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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 L.</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, as the former, is a psalm of instruction, not of prayer or
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praise; it is a psalm of reproof and admonition, in singing which we
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are to teach and admonish one another. In the foregoing psalm, after a
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general demand of attention, God by his prophet deals
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:3">ver. 3</A>)
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with the children of this world, to convince them of their sin and
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folly in setting their hearts upon the wealth of this world; in this
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psalm, after a like preface, he deals with those that were, in
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profession, the church's children, to convince them of their sin and
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folly in placing their religion in ritual services, while they
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neglected practical godliness; and this is as sure a way to ruin as the
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other. This psalm is intended,
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1. As a proof to the carnal Jews, both those that rested in the
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external performances of their religion, and were remiss in the more
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excellent duties of prayer and praise, and those that expounded the law
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to others, but lived wicked lives themselves.
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2. As a prediction of the abolishing of the ceremonial law, and of the
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introducing of a spiritual way of worship in and by the kingdom of the
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Messiah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:23,24">John iv. 23, 24</A>.
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3. As a representation of the day of judgment, in which God will call
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men to an account concerning their observance of those things which
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they have thus been taught; men shall be judged "according to what is
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written in the books;" and therefore Christ is fitly represented
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speaking as a Judge, then when he speaks as a Lawgiver. Here is,
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I. The glorious appearance of the Prince that gives law and judgment,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
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II. Instruction given to his worshippers, to turn their sacrifices into
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prayers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:7-15">ver. 7-15</A>.
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III. A rebuke to those that pretend to worship God, but live in
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disobedience to his commands
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:16-20">ver. 16-20</A>),
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their doom read
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:21,22">ver. 21, 22</A>),
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and warning given to all to look to their conversation as well as to
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their devotions,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:23">ver. 23</A>.
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These instructions and admonitions we must take to ourselves, and give
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to one another, in singing this psalm.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps50_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps50_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps50_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps50_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps50_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps50_6"> </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>The Majesty of Messiah.</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 Asaph.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The mighty God, <I>even</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, hath
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spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the
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going down thereof.
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2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
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3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall
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devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about
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him.
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4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth,
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that he may judge his people.
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5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a
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covenant with me by sacrifice.
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6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God <I>is</I>
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judge himself. Selah.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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It is probable that Asaph was not only the chief musician, who was to
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put a tune to this psalm, but that he was himself the penman of it; for
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we read that in Hezekiah's time they praised God <I>in the words of
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David and of Asaph the seer,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+29:30">2 Chron. xxix. 30</A>.
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Here is,</P>
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<P>
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I. The court called, in the name of the King of kings
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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<I>The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken</I>--El, Elohim, Jehovah,
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the God of infinite power justice and mercy, Father, Son, and Holy
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Ghost. God is the Judge, the Son of God came for judgement into the
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world, and the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of judgment. All the earth is
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called to attend, not only because the controversy God had with his
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people Israel for their hypocrisy and ingratitude might safely be
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referred to any man of reason (nay, let the house of Israel itself
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<I>judge between God and his vineyard,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+5:3">Isa. v. 3</A>),
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but because all the children of men are concerned to know the right way
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of worshipping God, in spirit and in truth, because when the kingdom of
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the Messiah should be set up all should be instructed in the
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evangelical worship, and invited to join in it (see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+1:11,Ac+10:34">Mal. i. 11, Acts x. 34</A>),
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and because in the day of final judgment all nations shall be gathered
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together to receive their doom, and every man shall give an account of
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himself unto God.</P>
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<P>
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II. The judgment set, and the Judge taking his seat. As, when God gave
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the law to Israel in the wilderness, it is said, <I>He came from Sinai,
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and rose up from Seir, and shone forth from Mount Paran, and came with
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ten thousands of his saints, and then from his right hand went a fiery
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law</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:2">Deut. xxxiii. 2</A>),
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so, with allusion to that, when God comes to reprove them for their
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hypocrisy, and to send forth his gospel to supersede the legal
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institutions, it is said here,
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1. That <I>he shall shine out of Zion,</I> as then from the top of
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Sinai,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Because in Zion his oracle was now fixed, thence his judgments upon
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that provoking people denounced, and thence the orders issued for the
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execution of them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joe+2:1">Joel ii. 1</A>):
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<I>Blow you the trumpet in Zion.</I> Sometimes there are more than
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ordinary appearances of God's presence and power working with and by
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his word and ordinances, for the convincing of men's consciences and
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the reforming and refining of his church; and then God, who always
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dwells in Zion, may be said to <I>shine out of Zion.</I> Moreover, he
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may be said to <I>shine out of Zion</I> because the gospel, which set
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up spiritual worship, was to <I>go forth from Mount Zion</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+2:3,Mic+4:2">Isa. ii. 3, Mic. iv. 2</A>),
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and the preachers of it were to <I>begin at Jerusalem</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:47">Luke xxiv. 47</A>),
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and Christians are said to come unto Mount Zion, to receive their
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instructions,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:22,28">Heb. xii. 22, 28</A>.
