28 The children of Thy servants shall continue, And their seed shall be established before Thee. REFLECTIONS. 1. God is our refuge at all times: but never do we look to Him more singly, never call upon Him more earnestly, than in the time of trouble. Here we learn how to pray, and what to pray for. 2. So perhaps mourned the Jews at Babylon. So mourns the afflicted Church. So mourns the true penitent. Here is that sorrow, that humiliation, yea that distress, with which all the righteous are more or less acquainted. 3. All below is but as a passing shadow: but God is always the same: and His eternity and goodness are the comfort and support of His people. The Church may be afflicted for a season; her faith and patience may be tried; but her prayer shall be heard; and she shall prosper and triumph. What is true of her, is true of each of her children. 4. In submission to God's will we may pray for prolonged days on earth, that we may glorify Him. But man is mortal: all creation is perishable: and where shall the Christian look for consolation? To that blessed Saviour of whom it is said, "Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail." Immutability and perpetuity belong to Christ and to His Church. This is our comfort. PRAYER. Help us, O Lord, to meditate on these things: help us to apply them to ourselves. Fill our hearts with deep humility, and godly sorrow: fill our hearts with joy and peace in believing. Grant that we and Thy whole Church may look unto Thy Son Jesus Christ, and glory in Him: and hasten that day when all the kingdoms shall serve the Lord. Amen. PSALM CIII. Thanksgiving, as Psalm xviii. 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me bless His holy Name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. (II. God's goodness to Israel.) 6 The Lord executeth righteousness And judgment for all that are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. (III. God's mercy to His servants.) 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide : Neither will He keep His anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far hath He removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, So the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. 14 For He knoweth our frame: He remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting To everlasting upon them that fear Him, And His righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep His covenant, And to those that remember His commandments to do them. 19 The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens ; And His kingdom ruleth over all. (IV. Praise.) 20 Bless the Lord, ye His angels, That excel in strength, that do His commandments, 21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts; Ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all His works In all places of His dominion: REFLECTIONS. 1. It is our duty to be thankful to God for the innumerable and inestimable blessings which He continually confers upon us. We are too apt to forget them but we ought to remember them, and to bless Him for them with all the heart. He forgives our sins; heals our spiritual as well as bodily diseases; redeems us from destruction, preserving us amidst all dangers, and delivering us from eternal ruin; encompasses us with proofs of His bounty and kindness, and gives us the good things of this world; and satisfies us also with spiritual blessings, so that we rejoice as in the strength and health of a perpetual youth. 2. God is just in all His ways, and sooner or later He vindicates His oppressed people. The Israelites knew and saw His ways, as they were instructed and guided by Moses: we know and understand them more fully, being instructed by the great Prophet of the Church. Our gratitude should keep pace with our blessings; keep pace with the knowledge that we possess. 3. Here the mercy of God is stated in the most impressive manner. He is slow to anger, though we provoke Him; His chastisements are not continued always; His mercy in the forgiveness of our sins is boundless; and His compassions are those of a considerate Father: He deals with us as frail and perishable creatures. In His mercy that never fails, and in His government over all things, we have abundant consolation. 4. All creation-the hosts above, and every thing below-is here called upon to bless the Lord. And each of us, as a partaker of His benefits, of His mercy, of His fatherly goodness and care, ought to say, "Bless the Lord, O my soul." PRAYER. Give us, O Lord, a due sense of all Thy mercies; and fill our hearts with gratitude, and our lips with praise. Grant us grace to keep Thy covenant, and to do Thy commandments. Pardon our sins, renew our souls, pity our weakness, and cause our souls to prosper. Thus may we live in the faith and fear and love of Thee, and magnify Thee for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. DAY 20.] PSALM CIV. EVENING PRAYER. Displaying the divine perfections, as Psalm viii. This Psalm has been ascribed to David. It dwells on temporal blessings, as the preceding dwelt on spiritual. (I. God's perfections displayed in creation.) 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2 Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: |