445 he was accused of affecting the fovereignty, and therefore hunted and perfecuted even to the death. But how truly do these words of the Pfalmift delineate his real character! He was not "haughty," but meek and lowly in heart;" his "eyes" were not lofty," but kindly regarded the meanest object that prefented itself to them; he looked not to 66 great matters," and "high things," but chose to be and to be esteemed the least and lowest of all.

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2. Surely I have behaved, or, fubdued and quieted myfelf, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my foul is even as a weaned child.

A child newly weaned mourneth because of the favourite aliment which is withdrawn from him, but depending abfolutely on the mother for every thing, learneth to acquiefce in her treatment of him, and quietly to accept what it fhall please her to give. Such was the humble refignation of the Lamb of God to the will of his heavenly Father, under the severest dispensations, when even the divine prefence, and that fupport which it afforded, feemed to have been withdrawn. 66 Father, into thy hands I com"mend my Spirit!" Who then can expect to enter into the kingdom of heaven," except he be convert

ed, and become as a little child ?" Matt, xviii. 3. 3. Let Ifrael hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

After the example, therefore, of the king of Ifrael, who thus demeaned himself in his afflictions, lowly, contented, and refigned, cafting all his care upon the Father who cared for him, and patiently waiting his time for deliverance and falvation; after this their example

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example and pattern, let his faithful people hope and truft, not in themselves, their wifdom, or their power, but in Jehovah alone, who will not fail to exalt them, as he hath already exalted their Redeemer, if they do but follow his steps.

XXVIII DAY. MORNING PRAYER.

PSALM CXXXII.

ARGUMENT.

This is one of the proper Pfalms, which the church hath appointed to be used on Chriftmas day. It containeth 1-5. a petition that Jehovah would be mindful of the zeal fhewn by his fervant David, in preparing a place for his habitation; 6. the exultation of the faithful upon hearing the glad tidings, that God would dwell among them; and 7. their resolution to worship at the place which he had chofen for that purpofe; 8-10. an addrefs to Jehovah, used by Solomon at the dedication of the temple, whence fome have thought him to have been the author of the Pfalm; 11-18. the substance of God's promifes made to David and to his feed. The whole Pfalm is perfectly well adapted to the feftival of the incarnation, as the following comment will, it is hoped, abundantly demonftrate.

1. LORD,

1. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions: Ifrael befeecheth Jehovah to be mindful of those forrows and sufferings, which had been undergone by his fervant David, ere he attained to the throne, and established the ancient church in the beauty of holinefs. That God would "remember" the far greater "afflictions" fuftained for our fake by Meffiah in the days of his humiliation, when through much tribulation he accomplished our redemption, and entered in his glory, is the petition preferred, in these words, by us Chriftians.

2. How he fware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty GoD of Jacob; 3. Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my houfe, nor go up into my bed; 4. I will not give fleep to mine eyes, or flumber to mine eyelids, 5. Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty GoD of Jacob.

In all circumftances and fituations, David was folicitous for the tabernacle and fervice of God. Of the oath and vow here mentioned we have, indeed, no account in the facred hiftory; but we read, 2 Sam. vii. 2. of the uneafiness which he expreffed to Nathan the prophet, at the thought of his dwelling in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God dwelt only within the curtains of a tent. Nay, we find by 1 Chron. xvi. 43. that he did not bless, and confequently, did not inhabit his own houfe, until he had brought the ark to Zion, where the temple was afterwards erected. He could take neither pleasure nor reft, until a place was prepared for the refidence of Jehovah in the midst of his people; and from thenceforth he gave himself, with unwearied diligence, to lay in a plen

tiful store of the moft coftly materials, filver, gold, and precious ftones, which were employed by his fon and fucceffor Solomon, in conftructing the magnificent and myftic edifice. Thus, in the covenant of grace, did the Son of God engage not to take poffeffion of his heavenly palace, nor to enter into his eternal reft, until he had prepared upon the earth a place for the refidence of the Lord; a building framed of materials more precious than gold and filver, more bright and beautiful than rubies, emeralds, and . diamonds. All this was planned and executed by one and the fame perfon, who firft fuffered in meeknefs and patience like David, then reigned in glory and peace, like Solomon. The believer should spare no pains, no time, no thought, to find out and prepare in his heart an habitation for the God of Jacob, fince our Lord hath gracioufly vouchfafed to make this general promise to us all, " If a man love me, my "Father will love him, and we will come unto him, "and make our abode with him." John xiv. 23.

6. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

In other words, as Bishop Patrick hath paraphrased this verfe," And now, behold, the Lord himself, to "our great joy, hath told us the very place where " he will fix his habitation, 1 Chron. xxi. 18. 26. in "the territory of Bethlehem Ephrata *, Gen. xxxv. 13, 19. in the fields of that foreft, where the angel

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Jerufalem, as Mr. Merrick obferves from Geierus, being fituated not far from Bethlehem, might be comprehended in the region of Ephrata; or пna may be rendered "near " Ephrata.”

"flood,

"ftood and directed David to build an altar to "the Lord." 1 Chron. xxi. 18. xxii. 1. Bethlehem Ephratah was the city of David; it was likewife the city wherein the Son of David was born, as the prophet Micah had foretold. "And thou Bethlehem

in the land of Judah, art not the least among the "cities of Judah, for out of thee fhall come a Go

vernor, that shall rule my people Ifrael." Micah v. 2. cited by the chief priests and fcribes to Herod, Matt. ii. 6. Chriftians, as well as Jews, may therefore fay, and upon the festival of Christ's nativity, ufing this Pfalm, they do fay," Lo, we heard of it "at Ephratah;" for there the angel firft proclaimed the news of the incarnation to the fhepherds: "Be"hold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which "fhall be to all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is "Chrift, the Lord." Luke ii. 10. there was " found" the true tabernacle and temple "not made with "hands, the place for Jehovah, the habitation for "the mighty God of Jacob."

7. We will go into his tabernacles: we will worfhip ut his footstool.

If this were the resolution of Ifraelites, who faw the incarnation only in type and figure, how much more ought it to be ours, who live fince the accomplishment of that which was forefhewn; fince the Word, made flesh, hath dwelt upon the earth, and the church hath been erected among the nations? If they wor shipped the God of Ifrael, who then dwelt in the holy of holies between the cherubim, shall not we worship the fame divine person, who, though afcended VOL. II. Ff

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