which imperceptibly insinuates itself into the very "bones." When that unhappy multitude, assembled 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 stuck to and tormented the nation ever since; then did they eagerly swallow down that deadly draught, the effects whereof have been the infatuation and misery of 1700 years! If such, in this world, be "reward of Messiah's adversaries, "and of those who spake evil against him," what will hereafter be the vengeance inflicted on those who" crucify him afresh, and put him again to an

open shame ?" Heb. vi. 6. And what will be the operation of the sentence, "Go, ye cursed," upon the bodies and souls of the wicked? how will it at once affect all the senses of the former, and all the faculties of the latter, with pain, anguish, horror, and despair! Think on these things, ye sinners; tremble, and repent!

21. But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, Heb. JEHOVAH the Lord, for thy name's sake: 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 shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust. 24. My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh faileth of fatness. 25. I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me, they shaked their heads.

In this last part of the Psalm Messiah petitioneth for deliverance, urging to the Father his power as Lord," the honour of his "name," and the great

ness of his "mercy." He then pleadeth his own humiliation and affliction, his "poverty" and "heart"-felt agony of grief. Drawing towards the evening of his mortal life, he compareth himself to a "shadow, declining," and about to vanish from the earth, where he hath no rest, being persecuted from place to place, as a "locust" is driven hither and thither by the stormy wind and tempest; while enfeebled and emaciated by frequent "fastings," and long want of food during his passion, he was ready to sink under his burden; and what aggravated all his sufferings, was, that he met with no pity and compassion from those around him; his enemies "reproached" and "reviled him, shaking their heads, and saying, Ah! thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself,” &c. Mark xv. 29. Nor are we to suppose our Lord thus praying for his natural body only, but also for his mystical body, the church, that from all distresses, persecutions, and insults, the members of that body may in time be delivered, like their blessed Head, by a joyful resurrection to eternal life.

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

The resurrection of Christ was to be the great demonstration of Jehovah's power; and it was published as such 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 curse, but thou shalt bless: when

they arise, they shall be ashamed; but thy servant shall rejoice. 29. Mine adversaries shall be clothed with shame and they shall cover themselves with their own confusion as with a mantle.

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The apostate sons of Israel, though they have been so long" confounded" and blasted by the breath of Heaven's displeasure, yet continue "cursing" and blaspheming, as it is here foretold that they should do. But God hath "blessed" his Son Jesus, and through him all nations, who have been adopted into his family, and made his children by baptism; yea, and they shall be blessed,. and enter, by thousands and millions, into the "joy" of their Lord, in that day when his crucifiers shall have no "covering" but their own" shame" and "con"fusion."

30. I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth: yea, I will praise him among the multitude. 31. For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.

The former of these two verses is parallel to that which St. Paul citeth from Ps. xxii. 22. "He that "sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of

one for which cause he is not ashamed to call "them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name "unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will "I sing praises unto thee:" Heb. ii. 11. Great is the joy of the redeemed upon earth; greater will it be, after the resurrection of the dead, in the courts of heaven. Jesus, unjustly put to death, and now risen again, is a perpetual advocate and intercessor for his people, ever ready to appear on their behalf

against the iniquitous sentence of a corrupt world, and the malice of the grand accuser.

TWENTY-THIRD DAY.-MORNING PRAYER.

PSALM CX.

ARGUMENT.

In this Psalm David prophesieth concerning, 1. the exaltation of Christ; 2. the sceptre of his kingdom; 3. the character of his subjects; 4. his everlasting priesthood; 5, 6. his tremendous victories and judgements; 7. the means of his obtaining both kingdom and priesthood, by his sufferings and resurrection. Parts of this prophecy are cited and applied in the New Testament, 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, likewise, hath appointed it as one of the Proper Psalms to be read on Christmas-day. It appertaineth literally and solely to King Messiah.

1. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

We are here informed of Jehovah's eternal and unchangeable decree concerning the kingdom of Messiah, its extension, power, and duration. That Messiah should, after his sufferings, be thus exalted,

was determined in the divine counsel and covenant, before the world began. Whether we suppose the Psalmist to be speaking of that determination, or of its actual accomplishment at the time of Christ's ascension into heaven, it maketh no great difference. The substance of the decree is the same. It was addressed by the Father to the Son, by Jehovah to Messiah, whom David in spirit styleth, 8, my "Lord;" one that should come after him, as his offspring according to the flesh; but one, in dignity of person, and greatness of power, far superior to him, and to every earthly potentate; King of kings, and Lord of lords; God and man united in one person. To this person it was said by the Father, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine ene"mies thy footstool;" in other words, Seeing, O Son Messiah, thou hast glorified me on the earth, and finished the work which I gave thee to do, the great work of man's redemption; take now the throne prepared for thee from the foundation of the world; behold, all power is given unto thee; enter upon thy mediatorial kingdom, and reign till every opposer shall have submitted himself to thee, and sin and death shall have felt thy all-conquering

arm.

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2. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

In the foregoing verse, David related the words spoken by the Father to the Son. In this, he himself, as a prophet, directeth his speech to King Messiah, predicting the glorious consequences of his enthronization, and the manner in which "his ene