was that the saints of old lived "^ ; and thus must we live, even as our blessed Lord himself set us an example. If the world hear you inquirinjg:, Who will shew me any good ? and see you seeking it in the vanities of time and sense, will they not say,'that religion is an empty name, and that it can no more satisfy the soul than their vanities can do ? O give not reason for any sucli sentiment as this ! but let it be seen, that in having God for your por- tion, you have a good, which none can estimate but those who possess it, and which the whole world are unable either to diminish or augment '.]
" Heb. xi. 9, 10. ' Ps.. Ixxiii. 25.
cccxxxv.
Ps. xi. 1 — 7. In the Lord put I my trust: hoiu say ye to my soul, " Flee as a bird to your mountain : for, lo, the wicked lend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the zipright in heart : if the foundations be destroyed, ivhat can the righteous do P" The Lord is in his holy temple ; the Lord's throne is in heaven ; his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteoiit : but the wicked, and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth. Upon the ivicked he shall rain' snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest : this shall he the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness : his countenance doth behold the upright,^
THE Psalms are a rich repository of experimental knowledge. David, at the different periods of his life, was placed in almost every different situation in which a Believer, whether rich or poor, can be placed : and in these heavenly compositions he de- lineates all the workings of his heart. He introduces too the sentiments and conduct of the various per- sons who were accessary either to his troubles or his joys ; and thus sets before our eyes a compen- dium of all that is passing in the hearts of men throughout the world. When he penned this psalm, he was under persecution from Saul, who sought his
life,
* The three first verses of the psalm should be read as one conti- nued speech, just as they are heia printed ; then the force and spirit of the passage is made clear.