io6 An Expojition ofthe CHAP. L prefent Doiïors cannot deny it : One ofthem fayes indeed, 7ri Sy , u itonzn Monti tíy IN, this Pfalm isfpoken ofDavid or the Meffiah. Thefeare the words, and this is the opinion ofAben-Ezra, whoaccordingly endeavours togive a double fenfe ofthechief paffages in this Pfalm ; one as applied untoDavid, anotheras applied unto the Meffiah which he encimes unto. Jarcbi turnsit into an Allegory, without any toile- rabic retire throughout his difcourfe. But though it might refpeét them both, yet there is no pretence to mike David the fubjeét' ofit ; the Titleandwhole Contexture ofit excluding fuch an Application. The Targum wholly, applies the Pfalm to the Mefltah ; which is fomewhat a better evidenceof the Conception ofthe ancient Yews, than the private Opinion daily later Writer can giveus. And the Title of the Pfalm in that.Paraphrafe, would make it a Prophefie givenout in the days ofMoles, for the ufe ofthe Sanedrin s which manifefts what account it had ofold in their Creed concerning theMph. Some Chriflian Interpreters hate fo far affented unto the latter Rabhirtr; as to grant that Solomon was primarily intended in this Pfalm as a Type of Chrifl; and that the wholewas anEpithalamium or Marriage -bong, composed upon his Nuptials with the Daughter of Pharaoh. But there want not important Reafons agaioli this Opi- nion. For, a. It is not probable thatthe Holy Gho(i fisould -fo celebrate dirt M ttriage, which as itwas antecedentlyforbidden by God, fo it was never coufequendy bielfed by him, the being among the number of thole ffrangewomen which tuned his heart from God, and was curfed with barrennefs; the hilt forreign breach that came upon hisFamily and all his Magnificencebeing alfofrom Egypt, where his tranfgrelton began: ` 2. There is fcarce any thing in the P/àlm thatcan with propriety offpeechbe ap- pliedunto Solomon. Two things are efpecially mulled on in the former part of the Pfalm; heft, the Righteoufnefs of the Perron fpokenofin all his ways and adminiflra- tions, and then the perpetuityof his Kingdom. How theft./ of there can be attri- buted unto him, whole tranfgreflionsand fins were fo publick and, no-torious ; or the latter to him who reigned but forty,years, 'and then lets his Kingdom broken and di- Vided to a wicked fodilhfin, is hard to conceive. As all thengrant that the McJjiah isprincipally, fothere is nocogent reafon to prove that heis witfoley intended in this Halm.. I willnot contend, but that fundry things treated ofin it mightbe obfcurely typified in the KingdomandMagnificence ofSolomon; yet it is certain, that molt ofthe things mentioned, and expreffions of them, do fo immediately and directlybelong unto the Lord Chrill, as that they can in no fenfe be applied unto theperfon ofSolomon ; and fuch are the words infilled on in this place by our Apoflle, as will be made evident in the enfuing explication of them. We mutt then in the next place confider what it isthat theApofile intends to prove and confirm by this eettimony, whereby we fhalldifcover its fuitablenefs unto his defign. Now this is not, asfome have fuppofed, the Deity ofChriff ; nordoth hemake ufe ofthat directly in thisplace,though he do in the next verfe, as a medium to prove his Preheminence above the Angels, although the teftimonies whichhe producethdo eminently mention his Divine Nature.. But that which he defigns to evince is this only, that He whom they faw fora time made lower than the Angels, chap. 2. 10. was yet in hiswhole Perfon, andas he difcharged the Office committed unto him , fo far above them, asthat he hadPower toalter and change thofe Intlitutions which were givenout by the minif¡ery of Angels. And this he Both undeniably by the tell:imonies alledged, as they are compared together. For whereas the Scripture tefl:ifies concern- ing Angels, that they are all fervants, and that their chiefefl: Glory confifts in the difcharge of their Duty as fervants; unto Him a Throne; Rule, and Everlafting Dominion, adminiftred with Glory, Power, Righteoufnefsand Equity are afcribed whence it is evident, that he is exceedingly exalted above them, as is a King on his Throneabove the fervants that attend him anddo his pleafure. And this is fufficient to manifeft the defign of the Apoftle, as alfo the evidence of hisArgument from this tellimony. TheExpofition of the words belongsproperly to the place from whence they are taken. But yet that wemay not leave the Reader un- fatisfied as to anyparticular difficulty that may feem tooccur in them, this Expofiti- on (hall beherealto attended. The firft thing to be attended in them, is the Companion ofthe Perfon fpoken unto, 0God; ThyTbrone, O God. Some would, have Elohim, (i Gets) tobe a name common to God wish others, namely t1
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