himself and his own People the Ark, as the Sacred Pledge of GOD'S Especial Care, yet was he not a Monopolist of The DIVINE Favour, but zealous that the Nations of the Heathen, by forsaking their idols, should become Converts to the true Faith; and that all the Earth should have the knowledge of The LORD, and share the Brightness of His Countenance and the Might of His Protecting Arm, by "seeking The LORD and His Strength, and seeking His Face continually." David then declares why the idols should be deserted, and The LORD JEHOVÄH Alone be Worshipped, since "He Made the Heavens," which are above the Earth; since, also, "Glory and Honour are in His Presence, Strength and Gladness in His Sanctuary." Then immediately addressing Those around him, the Royal Psalmist calls upon them, as the Kindred of the People Israel, "to give glory to GOD in the Highest," to dedicate the free-will offerings of their sanctified hearts unto Him, "and to worship Him in the beauty of Holiness." And with a direction of thought, as flowing with more rapidity than lightning, from a contemplation of the Greatness and Stupendous MAJESTY of HEAVEN, he says, "Fear before Him, all the Earth!" inculcating from his own conviction of the Omnipotence of The MOST HIGH, the salutary lesson of reverential awe towards Him, before Whom the very Devils tremble. But then again returning to the more acceptable contemplation of The DIVINE Goodness, and the Diffusion of the Tenderest Mercies over All GOD'S Works, he calls upon all Creation, Spiritual as well as Natural, Celestial as well as Terrestrial, to unite in spreading the praises of That GOD, Who is KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, and Who Ruleth over all the Nations of the Earth, "Let the Heavens be glad, and let the Earth rejoice, and let Men say among the Nations, The LORD Reigneth!'" All, indeed, that are in Heaven, are continually gladdened with the conviction of the great Truth, that A GOD, so Abundant in Mercy, and of so Vast a Power, The Very CENTRE and SOURCE of Wisdom and Truth, Reigneth for Ever and Ever; for Thence is it that the Angels and all the Host of Heaven derive their excellency and their happiness. Nor is the obligation of Man to rejoice in the same confession less, since all we have of peace and joy, and the Heaven, That Awaits us in the Endless Life That is Promised to the Faithful, and of which the hope sheds the brightest and most cheering beam upon us here, is of the Gift and unrecompensed Goodness of This SOVEREIGN of the Universe. Fired as David's Soul was with the sublimest dictate of poetry, yet not alone with an intellectual offering of the meed of praise to The Great FOUNTAIN of Intelligence is the Royal Psalmist satisfied, but he thus calls upon all inanimate Nature to join in the grand Hallelujah Chorus of pious gratulation; for that The LORD GOD Omnipotent Reigneth. "Let the Sea roar, and the fulness thereof; let the Fields rejoice, and all that is therein :" and in the bold flight of imagination, he declares as the consequence, "Then shall the Trees of the Wood sing out at the Presence of The LORD;" assigning as a further reason, "because He Cometh to Judge the Earth." Senseless as the Waters of the Sea and the dry Lands of the Fields in themselves obviously are, yet, when арplied, as figuratively they very beautifully may be, to the various Beings under the degree of Man occupying or inhabiting them, and all of which, in their several ways, are, more or less, in their Creation and Preservation depositories of Portions of the Goodness of GOD, they may reasonably be considered as manifesting in their order, and as far as their faculties empower them, a sense of the Blessings Imparted to them. But the mention of these grand Objects of Creation, the Sea, and the Fields of the Earth, as Instances of DIVINE Power and Wisdom and Goodness, all exerted towards Man's benefit, was well calculated to act as texts of holy admonition unto Man, to glorify his "GOD, Who

