of truth. "I have written unto you young men," says the beloved disciple, "because ye are strong, and and ye have over

you, and

"the word of God abideth in 66 come the wicked one." He who became man for our salvation, passed through this state of youth, undefiled, that he might, as it were, reclaim and consecrate it anew to God. Let every young man often meditate on this circumstance.

10. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Despairing of sufficient assistance from any other quarter, because no one else can either show us the way to heaven, or enable us to walk therein, even if it could be shown, "with our whole heart have we " sought thee," O God, thy direction, and thine aid; and thou hast promised, that they who "seek shall "find:" like sheep without a shepherd are we given to stray; O preserve us from error in principle, and in practice; let us not wander from thy "com"mandments."

11. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The young man who would cleanse his way, and take heed according to God's word, must “ lay up "that word in his heart;" for from the heart are the "issues of life," the thoughts, the words, and the actions; when God ruleth in the heart by his word and Spirit, these become his subjects; then "the "kingdom of heaven is within us," and all is obedience, peace, and love. Thou art our King, O Lord Jesu; suffer no usurper to possess thy place in our

affections; permit no other Lord to have dominion

over us.

12. Blessed art thou, O LORD teach me thy

statutes.

He who is "blessed" can make us so he who delighteth to communicate " blessing," will do it, if we ask him by "teaching us his statutes," which conform us to his nature, that we may live his life, and bless his name for ever. When the word of God is our lesson, the Spirit of God must be our Master.

13. With my lips have I declared all the judgements of thy mouth.

The best sign that God hath" taught us his sta"tutes," and the greatest inducement to him to teach us still more and more, is a readiness to make others partakers of those blessings, which we ourselves have received from him. Jehovah fashions the "lips" of man, and he expects that they should be employed in his service. "Out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh," and the stream will always show the nature of the fountain. When we make the Scriptures the subject of our conversation, we glorify God, we edify our neighbours, and we improve ourselves.

14. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

Truth and holiness afford to the sincere believer a pleasure more exquisite, as well as more solid and enduring, than that which a miser feels at the acquisition of his darling wealth. Let us no longer envy

the joys of worldly men, no longer be chagrined at the prosperity of the wicked. The "true riches" we may always acquire; and, surely, as much as the heaven is higher than the earth, so much are heavenly joys above earthly, in kind, degree, and duration.

15. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Meditation is that exercise of the mind, whereby it recalls a known truth, as some kinds of creatures do their food, to be ruminated upon, until all the nutritious parts are extracted, and fitted for the purposes of life. By study we lay in knowledge, by meditation we reduce that knowledge to practice. And we have then duly "meditated on God's precepts," when in all our proceedings we" have "respect unto his ways," comparing our actions with the rule of his word.

16. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

By frequent meditation and continual practice, the divine "statutes" will become our "delight ;" and from the pleasures, as well as from the cares of the world, we shall gladly fly to THEM for recreation and comfort. Of holy exercises there is great variety, and spiritual joys are without number. Lord, make us to "delight ourselves in thy statutes," and when we delight in what we learn, we shall easily retain it in memory; "we shall not forget thy word.":

GIMEL.-PART III.

17. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

In the foregoing parts of the Psalm, we have heard the believer declaring the excellency of God's word, and expressing both his desire and his resolution to observe its directions. He now beseecheth God to remove all impediments, and to accomplish this work in him. And as a man must "live," in order to "work," the first petition is, that God would" deal with his servant" according to the measures of grace and mercy, enabling him to "live" the life of faith, and strengthening him by the Spirit of might in the inner man, to "keep the word" of truth, and to walk in the commandments of his blessed Master all his days.

18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

So far are we naturally from being able to "keep" the word, that we are not able to understand it. The law of God is full of divine and spiritual truths, concealed under literal histories, visible signs, and external ceremonies. To discern these, n, "won

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drous," because the hidden, mysterious " things," our "eyes," the eyes of our understanding, must be " unveiled;" that " veil" must be taken off, which St. Paul affirmeth to be upon the hearts of the Jews, "in reading the Old Testament," and which will continue there, until they turn to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then the veil will be taken away, and they will behold him, and the redemption by him, as prefigured in their law, and foretold by their prophets *. Pride, prejudice, and interest, will compose a veil, through which a Christian shall see as little of the New Testament, as a Jew doth of the Old. Lord, convince us of our blindness, and restore us to our sight.

19. I am a stranger in the earth; hide not thy commandments from me.

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The above request for divine illumination is enforced by this argument, that the petitioner is a stranger," and a sojourner upon " the earth;" he is travelling through a foreign country, to his native city, where are his kindred, his treasure, and his heart; as a sojourner, he hath renounced the world, which is therefore become his enemy; as a stranger, he is fearful of losing his way; on these accounts he requesteth, that God would compensate the loss of earthly comforts, by affording the light of heaven; that he would not "hide his commandments," but show and teach them those steps, by which he may ascend towards heaven, rejoicing in hope of future glory.

20. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgements at all times.

"Revela oculos meos:" aperi, dispelle umbras, tolle velamentum, quo spirituales oculi conteguntur. "Considerabo mi"rabilia :" ut penitùs introspiciam, non literam tantùm, ac velut corticem legis, sed arcana spiritualia, puta in saboatis requiem sempiternam, simplicitatem in azymis, in victimis obedientiam, et ubique Christum. Bossuet. Ꮓ

VOL. II.