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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms XXIV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM XXIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This psalm is concerning the kingdom of Jesus Christ,
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I. His providential kingdom, by which he rules the world,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. The kingdom of his grace, by which he rules in his church.
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1. Concerning the subjects of that kingdom; their character
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:4,6">ver. 4, 6</A>),
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their charter,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:5">ver. 5</A>.
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2. Concerning the King of that kingdom; and a summons to all to give
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him admission,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:7-10">ver. 7-10</A>.
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It is supposed that the psalm was penned upon occasion of David's
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bringing up the ark to the place prepared for it, and that the
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intention of it was to lead the people above the pomp of external
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ceremonies to a holy life and faith in Christ, of whom the ark was a
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type.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps24_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps24_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>God's Absolute Propriety.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<CENTER>
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<P>A psalm of David.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The earth <I>is</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s, and the
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fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
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2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon
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the floods.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. God's absolute propriety in this part of the creation where our lot
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is cast,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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We are not to think that the heavens, even the heavens only, are the
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Lord's, and the numerous and bright inhabitants of the upper world, and
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that this earth, being so small and inconsiderable a part of the
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creation, and at such a distance from the royal palace above, is
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neglected, and that he claims no interest in it. No, even the earth is
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his, and this lower world; and, though he has prepared the throne of
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his glory in the heavens, yet his kingdom rules over all, and even the
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worms of this earth are not below his cognizance, nor from under his
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dominion.
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1. When God gave the earth to the children of men he still reserved to
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himself the property, and only let it out to them as tenants, or
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usufructuaries: <I>The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof.</I>
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The mines that are lodged in the bowels of it, even the richest, the
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fruits it produces, all the beasts of the forest and the cattle upon a
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thousand hills, our lands and houses, and all the improvements that are
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made of this earth by the skill and industry of man, are all his. These
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indeed, in the kingdom of grace, are justly looked upon as emptiness;
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for they are vanity of vanities, nothing to a soul; but, in the kingdom
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of providence, they are fulness. <I>The earth is full of God's riches,
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so is the great and wide sea also.</I> All the parts and regions of the
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earth are the Lord's, all under his eye, all in his hand: so that,
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wherever a child of God goes, he may comfort himself with this, that he
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does not go off his Father's ground. That which falls to our share of
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the earth and its productions is but lent to us; it is the Lord's; what
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is our own against all the world is not so against his claims. That
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which is most remote from us, as that which passes through the paths of
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the sea, or is hidden in the bottom of it, is the Lord's and he knows
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where to find it.
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2. The habitable part of this earth
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:31">Prov. viii. 31</A>)
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is his in a special manner--<I>the world and those that dwell
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therein.</I> We ourselves are not our own, our bodies, our souls, are
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not. <I>All souls are mine,</I> says God; for he is the former of our
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bodies and the Father of our spirits. Our tongues are not our own; they
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are to be at his service. Even those of the children of men that know
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him not, nor own their relation to him, are his. Now this comes in here
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to show that, though God is graciously pleased to accept the devotions
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and services of his peculiar chosen people
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:3-5"><I>v.</I> 3-5</A>),
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it is not because he needs them, or can be benefited by them, for the
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earth is his and all in it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+19:5,Ps+50:12">Exod. xix. 5; Ps. l. 12</A>.
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It is likewise to be applied to the dominion Christ has, as Mediator,
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over the utmost parts of the earth, which are given him for his
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possession: the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into
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his hand, power over all flesh. The apostle quotes this scripture twice
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together in his discourse about things offered to idols,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:26,28">1 Cor. x. 26, 28</A>.
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"If it be sold in the shambles, eat it, and ask no questions; <I>for
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the earth is the Lord's;</I> it is God's good creature, and you have a
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right to it. But, if one tell you it was offered to an idol, forbear,
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<I>for the earth is the Lord's,</I> and there is enough besides." This
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is a good reason why we should be content with our allotment in this
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world, and not envy others theirs; <I>the earth is the Lord's,</I> and
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may he not do what he will with his own, and give to some more of it,
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to others less, as it pleases him?</P>
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<P>
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II. The ground of this propriety. The earth is his by an indisputable
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title, <I>for he hath founded it upon the seas</I> and <I>established
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it upon the floods,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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It is his; for,
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1. He made it, formed it, founded it, and fitted it for the use of man.
