2. Richly productive —
[The sickly plants, when watered, raise up their drooping head, and bring forth, each according to its nature, their proper fruits. Thus, "in the day of Christ's" descent upon the souls of the " righteous, they flourish:" and "peace," the first-fruit of the Spirit, " abounds within them." The image in the text beautifully represents the change which is produced, when " a season of refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord:" the person thus highly favoured "flourishes" like the palm-tree; he becomes as " a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in his season: his leaf does not wither; and whatso- ever he doeth, it prospers^." If the sun of persecution arise upon him, it does not now scorch him and destroy his root*^, but rather calls into activity his vital energies; and serves only to display with fuller evidence the comm-imications he has received. Nothing now robs him of his peace. Much as he laments his former ini- quities, thev no longer disturb his peace, because the guilt of them is washed away in " the fountain opened for sin," Nor does the prospect of death and judgment appal him, because " he
knows "* 1 Kin. xix. 11—13. ' Ps. xcii. 12, 13. & i. 3.
f Matt. xiii. 6, 21. with Jer. xvii. 8. & Hos. xiv. 5 — 7.
246 PSALMS, LXXIl. 6— 11. (jS^W
knows in whom he has believed," and that " there is no con- demnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." His rapturous joys may intermit and subside, but his peace shall continue ** as long as the moon endureth."]
A due consideration of these things will lead us to rejoice in,
IL The extent of his dominion —
Earthly monarchs have vainly imagined therti- selves possessed of universal empire : but it is to Christ alone that this truly and properly belongs. His dominion extends itself over,
1 . The most distant places — •
[Solomon's empire was the most extensive of any that was ■ governed by Jewish kings. It reached from the river Euphrates to the Red Sea ; and comprehended all the countries between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean : " it was from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth." But Christ has literally " the utmost ends of the earth for his possession." His kingdom was speedily erected in every part of the known world : and at this moment there are multitudes in every civilized nation under heaven, yea, amongst barbarians also and savages, who acknowledge him as their supreme Governor, and render the most cheerful obedience to his commands. Already is that pro- phecy fulfilled, " From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering?." In this therefore we have apledge that the knowledge of him ** shall yet more extensively prevail, and shall one day cover the earth as the waters cover the s6a ''."]'
2. The most exalted personages —
[It was said of Solomon, in reference to the fore^-mentioned • countries, that " all the kings of the earth sought his presence, ; and brought presents to him ; and that he reigned over them'." Nominally too, a great multitude of kings are subject unto Christ : but, alas ! his real subjects have hitherto been few among them. What Paul complained of in his time has been verified in all suc- ceeding ages to the present day ; " Not many wise, not many > mighty, not many noble are called ''." But the time is coming when the most potent monarchs upon earth shall become his will- ing subjects, and " bow down themselves, and lick the dust before him," in a humble acknowledgment of their entire de- pendence
* Mai. i. 11, " Isai. xi.p. & Zech. xiv.9.
' 2 Chron. ix. 23, 24, 26. ^ I Cor. i. 26.
S84.] EXCELLENCE OP CHRIST's GOVERNMENT. 24f