they can never be trusted; they will corrupt our children, and their fellow servants, and may bring a curse on our family. Let us pray that God would come to us, and make us wise and faithful; teach us to rule our own houses well, that he may dwell with us, and delight over us to do us good. PSALM CII. A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. This psalm was perhaps written toward the end of the captivity by some pi^us Jew who was returned to Jerusalem; and it seems to breathe very much of the spirit of good Nehemiah. It grieved him to find the temple and city still in ruins, and the rebuilding of them hindered by their enemies; at the same time he encourages the hope of God's favourable appearances for them. 2 H EAR my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day [when] I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me; in the day [when] I 3 call, answer me speedily. For my days are consumed like 4 smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my 5 bread. By reason of the voice of my groaning I am so reduced 6 that my bones cleave to my skin. I am like a pelican of the wilderness I am like an owl, or bittern, of the desert; I shun 7 all company, and mourn in secret. I watch, and am as a sparrow 8 alone upon the house top. Mine enemies reproach me all the : day; [and] they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, I lie down in ashes, which 10 mingle with my bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, Because of thine indignation and thy wrath for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down; referring to the hopes they entertained when Cyrus gave them leave to return and build the temple; but being slandered and misrepresented by their enemies, they were 11 obliged to desist, which depressed his spirits. My days [are] like 12 a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations; this thought gives him comfort, that God can remedy these evils, and transmit the memorial of his faithful13 ness to succeeding generations. Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come; the period marked out in the prophecies of Jeremiah, Jer. xxix. 10, 11. Dan. ix. 2. though there may be some difficulty, in computing the exact time, yet the affection shown to the place, • The word signifies wrapt about, or covered with a garment that surrounds the whole body. 14 now in ruins, is an intimation that it is at hand. For thy servants 15 take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of 16 the earth thy glory. When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory; his appearance for Zion will promote 17 h's glory in the neighbouring nations. He will regard the prayer 18 of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD; if I do not live to see this, 19 those who come after me shall find it true. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; though the sanctuary of God at Jerusalem be in ruins, and its enemies triumph over it, yet there is a 20 sanctuary above from which God looks down, To hear the groan ing of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in 22 Jerusalem; When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. I hoped to have lived to see this 23 blessed time, but I am apprehensive I shall not ; for He weakened 24 my strength in the way; he shortened my days. I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days; let me live to see thy promises fulfilled: but however that may be, this is my 25 comfort, that thy years [are] throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens 26 [are] the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed; thou canst change the visible form of this world, as easily as a man 27 puts off one garment and puts on another. But thou [art] the 28 same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee; whatever becomes of us, thou canst establish thy church, if not for us, yet for our children, and will preserve thy cause to the end of time. 1. REFLECTIONS. BSERVE how low the people of God may be brought choly description of his own case, in words which other good men have seen great reason to adopt. He was visited with sickness, that had destroyed his comfort, weakened his frame, and reduced him almost to a skeleton. His trouble and concern for the church. of God had exhausted his strength; his enemies had scorned and grieved him; and he was in a solitary state, far from his friends; so that, as the title intimates, he was just overwhelmed. Let not good men think their cases singular, or that God does not deal with them as his children, when they are thus heavily afflicted. 2. Observe the comfort this good man found when addressing himself to God. He poured out his complaint to the Lord; and so should we. He allows us to be free, large, and particular in laying our complaints before him. However destitute of health and friends, and oppressed by enemies, his people may be, they can still pray, and God will not despise their prayer: yea, more than this is implied, he values it, and takes pleasure in it. Others may despise it, and praying souls themselves may sometimes fear that God will despise it; but he graciously regards it. This, as the psalmist tells us, is written for our sakes, that we may praise the Lord for his ancient goodness, and cast our cares upon him. 3. When a public spirit prevails among a people, it is a token for good that God is about to appear for them. Thy servants take pleasure in her stones; even her ruins are precious; and they long to do something to raise them again. When men enter tenderly into the concerns of the churches, pity and bewail the declining state of religion, and lift up praying hands for its revival, it is a great encouragement to hope that God will appear; for this is his own work, he puts this concern into their hearts; their piety and zeal will do something, and their examples may stir up others. Let us cultivate a public spirit ourselves, endeavour to promote it in others, and pray that it may prevail in all. 4. We should rejoice in the eternity of God, and the immutability of Christ, amidst all the distressing scènes