Ps. 40:8: " The volume of the book," said by the Jews to be par excellence the law, or book of the law-literally, " the roll of the writing." The same two words occur together, Jer. 36:22Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. (Jeremiah 36:2), " A roll of a book," and verse 4, (read the chapter), and Ezek. 2:99And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; (Ezekiel 2:9).
My Dear Mrs. H—-, As found in Psa. 40:88I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8); I should explain " The volume of the book," by the principle of 2 Peter 1:2020Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20), " No prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation;" i.e. God, in writing His word, has ever had His Son, and Him the end and center of everything, before Him As the winding of string supposes a roller to wind it upon, so Christ ever was the central thought and end of every revelation. A greater than Adam the first, or than Abel, or Noah, or Abraham, Isaac, Jacob-than Israel as the vine out of Egypt, than Moses or Aaron, than David or Solomon, was before God when He wrote about them severally.
The same passage occurs in Heb. 10:77Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (Hebrews 10:7) as in Psa. 40:77Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, (Psalm 40:7), and, as in the mouth of the rightful owner, brings to one's soul such enlargement of thought and truth, as Eph. 1:44According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4), " Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world;" Titus 1:22In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2), " In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" and 2 Tim. 1:99Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9), "Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," &c.
As to Psa. 40, no one could have said, without qualification, verse 1, or verse 4, or verse 8, or verse 10, but a perfectly righteous one.
These are the few thoughts I have to offer.
Affectionate regards to Mr. H—-and all your circle. I am be-colded just now, and using my Sunday night for communion by letter, while a brother is preaching in my stead.
I have had two most blessed instances of the Lord's answers to prayer these last six months. One of a notorious infidel in the great world in London, for whom I have prayed for forty years on and off, and done battle with him as to his infidel scoffings. Now he is a wonder to himself; brought round by the Lord alone. The other the husband of a friend. He got into Walkerite doctrine, and lost every trace of godliness and piety; but his soul has been visited by the Lord. He, too, has been the subject of much prayer.
I feel it important and right to make such cases known, for relations' and friends', children's and parents' sake-that all of ours may remember the smitten Rock's waters are gushing freely. It is a hard case if we can find no empty vessels to set before Him.
Most truly and affectionately yours,
G. V. W.
January 8th, 1871.