cessary to divest David and Asaph, &c. of every
other character but that of a psalmist and a saint, and to make
them always speak the common sense, and language of a Christian.
"Attempting the work with this view, I have entirely omitted several
whole psalms, and large pieces of many others; and have chosen out
of all of them, such parts only as might easily and naturally be
accommodated to the various occasions of the Christian life, or
at least might afford us some beautiful allusion to Christian
affairs. These I have copied and explained in the general style
of the gospel; nor have I confined my expressions to any particular
party or opinion; that in words prepared for public worship, and
for the lips of multitudes, there might not be a syllable offensive
to sincere Christians, whose judgments may differ in the lesser
matters of religion.
"Where the Psalmist uses sharp invectives against his personal
enemies, I have endeavoured to turn the edge of them against our
spiritual adversaries, sin, Satan, and temptation. Where the
flights of his faith and love are sublime, I have often sunk the
expressions within the reach of an ordinary Christian: where the
words imply some peculiar wants or distresses, joys, or blessings,
I have used words of greater latitude and comprehension, suited
to the general circumstances of men.
"Where the original runs in the form of prophecy concerning Christ
and his salvation, I have given an historical turn to the sense:
there is no necessity that we should always sing in the obscure
and doubtful style of prediction, when the things foretold are
brought into open light by a full accomplishment. Where the writers
of the New Testament have cited or alluded to any part the Psalms,
I have often indulged the liberty of paraphrase, according to the
words of Christ, or his Apostles. And surely this may be esteemed
the word of God still, though borrowed from several parts of the
Holy Scripture. Where the Psalmist describes religion by the fear
of God, I have often joined faith and love to it. Where he
speaks of the pardon of sin, through the mercies of God, I have
added the merits of a Saviour. Where he talks of sacrificing goats
or bullocks, I rather chuse to mention the sacrifice of Christ,
the Lamb of God. When he attends the ark with shouting into Zion,
I sing the ascension of my Saviour into heaven, or his presence
in his church on earth. Where he promises abundance of wealth,
honour, an
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