A history of the work of redemption. Containing the outlines of a body of…

The oil that was used in anointing David was a type of the spirit of God; and the type and the antetype were given both together; as we are told, 1 Sam. xvi.13. "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the spirit of the Lord came down upon David from that day forward:" and it is probable, that it now came upon him in its prophetical influences.

The way that this spirit influenced him was, to inspire him to show forth […], •nd the glorious things of his redemption, in divine songs, sweetly expressing the breathings of a pious […], fu•l of admiration of the glorious things of the Redeemer, inflamed with divine love, and lifted up with praise; and therefore he is called the sweet psalmist of Israel. 2 Sam. xxiii.1. "Now th•se be the last words of David: David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sw•et psalmist of Israel." The main subjects of these sweet songs were the glorious things of the gospel; as is evident by the interpretation that is often put upon them, and the use that is made of them in the New Testament; for there is no one book of the Old Testament that is so often quoted in the New, as the book of Psalms. Joyfully did this holy man sing of those great things of Christ's redemption, that had been the hope and expectation of God's church and people from the beginning of the church of God on earth; a•d joyfully did others follow him in it, as Asaph. Heman, Ethan, and others; for the book of Psalms was not all penned by D•vid, though the greater part of it was. Hereby the canon of scripture was further added to; and an excellent portion of divine writ was it that was added.