92. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.'

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The Psalmist assureth us, from his own experience, how pleasant and how profitable, in time of trouble, is the meditation on the fidelity of God, as displayed in the stability of his works. The delights,' by this afforded, sustained his soul in afflictions,' which must otherwise have brought him to an end. And the same everlasting Word shall be the believer's support and consolation, even when the heavens shall melt around him with fervent heat, and the earth, and all that is therein, shall be burnt up. Heaven and earth shall pass away,' saith he who made them, 'but my word shall not pass away.'

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93. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.'

Great are the necessitics, and many the disorders of the soul; but in the Scripture there is provision and medicine for them all; and according to our various wants and maladies, God relieveth and quickeneth' us, sometimes with one part of his word, sometimes with another. Now, when we have found ourselves thus benefited, at any time, by a particular passage of holy writ, we should never forget,' but remember and treasure it up in our minds, against a like occasion, when the same affliction and temptation may again befal us.

94. I am thine; save me, for I have sought thy precepts.'

The double relation which we have the honor to bear to God by creation and by redemption, as the work of his hands, and the purchase of his blood, is a most endearing and prevailing argument with him, to 'save' us from our enemies. But then let it be remembered, that no man can say to God with a good conscience, 'I am thine,' unless he can also go on, and say, 'I have sought thy precepts,' I desire to serve and obey thee alone; since, after all, 'his servants we are to whom we obey;' and if sin be our master, how can we say to a master, whose interest is directly opposite, I am thine?"

95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me : but I will consider thy testimonies.'

In the preceding verse, David besought God to 'save'

him. The reason of that prayer is here assigned, namely, because the wicked lay in wait for him to destroy him,' as they afterwards did to destroy one, whom the afflicted and persecuted Psalmist represented. Spiritual enemies are continually on the watch to destroy us all; and we can no way escape their wiles, but by considering,' so as to understand and observe, God's testimonies.'

96. I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.'

Of all perfection' in this world, whether of beauty, wit, learning, pleasure, honor, or riches, experience will soon show us the ' end.' But where is the end or boundary of the word of God? Who can ascend to the height of its excellency; who can fathom the depth of its mysteries; who can find out the comprehension of its precepts, or conceive the extent of its promises; who can take the dimensions of that love of God to man which it describeth, or that love of man to God which it teacheth? The knowlege of one thing leadeth us forward to that of another, and still, as we travel on, the prospect opens before us into eternity, like the pleasant and fruitful mountains of Canaan, rising on the other side of Jordan, when viewed by Moses from the top of Pisgah. O happy reign of celestial wisdom, permanent felicity, true riches, and unfading glory; while we contemplate thee, how doth the world lessen, and shrink to nothing in our eyes! Thy blessings faith now beholdeth, but it is charity which shall hereafter possess and enjoy them.

MEM.-PART XIII.

97. O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day.'

Words cannot express the love which a pious mind entertaineth for the Scriptures. They are the epistle of God to mankind, offering reconciliation, peace, and union with himself in glory; containing reasons why we should love him and each other, with directions how to show forth that love, which, as the apostle saith, is 'the fulfilling of the law: Rom. xiii. 10. On some portions of these Scriptures should our 'meditation' be conDiv. No. XXV.

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tinually, and each day' should add something to our knowlege, to our faith, to our virtue.

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.'

The 'commandments' of God were 'ever with' David; the testimonies' of God were his 'meditation;' and the 'precepts' of God it was his care to observe; therefore his wisdom exceeded the policy of his enemies,' the learning of his teachers," and the experience of the 'ancients.' Thus, by the wisdom of the Scriptures, did the holy Jesus, in the days of his flesh, confound his adversaries, astonish the teachers of the law, and instruct the aged. And it is the high prerogative of the Scriptures, at all times, to render youth and simplicity superior to the inveterate malice and subtilty of the grand deceiver and his associates.

101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.'

The foundation of all religion must be laid in mortification and self-denial; for since the will of fallen men is contrary to the will of God, we must abstain from doing the one in order to do the other. The affections may be styled the 'feet' of the soul, and unless these be 'refrained from evil ways,' no progress can be made in that way which alone is good and right; we cannot 'keep God's word.'

102. I have not departed from thy judgments; for thou hast taught me.'

Perseverance is the effect of instruction from above, by the Spirit, through the word: and our heavenly Teacher differeth from all others in this, that, with the lesson, he bestoweth on the scholar both a disposition to learn, and an ability to perform.

193.How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.'

The soul hath its taste,' as well as the body, and that taste is then in good order, when the words of Scrip

ture are 'sweet' to the soul, as 'honey' is to the mouth. If they are not always so, it is because our taste is vitiated by the world and the flesh; and we shall ever find our relish for the word of God to be greatest, when that for the world and the flesh is least, in time of affliction, sickness, and death; for these are contrary, one to the other. In heaven the latter will be no more, and therefore the former will be all in all.

104. Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.'

He who delighteth to study the Scriptures, will understand,' from them, the true nature of righteousness and of sin; he who doth understand the nature of each, will love the former; and, in proportion, 'hate' the latter: and with that which we thoroughly hate, we will not bear to have any connexion; with suspicion and jealousy we shall eye it approaching; with courage and constancy we shall arm and fight against it; we shall make no peace, nor so much as a truce with it; but, as faithful soldiers and servants of Jesus Christ, we shall aim at that utter extermination of it, which we have vowed, and which, through the Spirit of grace and power, will be accomplished, but not, perhaps, totally, till our life and warfare shall end together.

TWENTY-SIXTH DAY.-MORNING PRAYER.

NUN.-PART XIV.

105. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.'

Man is a traveller, his life is a journey, heaven is his end, his road lies through a wilderness, and he is in the dark. Thus circumstanced, how earnestly and devoutly ought he to pray, 'O send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me to thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles!' Psalm xxiii. 3. For surely the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:' Prov. vi. 23. The word of God discovereth to us our errors; it showeth us where we lost our way, and how we may recover it again. If we take this lamp' in our hand, it will

not only point out our course in general, but also direct us in every step, and guide our feet' aright in the 'path' of holiness and peace. Thus, through the devious and lonely wilds of Arabia, was Israel once conducted to the land of promise, by the illuminating pillar, or rather by Him whose presence dwelt in the midst of it.

106. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.'

Such being the direction afforded by the word of God to a benighted pilgrim, David had obliged himself, in the most solemn manner, to follow that direction. Every Christian doth, at his baptism, in like manner, 'promise and vow to keep God's commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of his life.' The nature and extent of these engagements must be interpreted according to the covenant of grace, under which they are made. The command to us sinners is, that we should repent, and believe in him, who will pardon our failings, and strengthen our infirmities, that we may walk as becometh his disciples, who, though they ought not to commit sin, may yet, by divine grace, be restored and saved from it. These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins.' 1 John ii. 1.

107. I am afflicted very much : quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word.'

The faithful servants of God may be afflicted;' they may be very much' and grievously afflicted: but let them consider, that by afflictions, their corruptions are purged away, their faith is tried, their patience perfected, their brethren are edified, and their Master is glorified. Let them still firmly rely on the divine promise of grace and salvation; still humbly pray for its accomplishment in themselves: Quicken me, O LORD, according to thy word.'

108. Accept, I beseech thee, the free-will offerings of my mouth, O LORD; and teach me thy judgments.' The 'offerings' of the believer are prayer, praise, and holy resolutions and vows, like that of the Psalmist above, to keep God's righteous judgments,' in which he therefore petitioneth to be every day more and more taught' and instructed by the Spirit of truth. Christians are