Christians, coming forth from their Head and High-priest, Christ Jesus, spread itself to all whom it reaches in spirit and in truth. No praise can equal the excellence of Christian love; it is the fruit of the Spirit, the image of Christ; it comes from heaven, and makes earth like heaven; for "God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him." 1 John iv. 16. Charity, or love, is "the very bond of peace and of all virtues;" for he that loveth his brother, will do him no wrong in any way, but will rejoice to do him all the good in his power; therefore does the Apostle truly declare, that " love is the fulfilling of the law." Rom. xiii. 10. Yet we must ever remember, that the love of one another is not only delightful and excellent, but absolutely necessary for every believer, as a proof of his being a true Christian. Our blessed Lord has said, "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." John xiii. 35. But this, like every other "good gift, is from above" (James i. 17.); and therefore we must humbly beseech our blessed Lord "to send His Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts this most excellent gift of charity :" that so we may be prepared for the goodly fellowship of saints and angels in heaven, where all is love; where all our kind affections, and all the happiness which flows from them, shall be perfected in "life for evermore." 1 Cor. xiii. QUESTIONS. What is good and joyful?-Unity?-What is true love like? -To whom does it make us like?-What does it lead us to fulfil? Who has commanded it?-In what words?-In what will it end? PSALM CXXXIV. An exhortation to the praise of God, and a prayer for His blessing. 1 Behold now, praise the Lord: all ye servants of the Lord : 2 Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord: even in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary: and praise the Lord. 4 The Lord, that made heaven and earth; give thee blessing out of Sion. Ver. 1-3.] The Levites attended at the temple, day and night, in their regular courses, (1 Chron. ix. 33.) and these three verses are supposed to have been addressed by some of them, on coming out at night, to the others who remained within, on duty. -the sanctuary:] The holy place, the temple. Ver. 4.] This verse was the answer of the party within the temple, who begged a blessing upon the head of those that admonished them. The praise of God in His Church, even upon earth, never ceases; as one goes to rest, another takes up the holy and delightful theme; let us never fail to bear our part, willingly and gladly, in this exalted work; let us account it as our greatest privilege and honour. Let us, moreover, encourage one another in the grateful performance of this duty, and be thankful to every one, who stirs us up to the faithful remembrance of it; esteeming him as our kindest monitor, and imploring a blessing upon him for his pious love towards us. Let children bless their parents, and scholars their teachers, and people their ministers, and all bless their neighbours, for such friendly offices and warnings. Praise is the happy employment of angels: and ere long, all the true servants of God shall praise Him in the sanctuary above, and bless His name, and be blessed in Him, without interruption, and without end. QUESTIONS. What is the subject of this Psalm ?-Who should praise the Lord? Where should they lift up their hands? What duties are we taught in this Psalm ? PSALM CXXXV. A general form of thanksgiving for God's great mercies to His people Israel. 1 O praise the Lord, laud ye the name of the Lord: praise it, O ye servants of the Lord; 2 Ye that stand in the house of the Lord in the courts of the house of our God. 3 O praise the Lord; for the Lord is gracious: O sing praises unto His Name; for it is lovely. 4 For why? the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself: and Israel for His own posses sion. 5 For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth: in the sea, and in all deep places.. san: and all the kingdoms of Canaan; 12 And gave their land to be an heritage: even an heritage unto Israel His people. 13 Thy Name, O Lord, endureth for ever: so doth Thy memorial, O Lord, from one generation to another. 14 For the Lord will avenge His people: and be gracious unto His servants. 15 As for the images of the heathen, they are but silver and gold: the work of men's hands. 16 They have mouths, and speak not: eyes have they, but they see not. 17 They have ears, and yet they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. 7 He bringeth forth the clouds from the ends of the 18 They that make them are world and sendeth forth light-like unto them: and so are all nings with the rain, bringing they that put their trust in the winds out of His treasures. them. 8 He smote the first-born of Egypt: both of man and beast. 9 He hath sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O thou land of Egypt: upon Pharaoh, and all his servants. 10 He smote divers nations: and slew mighty kings; 19 Praise the Lord, ye house of Israel: praise the Lord, ye house of Aaron. 20 Praise the Lord, ye house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, praise the Lord. 21 Praised be the Lord out of Sion: who dwelleth at Je 11 Sehon king of the Amo-rusalem. rites, and Og the king of Ba Ver. 1. laud ye] Praise ye. Ver. 2. ye that stand, &c.] Ye ministers of His, especially. Ver. 3.] Here are two reasons for the work of praise. First, the goodness of the Lord; second, the pleasantness of the service. Ver. 4.] A third reason is here given: because Israel was God's own people, chosen for this very purpose. Deut. vii. 6-8. St. Peter sets forth the duty of Christians to praise God, upon the same ground. 1 Pet. ii. 9-10. Ver, 5.] A fourth reason was the greatness and power of God, who was able to protect His people, and to destroy the foolish idols of their mightiest enemies. Ver. 6. Whatsoever, &c.] God made all things as He pleased, and governs all things as He pleases; the great Creator and absolute Sovereign of the whole world. Ver. 7. from the ends of the world:] From farther than we can see. Jerem. x. 13. xiv. 22. Job Xxxviii. 22-28. Exod. xii. 12. 29. Ver. 8. He smote, &c.] signs of His wonderful power. Wonderful tokens, Ver. 11. Sehon, &c.] Numb. xxi. 21. 35. Deut. ii. 30-33. iii. 1-10.-of Canaan:] Josh. x.-xii. Ver. 12. an heritage:] A possession. Ver. 13. thy memorial,] The keeping up a remembrance of what Thou hast done; the celebration of Thy praise. x 5 Ver. 14. will avenge] Will deliver His people; will see them righted, as we say. Ver. 15. the images] The idols, or false gods. For ver. 15-18. see Psalm cxv. 4-8. Ver. 21. Out of Sion,] Psalm 1. 2. How sad it is, that we should need so much encouraging to praise our God; and yet, after all, be so neglectful as we often are, in this most reasonable, delightful, and glorious service. To the Lord we owe our being, and every thing we have in life: He has made us, and He has preserved us to this hour. And in this respect, it is true, all the people of the earth have reason to be thankful, as well as ourselves. Yet is there another ground, on which we have far greater reason than most other people, for praise and gratitude to the God of mercy; in that He has "chosen us unto Himself;" that we have been born and brought up in a Christian land, that we are "members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven;" that we are members of "the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." Acts xx. 28. And unless we forfeit our blessing and right of membership, deeply sensible shall we be of the Lord's inestimable loving-kindness to our souls. Though the tokens and wonders wrought for Israel were very great, and though the heritage bestowed upon Israel was rich and valua ble; yet these were but feeble shadows of what He has done for If then, to neglect the praise of God were a reproach to Israel, what a crime must it be in us! O let us pour out our hearts before Him; let us rejoice in every opportunity of prais ing His holy name: yea, let our whole life be one continued act of devout thanksgiving to our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier; to whom be "all honour and glory, world without end." us. QUESTIONS. Laud? What reasons are here given for praising God, ver. 3-5 ?—Tokens and wonders?-Divers?-An heritage?-Thy memorial?-- Will avenge, &c. ?-The images of the heathen? |