Ver. 3. They also &c.] “For they commit no iniquity who walk in his ways.” Green.

— — and nothing shall offend them.] Or, cause them to fall. Dr. Wells.

Psalms 119:6

6.—when I have &c.] All the commandments have the same Author, and the same sanction. He who thinks to atone for the breach of one, by the observation of another; he who reserves to himself a licence of indulging any favourite darling lust, while in general he preserves the appearance of an exemplary conduct, is an hypocrite; and, unless he repent, will be brought to shame, if not before men here, yet before men and angels hereafter. Bp. Horne.

praises, and professions of obedience. # BETH.

Psalms 119:9

9. Wherewithal shall a young man &c.] Youth enters upon the journey of life headstrong and inexperienced, with a bias of original corruption, and all the passions awake. In such circumstances, how shall a young man direct his steps, so as to “escape the pollution that is in the world through lust?” He must for this purpose take with him the directions to be found in the Scriptures of truth. Bp. Horne.

10. — have I hid! Have I treasured up. Green.

Psalms 119:12

12. Blessed art thou, &c.] The meaning seems to be this, Thou, O Jehovah, art blessed, that is, art the supreme God, to whom I acknowledge all blessing and adoration to be due; teach me therefore thy statutes, as being the only laws to which we owe all obedience. Mudge.

Psalms 119:14

14. I have rejoiced &c.] Truth and holiness afford to the sincere believer a pleasure more exquisite, as well as more solid and enduring, than that which a miser feels at the acquisition of his darling wealth. Let us no longer envy the joys of worldly men, no longer be chagrined at the prosperity of the wicked. The “true riches” we may always acquire; and, surely, as much as heaven is higher than the earth, so much are heavenly joys above earthly, in kind, degree, an I duration. Bp. Horne.

VOL. II.

Psalms 119:18

18. — that I may behold &c.] That is, that I may be able to comprehend the Divine mysteries contained in thy law. Dimock.

Psalms 119:19

19.—the gates of righteousness.] The gates of the sanctuary. Dr. Wells.

19. I am a stranger &c.] I am a stranger, unacquainted with the way; give me thy commandments to guide me.

Psalms 119:20

20. My soul breaketh &c.] That is, my soul is wasted with a continual longing after thy judgments. Edwards.

Psalms 119:21

21. Thou hast rebuked &c.] Thou rebukest the proud; cursed are they that stray from thy commandments. “The proud” always mean, the contemptuous disregarders of God and his laws. Mudge.

Psalms 119:22

22. The stone &c.] No text of the Old Testament is quoted by the writers of the New so often as this, which we meet with in five different places: see the margin. The sum and substance of the New Testament applications and expositions is, that Jesus Christ is the stone here mentioned; that He was rejected and set at nought by the chief priests and Pharisees, the then builders of the Church; but that, being chosen of God, and precious to Him, this most valuable stone, thus despised and rejected of men, was at length exalted to be the chief corner-stone in the building, and a centre of union for the Jew and Gentile, the two parts of which it consisted; that this was the work of God, and the admiration of man. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 119:24

24. This is the day &c.] Of the day on which Christ arose from the dead, it may with more propriety than of any other day be affirmed, “This is the day which the Lord hath made.” Then it was that the rejected stone became “the head of the corner:” a morning then dawned which is to be succeeded by no evening. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 119:25

25. My soul cleaveth &c.] I am brought exceeding low by thy afflicting hand: oh, do Thou raise and comfort me, as Thou hast graciously promised. Bp. Hall.

Psalms 119:27

27.—bind the sacrifice &c.] Bind the sacrifice, or lamb, with cords; (which was done previous to slaying it;) offer it up at the horns of the altar. See Exod. xxx. 10. Dimock.

—even unto the horns of the altar.] The meaning of this passage probably is, that the sacrifices offered would be so great that the accustomed place for the victims would not be large enough to hold them, but from their number they would press even to the very “horns of the altar.”

This Psalm, which the Jews sang at their feasts, should be made use of by Christians in giving thanks to God, not only for the favours and deliverances,

Psalms 119:29

29, 30. Remove from me &c.] It is plain that “the way of truth,” in the latter of these two verses, is opposed to “the way of lying,” or of falsehood, in the former. The one comprehends every thing in doctrine or in practice that is right, and therefore “true;” the other denotes every thing that is wrong, and therefore “false.” Bp. Horne.

