25 Within the congregation great 26 The meek shall eat, and shall be fill'd; 27 All end's of th' earth remember shall, the governor he is. 29 Earth's fat ones eat, and worship shall: all who to dust descend Shall bow to him: none of them can 30 A seed shall service do to him; Be for a generation reck'ned in ages all. 31 They shall come, and they shall declare his truth and righteousness, Unto a people yet unborn, PSALM XXIII. A Psalm of DAVID. Here is the children's Psalm, and which is, in very deed, a noted song, of all the children of God. Behold [1] New-covenant relation to God, as a full and everlast ing security against hurtful wants, ver. 1. [2] Pleasant experience of God's acting up to his new-covenant character in disposing of, directing, assisting, feasting and comforting his people, ver. 2, 3, 5. [3] Well-grounded hopes of God's careful and seasonable supplies; and of his comfortable presence and help amidst distress and death; and of the perpetual and everlasting manifestation of his mercy and grace to us-ward; and of our endless nearness to, and immediate enjoyment of him, ver. 1, 4, 5, 6. While I sing, let me think as before God, whether I have the experimental knowledge of all these things. Let my soul be as a daughter of the horse-leech, crying mightily GIVE, GIVE what is good. And let me in all these forms, taste and see that God is good. HE Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want 2 He makes me down to lie In pastures green: he leadeth me 3 My soul he doth restore again ; 4 Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale, and staff me comfort still. 5 My table thou hast furnished, Mine head thou dost with oil anoint, 6 Goodness and mercy all my life And in God's house for evermore my dwelling-place shall be. Ff PSALM XXIV. Probably this psalm was penned for the use of the Hebrews, when David brought up the ark of God to Jerusalem; or, when Solomon brought it into the temple, 2. Sam. vi. 1 Kings viii. in order to raise their hearts above their external ceremonies, to a reception of, and walking in Christ, who was thereby prefigured. Observe [1] Christ's kingdom of nature, comprehending the whole world and all the inhabitants thereof, ver. 1, 2. [2] His kingdom of grace in the nature of it; the gracious character of its subjects; and their character to their everlasting happiness above, ver. 3-6. [3] Under the figure of a call to admit the ark, we have a solemn summons, issued forth by God, for the heavens to receive Jesus our glorious and almighty King, into their blissful abodes in his ascension: and for us to receive him into our hearts and societies below, ver. 7—10. While I sing, let me be affected with the double claim the Redeemer hath on me-as his creature, and as his ransomed one. Let me try whether I possess the distinguishing characters of a real saint: and whether I have received an abundance of the gift of righteousness, and of blessedness from the God of my salvation. Let me charge, let me rouse up all my inward powers to receive Jesus Christ the Lord, as made of God unto me, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. T HE earth belongs unto the Lord, The world that is inhabited, and all that there remains. 2 For the foundations thereof he on the seas did lay, And he hath it established upon the floods to stay. 3 Who is the man that shall ascend into the hill of God: Or who within his holy place shall have a firm abode ? 4 Whose hands are clean, whose heart is pure, and unto vanity Who hath not lifted up his soul, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He from th' Eternal shall receive the blessings him upon, And righteousness, ev'n from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation that after him enquire, O Jacob, who do seek thy face with their whole heart's desire. 7 Ye gates, lift up your heads on high, ye doors that last for aye, Be lifted up, that so the King of glory enter may. 8 But who of glory is the King? the mighty Lord is this, Ev'n that same Lord, that great in might and strong in battle is. 9 Ye gates lift up your heads, ye doors, doors that do last for aye, Be lifted up, that so the King of glory enter may. 10 But who is he that is the King of glory? who is this? The Lord of hosts, and none but he, the King of glory is. PSALM XXV. A Psalm of DAVID. In singing this psalm let me observe [1] What serious work prayer is, what lifting up of soul; what directing of eyes to God, and fixing them on him, must be in it, ver. 1-15 [2] What mercies ought to be prayed for; -pardon of sin, ver. 6, 7,-18. direction in duty, ver. 4, 5. familiar intimacy with God, ver. 10. deliverance from trouble, ver. 17, 18. preservation from adversaries, ver. 20, 21. And in fine, safety and deliverance to the church, ver. 22. [3] What pleas are proper to be used in prayer; as the trust we have reposed in God, ver. 2, 3, 5—— 20, 21. Our own divinely, affected sincerity in the Lord's way, ver. 21. Our distress and the malice of our enemies, ver. 2, 16-19. But chiefly the mercy that is in God, and the glory which redounds to his name from his bestowing of new-covenant favours, ver 6, 7-11. [4] Strong encouragements to prayer taken from the perfections of God's nature; and from his promises of instruction and direction; and from the fulness and grace of his covenant; and from his delight, in allowing men familiar intimacy and fellowship with himself, ver 8—14. Let these things, my soul, be the object of thy strictest care and attention, in all thy addresses to God. NO thee I lift my soul. T 2 O Lord, I trust in thee: My God let me not be asham'd, nor foes triumph o'er me. 3 Let none that wait on thee be put to shame at all; But those that without cause transgress; let shame upon them fall. 4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord : thy paths, O teach thou me : 5 And do thou lead me in thy truth, therein my teacher be: For thou art God that dost to me salvation send, And I upon thee all the day expecting, do attend. |