Page:Illustrations of the Holy Word.pdf/64

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56
ILLUSTRATIONS OF

brought into spiritual captivity, and yet have not confirmed themselves in such transgression,—verse 46.

The intercession of Solomon in all the above cases implies the intercession of the Divine Mercy, and a gracious declaration that divine aid is near and at hand to all those who fall under the description of penitent supplicants in any or all of those cases.


144. It is written in the Psalms, I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes, (Psalm ci. 3,) to denote that the Lord never looks at what is contrary to Himself, and to His kingdom, but only at what is in agreement with Himself, because derived from His own divine love and wisdom, according as it is written in another place, The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, (Psalm xxxiv. 15.)


145. We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly, (Psalm cvi. 6,) is a passage expressive of the different kinds and degrees of opposition, on the part of man, to the laws of the Most High, sinning having respect to evil in the will, or love; committing iniquity, to evil in the understanding, or thought; and doing wickedly, to the joint effect of both, in producing disorderly works, or perverse conduct and conversation.


146. It is written in the Book of Psalms, (lviii. 3,) The wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies; but it ought to be written thus, in agreement with the original Hebrew, The wicked are alienated from the womb, they have