the people blasphemed and uttered lies against David, so did their children afterwards against Christ: but all in vain.

Ver. 3. the man that is godly, &c.] The Lord hath chosen me his godly servant, "the man after His own heart," to be king. 1 Sam. xiii. 14. xvi. 6—13. The Lord chooses only such as will be godly, and they whom he chooses shall stand.

Ver. 4. commune, &c.] Converse with your heart, consider and examine it in your chamber, when you are quiet and undisturbed.

Ver. 5. the sacrifice of righteousness,] No sacrifice or service can be pleasing to God without a righteous heart and character; that is your best sacrifice; be satisfied with nothing else.

Ver. 6. many that say, &c.] Our enemies say so of us; many say so of themselves, not knowing where to look for real happiness; even the righteous, under severe trials, may be tempted to complain in this sad manner. David looks to the mercy of God, as to the countenance of a friend, cheering like the light of the See ver. 7.

sun.

Ver. 8. since the time, &c.] It means more than in the time when their earthly blessings increased, as in the Bible version. My spiritual gladness is far greater than their earthly gladness.

Ver. 9.] This last verse is very proper to be used on going to rest at night.

"In every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Phil. iv. 6. Let the sense of past mercies lead us to pray, earnestly and

faithfully, to our heavenly Father, whatever trouble we may be called to endure: He can set us at liberty, as He has done His servants in all ages. Be it our only care, to approve ourselves as His chosen people, in the way of "righteousness and true holiness," and thus through the merits of our Saviour we shall obtain peace at the last. Even, indeed, under the afflictions of life, we shall be far happier than the ungodly, in all their prosperity and all their thoughtless mirth. Take heed ye foolish and wicked; take comfort ye wise and righteous. Though there be war without, there will be peace within; and we shall sleep in safety. "Happy the Christian, who having nightly, with the words of this verse, (ver. 9.) committed himself to his bed, as to his grave, shall at last, with the same words, resign himself to his grave, as to his bed, from which he expects in due time to arise, and sing a morning hymn, with the children of the resurrection."

QUESTIONS.

O God of my righteousness?-How long will ye blaspheme mine honour?-What is leasing?-Whom did the Lord choose? -What is to commune?-The sacrifice of righteousness? What is the light of God's countenance-How may the righteous lay themselves down?-Why may they lie down in peace?

PSALM Y.

David entreats that his prayer may be heard, and resolves to continue in prayer; trusting in God's mercy to the righteous believer, and declaring his just judgment upon the unrepenting sinner.

1 Ponder my words, O Lord: consider my meditation.

2 O hearken Thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God: for unto Thee will I make my prayer.

3 My voice shalt Thou hear betimes, O Lord: early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.

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will abhor the blood-thirsty 11 Destroy thou them, O and deceitful man. God; let them perish through their own imaginations: cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against Thee.

7 But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple.

8 Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness, because of mine enemies: make Thy way plain before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in his mouth: their inward parts are very wickedness. 10 Their throat is an open sepulchre: they flatter with their tongue.

12 And let all them that put their trust in Thee rejoice: they shall ever be giving of thanks, because Thou defendest them they that love Thy name shall be joyful in Thee.

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13 For Thou, Lord, wilt give Thy blessing unto the righteous: and with Thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield.

Ver.1. Ponder my words, &c.] Attend to my words, and consider my anxious thoughts; the fears and sorrows which break out in fervent prayer.

Ver. 5. Such as be foolish,] The wicked. To live in sin, is the greatest folly in the world; it destroys our true happiness, by making God our enemy.

Ver. 6. that speak leasing,] That speak lies.

Ver. 8. make thy way plain,] Give me a clear understanding of Thy will, and grace sincerely to obey

it.

Ver. 10. Their throat, &c.] They open their mouths wide, and there comes forth all manner of filthiness, as if from a grave; St. Paul quotes this, to shew the wickedness of mankind, both Jews and Gentiles. Rom. iii. 13.

Ver. 11. Destroy thou them, &c.] From these, and many other like words, it has been said, that David was possessed of a spirit of malice and revenge; this is not true: David desired the good of his ene

mies, and did all he could to turn and serve them: but when he found they would not hear, he left them for justice and severity. It is as if he had said, “they must, or they will be destroyed."—their own imaginations,] Their own thoughts and evil designs.— in the multitude, &c.] In their great and manifold wickedness.

Ver. 13. as with a shield, &c.] As a shield defends the warrior in battle, so does the unseen power of God defend His people in the midst of all their enemies, earthly and spiritual.

The Lord is always ready to hear the prayers of His servants; more ready to hear than they are to pray. In all their thoughts and works, and ways, the Holy Spirit will be their help and guide; and in every sorrow their consolation. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Though their enemies be ready to swallow them up, the Lord will stand by them and save them; they alone are wise, because they alone are safe, who place themselves under His almighty protection. The children of this world may boast of their wisdom, and think the servant of God weak and foolish: but they often find themselves mistaken even in the present life, and, at last, they will see their folly and lament it bitterly O let us seek the protection of our heavenly Father day by day; early in the morning, before we go forth from our chamber, be it always our first care, to commit ourselves, and all that belong to us, to the keeping of the Lord of heaven and earth; let our waking thoughts be with Him; and our first words, the words of prayer: so shall we be protected from danger through the day; so shall we "go on our way rejoicing.”

QUESTIONS.

What do we mean by pondering?-What by meditation ?— When should God hear our voice and our prayer?-Who are the foolish ?-What shall they not do?-Whom does God hate? -Whom will He destroy?-Whom abhor?-Make Thy way plain before my face?-What is the throat of the wicked?How an open sepulchre ?-What did David mean by calling

upon God to destroy the wicked?-What by their imaginations? What by the multitude of their ungodliness?-How will God defend the righteous ?

EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM VI.

David wrote this Psalm, when he was under some great sickness of body or mind, occasioned by a deep sense of sin, which led him to repent: on this account it is called one of the penitential Psalms. The others are 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143. These Psalms are all used in our Church Service on the first day of Lent, called Ash-Wednesday.

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine indignation: neither chasten me in Thy displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed.

3 My soul also is sore troubled: but Lord, how long wilt Thou punish me?

4 Turn Thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for Thy mercy's sake.

5 For in death no man remembereth Thee: and who will give Thee thanks in the pit?

6 I am weary of my groan

ing; every night wash I my bed: and water my couch with my tears.

7 My beauty is gone for very trouble: and worn away because of all mine enemies.

8 Away from me, all ye that work vanity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9 The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receive my prayer.

10 All mine enemies shall be confounded, and sore vexed: they shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly.

Ver. 1. indignation,] Anger.—neither chasten, &c.] Neither correct and punish me, while Thou art so grievously offended.

Ver. 2. my bones, &c.] My sorrow for sin has worn my bodily frame; my very bones ache for want of rest.