LXXXIV. 4. The "house" and "praise." 5. The "ways" and "strength;" both "blessed." 6. "Baca" weeping;" so, rejoicing in tribulation."

LXXXVI. David. A great deal more personal; the consciousness of standing in the gap for Israel.

LXXXIX. 1. "Mercies" celebrated. 19, &c. Summed up in the person of Christ. 49. Israel is cast over on the certainty of mercy in God's promise to David.

Book IV.

In XC., Jehovah has always been the dwelling-place of Israel; and His greatness, and their nothingness, is used as a plea for His compassion towards them:-while in XCI., Messiah comes in, and owns the God of Israel, even Jehovah; and all the blessings of the name of Almighty and Most High, are manifested in connection with Him. This brings in XCII., the celebration of His name in the rest-the Sabbath-of Israel.

Then from XCIII-C., we have the thesis of the Lord's reigning brought out from the cry of the remnant, who seek deliverance from the wicked one; the call to Israel to listen; the call to the heathen; the coming in glory to judge; the execution of the judgment; God's establishment in Zion between the cherubim; the summons of the world to come and worship there with joy.

Then, in CI., the principles of Christ's government; and in CII., the expression of His isolated sorrows; and to the inquiry how He, who was cut off in the midst of His days, could have part in the re-establishment of Zion, it is revealed that He is Himself the everlasting Jehovah.

In CIII., He blesses Jehovah as the Forgiver and Healer of His people. In CIV., as the glorious Creator. In CV., as faithful to His covenant with the fathers, and [to His] promises.

In CVI., His dealings with them in chastening, but His abundant readiness to hear their cry which they now address to Him.

XC. A supplication for mercy-a kind of introduction to the book. 9. We are poor, fading things. 14. Make haste to mercy. XCI. Now comes the deliberate statement of Messiah's taking

up the case of Israel; not merely His being found in the position, but a kind of public announcement of it. 1. Whoever gets the secret place, gets the Almightiness. 2. Messiah says, I will take Jehovah as my refuge, etc. 3. The Spirit declares the consequences of this. 9. The remnant address Messiah. 14. Jehovah comes in, and sets His seal on the whole.

XCII. The consequence on earth of the trust of XCI.
XCIII. Thesis. The Lord reigneth."

XCIV. Mercy of the remnant.

XCV. The summons to Israel. "To-day" goes on till Christ

comes.

XCVI. Summons to the heathen. The everlasting Gospel of Revelation.

XCVII. He is coming.

XCVIII. He has come, and executed salvation or righteousness in favour of Israel.

XCIX. Is actually sitting between the cherubim, taking His place on the throne.

C. Gentiles called to worship Him. "Rejoice ye Gentiles," &c fulfilled.

CI. A kind of supplemental psalm. How Christ will guide His house when He takes it.

Book V.

In CVII,, we get the celebration of the ways of the Lord in the restoration of His people (it is not what they are looking for), which they are specially called to notice; together, with CVIII., the celebration of His praises as their Redeemer.

We have, then, CIX., at once introduced the suffer ings of Christ under the apostasy, whether of Judas or Antichrist: while, in CX., He is called to sit at Jehovah's right hand, until He makes His enemies His footstool, for the accomplishment of the purposes of this redemption-when His power shall go forth from Zion -while, because of His humiliation, He is exalted for the destroying of Him who elevates himself against Him.

CXI., CXII. Then the Lord is praised for this redemption, and the display of His character in it; and the portion of the righteous consequently.

His majesty and grace are celebrated, CXIII, as high above all, extending everywhere, and considering the

poor and needy. CXIV. God's presence is the real strength of His people. CXV. In contrast with idols, all the glory is given to His name.

CXVI. The afflicted one now praises the Lord before all, whom he had trusted in the time of his distress, when brought low. The Spirit of Christ, in the midst of His people, especially shewn.

CXVII. The nations are then summoned to praise the Lord, because of His abiding mercy and truth to Israel.

In CXVIII., Christ takes up the song of Israel in the great congregation, declaring that "His mercy endureth for ever. The enemies encompassed Him, the adversary beset Him, the Lord had chastened Him, but not given Him up. Israel now owns that the stone which the builders had rejected, has become the Head of the Corner, and their heart is prepared to say, "Save now," "Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord; and they worship with joy.

