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5. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness. Correct views are but of little value without correct conduct. Beware of all sin, and especially of the besetting sin. We must keep the law of God before us, and pray that we may never depart from it.

6. The ways of God are equal. He will bless the faithful and upright, and punish the perverse; save the humble, and debase the proud. He will give His people light in darkness. What encouragement to steadfast piety!

7. Victory is from God. The Church and every believer triumph through Him. He arms His people, endues them with might, supports them in conflict, and by His gentleness, His gracious conduct, makes them great, yea, more than conquerors. To Him be ascribed all the glory.

8. The triumph of Christ and of his Gospel will be complete: so will be that of every true believer. How awful is the end of the ungodly, when the day of wrath comes, and prayer is vain and perdition certain! O ye careless! turn to your God and Saviour before the day of salvation ends.

9. Here David rejoices in the extension of temporal dominion. Here Messiah rejoices in the extension of His spiritual kingdom. May we be His true subjects! Pray we for the establishment of His kingdom in the world, and in our own hearts.

10. Whether, in meditating on the victories of our Redeemer, we recall the past or anticipate the future, we ought to rejoice and magnify God for His good

ness. He lives, and blessed be His name; He has done much: He will do more: He will subdue all nations.

O glorious and gracious Saviour, rule in all nations, and in all hearts. Subdue us, and subdue all things, to Thyself, that Thy praises may be celebrated by unnumbered voices both now and for evermore. Thus, we beseech Thee, be merciful to us for. Thine own Name's sake. Amen.

DAY 4.]

PSALM XIX.

MORNING PRAYER.

Instructive: The excellence of God's Law. David teaches us how to contemplate Creation and Revelation.

(I. Creation.)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament showeth His handy work.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech,

And night unto night showeth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language,

Where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.

In them hath He set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, And his circuit unto the ends of it:

And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (II. Revelation.)

7 The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul

E

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold:

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

(III. Prayer for mercy and grace.)

11 Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: And in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me:

Then shall I be upright,

And I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth,

And the meditation of my heart,

Be acceptable in Thy sight,

O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer.

REFLECTIONS.

1. The works of creation display the perfections of their Creator. Consider the sun, moon, and stars; the firmament; the wonders of day and night. All is silence: and yet all speaks to man. Particularly notice the sun, with its universal and unceasing influence,

Here see the wisdom,

gladdening, enlivening, and adorning the globes that roll around it as their centre. power, and goodness of God.

But,

2. Revelation gives us a far more glorious, ample, and gracious display of the divine perfections. Here we see the Sun of righteousness, who is the light and life of the world.-Meditate on the Law of the Lord; on all revealed truth: it is perfect, sure or faithful, right, pure, clean, true, and righteous.-Then see its influence it converts the soul; makes us wise; rejoices the heart; enlightens us; and endures for ever. How ought we to value the Scriptures! How ought we to delight in them!

3. God's word is designed to warn us, to instruct us, and to make us happy in keeping or observing it. The proper study of it will lead us to discover our sinfulness and our sins; and to pray for pardon and sanctifying grace; for outward rectitude and inward holiness.

PRAYER.

O Blessed Jesus, Thou Sun of righteousness, our strength and our Redeemer; grant that we may so look to Thee, by a true faith, that we may be cleansed from our sins by Thy blood, and made new creatures by Thy Spirit; that we may live here in holiness and obedience, and finally, through Thee, obtain eternal blessedness. Amen.

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PSALM XX.

Prayer of Intercession. The author, David: the occasion, unknown: sung when the Jews were going out to war.

(I. Prayer for the king.)

1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble;
The Name of the God of Jacob defend thee.
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings,

And accept thy burnt sacrifice.

4 Grant thee according to thine own heart,
And fulfil all thy counsel.

5 We will rejoice in thy salvation,

And in the name of our God we will set up our banners:

The Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

6 Now know I that the Lord saveth His anointed;
He will hear Him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

(II. True and vain confidence.)

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:
But we will remember the Name of the Lord our

God.

8 They are brought down and fallen;

But we are risen and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord:

(III. A petition.)

Let the king hear us when we call.

REFLECTIONS.

View the Psalm literally. We are to pray

for

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