgages; And ſo, Uſury, regulated with Charity, is among us to be allow'd of.

PSALM XVI. Mictam of David.

1 O God, preſerve thou me, becauſe ‖ place my truſt in thee. ‖

2 My Soul, Thou to th' ETERNAL God haſt ſaid, Thou art my God. ‖ My goodne •• reaches not to thee. ‖

3 'Tis to the Saints on Earth; ‖ and to thoſe glorious ones in whom ‖ is all of m delight. ‖

4 Their ſorrows ſhall be multiply'd, ‖ w •• haſten to another; ‖ their blood-drink-offrining I'll not pour, ‖ nor name them with my lips

5 Th' ETERNAL God's the portion which is my inheritance. ‖ And He's the cup th falls to me; ‖ Thou doſt maintain my lot

6 The lines that fall to me are in ‖ places of ſweet delights; ‖ yea, the Inheritance for me ‖ it is how excellent! ‖

7 I'll bleſs th' ETERNAL God; 'Tis He ‖ who hath adviſed me: ‖ yea, in the very nights, my reins ‖ have well inſtructed me. ‖

8 I have ſet the ETERNAL God ‖ before me ever more; ‖ Becauſe He is at my right hand ‖ I ſhall not be remov'd. ‖

9 Therefore my heart is joyful, and ‖ my glory does rejoyce; ‖ yea, more than ſo, my very fleſh ‖ ſhall dwell in confidence. ‖

10 For thou wilt not forſake my Soul, ‖ when it is in the pit; ‖ nor wilt permit thy gracious One ‖ to ſee corruption there. ‖

11 Thoul't make me know the path of lives, ‖ joys enough are before ‖ thy face; at thy Right hand there are ‖ pleaſures for evermore. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XVI. PSALM.

BEhold, the Prayer of the Meſſiah in His Humiliation! Peter proves it can belong to no other. Acts 11.25. In that ſtate, GOD is at His Right Hand. But after His Exaltation He ſits at the Right Hand of GOD.

2 Some take it ſo. My Welfare (and what leads to it) is not conceal'd with thee. No;—(as anon) Thou haſt ſhewn me the path of Life. Or, may not the Meſſiah ſay, My Goodneſs is not known only to GOD; But the Saints on Earth are alſo acquainted with it. The J wiſh Expoſitors carry it ſo, My Goodneſs is not without Thee. Thou art the Author of all the Go enjoy or perform.

3 If we ſay to the Lord, Thou art my Lord, 〈◊〉 ſhall alſo ſay to the Saints, Theſe are the Excellent It is D. Kimchi's Gloſs.

4 Old Arnobius underſtands, the Names, not of 〈◊〉 Idols, but of the Idolat rs. I will deny them,—ſ •• our SAVIOUR. The ſame Hebrew Word that fi •• fies Idols, alſo ſignifies Sorrows. Chriſtian, Let G •• alone Reign in thy Soul, or thou ſhalt find them 〈◊〉 Fond People cauſing Images to be made of their d •• Relatives, and with paſſionate Sorrows, firſt hone u •• and then adoring of them; This gave riſe to the W ••• ſhipping of Images.

7 q. d. In the darkeſt Night of Affliction, whe •• can't ſee my way, God ſecretly inſpires my mind w •• wiſe tho 's, and ſhows me what He would have 〈◊〉 to do.

9 Heart, Glory, Fleſh. Some of the Anei •• thought, 1 Theſ. V. 23. Spirit, Soul, & Body all •• unto it.

10 Gracious One. The Hebrews tell us Chafi •• One, Qui andit maledicentem et non reſpondet. O who when he is reviled, revileth not again. Comp •• 1. Pet. II. 21.

PSALM XVII. A Prayer of David.

1 HEar, O ETERNAL God, the right attend unto my cry; ‖ Give ear u •• my prayer, which is ‖ not in deceitful lip

2 Let there come from before thy fa •• the ſentence paſs'd on me: ‖ Let thine 〈◊〉 favourably look ‖ upon things that be ri ••

3 Thou h'ſt prov'd my heart; thou'ſt viſited ‖ by night; me haſt thou try'd: ‖ Thou ſhalt find nothing; I have thought, ‖ My mouth ſhall not tranſgreſs. ‖

4 For what concerns the works of Men, ‖ by the word of thy lips, ‖ I have obſerved well the paths ‖ of him who does deſtroy. ‖

5 My goings, O do thou uphold ‖ in thy well-tending paths: ‖ When thou haſt done that thing for me ‖ my footſteps have not ſlipt. ‖

6 Upon thee I have call'd, becauſe ‖ thou heareſt me, O God: ‖ O do thou bow thine ear to me, ‖ O hearken to my ſpeech. ‖

7 Thy wondrous favours ſhew, O thou ‖ who doſt deliver them ‖ that hope for it, from thoſe who do ‖ riſe againſt thy righthand. ‖

8 O do thou keep me even as ‖ the apple of thine Eye; ‖ under the ſhadow of thy wings ‖ O do thou cover me. ‖

9 From the face of the impious ones, ‖ ſuch as have laid me waſte; ‖ The enemies who for my Soul ‖ about encompaſs me. ‖

10 In their own ſtupifying greaſe ‖ they have enclos'd themſelves: ‖ They with their mouth have loudly ſpoke ‖ in their exalted pride. ‖

11 When we were going in our way ‖ they have encompaſs'd us: ‖ They ſet their eyes that they may ſpread ‖ their Nets upon the Earth. ‖

12 He's like unto a Lion which ‖ is greedy of a prey; ‖ and like to a young Lion which does lie in lurking holes. ‖

13 O thou ETERNAL God, ariſe, ‖ deſh •• him, caſt him down; ‖ my Soul ſave from the wicked one, ‖ us'd by thee as thy Swore ••

14 By thy hand, O ETERNAL God, ſave me from mortal Men; ‖ From mor al Men of this World, who ‖ in this life have their part: ‖ And of thy hidden treaſu •• thou ‖ giviſt them a belly-full: ‖ Their Sons are fill'd, and they unto ‖ their Chi •• dren leave the reſt. ‖

15 My portion's this; I ſhall behold ‖ thy face in righteouſneſs: ‖ I ſhall be ſat •• fy'd when that ‖ thy Image ſhall awake. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XVII. PSALM.

IT has the ſame Subject as the X Pſalm; 'Tis a Pray •• directed againſt the ſame wicked men. Comp ••• the 14th verſe—with the fate of Antichriſt. Mat. XXIV. 17.

4 q. d. I know what Men are apt to do in ſuc Circumſtances. But the reſpect I bear to thy Commandments, hath preſerved me from thoſe Mu •• errous Practices, which the Violent Man would have attempted. [See 1 Sam. XXVI. 8.] The Patrician Paraphraſe,

8 'Tis onr SAVIOURS Alluſion, Mat, XXIII. 37.

13 Some read it, by thy Sword. Others, By the Sword, ſuppoſe the Ark to be meant, which was as th Sword of God for the Defence of Iſrael, and the Oſten of their Enemies. The Pſalmiſt prays, they ſay, o the Deliverance of that, as for his own Soul.

14 Metals and Jowels are, as the Jewiſh Expoſitor Notes, the bidden Treaſure; hidden in the Earth.

15 Is not Alms-giving a conſiderable Article of Righteouſneſs? 'Tis all over the Bible call'd ſo, and for weighty and obvious Reaſons. 'Tis oppoſite here, to the ſpirit and conduct of the Mon of this World, who what they don't ſpend on their own Bellies, are ſtudious to leave all the reſt unto their Children. The Ancient Hebrews have a report concerning David, That he gave Alms to the Poor every day; uſing theſe Words, I will behold the Face of God in righteouſneſs. But the Meſſiah is the Face of God—may we get into His Rightcouſneſs! Hebr. When it ſhall awake.] The Reſurrection of the Meſſiah (and ſo His Death is foretold.

PSALM XVIII. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David the Servant of the LORD, who ſpake unto the LORD, the words of this Song, in the day that the LORD delivered him from the and of all his Enemies, and from the and of Saul.

1 OThou ETERNAL God, I will ‖ love Thee, my Fortitude. ‖

2 Th'ETERNAL God my ſtone-defence;‖ my Tower too is He;‖ And He is my deliverer; ‖ He is my mighty God; ‖ He is my Rock; in Him I'll hope; ‖ He is to me a Shield; ‖ And He is that ſtrong horn wherein ‖ all my ſalvation lies: ‖ He is that high Munition where ‖ my whole protection lies.‖

3 I'll call on the ETERNAL God, ‖ who's worthy to be prais'd; ‖ So I ſhall reſcued be from thoſe ‖ that are my Enemies. ‖

4 The very grievous cords of Death ‖ encompaſs'd me about; ‖ and torrents of impiety ‖ gave terrors unto me. ‖

5 The very grievous cords Hell ‖ about ſurrounded me; ‖ ſnares of a deadly tendency ‖ ſtop'd me on ev'ry ſide. ‖

6 In my ſad anguiſh I did call ‖ on the ETERNAL God; ‖ and with my voice I made a cry ‖ to Him that is my God. ‖ He from the Temple where He dwells ‖ did hearken to my voice; ‖ and my cry came before His Face; ‖ it came into His Ears. ‖

7 Then the Earth ſhook, and trembled fore; ‖ and of the mountains then ‖ were the foundations mov'd and ſhock'd; ‖ becauſe He was diſpleas'd. ‖

8 Out of His noſtrils went a ſmoke, ‖ and fire out of His mouth, ‖ this did devour; coals were by Him ‖ kindled into a flame. ‖

9 The Heavens alſo He bow'd down; ‖ and He made His deſcent; ‖ A cloudy darkneſs then there was ‖ under His feet diſplay'd. ‖

10 Upon a Cherub then He rode, ‖ and flew with wondrous wings; ‖ yea, He flew ſwiftly on the wings ‖ of the Spirituous Wind. ‖

11 Darkneſs He made His ſecret place; ‖ ſurrounding darkneſs was ‖ His Tent; darkneſs of waters with ‖ clouds which do cloath the skies. ‖

12 Thro' the illuſtrious brightneſs which ‖ there was before Him then, ‖ His thick clouds paſs'd away; there were ‖ Hail-ſtones and Coals of fire. ‖

13 And the ETERNAL God did in ‖ the Heavens thunder forth; ‖ And the moſt High utter'd His voice, ‖ Hail-ſtones and Coals of fire. ‖

14 Yea, He did ſend His Arrows forth; ‖ and ſo He ſcatter'd them. ‖ His Lightnings too He darted forth, ‖ and did diſcomfit them.‖

15 The channels of the waters then ‖ were evidently ſeen; ‖ and the foundations of the World ‖ plainly diſcovered. ‖ Becauſe of thy threatning rebuke ‖ O thou ETERNAL God; ‖ Becauſe thy wrathful Noſtrils did ‖ cauſe a fierce wind to blow. ‖

16 He from above did then ſend down; ‖ He did lay hold on me; ‖ He from the mighty waters then ‖ did ſafely draw me out. ‖

17 From my ſtrong adverſary He ‖ did ſo deliver me; ‖ and from my haters; for they were ‖ too powerful for me. ‖

18 They did prevent me in the day ‖ of my calamity; ‖ But the ETERNAL God was He ‖ whom I did ſtay upon. ‖

19 And He did bring me forth into ‖ a place of large extent; ‖ He did deliver me becauſe ‖ He took delight in me. ‖

20 Th' ETERNAL God rewarded me, after my right'ouſneſs; ‖ after the cleanneſs of my hands ‖ He recompenced me. ‖

21 Fot I did well obſerve the ways ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ and I did not dea wickedly ‖ with Him that was my God. ‖

22 For all His Judgments theſe were what ‖ I had before me ſtill; ‖ His Inſtitutions alſo I ‖ did not remove from me. ‖

23 I was one of integrity ‖ in all my 〈◊〉 with Him; ‖ And carefully I kept my ſell from mine iniquity. ‖

24 Th' ETERNAL now rewarded me after my right'ouſneſs; ‖ after the cleanneſs of my hands, ‖ which was before 〈◊〉 Eyes. ‖

25 Thou wilt with him that's merciful ſhew thy ſelf merciful; ‖ with him that an upright one ‖ Thou'lt ſhew thy ſe upright. ‖

26 With one that is well purify'd ‖ thou ſhew thy ſelf as pure; ‖ But with one the is obſtinate, ‖ thou'lt be inflexible. ‖

27 Becauſe to humbled people thou wilt a Salvation grant: ‖ But thoſe who ha exalted eyes ‖ are whom thou wilt abaſe. ‖

28 Becauſe my candle thou wilt make with glory to ſhine forth; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God, my God gives light, ‖ in darkneſs 〈◊〉 me.

29 Becauſe by Thee I have broke through ‖ troop of armed ones; ‖ and by my God I ſwiftly have ‖ leap'd over an high wall. ‖

30 For God, perfect's His way; the Word ‖ of the ETERNAL God ‖ is a tried Word, He is a Shield ‖ to all that hope in Him. ‖

31 For who can be eſteem'd a GOD, ‖ but the ETERNAL One? ‖ And who but He that is our GOD, ‖ can be a Rock to us? ‖

32 This GOD girds me with fortitude, ‖ and perfect makes my way. ‖

33 He makes my feet like thoſe of Deer, ‖ and makes me ſtand in heights. ‖

34 He does inſtruct my hands unto ‖ the management of War, ‖ ſo that a Bow of hardned ſteel ‖ is broken by my arms. ‖

35 And thou of thy ſalvation haſt ‖ beſtow'd on me the ſhield; ‖ and thy right hand hath held me, and ‖ thy meekneſs greatned me. ‖

36 Thou haſt vouchſaf'd enlargement to ‖ my goings under me, ‖ ſo that my footſteps in thy ways ‖ weakly have not declin'd. ‖

37 I have purſu'd my enemies, ‖ and overtaken them; ‖ neither did I return again ‖ until they were conſum'd. ‖

38 I've wounded them, ſo that they were ‖ not able to ariſe; ‖ they proſtrate fell under my feet, ‖ which trod upon their necks.

39 For thou with mighty fortitude ‖ haſt girded me for War; ‖ ſuch as roſe up againſt me thou ‖ haſt bow'd down under me. ‖

40 And thou haſt given me the necks ‖ of theſe my enemies; ‖ Thoſe alſo who have hated me, ‖ I have deſtroyed them. ‖

42 Then I did beat them very ſmall, ‖ as duſt before the wind; ‖ I brought them low, like to the dirt ‖ which lies about the ſtreets. ‖

43 Thou'ſt ſav'd me from the peoples ſtrifes, ‖ plac'd me the nations head; ‖ th people whom I have not known ‖ ſhall be my ſervants now.

44 At hearing the report of me ‖ they have obeyed me; ‖ the children of the ſtranger have ‖ diſſembled unto me. ‖

45 The children of the ſtranger have ‖ quite withered away; ‖ and they have with much trembling come ‖ out of their hidden caves. ‖

46 Th' ETERNAL is the living One; ‖ and bleſſed be my Rock; ‖ And now exalted let the God ‖ of my ſalvation be. ‖

47 It is the mighty God who grants ‖ revenges unto me; ‖ And it is He who doth ſubdue ‖ the people under me. ‖

48 He ſaves me from mine enemies; ‖ from my invaders thou ‖ doſt alſo lift me, thou doſt pluck ‖ me from the violent Man. ‖

49 Therefore I will give thanks unto ‖ Thee, O ETERNAL God, ‖ among the Nations, and I will ‖ ſing praiſes to thy Name. ‖

50 Great makes He the ſalvation of ‖ His King; and kindneſs ſhows ‖ unto His CHRIST; to David and ‖ his ſeed for evermore. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XVIII. PSALM.

'TIS the Song of the Moſſiah on His Victory over Antichriſt.

1 Arnobius has a Gloſs of Practical Piety. When 'tis come to this, that all our L ves are ſwallowed up in this, I will Love Thee, O Lord; Then we are truly delivered from the hand of all our Enemies, that is to ſay, Our Vices; and from the hand of Saul, that is to ſay, The Prince of this World.

2 The Reſort of David had been to Cave & Lurking Places, and Fortreſſes, and Strong Holds, and Rocks, and impregnable Forts, and high Mountaine. But now unto none of theſe does he aſcribe any thing. 'Tis all aſcribed unto GOD.

15 When accompliſhed? If David made the ſtate of the Church of Iſrael his own (as every Ruler ſhould!) —That Church had theſe things done for it in its Deliverance out of Egypt, and in ſome following Diſpenſations. But remember, here is a Prophecy as well as a Hiſiory!

16 Conſider now, Moſes as a Type of our SAVIOUR.

23 q. d. 'How unjuſtly ſoever my Fnemies dealt 'with me, I would not imitate them; Tho' I could 'not hinder their's, I kept my ſelf from mine Iniquity. 'Tis the Patrician Paraphraſe.

29 Arnobius applies it unto the Souls going out of the Body in Death. Chriſtian, pauſe upon 〈◊〉 .

34 Auſtins Gloſs upon it is; Intentio bon rum Operum in illo fuit indeſatigabilis.

40 An Alluſion to Joſh. X. 16.

43 Hopes for Americans! Our Saviour as Man ſeen and known, Aſians, Africans, Europe ns.

44 Aben-Ezra takes it ſo; They ſhall be ſo Lyars, in the Promiſes they made unto themſelve obtaining Victories.

PSALM XIX. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 THE Heavens, they declare abroad ‖ Majeſty of God; ‖ and the expa ing Firmament ‖ ſhews forth His Han work. ‖

2 Day unto day moſt copiouſly ‖ utters us a ſpeech; ‖ Night unto night inſinuat the things that we ſhould know. ‖

3 There is not any ſpeech on Earth, 〈◊〉 words us'd any where, ‖ where the loud vo utter'd by them ‖ may not be plainly heard.

4 Their line is gone thro' all the Farth and to the very end ‖ of the whole habital World, ‖ the words which they do ſpea In them He ſets the Sun a Tent: ‖

5 And he goes Bridogroom like ‖ from Bride chamber, glad as one ‖ ſtrong for run a ace. ‖

6 He goes out from one end of Heaven and rolls to t other ends; ‖ and there's any thing that is ‖ hid from the heat there

7 Perfect is the ETERNAL's La Converting of the Soul; ‖ Th' ETERNAL's teſtimony's ſure, ‖ making the ſimple wiſe. ‖

8 Right the ETERNAL's ſtatutes are ‖ rejoycing of the heart; ‖ Pure the ETERNAL's Precept is ‖ enlightning of the eyes. ‖

9 The Fear of the ETERNAL's clean, ‖ laſting perpetually; ‖ Th' ETERNAL's Judgments are the truth, ‖ all alike juſtify'd.‖

10 Defirable much more than Gold, ‖ yea, than much ſolid Gold; ‖ Than honey alſo ſweeter much, ‖ or dropping honey-comb. ‖

11 Thy Servant he moreover is ‖ admoniſhed from them; ‖ in the exact keeping of them ‖ there is a great Reward.‖

His errors, who can underſtand? ‖ cleanſe me from ſecret ſins. ‖

13 Reſtrain thy Servant alſo from ‖ what are preſumptuous crimes: ‖ Let them not over me prevail; ‖ then ſhall I be compleat: ‖ yea, I from much tranſgreſſion ſhall ‖ therein be purify'd. ‖

14 The words proceeding from my mouth ‖ in Worſhipping of Thee, ‖ yea, and the thought which in my heart ‖ Thou ſeeſt I meditate; ‖ Let theſe to good acceptance be ‖ before thy Glorious Face, ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, my Rock, ‖ and my Deliverer. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XIX. PSALM.

COnſider Rom. X. 18. and you'l ſee what the Pſ lm is to be reſerr'd unto.

1 All Nations have made their Deductions from the Works of God, and particu •• ly from what they ſ •• i the H •• vens, That there is a GOD. The Quotations would fill many Volumns.

5 How did the Ancients apply it? Anſtin ſhall and wer for them. Conjugatum carni uma ••• Verbum, proceſſit de utero Virgin li but methinks I ſee the Grand Revolution which concludes our Bible coming on I ſee the Marriage o the Lamb, and our Bright SAVIOUR proceeding to that W dding, for which He •• to return unto u . Then w ll there be an Accompliſhment of what the Pſalm goes on to celebrate. The Word of GOD will then have its tranſcendent efficacy. The Glorious Vertues and Effects of the Divine Wort, on thoſe who are ma e New Creatures by it, will t ••• appear, with a moſt froniſhing Lu •• re, to ll the World

7 The Pſalmiſt paſſes from the Sun to the Law! 〈◊〉 Kimch: makes a no •• ble Compariſon between them, with as notable a Diſſimil tude, wherein the Law h •• the advantage. R. Saadiah, ſuppoſes that Word 〈◊〉 Tranſition, ſaith, to be underſtood here. The S •• ſaith, The Law of the Lord is perfect. But, O •• Let the Reſemblance of our SAVIOUR to the SU be proſecuted here. The Sibylline Oracle was, G ſhall ſend a King from the Sun, who ſhall make peace over the Earth. Fagans therefore looked for a Sa •• our, to come from the Sun. But our Apoſtle Jam •• tells us, That our Good is to be expected in a SAVIOUR, who is the un of Righteouſneſ .

14 In the Midr ſh T llin, there is this Gloſs up it; may they be written for Poſterity. ••• s well f •• us that they have been ſo.

PSALM XX. To the Chief Muſician, A Pſalm of David.

MAY the ETERNAL in a Day ‖ of Trouble anſwer thee; ‖ The Name of Jacobs God, may that ‖ then ſet thee up on high.‖

2 May He afford thy help to thee, ‖ from the moſt holy place; ‖ and with ſupports from Zion ſent ‖ may He now ſtrengthen thee.‖

3 May He remember kindly all ‖ th' oblations thou doſt make: ‖ May He declare that He accepts ‖ of thy burnt Sacrifice. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 May He give Bleſſings unto thee ‖ according to thy heart: ‖ And may He now accompliſh for ‖ thee all that thou wouldſt have.‖

5 In thy Salvation we'll rejoyce ‖ and in th' Name of our God ‖ Banners we'll raiſe, All thy deſires ‖ may the ETERNAL grant.‖

6 Now know I the ETERNAL God ‖ ſaves His Anointed One; ‖ He'll hear him from His holy Heaven; ‖ His Right hand ſaves with pow'rs. ‖

7 In Chariots ſome confide, and ſome ‖ in Horſes; But for us, ‖ The Name of JEHOVAH OUR GOD, ‖ we will remember that.‖

8 Theſe are compelled for to ſtoup, ‖ and they are fallen down: ‖ But we are raiſed up again, ‖ and we do ſtand upright.‖

9 O Thou ETERNAL One, Do thou ‖ grant thy Salvation now. ‖ Let the King hear us in the day ‖ when ever we ſhall call.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XX. PSALM.

1 A Rnobius here ſees the Acclamations of the Ch ••• to our SAVIOUR, going to dye on the Cr ••• Yea, Aben Ezra teſtiſies, That the Jews themſel •• apply the Pſalm to the Meſſiah.

Why, The God of Jacob? Jacob was the Patriarch remarkable for this, That God had heard him in 〈◊〉 day of Trouble. The Midraſh Tillin, here quo •• thoſe Words of Jacob; Gen. XXXV. 3. The God 〈◊〉 anſwered me in the Day of my Diſtreſs.

PSALM XXI. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 IN thy ſtrength, OETERNAL God, ‖ King does much rejoyce; ‖ and He thy Salvation doth‖ triumph how gloriou ••

2 Thou haſt afforded unto him ‖ w •• was his heart's deſire; ‖ and thou haſt witheld from him ‖ the utterance of lips. ‖ Selah.‖

3 For with the Bleſſings of the Goo Thou haſt prevented him: ‖ Thou haſt poſed on his head ‖ a crown of ſolid Go

4 He asked life of thee; thou didſt ‖ ſtow it upon him; ‖ A length of days ended to ‖ Ages that never end.‖

5 His Glory how magniſicent ‖ in Salvation •• tis ‖ Honour and Majeſty what ‖ th •• ha t upon him put. ‖

6 Becauſe to be Bleſſings thou haſt ‖ ſet him for evermore; ‖ Thou haſt made him for to rejoyce ‖ with joy before thy face.‖

7 For that the King does place his hope‖ in the ETERNAL One; ‖ and in the grace of the moſt High ‖ he never ſhall be mov'd.‖

8 Thy hand ſhall apprehend all thoſe ‖ that are thine enemies; ‖ thy right hand ſuch ſhall apprehend ‖ as haters are of thee.‖

9 Thoult make them as a fiery oven ‖ in the times of thy wrath: ‖ Th' ETERNAL in His great wrath will ‖ ſwallow them wholly up. ‖ And the fire that ſhall flame from thence ‖ ſhall quite devour them all. ‖

10 Their fruit from Earth thou'lt waſte, and from ‖ the ſons of Men their ſeed. ‖

11 Becauſe againſt thee they have ſtill ‖ intended what is ill: ‖ They have contrived a device; ‖ but more than they could do. ‖

12 Thou ſhalt ſet them all but as one ‖ in turning of the back; ‖ Arrows thou ſhalt ſit on the ſtrings ‖ againſt the face of them. ‖

13 O thou ETERNAL One, Do thou ‖ exalt thy ſelf on high ‖ in thine own ſtrength; ſo we will ſing ‖ and praiſe thy mighty pow'r.‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXI. PSALM.

CHriſtian, Behold the Meſſiah; His Kingdom, and the ludgments of GOD upon His Fremies. Compar •• an. VII. and XI.

3 Munſter ſays, it alludes to the crown taken 〈◊〉 the Ammonites. 2 Sam. XII. 30.

8 It is an ancient Obſervation, and indeed a Curf •••• That when the Right Hand of God is mentioned, 〈◊〉 uſually with an eye to what He will do in the F ••• State, in and her World, in the Eternity that 〈◊〉 take place when this preſent time comes to an 〈◊〉 Save by thy Right Hand, is a Prayer for E •••• Salvation. Pleaſures at the Right Hand of G •• are thoſe of Eternal Happineſs. Wiſdom with L ••• of Days in the Right Hand, has Eternal Hi ••• Thus here. 'Tis Gregories Nore. Hoſtes Dei ••• . The Enemies of God may enjoy the Good things of Left Hand, in this 〈◊〉 . Fur in that which is come, they ſhall 〈…〉 and extinguiſhed.

PSALM XXII. To the Chief Muſician. Upon Ajeleth-Shah •• A Pſalm f David.

1 MY God, my God, O for what cau •• haſt thou forſaken me ‖ Why 〈◊〉 thou ſo far from my help? ‖ from the wor •• of my cry •• . ‖

2 By day I cry'l to thee, my God; ‖ ſtill thou heareſt not, ‖ Yea, in the ni ••• cry again, ‖ and do not hold my peace. ‖

3 But thou art holy; ſtill thou doſt ‖ Iſrael's praiſes dwell. ‖

4 Our Fathers hop'd in thee; they ho •• and thou didſt reſcue them. ‖

5 They unto Thee did make their 〈◊〉 and were delivered, ‖ in Thee they did 〈◊〉 their 〈…〉 were not put to ſhame. ‖

6 But I am treated as a Worm, ‖ and not a Man of worth; ‖ I'm the reproach of Men, and I ‖ am ſtill the peoples ſcorn. ‖

7 All that do caſt their eyes on me ‖ do but laugh me to ſcorn; ‖ they ſhoot out with a ſcoffing lip; ‖ they ſhake the head with ſcoffs. ‖

8 He lean'd on the ETERNAL One ‖ for to deliver Him; ‖ Let Him now reſcue Him, becauſe ‖ He does delight in Him. ‖

9 Becauſe that thou art He who did ‖ extract me from the Womb; ‖ Thou didſt cauſe me to hope, while I ‖ hung on my Mother's Breaſts. ‖

10 Yea, even from the very Womb, ‖ I upon Thee was caſt; ‖ E'er ſince my Mother went with me, ‖ Thou art my mighty God. ‖

11 O do not thou withdraw unto ‖ a diſtance far from me; ‖ for there's diſtreſſing trouble near; ‖ for there is none to help. ‖

12 Many Bulls compaſs me, the ſtrong ‖ of Baſhan me ſurround. ‖

13 They gap'd on me; a Lion ſo ‖ rav'ning and roaring would. ‖

14 Like water am I pour'd, and all ‖ my Bones are out of joynt; ‖ my Hearts like wax; in the midſt of ‖ my bowels 'tis diſſolv'd. ‖

15 My ſtrength is like a potſherd dry'd, ‖ and my tongue joins my jaws: ‖ and thou haſt brought me down into ‖ the duſt where lie the dead. ‖

16 For dogs have compaſs'd me: a rout ‖ of wicked me beſet; ‖ My hands they and my feet have dug, ‖ ev'n as a lion would. ‖

17 My bones I may tell all of them; ‖ they look and ſtare on me. ‖

18 My Cloaths they part among them ſelves, ‖ and on my Robe throw lots. ‖

19 But, O ETERNAL One, Be not ‖ thou far eſtrang'd from me. ‖ O thou that art my ſtrength make haſte ‖ with ſuccour unto me. ‖

20 Save my Soul from the Sword; from the ‖ Dogs paw my Only one. ‖

21 From lions mouth ſave me, and hear ‖ me from the Wild-Goats horns. ‖

22 I will declare thy Name to thoſe ‖ that are my Bretheren; ‖ I will thee in the middeſt of ‖ the Congregation praiſe. ‖

23 Who fear th' ETERNAL God, praiſt Him; ‖ all you of Jacob's ſeed, ‖ glorify Him; and fear Him all ‖ you ſeed of Iſrael. ‖

24 For He hath not deſpis'd, nor loath'd, ‖ th' abaſement of the poor; ‖ nor hath He hid His face from him, ‖ but heard his cry to Him, ‖

25 In the Great Congregation now ‖ from Thee ſhall be my praiſe; ‖ Before ſuch as do fear Him now ‖ I will perform my Vows. ‖

26 The poor ſhall eat, and have enough; ‖ They'l praiſe th' ETERNAL God, ‖ who ſeel for Him; your heart ſhall live ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

27 All the Worlds bounds remembring ſhall ‖ turn to th' ETERNAL God; ‖ and of the Nations all the Tribes, ‖ how down before His face. ‖

28 For unto the ETERNAL God ‖ the Kingdom doth belong; ‖ and He ſhall be the Governour ‖ among the Nations all.

29 All the fat ones of Earth have eat, ‖ and they have bowed down; ‖ all who go down unto the duſt ‖ have bow'd before His face; ‖ ev'n every one of them that can't ‖ make his own Soul to live. ‖

30 A ſeed ſhall ſerve Him, to the Lord ‖ a Generation deem'd. ‖

31 They ſhall come, and they ſhall declare ‖ His right'ouſneſs unto ‖ a People that ſhall be begot, ‖ that 'tis what He hath done. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXII. PSALM.

A Ijeleth Haſhachar, ſome read, The Morning Star. Compare Rev. XXII. 28.

3 Is not the Meſſiah worthy of our Praiſes? Beſure, In Him GOD Inhabits as His Holy of Holies.

6 Heb. The Red Worm. Compare Iſa. 1.18. the ſame Word is uſed for our Crimſons Sins. Think with ſurpriſe! Nazianzen obſerves, Our Saviour is compared unto the weakeſt things; A Worm, a Lamb: The Devil is compared unto the ſtrongeſt—A Lion, an Armed One. Yet our Saviour is too hard for the Devil.

26 Arnobius has a fine Thought, Edent corpus ejus pauperes ſpiritu, ut ſatientur.

29—Munſter does well to refer it unto the Dead.

PSALM XXIII. A Pſalm of David.

1 MY Shepherd is th' ETERNAL God ‖ I ſhall not be in [any] want: ‖

2 In paſtures of a tender graſs ‖ he [ever] makes me to lie down: ‖ To waters of tranquillities ‖ He gently carries me, [along,]

3 My feeble and my wandring Soul ‖ He [kindly] does fetch back again; ‖ In the plain paths of righteouſneſs ‖ He does lead [and guide] me along, ‖ becauſe of the regard He has ‖ [ever] unto His Glorious Name. ‖

5 Yea, when I ſhall walk in the Vale ‖ of the dark [diſmal] ſhade of Death, ‖ 〈◊〉 of no evil be afraid, ‖ becauſe thou [ever] art with me. ‖ Thy rod and thy ſtaff, the •• are what ‖ yield [conſtant] comfort unto me. ‖

5 A Table thou doſt furniſh out ‖ richly [for me] before my face. ‖ 'Tis in view of mine Enemies; ‖ [And then] my head thou doſt anoint ‖ with fatning and perfuming Oil: ‖ my cup it [ever] overflows. ‖

6 Moſt certainly the thing that is ‖ Good, with [moſt kind] Benignity, ‖ This 〈◊〉 the days that I do live ‖ ſhall [ſtill an ] ever follow me; ‖ Yea, I ſhall dwell, * an Sabbatize, ‖ even to [unknown] leng •• of days, ‖ Lodg'd in the Houſe which d •• belong ‖ to [Him who's] the ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXIII. PSALM.

BEhold, the Confidence of the Church under the Couduct of the Meſſiah: He ſays, Joh. X. 11. I am the Good Shepherd. The Prophets have taught us how to apply the Pſalm. See Iſa. XI. 10. Jer. XXIII. 3. Ezck. XXXIV. 11, 23. And ſo have the Apoſtles, 1 Pet. II. 25. and V. 4 Heb. XIII. 20.

1—And, Chriſtians, Why ſhould not you find in your Secular Employments, the Occaſions of Divine, Devout, Heavenly Reflections! David, a Shepherd, is led by Shepherdy, to think on the Heavenly Shepherd.

7 Druſius will have David now to think of Samuel's Anointing of him.

6 Good, and Benignity are Names of the Meſſiah. Chriſtian, Thou knoweſt why He ſhould be called ſo. In the Luminous Cloud, which like a Pillar did follow the Church in the Wilderneſs, there was a marvellous Preſence of the Meſſiah. May not this be here pointed at! The Shelter which this Pillar gave, was that of an Houſe. With ſome eye to that Moſes might ſay, Pſalm. XC. 1. Thou haſt been our dwelling place.

PSALM XXIV. A Pſalm of David.

1 TO the ETERNAL God, the Earth ‖ and what fills it belongs; ‖ the habitable World, and all ‖ that do inhabit it. ‖

2 For the foundations of it He ‖ hath laid upon the Seas; ‖ and He hath firmly fixed it ‖ againſt the rolling floods. ‖

3 Who ſhall aſcend into the Mount ‖ of the ETERNAL God? And who is it ſhall ‖ ſtand in the ‖ place of His Holineſs? ‖

4 One that is clean in hands, but then ‖ One that is pure in heart; ‖ who don't receive his Soul in vain, ‖ nor ſwear deceitfully: ‖

5 This Man the Bleſſing ſhall receive ‖ from the ETERNAL God; ‖ and Righteouſneſs ſhall from the God ‖ of his Salvation have. ‖

6 This is the Generation of ‖ them that ſeek Him aright; ‖ even of them that ſee ‖ thy face: ‖ Jacob is ſuch as theſe. ‖ Selah. ‖

7 Lift up your heads, O Gates, and be lift up, O laſting Doors; ‖ and ſo the King of Glory will ‖ now make His entry there. ‖

8 Who is the King of Glory? 'Tis ‖ JEHOVAH ſtrong and great: ‖ 'Tis the ETERNAL God who is ‖ in War a mighty one. ‖

9 Lift up your Heads, O Gates, and be lift up, O laſting Doors; ‖ and ſo the King of Glory now ‖ will make His entry there.

10 Who is the King of Glory? 'Tis JEHOVAH Tzebaoth: ‖ 'Tis the ETERNAL Lord of Hoſts, ‖ the King of Glory's HE. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXIV. PSALM.

SUppoſe the People now attending the Removal 〈◊〉 the Ark unto Zion, with extraordinary Solemni •• They are Exhorted now to practiſe the moſt Subſta tial together with their Ceremonial Pi ty. The Aſcent of our Saviour, was repreſented in that Solemnity; and m y here be Propheſied.

The Hebrews did uſe to Sing the Pſalm on the Firſt Day of the Week. And the LXX add a Title of that Importance. Doubtleſs (as Dr. Patrick expreſſes it). becauſe their Wiſe Men ſaw here a Prophecy of CHRIST, whoſe firſt ſtep unto the Throne of His Glory, was on the Firſt Day of the Week.

ut it is urged by Dr. Allix, that the Return of our Saviour may be as much conſidered here; and His coming in His Kingdom.

The Pſalm contains the Characters of thoſe who ſhall be admitted into it. That expreſſion, In War & Mighty One; ſuppoſes His Enemies to be vanquiſhed. Compare, Rev. XIX. 6.

4 Surely, He that employs a Soul only in the mean and vile purpoſes of impiety, Receives a Soul in vain. And, O you, who do nothing for the Souls committed unto your Charge; is not this your Character too!

7, 9 Twice opened! Firſt for thy SAVIOUR, and then for thee, O Believer, who art a Follower of Him.

10 In War a Mighty One; Omitted in the Repetition: Ab •• Ezra ſay, Becauſe in the Days of the Meſſiah, Men are to beat their Swords into Plowſhares.

PSALM XXV. Of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, To Thee ‖ I do lift up my Soul. ‖

2 My God, I put my truſt in thee; ‖ let me not be aſham'd. ‖ Let not my Adverſaries have ‖ a triumph over me. ‖

3 Yea, all of them that wait on thee, ‖ let them not be aſham'd. ‖ Let be aſhame thoſe who do ‖ tranſgreſs without a cauſe. ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL God, ſhew me ‖ thy ways, teach me thy paths. ‖

5 Make thou me in thy truth to walk; ‖ And teach me; for thou art ‖ the God of my Salvation; I ‖ wait on thee all the day. ‖

6 Remember, O ETERNAL God, ‖ what thy kind bowels are; ‖ and what thy bounties are; for they ‖ have ever been of old. ‖

7 Sins of my youth remember not, ‖ not my vile treſpaſſes: ‖ But, Oh! according to thy Grace ‖ do thou remember me. ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, Do this, ‖ even for thy Goodneſs ſake. ‖

8 Th' ETERNAL's Good and Right therefore ‖ Sinners He'll teach the way. ‖

9 The humbled meek ones He will help with judgment for to walk; ‖ and He the humbled meek ones will ‖ inſtruct what is His way. ‖

10 All the paths of th' ETERNAL are ‖ Mercy and Truth to thoſe ‖ who keep His Covenant, and mind ‖ His Teſtimonies there. ‖

11 For the ſake of thy Glorious Name, O Thou ETERNAL God; ‖ Pardon 〈◊〉 mine iniquity; ‖ becauſe that it is great.

12 Who is the Man that has the fear ‖ 〈◊〉 the ETERNAL God? ‖ He'l thoroughly inſtru •• him in ‖ the way that he ſhould chuſe. ‖

13 His Soul ſhall ſpend the Night in reſt, ‖ with what is good Above; ‖ and then his Seed ſhall take as heirs ‖ the Earth he leaves to them.

14 The ſecret of th' ETERNAL is ‖ with them that have His fear, ‖ and 'tis His Covenant that He ‖ will make them for to know. ‖

15 Mine eyes continually are ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Becauſe 'tis He that ſhall bring forth ‖ my feet out of the ſnare. ‖

16 O turn thou unto me, and have ‖ thou mercy upon me; ‖ for I am in a lonely caſe, ‖ and an afflicted one. ‖

17 The anguiſhes of my Heart have ‖ greatly enlarg'd themſelves; ‖ O do thou bring me out of all ‖ my ſore vexatious grief's ‖

18 On my affliction, O look down, ‖ and on my labouring pain; ‖ and let thy pardoning mercy reach ‖ to all my treſpaſſes. ‖

19 Look down upon my Enemies ‖ for they are multiply'd; ‖ and 'tis with hatred full of rage ‖ that they have hated me. ‖

20 Into thy keeping take my Soul, ‖ and Oh! Deliver me; ‖ Let me not be aſham'd, for I ‖ have put my truſt in thee. ‖

21 Let an entire Integrity ‖ and exact Rectitude, ‖ be my preſerver; for that I ‖ am waiting ſtill on thee. ‖

22 O GOD who art the Judge of all, ‖ Do thou redemption give ‖ unto thine Iſrael from all ‖ the Troubles now on him. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXV. PSALM.

'TIS the firſt of the Alphabetical Pſalms. Acroſticks were of much eſteem in Antiquity. But ſometimes the ſtrength of the Inſpiration might interrupt the method. Or, a Letter may be dropt for cauſes now unknown to us. There were Examples of it (as Mr. J ukins. obſerves) among the Greek Poets.

8 Is it not an Alluſion to the care uſed of Old, about the ways to the Cities of Refuge? My Jewiſh Expoſitors tell me ſo.

15—When the Off spring of a Godly Man, are entring upon the Earthly Inheritance, which, at his Death, he leaves unto them, Then the Soul of this Man, is lodged with the Good One (Chriſt,) or in the Good Place (Heaven,) or in Goodneſs itſelf; in Happineſs. The Immortality of the Soul is here aſſerted. This Hint I had from Dr. Alting the Younger. But, Arnobius finds another and a better Earth for the Seed of the Meſſiah.

PSALM XXVI. Of David.

1 ETERNAL, Judge me, for I've walk'd ‖ in my integrity; ‖ and on th' ETERNAL God I've hop'd; ‖ I ſhall not ſtagger now. ‖

2 O thou ETERNAL God, Do thou ‖ throughly examine me; ‖ and make a tryal of me; try ‖ my reins, and try my heart. ‖

3 Becauſe thy loving kindneſs is ‖ always before mine eyes; ‖ and I have carried on my walk ‖ in thy directing truth. ‖

4 I have not choſe my ſeat with Men ‖ of vain temerity; ‖ nor have I entred councils with ‖ Men that put on a mask. ‖

5 Th' Aſſembly of malignant Men ‖ is that which I do hate; ‖ and I will never ſit with ſuch ‖ as are ungodly ones. ‖

6 My hands I will be ſure to waſh ‖ in a clean innocence; ‖ Thine Altar ſo I'll walk about, ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, ‖

7 That I may make for to be heard ‖ with a thankſgiving voice, ‖ and that I may declare abroad ‖ all of thy wondrous works. ‖

8 O thou ETERNAL, I have lov'd ‖ the dwelling of thy Houſe; ‖ and the place where thy Glory has ‖ its Habitation choſe. ‖

9 O gather not my Soul with ſuch ‖ as wander on in Sin; ‖ Nor take away my life with ſuch, ‖ as are the Men of Blood. ‖

10 With ſuch Men as have in their hands ‖ miſchievous wickedneſs; ‖ and their right hands repleniſhed ‖ with a corrupting gift. ‖

11 But as for me, my walk ſhall be ‖ in mine integrity; ‖ O do thou now redeem me, and ‖ be merciful to me. ‖

12 My foot hath ſtill perſiſted in ‖ a conſtant rectitude; ‖ I in the Congregations will ‖ bleſs the ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXVI. PSALM.

3 PSalmiſt, How durſt thou have ſaid, Judge me O Lord; if thou hadſt not alſo ſaid, Thy loving kindneſs is always before mine eyes? This Note is a very Ancient one.

4 The Diſſemblers here, Aben Ezra ſays, ar Young People who mind none but the Delights of th World. The Hebrew Word would favour ſuch a Thought. O Young People, conſider it.

6 What? Was David a Prieſt? Our SAUIOUR 〈◊〉 Conſider Him ſpeaking here. Yea, David might we ſay. I have not ſatisfied my ſelf with the ceremony of waſhing my Hands, before I went unto the offering of a Sacrifice, but I endeavoured ſincerely to keep free from all moral and ſinful impurities.

9. q. d.—Let me not periſh as if I were a Murderer.

PSALM XXVII. Of David.

1 HE who to me a Glorious Light, ‖ an my Salvation gives, ‖ is the ETERNAL God; and now ‖ who is it I ſhall fear. The ſtrength from whence my Life's maintain'd, ‖ is the ETERNAL God; ‖ And no •• what one is there by whom ‖ I need be te •• tify'd? ‖

2 When evil ones, my troublers, who 〈◊〉 were enemies to me ‖ drew near on me, t •• waſte my fleſh, ‖ they ſtumbled & fell dow ••

3 Againſt me let an hoſt encamp, 〈◊〉 my heart ſhall have no fear; ‖ againſt me let a War ariſe, ‖ in this I am ſecure. ‖

4 There is one thing I have deſir'd ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ This is the thing that I will ſeek, ‖ that I may ever have ‖ my dwelling, * and my Sabbath too ‖ aſſign'd me, in the Houſe ‖ of the ETERNAL all the days ‖ my life ſhall be prolong'd: ‖ That ſo I may enjoy the view ‖ of the ſweet Beauty in ‖ th' ETERNAL God, and to enquire, ‖ in His high Temple ſtill. ‖

5 For in the time of trouble He ‖ ſhall hide me in His Tent; ‖ In's Tabernacle's covered part; ‖ There ſhall He cover me. ‖ He ſhall exalt me where I ſhall ‖ be ſet upon a Rock. ‖

6 And now my head's lift up above ‖ all my ſurrounding foes. ‖ So Sacrifices with a ſhout ‖ I'll offer in His Tent; ‖ I'll ſing, yea, I will praiſes ſing ‖ to the ETERNAL God. ‖

7 Hear, O ETERNAL God, my voice ‖ with which I cry to thee: ‖ Have mercy alſo upon me, ‖ and hearken unto me. ‖

8 Seek ye my face; On hearing this, ‖ my heart did ſpeak to thee; ‖ Thy face, O thou ETERNAL God, ‖ Thy face now, I will ſeek. ‖

9 Hide not away from me thy face, ‖ nor ſuffer to decline, ‖ in * or to anger him that is ‖ a ſervant unto Thee. ‖ Thou haſt afforded help to me; ‖ O do not leave me now;not yet forſake me, O thou God ‖ whence my Salvation comes. ‖

10 My Father and my Mother, when ‖ they have forſaken me, ‖ Then O ETERNAL God, thou doſt ‖ take me into thy care. ‖

11 O thou ETERNAL God; do thou ‖ teach me what is thy way; ‖ And lead me in the path of Right, ‖ for my obſervers ſake. ‖

12 Give me not up unto the will ‖ of my foes; for there riſe ‖ falſe witneſſes againſt me, and ‖ one who breaths violence. ‖

13 Nevertheleſs, I do believe ‖ for the enjoyment of ‖ the Good of the ETERNAL in ‖ the land of living ones. ‖

14 Look for th' ETERNAL God, and ſo I ſtrengthen thy ſelf in Him ‖; He ſhall confirm thy heart; Again ‖ look for th' ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXVII. PSALM.

4 ENquire, After what? The Spaniſh has a Good Hint upon it. Enquire in my Doubts; For direction in the Doubtful Attairs of my Kingdom.

5 The Secret of the Tabernacle was the Holy of Holles. No Man might come there. Chriſtian, is 〈◊〉 the Voice of thy SAVIOUR to be conſidered her

8 Our Pſalmiſt had been doubtleſs much a Stu •••• in the Book of Deuteronomy. Now, See Deut. IV 〈◊〉 If thou ſeek the Lord thy God, thou ſhalt find Hi if thou ſeek Him with all thy heart.

9 Yea, and remember, O Chriſtian, If thou art 〈◊〉 leſt unto an Angry Impatience under thy T yals, 〈◊〉 will ben Sign, that GOD has not put thee away.

10 Is it not an Alluſion to the Journey of Iſrael through the Wilderneſs? When the Three firſt Squadrons were paſſed on, the Fourth were to gather up, the Sick, and the Weak, and the Lame, that had been left behind.

13 This preſent World, alas, 'tis rather the Land of the Dying, than the Land of the Living. Believer, Look forwards, look upwards! The Ancients, both Jews & Chriſtians, expounded, The Land of the Living, to mean, The World to come. Think on the New Earth, in the Kingdom of our SAVIOUR. Think on Mat. V. 3.

14 Arnobius notes, That this Verſe is the Antiphona of the Holy Spirit, unto the Saint expreſſing theſe Expectations.

PSALM XXVIII. Of David.

1 TO Thee, O thou ETERNAL God, ‖ I will ſend forth a cry; ‖ O be not ſilent, Thou my Rock, ‖ in a withdraw from me. ‖ Leſt that if thou doſt hold thy peace, ‖ witholding Help from me, ‖ I ſhould be like to them who do ‖ go down into the pit. ‖

2 Hear what my Supplications ſpeak, ‖ when I do cry to thee; ‖ when I lift up my hands towards ‖ thy holy Oracle. ‖

3 Drag me not with ill M n, not with ‖ workers of vanity; ‖ who ſpeak peace to their Neighbours, but ‖ miſchief is in their hearts. ‖

3 Give them according to their deeds, ‖ and as they've ill deſign'd: ‖ Give them what their own hands have wrought; ‖ render them their deſert. ‖

4 Becauſe they don't regard the deeds ‖ of the ETERNAL God, ‖ nor the work of His Hands; He'l them ‖ deſtroy, and not build up. ‖

6 Bleſſed be the ETERNAL God, ‖ for this, becauſe that He ‖ hath kindly hearken'd to the voice ‖ my ſupplications had. ‖

7 'Tis the ETERNAL One, who is ‖ my ſtrength, and is my ſhield. ‖ On Him my heart has plac'd its hope, ‖ and I am helped ſo. ‖ And for this very cauſe my heart ‖ does mightily rejoyce; ‖ Now with my Song His Praiſes I ‖ will gladly celebrate. ‖

8 Yea, the ETERNAL God to them ‖ is their true fortitude; ‖ and of Salvation He's the ſtrength ‖ of His Anointed one. ‖

9 O ſave thy People, and O bleſs ‖ thou thine Inheritance; ‖ Be thou a Shepherd unto them, ‖ and lift them up for ever. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXVIII. PSALM.

R. Solomon ſays, When in the Title of a Pſalm, we read only, Of David, it intimates, The Holy Spirit came ſuddenly on David, without the uſe of the uſual means to obtain His Influences. But when we read, A Pſalm of David, it intimates, that he then had uſed means to obtain the Illapſes of the Holy Spirit. Behold, here a Trayer for the Faithful, that they may not be joined in Deſtruction with the Followers of Antichriſt; and they hope for Salvation by the Meſſiah, after that He has deſtroyed that wicked Society.

2 Our Supplications have a further V ice in them, than what iuſt utters the matter of them. Chriſtian, Thy Prayers, Do they ſpeak thy Love to the Glorious GOD, thy Exaltation of His Will above thy own, thy Faith in thy SAVIOUR, thy eſteem for Spiritual Bleſſings above Temporal, and thy Benignity towards thy Neighbour, wiſhing as well to him as to thy ſelf? When there is a Voice in thy Supplications, importing ſuch things as theſe, GOD will hear it, and have a great reſpect unto them.

5 Arnobius applies it unto the unbelieving Jews, who did not regard the miraculous Works of our SAVIOUR, when He even raiſed the Dead, and ſaid, Believe my Works.

PSALM XXIX. A Pſalm of David.

1 A Scribe to the ETERNAL God, ‖ O Sons of mighty ones, ‖ Aſcribe to the ETERNAL God ‖ Glory and Fortitude. ‖

2 Aſcribe to the ETERNAL God ‖ the Honour of His Name; ‖ Bow to th' ETERNAL God in the ‖ Glory of holineſs. ‖

3 The Voice of the ETERNAL God ‖ is on the Waters heard: ‖ The Glorious God Thunders on great ‖ Waters; JEHOVAH's there. ‖

4 The Voice of the ETERNAL is ‖ utter'd. with mighty pow'r; ‖ the Voice of the ETERNAL is ‖ urter'd with majeſty. ‖

4 The Voice of the ETERNAL does ‖ break Cedars all to ſhivers; ‖ yea, the ETERNAL. One does break ‖ Cedars of Lebanon. ‖

6 He makes them alſo for to leap ‖ as a young Calf would do; ‖ ev'n Lebanon and Sirion like ‖ a ſon of Wild-Goats leap.

7 The Voice of the ETERNAL God ‖ having divided them, ‖ He doth ſtrike down with flaming darts ‖ of a devouring fire. ‖

2 The Voice of the ETERNAL God ‖ doth ſhake the Wilderneſs; ‖ Th' ETERNAL makes the Wilderneſs ‖ of Kadeſh for to ſhake. ‖

9 The Voice of the ETERNAL God ‖ does make the Hinds bring forth; ‖ And in His Temple all of His ‖ do ſpeak His Glory there. ‖

10 Th' ETERNAL God preſides upon ‖ the Flood, ſtill ruling it; ‖ yea, the ETERNAL God ſits King ‖ Enthron'd for evermore. ‖

11 His People, the ETERNAL God ‖ will fortify with ſtrength; ‖ His People the ETERNAL God ‖ will bleſs with proſp'rous peace. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXIX. PSALM.

WAS not the Pſalm compoſed by David, after ſome extraordinary Lightning and Thunder and Rain; which had perhaps aſſiſted the Diſcomfiture of His Enemies? One looks on it as an Exhortation to the Princes of the Earth, to ſubmit unto the re-eſtabed Kingdom of the Meſſiah. And the Voice here may be the Report of the wonders done in that Matter. Compare, Jer. XXV. 31. A Noiſe from the ends of the Earth.

1 Compare, Job XXXVIII. 7. Munſter notes well, There is nothing ſo high and ſo great, but what is obliged unto the Praiſes of God.

3 P meranus whom Lather cried up as the beſt and the firſt Interpreter of the Pſalter, and whoſe Commentaries, as Frankins notes, Referti ſunt Meditationibus de CHRISTI Magnitudine et Majeſtate; would have what we read here about, The Voice of the Lord; compared with what the Apoſtle to the Hebrews writes about, The quick and powerful Word of GOD, and what John writes about, The Word of God by which all things were created.

9 But, Oh! why not the whole World a Temple of GOD! R. Moſeh has this Gloſs. The Levites Praiſe GOD, for His preſerving of them from hurt by Thunder.

10 Aben-Ezra notes upon it; The Waters ſhall not overwhelm the Kingdom of God. Another conſiders this Intimation; The Thunder doth not more eaſily tear the Trees and the Rocks, than God can break in pieces the proudeſt of Princes.

PSALM XXX. A Pſalm. A Song at the Dedication of the Houſe of David.

1 THEE, O ETERNAL, I'll extol; ‖ for thou'ſt exalted me; ‖ and haſt not made my enemies ‖ to triumph over me, ‖

2 O thou ETERNAL God, thou art ‖ my God; I unto thee ‖ have made my cry inmy Diſtreſs; ‖ and thou haſt healed me. ‖

3 Thou, O ETERNAL God, haſt brought ‖ my Soul up from the pit; ‖ thou haſt made me to live, that I ‖ deſcend not to the Grave ‖

4 Sing unto the ETERNAL God, ‖ O ye His Gracious Ones; ‖ and praiſe at the remembrance of ‖ His Glorious Holineſs. ‖

5 For but a moment's in His wrath; ‖ There ‖ in His favour life: ‖ weeping may with the Evening lodge; ‖ but in the Morning joy. ‖

6 But as for me, this did I ſay ‖ in my felicity; ‖ I ſhall not be remov'd from thence ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

7 Thou, O ETERNAL, to my mount ‖ giv'ſt by thy favour ſtrength; ‖ Thou for a while didſt hide thy face; ‖ my Trouble then was great. ‖

8 O thou ETERNAL God, to Thee ‖ then did I make my cry: ‖ And unto the ETERNAL God ‖ I then did ſupplicate. ‖

9 What profit's in my Blood, when I ‖ go down into the pit? ‖ The Duſt, ſhall that acknowledge thee? ‖ Shall it declare thy Truth? ‖

10 Hear, O ETERNAL God, and have ‖ thou mercy upon me; ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, Be thou ‖ an helper unto me. ‖

11 My mourning thou haſt turn'd into ‖ tripudiating joy; ‖ Thou haſt put off my ſackcloth, and ‖ with gladneſs girded me. ‖

12 Glory ſhall therefore ſing to thee, ‖ and ſhall not hold its peace; ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, my God; ‖ Thee I'll forever praiſe. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXX. PSALM.

THE Houſe of David is by the Midraſis Tillin, underſtood of, the Temple, called His, becauſe he purpoſed the Building of it. But, as one Remarks; Behold, the Joy the Jews will have when the Tabernacle of David which is fallen, ſhall, according to Amos. XI. 11. be re-eſtabliſhed. Compare the Concluſion of the Pſalm, with Iſai. LX. 1.

5—Druſius adds this Gloſs, Diu durat;—It is a laſting favour, it will never dye. As, a Tree that never dies is called, a Tree of Life. David the Jew, has the like Paraphraſe; durat tempore multo, et vita longa.

9 Dr. Fuller notes on it; While a Man is alive, not only the Soul of the Man, but his Duſt alſo praiſes GOD; His Body has a ſhare in the Worſhip of God; Our Moiety of Duſt has a Counterpart in our Praiſing of God. After our Death, whatever our Soul may do, our Duſt has no part in the Service of God, until the Reſurrection from the Dead.

PSALM XXXI. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, I have ‖ placed my hope in thee: ‖ Let me not be aſham'd, O ſave ‖ me in thy righteouſneſs. ‖

2 Kindly to me bow down thine ear; ‖ reſcue me ſpeedily; ‖ A ſtrong Rock be to me; to ſave ‖ me, a defended houſe. ‖

3 For thou art He that is my Rock, ‖ and thou art my defence: ‖ and therefore for thy Name ſake me ‖ lead thou, and be my guide. ‖

4 O do thou bring me up out of ‖ the Net which they have laid ‖ in ſecret for me; for that thou ‖ art He that is my ſtrength. ‖

5 My Spirit I reſigning do ‖ commit into thy hands; ‖ Thou haſt redeemed me, O thou ‖ ETERNAL God of Truth. ‖

6 I hate thoſe who obſerve what are ‖ but lying vanities; ‖ But as for me, I place my hope ‖ on the ETERNAL God. ‖

7 I in thy mercy will be glad, ‖ and very much rejoyce; ‖ for thou haſt look'd upon my grief, ‖ Thou know'ſt my Soul in ſtraits. ‖

8 Nor haſt thou ſhut me up into ‖ the Adverſaries hand; ‖ But thou haſt made my feet to ſtand ‖ in a moſt ſpacious place. ‖

9 Pity me, O ETERNAL God, ‖ becauſe I am in grief; ‖ my Eye, my Soul, do waſte in wrath, ‖ my very belly too.‖

10 For that my life is ſpent with grief, ‖ and all my years in ſighs; ‖ thorough my Sin my ſtrength does fail, ‖ and my bones are conſum'd. ‖

11 From all my foes I had reproach, ‖ and from my neighbours much; ‖ a fear to them that knew me too, ‖ who fled, ſeeing me abroad. ‖

12 I am forgotten like a Man ‖ that's dead, and out of mind; ‖ I am become juſt like unto ‖ a Veſſel that is broke. ‖

13 For I from many heard ill fame; ‖ fear was on every ſide; ‖ while they againſt me did conſult; ‖ they thought to ſeize my Soul. ‖

14 But as for me, I did rely ‖ on Thee, ETERNAL God; ‖ This did I ſay, Thou art my God ‖ to whom I do adhere. ‖

15 My Times are all at thy diſpoſe; ‖ O do thou reſcue me ‖ from the hand of mine enemies, ‖ and from my following foes. ‖

16 Upon thy Servant do thou cauſe ‖ thy countenance to ſhine; ‖ in thy free mercy do thou grant ‖ Salvation unto me. ‖

17 ETERNAL, Let me not be ſham'd; ‖ for I have call'd on thee; ‖ Let wicked ones be ſham'd; Let them ‖ be cut off in the Grave. ‖

18 Let thoſe lips be made ſilent, which ‖ are giv'n to falſity; ‖ which ſpeak hard things againſt the juſt, ‖ with pride and with contempt. ‖

19 How great's thy Good, which thou for them ‖ that fear thee haſt laid up! ‖ Thouh'ſt wrought for them that hope in thee, before the ſons of Men. ‖

20 In th' ſecret of thy face thou hid'ſt ‖ them from the threats of Man; ‖ Thou doſt in a Pavilion hide ‖ them from the ſtrife of tongues. ‖

21 Bleſſed be the ETERNAL God, ‖ for He hath wondrouſly ‖ within a City of defence ‖ ſhown mercy unto me. ‖

22 But I ſaid in my haſte, I'm from ‖ before thine eyes cut off; ‖ yet the voice of my Prayers thou heard'ſt, ‖ when I did cry to thee. ‖

23 All ye His gracious ones, Do ye ‖ love the ETERNAL God; ‖ Th' ETERNAL keeps the faithful, and ‖ pays the proud doer home. ‖

24 Be of good courage, and He ſhall ‖ corroborate your heart; ‖ All ye that with an hope do wait ‖ for the ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXI. PSALM.

THE Haſte of David, flying unto the Wilderneſs of Maou; [1 Sam. XXIII. 26.] ſeems to be mentioned in the Twenty ſecond Verſe of the Pſalm; I ſaid in my haſte. But, Chriſtian, Be ſure to be hold thy Suffering SAVIOUR here! He died with the Fifth Verſe of the Pſalm in His Mouth.

2 David was now in a Rock; [1 Sam. XXIII. 25.] But, Lord, Thou art the only Rock!

4 The Net. The Treachery of the Ziphites, [1 Sam. XXIII. 10, 20.]

8 God would not ſuffer him to be ſhut up in Keilah; but by Oracles admoniſhed him how to eſcape. See 1 Sam. XXIII. 7, 9.

19 The Hebrew Word may be rendered Ex diametr . Dr. Gell renders it, Maugre all the Oppoſitions of the Sons of Men.

20 To be ſheltered from the miſchiefs which contentious Men may ſeek by their falſe Tongues to bring upon us; 'Tis a Bleſſedneſs.

21 See, 1 Sam. XXIII. 7.13.

PSALM XXXII. Of David. Maſchil.

1 O What the Bleſſings of the Man ‖ to whom Tranſgreſſion is ‖ forgiven; of the Man to whom ‖ Error is covered. ‖

2 O what the Bleſſings of the Man ‖ to whom th' ETERNAL God ‖ imputeth not iniquity: ‖ and guile's not in his ſpirit! ‖

3 For while that I did hold my peace ‖ my bones were waxing old; ‖ and ſo it was when I did make ‖ a roaring all the day. ‖

4 Becauſe that day and night thy hand ‖ lay heavy upon me; ‖ my moiſture was quite turn'd into ‖ the Summers parching heat. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 I of my ſinful error made ‖ acknowledgment to thee; ‖ and my impure iniquity ‖ I did not go to hide. ‖ I ſaid, To the ETERNAL God, ‖ I will confeſs my crimes; ‖ then of my Sin thou didſt remit ‖ the great iniquity. ‖

6 For this each gracious one ſhall pray ‖ to Thee in finding time; ‖ Surely in floods of waters great, ‖ they ſhall not reach to him. ‖

7 Thou art my hiding place to me; ‖ thou keepeſt me from grief; ‖ and with ſongs of deliverance ‖ thou doſt encompaſs me. ‖

8 I'll make thee wiſe, and teach thee in ‖ the way which thou ſhould go; ‖ I will give counſil unto thee; ‖ I'll on thee have my eye. ‖

9 Be n't as the Horſe, or as the Mule, ‖ which do not underſtand; ‖ whoſe mouth with bit and bridle is ‖ held leaſt they injure thee. ‖

10 There ſhall be many ſorrows to ‖ him that's a wicked Man; ‖ But who hopes in th' ETERNAL God, ‖ him mercy ſhall ſurround. ‖

11 Be glad in the ETERNAL God, ‖ and, O ye juſt, rejoyce; ‖ and ſhout with a triumphing joy, ‖ all ye upright in heart. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXII. PSALM.

MAſchil. Twelve more Pſalms are thus Intituled. Some take it for an Epithit of the Maſter of Muſic, who inſtructed the Sons of Korah skilfully. One ſays, The Felicity of the Penitent and Converted Jews, and of the Nations join'd with them in the Kingdom of GOD, is here pointed at. The Syriac Title ſeems to give a Key to an hidden ſenſe of ſeveral Paſſages in the Pſalm; De Adami Peccato, et Chriſti Redemption.

1 Covered. The Law in the Ark, was covered by the Mercy-Seat; So our Sin againſt the Law, is covered by the Meſſiah, our Great Prepitiatery.

2 No guile. D. Kimchi deſcribes him well; He that hath a purpoſe, never to return unto the Sin that he repents of.

3, 4 Auſtin will have the Fever here complained of, to be that of raging Concupiſcence. A terrible Obſervation! That Sin keeps a ſtrong and a ſtrange hold on the minds of Men, till it be by a Penitent Confeſſion repented of.

6 Compare Iſai. LV. 6.

PSALM XXXIII.

1 BEcauſe of the ETERNAL God ‖ Rejoyce, Ye righteous ones; ‖ Unto the Men that are upright ‖ Praiſe is deſirable. ‖

2 With harp praiſe the ETERNAL God, ‖ Sing with a Pſaltery; ‖ Sing to Him with an Inſtrument ‖ that has ten ſtrings in it. ‖

3 Sing to Him a new Song; Do well ‖ in ſinging with a noiſe. ‖

4 For the Word of Th' ETERNAL's right; ‖ and His whole work in truth. ‖

5 Both Righteouſneſs and Judgment arethe things which He doth love; ‖ The Goodneſs of th' ETERNAL God, ‖ the Earth is full of it. ‖

6 The Heavens were made by the Word ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ and all the hoſt of them made by ‖ the ſpirit of His mouth. ‖

7 The flowing waters of the Sea ‖ He gathers as an heap; ‖ as in ſo many Store-Houſes ‖ He layeth up the deeps. ‖

8 Let all the Earth expreſs the fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God, ‖ let all Inhabitants of the ‖ World ſtand in awe of Him. ‖

9 For He no ſooner ſpoke the Word, ‖ but, lo, the thing is done: ‖ He did but give out His command, ‖ and then the thing ſtood forth. ‖

10 Th' ETERNAL God defeats the plot ‖ laid by the Nations here; ‖ Devices of the People He ‖ makes be of none effect. ‖

11 The Counſel of th' ETERNAL God, ‖ that does for ever ſtand; ‖ ſo do the Thoughts of His Heart to ‖ all Generations ſtand.

12 O bleſſed Nation that; whoſe God ‖ is the ETERNAL One! ‖ The People He hath choſen for ‖ His own Inheritance. ‖

14 From Heaven the ETERNAL God ‖ continually looks down; ‖ He takes a thorough ogniſance ‖ of all the Sons of Men. ‖

14 From the bright Habitation where ‖ He hath His reſting-place ‖ He takes a view of all that do ‖ inhabit on the Earth. ‖

15 He hath beſtow'd a faſhion on ‖ the Heart of them together; ‖ Animadvert He doth upon ‖ all the works done by them. ‖

16 No King's delivered by the ‖ multitude of an hoſt; ‖ no Potent one is reſcued by ‖ the greatneſs of his pow'r. ‖

17 An Horſe for ſafety truſted in ‖ is a deceitful thing; ‖ for by the greatneſs of his ſtrength ‖ he ſhall deliver none. ‖

18 The Eye of the ETERNAL God, ‖ behold, it is on them ‖ that fear Him; 'tis on them that hope ‖ in His Benignity. ‖

19 'Tis for to grant a reſcue to ‖ the Soul of them from Death; ‖ and that He may keep them alive ‖ when Famine ſhall prevail. ‖

20 Our Soul hath ſtill with waiting hop'd ‖ for the ETERNAL God; ‖ 'Tis He Himſelf who is our help, ‖ and He that is our Shield. ‖

21 For that it is in Him our heart ‖ ſhall cheerfully rejoyce; ‖ Becauſe that in His Holy Name ‖ we place our confidence. ‖

22 Thy mercy, O ETERNAL God, ‖ Let that upon us be, ‖ according as we do rely ‖ upon thy ſelf alone.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXIII. PSALM.

BEhold, An Hymn of the Iſraelitiſh Nation, after it is re-eſtabliſhed in the favour of GOD. And a Song upon the Ruin of the Nations that continue in enmity to Him.

1 Deſirable. Kimchi carries it ſo. The Upright will deſire nothing ſo much as this, that GOD may be Praiſed.

4 Word—and Work. Both have the ſame Voice, come on the ſame Errand, ſhow the ſame right way to us.

PSALM XXXIV. Of David; When he changed his Behaviour before Abimelek; who drove him away and he departed.

1 BLeſſing I'll at all times aſcribe ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ In my mouth ſhall the Praiſe of Him ‖ continually be heard.

2 In the ETERNAL God my Soul ‖ ſhall make her ſacred boaſt; ‖ They whom affliction has brought down, ‖ ſhall hear, and ſhall be glad. ‖

3 O join with me to magnify ‖ now the ETERNAL God; ‖ And let us all together join ‖ for to exalt His Name. ‖

4 I did ſeek the ETERNAL God, ‖ and He gave ear to me; ‖ yea, He did me deliver then ‖ from out of all my fears. ‖

5 Others too now ſhall look to Him, ‖ and be enlightened thence; ‖ nor ſhall their countenances be ‖ covered with any ſhame. ‖

6 This poor Man made his cry, and him ‖ th' ETERNAL God did hear; ‖ yea, He delivered him from all ‖ of his perplexities ‖

7 The Angel of th' ETERNAL God ‖ encampeth round about ‖ ſuch as do fear Him, and He doth ‖ extricate them from ſtraits. ‖

8 O taſte, and take a view, how good ‖ is the ETERNAL God! ‖ What are the Bleſſings of the Man, ‖ who puts his truſt in Him! ‖

9 O fear ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ all ye His holy ones; ‖ for unto them that have his fear ‖ there is no penury. ‖

10 Young Lions are red uc'd to want; ‖ and hunger comes on them; ‖ but they that fear th' ETERNAL God ‖ ſhall not want any good. ‖

11 Come, O ye Children, unto me, ‖ give an attentive ear; ‖ I will inſtruct you in the Fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

12 What Man is he who doth deſire ‖ to ſet repeted life! ‖ who hath a love to days, that he ‖ may have the ſight of good! ‖

13 Keep thou thy tongue from evil, and ‖ thy lips from ſpeaking guile. ‖

14 Depart from evil, and do good; ‖ Seek peace, and follow it. ‖

15 The Eyes of the ETERNAL God ‖ are n the righteous ones; ‖ and to the cry that's nade by them ‖ His Ears are ſtill inclin'd. ‖

16 Againſt ill doers is the face ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ for to extirpate from the Earth ‖ the memory of them. ‖

17 Men cry, and the ETERNAL God ‖ doth hearken to their cry; ‖ and out of all their troubles He ‖ gives them deliverance. ‖

18 Nigh unto broken-hearted ones ‖ is the TERNAL God; ‖ and the contrite in ſpirit le ‖ will give Salvation to. ‖

19 Many are the calamities ‖ upon the ighteous one; ‖ but him does the ETERNAL God ‖ deliver out of all. ‖

20 He keepeth all his bones; of them ‖ there ſhall not one be broke. ‖

21 Wo ſlays the wicked; and be ſham'd ‖ ſhall they that hate the juſt. ‖

22 Th' ETERNAL God redeems the Soul ‖ of Servants unto Him; ‖ and none of them who truſt in Him ‖ ſhall a confuſion ſee. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXIV. PSALM.

BEhold, The Praiſes which the Meſſiah gives unto His Father, for carrying Him thro' His wonderful ſufferings!

5 They; All Good Men that hear the Story, GOD will revive and quicken them, from this Experience.

7 Encampeth. Here ſeems to be an eye upon Mahanaim [Gen. XXXII. 1, 2.] And is not this the ſpecial inſtance of Goodneſs, which the next Verſe refers to? Upon the mention of theſe words, Origen has a Note, That when the Faithful Servants of GOD are aſſembled in His Churches, their Guardian-Angels are there preſent with them, ſo as to make a Double Church, one of Men, another of Angels. Compare, Pſal. CXXXVIII. 1. O Holy Singer: Think of this, and be animated.

19, 20 Now, I hope, 'tis plain that the Humiliation and Exaltation of our SAVIOUR, is here celebrated.

PSALM XXXV. Of David.

1 STrive, O ETERNAL God, with them ‖ who are at ſtrife with me: ‖ Oppoſing them contend with ſuch ‖ as would devour me quite. ‖

2 O do thou take hold of the Shield, ‖ and of the Buckler too; ‖ and riſing, O do thou ſtand up ‖ now for to ſuccour me. ‖

3 Draw out the ſpear alſo, and ſtop ‖ my perſecutors courſe: ‖ O do thou ſay unto my Soul, ‖ I thy Salvation am. ‖

4 May they be ſham'd, & may they bluſh, ‖ who do purſue my Soul; ‖ may they be turned back, and ſham'd, ‖ who do deviſe my hurt. ‖

5 May they become like to the chaff ‖ driven before the wind; ‖ The Angel of th' ETERNAL God, ‖ may he drive them about. ‖

6 May their way have much darkneſs in't, ‖ and much of ſlipperineſs; ‖ and th' Angel of th' ETERNAL God ‖ ſtill perſecuting them. ‖

7 For the pit of their net for me, ‖ they've hid without a cauſe; ‖ without a cauſe they for my Soul ‖ have dug an horrid pit.

8 May unknown ruin come on him, ‖ and may his net which he ‖ hath hid, ſurprize himſelf; may he ‖ with tumult fall into' it. ‖

9 But let my Soul have glorious joy ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ O let my Soul greatly rejoyce ‖ in His Salvation ſtill. ‖

10 Yea, of my Body all the Bones ‖ let them alſo declare, ‖ O thou ETERNAL God, who is ‖ to be compar'd to thee? ‖ Thou doſt redeem the Poor from him ‖ that is too ſtrong for him; ‖ Redeem the poor and needy one ‖ from him that ſpoileth him. ‖

11 Againſt me there have riſen up ‖ injurious witneſſes; ‖ interrogating me of things ‖ which I know nothing of. ‖

12 Evil for good was that which they ‖ did recompenſe to me; ‖ to the depriving of my Soul ‖ of what might comfort me.

13 But I when they were ſick, did make ‖ Sackcloath my covering; ‖ I broke my Soul with faſting, and ‖ my Prayer turn'd on my breaſt. ‖

14 I walk'd as tho' he'd been a Friend ‖ and Brother unto me; ‖ as mourning for a Mother I ‖ did bow down heavily. ‖

15 But in my halting towards a fall ‖ they did exult for joy; ‖ ſuch as were abject wretches did ‖ gather themſelves together; ‖ gather themſelves againſt me, when ‖ I did not know of it; ‖ they tore me all to pieces there, ‖ and did not hold their peace. ‖

16 They were with mocking hypocrites ‖ who made a feaſt of ſcoffs; ‖ They did againſt me fiercely gnaſh ‖ with their devouring teeth. ‖

17 O Lord, how long wilt thou look on? ‖ deliver thou my Soul‖from their dead ſtrokes, my only One ‖ Oh! from the Lions ſave.

