in, the world; thus, like the wind, and the earthquake, and fire, they rent and destroy; but it is the still small voice of the Gospel of Peace, which brings life and falvation to ruined finners. The tumults of the world. are like the thieves which come not but to steal, plunder, and destroy; but the Gospel, like its Divine Author, is sent that men may have life, and that more abundantly. Hence it is called the word of life; the ministration of life; the favour of life; the power of God unto falvation; but then obferve, it is only fuch to them that believe.

3. LET us, therefore, see what the living Oracles fay concerning the general spread of these joyful tidings. The second Pfalm begins with an enquiry, Why the Heathen rage so furiously, and the kings of the earth fet themselves against the Lord, and against his An-' nointed? Now thefe irritated powers of earth were enraged against the progrefs of the Gospel, and, as fuch, it is applied by the Apoftles: * nevertheless, he who fitteth in the heavens laughs, the Lord has them in derifion; for, in spite of all opposition, Christ must reign upon his holy hill of Zion, and the heathen is to be his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth his poffeffiont. Even his goodness fhall fo prevail, that these very oppreffors fhall fubmit themselves to him, and fovereign grace fhall fubdue them to himself. This occafions joy and gladness in the heart of the Divine Penman, so that his heart indited a good matter, and

and his tongue became as the pen of a ready writer, when he faw the glorious progrefs which the Gospel would make; and, addreffing himself to the glorious Author of the Gospel, he fays, Gird thy fword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majefty. And in thy glory ride profperously, because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness, and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the king's enemies, whereby the people fall fall under thee: thy throne, O God, is for ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right fceptre. And when he thus taketh unto himself his great power, the most obftinate fhall yield; hence it is faid, The daughter of Tyre hall be there, and the rich (being fubdued by the charms of the Gospel) fhall entreat thy favour *.

4. NOR is the Lord at a lofs for means, or inftruments, to bring about his blessed designs, seeing he hath the management of all hearts, and can raise up, and make use of what inftruments he pleaseth; hence it is faid, The Lord gave the word; and great was the company of those that published it ↑. So that when he afcended up on high, and led captivity captive, he received gifts for men-gifts, whereby they might be faved themselves, and whereby they might be useful to each other. That these gifts respect the different abilities given to Minifters, is plain from the Apostle's words; where, having quoted the paffage above, fubjoins, He that defcended is the fame alfo that afcended up far

* Pí. xlv. I.---13.

I

+Ibid lxviii. 11, 12.

ין

far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave fome Apostles: that is, the gifts of Apostles; and fome Prophets: fome, Evangelists; and fome, Paftors and Teachers—for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry-for the edifying of the body of Chrift-till we all come in the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fullness of Christ *.

4. Now, I apprehend, this measure and fullness not only to respect individuals, but to respect also the general progress of the work of God; and, for this end, he calls and qualifies men with different gifts, as feemeth beft to his infinite wisdom; fo that when he hath a mighty work to do, he will never be at a loss. for proper inftruments to bring it about. If he intends to bring his Ifrael out of Egypt, he can send a Mofes and an Aaron to work figns and wonders, and to command deliverance to the captives. If he means to bring them into the promised land, he has a Joshua to be a leader and captain to go before them, and to lead them from conquering to conquer. If the Midianites, and Moabites, and other enemies, mightily oppress the chofen race, though God bears with them for a time, yet when he is determined to ftain the glory of their pride, and to chastise their arrogance, he will not want a Barak, a Gideon, a Jeptha, to accomplish his designs. If a bluftering Goliah will vaunt, and swagger, and defy the armies of the living God, a

* Eph. iv. 9---141

little

little David can come forth, and filence the fury of the oppreffor: and if a just and holy God can thus find means to avenge his quarrel, cannot a merciful God find means and instruments to make his pity and compaffion known to the needy fons of men? Are not you all ready to cry out, Arife, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations *.

5. YES, mercy and truth fhall meet together-righteoufness and peace fhall kifs each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from beaven. Then will be amply fulfilled what David fo charmingly fung,---One generation fhall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy Majefty, and of thy wondrous works. And many shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and fing of thy righteousness. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power. make known to the fons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations +. Now all this variety of sweet language, fuch as praising his works; declaring his mighty acts; fpeaking of his glorious honour ; abundantly uttering his honour; the memory of his great goodness; finging of his righteoufnefs, &c. is directly to the point; and hence he uses more eloquence than common, fetting

Pf. lxxxiii. 8.

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† Pf. cxlvi. 4---14:

To

fetting forth this everlafting kingdom of grace, under a variety of expreffive images, to render the charming truth more emphatical and pointed to all his readers. Indeed, the Book of Pfalms is fomething like the progrefs of the fun, which sheds forth the most glorious luftre at his setting: fo we find this fweet Book, all along, leaves a fhining track behind it, yet a peculiar effulgence beams forth in the clofe; and whether the Pfalmift himself saw into the future defign of God, no doubt but the Holy Ghoft had the glory of the latter day in view. Hence it is added, He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very fwiftly. He fendeth out his word, and melteth themnot only froft and ice in the natural world, but hard, cold, icy hearts in the moral world. He caufeth his wind to blow, even the wind of his Spirit, to give the word energy, and the waters of life flow. Then be fheweth the word of life to Facob, his ftatutes, and his judgements unto Ifrael *. Hence it is, that he calls upon every thing, animate or inanimate, rational or irrational, to praise the univerfal Lord, whofe tender mercies are over all his works. Read, at leifure, the three last Pfalms. Now all that is expreffed in these rapturous exultations, muft certainly have fomething more than mere poetical flights; for that would degrade the majesty of this most fublime Book beneath the dignity of even a Heathen fable.-Beafts and cattle, creeping things and flying fowl: Kings of the earth and

* Pf. cxlvii. 15---20.

all