what he abhors. For instance ; A persuasion that we are God's elect people, and that we are in no danger of perishing, is recommended by many as the root and summit of Christian faith ; whilst a fear lest we should hav^e deceived ourselves, or should ulti- mately perish, is characterized as an evil heart of un- belief: and thus, a godly jealousy over ourselves is discouraged as a sin, and an unfounded confidence respecting our state is encouraged as a virtue. These mistakes arise partly from a blind following of human authorities, and partly from being confined by the trammels of human systems. To have just views on these subjects is of great importance both for Mini- sters and people; for Ministers, that they may know how to discriminate between good and evil in their flocks; and to the people, that they may form such an estimate of themselves as God himself forms of them.
The psalm before us will afford us an occasion for marking the distinctions which we conceive to be so eminently useful, and yet so generally wanted. It is said in the title to have been written at the dedi- cation of David's house : but we apprehend it was rather at the second dedication of it, after it had been shamefully defiled by Absalom. To this period of time, rather than to any other, we are directed by many parts of the psalm. It should seem that about that time the prosperity of David had lulled him into a state of undue security ; and that God sent him this affliction to rouse him from it. The successive frames of his mind are here clearly marked ; and must successively be considered as they are here presented to our view :
I. His carnal security —
[There being to all appearance perfect tranquillity in his kingdom, David conceived that no evil could arise to disturb his repose: and it seems that a similar confidence was also indulged by him in reference to his spiritual enemies. This is indeed the common effect of long-continued prosperity : but it is a state of mind highly displeasing to God We are dependent creatures ; and ought at all times to feel, that whatever we have, whether of a temporal or spiritual nature, is but lent to us from hour to
hour.