18 In the great Congregation then ‖ I will give thanks to thee; ‖ among much and great People I ‖ will render praiſe to thee. ‖

19 My wrongful enemies, may they ‖ not triumph over me; ‖ nor who hate me without a cauſe ‖ wink with a ſcornful eye. ‖

20 Becauſe they ſpeak not peaceably, ‖ but words they do deviſe ‖ full of deceit againſt ſuch as ‖ are quiet in the Land. ‖

21 Yea, even with an open mouth ‖ they have upon me run; ‖ and they have cried, Ah , Aha, ‖ Our eyes have ſeen the thing. ‖

22 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thou haſt ‖ took cognizance of this; ‖ O 〈◊〉 not now a ſilent One; ‖ Lord, Be not far from me. ‖

23 Stir up thy ſelf, and O awake ‖ unto my judgment now; ‖ O Thou my God, & Thou my Lord, ‖ awake unto my cauſe. ‖

24 According to thy Righteouſneſs ‖ judge me, ETERNAL God; ‖ Judge me, my God, and let them not ‖ have triumphs ever me. ‖

25 In their hearts let them not ſay, Ah, ‖ Our Soul would have it ſo! ‖ O let them not have room to ſay, ‖ We have devoured him. ‖

26 Let them be ſham'd, & bluſh together, ‖ who of my hurt are glad; ‖ may they be cloath'd with ſhame, and bluſh, ‖ who look ſo big on me. ‖

27 Let them ſhout with triumphant joy, ‖ and be exceeding glad, ‖ whoſe favourable ſentiments ‖ believe my righteouſneſs. ‖ Yea, may they ſay continually, ‖ Let the ETERNAL God ‖ be magnified, who takes delight ‖ in His true Servants peace. ‖

28 And now my tongue ſhall dwell upon ‖ thy glorious Righteouſneſs; ‖ My Tongue ſhall celebrate thy praiſe ‖ all day * and every day.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXV. PSALM.

BEhold, A Pſalm of Wiſhes, to ſee the Kingdom of Antichriſt, whereof we have here a deſcription, deſtroyed! But, O Chriſtian Singer, Take here, once for all, a Noble Inſtruction of A nobius. Cave ne ad homines adverſantes ibi pules iſta competere. Dont think to Pray at this rate againſt thy perſonal Enemies; But employ thoſe Prayers, contra Spiritus hugus aerie, qui quotidie noc •• , againſt thy Spiritual Enemies. againſt which thou art engaged in a continual Warfare.

2 Good Men aſſaulted or endangered by Enemies at firſt will deſire no more than to be defended from them. They are not for offending of them. Anon, if there be no other way, they are content that the Holy One take the Spear alſo.

4 Compare, Job. XVIII. 6. The LXX here uſes the ſame Word that is there.

8 R. Obadiah thinks, here is an Alluſion to 2 Sam. XVIII. 13.—Bring Ropes to the City.

13 q. d. I wiſh'd my ſelf no better than I deſired God to do for them. The Patrician Paraphraſe. The Gloſs of the Ancients upon it was; Non alium orabam, quam illum qui mihi perſonaliter junctus eſt, dicit CHRISTUS; Secundum quod homo, ſecundum quod orat. Sed oratio convertitur in ſinum; ideſt, ad Verbum in quo erat Pater.

15 q. d. The Scum of the People who were ſo vile, that I did not ſo much as know there were ſuch Wretches in the World. The LXX reads it, The Scourges, Ainſworth ſuppoſes it refers to the Scourge of the Tongue. [Job VI. 21.] Hammond ſuppoſes it means People worthy of the Scourge.

16 Hebr. Mockers for a Cake. Sycophants who flatter at the Table for a belly full of Meat. Compare 2 Sam. XI. 8. — there followed a meſs of Meat from the King, R. Obadiah thinks that theſe Mockers employed their Squibs particularly on that unhappy Meſs of Meat,

21 q. d. — We have now found him out.

PSALM XXXVI. To the Chief Muſician. Of David, the Servant of the ETERNAL God.

1 THE Wicked Mans Tranſgreſſion doth, ‖ ſpeak this within my heart; ‖ That there's not any fear of God ‖ at all before his eyes. ‖

2 For in his own deceived eyes ‖ he flattereth himſelf, ‖ till his iniquity be found ‖ to be an hateful thing. ‖

3 Iniquity and baſe deceit ‖ are the words of his mouth; ‖ he hath left off to underſtand; ‖ to do the thing that's good. ‖

4 Iniquity he does deviſe ‖ while he lies on his bed; ‖ he ſets upon a way not good; ‖ evil he don't abhor. ‖

5 Thy Mercy, OETERNAL God, ‖ is in the Heavens ſeen; ‖ Thy faithfulneſs is what does reach ‖ unto the Heav'nly clouds.‖

6 Like mounts of God's thy Righteouſneſs; ‖ thy Judgments a great deep; ‖ ETERNAL God, Thou doſt preſerve ‖ Man, and inſeriour Beaſt. ‖

7 O God, How wondrous excellent ‖ thy loving kindneſs is! ‖ Now in the ſhadow of thy wings ‖ the Sons of Men will truſt. ‖

8 They from the fatneſs of thy Houſe ‖ ſhall be repleniſhed; ‖ and of the ſtream of thy Delights ‖ thou ſhalt make them to drink. ‖

9 Becauſe there is the Fountain of ‖ all of our Lives with thee; ‖ Enlightned by thy glorious Light ‖ we ſhall ſee Light with joy.

10 Extend thy loving kindneſs to ‖ them that acknowledge thee; ‖ extend alſo thy Righteouſneſs ‖ to the upright in heart. ‖

11 O never let the foot of pride ‖ make an approach to me: ‖ Nor let the hand of wicked ones ‖ cauſe me for to remove. ‖

12 The workers of iniquity, ‖ they are now fallen there; ‖ they are caſt down, and they ſhall not ‖ be able to ariſe. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXVI. PSALM.

1 SAul doubtleſs was intended; yet he names him not, becauſe he would preſerve all the Reverence that might be, for him.

7 The Shadow of the Wings of the Lord, No doubt refers to Angelical Influences, and Protections. But Arnobius devoutly refers it unto the extended Arms of our SAVIOUR on the Croſs.

8 The Fatneſs of the Houſe of GOD, more immediately refers to the Sacrifices of Thanksgiving.

12 There!—in the very Act of their wickedneſs.

PSALM XXXVII. Of David.

1 FRet not thy ſelf becauſe of them ‖ that are malignant Men; ‖ Be'n't mov'd with envy at the Men ‖ that work iniquity. ‖

2 For that like as the Graſs they ſhall ‖ be ſpeedily mown down; ‖ and like unto the verdant Herb, ‖ wither they ſhall away. ‖

3 Hope thou in the ETERNAL God, ‖ and ſtill be doing Good; ‖ Inhabit then the promis'd Land, ‖ and make the Truth thy food. ‖

4 And do thou place thy whole delight ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ ſo He will then vouchſafe to thee ‖ the wiſhes of thine heart. ‖

5 Devolve the Cares of all thy way ‖ on the ETERNAL God; ‖ and place thy confidence in Him, ‖ ſo He'll accompliſh it. ‖

6 He ſhall therewith like as the Light ‖ bring forth thy Righteouſneſs; ‖ and with meridian luſtre ſhall ‖ Judgments be wrought for thee. ‖

7 On the ETERNAL God be thou ‖ a ſilent waiter ſtill; ‖ and with unceaſing patience wait ‖ expecting Him to work. ‖ Fret not thy ſelf becauſe of him ‖ who proſpers in his way; ‖ or becauſe of the Man who brings ‖ wicked deſigns to paſs. ‖

8 Deſiſt from anger, and diſmiſs ‖ fierce indignation: ‖ Do not wax hot; but ſtill be ſure ‖ to do no evil thing. ‖

9 For evil-doers, they ſhall be ‖ cut off; but they that wait ‖ on the ETERNAL God, they ſhall ‖ as heirs enjoy the Earth. ‖

10 For yet a little while, and then ‖ the wicked ſhall not be; ‖ yea, thou ſhalt cloſely view his place, ‖ and he ſhall not be there. ‖

11 But humbled ones ſhall have the Earth ‖ for their Inheritance; ‖ and in th' abundance of their peace ‖ they ſhall delight themſelves. ‖

12 The wicked does deviſe a plot ‖ againſt the righteous man; ‖ and he does gnaſh upon him with ‖ his ill-deſigning teeth. ‖

13 The Lord relied-on ſhall him ‖ in a deriſion have; ‖ becauſe he does foreſee his day ‖ of Wo is coming on. ‖

14 The wicked have drawn out their Sword ‖ and they have bent their Bow, ‖ to make the poor and needy fall; ‖ to ſlay right walking ones. ‖

15 Their Sword ſhall with a mortal thruſt ‖ paſs into their own heart; ‖ their Bows alſo which they have bent, ‖ they ſhall be broken quite. ‖

16 Tho' it be but a little that ‖ a righteous Man enjoys, ‖ 'tis better than the heaped Wealth ‖ of many wicked ones.

17 Becauſe the arms of wicked ones ‖ ſhall be entirely broke; ‖ But the ETERNAL God confirms ‖ with ſtrength the righteous Men. ‖

18 Th' ETERNAL God takes notice of ‖ the days of upright ones; ‖ and their Inheritance ſhall laſt ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

19 They ſhan't be put to any ſhame ‖ in any evil time; ‖ and when the days of famine come ‖ they ſhall be ſatisfy'd. ‖

20 But fade ſhall ill Men, and the foes ‖ of the ETERNAL God ‖ ſhall be conſum'd like fat of Lambs; ‖ they ſhall conſume in ſmoke. ‖

21 The wicked does receive a Loan, ‖ and does not pay again; ‖ But he that is a righteous Man ‖ ſhews mercy and does give. ‖

22 For they who are His bleſſed ones ‖ as heirs ſhall have the Earth; ‖ but they that are curſed from Him ‖ ſhall be cut off from thence.

23 The ſteps of Man are ordered ‖ by the ETERNAL God; ‖ when the way which he takes is what ‖ he does take pleaſure in. ‖

24 Altho' he fall yet he ſhall not ‖ be utterly caſt down, ‖ becauſe that the ETERNAL One ‖ upholds him with His Hand. ‖

24 I have been Young, and now am Old, ‖ yet have I never ſeen ‖ the Juſt forſaken, nor his Seed, ‖ when asking for their Bread. ‖

26 He does ſhew mercy every day, ‖ and's on the lending hand; ‖ and his Poſterity ſhall be ‖ remark'd for bleſſedneſs. ‖

27 Depart from evil and do good; ‖ ſo ſhalt thou dwell for ever. ‖

28 Becauſe that the ETERNAL One ‖ does love the thing that's right: ‖ He won't forſake His gracious ones, ‖ they are preſerv'd for ever; ‖ But the Offspring of wicked ones ‖ is utterly our off. ‖

29 The righteous, they ſhall have the Land ‖ as their Inheritance; ‖ and they therein forever ſhall ‖ their habitation have. ‖

30 The mouth of a juſt Man ſhall ſpeak ‖ that which has wiſdom in't: ‖ his tongue ſhall alſo utter what ‖ ſhall be the thing that's right. ‖

31 The Law of God is in his heart; ‖ none of his ſteps ſhall ſlip. ‖

32 The wicked Man does watch the Juſt, ‖ and ſeeks to ruin him. ‖

33 Th'ETERNAL God will not leave him ‖ in th' hand of ſuch an one; ‖ nor will he him condemn for ſuch, ‖ when that he ſhall be judg'd. ‖

34 Wait thou on the ETERNAL God, ‖ and keep thou in His way: ‖ and thou ſhall find He then will ſet ‖ thee in an high eſtate, ‖ That ſo thou may'ſt enjoy the Land ‖ as an Inheritance; ‖ whence when the wicked art cut off ‖ thou ſhalt behold the thing. ‖

35 I have beheld the wicked one ‖ grown mighty in his power; ‖ and like unto a green Bay-tree, ‖ ſpreading himſelf abroad. ‖

36 Yet he did quickly paſs away, ‖ and lo, he was not there! ‖ yea, I did look for him, and he ‖ was not for to be found. ‖

37 Do thou obſerve the perfect Man, ‖ and the upright behold, ‖ becauſe that ſuch 2 Man ſhall have ‖ peace in the latter end. ‖

38 But the tranſgreſſors of the Law ‖ ſhall be deſtroy'd together; ‖ the latter end of wicked Men ‖ ſhall be, to be cut off. ‖

39 But the Salvation of the Juſt ‖ is from th' ETERNAL God; ‖ In the time of diſtreſs He is ‖ the fortitude of ſuch. ‖

40 And the ETERNAL God does help ‖ them, and does reſcue them; ‖ reſcues them from ill Men, and ſaves ‖ them; for they truſt in Him ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXVII. PSALM.

NEceſſary Inſtructions for the Faithful under the Power of Antichriſt, who holds Proſperity to be a Mark of the true Church. Behold, the Ruin of Antichriſt; both Head and Body; and the bright Proſperity of the Faithful, after the wicked one ſhall be deſiroyed. Our SAVIOUR applies the Pſalm to an happy condition of the Church upon Earth; Matth. V. 5. Compare, Iſai. XI. 4.

The Son of Syrack gives us the Sum of the Pſalm in, Eccl. I. 23. A Patient Man, will bear for a long time, and afterward Joy ſhall ſpring up unto him.

1 Quite contrary the wretched Ethicks taught by that grand Apoſtle of Satan, Ariſtotle; who commends for a Vertue, an Indignation at the Proſperity of unworthy Men.

3 David Kimchi ſo gloſſes it; Paſce alios, ubicunque habitas, inſiructione in vijs Domini.

6 Kimchi's Gloſs is, Men ſhall plainly ſee & own, that thou art a Righteous Man.

14 'Tis an Obſervation of R. Solomons; Pauper et egenus, in Pſa mis, ſemper de Iſraele dicuntur. The poor and needy always mean Iſrael.

16 A famous Jew reads it ſo; A few Righteous Men are of more account than many Wicked ones.

24 David once begg'd his own Bread. The begging of Bread here notes, all aſking for it, either of God or Man. We are compell'd unto the Verſion that is now given us.

35 We ſee Wicked Men pretending to Lawrels. But what comes of them?

PSALM XXXVIII. A Pſalm of David; To bring to Remembrance.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God; in thy ‖ hot wrath rebuke me not; ‖ And in thy Anger flaming out, ‖ O do not chaſten me. ‖

2 Becauſe thine Arrows upon me ‖ are ſhot down from above; ‖ and thy hand from above does come ‖ down to afflict me ſore. ‖

3 In my fleſh there is nothing ſound; ‖ thine Anger is the cauſe; ‖ nor in my bones is any reſt; ‖ becauſe that I have ſinn'd. ‖

4 Becauſe that mine iniquities ‖ over mine head are gone; ‖ they as an heavy burden are ‖ too heavy found for me. ‖

5 My wounds do ſtink and are corrupt; ‖ my folly is the cauſe. ‖

6 Troubled I am, and much depreſs'd; ‖ go mourning every day. ‖

7 For my loins are inflam'd, and in ‖ my fleſh there's nothing ſound. ‖

8 I'm weak and broken much; I r ••• ‖ thro' anguiſh of my heart. ‖

9 O Lord, Before thee there is laid ‖ the whole of my deſire; ‖ and none of all my groaning is ‖ at all conceal'd from thee. ‖

10 My heart perplex'd turns every way; ‖ my ſtrength, it faileth me: ‖ And as for the light of mine eyes, ‖ even thoſe are not with me. ‖

11 My lovers & my friends do ſtand ‖ where they may n't ſee my ſtroke; ‖ and they that are my Neighbours do ‖ ſtand at a diſtance off ‖

12 And they that ſeek my life lay ſnares; ‖ they too that ſeek my hurt, ‖ do ſpeak miſchievous things; and plot ‖ all the day long deceits. ‖

13 But I am as a Man that's deaf; ‖ I hear not what they ſay; ‖ And I am like a Man that's dumb, ‖ who opens not his mouth. ‖

14 And thus I was like to a Man ‖ who does not hear at all; ‖ nor is there in his mouth what he ‖ may anſwer for himſelf. ‖

15 For, O ETERNAL God, thou art ‖ He for whom I do wait; ‖ O Lord, Thou art my God, thou wilt ‖ give anſwer unto me. ‖

16 For this is what I ſaid, leſt they ‖ ſhould triumph over me, ‖ while my foot ſlips, againſt me they ‖ do magnifie themſelves. ‖

17 For I'm prepar'd to halt, and ever ‖ before me is my grief. ‖

18 For I'll declare my crime, I will ‖ be ſorry for my ſin. ‖

19 But my foes, who are living ones, ‖ are mighty, ſtrong withal; ‖ and they who hate me wrongfully ‖ are greatly multiply'd. ‖

20 They too that render ill for good, ‖ are enemies to me; ‖ yea, it is for this very cauſe; ‖ I follow what is good. ‖

21 ETERNAL God, Forſake me not; ‖ My God, Be'nt far from me: ‖ make haſte to help me, Lord, who art, ‖ my ſole Salvation l

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXVIII. PSALM.

DOes not the Pſalm expreſs the condition of the Synagogue, as now groaning under the Perſecution of An ichriſt? No doubt of it. Compare the 16th Verſe, with Deut. XXII. 26, 27. and the 17th Verſe, with Zeph. III. 19.

2 R. Obadiah reports a Tradition, That the Pſalmiſt laboured under a Leproſy Six Months together, and that all this time, The Divine Preſence was witheld from him.

12 Munſtors gloſs upon Snares, is, Verba ad deſperationom inducentia: Words of Deſpair.

PSALM XXXIX. To the Chief Muſician: To Jeduthun. A Pſalm of David.

1 I Said, I will regard my ways ‖ leſt I ſin with my tongue; ‖ I'll keep a bridle on my mouth, ‖ while I've the vile in view. ‖

2 With ſilence I remain'd as dumb, ‖ wholly held my peace, ‖ not mentioning of any good; ‖ my grief was then renew'd. ‖

3 My heart within me did grow hot; ‖ while my thoughts were engag'd; ‖ the Fire did then begin to burn; ‖ then ſpake I with my tongue. ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL One, Do thou ‖ make known to me my end; ‖ and what's the meaſure of my days; ‖ to know how frail am. ‖

5 Lo, Thou an hands breadth mak'ſt my days, ‖ and my age in thy ſight, ‖ as nothing; ſure each man at beſt ‖ is wholly vanity. ‖

6 Sure, in a ſhadow Man does walk; ‖ ſure, they're diſturb'd in vain; ‖ he heaps up treaſures, and knows not ‖ who ſhall make uſe of them. ‖

7 And now, O Lord, What wait I for? ‖ My hope is placid on thee. ‖

8 Deliver me from all my ſins; ‖ the Fools ſcorn make me not. ‖

9 I'm dumb, I open not my mouth; ‖ for 'tis what thou haſt done. ‖

10 Remove thy ſtroke away from me; ‖ by thy hand's blow I waſte. ‖

11 When with rebukes thou doſt correct ‖ Man for iniquity, ‖ thou mak'ſt to waſte even as moth, ‖ that which is his deſire. ‖ Moſt certainly then every Man ‖ is very vanity. ‖ Selah. ‖

12 Hear my Prayer, O ETERNAL God, ‖ and hearken to my cry. ‖ Upon my tears, O be not deaf, ‖ becauſe I am with thee ‖ a ſtranger, and a ſojourner, ‖ as all my Fathers were. ‖

13 O ſpare me graciouſly, that ſo ‖ I may recover ſtrength, ‖ before that I ſhall go from ence, ‖ and be no more at all. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XXXIX. PSALM.

BEhold again the Condition of the Synagogue under the Oppreſſions of Anticbriſt.

6 A Man promiſes himſelf mighty matters; But he has no more than the Image and Shadone of them in his Erain; For on the ſudden he himſelf vanithes and is gone. So one Paraphraſes. The Compariſon of Man to a Shadow, may be copiouſly proſecuted, with much Service to Piety.

12 A ſad Hint! It ſeems, GOD and he were both Strangers here. But have an Eye to the Meſſiah here. He was a Stranger in this World.

PSALM XL. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 WIth earneſt waiting I did wait ‖ on the ETERNAL God; ‖ and He inclined unto me, ‖ He alſo heard my cry. ‖

2 And fetch d me from the roaring pit; ‖ out of the miry clay; ‖ and on a Rock He ſet my feet; ‖ He did direct my ſteps. ‖

3 And put a new Song in my mouth, ‖ of Praiſe unto our God; ‖ Many ſhall ſee, and fear, and truſt ‖ in the ETERNAL God. ‖

4 O bleſſed is the Man that makes ‖ th' ETERNAL God his truſt; ‖ and dont regard the proud, nor the ‖ decliners to a lye. ‖

5 ETERNAL God, my God, Thouſt wrought ‖ Thy many wondrous works; ‖ And thy thoughts towards us, to thee ‖ none can in order tell: ‖ Would I declare and mention them ‖ they're more than can be told. ‖

6 A Sacrifice and Offring thou ‖ didſt not at all deſire. ‖ Thou for thy Service bor'ſt the Ears ‖ thou'ſt given unto me: ‖ Burnt-Offring and Sin-Offring is ‖ what thou haſt not requir'd. ‖

7 Then, ſaid I, Lo, I come; to do ‖ that which thou haſt requir'd: ‖ Thou haſt a rolled Book wherein ‖ 'tis written thus of me. ‖

8 That I may do thy Will, My God, ‖ this is what I would have; ‖ In the midſt of my Bowels too ‖ thy Law is treaſur'd up.

9 In the great Congregation I ‖ have Preach'd thy Righteouſneſs: ‖ Lo, I have not refrain'd my lips, ‖ ETERNAL God, thou know'ſt. ‖

10 Thy Righteouſneſs I have not hid ‖ in the midſt of my heart; ‖ I have thy faithfulneſs and thy ‖ Salvation ſhown abroad. ‖ Thy loving kindneſs I have not ‖ in any part conceal'd, ‖ nor from the Great Aſſembly kept ‖ thy never-failing Truth. ‖

11 Withold not, O ETERNAL God, ‖ thy kindneſſes from me; ‖ Thy Mercy, and thy Truth let them ‖ keep me continually. ‖

12 For evils have encompaſs'd me ‖ till none can number them: ‖ And my iniquities withal ‖ have taken hold on me. ‖ Nor can I take a view, they are ‖ ſo multiply'd above ‖ the hairs which grow upon my head; ‖ and my Heart faileth me. ‖

13 Be pleaſed, O ETERNAL God, ‖ for to deliver me; ‖ and unto my relief make haſte, ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God. ‖

14 Let thoſe be ſham'd, & bluſh together ‖ that ſeek my Soul, to ſlay't; ‖ Let thoſe be driven back and ſham'd, ‖ who do deſire my hurt. ‖

14 As the juſt recompence of what ‖ is really their ſhame; ‖ they ſhall be deſolate, who ſay, ‖ to me, Aha, Aha!

16 Thoſe who are thy true ſeekers, let ‖ all ſuch rejoyce in thee ‖ yea, let them all triumph in this ‖ with overflowing joy. ‖ Thoſe who in thy Salvation take ‖ a true delight, let them ‖ forever ſay, Th' ETERNAL God, ‖ Let Him be magnify'd. ‖

17 But I'm a needy one, and poor: ‖ the Lord yet thinks on me: ‖ Thou my Help, and my Saviour art; ‖ My God, O tarry not. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XL. PSALM.

CHriſtian, Behold the Praiſes of thy SAVIOUR to His ETERNAL Father, for His Preſence with Him, in His Humiliation. Paul has taught us how to apply the Pſalm.

2 The Sepulchre of our SAVIOUR was hewed out of a Rock. Behold Him ſetting His Fert on the Rock, and in His Reſurrection triumphing over the Grave.

5 Munſter ſo reads it, Nemo eſt qui ea ordinat ad te. The Benefits of Heaven, are not ordered by Men as they ſhould, and ſubordinated unto the Glory and Service of GOD.

6 Mine Ear haſt thou bored, is, q. d. Thou haſt made me thy Servant. The Service which the Son of GOD was to do for His Eternal Father, could not be done without a Body. The Clauſe is with much wiſdom rendered in the New-Teſtament, A Body haſt thou prepared for me. The Servant was to have part of his Body, his Ear faſtned with Iron to a Poſt. So was the Body of our SAVIOUR, to the Croſs. Yea, the Hebrew Word ſignifies, Apparare, as well as, Perforare. And Ozen, may ſignify a Body as well as an Ear. Moreover, the Greek Word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , which we render, a Body, is continually uſed by the Jewiſh Writers, to ſignify, A Servant. So in the Books of the Apocrypha and Joſephus.

There is a wrong done to the Holy Spirit of GOD, by thoſe Criticks, who will tell you, That the Apoſtle followed the LXX, in his reading here, A Body haſt thou prepared for me.

In Jerom's Days, there was not this reading in the LXX. The Primitive Chriſtians altered the LXX in ſeveral Places, which the New-Teſtament cites out of the Old, and put in the Words of the New-Teſtament, which were not there before.

7 Some read it, In the Head, [or Beginnin] of thy Book; And think the Prophecy in the III. of Geneſis refer'd unto. Grotius obſerves, That the Hebrews wrote their Contracts and Agronnents, and Indentures in Rolls. The Volumn here implies a Cont act.

16—Not expect ••• ••• vation from any other hand. But, Chriſtian, The Love of 〈◊〉 SAVIOUR is alſo ſuppoſed her.

PSALM XLI. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 BLeſſed the Man, who prudently ‖ conſidereth the Poor; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God will reſcue him when 'tis an evil day.‖

2 Th' ETERNAL God will have him in ‖ His gracious cuſtody; ‖ and He will make him for to live, ‖ when Death does threaten him. ‖ He ſhall be bleſſed upon Earth; ‖ nor wilt thou give him up ‖ unto the ſpiteful will of thoſe ‖ that are his enemies. ‖

3 Th' ETERNAL God will on the Bed ‖ of weakneſs ſtrengthen him: ‖ Thou, when that he is languiſhing, ‖ wilt turn his Bed for him. ‖

4 I ſaid, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ Be merciful to me; ‖ Heal thou my Soul, becauſe I have ‖ wandred from Thee by Sin. ‖

5 My Adverſaries, they do ſpeak ‖ evil concerning me; ‖ When ſhall he die? They ſay, and when ‖ ſhall his name be deſtroy'd? ‖

6 And if he comes to viſit me, ‖ he ſpeaks but vanity; ‖ his heart rakes miſchief to it ſelf; ‖ going abroad he tells. ‖

7 Againſt me they that hate me do ‖ whiſper together all; ‖ againſt me they deviſe what may ‖ be miſcheivous to me. ‖

8 They ſay, Some thing of Belial ſure ‖ is lying upon him; ‖ and now that he is lying ill ‖ he ſhall riſe up no more. ‖

9 Yea, and my own familiar friend ‖ in whom I truſted much; ‖ he who did eat my bread, has lift ‖ the heel to ſtrike at me. ‖

10 But thou, O thou ETERNAL God, ‖ be merciful to me; ‖ and O reſtore thou me, that I ‖ may make returns to them. ‖

11 By this thing I am ſenſible, ‖ that thou doſt favour me; ‖ becauſe my enemy has not ‖ a triumph over me. ‖

12 And as for me, me thou upholdſt ‖ in my integrity; ‖ and thou ſett'ſt me before thy face ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

13 Bleſſed be the ETERNAL One, ‖ the God of Iſrael: ‖ from Age even unto Age, Amen, ‖ And yet again, Amen. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLI. PSALM.

MAY we not ſee the Condition of the Sanagogue, forſaken of all Humane help; yet hoping for a Reſtoration? 'Tis in view of this that GOD is bleſſed ty the Name of, The GOD of Iſrael; An Appellation that relates to the Re-calling of all the Tribes. The double Amen, leads us to a Second Reſtoration.

1 Pagnin, and others read it, Bleſſed is he that underſtands the Poor. Aquinas notes on it, A Merciful Man will endeavour to inform himſelf of the wants of the Poor, and relieve them, even before they do themſelves reveal them. As Leo ſpeaks, Ut hoc ipſo magis gaudeant, quum et paupertati corum conſultum fuerit, et pudori.

3 He r. Turn his Bed. Munſter beſpeaks that ſenſe for it: The Lord will change his Bed; and give him Health inſtead of Sickneſs.

9 Hearken to Old Arnobius. Here ſuppoſe our Interiour aſſaulted by the Fleſh, and the Powers of Dar neſs. Our Name which they would have to periſh, is that of, Chriſtian. Chriſtian, Thy Fleſh is thy Familiar Friend, and it plays the Judas with thee, When thou art Riſ n from the deadly Circumſtances, which thy Spiritual Enemies bring upon thee, Requite them, Deſtroy them.

Ditto. Lift up the Heel. The Jewiſh Gloſs is agreeable; Ac ſi eram ſemita pede ſuo trita. As if I were the dirt of the Street, for him to tread upon.

Ditto. Of Old, No Covenant of Friendſhip counted more inviolable, than what was begun at the Table, or confirm'd there. Jowiſh and Pagan Writers, have Curioſities of this Importance. Communicants at the Table of the Lord, Conſider of this.

THE SECOND BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM XLII. To the Chief Muſician. Maſchil; for the Sons of Korah.

1 AS the Hart makes a panting cry ‖ for cooling ſtreams of waters; ‖ So my Soul makes a panting cry ‖ to Thee, O mighty God. ‖

2 My Soul does flame with thirſt for God, ‖ ev'n for the living God; ‖ when ſhall I come, and when appear ‖ before the face of God? ‖

3 My Tear has been my conſtant meat, ‖ both in the day and night, ‖ while they continually ſay ‖ to me, Where is thy God? ‖

4 Theſe things when I remember, I ‖ pour out my Soul in me. ‖ For I had gone in company ‖ once with the multitude; ‖ I went with them to th' Houſe of God ‖ with voice of joy and praiſe; ‖ even with a multitude of them ‖ that kept a Feſtival. ‖

5 Why doſt thou throw thy ſelf into ‖ dejections, O my Soul? ‖ And why art thou diſquieted ‖ in me with ſuch a noiſe? ‖ Hope thou with waiting upon God; ‖ For I ſhall praiſe Him yet; ‖ Salvations are diſpenc'd from the ‖ kind Aſpects of His Face. ‖

5 My God, my Soul's caſt down in me; ‖ Hence I'll remember thee ‖ from Jordan's Land and Hermon's Hills, ‖ from the Hill Mizar there. ‖

7 Deep calleth unto deep, at the ‖ noiſe of thy water ſpouts; ‖ Thy ſwelling Billows and thy Waves ‖ have all gone over me. ‖

8 Now the ETERNAL God will with ‖ effectual power command ‖ His mercy which He promiſed ‖ when that the Day arrives, ‖ And when the Night comes on there is ‖ with me a Song of His; ‖ A Supplication to Him who ‖ is of my Life the GOD. ‖

9 I will ſay unto God my Rock, ‖ Why haſt thou me forgot? ‖ Why go I mourning for the ſore ‖ oppreſſion of the foe? ‖

10 With cutting to my very bones ‖ my foes reproach me hard; ‖ While every day they unto me ‖ do ſay, Where is thy God? ‖

11 Why doſt thou throw thy ſelf into ‖ dejections, O my Soul? ‖ And why art thou diſquieted ‖ in me with ſuch a noiſe? ‖ Hope thou with waiting upon God; ‖ for I ſhall praiſe Him yet; ‖ Salvations He does work before ‖ my face; He is my God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLII. PSALM.

BEhold, The ſorrows of the Synagogue in her diſperſion, deſcribed by the Spirit of Prophecy

1 Some have applied this unto Baptiſm, fter which, even the Infant-Soul does pant, as having been invenomed by the Old Serpent. Many of the Fathers had this Notion. And Aquinas quotes it out of Jerom, That theſe Verſes were Sung at the Solemn Times, when Baptiſm was adminiſtred.

2—Who would have expected it from a Jew? And yet Aben-E ra ſays, The coming of the Meſſiah is here longed for.

3 q. d. I have been ſo taken up with Weeping, that I have had no time or heart for Eating.

4 'Twas very notably ſo, when the Pſalmiſt brought the Ark to its dwelling place. Compare, I Chron. XV. 25, 28.

6 All Jordan, from the Spring to the Mouth of it, is here meaſured out.—He was baniſh'd unto the utmoſt Countr es, both North and South, waſh'd by the River Jordan.

7 The Waters of Jordan put him in mind of his Miſeries;—All rolling over him one after another.

10 Becauſe the Jews had no Images of GOD, but worſhipped an Inviſible GOD, the Pagans derided them. Lucan ſpeaks of their Deus Incerius. And Ph •• a ch owns, he did not know who he was. Quotations might be Numberleſs.

PSALM XLIII.

1 JUdge me, O God, and plead againſt ‖ a Nation mercileſs, ‖ my cauſe. O ſave me from the Man ‖ that's craſty and unjuſt. ‖

2 For of my ſtrength thou art the God, ‖ why doſt thou caſt me off? ‖ Why go I mourning for the ſore ‖ oppreſſion of the foe? ‖

3 Thy light O ſend forth, and thy truth; ‖ let them lead me; let them ‖ bring me unto thy holy hill, ‖ and to thy Manſions there.

4 Then to God's Altar I will go; ‖ To God, Joy of my Joy: ‖ and on the Harp I will confeſs ‖ to thee, O God, my God. ‖

5 Why doſt thou throw thy ſelf in ‖ dejections, O my Soul? ‖ And why art •• ou diſquieted ‖ in me with ſuch a noiſe? ‖ Hope thou with waiting upon God, ‖ for I ſhall praiſe Him yet: ‖ Salvations He does work before ‖ my face; He is my God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLIII. PSALM.

TIS a ſervent Praver of Diſperſed Iſrael, for a Reſtoration. Compare, Zeph, III. 16, 17.

3 'Tis Remarkable. The Midraſh Till in finds the Meſſiah here. And ſo does Rabbi Sol •••• .

PSALM XLIV. To the Chief Muſician. For the Sons of Korah. Maſchil.

1 WE have heard with our Ears, O God; ‖ us have our Fathers told ‖ what work thou wroughteſt in their days; ‖ even in the former days. ‖

2 Thou didſt expel the Nations with ‖ thy hand; but plantedſt them: ‖ Thou didſt afflict the People there, ‖ and thou didſt ſend them out. ‖

3 For it was not by their own Sword ‖ they did poſſeſs the Land; ‖ nor was it any arm of theirs ‖ which did deliver them. ‖ But it was thy Right hand, it was ‖ thy Arm which did the thing; ‖ 'Twas the Light of thy face; Becauſe ‖ that thou didſt favout them. ‖

4 Thou even thou thy ſelf ſhalt be ‖ ever my King, O God: ‖ Salvations by commandement ‖ for Jacob, O procure. ‖

5 Thro' thee as with an horn we will ‖ puſh down our Enemies; ‖ Them who do riſe againſt us, we ‖ will tread down in thy Name. ‖

6 For in my Bow I will not place ‖ at all my confidence; ‖ nor ſhall it be a Sword of mine ‖ that ſhall deliver me. ‖

7 But thou art He who ſtill doſt fa c ‖ s from our Enemies; ‖ 'tis thou who doſt put unto ſhame ‖ them that have hated us. ‖

8 We glory in the Glorious God, ‖ all day, and every day; ‖ And to thy Name we will confeſs ‖ unto Eternity. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 But thou haſt in thy wrath caſt off ‖ and haſt put us to ſhame; ‖ and with our Armed Forces now, ‖ thou art not going forth. ‖

10 Thou makeſt us for to return ‖ back from the Enemy; ‖ and they that hate us, of our Weal b ‖ make for themſelves a ſpoil. ‖

11 As if we had been Sheep for food, ſo haſt thou giv n us up; ‖ And thou among the Nations haſt ‖ ſcatter'd us all abroad. ‖

12 Thou of thy People haſt made ſale, ‖ and not increas'd thy Wealth; ‖ nor haſt thou multiply'd thy Gain ‖ by a price paid for them. ‖

13 Unto our Neighhours thou doſt make ‖ us to be a reproach; a ſcorn and a deriſion to ‖ them that encompaſs us. ‖

14 A mere by-word of us thou doſt; ‖ among the Nations make, ‖ Among the People we are thoſe ‖ at whom they ſhake the head. ‖

15 Before me every day is my ‖ confuſion to be ſeen; ‖ and the ſhame for to ſhow my face ‖ has wholly covered me.

16 From the Voice which reproaches m ‖ and ulters Blaſphemies, ‖ from the face of the enemy, ‖ ‖ and the •• ongeful one.

17 All this is come on us, yet we ‖ have not forgotten thee; ‖ nor have we dealt perfidiouſly ‖ againſt thy Covenant. ‖

18 Our heart is not departed inApoſtacy from thee; ‖ not has our going yet been ſuch ‖ as to decline thy way. ‖

19 Tho' in the place of Dragons thou ‖ haſt ſorely broken us, ‖ and thou haſt overwhelm'd us in ‖ the gloomy ſhade of Death. ‖

20 If we have e'er forgot the Name ‖ of Him that is our God; ‖ or if unto a ſtrange God we ‖ have ſtretched out our hands; ‖

21 Of ſuch a thing would not our God ‖ full inquiſition make? ‖ For the moſt inward ſecrets of ‖ the heart He fully knows. ‖

22 Yea, for thy cauſe we're put to death, ‖ all the day long 'tis ſo: ‖ We are accounted like the Sheep ‖ deſign'd for to be ſlain. ‖

23 Awake, O Lord, our ſtrong ſupport, ‖ O why art thou aſleep? ‖ Awake thou ſo as to ariſe; ‖ caſt us not off for ever. ‖

24 O wherefore doſt thou hide thy face? ‖ Wherefore doſt thou forget ‖ th' affliction which does humble us, ‖ and our oppreſſion ſore? ‖

25 Becauſe our Soul is bowed down ‖ unto the very duſt; ‖ ſo proſtrate that our belly does ‖ lye cleaving to the Earth. ‖

26 Ariſe, O thou that ever art ‖ the help that we propoſe, ‖ and, O do thou deliver us, ‖ even for thy mercy's ſake. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLIV. PSALM.

BEhold a Prayer for the Synagogue in her Diſperſion. Old Theoderet puts upon it this Title, D feroci Animo Antiochi. But remember that Antiochus was a Type of Antichriſt. Others, who think ſuch Inſpirations then ceaſed, apprehend the Pſalm calculated for the days of Hezekiah; and the Diſtreſs which the Aſſyrian brought upon Judea, in the time of that pious Reformer.

4 Accompliſh Deliverances, by Commands and Orders given to Angels. 'Tis an Hint of Grotius.

5 Compare, Deut. XXXIII. 17.

12 God often Sold His People into the Hands of their Enemies, before the Converſion of the Gentiles. But it was not an Abſolute Sale; It was only a Mortgage for Years; Redeemable after the Enemy had receiv'd his pay. God paſſed not away His Propriety in them; He entred a Proviſo of Recovery in the Command of Preſerving the Evidences. [Jer. XXXII. 7] The Selling all this while was for nought. God hereby did not increaſe His Wealth, nor add unto the heap of the Riches of that Grace, He had made over by Covenant unto Abraham and his Offspring. If God had utterly Sold away His People before He had ſet up His Kingdom among the Gentiles, He had Sold them for Nought; He had loſt His Viſible Kingdom in the World. But now when He Sold His People in the laſt Roman Captivity, it is not for Nought; it has introduced another and a larger People; The Riches of the World, as the Apoſtle expreſſes it.

14 A Fulfilment of Deut. XXVIII. 37.

19 Munſters Gloſs is, Agimur in Exilium, A Baniſhment into a Wilderneſs.

PSALM XLV. To the Chief Muſician: Upon b ſha mim; For the Sons of Korab. Maſehil. A ong of Loves.

1 MY Heart it boils good matter out; ‖ I ſpeak unto the King ‖ what I have wrought; my Tongue is like ‖ a ready writers pen. ‖

2 Fairer thou art than Sons of Men; ‖ Upon thy lips there is ‖ a Grace diffus'd; God therefore has ‖ bleſs'd thee for evermore. ‖

3 Gird thou thy Sword upon thy thigh, ‖ O thou moſt mighty One; ‖ Do it with thy Magnificence, ‖ and with thy Majeſty. ‖

4 And in thy Majeſty do thou ‖ proceed moſt proſp'rouſly; ‖ yea, ride thou forth upon the Word ‖ of Everlaſting Truth: ‖ It is a Word of Meekneſs, and ‖ a Word of Righteouſneſs; ‖ So thy Right-hand ſhall ſhew to thee ‖ Things very wonderful. ‖

5 Sharp are thine Arrows: (under thee ‖ the People ſhall fall down:) ‖ Sharp in the Hearts of them that have ‖ been enemies to the King. ‖

6 For ever and for ever is, ‖ thy Throne, O God, the Judge: ‖ The Scepter of thy Kingdom is ‖ a Scepter ſway'd with right. ‖

7 Thou loveſt Righ teouſneſs; and thou ‖ hateſt all wickedneſs; ‖ God therefore, He who is thy God, ‖ hath now anointed thee; ‖ Hath made thee His Meſſiah with ‖ a ſweet refreſhing Oil, ‖ which does diſtinguiſh thee from them ‖ who do partake with thee. ‖

8 With Benjamin and Aloes, ‖ and Caſſia, all thy robes, ‖ fetch'd from the ivory Palalaces; ‖ from thence did make thee glad. ‖

9 Ladies of Honour unto thee ‖ are Daughters of Great Kings; ‖ At thy Right-hand in Ophirs Gold ‖ array'd thy Conſort ſtands. ‖

10 Hearken, O daughter, and behold; ‖ and bow thine ear to this; ‖ Now thine own People O forget, ‖ yea, and thy Fathers houſe. ‖

11 So in thy Beauty ſhall the King ‖ have an intenſe delight; ‖ Becauſe He is thy Lord, therefore ‖ pay homage unto Him. ‖

12 Daughter of Tyrus, even thou; ‖ the wealthy People ſhall ‖ ſollicit for thy favour with ‖ a Preſent made to thee.

13 The Daughter of the King, ſhe is ‖ all glorious within; ‖ Her covering is of ſpangled Robes ‖ which are inlaid with Gold. ‖

14 In Robes of Needle-work ſhe ſhall ‖ be brought unto the King; ‖ Virgins that follow and attend, ‖ theſe ſhall be brought to thee. ‖

15 They ſhall brought be with wondrous joys, ‖ and exultations there; ‖ their entrance they ſhall make into ‖ the Palace of the King. ‖

16 In the room of thy Fathers now ‖ thy Children ſhall ſucceed; ‖ theſe thou ſhalt benceſorth conſtitute ‖ Princes in all the Earth. ‖

17 In every Generation I ‖ will make thy Name to be ‖ remembred; ſo the People ſhall ‖ aiſe thee for evermore. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLV. PSALM.

BEhold the Marriage of the Jewiſh Church unto the Meſſiah, when ſhe ſhall be recalled and reſtored unto the favour of GOD. Compare the III. Chapter of Joremiah. R. David Kimchi, has wondrous Confeſſions, That the Loves in the Pſalm, are the Loves of GOD unto His CHRIST; That the Kings Daughters are the Nations of the Farth, Subject unto the Meſſiah; and the Queen among them is Iſrael. Others of the Rabbi's; but above all, the Chaldee Paraphraſe; are full in their Applications of the Pſalm to the M ſſiah. Yea, according to the Chaldee, in the Pſalm now before us, the Meſſiah is GOD; and in the LIII. of Iſaiah, the Meſſiah is Man. Wonderful! O Chriſtian, How does thy Religion triumph over its Adverſaries!

The Pſalm is called, A Song of Deſires. R. David ſays, The whole World will rejoyce at the coming of the Meſſiah, becauſe all the Nations have deſired it. Compare, Hag. II. 7. Conſider, Rom. VIII. 19. The ſame Word uſed by the LXX, in Gen. XLIX. 10. Is not the Name of Jedidiah here alluded to?

1 A Writer of Short Hand. An baſty Writer, as R. Obadiah Gaon expreſſes it, Qui principia Vocum ſolummodo tranſcribit. q. d. I'll only beſtow a touch or Two in a contracted manner, on the Beginning of the matter.

4 The Proſpering of the Kingdom is to be by the planting of all Vertue among the Subjects of it. Our SAVIOUR goes forth as a Conquerour, not in taking of Spoils, or making of Slaves; but in Settling of the True Faith among them, and making of them to be Meck, Modeſt, Humble, Righteous, and Charitable. For this purpoſe He did Miraculous things, Luk. IV. 36. and V. 26. And then, as Munſter adds 〈◊〉 Inſedit Apoll 〈◊〉 veluti Equo.

8 The Super-eminent Gifts of our SAVIOUR cauſe an inexpreſsible Gladneſs, among His People and Subjects. Compare the Joy expreſs'd, when Solomon was Anointed, and preferred before his Brethron, 1 Kin. I. 39, 40.

If Solomons Wedding Garments were perfumed, much more ſhall there be a ſweet Odour in the Knowledge of CHRIST, when He comes to Fſpouſe His People. See, 2 Cor. II. 14, 15, 16. But, Behold what was literally done to the Garments of our SAVIOUR! Conſider, Job. XIX. 30. Mark XVI. 1. Luk. XXIV. 1. Our SAVIOUR was made Glad, in His not ſeeing of Corruption.

9 R. Obadiah Gaon, wittily Fxpounds the Kings Daughters to be, Op niones ſapientum Nationum Exterarum. The Opinions of the Wiſer Gentiles, are but ſo many Confeſſions of the true Religion; ſo many Attendants on the Church of GOD. Lactantius affirms of theſe, That if any one would make a fair Collection of them, Is profecto non diſſentiret a nobis.

16 Arnobius here finds the Apoſtles coming in the room o the Patriarchs. By their means, the Church brings forth Children unto CHRIST, whom He makes Kings and Prieſts unto GOD, and they ſhall Reign upon the arth.

PSALM XLVI. To the Chief Muſician. For the Sons of Korah. Upon Alamoth.

1 GOD is a Refuge unto us, ‖ and fortifying ſtrength; ‖ and help in troubles which we have ‖ in great abundance found. ‖

2 Therefore we will not be afraid, ‖ altho' the Earthdo ſhake; ‖ and tho' the mountains be remov'd ‖ to the midſt of the Seas. ‖

3 Thereof the waters, let them roat; ‖ and let them be diſturb'd; ‖ and let the mountains tremble for ‖ the raging ſwell thereof. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 A River's here; the ſtreams whereof ‖ rejoyce the City of God; ‖ the Holy place where the Moſt High ‖ has Habitations choſe. ‖

5 God is within the midſt of her; ‖ ſhe ſha'n't feel any ſhake; ‖ God ſhall ſend help to her, when that ‖ the Morning does approach. ‖

6 The Nations rag'd, the Kingdoms were ‖ in great Commotions roil'd; ‖ He did give forth His thundring Voice; ‖ the Earth was all diſſolv'd. ‖

7 Th' ETERNAL God of Armies grants ‖ His preſence unto us; ‖ The God of Jacob is for us ‖ a lofty Citadel. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 O come, Confider well the Works ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ who hath made deſolations be ‖ upon the watted Earth. ‖

9 Unto the Borders of the Farth ‖ He maketh Wars to ceaſe; ‖ He breaks the bow and cutts the ſpear, ‖ Chariots He burns in fire. ‖

10 Be ſtill and know that I am GOD, ‖ among the Nations I ‖ will be exalted; and will be ‖ exalted in the Earth. ‖

11 Th' ETERNAL God of Armies grants ‖ His Preſence unto us; ‖ the God of Jacob is for us ‖ a lofty Citadel. ‖ Selah. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLVI. PSALM.

BEhold the Happineſs of reſtored Iſrael! Compare the Ninth Verſe, with Iſa. II. 4.

4 Take the Patrician Paraphraſe. Our Hearts ſhall be quiet and ſtill; like the River that runs through our City, from whence the Inhabitants draw by Trenches, delightful Streams to Water their Gardens. —The ſmall Forces that guard this place, which make no more noiſe than thoſe Waters, [Iſai. VIII. 6, 7.] ſhall by the help of God, who in a ſpecial manner dwelleth here; be too hard for the greateſt Armies; which in their Number, and their Boaſts, imitate the Waves of the raging Sea.

But after all; The intention of the Holy Spirit here will not be underſtood, if the Holy Spirit Himſelf be not underſtood. HE is the River; His Effuſions will be wonderful!

6 The horrible Tempeſt by which the Aſſyrian Camp fell under ſuch Deſolations, was a notable Fulfilment of this Paſſage.

But, if I dont miſremember, ſome of the Ancients have l d me here to conſider what I read. Matth. XXVII. 50, 51. Behold, God uttereth His Voice and the Earth melteth.

10 Old Raymund in his Pugio fidei, firds a Direction for a Sabbath here. It may be rendred Sabbatize. Yea, the Great Sabbatiſm now arrives.

PSALM XLVII. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 O All ye People, every one, ‖ Clap ye your hands for joy; ‖ with a loud voice of triumph make ‖ a joyful ſhout to God.

2 For the ETERNAL God moſt High, ‖ is greatly to be fear'd; ‖ He as a King magnificent ‖ reigns over all the Earth, ‖

3 He ſhall even with His Word ſubdue ‖ the People under us; ‖ and He ſhall bring the Nations to ‖ lye proſtrate at our feet. ‖

4 He ſhall make choice for us, what ſhall ‖ be our Inheritance; ‖ Even the Excellency of ‖ Jacob, whom He has lov'd. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 God is gone up unto His Place ‖ with a triumphant ſhout; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God is thither with ‖ the Trumpet ſounding gone. ‖

6 Sing Praiſes to the Glorious God; ‖ ſing Praiſes yet again; ‖ ſing Praiſes unto Him our King; ‖ ſing Praiſes unto Him, ‖

7 Becauſe the Glorious God is now ‖ the King in all the Earth; ‖ O ſing ye Praiſes unto Him, ‖ each underſtanding one. ‖

8 The Glorious God does as a King ‖ over the Nations Reign: ‖ The Glorious God ſits King upon ‖ His Throne of Holineſs. ‖

9 The Princes of the People do ‖ in a Convention meet; ‖ They do become the People of ‖ the God of Abraham. ‖ Becauſe that they who are Shields ‖ for to defend the Earth, ‖ belong to God, He therefore is ‖ exalted very high. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLVII. PSALM.

BEhold the Triumph of the Meſſiah when He has eſtabliſh'd His Kingdom among the Nations!

9 W y, The People of the God of Abraham? There 〈◊〉 a noble Emphaſis in it. Abrabam was to be the F •• her of many Nations. The God of Abraham is the God of the Gentiles, as well as of the Jews. The C nverted Gentiles are now to Glorify God. The Relig •• n of Abraham (not what the Sects of the Orient call ſ •• but what is really ſuch) will now be the Religion of the Nations.

PSALM XLVIII. A Song. A Pſalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 GReat art Thou, O ETERNAL God, ‖ and greatly to be prais'd ‖ in th' City of our God, in the ‖ Mount of His Holineſs. ‖

2 Mount Zion, a moſt lovely Seat, ‖ the Joy of all the Earth; ‖ On the North ſides whereof there does ‖ the Great Kings City lie. ‖

3 God in her Palaces is known ‖ for an high Citadel. ‖

4 For lo, the Kings aſſembled there; ‖ they paſſed by together. ‖

5 They ſaw; then wondred; they were ſcar'd; ‖ a terror ſeiz'd on them. ‖

6 Fear ſeiz'd upon them there; a Pain ‖ of Women in their Pangs. ‖

7 The Ships of Tarſhiſh thou doſt break ‖ with a fierce Eaſtern Wind. ‖

8 According to what we have heard ‖ ſo is what we have ſeen; ‖ In th' City of th' ETERNAL God ‖ to whom all Hoſts belong; ‖ In th' City of our God; God will ‖ ever eſtabliſh it. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 With quiet meditation we ‖ have had our tho'ts, O God, ‖ in the midſt of thy Temple, on ‖ thy kind benignity. ‖

10 According to thy Name, O God, ‖ ſo is thy Praiſe unto ‖ the Earth's laſt Borders; thy Right hand ‖ is full of Right'ouſneſs. ‖

11 Becauſe of thy right Judgments now ‖ Mount Zion ſhall rejoyce; ‖ the Daughters too of Judah ſhall ‖ triumph with glorious Joy. ‖

12 All about Zion walk ye round, ‖ and round encompaſs her; ‖ Account the number of her Towers, ‖ to ſee what ſtate they're in.

13 Apply your mind unto the Wall ‖ that has defended her; ‖ Obſerve her Palaces, that ye ‖ may tell the Age to come. ‖

14 For this God is our God; He's ſo ‖ to all Eternity; ‖ and He will be a guide for us ‖ to Death, and* over it. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XIVIII. PSALM.

WHY may not the Pſalm refer to the Hiſtory in, 2 Chron. XX. The Coming of the Kings againſt Jehoſaphat, with an intention to fall upon Jeruſalem? The more Prophetic Seers, here behold the Ruin of the Turks, when they come to aſſault the Iſraelites, after they return into their Country; And ſuppoſe it explain'd in the XXXVIII, and XXXIX of Ezekiel.

2 Pliny deſcribing ſome of the moſt eminent Cities in the World, yet prefers Jeruſalem; calling it, Longo clariſſimans Urb um Orientis.

7 Such was their Conſternation, that it ſurpriz'd them, not only as Anguiſh does a Woman in Travail; but alſo as Mariners, when a Fleet of Ships richly laden from Tarſhiſh, is broken in pieces. Whether Jehoſhaphat improved his Deliverance with due Thankfulneſs or no, yet quickly after this, he had a Fleet exactly in this Condition. [2 Chron. XX. 37.]

10 Particularly that Name, The Lord of Hoſts.

12 See, if there be ſo much as one wanting.

PSALM XLIX. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 BEſtow an hearing upon this, ‖ ye People every one; ‖ Hearken all you Inhabitants ‖ upon a tranſient World. ‖

2 Yea, bear, ye Sons of meaner Men, ‖ and Sons of higher too; ‖ Let the Rich Man attend to this, ‖ together with the Poor. ‖

3 My mouth ſhall ſpeak of things that have ‖ a wiſdom manifold; ‖ and my hearts meditation ſhall ‖ yield many prudent things. ‖

4 I will incline mine ear unto ‖ a moſt inſtructive ſpeech; ‖ I will upon the harp explain ‖ my ſpeech that ſeems obſcure. ‖

5 In days of evil why ſhould I ‖ be anxiouſly afraid; ‖ the days, when of my heels the Sin ‖ does compaſs me about. ‖

6 There are thoſe who do place their hope ‖ upon their ſtrengthning Wealth; ‖ and in the multitude of their ‖ Riches do boaſt themſelves. ‖

7 There is no Man of them that can ‖ by any means redeem ‖ his Brother, nor give unto God ‖ a price to ranſome him. ‖

8 For the Redemption of their Soul ‖ is of a weighty price; ‖ and it remains unfiniſhed ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

9 For this, that he ſhould always live ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ that he ſhould never ſee the pit ‖ wherein corruption lies. ‖

10 For he may ſee that wiſe Men dye; ‖ ſo does the fooliſh Man ‖ and bruitiſh periſh; and their Wealth ‖ they leave to other Men. ‖

11 What is within them is this Thought, ‖ Their houſes ever will ‖ endure; their Tabernacles will ‖ endure from age to age. ‖ Their own Names for that cauſe they do ‖ impoſe upon their Lands. ‖

12 But notwithſtanding all of this, ‖ look back on what is paſt. ‖ Man in bright excellency plac'd ‖ continu'd not a Night; ‖ under dominion he did fall ‖ even like the periſhing beaſts. ‖

13 Egregious folly unto them ‖ this way of theirs does prove; ‖ yet their Poſterity walk on ‖ in that which they have ſaid. ‖ Selah. ‖

14 They are like Sheep laid in the Grave; ‖ upon them Death ſhall feed; ‖ and over them the upright ones ‖ ſhall a dominion have, ‖ when the bright morning ſhall arrive; ‖ then ſhall their Rock deſcend, ‖ Death to deſtroy; He then ſhall from ‖ His Habitation come. ‖

15 But from the power of the pit ‖ God ſhall redeem my Soul; ‖ This He will do, becauſe He will ‖, receive me to Himſelf. ‖ Selah. ‖

16 When that a Man grows Wealthy, then ‖ be not concern'd at it; ‖ when that the glory of his houſe ‖ is greatly multiply'd. ‖

17 For at his Death he ſhall not take ‖ any of it with him; ‖ nor ſhall the glory which he had ‖ deſcend then after him. ‖

18 Tho' in his Life he did proclaim ‖ his Soul a bleſſed one; ‖ and other Men will praiſe thee when ‖ thou doſt befriend thy ſelf. ‖

19 O dying Man, Thou ſhalt unto ‖ the Generation go ‖ of them that were thy Anceſtors; ‖ Light they ſhall never ſee. ‖

20 Man who in honour is advanc'd, ‖ and does not underſtand, ‖ under dominion ſuch an one ‖ falls like the periſhing beaſts. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XLIX. PSALM.

BEhold the folly of them who think, that a Reſurrection from the Dead, was not promiſed or expected under the Old Teſtament The Firſt Reſurrection is here plainly pointed 〈◊〉 .

5 The Talmud, by the Iniquity of the heel, underſtands the Iniquity, which Man in this World makes light of, and even tramples under foot. Some of the Ancients carried it ſo, Homines iniqui c roumdant calcaneum meum. But conſider the Meſſiah ſpeaking here; and the Ancient prediction of His Heel bruiſed for the Iniquity of His People. Aben-Ezna takes the Iniquities of the Heels, to be the Iniquities of illgotten Riches; whereof, Peccatum ſequitur quaſi in calce, et non videtur. Arnobius has a good Admonition; Hoe ſolum tremendum eſt omnibus, ne in ſine ſuo Iniquitate ſua capiantur. Patrick's Paraphraſe is, The Iniquity of thoſe that endeavour to ſupplant me.

8 The Redemption.] The Chaldee underſtands it, for the Vengeance purſued upon the Soul; when the Ranſome is paid for it, that now ceaſeth forever.

11 Inward thot's, are thoſe that ariſe meerly from the Inward Principles, Diſpoſitions and Inclinations of Men, and that are not ſuggeſted and excited from Outward Objects.

Ditto. Compare Gen. IV. 17. The Jewiſh Rablins interpret it, with the mention of Alexandria, of Antioch, and of Tiberias.

12 Some read it, Adam continued not a Night in Excellency. What became of him? Alting obſerves, That the Word Maſhal, ſignifies not only Similitude, but alſo Dominion. And if it be not ſo taken here, the Particle, Caph, before Beaſts, will be ſuperfluous.— Whoſe Dominion? But that of Satan, the horrible Tempter.

14 The Hebrew Word Phadah, to Redeem, is of the ſame Importance with the Arabic, Feda, To devote ones ſelf to Death. A Glorious Truth! Our Lord Redeems us, by devoting Himſelf to Death for us.

PSALM L. A Pſalm of Aſaph.

1 THE God of God's, th' ETERNAL God, ‖ hath ſpoke, and call'd the Earth, ‖ ev'n from the riſing of the Sun, ‖ unto its going down. ‖

2 From Zion wholly beautiful God ſends a luſtre forth. ‖

3 Our God ſhall come and He ſhall not ‖ keep ſilence any more. ‖ Before His Face a waſting Fire ‖ ſhall dreadfully devour, ‖ and round about him it ſhall be ‖ very tempeſtuous. ‖

4 He ſhall give out His call unto ‖ the Heavens from above; ‖ and He ſhall call unto the Earth, ‖ to judge His People there.

4 Aſſemble ye His gracious ones ‖ together unto me, ‖ thoſe that have made a Covenant ‖ with me by Sacrifice. ‖

6 The Heavens alſo ſhall declare ‖ abroad His Right'ouſneſs; ‖ Becauſe the Glorious God Himſelf in Perſon ſhall be Judge. ‖ Selah. ‖

7 Hear, O my People, and I'll ſpeak, ‖ Give ear, O Iſrael; ‖ and unto thee I'll teſtify; ‖ I'm GOD, I am thy GOD.

8 Upon thy Sacrifices I give no Reproofs to thee, ‖ for thy Burnt-Off rings have been ſtill ‖ before me evermore. ‖

9 Knore that a Bullock I will not ‖ out of thy houſe accept: ‖ He-goars for Off •• ings I will not eart of thy Fold; ecei •• .

10 For every Beaſt throughout the Wood ‖ I as my own do claim; ‖ the Cattle which are on the Hills ‖ by thouſands in a drove. ‖

11 The Fowls that on the Mountains fly, ‖ I know them every one; ‖ and the wild Beaſts that range the fields ‖ I ever have at hand. ‖

12 If I were hungry I would not ‖ declare it unto thee; ‖ For that the World is mine, and ſo ‖ is all that filleth it. ‖

13 Doſt thou imagine I ſhall feed ‖ upon the fleſh of Bulls; ‖ or that I ſhall, to quench my thirſt ‖ drink up the blood of Goats. ‖

14 Confeſſing, offer unto God ‖ a Sacrifice of Praiſe; ‖ and pay unto the moſt High One ‖ the Vows which thou haſt made. ‖

15 And call upon me in the day ‖ when trouble comes on thee; ‖ I will deliver thee and thou ‖ ſhalt glorify me then. ‖

16 But to the Wicked God hath ſaid, ‖ What claim'ſt thou to declare ‖ my Statutes, or my Covenant ‖ tak'ſt thou into thy mouth? ‖

17 For as for thee, thou doſt but hate ‖ to be inſtructed well; ‖ and thou doſt caſt with all contempt ‖ my words behind thy back. ‖

18 When thou haſt ſeen a Thief thou haſt ‖ gladly concurr'd with him; ‖ and with Adulterers thou haſt ‖ choſen to have thy part. ‖

19 Thou to thy mouth haſt given a looſe ‖ for evil purpoſes; ‖ and thy Tongue artfully contrives ‖ to carry on deceit.

20 Thou on thy ſeat doſt ſpeak againſt ‖ thy Brother wrongfully 〈◊〉 thou doſt give out a ſtand rous lye •• againſt thy Mothers Son. ‖

21 Theſe things thou didſt, & I was dumb; thou thought ſt me like thy ſelf; ‖ I will reprove thee, and will rank ‖ theſe thing, before thine Eyes. ‖

22 Conſider now this, you that are, forgetful of a God; ‖ Leſt I tear you to pe ces and there's none to reſcue you. ‖

23 He glorify's me, who does bring an Offering of Praiſe: ‖ And unto him who takes the way ‖ I'll God's Salvation ſhew. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the L. PSALM.

BEhold, the Return of the Jews, with a Correction of their miſtake, in placing Religion only in Sacrifices. Behold, then a Condemnation paſs'd on the followers of Antichriſt.

1 The Name of GOD occurring three times may ſeem a ſweet Indigitation of the Trinity. In the Midraſh Tillin there is what looks very like a Confeſſion of it:

2 According to the Chaldee 'tis not Zion, but GOD the Meſſiah, who is here call'd The perfection of Beauty.

13 Juſtin Martyr and Origen, and many mo e, aſſure us, The Heathens were of Opinion, that their Gods were nouriſhed, and therefore alſo delighted, with the ſumes and ſteams of the Sacrifices offered unto them.

23 May not here be ſome Eye to the Meſſiah? Praiſe is a Name of the Meſſiah, He is the Praiſe of Iſrael. God inhabits Him. He is the great One of Judah, who is to be Praiſed. The Original here is. He that Sacrificeth Praiſe. Our Meſſiah Glorified God infinitely, when He preſented himſelf a Sacrifice unto God. We never glorify GOD ſo much as when we fly to and lean on that Sacrifice.

I find one who ſo reads it, One Sacrificing Praiſe ſhall glorify me.

PSALM LI. To the Chief Muſician; a Pſalm of David, when Nathan the Prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathſheba.

HAve Mercy upon me, O God, ‖ [even] according to thy Grace: ‖ As thy Compaſſions are moſt large, ‖ [do thou] blot out my Treſpaſſes. ‖

2 O multiply my Waſhing from ‖ [all of] my Vile Iniquity; ‖ And O make me entirely clean ‖ from [all of] my defiling Sin. ‖

3 Since I do of my Treſpaſs make ‖ a Free [and full] ackowledgment; ‖ and I continually have ‖ my [horrid] Sin before my Eyes. ‖

4 To thee, To thee alone I've finn'd, ‖ and done ill in thy View [alone;] ‖ That when thou ſpeakſt thou mayſt be juſt, ‖ and [may'ſt be] pure when thou doſt judge. ‖

5 Behold, 'twas in Iniquity ‖ that I [at firſt] receiv'd my Shape; ‖ and 'twas in Sin my Mother did ‖ [at firſt] conceive me as her Child. ‖

6 Behold, Thou doſt deſire the Truth ‖ [to be] in the moſt inward parts; ‖ and thou wilt make me underſtand ‖ Wiſdom in what's conceal'd [within.]

7 O purge me with the Sprinkler well, ‖ and ſo I ſhall be [throughly] clean; ‖ O Waſh thou me, and then ſhall I ‖ be whiter than the [whiteſt] Snow. ‖

8 Make me to hear that which will be ‖ Gladneſs and [Glorious] Joy to me: ‖ The Bones which thou haſt broken quite, ‖ O let them yet [again] rejoice. ‖

9 From the beholding of my Sins ‖ [kindly] hide thou away thy face; ‖ and all of my Iniquities ‖ [wholly] do thou obliterate. ‖

10 O God, Create in me an heart ‖ that ſhall be [judged] throughly clean; ‖ and in the midſt of me do thou ‖ renew a Spirit right [and firm.]

11 From ſtanding ſtill before thy face ‖ O caſt me not [in Wrath] away: ‖ Thine holy Spirit now from me ‖ away [therefore] O take thou not. ‖

12 Reſtore thou unto me the Joy ‖ of thy [deſir'd] Salvation now; ‖ and let a Spirit free * and high ‖ gloriouſly [lead and] ſtrengthen me. ‖

13 Unto Tranſgreſſors I will give ‖ Inſtructions in thy [Righteous] Wayes; ‖ and they who have been ſinners ſhall ‖ be [real] Converts unto thee. ‖

14 O God, O my Salvations God; ‖ Deliver me from [crying] Bloods: ‖ My Tongue then of thy Righteouſneſs ‖ ſhall openly proclaim [and ſing.]

15 Lord, who art my Support, Do thou ‖ Open theſe [cloſed] Lips of mine: ‖ and then my mouth with freedom ſhall ‖ declare thy [glorious] praiſe abroad. ‖

16 For thou deſir'ſt not Sacrifice, ‖ elſe had I [freely] given it; ‖ Thou doſt not take delight at all ‖ in a [common] Burnt-Offering. ‖

17 The Sacrifices own'd by God ‖ are in a broken Spirit [found; ‖] An heart that's broken and contrite, ‖ O [Gracious] God, Thoul't not deſpiſe. ‖

18 In thy good pleaſure, O do thou ‖ do good to [threatned] Zion too; ‖ and O do thou build up the Walls ‖ of both [thy own] Jeruſalems. ‖

19 Then thou with pleaſure wilt receive ‖ the [grateful] ſacrifices which ‖ are to be reckon'd requiſite ‖ unto true [and full] Rightconſdeſs. ‖ Burnt-offerings thou wilt then receive, ‖ and [even] whole Burnt-offrings too; ‖ Then they ſhall offer Bullocks on ‖ the [Sacred] Altar claim'd by thee. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LI. PSALM.

BEhold the Jews conſeſſing their Murder of the Meſſiah: [Compare Iſa. 1 15 16.] And entreating for a return of the Gifts, whereof they have been long depriv'd; and engaging to publiſh the Mercy of God among the Nations.

The Eighteenth Verſe points to a time wherein Jeruſalem lies deſolate.

3 What if, Sin, ſhould here mean alſo Sin offering?

4 To thee alone] It means, as Munſter gloſſes, In occulto foci. None but God ſaw the Sin. David might now call to mind the Words of the Proplet. 2 Sam. 11 17. Thou didſt it ſecretly.

Be juſt.] Munſter would have theſe clauſes refer, not unto the next foregoing, but unto that, cleanſe me from my Sin. The plea, is, That ſo there may be found a Truth in the promiſes of Mercy and Pardon to the repenting ſinner.

6 Sin aggravated from a Principle of better motions in us.

But can we ſee nothing of the Meſſiah here— That He ſhould be thus in David's Loins after he had been thus polluted!

7 Impure as a Leper!—Far more unclean by touching Bathſhebah, than one could be in touching a Dead Body.

I chuſe to ſay, The Sprinkler; Becauſe I ſuſpect Hyſſop was not the plant uſed on the Occaſion referr'd to, but Roſemary.

11 Has not the Pſalmiſt the Condition of his Predeceſſor, Saul, in his Fye?

16 For ſome Atrocious Crimes [like Davids] there was no Sacrifice directed or allowed in the Law of Moſes. But now ſee Acts XIII. 39. All that believe are juſtified from all things.

17 The Sacrifices were firſt out in pieces (not mangled but Jointed.) That was their Breaking. They were then burnt to Aſhes. That was their Contrition.

Repentance has in it ſomething Analogous.

But let us away, to our glorious Meſſiah as often as we can! The ſpecial Character which the Oracles of God put on the Meſſiah coming to be a Sacrifice for ſin, is that of The Bruiſed One. Yea, the very firſt time that ever the Meſſiah was mention'd in the World, His being Bruiſed was the main thing ſpoken of. Beſure the Meſſiah was one of a Broken Spirit, a Broken and a Contrite Heart. Never ſuch heart breaking things undergone by any one! At laſt his very Spirit was broken from his Body; the Vital Union was broken. Behold the Sacrifice which the Pſalmiſt has his Eye and his Hope upon.

18 Both Jeruſalems] The Name Jeruſalem, is of the Dual Number; not without a Myſtery!

The Pſalm expires not, before it is evident, that the Spirit of Prophecy, which he had pray'd for, was returned unto him. It ends with a Prophecy.

PSALM LII. To the cheif Muſician. Maſchil. Of David. When Do g the Edomite came and told Soul, and ſaid unto him, David is come to the Houſe of Ahimelech.

1 IN Miſchief, O thou mighty Man, ‖ why doſt thou boaſt thy ſelf? ‖ The Mercy of a Mighty God ‖ endures continually. ‖

2 Thy Tongue deviſeth things of a ‖ Pernicious Tendency; ‖ It is like a Sharp Razour; it ‖ ſtill works deceitfully. ‖

3 Thou loveſt evil more than good; ‖ more to ſpeak falſe than right. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 Thou loveſt all devouring Words, ‖ O thou deceitful Tongue. ‖

5 And God upon thee ſhall inflict ‖ endleſs Deſtruction too; ‖ He ſhall take thee away, and pull ‖ thee from thy dwelling-place. ‖ Yea, He ſhall extirpate thee from ‖ the Land of Living Ones. ‖ Selah. ‖

6 The Juſt ſhall alſo ſee and fear, ‖ and they ſhall laught at him. ‖

7 Behold the Man who made not God ‖ his ſtrength, but truſted in ‖ his mighty Riches, and grew ſtrong ‖ in's Wealthy wickedneſs. ‖

8 But I am in the Houſe of God ‖ like a green Olive Tree; ‖ I have had in the Grace of God ‖ my everlaſting Hope. ‖

9 Forever I'll praiſe thee, becauſe ‖ this is what thou haſt done; ‖ And I'll wait on thy Name, becauſe ‖ tis good before the Saints. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LII. PSALM.

CAn't we ſee here a Cenſure on the manners of Antichriſt, and his Party; and a Praediction of his Deſtruction; and the Joy of the faithful upon it?

But Arnobius teaches us, to apply the Pſalm •• ainſt the Dovil. Ipſi Diabolo tot ver a h jus Pſal •• ſ ous in Otatiou cant abis.

1 It ſeems the ſorry wretch brag'd of what he had done. Theſe Words may be an Irony; q. d. A goodly feat indeed for a Man to boaſt of ‖

2 A Reviling Tongue, is like a Razour for this; 'twill cut every little hair, The ſmalleft pretence of Offences cannot eſcape it. But a Razour don't wound the Perſon. Hence 'tis compared [Pſalm LVII. 4.] to a Sword. It cuts deep into the Credits of Men, and into their Spirits alſo. But a Sword will do miſcheif only near at hand. Hence tis compered [Pſalm LXIV 3.] to an Arrow. It hits at a Diſtance; does miſcheif a great way off.

5 From the threatning to pull him from his dwelling place, the Jews have a Tradition of Doegs being ſmitten with a Leproſy. Tis the Phraſe uſed in that Caſe. Lev. XIV.

Doeg is paid in the ſame Coin, that the Prieſts of the Lord had received from him.

8 R. Obadiah Gaon has this fine gloſs upon it, In oleum Splendoris, ad illuminandos alios in lege.

The ancient People of God, had their proſeucha's, or praying places. [Luk. VI. 12.] Courts open above like the Forums of the Romans. And they uſually had Groves about them, Yea, Trees within them. Dr. Prideaux thinks the paſſage of an Olive Tree in the Houſe of God, may allude unto what was in theſe Proſeucha's.

PSALM LIII. To the Chief Muſician; upon Mahalath, Maſchil, of David.

1 THe Fool hath ſaid within his heart, ‖ That there is not a God. ‖ Thus they corrupt; they do the thing ‖ that is abominable. ‖ There is not one among them all ‖ who does the thing that's Good. ‖

2 From heaven God who is the Judge ‖ looks on the Sons of Men; ‖ He looks to ſee if that there be ‖ one who does mind at all ‖ to underſtand, or, One who is ‖ a ſeeker after God. ‖

3 They're every one declin'd; they are ‖ together putrify'd; ‖ there is not one doer of good, ‖ no, not ſo much as one. ‖

4 They that work evil, know they not? ‖ They eat my People up ‖ as they eat Bread; they do not call ‖ on God who is the Judge. ‖

5 There they ſhall be in greivous fear, ‖ tho' there's no cauſe to fear: ‖ For God ſcatters the Bones of him ‖ that laies a Seige to thee. ‖ Thou ſhalt effectually put ‖ them to contemptuous ſhame; ‖ becauſe that God hath with contempt ‖ utterly caſt them off. ‖

6 From Zion who gives Iſraels health? ‖ When the ETERNAL turns ‖ his Captive People, Jacob will ‖ Joy, Iſrael will be glad. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LIII. PSALM.

IT is gueſſed by Patrick, that the Rebellion of Abſalom, cauſed the complaint in the 14. Pſalm. And the New Revolt of the Iſraelites under Sheba, cauſed this New Edition of it. After Sheba was beheaded, it is likely, his Body was expoſed, and his Bones were ſcattered, and all his adherents became contemptible.

