his wrath.

Wicked men have, in common with others, that tendency to decay which is entailed on the world, and on all things therein; but they are warned, by this sixth and last similitude, to prevent the judgments of the Almighty. These often break forth like a whirlwind, or a thunder-storm, and sweep away at once, in the flower of their strength, and the height of their prosperity, the tyrannical oppressors of the people of God; whose short-lived glory, and sudden extinction, are aptly resembled to that crackling and momentary blaze which is produced by a fire, kindled among thorns, under a pot.

10. The righteous shall rejoice, when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked: 11. So that a man shall say, Verily, there is a reward for the righteous: verily, he is, or, there is, a God that judgeth in the earth.

scribes; but, 8-10, predicts his own enlargement through the tender mercy and mighty power of God; as also, 11-15, the singular vengeance to be poured out upon his enemies, for their punishment, and the admonition of others. The psalm concludes with a strain of exultation and thanksgiving.

1. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God; defend me, Heb. exalt me, from them that rise up against me. 2. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

In these words we hear the voice of David, when a prisoner in his own house; the voice of Christ, when surrounded by his merciless enemies; the voice of the church, when under bondage in the world; and the voice of the Christian, when under temptation, afflic tion, and persecution.

3. For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul; the mighty are gathered against me: not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. 4. They run and prepare themselves without my fault; awake to help me, and behold.

The mighty men of Saul were gathered against David, who had been guilty of no offence against the king, and therefore was, so far, innocent. The Jews and Romans were gathered against Jesus Christ, who had committed no sin at all, and was perfectly innoAnd the world is oftentimes in arms cent. against the children of God, only for doing what it is their duty to do. In all such cases, God is to be applied to, as the helper and avenger of those who suffer unjustly.

5. Thou, therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel awake, or, thou shalt awake, to visit all the heathen be not merciful, or thou wilt not be merciful, to any wicked transgressors.

The victories of that JUST ONE gained in his own person and in those of his faithful servants, over the enemies of man's salvation, are productive of a joy, which springeth not from love of revenge, but is inspired by a view of the divine mercy, justice, and truth, displayed in the redemption of the elect, the punishment of the ungodly, and the accom- The prophet, in this verse, seemeth to replishment of the promises. Whoever duly spect that great day of final retribution, which weigheth and considereth these things, will is to succeed the day of grace, the accepted diligently seek after the reward of righteous-time of repentance and pardon. For then it ness, and humbly adore the providence, which is that Jehovah shall awake, to judge the naordereth all things aright, in heaven and earth.

ELEVENTH DAY.—EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM LIX.

ARGUMENT.

tions; to reward every man according to his deeds; and to banish forever, from his presence, the impenitent workers of iniquity.The malicious adversaries of David, and those of the son of David, may not then find the mercy, so often by them rejected, in the days of their flesh.

THIS Psalm is said to have been composed on occasion of David's escape, when Saul sent, 6. They return at evening; they make a and they watched the house to kill him. noise like a dog, and go round about the city. See 1 Sam. xix. 11-18. David in these, The emissaries of Saul, coming after Daas in many other circumstances of his life, vid in the " evening," besetting his house, and may be considered as the representative of blocking up the avenues, are compared to a Messiah, 1,2, praying to be delivered from set of hungry blood-hounds in quest of their the power of his blood-thirsty enemies, prey. But the picture is drawn likewise for whose indefatigable malice he, 3-7, de- that herd of evening wolves who thirsted af

ter the blood of the Lamb of God, on whom | in the "words of their lips," or their "hard their mouths were opened, crying, "Crucify speeches" spoken against the Son of God; him! crucify him!” their slanders, lying accusations, and outrage7. Behold, they belch, or, spout, out with ous blasphemies, together with that horrid their mouth; swords are in their lips, for who, say they, doth hear?

The prophet, in the person of Messiah, The punishment inflicted on the wicked predicteth the singular fate of the Jews; who often carries the mark of their crime. It is for their sins, were not extirpated, lest the just that they who have thirsted after the Gentile Christians should "forget" their pun-blood of the righteous, should want a drop ishment, but were "scattered" among all of water to cool their tongues; and the hunnations, and degraded from the glorious priv-ger of a dog is deservedly their plague, of ileges of that high rank in which they once whom a resemblance of that unclean animal's stood.* Thus doth that people remain, at this day, a monument of God's vengeance against apostasy; a beacon, set up, and kindled by the hand of heaven, as a warning to all Christian churches, that they split not on the same fatal rock.

the same; and the "morning" which is to consign the former to the habitations of despair, where no sounds are heard but those of hideous wailings and horrid blasphemies, shall transport the latter to the mansions of felicity, resounding with incessant hallelujahs.

PSALM LX.

ARGUMENT.

