of the palace, since even the prison is not without its charms!

5. O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. 6. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

Glorious are the works, profound the counsels, marvellous the dispensations of God, in nature, in providence, in grace. But all are lost to the man void of spiritual discernment; who, like his fellow "brutes," is bowed down to earth, and knoweth no pleasures but those of sense. Here he hath chosen his paradise, and set up his tabernacle: not considering that his tabernacle must shortly be taken down, and he must remove hence for ever.

7. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever. 8. But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.

It is not improbable, that these verses should be connected with that preceding, thus-" A brutish

man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand "this," namely, that " When the wicked spring as "the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do "flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for "ever;" they are only nourishing themselves like senseless cattle in plentiful pastures, for the approaching day of slaughter. He who is ignorant of the final issue of things, who attendeth not to his eternal interest, he is, in Scripture language," the "brutish man," and the "fool" who knoweth not the works, neither understandeth the designs of Hea

ven.

When the "grass" hath attained to its most

flourishing estate, and all the flowers of the field are in perfect beauty, then the mower entereth with his scythe. What a beautiful and instructive emblem is here held forth to us! what a forcible admonition to trust only in him, who, without "variableness or "shadow of turning," is "most high for evermore!"

9. For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, lo, thine enemies shall perish: all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. 10. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be, or, I am, anointed with fresh oil.

The "workers of iniquity" are the enemies of "Jehovah," and will be " scattered" by the breath of his displeasure, as grass, after it is cut down, dried up, and withered, is driven away by the whirlwinds of heaven. "But my horn," saith the Psalmist (it is likely in the person of Messiah), " my horn," that is, the strength and power of my kingdom, "shalt thou exalt like the horn of the unicorn *, like the power of the strongest creatures, to which that of states and empires is often compared; "I "shall be," or, "I am, anointed with fresh oil;" I am appointed and consecrated king by the holy unction. Christians have "an unction from the Holy One," by which they are enabled to subdue their spiritual enemies; they reign over their passions and affections; they are exalted in the Redeemer: they are "made unto their God kings and priests.' 1 John ii. 20. Rev. v. 10.

66

11. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine

*Heb. O, an eastern animal of the " stag" or "deer" kind, remarkable for its height, strength, and fierceness.

enemies and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.

The words, "my desire," are twice inserted by our translators. But would it not be better, if we were to supply the ellipsis in this manner, "Mine

eye shall behold the fall of mine enemies; and "mine ear shall hear the destruction of the wicked "that rise up against me?" The sense of the verse is plain. It is intended to express an assurance of faith, an humble confidence in the promises of God, that our efforts shall at length be crowned with victory over every thing which resisteth and opposeth itself; and that the day is coming, when we shall view all the enemies of our salvation dead at our feet.

12. The righteous shall flourish like the palmtree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. The momentary prosperity of the wicked was compared above to the transient verdure of " grass. The durable felicity of the righteous is here likened to the lasting strength and beauty of "palms" and "cedars." But chiefly is the comparison applicable to that Just One, the King of Righteousness, and Tree of Life; eminent and upright; ever verdant and fragrant; under the greatest pressure and weight of sufferings, still ascending toward heaven; affording both fruit and protection; incorruptible and immortal. "I sat down," saith the church, “under "his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was "sweet to my taste." Song ii. 3.

13. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD, shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Believers are styled by Isaiah, "Trees of righ"teousness, the planting of Jehovah :" ch. Ixi. 3. They are planted by the living waters of comfort, "in the house of God;" where, under the means of grace, they "flourish" in hope of glory; " fenced "and enclosed by the discipline and orders of the "church, and by the consequent favour and pro"tection of Heaven; their verdure is conspicuous, " and ever constant, whether in the summer of pro"sperity, or the winter of adversity: their actions "and principles are ever upright and fair; yea, their

very leaf exhales a delightful perfume, by a holy example and conversation; their affections and de"sires are ever ascending towards the noblest and "most sublime objects, the things that are above, "the glorious things of heaven *."

14. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age: they shall be fat and flourishing.

Happy the man whose goodness is always progressive, and whose virtues increase with his years; who loseth not, in multiplicity of worldly cares or pleasures, the holy fervours of his first love, but goeth on burning and shining more and more, to the end of his days. The church, like her representative Sarah, is now "well stricken in years ;" but we hope that, like her, she will" still bring forth fruit " in her old age;" we look for many more "chil"dren of promise" to be born unto Christ, born from among the Jews and Gentiles..

Essay on the Proper Lessons, by Mr. Wogan, vol. iii. p. 49.

15. To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

The fruit brought forth in the church redounds to the glory of God, by whom the trees, in this his new paradise, were planted; it shows to all the world, that he is just and " upright" in his dealings; that he is true to his promises; immoveable, as a "rock," in his counsels; determined to punish the wicked, and to reward the good; so that when his proceedings shall come to be unfolded at the last day, it will appear to men and angels, that " there is no unrigh"teousness in him.”

EIGHTEENTH DAY.-EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM XCIII.

ARGUMENT.

The Jews acknowledge, that the kingdom of Messiah is prophesied of in this Psalm, and in all those which follow, to the hundredth. 1, 2. The church celebrates the majesty, power, and glory, of the eternal King; 3. describes the danger she is often in from persecutions, &c. but, 4. strengtheneth herself in God her Saviour, whose house, 5. ought to be, like himself, full of truth and holiness.

1. The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith