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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms, Introduction].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR>
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<P><FONT SIZE=+3>Psalms</FONT></P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD VALIGN=TOP>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19001.HTM">Psalm 1</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19002.HTM">Psalm 2</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19003.HTM">Psalm 3</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19004.HTM">Psalm 4</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19005.HTM">Psalm 5</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19006.HTM">Psalm 6</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19007.HTM">Psalm 7</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19008.HTM">Psalm 8</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19009.HTM">Psalm 9</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19010.HTM">Psalm 10</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19011.HTM">Psalm 11</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19012.HTM">Psalm 12</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19013.HTM">Psalm 13</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19014.HTM">Psalm 14</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19015.HTM">Psalm 15</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19016.HTM">Psalm 16</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19017.HTM">Psalm 17</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19018.HTM">Psalm 18</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19019.HTM">Psalm 19</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19020.HTM">Psalm 20</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19021.HTM">Psalm 21</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19022.HTM">Psalm 22</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19023.HTM">Psalm 23</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19024.HTM">Psalm 24</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19025.HTM">Psalm 25</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19026.HTM">Psalm 26</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19027.HTM">Psalm 27</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19028.HTM">Psalm 28</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19029.HTM">Psalm 29</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19030.HTM">Psalm 30</A>
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</TD>
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<TD VALIGN=TOP>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19031.HTM">Psalm 31</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19032.HTM">Psalm 32</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19033.HTM">Psalm 33</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19034.HTM">Psalm 34</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19035.HTM">Psalm 35</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19036.HTM">Psalm 36</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19037.HTM">Psalm 37</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19038.HTM">Psalm 38</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19039.HTM">Psalm 39</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19040.HTM">Psalm 40</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19041.HTM">Psalm 41</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19042.HTM">Psalm 42</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19043.HTM">Psalm 43</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19044.HTM">Psalm 44</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19045.HTM">Psalm 45</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19046.HTM">Psalm 46</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19047.HTM">Psalm 47</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19048.HTM">Psalm 48</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19049.HTM">Psalm 49</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19050.HTM">Psalm 50</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19051.HTM">Psalm 51</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19052.HTM">Psalm 52</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19053.HTM">Psalm 53</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19054.HTM">Psalm 54</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19055.HTM">Psalm 55</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19056.HTM">Psalm 56</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19057.HTM">Psalm 57</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19058.HTM">Psalm 58</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19059.HTM">Psalm 59</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19060.HTM">Psalm 60</A>
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</TD>
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<TD VALIGN=TOP>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19061.HTM">Psalm 61</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19062.HTM">Psalm 62</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19063.HTM">Psalm 63</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19064.HTM">Psalm 64</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19065.HTM">Psalm 65</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19066.HTM">Psalm 66</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19067.HTM">Psalm 67</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19068.HTM">Psalm 68</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19069.HTM">Psalm 69</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19070.HTM">Psalm 70</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19071.HTM">Psalm 71</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19072.HTM">Psalm 72</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19073.HTM">Psalm 73</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19074.HTM">Psalm 74</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19075.HTM">Psalm 75</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19076.HTM">Psalm 76</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19077.HTM">Psalm 77</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19078.HTM">Psalm 78</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19079.HTM">Psalm 79</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19080.HTM">Psalm 80</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19081.HTM">Psalm 81</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19082.HTM">Psalm 82</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19083.HTM">Psalm 83</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19084.HTM">Psalm 84</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19085.HTM">Psalm 85</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19086.HTM">Psalm 86</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19087.HTM">Psalm 87</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19088.HTM">Psalm 88</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19089.HTM">Psalm 89</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19090.HTM">Psalm 90</A>
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</TD>
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<TD VALIGN=TOP>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19091.HTM">Psalm 91</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19092.HTM">Psalm 92</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19093.HTM">Psalm 93</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19094.HTM">Psalm 94</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19095.HTM">Psalm 95</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19096.HTM">Psalm 96</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19097.HTM">Psalm 97</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19098.HTM">Psalm 98</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19099.HTM">Psalm 99</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19100.HTM">Psalm 100</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19101.HTM">Psalm 101</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19102.HTM">Psalm 102</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19103.HTM">Psalm 103</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19104.HTM">Psalm 104</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19105.HTM">Psalm 105</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19106.HTM">Psalm 106</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19107.HTM">Psalm 107</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19108.HTM">Psalm 108</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19109.HTM">Psalm 109</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19110.HTM">Psalm 110</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19111.HTM">Psalm 111</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19112.HTM">Psalm 112</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19113.HTM">Psalm 113</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19114.HTM">Psalm 114</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19115.HTM">Psalm 115</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19116.HTM">Psalm 116</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19117.HTM">Psalm 117</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19118.HTM">Psalm 118</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19119.HTM">Psalm 119</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19120.HTM">Psalm 120</A>
