petition preferred, in these words, by us Christians.

2. How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty GoD of Jacob; 3. Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; 4. I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, 5. Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty GOD of Jacob.

In all circumstances and situations, David was solicitous for the tabernacle and service of God. Of the oath and vow here mentioned, we have, indeed, no account in the sacred history; but we read, 2 Sam. vii. 2, of the uneasiness which he expressed to Nathan the prophet, at the thought of his dwelling in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God dwelt only within the curtains of a tent. Nay, we find, by 1 Chron. xvi. 43, that he did not bless, and consequently did not inhabit, his own house, until he had brought the ark to Zion, where the temple was afterwards erected. He could take neither pleasure nor rest, until a place was prepared for the residence of Jehovah in the midst of his people and from thenceforth he gave himself, with unwearied diligence, to lay in a plentiful store of the most costly materials, silver, gold, and precious stones, which were employed by his son and successor, Solomon, in constructing the magnificent and mystic edifice. Thus, in the covenant of grace, did the Son of God engage not to take possession of his heavenly palace, nor to enter into his eternal rest, until He had prepared upon the earth a place for the residence of the LORD; a building framed of materials more precious than gold and silver, more bright and beautiful than rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. All this was planned and executed by one and the same per

son, who first suffered in meekness and patience, like David, then reigned in glory and peace, like Solomon. The believer should spare no pains, no time, no thought, to find out and prepare in his heart an habitation for the God of Jacob, since our LORD hath graciously vouchsafed to make this general promise to us all, "If a man love me, my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John xiv. 23.

6. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

In other words, as Bishop Patrick hath paraphrased this verse, "And now, behold, the LORD Himself, to our great joy, hath told us the very place where He will fix his habitation, 1 Chron. xxi 18. 26, in the territory of Bethlehem Ephratah', Gen. xxxv. 13. 19, in the fields of that forest, where the angel stood and directed David to build an altar to the LORD:" 1 Chron. xxi. 18; xxii. 1. Bethlehem Ephratah was the city of David; it was likewise the city wherein the Son of David. was born, as the prophet Micah hath foretold: "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the cities of Judah, for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel," Micah v. 2, cited by the chief priests and scribes to Herod, Matt. ii. 6. Christians, as well as Jews, may therefore say, and upon the festival of Christ's nativity, using this Psalm, they do say, "Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah;" for there the angel first proclaimed the news of the incarnation. to the shepherds: "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people;

1 Jerusalem, as Mr. Merrick observes from Geierus, being situated not far from Bethlehem, might be comprehended in the region of Ephratah; or, л, may be rendered " near Ephratah."

for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD:" Luke ii. 10. There was "found" the true tabernacle and temple, "not made with hands, the place for Jehovah, the habitation for the mighty God of Jacob."

into his tabernacles: we will wor

7. We will go ship at his footstool.

If this were the resolution of Israelites, who saw the incarnation only in type and figure, how much more ought it to be ours, who live since the accomplishment of that which was foreshown; since the Word, made flesh, hath dwelt upon the earth, and the Church hath been erected among the nations? If they worshipped the God of Israel, who then dwelt in the holy of holies, between the cherubim, shall not we worship the same Divine Person, who, though ascended up on high above all heavens, yet hath assured us, that where two or three are gathered together in his name, there is He in the midst of them?

8. Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.

When the ark marched before the children of Israel, to find out a resting place, it is recorded, Num. x. 35, 36, that Moses said, "Rise up, Jehovah, and let thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee;" and when it rested, he said, "Return, or bring back, the many thousands of Israel." The verse before us was used, with the two succeeding verses, by Solomon, as the conclusion of his prayer at the dedication of the temple, 2 Chron. vi. 41. The purport of the petition, therefore, was, that the presence of Jehovah might rest upon Zion, and dwell in the house prepared for it, as the same presence hath since dwelt in Christ, and is to be

with the Christian Church to the end of the world,

9. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

The ark being placed in the temple, prayer is next made for the ministers of religion, that they might, through grace, be invested with righteousness as with a garment, and be both covered and adorned with a robe of inviolable sanctity; that spiritual joy might fill their hearts, and break forth in songs of praise to the Lord God of Israel. Let not those who have obtained the evangelical priesthood, be exceeded by the sons of Levi in holiness and alacrity.

10. For thy servant David's sake, turn not away the face of thine anointed.

Solomon beseecheth God, for the sake of his favourite servant David, and the promises made to him and his seed, that he would not deny the request of David's son, now "anointed" to be king over Israel, and, by so doing, confound, put him to shame, or "turn away his face." That this is the meaning of the phrase, is plain from 1 Kings ii. 16, where Adonijah says to Bathsheba, “And now Í ask one petition of thee, deny me not;" in the Hebrew, "turn not away my face." A Christian asketh nothing but in the name, and for the sake, of the Son of David, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen, and in whom whosoever believeth shall never be confounded, or denied that which it is really good and profitable for him to receive.

11. The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David: he will not turn from it; of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

That this is a prophecy of Messiah, we have the authority of St. Peter to say; Acts ii. 30, "David

being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up CHRIST to sit on his throne," &c. This promise to David occurs, 2 Sam. vii. 12, and hath a twofold sense, relating to Solomon in type and shadow, to Christ in truth and substance. See more on Ps. lxxxix. 3, 4.

12. If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

The promises of God to Christ are absolute; but to his "children," as well as those of David, they are conditional; so that our interest in them dependeth on our faith, our obedience, our perseverance. "Behold," saith St. Paul, "the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness, if thou continue in that goodness; otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off." Rom. xi. 22.

13. For the LORD hath chosen Zion: he hath desired it for his habitation. 14. This is my rest for ever here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

How ineffable is the love of God to man, that He should use such expressions as these concerning his Church! He is pleased to say, that it is his desire to dwell with us; yet how little do we desire to dwell with Him! In Zion He fixed his abode, and there continued, till the iniquities of Israel provoked Him to forsake his holy mountain, and to give up Jerusalem for a prey to the spoilers. Since that time, his tabernacle has been removed into the possession of the Gentiles. Forsake not this thy new Zion, O God, and deliver not us thy people, in like manner, sinful as we are, into the hands of the enemy and the avenger.

15. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will