Ordaineth His arrows?-What is meant by the ungodly digging a pit?-Give some example of the wicked falling by their own devices and snares ?-What do you mean by his own pate?

PSALM VIII.

The glory of God is displayed, in the works of Creation, and in His great love to man; also the wonderful condescension of the Lord Jesus, as Messiah, and his last great triumph when He ascended into the heavens: On this account, our Church has appointed this Psalm to be read on the Ascension Day.

5 Thou madest him lower than the angels to crown him with glory and worship.

6 Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of Thy hands and Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet;

7 All sheep and oxen: yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowls of the air and the fishes of the sea: and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord our Governor: how excellent is Thy Name in all the world!

Ver. 2. ordained strength,] Thou hast so settled it, that the meanest and weakest of Thy creatures shall shew forth Thy glory. Thou makest them strong, and so declarest Thy power by them. Thus David slew the giant. 1 Sam. xvii. 45-49. Thus the little children in the temple cried " Hosannah to the Son of

"in the midst of his wicked enemies, thereby exulfilling these words of the Psalm. Matt. xxi. And thus, as the Gospel spread, the weak preagainst the strong, the few against the many; eep against the wolves. Matt. x. 16. Luke xil. Cor. i. 25-29.

. 3. the moon and the stars,] It is thought that composed this Psalm at night, when the moon. e stars were shining brightly above him. These alled, by a figure, the works of God's fingers, ey were made by Him.

. 4. What is man,] In the midst of all this glory heavens, wonderful is it, that man, fallen man, be minded and regarded by the great Creator; with the tokens of His love, even with the good = of salvation.

5. Thou madest him lower] Man is but little han the angels, and yet may attain to a crown of and honour. The verse however chiefly alludes st, the "Son of God" and " Son of Man," who, ng upon Him our flesh, was made lower than the ; but was afterwards "exalted with great triunto His kingdom in heaven." The Apostle the passage in this manner, shewing clearly sus was the subject of David's song. Heb. ii.

6. to have dominion,] To have rule. This as also ver. 7, 8.) describing the dominion of over the creation, was intended to foreshew the ereign power and dominion of Christ over all ld. Heb. ii. 8. What the first Adam lost by ession, the second Adam (Jesus Christ) re

gained by His perfect obedience. Accordingly we hear Him saying, after His resurrection," All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matt. xxviii. 18. See also Phil. ii. 5-11.

Ver. 8. The Psalm ends as it began, with repeating the praise of Jehovah, for the glorious works of creation and redemption.

"Who can express the noble acts of the Lord, or shew forth all His praise?" How grand and astonishing is the view of the heavens! How is the mind filled, how lost in wonder, as we behold the moon travelling in her brightness through the dark blue sky, in the midst of ten thousand times ten thousand stars! What an idea does it give us of the power and glory of the Creator! and yet but a poor idea. Far higher He is than the highest heavens; yea they are as nothing in comparison. "Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not: yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man that is a worm, and the son of man, which is a worm." Job. xxv. 5. 6. Yet the Lord hath respect unto us, and loadeth us with His benefits," unworthy as we are. Yea, the eternal Son of God has humbled Himself for our sakes; to recover us from our fallen condition, and to shew us better things to come. He has died and won the crown, that we may die and win it also. Weak we are, but we go forth in His strength and not our own: unworthy we are; but "worthy is the Lamb." Blessed Jesus! "how excellent is Thy name in all the world!" Blessing and honour and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And let all the people say, Amen.

QUESTIONS.

Out of what did God ordain strength?-What is meant by this verse? How and when was it applied by our Lord?—When did the weak prevail over the strong?-Whom did God make lower than the angels ?-And why?-Over what has man dominion?-Who gave it him?-What other dominion is here alluded to?-How does the Psalm begin and end?

THE SECOND DAY.

MORNING PRAYER.

PSALM IX.

David praises God for the destruction of enemies, and prays for future deliverances; and the language he uses, both of praise and prayer, is suited to the Church in all ages.

1 I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will speak of all Thy marvellous works.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: yea, my songs will I make of Thy Name, O Thou most Highest.

3 While mine enemies are driven back: they shall fall and perish at Thy presence.

4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause: Thou art set in the throne that judgest right.

5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and destroyed the ungodly: Thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

9 The Lord also will be a defence for the oppressed : even a refuge in due time of trouble.

10 And they that know Thy Name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek Thee.

11 O praise the Lord, which dwelleth in Sion: shew the people of his doings.

12 For when he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: and forgetteth not the complaint of the people.

13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me: Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.

60 thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: even as the cities which Thou hast destroyed; their me-in Thy salvation. morial is perished with them.

14 That I may shew all Thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion: I will rejoice

7 But the Lord shall endure for ever he hath also prepared his seat for judgement.

8 For he shall judge the world in righteousness: and minister true judgment unto the people.

15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the same net which they hid privily is their foot taken."

16 The Lord is known to execute judgment: the ungodly is trapped in the work of his own hands.

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the people that forget God.

18 For the poor shall not alway be forgotten: the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever.

19 Up, Lord, and let not man have the upper hand let the heathen be judged in Thy sight.

20 Put them in fear, O Lord : that the heathen may know themselves to be but men.

Ver. 1. marvellous,] Very wonderful.

Ver. 6. to a perpetual end, &c.] To a lasting end, to an end for ever. Thy work of destruction, O enemy, is at an end; thou art now like the cities which thou didst formerly destroy; their remembrance is lost with them; and thou also shalt be remembered no more. Such was the case with most of the nations, which fought against David and Israel; such has already been the case with many people that have fought against Christ and His people; and in due time His enemies will all utterly perish, and be heard of no more.-their memorial] Psalm cix. 14.

Ver. 8. minister,] Shall give, shall deal out righteous judgment.

Ver. 10. Thy name,] Thy mercy, wisdom, and power. Prov. xviii. 10.

Ver. 11. dwelleth in Sion:] God shewed forth His glory and revealed His will on the mercy-seat, above the ark, which was in the tabernacle on Mount Sion; and therefore He was said to dwell there. Exod. xxv. 21, 22.

Ver. 12. inquisition, &c.] When He maketh inquiry, when He taketh account of the blood of His servants which has been shed, and which has cried up to heaven against the murderers, as the blood of Abel did. Gen. iv. 10. Isaiah xxvi. 21. Thus also of the blood of Christ; it has been upon the shedders

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