The coming of Christ is expressed.

e Matt. 21.

42.

12.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go in to them, and I will praise the LORD:

20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

Sundry prayers,

29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

PSALM CXIX.

22 e The stone which the builders

Make 20, 19. refused is become the head stone of the

Luke

Acts 4. 11.

1 Pet. 2. 4.

+ Heb. This is from the LORD.

f Matt. 21. 9.

corner.

23†This is the LORD's doing; it

is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

26f Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

19.the gates of righteousness:] The gates of the sanctuary. Dr. Wells.

22. The stone &c.] No text of the Old Testament is quoted by the writers of the New so often as this, which we meet with in five different places: see the margin. The sum and substance of the New Testament applications and expositions is, that Jesus Christ is the stone here mentioned; that He was rejected and set at nought by the chief priests and Pharisees, the then builders of the Church; but that, being chosen of God, and precious to Him, this most valuable stone, thus despised and rejected of men, was at length exalted to be the chief corner stone in the building, and a centre of union for the Jew and Gentile, the two parts of which it consisted; that this was the work of God, and the admiration of man. Bp. Horne.

24. This is the day &c.] Of the day on which Christ arose from the dead, it may with more propriety than of any other day be affirmed, "This is the day which the Lord hath made." Then it was that the rejected stone became 66 the head of the corner:" a morning then dawned which is to be succeeded by no evening. Bp. Horne.

27.— bind the sacrifice &c.] Bind the sacrifice, or lamb, with cords; (which was done previous to slaying it ;) offer it up at the horns of the altar. See Exod. xxx. 10. Dimock.

even unto the horns of the altar.] The meaning of this passage probably is, that the sacrifices offered would be so great that the accustomed place for the victims would not be large enough to hold them, but from their number they would press even to the very "horns of the altar."

This Psalm, which the Jews sang at their feasts, should be made use of by Christians in giving thanks to God, not only for the favours and deliverances,

and professions of obedience.

ALEPH.

Psalm CXIX. This Psalm consists of twenty-two staves of eight verses each, beginning with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and ending with the last. All the verses of each single stave begin with the same letter, from which it is denominated, so that the first eight verses begin with Aleph, the next with Beth, and so on. Fenton. It was probably written for the instruction of youth. Every division of it expresses the excellence of the law; a resolution to keep it, under all circumstances, particularly of distress, when his piety exposed him to danger of reproach; and a petition for grace. The words "laws," "statutes," ," "testimonies," "judgments," "precepts," &c. which occurso constantly, seem here to be used promiscuously. Bp. Patrick, Green.

Ver. 3. They also &c.] "For they commit no iniquity who walk in His ways.' Green.

6.- when I have &c.] All the commandments have the same Author, and the same sanction. He who thinks to atone for the breach of one, by the observation of another; he who reserves to himself a licence of indulging any favourite darling lust, while in general he preserves the appearance of an exemplary conduct, is an hypocrite; and, unless he repent, will be brought to shame, if not before men here, yet before men and angels hereafter. Bp. Horne.

praises, and professions

+ Heb. Reveal

a Gen. 47. 9.

1 Chron. 29.

15.

Ps. 39. 12.

BETH.

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. GIMEL.

17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy

word.

18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

of obedience.

28 My soul + melteth for heavi- + Heb.

ness: strengthen thou me according droppeth. unto thy word.

29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

Hebr. 11. 13. me.

32 I will

run the way of thy com

21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

9. Wherewithal shall a young man &c.] Youth enters upon the journey of life headstrong and inexperienced, with a bias of original corruption, and all the passions awake. In such circumstances, how shall a young man direct his steps, so as to "escape the pollution that is in the world through lust?" He must for this purpose take with him the directions to be found in the Scriptures of truth. Bp. Horne.

11.-have I hid] Have I treasured up. Green. 12. Blessed art thou, &c.] The meaning seems to be this; Thou, O Jehovah, art blessed, that is, art the supreme God, to whom I acknowledge all blessing and adoration to be due; teach me therefore Thy statutes, as being the only laws to which we owe all obedience. Mudge.

14. I have rejoiced &c.] Truth and holiness afford to the sincere believer a pleasure more exquisite, as well as more solid and enduring, than that which a miser feels at the acquisition of his darling wealth. Let us no longer envy the joys of worldly men, no longer be chagrined at the prosperity of the wicked. The "true riches" we may always acquire; and, surely, as much as heaven is higher than the earth, so much are heavenly joys above earthly, in kind, degree, and duration. Bp. Horne.

VOL. II.

HE.

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

18. that I may behold &c.] That is, that I may be able to comprehend the Divine mysteries contained in Thy law. Dimock.

19. I am a stranger &c.] I am a stranger, unacquainted with the way; give me Thy commandments to guide me.

20. My soul breaketh &c.] That is, my soul is wasted with a continual longing after Thy judgments. Edwards.

21. Thou hast rebuked &c.] Thou rebukest the proud; cursed are they that stray from Thy commandments. "The proud" always mean, the contemptuous disregarders of God and His laws. Mudge.

25. My soul cleaveth &c.] I am brought exceeding low by Thy afflicting hand: oh, do Thou raise and comfort me, as Thou hast graciously promised. Bp. Hall.

