PSALM LXI.

David fleeth to God upon his former experience--He voweth perpetual service unto him, because of his promises.

To the chief Musician upon Neginah. A Psalm of David.

HEAR my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever; I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy

name.

Thou wilt prolong the king's life; and his years as many generations.

He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare

mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

THIS is a prayer against the enemies of the people of God, and especially also for magistrates, and for the king—that God would increase faith in him, and further him in the knowledge of his holy name and word; that he may walk in faith and in the fear of God; that his government may be happy and endure; and that religion and good government may not be injured and distracted by seditions and wars. For Solomon, in his Proverbs, says, "That for the sins of the people, God changes kings and king

doms." But where there are many kings, there, (according to the manner of all human vicissitudes,) what one builds up, another casts down: as the proverb goes, "A new king, a new law,"-all changes in a state are dangerous: happy is that kingdom, therefore, which, being once well constituted, is long preserved in the same state.

PSALM LXII.

David professing his confidence in God discourageth his enemies.-In the same confidence he encourageth the godly.-No trust is to be put in worldly things.-Power and mercy belong to God.

To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

TRULY my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

They only consult to cast him down from his excellency they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my

defence; I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your

heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of

high degree are a lie to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

:

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

Also unto thee, O LORD, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

THIS Psalm contains most excellent doctrine: it greatly exalts the dignity of faith, showing how firm a safeguard faith in God is, and what a strong defence it is against all the evils of life. On the other hand, the Psalmist shows the vanity of all confidence in men ;-that nothing is more vain, or more fallacious than to trust in man. God (says he) is my rock, my strength, and my defence: God is my hope, my salvation, my strength, my glory, my life, and my trust. God is my safe protection. God is my faithful helper; who never deceives me. Therefore, vain are the sons of men. The sons of men are all liars' that is, all human things are deceiving, uncertain, and cannot be held fast.

Many are to be found, who trust in the favour of kings and princes; and on that account, they are puffed up with pride and insolence, and oppress others with the more confidence; and especially if they see their wall bowing down and giving way; that is, if they see a man declining in his affairs, who was once in prosperity; or if they see him not protected by wealth and influence against injury : such an one as this, they endeavour to overthrow wholly; and to that end, ingratiate themselves with the powerful, and wind themselves into their affec

tions, on whose favour they depend; as on a propitious deity.

But such see not how fallacious the favour of men is, and how variable and uncertain their wills are; in a word, they see not that "vain is the help of man!" Nor will they believe it to be vain, until they find it out by experience, and are brought to lament their error; as Cicero and many other wise men have done. Cicero exclaims with respect to Octavius, O how vain was all my reputation for being a wise man, &c.! O how far was I from being wise indeed; though I sometimes evinced that wisdom which was esteemed to be such; but in vain!' Thus writes he in his epistle to Octavius.—Therefore the sum of all religion is Trust in God and injure not thy neighbour!' So shalt thou rightly conduct thyself before both God and men!

PSALM LXIII.

David's thirst for God.-His manner of blessing God.-His confidence of his enemies' destruction, and his own safety.

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

O GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fat

ness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joy

ful lips :

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

THIS is a prayer containing the deep feelings of an afflicted heart, thirsting after the word of God, which is the word of consolation ! David called thus upon God, when he fled from the face of Saul, and lay hid in the wilderness of Judah. "My soul thirsteth for thee; my flesh longeth for thee, that I may see thee in thy sanctuary." O how fervently does he desire to be present in the tabernacle, and before the mercy-seat in the sanctuary! And to hear the word of God, in the assembly of those who there truly worshipped him? He complains, also, bitterly against the Saulites; who so hostilely lay in wait for his life, that he could be in safety no where; and was compelled to be away from the place of the worship of God; even away from the sanctuary. Notwithstanding all this, however, he raises himself up with a holy firmness, and magnanimity, and glories in being king, depending on the choice and promise of God; by which he com