How much is it to be wifhed, that this was more regarded in finging pfalms. Then fhould we hear no more of this objection; but believers in the ufe of this, and of all the means of grace, would be feeking not entertainment, but communion with God, which is our highest privilege, and they would be expecting the improvement of it, which is their highest happiness.

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Another objection may be made to this collection. If all the pfalms be alike the word of God, why fhould these be selected, and the reft excluded? I do not exclude any, not a letter or tittle. They are all of equal authority, all given by the inspiration of the Almighty. There is the fame divine ftamp and impreffion upon every word. For which reason I reverence what is left, as much as thefe: But thefe are fufficient for our use, and thefe, f rightly used, will lead us to understand and to value the reft. If any thing here faid fhould be the means of explaining the fùbject of the book of pfalms, and of enabling believers to fee more of the glory of the Lord Jefus Christ, then they will not only value this collection, but will alfo, as occafion offers, fing the reft with increafing melody in their hearts unto the Lord.

The

The collection of pfalms, which I have here made, cannot be fung aright by any one, unless he thus aims at the glory of God. He must be a true believer in Jefus, and made fenfible of the Father's love to him in his Son: Because they are chiefly fongs of praife, and require the mufic of the heart: He, who is in tune to make the best melody, has the deepest fenfe of his obligations to free grace. He has found redemption through the blood of Jefus, and is convinced of his acceptance through the righteousness of Jefus. He fees all bleffings, temporal, fpiritual and eternal provided for him by the Father's love in the Son's fulness, and by the faith of the operation of the holy Spirit he receives them, as he wants them, day by day. He feels himself a poor needy creature, unworthy of the leaft of thofe bleffings, and while he is in this humble frame he is thankful for the least. Then he is moft difpofed to give the glory of all his mercies to the eternal Three, and to acknowlege his debt in every appointed way. This makes him defirous of profiting others by finging the praifes of that good God who has fo exceedingly loved him, and herein he has an especial regard to his brethren in Christ. As a church-member he frequents ordinances,

enters

enters into the spirit of them, prays in the holy Ghoft, hears and mixes faith with the word; fings with the congregation, and with his heart and voice tries to increase their melody. He lives the chriftian. In his walk and converfation he fhews forth the praises of God. He glorifies his Father which is in heaven, before men, and lets them fee, that they who are happy believers in Jefus have found their heaven upon earth. Thus he goes on his way, finging and rejoicing in the Lord-ready to join the great concert of faints and angels-yea he does join, afcribing with them all the good he has and hopes for to the free grace of the holy bleffed and glorious Trinity.

Reader, art thou one of this happy number? Is thy heart in tune to fing pfalms of praise to thy God? Is he thy Father which art in heaven, and doft thou love him for the unspeakable gift of his Son? Until he be known to thee in this dear relation, thou canst not be happy in him either in earth or heaven. If thou art thinking he has mercy in store for thee, how waft thou brought to believe it? Was it in God's appointed way, and in his means? Didft thou hear his word declaring what thy ftate was, and didft thou yield to its teftimony, perfuad

ed

ed thou waft under guilt and in great danger? Waft thou convinced of the exceeding finfulness of fin, how abominably filthy it made thee in the fight of an holy God-how guilty in the fight of a jutt God, and how utterly helpless it has left thee in thyself? Did this conviction follow thee? Waft thou made deeply and thoroughly fenfible, that thou can't do nothing for thyfelf, but haften on thy ruin? Such is thy captivity to fin, all the powers and faculties of thy foul and body are in fuch bondage to it, that thou can't do nothing but ferve it, yea thou art fuch a willing flave, that if God leave thee to thyself, thou wilt go on finning through time, and finning through eternity.

Didst thou never fee thyfelf in this ftate? The fcripture declares, that thou art by nature a child of wrath-and doft not thou believe the word of God? Are its threatenings an idle tale? What! art thou still asleep in the arms of fin, in the midst of the thunder of the vengeance of God-ftill dreaming of happiness in the ways of fin, which God affures thee in his word will lead thee to destruction. O defperate delufion! May God deliver thee from it. May the eternal Spirit accom pany his own meffage and fend it to thy

heart

heart-" Awake thou that fleepeft, and "arife from the dead, and Chrift fhall "give thee light."

If thou hast been made sensible of thy danger, what thinkeft thou of Chrift? If thou haft feen thyfelf a loft finner, who is to fave thee? To whom, or to what doft thou look for help? To man, or to God; to thyfelf, or to Chrift? To thy works, or to his? Is Chrift become thine only object? Examine with care : for there is but one right way to the city of habitation. "I am the way," fays Jefus. Be affured, there is falvation for thee in no other. Nothing can wafh thee clean, but the atoning blood of Jesus. Nothing can juftify thee, but his righteoufnefs. His all-fufficient grace alone can keep thee in the way to heaven.

He

alone can present thee spotlefs there before the throne. Every other hope will dif appoint thee, but hope in Jefus. One day all the reft will prove refuges of lies. If thou buildeft on them now with confidence, they will fail thee at the bar of God. Thou wilt then find, that other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jefus Chrift.

If thou art enabled to build upon this rock, happy art thou. Hail, thou that art highly favored: The Lord is with

thee.