5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things; this is known in all the earth.

To fing unto the Lord, is to celebrate his praises in fongs compofed of verses, wherein his tremendous majefty is extolled, his mighty acts are recorded, his immenfe benefits are acknowledged, and his adorable grace is magnified. This delightful exercife, whilst it pleases the ear, affifts the memory, warms the affections, and animates devotion. In all the ages of the church, it hath been efteemed an important part of divine worship, in which the people of God have, with united hearts and harmonious voices, proclaimed the praises of his love, righteousness, grace, and faithfulnefs, manifefted in their falvation. In this bleffed work, the fcriptures plainly intimate that angels and faints are employed in heaven, where they fing the Song of Mofes and the Lamb.Let it therefore be our folicitous concern, to be prepared for joining thefe celeftial fpirits, in celebrating the praifes of our God and Saviour. For this noble fervice, God hath been pleased to furnish us with fuitable powers: new matter of praife is continually afforded us, by the bounties of providence: new fongs are put into our mouths, by the proper ufe of which, we may be prepared for receiving new mercies; and at laft for joining the church of the firft-born that are written in heaven, in those celeftial fongs which they fing to him that fitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. Let us then cheerfully embrace every opportunity of performing this fublime exercife, frequently inculcated in the word of God.This fubject adminifters juft reproof to thofe who have not a proper fenfe of the importance and utility of finging unto the Lord; who, without fufficient reafon, appear not in the church until this part of divine fervice be over, and retire from public worthip before finging the pfalm with which it is concluded. Who is a wife man, and endued with knowledge amongst

'you?

you ? let him fhew out of a good conversation his works with meeknefs of wifdom*. Forfake not the house of your God; and again, I fay, neglect not any proper opportunity of fhewing forth the praises of the Lord your God.

For he hath done excellent things. The things here intended, are the works of creation and providence, and especially the great work of redemption. In the things that God hath created, he hath left deep impreffions of his divine excellencies, infomuch that though they may not be efteemed excellent on their own account, they fhould be confidered as excellent because he formed them. They justly merit this description, in respect of their various powers and orders, their quantity and quality, their matter and form, their influence and utility. The things that God hath done in the difpenfations of his providence are no less excellent. What wonderful order, connection, and defign, are confpicuous in the arrangements he hath made! what noble triumphs hath he obtained over his enemies! what equity and truth hath he manifefted in all his ways! what awful majefty appears in his judgments! what mercy and goodness in his deliverances! Above all, what excellent things hath been done by the Lord God Almighty, in the redemption of tranfgreffors! So great, fo excellent, are the things comprehended in this work, that we have not minds capable of conceiving them, nor words to exprefs them, nor examples to illuftrate them. This wonderful work of God, diftinguished by its fuper-eminent excellence, ftands arrayed with native incomparable glory. It is of fuch confummate excellence, and vaft magnitude, that it cannot be fufficiently extolled: it hath been highly celebrated through ages that are past, and fhall continue to be the fubject of everlasting praifes. Things are commonly esteemed excellent which are poffeffed

* James iii. 13.

of

of every property that can render them valuable and ufeful, and ferve the purpofes for which they are intended, especially when they are done in fuch a manner as excites admiration and delight. The excellency here spoken of, may refer both to the things themfelves, and the manner of their execution. The things that God hath done are poffeffed of every qualification requifite to accomplish the purposes for which they are defigned; whilft, at the fame time, they are fa done as to excite aftonifhment and pleasure in those who contemplate them. In this view, how. eminent, for inftance, is the forgiveness of fins, acceptance with God, introduction into glorious li berty, and a right to the high privileges of the fons of God, through the mediation of Jefus Chrift; the converfion, renovation, and exaltation, of human nature to eternal life, through the agency of the Holy Spirit!

