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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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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 XCVII.</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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This psalm dwells upon the same subject, and is set to the same tune,
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with the foregoing psalm. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega of both;
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they are both penned, and are both to be sung to his honour; and we
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make nothing of them if we do not, in them, make melody with our hearts
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to the Lord Jesus. He it is that reigns, to the joy of all mankind
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:1">ver. 1</A>);
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and his government speaks,
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I. Terror to his enemies; for he is a prince of inflexible justice and
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irresistible power,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97+2-7">ver. 2-7</A>.
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II. Comfort to his friends and loyal subjects, arising from his
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sovereign dominion, the care he takes of his people, and the provision
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he makes for them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:8-12">ver. 8-12</A>.
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In singing this psalm we must be affected with the glory of the exalted
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Redeemer, must dread the lot of his enemies, and think ourselves happy
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if we are of those that "kiss the son."</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps97_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_7"> </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>Righteousness and Glory of the Divine Government; Establishment of Christ's Kingdom.</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>1 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude
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of isles be glad <I>thereof.</I>
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2 Clouds and darkness <I>are</I> round about him: righteousness and
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judgment <I>are</I> the habitation of his throne.
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3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round
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about.
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4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and
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trembled.
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5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, at the
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presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
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6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see
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his glory.
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7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast
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themselves of idols: worship him, all <I>ye</I> gods.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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What was to be said among the heathen in the foregoing psalm
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
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is here said again
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>)
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and is made the subject of this psalm, and of
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+99:1-9">psalm xcix</A>.
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<I>The Lord reigns;</I> that is the great truth here laid down. The
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Lord Jehovah reigns, he that made the world governs it; he that gave
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being gives motion and power, gives law and commission, gives success
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and event. Every man's judgment proceeds from the Lord, from his
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counsel and providence, and in all affairs, both public and private, he
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performs the thing which he himself has appointed. The Lord Jesus
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reigns; the providential kingdom is twisted in with the mediatorial and
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the administration of both is in the hand of Christ, who therefore is
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both the <I>head of the church</I> and <I>head over all things to the
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church.</I> The kingdom of Christ is so constituted that,</P>
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<P>
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I. It may be matter of joy to all; and it will be so if it be not their
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own fault. <I>Let the earth rejoice,</I> for hereby it is
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<I>established</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:10">Ps. xcvi. 10</A>);
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it is honoured and enriched, and, in part, rescued from the vanity
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which by sin it is made subject to. Not only let the people of Israel
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rejoice in him as King of the Jews, and the daughter of Zion as her
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King, but let all the earth rejoice in his elevation; for the kingdoms
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of the world shall, more or less, sooner or later, become his kingdoms:
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<I>Let the multitude of isles,</I> the many or great isles, <I>be glad
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thereof.</I> This is applicable to our country, which is a great isle,
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and has many belonging to it; at least, it speaks comfort in general to
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the Gentiles, whose countries are called <I>the isles of the
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Gentiles,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+10:5">Gen. x. 5</A>.
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There is enough in Christ for the multitude of the isles to rejoice in;
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for, though many have been made happy in him, yet still there is room.
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All have reason to rejoice in Christ's government.
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1. In the equity of it. There is an incontestable justice in all the
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acts of his government, both legislative and judicial. Sometimes
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indeed <I>clouds and darkness are round about him;</I> his
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dispensations are altogether unaccountable; <I>his way is in the sea
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and his path in the great waters.</I> We are not aware of what he
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designs, what he drives at; nor is it fit that we should be let into
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the secrets of his government. There is a depth in his counsels, which
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we must not pretend to fathom. But still <I>righteousness and judgment
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are the habitation of his throne;</I> a golden thread of justice runs
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through the whole web of his administration. In this he resides, for it
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is his habitation. In this he rules, for it is <I>the habitation of his
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throne. His commandments are,</I> and will be, <I>all righteous.
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Righteousness and judgment are the basis of his throne</I> (so Dr.
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Hammond); for <I>therefore</I> his <I>throne is for ever and ever,</I>
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because his <I>sceptre is a right sceptre,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+45:6">Ps. xlv. 6</A>.
