strument, but chiefly with the melody of their hearts, they endeavor to praise him, who was flain and hath redeemed them unto God by his blood. It becometh them well in the house of their pilgrimage thus to fing the triumphs of the worthy lamb: For it is to be in their Father's houfe the moft blessed subject of their endless fong. The ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of angels, and the great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds, and people and tongues, harping with their golden harps in full concert join in praising the crucified Immanuel. "Worthy is the

"lamb that was flain to receive power "and riches, and wisdom and strength, "and honor and glory, and bleffing. "Amen. Hallelujah.'

There is another Hebrew word SHeR, which the Septuagint conftantly render a fong, frequently applied to the pfalms. It fignifies rule and government, and is ufed for any principality among men. Hence it is very properly spoken of him whofe kingdom ruleth over all. The prince of peace is one of his high titles. He is called the prince of the kings of the earth-a prince for ever-of whofe government and peace there fhall be no end. To this empire he had an unalienable and B 2 inde

indefeifable right, being in the one Jehovah poffeffed of the fame perfections with the Father and the holy Spirit. But the moft common view in which the pfalms confider him is that of the God-man, Kingmediator, whose principality is the most glorious reign of grace. He fits upon his throne freely to bestow all divine bleffings upon his redeemed, and he is Meffiah the prince who was raised to his kingdom by the covenant of the eternal Three: In which he engaged to be a furety for his people; and in their nature, and in their ftead to fatisfy all the offended attributes of the Father by his holy life and death, and the Father engaged to give him a kingdom with all power in heaven and earth. Accordingly in the fulness of time he was manifested in the flesh, and for the joy that was fet before him, he endured the cross, and defpised the fhame, and is fet down at the right hand of the throne of God. He is greatly exalted, far above all principality and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. The once crucified is now the enthroned Jefus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, almighty to fave his people from all their fins and from all their enemies. The glories of Immanuel

in this respect are celebrated under the name SHER in feveral of the pfalms. In the xlviith pfalm for inftance, all the people are called upon to clap their hands for joy, and to fhout unto God with the voice of triumph, because Jehovah Jefus is the great king over all the earth. His happy government, under which believers receive all their bleflings, was to be the constant fubject of their grateful fong. Singing was ufing words and founds to exprefs the praises of the king of faints, and their joy in him. It was fo much the ruling and leading fubject, that every hymn reminded them of Meffiah the prince. Whenever they were happy in their hearts, they expreffed it by finging the praises of that moft glorious perfon, who was made flesh, humbling himself to be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, and who thereby became the head of all principality and power. He ruleth the almighty Immanuel over every creature and every thing, God-man upon his throne, till all his enemies, death itself be deftroyed, and then he will reign with the Father and the Spirit for ever and ever: For his reign is everlasting, and of his kingdom there fhall be no end.

This was the delightful theme in the book of pfalms. The old teftament faints

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were never weary of celebrating Meffiah their prince, the Lord and Saviour of his people, made an offering for their fins, dead, rifen, and afcended to his throne. This is ftill the sweetest fubject in the church of God. Happy are they, who have the Lord Chrift ruling over their outward eftate. Thrice happy they, who have him ruling in their fouls. O what happiness is it to have fet up within them the kingdom of God! which is righteoufness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost. None have greater reafon to rejoice with joy and finging, than they who have Chrift dwelling in their hearts by faith. It was one principal defign of thofe facred hymns. to keep up this holy joy, that if any were merry they might fing pfalms and be glad in the Lord. Senfible of his tender care and royal protection, with what joyful lips will they extoll their king? They would have all within them to blefs his holy name, and would be praising him with pfalms and hymns and spiritual fongs, rejoicing all the way to Sion, and making heavenly melody in their hearts unto the Lord.

Thefe three names take in the subject of the whole book-the hymns contain the praises of Immanuel, our fun of righteoufnefs-the pfalms treat of his taking our

nature,

nature, and in it being cut off for his people, that through his death they might live-the fongs celebrate the glories of his kingdom, both in earth and heaven, in time and eternity. Besides these names of the book of pfalms there are several other things written in fcripture concerning them, which confirm the account here given of their reference to the ever-bleffed Meffiah, king of faints, and which will be farther illuftrated under the confideration of

CHA P. III.

Some paffages of the Old Testament, concerning the book of Pfalms.

THESE paffages are either fuch as command the finging of pfalms, or fuch as lay down rules for finging them properly of the first fort we find frequent mention. "Give thanks unto the Lord, "call upon his name, make known his "deeds among the people: Sing unto "him, fing pfalms unto him: O fing "unto the Lord a new fong, fing unto "the Lord, all the earth: Sing unto the "Lord, blefs his name, fhew forth his "falvation from day to day. Make a joyful

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