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it not be madness to neglect it? Should we not rather “ resort to it continually," yea, and abide in it, that we may enjoy the safety which is thus provided for us? If, indeed, there were any other means of safety, an option would be left us: but not all the powers of heaven and earth can save us, if we turn our back on God, to rely upon an arm of flesh. God has said, "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm but blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." To every one, therefore, I would say, Flee to your mountain, that the flames overtake you not; and "look not back in all the plain, lest ye be consumed f."] 2. The piety of it—

[David renounced every other hope but that which he had in God. Nor, indeed, did he wish for any other; because he saw that God was all-sufficient for him. He saw in God a sufficiency of grace to receive him, of power to protect him, of love to supply his every need; and hence it was that he was emboldened to offer the petition which we are now contemplating. In truth, without such views of God, no one would ever think of addressing him in such terms as these. There must be a just knowledge of God's character, with suitable affections towards him, else we could never entertain such a desire as is here expressed: it is this apprehension of his excellency that could alone inspire a wish to make him, even his very bosom, our continual resort. But all who have these views of him will unite in that grateful acknowledgment, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations"."] ADDRESS

1. Those who have never yet had these views of God

[Truly, you are greatly to be pitied. For who amongst you can hope to escape all trouble, when it is said that "we are born to trouble as the sparks fly upward?" And whither will you go, when enemies assail you? where will you flee for refuge? or in whom will you find the aid which you will stand in need of? Alas! your state, whatever it may now be, will be terrible beyond expression. You will resemble the host of Pharaoh, who found at last that the God with whom they had presumed to contend was mightier than they. On the other hand, " acquaint yourselves with God, and you shall be at peace," both now and in the eternal world.]

2. Those who have resorted to him under this character

[Hear what the Psalmist says concerning you: "Because thou hast made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most

• Jer. xvii. 5-8.

f Gen. xix. 17.

g Ps. xc. 1.

shall offer gifts: yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

THE priesthood of Christ is that to which our attention is principally called in the New Testament; the Epistle to the Hebrews being almost exclusively written upon that subject: but in the Old Testament there seems to be a far more studied exhibition of his kingly office. The whole Levitical law indeed typically displayed his priestly character: but the Prophets continually, in the most express terms, declared, that the person, who was to be "a child born and a son given," should have "the government upon his shoulder," and that an universal and everlasting dominion should be committed to him. The psalm before us is altogether occupied in describing the nature of his government, and the blessings which should result from it. There was doubtless some reference to Solomon, who was the first of the Israelites that was both "a king, and a king's son:" but the language in many parts cannot with any truth or propriety be applied to him: it can relate to none but Him who was greater than Solomon, even to the Messiah, whose glory no words can adequately describe.

The sublime passage which we have selected for our meditation at this time, will lead us to shew, I. The nature of Christ's government

It has generally happened, that those whose power has been most absolute have been most tyrannical in their use of it; and that they have sought rather the aggrandizement of themselves than the good of their subjects. But the administration of Christ, like the influence of the heavens, is,

1. Gently operative

["The showers gently descending on the parched ground, or the new-mown grass," insinuate themselves in a silent and imperceptible manner to the roots, and cause the suspended powers of vegetation to exert themselves with renewed vigour. It is thus that Christ, by his word and Spirit, renovates the soul. He comes not with the sanctions of the law, which, like e ver. 1.

a Isai. ix. 6, 7.

b Dan. vii. 13, 14.

an impetuous torrent or a desolating tempest, spread terror and dismay he descends to us rather in mild invitations and gracious promises, which, through the effectual influences of his Spirit, penetrate the recesses of the heart, and give life and vigour to the whole man. When once we are cut down, as it were, and made to feel our need of him, then he pours upon us the riches of his grace, to soften the hardness of our hearts, and to invigorate the withered faculties of our souls. As it was not by "the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, that God wrought upon Elijah, but by the still small voice," at the sound of which the prophet "wrapped his face in his mantled;" so it is with respect to the secret visits of our Lord. When he is pleased to speak to us in the mild accents of his love, then the heart is dissolved in tenderness and contrition, or sweetly elevated in devout and grateful adorations.]

2. Richly productive

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[The sickly plants, when watered, raise up their drooping heads, and bring forth, each according to its nature, their proper fruits. Thus, in the day of Christ's descent upon the souls of the "righteous, they flourish :" and "peace," the first-fruit of the Spirit," abounds within them." The image in the text beautifully represents the change which is produced, when "a season of refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord :" the person thus highly favoured "flourishes" like the palm-tree; he becomes as a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in his season: his leaf does not wither; and whatsoever he doeth, it prosperse." If the sun of persecution arise upon him, it does not now scorch him and destroy his root', but rather calls into activity his vital energies; and serves only to display with fuller evidence the communications he has received from heaven. Nothing now robs him of his peace. Much as he laments his former iniquities, they no longer disturb his peace, because the guilt of them is washed away in "the fountain opened for sin." Nor does the prospect of death and judgment appal him, because "he knows in whom he has believed," and that "there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." His rapturous joys may intermit and subside, but his peace shall continue " as long as the moon endureth."]

