mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 45.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xlvi" n="xlvi" next="Ps.xlvii" prev="Ps.xlv" progress="36.99%" title="Chapter XLV">
<h2 id="Ps.xlvi-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xlvi-p0.2">PSALM XLV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xlvi-p1">This psalm is an illustrious prophecy of Messiah
the Prince: it is all over gospel, and points at him only, as a
bridegroom espousing the church to himself and as a king ruling in
it and ruling for it. It is probable that our Saviour has reference
to this psalm when he compares the kingdom of heaven, more than
once, to a nuptial solemnity, the solemnity of a royal nuptial,
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.22.2 Bible:Matt.25.1" parsed="|Matt|22|2|0|0;|Matt|25|1|0|0" passage="Mt 22:2,25:1">Matt. xxii. 2; xxv. 1</scripRef>.
We have no reason to think it has any reference to Solomon's
marriage with Pharaoh's daughter; if I thought that it had
reference to any other than the mystical marriage between Christ
and his church, I would rather apply it to some of David's
marriages, because he was a man of war, such a one as the
bridegroom here is described to be, which Solomon was not. But I
take it to be purely and only meant of Jesus Christ; of him speaks
the prophet this, of him and of no other man; and to him (
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.6-Ps.45.7" parsed="|Ps|45|6|45|7" passage="Ps 45:6,7">ver. 6, 7</scripRef>) it is applied
in the New Testament (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.1.8" parsed="|Heb|1|8|0|0" passage="Heb 1:8">Heb. i.
8</scripRef>), nor can it be understood of any other. The preface
speaks the excellency of the song, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.1" parsed="|Ps|45|1|0|0" passage="Ps 45:1">ver.
1</scripRef>. The psalm speaks, I. Of the royal bridegroom, who is
Christ. 1. The transcendent excellency of his person, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.2" parsed="|Ps|45|2|0|0" passage="Ps 45:2">ver. 2</scripRef>. 2. The glory of his victories,
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.3-Ps.45.5" parsed="|Ps|45|3|45|5" passage="Ps 45:3-5">ver. 3-5</scripRef>. 3. The
righteousness of his government, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.6-Ps.45.7" parsed="|Ps|45|6|45|7" passage="Ps 45:6,7">ver.
6, 7</scripRef>. 4. The splendour of his court, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.8-Ps.45.9" parsed="|Ps|45|8|45|9" passage="Ps 45:8,9">ver. 8, 9</scripRef>. II. Of the royal bride, which is
the church. 1. Her consent gained, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.10-Ps.45.11" parsed="|Ps|45|10|45|11" passage="Ps 45:10,11">ver. 10, 11</scripRef>. 2. The nuptials solemnized,
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.12-Ps.45.15" parsed="|Ps|45|12|45|15" passage="Ps 45:12-15">ver. 12-15</scripRef>. 3. The issue
of this marriage, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.16-Ps.45.17" parsed="|Ps|45|16|45|17" passage="Ps 45:16,17">ver. 16,
17</scripRef>. In singing this psalm our hearts must be filled with
high thoughts of Christ, with an entire submission to and
satisfaction in his government, and with an earnest desire of the
enlarging and perpetuating of his church in the world.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xlvi-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45" parsed="|Ps|45|0|0|0" passage="Ps 45" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xlvi-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.1-Ps.45.5" parsed="|Ps|45|1|45|5" passage="Ps 45:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.45.1-Ps.45.5">
<h4 id="Ps.xlvi-p1.14">Nuptial Song; Glories of the
Messiah.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xlvi-p1.15">
<p id="Ps.xlvi-p2">To the chief musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah,
Maschil. A song of loves.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlvi-p3">1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of
the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue <i>is</i>
the pen of a ready writer.   2 Thou art fairer than the
children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever.   3 Gird thy sword upon <i>thy</i>
thigh, O <i>most</i> mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.  
4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and
meekness <i>and</i> righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach
thee terrible things.   5 Thine arrows <i>are</i> sharp in the
heart of the king's enemies; <i>whereby</i> the people fall under
thee.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p4">Some make <i>Shoshannim,</i> in the title,
to signify an instrument of six strings; others take it in its
primitive signification for lilies or roses, which probably were
strewed, with other flowers, at nuptial solemnities; and then it is
easily applicable to Christ who calls himself the <i>rose of Sharon
and the lily of the valleys,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Song.2.1" parsed="|Song|2|1|0|0" passage="So 2:1">Cant.
ii. 1</scripRef>. It is <i>a song of loves,</i> concerning the holy
love that is between Christ and his church. It is a <i>song of the
well-beloved,</i> the virgins, the companions of the bride
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.14" parsed="|Ps|45|14|0|0" passage="Ps 45:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), prepared to
be sung by them. The virgin-company that attend the Lamb on Mount
Zion are said to <i>sing a new song,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.3-Rev.14.4" parsed="|Rev|14|3|14|4" passage="Re 14:3,4">Rev. xiv. 3, 4</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p5">I. The preface (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.1" parsed="|Ps|45|1|0|0" passage="Ps 45:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>) speaks, 1. The dignity of the
subject. It is <i>a good matter,</i> and it is a pity that such a
moving art as poetry should every be employed about a bad matter.