Psalms 119:32

32. — when thou shalt enlarge my heart.] When Thou I The psalmist professeth his comfort in God’s word.

Psalms 119:37

37. Turn away mine eyes &c.] Oh, let not mine eye betray my heart unto vanity; let me not be so transported with any earthly objects, as to depart from my perfect love of Thee, and desire of heavenly things. Bp. Hall.

— quicken thou &c.] Give me grace to go on with more and more vigour in thy way. Dr. Wells.

45. — I will walk at liberty: The liberty of the sons of God; freed from the fetters of sin.

46. My hands also will I lift &c. I will earnestly employ myself, and all my actions, to the performance of what Thou commandest me. Bp. Hall.

Psalms 119:49

49. Remember the word &c.] The Psalmist here instructs us to prefer our petition upon these grounds; first, that God cannot prove false to his word; “Re

have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. # ZAIN.

Psalms 119:50

50. – quickened me.] Revived me in my sorrows. Dr. Wells.

Psalms 119:54

54. — in the house of my pilgrimage.] In all my wanderings up and down, I Sam. xxii. 1, 2. 5, and xxiii. 13. Bp. Patrick.

Psalms 119:56

56. This I had.] That is, this composure of mind and cheerfulness of spirit. Bp. Patrick.

Psalms 119:60

60. I made haste, &c.] No future time that we can fix upon will be more convenient than the present is for our reformation. On the contrary, the more we defer, the more difficult and painful our work must needs prove; every day will both enlarge our task, and diminish our ability to perform it. We should consider that we are mortal and frail, and therefore any designs of future reformation may be cut off by death; which is always creeping towards us, and may, for all we can tell, be very near at hand. Dr. Barrow.

The benefit of afflictions.

Psalms 119:70

70. Their heart is as fat &c.] The “fatness of the heart” implies, in this place, two things in those of whom it is affirmed; luxury, and its consequence, insensibility to those spiritual and divine truths, which are not only the study, but the “delight” of temperate and holy persons. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 119:71

71. It is good for me &c.] There is a class of most important duties, which can only be practised in affliction; namely, patience and composure under distress, pain, and affliction: a stedfast keeping up of our confidence in God, and our dependence upon his final goodness, even at a time that every thing present is discouraging and adverse; and, what is no less difficult to retain, a cordial desire for the happiness and comfort of others, even then, when we are deprived of our own. The possession of this temper is almost the perfection of our nature. But it is then only possessed when put to the trial: tried at all it could not have been in a life made up only of pleasure and gratification. It is in the chambers of sickness; under the strokes of affliction; amidst the pinchings of want, the groans of pain, the pressures of infirmity; in grief, in misfortune; through gloom and horreur, that it will be seen, whether we hold fast our hope, our confidence, our trust in God; whether this hope and confidence be able to produce in us resignation, acquiescence, and submission. Archdeacon Paley.

Psalms 119:74

74. — when they see me;] When they see me delivered out of all these troubles. Dr. Wells.

Psalms 119:75

75. I know, &c.] From whatever quarter afflictions come upon us, they are the “judgments of God,” without whose providence nothing befalls us. His judgments are always “right,” or just, duly proportioned to the disease and strength of the patient; in sending them God is “faithful” and true to his word, wherein He hath never promised the crown without the cross, but hath, on the contrary, assured us, that one will be necessary in order to our obtaining the other; and that they who are beloved by Him shall not sin with impunity, nor go astray without a call to return. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 119:79

79. — turn unto me.] Turn to my side, and become my friends. Bp. Patrick.

Psalms 119:81

81. My soul fainteth &c.] My soul languisheth with a longing desire of thy salvation; yet still I am sustained by an assured hope of thy merciful performances. Bp. Holt.

Psalms 119:83

83. — like a bottle in the smoke;] Bottles, among the Jews, were made of skins. One of these, if exposed to heat and “smoke,” would become shrivelled and useless. Such a change will labour and sorrow cause in the human frame; and the Psalmist here represents, that his beauty and strength were gone, and the natural moisture dried up; in consequence of which the skin

I 2 The stability of God’s word. The psalmist declareth faithfulness.

Psalms 119:85

85. — which are not after thy law.] Who act without any regard to thy law. Mudge.

Psalms 119:89

89. For ever, &c.] Or, “Thy word, O Lord, is for ever, it is firmly fixed like the heavens.” God’s word, and his truth and faithfulness, upon which his laws are founded, are as fixed as the heaven and the earth; for they owe their durability to the same word and truth. Green, Mudge.

