power in the dispensations of nature and of grace; by which, as he checketh at pleasure the rage of the most boisterous elements in the former, so, with the same ease, he controlleth the fury of the enemy and oppressor in the latter; saying, with equal authority in both cases, Peace! be still !

11. The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

From Jehovah, whose power and majesty have been with so much sublimity displayed in this whole Psalm, we are to expect, through faith and prayer, 'strength' to overcome our enemies, whether ghostly or bodily; and also the blessing of 'peace,' which must be the fruit of victory. Thou, O Christ, art the Mighty God;' and therefore, thou art the Prince of Peace.' Isa. ix. 6.

Sixth Day.-Morning Prayer.

PSALM XXX.

ARGUMENT.-In this Psalm, or devout hymn, composed probably by David, on his revisiting the sanctuary, after a joyful recovery from some dangerous sickness, he, 1-3. returneth thanks for that event; and, 4. calleth the church to do so likewise, 5. drawing a comparison between temporary sufferings and eternal rewards. 6, 7. He describeth his former prosperity succeeded by affliction, with, 8-10. the supplications poured forth to the Almighty, in the day of his distress; and then returneth again, 11. to celebrate his deliverance, and, 12. to glorify God for the same. The Psalm is finely adapted to the case of the true David, and of Christians, his disciples and followers.

1. I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted

me up, Heb. drawn me out, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

These words, if originally composed and utter] by king David, on occasion of some templ mercy, apply, in a far more emphatical and beautiful manner, to the case of Messiah, suffering and rising again, as well as to that of his church and people, following him, both in his sufferings and resurrection; when we shall all lift up our voices, and sing together I will magnify thee, O Lord, for thou hast lifted me up! and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me!'

2. O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

Deliverance is to be attained by prayer;' for so David, and so the Son of David, obtained it; the former was healed' at his restoration to health and strength; the latter at the resurrection: the soul is healed at its repentance and conversion ; and the body will hereafter be repaired, beautified, and glorified, from the ruins of the grave.

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3. O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul, or, mal frame, from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

The resurrection of David was a figurative one; that of Christ was a real one, as that of his saints will be; so that the Psalm is more strictly applicable to the true, than it ever could have been to the typical David. The latter clause may be rendered Thou hast quickened me from among them that go down to the pit;' which rendering is most agreeable to the former part of the verse— Thou hast brought up my frame from the grave.'

4. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give tanks at the remembrance of his holiness, or, of his oly One.

The church of the redeemed is called upon to glorify the name of God, for his remembrance of the King of saints,' and for the accomplishment of the promise in raising him from the dead.

5. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

This is a most beautiful and affecting image of the sufferings and exaltation of Christ; of the sorrows and joys of a penitent; of the miseries of time, and the glories of eternity; of the night of death, and the morning of the resurrection.

6. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. 7. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

David, after his success against Goliath, and Christ, upon his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, were hailed by the acclamations and hosannas of the people, as the Christian may sometimes meet with the applauses of the world, and be led to think himself established in prosperity. But other troubles awaited David; and the blessed Jesus was nailed to the cross. Let not the disciple expect to be above his master; nor, in the season of life and joy, neglect to prepare for the approaching days of sorrow and darkness.

8. I cried unto thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication. 9. What profit is there in

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my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth? 10. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.

These are some of the strong cryings and supplications,' which the true David poured forth, while under the cloud of his passion; and which are to be poured forth by us, when conformed to his image, in suffering affliction. The argument here used, is a very powerful one, namely, the necessity of a resurrection from the grave, that man may be saved, and God glorified. The dead cannot praise, or serve God. They must live again for this purpose; and for this purpose it is, that we should desire to live, whether it be in the present world, or that which is to come.

11. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.

This might be true of David, delivered from his calamity; it was true of Christ, arising from the tomb, to die no more; it is true of the penitent, exchanging his sackcloth for the garments of salvation; and it will be verified in us all, at the last day, when we shall put off the dishonours of the grave, to shine in glory everlasting.

12. To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent: O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

The end of Christ's resurrection, of the salvation of the souls of the faithful, and the resurrection of their bodies, is one and the same, namely, the glory

of God, who is the author of every kind of deliverance; whose praise should, therefore, be resounded by the grateful tongues of the redeemed, from generation to generation; as the tongue then becometh the glory' of man, when it is employed in setting forth the glory of God.

PSALM XXXI.

ARGUMENT.-In this Psalm, ver. 5th of which was pronounced by our Lord, when expiring on the cross, we hear the true David, like his representative of old, 1—6. supplicating for deliverance; 7, 8. rejoicing in the Divine favour and assistance; 9-13. describing his afflicted and forlorn state; 14-18. returning again to his prayers; 19-22. celebrating the mercies of God to the children of Adam; and, 23, 24. exhorting his saints to courage and perseverance, under their troubles in the world.

1. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

God is faithful and just, to save those who, in time of trouble, renouncing all dependence on themselves and the creature, put their trust' only in his mercy. His honour is engaged by his promise, not to let such be ashamed' of their confidence.

2. Bow down thine ear to me, deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to

save me.

The Christian, like his blessed Master, is 'besieged' by many and powerful enemies, insomuch that, notwithstanding all human precautions, unless Jehovah keep the city, the watchman waketh