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The matter is his, for he made it out of nothing; the form is his, for
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he made it according to the eternal counsels and ideas of his own mind.
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He made it himself, he made it for himself; so that he is sole, entire,
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and absolute owner, and none can let us a title to any part, but by,
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from, and under him; see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:11,12">Ps. lxxxix. 11, 12</A>.
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2. He made it so as no one else could. It is the creature of
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omnipotence, for it is founded upon the seas, upon the floods, a weak
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and unstable foundation (one would think) to build the earth upon, and
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yet, if almighty power please, it shall serve to bear the weight of
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this earth. The waters which at first covered the earth, and rendered
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it unfit to be a habitation for man, were ordered under it, that the
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dry land might appear, and so they are as a foundation to it; see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+104:8,9">Ps. civ. 8, 9</A>.
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3. He continues it, he has <I>established</I> it, fixed it, so that,
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though one generation passes and another comes, the earth abides,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+1:4">Eccl. i. 4</A>.
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And his providence is a continued creation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:90">Ps. cxix. 90</A>.
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The founding of the earth upon the floods should remind us how slippery
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and uncertain all earthly things are; their foundation is not only
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sand, but water; it is therefore our folly to build upon them.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps24_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps24_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps24_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps24_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Character of True Israelites.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>? or who shall
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stand in his holy place?
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4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not
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lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
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5 He shall receive the blessing from the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and
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righteousness from the God of his salvation.
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6 This <I>is</I> the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy
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face, O Jacob. Selah.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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From this world, and the fulness thereof, the psalmist's meditations
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rise, of a sudden to the great things of another world, the foundation
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of which is not on the seas, nor on the floods. The things of this
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world God has given to the children of men and we are much indebted to
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his providence for them; but they will not make a portion for us. And
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therefore,</P>
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<P>
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I. Here is an enquiry after better things,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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This earth is God's footstool; but, if we had ever so much of it, we
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must be here but a while, must shortly go hence, and <I>Who then shall
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ascend into the hill of the Lord?</I> Who shall go to heaven hereafter,
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and, as an earnest of that, shall have communion with God in holy
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ordinances now? A soul that knows and considers its own nature,
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origin, and immortality, when it has viewed the earth and the fulness
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thereof, will sit down unsatisfied; there is not found among all the
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creatures a help meet for man, and therefore it will think of ascending
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towards God, towards heaven, will ask, "What shall I do to rise to that
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high place, that hill, where the Lord dwells and manifests himself,
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that I may be acquainted with him, and to abide in that happy holy
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place where he meets his people and makes them holy and happy? What
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shall I do that I may be of those whom God owns for his peculiar people
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and who are his in another manner than the earth is his and its
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fulness?" This question is much the same with that,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+15:1">Ps. xv. 1</A>.
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The hill of Zion on which the temple was built typified the church,
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both visible and invisible. When the people attended the ark to its
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holy place David puts them in mind that these were but patterns of
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heavenly things, and therefore that by them they should be led to
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consider the heavenly things themselves.</P>
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<P>
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II. An answer to this enquiry, in which we have,</P>
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<P>
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1. The properties of God's peculiar people, who shall have communion
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with him in grace and glory.
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(1.) They are such as keep themselves from all the gross acts of sin.
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They have <I>clean hands;</I> not spotted with the pollutions of the
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world and the flesh. None that were ceremonially unclean might enter
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into the mountain of the temple, which signified that cleanness of
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conversation which is required in all those that have fellowship with
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God. The hands lifted up in prayer must be pure hands, no blot of
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unjust gain cleaving to them, nor any thing else that defiles the man
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and is offensive to the holy God.
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(2.) They are such as make conscience of being really (that is, of
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being inwardly) as good as they seem to be outwardly. They have <I>pure
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hearts.</I> We make nothing of our religion if we do not make
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heart-work of it. It is not enough that our hands be clean before men,
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but we must also wash our hearts from wickedness, and not allow
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ourselves in any secret heart-impurities, which are open before the eye
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of God. Yet in vain do those pretend to have pure and good hearts whose
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hands are defiled with the acts of sin. That is a pure heart which is
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sincere and without guile in covenanting with God, which is carefully
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guarded, that the wicked one, the uncle an spirit, touch it not, which
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is purified by faith, and conformed to the image and will of God; see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:8">Matt. v. 8</A>.
