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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Psalms CXLV].</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 CXLV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The five foregoing psalms were all of a piece, all full of prayers;
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this, and the five that follow it to the end of the book, are all of a
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piece too, all full of praises; and though only this is entitled
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David's psalm yet we have no reason to think but that they were all his
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as well as all the foregoing prayers. And it is observable,
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1. That after five psalms of prayer follow six psalms of praise; for
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those that are much in prayer shall not want matter for praise, and
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those that have sped in prayer must abound in praise. Our thanksgivings
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for mercy, when we have received it, should even exceed our
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supplications for it when we were in pursuit of it. David, in the last
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of his begging psalms, had promised to praise God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:9">Ps. cxlv. 9</A>),
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and here he performs his promise.
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2. That the book of Psalms concludes with psalms of praise, all praise,
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for praise, is the conclusion of the whole matter; it is that in which
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all the psalms centre. And it intimates that God's people, towards the
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end of their life, should abound much in praise, and the rather
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because, at the end of their life, they hope to remove to the world of
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everlasting praise, and the nearer they come to heaven the more they
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should accustom themselves to the work of heaven. This is one of those
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psalms which are composed alphabetically (as Ps. 25 and 34,
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&c.), that it might be the more easily committed to memory, and kept in
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mind. The Jewish writers justly extol this psalm as a star of the first
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magnitude in this bright constellation; and some of them have an
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extravagant saying concerning it, not much unlike some of the popish
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superstitions, That whosoever will sing this psalm constantly three
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times a day shall certainly be happy in the world to come. In this
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psalm,
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I. David engages himself and others to praise God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:1,2,4-7,10-12">ver. 1, 2, 4-7, 10-12</A>.
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II. He fastens upon those things that are proper matter for praise,
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God's greatness
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:3">ver . 3</A>),
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his goodness
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:8,9">ver. 8, 9</A>),
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the proofs of both in the administration of his kingdom
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:13">ver. 13</A>),
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the kingdom of providence
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:14-16">ver. 14-16</A>),
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the kingdom of grace
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:17-20">ver. 17-20</A>),
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and then he concludes with a resolution to continue praising God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:21">ver. 21</A>)
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with which resolution our hearts must be filled, and in which they must
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be fixed, in singing this psalm.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps145_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_9"> </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>Grateful Acknowledgments.</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>David's <I>psalm</I> of praise.</P>
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 I will extol thee, my God, O
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king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
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2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for
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ever and ever.
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3 Great <I>is</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and greatly to be praised; and his
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greatness <I>is</I> unsearchable.
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4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall
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declare thy mighty acts.
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5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of
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thy wondrous works.
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6 And <I>men</I> shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and
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I will declare thy greatness.
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7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness,
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and shall sing of thy righteousness.
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8 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> gracious, and full of compassion; slow to
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anger, and of great mercy.
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9 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> good to all: and his tender mercies <I>are</I> over
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all his works.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The entitling of this <I>David's psalm of praise</I> may intimate not
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only that he was the penman of it, but that he took a particular
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pleasure in it and sung it often; it was his companion wherever he
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went. In this former part of the psalm God's glorious attributes are
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praised, as, in the latter part of the psalm, his kingdom and the
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administration of it. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. Who shall be employed in giving glory to God.</P>
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<P>
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1. Whatever others do, the psalmist will himself be much in praising
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God. To this good work he here excites himself, engages himself, and
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has his heart much enlarged in it. What he does, that he will do,
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having more and more satisfaction in it. It was his duty; it was his
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delight. Observe,
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(1.) How he expresses the work itself: "<I>I will extol thee, and bless
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thy name</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>);
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I will speak well of thee, as thou hast made thyself known, and will
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therein express my own high thoughts of thee and endeavour to raise the
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like in others." When we speak honourably of God, this is graciously
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interpreted and accepted as an extolling of him. Again
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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<I>I will bless thee, I will praise thy name;</I> the repetition
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intimates the fervency of his affection to this work, the fixedness of
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his purpose to abound in it, and the frequency of his performances
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therein. Again
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>I will speak of thy honour,</I> and
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
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<I>I will declare thy greatness.</I> He would give glory to God, not
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only in his solemn devotions, but in his common conversation. If the
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heart be full of God, out of the abundance of that the mouth will speak
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with reverence, to his praise, upon all occasions. What subject of
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discourse can we find more noble, more copious, more pleasant, useful,
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and unexceptionable, than the glory of God?
