Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

x. 12.

"at the right hand of the power of God." And as it was before stated to have commenced on the day of his resurrection, Psal, ii. 7, Rom, i. 4, Heb. i. 3, so it is here foretold, to continue until his enemies shall be subdued; as understood and interpreted by St. Paul:-[" CHRIST] himself, having "offered [only] one sacrifice for sins, thence"forward, (E15 To invexes) sat at the right hand of GOD; afterwards expecting, until his "enemies be made a stool for his feet." Heb, And he has more particularly unfolded this great mystery, in his discourse on the Resurrection, 1 Cor. xv. 22-28.— "Even so, in CHRIST, shall all be quick, "ened; but each in his proper rank: The "first fruits, CHRIST; next, CHRIST'S "[Elect, Matt. xxiv. 31] at his appearance; then, the end, when He shall deliver up "the [fiduciary] kingdom to THE God and FATHER [of all]; when He shall have "abolished every principality and every authority and power, [adverse to God and CHRIST]: For He must needs reign, until he shall have put all the enemies un"der his feet" (The last enemy to be abo"lished

66

*lished is Death, Rev. xx. 14,) for [GOD]

[ocr errors]

866

$66

subjected all things under his feet. (But "when [Scripture] saith, that all are subjected, it is plainly to be [understood] "with the exception of HIM [THE FATHER] who subjected unto HIM [THE "SON] the universe.) So, when the Uni"verse shall be subjected to Him [THE "SON], then shall also THE SON himself "become subject unto Him [THE FA"THER], who did subject the universe to Him [THE SON]; to the end that GoD [THE FATHER] might be THE ALL IN "ALL."

This most abstruse and involved passage, (which I have here humbly endeavoured to develope, from the context and parallel passages of Scripture supplying the ellipses necessary to complete the sense and remove ambiguity) seems to intimate that the Mediatorial reign of JESUS CHRIST is graciously designed, by a long course of preparation and discipline, “to train many sons to glory," to fit and qualify all ranks of rational creatures, who shall be found worthy to be admitted to the inconceivable honour and happiness

T 4

piness of becoming the immediate subjects of THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT, Rev. xix, 6, and so, by progressive improvements in wisdom, and piety, and virtue, draw nearer through all eternity to the infinite Source of all goodness, the unattainable Standard of all perfection. Oh! the depth of the riches "and wisdom and knowledge of GOD!"How unsearchable his judgments, and un"traceable his ways!"—" according to the "eternal purpose, which he purposed in "CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD:" " that

[ocr errors]

"GOD might be glorified in all, through "JESUS CHRIST."

Verse 2, "The Lord shall send forth the Sceptre of $6 thy might

"From Sion: Rule thou in the midst of "thine enemies."

This accords with the MESSIAH's declaration

Ps. ii. 6. "Nevertheless, I was ordained King-"On Sion my holy mount."

more fully explained by Isa. ii. 3,

For out of Sion shall go forth the Law, "And the ORACLE OF THE LORD from Jerusalem;

And

[ocr errors]

"And He shall judge among the Gentiles, "And shall rebuke many peoples."

and Ps. ii. 9. "Thou shalt rule them with "an iron Sceptre."

Verse 3. "In the day of thy power, [shall] thy people "[offer]

"Free-will offerings, in the beauties of Holiness."

As the Psalmist, in the foregoing verse, had foretold the signal chastisement of our Lord's foes, both Jews and Gentiles; so here, in the spirit of prophecy, he appears to describe the devout zeal of "his (chosen) people," of all nations and kindreds and languages, "flowing to the House of THE LORD” in Jerusalem, in "the last days," (or establishment of the kingdom of GOD upon Earth, under his regent or vice-gerent, THE MESSIAH) and there, offering their free-will offerings, in his splendid and magnificent shrines. This seems to be a more rational and consistent interpretation of this most abstruse and difficult passage, than I have hitherto seen; by only supplying the ellipsis of the verb understood, and suggested by

the

the context, "shall offer."-That the original term, y, should be rendered, " thy

66

people," (and not "with thee," as the Septuagint, by a different punctuation, render it) may be justified by the other versions, and most of the modern translations; and also by a similar phraseology: Judg. v. 1, 2 Chron. xvii. 16, where," the people wil"lingly offered themselves," or volunteered, to fight the battles of the Lord.-And “the "beauties of Holiness," (or, as it may be rendered from the Septuagint," the beauties "of the Sanctuary,") corresponds to the sense in which the same phrase is elsewhere understood, of the splendour and magnificence of the Temple, to be built in those auspicious days: Ps. xcvi. 1-10.

"O sing unto THE LORD, a new song,
"Sing unto THE LORD, all the Earth.
"Declare his glory among the Gentiles,
"His wonders, among all peoples:-
"Honour and majesty are before Him,
"Strength and beauty are in his Sanctuary:

"Give unto THE LORD, O ye kindreds of the people,
"Give unto THE LORD, glory and strength;
"Give unto THE LORD, the glory due to his name;

Bring an offering, and come into his Courts:

"O worship THE LORD, in the beauty of Holiness," &c.

« PreviousContinue »