his own Divine testimony proves where he says, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me,' "but that it is the spiritual sense which especially treats of him, and not the literal, is further proved by the following verse, Then opened he their understandings, that they might understand the Scriptures," for it is plain that they already understood the Scriptures in their literal sense as relating to David, and the subsequent history of the Jewish church down to the captivity in Babylon; whereas, in order that they might understand the Scriptures in the spiritual sense, or as the Apostle says, have a "spiritual discernment" of their meaning, which the christian church, to whom internal things were revealed, should have cultivated and enjoyed, the LORD opened the understandings of his disciples. They, therefore, who imagine that the LORD is only treated of here and there in the Psalms, as is the case with the theology of the present day, do injury to the Sacred Word, and deprive it of its "spirit and its life."

Inasmuch as the LORD requires us to "follow him in the regeneration," "to overcome even as he hath overcome," to be "perfected through sufferings temptations— even as he was perfected," the internal sense of the Psalms especially relates to the regeneration of man, and his preparation for the kingdom of heaven; and it is this circumstance which makes the following Exposition so eminently useful and excellent. For, what is it, in reality, which so seriously concerns man as a candidate for heaven? Is it not the work of regeneration, by which he alone can

*, Luke xxiv. 44.

be fitted for heaven? Is it possible for man to "see, still less to enter into the kingdom of heaven, unless he be born again?" Divine Truth itself asserts that he cannot. For what other end was the Divine Word given, but to promote and establish the great work of regeneration in man ? But regeneration is a spiritual, yea, a divine work; the Word of GOD, therefore, must have a spiritual sense, which can be applied to the spiritual states of man. Let the reader ponder well on the following spiritual Exposition of the Psalms, and he will become sensible of its amazing importance.

The following translation has been made from Van der Hooght's edition of the Hebrew text, published by Sebastian Schmidius, with a Latin version,* which is the very same edition that Swedenborg constantly used, as is abundantly evident from his quotations in the version of Schmidius.†

As to the following translation we wish to observe, that there are three ways by which a translation may be accomplished. The first is a literal translation, by which every word is strictly rendered verbatim from the original. The second is an idiomatic translation, by which the original idiom is carefully conveyed into the idiom of another language. The third is a free translation, in which the sense of the author is regarded, abstractedly from the expressions he uses, and freely translated in that manner in which the translator supposes the author would have expressed it, had he written in the language into which his work is translated. The first of these ways, that is, the

* Secundum Editionem Everhardi Van der Hooght, cum Versione Latina Sebastiani Schmidii, Lipsiæ, MDCCXL.

+ Especially in his latter works, the Apocalypse Explained, True Christian Religion, and Apocalypse Revealed.

strictly literal, is the only way by which the Scriptures can be properly translated; in this respect, as in every other, they are essentially different from all merely human compositions; in these it is only necessary to have an accurate comprehension of the author's meaning, whereas in the former the letter is divine, and cannot be departed from without injuring the base on which the internal sense rests, as upon its proper foundation. foundation. A few observations will prove this to the reader: in Psalm cxiv. 4, we read of "the sons of the flock," rendered in the Bible version "lambs," which is the idiomatic translation, but which is not a base for the internal sense; see Exposition. In Psalm xviii. 4, 5, "cords of death," and "cords of hell," are rendered in the common version, "sorrows of death,” "sorrows of hell;" this again is idiomatic, and not literal, and therefore not a proper base for the internal sense. These idiomatic renderings in the common version are numerous, such as "strength" for rock, Psalm lxxiii. 26; "defence" for shield, Psalm vii. 10, lxxxix. 18; "power" for arm, Psalm lxxi. 18; and many others, as well verbs as substantives. In a correct translation of the Sacred Text, not only the letter, but the points also must be taken into serious. consideration; thus, JEHOVAH must not be substituted for JEHOVIH; see Psalm cix. 21, Exposition, also Note. This distinction is important, and could never have been preserved to the church without the points, a sufficient argument to prove the indispensable necessity of studying Hebrew with the points, see A C. 3455. In some cases, however, the Divine Text could not be rendered literally into English, thus the idiomatic translation was necessary; see Psalm xlix. 3, lxviii. 9; hence arose the necessity of notes, which we have subjoined to the text, in order that the reader, who is unacquainted with Hebrew, may have as correct a knowledge as possible of the literal sense of the Holy Word.

The reader will see from the title page, that this work was begun by the late Rev. J. Clowes.* Many years prior to his death, it was an object on which his pious and enlightened mind loved to dwell; the accomplishment of which he deemed most useful and important in building up the LORD's church in genuine charity, faith, and good works, but owing to the infirmities of age, he was not able to complete it. In several notes which he has made in different parts of the M.S. he states, that it was his intention, before committing it to the press, to submit it to a strict revision. This has been done, and the intention of that excellent and venerated clergyman has now been accomplished. During the long period of nearly sixty years, the life of the venerable Clowes was devoted to the propagation of the heavenly doctrines of the New Jerusalem, made known to the world through the instrumentality of the Hon. Emanuel Swedenborg. Mr. Clowes considered these doctrines as containing the purest development of Christianity from the Sacred Scriptures,-as most calculated to promote "the glory of GoD in the highest, and peace and good will amongst men ;" and therefore he dedicated, with unremitted industry and perseverance, his time and his talents to their propagation.†

That the Psalms thus expounded, as to their "spirit and their life," may tend to the promotion of genuine piety and charity amongst mankind, and thus powerfully aid the building up of the true Christian church, is the ardent prayer of the

EDITORS.

* See Memoir of the late Rev. J. Clowes, Rector of St. John's, Manchester, written by himself.

+ See a catalogue of his works appended to his Memoir, especially an Affectionate Address to the Clergy of Great Britain and Ireland, on the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.