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Zion is here called <I>the perfection of beauty,</I> because it was the
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holy hill; and holiness is indeed the perfection of beauty.
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2. That he <I>shall come, and not keep silence,</I> shall no longer
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seem to wink at the sins of men, as he had done
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
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but shall show his displeasure at them, and shall also cause that
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mystery to be published to the world by his holy apostles which had
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long <I>lain hid, that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:5,6">Eph. iii. 5, 6</A>)
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and that the partition-wall of the ceremonial law should be taken down;
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this shall now no longer be concealed. In the great day <I>our God
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shall come and shall not keep silence,</I> but shall make those to hear
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his judgment that would not hearken to his law.
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3. That his appearance should be very majestic and terrible: <I>A fire
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shall devour before him.</I> The fire of his judgments shall make way
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for the rebukes of his word, in order to the awakening of the
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hypocritical nation of the Jews, that the sinners in Zion, being afraid
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of that devouring fire
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:14">Isa. xxxiii. 14</A>),
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might be startled out of their sins. When his gospel kingdom was to be
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set up Christ <I>came to send fire on the earth,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:49">Luke xii. 49</A>.
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The Spirit was given in cloven tongues as of fire, introduced by a
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rushing mighty wind, which was very tempestuous,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:2,3">Acts ii. 2, 3</A>.
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And in the last judgment Christ shall come in flaming fire,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:8">2 Thess. i. 8</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+7:9,Heb+10:27">Dan. vii. 9; Heb. x. 27</A>.
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4. That as on Mount Sinai he came with <I>ten thousands of his
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saints,</I> so he shall now <I>call to the heavens from above,</I> to
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take notice of this solemn process
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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as Moses often <I>called heaven and earth to witness</I> against Israel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+4:26,31:28,32:21">Deut. iv. 26; xxxi. 28, xxxii. 1</A>),
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and God by his prophets,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+1:2,Mic+6:2">Isa. i. 2; Mic. vi. 2</A>.
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The equity of the judgment of the great day will be attested and
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applauded by heaven and earth, by saints and angels, even all the holy
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myriads.</P>
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<P>
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III. The parties summoned
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>Gather my saints together unto me.</I> This may be understood
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either,
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1. Of saints indeed: "Let them be gathered to God through Christ; let
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the few pious Israelites be set by themselves;" for to them the
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following denunciations of wrath do not belong; rebukes to hypocrites
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ought not to be terrors to the upright. When God will reject the
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services of those that only offered sacrifice, resting in the outside
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of the performance, he will graciously accept those who, in
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sacrificing, <I>make a covenant with him,</I> and so attend to and
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answer the end of the institution of sacrifices. The design of the
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preaching of the gospel, and the setting up of Christ's kingdom, was to
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gather together in one the children of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:52">John xi. 52</A>.
