2 Judah was his sanctuary, And Israel his dominion. 3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.

4 The mountains skipped like rams, And the little hills like lambs.

5 What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? Thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?

6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; And ye little hills, like lambs?

7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob;

8 Which turneth the rock into a standing water, The flint into a fountain of waters.

REFLECTIONS.

The pious Jew had various subjects for praise when he looked back upon the history of his nation; upon the wonderful and gracious dealings of God towards His chosen people in Egypt, at the River Jordan, and in the wilderness. The Christian has the same, and, in addition to them, the wonderful acts of God in our redemption, and the support, guidance, and preservation of His Church.

PRAYER.

We now, O Lord, are Thy worshippers: we are the children of Thy kingdom. Great are the wonders which Thou hast wrought for us, and great is the goodness which Thou hast shown to us. May we meditate on these things, and glorify Thy holy Name for ever, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

PSALM CXV.

Displaying the divine perfections, as Psalm viii. A song of triumph. (I. Ascription of glory to God.)

1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But unto Thy Name give glory,

For Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

3 But our God is in the heavens:

He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.

(II. Folly of Idolatry.)

4 Their idols are silver and gold,

The work of men's hands.

5 They have mouths, but they speak not:
Eyes have they, but they see not:
6 They have ears, but they hear not:

Noses have they, but they smell not:
7 They have hands, but they handle not:
Feet have they, but they walk not:
Neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them;
So is every one that trusteth in them.

(III. Exhortation to trust in God.)

9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.

11 Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield.

(IV. Prediction of prosperity.)

12 The Lord hath been mindful of us :

He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel;

He will bless the house of Aaron.

13 He will bless them that fear the Lord,

Both small and great.

14 The Lord shall increase

You and your children.

you more and more,

15 Ye are blessed of the Lord

Which made heaven and earth.

16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: But the earth hath He given to the children of men. 17 The dead praise not the Lord,

Neither any that go down into silence.

18 But we will bless the Lord

From this time forth and for evermore.
Praise the Lord.

REFLECTIONS.

1. Herein is true humility: to ascribe all good to the divine mercy and faithfulness. Herein is true faith: though reproached, to hold fast our persuasion that our God is above, and rules over all.

2. What a melancholy proof does idolatry afford of man's folly, weakness, and wickedness! How ought we to pity idolaters, and to pray and labour for their conversion!

3. God is our helper in difficulty and distress, and our defender in danger. How thankful should we be that we know Him as such! How joyfully and implicitly should we trust in Him!

4. Look to the past time. God hath been "mindful of us," both in temporal and spiritual things. Look to the future. If we fear Him, He will bless us; so bless us that we shall have abundant reason to bless Him "from this time forth and for evermore."

PRAYER.

Fill our souls, O Lord, with humility and faith ; make us thankful for our knowledge of Thee; may we trust in Thee and fear Thee; and bless us with Thy grace and protection; that we may praise Thee in life, and in death, and for evermore: through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

DAY 24.]

PSALM CXVI.

MORNING PRAYER.

Thanksgiving, as Psalm xviii. Some ascribe it to David; others to some one after the captivity.

(I. An assertion and a resolve.)

1 I love the Lord,

Because He hath heard my voice and my suppli

cations.

2 Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, Therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live. (II. Distress, deliverance, and peace described.) 3 The sorrows of death compassed me,

And the gates of hell

gat hold upon me:

I found trouble and sorrow.

4 Then called I upon the Name of the Lord;

O Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yea, our God is merciful.

6 The Lord preserveth the simple :

I was brought low, and He helped me.
Return unto thy rest, O my soul;

For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, Mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the Lord

In the land of the living.

(III. Faith: Impatience.)

10 I believed, therefore have I spoken:

I was greatly afflicted.

11 I said in my haste,

All men are liars.

(IV. Resolve to be thankful; to worship God.) 12 What shall I render unto the Lord For all His benefits toward me ? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, And call upon the Name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord

Now in the presence of all His people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.

16 O Lord, truly I am Thy servant;

I am Thy servant, and the son of Thy handmaid:
Thou hast loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the Name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord