who believe in Jesus ; and sing of it, all ye, who have sworn allegiance to his name.]
The Psalmist proceeds yet further to notice, III. The operations of his grace —
Here the influences of the Holy Spirit come more immediately to our view. It is he who carries on the whole work of grace in the hearts of men, and fits them for the enjoyment of that kingdom that is prepared for them. Behold his operations ;
J . How gracious ! [There is not a saint on earth whom he does not aid, accord- ing as his situation and circumstances require. '* Are any fallen ? he upholds them ; and raiseth up all that are bowed down," whether with sin or sorrow. " The eyes of all are directed to him" as the only source of spiritual nourishment and strength ; and " he gives them such a portion as they need, in the very season" that I hey need it. Yes; as in the kingdom of nature, God, as the father of all, " opens his hand, and satis- fies the desire of every living thing," so, in the kingdom of his grace, he administers to every saint whatever is necessary for his
consolation and support' He will indeed " be inquired
after for these things ;" but He will " suffer none to seek his face in vain." He " draws nigh unto all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth :" or, if they be not able to express their wants in words," " he will fulfil their very desires ;" yea, if only, as on any sudden emergency, they " ery unto him, he will hear their cry, and will save them." How astonishingly kind and gracious are these declarations ; and how suited to en- courage his weak and drooping saints ! It frequently happens that they can do little else than sigh and groan : yet even these expressions of their minds he will favourably receive^ and richly recompense into their souls'" ]
2. How righteous !
[Though God, as a sovereign, dispenses his gifts according to the good pleasure of his will, yet there is an equity in all his proceedings, whether of providence or grace: " gracious is the Lord, and righteous :" "he is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works'." We, from our pride and ignorance, are ready to accuse him of injustice, if he distinguish any as monuments of his grace. But though " he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and has compassion on whom he will have compassion," yet is there, in truth, no inequality in his ways : " our ways are unequal ; but his are equal :" he invariably " rewards those who diligently seek him," and "becomes tlae enemy of those only who
rebel, I ver. 14 — 10. ^ ver. 18, IQ. ' ver. 1/.
484 PSALMS, cxLV. 1, 2. [437.
rebel, and vex his Holy Spirit:" "he filleth the hungry with good things, and the rich only doth he send empty away." He puts, as it becomes him, " a difference between those who serve him, and those who serve him not." " They who love him shall he preserved," though the whole universe were combined to destroy them : but " all the wicked," whether old or young, rich or poor," shall be destroyed:" "though hand join in hand, not one of them shall pass unpunished"'."
Say now, Whether, in this view of the Deity, David's purposes and desires were not highly commendable ; " My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord ; and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever"?"]
From the perusal of this psahn, two reflections naturally arise :
1. What an elevation of character does true reli- gion produce !
[We would not speak in a degrading manner of any, and much less of those who are renowned for wisdom : yet who does not see how low and grovelling are the thoughts of statesmen and philosophers, in comparison of those which occupy the Be- liever's mind ? He soars, as it were, on angels' wings : he con- templates the subjects " which angels desire to look into :" *' his conversation is in heaven." Brethren, let us not forget for what high destinies we are formed. The brute creation have their faces towards the earth, and have no conception of any thing but what belongs to earth : but man is made erect, with his face, as it were, toward heaven, whither he should Jilways direct his views, and from whence he should expect all his happi- ness. Let us then think and speak as those who are partakers of a higher nature : and whilst the wise of this world content themselves with the subjects that relate to time and sense, let us explore the blessings of Redemption, the mysteries of Grace, and the glories of eternity.]