Paraphrase of the Psalm, and Plan of the Work

1. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee 0 Lord,

2. Lord hear my voice, let thine ears be attentive to the

voice of my supplications.

0 Lord, through my manifold sins and provocations I have brought myself into great distresses. My iniquities are always before me, and I am ready to be overwhelmed with them, as with a flood of waters; for they have brought me into depths wherein I am ready to be swallowed up. But although my distress be great and perplexing, I do not, I dare not utterly despond, and cast away all hopes of relief; nor do I seek unto any other remedy or means of relief, but I apply myself to thee, Jehovah, to thee alone. And in this my application unto thee, the greatness and urgency of my troubles make my soul urgent, earnest and pressing in my supplications. Whilst I have no rest, I can give thee no rest: 0, therefore, attend and hearken unto the voice of my crying and supplications!

3. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lordj who

shall strnd?

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It is true, O Lord, thou God, great and terrible, that if thou shouldest deal with me in this condition — with any man living — with the best of thy saints, according to the strict and exact tenor of thy law, which first represents itself to my guilty conscience and troubled soul, there would be neither for me nor them the least expectation of deliverance; all flesh must fail before thee, and the spirits which thou hast made, and that to eternity; for who could stand before thee when thou shouldest so execute thy displeasure 1

4. But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be

feared.

But, O Lord, this is not absolutely and universally the state of things between thy Majesty and poor sinners; thou art, in thy nature, infinitely good and gracious, ready and free, in the purposes of thy will, to receive them. And there is such a blessed way made for the exercise of the holy inclinations and purposes of thy heart towards them, in the mediation and blood of thy dear Son, that they have assured foundations of concluding and believing that there is pardon and forgiveness with thee in the way of thine appointment. This way, therefore, will I, with all that fear thee, persist in: I w411 not give over, leave thee, or turn from thee, through my fears, discouragements and despondencies; but will abide constantly in the observance of the worship which thou hast prescribed, and render the obedience which thou dost require, having great encouragement so to do.

5. I wait for the Lord; my soul doth wait, and in his

word do I hope.

And herein, on account of the forgiveness that is with thee, O Lord, do I wait with all patience, quietness and perseverance. In this work is my whole soul engaged; even in an earnest expectation of thy approach unto me in a way of grace and mercy. And for my encouragement therein hast thou given me a blessed word of grace, a faithful word of promise, wherein my hope is fixed.

6. My soul waiidh for the Lord more than they that

watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

Yea, in the discharge of this duty my soul is intent upon thee, and in its whole frame turned towards thee j and that with such diligence and watchfulness in looking .out after every way and manner of thy appearance, of thy manifestation of thyself, and coming unto me, that I excel therein those who, with longing desire and earnest expectation, wait and watch for the appearance of the morning; and that either that they may rest from their night-watches, or have light for the duties of thy worship in the temple, in which they most delight.

7. Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is

mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Herein have I found such rest, peace and satisfaction to my own soul, that I cannot but invite and encourage others to take the same course with me. Let, then, al) the Israel of God, all that fear him, learn this of me and from my experience: Be not hasty in your distresses; despond not, despair not, turn not aside Xc other remedies; but hope in the Lord; for I can now in an especial manner, give testimony to this, that there is mercy with him suited to your relief. Yea, whatevei your distress be, the redemption that is with him is sc bounteous, plenteous and unsearchable, that the undoubted issue of your performance of this duty wil be, that you shall be delivered from the guilt of all your sins, and the perplexities of all your troubles.

My design in the ensuing treatise is to illustrate the leaching of the Holy Ghost in this Psalm, as expressing, in the experience of the Psalmist and the working of his faith, ike state of a soul in itself greatly perplexed — relieved ihrougfi Divine grace — and acting towards God 07id his saints suitably to the displays of that grace: a great design and full of great instruction. To be more particular, we have

The state of the distressed soul. “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.”

His afplication to God alone for relief. ‘’ Lord hear my voice let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.”

His deprecation of God’s justice. “If thou, Lord, shovldest mark iniquities 0 Lord, who shall stand 1”

The relief found in God’s mercy. ‘’But there is forgiveness with Thee that thou mayest be feared.”

The acting of his faith towards God. ““^ I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I trust. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning, I say more than they that watch for the morning.” And

The acting of his faith towards the saints. “Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

The Lord, in mercy, so dispose of these meditations, that both he that writes and they that read may be made partakers of the benefit, relief and consolation intended for his saints, in this psalm, by the Holy Ghost.