from these truths. First, never judge harshly of the afflicted. Tender love and great mercy may be veiled under painful dispensations; and the time will soon come, when these sighs will be hushed; and this sorrow turned into joy. Secondly, always stand prepared for the day of sorrow. You see what depths some have passed through. Perhaps your turn may come next; and that day may not be far off. Learn, then, to be humble, prayerful, watchful; and while you commit your soul into the Lord's hand, leave the issue of your sorrows to him, resting assured, that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom. viii. 28.)

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses,

his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and 'plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and 3it is

gone; and the place thereof shall know it

no more.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, 'that hearkening unto the voice of his word. excel in strength, that do his commandments,

21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

WE have lately considered some of the troubles and sorrows of the people of God. We are now to contemplate some of their joys and comforts. In this respect, this is a glorious psalm. It is one of David's joyful expressions of praise and thanksgiving for the Lord's unutterable kindness and love to his soul. Every spiritual David; every one that is beloved of the Lord, and is brought to know and love the Redeemer ; will find something in this psalm which will exactly suit his happy experience on such interesting and memorable occasions.

What calls for these lively expressions of joy and praise? Why does he bless the Lord? Why does he charge his soul to praise him? Why does he call upon all that was within him to bless his holy name? What had the Lord done for him to call forth such praise and thanksgiving? He gives the reason. The Lord had forgiven all his iniquities. He had healed all his diseases; all his corruptions. He had redeemed his life from destruction. He had crowned him with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He had satisfied his soul with good things. His strength, peace, comfort, joy, and assurance, were renewed after the manner of the eagle; that is, when apparently ready to die, starting forth with renewed life and vigour (v. 1-5). Such were the blessings which David received. Such were the mercies which

called forth his thanks and praise. In experiencing these blessings, he could say, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he set our sins from us. Like as a father pitieth his own children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him" (v. 8-13).

Let us examine this matter a little more closely. Are not these the blessings we all need, for the life and salvation of our soul? Do we not need the same mercy and forgiveness which he received? Your iniquities must be forgiven. Your corruptions must be healed. Your life must be redeemed from destruction. You must be crowned with lovingkindness and tender mercies. These blessings you all want, and all must have; otherwise there is no salvation.

Again, as these blessings are absolutely necessary for the safety of the soul; are they not equally so for your peace and comfort? Can you have any peace, till your sins be forgiven? Can you have any evidence of being forgiven, if sin still hold dominion over you? Is not sin the ground of all the controversy between God and your soul? Is not the pollution of your nature the very thing, which makes you unmeet for the kingdom of God? How, then, is it possible that you can have peace with God, till the cause of

your disruption be removed? or, that you can have a good hope through grace, unless your heart be renewed, and you are become a new man?

Further, will not this happy frame of mind most certainly ensue when you have received these blessings in the faith of Jesus Christ? Will you not be a happy man, when your sins are pardoned? Will not your soul be filled with peace and joy in believing, when your life is redeemed from destruction, and your soul is crowned with lovingkindness and tender mercies? Need we ask these questions? Does not the happy experience of every child of God, more or less, confirm them? If you have received these blessings, are you not at peace with God through Jesus Christ; and does not your heart leap for joy within you?

And, when you consider the fulness and extent of these mercies; all your iniquities, and all your diseases; does not that consideration add fresh vigour to these grateful acknowledgments? Surely the question

need not be asked. The benefit itself is so large, so vast, so full, and so free, that no other language can suit such a blessing; nor any other mercy call forth such praise as is here given. Who, then, can affirm the truth of these statements by his own experience? Who can praise God for such mercies? Who can adore his name for such blessings? One evidence will be found in the desire to induce others to do the same. The three last verses form a beautiful type of this desire. The happy person, here described, would have others, as well as himself; all the angels that excel in strength; all that do his will and hearken to the voice of his Word; all his hosts; all his ministers that do his pleasure; all his works, in all places of the Lord's dominion; and, together with all these, his own soul also, to bless and praise the Lord. And, were such the case, and when it shall be so, what revenues of thanksgiving will then redound to the God of our salvation!

PSALM CIV.

1 A meditation upon the mighty power, 7 and wonderful providence of God. 31 God's glory is eternal. 33 The prophet voweth perpetually to praise God.

B

LESS the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which "sing among the branches.

13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. 23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. 27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

THERE are some things contained in this psalm, which may lead to the most profitable consideration and improvement. It seems to be an adoring sort of meditation upon the the eternal glory of God. The consideration mighty power, the wonderful providence, and of which leads the prophet, as it ought to lead us all, to praise and glorify the Lord.

