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1. In Judah is God known, his Name is great in Ifrael. 2. In Salem alfo is his tabernacle, and his dwelling in Sion.

On occafion of fome great deliverance, the prophet fpeaks in tranfport concerning that prefence and protection of God, which the highly favoured Judah once enjoyed. She enjoyed them while fhe continued faithful, and really was, what fhe profeffed to be. But on account of her infidelity, and rejection of her Meffiah, an alteration of circumftances has taken place. They are no longer Jews, who are fuch outwardly, nor is that circumcifion, which is cutward in the flesh; but they are Jews, who believe in the Son of God; and they are of the circumcifion, who are cleanfed by him from all filthiness of flesh and fpirit. The Gentile Chriftian church hath fucceeded to the privileges of the Ifraelitifh. In her now "God " is known" by the Gofpel; and "his Name is "great" in her, by reafon of all the mighty wonders which he hath wrought for her; fhe is the true "Sa"lem," or city of peace; the is the true "Sion," the fpiritual, holy, and beloved hill; and in her is the "tabernacle" and "dwelling place" of God her Saviour, by the fpirit.

3. There brake he the arrows of the bow, the Shield, the fword, and the battle.

When God appeared in the defence of his ancient people, the weapons of their enemies were at once blunted and broken, and all the formidable apparatus of war became, in a moment, utterly ufseless. Such was the event, when the holy Jefus entered the

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lifts against our fpiritual adverfaries,

"for" us;

and fuch ever will be the event, when he engages them "in" us.

4. Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.

This may be a beautiful apoftrophie to mount Sion, (mentioned, ver. 2.) as appearing infinitely more glorious and excellent, through the favour and protection of her God, than the arm of flesh and the inftruments of war could render the kingdoms of the earth, which set themselves against her; and which, for their tyranny, and cruelty, and the ravages committed by them, are likened to thofe mountains, where beasts of prey, with fimilar dispositions, rove, and roar, and devour. The powers of the world "make war with the Lamb, whofe ftation is upon "mount Sion;" but "the Lamb fhall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; " and they that are with him are called, and chofen, "and faithful." Rev. xiv. 1. xvii. 14.

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5. The flout hearted are spoiled, they have fept their fleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. 6. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot, or, rider, and horfe, are caft into a dead fleep.

It must be acknowledged, that these two verfes feem in a very particular manner to point at the miraculous deftruction of Senacherib's army, when theftout hearted," who doubted not of taking and spoiling the holy city, were themselves fuddenly fpoiled" of ftrength and life; they "flept their fleep, and found not their hands;" they awaked

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not again to the use of their powers and faculties; a rebuking blast was fent from the God of Jacob, under which the flower of Affyria withered in the fpace of a night, and in the morning was no more; "the horse and his rider were caft into a dead fleep;" they flept the fleep of death. How, in a moment, were the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! How aftonishing the downfal of the tyrant! How complete the triumph of the daughter of Sion! Such will be the deftruction of the world; fuch the falvation of the people of God.

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7. Thou, even thou art to be feared, and who may ftand in thy fight, when once thou art angry?

Why are the miraculous exertions of omnipotence recorded in the book of life, but to fuggeft to us this reflection, that God, and God only, is the proper object of our fear: fince neither the wifdom of the wife, nor the power of the mighty, no, not the world itself, can stand a single moment before him, "when once he is angry?" Yet we continue to dread any frowns but thofe of heaven; and one poor, vain, finful man fhall, through a course of fixty, or feventy years, inceffantly and undauntedly tempt and provoke Him, who deftroyed 185,000 in a night. What is this, but madness?

8. Thou didst caufe judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was ftill; 9. When God arofe to judgment, to fave all the meek of the earth, or, the afflicted of the land.

A deftruction so far exceeding human power, was evidently the fentence of God's judgment, audibly pronounced from the eternal throne; and it was

heard

heard by all the earth with an awful filence, as when he speaks to attentive nature in thunder. Such was the effect which this interpofition in behalf of his people produced among the furviving Affyrians, and the neighbouring nations. Let us carry our thoughts on to the fenfations which will be felt in the hearts of men, at that hour, when the laft trump fhall found in the heavens, and the earth fhall fhake from her foundations; when God fhall arife to execute judgment on the adverfaries of his church; and to save, with an everlasting falvation, all the meek and afflicted of the earth.

10. Surely the wrath of man fhall praife thee; the remainder of wrath fhalt thou refrain.

The wrath of man, and of Satan himself, against the church, turns, in the end, to the praise and glory of God, who repreffes it, when at its height; and at all times appoints thofe bounds which it cannot pass, any more than the raging waves of the ocean can overflow their appointed barrier of fand.

11. Vow and pay unto the LORD your God; let all that are round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. 12. He shall cut off, or, refrain the Spirit of princes; he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

If fuch should have been the gratitude and devotion of Ifraelites, for a temporary deliverance from the fury of an earthly tyrant; how much higher ought that of Chriftians to rife, for eternal redemption from the great oppreffor! How ought they to "vow and pay their vows unto the LORD their "God; to bring prefents," to offer all they have,

and

and all they are, to him who is fo greatly to be "feared," fo highly to be loved; to him who " re"ftrains" the fury of evil angels, as well as "the fpirit of princes;" and is "terrible" to the powers of darkness, no lefs than to "the kings of the "earth!"

PSALM LXXVII.

ARGUMEN T.

As the foregoing Pfalm was evidently compofed, when the church had obtained deliverance from her enemies, this feems no lefs plainly to have been written at a time when fhe was in captivity under them. It contains 1-4. a complaint of fufferings; and 5-20. a defcription at large of the struggle between diftruft and faith; which latter prevails, by having recourfe to the confideration of ancient mercies; particularly, that of redemption from Egypt. The Pfalm is admirably calculated for the use and confolation of any church, or foul, when in affliction and diftrefs.

1. I cried unto God with my voice; even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me.

Uneafiness in the heart will utter itself by the "voice;" and when the pain is intense, the "cry” will be loud. Only let it take a right direction, and afcend

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