Psalms 87

Set a glass under a still or alembic, and it receives water from the alembic drop by drop: so the saints have the drops and influences of Christ's grace distilling upon them. What a rich consolation is this to those who either have no grace, or their stock is but low; they may g…

And (Psalm 62:5), my expectation is from him; I expect a kingdom from him. A child that is good natured will honor his parent, as expecting all that ever he is like to be worth from him (Psalm 87:8). All my fresh springs are in you.

God esteems his children as a crown of glory in his hand (Isaiah 62:3). 2. God loves the places they were born in the better for their sakes (Psalm 87:6). Of Sion it shall be said, this man was born there; this and that believer was born there: God loves the ground his children…

If his eye be always upon the church, his thoughts can never be off it in all his works. 2. He loves the very gates and outworks (Psalm 87:2): "the Lord loves the gates of Zion." He loves a cottage where a church is, more than the stately palaces of princes.

They promise also to one another, duties to one another, and so it is a brotherly covenant. Another title given to the Church (which also proves that a church is made by covenant) is the title of a city, or city of God (Psalms 87:3; 48:1, 8; 122:3; Ephesians 2:19). The argument…

Duties for daily instruction, are Instruction out of the Scriptures. Instruction drawn from God's works. [Psalm 87:1. Receive with your ears (my people) my doctrine, incline your ear to the words of my mouth. 2. I will open my mouth in a parable, I will pour forth hid things, wh…

2. They are pointed out with the finger, with pronouns. Psalm 87:5, and of Sion it is said, this man — Hebrew, [in non-Latin alphabet] man and man shall be born in Sion. Isaiah 49:1: The Lord has called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my nam…

Vers. 5. One shall say, I am the Lord's: another shall be called by the name of Jacob: and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord, and name himself by the name of Israel. Hitherto the Prophet has spoken by similitudes; but now he delivers his mind plainly and without…

Now because it was too tedious to draw a long catalogue of all, he names this first and excellent miracle among the rest; namely, the wonderful deliverance of the people out of Egypt. For by Rahab, I doubt not but he means proud and cruel Egypt: as in Psalm 87; I will make menti…

Art not you it that dried the sea, the waters of the great deep, that has made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? (Isaiah 51:9, 10) The breaking of Rahab, that is Egypt, so called here, and (Psalm 87:4; Psalm 89:11) for her great strength which the word s…

Again, her manner of designing Christ, is observable, Him. It's a relative, where no antecedent goes before, yet certainly it looks to Christ alone, as the reasons show; Here no rules of art are kept, for love stands not on these: This manner of speaking is to be found also in m…

Church ordinances are the allowed and ordinary means of keeping fellowship with Christ, and they are all empty when he is not there. Observation 1. That even true believers have the visible Church for their mother, and it's written of them as their privilege, that they were born…

Thus the spiritual beauty of holiness in believers (Psalm 110:3) is set out as having in it so much loveliness as may commend it, and make it desirable and acceptable to others. 2. She is comely as Jerusalem: this was the head city of Judah, beautiful for situation, and the joy…

But for the secret covenanted ones of that people, as is evident from all the promises made thereunto, yet with special regard to the ordinances of worship. This God has founded: founded, or established, strengthened, that it shall not be removed, Psalm 87 is a comment on these…

There in the Church, amongst his people, there God commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Lastly, God blesseth more universally with all kinde of blessing, and therefore he is more present there: and in that respect the Psalmist says, Psalm 87:7 All my springs are in yo…

[Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt] Moses was not only content to suffer patiently the reproach of Christ, but he counted it his glory, his riches, greater riches then the Treasures of Egypt. Egypt was a rich country, and full of treasur…

God has a catalogue of his household; Christ knows his sheep by name. When God writes up the people, he counts that this man was born in Zion (Psalm 87:6). This is an extract of the Lamb's book of life.

It alludes to them who carry about them graven on the Stone of their Ring the Picture of some dear Friend whom they intirely affect. 2. God loves the places his Children were born in the better for their sakes: Psalm 87:2. God loves the Gates of Sion: ver. 5. This and that man w…

It is a metaphor taken from the custom among men, in laying out and bounding of men's allotments. There is therefore a peculiar remark made upon this; this and that man was born in Zion (Psalm 87:[illegible]). And as there is much of God's good will displaying of itself to them,…

The prodigal dated his joy from the time of his repentance (Luke 15:24): Then they began to be merry. Fourth, checking the motions of the Spirit; the Spirit sets us a-mourning — it causes all our spring tides (Psalm 87:7): All my springs are in you. Often we meet with gracious m…

Now I proceed to the second Prerogative, which is yet to come: what holy David says of Zion, Glorious things are spoken of you, O you city of God (Psalm 87:3), I may apply to these blessed things in reversion. 2. The second Prerogative royal of a Christian is, he shall be carrie…

If it be said, it is very nothing, for children understand nothing of this. What then is meant by the prophecy of the incoming of the Gentiles (Psalm 87:3): Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. 4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me; behold…

And it comprehends in it all the elect of God, whom he tells us that his Father had given to him, and they were in due time to be born of him by a new birth. Jerusalem was a city which God chose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: there he settled his ordinan…

O love the ground that Christ walks on. To be born in Zion is an honor (Psalm 87:6), because there the Lord dwells. It is a blessing to hear and see Christ (Matthew 13:16).