A due consideration of these things will lead us to rejoice in,

II. The extent of his dominion

Earthly monarchs have vainly imagined themselves

d 1 Kings xix. 11-13. e Ps. xcii. 12, 13. and i. 3.

f Matt. xiii. 6, 21. with Jer. xvii. 8. and Hos. xiv. 5-7. VOL. V.

M M

possessed of universal empire: but it is to Christ alone that this truly and properly belongs. His dominion extends itself over,

1. The most distant places

[Solomon's empire was the most extensive of any that was governed by Jewish kings. It reached from the river Euphrates to the Red Sea; and comprehended all the countries between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean: "it was from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth." But Christ has literally "the utmost ends of the earth for his possession." His kingdom was speedily erected in every part of the known world: and at this moment there are multitudes in every civilized nation under heaven, yea, amongst barbarians also and savages, who acknowledge him as their supreme Governor, and render the most cheerful obedience to his commands. Already is that prophecy fulfilled, "From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offerings." In this therefore we have a pledge that the knowledge of him "shall yet more extensively prevail, and shall one day cover the earth as the waters cover the seah."]

2. The most exalted personages

[It was said of Solomon, in reference to the fore-mentioned countries, that "all the kings of the earth sought his presence, and brought presents to him; and that he reigned over them." Nominally too, a great multitude of kings are subject unto Christ: but, alas! his real subjects have hitherto been few among them. What Paul complained of in his time has been verified in all succeeding ages to the present day; "Not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble are called k." But the time is coming when the most potent monarchs upon earth shall become his willing subjects, and "bow down themselves, and lick the dust before him," in a humble acknowledgment of their entire dependence on him, and of their unreserved devotion to his will1. "He is Lord of lords, and King of kings:" and if any will not bend to the sceptre of his grace, they shall be broken in pieces with a rod of iron m.]

INFER

g Mal. i. 11.

i 2 Chron. ix. 23, 24, 26.

h Isai. xi. 9. and Zech. xiv. 9. k 1 Cor. i. 26.

1 This seems to be the true meaning of "licking the dust." Com

pare Isai. xlix. 23.

m Ps. ii. 9.

1. The folly of refusing submission to him

[The word of Jehovah is pledged, that "the kingdoms of the earth shall become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ":" yea, the Lord Jesus Christ himself hath " sworn, that unto him every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear." To what purpose then shall we hold out against him, when we know what must infallibly be the issue of the contest? He has told us what he will say to his attendants in the last day; "Bring hither those that were mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, and slay them before me." Let us then" be wise" in time: let us "kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and we perish."]

2. The blessedness of being his faithful subjects

[It is a rich blessing to live under a mild and equitable government. But no earthly monarch, however well disposed, can render his subjects happy, like the adorable Jesus. He gives us access to him all times, and sheds forth upon us his benign influences, whereby our spirits are revived, and our souls strengthened. What Solomon speaks figuratively in reference to earthly kings, is literally true with respect to him; "In the light of the King's countenance is life; and his favour is like a cloud of the latter rain "." Happy then art thou, O Israel! Who is like unto thees?" "Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him, and redeemed him; and let the children of Zion be joyful in their King."]

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3. What encouragement we have to exert ourselves for the diffusion of the Gospel throughout the world.

[If we look at the state of the world, or at the weakness of the instruments which we employ, we shall despair of producing any great effects. But we have nothing to fear. God has spoken; and he will do it. Who that sees the effect of the sun and showers upon the earth, and the rapid change which takes place, from the desolations of winter to the verdure of the spring and the fruits of autumn, can doubt the power of the Redeemer's grace to convert and sanctify all the nations of the world? It shall be done; and perhaps, notwithstanding the present unfavourable appearances, the time for it is not so distant as we may imagine. What has already been effected towards it, has been wrought through the instrumentality of a few ignorant or hostile men; so, in like manner, though there were none amongst us who were not ignorant as the Galilean fishermen, or hostile as Saul, the grace of Christ shall be

n Rev. xi. 15.
q Ps. i. 10-12.
t Ps. cxlix. 2.

o Isai. xlv. 23.

Prov. xvi. 15.

P Luke xix. 27.
s Deut. xxxiii. 29.

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