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8 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: O teach me thy ftatutes.

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Bonitatem fecifti.

Lord, thou haft dealt graciously with thy fervant: according unto thy word.

2 O learn me true understanding and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

3 Before I was troubled, I went wrong: but now have I kept thy word.

4 Thou art good and gracious: O teach me thy ftatutes.

5 The proud have imagined a lie against me: but I will keep thy commandments with my whole heart.

6 Their heart is as fat as brawn: but my delight hath been in thy law.

7 It is good for me that I have been in trouble: that I may learn thy ftatutes.

8 The law of thy mouth is dearer unto me: than thousands of gold and filver.

TH

EVENING

PRAYER.

Manus tua fecerunt me.

HY hands have made me, and fashioned me: O give me understanding, that I may learn thy command

ments.

2 They that fear thee, will be glad when they see me: because I have put my truft in thy word.

Bonitatem fecifti.—3] When afflictions fail to have their due effect, the cafe is defperate. They are the latt remedy which indulgent Providence ufes, and if they fail, we muft languifh and die in mifery and contempt. When we pray against 'misfortunes, and when we fear them moft, we want them moft.

4] Thou art in thine own nature kind and good, and nothing elfe can proceed from Thee, who defigneft our good, even when thou afflicteft us. Take what methods Thou pleafeft with me, only teach me effectually to do as Thou wouldest have me.

8] "The merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of filver, and the gain thereof than fine gold." Prov. iii. 14.

Manus a fecerunt me.-2] I fhall be a caufe of joy to all pious men, who know nat I have depended on thy promifed affistance, when they -fee me thus fur ported by Thee.

3 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right; and that thou of very faithfulness haft caufed me to be troubled. 4 O let thy merciful kindness be my comfort: according to thy word unto thy fervant.

5 O let thy loving mercies come unto me, that I may live for thy law is my delight.

6 Let the proud be confounded, for they go wickedly about to destroy me: but I will be occupied in thy commandments.

7 Let fuch as fear thee, and have known thy teftimonies: be turned unto me.

8 O let my heart be found in thy ftatutes: that I be not ashamed.

Y

Defecit anima mea.

Με foul hath longed for thy falvation; and I have a

good hope because of thy word.

2 Mine eyes long fore for thy word: faying, O when wilt thou comfort me?

3 For I am become like a bottle in the fmoke: yet do I not forget thy ftatutes.

4 How many are the days of thy fervant: when wilt thou be avenged of them that perfecute me?

5 The proud have digged pits for me: which are not after thy law.

6 All thy commandments are true: they perfecute me falfely; O be thou my help.

7 They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I forfook not thy commandments.

8 O quicken me after thy loving-kindnefs: and fo fhall I keep the teftimonies of thy mouth.

Defecit anima mea.-3 A bottle in the Smoke] My appearance in my prefent ftate is as different from what it was when I dwelt at court, as the furniture of a palace differs from that of a poor Arab's tent, among whom I now dwell. Juft thus the prophet laments that "the precious fons of Zion, comparable to fine gold," or veffels of fine gold, funk in their efti mation, and were confidered as no better than earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter. Lam. iv. 2.

4 How many] How many days are appointed or affigned me, not for the continuance of life, but of the preffures or afflictions that are upon me.

In æternum, Domine..

Lord, thy word: endureth for ever in heaven.

2 Thy truth alfo remaineth from one generation to another thou haft laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.

3 They continue this day according to thine ordinance for all things ferve thee.

4 If my delight had not been in thy law: I should have perished in my trouble.

5 I will never forget thy commandments: for with them thou haft quickened me.

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6 I am thine, O fave me: for I have fought thy commandments.

7 The ungodly laid wait for me, to destroy me: but I will confider thy teftimonies..

8 I fee that all things come to an end: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Quomodo dilexi!

LORD, what love have I unto thy law: all the day

long is my ftudy in it.

2 Thou through thy commandments haft made me wifer than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

3

I have more understanding than my teachers: for thy teftimonies are my study.

4 I am wifer than the aged: because I keep thy com. mandments.

5 I have refrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy word.

6 I have not shrunk from thy judgments: for thou teachest me.

70 how fweet are thy words unto my throat: yea, fweeter than honey unto my mouth.

8 Through thy commandments I get understanding: therefore I hate all evil ways.

In æternum, Domine.-8] I have feen that there is a bound to every region, but to the extent of thy commandments, and that is wider and deeper than that its extremity may be attained unto.

TH

MORNING PRAYER.

Lucerna pedibus meis.

HY word is a lantern unto my feet and a light unto my paths.

2 I have fworn, and am ftedfaftly purpofed: to keep thy righteous judgments.

3 I am troubled above meafure: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word.

4 Let the free-will offerings of my mouth please thee, O Lord and teach me thy judgments.

5 My foul is alway in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

6 The ungodly have laid a fnare for me: but yet I fwerved not from me thy commandments.

7 Thy teftimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever and why? they are the very joy of my heart. 8 I have applied my heart to fulfil thy ftatutes alway: even unto the end.

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Iniquos odio habui.

Hate them that imagine evil things: but thy law do
I love.

2 Thou art my defence and fhield: and my truft is in thy word.

3 Away from me, ye wicked: I will keep the commandments of my God.

4 O stablish me according to thy word, that I may live: and let me not be difappointed of my hope.

5 Hold thou me up, and I fhall be fafe: yea, my delight fhall be ever in thy ftatutes.

Lucerna pedibus meis. In my hand] So 1 Sam. xix. 5, "He put his life in his hand, and flew the Philiftine;" that is, by venturing his own life, he killed the other; and chap. xxviii. 21, "I have put my life in thy hand, and hearkened to thy words;" that is, run the hazard of my life to obey thee.

Iniquos odio habui.-3] In time of vifitation Chrift fitteth among his people" as a refiner and purifier of filver," purging away all drofs, that out of what remains may be made " veffels of honour, meet for the master's ufe."

6 Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy ftatutes for they imagine but deceit.

7 Thou putteft away all the ungodly of the earth like drofs: therefore I love thy teftimonies.

8 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee: and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Feci judicium.

Deal with the thing that is lawful and right: O give me not over unto mine oppreffors.

2 Make thou thy fervant to delight in that which is good that the proud do me no wrong.

3 Mine eyes are wafted away with looking for thy health and for the word of thy righteoufnefs.

4 O deal with thy fervant according unto thy loving mercy and teach me thy ftatutes.

5 I am thy fervant, O grant me understanding: that I may know thy teftimonies.

6 It is time for thee, Lord, to lay to thine hand: for they have destroyed thy law.

7 For I love thy commandments: above gold and precious stone.

8 Therefore hold I ftraight all thy commandments: and all false ways I utterly abhor.

THY

Mirabilia.

HY teftimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my foul keep them.

2 When thy word goeth forth: it giveth light and understanding unto the fimple.

3 I opened my mouth, and drew in my breath: for my delight was in thy commandments.

4 O look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me: as thou useft to do unto thofe that love thy Name.

5 Order my steps in thy word: and fo fliall no wickedness have dominion over me.

6 O deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men : and fo fhall I keep thy commandments.

Feci judicium.-6 Lay to thine hand] It is time to perform to God, or worthip Him. If others fruftrate God's law by neglect and contempt, it is a fit motive for the diligent obfervance of it by his fervants.

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