By "eating ashes, and drinking tears," we may understand the same as if it had been said, "I have eaten the bread of humiliation, and drank the water of affliction;" ashes being the emblem of the one, and tears the consequence of the other; while the actions of eating and drinking intimate to us the fulness and satiety which the sufferer had experienced of both, from "the wrath and indignation of God." Prosperity and adversity are from him; "he lifteth up, and he casteth down;" he lifted up Jerusalem above all the earth, and cast her down to be trodden under foot by the Gentiles. "11. My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. 12. But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations."

A "shadow" never continueth in one stay, but is still gliding imperceptibly on, lengthening as it goes, and at last vanisheth into darkness. The period of its existence is limited to a day at farthest. The rising sun gives it birth, and in that moment when the sun sets it is no more. The " grass" of the field, in like manner, hath a being of the same duration. In the morning, clothed with verdure and beauty, it refresheth and delighteth the eye of the beholder; but the evening findeth it cut down, dried up, and withered. Such is the life of man, sojourning in this land of his captivity, and doing penance for his sins. But the eternity of Jehovah, the infallibility of his promises, and the remembrance of his former works and mercies, comfort our hearts, and encourage us to hope, nay, even to rejoice, in the midst of sorrow and tribulation.

13. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come. 14. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof."

From this passage and what follows, it appears, that the suppliant, in this Psalm, bewails not only his own miseries, but those of the church. Israel was in captivity, and Sion a desolation. A "time" notwithstanding, a "set time" there was at hand, when God had promised to "arise and to have mercy upon her." The bowels of her children yearned over her ruins : they longed to see her rebuilt, and were ready, whenever the word of command should be given, to set heart and hand to the blessed work. Such ought to be our affection towards our Sion, however afflicted and destitute she may at any time appear to be; such should be our faith in the promises of God concerning the future glorification of his church, at the time appointed.

15. So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16. When the LORD shall build up Sion, he shall appear in his glory. 17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer."

The object to which the prophets of old had chiefly respect, was not only the deliverance of Israel from Babylon, and the rebuilding of the material temple, but the salvation of sinners, and the erection of the Christian church in the days of Messiah's kingdom. "When the Lord" Jesus thus built up Sion, he appeared in his glory; the heathen feared his name, and all the kings of the earth" adored his majesty, because he had "regarded the prayer of the destitute" sons of Adam, in their worse than Babylonish captivity, and had arisen himself to be their Saviour and mighty Deliverer. We in these latter days look and pray for the second appearance of the same Redeemer, with power and great glory, to raise the dead, and to build up from the dust a Jerusalem which shall experience no more vicissitudes, but continue for ever in unchangeable beauty and brightness.

18. This shall be written for the generation to come; and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD."

The history of "this" redemption and restoration by Messiah, thus foretold, had been "written" in the Gospel for the benefit of "after generations," to the end that "the people who are created" anew in Christ Jesus, may from age to age praise Jehovah, in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual

songs: as it is done at this day in the church, and ever will continue to be done, till the choirs of heaven and earth shall be united before the throne of the Lamb.

19. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; 20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 21. To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; 22. When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD."

Redemption is the subject of praise in the Christian church; and the process of that great work is here described by images borrowed from the temporal deliverance and restoration of Israel. God is represented as looking with an eye of pity from heaven upon poor mankind; as hearing the groans of sinners, fast bound in the chains of their sins, and sentenced to death eternal; as coming down to forgive and release them; that being so forgiven and released, they might cause the church to resound with his praises, when, upon the preaching of the Gospel, it should be filled with converts, assembled from every people and kingdom of the world. Look down, O Lord Jesus, yet once again upon thy servants, still under the dominion of death, and the bondage of corruption; loose these chains, even these also, O Lord, and bring us forth into the glorious liberty of thy children; that with the whole assembly of the redeemed, in the heavenly Jerusalem, we may bless and praise thy name for ever and ever.

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23. He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.” The prophet, in the person of captive Sion, having, from verse 13, to verse 22, expressed his faith and hope in the promised redemption, now returns to his mournful complaints, as at verse 11. Israel doubteth not of God's veracity, but feareth lest his heavy hand should crush the generation then in being before they should behold the expiration of their troubles. They were in the way," but their "strength was so weakened," and their days shortened," that they almost despaired of holding out to their journey's end. A sore trial hath the Christian church to undergo in the last days, before the second advent of her Lord and Saviour. Strong faith and invincible patience will be necessary to enable her to endure until the end shall come.

24. And I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations."

Israel prayeth that the holy seed might not be extirpated, and perish by a kind of untimely death, ere yet the promise had been made good, and Sion had seen the salvation of her God. Every man hath reason to pray, that God would not take him away in the midst of his days," or call upon him when unprepared; but that time may be allowed him, to perfect his repentance, and work out his salvation.

