increase their number a hundredfold. But do ye not find that your thanks and praises are infinitely short of what the occa- sion for them demands ? Yes, methinks there is nothing humiliating to a Christian as the services which he attempts render to his God. However, still go on to serve him a can, when ye cannot serve him as ye would. And, to quicken your zeal, contemplate much and deeply the greatness of God's mercy to you, and the inviolability of his truth. God has de- signed that such contemplations should be a rich source of comfort to yourselves, as the} will be also of love and gratitude to him. And, whilst your own souls are filled with these divine affections, endeavour to diffuse the sacred flame, that all around you, and, if possible, all the nations of the world, may be stirred up to render unto God the praises due unto his name.]
Ps. cxviii. 27, 28. God is the Lord which hath shewed us light:
bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Thou art my God, and I will praise thee ; thou art my God,
I will exalt thee.
HOWEVER plainly this psalm refers to David, we are sure that a greater than David is here. The words as applied to David, convey an exceedingly grand and important meaning. He had met with many obstacles in his advancement to the throne of Israel. Oftentimes had his life been sought by Saul : and since the death of Saul there were many formid- able conspiracies against him. No sooner was he made king over Israel, than the Philistines sought, and that repeatedly, to destroy hima ; and it was only through the special intervention of God himself that he was able to prevail against them. It appears that many other of the surrounding nations also conspired against himb; but through the same Almighty power he was enabled to subdue them. At last, after more than seven years' opposition from all the tribes of Israel0, he was firmly fixed upon the throne, and " the stone which had been so long rejected of the builders, was made the head of the corner d." This
a 2 Sam. v. 17, 18, 22.
b ver. 10 — 12. Four times does he repeat, and, in the last, with a very expressive simile, " They compassed me about." c 2 Sam. v. 4, 5. d ver. 22.