Psalms 1

The collector of these five books of Psalms, or David himself (as Apollinarius and others think), prefaces to them by a short discourse about the last end of man; just as the philosophers were wont to do in their books of morality; and as Christ himself doth in the beginning of his sermon on the mount.’ The end of man is blessedness; and the way to it, observance of God’s law; which he lays down here as the foundation (so St. Basil conceives it) of the whole ensuing work. So that we rnay bestpw upon this Psalm the title of MAKAPI2MQ2 ( i.e. Blessedness, out of Athanasius’s epistle to Marcellinus, and Theodoret’s preface to this Fsalm.

Psalms 1:1

BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Great is the happiness of that man, unspeakably great, who hath not trod, in the steps of the “ungodly (who have no other’rule of their actions but their own lusts and passions); or, if he hath at any time been seduced by them, timely retracted his folly, and did not persist,like those obdurate wretches, in evil courses; much less persevered so long, and proceeded so far in his « impiety, as to resolve to be one of that pestilent.company, who deride and scoff at all religion!,

Psalms 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. But his pleasure is to do the will of God, by following his counsels which he hath given in his holy laws; with which he advises and consults continually, and with unwearied study endeavours to be thoroughly acquainted with them.

Psalms 1:3

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water y that bringeth forth his fruit in his season: his leaf also shall not wither; and ivhatsoever he doth shall prosper.* You may behold an emblem of this man’s happiness, in those trees which are planted by such trenches as derive their water from a perpetual fountain. As.they are green and flourishing all the year, and never fail to reward the gardener’s pains at the time he expects to receive their fruit; so shall this pious man be ever prosperous, and in the issue reap a plentiful fruit of his labours; for there are none of his enterprises but shall succeed, according to his heart’s desire. *.

Psalms 1:4

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. O, how miserably will those men be deceived, who hope to thrive as well, or better,- by their impiety! it is too little to say, that they shall be like trees without any moisture; the light and useless chaff, which is blown away with the wind, is a fitter resemblance of them: for so shall all their counsels, designs, and endeavours, to root themselves in the earth, be scattered and come to nothing. -.

Psalms 1:5

Tlierefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. Therefore let them not think to defend themselves when God comes to judge men according to their works: for whatsoever plea they make, or power they have, they shall certainly be overthrown. It is possible, for the present, they may seem to equal or overtop the prosperity of the righteous: but there will be a time when God will make a difference, and give the righteous a happiness wherein they shall have no share at all.

Psalms 1:6

For the Lordknoweth the way of the righteous: but the wqy of the ungodly shall perish. For he approve^ and highly esteems the obedience pf the righteous to his holy laws, and therefore will certainly reward it: but that lewd course of life which the wicked lead, he utterly hates, and they shall infallibly perish in it..’”.,•’’.,’ *