THIS Psalm is thought to have been composed by David, when, after his coming to the throne, the tribes of Israel had submitted to his sceptre, and he was engaged in the reduction of the adjacent countries. See the history, 2 Sam. chap. v. and viii. 1-3, he describes what Israel had lately suffered from foreign enemies, and domestic feuds; 4, 5, 6, he declareth himself appointed to conduct his people to victory and triumph, according to a divine prediction; 6, 7, he rejoiceth in the accession of the other tribes to that of Judah, and, 8-12, sees Edom, Moab, and Philistia, already subdued by the mighty power of God. All this is now to be spiritually applied, in the Christian church, to the establishment and enlargement of Messiah's kingdom, prefigured by that of David.

1. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

When the church, by her sins, hath rejected God, she is rejected by him; she is delivered into the hands of her enemies, and suffers persecution: when, by repentance and supplication, she returneth to him, he is ready to meet and receive her. The history of Israel is one continued exemplification of these most interesting truths. It should be the care and endeavour of every church, and every individual, to profit thereby.

2. Thou hast made the earth,or, the land, to tremble; thou hast broken it; heal the breaches thereof, for it shaketh.

my, but their civil dissensions at home showed that they had drunk deep of the bitter cup of infatuation. See 1 Sam. xxxi. and 2 Sam. ii. and iii. From these two sources flow the calamities of churches and of kingdoms in all ages, whensoever it pleaseth God to visit their transgressions upon them by the instrumentality of men.

4. Thou hast given a banner to them that the truth. fear thee, that it may be displayed because of

raised up David, according to his promise; For the temporal salvation of Israel, God to whose standard, as a centre of unity, the worshippers of the true God might resort. For the spiritual and eternal salvation of the church, God raised up his Son Jesus, according to his promise, and "displayed the banner of the cross," under which believers are enlisted, and led on to triumph, "because of the truth." Remarkable to this purpose are the words of Isaiah: "In that day there shall be A ROOT OF JESSE, which shall stand for an ENSIGN of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest," after the battle is over, and the victory gained, "shall be glorious.” Isa. xi. 10.

5. That thy beloved may be delivered, save with thy right hand, and hear me.

for Israel, the great Intercessor prefers conThis prayer, which king David preferred tinually for his church; and all ought to prefer for themselves and for others.

his Holy One, I will rejoice, or, exult, i. e. as 6. God hath spoken in his holiness, or by a conqueror; I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

vid here declares, that God, by the mouth of As a ground of hope and confidence, Daan holy prophet, had spoken and promised him the success for which he prayed in the foregoing verse.

And that this was known Abner to the elders of Israel, 2 Sam. iii. 18. among the people, appears from a speech of "The LORD hath spoken of David, saying, by the hand of my servant David I will save The persecutions of the Israelitish church my people Israel out of the hand of the Philoften shook the "land" of promise; the per- istines, and out of the hand of all their enesecutions of the Christian church have fre- mies." Having therefore, mentioned this quently moved the whole earth. Afflictions prediction, much of which was already acof this kind may be likened to wounds some-complished, he exults as a conqueror, resolvtimes made in a diseased body, by skilful sur- ing to divide into districts, and portion out geons to be healed again, when, by a discharge under proper officers, the country about of the corrupt humors, they have answered Samaria, now become his own. the end for which they were intended.

3. Thou hast showed thy people hard things; thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment, or intoxication.

Ephraim also is the strength of my head; 7. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Judah is my lawgiver.

The Israelites had not only suffered "hard other tribes of Israel, upon the death of Ish"Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim," and the things" from their professed enemies the Phil- bosheth the son of Saul, whom Abner had set istines, by the overthrow of Saul and his ar-over them, joined the royal tribe of Judah,

and came in, with one accord, to the house of David. See 2 Sam. ii. 8. and v. 1. "Ephraim," as a tribe abounding in valiant men, is styled by its prince, "the strength of his head," or the support of his life and kingdom; and "Judah," as the seat of empire, replenished with men of wisdom and understanding, qualified to assist the throne by their salutary counsels, is dignified with the title of "lawgiver." Thus are the tribes of the spiritual "Israel" subject to Messiah, and serve him in various capacities, as the Spirit furnishes different men with different powers; some being endued with zeal and fortitude, to labor and suffer; others with knowledge and discretion, to instruct and govern.

8. Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out, or, extend, my shoe; Philistia, triumph thou because of me; Heb. Over Philistia give a shout of triumph. The parallel passage, Ps. cviii. 9, has it-Over Philistia I will give a shout of triumph.

10. Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?

The question in the last verse, "Who will bring me into Edom?" is here answered by another question, "Wilt not thou, O God" &c. that is, To whom can we have recourse, for assistance, but to thee, O God? Deserted by thee, we fall; but do thou go forth with us, and we shall again rise superior to every enemy. So saith the Christian soldier: "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of Eternal life;" "Thou hast overcome the sharpness of death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers."