But what ſhall we do with the Word Captivity, in the laſt verſe of the Pſalm? Was the Pſalm review'd by Aſaph the Seer in the Days of Hezokiah, when many of the People were carried into Captivity?

A Prophecy of Antichriſt here, clears all.

PSALM LIV. To the chief Muſician; on Neginoth; Maſichil. Of David. When the Ziphims came, and ſaid to Saul, Doth not David hide himſelf with us?

1 BY thy Name ſave thou me, O God ‖ and judge me by thy ſtrength. ‖

2 Hear thou my Prayer, O God; Give ear ‖ to the Words of my Mouth. ‖

3 For Strangers have againſt me riſ'n, ‖ and formidable ones ‖ purſued my ſoul, they have not ſet ‖ God in their view at all. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 Behold, the God who's Judge is He ‖ who does afford me help; ‖ tis the Supporting Lord's with thoſe ‖ who do uphold my Soul. ‖

5 He ſhall retaliate evil to ‖ my Prying Enemies; ‖ Exterminate them utterly ‖ as thy Truth calls for it. ‖

6 With Freedom I will Sacrifice ‖ to thee, ETERNAL God; ‖ with Praiſes I'll adore thy Name, ‖ becauſe that it is good. ‖

7 For out of all adverſity ‖ He has deliver'd me; ‖ mine Eye hath alſo ſeen what comes ‖ upon mine Enemies. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LIV. PSALM.

BEhold, a Prayer of the Faithful, under the Perſecution of Anti-chriſt!

David was brought into ſuch a ſtreight that if Saul had not been ſtrangely diverted, he could not have eſcaped. In this diſtreſs he made the Prayer in the firſt three verſes of the Pſalm. Surprized at the Tidings of the Diverſion given to Saul, he breaks out into an Admiration of the Divine Goodneſs unto him. When the Danger was quite over, he adds the two laſt Verſes, from his mountain beholding the retreat of Saul, and of his Forces.

PSALM LV. To the Chief Muſician. On Neginoth. Maſchil; of David.

1 GIve thou a gracious Ear, O God, ‖ unto my righteous prayer; ‖ and from my Supplication now ‖ O do not hide thy ſelf. ‖

2 O give attention unto me, ‖ and hear me graciouſly; ‖ I in my ſad complaint do mourn, ‖ and make a Troublous noiſe. ‖

3 From the Foes voice, from the face of ‖ Grief by the wicked one; ‖ For falſhood they do caſt on me, ‖ and hate me furiouſly. ‖

4 Within the midſt of me my heart ‖ trembles in travailing pain; ‖ and there are fallen upon me, ‖ the terribles of Death. ‖

5 Terror with Trepidation hath ‖ now much ſurpriſed me, ‖ and horrid Conſternation hath ‖ quite overwhelmed me, ‖

6 Then ſaid I, O! who is't will give ‖ Wings of a Dove to me? ‖ with them I'd ſwiftly fly away, ‖ where I might find a Reſt. ‖

7 Behold, I would then make my flight ‖ to a vaſt Diſtance off; ‖ my Lodging I would make in a ‖ far distant Wilderneſs. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 I would make all the haſte I could ‖ in making my eſcape, ‖ from the impetuous Wind which does ‖ riſe with a mighty ſtorm. ‖

9 Lord, Send Deſtruction upon them; ‖ and Oh, divide their Tongues: ‖ for in the City I have ſeen ‖ fierce Violence and Strife. ‖

10 Both Day and Night they compaſs it, ‖ upon the Walls thereof; ‖ and troubleſome Iniquity ‖ is in the midſt thereof. ‖

11 Grievous Corruptions full of fraud ‖ are in the midſt thereof, ‖ and from the Streets thereof Deceit ‖ and guile do not Depart. ‖

12 For it was not an Enemy ‖ that has reproached me; ‖ For if it had been ſuch an One, ‖ I could have ſuffer'd it. ‖ Nor was it one who hated me ‖ that has inſulted me; ‖ had it been ſuch an One, I might ‖ have hid my ſelf from him. ‖

13 But it was thou, O man, whom I ‖ Eſteemed like my ſelf; ‖ 'twas my Informer, and one who ‖ was my familiar Friend. ‖

14 We ſweetly did Communicate ‖ ſecrets to one another; ‖ We walk'd into the Houſe of God ‖ in Company together. ‖

15 Let Death arreſt them, let them go ‖ down to the Pitt alive; ‖ for miſchiefs are where they do meet, ‖ even in the midſt of them. ‖

16 But as for me, This I will do, ‖ I upon God will call; ‖ and the ETERNAL God will give ‖ Deliverance to me. ‖

17 Evening and Morning, and at Noon, ‖ I meditate for Prayer; ‖ ſo I will make a fervent Cry, ‖ and he will hear my Voice. ‖

18 He hath delivered my Soul ‖ in peace from thoſe who made ‖ againſt me an hoſtile approach; ‖ for many were with me. ‖

19 God ſhall hear, and ſhall vex them; He, ‖ ev'n who ſits Judge of Old. ‖ Selah. ‖ There are no changes found with them; ‖ and ſo they fear not God. ‖

20 He ſhall put forth his hand againſt ‖ the Men at Peace with him; ‖ his Covenant therein he hath ‖ profan'd by breaking it. ‖

21 Smooth were his Mouth's fine butter'd Words; ‖ but war was in his heart; ‖ much foſter were his words than oil; ‖ and yet drawn Swords they were. ‖

22 Caſt thy Load on th' ETERNAL God, ‖ and he ſhall ſtrengthen thee; ‖ The Righteous one He will not leave ‖ ever to be diſturbed. ‖

23 But thou, O God the Judge, wilt cauſe ‖ them to go down into ‖ the dark pit of the grave in which ‖ there is corruption found; ‖ Theſe bloody and deceitful men ‖ ſha'n't live out half their days; ‖ But as for me, This I will do, ‖ I'll put my truſt in thee. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LV. PSALM.

HEar the Groans of the Church, under the Cruel ties of Antichriſt and his party.

In the fifteenth Verſe, is a Prophecy fulfill'd in Rev. XIX, and XX.

3 q. d. They ſay I am unjuſt, Compare 2 Sam. 15 34.

12 Inſtructed from old Arnobius, a Child of God may thus apply theſe Paſſages. Lord, If Satan my Enemy ſhould by himſelf ſpeak unto me, I ſhould be arm'd and hid againſt one, who I know hath ſuch a hatred for me. But he employs my Fleſh, my Familiar, my Acquaintance, the very Body which has eaten with me, at thy holy Table. The Devils do that way fall upon me. Oh! Therefore let death fall upon them. Nay, becauſe they are by nature Immortal, do thou ſend them down Quick into Hell. For there is nothing but Wickedneſs, where ever they dwell, and in the midſt of all their Suggeſtions.

It is a Nice thought of Gregory in his Paſtorali Cura. The Living are they that know what they do, and have ſome ſenſe of it: The Dead are ſenſible of nothing. They that ſin againſt their knowledge, are ſuch as may be ſaid, to go down alive into Hell. Other ſinners go Dead thither.

〈1 line〉 . cout nue what they were, without the f ••• of G •• Theod ••• ſo. Becauſe they ſear not God, 〈…〉 changes, Their m •• eri •• continue on them: The adverſity is no changed into proſperity.

23 Tis a Predictior of the ate of Young Abſ lom, am his Accomplices. Perhaps the Pſalmiſt 〈◊〉 a ye on 〈◊〉 fifth Commandment.

PSALM LVI To the Chief Muſician; upon Jonath Plomrec •••••• Mic an of David. When the Philiſtin •• ook 〈◊〉 in Gat .

1 PIty thou me, O God, for man ‖ H •• ſeeks for to devour; ‖ continually oppoſing me ‖ he ſtill oppreſſes me. ‖

2 My Enemies are all the Day ‖ me ſee ing to devour: many are they who do co vene ‖ againſt me from on high.

3 At whatſoever time I am ‖ afiald, Pl truſt in thee ‖

4 What I will praiſe in God, it is ‖ H Word, I'll truſt in God, ‖ I will not be ‖ fraid of what ‖ frail Fleſh can do to me.

5 My Words they daily wreſt; th •• Thoughts ‖ againſt me tend to ill. ‖

6 Together they convene themſelves, they do conceal themſelves; ‖ my ſteps t ••• curiouſly obſerve ‖ when they walt for 〈◊〉 Soul. ‖

7 Becauſe of their Imquity ‖ ſhall th •• make an Eſcap ? ‖ O God, do thou the 〈◊〉 pie caſt 〈◊〉 in indignation do ••

8 Of all my wandring to and fro, ‖ thou keepeſt an Account; ‖ Into thy Bottle put my Tear; ‖ Is it not in thy Book? ‖

9 In the Day when I make my Cry ‖ then ſhall my enemies ‖ be turned back; this I do know, ‖ becauſe God is for me. ‖

10 In God I'll praiſe the Word, in the ‖ ETERNAL praiſe the Word. ‖

11 I hope in God; I will not fear ‖ what man may do to me. ‖

12 O God upon me are thy Vows; ‖ to thee I'll praiſe pay. ‖

13 Becauſe thou haſt delivered ‖ my Soul from threatned Death; ‖ O wilt thou not deliver now ‖ my feet from falling too ‖? That I may walk before God in ‖ the Light of living ones. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LVI. PSALM.

BEhold ſtill the Diſpoſitions and Supplications of the Church under the Tyranny of Antichriſt.

One thinks, That the Pſalmiſts not making any Remonſtrances to Achiſh for the Ill Uſages he had met withal, might be the Reaſon why he is here compared unto Jonath Elem, or the Silent Dove.

1 Saul, forgetting his own Mortality, was inſatiably ſet for the Deſtruction of our Pſalmiſt.

8 Many Elegancies are in this Verſe, beſides the Hebrew Paranomaſies, which cannot be Engliſhed.

But among the reft, Obſerve the Hebrew has, Tear, in the Singular Number. A ſweet Intimation, that the Faithful have not ſo much as one ſingle T ar. that ſhall be loſt. Of Old, they had Viols, which they called Lacrymatorics, wherein they preſ •• ved the Tears dropt at Funerals.

10 For his Word:—(Munſter gleſſes well) with which he comforted me, and cauſed me to hope in Him.

PSALM LVII. To the Chief Muſician. Altaſchith. Mictam of David, when be fled from Saul in the Cave.

1 BE merciful to me, O God; ‖ Be merciful to me: ‖ Becauſe my Soul in Thee alone ‖ does place its confidence. ‖ Yea, I will make my refuge in ‖ the ſhadow of thy wings ‖ until that the calamities ‖ ſhall be well overpaſt. ‖

2 Unto the moſt high God I will ‖ cry with a fervent voice; ‖ to God who does perform for me ‖ what He has promiſed.

3 From Heav'n he ſends and reſcues me; ‖ my enemy blaſphemes. ‖ Selah. ‖ God will ſend forth His mercy, and ‖ He will ſend forth His Truth. ‖

4 My Soul's with Lions; I do lye ‖ among a fiery crew; ‖ Mens ſons whoſe teeth are ſpears & darts, ‖ & a ſharp ſword their tongue. ‖

5 Above the Heavens, O God the Judge, ‖ Be thou lift up on high; ‖ and over all the Farth let be ‖ thy Glory ſpread abroad. ‖

6 They for my ſteps prepar'd a net; ‖ he bowed down my Soul; ‖ before me they have dug a pit, ‖ wherein they're fall'n themſelves, ‖ Selah.

7 My heart is well prepar'd, O God, ‖ My heart is well-prepar'd; ‖ and being ſo prepar'd, I'll ſing, ‖ and I will make a Pſalm. ‖

8 My Glory, O awake thy ſelf; ‖ awake, O Pſaltery; ‖ aw ke, O Harp too; ‖ I my ſelf ‖ will in the morning wake. ‖

9 Ill thee among the People praiſe, ‖ O Lord, my great ſupport; I will ſing unto thee among ‖ the Nations of the Earth. ‖

10 For thy great mercy does extend ‖ unto the very Heav ns; ‖ and to the tender Clouds there does ‖ extend thy faithfulneſs. ‖

11 Above the Heav ns, O God the Judge, ‖ be thou lift up on high; ‖ and over all the Earth let be ‖ thy Glory ſpread abroad. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LVII. PSALM.

A Ltaſchith was the Word of David unto them that would have kill'd Saul in the Cave. We have re the Praver of the Church under the Antichriſtian ••• ſecution; And the Ruin of Antichriſt foretold, as 〈◊〉 fore unner unto the Eſtabliſhment of our SAVIOUR's Kingdom, over all the Earth. Agreeably to this Thought the Midri is Tillin applies the Calamities here ſpoken 〈◊〉 , into the Condition, wherein the Church muſt lye, l the time of the Four Monarchies.

1 Why •• vice, Be mer iful? The Midraſh Tillin as a Glots to this Purpore? B Merciful to me in ce ing me from Sin: But if I do fall into Sin: Be Merciful to me, in giving me Repentance.

D ••• , The Sh •• ow of the Wings of GOD;—no doubt, refers to the Angelical Protection; a Safety and Comfort thro' the Miniſtry of the Good Angels. Are not theſe cali'd His Feathers? [Pſal. XCI .4, 11.] Here is doubtleſs, an Alluſion to Exod. XXV. 20. The Cherubim did ſtretch forth their Wings.

2—Or, Perfec'cs, i. e. The Work he hath begun. Compare Pſal. CXXXVIII. 8. & Phil. 1.6.

7 Once Reſ lving, is not enough to ſettle and confirm ſuch an Heart as ours. But one of the Ancients has another devout hint upon it. Our Pſalmiſt was willing to undergo a very different Condition. If GOD would have him, High or Low, Rich or Poor, a Shepherd or a Monarch; his Heart was prepared! prepared! Paratum eor meum ad proſpora, Paratum ad adverſa; Paratum ad Humilia, Paratum ad Sublimia; Paratum ad univerſa qua preciperis. Bern.

PSALM LVIII. To the Chief Muſician. Altaſchith. Mictam of David.

1 DO ye indeed ſpeak Righetouſneſs, ‖ O you confederate ones? ‖ Do ye judge none b •• righteous things, ‖ O Sons of earthly Man! ‖

2 Yea, in the heart contriving it ‖ you work iniquities; ‖ you in the Earth will ſtill weigh out ‖ the violence of your hands. ‖

3 The wicked are eſtrang'd from God, ‖ ev'n from the very womb; ‖ they go aſtray as ſoon as born, ‖ the ſpeakers of a lie ‖

4 Their poiſon's like the poiſon which ‖ a ſerpent has in it; ‖ like that of the deaf adder which ‖ does obturate her ear. ‖

5 She will not hearken to the voice ‖ of any Charming ones; ‖ No, tho' the Charmer ſhould be one ‖ never ſo skill'd in Charms. ‖

6 O God, What teeth are in their mouth, ‖ do thou quite break them out; ‖ The great teeth of the dragons break, ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God. ‖

7 Like water let them melt away, ‖ divide among themſelves; ‖ Let him direct his arrows, let ‖ them yet be as cut off. ‖

8 Even like to a diſſolving ſhall ‖ let each one paſs away, ‖ as a Females untimely birth; ‖ they have not ſeen the Sun. ‖

9 Before your Pots can feel the thorns, ‖ as raw fleſh ſnatch'd away, ‖ ſo let wrath carry him away, ‖ ev'n as a whirlwind would. ‖

10 When that the righteous one ſhall ſee ‖ this vengeance, he'll rejoyce; ‖ in the blood of the wicked one ‖ then ſhall he waſh his feet. ‖

11 Then ſhall a Man ſay, Truly, for ‖ the Juſt there's a reward; ‖ moſt certainly there is a God ‖ who judgeth in the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LVIII. PSALM.

SEE the Barbarity & Corruption of the Antichriſtian Party; and the Deſtruction that ſhall come upon them. Dr. Patrick looks on the Pſahn as a Reproot of thoſe evil Councellors, who had condemned David againſt their Conſciences, meerly to pleaſe the King, and give him a pretence to deſtroy him.

5, 6. The Incantation of Serpents, is a thing ſo famous in Antiquity, that whole Pages might be fill'd with Teſtimonies, beſides thoſe whereof Bochart has given ſo copious a Collection.

9 Some think the Boiling of Aſparagus, to be here alluded to; The Wicked ſhall be conſumed in as little a time; Citius quam Aſparagi ccquaniur. One of the lewiſh Expoſitors carries it ſo; Antequam creſeant ſpins parva ac tener a in Rhamnum. That is, Before the Children of thoſe wretches come to be of Age. The Pſalm Intituled Altaſchith, or Deſtroy not, ſome ſay was penned on the Occaſion of Davids being happily kept from the Deſtroying of Nabal. The Mans Tonguo had reviled him, and his Ear was deaf to the charms of his Meſſengers. He Trophecies, that God would ſuddenly take him away, as with a Storm, ere the Pots that were ſet on the Fire for his Feaſrs could feel any warmth from the Thorns put under them, to boil them. This Clauſe, Both living, and in his Wrath, Dr. Light foot carries thus; According as he was lively, or ovial, ſo ſhould the Wrath be proportioned unto him. Hebr. As he lively, ſo the Wrath; The Word Chai, is the very Epither, which David gave him; Say (Lechai) to him that is lively, and hath his Spirits raiſed with Proſperity. May we not find, in Mic. III. 2, 3. A Key to this Place?

PSALM LIX. To the Chief Muſician. Al-taſchith. Mictam, of David: When Saul ſent and they watched the Houſe to kill him.

1 FRom them that are my enemies, ‖ My God, Deliver me; ‖ from ſuch as riſe againſt me, grant ‖ me a defence on high. ‖

2 From them that work iniquity ‖ do thou deliver me; ‖ and from the men of bloods to me ‖ a preſervation grant. ‖

3 Becauſe, behold, they lye in wait ‖ for to ſurpriſe my Soul; ‖ The mighty ones againſt me to do ‖ a Congregation form. ‖ 'Tis not for a tranſgreſſion which ‖ by me was ever done; ‖ 'tis not for any ſin of mine, ‖ Thou know'ſt, ETERNAL God. ‖

4 They run and they prepare themſelves; ‖ without my fault at all; ‖ Do thou awake to ſuccour me, ‖ and, Oh! behold my caſe.

5 Thou therefore, O-ETERNAL God, ‖ who art the God of Hoſts, ‖ O thou the God of Iſrael, ‖ do thou appear awake; ‖ to give a viſit unto all ‖ the Nations of the World; ‖ But be not merciful to them ‖ who wickedly tranſgreſs. ‖ Selah. ‖

6 At Evening they return; they make ‖ a noiſe like to a dog; ‖ and about all the City they ‖ do take their compaſs round. ‖

7 Behold, they do out of their mouth ‖ belch forth moſt grievous things; ‖ ſharp ſwords are in their lips; for who ‖ (ſay they) is there to hear? ‖

8 But, O ETERNAL God, Thou ſhalt ‖ but meerly laugh at them; ‖ all of the Nations thou ſhalt in ‖ a meer deriſion have. ‖

9 His ſtrength is that for which I will ‖ keep waiting upon thee, ‖ becauſe that God is evermore ‖ my high-place of defence. ‖

10 The God of all my mercy ſhall ‖ prevent me ſtill with it; ‖ God ſhall make me to ſee what does ‖ befall my enemies. ‖

11 Slay them not, leſt my People do ‖ for get; but by thy power ‖ O ſcarter them, and bring them down, ‖ O Lord, who art out Shield. ‖

12 For their mouth's ſin, for their lips word, ‖ and for their pride let them ‖ be taken, and for curſing, and ‖ for lying which they ſpeak. ‖

13 Waſte them in wrath, waſte them, that they ‖ may'nt be, and let them know, ‖ that God doth rule in Jacob, to ‖ the ends of all the Earth. ‖

14 At Evening ſo let them return; ‖ let them bark like a Dog; ‖ and if they are not ſatisfy'd, ‖ then let them murmur on. ‖

16 But as for me, I'll make my Song ‖ of thy victorious power; ‖ and of thy mercy I will in ‖ the morning ſing aloud. ‖ Becauſe that thou haſt been for me ‖ my high-place of defence; ‖ and refuge in the day when there ‖ was trouble upon me. ‖

17 O Thou that art my ſtrength, I will ‖ utter my Songs to thee; ‖ Becauſe God is my high defence; ‖ God of my mercy ſtill.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LIX. PSALM

WE have here a Prayer againſt the Enemies of the Church. The Term of, The God of Iſrael, invites us to think of the Jewiſh Nation groaning under the Oppreſſions of Antichriſtian the City in the Sixth Verſe 〈◊〉 not Kome to be underſtood? Compare, Numb. XXIV. 19. Good Old Arnobius has directed the Application of the Pſalm to the Morals of Chriſtianity. When the Houſe of thy Body is beſeiged and beſet by the Prince of this World, with Temptations, that thou mayſt be taken and ſtain by the Sword of any Sin, 'tis now a time from the bottom of thy Soul to make theſe outories.

5 In R. David Kimchi, there is an admirable intimation, That the Pſalmiſt here beholding the wickedneſs of Men, deſpairs of ſeeing a Good World, until the Day of Judgment. The Day of Judgment, or the time of the Meſſiah's Kingdom, is here Prayed for. At the Time when God ſhall thus viſit all the Nations, He will eminently exhibit Himſelf as the God of Iſrael.

6 Compare, 1 Sam. XIX. 10, 11. Take for once a Myſtical Interpretation, and from the Hint learn to make more ſuch on proper Occaſions. Men are guilty of great Crimes, in their Younger Years. They reform thoſe Crimes and live many Years unblemiſh'd. But if the work of Repentance in them, have not been a ſincere and thorough work, they Return in the Evening to their old Crimes. God leaves them to ſome ſtrange Infatuation; and in their Old Age, or in the Evening of their Lives, they fall into their Old Crimes again, with ſuch Circumſtances as exceedingly expoſe them.

11 Auſtin has a Notable ſtroke upon it, Orat ut gens Judaeorum maneret.—It is not ſo much a David, as a Perſecuted JESUS, whoſe Condition is expreſſed throughout the Pſalm. The Jewiſh Nation deſerved utter deſtruction and extinction for the wrongs which they did unto the Perſecuted JESUS. But he Prays, That the Nation may not be utterly Extinct, for their wickedneſs; but wander about in a diſtreſs'd and abject ſtate, not altogether forgotten in the World. The Syriac Title of the Pſalm is, A Prophecy of the Converſion of the Gentiles, and the Rejection of the Jews.

13 A fine thought Arnobius has upon it; Ibi dominatur Dominus, ubi Fines faciunt Terrer & Voluptates.

14 The Return in the Evening, is by R. Obadiah Gaon, applied unto the Prophecy of Gog and Magog.

PSALM LX. To the Chief Muſician. Upon Shuſhan Eduth. Mictam. Of David; To teach. When he ſtrove with Aramnaharaim and with Aram-Zobah; When Joab returned and ſmote of Edom in the Valley of Salt, Twelve Thouſand.

1 O God, Thou haſt rejected us; ‖ Thou haſt diſperſed us; ‖ Thou haſt been angry; O do thou ‖ return to us again. ‖

2 To tremble thou haſt made the Earth; ‖ Thou haſt divided it; ‖ The breaches of it, O do thou ‖ heal them, becauſe it ſhakes. ‖

3 Thy People thou didſt cauſe to ſee ‖ a very grievous thing; ‖ Thou haſt made us to drink the Wine, ‖ which doth aſtoniſh us. ‖

4 A Banner thou haſt given now ‖ to them that have thy fear, ‖ that it may be diſplay'd on high ‖ in the good cauſe of truth. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 That thy beloved ones may have ‖ an hep'd deliverance; ‖ do thou now ſave by thy right hand; ‖ and do thou anſwer me. ‖

6 God hath ſpoke in His holineſs; ‖ I will triumph with joy; ‖ Shechem I will divide and will ‖ meaſure out Succoth's Vale. ‖

7 Gilead is what I claim for mine; ‖ Menaſſeh too is mine. ‖ Ephraim is of my ſtrength the head; ‖ Judah's my Lawgiver. ‖

8 Moab's a Pot wherein I'll waſh: ‖ On Edom I will caſt ‖ my ſhoe; Philiſtia, If thou canſt, ‖ triumph thou over me. ‖

9 Who will conduct me unto the ‖ well-fortifyed Town? ‖ Into the heart of Edom, who ‖ is it will lead me on? ‖

10 Is it not thou, O God, who us ‖ didſt caſt off heretofore? ‖ Ev'n Thou, O God, who didſt not go ‖ out with our Armed hoſts? ‖

11 O give us ſuccour from diſtreſs; ‖ for vain's the help of Man. ‖

12 Thro' God we ſhall do valiantly: ‖ and He'll tread down our foes. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LX. PSALM.

REad 2 Sam. VIII. And you underſtand the Pſalm. The Sufferings of the Jewiſh Nation in their preſent Exile, are alſo to be conſidered. R. Solomon has a notable Gloſs on the firſt Verſe; He foreſaw in the Spirit, Quod Romani erant dominaturi.

2 There had been dreadful Diviſions and Commotions among the People, [See, 2 Sam. II. 9, 10, 17. and III. 1.

3 A Fulfilment of Deut. XXVIII. 28, 34. They were like unto Men bereft of the uſe of Reaſon, by ſome intoxicating Potion; who thereupon madly deſtroy one another.

4 David became their King; to whom they were all to repair, like Souldiers to their diſplayed Enſign, Becauſe of Truth.] Munſters Gloſs is; Ut promiſſionibus tuis ſatisfaceres. But this is not all.

6 Take a Paraphraſe. God [According to His Promiſe, 2 Sam. III. 18.] hath put me in poſſeſſion of all the Country about Samaria, which I will diſtribute under ſuch Officers as I ſhall ſet over them. Gilead alſo and Menaſſeh. [who were lately under another King, 2 Sam. 2.9.] have ſubmitted themſelves unto me. And ſo has the Tribe of Ephraim; which is a main ſupport of my Authority. Theſe and all the reft of the Tribes of Iſrael, are now invited unto the Royal Tribe of Judah; which [according to Gen. XLIX. 10.] ſupplies me with Able Men, to order the Affairs of my Kingdom; which now ſhall extend itſelf beyond the Bounds of this Country. For I will tread Moab under my Feet, and reduce them to the vileſt Servitude. I will trample alſo on the Edomites, and make them my Slaves. The Philiſtines alſo whom I have begun to ſmite, ſhall add unto my triumphs.

7 My head; i. e. My chief Strength in time of Wa : Judah my Lawgiver. It refers to the Prophecy, Gen. XLIX. 10.

8. To pour Water out of a Veſſel, for the waſning of anothers hands, is the ſame as to be a Servant. [See, 2 Kin. III. 2.] Some of the Ancients applied it unto the Tribute of Lambs, which Moab was to pay unto the King of Judah. [2 Kin. III. 4.] Theſe were waſh'd and boil'd in Pots. q. d. Moab ſhall keep my Pot boiling. Caſt my ſhoe.] Does not the Spaniſh Verſion well expreſs the matter! Tomare Poſſeſſion, or, I will take Poſſeſſion of Edom. [Compare, Ruth IV. 7. and Deut. XXV. 7, 9.] Plucking off the Shoe, was a Ceremony uſed of Old, in Contracts and making over Eſtates.

11 The Trouble of the Syrians invading. See, 2 Sam. VIII. 5.

PSALM LXI. To the Chief Muſician. Upon Neginoth. A Pſalm of David,

1 O God, hear thou my mighty cry; ‖ attend unto my pray'r. ‖

2 From the end of the Earth I will ‖ ſend up my cry to thee; ‖ When that my heart is overwhelm'd, ‖ this will be ſtill my courſe; ‖ O lead thou me unto the Rock ‖ that is more high than I. ‖

3 For thou haſt been my ſheltring place, ‖ which I have hoped in; ‖ A Tower of ſtrength to hide from the ‖ face of the enemy. ‖

4 I in thy Tabernacle will ‖ for ever make abode; ‖ I'll ſeek my refuge under the ‖ ſafe covert of thy wings. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 Becauſe that thou, O God, the Judge, ‖ haſt hearkned to my Vows; ‖ Thou'ſt given me the Heritage ‖ of them that fear thy Name. ‖

6 Days thou ſhalt add unto the days ‖ of Him that is the King; ‖ His years ſhall be prolonged as ‖ an Age upon an Age. ‖

7 Before the face of God He ſhall ‖ abide for evermore; ‖ Mercy and Truth do thou prepare; ‖ theſe will continue him. ‖

8 And then for evermore I will ‖ ſing praiſe unto thy Name; ‖ that I may be performing ſtill ‖ my Vows from day to day. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXI. PSALM.

BEhold the Jewiſh Nation here deſperſed unto the Ends of the Earth: But comforted with an hope of Reſtoration; and of happineſs under the Protection of the Meſſiah, for many Generations.

PSALM LXII. To the Chief Muſician; To Jeduthun. A Pſalm of David.

1 ASſuredly my Soul doth wait ‖ in ſilence upon God; ‖ From Him it is that all of my ‖ Salvation doth proceed.

2 Surely He is my Rock, and He ‖ is my Salvation ſtill; ‖ He is my high place of defence; ‖ I ſhan't be greatly mov'd. ‖

3 Againſt a Man how long will ye ‖ plot miſchief's? you ſhall all ‖ be ſlain; like to a bowing wall ‖ you'l be, a tott'ring fence. ‖

4 They only plot to caſt him down ‖ from his high dignity; ‖: They love a lie; bleſs with their mouth; ‖ but inwardly they curſe. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 My Soul, See that in ſilence thou ‖ wait upon God alone; ‖ becauſe it is from Him that I ‖ my expectation have. ‖

6 Surely, He is my Rock, and He ‖ is my Salvation ſtill; ‖ He is my high place of defence; ‖ I ſhan't be mov'd at all. ‖

7 In God is my Salvation ſtill, ‖ and there's my Glory too; ‖ The Rock in which I'm fortify'd; ‖ my refuge is in God. ‖

8 O People, At all times repoſe ‖ your confidence in Him, ‖ Pour out you heart before His face; ‖ God is our ſafe retreat. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 Sure lower Men are vanity, ‖ and higher Men a lie: ‖ Let them aſcend the Scales, they're leſs ‖ than vanity together. ‖

10 O do not in oppreſſion truſt ‖ and robbery: Be not vain; ‖ If riches ſhould be multiply'd, ‖ ſet not your heart thereon.

11 The mighty God hath ſpoken once; ‖ Theſe two things I have heard; ‖ One is, That there's a mighty power ‖ which does belong to God. ‖

12 The other, That Mercy belongs ‖ to thee, ETERNAL God; ‖ For thou wilt render every Man ‖ according to his work. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXII. PSALM

THus the Church, under the Oppreſſion of Antichriſt, comforts herſelf, with hopes in the Prophecies of what ſhall be done unto the Wicked.

6 How Piety improves in the exerciſe of i ‖ Four Verſes ago, it was, I ſhan't be greatly mov'd. Now 'tis come to this, I ſhan't be mov'd at all.

11 The Syriac Interpreter countenances our Verſion. Once God ſpoke on Mount Sinai; And theſe Two things were heard, when the Sanctions of the Second Commandment were uttered. I have ſomewhere met with ſuch a devour Gloſs as this. When the Lord ſpoke once, this Pious Man heard him twice; Namely, by an after Meditation on what had been ſpoken.

PSALM LXIII. A Pſalm of David, when be was at the Wilderneſs of Judah.

1 O God, Thou art my God, I will ‖ ſeek after thee betimes; ‖ My Soul is in a thirſt for thee: ‖ Thee does my fleſh deſire. ‖ They do it in a Land that is ‖ a very wilderneſs: ‖ And in a place of wearineſs, ‖ which has no water in't.

2 It is that I may have a view ‖ of what thy Power is, ‖ and what thy Glory; As I have ‖ ſeen in the holy place. ‖

3 Becauſe thy loving kindneſs is ‖ better than Lives themſelves; ‖ My lips ſhall therefore be imploy'd ‖ in ſetting forth thy Praiſe. ‖

4 So in my Lives I will proclaim ‖ Thee the moſt bleſſed One: ‖ I will ſtill elevate my hands ‖ in thy m •• i bleſed Name. ‖

5 So as with marrow and with fat ‖ my Soul ſhall be fuſſic'd; ‖ And with my joyful lips my mouth ‖ ſhall celebrate thy Praiſe. ‖

6 It while I'm lying on my Beds ‖ I do remember thee, ‖ if in the watches of the Night ‖ I meditate in thee. ‖

7 Becauſe that thou haſt been to me ‖ an help once and again, ‖ and in the ſhadow of thy wings ‖ I do triumph with joy. ‖

8 Still cloſely following after thee ‖ my Soul does cleave to thee: ‖ Thy right-hand doth ſuſtain me ſothat I am kept from falls.

9 But they who ſeek my Soul to bring ‖ deſtruction upon it: ‖ Theſe ſhall go ſurely down into ‖ the low parts of the Earth. ‖

10 By the hands of the Sword they ſhall ‖ make him to flow away; ‖ they ſhall become a portion to ‖ the Jackals of the Night.

11 But the King ſhall rejoyce in God; ‖ each one that ſwears by him ‖ ſhall Glory: but the mouth be ſtopt ‖ of them that ſpeak a lie. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXIII. PSALM.

THink on the Caſe of the Church under Antichriſt. Yea, think on the caſe of the Synagogue too. Compare Verſed. with Hoſ. II. 15. and Ezek, XX. 35. Dr. Patrick thinks, the Wilderneſs here was that which David went through, when he •• ed from Abſalom. [2 Sam. XVII. 29.] Inaſmuch as he calls himſelf a King; which he would not have done, during the Reign of Saul.

1 Doth not he long for the Coming of God, in our Fleſh? It is the Son of God in His Incarnation, wherein peculiarly we enjoy the Great GOD for our God. But Methinks, I perceive the Cry of the Saints in Hades, wiſhing for the Reſurrection of the Dead. The Souls do thirſt for the Coming of the Lord; Their Fleſh does alſo long for it; in a Land which wants the dem of Heaven, whereby the Dead ſhall be Revived. Singer, 06 Having this Key in thy Hands, now go into the Pſalm with moſt attentive Meditation. Dry and thirſty Land.] Compare 2 Sam. XVII. 29.

3 It pleaſes one very much, to find the Chaldes intimating, That the Loving kindneſs here celebrated, is the Bleſſedneſs which God will vouchſafe unto the Juſt in the World to come. This is better than any Life in this World.

6 Old Arnobius has a ſingular Gloſs upon it: Oſtendit per ejus Auxilium potuiſſe ſe Caſtimoni m btinuiſſe.

10 The Jackals, are a Mungril Creature, deriving their Cruelty from the Wolves, their Sires; and their Craftineſs from the Foxes their Dams. Theſe are ſo ravenous that they will not only feed on Carrion above Ground, but alſo dig holes in the Farth, and ſetch forth the Dead Bodies of Men, if not very deeply interrel. whereas, proper Foxes, they ſay, will not fee | on my Carcaſe, but what they kill themſelves.

PSALM LXIV. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 O God, Hear Thou the Voice that's in ‖ my Praying unto Thee; ‖ O do thou keep my Life from the ‖ fear of the Enemy. ‖

2 O hide me from the ſecret plot ‖ of the malignant ones; ‖ from the contemptuous rage of them ‖ that work iniquity. ‖

3 The Men who like a cutting Sword ‖ do whet their ſpiteful tongue: ‖ they've bent to ſhoot their arrows out, ‖ a word of bitterneſs. ‖

4 This they do to ſhoot ſecretly ‖ againſt the perfect one; ‖ they ſuddenly do ſhoot at him, ‖ and they are not afraid. ‖

5 An evil matter for themſelves ‖ they give a ſtrength unto; ‖ they talk about their hiding ſnares: ‖ Who ſhall ſee them? They ſay ‖

6 They ſearch iniquities; they make ‖ an exact ſcrutiny. ‖ The inward thought of every one, ‖ and the heart is a deep. ‖

7 But God ſhall ſhoot down upon them ‖ an Arrow ſuddenly: ‖ There ſhall be ſuddenly diſpens'd ‖ ſtrokes that ſhall be their wounds. ‖

8 And ſo they ſhall make their own tongue‖ to fall upon themſelves: ‖ All they who do behold them ſhall ‖ betake themſelves to flight. ‖

9 So all Men are afraid, and ſhall ‖ declare the work of God; ‖ For they ſhall wiſely apprehend ‖ the work that he hath done. ‖

10 The juſt one ſhall be very glad ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ and all that are upright in heart ‖ ſhall gloriouſly rejoyce. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXIV. PSALM.

CAn't we ſee here the Condition of the Iſraelitiſh Nation diſperſed under the Tyranny of Antichriſt? And the great Converſion of the Nations, which will be after they are Converted and Reſtored.

PSALM LXV. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm; A Song of David.

1 O God, In Zion there does wait ‖ Praiſe ſilently for Thee; ‖ And unto Thee the Vow thereof ‖ ſhall ſurely be perform'd. ‖

2 O Thou that art the hearer of ‖ Prayer that appeals to thee, ‖ ſince thou art ſuch One, all fleſh ‖ will ſtill repair to thee. ‖

3 Works of iniquities againſt ‖ me have prevailed ſore; ‖ But as for our tranſgreſſions thou, ‖ doſt purge them quite away. ‖

4 O bleſſed is the Man of whom ‖ thou mak'ſt a gracious choice, ‖ and whom thou ſhalt make to approach ‖ near to thy Majeſty. 〈…〉 does dwell in thy courts;

We ſhall be ſatisfy'd ‖ with the Good of thy Houſe, and with ‖ thy Temple's holy place. ‖

5 By awful things in righteouſneſs ‖ an anſwer unto us ‖ thou wilt diſpenſe, the God from whom ‖ ſtill our Salvation comes. ‖ Thou'rt He that art an hope unto ‖ all the ends of the Earth; ‖ And ſo Thou art of them that are ‖ far off upon the Sea. ‖

6 The mountains he eſtabliſhes ‖ by His own mighty pow'r: ‖ He has a Girdle of a Great ‖ and wondrous fortitude. ‖

7 He does allay the raging noiſe ‖ of the diſturbed Seas; ‖ the noiſe rais'd by their waves: and the ‖ tumultuous People too. ‖

8 They who dwell in the utmoſt parts ‖ do alſo fear thy ſigns; ‖ outgoings of the Morning and ‖ the Ev'ning thou mak'ſt glad. ‖

9 The Earth with Rain thou viſiteſt, ‖ after that thou haſt made ‖ it to deſire the Rain, Thou doſt ‖ enrich it mightily. ‖ The River of God with waters is ‖ richly repleniſhed; ‖ Thou doſt prepare them Corn; 'tis ſo ‖ that thou prepareſt it. ‖

9 Water its ridges plenteouſly; ‖ On't's furrows O deſcend; ‖ With ſhowr's thou mak'ſt it ſoft; Thou doſt ‖ bleſs what does ſpring from it. ‖

10 Thou with thy Goodneſs doſt adorn ‖ the Year as with a crown; ‖ and the paths that are trod by thee, ‖ do drop a fatneſs down. ‖

11 They drop upon the Paſtures of ‖ the thirſty wilderneſs: ‖ and ſo the little Hills are girt ‖ on ev'ry ſide with joy. ‖

12 The Paſtures they are cloath'd with Flocks; ‖ the Valleys too with Corn ‖ are cover'd over: they do ſhout, ‖ and ſing they do for joy. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXV. PSALM.

BEhold the Miracles to be wrought, when Iſrael ſhall be returned from Exile. The Showers here Celebrated are thoſe of the Holy Spirit falling on the Church of GOD. Dr. Patrick thinks, the Showers that came after the Three Years Famine, which ſucceeded the Rebellion of Abſalom, are here ſpoken of.

1 The Praiſes of God are ſo inexpreſſible, that they are beſt expreſt by Silent Admiration. Yea, and God is never more effectually, never more acceptably Praiſed, then by the Silence of His People; their Silent Patience, and Forbearing of all Murmuring in their Adverſity.

2 Munſter here gloſſes well, Agit Pſalmus de Regno Chriſti.

3 When Unrighteous Men ſo prevail againſt us, as to put unrighteous things upon us, it will be a bleſſed Conſequence and Improvement of it, if we come thereby the more to reform our own Tranſgreſſions.

4 The Prieſts and Levites partaking of the Thanksgiving Sacrifices, are but the Figure of what is principally intended here.

5 Munſter carries it ſo; When the Righteouſneſs of GOD, was by our SAVIOUR brought unto the Children of Men, the Miracles which accompanied the Diſpenſation were very wonderful. But there are Marvellous things which yet remain to be done.

8 Dr. Patricks Paraphraſe is, The moſt barbarous People, who live in the moſt remote Parts of the Earth, behold with wonder the Heavenly Bodies, which God has appointed for Signs and Tokens. [Gen. I. 4.] In the Title Page of a Book about, The Goſpel of the RAINBOW, I have ſeen the Text ſo tranſlated, They who dwell in the uttermoſt Parts, have a Reverence for thy Tokens; Thou viſiteſt the Earth & watereſt it. Alſted would have the Outgoings of the Morning, refer to Man, and the Cattle, which then go out to work and feed; and the Outgoings of the Evening refer to Wild Beaſts, which then go out for their Prey.

8 Arnobius here conſiders the God of Salvation, as Exhibited at the firſt Preaching of the Goſpel. Then the Apoſtles appeared as Mountains, from whence there was Proclaimed the Goſpel to every Creature. Then they who dwelt in the uttermoſt Parts, were ſtruck with Reverence, at the Miracles wrought by our Lord. Both Morning & Evening; both Eaſtern and Weſtern World, felt the joyful effect of theſe things, in Churches gathered every where. The Lord then viſited the Earth, and Watered it with the Heavenly Influences of His Holy Spirit. From Jordan, the River of GOD, there particularly iſſued that which enrich'd it. GOD then prepar'd for His People the Food which endures to Everlaſting Life.

13 Great Fruitfulneſs will occaſion Great Joyfulneſs. One who ſhall be ſo happy as to bring forth much Fruit, for GOD and His People, and be very ſerviceable, will have cauſe to ſing for Joy.

PSALM LXVI. To the Chief Muſician. A Song; A Pſalm.

1 O All the Earth, Make you to God ‖ ſhouts of a Jubilee. ‖

2 Sing forth the Glory of His Name; ‖ put Glory on His Praiſe. ‖

3 Say unto God, Things done by Thee, ‖ How terrible they are! ‖ For thy great pow'r, thy enemies ‖ ſhall ſeem to ſtoop to thee. ‖

4 All who do dwell upon the Earth ‖ ſhall bow themſelves to thee: ‖ And they ſhall ſing to thee; they ſhall ‖ ſing to thy Glorious Name. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 O come and take a view of the ‖ works that are done by God; ‖ How terrible in what He does ‖ upon the ſons of Men! ‖

6 Into dry Land that might be trod ‖ once did He turn the Sea: ‖ Thorough the flood they paſs'd on foot; ‖ there we rejoyc'd in Him. ‖

7 He by His pow'r for ever rules; ‖ His Eyes the Nations ſee: ‖ O now let the rebellious ones ‖ no more exalt themſelves. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 A Benediction to our God, ‖ ye Peoples, offer up; ‖ and the voice of His Praiſe do you ‖ make to be heard aloud. ‖

9 'Tis He who by reſtoring it ‖ does place our Soul in Life; ‖ and He does not permit our foot ‖ to ſtumble into falls. ‖

10 Becauſe that thou, O God, haſt made ‖ a thorough proof of us; ‖ Of us thou h'ſt ſuch a Trial made ‖ as Silver ſhould be try'd. ‖

11 Thou haſt brought us into the Net ‖ that was prepar'd for us; ‖ Affliction which doth ſtraiten us ‖ thou on our Loins haſt put. ‖

12 Thou haſt made Man ride o're our head; ‖ we went through fire and water; ‖ But thou haſt brought us forth into ‖ a fructifying place. ‖

13 I will with due Burnt-Offerings now ‖ enter into thy Houſe; ‖ and I will render unto thee ‖ the Vows that I have made. ‖

14 The things which formerly my lips ‖ did openly pronounce; ‖ and what my mouth hath ſpoken when ‖ I was in my diſtreſs. ‖

15 Burnt-Offerings of well-marrow'd things ‖ I'll offer up to thee; ‖ Rams with their Incenſe: Bullocks I ‖ with Goats will offer up. ‖ Selah. ‖

16 O come, attend; All you that have in you the fear of God; ‖ and I'll give a Relation of ‖ what He does for my Soul. ‖

17 A cry importunate I did ‖ make with my mouth to Him; ‖ And for that very cauſe He was ‖ extolled with my tongue. ‖

18 If in my heart I paid regard ‖ unto iniquity, ‖ ſurely the Lord would not have heard ‖ my Supplication then. ‖

12 But verily, now God hath heard ‖ what I addreſ 'd to Him; ‖ He hath attended to the voice ‖ which my petition had. ‖

20 Bleſſed be God, who hath not tur •• d ‖ my Pray'r away from Him. ‖ Becauſe His mercy He hath not ‖ turned away from me. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXVI. PSALM.

CErtainly, we have here, the Praiſes which the Church of Iſrael will give unto God, after He has Pardoned her Sins, and Reſtored Bleſſings to her, which will cauſe all other Nations alſo to magnify Him.

12 Munſters Gloſs is: Men uſed them as if they had been Beaſts.

15 Arnobius is very nice in his Allegories here. The Offering of Rams, he finds in Zeal for defending the Truth; Of Bcoves in Preaching the Goſpel; Of Goats, —cum Imperium Libidinis ſubjugo, vel jugulo.

18 It is the Meſſiah who has the firſt and chief claim to this Paſſage. J. Capellus obſerves, The Phariſees laid an Imputation of Wicked Intentions, on the Miracles of our SAVIOUR. The Anſwer of our SAVIOUR is, GOD would never have ſo own'd Him if He had been one of ſuch wicked Intentions.

PSALM LXVII. To the Chief Muſician. On Neginoth. A Pſalm; A Song.

1 LEt God be merciful to us; ‖ and bleſs us graciouſly; ‖ among us let Him cauſe to ſhine ‖ His glorious countenance. ‖ Selah. ‖

2 That they may have the knowledge of ‖ thy way throughout the Earth: ‖ That they among all Nations may ‖ thy Great Salvation know.

3 O Glorious God, The People they ‖ ſhall celebrate thy praiſe; ‖ yea, all the People, every one, ‖ ſhall celebrate thy praiſe, ‖

4 The Nations let be glad, and ſing ‖ for joy; For thou ſhalt judge ‖ the Peoples juſtly, and ſhalt lead ‖ the Nations on the Earth, ‖ Selah. ‖

5 O Glorious God, The People, they ‖ ſhall celebrate thy Praiſe; ‖ yea, all the People every one ‖ ſhall celebrate thy Praiſe. ‖

6 The Earth ſhall yield her fruit, and us ‖ God, our own God, ſhall bleſs. ‖

7 God ſhall bleſs us, and all ends of ‖ the Earth ſhall Him revere. ‖ Selah. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXVII. PSALM.

A Prayer for the Second Coming of the Meſſiah! We read, when the Ark was brought into the Tabernacle prepared for it, 2 Sam. VI. 18. David bleſſed the People, in the Name of the Lord. It is Dr. Patricks Conjecture, That he then pronounced the Pſalm now before us; wherein he imitates the Form of Bleſſing which the Prieſts were to uſe on Solemn Occaſions, [Numb. VI. 23, 24, 25.] He Prays that God would make them the Subjects and Samples of ſuch Bleſſings, as might invite all Nations, to whom the fame thereof ſhould come, to ſubmit unto His Government.

2 Thy Way. Auſtin's Gloſs is, Thy CHRIST.

6 Theodoret thinks the Increaſe, to be the Meſſiah. But is not the Meſſiah's Reſtoring of the Earth unto a Paradiſaick State, here Inſinuated? The Jews as is evident from R. David on Hoſ. XIV. and R. Solomon on Pſalm LXXII, were of this Opinion.

7 It was long ago thought by the Learned Orientals, That the Myſtery of the Trinity was indicated in this Repetition.

PSALM LXVIII. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm. A Song of David.

1 MAY God ariſe; His Enemies, ‖ may they be ſcattered; ‖ and ſuch as are haters of Him ‖ fly from before His face. ‖

2 Drive them as ſmoke is driv'n away; ‖ as wax melts in the fire; The wicked ones ſhall be deſtroy'd ‖ before the face of God. ‖

3 But righteous ones, they ſhall be glad; ‖ they ſhall rejoyce before ‖ the face of God; yea, they ſhall leap ‖ through their exceeding joy. ‖

4 To God ſing; to His Name ſing Praiſe: ‖ He through the deſarts rides: ‖ Extol Him by the Name of JAH; ‖ and in His face rejoyce. ‖

5 A Father of the Fatherleſs; ‖ A Judge for Widows too: ‖ So God is in the dwelling place ‖ of His pure holineſs. ‖

6 God ſets the Only's in an houſe; brings out the bound in chains: ‖ But the rebellious ones dwell in ‖ a place moſt deſtitute. ‖

7 O God, When that thou didſt go forth ‖ in thy own Peoples view, ‖ when thou didſt take thy wondrous march ‖ thorough the wilderneſs. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 The Earth ſhook; yea, the Heavn's drop'd, ‖ before the face of God; ‖ ev'n Sinai at the face of God, ‖ the God of Iſrael. ‖

9 O God, Thou on thy heritage ‖ didſt pour a plenteous Rain; ‖ ev'n when that it was languiſhing, ‖ ſo thou confirmedſt it. ‖

10 Thy living Congregation hath ‖ a dwelling place in it; ‖ O God, Thou of thy Goodneſs doſt ‖ provide for him that's poor. ‖

11 The Lord from whom we have ſupport;He does give forth the word; ‖ and of the Souls that publiſh it ‖ great is the company. ‖

12 The Kings that had their Armies, fled; ‖ and yet again, they fled: ‖ and ſhe who did reſide at home, ‖ did then divide the ſpoil. ‖

13 Tho' ye have lien among the pots ‖ wings of a dove you have ‖ that is with Silver cover'd, and ‖ her feathers with bright Gold. ‖

14 When the Almighty one therein ‖ did ſcatter mighty Kings, ‖ then very White like to the Snow ‖ in Salmon it became. ‖

15 Like to the Mount of Baſhar is ‖ the Mountain of our God; ‖ A Mountain tis of Wondrous heighths; ‖ the Mount of Baſhan's ſo.

16 Why, O high Mountains, do ye leap? ‖ This Hill God does deſire, ‖ to dwell there; Yea, th' ETERNAL God ‖ will dwell forever there. ‖

17 God's Chariots Twenty Thouſand are; ‖ Repeated Thouſands, they! ‖ Among them is the Glorious Lord: ‖ Sinai's in's Holy Place. ‖

18 Thou haſt on high made thy Aſcent: ‖ and then Captivity ‖ thou haſt led Captive; and thou haſt ‖ received Gifts for Men. ‖ Yea, Gifts for ſuch Men as have been ‖ very intractable; ‖ That ſo the God whoſe Name is JAH, ‖ may have a dwelling place. ‖

19 O bleſſed is the Lord who doth ‖ lay daily Loads on us; ‖ O bleſſed be the God from whom ‖ does our Salvation come. ‖

20 This God. He is to us the God ‖ from whom Salvations come. ‖ And to the ETERNAL God, the Lord ‖ Iſſues of Death belong. ‖

21 But God ſhall wound the Head of them ‖ that are His Enemies; ‖ The hairy Scalp of him that walks ‖ on in his treſpaſſes. ‖

22 The Lord hath ſaid, From Baſhan I ‖ will make for to return; ‖ from the Depths of the Sea I'll make ‖ my People to return. ‖

23 May'ſt Thou dip deep thy foot in Blood; ‖ may'ſt thou dip deep the Tongue ‖ of thy Dogs in that of thy Foes; ‖ yea, every One of them. ‖

24 Thy Goings they have ſeen, O God; ‖ the Goings of my God; ‖ the God who is my King, and islodged in Holineſs. ‖

25 The Singers went before, then came ‖ players on Inſtruments; ‖ Theſe were among the Damſels which ‖ manag'd the Timbrels there. ‖

26 O ſpeak well of the Glorious God, ‖ in Congregations ſpeak; ‖ Even of the Lord, you that are from ‖ the Spring of Iſrael. ‖

27 The Little Benjamin does nowmake his appearance there; ‖ and an Inſpired Ruler whodoes now proceed from him. ‖ The Eminent Ones of Judah were ‖ the Stones of their Support; ‖ The Eminent Ones of Zebulon; ‖ th' Eminent of Naphthali. ‖

28 Thy God is He, who does Command ‖ confirmed Strength for thee; ‖ Strengthen, O God, the very thing ‖ which Thou haſt wrought for us. ‖

29 For the ſake of thy Temple which ‖ is at Jeruſalem, ‖ they that are crowned Kings ſhall bring ‖ their Preſents unto thee. ‖

30 Do thou beſtow Rebukes upon ‖ the Wild beaſt of the Reeds; ‖ Rebuke the Multitude of Bulls, ‖ join'd with the Peoples Calves. ‖ With Peices of Silver each oneof them ſubmits himſelf; ‖ He hath diſperſ'd the People which ‖ do take delight in War. ‖

31 Out of the Land of Aegypt then ‖ there ſhall great Princes come; ‖ ſoon Ethiopia ſhall then ‖ ſtretch out her hands to God. ‖

32 Now, O ye Kingdoms of the Earth, ‖ ſing to the Glorious God; ‖ O ſing ye Praiſes forth unto ‖ him that becomes your Lord. ‖ Selah. ‖

33 To Him that rides upon the Heav'ns ‖ of Heav'ns which were of old; ‖ Attend; He does give out His Voice; ‖ It is a mighty Voice. ‖

34 Great ſtrength aſcribe ye unto God; ‖ Now over Iſrael ‖ does his Magnificence appear; ‖ and His Strength's in the Skies. ‖

35 Thou from thy Holy Places art, ‖ O God, how terrible! ‖ He that is ſo is He that is ‖ the God of Iſrael. ‖ Tis He who to His People will ‖ give a confirmed Strength; ‖ Yea, forces moſt invincible. ‖ O bleſſed be my God! ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXVIII. PSALM.

LO, The Conreſſion of the Synagogue, That the JESUS who was lifted up to Heaven, at His firſt Coming is her SAVIOUR; even the ſame who conducted her thro' the Wilderneſs; and will at laſt reſtore her to her Land, and will deſtroy her Oppreſſors, and pour out His Holy npirit upon her. She fore-ſees the Ruin of Anti-chriſt, and her own return upon it, and the homage that all Nations ſhall then pay to the Meſſiah her King and her God.

1 Behold the Reſurrection of our JESUS from the Grave!—In the Days of Athanaſius, the Divels in the Energumens diſcovered uſually a ſtrange Horror when this Verſe was recited.

4 R. David Kimchi has a Good Gloſs. He Governs them as a Man does the Horſe he rides on.

5 Tho' the Lord be ſo much above the higheſt Heavens, yet the pooreſt and meaneſt perſons upon Earth need have no doubt of His Patronage: They may repair to His Fatherly Care and appeal to His Righteous Judgment.

9 Liberal Showers ſell on the Dry and Deſert places thro' which the choſen People of God were travelling. Add the Manna rain'd from Heaven.

But above all think on the Gifts of the Prophetic Spirit. Munſter accordingly makes the People to be meant by the Land.

11 If we conſider here, what was done for the People of God in the Firſt Ages—We know they were ſo Victorious over their Oppoſers, that they returned with Songs of Triumph, and were met with Women ready to accompany them in the Praiſes of GOD. [Exod. XV. 23,] Kings and Generals fled. [Exod. XVII. Num. XXI.] Yea, they fled and left their Spoll. [Num. XXXI. 8, 11. Judges. VIII. 21, 26. This welcome they gave to their Victorious Country Men. Tho you endured great Hardſhip in Aegypt, where you loo t more like Skullions then Souldiers, you ſhall hereafter appear moſt ſplendid, and the Wings of your Armies ſhall ſhine like thoſe of a Dove. Their Word was fulfilled at the Entrance into Canaan; when by ſcattering of Kings God appeared moſt illuſtrious at Salmon, and gave them the Poſſeſſion of the Country on that ſide of Jordan, as on the other ſide he ſubdued the King and Country of Baſhan, the Hill whereof (which had ſo many fertile Riſings) became the Hill of GOD. But the lofty Mountains muſt not grow proud of this. For not they but Zion had God choſen for His Habitation. The Heathen alſo muſt not brag of their many Chariots; for in Zion there are Ten Thouſand times more, even innumerable Hoſts of Angels attending on the Divine Majeſty, who is with them there, as He was upon Mount Sinai: So much was declared by God who highly Exalted Himſelf, in the Aſtoniſhing Victories, which thro' their Maniſtry He gave them over their Enemies; whom they carried Captive and their Spoils with them, to be Diſtributed among His People. All this is an Emblem of what is done by the Meſſiah. This is the Sum of the Patrician Paraphraſe.

13 Potts.—The IXX render it Lotts. Hemingius thinks it an Alluſion to the Decimation of Rebellious Legions, or of Captivated Enemies, for Deſtructions, 'Twas called Sortiri ad Panam, 'twas done by Lot; and is often mentioned by many of the Ancients. q. d. You have lain in as continual Danger of Death, as poor Soldiers expecting the Lot of Decimation, for their Lives. But your Saviour obtains an happy Lot for you; you fly away like Doves.

18 In the Gifts of our Aſcended Lord for His Church, He does but Spargers Miſſilia, and ſcatter Medals ••• e Princes at their Coronation, or in their Triumphal Entries. The well-qualifyed Miniſters and Publiſhers of the Goſpel, are the Medals which our Triumphing Saviour does caſt about, that His Church may ſeize upon them. Yea, But the Medals have on them the Image of the Princes who diſperſe them. O Preachers of the Goſpel, How much ought you to be affected with this Conſideration? There is nothing of ſo much Conſequence unto you, as to have the Image of your SAVIOUR very Conſpicuous on you.

20 The Original may be rendred, The Goings forth of Death: All the ſeveral Ways of Dying, which are found by the Children of Men are appointed & ordered by God. The LXX render it, The Paſſages of Death. All the ſeveral and ſecret Avenues whereby Death invades Mankind, God is the Uncontrollable Diſpoſer of them. After all, in the Goings from Death here mentioned, why ſhould not the Reſurrection from the Dead be refer'd unto?

24 There ſeems to have been a fierce Captain who had Shaggy Hair, which gave him ſomething of a terrible Aſpect, here particularly referr'd unto. Why not Hadadezer? [2 Sam. VIII. 3.] Notandum. Pharaoh ſignifies, A long haired Man.

27 Jerom and Theodoret ſhall now help us, and let Lyra give ſome very melodious Notes unto us. Let the Amiable Alting and the Admirable Witſius more diſtinctly modulate them. The Glorious Aſcenſion of our SAVIOUR unto Heaven is here deſcribed unto us. The Praiſes to be offered on that Occaſion are intimated; and thoſe Tribes of Iſrael are mentioned, from whence the Perſons were to ariſe, that were to be conſiderable in Praiſing of the Lord. The firſt mentioned is Little Benjamin. As Benjamin was the Youngeſt Son of Jacob, ſo our Apoſtle Paul of this Tribe, was the laſt that was called unto the Apoſtleſhip. [See 1 Cor. XV. 8, 9, 10.] And if Littleneſs may lead us to a Thought of Humility, it was what rendered our Paul Illuſirious. [Eph. 3.8.] The Word Rodem, which we render A Ruler, is found no where elſe. It may mean an Extatic one. [Corn pare now Acts IX. 3.12. Acts XXIII. 17.2 Cor. XII. 1.] Theodotion renders it, A Teacher. [Compare now, 1 Cor. XV. 15. 2 Cor. XI. 5, 23.] Then appear the Princes of Judab, and their Council. The Word Rigmotham, is alſo found no where elſe. 'Tis by ſome rendred, An heap of Stones. A Stone is a Phraſe for an Upholder and Preſerver. [Gen. XLIX. 14.] An heap of Stones, intends a Number of Colleques in the ſame Work. The Tribe of Judah afforded a Number of Apoſtles. Four or Five without mentioning of Judas of Kerioth. The Princes of Zebulon were Peter and Andrew and Philip and Bartholomew, (probably, the ſame with Nathanael.) the Princes of Napthali were Matthew and perhaps Th mas. A ſtin's Note is, ex his Tribubus Apoſ o ie ant. The Patrician Paraphraſe amounts to thus much. What a Solemn Entrance, God by His Ar , made into the Sanctuary! [2 Sam. VI. 13, 15, 16.] Part of the Levites went Singing before, the reſt with Muſical Infiruments followed after. [1 Chron. XV. 16, 28.] To compleat the Melody, Damſels with Timbrels came between them both. As they went they Sang, and the Song is recited here.—The Tribes were univerſally aſſembled on this occaſion. There were not only the Little Tribe of Benjamin, from whence came the firſt King of Iſrael; and Princes of the Tribe of Judah, the great Support of the Kingdom. There were alſo, the Princes of the emoter Tribes; Of Zebulen and of Napthali.

30 Some of the Ancients would have this Wild Beaſt be, the Fourth Beaſt in the Seventh of Daniel. And R. Solomon ſays, Fera calami eſt EſaX. The ſame with Pſal. LXXX. 14. Deep thought is required here.

20 Does not the Roman Orater a little expound the Heb en Prophet, where he relates. Aurum Judcorum Nomine, quotannis ex Italia, et omnibus veſtris Provincijs, Hieroſolymam exportari ſoleret?—But it waits a further Accompliſhment.

32 There is doubtleſs an Ethiopia of Africa, as well as of Arabia, conſidered in the Scriptures. Ezekiel mentions Ethiopians and Egyptians as near Neighbours. Munſter has a good Gloſs here; Non caret Locus iſte Myſterijs Regni Chriſti.

PSALM LXIX. To the Chief Muſician. Upon Shoſhannim. Of David.

1 DEliver me, O Glorious God, ‖ Becauſe the waters do ‖ threatning my ruin, penetrate ‖ into my very Soul. ‖

2 In the mire of the Deep I ſink; ‖ there is no ſtanding there; ‖ Into deep waters I am come; ‖ and the Flood covers me. ‖

3 I'm weary with my crying there; ‖ my very throat is dry'd; ‖ mine eyes do fail, while that I do ‖ keep waiting for my God. ‖

4 They that bear hatred unto me, ‖ tho' ſtill without a cauſe, ‖ theſe Men are multiply'd above ‖ the hairs upon my head. ‖ My cauſleſs enemies who would ‖ deſtroy me, are grown ſtrong; ‖ Then I made reſtitution of ‖ what I took not away. ‖

5 O God, Thou knoweſt very well ‖ what is my fooliſhneſs; ‖ and my offences have not been ‖ at all conceal'd from thee. ‖

6 ETERNAL Lord of Hoſts, Let not ‖ be ſham'd who hope on thee ‖ thro' me; not let thy ſeekers bluſh ‖ for me, O Iſraels God. ‖

7 Becauſe that I have undergone ‖ reproach on thy account, ‖ and a confuſion full of ſhame ‖ has covered my face. ‖

8 I am unto my Bretheren ‖ but as a ſtranger held, ‖ and to my Mothers Children I ‖ am held an alien. ‖

9 Becauſe the hot Zeal of thy houſe ‖ has ev'n devoured me; ‖ Contempts from thoſe who thee contemn, ‖ have alſo fall'n on me. ‖

10 In faſts when I wept with my Soul, ‖ that turn'd to my reproach. ‖

11 When I wore Sackcloth, then I was ‖ a by-word unto them. ‖

12 They who ſat in the Gate purſu'd ‖ me with their obloquies; ‖ and I was made the Songs of thoſe ‖ who take the Drunkards cup. ‖

13 But as for me, I turn my Prayer ‖ to Thee, ETERNAL God, ‖ in ſuch a time, as I might hope ‖ to find acceptance in. ‖ In the great multitude of thy ‖ Mercy, hear me, O God; ‖ and for the Faithfulneſs which is ‖ in thy Salvation ſound.

14 Deliver me out of the mire, ‖ and let me not ſink there; ‖ From them that hate me let me be ‖ ſav'd, and from deep waters. ‖

15 Let not the flood of waters come ‖ over me, nor the deep ‖ ſwallow me up, nor let the pit ‖ upon me ſhut her mouth. ‖

16 ETERNAL God, Hear me, for good ‖ is thy Benignity; ‖ Oh, in the multitude of thy ‖ compaſſions turn to me. ‖

17 And from thy Servant, O do not ‖ Thou hide thy face away; ‖ for that ſore trouble on me lies; ‖ O haſte, O hear thou me. ‖

18 O draw near to my Soul; for it ‖ do the Redeemer's part; ‖ Becauſe I have ſuch enemies, ‖ redeem me from them all.

19 Thou haſt known my reproach, and what ‖ a ſhame they caſt on me; ‖ And my diſhonour; in thy view ‖ are all my enemies. ‖

20 Reproach has broke my heart, and I ‖ have griev'd; When I look'd for ‖ condolence, there was none, and for ‖ comforters, none I found. ‖

21 Nay, they for my refreſhment gave ‖ unto me bitter Gall; ‖ and in my thirſt they gave to me ‖ ſour Vinegar to drink. ‖

22 Their Table now let that become ‖ before them but a ſHare; ‖ and what ſhould be intended for ‖ Peace-Off'rings, but a trap. ‖

23 Let darkneſs come upon their eyes, ‖ ſo that they ſhall not ſee; ‖ and make their loins to tremble ſtill ‖ for fear continually. ‖

24 Upon them direfully do thou ‖ thine indignation pour; ‖ and let the burning of thy wrath ‖ take a faſt hold of them. ‖

25 Their ſtately Palace let it be ‖ entirely deſolate; ‖ within their Tabernacles let ‖ be no inhabitant. ‖

26 Since Him whom thou haſt ſmitten, they ‖ jo on to perſecute; ‖ and they talk to the grief of thoſe ‖ who are thy wounded ones. ‖

27 Add more iniquity upon ‖ their paſt iniquity; ‖ And let them not admiſſion have ‖ into thy righteouſneſs. ‖

28 Let them be blotted out of the ‖ Book of the living ones; ‖ and let them not in Writing be ‖ enrolled with the Juſt. ‖

29 But I'm a poor afflicted one, ‖ and I am ſorrowful; ‖ O God, Let thy Salvation now ‖ exalt me gloriouſly. ‖

30 The Praiſes of the Name of God ‖ I'll utter with a Song; ‖ and I'll with a confeſſion Him ‖ thankfully magnify. ‖

31 This alſo will more grateful be ‖ to the ETERNAL God, ‖ than Beef or Calf on which the horns ‖ as well as hoofs appear. ‖

32 The humbled meek ones ſhall behold; ‖ they ſhall be very glad; ‖ O you that ſeek the Glorious God, ‖ ev'n ſo your heart ſhall live. ‖

33 Becauſe th' ETERNAL God attends ‖ unto the indigent; ‖ and ſuch as He doth hold in bonds, ‖ theſe He does not deſpiſe. ‖

34 Now let the Heavens, and the Earth ‖ unite in praiſing Him; ‖ the Seas, and ev'ry thing that does ‖ move to and fro in them. ‖

35 For Zion God will ſave, and He ‖ will Judah's Cities build; ‖ that Men may dwell therein and have ‖ it their Inheritance. ‖

36 The Offspring of His Servants too, ‖ theſe ſhall inherit it; ‖ and they who bear love to His Name, ‖ theſe ſhall inhabit it. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXIX. PSALM.

WE have here a Prayer of the Meſſiah in His Humiliation. It foretells the Deſolation of the Jewiſh Nation: But a Glorious Eſtabliſhment.

4 Theodoret well conſiders our SAVIOUR, as paying a Debt, which was none of his own Contracting.

5 Munſter notes; That ſome take it ſo; Thou knoweſt I have not been ſo fooliſh, as my Perſecutors aſſert I have.—But there is no need of taking it ſo.

11 Was it not then become a Proverb, for the utmoſt Hatred or Contempt of any Man; I value him no more than I do David?

12 The Language both of Graver Senators, and of Idle Companions.

27 q. d. Suffer them to go on in compleating their Iniquity.

28 q. d. Let them enjoy none of the Bleſſings Written in the Promiſes for the Righteous. To be Remembred in the Genealogical Tables, was matter of no little Conſequence. An Inheritance in the holy Land, was implied in it. The firſt, if not chief uſe of Letters, was to keep theſe Genealogical Tables, in every Family. When a Family was increaſed, theſe Tables were Tranſcribed for the uſe of New Deſcendants. In the Tranſcription, they Blotted out whatſoever occured unneceſſary, to carry down the Hiſtory of the Succeſſion. The Iſſueleſs were ſo. Of Judab's Five Sons, the Two Eldeſt were uſeleſs in the Heraldry, and were blotted out. Unto theſe Tables refer, Exod. XXXII. 32. And Pſal. CIX. 13. Here is a Key to Dent. XXV. 6. The Book of Genealogies is here called, The Book of the Living, becauſe the Names of Men lived here, and the Men lived in their Poſterity. And it is called, A being Written with the Righteous, becauſe Fruitfulneſs, was among the Jews reckoned the Reward of Righteouſneſs. The failing of their Genealogical Tables, among the Jews, is here foretold. How Remarkably 'tis Accompliſhed!

31 The Jews refer it, unto the Firſt Sacrifice offered by Adam, after his Fall. Conceive the Meſſiah, who is the Second Adam, ſpeaking here, and it is worth Conſidering.

PSALM LXX. To the Chief Muſician. Of David. To bring to Remembrance.

1 O God, For to deliver me! ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ O do thou now make haſte for the ‖ relief of my diſtreſs. ‖

2 Let them be ſham'd and bluſh, who do‖ ſeek to deſtroy my Soul; ‖ Let them be turn'd back, and perplext ‖ who do deſire my hurt. ‖

3 Let them be forc'd to turn about ‖ for a juſt recompence ‖ of the ſhame that belongs to them, ‖ who ſay, Aha, Aha. ‖

4 Let all be glad and joy in thee, ‖ who ſeek thee, and thoſe who ‖ love thy Salvation, ever ſay, ‖ Let God be magnify'd. ‖

7 But I'm a poor and needy one; ‖ Make haſte to me, O God; ‖ O Thou ETERNAL, Thou my help ‖ and Saviour, tarry not. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXX. PSALM.

TIS the Prayer of the Meſſiah in His wonderful Sufferings. In the laſt Verſe He takes the very Name which is in Zech. IX. 9. aſſigned unto Him. He foretells the Miſeries, which the Jews would procure to themſelves by the I juries they offered unto Him.

PSALM LXXI.

1 IN Thee, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ I do repoſe my truſt; ‖ O let me not be put to ſhame ‖ unto Eternity. ‖

2 Save thou me in thy righteouſneſs, ‖ and cauſe me to eſcape; ‖ Incline thou unto me thine ear; ‖ And, O deliver me. ‖

3 Be Thou the Rock where I may dwell, ‖ and conſtantly reſort; ‖ my ſafety thou haſt order'd; for ‖ Thou art my rock and ſtrength. ‖

4 My God, Deliver me from the ‖ hand of the wicked one; ‖ out of the hand of the unjuſt, ‖ and of the cruel one. ‖

5 Becauſe, O Lord, th' ETERNAL God, ‖ with hope I wait on thee: ‖ Thou'rt He on whom I place my truſt ‖ ev'n from my early youth. ‖

6 On Thee I lean ev'n from the womb: ‖ Thou haſt extracted me ‖ out of my Mothers Bowels; Praiſe ‖ ſhall ever be to thee. ‖

7 I unto many am become ‖ a wondrous prodigy: ‖ But thou haſt ever been to me ‖ a refuge very ſtrong. ‖

8 O let my mouth be filled with ‖ Expreſſions of thy Praiſe; ‖ It ſhall be with thy Glory fill'd ‖ all day * and every day. ‖

9 O caſt me not off in the time ‖ of my advanced Age: ‖ Forſake me not when that my ſtrength ‖ is under a decay. ‖

10 For they that are my enemies ‖ do ſpend their talk on me, ‖ and they conſult together who ‖ watch for to ſeize my Soul. ‖

11 They ſay, God hath forſaken him; ‖ Now perſecute the Man; ‖ And ſeize upon him: for there is ‖ none to deliver him. ‖

12 O God, Be'nt far from me: my God ‖ make haſte unto my help. ‖

13 The adverſaries of my Soul, ‖ may they confounded be. ‖ Yea, may they be conſumed all, ‖ they who do ſeek my hurt: ‖ may they be covered with reproach, ‖ and with diſgraceful ſhame. ‖

14 But as for me, I will maintain ‖ my hope continually; ‖ and I ſhall make additions ſtill ‖ to all thy glorious praiſe. ‖

15 My mouth ſhall make relation of ‖ thy ſpotleſs right'ouſneſs: ‖ of thy Salvation all the day; ‖ for I no numbers know. ‖

16 I'll walk in the ſtrength of the Lord, ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ I'll celebrate thy righteouſneſs, ‖ yea, even thine alone. ‖

17 O God, Thou from my early youth ‖ haſt well inſtructed me: ‖ and hitherto I have declar'd ‖ the wonders thou haſt wrought. ‖

18 Yea, even to the time when I ‖ muſt ſee advanced age, ‖ and have gray hairs upon me, then, ‖ O God, forſake me not ‖ till to this Generation I ‖ declare thy pow'r abroad, ‖ and unto every one that is ‖ to come, thy fortitude. ‖

19 Thy righteouſneſs therewith, O God, ‖ unto the very heighth! ‖ Thou who doſt things ſo very great: ‖ O God, Who's like to thee? ‖

20 Thou art He who has ſhown to me ‖ Afflictions great and ſore: ‖ Thou'lt quicken me again, and raiſe ‖ me from the depths of Farth. ‖

21 Thou haſt giv'n an increaſe unto ‖ my bright magnificence; ‖ and conſolations given me, ‖ returning unto me. ‖

22 With Pſaltry help't, now Thee I'll praiſe ‖ for thy truth, O my God: ‖ To thee I will ſing with the harp, ‖ O Iſraels Holy One. ‖

23 My lips they ſhall triumph with joy, ‖ when I do ſing to thee; ‖ and ſo my Soul ſhalldo, which thou ‖ haſt thoroughly redeem'd. ‖

24 My tongue too tells thy righteouſneſs ‖ all day * and every day; ‖ for they're confounded and diſgrac'd, ‖ who do purſue my hurt. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXI. PSALM.

SEE the Church (and the Spirit of Prophecy repreſenting the Condition of the Synagogue alſo) groaning under the Tyranny of Antichriſt; and hoping for a Reſtoration after ſo many Calamities.

3 Munſter, Gloſs is, Tu mandabis Angelis tuis de me.

5 A Remarkable Iuſtance that I Sam. XVII. 33, 47.

16 O ye Servants o GOD, In your Miniſtry handling that Subject, ſee whether He do not remarkably Strengthen you.

PSALM LXXII. Of Solomon.

