Page:The spirit of the Hebrew poetry 1861.djvu/53

 sentiments which belong to the earlier stage of a progressive development of the spiritual life. The bright idea of earthly well-being pervades the Old Testament Scriptures; and this worldly sunshine is their distinction, as compared with the New Testament; but then there are many cognate ideas which properly come into their places, around the terrestrial idea. If earthly weal—if an overrunning cup—if security and continuance, belong to the centre-thought, then, by necessity, the antithetic ideas—not only of want and pain, but of whatever ill an enemy may do, or may intend—must come in, to encircle, or beleaguer the tabernacle of those whom God has blessed. Thus, therefore, does the Psalmist here give expression to feelings which were proper, indeed, to that time, but are less proper to this time: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies." A feeling is here indicated which was of that age, and which was approvable then, although it has been superseded since by sentiments of a higher order, and which draw their reason from the substitution of future for present good.

This separableness of the Divine element from the human element throughout the Inspired writings, the understanding of which is highly important, will make itself perspicuous in giving attention to two or three instances of different kinds.

Turn to the two astronomic Psalms—the eighth, and the nineteenth (its exordium). Quite unmatched are these Odes as human compositions:—the soul of