THE

PSALMS,

PARAPHRASED ACCORDING TO THE

NEW-TESTAMENT INTERPRETATION,

AND

Adapted to the common CHURCH-TUNES.

WITH

An ILLUSTRATION at the Beginning of each Pfalm, or else a Reference to its Parallels; and an introductory VERSE, expreffive of its Spirit and Scope.

To the whole is prefixed,

A General PREFACE, ferving to fhew, that these infpired Songs are not expreffive of the private Frames and Experiences of the Penmen; but are either hiftorical and commemorative of public Events concerning the Church; or prophetical and defcriptive of the Perfon, Character, Miffion, Offices and Kingdom of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Defigned to be fung in Churches and Families.

BY JOHN BARCLAY, A. M. Minifter of the BEREAN ASSEMBLY in EDINBURGH.

EDINBURGH:

Printed by JAMES DONALDSON for the AUTHOR; And fold by A. DONALDSON at his Shop (No. 48.) St. Paul's Church-yard, London, and at Edinburgh; alfo by the Author.

M. DCC.LXXVI.

147.g.193.

PREFACE.

Sit not furprising at this day, when all honeft free

dulged, that thofe vaft mountains of rubbish which whole legions of commentators have been heaping for ages upon the Pfalms, are ftill fuffered to lie almoft unmolefted, untouched? For what though fome one, happily, may have discovered, affayed, and laid open the golden vein of truth which runs through that precious portion of the book of God; where have they been found who have purfued the track, and wrought the mine? or, if fome have actually begun to put their hands to the work, yet in fuch a fhy, referved, partial, hidden, manner have they proceeded, that we may ftill fay, where are they? who are they? as if they had been ftealing away, rather than boldly avouching the caufe of truth.

How much the caufe of truth, to the hurting of many fouls, hath fuffered by wrefling that particular book of divine infpiration, may appear from a comparifon of the common ftream of commentators with the words of the Holy Ghoft, who hath certified us, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time,' or at any time, as the margin reads, by the will of man but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft.' Now, where has the Holy Ghoft, in the whole public interpretation of the Old Teftament writings by the apoftles, given any one hint for applying any one of the Pfalms, or any one part of a Pfalm, to David, or any one of the penmen, concerning whom we hear fo much, whofoever they were? Is not a dead filence obferved