5^ Q_ .? «j .* JQ. 4 0) «^ IE -5 * Q_ S: & "o *w 5 ^ & CD c w O bO -SS H < ^ 8 3 & E ? - ^ «3 CO ••s ft -^ 1 1 1 3 ■>. >• ^-* 2 O $' -Q ^CB % c 0) to ^53? #> CL T H E PSA L M S O F DA V I D, In METRE: Allowed by the Authority of the General Assembly of the Kirk ^/Scotland, and of the PRES- BYTERIAN CHURCHES in AMERICA. with NOTES, Exhibiting the connexion, explaining the sense, and for di reeling and animating the devotion : By- JOHN MOWN, "Pftfejfor of Divinity, and Minijler of the Gofpel at Haddington, 1 TO WHICH IS ADDED, A copious Index, of the fir ft line of each ftanza, in alphabetical order. / will Sing with /^Spirit, and I will Sm with /^Understanding alfc, i Cor, xiv, 15, P H1LAD EL P HI A* Printed by PATTERSON & COCHRAN, No. 148, south Fourth-street* 1798, 4i P R E F A C E. NO part of the Chriflian worfhip is more plainly warranted by the Oracles or God, than the or- dinance of t^JlngiHrg of p Calms. The^p*ient He- brews practifed \% at the Red Sea, before their fyftem of ceremonial worfhip was~prefcrYbed them by God, Exod. xv. It was preferred to the mod pompous fa- crifices, even while the ^p^d^^i^b-fervances re- mained in their vigou^^f^ijfs-t^ ^o^iV -The di- vine ob 1 i ga t i o n to lE^rem ai oecl j ry^Ulj ( for q-ep w Is 'en. the ceremonial law, «^ith Jin&i*s*rrre5?- waV^holifhed, PfaJms xlvii. 1, ^6, 1- Ixvii. 4. c. 1, 4. Eph. v. 19. with ii. 14, 15. ^ol. iii. 16. wirh ii. 16, it. James v. 1 3. We have it er^foTjeg @iXl?©igm©in gaging example 0) the a//gWsS^hb%ej>t their firjf eftatey; Job xxxviii. 6, 7. Luke^.*l^:t^|^.^^r^^; : "6f a- poftles and faints. Ads xvY*^v^^€$?^W^i J , Exod. xv. judges y. Lukei. 1 Sam. ii, Ifa. xxxv. 10. Jer. xxxi. 12. Rev, iv. 8, o. and v. 9, id. vii. 10, 12. xiv. r,. xv. 5. xix. 1 — 7. Nay, of oar Redeemer himfelf, Matth. xxvi. gq. This exercife, performed in a man. ner iVned to the dignity of the glorified (late, will be the everlafHog employ of eftabliihed angels and ranfomed men, Ifa. xxvi. iq, li. ii\ Rev. v. — 13. Nor is this exercife of inconnderable ufefulnefs. Thz whole glories of Tsrovab, as made known to creatures, and sli the wonders of his creating pow- er, his redeeming love, and providential care, be- longing to iis exfenfive theme, it is an excellent mean? of conveying holy indruftions, Col. iii. 16. of infplring heavenly affections, Pfalm Ivii. 7, 8. of re- creating holy fools, James v. 13. and, in fine, of bear- ing; up and comforting am'dit grief' and trouble, Acts xvi. 7\. Pfalm cxix. 54. and hence it is feafona- ble, not only in this valley of tears, but even in the mod diilrefsful condition, Pfalm ci. t. Hab. iii. 17, 18. It is a dury which ought to be practifed bv every perfon in fecret by himfelf, James v. 13. Pfalm cxix. 62, 164. By every Chrifttan family and fociety , Pfalnr cxviii. 1 j. Ads xvi. 25. And in every public wor— g. hsg afembly and congregation, Ifa. xxxv. i, 2 P « i7 PREFACE, and 111- 7, S, 9. and liv. 1. Eph. v. ig. Col. iii. 16. Matth. xxvL 30. i Cor. xiv. 26. Rev. v. 9, 10. xiv. 3. xv. 3. This duty being of fo much importance, we ought to perform it under the fpecial influence of the Holy (Shaft, 1 Cor. xiv. 15. John iv. 24. With undemanding of the warrantableneis, matter, manner, and end of our praile, Pfilm xivii. 6, 7. 1 Cor. xiv. 1 c. With an holy ardour of airedtion and vigour of mind, Pfalm hii, 10. and c:ii. I, 2. With grace in our heart, ma- king melody therein to The Lord, Eph. v. 19. Col. iii. 16. In the name of Cbrift as Mediator bet ween God and us, Cot. iii. 16, I 7. 1 Pet. ii. 5. and with an ear- ned: aim to glorify God, Col. iii. 16. 1 Pet. iv. ir. 1 Cor. x. 31. — The matter ought to be prudently fuit- ed to our occafionsand conditions, Pfalm cxii. 5. Eph. v. 15. Nor ought the vieio A - , or, in focial worfhip,the harmony of voices to be overlooked, Pfalm cl. No doubt, one may compofe fpiritnal hymns for his own and others* r el igious recreation: but to admit forms of human compofnre into the ftated and public worfhip of God, appears to me very improper, (t) It is extremely dangerous. Herefies and errors by this means, may, an ff often have been very infenfibly in- trod iced into churches, congregations or families. (2) There is no need of it. The Holy Ghoft hath, in the pfalm s of David, and other fcriptural fongs, furnifhed us with fuch a rich collection of gofpel-doc trincs and precious promifes — an exteniive fund of I'olid experiences — an exhauhMefs mine of gofpel-grace and truth — an endlefs variety to fuit every ftate or condition, in which either ourownfoul, orthechurci of Chriil, can be upon earth. Thefe were fi;amed b/ liim wiio fearcheth the hearts, and knows the deep things of God ; and hence mud be better adapted to the cafe of fouls or focieties, than any piivste rom- pofuion whatever. (2) Though the Ho 1 )' Ghoft ne- ver faw meet to leave us a liturgy of prayers ; yet from the poetical com po fit ion thereof, it is plain he intended thefe ofalms and fongs for a flanding form of '"s in the church. It is certain they were nfed in n a tinier under the Old Teftament. The Holy PREFACE. v Ghoit hath under the New, plainly directed us to toe life 'hereof, Col. iii. 16. isph. v. 19. The Psalms, Hymns, and fpiritual Songs, there recommended, are plainly the fame with the Mizmorim, tehillim, and shirim, mentioned in the Hebrew titles of David's Pfalms,' iii. iv. v. &c. cxlv. cxx — cxxxiv. It hath been pretended, the language and manner of thefe pfalms, are not fuited to the ipiri'.ual nature of par gefpel-worfhip. That, however, may as well he urged agaihft the reading of them, as againfi: the. finging of them : Nay, again!! tlie reading of a greet part of the Old Teftament in our Christian worihip. It is certain many pailages hi the hook of Pfalms. or of other fcript-re longs, are expreiiive pf the exer- ciies oi faith, repentance, iove, or the like graces, which dill remain of the fume jo rm es under the Old Teftament. The predictions are either accompli fh'ed, , and fo may be fung to the honour of God s mercy and faithfulnefs ; or, if not accompli (lied, may be fung in the hopes, that God will accomplith them in his time. . The hiftory of what God did foi his Jewifh fervants and church, may be fung with admiration of his love, wifdom, power, and grace therein manifefted. It is Further