Ver. 3-5. It is often seen, and felt too, by one who is suffering under the malignant slander of an enemy, that it is of little use to assert his innocence, or even to produce proofs of it, in the presence of his fellow-men; relying upon their justice, their honesty, their love of truth, or their presumed friendship : he is building his place of refuge on the sand. The cold and silent glance of worthless pity will often prove the utmost mite they have to bestow, for the restoration of his injured character, and the re-establishment of his peace. Happy is he, therefore, who taking refuge in the strong-hold of his own conscience, can look out from thence to the throne of Divine Justice; and there pleading his own cause, can lay open his inmost thoughts and desires, to the eye of Him who judgeth righteously:-0 Lord my God, if I have done any such thing: or if there be in my hands the wickedness that is laid to my charge; then let mine enemy persecute my soul, and take me: yea, let him tread my life down upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust! Here is the language that admits of no mistake—the impressive testimony of inward rectitude, the boldness of conscious integrity, "which gives the world assurance of a man." The persecutions of Saul were for a length of time a sore burthen on the mind of the innocent son of Jesse; but they tempted him not to revenge, at the expense of his religious principle; for we read in the first book of Samuel, that when Saul with three thousand men was in pursuit of David in the wilderness of En-gedi, the malicious king had occasion to retire into the very cave where David had hid himself; and that there he availed himself of the opportunity of cutting off the skirt of Saul's robe, which he afterwards shewed to him, as a proof that his fidelity was unshaken. See, my father; yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee: yet thou huntest my soul to take it! To this occurrence the sacred

writer alludes in the 4th verse of the Psalm-Yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy.

Ver. 6-9. This passage is a prayer for the divine judgments upon the general wickedness of the subjects of Saul, rather than against his personal share of it: for it had followed of course, that very many of the people besides those who formed his army, would take part with their sovereign against one whom he would have dealt with (however unjustly) as an enemy and a traitor. David therefore calls upon the Lord to manifest himself in his favour, to stand up in wrath, and to rise up in judgment against them: and that for the sake of the nation at large, God's justice between David and his enemies might be made plain in their sight; that they, the people, may no longer remain in doubt of his righteousness, or integrity; and that his innocency might be proved in the sight of all men: so that the wickedness of the ungodly may cease, from their conviction of his upright conduct; and that those who cherish the principles of truth and justice, may be guided by the divine counsels in their judgment of his conduct.

Ver. 10-17. Here follow some general reflections upon the divine government of the world, as displayed in God's dealings with the righteous and the wicked; setting forth some of the leading attributes of the character of the Deity; as his omniscience, proved in trying the very hearts and reins of man; his watchful care for the preservation of them that are true of heart; his strength to punish, contrasted with his patience in forbearing to punish, the provocations of the wicked; and his awful judgments, prepared for those who will not turn from their evil ways; against whom He is represented as having whet his sword, and bent his bow, and ordained his arrows, as the weapons of his vengeance and the instruments of their destruction. Then follows the description of the certain fate of those who will, in spite of warnings, threatenings, and conditional promises of mercy, go on still in their wickedness, con

ceiving sorrow and bringing forth ungodliness; until the pit which they had digged for others shall prove to themselves a pit of destruction; and the fruits of their wickedness crush the heads that had conceived it. Wherefore the upright victim of their persecution concludes, I will give thanks unto the Lord according to his righteousness, and I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High.

PSALM 8.

This and the following Psalm are supposed to commemorate David's wonderful victory over the giant of Gath. The first, which we are now entering upon, forms a part of the service of our Church on the Anniversary of Christ's Ascension; and by her is no doubt considered as figuratively applicable to the great exaltation which was vouchsafed to human nature, by its having been taken as the garment of the Son of God, until by his Ascension the great mission of mercy was fulfilled, and ratified in the sight of men and angels: after the noblest victory ever won upon the earth.

Ver. 1-9. The History of David's encounter with Goliah is well known; but is too little considered, perhaps, to produce those reflections which it is so well calculated to awaken. Here is a stripling who was employed in keeping his father's sheep, at a time of war between the Israelites and Philistines, in which his three eldest brethren were then engaged. He was sent to the camp by his father to carry provisions to them, and to enquire after their welfare. He saw the two hostile armies in battle array against each other, on two opposite mountains. He learned that the cowardly enemies of his country had rested their sole hope of victory on the prowess and strength of a single man: but that man was a giant, nine feet in height, and armed with a coat of mail, the weight of which alone proved his prodigious strength; for it was more than 140 pounds; while the iron head, only, of his spear, weighed 17 pounds, besides the helmet of brass on his head. This bugbear of

infidel blindness was put forward every morning in front of the hostile ranks to defy the armies of Israel, and to bully them into submission; by calling upon them to produce a man that they might fight together, and thus to decide who should be the future masters and who the servants of either party. And the effect of their boasting challenge was, that Saul and all Israel were dismayed and greatly afraid. But the truth must be allowed, that the people of Israel were then only in the infancy of their progress towards the knowledge of the One True God; notwithstanding their past, and it should seem, their forgotten experience of his often manifested Omnipotence in their behalf. Here, however, for almost the first time upon record, God worked by the agency of a single human instrument, and one who was until then held in contempt even by his own kindred: for Eliab his brother thus reproached him-I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart: for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. David's heart, however, was occupied by inspired thoughts which his brother could not divine. The Lord had delivered him out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear; and the remembrance of this gave him confidence that under the divine guidance, the simple skill of the shepherd boy, with the sling and the stone, would deliver himself and his country from the power of the brute giant and his cowardly followers. None who hear me can be ignorant of the issue of this seemingly unequal contest. Nor was it likely ever to be absent from the memory of the grateful son of Jesse. This Psalm is a most pious, poetical, and dignified commemoration of the great event, written many years after and it is remarkable that the only allusion which he modestly makes to himself, was quoted by our Saviour, in reproof of the Chief Priests and Scribes-Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

LECTURE III.

PSALM 9.

There exists some diversity of opinion among commentators touching the occasion upon which this Psalm was written; a few supposing this and the 8th commemorative of David's victory over Goliah: but there is no particular application to that event in either to warrant this conclusion; nevertheless, in deference to an opinion held by learned men, I have treated the first of the two Psalms with an exclusive view to that impressive subject of sacred history. This 9th Psalm, though it may include a retrospective view of his encounter with Goliah, is a solemn and grateful testimonial of thankfulness for the many proofs which David had experienced of the Divine Providence and Benevolence, in his deliverance from imminent perils.

Ver. 1-6. The warmth and earnestness of spirit with which the Psalmist enters upon this act of thanksgiving, indicates the soundness of the faith and the depth of the gratitude which prompted it. The rapid transition of the thoughts arising in the mind of the poet savours also of the force of inspiration : and indeed the entire Book of Psalms is of that character, which justifies the universal belief that David, among other holy men, wrote and spake as he was moved by the Holy Ghost. Whatever were the circumstances here commemorated, whether his individual achievement against the giant of Gath, or other triumphs obtained by the forces he commanded, the Psalmist gives the entire glory to God; and the very terms of thanksgiving used by him testify to the sincerity of his oblation:-I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart I will speak of all thy marvellous works: I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: yea, my songs will I make of thy Name, O Thou most Highest! From the throne whereon thou sittest hath thy righteous judgment maintained my cause, to the destruction of Israel's ungodly foes; for by thy power they are rebuked, they are fallen and driven back, they perish and are destroyed; and even as their own cities which have been swept

C