hath so Done His Marvellous Works that They ought to be had in remembrance." And most especially should That Stupendous Work of Mercy, the Sacrifice of The SPIRITUAL SON of GOD, in Expiatory Atonement for Man's transgression, and in Reconciliation of DIVINE Mercy to his Everlasting Glorification, be treasured in our minds in contemplation of That great Day when, to Fix the Destinies of all Men, "The LORD Cometh to Judge the Earth." Thus having awakened his People to a deep sense of their temporal and Spiritual welfare, and pointed with the finger of adoration and praise to The Great SOURCE of Such Transcendant Blessedness, David renews his invocation to pious gratitude in these words, "O give thanks unto The LORD; for He is Good; for His Mercy Endureth for Ever! And say ye, 'Save us, O GOD of our Salvation, and Gather us together, and Deliver us from the Heathen, that we may give thanks to Thy Holy Name, and glory in Thy Praise!"" That The LORD is Gracious, and that His Mercies are over All His Works, who can deny? and how, therefore, can we, who so largely share Those Mercies, and who have the sure promise of Salvation on the condition of loving and of serving Him, withhold the tribute of our praise from Him, Who hath so Loved us, as that He hath Given His Only Begotten SON to Die for us, that we, through Him, might have Everlasting Life? What David in piety to The GOD of Israel, and in Patriarchal regard for the Spiritual welfare of the Sons of Israel, said unto them, The HOLY SPIRIT of GÖD, through him, with an infinitely more Anxious Interest for every Soul of Man, Saith unto us All, "O give thanks unto The LORD, for He is Good; for His Mercy Endureth for Ever!" Admonishing us in like manner to address Him with the heart of fervent faith and with a holy consciousness of the equal Necessity and Efficacy of A DIVINE REDEEMER, and with a vital acknowledgment that That REDEEMER is JESUS, The CHRIST, The HOLY ONE of GOD, The Only Begotten of The FATHER, Equal with The FATHER as Touching The GODHEAD, and Forming, with The Father and The HOLY SPIRIT, The TRIUNE GOD, unto Whom we should thus pray, "Save us, O GOD of our Salvation, and Gather us together in Thine Own Appointed Time into Thy Holy Communion, and Deliver us from the power and influence of Satan and of all Spiritual evil, and especially Deliver us from ourselves, and from all sinful purposes and propensities, and Sanctify us by the Grace of Thy HOLY SPIRIT for the Sake and through the Merits and Intercession of Thine Only SON, our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS, The CHRIST, that we, with heart and voice, with every disposition and faculty of the Soul and body, may Acceptably give thanks to Thy Holy Name, and glory in Thy praise!"

After having thus taught and exhorted his People to pray, David concludes this Divinely Inspired and universally applicable Hymn with this pious apostrophe, "Blessed be The LORD GOD of Israel for Ever and Ever!" thereby exciting in the minds of his Hearers, what should be a never-failing disposition of mind in us, not only at one place or on one occasion, but consistently and unceasingly, at all times, and in every situation, and under every circumstance, whether of prosperity or adversity, to bless The LORD GOD of our Salvation, since His Mercy Endureth for Ever!

And as the epilogue to this interesting exhibition between David and his People, and in evidence of the success of a pious example set by One in authority to those over whom he had influence and as an encouragement to Others so to use the Power so Sacredly Entrusted to them, and in honourable testimony also of the devout spirit of the Israelites at that time, it is recorded of them, that "All the People said Amen,' and praised The LORD." The Amen used by a pious heart, short and speedily uttered as is the word, yet does it comprehend, and echo back as it were, and is a virtual adoption of all that has been previously

delivered; being a solemn admission of its truth, and a hearty concurrence in its aim, and in the promotion of its end. And what a grand and animating Scene to the Spiritually-Minded does this general Dedication of High and Low, Young and Old, Learned and Unlearned, Soldier and Priest, King and People. to The One GOD of the Universe, The FOUNTAIN of Goodness, The CENTRE of Mercy, and The SOURCE of Salvation, present! How glorious, How full of encouragement the example! How lively a picture, as far as the heart's contracted vision of conception can view it, does it offer of That Holy Celebration of DIVINE Love by Angels and Saints in That KINGDOM, Which is above this World, and Whither we are Encouraged perpetually to direct our goings, that happily we may eventually join Therein, and in this Heavenly Hymn of Praise, Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, Which Was, and Is, and Is to Come! Thou art Worthy, O LORD, to Receive Glory, and Honour, and Power for Thou hast Created all Things, and for Thy Pleasure, They are and were Created."

