is no instrument like the rational soul, and no melody like that of well-tuned affections. When this music accompanies the other, the sacred harmony of the church is complete.

3. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

Old things are passed away,' and the ideas of a Christian are to be transferred from the old world, and the old dispensation, to the new;' since, under the Gospel,' all things are become new,' and all men ought to become so. Rev. xxi.1. 5. Abilities of every kind are never so well employed, as in the service of him who giveth them.

4. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

God is to be praised for his word, and his works; for his rectitude in the one, and his truth in the other; for his faithfulness in accomplishing by the latter, what his goodness had promised in the former. The sense will be the same, if we suppose that by the word of the Lord' is meant the personl Word, or Son of God, all whose works' wrought for the salvation of men, are done in truth, as witnessed by the law and the prophets.

5. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness, Heb. mercy, of the Lord.

'Justice' is an attribute inseparable from God; and what deserves the praises of man, as it excites the admiration of angels, is, that without sacrificing this formidable attribute, he hath contrived to fill and overflow the earth with his mercy.'

6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made;

and all the host of them by the breath, or, spirit, of his mouth.

It is true that the world was created by the 'word,' or fiat of God, which may be here described, after the manner of men, as formed by 'the breath of his mouth.' It is also true, that by the instrumentality of the eternal Word, and the eternal Spirit, the old heavens and earth were made; as also the new heavens and earth which shall succeed them. Glory is due from man to God, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit.

7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

The next instance of divine power and goodness, for which we are here excited to be thankful, is that of laying up the waters, which originally covered the face of the earth, in the great depth beneath. And let us reflect, that, by the same divine power and goodness, a deluge of wickedness and violence is prevented from overwhelming the faith and the church.

8. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him: 9. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

He who made all things, who preserves all things, and can in a moment destroy all things, is the proper object of our fear; and that we fear him so little, is a most convincing proof of the corruption and blindness of our hearts.

10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none

effect. 11. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

The wisdom of God's providence is not less worthy of adoration than the power of his might. By this wisdom the counsels' of states and empires are either directed to the accomplishment of the great counsel of heaven; or, if they attempt to thwart it, are blasted, and brought to nothing.' History

will force all, who read it with this view, to acknowledge thus much. And with this view, indeed, it should always be read.

12. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

The foregoing considerations of the righteousness, truth, mercy, power, and wisdom of Jehovah, naturally suggests a reflection on the blessedness' of the church, in whose cause all those attributes are, by the covenant of grace, engaged and exercised. But who now esteems this blessedness as it deserves ?

13. The Lord looketh from heaven: he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14. From the place of his habitation, he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

How great must be the advantage of living in his favour, and under his protection, who, from the watch-tower of his eternal throne, beholdeth, directeth, and controlleth at pleasure, not only the actions and the words, but the very thoughts and imaginations of all the inhabitants of the earth! For, this being the case, it is most certain, that,

16. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

All the power in the world is less than nothing, if brought into the field against that of God; so that the fate of every battle will depend upon the side which he shall please to take, who is equally able to confound the many and the mighty, and to give victory to the weak and the few. The same is true of that spiritual warfare in which we are all engaged.

18. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him; upon them that hope in his mercy: 19. To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

The ever-waking eye of Providence, which looketh on all, looketh with favour and loving-kindness on such as 'fear' God without despondency, and 'hope' in him without presumption; their bodies are often wonderfully preserved in times of danger and want; but, what is of far greater consequence, their souls are saved from spiritual and everlasting death, and nourished, in the wilderness, with the bread of heaven.

20. Our soul waiteth for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

In answer to the foregoing exhortation, the righteous' are here introduced, declaring their fixed resolution to persevere in faith and patience,' waiting' for the coming of their Lord and Saviour, in whom they'rejoice with joy unspeakable and full

VOL. II.

E

of glory,' by reason of that humble and holy confidence which they have in him.

22. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

The hope of the church was always in Messiah. Of old she prayed for the mercy' of his first advent; now she expecteth his second. Grant us, O Lord, hope, of which we may never be disappointed.

PSALM XXXIV.

ARGUMENT.-The prophet, escaped out of the hands of his enemies, uttereth a song of praise, in words which the Christian now einployeth to celebrate the far greater deliverance of his Saviour, and himself by him, from the power of more formidable adversaries. 1-7. He calleth his brethren to rejoice with him, and to magnify God for the favour and protection vouchsafed to his servant, in a time of danger; 8-10. he exhorteth others to taste and experience the goodness of Jehovah to such as fear him; and for that purpose, 11-14. instructeth them in the nature and effects of divine fear; after which, 15-22. he sweetly descanteth on the certainty of redemption from all the tribulations endured by the faithful in this mortal life.

1. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

The Christian, delivered from many perils, yet continually liable to more, finds cause, at all seasons and in all situations, to bless God. In all things he gives thanks, and rejoices even in tribulation,' which cannot deprive him of the true ground of all joy, for the salvation of Christ.