"5. The LORD upon thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. 6. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries; Heb. the head over much country."

This is a description of the vengeance which King Messiah should take on his impenitent adversaries. By "The LORD, or my LORD, upon thy right hand," 178, the same person must undoubtedly be understood, who is mentioned in the first verse under the same title, 178, as "sitting at the right hand of Jehovah." And the Psalmist, who has hitherto addressed himself to Messiah, or the Son, must be supposed now to make a sudden apostrophe to Jehovah, or the Father; as if he had said, "This my Lord Messiah, who sitteth at thy right hand, O Jehovah, shall smite through kings in the day of his wrath;" the kings of the earth will endeavour to destroy his religion, and put an end to his kingdom; the Neros, and Domitians, the Dioclesians, the Maxentiuses, the Julians, &c. &c. shall stand up, and set themselves in array against him; but "the Lamb shall overcome them;" he shall judge and punish the heathen princes, with their people, when in arms against his church; he shall raise up those who shall successfully fight his battles, and strew the ground with their "carcasses." As Messiah hath done to the antichristian power of old, so shall he do to all others, before or at his second advent. There is a day of forbearance, during which he will have his church to be, like himself, oppressed and afflicted, humble and resigned; but there is also a future day of wrath and recompense, when the sins and provocations of her persecutors shall be ripe for judgment; when their triumphs and her sufferings shall be at an end; when they shall fall for ever, and he shall ascend to heaven.

"7. He shall drink of the brook, or, torrent, in the way: and therefore shall he lift up his head."

The means, by which Christ should obtain his universal kingdom and everlasting priesthood, seem here to be assigned. In his "way" to glory, he was to drink deep of the waters of affliction; the swollen "torrent' occurred in the way, and presented itself between him and the throne of God. To this torrent in the way the Saviour descended; he bowed himself down, and drank of it for us all; and THEREFORE, hy, did he lift up his "head;" that is, he arose victorious, and from the valley, in which the torrent ran, ascended to the summit of that holy and heavenly mount, where he reigneth till "his enemies be made his footstool." St. Paul hath expressed the same sentiment in literal terms: "He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross: WHEREFORE, $10, God also hath highly exalted him,” Phil. ii. 8.

PSALM CXI.

ARGUMENT.

This is one of the proper Psalms appointed by the church to be read on Easterday. It containeth, 1. a resolution to praise Jehovah in the congregation,

* The Hebrew word signifies, in general, "a current of water," which may be either a turbid, overwhelming torrent, or a clear and gentle stream. In Psalm xviii. 4. it denotes the floods of ungodliness;" in Psalm xxxvi. 8. it is used to signify the " rivers of divine pleasures." Hence arises an ambiguity in the interpretation of the words, "He shall drink of the brook in the way," which may be expounded either of the sufferings Christ tasted, or the refreshments he experienced; as the waters are supposed to be those of "affliction," or those of “comfort.” Either way, the sense is good and true, as it relates to Messiah. Torrents, or the overflowing of rivers," in the scripture language certainly, as Dr. Durell observes, do often denote "aftlic tions:" as in Psalm xviii. 4. cxxiv. 4, 5. cxliv. 7, &c. the being oppressed by them, is also described by the action of drinking, Psalm 1x. 3. lxxv. 8, &c. And the idea of a brook in the WAY, or the ROAD, Seems so favour this exposition. But the author advances it, as becomes him to do, with great deference and submission, since Bishop Lowth, and Mr. Merrick, are of a different opi

nion.

2, 3. for his great and glorious works, and, 4. for the appointed memorials of them; 5, 6. his mercies to the church are celebrated, and, 7, 8. the equity and stability of his counsels declared; 9. the blessings of redemption, and the new covenant, are mentioned, as they were prefigured of old in God's dispensations toward Israel. 10. Religion is proclaimed to be true wisdom.

"1. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation."

Jehovah is to be "praised," not only with the voice and the understanding, but with the "heart," with the "whole” heart, and all its affections, tuned, like the chords of the son of Jesse's harp, to a song of gratitude and love. Solitary devotion hath, doubtless, its beauties and excellencies; but how glorious is it to hear the voices of a whole Christian "congregation" break forth into hallelujahs, like the sound of many waters, and the noise of mighty thunderings, while each one, as it were, provokes another to continue the blessed employment, with unremitted attention, and unabated fer

vour.

"2. The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.”

The subjects of man's praise are the works of God. Every one of these works, whether in the natural, or the spiritual system, is "great." Nothing cometh from the hands of the Divine artist, but what is excellent and perfect in its kind, adapted with infinite skill to its proper place, and fitted for its intended use. Happy are they, who with humility and diligence, with faith and devotion, give themselves to the contemplation of these works, and take "pleasure," and delight therein. To them shall the gate of true science open; they shall understand the mysteries of creation, providence, and redemption; and they who thus "seek," shall find the treasures of eternal wisdom.

