9. — he burneth the chariot &c.] Alluding to the heathen custom of burning the arms of those they had conquered, in honour of their gods, and as a sign of peace. Bp. Lowth. 9. The princes of the people &c.] This verse plainly describes the kings of the Gentiles as acceding to the Church, as becoming with their subjects, through faith, "the people of the God of Abraham," and a part of the sacred flock. Bp. Horne. This Psalm should excite us to praise God, and to celebrate his glory with holy transports, as He is the King of the whole earth, and deserves the adoration of all men; but above all, because He has chosen us to be his people and his inheritance. But we should also apply this Psalm to the times of the Gospel, and especially to our Lord's ascension to the glory of his king- 10. Be still, and know &c.] In this verse there is a change of person; and Jehovah himself is introduced, as commanding the world to cease its opposition, to own his power, and to acknowledge his sovereignty over all the kingdoms of the nations. Bp. Horne. As we are continually beset by troubles, either bodily or spiritual, so we continually stand in need of a city of refuge and strength, into which we may flee and be safe. Religion is that city, whose gates are always open to the affected soul. We profess to believe this: do we act agreeably to such profession? Bp. Horne. Psalm XLVII. This Psalm was probably composed and sung on occasion of bringing the ark, either into Ver. 3. My mouth shall speak &c.] I am going to utter things of most important concern, even weighty matters, which my heart has deeply pondered. Travell. I will speak such things as shall teach men to be truly wise, and to judge and determine prudently in all things. Rosennuller. 4. I will incline mine ear &c.] I myself will diligently attend to the lesson I am going to unfold, and the important instruction shall be accompanied with the melody of musick. Travell. 5. Wherefore should I fear &c.] Why should I give way to fear and despondency in the time of calamity, when the wickedness of my wealthy and powerful adversaries compasses me about, to supplant and overthrow me? Bps. Horne and Lowth. — of my heels] Rather, “of my supplanters;” of those who endeavour to supplant me. Parkhurst. 7. None of them &c.] None of them, with all his wealth and power, can save his dearest friend from the grave, or preserve him alive when God calls him. Bp. Patrick. 8. (For the redemption &c.] The redemption of a man’s life is too difficult and precious a thing for a man to undertake; so that it must ever be a vain attempt. Bp. Patrick, Travell. 11. Their inward thought is, &c.] Nevertheless, worldly-minded men secretly please themselves with the hopes, that their habitations and estates shall continue in their family from age to age; they indulge themselves in the idea of an imaginary immortality, by giving their own names to their lands. Travell. 13. This their way is their folly.] The practice of labouring to acquire wealth and greatness, which be of 14. Like sheep &c.] They must, like sheep driven to the slaughter, become the prey of death, and go in crowds to the grave: and then the just, whom they insulted, shall triumph over them in that glorious dawn of the resurrection; their faded beauty shall moulden away in the silent habitation of the grave. Travell. 18. Though while he lived &c.] While men enjoy all the pleasures which their riches afford them, they call themselves the only happy people: and whoever follows their steps will be sure to have the praise of wicked and foolish people. Bp. Wilson. 20. Man that is in honour, &c.] That man who lives in outward honour, and yet wants true wisdom and understanding to know God and himself, lives and dies like a beast. Bp. Hall. Let us seriously lay to heart, that our time in this world is but a short eve to an everlasting holyday; and that the world itself is but a barren, steep, and stormy passage, to the most fertile and pleasant land that ever was inhabited; where, if we have behaved ourselves well in the way, more glorious mansions are prepared for us than the greatest monarch of the earth was ever in possession of: let us in our daily morning prayers humbly and earnestly beseech God to root out of our hearts all those immoderate desires and inclinations towards the pomp and pleasures of this life, which intoxicate us, and we shall be ashamed all the day after to entertain any of those proud, and covetous, and ambitious thoughts, that are so contrary to our prayers; and so, by devoutly wishing to be what we ought to be, we b Job 27. 19. Ver. 1. The mighty God, &c.] That is, The decree is gone out from God the Father, touching the calling of all nations by God the Son. 2. Out of Zion. As God in a special manner was present here in his tabernacle, so shall the Son of God, in fulness of time, be visibly present in that place, and 4. He shall call to the heavens &c.] The heavens and the earth are invoked as witnesses, which is a pompous form of expression common with the Hebrew writers: "He shall call the heavens from on high: and the earth to the judgment of his people." Bp. Lowth. 5. Gather my saints &c.] He shall say, Bring those men before me, whom I have separated to myself to be a holy nation, and who have made a solemn agreement with me, confirmed by the blood of sacrifices. Bp. Patrick, Travell. 8. I will not reprove thee &c.] It is not for any defect in thy external and ceremonial service of sacrifices and other appointed offerings that I complain of thee: these have been performed with scrupulous exactness. Travell. 9—12. I will take no bullock. The Jewish folly of doating on the legal offerings, as things in themselves acceptable to God, and conferring justification on man, is reproved in these verses, from the consideration, that the various animals slain in sacrifice were long before, even from the creation of the world, the sole right and property of Jehovah; which, therefore, He needed not to have required at the hands of his people; nor would He have done so, but for some further end and intent signified and represented by such oblations. What that end and intent was, Christians know; and Jews formerly did know. Learn we hence, not to dream of any merit in our works and services; since God has a double claim, founded on creation and redemption, to all we have, and all we are. Bp. Horne. 14. Offer unto God thanksgiving; &c.] God here declares, that the sacrifice which is truly acceptable to Him is a heart thankful for all the blessings He has a Exod. 19. 5. Deut. 10. 14. Ps. 24. 1. Job. 41. 11. Ver. 2. Wash me thoroughly &c.] The soul, that is sensible of her pollution, fears she can never be sufficiently purified from it; and therefore prays yet again and again, continually, for more abundant grace, to make and to keep her holy. Bp. Horne. 4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned.] For none else knew it, till Thou madest it known, 2 Sam. xii. 12. Bp. Wilson. — that thou mightest be justified &c.] Rather, so that Thou art righteous in thy sentence, and just in thy judgment. Edwards. 5. — I was shapen in iniquity; &c.] I derive from my parents an original corruption, and a natural proneness to evil. Travell. This corruption is here only alleged as the cause of transgressions, not as their excuse; seeing that, the greater our danger of falling, the greater should be our care to stand. Bp. Horne. 6. Behold, thou desirest truth &c.] The force of "behold" is, "It is too plain; I feel it but too sensibly; the punishment I suffer is evidence sufficient, that Thou art not contented with a superficial appearance of goodness: Thou lovest truth and sincerity in the bottom of the heart." God was now teaching him this, by the correction He made him suffer. The punishment inflicted tended to give him a right understanding of things, and to work it deep into him. Mudge. 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