to he cenfidered, that much of what related,, to David, or the Jewifh church, was typical of the character ajad concerns of jef'us Cbrift and the gofpel- church ; and fo ought to be fung with a fpeci^l ampli- cation thereto. As for thofe pfalms, which contain denunciations of divine vengeance upon the enemies of God and Lis church, we are to confider, that, thefe exprcflions were dictated by the mfallibte ••Spirit of God ; that, the objects oi them were forefcen 10 he irreconcilable ■enemies of Chriit arid his church ; that thofe wl o fi-g ihem, only spplaud the equity of the doom whirjj God , hath juftly pronounced upon fuch offenders ; and that _ they are to.be fung with a £v\\ per fu alio r of the event, , ■as a^ccrtau:, ev f d and jufl: d'i'pla.y of the glory aocU tremendous juftrce of {ehovab. Though we. ought, , . therefore, never to apply them to particular parties orperfor.s who haveiniured us, .yet-t^o decline uimg A 2: vi PREFACE. them, out of a pretence of charity, is to fuppofe our- lelves wifes than him, whole understanding is infin- ite, ana more merciful than the Father of mercies, who is foil of. companion, and deiighteth in mercy. Moreover, as thefe external enemies, devoted to de- itrueYton, were in fome i'^nie emblematic of our fpiri. tual enemies, within or without us, the paflages may be fung with application to ourfelves, as directed a- gainit thefe principalities and poiv-.rs, and fpirituai wickeduejfes, in high places, with whom we have to wreftle, while on earth, Eph. vi. 10 — 19, 1 Pet. v. 8, 9, Rom. viii. 13. Gal. v. 17 — 24. The book of Pfalms is one of the mod extenfive and ufefui in holy fcripture, as it is every where luited to the cafe of the faints. It is, at tird, much mixed with complaints and fupplications, and at iaft ifliies in pure and lalting praife. That Heman compofed Pfalm lxxxviii. Ethan lxxxix. and Mofes xc, i., certain — Whether thefe under the name of Afaph were moftly penned by him, or only affigned to be fung by him as a matter of the temple-mufic, as others were to Jedu- thun or to the fons of Korah, or other chief musici- ans, we cannot determine. Some, as Pfalms lxxiv. Ixxix. cxxv'i. and exxxvii* appear to have been corn- poled after the begun captivity to Babylon ; but by Avhom we know not. The reft, including thofe two marked with the name of Solomon, might be com* pofed by David the fweet pfalmift otTfracl*. * That the Hebrew originals are compofed in a mem trical form, hath been almofl univerfaily agreed. But the laws and vitafures of the poetry have not yet been elearly afcertained. It is not even reafonable to infijf, they Jhoutd correfpond with thofe of the Creeks or Re- mans and other nations of the weft, whofe idionis avd manner of language are fa remarkably different. It is certain, they as littls agree with thofe of the dull and in- ftp id rhymes compofed by the fewifh Rabbins. Some of the pfalms , no doubt, for the more eafy retention thereof in the memory , are compofed of verfes or fen* fences beginning according to the order of the Hebrew alprubei . In this order every f ntence of the \ nth and With f>J alms begins with a n The fixty-ninth Pialm is five times referred to in the gbfpels, as heing uttered by the prophet, in the perfon of Mefliah. The imprecations or rather pre- dictions^ at the latter end ofir, are applied, Ron . xi. 9, 10 to the Jews; and to judas, - A cls i. 20 where the cix P aim is aifo cited, a? prophetical or the fore judgments which fhoulci befal that arch traitor, and the wretched nation, of which he was an epitome. St. Matthew, informing us, chap, xiii 34. that Je is fpake to the multitude in parables, gives it as on reafon why he did fo, "that it might be fulfilled " which was fpoken by the prophet ; Pfatm Ixxviii. "2. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will ut- u ter things which have been kept iecret from the ft foundation of the world." The ninety-firit Pfalm was applied, by the tempter, to Median : nor did our Lord objeft to the applica- tion, but only to the falfe inference, which his ad- versary fuggefted from it, Matt. iv. 6, 7. The ninety -fifth Pfalm is explained at large in Heb. iii. iv. as relative to the (late and trial of Chri- ftians in the world, and to their attainment of the heavenly reft. The hundred and tenth Pfalm is cited by Chrifl himfelf, Matt. xxii. 44. as treating of his exaltation, kingdom, and priellhood. The hundred and feventeenth "Pfalm, confifting on- ly of two verfes, is employed, Rom. xv. it. to prove, that the Gentiles were one day to praife God for the mercies of redemption. The 22d verfe of the hundred and eighteenth Pfalm, fC The Heme which the builders rtfufed," &c. is quot- ed fix different times a? fpoken of our Saviour, And, laltly, «« the fruit of David's boch ," which God is laid in the hundred and thirty-fecoi.d Pfalm, PREFACE, xi il to have prcmifed that he would "place upon his ii throne," is afierred^ Acts ii. ;c, to be Jefus Chi ifr> Thele citation^, lying drfperfedthrougVthe frrip- tures of the New Teftament, are often buffered by common readers to paf> unnoticed. And many others content themfelves with laying, that they are made in a fenfe of accommodation, as pall^ges may be <}uot=> ed from poems or hiflories merely human, for the il- lustration of truths, of which their authors neve? thought. But not to enquire, at prefent, whether pafTages are not iometimes cited in this manner, furely no one can attentively review the above collection of New- Teitantent-citations from the book of Pfalms, as they have been placed together before him, without percei-, ving, that the Pfalms are written upon a divine, pre- concerted, prophetical plan, and contain much more^ than, at Brit light, they appear to do. They a#fe beautiful without, but all glorious within, like " ap- " pies of gold in pictures, or net-work cafes of (li- ver " Prov. xxv. ii. The brightnefs of the cafket attracts our attention, till, through it, upon a near- er approach, we difcover its contents. And then, indeed, it may be faid to have " no glory, by reafcm *\ of the glory that (b far excelleth " Very delight* ful and profitable they are, in their literal and hifto- rica! fenfe^ which well repayeth all the pains taken to come at it. But that once obtained, a farther fceue begins