PSALM XLVI.

Thanksgiving for mercies to the Israelites, and, prophetically, to the Church of Christ.

(I. Confidence of the Church.)

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble; 2 Therefore will not we fear,

Though the earth may be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

(II. Her happiness and safety.)

4 There is a river,

The streams whereof shall make glad the city of
God,

The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most
High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

(III. Her enemies and refuge.)

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge.

(IV. God's judgments in the earth.)

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
What desolations He hath made in the earth.

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in

sunder;

He burneth the chariot in the fire.

(V. God exalted: He is the Church's refuge.) 10 Be still, and know that I am God:

I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.

REFLECTIONS.

1. The Church militant reposes on God in her troubles, as her strength in weakness and her refuge in distress. He who trusts in God needs not fear the war

of elements or the convulsion of worlds.

2. The gladdening streams of mercy and grace, the divine presence, stability, almighty help and protection these are the treasure and glory of the Church. How happy are her children, who are partakers of these blessings!

3. If confusion prevail through the pride and wrath of man, yet He at whose presence all creation trembles is with His people, and is their refuge. Here is their security and consolation.

4. In the desolations of war we see the divine judgments: and it is at His command that the sword is sheathed, and peace restored. In all the affairs of this world we should acknowledge His will and hand.

PRAYER.

Fulfil, O Lord, Thy gracious word : send forth Thy truth and grace among the heathen, and into every land, that all men may know Thee, and that Thou mayst be exalted as our Creator and Redeemer. And whatever be the dangers, troubles, and sorrows of Thy Church, grant that she may always trust in Thee with unfailing confidence: and may her children be always enabled to say, with joyful hearts, The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Grant this, we beseech Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

PSALM XLVII.

DAY 9.]

EVENING PRAYER.

The nations are exhorted cheerfully to receive the kingdom of Christ.

(I. Exhortation to celebrate the kingdom of Christ.) 1 O clap your hands, all ye people;

Shout unto God with the voice of triumph. 2 For the Lord most High is terrible ; He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He shall subdue the people under us, And the nations under our feet.

4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, The excellency of Jacob whom He loved. 5 God is gone up with a shout,

The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises : Sing praises unto our King, sing praises;

7 For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigneth over the heathen;

God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness.
9 The princes of the people are gathered together,
Even the people of the God of Abraham :
For the shields of the earth belong unto God:
He is greatly exalted.

REFLECTIONS.

In the first and second verses the object of our praise, the glorious Jehovah, is represented as "terrible"-a Being of infinite majesty; and as "King" over all things. In the third and fourth verses the Jews magnify God for subduing their enemies and giving them the land of Canaan. The following verses contain a lofty and animated effusion of praise, in which God is represented as a conqueror, as the holy and universal Sovereign, whom the faithful children of Abraham, whether Jews or Gentiles, are gathered together to acknowledge.

PRAYER.

Help us, O Lord, to acknowledge Thy glorious Majesty, and Thy supremacy over all things. Help us to praise Thee for the inheritance which Thou hast given us. And, O Thou ascended Saviour, may we sing Thy praises with understanding, and magnify Thee, who sittest on the throne of Thy holiness. Look down in mercy on the darkness and abominations of heathen lands, and bring all nations to the obedience of faith. Mercifully grant that we, and

Thy whole Church, may trust in Thee as our only Saviour, and obey Thee as our King: and may we love Thee with our hearts, honour Thee in our lives, and evermore praise Thee with our lips. Grant this, we beseech Thee, for Thine own Name's sake.

Amen.

PSALM XLVIII.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving, describing God's deliverance of the Church.

(I. The glory of the Church.)

1 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.

2 Beautiful for situation,

The joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion,

On the sides of the north, the city of the great
King.

3 God is known in her palaces for a Refuge.

(II. Messiah's victories.)

4 For, lo, the kings were assembled,

They passed by together.

5 They saw it, and so they marvelled :
They were troubled, and hasted away.
6 Fear took hold upon them there,
And pain, as of a woman in travail.
7 Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish,
With an east wind.

(III. Gratitude of the Church.)

8 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the Lord of hosts,