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rather this is to be understood of the constancy of the gospel ministry, and the continuance of the evangelic revelation; for the apostles of Christ persevered in their work, and laboured in the word and doctrine night and day.

Ver. 4." And their words to the end of the world,"]— To the isles afar off, even to these northern and distant ones of England, Scotland, and Ireland, which were reached and visited with the gospel, either by the apostles, or at least by some of the first ministers of the word.

"In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun."]-This is to be understood spiritually of Christ, the sun of righte ousness, who has his tabernacle among his people, his churches; and particularly has a place, and the chief place in the ministry of the gospel, being the sum and substance of it; and this is of God's putting there, who committed to his apostles the word of reconciliation, the sum of which is Christ; and this is what makes the gospel so glorious a light, so clear a revelation as it is.

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Ver. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect."]-Which both in the old and new testament is called a law or doctrine, being eminently so; the doctrine of the Messiah, and of justification by faith in his righteousness, Isaiah ii. 3. and xlii. 1. Rom iii. 27. The gospel is a perfect plan and scheme of spiritual and saving truths: it gives an account of perfect things; as of the perfect righteousness of Christ, and complete justification by it; of the full as well as free pardon of sins by the blood of Christ; and of redemption and salvation from all sin and evils by him: and it also shews where true perfection is; namely, in Christ, in whom the saints are complete, he being made to them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor. i. 30.

Ver. 8. The statutes of the Lord are right."]-They lead into right and straight paths, of truth and holiness, in which way-faring men, though fools, shall not err; and particularly the gospel directs to the right way of salvation and eternal life by Jesus Christ; the effect of which is "rejoicing the heart." This cannot be understood of the law, which is a voice of terror, pronounces guilty, curses and condemns, is the killing letter, and works wrath; but of the gospel, which is a joyful sound; publishes good tidings of good things; and when applied by the Spirit of God, is found to have this effect, see Jer. xv. 16.

"Enlightening the eyes."]-That is of the understanding, so as for a man to see his lost state and condition

by nature; to see the glory, fulness, and grace of Christ: to behold wondrous things in the doctrine of the gospel; and to observe the way of duty in which he should walk; this is the eye-salve in Rev. iii. 18.

Ver. 10. "More to be desired are they than gold."]This refers to all the truths in the word of God, to all the doctrines of the gospel; which, by good men are more desirable, and by them more prized and valued, than all the worldly riches and treasure.

"Sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb."]-Or, the dropping of the honey-combs, which is the purest and sweetest of the honey; and what honey is to the natural taste of men, that is the gospel and the truths of it to the spiritual taste of believers, Psalm cxix. 103. and when the presence of Christ is enjoyed, his love is shed abroad, and the blessings of his grace are partaken of, the ordinances of the gospel are very delightful, Cant. ii. 3.

Ver. 11. "Moreover, by them is thy servant warned."] -Or, as the words may be rendered, by them is thy servant made clear, or bright; so the word is used in Dan. xii. 3. that is, in his understanding: the psalmist confirms, by his own experience, what he had said before of the word, ver. 8. that it enlightened the eyes: the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shining into the heart, gives the light of the glory of God in the person of Christ; it illuminates and irradiates the mind, and gives clear ideas of the glory and perfections of God, of his counsels and covenant, of his works of nature and of grace; and makes a bright discovery of the person, offices, and grace of Christ; and of the blessed Spirit, and his operations; and of the blessings of grace, and of eternal glory and happiness.

"And in keeping of them there is great reward."]— Namely, laying up the word of God, and the truths of the gospel, and keeping them in mind and memory, which is very profitable and serviceable, to promote spiritual peace and comfort, and to preserve from sin, and yielding a cheerful obedience to the gospel, by cordially embracing and professing the doctrines, and submitting to the ordinances of it: from all which arise great profit, and much reward.

PSALM XX.

The prophet here, says Austin, is to be supposed speaking, as it were, to the blessed man Christ Jesus; assuring him by the Holy Spirit that the Lord would hear him in that great day of his trial, when he was to struggle with the enemies of our salvation, and to offer himself as a whole burnt-offering on the altar of the cross, ver. 1-5 of which, in the person of the church, he expresses the fullest assurance, and declares it to be the ground of all our hope and trust, ver. 6-8. adding theu a petition to God the Father, that he would preserve this our blessed King, as our helper, or he that will assuredly "hear us when we pray."

VER. 1. "The name of the God of Jacob defend thee."]-That is, God himself, who is named the God of Jacob, whom Jacob called upon, and trusted in as his God, and who answered him in the day of his distress: Jacob was exercised with many troubles, but the Lord delivered him out of them all; and which may be the reason why the Lord is addressed under this character here; besides, Israel is one of the names of the Messiah, Isaiah xlix. 3. on whose account the petition is put up: to which may be added, that Jacob may design the people of God, the spiritual sons of Jacob, the church of the living God, whose God the Lord is; and the phrase may be here used by the church, to encourage her faith in prayer: the petition, on account of the Messiah, is, that God would defend him, or set him on a high place, or exalt him.

