Expositions on the Book of Psalms (continued)
PsaLtm CVI.] ON THE: PSALMS: 527 while he might have said, all His commandments, or, all the works of His commandments 5 he preferred saying, '' His praises."
For the Lord giveth sight to the blind," not by their own merits, but in the felicity He giveth to His chosen, which is the meaning of "the felicity of Thy chosen:" as, the help of my countenance, is not of myself, but is my God.' And we speak of our daily bread, as ours, but we add, Give unto us... " That Thou mayest be praised with Thine inheritance." I wonder this verse hath been so interpreted in many copies, since the Greek phrase is one and the same in these three verses. . . . But since this seemeth a doubtful expression, if that sense be true according to which interpreters have preferred, "That Thou mayest be praised," the two preceding verses also must be so understood, because, as I have said, there is one Greek expression in these three verses; so that the whole should be thus understood, " Visit us with Thy salvation, that Thou mayest see the felicity of Thy chosen ;" that is, visit us for this purpose, that Thou mayest cause us to be there, and mayest see us there ; that "Thou mayest rejoice in the gladness of Thy people," that is, that Théu mayest be said to rejoice, since they rejoice in Thee ; that "Thou mayest be praised with Thine inheritance," that is, mayest be praised with it, since it may not be praised save tor Thysakes 02% 6. But let us hear what they next confess: "we have sinned with our fathers: we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly" (ver. 6). What meaneth "with our fathers"? . . . " Our fathers," he saith, "regarded not Thy wonders in Egypt"
4. But unless there were some difference between judgment and righteousness, we should not read in another Psalm, " Until righteousness turn again unto judgment." The Scripture, indeed, loveth to place these two words together; as, " Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His seat ;''? and this, " He shall make thy righteousness as clear as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day ;"3 where there is apparently a repetition of the same sentiment. And perhaps on account of the resemblance of signification one may be put for the other, either judgment for righteousness, or righteousness for judgment: yet, if they be spoken of in their proper sense, I doubt not that there is some difference; viz. that he is said to keep judgment who judgeth rightly, but he to do righteousness who acts righteously. And I think that the verse, ' Until righteousness turn again unto judgment," may not absurdly be understood in this sense: that here also those are called blessed, who keep judgment in faith, and do righteousness in deed. . . . 5. Next, since God justifieth, that is, maketh men righteous, by healing them from their iniquities, a prayer followeth: "' Remember me, O Lord, according to the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people" (ver. 4): that is, that we may be among those with whom Thou art well pleased; since God is not well pleased with them all. "O visit me with Thy salvation." This is the Saviour Himself, in whom sins are forgiven, and souls healed, that they may be able to keep judgment, and do righteousness; and since they who here speak know such men to be blessed, they pray for this themselves... . "Visit us," then, "with Thy salvation," that is, with Thy Christ. 'To see the felicity of Thy chosen, and to rejoice in the gladness of Thy people" (ver. 5): that is,-visit us for this reason with Thy salvation, that we may see the felicity of Thy chosen, and rejoice in the gladness of Thy people. For " felicity'? + some copies read "sweetness ;"" as in the former passage, " For He is gracious ;"' where others read, *' for He is sweet." And it is the same word in the Greek, as is elsewhere read, "The Lord shall show sweetness:"?5 which some _ have _ translated "felicity," others "bounty." But what meaneth, "Visit us to see the felicity of Thy chosen:" that is, that happiness which Thou givest to Thine elect: except that we may not remain blind, as those unto whom it is said, '' But now ye say we see: therefore your sin remaineth." ° (ver. 7); and many other things also, he doth relate of their sins. Or is, ''we have sinned with our fathers," to be understood as meaning, we have sinned like our fathers, that is, by imitating their sins? If it be so, it should be supported by some example of this mode of expression: which did not occur to me when I sought on this occasion an instance of any one saying that he had sinned, or done anything, with another, whom he had imitated by a similar act after a long interval of time. What meaneth then, "Our fathers understood not Thy wonders ;" save this, they did not know what Thou didst wish to convince them of by these miracles ? What indeed, save life eternal,'° and a good, not temporal, but immutable, which is waited for only through endurance? For this reason they impatiently murmured, and provoked, and they asked to be blessed with present and fugitive blessings, "' Neither were they mindful of the greatness of Thy mercy." He reproveth both their understanding and memory. Understanding there was need of, that they might meditate unto what eternal blessings God was calling them
Re Ps. exlvi. 8. 8 Ps, xliti. 5. 9 Matt. vi. rr. Pe thest's which might be Aaiiecned against the brilliant paradox of Warburton. —C.]
2 Ps, xcvil. 2. 4 Bonitate. © John ix. 41, I Ps, xciv. 15. 3 Ps, xxxvii. 6, 5 Ps, Ixxxv. 13,