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THE

WORKS

OF THE

RIGHT REVEREND

GEORGE HORNE, D. D.

LATE

LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH;

TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED

MEMOIRS OF HIS LIFE, STUDIES,

AND

WRITINGS,

BY WILLIAM JONES, M.A. F.R.S.

ONE OF HIS LORDSHIP'S CHAPLAINS,

AND LONG HIS MOST INTIMATE AND CONFIDENTIAL FRIEND.

IN SIX VOLUMES.

VOL. III.

LOND

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, F. & C. RIVINGTon, r. faulder, G. Wilkie
& J. ROBINSON, J. WALKER, G. ROBINSON, R. LEA, J. NUNN,
CADELL & DAVIES, CUTHELL & MARTIN, VERNOR, HOOD,

& SHARPE, LONGMAN, HURST, REES, & ORME,

J. RICHARDSON, & J. M. RICHARDSON.

ON THE

BOOK OF PSALMS.

FIFTEENTH DAY.-MORNING PRAYER.

PSALM LXXV.

ARGUMENT.

The prophet, 1. gives thanks, with the church, to God for the manifestation of his NAME, and the wonders of salvation wrought thereby. 2. He declares his resolution of executing judgement and justice in his kingdom, which, 3. had been in disorder and confusion; 4, 5. he rebukes the wicked; 6-8. reminds them of the power, providence, counsels, and judgements of God; 9, 10. he concludes with repeating his resolution to praise God, to break the power of wickedness, and to establish righteousness.

VER. 1. Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near, thy wondrous works declare.

The church offers up her repeated praises to God for deliverance; she acknowledges the presence of

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his NAME in the midst of her, which had been evidenced by the "wonderful works" wrought for her salvation. Upon whatever occasion these words were originally endited, the Christian church now celebrates in them that great deliverance which, by so many miracles of mercy and power, hath been accomplished for her through Messiah, who is in Scripture frequently styled, "the NAME of Jehovah." See Isa. xxx. 27.

2. When I shall receive the congregation, I will judge uprightly.

The first verse was spoken by many persons ; "unto thee, O God, do we give thanks;" here the speaker is one, and that one is plainly a ruler, who promises, that when he shall have "received the con

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gregation," or, as some render it, "when he shall "have gotten an appointed, or fit time, or season,' that is, when he shall be established in power and authority, at a fit time and place, he will "judge uprightly," and introduce a thorough reformation into a kingdom, which, as we shall find by the following verse, stood greatly in need of it. From these circumstances it should seem most probable, that David is speaking of his advancement to the throne of Israel, and the intended rectitude of his administration, when he should be settled thereon. What David did in Israel, was done in the church universal, by him who sat upon the throne of David, when he "received," for his inheritance, the great "congregation" of the Gentiles, and the earth was full of the "righteousness" of Jehovah,

3. The earth, or, the land, and all the inhabitants

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thereof, are, or, were, dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it.

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Civil distractions, and the continual irruptions of foreign enemies, had thrown the Israelitish affairs into confusion, and "dissolved" the frame of government; until, by the re-establishment of royal authority, countenance and support were again given to all the subordinate magistrates; who are, in their respective stations, the "pillars" of a community. Such was the universal corruption and dissolution of manners both among Jews and Gentiles, when Messias, entering upon his regal office, reformed the world, raised the glorious fabric of the church, and made his apostles and their successors the "pillars" of his spiritual kingdom. Let men support religion; and God will support them,

4. I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly; and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: 5. Lift not up your horn on high; speak not with a stiff neck.

"Where the word of a king is, there is power." The prophet addresses himself to the opposers of his government, and the disturbers of Israel: he urges the "folly" of exalting themselves against their prince; and exhorts them, for their own sakes, to humility and obedience. Is not this the very message which the ministers of Christ have received from their King, and are commanded to deliver to the world?

6. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south: 7. But God is the judge; he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

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