Psalms 45

Psalms 45:1

I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

I speak of that holy ditty, which I have made touching king Solomon, in the type of him, that was greater than Solomon, even the King of Glory, the great Bridegroom of his Spouse the Church: my tongue shall be swift and free, in her expressions of his just praises.

Psalms 45:2

Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into thy lips.

O Saviour, there is more true inward beauty in thee, than in all the sons of men; yea all the glory and excellence which they have, is only derived from thee: so full of grace were thy lips, that thou spakest as never man spake.

Psalms 45:3

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

As thou art armed with infinite power, O thou Lord of Hosts, so let it please thee to buckle thyself to the exercise of this power, to the subduing of the many and mighty enemies of thy Church, and deck thyself with such glory and majesty, as may confound thy opposers.

Psalms 45:4

And in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

Go thou on, happily, to execute the great administration of thy Kingly office, in the behalf of thy Church, because of the meekness of thy person, and truth of thy word, and righteousness of thy promises and performances; and the right hand of thy power shall bring to pass strange and fearful things.

Psalms 45:5

Thine arrows are sharp, in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

Thy judgments are severely and mortally executed upon the enemies of thy Divine Sovereignty; and upon the sight thereof, the people of the world are glad to humble themselves under thine Almighty Hand.

Psalms 45:6

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

The thrones of earthly princes are, like themselves, brittle and variable, and their government many times drawn aside to protect evil and depress good; but thy throne, O Saviour, is everlasting: even when heaven shall pass, it shall continue; and thy government can be no other than holy and righteous.

Psalms 45:7

Therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee from everlasting, as the King, Priest, and Prophet of thy Church, with that heavenly oil, whereby he hath gladded the hearts of all thy chosen people; and hath endowed thine assumed Humanity, with all divine graces, above all mere mankind.

Psalms 45:8

All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

As thy garments, O Solomon, are perfumed with that precious confection, which is made of the choicest odours, when thou

Psalms 45:9

Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

Thou hast the honourable attendance of many noble and famous congregations, that desire and delight to wait upon thine ordinances; but the Spouse, thy holy Catholic Church, is so honoured by thee, that she is set upon thy right hand, clothed with all true glory and magnificence.

Psalms 45:10

Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine car; forget also thy father’s house.

And now, O daughter of Egypt, hear what I shall say to thee, in type of the true Church and Spouse of my Saviour: in lieu of so great mercy, as God hath shewed thee, in singling thee out of the world, it is thy duty to forget the corrupt condition of thy nature, and to be aliened in thine affections, from all earthly things; it is not for thee to think any more of the Egypt of this world, but to be as a stranger to all earthly vanities.

Psalms 45:11

So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

So shall God take pleasure in those graces, which he hath given thee thus to improve; and be graciously affected with thy holy obedience, which thou justly reservest for him alone; for he is the Lord thy God, and therefore all thy worship and service is due to none but him.

Psalms 45:12

And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

The neighbouring, and yet foreign churches, shall, in an acknowledgment of thy great honour and happiness, present thee with the service of their love and gifts of their bounty; and those, that are great and famous in their reputation, shall seek communion with thee.

Psalms 45:13

The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

Solomon’s bride the daughter of Pharaoh, and Christ’s Spouse the daughter of the King of Heaven, are both inwardly glorious; the one, with rich embroideries, the other, with excellent and heavenly graces; the one is clothed with gold, the other with the righteousness of her Saviour and with all divine virtues.

Psalms 45:14

She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needle work: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

Neither hath she this glory put upon her, only to please and amaze the eyes of the beholders, but the main use of this goodly bravery, is, that she shall appear glorious in the eyes of the King of Glory, her celestial Husband, to whom she shall be presented in this goodly habit of grace; not without the attendance of all those believing souls, that appertain to that blessed train of hers.

Psalms 45:15

With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought; they shall enter into the king’s palace.

With unspeakable joy and triumph shall they be presented unto the throne of glory: even into that palace, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, the seat and mansion of the ever-living God, shall they be brought, by the ministry and with the acclamation of the blessed angels of God.

Psalms 45:16

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

This happy marriage of thine shall be blessed with multitudes of children, who shall succeed their fathers, in a comfortable and during government; the issue and condition whereof shall be so large and happy, that they shall be so many kings upon earth; and all thrones shall be furnished with princes from thy loins, forasmuch as all thy spiritual children are a royal generation unto God.

Psalms 45:17

I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

O my God and Saviour, I, who by thy gracious inspiration have made this bridal-song unto thee, will celebrate and praise thy Blessed Name to all generations, and will stir up thy people to bless and praise thee for ever and ever.