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And at the second coming of Jesus Christ all his saints shall be
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<I>gathered together unto him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+2:1">2 Thess. ii. 1</A>)
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to be assessors with him in the judgment; for <I>the saints shall judge
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the world,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:2">1 Cor. vi. 2</A>.
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Now it is here given as a character of the saints that they have made a
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covenant with God by sacrifice. Note,
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(1.) Those only shall be gathered to God as his saints who have, in
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sincerity, covenanted with him, who have taken him to be their God and
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given up themselves to him to be his people, and thus have joined
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themselves unto the Lord.
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(2.) It is only by sacrifice, by Christ the great sacrifice (from whom
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all the legal sacrifices derived what value they had), that we poor
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sinners can covenant with God so as to be accepted of him. There must
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be an atonement made for the breach of the first covenant before we can
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be admitted again into covenant. Or,
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2. It may be understood of saints in profession, such as the people of
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Israel were, who are called <I>a kingdom of priests</I> and <I>a holy
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nation,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+19:6">Exod. xix. 6</A>.
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They were, as a body politic, taken into covenant with God, the
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covenant of peculiarity; and it was done with great solemnity, <I>by
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sacrifice,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:8">Exod. xxiv. 8</A>.
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"Let them come and hear what God has to say to them; let them receive
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the reproofs God sends them now by his prophets, and the gospel he
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will, in due time, send them by his Son, which shall supersede the
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ceremonial law. If these be slighted, let them expect to hear from God
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another way, and to be judged by that word which they will not be ruled
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by."</P>
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<P>
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IV. The issue of this solemn trial foretold
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>The heavens shall declare his righteousness,</I> those heavens that
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were called to be witnesses to the trial
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>);
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the <I>people in heaven shall say, Hallelujah. True and righteous are
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his judgments,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+19:1,2">Rev. xix. 1, 2</A>.
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The righteousness of God in all the rebukes of his word and providence,
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in the establishment of his gospel (which <I>brings in an everlasting
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righteousness,</I> and in which <I>the righteousness of God is
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revealed</I>), and especially in the judgment of the great day, is what
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the heavens will declare; that is,
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1. It will be universally known, and proclaimed to all the world. <I>As
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the heavens declare the glory,</I> the wisdom and power, of God the
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Creator
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+19:1">Ps. xix. 1</A>),
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so they shall no less openly declare the glory, the justice and
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righteousness, of God the <I>Judge;</I> and so loudly do they proclaim
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both that <I>there is no speech nor language where their voice is not
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heard,</I> as it follows there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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2. It will be incontestably owned and proved; who can deny what the
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heavens declare? Even sinners' own consciences will subscribe to it,
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and hell as well as heaven will be forced to acknowledge the
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righteousness of God. The reason given is, <I>for God is Judge
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himself,</I> and therefore,
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(1.) He will be just; for it is impossible he should do any wrong to
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any of his creatures, he never did, nor ever will. When men are
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employed to judge for him they may do unjustly; but, when he is Judge
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himself, there can be no injustice done. <I>Is God unrighteous, who
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takes vengeance?</I> The apostle, for this reason, startles at the
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thought of it; <I>God forbid! for then how shall God judge the
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world?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+3:5,6">Rom. iii. 5, 6</A>.
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These decisions will be perfectly just, for against them there will lie
|
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no exception, and from them there will lie no appeal.
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(2.) He will be justified; <I>God is Judge,</I> and therefore he will
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not only execute justice, but he will oblige all to own it; for he
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<I>will be clear when he judges,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+51:4">Ps. li. 4</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps50_7"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_8"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_15"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Inefficacy of Legal Sacrifices.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will
|
|
testify against thee: I <I>am</I> God, <I>even</I> thy God.
|
|
8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt
|
|
offerings, <I>to have been</I> continually before me.
|
|
9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, <I>nor</I> he goats out
|
|
of thy folds.
|
|
10 For every beast of the forest <I>is</I> mine, <I>and</I> the cattle
|
|
upon a thousand hills.
