OF HEART CONVERSE WITH JESUS IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS BY THE REV. DR. EDERSHEIM TORQUAY Arranged for every Sunday in the ear LONDON JAMES NISBET & CO. 21 BERNERS STREET, W. 1866. 101.y.778. O David, how hast thou sung all too little for pious souls! GREGORY OF NAZIANZUM. He only understands the words of David who suffers as David. AMBROSE. Never shalt thou comprehend David, till in thine own experience thou hast attained the feelings of the Psalms.-BERNARD. Many things doth the Spirit reserve, that He may ever have us for His disciples; many He only shows in order to allure; many He gives to affect and influence; and (as S. Augustine has so well said) if man has never so spoken as to be understood by all and in all things, much more has the Holy Spirit alone intelligence of all His own words. -LUTHER. III. Everlasting Help.-Ps. iii., IV. Rest at Even.-Ps. iv. 1-5, v. Stillness in God.-Ps. iv. 6-8, . VII. Light and Love.-Ps. v. 7-12, VIII. Saved as by Fire.-Ps. vi., IX. The Better Hope.-Ps. vii. 1-7, x. Victory and Rest.-Ps. vii. 8-17, XI. Creation and Redemption.-Ps. viii., XII. Gracious Remembrance.-Ps. ix., XIII. Faith and Patience.-Ps. x. 1-5, xv. Quietness and Assurance.—Ps. xi., XVI. Help in the Lord.-Ps. xii., XVII. Songs in the Night.-Ps. xiii., XVIII. Sin and its Cure.-Psa xiv. 1-4, XIX. The Great Interposition.-Ps. xiv. 5-7, xx. Holiness unto Jehovah.-Ps. xv., XXI. Heavenly Citizenship.—Ps. xvi. 1-5, XXII. Christ our Forerunner.-Ps. xvi. 6-11, PAGE XLIII. The Church's Doxology.-Ps. xcix., XLIV. Holy Resolutions.-Ps. ci., XLV. Comfort to the Mourner.-Ps. cii. 1-12, XLVI. The Priest-King-Ps. cx., XLVII. Quiet Resting Places.-Ps. cxvi. 1-12, XLIX. The Broken Snare.-Ps. cxxiv., Erratum.-In pp. 43, 58, and 85, for STADIUM read STUDIUM. PREFACE. THE main object for which these Meditations were originally written down, was practically to exhibit a mode of reading the Scriptures, and especially the Book of Psalms, which has been found most useful and precious by many of God's people. This consists in turning them, verse by verse, and almost clause by clause, into spiritual food, by making them subject of devout meditation and object of believing prayer. It is wonderful how, when thus musing, the fire burns within us, and our words of prayer flow apace. Our desires are drawn out, our faith, hope, and love are quickened and exercised, our prayers cease to be vague, and become special and earnest, and the Scriptures are opened up to us. The Holy Spirit shines upon His own Word and into our hearts. In this respect, I may venture to say that some of the most blessed hours of the writer have been spent over these pages, and if in their perusal the reader derive, in any measure, the |