This is known in all the earth. The fame of the excellent things performed by the Lord, efpecially of the renowned work of the falvation of the church, is fpread abroad through the whole world. They were every where reported in the miniftry of the gofpel, the found whereof went throughout all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. What the royal prophet literally affirms concerning the heavens, the apostle Paul allegorically applies to ministers of the gofpel, the luminaries of the fpiritual world; their ministry extended, as he affirms, to the most diftant known regions of the inhabited earth: Their found went unto all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world*.' Thus was the prediction of Jefus Christ in part fulfilled: And this gospel of the kingdom fhall be preached in all the world, for a witnefs unto all nations +.' In confequence of this prophecy, the joyful tidings of thefe excellent things that God hath wrought, have reached this highly fayoured island which we inhabit. This happy circum

* Rom. x. 18.

Matth. xxiv. 14.

ftance

ftance furnishes us with an agreeable proof of the truth of the affertion contained in the words under confideration. Let us gratefully acknowledge this inftance of the divine goodnefs; and endeavour, with fidelity and diligence, to improve this important advantage.

6 Cry out and fhout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the holy One of Ifrael in the midst of thee.

This facred hymn of thankfgiving and praife, concludes with a warm invitation to the highest expref fion of exultation and joy.People often cry out and fhout, when greatly elated with the triumphs which they have obtained, and the agreeable profpects that are exhibited to their view. When the ark of the covenant of the Lord was brought into the camp of Ifrael at Shiloh, we read, that all Ifrael fhouted for joy with a loud fhout, fo that the earth rang again. When the Pharifees defired our Lord to rebuke the multitude of his difciples, who rejoiced and praised God with a loud voice, for all the mighty works that they had feen, he informed them, That fhould thefe hold their peace, the ftones would immediately cry out, to celebrate his triumphant entry into Jerusalem *. These paffages of scripture affift us in underftanding the import of the invitation, which is here addreffed to every inhabitant of Zion, who is called upon to join in this effufion of triumph, to which the falvation of the Lord affords just occafion. The mount, which was anciently called Zion, is often mentioned in fcripture as a figure or type of the church of Jefus Chrift; and fo by the inhabitant of Zion, is chiefly intended the Ifrael and children of God, who refide in the church under the New Teftament, and participate of the glorious privileges peculiar to this

*Luke xix. 37. et feq.

honourable

honourable select fociety. Every individual of this defcription, is here invited to give the strongest demonftrations of gladnefs and gratitude of which he is capable, in celebrating the mercies of Jehovah, the victories of the Lamb, and his eternal falvation; who, having overcome, is now conducting them to final conqueft, glory, and immortality.Let every genuine member of the church of Chrift immediately comply with the call here given; and exprefs, in the strongest manner, his grateful fenfe of the greateft of all mercies, the redemption of the world by our Lord and Saviour Jefus Christ. One fubftantial reafon why we ought thus to fhout, is here fubjoined:

For great is the holy One of Ifrael in the midst of thee. God our Saviour is certainly the perfon here intended by this description, and to him it eminently belongs. He is perfectly holy in his nature, in the works that he hath done, and in the word of his grace his purity fhines forth with the brightest luftre. He is the living fource of all that holinefs of which his people are poffeffed, the complete pattern which they are called to imitate, and his holiness is the moft powerful motive whereby refemblance to him is inculcated. Have recourfe then to this holy One, that he may make you partakers of his holinefs. Be ye holy (faith he), for I the Lord your God am holy. As the invifible things of God, even his eternal power and Godhead, are feen in the things that are made, fo let the other invifible things of God, even his immaculate purity and righteoufnefs, be feen in your temper and conduct. Study, as dear children, to be imitators of God, in his mercy, faithfulnefs, compaffion, and patience.This holy One is affirmed to be great. Behold, God is great, and we know him not. He is a great God, and a great King above all gods.' His infinite grandeur and greatnefs, in majefty and every divine attribute, is often highly celebrated in fcripture. He is great in power, both legislative and executive: he commandeth whatfoever he pleafeth, and doth whatfoever