fufferer with the fure hopes that obedience and patient fubmiffion muft neceffarily end in happinefs. The Profperity of the wicked however flattering vanishes and is often reverfed.

Every other verfe begins fucceffively with the letters of the alphabet.

XXXVIII. Expreffes his very deplorable condition, his extreme mifery, and fincere repentance. It is called a Pfalm of remembrance, wherein he reprefents the deep diftrefs he felt, on taking a review of paft iniquities during a prefent scene of grievous fufferings.

XXXIX. A Pfalm occafioned by fome diftrefs. which endangered his life, and led him to the many pathetic and elegant reflections on the vanity and fhortnefs of human life, which are here expreffed.

XL. Devout expreffions of gratitude for fome extraordinary bleffings, and most faithful promifes of obedience in return. The Apostle Paul writing to the Jews endeavours from this very Pfalm to convince them of the defectiveness of the Mofaic offerings for fin, and the neceffity of the propitiatory Sacrifice of Christ.

XLI. This elegant addrefs to the feelings con cludes the firft Book of the Pfalms.

The bleffednefs of thofe who confider the poor. It is faid to have been compofed during Abfalom's infurrection. The virtue is warmly recommended to univerfal practice, and David afcribes his own deliverance and preservation, folely to the benevolence of the Supreme Being.

XLII. XLIII. More Pfalms during Abfalom's infurrection when David was driven from Jerufalem, and banished from the houfe of God on Mount Sion.

The fluctuations of hope and defpondency are defcribed with all the charms of poetry, and with all the pathos of diftrefs. Defpair is contrafted with hope throughout, but the Pfalmift elegantly concludes with a repetition in favour of the afcendency of hope.

Hope thou in God, for I fhall yet praise him, he is the health of my countenance and my "God" Difregard to method is beautifully expreffive of his forrow.

XLIV. Is a Pfalm wrote long after David's death by fome Prophet, when the church was in extreme mifery, and alludes to the oppreffion and fufferings of the Jews under the Moabites,

Canaanites

Canaanites and Philiftines, who as their Lords and Conquerors impofed upon them Idolatry.

XLV A Song of Loves. A chofen band of Virgins affembled, and encircled the bride at the Jewish marriages, finging a Hymn or Anthem in honour of her efpoufals. This is faid to be the ode rehearfed at the celebration of Solomon's marriage with Pharoah's Daughter Queen Shulamite, the ideas pleasingly allude to fome happy marriage.

XLVI. An elegant and triumphal ode ou the bleffings of peace, compofed by David after fome fignal victory over Syria, when he poffeffed himself of their chariots and made the Kingdom tributary.

XLVII. A Hymn of great joy, fung before the Ark.

XLVIII. A defcription and eulogium, on the celebrated City of Jerufalem, when in its higheft glory, the magnificent Temple on Mount Moriah, the Palace called Lebanon Grove, because all of Cedar, Solomon's fumptuous porch and feat of judgment, and Millo a spacious beautiful fquare where the People met on feftivals and days of rejoicing, fome have reprefented it as com

mencing

mencing from the fteps of the Palace, and ending on Mount Moriah, in full view of an Edifice, the ornament and glory of a World.

XLIX. The Pfalmift in this compofition has made ufe of every art to improve and ennoble his fubject. The highest wisdom was fuppofed to confift in discovering the myfterious meaning of a parable or riddle; in order to excite the greater attention he tells you, he inclines his ear to a parable, and opens his dark faying on the harp, and then burfts forth into an hiftorical commemoration of God's mercies to his People and the wifeft inftructions.

L. Afaph compofed this Pfalm, probably a contemporary with Jehofophat or Hezekiah.

It is highly inftructive and full of Majefty, a Tribunal is erected, the Judge on the Bench, Witnefles and Delinquents fummoned, fentence is pronounced, the moft animated ftriking and awful expoftulation and fpeech from the Judge, furpaffing all defcription. The cattle on a thousand hills, fhould be, the cattle of the owners of a thousand hills, are mine,

LI. A very affecting penitential Pfalm, wrote under the emotions excited by the Prophet Nathan's reproof, a moft excellent model of felfabasement

abasement, teaching us in what manner we ought to lament our fins, ftrongly painting a wounded confcience, heartfelt anguish and poignant grief. David arrayed his fack-cloth in the deepest mourning, thus diftinguished himself, and attended in perfon at its rehearsal.

LII. On Doeg's fpiteful information, which caused the High Priefts Death and four-fcore others. Doeg was himself the Executioner. After the accufation in the fourth verfe, the Apoftrophe is strikingly beautiful, and the fentiment very wife and inftru&tive. A Tyrant glorying in mifchief, glories in difgrace, in the fame proportion as he departs from virtue, he leffens worth of character and true dignity. The ftory is recorded in the firft Book of Samuel,* and exhibits the fad confequences enfuing from the change of Government and their rejecting God.

The Priefts were now deftroyed and none to attend the Ark, a fulfilling of the Prophefy which foretold the deftruction of Eli's houfe in one day.

LIII. This Pfalm is almoft word for word as the fourteenth. A little variation feems made to accommodate it to the prefent occafion, which was Achitrophel's very artful, but cruel advice

Samuel xxii. 1X.

to