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(2.) How he expresses his resolution to persevere in it.
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[1.] He will be constant to this work: <I>Every day will I bless
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thee.</I> Praising God must be our daily work. No day must pass, though
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ever so busy a day, though ever so sorrowful a day, without praising
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God. We ought to reckon it the most needful of our daily employments,
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and the most delightful of our daily comforts. God is every day
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blessing us, doing well for us; there is therefore reason that we
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should be every day blessing him, speaking well of him.
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[2.] He will continue in it: <I>I will bless</I> thee <I>for ever and
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ever,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1 and again <I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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This intimates, <I>First,</I> That he resolved to continue in this work
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to the end of his life, throughout <I>his ever</I> in this world.
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<I>Secondly,</I> That the psalms he penned should be made use of in
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praising God by the church to the end of time,
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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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<I>Thirdly,</I> That he hoped to be praising God to all eternity in the
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other world. Those that make praise their constant work on earth shall
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have it their everlasting bliss in heaven.</P>
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<P>
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2. He doubts not but others also would be forward to this work.
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(1.) "They shall concur in it now; they shall join with me in it: When
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<I>I declare thy greatness men shall speak of</I> it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>);
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<I>they shall abundantly utter it</I>"
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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or <I>pour it out</I> (as the word is); they shall praise God with a
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gracious fluency, better than the most curious oratory. David's zeal
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would provoke many, and it has done so.
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(2.) "They shall keep it up when I am gone, in an uninterrupted
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succession
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>One generation shall praise thy works to another.</I>" The
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generation that is going off shall tell them to that which is rising
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up, shall tell what they have seen in their days and what they have
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heard from their fathers; they <I>shall</I> fully and particularly
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<I>declare thy mighty acts</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+78:3">Ps. lxxviii. 3</A>);
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and the generation that is rising up shall follow the example of that
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which is going off: so that the death of God's worshippers shall be no
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diminution of his worship, for a new generation shall rise up in their
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room to carry on that good work, more or less, to the end of time, when
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it shall be left to that world to do it in which there is no succession
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of generations.</P>
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<P>
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II. What we must give to God the glory of.</P>
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<P>
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1. Of his greatness and his great works. We must declare, <I>Great is
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the Lord,</I> his presence infinite, his power irresistible, his
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brightness insupportable, his majesty awful, his dominion boundless,
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and his sovereignty incontestable; and therefore there is no dispute,
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but <I>great is the Lord, and,</I> if great, then <I>greatly to be
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praised,</I> with all that is within us, to the utmost of our power,
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and with all the circumstances of solemnity imaginable. His greatness
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indeed cannot be comprehended, for it is unsearchable; who can conceive
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or express how great God is? But then it is so much the more to be
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praised. When we cannot, by searching, find the bottom, we must sit
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down at the brink, and adore the depth,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:33">Rom. xi. 33</A>.
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God is great, for,
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(1.) His majesty is glorious in the upper world, above the heavens,
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where he has set his glory; and when we are declaring his greatness we
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must not fail to <I>speak of the glorious honour of his majesty,</I>
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the splendour of the glory of his majesty
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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how brightly he shines in the upper world, so as to dazzle the eyes of
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the angels themselves, and oblige them to cover their faces, as unable
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to bear the lustre of it.
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(2.) His works are wondrous in this lower world. The preservation,
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maintenance, and government of all the creatures, proclaim the Creator
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very great. When therefore we declare his greatness we must observe the
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unquestionable proofs of it, and must <I>declare his mighty acts</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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<I>speak of his wondrous works</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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<I>the might of his terrible acts,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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We must see God acting and working in all the affairs of this lower
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world. Various instruments are used, but in all events God is the
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supreme director; it is he that performs all things. Much of his power
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is seen in the operations of his providence (they are <I>mighty
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acts,</I> such as cannot be paralleled by the strength of any
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creature), and much of his justice--they are <I>terrible acts,</I>
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awful to saints, dreadful to sinners. These we should take all
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occasions to speak of, observing the finger of God, his hand, his arm,
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in all, that we may marvel.</P>
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<P>
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2. Of his goodness; this is his glory,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+33:19">Exod. xxxiii. 19</A>.
