Secondly. Observe from the words, that it is the duty of believers to be making things concerning Jesus Christ: " Things that I have made touching the King." Now, to be making things concerning Jesus Christ, is to meditate upon him, — to have firm and fixed medi- tations upon Christ, and upon the glory of his excellencies : this is it that here is called, " ' The things I have made/ composed, framed in my mind." He did not make pictures of Christ, or frame such and such images of him; but he meditated upon Christ. It is called, " Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord," in 2 Cor. hi. 18. What is the glory of the Lord? Why, it is the glory of his person, the glory of his kingdom, the glory of his love. Where are these to be seen? They are all represented in the glass. What glass? The glass of the gospel. The gospel hath a reflection upon it of all these glories of Christ, and makes a representation of them unto us. What is our work and business? Why, it is to behold this glory; that is, to contemplate upon it by faith, to meditate upon it, — which is here called making " things touching the King." This is also called
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" Christ's dwelling in us," Eph. iii. 1 7 ; and, " The word of Christ dwelling richly in us," Col. iii. 16; — which is, when the soul abounds in thoughts of Christ. I have had more advantage by private thoughts of Christ than by any thing in this world; and I think when a soul hath satisfying and exalting thoughts of Christ himself, his person and his glory, it is the way whereby Christ dwells in such a soul. If I have observed any thing by experience, it is this, — a man may take the measure of his growth and decay in grace according to his thoughts and meditations upon the person of Christ, and the glory of Christ's kingdom, and of his love. A heart that is inclined to converse with Christ as he is represented in the gospel, is a thriving heart; and if estranged from it and backward to it, it is under deadness and decays.
" Touching the King;" — the psalmist hath respect unto Christ as a king. Hence, —
Thirdly. Observe that there is a peculiar glory in the kingly office of Jesus Christ, that we should daily exercise our thoughts about. • The comfort, joy, and refreshment of believers, in this world, lie in the kingly power of Christ. What a view is there taken of him in Isa. lxiii. 1, " Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed gar- ments from Bozrah ? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save;" and which refers us to but one part of his kingly office, — namely, to the power he will put forth in destroying his enemies. It is generally thought that Edom under the Old Testament shadows forth Rome under the New. This is a glorious description of Christ going forth in the greatness of his power, when the }^ear of his re- deemed is come, and the day of vengeance is in his heart. How dreadful will it be to the world ! how glorious in the eyes of believers ! when we shall see him glorious in his apparel, travelling in the great- ness of his strength, till he hath destroyed all his stubborn adversaries.
There is a peculiar glory in the kingdom of Christ, that we ought much, for our relief, to meditate upon. If we could behold the in- ternal and external workings of Christ; what he hath done, what he will do, — how that certainly he will save every believer, how that cer- tainly he will destroy every enemy,— how infallible in his grace, and never-failing in his vengeance ;— we should then see a peculiar glory in his kingdom.
Fourthly. Observe, that when a heart is full of love to Christ, it will run over; then men will be speaking of Christ, and of his glory. " We believe," saith the apostle, " and therefore speak," 2 Cor. iv. 1 3. If we do believe, we shall speak. And saith the apostle, Acts iv. 20, when they said, " Speak no more in this name," saith he, " ' Wc cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard;' we cannot but speak them." On the contrary, there is sad evidence
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how little there is of love in the hearts of men towards Christ. Alas! look about to the multitudes of them that are called. Christians; when do you hear a word of him ? when do you meet with a heart over- flowing with love to Christ? Some speak of him to blaspheme him, some to the reproach of him ; but for a natural readiness to speak for him, where do we find it ? Yet if the heart be filled, it will boil over. There are some that pass for professors ; you shall very seldom hear a word of Christ from them. If a man would make himself a reproach in the world, he cannot better do it than by owning Christ and his Spirit before men.