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individual in the world, the final issue of the contest will be the same: he must prevail, and "all his enemies shall become his footstool."]

Let us then contemplate,

III. Our duty with respect to him

If He be "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords,"

Our duty is, to submit to him and serve him—

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[A "holy reverential fear" becomes us in his presence: "He is greatly to be feared, and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him." Our fear of him should swallow up every other fear, and annihilate every desire that is contrary to his will. An external conformity to his laws will not suffice: he should reign in our hearts, and our every thought should be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." Not that our fear should be of a slavish kind: it is our privilege, and even our duty, to rejoice in him: yea, we should rejoice in him with most exalted joy, even a joy that is unspeakable and glorified':" yet should our joy be tempered with humility, and our confidence with contrition. We should never so contemplate him as to forget ourselves, nor ever so triumph in him as to lose a jealousy over ourselves: we should "rejoice in the Lord always;" but still we should so temper this heavenly feeling as to "rejoice with trembling.'

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With this reverential fear we should also maintain towards him a devout affection. Idolaters were wont to kiss their idols, in token of their entire and affectionate devotion to them": hence it is said, "Kiss the Son," that is, let us consecrate ourselves to his service affectionately and with our whole hearts. A constrained service is altogether unacceptable to him: obedience would lose all its worth, if we accounted his yoke heavy or "his commandments grievous." His law should be in our hearts, and a conformity to it should be our supreme desire and delight.]

This is the duty of all, without exception—

[It is a common sentiment, that religion is only for the poor, and that the rich and learned are in a good measure exempt from its restraints. But in the sight of God all men are on a level: all are equally dependent on him; all must give up an account to him; and "kings or judges of the earth" are quite as much subject to the command of Christ as the meanest of the human race. O let this awful delusion be

i Matt. xxii. 44.
1 1 Pet. i. 8.

k Phil. iii. 3. and iv. 4.
m 1 Kings xix. 18. Hos. xiii. 2.

banished! Let none imagine that a superiority of rank or station at all lessens their responsibility to God, or absolves them from the smallest measure of obedience to Christ———]

This is also our truest wisdom and happiness

If we say to any, "Serve the Lord," we say, in effect, "Be wise:" for "the fear of the Lord is the very beginning of wisdom." Those only who have never tasted of true piety, deride it as folly: and they only do it, because they do not like to confess their own folly in neglecting it: in their serious moments, and when their conscience is permitted to speak, the very despisers of godliness are constrained to say in their hearts, Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!"

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Moreover, it is the only true path of happiness: for, what happiness can they have who are obnoxious to the wrath of God? "If his wrath be kindled, yea, but a little," can they endure the thought of meeting his displeasure? "Are they stronger than he," that they can feel themselves at ease, when they have provoked him to jealousy?" No: the most careless of mankind, if he reflect at all, must be sensible, that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." We say then, "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him :" they shall be protected by his power; they shall be preserved by his grace; they shall be enriched by his bounty; they shall be blessed by him with all spiritual blessings; and in the last day they shall be seated with him on his throne, and be partakers of his glory for evermore.]

CCCCXCVI.

REGARD TO CHRIST ENFORCED.

Ps. ii. 12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

TO so great a degree do the Psalms abound with prophecies relating to Christ, that all the most important circumstances of his life and death, his resurrection and glory, might be narrated from them with almost as much precision as in the Gospels themselves. The psalm before us has but a partial reference to David. It may be considered indeed as a triumphant proclamation of his establishment on his throne, notwithstanding all the opposition that

had been made to him by Saul and by the Jews themselves. But it principally points to the exaltation of Jesus to his throne of glory: and it concludes with an address to all the monarchs of the earth to submit themselves to his government.

In considering the words of the text, we shall call your attention to,

I. The injunction—

Who" the Son" is, we are at no loss to determine; since an inspired commentator has expressly declared him to be Christ". By "kissing" him, we are to understand,

1. Submission to his authority

[Samuel having anointed Saul to be king of Israel, kissed him, in token of his submission to the power that was now vested in him. Now Jesus is "seated as King upon God's holy hill in Zion":" and he demands that all should acknowledge him as their supreme Lord and only Saviourd. His yoke in every view is hateful to us by nature; but most of all are we averse to" submit to his righteousness." But this we must do, renouncing every other ground of dependence, and trusting in him as "The Lord our Righteousness."]

