can read deliberately, without fome tender emotion, he must be either very proud of himself, or very infenfible of the divine Goodnefs and Greatnefs. Bless the Lord, O my Soul; -for He fendeth the Springs into the Vallies which run amongst the Hills; and why? that All the BEASTS of the Field may drink thereof; and the Wild ASSES quench their. thirst; and that the FOWLS of the Air may have their Habitation in the Trees nourished by their moisture, and fing and chirp among the branches. He watereth the Hills from his chambers above; and the Earth is fatisfied with the fruit of his works; and why? Because it brings forth Grafs for the CATTLE as well as Herb for the fervice of Man. The Trees of the Lord are * full, even the tall Cedars of Libanus which He hath + planted: To what purpose ? Only to please the eye of Man, or to afford him timber for his houfe, and a fhelter from the ftorm? The Pfalmift affigns another reason, that the BIRDS * In both our tranflations it is rendered Full of Sap, but I have here omitted of Sap, because it is not in the Hebrew. The word. IShBOU denotes Fulness in general; and in its extent it means not only fulness of fap, but likewife fulness as to Growth, Height, Leaves, Fruits, and Branches, and whatever might contribute to render the Trees more. ufeful and convenient to their inhabitants. Thofe Trees are faid to be the Trees of the LORD, and planted by Him, which grow of themselves, without the Art and Care of Men. might there make their Nefts; and as for the STORK, the Fir-Trees are her Houfe. Let us next furvey the high Hills, and the craggy Mountains and Rocks inacceffible to Men, and dangerous for us to climb; yet they are not without ufe, or inhabitant; for, The high Hills are a Refuge for the Wild GOATS; and the ftony Rocks are a Retreat and Habitation for the CONIES, a weak and timorous race of animals which could hardly be safe in more frequented places; and concerning whom Agur in the book of * Proverbs makes the like obfervation, that as they are but a feeble Folk, they make their Houfes in the Rocks. The Pfalmift then proceeds to * Prov. xxx. 26. con contemplate the good Providence of GOD both to Man and Beast, in appointing the darkness of the Night, as the most convenient season, for the Wild BEASTS of the Foreft to move and creep forth, when they can be the least obnoxious unto Men: for, Then do the LIONS roar after their Prey, and feek their Meat from GOD. And having fulfilled their pleasure and appointed task in devouring the dead bodies of animals, which, for want of fuch Scavengers, would probably infect the air and render it offenfive and unwholefome; when the Sun arifeth, they get them away together, and lay them down in their Dens, that they may be no obstruction to the induftrious MAN, who goeth forth forth in fafety to his work and to his labour, until the Evening, when the Wild Beafts fally forth again. Struck with a just sense and reverential awe of the Wisdom and Goodnefs of the Great Creator, the enraptured Pfalmift cannot refrain from bursting out in accents of Love and Admiration.— O LORD, how manifold are Thy Works; in Wisdom haft Thou made them all: The EARTH is full of thy Riches. And not only the Earth and Air, but SO alfo is the Great and Wide SEA, where the LEVIATHAN taketh his paftime, and wherein are Things Moving innumerable both Small and great * LIVING CREA TURES. *As Beast in our language denotes a land animal, and the fubjects in this place are water |