the day of His patience ends, He will pour upon them, as upon Sodom and Gomorrah, the vials of His wrath. PRAYER. Thou, O Lord, art the righteous Lord, and Thou lovest righteousness: Thou lookest upon Thine upright servants with favour and loving-kindness. Whatever may be the confusion and trouble of the present state, may we trust in Thee; knowing that Thou seest all things, and rulest over all, and wilt punish evildoers. And as Thou art our confidence and support, may we study to please and glorify Thee in all our ways; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. PSALM XII. DAY 2.] EVENING PRAYER. Instructive, as Psalm i. Author, David. Some refer it to the persecutions of Saul; others, to those of Absalom. (I. Prayer and complaint.) 1 Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. (II. Judgments on the wicked; safety of the good.) 3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, "With our tongue will we prevail; "Our lips are our own; who is Lord over us?" 5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. (III. Confidence in God.) 6 The words of the Lord are pure words: As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord; Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. 8 The wicked walk on every side, When the vilest men are exalted. REFLECTIONS. 1. When the good and faithful among men seem to be few; when vanity, flattery, and duplicity abound; to whom but to God shall we look for help? In all cases we may resort to Him as our preserver and guide. 2. Faith delights to contemplate the government of God; the justice of His proceedings. Flattery, pride, and insolent impiety may prevail, and occasion much confusion and misery, for a season. But the sighing of the needy is heard, and the oppression of the poor is seen, by the just and holy God; and He will arise when he sees proper, vindicate their cause, and place them in safety. Such, whatever be their condition here, will be the final issue of things. 3. The word of God is pure, true, and faithful; free from all dross of error and deceit; proved by the ex perience of the pious in all circumstances and through all ages. If the vile be exalted, and the wicked walk on every side, yet the word of God shall be fulfilled and the righteous shall be preserved. Their help never fails. PRAYER. In an evil world, and in evil days, grant, O Lord, that we may look to Thee in faith. Whatever be the flattery of some, or the violence of others; however pride, impiety, and injustice may abound in the earth; may we look to Thee for help and preservation; wait patiently for deliverance; trust in the fulfilment of Thy word; and never be weary of well doing. Grant this, we beseech Thee, for our Redeemer's sake. Amen. PSALM XIII. Prayer in great dejection under affliction: probably written by David during the persecutions of Saul. (I. Complaint.) 1 How long wilt Thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? (II. Prayer.) 3 Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God: Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest mine enemy say, "I have prevailed against him;" And those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. (III. The joys of faith.) 5 But I have trusted in Thy mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto the Lord, Because He hath dealt bountifully with me, REFLECTIONS. 1. We lament, in cloudy and dark days, the concealment of the sun. How much more does the Christian lament the absence of the bright shining of the Sun of righteousness! Spiritual troubles are felt by him to be exceedingly painful; when he seems to be forgotten of God; when his meditations afford him no comfort; when he has sorrow in his heart daily; and when his enemies seem to prevail. Such seasons there are in the spiritual life. 2. The relief of the Christian is this, he can approach God at the throne of grace, fill his mouth with arguments, and pour out his heart before Him. This David did; and this is what we ought to do: for thus shall we be enlightened and preserved; and thus the designs and expectations of our enemies will be frustrated. 3. He who trusts in the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, and devoutly prays to Him, shall soon rejoice in the blessings of redemption. The complaint of darkness, desertion, and sorrow will then be exchanged for the song of gratitude and gladness, because God has dealt bountifully with him. PRAYER. Preserve us, O Lord, in all our troubles, from despondency. In the season of darkness and sorrow, when we have no light, may we trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon our God. May we call upon Thee in earnest prayer, and proceed in our Christian course with faith and patience; persuaded that in due time thou wilt deal bountifully with us, and cause our hearts to rejoice in Thy salvation. Mercifully hear our requests for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Instructive, as Ps. i. the corruption of men, he could not restrain. PSALM XIV. The Psalmist, perhaps David, complains of and of the oppressors of the people whom See Ps. liii. (I. Corruption of the world.) 1 The fool hath said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good. 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, 3 There is none that doeth good, nó, not one. (II. Enmity of the wicked.) 4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And call not upon the Lord. 5 There were they in great fear : |