time with them on account of the gospel of salvation, the joyful sound sounded in their ears by the ministers of it clothed with it, and on account of the salvation itself, so great, so suitable, so free, so complete and full, and in which the glory of God is so much displayed, and on account of the application of it to themselves, being clothed with it, and possessed of the joys of it.

Ver. 17. “There will 1 make the horn of David to bud."]-The Messiah, who is called the horn of the Lord's anointed, and the horn of salvation, 1 Sam. ii. 10. Luke i. 69. expressive of his power and strength, in allusion to the horns of cattle, with which they push their enemies and defend themselves; so horns are interpreted kings, Dan. vii. 24. and is fitly applied to Christ, raised up of the seed of David, the man of God's right hand, made strong for himself, who is a mighty King and an able Saviour.

Ver. 18. "His enemies will I clothe with shame."]— All that are incensed against Christ as a King and Saviour, shall sooner or later be ashamed; either bere, when brought to a sense of their evil, to repentance for it, and faith in him; or hereafter, at the resurrection, when they shall rise to shame and everlasting contempt, and when they shall see him come in the clouds of heaven, in power and great glory, to judge the world in righteousness, Isaiah xlv. 24. Dan. xii. 2.

"But upon himself shall his crown flourish."]-Being crowned with glory and honour, as he now is at the right hand of God, he reigns and will reign till all enemies become his footstool; his throne is for ever and ever, and his kingdom an everlasting one, and will be very flourishing in the latter day, when his subjects shall be many, and when there shall be an abundance of peace and prosperity, and of that no end; the crown of the Messiah shall flourish on him as a king, and be very conspicuous.

PSALM CXXXIII.

The Messiah here, by the mouth of his servant David, is speaking peace to the brotherhood, and reminding every one who is aspiring to the peace and rest of heaven, of the benefit and necessity of labouring after peace and brotherly love on earth: as the bond of happiness and union among the saints, as an emblem of heaven.

VER. 1. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."-Who have God for their Father by adoption and regeneration, are related to Christ the first-born among many brethren, and are members one of another, in the same church-state; all which are a reason why they should love as brethren, and endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Matt. xxiii. 8. Eph. iv. 3, 6. 1 Peter ii. 17. and iii. 8. Heb. xiii. 1. and to dwell together in unity," even as one man, as if one soul actuated them all; it is not only to dwell and abide in the house of God, where they have all a name and a place, but to associate together there, to go up to the house of God in company, and with delight to join together in acts of religious worship; to serve the Lord with one consent, with one mind and mouth to glorify God, and to be of one accord, having the same love, and to do all good offices. one to another, in the most hearty and cordial manner, serving each other in love, bearing one another's burdens, sympathising with each other in all circumstances, forgiving each other offences committed, praying with one another, and building up each other in their most holy faith, stirring up one another to love and to good works: now this is both good and pleasant.

Ver. 2. "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard."]-This was typical of the grace of the Spirit, the unction from the Holy One, which has been poured on Christ, the Head of the church, without measure, and with which he has been anointed above his fellows; and from him it is communicated to all his members, to every one of which is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ, and who from his fulness receive and grace for grace. And particularly brotherly love is compared to this ointment, because of the preciousness of it, which is true of every grace, and because of the extensiveness of it, reaching to head and members, to Christ and all his saints, the meanest and lowest of them, and because of its fragrancy and sweet odour to all that are sensible of it, and because of its delightful, cheering, and refreshing nature; like ointment and perfume, it rejoices the heart.

Ver. 3. "For there the Lord commanded the blessing."The sense is, where brethren dwell together in unity, there the God of love and peace is, the gospel of the grace of God is continued, and the ordinances of it made beneficial to the souls of men, 2 Cor. xiii. 11. God is said

to "command the blessing," when he promises it, and makes it known to his people, or bestows it on them, Psalm cv. 8. and xliv. 4.

"Even life for evermore."]-Which is in the hands of Christ, and comes through him to all his people; to the peace-makers particularly, that live in love and peace; these shall live for ever in a happy eternity, and never die or be hurt of the second death.

PSALM CXXXIV.

This is the last of the fifteen songs of degrees; and if they were at any time sung all together in the temple service, it is fitly made the conclusion of them; for the design of it is to stir up the ministers to go on with their work in the night when the solemnities of the day were over. Some make this Psalm to be a dialogue. 1. In the two first verses, the priests or Levites that sat up all night to keep the watch of the house of the Lord, are called upon to spend their time while they were upon the guard, not in idle talk, but in the acts of devotion. 2. In the last verse, they that were thus called upon to praise God, pray for him that gave them the exhortation, either the high-priest, or the captain of the guard. Or thus; they who did that service did mutually exhort one another, and pray for one another. In singing this Psalm, we give glory to God, and encourage ourselves to hope for mercy and grace from him.

