In general, God waits for our praise. And how slow and reluctant are we in rendering it! And how seldom, at last, do we render, according to the benefit done unto us! But here praise waits in Zion for Him. The meaning is, that the deliverance or blessing which they were in need of, had not arrived; but they were looking for it-They had their harp in their hand, ready to strike up a song of thanksgiving; but delay kept them silent. Praise waited, therefore, because the Church waited.

And this is no unusual thing, first, as to their spiritual experience. They wish to be able to view Him as the strength of their heart, and their portion for ever; and to claim all the exceeding great and precious promises as their own. But they are doubtful and uncertain; yea, they often exclude themselves from all part and lot in the matter. Now we cannot praise him for what we think he has not done for us, or given to him; but only for what he has. If, therefore, he has forgiven, and accepted us, the acknowledgment of the blessing requires the knowledge of it. Yet how many are in a state of anxiety, waiting for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning; and praying, Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation! And,

Secondly, as to Providential dispensations. How long was it, even after David had been anointed by Samuel, before he was established on the throne! How long did Joseph wait, with every prospect growing darker, before his prophetic dreams were accomplished! And so Abraham, "after he had patiently endured, obtained the promise." God keeps back, till self-despair and the failure of creature confidence have spread a dark ground, on which his glory must be seen. He loves to astonish, as well as succour. He will convince us, in future difficulties, that he is able to do for us exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think. Therefore, at eventide it is light: and he turneth the shadow of death into the morning.

Here, however, let it be observed, that Christians cannot be ever entirely silent. They have always much to praise God for. Whatever be their present condition-it might have been much worse-yea, in every thing they are to give thanks. Nor will they be silent long. The vision is only for an appointed time. Yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry. And they need not be silent at all if they have faith in God: for faith can see the certainty of the thing before it takes place; and cause us always to triumph in Christ, while yet the warfare is not actually accomplished.

If hope deferred maketh the heart sick, when it cometh it is a tree of life. Therefore says the Church, "Unto Thee shall the vow be performed." The vow means their solemn engagement to praise Him, when the deliverance or blessing arrived. "If He appears to my joy, I will give him the glory that is due unto his Name-witness my vow." We are not fond of vows. They often ensnare the soul, and give the Enemy an advantage over us. And Christians, as they advance in self-knowledge, are commonly more disposed to pray to God, than to stipulate with him. It is a useful hint which Cowper gives us

"Beware of Peter's word;

"Nor confidently say,

"I never will deny Thee, Lord;

"But, grant I never may."

Yet vows, in some cases, may be useful. They may prove as a kind of fence to the field, or hem to the garment. They may serve to remind us, when we forget; and to humble us, when we fail. But two things should be always observed. The first is, that they be formed in an entire dependence upon Divine grace. "By Thee only will we make mention of thy Name. "Through God we shall do valiantly."

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"Man's wisdom is to seek

"In God his strength alone;

"And e'en an angel would be weak,
"That trusted in his own."

The second is, that, when we have made them, we should be concerned to fulfil them. "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay." Yet how often have men bound themselves when they were in danger, sickness, and affliction; and, forgetting or violating their vow, have turned again to folly! Even Jacob, after all his solemn covenanting with God, in the prospect of his journey, was awfully remiss upon his return; till, Divinely rebuked, he said "Let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in my distress, and was with me in the way which I went." Hannah was more exemplary. She had vowed, that, if her prayer was answered, she would give her son to the Lord, as long as he lived. The surrender was painful: but as soon as she had weaned him, she took him to Shiloh, and brought him to Eli: "And she said, Oh, my lord! as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord."-"Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

AUG. 16.-" Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou

hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and Matt. xvii. 27.

thee.'

How well was it foretold that his name should be called, Wonderful!

What a surprising combination of attributes was displayed in him! Observe the case before us. Here, while we behold his penury and dependenceso that he did not possess wherewithal to pay the Temple-tribute; we perceive his omniscience-so that in Peter's house he could pierce the waters of the sea, and discern a particular fish, and see what was in its body-and announce a piece of money there-and the very name of the coin. Surely the darkness hideth not from him; but the night shineth as the day. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."

He who saw the stater in this fish, sees what money we are in the possession of-and how we acquired it-and the way in which we are using it. He sees whether we are needlessly hoarding, or wastefully expending it. He sees whether we are making it our hope and confidence, or valuing it only as an instrument of lawful enjoyment, and of pious and benevolent use. He sees the responsibilities of the owner; and knows how he will feel when he shall be called to leave it; and when he will be required to give an account of it at the last day.

Here we also behold his power and dominion. He is Lord of all. The beasts of the field obey him. At his bidding, not a dog moves his tongue in the departure of the Israelites. At his command, the dumb ass speaks with man's voice, and rebukes the madness of the Prophet, The fowls of the air obey him-At his order, the ravens bring Elijah bread and meat in the morning and the evening.

The fishes of the sea obey him-At his command, a great fish swallows the disobedient, and disembarks the penitent, Jonah-And, here, a fish, at his requirement, goes and takes up from the bottom of the sea a stater, and then goes and bites at Peter's hook, with this in his maw! "All things are put under his feet: all sheep and oxen; yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea."

Could any thing be better adapted to encourage the confidence of the disciples, in the kindness and all-sufficiency of his providence, when he was sending them forth, as sheep among wolves, and without any known supplies to live upon? He commissioned the Seventy to go in pairs through the whole country. But he sent them forth without purse, or scrip, or shoes. And they had, it would seem, many uneasy and distracting thoughts at the time. They did not, indeed, express them; but our Lord was aware of them, and remembered them. And when they came back, he brings them to their own recollection"How came you to think that I, who employed you, should not provide for you?-Did you doubt my inclination, or my ability? When I sent you forth without purse and scrip, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing, Lord."

Are you called to leave behind you those who seem to hang on your care? Hear this Saviour at your dying bed, saying-"Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widow trust in me." 66 "O fear the Lord, all ye his saints; for there is no want to them that fear him. young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.'

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The