[Heaven is a state of incessant praise. The heavenly hosts " rest not day nor night from pouring forth their acclamations and hosannahs to God and to the Lamb." And here, we are tuning our harps, and beginning to learn their song. Now, the very end for which God sends us affliction is, to purge away our dross, and to prepare us for heaven ; and therefore we then best answer his design in afflicting us, when we take occasion from our troubles to abound more and more in thanks- giving to our God.
In every view, then, the desire expressed by David, in our text, was that which we ought most to cherish, as most worthy of our holy profession ; as being most excellent in itself, most honour- able to God, and most conducive to our eternal happiness.]
Application —
1. Be thankful that you are where you may offer this petition, with a certainty that it shall be answered —
[We read of " spirits in prison," to whom deliverance can never comeq. But you, Beloved, are "prisoners of hope," to whom mercy may be accorded, not only " double" the amount of all your desert of punishment, but " double" the amount of all your most sanguine expectations'". Your blessed Saviour came on purpose to deliver yous; and if only you cry to him, " he will save your souls with a great deliverance."]
2. If you have experienced deliverance, be sure you improve it for the honour of your God —
[When our Lord healed the cripple, he said to him, " Be- hold, thou art made whole ! sin no more." So, if you are brought forth from bondage of any kind, take care not to " use your liberty as a cloak of licentiousness, but as the servants of God1," that ye may run with more enlargement the way of his com- mandments.]
i 1 Pet. iii. 19. r Zech. ix. 12.
s Isai. xlii. 7. and lxi. 1—3. * 1 Pet. ii. 16.