the same spring of infinite grace, but are branched into innumerable particular streams according as our necessities do require. To these do waiting souls repair for stay and encouragement. Their perplexities principally arise from their misapprehensions of what God is in himself, and of what he will be unto them: and whither should they repair to be undeceived, but unto that faithful representation that he hath made of himself and his will in the word of his grace? For no man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath revealed him;' John i. 18. Now the gospel is nothing but the word of promise explained in all the springs, causes, and effects of it; thither must we repair to be instructed in this matter. The imaginations and reasonings of men's hearts will but deceive them in these things. The informations or instructions of other men may do so; nor have they any truth in them, farther than they may be resolved into the word of promise. Here alone they may find rest and refreshment. The soul of whom we speak, is under troubles, perplexities, and distresses, as to its outward condition; pressed with many straits it may be on every hand; and, as to its spiritual estate, under various apprehensions of the mind and will of God towards it, as hath before at large been explained. In this condition it is brought in some measure unto a holy submission unto God, and a patient waiting for the issue of its trials. In this estate it hath many temptations to, and much working of, unbelief. The whole of its opposition amounts to this, that it is neglected of God, that its way is hid, and his judgment is passed over from him, that it shall not be at present delivered, nor hereafter saved. What course can any one advise such a one unto for his relief, and to preserve his soul from fainting or deserting the duty of waiting on God wherein he is engaged, but only this, to search and inquire what revelation God hath made of himself and his will concerning him in his word. And this the promise declares. Here he shall find hope, patience, faith, expectation, to be all increased, comforted, encouraged. Herein lies the duty and safety of any in this condition. Men may bear the first impression of any trouble with the strength, courage, and resolution of their natural spirits; under some continuance of them they may support them

selves with former experiences, and other usual springs and means of consolation. But if their wounds prove difficult to be cured, if they despise ordinary remedies, if their diseases are of long continuance, this is that which they must betake themselves unto. They must search into the word of promise, and learn to measure things, not according to the present state and apprehensions of their mind, but according unto what God hath declared concerning them. And there are sundry excellencies in the promises when hoped in, or trusted in, that tend unto the establishment of the soul in this great duty of waiting. As,

1. That grace in them, that is, the good will of God in Christ, for help, relief, satisfaction, pardon, and salvation, is suited unto all particular conditions and wants of the soul. As light ariseth from the sun, and is diffused in the beams thereof to the especial use of all creatures, enabled by a visive faculty to make use of it; so cometh grace forth from the eternal good will of God in Christ, and is diffused by the promises, with a blessed contemporation unto the conditions and wants of all believers. There can nothing fall out between God and any soul, but there is grace suited unto it in one promise or another, as clearly and evidently, as if it were given unto him particularly and immediately. And this they find by experience, who at any time are enabled to mix effectually a promise with faith.

2. The word of promise hath a wonderful, mysterious, especial impression of God upon it. He doth by it secretly and ineffably communicate himself unto believers. When God appeared in a dream unto Jacob, he awaked and said, 'God is in this place, and I knew it not.' He knew God was every where, but an intimation of his especial presence surprised him. So is a soul surprised when God opens himself and his grace in a promise unto him. It cries out, God is here, and I knew it not.' Such a near approach of God in his grace it finds, as is accompanied with a refreshing surprisal.

3. There is an especial engagement of the veracity and truth of God in every promise. Grace and truth are the two ingredients of an evangelical promise; the matter and form whereof they do consist. I cannot now stay to shew wherein this especial engagement of truth in the promise doth

consist. Besides, it is a thing known and confessed. But it hath an especial influence to support the soul when hoped in, in its duty of waiting. For that hope can never make ashamed, or leave the soul unto disappointments, which stays itself on divine veracity under a special engagement.

And this is that duty which the psalmist engageth himself in, and unto the performance of, as the only way to obtain a comfortable interest in that forgiveness which is with God, and all the gracious effects thereof. And in the handling hereof, as we have declared its nature and necessity, so we have the psalmist's directions for its practice, unto persons in the like condition with him, for the attaining of the end by him aimed at; so that it needs no farther application. That which remains of the psalm is the address which he makes unto others, with the encouragement which he gives them to steer the same course with himself; and this he doth in the two last verses, which, to complete the exposition of the whole psalm, I shall briefly explain and pass through, as having already dispatched what I principally aimed at.

Ver. 7.-Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. Ver. 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.'

