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love, and in thy promises, O Lord, whose word I have resolved to keep as the greatest treasure.

Ver. 58. I intreated thy favour with my whole beart; be merciful unto me, according to thy word.] For there is nothing comparable to thy favour, which I have besought with the heartiest affection, and the most importunate prayers; and do again beseech thee to deal mercifully with me, according to thy repeated promises unto me.

Ver. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet anto thy testimonies. For upon serious deliberation what course of life it was best to take, I rejected all other, which with specious shews of worldly advantages would have seduced me, and determined to be guided wholly by thy testimonies.

Ver. 65. Í made baste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.] And being thus resolved, I admitted no farther debate about it; but instantly, without any delay, set myself to the strict observance of thy commandments.

Ver. 61. The bands of the wicked have robbed me; but I bave not forgotten thy law.] Nor hath any thing been able to remove me from this resolution; but, though I have been beset with troops of wicked men, who stripped me of all I had, (1 Sam. xxiii. 26.), it did not make me forget my duty, nor put me upon any unlawful means of being revenged of them, (1 Sam. xxiv. 6. 7.)

Ver. 62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgements.] But have blessed thee, both night and day, and arose at midnight to give thee thanks, for those just and good laws, which thou hast taught me to observe.

Ver. 63. 1 am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.] Associating myself willingly with none but such as fear to offend thee, and do religiously observe thy precepts; who are all truly dear unto me.

Ver. 64. The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy; teach me thy statutes.] And no other thing do I desire of thee, O Lord, whose kindness is so great that it dispenses its blessings plentifully throughout all the earth, but that thou wilt instruct me still to serve thee as I ought.

TETH. PART IX.

Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.] Many other benefits, I will thankfully acknowledge, O Lord, thou hast bestowed upon thy servant, with whom thou bast faithfully kept thy word.

Ver. 66. Teach me good judgement and knowledge; for I bave believed thy commandments.] And I am not ignorant of thy commandments, which, by thy grace, I have believed to be the only way to happiBut still I need thy farther assistance, to give me a delightful taste and thorough sense of what I know; which, I beseech thee, add to the rest of the benefits I have received from thee.

ness.

for this end, to deprive me still of all other delights, I submit unto it; for I must confess 1 committed many errors before I was thus afflicted, which since I have corrected, and grown more strictly observant of thy word.

Ver. 68. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.] Thou art in thy own nature kind and good; and nothing else can proceed from thee, who designest our good even when thou afflictest us: take what methods thou pleasest with me, only teach me effectually to do as thou wouldest have me.

Ver. 69. The proud bave forged a lie against me ; but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.] They that disdain to be tied to the common and plain rules of honesty, have taken a great deal of pains to invent a lie against me, (1 Sam. xxiv. 9.); but as I am hitherto conscious of no such guilt, so I will always confute them by an impartial and most hearty observance of thy precepts;

Ver. 70. Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in thy law.] Which gives me infinitely greater satisfaction in a poor starved condition, than all the dull delights of sense which they enjoy, in the fullest plenty of worldly prosperity.

Ver. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.] This they stupidly imagine is the only happiness; but I can truly say, it was more happy for me that I was afflicted, for thereby I learnt to apply myself more seriously to thy statutes.

Ver. 72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.] Whereby thy will is declared unto us by a voice from heaven, (Exod, xx. 1.), which I prefer before all the gold and silver in the kingdom.

JOD. PArt X.

Ver. 73. Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me ; give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.] Desert me not, then, who am thine own workmanship, that neither hath nor hopeth for any thing but from thy almighty power, and desires above all things to comprehend fully what thy will is, that he may obey it.

Ver. 74. They that fear thee will be glad when they see me because I have hoped in thy word.] It will be a very great comfort and encouragement to all good men, when they see me delivered out of all these troubles; for thereby they will be confirmed in their belief of thy faithfulness to thy promises, on which, it will appear, I have not vainly depended, though I stay long for the performance.

Ver. 75. I know, O LORD, that thy judgements are right, and that thou in faithfulness bast afflicted me.] And I am satisfied, O Lord, that while thou makest me wait for the performance, thou doest nothing contrary to thy justice, or to thy fidelity; but that all these cross dispensations of thy providence, in the heavy afflictions which have befallen me, are perfectly righteous, and will only make thy truth and faithfulness at last the more illustrious.

Ver. 67. Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word.] And if it be necessary

Ver. 76. Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.] O hasten that happy time, when I shall see thy lovingkindness turning this disconsolate into a more com fortable condition; according to the promises which thou hast made unto thy servant, (1 Sam, xvi. 12. 13.)

Ver. 77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; for thy law is my delight.] Let me feel the speedy effects of thy compassionate mercy; rescuing me from those that seek my life, and raising me out of this forlorn estate, (1 Sam. xxiv. 14. For howsoever I am represented, my highest satisfaction is in obedience to thy law.

Ver. 78. Let the proud be ashamed, for they dealt perversely with me without a cause; but I will meditate in thy precepts.] Confound all those proud contemners of it, who, making no conscience of what they say, have oppressed and overthrown me with lies and calumnies; as if I studied to disturb the kingdom, when my only study is to observe thy precepts. Ver. 79. Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.] Let all pious men, who have a due regard to thy testimonies, be convinced of this, and be no longer abused by these slanders, but turn to my side, and become my friends.

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Ver. 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.] And in order to it, preserve me sọ blameless before thee, in such integrity of heart as well as life, that I may not be ashamed of the hope I have, that thou and all good men will take my part.

CAPH. PART XI. !

Ver. 81. My soul fainteth for thy salvation; but I hope in thy word.] For which blessing I have now attended so many years, that I am ready sometimes to faint away with vehement desire to see thy long expected promise fulfilled, of deliverance from all my enemies.

Ver, 82. Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me ] That joyful sight I have look ed for, till I am in danger to be weary with expectation, saying, When will the time come of my deliver ance from this disconsolate condition.?

Ver. 83. For I am become like a bottle in the smoke a yet I do not forget thy statutes.] I hope it will not be long delayed; for I am worn away, and my skin (like an empty leathern bag, that hath hung a great while in the smoke) is shrivelled up with toil and grief; and yet I have never taken any unlawful course to rid myself of all this misery.

Ver. 84. How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgement on them that persecute me?] I leave that to thee, O Lord; beseeching thee to consider how my days spend apace in trouble and sorrow; which force me to sigh, and say, How long must thy poor servant still lie in this calamitous condition? O when wilt thou do me right against my persecutors?

Ver. 85. The proud have digged pits for me, which

are not after thy law.] Who proudly contrive by all manner of frauds and treachery to take away my life, directly contrary to thy law, to which they are as injurious as unto me.

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Ver. 86. All thy commandments are faithful; they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.] For all thy commandments teach us to be just and true, being as faithful as those men are false and perfidious; therefore make good thy promises to me, and deliver me from those who persecute me with lies and forgeries; Ver. 87, They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.] Which they have em ployed so successfully, that I escaped very hardly with my like, when was in the land of Judah, (1 Sam, xxii. 26.); yet for all this. I stuck to thy precepts, and would not take away the life of him that sought mine, when I could have easily done it, (1 Sam, xxiv, 6.7.)

Ter. 88. Quicken me after thy loving-kindness; se shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.] Deal as kind, ly with me, O Lord, and not only spare my life, but raise me out of this forlorn estate, wherein I lie like a man that is dead, (1 Sam. xxiv. 14.); and I will endeavour the more carefully to observe the testimonies which thou hast solemnly (ver. 72.) given us in charge.

LAMED. PART XII.

Ver. 89. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.] Thou art eternal, O Lord, and changest not; and thy promises are like thyself, fixed and settled in the heavens, which are a lively emblem of their constancy and invariable truth.

Ver. 9o. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations; thou bast established the earth, and it abideth.] One generation goes, and another comes, but thy fidelity is still the same to all, and alters no more than the earth, which thou hast firmly and immoveably established, while all those creatures, that live upon it pass away and perish.

Ver. 91. They continue this day according to thine ordinances; for all are thy servants.] All things remain to this day in the order at first appointed, and never vary from the laws which thou hast set them; for they are entirely subject to thy will and pleasure:

Ver. 92. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then, have perished in mine affliction.] Which was a most comfortable meditation in my afflicted condition, when my heart would have failed me, and I should have been undone, if thy laws (which stand as fast as heaven and earth) had not given me constant consolation.

Ver. 93. I will never forget thy precepts; for with them thou hast quickened me.] I will never, therefore, be guilty of neglecting thy precepts, which have revived me, (by thy faithful promises thou hast annexed to the observance of them), when I looked upon myself as a dead man, that could not escape the hands of those that sought to destroy me.

