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80 nies. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes: that I be not ashamed; nothing but thorough integrity will keep me from secret shame.

81

CAPH.

My soul fainteth for thy salvation: [but] I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, for the accomplishment of thy prom83 ise, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? For I am become like

a bottle in the smoke; like a leathern bottle, wrinkled and shrivelled by being long hung up in the smoke; [yet] I do not forget 84 thy statutes. How many [are] the days of thy servant? his afflicted days? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that 85 persecute me? The proud have digged pits for me, which [are]

not after thy law; they have endeavoured to ruin me in a most 86 treacherous manner. All thy commandments [are] faithful, and

teach us to behave ourselves with fidelity: they persecute me 87 wrongfully; help thou me. They had almost consumed me 88 upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. Quicken me after

thy loving kindness; enliven my graces, and bring me out of this forlorn condition; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

LAMED.

89 90 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven, Thy faithfulness [is] unto all generations: thou hast established the 91 earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine

ordinances for all [are] thy servants; the steadfastness of the earth, the regular motions of the heavenly bodies, all illustrate and 92 confirm thy faithfulness to thy promises. Unless thy law [had been] my delights, I should then instantly have perished in mine 93 affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou 94 hast quickened me. I [am] thine, save me; for I have sought 95 thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me : 96 [but] I will consider thy testimonies. I have seen an end of all perfection: [but] thy commandment [is] exceeding broad.

REFLECTION.

The history of David is an admirable paraphrase on the former part of these verses; and the whole scriptures on the latter part of them. He went through as many various scenes in life as any man ever did; he knew what solitude and company, friendship, health, beauty, strength, honour, power, and great riches could do to make him happy but all proved empty, uncertain, and unsatisfactory; and he had often come to the end of them. But the large, extensive discoveries, rules, and precepts of God's law, afforded him a noble, solid, and lasting delight. Let this recommend it to our study, restrain our fondness for other things, and save us the trouble, vexation, and disappointment of seeking happiness in them.

Probably most of those who were gathered to him were good men, at least this sentence intimates his desire that they might be so; and it appears from some of the psalms, that he endeavoured to make thein so: as if he had sail, Lord, I would not have any good man, whether by constraint or mistake, found among my enemies.

MEM.

97 O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies, though they are very crafty: for they [are] ever with me; continually in my eye, thoughts and heart to guide me in all my ways; I find piety to be the best policy for this world. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers for thy 100 testimonies [are] my meditation. I understand more than the

ancients, the aged, ivise and grave counsellors, because I keep 101 thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, 102 that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy

judgments for thou hast taught me that my happiness consists 103 in observing them. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! [yea, sweeter] than honey to my mouth! than any entertain104 ment of the senses. Through thy precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way, and have no need to betake myself to any of them.

105

NUN.

Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet; and a light unto my path; it does not only serve to amuse me with its splendor, but 106 guides and conducts me in the way of duty and happiness. I

have sworn, and I will perform [it,] that I will keep thy right 107 eous judgments. I am afflicted very much quicken me, O 108 LORD, according unto thy word. Accept, I beseech thee the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments; while I am driven by my enemies to a distance, so that I cannot attend thy sanctuary, accept the sacrifice of prayer and praise, the only one I can offer, and which I present with all sin199 cerity and cheerfulness. My soul, or life, [is] continually in my hand, in continual dunger : yet do I not forget thy law; I have not acted contrary to thy commandmenis, nor taken irregular 110 methods for my redress and deliverance. The wicked have laid a spare for me, a subtile plot to ruin me: yet I erred not from 111 thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they [are] the rejoicing of my heart, my chief fortion; and I had rather continue poor as to all other possessions 112 than want this, which I know none can take from me. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, [even unto] the end; though I found some struggle and disinclination, ye’, through grace, I have conquered it; and it is worth every man's while to maintain such a noble combat.

113

SAMECH.

I hate [vain] thoughts; all double dealing and crafty fourposes, as the word signifies, every thought unbecoming a man 114 and a servant of God: but thy law do I love. Thou [art] my

hiding place and my shield; in thee I enjoy security and peace? 115 I hope in thy word. Depart from me ye evil doers; no longer endeavour to persuade me to concur in your measures, for I am fully resolved that I will keep the commandments of my God A proper answer to all that would corrupt us; and especially

116 proper for young persons when sinners entice thèm. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope, that is, my hope of defence and deliver 117 ance, which I have often professed. Hold thou me up, direct and support my steps, and I shall be safe: and I will have re118 spect unto thy statutes continually. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes; reduced them to a weak and contemptible condition: for their deceit [is] falsehood; while they endeavour to deceive others, they deceive themselves, and bring upon themselves the ruin which they intended for oth119 ers. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth [like] dross; disownest them, and meltest them down, as good for noththerefore I love thy testimonies. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments, lest I should disobey thee, and incur thy displeasure.

120 ing

121

AIN.