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The Hymn, thus composed by David, will be found amongst the Collection of Psalms going by his Name, and used in the Church Service. (See Ps. cv. 1 to 15; xcvi. throughout; and evi. 1; cvii. 1 ; exviii. 1; cxxxvi. 1; cvi. 47, 48.) In continuation of what followed David's removal of the Ark to Jerusalem, and in manifestation of the pious regard entertained by him for It, it is said, "So he left there before the Ark of the Covenant of The LORD Asaph and his Brethren, to minister before the Ark continually, as every day's work required and Obed-edom with their Brethren, three score and eight; Obed-edom also the Son of Jeduthun, and Hosah to be Porters: and Zadok the Priest, and his Brethren the Priests, before the Tabernacle of The LORD in the High Place, that was at Gibeon, to offer Burnt Offerings unto The LORD, upon the Altar of the Burnt Offering, continually morning and evening, and to do according to All, That is Written in the Law of The LORD, Which He Commanded Israel; and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the Rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name to give thanks to The LORD, because His Mercy Endureth for Ever: and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for Those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of GOD. And the Sons of Jeduthun were Porters. And all the People departed, every Man to his house: and David returned to bless his House."-1 Chron. xvi. 37 to 43.

In this holy Convocation and Ordinance of the pious King David we see, first, the appointment of Those, whose Office was to record the Dictates of DIVINE Inspiration, and to compose the Hymns of praise and thanksgiving to The LORD GOD of Israel; and of These Asaph was Chief. These were to minister before the Ark, from day to day, with Seraphic watchfulness and unrelaxing zeal for the prevalence of DIVINĚ Truth, and the promotion of DIVINE Praise. Next were the Singers and Musicians, with the Bearers of the consecrated vessels about the Altar, used in the Divine Service; and last, though not least, were the sacred Priesthood, the Chosen Ministers of GOD'S Word, and the Guides to His Holy Worship. Having thus put all things in order for the reverential worship of The LORD of All, the religious Assembly was dissolved, and Each departed for his home, doubtless bearing to his Family and his Kindred sentiments in sympathy with those of the holy David, and which his example had been so accessory to the inspiring, sentiments teeming with thankfulness to GOD, and with adoration for His Mercies. To his own home David also returned, but not with spirits exhausted, though so much previously exercised; he returned to bless his Household, and what brighter beams of comfort and of joy could be shed upon them, than those, which his own heart, amidst the conscious Favour of his GOD, reflected. In the Life to Come, which will know no end, every instant will be past in the contemplation of

DIVINE Wisdom and the admiration of DIVINE Goodness. Why, therefore, should the same occupation be unsuited to this Life, which is the season of Preparation for the Other? If the Service of GOD be at any time unacceptable to us, we may be assured that our heart is not right within us; and we should, therefore, fervently pray to our HEAVENLY FATHER, that He would Give us a new heart and Renew a right Spirit within us; that, whether in public or in private, in the Church or in the closet, we may set Him always before us; and that it may be our meat and drink to do His Will, and our study to teach our Children so; that we and our House may serve The LORD, and be ever mindful of His Covenant of Mercy. Through the influence and example of David, his was, with but few exceptions, a Household of Faith. His piety was not that of the outward Man, put on merely to catch the praise of Men, but it was the prevailing affection in his heart; and, though he spread it abroad for the nourishment and succour of his People generally, he did not withhold its favouring aid from his most familiar Friends; to the Objects of his fondest affection, and to whom all his thoughts were unbosomed, he revealed the Consolations of Religion; and administered, with all the endearing influence of Conjugal and Parental feeling, instruction in the way of righteousness, inculcating a holy confidence, through prayer, in Him Who Heareth prayer, and Who is The SAVIOUR of All, that put their trust in Him. With such blessings David returned to bless his House.

"And it came to pass, when the King sat in his house, and The LORD had Given him rest round about from all his Enemies, that the King said unto Nathan the Prophet, 'See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the Ark of GOD dwelleth within curtains.' And Nathan said to the King, Go, do all that is in thine heart! for The LORD is with thee.""-2 Sam. vii. 1 to 3.

The honour of his GOD was ever uppermost in the mind of David. Respected himself for his wisdom, and virtue, and valour, yet was he desirous that nothing in him or around him should derogate from the higher reverence due to his GOD. It came, therefore, into his heart to build a Temple to the Glory of GOD, which, in splendour and majesty of appearance, should leave the rich palace of David as nothing in the comparison; but commendable as should have seemed Such an Object, and laudable the motive, yet David's zeal was not without knowledge; for aware that "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams," he would not undertake even so pious a work, without first consulting the Priest as the conceived Oracle of GOD. That Prophet, remarking, as he must have done, the Peculiar Favour with which David had been Visited from On HIGH, and imagining that so pious a disposition could not but be Acceptable to GOD, at once, and without any previous consultation with The HOLY GHOST, Who "Spake by the Prophets,' sanctioned David's following the holy dictate of his heart. "But Man seeth not as GOD Seeth.”

