His mercy is everlasting;

And His truth endureth to all generations.

REFLECTIONS.

In the first verse the inhabitants of all lands are called upon to worship and praise the Lord.

In the second and fourth verses our duty is enjoined, and the manner in which it is to be performed is described. It is our duty to serve and worship God; to come before His presence; to enter into His gates; into His courts. In doing this, our hearts should be full of joy and thankfulness, and our language should be that of praise.

In the third and fifth verses the reasons of the duty are stated. The Lord is God; He is our Creator; He is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His faithfulness and truth endure for ever.

PRAYER.

Enable us, O Lord, to understand these things, and give us grace to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. Help us seriously to consider who Thou art, and what we are and may we always implore Thy mercy, trust in Thy faithfulness and truth, and praise Thee for Thy goodness; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

PSALM CI.

Instructive, as Psalm 1xxxii. Written by David, probably, when he was made king of all the tribes.

(I. Vow and profession of godliness.)

1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: Unto Thee, O Lord, will I sing.

2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. Oh when wilt Thou come unto me?

I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no wicked things before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside;

It shall not cleave to me.

4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour,
him will I cut off:

Him that hath a high look and a proud heart
will I not suffer.

6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,

That they may dwell with me:

He that walketh in a perfect way,

He shall serve me.

7 He that worketh deceit shall not work within my house:

He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; That I may cut off all wicked doers

from the city of the Lord.

REFLECTIONS.

The mercy of God and His judgment, His holy laws and righteous administration, are always fit sub

U

jects for our songs; for our joyful acknowledgment. But we must be practical Christians; and here we learn how we ought to live. 1. As to ourselves, we must (verses 2, 3.) walk wisely in a perfect way—walk in our house with a perfect heart; and renounce and hate sin. 2. As to others, we must have no fellowship with the wicked; verses 4, 5. 7, 8. Our delight must be in the excellent of the earth: them we are to befriend, and with them we are to associate.

PRAYER.

Give us, O Lord, a true knowledge of mercy and judgment according to the Gospel of Christ. Give us grace to lead the true Christian life; abhorring evil, consulting the welfare of Thy people, separating ourselves from the workers of iniquity, and shining as lights in the world by walking wisely and with a true heart; to Thy honour and glory, through Jesus Christ our only Redeemer. Amen.

DAY 20.]

Penitential.

PSALM CII.

MORNING PRAYER.

Supposed to have been written towards the close of the Captivity. Compare verses 25-27 with Heb. i. 10-12.

(I. Prayer to be heard.)

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord,

And let my cry come unto Thee.

2 Hide not Thy face from me in the day when I am

in trouble:

Incline Thine ear unto me;

In the day when I call answer me speedily.

(II. Complaint.)

3 For my days are consumed like smoke, And my bones are burned as a hearth. 4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; So that I forget to eat my bread.

5 By reason of the voice of my groaning My bones cleave to my skin.

6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness : I am like an owl of the desert.

7 I watch, and am

As a sparrow alone upon the house top. 8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; And they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

9 For I have eaten ashes like bread,

And mingled my drink with weeping,

10 Because of Thine indignation and Thy wrath : For Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. 11 My days are like a shadow that declineth: And I am withered like grass.

(III. Comfort from God's eternity and goodness.) 12 But Thou, Lord, shalt endure for ever;

And Thy remembrance unto all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion; For the time to favour her,

Yea, the set time, is come.

14 For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, And favour the dust thereof.

15 So the heathen shall fear the Name of the Lord,

And all the kings of the earth Thy glory. 16 When the Lord shall build up Zion,

He shall appear in His glory.

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, And not despise their prayer.

Is This shall be written for the generation to come : And the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord.

19 For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary;

From heaven did the Lord behold the earth ; 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner :

To loose those that are appointed to death; 21 To declare the Name of the Lord in Zion, And His praise in Jerusalem;

22 When the people are gathered together, And the kingdoms to serve the Lord.

(IV. Complaint, prayer, repose in God.) 23 He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.

24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days:

Thy years are throughout all generations. 25 Of old Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth: And the heavens are the work of Thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure: Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt Thou change them, And they shall be changed.

27 But Thou art the same,

And Thy years shall have no end.