39. Thus were they defiled &c.] Idolatry, which is infidelity towards God, is often represented in Scripture as spiritual formication or adultery. Travell. See notes at Exod. xxxii. 6; xxxiv. 16. 47. —gather us from among the heathen.] Restore such of us as are dispersed in foreign lands unto our own country. Bp. Patrick. If we accustomed ourselves to take a just survey of ourselves, of the frowardness and the pride of our natures, we should frequently think it fit and necessary to invert our prayers, to deprecate God's favours and mercies, and pray for his corrections and judgments, or rather we should look upon his judgments and mortifications as his greatest and most transcendent mercies. If men took that view of themselves, which others take of them in their highest prosperities, when God pours down his blessings upon them; observed the haughtiness of their looks, gait, and gestures, their proud behaviour towards all who have need of them, and their servile behaviour towards all of whom they stand in need, which every body else but themselves observes; and considered how very little they used to think of God in those seasons; and then, if they reflected upon their own modest behaviour upon some disappointment they had sustained, how often they their counsel, and were || brought low for their iniquity.