The account in the Book of Chronicles is thus rendered :

"Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan, the Prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars; but the Ark of The Covenant of The LORD remaineth under curtains.' Then Nathan said unto David, 'Do all that is in thine heart! for GOD is with thee.'"-1 Chron. xvii. 1 to 2. The perfect coincidence of this narrative with that in the Book of Samuel calls not for further observation.

"And it came to pass that night, that the Word of The LORD Came unto Nathan, Saying, Go and tell My Servant David, Thus Saith The LORD, 'Shalt thou build Me an House for Me to Dwell in? Whereas I have not Dwelt in any House, since the time, that I Brought up the Children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day: but have Walked in a Tent and in a Tabernacle. In all the Places, wherein I have Walked with all the Children of Israel, Spake I a Word

with any of the Tribes of Israel, whom I Commanded to feed My People Israel, saying, Why build ye not Me an House of Cedar?' Now, therefore, so shalt thou say unto My Servant David, Thus Saith The LORD of Hosts, I Took thee from the Sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be Ruler over My People, over Israel and I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have Cut off all thine Enemies out of thy sight, and have Made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great Men that are in the Earth: Moreover I will Appoint a Place for My People Israel, and will Plant them, that they may dwell in a Place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the Children of wickedness afflict them any more, as before-time, and as since the time that I Commanded Judges to be over My People Israel; and have Caused thee to rest from all thine Enemies. Also The LORD Telleth thee, that He will Make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy Fathers, I will Set up thy Seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will Establish his Kingdom. He shall build an House for My Name, and I will Stablish the Throne of his Kingdom for ever: I will be his FATHER and he shall be My Son. If he commit iniquity, I will Chasten him with the rod of Men, and with the stripes of the Children of Men: but My Mercy shall not Depart away from him, as I Took It from Saul; whom I Put away before thee. And thine House and thy Kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy Throne shall be established for ever.' According to all These Words, and according to all This Vision, so did Nathan speak unto David."-2 Sam. vii. 4 to 17.

In the Great Purposes of DIVINE Wisdom it was, that the Fulness of GOD'S Terrestrial Glory should not Shine forth in the time of King David among the People of Israel. In the days of the Son of that King was the Temple of The LORD to be built, when the reign of Peace prevailed. But the Spirit of Prophecy was here manifested, and the Reign of The PRINCE of Peace, and the Temple not made with hands, which is Eternal in the Heavens, being the Habitation of The HOLY GHOST, were figuratively Pointed to; and the Blessed Promise of The Kingdom of CHRIST, Which Giveth Prosperity and Happiness to All, Who are loyal Subjects of It, was Held out to the hope of him from whose loins, as in the flesh, CHRIST, The SON of GOD and The SAVIOUR of Man, was to Spring.

The Book of Chronicles furnishes the following narrative :

"And it came to pass the same night, that the Word of GOD Came to Nathan, Saying, Go and tell David, My Servant, Thus Saith The LORD, Thou shalt not build Me an House to Dwell in: for I have not Dwelt in an House since the day that I Brought up Israel unto this day but have Gone from Tent to Tent and from One Tabernacle to Another. Wheresoever I have Walked with all Israel, Spake I a Word to any of the Judges of Israel, whom I Commanded to feed My People, Saying, 'Why have ye not built Me an House of Cedars?' Now, therefore, Thus shalt thou say unto My Servant David, Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts, I Took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be Ruler over My People Israel: and I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked ; and have Cut off all thine Enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great Men, that are in the Earth. Also, I will Ordain a Place for My People Israel, and will Plant them, and they shall dwell in their Place, and shall be moved no more: neither shall the Children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning, and since the time that I Commanded Judges to be over My l'eople Israel: Moreover, I will Subdue all thine Enemies: Furthermore, I Tell thee, that The LORD will Build thee an House. And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired, that thou must go to be with thy Fathers, that I will Raise up thy Seed after thee, which shall be