ло

2 How long fhall I feek counfel in my foul, and be fo vexed in my heart: how long fhall mine enemies triumph over me?

3. Confider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I fleep not in death:

4 Left mine enemy fay, I have prevailed against him: for if I be caft down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it. 5 But my trust is in thy mercy and my heart is joyful in thy falvation.

6 I will fing of the Lord, because he hath dealt fo lovingly with me yea, I will praise the Name of the Lord most Higheft.

Pfalm xiv. Dixit infipiens.

HE fool hath faid in his heart: There is no God.

THE

2 They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings there is none that doeth good, no not one. 3 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to fee if there were any that would understand, and feek after God.

4 But they are all gone out of the way; they are altogether become abominable: there is none that doeth good, no

not one.

5 Their throat is an open fepulchre; with their tongues have they deceived: the poifon of afps is under their lips.

6 Their mouth is full of curfing and bitternefs: their feet are fwift to fhed blood.

7 Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.

PRACTICAL

OBSERVATIONS.

Pfal. xiii.] This pfalm is very proper for perfons in affliction, and efpecially for thofe that labour under their fins, and are deprived of the fenfe of God's love. Such as are in this fad condition, fhould not defpair, but rather have recourfe to God with confidence, implore his compaffion, and befeech him to comfort them, and enlighten them with his grace, left they fink and r the load of their afflictions; and when God has delivered them, it is their duty to celebrate his mercy, and praife him for all his goodne 6.

PRAC

8 Have they no knowledge, that they are all fuch workers of mischief: eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon the Lord?

There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear was for God is in the generation of the righteous.

9

10 As for you, ye have made a mock at the counsel of the poor because he putteth his truft in the Lord.

11 Who fhall give falvation unto Ifrael out of Sion? When the Lord turneth the captivity of his people: then fhall Jacob rejoice, and Ifrael fhall be glad.

MORNING

PRAYER.

3 day

Pfalm xv. Domine, quis babitabit?

ORD, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle: or who shall reft upon thy holy hill?

2 Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life: and doth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart. 3 He that hath ufed no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour: and hath not flandered his neighbour.

4 He that fetteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own. eyes and maketh much of them that fear the Lord.

5 He that fweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not though it were to his own hindrance.

6 He that hath not given his money upon ufury: nor taken reward against the innocent.

7 Whofo doeth thefe things: fhall never fall.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Pfal. xiv.] David's defcription of the men of his time, agrees in many respects with what we fee among Chriftians; among whom fo few feek God fincerely, and fo many live as if they believed there where no God. Therefore we ought feriously to meditate upon what is faid in this pfalm. that we may be preferved from fuch corruption; to which end we ought to confider, as David here teaches, that if the wickedness and depravation of men is great, God will take vengeance; and that in the worst of times, there are always fome faithful and righteous men that fear God, who partake of his love and protection.

Pfal. xv.] This very inftructive pfalm teaches us, that God will not admit all men into his prefence, nor efteem them true members of his

church

3

Pfalm xvi. Conferva me, Domine.

P

Referve me, O God: for in thee have I put my trust. 2 O my foul, thou haft faid unto the Lord: Thou art my God; my goods are nothing unto thee.

3 All my delight is upon the faints that are in the earth : and upon fuch as excel in virtue.,

4 But they that run after another god: fhall have great

trouble.

5 Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer: neither make mention of their names within my lips.

6 The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou shalt maintain my lot.

7 The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground: yea, I have a goodly heritage.

8 I will thank the Lord for giving me warning: my reins also chaften me in the night-feafon.

9 I have fet God always before me: for he is on my right hand, therefore I fhall not fall.

10 Wherefore my heart was glad, and my glory rejoiced: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

11 For why? thou fhalt not leave my foul in hell: neither fhalt thou fuffer thy Holy One to fee corruption.

17 Thou shalt fhew me the path of life; in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

church; but only thofe who walk in uprightnefs, who are faithful and fincere in their discourse and all their behaviour; who avoid fander, injuftice, and extortion; who love good men, and religiously keep their promifes and engagements. Such is the character of a virtuous man, and one that fears God; and fuch is the glorious recompence that is promifed to him and fince none but these can enjoy the effects of God's love in this world or the next, we ought to apply ourselves with great earnestness to all thefe duties, and live in innocence and integrity; and then shall we experience the truth of the promise made in this pfalm, “Whofo doeth these things fhall never fall.”

