him for strength to tread in his steps. Were his tempers per fectly holy? They admire his example, and through his Spirit they daily put off the old man, and put on the new. Was he carried through the greatest sufferings with entire resignation?They look up under all their trials for his promised support. Has he all his enemies under his feet? They are waiting in joyful hope for the fruit of his conquest. Is he now in our nature in the highest glory? It is promised them, their eyes shall see the king in his beauty. O blessed prospect! They shall soon be with him, and like him too, when they shall see him as he is.The Psalms are so written of Christ, that every believer may find comfort in what he reads or sings. Christ being the head of the body the church, all the members do share with their head in what he is and has, in his incarnation, life and death, resurrection and intercession, yea, they shall live and reign with him for ever and ever.

Thus believers look upon the Psalms. They consider them as treating of the glorious person and work of the God-man, and considering themselves in him, as members under him their Head, quickened by his Spirit, and receiving all the blessings of spiritual life out of his fulness, they can understand and sing the praises of Immanuel, with melody in their hearts; for they can apply to themselves the benefit of his atonement and righteousness, of his intercession and glory, and this renders the Psalms precious, and singing them an high ordinance. Their God does meet them and bless them in singing Psalms. While they express their love to him he communicates his love to them, and they have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ by the Spirit.

But this will be more evident from considering some particulars relating to the subject; such as

The Scripture names of the Psalms.

There are three Hebrew names often used in the titles of the Psalms, which the Septuagint have translated Psalms, Hymns, and Songs. The word rendered by them hymns is Thehilim, which is the running title to this book, expressive of the general design, and is an abridgement of the whole matter. It comes from a Hebrew word, that signifies the brisk motion of light, shining and putting its splendour upon any object, and this makes it bright and illustrious. Hence comes the propriety of the word, as it is used to praise, which is to set an object in the light; that the rays shining upon it may render it splendid and beautiful, and thereby glorious, and praiseworthy. Such are the Psalms. They are rays

of light-Enlighteners, (if I might use such a word, and it is the literal sense of the Hebrew hymns) intended to manifest the glory of the person, and to shew forth the praises of the work of the God-Jesus: for light in its various uses in nature, is the appointed emblem of the Lord Christ. He is distinguished by this name throughout the Old Testament; and he applied all the passages to himself in the New, when he declared-"I am the light of the world"-"I am not only the Creator of light in the material world, but also in the spiritual world-darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people, until I, the light of life, arise upon their souls: and when I come with healing in my rays, in that day shall the deaf hear my words, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness."

Jesus gives eyes to see with, and light to see by: he opens the eyes of the understanding and makes spiritual objects visible: so that, whoever is enlightened with saving knowledge, has it all from him, and it should all lead to him. He is the bright day star which shines throughout the volume of revelation; but in no part with clearer rays than in the book of Psalms. Here he is exalted in his meridian glory: for the whole scripture does not give greater light into what he was to be, and to do, and to suffer, his life, his temper, his employment from his tender age until his crucifixion, than is to be found in those divine hymns: nor are there any more full descriptions of his passion, death, resurrection, ascension, and his kingdom which ruleth over all. In the Psalms, he himself read and meditated day and night, while he was growing in wisdom and stature. And in them will every true believer meditate, that he may have more of the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, as it shines in the person of Jesus Christ. As the eyes of his understanding are more enlightened with this saving truth, he will more happily enjoy in his heart the benefits of the humiliation and exaltation of the incarnate Jehovah. May this, reader, be thy happy case: may every Pslam be as the shining light, leading thee to a growing knowledge of Jesus, and shining on clearer still unto the perfect day.

Zemer is another Hebrew word which the Septuagint translates Psalms; as a verb, it signifies to cut and prune trees, as a noun, it is a branch cut off, and pruned, and by way of eminence, the Branch, the man whose name is the Branch, who was known and distinguished by this title in the scripture. He was the etermal God, and he was in the fulness of time to be made flesh, and to be cut off, but not for himself. This was the great transaction in the everlasting covenant-"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, (Zech. iii. 7, 8.) Behold I will bring forth my servant the