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</TD>
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<TD VALIGN=TOP>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19121.HTM">Psalm 121</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19122.HTM">Psalm 122</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19123.HTM">Psalm 123</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19124.HTM">Psalm 124</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19125.HTM">Psalm 125</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19126.HTM">Psalm 126</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19127.HTM">Psalm 127</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19128.HTM">Psalm 128</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19129.HTM">Psalm 129</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19130.HTM">Psalm 130</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19131.HTM">Psalm 131</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19132.HTM">Psalm 132</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19133.HTM">Psalm 133</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19134.HTM">Psalm 134</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19135.HTM">Psalm 135</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19136.HTM">Psalm 136</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19137.HTM">Psalm 137</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19138.HTM">Psalm 138</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19139.HTM">Psalm 139</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19140.HTM">Psalm 140</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19141.HTM">Psalm 141</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19142.HTM">Psalm 142</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19143.HTM">Psalm 143</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19144.HTM">Psalm 144</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19145.HTM">Psalm 145</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19146.HTM">Psalm 146</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19147.HTM">Psalm 147</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19148.HTM">Psalm 148</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19149.HTM">Psalm 149</A>
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<LI><A HREF="MHC19150.HTM">Psalm 150</A>
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</TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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</CENTER>
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<BR>
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<HR>
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<A NAME="Page236"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<P><B>AN</B></P>
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<P><FONT SIZE=+2>EXPOSITION,</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT SIZE=+1>W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E R V A T I O N S,</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT SIZE=-1>OF THE BOOK OF</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S.</B></FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=150>
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</P></CENTER>
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<P>
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We have now before us one of the choicest and most excellent parts of
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all the Old Testament; nay, so much is there in it of Christ and his
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gospel, as well as of God and his law, that it had been called <I>the
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abstract,</I> or <I>summary, of both Testaments.</I> The History of
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Israel, which we were long upon, let us to camps and council-boards,
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and there entertained and instructed us in the knowledge of God. The
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book of Job brought us into the schools, and treated us with profitable
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disputations concerning God and his providence. But this book brings us
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into the sanctuary, draws us off from converse with men, with the
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politicians, philosophers, or disputers of this world, and directs us
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into communion with God, by solacing and reposing our souls in him,
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lifting up and letting out our hearts towards him. Thus may we be in
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the mount with God; and we understand not our interests if we say not,
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<I>It is good to be here.</I> Let us consider,</P>
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<P>
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I. The title of this book. It is called,
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1. The <I>Psalms;</I> under that title it is referred to,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:44">Luke xxiv. 44</A>.
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The Hebrew calls it <I>Tehillim,</I> which properly signifies <I>Psalms
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of praise,</I> because many of them are such; but <I>Psalms</I> is a
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more general word, meaning all metrical compositions fitted to be sung,
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which may as well be historical, doctrinal, or supplicatory, as
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laudatory. Though singing be properly the voice of joy, yet the
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intention of songs is of a much greater latitude, to assist the memory,
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and both to express and to excite all the other affections as well as
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this of joy. The priests had a mournful muse as well as joyful ones;
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and the divine institution of singing psalms is thus largely intended;
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for we are directed not only to praise God, but to teach and admonish
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ourselves and one another <I>in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual
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songs,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+3:16">Col. iii. 16</A>.
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2. It is called the <I>Book of Psalms;</I> so it is quoted by St.
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Peter,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:20">Acts i. 20</A>.
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It is a collection of psalms, of all the psalms that were divinely
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inspired, which, though composed at several times and upon several
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occasions, are here put together without any reference to or dependence
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upon one another; thus they were preserved from being scattered and
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lost, and were in so much greater readiness for the service of the
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church. See what a good master we serve, and what pleasantness there is
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in wisdom's ways, when we are not only commanded to sing at our work,
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and have cause enough given us to do so, but have words also put in our
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mouths and songs prepared to our hands.</P>
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<P>
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II. The author of this book. It is, no doubt, derived originally from
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the blessed Spirit. They are spiritual songs, words which the Holy
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Ghost taught. The penman of most of them was David the son of Jesse,
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who is therefore called the <I>sweet psalmist of Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+23:1">2 Sam. xxiii. 1</A>.
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Some that have not his name in their titles yet are expressly ascribed
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to him elsewhere, as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:1-12">Ps. ii</A>.
