rupt; litcrnlly, they (Ul"e cormpte~. them- plundered e.ncl despoiled nro compared to srll'es (comp. Gen. v1. 12; Judg. 11. 19). "bread" in Numb. xiv. 2. The Homerio Thl'ir ntheism is nrcompanied by deep 8r,µo/3&por /3111T1>..,os, ndduced by Dr. Kny, is mornl corruption. ·w o have no rigl1t to say nu instance of the same metaphor. And tl11it this is nl wnys so; but the tendency of call not upon the Lord. Thie might hn'l'e ntllC'ism to rcl11x moral restraints is in<lis- seemed scarcely to need mention, since Jmt.~blc. They have done abo:ninable wol'ks "how sho.ll they call on him in whom (c"mp. vers. 3 and 4). Thero is none that tboy have not believed?" (Ilom. x. 14). doath good; i.e. none among them. Tho Ilut it connects them definitely with the psalmist does not intend his words to apply atheists of ver. 1. t.o tbe whole lrnman raco. He has in his Ver. 5.-There were they in great fee.r. mind a "righteous generation" (,:er. 5), "There "-in tho midst of their evil-doiug, "God's people" (ver. 4), whom he sets while they e.re devouring God's people-a over against the wicked, both in this psalm sudden terror seizes on them. Pa. !iii. 5 and elsewhere universally (see Pss. i. 1-3; adds, "Whore no fen.r was," which seems ii. 12; iii. 8; iv. 3, etc.). to imply a panio terror, like that which Ver. 2.-The Lord loo1!:ed down from seized the Syrians when thq were besieg- htavcn upon the childran of men. O:,r- ing S,imaria (2 Kings vii 6, 7). For God is ruption ha,:ing reached such a height a.sit in the generation of the righteous. God's had, God i, represented ns looking down people cannot be attacked without provok- from heaven witb. a epeci;\l object-to see if ing him; they ere in him, and he in them; there were any that did understand, and he will assuredly come to their relief. 6eek God. To see, i.e., if among the crowd Ver. 6.-Ye have shamed the counsel of of the "abominable " doers spoken of in the poor, because the Lord is his Refuge. ver. 1 there were any of a better spirit, and The eense is obscure. Some translate," Ye poi!Bessed of understandiug, and willing to may shame the counsel of the poor (i.e. seek after God. But it was in vain. The re- put it to shame, bafile it); but in i•ain; sult of his scrutiny appears in the next verse. for tbe poor have a sure Refuge," and the Ver. 3.-They are all gone aside. Bac- ultimate triumph will belong to them. eol (1,:i.:I), "the totality "-one and nil of Others, "Ye pour contempt on the. poor them had turned o.side. like the Israelites man's counsel," or "resolve," because "the e.t Sinai (Exod. x=ii. 8); they had quitted Lord ie his Refuge;" i.e. ye contemn it, and the way of righteousness, and turned to deride it, just because it rests wholly on 11, wicked courses. The expression "denotes belief in God, which you regard as folly a general-all but univereal-corruption" (eee ver. 1). (' Speaker's Commentary'). They are all Ver. 7.-0h that tha salvation of Israel together become filthy; literally, Bour, rancid were come out of Zion I The snlvation of -like milk thl1t has turned, or bntter that the "righteous generation" (ver. 5), the has become bad. There is no!le that doeth "true Isr11el," is sure to come. Oh tlint it good, no, not o:ia. St. Panl'e application were come alrearly I It will proceed "ont of this passage (Rom. iii. 10-12), to prove of Zion," since God's No.me is set there. 1.he.t "all have sinned, and corne short of The ark of the covenant had been already the glory of God" (ver. 23), goes beyond set up in the place which it wo.s thenceforth the intention of the psalmist. to occupy (see 2 Sam. vi. 12-17). David'~ Ver. 4.-Have all the workers ot iniqnity reign in Jerusalem is begun. When the no knowledge 1 The exclamation is put in Lord bringeth back the captivity of his the 11Jouth of God. Can it be possible that peo;,le; either, 1chen the Lord turneth the ill none of these evil-doers is aware of the fortune of his people, or, uhen the Lord re- resultR of evil-doing? Do they think to turneth to the captivity of hiA people; i.e. when escape Divine retribution? The "wonder he no longer turns awe.y from their sufferings expn sscs the magnitu,le of their folly" e.n,l afflictions, but turns towar,ls them, nD<l (Heng.ten berg). Who eat up my people as ]Hte up tho light of hie countenance upon they eat bread. Reducing men to poverty, them, then Jacob shall rejoioe, nnd Isrnel robbing them, and devouring their sub- shall be glad. (For the uuion of these two stance, is called, in Scripture, devouring names, see Pse. lxxviii. 21, 71; cv. 23; cxxxv. tbe men themsi,lves (see Prov. xxx. 14; 4-, etc.) God's people she.II celebrate thoir Isa. iii. 14; Micah iii. 3). Those who are deliverance with a psalm of thanksgiving.
HOMILETICS. Vor. 1.-Tlie foo'l's creed, and its consequences. "Tho fool hath said," etc. Thie ift V<'ry plain speaking. Bible writers are not wont to wrap their meanin~ in soft phrases. 'l'hey utter truth in words clear as sunbeams, keen as lightning. 'l'hie word "fool" rs. XIV, 1-7.J THE BOOK OF PSALMS.