But we will consider more distinctly the subjects of his praise. Having stated his determination to praise his God, he celebrates,
I. The perfections of his nature —
He mentions,
1. His greatness —
[This he declares to be " unsearchable b:" and indeed it is so : for who can form any idea of his immensity ? We speak of his filling all space ; but in so speaking we only " darken counsel by words without knowledge." If we look at his " works," he is altogether incomprehensible there also : for, what conception have we of his calling forth into existence this terraqueous globe, together with all the heavenly bodies, and fixing them all in their order by a mere act of his will ? Nor are the " wonders" of his providence less worthy of our admi- ration, seeing that his greatness is no less visible in upholding all things by the word of his power, than it was in the first formation of them. Even the most " terrible of his acts" are also fit subjects for praise, inasmuch as they display the terrors of his Majesty, who gets honour to himself as well in the destruction of his enemies, as in the preservation of his obedient subjects. Doubtless the judgments inflicted on the old world, and those also with which Egypt, and Sodom, and the seven nations of Canaan, were visited, were most awful : but yet, as vindicating the holiness of God, and displaying " the honour of his Majesty," they are worthy to be contemplated with awe, and to be celebrated with the profoundest adoration0.]
2. His goodness —
[This was a favourite topic with the Psalmist; and therefore in speaking of that he says, " They shall abundantly utter the memory of it." See how every thing in the whole creation bears the stamp of God's goodness! every thing so fitted to its use; every thing so conducive to the good of man, and to the happi- ness of the whole creation. Consider every thing as originally formed; there is not the minutest thing in the universe that could, even with all the experience of six thousand years, be altered for the better. See with what blessings all the return- ing seasons are fraught ! Let every individual search the records of his life, and what unnumbered instances of God's goodness towards him will he see ! Surely, with David, we should " abundantly utter the memory of it," so as to make it the pro- minent subject of all our meditations, and of all our discourse: and at the same time we should " sing of his righteousness," in that, whilst he has given us innumerable blessings which we
b ver. 3. c ver. 4 — 6.