25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end."

Amidst the changes and chances of this mortal life, one topic of consolation will ever remain, namely, the eternity and immutability of God our Saviour; of him who was, and is, and is to come. Kingdoms and empires may rise and fall; nay, the heavens and the earth, as they were originally produced and formed by the WORD of God, the Son, or second Person in the Trinity, to whom the Psalmist here addresseth himself; (see Heb. i. 10.) so will they at the day appointed, be folded up, and laid aside, as an old and worn-out garment; or, if the substance remain, the present form and fashion of them will perish, and they will be utterly changed and altered from the state in which they now are. But Jehovah is ever the same his years have no end, nor can his promise fail, any more than himself. 66 Heaven and earth," saith he, "shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away," Matt. xxiv. 35.

"28. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee."

Whatever be the fate of the present generations, whether they may live to see the accomplishment of all that has been foretold or not, yet the word of God standeth sure; there shall be always a church, and a holy seed, to whom the promises shall be made good. They have already been fulfilled with regard to the advent of Messiah, and the vocation of the Gentiles. The events which are behind, will be brought forward and come to pass in their seasons, until the counsel of God shall be finished, and every prediction receive its full accomplishment in the glorification of the redeemed.

PSALM CIII.

ARGUMENT.

In this evangelical and most comfortable hymn, David, after, 1, 2. exciting himself to the work, 3-5. praiseth Jehovah for the mercies of redemption; 6, 7. celebrateth his goodness to Moses and Israel; 8-13. setteth forth the Divine philanthropy, under various beautiful expressions and images; 14-16. describeth, in a manner wonderfully affecting, man's frail and perishable state; but, 17, 18. leadeth him, for consolation, to the everlasting mercy of God in Christ, the stability of whose throne and kingdom, 19. he declareth, and, 20-22. calleth upon heaven and earth to join with him in blessing and praising his holy name.

"1. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name."

The Psalmist, about to utter a song of praise, first endeavours to awaken and stir up his "soul" to the joyful task. He calleth forth all his powers and faculties, "all that is within him," that every part of his frame may glorify its Saviour; that the understanding may know him, the will choose him, the affections delight in him, the heart believe in him, and the tongue confess him. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me bless his holy name.'

"2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

Thanksgiving cannot be sincere and hearty, unless a man bear impressed upon his mind, at the time, a quick sense of the "benefits" received; and benefits we are most apt to "forget;" those especially, which are conferred upon us by God. Therefore David repeateth his self-awakening call, and summoneth all his powers of recollection, that none of the Divine favours might continue unnoticed and unacknowledged. A catalogue of such particular mercies, temporal and spiritual, as each individual hath experienced through life, might be of service to refresh the memory upon this important head.

"3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thine infirmities."

At the head of God's mercies must for ever stand "remission of sin," or that full and free pardon purchased for us by Jesus Christ, whereby, if we truly repent and believe in him, our transgressions, though ever so many, and ever so great, are done away, and become as if they had never been: from a state of guilt we pass into one of justification, from a state of enmity into one of reconciliation, from a state of servitude into one of liberty and sonship. Next to the pardon of sin, considered as a crime, we are to commemorate the cure of it, considered as a disease, or indeed as a complication of diseases-"Who healeth all thine infirmities." The body experienceth the melancholy consequences of Adam's offence, and is subject to many infirmities, but the soul is subject to as many. What is pride, but lunacy? what is anger, but a fever? what is avarice, but a dropsy? what is lust, but a leprosy? what is sloth, but a dead palsy? Perhaps there are spiritual maladies similar to all corporeal ones. When'

Jesus Christ was upon earth, he proved himself the Physician of men's souls by the cures which he wrought upon their bodies. It is he alone who "forgiveth all our iniquities;" it is he alone who "healeth all our infirmities." And the person who findeth his sin cured, hath a wellgrounded assurance that it is forgiven.

"4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth, or, encircleth, thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies."

Man hath two lives; he is therefore subject to a double destruction; and, consequently, capable of a twofold redemption. He, who is recovered from sickness, and thereby "redeemed" from that "destruction" which natural death bringeth upon the body, will undoubtedly sing this strain in transports of gratitude; and he ought so to do. But what will be the sensations of him, who celebrates, in the same words, the spiritual redemption of his soul from death and destruction everlasting? How is he "crowned" with the "loving-kindness" of Jehovah, how is he encircled by the arms of mercy! "Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour;" never-ending length of days; true riches that abide for ever; and the honour which cometh from God only.