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:25">Acts iv. 25</A>)
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and
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:1-13">Ps. xcvi.</A>
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and
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+105:1-45">cv.</A>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+16:1-43">1 Chron. xvi.</A>)
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One psalm is expressly said to be <I>the prayer of Moses</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+90:1-17">Ps. xc.</A>);
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and that some of the psalms were penned by Asaph is intimated,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:30">2 Chron. xxix. 30</A>,
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where they are said to <I>praise the Lord in the words of David and
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Asaph</I>, who is there called a <I>seer</I> or <I>prophet.</I> Some of
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the psalms seem to have been penned long after, as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+137:1-9">Ps. cxxxvii.</A>,
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at the time of the captivity in Babylon; but the far greater part of
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them were certainly penned by David himself, whose genius lay towards
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poetry and music, and who was raised up, qualified, and animated, for
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the establishing of the ordinance of singing psalms in the church of
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God, as Moses and Aaron were, in their day, for the settling of the
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ordinances of sacrifice; theirs is superseded, but his remains, and
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will to the end of time, when it shall be swallowed up in the songs of
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eternity. Herein David was a type of Christ, who descended from him,
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not from Moses, because he came to take away sacrifice (the family of
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Moses was soon lost and extinct), but to establish and perpetuate joy
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and praise; for of the family of David in Christ there shall be no
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end.</P>
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<P>
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III. The scope of it. It is manifestly intended,
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1. To assist the exercises of natural religion, and to kindle in the
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souls of men those devout affections which we owe to God as our
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Creator, owner, ruler, and benefactor. The book of Job helps to prove
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our first principles of the divine perfections and providence; but this
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helps to improve them in prayers and praises, and professions of desire
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towards him, dependence on him, and an entire devotedness and
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resignation to him. Other parts of scripture show that God is
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infinitely above man, and his sovereign Lord; but this shows us that he
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may, notwithstanding, be conversed with by us sinful worms of the
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earth; and there are ways in which, if it be not our own fault, we may
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keep up communion with him in all the various conditions of human life.
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2. To advance the excellencies of revealed religion, and in the most
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pleasing powerful manner to recommend it to the world. There is indeed
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little or nothing of the ceremonial law in all the book of
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<I>Psalms.</I> Though sacrifice and offering were yet to continue many
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ages, yet they are here represented as things which God did not desire
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+40:6,51:16">Ps. xl. 6, li. 16</A>),
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as things comparatively little, and which in time were to vanish away.
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But the word and law of God, those parts of it which are moral and of
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perpetual obligation are here all along magnified and made honourable,
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nowhere more. And Christ, the crown and centre of revealed religion,
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the foundation, corner, and top-stone, of that blessed building, is
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here clearly spoken of in type and prophecy, his sufferings and the
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glory that should follow, and the kingdom that he should set up in the
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|
world, in which God's covenant with David, concerning his kingdom, was
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|
to have its accomplishment. What a high value does this book put upon
|
|
the word of God, his statutes and judgments, his covenant and the great
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|
and precious promises of it; and how does it recommend them to us as
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|
our guide and stay, and our heritage for ever!</P>
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<P>
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IV. The use of it. All scripture, being given by inspiration of God, is
|
|
profitable to convey divine light into our understandings; but this
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|
book is of singular use with that to convey divine life and power, and
|
|
a holy warmth, into our affections. There is no one book of scripture
|
|
that is more helpful to the devotions of the saints than this, and it
|
|
has been so in all ages of the church, ever since it was written and
|
|
the several parts of it were delivered to the chief musician for the
|
|
service of the church.
|
|
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1. It is of use to be sung. Further than David's psalms we <I>may</I>
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|
go, but we <I>need</I> not, for hymns and spiritual songs. What the
|
|
rules of the Hebrew metre were even the learned are not certain. But
|
|
these psalms ought to be rendered according to the metre of every
|
|
language, at least so as that they may be sung for the edification of
|
|
the church. And methinks it is a great comfort to us, when we are
|
|
singing David's psalms, that we are offering the very same praises to
|
|
God that were offered to him in the days of David and the other godly
|
|
kings of Judah. So rich, so well made, are these divine poems, that
|
|
they can never be exhausted, can never be worn thread-bare.
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|
|
|
2. It is of use to be read and opened by the ministers of Christ, as
|
|
containing great and excellent truths, and rules concerning good and
|
|
evil. Our Lord Jesus expounded the psalms to his disciples, the gospel
|
|
psalms, and opened their understandings (for he had the key of David)
|
|
to understand them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:44">Luke xxiv. 44</A>.
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|
|
|
3. It is of use to be read and meditated upon by all good people. It is
|
|
a full fountain, out of which we may all be drawing water with joy.
