Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with

benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and

unto God the LORD belong the issues from death. But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

The LORD said, I will bring again from Bashan; I will bring my people again from the depths of

the sea:

That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same. They have seen thy goings, O GOD; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

Bless ye God in the congregations, even the LORD from the fountain of Israel.

There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the LORD; Selah :

To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens

which were of old: lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

THIS Psalm is, in the Latin, most obscurely translated; so much so, that this one Psalm may well put us in remembrance of what we are indebted unto God, for the great light which he has given us in this our day; in having blessed us with the study of languages, and with good books and instructors. Yet, in return for this universal, great, and unspeakable gift, through the unceasing revilings of Satan, God hears nothing but, O this Lutheran poison! O this Lutheran heresy !'-The world shall suffer heavy punishment for the contempt of the blessing of this great and merciful light!

In the former Latin translation of this Psalm there were the most monstrous renderings; such as Rex vir tutum dilecti dilecti.—Speciei domus dividere spolia. -Si dormiatis inter medios cleros.-Nives dealbabuntur in Salmon. Mons Dei, mons pinguis, mons coæquatus. —Arundinis increpa feras. Congregatio taurorum in vaccis populorum,' &c.

And how much of the same obscurity was there in Hosea, and the like difficult books? What, then, have they profited the church, who, by a sort of madness, and from a hatred of, and longing desire to, suppress the light of the gospel, have all along condemned not only all pious studies, but all useful learning and godliness! But how easy is it to sit down and condemn all things, and, as it were, to

spit at the sun that enlightens all things! The truly learned and godly know, however, how arduous it is to imitate the laborious endeavours of those who

engage in the work of translations. But let us proceed to speak upon the Psalm.—

This Psalm is a signal prophecy concerning Christ; a prophecy more animated and exalted, than usual, in fervency of spirit; and, as it were, exulting in the Holy Ghost; setting before us a view of the church, and those things which are to take place under the New Testament; and all this is done with a representation so clear and expressive, and with every thing depicted in that exact order, that it seems to be, not a prediction of things to come, but a description of things passing before our eyes. The Holy Ghost foretels the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the revelation of the Holy Spirit from heaven, and the mission of the Apostles: he describes, I say, the whole of this spiritual kingdom: this kingdom of grace and remission of sins, in which Christ should be preached as the true God, and as the Saviour and deliverer from death.

He shows also, that the kingdom and priesthood of the Jews was to be abolished, and that a new and spiritual kingdom was to be erected; which should stand, not in human strength, nor in many thousands of horse and foot, but in the ministry and power of the word!-that it should be a kingdom, in which the Lord should give the word unto those who should preach it, in much power; by which the grace of Christ, and the remission of sins by Christ, should be preached, and not the law of Moses.

He calls the apostles, "kings and heads of armies ;" because, by the gospel and the ministry of the word, they continually attack the kingdom of the devil and

the gates of hell. For what are all the sermons and exhortations of the apostles, but the most terrible battles and conflicts against sin, death, the devil, hell, and all the righteousness and wisdom of the world?

He also calls them "high hills, rich hills, and the inheritance of God;" and "chariots of the Lord of many thousands ;" and also, "the multitude of them that preach good tidings, and sing, and play upon instruments;" because, the apostles and ministers of the word, by preaching the joyful gospel and the word of grace, continually praise, sing of, and celebrate the immense benefits of Christ, and the mercy of God. Thus, throughout the whole Psalm, the fervent prophet exulting in the Holy Ghost, describes, in a most sweet song, the whole kingdom of Christ!

In the end, he prays that God would be pleased to render the church more flourishing, and to give his blessing and a happy success to this kingdom. And indeed, the prophet felt his heart moved, and was peculiarly uplifted and fervent in spirit, when he composed this divine and heavenly psalm concerning the kingdom of Christ.

PSALM LXIX.

David complaineth of his affliction. He prayeth for deliverance.-He devoteth his enemies to destruction.—He praiseth God with thanksgiving.

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

SAVE me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of

hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are

fallen upon me.

When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD,

in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me: in the truth of thy salvation,

Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

Let not the water-flood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.