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[A throne of grace is now open to us; and " we may ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us." God assumes to himself the very title of "a God that heareth prayer." And he bids us to open our mouths wide, that he may fill them. Moreover, we have an Advocate with the Father, even the Lord Jesus Christ himself," "whom the Father heareth always;" and who has so loved us, as to "give himself a propitiation for our sins." O, what might we not receive, if only we were upright before God! for "the prayer of the upright is his delight." Suppose now at this time we had all been really praying to God, in the very spirit of the prayers which we have offered; what blessings would not be flowing down into our souls, even as 66 showers of blessings," as God himself has promised! Verily, if our eyes were opened to see what was passing, we should behold Almighty God taking loads of guilt from multitudes amongst us, and casting it all into the very depths of the sea. We should see the Holy Spirit resting on the heads of all, as on the day of Pentecost, for the purpose of enlightening, comforting, and sanctifying our souls. We should see angels ascending and descending upon us, in order to receive from God, and execute for us, their several commissions adapted to our necessities. I do not hesitate to say, that, if we had all been as much in earnest in our prayers as our words have given reason to expect, this very place would resemble the temple of old, when the glory of God so filled it, that the priests could no longer abide there to minister before the Lord. Yes, our souls would be too full for humanity to sustain it. Dear Brethren, why should we not behold at least a measure of this sacred effusion, and taste a measure of this heavenly grace? God is willing to renew the Pentecostal scenes, if only we were in a state to receive them. It is in ourselves that we are straitened: we are not straitened in our God: he is as able as ever, yea, and as willing too," to do exeeding abundantly for us, above all that we can ask or think." Truly, if we were even one half as earnest as we have professed to be, he would fill every hungry soul, and replenish every sorrowful soul, with his richest communications of grace and peace. Let us arise and call upon our God: and let not our prayer go forth out of feigned lips." And let us remember, for our comfort, that it is not the existence of sin in the soul that will prevent the acceptance of our prayers, (for who then would ever be heard?) but the indulgence of it. Seek truly to have the whole body of sin mortified within you: seek to be "pure, as God is pure," and "holy, as God is holy." Then will God delight himself in you; and you, according to your measure, shall "be filled with all the fulness of your God."]

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DCVIII.

CALLING OF THE GENTILES PRAYED FOR.

Ps. lxvii. 1-7. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us: that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad, and sing for joy; for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us: God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

HOW much importance the compilers of our Liturgy attached to this psalm may be judged from the appointment of it to be read in the daily services of our Church. The general import of the psalm is plain enough: but, in order to get a just view of the different expressions contained in it, we must place ourselves in the situation of David at the time he composed it. The Jewish Church and nation were a peculiar people, instructed in the knowledge of salvation, and living under the government of Jehovah. The righteous among them enjoyed the light of God's countenance, and looked forward to the possession of yet richer blessings under the reign of their Messiah. But the Gentile world were altogether ignorant of a Saviour, and living without God in the world, under the tyranny of the prince of darkness, by whom they were led captive at his will. These two things then the Psalmist desired, namely, the advent of the Messiah to his own nation, and the manifestation of him to all the world. The former of these events was prayed for in the beginning of the psalm; "God be merciful unto us, and bless us" with the accomplishment of that promise, to which all thy people are looking forward, the advent of the Messiah: and "cause thy face to shine upon us," in the person of Him, who is "the brightness of thy glory, and the express image of thy person!" The latter event however seems on this occasion to have chiefly occupied his mind: and

the immediate exhibition of Christ to the Jews was desired, in order to his ulterior manifestation to the Gentile world, whom he longed to see partakers of all the privileges which he either enjoyed, or hoped for. He longed to see them brought into "the way" of truth and "salvation," and subjected to the righteous government" of the Messiah, and growing up before God in multitudes, "like the piles of grass

upon the earth a "

This being the general subject of the psalm, we shall proceed to notice some important instruction that is to be gathered from it. It shews us,

