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strain of animated confidence, expressive of his own exultation, and prophetic of the higher glories of the Messiah.

When David, at the conclusion of his life, resigned the throne to Solomon his son, the fervour of his early years had abated. The serenity of age had succeeded to the impetuosity of youth. He foresaw the peace, which should be upon Israel in the reign of Solomon: he beheld, too, that spiritual peace, which a Son greater than Solomon should introduce; and having in this Psalm poured forth his last vows, and uttered his last predictions, the prayers of David, the son of Jesse, were ended."

The prophecy of David was primarily fulfilled in Solomon. The whole Psalm, considered as bearing reference to him, gives a sense full and complete. He judged God's people with righteousness, and his poor with judgment. His dominion extended from sea to sea. To him the kings of Tarshish, and of the isles, brought presents ; and the queen of Sheba offered gifts." But, in the prophecy, there are found other expressions, which we can scarcely hesitate to refer to Christ. It is not, indeed, expressly quoted in the New Testament: and, therefore, is not of the same authority in proving the

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u Psalm 1xxii. 20. * 1 Kings x. 22. 2 Chron. ix. 23, 24.

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connection of Solomon and Christ, as the preceding instance. But the terms, in which it is conceived, are the same with those of other prophecies which are so applied."

At the conclusion of this hymn of inauguration, the spirit of prophecy looks beyond the temporal blessings of Solomon's reign, to that of Him, whose name should endure for ever, and be continued as long as the sun : in whom men should be blessed, and with whose glory the whole earth should be filled.*

3. In the forty-fifth Psalm, there is also found an instance, in which, while circumstances peculiar to Solomon are mentioned, a prophecy is delivered respecting the spiritual union of Christ and his church. There can be little doubt, that the Psalm has immediate reference to Solomon, and his marriage with the daughter of Pharaoh. And it certainly was, designedly, prophetic of Christ, to whom it is applied, and to whom alone it could be said with truth,

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'Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.'

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It is, then, evident, that prophecies, originally applicable to Solomon, are also applied to the Messiah; and that the actions of Solomon's life are also made the means of conveying prophetic information respecting Him.

Compare Gen. xii. 3. xviii. 18. xxii. 18. with Acts iii. 25. Gal. iii. 8.

* Psalm lxxii. 17, 18, 19.

b Psalm xlv. 6. Heb. i. 8.

David, therefore, and Solomon, are respectively represented in Scripture as, in some degree, prefigurative of Christ. This prefiguration consisted in a similarity between the real actions of their lives, and the events in which Christ was engaged: and, having been made the object of prophecy, must have been designed. Consequently, both these distinguished persons may, without impropriety, be called types of Christ.

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David, the man who, though despised and rejected of his brethren, "was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob," was a representative, perhaps declared, and certainly implied, of that Ruler who came forth "as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds: as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain." And the temporal protection of the people, under his reign, was the figure of that spiritual protection, which is emphatically called the sure mercies of David. And Solomon, the successor of David on his throne, to whom are applied the titles both of king,

c 2 Sam. xxiii. 1.

d Bp. Chandler's Defence, Chap. iii. Sect. 3. renders 2 Sam. xxiii. 1. ، David the son of Jesse said; he said, who was exalted as the mighty One, to be instead of the Messias of the God of Jacob, in the melodious psalms of Israel." e 2 Sam. xxiii. 4.

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and of the king's son, endowed with "wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore," and the builder of God's temple, in like manner prefigured that Son of David, greater than himself, whose throne should be as the days of heaven: "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,"i the maker and builder of a spiritual temple.

This method of considering the typical character of David and Solomon connects the kind of type, which they displayed, with that exhibited by other persons, who are more expressly declared to have been historical types.' The fact of correspondence is established by a different process; but the correspondence itself is of the same nature. The designed connection, deduced from the double fulfilment of prophecy, may be less obvious than when it is plainly declared, and laid down as the criterion of distinction; but its existence will hardly be denied by any one who examines, with care, how numerous the points of resemblance are, and how clearly the prophecies, which, by their completion, prove the connection to exist, allude to each series of events.

f Psalm lxxii. 1.

h Psalm lxxxix. 29.

1 Kings iv. 29. i Col. ii. 3.

*See Hey's Lectures, Chap. xviť. Book I. 18.

This correspondence is confirmed, in a remarkable manner, by the terms which, in Scripture, designate Christ. David and Christ stand in the same relation, with respect to Jesse: the one as type, the other as antitype. Hence, the Messiah is often denominated David, and spoken of as the son of Jesse.' Solomon and Christ stand in the same relation, with respect to David: the one as type, the other as antitype. Hence, the Messiah is often denominated the Son of David. But the Messiah is never called, either in Scripture, or by the Jews, the Son of Solomon, because no such son was distinguished as a living representative of Christ."

All these considerations lead to one conclusion that David and Solomon, in addition to the great designs which they were made instrumental in accomplishing, were raised up by the Almighty to prefigure the Messiah: and that the prefigurations were, in every respect, completed in Jesus Christ.

Isai. xi. 1, 10.

m See Bp. Chandler's Defence, Chap. iii. Sect. 3.

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