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never investigate, in a style which poetry can never equal: while history is made the vehicle of prophecy, and creation lends all its charms to paint the glories of redemption. Calculated alike to profit and to please, they inform the understanding, elevate the affections, and entertain the imagination. Indited under the influence of Him, to whom all hearts are known, and all events foreknown, they suit mankind in all situations, grateful as the manna which descended from above, and conformed itself to every palate. The fairest productions of human wit after a few perusals, like gathered flowers wither in our hands, and loose their fragrancy; but these unfading plants of Paradise become, as we are accustomed to them, still more and more beautiful; their bloom appears to be daily heightened; fresh odours are emitted, and new sweets extracted from them. He who hath once tasted their excellencies, will desire to taste them yet again; and he who tastes them oftenest will relish them best."

TABLE OF PSALMS.

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PRAYERS.

1. Prayers for Pardon of Sin, Psalm 6 25 38 51 130 Psalms, stiled Penitential, 6 32 38 51 102 130 143 2. Prayers, composed when the Psalmist was deprived of an opportunity of the public exercise of Religion, Psalm 42 43 63 84

3. Prayers, wherein the Psalmist seems extremely dejected, though not totally deprived of consolation under his afflictions, Psalm 13 22 69 77 88 143 4. Prayers, wherein the Psalmist asketh help of God, in consideration of his own integrity, and the uprightness of his cause, Psalm 7 17 26 35 5. Prayers, expressing the firmest trust and confidence in God under afflictions, Psalm 3 16 27 31 54 56 57 61 62 71 86

6. Prayers, composed when the people of God were under affliction or persecution, Psalm 44 60 74 79 80 83 89 94 102 123 137

7. The following are likewise Prayers in time of trouble and affliction, Psalm 4 5 11 28 41 55 59 64 70 109 120 140 141 142

8. Prayers of Intercession, Psalm 20 67 122 132 144

Psalms of Thanksgivings.

1. Thanksgivings for mercies vouchsafed to particular persons, Psalm 9 18 22 30 34 40 75 103 108 116 18 138 144

2. Thanksgivings for mercies vouchsafed to the Israel. ites in general, Psalm 46 48 65 66 68 76 81 85 98 105 124 126 129 135 136 149.

Psalms of Praise and Adoration, displaying the Attributes of God.

1. General acknowledgments of God's goodness and mercy, and particularly his care and protection of good men, Psalm 23 34 36 91 100 103 107 117 121 145 146

2. Psalms displaying the power, majesty, glory, and other attributes of the Divine Being, Psalm 8 19 24 29 33 47 50 65 66 76 77 93 95 96 97 99 104 111 113 114 115 134 139 147 148 150

Instructive Psalms.

1. The different characters of good and bad men: the happiness of the one, and the miseries of the other, are represented in the following Psalms, 1 5 7 9 10 11 12 14 15 17 24 25 32 34 36 37 50 52 55 58 73 75 84 91 92 94 112 119 121 125 127 128 133

2. The excellence of God's law, Psalm 19 119
3. The vanity of human life, Psalm 39 49 90
4. Advice to Magistrates, Psalm 82 101

5. The virtue of humility, Psalm 131

Psalms more eminently and directly
Prophetical.

Psalm 2 16 22 40 45 68 72 87 110 118

Historical Psalms:

Psalm 78 105 106.

THE

BOOK OF PSALMS.

THE FIRST DAY.

MORNING PRAYER.

B

PSALM 1.

LESSED 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.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season: his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

WHY

PSALM II.

WHY do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take council together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

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