" the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burnetii V]
3. We should labour to participate in all her pri- vileges—
[Is God indeed revealed there in all his excellency and glory ? Is it the place, the only place, where sinners are born to God? Is it an emblem even of heaven itself? We should determine then to come to her without delay, and to seek admission into her blissful community. In comparison of being numbered amongst her children, all that the world can give should be esteemed by us as dung and dross ; and we should say with David, " I would rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness0." As for hatred, contempt, persecution, or even death itself, they should be accounted rather as an honour, and a happiness, and a pri- vilege, than as objects of fear, if they are brought upon us for Zion's sake. It should be a sufficient recompence to us, that our God is glorified, and that the interests of Zion are ad- vancedd. If we are children of Zion indeed, we shall be joyful under any circumstances; we shall " be joyful, I say, in our Kinge :" as it is written ; " They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd ; (that is, for all spiritual consola- tion and support ;) and their soul shall be as a watered garden ; and they shall not sorrow any more at allf." Whether they be priests or people, it shall be thus with them: for, " I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness ; and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lordg."] Application —
[Let us then love Zion, and " prefer her before our chief joyh." Let her ordinances be our delight1 ; and let us pray for her advancement, saying, " Peace be within thy walls, and pro- sperity within her palaces." Then shall our own souls most assuredly flourish: for " they shall prosper that love herk."]
b Isai. lxii. 1, 6, 7. c Ps. Ixxxiv. 10. d 1 Pet. iv. 13, 14. e Ps. cxlix. 2. f Jer. xxxi. 12. s Jer. xxxi. 14.
h Ps. cxxxvii. 5, 6. ' Ps. Ixxxiv. 4, 7. k Ps. cxxii. 0, 7.