PSALM CXXXIX, ARGUMENT. It seems evident, from the latter part of this noble and instructive Psalm, that the author penned it, at a time when he was persecuted and calumniated, as an appeal to the all-seeing Judge between him and his adversaries. He takes the opportunity of expatiating, in the sublimest manner, on the omnipresence and omniscience of him who forms man in the womb by his power, and preserves him through life by his providence. He then expresses his confidence that God, as knowing all things, would deliver him from his enemies; he declares his zeal and fidelity in the service of his divine Master, by whom he petitions to be proved, purified, and perfected in the way of holiness. 1. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3. Thou compassest my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether, or, When there is not a word in my tongue, io, O LORD, &C. 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6. Such knop ledge is too wonderful for me; itis high, I cannot attain unto it. The Psalmist employs a beautiful variety of expressions to denote his faith in the omnipresence and omniscience of Jehovah, to whom, in the latter part of the Psalm, he appeals, as the proper judge between him and his implacable enemies. He describes his God as having that complete knowledge of him and his affairs, which, among men, the most accurate search and the strictest scrutiny, could not obtain; as being thoroughly acquainted with all his ways or proceedings, nay, with his very thoughts, while yet existing only in embryo, in his own mind; as watching and observing him at all seasons, during the actions of the day, and his repose at night; and, in short, as having so beset him on all sides, and laid his hand upon him, that he could not move without his knowledge and consent. When we reflect, that all " things are thus naked and open to him with whom we have to do;" that, although he dwells in the highest heavens, he surveys not only the outward acts, but the very hearts and imaginations of men upon earth-must we not each of us cry out, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it;" I cannot admire it enough, for I cannot conceive of it aright! "The actual, constant consideration of God's presence, would be the readiest way in the world to make sin to cease from among the children of men, and for men to approach to the blessed estate of the saints in heaven, who cannot sin, for they always walk in the presence, and behold the face of God." See bishop Taylor's "Holy Living." 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, or, the grave, behold thou art there. 9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost paris of the sea: 10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. We can never sin with security, but in a place where the eye of God cannot behold us. And where is that place? Had we a mind to escape his inspection," whither should we go?" Heaven is the seat of his glory, creation the scene of his providence, and the grave itself will be the theatre of his power: so that our efforts will be equally vain, whether we ascend, or descend, or fly abroad upon the wings of the morning light, which diffuses itself with such velocity over the globe from east to west. The arm of the Almighty will still at pleasure prevent, and be ready to arrest, the fugitives in their progress. Darkness may, indeed, conceal us, and our deeds from the sight of men; but the divine presence, like that of the sun, turns night into day, and makes all things manifest before God. The same consideration which should restrain us from sin, should also encourage us to work righteousness, and comfort us under all our sorrows; namely, the thought, that we are never out of the sight and protection of our Maker. The piety and the charity which are practised in cottages; the labour and the pain which are patiently endured in the field, and on the bed of sickness; the misery and torment inflicted by persecution in the mines, the galleys, and the dungeons; all are under the inspection of Jehovah, and are noted down by him against the day of recompense. He sees, and he will reward, all we do, and all we suffer, as becometh Christians. He who, for our sakes, caused his Son to descend from heaven to the lower parts of the earth, and from thence to ascend to heaven again, will watch over, preserve, and re-assemble the parts of our bodies, though dissolved in the grave, buried in the ocean, or dispersed to the four winds. So that, with allusion to this event also, a dying servant of God may exclaim, Whither can I go from thy Spirit? Or whither can I flee from thy presence? If, as to my spiritual part, I ascend into heaven, thou art there to receive me; if, as touching my body, I make my bed in the grave, behold, thou art there, to secure me. If I take the wings of the wind, or those yet more expeditious ones of the morning, and am carried by them to dwell in the midst of the sea, instead of the bowels of the earth, still shall I be under thy power and providence; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me fast, preserving me for a joyful resurrection at the time appointed. 13. For thou hast possessed, or, formed, my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 14. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. That God sees in darkness, and that from him nothing is hidden, his knowledge of, and power over, our most inward parts, do plainly show. He formed, and he therefore possesses, as his own property, our inward parts, and is consequently privy to all those affections and desires which flow from thence. It was he who covered us in the womb, or, as it is elsewhere expressed, who "clothed us with skin and flesh, and fenced us with bones and sinews;" a work so astonishing, that, before the Psalmist proceeds in his description of it, he cannot help breaking forth in rapture at the thought: "I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made!" With awful joy I view this frame of mine, LOWTH. 16. 15. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought, or, variegated, like needle-work, in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect ; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Our bodies are gradually formed and matured for the birth, like plants and flowers under ground. The process is compared to that in a piece of work wrought with a needle, or fashioned in the loom; which, with |