to open upon us, and all the bleffings of the gofpel prefent themfelves to the eye of faith. So that the expoiitor is as a traveller afcending an emi- nence, neither unfruitful, nor unpleaianc ; at the top of which when he is arrived, he beholds, likeMofes from the fummit of mount Neho, a snore love'y and extenfive profpecc lying beyond it, and ftretching a- way to the utmo(r bounds of the everlafting hills. Ke iees vallies eovered over with corn, bloonrng gardens, and verdant meadows, with flocks and herds feeding by rivers of Water: till ravifhed with the fight, he cries out, as St Peter did, at the view of his mailer's glory, " It is go©d to be here V *W PREFACE. Tt is obvious, that every part of the Pfalter, when explicated according 10 this fcriptural and primitive method, is rendered universally " profitable for doc* " trine, for reproof, for correction, for Lnilrudfctoa " in right soul nef&i" an the propriety immediately appears ot its having always been ofed in the devo- tional way; both by the Jewifh and the Christian church. With regard to the Jews, bimop Chandler very pertinently remarks, that " they mud have un» " deritood David their prince to have been a iigure " of Vieffiah They would not otherwife have made " his Pfalms pnrt of their daily worfhip, nor would <; David have delivered them to the church, to be Co " employed, were it not to inftrucr, and iupport <{ them in the knowledge and belief of this fu.sda- 44 mental article. Was ike Meffias not concerned in ** the Pfalms, it were abfurd to celebrate, twice a day, '1 in their public devotions, the events of one man's u life, who was deceafed fo long ago, as to have no a relation now to the Jews, and the circurnftances of tl their affairs; or to transcribe whole paiiages, from *' them, into their prayers for the coming of the PHef* *' fiah." Upon the fame principle, it iaeafily feen, that the objections, which may feem to lie againit the ufe ot Jewifh Services, in ChrVftian congregations. ceai'e at once. Thus, it may be faid, Are we con- cerned with the affairs of David and of Ifrael ? Have we any thing, to do with the ark and the temple \ They are no more. Are we to go up to Jeruf-tlem, and to worths p on Si on ? They are ^efolated, and trod- den under foot by the Turks. Are we to facrince ill' 1 ; according to the law i The law is ;. S.di fiv<: -d, never to be obferved again. Do we pray for victory over Moab, Ldoin, ar.d PhiHUia; or for deliverance from Babylon? There are no fuch na» lion? no fuch. places in the world. What then do we mean when, taking fuch expreffions into our mourns, we utter them in our own perfons, as parts of our devotions, before God ? A flu redly we mufl mean a fpiritual Jerufalem and Sion ; a fpiritual ark an 1 temple; a fpiritual law; fpiritual facrifietfsj and fpiritual victories j fpiritual enemies; ail de- PREFACE. xv fcrjibed under the old names, which are ftlll retained, though li old things are palled away, aiid all things '*' are to" become new." By fa b(U to ting MeJUuh for David, the gofpei for the law, tne churoh ChrifHan for that of lirael, and the enemies of the one for thofe of the other, the Pialms are made oar own. Nay., they are with more fulnefs and propriety applied now to the fub lance, than they were of old to the "ihadow of &ood things then to come?' And therefore, ever fince the commencement of the ChrHHan cera, the church hath ckfcn to cek-brate the gofpel myite- ries in the words ei thefe ancient hymns, rather than to compufe for that .pur pole new ones of her own. For let it not pafs unobierved, that when, upon thefiric publication of the gofpel, the spoftles had occiiioa to utter their transports of joy, on their being count- ed worthy to fuifer ior the name of their dear Lord and ma Iter, which was then oppofed by jew and Gentile, they brake forth into an application of the fecond Pfalm to the tranfaclions then before their eyes. See A£ts iv. 2 c, The primitive Chriftians conftmtly followed this method, in their devotions : and, particularly when, delivered out of the hands of parfecuti no tyrants, b) the victories of Cor {tan tine, they praifed God tor his goadneis, and the glorious fnccsfs and eftaWiftiment of Chriit's religion, no words were found fc^exquifuely adapted to i.;e par- pofe, as thofe of David, in the xcn ; xcviii, nd o- ther Pfalms — " Slno unto the Lord a new fong : fi firg unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the ** Lord, and praife his name: be telling ni hisfaha- 4i tion from day to day. Declare his honour unto the 4t heathens, his worfhip unto all people. "— -&o. &c. &c. In thefe, and the like Pfalms, we continue to praife God, for all his fpiritual mercies in Chrift, to this day. The Pfalms, thus applied, have advantages, which no frem ccmpoflrions, ho*^ ever finely executed can p-ffihly have; fmce befides their incomparable fknefs to exprefs our fentiments, they are, at the tame t',me s memorials of, and appeals to former mercies ir\6 de- liverances; they are acknowledgments of prophecies xvi PREFACE. accompli (bed ; they point out the connection between the old and new difpenfations, thereby teaching us to admire and adore the wifdom of God displayed in both, and furnifhing, while we read or fmg them, an inexhauitible variety of the nohleli matter that can engage the Contemplations of man. Very few of the Pfa lms, comparatively, appear to be fimply prophetical, and to belong only to Mclliah, without the intervention of any other perfon. Moft of them, it is apprehended, have a double fenfe, which (lands upon this ground and foundation, that the ancient patriarchs, prophets, priefts and kings, were typical characters, in their feveral offices, and in the mire remarkable paflages of their lives, their extraordinary deprelllons, and miraculous exalta- tions, foreihewing him who wastoariie, as the head of the holy family, the great Prophet, the true Pried, the everlafting King. The Ifraelitifli polity, and the law of Mofes, were pnrpofely framed after the example and (hadow of things Ipirirual and hea- venly ; and the events, which happened to the anci- ent people of God, were defigned to fhadow out pa- rallel occurrences, which mould afterwards take place, in the accomplishment of man's ledemption, and the rK* and progrefs of the