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precepts,' when in all our proceedings we have respect unto his ways,' comparing our actions with the rule of his word.

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

By frequent meditation and continual practice, the divine 'statutes' will become our 'delight;' and from the pleasures, as well as from the cares of the world, we shall gladly fly to them for recreation and comfort. Of holy exercises there is great variety, and spiritual joys are without number. Lord, make us to delight ourselves in thy statutes,' and when we delight in what we learn, we shall easily retain it in memory; we shall not forget thy word.'

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GIMEL.-PART III.

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

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In the foregoing parts of the Psalm, we have heard the believer declaring the excellency of God's word, and expressing both his desire and his resolution to observe its directions. He now beseecheth God to remove all impediments, and to accomplish this work in him. And as a man must live,' in order to 'work,' the first petition is, that God would deal with his servant' according to the measures of grace and mercy, enabling him to live,' the life of faith, and strengthening him by the Spirit of might in the inner man, to keep the word' of truth, and to walk in the commandments of his blessed Master all his days.

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VOL. III.

P

18. Open thou mine eyes, drous things out of thy law.

that I may

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,נפלאות To discern these

So far are we naturally from being able to keep' the word, that we are not able to understand it. The law of God is full of divine and spiritual truths, concealed under literal histories, visible signs, and external ceremonies. 'wondrous,' because the hidden, mysterious 'things,' our eyes,' the eyes of our understanding, must be 'unveiled;' that 'veil' must be taken off, which St. Paul affirmeth to be upon the hearts of the Jews, 'in reading the Old Testament,' and which will continue there until they turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then the veil will be taken away, and they will behold him, and the redemption by him, as prefigured in their law, and foretold by their prophets.1 Pride, prejudice, and interest will compose a veil, through which a Christian shall see as little of the New Testament as a Jew doth of the Old. Lord, convince us of our blindness, and restore us to our sight.

19. I am a stranger in the earth; hide not thy commandments from me.

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The above request for divine illumination is enforced by this argument, that the petitioner is a 'stranger,' and a sojourner upon the earth;' he is travelling through a foreign country, to his native city, where are his kindred, his treasure, and his heart as a sojourner, he hath renounced the world,

Revela oculos meos:' aperi, dispelle umbras, tolle velamentum, quo spirituales oculi conteguntur. Considerabo mirabilia :' ut penitùs introspiciam, non literam tantùm, ac velut corticem legis, sed arcana spiritualia, puta in saboatis requiem sempiternam, simplicitatem in azymis, in victimis obedientiam, et ubique Christum.-Bossuet.

which is therefore become his enemy; as a stranger, he is fearful of losing his way; on these accounts he requesteth that God would compensate the loss of earthly comforts, by affording the light of heaven; that he would not hide his commandments,' but show and teach them those steps, by which he may ascend towards heaven, rejoicing in hope of future glory.

20. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

Another argument here urged, is that 'longing' desire which the soul hath, during her state of pilgrimage below, unto the revelation of God's will. Grieved and vexed at the prospect of sin, vanity, and folly, and finding nothing below that will satisfy the desires of an immortal spirit, she setteth her affections on the better things above, which are proposed in the Scriptures as the proper objects of our wishes. Her appetite for the divine word is keen, as that of hunger or thirst, and hope deferred maketh the heart sick.' This disposition is not a transient fit, but it is constant and uniform at all times.

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

The consideration of the wretched condition of impenitent sinners, is another reason why we entreat God to set and to keep us in the way of his commandments. 'Pride' produceth 'error,' and obstinacy in that error; obstinate transgressors reject the call, the covenant, and the terms of the gospel; to such the curse' of the law is ratified and sealed, and mercy consigns them over to jus

tice, which seldom fails to give them some 'rebukes' even in this world, for a foretaste to them and a warning to others.

22. Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

'Reproach and contempt' are liberally bestowed by the world upon men who, being not of it, reprove its deeds by their exemplary conduct. These, to beginners more especially, are sore lets and hinderances in the way of duty; and, after the example of David, we may beseech God to remove' them from us, when we suffer them in his cause, and know ourselves to be innocent of the crimes laid to our charge. In the meantime, to comfort ourselves under them, let us remember, that he who alone, in the strict and unlimited sense of the words, could say, I have kept thy testimonies,' sustained the utmost degree of reproach and contempt' for our sakes, and was patient and resigned under it all, until God removed' it from him by a glorious resurrection. There remaineth likewise a resurrection for the mystical body of Christ; and then, Wisdom will be justified of all her children.'

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23. Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

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'Princes' and rulers have often sate' in council upon the servants' of God, and 'spoken,' in judgment, false things against them,' as they did against their blessed Master in the days of his flesh. David hath taught us how to act in such circumstances. We are not to renounce the creed, or the commandments, should it so happen that the rulers and the Pharisees' neither believe the former,

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nor observe the latter; but rather, we should ditate,' more than ever, in the Scriptures; that we may draw from thence comfort in the troubles, and direction in the difficulties which persecution bringeth upon us; always bearing in mind, when princes command any thing contrary to the word of God, that our service is due to a higher Master; 'thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.'

24. Thy testimonies also are my delight, and my counsellors.

Pleasure and wisdom, as the world hath ordered matters, are almost incompatible; insomuch that Solomon, relating the experience he had had of voluptuousness, mentions it as a thing out of the ordinary course, that his wisdom' all the time ' remained with him.' Eccles. ii. 9. But they who meditate in the word of God, find a pleasure which hath wisdom for its inseparable companion. Their sorrow is dispelled, and their doubts are resolved. For how can he be sorrowful, who sits by the fountain of joy? How can he be long in doubt, who hath the prophets and apostles for his counsellors ?

DALETH.-PART IV.

25. My soul cleaveth to the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

The Psalmist, in a state of affliction and humiliation, still seeketh relief, by prayer, from the Scriptures. His circumstances vary, but his affection to the word of God continueth the same. Every one, whose affections are set on things below, hath reason to exclaim with David, 'My soul cleaveth to the dust.' From this kind of death we are quickened,'

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