globe of the earth,' retaining its original form and coherence of parts, still, as at the beginning, supports and maintains the successive' generations' of men, which live and move upon it, to whom the faithful promises of God are fulfilled from age to age. Thus doth the unchangeable order of nature itself point out to us the truth of her great Author, and at the same time reprove the eccentric motions of rebellious man. The heavens and the earth continue this day according to thine ordinance,' O Lord, for all things are thy servants;' all invariably serve thee, except man, who alone was endowed with reason that he might obey and glorify thee in this life, and that which is to come!

92. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

The Psalmist assureth us, from his own experience, how pleasant and how profitable, in time of trouble, is the meditation on the fidelity of God, as displayed in the stability of his works. The 'delights,' by this afforded, sustained his soul in 'afflic tions,' which must otherwise have brought him to an end. And the same everlasting word shall be the believer's support and consolation, even when the heavens shall melt around him with fervent heat, and the earth, and all that is therein, shall be burnt up. · Heaven and earth shall pass away, saith he who made them, but my word shall not pass away.'

93. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

Great are the necessities, and many the disorders of the soul; but in the Scripture there is provision

and medicine for them all; and according to our various wants and maladies, God relieveth and 'quickeneth' us, sometimes with one part of his word, sometimes with another. Now, when we have found ourselves thus benefited, at any time, by a particular passage of holy writ, we should 'never forget,' but remember and treasure it up in our minds, against a like occasion, when the same affliction and temptation may again befall us.

94. I am thine; save me, for I have sought thy precepts.

The double relation which we have the honour to bear to God by creation and by redemption, as the work of his hands, and the purchase of his blood, is a most endearing and prevailing argument with him, to 'save' us from our enemies. But then let it be remembered, that no man can say to God with a good conscience, I am thine,' unless he can also go on, and say, 'I have sought thy precepts,' I desire to serve and obey thee alone; since, after all, his servants we are to whom we obey;' and if sin be our master, how can we say to a master, whose interest is directly opposite, 'I am thine ?'

95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me : but I will consider thy testimonies.

In the preceding verse, David besought God to 'save' him. The reason of that prayer is here assigned, namely, because the wicked lay in wait for him to destroy him,' as they afterwards did to destroy one whom the afflicted and persecuted Psalmist represented. Spiritual enemies are continually upon the watch to destroy us all; and we

can no way escape their wiles, but by considering,' so as to understand and observe, God's 'testimonies.'

96. I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Of all perfection' in this world, whether of beauty, wit, learning, pleasure, honour, or riches, experience will soon show us the end.' But where is the end or boundary of the word of God? Who can ascend to the height of its excellency; who can fathom the depth of its mysteries; who can find out the comprehension of its precepts, or conceive the extent of its promises; who can take the dimensions of that love of God to man which it describeth, or that love of man to God which it teacheth! The knowledge of one thing leadeth us forward to that of another, and still, as we travel on, the prospect opens before us into eternity, like the pleasant and fruitful mountains of Canaan, rising on the other side of Jordan, when viewed by Moses from the top of Pisgah. O happy reign of celestial wisdom, permanent felicity, true riches, and unfading glory! while we contemplate thee, how doth the world lessen, and shrink to nothing in our eyes! Thy blessings faith now beholdeth, but it is charity which shall hereafter enjoy them.

possess

and

MEM.-PART XIII.

97. O how I love thy law! It is

all the day.

Words cannot express the love which a pious mind entertaineth for the Scriptures. They are the

epistle of God to mankind, offering reconciliation, peace, and union with himself in glory; containing reasons why we should love him and each other, with directions how to show forth that love, which, as the apostle saith, is the fulfilling of the law.' Rom. xiii. 10. On some portions of these Scriptures should our meditation' be continually, and ' each day' should add something to our knowledge, to our faith, to our virtue.

me.

98. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with 99. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100. I understand more than the ancients: because I keep thy precepts.

The commandments' of God were · ever with' David; the testimonies' of God were his 'meditation;' and the precepts' of God it was his care to 'observe;' therefore his wisdom exeeded the policy of his enemies,' the learning of his 'teachers,' and the experience of the ancients.' Thus, by the wisdom of the Scriptures, did the holy Jesus, in the days of his flesh, confound his adversaries, astonish the teachers of the law, and instruct the aged. And it is the high prerogative of the Scriptures, at all times, to render youth and simplicity superior to the inveterate malice and subtilty of the grand deceiver and his associates.

101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

The foundation of all religion must be laid in mortification and self-denial; for since the will of fallen men is contrary to the will of God, we must

abstain from doing the one in order to do the other. The affections may be styled the 'feet' of the soul, and unless these be refrained from evil ways,' no progress can be made in that way which alone is good and right; we cannot keep God's word.'

102. I have not departed from thy judgments; for thou hast taught me.

Perseverance is the effect of instruction from above, by the Spirit, through the word and our heavenly Teacher differeth from all others in this, that, with the lesson, he bestoweth on the scholar both a disposition to learn and an ability to perform.

103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

The soul hath its taste,' as well as the body, and that taste is then in good order, when the words of Scripture are 'sweet' to the soul, as honey' is to the mouth. If they are not always so, it is because our taste is vitiated by the world and the flesh; and we shall ever find our relish for the word of God to be greatest, when that for the world and the flesh is least, in time of affliction, sickness, and death; for these are contrary one to the other. In heaven the latter will be no more, and therefore the former will be all in all.

104. Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

He who delighteth to study the Scriptures will ' understand' from them the true nature of righteousness and of sin; he who doth understand the nature of each, will love the former; and, in proportion, 'hate' the latter: and with that which we