Chriftian church. For th'u re.vlbn, the Wfalms compofed for the u(e of lfrael, and 2 frael's monarch, and by them according- ly njT ] at the time, do admit of on application to us, who arc now "the lfrael of God," and to our Re- deemer, who is the King of this lfrael. Nor will this feem ftrange to us, if we reflecl:, that the fame divine perlon, who infpired the Pfalms, did alio foreknow and pre difpofe all events, of which he intended them to treat. And hence it is evident, that the fpiriiuil fenfe is, and mufl be peculiar to the fcriptures; becaufe, of thofe perfons and tranlHc- 120ns only, which are there mentioned and recorded, can it be affirmed for certain, that they were defign- ed to be figurative. What is faid in the Pfalms occafionally of the law and its ceremonies, facrifices, ablutions, and purifi- cations; of rhe tabernacle and temple, with the fer„ PREFACE. xvli vices therein performed; and of the Aaronkal prieft- hood ; all this Chriiiians trunsfer to the new law ; to the oblation of Chriil -, to jollification by his blood, and fan&ification by his Spirit ; to the true taberna- cle, or temple, not made with hands ; and to what was therein done for the faivation of the world, by him who was, in one refpeel:, a facrifice ; in another, a temple ; and in a third, an high pried for ever, after the order of Melchi'edek. That fuch was the intention of thefe legal figures, is declared at large in the Epiitle to the Hebrews : and they are of great affiftance to us now ; in forming our ideas of the re- alities to which they correfpond. " Under the Jew- " ifh ceconomy," fays the excellent Mr. Pafcal, " truth appeared but in figure ; in heaven it is open, U and without a veil ; in the church militant it is fo ii veiled, as to be yet difcerned by its corretpondence n to the figure. As the figure was firit built upon " the truth, fo the truth is now diitinguifhabie by u the figure" Let us ftop, for a moment, to contemplate the true character of thefe facred hymns. Cji'eatnefs confers no exemption from the cares and forrows of life. Its (hare of them frequently bears a melancholy proportion to its exaltation. This the Ifraelitifh monarch experienced. He fought in pie- ty that peace which he could not find in empire, and alleviated the difquietudes of date with the exercifes of devotion. His invaluable Pfalms convey thofe comforts to O- thers, which they afforded to himfelf. Compofed upon particular occaiions, yet defigned for general ufe; delivered cut as ferv'ces for Ifraelites under the law, yei no lefs adapted to the circumtfances of Chriftians under the gofpel ; they prefent religion to us in the mod engaging drefs ; communicating truths which philofophy could never inveftjgate, in a dyle: which poetry can never equal ; while hiftory is made the vehicle of prophecy, and creation lends all its- charms to paiur the glories of redemption. Calcu- lated alike to profit, and to pleafe ? they inform ths- B 2 xviii PREFACE. underftanding, elevate the affections, and entertain the imagination. Indited under tiie influence ot Him, co whom all hearts are known, and all events fere- known, they fait mankind in all fuuations, grateful as the manna which defceaded from above, and con- formed itfeff to every palate. The taireft produc- tions of human wit. after a few perufals, like gather, ed flowers, wither in our hands, and loie their fra- grancy ; but thele unftding plants ot paradife be- come, as we are accullomed to them, ftill more snd more beautiful ; their bloom appears to be daily heightened ; frefh odours are emitted, and new ivveets extracted from them. Ke who hath once tafted their excellencies, will deiire to tafte them again; and he who taftes them ofteneft, will relifii them bell. That the reader may the more eafily turn to fuch Pfalms as will belt fuit the prelent ftate of hJ3 mind, according to the different circumftances, whether external or internal, into which, by the changes and chances ot life, or the variations of temper and difpofition, he may, at any time thrown, the common Table of Pfalms, clalled u der their feveral fubje&s, is here fubjoined. Prayers. folation under his af- I. "Prayers ror pardon of fliclions. F [aim 13, 22, fin. Pfalm 6, 25, 38, 69, .77, So, 143. 51,130. Pfalms (tiled IV. Prayers wherein the Penitential 6, 32, 38, Pfalmift aiketh help of 51, IQ2, 13c, 143. God, in confideration II. Prayers compofed of his own integrity, when the Pfalmift was and the upright nefs of deprived of an oppor. his caufe, Pfalm 7, 17, tunity of the public ex- 26, 35. erciie of religion .Pfalm V. Prayers expreffing 42, 45, 63, 84. the firmed truft and ill. Prayers wherein th-e confidence in God un. Pfalmift feems extreme- der afflictions. Pfalm ly dejected, though not 3, 16, 27, 3* , 54; 5^> totally deprived of con- 57., 6i, 62, Jl, S6< PREFACE, xix VI. Pray en compqfed 117, 121, 141, 146. when the people of God II. Pfalms ctifplayr-g were under affliction or the power, majeily , gio- perfecution. Pfalm 44, ry. .and other attri. 60, 74, 79, So, 83, So, buies of. the divine be- 94, 102, 125, 137. ing. P.falm%, 19, 24,29, VII. The following are 23, 47/50,65, 66, 76, likewife prayers in 77, 93, 95, 96, 07, 99, time of trouble and af- 104, it t, irq, 1 14, it 5, fli6tia;v. IJaim 4, 5, 134, 139, 147, 140,150. ir, 28, 41, 55> 59> 64, Inftruciive Pfalms. 70, 109, 120, 1 40, 141, I. The diiferent charac- 142. ters of gocd and bad VIII. Prayers of inter- men; the happinefs of ceflion. Pjalm 20, dj, the one, and the nii r e- 122, 132, 144. ries of the other, are Pfalms ot Thankfgiving. represented in the iol- I. Than kfg hi tigs for mer- lowing Pfalms 1,5,7, cies vouchfafed to par- 9, 10, ti, 12, 14, 15, ticular perlbns. Pfalm 17, 24, 25, 32, 34, 36, 9, 18, 22, 30, 34, 40, IS, 37, 50, 52, S3, 58, 7?', 103, 108, no, 118, 138, 75, 84. 91, 92, 94, 1 12, 144- 119/121,125,127,128, II. Thankfgivings for 133. mercies vouchfafed to II. The Ex eilence of the Ifraelites in gene- God's law. Pfa/m 19, ral. Pjalm 46, 48, 65, '119. 66, 68, 76, 81,85, 98, III. The vanity of lit?. 105, 124, 126, 129, man life. Pfalm 39,49, 135, 136, 149. 