It is <i>touching the King,</i> King Jesus, and his kingdom and
government. Note, Those that speak of Christ speak of a good
matter, no subject so noble, so copious, so fruitful, so
profitable, and so well-becoming us; it is a shame that this good
matter is not more the matter of our discourse. 2. The excellency
of the management. This song was a confession with the mouth of
faith in the heart concerning Christ and his church. (1.) The
matter was well digested, as it well deserved: <i>My heart is
inditing it,</i> which perhaps is meant of that Spirit of prophecy
that dictated the psalm to David, that Spirit of Christ which was
in the prophets, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.11" parsed="|1Pet|1|11|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:11">1 Pet. i.
11</scripRef>. But it is applicable to his devout meditations and
affections in his heart, out of the abundance of which his mouth
spoke. Things concerning Christ ought to be thought of by us with
all possible seriousness, with fixedness of thought and a fire of
holy love, especially when we are to speak of those things. We then
speak best of Christ and divine things when we speak from the heart
that which has warmed and affected us; and we should never be rash
in speaking of the things of Christ, but weigh well beforehand what
we have to say, lest we speak amiss. See <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.5.2" parsed="|Eccl|5|2|0|0" passage="Ec 5:2">Eccl. v. 2</scripRef>. (2.) It was well expressed: <i>I
will speak of the things which I have made.</i> He would express
himself, [1.] With all possible clearness, as one that did himself
understand and was affected with the things he spoke of. Not, "I
will speak the things I have heard from others," that is speaking
by rote; but, "the things which I have myself studied." Note, What
God has wrought in our souls, as well as what he has wrought for
them, we must declare to others, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.66.16" parsed="|Ps|66|16|0|0" passage="Ps 66:16">Ps.
lxvi. 16</scripRef>. [2.] With all possible cheerfulness, freedom,
and fluency: "<i>My tongue is</i> as <i>the pen of a ready
writer,</i> guided by my heart in every word as the pen is by the
hand." We call the prophets the <i>penmen</i> of scripture, whereas
really they were but the pen. The tongue of the most subtle
disputant, and the most eloquent orator, is but the pen with which
God writes what he pleases. Why should we quarrel with the pen if
bitter things be written against us, or idolize the pen if it write
in our favour? David not only spoke what he thought of Christ, but
wrote it, that it might spread the further and last the longer. His
tongue was as the pen of a ready writer, that lets nothing slip.
When the heart is inditing a good matter it is a pity but the
tongue should be as <i>the pen of a ready writer,</i> to leave it
upon record.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p6">II. In these verses the Lord Jesus is
represented,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p7">1. As most beautiful and amiable in
himself. It is a marriage-song; and therefore the transcendent
excellencies of Christ are represented by the beauty of the royal
bridegroom (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.2" parsed="|Ps|45|2|0|0" passage="Ps 45:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>):
<i>Thou art fairer than the children of men,</i> than any of them.
He proposed (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.1" parsed="|Ps|45|1|0|0" passage="Ps 45:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>) to
speak of the King, but immediately directs his speech to him. Those
that have an admiration and affection for Christ love to go to him
and tell him so. Thus we must profess our faith, that we see his
beauty, and our love, that we are pleased with it: <i>Thou are
fair,</i> thou art <i>fairer than the children of men.</i> Note,
Jesus Christ is in himself, and in the eyes of all believers, more
amiable and lovely than the children of men. The beauties of the
Lord Jesus, as God, as Mediator, far surpass those of human nature
in general and those which the most amiable and excellent of the
children of men are endowed with; there is more in Christ to engage
our love than there is or can be in any creature. Our beloved is
more than another beloved. The beauties of this lower world, and
its charms, are in danger of drawing away our hearts from Christ,
and therefore we are concerned to understand how much he excels
them all, and how much more worthy he is of our love.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p8">2. As the great favourite of heaven. He is
<i>fairer than the children of men,</i> for God has done more for
him than for any of the children of men, and all his kindness to
the children of men is for his sake, and passes through his hands,
through his mouth. (1.) He has grace, and he has it for us;
<i>Grace is poured into thy lips.</i> By his word, his promise, his
gospel, the good-will of God is made known to us and the good work
of God is begun and carried on in us. He received all grace from
God, all the endowments that were requisite to qualify him for his
work and office as Mediator, that from his fulness we might
receive, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:John.1.16" parsed="|John|1|16|0|0" passage="Joh 1:16">John i. 16</scripRef>. It was
not only poured into his heart, for his own strength and
encouragement, but poured into his lips, that by the words of his
mouth in general, and the kisses of his mouth to particular
believers, he might communicate both holiness and comfort. From
this grace poured into his lips proceeded those gracious words
which all admired, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.4.22" parsed="|Luke|4|22|0|0" passage="Lu 4:22">Luke iv.
22</scripRef>. The gospel of grace is poured into his lips; for it
<i>began to be spoken by the Lord,</i> and from him we receive it.
