the hundred and twenty-ninth pfalm. What the royal poet faid of Ifrael was verified in the Saviour of Ifrael, when Pilate the Roman governor took him and fcourged him, as it is written John xix. 1. -And my checks, &c. Though this particular inftance of contempt is not explicitly mentioned in the history of our Lord's fufferings, yet there is no reason to doubt of its having been literally fulfilled, when the chief priests and elders delivered him to the Gentiles to mock, and to fcourge, and to crucify, when all things written in the prophets concerning the Son of man were accomplished.-I. Hid not my face from fhame, &c. How manifold were the inftances, of fcorn and derifion offered to the Meffiah, to which he fubmitted with invincible meeknels, patience, and conftancy! He bare reproach, and fhame covered his face; he was the fong of the drunkard; he became a ftranger and a proverb to his brethren. How diftreffing beyond measure to a great mind are the vile indignities mentioned by our Prophet! No wonder that he faid who fuftained them, Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heavinefs.' From thefe difgraceful infults, however, he did not hide or turn away his face, but on the contrary fuftained them with fortitude and magnanimity.-Relying on the merits of his obedience and death, let us go forth after him, bearing his reproach; tenderly fympathifing with him under the painful ignominy to which he fubmitted for our fakes, and fuftaining with determined firmnefs all the reproaches, to which we are expofed on account of our connection with him.

7 For the LORD God will help me, therefore fhall I not be confounded; therefore have I fet my face like a flint, and I know that I fhall not be ashamed.

The Meffiah expreffes in this verse his firm dependence

pendence on Jehovah for affiftance, and his affured confidence of the glorious fuccefs with which the arduous work fhould be attended that he was engaged to execute. Firmly relying on the Lord God who had given him the tongue of the learned, who had opened his ear, and prepared for him a body, that he would grant him all neceffary aid, he triumphs in the profpect of enjoying his help and fupport. The infpired writer of the twenty-fecond pfalm, after having related the circumftances of his pation, introduces him with this request, Be not thou far from me, O Lord; O my ftrength, hafte thee to help me.' Nor did he afk in vain; for the Lord God affifted him, and carried him honour ably through all his trials and fufferings.-Therefore fhall I not be confounded. The united powers of earth and hell fhall not be able to disconcert the measures that I adopt, nor to fruftrate the defign I have formed; no circumstances shall give rife to fhame and confufion of face. With this pleafing affurance the event exactly correfponded; for no oppofition could defeat his intention; he finished tranfgreffion, he vanquished his enemies, he loft none of thofe given him to redeem, and acquired to himself immortal glory and honour.

Therefore have I jet my face like a flint. Thefe words forcibly exprefs the unfhaken firmness and conftancy of the great Redeemer in refifting the virulent oppofition with which he had to contend. Such was his undaunted refolution, fuch his unconquerable intrepidity, that the inveterate malice and combined power of his adverfaries could not make the fmalleft impreffion on his mind, or prevent him from profecuting the benevolent purpose he had formed. Neither fear nor force could in the leaft retard his exertions. Some great men have discovered amazing firmnefs and courage in encoun tering dangers. Leonidas being told that the Per fian archers with whom he had to fight were fo numerous that their arrows would darken the fun,—

So

So much the better, faid he; we shall then fight in the fhade. The heroic bravery of this celebrated, warrior, all circumftances confidered, is not worthy to be compared to the calm infuperable magnanimity and intrepidity difplayed by the Meffiah on many memorable occafions. Recollect the meffage he fent to Herod the king; his afcent to Jerufalem, where he knew he was to endure the most excruciating fufferings; and the greatness of mind he dif played when he met thole who were sent to apprehend him, and you may fee this fcripture remarkably verified. The greater the ftruggle, the ftronger and the longer the conteft, the more illuftrioufly difplayed are the virtues of the conqueror, and the more glorious the victory.

