The "counsels and insurrections" of the Israelites

against David; of the same people, afterwards, against the Son of David; of worldly and wicked men against the church; and of the powers of darkness against us all, are here, respectively, understood to be deprecated.

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3. Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: 4. That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

In personal scoffings and revilings, the tongue performs the part of a "sword," which is a weapon that can be used only in open rencounters: but " bitter " words," spoken in secret, and at a distance from him who is the subject of them, are like "arrows," which may be shot from an obscure and remote corner, and therefore cannot be warded off. The tongue, in both these capacities, was employed against that PERFECT ONE, the holy Jesus, in the days of his flesh. Would to God it had never been since employed against him and his disciples, or by his disciples against each other!

5. They encourage themselves in an evil matter; they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

Sin doth not often appear abroad without a veil; and the more atrocious the sin, the more specious must be the pretence which is to cover it. Enyy and malice crucified the Son of God; but, during the course of the proceedings against him, you hear only of zeal for the law, and loyalty to Cæsar. Such are the " snares," set by the crafty, to deceive the

simple and unwary; without considering that the broad eye of heaven, all the time, surveys their most secret devices, by which they impose upon others, and frequently upon themselves.

6. They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

Truth and righteousness may be found, and practised, with half the pains that are often employed to "search out iniquity," and establish error. The Jews could not accomplish the death of Christ, without counsels, stratagems, and subornations, "deep" and dark as hell itself: all which trouble they might have saved themselves at once, by believing on him. The case is the same with virtue and vice; and honesty is the readiest, as well as the best, policy.

7. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow ; suddenly shall they be wounded. 8. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves : all that see them shall flee away.

While the enemies of the "Just One" were shooting in secret at him, he that dwelleth in the heavens was levelling an arrow at them, and one which would not fail to take place. It accordingly did so; and the direful imprecations of " their own tongues fell," in unexampled vengeance, on the heads of them, and their children, who continued to justify the deeds of their fathers. All would " flee away" from the punishment of Jerusalem; let all, then, depart from the sins which occasioned it.

9. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

It is remarkable that the desolation of the once holy and beloved city filled "all men with fear" and astonishment, forcing them to acknowledge and "de"clare" it to be the work of God." Even Titus, the Roman emperor, confessed, that he had fought, and conquered, by the favour, and under the direction, of Heaven. O that men would "wisely con"sider" of this, and other wonderful works of the Almighty!

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10. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

As sorrow, sooner or later, will be the portion of Messiah's enemies, so joy is the high privilege of his friends and disciples. The "righteous" man alone can be truly " glad," because he alone can be glad " in the Lord" Jesus, the object of all his confidence. There was light in Goshen, when darkness covered the Egyptians; the Christian church drank the cup of salvation, when that of vengeance was mingled for Jerusalem; and when the empire of Satan shall fall, heaven will resound with hallelujahs.

TWELFTH DAY. EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM LXV.

ARGUMENT.

In this very lovely song of Sion, the Prophet treats, 1. of the praise due to Jehovah, for, 2. his mercy in hearing the prayers of his servants, and, 3. in redeeming them from their sins; 4. he declareth the blessedness of the elect in Christ their head; 5. predicteth the wonderful things which God would do for the salvation of men, by that power which, 6, 7. established the mountains, and confined the sea within its bounds; 8. foretelleth the conversion of the nations; and, 91-3. describeth the blessed effects of the Spirit poured out upon the church, under the figure of rain, descending upon a dry ground.

1. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion; and unto thee shall the vow be performed.

The oblations of "praise and thanksgiving" were formerly offered, and all "vows" were paid, in the temple on mount "Sion." At Jerusalem was performed the promise of man's redemption by the sacrifice of the Son of God; since which event, and the call of the Gentiles, the Christian church has been the holy city and temple. In our communion, We are to offer up our devotions, and to perform the vow made in baptism; until we come to the heavenly Sion, to pay our vows, with the church triumphant, in everlasting hymns of praise.

2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

The Prophet here foretels, that, on account of God's mercy, in hearing the prayers of his people, "all flesh," that is, all mankind, out of every nation, should "come" at his gracious call, and make their supplications before him in his church. And to whom should "all flesh come," but to him that "heareth prayer ?"

3. Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

The chief subject of the prayers, made by all flesh to God, is the forgiveness of sin; in order to which it must be confessed. The verse, therefore, consisteth of two parts. First, an acknowledgement of guilt, "Iniquities prevail against me;" like whereunto is St. Paul's complaint, "O wretched man that I am; "who shall deliver me from this body of death!" The second part of the verse intimates an assurance of pardon, through the blood of the Lamb, "As for

our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away;" exactly corresponding to the answer, which the apostle returneth to himself; " I thank God, through "Jesus Christ our Lord:" Rom. vii. 25.

4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

Blessed are they who are chosen out of the world,