snares, when he would deceive: suffer us not, either by persecution or temptation, to fall from thee; let the lion gnash his teeth, and the fowler look for his captive, in vain; that so wo too may sing the song of Zion in thy heavenly kingdom, and say, "Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird "out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken "and we are escaped."

8. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

The great lesson which this Psalm, from the beginning to the end, inculcates, is, that for every deliverance, whether of a temporal or spiritual nature, we should, in imitation of the saints above, ascribe "Salvation to God and to the Lamb."

In this Psalm, the church is comforted with the promises, 1, 2. of God's protection," and, 3. of his removing, in in due time, from his inheritance the rod of the oppressor; when, 4. the faithful will be rewarded, and, 5. apostates punished with other workers of iniquity. Aben Ezra, as cited by Dr. Hammond, applieth the Psalm to the days of Messiah.

1. They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

2. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

The stability of the church, and the protection afforded her by Jehovah, were of old represented by the mountain on which the divine presence resided, and by the hills which encompassed Jerusalem, so as to render that city in a manner impregnable. While her inhabitants continued to "trust in the Lord," this was the case. But when they became faithless and disobedient, she became weak, and like another city. Let not our "trust in God" be a presumptuous, ungrounded assurance; but let it be a confidence springing from faith unfeigned, out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and fervent charity. Then shall our situation, whether as a church, or as individuals, resemble that of the holy mount in the beloved city, and our God will be unto us a fortress, and a wall round about. But let us never forget, that the promises to us, like those to Israel, are conditional: "Because of unbelief they were broken "off; and we stand by faith."

3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous: lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

*

God may, and often doth, permit "the rod" or power "of the wicked to fall upon the lot of the " righteous" in this world. But it is only for the purposes of chastisement, or probation. The rod is not suffered to "rest," or abide, there too long, "lest the righteous," harassed and worn down by oppression, and seeing no end of their calamities

should be tempted to " put their hands to iniquity," and practise that wickedness, which they find to prosper so well here below. The import of this verse seemeth to be the same with that of our Lord's prediction concerning the troubles of the latter days. "Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not "since the beginning of the world to this time, no "nor ever shall be. And except those days should "be shortened, there should no flesh be saved. But "for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." Matt. xxiv. 21, 22.

4. Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in heart. 5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity; but peace shall be upon Israel.

The "good and upright in heart" are they who stand steady in every change of circumstances; who complain not of God's dispensations, but, believing every thing to be best which he ordains, adhere to him with a will entirely conformed to his, in adversity no less than in prosperity. To these Jehovah will finally "do good ;" and they shall receive the reward of their faith and patience; while such as, in time of trial, have fallen away, and returned no more, shall be "led forth" to punishment" with the workers "of iniquity," to whose company their apostasy hath joined them. peace shall be

And then,

upon the Israel of God," with joy and gladness, for evermore.

TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY.-EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM CXXVI.

ARGUMENT.

In this Psalm, the children of Zion, 1-3. describe the joy consequent upon their restoration from captivity; 4. they pray God to bring back the rest of their countrymen, and to complete his work; 5, 6. they foresee and predict the success of their labours in rebuilding their ruined city with its temple, and cultivating again their desolated country. The return of Israel from Babylon holds forth a figure of the same import with the exodus of that people from Egypt. And this Psalm, like the prophecies of Isaiah, representeth the blessed effects of a spiritual redemption, in words primarily alluding to that temporal release.

1. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

That Cyrus should issue a decree for the Jews to return to their own country, and to rebuild their city and temple; that he should dismiss such a number of captives, not only without money and without price, but should send them home laden with presents; Ezra i. 1-4. this was the work of Jehovah, who only could thus "turn the captivity of Zion."

A restoration so complete, so strange and unlooked for, brought about at once, without any endeavours used on the side of Israel, seemed in all these respects, as a "dream;" and the parties concerned, when they saw and heard such things, could scarcely believe themselves to be awake. That the King of kings, of his own mere love and mercy, should take pity on poor mankind, in their more grievous captivity under sin and death; that he should send his only Son to purchase their liberty, his Spirit to enrich, and conduct them to their country above, and his heralds to proclaim such unexpected deliverance to all the world; this likewise was the work of the same Jehovah, who only could THUS "turn again "the captivity of his Zion." Sinners, when the tidings of a salvation so great and marvellous are preached to them, think themselves in a "dream," and with difficulty give credit even to the royal proclamation, though the great seal of heaven be affixed to it.

2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

The people of God soon find, that they are not mocked with illusions, but that all about them is reality and truth. Then sorrow and sighing, fear and distrust, fly away together. Joy fills their hearts, and overflows by their tongues, in songs of praise. The nations hear, and are astonished, and own the hand of Jehovah in the restoration of his people; "Jeho