He has the words of eternal life. <i>The spirit of prophecy is put
into thy lips;</i> so the Chaldee. (2.) He has the blessing, and he
has it for us. "Therefore, because thou art the great trustee of
divine grace for the use and benefit of the children of men,
<i>therefore God has blessed thee for ever,</i> has made thee an
everlasting blessing, so as that in thee all the nations of the
earth shall be blessed." Where God gives his grace he will give his
blessing. We are blessed with spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus,
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Eph.1.3" parsed="|Eph|1|3|0|0" passage="Eph 1:3">Eph. i. 3</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p9">3. As victorious over all his enemies. The
royal bridegroom is a man of war, and his nuptials do not excuse
him from the field of battle (as was allowed by the law, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.24.5" parsed="|Deut|24|5|0|0" passage="De 24:5">Deut. xxiv. 5</scripRef>); nay, they bring him to
the field of battle, for he is to rescue his spouse by dint of
sword out of her captivity, to conquer her, and to conquer for her,
and then to marry her. Now we have here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p10">(1.) His preparations for war (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.3" parsed="|Ps|45|3|0|0" passage="Ps 45:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>): <i>Gird thy sword upon
thy thigh, O Most Mighty!</i> The word of God is the sword of the
Spirit. By the promises of that word, and the grace contained in
those promises, souls are made willing to submit to Jesus Christ
and become his loyal subjects; by the threatenings of that word,
and the judgments executed according to them, those that stand it
out against Christ will, in due time, be brought down and ruined.
By the gospel of Christ many Jews and Gentiles were converted, and,
at length, the Jewish nation was destroyed, according to the
predictions of it, for their implacable enmity to it; and paganism
was quite abolished. The sword here girt on Christ's thigh is the
same which is said to <i>proceed out of his mouth,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.19.15" parsed="|Rev|19|15|0|0" passage="Re 19:15">Rev. xix. 15</scripRef>. When the gospel was
sent fort to be preached to all nations, then our Redeemer girded
his sword upon his thigh.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p11">(2.) His expedition to this holy war: He
goes forth <i>with his glory and his majesty,</i> as a great king
takes the field with abundance of pomp and magnificence—his sword,
his glory, and majesty. In his gospel he appears transcendently
great and excellent, bright and blessed, in the honour and majesty
which the Father had laid upon him. Christ, both in his person and
in his gospel, had nothing of external glory or majesty, nothing to
charm men (for he had no form nor comeliness), nothing to awe men,
for he <i>took upon him the form of a servant;</i> it was all
spiritual glory, spiritual majesty. There is so much grace, and
therefore glory, in that word, <i>He that believes shall be
saved,</i> so much terror, and therefore majesty, in that word,
<i>He that believes shall not be damned,</i> that we may well say,
in the chariot of that gospel, which these words are the sum of,
the Redeemer rides forth in glory and majesty. <i>In thy majesty
ride prosperously,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.4" parsed="|Ps|45|4|0|0" passage="Ps 45:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. <i>Prosper thou; ride thou.</i> This speaks the
promise of his Father, that he should prosper according to <i>the
good pleasure of the Lord,</i> that he should <i>divide the spoil
with the strong,</i> in recompence of his sufferings. Those cannot
but prosper to whom God says, Prosper, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.52.10-Isa.52.12" parsed="|Isa|52|10|52|12" passage="Isa 52:10-12">Isa. lii. 10-12</scripRef>. And it denotes the good
wishes of his friends, praying that he may prosper in the
conversion of souls to him, and the destruction of all the powers
of darkness that rebel against him. "<i>Thy kingdom come;</i> Go on
and prosper."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p12">(3.) The glorious cause in which he is
engaged—<i>because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness,</i>
which were, in a manner, sunk and lost among men, and which Christ
came to retrieve and rescue. [1.] The gospel itself is <i>truth,
meekness, and righteousness;</i> it commands by the power of truth
and righteousness; for Christianity has these, incontestably, on
its side, and yet it is to be promoted by meekness and gentleness,
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.4.12-1Cor.4.13 Bible:2Tim.2.25" parsed="|1Cor|4|12|4|13;|2Tim|2|25|0|0" passage="1Co 4:12,13,2Ti 2:25">1 Cor. iv. 12, 13; 2 Tim.
ii. 25</scripRef>. [2.] Christ appears in it in his <i>truth,
meekness,</i> and <i>righteousness,</i> and these are his glory and
majesty, and because of these he shall prosper. Men are brought to
believe on him because he is true, to learn of him because he is
meek, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.11.29" parsed="|Matt|11|29|0|0" passage="Mt 11:29">Matt. xi. 29</scripRef> (the
gentleness of Christ is of mighty force, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.10.1" parsed="|2Cor|10|1|0|0" passage="2Co 10:1">2 Cor. x. 1</scripRef>), and to submit to him because he
is righteous and rules with equity. [3.] The gospel, as far as it
prevails with men, sets up in their hearts <i>truth, meekness, and
righteousness,</i> rectifies their mistakes by the light of truth,
controls their passions by the power of meekness, and governs their
hearts and lives by the laws of righteousness. Christ came, by
setting up his kingdom among men, to restore those glories to a
degenerate world, and to maintain the cause of those just and
rightful rulers under him that by error, malice, and iniquity, had
been deposed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p13">(4.) The success of his expedition: "<i>Thy
right hand shall teach thee terrible things;</i> thou shalt
experience a wonderful divine power going along with thy gospel, to
make it victorious, and the effects of it will be terrible things."
