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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

God, in all his perfections, and all his relations, filled his cup, and made it to run over. Likeness to God is the highest attainment, and the enjoyment of him the complete and ultimate happiness of his people.

The observations I shall further make, are,

1. What God gives to his people, either in a way of providence or grace, is in a certain measure and proportion. The cup to one is smaller, to another larger, as infinite wisdom directs, and their respective necessities require; but whether it be smaller or larger, it is a cup, and therefore a fixed and appointed measure. "Every one hath his proper gift of God."

2. Of whatever size the cup may be, it is God that fills it. In this whole Psalm, David ascribes all that he was and all that he had to God. God prepared his table, anointed his head, and made his cup to run over. Was he rich,-God gave him power to get wealth. Was he in honour,-promotion came not from the east, or the west, or the south, but from God. Was he victorious over his enemies,-God taught his hands to war, and his fingers to fight. Was he comfortable in himself and useful to others, this also came forth from "the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in council, and mighty in working." The apostle James tells us, that "every good and perfect gift cometh down from the Father of Lights." He gives faith, hope, repentance, and excites us to every act of obedience. Through him we can do every thing, and without him nothing. We are in ourselves wretchedly poor and needy. Sin hath emptied our cup, and it would for ever remain so, unless God, in his infinite and unmerited mercy, had been pleased to fill it. Hence he is said to "fill all in all." He fills the head with light, the heart with grace, the church with members, ordinances with efficacy, and heaven with glory.

3. God is very liberal in his bestowments; he not only fills the but makes it to 66 run over." When he acts, he acts like a God; and when he gives, he gives like a God.

cup,

David was not straitened; he had more than enough. We give like ourselves. Our hearts are narrow and contracted, and so also are our distributions; we cannot do much, and we seldom do as much as we can. But it is not so with the great God. He giveth all things richly to enjoy, he dealeth out his blessings with a profuseness and liberality peculiar to himself. If we open our hand wide to receive, he will open his hand wide to bestow; nay, the giving will always be larger than the receiving. The woman of Canaan asked relief for her daughter, and after some repulses, to increase first her importunity and then her thankfulness; Christ gave her not only what she asked, but all that she could ask. "O woman," says he, "great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Solomon requested an understanding heart; and to that God added riches and honour, so that there was no king like him all his days. The height of the prodigal's ambition was to be entertained as a servant; but, behold, he receives the robes of the king; the music of mirth is heard, and the fatted calf is killed for him. "Let us eat and be merry," says the affectionate father, "for this my son that was dead is alive, that was lost is found." God is not straitened, though we are: let us then bring our empty vessels; and though ever so many, or brought ever so often, he will fill them, yea, make them run over.

4. The words seem to imply, that David was not only replenished himself, but a means of replenishing others. His cup run over; it was like the precious ointment on Aaron's head, which ran down to the skirts of his garment. He was not only blessed, but made a blessing in his family, the church, and the world. Many were the better for his prayers, instructions, and example; and the good things of this life he did not lay up, but lay out. He was "the liberal man who devised liberal things."

Others were

selfish, crying, "Who will show us any good?" but he was of a public spirit. "Because of the house of the

SERMON LI.

THE FINAL REJECTION OF THE WICKED.

MATTHEW xxv. 10.

And the door was shut.

THE foolish virgins being alarmed at the unexpected coming of the bridegroom, and conscious of their unpreparedness for that important event, try various methods to make up the deficiency, or avoid the dreaded consequences of it.

1. They arose and trimmed their lamps: which implies their bestirring themselves, and exerting those powers of which they were possessed. They were roused out of their carnal security, and betook themselves to the performance of some duties which they had neglected. Grace they had not, and therefore could not exercise it, but still they attempted to trim their lamps.

2. Their lamps were extinguished; the credit and comfort of their profession lost; and their hypocrisy detected; the light that was in them turned into darkness, and their foolish presumption into an hopeless despair: and, O, if I had a thousand hearts, each of them filled with the wisdom of Solomon, and a thousand tongues, all of them endowed with the eloquence of Apollos, I could neither conceive nor describe the dreadfulness of such a state. This being their state, they first apply to the wise virgins for oil, who having but a bare sufficiency for themselves, or if they had ever so

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