|
|
11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts
|
|
of the field <I>are</I> mine.
|
|
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world <I>is</I>
|
|
mine, and the fulness thereof.
|
|
13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
|
|
14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most
|
|
High:
|
|
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee,
|
|
and thou shalt glorify me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
God is here dealing with those that placed all their religion in the
|
|
observances of the ceremonial law, and thought those sufficient.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. He lays down the original contract between him and Israel, in which
|
|
they had avouched him to be their God, and he them to be his people,
|
|
and so both parties were agreed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Hear, O my people! and I will speak.</I> Note, It is justly expected
|
|
that whatever others doe, when he speaks, his people should give ear;
|
|
who will, if they do not? And then we may comfortably expect that God
|
|
will speak to us when we are ready to hear what he says; even when he
|
|
testifies against us in the rebukes and threatenings of his word and
|
|
providences we must be forward to hear what he says, to hear even
|
|
<I>the rod and him that has appointed it.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He puts a slight upon the legal sacrifices,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:8-13"><I>v.</I> 8</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. This may be considered as looking back to the use of these under the
|
|
law. God had a controversy with the Jews; but what was the ground of
|
|
the controversy? Not their neglect of the ceremonial institutions; no,
|
|
they had not been wanting in the observance of them, their
|
|
burnt-offerings had been continually before God, they took a pride in
|
|
them, and hoped by their offerings to procure a dispensation for their
|
|
lusts, as the adulterous woman,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+7:14">Prov. vii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Their constant sacrifices, they thought, would both expiate and excuse
|
|
their neglect of the weightier matters of the law. Nay, if they had, in
|
|
some degree, neglected these institutions, yet that should not have
|
|
been the cause of God's quarrel with them, for it was but a small
|
|
offence in comparison with the immoralities of their conversation. They
|
|
thought God was mightily beholden to them for the many sacrifices they
|
|
had brought to his altar, and that they had made him very much their
|
|
debtor by them, as if he could not h have maintained his numerous
|
|
family of priests without their contributions; but God here shows them
|
|
the contrary,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That he did not need their sacrifices. What occasion had he for
|
|
their bullocks and goats who has the command of all <I>the beasts of
|
|
the forest,</I> and the <I>cattle upon a thousand hills</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
has an incontestable propriety in them and dominion over them, has them
|
|
all always under his eye and within his reach, and can make what use he
|
|
pleases of them; they all wait on him, and are all at his disposal?
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+104:27-29">Ps. civ. 27-29</A>.
|
|
|
|
Can we add any thing to his store whose all the wild fowl and wild
|
|
beasts are, the world itself and the fulness thereof?
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
God's infinite self-sufficiency proves our utter insufficiency to add
|
|
any thing to him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he could not be benefited by their sacrifices. Their
|
|
goodness, of this kind, could not possibly extend to him, nor, if they
|
|
were in this matter righteous, was he the better
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Will I eat the flesh of bulls?</I> It is as absurd to think that
|
|
their sacrifices could, of themselves, and by virtue of any innate
|
|
excellency in them, add any pleasure of praise to God, as it would be
|
|
to imagine that an infinite Spirit could be supported by meat and
|
|
drink, as our bodies are. It is said indeed of the demons whom the
|
|
Gentiles worshipped that they did <I>eat the fat of their sacrifices,
|
|
and drink the wine of their drink-offerings</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:38">Deut. xxxii. 38</A>):
|
|
|
|
they regaled themselves in the homage they robbed the true God of; but
|
|
will the great Jehovah be thus entertained? No; <I>to obey is better
|
|
than sacrifice,</I> and to love God and our neighbour <I>better than
|
|
