The Prayer. I know, O Lord, that it is a thing both joyful and profitable, and my bounden duty, to give Thee thanks, both night and day, in prosperity and adversity; for the great mercy and truth of Thy promises is manifested at all times, and in all conditions: let me never forget to meditate in Thy works; and though I cannot fathom the depth of Thy wisdom in them, grant me the more to love and admire Thy transcendent perfections appearing in all the operations of Thy hands, works of wonder: for and in the which I humbly beg I may continually praise Thy Name, not only in word, but also in deed and in truth; and that as the night of my life cometh on, and I grow more full in days, so I may be also more fruitful " in all good works, to the glory of Thy Name, through Jesus Christ, &c." PSALM CXXXIV. To be used in the night, as wherein the people of God excite each other to the praise of God, in their night assemblies in His House. Ver. 1. "Behold now, praise the Lord : all ye servants of the Lord." Divine praise being the highest of religious duties, becomes the lips of such only as are devoted to the service of God. 2. "Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord" who both night and day are intent upon this high and holy employment "in the courts of the house of our God." But especially such as be ordained to the administration of holy offices in the house of God. Mystically, God hath three courts, through which we must enter into His house the Church, and be entitled to His service: 1. Faith, which is the outer court; 2. Hope gives a nearer admission into His Presence; 3. Charity unites our hearts unto God, and inflames them to His praise. 3. "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord." Not by our words only, but by the works of our hands God must be glorified". And to do this worthily, 4. "The Lord that made heaven and earth, give thee blessing out of Sion." Is a blessing that descends from above, but is conveyed by the ministry of the Church. Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. The Prayer. O Lord, Who hast made heaven and earth for the service of man, and man more immediately to serve Thee; give unto all Thy servants grace, and to me also, to lift up holy hands and pure hearts to praise Thee night and day in the courts of Thy House, and in all the works of our hands to glorify Thy Name: And to this end, let Thy blessing through the ministry of Thy Church descend upon us in this life, that we may inherit the blessings of Thy Church triumphant in Heaven, through Jesus Christ, &c. CXXXIXth PSALM PARAPHRASED. Ver. 1. O Lord, the righteous God, Who triest the very hearts and reins, "Thou hast searched me out," through all the windings and turnings of my deceitful heart, "and known me" in all the most hidden and inmost of my thoughts and desires; "Thou knowest my down sitting," both with what company, and when alone, both with what intentions and what affections; "and my up-rising," with what guilt, or innocence, I arise from every of my actions in all which "Thou understandest my thoughts long before," even : before they be conceived in my mind, as knowing my inclinations to entertain such or such thoughts. 2. "Thou art about my path," wherein I walk, "and about my bed," wherein I rest; "and spiest out all my ways," seeing both the equity and iniquity both of my affections and actions, in all my ways both of rest and motion, ease and labour. 3. "For lo, there is not a word in my tongue, but Thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether;" both, first, its original conception in my mind; secondly, my inten m Mat. v. 16. tion in its utterance with my mouth; thirdly, its good or bad influence upon others; "O set a watch over my mouth, and guard the door of my lips, that I offend not in my tongue." 4. "Thou hast fashioned me behind and before," moulded me throughout into this goodly shape and proportion of parts whereof I consist: "and laid Thine hand upon me," supported me in this being Thou hast given me. 5. "Such knowledge" as appears both in my creation and preservation, "is too wonderful and excellent for me, I cannot attain unto it" it excels the reach of my apprehension, even to wonder and astonishment. 6. "Whither then shall I go from Thy Spirit," which filleth the world, and containeth all things?". or whither shall I go from Thy presence?" Who art every where by Thy essence, power and presence, both within and without the world? 7. "If I climb up into Heaven, Thou art there," in highest Majesty and Glory: "if I go down to hell, Thou art there also :" in the nether hell, by the execution of Thy righteous judgments: and in the grave also; for that very dust whereinto the dead bodies of men are dissolved, is preserved from annihilation by Thy essential presence therewithal. 