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who is called (Hebrews i, 3,) the brightnefs of his Father's glory and the exprefs image, of his perfon. This is the fcripture account of Jefus Chrift, God manifeft in the flesh-according as he faid to Philip (John xiv. 9.) he that hath feen me, hath feen the Father." So the difciples beheld his glory when he was made flesh, and dwelt among them, though the world knew him not, John i. 19, 14. And fo his being faid to ceafe in the view of Pfalm xii. 1. confiftent with his being a Son to continue his Father's name for ever, Psalm lxxii. 17. may be further illuftrated from Pfalm exviii. 22. the ftone which the builders refused, is become the head of the corner," compared with 1ft of Peter ii. 4: "difallowed indeed of men, but chofen of God."-The reafon of this oppofition, is, because the world lieth in the wicked one," ft of John v. 19. And the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not, left the light of the glorious gofpel of Chrift, who is the image of God, should fhine unto them," 2d of Corinthians iv. 4. "The prince of the power of the air is the fpirit that now worketh in the children of difobedience," Ephef, ii. 2,

And thus we are brought to the confideration of the fufferings of Chrift, and the glory that fhould follow, as the fubject of the Pfalms,

His enemies are Satan and his adherents; who at the first mention feem to ftrike the mind with fomething fhocking in the openly profane way, which the natural confcience of every one condemns. But the oppofition we are fpeaking of, is not that which fhews itfelf openly against the moral law; but an op pofition to Chrift. to Chrift. He abode not in the truth," John viii. 44. and carries on his oppofition to Chrift in a way of transforming himself into an angel of light, according to Pfalm ly, 12 to 14. for it was not an enemy that reproached me, then I could have born it; neither was it he that hated me, that did magnify himself against ine, then I would have hid

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myfelf from him. But it was thon, a mạn, mine bøjtal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took fweet counsel together, and walked to the houfe of God in company.' However this Pfalm may have a respect to Ahithophel, David's counsellor, yet it chiefly and ultimately points to the cafe of Judas; as is evident from verfes 20, 21. “ he hath put forth his hand against such as be at peace with him; he hath bro ken his covenant."-It is fupposed that it might be rendered, he hath broken his peace :”—And so the place may receive, illuftration from Hebrews x. 26, 27." if we fin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more facrifice for fin but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, &c." which feems to have been the cafe of Judas in putting forth his hand against him whom the apostle calls, our peace, and breaking his covenant. "The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, yet war was in his heart: His words were fofter than oil, yet were they drawn fwords."His words are," whomsoever I fhall kifs, that fame is he, hold him faft. And forthwith he came to Jefus, and faid, hail, mafter, and kiffed him," Matt. xxvi. 48, 49.This was under the influence of Satan (Luke xxii. 3.) as appears from verfe 3, of the forecited lv. Pfalm, "because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppreffion of the wicked one," which is his character in the Pfalms, in oppofition to the character of Chrift; as in verfe 22. the Lord fhall never fuffer the righte ous ONE to be, moved," (as they are faid to be literally rendered.)

I have already faid, that wherever the bleffed man, the upright man, the righteous one, the just one, the poor one, the meek one, &c. is fpoken of in the Pfalms in the fangular number, Jefus Chrift is intended. It may not be, amifs to point to feveral paffages for illuftration.

Pfalmas

Pfalms iv. 3. Pfalms xxxiv. 6, Pfalm lviii.ro, A:

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.cxii. 1,5,6,7

And when we find the contrary character, as the unjust man, the cruel man, the violent man, the wicked one, &cit is to be understood of Satan; as in the following paffages: ない短いる

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which I fhall close with Pfalm cix. 6, "Set thou a wicked man over him, and let Satan stand at his right hand," as proving and illuftrating this view of thefe paffages.

I may alfo add, when thofe characters applied to Chrift in the fingular number, are applied any where in the plural number; they intend his followers in connexion with him. And thofe applied to Satan in the fingular number; when found elfe where in the plural number, are to be understood of his followers in connexion with him in their oppofition to Jefus Christ and his followers..

