celebrate, for these all have experienced, the benefits and bleffings of "eternal mercy," by the refurrection of Jefus from the dead.

5. I called upon the LORD in diftrefs: the LORD answered me, and fet me in a large place.

The true value of every deliverance is to be eftimated by the nature of the " diftrefs" which required it. The rescue of David from his enemies, or that of Ifrael from captivity, might defervecly be extolled with the fongs of Sion. How much more, then, is the church univerfal bound to lift up her voice in honour of Jehovah, who hath redeemed her from her fpiritual adverfaries, and freed her from the bondage of corruption, through Him who "died "for her fins, and rofe again for her juftification;" who, in the days of his flesh, being, on her account, in "diftrefs" and affliction, "called upon Jehovah, "and was anfwered," by an "enlargement" from the narrow prison of the grave, to a boundless and glorious kingdom!

6. The LORD is on my fide, I will not fear: what can man do unto me? 7. The LORD taketh my pari. with them that help me: therefore fhall I fee my defire upon them that hate me.

By frequent experience of the divine power and mercy, from time to time exerted on the behalf of Ifrael, that nation was inftructed to truft in Jehovah ; and whenever they did fo, fuccefs and victory never failed to attend their steps. Would not the cafe be the same with us, in all our undertakings, if our faith was right and stedfast in God, who raised up Jefus

from the dead, and who hath promised to make us "more than conquerors?"

8. It is better to truft in the LORD, than to put confidence in man. 9. It is better to trust in the LORD, than to put confidence in princes.

at once.

Armies of " men," however numerous, and, to appearance, powerful, may be routed and dispersed "Princes" may not be able to help us; if able, they may fail us, as not being willing to do it; if both able and willing, they may die, ere they can execute their purpose. But that hope which is placed in God, can never, by these, or any other means, be disappointed. As we so often repeat these two verses, let us act agreeably to the declaration which we then make, and inftead of courting the world, by undue compliances, for it's deceitful fmiles, and treacherous favours, let us in all points do our duty, and leave the event to God above. To encourage us in the performance of fuch a refolution as this, let it be remembered, that because our Saviour "witneffed a good confeffion before Pontius "Pilate," and with meeknefs and patience refigned himself to the death of the cross for it, therefore God exalted him to glory and honour.

10.All nations compaffed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I, or, I did deftroy them. 11. They compaffed me about, yea, they compaffed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will, or, I did deftroy them. 12. They compaffed me about like bees, they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will, or, I did deftroy them.

The tenor of the Pfalm, being one of thanksgiv

ing for a deliverance already experienced, feemeth to require that the verb, at the clofe of each of these verfes, fhould be rendered in the paft time; not " I "will deftroy them," but " I did deftroy them;" efpecially as it is faid, "they compaffed me about," and "they are quenched." As David and Ifrael were encompaffed by hoftile nations, over whom, through God's affiftance, they often triumphed; fo the Son of David, in the day of his paffion, was furrounded by the furious multitude of Jews, and Gentiles, feeking his life; and, after the fame example, his myftical body, the church, hath frequently been, on all fides, vexed and perfecuted in the world. But, through the power of Jehovah, Christ overcame, and is fet down at the right hand of the majefty on high. The church, likewife, hath often rifen fuperiour to the efforts of her innumerable and malicious enemies, whofe fury hath blazed forth against her with the fudden fiercenefs of " fire," when it is applied to a heap of dry "thorns;" and hath been as foon at an end; he hath triumphed, yea, and he will finally triumph, "in the name of the

"Lord her God."

13. Thou haft thruft fore at me, that I might fall: but the LORD helped me. 14. The LORD is my Atrength and my fong, and is become my falvation. 15. The voice of rejoicing and falvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doth valiantly. 16. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD doth valiantly. The church may confider herself as victorious over her great adverfary, the author of all evil, who

had

had made his grand effort to effect her deftruction, by putting to death her champion, and king, Meffiah. But Jehovah appeared, at the time appointed, to bring him, and virtually, all that should believe in him, from the dead. "Thou haft thruft fore at "me, that I might fall; but Jehovah helped me." Rifen, therefore, with Chrift, from the grave, we proceed to praife Jehovah, in the words which Mofes and Ifrael firft ufed, when they had afcended from the depths of the fea, and beheld their enemies deftroyed for ever; "Jehovah is my strength, and

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my fong, and is become my falvation." Exod. xv. 2. And never doth that facred day come round, on which the refurrection of Jefus is celebrated, but "the voice of rejoicing is in the tabernacles of the

righteous;" there is a noife of them that fing for joy, in the camp of the faints; the church militant refoundeth with thanksgiving and the voice of melody; paradife is reftored below, and earth beareth fome refemblance of heaven, while thefe tranfporting hymns are fung in honour of our great Redeemer. He is that "Arm and Right Hand of Jehovah," which hath" done valiantly," which hath crushed our strongest enemy, and is very high "exalted" over all. Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power; thy right hand, O Lord, hath "dafhed in pieces the enemy." Exod. xv. 6.

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17. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 18. The LORD hath chaftened me fore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

As Chrift is rifen,

we shall not die, but live;" we shall not die eternally, but we fhall live, in this

world,

world, the life of grace; in the world to come, the life of glory; that we may, in both, declare the "works," and chant the praifes of God our Saviour. We are "chaftened" for our fins, but "not given "over to death" and deftruction everlasting; nay; our being "chaftened" is now a proof that we are not fo given over; for what fon is he whom the father "chafteneth not?" Heb. xii. 7.

19. Open to me the gates of righteousness; 1 will go into them, and I will praife the LORD: 20. This gate, or, This is the gate of the LORD, into which the righteous fhall enter. 21. I will thank thee, for thou hast heard me, and art become my falvation.

The faithful, like David and his people of old, demand admiffion into the courts of the Lord's house, there to praise him for his great and manifold mercies. But we may extend our ideas much farther, and confider the whole company of the redeemed, as beholding the angels ready to unbar the gates of heaven, and throw open the doors of the eternal fanctuary, for the true difciples of the rifen and glorified Jefus to enter in. "Open ye," may believers exclaim in triumph to thofe celeftial fpirits, who delight to minifter to the heirs of falvation, open 66 ye the gates of righteousness," thofe gates, through which nothing unclean can pafs, "that the righte-" "ous nation, which keepeth the truth, may enter "in," Ifai. xxvi. 2. and fing, with your harmonious choirs, the praises of him who fitteth upon the throne; for he hath overcome the fharpness of death, he hath opened the kingdom of heaven to ali believers. "THIS is the gate of the LORD, into which X

VOL. II.

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