From the words before us, we may learn, I. What was the frame of David's mind —
1. It was a frame most becoming —
[Such was the frame of man when he came out of his Creator's hands : and such to this hour would it have continued, if he had not sinned. " Praise is comely for the upright3;" and " it becometh well the just to be thankful." Such a state, as far as their nature will admit of it, befits everv creature that God has formed. All the hosts of heaven, and all the inha- bitants of the earth, every creature in the universe, rational and irrational, animate and inanimate, are distinctly called upon by the Psalmist, to present unto God, according to their capa- city, their tribute of praise15 And, if such a state becomes
them as creatures, that are merely formed by God's hand, and supported by his care, what should be our state, as redeemed by the blood of his only-begotten Son ? Well may it be said, " Let them give thanks, whom the Lord hath redeemed."]
2. It was a most delightful frame —
[We cannot conceive of David but as exquisitely happy, when he penned these memorable words. Indeed he tells us elsewhere, how rich a source of happiness he found it to his soul: " My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lipsc." It is, in truth, the felicity of heaven itself, where " they rest not day nor night, singing salvation to God and the Lamb for ever and ever."]
3. It was a frame which it is our bounden duty also
to attain —
[The commands of God to this effect are clear and positive : " Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice d." " Rejoice evermore e." Provision was made for the exercise of this grace under the Jewish dispensation : feasts were appointed expressly for it ; and every member of each family was to rejoice before the Lord, the old and the young, the master and the servant, and even the stranger that happened to be sojourning among themf. And ought not we, who live under the more liberal dispensation of the Gospel, to rejoice? Methinks there should be no end of our joy: the resolution of David in the text should be ours ; and we should be carrying it into effect all the day long. Nor should untoward circumstances of any kind rob us of our joy ; but we should say, with the Church of old, " Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines ; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the
a Ps. cxlvii. 1. * Ps. cxlviii. 1 — 13. Cite it at full length.
■ Ps. lxiii. 5. a Phil. iv. 4. e 1 Thess. v. 16.
f Deut. xvi. 13—15.