2. Love to his person

[When Mary desired to express her love to Jesus, she "kissed his feeth:" and we also must feel in our hearts, and express, in every possible way, a fervent attachment to him. The characteristic mark of his disciples is, to "love him in sincerity." Destitute of this mark, we have nothing to expect but speedy and everlasting destruction. We must therefore account him precious to our souls', yea, "fairer than ten thousand, and altogether lovely." We must delight ourselves in contemplating his beauty, and maintaining fellowship with him.]

3. Devotion to his service

[Idolaters used, in worshipping their gods, to kiss their images", or to kiss their hands in token of their devout regard to them. In this sense also we are to "kiss the Son,"

a

Compare ver. 7. with Heb. i. 5. b 1 Sam. x. 1. c ver. 6. d Compare Isai. xlv. 23, 24. with Rom. xiv. 11.

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exercising the same faith in him that we do in the Most High
God, and honouring him in every respect as we honour the
Father.
To kiss him, like Judas, and betray him,

will fearfully aggravate our condemnation.]

The vast importance of this injunction will appear, if we consider,

II. The arguments with which it is enforced-
And here we notice,

1. The danger of disobeying it

[Gracious and loving as the Saviour is, he is susceptible of anger on just occasions, and feels a holy indignation against those who slight his love. And " if once his wrath be kindled, yea, but a little," it will utterly destroy us'. It will be but little consolation for us to see others suffering under his heavier displeasure: the person who feels the smallest portion of his wrath in hell, will be inexpressibly and eternally miserable: and therefore it becomes us to offer him the sincerest tribute of our affection without delay. Nothing but this can prevent our ruin. In whatever "way" we are walking, we shall "perish from it," if we do not embrace him with the arms of faith, and "cleave to him with full purpose of hearts."]

2. The benefit arising from obedience to it—

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[What was before metaphorically represented by "kissing the Son," is here more simply expressed by "trusting in him." In fact, a cordial and entire confidence in him, as wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption," comprehends all the duties which we are capable of performing towards him in this world.

Now such a trust in him renders a man inconceivably blessed. It brings peace into his soul: it obtains for him the forgiveness of all his sins; it secures grace sufficient for him," and "strength according to his day." It makes him "blessed" in every state; in health or sickness, in wealth or poverty, in life or death. It entitles him to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance in heaven. No creature that possessed it, ever perished. Glory and honour and immortality are the portion of "all that trust in Christ." Whatever may have been their past conduct, or however they may doubt their own acceptance with God, they "are are" blessed, and shall be blessed for evermore.]

APPLICATION

[Here then is the direction which in God's name we give to all; "Kiss the Son." If you have any

P Acts ix. 6. John xiv. 1.

r Rev. vi. 15—17.

desire to escape the

9 John v. 23.

s Acts xi. 23.

wrath to come, or to lay hold on eternal life, this is the sure, the only way of attaining your end. Neglect Christ; and, whatever else you either have or do, it will avail you nothing: you must "perish" everlastingly. Love the Lord Jesus Christ, and give yourselves up unto him; and, notwithstanding your past sins, or present infirmities, "you shall never perish, but shall have everlasting life"."]

t Luke xiv. 24. and John iii. 36.

u John iii. 15, 16.

CCCCXCVII.

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE GODLY.

Ps. iv. 3. Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself.

RELIGION has in all ages been an object of derision to an ungodly world. There never have been wanting those who resembled Cain and Ishmael". God however has far other thoughts of those who serve him the recollection of this is a comfort to the godly under their persecutions; the consideration of it too might be of great advantage to the ungodly. The Psalmist seems to be reproving the wicked for their contempt of God, and their injurious treatment of his people: he therefore, in a way of triumphant exultation, suggests the thought in the text.

We shall,

I. Shew who are the objects of the divine favourThe world is divided into two descriptions of men, godly, and ungodly. The godly are to be distinguished by a great variety of marks—

They fear God

[The generality sin without any shame or remorse". But the godly can no longer proceed in such an evil course. They humble themselves before God for their past offences. They guard against offending him, even in thought.]

They love God

[They are not actuated by a merely slavish fear. They have the spirit of adoption given to them.

They unfeignedly

a Gal. iv. 29.

d 2 Cor. x. 5.

b Eph. iv. 18, 19.
e Gal. iv. 5.

c 1 Pet. iv. 2, 3.

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