PREFACE TO THE BOOK OF PSALMS. "WHO amongst the children of God has not been led to adopt the language of the inspired Psalmist, when unable to find words of his own, in which to express the emotions of his soul? Even the Lord of glory, in the very act of finishing the mighty work of Man's Redemption took up the strains of David's prophetic lamentation, and thus at once affixed the seal of divine inspiration on the Book of Psalms, and proved that David, as well as Moses, spake of him. In every age, the Church, like its divine head, has adopted these strains, whether depressed by affliction, or elated by triumph, whether bowing down in lowly supplication, or lifting up her head in joyous thanksgiving: and, as with the Church, so with the individuals who compose it, each in his closet has gladly presented before the Lord an offering of that which had been prepared by the sweet singer of Israel. It is a well known historical fact, that Luther, in seasons of great peril and discouragement, was accustomed to call his friends together, to unite with him in singing the Forty-sixth Psalm.-Many a martyr has breathed forth his soul amidst suffocating smoke and burning flames in the words of David, and of David's Lord, Into thy hands I commend my Spirit.' How many true penitents have poured out the confessions of their broken and contrite hearts in the words of the Fifty-first Psalm-Turn thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeeds; Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me; Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.' Where is the rejoicing believer who has not appropriated to himself the Hundred and eighteenth Psalm? Who, when meditating on the future and uncertain period of his departure from this probationary state, has not delighted to anticipate the hopes expressed in the Twenty-third Psalm? We have then abundant proofs from Holy Writ, from Ecclesiastical History, from the biographical records of true believers, and from the testimony of individual experience, that the Book of Psalms is of universal application." Thus far has written an esteemed and useful Author. The Psalms were written by various persons. The learned Dr. Horsley, Bishop of St. Asaph, says, certainly some of them are far more ancient than the time of David. The collection, as it now stands, was made long after David's death, and learned men generally agree, that it was made by the prophet Ezra. About seventy of the Psalms are generally admitted to have been written by David. Some of the early Fathers say that he wrote them all, but their opinion is little regarded by eminent scholars. The Jewish Rabbins say that the Psalms were composed by ten authors, viz. Adam, Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, the Sons of Korah, David, Solomon, Asaph, Jeduthun, and Ethan; but this opinion, says Dr. Adam Clarke, is very slenderly supported. Our blessed Lord and his disciples certainly used the Psalms in their devotions. It is probable that the hymn sung after the last supper was that called the Hillel, a selection usually sung by the Jews on the eve of the Passover, and consisting of the 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th, and 118th Psalms. It is matter of perfect certainty, that the Psalms were in constant use in the early Christian Churches. Dr. Adam Clarke says of the Book of Psalms, it contains all the lengths, and depths, and heights of the Patri. archal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensations. It is one of the most useful books in the Bible: it is every way worthy of the wisdom of God. Reader, may He make it more than ever a blessing to thy soul ! THE PSALMS. A table of the short Psalms only, for use in the Closet or before Prayer with the Family, when little time can be had. N.B.-Not one of these Psalms is in the opposite Table. The Book of Psalms is read in the Church of England every month in the following order. 23 110, 11, 12, 13. 25 119 fr. v. 33 to v. 72 31 104. 106. 108, 109. 147, 148, 149, 150. Read again the Psalms of the 30th. The Prayer Book Version of the Psalms was made by Coverdale, and published in 1539-it is peculiarly adapted to chanting. SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOROSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSQ******* |