led,' but the righteous and loving God has Himself become both their Judge and King. Is it not a joyful thing to know that we shall be judged, not by an unrighteous law, but by a most righteous one; that we are guided and ruled, not by a cruel or selfwilled tyrant, but by a most good and loving King? 'Forasmuch as He is righteous Himself, He ordereth all things righteously.' In Christ the Lord have the nations of the world found light instead of darkness, truth instead of ignorance, life instead of death, blessing instead of cursing; therefore in Him, and through Him, and for Him, should they rejoice and be glad unceasingly and unweariedly.

5. Let the people praise Thee, O God let all the people praise Thee.

6. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God, even our own God, shall give us His blessing.

May He, Who has given us mercy and blessing, give us ever grace to thank Him for His mighty love! May each redeemed soul by itself, and all the multitude of the redeemed in the communion of saints, with one mouth and one heart ever praise Him for His salvation; and may each generation, as it passes away from the shadows of earth into the fulness of the light of His countenance, leave to the generation which follows it an ever-increasing sense of joyfulness, and gratitude! Then shall the continual dew of His blessing' and the refreshing streams of His grace make the world fruitful in saints, and

make the elect to abound in the fruit of good works, brought forth from 'honest and good hearts' year after year; until the last great harvest be ready to be gathered in, until the earth bring forth her increase in the resurrection of the dead, and that which has been sown in corruption and in dishonour be reaped in incorruption and in glory, and be ready to receive the blessing of our Saviour, and our Judge, and our God, when He shall say, 'Come, ye blessed.'

7. God shall bless us and all the ends of the world shall fear Him.

Then the blessings of earth shall be exchanged for the blessings of heaven. The uncreated and eternal Father, the only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son, shall be revealed in the perfection of glory before the pure in heart; and all the dwellers in the new heaven and the new earth shall fear the Lord and His goodness,' and bend in adoring reverence and love before the throne of God and of the Lamb.

"To the chief Musician on the harp, a joyful song," is the title of this Psalm. It was perhaps of considerable antiquity, and used at the gathering in of the harvest, as well as in the public service of the Temple. The harvest was generally a time of rejoicing, (see Isai. ix. 3.) It is used by the Church of England, not only in the office for the celebration of Holy Matrimony, but also in the daily Evening Prayer, as if to teach us that spiritual joy was not merely to be given utterance to at one particular joyful event in our life, but was to be expressed by every redeemed member of the Christian Church every day.

Morning Prayer.

FOR WHITSUNDAY.

PSALM lxviii. Exurgat Deus.

1. LET God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

As of old 'it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate Thee flee before Thee;' so in the exaltation of the ark of the second covenant, the human nature of the Son of God, there is the same,-yea, a far brighter,-shewing forth of glory and of power. Jesus Christ arose from the grave on Easter-day, and the guards who watched the sepulchre were affrighted and fled, and the Pharisees were confounded. He ascended into heaven on Holy Thursday, and death was conquered and hell was spoiled. He sent down the Holy Ghost on Whitsunday, and the world was subdued unto Him, and the dominion of sin was so broken, that all the sins of all shall be finally destroyed either in His mighty wrath or in His mighty love.

2. Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt Thou drive them away and like as wax melteth at the fire, so let the ungodly perish at the presence of God.

3. But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God let them also be merry and joyful.

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Before the fear of God all that is ungodly must flee. While He reveals Himself not, sinners may harden themselves in hating Him; but when He is revealed in Almighty holiness, and truth, and love, all that is opposed to Him must utterly perish and come to nothing. They that have made nought of Him shall be brought to nought before Him. Like smoke before the rushing wind, so shall evil vanish before the power of the Holy Ghost; like wax before the flame, so malice shall perish in the presence of the love of Christ. And not evil men only, but evil angels, are scattered in the presence of God; for He Who makes His holy angels winds and flame to execute His word, shall make the evil spirits but as fleeting smoke and melting wax before them. As He displays His awful presence, all shall vanish from before Him but they who love Him; and they shall rejoice before God. They shall no longer, as now, rejoice with trembling, but they shall be merry with perfect and eternal joy.

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4. O sing unto God, and sing praises unto His Name magnify Him that rideth upon the heavens, as it were upon an horse; praise Him in His Name JAH, and rejoice before Him.

Heb. Cast up a way for Him Who rideth on in the deserts. LXX. Make a way for Him Who ascendeth above the setting: For the Lord is His Name.

They sing unto God who live unto God; they sing praises unto His Name that work unto His glory. By so singing His praise, by so doing His will, do we prepare a way for Him Who came into the deserts of this barren world, and from it ascended into the heavens and sat down at the right hand of God. He is the guide of His chosen through the wilderness, and by following close after Him do we acknowledge Him as our King and confess Him as our God. Thus do we but praise Him Whose name and nature is the name and nature of the Godhead, the All-glorious, the All-powerful, the Eternal.

5. He is a Father of the fatherless, and defendeth the cause of the widows: even God in His holy habitation.

6. He is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in an house, and bringeth the prisoners out of captivity but letteth the runagates continue in scarceness.

Heb. God giveth the solitary a home.

But His love is still the highest of His glories. He is become a father to them who were orphans indeed, for that they knew not their Father Which is in heaven. He is a protector of those souls which were indeed widows, for that they had not for their spouse the eternal Word. He gives us His law of love from His holy throne, as He gave His law of obedience in the holy mount of Sinai. By it He brings the wandering and the lonely into the unity of His Church, giving them a home therein, that