ments" of their God upon his enemies, much greater things which he hath promised whereby he evinced himself superior to the to do for us hereafter.

powers of the earth, and the gods of the nations. Thus, at the fall of Babylon, it is said,

Rev. xviii. 20. "Rejoice over her, thou hea

ven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her." And Euse

NINETEENTH DAY.-EVENING

PRAYER.

PSALM XCVIII.

ARGUMENT.

bius speaks, in the following terms, of the In this evangelical hymn, the prophet, 1-3,

times under Constantine, which succeeded the overthrow of Maxentius and Maximin : "A brigh' and glorious day, no cloud overshadowing it, did enlighten, with rays of heavenly light, the Churches of Christ over all the earth; and among all Christians there was an inexpressible joy, and a kind of celestial gladness." Ecclesiast. Hist. b. x.

10. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the soul of his saints, he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Having sung the glory of the Redeemer, the Psalmist delineates the duty of the redeemed. They are characterized by their "love of God; " they are enjoined to "hate evil;" this hatred is, indeed, a consequence, and a sure proof, of that love, when it is genuine and sincere. Religion must be rooted in the heart, and spring from thence. A Christian must not only serve God outwardly, but must inwardly "love" him; he must not content himself with abstaining from overt acts of sin, but must truly "hate" it. They who do so, are "the saints of God, whose souls he preserveth" from evil, and will finally "deliver" from the evil one, and his associates, by a happy death, and a glorious resurrection.

11. Light is sown for the righteous; and gladness for the upright in heart.

However gloomy our prospect may at any time be, let us wait patiently, as the husbandman doth, all the winter, in expectation of a future crop, from the seed which lieth buried in the earth. "Light and gladness are sown for the righteous and true hearted," though they may not yet appear; the seed-time is in this world; the harvest will be in that to come. "In due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal vi. 9.

12. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holi

ness.

Tribulation itself, therefore, should not prevent our "rejoicing in Jehovah our righteousness," who justifieth us from our sins; no adversity ought to make us negligent.in celebrating, with thanksgiving, the "commemorations of his holiness," which the church hath appointed to be observed; to the end that we may always remember, with gratitude, how great things he hath done for us already, and reflect, with comfort, on those

extols the miracles, the victory, the salvation, the righteousness, the mercy, and the truth of the Redeemer; on account of which, 4-9, he calls upon man, and the whole creation, to rejoice and praise Jehovah.

1. O sing unto the LORD a new song, for he hath done marvellous things; his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory.

New mercies and wonders demand new songs. And what mercies, what wonders, can be compared with those wrought by the holy Jesus? "Go and tell John," saith he to John's disciples; go and tell all the world, saith he to his own disciples, "the things which ye see and hear;" the marvellous things which I do to the bodies and to the souls of men. "The blind receive their sight," and the ignorant minds are enlightened with knowledge; "the lame walk," and strength is communicated to impotent souls; "the lepers are cleansed," and the lascivious rendered chaste; "the deaf hear," and the obstinate listen to instruction and reproof; "the dead are raised," and sinners justified; "the Gospel is preached," and the world converted. "His own right hand, and his holy arm" hath done these marvellous things, without and against all worldly power; not by spear and sword, but by patience and charity, he hath "gotten the victory," and gained the glorious day.

2. The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen.

The "salvation" of Jehovah was "made known" by the preaching of Christ himself in Judea, for the space of three years; his "righteousness,"whereby sinners are justified, was "openly showed," by the sermons of his apostles, "in the sight of the heathen." Still let that salvation be made known, still let that righteousness be openly showed, by the ministers of the Gospel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, and the remnant of the Jews converted; until antichrist be overthrown, and death himself fallen before the all-conquering cross.

3. He hath remembered his mercy and truth towards the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God,

In sending the Messiah, God showed him- were, laugh and sing, at the approach of self mindful of the promises, which "mercy" harvest. The subject of this general joy is, prompted him to make, and "truth" required as before, in Psal. xcvi. 13, the advent of him to perform. These promises were made Messiah to reform the world, to execute to "the house of Israel;" to the lost sheep of judgment upon the wicked, and to establish that house, Christ declared himself sent; and a kingdom of righteousness upon the earth. the apostles offered salvation first to the Jews: We expect his second advent to restore all but to them it was never intended that evan- things, to judge the world, to condemn his gelical blessings should be confined. The enemies, and to begin his "glorious " reign. prophets spake in plain terms of the call of Then shall heaven and earth rejoice, and the Gentiles, who were to be adopted into the the joy of the redeemed shall be full. holy family, and made the children of Abraham. The Gospel was accordingly preached to the nations, the apostles made their progress through the world, and "all the ends

of the earth saw the salvation of God." The Jews fell from the faith of their fathers, and, to this day, continue in their apostasy. And are not the Gentiles, in their turn, falling away, after the same example of unbelief? "Remember," yet once again, O Lord, thy mercy and truth toward the house of Israel;" yet once again let "all the ends of the earth see thy salvation.”

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4. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth; make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD the King.

