17. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

By inditing this divine marriage-song, appointed to be sung in the congregation of the faithful from age to age, the Psalmist hath been, as he foresaw he should be, the blessed means of celebrating his Redeemer's name, and inciting the nations of the world to do likewise; nor will he cease to be so, while the forty-fifth Psalm continues to be sung in the church upon earth; that is, while there remaineth a church upon earth to sing in. And we, who now do sing it, are witnesses of these things.

PSALM XLVI.

ARGUMENT.-The church, in time of trouble, declares, 1. her trust and confidence to be in God, and doubts not, 2, 3. of being preserved safe, by means of this anchor, in the most stormy seasons; even then, 4, 5. enjoying the comforts of the Spirit, and the presence of Christ in the midst of her. She describes, 6. and, 7. exults in, the power and might of her victorious Lord; 8, 9. calling the world to view and consider his wonderful works. 10. He himself is introduced, as speaking the nations into peace and obedience. She concludes with a repetition of ver. 7. in the way of chorus.

1. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

As we are continually beset by 'troubles,' either bodily or spiritual, so we continually stand in need of a city of refuge and strength,' into which we may fly and be safe. Religion is that city, whose gates are always open to the afflicted soul. We

profess to believe this; do we act agreeably to such profession?

2. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

The church declares her full and firm confidence in God, as her refuge and strength, amidst all the tumults and confusions of the world, the raging of nations, and the fall of empires. Nay, at that last great and terrible day, when sea and land are to be confounded, and every mountain and hill removed for ever; when there is to be 'distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;' even then, the righteous shall have no cause to 'fear,' but rather to lift up their heads,' with joy and triumph, because then it is that their 'redemption draweth nigh.' Let us set that day before us, and try ourselves by that test.

4. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God: the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5. God is in the midst of she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early; Heb. when the morning appeareth.

her;

Such is the ground on which the church erects her confidence. Instead of those waters which overwhelm the world, she has within herself the fountain of consolation, sending forth rivers of spiritual joy and pleasure; and, in the place of secular instability, she is possessed of a city and a hill which stand fast for ever, being the residence of

the Eternal, who, at the dawn of the last morning, will finally appear as the protector and avenger of Israel.

6. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

How concise, how energetic, how truly and astonishingly sublime! The kingdom of Christ being twofold, these words may be applied either to the overthrow of heathenism, and the establishment of the gospel, or to the destruction of the world, and the erection of Messiah's triumphant throne. Conquer, O Lord, all our perverse affections, and reign in us, that we may conquer, and reign with thee.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge; Heb. an high place for us.

To the Lord of hosts' all creatures in heaven and earth are subject; in 'the God of Jacob,' the church acknowledges the Saviour of his chosen. If this person be Immanuel, God with us, of whom can we be afraid?

8. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

The church, in these words, proposes to us the noblest subjects for contemplation; namely, the glorious victories of our Lord, partly gained already, and partly to be gained hereafter, in order to the final establishment of universal peace, righteousness, and bliss, in his heavenly kingdom. Then

the mighty shall be fallen, and the weapons of war perished, for ever. Hasten, O Lord, that blessed day; but first prepare us for it.

10. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

In this verse there is a change of person, and Jehovah himself is introduced, as commanding the world to cease its opposition, to own his power, and to acknowledge his sovereignty over all the kingdoms of the nations. Let our rebellious passions hear this divine edict-tremble and obey.

11. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. See ver.

7.

Ninth Day.-Evening Prayer.

PSALM XLVII.

ARGUMENT.-In this Psalm, appointed by the church to be used on Ascension-day, the prophet, 1. calls the nations to celebrate so glorious a festival; and that on account, 2. of Christ's power, and the mightiness of his kingdom; 3. of his victories and triumphs, through the Gospel; 4. of the inheritance prepared for his chosen, in the heavenly Canaan, by his own ascension thither; which, 5. is described under the images borrowed from the ascent of the ark into the holy city and temple; an occasion on which the Psalm was probably composed. 6, 7. He again and again exhorts all people to sing the praises of their God and King, and to sing with the understanding, as well as with the voice. 8, 9. The Psalm concludes with predicting the establishment of Christ's kingdom, and the conversion of the Gentile kings and nations to the faith.

VOL. II.

K

1. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

The prophet invites all nations to celebrate the festival of Messiah's exaltation, because all nations had a share in the benefits and blessings of that glorious day. God is to be worshipped with bodily, as well as spiritual worship: every 'hand' should be lifted to him who formed it, and every mouth' up should praise him who giveth breath for that purpose.

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2. For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

The church celebrates the ascension of Christ, because then he was highly exalted;' then he became 'terrible' to his enemies, all power in heaven and in earth being committed to him; and then he began to display the excellent majesty of his universal kingdom, to which he was then inaugurated, being crowned 'King of kings, and Lord of lords.'

3. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

The consequence of our Lord's ascension was the going forth of the all-subduing Word, under the influence and direction of which, the convinced and converted nations renounced their idols and their lusts, and bowed their willing necks to the yoke of Jesus. This is that great conquest, foreshowed by the victories of Joshua, David, and all the faithful heroes of old time, and foretold in language borrowed from their histories.

4. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved.

The land of Canaan, emphatically styled that