RELIEF IN GOD ALONE. 37 he makes his application to him under this name. I call upon thee, Jehovah. In the application it may be observed, that he prays that God would cause his ears to be attentive, after the manner of men, who seriously attend to what is spoken to them, when they turn aside from that which they regard not. Also, the earnestness of the soul in this supplication, which is evident, both from the reduplication of his re- quest, "Lord, hear my voice, let thine ears be attentive to my Voice ;" and the emphatical nature of the words he uses, " Let thine ears be (in the Hebrew, diligently) attentive." The word signifies the most diligent heed- fulness and close attention ; let thine ears be very at- tentive, and unto what l " to the voice of my supplica- tion ;" generally say interpreters, of my deprecations, or earnest prayers for the averting of evil or punish- ment. But the word is, to be gracious or merciful; so that it signifies properly, supplications for grace. "Be attentive, O Lord, to my supplications for grace and mercy," which, according to my extreme necessity, I now make unto thee. And in these words the Psalmist sets forth, in general, the frame and working of a gra- cious soul cast into depths and darkness by sin. We hence derive these two propositions: The only attempt of a sinentangled soul for relief lies in an application to God alone. " To thee, Jehovah, have I cried; Lord, hear." Depths of sin- entanglements will excite a gracious soul to intense and earnest supplications unto God. "Lord, hear; Lord, attend." Dying men do not usually cry out slothfully for relief. I. Trouble, danger, disquietude invariably lead us to seek relief. A drowning man needs no exhortation to endeavor his own deliverance and safety; and spiritual
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