1 GIve Thou unto the King, O God, ‖ Thy Judgments of all ſorts; ‖ and unto the Son of the King ‖ give thou thy Righteouſneſs. ‖

2 He to thy People ſhall diſpenſe ‖ Judgments in Righteouſneſs; ‖ and with right Judgment he ſhall treat ‖ Thy poor afflicted ones. ‖

3 The mountains to thy People ſhall ‖ bring forth a proſp'rous peace; ‖ and ſo the little hills ſhall do, ‖ becauſe of righteouſneſs. ‖

4 The poor afflicted ones among ‖ the People He ſhall judge: ‖ He'll the Sons of the needy ſave; ‖ and break th' injurious one. ‖

5 Even ſo long as does the Sun ‖ their fear of thee ſhall laſt: ‖ and while the Moon ſhall have a face; ‖ from Age to Age 'twill be. ‖

6 He ſhall come down like to the Rain ‖ upon the Graſs that's mown: ‖ There ſhall be a deſcent like to ‖ Show'rs watering of the Earth. ‖

7 Whoever is the righteous one ‖ ſhall flouriſh in His days; ‖ and there ſhall be great ſtore of Peace, ‖ while there ſhall be no Moon. ‖

8 And He ſhall His Dominion ſpread ‖ abroad from Sea to Sea; ‖ yea, from the River it ſhall ſpread ‖ to the ends of the Earth. ‖

9 They who dwell in the wilderneſs before Him ſhall bow down: ‖ and they that are his enemies ſhall lick the very duſt. ‖

10 The Kings of Tarſis and the Iſles, ‖ ſhall bring their preſents then; ‖ Then Sheba's Kings and Seba's too, ‖ ſhall offer Gifts to Him.

11 Yea, Kings of ev'ry Kingdom ſhall ‖ before Him bow themſelves; ‖ all Nations ſhall therewith become ‖ liege Servants unto Him. ‖

13 For he ſhall ſave the needy one, ‖ upon his piteous cry, ‖ and ſave the poor afflicted one, ‖ yea, him whom none will help.

13 He ſhall a kind compaſſion ſhew ‖ to him that's deſtitute; ‖ and to the needy; yea, He'll ſave ‖ the Souls of needy ones. ‖

14 From fraud, and from iniquity, ‖ He ſhall redeem their Souls; ‖ their Blood ſhall alſo be eſteem'd ‖ precious before His eyes. ‖

15 This Poor ſhall live ſo, and the King ‖ ſhall give him Sheba's Gold; ‖ And He'll ſtill intercede for him; ‖ He'll bleſs him every day. ‖

16 Of Corn an handful there ſhall be ‖ then ſeen upon the Earth; ‖ Upon the very top of the ‖ high mountains, ſown and ſeen. ‖ The fruit thereof ſhall make its wave ‖ ev'n like tol, ebanon; ‖ The Citizens ſhall flouriſh then ‖ like the Graſs of the Earth. ‖

18 His Name, that ſhall endure unto ‖ all perpetuity: ‖ in the face of the Sur He ſhall, have the Name of, The Son. ‖ And it ſhall uſual be for Men, to bleſs themſelves in Him: ‖ All Nations of the World, they ſhall ‖ call Him, The bleſſed One. ‖

18 O bleſſed be the Glorious God, who is the ETERNAL One; ‖ Bleſs'd be the God of Iſrael who 〈◊〉 alone does wondrous things. ‖

19 Yea, ever bleſs'd His Glorious Name: ‖ And now let all the Earth ‖ be with His wondrous Glory fill'd: ‖ Amen, O ſay, Amen. ‖

20 With ſuch inſpir'd deſires as theſe, the Supplications of David, who was Jeſſe's Son, have come unto their end.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXII. PSALM.

TIs a Traver for the Coming and Kin •• om of the Meſſiah. The Jews unanimouſly apply it unto Him 1 A praefarory Wiſh for the Proſperity of the Pſalmiſt himſelf, and of His Son Solomon, to whom the Pſalm is dedicated. — The Subject of the following Pſalm is another, a Greater than he.

16 An handful of Corn ſown even on the Top 〈◊〉 Barren Mountains, will ſpring up with ar , win •• will be ſo thick and full, that when they are ſua en with the Wind, they ſhall make a Noiſe like the C dars of Lebanon. The City ſhall be as truitful as the Country, and as well ſtored with Good things, as th Earth is with Graſs in the Spring. This is the Patrician Paraphraſe.

17 The Hebrews call the Meſſiah by the Name of Jinn n, which ſignifies A Son Here Before the Sun, Jinn n is Hi Name. The Midraſh Till •• rea •• it Ante Solem filiabit Nomen ejus. And adds this Gloſs upon it; — Quia ipſe filiaturus est Dormientés in Pulvere.

This is Wondrous from the Pen of a Jew!

I have ſomewhere ſeen this Gloſs and thought upon it. His Name ſhall be as a Son, to continue his Father's Name forever. Thus the Miniſters of the Word, ought to raiſe up the Name of CHRIST upon His Inheritance, His Church. They ought not to raiſe up their own Names.

This Paſſage, Nomen ejus filiabatur, is fulfilled unto our Saviour, in that His Name is continued by the Succeſſion of Many Sons, before the Sun. Compare Heb. II. 13.

THE THIRD BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM LXXIII. A Pſalm of Aſaph.

1 BUt yet, This I will ſay, That God ‖ is good to Iſrael; ‖ that is to ſay to them that are ‖ of a Well cleanſed Heart. ‖

2 But as for me, my feet almoſt ‖ declin'd from what is right; ‖ ſcarce any thing appear'd, but that ‖ my Steps had run abroad. ‖

3 Becauſe I had ſome Envy at ‖ the madly boaſting Fools; ‖ When I ſaw the Proſperity ‖ of the Ungodly Ones. ‖

4 For in their Death there are no Bands; ‖ till then their ſtrength is firm. ‖

5 They are not in Man's Labour, nor ‖ are plagu'd like other Men. ‖

6 Therefore their Pride do's like a Chain ‖ encompaſs them about; ‖ Iniquity does cover them, ‖ eſteem'd an Ornament. ‖

7 Their Eyes ſtand out with fatneſs; they ‖ have more than Heart can wiſh. ‖

8 They waſte; and ſpeaking ill, oppreſs; ‖ they talk, how loftily! ‖

9 They reſolutely ſet their Mouth ‖ for to blaſpheme the Heav'ns; ‖ and their Tongue with their Calumnies ‖ does walk about the Earth. ‖

10 Therefore His People do at length ‖ make their Return to this; ‖ When Waters of a Plenteous Cup ‖ are poured out to them. ‖

11 And this is now the thing they ſay; ‖ How is it that God knows? ‖ or is there any knowledge in ‖ Him who is God on High? ‖

12 Behold, theſe are th' ungodly Ones ‖ who proſper in the World; ‖ of Riches they've a mighty Store ‖ obtained for themſelves. ‖

13 Surely, it is in vain that I ‖ have purify'd my Heart; ‖ In vain that I have waſh'd my hands ‖ in pureſt Innocence. ‖

14 Whereas I have been ſtill chaſtiz'd ‖ all day * and every day; ‖ and every Morning I have had ‖ Rebuke beſtow'd on me. ‖

15 If now I ſhould reſolve with me. ‖ I'll ſpeak at ſuch a rate; ‖ Thy Children's Generation, Lo, ‖ will ſay, I've done amiſs. ‖

16 I did propoſe unto my ſelf ‖ that I would know this thing; ‖ but it appear'd before my Eyes ‖ a labour troubleſome. ‖

17 'Twas thus, until that I into ‖ God's Holy Places went; ‖ But then I clearly underſtood ‖ the latter End of them. ‖

18 Surely in Slipp'ry Places * and ‖ in dark Thou ſetteſt them; ‖ Thou doſt cauſe that they ſhall into ‖ frightfull Deſtructions fall. ‖

19 To Ruin, Oh! How are they brought! ‖ How very ſuddenly! ‖ They periſh; They are quite conſum'd ‖ from things moſt terrible. ‖

20 It's ſound but as a Dream when they ‖ awake out of their Sleep; ‖ Lord, at their, riſing thou wilt on ‖ their Image caſt Contempt. ‖

21 Truly on this Account my Heart ‖ within me waxed hot, ‖ and in my reins I underwent ‖ the Piercings of a Dart. ‖

22 And as for me, I was become ‖ a, very fooliſh one; ‖ nor had I any knowledge; But ‖ was with Thee like the Beaſts. ‖

23 Yet as for me, I now will be ‖ with thee continually; ‖ To keep me from falſe Steps thou haſt ‖ kept hold on my right hand. ‖

24 Thou by thy Counſel ever wilt ‖ give conduct unto me; ‖ and me Thou in bright glory then ‖ wilt afterwards receive. ‖

25 Whom in the Heavens have I toimplore or to enjoy? ‖ And there is none upon the Earth ‖ whom I deſire but Thee. ‖

26 When my fleſh and my heart do now ‖ with a conſumption fail; ‖ God is the ſtrength of my heart, and ‖ my portion evermore. ‖

27 For, lo, they that go far from Thee, ‖ ſhall periſh utterly; ‖ each one who does a whoring go ‖ from thee thou doſt deſtroy. ‖

28 But as for me, it's good that I ‖ get * and keep near to God; ‖ I in the Lord ETERNAL hope ‖ to tell of all thy works. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXIII. PSALM.

BEhold, the reflection of the Faithful on the Proſperity enjoyed by the Followers and Abettors of Antichriſt: And their comfort in the Expectation of his Deſtruction. Dr. Patrick thinks, Aſaph the Seer, might be one who liv'd in the days of Hezekiah: [2 Chron. XXIX. 30.] probably the Father of that Eminent Perſon, who was then the Recorder. The miſerable Havock made by the Aſſyrians, notwithſtanding Hezekiah's Reformation, might afford ſufficient Occaſion for the Pſalm. Or, the common Occurrences, which produce the XXXVII. Pſalm would yield abundant occaſion for the LXXIII.

4 So great is their Power, they are not in danger of being bound over, by any humane Juſtice for their Crimes. Nor are they afflicted with ſore diſeaſes: After a long Life they dye eaſily. Munſter's Gloſs is, They have no Anxiety about their Widows and Orphans; They leave enough to them.

7 They are ſhort-ſighted People.

14 q. d. I was dealt withal as a Malafactor. Such were puniſhed in the Morning.

17 Did not he hear the XCII. Pſalm Sung in the Sanctuary?

20 The Prophets of God, inſpired from the Sanctuary, or the Holy Place of the Heavenly World, have told us, that Men ſhall be Raiſed from the Dead, and ſhall ſee a Day of Judgment, which will bring all to rights, and unſold the Myſteries which now puzle us in the Conduct of Providence. This Reſurrection of the Dead, with the following Day of Judgment, is here intimated. Yea, the Chaldee Paraphraſe on the Text is; In Die Judicij magni, cum fne int ſuſcitati de Sepulchris ſuis. At that Day, Firſt, the Proſperity of the Wicked, ſhall appear to have been a Dream, It ſhall be found ſo at their Awaking. The Awaking of the Dead is the Scriptural Term for the Reſurrection. Should the following Word, Baguir, be rendred, in the City, as it is by many and Ancient Interpreters, it would ſuit admirably. The Tranſactions of the Laſt Judgment will be very much carried on in the Heavenly City. But render it if you pleaſe, Inſuſcitando; the plain Engliſh is, At thy Raiſing them, or, At their Riſing. Well, what ſhall be then? Thou wilt on their Image caſt contempt. A notable Key to this you have in, Dan. XII. 2.—Let the Word Image ſignify either their Proſperity; [See Pſai. XXXIX. 7.] or their Corruption. [See Gen. V. 3.] or their Spirit, or their Body; or their pompous Faſhion of living in this World; [See 1 Cor. VII. 31.] ſtill it will be true. By Image, I would underſtand, whatever they value themſelves upon. Let it be remembred, The Word here alſo carries Puniſhment, in the Signification of it.

21 Arnobius finds chaſt living here.

22 A Beaſt regards nothing but what is preſent.

25 Says the Pious Harle; It ſeems, Heaven is the Place of having, Earth but of deſiring. Old Raymund in his Pugio Fidei, gives this Gloſs; Who will give me to be in Heaven with Thee? On Earth I deſire not to be. Arnobius makes it the Language of our Saviour, having finiſhed all His Work on Earth, and going to Heaven, where he had before converſed continually.

28 The Works of Providence in preſerving the Righteous and deſtroying the Wicked.

PSALM LXXIV. A Pſalm of Aſaph.

1 O God, why haſt thou caſt us off ‖ to perpetuity? ‖ Againſt the Sheep which thou doſt feed, ‖ why does thy Anger ſmoke? ‖

2 Remember thine Aſſembly, thou ‖ haſt purchaſed of Old; ‖ the Tribe thou haſt redeemed for ‖ thy own Inheritance. ‖ This mount of Zion in the which, ‖ Thou'ſt had thy dwelling-place. ‖

3 Lift up thy feet, with haſte to treadwhere Enemies have made ‖ the deſolations that appearto be perpetual; ‖ and ſmite each enemy that has done ‖ ill to thy holy Place.‖

4 In the midſt of thy Synagogue ‖ the enemies do roar ‖ as if poſſeſs'd of Prey, they have ‖ ſet up their ſigns for ſigns. ‖

5 Notice is taken of the Man ‖ who carries up on high ‖ Axes among the thickeſt boughs ‖ of the Trees in the wood. ‖

6 So now with an united force ‖ at once they batter down ‖ with the Ax and with Hammers, all ‖ the carved works thereof. ‖

7 Thy Sanctuary they have caſt ‖ into the waſting Fire, ‖ they have defil'd the dwelling place ‖ of thy Name down to Earth. ‖

8 They ſaid within their hearts, Let us ‖ deſtroy them altogether; ‖ They've burnt up all the Synagogues ‖ of God throughout the Land. ‖

9 Our Signs we ſee not; There is not ‖ a Prophet any more; ‖ with us there is not any one ‖ that knows how long 'twill be. ‖

10 The adverſary, Thee, O God, ‖ How long ſhall he reproach? ‖ The Enemy, ſhall he blaſpheme ‖ thy Name for evermore? ‖

11 Thy hand ev'n thy right hand, wherefore ‖ doſt thou withdraw from us? ‖ From the midſt of thy boſom take ‖ thou it, them to conſume. ‖

12 For Thou, O God the Judge, doſt reign ‖ my King from ancient time; ‖ Salvations He does bring about ‖ in the midſt of the Earth. ‖

13 Thou by thy mighty ſtrength didſt make ‖ the Sea divide aſunder, ‖ the heads of Dragons thou didſt break ‖ under the Waters there.

14 Thou didſi with wounding bruiſe the head ‖ of the Leviathan; ‖ with him thou fedſt the People which ‖ dwelt in the wilderneſs. ‖

15 By cleaving thou didſt cauſe to flow ‖ the fountain and the flood; ‖ Thou didſt dry up the Rivers which ‖ ran with a mighty force. ‖

16 Even the Day itſelf is thine, ‖ thine alſo is the Night; ‖ Thou haſt prepar'd the Light and the ‖ Sun which diſpenſes it.

17 Thou'rt He, who hath appointed all ‖ the Borders of the Earth; ‖ The Summer and the Winter, thou ‖ art He that formed them. ‖

18 Remember this, th' Enemy has ‖ reproach'd th' ETERNAL God; ‖ The People vain thro' folly, caſt ‖ contempt upon thy Name. ‖

19 Thy Turtle-dove's Soul, O give not ‖ up to the multitude; ‖ The Congregation of thy Poor ‖ forget them not fore'er. ‖

20 O do thou have reſpect unto ‖ the Ancient Covenant; ‖ for th' Earth's dark places are fill'd with ‖ dwellings of cruelty. ‖

21 O let not the oppreſſed one ‖ return from Thee aſham'd: ‖ But let the meek afflicted one ‖ and the Poor praiſe thy Name. ‖

22 Do thou ariſe, O God; appear ‖ thou to defend thy cauſe; ‖ Remember thy reproach from the ‖ vain Fool heard every day. ‖

23 Forget not thou the voice of them ‖ that are thine Enemies: ‖ The noiſe of them who do riſe up ‖ againſt thee daily grows. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXIV. PSALM.

THE Spirit of Prophecy here livelily repreſents the ſtate of the Jewiſh Nation, in their Diſperſion under the Romans. Dr. Patrick thinks, the Aſaph by whom the Pſalm was written, lived in the time of the Captivity, and perhaps near the Concluſion of it, when there was no Prophet left, who could inform them, How Long! Was it not Aſaph, the Keeper of the Kings Foreſt, in the days of Nehemiah?

3 q. a. Make haſte and come and viſit the Ruins that have laſted a long while, and without thy powerful help will never be repaired.

12 A Geographical Curioſity! The Land of Judea was in the middle of the then inhabited Earth. And this was the Stage whereon the Price of our Eternal Salvation was effected. Compare, Ezek. V. 5. Not only Caſaubon finds that Land in the midſt of the Seven Climates, then known, but Villalpandus with his Compaſſes finds it in the very Center of the World. Kimchi has much this way: Eſpecially on Ezek. XXXVIII. 12. where 'tis called, The Navel of the Earth. Eucherius goes on to Remark, our SAVIOUR undergoing what He did for us in this Land. [He adds alſo In utero Virginali.] Auſtin has this Gloſs upon it; This was done, when the Word was made Fleſh and inhabited a Body of Earth. One Mr. Smith obſerves, How God accommodated the Earth, by having His Church and Word, in the midſt of it.

14 An Alluſion to Pharoah's Death. The breaking the Head of the Dragons in the Waters, the Ancients with Arnobius had this Gloſs upon it; Confregiſti Capita Daemonum in Baptiſmate, 'Tis done in Baptiſm.

PSALM LXXV. To the Chief Muſician. Altaſ bith. A Pſalm of Aſaph. A Song.

1 WE do give thanks to Thee, O God; ‖ we do give thanks to Thee; ‖ For that thy Name is near to us ‖ thy wondrous works declare. ‖

2 When I ſhall at th' appointed time ‖ receive into my hands the Congregation, I will Judge ‖ Things that are wholly right. ‖

3 The Earth and all of them that are ‖ Inhabitants on it, ‖ are clean diſſolv'd; its I that do ‖ uphold it's Pillars now. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 I to the fooliſh Madmen ſaid, ‖ deal not ſo fooliſhly; ‖ and to the wicked ones I ſaid, ‖ Lift you not up the horn. ‖

5 Lift you not up the horn on high ‖ againſt the Higheſt One; ‖ Utter not ſpeeches with a neck ‖ that wont receive the yoke.

6 Becauſe what you look for does come not from the riſing Sun, ‖ nor from the ſetting, nor from the ‖ mountainous wilderneſs. ‖

7 But God Himſ ••• . He is the Judge acting with Equity: One Ma ••••• , does pu down, and He ‖ does ſet another o .

8 For the ETERNAL God has in 〈◊〉 hand a meaſuring cup; ‖ and the Wine 〈◊〉 •• rtain'd therein ‖ is in its 〈…〉 . Its ful of mixture; And He 〈…〉 the dregs ‖ thereof all their 〈…〉 ſhall ſuch, ſhall 〈…〉

9 But as for me, I will declare ‖ this thing Forevermore: ‖ Unto the God of Jacob I ‖ will ſing His Glorious Praiſe. ‖.

10 And all the horns of wicked ones, ‖ I'll utterly cut off; ‖ But the horns of the Righteous one ‖ ſhall be lift up on high. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXV. PSALM.

BEhold the Expectation which the Church has, for the future Kingdom of the Meſſiah. In the Fifth Verſe, we have the Fate of the Little Horn, Dan. VII. 11. In the Eighth, we have the Cup ſo remarkable in the Prophecies, Iſai. LI. 21, 22. Rev. XVII. 19.

1 The Kingdom of David was now near; which was a Figure of the Meſſiab's. The Miracles done for and by him, and the Revolutions on the Nation in his favour were wondrous Works of GOD.

2 Dr. Patrick will have our Aſaph here, to be him in, 2 Chron. XXIX. 30. — and thinks the ſtrange Deſtruction of Senacherib's Army, referr'd unto. Here Hezekiah then reſolves, as ſoon as they could have their Aſſemblies again, he would perfect the Reformation he had begun before.

7 Some have had their witty Deſcants on the North, not being mentioned here. But is not the Word, which has been rendred, The South, rather to be read, The Wilderneſs? Which lay to the North as well as the South. Some have thus Deſcanted on it. The Orientals were generally given to Afarology. They took Promotion to come from the Stars; eſpecially, The Sun. The Pſalmiſt ſays, No; Promotion comes not from the Planett Riſing and Setting, or exalted in the Mid-Heaven. From the North none expected it. Yea, and elſewhere we read, On the North was Mount Sion, the City of the Great King. Here was the ſpecial Preſence of the Great King from whom all Promotion.

8 The Puniſhments inflicted by GOD, are often like an intoxicating Wine, full of ſtupifying Ingredients, which looſens the very Joynts, and takes away all ſtrength to reſiſt.

10 The Midraſh Tillin has a notable Gloſs; That by the Horns of the Wicked are meant, The Ten Horns of the Fourth Monarchy in the Viſions of Daniel.

PSALM LXXVI. To the Chief Muſician. On Neginoth. A Pſalm of Aſaph. A Song.

1 IN Judah God is known; His Name ‖ is great in Iſrael. ‖

2 In Salem too's His tent; and in ‖ Zion His dwelling Place. ‖

3 There did He break in pieces all ‖ the Arrows of the Bow; ‖ There did He break the Shield and Sword, ‖ and what belong'd War. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 Illuſtrious Thou doſt appear, ‖ wondrouſly powerful, ‖ upon the Mountains where wild Beaſts,and Robbers ſeek their Prey. ‖

5 Stout-hearted ones are ſpoil'd they've ſlept ‖ the ſleep deſign'd for them; ‖ and none of all the mighty Men ‖ found the uſe of their hands. ‖

6 O God of Jacob, 'Twas at thy ‖ effectual rebuke ‖ that both the Chariot and the Horſe ‖ were laid ſo dead aſleep. ‖

7 Thou, even Thou, art one that is ‖ exceeding terrible; ‖ and who ſhall ſtand before thy face ‖ when once thou art provok'd

8 Thou didſt cauſe Judgment for to be ‖ heard from the Heav'ns above; ‖ the Earth was ſtruck with trembling fear, ‖ and then ſaw quiet reſt. ‖

9 When God the Judge for to diſpenſe ‖ His Judgments did ariſe; ‖ for to fave all the meek who were ‖ afflicted on the Earth. ‖ Selah. ‖

10 Surely the wrath of Man ſhall but ‖ confeſs thy praiſe to thee; ‖ and the remainder of the wrath ‖ is what thou ſhalt reſtrain. ‖

11 Vow and pay to th' ETERNAL One, ‖ ev'n Him who is your God; ‖ you that ſurround Him, bring a gift ‖ to Him who's to be fear'd. ‖

12 He ſhall cut off the ſpirits of ‖ Princes in Vintage time; ‖ He ſhall be terrible unto ‖ the Kings that rule the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXVI PSALM.

COmpare the Fifth Verſe of the Pſalm with the XXXVIII, and XXXIX Chapters of Ezekiel, and you would here think on the Meſſiah's Triumph over Gog and Magog. The Vintage in the laſt Verſe leads one to Iſai. LXIII. and Rev. XIX. Whether the former Pſalm had a reference to Sonacherib's overthrow or no, 'tis more probable that this may have ſo. The dor •• aſſures us, That in ſome Copies of the Greek Verſion, he found this Title, An Ode againſt the Aſſyrians.

4 The Aſſyrians had been on the Mountains about J ruſalem, committing depredations. But God appear'd moſt Excellent, Glorious, Illuſtrious, in what He did on thoſe Mountains.

5 Beſure the Aſſyrians lay down to Sleep and never Waked. [2 Kin. XIX. 35.]

12 Hezekiah went into the Temple, and Pray'd unto GOD who dwelt between the Cherubim. There GOD gave the Sentence and Order for this wonderful thing to be done. [See Verſe 3.] To cut off the Leaders of Senacherib's Army. [2 Chron. XXXII. 21.] He took away their Lives at once, as a Gardener does the Franches of a Vine, or the Bunches of the Grape. In the Fate of Senacherib, there was done a thing terrible to the Kings of the Earth.

PSALM LXXVII. To the Chief Muſician to Jeduthun. A Pſalm of Aſaph.

1 MY Voice was unto God, and I ‖ did make an earneſt cry; ‖ My voice was unto God, and He ‖ did hearken unto me. ‖

2 In the day of my trouble I ‖ did ſeek the Lord; my wound, ‖ ſpread in the Night, and reſted not; ‖ my Soul refus'd relief. ‖

3 I did remember God, and then ‖ was greatly diſcompos'd: ‖ I did complain; my ſpirit then ‖ was overwhelm'd with grief. ‖

4 The watchings thou didſt apprehend ‖ which did attend my eyes; ‖ I was ſeiz'd with aſtoniſhment ‖ ſo that I could not ſleep. ‖

5 I have conſidered the days ‖ which were in Ancient time; ‖ I have conſidered the Years ‖ of Ages yet unknown. ‖

6 My Song I thought on; in the Night I commun'd with my heart; ‖ and then my ſpirit made a ſearch, ‖ to find the matter out.

7 The Lord, on whom I lean, will He ‖ call off forevermore? ‖ And will he not go o •• to ſhow ‖ His favour any more? ‖

8 His mercy, does it wholly fail ‖ to perpetuity? ‖ What? For whole Generations does ‖ His Word to nothing come? ‖

9 What? Has the mighty God forgot ‖ for to be merciful? ‖ Has He His tender bowels in ‖ great anger quite ſhut up? ‖ Selah. ‖

10 Then, upon this, I ſaid, This is ‖ but my infirmity; ‖ The years of Change are all in the ‖ Right hand of the moſt High. ‖

11 I will remember the Works of ‖ the EVER-BEING One; ‖ ſurely I'll in remembrance have ‖ thy wonder done of old. ‖

12 Yea, I will meditate upon ‖ all of thy Glorious work; ‖ and will * with Prayers and wonders ſpeak ‖ of things which thou haſt done. ‖

13 O God, Thy way proceeds, and isbebeld in holineſs; ‖ Who is the mighty God, ſo great ‖ as is our God the Judge? ‖

14 Thou art the mighty God; who does ‖ the thing that's wonderful; ‖ among the People openly ‖ Thou haſt declar'd thy ſtrength. ‖

15 Thou haſt redeem'd thy People with ‖ thy own extended Arm; ‖ Thou haſt redeem'd the Children of ‖ Jacob and Joſeph ſo. ‖

16 The waters thee beheld, O God, ‖ the waters thee beheld; ‖ they were afraid; the deeps themſelves ‖ in a commotion were. ‖

17 Thick clouds did of their waters make ‖ an inundation then; ‖ The sky gave out a thundering ſound; ‖ thy darts too went abroad. ‖

18 The loud voice of thy Thunder was ‖ in th' Revolution heard; ‖ The Lighthings ſtruck light on the World; ‖ the Earth was mov'd and ſhook. ‖

19 The way which thou didſt take was in ‖ the Sea, thy paths were in ‖ the mighty ſwelling waters; and ‖ thy footſteps are unknown. ‖

20 Then by the hand of Moſes, and ‖ of Aaron join'd with him; ‖ thy People thou didſt lead along ‖ ev'n like unto a Flock. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXVII. PSALM.

SEE we not here the Jewiſh Nation in a Meditation on their Deſolate Condition, as rejected of God? And yet comforting themſelves with reflecting on His Ancient Miracles and Promiſes.

3 To Remember how kind our GOD has been to us formerly; this only gives us the Greater Trouble, when we Compare it with our preſent Miſeries.

10 q. d. I ſaid, this is the thing that ſorely afflicts me;—To ſee the change in the proceedings of the Moſt High towards me. To this purpoſe, Dr. Patricks Paraphraſe.

13 Munſters reading is, In Sancto. The whole Way of Ged has a moſt unſpotted Sanctity ever Shining in it.

18 How far did the Thunder, which accompaniment the promulgation of the Law on Mount Sinai, cauſe the Earth to tremble? See Joſh. II. 10, 11. As ſoon 〈◊〉 we heard our Hearts did molt.

PSALM LXXVIII. Maſchil. Of Aſaph.

1 O Ye my People, Hearken well ‖ to my diſtilling law: ‖ Incline your ear attentively ‖ to the words of my mouth. ‖

2 My mouth I'll open in a dark ‖ * Sententious Parable; ‖ I'll utter ſecret myſteries ‖ in what fell out of old. ‖

3 They are the things which we have heard, ‖ and things which we have known; ‖ and they are what our Fathers have ‖ related unto us. ‖

4 Theſe we will not conceal from them ‖ that are Children to thoſe; ‖ They to the Generation ſo ‖ to come ſhall ſtill relate: ‖ Even the Praiſes which belong ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ and His ſtrength and His wondrous works; ‖ the Things which He has wrought. ‖

5 A teſtimony He did in ‖ Jacob eſtabliſh ſo; ‖ and He made an appointment of ‖ a law in Iſrael: ‖ The things the which He did command ‖ unto our Anceſtors, ‖ that they unto their Children ſhould ‖ communicate the ſame. ‖

6 That ſo the Generation ſtill ‖ to come might know the things; ‖ the Children to be born might riſe ‖ and to their Children tell. ‖

7 That they might ſet their hope in God, ‖ and not forget the works ‖ which God has done, but that they might ‖ keep His Commandements. ‖

8 And not be as their Fathers were, ‖ a Generation bent ‖ upon Apoſtaſy from God, ‖ and a rebellous Race: ‖ A Generation which did not ‖ direct their heart aright; ‖ nor was their ſpirit faithfully ‖ adhering ſtill to God. ‖

9 Well-armed were the Children which ‖ iſſued from Ephraim; ‖ with Bow they ſhot; and yet in day ‖ of Battle turned back. ‖

10 For they were ſuch as had not kept ‖ the Covenant of God: ‖ they alſo had refus'd to walk ‖ according to His law. ‖

11 Yea, and they had forgotten quite ‖ the Works which He had wrought; ‖ and the Things very Marvellous ‖ which He had ſhown to them. ‖

12 Things very Marvellous He did ‖ before their Anceſtors; ‖ He in the Land of Egypt, in ‖ the field of Zoan wrought.

13 He did divide the Sea, and gave ‖ to them a paſſage thro'; ‖ The Waters He did make to ſtand ‖ collected as an Heap. ‖

14 He with a Cloud did give to them ‖ His Conduct in the Day; ‖ and with the Brightneſs of a Fire ‖ over them all the Night. ‖

15 He in the Wilderneſs did cleave ‖ the ſolid Rock aſunder; ‖ and He did make them for to Drink ‖ as out of mighty Deeps. ‖

16 Yea, He did bring forth flowing Streams ‖ out of the ſolid Stone; ‖ and like to Rivers He did cauſe ‖ the Waters to run down. ‖

17 But they in Sinning againſt Him ‖ did add yet more and more; ‖ Thereby provoking the moſt High ‖ while in the Wilderneſs. ‖

18 And in their Heart Tempting of Him ‖ they tried the mighty God; ‖ They did it by Deſiring food ‖ to ſuit their Appetite. ‖

19 Yea, They blaſphem'd the Glorious God; ‖ and this is what they ſaid; ‖ Can God prepare a Table here ‖ in ſuch a Wilderneſs. ‖

20 Behold, He ſmote the Rock and then ‖ the Waters guſhed out; ‖ The Torrents then did running there ‖ an Inundation make. ‖ But what? can He alſo beſtow ‖ upon His People Bread? ‖ What? will He make proviſion of ‖ fieſh for His People too?

21 Therefore the ETERNAL heard, and was ‖ Angry: ſo kindled was ‖ a Fire on Jacob, and Wrath went ‖ up againſt Iſrael. ‖

22 Becauſe that they had not reli'd ‖ with faith upon their God; ‖ not had they then their Confidence ‖ in His Salvation plac'd. ‖

23 Altho' He from above had given ‖ Command unto the Clouds, ‖ and opened wide the Gates of Heav'n, ‖ as of a Granary.

24 And He from thence had rained down ‖ Manna on them to Eat; ‖ yea, and the Corn of Heaven too ‖ He had beſtow'd on them. ‖

25 A Man was then allow'd to Eat ‖ the Bread of mighty ones; ‖ He did of that ſend unto them ‖ a Diet to their full. ‖

26 He in the Heavens then did cauſe ‖ an Eaſtern wind to blow; ‖ and by His mighty power He did ‖ bring in a Southern wind. ‖

27 He did rain down upon them Fleſh ‖ in plenty like the duſt; ‖ and like the Sand that bounds the Seas ‖ a Fowl that had a wing. ‖

28 And in the middeſt of their Camps ‖ He cauſed it to fall; ‖ yea, and in the whole circuit of ‖ their Habitations there. ‖

29 So they did eat thereof, and they ‖ were well repleniſhed; ‖ and He did bring to them the thing ‖ that was their own deſire. ‖

30 They were not yet eſtranged from ‖ what was their own deſire: ‖ their Meat they had ſo much deſir'd ‖ as yet was in their mouth; ‖

31 When the great Wrath of God did likea Fire aſcend on them; ‖ and ſlew their fat ones, and ſmote down ‖ the chief of Iſrael. ‖

32 But notwithſtanding all of this, ‖ they ſtill went on to Sin; ‖ and they did not give credit to ‖ His very wondrous works. ‖

33 Therefore He made their days to waſte ‖ away in vanity; ‖ yea, and their years in trouble which ‖ quickly diſpatched them. ‖

34 When He ſtruck them with Death, on this ‖ then they did ſeek to Him: ‖ Then they return'd, and early they ‖ enquired after God. ‖

35 Then they call'd to remembrance that ‖ God was their ſheltring Rock; ‖ and the High God claim'd ſtill to give ‖ Redemption unto them. ‖

36 Nevertheleſs with a falſe mouth, ‖ they did but flatter Him; ‖ and with their tongues that ſpoke ſo fair ‖ they did but lie to Him. ‖

37 For ſtill their heart with right intents ‖ was not reſolv'd for Him; ‖ nor in His Covenant did they ‖ uſe good fidelity. ‖

38 But being merciful, He did ‖ forgive iniquity; ‖ And He then did not upon them ‖ deſerv'd deſtruction bring: ‖ No, He did multiply the Acts ‖ in which He turn'd away ‖ His anger, and therewith He did ‖ not ſtir up all His wrath. ‖

39 For He remembred this of them; ‖ that they were feeble Fleſh, ‖ a Spirit that paſſeth away, ‖ and cometh not again. ‖

40 How often in the Deſert they ‖ provok'd Him bitterly! ‖ Have often in the Wilderneſs ‖ they irritated Him! ‖

41 Yea, they returned back unto ‖ their way or tempting God; ‖ Limits they alſo did preservable bed to Frank Holy One. ‖

42 They did not well remember what ‖ His Hand had wrought for them; ‖ the Day when He delivered them ‖ out of Adverſity. ‖

43 How He in Egypt wrought and ſet ‖ His moſt amazing Signs; ‖ and in the Field or Zoan there, His Works moſt wonderful, ‖

44 There He had with a ſtrange turn chang'd ‖ their Rivers into blood, ‖ and chang'd their Floods at ſuch a rate, ‖ they could not drink thereof. ‖

45 He ſent the Dog-fly upon them, ‖ which prey'd upon them ſore; ‖ He ſent the Frogs too which did bring, deſtruction upon them. ‖

46 Unto the Caterpillar He ‖ did give up their increaſe; ‖ and to the Locuſt He gave up ‖ what they had labour'd for. ‖

47 He kill'd their Vines with Hail, and their ‖ Sycomore Trees with Froſt. ‖

48 And left their Cattle to the Hail, ‖ their Flocks to Lightning too. ‖

49 He caſt on them His burning Wrath, ‖ Anger, and great Diſdain, ‖ with Trouble; Evil Angels were ‖ commiſſion'd for the work.

50 He for His Anger weigh'd a path; ‖ He ſpared not their Soul ‖ from Death, but He gave up their life ‖ unto the Peſtilence. ‖

51 All the Firſt-born of Egypt then ‖ He ſmote; The Firſt-fruits of ‖ their Forces, in the Tents that were ‖ inhabited by Cham. ‖

52 But He made His own People to ‖ go forth like unto Sheep; ‖ and He did in the Wilderneſs ‖ guide them like as a Flock. ‖

53 He did guide them in ſafety, ſo ‖ that they were not afraid; ‖ But the Sea overwhelmed them ‖ that were their Enemies. ‖

54 He brought them to the border of ‖ His Sanctuary here; ‖ the mountain which His own right Hand ‖ had made a purchaſe of. ‖

55 And He before their faces did ‖ caſt out the Nations there; ‖ yea, He did cauſe them for to fall ‖ in the divided Lotts, ‖ when there was to be caſt a Line ‖ for their inheritance; ‖ and in their Tents He made to dwell ‖ the Tribes of Iſrael. ‖

56 Yet they did by temptations try ‖ and bitterly provoke ‖ the moſt High God, and they kept not ‖ the things He teſtify'd. ‖

57 But they returned to their wont ‖ and dealt perfidiouſly, ‖ like to their Anceſtors; they warp'd ‖ like a deceitful bow. ‖

58 For that with their high places they ‖ provoked Him to wrath; ‖ and with their graven Images ‖ mov'd Him to jealouſy. ‖

59 This Thing when God the Judge did hear. ‖ He then was mov'd to wrath; ‖ yea, He with great abhorrence caſt ‖ contempt on Iſrael. ‖

60 So He the Tabernacle of ‖ Shiloh did then forſake; ‖ The Tent which He had plac'd for to ‖ cohabit there with Man. ‖

61 And He delivered his ſtrength ‖ into Captivity; ‖ yea, and His glory into the ‖ hand of the Enemy. ‖

62 He alſo His own People did ‖ ſhut up unto the Sword; ‖ and He was very angry with ‖ His own Inheritance. ‖

63 Their choice Young Men the Fire of wrath ‖ did greatly waſte away; ‖ and ſo their Virgins could not be ‖ prais'd to the Marry'd State. ‖

64 They that were Prieſts to Him did fall ‖ by the devouring Sword: ‖ but yet their Widows did not then ‖ their lamentations make. ‖

65 Then did the Lord awake, as one ‖ that had been faſt aſleep; ‖ He was like to a mighty Man ‖ ſhouting upon his wine. ‖

66 And He upon the hinder parts ‖ did ſmite his Enemies; ‖ He brought upon them a diſgrace ‖ that is perpetual. ‖

67 The Tabernacle alſo of ‖ Joſeph He did refuſe; ‖ and He plac'd not His choice upon ‖ the Tribe of Ephraim. ‖

68 No, but the Tribe of Judah He ‖ did pleaſe to make His choice; ‖ He choſe the Mount of Zion which ‖ He ſet His love upon. ‖

69 And He His Sanctuary did, ‖ build like high Palaces; ‖ Like to the Earth for which He does ‖ a long Foundation lay. ‖

70 David he alſo choſe to be ‖ a Servant unto Him; ‖ and fetch'd him from th' Incloſures where ‖ the Sheep were folded in. ‖

71 From following of the Ews with young ‖ He brought him for to feed ‖ Jacob that was His People, and ‖ Iſrael His Heritage. ‖

72 So he led them according to ‖ his hearts integrity; ‖ and led them in the manifold ‖ skilfulneſs of his hands. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXVIII. PSALM.

THE Pſalm foretells the Refection of the Ten Tribes for Crimes committed ſince their Separation; with a Promiſe of preſerving Judab, and the Houſe of David, from which the Meſſias was to be Born, who is to re-eſtabliſh Zion, and bring the People into Subjection to Himſelf.

9 Some think, this refers to the overthrow which the Iſraelites received, when the Philiſtines took from them the Ark of GOD. As the Ark ſo the Fight was then in the Territory of the Ephramites. ur here are, Dark ſayings of Old. The Jewiſh Traditions, and Commentaries on, 1 Chron. VII. 21. tell us; the Philiſtines had made ſome Inroads and Aſſaults on the Skirts of Goſhon, while the Iſraelites reſided there. The Iſraelites and particularly the Active Ephramites formed an Expedition againſt the Canaanites, preſuming to attack them in their own Country. But they came off unhappy Loſers; The Rabb •• s tell us, they loſt no leſs than Eight Thouſand Men. This they got by Anticipating and Pracipitating what GOD had to do for them. Yea, after the Death of the Twelve Patriarchs, they fell into all manner of Abominations. They committed innumerable Idolatries. They did forget and forego Circumciſion, the Covenant of GOD: This was the Reproach of Egypt. [Joſh. V. 9.]

12 Zoan, a very Ancient City, [Numb. XIII. 22.] called by the Greeks Tanis, near the Second Mouth of the Nile.

25 A Food prep •• e! by Angels! The Gloſs of Saidas is, Miniſtred by Angels.

30 q. d. They were not hindred from Fating as much as they pleaſed.

32 q. d. They were not moved by any of His wonderful Works, to Believe, That He was able to bring them into the Land of Promiſe.

49 The Apoſtle, Rom. II. 8, 9. uſes theſe very Words, when he mentions the Judgments of GOD on Wicked Men. An Intimation that GOD will put thoſe Miſerables into the Hands of Evil Angels.

60 Some chuſe to read it, The Tent which He had fixed in Adam. There was a Town called Adam. [Jeſh. III. 16. The waters roſe up in an Heap, afaroff, in Adam.] Adam was the Center where the Waters were parted; and where was the Station of the Ark, now ready to enter Jordan.

PSALM LXXIX. A Pſalm of Aſaph.

1 O God the Heathen are come in ‖ to thine Inheritance; ‖ Thy holy Temple they've defil'd; ‖ Jeruſ'lem laid in heaps, ‖

2 Dead Bodies of thy Servants they ‖ made meat for Fowls of Heav'n; ‖ and the fleſh of thy gracious ones ‖ for the Beaſts of the Earth. ‖

3 Their Blood they have like water ſhed ‖ around the Circuits of ‖ Jeruſalem, and there was none ‖ found that would bury them. ‖

4 We are made a reproach unto ‖ thoſe in our Neighbourhood; ‖ a ſcorn and a deriſion to ‖ them that encompaſs us. ‖

5 How long, O Thou ETERNAL God? ‖ Wilt thou forever be ‖ angry with us? Thy jealouſly ‖ ſhall it ſtill burn like fire? ‖

6 Thy burning wrath, O do thou pour ‖ upon the Nations down; ‖ which do not render unto thee ‖ any acknowledgments: ‖ And on the Kingdoms which have not ‖ called upon thy Name. ‖

7 For Jacob they've devour'd, and have ‖ laid waſte his dwelling place. ‖

8 Mind not againſt us former ſins; ‖ make haſte; Thy bowels, Oh! ‖ let them prevent us; for that we ‖ are brought exceeding low. ‖

9 O God whence our Salvation comes; ‖ Afford thy help to us; ‖ Becauſe there is concern'd therein ‖ the Glory of thy Name. ‖ And, Oh! do thou beſtow on us ‖ a full deliverance; ‖ cleanſe thou us alſo from our ſins, ‖ for the ſake of thy Name. ‖

10 Why ſay the Nations, Where's their God? ‖ Let our eyes ſee made known ‖ to Nations the revenge of blood ‖ they've of thy Servants ſhed. ‖

11 The ſighing of the Priſoner, let ‖ it come before thy face; ‖ To ſhow the greatneſs of thy Arm, ‖ Reſerve the ſons of Death. ‖

12 But to our Neighbours pay into ‖ their boſom ſeven-fold ‖ the vile reproach, with which they have ‖ reproached thee, O Lord. ‖

13 So we thy People, and the Sheep ‖ Thou feedeſt, Thee ſhall praiſe ‖ for time unknown; from Age to Age; ‖ we ſhall declare thy Praiſe, ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXIX. PSALM.

BEhold Jeruſalem deſtroyed by the Romans, and the Jewiſh Nation expoſed unto Deriſion in their long Diſperſion. Behold a fervent Prayer, that GOD would recompence upon the Idolatrous Nations their Cruelty towards the Jews; with a Promiſe to Celebrate the Praiſes of GOD, after their Deliverance, and the Deſtruction of Antichriſt.

PSALM LXXX. To the Chief Muſician. Upon Shuſhannim. Eduth. A Pſalm of Aſaph.

1 HEar, O Thou Iſraels Sheperd, who ‖ leadſt Joſeph as a Flock; ‖ Thou who doſt make thy Seat to be ‖ the Cherubim, Shine forth. ‖

2 Before the face of Ephraim, ‖ alſo of Benjamin, ‖ and of Menaſſeh, ſhow thy ſtrength, ‖ and come with help to us. ‖

3 O God, Cauſe thou us to return, ‖ and cauſe thy Countenance ‖ to ſhine forth upon us; ſo we ‖ ſhall our Salvation ſee. ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL One, who art ‖ the God of Hoſts? How long ‖ againſt thy Peoples Prayer wilt thou ‖ ſmoke with incenſed wrath? ‖

5 Thou feedeſt them but with a Bread ‖ that's mixed ſtill with tears; ‖ and thou doſt give them tears to drink, ‖ ev'n with a treble cup. ‖

6 Thou makeſt us a ſtrife unto ‖ them in our Neighbourhood; ‖ and they that are our Enemies ‖ do laugh among themſelves. ‖

7 Turn us again, O God of Hoſts, ‖ and cauſe thy Countenance ‖ to ſhine forth upon us; ſo we ‖ ſhall our Salvation ſee. ‖

Thou from its place in Egypt haſt caus'd to be brought a Vine; ‖ The Nations thou rejected haſt; ‖ and thou haſt planted it. ‖

9 Thou didſt evacuate all clear ‖ before the face of it; ‖ and thou didſt make it take deep root, ‖ until it fill'd the Land. ‖

10 The Mountains were well cover'd with‖ the ſpreading ſhade of it; ‖ and the Branches thereof did hide ‖ Cedars of God themſelves.‖

11 She did ſend forth her Branches wide, ‖ as far as to the Sea; ‖ and the ſlips cut from it ſhe ſent ‖ as far as to the River, ‖

12 But, Oh! why haſt thou broken down ‖ her hedges all of them? ‖ ſo that all they who do paſs by ‖ the way, do pluck at her. ‖

13 The Boar that comes out of the wood ‖ hath laid it very waſte; ‖ and the wild Beaſt that ranges in ‖ the field, devoureth it. ‖

14 Return, O God of Armies, we ‖ do humbly ask for it; ‖ look down from Heaven, and behold ‖ and viſit thou this Vine. ‖

15 Even the Plant which thy Right Hand ‖ hath planted in the Earth; ‖ and look upon the Branch which thou ‖ haſt ſtrengthen'd for thy ſelf. ‖

16 It is conſumed with the Fire; ‖ 'tis utterly cut down; ‖ they periſh from the ſtern rebuke ‖ of thy proveked face. ‖

17 Let thy Hand be upon the Man ‖ who is at thy Right Hand; ‖ Upon the Son of Man whom thou ‖ haſt ſtrengthen'd for thy ſelf.‖

18 So we ſhall never any more ‖ Apoſtatize from thee; ‖ O do thou quicken us, and we ‖ ſhall call upon thy Name. ‖

19 Make us return, ETERNAL God ‖ of Hoſts; Thy Countenance, cauſe to ſhine forth on us; ſo we ‖ ſhall our Salvation ſee.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXX. PSALM.

DE. Patrick thinks the Pſalm was enn in the Time of Hezekiah; who wrote a Circular Letter unto the Tribes, eſpecially Ephraim •• d M naſſeh, who were eſcaped out of the Hand of the Aſſyrian; that they would come to the Houſe of GOD at Jeruſal m. After this the Land was invade an ſorely diſ •• r ſſed by Senacherib; which was dou tleſs a grievous Diſcouragement unto them, who had o ned in the Reformation. This might move Aſaph, moſt earneſtly to beſeech of GOD, that He would ſtir up Himſelf, before Ephraim and M naſſ h, as well as Bon amin, (in which Tribe ſtood part of Jeruſalem and the Temple ) and let them ſee by a Remarkable Deliverance, that their Zeal was acceptable to Him. Theſe Three Tribes, may be alſo linked, becauſe they were the Tribes, which together followed the Ark, and brought up the Reer in the Camp of Iſrael. The Greek expreſly calls this, A Pſalm concerning the Aſſ rian. It is remarkable Hezekiah diſtreſt by the Aſſ rian, appl es himſelf to GOD in the very Language 〈◊〉 the Pſalm now before us. 2 Rin. XIX. 15, 16. Iſa XXXVII. 16, 17. But in the midſt of all, Behold t •• Jewiſh Nation under the oppreſſion of the Roman Enpire (called the Wild-Boar, becauſe it was one of t •• Standards of that Impire) waiting for Deliverance by the Hand of the Meſſiah.

1 Joſeph perſonally conſidered, was one like an Innocent Lamb fallen among a Company of Wolves. [Gen. XXXVII. 18.]

5 Hebr. In a Tieble Meaſure. The Talmud E pounds it, that the Captivity under Edom, that i Rome, will be a Cup Three times as large as that in Egypt, and that in Babylon, Three Times 400 Years, and Three Time 70 Years, at leaſt 1410 Years. D Kimchi obſerves, That the Captivity in Babylon was a Third part ſo long as the Capt vity in Egypt.

6 q. d. Our Neighbours are ever picking of Quarrel with us, or ſtriving among themſelves who ſhall make the greateſt Booty of us.

Channa, which we render, The Branch, is an Egyptian Word; very agreeably uſed when a Vine brought out of Egypt, had been ſpoken of. Beehart expounds it of the Hedera Chenoſitis.

17 Even the Targum of Jonathan the Jew, will confeſs that the King MESSIAH is here ſpoken of. Behold the Two Natures of the Meſſiah. He is the Man of GOD's Right Hand in regard of His Divinity; He is the Son of Adam in regard of His Humanity. In the Deſolation of the Vine here, doubtleſs the Spirit of Prophecy ultimately refers to the Deſtruction of the Jews, by the Roman Power. R. Solomon ſays well, Innuit Captivitatem Rome. The Boar out of the Wood, he calls, Eſau, that is the Roman; and ſays, 'Tis the Fourth Beaſt in the Viſions of Daniel. It is Remarkable, The Deſtruction of the Jews, begun with the ſetting up a Boar on the Gates of the Temple. GOD then ſaid unto them, Now the Boar out of the Wood is coming upon you!

PSALM LXXXI. To the Chief Muſician. Upon Gittith. Of Aſaph.

1 O Sing aloud unto the God ‖ in whom we have our ſtrength; ‖ O make a joyful noiſe unto ‖ the God of Jacob now.

2 Take up a Pſalm into your Mouth; And bring the Timbrel out; ‖ Bring out the pleaſant Harp, with it ‖ joining the Pſaltery. ‖

3 Sound with the Trumpet at the Time ‖ when the New Moon appears; ‖ at the appointed time; on the ‖ Day of our Feſtival. ‖

4 For this to Iſrael is ordain'd ‖ a Law of Jacobs God. ‖

5 This for a Teſtimony He ‖ to Joſeph did aſſign: ‖ He did it when thorough the Land of Egypt He went forth; ‖ A Land where I did hear a Tongue ‖ I did not underſtand. ‖

6 Twas this, His Shoulder I remov'd ‖ from the load laid on it; ‖ his hands did from the Basket then ‖ make an entire eſcape. ‖

7 When thou waſt in thy Trouble, thou ‖ didſt make a Cry to me; ‖ and I thereon did work for thee ‖ a great Deliverance. ‖ I'th' ſecret Place of Thunder I ‖ gave Anſwer unto thee; ‖ I prov'd thee at the Waters of ‖ Contentious Meribah. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 Hear, O my People, now, and I ‖ will teſtify to thee; ‖ O Iſrael, If that thou wilt ‖ now hearken unto me. ‖

9 There ſhall not any ſtrange God be ‖ acknowledged in thee; ‖ Nor unto any foreign God ‖ ſhalt thou bow down thy ſelf. ‖

10 I am JEHOVAH, Thy God who ‖ fetch'd thee up from the Land ‖ of Egypt; Open thou thy Mouth, ‖ and I'll repleniſh it. ‖

11 But, Oh! my People, they would not hearken unto my Voice; ‖ and Iſrael had no deſire ‖ to take Delight in me. ‖

12 So I did give him up unto ‖ the Luſt of their own heart; ‖ they in their own Inventions then ‖ went always walking on. ‖

13 My People, Oh! that they had been ‖ Obedient unto me; ‖ Oh! that in my directed Ways ‖ Iſrael had walked on! ‖

14 Their Adverſaries then I ſhould ‖ have quickly vanquiſhed; ‖ and on their Enemies I ſhould ‖ have quickly turn'd my hand. ‖

15 They that hate the ETERNAL God ‖ ſhould ſoon have fawn'd, on Him; ‖ But then their time would have endur'd ‖ to Perpetuity. ‖

16 He ſhould have alſo fed him with ‖ the fatneſs of the Wheat; ‖ and from the Rock with Honey I ‖ ſhould have repleniſh'd thee. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXI. PSALM.

THE Firſt Day of the Seventh Month was above others, A Day of blowing Trumpets. [Num. XXIX. 1.] And it being the firſt New Moon in the Year, the Trumpets were blown longer this Day than any other. Maimonides thinks it was to awaken their Preparation for the Solemn Day of Expiation, which was Ten Days after. It was the Day when Moſes ••• te being twice forty Dayes in the Mount) began to, •• e order for building the Tabernacle.

The Pſalm was compo ed for this Occaſion. GOD Himſelf is introduced in it as inſtructing them in the End of the Solemnity. And He ſhews the Jews (and us,) that their Diſobedience to Him is the Cauſe of all the Miſeries which be al them.

5 Was it the Egyptian Language. Or, ſhall we rather take Patricks Paraphraſe? We heard unto our Aſtoniſhment, (for we never before were acquainted with it) the Voice of God.

6 They were delivered from the dirty and ſordid Employments, wherein the Egyptians had employed them.

7 The Arabian Interpreter, has a Notable Paſſage here; Secret Prayers are like ſounding Thunder in the Ears of GOD. But the Thing moſt evidently referr'd unto is this; the People cried unto GOD in their Diſtreſs at the Red-Sea, and God confounded the Egyptians with Lightning and Thunder out of the Cloudy Pillar. [See Fxod. XIV. 10, 13. Pſalm LXXVIII. 18.]

PSALM LXXXII. A Pſalm of Aſaph.

1 IN the Aſſembly of our God ‖ there ſtandeth God the Judge; ‖ He in the middeſt of the God's ‖ does the part of a Judge. ‖

2 He ſaith, How long in Judgment will ‖ you do iniquity? ‖ and ſo accept the perſons of ‖ ſuch as are wicked ones? ‖

3 In Judgment ſee that you defend ‖ the Poor and Fatherleſs; ‖ do Juſtice to th' Afflicted one, ‖ and the impoveriſh'd. ‖

4 Accompliſh a deliverance for ‖ the Poor and Needy one; ‖ Out of the hands of wicked ones ‖ ſet them at liberty. ‖

5 They neither know nor underſtand: ‖ in darkneſs they walk on; ‖ all the foundations of the Earth ‖ are ſh ••••• ou of courſe. ‖

6 I've ſaid, Ye're God's; and all of you ‖ are Sons of the Moſt High. ‖

7 But ye ſhall dye like Men, and as ‖ one of the Princes fall. ‖

8 Ariſe, O God, and execute ‖ thou Judgment in the Earth; ‖ for thou ſhalt have all Nations to ‖ be thine Inheritance. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXII. PSALM.

IT appears by the laſt Verſe of the Pſalm, that it relates to the Time of the Divine Vengeance on the Antichriſtian Powers. It contains an Exhortation unto thoſe Powers to follow Righteouſneſs; and fo etells their total Deſtruction, when the Meſſiah ſhall come to eſtabliſh His Empire. Dr. Patrick refers the Pſalm to the days of Hezekiah; and makes it an Admonition unto the Judges then, to be more careful of their Duty, and Remember GOD who Judges them.

6 Reizius thinks, The Judges of Iſrael, on the account of the peculiar Theocercy, wherein they had their Station, had a claim to the Name of Elohim, above others in the World; but that our Lord JESUS CHRIST has now ſuperſceded the Title for them.

Nevertheleſs there is an Holy Uſe, that may ſtill be made of the Title. And as the Lord Bacon obſerves, All the Precepts concerning Magiſtrates, are effectually comprehended in thoſe two Remembrances; Remember that you are Gods, and, Remember that you are Men. The One Bridles their Will, the other their Power.

7 Like Men! — and not like Beaſts; For After Death the Judgment. One Obſerves further, That Beaſts live out their Time determined by Nature, unleſs Violence or Caſualty come in between, But Man di th in every Age; oſtner in Infancy then in any other Age

PSALM LXXXIII. A Song, A Pſalm of Aſaph.

1 AN intermitting ſilence let ‖ not be with Thee, O God; ‖ as one deaf hold thou not thy peace; ‖ and be not ſtill, O God. ‖

2 For that, behold thy Enemies ‖ make a tumultuous noiſe; ‖ and they that are thy haters do ‖ proudly lift up the head. ‖

3 Againſt thy People they have had ‖ cunning contrivances; ‖ and have their conſultations held ‖ againſt thy hidden ones. ‖

4 They've ſaid, Come let's deſtroy them quite ‖ to be no Nation now; ‖ That ſo the Name of Iſrael may ‖ be mentioned no more. ‖

5 For they their conſultations have ‖ cloſely together held ‖ with one conſent; againſt thee they ‖ do form a mutual league. ‖

6 'Tis what the Tents of Edom do, ‖ and of the Iſhmaelites; ‖ Moab aſſociates with them; ‖ ſo do the Hagarens. ‖

7 Gebal and Ammon do come inconjoin'd with Amalek; ‖ Philiſtia comes in with the ‖ Inhabitants of Tyre. ‖

8 Yea, the Aſſyrian ſo remote, ‖ is alſo join'd with them; ‖ They to the Sons of Lot became ‖ a very ſtrengthning Arm. ‖

9 O do to them as once thou didſt ‖ unto the Midianites; ‖ as Siſera, as Jabin once, ‖ by Kiſhon's Torrent were.

10 They at the Place call'd Endor did ‖ deſtruction undergo: ‖ They were ſcorn'd and unburied left ‖ as dung upon the Earth. ‖

11 Make them, yea, make their Nobles like to Oreb and to Zeeb; ‖ yea, •• ke to Zebah, and like to ‖ Zalmunna, all their Kings. ‖

12 They ſaid, We will Houſes of God ‖ f •• our poſſeſſion take. ‖

12 My God, Make them like to a wheel, ‖ as chaff before the wind. ‖

14 As the fire burns the wood and as ‖ the flame ſets hills on fire; ‖

15 So with thy Tempeſt follow them, ‖ and fright them with thy ſtorm. ‖

16 Make thou their faces to be full ‖ of ignominious ſhame; ‖ That they may ſeek thy Name, O Thou ‖ that art th' ETERNAL God. ‖

17 Let them be put to ſhame, and be ‖ forever terrify'd; ‖ with ſhame, yea, let them hang the head; ‖ and let them periſh quite. ‖

18 Let Men know, that Thou only haſt ‖ JEHOVAH for thy Name; ‖ Thou art the moſt High One, who doſt ‖ rule over all the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXIII. PSALM.

WAS the Pſalm compoſed on the Combination made againſt the Church in the days of Jehoſhaphat? And was the Writer of it, either Jabaziel one of Aſaph's Poſterity inſpired on this Occaſion? Or ſome other in thoſe days whoſe proper Name was Aſaph? Or, does the Pſalm take in all the Attempts made after that, until that made by the Aſſyrian, who came to do what the reſt had not been able to do? Then Dr. Patrick thinks the Aſaph who lived in the days of Hezekiah, may paſs for the Author. But after all, Dr. Allix here ſees a Prayer againſt the Followers of Antichriſt, and of Mahomet, who have ſought the Ruin of the Jewiſh Nation, and the Conqueſt of their Country. Compare the laſt Verſe with Zech. XIV. 9. which is to be accompliſh'd, after the Deſtruction of the Idumaans, and the Iſhmaelites; which are the Two Parties aforeſaid.

3 The Hidden Things, may be not only the People, whom GOD had hitherto protected as His Jewels; but alſo the Temple and the Secret-Place of it, which He had choſen for His Dwelling-Place.

PSALM LXXXIV. To the Chief Muſician. Upon Gittith. A Pſalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 HOw lovely are thy Tents, O Thou ‖ ETERNAL Lord of Hoſts? ‖

2 My Soul, it longs, yea, and it faints ‖ for to approach the Courts ‖ where the ETERNAL God is pleas'dto manifeſt Himſelf; ‖ My heart, yea, and my fleſh cry out ‖ t' enjoy the Living God. ‖

3 Even the Sparrow does find out ‖ an Houſe where ſhe may lodge; ‖ The Turtle too does find a Neſt ‖ where ſhe may lay her Young. ‖ But then my choice and cry is this; ‖ Thine Altars! There I'd be! ‖ O Thou ETERNAL Lord of Hoſts; ‖ my King, and Oh! my God! ‖

4 Bleſſed are they who in thy Houſe ‖ enjoy a dwelling place; ‖ they will perpetually be ‖ engag d in praiſing thee. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 O the vaſt Bleſſings of the Man ‖ who hath his ſtrength in thee! ‖ The beaten ways that lead thereto ‖ are in the heart of ſuch. ‖

6 Paſſing a Valley full of tears ‖ they meet a Fountain there; ‖ yea, and the Rain repleniſhes ‖ the Ciſterns ready there.

7 They go from one Company to ‖ another Company; ‖ Anon in Zion each appears ‖ before the Glorious God. ‖

8 O Thou ETERNAL One, who art ‖ the God of Armies, Hear ‖ my Prayer, and Thou that art the God ‖ of Jacob, O give ear. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 O God, Behold our Shield; the Face ‖ of thy Anointed ſee. ‖

10 For better than a thouſand is ‖ one Day within thy Courts; ‖ I on the Threſhold chuſe to keep ‖ in the Houſe of my God; ‖ rather than have my dwelling in ‖ the tents of wickedneſs. ‖

11 For the ETERNAL God, God is ‖ a Sun and Shield to us; ‖ and the ETERNAL God will give ‖ both Grace and Glory too: ‖ Yea, He'll deny no good to thoſe ‖ that walk in perfect ways.

12 JEHOVAH Tzebaoth, The Man ‖ is bleſs'd who hopes in thee. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXIV. PSALM.

OUR Allix here ſees a ſtrong deſire for the Jewiſh Nation to ſee themſelves re-eſtabliſh'd after their long Diſperſion, and Aſſemble together for the Worſhip of GOD. The Meſſiah is here mentioned, as He by whom that Work is to be accompliſh'd. Patrick thinks, The Pſalm was Compoſed by a Pious Levite in the Country, when Senacherib's Army had block'd up the way to Jeruſalem, and hindred them from waiting on the Service of GOD at the Temple; where he judged the loweſt Miniſtry, even that of a Porter, to be far more honourable, than the higheſt Perferment among the Pagans.

1 The Aſſemblies of Zion are, The Hoſts of the Lord.—O Miniſter of the Goſpel, Comfort thy ſelf in this; Thou ſhalt have ſuch Aſſemblies to Preach unto, as the Lord of Hoſts will order for thee.

3 Was the Tabernacle any Neſtin-Place for Birds? I rather ſuppoſe a rapturous Ap ſicp ſis here. The Sparrow hath found an Houſe; and the Turtle a Neſt for her ſelf;—But as for me, the Houſe, the Neſt, the Delightful Place which I chuſe for my ſelf; my cry is, Thine Altars, O Lord of Hoſts! With an abrupt outcry, he ſignifies, that He longed as much for the Altars of GOD, as a Sparrow for her Houſe, a Turtle for her Neſt.

But R. Solomon ſuppoſing the Pſalm to be Written in the Time of the Chaldean Captivity, the Temple then in Ruins, might have the Fowls lodging there. What we render, A Swallow, does as Bochart proves, property intend the Ring-Dove, or the Turtle.

5 q. d. Happy the Man who relying on the Divine Protection, [Exod. XXXIV, 24.] goes up Three Times a Year, to the Solemnities at Jeruſalem. Or, when he is debarr'd of that Liberty, as I now am, is one of thoſe devout Perſons, whoſe Hearts are more in the High-ways that lead thither, than at their own home; who travelling through the troubleſome Valley of Bacah, where there is no water, paſs it as chearfully, as if it abounded with Springs; depending on God the Fountain of all they want, for Showers to refreſh them in their Journey. The Patrician Paraphraſe.

6 It may alſo be rendred, The Teacher is filled with Bleſſings.

10 In the Heavenly World, there is a Temple, where the Worſhip of God is after a moſt Glorious manner carried on; Of which firſt Moſes, and afterwards David, had a marvellous Exhibition; And it was further Exhibited unto John, in his wonderful Viſions. The Third Heaven is the Holy of Holies in that Holy Temple of the Heavens, where the Majeſty of God, is peculiarly Exhibited in a Light that is inacceſſible. Doubtleſs many Paſſages in the Pſalms have an Eye ultimately unto that Glorious Temple in the Heavens, where GOD is Glorified by thoſe whom He receives in the Everlaſting Habitations. The Manſions of the Paradiſe, where the Departed Spirits of the Faithful are lodged until the Reſurrection, are the Courts of the Temple. Believer, Think on thoſe Manſions, and be caught up to Paradiſe, when thou ſingeſt about, The Courts of the Lord. Old Arnobius, the Younger, will ſtand by me in offering this Contemplation.

PSALM LXXXV. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm for the Sons of Korah.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thou haſt ‖ been gracious to thy Land; ‖ the Captiv'd ones of Jacob thou ‖ haſt brought them back again. ‖

Thou the iniquity of thy ‖ own People haſt forgiv'n; ‖ all the Sin found in them thou haſt ‖ entirely covered. ‖ Selah. ‖

3 All thy wrath thou haſt utterly ‖ taken away from them; ‖ Thou haſt recall'd thy anger from ‖ the heat it roſe unto.

4 Return thou us, O God in whom ‖ we our Salvation have; ‖ and towards us thine anger now, ‖ O do thou cauſe to ceaſe. ‖

5 Wilt thou be angry ſtill with us ‖ to perpetuity? ‖ Wilt thou make thy incenſed wrath ‖ extend from Age to Age? ‖

6 What? Wilt thou not return again? ‖ Yea, Thou wilt quicken us; ‖ and they that are thy People ſhall ‖ ſhine with bright joy in thee. ‖

7 O Thou ETERNAL God, Shew thou ‖ thy mercy unto us; ‖ and thy Salvation as a Gift ‖ upon us, O beſtow. ‖

8 Now will I liſten well to what ‖ God the ETERNAL One ‖ will pleaſe to ſpeak, becauſe He will ‖ ſpeak a moſt happy peace: ‖ Peace to His People, and to them ‖ that are His gracious ones; ‖ and they ſhall not return unto ‖ fooliſhneſs any more. ‖

9 Surely, to them that fear Him His ‖ Salvation's very near: ‖ that Glory may within our Land ‖ its habitation have. ‖

10 Mercy and Truth will meet together; ‖ Juſtice and Peace will kiſs; ‖

11 Truth will ſpring from the Earth, and from ‖ the Heav'ns will Juſtice look. ‖

12 Yea, the ETERNAL One will give ‖ the thing that's truly Good; ‖ and then our Land ſhall liberally ‖ bring forth her joyful fruit. ‖

13 Each one before his face ſhall make ‖ ſtill righteouſneſs to walk; ‖ and he ſhall regulate his ſteps ‖ for ſuch a beaten way. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXV. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here Prays for the Iſraelites under the marks of the Divine Anger in their Diſperſion, and comforts them with a Meditation on the Promiſes which GOD hath made by all the Prophets, to be one Day Reconciled unto them, and bring them again unto their own Land, and bleſs them under the Reign of the Meſſiah, abundantly and wonderfully.

8 Idolatry is emphatically Folly. It is Remarkable, The Jews have not relapſed into that Folly, ſince their Captivity in Babylon.

9 The Coming of the Meſſiah is thus looked for. Yea, the Words in the Original are, His JESUS is nigh them that fear Him. Glory.] Munſter's Gloſs is Excellent, Praeſentia Divinae Majeſtatis incarnatae.

11 Some of the Jewiſh Rabbi's (as R. Hadarſon, and R. Joden,) have here made a marvellous Remark. It is not ſaid here, Truth ſhall be engendred, but, It ſhall ſpring Forth. To ſignify that the Meſſiah whoſe Name is, The Truth, ſhall not be begotten as other Men are. And accordingly R. Haccadoſch proves out of the Scriptures, That the Mother of the Meſſiah muſt be a Virgin. He alſo proves, That as the Name of Him who firſt brought the Jews into the Land of Promiſe, was JESUS, the ſame ſhould be the Name of the Meſſiah, who comes to repeat ſuch a Deliverance for them.

13 Patrick's Paraphraſe runs thus, He ſhall govern us with great Juſtice and Mercy, having His faithful Promiſe always before His Eyes. From that Rule He ſhall never ſwerve, but ſtedfaſtly proceed by it, as the conſtant method He will hold in His Divine Adminiſtrations.

Munſter's Gloſs is notable; Juſtus quiſque ſtudebit ambulare ante Deum, et ponere greſſus ſuos in Via Mandatorum Dei.

PSALM LXXXVI. A Prayer of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, Bow down ‖ thine Ear, and hear thou me; ‖ Becauſe I am an humbled one, ‖ and I am indigent. ‖

2 Preſerve my Soul, ſince that I am ‖ one that is merciful; ‖ Save, thou my God, thy Servant who ‖ does place His hope in thee. ‖

3 O Lord in whom is my ſupport, ‖ Be merciful to me; ‖ Becauſe that I do cry to thee ‖ all day * and every day. ‖

4 Rejoyce the Soul of him that is ‖ a Servant unto thee; ‖ Becauſe that unto thee, O Lord, ‖ I do lift up my Soul. ‖

5 For Thou, O Lord art Good, and art ‖ moſt ready to forgive, ‖ and great in mercy unto all ‖ that make their cry to thee. ‖

6 O Thou ETERNAL God, To my ‖ Petition O give ear; ‖ and to the Voice of my requeſts ‖ for favour, O attend. ‖

7 In the day when that I into ‖ a tribulation fall, ‖ then will I make my cry to thee; ‖ for thou wilt anſwer me. ‖

8 Among the God's, O Lord, there's none to be compar'd to thee; ‖ nor are there any works that may ‖ be lik'ned unto thine. ‖

9 The Nations all which thou haſt made ſhall come, and they ſhall bow ‖ their kne before thy face, O Lord, ‖ and glorify thy Name. ‖

10 Becauſe that in thy Greatneſs thou ‖ art very glorious; ‖ and doſt things that are wonderful; ‖ yea, Thou art God alone. ‖

11 ETERNAL God, Teach me thy way; ‖ I in thy truth will walk; ‖ Unite my heart for Thee, and to ‖ the fearing of thy Name. ‖

12 I will praiſe thee, O Lord my God, ‖ even with all my heart; ‖ and I will glorify thy Name ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

13 Becauſe thy mercy unto me ‖ is gloriouſly great; ‖ and from the pit below thou haſt ‖ delivered my Soul. ‖

14 O God, Againſt me riſe the proud, ‖ and an aſſembly of ‖ ſtrong ones have ſought my Soul, and not ‖ ſet thee before themſelves. ‖

15 But Thou, Lord, art a God full of ‖ Mercy, and Gracious art; ‖ Long ſuffering and plentiful ‖ in Mercy and in Truth. ‖

16 O look on me, and pitty me; ‖ Afford thy ſtrength unto ‖ thy Servant; and the Son of thine ‖ Handmaid deliver thou. ‖

17 Shew me a ſign for good, which my ‖ haters may ſee, and be ‖ aſham'd; ſince Thou, ETERNAL God, ‖ doſt help and comfort me. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXVI. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here makes a Prayer for the Jewiſh Nation, oppreſſed by the King of Pride, who is deſcribed in the XI Chapter of Daniel. 'Tis engaged, that when the Mercies asked and hoped for, are granted, what is done ſhall be celebrated before all the Nations. The Signs which are to uſher in their Deliverance, are in the laſt Verſe Petitioned for.

16 R. David Kimchi thinks, the Handmaid here more peculiarly referr'd unto, may be Ruth the Moabiteſs. —Behold then, in this Language of the Meſſiah, 2 powerful Memorial, for the Vocation of the Gentiles. But attend unto a wondrous matter. The Meſſiah, as here, ſo elſewhere, and ever, is introduced as ſpeaking of His Mother alone; without the leaſt intimation of His Father. An occult intimation, That He was to have a proper Mother, but no proper Father in this World, and by Conſequence He was to be the Son of a Pure Virgin. Compare, Pſal. XXII. 9, 10. and XXXV. 14. and LXIX. 8. and LXXI. 6. and CXVI. 16. and CXXXI. 2. and CXXXIX. 13. and Iſai. XLIX. 1.

PSALM LXXXVII. A Pſalm. A Song for the Sons of Korah.

1 HE in the holy Mountains hath ‖ His firm foundation laid. ‖

2 Th' ETERNAL God loves Zions Gates ‖ more than all Jacob's Tents. ‖

3 City of God, Of thee there are ‖ ſpoken moſt glorious things. ‖ Selah. ‖

4 Of Rahab, and of Babylon ‖ I will make mention now ‖ among them that acknowledge me; ‖ Behold Philiſtia, ‖ and Tyre, with Ethiopia; ‖ There ſuch an one was Born. ‖

5 Of Zion then it ſhall be ſaid, ‖ This and that worthy Man ‖ was born in her; and the moſt High ‖ Himſelf ſhall ſtabliſh her. ‖

6 When the ETERNAL God ſhall write ‖ the Peoples in His Roll, ‖ This is the thing He ſhall declare, ‖ There ſuch an one was born. ‖ Selah. ‖

7 There as the Singers are, ſo are ‖ Players on inſtruments; ‖ And as for me the ſprings of all ‖ my Good are found in thee. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXVII. PSALM.

BEhold, How the Iſraelites are one Day to be acknowledged among the Nations, and ſeparated from among them; Tho' there ſhall be then many Proſelytes. Compare Iſa. XIX. 18.

4 Rahab (which in the Egyptian Tongue ſignifies a Pear) is, as Bochart Shows, the Name of that famous three Square part of Egypt, formed by the ſeveral Mouths of Nilus, which is called the Delta of Egypt. And ſo all Egypt came to have the Name.

It is a Gloſs of Munsters here; Agnoſcam inter Populum meum, et hos qui extremifuere beſtes populi mei.

5 Now and then, ſome one Single Man of Eminency born in other Countries: But in Zion, there is Man and Man, many very eminent Men.

Again, Proſelytes from all theſe Countries came to worſhip at Jeruſalem. And tho' they were born in other Countries, yet the Lord writes them down as if Born in Zion.