[1.] In order to the conversion and reduction of souls to him,
there are terrible things to be done; the heart must be pricked,
conscience must be startled, and the terrors of the Lord must make
way for his consolations. This is done by the right hand of Christ.
The Comforter shall continue, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:John.16.8" parsed="|John|16|8|0|0" passage="Joh 16:8">John
xvi. 8</scripRef>. [2.] In the conquest of the gates of hell and
its supporters, in the destruction of Judaism and Paganism,
terrible things will be done, which will make <i>men's hearts fail
them for fear</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.21.26" parsed="|Luke|21|26|0|0" passage="Lu 21:26">Luke xxi.
26</scripRef>) and great men and chief captains call to the
<i>rocks and mountains to fall on them,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.6.15" parsed="|Rev|6|15|0|0" passage="Re 6:15">Rev. vi. 15</scripRef>. The next verse describes these
terrible things (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.5" parsed="|Ps|45|5|0|0" passage="Ps 45:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>): <i>Thy arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's
enemies. First,</i> Those that were by nature enemies are thus
wounded, in order to their being subdued and reconciled.
Convictions are like the arrows of the bow, which are sharp in the
heart on which they fasten, and bring people to fall under Christ,
in subjection to his laws and government. Those that thus fall on
this stone shall by broken, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.21.44" parsed="|Matt|21|44|0|0" passage="Mt 21:44">Matt. xxi.
44</scripRef>. <i>Secondly,</i> Those that persist in their enmity
are thus wounded, in order to their being ruined. The arrows of
God's terrors are sharp in their hearts, whereby they shall fall
under him, so as to be made his footstool, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.1" parsed="|Ps|110|1|0|0" passage="Ps 110:1">Ps. cx. 1</scripRef>. Those that would not have him to
reign over them shall be brought forth and slain before him
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Luke.19.27" parsed="|Luke|19|27|0|0" passage="Lu 19:27">Luke xix. 27</scripRef>); those that
would not submit to his golden sceptre shall be broken to pieces by
his iron rod.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xlvi-p13.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.6-Ps.45.9" parsed="|Ps|45|6|45|9" passage="Ps 45:6-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.45.6-Ps.45.9">
<h4 id="Ps.xlvi-p13.9">Majesty and Glory of Christ.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlvi-p14">6 Thy throne, O God, <i>is</i> for ever and
ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom <i>is</i> a right sceptre.  
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God,
thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy
fellows.   8 All thy garments <i>smell</i> of myrrh, and
aloes, <i>and</i> cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they
have made thee glad.   9 Kings' daughters <i>were</i> among
thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in
gold of Ophir.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p15">We have here the royal bridegroom filling
his throne with judgment and keeping his court with splendour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p16">I. He here fills his throne with judgment.
It is God the Father that says to the Son here, <i>Thy throne, O
God! is forever and ever,</i> as appears <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.1.8-Heb.1.9" parsed="|Heb|1|8|1|9" passage="Heb 1:8,9">Heb. i. 8, 9</scripRef>, where this is quoted to prove
that he is God and has a <i>more excellent name than the
angels.</i> The Mediator is God, else he neither would have been
able to do the Mediator's work nor fit to wear the Mediator's
crown. Concerning his government observe, 1. The eternity of it; it
is <i>for ever and ever.</i> It shall continue on earth throughout
all the ages of time, in despite of all the opposition of the gates
of hell; and in the blessed fruits and consequences of it it shall
last as long as the days of heaven, and run parallel with the line
of eternity itself. Perhaps even then the glory of the Redeemer,
and the blessedness of the redeemed, shall be in a continual
infinite progression; for it is promised that not only of his
government, but of <i>the increase of his government and peace,
there shall be no end</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.9.7" parsed="|Isa|9|7|0|0" passage="Isa 9:7">Isa. ix.
7</scripRef>); even when the kingdom shall be <i>delivered up to
God even the Father</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.15.24" parsed="|1Cor|15|24|0|0" passage="1Co 15:24">1 Cor. xv.