8. "If I take the wings of the morning," which even in a moment overspreads and enbeams the face of the whole earth, and be conveyed as swift as lightning to " remain in the utmost parts of the sea," beyond all the habitable parts of this inferior world 9. "Even there Thine hand" of powerful influence "shall lead me:" I should not otherwise live, and move, and have a being: "and Thy right hand,' which renders to every man according to his works, "shall hold me," to give an account of all my ways and doings. I will not therefore assay to fly from Thee, though justly displeased for my sins; but rather upon the wings of true repentance, I will fly unto Thee, even into the arms of Thy unspeakable mercy, through the merits of my dearest Saviour. 10. "If I say," through the deceitful imaginations of my darkened heart, "surely the darkness," which hideth all things from the sight of men, "shall cover me" from the sight of God also; I shall soon be convinced of the folly of such a gross conceit: for "then shall my night," the most secret of my thoughts, and closest deeds of darkness, "be turned unto day," be as clearly seen as in the noon-day sun. 66 11. Yea, the darkness," that which is such to us, "is no darkness with Thee; the darkness and light to Thee are both alike," Who seest all things in the brightness of Thine own transcendent essence, without the mediation of material light. 12. "For my reins are Thine;" my innate and most secret lusts and pronenesses to evil, escape not Thy scrutiny and view: "Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb;" by the influence of Thy power and providence, I was in the materials of my being preserved from abortion. 13. "I will give thanks unto Thee" as for my making, so also that "I am fearfully and wonderfully made," my formation in my mother's womb being a prodigious piece of workmanship and indeed, " marvellous are" all "Thy works" both of creation, preservation, &c. 14. "My bones," though hid from the eyes of men, under the covering of flesh and skin, "are not hid from Thee," for they are framed by Thee, "though I be made secretly;" both invisible and inconceivable is the way of my formation, " and fashioned" like some curious embroidery, or net-work, through the variety of my spreading veins, arteries, sinews, ligaments, “beneath in the earth" or in my mother's womb, than the which the earth affords not a more secret shop or workhouse. 15. "Thine eyes" of prescience, power and providence, "did see my substance yet being imperfect," decree me to be a living man, when I was yet but an unshapen embryo: "and in Thy book were all my members written;" every joint, sinew, vein, were delineated as in a book by Thy hand of power, goodness and wisdom. 16. "Which day by day where fashioned," grew up by degrees into a perfect shape, and proportion of parts, "when as yet" a little space before "there was none of them," they did not exist in nature, or were no other than a deformed lump of unclean seed. 17. "How dear" and pre cious, yea, mysterious and profound, "are Thy counsels unto me, O God," when I consider with what an unfathomed depth of wisdom, mercy and justice Thou dost order all things in Heaven and earth: "O how great is the sum of them!" the number, variety, use and beauty of them cannot be summed up. 18. "If I tell them," I undertake an impossible task; for "they are more in number than the sand" upon the sea-shore, which cannot be numbered: and therefore "when I awake up, I am present with Thee," in contemplation of Thy marvellous works, and of Thy good providence over me, both sleeping and waking. 19. "Wilt Thou not slay the wicked, O God," who forget Thee, and the wondrous works which Thou hast done? "Depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men:" I will not communicate with you in your sinful desires and doings, which tend to the murder and everlasting destruction of your immortal souls. 20. "For they speak unrighteously against Thee:" if they speak of Thee, O Lord, it is not aright, and as becometh the honour of Thy Name: "and Thine enemies take Thy Name in vain." And therefore they are Thine enemies, because Thy Name, which is Great, Wonderful, and Holy, is profaned by them. 21. "Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee ?" Í should not otherwise love Thee, O Lord, did I not hate all them, not in their persons, but in their sinful actions, whereby they are hateful and offensive to Thy Majesty. "And am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee?" Their rebellion and disobedience is a great grief, and a wound unto my spirit. 22. "Yea, I hate them right sore, as though they were mine enemies," even because they are Thine enemies, through the iniquity of their doings: and herein, 23. "Try me, O God," as the silver is tried, when the dross is purged thence; that I may both love mine enemies as they are mine, but hate them as Thine: "and seek out the ground of my heart," purge out that core of corruption from whence all unlawful love and hatred issues: "Prove me, and examine my thoughts;" purify my soul in all her imaginations, affections and in |