a portion of Scripture which they had never before noticed,
II. The words themselves —
The words were justly quoted in reference to Christ- fin their primary sense indeed they had their accomplish- ment in David. David elsewhere expresses in very strong terms his zeal for God d : nor can we forget how he manifested it when he danced before the arke. But David confessedly personates the Messiah : some parts are applicable to himself, and some to Christ, alone f. The words before us may very properly be applied to both ; indeed the strength of the terms would almost lead us to confine them to Christ. His holy soul was inflamed with incessant zeal for God's honour ; nor did he ever suffer one opportunity of promoting his glory to pass unimproved. The occasion now before us called forth the strongest exertions of his zeal, and manifested the full accomplishment of this prophecy in his person.]
They are also replete with useful instruction to us — They reprove the shameful want of zeal amongst his followers —
[God is greatly dishonoured by men on every side : his name is blasphemed, his word despised, his authority rejected. Does it become his people to behold these things with indif- ference ? Should they not resemble Paul when he beheld the idolaters at Athens g? Should they not imitate Johnh, and adopt the words of Jeremiah'? Should they not reprove sin in others as well as abstain from it themselvesk? But how miserably defective are even good people in this particular! How often do fear or shame restrain them from bearing their testimony for God ! Alas ! what a sad contrast does our con- duct form with that of our Lord ! Have we not reason then to be ashamed, and mourn for our neglect ? But many, so far from rebuking sin in others, indulge it in themselves: even in the very house of God they harbour worldly and carnal thoughts; nor are at all concerned to have their hearts purified from vile affections. Surely this cannot but be most offensive to the heart-searching God. Let us remember the solemn caution given us by the Apostle l — . With respect to others, let us never
d Ps. ci. 3—8. " 2 Sam. vi. 14.
f Ps. lxix. 5. cannot well be applied to any but David ; nor can ver. 21. to any but Christ. It is thus that the literal and prophetical parts of scripture are continually intermixed.
e Acts xvii. 16. h Mark vi. 18. » Jer. xiii. 17.
* Eph. v. 11. '1 Cor. iii. 17.