I shall proceed in the opening of these words, according unto the method already insisted on. First, the meaning of the principal words shall be declared; then the sense and importance of the whole. Thirdly, the relation that they have unto the condition of the soul expressed in the psalm must be manifested; from all which, observations will arise for our instruction and direction in the like cases, wherein we are or may be concerned.

Hope : יחל ישראל אל־יהוה ; Let Israel hope in the Lord •

Israel in Jehovah.' Trust or expect; the same word with that, ver. 5. In his word do I hope;' properly, to expect, to look for, which includes hope, and adds some farther degree of the soul's acting towards God; it is an earnest looking after the thing hoped for; 'expecta ad Dominum;' hope in him, and look up to him; 'for with the Lord,' 'quia' or 'quoniam,' because, seeing that with the Lord; 'mercy;' the verb substantive, as usual, is omitted, which we supply, ‘there

is mercy,' grace, bounty, goodness, good will. This word is often joined with another, discovering its importance, and that is truth.' goodness,' or 'mercy and truth.' These are, as it were, constituent parts of God's promises. It is of goodness, grace, bounty, to promise any undue mercy; and it is of truth or faithfulness to make good what is so promised. The LXX. commonly render this word by λeos, that is, 'pardoning mercy,' as it is every where used in the New Testament.

And with him is plenteous redemption;' y with him,' as before speaking unto God, ver. 4.py with thee' there is; the meaning of which expression hath been opened at large. Redemption from to redeem ;' the same with λύτρωσις, ἀπολύτρωσις, redemption : this word is often used for a proper redemption, such as is made by the intervention of a price, and not a mere assertion unto liberty by power, which is sometimes also called redemption. Thus it is said of the money that the first-born of the children of Israel, which were above the number of the Levites, were redeemed with, that Moses took the 'redemption;' that is, the redemption-money, the price of their redemption, Numb. iii. 49. Psal. xlix. 8. The redemption of men's souls is precious; it cost a great price. The redemption then that is with God, relates unto a price; goodness or mercy with respect unto a price, becomes redemption, that is actively, the cause or means of it. What that price is, see Matt. xx. 20. 1 Pet. i. 18.

Plenteous redemption,' 'multa, copiosa,' much, abundant, plenteous. It is used both for quantity and quality; much in quantity, or plenteous, abundant; and in quality, that is, precious, excellent. And it is applied in a good and bad sense; so it is said of our sins, Ezek. ix. 6. our sins

are increased' or 'multiplied,' or are great;' many in number, and heinous in their nature or quality. And in the other sense, it is applied unto the mercy of God, whereby they are removed; it is great or plenteous, it is excellent or precious.

Ver. 8. And he,' that is, the Lord Jehovah, he with whom is plenteous redemption, П› ' shall redeem ;' or make them partakers of that redemption that is with him. ‘He shall redeem Israel,' that is, those who hope and trust in him.

*From all his iniquities;' van 'his iniquities,' that is, of the elect Israel, and every individual amongst them. But the word signifies trouble as well as sin, especially that trouble or punishment that is for sin. So Cain expresseth himself, upon the denunciation of his sentence; N

'my sin,' that is, the punishment thou hast denounced against my sin, is too great or heavy for me to bear ;' Gen. iv. 13. There is a near affinity between sin and trouble; 'noxam pœna sequitur,' punishment is inseparable from iniquity. ¡y then the word here used signifies either sin, with reference unto trouble due to it; or trouble, with respect unto sin whence it proceeds. And both may here be well intended. 'God shall redeem Israel from all his sins, and troubles that have ensued thereon.' And this is the signification of the words, which indeed are plain and obvious.

And these words close up the psalm. He who began with depths, his own depths of sin and trouble, out of which, and about which, he cried out unto God, is so encouraged by that prospect of grace and forgiveness with God, which by faith he had obtained, as to preach unto others, and to support them in expectation of deliverance from all their sin and trouble also.

And such for the most part are all the exercises and trials of the children of God. Their entrance may be a storm, but their close is a calm. Their beginning is oftentimes trouble, but their latter end is peace; peace to themselves, and advantage to the church of God. For men in all ages coming out of great trials of their own, have been the most instrumental for the good of others. For God doth not greatly exercise any of his, but with some especial end for his own glory.

Secondly, The sense and intendment of the psalmist in these words, is to be considered; and that resolves itself into three general parts.

1. An exhortation or admonition; Israel hope in the Lord,' or 'expect Jehovah.'

2. A ground of encouragement unto the performance of the duty exhorted unto; Because with the Lord there is much, plenteous, abundant, precious redemption.'

3. A gracious promise of a blessed issue, which shall be