all burnt-offerings,</I> so much better that God by his prophets often
|
|
told them that their sacrifices were not only not acceptable, but
|
|
abominable, to him, while they lived in sin; instead of pleasing him,
|
|
he looked upon them as a mockery, and therefore an affront and
|
|
provocation to him; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+15:8,Isa+1:11-23,66:3,Jer+6:20,Am+5:21">Prov. xv. 8;
|
|
Isa. i. 11, &c.; lxvi. 3; Jer. vi. 20; Amos v. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
They are therefore here warned not to rest in these performances; but
|
|
to conduct themselves, in all other instances, towards God as their
|
|
God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. This may be considered as looking forward to the abolishing of these
|
|
by the gospel of Christ. Thus Dr. Hammond understands it. When God
|
|
shall set up the kingdom of the Messiah he shall abolish the old way of
|
|
worship by sacrifice and offerings; he will no more have those to be
|
|
<I>continually before him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>);
|
|
|
|
he will no more require of his worshippers to bring him their bullocks
|
|
and their goats, to be burnt upon his altar,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
For indeed he never appointed this as that which he had any need of, or
|
|
took any pleasure in, for, besides that all we have is his already, he
|
|
has far more beasts in the forest and upon the mountains, which we know
|
|
nothing of nor have any property in, than we have in our folds; but he
|
|
instituted it to prefigure the great sacrifice which his own Son should
|
|
in the fulness of time offer upon the cross, to make atonement for sin,
|
|
and all the other spiritual sacrifices of acknowledgment with which
|
|
God, through Christ, will be well pleased.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He directs to the best sacrifices of prayer and praise as those
|
|
which, under the law, were preferred before all burn-offerings and
|
|
sacrifices, and on which then the greatest stress was laid, and which
|
|
now, under the gospel, come in the room of those carnal ordinances
|
|
which were imposed until the times of reformation. He shows us here
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>)
|
|
|
|
what is good, and what the Lord our God requires of us, and will
|
|
accept, when sacrifices are slighted and superseded.
|
|
|
|
1. We must make a penitent acknowledgment of our sins: <I>Offer to God
|
|
confession,</I> so some read it, and understand it of the confession of
|
|
sin, in order to our giving glory to God and taking shame to ourselves,
|
|
that we may never return to it. <I>A broken and contrite heart</I> is
|
|
the sacrifice which <I>God will not despise,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+51:17">Ps. li. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
If the sin was not abandoned the sin-offering was not accepted.
|
|
|
|
2. We must give God thanks for his mercies to us: <I>Offer to God
|
|
thanksgiving,</I> every day, often every day (<I>seven times a day will
|
|
I praise thee</I>), and upon special occasions; and <I>this shall
|
|
please the Lord,</I> if it come from a humble thankful heart, full of
|
|
love to him and joy in him, <I>better than an ox or bullock that has
|
|
horns and hoofs,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+69:30,31">Ps. lxix. 30, 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. We must make conscience of performing our covenants with him: <I>Pay
|
|
thy vows to the Most High,</I> forsake thy sins, and do thy duty
|
|
better, pursuant to the solemn promises thou has made him to that
|
|
purport. When we give God thanks for any mercy we have received we must
|
|
be sure to pay the vows we made to him when we were in the pursuit of
|
|
the mercy, else our thanksgivings will not be accepted. Dr. Hammond
|
|
applies this to the great gospel ordinance of the eucharist, in which
|
|
we are to give thanks to God for his great love in sending his Son to
|
|
save us, and to pay our vows of love and duty to him, and to give alms.
|
|
Instead of all the Old Testament types of a Christ to come, we have
|
|
that blessed memorial of a Christ already come.
|
|
|
|
4. In the day of distress we must address ourselves to God by faithful
|
|
and fervent prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Call upon me in the day of trouble,</I> and not upon any other god.
|
|
Our troubles, though we see them coming from God's hand, must drive us
|
|
to him, and not drive us from him. We must thus acknowledge him in all
|
|
our ways, depend upon his wisdom, power, and goodness, and refer
|
|
ourselves entirely to him, and so give him glory. This is a cheaper,
|
|
easier, readier way of seeking his favour than by a peace-offering, and
|
|
yet more acceptable.