relating to ourselves, our families, or the church. This was the psalmist's grand cordial, and this he repeats. The apostle applies the words to the kingdom of Christ, and brings them as a proof that it shall be established. And this thought will afford us comfort when sick and dying, or when our strength is weakened by the way, that the eternal and unchangeable God will take care of our families and children, that we may leave behind. It is a comfort to think of this when useful instruments are removed; when the friends of Zion lessen, and its enemies increase. Christ ever lives; and therefore his people shall live the church shall continue through all ages, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. PSALM CIII. [A Psalm] of David. Probably written when the plague which was brought upon Israel after they were numbered, ceased. Considering it in this light, many passages in it have a peculiar beauty, especially what is said of the angels at the latter end. If it be proper to make a comparison between one sacred composition and another, this psalm shines with distinguishing lustre. There is little in it needs to be explained; it calls for devotion more than exposition. 1 2 B LESS the LORD, O my soul and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and 3 forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities 4 who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from dealt with us after our sins: nor rewarded us according to our 11 iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, [so] great 12 is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions 13 from us. Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD 14 pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he 15 remembereth that we [are] dust. [As for] man, his days [are] 16 as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it and it is gone: and the place thereof shall 17 know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD [is] from ever lasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteous18 ness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. 19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and Bless the LORD, ye his an20 his kingdom ruleth over all. gels, that excel in strength; of which we have had a specimen, and a very awful one, in one of their host destroying seventy thou sand Israelites in a few hours; that do his commandments, 21 hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all 22 [ye] his hosts; [ye] ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my aoul. 1. REFLECTIONS. ET us charge upon our souls a serious recollection and Nothing can be more reasonable than that we should bless him for his innumerable benefits; for our health and reason, for our various supplies, and for his patience, tenderness and grace. Let our souls and all that is within us do it; for unless the heart be engaged, the language or the music of the tongue will be vain. Let us chide our souls out of their forgetfulness of God's mercies, and acknowledge them before him with devotion and cheerfulness. They are, as David intimates, so many that we cannot remember them all; but let some of them at least be remembered and recounted before him; and let us retain a general and grateful sense of the rest. 2. Let us esteem the revelation of God's will among his choicest favours. This David mentions, v. 7. And he has made known to us his ways and acts, his precepts, purposes, and promises, by a greater than Moses, even his own dear Son. This is the greatest blessing, as it relates to our souls and eternity. It is a distinguishing blessing: many have it not; and among those who have it, few sufficiently value it. This is what makes the enjoyments of life more agreeable, and its sufferings more tolerable; for this then let us with peculiar ardour praise the Lord. 3. The compassion of God should be our comfort under all our afflictions and uncertainty about future events. He pities us with the tenderness of a father: considers our frame, and makes gracious allowances for our infirmities. He knows what dangers, temptations, and infirmities we are exposed to; and proportions our strength accordingly. He knows the weakness and imperfection of our souls, and makes his grace sufficient for us. Whatever we feel, God knows it, and pities us; whatever we fear, his compassion fails not. 4. Let us seriously contemplate the frailty of our nature, as an engagement to enter into God's covenant, and to be faithful to it. Man's days are as grass; fading as the flower; and liable, like that, to be destroyed by various accidents. We should consider this, that we may be dead to this world and its vanities, and more careful to secure a better. While every thing about us is fading, his mercy is everlasting to his people, and to their children's children. Let this engage us to a life of faith and obedience; to devote ourselves to God in his covenant, and do his commandments: then all will be well at last, whatever may befall us here. 5. We should rejoice that angels are continually praising and serving God, and long to do it like them. The psalmist makes this beautifully poetical address to angels to bless the Lord, to show what high and honourable thoughts he had of those great and good beings; that he esteemed God worthy of the highest praise; to quicken his own soul to perform this work better, and to encourage himself amidst the imperfections of his praises and services, by recollecting those of angels. It is their highest honour that they hearken to the voice of God, and do his pleasure. It will be our highest honour to resemble them; and our happiness to join their society and share in their work and blessedness. In the mean time let it be our fervent prayer, that God's will may be done on earth as it is done in heaven. PSALM CIV. This psalm was probably composed by David. It contains a descrip tion of the majesty of God in his works and in his providence, with a noble mixture of sublimity, elegance, and devotion. 1 LESS the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou 2 Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who |