the glory of God, by whom the trees, in this his new paradise, were planted; it fhews to all the world, that he is just and " upright" in his dealings; that he is true to his promises; immoveable, as a "rock,” in his counsels; determined to punish the wicked, and to reward the good; fo that when his proceedings shall come to be unfolded at the last day, it will appear to men and angels, that "there is no un" righteousness in him.

XVIII DAY. EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM XCIII.

ARGUMENT.

The Jews acknowledge, that the kingdom of Mefsiah is prophefied of in this Psalm, and in all those which follow, to the hundredth. 1, 2. The church celebrates the majesty, power and glory of the eternal King; 3. defcribes the danger the is often in from perfecutions, &c. but 4. ftrengtheneth herfelf in God her Saviour, whofe houfe 5. ought to be, like himself, full of truth and holinefs.

1. The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majefty, the LORD is clothed with ftrength, wherewith he hath girded himself; the world alfo is established, that it cannot be moved.

But

From the beginning, God, as Creator, was fovereign Lord of the univerfe. He was alfo formerly, in a more especial manner, King of Ifrael. fince that time, a new and fpiritual kingdom hath been erected by Jefus Chrift, as Redeemer, whom the church now celebrates, and whofe praises she fings continually. Rifen from the dead, and afcended into heaven, the Lord Jefus reigneth, and fhall reign," till he hath put all enemies under his feet." 1 Cor. xv. 25. By the glorification of his human nature, he is " clothed with majefty: All power is "given unto him in heaven and in earth;" Matt. xxviii. 18. fo that he is "girded with ftrength;" and through that ftrength, he hath "eftablished" the new "world," that is to fay, his church, that it "cannot be moved," or fubverted, by all the powers of earth and hell.

2. Thy throne is established of old; thou art from everlafting.

Earthly thrones are temporary; they are fet up, and caft down again, neither is any truft to be reposed in them. But the throne of Christ is eternal and unchangeable. Conftituted before the foundation of the world, it is to endure when no traces of fuch a fyftem having once exifted fhall any more be found.

3. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the fea.

In the first of thefe verfes, the church appears like a fhip in a ftormy fea, to which he is often compared.

compared. Perfecutions and afflictions are those "floods," thofe "waves" of this troublesome world, which threaten every moment to overwhelm and fink her. With a fearful and defponding tone of voice, therefore, the crieth out, " The floods have lifted

up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their "voice; the floods lift up their waves!" But immediately fhe ftrengtheneth and comforteth herself in the Lord her God: "The Lord on high is

mightier than the noife of many waters, yea, than "the mighty waves of the fea:" He can fay to forrows and temptations, as he doth to the waters of the ocean," Peace, be ftill; hitherto fhall ye come, "but no farther;" and his word is endued with equal power, in both cafes.

5. Thy teftimonies are very fure; holiness becometh thine houfe, O LORD, for ever.

God's "teftimonies" are the promises made in Scripture to the church, that he will be with her, during the afflictions which befal her here below, and will, in time, deliver her out of all her troubles. These "teftimonies are very fure;" these promises do not, they cannot fail. "Holiness," therefore, which confifteth in obedience and patience, " be"cometh," is the proper ornament, grace, and beauty of " his house," and of Chriftians, thofe living stones that compose it. Sacred and inviolable is the word of our King; facred and inviolable fhould be the loyalty of his fubjects.

PSALM XCIV.

ARGUMENT.

The Pfalmift, complaining of corrupt and troublous times, in the person of the church, 1-4. prayeth for the downfal of prosperous wickedness; 5, 6. he defcribeth the cruelty, and 7---11. reproveth the atheistical folly of those who perfecute God's people; 12, 13. he extolleth the bleffedness of the perfecuted, if they are endued with faith and patience, inafmuch as 14, 15, the divine promife and their future reward are certain; he therefore 16-19. throweth himself wholly upon God, whofe mercies never fail, who 20, 21. cannot be on the fide of iniquity, but 22, 23. will preserve his faints, and destroy their enemies.

1. O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; 0 God to whom vengeance belongeth, fhew thyself. 2. Lift up thyfelf, thou judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

The church, however unjustly oppreffed and afflicted, remembereth that " vengeance belongeth" not to her, had the the power to inflict it, but " to God" only, who hath faid " Vengeance is mine, I will repay." Rom. xii. 19. To him, therefore, she maketh her fupplication, that he would manifeft his

glory

glory in her falvation; that he would afcend the tribunal, as "judge of the earth," try her cause, and her of her infolent and cruel perfecutors.

avenge

3. LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long Shall the wicked triumph? 4. How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themfelves?

The "

triumphs" of wickednefs, the "hard fpeeches," taunts, and fcoffs of infidelity against Chrift, and all who belong to him, are a continual grief of heart to the faithful in the world, who defire nothing fo much as to fee the empire of fin at an end, and the kingdom of righteousness established. But for this great event they must wait with patience, until the time appointed by the Father, when the iniquities of the world and the fufferings of the church fhall be full. "I faw under the altar," faith the well beloved John, "the fouls of them that

were flain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a "loud voice, faying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, doft thou not judge and avenge our blood "on them that dwell on the earth? And white "robes were given unto every one of them, and it "was faid unto them, that they should reft yet for a "little feafon, until their fellow fervants alfo, and "their brethren, that should be killed as they were, "fhould be fulfilled." Rev. vi. 9, &c.

5. They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage. 6. They flay the widow, and Stranger, and murder the fatherless.

Some inftances of cruelty, exercised by the enemies