Ver, 94. I am line; save me, for I have sought thy precepts. And be thou pleased still to deliver me

from falling into their hands; for though they have driven me from thy inheritance, (1 Sam. xxvi. 19.), I still continue thine, and serve no other god; but having diligently inquired, in my greatest dangers, what would be most pleasing to thee, as most advan-, tageous to myself,

me;

Ver, 95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy but I will consider thy testimonies. Those wick. ed men who are combined to destroy me, have long watched for an opportunity, which they confidently expect to meet withal; but it doth not discourage my study of thy testimonies, as the best defence against their bloody attempts.

Ver. 96. I bave seen an end of all perfection; but thy commandment is exceeding broad.] For had I greater forces than my enemies, alas! I never yet saw any thing so complete, but as it had its bounds and limits, so it is exceeding frail; and when it is arrived at perfection, comes to a speedy end; whereas, the wisdom which thou hast revealed to us hath infinite satisfaction in it, durable and lasting satisfaction, which never fails those that depend upon it.

MEM. PART XIII.

Ver. 97. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. It is impossible to express the love I have to thy law; which entertains my meditation, or enables me to entertain others, with admirable variety, whole days together.

Ver. 98. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me. .] Mine enemies are very crafty, and use many artifices to destroy me; but by observing thy commandments, I have defeated all their subtile devices, and confounded them, even by refusing (because thy commandments, which are ever before my eyes, restrain me) to be a venged on them, I Sam. xxiv. 17. 18. &c. xxvi. 21.

Ver. 99. I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation.] I have outstripped all the doctors of the law, of whom I formerly learnt; and understand more perfectly than they, the best means of securing myself; because my mind is still employed in thy testimonies, as the rule of all my designs and undertakings.

Ver. icc. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.] Though I am but young, yet. have I more understanding in things, than the judges and grave privy counsellors; because my maxim is, strictly to observe thy precepts.

Ver. 101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.] Whatsoever advantage it promised me, I have never proceeded in any evil course to obtain my end, but refused the seeming gain, that I might not offend against thy word,

Ver. 192. I have not departed from thy judgements; for thou hast taught me.] My respect to thee hath hindered me from doing any injury unto others; because I know thou art the author of those laws which forbid it; and in the observance of them, I have learnt,, consists my happiness.

yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!] And a happiness it is, I feel already, incomparably above all other: the pleasure I take in every word of thine is inexpressibly far to be preferred before all the delights of sense, though never so sweet and luscious.

Ver. 104. Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I bate every false way. And by thy precepts I am so fully instructed how to behave myself, that I need not to betake myself to any dishonest ways, which I utterly abhor.

NUN. PART XIV.

Ver. 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.] Thy word is my only guide; whose directions I follow in all the dark and difficult passages of my life.

Ver. 106. I have sworn, and will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgements.] I have solemnly resolved, and bound myself by the most sacred ties, which I will never break, but do now confirm, that I will carefully observe thy decrees, which I find to be both just and good.

Ver. 107. I am afflicted very much quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.] I have suffered very much upon that account, and am still sorely afflicted; but I comfort myself, O Lord, with thy promise, according to which I beseech thee to deliver me from those that seek to destroy me, and raise me out of this forlorn condition, wherein I can scarce be said to live.

Ver. 108. Accept, I beseech thee, the free-will offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgements.] I have no other sacrifices that I am able in this exile to offer to thee, but these of prayer, and thankful acknowledgements, and vows of sincere and chearful obedience; with which I do must freely and heartily present thee, O Lord, beseeching thee to teach me still more effectually thy judgements, that I may never fail to be conformed to thy will.

Ver. 109. My soul is continually in my hand; yet da I not forget thy law.] To which I have hitherto so closely adhered, that though I go in continual danger of my life, (Judg. xii. 3.), it doth not move me in the least (whatsoever shifts I am forced to make) to save myself by forsaking thy law.

Ver. 110. The wicked have laid a snare for me; yet Ferred not from thy precepts.] They that make no conscience of their actions, have contrived a subtile plot to ruin me; but I have never stepped out of the way of thy precepts, to avoid the snares they have laid for me.

Ver. 111. Thy testimonies have Itaken as an heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.] I had rather alway continue as poor as I am, than do any thing against thy testimonies, which I hold to be my chiefest good, and surest possession; out of which none can expel me, and which always yield me that inward satisfaction and joy which none can take from me.

