Compare all this with the vexation of sinners. The happiness of the saints is the envy of the wicked.
The desire of the wicked shall perish; their desire was wholly to the world and the flesh, therefore
when these perish, their joy is gone. But the blessings of the gospel are spiritual and eternal, and
are conferred upon the members of the Christian church, through Christ their Head, who is the
Pattern of all righteousness, and the Giver of all grace.
Chapter 113
An exhortation to praise God.
—God has praise from his own people. They have most reason to praise him; for those who
attend him as his servants, know him best, and receive most of his favours, and it is easy, pleasant
work to speak well of their Master. God's name ought to be praised in every place, from east to
west. Within this wide space the Lord's name is to be praised; it ought to be so, though it is not.
Ere long it will be, when all nations shall come and worship before him. God is exalted above all
blessing and praise. We must therefore say, with holy admiration, Who is like unto the Lord our
God? How condescending in him to behold the things in the earth! And what amazing condescension
was it for the Son of God to come from heaven to earth, and take our nature upon him, that he might
seek and save those that were lost! How vast his love in taking upon him the nature of man, to
ransom guilty souls! God sometimes makes glorious his own wisdom and power, when, having
some great work to do, he employs those least likely, and least thought of for it by themselves or
others. The apostles were sent from fishing to be fishers of men. And this is God's constant method
in his kingdom of grace. He takes men, by nature beggars, and even traitors, to be his favourites,
his children, kings and priests unto him; and numbers them with the princes of his chosen people.
He gives us all our comforts, which are generally the more welcome when long delayed, and no
longer expected. Let us pray that those lands which are yet barren, may speedily become fruitful,
and produce many converts to join in praising the Lord.
Chapter 114
An exhortation to fear God.
—Let us acknowledge God's power and goodness in what he did for Israel, applying it to that
much greater work of wonder, our redemption by Christ; and encourage ourselves and others to
trust in God in the greatest straits. When Christ comes for the salvation of his people , he redeems
them from the power of sin and Satan, separates them from an ungodly world, forms them to be
his people, and becomes their King. There is no sea, no Jordan, so deep, so broad, but, when God's
time is come, it shall be divided and driven back. Apply this to the planting the Christian church
in the world. What ailed Satan and his idolatries, that they trembled as they did? But especially
apply it to the work of grace in the heart. What turns the stream in a regenerate soul? What affects
the lusts and corruptions, that they fly back; that prejudices are removed, and the whole man becomes