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time of writing any one Psalm, are more fully understood by reading the leading Introductions to that particular series of Psalms. For instance, David's persecution by Saul extended over a period of several years, and became the occasion of many Psalms, each of which receives some important beauty and force by attending to the general history of David at that time, as well as to his special condition at the time of writing. The same may be said of the Psalms belonging to the general period of Absalom's Rebellion, those dating at the reign of Jehoshaphat, of Hezekiah, at the Captivity, the Restoration, and numerous other instances. The reader will soon learn to be familiar with these Psalmodical epochs, and will be at no loss to know what use to make of the matter of the several Introductions.

4. Such information as seemed most important to a general appreciation of the Psalms, and which could not relevantly be thrown into the special Introductions, has been placed in the General Introduction to this work. It was at first intended to add critical and expository foot-notes to each Psalm, but, upon mature reflection, this part of the original plan was abandoned. It would make the work too voluminous, too expensive; it might tend to mar the unity and simplicity of the one great design of the work, and throw the reader more upon the notes and sayings of the annotator than on the scope, and drift, and spirit of the Psalm itself; besides, we have a goodly number of philological and expository works on the Psalms already, to which common readers may have access.

The plan herein proposed for studying the Psalms is equally, and in many instances in a still higher degree of utility, applicable to the prophetic Scriptures; and, should Providence permit, it is the intention of the author, at a future day, to complete his plan of elucidating the writings of the Hebrew prophets, and endeavouring to make them, what they ought to be and might be, a comprehensible, delightful, and most profitable reading book. Should the reader find the same pleasure and profit in reading the Psalms, in connection with the humble helps herewith submitted, which the author has found in the process of preparing this unpretending volume, let Him to whom all praise is due for all benefits, receive our devout thanksgiving; and let the fruits of our after lives be as sweet, as tasteful, and as comely, as befit always his most worthy praise, "to whom be glory and power everlasting. Amen." F. G. HIBBARD.

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PART I.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

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