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116 That thou mayeft take the matter into thy hand: the poor. committeth himself unto thee; for thou art the helper of the friendlefs.

17 Break thou the power of the ungodly and malicious: take away his ungodlinefs, and thou fhalt find none.

18 The Lord is King for ever and ever: and the heathen are perished out of the land,

19 Lord, thou haft heard the defire of the poor: thou preparest their heart, and thine ear hearkeneth thereto.

20 To help the fatherlefs and poor unto their right: that the man of the earth be no more exalted against them.

I

§ Pfalm 11. In Domino confido.

N the Lord put I my truft: how fay ye then to my soul, that fhe fhould flee as a bird unto the hill?

2. For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver: that they may privily fhoot at them which are true of heart.

3 For the foundations will be caft down: and what hath the righ teous done?..

4 The Lord is in his holy temple: the Lords feat is in heaven. 5 His eyes confider the poor: and his eye-lids try the children of men.

6 The Lord alloweth the righteous: but the ungodly and him that delighteth in wickednefs doth his foul abhor.

7 * Upon the ungodly he fhall rain fnares, fire and brimstone, ftorm and tempeft: this fhall be their portion to drink.

This Pfalm feems to have been compofed at the time of Saul's perfecution, when David was advised by fome of his Friends to retire to fome place of concealment. He however relies upon the juftice of his caufe, and comforts himself with the confideration of his being under God's protection, who as he approveth the conduct of the Righteous, fo he will also most affuredly and dreadfully punish the Wicked.

Upon the ungodly he fall rain Snares, &c.

It

might full as properly have been tranflated as it is in the Margin of the Bible Verfion, he shall rain burning Coals. This terrible and fublime defcription of God's taking vengeance upon the Wicked feems to be taken from the account of the deftruction of Sodom, which though the language is figurative ferves to intimate to us the fudden and dreadful punishment which God wi! inflict upon all the workers of Iniquity,

8 For the righteous Lord loveth righteoufnefs: his countenance will behold the thing that is just.

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[Elp me, Lord for there is not one godly man left: for the faithful are minifhed from among the children of men.

2 They talk of vanity every one with his neighbour: they do. but flatter with their lips, and diffemble in their double heart. 3 The Lord fhall root out all deceitful lips: and the tongue that speaketh proud things.

4 Which have faid, With our tongue will we prevail: we are they that ought to speak, who is lord over us?

5 Now for the comfortless troubles fake of the needy: and because of the deep fighing of the poor;

6 I will up, faith the Lord: and will help every one from him that fwelleth against him, and will fet him at reft.

7 The words of the Lord are pure words: even as the filver, which from the earth is tried, and purified feven times in the fire. 8 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord: thou shalt preserve him from this generation for ever.

9 The ungodly walk on every fide: when they are exalted, the children of men are put to rebuke.

Pfalm 13. Ufque quo, Domine?

OW long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever:
long w
wilt thou hide thy face from me?

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§ David in this Pfalm complains of the general corruption of Manners of the age he then lived in; and implores God's protection, whom he alfo introduces fpeaking and promifing his affiftance. This Pfalm feems to have been compofed when he was in danger of being betrayed by Doeg and the Ziphites.

Help me Lord, for there is not, &c. David's complaint of the fmall number of good People in his time, and his Prayer to God on that occafion, teach us, that when we fee Integrity fail, and Iniquity abound in the World, it is then our wifdom to have recourse

how

to God by Prayer as a. means to preferve us from op. preffion and corruption.

In this Pfalm David, being in the utmoft diftress, complains that God had for faken him; that his forrows were increafed, and his Enemy grown infolent with fuccefs. He therefore intreats God to comfort and deliver him from his terrors. In the midst of which however, he is infpired with an holy confidence in the divine goodness; and promises to fhew himself thankful for it.

* How long wilt thou forget, &c. This Pfalm is

2. How long fhall I feek counsel 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 say, 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 Highest.

|| Pfalm 14. Dixit infipiens.

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

TH

*

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 see if there were any that would understand, and seek 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 bitterness: 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.

8 Have they no knowledge, that they are all fuch workers of

very proper for Perfons in affliction. Since they are here taught by the example of David where to apply for relief and deliverance in all diftreffes. Since God is able to enlighten their darkness-to speak comfort to their Souls to remove their calamities to turn their forrows into joy, and their mournings into fongs of praife.

David in this Pfalm, defcribes the great and gene ral Corruption, the Wickedness and Impiety of the Men of his age.

They are corrupt and become abominable, &c. It were much to be wifhea that the complaint which the Pfalmift here makes of the People in his time were not applicable to the prefent Profeffors of a more enligh tened Difpenfation! But happy would it be would every one endeavour to prevent the reproach by a diligent reformation of himself, and all that are under his influence: rather than to nourish in himself (piritual Pride, by indulging himfelf in unprofitable complaints of the Wickedness of his Neighbours.

mifchief: eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon

the Lord?

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

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

II 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.

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§ Pfalm 15. Domine, quis habitabit?

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

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2 Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life: and doeth 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 sweareth 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 Whoso doeth these things: fhall never fall.

§ Pfalm 16. Conferva me, Domine.

Referve me, O God: for in thee have I put my truft.

PR

2 O my foul, thou haft faid unto the Lord: thou art my God, my goods are nothing unto thee.

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163 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-feason.

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

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16 Wherefore my heart was glad, and my glory rejoiced: my Alesh also fhall rest in hope.

11 For why? thou shalt not leave my foul in hell: neither shalt thou fuffer thy holy One to see corruption.

12 Thou shalt fhew me the path of life; in thy prefence is the fulness of joy: and at thy right hand there is pleafure for evermore. Pfalm 17. Exaudi, Domine.

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EAR the right, O Lord, confider my complaint: and hearken unto my prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips. 2 Let my sentence come forth from thy prefence: and let thine eyes look upon the thing that is equal.

true Religion : and they who are poffeffed of them God will one Day most affuredly acknowledge as his Favourites, and admit them as Citizens of the New Jerufalem. Whilft to all mere nominal Believers, of whatever feet, he will declare, I know you not, depart from me all ye that work Iniquity.

In this Pfalm David implores the divine protection, not as due to his Merit, but as an act of Mercy: promifing to fhew his Gratitude for God's goodness, by an affectionate regard to all fuch as are truly religious; and an utter abhorrence of Idolatry and Prophanenefs, acknowleding that Jehovah is the only true God, his chief good, and the Author and Fountain of all good, by whom he is affifted, defended, governed,

ftrengthned, and cheered with the hope of being raised from death to a life of endles Happiness. From the interpretation of St. Peter and Paul in the 2d and 13th of Acts David in this Pfalm reprefents Chrift, prophecying concerning his own Refurrection, and eternal Glory.

*I bare fet God always before me, &c. i. e. by confidering him as always prefent with him,-privy to his moft fecret Thoughts, Words and Actions; and ready to help and affist him under all dangers and diftreffes.-And would we hope to fhare in God's favour and protection, it is neceffary that we live always. as in his prefence.

The royal Prophet in this Hymn intreats Godk

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