I. That there are rich blessings yet in store for the Gentiles

[The whole psalm might with great propriety be read in the future tense, as a prophecy. In the two concluding verses of the psalm it is so read in our translation: and it might have been so read throughout. And in that view how singularly striking is it! how strong and numerous the assertions, that such an event shall take place! At present indeed there seems to be but little prospect of so glorious an event: but we are well assured it shall come, and that too at no distant period. Indeed in part it is already come: for who are we but Gentiles? By the preaching of the Apostles, myriads were converted to the faith of Christ: and myriads are yet monuments of his power and grace. But this is only the first-fruits: we expect a harvest, when 66 a little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation." We believe that the day is coming when" all the ends of the earth shall remember themselves, and turn unto the Lord their God:" "they shall fear the Lord their God, and David their king." "The way" of salvation through a crucified Redeemer "shall then be known among them," and "the saving health" of the Gospel be then imparted to those who are now dying in their sins. The bondslaves of sin and Satan shall then cast off the yoke of their oppressor, and yield themselves willing subjects to the Prince of Peace. In a word, they who have hitherto known no pleasure but in the indulgence of their lusts, shall be glad in the Lord, and sing praise to his name," and "rejoice in him" as their God for ever and ever. Glorious period! May "God hasten it in his time!"]

a ver. 6. with Ps. lxxii. 16. Compare Isai. xxxv. 1, 2. and lv. 12, 13.

b Hos. iii. 5.

It further shews us,

II. What an union there is between piety and philanthropy

[The Jews were represented by their enemies as haters of mankind. But this was in no respect applicable to the godly among them. What could exceed the love of David towards the Gentile world? We cannot conceive greater earnestness than is expressed for their welfare in this psalm. David seems scarcely to think that he himself is blessed, whilst the Gentile world remain destitute of any share in his blessings. This philanthropy was the fruit of his piety: and wherever true piety exists, it will shew itself in a concern for those who are afar off from God, and perishing in their sins. All piety that is devoid of charity, is a mere name, a phantom, a delusion. If," says an inspired Apostle, "we see our brother have need, and shut up our bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in us?" And if this be true in relation to his temporal wants, how much more is it respecting the wants of his soul! We wish all then to judge of their piety by this touchstone: see what measure of compassion you have to your perishing fellow-creatures: see what pleasure you have in contemplating the future accession of the Gentiles to the faith of Christ; what efforts you make to promote it; and what earnestness you have when praying for it at a throne of grace. These things will lead you into a considerable degree of selfknowledge: for be assured you know but little of the saving efficacy of Christ's blood, or the sanctifying efficacy of his grace, if you are not longing and labouring to bring others to a participation of your blessings.]

We may further LEARN,

III. What encouragement we have for missionary exertions

[If nothing had been spoken in the Scriptures respecting the conversion of the heathen, we might well sit down in despair and say, It is in vain to attempt so hopeless a work. But when we look into the Scriptures and see how continually this subject is brought forward, and with what confidence it is declared, we should make no account of difficulties, since "with God all things are possible." Ezekiel might have objected to the commission given to him to preach to dry bones but he knew that dry bones could live, if God should be pleased to breathe life into them. Thus may we engage in missionary labours, assured that God will fulfil his own word, and crown our endeavours with success. Indeed

c Ezek. xxxvii. 1-14.

the time for the full accomplishment of his promise seems fast approaching; and "the fields appear already, as it were, white unto the harvest." Methinks the heathen in divers countries are saying to us, not by their necessities only, but by their express desires, "Come over to us, and help us!" And shall we be backward to impart the knowledge with which we are so highly favoured, and the salvation which we profess to glory in? It is obvious enough, that they cannot learn unless they be taught; "nor can they hear, without a preacher." Let not difficulties then dismay us: but let us go forth in the strength. of the Lord God, and look to him to accompany his word with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven: then may we hope that Satan's empire shall be destroyed, and that the promised kingdom of our Redeemer shall be established on its ruins.]

DCIX.

THE END OF CHRIST'S ASCENSION.

Ps. lxviii. 18. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

WHILE some give an unbounded scope to their fancy, and view Christ in almost every passage of the Scriptures, others run into a contrary extreme, and scarcely behold him even in the most express prophecies. But there certainly are many parts of the prophetic writings, and particularly of the Psalms, which, to whomsoever they relate in a literal sense, have a spiritual or mystical reference to Christ: nor can we err in interpreting them of him, while we take the inspired Apostles for our guides.

David, having vanquished all his enemies, determined to provide a fixed residence for the ark of God, that God might dwell in the midst of his people at Jerusalem. And he penned this psalm to be used on that occasion. But St. Paul informs us, that there was a further reference in it to the ascension of Christ; who, being the true ark whereon the glory rested, went, after having triumphed over all his

a It is thought that ver. 1-6. was sung when the ark was taken up by the Levites; ver. 7-14. while they were on their way to the hill, till they came in sight of it; ver. 15-17. while they were ascending it; and ver. 18-23. when the ark was deposited.

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