fore, because he is king, she is queen; for this title she has not of herself; it is founded not in her own right, but upon her relation to Christ, being married to him, and so is expressive of relation to him, union with him, and of privilege and dignity through him; she sharing with him in all he has, even in his kingdom and government, reigning with him, and on the same throne. Her being on his right hand shews the honour she is advanced unto; yet standing may denote subjection to him as her Lord and head.

Ver. 11. "So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty."] -That is, in the evidence or manifestation of it, which lies in the comeliness or righteousness of Christ put upon her; in the holiness of Christ reckoned to her; in being washed from all sin in the blood of Christ; in the graces of the Spirit being implanted in her, in which the beauty of holiness lies; in the salvation she is interested in, and beautified with; in enjoying the order and ordinances of Christ's house, and in having the presence of God and Christ with her.

"For he is thy Lord."]-Not only by creation, but by redemption, and in right of marriage, as well as on account of other relations he stands in to her, as Father, Head, King, and Master; and it is her privilege that he is her Lord, as well as her duty to own the relation by worshipping him.

Ver. 13. "The king's daughter is all glorious within."] -The king's daughter" is the same with the queen, ver. 9. the church, who is the king's daughter, the daughter of the King of kings, through adopting grace, by marriage to Christ, the king's son, and by regeneration, or being born of God and she is "all glorious within:" within doors, in the inner chamber of the king, where being brought, she enjoys such a communion with him as reflects a glory upon her; in his banqueting-house, where his banner over her is love, and where her members enjoy fellowship with one another, and this in harmony, unity, and love; which make her look amiable, pleasant, beautiful, and glorious. The work of grace is an inward work; it has its seat in the heart or spirit of man, and is a glorious one, in its author, original, and usefulness; it is the workmanship of the Spirit, and a curious piece it is; it is the image of Christ upon the soul, a partaking of a divine nature: it is pure and spotless; it is clear of all sin, there is no sin in it, nor any comes from it; it is the saint's meetness for glory; it is

the pledge, carnest, and beginning of it; it is all glorious, and so are the persons that are the subjects of it, as born of God: there is nothing glorious in the old man, or corrupt nature; but in the new man, or work of grace upon the soul, every thing is glorious, and it will issue in eternal glory and happiness.

Ver. 14. "She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needle-work."]-In the robe of righteousness, and garments of salvation, the change of raiment Christ has put upon her, having before this caused her iniquities to pass from her; or in the shining robes of immortality and glory: for this introduction of the church to Christ, her king, head, and husband, will be upon the first resurrection; when she being as a bride adorned and prepared for her husband, will be brought unto him and presented, a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.

"The virgins her companions that follow her, shall be brought unto thee."]-Such who are betrothed as chaste virgins to Christ, who strictly and chastely adhere unto him, and love him in the singleness of their hearts.

Ver. 15. "With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought."-This gladness and rejoicing may be understood of the joy of the saints, which will be unspeakable and full of glory upon their deliverance from the being of sin, and their being received into the kingdom of heaven; or of that gladness and joy that Christ takes in bringing his people safe to glory through a wilderness of troubles, trials, and affliction, and through the opposition of sin, death, and hell: and in this work every divine person and perfection in the Godhead rejoiceth with mutual joy.

"They shall enter into the king's palace."]-This shews the wonders of divine grace to the church, that she shall dwell in the king's palace, in the palace-royal of heaven, in the upper mansions of glory, and sit at the king's right-hand, and enjoy his presence for evermore.

Ver. 17. Therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever."]-That is, his covenant and redeemed people shall praise Christ for his excellencies, perfections, and loving-kindnesses to them.

PSALM XLVI.

This psalm encourageth us to hope and trust in God, and his power and providence, and gracious presence with his church in the worst of times, and directs ns to give him the glory of what he has done for us, and what he will do. (1.) To take comfort in God when things look very. black and threatening, ver. 1-5. (2.) To mention to his praise the great things he has wrought for his church against its enemies, ver. 6— 9. (3.) To assure ourselves that God who hath glorified his own name, will glorify it yet again, and comfort ourselves with that, ver. 10, 11. It is said of Luther, that when he heard any discouraging news, he would say, 'Come let us sing the forty-sixth psalın.'

VER. 4. "There is a river."]-By which is meant,' not a natural, but a spiritual river, namely, the river of God's everlasting love, which is unfathomable and boundless, as it has neither bottom or shore. The fountain head of this river is Christ, and all the blessings of grace and glory are settled in him, as the effect of God's sovereign will: this river has sprung forth from eternity in Jehovah's mind, and it runs under ground in counsel and in covenant, till the Holy Ghost breaks up this river of love in the hearts of the elect by effectual vocation. The channel in which this river flows, is Christ's person, righteousness, and sacrifice, which is the living way.

