2. He commends it from the Solemn publick Worship of God there, this is among the chiefeft Ornaments of any people, the true Worship of God, and the peaceable publick joynt performance thereof, according to God's Teftimony and Word. v. 4. And all that fear God, efpecially Princes and Rulers fhould be follicitous and careful about this.

3. He commends it from the publick Adminiftration of Juftice there, which is alfo a great Ornament, and for the Peace and Safety of a People, v. 5.

Thirdly, In the third part of this Pfalm he excites the people to pray for, and endeavour to promote the peace and welfare of Ferufalem, which he doth by a promife of Divine Bleffing and Profperity to them who do fo, and by his own Example, v. 6. to the end.

In ver. 6. you have, 1. An Exhortation (Pray for the Peace of Ferufalem.) 2. An incouraging promife (They fhall profper that love thee.

By Ferufalem here is not to be understood only, that City, but the Church, and Commonwealth, and people of God, because there they Affembled for Solemn Worship and Adminiftration of Juftice, and the State of this City had great Influence on the commongood. This is clear from the Context and other Scriptures, where, by Jerufalem, and the City of God, is underftood the Church of GOD. Now he excites to pray for her Peace, i.e. her Felicity, Safety and Welfare; All hould endeavour it, and becaufe it cometh

from

from GOD, they should pray to him for it. And for their Incouragement, he adds (They fhall Profper that love thee) i. e. They that are kindly affected to, and defire and endeavour the Good of the Church, and the preferving purity in the Doctrine and Worfhip, they Thall profper or be in peace, they fhall have the Bleffing of GOD, and it fhall go well with them in time, and through Eternity. God fhall reward and make them profper. The minding of the publick Good of Church and State, is the fureft way to make our own private Affairs fucceed and be bless'd and profper.

I fhall at the time, infift only on the laft Claufe of the Verfe, tho' in my progrefs, I fhall take notice alfo of the firft.

Hence obferve, fincere Love to, and affectionate Concern for the publick Good and welfare of Church and State, is a fure and ready way to procure God's Bleffing on Men's private Affairs, their Perfons and Families, and to make them profper and fucceed well. (They fhall profper that love thee.) Now thefe are Lovers of Jerufalem who rightly efteem her, and prefer her above their Chief Foy, Pfal, 137. 6. 2. who wifh well thereto, and to Religion and the Worship of God, and them who fear and worfhip God. And 3. Do all the Good they can for them.

Now, to thefe who do fo, it is promifed that they fhall profper, or have peace, under which all kind of Bleffings, Temporal, Spiritual and Eternal are underftood in Scri

pture:

pture: Hence I faid in the Doctrine, fincere Love and Refpect to, and kindly Concern for the publick Good of Church and State, is the way to procure a Bleffing on Men's private Affairs and Perfons.

For proof of this, Confider, 1. This is it which God hath promifed, when Men prefer the Honour of God, and publick Good to their own private, that it fhall fare the better with them in their private Concerns. See for this, Math. 10. 39. Pfalm. 1. 3. 1 Tim. 4. 8. Deut. 29. 9. Fofb. 1. 7, 8. 1 King. 2. 3, 4.

2. This may be evident from the nature of the thing, for there is in it fuch Service, Honour and Love to God, which he hath promifed to reward and blefs, 1 Sam. 2. 30. Prov. 8. 17. and Joh. 12. 26. This is the way to gain Favour with God and Good Men, and our own Particular is wrapt up in the Publick Good, for we are Members of the Body, Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12.

3. Experience confirmeth it, fee it in ObedEdom, 2 Sam. 6. 11, 12. God bleffed his House while the Ark of God was in it, and 2 Sam. 7: and 1 Chron. 17. God promifeth to blefs and build David's Houfe, for his purpofe to build a House to God. This alfo is evident in the Cafe of Afa and Fehofopbat, and Hezekiah, and Fofab, and Ebedmelech, Nehemiah and Mordecai; fee Haggai 2. 19. It's true, God may for the Tryal of his People, and other holy Ends, fuffer them who lay themfelves out for the Publick Good, to meet with Groffes after doing Great Service, 2 Chron. 32.

1. yet the general Truth holds fure, that this is the fureft way to promove Men's own private Good and Profperity.

For Application, Ufe 1. This may ferve for Terror to them who do not love Jerufalem, but defire and defign the Hurt of the Church, they shall not profper, it shall not be well with them, they are not blefs'd, but curs'd of the Lord, Ifai. 3. 11. Pfal. 34. 21.

There is even a Woe against them, who are not concern'd in the Publick Good of Church and State, like that old fat Monk of whom it is ftoried, that ftroking down his Breaft and his Belly, faid, Modo hic fit bene, providing it be well with himself, cared little how the World went about him; fo many care little how it go with Church or State, if it go well with their own particular; this. is a Sinful and Shameful thing, let fuch remember that Woe, Amos. 6. 1. 4, 5, 6.

But there are others who hate Sion and Ferufalem, and contrive the Churches Hurt and Ruine: Some like the Edomites, Pfal. 137. 7Cry raze it, raze it, even to the Foundations thereof; but fuch are Edomites who are to be deftroyed, and will be remembred of God for that: But others cover their Hatred with lying Lips, and dig deep to hide their Counfels, but God feeth and will laugh at them, and turn their Counfels into Folly. See Pfal. 58. and 59, and Pfal. 83, and Pfal. 2, and Pf. 37. 12, 13. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his Teeth, the Lord' fhall laugh at him, for he feeth that his day is com

ing.

ing. These have against them, 1. The Prayer of the Church, 2 Sam. 15. 31. O Lord, I pray thee turn the Counfels of Abithopbel into foolih nefs, Ch. 17. 14. Pfal. 129. 5, 6, 7. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion, &c. 2. The promises of God to his Church, Ifa. 54. 17. No weapon that is formed against thee fhall profper, and every Tongue that fhall rife up against thee thou shalt condemn. 3. God's threatnings againft her Enemies, Ifa. 41. 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, and Zech. 12. 2, 3, 6. where under three Similitudes, he threatens their fearful Ruine. And 4. The experience of his Judgments on others, this hath ruined many Perfons and Families, and brought a Curfe on Houfes and Eftates, as on Pharoah and Senacherib, and Abithopbel, and Haman, &c.

Use 2. Of Exhortation. As ever ye would profper, or have it to go well with you and yours, fee that ye be among the lovers of Ferufalem, feek the publick Good of Church and State, They fhall profper that love thee. Here is choice Encouragement to all who love feruSalem, and here's that which may excite to feek after, to be concerned in, and endeavour to promote the Welfare of both Church and State, They fhall profper that love thee. They fhall profper in their Endeavours, yea, and this is the way to make it go the better with them in their private Affairs, to profper outwardly and inwardly, in Body, Soul and Eftate, to make it go well with you in time, and through Eternity, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. Prov. 8. 18, 20. Imitate thefe Worthies, Pfal, 137.