7 The Spaniſh Tranſlation reads it (as D. Kimchi does) My Eyes are upon Thee; meaning the Eyes of a Watchful Providence.

But R. Solomon keeping to the Term of Springs, underſtands the Fathers of whom the Meſſiah was to come. Compare Pſalm. LXVIII. 26.

Take Munſters Gloſs; Quicquid unquam inveniri poteſt Laudis et Preconij, erit in Zion, ad Extollendam Dei Bonitatem, qui filium ſuum pro totius Mundi Salutetrad dit; meraeque Scaturigines Sanctarum Meditationum, Cogitationum, et Locutionum divinarum erunt in eis.

PSALM LXXXVIII. A Song. A Pſalm for the Sons of Korah. To the Chief Muſician. Upon Mahalath Leannoth. Maſchil. Of Heman the Ezrahite.

1 O Thou ETERNAL One, the God ‖ whence my Salvation comes. ‖ By Day, by Night, before thee I ‖ make my Complaining Cry. ‖

2 Before thy Face, O let my Prayer ‖ a free Admiſſion have; ‖ Unto the Cry I make with Grief ‖ do Thou incline thine Ear. ‖

3 For that my Soul with Trouble is ‖ fully repleniſhed; ‖ for that my Life is very near ‖ come down unto the Pit. ‖

4 I reckon'd am with them who do ‖ deſcend into the Grave; ‖ I am become like to a Man ‖ that has no ſtrength in him.

5 Among the Dead I am expos'd ‖ Free to all ſorts of wrongs; ‖ I am like to the Slain who do ‖ Sleep in the Sepulchre. ‖ Such as thou doſt not any more ‖ ſhow a Remembrance of; ‖ Ev'n ſuch as Violently are ‖ cut off by thy Hands blow. ‖

6 Thou haſt for my place order'd me ‖ the Pit that is below; ‖ In Darkneſs Thou haſt placed me, ‖ in the devouring Deeps. ‖

7 Thy Wrath is lying upon me ‖ like to a mighty Weight; ‖ and with all thy Tempeſtuous Waves ‖ Thou haſt afflicted me. ‖ Selah. ‖

8 Thoſe that were known to me thou haſt ‖ put far from me; and made ‖ me loathſome unto them; I am ‖ ſhut up, and can't come forth. ‖

9 Mine Eye does thro' Affliction waſte; ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ I call upon thee every Day; ‖ I ſtretch my Hands to Thee. ‖

10 For ſuch as do lye dead wilt Thou ‖ work a thing Wonderful? ‖ Shall the deceaſed ones ariſe ‖ and celebrate thy Praiſe. ‖? Selah. ‖

11 Shall thy Benignity be in ‖ the Sepulchre declar'd; ‖ or ſhall there in deſtruction be ‖ declar'd thy Faithfulneſs? ‖

12 In darkneſs ſhall thy Work that is ‖ moſt wonderful be known? ‖ Thy Righteouſneſs alſo in the ‖ Land of Forgetfulneſs? ‖

13 But O ETERNAL God, I have ‖ made unto Thee my Cry; ‖ and in the Morning ſhall my Prayer ‖ anticipate Thee ſtill. ‖

14 O Thou ETERNAL God, Wherefore ‖ doſt Thou caſt off my Soul? ‖ Wherefore doſt Thou ſo hide away ‖ from me thy Countenance? ‖

15 I am a poor afflicted One; ‖ and ready for to dye ‖ from early Youth; Thy Terrors I ‖ have born till I'm amaz'd. ‖

16 Thy Burning Indignations have ‖ been paſſing over me; ‖ Thy Terrors full of Troubles have ‖ utterly cut me off. ‖

17 Like Water they've ſurrounded me ‖ all day * and every day; ‖ they all together in an heap ‖ have round encompaſs'd me. ‖

18 Thou Lover and Companion haſt ‖ removed far from me; ‖ and into hideous Darkneſs thoſe ‖ that once were known to me. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXVIII. PSALM.

CHriſtian, Behold thy Crucified SAVIOUR going down into the Priſon of the Grave!

Dr. Patrick thinks it probable, that when Jeconiab or Zedekiah, was carried Captive into Babylon, with many other principal People, this our Heman was among them; and probably was caſt into a Dark Priſon there, and miſerably treated.

3 It notably expreſſes a Prognoſtic and an Harbinger of Death, commonly obſerved in the Experience of Godly Men. A little before their Death, when their Life draws nigh to the Grave, uſually their Soul is more full of Troubles, then ever in their Life before, by reaſon of Troubleſome Things befalling them, in their Perſons and Families.

5 Chriſtian Singer, Behold thy SAVIOUR here, Firſt, Free among the Dead. Underſtand it not of that Libertas M rtuorum, which was the Conſolation of the Pagans about the actually and perfectly Dead. But underſtand it as the Extremity and Epitome of the Miſeries undergone by our SAVIOUR. Vitringa obſerves, The Torm notes, A Separation from all Mankind, which moſt eminently befell our Lord, when He was hanged on the Croſs between Heaven and Earth, and all Commerce with Man was denied unto Him, and He was treated as the Execration of the whole World, and expoſed as Free, ſo that it was free for every 〈◊〉 to do what they would unto Him, and ſpeak what th •• would about Him. It implies a State, In quo qu ••• ſumme miſer, ab aliis de relinquitur, ſpernitur, vif ••• tur. A Leper was indeed ſuch a Free-Man. Hi •• Houſe was call'd, 2 Kin. XV. 5. An Houſe of Liberty Our Lord on the Croſs compares Himſelf, Iſai. LIII. 〈◊〉 to A ſtricken Man; that is, with a Leproſy. Ever one abandoned ſuch a Man. Cocceius tells us, Th ••• Word uſed here, is what is uſed, Pro Publication Perſonae, for the Expoſing of a Perſon to all manner 〈◊〉 Injury, Violence, and Contumely. On the Croſs 〈◊〉 Saviour was as the Apoſtle ſays, Act. II. 23. Ex •••• Expoſed unto all the Wrongs imaginable. Our Lor •• thus Expoſed here, counts Himſelf, Among the Dead. He was now next unto the State of Death. But more than ſo; The Croſs was eſteemed the Grave of the Crucified. The Romans left them there, to be corrupted or devoured. Our Lord was now, Like the Slain lying in the Grave. The Word, Slain, ſignifies Pierced; The Hebrews have not a more ſignificant Word for, The Crucified.

PSALM LXXXIX. Maſchil. Of Ethan the Ezrahito.

1 THe Mercies of th' ETERNAL God ‖ I will forever Sing; ‖ Thy Faithfulneſs I'll with my mouth ‖ make known from Age to Age. ‖

2 For I have ſaid, Benignity ‖ ſhall be built up forever; ‖ The Heavens! thou eſtabliſh ſhalt ‖ thy faithfulneſs in them. ‖

3 I've made a Covenant with Him ‖ that is my choſen one; ‖ To David (the Beloved one) ‖. my Servant, I have ſworn. ‖

4 Thy Seed, I will eſtabliſh it ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ and I will make to laſt and grow ‖ thy Throne from Age to Age. ‖ Selah. ‖

5 ETERNAL God, The Heavens ſhall ‖ confeſs thy wondrous one; ‖ yea, and thy faithfulneſs in the ‖ Aſſembly of the Saints. ‖

6 For who in Heav'n may be compar'd ‖ to the ETERNAL God? ‖ Among the Sons of mighty ones; ‖ who's like th' ETERNAL God? ‖

7 God in the great Aſſembly of ‖ the Saints is to be fear'd; ‖ and to be reverenc'd above ‖ all that encompaſs Him. ‖

8 O Thou ETERNAL God of Hoſts, ‖ Strong JAH, Who's like to thee? ‖ Thy Faithfulneſs does alſo round ‖ about encompaſs thee. ‖

9 Over the raging of the Sea ‖ thou thy Dominion haſt; ‖ when that the waves thereof ariſe ‖ then thou aſſwageſt them. ‖

10 Egyptian Rahab thou haſt broke, ‖ 'tis as a wounded one; ‖ with the Arm of thy ſtrength thou haſt ‖ ſcatter'd thine Enemies. ‖

11 The Heavens, they belong to thee, ‖ the Earth is alſo thine; ‖ the World and all that filleth it, ‖ thou haſt diſpoſed them. ‖

12 Both the North and the South alſo, ‖ Thou haſt created them; ‖ Tabor and Hermon, Weſt and Eaſt, ‖ ſhall in thy Name rejoyce. ‖

13 Thou haſt an Arm to which there does ‖ a mighty ſtrength belong; ‖ Mightily ſtrengthen'd be thy hand, ‖ exalted thy Right-Hand. ‖

14 Juſtice and Judgment are the firm ‖ Foundation of thy Throne; ‖ Mercy and Truth ſhall go before ‖ thy face, as Officers. ‖

15 O bleſſed are the People, who ‖ do know the joyful ſound; ‖ They, O ETERNAL, walk in the ‖ light of thy Countenance. ‖

16 They in thy Name ſhall ſtill rejoyce ‖ all day * and every day; ‖ and in thy righteouſneſs they ſhall ‖ an Exaltation have. ‖

17 Becauſe thou art the Glory of ‖ the ſtrength which they enjoy; ‖ and in thy favour ſhall our horn ‖ be lifted up on high. ‖

18 Becauſe that the ETERNAL One ‖ is our protecting Shield: ‖ and He that is the Holy One ‖ of Iſrael is our King. ‖

19 Then didſt thou ſpeak in viſion to ‖ thy gracious One, and ſay; ‖ I've laid the Help that's hoped for, ‖ upon a Mighty One: ‖ I have exalted One who is ‖ out of the People choſe. ‖

20 My Servant David I have found; ‖ (even the Beloved one;) I have anointed Him with the ‖ Oil of my Holineſs; ‖

21 With whom my hand ſhall be confirm'd ‖ and my Arm ſtrengthen Him. ‖

22 The Enemy ſhall not impoſe ‖ exactions upon Him; ‖ and the ſon of iniquity ‖ ſhall lay no yokes on Him. ‖

23 Yea, I'll beat down before His face ‖ thoſe who do trouble Him; ‖ and them that are haters of Him ‖ I'll ſmite with waſting plagues. ‖

24 But ſtill my Faithfulneſs, and my ‖ Mercy ſhall be with Him; ‖ and in my Name His horn ſhall be ‖ exalted very high. ‖

25 I on the Sea will cauſe His hand ‖ Dominion to exert; ‖ and on the Rivers His right hand ‖ to do what He ſhall pleaſe.

26 He ſhall invoke me at this rate, ‖ Thou art my Father; Thou!Thou art my God; and Thou the Rock ‖ of my Salvation art. ‖

27 Yea, to be my firſt-born is what ‖ I ſhall allow to Him; ‖ to be the Higheſt one, above ‖ the Monarchs of the Earth. ‖

28 My Mercy I will keep for Him ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ and faſt my Covenant ſhall ſtand‖ confirmed unto Him. ‖

29 His Offspring I will cauſe to be ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ yea, His Throne ſhall continue like‖ unto the days of Heaven. ‖

30 If that His Children by their Sin ‖ do violate my Law, ‖ and if they in my Judgments don't ‖ maintain their conſtant walk;‖

31 If they profanely do deſpiſe ‖ the things which I appoint; ‖ and if they do not carefully ‖ keep my Commandements; ‖

32 Their proud tranſgreſſions then beſure‖ I'll viſit with a rod; ‖ and their perverſe iniquity ‖ with ſcourges that ſhall wound. ‖

33 Nevertheleſs, my Mercy I ‖ will not make void to Him; ‖ nor will I falſify againſt‖ the Faith I've given Him. ‖

34 I will not by the breach of it ‖ pollute my Covenant; ‖ and what is gone out of my lips, ‖ I will not alter it. ‖

35 Once have I by my Holineſs ‖ taken my ſolemn Oath; ‖ To David I will never lye‖ (To the Beloved one.)

36 His Offspring ſhall continue ſtill I to perpetuity; ‖ and his Throne ſhall before me be I even like unto the Sun. ‖

37 It ſhall be ſtabliſh'd like the Moon ‖ to perpetuity; ‖ and there's the faithful Witneſs, there'sthe Rainbow, in the sky. ‖ Selah. ‖

38 But now thou haſt rejected and ‖ expreſſed much diſdain: ‖ And againſt thy Anointed One ‖ thou haſt been very wroth. ‖

39 The Covenant of him that was ‖ thy Servant haſt thou null'd; ‖ his Crown thou haſt prophaned by ‖ caſting it to the ground.‖

40 Thou haſt quite broken down all of ‖ the things that hedged him; ‖ Thou haſt brought unto ruin his ‖ Holds that were ſortify'd. ‖

41 All who do paſs along the road ‖ do tear and trample him; ‖ he is become a vile reproach ‖ unto his neighbourhood. ‖

42 Thou haſt exalted the right hand ‖ of them who trouble him; ‖ thou haſt made them for to rejoyce ‖ who are his enemies. ‖

43 The whetted edge of his Sword thou‖ haſt giv'n a turn unto; ‖ and in the Battle thou haſt not ‖ enabled him to ſtand. ‖

44 His pure and glorious luſtre, thou ‖ haſt cauſed that to ceaſe; ‖ and overturning of his Throne: caſt it unto the ground. ‖

45 The days of his protected youth‖ thou haſt diminiſhed; ‖ with ignominious ſhame thou haſt ‖ quite overwhelmed him. ‖ Selah. ‖

46 ETERNAL God, How long wilt thou‖ conceal thy ſelf? forever? ‖ Shall thy incenſed wrath burn like ‖ to a devouring Fire? ‖

47 Remember thou, that as for me, ‖ how little is my time! ‖ Wherefore haſt thou created all ‖ the ſons of Men in vain? ‖

48 What Man ſhall live, ſo that he ſhall‖ never ſee Death at all? ‖ From the hand of the pit ſhall he‖ deliver his own Soul?‖ Selah.‖

49 Thy Ancient loving kindneſſes, ‖ O Lord, where are they now? ‖ Ev'n what thou in thy truth haſt ſworn‖to David, (the Belov'd?)

50 Lord, The reproach of them that are ‖ thy People bear in mind; ‖ of all the mighty People I ‖ do bear upon my heart. ‖

51 Becauſe that, O ETERNAL God, ‖ thy Enemies have reproach'd ‖ for they've reproach'd the footſteps of ‖ CHRIST, thy Anointed One.‖

52 May the ETERNAL God be own'd ‖ as the moſt bleſſed One, ‖ to an unknown Eternity; ‖ Amen, we ſay, Amen! ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the LXXXIX. PSALM.

BEhold the Prophetic Spirit, propounding the Grounds of Hope, which the Jewiſh Nation have u their Diſperſion; even the ſure Promiſes made unto David, concerning the Glorious Kingdom of the Meſſiah, The Throne of David for many Ages overthrown ſhall be exalted at the Second Coming of the Meſſiah, as James in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Acts, proves from the Prophecies of Amos. And this is here asked for.

4 The Promiſe is too Glorious to have a Completion in Solomon, and the other Kings of Judah. In the Pſalm there is a diſcernible diſtinction, between, The Seed of David, and The Sons of David. The Seed is the Meſſiah. The Sons are the other Deſcendents.

5 By the Heavens are meant the Angels, [Compare Job XV. 15. with IV. 18. See alſo, Pſal. L. 4, 6.] The Wonder here is that moſt Wonderful One, the Meſſiah. [Iſai. IX. 6.]

7 'Tis very ſurprizing that ſeveral of the Jewiſh Rabbi's countenance this Reading of the Verſe; God is Bruiſed in (or, A Bruiſed God is in) the Great Myſtery of the Holy Ones. [Compare, Iſai. LIII. 4. and 1 Tim. III. 16. and Wonder!]

12 Tabor and Hermon, is, q. d. Weſt and Eaſt.

15 The Joyful Sound of the Trumpet, which called the People unto the Service of God. [Numb. X. 10.]

19 It may nextly refer to the Revelation which GOD gave in a Viſion unto the Holy Samuel; [I Sam. XVI.] concerning the Deliverer, which He would raiſe up for His People. That Chapter well conſidered, will give a notable Key to this whole Context.

25 On the one hand, he was to conquer the Philiſtines. and thoſe who lived on the Coaſt of the Sea, and on the other hand, the Syrians as far as Tygris & Euphrates.

37 Is not the Faithful Witneſs in Heaven, the RAINBOW?— This leads to ſome curious tho'ts on the Scriptures, wherein we find the Rainbow mentioned, with Relation to the Kingdom of our Saviour.

51 It was objected unto the Jews, Meſſiam ſu m eſſe tardigradum: That the Meſſiah took but ſlow Steps in His Coming. But the Word which we render Footſteps, moſt properly ſignifies, the Heel of a Mans Foot, and it is tranſlated from thence to ſignify the End of a thing. The Enemy now boaſted that they ſaw the Kingdom of David on its laſt Legs; They reproachfully inſulted it, as come to an End. The Truth is, it never was reſtored unto that Family until the Coming of our JESUS, the Great Son of David. And unto the Meſſiah ſundry Paſſages in the Pſalm, are applied by the Jews: in both the Bereſchith; and in other Books: and Aben-Ezra, and R. Solomon conſent unto it.

THE FOURTH BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM XC. A Prayer of Moſes, the Man of God.

1 LORD, Thou haſt evermore o us ‖ an Habitation been, ‖ from one Age to another Age, ‖ ſweetly protecting us.

2 Before the Mountains were brought forth ‖ or thou hadſt form'd the Earth, ‖ and World, even from Age to Age, ‖ Thou art the Mighty God. ‖

3 Thou to deſtruction doſt reduce ‖ poor miſerable Man; ‖ and then thou ſaiſt, O Children of ‖ Adam, Return again. ‖

4 Becauſe a thouſand of years, they do ‖ appear unto thine eyes ‖ but as a yeſterday when paſt; ‖ and but a watch by Night. ‖

5 Thou ſweep'ſt them off as with a Flood; ‖ they're like unto a ſleep; ‖ they're in the morning like the graſs; ‖ 'tis, Oh! how tranſient ‖

6 Tis in the morning flouriſhing; ‖ but ſtill, how changeable! ‖ For in the Ev'ning tis cut down ‖ and then 'tis wither'd quite. ‖

7 Becauſe we're utterly conſum'd ‖ by thy moſt burning wrath; ‖ and by thy heated anger we ‖ have fears how troubleſome! ‖

8 Thou haſt ſet our iniquities ‖ before thee in thy view; ‖ what we have hidden is in the ‖ light of thy Countenance. ‖

9 Becauſe that in thy wrath all of ‖ our days are paſs'd away; ‖ we do conſume our years like to ‖ a ſtory, told and paſs'd.

10 The days of all our years, in them ‖ there are but Seventy years; ‖ or if they are in doubled ſtrength ‖ then they are Fourſcore years. ‖ But yet their power which is our pride, ‖ 'tis labour and 'tis pain; ‖ becauſe that it is ſoon cut off, ‖ and ſo we fly away. ‖

11 Who ſo conſiders as to know ‖ what power thine anger has? ‖ yea, ev'n according to thy fear, ‖ ſo is thy flaming wrath. ‖

12 For the right numbring of our days ‖ To do thou give the skill; ‖ and unto wiſdom we ſhall then ‖ apply this heart of ours.

13 Return, O Thou ETERNAL God; ‖ How long yet ſhall it be? ‖ And O be thou appeas'd for them ‖ who're ſervants unto thee. ‖

14 O ſatisfy us early with ‖ thy kind benignity; ‖ ſo we ſhall all our days rejoyce ‖ and be exceeding glad. ‖

15 According to the days whereinthou haſt afflicted us, ‖ the years wherein we have ſeen ill, ‖ now do thou make us glad. ‖

16 To them that are thy Servants now ‖ O let thy work be ſeen; ‖ thy glory alſo unto thoſe ‖ that are their Children here.

17 And let the lovely brightneſs of ‖ the Lord who is our God, ‖ with a conſpicuous luſtre beſeen ſhining upon us; ‖ And the work of our hands, do thou ‖ eſtabliſh upon us; ‖ yea, the work of our hands do thou ‖ firmly eſtabliſh it. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XC. PSALM.

R. David Kimchi takes the Pſalm to be made by the Prophetic Spirit, with an Eve to the laſt and long Diſperſion, under which the Jewiſh Nation is now Languiſhing. But will the Holy One give that People, as long Time under His Bleſſing, as they have had under His Anger? One of the Ancients has a Pious Fancy here. The Name of Moſes is, One drawn from under the Waters. And ſo, ſays he, This is a Pſalm eſpecially cut out for all Baptized Perſons.

1 Munſter thinks, here might be an Eye to the Tabernacle in the Wilderneſs. GOD Himſelf was this, and more than this, and before this was Built, unto His People.

4 When I read Arnobius here obſerving, That a Watch is the Fourth part of a Night, it preſently led me to think, how Four Thouſand Years paſſed, and then aroſe the Sun of Righteouſneſs unto the World; by whom is to be accompliſhed that Reſurrection of the Dead which is here waited and groaned for: When He who turned Man to Deſtruction, ſhall ſay, Return ye Children of Men.

8 Chemnitius, by, our Secret, here, would have Original Sin to be underſtood; whereof tho' the Fruits are evident and notorious, the Root is yet Secret.

9 The Ancients read it, Like a Spider. And ſuch was their Gloſs upon, Ut Aranearum Tela, ſic bumana Vita convellitur.

10 Dr. Goodwin obſerves here, an Alluſion to the Condition of a Bird, which has been hatching its full time. When the time for it arrives, the Shell breaks, and it flies away. Death is the breaking of the Shell.

11 Unto the common Annotations I will add that of P. Amana; Siquis te timeat, ira tua ab illo deſcedit. The Fear of GOD, will deliver us from His Wrath.

12 R. Solomon is mighty nice here; obſerving that the Letters of the Hebrew Word, Chen, SO, conſidered as Numerals, make the Number of Seventy.

16 A CHRIST is here asked for!

17 Dr. Patrick thinks, The Beauty of the Lord, here may mean, the Lovely and Pleaſant Land of Promiſe. [Compare, Gen. XLIX. 15. Deut. VIII. 7, 8.]

PSALM XCI.

1 HE who dwells in the ſecret place ‖ of Him who's the moſt High, ‖ under the ſhadow he ſhall lodge ‖ of the Almighty One. ‖

2 I'll ſay to the ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou'rt my ſecurity, ‖ and thou'rt my tower, my God in whom ‖ I place my confidence. ‖

3 Surely He ſhall deliver thee ‖ out of the Fowler's ſnare; ‖ He ſhall deliver thee from the ‖ malignant peſtilence. ‖

4 He with His wings ſhall cover thee; ‖ and thou ſhalt be ſecure ‖ under His wings; His truth ſhall be ‖ a buckler and a ſhield. ‖

5 Of what's the terror of the night ‖ thou ſhalt not be afraid; ‖ nor of the arrow which by day ‖ does make a ſiniſter flight. ‖

6 Not of the peſtilence which does ‖ in darkneſs take its walk, ‖ nor of ſuch a deſtruction as ‖ does at the noon-day waſte. ‖

7 A thouſand at thy ſide ſhall fall ‖ and cloſe at thy right hand ‖ ſhall fall ten thouſand; unto thee ‖ it ſha'n't come nigh at all. ‖

8 Thou only ſhalt conſiderately ‖ behold it with thine eyes; ‖ and thou ſhalt ſee the recompence ‖ diſpens'd to wicked men. ‖

9 Becauſe Thou, O ETERNAL God ‖ art my ſecurity. ‖ So haſt thou gone to the moſt High ‖ as to thy dwelling place. ‖

10 There ſhall not any evil thing ‖ happen to thee at all: ‖ nor ſhall there any plague near to ‖ thy habitation come. ‖

11 For He ſhall to His Angels give ‖ a charge concerning thee; ‖ that they in all thy ways may have ‖ thee in their cuſtody. ‖

12 They like to tender nurſes ſhall ‖ in both hands carry thee; ‖ leſt that thou ſhouldeſt daſh thy foot ‖ againſt ſome hurtful ſtone. ‖

13 Thou ſhalt victorious tread on the ‖ black ſerpent and the aſp; ‖ the dragon and great dragon thou ‖ ſhalt trample underfoot. ‖

14 Becauſe he hath ſo loved me, ‖ therefore I'll reſcue him; ‖ becauſe that he hath known my Name, ‖ I will ſet him on high. ‖

15 On me he'll call; and Him I'll hear; ‖ when he's in trouble, then ‖ I'll be with him; I'll reſcue him, ‖ and I will honour him. ‖

16 I'll fully ſatisfy him with ‖ extended length of days; ‖ when upon my Salvation ‖ ſhall cauſe him for to look. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCI. PSALM.

SAtan himſelf owned the Pſalm to refer to the Meſſiah. From the Eleventh Verſe in the Pſalm the Jews fetch their Maxim, That the Meſſiah ſhall be greater than any of the M niſtring Angels. Our Saviour gave to His Apoſtles the Powers here mentioned, over Serpents. The laſt Verſe refers plainly to the Reſurrection. Dr. Patrick thinks the Pſalm to have been Penned at the time of the Great Peſtilence towards the End of David's Reign. But then by Gad rather than David.

6 Dr. Patrick underſtands, Malignant Fevers which rage in the hotteſt Seaſon of the Year.

7 Jewiſh Criticks obſerve, That Side or Hand mentioned without any Addition, ſtill means, The Left.

12 An Alluſion to the Care which a Nurſe has of a Child. O Gracious and Wondrous!

13 Bochart will maintain our Tranſlation; which admits none but Serpents into the whole Speech of the Pſalmiſt.

14 Theſe are the Words of the Glorious GOD unto His Angels, when He gives them their Commiſſion to look after His Faithful Servants.

PSALM XCII. A Pſalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.

1 TIS a good thing to celebrate ‖ with Praiſe the ETERNAL God; ‖ and to Sing Praiſe unto thy Name, ‖ O Thou that art moſt high. ‖

2 In every Morning to declare ‖ Thy kind Benignity, ‖ and in the darkneſs of the Nights ‖ declare thy faithfulneſs. ‖

3 Upon an Inſtrument that has ‖ Ten ſtrings to furniſh it; ‖ and on the Pſaltery; and with ‖ a Song upon the Harp. ‖

4 For, O ETERNAL God, Thou in ‖ Thy Work, haſt made me glad; ‖ In the works of thy Hands I do ‖ make my triumphant ſongs. ‖

5 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thy works, ‖ how very great are they! ‖ Thy exquiſite Contrivances, ‖ how very deep are they! ‖

6 A Man grown ſtupid like a Brute, ‖ is one who does not know; ‖ and he that is a fool does not ‖ well underſtand this Thing. ‖

7 When like the Herb, the Wicked flowre, ‖ and all the Workers of ‖ what's evil, flouriſh; 'tis that they ‖ may be deſtroy'd forever. ‖

8 But Thou who art th' ETERNAL God, ‖ [JEHOVAH is Thy Name?] ſhalt be exalted very High ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

9 For, lo Thy Foes, ETERNAL God, ‖ For, lo, Thy hateful Foes ‖ ſhall periſh, and all Workers of ‖ Evil ſhall be deſtroy'd. ‖

10 But thou wilt like unto the Reems ‖ exalt my horn on high; ‖ and I ſhall be anointed with ‖ a very grateful oil. ‖

11 My Eyes ſhall alſo look with thought ‖ upon my enemies; ‖ my ears ſhall hear of wicked men ‖ that riſe to do me hurt. ‖

12 The righteous one ſhall flouriſh as ‖ the Palm-Tree uſe to do; ‖ he ſhall grow like the Cedar-Tree ‖ that is in Lebanon. ‖

13 They who are planted in the Houſe of the ETERNAL God; ‖ theſe ſhall ſtill flouriſh in the Courts ‖ of Him that is our God. ‖

14 They even in old age ſhall ſtill ‖ be yeilding of their Fruit; ‖ they ſhall continue in good caſe, ‖ and keep their verdure ſtill. ‖

15 All this to ſhew the equity ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ He is my rock and there is no ‖ iniquity in Him. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCII. PSALM.

THe Old Rabbins have a Notable Paſſage; That the Pſalm relates to the World to come, and the Age wherein the People of God ſhall enjoy an entire Sabbath, which will be, the days of the Meſſiah.

The Truth is, we have here, as Dr. Allix obſerves, a prophecy of the Happineſs to be enjoyed by the Jewiſh Nation in the Great Sabbath, whereof the Apoſtle ſpeaks to the Hebrews. GOD promiſes here, to give them the Meſſiah for their King, after the Deſtruction of the Antichriſtian Powers. Compare the fourteenth verſe, with Iſa. LXV. 20. Probably David might write the Pſalm, after the Lord had given him ſuch Reſt round about from all his Enemies, that he concluded he ſhould be able to ſubdue thoſe who ſhould hereafter venture to oppoſe him.

10 Onicorns are a Fabulous Animal; we'll keep the Hebrew Name o Reems, until we are better agreed about the true Engliſh of it; which Bochart will have to be the Arabian Wild-goats.

12 Hugo Victorinus has this Gloſs; — He performs in the End more than he promiſed in the Begining. As the Palm has a ſmall Root, but the Top is very great and large.

PSALM XCIII.

1 THe ETERNAL God is now the King; ‖ High Glory He puts on; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God does now put on ‖ a mighty fortitude. ‖ He girds Himſelf, ready to act; ‖ The habitable World ‖ is likewiſe ſo eſtabliſh'd, that ‖ it ſhall be mov'd no more. ‖

2 Thy Throne, it is eſtabliſhed ‖ from— who can tell the term? ‖ Thou art ſtill what thou art from an ‖ unknown Eternity. ‖

3 The floods lift up, ETERNAL God, ‖ the floods lift up their voice; ‖ the floods have lifted up on high ‖ their hideous daſhing noiſe. ‖

4 Th' ETERNAL God, who is on high, ‖ is mightier than the noiſe ‖ of many waters, mightier than ‖ mighty waves of the Sea. ‖

5 Thy teſtimonies unto us ‖ are very faithful ones; ‖ Holineſs does adorn thy houſe, ‖ ETERNAL God forever. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCIII. PSALM.

ONe obſerves, the Pſalm is an Hymn, wherein the Reign of the Meſſiah, as being the true JEHOVAH, is deſcribed; After the deſtruction of the Beaſt which ſits upon the great Waters. In the laſt Verſe. The Reſtoration of the Jewiſh Nation is mentioned, as an Act eſtabliſhed by many Witneſſes.

Was not the Pſalm compoſed, when ſome of thoſe Enemies, began to take heart again, and threaten a Diſturbance to the Tranquility of David's Kingdom, to which he was confident, in the foregoing Pſalm, they could never give an overthrow? Dr. Patrick who makes this conjecture, yet adds, That the Pſalm ought in a more ſublime ſenſe to be applyed unto the ſtability of our SAVIOUR's Kingdom. The Jews themſelves do acknowledge this matter, to be propheſied in this, and all the Pſalms that follow, unto the Hundredth.

5 Kimchi carries this to the Days of the Meſſiah, when (as he renders it) The Holineſs of God's Houſe will be deſireable. He expounds it from, Iſa. II. 2. That all People will then deſire to go into the Houſe of God; yea, all in the Houſe will deſire to be Holy; yea, all will deſire to be Holy like that Houſe.

But then the Teſtimonies of GOD will be found certain. All that GOD hath praedicted and promiſed concerning His Houſe, will be accompliſhed.

PSALM XCIV.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, The God ‖ to whom revenge belongs; ‖ Shine forth conſpicuouſly, O God ‖ to whom revenge belongs. ‖

2 O thou Judge of the Earth, Do thou ‖ exalt thy ſelf on high: ‖ a retribution render thou ‖ unto the haughty ones. ‖

3 O Thou ETERNAL God, How long ‖ ſhall very impious ones; ‖ How long ſhall very impious ones ‖ make their triumphant boaſt? ‖

4 How long ſhall they ſtill belching out, ‖ talk what is very hard? ‖ How long ſhall all they boaſt themſelves ‖ that work iniquity? ‖

5 Thy People, O ETERNAL God, ‖ they break to pieces quite; ‖ and they unto thine heritage ‖ humbling affliction cauſe. ‖

6 The Widow and the Stranger, theſe ‖ with ſlaughter they deſtroy; ‖ and them that are the Fatherleſs ‖ they murder barbarouſly,

7 And this is that which they have ſaid, ‖ JAH will not ſee at all; ‖ nor will the God of Jacob take ‖ a cogniſance of it. ‖

8 O ye moſt bruitiſh ones among ‖ the People, underſtand; ‖ But O ye fooliſh ones, when comes ‖ the time that you'l be wiſe? ‖

9 He who with skill did plant the Ear, ‖ think you, that He'll not hear? ‖ It it is He that form'd the Eye, ‖ think you, that He'll not ſee? ‖

10 He that inſtructs the Nations, What? ‖ ſhall He not argue right? ‖ Tis He who does communicate ‖ all knowledge unto Man. ‖

11 But the ETERNAL God does know ‖ the thot's of earthly Man; ‖ He knows, that they are nothing but ‖ meer fooliſh vanity. ‖

12 O bleſs'd the Man, whom thou, O JAH, ‖ with chaſt'ning doſt inſtruct; ‖ and doſt out of thy law beſtow ‖ a teaching upon him! ‖

13 That thou from days of evil may'ſt ‖ afford a reſt to him; ‖ whilſt that a pit is digged for ‖ him that's the wicked Man. ‖

14 For the ETERNAL God will not ‖ caſt His own People off; ‖ neither will He forſake what is ‖ His own inheritance. ‖

15 But judgment ſhall anon return ‖ even to righteouſneſs; ‖ and all that are upright in he t ‖ ſhall follow after it. ‖

16 Who will riſe up for me againſt ‖ them who do evil things? ‖ Who will ſtand up for me againſt ‖ workers of vanity? ‖

17 Unleſs that the ETERNAL God ‖ bad given help to me, ‖ my Soul had quickly dwelt in the ‖ ſad ſilence of the Grave.

18 When I did ſay within my ſelf, ‖ My foot is on the ſlip, ‖ thy mercy, O ETERNAL God, ‖ was what ſuſtained me. ‖

19 When I've a multitude of tho'ts, ‖ mix'd in the midſt of me, ‖ then do thy comforts make my Soul ‖ glad with repeted joys. ‖

20 Shall the Throne of things tyrannous ‖ have fellowſhip with thee? ‖ That which enacts into a Law ‖ what's a miſcheivous wrong? ‖

21 They raiſe their troops againſt the Soul ‖ of every righteous one; ‖ and they condemn to death the blood ‖ of him that's innocent. ‖

22 But the ETERNAL God becomes ‖ the tower for my defence; ‖ and He that is my God becomes ‖ the Rock in which I truſt. ‖

23 And He'll to them repay their wrong, ‖ yea, He will cut them off ‖ in their crime; the ETERNAL God, ‖ our God will cut them off. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCIV. PSALM.

'TIS a Prayer both for the Chriſtian Church and the Synagogue; equally oppreſs'd by the Antichriſtian Party; whoſe Thr ne, whoſe Titles, whoſe Judgments, mentioned in the Prophecies, are found moſt expreſly in the Pſalm now before us.

9 The Eye of Animals, eſpecially of Man, is a piece of ſuch aſtoniſhing Workmanſhip, that it is impoſſible for any but a moſt bruitify'd wretch, to behold it without an Acknowledgment of a Glorious and Infinite GOD. Sturmius's Exercitation, De Viſus Organo, makes this juſt Remark; Nobis fuit perſuaj ſſimum, Atheiſmunt quem vocant, ſpeculativum, baber locum ant invenire non poſſe, in co bomine qui oculi fabricam atten o animo inſpexerit. The Philoſophy of the Ear, would make the ſame Remark.

10 He that has taught all Nations His Will (or the Difference between the Good and Evil) ſhall not He correct them, when they tranſgreſs it? Kimchi thinks it refers to, Ultiones Dei inſigmores, the more ſignal Judgments of GOD ſometimes executed among the Nations; as the Fate of Sedom, and the like.

19 The Quadrate form of the Hebrew Word uſed here for, make glad, leads to this Tranſlation.

PSALM XCV.

1 O Come, and let us ſing with joy ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ O jubilate unto the Rock ‖ whence our Salvation comes. ‖

2 Quickly let us before His face, ‖ with due confeſſion come; ‖ and make with Pſalms to Him the praiſe ‖ of a glad Jubilee. ‖

3 For the ETERNAL God, He is ‖ a God who's very great; ‖ and He is a great Sovereign, ‖ plac'd above all the God's. ‖

4 He 'tis in whoſe hand are the deep ‖ receſſes of the Earth; ‖ the weary tops of mountains too ‖ do all belong to Him. ‖

5 He 'tis to whom the Sea belongs; ‖ for He created it; ‖ His hands were alſo thoſe that form'd ‖ the Earth now dry'd from it. ‖

6 O come, let us proſtrate our ſelves, ‖ and let us humbly bow; ‖ before th' ETERNAL God who is ‖ our Maker, let us kneel. ‖

7 For He's our God, and we of His ‖ Paſture the People are, ‖ and the Sheep of His hands; if ye ‖ will hear His voice to day. ‖

8 O harden not your hearts, as they ‖ in the Contention did; ‖ as in the deſart on the day ‖ of the Temptation there.

9 The day, wherein your Fathers did ‖ tempt me ſo ſinfully: ‖ A trial they did make of me, ‖ and they beheld my work. ‖

10 I Forty years was grieved with ‖ this race of Men, and ſaid; ‖ The People, they wander in heart, ‖ and have not known my ways. ‖

11 For this cauſe I have made an Oath ‖ in my incenſed wrath, ‖ That they by no means ever ſhall ‖ enter into my Reſt. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCV. PSALM.

OUR Apoſtle, Heb. IV. 1. ſhows us that the Pſalm is an Exhortation unto the lſraelites, to prepare for the receiving of the Meſſiah, who is to bring their Nation into the happineſs of the great Sabbatiſm.

4 Are not the Deep Mines of Silver and Gold in the Bowels of the Earth, particularly referr'd unto? One of the Ancients adds a good Note, Quae in mann Dei ſunt, ſine Deo nequeunt obtineri.

9 They doubted, and they demanded new Proofs, though they had already ſeen ſuch wonderful Works of GOD.

PSALM XCVI.

1 O Sing to the ETERNAL God ‖ a Song that ſhall be new; ‖ O ſing to the ETERNAL God, ‖ All that are on the Earth. ‖

2 O ſing to the ETERNAL God: ‖ to His Name bow the knee; ‖ Evangelize from day to day ‖ of His Salvation ſtill. ‖

3 Of His bright Glory an account ‖ unto the Nations give; ‖ among all People give account ‖ of His moſt wondrous works. ‖

4 For the ETERNAL God is great, ‖ and greatly to be prais'd; ‖ He above all the Gods is to ‖ be had in reverence. ‖

5 For Idols vain are all the gods ‖ the People do adore; ‖ But the ETERNAL God is He ‖ who did create the Heav'ns. ‖

6 Before His face is to be ſeen ‖ Honour and Majeſty; ‖ and in His ſanctuary are ‖ ſtrength and a diadem. ‖

7 O Families of Peoples, Bring ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Bring ye to the ETERNAL God ‖ glory and fortitude. ‖

8 Bring ye to the ETERNAL God ‖ the glory of His Name; ‖ preſent ye an oblation, and ‖ ſo come into His Courts. ‖

9 Worſhip th' ETERNAL God in the ‖ beauty of holineſs; ‖ tremble before His face, O all ‖ ye dwellers on the Earth.

10 Proclaim this very thing abroad‖among the Nations all; ‖ That the ETERNAL One doth ſit ‖ a King upon His Throne. ‖ The World ſhall be now ſtabliſhed; ‖ it ſhall not be remov'd; ‖ He'l judge the People with the things ‖ that are forever right. ‖

11 O let the Heavens now rejoyce, ‖ and let the Earth be glad; ‖ Let the Sea lift it's roaring voice, ‖ and what it's fill'd withal. ‖

12 Let the Field have triumphant joy, ‖ and all that is therein; ‖ Then the Trees of the wood ſhall all‖make a loud ſhout for joy. ‖

13 Let them do this before the face ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ Becauſe He comes; becauſe He comes ‖ that He may judge the Earth. ‖ The habitable World He will ‖ now judge in righteouſneſs; ‖ and He will judge the Poople in ‖ His ſteady faithfulneſs. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCVI. PSALM.

BEhold, the Praiſes of GOD, that are to be Sung by the Jewiſh Nation, at the Second, Coming of the Meſſiah. They invite all Nations that ſurvive the Judgments on the Antichriſtian Powers, to acknowlede Him for their GOD, and reject the Idolatries they have hitherto practiſed.

1 Several of the Jews themſelves, own that this belongs to the Times of the Meſſiah. We ought certainly to have Him in our Minds, when we Sing a New Song, for the New Grace in Him granted to us.

12 Why? The Earth is to be reſtored unto a Paradiſaic State, at the Coming of the Lord.

By the Heavens here called upon, to rejoyce, may we not underſtand the Angels? By the Earth, all Mankind which are diſperſed on the Earth.

By the Sea, the Mariners and Paſſengers in Ships, and the Inhabitants of the Iſlands.

By the Fields, the Husbandmen and Shepherds, who dwell in the Fields.

By the Trees of the Wood, the Woodmen and Foreſters, who are with joy to ſee the happy Day approaching when all the Idols that are Worſhipped there, ſhall be thrown down, together with their Groves.

PSALM XCVII.

1 NOW the ETERNAL God does reign, ‖ O let the Earth rejoyce; ‖ and let the many Iſles thereof ‖ ſhine with a chearful joy. ‖

2 A cloud and a denſe darkneſs doth ‖ encompaſs Him about; ‖ Juſtice and Judgment are the firm ‖ foundation of His Throne. ‖

3 Fire goes before His face and burns ‖ all round His Enemies; ‖

4 His lightnings fill the World with light; ‖ the Earth ſees it and ſhakes. ‖

5 Like melting wax the mountains are ‖ diſſolv'd before the face ‖ of the ETERNAL God; before ‖ the Lord of all the Earth. ‖

6 O let the Heavens now declare ‖ abroad His righteouſneſs; ‖ and of His radiant glory let ‖ all People have a view. ‖

7 Confuſion be to all thoſe who ‖ ſerve graven Images; ‖ who do in Idols boaſt themſelves. ‖ Worſhip Him all ye God's! ‖

8 Zion heard and was bright with joy: ‖ and Judah's daughters were ‖ for the ſake of thy Judgments glad,‖ O thou ETERNAL God. ‖

9 For, O ETERNAL God, Thou art ‖ High above all the Earth; ‖ Thou art exalted very high; ‖ High above all the Gods. ‖

10 O ye who love th' ETERNAL God, ‖ Hate ill; He keeps the Souls ‖ of all His gracious ones; He ſaves ‖ them from the wickeds hand. ‖

11 There's for the righteous one a light ‖ ſown as an hidden ſeed; ‖ and for them who're upright in heart ‖ there is a joy reſerv'd.

12 You that are righteous ones, Rejoyce ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ and when you do commemorate ‖ His Holy One, give thanks. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCVII. PSALM.

THE Pſalm is of the ſame Deſign with the foregoing. It inſults the New Idolaters, the Antichriſtian ones, with the Coming of the Meſſiah who is to condemn them. It repreſents the Joy which His Coming, will give unto the People of GOD, and unto the Jewiſh Nation in particular. Was not the Pſalm written, on ſome Conqueſts made by David, after the Ark was brought to Zion: when the foregoing Hymn was made, in hope of the great things to enſue? In ſubduing theſe, GOD might fight for His People, with ſome ſuch Tempeſt as that, 2 Sam. V. 20, 21, 24.

1 Mr. M ſtrezat obſerves, That ſince the Iſles are the Gentiles; the Reign here muſt be a Reign of Grace, and favourable to them. In ſuch Expreſſions as imply a Reign of Grace, the Lord who Reigns muſt be the Meſſiah. Our Apoſtle Paul might well apply the Pſalm to Him!

5 Maſius notes, that Adonai, is a Name on Illuſtrious Accounts peculiar to the Son of GOD.

6 —A dreadful Tempeſt, managed by Angelical Miniſters, declares the juſt ſeverity of GOD againſt His Enemies.

11 Some Jewiſh Rabbi's, by this Light underſtand the Meſſiah. As they do, Dan. II. 22. Pſal. XXXVI. 10. —But, O Chriſtian, all the Felicity thou hopeſt for, muſt lie for a while conceal'd, as under the Clods, with a Sentence of Death upon it.

PSALM XCVIII. A Pſalm.

1 TO the ETERNAL God, O ſing ‖ a new Song; for He hath ‖ done wonders; His right hand has Him ‖ help'd, and His holy Arm. ‖

2 Th' ETERNAL God has cauſed His ‖ Salvation to be known; ‖ In the eyes of the Nations He ‖ hath ſhewn His righteouſneſs. ‖

3 He minds His mercy and His truth ‖ to th' houſe of Iſrael; ‖ All the ends of the Earth, they have ‖ our God's Salvation ſeen. ‖

4 O Jubilate now all the Earth ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ O raiſe your voice, and ſing aloud, ‖ and celebrate with Pſalms. ‖

5 O ſing to the ETERNAL God, ‖ with a well-tuned harp; ‖ Do it with a ten-ſtringed harp, ‖ and the voice of the Pſalm. ‖

6 With trumpets which aſſemble troops, ‖ and with the ſound of horn, ‖ O Jubilate before the King ‖ who is th' ETERNAL God. ‖

7 Let the Sea make its thundring noiſe, ‖ and that which filleth it; ‖ ſo let the habitable World ‖ and its inhabitants. ‖

8 Let the floods clap their hands for joy ‖ with acclamations loud; ‖ Together with them alſo let ‖ the mountains make their ſhouts. ‖

9 Let them do this before the face ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ becauſe that He is coming forth ‖ that He may judge the Earth. ‖ The habitable World He will ‖ now judge in righteouſneſs; ‖ and He will judge the People with ‖ things moſt exactly right. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCVIII. PSALM.

A New Song; To be Sung at the Second Coming of the Meſſiah. Compare the Firſt Verſe of the Pſalm with Iſai. XII. 5.—which by the way, invincibly ſhews, That the Meſſiah is GOD. It foretells the Recalling of the Jews,; and Exhorts all Nations to acknowledge the Meſſiah as GOD. The Judgments on the Antichriſtian Powers, muſt be before the Happineſs of the Jews, and the Converſion of the other Nations.

PSALM XCIX.

1 TH' ETERNAL God now reigns as King; ‖ O let the People quake; ‖ He ſits between the Cherubim; ‖ O let the Earth be mov'd; ‖

2 In Zion the ETERNAL God ‖ is greatly magnify'd; ‖ and above all the Peoples He ‖ is now advanc'd on high. ‖

3 O let them celebrate thy Name ‖ with due co •• eſſions now; ‖ It's great, and it is terrible; ‖ and holy too it is. ‖

4 The King's ſtrength alſo judgment loves; ‖ right things thou doſt prepare; ‖ In Jacob thou doſt execute ‖ judgment and righteouſneſs. ‖

5 Exalt ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ ev'n Him who is our God; ‖ and at His footſtool worſhip ye; ‖ He is the holy One. ‖

6 Moſes and Aaron eminent ‖ among His Miniſters; ‖ and Samuel eminent among ‖ them that call on His Name. Theſe did their invocation make ‖ on the ETERNAL God; ‖ and He then granted unto them ‖ a gracious audience. ‖

7 He in the pillar of the cloud ‖ gave Oracles to them; ‖ they kept His teſtimonies, and ‖ the Law He gave to them. ‖

8 Thou heard'ſt them, O ETERNAL God, ‖ our God; Thou waſt a God ‖ that ſpar'd them; and thou didſt revenge ‖ the things deſign'd at them. ‖

9 Exalt th' ETERNAL God, our God; ‖ and at His holy hill ‖ Worſhip; for the ETERNAL God, ‖ Our God's the Holy One. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the XCIX. PSALM.

THE Pſalm is Calculated for the Coming & Kingdom of the Meſſiah; when His Throne ſhall be in Zion; and the Jews have new Tokens of His Preſence among them.

1 The Patrician Paraphraſe is; Tho' the whole Earth ſhould be in an uproar, we are ſafe and ſecure; for the Lord is attended with Innumerable Heavenly Miniſters, who are a Guard unto His Faithful Wo ſhippers.

5 The Ark was peculiarly he Footſtool of the Lord. But the Ark was alſo a Type of our Saviour Ambroſe and Auſtin found this Fo tſtool in the Fle •• of our Saviour.

6 Druſius notes, That the Particle, Among, ofter intimates one very Eminent & Exernious among thoſe that are ſpoken of.

8 Patricks Paraphraſe is this; When they Pray •• unto Thee, Thou didſt fulfil their Petitions, paſſing by for them ſakes, the Sins of thoſe who contemned the ‖ Authority, and were contriving how to depoſe them [Numb. XII. 2, 9, 10. XVI. 3, 31, 32. 1 Sam. VIII. 7, 8, 9.]

PSALM C.

1 NOw unto the ETERNAL God ‖ make you the joyful ſhouts ‖ which are heard in a Jubilee, ‖ all ye who dwell on Earth. ‖

2 Yield ſervice with a ſhining joy ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ with joyful acclamations come ‖ ye in before His face. ‖

3 Know, That th' ETERNAL God, He's God; ‖ He made us, and we're His; ‖ we are His People, and we are ‖ the Sheep which He does feed. ‖

4 With due confeſſions enter ye ‖ His gates, His courts with Praiſe; ‖ make due confeſſions unto Him; ‖ ſpeak ye well of His Name. ‖

5 For the ETERNAL God is good; ‖ His mercy is for ever; ‖ And unto Generations doth ‖ His faithfulneſs endure.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the C. PSALM.

HAve we not here, an Exhortation o the returned Jews unto all People, that they ſhould acknowleage their SAVIOUR, as their GOD and Creator, conſ •• er ng how faithful He has been in His Promiſes, and what great Wonders He hath performed, for the ſake of His People? The Jews have a Report that the Pſalm was appointed peculiarly to be Sung, when their Sacrifices of Thanksgiving [Lov. VII. 12, 13.] were to be offered. The Levites call'd, The Companies of them who gave Thanks unto GOD. [Neh. XII. 31, 38.] were the Singers of it.

3 The Word implies, Advancing, Preferring, Raiſing them, as a People, to be ſuch a People as they were; a great and a mighty Nation.

PSALM CI. A Pſalm of David.

1 OF Mercy and of Judgment both ‖ I will now make my Song; ‖ Unto Thee, O ETERNAL God, ‖ I will now ſing a Pſalm. ‖

2 I'll in a perfect way be wiſe; ‖ When wilt thou come to me? ‖ In the midſt of my houſe I will ‖ walk with a perfect heart. ‖

3 I will not ſet before mine eyes ‖ a thing of Belial; ‖ I hate the work of wanderers: ‖ it ſhall not cleave to me. ‖

4 An heart that is perverſely bent, ‖ it ſhall depart from me; ‖ and I will take no notice of ‖ one that's a wicked man. ‖

5 I ll cut off him that ſlandereth ‖ his neighbour ſecretly; ‖ One high in looks and proud in heart, ‖ I will not bear with him. ‖

6 I'll eye the faithful of the Land, ‖ that they may dwell with me; ‖ He that walks in a perfect way, ‖ He'l be my Officer. ‖

7 In the midſt of my houſe none ſhall ‖ dwell, who does work deceit: ‖ before my eyes eſtabliſh'd none ‖ ſhall be who telleth lyes. ‖

8 I as the mornings do recur, ‖ with cloſe confinement will ‖ deſtroy all of the wicked ones ‖ that are upon the Earth. ‖ And this, that from the City of ‖ Him who's th' ETERNAL God, ‖ I may extirminate all them ‖ who work iniquity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CI. PSALM.

DAvid on the Death of Saul, was immediately promoted unto the Kingdom. However he had not yet the entire Kingdom. In the mean time he reſolved with himſelf how well he would govern when GOD ſhould make him King over all Iſrael as well as Judah.

But indeed, We have here the Character of thoſe who are to be admitted among the Subjects of the Meſſiah in His glorious Kingdom; and the manner wherein He will curt off them who pretending to acknowledge His Laws, have overthrown all Righteouſneſs in the World.

1 In theſe Two Things, Mercy and Judgment, does conſiſt really, Totae Vitae Integritas: eſpecially the Integrity of an Officer.

Auſtin makes a Remark on the Order of the Words; firſt, Mercy, then Judgment. Now and Here, the former; Anon the Latter. Par Tempor a diſtinguinuis haec duo.

2 Arnobiu, has a fire Thought here. A Saint will be an Almagiver. He will underſtand when a CHRIST comes to him, in the Perſon of a diſtreſſed Brother.

8 Early.] Munſters gloſs is, Before others are corrupted with them.

Athanaſins has a Note of Piety here, which tho' it be not the Senſe of the Place, is worth our thinking on.

As the Morning is the Beginning of the Day, ſo, the Beginning of our Sin is in the fraudulent uggeſtion of our Enemy the Devil. To Deſtroy the Wicked in the Morning is to Obſerve and Defeat the Devil, in the Beginning of his Temptations. The Soul of Man is the City of the Lord. We ſhould betimes deſtroy the Deſigns of the wicked, therein, by an Early Mortification beſtowed upon them.

PSALM CII. A Prayer of the Afflicted when that be is over whelmed, and poureth out his ſad Complaint before the ETERNAL God.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, Do Thou ‖ my Supplication hear; ‖ and my loud Cry made in Diſtreſs, ‖ let it arrive to Thee, ‖

2 In the Day of my Trouble, Oh! ‖ Hide not thy Face from me; ‖ Bow thine Ear to me, in the Day ‖ I call, ſoon anſwer me. ‖

3 For as the Smoak does paſs away ‖ ſo are my Days conſum'd; ‖ and as the Wood laid on the Hearth ‖ my Bones are burned up.

4 My Heart is smitten like the Graſs, ‖ and it is withered up; ‖ Inſomuch that I do forget ‖ to eat my daily Bread. ‖

5 By reaſon of the Voice that is ‖ by my ſad Groaning made; ‖ my bones do evidently cleave ‖ unto my waſted skin.

6 I am made like the Pelican ‖ that's in the Wilderneſs; ‖ I am like to the Bitten which ‖ affecteth Solitudes. ‖

7 I paſs the weary Nights without ‖ enjoying any Sleep; ‖ and like the Sparrow am on the ‖ top of the Houſe alone. ‖

8 My Enemies do caſt on me ‖ Reproaches every Day; ‖ they that are mad againſt me do ‖ form curſing Oaths from me. ‖

9 For truly, as, * and in my Bread ‖ Aſhes is what I eat; ‖ and my Drink I have mingled with ‖ the Tears that I have ſhed. ‖

10 From the view of thy Anger 'tis, ‖ and of thy boiling Wrath; ‖ Becauſe that thou haſt lift me up, ‖ and caſt me down again. ‖

11 My days are like a ſhadow which ‖ is now on the Decline; ‖ and like unto a parched Herb, ‖ ev'n ſo I wither'd am. ‖

12 But, O ETERNAL God, Thou doſt ‖ endure forevermore; ‖ and thy Remembrance from one Age ‖ unto another Age. ‖

13 Thou wilt ariſe, and now thou wilt ‖ to Zion mercy ſhow, ‖ becauſe the time to favour her, ‖ yea, the ſet Time is come. ‖

14 Inaſmuch as thy Servants do ‖ take wondrous pleaſure in ‖ the Stones thereof, and they are kind ‖ unto the duſt thereof. ‖

15 So the Name of th' ETERNAL God ‖ the Nations now will fear; ‖ and thy conſpicuous glory all ‖ the Kings upon the Earth. ‖

16 When the ETERNAL God ſhall build ‖ the Zion that is fall'n, ‖ He ſhall moſt viſibly appear, ‖ in His bright Glory [there.

17 He will have a reſpect to the ‖ Prayer of the humble ſhrub; ‖ and on their Supplications He ‖ will not caſt a contempt. ‖

18 This ſhall be written for the Age ‖ hereafter to come on; ‖ A People yet for to be form'd ‖ ſhall alſo Praiſe the Lord. ‖

19 For He hath looked down from the ‖ heighth of His Holineſs; ‖ From Heaven the ETERNAL God, ‖ exactly views the Earth. ‖

20 It is that He may hear the groan ‖ of him that lies in bonds; ‖ that He may ſet at liberty ‖ ſuch as are ſons of death. ‖

21 In Zion to declare the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ and to declare His glorious Praiſe ‖ in both Jeruſalems. ‖

22 When that united Peoples ſhall ‖ their Congregations form; ‖ and Kingdoms do agree to ſerve ‖ Him who's th' ETERNAL God. ‖

23 But in the middeſt of the way ‖ unto theſe Glorious Things, ‖ He ſorely hath afflicted me; ‖ He hath cut off my days. ‖

24 I ſaid, my God, Take me not up ‖ in the midſt of my days; ‖ Thy Years a Generation to, ‖ yea, Generations laſt. ‖

25 In the beginning thou haſt laid ‖ Foundations for the Earth; ‖ the Heavens alſo of thy hands ‖ are the rare Workmanſhip. ‖

26 They I periſh, but thou ſhalt endure; ‖ yea, like a garment they ‖ ſhall all wax old; Thoul't change them as ‖ a robe, and they'l be chang'd. ‖

27 But as for Thee, Thou ever doſt ‖ continue what thou art; ‖ and thy years, they are ſuch as will ‖ not ever be conſum'd. ‖

28 The Children of thy Servants ſhall ‖ have a fix'd dwelling place; ‖ and their Offſpring before thy face ‖ ſhall be eſtabliſhed. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CII. PSALM.

WAS not the Writer of the Pſalm, Daniel the Prophet, who in the approaches of a Great Revolution, and the Deliverance of the Church from the Babyloniſh Captivity, ſpent Three Sevens of Days, in Secret Prayer, with Faſting before the Lord? But, methinks, the Prophetic Spirit here expreſſes Prayers and Groans for the Jewiſh Nation, in their Diſperſion, and in the approach of their Deliverance.

3 The Patrician Paraphraſe is well; 'My Days are 'ſpent as diſmally, as it I liv'd and breath'd in Smoke.

7 Bochart will maintain my Verſion for the Names of the Birds.

8 It may be read, Sworn upon me. Munſter's Gloſs is; When they beſtowed a Curſe on any one, they wiſh'd him, As miſerable as a Jew.

10 Lifted up in Glorious Hopes. [Fzra. I. 5. II. 68. III. 10.] And then caſt down; all daſh'd again. [Ezra. IV. 4, 24.]

14 Arnobius takes the Stones of Zion, to be the Books of the Scripture, and the Duſt, the Dead Saints who have ſuffered greatly for the Cauſe of GOD. Beſure, the ſcattered Stones of Zion liberally taken, were more dear to the Pious Worſhippers, than the goodlieſt Palaces in Babylon.

23 Some think , it refers to the Afflictions the Jews met withal, in the midſt of their Building.

PSALM CIII. Of David.

1 O My awakened Soul, Do thou ‖ Bleſs [always] the ETERNAL God; ‖ and all my inward powers the Name ‖ of His pure [ſpotleſs] holineſs. ‖

2 O my awakened Soul, Do thou ‖ Bleſs [always] the ETERNAL God; ‖ and O forget not any one ‖ of all His [precious] benefits. ‖

3 'Tis He who gives a pardon to ‖ all thy [moſt vile] iniquities; ‖ 'Tis He who gives an healing to ‖ all thy [moſt ſad] infirmities. ‖

4 'Tis He who doth redeem thy Life ‖ from the [dark Grave's] corrupting pit; ‖ 'Tis He who thee with Mercy doth ‖ and with [tender] compaſſions crown. ‖

5 'Tis He who with the thing that's good ‖ doth ſatisfy thy [craving] mouth; ‖ thy Youth it is renew'd; Then like ‖ the [ſoaring] Eagle ſhalt thou be. ‖

6 Th' ETERNAL God is ever One ‖ who does moſt righteous things [to all;] ‖ and Judgments He doth execute ‖ for all [that are] oppreſſed ones. ‖

7 A revelation of His ways ‖ He did to [Holy] Moſes make; ‖ and He reveal'd His works unto ‖ the [happy] ſons of Iſrael. ‖

8 Th' ETERNAL God is merciful; ‖ and [He is] full of clemency; ‖ to anger ſlow, but plenteous ‖ [He is] in all be ignity. ‖

9 He won't diſpenſe rebukes in wrath ‖ to [laſting] perpetuity; ‖ He will not have it in reſerve ‖ unto [Endleſs] Eternity. ‖

10 His dealings have not been with us ‖ according to our [horrid] Sins; ‖ nor hath He recompenced us ‖ according to our [heinous] crimes. ‖

11 Becauſe that as the Heavens are ‖ in heighth [rais'd up] above the Earth, ‖ ſo upon them that fear Him doth ‖ His [matchleſſ] mercy ever come. ‖

12 Even as far as is the Eaſt ‖ [remov'd] in diſtance from the Weſt, ‖ our treſpaſſes He makes to be ‖ diſtant ſo [very] far from us. ‖

13 At the rate that a Father to ‖ Children is [very] pitiful, ‖ th' ETERNAL God, for them who do ‖ fear Him has [yearning] pity too. ‖

14 For He is well acquainted with ‖ the [feeble] frame wherein we're made, ‖ He very well remembers this, ‖ that we are very [ſorry] duſt. ‖

15 For ſoon-forgotten Man, his days ‖ are like unto the [fading] graſs; ‖ As the flowre that is in the field, ‖ ſo 'tis He flouriſhes [a while.]

16 For the wind paſſes over it, ‖ and ••• ſently [at once] 'tis gone; ‖ and in the place where once it ſtood, ‖ it will be [ſeen and] known no more. ‖

17 But the m ſt kind benignity ‖ of [Him who's] the ETERNAL God, ‖ is from unknown Eternity [laſting] ev'n to Eternity; ‖ Upon ſuch as do exerciſe ‖ a [real] conſtant fear of Him; ‖ and unto Childrens Children is ‖ His [faithful] conſtant right'ouſneſs. ‖

18 'Tis meant, to ſuch as faithfully ‖ do keep His [Holy] Covenant, ‖ and to thoſe who His Precepts mind, ‖ that they may do the things [requir'd.]

19 His Throne has the ETERNAL God ‖ [fir'd and] prepared in the Heav'ns; ‖ His Kingdom alſo over all ‖ extends its [Righteous] Government. ‖

20 O ye His A gels, vaſt in ſtrength, ‖ Bleſs ye [and Draiſe] th' ETERNAL God; ‖ who do His word, that ſo the voice ‖ of His word may be [duly] heard. ‖

21 O Bleſs ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ All ye His Marſha d [Numerous] Hoſts; ‖ ye Min ſters who execute ‖ His Will [when 'tis] made known to you. ‖

22 Bleſs ye th' ETERNAL God, O all ‖ His works [that are] in places all ‖ of His Dominion; O my Soul, ‖ Bleſs thou [and praiſe] th' ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CIII. PSALM.

BEhold now, the Jewiſh Nation returned, and received into the Favour of GOD, and Exhorting, all Creatures to celebrate the Miracles of His Power and of His Goodneſs.

2 In the Midraſh Tillin, there is an out-of-the-way Obſervation, That the Pſalmiſt calls on himſelf to Bleſſ the Lord, no leſs than Five Times over: which anſwers not only to the Five Books of the Law: but alſo to the Five Ages thro' which Man is to paſs. Firſt, Fl •• Condition in His Mothers Womb. Secondly, His Condition at his Mothers Breaſt. Thirdly, His Condition while paſſing thro' the Changes of this World. Fourthly, His Condition in the preſence of GOD after Death, Fifthly, His Condition after the Reſurrection in the World to come.

5 The Bleſſings of the Reſurrection from the Dead, are here celebrated. That Clauſe, He redeems thy Life from deſtruction, evidently points unto it. Now 'tis one of the Promiſes, concerning the Bleſſings of the Reſurrection, Iſa. XL. 31. They ſhall mount up with wings as Eagles, which the Jews admirably apply to the Bodies raiſed from the Dead. In this Paſſage which has hitherto been read, Thy Youth is renewed like the Eagles; there are Two Clauſes couched according to the ſhort Hebrew way of expreſſing things; Firſt; Thou ſhalt renew thy Youth; which Bochart proves to be the true Reading; A thing to be done in the beſt ſenſe imaginable, at the Reſurrection. And then, Thou ſhalt be like the Eagles. The marvellous Flight and Strength of the Reſurrection-Bodies, is excellently ſet forth by that Compariſon. The Vulgar Tradition of the Eagle renewing his Youth is not countenanced here.

14 By, our Frame here, the Jewiſh Rabbi's underſtand the Iatzar Harang, the Figmentum malum, the Evil Frame, which we call Original Sin; whereof we read, Gen. VIII. 21. The imagination of the Heart of Man is evil from his Youth. The ſame which they call, The Poiſon of the Old Serpent. And The Enemy, whereof we ſo often read in the Sacred Oracles. And, The Heart of Stone.

17 Let not the Gloſs be ſo received, as to prejudice the Regards due to the Rightiouſneſs of GOD, illuſtriouſly diſplayed in ſhowing Favour to us for the Righteouſneſs of our SAVIOUR. But yet, it may be allowed and obſerved, That Righteouſneſs is a Term ſometimes uſed for Benignity. Thus, A Rain of Righteouſneſs, is a Bountiful Rain. And our Druſius would have, The Sun of Righteouſneſs to be a Sun that bountifully and liberally imparts Light and Heat unto the World.

PSALM CIV.

1 MY Soul, Bleſs thou th' ETERNAL God; ‖ ETERNAL God, my God, ‖ Thou'rt very great, Thou'rt cloathed with ‖ Honour and Majeſty. ‖

2 As with a Garment on Him He ‖ covers Himſelf with Light; ‖ He doth extend the Heavens like ‖ a curtain round about. ‖

3 He on the Waters lays the beams ‖ of's chambers; He doth make ‖ the Clouds His chariot; He doth walk ‖ on the wings of the wind. ‖

4 He doth make Spirits for to be ‖ Angels ſent forth by Him, ‖ and He a flaming fire does make ‖ to be His Miniſters. ‖

5 Upon the Baſes for it He ‖ has founded well the Earth; ‖ ſo that it ſhall not be remov'd; ‖ no, not from Age to Age. ‖

6 As with a Garment thou didſt hide ‖ it with the vaſt abyſs; ‖ At firſt above the mountains did ‖ the waters take their place. ‖

7 But then they fled away at thy ‖ moſt forcible rebuke; ‖ at the voice of thy thus der they ‖ made haſte to get away. ‖

8 The mountains, they make their aſcent; ‖ the valleys, they deſcend: ‖ All ſtill unto the proper place, ‖ Thou'ſt founded this for them.

9 Thou haſt determined a Bound ‖ the which they ſhall not paſs; ‖ that ſo they mayn't return again ‖ to overwhelm the Earth. ‖

10 Into the valleys He ſends forth‖Waters that flow from ſprings; ‖ which do among the mountains take ‖ their never-ceaſing walk ‖

11 They do beſtow their drink on all ‖ the beaſts that range the field; ‖ There the will aſſes, tho' ſo wildand ſtupid, quench their thirſt‖

12 By theſe the fowls of Heaven have‖their habitation made; ‖ among the branches here they do ‖ give a melodious voice. ‖

13 He from His chambers doth diſtill ‖ waters upon the hills; ‖ from the fruit of thy works the Earth ‖ is fully ſatisfy'd. ‖

14 He for the Beaſts makes graſs to grow; ‖ and for the uſe of Man ‖ He granteth herb, that ſo He may ‖ fetch food out of the Earth.‖

15 Ev'n wine that chears the heart of Man, ‖ that ſo his face may ſhine ‖ with oil; and bread which does give ſtrength ‖ unto the heart of Man. ‖

16 The trees of the ETERNAL God, ‖ theſe do abound with ſap; ‖ the cedars of the Lebanon ‖ which He has planted there. ‖

17 That ſo the little Birds may there ‖ build and enjoy their neſts; ‖ The Stork particularly has ‖ the fir-trees for her houſe. ‖

18 The mountains of a ſtately heighth ‖ for the Wild-Goats are theſe;‖the rocks, theſe are a refuge where‖the Rock-rats lodge themſelves.‖

19 He form'd the Moon that ſo it might‖ determine ſtated times; ‖ The Sun is well acquainted with ‖ the time of g ing down. ‖

20 The darkneſs thou didſt conſtitute, ‖ and then the Night arrives; ‖ all the wild-creatures of the wood ‖ do creep abroad in it. ‖

21 That ſo they may come at their prey ‖ then the young Lions roar; ‖ that ſo they may by ſeeking find ‖ their ſuſtenance from God.‖

22 The Sun does riſe; on this they do‖gather themſelves together;‖ and then they to their dens repair ‖ there to lay down themſelves.‖

23 Man being ſo ſecure from theſe, ‖ goes forth unto his work; ‖ and to his uſual husbandry, ‖ until the Evening come. ‖

24 Thy works, O Thou ETERNAL God,‖ how are they multiply'd? ‖ In wiſdom haſt thou made them all; ‖ Th' Earth's with thy riches fill'd. ‖

25 This great and ſpreading Sea is ſ ;‖the ſwimming things are there; ‖ And there's no number; living things ‖ both ſmall and great are there. ‖

26 There 'tis the Ships do ſteer their courſe. There's that Levia than: ‖ him thou haſt form'd that ſo he may ‖ enjoy his ſport therein. ‖

25 All of theſe things on thee alone‖have, their dependence ſtill, ‖ that ſo thou in due ſeaſon may'ſt ‖ afford their food to them.

28 'Tis what thou doſt afford to them, that they do gather up; ‖ Thy hand thou open'ſt, ſo they are ‖ then ſatisfy'd with good. ‖

29 Thou hid'ſt thy face, they're troubled then;‖Their ſpirit thou withdraw'ſt; they die, and ſo they do return ‖ to their Original duſt. ‖

30 Thou wilt ſend forth thy ſpirit; they ‖ created are anew; ‖ and thou to the face of the Earth, ‖ wilt a renewal give. ‖

31 The Glory of th' ETERNAL God, ‖ it ſhall endure forever; ‖ The joy of the ETERNAL God ‖ will be in all his works. ‖

32 He does look down upon the Earth; ‖ it falls a trembling then: ‖ He to the mountains gives a touch, ‖ and preſently they ſmoke,‖

33 I'll ſing to the ETERNAL God ‖ as long as I do live; ‖ while I have any being I will ſing unto my God. ‖

34 My meditation upon Him, ‖ it ſhall be very ſweet; ‖ In the ETERNAL God I will‖ with a bright joy be glad. ‖

35 From Earth let Sinners be conſum'd ‖ and th' impious be no more; ‖ My Soul, Bleſs thou th' ETERNAL God. ‖ Sing HALLELU-JAH now.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CIV. PSALM.

THE Works of Creation and Providence are here celebrated; and the Deſtruction of the Wicked, who have corrupted the uſe of theſe Works, is denounced. This, as Dr. Alli obſerves, chiefly relates to the Kingdom of the Meſſich; who is to execute the Curſe expreſs'd in the laſt. Verſe of the Pſalm.

Dr. Patrick thinks, That when David was treated by Nathan, as he was, about Euilding the Temple, he not long after fell into a Contemplation of the Divine Majeſty, who having built this great World for His Temple, needed none of his Erecting. The Pſalm here begins in Terms like thoſe, 2 Sam. VII. 22.

2 A Curtain.] Some render the Word, A Skin, and have this Note upon it, The Heavens are an Open Bock; (ſuch of Old were made of Skins:) to teach us the Knowledge of GOD.

4 GOD often ſends His Angels, into the Winds, and into the Lightnings and Thunders to execute His Royal Pleaſure.

15 The Fating of Oil, and the Ointing with it, we all know, produces this effect. But beſides this, hear David Kianchi. Indicat noctis Lampades, qua illuminant facies bominum.

22 Behold a rare ſtroke in the Midraſh Tillin; a rare ſtroke from the Infidel Jews: The Sun is the MESSIAH. Yea, they proceed further, to find Hell, the Dens of the Wild-Beaſts.

24 Is every one of the Fixed Stars, whereof the Teleſcope has brought great Numbers into view, a Sun attended with a Chorus of Satellits? Come from our Sun and paſs by the Planets in our Syſtem, and paſs by the Mete rs of our Atmoſpſiaere; In our Globe the Foſſils are without Number. Of the Beaſts including Serpe ts, we know 150 ſorts; Of Birds 500; O Fiſhes 500; the Shell-Fiſh Six times as many; Of Inſects little ſhort of 20000, according to Rays Computation, Bauhinus finds of Plants, about 6000: But R y concludes there are more than Triple the Number. But then what prodigious Numbers of Individuals in the ſeveral ſpecies! An amazing inſtance in the Acci, malcules diſcovered by Lewenhoeck, which diſcoveries are confirmed by others. No leſs than 45000 living Creatures in a quantity of Water no bigger than a grain of Millet. He affirins 8280000 of theſe living Creatures to be ſeen in a drop of Water, yea, Millions of Millions of Millions. Oh! Manifold Works! Oh! the Power, Oh! the Wiſdom, Oh! the Majeſty of our Glorious GOD!

31 This follows on the Lords Feeding every Creature; and on His other Works of Goodneſs and Bounty. An Intimation, that He doesall this Good unto His Creatures with Delight; He rejoyces in it. It as it weae does Him Good to ſee His Creatures happy.

35 The Jews have a Remark, That Hallelujahs are not uſed until, the Sinners be conſumed out of the Earth, and the Wicked be no more. Compare the Repetition of Hallelujah in the Apocalypſe. with this Obſervation. Hallelujah is a Note Calculated for the Time of the Great Revolution, when the Kingdom of the Meſſiah ſhall arrive. Under the Kingdom of Antichriſt, there has been a mock-uſage of Alleluia's: But it is ridiculous to read the fooliſh and monſirous Etymologies of that Word, aſſigned by the moſt celebrated Writers among the Romaniſts. Is not here, a Notable Key, for the opening of the Hallelujatic Pſalms?

PSALM CV.

