MORNING PRAYER.-THE FIRST DAY.

Pfalm i. Beatus vir, qui non abiit.

LESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counfel of the ungodly, nor ftood in the way of finners and hath not fat in the feat of the fcornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law will he exercife himfelf day and night.

3 And he fhall be like a tree planted by the waterfide: that will bring forth his fruit in due season.

The Pfalter] This verfion is that of the Great Bible, (vide the intro duction) made in the reign of Henry VIII. The Great Bible, or the Bible of the larger volume, is the tranflation made by Coverdale, and revifed by Cranmer. The tranflation of the Palms in James the Ift's reign (which we have in our prefent Bible) is by no means fo accurate or beautiful as that retained in our prayer-books.

David]"This great man was endued by nature with every talent requifite for the compofitions before us: undaunted courage, invincible fortitude, quick difcernment, ftrong paffions, unaffected piety, accompanied with a fublinie genius, and the fineft flow of Oriental eloquence. Nor was he lefs adapted by the varieties of life. His education as a fhep herd fupplied him with thofe beautiful images of nature, fo plentifully fcattered through his works; and the dangers he cfcaped when perfecuted by Saul, confirmed his reliance on the Almighty. His profperity at the beginning of his reign fupplied him with the nobleft topics for a grate ful heart; and when he incurred the heavy anger of God by the mott heinous crimes, his penitence and refignation are no less instructive leffons to every pious believer."

Pfalmi. The fubject of this pfalm is the different fate of the righteous and the wicked in this world and the next.

1. The fcornful Thofe who vainly thought that. their wickednefs would not be punished. "Hear the word of the Lord,ye fcornful men," who have faid, "when the overflowing fcourge fhall pafs through, it fhall not come unto us, for we have made lies our refuge." If. xxviii. 14. 3. Like a tree planted by the water fide] In this country we cannot judge of the effects of exceffive drought on one hand, nor of feafonable moisture on the other. A tree planted by the river's fide affords to us but a faint emblem of profperity; but in the Eaft, rivers are not fo frequently found, and the luxuriancy of the vegetation, where they are, is oppofed to its parched fate, where there is no water.

4 His leaf alfo fhall not wither: and look, whatfoever he doeth, it fhall profper.

5 As for the ungodly, it is not fo with them: but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth.

6 Therefore the ungodly fhall not be able to stand in the judgment: neither the finners in the congregation of the righteous.

7 But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; and the way of the ungodly fhall perish.

WHY

Pfalm ii. Quare fremuerunt gentes?

HY do the heathen fo furiously rage together: and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together: against the Lord, and against his Anointed.

3 Let us break their bonds afunder: and caft away their cords from us.

4 He that dwelleth in heaven fhall laugh them to fcorn: the Lord fhall have them in derifion.

5 Then fhall he speak unto them in his wrath: and vex them in his fore difpleasure.

6 Yet have I fet my King: upon my holy hill of Sion. 7 I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath faid unto me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

8 Defire of me, and I fhall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance: and the utmost parts of the earth for thy poffeffion.

9 Thou fhall bruise them with a rod of iron: and break them in pieces like a potter's veffel.

10 Be wife now therefore, O ye kings: be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord in fear and rejoice unto him with reverence.

6 Knoweth] Approveth.

Pfalm ii. It feems as if this pfalm was written foon after David had afcended the throne. "When the Philiftines heard that they had anointed David king over Ifrael, all the Philiftines came up to to feek David." 2 Sam. ii. 17. It relates alfo prophetically to the Meffiah, and is applied to him, Acts. iv. 25, 26, 27; and by the ancient Jewish writers.

12 Kifs the Son, left he be angry, and fo ye perish from the right way if his wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little) bleffed are all they that put their trust in him.

Pfalm iii. Domine, quid multiplicati?

LORD, how are they increased that trouble me: many are they that rife against me.

