For Thy law is my delight.

78 Let the proud be ashamed;

For they dealt perversely with me without a cause :
But I will meditate in Thy precepts.

79 Let those that fear Thee turn unto me,

And those that have known Thy testimonies. 80 Let my heart be sound in Thy statutes; That I be not ashamed.

REFLECTIONS.

He who has made us, and He only, can enlighten our minds, and plant the fear of Himself in our hearts. He afflicts us for our benefit: and by his tender mercies we live and enjoy true consolation. Daily let our prayers ascend to Him through our great and only Mediator daily let us pray that our hearts may be sound in His statutes; and thus we shall never be ashamed.

PART 11. CAPH.

81 My soul fainteth for Thy salvation : But I hope in Thy word.

82 Mine eyes fail for Thy word, saying,

When wilt Thou comfort me?

83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget Thy statutes.

84 How many are the days of Thy servant? When wilt Thou execute judgment

on them that persecute me?

85 The proud have digged pits for me, Which are not after Thy law.

86 All Thy commandments are faithful:

They persecute me wrongfully; help Thou me.

A A

87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not Thy precepts.

88 Quicken me after Thy lovingkindness;

So shall I keep the testimony of Thy mouth.

REFLECTIONS.

The first three verses describe a painful state of mind; but there is the substance of true piety in it; faith, earnest desire, and remembrance of God's word. Our days are few; our enemies are many; we may be reduced to great straits; but all is well with us, if we look to God, commit ourselves to Him, remain stedfast in His ways, and earnestly seek His quickening grace, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

PART 12. LAMED.

89 For ever, O Lord,

Thy word is settled in heaven.

90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to Thine ordi

nances:

For all are Thy servants.

92 Unless Thy law had been my delight,

I should have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget Thy precepts:

For with them Thou hast quickened me. 94 I am Thine, save me;

For I have sought Thy precepts.

95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: But I will consider Thy testimonies.

96 I have seen an end of all perfection:

But Thy commandment is exceeding broad.

REFLECTIONS.

In God and in His word we see stability: great, then, is their happiness whose portion is God, and whose guide is His word. In the day of affliction, especially, we know the value of the divine truth. Should the wicked plot against us, God will be our Preserver and Deliverer, if we forget not, but duly consider, His testimonies. The perfection of this world is limited; we soon see an end of it: but the perfection of God's word is boundless, and we can never grasp it.

PART 13. MEM.

97 O how I love Thy law!

It is my meditation all the day.

98 Thou through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies:

For they are ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: For Thy testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients,

Because I keep Thy precepts.

101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might keep Thy word.

102 I have not departed from Thy judgments :
For Thou hast taught me.

103 How sweet are Thy words unto my taste!
Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through Thy precepts I get understanding:
Therefore I hate every false way.

REFLECTIONS.

If we love the word of God, meditate upon it, and obey it, we shall be truly wise; wiser than our enemies;

wiser than many of the aged. He who is divinely taught will hate every false way, refrain from evil, and walk in Christ's law. The more true we thus are to divine wisdom, the more delight and pleasantness we shall find in it and in its ways.

DAY 26.]

PART 14. NUN.

MORNING PRAYER.

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,

And a light unto my path.

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it,

That I will keep Thy righteous judgments. 107 I am afflicted very much:

Quicken me, O Lord, according unto Thy word. 108 Accept, I beseech Thee,

the freewill offerings of my mouth,

O Lord, and teach me Thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: Yet do I not forget Thy law.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: Yet I erred not from Thy precepts. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken

as my heritage for ever:

For they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112 I have inclined my heart to perform

Thy statutes alway,

Even unto the end.

REFLECTIONS.

Happy is he who takes the word of God for his guide, and who resolves, in the strength of divine grace, to obey its precepts. We may be very much afflicted,

have many enemies, and be in great danger: but all will be well with us, if we pray to God for grace and knowledge; if we do not forget His law, nor wander from it. Let us choose God's word for our heritage; let us live always in obedience to it; and it will not fail to be the rejoicing of our hearts.

PART 15. SAMECH.

113 I hate vain thoughts:

But Thy law do I love.

114 Thou art my hiding-place and my

I hope in Thy word.

115 Depart from me, ye evil doers :

shield:

For I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according to Thy word, that I may live:

And let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117 Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: And I will have respect unto Thy statutes continually.

118 Thou hast trod down all them that err from Thy statutes:

For their deceit is falsehood.

119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross:

Therefore I love Thy testimonies. 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of Thee; And I am afraid of Thy judgments.

REFLECTIONS.

We must hate vain opinions, and love divine truth. We must look to God as our refuge and defence, and hope in His word. To Him we must address our prayer