David, in the midst of trouble, and perhaps tempted to have recourse to sinful expedients for his preservation, determines still to repose all his confidence on the promised mercy of him who is the 'salvation,' the rock,' and the high place,' or fortress, of men. Christ would not be delivered from his sufferings, by any other means than those which the Father had ordained. The church, in like manner, should patiently wait for the salvation of God, and not attempt, through distrust of the divine mercy, to save herself by unwarrantable methods, of her own devising.

3. How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? Ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.'

From a declaration of his trust in God, the Prophet passeth to an expostulation with his enemies, for continually plotting against him; and foretelleth, that their destruction will happen suddenly and irremediably, like the downfall of a wall that is out of the perpendicular, or a stone fence, the parts of which are not cemented together. See Isa. xxx. 13. How striking is this expostulation, and this prediction, if considered as addressed by Messiah to his implacable enemies!

4. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.'

The adversaries of David 'consulted' how to deprive him of those honors to which God designed to exalt him; the Scribes and Pharisees took counsel against Jesus, with the same intent; and to rob the Christian of the glory and immortality prepared for him, is the end of every temptation which the enemy throws in his way, whether it be of the terrifying, or, which oftener succeeds, the flattering, alluring, and deceiving kind.

5. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.' 6. He only is my rock and my salvation he is my defence,' or high place; I shall not be moved.' 7. In God is my salvation, and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God."

The consideration suggested in the preceding verse; namely, that the enemy is ever intent on our ruin, should stir us up, after the Prophet's example, to renew

our faith, and strengthen ourselves yet more and more, continually, in the Lord our God, who alone giveth victory, salvation, and glory.

8.Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your hearts before him: God is a refuge for us.'

The comforts which David had found, he exhorteth others to seek, in faith and prayer; in such a faith as fixeth itself on God, when the whole world is against it; and such prayer, as poureth forth all the desires of the soul into the bosom of the Almighty. How often, in repeating the Psalms, do we declare, that God is our refuge:' yet how very seldom do we recur to him, as such, in the hour of temptation!

9. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.'

A reason is here assigned, why we should at all times 'trust in God;' namely, because there is nothing else, in which we can trust, but it will in the end deceive us. Weighed in the 'balance' of heaven, the power of man to save, is less than nothing.' Let us weigh every thing in that exact and faithful balance.

10. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.' Of all things here below, wealth is that on which poor deluded man is chiefly tempted, even to the end of life, to place his confidence; and when 'riches increase' it proves a hard task for the human heart to keep its affections sufficiently detached from them. But he who by injustice acquireth the earthly mammon, justly forfeiteth the treasures of heaven; and he who is made vain and covetous by money, however honestly gotten, renders that a curse to one, which was designed as a blessing to many, and drowns himself in the spring which should have watered all around him.

11. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this,' or these two things have I heard; that power belongeth unto God.' 12. Also unto thee, O LORD, belongeth mercy; for thou renderest to every man according to his work.'

In opposition to the vain boasts of worldly men, trusting in their riches, &c. is cited the declaration of God, when, from mount Sinai, he proclaimed himself to be JE

HOVAH, the fountain of all power,' in heaven above, and on earth beneath, jealous of the glory of this attribute, ready to avenge himself on the wicked, and able to abase the pride of man. At the same time also, he proclaimed himself the LORD God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin:' Exod. xxxiv. 6. To all mankind, therefore, the Prophet here recommendeth meditation on these two most interesting subjects, the 'power' of God to punish sin, and his mercy' to pardon it. Fear of the former will beget desire of the latter, and both together will set a man on doing works worthy of their parent faith; works, which God, of his infinite mercy,' for the sake of Christ, has graciously promised to accept, and to ' reward.'

PSALM LXIII.

ARGUMENT.

[David, in the wilderness of Judah, expresseth, 1, 2. his longing desire after the presence of God, and the divine pleasures of the sanctuary; 3-6. he blesseth and praiseth God both day and night, in the midst of affliction, and, 7, 8. declareth his faith to be immoveable; 9, 10. he predicteth the fate of the wicked, with, 11. the exaltation, triumph, and glory of Messiah, to be exhibited in his own. The whole Psalm is applicable to the circumstances of Christ in the flesh, and to those of his people in the world.]

1. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;' 2. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.'

After the example of the persecuted David in the wilderness of Judah, and that of the afflicted Jesus on earth, the true Christian dedicates to God 'the sweet hour of prime he opens the eyes of his understanding, together with those of his body, and awakes, each morning, to righteousness. He arises, with an inextinguishable thirst after those comforts which the world cannot

give; and has immediate recourse, by prayer, to the fountain of the water of life; ever longing to behold the divine power and glory, in the sanctuary above, of which he has been favored with some glimpse in the services of the church below.

3. Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.'

'Life' is the greatest of earthly blessings, all others being included in it; all that a man hath,' saith Satan, 'will he give for his life :' Job ii. 4. Not so the Psalmist. He knew a pearl of far greater price; namely, the loving-kindness' of Jehovah, on which is suspended not only the life which now is, but that which is to come. The sense of this loving-kindness tuned the harp of the son of Jesse, and now tunes those of the spirits before the throne.

4. Thus will I bless thee while I live; I will lift up my hands in thy name.'

'While we live,' however wretched our condition may be, we have an opportunity of obtaining pardon, grace, and glory; for which we ought, at all times, to bless' God, 'lifting up pure hands' in prayer, employing them in every good work, and all in the 'name' of Jesus.

5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips;' 6. When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.'

Solitude and stillness render the night watches' a fit season for meditation on the so often experienced mercies of God; which, when thus called to remembrance, become a delicious repast to the spirit, filling it with all joy, and peace, and consolation; giving songs in the night, and making darkness itself cheerful. How cheerful, then, will be that last morning, when the righteous, awaking up after the divine likeness, shall be 'satisfied' with all the fulness of God, and 'praise him with joyful lips,' in those eternal courts, where there is no night, and from whence sorrow and sighing fly far away!

6

7. Because thou hast been my help, therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.' 8. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.'

Recollection of past mercies inclines the soul to put herself under the wing' of an all-shadowing Providence. Should her Redeemer, for a time, seem to be deserting her, faith constraineth her to follow hard after him,' as a child doth after the father; and not to let go the 'hand' which hath so often upholden' her from falling.

9. But those that seek my soul to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.' 10. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.'

The enemies of Jehovah, and his Anointed, if they come not to a violent death, an early grave, or to have their carcases devoured by the beasts of the field (as hath sometimes been the case), yet in an after-state their condition will certainly be deplorable, Their habitation must be in the 'pit;' their punishment, the flaming' sword' of almighty vengeance; and their companions, those crafty and malicious ones, who, having contributed to seduce, will help to torment them.

11. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.'

If David found cause to rejoice in God, who gave him the victory over all his enemies; if the subjects of David might well glory in their king; if the slanderers of David were put to silence, at beholding him exalted to the throne of Israel; how much greater is the joy of Messiah in the Godhead, giving the manhood victory over his enemies, sin, death, and hell; how much rather may his subjects and worshippers glory in their triumphant King; and how much more shall the blasphemers of such a Saviour be everlastingly confounded, when they shall behold him invested with all the power and majesty of the Father, and seated on the throne of judgment! Surely, THEN, 'the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.'

PSALM LXIV.

ARGUMENT.

[David, in the person of Messiah, 1, 2. prayeth to be delivered from his enemies, from their counsels and insurrections; 3, 4. he describeth their calumnies and slan