90. Ffaltns of Praife and Ado- IV. Advice t' magi- ration, difplaying the ftrates. Pfai 82, 101. Attributes of God. V. The vir ue of huuii- I. General acknowledg- lity. Pjalm 731. ments of God's good- Pfalms more eminently nefs and mercy, and and directly prophetical, particularly his care pjalm 2, 16, 22, 40, 4 and protection of good 68, 72, 87, 101, 118, men. Pfalm 23, 34, Hiftorical Pfalms. 36., 91, 100, IQ3, 107^ Pfalm 78, 105, 106, PSALMS of DAVID, In METRE. 1£ PSAL M I. Perhaps this Pfalm was added by Ezra, or whoever eli'e was the cofie&or of the others into one book. We have r.eprelented to us in it, (i) The character of the godly ; how holy they are, abttaining from every temptation to, or appearance of evil; and with pleafure meditating on, and endeavouring to fulfil the whole law of God, ver. I, 2. and how happy, planted in the neareft fellowship with Jefus, the river of life, they prosper in their lawful at- tempts: They never fall from their grace or pro- feilion ; and they (hall Hand with approbation at the judgment-leal of God, ver. 3. (2) The fmfulneis and mifery of the wicked : How different from, and contrary to the godly in their inclination, companions, exercifes and ends ! How light and unfubftantral, as chaff, and ready to be hurled by the florins of infinite wrath, into the depths of heil, as call and coudemned in the righteous judg- ment of God! ver 4, 5. (3) The great reaion of the happinefs of faints, and of the mifery of lim- ners. The. Lord loveth the righteous, and obferves and approves their inclinations and behaviour ; but as an enemy, he brings deftruclive vengeance upon the wicked, ver. 6 rule I 1ng thele important lines, let my foul lift ^ her eyes to that great pattern 01 per- fe&ion^jtsus, the man of God's right hand, who was holy, harmlefs, undefiled, and feparate | m finners; and who fulfilled all righteouf* nefs, magnified the law, and made it honour- able for men — for me. United to his perfon, cloathed with his righteoufnefs, and all inflated and animated with his redeeming love died abroad- in my heart, let me examine my !elf as in his fight; let me walk in him as my way, and follow him as my pattern and guide: Let me with folemn awe look. to, and prepare for his lait, his eternal judgment i PSALM L 21 TH A T man hath perfed hleOednels, who walketh not aftray In counfel of ungodly men, nor Hands in iinners* way, Nor fitteth in the fcorner's chair": 2 But placeth his delight Upon God's law, and meditates on his law day and night, 3 He marl he like a tree that grows near planted by a river, Which in his feafon yields his fruity and his leaf fadeth never : And all he doth (hail profper well. 4 The wicked are not fo : But l.ke they are unto the chaff which wind drives to and fro. 5 In judgment, therefore, (hall not fland fuch as ungodly are ; Nor in th* affembly of the juil (hall wicked men appear. € For why ? the way of godly men unto *He Lord is known : /hereas the way of wick ihall quite be overthrown. P S A L M If. Perhaps this Pfalm relates partly to Da ment on his throne and the victories o mies which an ended it. Compare Pfa 2 Sam. iii. v. viii x. xviii. xx. But the \vh refpedts Jefus oor Redeemer. Behold (r) Tht lent and hartrn-.nioas, bur unfir. tefsiul oppof >> y which Jews and Gentiles of all ranks make^ .»e perfon and redemption-work of the great Goo! my 22 P S A L M II. Saviour. Behold what ruin and woe they draw upon themfelves by their attempts ! ver. i, — 5, 9. (2) Behold how, notwithstanding all their raging ma- lice and furious oppofnion, Jehovah initals our Redeemer King ih his church, and infallibly fixeth him o^ his throne ; avows him his only begotten Son, and gives unto him the Gentiles ror his people ! ver. 6 — b, (?) Behold Jehovah's demand ot' Ten- ons consideration and fear of, joy in, and trail, obedi - e and love to his exalte! Son, ver. 9, — 12. While ' 1ft me remark the horrid na- ture 1 et me with broken heart, bewail my neglect of \i^J oppoiition to JefusChrift. Let me with wonder hlefs his name, that I have not al- ready perifhed i» mine iniquity* Let me with earneftnefs accept that once debated Redeemer, as my Saviour, tnv favereigfi, my proprietor my god, and my all. Let me learn to know him, rejoice ii> him, and with holy awe. commit my whole fal- vation, and the filiation of my country, nay, of all the ends of the earth to him. WH Y rage the heathen ? and vain things why do the people mind ? Kings of the earth do fet themfelves, 5 princes are comhin'd ot again it the Lord, and his laying thus, er break their bands, $v cad their cords from us. - in heaven fits, mall laugh \ iOrd fhall icorn them all. ihaU he fpeak to them in wrath, rage'he vex them fhall. v, j.et, notwithltanding, I have him to be my King appointed : PSALM III. 23 And over Sion, my holy hill, I have him fying anointed. 7 The fure decree I will declare : The Lord hath laid to me, Thou art mine only Son ; this day I have begotten thee. B Afk ot me, and for heritage the heathen Til make thine, And for poiieiTion 1 to thee will give earth's utmoft line. 2 Thou {halt, as with a weighty rod of iron, break them ail ; And, as a potter's ihred, thou malt them daih in pieces [mail. 10 Now therefore, kings, be wife : be taught, ye judges of the earth. ii Serve God in fear, and fee that ye join trembling with your mirth. 12 Kifs ye the Son, left in his ire ye periih from the way, If once his wrath begin to burn ; Blefs'd all that on him itay. PSAL M III. A Pfalm of DtwiJ, when he fled from Abfal&*n h' Sarins beheld the rova! dignity of ®y ?.t ; S3 - > rs rne here behold the joy, rh^ pe \ the i*itry the redeemed amidit rheir dillreiles ianuaierah;e» Here David driven from his hoi) capita] aud tugjl throne, by his rebellious (on, Absalom, (\) lum« plains to h:s God of rlie number and malice (if his enemies, ver. i f 2. (2) He encoorageib hiinlelf in his Goc' ? as the fouree and iubjeft mallei 1 cA h. fafeiv, Joy, and honour, ver 3. [3) Here 24 PSALM III. how, on forner occaiions, his Troubles had drive* him to hl^ prayers; how hehid dvyaysround Liod ready 10 heir and gram his recjueits ; h«>w i...fe and eafv lie had lived under his protection i and how effectually he had broken the pjower and restrained the m lice ot his enemies, ver. 4, 5, 7. (4) 1 ri- umphautly trullifg in God, as the fa 1 vat ion and blelier of his peoole, he filenceth ill his fear%, and pours forth hi ; pi aye* s for new protection and deliverance, ver. 6, 8. Think, my