5 His eyes do see, his eye-lids try men's sons. The just he proves : But his soul hates the wicked man, and him that vi'lence loves. 6 Snares, fire and brimstone, furious storms, 7 Because the Lord most righteous doth PARALLEL PASSAGES. Ver. 3-2 Tim. ii. 19. Ver. 6-Gen. xix. 24. PSALM XII. DAVID looks around him in the light of heaven, and, seeing the abounding wickedness of the land, especially of men in power, he betakes himself to prayer, as a pattern to the people of God in like circumstances. In verses 3, 4, he declares God's purposes of wrath concerning all impenitent sinners, and his purposes of favour to the godly that are oppressed. He proves the truth of these predictions by referring to the unchangeable character of the word of God, which is "yea and amen.' May we be among those "who sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the land." In the midst of the turbulence and confederacies of infidel and godless men, let us be composed by the assertions of God's word concerning their folly and their fleetness. While prayer unburdens the heart of fears, it fills it with hopes and joys. How impious is the sentiment of the wicked in verse 4. God made, preserves, and redeemed us, and, therefore, we are not our own, but bought with a price." [MARTYRDOM.] 66 1 HELP, Lord, because the godly man doth daily fade away; And from among the sons of men the faithful do decay. 2 Unto his neighbour ev'ry one doth utter vanity; They with à double heart do speak, 3 God shall cut off all flatt'ring lips, 4 We'll with our tongues prevail; our lips Saith God, and him in safety set 6 The words of God are words most pure; In earthen furnace, seven times 7 Lord, thou shalt them preserve, and keep, 8 On each side walk the wicked, when vile men are high in place. PARALLEL PASSAGES. Ver. 4-Job xxi. 14, 15. Ver. 6-Ps. cxix. 140. PSALM XIII. THIS Psalm contains, in verses 1, 2, a complaint of the believer's suffering under a sense of the desertion of God. God thus endears his presence to his people by making them occasionally feel his absence. In verses 3, 4, he prays for the return of the light of God's countenance and an answer to his petition. How delightful to find prayer the channel of comfort in all circumstances. In 5, 6, he feels the revival of his graces in answer to his prayer, and breaks forth into songs of confidence and joy Seek, and ye shall find." 66 [WINDSOR.] 1 How long wilt thou forget me, Lord? shall it for ever be? O how long shall it be that thou wilt hide thy face from me? 2 How long take counsel in my soul, 3 O Lord my God, consider well, Mine eyes enlighten, lest the sleep 4 Lest that mine enemy should say, 5 But I have all my confidence. My heart within me shall rejoice 6 I will unto the Lord my God Because he hath his bounty shewn PARALLEL PASSAGES. Ver. 1-Ps. lxxxviii. 14. Ver. 3-Jerem. li. 39. PSALM XIV. THE believer looks on the character and conduct of the professing church, and finds it too extensively corrupt. In the world, he sees" that all flesh has corrupted its way," and is prepared from the whole review to conclude with the Apostle in the Romans, that "by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified," and to seek relief in that great salvation which is out of Zion. In verses 4, 5, 6, he declares the fear that fills the minds of the wicked when they come to know that God is with the "race of the just." "If God be for us, who can be against us?" David then looks forward, in verse 7, to the advent of the Messiah as the comfort of his people. "The fool says in his heart," i. e. "wishes." Let us welcome the Lord Jesus unto our hearts, that they may be freed from sin and sorrow, and rejoice with Jacob and with Israel. "Israel and Jacob" are names of the people of God, and "Zion" is the name of the church, either glorified or militant. [ ABRIDGE.] 1 THAT there is not a God, the fool, doth in his heart conclude: They are corrupt, their works are vile, 3 They altogether filthy are, 4 These workers of iniquity, That they my people eat as bread, 5 There fear'd they much, for God is with 6 You shame the counsel of the poor, because God is his trust. 7 Let Israel's help from Zion come; when back the Lord shall bring His captives, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall sing. PARALLEL PASSAGES. Ver. 3-Eph. ii. 3. Ver. 7-Rom. xi. 26. PSALM XV. THE Psalmist, as the voice of the whole church, convinced of sin and desert of death, puts the question-Who shall take possession for us of that holy place from which Adam and his offspring are exiles? The reply is,-That man whose heart is essentially pure, and whose life is an exact expression of it. Christ alone answers to this perfect portrait. Let us rejoice that he is, for us, entered into the holy of holies, to appear before God on our behalf. Knowing, moreover, that his features should be manifest in his church, let us pray for greater growth in grace and spiritualmindedness. In sitting down at the table of the Lord, let us examine ourselves by this Psalm. [ST. ANN'S.] 1 WITHIN thy tabernacle, Lord, 3 Who doth not slander with his tongue, Nor yet against his neighbour doth 4 In whose eyes vile men are despis'd; 5 His coin puts not to usury, PARALLEL PASSAGES. Ver. 1-Ps. xxiv. Ver. 5-2 Pet. i. 10. PSALM XVI, ACTs ii. 25, and Acts xiii., prove that the person who utters this Psalm is the Lord Jesus: indeed, the last two verses can be applied strictly to none else. But as we are united to Christ and members of his body, and fall asleep in the sure hope of a blessed resurrection, we may appropriate much of it to ourselves. In verses 1 to 4 there is, first, faith in God, as my God," and, se |