cccxxv.
THE EQUITY OF CHRIST's GOVERNMENT.
2 Sam. xxiii. 1 — 4. Noio these he the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who teas raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the siveet Psalmist of Israel, said. The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his ivord ivas in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me. He that ruleth over men must he just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall he as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning withoid clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
THESE words are generally understood as de- scriptive of the duty of civil governors, and of the happiness of any people who live under a government that is thus administered. But they have doubtless a further reference, even to Christ himself, whose
;]0r> X' SAMUEL. XXlll. 1—4. [325.
charaotor thov dosignato in tbo most a]^propriato tiMins, The vory onorgotio nianuor in wliich the ]nH>|>hoov bofoiv ns is introdiicod, and tho strong jH-otossion whioli iho writor nuikos of his innnodialo inspiration from (nnl. leave no doubt upon the mind, but that something more nuist be intended in this passage than a mere direetion to earthly magistrates. A verv vsmall alteration in the Translation >vill exhibit it in its true light'*. Christ is frequently s^ioken of in Scripture as the Jrsr Onk'\ in eontradistinetion to all others: and as the Si x that enliuhlens the \vlu)le