|
|
|
|
5. When he, in answer to our prayers, delivers us, as he has promised
|
|
to do in such way and time as he shall think fit, we must glorify him,
|
|
not only by a grateful mention of his favour, but by living to his
|
|
praise. Thus must we keep up our communion with God, meeting him with
|
|
our prayers when he afflicts us and with our praises when he delivers
|
|
us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ps50_23"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Character of the Wicked.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to
|
|
declare my statutes, or <I>that</I> thou shouldest take my covenant in
|
|
thy mouth?
|
|
17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind
|
|
thee.
|
|
18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him,
|
|
and hast been partaker with adulterers.
|
|
19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth
|
|
deceit.
|
|
20 Thou sittest <I>and</I> speakest against thy brother; thou
|
|
slanderest thine own mother's son.
|
|
21 These <I>things</I> hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou
|
|
thoughtest that I was altogether <I>such an one</I> as thyself: <I>but</I>
|
|
I will reprove thee, and set <I>them</I> in order before thine eyes.
|
|
22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear <I>you</I> in
|
|
pieces, and <I>there be</I> none to deliver.
|
|
23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that
|
|
ordereth <I>his</I> conversation <I>aright</I> will I show the salvation of
|
|
God.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
God, by the psalmist, having instructed his people in the right way of
|
|
worshipping him and keeping up their communion with him, here directs
|
|
his speech to the wicked, to hypocrites, whether they were such as
|
|
professed the Jewish or the Christian religion: hypocrisy is wickedness
|
|
for which God will judge. Observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The charge drawn up against them.
|
|
|
|
1. They are charged with invading and usurping the honours and
|
|
privileges of religion
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>What has thou to do,</I> O wicked man! <I>to declare my
|
|
statutes?</I> This is a challenge to those that rare really profane,
|
|
but seemingly godly, to show what title they have to the cloak of
|
|
religion, and by what authority they wear it, when they use it only to
|
|
cover and conceal the abominable impieties of their hearts and lives.
|
|
Let them make out their claim to it if they can. Some think it points
|
|
prophetically at the scribes and Pharisees that were the teachers and
|
|
leaders of the Jewish church at the time when the kingdom of the
|
|
Messiah, and that evangelical way of worship spoken of in the
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:7-15">foregoing verses</A>,
|
|
|
|
were to be set up. They violently opposed that great revolution, and
|
|
used all the power and interest which they had by sitting in Moses's
|
|
seat to hinder it; but the account which our blessed Saviour gives of
|
|
them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:1-36">Matt. xxiii</A>.),
|
|
|
|
and St. Paul
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:21,22">Rom. ii. 21, 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
makes this expostulation here agree very well to them. They took on
|
|
them to declare God's statues, but they hated Christ's instruction; and
|
|
therefore what had they to do to expound the law, when they rejected
|
|
the gospel? But it is applicable to all those that are practicers of
|
|
iniquity, and yet professors of piety, especially if withal they be
|
|
preachers of it. Note, It is very absurd in itself, and a great
|
|
affront to the God of heaven, for those that are wicked and ungodly to
|
|
declare his statutes and to take his covenant in their mouths. It is
|
|
very possible, and too common, for those that declare God's statutes to
|
|
others to live in disobedience to them themselves, and for those that
|
|
take God's covenant in their mouths yet in their hearts to continue
|
|
their covenant with sin and death; but they are guilty of a usurpation,
|
|
they take to themselves an honour which they have no title to, and
|
|
there is a day coming when they will be thrust out as intruders.