"3. His work is honourable and glorious; and his righteousness endureth for ever."

The "work," of all others, in which the "honour and glorious majesty" of Jehovah appeared, and which the Christian church celebrates with this Psalm, is the salvation and exaltation of our nature, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; an event which contained in it the accomplishment of the ancient promises, and thereby demonstrated to all the world the everlasting truth, fidelity, and "righteousness," of him who made them.

"4. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered; or, he hath appointed a memorial for his wonders: the LORD is gracious, and full of compassion."

Jewish feasts were "memorials" of the "wonders" wrought for Israel of old; Christian festivals are memorials of the wonders wrought in Christ for all mankind, to whom, no less than to Israel, God had now showed himself" gracious and full of compassion."

"5. He hath given meat to them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. 6. He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may, or, might, give them the heritage of the heathen."

Agreeably to the "covenant" which God made with Abraham, as concerning his children according to the flesh, he "fed” and supported them in the wilderness, he overthrew their enemies by the might of his "power," and he put them in possession of Canaan, which before was the "heritage of the heathen." Agreeably to the covenant which God made with the same Abraham, as concerning all believers, those "children of the promise which are counted for the seed," he feedeth them in the world with the true manna, the bread which cometh down from heaven; he hath again "showed the power of his works" in the overthrow of idolatry; and

*" Escam dedit"-Manna: quæ cæteræ Dei mirabilia in memoriam revocabat: unde in Arca servari jussa, Exod. xvi. 32. Erat autem Eucharistiæ figura, quæ verè divini amoris monumen. tum æternam. Bossuct.

again, by the conversion of nations, given to his church the heritage of the heathen; although, like Israel, she is commanded, and hath had frequent admonitions, not to fix her heart on an earthly Canaan; not to expect any permanent habitation, any enduring city here below; not to stop short of an eternal and heavenly rest.

7. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness."

In all God's dispensations towards his faithful servants, and towards his impenitent adversaries, we admire and adore his "verity" in the performance of his promises to the former, and his "justice" in executing his vengeance on the latter. Thus the time of fulfilling his promise to Ab raham came not till the iniquity of the Amorites was full. The case is the same as to the coming of Christ, the subversion of paganism, the deaths of persecutors, the rise and fall of nations, the conversion or excision of individuals, and every other instance of mercy or judgment. Another property of God's works is, that, being "done in truth and uprightness, they stand fast for ever;" and will then appear in perfect glory and beauty, when all the arts and labours of man shall be no more.

"9. He sent redemption unto his people; he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend, or, terrible, is his name."

He who sent redemption to Israel by the hand of Moses, hath now sent redemption by the power of Jesus, to all the world: he who, at mount Sinai, established his covenant with his people, and gave them a law, had now established his "covenant" with the Gentiles, and published to them his Gospel from Sion. Holy is his name, and therefore "terrible" to those who, under all the means of grace, continue unholy.

10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."

The fear of God is the first step to salvation, as it exciteth a sinner to depart from evil, and to do good; to implore pardon, and to sue for grace; to apply to a Saviour for the one, and to a Sanctifier for the other. Religion is the perfection of wisdom, practice the best instructor, and thanksgiving the sweetest recreation.

PSALM CXII.

ARGUMENT.

The Psalmist enumerateth the blessings attending the man who feareth Jehovah; 1. the pleasure which he taketh in doing his will; 2. the prosperity of his seed; 3. the plenteousness in his house; 4. his comfort in trouble; 5. his internal joys; 6. the honour with which he is remembered; 7, 8. his holy confidence in God; 9. his good deeds, and the reward of them; 10. the envy, wretchedness, and perdition of the wicked. The blessings of the Gospel are spiritual and eternal; and they are conferred upon the members of the Christian church through Christ their head, who is the pattern of all righteousness, and the giver of all grace.

"1. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments; or, he delighteth greatly in his commandments."

The man who duly feareth God, is delivered from every other fear; the man who delighteth in God's commandments, is freed from every inordinate desire of earthly things; and such a man must needs be "blessed." Of this kind was thy blessedness, O holy Jesus, on whom did rest "the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah," and whose meat it was to do the will of him that sent thee, and to finish his work, Isa. xi. 2. John iv. 34.

"2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed."

A father's piety derives the benediction of Heaven upon his children. The posterity of faithful Abraham were often spared and favoured on account of their progenitor; as the whole family of believers, Abraham and all, are blessed in Him, who is the great Father of that family, and the Author of their salvation.

"3. Wealth and riches shall be in his house; and his righteousness endureth for ever."