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(3.) They are such as do not set their affections upon the things of
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this world, do not <I>lift up their souls unto vanity,</I> whose hearts
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are not carried out inordinately towards the wealth of this world, the
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praise of men, or the delights of sense, who do not choose these things
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for their portion, nor reach forth after them, because they believe
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them to be vanity, uncertain and unsatisfying.
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(4.) They are such as deal honestly both with God and man. In their
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covenant with God, and their contracts with men, they have not sworn
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deceitfully, nor broken their promises, violated their engagements, nor
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taken any false oath. Those that have no regard to the obligations of
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truth or the honour of God's name are unfit for a place in God's holy
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hill.
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(5.) They are a praying people
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>This is the generation of those that seek him.</I> In every age
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there is a remnant of such as these, men of this character, who are
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<I>accounted to the Lord for a generation,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+22:30">Ps. xxii. 30</A>.
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And they are such as seek God, <I>that seek they face, O Jacob!</I>
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[1.] They join themselves to God, to seek him, not only in earnest
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prayer, but in serious endeavours to obtain his favour and keep
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themselves in his love. Having made it the summit of their happiness,
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they make it the summit of their ambition to be accepted of him, and
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therefore take care and pains to approve themselves to him. It is to
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the hill of the Lord that we must ascend, and, the way being up-hill,
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we have need to put forth ourselves to the utmost, as those that seek
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diligently.
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[2.] They join themselves to the people of God, to seek God with them.
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Being brought into communion with God, they come into communion of
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saints; conforming to the patterns of the saints that have gone before
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(so some understand this), they seek God's face, as Jacob (so some),
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who was <I>therefore</I> surnamed <I>Israel,</I> because he wrestled
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with God and prevailed, sought him and found him; and, associating with
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the saints of their own day, they shall court the favour of God's
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church
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:9">Rev. iii. 9</A>),
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shall be glad of an acquaintance with God's people
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:23">Zech. viii. 23</A>),
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shall incorporate themselves with them, and, when they <I>subscribe
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with their hands to the Lord,</I> shall <I>call themselves by the name
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of Jacob,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:5">Isa. xliv. 5</A>.
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As soon as ever Paul was converted he <I>joined himself to the
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disciples,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:26">Acts ix. 26</A>.
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They shall seek God's face <I>in Jacob</I> (so some), that is, in the
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assemblies of his people. <I>Thy face, O God of Jacob!</I> so our
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margin supplies it, and makes it easy. As all believers are the
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spiritual seed of Abraham, so all that strive in prayer are the
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spiritual seed of Jacob, to whom God never said, <I>Seek you me in
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vain.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. The privileges of God's peculiar people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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They shall be made truly and for ever happy.
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(1.) They shall be blessed: they shall receive the blessing from the
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Lord, all the fruits and gifts of God's favour, according to his
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promise; and those whom God blesses are blessed indeed, for it is his
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prerogative to command the blessing.
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(2.) They shall be justified and sanctified. These are the spiritual
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blessings in heavenly things which they shall receive, even
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righteousness, the very thing they hunger and thirst after,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:5">Matt. v. 6</A>.
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Righteousness is blessedness, and it is from God only that we must
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expect it, for we have no righteousness of our own. They shall receive
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the reward of their righteousness (so some), the <I>crown of
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righteousness which the righteous Judge shall give,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+4:8">2 Tim. iv. 8</A>.
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(3.) They shall be saved; for God himself will be the God of their
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salvation. Note, Where God gives righteousness he certainly designs
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salvation. Those that are made meet for heaven shall be brought safely
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to heaven, and then they will find what they have been seeking, to
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their endless satisfaction.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps24_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps24_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps24_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps24_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The King of Glory.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye
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everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
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8 Who <I>is</I> this King of glory? The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> strong and mighty, the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> mighty in battle.
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9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift <I>them</I> up, ye
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everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
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10 Who is this King of glory? The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of hosts, he <I>is</I> the
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King of glory. Selah.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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What is spoken once is spoken a second time in these verses; such
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repetitions are usual in songs, and have much beauty in them. Here is,
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1. Entrance once and again demanded for the King of glory; the doors
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and gates are to be thrown open, thrown wide open, to give him
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admission, for behold he stands at the door and knocks, ready to come
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in.
