jestVj" they are worthy to be contemplated with awe, and to be celebrated with the profouudest adoration ".]
2. His goodness —
[This was a favourite topic with the Psalmist ; and therefore in speaking of that he says, " They shall abundantly utter the memory of it." See how every thing in the whole creation bears the stamp of God's goodness ! every thing so fitted to its use ; every thing so conducive to the good of man, and to the happiness of the whole creation. Consider every thing as originally formed ; there is not the minutest thing in the universe that could, even with all the experience of six thousand years, be altered for the better. See with what blessings all the return- ing seasons are fraught ! Let every individual search the records of his life, and what unnumbered instances of God's goodness towards him will he see ! Surely, with David, we should '* abundantly utter the memory of it," so as to make it the pro- minent subject of all our meditations, and of all our discourse : and at the same time we should " sing of his righteousness," in that, whilst he has given us innumerable blessings which we never me- rited, he has never withheld one, which by his promises he had made our due"^.]
3. His mercy —
[In wliat has hitherto been spoken we are concerned as creatines: but in this attribute we are interested as sinners. And oh ! what reason have we to adore the tender mercy of our God ! Who must not say with David, " The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy r" Yes indeed, " He is good to all ; and his tender mercies are over all his works ^" David, it is true, had very abundant cause to sing of mercy : but, Who has not ? Who that knows any thing of himself, is not penetrated with the deepest sense of God's "grace," in looking upon so vile a sinner; of his " compassion" towards him, when reduced to the most destitute condition ; of his " patience," in bearing with such manifold backslidings ; and of his " great mercy," in pardoning such innumerable transgressions ? If we do not extol our God, and bless his ,name, yea every day, and all the day long, methinks " the very stones will cry out against us."]
Having thus expatiated on the virtues of his King, David proceeds to bless him for, II. The administration of his Government —
Here the reference to Christ is more plain and direct. He is the King of Zion ; and it is his king- dom " ver. 4 — 5. * ver. /. * ver. 8, 9.