2 For of him, through him, to him, all Exulting, joy and love express! 4 His lightnings play when tempefts low'r ; 5 Meffiah's voice the cedars breaks, While Lebanon's foundation quakes: 6 Meffiah's voice removes the hills, Meffiah's voice fhall fhake the earth, Meffiah, in his temple dwells, 10 He reigns the King, and ever fhall: The gofpel's, all the world abroad, A light from God, that ne'er declines: PS.A LM XXX. THIS moft delicate and heavenly Pfalm has been moft grofsly and grievously abused by our modern fons of Levi, together with their bewitched followers, whom, by their blind zeal and unhallowed diligence, they feem to have rendered twofold: more (if poffible) the children of hell than themfelves, particularly in thefe memorable words of the 7th verfe, Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled; which they, good people and wife! univerfally apply to David, and, by confequence, to the weaklings of the flock, whom they call babes in Chrift, as being often uncertain of their fonfhip, and that they have known the Father, and that their fins are forgiven them, (fee I John, ii. 12 to the 4th verfe of chap. iii.), under certain hidings and withdrawings of their Father's countenance, in certain times of darkness and defertion.-But, leaving dreams and old wives fables, the words are expreffive of the ago nies and death of the perfon who uses them; as is clear from Pfalm civ. 29; and fo by the Lord they are applied, John xii. 27. Now is my foul trou*bled; and what fhail I fay?'-and Matt. xxvi. 38. My foul is exceeding forrowful, even unto death; and, chap xxvii. 46. My God, my • God, why hast thou forsaken me ?-N. B. Thefe words in the 5th verfe of this Pfalm ought particularly to be remarked, as literally fulfilled in the death and refurrection of Chrift, whereof they are an evident prophecy, viz. Weeping may,' or hall, endure,' or commence, in the night,' (the Hebrew reads, according to the note on the margin, in the evening'), the fame night wherein he was betrayed; but joy cometh in the morning,' namely, of the refurrection, early in the morning of the first day of the week, as faith the Scripture. I The Lord of glory dedicates Himself, with all his house, to God, The mercy that his Father show'd ; For, when the night of death was c'er And all the pow'rs of mufic afe, And all the loftieft airs will chufe. For thou haft high-exalted me, O why art thou so far away? 3 Jehovah, 3 Jehovah, thou haft made afcend... 5 For, but a moment lafts his wrath; Are always found with him to dwell; The dew of death did on me ly, Fierce agonies tranfpiere'd my foul The floods of hell did o'er me fly,) And turn, and rage, and roar, and rollThe night retir'd before the day, The angels fang, and hail'd the morn, As birds that chant upon the fpray, And fing their hopes that were forlorn. 6 In my triumphing days, I faid, While erft I reign'd upon my throne, Adverfity may make me fad, But ne'er fhall fee me overthrown: 7 For thou, Jehovah, haft me made And laugh at weak insulting men. And in thine ear I'll pour my heart; If I this load 'fhould always bear, And forrow ne'er from me depart; 9 Then where's the profit in my blood? 'If I fhould always fink in hell, Say, would the duit confefs to God? Would death announce thy praises well? 10 Hear, Lord, and vindicate thy caufe, Confider well thy glory now; If I should perifh, where 's th' applause Which to thy name my foul doth vow? 11 Lo, thou hast turn'd my wailing wants Into the fongs of joy and praise; My ravish'd foul her pleafures chants, And all my faints the chorus raise : The fackcloth, loofed from my loins, alline'er be girt about them more;. For God his gladness now fubjoins Unto my fadnefs gone before. 12 My God Jehovah I will fing; My church, my glory, foul, and tongue, Shall emulate to praife my King: Whofe name and praise be ever fung!Thus glorioufly Meffiah reigns, And celebrates his Father's praife; Let all the faints, in loyal ftrains,. Still imitate his royal lays ! PSALM |