2. He begs of God also to exalt and glorify him- self—
[Sensible that, v;ith all his efforts, he could affect but few, he intreats God to shew forth his own glory, and, by augmented displays of it, to " exalt himself above heaven and earth." Thus to the same effect he addresses Jehovah in another psalm ; " Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty ! with thy glory and thy majesty ; and in thy majesty ride prosperously in the cause of meekness and truth and righteousness ; and let thy right hand teach thee terrible things ''." In the 14Sth Psalm, his whole employment from beginning to end is to call on all the different creatures in heaven and earth, rational and irrational, animate and inanimate, to unite, according to their respective powers, in glorifying God.
Such then should be our prayer also : the manifestation of God's glory should be so dear to us, that we should have no wish, no thought, no desire in comparison of it.]
Address —
That you may attain a greater measure of David's piety,
1. Study the Divine character, as illustrated in his dealings with you —
[To mark the dispensations of providence and grace is
good : ^ Josh. xxiv. 15. ^ Ps, xlv, 4.
206 PSALMS, Lvii. 7 — 11. [374.
good : but it will be of little service, unless we mark the per- fections of God as displayed in his dealings with us. See, for instance, how multiplied your transgressions against him have been, and how wonderful has been his forbearance in not cut- ting you off in your sins, and making you monuments of his indignation, like the rebellious Israelites of old, or like Ananias and iSapphira in the Apostolic age ! Call to mind how ready he has been at all times to receive you to his favour, and, in answer to your prayers, to send you fresh supplies of grace, or mercy, or peace, according to your necessities. Mark your various back- slidings; and contrast with these the richness of his communica- tions to you : and then say, " Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage ? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy'." The sense of God's excellency which you obtain from other sources will be speculative, superficial, trans- ient ; but that which you derive from his dealings with you will be deep, practical, abiding ]
2. Seek to have the dispositions of your minds suited to his dispensations towards you —
[What are the feelings which his mercy and truth should generate in your soul ? Should they not be those of admiration, and love, and gratitude, and affiance ? Should they not be also those of holy zeal in his service ? Should they not be accompanied with a desire that the whole world should know him? Here then you see precisely what should be the state of your mind from day to day. This is piety: this is religion. Religion is not a matter of dispute, but of practice ; and not of mere morals, but of spiritual feeling, similar to that which is expressed in my text, and venting itself in such language is this : " Bless the Lord, O my soul ! and all that is within me, bless his holy name : bless the Lord, O my soul 1 and forget not all his benefits'"." This is your duty, shall I say? No: it is your privilege: and it is a very antepast of heaven. May God in his mercy diffuse amongst us this spirit more and more, and attune all our hearts to sing without ceasing the praises of our God !]
'Mic. vii, 18. " Ps. clii. \,2.