29, 30. Remove from me &c.] It is plain that "the way of truth," in the latter of these two verses, is opposed to "the way of lying," or of falsehood, in the former. The one comprehends every thing in doctrine or in practice that is right, and therefore" true;" the other denotes every thing that is wrong, and therefore "false." Bp. Horne.

32.-when thou shalt enlarge my heart.] When Thou I

The psalmist professeth

+ Heb. Make to pass.

|| Or, So shall I

answer him that reproveth

35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 Turn away mine eyes from + beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

39 Turn away my reproach which I fear for thy judgments are good. 40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts quicken me in thy righ

teousness.

VAU.

41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

42 || So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for

me in a thing. I trust in thy word.

+ Heb. at large.

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I

shalt enlighten my understanding by Thy Spirit. God gave to Solomon "largeness of heart." 1 Kings iv. 29.

36. Incline my heart &c.] By the words "incline not my heart to covetousness,' is meant, "suffer not my heart to be inclined," or, "give it not over to covetousness." Bp. Horne.

37. Turn away mine eyes &c.] Oh, let not mine eye betray my heart unto vanity; let me not be so transported with any earthly objects, as to depart from my perfect love of Thee, and desire of heavenly things. Bp. Hall.

quicken thou &c.] Give me grace to go on with more and more vigour in Thy way. Dr. Wells. 45.-I will walk at liberty:] The liberty of the sons of God; freed from the fetters of sin.

48. My hands also will I lift &c.] I will earnestly employ myself, and all my actions, to the performance of what Thou commandest me. Bp. Hall.

49. Remember the word &c.] The Psalmist here instructs us to prefer our petition upon these grounds; first, that God cannot prove false to His word; "Re

ZAIN.

member the word unto Thy servant;" secondly, that He will never disappoint an expectation which Himself hath raised; " upon which Thou hast caused me to hope." Bp. Horne.

50.- quickened me.] Revived me in my sorrows. Dr. Wells.

54.-in the house of my pilgrimage.] In all my wanderings up and down, 1 Sam. xxii. 1, 2, 5, and xxiii. 13. Bp. Patrick.

56. This I had,] That is, this composure of mind and cheerfulness of spirit. Bp. Patrick.

60. I made haste, &c.] No future time that we can fix upon will be more convenient than the present is for our reformation. On the contrary, the more we defer, the more difficult and painful our work must needs prove; every day will both enlarge our task, and diminish our ability to perform it. We should consider that we are mortal and frail, and therefore any designs of future reformation may be cut off by death; which is always creeping towards us, and may, for all we can tell, be very near at hand. Dr. Barrow.

70. Their heart is as fat &c.] The "fatness of the heart" implies, in this place, two things in those of whom it is affirmed; luxury, and its consequence, insensibility to those spiritual and divine truths, which are not only the study, but the "delight" of temperate and holy persons. Bp. Horne.

71. It is good for me &c.] There is a class of most important duties, which can only be practised in affliction; namely, patience and composure under distress, pain, and affliction: a steadfast keeping up of our confidence in God, and our dependence upon His final goodness, even at a time that every thing present is discouraging and adverse; and, what is no less difficult to retain, a cordial desire for the happiness and comfort of others, even then, when we are deprived of our own. The possession of this temper is almost the perfection of our nature. But it is then only possessed when put to the trial: tried at all it could not have been in a life made up only of pleasure and gratification. It is in the chambers of sickness; under the strokes of affliction; amidst the pinchings of want, the groans of pain, the pressures of infirmity; in grief, in misfortune; through gloom and horrour, that it will be seen, whether we hold fast our hope, our confidence, our trust in God; whether this hope and confidence be able to produce in us resignation, acquiescence, and submission. Archdeacon Paley.

of afflictions.

74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that + Heb. rightthou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

eousness.

comfort me.

76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, Heb. to according to thy word unto thy servant.

77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy

precepts.

unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

79 Let those that fear thee turn

80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed. САРН.

81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy

statutes.

84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

74.- when they see me ;] When they see me delivered out of all these troubles. Dr. Wells.

75. I know, &c.] From whatever quarter afflictions come upon us, they are the "judgments of God," without whose providence nothing befalls us. His judgments are always "right," or just, duly proportioned to the disease and strength of the patient; in sending them God is "faithful" and true to His word, wherein He hath never promised the crown without the cross, but hath, on the contrary, assured us, that one will be necessary in order to our obtaining the other; and that they who are beloved by Him shall not sin with impunity, nor go astray without a call to return. Bp. Horne.

79.- turn unto me.] Turn to my side, and become my friends. Bp. Patrick.

81. My soul fainteth &c.] My soul languisheth with a longing desire of Thy salvation; yet still I am sustained by an assured hope of Thy merciful performances. Bp. Hall.

83. - like a bottle in the smoke ;] Bottles, among the Jews, were made of skins. One of these, if exposed to heat and "smoke," would become shrivelled and useless. Such a change will labour and sorrow cause in the human frame; and the Psalmist here represents, that his beauty and strength were gone, and the natural moisture dried up; in consequence of which the skin