The Psalmist, beholding in spirit the accomplishment of the promises, the advent of Christ, and the glory of his kingdom, thinks it criminal in any creature to be silent; he bids the whole earth break forth into joy, and exult in God our Saviour, with every token of gratitude and thankfulness; with voices, and instruments of all kinds, in perfect harmony, with tempers and affections according in like manner, men are enjoined to sound aloud the praises of their great Redeemer.

7. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8. Let the floods clap their hands, let the hills be joyful together, 9. Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity,

PSALM XCIX.

ARGUMENT.

UNDER images borrowed from the old dispensation, the prophet celebrates, 1, the reign of Messiah, and the submission of his enemies; 2-4, his exaltation, holiness, power, and justice; which, 5, men are exhorted to acknowledge and adore. 6-9, The examples of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel are introduced, to encourage us in worshipping and serving our God and Saviour.

1. The LORD reigneth, let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved, or, bow.

Jehovah reigneth in the Christian church, as he did of old in the Jewish temple; when he appeared between the cherubims in the holy of holies, in the form and likeness of a MAN, encompassed with "glory:" Ezek. i. 26. Numb. vii. 89, he subdued the enemies of Israel, when they raged most furiously against his people; he will also bring into subjection the adversaries of the Gospel, and finally render us victorious over the powers of darkness. The passions and affections may mutiny and rebel; but if Christ reign in the heart by faith, they must soon tremble and submit.

2. The LORD is great in Sion, and he is high above all people. 3. Let them praise thy great aud terrible name: for it is holy

The power and pre-eminence of the Redeemer, whom no creature is able to resist, are reasons why all should save themselves, by yielding in time to his sceptre; by taking the benefit of his protection, instead of incurring his displeasure; by "praising his great, terrible, and holy name," instead of suffering the almighty vengeance, which he, who owns that Nam, can inflict.

The inanimate parts of creation are called upon to bear their parts in the new song, and to fill up the universal chorus of praise and thanksgiving, in honor of him that sitteth upon the throne. Or, perhaps, the converted Heathen nation are intended under the figures of the "sea," the "rivers," and the hills," and their exultations expressed by the noise of many waters, their beauty and fruitfulness by those of the hills, For although the "strength" of our when, crowned with plenty, they, as it King be infinite, yet it is never exerted, but 44

VOL. I.

4. The King's strength also loveth judg ment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5. Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool: for he is holy.

in "righteousness" and just "judgment," which are his delight; they compose the firm basis of his throne, and direct his whole administration. Impenitent rebels must feel the weight of his arm, and none can accuse the justice of their punishment: but in all other cases, he is "mighty only to save:" Isa. lxiii. 1. This holiness of his proceedings, this due temperament of justice with mercy, the redeemed are exhorted to acknowledge and to proclaim, falling down before the throne, and uttering the angelical trisagion, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy; Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and

is to come."

6. Moses and Aaron among his priests, or, chief rulers, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. 7. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.

To encourage the faithful in the worship of God, the examples of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel are adduced, men of like infirmities with ourselves, whose prayers were heard, both for themselves and others, and answers were returned to them from the mystic "cloud," that symbol of the divine presence, which, for a while, was itinerant with the camp in the wilderness, and then became fixed in the tabernacle at Shiloh, till its last removal to Mount Sion. These men were heard through the intercession of the great Mediator, whom they represented. Through that same intercession, our prayers also are heard, if we keep his testimonies, and the ordinances that he hath given us.

8. Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

The construction of the verse seems to be this: "O Lord our God, thou didst hear, or answer them," that is, the afore-mentioned typical mediators, Moses, Aaron, aud Samuel; thou becamest a forbearing God for them," or, at their intercession; and that, "even when punishing," or, when thou hadst begun to punish, "the wicked deeds of them," that is, not of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, but of the people, who had transgressed, and for whom they interceded. This was the case, when Moses interceded for the idolaters; Exod. xxxii. 32. Aaron for the schismatics; Numb. xvi. 47, and Samuel for the whole nation; 1 Sam. vii. 9. "Pray one for another," saith an apostle to Christians, "that ye may be healed the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James, v. 16. 9. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship t his holy hill: for the LORD our God is holy

The Psalmist repeats his exhortation, enforced by the preceding examples of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, and again invites all people to worship a "holy" God in a "holy" place, and to adore the consummate rectitude of all his proceedings, singing, with the spirits above, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Rev. xv. 3,

PSALM C.

ARGUMENT.

THE Psalmist invites all the world to join with the Israelites in the service of him who was kind and gracious to them beyond expression. Accordingly, we Christians now properly use this Psalm in acknowledgment of God's wonderful love to us in Christ; by whom we offer up continually spiritual sacrifices, for redeeming us by the sacrifice which he made of himself; for making the world anew, and creating us again unto good works; according to his faithful promises, which we may depend PATRICK. upon for ever.

ye lands: 2. Serve the LORD with gladness: 1. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all come before his presence with singing.

The prophet addresseth himself to "all lands," or to "all the earth;" to Gentiles, as well as Jews. He exhorteth them to "make a joyful noise," a noise like that of the trumsal triumph and exultation, in honor of “ Jepets at the time of jubilee, a sound of univerhovah," now become their Lord and Saviour. The service of this our Master is perfect freePharaoh and the task-masters, from Satan and dom; it is a service of love, a freedom from our own imperious lusts; it is a redemption from the most cruel bondage, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Let us therefore do as we are commanded ; let us "serve the Lord with gladness;" and when we come before his presence" in the temple, let it be" with singing " to the praise and glory of our Redeemer. Thus he is served in heaven, and thus he de ighteth to be served on earth.

he that hath made us, and not we ourselves ; 3. Know ye that the LORD he is God, it is we are his people, and the sheep of his pas ture. Or, He hath made us, and we are his,* his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

The motives here urged for serving and praising Jehovah, are the same with those

"I am persuaded that the Masoretical correction 1 (and we are his) is right: the construction and parallelism both favor it." Bishop LoWTH. A correspondent suggests-Might not the clause be renthe sheep of his pasture?"

dered interrogatively-" Are not we his people, and

above, in Psal. xcv. 6, 7, namely, that he is our "God," engaged by covenant on our behalf; that his hands created us, and have since new created us; that we stand in the pecular relation of his "people," whom he hath chosen to himself, and over whom he presideth as King; that we are "the sheep of his pasture," for whom the good Shepherd laid down his fife, and whom he nourisheth, by the word and sacraments, unto eternal life. These are points which every Christian ought to "know" and believe, unto his soul's health. And whoever doth know them aright, will ever be ready with heart and voice to obey the injunction which followeth in the next verse. 4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

1. I will sing of mercy and judgment; unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

David, having determined to sing unto Jehovah, chooseth for his theme "mercy and judgment;" either that mercy which God had shown to him, and that judgment which had been inflicted on his enemies; or else, that upright administration of mercy and judgment, with which he himself intended to bless his people. The righteous administration of mercy and judgment in the kingdom of Messiah, is a topic on which his subjects always expatiate with pleasure and profit. His mercy encourageth the greatest of sinners to hope; his judgments forbid the best of men to presume.

2. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way: O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. quar- In return for the favors of heaven, we hear the Israelitish monarch declaring his resolution, to set his court and kingdom an example of true wisdom, and unshaken integrity; at the same time, sighing for that visitation of divine grace, which alone could enable him

The Christian church is a temple, whose "gates" stand continually open, for the admission of the nations from all the four ters of the world. Rev. xxi. 13, 25. Into the "courts" of this temple, which are now truly "courts of the Gentiles," all men are invited to come, and offer their evangelical sacrifices of "confession and praise ;" to express their gratitude to their Saviour, and to put his resolution in practice-" O when bless" his gracious and hallowed "name." How glorious will be that day, which shall behold the everlasting gates of heaven lifting up their heads, and disclosing to view those courts above, into which the children of the resurrection are to enter, there, with angels and archangels, to dwell and sing for evermore !

wilt thou come unto me?" This was ever the voice of the church, longing for the presence of God in human nature, "O when wilt thou come unto me?" And this must ever be the wish of a Christian, who knoweth that though in himself he be nothing, yet that he can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth him by his Spirit in the inner 5. For the LORD is good; his mercy is ever- man. Messiah was the only King of Israel, lasting and his truth endureth to all gene-whose life held forth to his subjects a pattern of wisdom and righteousness, and whose death procured them grace, in their different measures and degrees, to follow it.

rations.

it shall not cleave to me.

"Jehovah is good ;" he is the source of all beauty and perfection in the creature; how altogether lovely must he needs be in him3. I will set no wicked thing before mine self! "His mercy is "everlasting," extend-eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside, ing through time into eternity; and "his truth," or fidelity in accomplishing his promises, "endureth to all generations," evidenced to the whole race of mankind, from Adam to his last born son. The Psalms which celebrate these attributes, will never, therefore, be out of date, but each successive gen-turn away my eyes and my attention, and reeration will chant them with fresh propriety, and fresh delight, until by saints and angels they are sung new in the kingdom of God.

PSALM CI.

ARGUMENT.

"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes;" that is, I will not propose to myself, or think of carrying into execution, any iniquitous scheme of politics, however advantageous and tempting it may appear; I will

ject it at once: "1 hate the work of them that turn aside; "of them who, in their counsels and their actions, deviate from the divine law to serve their own interest; "it shall not cleave to me;" no such corrupt principle shall adhere to my soul, or find a place in my IN the person of David, advanced to the affections. How noble a resolution for a king throne of Israel, we hear King Messiah de- to make; but how difficult an one for a king claring how he intended to walk, and to to keep! Thou only, O King of Righteousgovern his household the church; and also ness, didst never set any wicked thing before describing the qualifications which he thine eyes; thou only hadst a perfect avershould require in his ministers and servants. I sion to the ways of transgressors.

4. A froward heart shall depart from me :| hood," was a resolution worthy king David, I will not know a wicked person. worthy the representative of him, who styleth himself THE TRUTH, from whose heavenly palace and city will be for ever excluded, as St. John informeth us, "whosoever loveth and maketh A LIE.” Rev. xxii. 15.