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66. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

The former clause of this verse may be rendered, "And he repulsed, or, drove, his enemies back;" as Psalm ix. 3. "When mine enemies are turned "back;" the word T being the same, in both places. But as that part of the sacred history is here alluded to, in which the Philistines are said to have been plagued with "emerods," or hemorrhoids, while the ark was amongst them, the passage is generally rendered, as in our translation, and supposed to intend that particular plague. Thus much, however, is certain, that Dagon fell before the ark, which his worshippers were glad to send back, with acknowledgements of the vengeance inflicted on them by the superior power of the God of Israel, who could punish where, and when, and how, he pleased. See 1 Sam, v. vi.

67. Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 68. But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Sion which he loved. 69. And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.

The ark, after its return, went no more to Shiloh, which was in the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph, but was brought first to Kiriathaim, 1 Sam. vi. 21. a city of the tribe of Judah, and from thence, after a short stay at the house of Obed Edom, to mount Sion, 1 Chron. xiv. and xv. which was the chosen and highly favoured mount; where was afterwards erected, by Solomon, a magnificent and permanent habitation for the God of Jacob, during the

continuance of the old dispensation; a resemblance of that eternal temple, in which all the fulness of the Godhead hath since dwelt bodily. The divine presence removed at this time to the tribe of Judah, because out of that tribe, after the rejection of Saul, came the great representative, as well as progenitor, of King Messiah.

70. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 71. From following the ewes great with young, be brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

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The call of David from a sheepfold to a throne teacheth us, that he who hath showed himself faithful in a few and small concerns, is worthy of tion to more and more important cares; that the qualifications requisite for a due discharge of high offices, are best learned, at first, in an inferior station, especially if it be one that will inure to labour and vigilance; and that kings are to consider themselves as "shepherds;" which consideration would perhaps teach them their duty better than all the precepts in the world. From the last verse, relative to David's manner of conducting himself after his advancement, we learn that integrity and discretion, when they meet in the same person, form a complete ruler, and one fit to represent that blessed person who entered, like his father David, through sufferings into his glory; who governeth his church in wisdom and righteousness; and of whom it is said, by the evangelical prophet, "He shall feed his flock like

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a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with his arm, "and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead "those that are with young." Isa. xl. 11.

SIXTEENTH DAY.-MORNING PRAYER.

PSALM LXXIX.

ARGUMENT,

The argument of this Psalm is nearly the same with that of the lxxivth. The church, persecuted and afflicted, sets forth, 1-3. the sacrilegious devastation, and cruel slaughter, made by the enemy, with, 4. the reproach occasioned thereby; 5-7. she prayeth for redress and deliverance; 8,9. confesseth, and entreateth forgiveness of the sins which had brought these calamities upon her; and then, 10-12. asketh a removal of her reproach and misery; promising, 13. endless gratitude and praise for the same. We meet with passages of this Psalm, Jer. x. 25. 1 Macc. vii. 17. but when it was composed is not known.

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1. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

Three deplorable calamities are here enumerated by the faithful; the alienation of God's inheritance, the profanation of the sanctuary, and the desolation of the beloved city. When we represent, in our

prayers, the sufferings and humiliation of the church, we take an effectual method of awakening the compassion, and recalling the favour, of heaven. Every redeemed soul is the inheritance, the temple, the city of God. When sin enters, and takes possession, the inheritance is alienated, the temple defiled, the city desolated.

2. The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of heaven; the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. 3. Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem : and there was none to bury them.

That horrible carnage which attends the siege and capture of a city, is the fourth of those calamities bewailed in our Psalm. To behold, or even to imagine, heaps of slaughtered bodies lying unburied, and exposed to birds and beasts of prey, is inexpressibly shocking to humanity. But with what unconcern are we accustomed to view, on all sides of us, multitudes "dead in trespasses and sins," torn in pieces, and devoured by wild passions, filthy lusts, and infernal spirits, those dogs and vultures of the moral world! Yet to a discerning eye, and a thinking mind, the latter is by far the more melancholy sight of the two.

4. We are become a reproach to our neighbours: a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

A fifth calamity, incident to an afflicted church, is to become, like captive Israel, the "scorn and "derision" of infidels, who fail not, at such seasons, to reproach her, and blaspheme her God. We know how to answer those who reproach us with our suf

ferings, for so their predecessors reproached our Master; but what shall we say, if we have given the enemy occasion to reproach us with our sins? The only real disgrace of religion, is the wickedness of its professors ?

5. How long, LORD? Wilt thou be angry for ever ? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

Parched and exhausted, amidst the flames of persecution, we behold Sion panting for the comforts of redemption. The extent and continuance of her troubles, cause her to fear a total extermination; and by the questions here asked, she tacitly reminds God of his promises not to give her up, and destroy her "for ever," on account of Messias, whom she was in the fulness of time to bring forth.

6. Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. 7. For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

This, though uttered in the form of a wish, or prayer, is to be considered, like many other passages of the same nature, as a prediction of what would afterwards come to pass. Pagan ambition and cruelty were often employed to chastise offending Israel; but were, themselves, notwithstanding, justly punished, in their turn, by other powers raised up for that end. That relation in which the church stands to God, causes him, upon her repentance, to appear in her behalf, and to execute vengeance on her oppress ors, who "know him not, nor call upon his name.”. "We are thine," saith Isaiah, 66 thou never barest " rule over them, they were not called by thy name:"

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