wings will I rejoice. 8. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me."

Recollection of past mercies, inclines the soul to put herself under the "wing" of an all-shadowing Providence. Should her Redeemer, for a time, seem to be deserting her, faith constraineth her to "follow hard after him" as a child doth after the father: and not let go the "hand," which hath so often "upholden” her from falling.

"9. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10. They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for foxes."

The enemies of Jehovah, and his anointed, if they come not to a violent death, an early grave, or to have their carcasses devoured by the beasts of the field, (as hath sometimes been the case,) yet, in an after-state, their condition will certainly be deplorable. Their habitation must be in the "pit;" their punishment, the flaming "sword" of almighty vengeance; and their companions, those crafty and malicious ones, who, having contributed to seduce, will help to torment them.

"11. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped."

:

If David found cause to rejoice in God, who gave him the victory over all his enemies; if the subjects of David might well glory in their king; if the slanderers of David were put to silence, at beholding him exalted to the throne of Israel; how much greater is the joy of Messiah in the Godhead, giving the manhood victory over his enemies, sin, death, and hell; how much rather may his subjects and worshippers glory in their triumphant King; and how much more shall the blasphemers of such a Saviour be everlastingly confounded, when they shall behold him invested with all the power and majesty of the Father, and seated on the throne of judgment! Surely, THEN," the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped."

PSALM LXIV.

ARGUMENT.

David, in the person of Messiah, 1, 2. prayeth to be delivered from his enemies, from their counsels and insurrections; 3, 4. he describeth their calumnies and slanders, their scoffs and blasphemies; and, 5, 6. their indefatigable malice; predicting, 7-9. their astonishing fall, with, 10. the exultation of the church in God her Saviour.

"1. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy."

The prophet, after beseeching God to hear him, prefers his petition, which is to be "preserved from fear of the enemy." A petition of this kind is granted, either by a removal of the ground of fear, when the enemy's power to hurt is taken from him, or his will changed; or else, by an extirpation of the fear itself, through increase of faith, charity, and fortitude. For the former, let us pray conditionally, "if it may be done, and if it is God's will that it should be done," as Christ prayed against the bitter cup in the garden; for the latter, we may pray absolutely; since a victory gained by the fear of God over the fear of man, is a necessary step, and a happy prelude, to a full and final triumph over every enemy of our salvation.

"2. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked: from the insurrections of the workers of iniquity."

The "counsels and insurrections" of the Israelites against David: of the same people afterwards against the Son of David; of worldly and wicked men against the church; and of the powers of darkness against us all, are here, respectively, understood to be deprecated.

"3. Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot

their arrows, even bitter words; 4. That they may shoot in secret at the perfect suddenly do they shoot at him and fear not."

In personal scoffings and revilings, the tongue performs the part of a "sword," which is a weapon that can be used only in open rencounters; but "bitter words," spoken in secret, and at a distance from him who is the subject of them, are like "arrows," which may be shot from an obscure and remote corner, and therefore cannot be warded off. The tongue, in both these capacities, was employed against that PERFECT ONE, the holy Jesus, in the days of his flesh. Would to God it had never been since employed against him and his disciples; or, by his disciples against each other.

"5. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?"

Sin doth not often appear abroad, without a veil; and the more atrocious the sin, the more specious must be the pretence which is to cover it. Envy and malice crucified the Son of God; but, during the course of the proceedings against him, you hear only of zeal for the law, and loyalty to Cæsar. Such are the "snares," set by the crafty, to deceive the simple and unwary; without considering, that the broad eye of Heaven all the time surveys their most secret devices, by which they impose upon others, and frequently upon themselves.

6. They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep."

Truth and righteousness may be found and practised with half the pains that are often employed to "search out iniquity," and establish error. The Jews could not accomplish the death of Christ, without counsels, stratagems, and subornations, "deep" and dark as hell itself: all which trouble they might have saved themselves at once by believing on him. The case is the same with virtue and vice; and honesty is the readiest, as well as the best, policy.

7. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow: suddenly shall they be wounded. 8. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves all that see them shall flee away."

While the enemies of the "Just One" were shooting in secret at him, he that dwelleth in the heavens was levelling an arrow at them, and one which would not fail to take place. It accordingly did so; and the direful imprecations of "their own tongues fell," in unexampled vengeance, on the heads of them, and their children, who continued to justify the deeds of their fathers. All would "flee away" from the punishment of "Jerusalem;" let all, then, depart from the sins which occasioned it.