1 COnfeſs to the ETERNAL God, ‖ Call ye upon His Name; ‖ among the People O make known ‖ His admirable Works. ‖

2 To Him with voices ſing; to Him ‖ ſing too with Inſtruments; ‖ talk ye of all the wondrous Works ‖ which have been done by Him. ‖

3 Value your ſelves upon the Name ‖ of His moſt Holy One; ‖ O let the heart of them rejoyce ‖ who ſeek th' ETERNAL God. ‖

4 O ſeek ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ ſeek ye His powerful ſtrength; ‖ Seek to behold His glorious Face, ‖ Do this continually. ‖

5 The admirable things which He ‖ hath done, Remember ye; ‖ the Prodigies which He has wrought ‖ and Judgments of His mouth ‖

6 O you that are the Off-ſpring of ‖ His Servant Abraham; ‖ O you that are the Children of ‖ Jacob, His choſen Ones. ‖

7 'Tis He who is th' ETERNAL God ‖ that is become our God; ‖ His Judgments now are ſeen and known ‖ quite over all the Earth. ‖

8 He hath been very mindful of ‖ His Covenant forever; ‖ the Word He for the Age mark't by ‖ a Thouſand, did appoint. ‖

9 Tis that which He to Abraham did ‖ make as His Covenant; ‖ tis what He unto Iſaac did ‖ ſwear with a ſolemn Oath. ‖

10 And this is what He did confirm ‖ to Jacob for a Law; ‖ to Iſrael as a Covenant ‖ for perpetuity. ‖

11 This is what He declar'd; To thee ‖ the Land of Canaan I ‖ will give, that it may be the ot ‖ of your Inheritance. ‖

12 When as they in their Number were but a few mortal Men; ‖ Yea, but a very few indeed, ‖ and Sojourners in it. ‖

13 Then from one Nation they unto ‖ another Nation lk'd; ‖ and from one Kingdom they unto ‖ another People went.

14 He did not ſuffer any man ‖ to do them any wrong; ‖ and He did upon their Account give His reproofs to Kings. ‖

15 He ſaid, Do not you dare to touch theſe mine anointed Ones; ‖ and unto the my Prophets do ‖ not any iujury. ‖

16 Then after this, He called for ‖ a Famine on the Land; ‖ the whole ſupporti •• Staff of Bread ‖ he broke and made to fail.

17 But he before their Faces then ‖ di ſend a Man of Note; ‖ Joſeph who was the barter'd for ‖ a Servant, was the Man.

18 His foot they did firſt humble with th' Affliction of a Chain; ‖ The Iron, that did Penetrate ‖ unto his very ſoul. ‖

19 Twas thus until the Time Came for ‖ the coming of His Word; ‖ the Word of the ETERNAL God ‖ then fully cleared him. ‖

20 On this the King did ſend and ſet ‖ him at his liberty; ‖ The Ruler of the People did ‖ to freedom him reſtore. ‖

21 He conſtituted him to be ‖ the Ruler of his houſe; ‖ yea, and the Governour of all ‖ that was poſſeſs'd by him. ‖

22 That He might lay reſtraints upon ‖ his Princes as he pleas'd, ‖ and that He might make them be wiſe ‖ that were his Senators. ‖

23 Then Iſrael into Egypt did ‖ on this oc ſion come, ‖ and Jacob in the Land of Ham ‖ became a ſojourner. ‖

24 His People He did very much ‖ then cauſe to fructify; ‖ and made them to improve in ſtrength ‖ above their Enemies. ‖

25 That they ſhould hate His People, He ‖ did turn about their heart; ‖ and that againſt His Servants they ‖ ſhould plot deceitful things. ‖

26 He ſent a Moſes, who became ‖ His humble Miniſter; ‖ He ſent an Aaron whom He had ‖ now made His choſen one. ‖

27 Theſe did among them ſet the words ‖ of His prodigious ſigns; ‖ and wondrous prodigies which were ‖ done in the Land of Ham. ‖

28 He did ſend darkneſs upon them, ‖ and it grew very dark; ‖ 'Twas at this time that they did not ‖ rebel againſt His word. ‖

29 He turn'd their waters into Blood, ‖ and He deſtroy'd their Fiſh. ‖

30 Their Land bro't forth great ſtore of Frogs, ‖ ev'n where their Kings did lodge. ‖

31 He did give forth the Word and then ‖ the grievous Dog-fly came; ‖ He did give forth the We d and Lice ‖ did ſwarm in all their coaſts ‖

32 For rains He gave them hail, and fire ‖ with flames ſhot through their Land. ‖

33 He ſmote their Vines too and th •• Figs; ‖ and broke their bounding Trees. ‖

34 He gave out His Command for it ‖ a •• then the Locuſt came; ‖ the Caterpillar a •• came, ‖ and it was numberleſs. ‖

35 They did entirely eat up all ‖ the 〈◊〉 bage of the Land; ‖ and they did eat up 〈◊〉 the fruit ‖ which grew upon their ſoil. ‖

36 He alſo did in all their Land ‖ ſmi •• every Firſt-born thing; ‖ He did ſmite the ſi ••• fruits which were ‖ produced in their ſtrength

37 And He brought forth thoſe Iſraeli ••• with Silver and with Gold; ‖ yea, there 〈◊〉 not in all their Tribes ‖ One feeble Per ••• found. ‖

38 When they took their departure, th ••• Egypt was very glad; ‖ Becauſe a griev •• fear of theſe ‖ was fallen upon them. ‖

39 He did expand a cloud to be ‖ a cove ing over them; ‖ and with it was a Fire fo to ‖ illuminate the Night. ‖

40 On their Petition then He did ‖ brit them great ſtore of Quails; ‖ and with th •• bread of Heaven He ‖ ſupply'd them to the full

41 He opened a Rock, and thence ‖ 〈◊〉 waters guſhed out; ‖ away they thro' dry places did, ‖ a River, take their courſe. ‖

42 For He did mind His holy word; ‖ H ••• Servant Abraham. ‖

43 And brought his People forth with joy •• with ſongs his choſen ones. ‖

44 Then 'twas He of the Nations did ‖ beſtow the Lands on them: ‖ The labour of the People then ‖ they their poſſeſſion made. ‖

45 All this that ſo they might obſerve ‖ His Inſtitutions there, ‖ and that they might obey His Laws. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CV. PSALM.

A Meditation prepared by the Prophetic Spirit, for the Jewiſh Nation; to raiſe their Expectation of ſuch things to be done for them, as were done for their Deliverance out of Egypt. Compare, Mic. VII. 15.

4 The Strength of GOD, and the Face of GOD, are Names of the Meſſiab.

6 Some Jewiſh Commentaries invite us to Read, not, Ye Seed of Abraham, &c. But, The Seed.— [i. e. The Meſſiah,] of whom it follows, He is the Lord our GOD. So Malac. II. 15. Hebr. The Seed, who is GOD. The Old Rabbi's underſtood the Meſſiah there.

8 Arnobius finds the Thouſand Generations, in ſo many diſtinct Nations and Languages anon found among the Sons of Noah. But, the Grand Article in the Covenant of GOD, is, The Lord JEHOV AH will be a God unto His People. [Jer. XXXII. 38.] Herein 'tis implied, That the Lord JEHOVAH will in His Meſſiah give Himſelf to be ſenſibly enjoyed by His People. [Lev. XXVI. 12.] Hence the Covenant will not be fulfill'd, in the full ſenſe of it, until the Meſſiah come to Sit on the Throne of His Glory among His People. [Pſal. LXXXIX. 34.] Nor indeed, until the Reſurrection from the Dead. [Math. XXII. 31, 32.] Conſider alſo, Heb. XI. 16. with Rev XXI. 13. Laſtly, There is a Generation or Period of Time, wherein this Covenant of GOD will be remembred, and performed. And here, we have a ſpecial Character or that Period. The World where we ſojourn will not endure a Thouſand Generations. But if you take a Generation in the Signification of the Law, for Seven Years, then a Thouſand Gen •••• tions are Seven Thouſand Years. Indeed, Such a •••• ration for our World, may be Typi ed in the S •••• Days of the Creation. But here the Word is not 〈◊〉 the Plural Number. It notes one ſpecial Generat ••• or, if you will, Revolution. For the Character of 〈◊〉 Thouſand here put upon it, one renders it, The P ••• Age, (which Bildad ſends Job unto,) namely, that the Patriarchs, to whom the Lord gave the Covenant. Yea, Kimchi renders it, Ad Ducem in Generation and expounds it of Abraham. However let us k ••• our Tranſlation of, a Thouſand. It may very well 〈◊〉 rendred, The Millennial Age: Or, The Period th •• ſhall have the Sabba ical Character of a Thouſand Years upon it. The Words of Moſes, Pſalm XC. 〈◊〉 Thou turneſt Man to deſtruction, and ſayſt, Re ••• —are a Prophecy of the Reſurrection. It follows Thouſand Years in thy Sight—Ponder it.

14 What Kings? See Gen. XII. 16. & Gen. XX.

19 What was, Tried, in our former Verſion, ma be read, Purged, or Cleared. GOD would never h •• inſpired with His Word, a Man really guilty, of 〈◊〉 Crimes, as Joſeph was accuſed of.

22 R. Solomon Expounds it of the Love, where w ••• he bound the Hearts of the Princes to him; and k ••• them, like the Soul of Jonathan to David.

28 The Plague o Darkneſs is mentioned Firſt (th •• it were the Ninth) becauſe it was the worſt. It 〈◊〉 upon every Individual; And was accompanied with Apparitions of Devils and Spectres. Dr. Lightfoot ſuppoſes, That the Iſraelites took this time, to perform that part of their Obedience to the Word of Go •• which they had hitherto rebell'd againſt, [Joſh. . 9. Their Circaunciſion; without which they could not ha •• kept the Paſſover. A Remarkable Thing; That Go ſhould by this Darkneſs on the Enemy, protect h •• Obedient People!

PSALM CVI.

1 SIng Hallelujah! O Confeſs ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Becauſe that He is good; becauſe ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

2 Who ſhall declare the mighty Acts ‖ of the ETERNAL God? ‖ Who ſhall cauſe to be heard all that ‖ He's to be praiſed for. ‖

3 Bleſſed are they who do obſerve ‖ the thing that's right-and-good; ‖ Bleſſed is e who executes ‖ at all times righteouſneſs. ‖

4 ETERNAL God, Remember me ‖ with ſuch a favour as ‖ thou ſhow'ſt thy People; and with thy ‖ Salvation viſit me. ‖

5 That the good of thy choſen I ‖ may ſee; To ſhine with the ‖ joy of thy Nation; To triumph ‖ with thine Inheritance. ‖

6 We, as our Anceſtors have done ‖ before us, have tranſgreſs'd; ‖ We have done much iniquity; ‖ we have dealt wickedly. ‖

7 Our Anceſtors in Egypt did ‖ not wiſe attention give ‖ to underſtand the wondrous things ‖ which were done by thee there. ‖ They minded not the multitude ‖ of thy benignities; ‖ but they rebelled near the Sea, ‖ ev'n at the Reedy-Sea. ‖

8 Nevertheleſs for the ſake of ‖ His Name He ſaved them; ‖ That ſo He might make to be known ‖ His mighty Power abroad. ‖

9 So He rebuk'd the Reedy-Sea, ‖ and it was dried up; ‖ and then He lead them thro' the deeps ‖ as thro' a wilderneſs. ‖

10 Thus He did ſave them from the hand ‖ of them that hated them; ‖ And He redeem'd them from the hand ‖ of a fierce enemy. ‖

11 Their troublous adverſaries then the waters overwhelm'd; ‖ There was not any left of them; ‖ no, not ſo much as one. ‖

12 Then they believed on His words; ‖ they did ſing forth His praiſe. ‖

13 They made haſte; they forgot His works; ‖ they ſtay'd not for His help. ‖

14 They luſted with ſtrong appetite ‖ when in the wilderneſs; ‖ and they did tempt the mighty God ‖ when in the Solitude. ‖

15 And the thing which they did requeſt ‖ He granted unto them; ‖ Nevertheleſs 〈◊〉 leanneſs He ‖ did ſend into their Soul. ‖

16 Yea, and againſt Moſes himſelf, ‖ they envy'd in the Camp; ‖ Againſt Aaron, the holy One ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

17 The Earth did then open itſelf, ‖ and ſwallow Dathan up; ‖ It overwhelm'd the Company ‖ which with Abiram were.

18 And there enkindled was among ‖ their Company a Fire; ‖ The flame thereof did utterly ‖ conſume the wicked ones. ‖

19 Near unto Horeb they did make ‖ an idolized Calf; ‖ and to a molten Image they ‖ did then bow down themſelves.

20 Thus that which was their glory they ‖ did ſhamefully transform ‖ into the likeneſs of a Beef ‖ that feeds upon the graſs. ‖

21 They did forget the mighty God ‖ who had their Saviour been; ‖ who had in Egypt done the things ‖ that were exceeding great. ‖

22 Works that were very wouderful ‖ within the Land of Ham; ‖ Things that were very terrible ‖ near to the Reedy-Sea. ‖

23 He then ſaid, He'd deſtroy them; but ‖ His choſen Moſes ſtood ‖ 〈◊〉 th' breach before Him to divert ‖ His wrath from ſlaying them. ‖

24 Yea, they did caſt contempt upon ‖ a Land to be deſir'd; ‖ and they did not rely upon ‖ what He had promiſed. ‖

25 But in their Tabernacles they ‖ kept ever murmuring; ‖ They hearken'd not unto the Voice of the ETERNAL God. ‖

26 He therefore lifting up His hand‖againſt them took His Oath, ‖ that He would make them fall, while they‖were in the wilderneſs. ‖

27 That He among the Nations would ‖ their Offspring make to fall; ‖ and that He would now ſcatter them‖abroad into the lands‖

28 They to Baal-peor alſo did ‖ in his yoke join themſelves; ‖ The ſacrifices of the Dead ‖ they then did feed upon. ‖

29 Thus they with their inventions did ‖ great provocation give; ‖ and ſo the Plague broke in upon ‖ them irreſiſtibly. ‖

30 Then Phinehas did ſtand up with Pray'r ‖ and did proceed to do, ‖ the execution of a Judge; ‖ and ſo the Plague was ſtay'd. ‖

31 And this to him was reckon'd as ‖ an act of righteouſneſs, ‖ from one Age to another Age, ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

32 And at the Waters of their ſtrife ‖ they rais'd a boiling wrath; ‖ ſo that with Moſes there it went ‖ but ill on their account. ‖

33 Becauſe that they his ſpirit threw‖into great bitterneſs, ‖ and then he brought forth with his lips‖ what ſhould not have been there.

34 Thoſe curſed Peoples they did not ‖ wholly exterminate, ‖ concerning whom th' ETERNAL God ‖ had ſo commanded them. ‖

35 But they did mix themſelves among ‖ the heathen Nations there, ‖ and they did learn to do their works; ‖ ev'n their Idolatries

36 And they did ſerve their Idols which ‖ became a ſnare to them. ‖

37 Yea, they to Devils ſacrific'd ‖ their Daughters with their Sons. ‖

38 So they pour'd out the Blood of ſuch ‖ as were poor Innocents; ‖ It was the Blood of their own Sons ‖ and of their Daughters too. ‖ Theſe unto Canaan's Idols they ‖ did make their ſacrifice; ‖ and with ſuch bloody doings was ‖ the very Land defil'd. ‖

39 Thus with their deteſtable works ‖ they did pollute themſelves; ‖ and ſo they did a •• whoring with ‖ their own Inventions go. ‖

40 Now the wrath of the ETERNAL God ‖ againſt His People roſe; ‖ and He did now abominate ‖ His own Inheritance. ‖

41 And He deliver'd them into ‖ the hand of Gentiles then; ‖ and they that hated them did bear ‖ dominion over them. ‖

42 And they that were their Enemies ‖ ſorely oppreſſed them, ‖ yea, and they were under their hand ‖ into ſubjection brought. ‖

43 He many times delivered them; ‖ But with their counſel they ‖ provoked ſtill, and were brought low ‖ for their iniquity. ‖

44 Nevertheleſs He did behold, ‖ when upon them there was ‖ Affliction, when therein He heard ‖ them making of their cry. ‖

45 And He for them His Covenant ‖ did to remembrance call; ‖ after His mercies multitude ‖ it then repented Him. ‖

46 He alſo to compaſſions did ‖ kindly deliver them ‖ before the face of all of thoſe ‖ that captivated them. ‖

47 O Thou ETERNAL God, our God, ‖ To us O do thou grant ‖ Salvation, and, Oh! from among ‖ the Nations gather us: ‖ That ſo we may confeſs to the ‖ Name of thy Holy One, ‖ and that we may triumphantly ‖ ſing forth thy Glorious Praiſe. ‖

48 Bleſs'd be th' ETERNAL God, the God ‖ of Iſrael evermore; ‖ And let all People ſay, Amen. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now!

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CVI. PSALM.

THE Prophotic Spirit prepares an humble Confeſſion to be made by the Jews, concerning the Sins of their Fathers, and an humble Petition for Deliverance from their Diſperſion.

Some imagine the Pſalm to be compos'd in the Ti ••• of the Babylonlan Captivity; becauſe of Gather 〈◊〉 from among the Heathen. Dr. Patrick rather ſuppoſt this Petition to refer unto thoſe, who in the Days 〈◊〉 Saul, or before, were taken Priſoners by the Philiſti •• and other Nations.

15 Munſter ſays, 'Tis a Phraſe for Death.

17 Why no mention made of Korah? The Pſalm was to be Sung by the Sons of Korah. And R. Solo mon obſerves, Honor at Filios Cora, et not memi ••• Patris eorum.

30 To Stand in Prayer, was a Poſture ſo uſual amo •• the Jews, that it became a Phraſe for Prayer. The Jews here conſider Phinehas as Praying before his Action.

THE FIFTH BOOK OF PSALMS.
PSALM CVII.

1 O Make you a Confeſſion now ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ becauſe that He is Good; becauſe ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

2 So let them ſay, who've been redeem'd ‖ by the ETERNAL God; ‖ thoſe whom He hath redeem'd from the ‖ hand of the enemy. ‖

3 And thoſe whom He hath gather'd from ‖ the Lands, ev'n from the Eaſt, ‖ and from the Weſt, and from the North, ‖ as likewiſe from the Sea. ‖

4 They wandred in the Wilderneſs ‖ in ſolitary ways; ‖ they did not find a City which ‖ might be inhabited, ‖

5 They were with hunger famiſhed ‖ and they were parch'd with thirſt; ‖ their Soul within them overwhel'md, ‖ was ready for to faint. ‖

6 Then in their trouble they do cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ He then did them deliver from ‖ their grievous anguiſhes. ‖

7 And He in a right way did give ‖ a conduct unto them; ‖ that they might to a City go ‖ for habitation there.

8 Let Men to the ETERNAL God ‖ confeſs His mercy now; ‖ and the moſt wondrous things which He ‖ does for the Sons of Men. ‖

9 For He doth ſatisfy the Soul ‖ wandring with appetites; ‖ and He doth fill the famiſhed Soul ‖ with what is very good. ‖

10 There are thoſe who impriſon'd ſit ‖ in darkneſs and the ſhades ‖ of Death; in great Affliction bound ‖ and Iron chaining them.

11 It is becauſe they have rebell'd ‖ againſt the words of God; ‖ and they've deſpis'd the Counſel of ‖ Him who is the moſt High. ‖

12 Therefore He with hard labour did ‖ bring down the heart of them; ‖ they fell down under it and there ‖ was none to ſuccour them. ‖

13 Then in their trouble they did cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ He then did them deliver from ‖ their grievous anguiſhes. ‖

14 He brought them out of darkneſs, and ‖ our of the ſhades of death; and He did br ••• aſunder all a the Chains that fetter'd the •• .

15 LetMen to the ETERNAL God ‖ con ••• His mercy now; ‖ and the moſt wondro •• things which He ‖ does for the Sons of M •••• .

16 Becauſe that He hath broke the Ga ••• the which were made of brafs ‖ and the ſtr •••• Iron Bars, He hath ‖ cut theſe to peices qui •• .

17 Fools for the way the which they d i •• their tranſgreſſion take, ‖ and for th •• wrong iniquities ‖ do with affliction meet.

18 All manner of repaſt their Soul ‖ d ••• then abominate; and they make their 〈◊〉 pr •• c es to ‖ the very Gates or Death. ‖

19 Then in their trouble they did cry ‖ the ETERNAL God; ‖ He then did them d •• liver from ‖ their grievous anguiſhes. ‖

20 He will ſend forth his word, and will give healing unto them; ‖ and He w ll the •• deliver them ‖ out of their Sepulchres. ‖

21 Let Men to the ETERNAL God ‖ co ••• ſeſs His mercy now; ‖ and the moſt w ••• drous things which He ‖ does for the So •• of Men. ‖

22 And let them ſacrifice of praiſe ‖ 〈◊〉 ſacrifices now; ‖ let them alſo declare H •••• Works ‖ with a triumphant ſong. ‖

23 They who imbark'd in Veſſe s do ‖ down unto the Sea; ‖ they that on many 〈◊〉 •• rs have ‖ a buſineſs to purſue. ‖

24 Theſe have a view of the Works done ‖ by the ETERNAL God; ‖ and of the wondrous things that are ‖ occurring in the deep. ‖

25 And when He gives the word, He makes ‖ the ſtormy Wind to riſe; ‖ therewith He makes the rolling waves ‖ ſwell to a mighty heighth. ‖

26 They mount up to the Heavens; they ‖ go down unto the Deeps; ‖ their Soul does in this evil time ‖ a Diſſolution feel. ‖

27 They're toſs'd, and they do ſtagger like ‖ unto a drunken man; ‖ and now all of their Wiſdom is ‖ entirely ſwallow'd up. ‖

28 Then in their trouble they do cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ He then does bring them forth out of ‖ their grievous anguiſhes. ‖

29 Into a Silence He does make ‖ the roaring Tempeſt ſtop; ‖ and the unquiet waves to lay ‖ aſide their boiſt'rous noiſe. ‖

30 Then are they very glad, becauſe ‖ they are ſo quieted; ‖ and He does bring them well unto ‖ the Port of their deſire. ‖

31 Let Men to the ETERNAL God ‖ confeſs His Mercy now; ‖ and the moſt wondrous things which He ‖ does for the ſons of Men. ‖

32 Yea, and Let them exalt Him where ‖ the People uſe to meet, ‖ and let them greatly praiſe Him where ‖ the Elders uſe to ſit. ‖

33 Rivers He doth reduce into ‖ a parched Wilderneſs; ‖ and places wherein Waters flow'd ‖ into a thirſty Land. ‖

34 A fruitful Land He does reduce ‖ to ſalt ſterility; ‖ by reaſon of the wickedneſs ‖ 〈◊〉 them who dwell therein. ‖

35 The wilderneſs He does reduce ‖ into a Pond of Waters, ‖ and the forſaken Land into ‖ places where waters flow. ‖

36 And there He makes the ſtarving One to find a dwelling place; ‖ Yea, they a City do prepare ‖ for habitation there. ‖

37 And ſo they cultivate the Fields; ‖ they do plant Vineyards too: ‖ and there they do obtain the fruit ‖ of uſual increaſe. ‖

38 He does alſo beſtow on them ‖ His bleſſing and they are ‖ much multiply'd; their cattle too, ‖ He don't diminiſh them.

39 Again they are diminiſhed, ‖ and they're brought very low; ‖ thro' Tyranny, Affliction and ‖ a mind oppreſs'd with grief. ‖

40 He upon Princes does pour out ‖ Contemptuous diſgrace; ‖ and He doth make them wander in ‖ a Deſart where's no Road. ‖

41 But yet He does raiſe up the Poor ‖ from out of Penury; ‖ and He produceth Families ‖ that ſhall be like a Flock. ‖

42 The upright ones ſhall take a view, ‖ and ſhall be very glad; ‖ but all Iniquity ſhall now ‖ forever ſtop its Mouth. ‖

43 Who is there now that will be wiſe, ‖ and will obſerve theſe things? ‖ Theſe ſhall the mercies underſtand ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CVII. PSALM.

TIS an Hymn for the Jewiſh Nation, gathered from its Diſperſion, and confeſſing the Miracles which the Meſſiah performs for their Deliverance.

We have it ſeveral times over, Then in their trouble they do cry unto the ETERNAL God; But we do not find it ſaid ſo much as once, upon their Deliverances, then they praiſed the Lord for His Goodneſs. No, that matter always comes in with a Let Men confeſs. Alas, Tis to be Deſired that they would; hardly to be ſuppoſed, that they will.

16 Old Ayn bius has an Holy and a ſolemn Tho' ; Gates of Breſs and Bars of Iron are Habits of Sin.

20 The Jewiſh Writers quoted by Galatinus, have many aſtoniſhing Paſſages on this Verſe. They find the Meſſiah to be, The Word, here ſent by God. They find, Healing Miracles wrought by Him. They find that a ſingular ſhare of his Favours would be granted unto Perſons, whoſe Buſineſs lies upon the Waters, and even unto dull Fiſhermen.

23 Arnobius would fain have thoſe that go to Sea in Ships, to mean, thoſe who lead an holy Converſation in the World, and by their Inſtruction and Example bring many People to Piety. Oh! That they who go to Sea in Ships, would more anſwer this Character!

34 Terry in his Travails obſerves, (as others have alſo done) Can an was a Fruitful Land, and like the Garden of God, and able to feed a Prodigious Multitude of People. Whereas the Bleſſing of God is now ſo withdrawn from it, that it will not nouriſh and ſuſtain an Hundredth Part of ſuch a Number, as once lived upon it.

43 Whoſoever will be truly wiſe, ought to ponder ſuch Paſſages of the Divine Providence, that they may make others who are leſs conſiderate, underſtand, how gracious the Lord is to them, who ſtudy to pleaſe Him, and obtain His Favour. This is the Patrician Paraphraſe.

PSALM CVIII. A Song. A Pſalm of David.

1 O God, With preparation now ‖ my heart is well confirmd; ‖ I ll ſing with voice, and ſing with ſtrings; ‖ yea, ſo my Glory ſhall. ‖

2 O well-tun'd Pſaltery, Do thou ‖ awake unto the work; ‖ Awake, O Harp; I' th' early morn ‖ I will my ſelf awake. ‖

3 Among the Peoples I will praiſe ‖ Thee O ETERNAL God; ‖ and I will unto thee aloud ‖ among the Nations ſing. ‖

4 For from above the Heavens is ‖ thy mercy magnify'd; ‖ and to the terder Clouds there doth ‖ extend thy faithfulneſs. ‖

5 Above the Heav'ns, O God the Judge, ‖ be thou lift up on high, ‖ and over all the Earth let be ‖ thy Glory ſpread abroad. ‖

6 That thy beloved ones may have ‖ a full deliverance, ‖ Do thou now ſave by thy right hand, ‖ and do thou anſwer me. ‖

7 God hath ſpoke in His holineſs, ‖ I will triumph with joy; ‖ Shechem I will divide, I will ‖ meaſure out Succoths Vale. ‖

8 Gilead is what I claim for mine; ‖ M naſſeh too is mine; ‖ Ephraim is of my ſtrength the head; ‖ Judah's my Lawgiver. ‖

9 Moab's a Pot wherein I'll waſh; ‖ On Edom I will caſt ‖ my Shoe, and I will triumph now ‖ over Philiſtia. ‖

10 Who will conduct me unto the ‖ well-fortified Town? ‖ Into the heart of Edom, who ‖ is it will lead me on? ‖

11 Is it not Thou, O God, who didſt ‖ caſt us off heretofore? ‖ Even Thou, O God, who didſt not go out with our Armed Hoſts. ‖

12 O give us ſuccour from Diſtreſs; ‖ for vain's the help of Man. ‖

13 Thro' God we ſhall do valiantly; ‖ And He'll tread down our foes. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CVIII. PSALM.

THe Prophetic Spirit here teaches the Jewiſh Nation to figh after the lorious Reign of the Meſſiah; when they ſhall repoſſeſs their Country and ſee the Deſtruction of their Enemies; eſpecially of Edom, on the Roman Empire.

3 Some note an Emphaſis in the Ori nal, I will wake the Morning. The Morning has not found me Sleeping, but I have rather wakened That.

9 Aben-Ezra's Gloſs is, I will Water my Earth, I will do my People no Hurt, but Good, by the Hands of Moah.

But rather, like R. Solomon, Compare 2. King. III. ii.

PSALM CIX. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 THou who art of my praiſe the God, ‖ O hold not thou thy Peace. ‖

For the mouth of the wicked One, ‖ ev'n the mouth of Deceit; ‖ theſe have wide open ſet themſelves ‖ unto my prejudice; ‖ they have in talking with me us'd ‖ a Tongue of falſity. ‖

3 They have encompaſs'd me about, 〈◊〉 words of hatted full; ‖ they have an •••• ſition made ‖ to me without a cauſe. ‖

4 They are my Adverſaries for ‖ the 〈◊〉 I've born to them ‖ but while they 〈◊〉 do ſtill ‖ apply my ſelf to Pray'r.‖

5 And they have recompenced me ‖ ••• lieu of good;‖and hatred they have recomp •••• to me fot all my Love.‖

6 To be a Ruler over him ‖ appoint a ••• ked one; ‖ and let as an accuſer at ‖ 〈◊〉 right hand Satan ſtand. ‖

7 When that he ſhall be judg'd, le ••• go forth a wicked one; ‖ and let his 〈◊〉 Prayer become ‖ but as a New Offence. ‖

8 Let his days be but few; ſo let ‖ 〈◊〉 ther take his charge. ‖

9 His Children, let be Orphans, and 〈◊〉 Wife a Widow made. ‖

10 Yea, let his Children always ro ••• Vagabonds about; ‖ and from their deſo ••• ons let ‖ them ſeek about for food. ‖

11 Let the extortioner with Snares ‖ upon all he has; ‖ let ſtrangers alſo 〈◊〉 upon ‖ what he has Labour'd for. ‖

12 Let there be none that ſhall exc ••• compaſſion unto him; ‖ and to befriend Orphans let ‖ there not be any one. ‖

13 Let his end* and Poſterity ‖ be 〈◊〉 cutting off; ‖ in the next generation let ••• name be blotted out. ‖

14 Let the Sin of his Father be ‖ with the ETERNAL God ‖ remembred; and his Mothers Sin ‖ never be blotted out. ‖

15 Let them continually be ‖ before th' ETERNAL God; ‖ that He may cut off from the Earth ‖ the memory of them. ‖

16 Becauſe he did not mind to ſhew ‖ mercy; but did purſue ‖ the poor and needy man, and the ‖ heart-broken one to ſlay. ‖

17 In that he curſing did affect, ‖ ſo let it come to him; ‖ as he for bleſſing had no mind, ‖ ſo be it far from him. ‖

18 Yea, let him be with curſing cloath'd ‖ like his next garment; yea ‖ let it like water reach his bowels, ‖ and like to oil his bones. ‖

19 To him let it be like unto ‖ the Garment covering him; ‖ and be the Girdle wherewith he ‖ is girt continually. ‖

20 This of my foes is the reward ‖ from the ETERNAL God; ‖ and of them who ſpeak evil to ‖ the damage of my Soul. ‖

21 But Thou ETERNAL God, the Lord, ‖ Do for me for the ſake ‖ of thy Name; ſince thy mercy's good, ‖ do Thou deliver me. ‖

22 Becauſe I'm a meek humbled one, ‖ and I am indigent; ‖ my heart alſo within me doth ‖ ſuffer moſt grievous Wounds. ‖

23 Like to a ſhadow, when it does ‖ decline, I'm driv'n away; ‖ I am toſs'd to and fro as if ‖ I were a Graſshopper. ‖

24 My knees are grown very infirm; ‖ 〈◊〉 faſting is the cauſe; ‖ and my fleſh does consume away, ‖ of fatneſs deſtitute. ‖

25 I alſo am become to them ‖ an obje •• of contempt; ‖ they took a view of me; 〈◊〉 which ‖ they did but ſhake their head. ‖

26 O Thou ETERNAL God, my God, 〈◊〉 Send ſuccour unto me: ‖ according to 〈◊〉 mercy, Oh! ‖ do Thou deliver me. ‖

27 And make them ſenſible that this ‖ 〈◊〉 what Thy hand has done;and that it is wh •• Thou haſt wrought, ‖ O Thou Eternal GOD

28 They ſtill will curſe; but Thou 〈◊〉 bleſs; ‖ when that they ſhall ariſe, ‖ O 〈◊〉 them be aſham'd; But let ‖ they Serv •• then rejoyce. ‖

29 O let my Enemies be cloath'd ‖ w ••• ſhame, and let them hide ‖ themſelves a ••• a Mantle, with ‖ their own confuſion cl ••• .

30 O Thou ETERNAL God, I will ‖ 〈◊〉 feſs thee with my mouth; ‖ yea, I will pra ••• Him in the midſt ‖ of a great Multitude. ‖

31 Becauſe, He ſtands at the Right ha ••• of the diſtreſſed One, ‖ to reſcue him fr ••• thoſe that would condemn his Soul to dea ••

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CIX. PSALM

BEhold the Meſſiah here Curſing of the Synagog •• whoſe Bloody deſigns Judas executed; the ſear •• effects whereof the Jews are now feeling in their diſper 〈◊〉

Tho the Ev ngelical Spirit allows us not the 〈◊〉

theſe Dirae againſt our Perſecutors, yet the Primitive Churches fetched thence their Expreſſions, at the Depoſition o unworthy Biſhops; and with an Eye to Judas it was call'd Pſalmus Iſcarioticus.

1 Arnobius reads it ſo: Deus, Laud m meam no tacueris. He deſires that GOD would not jet His Praiſe be unmentioned; Becauſe His Adverſaries loaded Him with their Vituperations. Dr. Patrick thus comprehenſively Paraphraſes it. As thou haſt given me hitherto continual cauſe to praiſe Thee, ſo I hope, Thou wilt ſtill vindicate my Honour.

11 The Ancients here underſtood the Romans, with their Demands of Tributes.

18 That Illuſtrious Dutchman Dr Neuwentyt, (whoſe Contemplations are tranſlated by the valuable Dr Chamberlayn,) does on the occaſion of this Text admire the preciſe knowledge of Nature which the Holy Spirit, who indicted our Scripture, has diſcovered in a vaſt variety of Inſtances. Here he ſays, Any one who reads this Text, and has ever ſeen the Caries Oſſium, or Corruption of the Bones produced by Liquid or Olouginous matters, muſt needs confeſs, that the Wrath and Curſe of GOD, cannot be deſcribed by more lively Compariſons.

31 There was an Officer in the Hebrew Courts, whom they called, Baal-Rib, or, The Pleader. He ſtood on the Right Hand of the Party cited unto the Court, whether he pleaded for him or againſt him.

What is here ſaid is, q. d. The Lord ſhall plead his cauſe: Compare Zech. III. 1. We have ſome Alluſion to this Baal-R b or Pleader, when it is ſaid, 1. John II. 1 We have an Advocate with the Father.

PSALM CX. A Pſalm of David.

1 SO ſpoke th' ETERNAL to my Lord, ‖ Sit Thou [enthxon'd] at my Right-hand, ‖ until I make thy Enemies ‖ a [conquerd] footſtool for thy feet. ‖

2 Th' ETERNAL out of Zion ſhall ‖ ſend the Rod of thy [mighty] ſtrength; ‖ In the midſt o thy Enernies ‖ maintain [Thou thy] Dominion. ‖

3 In the Day of Thy Marſhalling ‖ Thy Forces for [to do] Thy Work, ‖ Thy People, they ſhall then appear ‖ with [none but] free-will offerings: ‖ They ſhall appear in Beauties of ‖ [the moſt] adorning Holineſs; ‖ more than the mornings Womb Thou haſt ‖ the freſh Dew of thy [early] Youth. ‖

4 Th' ETERNAL God hath ſworn, and He ‖ will not repent [at all] of it; ‖ Thou ever art a Prieſt of the ‖ ſet [a d ſort] of Melchiſedek ‖

O Glorious God, The Lord who is ‖ ſeated [above] at thy right hand; ‖ He in the day of His great wrath ‖ will give wounds unto [mighty] Kings. ‖

6 Among the Nations He will judge; ‖ Dead bodies He will [raiſe and] fill. ‖ He will with bruiſes wound the Head ‖ that's over [great and] many lands. ‖

7 He ſhall drink of the Torrent, whichc •• urs [unto] Him in the way; ‖ He for that reaſon ſhall liſt up ‖. thereon His[con u'ring] head on high. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CX. PSALM.

THe J •• lm is an Illuſtrious Prophecy, about the Aſcent O the Meſſiah into the Heavens, the extant of His Empire, the Glory of His Prieſt-hood, His recalling of the Jews, and His deſtroying of Antichriſt, when He comes to Judge the Earth

A Ce •••• man made an attempt for an Hiſtorical Senſe of the Pſa m. Whereupon a Synod of the French Churches, at Breda, in the Year 1713. ſeverely condemned the Expoſit on as very Impious, and paſs'd a ſev •• e Sentence on, Un •• h rdieſe ſi •• eriminelle. And a Synod of the Dut h Churches con urr'd unto the cenſure. The Learned Monſ. Martin alſo, wrote a whole Book to confute, that evil Eſſay.

The Jewiſh conceſſions for our Chriſtian Application of the Pſ lm, are Numerous and Marvellous. The Midraſh Tillin particularly, quotes the, Sit thou at my Right hand, as belonging to the Meſſiah. And R. Obadiah ſays, The Pſamiſt compoſed this Pſalm of the Meſſiah. And from the firſt Verſe, he places the Meſſiah, above the Angels of God.

1 Sitting, when ſpoken of a King intends Reigning. Here is an Aſſociation in Government. The Sceptre comes between them. Vitring writes finely on it.

3 An Obſcure Paſſ •• e. The Jews read it, Thy Nativity from the Womb, is as the Dew of the Morning. The J ruſalem Talmud ſaies, the Explication of it is is to be fetch'd from, Mic. V. 7 R. Solomon Jarchi's Gloſs is, Quaſi Rosa Domino, qui minquam per Hominem dimi •• itur.

Or, If the Nativity of the Meſſiah do not appear ſo plainly intimated here, why may not his Reſurrection which indeed was alſo His Nativity? The Dew of our Lord is that quickening Power of his, by which he raiſes the Dead. [I ſai. XXVI. 19.] When it is ſaid. The D w of thy Youth is thine, it may be, q. d. It i. thine own lover that Raiſes thee from th dead. This was from the Womb of the Morning. The Reſurrection of our Lord, was in the Morning on all Account •••

But we'll refer to the Common Annotations. 〈◊〉 take pious Mr Henry's, 'Abundance of Young O •• 'verts, like drops of Dew in a Summer's Morning Or thus, From their very Childhood, thou haſt ••• Dew of thy Peoples Youth: their Hearts and Aſſ ••• ons when they are Young.

The Dew of thy Youth is a Numerous, Illuſtrious hopeful ſhew of Young People flocking to Chriſt, which are to the World as Dew to the Ground, to me ••• fruitful.

Again, on, the Day of Power, and, the Will •• People: A particular day, in the time of the Meſſ ••• is called the Day of Power. And this Day of Pe ••• muſt, it ſeems be celebrated as a S bbath. Upon in ••• People ſhall be Populus devotion ••• , a People wi •• devoted unto the Lord. The Place of the Devo •••• is to be, In the f •••• ties of Holineſs; which is 〈◊〉 Name of the enctuery. This Day of Devotion, 〈◊〉 be the Reſurrection Day; and conſequently the 〈◊〉 day of the Week. Why it ſhould be called the day 〈◊〉 Power, See, Rom. I. 4.—Thou haſt the Dow 〈◊〉 thy Youth, is by the LXX rendred, I have begotten thee. Take Dr Patrick's Paraphraſe, In the Day when thy Forces [2 Tim. II. 3] compleatly Armed with a Divine Power [Acts. IV. 33.] 〈◊〉 march forth to ſubdue the World unto thy Obedien •• they that are ſit for thy Kingdom, [Luk. 9.62.] ſhall chearfully Submit themſelves, and preſent th •• with Freewill Offerings, in token of their abſolute ſubjection to thee: [Act. II. 45. IV. 34.] And great ſhall be the Number of choſen Men, who gl •• to ſee the Night of Ignorance gone, ſhall at th firſt appearance, by the Celeſtial Bleſſing fall unto the •• as thick as the Morning Dew.

Beauties of Holineſs.] Tis very ſure the Beu •••• of the Holy JESUS, invite and allure His People to become a Willing People; willing to be His People. But may not the Beauties of Holineſs here, be the Beautiful Garments which adorn the Willing People? It may be an Alluſion to Exod. XXVIII. 2 Holy Garments for Aaron for Glory, and for Beauty. When a People become an Holy People, they are advanced unto the Dignity of an Holy Prieſthood. Conſider. 1. Pet. II. 9. Rev. V. 8.

It had juſt been ſaid, a People of Free-will Offeringſ. How agreeably are the Prieſtly Garments of Holineſs aſſign'd unto them?

6 In the Original tis, He ſhall fill the [De Bodies: Is it not a Prophecy of, The Reſurrection of the Dead, which arrives when our Lord comes to Judge among the Nations? The Reſurrection is accompliſh'd by His filling the Bodies of His People. This is good Philoſophy. We have the Reſurrection ſo deſcribed; Eph. I. 23. II. 1. He fills all in all; and you, who are dead in treſpaſſes and Sins.

Wounding the Head over many Countrys, evidently refers to the Protevangelium; The bruiſing the Head of the Sorpent. When Antichriſt is deſtroyed, the Head over many Countrys is wounded. Yea, the Ancient Promiſe of Bruiſing the Head of the Serpent, will then have an Eminent Accompliſhment.

Thus Geſner, In primis David reſpicit ad Promiſſione primis Parentibus, in Paradiſo factam.

7 See John. XVIII. 1. with Phil. II. 9.

PSALM CXI.

1 PRaiſe ye the Lord! With all my heart‖ I'll Praiſe th' ETERNAL God,‖ where the upright meet privately, ‖ and where more publickly. ‖

2 The works of the ETERNAL God ‖ are gloriouſly great; ‖ they are ſought out by all of them ‖ who take delight therein. ‖

3 A Glory and a Majeſty ‖ appear upon His work; ‖ and unto perpetuity ‖ His Righteouſneſs endures. ‖

4 He has made a memorial ‖ of His moſt wondrous works; ‖ moſt gracious is th' ETERNAL God, ‖ and moſt compaſſionate. ‖

5 He unto them that fear Him has ‖ granted a prey of food; ‖ He ever will be mindful of ‖ the Covenant He has made. ‖

6 Unto His People He hath ſhewn ‖ the great pow'r of His works; ‖ in giving them the heritage ‖ of what the Nations had. ‖

7 Both verity and judgment too ‖ are the works of His hands; ‖ and faithful all the precepts are; ‖ with which He viſits us. ‖

8 To perpetuity they do ‖ forever ſtand confirm'd; ‖ they're done in faithfulneſs, and in ‖ exacteſt rectitude. ‖

9 He for His People did ſend forth ‖ Redemption; He commands ‖ His Cov'nant forever; His Name ‖ Holy and Rev'rend is. ‖

10 The firſt thing, * and the principal, ‖ which doth belong unto ‖ a real Wiſdom, is, The Fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖ Good Underſtanding is for all ‖ who do ſuch things as theſe; ‖ and as for Him, His Praiſe endures ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXI. PSALM.

DAvid here gives a Compendium of the CV. and CVI. Pſalms. The Pſalm does conſiſt of as many ſhort Metres as ther are Letters in the Hebrew Alphabet. And with the Regard of an Acroſtic in the Order of them. However that the Number of the Verſes might not exceed that of the Ten Commandments, the Two laſt Verſes have Three Metres apiece, and very ſhort ones. Dr. Allix here ſees the Gratitude of the Jews, beholding themſelves re-eſtabliſhed in their Country, by a vaſt Number of Miracles, and the Deſtruction of the Turks, who have poſſeſſed it.

4 GOD inſtituted Solemn Times, for the Commemoration of His wonderful Works.

5 This was done partly in the Spoil of the Egyptians, partly in the Manna of the Wilderneſs.

7 It may be read, His Viſits are Faithful. Be ſure, the Viſits made from the Inviſible World, unto the Patriarchs, with Predictions of the Meſſiah and our Salvation by Him, are not ſuch as have deceived us.

10 Behold, A ſweet Encouragement unto the Praiſe of GOD. If the Praiſe of GOD, (or the Work of Religion) be our main Buſineſs, or chief Delight; if we love to be at this Work; the Work will endure forever. We ſhall, •• ver be taken off. Our Employment with Satisfaction in that Work, will be upon us a Token for Good, that we ſhall be employed in that Work in another World, and World without end. Yea, and in this World if our Hearts be in this Work, we ſhall never want Occaſions. The Work will endure forever, by a continual renewal of Occaſions for it.

PSALM CXII.

1 SIng Hallelujah! Bleſs'd the Man ‖ who fears the ETERNAL God; ‖ who greatly doth delight himſelf‖in His Commandements. ‖

2 His Offspring ſhall upon the Earth‖gro •• very powerful; ‖ The Race of upright ones ſhall be ‖ a truly bleſſed Race.

3 There ſhall be wealth and riches in ‖ his habitation found; ‖ his righteouſneſs do •• alſo laſt ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

4 In darkneſs there doth light ariſe ‖ unto the upright ones; ‖ Gracious he is, and Men ciful, ‖ and Righteous too is he. ‖

5 A good Man is compaſſionate: ‖ and he does lend his help; ‖ with good diſcretion yet he doth ‖ ſtill govern his affairs. ‖

6 Sure he ſhall not from his good ſtate ‖ fo ever be remov'd; ‖ In everlaſting memory ſhall ‖ the righteous one be kept. ‖

7 Of hearing any evil thing ‖ he ſhall not be afraid; ‖ his heart's confirm'd, relying ſtill ‖ on the ETERNAL God. ‖

8 His heart is well-eſtabliſhed; ‖ he ſhall not be afraid; ‖ until he does behold what ſhallbefall his enemies. ‖

9 He ſcatters: he gives to the Poor; ‖ his righteouſneſs endures ‖ to perpetuity; his horn ‖ in glory will be rais'd. ‖

10 The wicked one ſhall ſee't, and rage; ‖ he with his teeth ſhall gnaſh, ‖ and melt away‖ ſo periſh will ‖ the wicked Man's deſire. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXII. PSALM.

THE Faithful here acknowledge, that Charity towards the Menders of their SAVIOUR, ſhall have a great Reward; and that thoſe who have uſed Cruelty, ſhall be puniſh'd for it, and rejected from His Kingdom. The laſt Verſe evidently refer to the Kingdom of the Meſſiah.

1 The Jewiſh Rabbi's and the Midraſh Tillin, remark, that it is Obedience rather than the Recompence of Obedience, that is the delight of the God y Man. They bring the Alacrity of Abraham in his Obedience for an Example. The Truth is, The Picture of a ••• ght •• ms Man here ſeems drawn, with an eye very particularly on the Circumſtances of our Father Abraham.

4 And is not here an eye, to the Story of Abraham? Gen. XVI. 17. It was dark, and behold, a Burning Lamp. The comfortable ſupport and Reſcue which God gives to His People in their Dark ſt Hours of A •• iction, ſeems to be promiſed, in Alluſion to that Appearance.

But, Quaere, Is not the SFED that is to he mighty upon the Earth to be interpreted of the MESSIAH, who was the SEED promiſed unto Abraham? And was not the Light that which aroſe, when the World was in the moſt fearful Darkneſs? Chriſtian, A new Field of precious Thot's is opened for thee.

Dr. Patricks Paraphraſe is alſo Excellent. I any A •• iction comes, it will be ſo far from making him unhappy, that beſides the Divine Comforts imparted unto him for his ſupport, it will make the vertue of Upright Men the more Illuſtrious; while one exercises Meekneſs and Sweetneſs to thoſe that provoke him; another forgives Offences, and p ties the Inſtru ••• its of his Trouble; and a Third exerciſes the greater 〈◊〉 or Mercy, and will not be tempted to do any 〈◊〉 or eru •• Thing, for his own Deliverance.

7 Hebr. Evil Hearing. The Jewiſh and ſome 〈◊〉 Into preters, carry it ſo; He is not ſollicitous 〈◊〉 the falſe Rop rts that may be raiſed upon him. 〈◊〉 We formerly ••• dred it, He ſhall ſe his deſire upon his Enemies. But, his deſire, is not in the Orignal. Dr. Patricks Paraphraſe is, He expects the Time, when he ſhall be able ſecurely to look upon 〈◊〉 his Enemies.

9 Why is Charity called Rightcouſneſs? Gre ••• M. in his Paſtoralis Cura, ſays well, Quia 〈◊〉 communi Domino tribuitur, JUSTUM prefecto •• 〈◊〉 accipiant, eo communiter utantur.

Horn Exalted. Accept a ſingular Tho't upon it, without excluding the common Interpret tion. The Praiſes of God were of Old ſounded in Comets. There were Exalted Horns or Exalted Notes, which 〈◊〉 would have their Praiſes to be raiſed with. We 〈◊〉 1 Chron. XXV. 5. Of, Words to lift up the Horn. 〈◊〉 may in our Day, thus accommodate the Observation The Praiſes of GOD are to Sound hig in our •• ons. When we Praiſe GOD for being excellent •• G o to ur ſelves, we do well. But we are to raiſe 〈◊〉 Pr iſes unto an higher Pitch than ſo; They are to 〈◊〉 patiate upon all thoſe Things wherein our GOD h •• exhibited Himſelf as excellently Great, throughout the World. Such abſtracted Praiſes are agreeable to the inclinations of every Godly Man; He argues at that 〈◊〉 GREAT is the Lord, and, THEREFORE Great •• to be Praiſed.

10 q. d. Their Envy ſhall firſt bring an Ague, 〈◊〉 then a Conſumption upon them.

PSALM CXIII.

1 SIng Hallelujah! O Praiſe ye, ‖ who ſer •• th' ETERNAL God; ‖O do ye Praiſe the Name of Him ‖ who is th' ETERNAL God.

2 The Name of the ETERNAL God, ‖ 〈◊〉 let it bleſſed be; ‖ Bleſs'd from the preſon time, and ſo ‖ unto Eternity. ‖

3 Ev'n from the riſing of the Sun ‖ unto its going down, ‖ the Name of the ETERNAL God ‖ is greatly to be prais'd. ‖

4 Above all of the Nations High ‖ is the ETERNAL God; ‖ above the Heavens now there is ‖ His Glory to be ſeen.

5 Who's like th' ETERNAL God, our God, ‖ whoſe dwelling is on high? ‖

6 He ſtoops that He may view what is ‖ in Heaven, and on Earth. ‖

7 He doth raiſe up the poor one from ‖ his lying in the duſt; ‖ He from the ſordi D nghill doth ‖ lift up the needy one. ‖

8 That he a ſeat with Princes may ‖ aſſign to ſuch an one; ‖ among the Princes which His own ‖ diſtinguiſh'd People have. ‖

9 The Barren he ſets in an houſe; ‖ Of Children ſhe becomes ‖ the Fruitful Mother full of Joy. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXIII. P ALM.

SOme here behold the Praiſes of the reſtored Jews, for their Deliverance. The five laſt verſes magnificently deſ ribe, the Second Coming of the Meſſiah; at which they ſhall be reſtored unto a Glorious Condition The irophet Iſa ah. Ch. LIV. 1, 2. alludes to the laſtverſe of the Pſaim.

Our Doctor Goodwin mentioning the application that ſome have made of a certain Text, unto our SAVIOUR, adds, I would there were a Thouſand more of them, For the more ſuch Lines of Prophecy about our JESUS, meet in one center, the more aſcertained we are, that He is that MES IAH who was then to come; and the Scriptures are diſcovered thereby, to be the more myſterious, and Himſelf the more Illuſtri ••• And now, why may not our SAVIOUR be ultimate •• intended in the Pſalm that is now before us. Chriſtia •• Carry His Glory in thy mind, when thou readeſt the beginn •• of the ſa m. When thou readeſt of the Po •• raiſed ou of the Duſt, and the Needy lifted out 〈◊〉 the Dunghill; thin on the profound and wond ••• Humil at on of thy SAVIOUR, and His following E altation. When thou re deſt of Him ſet with Princ •• conſider Him S tting on His Throne, ſurrounded with His Holy Angols. Laſtly, When thou readeſt of 〈◊〉 Barren Woman becoming a Fruitful Mother; Wh ſhould not the ſtupendous Work of God that was d ••• for the Virgin M ry be thought upon? As well as 〈◊〉 Application, which the Chaldee Paraphraſe, makes 〈◊〉 it unto the Church of Iſrael?

This, with the Five Pſalms that follow, was by 〈◊〉 Jews c ll'd, The Great Hallei. They recited it 〈◊〉 their New Moons and other Feſtival , and at the •• Table in the Paſchal Night, after they had eaten th •• Lamb.

7 R. Amama here finds, The Reſurrection of th Dead.

8 The Princes, are by R. Obadiah Gaon, rendred The Libera Ones.

It is obſerved, both in the Italian and Spaniſh Verſion, That the Pſalm is an Abbreviation o the ong o Hannah. Pareceſeruna abbrevi •• on, y the Spaniſ .

PSALM CXIV.

1 IN the withdraw of Iſrael ‖ from the Egyptian Land; ‖ the Family of Jacob from ‖ a People barbarous. ‖

2 Then Judah came for to be His ‖ diſſi •• guiſh'd Holy One; ‖ yea, Iſrael did then become ‖ Dominions for Him. ‖

3 The Sea beheld this thing, and fled; ‖ Jordan was turned back. ‖

4 The Mountains then did leap like Rams; ‖ the little Hills like Lambs. ‖

5 What was done unto thee, O Sea, ‖ in that thou didſt fly back; ‖ O Jordan, what to thee was done, ‖ that thou waſt turned back? ‖

6 O Mountains, what was done to you, ‖ that ye did leap like Rams; ‖ and what to you, O little hills, ‖ that ye did leap like Lambs? ‖

Before the face of Him who doth ‖ ſuſtain thee, ſhake, O Earth; ‖ before the face of Him that is ‖ the God of Jacob, ſhake.

7 'Tis He who the firm Rock does to ‖ a Pool of Waters turn; ‖ tis He who the dry Flint does to ‖ a Spring of Waters turn.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXIV. PSALM.

BY the Meditation on the Miracles, in the coming out of Egypt, wherein the Order of Nature was changed, the Prophetic Spirit here lifts up the minds of His People, to what the Meſſiah will do for them, when He appears for the Deliverance which is to be 〈◊〉 looked for. Compare, Mich. VII.

2 The Cloud of Glory then had no peculiar Place to be a Sanctuary for it, but ſtood over the whole Camp of Iſrael.

That the Convulſion of Nature here may be brought in with a due ſurpriſe, the Name of God is not mentioned until afterward.

PSALM CXV.

1 NOt unto us, ETERNAL God, ‖ N •• unto us; But to‖thy Name give Glory, on thy Grace ‖ and on thy conſtant Truth. ‖

2 Why ſhould the Nations utter this ‖ Where's now this God of theirs? ‖

3 Sure our God's in the Heav'ns; He ha ‖ done whatſoever He pleas'd. ‖

4 Their Idols Silver are and Gold, ‖ wh •• hands of Men have wrought. ‖

5 Mouth's have they but they do not ſpeak, ‖ they've Eyes, but do not ſee. ‖

6 Ears have they, but they do not hears ‖ they've Noſtrils, but can't ſmell. ‖

7 Hands have they, but they handle 〈◊〉 ‖ they've Feet, but do not walk. ‖ Not can they utter thro' their Throat. ‖

8 The Makers of ſuch things ‖ are li •• them; ſo is ev'ry one ‖ that puts his truſt in them. ‖

9 O Iſrael, Do thou place thy truſt ‖ o the ETERNAL God; ‖ 'Tis He who does afford them help;‖ and He's a Shield to them,‖

10 O Houſe of Aaron, Place thy truſt ‖ on the ETERNAL God; ‖ 'Tis He who does afford them help;‖and He's a Shield to them‖

11 Ye who do fear JEHOVAH, truſt ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖'Tis He who does afford them help: ‖ and He's a Shield to them. ‖

12 Th' ETERNAL has remembred us; ‖ He'll bleſs; He'll bleſs the Houſe ‖ of Iſrael; He will bleſs the Houſe ‖ of Aaron ſignally,

13 He will bleſs them who have the fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ He'll bleſs the little Ones of theſe ‖ together with the great. ‖

14 Th' ETERNAL God ſhall add to you; ‖ to you, and to your Sons. ‖

15 You're bleſs'd of the ETERNAL God ‖ who made the Heav'ns and Earth. ‖

16 The Heav'ns, the Heav'ns, theſe do belong ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ But to the Sons of Men He hath ‖ diſtributed the Earth. ‖

17 Such as are Dead, theſe will not Praiſe‖ the Ever-Living Lord; ‖ Nor all who do deſrend into ‖ the ſilence of the Grave.

18 But as for us, we ſtill will bleſs ‖ the Ever-Living Lord ‖ from this time and for evermore. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXV. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit prepares a Prayer, for Iſrael diſperſed among the Antichriſtian Idolaters, That they may be reſtored unto their own Land. With a Curſe on the Idolaters, the miſery of the Iſraelites is complain'd of, as hindring them from Glorifying of GOD, as they ſhould, if they were gathered into one Body.

Dr. Patrick thinks, that when a Prophet had encounged the hope of Jehoſaphat, for Deliverance from the vaſt Forces come againſt him, and he had by the Levites given Thanks for this Hope, H , or that Prophet might compoſe this Hymn, to quicken their Faith in God. Yea, this might be the Hymn, which by common conſent, the Singers were to uſe, when they went againſt thoſe •• mic .

1 q.d. Give us Victory, not that we may grow famous and get Glory by it; but that thy Divine Majeſty may be honoured.

5 The Idol Bual-peor; (or, Priapus) was particularly called, Ch •••• ſo which is as much as to ſay, The Blind God.

16 Calvin obſerves, the meaning of this to be That the Infinite GOD, is forever ſatisfied in and from Himſelf; He needs no Earthly thing to augment •• is Happineſs. The Earth with all the Enjoyments of it, He allows to the Poor Children of Men. All He expects from the Earth is a Thankful Acknowledgment from the relieved and obliged Children of Men. Ho Propheta Conſilium eſt, quod miror tum ſecture a pleriſyuc inter pretibus negligi.

17 q. d. Therefore He will not ſuffer us to be rooted out, as our Enemies deſign; for then the Earth would have none in it, to ſing His Praiſes; which the Dead who dwell in the ſilent Grave cannot celebrate. This is the Patrician Faraphraſe.

PSALM CXVI.

1 I'M full of Love: It is becauſe ‖ [of this] that the ETERNAL God‖hath hearkened now unto my voice; ‖ [and hath] my ſupplications heard.

2 Becauſe that He hath unto me ‖ [kindl ] inclin'd His gracious Ear;‖ therefore upon Him I will call ‖ while I have any days [of Life.]

3 The cords of Death ſurrounded me, and me the [dreadful] pains of Hell‖found our; a ſad anxiety ‖ I found, and ſighing [ heady] grief. ‖

4 But I did call upon the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God, [for this;] ‖ I pray Thee, O ETERNAL God, Del •• et thou my [ſinkins]

5 Moſt full of tender clemency ‖ [foreber] is th' ETERNAL God; ‖ Righteous He is too; and out God‖is moſt compaſſionate [withal.]

6 The ſimple ones th' ETERNAL God ‖ takes into [his kind] cuſtody; ‖ I was brought miſerably low, ‖ and then [it was] He helped me. ‖

7 O thou my Soul, Do thou return ‖ where 'tis [alone] thou findeſt reſt; ‖ Becauſe that the ETERNAL God ‖ hath well [enough] ewarded thee. ‖

8 Becauſe thou haſt from threatning Death ‖ [cafely] delivered my Soul; ‖ my Eye from tear; my Foot from fall ‖ by a thruſt given [unto] me. ‖

9 I'll walk before th' ETERNAL God ‖ [ ube] in th' Land of living ones. ‖

10 I did believe, therefore I ſpoke: ‖ I was afficted [very] ſore. ‖

11 In the great perturbation when ‖ [my oze] affiction frightned me; ‖ I ſaid, That every Man of Earth ‖ [fails and] is but a lying thing. ‖

12 But now, O what Returns ſhall I ‖ [bring and] make to th' ETERNAL God?‖ Upon me are His Benefits, ‖ [yea, and] above me His Rewards. ‖

13 Of manifold Calvations I ‖ will take [and drink] the Thankful Cup; ‖ and I will call upon the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God [with it.]

14 I'll to perfection bring my Vows [duly] to the ETERNAL God; ‖ I'll do 〈◊〉 Now in preſence of ‖ all that His [hol ] People are. ‖

15 In the Eyes of th' ETERNAL God how very precious is [eſteem'd] ‖ the Dea which there ſhall be for thoſe ‖ who are 〈◊〉 [truly] gracious ones' ‖

16 ETERNAL God, Thy Servant ſure ‖ am, Thy Servant I [will be!] ‖ I of the Handmaid am the Son; ‖ Thou haſt diffolv my [deadly] bonds. ‖

17 The Sacrifice of Thankfulneſs ‖ 〈◊〉 [freely] Sacrifice to Thee; ‖ And I will 〈◊〉 upon the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL Go [with it.]

18 I'll to perfection bring my Vows ‖ [dul ] to the ETERNAL God; ‖ I'll do it Now preſence of ‖ all that His [doly] People a ••

19 In the Courts of the Glorious Houſe of the ETERNAL God [I'll do't]: ‖ In m d of thee, Jerufalem. ‖ Sing Hallelujah no [to God.]

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXVI. PSALM.

AN Hymn of Grat tude unto GOD from the 〈◊〉 eemed of Ifr el. They publiſh the Greatneſs •• eir Delivera ••• e with a R meml rance of the dre ••• 〈◊〉 Thi •• s which they had ſurfered, and the Double 〈◊〉 o ce had of ever bein delivered.

They who look on the Great GOD as here propo ••• 〈…〉 Soul o upon a lorious Tr •••• Domine, Irrequistum cor noſtrum, donec raquieſcat in Te.—but, O Chr ſtian, Wilt thou nor conſider the Pſa •• ſſ here, as a Type of our SAVIOUR? Truly we have here the Language of our JESUS R ſon from the Dead. Behold Him now Returning to the Heavenly World, and Aſcending to the Joy ſet before Him.

I know not whether the Diſtinction of the Verſes in the Old Teſtament, at leaſt in the Book o Pſalms, might not be ſo ordered by the Providence of GOD, as to carry ſometimes a Myſtery in it. In reading the Pſalms I have often tho't on it. The Church of GOD may be a ſo heard ſpeaking here. The Church of GOD w ll one Day Return unto Reſt, and ſee a Sabbatic State in the Reſt which remains for the People of GOD. This occurs in the Sevemb Verſe of the Pſalm; and is reſerved or the leventh Age of the World.

13 They had in Iſrael of Old, A Cup of Deliverance, with which when bleſſed and ſet apart, they did commemorate the Bleſſings they had received.

15 The common Gloſſes are well known. But I renew my Inſtances, That this as well as many other unſuſpected Pſalms, may be conſidered as a repreſentation of our SAVIOUR. The Agonies and Sufferings of our SAVIOUR are diſplayed in the Beginning of the Pſalm; the Conſequences thereof in the Concluſion. What we uſe to render, I ſaid in my haſte, is without any juſt pretences expounded, of Davids haſty eproaches upon the Truth of Samuels Prophecies. No; It may be read, i ſaid in my Fear: [my Anguiſh, may Diſtreſs,] All Mon are Liars: There is no dependence on any Man or Help. Compare, Pſalm CXLVI. 3.— written perhaps, about the ſame time with the Pſalm now before us. But the the Original here, directs in to Read, The Death which there is FOR thoſe, whe are His Gracious Ones. Tis the Death of our SAVIOUR, the Price of Redemption for His Choſen. The Almighty GOD ſets a great Price upon it. [Eph. V. 2.] Tho' the Death of our SAVIOUR, be for Sinners. yet none partake in the ſaving Benefits of it, but ſuch as are made willing to be Gracious Ones.

16 Arnobius gives us a Myſtical Gloſs of the Ancients. Ancilla Dci eſt in diſciplina Sancta. The Bonds here, ſome apply to the Bonds which hold the unborn Infant in the Womb. There is much Harmony between the XXII and the CXVI Pſalms. In that Pſalm our SAVIOUR's being taken out of the Womb, is a conſiderable Article. And in this we have the Looſing of the Bonds, which enwrapped Him there.

PSALM CXVII.

1 O Praiſe ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ Do it ye Nations all; ‖ His Praiſes, O ye People all, ‖ now celebrate with Songs. ‖

2 For upon us His Mercy is ‖ confirmed; and the Truth ‖ of the ETERNAL is forever. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXVII. PSALM.

BEhold in a few words Predicted here, the Converſion of all Nations, when God ſhall have accompliſhed His Promiſe of Recalling the Iſraelitiſh Nation. Conſider, Deut. XXXII. 43.

PSALM CXVIII.

1 O make you a confeſſion now ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ becauſe that He is God; becauſe ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

2 O now let Iſrael ſay this thing, ‖ That's mercy is forever. ‖

3 Let Aaron's Family now ſay, ‖ That's mercy is forever. ‖

4 Now let the Proſelytes that have ‖ in them the holy fear ‖ of the ETERNAL God, ſtill ſay, ‖ That's mercy is forever. ‖

5 In Trouble I did call upon ‖ the Everlaſting JAH; ‖ the Everlaſting JAH did with ‖ enlargement anſwer me. ‖

6 With me is the ETERNAL God ‖ appearing on my ſide; ‖ I will not be afraid of what ‖ a man may do to me. ‖

7 For me th' ETERNAL God among ‖ my helpers does appear; ‖ what therefore is to come upon ‖ my haters I ſhall ſee. ‖

8 It's better to ſeek refuge in ‖ Him who's th' ETERNAL God, ‖ than 'tis to place a confidence ‖ upon poor earthly man. ‖

9 It's better to ſeek refuge in ‖ Him who's the ETERNAL God, ‖ than 'tis to place a confide ce ‖ upon Superiour Men. ‖

10 The Nations all of them did round ‖ about encompaſs me; 〈◊〉 in the Name of th ETERNAL God ‖ I'll ſurely cut them off. ‖

12 They compaſs'd me about; yea, they ‖ did compaſs me ab ut; ‖ in the Name of th' ETERNAL God ‖ I'll ſurely cut them off. ‖

12 They compaſs'd me about like Bees; ‖ They're quench d like fire of Thorns; ‖ in the Name of th' ETERNAL God ‖ I'll ſurely cut them off. ‖

13 Thou haſt thruſt, and haſt thruſt againſt that thou mayſt make me fall; ‖ but then did the ETERNAL God ‖ ſend ſuccour unto me. ‖

14 The Everlaſting JAH is He ‖ who does afford me ſtrength; ‖ and He's my Song; He alſo is ‖ Salvation unto me. ‖

15 The voice of Joy and Saſety's in ‖ the tents of righteous ones; ‖ the right hand of th' ETERNAL God ‖ works with a mighty force. ‖

16. The right hand of th' ETERNAL God ‖ is liſted up on high; ‖ the right hand of th' ETERNAL God ‖ works with a mighty force, ‖

17 I ſhall not dye, but live, and tell ‖ Works of the living JAH. ‖

18 The living JAH chaſtis'd me much, ‖ but gave me not to death. ‖

19 O ſet ye open unto me ‖ the Gates of Righteouſneſs; ‖ I will go into them; I'll praiſe ‖ the Everlaſting JAH. ‖

20 The anſwer is, This is the Gate ‖ of the ETERNAL God, ‖ 'tis by this Gate the righteous ones ‖ ſhall make their entrance here.

21 To thee I will confeſs, ſince thou ‖ haſt heark'ned unto me; ‖ and what ſhall be Salvation, This ‖ Thou haſt been unto me. ‖

22 The Stone which they who did profeſs ‖ to build, did caſt away, ‖ is now become the Head Stone which ‖ the Corner's founded on. ‖

23 This is a thing which is perform'd ‖ by the ETERNAL God; ‖ it is what in our eyes appears ‖ moſt wondtous to behold. ‖

24 This is the very day the which ‖ th' ETERNAL God has made; ‖ in it we'll ſhow how glad we are, ‖ and we will ſhine with joy. ‖

25 Save now, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ I earneſtly entreat; ‖ I do entreat, ETERNAL God, ‖ Send now Proſperity, ‖

26 He's bleſſed who comes in the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ We've bleſſed you out of the Houſe ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

27 Th' ETERNAL God's the mighty One ‖ a dble hath ſhone on us; ‖ bind ye the Sacri oe with cords, ‖ ev'n to the Altar's horns. ‖

28 Thou art my God; and I will make ‖ Confeſſions unto thee; ‖ Thou art my God, I will for this ‖ exalt thee very high. ‖

29 O make you a Confeſſion now ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Becauſe that He is Good; becauſe ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXVIII. PSALM.

THe Pſalm ſeems to have been pronounced at firſt, in ſome ſolemn Aſſembly of all the People aſſembled for the Praiſes of God. And Interpreters have thought, they all had a part in the Pſalm. The greateſt part was uttered by David; — Then coming in Proceſſion to the Gates of the Talernacle he calls (V. 19.) upon the Porters, to open them unto him, that he might praiſe GOD in the San iu ry, He does is accordingly, firſt, in the very entrance; (V. 20.) and then in the Courts of the Houſe of God. (V. 21.) After all which the People ſhout, and magnify the Di •• ne Goodneſs, in making him who had met with ſuch Indignities in the late Reign, their King (V. 22.) And then the Priests come forth, and bleſs both the King, and the People, in the Name of the Lord; (V. 20) and exhort them to be thankful. (V. 2 .) David then ſeems to take the Words out of their Mouth, and to •• hre that be will be never unmindful of the Benefi •• God; and to deſire, that all the People alſo would Remember them.

Yea, But have we not here, (what our Allix diſcovers) an Hymn of redeemed Iſrael; in whoſe ••••• tion all that fear God are comprehended! They ce brate the Glorious things done by the Meſſiah for them when He comes again; and they acknowtedge the Since their Fathers in rejecting Him.

22 I could Subpans a Number of Jewiſh Rabbi •• who confeſs, the Meſſiah to be the Stone here ſpoken of. It is confeſſed in the Midraſh Schir Haſchir in. Yea, that the Meſſiah ſhall be refus'd, as tis here foretold, is after a ſtrange manner foretold in Bereſch •• R ••• a. Quando veniet Meſſias, non cito dicent C •• tic ••• , donec fuerit vilifica us ipſe Meſſias: Ac d ••• cadat coram eo Regnum nequam Romanum; ſiondicium eſt, Dan: II. 42.

A Wonderful Paſſage!

The Targum on this Text reads, The Builders •• dected the Child. And on the next verſe: Bind this Child to the Sacrifice of Solemnity with Chains, unto we ſhall have Sacrificed Him, and poured out 〈◊〉 Blood upon the Horns of the Altar.

From the Pens of Jews, theſe Lines are truly Marvellous.

In the Talmuds alſo, we find the Meſſiah to be, Th Stone cut out of the Mountain.

PSALM CXIX.

1 O the vaſt bleſſings of the Men, ‖ who have [and hold] Integrity ‖ in their way; walking in the Law ‖ of [Him who's] the ETERNAL God' ‖

2 O the vaſt bleſſings of the Men ‖ who keep [with heed] the things which He ‖ doth teſtify! With all their heart ‖ they [ever] do ſeek after Him.‖

3 Yea, they work no iniquity;‖ they in His [Holy] ways do walk.‖

4 Thou thy Commandments haft preſcrib'd‖ greatly to be [by all] obſerved.‖

5 O that my ways directed were ‖ thy Statutes to obſerve [with care.]

6 Then ſhall I not be ſham'd, when I ‖ [truly] regard all Thy Commands.‖

7 With a juſt Rectitude of Heart ‖ I [freely] ſhall confeſs thy Praiſe, ‖ when I have learn'd the Judgments which ‖ Thy Righteouſneſs has giv'n [to us.]

8 What things Thou haft appointed, thoſe‖ I will obſerve with [conſtant] care: ‖ O do not Thou forſake me to ‖ a great [and 〈◊〉 ] extremity.‖

II Beth.

9 A Young Man, by what Method ſhall ‖ he purify his [ſinfui] path?‖ He'l do it, if he do take heed ‖ according to thy [Holy] Word.‖

10 With all the powers of my heart ‖ I have ſought after thee, [D Lord.] ‖ To wander, Oh! Don't ſuffer me ‖ from thy [moſt right] Commandements.‖

11 In my heart I have hid thy Word, ‖ that thee I may'nt [by Sin] offend.‖

12 Bleſs'd art thou, O ETERNAL God;‖ Thy Statutes [therefore] teach thou me.‖

13 I all the Judgments of thy mouth ‖ have with my lips declar'd [abroad.]

14 I in thy Teſtimonies way, ‖ [as mu •• ] as in all wealth, rejoyce.‖

15 I'll on thy Precepts meditate;‖ and 〈◊〉 regard [with care] thy Paths.‖

16 I in thy Statutes will delight; ‖ 〈◊〉 not forget thy [Holy] Word.‖

III. Gimel.

17 Unto thy Servant O do Thou ‖ m •• [kind and] bountiful returns; ‖ O let me live that ſo I may ‖ obſerve with care [ 〈◊〉 do] thy Word.‖

18 Open my Eyes, that I may ſee ‖ 〈◊〉 [hidden] Wonders of thy Law.‖

19 On Earth I am a ſtranger; don't ‖ 〈◊〉 me thy precepts [therefore] hide.‖

20 At all times for thy Judgments do ••• my Soul break with [intenſe] deſire.‖

21 The curſed proud ones Thou rebuk' •• who from [ways of] thy Precepts err.‖

22 Rolling it off from me, O take ‖ away reproach, and [ſhameful] Scorn; ‖ bec ••• Thy Teſtimonies I ‖ have kept [with ca •• ] inviolate.‖

23 Princes themſelves in Council fart; 〈◊〉 againſt me then they [falſely] ſpake;‖ Thy Servant on Thy Statutes did ‖ the meat while [ever] meditate.‖

24 Thy Teſtimonies truly are ‖ my raviſhing [and chief] delight; ‖ they are the Counſellors which I ‖ do ſtill [chuſe 〈◊〉 ] conſult withal.‖

25 To duſt my Soul cleaves; quicken me‖ according to thy [gracious] Word.‖

26 I ſhew'd my ways, and me thou heardſt;‖ thy [Holy] Statutes teach thou me.‖

27 Make me to underſtand the way ‖ thy Precepts have [to me] preſcrib'd; ‖ ſo I will meditate upon ‖ the [Glorious] wonders thou haft wrought.‖

28 With grief my Soul melts; ſtrengthen me ‖ according to thy Word [to me.]

29 The way of lying take from me; ‖ and [kindly] grant to me thy Law.‖

30 The way which truth directs unto ‖ is that [of which] I make my choice; ‖ thy Judgments are what I have ſtill ‖ propos'd to [mind and] keep unto.‖

31 Unto Thy Teſtimonies I ‖ adhere, ETERNAL God [forever;] O let me not be put unto ‖ [ſhame and] confuſion, doing ſo.

32 I with a quicken'd pace will run ‖ the [Holy] way of thy Commands, ‖ when Thou upon my ſtraitned Heart ‖ Enlargement haft [from Heav'n] beſtow'd.‖

V. He.

33 Teach me, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ the way [the which] Thou doſt appoint;‖ and I'll keep it inviolate ‖ [always] unto the very end.‖

34 O give me Underſtanding, ſo ‖ I will then keep thy Law, [unbroke;]yea, I will it obſerve with Care, ‖ and that with all my Heart [and might.]

