ter; but what fhall we fay, if we have given the enemy occafion to reproach us with our fins? The only real difgrace of religion, is the wickedness of it's profeffors.

5. How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

Parched, and exhausted, amidst the flames of perfecution, we behold Sion panting for the comforts of redemption. The extent and continuance of her troubles cause her to fear a total extermination; and, by the questions here asked, fhe tacitly reminds God of his promises not to give her up, and destroy her " for ever," on account of Meffias, whom he was in the fulness of time to bring forth.

6. Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. 7. For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

This, though uttered in the form of a wifh, or prayer, is to be confidered, like many other paffages. of the fame nature, as a predicton of what would afterwards come to pafs. Pagan ambition and cruelty were often employed to chaftife offending Ifrael; but were, themselves, notwithstanding, juftly punished, in their turn, by other powers, raifed up for that end. That relation, in which the church stands to God, caufes him, upon her repentance, to appear in her behalf, and to execute vengeance on her oppreffors, who "know him not, nor call upon his name." "We are thine," faith Laiah, "thou never bearest "rule over them, they were not called by thy name." lxiii. 19. The church, for her fins, may deferve to

fuffer;

fuffer; but her enemies are not therefore without guilt, nor will they escape without punishment.

3. O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies Speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. 9. Help us, O God of our falvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our fins for thy name's fake.

Affliction hath then wrought it's intended effect, when it hath convinced us of fin, and led us to repentance; when brought back by it, like the returning prodigal, to the house and prefence of our heavenly father, we acknowledge our guilt as the cause of our mifery, and entreat forgiveness of the one, in order to obtain a release from the other; not pleading our own merits, but the mercies of God our Saviour, and the glory of his name.

10. Wherefore fhould the heathen fay, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our fight, by the revenging of the blood of thy fervants which is Shed; or, let the vengeance of thy fervants blood that is Shed, be known among the heathen that is in our fight.

It is for the glory of God's name," to deliver his church; because, while fhe is in trouble, that name is blafphemed by the enemy, as if he wanted either power, or will, to prevent or remove the calamities of his fervants. Prayer is therefore here made by the faithful, that God, not to gratify any vindictive spirit of theirs, but to vindicate his own attributes, would break the teeth of the oppreffor, and work a public and glorious falvation for his chofen: at beholding which, the very adverfaries themselves might poffibly be converted.

11. Let

11. Let the fighing of the prifoner come before thee: according to the greatness of thy power preServe thou thofe that are appointed to die.

Next to those who had been flain, the cafe of fuch as groaned in captivity, lying bound in chains and fetters, under fentence of death, to be inflicted at the will of their cruel and infulting conquerors, is recommended to God. The Christian, though he may at present be fubject to none of these external calamities, forgets not that he is often perfecuted, and led captive, by his own defires, and bound in the chains of his fins; that the world to him is a prifon; that sentence of death is paffed upon him, and he knoweth not how foon that fentence may be executed. How properly, therefore, and how fervently may he, at all times, pray, "O let the fighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou thofe "that are appointed to die."

12. And render unto our neighbours Sevenfold into their bofom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O LORD.

That is, As they have reproached thee with weaknefs, fo manifeft to others their weakness, who are but finful duft and afhes; as they have endeavoured to make thee contemptible, fo let the world have just cause to despise them, who have thus presumptuously offended; according as it is written, "Them that "honour me I will honour, and they that despise me fhall be lightly esteemed." 1 Sam. ii. 30. And however different the appearance of things may now VOL. II.

D

I

be,

be, this will certainly be found true, in every instance, at the last day.

13. So we thy people, and sheep of thy pasture, will give thee thanks for ever: we will fhew forth thy praife to all generations.

Such is the refolution of a church, under perfecution; and fuch ought to be the practice of every church, when delivered out of it, and restored to the favour and protection of her God. The fame is the duty of every foul, with regard to afflictions and mercies of a private kind. But how glorious will be the day, when, triumphant over fin and forrow, over every thing that exalteth and oppofeth itself, the church universal shall behold the adversary difarmed for ever; while fhe herfelf, placed in paftures of joy, and led to the waters of eternal comfort, fhall, from age to age, inceffantly fing the praises of her great Shepherd and Bishop, her King, and her God!

PSALM LXXX.

ARGUMENT.

The church, still in captivity, 1-3. crieth unto God for help and redemption; 4-7. complaineth of her grievous afflictions; 813. defcribeth her former exaltation, and prefent depression, under the beautiful figure of a Vine; 14-16. returneth again to her fupplications, and 17-19. prayeth for the advent of Mefsiah, to quicken and comfort

her,

her, vowing all loyal obedience, adoration, and praise to him, as the author of her falvation.

1. Give ear, O Shepherd of Ifrael, thou that leadeft Jofeph like a flock; thou that dwelleft between the cherubims, fhine forth.

The Chriftian church is now become the " Ifrael" of God: Jefus Chrift is the " fhepherd" of this Ifrael, who leadeth his people "like a flock;" he dwelleth in the midst of them by his Spirit, as of old he dwelt in the holy places, " between the cherubims." Let us befeech him to hearken to our prayers, and to manifeft the glory of his power, in our defence and deliverance.

2. Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manaffeh, ftir up thy ftrength, and come and fave us.

God is entreated to go forth, in his ftrength and his falvation, before the tribes of Ifrael, as formerly in the wilderness. Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manaffeh are particularly mentioned, perhaps, becaufe, agcording to the established order, thofe three tribes immediately followed the ark and cherubim, the fymbols of the divine prefence. See Numb. ii. 18.

3. Turn, or, reftore us again, O God, and caufe thy face to fhine; and we shall be faved.

This verfe is a kind of Chorus, occurring three times in the courfe of our Pfalm. It implies, that the church is in captivity, from which the prayeth to be "restored" to her former freedom and prosperity; that the expecteth fuch restoration, not from any might or merit of her own, but from the grace and D 2

mercy