and acquainted with grief, bearing precious seed,' and sowing it around him, till at length his own body was buried, like a grain of wheat, in the furrow of the grave. But he arose, and is now in heaven; from whence he 'shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,' with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, bringing his sheaves with him.' Then shall every man receive the fruit of his works, and have praise of God.

PSALM CXXVII.

ARGUMENT.

[If this Psalm were written by Solomon, or by David for Solomon, as the title importeth, it was probably used again at the time of rebuilding the city and temple, after the return from Babylon. But indeed it is a Psalm which can never be out of season, the design of its author being to teach us the necessity of a dependence on God and his blessing, in every work to which we set our hands. What is said with regard to an earthly house, city, and family, extendeth also to the spiritual house, city, and family of Christ, which are now, what Jerusalem, the temple, and the people of Israel, were in old time.]

1. Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.'

In every undertaking, the blessing of God must accompany the labors of man, to render them effectual. No work can prosper without Him, nor can any design miscarry under his favor and protection, which are equally necessary to be obtained by the builder in time of peace, and by the soldier in time of war. But they, above all men, ought to implore the divine grace and benediction, who are employed either in building or defending the spiritual house and city of God; especially as the same persons, like the Jews after the captivity, surrounded by enemies always ready to obstruct the work, are often obliged to hold a sword in one hand, while they build with the other. Our own edification in faith and holiness must likewise be carried on by us in

this attitude, by reason of the many temptations which are continually assailing us. It may also be remarked, that both Solomon and Zerubbabel had vainly labored to construct the first or the second material temple, unless Jehovah himself had built the true house for the reception of his glory, that is to say, the temple of Christ's body, and, after it was fallen down, had reared it again by a resurrection from the dead.

2. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.'

The Psalmist doth not, certainly, intend to say, that labor and diligence are vain, but that they are so, except the Lord be with the laborer: the business is not to be done by all the industry and pains, all the carking and caring in the world, without Him; whereas, if his aid be called in, if part of our time be spent in prayer, not the whole of it in prayerless toiling and moiling, our work will become easier, and go on better; a solicitude and anxiety for its success and completion will no longer prey on our minds by day, and break our rest at night; we shall cheerfully fulfil our daily tasks, and then, with confidence and resignation, lay our heads on our pillows, and God will give to his beloved' a sweet and undisturbed sleep,' which shall fit them to return every morning, with renewed vigor and alacrity, to their stated employments. This seemeth to be the import of the verse. An obscurity has been occasioned in the translations, by rendering the adverb so; so he giveth his beloved sleep;' in which form, this last part of the verse will not connect with what goes before. But if, be translated, like its kindred particle, 1, 'SURELY' he giveth his beloved sleep;' or, as Dr. Hammond renders it,' SINCE he giveth his beloved sleep,' the difficulty will vanish, and the sense appear to be as above. Nor can we easily find a more profitable piece of instruction, with regard to the management of all our concerns, temporal and spiritual.

3. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.'

This is the second of the senses given to this particle by Noldius, who cites, in confirmation of it, 1 Sam. ix. 13. 1 Kings xx. 40.

The labors of mankind, first in building houses and cities, and then in guarding and securing their possessions, are undergone, not with a view to themselves alone, but to their families, which they would establish and perpetuate. The Psalmist, therefore, in the preceding verses, having taught men to expect a happy settlement only from the favor of Jehovah, now directs them to look up to him for the farther blessing of a numerous and virtuous progeny. He can in a moment blast the most fruitful stock, or he can make the barren woman to keep house, and to become a joyful mother of children.' 'Lo, children are an heritage of Jehovah ;' an heritage which he bestows on those who fear him; 'the fruit of the womb is a reward' conferred by him, where he sees it will be a blessing indeed, on faithful and pious parents. St. Paul calls the converts made by his ministry, his children ;' and all believers are the children of Christ, the 'heritage' given him by his Father, the reward' of his righteous life, and meritorious death; as it is written, I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance :''He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.' Psalm ii. 8. Isa. liii. 11.

4. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.'

