of mine adverfaries from the LORD, and of them that Speak evil against my foul.

They who reject Chrift, reject the fountain of "bleffing," and choose a "curfe" for their portion; and this portion, when they have finally made their choice, will certainly be given to them in full meafure. The curfe, that lighted on the Jewish nation, is refembled, for it's univerfality and adhefion, to a "garment," which covereth the whole man, and is

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girded" close about his loins; for it's diffufive and penetrating nature, to "water," which from the stomach paffeth into the "bowels," and is dispersed through all the veffels of the frame; and to " oil," which imperceptibly infinuates itself into the very "bones." When that unhappy multitude, affembled before Pontius Pilate, pronounced the words, "His blood be on us, and on our children," Matt. xxvii. 25. then did they put on the envenomed garment, which has ftuck to and tormented the nation. ever fince; then did they eagerly fwallow down that deadly draught, the effects whereof have been the infatuation and mifery of 1700 years! If fuch, in this world, be "the reward of Meffiah's adversaries, "and of those who fpake evil against him," what will hereafter be the vengeance inflicted on those who "crucify him afresh, and put him again to an

open fhame?" Heb. vi. 6. And what will be the operation of the fentence, "Go, ye curfed," upon the bodies and fouls of the wicked; how will it at once affect all the fenfes of the former, and all the faculties of the latter, with pain, anguish, horror,

and despair! Think on these things, ye finners, tremble, and repent !

21. But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, Heb. JEHOVAH the Lord, for thy name's fake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. 22. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. 23. I am gone like the fhadow when it declineth: I am toffed up and down as the locuft. 24. My knees are weak through fafting, and my flesh faileth of fatness. 25. I became alfo a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me, they shaked their heads.

poverty," and Drawing towards the compareth himself to

In this laft part of the Pfalm, Meffiah petitioneth for deliverance, urging to the Father his power as "Lord," the honour of his " name," and the greatnefs of his "mercy." He then pleadeth his own humiliation, and affliction, his " "heart" felt agony of grief. evening of his mortal life, he a "fhadow, declining," and about to vanifh from the earth, where he hath no reft, being perfecuted from place to place, as a "locuft" is driven hither and thither, by the ftormy wind and tempeft; while enfeebled and emaciated by frequent "faftings," and long want of food during his paffion, he was ready to fink under his burden; and what aggravated all his fufferings, was, that he met with no pity and compaffion from thofe around him; his enemies "reproached" and reviled him, "fhaking their "heads, and faying, Ah thou that deftroyeft the "temple, and buildest it in three days, fave thyself," &c. Matt. xxvii. 39. Nor are we to fuppofe our Lord thus praying for his natural body only, but

alfa

alfo for his myftical body, the church, that from all diftreffes, perfecutions, and infults, the members of that body may in time be delivered, like their bleffed Head, by a joyful refurrection to eternal life.

26. Help me, O LORD my God; O fave me, according to thy mercy. 27. That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou LORD haft done it.

The refurrection of Chrift was to be the great demonstration of Jehovah's power; and it was published, as fuch, by the Apostles, to all the nations of the world, who thereupon believed, and were converted. The Jews alone hardened their hearts against that proof, and continued impenitent.

28. They will curfe, but thou shalt blefs: when they arife, they shall be ashamed; but thy fervant Shall rejoice. 29. Mine adverfaries fhall be clothed with fhame: and they shall cover themselves with their own confufion as with a mantle.

The apoftate fons of Ifrael, though they have been fo long "confounded" and blafted by the breath of heaven's displeasure, yet continue "curf

ing" and blafpheming, as it is here foretold that they should do. But God hath "bleffed" his Son Jefus, and through him all nations, who have been adopted into his family, and made his children by baptifm; yea, and they fhall be bleffed, and enter, by thousands and millions, into the "joy" of their Lord, in that day when his crucifiers thall have no covering," but their own "fhame" and "con"" fufion."

30. I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth: yea, I will praife him among the multitude. $ 4 31. For

31. For he fhall ftand at the right hand of the poor, to fave him from thofe that condemn his foul.

The former of these two verfes is parallel to that which St. Paul citeth from Pf. xxii. 22. "He that "fanctifieth and they who are fanctified are all of "one for which cause he is not ashamed to call "them brethren, faying, I will declare thy name "unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will "Afing praife unto thee." Heb. ii. 11. Great is the joy of the redeemed upon earth; greater will it be, after the refurrection of the dead, in the courts of heaven. Jefus, unjustly put to death, and now rifen again, is a perpetual advocate and interceffor for his people, ever ready to appear on their behalf against the iniquitous fentence of a corrupt world, and the malice of the grand Accuser.

XXIII DAY. MORNING PRAYER.

PSALM CX.

ARGUMENT.

In this Pfalm, David prophefieth concerning 1. the exaltation of Chrift; 2. the fceptre of his kingdom; 3. the character of his fubjects: 4. his everlafting priesthood; 5, 6. his tremendous victories and judgments; 7. the means of his obtaining both kingdom and priesthood, by his fufferings and refurrection. Parts of this prophecy are cited

and

and applied in the New Teftament, by our Lord himself, Matt. xxii. 43. by St. Peter, Acts ii. 34. by St. Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 25. Heb. v, 6. The church, likewife, hath appointed it as one of the Proper Pfalms to be read on Christmas Day. It appertaineth literally and folely to king Mefsiah.

1. The LORD faid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thiné enemies thy footftool. We are here informed of Jehovah's eternal and unchangeable decree concerning the kingdom of Meffiah, it's extenfion, power, and duration. That Meffiah fhould, after his fufferings, be thus exalted, was determined in the divine counfel and covenant, before the world began. Whether we fuppofe the Pfalmift to be speaking of that determination, or of its actual accomplishment at the time of Chrift's afcenfion into heaven, it maketh no 'great difference. The fubftance of the decree is the fame. It was addreffed by the Father to the Son, by Jehovah to Meffiah, whom David in fpirit ftyleth 78 my "Lord;" one that fhould come after him, as his offspring according to the flesh; but one, in dignity of perfon, and greatnefs of power, far fuperior to him, and to every earthly potentate; King of kings, and Lord of lords; God and man united in one perfon. To this perfon it was faid by the Father, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine ene"mies thy footftool;" in other words, Seeing, O my Son Meffiah, thou haft glorified me on the earth,