Branch," the promised branch which was to spring from the root of Jesse; and again, Zech vi. 12, 13. "Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, Behold the man whose name is the Branch, and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord, (in which the Godhead shall reside) even he shall build the temple of the Lord, and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and shall rule upon his throne, and he shall be a priest upon his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both," between Jehovah and the Branch: for the Branch having grown up in his place was in the temple of his body to ratify the counsel of peace; he was to establish it in his life, and to fulfil it in his death, and having by dying conquered death, and him that had the power of death, he was to rebuild the temple of the Lord, as he said unto the Jews-"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will build it up; which he fulfilled by building up the temple of his body natural, and thereby he demonstrated that he will in due time perfectly complete the temple of his body mystical, which is his church: for he is a head to all his members.-He quickens them by his grace, and actuates them by his influence. By union with him they live, by communion with him they grow. His Spirit breathes through the church, which is his body, and enables the members to grow up into him in all things who is the head even Christ; whereby he teaches them, and it is a great part of their growth, how to acknowledge their obligations with increasing humility to their glorified Head. He renders the salvation of Jesus finished upon the cross, the sweet subject of their spiritual song. His dying love they would keep ever in mind; they would have it always warm upon their hearts, and always upon their tongues. His passion on the tree is their never ceasing theme: God forbid, say they, that we should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this they glory, and in this alone, with their voices, and with every musical instrument, but chiefly with the melody of their hearts, they endeavour to praise him, who was slain, and hath redeemed them unto God by his blood. It becometh them well in the house of their pilgrimage, thus to sing the triumphs of the worthy Lamb: for it is to be in their Father's house the most blessed subject of their endless song. The ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of angels, and the great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues, harping with their golden harps, in full concert join in praising the crucified Immanuel." Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, and wisdom and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing. Amen. Hallelujah."

There is another Hebrew word, SHER, which the Septuagint constantly render a Song, frequently applied to the Psalms. It signifies rule and government, and is used for any principality among men. Hence it is very properly spoken of him whose kingdom ruleth over all. The Prince of Peace is one of his high titles. He is called the Prince of the kings of the eartha Prince for ever- -of whose government and peace there shall be no end. To this empire he had an unalienable and indefeasible right, being in the one Jehovah possessed of the same perfections with the Father and the Holy Spirit. But the most common view in which the Psalms consider him, is that of the Godman, King-mediator, whose principality is the most glorious reign of grace. He sits upon his throne freely to bestow all divine blessings upon his redeemed, and he is Messiah the prince who was raised to his kinkdom by the covenant of the Eternal Three: in which he engaged to be a surety for his people; and in their nature, and in their stead, to satisfy all the offended attributes of the Father, by his holy life and death, and the Father engaged to give him a kingdom with all power in heaven and in earth. Accordingly in the fulness of time he was manifested in the flesh, and for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, and despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. He is greatly exalted, far above all principality and power, and might and dominion, and everey name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to The once crucified is now the enthroned Jesus, King of kings, and Lord of lords, almighty to save his people from all their enemies. The glories of Immanuel in this respect are celebrated under the name of SHER, in several of the Psalms. In the xlviith Psalm for instance, all the people are called upon to clap their hands for joy, and to shout unto God with the voice of triumph, because Jehovah Jesus is the great king over all the earth. His happy government, under which believers receive all their blessings, was to be the constant subject of their grateful song. Singing was using words and sounds to express the praises of the king of saints, and their joy in him. It was so much the ruling and leading subject, that every hymn reminded them of Messiah the prince. Whenever they were happy in their hearts they expressed it by singing the praises of that most glorious person, who was made flesh, humbling himself to be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, and who thereby became the head of all principality and power. He ruleth the almighty Immanuel over every creature, and every thing, God-man upon his throne, till all his enemies, death itself be destroyed, and then

come.

he will reign with the Father and the Spirit for ever and ever: for his reign is everlasting, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

This was the delightful theme in the book of Psalms. The Old Testament saints were never weary, of celebrating Messiah their prince, the Lord and Saviour of his people, made an offering for their sins, dead, risen, and ascended to his throne. This is still the sweetest subject in the church of God. Happy are they, who have the Lord Christ ruling over their outward estate. Thrice happy they, who have him ruling in their souls. O what happiness is it to have set up within them the kingdom of God! which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. None have greater reason to rejoice with joy and singing, than they who have Christ dwelling in their hearts by faith. It was one principal design of those sacred hymns to keep up this holy joy, that if any were merry they might sing Psalms and be glad in the Lord. Sensible of his tender care and royal protection, with what joyful lips will they extol their king! They would have all within them to bless his holy name, and would be praising him with Psalms, and Hymns, and spiritual Songs, rejoicing all the way to Zion, and making heavenly melody in their hearts unto the Lord.

These three names take in the subject of the whole book-the Hymns contain the praises of Immanuel, our sun of righteousness --the Psalms treat of his taking our nature, and in it being cut off for his people, that through his death they might live-the Songs celebrate the glories of his kingdom, both in earth and heaven, in time and eternity.

(To be concluded in our next.)

THEORIES OF THE ATONEMENT.

On the doctrine of the atonement, with reference to its extent, there appears to be four different theories prevailing in the churches of America, distingushed by the appellations, NUMERICAL, GENERAL, DEFINITE, and INDEFINITE.

I. The peculiarities of that theory of the atonement, by some, denominated NUMERICAL, are, that it represents the sufferings and death of Christ,as containing anamount of merit,exactly equal. to the demerit of the sins of the elect: So that if the amount of their sins had been greater or less, by but one sin, or by a single aggravation of but one sin,, the sufferings of Christ must have been proportionably greater or less than they were; and that it is wrong to represent the sufferings of Christ as of infinite value;