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nal and ungodly men behave to a penitent, when mourning for his sins, under the afflicting hand of Heaven, is as well known.

9. For, or, Therefore, I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping. 10. Because of thine indignation and wrath; for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

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By eating ashes, and drinking tears," we may understand the same as if it had been said, "I have "eaten the bread of humiliation, and drank the wa"ter of affliction;" ashes being the emblem of one, and tears the consequence of the other; while the actions of "eating and drinking," intimate to us the fulness and satiety which the sufferer had experienced of both, from the "wrath and indignation of God." Prosperity and adversity are from him: "he lifteth

up, and he casteth down;" he lifteth up Jerusalem above all the earth; and he cast her down, to be trodden under foot by the Gentiles.

11. My days are like a shadow that declineth: and I am withered like grass. 12. But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.

A "shadow" never continueth in one stay, but is still gliding imperceptibly on, lengthening as it goes, and at last vanisheth into darkness. The period of its existence is limited to a day at farthest. The rising sun gives it birth, and in that moment when the sun sets it is no more. The "grass" of the field, in like manner, hath a being of the same duration. In the morning, clothed with verdure and beauty, 0

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VOL. II.

refresheth and deligheth the eye of the beholder ; but the evening findeth it cut down, dried up, and withered. Such is the life of man, sojourning in the land of his captivity, and doing penance for his sins. But the eternity of Jehovah, the infallibility of his promises, and the remembrance of his former works and mercies, comfort our hearts, and encourage us to hope, nay, even to rejoice, in the midst of sorrow and tribulation.

13. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion; for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is 14. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

come.

From this passage, and what follows, it appears, that the suppliant, in this Psalm, bewails not only his own miseries, but those of the church. Israel was in captivity, and Sion a desolation. A " time” notwithstanding, a" set time," there was at hand, when God had promised to "arise, and to have "mercy upon her." The bowels of her children yearned over her ruins; they longed to see her rebuilt, and were ready, whenever the word of command should be given, to set heart and hand to the blessed work. Such ought to be our affection towards our Sion, however afflicted and destitute she may, at any time, appear to be; such should be our faith in the promises of God concerning the future glorification of his church, at the time appointed.

15. So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD: and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16. When the LORD shall build up Sion, he shall

appear in his glory. 17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

The object to which the prophets of old had chiefly respect, was not only the deliverance of Israel from Babylon, and the rebuilding of the material temple, but the salvation of sinners, and the erection of the Christian church, in the days of Messiah's kingdom. "When the Lord" Jesus thus "built up Sion, he appeared in his glory: the hea"then feared his name, and all the kings of the "earth" adored his majesty, because he had "re

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garded the prayer of the destitute" sons of Adam, in their worse than Babylonish captivity, and had arisen himself to be their Saviour and mighty Deliverer. We, in these latter days, look and pray for the second appearance of the same Redeemer, with power and great glory, to raise the dead, and to build up from the dust a Jerusalem which shall experience no more vicissitudes, but continue for ever in unchangeable beauty and brightness.

18. This shall be written for the generation to come; and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

The history of "this" redemption and restoration by Messiah, thus foretold, hath been written" in the Gospel for the benefit of "after generations," to the end that" the people who are created" anew in Christ Jesus may from age to age praise Jehovah, in Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs; as it is done at this day in the church, and ever will continue to be done, till the choirs of heaven and earth shall be united before the throne of the Lamb.

19. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary: from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; 20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to loose those that are appointed to death; 21. To declare the name of the LORD in Sion, and his praise in Jerusalem; 22. When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

Redemption is the subject of praise in the Christian church; and the process of that great work is here described by images borrowed from the temporal deliverance and restoration of Israel. God is represented as looking with an eye of pity from heaven upon poor mankind; as hearing the groans of sinners, fast bound in the chains of their sins, and sentenced to death eternal; as coming down to forgive and to release them; that, being so forgiven and released, they might cause the church to resound with his praises, when, upon the preaching of the Gospel, it should be filled with converts, assembled from every people and kingdom of the world. Look down, O Lord Jesu, yet once again upon thy servants, still under the dominion of death, and the bondage of corruption; loose these chains, even these also, O Lord, and bring us forth into the glorious liberty of thy children; that, with the whole assembly of the redeemed, in the heavenly Jerusalem, we may bless and praise thy name for ever and ever.

23. He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

The Prophet, in the person of captive Sion, having, from verse 13. to verse 22. expressed his faith and hope in the promised redemption, now returns to

his mournful complaints, as at verse 11. Israel doubteth not of God's veracity, but feareth lest his heavy hand should crush the generation then in being, before they should behold the expiration of their troubles. They were in "the way," but their "strength" was so "weakened," and their "days

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shortened," that they almost despaired of holding out to their journey's end. A sore trial hath the Christian church to undergo in the last days, before the second advent of her Lord and Saviour. Strong faith and invincible patience will be necessary, to enable her to endure until the end shall come.

24. And I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.

Israel prayeth that the holy seed might not be extirpated, and perish by a kind of untimely death, ere yet the promise had been made good, and Sion had seen the salvation of her God. Every man hath reason to pray, that God would not "take him away "in the midst of his days," or call upon him when unprepared; but that time may be allowed him to perfect his repentance, and to work out his salvation.

25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26. 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. 27. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Amidst the changes and chances of this mortal.

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