PSALM CIX.
[To ma EDISTO& OF THE "SniezrAT6o."] Sin,—" A Student of Scripture " is satisfied with the explana- tion of this Psalm offered by Archbishop Benson, but a study of the Old Testament shows plainly that the vindictive spirit which our Lord condemns was sometimes even regarded as a virtue. Not to go beyond the Psalter, let him refer to Psalms xli., lain, vv. 23 sq., hrxriii. v. 13, lxxxviii., cxl. In the lxviii. Psalm the words "-that thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies and that the tongue of thy dogs may be red through the same' are put into God's mouth. And this Psalm, is specially chosen- for Whitsunday 4 It may be observed also that the prayer- for vengeance Is often levelled at the enemy of the individual Psalmist. In one passage we read, "Do not I hate them, 0 Lord, that hate tree? Yea, I hate them right sore, even as though they were mine enemies." Oar Lord plainly declared that it is worse than useless to put new wine into old bottles, but He has not been obeyed. The old wine still seems better. Throughout the ages words of Scripture have been held to justify, and even commend, the cruellest massacres.-1 am, Sir, &c., SENEx.
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