Pfal. xvi.] We are here to obferve the fentiments of the children of God, and their happiness. As to their fentiments, David teaches us by his example, that they always truth in God; that they love and efteem the

3

Pfalm xvii. Exaudi, Domine.

H

EAR the right, O Lord, confider my complaint: and hearken unto my prayer, that goeth not out of teigned lips.

2 Let my sentence come forth from thy prefence: and let thine eyes look upon the thing that is equal.

3 Thou haft proved and vifited mine heart in the nightfeafon; thou haft tried me, and fhalt find no wickedness in me: for I am utterly purpofed that my mouth fhall not offend. 4 Because of mens works that are done against the words of thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the destroyer. 5 O hold thou up my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps flip not.

6 I have called upon thee, O God, for thou fhalt hear me: incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words.

7 Shew thy marvellous loving-kindness, thou that art the Saviour of them which put their truft in thee: from fuch as refift thy right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of an eye: hide me under the fhadow of thy wings,

9 From the ungodly that trouble me: mine enemies compaís me round about to take away my foul.

10 They are inclofed in their own fat

and their mouth

fpeaketh proud things.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

pious and virtuous above all; that they avoid the company and errors of the wicked, and adhere inviolably to the pure fervice of God. As to their happiness, this pfalm teaches us that it is very great; that God himself is their portion and inheritance; that he is on their right hand, that they may never be moved; and that the fenfe of their happiness makes them rejoice and praife God continually; and that they are even convinced that God will not abandon them to the power of death. Lastly, though what has been faid in this pfalm may fuit David and all the faithful, yet it is to be observed, that these words, "Thou wilt not leave my foul in hell, neither fhalt thou fuffer thy holy One to fee corruption,' were compleatly fulfilled only in Chrift, who, (as St Peter takes notice, Acts ii. being the holy One of God, did not remain in the grave nor ee corruption; but was raifed the third day, and exalted to heaven, where he reigneth over all things, and has prepared for all true believers joys that never shall expire.

98

PRAC

11 They lie waiting in our way on every fide: turning their eyes down to the ground.

12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey: and as it were a lion's whelp lurking in fecret places.

13 Up, Lord, difappoint him, and caft him down: deliver my foul from the ungodly, which is a fword of thine.

14 From the men of thy hand, O Lord, from the men, I fay, and from the evil world: which have their portion in this life, whofe bellies thou fillelt with thy hid treasure.

15 They have children at their defire and leave the rest of their fubftance for their babes.

16 But as for me, I will behold thy prefence in righteousnefs and when I awake up after thy likeness, I fhall be fatisfied with it.

EVENING

PRAYER.

Pfalm xviii. Diligam te, Domine.

I

Will love thee, O Lord, my ftrength; the Lord is my ftony rock, and my defence: my Saviour, my God, and my might, in whom I will truft, my buckler, the horn alfo of my falvation, and my refuge.

2 I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be praised: fo fhall I be fafe from mine enemies.

3 The forrows of death compaffed me: and the overflowings of ungodlinefs made me afraid.

4 The pains of hell came about me: the fnares of death overtook me.

5 In my trouble I will call upon the Lord: and complain unto my God.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Pfal. xvii ] 1. The confidence with which David calls upon the Lord in this pfalm, fhews the great advantage of an honeft and fincere heart; fince in all conditions good men can apply to God with affurance, knowing that he will always be their protector; "that he preferves them as the apple of his eye, and keeps them under the fhadow of his wings." 2. The laft words of this pfalm, "But as for me, I will behold thy prefence in righteoufnefs; and when I awake up after thy likeness, I fhall be fatisfied with it;" fhould raise our thoughts to the defire and expectation of eternal happiness, which the righteous fhall enjoy after the refurrection.