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love to him, he communicates his love to them, and they have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jefus Chrift by the Spirit.

But this will be more evident from confidering fome particulars relating to the fubject; fuch as

CHA P. II.

The fcripture names of the Pfalms.

THERE are three Hebrew names of

ten used in the titles of the pfalms, which the Septuagint have translated pfalms, hymns, and fongs. The word rendered by them hymns is Thebilim, which is the running title to this book, expreffive of the general defign, and is an abridgment of the whole matter. It comes from a Hebrew word that fignifies the brifk motion of light, fhining and putting its fplendor upon any object, and this makes it bright and illuftrious. Hence comes the propriety of the word, as it is used to praife, which is to fet an object in the light; that the rays fhining upon it may render it fplendid and beautiful, and thereby glorious and praise worthy. Such are the Pfalms. They

are

are rays of light-Enlighteners, (if I might ufe fuch a word, and it is the literal fenfe of the Hebrew) hymns intended to manifeft the glory of the perfon, and to fhew forth the praises of the work of God Jefus For light in its various ufes in nature is the appointed emblem of the Lord Chrift. He is diftinguished by this name throughout the old teftament; and he applied all the paffages to himself in the new, when he declared - I am the light of the world" I am not only the

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creator of light in the material world, "but also in the fpiritual world-dark"nefs covers the earth and grofs dark"ness the people, until I the light of life "arife upon their fouls: And when I "come with healing in my rays, in that day fhall the deaf hear my words, and "the eyes of the blind fhall fee out of obfcurity and out of darkness.”

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Jefus gives eyes to fee with and light to fee by He opens the eyes of the understanding and makes fpiritual objects vifible: fo that, whoever is enlightened with faving knowlege, has it all from him, and it fhould all lead to him. He is the bright day ftar which fhines throughout the volume of revelation; but in no part with clearer rays than in the book of pfalms. Here he is exalted

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in his meridian glory: For the whole fcripture does not give greater light into what he was to be, and to do, and to suffer, his life, his temper, his employment from his tender age until his crucifixion, than is to be found in those divine hymns: Nor are there any more full defcriptions of his paffion, death, refurrection, afcenfion, and his kingdom which ruleth over all. In the pfalms he himself read and meditated day and night, while he was growing in wifdom and stature. And in them will every true believer meditate, that he may have more of the light of the knowlege of the glory of God, as it fhines in the perfon of Jefus Chrift. As the eyes of his understanding are more enlightened with this faving truth he will more more happily enjoy in his heart the benefits of the humiliation, and exaltation of the incarnate Jehovah. May this, reader, be thy happy cafe: may every pfalm be as the fhining light, leading thee to a growing knowlege of Jefus, and fhining on clearer ftill unto the perfect day.

Zemer is another Hebrew word which the Septuagint tranflates pfalms; as a verb it fignifies to cut and prune trees, as a noun it is a branch cut off and pruned, and by way of eminence the branch, the

man

man whose name is the branch, who was known and distinguished by this title in the scripture. He was the eternal God, and he was in the fulness of time to be made flesh, and to be cut off, but not for himself. This was the great tranfaction in the everlasting covenant"Thus faith the Lord of hofts, Zech. "iii. 7, 8, Behold I will bring forth my "fervant the BRANCH," the promised branch, which was to fpring from the root of Jeffe; and again, Zech. vi. 12, 13. "Thus fpeaketh the Lord of hofts, "Behold the man whofe name is the "BRANCH, and he fhall grow up out of "his place and he fhall build the tem

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ple of the Lord, (in which the God"head fhall refide) even he fhall build "the temple of the Lord, and he fhall "bear the glory, and fhall fit and fhall "rule upon his throne, and he shall be "a priest upon his throne, and the coun"fel of peace fhall be between them "both," between Jehovah and the branch For the branch having grown up in his place was in the temple of his body to ratify the counfel of peace: He was to establish it in his life, and to fulfil it in his death, and having by dying conquered death, and him that had the power of death, he was to rebuild the temple

P.B.43.

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temple of the Lord, as he faid unto the Jews" Deftroy this temple, and in "three days I will build it up.", Which he fulfilled by building up the temple of his body natural, and thereby he demonftrated that he will in due time perfectly complete the temple of his body myftical, which is his church: For he. is a head to all his members. He quickens them by his grace, and actuates them by his influence. By union with him they live, by communion with him they grow. His Spirit breathes through the church, which is his body, and enables the members to grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Chrift; whereby he teaches them, and it is a great part of their growth, how to acknowlege their obligations with increafing humility to their glorified head. He renders the falvation of Jefus finished upon the crofs the fweet fubject of their fpiritual fong. His dying love they would keep ever in mind; they would have it always warm upon their hearts, and always upon their tongues. His paffion on the tree is their never ceafing theme: God forbid, fay they, that we fhould glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jefus Chrift. In this they glory, and in this alone, with their voices, and with every mufical in

ftrument,

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