35 Lead me in thy commanded Path;‖ for [greatly] I therein delight.‖

36 Bow my Heart to thine Oracles, ‖ and not to [fordid] Avarice.‖

37 From view of vain things turn my eyes;‖ in thy way [lead and] quicken me.‖

38 Good to thy Servant make thy Word,‖ who's wholly [purpos'd] for thy fear.‖

39 My fear'd Reproach, O turn away;‖ for good [and right] thy Judgments are.‖

40 Lo, I've long'd for thy Precepts; in Thy Juſtice [do Thou] Quicken me.‖

VI. Vau.

41 O Let Thy Mercies come again ‖ to me [D Thou] ETERNAL God; ‖ Let thy Salvation come to me ‖ according to [whats in] thy Word.‖

42 So I a Word ſhall anſwer to ‖ him that [falſely] reproaches me; becauſe that I upon thy Word ‖ do [ever] place my Confidence.‖

43 And from my Mouth, O take Thou not ‖ wholly [away] the Word of truth: Becauſe that of thy Judgments I ‖ an [hopeful] expectation have.‖

44 Thus I will always keep thy Law ‖ [I'll do't] long, yea, Eternally.‖

45 And I will walk at large, becauſe ‖ have ſought [after] Thy Commands.‖

46 Yea, before Kings themſelves I will ‖ ſpeak of thy [faithful] Oracles; ‖ nor will I ever be aſham'd ‖ of what I do therein [for them.]

47 And I in Thy Commandements ‖ will take [all of] my ſweet Delight; ‖ for they are what I ſtill have ſet ‖ my [kind and] chief Affection on. ‖

48 My hands I will lift up unto ‖ Thy Precepts which I've [dearly] lov'd; ‖ and what are Thy appointments I ‖ will [daily] meditate thereon. ‖

VII. Zain.

49 Unto thy Servant, O be thou ‖ ſtill [always] mindful of the Word, ‖ on which thou haſt caus'd me to place ‖ my [conſtant] expectation ſtill. ‖

50 This is my comfort in my grief; ‖ that thy Word [ever] quickens me. ‖

51 The proud have much derided me; ‖ [But yet] I ve not gone from thy Law. ‖

52 ETERNAL God, Thy Judgments I ‖ remembred have, which are [the ſame] ‖ of old, and thereupon I have ‖ encouraged my ſelf [in them.]

53 Horror with a tempeſtuous force ‖ has [often] taken hold on me, ‖ on the account of wicked ones ‖ who do forſake thy [Holy] Law. ‖

54 In the houſe of my Pilgrimage ‖ thy Statutes are my [cheerful] Songs. ‖

55 O Thou ETERNAL God, I have ‖ been [ever] mindful of thy Name; ‖ yea, in the Night I have been ſo; ‖ and I have [therefore] kept thy Law. ‖

56 This has befallen me, becauſe ‖ thy Precepts I have kept [with care.]

VIII. Cheth.

57 My Portion, O ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou art, ſo I have ſaid [of Thee.]And this it is, that ſo I would ‖ obſerve [with care] all of thy words. ‖

58 Thy favourable Face I have ‖ beſought with all my Heart [and Soul;] ‖ O be thou merciful to me ‖ according to thy [faithful] Word. ‖

59 I view'd my ways, and turn'd my feet ‖ [thereon] unto thine Oracles. ‖

60 I made haſte, and did not delay ‖ for to keep [all of] thy commands. ‖

61 The bands of wicked ones robb'd me; ‖ [but yet] thy Law I've not forgot. ‖

62 To praiſe thee I at midnight riſe; ‖ for thy juſt Judgments 'tis [I do't].

63 To all of them that have thy fear ‖ I a companion arn [and friend:] ‖ I am ſo unto all who do ‖ [mind and] keep thy Commandements. ‖

64 ETERNAL God, The Earth is full ‖ of thy [moſt kind] benignity; ‖ O do thou well inſtruct me in ‖ the things [the which] thou doſt appoint. ‖

65 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thou half ‖ one [the beſt] Good, to One that is ‖ a faithful Servant unto thee; ‖ [even] according to thy Word. ‖

66 Good ſenſe and knowledge teach me; for ‖ thy Precepts [firmly] I believe. ‖

67 Before I was abas'd, I ſtray'd; ‖ But now I [better] keep thy Word. ‖

68 Thou art Good, and thou doeſt Good; ‖ Thy Statutes [therefore] teach thou me. ‖

69 The proud forg'd lies of me; I keep ‖ thy Statutes [very] heartily. ‖

70 Their heart's as fat as ſenſeleſs greaſe ‖ [whereas] I in thy Law delight. ‖

71 It's good for me I've been chaſtis'd; ‖ Thy Statutes ſo to learn [from thence.]

72 The Law diſpenſed from thy mouth ‖ [by far] is better unto me ‖ than would be many Thouſands of ‖ Gold, and of [choiceſſ] Silver Coin. ‖

X. Jod.

73 Thy hands have made me what I am; ‖ and [it is] they have faſhion'd me; ‖ O Give me Underſtanding that ‖ I may learn [to do] thy Commands. ‖

74 They who have thy true fear in them ‖ [with it] ſhall take a view of me; ‖ and they ſhall then rejoyce, becauſe ‖ I've hoped in thy [faithful] Word. ‖

75 ETERNAL God, I know full well that [very] juſt thy Judgments are; ‖ and with unfailing faithfulneſs ‖ thou haſt [always] afflicted me. ‖

76 I pray thee, let thy mercy be ‖ ſtill for [this End] to comfort me; ‖ according to thy Word which Thouhaſt to thy [faithful] Servant giv'n.

77 The tendereſt compaſſions let, ‖ O let them come to [ſuccour] me; ‖ ſo ſhall I live to Thee; becauſe ‖ thy Law yields me [the beſt] delights. ‖

78 Let proud ones be aſham'd; for they wrong'd [and hurt] me without a cauſe; But I'll keep meditating ſtill ‖ on thy [moſt juſt] Commandements. ‖

79 Let thoſe that have thy fear in them ‖ with [Love and] kindneſs turn to me; and this let all that underſtand ‖ thy Teſtimonies [always] do. ‖

80 Let my heart have integrity ‖ in [all of] what thou doſt appoint; ‖ Let it be thus. that ſo I may ‖ not [come to] be at all aſham'd. ‖

XI. Caph.

81 My Soul for thy Salvation faints; ‖ for thy word do [wait and] hope. ‖

82 My eyes fail for thy Word, and ſay, When wilt thou [help and] quicken me?

83 Becauſe I am become like to ‖ a Bottle [which is] dried in ſmoke, ‖ I'm not forgetful of the things ‖ [all of] the which thou haſt ordain'd. ‖

84 How many are the days which thou ‖ leſt to thy [ ying] Serva t grant? ‖ When on my perſecutors wilt ‖ thou [a juſt] Judgment execute? ‖

85 The proud have digged pitts for me; ‖ which anſwer not [well to] thy Law. ‖

86 Each one of thy Commandements ‖ are very [Truth and] Faithfulneſs. ‖ They perſecute me wrongfully; ‖ O ſend thou help [from Heav'n] to me. ‖

87 On Earth they near conſum'd me; yet ‖ I left not [nor broke] thy Commands. ‖

88 According to thy mercy now ‖ O do thou [ſave and] quicken me. ‖ So I the Teſtimony of ‖ thy mouth ſhall keep with [cautious] care. ‖

XII. Lamed.

89 ETERNAL God, Thy Word remains ‖ forever [ſet'ed] in the Heav'ns. ‖

Thy Truth's from Age to Age; Thou found'ſt ‖ the Farth and it abides, [forever.]

91 T ey by thy orders ſtand this day, ‖ For all [of th m] thy Servants are. ‖

92 Had not thy Law been my delights, ‖ then in my [Woful] grief's I'h'd ſunk. ‖

93 I'll ne'er forget thy Precepts, for ‖ with them [it is] thou quick'neſt me ‖

94 I am thine own; O ſave thou me; for I've ſought [and kept] thy Commands.

95 With hopes the wicked ones do wait, that they may [wholly] ruin me; ‖ I on thy Teſtimonies do ‖ conſideration [therefore] uſe.‖

96 I have beheld a Period ſet ‖ to all Perfection here [on Carth.] In thy Commandement there is ‖ a very broad [and vaſt] extent.‖

XIII. Mem.

97 How vehemently do I love ‖ the Law diſtill'd by thee [on us!] It is my meditation ſtill, ‖ all [of the] day * and every day.‖

98 Thou haſt made me more wiſe than thoſe ‖ that are my [Wicked] enemies;‖ Thorough thy Precepts 'tis; for they ‖ forever are [and ſtay] with me.‖

99 I have more underſtanding than ‖ all my inſtructers have [with them;] For I thy Teſtimonies do ‖ my [conſtant] meditation make.‖

100 I know more than the Ancients do; ‖ For I keep thy Commands [with care.]

101 From all ill paths I've kept my feet; ‖ that I may keep [cloſe to] thy Word.‖

102 I have not from thy Judgments gone; ‖ For [better] thouh'ſt inſtructed me.‖

103 How ſweet thy words unto my taſtel [They're ſweet] paſt honey to my mouth.‖

104 To underſtanding I arrive ‖ thro' thy [moſt wiſe] Commandements; ‖ I therefore do hate every way ‖ of falſe [and baſe] iniquity.‖

XIV. Nun.

105 Thy Word's a Lamp unto my feet; ‖ and [a clear] Light unto my path.‖

106 I've ſworn, and will periorm't; I will ‖ thy righteous Judgments [ever] keep.‖

107 O Thou ETERNAL God, I am ‖ afflicted [and broke] very much; ‖ But O do thou enliven me ‖ according to thy [faithful] Word.‖

108 The Free-will-offerings of my mouth ‖ I pray thee [kindly] to accept; ‖ and, O ETERNAL God, Teach me ‖ the Judgments thou haſt giv'n [to us.]

109 My Soul's in my hand ever; yet ‖ thy Law I don't forget [for all.]

110 The wicked lay ſnares for me; yet ‖ thy Precepts I've not [Wandring] loſt.‖

111 Thy Teſtimonies I have took ‖ [to be] for my Inheritance; ‖ Forever ſo; Becauſe they are ‖ the [joy and] gladneſs of my heart.‖

112 I have inclin'd my heart to do ‖ the things [the which] thou doſt appoint; ‖ Yea, to do them forevermore, ‖ in Hope of a [moſt ſure] reward.‖

113 I wavering thot's abominate; ‖ But I do [dearly] love thy Law.‖

114 Thou art my ſhelter and my ſhield, ‖ I do [place my] hope in thy Word.‖

115 Depart from me, O all of you, ‖ [each one] that evil doers are; ‖ for I'll keep the Commandements ‖ of Him who is my [choſen] God.‖

116 Upnold thou me according to ‖ thy Word, and I ſhall [ſurely] I've; ‖ and make me not aſham'd of what ‖ my [raiſed] expectation is.‖

117 Suſtain thou me, and then ſhall I ‖ in perfect ſafety [always] be:‖ and I'll unto thy Statutes have ‖ [a juſt] reſpect continually.‖

118 All who do from thy Statutes err, ‖ ſuch haſt thou [juſtly] trodden down: ‖ For the deceit they truſted in ‖ [anon] is found a falſity.‖

119 The droſs thou mak'ſt to ceaſe, ev'nall ‖ the wicked of the Earth [are ſuch:] Thy Teſtimonies therefore I ‖ [as pure] place my affection on.‖

120 Thorough a fear of thee my fleſh ‖ is with a [fearful] trembling ſe z'd; ‖ and of thy awful Judgments I ‖ am [always] very much afraid.‖

XVI. Chajin.

121 Judgment I've done, and Juſtice: To ‖ my [cruel] vexers leave me not.‖

122 For good thy Servants ſurety be; ‖ Let not the proud me [wrong and] vex.‖

123 My eyes for thy Salvation fail, ‖ and looking for thy [Kighteous] Word.‖

124 Deal with thy Servant in thy Grace, ‖ and me thy Statutes [therefore] teach.‖

125 I am thy Servant, make me wiſe; ‖ to know thy [faithful] Oracles.‖

126 Time for th' ETERNAL 'tis to work: ‖ they have made void [and Hull] thy Law.‖

127 I therefore my affection place ‖ on thy [deſpis'd] Commandements, more than I do on any Gold, ‖ yea, than [upon] the fineſt Gold.‖

128 I therefore judge all thy Commands, ‖ of all things to be [very] right; ‖ I do hate every way that's found ‖ by them for to be falſe [and wrong]

XVII. Pe.

129 Wondrous thy Teſtimonies are; ‖ My Soul them [therefore] ever keeps.

130 The opening of thy Words gives light; ‖ It makes the ſimple [truly] wiſe.‖

131 I did for this open my mouth, ‖ and [I did] aſpirations uſe; ‖ Becauſe I longed earneſtly ‖ for [to gain] thy Commandements.‖

132 O look upon me, and to me ‖ O be thou [very] merciful; ‖ according to thy uſual courſe ‖ to them who [truly] love thy Name.‖

133 The Steps I take, O give to them [a full] direction in thy Word; ‖ and grant to no Iniquity ‖ [to have] Dominion over me.‖

134 From man's unjuſt oppreſſion ſet ‖ [and keep] me at full liberty; ‖ ſo then I unobſtructed ſhall ‖ keep thy [moſt juſt] Commandements.‖

135 Upon Thy Servant, O make Thou ‖ Thy [pleaſed] Countenance to ſhine; ‖ and do thou well inſtruct me in ‖ the Things [the which] Thou doſt appoint.‖

136 Rivers of Waters do run down ‖ ſtill flowing from my [weeping] Eyes; ‖ For this Cauſe, in that they have not ‖ obſerved well thy [Holy] Law.‖

XVIII. Tſade.

137 Juſt Thou art, OETERNAL God, ‖ and right thy Judgments [always] are.‖

138 The Juſtice of thy Oracles, ‖ and Truth thou [very] much requir'ſt.‖

139 My Zeal hath cut me off; Becauſe ‖ my Foes forget [whats in] thy Words.‖

140 Thy Word is very pure; therefore ‖ thy Servant [dearly] loveth it.‖

141 I'm ſmall and I'm deſpis'd yet I, ‖ [for all] forget not thy Commands.‖

142 Thy Juſtice ever Juſtice is; ‖ and thy Law is the [very] Truth.‖

143 Trouble and anguiſh finding me ‖ have taken [a ſtrong] hold on me; ‖ But ſtill thy Precepts under all ‖ afford me my [moſt ſweet] Delight.‖

144 Thy Oracles are Righteouſneſs ‖ to [endleſs] perpetuity; ‖ Give underſtanding unto me; ‖ Then ſhall I ſurely live [to Thee.]

XIX Koph.

145 With all the Powers of my Heart ‖ I made a [loud and] piercing cry: ‖ Hear me, O Thou ETERNAL God; ‖ Thy Statutes I will keep [with care.]

146 I made a piercing Cry to thee; [unto] me thy Salvation grant ‖ that ſo thy Teſtimonies I ‖ may thereupon [with care] obſerve.‖

147 The Dawning of the Morning, I ‖ prevented it betimes [for this;] ‖ that I might make my Cry to Thee; ‖ Thy Word [is what] I've hoped for.‖

148 My Eyes with waking do prevent ‖ the Watches of the Night [for this;] that I upon thy word may have ‖ my [early] Meditation plac'd.‖

149 ETERNAL God, According to ‖ thy Mercy hear my [Earneſt] Voice; ‖ O quicken me according as ‖ Thy [Wont and] Judgment is for it.‖

150 Who follow miſchief, they draw nigh; ‖ They from thy Law at [very] far.‖

151 ETERNAL God, Thou'rt near and all of thy Commands are [wholly] Truth.‖

152 About thy Teſtimonies I ‖ have known this [certain] thing of old; ‖ that their foundation Thou haſt laid ‖ for [laſting] perpetuity.‖

Reſh. XX.

153 My Trouble view, and ſave me; for ‖ I don't forget Thy Law [therein.]

154 Plead Thou my Cauſe and reſcue me; ‖ Quicken me for [to do] thy Word.‖

155 Salvation is far diſtant from ‖ [all of] ſuch as are wicked ones: ‖ for they ſeek not to know and do ‖ the things [the which] thou doſt appoint.‖

156 Many Thy tender Mercies are, ‖ [and great] O Thou ETERNAL God: ‖ According to thy Judgments now, ‖ O do Thou [therefore] quicken me.‖

157 Many my Perſecutors are, ‖ many [and great] my Enemies; ‖ yet from thy Teſtimonies I ‖ do not [for that] at all decline.‖

158 When I tranſgreſſors have beheld, ‖ I have been grieved [very] much; ‖ The reaſon of it was; becauſe ‖ they have not [duly] kept thy Word.‖

159 Behold, O Thou ETERNAL God; ‖ thy Precepts how I love [and prize!] ‖ according to thy Mercy now ‖ O do Thou [kindly] quicken me.‖

160 Thy Words beginning* and main point ‖ is [ever] moſt undoubted truth; ‖ and all thy righteous Judgments are ‖ [ſtill ſuch] to perpetuity. ‖

XXI. Schin.

161 Great Men, but without any Cauſe, ‖ have [ſiercely] perſecuted me; ‖ But of thy Word my Heart hath ſtill ‖ maintain'd a [ſilial] Reverence. ‖

162 I at thy word rejoyce as one ‖ that ſinds [therein] a mighty Spoil. ‖

163 Lying I hate and do abhor; ‖ [But then] thy Law I dearly love. ‖

164 Thee for thy righteous Judgments I ‖ praiſe ſeven times [at leaſt] a day. ‖

165 Great peace have they that love thy Law;‖and nothing them [hurts or] offe ds.‖

166 I've had y Expectation of ‖ Salvation ſent from Thee [atone,] ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God; and I ‖ have [therefore] done what thou Command'ſt. ‖

167 Thy teſtimonies hath my Soul ‖ [ever] moſt diligently kept; ‖ and the Love which I bear to them‖is very [ſtrong and] vehement.‖

168 Strictly I have thy Precepts and ‖ thy [faithful] eſtimonies kept; ‖ becauſe that all my Ways do lye ‖ [J know] forever in thy view. ‖

169 Before Thee O ETERNAL God, ‖ Now let my cry come [very] near; ‖ give Underſtanding unto me ‖ according to [what's in] thy word. ‖

170 O Let my Supplication now ‖ draw near before thy [Glorious] face; ‖ Grant thou me a Deliverance ‖ according to thy [faithful] Word. ‖

171 My Lips ſhall utter praiſe when thou ‖ haſt [unto] me thy Statutes taught. ‖

172 My Tongue ſhall ſpeak thy Word; for all ‖ of thy Commands are [very] juſt. ‖

173 Let thy hand help me; for I have ‖ choſe [to keep] thy Commandements. ‖

174 ETERNAL, Thy Salvation I ‖ wiſh, and thy Law's [to me] my Joys. ‖

175 My Soul, O let it live to Thee, ‖ and it ſhall [gladly] praiſe thee then; ‖ But for this bleſſed purpoſe let ‖ thy Judgments be my Aid [and Guide.]

176 Like to a Sheep that has been loſt, ‖ I have been wandring ſo [about:] ‖ O ſeek thy Servant out; for I ‖ forget not [to do] thy Commands. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXIX. PSALM.

IT was required of the Jewiſh King, Peut. XXVII. 18. To write him a Copy of the Law in a Book. Is it not probable our David might be now at that Work? While his Hand was tranſcribing of the Divine Oracles, 〈◊〉 Heart mic •• be thus affected with them: And ſo might note the Devout Motions and Salleys of his oly Heart, as he went along; which Independent 〈◊〉 is, he might afterwards caſt into the Alphabetical Order wherein we now enjoy them.

Theo oret obſerves, David had great Varieties in 〈◊〉 Condition. All theſe are here collected into one Pſalm; no connected with the Prayers he had made unto God 〈◊〉 the ſeveral Occaſions. A Pſalm ſufficient (he ſaies) 〈◊〉 afford all manner of Medicines for the Cure of the •• rious Diſ aſes of Mankind.

The Prophetic Spirit here alſo teaches the diſperſed ••• s, how to adhere unto God, and confeſs their paſt nors, and c rry it well under the Perſecutions they •••• r from Antichriſt, and his Abettors. Oh! were oy ſouſible!

It is •• dent from ſundry paſſages in the Pook of Pſalm, that the Gody Jews, had a Proſpect beyond the Outſide and Letter of the Law; and that they pprehended a more Spiritual and Myſtical and vancelical meaning in it, than what the bare Letter men tioned. There was a Kabala among the true Iſraeltes, which inſtr cted them in the Glorious Truths or the Goſpel, which lay under the Shadows of the Law. Thus [I ſal. XXV. 14.] The Secret (or, Myſtery) of •• bovah was with them that feared Him.

Here we read of, Wondrous Things in the Law, and Commandment exceeding broad, and many aſſages which refer to Myſtery. The Myſtery is in one Word, the CHRISTIAN REHGION.

1 Arn hims will ſo Gloſs it; CHRIST is the way. 1: The Pſalmiſt employs himſelf in Bleſſing of God, which 〈◊〉 thing very pleaſing to Him. Aben- 〈◊〉 •• ſerver, That He deſires no Reward of His Re •••• Endeavo •• , but this; To be taught the States of God 17 R. •• olomon reads it ſo: In a way of Recompen •• 〈◊〉 thy Servant the thing y which I m •• live. Now the Meſſi h is the Thing by which we live Compare, Lam. IV. 20.

The Coming of the Meſſiah is promiſed in thoſe Terms, Iſai. XXXV. 4. God the Recompence (or, God with a Recompence) will come and ſave you. The ſame Word that is uſed here. The Meſſiah is very fity called, The God f Recompence, becauſe He is to be the Judge of the World. Yea, He is called, The God who is the Recompence; Becauſe in the Enjoyment of Him, there is made up the want of every thing elſe, and amends are made for all Sorrows. The Recompenſing JEHOV AH; Chr ſtian, Tis the Name of thy SAVIOUR. And I have now given th e a Key, to many of the Holy Oracles. Compare, Gen. XV. 1. The promiſe of the Meſſiah is, I am thy exceeding great Reward.

The Granting and Coming of the Meſſiah is here prayed for.

22 It is a Reproach unto a Man, and makes him worthy of Contempt, when he neglects the Divine Inſtitutions. When the Iſrael tes of Old, kept the Teſtimonies of GOD, in obſerving the Circumciſion, which was to Teſtify their Faith in the M ſſiah, it was then ſaid, Joſh. V. 9. This day I have rou daway the reproach of Egypt from off you. That very Word is uſed here. Enquire into the Intention.

25 Did the Pſalmiſt humbly Lye proſtrate in the Duſt, when he thus expreſt himſelf?—A Godly Man will thus complain under and againſt his Earthly Diſpoſitions.

Munſter's Gloſs is, proximus morti, I am juſt going into the Grave.

26 Take an hint of Old Arnobius, Artem Exaudiendi Didiciſti, Chriſtiane. Do thou Declare the ways of God, O Chriſtian, in making them thy own, and ſee if He do not hear thy Prayers.

31 Arnobius notes, That Confuſion will naturally iſe, when a Petition is not heard, by one of whoſe avour to us we preſumed upon.

45 To walk at Liberty is not to walk as a Liberti •• ; But to be free from the Encumbrances, which may hinder our Walk with GOD.

49 What Word? That in Gen. III. 15. So Arnobi •• . The Evil Spirits enjoying their Temples and their Opitols, were ſome of the Proud, who had this Word in Deriſion.

59 Upon ſerious Deliberation, What Courſe of Liſe to take. So Patrick paraphraſes.

69 May not the Lye referr'd to, be that 1. Sam. XXIV. 9.

91 Theſe things continue; But Man for whom God made them does not continue. Why? They all are Servants of God. But Man declines the Service of God. Homo non perſever at quia non, ſicut omnia, ſervit tibi.

This is a Gloſs of Antiquity.

96 The moſt porfect and Glorious things in this World come to an •• nd. But, the Law of God extends, in futurum ſeculum. So Munſter Gloſſes it. Arnobius conſiders the Commandment as exceeding broad; Quia omnia Terra ſpatia occupat. There will a time come, when all People, in the Breadth of the whole Earth, ſhall yield Obedience unto it. GOD haſten it

98 Some think, the more particular Commandments by the Obſervation whereof the Wife Man defeated and out-witted his Enemies, were thoſe which reſtrain'd him from attempting his own Revenges upon them. See, 1 Sam. XXIV. 17. and XXVI. 21.

99 In the P rke Avoth, we have a Notable Reading of the Paſſage. I learn Wiſdom from all my Teachers. The Text will bear it And, Chriſtian, it will be thy Wiſdom to do it.

103 Why Sweet unto his Mouth, and not rather unto his Ear, and his Heart? Mollerus gives a good Account of it. He ſpeaks as a Tea her of others; and there ſhould be nothing ſo ſweet unto a Heather, as to have the Words of GOD paſſing thro' his Mouth, unto them that are about him.

122 'Tis, as I remember, Auſtins Note; That this is almoſt the only Verſe of the Pſalm, where the Law of God, in one or other of the various terms for it, is not mentioned. And now, Ubi Lex deficit ibi Chriſtus. Now 'tis time for CHRIST our Surety to appear.

126 It is Maimonides who ſo reads it; It is Time to Work for the Lord.

130 R. Solomon is a little curious here; The Word of GOD, at the very Entrance of it, in the Hiſtory of the Creation, begins with Lighi.

The Patrician Paraphraſe is a Good one; When 2 Man does but begin to be acquainted with thy Word, he finds his Mind marvellouſly enlightened w th ſuch clear and uſeful knowledge, as directs the moſt ſimple People, how to live happily.

134 The ſenſe is obvious. But I will a d, that of R. Amama who reads it, The Oppreſſion of Adam, That is, The Evil Figment, or Original Sin, derived from Adam.

136—Yea, What if the Pſalmiſt alſo laments the Sins of his own Eyes, becauſe they kept not the Law of GOD. The Word for, Law, ſignifies, both to Teach and to Rain. When God gives His Law to Men, there are Showers of Grace from Heaven upon them. When Men don't keep the Law, it calls for Showers of Grief with all obſervers on Farth.

PSALM CXX. A Song of Degrees.

1 I In my Tribulation did ‖ make a diſtreſſing cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God, and He ‖ did hearken unto me. ‖

2 Grant O ETERNAL God, unto ‖ my Soul deliverance ‖ from a lip that will ſpeak a lie, ‖ from a deceitful tongue. ‖

3 What ſhall He give thee, and what pay ‖ to thee, Deceitful tongue. ‖

4 Sharp Arrows of a mighty one, ‖ with Coals of Junipers. ‖

5 Wo is me, that in Meſheck I ‖ am ſtill a ſojourner; ‖ in Kedars Tabernacles I ‖ have all my reſidence. ‖

6 Long hath my Soul its dwelling had ‖ with him that hateth peace. ‖

7 I am for peace; but when I ſpeak, ‖ ſtill they are bent for war, ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXX. PSALM.

MAny Conjectures have been about the meaning of this Title, A Song of Degrees, here put upon fifteen of the Pſalms. Kimchi ſays, They were Sung in the Aſcent of the Jews from the Babylonian Capti ity. [We have the ſame Word, Ezra VII. 9.] R. Saadias will have the Pſalms to be Sung in an higher Note, or an higher Place than ordinary. Aben-Ezra thinks. The Term only diſtinguiſhes the Tune, to which the Pſalms were fiſted. R. Obadiah thinks, The Pſalms to be Compoſed for every Degree of Perſons. Many think the Pſalms to be called thus, becauſe they are Excellent in the Superlative Degree. There are thoſe who fancy them Calculated for the Time, when the Sun went back by the Degrees on the Dial, to foretell the Fifteen Years of Hezekiah's Life. A Worthy Scotchman, Mr. Hutcheſon, thinks the Pſalms were Sung by the Prieſis and Levites, about the Altar, while the Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices, were Aſ •••• in Smoke from thence. Good Old Arnobius will 〈◊〉 at leaſt an a reeable Similitude upon it. Veluti •• ali •• qui in foveam cec dit, ponatur ſcala. By th •• Pravers and Frames, we are to be fetch'd up 〈◊〉 Depths of Calamities. Some, who ſeem to come 〈◊〉 the matter than the reſt, will have the Pſalms 〈◊〉 Sung, either on the Stairs of the Temple; or 〈◊〉 Stains belonging to the Tower of David. [Neh •• 15. XII. 37.] But in the Nouvelles de la Repub ••• des Lettres, I find a Gentleman offering a Conje •• more ingenious than any yet mentioned. Theſe 〈◊〉 Pſal •• s were et apart by the Directors of the 〈◊〉 ſia •• cal Polity of Iſrael, to be Sung on the Top 〈◊〉 Stairs, during the Night Watch of the Guard a ••• the Temple. What more agreeable Song could th •• be, to entertain and nimate their Piety? The 〈◊〉 ites are ſo deſcrio d. Mal. 11.12. Him hat wa ••• and him that anſwereth. It is •• tably Explained in 〈◊〉 laſt of there if een Pſalms. It is a Dialogue, 〈◊〉 the firſt that ſpea s, 〈◊〉 he tha maketh, namely 〈◊〉 Levite who ſtood C ntiael witho •• the Court of 〈◊〉 at the Place moſt proper for him to look out, ex ••• his Companions to Sanctify the Hours of the Night, praiſin of GOD, unto the Service of whom they were vote . The other hat Anſwereth, bleſſes him 〈◊〉 Waketh, by way or an Holy Acknowledgment for ſub an holy Exhortation; The Lord Bleſs thee out 〈◊〉 Zion. What could that Centinel do better, than 〈◊〉 Sing an Holy Song A certain Proof that this Wat hman in the Houſe of GOD, was neither out of 〈◊〉 Poſt, nor tallen a Sleep. And certainly 'twas pre •• that ſome Watchman of the Guard, ſhould anſw ••• that waked them. A good Exhortation ought 〈◊〉 to be leſt unanſwered; and it was for the 〈◊〉 theſe Levites to give a proof of their being on 〈…〉 tune to time, the Levits was on the Centry, Sung one of other of thoſe Fifteen Pſalms: and at the end of every Pſalm, he added the two firſt-Verſes of the CXXXIV. Pſalm, which occa oned the Anſwer and Bleſſing in the laſt Verſe of the Pſalm.

The Jews coſtantly refer all theſe Fifteen Pſalms to their People, in the Diſperſion wherein they are now languiſhing.

In the Fifth Verſe of the Pſalm now before us, we ſind the Idumaeans and Arabians; that is to ſay, the Romans and the Mahometans.

4 A Long Fire as well as a Strong one, is here pointed at. Juniper abounds with a piercing Oyl, which yields a very ſharp Fire; and Pliny ſays, Coals of Juniper, being raked up, will keep a glowing Fire for a whole Year together.

5 The Hebrew Particle Gnim, is to be tranſlated, Like, as well as, In, or With. As I remember Glaſſius thus reads the Text now be ore us. But ſome think that the Calumnies of Doeg did force David, actually to take a flight into theſe Countries. Or, Meſheck, as Bochart thinks, may ſignify, not a Place but the Length of Time, which he ſtayed in his Exile. All the Ancient Interpreters exeept one, underſtand it ſo. Patricks Paraphraſe is; 'I groan, not only in a tedious Baniſhment from my own Country, but I am forced to ſeek for ſhelter among the Barbarous Arabs.

PSALM CXXI. A Song for Degrees.

1 I Lift my Eyes up to the Hills: ‖ From whence ſhould come my help? ‖

2 My help's from the ETERNAL God, ‖ who made the Heav'ns and Earth, ‖

3 He will not let thy foot be mov'd; ‖ thy Keeper ſlumbers not. ‖

4 Lo, He that keepeth Iſrael; ‖ He ſlumbers not, nor ſl eps. ‖

5 Th' ETERNAL God is He who is ‖ th watchful Keeper ſtill; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God becomes thy ſhade; ‖ at thy right hand He ſtands.

6 The Sun ſhall not ſmite thee by Day ‖ nor ſhall the Moon by Night. ‖

7 Th' ETERNAL keeps thee from all ill. ‖ He ſhall preſerve thy Soul. ‖

8 Th' ETERNAL keeps thy going out; ‖ and keeps thy coming in; ‖ He does it from this time and will ‖ do it forevermore. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXI. PSALM.

THe Title here a l ttle differs from the other Fo •• teen. Cajetan obſerving it, has a ſtroke of Chriſtian Modeſty, which we may often find occaſion to uſe, when Difficultles in the acred Scriptures occur unto us; Reſervo Spiritur Sancto. Reſtored Iſra will thus comfort herſelf. Compare, Iſai. LX. 19. and Rev. XXII. 5.

5 An Alluſion to the Pillar of Cloud and Firs, which accommodated Iſrael, travelling thro' the Wilderneſs.

6 Sunt Solis et Lunae Tela, Peſtis. The Pſalm •• after the Faith of the Second Verſe comes to ſupp •• he Angels uttering to him in the Holy Place, 〈◊◊〉 Comolations. See, 2 Sam. XVII. 1, 6, 22.

PSALM CXXII. A Song of Degrees. Of David.

1 I Took delight in hearing them ‖ who ſaid thus unto me, ‖ We will go up unto the houſe ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

2 Our Feer were ſtanding once within‖thy Gates, Jeruſalem. ‖

3 Jeruſalem's as a City built ‖ compacted well together. ‖

4 Thither the Tribes go up, the Tribes ‖ of JAH, to th' Oracle ‖ of Iſrael, for to Praiſe the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

5 For there are plac'd the Thrones on which ‖ Judgment is given forth; ‖ The Thrones which do unto the Houſe of David appertain. ‖

6 For the Peace of Jeruſalem ‖ O make a ſtrong requeſt: ‖They who have a true love to thee ‖ ſhall ſee Proſperity. ‖

7 Let there be Peace within the Wall ‖ which thou'rt ſurrounded with; ‖ Let there be ſeen Proſperity ‖ within thy Palaces. ‖

8 For the ſake of my Brethren, and ‖ of my Aſſociates; ‖ this is what I will utter now, ‖ Let Peace be found in thee. ‖

9 For the ſake of the Houſe which to‖ th' ETERNAL God belongs,‖ Even the God who is our God; ‖ I will purſue thy Good.‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXII. PSALM.

I Find, the Ancients Expounding the Pſalm, concerning the State of Things in the New Jeruſalem, after the Firſt Reſurrection.

And ſo Dr. Allix obſerves, The Pſalm is the Gladneſs of Reſtored Iſrael, It ſuppoſes the Twelve Tribes gathered, Jeruſalem rebuilt, the Twelve Seats of the Apoſtles laid, and the Reign of the Meſſiah eſtabliſhed.

Some ſee this occaſion for the Pſalm. David having ſetled the Ark at Jeruſalem, and being at this Time on ſome Cocaſion in the Country, heard the good People there ſpeak one to another, as ſome of them did unto him, of going to Worſhip God, at ſome of the Three Solemn Feſtivals: This devotion of theirs, as it rejoyced his heart, ſo probably it moved him to compoſe the Pſalm, for their uſe at ſuch Times as theſe.

The Talmuds tell us, they did uſe to ſing the Firſ Verſe of the Pſalm, as they went out of the Country towards Jeruſalem, carrying their Firſt Fruits unto the Houſe of the Lord, as the Law, [Deut. XXVI. 2.] directed them. And when they entred within the Gates of the City, they Sang the Second Verſe. There they were met by ſome of the Citizens who Sang the reſt of the Pſalm together with them, as they went towards the Temple. Of this Cuſtom Selden gives us a fuller Account.

PSALM CXXIII. A Song of Degrees.

1 TO Thee I lift my Eyes, O Thou ‖ who dwelleſt in the Heav'ns. ‖

2 Lo, as the Eyes of Servants are ‖ to the hand of their Lords; ‖ as the Eyes of the Handmaid are ‖ unto her Ladies hand; ‖even ſo our eyes are kept intent ‖ on the ETERNAL God. ‖ He is our God and unto Him‖ w do direct our look; ‖ until that He upon us ſhall ‖ compaſſion pleaſe to have, ‖

3 Pity us, O ETERNAL God; ‖ have pity upon us: ‖ for with contempt that's caſt on us ‖ We're fill'd exceedingly. ‖

4 Our S ul is fill'd exceedingly ‖ with the contemptuous ſcorn ‖ of ſuch as live a eaſe; with the ‖ diſdain of haughty ones. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXIII. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here prepares a priver, for the Jews, under the oppreſſion of Antichriſt, Dr. Patrick thinks it a ſnott Prayer mane by a pious perſon, when the King of Aſſyria, ſent Ra ſh kali, and his other Captains, to the beſie ing of Jeruſalem; when they caſt the utmoſt contempt on the People of God. [2. King. XVIII, XIX.] It m ght be compoſed by Iſaiah, when Hezekiah deſired him to lift up a Pray for th Remnant that was left. Perhaps both Hezekich and he, lift up their Eyes to Heaven, and uſed theſe Words.

PSALM CXXIV. A Song of Degrees

1 BUT that th' ETERNAL was with us, ‖ Now this may Iſrael ſay.

2 But that th' ETERNAL was with us, ‖ when Men againſt us roſe. ‖

3 Then had they ſwallow'd us alive, ‖ when their wrath rag'd at us. ‖

4 Then had the waters cover'd us, ‖ the ſtream gone o'er our Soul.‖

5 Then the proud ſwelling waters had ‖ ſurely gone o'er our Soul. ‖

6 Bleſs'd be th' ETERNAL, who gives not ‖ us to their Teeth a prey. ‖

7 Our Soul's eſcaped as a bird ‖ out of the Fowlers ſnare; ‖ the ſnare is broken; and we are ‖ eſcaped out of it. ‖

8 Our help is in the Name of Him ‖ who's the ETERNAL God; ‖ He is the Powerful Maker of ‖ the Heavens and the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXIV. PSALM.

THe Miraculous conſervation of Iſrael among the Idolaters and Barbarians, who have often ſought their entire Deſtruction, is here celebrated.

8 The Jews apprehend, not only the Cauſe, but alſo the very Time of their great Redemption to be here myſteriouſly intimated. The Lord permitted Six Days to roll away, while He made Heaven and Earth. Even o, they ſay, the Lord will not appear for their Help, till towards the End of the Sixth Millennium; For, A Thouſand Years is with the Lord s one day. Then their Soul will eſcape as a Bird out of the Snare of the Fowler.

PSALM CXXV. A Song of Degrees.

1 THey who truſt in th' ETERNAL God, ‖ theſe as Mount Zion are; ‖ which is not to be mov'd, but ſtands ‖ to perpetuity.‖

2 Mountains ſurround Jeruſalem;‖ ſo the ETERNAL God ‖ ſurrounds His People from this time. 〈◊〉 and v n for evermore.‖

3 For the Rod of Iniquity ‖ ſhall not reſt on the Lot ‖ of juſt ones: leſt the juſt put forth ‖ their hands to Wickedneſs ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL God, Do Thou ‖ pleaſe to do good unto ‖ ſuch as are good, and to ſuch as ‖ are in their hearts upright:‖

5 But ſuch as turn to crooked ways, ‖ th' ETERNAL God will theſe ‖ with evil Doers make to go. ‖ Peace upon Iſrael now!‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXV. PSALM.

DR. Patrick looks on the Pſalm, as an Exhortation unto the People, to truſt in God, when Sennacherib threatned the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem. Theſe may be ſome of the Comfortable Words. which Hezekiah then ſpake unto them. [2. Chron. XXXII. 6.7.8.] When God chaſtiſed them with that Rod of His Anger. [See, Iſai, X. 5.]

Dr. Allix looks further, and ſees here; a Proplecy of Iſrael's Preſervation, and the Deſtruction of the Antichriſtian Powers, which oppreſs them, and perſecute the Church; and at laſt Iſraels Happineſs, when this Rod or Scepter of Wic edneſs, •• deſt oyed.

2 The Original is, And the Lord is round about His People. But the Particle Van often Signifies Much more.

3 An Alluſion to the Method uſed for the dividing of Lands among the Jews. A Rod or Staff was uſed in Sortition; particularly, in aſſigning any I and by Lot. The meaning is; The Portion of the Wicked, ſhall not be the Portion of the Righteous; they ſhall not in their future Condition be confounded with one another

PSALM. CXXVI. A Song of Degrees.

1 WHen the ETERNAL God return'd ‖ what was returned of ‖ the Captiv'd Zion, we were like ‖ to people in a Dream. ‖

2 Then was our Mouth repleniſhed ‖ with Notes of cheerful mirth; ‖ ſo was our Tongue with Shouts; they then ‖ among the People ſaid; ‖ Th' ETERNAL God hath done for them ‖ things that are very great, ‖

3 Th' ETERNAL God, hath done for us ‖ great things; whereof we're Glad. ‖

4 O Thou ETERNAL God, Return ‖ what muſt return of us; ‖ It will exhilirate us like ‖ Streams running in the South. ‖

5 They who do Sow in Tears, ſhall reap ‖ with an exulting Joy. ‖

6 Each one of thoſe in going forth ‖ does moſtly weeping go: ‖ He carries forth the Precious Seed, ‖ a little, to be ſown; ‖ he ſurely does return with Joy; ‖ he does bring back his Sheaves. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXVI. PSALM.

BEhold the Surpriſe of the Iſraelites Returned and Reſtored by the Meſſiah,

1 Some take it ſo, We were in ſuch a Frame, and it was at ſuch a Time, that we took all the Prophecies about our Deliverance, to have been ſo many Dreams.

4 A Thing as welcome as the Enjoyment of Streams in a thirſty Land. So Munſter: Non mimis erit illud, quam ſi in Deſerto ſqualido et exuſto, Rivos facias urrere aquarum. The South of the Holy Land is every parched Land; a dry and a faint Wilderneſs.

6 Kimchi ſays, The Husbandman is here ſuppoſed, in a dry Soil, falling into Tears, thro' Fears that the Droughts will procure the loſs of all the Seed. But God looks on his Tears, and with ſeaſonable Showers, procures the Joy of Harveſt.

And now the Spaniſh Gloſs will more particularly and Emphatically tell you, who the Weeping Husbandman are. Los Trabans pios Ministros del Evangelio, no ſer an ſin Fruto. The Labouring and pious Miniſters of the Goſpel ſhall not be without Fruit.

This is Dr. Patricks Paraphraſe. Juſt as we behold the poor Husbandman, going to and fro with a little Seed, which in a ſcarce year, he throws with a heavy heart into the Ground, returning again and again from the Field, with Songs of Joy in his Mouth, when the Harveſt comes to Reward his paſt Labours with a Plentiful Crop of Corn.

PSALM CXXVII. A Song of Degrees of Solomon.

UNleſs that the ETERNAL God ‖ ſhall pleaſe to build the Houſe; ‖ they that the Builders of it are ‖ do labour but in vain. ‖ Unleſs that the ETERNAL God ‖ ſhall pleaſe to keep the Town, ‖ in vain does any keeper elſe ‖ maintain a careful Watch. ‖

2 In vain is all you do, O you, ‖ who do make haſte to riſe; ‖ who don't ſit down till it be late; ‖ who eat the Bread of Griefs. ‖ So, * and in a convenient way, ‖ He does a ſweet repoſe ‖ unto His Jedidiah give, ‖ * to His Beloved one. ‖

3 Lo, Children are the Heritage ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ the Fruit of the Womb is beſtow'd ‖ by Him as a Reward. ‖

4 As Arrows in the Hand of one ‖ that is a mighty Man, ‖ ſo are the Sons of Youth, to himwho ſees them in their Youth. ‖

5 O Bleſſed is the Man, who hath ‖ his Quiver full of them ‖ Such won't be ſham'd, when they ſpeak with ‖ their Enemies in the Gate. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXVII PSALM.

WAS not Solomon the Writer of the Pſalm? None of his more than Three Thouſand Songs tranſmitted unto Poſterity; but only This and the Next and the CXXXII. Pſalm, and the Canticles

The Pſalm is a Commentary upon a Maxim of Piety often repeated in his Book of Proverbs; That it is in vain to attempt any thing, if the Lord will not proſper it. See Prov. III. 6. XVI. 3, 9. XX. 24. XXI. 30, 31.

But R. David Kimchi has obſerved, that the Pſalm refers to •• ter Times, than thoſe wherein Solomon erected the Temple, and enlarged the City. He finds here the happineſs of the reſtored ſews, under a greater than Solomon.

2 Solomon had it ſaid of him, 2 Sam. XII. 24. The Lord loved him. Now, to ſee how every clauſe here belonged unto this Jedidiah, conſult, 1. Chron, XXII. 9, 10. I will give him reſt from all his Enemies; I will give Peace and Quietneſs to Iſrael in his Days; He ſhall build an Houſe for my Name. Accordingly there are three ben fits applied unto Solomon, His Building of the Temple; his keeping of the City; and his enjoying of Reſt with his People. But a direction is here given, both Whence and When, theſe Benefits were to be expected. q. d. You muſt expect theſe Benefits from the Lord who will not give them unto you, until Solomon His Beloved one come into the Succeſſion.

Arnchius carries theſe things, to the Coming of our SAVIOUR, and the Inheritance which his People ſhall receive at the Reſurrection, after they have ſlept in their Graves.

5 The Gate in which they are not afraid of ſpeaking with their Enemies, is, Cumegrediuntur Corpore in quo Diabolum ſuperarunt. Compare, Mat. VII. 14.

PSALM CXXVIII. A Song of Degrees.

1 O The vaſt Bleſſings of the Man, ‖ yea, and of every Man, ‖ who does feat the ETERNAL God, ‖ who in His ways does walk! ‖

2 For what the Labour of thy Hands ‖ has gotten, thou ſhalt eat; ‖ Bleſſings of all ſorts ſhall be thine, ‖ and good ſhall be to thee. ‖

3 In the ſides of thy Houſe thy Wife ‖ proves as a Fruitful Vine; ‖ thy Children round thy Table prove ‖ as Plants of Olive Trees. ‖

4 O give a due attention tothis grateful Spectacle; ‖ for ſo the Man ſhall bleſſed be ‖ who fears th' ETERNAL God. ‖

5 Th' ETERNAL God from Zion ſhall ‖ a Bleſſing give to thee; ‖ all the days of thy Life, ſo thou ‖ ſhalt ſee Jeruſalem's good. ‖

6 Yea, Thou ſhalt ſee the Children which ‖ are of thy Children born; ‖ Thou ſhalt ſee Peace on Iſrael; ‖ Peace be on Iſrael.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXVIII. PSALM.

BEhold the Happineſs of the Jewiſh Nation, when anon reſtored unto the Favour of GOD. Compare Iſai. LXV. and Ezek. XXXVII.

1 Arnobius obſerves, That Walking in the Ways of God, is added unto, His Fear, to diſtinguiſh it from the Fear which the Divels have, who Believe and Tremble

6 Luther has a Note; That GOD beſtows Publick Peace upon a People, out of reſpect unto well ordered Families; partly that they may ſuſtain themſelves with Daily Bread: But chiefly, That they may beſtow a good Education upon their Poſterity.

PSALM CXXIX. A Song of Degrees.

1 MUch from my Youth they've troubled me, ‖ This now may Iſrael ſay. ‖

2 Much from my youth they've troubled me, ‖ but o'er me not prevail'd. ‖

3 The Plowers plow'd upon my Back; ‖ they made their Furrows long. ‖

4 Th' ETERNAL God who's Juſt, has cut ‖ the Cords of Wicked ones. ‖

5 They who hate Zion, let them all ‖ be ſham'd, and turned back. ‖

6 As graſs on Houſes let them be, ‖ which withers e're 'tis grown. ‖

7 He that's a mower don't ſo much ‖ as all his hand therewith; ‖ much leſs does he that bindeth ſheaves ‖ therewith his boſom •• ll. ‖

8 Nor ſhall Men paſſing ſay, On you ‖ th' ETERNAL's Bleſſing be; ‖ We bleſs you in the Name of Him ‖ who's the ETERNAL God. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXIX. PSALM.

SEE the Reſtored Jews, deſcribing the Great Miſchiefs they ſuffered under Antichriſt; and the wondrous Ruin of their Oppreſſors, abandoned unto the Curſe of GOD.

6, 7. We don't uſe, either Sheaves or Handfulls in that kind of Husbandry. But the Ancient Writers, De Re Ruſtica, have ſuch Expreſſions. Columella has, Fanum Vincire, the Binding up of Hay. Varro aſafirms, De his manipules fieri. In their mowing, it ſeems, they did not cut all down clear at once; but uſed 〈◊〉 After-ſection, which they called Sizilitium. They did, as Pliny Notes, Falcibus conſec ••• i qa Foeniſeca praterierunt.

But Maundril in his Travels, tells us, They pluck up their Corn by Handful , at the Ro t; that they may looſe none of their Straw; — No Hay being made there; The Mower is no other than he that would in this way Fill his hand.

6 Arnobius has a Nice Fa •• y on the Houſe Top here; Quia maxima pars Hareticorum ad perſonas alt as •• dit.

PSALM. CXXX. A Song f Degrees.

1 OUt of the Depths I cry'd [aloud] ‖ the ETERNAL God. ‖

2 Lord, Hear my Voice, to the Voice 〈◊〉 my Pra ers be bow'd thine Ear. ‖

3 If Thou [O Thou] ETERNAL JAH. ‖ ſouldſt mark Iniquities, ‖ O Lord, who is there that could ſtand, ‖ when in the Judgement try'd? ‖

4 But [ſurely] there is found with the •• a Pardon for our Sins; ‖ that ſo Thou maybe worſhipped ‖ with a Religious Fear. ‖

5 For [Him who's] the ETERNAL Go I wait; my Soul does wait; ‖ and on His Word I do rely ‖ with an expecting hope. ‖

6 My Soul waits [and looks] for the Lord, ‖ more than the Watchers do ‖ for Morning; more than they that are ‖ Watchers for morning, do. ‖

7 In the ETERNAL God [O now] ‖ let Iſrael confide; ‖ for there is mercy to be found ‖ with the ETERNAL God. ‖ Yea, and with Him there [ſurely] is ‖ Redemption plenteous. ‖

8 And He will Iſrael redeem ‖ from alls niquities. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXX. PSALM.

HA not the Prophetic Spirit here provided a Prayer for Pardon, unto abdicated Iſrael? And Proteſtation of their Expectation, to be redeemed by the Meſſiah, who is the True GOD?

Patrick thinks the Pſalm to be compoſed by David, under the Sauline Perſecution; [When reduc'd unto at condition, Pſalm XVIII. 4. and LXIX. 2, 14, 16.] He Beſeeches the Holy One, to Pardon his own Sins, and the Sins of the People, which made them deſerve the ill Government of Saul, which now brought ſo •• ch Corruption, and Confuſion upon them.

4 Divers of the Jewiſh Rabbi's obſerve an Emphaſis on the Particle Thee. God has made His Angels His •• niſters to diſpenſe his Favours: But the Remiſſion of Sins He reſerves to Himſelf alone.

6 The Meſſiah is undoubtedly, The Lord, here •• ited for. In the Morning the Prieſts that waited, 〈◊〉 their daily Sacrifices. Behold a plain and full Inti ation, That the Faithful People of God, when they brought their Sacrifices unto Him, had their Faith waiting for the Meſſiah, who is to bring in a Plenteous Redemption with Him. And in the Reduplication of this Paſſage, is there not a Prophecy, that there were to be Two Comings of the Meſſiah?

PSALM. CXXXI. A Song of Degrees. Of David.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, My Heart, ‖ it is not haughty grown; ‖ nor are theſe Eyes of mine with proud ‖ elation lifted up. ‖ Nor have I exercis'd my ſelf ‖ in matters very great; ‖ nor in ſuch matters as would be ‖ too wondrous high for me. ‖

2 What? Han't I ſet and ſilenced ‖ my Soul juſt as a Child ‖ from'ts Mother wean'd? My Soul in me ‖ is as a weaned Child. ‖

3 Let Iſrael now with hope confide ‖ in the ETERNAL God; ‖ Yea let him do it from this time ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXI. PSALM.

INto this Humility and Mortification ought the Jewiſh Nation to reduce themſelves, that ſo the promiſed Redemption may arrive unto them.

3 Tis impoſſible to mention a more Hopeful Preparation for all the Bleſſings of Goodneſs, than a Reſignation to the Will of a Soveraign God. Chriſtian, Become as a weaned Child, willing to be any thing that a Soveraign God will have thee to be. FROM HENCEFORTH mayſt thou Hope, that He will deal mercifully and wonderfully with thee.

PSALM. CXXXII. A Song of Degrees.

1 O Thou ETERNAL God, Have Thou ‖ in thy remembrance ſtill ‖ David and all th' Affliction which ‖ he has encountred with. ‖

2 How he did take a ſolemn Oath, ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ he then did make a ſolemn Vow ‖ to Jacob's mighty one. ‖

3 If I do go into the Tent ‖ wherein ‖ have my Houſe; ‖ if I go up unto the Bed ‖ that has my Coverlets. ‖

4 If I do give unto my Eyes ‖ the Sleep ich they require, ‖ or but unto my Eye-lids once ‖ a little ſlumbring time: ‖

5 Until I do find out a place ‖ for the TERNAL God; ‖ Manſions to be inhabited ‖ by Jacob's Mighty One. ‖ —

6 — Behold of it, ev'n of Thy Ark ‖ we heard at Ephratah; ‖ we found it in the fields that were ‖ then overgrown with wood. ‖

7 We will into the Manſions go ‖ inhabited by Thee; ‖ and at thy footſtool there we will ‖ with bowing down adore. ‖

8 ETERNAL God, Ariſe to go ‖ unto thy place of Reſt; ‖ Ariſe, Thou and the Ark from whence ‖ Thy Power doth appear. ‖

9 O let thy Prieſts array themſelves ‖ with robes of Righteouſneſs; ‖ and thoſe who are thy gracious Ones, ‖ O let them ſhout for joy. ‖

10 Becauſe of David who has been ‖ a Servant unto thee, ‖ O turn thou not away the Face ‖ of thine Anointed One. ‖

11 The Truth has the ETERNAL God ‖ unto His David ſworn; ‖ He'l not turn from't I'l on thy Throne ‖ one from thy bowels ſet. ‖

12 If that thy Children ſhall keep well ‖ my Covenant with them, ‖ and keep the Teſtimony which ‖ I ſhall inſtruct them in; ‖ Then alſo their Poſterity ‖ that ſhall come after them, ‖ even to perpetuity ‖ ſhall ſit upon thy Throne. ‖

13 Becauſe that the ETERNAL God ‖ of Zion hath made choice; ‖ He hath deſired it to have ‖ His Habitation there. ‖

14 This is the Place where I will reſt ‖ to Perpetuity; ‖ Here I will have my dwelling place; ‖ for I've deſired it. ‖

15 I ſurely * and abundantly ‖ will her Proviſion bleſs; ‖ with bread I'll fully ſatisfy ‖ the Poor which be in her. ‖

16 Her Prieſts I with Salvation will ‖ adorn as with a Robe; ‖ Her gracious ones, they alſo ſhall ‖ Sing, yea, and ſhout for joy. ‖

17 There I will for my David make ‖ an Horn to Iſſue forth; ‖ I have a Lamp ordained there ‖ for mine anointed one. ‖

18 His Adverſaries I will cloth ‖ with a Contemptuous ſhame; ‖ but upon him ſtill flouriſhing ‖ ſhall be his Diadem. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXII. PSALM.

THE Hope of the Jewiſh Nation, is here provided by the Prophetic Spirit. But what they moſt build upon is, the promiſe of the Meſſiah, who, when He comes again is to bring about their glorious Happineſs, and bring deſtruction on their Pnemies.

Was not Solomon the Writer of the Pſalm? He concludes his Prayer at the Conſecration of the Temple with part of 〈◊〉 .

It may refer to the pious humility of David, who choſe to endure many Afflictions, rather than by un •••• ul means o advance himſelf. See the firſt Verſe o the [ •••• oin] alm.

Mighty One, is as much as to ſay Lord. So, aris et Terrae Tempeſtatumque potentes.

6. A Diſcourſe written in Barhary, 1610. Entituled, The Meſſith already come, has this Gloſs upon the 〈◊〉 David after much reſtleſs ſtudy, to find out the Myſtery of the Place, where the Meſſiah ſhould be born;—At length the Myſtery being reveal'd unto him, he does as it were point unto the very Place, in the words following; Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah; which is the ſame with Bethlehem.

It was in the Territory of Bethlehem Ephratah, [Gen. XXXV. 16, 19.] In the Fields that the Angel ood, and directed David to build an Altar to the Lord. [1. Chron. XXI. 18. XXII. 1]

16 Such as have nothing but Salvation, and what ds to it, conſpicuous upon them; look on them and on ſhall ſee in them a moſt conſpicuous care to obtain Salvation; A Care worthy of your Imitation. Come to them and you ſhall be excited unto the Care of Salvation, and be directed, how to obtain it. Munſter 〈◊〉 a Gloſs of this Tendency.

17 An Horn ſignifies Might, Strength, Joy, Safety, and Proſperity; anon, Glory. And ſo, a Royal Power. From Keren, and Cornu, may come, Corona. flence in the Prophetic. Schemes of Daniel, and of John, Horns do ſignify Kings. [Dan. VII. 24. VIII. 7.] The Pagans learnt the Speech; Pauper Cornua ſumit. Jupiter was called Corniger. Alexander was Bicornis on Medals. In the Alcoran, his Name is, Dulcarnain.

PSALM CXXXIII. A Song of Degrees.

1 BEhold how good a thing it is, ‖ and how delectable, ‖ when Brethren down together ſit ‖ united in their Love! ‖

2 Tis like the precious Ointment which ‖ poured upon the Head, ‖ made its Deſcent upon the Beard ‖ of Aaron here and there. ‖ Yea, and it did go farther down ‖ to the edge of his Robe ‖ that clos'd about his Neck, and reach'dthe Names of all the Tribes.

3 Tis like the Dew which is upon ‖ Mount Hermon often ſeen; ‖ and that which on the Mountains of ‖ Zion does make deſcent. ‖ Becauſe that it is in that Place ‖ that the ETERNAL God ‖ commands His Bleſſing, even Life ‖ to all Eternity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXIII. PSALM.

BEhold an Hymn to be Sung, when the Tribes of Iſrael ſhall be gathered and reſtored.

When the Tribes of Iſrael had no Strife, but who ſhould be moſt forward in returning to their. Allegiance; and the Children of Judah were inclin'd as one Man, to bring back David unto his Kingdom, after the Rebellion of Abſalom; then might he fall into this Rapturous Admiration of their Unity. This is Dr. Patrick's Tho't.

But the Pſalm was aptly to be applied unto the Babylonian Captivity; when as Theodoret Notes, the Tribes which had been divided by the Imprudence of Rehoboam; were again united.

The Primitive Chriſtians uſed the Pſalm to expreſs their Joy, for the bleſſed Union of the Jews and Gentiles, which had been as diſtant from one another as, Hermon from Zion.

2 Aaron, on the Collar of his Garment, bore the Names of all the Tribes of Iſrael; they were all perfumed.

3 Modern Travellers tell us, they found the ſelves •• et with the Dew of Hormon, falling in the Night, 〈◊〉 it had ra •• 'd upon them.

PSALM CXXXIV. A Song of Degrees.

1 O Give Attention! Speak ye well ‖ of the ETERNAL God, ‖ all you that are the Servants, who ‖ wait on the ETERNAL God; ‖ ye who by Night ſtand in the houſe ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

2 Lift up your hands with Holineſs, ‖ and bleſs th' ETERNAL God. ‖

3 From Zion may th' ETERNAL God ‖ Kis Bleſſing g ve to thee; ‖ The God who is. the Maker of ‖ the Heavens and the Earth. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXIV. PSALM.

B hold the Devotions of the Iſraelitiſh Nation, at the return of the Meſſiah; and their Prayers or the continuation of their Happineſs. Look back to the Illuſtrations on the CXX. Pſalm.

PSALM CXXXV.

1 S ng HALLELUJAH. Praiſe the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ Praiſe, O you that the Servants are ‖ of the ETERNAL God ‖

2 You that your Station have in the ‖ Houſe of th' ETERNAL God; ‖ ſtanding in the Courts of the Houſe ‖ of Him who is our God. ‖

3 Praiſe JAH; Becauſe that truly Good ‖ is the ETERNAL God; ‖ Sing Praiſes to His Name; becauſe ‖ it is a pleaſant thing. ‖

4 Becauſ hat JAH has made a choice ‖ of Jacob for himſelf; ‖ of Iſrael for a Treaſu •• to ‖ Himſelf peculiar. ‖

5 For as to me, this I do know, ‖ That the ETERNAL God ‖ is a Great One, and that our Lord ‖ is above all the God's! ‖

6 Whatever He would pleaſe to do ‖ th' ETERNAL God hath done, ‖ in th' Heav'ns, and on Earth, in Seas, ‖ and in all Abyſſes. ‖

7 From the ends of the Earth He makes ‖ the Clouds ariſe; He makes ‖ Lightnings with rain; He brings the Wind ‖ out of His Treaſuries ‖

8 Of Egypt He ſmote the Firſt-born, ‖ from Man, ev'n to the Beaſt. ‖

9 In midſt of thee, O Egypt, He ‖ did Signs and Wonders ſend; ‖ This He did upon Pharaoh and ‖ on all that ſerved Him. ‖

10 Great Nations He laid ſtrokes upon ‖ and He ſlew mighty Kings. ‖

11 Sihon King of the Amorites, ‖ He ſlew, and Og the King ‖ of Baſhan, all the Kingdoms too ‖ which were in Canaan found. ‖

12 And He diſpoſed of their Land ‖ as an Inheritance; ‖ as an Inheritance unto ‖ His People Iſrael. ‖

13 Thy Name is, O ETERNAL God, ‖ to Perpetuity; ‖ Thy Memory, O ETERNAL God, ‖ it is from Age to Age. ‖

14 For the ETERNAL God will to ‖ His People be the Judge; ‖ and upon them that ſerve Him He ‖ will now refreſh Himſelf, ‖

15 The Idols which the Nations do ‖ render their Homage to, ‖ are nothing but Silver and Gold; ‖ what hands of Men have wrought. ‖

16 Mouths have they, but they do not ſpeak; ‖ they've Eyes but do not ſee, ‖

17 Ears have they, but they do not hear; ‖ no breath is in their Mouths. ‖

18 They that the Makers are of ſuch ‖ ridiculous things are theſe, ‖ are like them; ſo is every one ‖ that puts his truſt in them. ‖

19 Bleſs the ETERNAL God, O you ‖ the Houſe of Iſrael; ‖ Bleſs the ETERNAL God, O you ‖ that are of Aaron's Houſe. ‖

20 Bleſs the ETERNAL God, O you ‖ that are of Levi's Houſe; ‖ Ye who do fear th' ETERNAL God, ‖ Bleſs you th' ETERNAL God. ‖

21 O Bleſſed out of Zion be ‖ now the ETERNAL God, ‖ who dwelleth in Jeruſalem. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now!

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXV. PSALM.

TIs an Hymis of Praiſe, to be Sung by reſtored Iſiael; Rehearſing the Ancient Miracles done for their Fathers, and inſulting the falſe Gods of Antichriſt. The Ideas of the Pſalm are followed in the XL Chapter of Iſaiah.

1 The Apollo of the Ancients was our Joſhua, Joſhua's Conqueſt of Og, and the Anakims in Canaan, was Apollo's Defeat of Typhon, or Python, and the other Giants. Cadmus the Gibeonite with other Phanicians, carrying a Colony into C aecia, celebrated the Victories of Joſi •• a in ſuch Hymns as they had learn'd from their New Maſters in the Land of Ca •• a . Might not ſuch ſtrains as are in the Pſalm now before us, be among thoſe Hymns? And the E elu Jou Jou uſed in them, be no other than our Hallelujah?

18 There is this admirable Force in the mention of the reſpects paid by the Hearthen to their Idols. The Honour the Heathen give to their lifeleſs Images, ought mightily to excite us all, with a greater Devotion to Praiſe our God, who is the Maker of all things.

PSALM CXXXVI.

1 [O Now] a juſt Confeſſion make ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Becauſe that He is good; Becauſe ‖ His mercy is forever. ‖

2 [O now] a juſt Confeſſion make ‖ unto the God of Gods; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuty. ‖

3 [O now] a juſt Confeſſion make ‖ unto the Lord of Lords; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

4 To Him who [eber] only doth ‖ things great and wonderful; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

5 To Him who made the Heav'ns [above] ‖ wifely diſpoſing them; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

6 To Him who ſtretch'd the Earth [abroad] ‖ upon the Waters laid; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

7 To Him who made [and ſet] the Lights ‖ which are ſo very great; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

8 The Sun [it is] that for the Day ‖ does dominion bear; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

9 The Moon and Stars that have [in courſe] ‖ Dominion for the Night; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

10 To Him that Egypt ſmote [and ſlew] ‖ in the Firſt-born of them; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

11 And He [thereon] did Iſrael bring ‖ forth from the midſt of them; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

12 With a ſtrong [mighty] Hand, and with ‖ a moſt extended Arm; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

13 To Him who did in [ſeveral] parts ‖ divide the Reedy-Sea; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

14 And He made Iſrael [ſafely] paſs ‖ thorough the midſt of it; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

15 But ſhook off Pharoah, and [all of] ‖ his Hoſt, i' th' Reedy-Sea; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

16 To Him who led His [choſen] folk ‖ thorough the Wilderneſs; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

17 To Him who laid His [killing] ſtrokes ‖ on great and potent Kings; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

18 And He ſlew Kings that were [eſteem'd] ‖ exceeding powerful; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

19 Sihon was one of theſe [great Kings] ‖ King of the Amorites; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

20 And Og mother was [of them] ‖ who was of Baſhan King; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

21 And He did give their Land [away] ‖ for an Inheritance; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity, ‖

22 'Tis an Inheritance [deſign'd] ‖ for Iſrael ſerving Him; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

23 Who in our low [oppreſs'd] Eſtate ‖ hath mindful been of us; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

24 And from [all of] our Enemies ‖ He •• th redeemed us; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

25 Who [kindly] to all Fleſh affords ‖ and for their fuſtenance; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

26 [O now] a juſt Confeſſion make ‖ unto the God of Heav'n; ‖ Becauſe His mercy doth endure ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXVI. PSALM.

AN Hymn to be Sung by Iſrael, after their Deliverance from all their Enemies. In the Third Verſe, The Lord of Lords is Praiſed; The Title of the Meſſiah at His next Coming. Twenty Six Times, occurs, His Mercy doth endure to Perpetuity. The Pſalm does Commence with the Creation, and Conclude with the Entrance into Cana n; between which there had run Twenty Six Generations. The Numeral Letters of the Name, JEHOVAH, amount unto juſt that Number. Conſider ſtill the Clauſe to which that Conſolation is annexed. It is, q. d. The Mercy of GOD, will ſtill do for His People, ſuch things as the Clauſe makes mention of; or things of the like importance with them. Further Elegencies may be obſerved in the Analogies.

10 The Pſalmiſt having diſtinctly mentioned the Works produced in the Four Firſt Days of the Creation, immediately paſſes to the Plagues upon Egypt. The Works produced in the Two next Days of the Creation, were employed in thoſe Plaaues.

20 Why only Sihon and Og mentioned? R. David Kimchi gives this Reaſon; Becauſe their Lands were not in the Covenant, which GOD made with Abraham.

23 The Mercy of God, which has remembred thee in thy Low Eſtate; Chriſtian, Let it Endure to P rpetuity, in thy Thankful Remembrance of it, and of the Obligations it has laid upon thee, to Live unto GOD. Behold, a Noble ſenſe, in which it ſhould be ſaid, His Mercy doth endure to P rpetuity.

PSALM CXXXVII.

1 WE by the Rivers which do run ‖ thro' Babylon, ſat there; ‖ yea, we pour'd out our Tears when we ‖ remembred Zion there.

2 Upon the Willows in the midſt ‖ thereof we hung our Harps. ‖

3 For they that Captiv'd us did there ‖ demand of us to Sing ‖ words of a Song, and they who laid‖ us in our ruinous heaps,‖ demanded mirth, Sing us, ſaid they,‖ a Song of Zion, Sing!

4 Our Anſwer was, How can we do‖ to Sing a Song that is ‖ for the ETERNAL God, in the ‖ Land of a ſtranger here? ‖

5 O dear Jeruſalem, If I ‖ of thee forgetful grow! ‖ As ſoon ſhall my Right-hand forget ‖ what it is us'd unto!

6 My Tongue ſhall to my Palate cleave ‖ when thee I do not mind! ‖ If I don't ſet Jeruſ'lem at ‖ the top of all my Joy. ‖

7 Remember, O ETERNAL God, ‖ the Sons of Edom, who ‖ ſaid in Jeruſ'lems day, Raſe, Raſe, ‖ to its foundation bare. ‖

8 Daughter of Babylon, who art ‖ to be made deſolate, ‖ Happy, who ſhall repay to thee ‖ the pay thou'ſt paid to us! ‖

9 O the great bleſſedneſs of him ‖ who ſhall lay hold upon, ‖ and who againſt the ſolid Rock ‖ ſhall daſh thy little ones! ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXVII. PSALM.

WE have here the ſorrowful State of the Jews, under the firſt Babylonian Captivity; and then under the Roman Domimon, which the Prophet calls, Daughter of Babylon, becauſe the Romans have done to them as the Babylonians did. Several Prophets have agreed with our Pſalmiſt, in calling the Romans by the Name of Edom. In the Jewiſh Treatiſe Git •• , R. Jebudah finds the Deſtruction of both Temples, der the Two Terms of Babylon and Edom. Ar obius pathetically makes the Babylonians here, a Picture of the Devils inſulting over fallen Man.

1 When they were tranſported into Babylon, they ad the ſides of Euphrates and ſeveral of its Rivers, aſſigned for their Habitation. [Ezek. 1.1.] Chryſoſtom ſays, They did not at firſt ſufer the Captives to dwell in any of their Towns, but made them dwell along the ſides of the Rivers, where they built little Cottages for themſelves; and perhaps they were put upon Draining thoſe moiſt places to make them wholſome.

3 The Babylonians here demand, Sing us, the Words of a Song. It ſeems, they had no regard unto the atter. The Tune, The Sound, the Words, was all they cared for. A Mark of Babylonians! Among ſuch they regard nothing but Words and Forms; All they mind, is a Lip-Labour, an External. Service in Religion.

PSALM CXXXVIII. Of David.

1 I Will a juſt Confeſſion make ‖ of thee with all my heart; ‖ Before God, * and His Angels, I ‖ will Praiſes Sing to thee. ‖

2 Toward thy holy Temple I ‖ will bowing down adore; ‖ and I will celebrate thy Name ‖ for thy benignity, ‖ and for thy faithfulneſs; for that ‖ thou above every thing ‖ haſt magnify'd thy Name; Thou haſtſo magnify'd thy Word. ‖

3 In the day I invoked thee, ‖ and thou didſt anſwer me; ‖ Thou in my Soul with manly ſtrength ‖ me then didſt fortify. ‖

4 To Thee, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ all the Kings of the Earth ‖ ſhall their Confeſſions make, when of ‖ thy mouth they he •• the words. ‖

5 Yea, they'l with voice ſing in the ways ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ Becauſe that great the Glory is ‖ of the ETERNAL God. ‖

6 For the ETERNAL God is high; ‖ but looks upon the low; ‖ whereas what would be high, He does ‖ far off take notice of. ‖

7 Altho' my walk be lying in ‖ the midſt of much diſtreſs, ‖ yet thou with ſweet revivals wilt ‖ enable me to live: ‖ Thou'lt uſe thy hand againſt the rage ‖ of my fierce enemies; ‖ and thy Right hand ſhall unto me ‖ give a deliverance. ‖

8 Th' ETERNAL God will perfect what ‖ He has to do for me: ‖ Thy mercy, O ETERNAL God ‖ is to Eternity. ‖ O do not thou forſake, * O don't ‖ utterly caſt away, ‖ thoſe Men and things that are the Works ‖ that thy own Hands have wrought. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXVIII. PSALM.

AN Illuſtrious Prophecy concerning the calling of the Iſraelitiſh Nation, to the knowledge of the Meſſiah; and the Great Converſion of the Heathen Kingdoms to His Religion, after the Meſſiah has deſtroy'd the Enemies of the Kingdom.

5 The Wonderful Ways wherein the Lord brings about His Glorious Purpoſes will be the Subject of their Songs. The Ways of God in bringing of David unto his Kingdom; were thoſe the things which the Kings in the Neighbourhood celebrated?

6 The tho'ts of the Proud are hid in their Hearts afar 〈◊〉 , out of fight; They have more Wit than to utter me Proud thot's, which lie covered and ſwelling in their minds. But the Lord knows what they are afar 〈◊〉 . The Proud may be here compared unto a L per; one who has little cauſe to be Proud. God knows a Proud Man to be no better than a filthy Leper, upon •• om it was enjoyned, that He ſhould ſtand afar off; e might not be approach'd unto; nor will the Spirit of GOD approach near unto ſuch a Man. Compare L v. XIII. 45, 46.

The Patrician Paraphraſe, is; He will not ſtoop 〈◊〉 the loftieſt Princes (as they may ſee in Soul) whom He deſpiſes, when they are forgetful of Him, and ungrateful to Him.

7 Arnobius here ſees our SAVIOUR extending His Hands upon the Croſs.

PSALM CXXXIX. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 ETERNAL God, Thou'ſt ſearched me, ‖ and haſt known what I am. ‖

2 Thou know'ſt full well my ſitting down, ‖ and know'ſt my riſing up. ‖ Thou at the greateſt diſtance doſt ‖ well underſtand my tho't. ‖

3 My path thou ſeeſt round, and my bed; ‖ and find'ſt out all my ways. ‖

4 Yea, and each word I ſpeak, while it ‖ is not yet in my tongue; ‖ Behold, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou knoweſt all of it. ‖

5 Me thou haſt formed, * and beſet, ‖ both as to what's behind, ‖ and as to what's before; and thou ‖ haſt laid thy hand on me ‖

6 Such knowledge as this is, it is ‖ too wonderful for me; ‖ Sublime it is, and it is more ‖ than I can reach unto! ‖

7 Where ſhall I from thy Spirit go? ‖ And where fly from thy Face? ‖

8 If I ſhould ſay, I will aſcend ‖ to Heaven, Thou art there: ‖ Or, If I make my Bed in Hell; lo, Thou art alſo there. ‖

9 I'll take the Mornings Wings, I'll dwell ‖ at the Seas utmoſt bounds. ‖

10 Even unto that very place ‖ thy hand ſhall carry me; ‖ Thy Right hand alſo, that ſhall make ‖ a ſeizure on me there. ‖

11 If I ſhould ſay, Aſſuredly ‖ Darkneſs ſhould cover me; ‖ The very Night itſelf would be ‖ about me as the Light. ‖

12 Yea, Darkneſs nothing hides from thee; ‖ but Night doth ſhine like Day; ‖ The Darkneſs and the Light, they are ‖ both but the very ſame. ‖

13 For my moſt hidden Reins thou haſt ‖ in thy poſſeſſion held; ‖ Thou in my Mothers Womb, as with ‖ a Tent haſt cover'd me. ‖

14 I'll praiſe thee for with wonders I ‖ have ſeparated been; ‖ Thy Works are wondrous, and my Soul ‖ knows this abundantly. ‖

15 My ſtrength was not hid from thee; when ‖ I was in ſecret made, ‖ in the Earth's loweſt parts I was ‖ moſt curiouſly wrought. ‖

16 Thy Eyes did ſee my unform'd maſs; ‖ and in thy Book were all ‖ writ down 5 the days when they were form'd ‖ and none of them were loſt.

