PSALM CXII.

ARGUMENT.

The Pfalmift enumerateth the blessings attending the man who feareth Jehovah; 1. the pleasure which he taketh in doing his will; 2. the profperity of his feed; 3. the plenteoufnefs in his houfe; 4. his comfort in trouble; 5. his internal joys; 6. the honour with which he is remembered; 7, 8. his holy confidence in God; 9. his good deeds, and the reward of them; 10. 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 Chriftian church through Chrift their head, who is the pattern of all righteousness, and the giver of all grace.

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 "feareth God," is delivered from every other fear; the man who " delighteth in "God's commandments," is freed from every inordinate defire of earthly things; and fuch a man must needs be" bleffed." Of this kind was thy bleffednefs, O holy Jefu, on whom did reft "the Spirit "of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah," and whole

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whofe "meat" it was " to do the will of him that "fent thee, and to finish his work." Ifai. xi. 2. John iv. 34.

2. His feed fhall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be bleffed.

A father's piety derives the benediction of heaven upon his children. The pofterity of faithful Abraham were often fpared and favoured on account of their progenitor; as the whole family of believers, Abraham and all, are bleffed in Him, who is the great father of that family, and the author of their falvation.

3. Wealth and riches fhall be in his houfe: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

It fometimes pleaseth God to bestow on his fervants, as he did on Ifrael of old, the good things of this world. And a rich man is therefore happier than a poor man, because "it is more bleffed to give than "to receive." Acts xx. 35. But the true "wealth" of Chriftians is of another kind; their "riches" are fuch as neither moth can corrupt, nor thief fteal. Grace and glory are in the "house" of Chrift, and everlasting" righteoufnefs" is the portion of his children.

4. Unto the upright there arifeth light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

While we are on earth, we are fubject to a threefold "darkness;" the darkness of error, the darknefs of forrow, and the darkness of death. To dispel thefe, God vifiteth us, by his Word, with a threefold "light;" the light of truth, the light of com

fort, and the light of life. The Chriftian's temper is framed after the pattern of his Mafter; and he is ever ready to fhew to others that "love" and mercy," which have been fhewn to him.

5. A good man fheweth favour and lendeth; he will guide his affairs with difcretion.

The former part of this verfe may be rendered, with a little variation, "It is well with the man who "is gracious and communicative;" ill-nature and avarice are their own tormentors, but love and liberality do good to themfelves by doing it to others, and enjoy all the happiness which they caufe. It is not God's intention, that any of the talents which he bestoweth upon us fhould lie dead, but that our brethren fhould have the ufe of them; even as Chrift received the Spirit to communicate it to us, and our falvation is his glory and joy. The latter part of this verfe is likewife capable of a different, and, in deed, a more literal tranflation; "He will fupport,

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or, maintain his words, or, his tranfactions in "judgment;" that is, he, who thus employed his talents for the benefit of mankind, will be able to render a good account to his Lord who entrusteth them with him.

6. Surely he fhall not be moved for ever: the righteous fhall be had in everlasting remembrance. 7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trufting in the LORD. 8. His heart is eftablished, he shall not be afraid, until he fee his defire upon his enemies.

Nothing can deprive the perfon here defcribed of his felicity. When his work is done, his body will

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go to it's repofe in the duft, but the "memorial” of his name and of his good deeds will be ftill fresh as the morning breeze, and fragrant as the flower of the fpring. "He feareth no evil report;" no blast of flander and malice can touch him; no tidings of calamity and destruction can shake his confidence in God; but he will hear the trump of judgment, and behold the world in flames, rather with joy than with dread; as knowing, by those tokens, that the hour of his redemption is come, when he fhall fee his enemies," and even death, the laft of them, under his feet.

9. He hath difperfed, he hath given to the poor, his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn fhall be exalted with honour.

His riches are not hoarded up, but " difperfed" abroad; and that not by others after his death, but by himself in his life time; "He hath dispersed." They are not squandered in the ways of vanity and folly, but "given to the poor;" nor are they given indifcriminately and at random, but "difperfed," like precious feed, with prudence and difcretion, according to the nature of the foil, and in proper feafon, fo as to produce the most plentiful harvest. Therefore" his righteousness endureth for ever;" it's fruits and it's good report are lafting among men, and it is never forgotten before God, who hath prepared for it an eternal reward. "His horn fhall be "exalted with honour, or, in glory;" whatever may be his lot upon earth, and even there the charitable man will frequently be had in "honour," at the last day, certainly, when the thrones of the mighty fhall

PSAL. 113. be cast down, and the fceptres of tyrants broken in pieces, then hall he lift up his head, and be exalted to partake of the "glory" of his Redeemer, the author of his faith, and the pattern of his charity, who gave himself for us, and is now feated at the right hand of the majefty in the heavens.

10. The wicked shall fee it, and be grieved; he Shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away; the defire of the wicked shall perish.

The fight of Chrift in glory, with his faints, will, in an inexpreffible manner, torment the crucifiers of the one, and the perfecutors of the others; as it will fhew them the hopes and wishes of their adverfaries all granted to the full, and all their own defires," and designs for ever at an end; it will excite an envy which muft prey upon itfelf, produce a grief which can admit of no comfort, give birth to a worm which can never die, and blow up thofe fires which nothing can quench.

PSALM CXIII.

ARGUMENT.

The fervants of God are 1. exhorted to praife his name, 2. at all times, and 3. in all places, on account 4, 5. of his power and glory, 6-8. of his mercy in redeeming man, and 9. making the Gentile church to be a joyful mother of children. This Pfalm is appointed to be read on Eafter Day,

1. Praise