avowing "that He is good, and that His mercy endureth for ever."

2. Troubles and trials we shall have; but, instead of looking to man, we must trust in God; then we may dismiss fear, and be persuaded that we shall soon obtain deliverance, and rejoice in liberty and comfort.

3—5. The Church, as well as its individual members, has many enemies to encounter; but God is our strength and salvation, and through Him we do valiantly, discomfit our enemies, and are more than conquerors. Hence the voice of rejoicing and salvation is heard in our dwellings.

6, 7. When the afflicted are comforted and restored to health and peace, they will be anxious to praise God in His house of prayer, and there to acknowledge publicly His goodness to them.

8. These verses (St. Matt. xxi. 42.) refer to our blessed Lord: He is the foundation of our hopes: rejected by men; but chosen of God. We live in "the accepted time:" O that we may know our blessings, and rejoice and be glad! "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”

9. Thus pray we for the prosperity of Christ's kingdom; for the success of the Gospel. Thus bless we our gracious Saviour, and pray for blessings on His faithful people.

10. God hath showed us light: therefore let us offer unto Him spiritual sacrifices; praise Him, exalt

Him, and give thanks to Him; "for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever."

PRAYER.

O gracious God, help us always to trust in Thee, and to rejoice in Thy mercy. May we rest on the only foundation of hope, and by Thy strength vanquish all our enemies. And may we thank and praise Thee for Thy goodness and mercy both here and for ever, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

DAY 24.]

PSALM CXIX.

EVENING PRayer.

Instructive, as Psalm xix. It is ascribed to David.

PART 1. ALEPH.

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.

2 Blessed are they that keep His testimonies,
And that seek Him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity:
They walk in His ways.

4 Thou hast commanded us

To keep Thy precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed To keep Thy statutes!

6 Then shall I not be ashamed,

When I have respect unto all Thy commandments. 7 I will praise Thee with uprightness of heart, When I shall have learned Thy righteous judg

ments.

8 I will keep Thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

REFLECTIONS.

Our obe

When we

Would we be truly blessed? We must seek God with the whole heart, and obey His laws. dience must be diligent and universal. rightly believe and rightly act, we shall praise God: and our resolve will be, to persevere in our righteous course; and our prayer will be, that God will not forsake us; not leave us to ourselves.

PART 2. BETH.

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?

By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought Thee:

O let me not wander from Thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in my heart,

That I might not sin against Thee.

12 Blessed art Thou, O Lord:

Teach me Thy statutes.

13 With my lips have I declared

All the judgments of Thy mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, As much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate in Thy precepts,

And have respect unto Thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.

REFLECTIONS.

If we would lead holy lives, we must obey God's word; we must seek Him, and pray to be kept from

it,

wandering out of the way of obedience. of obedience. If we would treat the word of God aright, and be kept from sin, we must treasure it in our hearts, meditate upon delight in it, and pray that we may understand it. He who makes the resolve in verses 15, 16, and is faithful to it, will rejoice in the way of piety, and speak much also for the benefit of others. Verse 13.

PART 3. GIMEL.

17 Deal bountifully with Thy servant, That I may live, and keep Thy word.

18 Open Thou mine eyes,

That I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.

19 I am a stranger in the earth:

Hide not Thy commandments from me.

20 My soul breaketh for the longing

That it hath unto Thy judgments at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed,
Which do err from Thy commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt;
For I have kept Thy testimonies.

23 Princes also did sit and speak against me:
But Thy servant did meditate in Thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also are.

My delight and my counsellors.

REFLECTIONS.

Our living as true Christians depends on God's mercy and grace to us; and for these blessings, as for every other, we must pray to Him. He only can give us the saving knowledge of divine truth; and this we

ought most earnestly to seek. We need not regard the reproach of men, if we make God's word our delight and counsellor. He will rebuke the proud opposers of His truth, and exalt its faithful disciples to honour and happiness.

PART 4. DALETH.

25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust:

Quicken Thou me according to Thy word.

26 I have declared my ways, and Thou heardest me: . Teach me Thy statutes.

27 Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts: So shall I talk of Thy wondrous works.

28 My soul melteth for heaviness:

Strengthen Thou me according unto Thy word. 29 Remove from me the way of lying:

And grant me Thy law graciously.

30 I have chosen the way of truth:
Thy judgments have I laid before me.
31 I have stuck unto Thy testimonies:
O Lord, put me not to shame.

32 I will run the way of Thy commandments,
When Thou shalt enlarge my heart.

REFLECTIONS.

In danger we pray for preservation; in heaviness and grief, for strength and comfort. We always need more instruction; a deeper understanding of divine things: and happy are we if we seek and obtain it: for then we shall avoid every false way; we shall keep the word of God in view, and firmly cleave to it; and we shall proceed with alacrity in the way of obedience,