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THE TWELFTH Psalm of Degrees, BEING The CXXXI. PSALM,
Was composed by David in the life-time of Saul, when most humble, innocent, and distant from the Succession to the Crown, though then suspected, envied, and accused: It was appointed to be used at the Jews Return, because no temper better qualifies us for God's Mercy, nor more becomes us under the greatest Mercies, (such as those we have enjoyed) than that Humility, Self-denial, Resignation, and Affiance in God's Will, which are here exemplified in the first and second Verses, and exhorted unto in the last.
While the Psalmist with that frequent Elegancy in the holy Tongue, suppresseth the Imprecation, and imposeth a kind of Silence upon him∣self after his Attestation, proceeding to an Asseveration, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 If I have not, &c. viz. still'd and pacifi'd my Soul as the Waves, levell'd and smooth'd my Brow like the face of the Ground, and have put my Hand upon my Mouth; viz. I have ceased from crying and throbbing, as at the Mother's command the Child doth, who although weaned, can without Sollicitude yield and conform to the Mother's Direction and Provision.
Thus the Comparison is fitly squared, As a Child is in quiet and order with its Mother, so is my Soul with me: (As the Jewish, Arab. notes the Repetition to import) I have weaned it from Transgressions: Non arrogavi mihi magna, mirabilia, inconcessa, inhonesta, as the first Verse intimates; and this whole Psalm, saith Grotius, savours much of a Gospel Spirit, as of that gracious and modest Disposition with which David was endowed; eminently, so as to make him be stiled, After God's own Heart.