2 Many one there be that fay of my foul: there is no help for him in his God.

3 But thou, O Lord, art my defender: thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.

4 I did call upon the Lord with my voice: and he heard me out of his holy hill.

5 I laid me down and flept, and rofe up again: for the Lord fuftained me.

6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people: that have fet themselves against me round about.

7 Up, Lord, and help me, O my God: for thou fmiteft all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone; thou haft broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord and thy blef fing is upon thy people.

Pfalm iv. Cum invocarem.

EAR me when I call, O God of my righteoufnefs: thou haft fet me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. 2 O ye fons of men, how long will ye blafpheme mine honour and have fuch pleasure in vanity, and feek after leafing?

3 Know this alfo, that the Lord hath chofen to him. felf the man that is godly: when I call upon the Lord he will hear me.

12 Kifs the Son] Worship, or reverence the Son.

Pfalm iii.] This pfalm was compofed, it is thought, when David fled from his fon Abfalom. 2 Sam. xv. 6.

Plaim iv.] The occafion of this pfalm was the fame as that of the preceding, or fimilar to it. But as fome deliverance is described, and as the train of the pfalm is that of thanksgiving, the danger muft not have been near, as in the rebellion of Abfalom.

2 Leafing] Falfe fpeaking.

4 Stand in awe, and fin not: commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be ftill.

5 Offer the facrifice of righteoufnefs: and put your

truft in the Lord.

6 There be many that fay: Who will fhew us any good?

7 Lord, lift thou up: the light of thy countenance upon us.

8 Thou haft put gladnefs in my heart: fince the time that their corn, and wine, and oil, increased.

9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my reft: for it is thou, Lord, only that makeft me dwell in fafety. Pfalm v. Verba mea auribus.

PONDER my words, O Lord: confider my medita

tion.

2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King and my God: for unto thee will I make my prayer.

3 My voice fhalt thou hear betimes, O Lord: early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4 For thou art the God that haft no pleasure in wickednefs: neither thall any evil dwell with thee.

5 Such as be foolish fhall not ftand in thy fight; for thou hateft all them that work vanity.

6 Thou shalt deftroy them that fpeak leafing the Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thine houfe, even upon the multitude of thy mercy and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteoufnefs, because of mine enemies: make thy way plain before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in his mouth: their inward parts are very wickedness.

8. Corn and wine increafed]. The joy in harveft fignifies the greateft degree of joy. Famines in the Eaft were more common than in this country. Not only unfavourable feafons, but locufts, and even enemics deftroyed the produce of the ground.-It fhould not have been tranflated fince, but more than in the time that their corn, &c.

Pfalm v.] David here prays for affiftance in his diftrefs. His enemies were the fame perfons of whom he complains in the third pfalm.

10 Their throat is an open fepulchre: they flatter

with their tongue.

II Destroy thou them, O God; let them perish through their own imaginations: caft them out in the multitude of their ungodlinefs; for they have rebelled against thee.

12 And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: they fhall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendeft them; they that love thy Name fhall be joyful in thee;

13 For thou, Lord, wilt give thy bleffing unto the righteous and with thy favourable kindnefs wilt thou defend him as with a fhield.

EVENING PRAYER.

Pfalm vi. Domine, ne in furore.

Lord, rebuke me not in thine indignation: neither chaften me in thy displeasure.

2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed.

3 My foul alfo is fore troubled: but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me?

4 Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my foul: O fave me for thy mercy's fake;

5

For in death no man remembereth thee: and who will give thee thanks in the pit?

6 I am weary of my groaning; every night wash I my bed and water my couch with my tears.

7 My beauty is gone for very trouble: and worn away because of all mine enemies.

8 Away from me, all ye that work vanity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

Pfalm vi.] This is the first of the penitentiary pfalms, as they are called.

2 My bones are vexed] This verfe contains the doleful description of one who had "committed fome wafting fin, and being caft down under God's punishments for it, is paffionately fuing out God's pardon, the only means pofible to recover or heal him again."

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