[The Jews were encouraged under their troubles to betake themselves to God, and to make vows unto the Most High: and these vows they were required strictly to perform. On paying their vows to their heavenly Benefactor, they presented certain sacrifices, of which they and their families were permitted to partake, in remembrance of God's mercies towards them, and as an expression of their gratitude to himh. On these occasions, it was common for the master of the family to close the feast by taking a cup of wine, and drinking of it, first himself, and after- wards all his family in succession ; and then to close the whole with a hymn. To this custom it should seem that David refers in other psalms1, as well as in the passage before us: and our blessed Lord adopted it as a suitable method of commemorating the wonders of his dying lovek. He took a cup, and blessed it, and gave it to his disciples, that they, and all his followers, to the very end of time, might drink it in remembrance of his blood shed for the remission of their sins1.]
After this example we should pay our vows, and " receive the cup of salvation/' or, as that used by the Jews was called, " the cup of deliverances" —
. [Is it asked, What sacrifice are we to offer ? I answer, The sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving111. " The calves of our lips " are far more acceptable to God than all the burnt-offerings that ever were offered". And surely the sacramental cup, of which every Believer should frequently partake, may at once remind us of all the mercies we have ever received, and be taken by us as a memorial of God's unbounded love to us, and of our unfeigned surrender of ourselves to him. In these expressions of our love and gratitude we should have all the powers of our souls called forth : " all that is within us should bless the name of our God:" and the entire devotion of ourselves to his service should bear witness to our sincerity before him. Never are we to be restrained by fear or shame: no; we must pay our vows " in the presence of all his people." If we are ashamed of Christ, what can we expect, but that he will be ashamed of us ? But, " if we confess him before men, then will he also confess us in the presence of his Father and his holy angels." Here then is the service which we are to render unto God in return for all his benefits : we are to confess him, to magnify him, to adore him, to give up ourselves to him as his redeemed people, to live altogether by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving all out of his fulness, and improving all for the honour of his name.
h Lev. vii. 12. Deut. xii. 6, 7, 17, 18.
1 Ps. lxvi. 13—16. andcvii. 22. k Matt. xxvi. 27.
1 1 Cor. xi. 25. m Heb. xiii. 15.
n Ps. 1. 13, 14. with Hos. xiv. 2.