17 And now, how valuable are ‖ thy Thot's to me, O God! Into how great a reck'ning are ‖ they to be multiply'd! ‖

18 If I ſhould go to number them ‖ more man the Sand they grow. ‖ When I awake out of my ſleep, ‖ then I am ſtill with thee. ‖

19 O God, Thou wilt moſt certainly ‖ deſtroy the wicked one; ‖ And now you that are bloody Men, ‖ Do you depart from me. ‖

20 Theſe are they who againſt thee ſpeak ‖ abominable ſtuff; ‖ They who are enemies to thee ‖ are ſuch as ſweat in vain. ‖

21 Do not I hate thoſe who do hate ‖ Thee, O ETERNAL God? ‖ Thoſe who do up againſt thee rife, ‖ be'nt I offended at? ‖

22 I hate them with perfection in ‖ my hatred unto them; ‖ They as my Adverſaties are ‖ ever eſteem'd with me. ‖

23 Make thou a thorough ſearch of me, ‖ O God, and know my heart; ‖ A thorough trial make of me, ‖ and know my very thot's. ‖

And ſee if I have any way ‖ that ſhould be mourned for; ‖ but lead me in the way that laſts ‖ to perpetuity. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXXXIX. PSALM.

THe Prophetic Spirit here teaches the Jewiſh Nation [Oh! would they learn!] how little able they are to hide themſelves from the Judgments of GOD; And now they are to acknowledge GOD as their Maker and their Saviour; and Pray to Him for the Deſtruction of Antichriſt and his Abettors.

9 'Tis aſtoniſhing to ſee what Paſſages there are in Plato. [De Leg. l. 10.] agreeable to theſe of the Pſalmiſt. O Chriſtian, the Light of Nature will teach thee ſuch things as theſe.

14 Galen's Book, De Uſu Partium, were a notable Commentary and Illuſtration on the Text now before us. And when he, who was a Pagan, cries out, Conſidera hic marabilem Creatoris Sapientiam, ſhall not we reflect, What Praiſes do I, that am a Chriſtian, one to the Glorious GOD, upon the view of every thing that belongs to me!

The Modern Improvements in Anatomy add infinitely to the Occaſions. •• ellini would begrutch his Time and Coſt and Pains, 〈◊〉 ſearching out the Aſtoniſhing Workmanſhip, in the ſeveral Parts of an Humane Body, if it were only to diſcover a Work of meer Chance, or of one who were not infinitely Wiſe and Good and Glorious. No, he does (as every juſt Contemplator muſt) find himſelf compelled into the Admiration of a Glorious GOD, and thrown into thoſe Tranſports and Raptures and Flames, which extort theſe Exclamations from him, Magnus Dominus! Magnus Fabricator Hominum Deus! Magnus atque admirabilis. Conditor rerum Deus, Quam magnus es! O Thou Maker of Man, How Great and Glorious are Thou!

16 Is not the Myſtical Body of our SAVIOUR principally intended? The Subſtance of the Church, whereof it was to be formed, was under the Eye of GOD, as propoſed in the Decree of Election; yet was, as ſuch Imperfect. It was not formed or ſhaped into the Members of the Myſtical Body; but they were all written in the Book of Life. And in, purſuance of the Purpoſe of GOD, there they are by the Holy Spirit, in the whole courſe, and continuance of Time, in their ſeveral Generations, faſhioned into the ſhape deſigned for them. Thus our Dr. Owen Gloſſeth it.

17 The Vulgar Latin, and the LXX read it, How Precious cre thy Friends to me! The Hebrew may indeed be very well tranſlated ſo. And the Tranſlation agrees very well, with what is juſt before ſaid, about the Members of our SAVIOUR, all which are the Friends of GOD. It ſuits alſo very well, with what follows about the Enemies of GOD; whom the Pſal •• ſt profeſſes an Hatred of.

22 A Perfect Hatred. What is that? Gregory M. in his Paſtoralis Cura, has a ſingular Gloſs upon it; It is to Love the Creature and Hate the Sinner: To Love what he is, and Hate what he does.Quod facti ſunt diligore, et quod Faciunt increpare. He adds an Obſervation, Propheta tantus boo velut in Hoſtiam Deo obtulit, quod contra ſe pro Domino Pravorum in micitias Excitavit.

24 Kimchi's Expoſition is very odd; That the Way Everlaſting is a Periphraſis of Death. [See 1 Kin. II. 1, and Joſh. XXIII. 14.] As if David had ſaid: Lord, If upon ſearch, thou findeſt, that I walk in any way of Wickedneſ, I may venture to ſay, Let me Dye; Lead me to the Grave. —I cannot recommend the Glois; yet was willing to mention it.

PSALM. CXL. To the Chief Muſician. A Pſalm of David.

1 REſcue me, OETERNAL God, ‖ from the malicious Man; ‖ preſerve me from the Man, who's us'd ‖ to do injurious things. ‖

2 They're thoſe who in their heart within ‖ contrive miſchievous things; ‖ they do together come for war ‖ all day * and everyday. ‖

3 They give an edge unto their Tongue; ‖ Tis as the Serpents is; ‖ the Poiſon of the Adder lies ‖ under their Lips conceal'd.‖ Selah. ‖

4 From the hands of the wicked one ‖ keep me, ETERNAL God; ‖ ſave me from the injurious man: ‖ they thought to trip me up ‖

5 The Proud ones have ſet ſecretly ‖ a Snare and Cords for me; ‖ they've ſpread 〈◊〉 Net by the way ſide; ‖ Gins they have ſet for me. ‖ Selah. ‖

6 I unto the ETERNAL God ‖ have ſaid, Thou art my God; ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God, The voice ‖ of my Petitions hear. ‖

7 ETERNAL God, the Lord, the Strength ‖ of my Salvation, Thou! ‖ Thou haſt in day of Battle giv'n ‖ a covering to my Head. ‖

8 Grant not, O Thou ETERNAL God, ‖ the wicked ones deſires; ‖ O let not his deſign obtain; ‖ they will exalt themſelves. ‖ Selah. ‖

9 As for the *Venomous Head of thoſe ‖ who compaſs me about, ‖ the miſchief of their own Lips, let ‖ it overwhelm themſelves. ‖

10 Let burning Coals upon him fall; ‖ let them be caſt into ‖ the Fire, into the deepeſt pits 〈◊〉 let them not riſe again. ‖

11 Let not an Evil ſpeaker be ‖ eſtabliſh'd in the Earth: ‖ let evil the injurious man ‖ to Precipices drive. ‖

12 I know that the ETERNAL God ‖ will judge the poor * and meek; ‖ on the behalf of needy Ones ‖ He'll Judgment execute. ‖

13 Surely the Righteous Ones will make ‖ Confeſſion to thy Name; ‖ and the upright before Thy Face‖ſhall have their Sitting down. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXL. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here prepares a Prayer for them that are ſuffering under Antichriſt.

Yea, it looks as if here were ſome Eye, to what the Ancient Propheeles have alſo ſpoken concerning the Deſtruction of Gog.

And indeed when theſe Two Enemies are gone, the Righteous will dwell with the greateſt Praiſes in the Preſence of God.

1 The M dr ſh Tiſlin has a ſtrange Paſſage here. The Malicious Man, and the Man bent on violent things, is the Fourth Beaſt in the Seventh of Daniel.

10 An Alluſion to the Fate of Sodom. Tis the Fate of Rome. Remember ſtill David was a Type of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Antichriſt with his adherents, the Ant type of David's Enemies. Read ſuch Pſalms as this, O Chriſtian, with a great Attention; and compare them with the Paſſages in the New Teſtament, which deſcribe Antichriſt unto us, and thou wilt ee, Wendrous Things in the Law.

13 Pebel a Charming H rmony, between the Exerciſes o Flety, and the Recompences of it. The Final and Endleſs and Compleat Bleſſedneſs of Upright Men, will be to, dwell in the Preſence of God. Even In that Preſence in which there is fulneſs of Joy; and ſo to be ſorever with the Lord. Now what an agreement is ther between the Uprightneſs and the Bleſſedneſs? Uprightneſs lies in this thing; To be always in the Preſen e of God; always to Act as in the Preſence of God; A Behaviour governed by a Senſe of being under the Eve of God. An Upright Man, Oh! how ſuitably is he Rewarded, when he is brought at length to dwell in the Preſence of God.

PSALM CXLI. A Pſalm Of David.

1 ETERNAL God, I cry to thee: ‖ O haſten Thou to me! ‖ when I do cry to thee, do thou ‖ give Ear unto my Voice. ‖

2 Let my Pray'r be directed ſtill ‖ as Incenſe in thy View; ‖ As the Meat-Off'ring of the Eve ‖ the lifting of my hands. ‖

3 O Thou ETERNAL God, Set Thou ‖ a Watch before my Mouth; ‖ at the gate of my Lips do Thou ‖ maintain a conſtant guard. ‖

4 O do not Thou incline my Heart ‖ unto an Evil thing; ‖ to practiſe wicked Works with Men ‖ that work Iniquity. ‖ And in their Delicacies let ‖ me not Communicate. ‖

5 (The Juſt ſhall kindly ſmite me, and ‖ ſhall give reproofs to me); ‖ But the rich Oil of ſuch an One ‖ ſhan't mollify my Head: ‖ For ſtill my Prayer it is againſt ‖ the Wicked th •• gs they do. ‖

6 By the ſides of the Rock it was ‖ their Judges were let down; ‖ they then did hearken to my words, ‖ for they were pleaſant ones. ‖

7 As when one plougheth up the Earth ‖ and it aſunder tears; ‖ our hones are ſcattered ſo about ‖ at the Mouth of the Grave. ‖

8 But, O ETERNAL God, the Lord, ‖ My Eyes are unto thee; ‖ on thee I my reliance place; ‖ O do not ſtrip my Soul. ‖

9 Keep me from the Hands of the ſnare ‖ which they have laid for me; ‖ and from th' intangling gins of thoſe ‖ that work iniquity. ‖

10 O let the wicked fall into ‖ the Nets they've ſpread themſelves: ‖ I will keep cloſe with thee and mine ‖ until that I eſcape. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLI. PSALM.

A Frayer provided by the Prophetic Spirit, for the People of God, ſcattered by the Power of Antichriſt.

2 Munſter obſerves, David was now an Exile, and could not attend the Daily Sacrifions.

5 Far from Excluding the more obvious and common Senſe of the Words, and from neglecting to learn the Duty of a Reproved Chriſtian in them, I would ask, Whether we may not have a CHRIST, in a Tranſcondent Senſe here Offering Himſelf, as well as in many other Paſſages of the Sacred Oracles, which we do not at the firſt view, ſee Teſtifying of Him? Does not our SAVIOUR here deſire, That His Interceſſion may come in the Room of Incenſe, and Mincha under the Law? Don't we ſee Him here ſtanding as a Surety for Sinners, with theſe Conceſſions. Let the Righteous GOD ſmite me with an Hammer, in His Nailing me to the Croſs: It will be a Mercy to His choſen, for whom, I am now to be Smitten. Let Him reprove me, ſtill I have the Oil of the Head upon me; I am the Meſſiah, His Anointed, His Chriſt and His Prieſt. Whatever is now done to me, it ſhall not break my Head; It was the Ancient Promiſe, That not my Head, but the Serpents only, ſhoul be broken. And nothing ſhall hinder my Interceſſion from its being ſtill continued. — After that, Their Judges ſhall be overthrown by an Hand of Stone, (as the Syriac renders it). The Monarchia, o the World ſhall be broken in Preces by a Ston cut out which is not in Hands. And this Diſpenſation ſhall be attended with, yea, effected by, my Words being made ſweet unto them.

To return unto the Type. The Rich Oil of ſuch an One ſha'nt mollifie my Head, may be, q. d. I'll never viſit him. In a Viſit this was the uſual Complement. So, what we read, of the Juſt ſhall kindly ſmite me, is but a Rapturous Parentheſis. A Modern Traveller, who has preſented us with an Ingenious Callection of Orientaliſins, for the Illuſtration of the Sacred Scriptures, has beſpoke a Reception for this Illuſtration.

6 We have a Key to this Paſſage, in 1. Sam. XXIV. 2. When the Judges of Iſrael, (Saul and his Officers,) were let down (to purſue and ſurpriſe David) by the Sides of the Rock (the Rocks of th Wild-Goats leading into the Cave;) Then they heard the Words of David's Apology for himſelf, which were ſo pleaſing to Saul, that he went home, and gave over diſturbing of David any more. Dr. Roberts gives us this Illuſtration in his Key of the Bible.

7 Robuſti Davidis erant a Davide diſperſi. This is Aben-Fzra's Gloſs.

Dr. Patrick's Paraphraſe is this, They ſtill perſecute me, and the ſmall Body of Men that follow me; whom they have reduced unto ſuch Extremities, that like the Earth, when it is ploughed up, we break in Pieces and are ready to diſperſe, and flee for our Lives, with little hope of Safety.

10 q. d. I'll keep with my Friends, not ſcatter and wander from them. The Safety and Wiſdom of good Men, lies much in their keeping Together; not going funder.

PSALM CXLII. Maſchil; Of David. A Prayer when he was in the Cava.

1 WIth my Voice I did make a Cry ‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ with my voice to th' ETERNAL God ‖ I made my humble Pray'r. ‖

2 Before His Face I poured out ‖ what I had thought upon; ‖ Before His Face I uttered what ‖ was troubleſome to me. ‖

3 Within me when my Spiritfaild, ‖ then Thou didſt know my Path; ‖ In the way where I ſhould have walk'd ‖ they laid a Snare for me. ‖

4 Look on the Right hand, and behold; ‖ there's none does know me there; ‖ Refuge does periſh from me, and ‖ there's none to ſeek my Soul. ‖

5 O Thou ETERNAL God, To Thee ‖ I made my cry, I ſaid, ‖ Thou art my Hope, my Portion in ‖ the Land of Living Ones. ‖

6 Attend unto my cry, becauſe ‖ I am brought very low; ‖ Save me from my purſuers, for ‖ they are more ſtrong than I. ‖

7 From out of Priſon bring my Soul; ‖ That I may praiſe thy Name; ‖ the juſt ſhall be a Crown to me, ‖ when thou rewardeſt me. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXI II. PSALM.

A Prayer made ready for the Captives under the Tyranny of Antichriſt.

7 Remember, O Chriſtian, thou art here concerned with the Meſſiah. Now, Aben-Ezra renders this Paſſage thus; Juſti coronabunt ſeſe mecum. q. d. They ſhall Glory in me, as having a Crown of Glory on their Head. Thus the Spaniſh Tranſlation; Commigo ſe toronoran los Juſtos.

PSALM. CXLIII. A Pſalm Of David.

1 ETERNAL God, hear Thou my Prayer, ‖ hearken to my Requeſts: ‖ Anſwer me in Thy faithfulneſs, ‖ and in thy righteouſneſs. ‖

2 And with thy Servant, O do not ‖ thou into Judgment come; ‖ For in thy ſight no man alive ‖ ſhall juſtify himſelf. ‖

3 For th' En'my has purſu'd my Soul; ‖ my Life ſtruck to the ground; ‖ made me in darkneſs dwell as thoſe ‖ that have been dead an Age. ‖

4 My ſpirit therefore is in me ‖ faint * and quite overwhelm'd; ‖ My Hearts within the midſt of me ‖ frighted * and deſolate. ‖

5 I do remember Ancient Days; ‖ I meditate upon ‖ all of thy Works; I think upon ‖ the Work thy Hands have wrought. ‖

6 I unto thee with Anxious Prayers ‖ extend theſe Hands of mine; ‖ my Soul is as a thirſty Land ‖ ſtill thirſting after thee. ‖ Selah. ‖

7 Hear me with ſpeed, ETERNAL God; ‖ My Spirit fails; Thy Face ‖ hide not from me, leſt I be like ‖ them who deſcend the Pit. ‖

8 O that thy mercy Thou wouldſt make ‖ me in the Morning hear; ‖ Becauſe that I do ever place ‖ my Confidence on thee. ‖ Cauſe me to underſtand the way ‖ wherein I ought to walk; ‖ Becauſe that I with Pray'r and Hope ‖ lift up my Soul to Thee. ‖

9 O Thou ETERNAL God, Do Thou ‖ grant me Deliverance, ‖ from them that are my Enemies: ‖ I hide my ſelf with Thee. ‖

10 O teach me for to do thy Will, ‖ Becauſe Thou art my God; ‖ let thy good Spirit lead me to ‖ a Land of Rectitude. ‖

11 For thy Names ſake, ETERNAL God, ‖ Thou wilt enliven me; ‖ Thou for thy righteouſneſs my Soul ‖ wilt out of trouble bring. ‖

12 And Thou wilt in thy mercy ſlay ‖ my Enemies; and all ‖ the Troublers of my Soul deſtroy; ‖ for I thy Servant am. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLIII. PSALM.

THE Prophetic Spirit here makes a Prayer for the Church, and for the Jewiſh Nation, lying in the State of Death, which is now deſcribed in the Prophecies of Ezekiel; and particularly Prays for the Out pouring of the Spirit, in ſuch Gifts as are to be expected at the Second Coming of the Meſſiah.

But, O Chriſtian, Think on thy Dying and Riſen SAVIOUR ‖

10 Dr. Patrick finds the Pſalmiſt longing to get into an honeſt Country. But, O Chriſtian, Tis an Heavenly World that is the true Land of Rectitude.

PSALM CXLIV. Of David.

1 BLeſſed be the ETERNAL God; ‖ He is a Rock for me; ‖ He doth inſtruct my hands for War, ‖ my fingers for a Fight. ‖

2 He is my Mercy, and my Tower, ‖ my Refuge ſet on high; ‖ and He it is who doth beſtow ‖ deliverances on me. ‖ He is my Shield, and upon Him ‖ I do repoſe my truſt; ‖ 'Tis He who to ſubjection brings ‖ my People under me. ‖

3 ETERNAL God, Oh! What is Man ‖ that Thou take cogniſance ‖ of him? The Son of Man, that Thou ‖ eſteem him any thing? ‖

4 Man is no other than a piece ‖ of flying vanity; ‖ his days are like a ſhadow which ‖ does quickly paſs away. ‖

5 ETERNAL God, O bow thou down ‖ Thy Heavens and deſcend; ‖ The Mountains touch with Thunderbolts, ‖ and they ſhall yield a ſmoke. ‖

6 The Lightning do thou lighten forth; ‖ and do thou ſcatter them; ‖ Thy Arrows, O do thou ſhoot forth, ‖ and do thou run them down. ‖

7 O from on high ſend out thy hands; ‖ ſave me, and reſcue me ‖ from mighty waters; from the hand ‖ of a baſe ſtrangers brood. ‖

8 The mouth of theſe does uſe to ſpeak ‖ nothing but falſity; ‖ and their right hand a right hand is ‖ in which is found a lie. ‖

9 O God, I'll Sing thee a New-Song ‖ upon a Pſaltery; ‖ upon a Ten-ſtring'd inſtrument ‖ I'll ſing a Verſe to thee. ‖

10 He 'tis who on advanced Kings ‖ Salvation does beſtow; ‖ He ſaves His Servant David from ‖ the moſt deſtructive Sword. ‖

11 Save me, and rid me from the hand ‖ of the baſe ſtrangers brood; ‖ whoſe mouth ſpeaks falſe, and their right-hand's ‖ the right-hand of a lie. ‖

12 Let ſo our Sons be like to Plants ‖ well •• med in their Youth; ‖ Our Daughters like to corner Stores ‖ poliſh'd in Temple-form. ‖

13 Our Garners full, affording ſtore ‖ of e'ry ſort of food; ‖ Our Flocks yield thouſands; Myriads ſo ‖ increaſing in our ſtreets. ‖

14 Our Beeves both fat * and ſtrong, to work; ‖ ſafe * when they are with Young; ‖ 〈◊〉 breaking in, nor going out; ‖ nor clamour in the ſtreets. ‖

15 Happy thoſe People are eſteem'd ‖ who are in ſuch a caſe; ‖ Happy the People are, whoſe God ‖ is the ETERNAL One. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLIV. PSALM.

THe Jewiſh Rabbi's, particularly Saadias and Kimchi, own the Pſalm to relate unto the Meſſiah. The Temporal Proſperity here arrives after the Deſtruction brought on the nemies of the Jewiſh Nation.

1 Tho' I do with Hilary, diſlike the LXX foiſting that Clauſe, A Pſalm against Goli •• , into the Title of the Pſalm. 〈◊〉 ſuſpect, the Pſalmiſt now on the Throne, may have ſome Remembrances of, and References to, his old Victory over Goliah; in this Verſe particularly. Arnobius thinks, here is an Alluſion to Moſes lifting up his Hands for the Conqueſt of A •• lok; and adds, Docuit manus noſtras, in pralio, non Armis ſed p ecibus pugnaturas. The holy Martyr Barlam, thruſting his hands into the burning Flames, Sang this Verſe of the Pſalm.

4 That ever ſuch things as are here celebrated; ſhould be done for a, Man who is no other than a piece of flying vanity?

5 The proudeſt Oppreſſors will vaniſh away like Smoke, when GOD appears to reſcue His People.

9 Arnobius will tell you, A New Song, is, A New Life; And Kings are Victoros Vitiorum.

11 A Right Hand of a Lye, Take R. Obadiah Gaons Gloſs upon it; Scribere falſa. It writes falſehoods.

What is it they ſpeak? Some take it, for the Opinion, That Happineſs lies in Temporal Bleſſings here. Corrected at laſt ſo, Happy that People whoſe God is the Lord. An Happineſs not enjoyed until the Reſurrection-World.

12 Kimchi obſerves, That the Method and Order of the Bleſſings here, is taken from, Deut. XXVIII. 4.

14 Dr. Patrick's Paraphraſe, is not all that I have to juſtify my Tranſlation.

PSALM CXLV. Davids Praiſe.

1 O Thou that art my God, the King, ‖ I'll thee extol [and ſet] on high; ‖ and I will ſpeak well of thy Name ‖ to [endleſs] Ages ſtill to come. ‖

2 All day, * and ev'ry day, I will ‖ keep [ever] ſpeaking well of thee; ‖ And I will celebrate thy Name ‖ to [endleſs] Ages ſtill to come. ‖

3 Moſt Great is the ETERNAL God; ‖ and greatly to be prais'd [is He.] ‖ And of His Greatneſs there cannot ‖ be [ever] any Searching out. ‖

4 One Generation ſhall relate ‖ thy Works unto the next [that comes:] and the moſt powerful things thou doſt, ‖ they ſhall declare [them all] abroad. ‖

5 The Beauty, Oh! The Glory of ‖ His [more than] Royal Majeſty; ‖ and the moſt wondrous things thou doſt; ‖ of theſe [it is] I will diſcourſe. ‖

6 The Might of thy tremendous Acts, ‖ others ſhall [alſo] ſpeak about; ‖ and of thy Greatneſs I my ſelf ‖ will declarations make [with them.]

7 The mem'ry of the Greatneſs of ‖ thy Goodneſs [amply] they'l pour out; ‖ and of thy Right'ouſneſs they ſhall ‖ ſing with a [loud and] mighty noiſe. ‖

8 Gracious is the ETERNAL God, ‖ and He's [truly] compaſſionate; ‖ to anger He is very flow; ‖ but in His mercy [wondrous] great. ‖

9 Even to all th' ETERNAL God ‖ is ever [Oh! how] ſweetly good; ‖ yea, and His tender mercies are ‖ towards all [the Works] that He has wrought. ‖

10 All thy Works, O ETERNAL God, ‖ ſhall [ever] celebrate thy Praiſe; ‖ and all that are thy gracious ones, ‖ they [ever] ſhall ſpeak well of thee. ‖

11 The Glory of thy Kingdom is ‖ what they ſhall ſpeak [ſo much] about; ‖ and thyn illuſtrious pow'r is what ‖ they ſhall make [ſo much] mention of. ‖

12 For to make known His mighty Acts ‖ [this way] unto the Sons of Men; ‖ and the moſt ſplendid Glory of ‖ the Kingdom which He [juſtly] claims. ‖

13 Thy Kingdom is a Kingdom which ‖ & [unknown] Ages doth extend; ‖ and thy Dominion does anto ‖ all [future] Generations laſt. ‖

14 Th' ETERNAL God does all ſuſtain ‖ when [He ſees] they are falling down; ‖ and all of His He raiſes up ‖ when [He ſees] they are bowed down. ‖

15 The eyes of all do wait on thee ‖ with [Hope and] Expectation ſtill; ‖ and thou in the due ſeaſon doſt ‖ give them their [wanted] ſuſtenance. ‖

16 Thou open'ſt* and thou doſt extend ‖ thy [kind and] all-relieving Hand, ‖ and thou doſt ſatisfy the wiſh ‖ [fully] of ev'ry living thing. ‖

17 Righteous is the ETERNAL God ‖ [even] in all the ways He takes; ‖ and He is alſo merciful in all the Works He [ever] does. ‖

18 Th' ETERNAL God is near unto ‖ all [of thoſe] who do call on Him; ‖ near unto all who call on Him ‖ with truth* and [with due] conſtancy. ‖

19 He'l the deſire fulfil of them ‖ that have the [Godly] fear of Him; ‖ He'l alſo hearken to their cry, ‖ and He'l [ſave and] deliver them. ‖

20 In ſafety the ETERNAL God ‖ keeps all that have His Love [in them:] ‖ But all them that are impious ones ‖ He'll utterly deſtroy [forever.]

21 My mouth ſhall utter forth the Praiſe ‖ of [him who's] the ETERNAL God; ‖ and all fleſh bleſs His Holy Name ‖ ever [let it] and evermore. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLV. PSALM.

THe Pſalm was always eſteem'd ſo excellent that the Title of the whole Book of Pſalms was taken from it. It is wholly ſpent in Praiſing of GOD, with ſuch admirable Devotion, that (as has been by Schindler long ſince obſerved) the Ancient Hebrews did uſe to ſay, He could not fail to be a Child of the World to come, who would recite this Pſalm Three times every Day. And, as Dr. Patrick obſerves, This might be the Reaſon, why it was compoſed Alphabetically; even that ſo every Body might the more eaſily learn and remember ſo uſeful a Pſalm.

Dr. Allix will have it, An Hymn of the Synagogue, Reſtored unto the Favour of GOD. The Deſtruction of the Wicked, and the Converſion of the Nations, under the Glorious Reign of the Meſſiah, is here particularly celebrated.

13 How did the Letter Nun come to be loſt at this Verſe of the Acroſtic? If it were loſt when the Pſalm came to the Hands of the Collector of this Book, he would not ſupply it with one of his own. The Modern Greek, (I ſay Modern, for the Ancient and Theodotion and Aquila have it not;) and ſo the Arabic and Syriac, and vulgar Latin ſupply it ſo, — The Lord is Faithful in all His Words, and Holy in all His Works. But this differs little from the Seventeenth Verſe. And why might not the Pſalmiſt be carried, [as in the XXV. Pſalm,] thro' the ſtrength of the Inſpiration upon him, out of the method he at firſt propoſed? Or, O Maſorites, Do you give us a reaſon for this Omiſſion.

16 The Affectionate Gloſs of Old Chriſtianity was; Quanda aperuiſti manus tuas in Cruce. On the Croſs!

PSALM CXLVI.

1 LEt HALLELUJAH now be Sung.And now, O thou my Soul, ‖ Do thou awake and utter Praiſe ‖ to the ETERNAL God. ‖

2 I in my life,* and while I live, ‖ will Praiſe th' ETERNAL God; ‖ while I have any being I ‖ will ſing unto my God. ‖

3 Place not your confidence in Men ‖ of Princely pow'r and grace; ‖ Nor in an eminent Son of Man ‖ who can't a Saviour be. ‖

4 His ſpirit* with his breath goes forth; ‖ He to his Earth returns; ‖ and in that very day his Thot's ‖ all come unto an end. ‖

5 O happy Man that has the God ‖ of Jacob for his help; ‖ whoſe hope is in th' ETERNAL God ‖ become a God to him. ‖

6 'Tis He who made the Heav'ns and Earth, ‖ the Sea, and all in them; ‖ 'Tis He who doth maintain the Truth ‖ to petpetuity. ‖

7 He Judges for oppreſſed ones; ‖ He gives the hungry food. ‖ 'Tis the ETERNAL God who ſets ‖ the bound at liberty. ‖

8 Th' ETERNAL God opens the blind; ‖ th' ETERNAL God doth raiſe ‖ the bowed down; th' ETERNAL God ‖ doth love the right'ous ones. ‖

9 Th' ETERNAL God doth Strangers keep, ‖ He gives ſupport unto ‖ Orphan and Widow: and ſubverts ‖ the way of wicked Men. ‖

10 Forever ſhall JEHOVAH reign; ‖ thy God, O Zion, He ‖ ſhall reign to Generations all. ‖ Sing Hallelujah now.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLVI. PSALM.

HAve we not here an Hymn of the Reſtored Jewiſh Nation, under the Reign of the Meſſiah?

3 The Perſian Emperours, put a ſtop unto the Building of the Temple; To prevent a diſtruſt of God on this difficult occaſion, One of thoſe Two Prophets Haggai or Zechariah, might compoſe the Pſalm that is now before us; exhorting them notwithſtanding the ill proſpect of their Affairs, to put their Truſt in GOD. Well; Cambyſes dies; and then in ſpite of all oppoſers, the City, Temple, and Worſhip of God, were gloriouſly carried on.

4 Gods on Earth, and vet but Gods of Earth. 'Tis not ſaid, They return to their Cities, to their Caſtles, to their Kingdoms; Theſe now become anothers; But their Earth. A Little Earth is now all they have. It may be the Earth is all they ſet their hearts upon.

8 Above a Thouſand Years after, theſe Works were notably exemplified; And on Sabbaths too; A Myſtery pointing at the Kingdom of our SAVIOUR, in the Sabbath of the World, foretold at the cloſe of the Pſalm. There were Seven Sabbaths which our Lord ſignaliz'd, in the Time of His Miniſtry with working Miracles thereupon. The Fifth of them was, when He raiſed up one that had been bowed down. [Luk. XIII.] The Sixth of them was, when He opened the Eyes of one that had been born Blind [Joh. IX.] Grotius truly oblerves, Mire haec congruunt in Chriſti Tempora. But, O Chriſtian, there is more to come. On that, He ſets the Bound at Liberty, the Midraſh Tillin has that wonderful Gloſs; In the future Age, God permits the uſe of all ſorts of Foods. Yea, He releaſes thoſe that are Bound in Death and the Grave. O Jews, Conſider of it.

PSALM CXLVII.

1 SIng HALLELUJAH. For 'tis good ‖ to Sing unto our God; ‖ Becauſe it is a pleaſant thing: ‖ Praiſe is a comely thing. ‖

2 'Tis the ETERNAL God who does ‖ build both Jeruſalems; ‖ and the Out-caſts of Iſrael He ‖ will ſurely gather in. ‖

3 He heals the broken-hearted ones; ‖ and He binds up their wounds. ‖

4 He tells the number of the Stars; ‖ He calls them all by name. ‖

5 Great is the Lord on whom we lean; ‖ and very much His power; ‖ There is no number of the things ‖ His wiſdom knows and does. ‖

6 Th' ETERNAL God, He raiſes up ‖ the meek-afflicted ones; ‖ He bringeth down the wicked ones ‖ unto the very duſt. ‖

7 Anſwers to the ETERNAL God ‖ with a Confeſſion give; ‖ Sing with a Verſe unto our God ‖ upon the Ten-ſtring'd Harp. ‖

8 With Clouds the Heavens He does cloath; ‖ Rain for the Earth prepares; ‖ He makes the lofty Mountains to ‖ produce the tender herb. ‖

9 He doth beſtow upon the Beaſt ‖ for each their proper food: ‖ Upon the Ravens Young Ones, when ‖ they makes their piteous cry. ‖

10 In the ſtrength of the Horſe he doth ‖ not any pleaſure take; ‖ nor is He pleaſed in the Legs ‖ of Man; He needs them not.

11 Th' ETERNAL God takes pleaſure in ‖ ſuch as maintain His fear: ‖ in them who on His mercy do ‖ maintain a lively hope. ‖

12 O both Jeruſalems, Do ye ‖ Praiſe the ETERNAL God; ‖ O Zion, Do thou offer up ‖ thy Praiſes to thy God. ‖

13 Becauſe He giveth ſtrength unto ‖ the bars that keep thy gates; ‖ on thy Sons in the midſt of thee ‖ His bleſſing He beſtows. ‖

14 He makes thy borders to enjoy ‖ peace and proſperity; ‖ richly He doth ſupply thee with ‖ the fineſt of the wheat. ‖

15 He to the Earth ſends His command; ‖ His Word does ſwiftly run. ‖

16 The Snow He gives like wool; the Froſt ‖ He does like aſhes caſt. ‖

17 The Ice* and Hail like morſels, He‖throws down to nouriſh it;‖Before the Face of His ſharp Cold, ‖ who is there that can ſtand?‖

18 He does again ſend forth His Word, ‖ and ſo He melteth them; ‖ His Spirit He doth make to blow, ‖ whereon the Waters flow. ‖

19 He of His Words to Jacob doth‖ a revelation make: ‖ His Statutes and His Judgments He ‖ reveals to Iſrael. ‖

20 In ſuch a manner He hath not ‖ with any Nation dealt; ‖ For they right things dont underſtand. ‖ Sing HALLELUJAH now.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLVII. PSALM.

JEruſalem is here ſuppoſed as re-eſtabliſhed, and the Marks of the Divine Preſence and Bleſting in the midſt of it, fixed; and the Jewiſh Nation gathered. It is an Hymn of Thanksgiving for this Revolution. The Condition of the Chriſtians turned Heathens at this time, under the Wrath of the Meſſiah, is bewailed.

4 Kimchi ſays, The Stars are the Juſt mentioned, Dan. XII. 3. who ſhall be then employed in Turning many to Righteouſneſs. Arnobius has a Gloſs a little akin to it. Numerare Multitudinem ſtellarum eum credamus, in Sanctis. Dr. Patrick's Paraphraſe is; Whom He knows how to gather out of all their Diſperſions, and to find every one of them, wherever they are, tho' as numerous as the Stars of Heaven. [Gen. XV. 5.] which He as diſtinctly and exactly underſtands (how confuſed ſoever they ſeem to us to be ſcattered in the Sky,) as we do thoſe things which we call by their proper Names. Munſtors Gloſs is the ſame, Eadem facilitate qua ſtellas in Caelo diſperſas m merat.

8 The Clouds and Rains are mentioned becauſe of the Plenty now granted hem. [Hag. II. 19.]

10 Dr. Patrick's Paraphraſe is; Let us not be afraid, tho' we are of little Force, [Neh. IV. 3, 4. VII. 4.] and have no Armies of Horſe and Foot to defend us. For the Lord who Fights for us [Nab. IV. 0.] hath no need of theſe; and will not take part with our Enemies, becauſe they are Superiour to us, in the ſtrength of their Horſes, and the nimbleneſs of their Soldicrs.

12 The Reduplication of the invitation to the Praiſes of God, is not without a Myſtery, and a Prophecy for Two Returns from Captivity. Moreover that Name, Thy GOD, more peculiarly carries the Meſſiah, in the Signification of it. It is in Him, that God becomes OUR GOD. In the Second Return, the Meſſiah will be more eminently acknowledged and glorified.

15 The Intention of introducing the Circumſtances of the Winter here, is well touched in the Patrician Paraphraſe. GOD ſhews us, by the Fruitful Seaſons He ſends, after all things ſeem to be kill'd by the hard Winter, that He doth not intend by our Affliction to deſtroy us; and that He can eaſily bring all our Brethren hither, who remain ſ ill in Captivity. For when He would have any Alter tion made in the Earth, it is done as ſpeedily as we can ſpeak.

16 Our Husbandmen burn heaps of Rubbiſh on their New-ploug'd Ground. Probably the Iſraelitiſh Husbandmen did ſo too. They ſcattered Aſhes on their Fields; or perhaps caſt Aſhes on their Dunghills, where being diluted by the Rains, the Salt very deeply impregnared them, and the diffuſion of ſuch a Salt was a notable way to produce a Fruitful Soyl. Virgil ſpeaks divers times of this Practice in his Georgicks.

The Greeks of Old called Snow, by the term of Wet-Wooll. The Latin, Floccus, is both a Lock of Wool, and a Flake of Snow. There is a Saline Spirit in this Woollen Mantle; and it has a Fructifying Vertue. A Winter of ſeaſonable Snows, is uſually followed with a Fruitful Summer. Floods of Snow-Water enrich the Earth exceedingly.

19 The Word of God, gives us, yet more full Inſtructions, than what we have in the Meteors of the Winter, to depend upon GOD.

PSALM CXLVIII.

1 LEt HALLELUJAH now be Sung!‖ Now from the Heav'ns above ‖ Praiſe the ETERNAL God; praiſe Him ‖ in the high places there. ‖

2 All you His Angels, O Praiſe Him; ‖ Praiſe Him, O all His Hoſts. ‖

3 Praiſe ye Him, O thou Sun, and Moon; ‖ Praiſe Him all Stars of light. ‖

4 Praiſe Him, ye that the Heavens are ‖ of Heavens, Seats of Bliſs: ‖ and Praiſe Him, you the Waters which ‖ above the Heavens are. ‖

5 Let them give Praiſes to the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ For He gave His Commandement, ‖ and they created are. ‖

6 He alſo hath eſtabliſh'd them ‖ forever, Evermore; ‖ He hath made a Decree, and it ‖ ſhall never be tranſgreſs'd. ‖

7 Now from the Earth below, give Praiſe‖ to the ETERNAL God; ‖ Do it, ye Dragons* and ye Whales, ‖ and do it all ye Deeps. ‖

8 Do it both O thou Fire and Hail; ‖ O Snow and Vapour too; ‖ Do it O thou Tempeſtuous Wind, ‖ which does ſulfil His Word. ‖

9 Do it, O you High Mountains, and ‖ all of you leſſer Hills; ‖ Do it, O you Fruit-bearing Trees, ‖ and all you Cedars join.

10 Do it, O all you Animals, ‖ and all you Cattle kind; ‖ Do it, O ev'ry creeping Thing, ‖ and ev'ry flying Fowl. ‖

11 Do it, O all Kings of the Earth, ‖ and all ye People too; ‖ Do it, O Princes, and all you ‖ the Judges of the Earth. ‖

12 Do it, O you that Young Men are, ‖yea, and Young Women too; ‖ Do it, O you that Old Men are, ‖ with Babes in Infancy. ‖

13 Let theſe with Praiſes due to Him ‖ ſo celebrate the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL; for His Name ‖ alone is Excellent. His Glory is above the Earth, ‖ yea, and above the Heav'ns. ‖

14 And He, of His own People doth ‖ exalt the Horn on high; ‖ the Praiſes of His gracious ones, ‖ the Sons of Iſrael; ‖ a People that are near to Him. ‖ Sing HALLELUJAH now.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLVIII. PSALM.

THe People of the Meſſiah are here ſuppoſed, to be gathered unto Him, and all Creatures are exhorted now to praiſe Him.

12 Kimchi ſaies, Old Men are joined with Children in the Invitations to Praiſe the Iord; becauſe the Old Men are to teach the Children who know not how to do it of themſelves. Yea, Old Men often ſancy to have Children under their tuition; perhaps moſt of them Grand Children. Young Men and Young Women are added in the Verſe. Thus the Thre Ages are called upon. The Apoſtle John, may allude hereto, when he ſales. I write unto you, Fathers, Young Men. and Children. And when the Seryants of God be an their Speeches, Men, Brethren, and Fathers'; By Brethren, with a humble Figure they may mean Children.

PSALM CXLIX.

1 SIng HALLEUJAH. A New Song ‖ Sing to th' ETERNAL God; ‖ His Praiſe is in the Church of thoſe ‖ that are His gracious Ones. ‖

2 In Him who is his maker now ‖ let Iſrael rejoice; ‖ Them that are Sons of Zion let ‖ be joyful in their King. ‖

3 With a Tripudiating Joy ‖ O let them Praiſe His Name; ‖ let them ſing Praiſes unto Him ‖ with Timbrel and with Harp. ‖

4 For the ETERNAL God doth in ‖ His People take Delight; ‖ He'll beautify the low * and meek ‖ with His Salvation ſtill. ‖

5 In Glory let the Gracious Ones ‖ * moſt gloriouſly rejoyce; ‖ on their Beds, where they reſt or feaſt, ‖ O let them ſing aloud. ‖

6 High Praiſes of the mighty God ‖ let warble thro' their Throat; ‖ and in their hand let there be held ‖ a double-Edged Sword. ‖

7 Due Vengeance for to Execute ‖ upon the Nations ſo. ‖

8 To bind their Kings in Chains, and their ‖ Nobles in Iron Bonds. ‖

9 Upon them for to Execute ‖ the Judgment written down. ‖ This honour all His gracious Ones ‖ enjoy. Praiſe ye the Lord. ‖

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CXLIX. PSALM.

THe Pſaim is fitted unto the Time, when the Meſſiah reigns over the reſtored Jewiſh Nation; and and their Joy on the Occaſion mentioned it the XXXVIII of Ezekiel, and the XIV of Zechariah.

3 Tripudiating Joy. Or, the Dance. They Praiſe the Lord in the Dance, who uſe much Activity, in the Praiſing of God; They who are ever in Motions which have a Tendency to utter or produce the Praiſes of God; They who alſo aſſociate with others in Vigorous Eſſays to do thoſe things wherein God may be glorified. Behold the Dance of the Evangelical Diſpenſation. The Choreutic Agitations of the Body, are too mean things to be chiefly intended here.

4 When God ſhall beſtow Salvation on His People, He will alſo beautify them. How? Sanctify them. The Beauties of Holineſs will be ſeen upon them.

Think on this, O Pretenders to a Juſtified State, and behold all Antinomian Preſumptions fulminated. But one Singular Beauty on the ſaved People of God, and indeed one that prepares them for Salvation, is Meekneſs and Patience. Proſecute this with a Thouſand Holy Meditations.

6 It hath been the Cuſtom of all Nations, to prepare and excite themſelves for a Fight, by ſome Inſtrumen of Muſick. Clemens of Alexandria enumerates the Variety. But it was proper unto the Iſraelites, to go forth againſt their Enemies, with Pſalms of Praiſe to the God, who had given great Victories unto their Anceſtors.

8 An Alluſion to Judges 1.7. The State of things in the Days of the New Jeruſalem is referr'd to. Now, turn to Iſaiah. LX. 11, 12. and you have a Key to this Paſſage. Yea, in the Preſent time, the People of God, by their Prayers, obtain the Reſtraints of His Providence, to be laid upon ſuch Perſons, a are here ſpoken of.

9 The Judgment written of. ee Deut. VII. 20. and XXXII. 41, 42, 43.

PSALM. C L.

1 PRaiſe ye the Lord. In's holineſs ‖ Praiſe ye the mighty God; ‖ Praiſe ye Him in the Firmament ‖ where His ſtrong Pow'r is ſeen. ‖

2 O Praiſe Him for the mighty things ‖ which have been done by Him; ‖ Praiſe Him; as there are many things ‖ wherein His greatneſs ſhines.

3 Praiſe Him with ſound of Trumpet; with ‖ Pſaltry and Harp Him praiſe. ‖

4 Praiſe Him with Timbrel and with a ‖ tripudiating Pipe. ‖ Praiſe Him with ſtringed Inſtruments ‖ and with the Organ too. ‖

5 Praiſe Him upon the Cymbals which ‖ are very audible, ‖ Praiſe Him on Cymbals heard on high ‖ * as for a Jubilee. ‖

6 Praiſe JAH, O every thing that breaths. ‖ Sing HALLELUJAH now.

ILLUSTRATIONS on the CL. PSALM.

THe Pſalm relates to the Reign of the Meſſiah, when every thing that hath Breath will Praiſe the Lord. Maimonides gives us a Jewiſh Tradition, That when the People brought up their Firſt Fruits, to preſent them unto the Lord, according to the XXVI. of Deuteronomy, as ſoon as they came to the Mountain of the Temple, every one took his Basker into his hand, and Sang this whole Pſalm; till they came to the Courts of the Houſe of the Lord: And then the Levites met them, Singing, the XXX Pſalm.

1 Of Old they read it, Laudate Deum in Sanctis ejus. And their Gloſe was; 'Tis done, Quando corum imitamur Exempla, ſequimur Monit , Regulam obtine us. Aben-Ezra obſerves, we have no way left now, to know, what theſe Muſicial Inſtruments were; There being many found in the Country of the Iſhmaelites, (or Mahometans) which are not among the Men of Edom, (or Chriſtians.)

It may not be amiſs here to mention, what Monſieur Jurieu has obſerved.

There are Three Sorts of Inſtruments frequently mentioned in the Pſalms; The Cymbals, the Pſalierys, and the Harps.

The Cymbals were large and broad pieces of Braſs bent, and giving a ſtrong ſound; which were beaten very near in ſuch a manner, as we now beat our Drums; and are known by the Name of Tymbals in our Days. Our Apoſtle Paul in a famous Text alludes unto them.

The Pſalterys were Violins, on which they play'd. with a Bow, Ten Strings belong'd unto it; and the ſeveral Notes were managed with the Bow and the touch, as tis done on the Violins in our days.

The Harps, had Twelve Notes, and every Note had its own String, which was managed with the Fingers, and could not be altered by the different way of touching.

The Levites were the only Perſons that were to play on theſe Inſtruments. Indeed we read of David, and all the Houſe of Iſrael, playing on Inſtruments, at the Tranſportation of the Ark. But Monſieur Jurieu thinks, this might be one of the Irregularities which occaſioned the Death Unzah. At leaſt it may be ſuppoſed, that this was not allowed of, Except in the Countrey and in private Houſes. But in the Temple, no body durſt play on Inſtruments, unleſs he were a Levite, or the Son of a Levite. We ſay, the Son of a Levite, becauſe the Rabbi's tell us, that ſuch of the Levites as were Singers, did uſe to bring their Sons along with them, into the Court of the Prieſt, tho they were not come to their Full Age required unto the performance of any Service there on their own bohalf. There is another Tradition of the Rabbi's, That is was allowable to make choice of Singers from among the People of Iſrael, provided they were by Marriage near akin to the Sacerdotal Race.

But, O Sincere Chriſtians, Lifted up to Heaven! You all are Prieſts of God: And of the Tribe, who may and ſhall Sing His Praiſes. His Graces in your Souls, will be the Glorious Inſtruments wherewith you ſhall perform the Noble Exerciſe.

6 The Bereſchith Rabba carries it, as if every Breath of a good Man ſhould Praiſe the Lord; There ſhould be a Praiſe of God in every Breath of ſuch a Man. In the ſtrict Senſe of it, this is not attainable by any Man Breathing in this Evil World. However to be Breathing after as much of this Attainment as can be come at, becomes a Chriſtian.

The End of the PSALMS.
APPENDIX.
I The Firſt-born of Poetry: Foretelling the Fall of ANTICHRIST. Exod. XV.

1 I'll Sing to the ETERNAL God ‖ who triumphs gloriouſly: ‖ The Horſe with him that rides him, He ‖ has thrown into the Sea. ‖

2 Now the ETERNAL God becomes ‖ my Strength, and ſo my Song; ‖ and He it is who hath been for ‖ Salvation unto me. ‖ He is my God, and I'll prepare ‖ for Him a Dwelling-place; ‖ He of my Father is the God, ‖ and I'll ſet Him on high. ‖

3 He who is the ETERNAL God ‖ does yet become a Man ‖ a Man of War; 'tis He of whom ‖ JEHOVAH is the Name. ‖

6 Thy Right hand O ETERNAL God, ‖ is glorify'd with pow'r; ‖ Thy Right hand O ETERNAL God ‖ has broke the Enemy. ‖

7 Thoſe who againſt thee riſe, Thou wilt ‖ in thy great Excellence ‖ pull down; Thou 't ſend thy wrath; it ſhall ‖ like ſtubble them conſume. ‖

11 Among the God's, who's like to Thee, ‖ O Thou ETERNAL God! ‖ Who's like to Thee; In holineſs ‖ ſo very Glorious who! ‖ Thou in thy Glorious Praiſes art ‖ how very terrible! ‖ Thou art the doer of the thing ‖ that is moſt wonderful. ‖

13 The People which thou haſt redeem'd ‖ in thy benignity ‖ thou haſt led forth; ‖ Thou in thy ſtrength ‖ doſt a good conduct give, ‖ unto the Habitation of ‖ thy Glorious Holineſs. ‖

18 He, who is the ETERNAL God ‖ ſhall reign for evermore, ‖

II. The Moſaic Prophecy. Deut. XXXII.

3 SInce I will own aloud the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL God; ‖ A mighty Greatneſs, O do ye ‖ Aſcribe unto our God. ‖

4 The Rock; His Work is perfect; For ‖ Judgment's in all His ways; ‖ A God of truth; He does no wrong: ‖ moſt juſt and right is He. ‖

29 Oh! That they were once truly wiſe, ‖ That this they under hood! ‖ That they would think and know what ſhall ‖ come in their latter end. ‖

36 For the ETERNAL God will for ‖ His People be a Judge; ‖ And for His Servants He will do ‖ as one who does repent! ‖ It ſhall be done, when that He does ‖ behold their pow'r is gone, ‖ And there is none ſhut up in Tow'res, ‖ no, not the leaſt reſerve. ‖

43 Sing O ye Nations, of what He ‖ will for His People do; ‖ Becauſe of His own Servants He ‖ will now revenge the blood: ‖ And Vengeance He will render to ‖ thoſe who have troubled them. ‖ So He'l ſhew mercy to His Land, ‖ unto His People there. ‖

III. The Song of the MESSIAH. [Or when the Name of the MESSIAH is firſt mentioned.] I Sam. II.

1 IN the ETERNAL God my heart ‖ hath an exulting joy: ‖ In the ETERNAL God my Horn ‖ is liſted up on high. ‖ Over my Adverſaries now ‖ I have an opened mouth; ‖ It is becauſe I do rejoyce ‖ in thy Salvation, Lord.

2 There is not any Holy like ‖ to the ETERNAL God. ‖ And there is not a Rock to be ‖ compar'd unto our God. ‖

6 'Tis the ETERNAL God who kills; ‖ and He who makes to live. ‖ 'Tis He brings down unto the Pit ‖ and He who bringeth up. ‖

7 Th' ETERNAL God, He maketh Poor ‖ He alſo maketh Rich; ‖ 'Tis He who maketh down to fall; ‖ and He who lifteth up. ‖

9 He of His gracious Ones will keep ‖ the feet; but wicked ones ‖ in darkneſs ſhall be ſilent; for ‖ by ſtrength no Man prevails. ‖

10 Th' ETERNAL God, They who contend ‖ with Him ſhall be deſtroy'd; ‖ He in the Heaven's upon them ‖ ſhall thunder down from thence. ‖ Th' ETERNAL God ſhall be the Judge ‖ to the Fnds of the Earth; ‖ His King He'l ſtrengthen, and on high ‖ lift His MESSIAH's Horn. ‖

IV. Divine Attraction Asked for. Cant. I.

4 O Draw thou me; we ſhall thereon ‖ be running after thee; ‖ Into His Chambers now the King ‖ hath introduced me. ‖ In thee we'll be exceeding glad, ‖ and have triumphant Joy; ‖ Thy Love we will mind more than Wine; ‖ Upright ones love thee ſtill. ‖

7 O Thou beloved of my Soul, ‖ Declare thou unto me, ‖ Declare where thou doſt feed thy Flock, ‖ and make them reſt at noon. ‖ For why ſhould I be like unto ‖ One who does turn aſide, ‖ * a vailed one, among the Flocks ‖ of thy Companions! ‖

V. The Tree of Life. Cant. II.

3 REſembling of the Orange-tree ‖ among the other Trees ‖ of the Wood, my Beloved is ‖ among the other Sons. ‖ Under His bleſſed Shadow, I ‖ ſat down with great Delight, ‖ and to my palate was His Fruit ‖ moſt wonderfully ſweet. ‖

4 He introduced me into ‖ His Houſe of Banquetting, ‖ And of His banner over me, ‖ the Motto, it was, LOVE. ‖

VI. Flaming Love. Cant. VIII.

6 O Set me as a Seal upon ‖ thine Heart; O ſet me as ‖ a Seal upon thine Arm: For Love ‖ it is as ſtrong as Death. ‖ Oh! Jealouſy, it is ſevere ‖ as is the very Crave; ‖ Its Arrows are Arrows of Fire, ‖ Flames of the Fire of God. ‖

7 Love, many Waters cannot quench, ‖ nor drown it can the Floods; ‖ ſhould one give all He's worth for Love, ‖ it would be but deſpis'd. ‖

VII. Repeated Songs of Salvation. Iſaiah XII.
The Former.

1 I'L Praiſe Thee, O ETERNAL God; ‖ Tho' thou waft wroth with me, ‖ Thy wrath is now all turn'd away, ‖ and thou wilt comfort me. ‖

2 LO, God's my SAVIOUR, I will truſt ‖ and will not be afraid: ‖ For He whoſe Glorious Name is JAH ‖ ev'n the ETERNAL God; ‖ Tis Him I have o ſtrengthen me, ‖ and He ſhall be my Song: ‖ He alſo 'tis that unto me ‖ a Saviour is become. ‖

3 And now with a moſt ſolid Joy, ‖ Waters you ſhall draw forth ‖ from the ſtill flowing Fountains, which ‖ the Saviour has prepar'd. ‖

The Latter.

4 O Praiſe ye the ETERNAL God, ‖ Call ye upon His Name; ‖ Among the People O declare ‖ the things perform'd by Him. ‖ Keep in remembrance, that His Name ‖ is now on high extoll'd. ‖

5 O utter now your Songs to Him ‖ who's the ETERNAL God. ‖ For He has done what does proclain ‖ His high magnificence: ‖ This is a thing that is made known ‖ abroad in all the Earth. ‖

6 O Thou, who doſt in Zion dwell, ‖ Cry out and ſhout aloud ‖ For Great is Iſrael's Holy One ‖ who's in the midſt of thee. ‖

VIII. The Song of the Strong City. Iſai. XXVI.

1 THere is for us a City now ‖ of a ſufficient ſtrength; ‖ The SAVIOUR will afford to it ‖ Walls and a Bulwark too. ‖

Set open ye the Gates of it; ‖ and let then enter in ‖ the Righteous N tion, which oes keep ‖ the Truth; i

3 Eſtabliſhed is the Decree ‖ that thou wilt keep it ſtill ‖ in Peace, yea, in a glorious Peace, ‖ becauſe it hopes in thee. ‖

4 In the ETERNAL God, O put ‖ your truſt for evermore; ‖ Becauſe a Rock of Ages is ‖ in JAH the ETERNAL God. ‖

9 Oh! with my very Soul I have ‖ deſir'd thee in the Night; ‖ yea, with my Spirit in me I ‖ will early ſeek for thee. ‖ For when thy Judgments are abroad ‖ diſpenſed in the Earth, ‖ They who are dwellers in the World ‖ ſhall then learn Righteouſneſs. ‖

12 O Thou ETERNAL God, Thou wilt ‖ accompliſh Peace for us, ‖ Becauſe that in and for us thou ‖ all of our works haſt wrought. ‖

13 ETERNAL God, our God, Without ‖ Thee, Lords have ruled us; ‖ We with regard to thee alone ‖ will celebrate thy Name. ‖

20 Thy Dead ſhall live again, they ſhall ‖ as my Dead Body riſe: ‖ Awake, and with, a triumph ſing, ‖ ye who dwell in the duſt. ‖ For thy dew ſhall be like the dew ‖ which doth revive the Plants; ‖ and ſo the Earth, it ſhall ſend ſorth ‖ ſuch as ly dead in it. ‖

21 In the mean time, Go then thy way ‖ thou, O my People, go ‖ Enter into thy Chambers, and ‖ about thee ſhut thy door. ‖ There hide thy ſelf; it will but as ‖ a little moment be, ‖ until the indigration ſhall ‖ be wholly paſt and gone. ‖

IX. The Lord's Prayer.

OUr Father who art in the Heav'ns; † [Olet] thy Name be ſanctify'd; † Thy Kingdom, Oh! may it arrive; † Thy Will, may that be [fully] done. † Done here upon the Farth below, † as it is done in Heav'n [Above:] † This Day beſtow thou upon us † what is [to be] our Daily Bread. † And us our Debts forgive, as we † our Debtors [freely] do forgive; † And to Temptation lead us not, † but us from [the worſt] evil ſave. † Becauſe the Kingdom, it is thine, † The Power too, 'tis thine [alone;] † And thine the Glory ſtill will be † Forevermore. Amen. [Amen.]

X. Tydings from Heaven. Luk, II, 10, 11, 14.

THe Angel ſaid to them, Fear not, † For, Lo, I bring [from Head'n] to you † Good tydings of exceeding Joy; † [and ſuch] 'twill to all People be. † For now a SAVIOUR unto you † this Day a [Bighty] SAVIOUR's Born; † 'Tis in your DAVID's City ſo; † He is the CHRIST, the [Glorious] Lord.]

And with the Angel ſuddenly † there was a [wondrous] Multitude † of the Celeſtial Army, which † then Praiſed God, and [thus they] ſaid; † O! In the Higheſt let there be † Now Glory [given] unto God; † And now on Earth let there be Peace; † In Men Benignity [be ſeen.]

XI. The Lord our Healer.
Mal. IV. 2.

TO you that fear my Name there ſhall † the [Slendid] Sun of Righteouſneſs † ariſe with bealing vertue in † the rays [that be] ſhot forth from Him †

Matth, XI. 4, 5.

THoſe things which ye do hear and ſee: † The Blind receive their [wiſh'd for] ſight; † And they that were the Lame do walk; † The Lepers are made clean [and whole.] † And they that were the Deaf do hear; † The Dead are [alſo] raiſed up; † And they that are poor Creatures, ſuch † [Ev'n ſuch] as theſe are Goſpelliz'd. †

XII. The Beatitudes. Matth. V. 3.—13.

I. BLeſſed the Poor in Spirit are, † for theirs the Kingdom of the Heavens. †

II. Bleſſed are very Mournful ones, † for that they ſhall be Comforted. †

III. Bleſſed the Meekly Patient are, † for they inherit ſhall the Earth. †

IV. Bleſſed, who Hunger and who Thirſt † for Juſtice; for they ſhall be fill'd. †

V. Bleſſed ſhall be the Merciful, † for Mercy's what they ſhall obtain. †

VI. Bleſſed ſhall be the Pure in Heart, † for they ſhall have the ſight of God. †

VII. Bleſſed the Peace-Makers: for they † ſhall be pronounc'd the Sons of God. †

VIII. Bleſs'd the purſu'd for Righteonſneſs; † for theirs, the Kingdom of the Heavens. †

XIII. The Song of Simeon. Luk. II. 24,—32.

O Lord, Thou in a bleſſed Peace ‖ thy Servant doſt diſmiſs, ‖ Now after all that I have ſeen ‖ according to thy Word. ‖ For of thy Great Salvation now ‖ my Eyes have had the ſight: ‖ which thou before the Face of all ‖ People prepared haſt: ‖ A Light by which the Gentales are ‖ to be enlighten'd all: ‖ And the bright Glory ſhining to ‖ thy People Iſrael. ‖

XIV. A Golden Chain. 2 Pet. I. 5, 6, 7.

GIving all Diligence, O add, ‖ Courage unto your Faith; ‖ and unto Courage Knowledge add; ‖ to Knowledge, Temperance: ‖ And unto Temperance let therebe added Godlineſs. ‖ And unto Godlineſs do you ‖ Brotherly kindneſs add: ‖ But to Brotherly kindneſs letbe added Charity. ‖

XV. Patience. Jam. I. 4, 5.

LEt Patience have the perfect work ‖ which does belong to it; ‖ ſo you'l be perfect and entire ‖ de c ent in no point. ‖ But if that any of you are ‖ ſenſible that he wants ‖ the Wiſdom, which is now propos'd,let him ask it of God; ‖ Who hath a liberal hand unto ‖ all Men does freely give, ‖ and don't upbraid their fooliſimaſs: ‖ ſo 'twill be given him. ‖

XVI. A Song in the Night. Heb. XII.

5 MY [Chaſtned] Son, Deſpiſe thou not † the Chaſtning of the Lord; † nor do thou faint when that thou doſt † receive Rebukes from Him. †

6 For whom the Lord doth [truly] love † He chaſtneth ſuch a one: † and ſcourgeth ev'ry one whom He † receiveth as a Son. †

7 If Chaſtning ye [do well] endure † God deals with you as Sons; † for what Son ever is there, whom † the Father Chaſtens not? †

10 He Chaſtens us ['tis true] but it † is for our benefit; † 'tis that Partakers ſo we might † be of His Holineſs, †

11 Now for the preſent, there [he ſure] † no Chaſtning is that ſeems † to be a cauſe of any joy, † no, but a cauſe of grief. † Yet aſterwards it. [ſurely] yields † the fruit of Righteouſneſs † to them that are well-tri'd thereby; † which will be full of Peace. †

XVII. The Faithful Saying.
1 Tim. I. 15.

THis is a Saying, which deſerves † [Over] to be rely'd upon, † and it is worthy of a full † Reception ev'ry where [of all.]This, That CHRIST who is JESUS, has † Now come into the [Ruin'd] World † for this, that unto Sinners, He † might be a [Mighty] SAVIOUR. †

The Matchleſs Gift. John III. 16.

SUch, Even ſuch, a Love has God † had for a [Loſt and] Dying World, † that He His Only One has giv'n, † Ev'n His Begotten Son [for it,]This has He done, that whoſoev'r † Believes aright in Him [alone,] † ſhould never periſh, but ſhould have † an Everlaſting Life [by Him.]

XVIII. The Bleſſing.
Act. III. 26.

GOD Raiſing His Son Joſus, hath † ſent Him to Bleſs you all, † in turning ev'ry one of you † from his Iniquities. †

Act. V. 31.

Him God with His Right hand ſets up, † a Prince and Saviour † to give His Iſrael to repent, † and to forgive their Sins. †

XIX. The Holy Baptiſm. Matth. XXVIII. 19, 20.

ALL Nations make Diſciples, them ‖ Baptizing in the Name ‖ of GOD the Father and the Son‖ and of the Holy Spirit. ‖ Inſtructing them, that thereupon ‖ they carefully obſerve ‖ all things whatever they may be ‖ I have commanded you. ‖

XX. The Holy Supper. 1 Cor. XI. 23—26.

KNow, The Lord Jeſus in the Night † in which He was betray'd, † took Bread and having given Thanks, † He brake it and He ſaid: † Take, Eat; This is my Body which † is Broken thus for you: † This do, that ſo of me you may † keep the Remembrance up. † He alſo in like manner took † the Cup, when He had Supp'd; † ſaid, This is the New-Teſtament, † confirmed in my Blood. † This is what I would have you do, † as often as you Drink † of this, that ſo of me you may † keep the Remembrance up. † As oft now as ye Eat this Bread, † and as ye Drink this Cup, † you the Death of the Lord ſhow forth † until that He do come. †

XXI. Our Attonement. Roman, Chap. V.

6 WHen we were [whoſty] deſtitute of ſtrength, † This [proper] time, CHRIST dy'd for the profane. †

7 'Tis [Very] true, One for a Juſt Man would † [Scarce and] with no ſmall difficulty dye. † Yet peradventure ſomr would [Even] dare † for a [Bels •• ] Good Man to ſuffer Death. †

8 But God commends [in this] His Love to us † that CHRIST for us [altho'] yet Sinners dy'd. †

9 Much more then we [may well] infer from hence, † ſince by His Blood we're [freely] juſtify'd, † we ſhall through Him be [ſurely] ſaved from † the wrath to which we [Juſtly] are expos'd.

10 For if by His Sons Death [for it] we were † while yet Foes [fully] reconcil'd to God, † much more be ſure now [ſo well] reconcil'd, † we ſhall be ſaved by His [Glozious] Life. †

11 And yet this not all [of it] but we † do herewithal rejoyce in God [our God,] † Thro' our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom [it is][a full] Atonement we have now receiv'd. †

XXII. Spiritual Bleſſings. Eph. I.

3 O Bleſted be the Glorious God † and Father of our Lord, † Even of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, † who hath now bleſſed us; † with all the Bleſſings which are of † a Spiritual import † in Heav'nly places; † in and with, † a CHRIST to be enjoy'd,

4 According as in Him He hath † made a free choice of us † before that the Foundation of † the World was ever laid. † Chuſing us upon this intent † that we before Him ſhould † be holy and be blameleſs, thro' † the influence of love. †

XXIII. Great Things done for us in CHRIST. Eph. II.

4 A God, who in the Riches of † His Mercy doth abound, † becauſe of the great love wherewith † He ſtill hath loved us. †

6 Even when we were dead in Sins, † He hath enliven'd us, † together with CHRIST doing it; † Saved you are by Grace! †

6 Us alſo hath He raiſed up † together, and He has † in Heav'nly Places made us fir † in Jeſus Chriſt together †

XXIV. The Scale of Heaven. Rom. VIII.

30 WHom He did firſt predeſtinate, † them he did alſo call; † and them whom he has called, He † hath alſo Juſtify'd, † and whom He Juſtify'd, He thoſe † has alſo glorify'd. †

31 Unto ſuch things as theſe then what † is there that we ſhall ſay? † If God be once engag'd for us † againſt us who can be? †

32 He who his own Son ſpared not, † when Juſtice made Demands, † but did deliver him to Death † in the room of us all, † How ſhan't He alſo freely give † all things to us with Him? †

XXV. Conjugal Goodneſs. Eph. V.

21 WIves, Unto your own Husbands yeild, † even as to the Lord. †

23 The Husband is head to the Wife, † as CHRIST Head to the Church. †

24 For this Cauſe, as the Church is in † ſubjection unto CHRIST, † Wives unto their own Husbands ſhould † in every thing be ſo. †

25 Husbands O do you love your Wives † with all due tenderneſs, † as CHRIST has alſo lov'd the Church, † and gave himſelf for it. †

28 As Men love their own Bodies, ſo † they ought to Love their Wives; † He who does duly love his Wife, † does therein love himſelf. †

33 Let each and every one of you † love his Wife as himſelf: † and let the Wife ſee that ſhe pay † her Husband much Regard. †

XXVI. The Song of the Twenty-Four Elders. Rev. IV.

WOrthy Thou art, O Lord; † for to receive from all † Glory and Honour too † and power; for that thou didſt † all things create; † and for thy will they are and were † created all.

XXVII. Praiſes for the Men of Judah. Jude. 24, 25.

NOW unto Him who has † the power to preſerve † you free from Sinful falls, † and to ſet you before † the face of His † bright Glory, free from fault, with a † Triumphant Joy; † To Him who's only wiſe † God, Ev'n our Saviour, † Glory and Grandeur be, † Power and Dominion; † Now at this time † let it be ſo and ſo unto † all Ages be. †

XXVIII. The New Song.
Rev. V. 9, 10.

O Lamb of God, Thou art † worthy to take the Book, † and open all the Seals † which cover what's in it; † For thou waſt Slain, † and haſt redeem'd us unto God † by thine own Blood. † So from each Kindred, and † Language and People and † Nation thou bringeſt us; † and thou haſt made us to be † both Kings and Prieſts † unto our God, and we ſhall Reign † over the Earth. †

[With the voice of the many Angels.]

Rev. V. 12.

Oh! worthy is the Lamb, † the Lamb, that has been Slain, † all Power and Riches and † Wiſdom and Fortitude † and Honour too † with Glory and with Bleſſing ſtill † for to receive. †

XXIX. The Doxology. Rev. 1.5, 6.

NOW to that Glorious One who has † wondrouſly loved [ſinful] us, † and who has made us to be Kings † as well as ••• eſts to God [on High;]Even unto the God, whom † His Father; [let there] unto Him † be Glory and •••• nion † forever more. Amen: [amen ]

XXX. The Name of God.
Prov. XVIII. 10.

JEHOVAH's [Great and] Glorious Name, † it is a Tower of Strength: † The Righteous runs [with ſpeed] into't; † and there on high Sits ſafe. †

Exod. XXXIV. 6, 7.

So He proclaimed it [of Did] † JEHOVAH is His Name; † JEHOVAH who is [the Strong] God † forever merciful † and [berv] Gracious too is He; † to anger very Slow; † yea, He does [very] much abound † in Grace and Truth to us. † He does [how Great] reſerves of Grace † for many Thouſands keep! † Iniquity He [freely] does † diſpence a pardon to. † Yea, to Tranſgreſſion too [tis done] † and to all ſorts of Sin; † and if He do [in part] cut off † He will not quite cut off. †

XXXI. Right Sabbatizing.
THE FIRST PART. Iſai. LVI. 1, 2, 6, 7.

THus the ETERNAL God hath ſaid, † Bleſſings attend the [Pious] Man † who does this, and the Son of Man † who lays [and keeps] faſt hold on it; † The Man who from polluting it † does keep the [Holy] Sabbath well; † and he who from the doing of † all Evil keeps his hand [with care.]

Yea, The Sons of the Stranger, who † to [and on] the ETERNAL God † do join themſelves, that they may be † true [Prieſts and] Servants unto tree: † And that in Love unto the Name † of [Him who's] the ETERNAL GOD, † they may become the Servants, who † [truly] devote themſelves to Him; † all of theſe will my Sabbath keep † from all pollutions [clean and] elear, † and they upon my Covenant † will take [therein] perpetual hold. †

Now ſuch as theſe I will into † my Holy Mountain [ſurely] bring; † and in my Houſe of Pray'r I will † make them to ſhine with [Glorious] Joy. † Their Off'rings which aſcend in Flames, † and [all the] Sacrifices which † they Offer on my Altar, ſhall † a good [and kind] Acceptance find. † For that my Houſe, to which they do † for ſuch Devotions [uſe to] go, † it ſhall be call'd, an Houſe of Pray'r, † free for all People [coming] there. †

THE SECOND PART. Iſai. LVIII. 13, 14.

IF thou from the profaning of † the Sabbath turn [away] thy Foot: not doing of thy pleaſure on † what is [ordain'd] my Holy day; † But if the Sabbath thou eſteem † [and keep] as a Delight unto † the Bleſs'd JEHOVAH's Holy one, † ev'n [Him who's] the Victorious One; † And if thereon thou honour Him, † not doing as thou'rt us'd [to do,] † nor pleaſing thy own humour now, † nor Speaking a wrong word [thereon.]

Then thou ſhalt ſatisfy thy ſelf † [Ever] in the ETERNAL God; † And I will make thee Ride upon † High [and Rich] places of the Earth. † I will thee with the portion of † Jacob thy Father [always] feed; † For ſo now ſpeaks the very mouth † of the [True and] ETERNAL God. †

XXXII. Early Piety. Eccle. XI. 9, 10. XII. 1, 14.

REjoyce, O Young Man, in thy Youth, † and be of a good Heart † in the Days of thy Youth, to thisthou art enough inclin'd! † And walk thou in the ways preſer'd † by ſuch an Heart as thine; † Do what ſhall ſeem deſireable † unto thy Youthful Eyes. † But know thou that for all of theſe † indulg'd Enormatimes, † God the judge will bring thee anon†to render an Account†

Oh, then remove thou from thine heart, † what cauſes Grief and Wrath; † and from thy Fleſh, Oh, do thou cauſe † each Vitious luſt to paſs, † For Infancy, and then the Youth † which is the Morning time, † is Vanity: Iſ ſpent in Sin,it is all ſpant in vain.

Remember thy Creator now † (the Father, Sen, and Spirit;) Now in the Days of thy Youth, * which † are of thy choice the Days. † Do it, before the Evil Days † do come, and years draw nigh † in which thou ſhalt have cauſe to ſay, † I've no Delight in them. †

For GOD the Judge will every Work † into a Judgment bring; † with every Secret; be't a good † or be't an evil thing. †

XXXIII. Alms-Giving.
Luk. XII. 33, 34.

SEll your Poſſeſſions, rather thanleave ſuch a thing undone: ‖ And freely giving what you have, ‖ Merciful Alms diſpenſe. ‖ By doing ſo provide yourlelves ‖ of Bags that won't decay; ‖ a Treaſure in the Heavens, which ‖ is certain not to fail: ‖ Where 'tis no Thief can make approach, ‖ nor can a Moth corrupt. ‖ For where your Treaſure is laid up, ‖ your Heart will ſtill be there. ‖

Heb. XIII. 16.

Be ſure that you by no means be ‖ forgetful of this thing; ‖ To be Beneficent, and be ‖ Communicative ſtill: ‖ For with ſuch Sacrifices as ‖ are in ſuch things as theſe, ‖ the GOD, who does behold them all, ‖ is highly gratify'd. ‖

Act. X. 4.

The Supplications thou haft made ‖ unto the Glorious GOD, ‖ and there withal thy Gracious Alms ‖ that have attended them; ‖ Theſe Off'rings have made their Aſcent; ‖ for a Memorial, ‖ in the ſight of the Bleſſed GOD, ‖ who ſtill remembers them.

Eccl. XI. 1.

Caſt thou thy Corn-for-ſeed upon ‖ the face of moiſtned Ground: ‖ For after many days thou ſhalt ‖ find the return of it. ‖

XXXIV. The Ten Commandments.

I BEfore my face, thou ſhalt not have ‖ Other, and After Gods, for thine

II. Thou ſhalt not any Image make ‖ to thee, nor bow thy ſelf thereto. ‖

III. Thou ſhalt not take in vain the Name ‖ of the ETERNAL One, Thy GOD. ‖

IV. Remember thou the Sabbath-Day, ‖ that thou mayſt it as Holy keep. ‖

V. Thy Father and thy Mother pay, ‖ Honour, that ſo they may prolong‖ thy Days upon the promis'd Earth. ‖

VI. Kill not in any Murd'rous way.

VII. Commit thou no Adultery. ‖

VIII. Thou ſhalt not any Stealth Commit. ‖

IX. Upon thy Neighbour bear thou not ‖ a Teſtimony that is falſe. ‖

X. Thou ſhalt not Covet any thing ‖ which to thy Neighbour does belong. ‖

1 John V. 3.

This is the Love of GOD; and His ‖ Commandments never grievous are. ‖

FINIS.
ERRATA.

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