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5 lines
7.3 KiB
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<p>Here is, I. The doctrine of universal providence laid down, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.103.19" href="/passage/?search=Ps.103.19">Ps. 103:19</a>. He has secured the happiness of his peculiar people by promise and covenant, but the order of mankind, and the world in general, he secures by common providence. <i>The Lord has a throne</i> of his own, a throne of glory, a throne of government. He that made all rules all, and both by a word of power: <i>He has prepared his throne</i>, has fixed and established it that it cannot be shaken; he has afore-ordained all the measures of his government and does all according to the counsel of his own will. He <i>has prepared</i> it <i>in the heavens</i>, above us, and out of sight; for he <i>holds back the face of his throne, and spreads a cloud upon it</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Job.26.9" href="/passage/?search=Job.26.9">Job 26:9</a>); yet he can himself <i>judge through the dark cloud</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Job.22.13" href="/passage/?search=Job.22.13">Job 22:13</a>. Hence <i>the heavens are said to rule</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Dan.4.26" href="/passage/?search=Dan.4.26">Dan. 4:26</a>), and we are led to consider this by the influence which even the visible heavens have upon this earth, their <i>dominion</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Job.38.33,Gen.1.16" href="/passage/?search=Job.38.33,Gen.1.16"><span class="bibleref" title="Job.38.33">Job 38:33</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Gen.1.16">Gen. 1:16</span></a>. But though God’s throne is in heaven, and there he keeps his court, and thither we are to direct to him (<i>Our Father who art in heaven</i>), yet <i>his kingdom rules over all</i>. He takes cognizance of all the inhabitants, and all the affairs, of this lower world, and disposes all persons and things according to the counsel of his will, to his own glory (<a class="bibleref" title="Dan.4.35" href="/passage/?search=Dan.4.35">Dan. 4:35</a>): <i>His kingdom rules over all</i> kings and all kingdoms, and from it there is no exempt jurisdiction.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">II. The duty of universal praise inferred from it: if all are under God’s dominion, all must do him homage.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">1. Let the holy angels praise him (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.103.20,Ps.103.21" href="/passage/?search=Ps.103.20,Ps.103.21"><span class="bibleref" title="Ps.103.20">Ps. 103:20</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Ps.103.21">21</span></a>): <i>Bless the Lord, you his angels</i>; and again, <i>Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, you ministers of his</i>. David had been stirring up himself and others to praise God, and here, in the close, he calls upon the angels to do it; not as if they needed any excitement of ours to praise God, they do it continually; but thus he expresses his high thoughts of God as worthy of the adorations of the holy angels, thus he quickens himself and others to the duty with this consideration, That it is the work of angels, and comforts himself in reference to his own weakness and defect in the performance of this duty with this consideration, That there is a world of holy angels who dwell in God’s house and are still praising him. In short, the blessed angels are glorious attendants upon the blessed God. Observe, (1.) How well qualified they are for the post they are in. They are able; for they <i>excel in strength</i>; they are <i>mighty in strength</i> (so the word is); they are able to bring great things to pass, and to abide in their work without weariness. And they are as willing as they are able; they are willing to know their work; for they <i>hearken to the voice of his word</i>; they stand expecting commission and instructions from their great Lord, and <i>always behold his face</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Matt.18.10" href="/passage/?search=Matt.18.10">Matt. 18:10</a>), that they may take the first intimation of his mind. They are willing to do their work: They <i>do his commandments</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.103.20" href="/passage/?search=Ps.103.20">Ps. 103:20</a>); they <i>do his pleasure</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.103.21" href="/passage/?search=Ps.103.21">Ps. 103:21</a>); they dispute not any divine commands, but readily address themselves to the execution of them. Nor do they delay, but fly swiftly: They <i>do his commandments at hearing</i>, or <i>as soon as they hear the voice of his word</i>; so Dr. Hammond. <i>To obey is better than sacrifice</i>; for angels obey, but do not sacrifice. (2.) What their service is. They are <i>his angels</i>, and <i>ministers of his</i>—his, for he made them, and made them for himself—his, for he employs them, though he does not need them—his, for he is their owner and Lord; they belong to him and he has them at his beck. All the creatures are his servants, but not as the angels that attend the presence of his glory. Soldiers, and seamen, and all good subjects, serve the king, but not as the courtiers do, the ministers of state and those of the household. [1.] The angels occasionally serve God in this lower world; they <i>do his commandments</i>, go on his errands (<a class="bibleref" title="Dan.9.21" href="/passage/?search=Dan.9.21">Dan. 9:21</a>), fight his battles (<a class="bibleref" title="2Kgs.6.17" href="/passage/?search=2Kgs.6.17">2 Kgs. 6:17</a>), and minister for the good of his people, <a class="bibleref" title="Heb.1.14" href="/passage/?search=Heb.1.14">Heb. 1:14</a>. [2.] They <i>continually praise him</i> in the upper world; they began betimes to do it (<a class="bibleref" title="Job.38.7" href="/passage/?search=Job.38.7">Job 38:7</a>), and it is still their business, from which they rest not <i>day nor night</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.4.8" href="/passage/?search=Rev.4.8">Rev. 4:8</a>. It is God’s glory that he has such attendants, but more his glory that he neither needs them nor is benefited by them.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">2. Let <i>all his works</i> praise him (<a class="bibleref" title="Ps.103.22" href="/passage/?search=Ps.103.22">Ps. 103:22</a>), all <i>in all places of his dominion</i>; for, because they are his works, they are under his dominion, and they were made and are ruled that they may be unto him <i>for a name and a praise. All his works</i>, that is, all the children of men, in all parts of the world, let them all praise God; yea, and the inferior creatures too, which are God’s works also; let them praise him objectively, though they cannot praise him actually, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.145.10" href="/passage/?search=Ps.145.10">Ps. 145:10</a>. Yet all this shall not excuse David from praising God, but rather excite him to do it the more cheerfully, that he may bear a part in this concert; for he concludes, <i>Bless the Lord, O my soul</i>! as he began, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.103.1" href="/passage/?search=Ps.103.1">Ps. 103:1</a>. Blessing God and giving him glory must be the alpha and the omega of all our services. He began with <i>Bless the Lord, O my soul</i>! and, when he had pe 69d nned and sung this excellent hymn to his honour, he does not say, Now, O my soul! thou hast blessed the Lord, sit down, and rest thee, but, <i>Bless the Lord, O my soul</i>! yet more and more. When we have done ever so much in the service of God, yet still we must stir up ourselves to do more. God’s praise is a subject that will never be exhausted, and therefore we must never think this work done till we come to heaven, where it will be for ever in the doing.</p>
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