"And if any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous; and he is the

1 John ii. 1.

much quicken me, Q

may be "afflicted;"

་ propitiation for our fins." 107. I am afflicted very LORD, according to thy word. The faithful fervants of God they may be "very much" and grievoufly afflicted: but let them confider, that, by afflictions, their corruptions are purged away, their faith is tried, their patience perfected, their brethren are edified, and their Mafter is glorified. Let them ftill firmly rely on the divine promife of grace and falvation; ftill humbly pray for it's accomplishment in themfelves; quicken me, O LORD, according to thy word." 108. Accept, I beseech thee, the free will offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. The " offerings" of the believer are prayer, praise, and holy refolutions and vows, like that of the Pfalmist above," to keep God's righteous judgments," in which he therefore petitioneth to be every day more and more taught" and inftructed by the Spirit of truth. Chriftians are called by St. Peter, a royal and holy priesthood, appointed to offer up fpiritual facrifices, acceptable to God, by Jefus "Chrift." I Pet. ii. 5. 9.

109. My foul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

To have one's "foul," we or life," in one's "hand," is a phrase often used in Scripture, and implieth going in continual danger of one's life. See Judg. xii. 3. 1 Sam. xix. 5, and xxviii. 21. Job xiii. 14. Great and inceffant as David's perils were,

he did not "forget" God's promifes, nor his precepts, but trusted in the former, and performed the latter. St. Paul knew, that "in every city bonds and afflic"tions waited for him; but none of these things," faith he, "move me, neither count I my life dear "unto myself, fo that I might finish my course with "joy." Acts xx. 23.

110. The wicked have laid a fnare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

When open violence fails to move a man from his ftedfaflnels, "the wicked will lay fnares" for him, to entice him into fin by the baits of honour, pleasure, or profit; by expofing him to unavoidable temptations, as when David was driven out of his own land, to live amongst idolaters, of which usage he complaineth; 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. or elfe by making laws which an honeft man cannot obey without fin, or refuse to obey without danger. Numberless are the traps, of one kind or other, which human wit, and diabolical malice, in conjunction, have fet for the confciences of thofe, who profefs themselves to be the fervants of God; and happy is that fervant, whom they have not caused to "err from the precepts" of his Mafter.

111. Thy teftimonies have I taken as mine heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

The "teftimonies" of God's will, his word and his facraments, are the bonds and the deeds, by which we hold our heavenly" inheritance, as heirs of God and "joint heirs with Chrift." Of thefe deeds, and this inheritance, no power can deprive us; and when they are the rejoicing of our hearts," we shall not, by preferring an earthly inheritance, deprive ourselves of them.

112. I

112. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy ftatutes always, even unto the end.

The "inclination of the heart" to good, is the work of God; but man is, neverthelefs, in this, as in other inftances, faid to perform it, when he liftens to the call, and obeys the motions of his grace. We are not to judge of ourselves by what we fometimes fay and do, but by the general difpofition and tendency of the heart and it's affections. When, after repeated trials, we find that the love of God cafts the scale against the love of the world; when it is our glory, our delight, our treafure, our meat and drink, to do his will, and, against all oppofition, to perfevere in doing it, "even unto the end;" then are we the true difciples of that Mafter, whofe heart was evermore inclined to good; who alone performed a perfect and spotless obedience, and perfifted in working the work of him that fent him, until, with his last breath, he declared, upon the cross, IT IS

FINISHED.

SAMECH. PART XV.

113. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. "Love and hatred" are the two great and influencing affections of the human mind. Since the fall, they have been misplaced. By nature we "love "vain thoughts," and "hate the law of God. The "carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not fubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' Rom. viii. 7. But in a renewed mind the cafe is altered; it's delight is in the law of God, and there

fore

fore it cannot bear "vain thoughts," which are contrary to that law, and exalt themselves against it. Thoughts are often faid to be free; from human cenfure they are, but not from the cognizance and judgment of the Omnifcient. The mind fhould be well furnished with proper materials, on which to employ it felf. We fhall then be fecured against the incurfions of rambling, conceited, worldly, impure, and revengeful thoughts, which otherwife will devour half our time, and appear against us, to our unfpeakable amazement, in that day, when the fecrets of all hearts shall be revealed.

114. Thou art my hiding-place, and my fhield: I hope in thy word.

From vain thoughts, and vain perfons, the Pfalmift teacheth us to fly, by prayer, to God, as our refuge and protector. This courfe a believer will as naturally take, in the hour of temptation and danger, as the offspring of the hen, on perceiving a bird of prey hovering over their heads, retire to their hiding place," under the wings of their dam; or as the warrior oppofeth his "fhield" to the darts which are aimed at him.

115. Depart from me, ye evil doers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

Safe under the protection of the Almighty, David bids the wicked " depart from him;" he neither fears their malice, nor will follow their counfels, being refolutely determined to adhere to his duty, and to "keep the commandments of his God." He who hath formed David's refolution, muft, like him, disclaim and renounce the fociety of "evil doers;"

for

for every man will infenfibly contract the good or bad qualities of the company which he keeps; and fhould, therefore, be careful to keep fuch, as will make, him wifer and better, and fit him for the goodly fellowship of faints and angels.

116. Uphold me according to thy word, that I may lite: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117. Hold thou me up, and 1 fhall be fafe: and I will have respect unto thy ftatutes continually.

A refolution to fly from evil, and to do good, is properly followed by an earneft and repeated prayer, to be "upheld" in the performance of it, by divine grace, "according to God's word" and promife; that fo our "hope" in that word may not fail, and put us to "fhame" before our enemies; that we may be "faved" from falling, and enabled, in our walking, to have "refpect unto the divine ftatutes con

tinually." How neceffary is this prayer to be made by creatures, whofe tempers and difpofitions are ever varying; who have fo many and fo formidable adverfaries to contend with; and on whom their temporal condition hath fo much influence!

118. Thou hadst trodden down all them that err from thy flatutes: for their deceit is falfhood.

The dreadful judgments which God, from time to time, in all ages of the world, hath executed, and which he still can, and will execute, upon impenitent finners, afford a kind of admonition and a powerful motive to obedience. As no force can counteract the power of God, fo no "cunning" can deceive his wisdom, but will always, in the end, iniferably "deceive" tho.e who truft in it, and employ it against