24</scripRef>) the throne of the Redeemer will continue. 2. The
equity of it: <i>The sceptre of thy kingdom,</i> the administration
of thy government, <i>is right,</i> exactly according to the
eternal counsel and will of God, which is the eternal rule and
reason of good and evil. Whatever Christ does he does none of his
subjects any wrong, but gives redress to those that do suffer
wrong: <i>He loves righteousness, and hates wickedness,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.7" parsed="|Ps|45|7|0|0" passage="Ps 45:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. He himself
loves to do righteousness, and hates to do wickedness; and he loves
those that do righteousness, and hates those that do wickedness. By
the holiness of his life, the merit of his death, and the great
design of his gospel, he has made it to appear that he loves
righteousness (for by his example, his satisfaction, and his
precepts, he has brought in an everlasting righteousness), and that
he hates wickedness, for never did God's hatred of sin appear so
conspicuously as it did in the sufferings of Christ. 3. The
establishment and elevation of it: <i>Therefore God, even thy
God</i> (Christ, as Mediator, called God <i>his God,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:John.20.17" parsed="|John|20|17|0|0" passage="Joh 20:17">John xx. 17</scripRef>, as commissioned by him,
and the head of those that are taken into covenant with him),
<i>has anointed thee with the oil of gladness. Therefore,</i> that
is, (1.) "In order to this righteous government of thine, God has
given thee his Spirit, that divine unction, to qualify thee for thy
undertaking," <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.61.1" parsed="|Isa|61|1|0|0" passage="Isa 61:1">Isa. lxi. 1</scripRef>.
1. <i>The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because he has
anointed me.</i> What God called him to he fitted him for,
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.2" parsed="|Isa|11|2|0|0" passage="Isa 11:2">Isa. xi. 2</scripRef>. The Spirit is
called <i>the oil of gladness</i> because of the delight wherewith
Christ was filled in carrying on his undertaking. He was anointed
with the Spirit <i>above all his fellows,</i> above all those that
were anointed, whether priests or kings. (2.) "In recompence of
what thou has done and suffered for the advancement of
righteousness and the destruction of sin God has anointed thee with
the oil of gladness, has brought thee to all the honours and all
the joys of thy exalted state." <i>Because he humbled himself, God
has highly exalted him,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.8" osisRef="Bible:Phil.2.8-Phil.2.9" parsed="|Phil|2|8|2|9" passage="Php 2:8,9">Phil. ii.
8, 9</scripRef>. His anointing him denotes the power and glory to
which he is exalted; he is invested in all the dignities and
authorities of the Messiah. And his anointing him with the oil of
gladness denotes <i>the joy that was set before him</i> (so his
exaltation is expressed, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.9" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.2" parsed="|Heb|12|2|0|0" passage="Heb 12:2">Heb. xii.
2</scripRef>) both in the light of his <i>Father's countenance</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.10" osisRef="Bible:Acts.2.28" parsed="|Acts|2|28|0|0" passage="Ac 2:28">Acts ii. 28</scripRef>) and in the
success of his undertaking, which he shall <i>see, and be
satisfied,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.11" osisRef="Bible:Isa.53.11" parsed="|Isa|53|11|0|0" passage="Isa 53:11">Isa. liii.
11</scripRef>. This he is anointed with <i>above all his
fellows,</i> above all believers, who are his brethren, and who
partake of the anointing—they by measure, he without measure. But
the apostle brings it to prove his pre-eminence above the angels,
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.12" osisRef="Bible:Heb.1.4 Bible:Heb.1.9" parsed="|Heb|1|4|0|0;|Heb|1|9|0|0" passage="Heb 1:4,9">Heb. i. 4, 9</scripRef>. The
salvation of sinners is the joy of angels (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p16.13" osisRef="Bible:Luke.15.10" parsed="|Luke|15|10|0|0" passage="Lu 15:10">Luke xv. 10</scripRef>), but much more of the Son.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p17">II. He keeps his court with splendour and
magnificence. 1. His robes of state, wherein he appears, are taken
notice of, not for their pomp, which might strike an awe upon the
spectator, but their pleasantness and the gratefulness of the
odours with which they were perfumed (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.8" parsed="|Ps|45|8|0|0" passage="Ps 45:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>They smell of myrrh, aloes,
and cassia</i> (the <i>oil of gladness</i> with which he and his
garments were anointed): these were some of the ingredients of the
holy anointing oil which God appointed, the like to which was not
to be made up for any common use (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.23-Exod.30.24" parsed="|Exod|30|23|30|24" passage="Ex 30:23,24">Exod. xxx. 23, 24</scripRef>), which was typical of
the unction of the Spirit which Christ, the great high priest of
our profession, received, and to which therefore there seems here
to be a reference. It is the savour of these good ointments, his
graces and comforts, that draws souls to him (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Song.1.3-Song.1.4" parsed="|Song|1|3|1|4" passage="So 1:3,4">Cant. i. 3, 4</scripRef>) and makes him <i>precious to
believers,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.7" parsed="|1Pet|2|7|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:7">1 Pet. ii. 7</scripRef>.
2. His royal palaces are said to be <i>ivory</i> ones, such as were
then reckoned most magnificent. We read of an ivory house that Ahab
made, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.22.39" parsed="|1Kgs|22|39|0|0" passage="1Ki 22:39">1 Kings xxii. 39</scripRef>.
