"thousands, with every creature in heaven, earth, " and sea," lifted up their voices, and sang together, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be "unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto "the Lamb, for ever and ever."

TWENTIETH DAY.-EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM CIV.

ARGUMENT.

This is an eucharistic hymn, full of majesty and sweetness, addressed to Jehovah, as Creator of the world. It setteth forth his glory, wisdom, goodness, and power, displayed, 1-9. in the formation of the heavens and earth; 10-18. in the various provision made for beasts, and birds, and for man, the lord of all; 19-24. in the revolutions of the celestial bodies, and the consequent interchanges of day and night, of labour and rest; 25, 26. in the sea, and every thing that moveth in or upon the waters. 27-30. The dependence of the whole creation upon God for its being and well being, is beautifully represented, with, 31, 32. the glory which the Creator receiveth from his works, the pleasure which he taketh in them, and the power which he hath over them. 33. The Psalmist declareth his resolution ever to praise

Jehovah, and, 34. predicteth the destruction of those who refuse or neglect so to do. As there is a similitude between the natural and the spiritual creation, allusions of that sort are frequently made in the ensuing comment, which may, perhaps, point out the reason why the church hath appointed this Psalm to be used on Whit-sunday. wood wou

1. Bless the LORD, O my soul: O LORD my God, thou art very great, thou art clothed with honour and majesty; Heb. with glory and beauty. 2. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain, i. e. of a tent, or, pavilion.

The Scriptures inform us, that the same Person, who redeemed the world, did also create it. In the ciid Psalm, as we are assured by St. Paul," to the "SoN it is said, Thou, Lord, in the beginning, hast "laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens

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are the works of thy hands." To him, therefore, as Creator, is the civth Psalm likewise addressed. He is described as invested with "the glory which he "had with the Father before the world was;" a glimpse of which he vouchsafed to the three disciples, who were present at his transfiguration, when "his "face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was "white as the light." The first instance of his creating power is afforded us by the "heavens" which form a magnificent " canopy, or "pavilion," comprehending within the earth, and all the inhabitants thereof. It is enlightened by the celestial orbs sus

pended in it, as the holy tabernacle was, by the lamps of the golden candlestick, and it was originally framed, erected, and furnished by its Maker, with more ease than man can construct and pitch a "tent" for his own temporary abode. Yet must this noble pavilion also be taken down; these resplendent and beautiful heavens must pass away, and come to an end. How glorious then shall be those "new heavens," which are to succeed them, and to endure for ever!

3. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind.

The divine Architect is here represented as "laying "the beams of his chambers," as compacting his lofts or stories," in the waters." Some think the formation of the terrestrial strata in the waters, which at the beginning covered all things, is here alluded to. If it be objected, that the Psalmist, in the course of his "description, is not yet arrived at the formation of the earth, but is still in the upper regions of the air; may we not suppose that the subject is, in this particular, a little anticipated, which is no uncommon case in the sacred writings? The generality of expositors, however, interpret the passage of those *"dark waters, compacted into thick clouds of the "skies,” which the Almighty is elsewhere said to make the "secret place or chamber" of his residence, and a kind of "footstool" to his throne. Ps. xviii. 9. 11. And thus, indeed, the former part of our verse is plainly and immediately connected with what follows; "who maketh the clouds his

chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the "wind." How astonishingly magnificent and tremendous is the idea which these words convey to us, of the great King riding upon the heavens, encompassed with clouds and darkness, attended by the lightnings, those ready executioners of his vengeance, and causing the world to resound and tremble at the thunder of his power, and the noise of his chariot wheels! By these ensigns of royalty, these emblems of omnipotence, and instruments of his displeasure, doth Jehovah manifest his presence, when he visiteth rebellious man, to make him own and adore his neglected and insulted Lord. See and compare Ps. xviii. 10. and the context.

4. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.

From the manner in which these words are introduced, and the place where they stand, one should conceive the meaning of them to be, that God employeth the elements of air and fire, the winds, , and the lightnings, as his messengers, "', and ministers, to execute his commands upon the earth *. But the apostle, Heb. i. 7. informeth us, that they have a further reference to immaterial angels; either because those angels often appeared in the likeness, or because they were endued with the properties, of" wind and flame." Intellectual beings of the highest order in the realms above, are as ready to fulfil the word of Jehovah, as are the elements of this lower world. Both teach a lesson of obedience

In the French translation it is-" Who maketh the winds "his angels, the flaming fire his ministers.”

to the sons of men; to those of them more especially, who are appointed "angels" of the churches, and "ministers" of Christ.

5. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

In the original it is, "Who hath founded the "earth upon its bases." The formation of this globe on which we tread, is a wonderful instance of divine wisdom and power, whether we consider the manner in which the parts of it are put and kept together, or its suspension in the circumambient fluid, which, as some philosophers suppose, by pressing upon it on every side, forms so many columns, as it were, to support, and keep it balanced. The words," that it should not be removed for ever," do by no means imply, that the earth is stationary, or that it is eternal; but only thus much, that it is so constructed, as to answer the end, and to last the time for which it was created and intended. It shall continue the same in itself, and with relation to other bodies, neither altering its shape, nor changing its course, till the day appointed for its dissolution; after which, as there are to be "new heavens," so will there also be a " new earth."

6. Thou coveredst it with the deep, as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. 7. At thy rebuke they fled: at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. 8. They go, or, went, up by the mountains: they go, or, went, down by the valleys, unto the place which thou hast founded for them. 9. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over that they turn not again to cover the earth.