|
|
<I>Friend, how camest thou in hither?</I>
|
|
|
|
2. They are charged with transgressing and violating the laws and
|
|
precepts of religion.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They are charged with a daring contempt of the word of God
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou hatest instruction.</I> They loved to give instruction, and to
|
|
tell others what they should do, for this fed their pride and made them
|
|
look great, and by this craft they got their living; but they hated to
|
|
receive instruction from God himself, for that would be a check upon
|
|
them and a mortification to them. "Thou hatest discipline, the reproofs
|
|
of the word and the rebukes of Providence." No wonder that those who
|
|
hate to be reformed hate the means of reformation. <I>Thou castest my
|
|
words behind thee.</I> They seemed to set God's words before them, when
|
|
they sat in Moses's seat, and undertook to teach others out of the law
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:19">Rom. ii. 19</A>);
|
|
|
|
but in their conversations they cast God's word behind them, and did
|
|
not care for seeing that rule which they were resolved not to be ruled
|
|
by. This is despising the commandment of the Lord.
|
|
|
|
(2.) A close confederacy with the worst of sinners
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>When thou sawest a thief,</I> instead of reproving him and
|
|
witnessing against him, as those should do that declare God's statutes,
|
|
<I>thou consentedst with him,</I> didst approve of his practices, and
|
|
desire to be a partner with him and to share in the profits of his
|
|
cursed trade; <I>and thou hast been partaker with adulterers,</I> hast
|
|
done as they did, and encouraged them to go on in their wicked courses,
|
|
hast done these things and hast <I>had pleasure in those that do
|
|
them,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:32">Rom. i. 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) A constant persisting in the worst of tongue-sins
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Thou givest thy mouth to evil,</I> not only allowest thyself in,
|
|
but addictest thyself wholly to, all manner of evil-speaking."
|
|
|
|
[1.] Lying: <I>Thy tongue frames deceit,</I> which denotes contrivance
|
|
and deliberation in lying. It <I>knits</I> or <I>links</I> deceit, so
|
|
some. One lie begets another, and one fraud requires another to cover
|
|
it.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Slandering
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Thou sittest, and speakest against thy brother,</I> dost basely
|
|
abuse and misrepresent him, magisterially judge and censure him, and
|
|
pass sentence upon him, as if you wert his master to whom he must stand
|
|
or fall, whereas he is thy brother, as good as thou art, and upon the
|
|
level with thee, for he is <I>thy own mother's son.</I> He is thy near
|
|
relation, whom thou oughtest to love, to vindicate, and stand up for,
|
|
if others abused him; yet thou dost thyself abuse him, whose faults
|
|
thou oughtest to cover and make the best of; if really he had done
|
|
amiss, yet thou dost most falsely and unjustly charge him with that
|
|
which he is innocent of; <I>thou sittest</I> and doest this, as a judge
|
|
upon the bench, with authority; thou sittest in the seat of the
|
|
scornful, to deride and backbite those whom thou oughtest to respect
|
|
and be kind to." Those that do ill themselves commonly delight in
|
|
speaking ill of others.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
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II. The proof of this charge
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
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"<I>These things thou hast done;</I> the fact is too plain to be
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denied, the fault too bad to be excused; these things God knows, and
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thy own heart knows, thou hast done." The sins of sinners will be
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|
proved upon them, beyond contradiction, in the judgment of the great
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|
day: "<I>I will reprove thee,</I> or convince thee, so that thou shalt
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have not one word to say for thyself." The day is coming when
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impenitent sinners will have their mouths for ever stopped and be
|
|
struck speechless. What confusion will they be filled with when God
|
|
shall set their sins in order before their eyes! They would not see
|
|
their sins to their humiliation, but cast them behind their backs,
|
|
covered them, and endeavoured to forget them, nor would they suffer
|
|
their own consciences to put them in mind of them; but the day is
|
|
coming when God will make them see their sins to their everlasting
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|
shame and terror; he will set them in order, original sin, actual sins,
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|
sins against the law, sins against the gospel, against the first table,
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|
against the second table, sins of childhood and youth, of riper age,
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|
and old age. He will set them in order, as the witnesses are set in
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|
