of his. When we can explore the heights and depths of the Redeemer's love, or count the unsearchable riches of his grace, then may we limit our exertions according to the scale which we may derive from them : but, if they surpass all the powers of language or of thought, then may we take the hunted deer for our pattern, and never pause till we have attained the full fruition of our God.]
Ps. xliii. 5. Why art thou cast down, 0 my soulP and ivhy art thou disquieted within meP Hope in God ; for I shall yet praise Him, ivho is the health of my countenance, and my God.
IT has pleased God to suffer many of his most eminent servants to be in trouble, and to record their experience for our benefit, that we, when in similar circumstances, may know, that we are not walking in an untrodden path, and that we may see how to demean ourselves aright. The Psalmist was conversant with afflictions of every kind. In the preceding psalm, which seems to have been penned during his flight from Absalom, he gives us a very melancholy picture of his state : '' tears were his meat day and night, while his enemies gloried over him, and said continually, Where is now thy God^?" '* His soul was cast down within him:" for while "the waves and billows threatened to overwhelm him, the water-spouts threatened to burst upon him : so that deep called unto deep V' to effect his ruin ; and it seemed as if all the powers of heaven and earth were combined against him. In complaining of these things, he sometimes expostulates with God, "Why hast thou forgotten me'?" but at other times he checks himself, and, as it were, reproves his soul for its disquietude and despondency'^. The psalm before us was evidently written on the same
occasion :
» Ps. xlii. 3, 10.
'' ib. ver. 6, 7- Water-spouts are very formidable to mariners, be- cause if they burst over a ship, they will sink it instantly: and here they are represented as conspiring with the tempestuous ocean for his destruction. "^ ib. ver. C). '' ib. ver. 5, 11.