and there are nine words almost of the fame fig nification, Law, Statutes, Precept, Com*mandments, Teftimonies, Judgments, Word, "Righteoufnefs, Way," and but one fingle verse, where one or more of them are not found, and without any tautology. There is a great deal of art in repeating the fame words fo often, with fo much variation of fenfe.

CXX. A Song of Excellencies, fung upon the fteps leading up to the Temple on feftivals and holy days, defcriptive of the fufferings and distress they had endured in Babylon, and a prayer fuited to their fituation. This Pfalm and the fourteen following are called fongs of degrees.

CXXI. A Pfalm compofed by David during Abfalom's rebellion. David fung himself the two firft verfes, and the People all burft forth and chanted the remainder,

CXXII. Compofed for the Sabbath or folemn Feasts, and used by those who visited the Ark, David expreffes his devout joy at the fettlemen of it.

CXXIII. One of David's firft Pfalms when the Ifraelites were without fword or fpear, wrote under oppreffion and in the deepeft diftrefs.

The

The Evangelift St. Luke recommends it as a model of patience, and perfeverance in prayer.

CXXIV. A commemoration of fome fignal victory and providential escape, supposed to be by thunder and lightning. The Pfalmifts extreme danger is beautifully figured by the greedy fwallow of a wild beaft, and by drowning.

CXXV. On the arrival of the Affyrian Monarch before Jerufalem. Hezekiah applied to the Prophet Isaiah, and these words fo elegant fublime and poetical were dictated by the Prophet himself. The Safety of all those who truft in God..

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CXXVI. Ezra's Hymn of encouragement on the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon. The benefit of afflictions experienced afterwards. They who fow in tears "fhall reap in joy. He who goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious feed, shall doubtlefs come again rejoicing, bringing his fheaves "with him.”

CXXVII. A Pfalm of Solomon's, founded on a pious maxim.

"A man's heart devifeth his way, but the "Lord directeth his fteps." Written when he was planning the building of the Temple. CXXVIII.

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CXXVIII.

A celebrated Marriage Ode.

A Song of Solomon's, harmonious and in high efteem. A gradual rife of bleffings.

CXXIX. By Ezra, on the threatnings and combinations of the neighbouring flates oppofing their rebuilding Jerufalem.

CXXX. A Pfalm of David under the rebukes of his confcience, and the dread of having offended God. A folemn and devout addrefs for forgiveness.

CXXXI. Under the malicious reports of his afpiring to the Throne, during the life time of Saul, David wrote this folemn appeal and answer to his accufers.

CXXXII. A Pfalm of Solomon's on his removal of the Ark. He appointed it as a fet form of prayer in the Temple, and it is a Prophefy of Samuel's.†

CXXXIII. On the union of the houses of Ifrael and Judah, under David, and a great animosity subsisting among the Tribes at Abfalom's death, David re-publifhed this fhort exhortation to unity and brotherly love.

+ 2 Samuel vii. v. xii.

CXXXIV. A

CXXXIV. A Levite's Hymn, fung on shutting the gates of the Temple, recommending vigilance and a pious difcharge of duty. The two first verses were fung by the People, and the laft is a Levite's anfwer.

CXXXV. A Morning Hymn, fung by thofe who flept in the Temple, on the first opening of the gates.

CXXXVI. A part of the daily fervice of the Temple. A commemoration of the attributes of God. All of them fubjects of devout praise and thanksgiving, but his mercy and goodness more particularly, hence the elegant conclufion of every verse," for his mercy endureth for ever."

This was David's own adding, and it was rehearfed and fung in the fame manner by Solomon, Jehofophat, and others.

CXXXVII. A Pfalm wrote by the Prophet Jeremiah for the ufe of thofe who were going into captivity. A beautiful and moft pathetic compofition. A citizen of Jerufalem reprefented as banished to Babylon, fitting mournfully by the river fide, and looking towards his dear Country. His new mafters afk of him a fong and a tune on his harp, the Jew with indignation and grief, cries out, how fhall I fing the Lord's fong

in

in a strange land, and then tenderly burfts out. "If I forget thee, O' Jerufalem, let my right hand forget her cunning, if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth."

CXXXVIII. Compofed by David foon after his afcenfion, an acknowledgment of God's goodness in advancing him to the Throne, from fcenes of perfecution and deep diftrefs. The Prophets Haggai and Zachariah introduced it into the fervice of the Templé, after the captivity.

CXXXIX. Defervedly esteemed the moft interefting, noble, and fublime of all the Book of Pfalms. David wrote it as a full answer to the afperfions on his character. A ferious and very folemn appeal to God. It begins with an awful furvey of his Omnifcience, the nobleft fublime and most elevated ftrain of thought is then purfued.

Our Actions, Thoughts, whole Life, naked and open to the view of God. Afar off before I can conceive or form a thought, thou knoweft it, my fecret whisper, and all my meaning, before my tongue can utter it.

From fuch power or knowledge, whither can I flee? The wings of the morning, the Sun beams