"9. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God: for they shall wisely consider of his doing."

It is remarkable, that the desolation of the once holy and beloved city, filled "all men with fear" and astonishment, forcing them to acknowledge and "declare" it to be the "work of God." Even Titus, the Roman emperor, confessed, that he had fought and conquered by the favour and under the direction of Heaven. O that men would "wisely consider" of this, and other wonderful works of the Almighty!

"10. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory."

As sorrow, sooner or later, will be the portion of Messiah's enemies, so joy is the high privilege of his friends and disciples. The "righteous" man alone can be truly "glad," because he alone can be glad "in the Lord" Jesus, the object of all his confidence. There was light in Goshen, when darkness covered the Egyptians; the Christian church drank the cup of salvation, when that of vengeance was mingled for Jerusalem; and when the empire of Satan shall fall, heaven shall resound with hallelujahs.

TWELFTH DAY.-EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM LXV.

ARGUMENT.

In this very lovely song of Sion, the prophet treats, 1. of the praise due to Jehovah, for 2. his mercy, in hearing the prayers of his servants, and, 3. in redeeming them from their sins: 4. he declareth the blessedness of the elect, in Christ their head; 5. predicteth the wonderful things which God would do for the salvation of men, by that power which, 6, 7. established the mountains, and confined the sea within its bounds; 8. foretelleth the conversion of the nations: and, 9-13. describeth the blessed effects of the Spirit poured out upon the church, under the figure of rain descending upon a dry ground.

"1. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed."

The oblations of "praise and thanksgiving," were formerly offered, and all" vows" were paid in the temple on mount Zion. At Jerusalem was performed the promise of man's redemption by the sacrifice of the Son of God; since which event, and the call of the Gentiles, the Christian church has been the holy city and temple. In her communion, we are to offer up our devotions, and to perform the vow made in baptism; until we come to the heavenly Sion, to pay our vows, with the church triumphant, in everlasting hymns of praise.

"2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come."

The prophet here foretells, that, on account of God's mercy in hearing the prayers of his people, "all flesh," that is, all mankind, out of every nation, should" come" at his gracious call, and make their supplications before him in his church. And to whom should "all flesh come," but to him that "heareth prayer?"

"3. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away."

The chief subject of the prayers, made by all flesh to God, is the forgiveness of sin; in order to which it must be confessed. The verse therefore consisteth of two parts. First, an acknowledgment of guilt-“Iniquities prevail against me;" like whereunto is St. Paul's complaint, “Ο wretched man that I am; who shall deliver me from this body of death?" The second part of the verse intimates an assurance of pardon through the blood of the Lamb, "As for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away; exactly corresponding to the answer, which the Apostle returneth to himself; "I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord," Rom. vii. 24.

"4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."

Blessed are they who are chosen out of the world, and admitted to the privileges of the church; still more blessed are they, who are chosen out of the congregation, to stand continually in the presence of God, and to minister in his courts; but blessed, above all blessing and praise, is the man Christ Jesus, elect, precious, chosen of God to be a high priest for ever; to make intercession for his people in the courts of heaven; that where he is they may be also. Then shall we indeed be satisfied with the "pleasures of thy house, O Lord, even of thy holy temple."

5. By terrible, or, wonderful, things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea."

The ancient church foretelleth, that God would "answer" her prayers

for the coming of Messiah, by " wonderful things in righteousness;" which was brought to pass by the death and resurrection of Christ, the overthrow of idolatry, and the conversion of the nations. Then "the God of salvation" became "the confidence of all the ends of the earth," and the inhabitants of the most distant "islands" believed in Jesus. By "wonderful things in righteousness," will the prayers of the church which now is, be answered, at the second manifestation of the Son of God, in the glory of his Father.

"6. Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains: being girded with power. 7. Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people."

That power, which originally fixed the foundations of the "mountains," and which, from time to time, controls the "waves" of the sea, is engaged in the support and preservation of the church; and will never suffer the "waves" of this, troublesome world to overwhelm the "mountain of his holiness."

"8. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid of thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice."

The "tokens, or signs," mentioned in this verse, are the exertions of divine power and mercy, called above, "wonderful things in righteousness;" which, at the publication of the Gospel, produced a saving "fear" of God among the nations, "dwelling in the uttermost parts of the earth." "The isles," saith Isaiah on the same occasion, "saw it and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid; they drew near and came," Isa. xli. 5. And then it was, that "the outgoings of the morning and evening," all the inhabitants of the earth, as many as experienced the sweet vicissitudes of day and night, of morning and evening, were "made to rejoice" in God their Saviour; whose name was praised from the rising to the setting sun.

