SERMON L. ON THE RICHNESS OF DIVINE BOUNTY. PSALM XXIII. 5. My cup runneth over. DAVID, in this verse, may refer to three periods of his life. When he was persecuted by Saul, hunted like a partridge upon the mountains, and at a distance from his family and friends; then God did not suffer him to starve, nor even to want: "He prepared a table for him in the presence of his enemies." Thus God prepares a table for his people now in their families, in his own house, and in heaven. When he was taken from following the ewes, big with young, and raised to the throne of Israel, his head was anointed with oil. Nay, there was something uncommon in his case, for he was anointed three times, first by Samuel, in the presence of his father and brethren, then by the single tribe of Judah, and lastly, by all the tribes of Israel. Thus the Christian is anointed with oil in a spiritual sense, the oil of divine grace, which is ornamental, refreshing, and healing. By this he is set apart and qualified for the offices of prophet, priest, and king, which belong to every member of the church, as well as its glorious head. This also may be understood in an inferior sense; and as a prepared table may refer to the necessary accommodations of life, so the anointing with oil extends the privilege to his infant seed. Thus also with respect to the Lord's Supper; some receive sitting, others kneeling, some set a rail about the table, others admit all comers; but though they may differ, let them not quarrel; if they controvert the matter, let it be without noise and clamour, wrath and bitterness. The temple of the Lord is to be built without the hewing of axes or knocking of hammers. 2. To the duties of practical religion, public and private, in the closet, the family, and the house of God. Some regard the Lord's prayer as a form to be frequently used, others rather as a pattern. Some contend for and confine themselves to extempore prayer, whilst others think they can better express their wants and desires in a precomposed set of words. Some reject singing with a mixed multitude, and according to the rules of art, whilst others suppose it to be a desirable part of the worship which they owe to God, and therefore by no means to be omitted in their public devotions. Many other instances might be mentioned of the same nature, in which we should avoid all the animosity of party spirit; and as we think for ourselves, suffer others to do the same. Hence we may learn the folly and weakness of those who are ever learning, and yet never come to the knowledge of the truth; and the reason why many apostatize from the truth, because they never attained to that full persuasion of it which is spoken of in my text; to say no more, that God does not act upon men as mere machines, but as creatures endowed with reason and understanding. Though he requires us to believe, it is not without proper and rational evidence, which evidence we should seek after, and be contented with, not expecting that things of a spiritual nature will admit of mathematical demonstration. God has said and done enough to make us all Christians, at least in theory; and if we are not so, it is our own fault, and we must and shall incur the consequences. SERMON L. ON THE RICHNESS OF DIVINE BOUNTY. PSALM XXIII. 5.` My cup runneth over. DAVID, in this verse, may refer to three periods of his life. When he was persecuted by Saul, hunted like a partridge upon the mountains, and at a distance from his family and friends; then God did not suffer him to starve, nor even to want: "He prepared a table for him in the presence of his enemies." Thus God prepares a table for his people now in their families, in his own house, and in heaven. When he was taken from following the ewes, big with young, and raised to the throne of Israel, his head was anointed with oil. Nay, there was something uncommon in his case, for he was anointed three times, first by Samuel, in the presence of his father and brethren, then by the single tribe of Judah, and lastly, by all the tribes of Israel. Thus the Christian is anointed with oil in a spiritual sense, the oil of divine grace, which is ornamental, refreshing, and healing. By this he is set apart and qualified for the offices of prophet, priest, and king, which belong to every member of the church, as well as its glorious head. This also may be understood in an inferior sense; and as a prepared table may refer to the necessary accommodations of life, so the anointing with oil knows what we need often gives us more than we need. He not only feeds, but feasts us. Next, with respect to the almost uninterrupted scene of prosperity which David enjoyed in the latter part of his life, being beloved by his subjects and feared by his enemies, abounding in riches, increasing in honour, and having a more glorious kingdom in reversion; he says, "My cup runneth over." Some read "Thy cup," meaning God's cup runneth over; and, indeed, this is a great truth, for as our cup is filled out of God's, if his did not run over ours could not. However, this certainly implies great affluence, nay, a redundancy. "Give," says Christ, "and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over." The word cup is taken in Scripture in two very different senses. 1. For something very distressing. "The waters of a full cup," says David, "are wrung out unto me:" that is, the cup of affliction which God, for wise purposes, frequently puts into the hands of his people, and makes either less or larger, as may best answer those purposes; but whatever bitter ingredients there may be in it, it is mingled with mercy, and love is always at the bottom. There is another cup, "of wrath," " of fury," and "of trembling," which God hath prepared for wicked men, and will force them to drink of it a cup that can never be exhausted. Of this cup Christ drank, nay, he drank up the whole of it, which none else could do, and which if he had not done, we must have been drinking it to an endless eternity. Blessed be God, then, for Jesus Christ. 2. For something very desirable; and thus it is taken in my text. "My cup runneth over;" I have enough, and to spare, for myself and my friends. Thus the apostle, "I am full, I abound." The cup that the Psalmist here speaks of was a cup of consolation; or, as he elsewhere speaks, a cup of salvation. "I will take," says he, "the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord:" to which the apostle may allude, when he calls the sacramental cup a "cup of blessings." This was not like the cup spoken of under the former head, to distress and torment, but to refresh and delight; not given in wrath, but in mercy; yet it may be said of it, as it is in a certain place of that, "it contained much," for it contained rich promises, gracious experiences, marvellous deliverances, the blessings of providence, the blessings of grace, all things appertaining to life and godliness, together with a comfortable assurance of eternal happiness and glory. Or David may here have a reference either to his outward circumstances, or the inward frame and disposition of his mind. 1. To his outward circumstances. He had experienced the indulgent care of Divine Providence in every condition of life, and especially in the latter stages of it; hence he says of God, "He crowneth me with loving-kindness and tender mercies." His heavenly Shepherd had made him to "lie down in green pastures," and had led him "beside the still waters." His family was increased, his throne established, and blessings in a vast variety were poured all around him, so that he could say, "Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant." He was in a very exalted situation; able to do much good, and inclined to do it. God thus distinguishes some of his saints, that they may be supporters of his interest, and to show that godliness is no hinderance to earthly comfort, for it hath the promise of this life as well as of that which is to come. 2. To the inward frame and disposition of his mind. Here also God's paths dropped fatness. He was blessed with peculiar discoveries of the Divine favour and mercy. The same grace that renewed him at first restored him from all his backslidings, and after his spiritual distress, filled him with divine consolations. Hence he exclaims, "Come unto me all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul." And again, "God is the |