Children, when well educated, are like so many arrows in the hand of a strong man,' ready winged with duty and love, to fly to the mark; polished and keen, to grace and maintain the cause of their parents, to defend them from hostile invasions, and instantly to repel every assailant. The apostles and first Christians were arrows in the hand of Messiah, with which he encountered his enemies, and subdued the nations to the faith. When by the splendor of their sanctity, the power of their miracles, and the efficacy of their preaching, they pierced the hearts of thousands and ten thousands, what were they but arrows in the hand of 12, the Mighty One?' And in this instance likewise it may truly be said, that no well-nurtured son of Christ and the church will hear his father dishonored, or despise his mother when she is old. 5. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: hey shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.'

6

In a house full of dutiful children consisteth the happiness of their parents, who then can never want friends; friends, that will at no time be ashamed,' but will at all times rejoice to appear for them, to meet their enemies' and accusers' in the gate,' or place of judgment; ' there to answer any charge against them, to vindicate them in their persons, their good name, or their property. It is a glorious sight to behold children thus standing forth in the defence of their parents. In the multitude of true believers consist the glory of Christ, and the riches of the church. How forward were the primitive Christians to meet the enemies of these their spiritual parents 'in the gate; how ready, in their cause, to speak openly, and, having witnessed a good confession, to die by the hand of the executioner! Therefore shall they not be ashamed at the judgment of the last day, but shall then stand with great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted, persecuted, and tormented them. For their heavenly Father will then be their Judge, and will own, in his turn, the cause of his dutiful children, who for his sake endured tribulation, and loved not their lives unto the death. Confusion shall overwhelm the accuser of the brethren, with all the instruments of his malice; but glory, honor, and immortality, shall be given to the children of God.

PSALM CXXVIII.

ARGUMENT.

[This Psalm containeth a promise made to him who, 1. feared Jehovah, and walked in his ways, that he should be blessed, 2. in his person, and, 3, 4. in his family, and that he should see the good of Jerusalem. The Psalm was, probably, sung at the marriages of the Israelites, as it is now a part of the matrimonial service among us. In its prophetical and exalted sense, it hath respect to the person, marriage, family, and city, of Messiah.]

'Mr. Merrick observes, that the gate was sometimes the seat of war, as well as the place of judicature. Then was war in the gates; Judges v. 8. He mentions a remarkable Chinese proverb: When a son is born into a family, a bow and arrow are hung before the gate.'

1. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD: that walketh in his ways.'

Happiness belongeth not to the rich, the powerful, and the prosperous, as such; but in every state and condition, blessed is the man that 'feareth Jehovah,' that so feareth him as to obey him, and to walk in his ways,' notwithstanding all the obstructions he may meet with from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Blessed above all the sons of men, and the author of blessing to them all, was the man Christ Jesus, because above them all, and for them all, he feared, he loved, and he obeyed.

2. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.'

The person is here beautifully changed, and to the man who feareth Jehovah is addressed an enumeration of those blessings which shall attend him. He is to eat the labor of his hands,' that is, the fruit, or returns of his labors. Hereby it is implied, that he is not to be idle, but to labor,' that he may eat; that he is not to be niggardly, but to eat,' when he has labored; that he is neither to be unjust, by living on the labors, nor enslaved, by depending on the bounty, of others, but to eat of his own' labors; and that he, whose labors procure him a sustenance, hath enough to be 'blessed' and happy. Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee:' every thing shall happen, which God seeth to be best for thee in this life, and (as saith the Chaldee Paraphrast on the place) it shall be good to thee in the world to come.' The glory of Christ, and the salvation of mankind, were the fruits of his actions and his sufferings in the days of his flesh; so that, in the enjoyment of them, he doth no more than eat of the labors of his hands;' or, to use the words of Isaiah, 'he seeth of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied.' Before he went hence, he took comfort in the reflection, I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do:' John xvii. 4. Happy shalt thou be, O Christian, and it shall be well with thee, if at thy latter end thou shalt be able to draw comfort from the same consideration.

3. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.'