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It is what he glories in
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+34:6,7">Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7</A>),
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and it is what we must give him the glory of: <I>They shall abundantly
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utter the memory of thy great goodness,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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God's goodness is great goodness, the treasures of it can never be
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exhausted, nay, they can never be lessened, for he ever will be as rich
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in mercy as he ever was. It is memorable goodness; it is what we ought
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always to lay before us, always to have in mind and preserve the
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memorials of, for it is <I>worthy to be had in everlasting
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remembrance;</I> and the remembrance we retain of God's goodness we
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should utter, we should <I>abundantly utter,</I> as those who are full
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of it, very full of it, and desire that others may be acquainted and
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affected with it. But, whenever we utter God's great goodness, we must
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not forget, at the same time, to <I>sing of his righteousness;</I> for,
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as he is gracious in rewarding those that serve him faithfully, so he
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is righteous in punishing those that rebel against him. Impartial and
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inflexible justice is as surely in God as inexhaustible goodness; and
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we must sing of both together,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:22">Rom. xi. 22</A>.
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(1.) There is a fountain of goodness in God's nature
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
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<I>The Lord is gracious</I> to those that serve him; he is <I>full of
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compassion</I> to those that need him, <I>slow to anger</I> to those
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that have offended him, <I>and of great mercy</I> to all that seek him
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and sue to him. He is ready to give, and ready to forgive, more ready
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than we are to ask, than we are to repent.
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(2.) There are streams of goodness in all the dispensations of his
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providence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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As he is good, so he does good; he <I>is good to all,</I> to all his
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creatures, from the highest angel to the meanest worm, to all but
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devils and damned sinners, that have shut themselves out from his
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goodness. <I>His tender mercies are over all his works.</I>
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[1.] All his works, all his creatures, receive the fruits of his
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merciful care and bounty. It is extended to them all; he hates nothing
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that he has made.
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[2.] The works of his mercy out-shine all his other works, and declare
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him more than any of them. In nothing will the glory of God be for ever
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so illustrious as in the vessels of mercy ordained to glory. To the
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divine goodness will the everlasting hallelujahs of all the saints be
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sung.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps145_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps145_21"> </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>Grateful Acknowledgments.</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>10 All thy works shall praise thee, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; and thy saints
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shall bless thee.
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11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of
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|
thy power;
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|
12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the
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|
glorious majesty of his kingdom.
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13 Thy kingdom <I>is</I> an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion
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|
<I>endureth</I> throughout all generations.
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14 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all <I>those
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|
that be</I> bowed down.
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15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their
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|
meat in due season.
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16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every
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living thing.
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17 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his
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works.
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18 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all
|
|
that call upon him in truth.
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19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also
|
|
will hear their cry, and will save them.
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|
20 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> preserveth all them that love him: but all the
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|
wicked will he destroy.
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21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and let all
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flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The greatness and goodness of him who is <I>optimus et
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|
maximus</I>--<I>the best and greatest</I> of beings, were celebrated in
|
|
the former part of the psalm; here, in these verses, we are taught to
|
|
give him <I>the glory of his kingdom,</I> in the administration of
|
|
which his greatness and goodness shine so clearly, so very brightly.
|
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Observe, as before,</P>
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|
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<P>
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I. From whom the tribute of praise is expected
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
|
|
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|
<I>All</I> God's <I>works shall praise</I> him. They all minister to us
|
|
matter for praise, and so praise him according to their capacity; even
|
|
those that refuse to give him honour he will get himself honour upon.
|
|
But his <I>saints</I> do <I>bless</I> him, not only as they have
|
|
peculiar blessings from him, which other creatures have not, but as
|
|
they praise him actively, while his other works praise him only
|
|
objectively. They bless him, for they collect the rent or tribute of
|
|
praise from the inferior creatures, and pay it into the treasury above.
