332 B R A N C H but with Reverence be it fpoken) would be the folemn Revelation of a Falihood from GOD ; for he declares, by the Mouth of his Prophet, that be would rail unto David a RIGHTEOUS BRANCH On Diftinftion from David's mere natural Branches, which, like the other Sons of "Islam, were corrupt and finful], and that aKing Jhall reign andprofper, andJhall execute 7rtdgement * and Righteoufnefs Thefe Words, judgements, rejlimonies, Law, Precepts, Sta. fre- quently occurring in the Old Teftament, and particularly in that feraphic Pfalm thecxixth, Teem, in general, but ill underftood by the Church of GOD at this Time; though, when they were tiled in the antient Language, and by the antient Church, there was a particular Meaningin them, and particular Comfort and Improve- ment were to be gathered from each of them. It has always been regretted by good Men, that the holy Tongue, calculated as it is to exprefs in many .Instances fpiritual things with a ftriking Peculi- arity, cannot be tranflated into any other Language, whether antient or modern, without either detraéuing from the Senfe, or lofing that Peculiarity. The Words, above recited, afford a re- markable Inftance of its And as they occur frequently in the Bible, and efpecially in the Pfalms, with much Importance; the Reader will excufe the Length of this Note, which is an humble Attempt to explain them. LAW.-By the Word rm.', renderedLaw, we are not always to enderftand the Lawgiven to Mofes, as is generally conceived of the Term in the Reading of the Old Teftament; nor the Law as a Covenant of Works, as is commonly underftood of it in the New: But, when it is ufed in a higher andmore abfolute Senfe, it means thegeneral Revelationof the Mind and Will of GOD, and the Corn- prehenfion, Doctrine, or Inveftigatinn of his Decrees. The Pfalmift, therefore, in the Pfalm above referred to, when he fpeaks of walk- ing se and keeping the Law, is to be underftood in an evangelical Senfe, as defying to comprehendand obferve the gracious Revelation of all GOD's Will, and to meditate upon it as containing the Rea- Ions of his Gofpel and Grace, which the Revelation of that Will or Law was ordained to convey to thofe, whole Minds were pre, pared to receive them. The Word Law, therefore, and the Terms that follow, have a higher and nobler Meaning than the merely literal one; or there would have been but little'Necefiity or Ufe for the commandedMeditation by Day and Night upon a few short moral Precepts, and a Code of ritual Obfervances. The whole Law, in this view of it is (as Bithop Lowth juftly obferves) a grand and mul- tifold Allegory, which engaged the whole Attention and Difcufíion of the Jews. See Joûi. i. 8. Pfalm i. a. and alto a moil elegant Differtation
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