foul, of Jefas, who, when bulk of fiafhan c »mp fled him about, trufted in God, that he would deliver him. In ail mv diftrefs, let me pour ont my heart before him, believing in him as God, even my con. Let me always rejoice in the great God my Saviour. Let me truft in him at all times, that as he h.uh delivered, and doth deli, ver, lo he will deliver me. % LORD, how are my foes increas'd? againft rne many rife. 2 Many fay of my foul. For him in God no fuccour lies. 3 Yet thou my (hield and glory art ; th' upiiiter of mine head. I cry'd, and, from his holy hill, the Lord me anfwer made. c I laid me down and flept ; I wak'd, for God fuftained me. not fear though thoufands ten fet round fcgaiaft me be. 7 A rile, O Lord ; fave me, my God : for thou my foes hid flroke All on the cheek-bone ; and the teeth of wicked men hail broke. P S A L M IV. 25 8 Salvation doth appertain unto the Lord alone. Thy bleilingj Lord, for evermore thy people is upon. PSALM IV. To the chief Mufician oa Neginoth, A Pfalm of David, This Pfalm was perhaps cornpoled on the fame occa- fion as the former, when David fled from Abfaiom his ion. Here (1) David, encouraged by former experience, caft$ his burden on the Lord, and fup- piicates a merciful deliverance, ver. 1. (2) Ad- dreffing himfeli to men, particularly to his perfe- curois, he reproves their contempt of God and re- ligion, their delight in, and practice of vanity, fraud and faifehood. He reprefents the happinefs of the faints in hav'tngGod their protector, and ready to hear their reqnefts. He recommends an holy filial awe of God, a careful abftinence from fin ; a compofed trial of, and conveffe with their own heart, together with a devoting of thenvieives, and their conduct and fubftance, to the Lord, ver. 2, — 5. (3) To encourage them tothefludy ofpracVi* cal religion, he remarks whit fuperlative fatisfac- tion and reft himlelf had found in familiar fellow- fhip with God, and in a believing dependence on him, ver. 6 — 8. While I ling, let m? have faith in God, as my own God in Chrift. Let me abhor that levity of mind, that deceitfulnefs, that earthly mindednefs proper to the ungodly, and ev£ry remain thereof. Let my foul pam for Jehovah, and prefer him to every thing el'fe. Let me, by faith, lay myfelf down in his arms, his bofom, as all my falvation and comfort. GIVE ear unto me when I call, God of my righteoufnefs : fiave mercy, hear my pray'r, thou hall eniarg'd me in diflrefs. C 26 PSALM IV. 2 O ye the fons of men, how long will ye love vanities ? How long my glory turn to fhame, and will ye follow lies ? 3 But know, that for himfelf the Lord the godly man doth choofe : The Lord, when I on him do call, to hear will not refufe. 4 Fear and fin not ; talk with your heart on bed, and filent be. 5 OfF'rings prefent of righteoufnefs j and in the Lord truit ye. 6 O who will fhew us any good ? is that which many fay : But of thy countenance the light, Lord, lift on us alway. 7 Upon my heart, belf ow'd by thee more gladnefs I have found, Than they, ev'n then, when corn and wine did moil with them abound. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and quiet fleep will take : Becaufe thou only me to dwell in fafety, Lord, doit make. PSALM V. To the chief Mufician uponA<.7v/W/>, A Pfalm of David. Here (i) the man according to God's heart, in the ^i- fured faith of God's hearinghis pra)ers and hating his fins, fixeth a daily, an early, an earnelt, a lu a- dy, a grate-founded correlpoudence with God, in his ordinances of meditation, prayer, praife, &c. verie i — 7. • (2) Behold him humbly requeuing PSALM V, 27 GocTs fpecial dire&ion in duties which his enemies had rendered difficult to perform ; fuppiicating and prediflingthe ruin of his implacable foes ; and, in the allured faith of obtaining it, imploring comfort and profperity to his fellow-faints, ver. 8, — 12. While I fmg, let my heart and fleOi cry out, and my foul pant and wait for the Lord. In the firm faith of infinite mercy to forgive all my crimes, and wafh out all my finful ftains, let me blufh at, and deteft my own abominations. Let me cultivate the clofeii familiarity with the Lord my God. Let my prayers correfpond with his promifes, and with the particular condition of myfelf or others. GIVE ear unto my words, O Lord ; my meditation weigh. 2 Hear my loud cry, my King, my God \ for I to thee will pray. 3 Lord, thou (halt early hear my voice ; I early will direct My pray'r to thee, and, looking up, an anfwer will expect. 4 For thou art not a God that doth in wickeclnefs delight : Neither fhall evil dwell with thee ; 5 Nor fools (land in thy fight. All that ill-doers are thou hat'il \ 6 Cutt'ft off that liars be : The bloody and deceitful man abhorred is by thee. 7 But I into thy houfe will come in thine abundant grace : And I will worfnip in thy fear toward! thy holy place. 2 APfalm of David. FJiis Pfalm was perhaps comuofed on the occafion of his fori AblaJoin's death. 2 Sam. xyiii. or on the occafion of the death of Goliah the champion and duelliitof Gath, i Sam. xvii. We have in it, { i ) pavid's hearty thankfgivmgs to God tor his plead- ing of his cauie againlt his and his country's ene- mies, and for giving him a complete victory over them, ver. i — 6. and his excitement of others to join with him therein, ver. ii, 12. (2; His tri- umph in God as the lighteous judge of the world, protector of his people, and the deitroyer of his implacable enemies, ver. 7, — 10. 15, — 18. (3) His requefts for further grounds of praising God as his own deliverer ; and the confouwder of his enemies, ver. 1 3, 14, i g , 20. &h\le I lingtheie lubje&s, let mechiefiy confidcr the bleffings of redemption, the victories of my Re- deemer over fin, death, aad hell ; and believe that \, through him, /hall be more than a conqueror. Let the ruin of tranlgreflbrs effectually admonilh me to ftand in awe of God ; and at the furtheft dif. tance from fin. 6 P S A. L M IX. LORD, thee I'll praife with all my heart, thy wonders all proclaim. 2 in thee, moll High, Til greatly joy, and fine unto thy name. 3 When back my foes were turn'd, they fell, and perifh d at thy fight; 4 For thou mafntain'dit my right and caufe, on throne fatt'lt, judging right. 5 The heathen thou rebuked hail:, the wicked ovei thrown; Thou halt put out their names, that they may never more be known. 