Should not the whole universe adore our God for this ?]
2. The inviolabihty of his. truth —
[Were his truth considered in reference to his threaten- ings, it would be an awful subject indeed : but we are called to notice it at present only in connexion with his promises. All the mercy which God was pleased to vouchsafe to man, he has made over to us by an everlasting covenant, which was confirmed with an oath, and ratified with the blood of his only dear Son. There is not any thing which fallen man can want, for body or for soul, for time or for eternity, which has not been made the
subject ' S.e 1 Cor. xiii. 12. the Greek.
subject of a distinct promise. And who ever heard of one single promise failing him who trusted in it ? Who ever heard of one sinner rejected, who came to God in the way prescribed ? To the Jewish nation many specific promises were made : Did any one of them fail ? Did not Joshua, after the final settlement of the Jews in Canaan, bear testimony for God in this respect, in the presence of the whole assembled nation, and appeal to them for the truth of his assertions^ ? And are not all of you, who have ever rested in, and pleaded, God's gracious promises, been con- strained to bear a similar testimony in his behalf?
Let the whole world then adore and magnify the Lord on this ground ; and never be weary of acknowledging, that " his mercy endureth for ever'."]
Let us now proceed to consider the psalm,
II. With a more immediate reference to the Gentile world —
The psalm is in reality a prophecy ; and so impor- tant a prophecy, that St. Paul expressly quotes one part of it '^j and gives, as it were, an explanation of the remainder ^
It declares the calling of the Gentiles —
[In this sense it has been interpreted, even by some of the Jews themselves : and we are sure that this is its true import, because an inspired Apostle has put this construction upon it. And are not we ourselves evidences of its truth ? Are not ive Gentiles ? and has not God's mercy reached unto ns ? Are not his promises also fulfilled to asP The promise to Abraham was, that "in him, and in his seed, should all the natiojis of the earth be blessed :" and this promise was made to him whilst he was yet uncircumcised, in order that the interest which we uncircumcised Gentiles had in it might be more fully manifest ^ Behold then, M/eare living witnesses both of God's mercy and truth ! His pro- mises are fulfilled to us, yea, and are yet daily fulfilling before our eyes. The blessings of salvation are poured down upon us in rich abundance. The Church is daily enlarging on every side of us. Both at home and abroad is the Gospel running and glo- rified, to an extent that has never been seen since the Apostolic age. And the time for its universal diffusion through the whole earth is manifestly drawing nigh. We have seen enough with our eyes to assure us, that the fuller accomplishment of God's
promises
" Josh, xxiii, 14.
* See Ps. cxxxvi. where it is repeated twenty-six times in as many verses. ' Rom. xv. 11,
• ib. ver, 8, Q. where God's truth And. mercy are both specified, a$ illustrated and confirmed by Christ.
' Rom. iv, 11.
392 PSALM8, cxvii. [417.
promises may be expected in due season : and that, at the ap- pointed hour, " all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of our God, and of his Christ."]
In this view, all the Gentile world are called upon to bless and praise their God —
[Ye, who are here assembled, arise and praise your God. Consider what mercy has been shewn to you: consider what truth has been displayed towards you. Arise, I say ; yea, again and again would I repeat it. Arise and praise your God 1 And, ye remotest nations of the earth, O that our voice could reach to you ! O that ye knew your obligations to your God, and the blessings that are in reserve for you ! The Saviour was called, " The Desire of all nations ;" and such indeed he ought to be. Well 1 if ye know him not, and consequently rejoice not in him, we will rejoice for you : for he is coming to you : the Messengers of the Lord of Hosts are going forth into every quarter of the globe ; and the Word that reveals him to you is translating, in purpose and intention at least, into all the languages of the earth ; and we anticipate with joy the time, when all the Heathen shall serve him, and " all flesh shall see the Salvation of God."]