hundred and thirty-fourth. Which some conceive to be written by him. It is easily observed that all were not written by David. One is ascribed to Moses, viz. the ninetieth. The rest to David, Asaph, Heman, and Ethan.

It is generally said by the Jews, such Psalms, as have no Title, belong to David.

Out of this sacred collection of Psalms, and Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, which joined together are styled in the Bible The Book of Psalms, such were chosen as suited the several festivals of the Passover, the Feast of Pentecost, the Great Day of Atonement, The Festival of the New Moons, and Blowing of Trumpets, The Feast of Tabernacles, The Weekly Sabbaths, The Sabbatical year, the Jubilee, and various other occasions.

Each of these five sacred divisions of the Book of Psalms may be observed, as they end with the word Amen, which is sometimes twice repeated, and if that word is not the last, then there is joined to it the word Hallelujah.

The constant and ordinary Psalms which they sang in their daily worship were these.

On the First Day of the week they sang the twenty-fourth.

On the Second Day they sang the forty

eighth.

On the Third Day of the Week they sang the eighty-second.

On the Fourth Day of the Week they sang the ninety-fourth.

On the Fifth Day they sang the eightyfirst.

On the Sixth Day they sang the ninety-third.

On the Seventh, or Sabbath Day, they sang the ninety-second.

These were the constant fixed Psalms. But on some certain days there were other Psalms and Songs.

Those styled Songs of degrees are considered by some, as sung by the people, when they came up from Babylon. By others they are considered as sung by the Levites, on the stairs of the Temple. And by others they are thought from the word degrees, or ascensions, to be descriptive of the goings up of Jesus, step by step, to his highest state of exaltation.

In singing these sacred poems, as an ordinance of the Lord's, the Holy Ghost created in the minds of the worshippers, who were regenerate and spiritual, such conceptions of the person, incarnation, worth, and work of Jesus, and of the Father's love in him to them, as gave them good reason for saying, Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ".

b 1 John i. 3.

In a Jewish treatise the reasons why the Psalms already mentioned are used are thus given.

"On the first day of the week they sang the Psalm which begins thus, The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, &c. Because on the first day of the week, or on the first day of the creation, God possessed the world, and gave it possession and ruled it.

"On the Second Day of the week they sang the Psalm which begins thus, Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, &c. For on that day the Lord divided his works, and reigned over them.

"On the Third Day they sang the Psalm which begins thus, God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, &c. Because on that day the earth appeared, on which his judging among the judges, and his wisdom discovered in creating the earth by his power, and establishing the world by his understanding, were most divinely evidenced and set forth.

"On the Fourth Day they sang the Psalm which begins thus, O Lord God to whom vengeance belongeth, &c. Because on it God made the sun, moon, and stars, and will most surely be avenged on such as worship them.

"On the Fifth Day they sang the Psalm which begins thus, Sing aloud unto God our strength, &c. Because of the

variety of creatures that were made that day to praise his name.

"On the Sixth Day they sang the Psalm which begins thus, The Lord reigneth, he is cloathed with majesty, &c. Because on the sixth day he finished his works, having made man, who understands the glory of the Creator; and the Lord ruled over all his works. Thus they descant*"

On the Seventh Day they sang the Psalm which begins thus, It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, &c. And,

On the Sabbaths there was an additional sacrifice, beside the daily oblation according to appointment'. And at the time of this additional sacrifice the Levites sang Moses' Song in Deuteronomy. It begins thus, Hear O heavens, and I will speak, &c. They divided it into six parts, and sang one part of it every Sabbath; and so in six Sabbaths they finished it, and then began again. And on the Sabbath evening they sang Moses' song recorded in Exodus xv. It begins thus, I will sing unto the Lord, &c.

At the additional sacrifice appointed. on the first day of the year, which was called The Feast of Trumpets, because they were sounded to give notice of the * Dr. Lightfoot.

iNumbers xxviii. 9, 10.

* Ib. xxix. 1, 2. &c.

beginning of a new year, the Levites sang the eighty-first Psalm. And if the first day of the year fell on the fifth day of the week, for which this Psalm was appointed in the ordinary course, then they said it twice over; once at the daily sacrifice, and once at the additional sacrifice. But at one of these times they began at the sixth verse.

"At the evening sacrifice of the first day of the year they sang the twentyninth Psalm. And if the first day of the year happened on the Sabbath, the Psalms for the first day of the year were sung, and took place of the Sabbath.

"At the Passover, and some other times, they sang the Hallel. It consisted of the following Psalms, cxiii. to cxviii. This was called the Egyptian Hallel. It was said over eighteen times in the year, viz. At the killing of the Passover, at the Feast of Pentecost, on the eight days of the Feast of Dedication, and on the eight days of the Feast of Tabernacles. There was also what was styled the Great Hallel, which was the 136th Psalm. To which they sometimes added the 105th Psalm1."

I will, Thirdly, take notice of the various orders, officers, offices, and work of the Priests, Levites, Singers, and Porters engaged in the Temple, and shew how ! Dr. Lightfoot.