danger deter me from it. While JEHOVAH, my reconciled God and Father, manageth and judgeth the world, my safest course is to commit myself to him in well doing. Let the just vengeance of God upon sinners deter my heart from sinning, and his kindness to his people encourage me to holiness in all manner of conversation. I IN the Lord do put my trust: how is it then that ye Say to my soul, flee as a bird unto your mountain high? 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, their shafts on string they fit: That those who upright are in heart they privily may hit. 3 If the foundations be destroy'd, what hath the righteous done? 4 God in his holy temple is. in heaven is his throne: His eyes do see, his eye-lids try men's sons. The just he proves : But his soul hates the wicked man, and him that vi'lence loves. 6 Snares, fire and brimstone, furious storms, on sinners he shall rain: This, as the portion of their cup, 7 Because the Lord most righteous doth And with a pleasant countenance PSALM XII. To the chief Musician upon SHEMINITH. In this psalm, which was probably penned, during the reign of Saul, observe, (1) The times rendered extremely bad by the almost universal death of the godly, the general decay of piety and honesty, the common prevalence of dissimulation and flattery; and by the proud and daring contempt of God, and oppression of the poor; and by the protection and encouragement of wickedness, by those that bare rule in church or state, ver. 1—4, 8. [2] Enough in God to balance the evils of the worst of times. He is ready to help. He will in due time reckon with the wicked, and restrain their insolence. He will seasonably and effectually relieve his oppressed people. His words are pure, firm and faithful; and he will always secure a remnant for himself, ver. 1—5, 6, 7. In evil times, do thou my soul, live on thy God. Walk humbly with thy God. Hope continually in thy God and rejoice in his new-covenant promises to men,-to mĮ ELP, Lord, because the godly man HE And from among the sons of men 2 Unto his neighbour every one They with a double heart do speak, and lips of flattery. 3 God shall cut off all flatt'ring lips, tongues that speak proudly, thus, 4 We'll with our tongue prevail, our lips are ours who's Lord o'er us? 5 For poor oppress'd, and for the sighs Saith God, and him in safety set 6 The words of God are words most pure; they be like silver try'd In earthen furnace, seven times that hath been purify'd. 7 Lord, thou shalt them preserve and keep for ever from this race. 8 On each side walk the wicked, when vile men are high in place. PSALM XIII. To the chief Musician. A Psalm of DAVID. Here we have the Psalmist sowing in tears, but reaping in joy. Observe (1) his extreme distress, occasioned by God's apparent unkindness, and by inward anguish of soul, and insolence of enemies, ver. 1, 2. (2) his fervent supplications that God would consider his case, strengthen his faith, direct his goings, and comfort his heart, ver. 3, 4, (3) Sudden deliverance, flowing from a fixed trust in God, and inducing to a triumphant joy in him, ver. 5, 6. Think, my soul, how divine withdrawments, sensibly perceived, sting a renewed heart! How changeable the saints' spiritual frames are, while they continue in this world. Weeping endures for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. And behold, how quickly the prayers of faith are answered, and its expectations fulfilled! TOW long wilt thou forget me, Lord, H shall it for ever be? O how long shall it be that thou wilt hide thy face from me? 2 How long take council in my soul, 3 O Lord, my God, consider well, Mine eyes enlighten, lest the sleep of death me overtake: 4 Lest that mine enemy should say, against him I prevail'd; Dd And those that trouble me rejoice, when I am mov'd and fail'd. 5 But I have all my confidence thy mercy set upon : My heart within me shall rejoice 6 I will unto the Lord my God, PSALM XIV. To the chif Musician. A Psalm of DAVID. This Psalm represents the fearful sinfulness and misery of mankind, and the marvellous method of deliverance therefrom. Belold here (1) all mankind fearfully infected with the God-dishonouring, the soul-debasing and defiling, the world disturbing, malady of sinful corruption in heart and life, ver. 1-3. (2) Warm expostulations for the conviction, awakening, and reclaiming of wicked men, ver. 4-6. (3) Consolations exhibited to the righteous, from God's being among them, and being a refuge to them, and from his sending his Son to save and redeem them, ver. 5—7. While I sing these lines, let me have a deep sense of my corruptions. Let me be ashamed of them before God. Let me, with a broken heart and weeping eye, confess my filthiness and crimes. Let me groan after and flee to Jesus, the Saviour, the salvation of God. wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this abominable life, from this inward body of death! Thanks to the Redeemer, who is come to Zion, to turn aw y ungodliness from Jacob! Let therefore Jacob rejoice, and the Gentiles sing. T HAT there is not a God, the fool They are corrupt, their works are vile, 2 Upon men's sons the Lord from heav'n 4 These workers of iniquity, 5 There fear'd they much for God is with the whole race of the just. 6 You shame the counsel of the poor, Let Isr'el's help from Sion come. PSALM XV. A Psalm of DAVID. Here let me [1] with wonder, observe the happy state. of present fellowship with God, in his church on earth, and of everlasting fellowship with him, in the temple above; and how fixed the saints are in this their new-covenant state, ver. 1, 5. (2) Let me with self-examination, remark the discriminating characters of such as are admitted to that happy state. They are sincere, upright and honest in all their ways; are kind to neighbours, they esteem others in proportion to the appearance of Christ's image on them; and they prefer a good conscience to every earthly advantage, ver. 2,—5. |