order, and called in order, against the criminal, and asked what they
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have to say against him.</P>
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<P>
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III. The Judge's patience, and the sinner's abuse of that patience:
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"<I>I kept silence,</I> did not give thee any disturbance in thy sinful
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|
way, but let thee alone to take thy course; sentence against thy evil
|
|
works was respited, and not executed speedily." Note, The patience of
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God is very great towards provoking sinners. He sees their sins and
|
|
hates them; it would be neither difficulty nor damage to him to punish
|
|
them, and yet he waits to be gracious and gives them space to repent,
|
|
that he may render them inexcusable if they repent not. His patience is
|
|
the more wonderful because the sinner makes such an ill use of it:
|
|
"<I>Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself,</I> as
|
|
weak and forgetful as thyself, as false to my word as thyself, nay, as
|
|
much a friend to sin as thyself." Sinners take God's silence for
|
|
consent and his patience for connivance; and therefore the longer they
|
|
are reprieved the more are their hearts hardened; but, if they turn
|
|
not, they shall be made to see their error when it is too late, and
|
|
that the God they provoke is just, and holy, and terrible, and not such
|
|
a one as themselves.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
|
|
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|
IV. The fair warning given of the dreadful doom of hypocrites
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Now consider this, you that forget God,</I> consider that God knows
|
|
and keeps account of all your sins, that he will call you to an account
|
|
for them, that patience abused will turn into the greater wrath, that
|
|
though you forget God and your duty to him he will not forget you and
|
|
your rebellions against him: consider this in time, before it be too
|
|
late; for if these things be not considered, and the consideration of
|
|
them improved, he will <I>tear you in pieces, and there will be none to
|
|
deliver.</I>" It is the doom of hypocrites to be <I>cut asunder,</I>
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+24:51">Matt. xxiv. 51</A>.
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|
Note,
|
|
|
|
1. Forgetfulness of God is at the bottom of all the wickedness of the
|
|
wicked. Those that know God, and yet do not obey him, do certainly
|
|
forget him.
|
|
|
|
2. Those that forget God forget themselves; and it will never be right
|
|
with them till they consider, and so recover themselves. Consideration
|
|
is the first step towards conversion.
|
|
|
|
3. Those that will not consider the warnings of God's word will
|
|
certainly be torn in pieces by the executions of his wrath.
|
|
|
|
4. When God comes to tear sinners in pieces, there is no delivering
|
|
them out of his hand. They cannot deliver themselves, nor can any
|
|
friend they have in the world deliver them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Full instructions given to us all how to prevent this fearful doom.
|
|
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; we have it,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>,
|
|
|
|
which directs us what to do that we may attain our chief end.
|
|
|
|
1. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and we are here told that
|
|
<I>whoso offers praise glorifies him;</I> whether he be Jew or Gentile,
|
|
those spiritual sacrifices shall be accepted from him. We must praise
|
|
God, and we must sacrifice praise, direct it to God, as every sacrifice
|
|
was directed; put it into the hands of the priest, our Lord Jesus, who
|
|
is also the altar; see that it be made by fire, sacred fire, that it be
|
|
kindled with the flame of holy and devout affection; we must be fervent
|
|
in spirit, praising the Lord. This he is pleased, in infinite
|
|
condescension, to interpret as glorifying him. Hereby we give him the
|
|
glory due to his name and do what we can to advance the interests of
|
|
his kingdom among men.
|
|
|
|
2. Man's chief end, in conjunction with this, is to enjoy God; and we
|
|
are here told that those who <I>order their conversation aright shall
|
|
see his salvation.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is not enough for us to offer praise, but we must withal order
|
|
our conversation aright. Thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is
|
|
better.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Those that would have their conversation right must take care and
|
|
pains to order it, to dispose it according to rule, to understand their
|
|
way and to direct it.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Those that take care of their conversation make sure their
|
|
salvation; them God will make to see his salvation, for it is a
|
|
salvation ready to be revealed; he will make them to see it and enjoy
|
|
it, to see it, and to see themselves happy for ever in it. Note, The
|
|
right ordering of the conversation is the only way, and it is a sure
|
|
way, to obtain the great salvation.</P>
|
|
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|
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