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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 some mischief, fo 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 faid, 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 wildernefs.

8 I would make hafte to escape: because of the ftormy wind and· tempeft.

9 Deftroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them: for I have fpied unrighteoufnefs 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.

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

12 For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me this dif honour: for then I could have borne it.

13 Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself 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 sweet counfel together: and walked in the houfe of God as friends.

16‡ Let death come haftily upon them, and let them go down

broke forth intothefe words. Fervent Prayer feldom is uttered in vain.

This Pfaim was probably composed by David after

Achitophel had forfaken him, and joined Abalom in his. rebellion against him.

Let Death come haflily upon them, &c. This feem

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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 save 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 battel 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, having 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 shall nourish thee: and fhall not fuffer the righteous to fall for ever.

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

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

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§ Pfalm 56. Miferere mei, Deus.

E merciful unto me, O God, for man goeth about to devour me: he is daily fighting and troubling me.

2 Mine enemies are daily in hand to fwallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most Highest.

3 Nevertheless, though I am fometime afraid: yet put I my truft in thee.

ing imprecation is rather to be confidered as a Prophecy of what should befall David's Enemies; and is not to be applied by Chriftians to those who for whom they have received injuries. On the contrary it is our duty to pray for our Perfecutors; herein conforming to the Laws of the Gospel, and to that pattern of patience and

meeknefs which our Lord in his Life and Death hath fet before us.

David having been difcovered, and in danger of being apprehended by the Philiftines in Gath, 1 Sam. xxi. entreats God to preferve him; and praises him for his deliverance.

4 I will praife God, because of his word: I have put my trut in God, and will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

5 They daily mistake my words: all that they imagine is to do

me evil.

6 They hold altogether, and keep themselves clofe: and mark my steps when they lay wait for my foul.

7 Shall they efcape for their wickedness: thou, O God, in thy displeasure fhalt caft them down.

8 Thou telleft my flittings, put my tears into thy bottle: *are not these things noted in thy book?

9 Whenfoever I call upon thee, then fhall mine enemies be put to flight: this I know; for God is on my fide.

10 In Gods word will I rejoice: in the Lords word will I comfort me.

II Yea, in God have I put my truft; I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12 Unto thee, O God, will I pay my vows: unto thee will I give thanks.

13. For thou haft delivered my foul from death, and my feet from falling: that I may walk before God in the light of the living. | Pfalm 57. Miferere mei, Deus.

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E merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my foul trufteth in thee and under the shadow of thy wings fhall be my refuge until this tyranny be over-past.

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2 I will call unto the most high God: even unto the God that fhall perform the caufe which I have in hand.

3 He shall send from heaven : and fave me from the reproof him that would eat me up..

* Are not thefe Things noted in thy Book. The meaning of this and fuch-like expreffions is, that every action of every Man, is more certainly known to God, and remembered unto judgment; than things are made certain to be remembered among Men, by being written down in Books, Dr. Clarke, From a fenfe of God's

of

infinite knowledge, may we learn to live conftantly under its Conviction, in all holy and godly Converfation!

David flying before Saul, and being hid in a Cave, where he was furprized by the King, 1 Sam. 24. here offers up his Prayers to God for aftance, and expreffes his firm Confidence in the divine Protection..

4 God fhall fend forth his mercy and truth: my foul is among lions.

5 And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on fire: whofe teeth are fpears and arrows, and their tongue a fharp fword. 6 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above

all the earth.

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7 They have laid a net for my feet, and preffed down my foul: they have digged a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it themselves.

8 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will fing and give praife.

9 * Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp: I myself will awake right early.

10 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will fing unto thee among the nations.

II For the greatnefs of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens :: and thy truth unto the clouds.

12 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth,

A

Pfalm 58. Si vere utique.

RE your minds fet upon righteoufnefs, O ye congregation: and do ye judge the thing that is right, O ye fons of men? 2 Yea, ye imagine mischief in your heart upon the earth: and your hands deal with wickedness..

3. The ungodly are froward, even from their mothers womb: as foon as they are born, they go aftray, and fpeak lies.

4 They are as venemous as the poison of a ferpent: even like, the deaf adder that ftoppeth. her ears ;,

Awake up my Glory. By this is meant the Tongue which is that peculiar Excellency, wherein chiefly, except reafon, Man furpaffes all other Creatures.How reasonable then is it that that which is fuch a distinguishing part of our nature should be employed the fervice of our Creator! And how very blameable

muft they be who abuse it to the Purposes of Phrophanenefs, Impurity and Injustice!

This is a Complaint of David against Saul's wicked Counfellors, whofe Impiety and Obftinacy he strongly defcribes: and foretells that the divine Vengeance would fhortly overtake and destroy them...

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5 Which refufeth to hear the voice of the charmer: charm he never fo wifely.

6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouths, fmite the jawbones of the lions, O Lord: let them fall away like water that runneth apace, and when they shoot their arrows, let them be rooted out.

7 Let them confume away like a fnail, and be like the untimely fruit of a woman: and let them not fee the fun.

8 Or ever your pots be made hot with thorns: fo let indignation vex him, even as a thing that is raw.

9 The righteous fhall rejoice when he feeth the vengeance : he fhall wash his footsteps in the blood of the ungodly.

ΙΟ * So that a man shall fay, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: doubtless there is a God that judgeth the earth.

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EVENING

PRAYER.

|| Pfalm 59. Eripe me de inimicis

Eliver me from mine enemies, O God: defend me from them that rife up against me.

2 O deliver me from the wicked doers: and fave me from the blood thirsty men.

3. For lo, they lie waiting for my foul: the mighty men are gathered against me without any offence or fault of me, O Lord. 4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: arise thou therefore to help me, and behold.

5 Stand up, O Lord God of hofts, thou God of Ifrael, to vifit all the heathen: and be not merciful unto them that offend of mali cious wickedness.

So that a Man fhall fay, Verily there is &c. Though God does not always interpofe in this life for the punishment of the Wicked: yet this is by no means to be confidered as an impeachment of his Juftice: but rather as an additional argument for the truth of the Scriptures in which we are told that he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained.

David, in danger of being apprehended by fome

perfons whom Saul had fent to his houfe for that par pofe, 1 Sam. 19. reprefents to the Lord the danger he is in; not doubting but God would deliver him from his enemies, reftrain their malice, and make them an example to all the World.

Deliver me from mine Enemies, &c. From the Hiftory to which this relates we are informed that David's Prayers were heard, and that Providence furnished him with the means of efcaping the fury of

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