Ver. 112. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy Ver. 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! statutes alway, even unto the end.] This infinitely out

weighs all other considerations; and hath inclined my heart to resolve to do alway as thou biddest me, (whatsoever I may lose by it), to the very end of my days.

SAMECH. PART XV.

Ver. 113. I hate vain thoughts; but thy law do I love.] I hate all double dealing, and crafty devices, that are not warranted by thy law, to which I have resolved to stick with hearty affection.

Ver. 114. Thou art my hiding-place, and my shield; I hope in thy word.] In that way I will trust to thee for safety and protection; having a firm hope that thou wilt be as good unto me as thy word.

Ver. 115. Depart from me, ye evil doers; for I will keep the commandments of my God.] Do not persuade me any longer, O ye evil doers, to join with you; but get you gone from me; for I will follow none of your counsels; but strictly observe the commandments of my God, who hath hitherto most graciously delivered me.

Ver. 116. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope.] And on whom I still depend, that thou wilt support me, O Lord, according to thy promise, against all the assaults of my enemies that seek my life; and not let me be ashamed of the hope and expectation I have, that thou wilt defend and deliver me.

Ver. 117. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.] Be thou my support in this weak condition, I humbly again beseech thee; and then they shall not be able to throw me down; but in safety and security, I shall make thy statutes my perpetual study.

Ver. 118. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes; for their deceit is falsehood.] They shall fall to the ground, and not I; for thou art wont, I observe, to abase and lay as low as the mire in the streets, all those that presume to go out of the plain way of thy statutes; for all their crafty tricks and crooked arts, on which they rely, at last prove false unto them, and deceive them.

Ver. 119. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love thy testimonies] Thou castest all such wicked men out of the land like dross, that is good for nothing, which makes me addict my self with the greater love unto thy testimonies;

Ver. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements.] Trembling all over with fear, lest 1 should, by any disobedience to thee, incur thy severe displeasure, and dreading above all things thy judgements, which are threatened in the law, and which I see executed upon the contemners of it.

AIN. PART XVI.

Ver. 121. I have done judgement and justice; leave me not to mine oppressors.] This pious fear laid such a restraint upon me, that I never did any wrong to them, nor so much as dealt hardly with them, that now injure me; therefore suffer me not to fall into

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the hands of those who oppress me with their calumnies.

Ver. 122. Be surety to thy servant for goed: let not the proud oppress me.] Their pride is great, and, having power equal to their malice, they hope to prevail over me; but do thou graciously undertake my protection, and be my security against the mischief they design me, that instead of being my ruin, their calumnies may turn to my greater good and advantage.

Ver. 123. Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.] I believe they will; but I have looked so long for that happy time, when thou wilt deliver me, (and yet am still in apparent danger to fall into the hand of my enemies), that I am almost tired with expectance of thy promise, though I know it is faithful and true, and shall certainly be performed.

Ver. 124. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.] Pity my infirmity, and in much mercy send speedy relief unto thy servant, and in the mean time instruct me more perfectly in thy statutes, that I may make the better use of that deliverance.

Ver. 125. I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.] I am devoted to thy service, and designed by thee to a high employment; enlighten my understanding, therefore, that I may fully know my duty.

Ver. 126. It is time for thee, LORD, to work; for they have made void thy law.] For now is the time to do all I can for the Lord, (who may be pleased then to take this opportunity to perform his promise), when wicked men not only transgress, but are so profane that they reject, and would wholly lay aside thy law.

Ver. 127. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold.] This inflames my zeal, and heightens my love to thy commandments, which I value far more than all the riches in the world; which shall not tempt me to violate one of them, or suffer them, if I can help it, to be contemned by others

Ver. 128. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.] For the more I consider them, the more I approve every one of them, (as the exactest and best rule whereby I square all my actions), and abhor all those base and dishonest ways whereby others study to advance themselves to riches and honours.

PE. PART XVII.

Ver. 129. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.] I cannot sufficiently admire and extol the excellent wisdom also, of thy laws, whereby thou hast testified thy will unto us; which makes me the more careful faithfully to observe them.

Ver. 130. The entrance of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple.] When a man doth but begin to be acquainted with thy word, he finds his mind marvellously enlightened with such clear and useful knowledge, as directs the most simple people how to live happy.

