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5 Behold, I was fhapen in wickedness and in fin hath my mother conceived me.

6 But lo, thou requireft truth in the inward parts and fhalt make me to understand wifdom fecretly.

me with hyffop, and I fhall be clean : 7 Thou fhalt purge thou shalt wash me, and I fhall be whiter than fnow.

8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladnefs: that the bones which thou haft broken, may joyce.

9 Turn thy face from my fins and put out all my mildeeds.

10 Make me a clean heart, O God and renew a right fpirit within me.

II Caft me not away from thy prefence: and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

12 O'give me the comfort of thy help again and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

13 Then fhall I teach thy ways unto the wicked: and finners fhall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltinefs, O God, thou that art the God of my health and my tongue fhall fing of thy righteousness.

15 Thou fhalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth fhall fhew thy praife.

16 For thou defireft no facrifice, elfe would I give it thee: but thou delighteft not in burnt offerings.

17 The facrifice of God is a troubled fpirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, fhalt thou not defpife.

18 O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build thou the walls of Jerufalem.

19 Then fhalt thou be pleafed with the facrifice of righ teouinefs, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

PRACTICAL

OBSERVATIONS.

Pfalm li.] David's example in this palm teaches us, 1. That it is the duty of finners, and particularly of thofe that have fallen into great fins, to be fenfible of the greatnefs of them, humbly to acknowledge and confefs them, and even publicly before men, when it is neceflary; earnestly to implore the mercy of God with true contrition, and to beg of him a fincere converfion, and the afliftance of his fpirit, that they may never

more

Pfalm lii. Quid gloriaris?

WHY boafteft thou thyfelf, thou tyrant: that thou canft do mischief;

WHY

2 Whereas the goodness of God: endureth yet daily? 3 Thy tongue imagineth wickedness: and with lies thou cutteft like a sharp rafor.

4 Thou haft loved unrighteousness more than goodness: and to talk of lies more than righteousness.

5 Thou hast loved to speak all words, that may do hurt: O thou falfe tongue.

6 Therefore fhallGod deftroy thee for ever: he fhall take thee, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling, and root thee out of the land of the living.

7 The righteous alfo fhall fee this, and fear: and shall laugh him to fcorn.

8 Lo, this is the man that took not God for his ftrength: but trusted unto the multitude of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

9 As for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the houfe of God my truft is in the tender mercy of God for ever and

ever.

10 I will always give thanks unto thee for that thou haft done: and I will hope in thy name, for thy faints like it well.

PRACTICAL

OBSERVATIONS. more fall into fin. 2. That a penitent finner, who is truly humbled for his fins, confiders himself indifpenfably obliged to repair the fcandal he has given, and contribute his utmost towards the converfion of other inners, and the edification of all by his example, by his exhortations, and by his prayers. This is the only way to obtain pardon for the fins we have committed, and to procure peace of confcience, and the renewal of the grace of God.

Pfalm lii.] We may gather from this pfalm, 1. That the wicked, and particularly cruel men and flanderers, fuch as Doeg was, receive from God the punishment they deferve; and that God abhors lying and ca lumny. 2. That thofe who truft in their riches, or in their addrefs, be come examples of the juft judgment of God: whilst he beflows his favour a thofe that put their trust in him, and walk in his ways.

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EVENING PRAYER.
Pfalm li Dixit infipiens.

THE foolish body hath faid in his heart: There is no
God.

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2 Corruptare they, and become abominable in their wickedness there is none that doeth good.

3 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to fee if there were any that would understand, and feek after God.

4 But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abominable: there is alfo none that doeth good, nơ

not one.

5 Are not they without understanding, that work wickednels: eating up my people as if they would eat bread? they have not called upon God.

6 They were afraid, where no fear was: for God hath broken the bones of him that befieged thee: thou haft put them to confufion, because God hath defpifed them.

7 Oh that the falvation were given unto Ifrael out of Sion: Oh that the Lord would Deliver his people out of captivity! 8 Then fhould Jacob rejoice: and Ifrael fhould be right

glad.

Pfalm. liv. Deus, in Nomine. AVE me, O God, for thy Name's fake: and avenge me in thy ftrength.

SAY

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-2- Hear my prayer, O God: and hearken unto the words my mouth.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATION S.

Pfalm liii.] I. The complaint which David here makes of the impiety of the men of his age, may be applied to a great number of Chriftians, who profefs to know God, but in works deny him, giving themfelves up to all manner of impiety. 2. It appears, however, from the evils which David fays the righteous are expofed to by means of the ungodly, and from the promifes made to the godly in afflictions, that when the corruption is most general, God has always fome true worshippers, who lament this corruption, endeavour to keep themfelves free from the infection, and, in the midst of the diforders that prevail, always loo up to God, ind put their trust in him. 3. It fhould be remarked, thi: St Paul, (Ron. iii.) quotes this pfalm, to prove that the Jews were fin ers as well as the heathe that confequently they could not be jufii.d by the law of Mofes, out only by faith in Jefus Chrik. PRAC

3 For ftrangers are rifen up against me and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, feek after my foul. 4 Behold, God is my helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my foul.

5 He fhall reward evil unto mine enemies: deftroy thou them in the truth.

6 An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O Lord: because it is fo comfortable.

7 For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble; and mine eye hath feen his defire upon mine enemies.

Pfalm. lv. Exaudi, Deus.

TEAR my prayer, O God: and hide not thy felf from my petition.

H

2 Take heed unto me, and hear me: how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed.

3 The enemy crieth fo, and the ungodly cometh on fo faft for they are minded to do me fome mifchief, so maliciously are they set against me

4. My heart is difquieted within me; and the fear of death is fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me: and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.

6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove: for then would I flee away, and be at rest.

7 Lo, then would I get me away far off: and remain in the wilderness.

8 I would make hafte to escape; because of the ftormy wind and tempest,

9 Deftroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them: for I have fpied unrighteoulness and ftrife in the city.

10 Day and night they go about within the walls thereof: mifchief alfo and forrow are in the midst of it.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Pfalm. liv.] In this pfalm the royal prophet teaches us by his example, that prayer should be always our refuge in time of danger; that even when men have confpired our ruin, if we call upon the Lord with a pure heart, he will prout us; and that when he has heard us we ought to bless him with all our heart, and make grateful acknowleg bents.

PRAC

10th

11 Wickedness is therein: deceit and guile go not out of their streets.

12 For it is not an open enemy that hath done me this difhonour for then I could have borne it;

13 Neither was it mine adverfary that did magnify himfelf against me for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him;

14 But it was even thou, my companion: my guide, and mine own familiar friend..

15 We took fweet council together and walked in the houfe of God as friends.

16 Let death come haftily upon them, and Let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

17 As for me, I will call upon God: and the Lord fhall fave me.

18 In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that inftantly: and he fhall hear my voice.

19-It is he that hath delivered my foul in peace, from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

20 Yea, even God that endureth for ever, fhall hear me, and bring them down for they will not turn, nor fear God. 21 He laid his hands upon fuch as be at peace with him; and he brake his covenant.

22 The words of his mouth were fofter than butter, ha'ving war in his heart: his words were fmoother than oil, and yet be they very fwords.

23 O caft thy burden upon the Lord, and he fhall nourish thee: and shall not fuffer the righteous to fall for

ever.

24 And as for them: thou, O God, fhalt bring them into the pit of deftruction.

25 The blood-thirty and deceitful men fhall not live out half their days: nevertheless, my trust fhall be in thee, O Lord.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.

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Pfalm lv.] We must take care not to make an ill-ufe of this pfalm, and fome others of the like nature, flee on Pfalm xxxv, lix. lxix.) by

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