Psalms 119:95

95. — I will consider thy testimonies.] I will carefully attend to thy commands. Mudge.

Psalms 119:96

96. I have seen an end &c.] Of “all perfection” in this world, whether of beauty, wit, learning, pleasure, honour, or riches, experience will soon shew us the “end.” But where is the end or boundary of the word of God? Who can ascend to the height of its excellency; who can fathom the depth of its mysteries; who all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

Psalms 119:99

99, 100. I have more understanding &c.] That is, the spiritual wisdom, in which thy law instructs me, for conducting myself most advantageously, is infinitely to be preferred before all other knowledge. Dr. Hammond.

Psalms 119:101

101. — the freewill offerings of my mouth.] The “offerings” of the believer are prayer, praise, and holy resolutions and vows, like that of the Psalmist above, to keep God’s righteous judgments, in which he therefore petitions to be more and more taught and instructed by the Spirit of truth. Bp. Horne. “Freewill offerings” were such sacrifices as were not offered by the law, or for any fault, but for the sake of thanksgiving. Rosenmüller. 109. My soul is continually in my hand: I am exposed to continual danger of my life. Bp. Hall. See the note from Dr. Durell on Job xiii. 14.

Psalms 119:111

111. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage] That his love of God’s law. The excellency of God’s judgments.

Psalms 119:118

118. — for their deceit is falsehood.] Because it will fail and ruin those who trust in it. Bp. Horne.

119. Be surety for thy servant for good: Do thou take my cause upon Thee, and stand out for the protection of mine innocence. Bp. Hall.

Psalms 119:126

126. It is time for thee,—to work:] To shew thy hatred of the wicked courses of men, by executing due judgments upon them. Bp. Hall.

— made void thy law.] The law of God is “made void” by those who deny its authority, or its obligation; by those who render it of none effect through their traditions, or their lives. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 119:129

129. Thy testimonies are wonderful: &c.] The Scriptures are “wonderful,” with respect to the matter which

PE.

Psalms 119:130

130. The entrance of thy words &c.] That is, Thy word or law is no sooner known, but it enlightens the mind with most useful knowledge. Dr. Wells.

— it giveth understanding unto the simple.] Or, to the most unlearned, so far as to teach them how they may be happy. Dr. Wells.

Psalms 119:131

131. — and panted:] An action expressive of great and affectionate desire.

Psalms 119:139

139. My zeal &c.] “Zeal” is a high degree of love; and when the object of that love is ill-treated, it vents itself in a mixture of grief and indignation, which are sufficient to wear and “consume” the heart. This will be the case, where men rightly conceive of that dishonour, which is continually done to God, by creatures

g Ps. 69. 9. John 2 17. The righteousness of God’s judgments. The security of the righteous. timonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. KOPH.

Psalms 119:150

150, 151. They draw nigh that follow &c.] If our enemies “draw nigh” to destroy us, God is still nearer to preserve us; and however his word may be rejected by the wicked, the faithful always find it to be true, to their great and endless comfort. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 119:152

152. — thou hast founded them for ever.] That is, thy will and pleasure is firm and stedfast, and shall never fail those that depend upon it. Bp. Patrick.

Psalms 119:159

159, 160. Consider how I lace &c.] It is observable how the Psalmist delights to dwell on these two grateful topicks, the “lovingkindness” of God in promising salvation, and his “truth” in the constant performance of that promise to his Church, while she loves and adheres to his “precepts.” Thus it hath been “from the beginning,” and thus it will be until the whole counsel of Heaven shall be fulfilled, by the resurrection and salvation of the just. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 119:164

164. Seven times &c.] That is, many times in the day. Bp. Hall.

Psalms 119:165

165. Great peace &c.] To enjoy a peace which sets us above the power of evil; which places us out of the reach of fortune; which inspires us with courage in the

cies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.

Psalms 119:168

168. — before thee.] That is, perfectly known to Thee. The consideration of God’s omnipresence is the best motive to an holy life. Bp. Wilson.

That this Psalm may be read with improvement, it will be convenient to add to the particular reflections already made, these three principal reflections: 1. That the law of God is most excellent, and its effects most wonderful. David teaches us, that this Divine law is the most perfect; that it gives a heavenly light which enlightens us; that it gives understanding; that it purifies and rejoices the heart; that it supports us in afflictions; that it gives us unspeakable peace of conscience; and that it is infinitely better than all the crea-