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|
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|
(1.) The Psalmist's experiences are of great use for our direction,
|
|
caution, and encouragement. In telling us, as he often does, what
|
|
passed between God and his soul, he lets us know what we may expect
|
|
from God, and what he will expect, and require, and graciously accept,
|
|
from us. David was a man after God's own heart, and therefore those who
|
|
find themselves in some measure according to his heart have reason to
|
|
hope that they are renewed by the grace of God, after the image of God,
|
|
and many have much comfort in the testimony of their consciences for
|
|
them that they can heartily say <I>Amen</I> to David's prayers and
|
|
praises.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Even the Psalmist's expressions too are of great use; and by them
|
|
the Spirit helps our praying infirmities, because we know not what to
|
|
pray for as we ought. In all our approaches to God, as well as in our
|
|
first returns to God, we are directed to <I>take with us words</I>
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|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+14:2">Hos. xiv. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
these word, words which the Holy Ghost teaches. If we make David's
|
|
psalms familiar to us, as we ought to do, whatever errand we have at
|
|
the throne of grace, by way of confession, petition, or thanksgiving,
|
|
we may thence be assisted in the delivery of it; whatever devout
|
|
affection is working in us, holy desire or hope, sorrow or joy, we may
|
|
there find apt words wherewith to clothe it, sound speech which cannot
|
|
be condemned. It will be good to collect the most proper and lively
|
|
expressions of devotion which we find here, and to methodize them, and
|
|
reduce them to the several heads of prayer, that they may be the more
|
|
ready to us. Or we may take sometimes one choice psalm and sometimes
|
|
another, and pray it over, that is, enlarge upon each verse in our own
|
|
thoughts, and offer up our meditations to God as they arise from the
|
|
expressions we find there. The learned Dr. Hammond, in his preface to
|
|
his paraphrase on the Psalms (sect. 29), says, "That going over a few
|
|
psalms with these interpunctions of mental devotion, suggested,
|
|
animated, and maintained, by the native life and vigour which is in the
|
|
psalms, is much to be preferred before the saying over the whole
|
|
Psalter, since nothing is more fit to be averted in religious offices
|
|
than their degenerating into heartless dispirited recitations." If, as
|
|
St. Austin advises, we form our spirit by the affection of the psalm,
|
|
we may then be sure of acceptance with God in using the language of it.
|
|
Nor is it only our devotion, and the affections of our mind, that the
|
|
book of Psalms assists, teaching us how to offer praise so as to
|
|
glorify God, but, it is also a directory to the actions of our lives,
|
|
and teaches us how to <I>order our conversation aright, so as that,</I>
|
|
in the end, <I>we may see the salvation of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+1:23">Ps. i. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Psalms were thus serviceable to the Old-Testament church, but to us
|
|
Christians they may be of more use than they could be to those who
|
|
lived before the coming of Christ; for, as Moses's sacrifices, so
|
|
David's songs, are expounded and made more intelligible by the gospel
|
|
of Christ, which lets us within the veil; so that if to David's prayers
|
|
and praises we all St. Paul's prayers in his epistles, and the new
|
|
songs in the Revelation, we shall be thoroughly furnished for this good
|
|
work; for the scripture, perfected, makes the man of God perfect.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
As to the division of this book, we need not be solicitous; there is no
|
|
connexion (or very seldom) between one psalm and another, nor any
|
|
reason discernible for the placing of them in the order wherein we here
|
|
find them; but it seems to be ancient, for that which is now the second
|
|
psalm was so in the apostles' time,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:33">Acts xiii. 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
The vulgar Latin joins the 9th and 10th together; all popish authors
|
|
quote by that, so that, thenceforward, throughout the book, their
|
|
number is one short of ours; our xi. is their x., our cxix. is their
|
|
cxviii. But they divide the 147th into two, and so make up the number
|
|
of 150. Some have endeavoured to reduce the psalms to proper heads,
|
|
according to the matter of them, but there is often such a variety of
|
|
matter in one and the same psalm that this cannot be done with any
|
|
certainty. But the seven penitential Psalms have been in a particular
|
|
manner singled out by the devotions of many. They are reckoned to be
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+1:1-6,32:1-11,38:1-22,51:1-19,102:1-28,130:1-8,143:1-12">Ps.
|
|
vi., xxxii., xxxviii., li., cii., cxxx., cxliii.</A>
|
|
|
|
The Psalms were divided into five books, each concluding with <I>Amen,
|
|
Amen,</I> or <I>Hallelujah;</I> the first ending with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+41:1-13">Ps. xli.</A>,
|
|
|
|
the second with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+72:1-20">Ps. lxxii.</A>,
|
|
|
|
the third with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:1-52">Ps. lxxxix.</A>,
|
|
|
|
the fourth with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:1-48">Ps. cvi.</A>,
|
|
|
|
the fifth with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+150:1-6">Ps. cl.</A>
|
|
|
|
Others divide them into three fifties; others into sixty parts, two for
|
|
every day of the month, one for the morning, the other for the evening.
|
|
Let good Christians divide them for themselves, so as may best increase
|
|
their acquaintance with them, that they may have them at hand upon all
|
|
occasions and may sing them in the spirit and with the
|
|
understanding.</P>
|
|
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|
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