"9. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it; or, for so thou hast established, or, constituted it."

Under the beautiful image of a once barren and dry land, rendered fruitful by kindly showers of rain, turning dearth into plenteousness, are represented here (as in Isa. xxxv. and numberless other places) the gracious "visitation" of the church by the Spirit; the "riches" of grace and mercy, poured upon the hearts of men, from the exhaustless "river of God:" and the bountiful provision made thereby, for the relief of that spiritual famine, which have been sore in all lands. See Isa. lv. 10. Rev. xxii. 1. Amos viii. 11.

"10. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly; thou settlest the furrows thereof; thou makest it soft with showers; thou blessest the springing thereof."

After the ground is ploughed up, the former rain, descending upon the "ridges," and into the "furrows," dissolveth the parts of the earth, and so fitteth it for the purposes of vegetation, whenever the seed shall be cast into it: then cometh the latter rain to assist, and to bless the springing" and increase thereof unto a joyful harvest. Thus doth the good Spirit of God both prepare the hearts of his people for the reception of the word, and also enable them to bear fruit, bringing forth "some an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty," Matt. xiii. 23.

11. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths, or, clouds, or, heavens, drop fatness."

The herbs, fruits, and flowers, produced by the earth, are here finely represented as a beautifully variegated "crown," set upon her head by the hands of her great Creator; at whose command, the heavens, by collecting and distilling the drops of rain, impregnate her, and make her the parent of terrestrial blessings. It is the same God, who will crown with everlasting goodness the acceptable year, the year of his redeemed; when the spirit

shall have accomplished his work; when God shall be glorified in his saints; and heaven, as well as earth, shall be full of the goodness of Jehovah.

"12. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; and the little hills rejoice on every side; or, are girded about with gladness."

As the rain which descendeth from heaven causeth even the barren wilderness to become a green pasture, and investeth the naked hills with the garments of joy and gladness; so the Spirit, when poured out from on high on the Gentile world, converted that "wilderness" into a "fruitful field;" while the churches, there rising on all sides, like little fertile "hills, rejoiced" with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. See Isa. xxxii. 15. xxxv. 1, 2.

"13. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing."

The happy effects of God's visiting the earth with rain, are valleys covered with corn, verdant meads, and thriving flocks. All these ideas, in the prophetical Scriptures, are frequently transferred to the times of refreshment and consolation, of peace and fruitfulness, in the church; which breaks forth into joy, in the one case, as the world is always ready to do in the other. Manifold and marvellous, O Lord, are thy works, whether of nature or of grace; surely, in wisdom and loving-kindness hast thou made them all; the earth, in every sense, is full of thy riches!

PSALM LXVI.

ARGUMENT.

In this Psalm, the prophet, 1, 2. exciteth all the world to sing the praises of God; 3, 4. the power and universality of his kingdom; 5-12. the deliverance of the church from various afflictions and temptations; for which 13— 15. we are to offer the sacrifices which had been vowed; 16-19. to declare the mercies and loving-kindness of the Lord towards us; and, 20. to bless his holy name continually.

"1. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands, or, all the earth: 2. Sing forth the honour of his name; make his praise glorious."

"The holy church, throughout all the world," is here called upon to lift up her voice, like the jubilee trumpet of old, in thanksgiving; to celebrate that NAME which is above every name; and to make the praise of JESUS glorious, both by word and deed; that so, others, hearing our voices, and seeing our works, may be led to glorify him in like manner.

"3. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee." The subjects proposed are the various and awful manifestations of divine "power;" of that power which made, and which continues to support the world; which overthrows, and raises up empires; which subverted the kingdom of Satan, established that of Christ, and caused its enemies either to relinquish, or dissemble their hostility. Happy the man, whose heart and affections" unfeignedly submit themselves" to the sceptre of Messiah. "4. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee: they shall sing to thy name."

What David spake in the future, the church now speaketh in the present tense "All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting-Day by day we magnify thee; and we worship thy name ever world without end." A day is coming, when this shall be the case, in an unlimited sense of the words; when Jews and Gentiles, quick and dead, heaven and earth, shall compose one perfect and truly harmonious choir.

"5. Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. 6. He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot; there did we rejoice in him."