rest of the Psalms; for David did not write all contained in the book, or collection, entitled The Book of Psalms, though he wrote the chief part.

Peter calling him the Prophet David, Christ affirming that he was in the Spirit, and spake by the Holy Ghost, the testimony given of the Messiah in the 110th Psalm, and his own saying that The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue, are sufficient proofs of his being a prophet, and that he wrote the Psalms, as moved and inspired by the Holy Ghost.

To which may be added the quotations from them and their application to Christ both by himself and his apostles, which shew they are canonical scripture, that they treat of, and chiefly belong to Christ Jesus. He is indeed the life and spirit of the whole Bible; the Alpha and Omega of it. The Psalms are quoted in the New Testament not less than eighty-two times. They were to record the fame and praise of our inestimably lovely and precious Lord Jesus.

I will conclude this first particular head of my discourse with the words of my text. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets,

and IN THE PSALMS concerning me. Which scripture contains infallible testimony, when rightly viewed and examined, that David was a prophet and wrote the Psalms concerning Christ, as moved and inspired by the Holy Ghost. For they contain prophecies concerning the Messiah, Jehovah's anointed one; which He was to fulfil, and which he has fulfilled in his incarnation, life, obedience, miracles, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

I will, Secondly, set forth before you the subject-matter of the Book of Psalms.

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy: or, as BISHOP NEWTON reads it, The Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. To him give all the prophets witness. All these sacred Hymns, or Poems, call them which you please, (for they were written in Hebrew metre) are full of the high praises of Jesus Christ, and were designed to set him forth most gloriously; so they were also a most noble part of the Spirit's testimony concerning him. And our Christ is set forth in them in the glorious honour of his majesty and of his wondrous works. They treat of the Father's everlasting love, of the covenant of the Eternal Three, of their mutual love towards the elect church of human race, and fully prove that from everlasting Christ's delights were with the elect

Rev. xix. 10.

f Acts x. 43.

sons of men-even that elect company which the Father had given to him, and for which he gave himself.

The co-equality, personality, and coexistence of Christ with the Father and Spirit are declared in the Book of Psalms. From them it most clearly appears, that he is by essential union with the Godhead equal with the Father and the Spirit in all the infinite fulness and perfection of Deity. He being one in the self-existing essence, his name is Jehovah, the most high over all the earth. But his glories and royalties, his perfections and blessedness, as God-Man-Mediator, the head and Saviour of his church and people, are chiefly dwelt upon.

Every thing contained in Moses' writings, in the symbols, types, shadows, and ceremonies, concerning the seed of the woman, who was to bruise the serpent's head, the old serpent, called the Devil, is here recognized, and most divinely realized. The Psalms refer to all the emblematical institutions, typical representations, deliverances, and persons, which are applied to the gospel state with as much assurance, and in the present tense, as if certainly and already accomplished and transacted.

The titles prefixed to them would, if translated with a short comment, be a key to unlock, and open the sacred trea

sury contained in them. By which means we should in the Spirit's light see the unsearchable riches of Christ contained in them. For an evidence of this Dr. Gill says, the title of the ninth Psalm might have been rendered, To the conqueror of death. Another renders it, To the conqueror over death. To the Son. To the beloved. What an idea must this have created in the minds of believers concerning their beloved Jesus, who hath abolished death, conquered and destroyed it, yea, swallowed it up in everlasting victory and triumph!

It gives an intimation that much of the subject is contained in the titles of these sacred Hymns. Indeed, in these Psalms, and Hymns, and spiritual Songs every thing which concerns the incarnation, birth, life, miracles, obedience, sacrifices, sufferings, agony, soul-travail, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, coronation, and installation of our Lord in heaven, in his kingdom of glory, is recorded. Consequently such of them as bear a particular title must contain in that very title that which is very expressive and of vast importance.

The work of redemption is their grand subject. The views of what Messiah was to his church, and his praises for finishing the salvation of his people are the end pursued. The account of what he is in

the kingdom of his grace the minds of his beloved.

exalts him in The prospect of what he will be to his church in the state of glory fills them with extacy, with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Hence the book is closed with the universal chorus of all saints, who with one heart and one soul cry out and say, Let every thing which hath breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah".

This sacred collection of Psalms, and Hymns, and spiritual Songs was, as some Jewish writers say, divided into five books. The First begins with the first Psalm, and ends with the forty-first.

The Second Book begins with the fortysecond, and ends with the seventy-second. The Third Book begins with the seventy-third, and ends with the eighty-ninth.

The Fourth Book begins with the ninetieth, and ends with the hundred and sixth.

The Fifth Book begins with the hundred and seventh, and ends with the hundred and fiftieth.

The collection of them, as they now stand in our Bibles, is generally ascribed to Ezra the priest, who was a ready scribe in the law of God.

There are fifteen of them styled Songs of degrees. These begin with the hundred and twentieth, and end with the 8 Psalm 1. last verse.