Ver. 5. "We will rejoice in thy salvation."-These words, with what follow, point at the end of the church's request, and what she resolved to do upon the accomplishment of the above things; for instance, she would rejoice in the salvation of the Messiah; meaning either the salvation and deliverance from death and the grave, and all other enemies, which he himself is possessed of, and which enters into, and is the occasion of the joy of his people; for not his sufferings and death only, but chiefly his resurrection from the dead, session at God's right hand, and intercession for them, cause the triumph of faith in him, and further the joy of it, Rom. viii. 33, 34.

Ver. 6. "Now know I, that the Lord saveth his anointed."-Not David, though he was the anointed of the God of Jacob, and was anointed with material oil to be king of Israel by Samuel, at the express order of God himself; but David is not here speaking of himself, nor the

church of him, but of the Messiah; anointed by Jehovah king over his holy hill of Zion, with the oil of gladness, or the Holy Spirit. The church in prayer rises in her faith, and is strongly assured of the salvation of the Messiah; that though his troubles would be many and great, he should be delivered out of them all; should be heard and helped in the day of salvation, and be freed from the sorrows of death and hell he should be encompassed with; that he should be raised from the dead; have all power in heaven and earth given him; ascend on high and triumph over all his enemies; and all his people, all the members of his body should be saved through him, which is in a sense the salvation of himself.

PSALM X XI.

This psalm also is for the King, the Messiah, or Christ; declaring the joy and glory of his kingdom, and its being set up as an everlasting blessing; his final triumphs, and the destruction of all his enemies. For to him divers passages in this psalm are more applicable than to David himself.

VER. 1. "The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord."]-Meaning either his own salvation by the Lord, from all his sorrows and troubles, and out of the hands of all enemies, being in the presence of God, where is fulness of joy, Psalm xvi. 9-11. or else the salvation of his people by him, which Jehovah appointed them to, secured for them in the covenant of grace, sent Christ to work out for them, applies by his Spirit, and at last puts into the full possesssion of; Christ rejoices at the effectual vocation and conversion of his people, when salvation is brought near unto them; and especially at their glorification, when they shall be in the full enjoyment of it; then will they be his joy and crown of rejoicing: this is the joy that was set before him, which made him go so cheerfully through his sufferings and death for them, Heb. xii. 2. the reasons of this joy are, because of the great love he bears to them; the interest and property he has in them; bis undertakings for them, as their surety, to bring them safe to glory; his purchase of them by his blood; his intercession for them, that they might be with him to behold his glory.

Ver. 2. "Thou hast given him his heart's desire."]— Which the church had prayed for in Psalm xx. 4. what

ever Christ's heart desired, or his lips requested, has been given him.

"And hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah."]-Whatever he asked in the council and covenant of peace was granted; he asked for all the elect, as his spouse and bride; these were the desire of his heart and eyes, and they were given him; he asked for all the blessings of grace for them, and all grace was given to them in him; he asked for glory, for eternal life, and it was promised him; and not only the promise of it was put into his hand, but the life itself; see Psalm ii. S. 2 Tim. i. 1, 9. 1 John v. 11. and Psalm xx. 4.

Ver. 3." Thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head." Which is expressive of his victory over all enemies, sin, satan, and the world, death and hell; and of his being possessed of his throne and kingdom; and has respect to his exaltation at the right hand of God, where he is crowned with glory and honour and this crown being of pure gold, denotes the purity, glory, solidity, and perpetuity of his kingdom; this is a crown, not which believers put upon him by believing in him, and ascribing the glory of their salvation to him, or what the church has crowned him with, Cant. iii. 11. but which his Father put upon him, who has set him king over his holy hill of Zion. Psalm. ii. 6,

Ver. 4." He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him."]-Both for himself, as man, when he was about to die, that he might be raised to life again, which was granted him; and for his people, that they might live spiritually and eternally, and accordingly life is given to him for them; and he has power to give it to as many as the Father has given him.

"Even length of days for ever and ever."]-The life he has for himself as man is what will ever continue; he will die no more, death will have no more dominion over him; he will live for evermore, and that to make intercession for his members, Rom. vi. 9, 16. Rev. i. 18. Heb. vii. 25.

Ver. 5. His glory is great in thy salvation."-That is, the glory of the king Messiah is great in the Lord's salvation of him; delivering him from all his troubles and sor'rows, and out of the hands of all his enemies, when he was raised from the dead, and was set at the right band of God, and crowned with glory and honour or the sense is, that his glory is great in the salvation of his people by him; it was his glory as mediator to be appointed to be the Lord's salvation to them; and it being effected by him declares the

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