are rays of light-Enlighteners, (if I might ufe fuch a word, and it is the literal fense 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 uses in nature is the appointed emblem of the Lord Chrift. He is distinguished 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 "creator of light in the material world, "but alfo in the spiritual world - dark"nefs covers the earth and grofs dark"nefs 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 shall fee out of "obfcurity and out of darkness.”

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 should all lead to him. He is the bright day ftar which shines throughout the volume of revelation; but in no part with clearer rays than in the book of pfalms. Here he is exalted

in

in his meridian glory: For the whole scripture does not give greater light into what he was to be, and to do, and to fuf-` fer, his life, his temper, his employment from his tender age until his crucifixion, than is to be found in those di-. vine 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 ftature. 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 person of Jefus Christ. As the eyes of his understanding are more enlightened with this faving truth he will more happily enjoy in his heart the benefits of the humiliation," and exaltation of the incarnate Jehovah. May this, reader, be thy happy case: 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 whofe name is the branch, who was known and distinguished by this title in the fcripture. He was the eternal

God, and he was in the fulness of time to be made fiefh, 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 hosts, "Behold the man whofe name is the

66

BRANCH, and he fhall grow up out of "his place and he fhall build the temple of the Lord, (in which the Godhead fhall refide) even he fhall build "the temple of the Lord, and he shall "bear the glory, and fhall fit and shall "rule upon his throne, and he fhall be

a prieft 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 B

temple

temple of the Lord, as he faid unto the Jews Destroy 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 Christ; 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 finifhed upon the cross the sweet 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 should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this they glory, and in this alone, with their voices, and with every musical in

trument,

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 houfe of their pilgrimage thus to fing the triumphs of the worthy lamb: For it is to be in their Father's house the moft bleffed fubject 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 praifing the crucified Immanuel. 66 Worthy is the "lamb that was flain to receive power "and riches, and wifdom and ftrength, "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 used for any principality among men. Hence it is very properly spoken of him whose 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