VER. 3. "The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion."]-The church, where God blesses his people with his word and ordinances, with his presence and communion with himself. Wherefore it is good to be there waiting on him and worshipping him, praying to him and praising of him; and he that made heaven and earth is able to bless both with heavenly and earthly things: and this description of the Lord is no doubt given to encourage faith in him; for what is it he cannot do?

PSALM CXXXV.

The prophet is here calling the servants of the Lord to give him praise, because he is good; took Israel for his peculiar people (that is, committing to them the lively oracles, those witnesses of his truth, and the mercy he designed for all people) because he is great and above all gods, does according to his pleasure, smote great kings, and gave their land to Israel; is the Eternal, and will judge his people's cause, which, on the behalf of their servants the dead idols of the heathen have no power to do.

VER. 3. "Sing praises unto his name, for it is pleasant."-The work of singing praise is pleasant, being the employment of angels and glorified saints; the subject matter of it delightful, the blessings of grace flowing from the everlasting love of God it leads unto, which is excellent, and better than life; and it must be pleasant work to a saint, because it is pleasing to God; and especially when the presence of God is enjoyed in it, and melody is made in the heart, as well as with the mouth.

Ver. 4. "For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself."]-Jacob and Israel are meant, even the whole church and people of God, whether jews or gentiles: these God has chosen of his own free grace and good-will to all the blessings of grace and glory, and that from all eternity; which choice will remain firm and immutable, in time and for ever, and therefore is worthy of praise and thanksgiving, now and to all eternity.

"And Israel for his peculiar treasure."]-By whom they are accounted as such, even as the peculiar treasure of kings, as silver, gold, jewels, and precious stones, as his inheritance, his portion, and peculiar people: Exod. xix. 5. Mal. iii. 17.

Ver. 5. "For I know that the Lord is great."]-Jehovah the Father is great in his perfections, in his power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, and goodness, and in his works of creation, providence, and grace; and so is Jehovah the Son, who seems chiefly designed, who is called our Lord, or Adoni, in the next clause; he is great, having the same perfections his Father has, and doing the same works, besides the miracles he wrought here on earth, and the great work of our redemption: he is the great God and our Saviour, and a great Saviour he is; and indeed he is great in all his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King, and so is the blessed Spirit, who is equal to the Father and Son.

Ver. 6. "Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did be."] -In creation, producing into being what creatures he thought fit; in providence, doing according to his will in heaven and in earth; in grace, predestinating men to grace and glory, according to the good pleasure of his will, and calling by his grace whom he pleased: so Christ quickens whom he will, and the Spirit dispenses his gifts and grace severally to men as he pleases.

Ver. 13. "Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever."]The Lord himself endureth for ever, in his nature, being, and perfections, and the fame of him, the fame of those acts

of power and goodness before mentioned; the name of Christ endures for ever; his person and offices, his gospel, which is his name; his children and people, who are called by his name, and in whom his name is perpetuated; the fame of his wondrous works in nature, providence, and grace; and especially of his great work of redemption and salvation.

"And thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations."]-Or, the remembrance of them to generation and generation: to every age; the love of Christ is remembered by his people in every age, the blessings of his grace in redemption, justification, pardon, &c. and cannot be forgotten as long as his gospel is preached, the ordinances of baptism, and the Lord's supper administered, and he has a people in the world, all which will be as long as the sun and moon endure, there will be a memorial of him.

Ver. 20. Bless the Lord, O house of Levi."]-These were of the same tribe with the house of Aaron, but inferior ministers; they ministered to the priests, and had the charge of things in the tabernacle and temple; many of them were porters, and others were singers, whose work it was to give thanks morning and evening, and so they are with great propriety called upon to bless the Lord, Numb. iii. 6-8. I Chron. xxiii. 5, 30. and may mystically design inferior officers in the church, who are helps and assistants to ministers in the government and discipline of it, and have the care of its secular affairs, and who when they behave well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and boldness in the faith; and even door-keepers in the house of the Lord, bave reason to bless his name for a place there; and all the saints are the sweet singers of Israel, have the new song of electing, redeeming and calling grace, put into their mouths, and therefore should bless the Lord. "Ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord."

PSALM CXXXVI.

The scope of this Psalm is the same with that of the foregoing, but there is something very singular in the composure of it: for the latter half of each verse is the same repeated throughout the Psalm, "For his mercy endureth for ever," and yet no vain repetition. It is allowed that such burdens or keepings, as we call them, add very much to the beauty of a song, and help to make it moving and affecting; nor can any verse contain more weighty matter, or more worthy to be thus