Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

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 answer.

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 use of those 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 bursts 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 scenes of perfecution and deep diftrefs. The Prophets Haggai and Zachariah introduced it into the fervice of the Temple, 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

( 205 )
205)

in point of swiftness avail me nothing, thy fwifter hand would firft arrive, and arreft me every where, in Heaven above or Hell below.

Darkness is no veil or covering, with equal cafe, the eye of God pervades the darkest medium or the brightest, and seeing me (when yet as it were, there was none of me) now formed and made up of flesh and bone, much more O' God muft thou fee me and know me, fince thou haft not only made me and fashioned me, but by thy right hand hath led me, and to the present moment upheld, conducted and difpofed of me. Good God! how penetrating? how incompre henfible?

CXL. A Pfalm under Saul's perfecution, the calumnies of Doeg, and the treachery of the Ziphites. In grateful remembrance of God's deliverance, David appointed it to be fung and publickly rehearfed on his acceffion.

CXLI. A Pfalm of David, compofed the, night before his flight to Achifh, King of Gath, after the bloody flaughter of Ahimelec and his Priests praying for Caution, Prudence, and Preservation amidst the idolatries of the Philiftines.

CXLII. An earnest and devout fupplication to God in deep diftrefs, when David was shut up

and

2

and concealed in the cave of Engedi. The filent workings of his mind when his Safety depended. on his ftillness.

CXLIII. The laft of David's Penitential Pfalms, expreffing the ftrongest fenfe and indignation against guilt, and very pathetic expoftulations with God, when he was on his flight from Abfalom and paffing over Jordan by night.

CXLIV. A grateful commemoration of a victory over the Philiftines foon after David's acceffion.

CXLV. A very elegant Pfalm of praife and thanksgiving. The Jews were fo fond of this devout and very beautiful ode, that they befieved every one who would repeat it three times every day, would be inhabitants of the Heavenly Canaan,

CXLVI. A Pfalm compofed by fome pious. Jew after the captivity. One from experience taught, not to put his truft in Princes. In order to elevate the Minds of the Singers to the highest pitch of joy and rapture, it ends with Halelujah-Praise ye the Lord.

CXLVII.

CXLVII. National thanksgivings to God, for the revelation of his will and for his excellent Laws, by Nehemiah, fung at the new dedication of the fecond Temple.

CXLVIII. A lively animated Invocation on all Creatures individually to worship God their Creator. Ideas enchantingly pleafing, glowing with holy rapture and pure devotion. A Pfalm of David, wrote in the most flourishing state of his Kingdom, perfonal Thankgivings too inadequate to the divine bleffings he enjoyed. All Creation is fummoned forth to join him.

CXLIX. CL. Magnificent Commemorations of Signal Victories, and Military Odes, fung before engagements, and during their marches.

Befides these Pfalms, one more is faid to be wrote by David, very young, on his encounter with Goliah.

1. "I WAS small, the leaft among my Brethren, "The youngest in my Father's house.

2. "My hands made an Organ,

"And my Fingers tuned the Harp.

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »