of which, by reason of man's transgression, it standeth in need.

v. 10. As "all the works" of God, in their several ways, make a due return for the mercy vouchsafed unto them, and set forth his glory, so more especially ought this to be done by man, who is the principal party concerned in the fall and redemption.

v. 14. To those who, like Peter on the water, are sinking under temptation, he stretcheth out his saving arm, supporting and “upholding” them by his grace; and to those who, like the woman in the Gospel, have long been "bowed down" with sin or sorrow, he holdeth forth a pardon, "raising" and setting them upright again by his mercy. The case is the same with regard to outward distresses, from which God either preserves or delivers his people, as he sees best for them. v. 15. What a just and beautiful picture is here presented to view! We see the whole animal world assembled before us, with their eyes fixed on the great King and Father of all things, like those of a flock on their shepherd, when he enters the field, in time of dearth, with provender for them. From the same divine person, as the Saviour of men, as the King, Father, and Pastor of the church, do believers, with earnest expectation, wait for the food of eternal life. And neither one nor the other look and wait in vain. To both he giveth their meat in

due season; "he openeth his hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing."

"My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever." Ps. exlv. 21.

Ps. lxxx. p. 111. The church complaineth of her grievous afflictions.

v. 4. The sins of a people may for a time "separate between them and their God, and hide his face from them that he will not hear;" Is. lix. 2: he may 66 cover himself with a cloud, that their prayers should not pass through ;" Lam. iii. 44: and seem to reject even the devotions of his distressed servants, while he is proving the strength of their faith, and the sincerity of their repentance. But if the former be strong, and the latter sincere, they will continue to ask, till they have obtained; nor cease to knock till the door be opened.

v. 5. There cannot be a more striking picture of Sion in captivity! Her bread is dipped in tears, and her cup is filled to the brim with them: no time is free from grief and lamentation. They who sin must submit to penance; which if a man doth not impose on himself, God will impose it on him: whereas, if we judged ourselves, we should not be judged of the Lord,

v. 7. Ps. civ. p. 111.

v. 4.

See p. 4. v. 3.

The mighty power of God.

See p. 87.

The Gospel for this day mentions Christ's second coming to judgment, when he shall appear in his full glory, and all the holy angels with him: which glorious appearance, as it will be dreadful to those who have resembled the tares, for they shall be burned with unquenchable fire: so that will be a joyful appearance to such as the Epistle persuades us to be, viz. The meek, and gentle, and charitable. And the Collect is for such, praying God to keep his church and household continually in the true religion, &c. Sparrow.

Ps. lxxiv. p. 112. The desolation of the sanctuary.

This Psalm, &c. See p. 86.

v. 2. The Israelitish church pleads for mercy, upon these considerations, that God had formerly vouchsafed to redeem her from the Egyptian bondage, and to fix his residence upon mount Sion, all which would prove to have been done in vain, should he leave her, at last, in the hands of her enemies. The Redemption by Jesus Christ, and his habitation in the church Christian, by his Spirit, are the corresponding arguments to be urged, on similar occasions, by her, and by the believing soul. Horne. Ps. xxxi. p. 112. David's confidence in God.

v. 15. In all our afflictions, after the example of the true David, we are to have recourse

to the prayer of faith; we are to consider, that Jehovah is our God and Saviour; that the times and the seasons of prosperity and adversity, of life and death, are in his hand; and therefore on him we are to wait, till the day of mercy shall dawn, and the shadows fly away.

v. 19. Peace of conscience, the comforts of the Spirit, and the hope of future glory, will teach the soul, even in the darkest night of affliction, to break forth into this exulting strain of gratitude and praise, for the blessings experienced by those who confess their Saviour before men.

Ps. civ. p. 113. See p. 124.

Ps. cxlvii. p. 113.

Exhortation to praise God. v. 1. Praise is "good" and acceptable to God our Saviour, whose glory is the great end of man's creation and redemption: and it is "pleasant and comely" for man, being the only return he can make for those, and all other mercies; the offspring of gratitude, and the expression of love; the elevation of the soul, and the antepast of heaven; its own reward in this life, and an introduction to the felicities of the next.

v. 2. If this Psalm were written on occasion of the return from Babylon, and the rebuilding of the earthly city, the ideas are to be transferred, as in other Psalms of the same kind, to a more important restoration from a much worse captivity, and to the building up the church under the Gospel, when Christ "gathered together in one the

children of God that were scattered abroad;" John xi. 52: that is, in the words of our Psalm, he "gathered together the outcasts of Israel." So shall he again, at the resurrection, gather together his elect from "the four winds," Matt. xxiv. 31, and "build up a Jerusalem," in which they shall serve and praise him for ever.

Ps. lxxii. p. 113. See p. 14. v. 17.

Ps. cxxxii. p. 113.

moving of the ark.

v. 8.

David's prayer at the re

Numb. x. 35, 36. The verse before us was used, with the two succeeding verses, by Solomon, as the conclusion of his prayer at the dedication of the temple, 2 Chron. vi. 41. The purport of the petition, therefore, was, that the presence of Jehovah might rest upon Sion, and dwell in the house prepared for it, as the same presence hath since dwelt in Christ, and is to be with the Christian church to the end of the world.

v. 10.

Solomon beseecheth God for the sake of his favourite servant David, and the promises made to him and his seed, that he would not deny the request of David's son, now "anointed" to be king over Israel, and, by so doing, confound, put him to shame, or "turn away his face," according to the Hebrew in 1 Kings ii. 6. A Christian asketh nothing, but in the name and for the sake of the son of David, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom all the promises are yea and Amen, and in whom whosoever believeth shall never be confounded, or