11. Give us help from trouble; for vain is the help of man. 12. Through God we shall do valiantly; for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

David, like a wise and pious prince, acknowledgeth the weakness of the fleshly arm, and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. After having mentioned the submission of Much more ought we to confess the impotthe Israelitish tribes to his sceptre, David pre-ence of nature, and to implore the succors dicts the extension of his kingdom over the of grace; that so we may happily accomplish neighboring nations, those inveterate enemies our spiritual warfare, tread Satan under our of the people of God; such as the Moabites, feet, and triumph finally over the last enemy, the Edomites, and, above all, the Philistines. death himself. The absolute reduction of these nations under his dominion, is expressed metaphorically, by the phrases of "making them his washpot, and extending his shoe, i. e. setting his foot" upon them. The Son of David also must

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reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet." 1 Cor. xv. 25. And the Christian, in these words, now declareth his hope of being enabled to do the same; to conquer through his Lord, and to triumph with him.

9. Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom?

PSALM LXI.

ARGUMENT.

In the person of David, for a while driven into exile, and then restored to his kingdom, we here behold the church, or any member thereof, 1, 2, 3, preferring a petition for deliverance from the troubles and temptations of this mortal state; 4, 5, expressing faith and hope in God; 6, 7, praying for the prosperity and perpetuity of Messiah's kingdom; and, 8, resolving to praise God evermore for the same.

Bozrah the capital of Idumea, or " Edom," was a fortified town, situated on a rock deemed impregnable. See Obad. ver. 3. Consid- 1. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my ering therefore the strength of the adversary, prayer. 2. From the end of the earth will 1 David, by this question, acknowledgeth his cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; own impotency, and the need he had of lead me to the rock that is higher than I. superior aid, in order to achieve this impor- The church, extended far and wide among tant conquest. How great need, then, have the nations, crieth aloud unto God, by the we of an Almighty Saviour, who may enable us to overcome our last and strongest enemy, death! And it is very remarkable, that Christ's victory over this very enemy is set forth, by the prophet Isaiah, under the striking image of a king of Israel, returning in triumph from the reduction of Idumea. "Who is this, that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah," &c. Isa. lxiii. 1. The reader will be no less entertained than instructed, by a discourse of Bishop Andrews on this subject, being the seventeenth of his Sermons on Easter-day.

prayers of its members, even "from the end," or utmost parts, " of the earth." The world is to Christians a sea of troubles and temptations, from which they daily beseech God to deliver them, and to place them on the "rock" of their salvation; which rock is Christ.Grounded on him, by faith in his sufferings and exaltation, we may defy all the storms and tempests that can be raised against us by the adversary, while, as from the top of a lofty mountain on the shore, we behold the waves dashing themselves in pieces beneath

us.

3. For thou hast hast been a shelter for me, | exaltation, the power, and the everlasting gloand a strong tower from the enemy.

Meditation on God our Saviour, as set forth in the Scriptures, will ever prove, to the believer, "a strong tower" or fortress, in which he will be safe from the darts of the enemy, and will be furnished with impregnable arguments, wherewith to oppose and blunt the force of every temptation which Satan can launch against his soul.

4. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.

They who sojourn in the "tabernacle" of the church militant on earth, and continue faithful members of the same, shall take up their eternal residence in that permanent "temple," the church triumphant in heaven. Below, they are protected by the all-shadowing "wing" of God's fatherly providence; above, they will be rewarded with the all-illuminating vision of his glorious presence.

5. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows; thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

The "vows" of David, made during his banishment, were heard, and he was restored to the possession of his kingdom, in that land which God gave to his people, for an "heritage." The vows of Messiah, made in the days of his pilgrimage, were heard, and he hath re-assumed his ancient throne in the heavenly Jerusalem. The prayers of the faithful, made in the land where they are in exile, are heard, and their spirits shall return to God, who will "give them the heritage of

those that fear his name."

6. Thou wilt prolong the king's life; and his years as many generations. 7. He shall abide before God forever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. Or, 6. Thou wilt add days to the days of the king his years as generation and generation. 7. He shall dwell before God forever; mercy and truth shall preserve him.

These words must be applied to Him, of whom it was said by the angel, "The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end:" Luke, i. 32. The ancient church prayed for "his" exaltation and glory, under those of his representative; nay, the Chaldee paraphrast expounds this passage of Messiah only: "Thou shalt add days to the days of King Messias; his years shall be as the generation of this world, and of the world to come." Nor can a better paraphrase be easily devised.

8. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

For the preservation and prosperity, the

ry of Christ's kingdom, with all the benefits and blessings thereof, we are bound to sing praise unto God's holy name for ever, and daily to perform the vows made in baptism, that we would believe in him, and serve him, all the days of our life; until the blessed day shall dawn, which no night is to follow, when faith shall end in vision, and duty be resolved into praise.

TWELFTH DAY.-MORNING PRAYER.

PSALM LXII.

ARGUMENT.

THIS Psalm containeth, 1, 2, a resolution to trust in God alone; 3, 4, a denunciation of judgment against the persecutors of the Just One; 5-7, a repeated act of faith, and resolution to trust in God, with, 8, an exhortation to all nations to do the same; and that 9, 10, because there is no confidence to be placed in man, or in the world; but only, 11, in the divine power, and, 12, mercy.

1. Truly my soul waiteth, or, resteth, upon God: from him cometh my salvation. 2. He only is my rock, and my salvation; he is my defence, Heb. high place; I shall not be greatly moved.

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 fortelleth, 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;