ness and strength: we are protected here, and shall hereafter be exalted to glory.

4. David was a type of Christ. Here, then, we behold our blessed Lord and the New Covenant. He is exalted to universal dominion; and He has a people, in all nations, and through all ages, who acknowledge Him. The Covenant is unchanging and everlasting: but if we would receive its blessings, we must not only embrace it, but be true to it.

5. Israel suffered much: and thus the Church, in this world, experiences many trials; is often in a state of depression; and passes through much tribulation. Her enemies seem for a time to prevail and prosper. They rejoice, and she is in affliction.

6. Prayer to God is the refuge of the Church, and of every faithful member of it, in the time of trouble. We must humbly confess our sins; deprecate the divine wrath; plead the unchanging Covenant; and implore the blessing of the divine lovingkindness: and then we shall soon have occasion to say, "Blessed be the Lord for evermore."

PRAYER.

O gracious and merciful God, we thank Thee that we hear the joyful sound of the Gospel: grant that we may know it, and rejoice in Thy salvation. Look down in tender pity, we beseech Thee, on Thy Church in her afflictions; suffer not her enemies to prevail; but cause Thy power and majesty, Thy mercy and faithfulness, to be known in all nations, that we, and

Thy whole Church, may bless and praise Thee for evermore, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DAY 18.]

PSALM XC.

MORNING PRAYER.

Instructive, as Psalm xxxix. "A Prayer of Moses, the man of

God."

(I. God everlasting.)

1 Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth,

Or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the
world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art
God.

(II. Frail and mortal state of Man.)
3 Thou turnest man to destruction;
And sayest, Return, ye children of men.
4 For a thousand years in Thy sight
Are but as yesterday when it is past,
And as a watch in the night.

5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep:

In the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up;

In the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

7 For we are consumed by Thy anger, And by Thy wrath are we troubled.

8 Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee,

Our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. 9 For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath : We spend our years as a tale that is told.

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,

Yet is their strength labour and sorrow;

For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of Thine anger? Even according to Thy fear, so is Thy wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days,

That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

(III. Prayer for the mercies of redemption.)

13 Return, O Lord, how long?

And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants. 14 O satisfy us early with Thy mercy;

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to

the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us,

And the years wherein we have seen evil. 16 Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, And Thy glory unto their children.

17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be

upon us;

And establish Thou the work of our hands upon us;
Yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.

REFLECTIONS.

1. The eternal God is our Refuge. Such He has been in all ages to His people, and such He will be to

them for ever. How great is their bliss who can say, The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms! Deut. xxxiii. 27.

2. What an affecting view of man! We rise and flourish; we fade and fall. If we attain to what is accounted a long life, with what weakness and sorrow are we made familiar! In this we have the fruit and proof of our sinfulness. It is wise in us duly to consider the displeasure of God against sin, and the brevity of life, so as to apply our hearts to true religion. Without such consideration, we spend our days in vanity.

3. Sound reflection will lead us to earnest prayer. And what do we stand in need of? The divine favour and mercy; so that our purposes and labours, in the way of duty, and for the glory of God, may be successful; and that thus we may rejoice here, and rejoice for ever when the afflictions of this life come to an end.

PRAYER.

O everlasting God, look in mercy upon us, Thy frail and feeble creatures. Help us to consider our sinfulness, that we may humble ourselves before Thee. Help us to consider the shortness of life, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Enable us to employ our few and uncertain days in endeavouring to do Thy will; and do Thou prosper our counsels and our labours. Make us such in faith and practice, that we may rejoice in Thy salvation, both now and for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

PSALM XCI.

Instructive, as Psalm i. '

(I. Security of the righteous.)

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord,

He is my Refuge and my Fortress:

My God; in Him will I trust.

3 Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,

And from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, And under His wings shalt thou trust :

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon day.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side,

d;

And ten thousand at thy right hand But it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold

And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge,

Even the Most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee,

Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.