The mansions of light above are the <i>ivory palaces,</i> whence
all the joys both of Christ and believers come, and where they will
be for ever in perfection; for by them he is made glad, and all
that are his with him; for they shall enter into the joy of their
Lord. 3. The beauties of his court shine very brightly. In public
appearances at court, when the pomp of it is shown, nothing is
supposed to contribute so much to it as the splendour of the
ladies, which is alluded to here, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.9" parsed="|Ps|45|9|0|0" passage="Ps 45:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. (1.) Particular believers are
here compared to the ladies at court, richly dressed in honour of
the sovereign: <i>Kings' daughters are among thy honourable
women,</i> whose looks, and mien, and ornaments, we may suppose,
from the height of their extraction, to excel all others. All true
believers are born from above; they are the children of the King of
kings. These attend the throne of the Lord Jesus daily with their
prayers and praises, which is really their honour, and he is
pleased to reckon it his. The numbering of kings' daughters among
his honourable women, or maids of honour, intimates that the kings
whose daughters they were should be tributaries to him and
dependents on him, and would therefore think it a preferment to
their daughters to attend him. (2.) The church in general,
constituted of these particular believers, is here compared to the
queen herself—the queen-consort, whom, by an everlasting covenant,
he hath betrothed to himself. She stands <i>at his right hand,</i>
near to him, and receives honour from him, in the richest array,
<i>in gold of Ophir,</i> in robes woven with golden thread or with
a gold chain and other ornaments of gold. This is <i>the bride, the
Lamb's wife,</i> whose graces, which are her ornaments, are
compared to <i>fine linen, clean and white</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p17.7" osisRef="Bible:Rev.19.8" parsed="|Rev|19|8|0|0" passage="Re 19:8">Rev. xix. 8</scripRef>), for their purity, here to
<i>gold of Ophir,</i> for their costliness; for, as we owe our
redemption, so we owe our adorning, not to corruptible things, but
to <i>the precious blood of the Son of God.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xlvi-p17.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.10-Ps.45.17" parsed="|Ps|45|10|45|17" passage="Ps 45:10-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.45.10-Ps.45.17">
<h4 id="Ps.xlvi-p17.9">The Glory of the Church.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlvi-p18">10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and
incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's
house;   11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for
he <i>is</i> thy Lord; and worship thou him.   12 And the
daughter of Tyre <i>shall be there</i> with a gift; <i>even</i> the
rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.   13 The
king's daughter <i>is</i> all glorious within: her clothing
<i>is</i> of wrought gold.   14 She shall be brought unto the
king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that
follow her shall be brought unto thee.   15 With gladness and
rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's
palace.   16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children,
whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.   17 I will
make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall
the people praise thee for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p19">This latter part of the psalm is addressed
to the royal bride, standing on the right hand of the royal
bridegroom. God, who said to the Son, <i>Thy throne is for ever and
ever,</i> says this to the church, which, upon the account of her
espousals to the Son, he here calls his <i>daughter.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p20">I. He tells her of the duties expected from
her, which ought to be considered by all those that come into
relation to the Lord Jesus: "<i>Hearken,</i> therefore, <i>and
consider</i> this, <i>and incline thy ear,</i> that is, submit to
those conditions of thy espousals, and bring thy will to comply
with them." This is the method of profiting by the word of God.
<i>He that has ears, let him hear,</i> let him hearken diligently;
he that hearkens, let him consider and weigh it duly; he that
considers, let him incline and yield to the force of what is laid
before him. And what is it that is here required?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p21">1. She must renounce all others.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p22">(1.) Here is the law of her espousals:
"<i>Forget thy own people and thy father's house,</i> according to
the law of marriage. Retain not the affection thou hast had for
them, nor covet to return to them again; banish all such
remembrance (not only of thy people that were dear to thee, but of
thy father's house that were dearer) as may incline thee to look
back, as Lot's wife to Sodom." When Abraham, in obedience to God's
call, had quitted his native soil, he was not so much as <i>mindful
of the country whence he came out.</i> This shows, [1.] How
necessary it was for those who were converted from Judaism or
paganism to the faith of Christ wholly to cast out the old leaven,
and not to bring into their Christian profession either the Jewish
ceremonies or the heathen idolatries, for these would make such a
mongrel religion in Christianity as the Samaritans had. [2.] How
necessary it is for us all, when we give up our names to Jesus
Christ, to hate father and mother, and all that is dear to us in
this world, in comparison, that is, to love them less than Christ
and his honour, and our interest in him, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.14.26" parsed="|Luke|14|26|0|0" passage="Lu 14:26">Luke xiv. 26</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p23">(2.) Here is good encouragement given to
the royal bride thus entirely to break off from her former
alliances: <i>So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty,</i>
which intimates that the mixing of her old rites and customs,
whether Jewish or Gentile, with her religion, would blemish her
beauty and would hazard her interest in the affections of the royal
bridegroom, but that, if she entirely conformed to his will, he
would delight in her. The beauty of holiness, both on the church
and on particular believers, is in the sight of Christ of great