And thus we are brought to the view of thofe enemies that carry on that oppofition to Jefus Chrift and his followers, in which the fufferings of Chrift are included, over which he and they will have dominion in the morn ing; Pfalm xlix. 14. agreeable to Pfalm xlvi. 5、 "God is in the midst of her, God fhall help her, and that right early."-Heb. when the morning appeareth (as in the margin) in which the glory that fhall follow on the fufferings of Christ, shall be made manifeft; in which his followers fhall share with him, as they are to fhare with him in his sufferings; according to 2d of Timothy ii. 12. if we fuffer with him, we shall alfo reign with him." Pfalm lxviii. 13, 14. " though ye have lien among the pots, yet

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hall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with filver, and her feathers with yellow gold. When the Almighty fcatters kings for her, the fhall be like the fnow in Salmon" (as tis faid the Hebrew fignifies.)

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Of the fufferings of Chrift we have an early account in the Pfalms So foon as the character of this bleffed one, is brought to view in his perfect conformity to the law of God, infuring his profperity, and in oppofition to the ungodly, as in Pfalmi. we have the heathen raging, and the people imagining a vain thing, the kings: of the earth fetting themselves, and their rulers against the Lord, and against his anointed,Let us break their bands afunder, and caft their cords from us, Pfalm ii. So we have in the hiftory of his life in the New-Testament. For so soon as Herod the king heard of his birth, die was troubled, and all Jerufalem, with him; And that oppofition to him then took place, which followed him through his whole life, from all forts of men, his natural relations not excepted, Pfalm Ixix. 8 I am become a ftranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children." According to this we find in John-vii, 3, 4, 5. they: were, difpleafed with him. His brethren therefore faid unto him, depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy difciples alfo may fee the works that thou doft. For no man doth any thing in fecret, and he himself feeketh to be known openly: If thou do these things, fhew thyfelf to the world. For neither did his bre thren believe in him And their concern for him excited them at length to go and lay hold on him, “ for they faid, he is befide himself; Mark iii, 21 His fuf ferings were from all ranks of men, from the highest to› the lowest, Pfalm. Ixix. 12.They that fit in the gate, (by which I fuppofe is to be understood thofe in pow er, according to Proverbs xxxi,28) pake against me, and I was the fong of the drunkards." Was not this fulfilled in the combination, from the chief priests, and scribes, and elders, to the lowest of the

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Hob, connected with Satan, against him? Says Jefus Christ, this is your hour, and the power of darknefs. These prevailed till he could say, ' reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heavinefs • and I looked for fome to take pity, and there was none; and for comfort, but I found one t for he was betrayed by one difciple, dented by another, and forsaken by all. But to finish the horror of his füfferings, the Father hid liis face from him, which fwallowed up all his other complaints I only mention these as a hint of what may more fully be feen' by looking over either the prophecies in the Pfalms and other parts of the Old-Teftament, or the histo ries exhibited in the New-Testament.

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His difciples and firft followers foon met with that treatment which caufed them to bear in their bodies the marks of the Lord Jefus, that confirmed their faith in the Old-Testament feriptures concerning Chrift See Acts iv. 24-28. And of them it is faid, Pfalm xliv. 22. "yea, for thy fake are we killed all the day! long; we are accounted as fheep for the flaughter! See Romans viii. 36. BicoDA

And there are many of the Pfalmis which feem expreffive of the prayers of Chrift under his fufferings, which always end in affured confidence in God for de liverance, in virtue of his perfect righteousness. See Pfalms v. vi. vli. xiii.'xvil. xxii. xxxv! lxix. 1xxxvi.` &e. Some verfes out of thefe Pfalms expreffing this confidence, I here produce. Pfalm 12. Fors thou, Lord, wilt blefs the righteous, with favour wilt thou compass him as with a fhield." Pfalm vi g

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The Lord hath heard my fuppleation; the Lord will receive my prayer Pfalm vii. 16. My defence is of God, who faveth the upright in heart. Pfalm xii..) But I have trusted in thy merey: My heart hall re® joice in thy falvation. Pfalm xvi. 1: As for fe, I fhall behold thy face in righteousnefs: I fhall be fatif fied when I awake with thy likeness, Pfàlm xxx. 24.1 dou

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