"The streams whereof shall make glad the city of God."-By these streams we are to understand all the blessings of pardon, life, and salvation, which may be fitly compared to streams, as they flow from the fountain head of everlasting love, with the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost, removing every obstruction that is in the way of salvation, thereby making the hearts of the children of God glad, and to rejoice therein, when they see such richness, freeness, and abundance of grace in Christ to supply them, to support them, to revive them, and to comfort them; this makes their hearts to rejoice and be glad, that they have a river of grace that can never be spent, and streams of love that can never be dry: see Rev. xxii. 1.

Ver. 5. "God is in the midst of her."]-That is, ImMANUEL; the God-man is with his church as his bride and spouse; and by being in the midst of his church is shewn the nearness and access the church has to him as her beloved, and the delight that Christ takes in affording to his church, his presence, his power, and his glory.

"She shall not be moved."]-Because her God is engaged by oath, by promise, and by covenant, to support her, protect her, and secure her; and her interest in his love is engraved upon his hands, and set as a seal upon his heart, and therefore it is more firm than rocks of brass, or mountains of iron: for neither the floods of affliction, nor the power of temptation, nor sin, nor death, nor hell, shall ever move the church from her interest, safety, and salvation by her Lord, who is her rock of salvation.

"God shall help her, and that right early."]—Or, when the morning dawns. This shews the delight that the Lord takes in helping his people in all their times of need.

Ver. 7. "The Lord of Hosts is with us."]-That is, he who is IMMANUEL, which being interpreted, is God with -us: he is with us as our shield, our aid, our hope, and our help; for he is the God of Jacob. Selah. Which is a note of admiration, denoting the wonders of his grace in holding communion with us.

Ver. 10. "Be still, and know that I am God."]-Our hearts are apt to murmur and repine under heavy trials and crosses, but it is the will of God that his people should be still and behold his sovereignty in all his dealings with them, and know that he is still their God, their covenant God.

PSALM XLVII.

The scope of this psalm is to stir us up to praise God for the great things he had doue, and would do for his people, ver. 3, 4, 5. Many suppose that it was penned upon occasion of the bringing up of the ark to mount Sion, which ver. 5. seems to refer to; “God is gone up with a shout" but it looks farther, to the ascension of Christ into the heavenly Sion, after he had finished his undertaking on earth, and to the setting up of his kingdom in the world, to which the heathen should through grace become willing subjects. In singing this psalm, we are to give honour to the exalted Redeemer, to rejoice in his exaltation, and to celebrate his praises, confessing that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

VER. 1. "Shout unto God with the voice of triumph."] This shews with what exultation and voice of joy the saints are called to spread and proclaim the triumphs, conquest, and glories of Christ's resurrection, he having conquered sin and satan, death, hell, and the grave for her, rode in triumph over all the powers of darkness, ascended

on high, and led captivity captive, and thereby for ever secured her liberty, redemption, and salvation: which makes Christ's resurrection and ascension such matter of joy to the church, and praise to God.

Ver. 4." He shall choose our inheritance for us."]Namely, our inheritance in providence, or our inheritance in grace; which shews the Lord's kindness to us, and care of us. Some render it, The Lord hath chosen us for an inheritance for himself:" which shews his delight and com placency in his people, as his portion, his peculiar treasure, and his inheritance; for Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

Ver. 5. "God is gone up with a shout, the Lord, with the sound of a trumpet."]-These words shew, first, the proper divinity of Christ, that he was the mighty God, the great I AM, the infinite JEHOVAH, and therefore the mighty Conqueror of death and the grave. Secondly, it shews the triumphs of his power for the redemption of his people; that the debt is paid, that he is "gone up," that it was not possible for all the guilt and filth of the sins and sorrows of his people, nor for death, bell, and the grave, to hold him prisoner; for he being the God-man upon the cross, and in the grave, triumphs over all: he is gone up: O happy news! O precious tidings! Thirdly, it shews that the victories of Christ's resurrection were sounded and proclaimed by angels and archangels, by the church militant, and the church triumphant.

Ver. 6. "Sing praises to God."]-Namely, to our incarnate God, that rose in triumph, and is gone to glory. Sing the praises of his incarnate grace, of his dying love, of his rising power, of his glorious ascension, of his precious intercession, and of his great salvation.

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Sing praises, sing praises unto our King."]-To the object of praise, to the author of praise; for here is matter for praise, wonders upon wonders, to exercise and engage saints and angels to praise him for ever and ever. See Rev. vii. 9, 10, 11.

PSALM XLVIII.

This psalm, as the two former, is a triumphant song, applicable to the glories of the gospel church, of which Jerusalem was a type, especially when it shall come to be a church triumphant, the "heavenly Jerusalem,” Heb. xii. 22. " the Jerusalem which is above," Gal. iv. 26. Jerusalem