THE INTRODUCTION. T HE Christian Church has in all Ages, with great Reason, appointed the Psalms to be constantly read in its Publick Service: There ! : being no Book in the Holy Scriptures, wherein are such high Raptures of Devotion, transmitting to Mankind the most awful and fublime Ideas of the Supreme Being, and the Immensity of his Goodness in the Redemption of the World by the MES SIA H. THE learned Dr. Hammond, in his Preface to the Paraphrase on the Psalms, says, "That the Fathers of the Church assure us, " that in the first Ages of Christianity, Pfalmody was the constant Attendant, some" times of their Meals, generally of their Business, in the Shop and in the Field: "That they learnt the whole Book by Heart, " and their whole Age continued finging or "saying Pfalms. THERE is nothing, certainly, doth more prepare the Mind for the highest Felicities, than the Contemplation and Love of the Su A 2 preme preme Being; for infinite Goodness, Omnipotence, and Omniscience, do dilate, awe, and chear the Spirits, while they are fixed upon them; the Ideas of which, together with their Effects, as conveyed to the Mind in this Sacred Book, are the best Help to Divine Contemplation, as will appear in the few Instances following: Viz. : WHEN the Royal Prophet contemplates the Almighty Power of the Creator, it is thus expreffed: Pfal. viii. 1. O Lord, bow excellent is thy Name in all the Earth! thou hast set thy Glory above the Heavens. ( Pf. cil. 25, 26. And thou, Lord, in the Beginning haft laid the Foundation of the Earth, and the Heavens are the Work of thine Hands; they shall perish, but thou remainest. Pf. xc. 2. Before the Mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the Earth and the World, even from everlasting to everlafting, thou art God. WHEN he fings of the Mercy of the LORD, and would make known his Faithfulness to all Generations, in how lofty a Manner does the Pfalmist express it? Pf. lxxxix. 2, 5, 6. 1 have said, Mercy Shall be built up for ever, and thy Faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very Heavens: And the Heavens shall praise thy Wonders, O Lord, and thy Faithfulness in the Congregation of the Saints; for who is he in the Heavens that can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened unto the Lord? WITH what Thankfulness and Joy does he acknowledge the Divine Goodness ? Pf. ciii. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me bless his holy Name; who forgiveth all thine Iniquities, who healeth all thy Diseases, who redeemeth thy Life from Destruction. WHEN he contemplates the Condescenfion of GOD to Mankind, with what Solemnity doth he reflect upon it ? Pf. viii. When I consider thy Heavens, the Work of thy Fingers, the Moon and the Stars, which thou hast ordained; what is Man, that thou art mindful of him? or the Son of Man, that thou visitest him? WHEN he expresses the Sense of his Guilt, and implores Pardon, with what Humility doth he prostrate himself? Pf. li. Have Mercy upon me, O God, according to to thy loving Kindness; according to the Multitude of thy tender Mercies, blot out my Transgressions; wash me throughly from mine Iniquity, and cleanse me from my Sin; for I acknowledge my Tranfgreffion, and my Sin is ever before me: Behold, I was Shapen in Iniquity, and in Sin did my Mother conceive me. WHEN he expresses his Hope in God, with what Confidence is it fix'd? Pf. xlvi. God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in Trouble ; therefore will we not fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea; for the Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge. WHEN the Pfalmist implores the Divine Favour, with what Elegancy doth he express the Vehemence of his Defires ? Pf. xlii. As the Hart panteth after the Water-brooks, so panteth my Soul after thee, O God. My Soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. Early will I seek thee; my Soul thirsteth for thee, my Flesh longeth after thee, to see thy Power and thy Glory. WHEN he speaks of the Kingdom of the MESSIAH, how fublime are the Reprefentations of his Grandeur and Magnificence ? Pf. cxlv. I will extol thee, O God, my King, and will bless thy Name for ever and ever. All thy Works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy Saints shall bless thee; they Shall speak of the Glory of thy Kingdom, and talk of thy Power; to make known to the Sons of Men his mighty Acts, and the glorious Majesty of bis Kingdom. Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and thy Dominion endureth throughout all Generations. IF the brightest Ideas, and fublimest Expressions of the most celebrated POETS be compared with these, they will appear to be flat and mean: These are Thoughts too elevated for any thing less than an inspired Heart to conceive. AS the PSALMS contain Matters of a very different Nature, some Parts being Prophecies, and others Supplications; I have attempt |