mortal. Mortal indeed it will be to the sin, but healing to the soul. Pray that your sorrow for sin may be soothed by a sense of reconciliation; for never will your hatred of it be so perfect, as when you feel yourself sheltered from its everlasting curse. To lie before your Saviour as one of his redeemed people, and to wash his feet with your tears of contrition, will be your highest and happiest privilege on this side heaven. In this spirit and daily posture you will most clearly manifest the inseparable connexion of a hatred of lying vanities and lying ways with a love for the law of God. 164. Seven times a-day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments. "2 THE man of God had just spoken of his fear, joy, hatred, and love. He now speaks of the expression of his love in praise. And indeed it is the mixture of praise with prayer in this psalm, that makes it so complete an exhibition of Christian experience. Early and late, and habitually throughout the day, have we seen this man of God "give himself to prayer.' And here it appears that his "spirit of supplication," in strict conformity with the Apostolical rule, was invariably mingled "with thanksgiving."—" Seven times a-day do I praise thee." If, in the spirit of love we feel it " good for us to draw near to God," 5 it will be as needless to define the frequency of our praises, as to prescribe a limitation to our visits to a beloved friend, to whom our obligations were daily 1 Compare Ezekiel xvi. 63; xxxvi. 31; xx. 43. 2 See on Verses 147, 148. 3 Compare Philippians iv. 6. 4 Seven times-that is-continually. Proverbs xxiv. 16. 5 Psalm lxxiii. 28. increasing. Love will answer every scruple, and banish all apprehensions of offence, on whichever side of the boundary we might happen to move. Young Christians indeed may sometimes unwarily bring themselves into "bondage," in constraining their consciences to set times for duty, the frequency of which may entrench either upon the circumstances of the outward man, or the weakness of the inward man. Though our rule of service is not to be measured by our indolence, yet it must be accommodated to those daily engagements of our individual calling, which, when "done as to the Lord," constitute as real and necessary a part of our religion, as the more spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise. If any particular time (beyond the Sabbath employment, and "the morning and evening sacrifice") is observed, because it is the timehowever wearied our spirits may be, or however the occasion may interfere with immediate duty; we have forgotten the weighty instruction of one well-qualified to speak-" Bodily exercise profiteth little ;" and we go and learn what that meaneth-I will have mercy and not sacrifice."3 It will however be usually found, that growth in grace will bring with it an habitual relish for spiritual intercourse with God, and will enable the young Christian to bring the spirit of this intercourse into the general mould of his Christian profession: and thus will each duty of the day find its proper place. As his views become more solid and settled, his services will become more free, and his obedience more evangelical. must " But the formalist-considering "seven times a-day," to be an infringement of the sacred canon-" Be not righteous overmuch "4-pays his customary service 1 Col. iii. 23. Ephesians vi. 7. 3 Hosea vi. 6, with Matt. ix. 13; xii. 7. 2 1 Timothy iv. 8. 4 Eccles. vii. 16. twice a-day. He says his prayers and he says his praises too, and his conscience slumbers again. And alas! there are times of slumber with the Christian, when he little differs from him. Oh! let us be alarmed at every symptom of such a state, and "find no rest to our spirit," until we have regained some measure of this frame of hearty and overflowing praise. If there be a heavenly nature, there must be a heavenly work. Tongue and heart should be set on fire by love. Thus we will go to our work-whatever it may be— and sing at it. But the Christian sometimes feels that he has no heart, and he almost fears no right to praise. He has no sensible token of love to call him forth and therefore he suffers his harp to "hang upon the willows; " nor does he care to take it down, even to "sing one of the Lord's songs in this strange land." Let him remember, that the service of praise is the most successful means of resistance to the despondency of unbelief. Many have found with Bunyan- When I believe and sing, my doubting 'ceases.' Often has the act or even the attempt to praise proved a quickening ordinance to overcome the complaint of dulness in prayer. Endeavour, therefore, to bring to mind some of your spiritual or even temporal mercies. Or, if recollection fails you, open your Bible; turn to some subject of praise, such as the song of the Angels at the birth of our Saviour, 2 or the song of the Redeemed to the honour of the Lamb. 3 Have you no part or interest in it? Do you not need the Saviour? Can you be happy without him? Then inquire, and feel, and try, whether you cannot give "thanks unto God for his 1 Psalm cxxxvii. 2, 4. 2 Luke ii. 13, 14. 3 Revelations v. 12. Peradventure your notes may unspeakable gift."1 rise into praise, and in the excitement of praise, prayer will again mingle itself with its wonted enjoyment. It is no less your folly than your sin to drench your spirits in continual depression, which unfits you for the exercise of every Christian duty and privilege. If we need assistance for this blessed work, how fully do the Liturgical services of our Church provide matter to sustain the elevation of the soul heavenwards ! Language better adapted for strengthening the weak endeavour of the aspiring soul will not readily be found; consecrated as we may almost consider it to be, in the remembrance of its acceptable use by a throng of the Lord's favoured people during successive generations, now united to the general assembly above, and worshipping with everlasting acceptance "before the throne of God and the Lamb." "2 The Lord's "righteous judgments," or his decrees and declarations respecting his Church, were the main subject of the Psalmist's praise. They occupied his "midnight,' as well as his daily song; and often since have they called forth the expression of adoring thankfulness in the Church of God—“ O Lord, thou art my God" said the enraptured prophet in the name of the church-“ I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."3 Inscrutable indeed they may sometimes appear; and opposed to our best prospects of happiness; yet the language of faith in the darkest hour will be-" We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according 1 2 Cor. ix. 15. Yerse 62. 3 Isaiah xxv. 1. to his purpose.' "" 1 But neither "seven times a-day," nor "seventy times seven," will satisfy us in heaven. Then our song-even "the song of Moses and the Lamb "-will still be-the Lord's " righteous judgments;" and for this ever 66 new song "the harps of God will never be unstrung, and never out of tune, throughout an eternity of praise. 3 But a moment, and we shall be engaged in this heavenly employno reluctancy of the spirit-no weariness of the flesh. Every moment is hastening on this near-this cheering -this overwhelmingly glorious-prospect. Blessed be God! 165. Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. EVERY feature of the covenant of grace bears some resemblance to the nature of the covenant, full of grace, peace, and love. Two of the agents in the covenant are fitly represented by the lamb and the dove-emblems of peace. The tendency of its principles "is first pure, then peaceable." The end of it will be peace-universal peace: "They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain."5 The present enjoyment of it is peace-" great peace"-the heritage of those," which love the law of God." of Christian! Have you not discovered the connexion peace with love for the whole revealed will of God? Looking at it as the law of truth-was not its disturbance of your peace of self-satisfaction and selfdelusion the first step to the attainment of solid peace? You learned to see yourself as God sees you. Every fresh view humbled you more than ever. Your 1 Rom. viii. 28. 4 James iii. 17. 2 Rev. xv. 3, 4. 3 Ibid. iv. 8. Compare ii. 4. |