indeed only a part of a psalm written originally by David at the time of his bringing up the ark to Mount Zion from the house of Obed-edoma : and this part was selected afterwards for the constant use of the Church, as being calculated to keep up in the minds of men an expectation of the Messiah, and to prepare their hearts for the reception of him.
In discoursing on that portion of it which we have read, we shall,
I. Point out your duty to the Lord Jesus Christ —
In speaking to persons who profess to derive all their hopes of salvation from the Lord Jesus, me- thinks it is scarcely necessary to say, that,
1. We should praise him ourselves —
[We should not be content to acknowledge him in words; we should feel towards him in deed, as our "All in allb." These feelings we should express in songs of praise : or if we be silent as to our voice, we should at least " make melody to him in our hearts;" " blessing" and adoring him from our inmost souls. We should sing to him " a new song." It was so called by David, because it was a song that was to be sung especially at the introduction of the Christian dispensation, the events pre- dicted and shadowed forth being then fulfilled. But it is still a new song to all who sing it ; because in their unconverted state they have no disposition, no ability to sing it: "they can- not, in that sense, say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost c." Moreover, it will to all eternity continue new; fresh discoveries of his glory being ever manifested to the soul, and fresh energies supplied for the celebration of his praise. Hence in heaven itself the songs of all the glorified saints are thus designated : " they sing unto the Lord a new song d. " Thus "from day to day " our harps should be tuned afresh, and our praises ascend to heaven with every breath we draw.]
2. We should make him known to others — [Who that had ever tasted of the blessings of salvation
would " eat his morsel alone ? " who would not wish all the world to partake with him ? Yes surely, we should declare his glory among the heathen, and his wonders among all people." O what " wonders " of love and mercy have we to proclaim ! Who can reflect on the person of our "Emmanuel, who is God with us," leaving the bosom of his Father, taking our nature, bearing our sins, and effecting by his obedience unto death our
a 1 Chron. xvi. 7—36. *> 1 John iii. 18.
c 1 Cor. xii. 3. d Rev. v. 9. and xiv. 3.