6 O en'my ! now deitr uclions have an end perpetual> Thou cities raz d ; periGVd with them is their memorial. 7 God mall endure for ay ; he doth for judgment fet his throne : 8 In righteoufnefs to judge the world, jufiice to give each one. 9 God allb will a refuge be for thofe that are opprefs'd ; A refuge will he be, in times of trouble, to diitrell. io And they that know thy name, in thee the^r confidence will place ; For thou hall not forfaken them that truly feek thy face. 1 1 O fmg ye praifesi to the Lord, that dwells on Sion hill: And all the nations among, his deeds record ye Hill. PSALM IX. 37 12 When he- enquireth after blood, he. then rememb'reth them : The humble folk he not forgets, that call upon his name. 13 Lord, pity me; behold the grief which I from foes fuftain ; Ev'n thou, who from the gates of death doft raife me up again : 14 That I, in Sion's daughters' gates, may all thy praife advance : And that I may rejoice always in thy deliverance. 15 The heathen are funk in the pit, which they themfelves prepar d ; And in the net which they have hid their own feet fa ft are fiiar*d. 1 6 The Lord is by the judgment known, which he himfelf hath wrought : The Tinners' hands do make the mares wherewith themfelves are caught. 17 They who are wicked, into hell, each one, mall turned be : And all the nations that forget to feek the Lord moil high. 18 Tor they that needy are, fhall not forgotten be alway ; The expe&ation of the poor mall not be loft for ay. 19 Arife, Lord, let not man prevail ; y judge heathens in thy fight : 20 That they may know themfelves but men, the nations, Lord, affright. D 38 PSAL M X. In this pfalm of lamentation and woe, we have (i) Davids mournful complaints or God's withdraw. meat of !i Is onc'ous and comfortable prefence, ver. I. (2) His mournful and [hocking representa- tion of the wicked men, who perfecoted him, du- ring God's abfence : They proudly gloried in them- felves; they counteracted the laws, and contemned the judgments of God; they contradicted and defi- ed their oppofers ; they were malicious, treacher- ous, crafty, hypocritical, and atheittica) oerfeeu, tors, ver' 2— 11. (?) His earned (applications for relief to the people of God, attended with the firm faith of obtaining it, ver. 12 — ifc. While 1 ling thefe, ponder, O my foul, what a pri- vilege it is to enjoy familiar feilowfhip with God! What abominations lie hid in an evil heart of unbe- lief i What a mercy, that the Lord, hath withheld me from that outrage in wickednefs, of which my corrupt nature is capable i Let all my views of fins and of judgments caufe me to rlee to Jefus for re- lief, if he prepare my heart lo pray, be svill fur©4 ly grant my reimefts. WHFREFORE is it 9 that thou, O Lord, doft (land from us afar ? And wherefore hided thou thyfelf, when times 10 troublous are I 3, The wicked, in his loftmefs, doth perfecute the poor : In thefe devices they have fram'd, let them be taken fure. 3 The wicked of his heart's defire doth talk with boafting great ; He blefseth him that's covetous, whom vet the Lord doth hate. 4 The wi. ked 3 through his pride of face, 0.1 Jo 1 he doth not call : PSALM X, 39 And in the coimfels of his heart the Lord is not at all. 5 His ways they always grievous are ; thy judgments from his light Removed are : at all his foe's he puffeth with defpite. 6 Within his heart he thus hath laid, I mall not moved be ; And no adverfity at all fhall ever come to me. y His mouth with curfmg, fraud, deceit^ is fill'd abundantly : And underneath his tongue there is mifchief and vanity. 8 He clofely fits in villages : he flays the innocent : Againtl the poor, that pafs him by 9 his cruel eyes are bent. 9 He, lion-like, lurks in his den : he waits the poor to take : And when he draws him in his net 5 his prey he doth him make. io Himfelf he humbleth very low, he croucheth down withal, That fo a multitude of poor, may by his (Irong ones fall. 1 1 He thus hath faid within his heart, The Lord hath quite forgot : He hides his countenance, and he for ever fees it not. £2 O Lord, do thou a rife ; O God, lift up thine hand on high : 4 o P SAL M Xf. Put not the meek afHi&ed one3 out of thy memory. 13 Why is it that the wicked man thus doth the Lord delpiie ? Because, that God will it require, he in his heart denies. 14 Thou haft it feen, for their mifchief, and fpite thou wilt repay : the poor commits himfelf to thee, thou art the orphans 5 flay. 1$ The arm break of the wicked man, . and of the evil one: Do thou feek out his wickednefs, until thou fin deft none. 16 The Lord is king through ages all 3 ev n to eternity : ■ The heathen people from his land are perifh*d utterly. 17 O Lord, of thofe that humble are thou the defire didlt hear : Thou wilt prepare their heart, and thou to hear wilt bend thine ear. j 3 To judge the fatherlefs, and thofe that are oppreffed fore ; That man, that is but fprung of earth, may them opprefs no more. P S A L M XI. To the chief Mufioan, A Pfalm of DxviJ. Behold here (1) David, tempted by h'is timorous friends to ell-ape to fome mountain, and hide him. felffroui the fury of Saul, or of Abfiiom, zi if that were his only fafe courfe now, when his enemies P S A L M XI. 41 were exerting themfelves to the utterinoft, and all things were in diforder and confufion, ver 1, — 3. (2) David baffling the temptation by a reiolute profeffion of his trail in God, as the obferver of all men; as the holy and righteous punifher of the wicked, and friend of die godly, ver. 4 — 7. Let no temptation decoy me from my duty. Let no danger deter me from it. While Jehovah, my reconciled God and Father, manageth and judgeth the world, my fafefl courfe is to commit myfelf to him in well doing. Let the juft vengeance of God upon finners deter my heart from finning, and his kindnefs to his people encourage me to hoiinefs ia all manner of eonyerJ'ation. Iln the Lord do put my truft : how is it then that ye Say to my foul, Flee as a bird unto your mountain high ? