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will be the end of the ungodly! Even here their stratagems and works may turn to their own confusion: and hell will be the portion of all who forget God. On the contrary, the faith and patience of the righteous may be tried; but they are blessed here and hereafter.

6. That, in a world of sin and confusion, we are to pray to God to put forth His power, to restrain the wicked, to fill their hearts with salutary fear, and to humble their pride.

PRAYER.

Give us grace, O Lord, to consider Thy righteousness and goodness, Thy power and faithfulness. Inspire us with a hatred of sin; and keep us from the ways, and preserve us from the power, of the ungodly. Make us patient in all our troubles and afflictions, looking to the end of all things. Being fully persuaded of Thy righteous and gracious dealings, while we pray for Thy mercy and protection, may we also abound in joy and gladness, and praise Thee with our whole heart. Grant this, we beseech Thee, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

PSALM X.

Instructive, as Psalm i. Some ascribe this Psalm to David; others, to a writer during the Babylonish Captivity. Psalms x. xii. xiv. xxxv. liii. are very similar.

(I. The wicked described.)

1 Why standest Thou afar off, O Lord?

Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble? 2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor:

Let them be taken in the devices that they have

imagined.

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire,

And blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God:

God is not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous;

Thy judgments are far above out of his sight:
As for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, "I shall not be moved: “For I shall never be in adversity."

7 His mouth is full of cursing, and deceit, and fraud : Under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: In the secret places doth he murder the innocent: His eyes are privily set against the poor.

9 He lieth in wait secretly, as a lion in his den: He lieth in wait to catch the poor:

He doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself,

That the poor may fall by his strong ones. 11 He hath said in his heart, "God hath forgotten: "He hideth His face; He will never see it."

(II. Prayer for Deliverance.)

12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Thy hand: Forget not the humble.

13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God?

He hath said in his heart, "Thou wilt not require it."

14 Thou hast seen it; for Thou beholdest mischief And spite, to requite it with Thy hand:

The poor committeth himself unto Thee;

Thou art the Helper of the fatherless.

15 Break Thou the arm of the wicked and the evil

man:

Seek out his wickedness till Thou find none.

(III. Confidence in God.)

16 The Lord is King for ever and ever:

The heathen are perished out of His land. 17 Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart,

Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear:

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may no more oppress.

Observe,

REFLECTIONS.

1. What a dark picture is here given us of ungodly men! What a painful object for our contemplation is man destitute of divine grace! Pride, cruelty, rapacity, hypocrisy, insolence, and impiety, are some of the frightful features of his character. Into what a monster has sin changed a creature made originally in the divine likeness! How thankful ought we to be for laws and government, by which the passions of men are put under some restraint! What miserable and vile beings should we be, if we were left to ourselves! How greatly do we always stand in need of the divine mercy and grace!

2. The refuge of the pious. They look to God in

faith and prayer; knowing that His eye sees all things; that He will break the power of the wicked, and punish them; and that He is the defender and helper of all, however weak and destitute, who commit themselves to Him in faith.

3. Faith and prayer soon lead to peace and confidence. Despondency yields to the assurance that God is the everlasting King, who hears His people, subdues their enemies, and causes them to know that they have a Father and Deliverer.

PRAYER.

In a world of sin and trouble, may we always look up to Thee, O God, and call upon Thy Name: by Thee may we be kept from wickedness and the wicked: and by Thee may we be preserved, guided, and comforted in all our ways; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PSALM XI.

Instructive, as Psalm i. Probably written by David when he was advised to flee from Saul.

(I. Confidence in God.)

1 In the Lord put I my trust:

How say ye to my soul,

Flee as a bird to your mountain?

2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,

They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?

(II. The providence and justice of God.)

4 The Lord is in His holy temple,

The Lord's throne is in heaven:
His eyes behold,

His eyelids try, the children of men.

5 The Lord trieth the righteous:

But the wicked, and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth.

6 Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone,

And a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion

of their cup.

7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness: His countenance doth behold the upright.

REFLECTIONS.

1. The words and advice of those who look only to outward appearances may often form one of the Christian's trials, and tend to discourage him, to shake his faith, and to increase his distress. They say to him, "Flee; the foundations fail; the building is going to ruin. The enemy is near in a formidable array." What shall he say in reply? "In the Lord put I my trust." Trust in God is the strength and repose of the soul.

2. Here is the full persuasion and the genuine language of a true faith. The Lord is King upon the throne above; He sees all things; He knows and loves His faithful people; He hates the wicked, and, when

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