What an astonishing effect too does the light of his counte- nance produce with respect to fruitfulness in good works ! let the soul, watered with shcnvers of divine grace, and softened with the tears of penitence and contrition, once feel the genial influence of his rays, and there will be an instantaneous change in its whole state : " it will revive as the corn, and grow as the vine; and the scent thereof will be as the wine of Lebanon'^." Every holy affection will be called forth into exercise; and every fruit of righteousness abound to the glory of God.
B Hos. xiv. 7. X 2
Such are the effects which the Psalmist elsewhere ascribes to Christ's government'^; and such, in all ages, have invariably resulted from it\]
Infer —
1. How earnestly should we desire the universal establishment of Christ's kingdom !
[Little do men consider the import of that petition, " Thy kingdom come." In uttering this prayer, we desire that our whole souls, and the souls of all mankind, may be sub- jected to Christ. And truly this event would restore the golden age of paradise. Ungodly men indeed would persuade us, that an unlimited submission to Christ would be an occa- sion of melancholy, and a source of misery. But if once they were to experience the effects of his government upon their own souls, they would learn, that obedience to him is the truest happiness of man. Let us then take upon us his light and easy yoke, as the only, and the certain means of finding rest unto our souls.]
2. What madness is it to continue in rebellion against Christ !
[It is not at our option whether Christ shall be our ruler or not ; for " God has set him upon his holy hill of Zion," and in due season, wiU " put all his enemies under his feet." If we will not bow before the sceptre of his grace, he will " break us in pieces with a rod of iron." Shall we then pro- voke him to wrath, when we have so much to dread from his displeasure ? No : rather let the truth which is here with such awful solemnity announced, be with all holy reverence received : yea, let us " kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and we perish from the way '^." Thus shall we now enjoy the fehcity of his chosen; and, in the day wlien all his enemies shall be slain before him, we shall be made partners of his throne for evermore.]
h Ps. Ixxii. 2—7. ■ Acts ii. 41—47. ^ Ps. ii. 1—12.