THE PERPETUITT AND EXCELLENCY OF CHRISt's KINGDOM.
Ps. lxxii. 17. Misname shall endure for ever : his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
NONE of the Prophets, except Isaiah, have written so copiously and so plainly respecting Christ as David. His prophecies are very frequently re- ferred to in the New Testament; and their accom- plishment in Jesus is frequently asserted, incontes- tably proved, and copiously illustrated. The psalm before us was most probably the last that David penned. It was written at the close of his life, on occasion of Solomon's coronation. The dying mon- arch hearing that his son Adonijah had usurped his throne, gave immediate orders that Solomon should be anointed with the holy oil, and placed upon the throne, and be proclaimed king throughout all his dominions ; that by this means his oath to Bathsheba respecting the succession of Solom.on might be ful- filled, and the nation be rescued from the calamities in which a disputed succession might involve it% The psalm begins with a prayer for Solomon, and proceeds to foretell the peace, glory, extent, dura- tion, and happiness of his government. But beyond a doubt, a greater than Solomon is here : the Mes- siah himself is manifestly referred to; and the words of our text must be considered as describing his kingdom :
I. Its perpetuity — •
[The names, not of the Jewish monarchs only, hut also of many heroes of antiquity, have heen handed down to us, and probably will be transmitted to the latest generations. But there are several points of view in which the remembrance of Jesus' name differs widely from that of any other person whatever.
It is ti-ansmitted to us hi a ivay of Jiliation. — Other names come down to us by means of historic records : but that of our blessed Lord " is continued," or propagated, (as the word means) in the same way as the name of a father is continued in
his " iKin. i.33 — 35.
385.1 PERPETUITY OF Christ's KINGDOM. 249
his children. Children were born to him by the preaching of iiis Gospel ; and, after him, were called Christians : from that period, others have risen up, in constant succession, to perpetuate liis name : nor shall the line ever be broken : " instead of the fathers there shall be children, who shall make his name to be remembered in all generations''."
It is heard with the same regard that it ever was. — There was a time when the name of Caesar or of Alexander malde whole nations tremble : but who fears them now ? What is their love or their hatred unto us ? What is Solomon himself to us ? We admire his character ; but for his person we have no regard. But it is not thus with the sacred name of Jesus. We tremble at it with a holy awe; we love it, as expressing all that is amiable and endearing. We dread his displeasure above all things, and covet his favour more than life itself. And as long as the sun shall continue its course, so long shall the name of Jesus be venerated and adored.
It " endures" in spite of all the endeavours that have been made to blot out the remembrance of it from iinder heaven. — No sooner was the name of Jesus exalted by the preaching of the Apostles, than the Rulers exerted all their power to suppress it : they beat and imprisoned the preachers, and menaced them with yet severer punishment, if thev should presume to speak any more in his name'. Thus also, in all subsequent ages, " the potentates of the earth have taken counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from US'*." What name, like that of Jesus, is proscribed at this day? We may descant upon the virtues of antient Sages ; and the more light we can throw upon their characters, the more acceptable we shall be in every company : but let us speak of Jesus, let us set forth his transcendent excellencies, and expatiate upon all the wonders of his love, and we shall excite in our hearers nothing but di>gust. But has this confederacy prevailed to banish his name ? No ; rather, " the more his people has been afflicted, the more they have grown and multiplied :" and however earth and hell may combine their efforts to efface his memory, or diminish his in- fluence, " He who sitteth in the heavens shall laugh at them, and have them in derision^."]