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<I>The throne is established in righteousness.</I> Even <I>the heavens
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declare his righteousness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>);
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it is as conspicuous and as illustrious as the heavens themselves. The
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angels of heaven will declare it, who are employed as messengers in the
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administration of his government and therefore know more of it than any
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of his creatures. His righteousness is incontestable; for who can
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contradict or dispute what the <I>heavens declare?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:6">Ps. l. 6</A>.
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2. In the extent of it in the upper and lower world.
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(1.) All the men on earth are under his government; either he is served
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by them or he serves himself by them. <I>All the people see his
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glory,</I> or may see it. The glory of God, in the face of Christ, was
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made to shine in distant countries, among many people, more or less
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among all people; the gospel was preached, for aught we know, in all
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languages,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:5,11">Acts ii. 5, 11</A>.
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Miracles were wrought in all nations, and so <I>all the people saw his
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glory. Have they not heard?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+10:18">Rom. x. 18</A>.
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(2.) All the angels in heaven are so. Perhaps we should not have found
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this truth in those words
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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<I>Worship him, all you gods,</I> if we had not been directed to it by
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the inspired apostle, who, from the Septuagint version of those words,
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makes the Messiah to be introduced into the upper world at the
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ascension with this charge
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+1:6">Heb. i. 6</A>),
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<I>Let all the angels of God worship him,</I> which helps us to a key
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to this whole psalm, and shows us that it must be applied to the
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exalted Redeemer, who has gone into heaven, <I>and is on the right hand
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of God,</I> which intimates that all power is given him both in heaven
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and earth, <I>angels, authorities, and powers, being made subject unto
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him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+3:22">1 Pet. iii. 22</A>.
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This speaks the honour of Christ, that he has such worshippers, and the
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honour of all good Christians, that they have such
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fellow-worshippers.</P>
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<P>
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II. Christ's government, though it may be matter of joy to all, will
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yet be matter of terror to some, and it is their own fault that it is
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so,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:3-5,7"><I>v.</I> 3-5, 7</A>.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. When the kingdom of Christ was to be set up in the world, after his
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ascension, it would meet with many enemies, and much opposition would
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be given to it. He that reigns, to the <I>joy of the whole earth,</I>
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yet, as he has his subjects, so he has <I>his enemies</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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that not only will not have him to reign over them, but would not have
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him to reign at all, that not only will not <I>enter into the kingdom
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of heaven themselves,</I> but do all they can to <I>hinder those that
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are entering,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:13">Matt. xxiii. 13</A>.
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This was fulfilled in the enmity of the unbelieving Jews to the gospel
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of Christ, and the violent persecution which in all places they stirred
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up against the preachers and professors of it. These enemies are here
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called <I>hills</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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for their height, and strength, and immovable obstinacy. It was the
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<I>princes of this world</I> that <I>crucified the Lord of glory,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:8,Ps+2:2">1 Cor. ii. 8; Ps. ii. 2</A>.</P>
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<P>
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2. The opposition which the Jews gave to the setting up of Christ's
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kingdom turned to their own ruin. Their persecuting the apostles, and
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<I>forbidding them to speak to the Gentiles,</I> filled up their sin,
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and brought <I>wrath upon them to the uttermost,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+2:15,16">1 Thess. ii. 15, 16</A>.
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That wrath is here compared,
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(1.) To consuming fire, which <I>goes before him, and burns up his
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enemies,</I> that have made themselves like chaff and stubble, and have
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<I>set the briers and thorns before him in battle,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+27:4">Isa. xxvii. 4</A>.
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This fire of divine wrath will not only burn the rubbish upon the
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hills, but will even <I>melt the hills</I> themselves <I>like wax,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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When our God appears as a consuming fire even rocks will be wax before
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him. The most resolute and daring opposition will be baffled <I>at the
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presence of the Lord.</I> His very presence is enough to shame and sink
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it, for he is <I>the Lord of the whole earth,</I> by whom all the
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children of men are manageable and to whom they are accountable. Men
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hate and persecute God's people, because they think him absent, that
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the Lord has <I>forsaken the earth;</I> but, when he manifests his
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presence, they melt.
