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

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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 fhalt 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?

W long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever:
long 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 oppreffion and corruption.

In this Pfalm David, being in the utmoft diftress, complains that God had for faken him; that his for rows were increased, 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 promifes to fhew himfelf thankful for it.

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

2. How long fhall I feek counsel in my foul, and be so 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

Lest 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 so lovingly with me: yea, I will praise the Name of the Lord moft Higheft.

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|| Pfalm 14. Dixit infipiens.

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

ΤΗ

*

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 fee if there were any that would understand, and feek 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 poison 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 fiction. 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, deferibes the great and general 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 spiritual Pride, by indulging himself 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 shall Jacob rejoice, and Ifrael fhall be glad.

L

MORNING

PRAYER.

§ Pfalm 15. Domine, quis habitabit? ORD, who fhall dwell in thy tabernacle: or who shall reft upon thy holy hill?

2 Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life: and doeth the thing which is right, and fpeaketh the truth from his heart.

3 He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour: and hath not flandered his neighbour.

4 He that fetteth not by himfelf, but is lowly in his own eyes: and maketh much of them that fear the Lord.

5 He that fweareth 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 Whofo doeth these things: fhall never fall.

§ Pfalm 16. Conferva me, Domine.

Reserve me, O God: for in thee have I put my trust.

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

In this Pfalm is pointed out to us what qualifications were requifite for fuch as would ferve God acceptably in his Tabernacle.

** Lord who shall dwell in thy Tabernacle ? &c. From this inftructive Pfalm we learn that it is not fufficient for obtaining the divine favour that we be merely Pro felors of a pure and rational Religion; or that we Conform ourselves ftrictly to its outward Rites and Cere

monies: but that we ought alfo to fhew forth its influ ence upon our Lives and Converfations by becoming fruitful in all good Works; viz. by abftaining from Slander, Injuftice and Oppreffion, by a ftrict adherence to Sincerity and Uprightness, tho' it should prove to our temporal difadvantage-and giving all due en couragement to Men of Virtue and Holinefs. Such even reafon tells us, are the diftinguishing marks of

3 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-feafon.

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

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

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

12 Thou fhalt 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.

H

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.

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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 ad and 13th of Acts David in this Pfalm reprefents Chrift, prophecying concerning his own Refurrection, and eternal Glory.

I have 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 necessary that we live always as in his prefence.

The royal Prophet in this Hymn intreats Godk

3 Thou haft proved and vifited mine heart in the night-season; thou haft tried me, and shalt find no wickedness in me: for I am utterly purpofed that my mouth fhall not offend.

4 Because of mens works that are done against the words of thy lips: I have kept me from the ways of the destroyer.

5 O hold thou up my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps flip not.

6 I have called upon thee, O God, for thou fhalt hear me: incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words.

7 Shew thy marvellous loving kindness, thou that art the Saviour of them which put their trust in thee: from such as resist thy right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of an eye: hide me under the fhadow of thy wings.

9 From the ungodly that trouble me: mine enemies compafs me round about to take away my soul.

10 They are inclosed in their own fat: and their mouth speaketh proud things.

II They lie waiting in our way on every fide: turning their eyes down to the ground.

12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey: and as it were a lions whelp, lurking in fecret places.

13 Up, Lord, disappoint him, and caft him down: deliver my foul from the ungodly, which is a fword of thine.

14 From the men of thy hand, O Lord, from the men, I fay, and from the evil world: which have their portion in this life, whose bellies thou filleft with thy hid treasure.

15 They have children at their defire: and leave the rest of their fubftance for their babes.

16 *But as for me, I will behold thy prefence in righteousness:

to deliver him from his Enemies, efpecially from Saul, whofe temporary felicity and fleeting pleasures he derides, and comforts himself amidft his afflictions with the hopes of eternal Life.

But as for me, I will behold thy prefence, Thefe words contain a fummary account of the qualifi cation for future Happiness, viz. Righteousness-an wherein that happiness confifts, viz. in a Likeness to God,

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