I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors; those wicked, outrageous men, who treat me in the 122 most unjust manner. Be surety for thy servant for good : let

not the proud oppress me, though they rage and boast, as though 123 they had me in their power.* Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness, for the accomplishment of 124 it, and sometimes I am almost ready to despair. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes, 125 that I may improve my deliverance well when it comes. I [am] thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy tes126 timonies. [It is] time for [thee,] LORD, to work, to punish thine enemies [for] they have made void thy law; they have not an127 swered the end and design of it. Therefore I love thy com

mandments above gold; yea, above fine gold; their contempt 128 of thy law raises my value for it. Therefore I esteem all [thy] precepts [concerning] all [things to be] right; I approve all thou requirest, and will cheerfully do whatsoever thou shalt command; [and] I hate every false way; every thing that is false in itself, or that will deceive me. Thus should our zeal fetch arguments from the coldness, our fidelity from the falsehood, and our piety from the wickedness of others, to be so muck the more active.

129

PE.

Thy testimonies [are] wonderful therefore doth my soul keep them; the more they are known, the more they will be ad» mired; though in some respects they are very sublime, yet in 130 others they are so plain, that, The entrance of thy words giveth light, on the first observation, on a transient survey; it giveth understanding unto the simple; the understanding is enlightened by it, so that the young and ignorant easily gain instruction. 131 I opened my mouth, and panted, as one who is thirsty doth for water for I longed for thy commar.dments, I so earnestly de

This is the only verse in the whole palm in which there is not some mention of the law of God; but it may be hunted at when he calls himself God's cervant,

132 sired to be better acquainted with them.

Look thou upon me,

and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that 133 love thy name. Order my steps in thy word; direct and gov. ern the whole course of my actions by it: and let not any iniqui134 ty have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression

of man: so will I keep thy precepts; this will be a fresh en135 gagement upon me to keep them. Make thy face to shine upon 136 thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law; I lament the dishonour that is done to thee by the wickedness of my enemies, more than my own sufferings. This tender regard to the honour of God, and concern for the contempt thrown upon his law, should be carefully preserved by us; as it will be a security against sin, have a happy influence on the usefulness of our lives, and lead us to exhort one another daily while it is called today, lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

TSADDI.

137 Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, and upright [are] thy judg 138 ments. Thy testimonies [that] thou hast commanded [are]

righteous and very faithful; therefore their sin is greatly aggra139 rated who break them. My zeal hath consumed me; because 140 mine enemies have forgotten thy words. Thy word [is] very pure, pure in itself, and requires entire purity; and this is the true reason why men do not love it, but make so many objections against it therefore thy servant loveth it: this is a good test 141 to try ourselves by. I [am] small and despised; in low circumstances, and a helpless condition: [yet] do not I forget thy 142 precepts. Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness,

:

and thy law [is] the truth; we may certainly depend upon it, 143 without danger of being deceived. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: [yet] thy commandments [are] my de144 lights. The righteousness of thy testimonies [is] everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live; shall be kept from those things which deserve and bring death.

KOPH.

145 I cried with [my] whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will 146 keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me and I shall 147 keep thy testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morn

ing, and cried: I hoped in thy word; I have been as careful in the study of thy word, as in seeking thine assistance. 148 Mine eyes prevent the [night] watches, that I might meditate in thy word; it is my meditation in the night, and the first thing 149 I think of in the morning. Hear my voice according unto thy

loving kindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judg150 ment, that is, thy word, or the means thou judgest best. They draw nigh to seize me that follow after mischief: they are far 151 from thy law: but this is my comfort, that Thou [art] near, O 152 LORD; and all thy commandments [are] truth. Concerning

thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever; they shall never fail those who depend upon them.

153

RESH.

Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget 154 thy law, Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me ac155 cording to thy word. Salvation [is] far from the wicked;"

though they may triumph for a while, yet what alone is worthy of being called salvation, is far from them; it is indeed offered to 156 them, but they refuse it, for they seek not thy statutes. Great [are] thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to 157 thy judgments. Many [are] my persecutors and mine ene158 mies; [yet] do I not decline from thy testimonies. I beheld the transgressors, I fixed mine eyes upon them, took a deliberate view of their various crimes, and the several circumstances and aggravations of them, and was grieved, (the original signifies a mixture of grief, indignation, and pity,) because they kept not thy word, on account of the indignity they offered to thee, and the mischief they brought upon themselves; on this account I grieved myself, and laboured to affect my own heart with the sadness of the case. A temper which all christians, and especially minis159 ters, should cultivate. Consider how I love thy precepts: quick160 en me, O LORD, according to thy loving kindness. Thy word [is] true [from] the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever, and have been performed in the most punctual manner.

161

SCHIN.

Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word, therefore I dare not avenge myself. 162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil, and I 163 know what this is, and the joy it occasions. I hate and abhor 164 lying [but] thy law do I love. Seven times a day do I praise

thee, that is, many times in a day,* because of thy righteous judgments; because thou hast given such laws, and I have the hap165 piness to be acquainted with them. Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them; they have great satisfaction of mind, and shall not be easily drawn into 166 sin, as the word offend' signifies. LORD, I have hoped for thy

salvation, and done thy commandments. An important remark; there is no hope of salvation, without doing God's commandments : 167 what God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. My soul 168 hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. I

have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways [are] before thee, a firm persuasion of thy omniscience is my great engagement to keep thy commandments.

TAU.

169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me un170 derstanding according to thy word. Let my supplication come 171 before thee: deliver me according to thy word. My lips shall 172 utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. My

Good men may say this of themselves in reference to secret and family worship, prayer at meals, and ejaculatory addresses.

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