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2. Enquiry once and again made concerning this mighty prince, in whose
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name entrance is demanded: <I>Who is this King of glory?</I> As, when
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any knock at our door, it is common to ask, <I>Who is there?</I>
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3. Satisfaction once and again given concerning the royal person that
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makes the demand: <I>It is the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord,
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mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+24:8,10"><I>v.</I> 8, 10</A>.
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Now,</P>
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<P>
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I. This splendid entry here described it is probable refers to the
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solemn bringing in of the ark into the tent David pitched for it or the
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temple Solomon built for it; for, when David prepared materials for the
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building of it, it was proper for him to prepare a psalm for the
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dedication of it. The porters are called upon to open the doors, and
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they are called <I>everlasting doors,</I> because much more durable
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than the door of the tabernacle, which was but a curtain. They are
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taught to ask, <I>Who is this King of glory?</I> And those that bore
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the ark are taught to answer in the language before us, and very fitly,
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because the ark was a symbol or token of God's presence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:11">Josh. iii. 11</A>.
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Or it may be taken as a poetical figure designed to represent the
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subject more affectingly. God, in his word and ordinances, is thus to
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be welcomed by us,
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1. With great readiness: the doors and gates must be thrown open to
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him. Let the word of the Lord come into the innermost and uppermost
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place in our souls; and, if we had 600 necks, we should bow them all to
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the authority of it.
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2. With all reverence, remembering how great a God he is with whom we
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have to do, in all our approaches to him.</P>
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<P>
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II. Doubtless it points at Christ, of whom the ark, with the
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mercy-seat, was a type.
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1. We may apply it to the ascension of Christ into heaven and the
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welcome given to him there. When he had finished his work on earth he
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ascended <I>in the clouds of heaven,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+7:13,14">Dan. vii. 13, 14</A>.
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The gates of heaven must then be opened to him, those doors that may be
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truly called <I>everlasting,</I> which had been shut against us, to
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keep the way of the tree of life,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:24">Gen. iii. 24</A>.
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Our Redeemer found them shut, but, having by his blood made atonement
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for sin and gained a title to <I>enter into the holy place</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:12">Heb. ix. 12</A>),
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as one having authority, he demanded entrance, not for himself only,
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but for us; for, as the forerunner, he has for us entered and <I>opened
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the kingdom of heaven to all believers.</I> The keys not only of hell
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and death, but of heaven and life, must be put into his hand. His
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approach being very magnificent, the angels are brought in asking,
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<I>Who is this King of glory?</I> For angels keep the gates of the New
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Jerusalem,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+21:12">Rev. xxi. 12</A>.
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When the first-begotten was brought into the upper world the angels
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were to worship him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+1:6">Heb. i. 6</A>);
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and accordingly, they here ask with wonder, "Who is he?--this that
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cometh <I>with dyed garments from Bozrah?</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+63:1-3">Isa. lxiii. 1-3</A>),
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for he appears in that world <I>as a Lamb that had been slain.</I>" It
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is answered that he is <I>strong and mighty, mighty in battle,</I> to
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save his people and subdue his and their enemies.
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2. We may apply it to Christ's entrance into the souls of men by his
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word and Spirit, that they may be his temples. Christ's presence in
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them is like that of the ark in the temple; it sanctifies them.
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<I>Behold, he stands at the door and knocks,</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:20">Rev. iii. 20</A>.
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It is required that the gates and doors of the heart be opened to him,
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|
not only as admission is given to a guest, but as possession is
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|
delivered to the rightful owner, after the title has been contested.
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This is the gospel call and demand, that we let Jesus Christ, the King
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|
of glory, come into our souls, and welcome him with hosannas,
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|
<I>Blessed is he that cometh.</I> That we may do this aright we are
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|
concerned to ask, <I>Who is this King of glory?</I>--to acquaint
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|
ourselves with him, whom we are to believe in, and to love above all.
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|
And the answer is ready: He is <I>Jehovah,</I> and will be <I>Jehovah
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|
our righteousness,</I> an all-sufficient Saviour to us, if we give him
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|
entrance and entertainment. He is <I>strong and mighty,</I> and <I>the
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|
Lord of hosts;</I> and therefore it is at our peril if we deny him
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|
entrance; for he is able to avenge the affront; he can force his way,
|
|
and can break those in pieces with his iron rod that will not submit to
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|
his golden sceptre.</P>
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<P>
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|
In singing this let our hearts cheerfully answer to this call, as it is
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|
in the first words of the next psalm, <I>Unto thee, O Lord! do I lift
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|
up my soul.</I></P>
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