when God is pleased to enlarge our minds and hearts by His enlightening and enlivening grace.

DAY 25.]

PART 5. HE.

MORNING PRAYER.

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes;

And I shall keep it unto the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law: Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments: For therein do I delight.

36 Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies,

And not to covetousness.

37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; And quicken Thou me in Thy way.

38 Stablish Thy word unto Thy servant,

Who is devoted to Thy fear.

39 Turn away my reproach which I fear; For Thy judgments are good.

40 Behold, I have longed after Thy precepts: Quicken me in Thy righteousness.

REFLECTIONS.

What we need, in order to be pious, and perseveringly so, is a right understanding of God's word, and a heart rightly disposed towards it. For these we must daily pray. We must beware of covetousness and vanity; and we must always ask for divine grace, for by this only can we continue devoted to the fear of God, escape reproach, and manifest the excellence and enjoy the blessedness of true piety.

PART 6. VAU.

41 Let Thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Even Thy salvation, according to Thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me:

For I trust in Thy word.

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth;

For I have hoped in Thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep Thy law continually

For ever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty:

For I seek Thy precepts.

46 I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.

47 And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, Which I have loved;

48 My hands also will I lift up unto Thy commandments,

Which I have loved.

And I will meditate in Thy statutes.

REFLECTIONS.

If God vouchsafe to visit us with salvation, we shall be able to answer our adversaries. If human weakness threatens to prevail against our piety, still we must trust, hope, and keep God's law. Then we shall be able to speak boldly of divine truth, even before kings, and not be ashamed. Take we care that we delight in, meditate upon, and live by, the divine commandments.

PART 7. ZAIN.

49 Remember the word unto Thy servant,

Upon which Thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction:

For Thy word hath quickened me.

51 The proud have had me greatly in derision; Yet have I not declined from Thy law.

52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord ; And have comforted myself.

53 Horror hath taken hold

upon me

Because of the wicked that forsake Thy law.

54 Thy statutes have been my songs

In the house of my pilgrimage.

55 I have remembered Thy Name, O Lord, in the night,

And have kept thy law.

56 This I had, because I kept Thy precepts.

REFLECTIONS.

We are liable to affliction. We are surrounded with the wicked. Such is our condition here. But we have support and comfort. We hope in God's word; it enlivens our souls; we remember it, and cleave to it; we deplore the conduct and condition of the ungodly: and what is the happy result? The word of God (its gracious doctrines, its discoveries, its precepts, and its promises) furnishes us with abundant materials for songs of praise and thanksgiving in the house of our pilgrimage.

PART 8. CHETH.

57 Thou art my portion, O Lord:

I have said that I would keep Thy word. 58 I intreated Thy favour with my whole heart: Be merciful unto me according to Thy word.

59 I thought on my ways,

And turned my feet unto Thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not

To keep Thy commandments.

61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me ; But I have not forgotten Thy law.

62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee, Because of Thy righteous judgments.

63 I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, And of them that keep Thy precepts.

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Thy mercy: Teach me Thy statutes.

REFLECTIONS.

God is the portion of His faithful people. They seek His favour and mercy, and obey His commands. They think on their ways, and turn their feet into the path of obedience. Though surrounded with wicked men, they remember the divine law. Thus living in faith and righteousness, they experience the goodness of God, give thanks to Him at all times, and associate with those who fear Him. Be such our life, O Lord, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

PART 9. TETH.

65 Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O Lord, According unto Thy word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge;

For I have believed Thy commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray:

But now have I kept Thy word.

68 Thou art good, and doest good;

Teach me Thy statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me :

But I will keep Thy precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease;

But I delight in Thy law.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn Thy statutes.

72 The law of Thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver.

REFLECTIONS.

We ought to acknowledge with gratitude God's gracious dealings with us; and particularly the blessing and benefit of sanctified affliction. God is good, and does good; and to Him we should continually pray for instruction and grace, that we may in all things live more and more in agreement with His word. The more we know of true piety, the more shall we delight in it, and be convinced of its excellence and inestimable value.

PART 10. JOD.

DAY 25.]

EVENING PRAYER.

73 Thy hands have made and fashioned me: Give me understanding,

that I may learn Thy commandments.

74 They that fear Thee will be glad when they see me; Because I have hoped in Thy word.

75 I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, And that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray Thee,

Thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Thy word unto Thy servant. 77 Let Thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: