God be removed from us, in our individual capacity at least, if not collectively as a nation : and, at all events, his eternal judgments shall be averted from us, and all the blessings of his covenant be our ever- lasting portion. This is the plague which, after all, we are most interested in removing, even " the plague of our own hearts ; " and this once removed by faith in the Lord Jesus, and by the influences of his Spirit, we shall have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and stand accepted of our God for ever and ever.
Ps. cvi. 48. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlast- ing to everlasting ! and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord !
WE find in the world almost an universal preju- dice against religion, as a source of melancholy. And more especially if the wickedness of man be portrayed in very deep colours, it is supposed that we shall drive all our hearers to despair. But where shall we find the sins of Israel more awfully depicted, than in the psalm before us ? Yet, how is it closed ? with weepings and with wailings ? No : but with as devout an ascription of praise as is to be found in all the inspired volume. The truth is, that nothing so elevates the soul as a contrasted view of God's mercies and our own vileness : and no man will build so high a superstructure of praise, as he who digs deepest into the corruptions of his own heart, and lays his foundation broadest on God's sovereign grace in Christ Jesus. Behold, then, I pray you, I. The ebullition of heart here manifested !
What is it that the Psalmist has been contem- plating 1
[He give us, in the psalm, an epitome of the conduct of all Israel, from the time of their coming out of Egypt to the time of David a. He mentions their provoking of God at the Red Sea, their lusting after sensual gratifications, their mutinying
a See 1 Chron. xvi. 35, 36.