Ver. 131. 1 opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.] Which hath excited me to the most eager pursuit of this most excellent wisdom; for I longed to have a perfect understanding of thy commandments, which at first sight afford such abundant satisfaction.

Ver. 132. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou used to do unto those that love thy name.] Favour my desires, I most humbly beseech thee; and vouchsafe me the same grace, which thou art wont to bestow on those that sincerely love thee, and study, as I do, thy honour and glory.

Ver. 133. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.] And, first of all, enable me to walk steadily, according to the rule of thy word, that I may not be a slave to any sin what

soever.

Ver. 134. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.] And then deliver me from the oppression of him (1 Sam. xxvi 25.) who unjustly seeks to destroy me, that I may have the greater liberty to study and observe thy precepts.

Ver. 135. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy statutes.] Put an end to the troubles of thy servant, who is devoted to thy obedience, and for this reason, above all others, desires to see better days, that he may have better opportunities to learn thy statutes.

Ver. 142. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.] For still I think with myself, that thy justice, goodness, and fidelity are unchangeable, and whatsoever thou hast said in thy law is the very truth, upon which we may certainly depend, and never be deceived.

Ver. 143. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; yet thy commandments are my delights.] And therefore, though I am unexpectedly (Sam. xx. 3.) involved in very sore straits and difficulties, yet I do not forsake, but find great consolation in the study of thy commandments.

Ver. 144. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.] Especially in this consideration, (which comes often into my mind, ver. 142.), that all the declarations thou hast made of thy will to us, are so just and true, that they will never fail our expectation. O give me wisdom to order my life according to them and then it shall not be in the power of my enemies to make mè miserable.

KOPH. PART XIX.

Ver. 145. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.] I have besought thy favour in this sorrowful and distressed condition, with most vehement cries and hearty affection: be pleased to rescue me out of it, O Lord, and I promise with the greater care to observe thy statutes.

Ver. 136. Rivers of waters run dorun mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.] Which it is a very great grief to me to behold so universally neglected, Ver. 146. I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall and hath cost me many a tear, when I consider, not keep thy testimonies.] I have made it my constant bu merely the persecution which I suffer, but how there-siness to cry unto thee for help, from whom alone I by my enemies violate thy law.

TSADDI. PART XVIII.

Ver. 137. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgements.] I leave it to thee, O Lord, to redress these evils, who art both just and good, and governest all things with an unerring equity.

Ver. 138. Thy testimonies, that thou hast commanded, are righteous, and very faithful.] For as all the laws thou hast given us are perfectly righteous, so thou dost exactly and most faithfully fulfil all the promises or threatenings which thou hast made to the observers, or against the breakers of them.

Ver. 139. My zeal hath consumed me; because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.] The consideration of which moves my indignation to such a degree, that I am tormented to see my enemies so forgetful of their own interest, as not to regard thy words;

Ver. 140. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.] Which I know to be infallibly true, and perfectly free from all falsehood and deceit; which is the reason of that ardent affection thy ser vant hath unto them.

Ver. 141. I am small and despised: yet do I not for get thy precepts.] Which will not suffer me, though I am mean and contemptible in the eyes of my enemies, (who are honourable and mighty), to be guilty of neglecting any of thy precepts.

seek it; deliver me, I again beseech thee, and I will not fail to make good my promise of observing thy testimonies.

Ver. 147. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried; I hoped in thy word.] I have sent up early cries unto thee, before the morning-light appeared; constantly expecting the performance of thy promise

to me.

Ver. 148. Mine eyes prevent the night-watches, that I might meditate in thy word.] Nor have I been less forward in the study of my duty, than in the imploring of thy mercy, but have awaked before all the watches were set, to meditate in thy word.

Ver. 149. Hear my voice, according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgement.] Let my prayer prevail with thee, O Lord, for that favour and kindness which I have oft experienced, and preserve my life, as thou hast done hitherto, by such means as thou judgest best for me.

Ver. 150. They draw nigh that follow after mischief? they are far from thy law.] I am closely beset, thou seest, and in danger to be seized (1 Sam. xxiii. 26.) by those, who, as they persecute me, and seek my ruin, so care not by what wicked arts they compass their design; for they have no regard at all to thy law.

Ver. 151. Thou art near, O LORD; and all the commandments are truth.] My only comfort is, that they cannot approach so near to hurt me, as thou, Q

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