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

This was a great advancement that God made in this building; and the light of the gospel, which had been gradually growing from the fall, was exceedingly increased by it: for whereas before there was but here and there a prophecy given of Christ in a great many ages, now here Christ is spoken of by his ancestor David abundantly, in multitudes of songs, speaking of his incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension into heaven, his satisfaction, intercession; his prophetical, kingly, and priestly office; his glorious benefits in this life and that which is to come; •is union with the church, and blessedness of the church in him; the calling of the Gentiles, the future glory of the church near the end of the world, and Christ's coming to the final judgement. All these things, and many more, concerning Christ and his redemption, are abundantly spoken of in the book of Psalms.

This was also a glorious advancement of the affair of redemption, as God hereby gave his church a book of divine songs for their use in that part of their public worship, viz. singing his praises, throughout all ages to the end of the world. It is manifest the book of Psalms was given of God for this end. It was used in the church of Israel by God's appointment: this is manifest by the title of many of the psalms, in which they are inscribed to the chief musician. i. e. to the man that was appointed to be the leader of divine songs in the temple, in the public worship of Israel. So David is called, the sweet psalmist of Israel, because he penned ⟨p. 80⟩psalms for the use of the church of Israel; and accordingly we have an account that they were actually made use of in the church of Israel for that end, even ages after David was dead; as • Chron. xxix.30. "Moreover, Hezekiah the king, and the princes, commanded the Levites to sing praises unto the Lord, with the wo•ds of David, and of Asaph the seer." And we find that the same are appointed in the New-Testament to be made use of in the Christian church, in their worship: