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THE

PSALTER,

PSALMS

OR

MS OF
OF DAVI D,

Pointed as they are to be fung or faid in CHURCHES.

B

Morning Prayer.

THE FIRST D A Y.

§ Pfalm i. Beatus vir, qui abiit.

LESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor ftood in the way of finners: and hath not fat in the feat of the fcornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law will he exercife himfelf day and night.

3 *And he fhall be like a tree planted by the water-fide: that will bring forth his fruit in due feafon.

4 His leaf alfo fhall not wither: and look, whatsoever he doeth, it fhall profper.

5 As for the ungodly, it is not fo with them: but they are like the chaff which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth.

This Pfalm is like a recommendatory Preface to the whole following collection: and defcribes the conduct and happiness of the Righteous, and the mifery of the Wicked. The condition of the former is reprefented by a flourishing fruitful Tree; of the latter by Chaff which as it is unprofitable in itfelf, fo it is easily difperfed by the Winds.

• And he ball be like a Tree, &c. The Tree here

alluded to was probably the Palm; because it natu-
rally flourishes moft near Water, and is an Evergreen:
and is a proper emblem of a good Man, who is con-
tinually watered by the Streams of the divine favour→→
and who flourishes equally amidst the wintry scenes of
Adverfity, and the Summer-funs of Profperity; because
God maketh all Things work together for good, to them
that love him. See Pfalm xcii. 12.
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6 Therefore the ungodly fhall not be able to ftand in the judgment; neither the finners in the congregation of the righteous. 7 But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: and the way of the ungodly shall perish.

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Pfalm 2. Quare fremuerunt gentes?

HY do the heathen fo furiously rage together: and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth ftand up, and the rulers take counsel together: against the Lord, and against his Anointed.

3 Let us break their bonds afunder: and caft away their cords from us.

4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to fcorn: the Lord fhall have them in derifion.

5 Then fhall he speak unto them in his wrath: and vex them in his fore difpleasure.

6 Yet have I fet my King: upon my holy hill of Sion.

7 I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath faid unto me; Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

8 Defire of me, and I fhall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance: and the utmost parts of the earth for thy poffeffion.

9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a potters vessel.

10 Be wife now therefore, O ye kings: be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.

II Serve the Lord in fear: and rejoice unto him with reverence. 12 + Kifs the Son, left he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way: if his wrath be kindled (yea, but a little) bleffed are all they that put their trust in him.

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§ Pfalm 3. Domine, quid multiplicati? · ORD, how are they increased that trouble me: many are they that rise against me.

But the Lord knoweth the way, &c. i. e. he approves, favours, or is pleafed with it.

Though this Pfalm may primarily be a triumphant

celebration of David's victory over his Enemies, and fafe establishment upon the Throne of Judah: yet it is plainly prophetical likewife and relates to the King

2 Many one there be that fay of my foul: him in his God.

There is no help for

3 But thou, O Lord, art my defender: thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.

4

I did call upon the Lord with my voice: and he heard me out of his holy hill.

5 I laid me down and slept, and rofe up again: for the Lord fuftained me.

6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people: that have fet themselves against me round about.

7 Up, Lord, and help me, O my God: for thou fmiteft all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone; thou haft broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people.

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|| Pfalm 4. Cum invocarem.

EAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou haft set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.

2 O ye fons of men, how long will ye blafpheme mine honour: and have fuch pleasure in vanity, and feek after leafing?

3 Know this alfo, that the Lord hath chofen to himfelf the man that is godly: when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

dom of the Meffiah, which it was hereby foretold, fhould, in fpite of all its Enemies, prevail through the World.

Kifs the Son left he be angry, &c. As a Kijs among the Eastern People from a Subject to a Superior was confidered as a token of homage and reverence; fo this paffage, as it relates to Chriftians, is an Exhortation to pay a due obedience to the Doctrine. of Chrift.

This Pfalm was occafioned by the Rebellion of Abfalom, when David was obliged to flee from Jeru falem. 2 Sam. xv. 14. From the fentiments which David expreffes on this occafion we may learn amidst our greatest Troubles to fix a firm reliance upon Providence: being fully affured that God both can and will

deliver us from them, when he fees it beft for us.

For thou fmiteft all mine Enemies upon the Cheer. bone. This is a metaphorical expreffion fignifying that God had utterly destroyed the power of his Enemies, viz. of Saul, his defcendents and followers. Upon this the Royal Prophet builds his hopes of future deliverance.

This Pfalm feems to be a further invocation of God's help against Abfalom and his feditious party; whom David here reproves and exhorts to return to their obedience-inftructing them in their duty; and affuring them that true Happiness did not confiit in worldly affluence, but in God's favour, on which] he fixeth his fole dependence.

4

Stand in awe, and fin not: commune with your own heart, in your chamber, and be still.

5 Offer the facrifice of righteoufnefs and put your trust in

the Lord.

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6 There be many that fay: Who will fhew us any good?

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7 Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 8 Thou haft put gladness in my heart: fince the time that their corn, and wine, and oil increased.

9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my reft: for it is thou, Lord, only that makeft me dwell in safety.

§ Pfalm 5. Verba mea auribus.

ONDER my words, O Lord: confider my meditation. 2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I make my prayer.

3 My voice fhalt thou hear betimes, O Lord: early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up..

4 For thou art the God that haft no pleasure in wickedness : neither fhall any evil dwell with thee.

5 Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy fight: for thou hateft all them that work vanity.

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6 Thou shalt deftroy them that speak leafing the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies: make thy way plain before my face.

Stana in awe and Sin not. This in the Septuagint tranflation is be ye Angry and Sin not: which St. Paul quotes, Ephef. iv. 26. but the fenfe is much the fame in both tranflations, as it contains an Exhortation to the Rebels, not fo to give way to their Paffion, as to carry on a Confpiracy against their lawful Sovereign, and it contains in it also an useful inftruction to all Men to beware of indulging their Anger to excefs left it hurry them into words and actions of which

they may afterwards have just cause to Repent.

The royal Prophet feems to have been in a state of Exile and Affliction at the time of the compofition of this Pfalm, whether from Saul or his own Son is uncertain, but, from the wickedness of his Enemies he is encouraged to hope for deliverance from his Calami❤ ties: because he is fully affured that the Righteous alone are God's favourites; and that to him all Iniquity is an abomination.

For there is no faithfulness in his mouth: their inward parts are very wickedness.

IO * Their throat is an open fepulchre: they flatter with their

ongue.

11 Deftroy thou them, O God, let them perish through their own imaginations: caft them out in the multitude of their ungodlinefs; for they have rebelled against thee.

12 And let all them that put their truft in thee rejoice: they fhall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendeft them; they that love thy Name, fhall be joyful in thee;

13 For thou, Lord, wilt give thy bleffing unto the righteous: and with thy favourable kindnefs wilt thou defend him as with a fhield.

O

me,

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LORD, rebuke me not in thine indignation: neither chaften me in thy displeasure.

2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal for my bones are vexed.

3 My Soul alfo is fore troubled: but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me?

4 Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my foul: O fave me for thy

mercies fake.

5 + For in death no man remembereth thee: and who will give thee thanks in the pit ?

6 I am weary of my groaning, every night wash I my bed: and water my couch with my tears.

* Their Throat is an open Sepulchre. ise, as the Sepulchre is a wide open for the reception of the dead, fo were David's Enemies earnestly fet upon his deftruction.

This is the first among the feven penitential Pfalms, in which David expreffes a forrow and remorfe for his paft Sins, truly worthy of imitation in his circumftances.

↑ For in death no Man remembereth thee, Es. Which

is, as if he had faid, "Save me from ceftruction, "that I may praise thee amongst the living: for if I "die, who, among the prefent degenerate Race of "Mortals, will pay thee the worship and praise which is

due to thee"? To with for Life from a defire of promoting God's glory is certainly laudable: yet it fhould always be with fubmiffion to his will. Because he needeth not our affiftance, but hath always fufficient power to effect his own purposes.

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