price and very amiable. Where that is he says, <i>This is my rest
for ever; here will I dwell, for I have desired it.</i> Among the
golden candlesticks he walks with pleasure, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Rev.2.1" parsed="|Rev|2|1|0|0" passage="Re 2:1">Rev. ii. 1</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p24">2. She must reverence him, must love,
honour, and obey him: <i>He is thy Lord, and worship thou him.</i>
The church is to be subject to Christ as the wife to the husband
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Eph.5.24" parsed="|Eph|5|24|0|0" passage="Eph 5:24">Eph. v. 24</scripRef>), to call him
<i>Lord,</i> as Sarah called Abraham, and to obey him (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.3.6" parsed="|1Pet|3|6|0|0" passage="1Pe 3:6">1 Pet. iii. 6</scripRef>), and so not only to
submit to his government, but to give him divine honours. We must
worship him as God, and our Lord; for this is the will of God, that
<i>all men should honour the Son even as they honour the
Father;</i> nay, in so doing it is reckoned that they honour the
Father. If we confess that Christ is Lord, and pay our homage to
him accordingly, it is <i>to the glory of God the Father,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Phil.2.11" parsed="|Phil|2|11|0|0" passage="Php 2:11">Phil. ii. 11</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p25">II. He tells her of the honours designed
for her.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p26">1. Great court should be made to her, and
rich presents brought her (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.12" parsed="|Ps|45|12|0|0" passage="Ps 45:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>): "<i>The daughter of Tyre,</i>" a rich and splendid
city, "the <i>daughter of the King of Tyre</i> shall be <i>there
with a gift;</i> every royal family round about shall send a
branch, as a representative of the whole, to seek thy favour and to
make an interest in thee; <i>even the rich among the people,</i>
whose wealth might be thought to exempt them from dependence at
court, even they shall entreat thy favour, for his sake to whom
thou art espoused, that by thee they may make him their friend."
The Jews, the pretending Jews, who are rich to a proverb (as rich
as a Jew), shall come and worship before the church's feet in the
Philadelphian period, and shall <i>know that Christ has loved
her,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.9" parsed="|Rev|3|9|0|0" passage="Re 3:9">Rev. iii. 9</scripRef>. When
the Gentiles, being converted to the faith of Christ, join
themselves to the church, they then <i>come with a gift,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p26.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.8.5 Bible:Rom.15.16" parsed="|2Cor|8|5|0|0;|Rom|15|16|0|0" passage="2Co 8:5,Ro 15:16">2 Cor. viii. 5; Rom. xv.
16</scripRef>. When with themselves they devote all they have to
the honour of Christ, and the service of his kingdom, they then
<i>come with a gift.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p27">2. She shall be very splendid, and highly
esteemed in the eyes of all, (1.) For her personal qualifications,
the endowments of her mind, which every one shall admire (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.13" parsed="|Ps|45|13|0|0" passage="Ps 45:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): <i>The king's daughter
is all glorious within.</i> Note, The glory of the church is
spiritual glory, and that is indeed all glory; it is the glory of
the soul, and that is the man; it is glory in God's sight, and it
is an earnest of eternal glory. The glory of the saints falls not
within the view of a carnal eye. As their life, so their glory, is
hidden with Christ in God, neither can the natural man know it, for
it is spiritually discerned; but those who do so discern it highly
value it. Let us see here what is that true glory which we should
be ambitious of, not that which <i>makes a fair show in the
flesh,</i> but which is in <i>the hidden man of the heart, in that
which is not corruptible</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.3.4" parsed="|1Pet|3|4|0|0" passage="1Pe 3:4">1 Pet.
iii. 4</scripRef>), <i>whose praise is not of men, but of God,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p27.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.2.29" parsed="|Rom|2|29|0|0" passage="Ro 2:29">Rom. ii. 29</scripRef>. (2.) For her
rich apparel. Though all her glory is within, that for which she is
truly valuable, yet <i>her clothing</i> also <i>is of wrought
gold;</i> the conversation of Christians, in which they appear in
the world, must be enriched with good works, not gay and gaudy
ones, like paint and flourish, but substantially good, like gold;
and it must be accurate and exact, like wrought gold, which is
worked with a great deal of care and caution.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p28">3. Her nuptials shall be celebrated with a
great deal of honour and joy (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.14-Ps.45.15" parsed="|Ps|45|14|45|15" passage="Ps 45:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14, 15</scripRef>): <i>She shall be brought
to the king,</i> as the Lord God brought the woman to the man
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p28.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.2.22" parsed="|Gen|2|22|0|0" passage="Ge 2:22">Gen. ii. 22</scripRef>), which was a
type of this mystical marriage between Christ and his church. None
are brought to Christ but whom the Father brings, and he has
undertaken to do it; none besides are so brought <i>to the king</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p28.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.14" parsed="|Ps|45|14|0|0" passage="Ps 45:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>) as to
<i>enter into the king's palace,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p28.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.15" parsed="|Ps|45|15|0|0" passage="Ps 45:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p29">(1.) This intimates a two-fold bringing of
the spouse to Christ. [1.] In the conversion of souls to Christ;
then they are espoused to him, privately contracted, as chaste
virgins, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.11.2 Bible:Rom.7.4" parsed="|2Cor|11|2|0|0;|Rom|7|4|0|0" passage="2Co 11:2,Ro 7:4">2 Cor. xi. 2; Rom.
