40. The falvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord; he is their strength in the time of trouble.

41. And the Lord shall stand by them and save them; he shall deliver them from the ungodly and fave them, because they put their trust in him.

EIGHTH MORNING.

Morning Prayer.

PSALM XXXVIII.

David deeply laments his great afflictions, which be confesses be bad merited by his fins; nevertheless, be trufts that God will not utterly withdraw his protection from him. It was written when he was in great danger, and probably at the beginning of Abfalom's rebellion, 2 Sam. xvi. 16. It is to be obJerved, that he does not here speak of a real bodily diforder, for he prays only for assistance, not for a restoration to health; but he compares bis dangerous and afflicted state with that of a perfon infested with a leprofy, which was fuppofed by the Ifraelites to be fent as a punishment for the most heinous fins.

1. PUT me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.

2. For thine arrows stick faft in me and thy hand preffeth me fore.

3. There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure, neither is there any reft in my bones by reason of my fin.

4. For my wickedneffes are come upon my head, and are like a fore burden, too heavy for me to bear.

5. My wounds are loathfome and corrupt, becaufe of my foolishnefs.

6. I am wearied, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7. For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no whole part in my body.

8. I am feeble and fore fmitten, I cry out for the very difquietnefs of my heart.

9. Lord, all my defire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee.

10. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me; and the very light of mine eyes is gone from me.

11. My friends and my companions keep aloof from my fore, and my kinfinen ftand afar off...

12. They also that seek after my life, lay fnares for me; and they that feek my hurt, fpeak mifchievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

13. But I am like a deaf man, and give no ear; and am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14. Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, and in whofe mouth are no reproofs.

15. Because in thee, O Lord, do I put my truft; thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God.

16. For I faid, nay, left they fhould rejoice over me: if my foot fhould flip, they would magnify themselves against me.

in

17. I am also in affliction, and my forrow is ever my fight.

18. Moreover I will confefs my wickednefs, and will be forry for my fin.

19. But they that are mine enemies without a cause are strong, and they that hate me wrongfully

are many.

20. They also that reward evil for good are against me, because I follow the thing that is good. 21. Forfake me not, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me.

22. Hafte thee to help me, O Lord God of my falvation.

PSALM XXXIX.

David in a fate of great diftrefs and perfecution, defcribes his vain efforts to keep filence in the prefence of his enemies; and from a contemplation of the fhortness and vain purfuits of human life, fixes all his hope ultimately on God. It is fuppofed to have been written during his flight from Abfalom, and immediately after Ahitophel's death when he prepared for his defence.

1. I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not in my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the ungodly is before me.

2. I was dumb with filence, I held my peace, even from good, and my indignation was stirred.

3. My heart was hot within me, in my mufing the fire flamed out, and I spake with my tongue.

4. Lord make me to know mine end, and what is the measure of my days; that I may learn how frail I am.

5. Behold, thou haft made my days as a fpan long, and mine age is as nothing before thee; verily every man living is vanity.

6. Surely man walketh in a fhadow; he is dif quieted in vain; he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not for whom he gathereth them.

7. And now Lord what is my hope? truly my hope is even in thee.

8. Deliver me from all my tranfgreffions; make me not the reproach of the foolish.

9.

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; for it was thy doing.

10. Remove thy ftroke from me; I am confumed by the blow of thy hand.

II. When with rebukes thou doft chaften man for fin, thou makeft his beauty to confume away like a moth furely every man living is vanity.

12. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears; for I am a stranger with thee, and a fojourner, as all my fathers were.

13. O fpare me, that I may taste of joy, before I go hence and be no more.

PSALM XL.

The Pfalmift returns thanks to God for his deliverance from fome great and imminent danger, he then declares the pleasure which he takes in complying with the moral rather than the ceremonial law, and the zeal and courage with which he preached righteouf nefs to the people, and pours forth his ardent fupplications for God's protection against the evils which