A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF PSALMS. First Day.-Morning Prayer. PSALM I. ARGUMENT.—This Psalm, which is generally looked upon by expositors as a preface or introduction to the rest, describes the blessedness of the righteous, consisting, verse 1. negatively, in their abstaining from sin; 2. positively, in holy meditation on the Scriptures, productive of continual growth in grace, which, 3. is beautifully represented under an image borrowed from vegetation; as, 4. is the opposite state of the unbelieving and ungodly, by a comparison taken from the threshing-floor. The last two verses foretel the final issue of things, with respect to both good and bad men, at the great day. VERSE 1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. The Psalter, like the Sermon on the Mount, openeth with a beatitude,' for our comfort and encouragement, directing us immediately to that happiness which all mankind, in different ways, VOL. I. F A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF PSALMS. First Day.-Morning Prayer. PSALM I. ARGUMENT.—This Psalm, which is generally looked upon by expositors as a preface or introduction to the rest, describes the blessedness of the righteous, consisting, verse 1. negatively, in their abstaining from sin; 2. positively, in holy meditation on the Scriptures, productive of continual growth in grace, which, 3. is beautifully represented under an image borrowed from vegetation; as, 4. is the opposite state of the unbelieving and ungodly, by a comparison taken from the threshing-floor. The last two verses foretel the final issue of things, with respect to both good and bad men, at the great day. VERSE 1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. The Psalter, like the Sermon on the Mount, openeth with a beatitude,' for our comfort and encouragement, directing us immediately to that happiness which all mankind, in different ways, VOL. I. F are seeking and inquiring after. All would secure themselves from the incursions of misery; but all do not consider that misery is the offspring of sin, from which it is therefore necessary to be delivered and preserved, in order to become happy, or 'blessed.' The variety of expressions here used by David, intimateth to us, that there is a gradation in wickedness; and that he who would not persist in evil courses, or commence a scoffer at the mystery of godliness, must have no fellowship with bad men since it is impossible for any one, who forsakes the right path, to say, whither he shall wander; and few, when they begin to walk in the counsel of the ungodly,' propose finally to sit down in the seat of the scornful.' O thou second Adam, who alone since the transgression of the first, hast attained a sinless perfection, make thy servants' blessed,' by making them righteous,' through thy merits and grace! 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. He who hath once brought himself to delight' in the Scriptures, will find no temptation to exchange that pleasure for any which the world or the flesh can offer him. Such an one will make the lively oracles of God his companions by day and by night. He will have recourse to them for direction, in the bright and cheerful hours of prosperity; to them he will apply for comfort, in the dark and dreary seasons of adversity. The enemy, when advancing to the assault, will always find him well employed, and will be received with— 'Get thee behind me, Satan!' When the law of God is the object of our studies and meditations, |