In this psalm David prays to the Lord for present relief upon the recollection of past mercies already vouchsafed. He then dedicates himself to the service of God afresh, on the ground of his precious promises. The psalm is short; but it is sweet. The verses are few; but the truths are many.

A gracious soul will never cease to pray. Look over these psalms; how much does the spirit of prayer prevail throughout! On how many occasions did he pray! For how many blessings did he ask! Why was this? Not only because he saw his need; but because he possessed grace. The spirit of grace is always to be seen in the spirit of supplication. As that grace always exists, where it is given; so will the spirit of prayer never cease. A Christian can no more live without prayer, than he can live without breathing or food.

A gracious soul will always feel its need of prayer. There will always be a sense of need when divine grace occupies the heart. Sin will be felt; corruption will annoy; Satan will tempt; the world will allure; the heart will wander. A thousand things from day to day will convince the man, Thou art a sinner; thou standest in need of mercy; thou must call on the Lord, or else thou art undone. Hence the promise, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled." (Matt. v. 6.)

Although past mercies afford no ground of safety; yet they afford great encouragement to seek for more mercy in present need.

me now.

You cannot live to-day upon the food you received yesterday. A healthy frame of body requires fresh supplies of nourishment. But to know that I had an appetite yesterday, and was amply provided with all I wanted, will encourage me to-day to apply to the same Lord, who supplied me then, to feed So is it with regard to the soul. Mercies given are intended to meet the necessities of the occasion for which they are granted. I saw myself a sinner yesterday, and found pardon. I see myself a sinner to-day, and need pardon. The Lord gave me that blessing then; and I am encouraged to believe he will grant me that blessing now.

In every application at the throne of grace for grace and mercy to help in every time of need, use the appointed means, and calmly await the assured grant of the needful blessing. Did David rest in thinking of his sorrows, or of his wants? No. He prayed unto the Lord. Did he rest satisfied with receiving what the Lord had hitherto done for his soul? No. He was stirred up thereby to crave for help under his present emergency. This is an important reflection. You cannot be pardoned by thinking of your sins; you must go to Christ for that blessing. You cannot be strengthened by thinking of your weakness; you must go to Christ for support. Exactly the same is it in every other respect. While you think over your wants, use the appointed means for the supply; and, in this way, you will find that the Lord is rich in mercy to all them that call upon him.

Lastly, walking in all the Lord's ways, be sure you persevere in giving yourself up afresh to God. Hear David: "I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever. I will trust in the covert of thy wings. I will abide before God for ever. O prepare mercy and truth which may preserve me." Such is the character of the true Christian; such are the means by which he is blessed. He that ¦ endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved. But it is by the power of God we are kept through faith unto salvation (v. 1-8). Nor are we otherwise thus preserved, than as walking in his ways, adhering to his precepts, and keeping his commandThus are we enabled to sing praise

ments.

2 He only is my rock and my salvation;

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out the psalm, which give the whole an interesting and weighty importance.

Waiting upon God; what does it mean? what does it imply? It means that there is a God to wait upon; that such a Being is approachable; that we may not only venture to draw near, but are encouraged, invited, and even urged to do so. It implies, that we have need to wait upon God; that our safety, peace, strength, comfort, salvation, depends upon our waiting upon him. It implies, that we have been made willing to wait upon God, and that there is a way

moved.

3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence,

4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse 'inwardly. Selah.

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

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more.

In one sense, our In another sense, In one sense, no

to draw near. This is of main importance in waiting upon God. God is a consuming fire. he is a gracious Father. man can see God and live. In the other, he may live, be blessed and saved for everIn waiting upon God, the question is, How do you come? Do you come by Christ, the new and living way? If so, you may draw near with boldness, and enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus; and, thus coming, you shall obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need. (Heb. x. 19-22.)

Now, David, in speaking of his waiting upon God, tells us how he did so. "My soul truly waiteth upon God." Or, according to the margin, "only waiteth upon God." Here are two things. Waiting upon God, must be a real exercise. No man waits upon God, because he professes to do so, or talks of doing so, or even thinks of doing so. It is a really gracious act of the heart, by which the soul does really and truly draw near unto God. Besides, to wait "truly" upon God, is to wait "only" upon him, and "always" to do so. Trust in him at all times. It is to have no other hope; no other reliance; no other expectation, than in and from him alone. So the psalmist says, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation" (v. 1, 2). In this matter every other thing must be cast off. Christ must be all. The soul must hang entirely upon him. He also further tells us why he waited upon God. He waited upon God because all his salvation was from him. Some ima

gined mischief against him; but they would be slain. Others consulted how they might cast him down; but he should not greatly be moved. He trusted in the Lord. He looked for strength, support, deliverance, and salvation from him. He knew how easily the Lord could defeat the schemes of all his foes, and how abundantly he could bless and save his soul; and, therefore, he waited upon him, knowing that he should not wait in vain.

In this matter of waiting upon God, he also knew that man was nothing. He knew that if the Lord undertook his cause, man could neither hurt his soul, nor hinder the blessing. He knew also, that, unless God took his part, all human help would be in vain. In this, and every other respect, men of low degree," are vanity;" and men of high degree, "are a lie." If laid in the balances, they are altogether lighter than vanity itself. Men, therefore, could not help, if left to himself; nor could men hurt him, if God took his part. All power belongeth unto God, and mercy likewise; and, therefore, in waiting upon God, he was sure to be blessed and saved for ever (v. 5—9).