"5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

It is God who giveth us the "good things" of this world, and who giveth us likewise an appetite and a taste to enjoy them. It is God who restoreth a body, emaciated by sickness, to bloom, vigour, and agility. And he doth greater things than these: He "satisfieth" all the desires of the soul with a banquet of spiritual dainties, and bestoweth on her a relish for the same. By the renovating power of his Spirit, he restoreth her from decrepitude to the health and strength of a young "eagle;"* so that she can ascend up on high, and contemplate the splendour of the son of righteousness. Thus, at the day of the resurrection, clothed anew with salvation and glory, the body likewise shall arise from earth, and fly away as an eagle towards heaven, to begin an immortal life, and be for ever young.

"6. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. 7. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel."

From a consideration of his own particular case, the Psalmist maketh a general reflection on that attribute of God, which inclineth him to deliver his people, and to punish their oppressors, of what kind soever they be. And here, that grand display of the "ways" and "works" of Jehovah, the redemption of "Israel" by the hand of "Moses," immediately occurs, and is celebrated. Thus each private mercy, whether of a temporal or spiritual nature, should remind us of that public and universal blessing of redemption by Jesus Christ, from which every other blessing floweth, as a stream from its fountain, and for which God ought, therefore, upon all occasions to be praised and glorified.

"8. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."

When Moses desired Jehovah to show him his way, and his glory, (Exod. xxxii. 13. 18.) Jehovah passed by, and proclaimed himself, as here, "Jehovah, merciful, and gracious," &c. Exod. xxxiii. 6. How full of consolation to the penitent soul are all the words of this verse! The LORD is "merciful," 7, the bowels of his tender compassion yearn over us, as those of a mother yearn over the child of her womb; "yea, a woman may forget her sucking child, yet can he not forget us," Isa. xlix. 15. He is

* Of all birds it is known, that they have yearly their moulting times, when they shed their old, and are afresh furnished with a new stock of feathers. This is most observable of hawks and vultures, and especially of "eagles," which when they are a hundred years old, cast their feathers, and become bald, and like young ones, and then new feathers sprout forth. Thus St. Ambrose. "Aquila longam ætatem ducit, dum vetustis plumis fatiscentibus, nova pennarum successione juvenescit." Dr. Hammond.

"gracious," n, ready to give us freely all things that are needful for our salvation. He is "slow to anger," bearing with the frowardness of his children, with their provocations and relapses, for 40, 50, 60, 70 years together, before he strikes the blow, giving them, by his long-suffering, time for repentance. And he is "plenteous in mercy," 10, great, mighty in mercy, placing his chief glory in his attribute, and hereby teaching us how to estimate true greatness.

9. He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities."

God's chastisements are some of the most eminent proofs of his mercy. They are sent to reclaim us, and to save us from eternal punishment. They continue not "always," but are removed when they have done their work; and while they last, are as nothing, in comparison of those heavy stripes which our sins have deserved."

11. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear him. 12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him."

We are here presented with three of the most beautiful, apposite, and comforting similitudes in the world. When we lift up our eyes and behold around us the lofty and stupendous vault of heaven, encircling, protecting, enlightening, refreshing, and cherishing the earth, and all things that are therein, we are bidden to contemplate in this glass the immeasurable height, the boundless extent, and the salutary influences of that mercy, which, as it were, embraceth the creation, and is over all the works of God. Often as we view the sun rising in the east, and darkness flying away from before his face towards the opposite quarter of the heavens, we may see an image of that goodness of Jehovah, whereby we are placed in the regions of illumination, and our sins are removed and put far away out of his sight. And that our hearts may, at all times, have confidence towards God, he is represented as bearing towards us the fond and tender affection of a father, ever ready to defend, to nourish, and provide for us, to bear with us, to forgive us, and receive us in the paternal arms of everlasting love.

14. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 15. As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."

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The consideration of man's frail and perishable estate weighs with the Almighty, and prevails upon him to spare his creature. And doth not the tear of compassion start in the eye of him, who reads the description which David hath given of it in these verses?" Man," fallen, mortal man, "his days are as grass;" like that, he cometh out of the earth, and continueth but a short time upon it; "as a flower of the field," fair but transient, so he" unfoldeth his beauty in youth, and "flourisheth" a while in the vigour of manhood; but lo, in a moment, the breath of Heaven's displeasure, as a blighting "wind, passeth over him, and he is gone;" he boweth his drooping head, and mingleth again with his native dust; his friends and his companions look for him at the accustomed spot, which he once adorned -but in vain the earth has opened her mouth to receive him, and "his place shall know him no more.

"17. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18. To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them."

Let not man presume, who withereth like the green herb; but then, let not man despair, whose nature, with all its infirmities, the Son of God hath taken upon him. The flower which fadeth in Adam, blooms anew in Christ, never to fade again. "The mercy of Jehovah," in his Messiah, "is