It sometimes pleaseth God to bestow on his servants, as he did on Israel of old, the good things of this world. And a rich man is therefore happier than a poor man, because it is more blessed to give than to receive, Acts xx. 35. But the true wealth of Christians is of another kind; their riches are such as neither moth can corrupt, nor thief steal. Grace and glory are in the house of Christ, and everlasting righteousness is the portion of his children.

4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.'

While we are on earth, we are subject to a threefold darkness; the darkness of error, the darkness of sorrow, and the darkness of death. To dispel these, God visiteth us by his word, with a threefold light; the light of truth, the light of comfort, and the light of life. The Christian's temper is framed after the pattern of his Master; and he is ever ready to show to others that "love" and "mercy" which have been shown to him.

"5. A good man showeth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion."

The former part of this verse may be rendered with a little variation, "It is well with the man who is gracious and communicative." Ill nature and avarice are their own tormentors; but love and liberality do good to themselves, by doing it to others, and enjoy all the happiness which they cause. It is not God's intention, that any of the talents which he bestoweth upon us should lie dead, but that our brethren should have the use of them; even as Christ receiveth the Spirit to communicate it to us, and our salvation is his glory and joy. The latter part of this verse is likewise capable of a different, and, indeed, a more literal translation; "He will support, or maintain, his words, or, his transactions, in judgment;" that is, he who thus employed his talents for the benefit of mankind, will be able to render a good account to his Lord who intrusteth them with him.

"6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. 8. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies."

Nothing can deprive the person here described, of his felicity. When his work is done, his body will go to its repose in the dust, but the memorial of his name and of his good deeds will be still fresh as the morning breeze, and fragrant as the flower of the spring. "He feareth no evil report;" no blast of slander and malice can touch him; no tidings of calamity and destruction can shake his confidence in God; but he will hear the trump of judgment, and behold the world in flames, rather with joy than with dread; as knowing, by those tokens, that the hour of his redemption is come, when he shall see his enemies, and even death, the last of them, under his feet.

9. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall he exalted with honour."

His riches are not hoarded up, but dispersed abroad; and that not by others after his death, but by himself in his lifetime; "He hath dispersed." They are not squandered in the ways of vanity and folly, "but given to the poor;" nor are they given indiscriminately and at random, but dispersed, like precious seed, with prudence and discretion, according to the nature of the soil, and in proper season, so as to produce the most plentiful harvest,

Therefore "his righteousness endureth for ever;" its fruits and its good report are lasting among men, and it is never forgotten before God, who hath prepared for it an eternal reward. "His horn shall be exalted with honour,' or, in glory; whatever may be his lot upon earth, (and even here the charitable man will frequently be had in "honour,") at the last day, certainly when the thrones of the mighty shall be cast down, and the sceptres of tyrants broken in pieces, then shall he lift up his head, and be exalted to partake of the "glory" of his Redeemer, the author of his faith, and the pattern of his charity, who gave himself for us, and is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens.

"10. The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish."

The sight of Christ in glory, with his saints, will, in an inexpressible manner, torment the crucifiers of the one, and the persecutors of the others; as it will show them the hopes and wishes of their adversaries all granted to the full, and all their own" desires," and designs, for ever at an end; so it will excite an envy which must prey upon itself, produce a grief which can admit of no comfort, give birth to a worm that can never die, and blow up those fires which nothing can quench.

PSALM CXIII.

ARGUMENT.

The servants of God, are, 1. exhorted to praise his name, 2. at all times, and, 3. in all places, on account, 4, 5. of his power and glory, 6-8. of his mercy in redeeming man, and, 9. making the Gentile church to be a joyful mother of children. This Psalm is appointed to be read on Easter-day.

66

“1. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. 2. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore." Christians are the "servants" of Jesus Christ; and a most delightful part of their service it is to "praise" his holy and saving "name" in the church, which now useth this Psalm, among others, and with it blesseth the name of her Lord and Saviour, from age to age. The Psalmist wished and prayed that this might be done, and he foresaw that it would be done, while the world should last, upon earth, and afterwards for "evermore," in heaven.

"3. From the rising of the sun, unto the going down of the same, the LORD's name is to be praised: or, is praised. 4. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens."

At the diffusion of the Gospel through the world, the name of Christ was praised "from the east to the west," in the churches, everywhere planted by the apostles and their successors; and the grand subjects of joy and triumph among believers were, the superiority of their Master over the "heathen nations" and their idols; the exaltation of "his glory above the heavens," and all the powers therein; the might of his arm, and the majesty of his kingdom.

"5. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high! 6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in earth!"

Highly as our Lord is exalted above this system, above these heavens, and this earth of ours, yet he condescendeth to regard everything that passeth here, and to make us, the inhabitants of this lower world, and, for our sakes, all the other creatures in it, the objects of his peculiar care, and paternal love.

"7. He raiseth the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; 8. That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people."

Such is his mercy to the poor sons of Adam in their fallen estate, that