God is here Majeftically introduced, encompaffed with all the powers of nature, with his Armory, and his inftruments of vengeance around him.

XIX. A difplay of God's glory in Creation, a most beautiful allufion to the Sun coming out of his chamber like a bridegroom at midnight (the ufual cuftom in Jerufalem when he was attended by his friends, with glaring lights and torches, parading the ftreets of the City) and rejoicing as a strong Man to run his race, confcious and confident of his own ftrength.

XX. XXI. Are fervent and devout prayers of the People for their King, they were chanted as Songs of triumph after victory and deliverances. Military exploits againft Syria, and Ammon, Nations abounding in chariots and horsemen.

XXII. This Pathetic Pfalm was compofed by David at Mehanaim. God had appeared to him on the spot, by his Angel, during the rage of the Peftilence. David feelingly recollects this awful interview, and how he had here tenderly pleaded with God in behalf of his people, and afresh recounts his forrows and deep diftrefs.

Our Saviour, on the Crofs, repeated this Epitome of his fufferings and death, reminding as it were, his Heavenly Father, he was now fulfilling

all

all the prophecies in that Pfalm, and claiming the gracious promifes, to his difciples and followers.*

XXIII. An incomparable Ode of the paftoral kind, the Sentiments are all borrowed from the Shepherd's life and character, and David had been a Shepherd. The Allufion is beautifully preferved throughout. It deferves the highest commendation, for its purity, fimplicity and elegance, a celebrated Poet has restored it to harmony.

The watchful care of providence, is reprefented as leading and guiding his fteps along the green paftures, befide the ftill waters, in the paths of peace, fecurity and happinefs, even through the Valley of the fhadow of death, the Shepherd's crook and his rod fhould uphold and protect him.

it

XXIV. This Pfalm was composed by David when he brought the Ark from the house of Obed-edom, to Mount Sion in Jerufalem, was fung in two parts. The questions and refponfes at the end thus chanted, are highly pleafing, elegant and beautiful, and the two firft

*

Compare verfe xviii. with MAT. xxvii. and xxxv.

verfes were fung by all the company in the proceffion.

XXV. David in this Pfalm expreffes his humility, contrition, and dejection, it was compofed after he had given orders fo deftructive to Uriah, for in all his diftreffes before, he confidentially afferts and exults in his innocence.

Each verse begins fucceffively with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. Are Hymns made in seasons of deep diftrefs, but before the former, as the Royal Pfalmift in all of them ftrongly afferts his innocence. "I will wash my hands in innocency" alluding to the cuftom of the Jews washing their hands in token of innocence and purity, before prayer and publick worship. The twenty-feventh was compofed when he placed his Family under the guardianfhip of the King of Moab who was their relation.

XXIX. A Pfalm appointed to be fung in ftorms, thunder, lightning and tempeft, moft probably the elements had at this time facilitated fome fignal victory over his Enemies.

XXX. The Pfalm David commanded to be fung at the dedication of his Palace; and again after

after his return from his flight and Abfalom's rebellion, when he was restored to the Ark, and the publick worship of God in the Tabernacle.

XXXI. David faved, as it were, by a miracle, from falling into the hands of Saul, fled from Keilah to the Wilderness of Maon, here prays for fafety and fupport. The words Our Saviour pronounced when expiring on the Cross, are a part of verse the fifth. "Into thy hands I com

mit my fpirit," the laft proof, before his death, which he gave the Jews of his being, notwithftanding his fufferings, the true Meffiah, the Son of David.

XXXII, Contains a general confeffion for fin, ufed on days of expiation, and national humiliation. The latter part records many wife rules and axioms for the conduct of life.

XXXIII. A Hymn of Praife and Thanksgiving for fome fignal deliverance. An allufion to the overthrow of Pharoah and his Hoft, and a beautiful one representing the Horfe as a vain thing for fafety; at this time the oriental cavalry conftituted the power and ftrength of their Armies.

XXXIV. A Pfalm wrote by David on his deliverance from Achifh King of Gath. Wife VOL. II A a

and

and moft perfuafive arguments to truft in God, elegantly varied and enforced from his own experience. Strength and Magninimity are of themfelves no fecurity from want and diftress, " young "Lions lack and fuffer hunger, they that feek "the Lord fhall not want any good thing. Another Pfalm where each verse begins with the letters of the alphabet.

XXXV. A Psalm composed under the bittereft perfecutions from Saul, Doeg, and the Ziphites. Imprecations fo fevere have made fome queftion the piety and charity of David, but put them in the future tense the objection vanishes, and the Pfalm may be a prophefy respecting them.

XXXVI. A Pfalm which contrafts the malice and treachery of Saul with the faithfulness and goodness of God.

It feems compofed by David when Saul's jealoufy firft broke out, and under the mask of friendship, he endeavoured to ruin and even to murder him.

XXXVII. The Pfalmift writes purposely for the confolation of the afflicted, pathetically enters into all their feelings, moft wifely directs and encourages them. Under the belief of an equal Providence, David revives and comforts the

fufferer