Gods." Then, without fear of contradiction, I will pronounce you happy ; and if, in reference to earthly comforts, I must qualify my language, when I say, " happy are the people which are in such a case," I will, in the broadest and most unqualified terms, say, in reference to you, " Happy is the people whose God is the Lord."]
s Ps. lxiii. 1.
Ps. cxlv. 1, 2. I will extol thee, my God, 0 King : and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
THIS is one of the psalms, the verses of which suc- cessively begin with the different letters of the alpha- bet : and it is one in which (as in the five that follow it) there is nothing but uninterrupted praise and thanksgiving. It is as fine an exhibition of a spiritual frame of mind as any that can be found in all the Holy Scriptures : and we suppose, it is on that ac- count that it was appointed by the Church to be read on Whit-Sunday, when the descent of the Holy Spirit, and his influence on the minds of the first Christians, are particularly commemorated. The subject con- tained it has so much of unity, that the whole of it may not unprofitably be brought under our review. In it we observe the disposition of David's mind to- wards God. He determined to praise God himself, and he wished all others to praise him also. On this he speaks with fixedness of mind, to the same effect as in another psalm, " My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise3." He re- gards the Messiah as his " King," who justly claims this tribute at his hands : and he determines to pay it " daily," and to the latest hour of his life, yea, and " to all eternity " also in a better world. Every suc- ceeding generation of men he would wish to be occu- pied in that blessed employment ; and gladly would he lead the band, that all creation might join him in one universal chorus.
a Ps. lvii. 7.