|
|
All God's works do praise him, as the beautiful building praises the
|
|
builder or the well-drawn picture praises the painter; but the saints
|
|
bless him as the children of prudent tender parents rise up and call
|
|
them blessed. Of all God's works, his saints, the workmanship of his
|
|
grace, the first-fruits of his creatures, have most reason to bless
|
|
him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. For what this praise is to be given: <I>They shall speak of thy
|
|
kingdom.</I> The kingdom of God among men is a thing to be often
|
|
thought of and often spoken of. As, before, he had magnified God's
|
|
greatness and goodness in general, so here he magnifies them with
|
|
application to his kingdom. Consider then,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The greatness of his kingdom. It is great indeed, for all the kings
|
|
and kingdoms of the earth are under his control. To show the greatness
|
|
of God's kingdom, he observes,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The pomp of it. Would we by faith look within the veil, we should
|
|
see, and, believing, we should <I>speak of the glory of his kingdom</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>the glorious majesty of</I> it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
for he has prepared his throne in the heavens, and it is high and
|
|
lifted up, and surrounded with an innumerable company of angels. The
|
|
courts of Solomon and Ahasuerus were magnificent; but, compared with
|
|
the glorious majesty of God's kingdom, they were but as glow-worms to
|
|
the sun. The consideration of this should strike an awe upon us in all
|
|
our approaches to God.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The power of it: When <I>they speak of the glory of</I> God's
|
|
<I>kingdom</I> they must <I>talk of</I> his <I>power,</I> the extent of
|
|
it, the efficacy of it--his power, by which he can do any thing and
|
|
does every thing he pleases
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>);
|
|
|
|
and, as a proof of it, let them <I>make known his mighty acts</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
that <I>the sons of men</I> may be invited to yield themselves his
|
|
willing subjects and so put themselves under the protection of such a
|
|
mighty potentate.
|
|
|
|
(3.) The perpetuity of it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
The thrones of earthly princes totter, and the flowers of their crowns
|
|
wither, monarchies come to an end; but, Lord, <I>thy kingdom is an
|
|
everlasting kingdom.</I> God will govern the world to the end of time,
|
|
when the Mediator, who is now entrusted with the administration of his
|
|
kingdom, shall deliver it up to God, even the Father, that he may be
|
|
all in all to eternity. His <I>dominion endures throughout all
|
|
generations,</I> for he himself is eternal, and his counsels are
|
|
unchangeable and uniform; and Satan, who has set up a kingdom in
|
|
opposition to him, is conquered and in a chain.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The goodness of his kingdom. His royal style and title are, <I>The
|
|
Lord God, gracious and merciful;</I> and his government answers to his
|
|
title. The goodness of God appears in what he does,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) For all the creatures in general
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
He <I>provides food for all flesh,</I> and therein appears his
|
|
everlasting mercy,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+136:25">Ps. cxxxvi. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
All the creatures live upon God, and, as they had their being from him
|
|
at first, so from him they have all the supports of their being and on
|
|
him they depend for the continuance of it.
|
|
|
|
[1.] The eye of their expectation attends upon him: <I>The eyes of all
|
|
wait on thee.</I> The inferior creatures indeed have not the knowledge
|
|
of God, nor are capable of it, and yet they are said to <I>wait upon
|
|
God,</I> because they seek their food according to the instinct which
|
|
the God of nature has put into them (and <I>they sow not, neither do
|
|
they reap,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:26">Matt. vi. 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
and because they take what the God of nature has provided for them, in
|
|
the time and way that he has appointed, and are content with it.
|
|
|
|
[2.] The hand of his bounty is stretched out to them: <I>Thou givest
|
|
them their meat in due season,</I> the meat proper for them, and in the
|
|
proper time, when they need it; so that none of the creatures
|
|
ordinarily perish for want of food, no, not in the winter. <I>Thou
|
|
openest thy hand</I> freely and liberally, <I>and satisfiest the desire
|
|
of every living thing,</I> except some of the unreasonable children of
|
|
men, that will be satisfied with nothing, but are still complaining,
|
|
still crying, <I>Give, give.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) For the children of men in particular, whom he governs as
|
|
reasonable creatures.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] He does none of them any wrong, for
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>the Lord is righteous in all his ways,</I> and not unrighteous in
|
|
any of them; he is <I>holy,</I> and acts like himself, with a perfect
|
|
rectitude <I>in all his works.</I> In all the acts of government he is
|
|
just, injurious to none, but administering justice to all. <I>The ways
|
|
of the lord are equal,</I> though ours are unequal. In giving laws, in
|
|
deciding controversies, in recompensing services, and punishing
|
|
offences, he is incontestably just, and we are bound to own that he is
|
|
so.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] He does all of them good, his own people in a special manner.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> He supports those that are sinking, and it is his honour
|
|
to help the weak,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
He <I>upholds all that fall,</I> in that, though they fall, they are
|
|
not utterly cast down. Many of the children of men are brought very low
|
|
by sickness and other distresses, and seem ready to drop into the
|
|
grave, and yet Providence wonderfully upholds them, raises them up, and
|
|
says, <I>Return,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:3">Ps. cx. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
If all had died who once seemed dying, the world would have been very
|
|
thin. Many of the children of God, who have been ready to fall into
|
|
sin, to fall into despair, have experienced his goodness in preventing
|
|
their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces and comforts, so
|
|
that, though they fell, they were <I>not utterly cast down,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:24">Ps. xxxvii. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
If those who were <I>bowed down</I> by oppression and affliction are
|
|
<I>raised up,</I> it was God that raised them. And, with respect to all
|
|
those <I>that are heavy-laden</I> under the burden of sin, if they come
|
|
to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his
|
|
people,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
In this appears the grace of his kingdom, that his subjects have not
|
|
only liberty of petitioning, but all the encouragement that can be to
|
|
petition.
|
|
|
|
1. The grant is very rich, that God will be <I>nigh to all that call
|
|
upon him;</I> he will be always within call of their prayers, and they
|
|
shall always find themselves within reach of his help. If <I>a
|
|
neighbour that is near is better than a brother afar off</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+27:10">Prov. xxvii. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
much more a God that is near. Nay, he will not only be <I>nigh to
|
|
them,</I> that they may have the satisfaction of being heard, but <I>he
|
|
will fulfil</I> their <I>desires;</I> they shall have what they ask and
|
|
find that they seek. It was said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>)
|
|
|
|
that he <I>satisfies the desire of every living thing,</I> much more
|
|
<I>will he fulfil the desire of those that fear him;</I> for he that
|
|
feeds his birds will not starve his babes. <I>He will hear their call
|
|
and will save them;</I> that is hearing them to purpose, as he heard
|
|
David (that is, saved him) <I>from the horn of the unicorn,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+22:21">Ps. xxii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. The proviso is very reasonable. He will hear and help us,
|
|
|
|
(1.) If we <I>fear him,</I> if we worship and serve him with a holy awe
|
|
of him; for otherwise how can we expect that he should accept us?
|
|
|
|
(2.) If we <I>call upon him in truth;</I> for he desires truth in the
|
|
inward part. We must be faithful to God, and sincere in our
|
|
professions of dependence on him, and devotedness to him. In all
|
|
devotions inward impressions must be answerable to the outward
|
|
expressions, else they are not performed in truth.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> He takes those under his special protection who have a
|
|
confidence and complacency in him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord preserves all those that love him;</I> they lie exposed in
|
|
this world, but he, by preserving them in their integrity, will
|
|
effectually secure them, that no real evil shall befal them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[3.] If any are destroyed they may thank themselves: <I>All the wicked
|
|
he will destroy,</I> but they have by their wickedness fitted
|
|
themselves for destruction. This magnifies his goodness in the
|
|
protection of the righteous, that <I>with their eyes they shall see the
|
|
reward of the wicked</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:8">Ps. xci. 8</A>);
|
|
|
|
and God will by this means preserve his people, even by destroying the
|
|
wicked that would do them a mischief.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> The psalmist concludes,
|
|
|
|
1. With a resolution to give glory to God himself
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord.</I> When we have said
|
|
what we can, in praising God, still there is more to be said, and
|
|
therefore we must not only begin our thanksgivings with this purpose,
|
|
as he did
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+145:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
but conclude them with it, as he does here, because we shall presently
|
|
have occasion to begin again. As the end of one mercy is the beginning
|
|
of another, so should the end of one thanksgiving be. While I have
|
|
breath to draw, my mouth shall still speak God's praises.
|
|
|
|
2. With a call to others to do so too: <I>Let all flesh,</I> all
|
|
mankind, <I>bless his holy name for ever and ever.</I> Some of mankind
|
|
shall be blessing God for ever; it is a pity but that they should be
|
|
all so engaged.</P>
|
|
|
|
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