his passion, received these arrows, and sustained this weight, for the sins of the whole world.

3. There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger; neither is there any rest, or, peace, or, health, in my bones, because of my sin.

The expressions in this verse are applicable to the disorders and diseases which sin hath introduced into the soul and into the body, as the terms, 'health,' and 'sickness,' are in Scripture no less frequently employed to describe the state of the former, than that of the latter. If a single sinner thus complaineth of his grief and pain, what must have been the agony and passion of him who suffered for all, mercifully and lovingly submitted to be made sin for us?'

4. For mine iniquities are gone over my head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

Sins and sorrows are here, as in many other places, represented under the image of mighty waters rolling incessantly over the head of the person sunk into them, and by their accumulated weight depressing him, so that he can no more rise above them. Let us meditate on that deep and tempestuous ocean, into which we were the means of plunging the innocent Jesus.

5. My wounds stink and are corrupt, through my foolishness.

Sin is the wound of the soul, which must be washed with the tears of repentance, cleansed by the blood of Christ, and healed by the Spirit of the Holy One. It requires great care and attention, until the cure be completed. Otherwise, mortifica

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tion and death ensue, as in the case of outward wounds, if neglected, or ill managed. See Isa. i. 6; Luke x. 34. All the sores and pains of the body mystical are lamented by him who is the head of that body, and who felt the sad effects of these corruptions of our nature, in the day of his sufferings.

6. I am troubled, Heb. writhed, or, distorted, I am bowed down greatly: I go mourning all the day long.

As the body by pain, so the soul by guilt, is 'distorted' from its original uprightness; it is 'bowed down' to the earth, through shame and fear, being no longer able to look up towards heaven, with its accustomed holy confidence; and, instead of rejoicing in a good conscience, and the hope of glory, sorrow is its portion, and grief its familiar acquaintance. And what wonder, that we should be humbled and afflicted for our own sins, when the Son of God was so humbled and afflicted for sins not his own?

7. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease, or, inflammation: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

The disease,' or, inflammation,' complained of, in these metaphorical terms, seems to be the distemperature of our fallen nature, whereby it cometh to pass, that the flesh lusteth against the spirit:' it is that other law in our members, warring against the law in our minds, bringing us into captivity to the law of sin,' and forcing every son of Adam to cry out, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?' Happy is it for us, that we are enabled to go on

with the apostle, and to thank God' that we are delivered, through Jesus Christ our Lord,' on whom were laid the iniquities of us all.'

8. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

The vigour of a man is broken in pieces, and wasted away, by pain and the disquietude from thence arising, which cause piercing cries, and loud lamentations. When sin in the soul is felt like sickness in the body, it will produce effects in some degree similar. Let us reflect on the sufferings, the cries, and the tears, of our Redeemer.

9. Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

The desires' and 'groans' of the penitent are known to God, and marked down in his book; and there is no small comfort in thinking and acknowledging that they are so; but much more comfort is there in the remembrance of these inconceivable 'desires,' and those unutterable' groanings,' which the holy Jesus poured forth for us in the days of his flesh, and which prevail for the acceptance of

our own.

10. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

In bodily sickness, there are three symptoms of approaching dissolution; and the soul is in great extremity, when the three corresponding symptoms appear upon her; namely, when she hath neither resolution to will, power to perform, nor knowledge to discern the things that belong unto her health and peace.

11. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore, or, plague, or, affliction: and my kinsmen, or, my neighbours, stand afar off.

A body afflicted with a noisome distemper, and a soul troubled on account of sin, find but few friends, who have charity enough to stay with, and to minister to them. Let us not be surprised or offended at this, when we see the righteous Jesus, at his passion, destitute and forsaken by all; as it is written, 'Then all the disciples forsook him and fled Matt. xxvi. 56; and all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.' Luke xxiii. 49.

12. They also that seek after my life, lay snares for me and they that seek my hurt, speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13. But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and I was as a dumb man, that openeth not his mouth. 14. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs, or, altercations.

These verses describe and recommend to our imitation the behaviour of David, and of a greater than David, when under persecution; the former from Absalom, Ahithophel, Shimei, &c. the latter from the chief priests and elders, Judas, and the Jews.

15. For in thee, O Lord, do I hope, or, thee do I wait for thou wilt hear, or, answer, O Lord my God.

This verse assigns the reason why the ill usage which we receive at the hands of men, should be borne with patience and resignation; namely, be

cause, as it is not without the permission, so neither will it be without the notice, of the Almighty, who will one day take the matter into his own hands. Christ, saith St. Peter, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, yet when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.' 1 Pet. ii. 22.

16. For I said, Hear me lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

As the glory of God may be said, in some measure, to depend on the behaviour and fate of his servants; on that account, besides the stings of conscience, temporal punishments, and the danger of eternal torments, good men should ever have before their eyes the dishonour which is brought on the name of God, and the stop which is put to the progress of his gospel, by the fall of any eminently righteous and holy person into sin.

17. For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18. For I will declare mine iniquity: I will be sorry for my sin.

The surest way to have our weakness strengthened, and our sin forgiven, is to acknowledge and confess both; and this we need not be ashamed to do, when we consider, that he, who is the Lord strong and mighty, took our infirmities; and the King of righteousness bare our sins, in his own. body, on the tree.

19. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong, and they that hate me wrongfully are multi