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fering the almighty vengeance, which he, who owns that name, can inflict.

4. The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

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For although the strength' of our King be infinite, yet it is never exerted, but in righteousness" and just judgment,' which are his delight: they compose the firm basis of his throne, and direct his whole administration. Impenitent rebels must feel the weight of his arm, and none can accuse the justice of their punishment: but in all other cases he is mighty only to save.' Isa. lxiii. 1. This holiness of his proceedings, this due temperament of justice with mercy, the redeemed are exhorted to acknowledge and to proclaim, falling down before the throne, and uttering the angelical trisagion, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.'

6. Moses and Aaron among his priests, or, chief rulers, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. 7. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them,

Το encourage the faithful in the worship of God, the examples of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel are adduced, men of like infirmities with ourselves, whose prayers were heard, both for themselves and others, and answers were returned to them from the mystic 'cloud,' that symbol of the divine presence, which, for a while, was itinerant with the camp in the wil

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derness, and then became fixed in the tabernacle at Shiloh till its last removal to Mount Sion. These men were heard through the intercession of the great Mediator, whom they represented. Through that same intercession our prayers also are heard, if we keep his testimonies, and the ordinances that he hath given us.'

8. Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

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The construction of the verse seems to be this: 'O Lord our God, thou didst hear, or answer them,' that is, the afore-mentioned typical mediators, Moses, Aaron, and Samuel; thou becamest a forbearing God for them,' or, at their intercession; and that, even when punishing,' or, when thou hadst begun to punish, the wicked deeds of them,' that is, not of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, but of the people, who had transgressed, and for whom they interceded. This was the case when Moses interceded for the idolaters; Exod. xxxii. 32; Aaron for the schismatics; Numb. xvi. 47; and Samuel for the whole nation; 1 Sam. vii. 9. Pray one for another,' saith an apostle to Christians, that ye may be healed: the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' James, v. 16.

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9. Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill for the Lord our God is holy.

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The Psalmist repeats his exhortation, enforced by the preceding examples of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, and again invites all people to worship a 'holy' God in a 'holy' place, and to adore the consummate rectitude of all his proceedings, sing

ing, with the spirits above, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.' Rev. xv. 3.

PSALM C.

ARGUMENT.-The Psalmist invites all the world to join with the Israelites in the service of him who was kind and gracious to them beyond expression. Accordingly, we Christians now properly use this Psalm in acknowledgment of God's wonderful love to us in Christ; by whom we offer up continually spiritual sacrifices, for redeeming us by the sacrifice which he made of himself; for making the world anew, and creating us again unto good works; according to his faithful promises, which we may depend upon for ever.-Patrick.

1. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands : 2. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

The prophet addresseth himself to 'all lands,' or to all the earth;' to Gentiles, as well as Jews. He exhorteth them to make a joyful noise,' a noise like that of the trumpets at the time of jubilee, a sound of universal triumph and exultation, in honour of 'Jehovah,' now become their Lord and Saviour. The service of this our Master is perfect freedom; it is a service of love, a freedom from Pharaoh and the task-masters, from Satan and our own imperious lusts; it is a redemption from the most cruel bondage, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Let us therefore do as we are commanded; let us 'serve the Lord with gladness;' and when we come 'before his presence' in the temple, let it be with singing' to the praise and glory of our Redeemer.

Thus he is served in heaven, and thus he delighteth to be served on earth.

3. Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Or, He hath made us, and we are his,' his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

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The motives here urged for serving and praising Jehovah are the same with those above, in Psalm xcv. 6, 7; namely, that he is our 'God,' engaged by covenant on our behalf; that his hands created us, and have since new created us; that we stand in the peculiar relation of his 'people,' whom he hath chosen to himself, and over whom he presideth as King; that we are the sheep of his pasture,' for whom the good Shepherd laid down his life, and whom he nourisheth, by the word and sacraments, unto eternal life. These are points which every Christian ought to 'know' and believe, unto his soul's health. And whoever doth know them aright, will ever be ready with heart and voice to obey the injunction which followeth in the next verse.

4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

The Christian church is a temple, whose 'gates' stand continually open, for the admission of the nations from all the four quarters of the world. Rev.

I am persuaded that the Masoretical correction 15 (and we are his) is right: the construction and parallelism both favour it.' Bishop Lowth. A correspondent suggests-Might not the clause be rendered interrogatively-' Are not we his people, and the sheep of his pasture ?'

xxi. 13, 25. Into the courts' of this temple, which are now truly courts of the Gentiles,' all men are invited to come, and offer their evangelical sacrifices of confession and praise;' to express their gratitude to their Saviour, and bless' his gracious and hallowed 'name.' How glorious will be that day which shall behold the everlasting gates of heaven lifting up their heads, and disclosing to view those courts above, into which the children of the resurrection are to enter, there, with angels and archangels, to dwell and sing for evermore!

5. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting : and his truth endureth to all generations.

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Jehovah is good;' he is the source of all beauty and perfection in the creature; how altogether lovely must he needs be in himself! • His mercy is everlasting,' extending through time into eternity; and his truth,' or fidelity in accomplishing his promises, endureth to all generations,' evidenced to the whole race of mankind, from Adam to his last born son. The Psalms which celebrate these attributes, will never, therefore, be out of date, but each successive generation will chant them with fresh propriety, and fresh delight, until by saints and angels they are sung new in the kingdom of God.

PSALM CI.

ARGUMENT.-In the person of David, advanced to the throne of Israel, we hear King Messiah declaring how he intended to walk, and to govern his household, the church; and also describing the qualifications which he should require in his ministers and servants.

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