as the persons to whom he should direct his exhortation. " Let them give thanks whom the Lord hath redeemed." They know the glorious character of their prince. They have found both his laws and government to be "holy and just and good." They have experienced his power to save, "to save to the uttermost those that call upon him." They have continual proofs of his lowliness, being admitted daily to the most inti- mate fellowship with him. Should not they then rejoice? " Surely the very stones would cry out against them if they held their peace." " Behold " then, believers, your King, even he whom you have chosen to reign over you, is come. He now waits for you. "Arise, lo! he calleth you." Go, enter into his presence-chamber, and receive the blessings which he is come to bestow.]
Application —
[Are there any who feel no disposition to rejoice in this event ? Alas ! too many, like Herod and the Pharisees, cannot join in the general chorus. Let them not, however, imagine themselves related to the church of God : they are daughters of the world, but not daughters of Zion ; nor need they have any other evidence of their alienation from God, than their want of joy in the Lord. How base is their ingratitude ! that the Lord of glory should come down from heaven for them, and they have no hearts to welcome his arrival : that they should be gratified with the company of an earthly friend, and have no delight in communion with Jesus. Surely if they were to have all the curses of God's law inflicted on them, who served not the Lord with joyfulness and gladness of heart on account of the temporal benefits bestowed upon themc, they must have a far heavier condemnation, who so despise the con- descension and love of our incarnate God. Mark then the alternative to which ye are reduced ; ye must begin now that joy in the Lord which ye shall possess for ever, or, by continu- ing insensible of his mercy, continue destitute of any interest in it to all eternity. Choose ye now whether ye will have life or death : remember, however necessary it may be at other times to weep for your sins, it is to joy that we now invite you ; not to carnal joy, but to that which is spiritual and heavenly. We unite with the Apostle in saying, " Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again, I say, Rejoice." Methinks such an exhortation should not be slighted, especially when your pre- sent joy is to be a certain prelude to eternal happiness : but if ye will still despise the mercies of your God, behold this King cometh shortly to judge the world ; behold he cometh riding upon the heavens with myriads of the heavenly host : know
c Deut. xxviii. 45, 47.