14 Hc views all from his dwelling-place 15 He forms their hearts alike, and all 16 Great hosts save not a king, much strength No mighty man preserves. 17 An horse for preservation And by the greatness of his strength 18 Behold, on those that do him fear The LORD doth set his eye; Verses 14, 15. From the place of his habitation &c. Zion was the place of his habitation, or the true Church, and the rest of mankind are all the inhabitants of the earth, that is, in every age. Upon all these he so looks as it follows, as to fashion all their hearts alike, having considered all their works, and found them wanting, that by giving them new hearts, they may produce the works of righteousness, To fashion the hearts of all the inhabitants of the earth alike, must refer, not to their formation in the womb as human beings, in consequence of which no man has a truly good heart, but to their new creation in the Second Adam. That all the first born enjoy this privilege none call in question; but here is a declaration that secures it to the rest of mankind, and the preceding context rcquires it to be so understood. Verses 16, 17. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: &c. Here is a lesson for kings and people, who are apt to promise themselves victory from the number, and tried valour of their forces. What is the strength of hostile legions, when brought to act against the counsel and plan of God, but like dry briers and thorns, before the devouring flame! The fate of every battle will depend on the side he espouses, who can easily confound the many and the mighty, and give victory to the few, and to them that have no might, The same holds of that spiritual warfare, in which all true Christians are engaged. While earthly kings expect salvation, or victory from the multitude of their people; Christ, on the contrary, gives salvation to all his subjects, that is, all mankind; the gloricus truth which the connection inculcates. Verses 18, 19. Echold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him; &c. These two verses furnish a key to open the import of the 13th and 14th. If the LORD's eye is so upon them that fear him, and hope in his mercy, as to deliver their soul from death, whence the second death shall rot come nigh them, and whence he shall keep them alive in famine, nct enly such as takes place en carth, but in the great fan.ine which shall Ev'n those who on his mercy do With confidence rely. 19 From death to free their soul, in dearth 20 Our soul doth wait upon the LORD; 21 Sith in his holy name we trust, 22 LORD, let thy mercy be on us, afflict the wicked in a future state, when they shall hunger and thirst, and the sun smite them, and a great heat; must not his looking from heaven upon all the sons of Adam, and beholding them in their misery, include their final deliverence from that death and famine? To explain the phrase as importing favour when it respects the righteous, and deny this when the wicked are intended, as if there was no favour for them as long as God exists, is to take away the key of knowlege from the people, the crime of the Jewish teachers. How long shall those who hold Predesti nation, and those who maintain the doctrine of Universal grace, mutually upbraid each other with subverting the doctrine of truth, by wresting the Scriptures, the true sense of which each professes to have found; while both unite in opposing what alone can reconcile them, by leading them to a centre of union? Verses 20, 21 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: &c. Worthy is God that our soul should wait for him in the due use of every mean, as being his people's present help in every time of need and trouble, and their shield to defend them from every foe and danger. The heart of those therefore, who trust in his holy name, Messiah in whom it is, shall rejoice The Christian life is a continued waiting for the coming of our in him. LORD and Saviour. thee. Verse 22. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in Worthy views of God inspire hope, and mercy never disap points the hope which is founded on his word. The faith of the Old Testament church rested upon the coming of Messiah in the flesh, for which event they waited with joyful expectation, and raised hope: but the faith of Christians looks forward to his advent in his Millennial kingdoin and glory. As assuredly as the first was realized in due time, to the unspeakable joy of the few, who waited for the consolation of Israel; so assuredly shall this other coming of the Son of man be.-While we sing these songs of Zion, in our public assemblies and private dwellings, let us rejoice that our LORD made the same the manual of his devotions, and that we have the honour and happiness to celebrate the Divine praises in language that proceeded so often from his sacred lips; what cannot be said of the best human compositions; from which, however must be excepted the inspired songs of Scripture, as having the Divine Spirit for their Author. 14 Hc views all from his dwelling-place 15 He forms their hearts alike, and all 16 Great hosts save not a king, much strength No mighty man preserves. 17 An horse for preservation Is a deceitful thing; And by the greatness of his strength 18 Behold, on those that do him fear The LORD doth set his eye; Verses 14, 15. From the place of his habitation &c. Zion was the place of his habitation, or the true Church, and the rest of mankind are all the inhabitants of the earth, that is, in every age. Upon all these he so looks as it follows, as to fashion all their hearts alike, having considered all their works, and found them wanting, that by giving them new hearts, they may produce the works of righteousness, To fashion the hearts of all the inhabitants of the earth alike, must refer, not to their formation in the womb as human beings, in consequence of which no man has a truly good heart, but to their new creation in the Second Adam. That all the first born enjoy this privilege none call in question; but here is a declaration that secures it to the rest of mankind, and the preceding context rcquires it to be so understood. Verses 16, 17. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: &c. Here is a lesson for kings and people, who are apt to promise themselves victory from the number, and tried valour of their forces. What is the strength of hostile legions, when brought to act against the counsel and plan of God, but like dry briers and thorns, before the devouring flame ! The fate of every battle will depend on the side he espouses, who can easily confound the many and the mighty, and give victory to the few, and to them that have no might, The same holds of that spiritual warfare, in which all true Christians are engaged. While earthly kings expect salvation, or victory from the multitude of their people; Christ, on the contrary, gives salvation to all his subjects, that is, all mankind; the gloricus truth which the connection inculcates. Verses 18, 19. Eehold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him; &c. These two verses furnish a key to open the import of the 15th and 14th. If the LORD's eye is so upon them that fear him, and hope in his mercy, as to deliver their soul from death, whence the second death shall rot come nigh them, and whence he shall keep them alive in famine, nct only such as takes place en carth, but in the great fan.ine which shall 19 From death to free their soul, in dearth Life unto them to yield. 20 Our soul doth wait upon the LORD; He is our help and shield. 21 Sith in his holy name we trust, Our heart shall joyful be. 22 LORD, let thy mercy be on us, As we do hope in thee. ་་་་་་་་་་་་་་ ་་་་་་་་་་་་ afflict the wicked in a future state, when they shall hunger and thirst, and the sun smite them, and a great heat; must not his looking from heaven upon all the sons of Adam, and beholding them in their misery, include their final deliverence from that death and famine? To explain the phrase as importing favour when it respects the righteous, and deny this when the wicked are intended, as if there was no favour for them as long as God exists, is to take away the key of knowlege from the people, the crime of the Jewish teachers. How long shall those who hold Predestination, and those who maintain the doctrine of Universal grace, mutually upbraid each other with subverting the doctrine of truth, by wresting the Scriptures, the true sense of which each professes to have found; while both unite in opposing what alone can reconcile them,, by leading them to a centre of union? Verses 20, 21 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: &c. Worthy is God that our soul should wait for him in the due use of every mean, as being his people's present help in every time of need and trouble, and their shield to defend them from every foe and danger. The heart of those therefore, who trust in his holy name, Messiah in whom it is, shall rejoice in him. The Christian life is a continued waiting for the coming of our LORD and Saviour. Verse 22. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Worthy views of God inspire hope, and mercy never disappoints the hope which is founded on his word. The faith of the Old Testament church rested upon the coming of Messiah in the flesh, for which event they waited with joyful expectation, and raised hope: but the faith of Christians looks forward to his advent in his Millennial kingdom and glory. As assuredly as the first was realized in due time, to the unspeakable joy of the few, who waited for the consolation of Israel; so assuredly shall this other coming of the Son of man be.-While we sing these songs of Zion, in our public assemblies and private dwellings, let us rejoice that our LORD made the same the manual of his devotions, and that we have the honour and happiness to celebrate the Divine praises in language that proceeded so often from his sacred lips; what cannot be said of the best human compositions; from which, however must be excepted the inspired songs of Scripture, as having the Divine Spirit for their Author. 14 Hc views all from his dwelling-place 15 He forms their hearts alike, and all 16 Great hosts save not a king, much strength 17 An horse for preservation And by the greatness of his strength 18 Behold, on those that do him fear The LORD doth set his eye; Verses 14, 15. From the place of his habitation &c. Zion was the place of his habitation, or the true Church, and the rest of mankind are all the ·inhabitants of the earth, that is, in every age. Upon all these he so looks as it follows, as to fashion all their hearts alike, having considered all their works, and found them wanting, that by giving them new hearts, they may produce the works of righteousness, To fashion the hearts of all the inhabitants of the earth alike, must refer, not to their formation in the womb as human beings, in consequence of which no man has a truly good heart, but to their new creation in the Second Adam. That all the first born enjoy this privilege none call in question; but here is a declaration that secures it to the rest of mankind, and the preceding context rcquires it to be so understood. Verses 16, 17. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: &c. Here is a lesson for kings and pecple, who are apt to promise themselves victory from the number, and tried valour of their forces. What is the strength of hostile legions, when brought to act against the counsel and plan of God, but like dry briers and thorns, before the devouring flame! The fate of every battle will depend on the side he espouses, who can easily confound the many and the mighty, and give victory to the few, and to them that have no might, The same holds of that spiritual warfare, in which all true Christians are engaged. While earthly kings expect salvation, or victory from the multitude of their people; Christ, on the contrary, gives salvation to all his subjects, that is, all mankind; the gloricus truth which the connection inculcates. Verses 18, 19. Eehold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him; &c. These two verses furnish a key to open the import of the 15th and 14th. If the ICRD's eye is so upon them that fear him, and hope in his mercy, as to deliver their scul from death, whence the second death shall rot come nigh them, and whence he shall keep them alive in famine, not only such as takes place en caith, but in the great fan.ine which shall |