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judges of the earth are commanded to serve God with fear, they are at the same time commanded to kiss the Son, which in those times and places was frequently an expression of adoration; and particularly, that whereas other scriptures contain awful and just threatenings against those who trust in any mere man, the Psalmist expressly calls them blessed who trust in the Son here spoken of; all these things taken complexly, and compared with the above-cited prophecies, make up a character of divinity: as, on the other hand, when it is said, that God would set this his Son as his King on his holy hill of Zion, v. 6; these, and various other expressions in this Psalm, contain characters of the subordination which was proved to be appropriated to that divine Person who was to be incarnate." Maclaurin's Essay on the Prophecies relating to the Messiah, p. 50.

SECT. XI.

SON OF MAN; LORD OF ALL THINGS.

Psalm viii. 5—7.

1. What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
Even the [noblest] son of man, that thou visitest him?
Thou hast reduced him, for a little, below the angels;
But with glory and honour thou hast crowned him.
5. Thou hast made him lord over the works of thy hands;
Thou hast put all beneath his feet.*

By many interpreters this whole Psalm is considered as a direct prophecy, descriptive of the humiliation and dominion of the Messiah; and they have supported their opinion with no contemptible reasons.† Not, however, being fully convinced of this, and wishing always to incline

* L. 1 and 2. Our language has no single terms to mark the distinction so beautifully expressed by wi frail, miserable, man, Booròs, and 7 man at his best state,"avрwжоs. I have endeavoured to approach the idea by the insertion of an epithet.L. 3. though almost constantly the usual name of Deity, must be allowed, on the authority of the Targum, all the Anc. Vers. and the N. T. to signify here creatures superior to the human race, called in scripture sons of God, spirits, and angels

or messengers.

+ See J. H. Michaelis in loc.

to the side of caution, I do not adduce it under this view. As cited in the Epistle to the Hebrews,* it appears to me to convey this sentiment; that the honours here declared to have been conferred upon the human race by the Creator, had never, either generally or in a single instance, been actually verified, till the man Christ Jesus was exalted "above all principality and authority, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come;" and hath had "all things put under his feet."†

Thus considered, this text is a testimony to the real and proper humanity of the Messiah.

*Heb. ii. 6-10.

+ Eph. i. 21, 22.

SECT. XII.

THE HOLY ONE OF GOD.

Psalm xvi. 8-11.

1. I have set Jehovah before me continually;

Since [He is] at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart rejoiceth, and my glory exulteth;
Even my flesh shall repose in confidence:

5. For thou wilt not leave my life in the grave;

Thou wilt not give thy Holy One to see corruption.
Thou wilt make me to know the path of life,
Fulness of joys in thy presence,

Delights at thy right hand for ever."

FROM this prophetic description we deduce the proper humanity of the Messiah, his perfect holiness and acceptableness to God, his death, and his speedy resurrection to ineffable glory and joys.* It was the testimony of truth, and not to be the less regarded because extorted from an unwilling and impure witness, "I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."†

Psalm xxii. is certainly a prophetic composition, pathetically describing in several minute particu* See Notes [A] and [B] at the end of this Section.

+ Mark i. 24.

lars the sufferings of the Messiah, and his subsequent triumphs.* But as the passages would scarcely admit of being detached, and as we should draw no inference from them which would be controverted, it does not seem necessary to insert them. The biblical student will find in Kennicott some valuable emendations.

For the same reason, we pass over other Psalms, and parts of Psalms; which, though containing indubitable and important prophecies, do not present any additional matter on the subject of our present inquiry.

* See Note [C] at the end of this Section.

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