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(2.) To amazing <I>lightnings</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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which strike a terror upon many. The judgments God brought upon the
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enemies of Christ's kingdom were such as all the world took notice of
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with terror: <I>The earth saw and trembled,</I> and the ears of all
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that heard were made to tingle. This was fulfilled in the destruction
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of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation by the Romans, about forty years
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after Christ's resurrection, which, like fire, wholly destroyed that
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people, and, like lightning, astonished all their neighbours
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+29:24">Deut. xxix. 24</A>);
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but the heavens declare God's righteousness in it, and all the people,
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to this day, see his glory, in those lasting monuments of his justice,
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the scattered Jews.</P>
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<P>
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3. Idolaters also would be put to confusion by the setting up of
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Christ's kingdom
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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<I>Confounded be all those who serve graven images,</I> the Gentile
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world, who <I>did service to those that by nature are no gods</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:8">Gal. iv. 8</A>),
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who boasted themselves of idols as their protectors and benefactors.
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Did those that served idols boast of them, and shall the servants of
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the living God distrust him, or be ashamed of him? <I>Let those be
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ashamed that serve graven images.</I>
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(1.) This is a prayer for the conversion of the Gentiles, that those
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who have been so long serving dumb idols may be convinced of their
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error, ashamed of their folly, and may, by the power of Christ's
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gospel, be brought to serve the only living and true God, and may be as
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much ashamed of their idols as ever they were proud of them. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+2:20,21">Isa. ii. 20, 21</A>.
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(2.) This is a prophecy of the ruin of those that would not be reformed
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and reclaimed from their idolatry; they shall be confounded by the
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destruction of Paganism in the Roman empire, which was fulfilled about
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300 years after Christ, so much to the terror of idolaters that some
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think it was the revolution under Constantine that made even the mighty
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men say to the rocks, <I>Fall on us and hide us,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+6:15,16">Rev. vi. 15, 16</A>.
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This prayer and prophecy are still in force against antichristian
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idolaters, who may here read their doom: <I>Confounded be all those
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that worship graven images,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+48:13">Jer. xlviii. 13</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps97_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps97_12"> </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>Zion Rejoicing in the Reign of Christ.</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>8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced
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because of thy judgments, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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9 For thou, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>art</I> high above all the earth: thou art
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exalted far above all gods.
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10 Ye that love the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of
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his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
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11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the
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upright in heart.
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12 Rejoice in the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, ye righteous; and give thanks at the
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remembrance of his holiness.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The kingdom of the Messiah, like the pillar of cloud and fire, as it
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has a dark side towards the Egyptians, so it has a bright side towards
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the Israel of God. It is set up in spite of opposition; and then <I>the
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earth saw and trembled</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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but <I>Zion heard and was glad,</I> very glad, to hear of the
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conversion of some and of the confusion of others, that is, the
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conquest of all that stood it out against Christ. <I>Rejoice greatly,
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O daughter of Zion! for behold thy king comes unto thee,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+9:9">Zech. ix. 9</A>.
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And not Zion only, where the temple was, but even <I>the daughters of
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Judah, rejoiced;</I> the common people, the inhabitants of the
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villages, they shall triumph in Christ's victories. The command
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>)
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is, <I>Let the earth rejoice;</I> but it is only the sons of Zion and
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the daughters of Judah that do rejoice. All should bid the kingdom of
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the Messiah welcome, but few do. Now here observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The reasons that are given for Zion's joy in the government of the
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Redeemer. The faithful servants of God may well <I>rejoice</I> and be
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<I>glad,</I>
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1. Because God is glorified, and whatever redounds to his honour is
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very much his people's pleasure. They rejoice <I>because of thy
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judgments, O Lord!</I> which may take in both the judgments of his
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mouth and the judgments of his hand, the word of his gospel and his
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works wrought for the propagating of it, miracles and marvellous
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providences; for in these we must own, "<I>Thou, Lord, art high above
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all the earth</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
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thou hast manifested thy sovereignty in the kingdom of nature, and thy
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command of all its powers, and thy dominion over all nations, over all
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hearts; thou art <I>exalted far above all gods</I>" --all deputed gods,
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that is, princes--all counterfeit gods, that is, idols. The exaltation
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of Christ, and the advancement of God's glory among men thereby, are
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the rejoicing of all the saints.
