6 An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O Lord because it is so comfortable.

7 For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

the fear of death is fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.

6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove for then would I flee away, and be at rest.

which would otherwise have filled his soul. "My heart is disquieted within me, and the fear of death is fallen upon me." Conscious repentance alone subdued the incursions of despair, and the known mercy of God restored comfort to the spirit. The treachery of Ahithophel, alluded to in verses 12-15, was strikingly typical of that of Judas. David's assurance that the Lord would deliver him was fully realized; the glory of Christ was vindicated against the treachery of Judas; and in the triumphs of David and Christ every child of God sees prefigured his own happy deliverance from the power of the adversary.

7 Lo, then would I get me away far off and remain in the wilderness.

8 I would make haste to escape: because of the stormy wind and tempest.

9 Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them: for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city.

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10 Day and night they go about within the walls thereof mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

11 Wickedness is therein deceit and guile go not out of their

streets.

12 For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me this dishonour : for then I could have borne it.

13 Neither was it mine adversary, that did magnify himself against me for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him.

14 But it was even thou, my companion my guide, and mine own familiar friend.

15 We took sweet counsel together and walked in the house of God as friends.

16 Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick into hell for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. 17 As for me, I will call upon God and the Lord shall save me. 18 In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly and he shall hear my voice.

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19 It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me for there were many with me.

20 Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down for they will not turn, nor fear God.

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21 He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him and he brake his covenant.

22 The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords.

23 O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee : and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever.

24 And as for them

of destruction.

thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit

25 The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days nevertheless, my trust shall be in thee, O Lord.

THE ELEVENTH DAY.

MORNING PRAYER.

Psal. lvi. Miserere mei, Deus.

E merciful unto me, O God, for man goeth about to devour me he is daily fighting, and troubling me.

2 Mine enemies are daily in hand to swallow me up for they be many that fight against me, O thou most Highest.

3 Nevertheless, though I am sometime afraid yet put I my trust in thee.

4 I will praise God, because of his word: I have put my trust in God, and will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

5 They daily mistake my words: all that they imagine is to do me evil.

PSALM LVI.-This is another of the psalms said to have been composed by David, when he was continually in danger of being destroyed by Saul or the Philistines. The former hated him with a maddening jealousy, perverting his words, and misrepresenting the intention of his most virtuous designs; the latter sought him with a common enmity against holiness, and were resolved to destroy him because he was a servant of God. But the Lord saw his humility,-heard his prayers; and compassionating his griefs, so revealed to him the designs of His providence, that he could exclaim, even in the midst of his troubles, that his soul was delivered from death, and his feet from falling.

6 They hold all together, and keep themselves close and mark my steps, when they lay wait for my soul.

7 Shall they escape for their wickedness: thou, O God, in thy displeasure shalt cast them down.

8 Thou tellest my flittings; put my tears into thy bottle are not these things noted in thy book?

9 Whensoever I call upon thee, then shall mine enemies be put to flight this I know; for God is on my side.

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10 In God's word will I rejoice in the Lord's word will I comfort me.

11 Yea, in God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12 Unto thee, O God, will I pay my vows: unto thee will I give

thanks.

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

Psal. lvii. Miserere mei, Deus.

E merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge, until this tyranny be over-past.

2 I will call unto the most high God: even unto the God that shall perform the cause which I have in hand.

3 He shall send from heaven and save

me from the reproof of him that would eat me up.

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4 God shall send forth his mercy and truth my soul is among lions.

5 And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on fire: whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 6 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens and thy glory above all the earth.

PSALM LVII.-David was probably in the cave of Engedi when he composed this pathetic psalm. The firm and loving trust of a being in his God is, under any circumstances, a sublime and animating subject of contemplation. But the grandeur of the subject is greatly increased when the believer is, at the moment, exposed to the severest trials, and all the energies of faith, and whatever graces he may possess, have to be exerted to the uttermost. Such was David's case when he uttered the petitions contained in this psalm. His example ought to animate us to fresh exertions in the work of righteousness. Full of peace and satisfaction, the saints of old went on their way rejoicing, though the pit and the snare were ever before them. How sadly deficient must they be in faith who cannot rejoice in the blessings of the Almighty's love, when there is scarcely any drawback to the comforts and the tranquillity which it bestows!

7 They have laid a net for my feet, and pressed down my soul : they have digged a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it themselves.

8 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, and give praise.

9 Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp : I myself will awake right early.

10 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people and I will sing unto thee among the nations.

11 For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens : and thy truth unto the clouds.

12 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens and thy glory above all the earth.

Psal. lviii. Si vere utique.

RE your minds set upon righteousness, O ye congregation and do ye judge the thing that is right, O ye sons of men?

2 Yea, ye imagine mischief in your heart upon the earth and your hands deal with wickedness.

3 The ungodly are froward, even from their mother's womb as soon as they are born, they go astray, and speak lies.

4 They are as venomous as the poison of a serpent: even like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ears;

5 Which refuseth to hear the voice of the charmer charm he never so wisely.

6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouths; smite the jawbones of the lions, O Lord let them fall away like water that runneth apace; and when they shoot their arrows let them be rooted

out.

7 Let them consume away like a snail, and be like the untimely fruit of a woman: and let them not see the sun.

PSALM LVIII.-Saul and his ministers are still supposed to be the theme of the Psalmist's complaints. David spoke from a full knowledge of their enormous wickedness,-but not merely of them. As he alludes prophetically to the Church when he speaks of the righteous of his own times, so does he allude to the wicked of all ages when he describes the baseness of a Doeg or a Ahithophel. The very prayer which he offers up for their destruction is also prophetical and general, rather than a particular imprecation of vengeance on individuals. He knew that God would at length oblige all men to own that His judgments are right, and that there is a reward for His persecuted people.