vii. 4</scripRef>. [2.] In the completing of the mystical body, and
the glorification of all the saints, at the end of time; then the
<i>bride, the Lamb's wife,</i> shall be made completely ready, when
all that belong to the election of grace shall be called in and
called home, and all gathered together to Christ, <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p29.2" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.2.1" parsed="|2Thess|2|1|0|0" passage="2Th 2:1">2 Thess. ii. 1</scripRef>. Then is the marriage
of the Lamb come (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p29.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.19.7 Bible:Rev.21.2" parsed="|Rev|19|7|0|0;|Rev|21|2|0|0" passage="Re 19:7,21:2">Rev. xix. 7;
xxi. 2</scripRef>), and the virgins <i>go forth to meet the
bridegroom,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p29.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.25.1" parsed="|Matt|25|1|0|0" passage="Mt 25:1">Matt. xxv.
1</scripRef>. Then they shall <i>enter into the king's palaces,</i>
into the heavenly mansions, to be ever with the Lord.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p30">(2.) In both these espousals, observe, to
the honour of the royal bride, [1.] Her wedding clothes—<i>raiment
of needle-work,</i> the righteousness of Christ, the graces of the
Spirit; both curiously wrought by divine wisdom. [2.] Her
bride-maids—<i>the virgins her companions,</i> the wise virgins
who have oil in their vessels as well as in their lamps, those who,
being joined to the church, cleave to it and follow it, these shall
go in to the marriage. [3.] The mirth with which the nuptials will
be celebrated: <i>With gladness and rejoicing shall she be
brought.</i> When the prodigal is brought home to his father <i>it
is meet that we should make merry and be glad</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.15.32" parsed="|Luke|15|32|0|0" passage="Lu 15:32">Luke xv. 32</scripRef>); and when the marriage
of the Lamb has come <i>let us be glad and rejoice</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p30.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.19.7" parsed="|Rev|19|7|0|0" passage="Re 19:7">Rev. xix. 7</scripRef>); for the <i>day of his
espousals is the day of the gladness of his heart,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p30.3" osisRef="Bible:Song.3.11" parsed="|Song|3|11|0|0" passage="So 3:11">Cant. iii. 11</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p31">4. The progeny of this marriage shall be
illustrious (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p31.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.16" parsed="|Ps|45|16|0|0" passage="Ps 45:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>):
<i>Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children.</i> Instead of the
Old-Testament church, the economy of which had waxed old, and ready
to <i>vanish away</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p31.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.8.13" parsed="|Heb|8|13|0|0" passage="Heb 8:13">Heb. viii.
13</scripRef>), as the fathers that are going off, there shall be a
New-Testament church, a Gentile-church, that shall be grafted into
the same olive and partake of its <i>root and fatness</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p31.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.17" parsed="|Rom|11|17|0|0" passage="Ro 11:17">Rom. xi. 17</scripRef>); more and
more eminent shall be <i>the children of the desolate</i> than
<i>the children of the married wife,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p31.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.54.1" parsed="|Isa|54|1|0|0" passage="Isa 54:1">Isa. liv. 1</scripRef>. This promise to Christ is of the
same import with that <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p31.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.53.10" parsed="|Isa|53|10|0|0" passage="Isa 53:10">Isa. liii.
10</scripRef>, <i>He shall see his seed;</i> and these shall be
made <i>princes in all the earth;</i> there shall be some of all
nations brought into subjection to Christ, and so made princes,
<i>made to our God kings and priests,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p31.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.1.6" parsed="|Rev|1|6|0|0" passage="Re 1:6">Rev. i. 6</scripRef>. Or it may intimate that there should
be a much greater number of Christian kings than ever there was of
Jewish kings (those in Canaan only, these in all the earth),
nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the church, which shall
<i>suck the breasts of kings.</i> They are princes of Christ's
making; for <i>by him kings reign and princes decree
justice.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlvi-p32">5. The praise of this marriage shall be
perpetual in the praises of the royal bridegroom (<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p32.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.18" parsed="|Ps|45|18|0|0" passage="Ps 45:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>): <i>I will make thy
name to be remembered.</i> His Father has given him <i>a name above
every name,</i> and here promises to make it perpetual, by keeping
up a succession of ministers and Christians in every age, that
shall bear up his name, which shall thus <i>endure for ever</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlvi-p32.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.72.17" parsed="|Ps|72|17|0|0" passage="Ps 72:17">Ps. lxxii. 17</scripRef>), by being
remembered in all the generations of time; for the entail of
Christianity shall not be cut off. "Therefore, because they shall
remember thee in all generations, they shall praise thee for ever
and ever." Those that help to support the honour of Christ on earth
shall in heaven see his glory, and share in it, and be for ever
praising him. In the believing hope of our everlasting happiness in
the other world let us always keep up the remembrance of Christ, as
our only way thither, in our generation; and, in assurance of the
perpetuating of the kingdom of the Redeemer in the world, let us
transmit the remembrance of him to succeeding generations, that his
name <i>may endure for ever and be as the days of heaven.</i></p>
</div></div2>