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2. Because care is taken for their safety. Those that pay allegiance
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to Christ as a King shall be sure of his protection. Princes are the
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shields of the earth; Christ is so to his subjects; they may put their
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trust under his shadow and rejoice in it, for
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
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<I>He preserves the souls of the saints;</I> he preserves their lives
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as long as he has any work for them to do, and wonderfully <I>delivers
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them</I> many a time <I>out of the hand of the wicked,</I> their
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persecutors that thirst after their blood; for <I>precious in the sight
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of the Lord is the death of his saints.</I> But something more is meant
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than their lives; for those that will be his disciples must be willing
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to lay down their lives, and not indent for the securing of them. It is
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the <I>immortal soul</I> that Christ preserves, the <I>inward man,</I>
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which may be renewed more and more when the <I>outward man decays.</I>
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He will <I>preserve the souls of his saints</I> from sin, from
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apostasy, and despair, under their greatest trials; he will <I>deliver
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them out of the hands of the wicked one</I> that <I>seeks to devour
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them; he will preserve them</I> safely <I>to his heavenly kingdom,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+4:18">2 Tim. iv. 18</A>.
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They have therefore reason to be glad, being thus safe.
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3. Because provision is made for their comfort. Those that rejoice in
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Christ Jesus, and in his exaltation, have fountains of joy treasured up
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for them, which will be opened sooner or later
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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<I>Light is sown for the righteous,</I> that is, <I>gladness for the
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upright in heart.</I> The subjects of Christ's kingdom are told to
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expect tribulation in the world. They must suffer by its malice, and
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must not share in its mirth; yet let them know, to their comfort, that
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<I>light is sown</I> for them; it is designed and prepared for them.
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What is sown will come up again in due time; though, like a winter
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seedness, it may lie long under the clods, and seem to be lost and
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buried, yet it will return in a rich and plentiful increase. God's
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goodness shall be sure of a <I>harvest</I> in the <I>appointed weeks.
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Those that sow in tears shall,</I> without fail, <I>reap in joy,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:5,6">Ps. cxxvi. 5, 6</A>.
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Christ told his disciples, at parting
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:20">John xvi. 20</A>),
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<I>You shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into
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joy.</I> Gladness is sure to the <I>upright in heart,</I> to those only
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that are sincere in religion. <I>The joy of the hypocrite is but for a
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moment.</I> There is no serenity without a lasting sincerity,</P>
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<P>
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II. The rules that are given for Zion's joy.
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1. Let it be a pure and holy joy. "You that love the Lord Jesus, that
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<I>love his appearing</I> and kingdom, that love his word and his
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exaltation, see that you hate evil, the evil of sin, every thing that
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is offensive to him and will throw you out of his favour." Note, A true
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love to God will show itself in a real hatred of all sin, as that
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abominable thing which he hates. The joy of the saints should likewise
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confirm their antipathy to sin and divine comforts should put their
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mouths out of taste for sensual pleasures.
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2. Let the joy terminate in God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+97:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
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<I>Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous.</I> Let all the streams of
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comfort, which flow to us in the channel of Christ's kingdom, lead us
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to the fountain, and oblige us to <I>rejoice in the Lord.</I> All the
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lines of joy must meet in him as in the centre. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+3:3,4:4">Phil. iii. 3; iv. 4</A>.
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3. Let it express itself in praise and thanksgiving: <I>Give thanks at
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|
the remembrance of his holiness.</I> Whatever is the matter of our
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rejoicing ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving, and particularly
|
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the holiness of God. Those that hate sin themselves are glad that God
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|
does so, in hopes that therefore he will not suffer it to have dominion
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|
over them. Note,
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(1.) We ought to be much in the remembrance of God's holiness, the
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infinite purity, rectitude, and perfection of the divine nature. We
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must be ever mindful of his holy covenant, which he has confirmed with
|
|
an oath <I>by his holiness.</I>
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(2.) We ought to give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness, not
|
|
only give him the glory of it as it is an honour to him, but give him
|
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thanks for it as it is a favour to us; and an unspeakable favour it
|
|
will be if, through grace, we are <I>partakers of his holiness.</I> It
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is God's holiness which, above all his attributes, the angels
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celebrate.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+6:3">Isa. vi. 3</A>,
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<I>Holy, holy, holy.</I> Sinners tremble, but saints rejoice, <I>at the
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remembrance of God's holiness,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+30:4">Ps. xxx. 4</A>.</P>
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