poured out upon it from on high." In that "wilderness did waters break out, and streams in that desert." There was faith sown, and holiness was the universal product. "The wilderness and the solitary place was glad, and the desert rejoiced, and blossomed as the rose. It blossomed abundantly, and rejoiced even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon was given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon;" the privileges and honours of the synagogue were conferred upon the church; and the nations now 66 saw the glory of Jehovah, and the excellency of God:" Spiritual increase, health, and plenty, spiritual peace, joy, and happiness, appeared in beauteous and lovely procession; and the blessing of Jesus was upon his new inheritance in every way.

39. Again they are minished and brought low, through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. 40. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

41.

But let not those who have received the largest share of heaven's favours therefore boast and presume. The continuance of those favours depends upon the continuance of their fidelity and obedience. Mighty empires, with their princes, have, for their wickedness, been brought low by the arm of Jehovah, and laid in the dust, while nations poor and feeble, and never thought of, have been taken from thence, and exalted over them. What revolutions have, in like manner, happened, and probably are

still to happen, in the church! Jerusalem is fallen, through unbelief; and the Gentile church stands only by faith, from which, if she depart, vengeance will be executed on her likewise. Yet, even in the worst of times, there is a promise, that the poor in spirit, the faithful and humble disciples of the holy Jesus, shall be preserved from the evil, and set on high from affliction; yea, that they shall be multiplied like a flock, under the care of the good Shepherd, to preserve his name, and to continue a church upon the earth, until he shall return again.

42. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

Two consequences will follow from this alternate display of the mercy and judgment of God. The righteous, finding themselves still the objects of the former, will have cause to rejoice and give thanks; and the wicked, when visited with the latter, will be forced, by their silence at least, to own that their punishment is just. This will certainly be the case at the last day, when the dispensations of God, and the perfect rule of equity observed in them, shall be manifested to all the world.

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43. Whoso is wise and will observe these things, & ven they shall understand the loving kindness of the LORD: or, Who is wise? and he will observe these things; and they shall understand the loving kindness of the LORD.

A truly wise person will treasure up in his heart the contents of this most instructive and delightful Psalm. By so doing, he will fully understand and comprehend

the weakness and wretchedness of man, and the power and loving kindness of God; who, not for our merit, but for his mercy's sake, dispels our ignorance, breaks off our sins, heals our infirmities, preserves us in temptations, places us in his church, enriches us with his grace, shelters us from persecution, blesses us in time, and will crown us in eternity.

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PSALM CXII.

ARGUMENT.

THE Psalmist enumerates the blessings attending the man who fears Jehovah: the pleasure which he takes in doing his will; the prosperity of his seed; the plenteousness in his house; his comfort in trouble; his internal joys; the honour with which he is remembered; his holy confidence in God; his good deeds, and the reward of them; 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 graçe.

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 fears God is delivered from every other fear; the man who delights 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, Ó holy Jesus! on whom did rest "the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah," and whose meat it 66 was, to do the will of him that sent thee, and to finish his work.”

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 pleases God to bestow on his servants, as he did on Israel of old, the good things of this world. And a rich man may therefore be happier than a poor man, because "it is more blessed to give than to receive." 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 righ

teous.

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 visits 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.