7. Purge me with hyssop, &c.] As the priest is wont to denote unclean persons to be cleansed, by sprinkling them with water mixed with the ashes of an heifer, E 21. These things hast thou done, &c.] All this wickedness hast thou committed, and I have forborne to punish thee; but my forbearance, instead of leading thee to amendment, has made thee consider me, either as ignorant of thy wickedness, or inclined to evil like thyself: but I will now rebuke thee sharply for it, and set all thy evil deeds in order before thine eyes. Bp. Patrick. 23. Whoso offereth praise] This verse sums up the two principal points of charge. "I look upon him only as the man who truly honours me, that offers before me a grateful heart; and none but the man that sets himself to order his life aright shall ever find protection and blessing from God." Mudge. The duty of praise is the end of our being, and the very rule and law of our nature. It is the most excellent part of our religious worship, enduring to eternity after the rest shall be done away. It recommends itself to us by several peculiar properties and advantages; as it carries more pleasure in it than all other kinds of devotion; as it enlarges and exalts the several powers of the mind; as it breeds in us an exquisite sense of God's honour, and a willingness to promote it in the world; as it teaches us to be humble and lowly ourselves, and yet preserves us from base and sordid flattery, from bestowing mean and undue praises upon others. Bp. Atterbury. Psalm LI. No one can read this Psalm of David, but must see all the characters of true repentance in the person who wrote it, and the marks of the deepest sorrow and humiliation for the sins of which he had been guilty. How earnestly does he plead for mercy, and acknowledge his unworthiness! How ingenuous Vol. II. came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. H AVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Ver. 1. Why boastest thou &c.] The Psalmist thought it strange that any man should value himself for being able to do mischief, when God esteemed it his glory to do good. In vain did Doeg the Edomite boast himself in the mischief he had done, by massacring the innocent priests and their families; since "the goodness of God," which is unchangeable, had decreed the preservation of David. Bp. Horne. 4. — devouring words.] That is, such as are mischieved. 8. Make me to hear &c.] Renew the joy of my heart, in the comfortable assurance of thy forgiveness; that so my soul, which is now dejected and justly grieved for my sin, may find cause of rejoicing in Thee. Bp. Hall.