And I know that I shall not be ashamed. Shame (faith the proverb) is the promotion of fools;' this is all the preferment to which they may expect to be advanced. It is added as a contraft to this maxim, But the wife fhall inherit glory.' This remark was eminently verified in Jefus Chrift, who, notwithstanding the utmoft efforts of his inveterate enemies to render him odious and contemptible, yet by all their malevolent exertions could never thew cause why he should have been afhamed. He perfectly knew that his glorious gospel was to triumph over error, and to be published to all nations for the obedience of faith-that his predictions, promifes, and threatenings were to be punctually fulfilled; and though according to the will of God he was to die by the hands of men, he was thereby to abolish fin and death, to rife triumphant from the dead, and to reign in eternal glory. Juftly, therefore, might he fay, I know that I fhall not be afhamed.-Nor fhall they be confounded, who, having obtained help from God, furmount with determined refolution the difficulties that they meet with in the path of duty. Such may boldly fay with God's fervant David, Then fhall I not be afhaVOL. III. 40'

• med

'med when I have refpect to all thy commandments *.'

8 He is near that juftifieth me; who will contend with me? let us ftand together; who is miné adverfary? let him come near to me.

--

The Meffiah expreffes his firm confidence that he fhould be honourably acquitted from all the calumnies and injuries with which he was most undefervedly loaded, and boldly defies his adverfaries to bring forward any just ground of accufation against him. He is near that justifieth me, who will not only judge all men by the law written in their hearts, the Jews by the law of Moses, and his elect according to the law of grace; but who will judge me according to the law given me as Mediator, and vindicate his righteous fervant from the foul afperfions thrown out against him. He will openly acknowledge that I never faid or did any thing that was not perfectly agreeable to the commandment I received from him; he will bring forth my righteousness as the light, and my judgment as the noon day. This fentiment is explicitly afferted by our Saviour, in the twelfth chapter of the gospel by John, 49th and 50th verfes; For I have not fpoken of myfelf: but the Father which fent me, he gave me a commandment, what I fhould fay, and what I fhould fpeak. And I know that his 'commandment is life everlafting; whatsoever I speak, therefore, even as the Father faid unto me, fo I speak.' Many heinous crimes were charged against him by his malicious perfecutors; many evil furmifes were fpread abroad concerning him. He was faid to be a glutton, a wine biber, a friend of publicans and finners, a feducer of the people, and poffeffed with a devil. Thefe and other heavy charges the Pharifees and those who joined them brought against him, and at laft they had him publicly condemned

* Pfal. cxix. 6.

demned by their counfel. From these falfe accusations laid against him, he was confident that the righteous judge of all the earth would abfolve him. Accordingly he was fully acquitted by the fupreme Judge of the world, who was always near to protec him by his providence from the hoftile defigns of his enemies, and to impart to him confummate wif dom, amiable goodneis, uncontrollable power, and divine eloquence, by the abundant communications of his Spirit. Thefe tranfcendent excellencies were manifeft at all times in his conduct, in his difcourfes, and miracles. In his fufferings and death the most illuftrious proofs were exhibited of the divine prefence that ever attended him, which attefted his majefty and innocence, and demonftrated that he was indeed the Son of God. Befides, by his refurrection from the dead, and afcenfion to the right hand of God, with their joyful confequences, he was declared to be the true Meffiah, and the Son of God with power. 'Therefore the whole house of Ifrael ought to know affuredly, that God hath * made that fame Jefus who was crucified, both Lord and Chrift *.' In this manner did God the Father bear witness to him, and juftify him openly before the people.-Thefe words of Jefus Chrift which I have now illustrated may be adopted with joy and triumph by every true Chriftian. God who jufti fies me, (may he fay) who delivers from condemnation and wrath, and gracioufly accepts of me thro' his beloved Son, is always near to grant what I call upon him for; to preferve and affift, to establish and enrich, to comfort and felicitate. Having the Lord on my fide, I will not fear nor be difmayed.

Who will contend with me? Having expreffed his firm confidence in the fuccour and protection of Jehovah; the Meffiah proceeds to challenge his enemies to combat with him. Who will prefume to strive with me, to call in queftion either my right or my ability to perform the work I am engaged to execute?

A&s ii. 36,