to succeed it; but, by unbelief and disobedience, they to whom it was promised, that is, the generation of those who came out of Egypt, fell short of it, and died in the wilderness. The Gospel, in like manner, offers, both to Jew and Gentile, another day of probation in this world, and another promised rest to succeed it, which remaineth for the people of God, in heaven. All whom it concerns are, therefore, exhorted to beware lest they forfeit the second rest, as murmuring and rebellious Israel came short of the first. The verses now before us allude to what passed at the place called 'Massah,' and 'Meribah,' from the people there 'tempting' and striving with their God, notwithstanding all the mighty works which he had wrought for them, before their eyes. Exod. xvii. 7.

10. Forty years long was I grieved,' or disgusted, 'with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.'

O the desperate presumption of man, that he should offend his Maker forty years!" O the patience and long suffering of his Maker, that he should allow him forty years to offend in! Sin begins in the heart,' by its desires wandering' and going astray after forbidden objects; whence follows inattention to the ways' of God; to his dispensations, and our own duty. Lust in the heart, like vapor in the stomach, soon affects the head, and clouds the understanding.

11. Unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.'

Exclusion from Canaan was the punishment of Israelitish contumacy; exclusion from heaven is to be the punishment of disobedience among Christians. To take vengeance on those who reject the Gospel terms, is no less a part of the covenant and oath of God, than it is to save and glorify those who accept them. Yet men continue deliberately to commit those sins, which the Almighty standeth thus engaged to punish with destruction! Take heed,' therefore, brethren, lest there be

'Sensus hujus loci ex Paulo sic concinnandus; nempe requiem a Deo Israëlitis esse promissam in terra Chananæa: omnes tamen interim in deserto cecidisse hac requie frustratos: quare Spiritum Sanctum per Davidem ad novam requiem invitasse; ad novum illud sahbatum ab

in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke ; howbeit, not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he, that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being made us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.' Heb. iii. 12, &c.

PSALM XCVI.

ARGUMENT.

[By common consent of Jews and Christians, we apply this Psalm to the times of Messiah. 1-4. Men are exhorted to sing his praises; to declare his salvation; 4, 5. to acknowlege his supremacy over the gods of the nations, with, 6. the glory and beauty of his sanctuary; 7-9. to give him the honor, the worship, and the obedience due unto him, and, 10. to publish the glad tidings of his kingdom being established: 11-13. the whole creation is called on to rejoice at this great event. We find, by 1 Chron. xvi. that David delivered out this Psalm, to be sung on occasion of temporal blessings prefigurative of future spiritual ones.]

1. O sing unto the LORD a new song; sing unto the LORD, all the earth.'

ipso mundi exordio diei septimæ requie figuratum, novumque indixisse diem quo, sub Christo, in Ecclesia ac cœlesti patria quiesceremus, nisi essemus increduli: unde sic concludit Paulus: Festinemus ingredi in illam requiem.' BOSSUET.

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Jehovah, our Redeemer, is the person whose praises are to be sung. They are to be sung in a 'new' song; a song calculated to celebrate new mercies, prefigured by old ones wrought for Israel in former times; a song fit for the voices of renewed and regenerate men to sing in the new Jerusalem, in those new heavens and that new earth, which constitute the new creation, or kingdom of Jesus Christ. And as the mercies of God are universal, extending themselves not only to the Jews, but to all the nations of the earth, all the nations of the earth are therefore exhorted to bear a part in this new

song; Sing unto the LORD a new song; sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Thus St. John, after reckoning up the 144,000, or full number of those who were sealed to salvation from among the tribes of Israel, proceeds to tell us, that he 'beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. All these sung a new song, which none could learn but the redeemed; they 'cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb.' See Rev. v. vii. xiv.

2. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day.'

Again are we excited to sing unto the Lord Jesus, and in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, to bless his saving NAME. The latter clause of the verse is very expressive in the original, wa 'preach,' or, evangelise his salvation from day to day;' let it be the constant theme of all your discourses; publish it to the world in every possible way, by your words, and by your actions; and while God allows you breath and life, let one day transmit the glorious employment to another, until it be resumed and continued in heaven to all eternity.

3. Declare his glory among the heathen; his wonders among all people.'

The 'glory' of Messiah in his incarnation, his life, his death, resurrection, ascension, and kingdom, the 'wonders' or miracles by him wrought on the bodies and souls of men; these were the things' declared among the hea

then,' even among all people,' by the apostles and their successors; these things are still declared, by the Scriptures read, and sermons preached, in the church, which was gathered originally from among the Gentiles.

4. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.' .5. For all the gods of the nations are idols,' or things of nought; but the LORD made the heavens.'

Christ is to be celebrated, his glory and wonders are to be declared, because he is, in every possible sense, great;' great in dignity, in power, in mercy; and therefore greatly to be praised' by every creature. The heavens and heavenly bodies, adored by the nations, were no gods, but the works of 'his' hands, who had fixed his everlasting throne high above them all. At the publication of the Gospel, idolatry fell before it; and what is the world itself but one great idol, which is to fall and disappear in like manner?

6. Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.'

What are the splendor and magnificence of earthly courts, when compared with that glory and majesty, the unutterable brightness of which fills the court of the heavenly King? Some portion of this celestial light is communicated, through grace, to the Christian church, which ís described by St. John, under images borrowed from the figurative sanctuary, and the earthly Jerusalem, as an edifice composed of gold and precious stones, illuminated by the glory of God and the Lamb residing in the midst. of it. See Rev. xxi.

7. 'Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds,' or families, or tribes, of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 8. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.' 9. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.'

In these three verses, the tribes of the spiritual Israel are enjoined to ascribe to their Redeemer all glory and strength,' as essentially inherent in him, and by him communicated to his people; to give him the entire glory of his name,' and of that 'salvation' imported by it; to Div. No. XXIV.

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bring the sacrifices' of the new law, and to assemble in the courts' of his house; to worship him in that "beauty of holiness' which is constituted by the regular and solemn services of the church; to 'fear' and obey him, as the subjects of a King invested with plenitude of power in heaven and earth.

10. Say among the heathen, that the LORD reigneth : the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.'

In other words-Make proclamation, therefore, O ye apostles and preachers of the Gospel, that a new and eternal kingdom is erected; the usurped empire of Satan is overthrown, and the Lord Jesus, having redeemed mankind, reigneth in the hearts of his people by faith; a community is formed, not on the plan of secular policy, but on the divine principle of heavenly love; it is established on immoveable foundations, nor shall the gates of hell prevail against it righteousness shall dwell in it, since He, who is the King of Righteousness, presides, directs and determines all things, by his Word, and his Spirit.

11. 'Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad ; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof:' 12. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.'

Transported with a view of these grand events, and beholding in spirit the advent of King Messiah, the Psalmist exults in most jubilant and triumphant strains, calling the whole creation to break forth into joy, and to celebrate the glories of redemption. The heavens, with the innumerable orbs fixed in them, which, while they roll and shine, declare the glory of beatified saints; the earth, which, made fertile by celestial influences, showeth the work of grace on the hearts of men here below; the field, which, crowned with the produce of a hundred fold, displayeth an emblem of the fruit yielded by the seed of the word in the church; the trees of the wood, lofty, verdant, and diffuse, apt representatives of holy persons, those trees of righteousness,' the planting of Jehovah,' Isa. Ixi. 3. whose examples are eminent, fair, and extensive; all these are, by the Prophet, excited to join in a chorus of thanksgiving to the Maker and Redeemer of the world.