Here, then, we have already marked for us the nobler grounds of joy which we possess at this time,
1. In the dignity of the person so exalted —
[The ark was dignified as a shadotv, and an emblem, of the Lord Jesus : but we commemorate the exaltation of the Lord Jesns himself. And I wish you particularly to notice how this also was announced by the holy Psalmist: *' Lift up your heads, O ye gates ; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors ; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even lift them up, ye everlasting doors ; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of gloryg."]
2. In the richness of the benefits imparted by him —
[In the passage before mentioned we see, in a general view, the gifts which our ascended Saviour bestows upon his rebellious subjects. But who can recount them all, or even estimate so much as one of them aright? See the first-fruits of those benefits on the day of Pentecost ; and behold them spread over the face of the whole earth, and poured out in the richest possible abundance at this day. See the Saviour " seated at the right hand of God, far above all principalities and powers, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. See how God hath put all things under his feet, and given him to be head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him who filleth all in aU^." See him "exalted thus, and having a name given him above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father'^.'" All these his victories must be contemplated, and all the felicity of his redeemed people both in time and eternity, before we can estimate, in any measure, what ground we have for joy in the resurrection and ascension of our blessed Lord. My dear Brethren, only view these things by faith as David did, and even your lowest notes will resemble those of " that sweet singer of Israel :" " God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises : sing praises imto our King, sing- praises: for God is the King of all the earth: smg ye praises wdth understanding'^."]
g Ps. xxiv. 7—10. h Eph. i. 20—23. • Phil. ii. 9—11.
k Ps. xlvii. 5—7.
312. j DAVID DANCING BEFORE THE LORD, 251
But it will be profitable to inquire,
III. How far the expressions of our joy should cor- respond with his — In point of ardour, we should not fall short of him, but should, if possible, exceed him. Yet in the mode of expressing our joy, I think he is not a pro- per pattern for us —
1. There is a great difference between his dispen- sation and ours —
[The Jewish dispensation abounded with " carnal ordi- nances :" and every ser\ace of the saints was marked with out- ward and visible signs. Every penitent that would obtain mercy of the Lord must carry his appointed offering, and con- form in every thing to some pecuhar law. The same must be done by those who would retvuni thanks to God for mercies received. But we, under the Christian dispensation, are to enter into our chamber, and shut our door, that we may not be seen of men, but be seen by Him only whom we serve, the heart-searching God^ The Jews needed the priests to me- diate between God and them : but we may approach God, every one of us for ourselves, through that One Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ ; yea, and may enter into the holy of holies itself, through the blood of his sacrifice which he once offered for us on the cross"". This, then, marks a broad line of dis- tinction between Da\dd's services and ours, and renders such ''bod ill/ exercise" as his unsuitable to us.]