PSALM XXXII.

THE 1st and 2d verses of this Psalm are explained by the apostle, Rom. iv. 6. as describing the blessedness of those to whom God imputeth the righteousness of the Messiah without their own works. The 3d, 4th, and 5th verses, parallel to Psal. xxxviii. 2. xxxix. 2. xl. 12. cii. 3-12. express the experience and behaviour of the Messiah himself, bearing, in patient sufferance and pain, the sins of his own elect, which he confessed as his own iniquities, (namely by imputation), till he bore them all for ever away in his own body on the accursed tree: so that they were not forgiven or remitted to him the SURETY, till they were blotted out and done away in his own blood.-The 6th verse shews the benefit from thence accruing to the people of God, viz. safety and access to God in all their tribulation, through which they pass into the kingdom, by that new and living way, which God hath consecrated for them through the veil, that is to say, the flesh of HIS SON. The 7th verse, compared with the marginal references,* denotes the personal confidence and hope of the Messiah himself, persevering in the doing and suffering of his Father's will, till he should bring judgment to victory, and, by his Father's love, be compassed evermore around with the whole multitude of his redeemed, singing songs of deliverance, Selah!-From the 8th verse to the end, the Psalm assumes the majesty of the One eternal divine Instructor, GOD. I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye,' &c.IS this language for David? or for any but the GOOD SHEPHERD of Israel alone? who can say, I lay down my life for my sheep, and I take it up again: I know my sheep, and am known of mine;

*Prose Psalms of the Bible.

they hear my voice, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.'

Here David, as th' apostle tells,
Describes the perfect blessedness
Of those whose guilt the Lord cancels,
Imputing perfect righteousness,
The very righteousness of God,
Without the works of man at all:
For Jesus bore his people's load,
And freed them from eternal thrall.

BLESSED is the man to whom
Is freely pardoned

All the transgression he hath done,
Whose sin is covered.

2 Bless'd is the man to whom the Lord
Imputeth not his sin,

And in whose sp'rit there is no guile,
Nor fraud is found therein.

3 When as I did refrain my speech,
And silent was my tongue,
My bones then waxed old, because
I roared all day long.

4

♦ For upon me both day and night
Thine hand did heavy lie,
So that my moisture turned is
In summer's drought thereby.

5 I thereupon have unto thee
My sin acknowledged,
And likewise mine iniquity
I have not covered:

I will confess unto the Lord
My trespasses, said I;

And of my sin thou freely didst
Forgive th' iniquity.

P

170

THE PSALMS,

6 For this shall ev'ry godly one

His prayer

make to thee;

In such a time he shall thee seek,
As found thou mayest be.

Surely, when floods of waters great
Do swell up to the brim,

They shall not overwhelm his soul,
Nor once come near to him.

7 Thou art my hiding-place, thou shalt
From trouble keep me free;
Thou with songs of deliverance
About shalt compass me.

8 I will instruct thee, and thee teach
The that thou shalt go;

way

And, with mine

eye upon

I will direction show.

thee set,

9 Then be not like the horse or mule, Which do not understand;

Whose mouth, lest they come near to thee,
A bridle must command.

10 Unto the man that wicked is
His sorrows shall abound;

But him that trusteth in the Lord
Mercy shall compass round.

11 Ye righteous, in the Lord be glad,
In him do ye rejoice:

All ye that upright are in heart,
For joy lift up your voice.

PSALM XXXIII.

THIS Psalm is spoken by no particular person, being a song of praise, ordained and given of the Holy Ghost to be sung, as all Psalms were appointed, unto God and our Father, in the name of the

Lord Jesus Christ, equally and universally by every individual of the whole innumerable multitale of all tongues, kindreds, nations, and languages, who believe on his name: so also the following, ri. N xxi. xxiv. and perhaps one full third more of the Psalms; which require only to be read, that they may be discovered. How blessed are they who have caught, or rather have been caught, by this spirit of praise! In due season they shall be caught up by their Lord to dwell with him in the third heavens, and shall descend no more.

Ye righteous, in the Lord exult;
Your proud insulters now insult;
Your King has conquer'd them for you :
O give your King the glory due;
In prostrate adoration, all,
Before his footstool lowly fall:
Your body, soul, and spirit too,
Are wholly to your Saviour due.

1 YE righteous, in the Lord rejoice ;
It comely is and right,

That upright men, with thankful voice,
Should praise the Lord of might.
2 Praise God with harp, and unto him
Sing with the psaltery;

Upon a ten-stringed instrument
Make ye sweet melody.

3 A new song to him sing, and play
With loud noise skilfully;

4 For right is God's word, all his works Are done in verity.

5 To judgment and to righteousness
A love he beareth still;

The loving-kindness of the Lord
The earth throughout doth fill.

6 The heavens by the word of God
Did their beginning take;

And by the breathing of his mouth
He all their hosts did make.

7 The waters of the seas he brings
Together as an heap;

And in storehouses, as it were,
He layeth up the deep.

8 Let earth, and all that live therein,
With rev'rence, fear the Lord;
Let all the world's inhabitants
Dread him with one accord.
9 For he did speak the word, and done
It was without delay;
Established it firmly stood,
Whatever he did say.

10 God doth the counsel bring to nought
Which heathen folk do take ;

And what the people do devise
Of none effect doth make.

-11 O but the counsel of the Lord
Doth stand for ever sure;
And of his heart the purposes
From age to age endure.

12 That nation blessed is, whose God -
JEHOVAH is, and those

A blessed people are, whom for
His heritage he chose.

13 The Lord from heav'n sees and beholds All sons of men full well :

14 He views all from his dwelling-place That in the earth do dwell.

15 He forms their hearts alike, and all Their doings he observes.

16 Great hosts save not a king, much strength No mighty man preserves.

17 An horse for preservation Is a deceitful thing;