CXIX. The law is written in Israel's once wandering heart.

CXX—CXXXIV. Then we get, in the Psalms of Degrees, various thoughts and feelings of Israel as now restored, whether as looking back and enjoying the blessing; or under the conviction of sin; or as David (i.e. really Christ) establishing the sign of the Lord's presence, in full blessing in Israel the people being gathered in unity-closing with the blessing of Jehovah from the sanctuary.

In CXXXV. and CXXXVI., we have the celebration of Jehovah's praise for His election of Israel, in connection, on the one hand, with the original promise to Abraham, and the mercy connected with His judgments on the other (compare Exod. iii., and Deut. xxxii.); with the formal declaration that His mercy endures for

ever.

CXXXVII. Babylon and Edom come up in judgment before God; and CXXXVIII., God's word, the confidence of His people, is glorified in His ways towards them.

CXXXIX. None can escape the searching out of

God; but if God creates for blessing, we can praise Him.

CXL. We have the cry for deliverance from the evil and violent man; the head of the faithful is covered in the day of his conflict, for God maintains his cause, and delivers him..

CXLI. The Lord is trusted to guide them-i.e., the poor-in a right path, according to His mind, so as to avoid the snares of the wicked. In the utmost desolation he trusts Him. Then, CXLII., however overwhelmed, God knows his path.

CXLIII. He pleads not to enter into judgment, for no man can be justified, for the enemy has trodden down his soul; but he still looks to the Lord, and trusts that He will guide him in uprightness, and looks to Him in mercy, to cut off all his enemies, that, CXLIV., full blessing may come in.

In CXLV., Messiah describes the millennium in the interchange of Jehovah's praises between Him and the people that are blessed.

Then we get the great Hallel.

CXLVI. Jehovah is praised as the God of Jacob, as the Creator of all things, the Keeper of truth, the Deliverer of the oppressed, and of all from affliction and distress. He shall reign as the God of Zion through all gencrations.

CXLVII. Then He is praised as the Builder up of Jerusalem, taking pleasure in them that fear Him, ruling every element by His word; but giving His word, His statutes, and His judgments, to Israel.

CXLVIII. All creation is called upon to praise Him; who exalts the horn of His people (Israel)-a people near unto Him.

CXLIX. Israel, above all, is called to praise Him in a new song. Judgment is put into their hands.

The last Psalm, CL., is a kind of chorus. In Hi sanctuary, the firmament of His power, everything that has breath, is called to praise Him.

In this book we have either the explanation of the Lord's ways, or Hallelujahs. It is a kind of sermon.

CX. 6. “He shall wound the head over a great country.” (Rosh al eretz rabba).

CXVI. 10. In the presence of death, He goes in and speaks. So Paul 2 Cor. iv.

CXXX. In this psalm, they get into the depths, not from circumstances, but from sin. Instead of speaking of enemies as in CXXIV. ("when man rose up against us"), it is between him and God. It is after the new moon they have the day of atonement.

CXXXIX. The searchings of God throw you back on the thoughts that God had in meeting you in grace; and therefore you can ask God to "search," &c. We are the creatures of His thoughts, as well as the subject of them.

CXLIV. is different from XVIII., in not having the death of Christ as a centre; and, moreover, the heathen are not brought in.

FRAGMENTS.

What loss the gain is when, in collecting, or enlarging knowledge, we lose simplicity and affection. I should like to see them [at] in their simplicity, and be refreshed by their faith. May we only the more long for the time of perfection. The fragments will surely be gathered up at last. Not one shall be lost -not a fragment of the joy of the Spirit shall be lost; but the bright spots of the soul shall be fixed there in their full beauty for ever, though now they seem at times to disappear.

The Lord's relationship to the world was perfect in moral dignity. He was a Conqueror, a Sufferer, and a Benefactor in it. Such a combination is wonderful and excellent indeed.

He was ever serving that world, the course and pollution of which made Him a Conqueror; the inquity and contradiction of which made Him a Sufferer. He was never overcome of evil, but ever overcame evil with good.