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, their fhafts on firing they fit : That thofe who upright are in heart they privily may hit. If the foundations be deftroy'd, what hath the righteous done ? God in his holy temple is, in heaven is his throne : His eyes do fee, his eye- lids try men's, fans. The juft he proves 1 But his foul hates the wicked man, and him that vi'lence loves. Snares, fire and brimftone, furious florins,. on finners he mail rain : This, as the port on of their cup, doth unto them pertain, D 2 4-2 P S A L M XII. 7 ftettamfei the Lord mod righteou3 doth i:i righteoufhefs delight ; And with a pleafanc countenance behoideth the upright. PSALM XII. To the chief Mu-ftcun upon Shci/>'mitb f A Pfalm oi D.wiJ In this pfalm, which was probably penned, during (fas r&tga or Saal,. obferve, (i) The times r«.-n- y the protection and encouragement of wickednefs, by thofe that bare rule in church or (late, ver. i — 4, 8, (2) Enough ir. God to balance the evils of the word of times. He is ready to help. He will in due time reckon with the wicked, and reftrain their info- lence. He wiil feafonably and effea :y ally relieve his opprefied people. His words are pure, firm and faithful ; and he will always fecure a remnant for hhniVif, ver. r, — 5, 6, 7. In evil times, do thou my foul, live on thy God-. Walk humbly with thy God. Mope continually in thy God, and rejoice in his new-covenant promifes to men.-— :q me. EL?, Lord, becaufe the godly man g_ doth daily fade away ; And fiora among the fons of men the faithful do decay. Unto his neighbour ev.'ry one do ! :h utter vanity.: They with a double heart do fpeak* and lips of flattery. God mall cut oil all flatt'rmg lips, P S A L M Xfir. 41 4 We 5 ll with our tongue prevail, our lips are ours : who's lord o'er us? 5 For poor opprefs'd, and for the fighs of needy, rife will I, Saith God, and him m fafety fet from fuch as him- defy. 6 The words of God are words moil pure$ they be like fiiver try'd In earthen furnace, feven times that hath been purify*d. 7 Lord, thou malt them prefer ve and keep for ever from this race. § On each fide walk the wicked, when vile men are- high in place. P S A L M XIIJ. To the chief Mufician, A Pfalm of David, Here we have the Pfalmid fowing in tears, but rea-p-* ing in joy. Obferve ( 5 ) Kis extreme diftrefe, oc- caiioned by God's apparent unkinofieik, and bv in- ward anguifh of foul, and infclencs of enemies, ver. i, 2. (2) His- fervent fupplications thai God would confider his ca'e, flrengtken hisfakh, direct his goings, and comfort his heart, ver. 3, 4. (3) Sudden deliverance, flowing from a fixed truft in God, and inducing to a triumphant joy in him, ver. Sy 6. Think, my foul, how divine withdrawments, fenfibly perceived, fling a renewed heart! How changea- ble the faints' fpiritual frames are, while they con- tinue in this world. Weeping endures for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. And behold, how quickly the prayers of faith ars aaiwered, and its expectations fulfilled 1 H OW long wilt thou forget Jne 5 L< fhall-k for ever be f " 44 PSALM XIV. O how long (hall it be, that thou wilt hide thy face from me ? 2 How long take counfel in my foul, ftill fad in heart, (hall I ? How long exalted o\jer me mail be mine enemy ? 3 O Lord, my God, confider well, and anfwer to me make : Mine eyes enlighten, led the fleep of death me overtake : 4 Left that mine enemy mould fay, Againft him I prevail'd ; And thole that trouble me rejoice, when I am mov'd and fail'd. 5 But I have all my confidence thy mercy fet upon : My heart within me (hall rejoice in thy falvation. 6 I will unto the Lord my God, fing praifes cheerfully ; Becaufe he hath his bounty fliowa to me abundantly. PSALM XIV. To the chief Miifician, A Pfaltn of David. This Pfalm reprefents the fearful finfulnefs and mifery of mankind, and the marvellous method of d e 1 i • verance therefrom. Behold here (i) All man- kind fearfully infected with the God-difhonouring, the foul-debafing and defiling, the world difturb- ifig, malady or fintul corruption in heart and lite, ver. f — 3. (2) Warm expostulations for the con- viction, awakening, and reclaiming of wicked men, ver. £ — 6. (5) Confolations exhibited to the righteous, from God's being among them, and be- P.SAL M XIV. 45 ing a refuge ro them, and from his fending his Son to fave and redeem them, ver. §, — 7. While I (ing thefe lines, let me have a deep fenfe of my corruptions. Let me be alhamed of them be, fore God. Let me, with a broken heart and weep- ing eye, confefs my filthineis and crimes. Let ms groin after and dee to Jefns, the Saviour, the fal- vation of God. O wretched man that I am I who fhall deliver me from this abominable life ; from this inward body of death ! Thanks to the Redeem- er, who is come to Zion to turn away ungodlinefs from Jacob ! Let therefore Jacob rejoice, and the Gentiles fing. THAT there is not a God, the fool doth in his heart conclude ; They are corrupt, their works are vile, not one of them do'th good. 2 Upon men's fons the Lord from heaven did cad his eyes abroad ; To fee if any underfiood, and did feek after God, 3 They altogether filthy are, they all afide are gone : And there is none that doefch good, yea, fure there is not one. 4 Thefe workers of iniquity, do they not know at all, That they my people eat as bread, and on God do not call ? 5 There fear'd they much : for God is with the whole race of the jufL 6 You ihame the counfel of the poor, becaufe God is his trtift. 7 Let Ifr'el's help from Sion come. When back the Lord fhall Bsrinz 46 P S A L M XV. His captives, Jacob (hail rejoice, and Ilrael {hall fmg. P S A L M XV. A ftalm of jD*»*/. Here let me (i) With wonder, obferve the happy ftate uf preterit feUowfiiip with God, in his church on earth, and of everlafting fellowship with him, in the temple above ; and hoW fixed the faints are in this their new-covenant lljte, ver. r, 5. (2) Let me with felf examination, remark the difcri- minatiug characters of fuch as are admitted to that happy ftate. They arelincere, upright and honefl in ail their ways ; are kind to neighbours, they cfteem others in proportion to the appearance of Chrifr's image on them ; and ihey prefer a good confcience to every earthly advantage, ver. 2 — c. While I fmg let me think of my perfect and all fuf- ficient Saviour, who is" palled into the heavens 5 is entered for me, as the forerunner. And, havino- received him into my heart as my fanftifying fur- niture, let me walk in him as my way, and follow him as my pattern, denying ungodlinefs and world* iy lu