will mark in the infirmities of the ancient people of God a picture of his own heart, "answering, as in water face answereth to face ;" and in comparing their spiritual exercises with his own, will be ready to acknowledge-"All these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally In this view, it is the object of this work to exhibit an Old Testament believer in a New Testament garb, as one "walking in the same spirit, and in the same steps" with ourselves; and, in bringing his features of character to the Evangelical standard, it is pre- sumed, that the correspondence will be found to be complete. "Faith which worketh by love "3—the fundamental distinction of the Gospel-pervades the whole man; with at least an implied reference to the one way of access to God, and a distinct regard alike to the promises, 5 and to the precepts, 6 of Divine revelation. Nor are the workings of this principle delineated with less accuracy. In all the variety of Christian feelings and holy conduct, we observe its operations leading the soul into commu- nion with God, and moulding every part into a pro- gressive conformity to his image. When we view the man after God's own heart"-taking God for his portion 7-associating with his people, and feeding upon his word; 9 when we mark his zeal for his Master's glory 10_his devotedness 11 and self-denial 12 in his Master's work-when we see him ever ready to only to answer it by a more steady adherence to his service1 do we not in those lineaments of character recognize the picture of one, who in after times could turn to the churches of Christ, and say-"Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me?"? we recollect the Psalmist's insight into the extent and spirituality of the law of God, and his continual conflict with indwelling sin 4-awakening in him the spirit of wrestling prayer,5 and confidence in the God of his salvation 6-and not be again forcibly reminded of him, who has left upon record the corresponding history of his own experience-" We know, that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin: I was alive without the law once: but when the com- mandment came, sin revived, and I died; O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!" In short, let his instancy in prayer & and praise 9 be remembered his determined 10 and persevering 11 cultivation of heart religion 12 and prac- tical holiness; 13 his hungering and thirsting after righteousness; 14 his jealous fear 15 and watchful tenderness 16 against sin, and regard for the honour of his God; 17 his yearning compassion over his fellow-sinners; 18 his spiritual taste; 19 his accurate discernment; 20 the "simplicity" of his dependence, 21 and the "godly sincerity" of his obedience; 22 his peace of mind and stability of profession;1 his sancti- fied improvement of the cross; 2 his victory over the world; his acknowledgment of the Lord's mercy; his trials of faith and patience; 5 his heavenly liberty in the ways of God; 6 his habitual living in his presence, and under the quickening, restraining, 9 directing, 10 and supporting11 influence of his word-let these holy exercises be considered either separately. or as forming one admirable concentration of Christian excellence and what do we desire more to complete the portrait of a finished servant of God upon the Evangelical model? Is not this a visible demon- stration of the power of the word, in "perfecting the Having explained the Evangelical character of this Psalm, some notice may next be taken of its peculiar 66 his own mind with a correct standard of Evangelical sincerity in the habitual scrutiny of his own heart; and if, in the course of this Exposition, any suggestion should be thrown out, to call the attention of his fellow-christians to this most important, but alas! too much neglected, duty, he will have reason to rejoice in the day of Christ, that he has not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” Never let it be supposed, that a diligent, prayerful, probing examination of "the chambers of imagery," "gendereth unto bondage." Invariably will it be found to open the way to a more established enjoyment of Scriptural assurance. • Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.1 As therefore the preceptive part of the Gospel thus becomes our guide in the happy path of filial obedience, our beloved rule of duty, and the standard of our daily progress; we shall learn in the use of it to depend more entirely upon the Saviour, fresh energy will be put into our prayers, and the promises of pardon and grace will be doubly precious to our souls. 66 It cannot then be, that these views of the Divine life should be found unfriendly to the best happiness of mankind. We observe this Psalm to open with a 1 'I know of no part of the Holy Scriptures' (remarks a profound divine), 'where the nature and evidences of true and sincere godliness are so fully and largely insisted on and delineated as in the 119th Psalm. The Psalmist declares his design in the first verses of the Psalm, keeps his eye on it all along, and pursues it to the end. The excellence of holiness is represented as the immediate object of a spiritual taste and delight. God's law-that grand expression and emanation of the holiness of God's nature, and prescription of holiness to the creature-is all along represented as the great object of the love, the complacence, and the rejoicing of the gracious nature, which prizes God's commandments "above gold, yea the finest gold;" and to which they are "sweeter than the honey and the honey-comb."-Edwards on Religious Affections, Part iii. Sect. iii. * 1 John iii. 19. with 18, 20, 21. 1 most inviting picture of blessedness, and to describe throughout the feelings of one, encompassed indeed with trials superadded to the common lot of men, but yet evidently in possession of a satisfying portion -of a "joy, with which a Saviour does not intermeddle." Of those, therefore, who would affix the stigma of melancholy to Evangelical religion, we are constrained to remark-that they "understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm." The children of Edom have never tasted the "clusters of Canaan," and cannot therefore form any just estimate of that goodly land. They that have spied the land, can bring a good report of it, and can tell them 66 Surely it floweth with milk and honey, and this is the fruit of it."3 "The work of righteousness is peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever." 4 The structure of this Psalm is peculiar-divided into twenty-two parts-agreeing with the number of the letters of the Hebrew Alphabet-each part, and its several verses, beginning with the corresponding letter of the Alphabet.5 The whole Psalm is in the form of an ejaculatory address, with the exception of the first three verses, which may almost be considered as the preface to the whole, and one other verse in the course of it, where the man of God rebukes the ungodly from his presence, as if intruding into his hiding-place," and interrupting his communion with his God. 6 It is not always easy to trace the connexion 1 Proverbs xiv. 10. 3 Numbers xiii. 27. 1 Timothy i. 7. 4 Isaiah xxxii. 17. 2 5 Intelligimus ideo per literas Hebræorum, Psalmum hunc esse digestum, ut homo noster, tanquam parvulus, et ab infantia per literarum elementa formatus, quibus ætas puerilis assuevit, usque ad maturitatem virtutis exerceat. Ambrose. 6 Verse 115, with 113, 114. |