forward while Ifrael fojourned in the wildernefs which confirms the prevailing opinion, that the pfalm was primarily defigned, as an act of thanksgiving,' to accompany the removal of the ark to Zion, by David. The feventh and eighth verses are repeated, with little variation, from the Song of Deborah †. The leading fcope of the whole appears to be, firft, a recapitulation of God's gracious dealing with Ifrael, and of the great things he had done for them, from the time he delivered them from their bondage in Egypt; and then, a transition, in the spirit of prophecy, to the far greater things he would do for his people, under and by the gospel difpenfation, in confequence of MESSIAH's exaltation to receive gifts for rebellious men. This verfe, though the particular occafion is not specified, probably refers to some seafon of deliverance or victory, when the women, according to the cuftom of the nation, affembled to praife the Lord, with timbrels, fongs and dances. The fongs and refponfes of Miriam and her companions, and of the women who welcomed Saul and David after Exod. xv.

*Numb. x. 35. † Judges v. 4, 5.

the

the defeat of the Philiftine*, I have formerly mentioned as inftances. The word, which is rendered, Those who published or preached, being expreffed with a feminine termination, leads the mind to this fenfe. But we are not neceffarily confined to it; for the word rendered preacher in the book of Ecclefiaftes, is likewise in the feminine form, though we are fure the person intended by it was Solomon.

However, this paffage is properly introduced in The Meffiah, and in its proper place, immediately after the view given of our Saviour's triumphant afcenfion, as it leads us to confider the firft vifible effect of that great event: for foon afterwards, when the day of · Pentecoft was fully come, the Lord gave the word. The holy Spirit, the precious gift, which Jesus had received for rebellious men, defcended with vifible emblems, and a powerful energy, and inspired and qualified his disciples for the great work of establishing and spreading his fpiritual kingdom. From that hour, great was the number of the preachers, and great was the fuccefs and efficacy of their miffion. So that in a few

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years

* 1 Sam. xviii. 6, 7. † Page 127, Vol. I. Acts ii. 1-4. the

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the gospel spread like the light, from Jerufalem, through all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. And he who faid, Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the world*, has, by the fame Spirit, perpetuated his word, and a fucceffion of preachers, to our time; and has promised to perpetuate and work by the fame means, till time shall be no more.

My text therefore, if not a direct prophecy of the publication of the gospel, is at least a fit motto to a difcourfe on this very important fubject. We may confider it in two fenfes, which, though fomething different, are equally agreeable to the words before us, and to the general tenor of the fcripture.

I. That the message is the Lord's. He

gave the word, and prescribed to his fervants the subject matter of their preaching.

II. That the messengers employed, are called and fent forth by him. The Lord gave the word or command; in confequence of which word, the number of preachers was great, as when in the beginning, he said, Let there be light, and there was was light.

* Matt. xxviii. 20.

This

I. The Lord gave the word which the multitude of preachers went forth to publish. His merciful design was great, to deliver finners from bondage, mifery and death; and to bless them with liberty, life and peace. But they are by nature rebellious and obftinate, and must be made willing. He only can fubdue their prejudices, and soften their spirits; and he has promised to display his power in their favour, by a certain mean of his own appointment, and we cannot expect that he will do it in any other way. mean is the gofpel, which, for its admirable suitableness and efficacy, is commended to us as his wisdom and his power*. He has given it for this purpose, and his bleffing makes it fuccefsful. He has faid concerning it, As the rain cometh down and the fnow from heaven, and watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give feed to the fower, and bread to the eater ; fo fhall my word be, that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I pleafe; it Shall profper in the thing whereto I fent it. It has been confirmed by the experience of I Cor. i. 23, 24, + Ifa. lv. 10, 11.

ages,

ages, that no mean but his, can produce the defirable effect. It is confirmed, by obferva-tion, in the prefent day. If the wisdom of man, if learning, if oratory, if animated defcriptions of the beauty of virtue, and pathetic perfuafions to the practice of it could reform, we should be a reformed people. But alas, this is only to oppose a mound of fand to the violence of a flood. Notwithstand

ing many ingenious fermons and treatises upon this plan, are admired and praised, wickednefs prevails and triumphs. They have little influence upon the conduct of civil life; and, I may boldly fay, no influence to infpire the heart with the love and peace of God, and to bring it into a habit of subjection to his will and command. Nothing will do this but the gofpel, the word which the Lord has given. This alone fhews the evil of fin in its true light, affords a folid ground for the hope of mercy, and furnishes thofe motives which alone are fufficient to break the force of the temptations and difficulties with which we have to conflict. When this word is fimply and cordially received, an immediate and wonderful change takes place. The finner abandons his false hopes

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