The mighty power of God is here displayed as a proper subject for meditation and praise. He is very great. He is clothed with honour and majesty. He is covered with light as a garment. He stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain. He layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters. He walketh upon the wings of the wind. His angels are ministering spirits. He laid the foundations of the earth, so as never to be removed. He covers the deep as with a garment. These, and many other expressions of like kind, shew the mighty power and the glorious majesty of God. The springs, the beasts, the birds, the hills, the grass, the herbs, the trees, the sun, the moon, the darkness, the light, the lion roaring for his prey, and man going forth to his labour; all proclaim, "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of

thy riches!" (v. 1-24.)

The same might be seen on examining the watery deep. The great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts; the ships that sail on the surface; the leviathan that plays in the deep; the myriads of the finny tribes. that swim beneath the face of the waters; all waiting upon the Lord; all receiving their meat from him; all gathering what he gives them, and they are satisfied therewith; all

troubled when he hides his face; all dying when he takes away their breath; all returning to the dust when the sentence goeth forth; these, and other like considerations as these, do all clearly exhibit the wonderful

PSALM CV.

1 An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works. 7 The story of God's providence over Abraham, 16 over Joseph, 23 over Jacob in Egypt, 20 over Moses delivering the Israelites, 37 over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the wilderness, and planted in Canaan.

over all these creatures, supplies all their wants, and keeps them all in being so long as he pleases. In this respect, also, it may be truly said, "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all;" and by thy wisdom and power dost thou sustain them all! (v. 24-32.)

But, if you ascend from these works of the creation to the great Creator of all, that feeling of reverential wonder and awe becomes heightened to an unspeakable degree. All these creatures are mortal. Man dies. The beasts die. The cattle die. The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, the huge leviathan, and the roaring lion, all die; all lose their breath; all turn to their dust. But the Maker of all these never dies. The glorious Jehovah is immortal. The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever. If he look on the earth, it trembles. If he touch the hills, they smoke. But he remains unmoved and undismayed for ever! (v. 29-32; Heb. i. 10-12.)

To meditate on these things, in the faith of Christ, is a sweet and profitable employment! How delightful is it to trace the hand of Jesus in all these things! He made them all! How delightful is it to look beyond these productions of his hand to that far greater and nobler work of redeeming love and mercy! There we see a work, which eclipses all these; wisdom, which excels all this order; power, which surpasses all this display; beneficence of contrivance and design, which leaves all these various and wonderful works of creation comparatively in the dark, and swallows them up in the meridian glory of pardoning love and saving grace. In Jesus dying; sinners living; and God glorified to the utmost limits for ever and ever, we behold that display of all the attributes of the Godhead, which ought to call forth our devoutest admiration here below, as it will constitute the highest element of blessedness and glory in the highest realms above.

upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;

10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting

covenant:

11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:

12 When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it. 13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; 14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;

15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: 'he was laid in iron:

19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his 'substance:

22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies. 25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

26 He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.

27 They shewed 'his signs among them,

and wonders in the land of Ham.

28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.

29 He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.

30 Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.

31 He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.

32 'He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.

33 He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts. 34 He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,

35 And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.

36 He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.

39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.

40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out they ran in the dry places like a river.

42 For he remembered his holy promise,

and Abraham his servant.

43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:

6

44 And gave them the lands of the heathen and they inherited the labour of the people;

45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

doings with the children of men. These things are also to be made known to others for their instruction and encouragement in all generations (v. 1-45).

In every point of view, praise is due to the Lord. If you survey the wonderful works of creation; if you contemplate the astonishing order of providence ; ing order of providence; if you consider the far more stupendous work of redemption, and all the blessings connected with the conversion and salvation of sinners; praise is due to the Lord; even the praise of the whole is due unto his name.

Nor are you less struck with the propriety of this remark, if you consider the nature of the Lord's dealings with nations and individuals.

Take the nation of Israel, for example. Here is one man chosen by God, as the founder of that race; and he an idolater. This man has no seed. God promises to make his offspring as the stars of heaven, or as the sand upon the sea shore for multitude. They gradually increase till they reach seventy persons. They then go down into a strange land; where, for four hundred years they are greatly oppressed. At the appointed time they are brought forth, with signs and wonders, with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm. For a long season they are susmanner, by bread from heaven, and water tained in the wilderness, in a miraculous from the rock. At length they enter the promised land. The nations perish from before them; and they take possession of their land for an inheritance. All these events took place according to the covenanted promise of God. How wonderful were all these things! (v. 5-45.)

If you examine the history of other nations, you will be led to form the same conclusion. Take our own for example. From what low beginnings, to what unexampled greatness, hath the Lord led this nation by his watchful providence, and mighty power! From what enemies have we escaped! From what dangers have we been delivered! Foreign foes, and domestic enemies, have alike quailed before the watchful eye of our gracious God. To what can we ascribe these things, but to his unmerited goodness? To whom should we render the praise, but to him alone?