Now, what think you of this blessed subject? Do you wait upon God? Does your soul wait upon him? Do you truly wait upon him? Do you only wait upon him? Do you continually wait upon him? Does your salvation come from him? Is he your rock and your salvation? Do you trust in him at all times, and for all blessings? Not only once now and then, but always; every day, and every hour of your life? Do you school your heart into this gracious discipline; and call upon your soul, whenever you wander from him, or relax in your waiting upon him, still to persevere in doing so? This is the way to thrive in the life of faith. May the Lord bless us all more and more with this sweet spirit of waiting upon him! Thus shall we be soon enabled to say, In God is my salvation. He is my glory, the rock of my strength, the refuge of my soul. Then, too, will you exhort others to do the same; and thus will you and they mutually learn to love and serve him, and to rejoice in his salvation.

PSALM LXIII.

1 David's thirst for God. 4 His manner of blessing God. 9 His confidence of his enemies' destruction, and his own safely.

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and 'thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with 3 marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but stopped. the mouth of them that speak lies shall be

* 1 Sam. xxii. 5, and xxiii. 14, | (3) Heb. fatness.
15, 16.
(1) Heb. weary.

(2) Heb. without water.

(4) Heb. They shall make him run out like water by the hands of the sword.

WE have seen how David waited upon God in the preceding psalm. We may here perceive the desire he felt to do so; and how that feeling pervaded his soul in every act of drawing near. It is said, that this is a Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. But, if you examine the contents of this sacred composition, you must see, that though his body was in that wilderness, his soul was in a paradise of gracious enjoyment and holy desire. Places do not affect desires. Desires may spring forth any where; even amidst the most desolate circumstances. Was Joseph in the prison? The Lord was with him. Was Jonah in the bottom of the sea? He cried unto the Lord. Was Daniel in the lions' den, and his companions in the fiery furnace? Never did they enjoy so sweet a season. Not a hair of their head was singed; and no manner of

hurt was found upon either, because they trusted in God. Outward circumstances cannot hurt the soul. They may try your faith, They may try your faith, and draw forth your prayers; but the gracious consolations of the Spirit may be so abundantly communicated, as to make you most earnestly to crave his blessing, or enable you to rejoice in his salvation. The wilderness of Judah was a paradise to David. (1 Sam. xxii. 5, &c.)

Let us examine the state of his heart, and the breathing of his soul. How earnestly did he seek the Lord! How fervently did his soul thirst for the living God! Cut off from the visible means of grace, in that dry and thirsty land, how greatly did he desire the return of those reviving and refreshing seasons which he once enjoyed! To see thy power and thy glory in the sanctuary as he had done! What a holy longing is here! (v. 1-3.)

This is not the language of a dead soul. A formal, self-righteous Pharisee cannot speak in this manner. Nor can he, who hath walked hypocritically with God, enter into these desires. These breathings bespeak the man of God; the man that walks with God; the man that longs for more communion and fellowship with God; and the man that desires hereafter to be with God, that he may see, and love, and serve him, for ever.

You may see here, in what communion with God principally consists; I mean, in reference to the positive action of the mind in the use of this blessed privilege. It consists internally, and chiefly, of holy breathings and longing desires after nearness and enjoyment of God. The Saviour must be relied on in God must be seen reconciled and at

faith.

peace. Pardon and peace must have been

obtained. There must be desire of conformity to his image, conjoined with experience of his salvation. And, then, together with all these things, there must be these fervent, holy, ardent desires for more intimate fellowship with the God of salvation.

Without these fervent desires of the soul, all expressions of the lips are worthless and vain; and all attendance on outward means will be cold, dry, and formal. Nothing can supply the lack of these feelings. They are the immediate effect of the indwelling

of the Spirit, and of the secret stirrings of divine grace in the soul; and the more the soul thrives, in the power of grace, the more will these desires abound. Not that these desires satisfy the soul. Nothing can do that but the Lord alone; but they shew the life and action of the soul under the power of grace in communing with God. For him the soul thirsteth. For him the flesh longeth. His power and glory are the blessings desired. His lovingkindness is better than life. Remembering him upon the bed, and meditating upon him in the night watches, the soul will be satisfied with marrow and fatness, and the mouth will praise him with joyful lips. In this manner the soul nestles itself under the shadow of his wings; and there rejoices in its happy security. how will that man follow hard after the Lord for this blessing! And how will he rejoice in the light of his countenance and in the peace of his salvation! Dear reader and hearer! How stands the case with you?

Oh!

Can you

plish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly 'shall they be wounded.

8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

THIS is a psalm which denotes great distress of mind, and great desire for mercy and deliverance. How diversified is the nature of a believer's experience! Sometimes there is a calm and steady composure of soul in waiting upon God. Sometimes there is an earnest and fervent desire for further communion and fellowship with him. Sometimes, again, the enemy rages, and the soul must come like a poor needy supplicant to beg for grace and mercy to help in pressing times of need; as if it had never before tasted of those blessings.

Such was the case with David, in this psalm. He prays that the Lord would hear his voice. He prays that his life might be preserved from the enemy. He prays to be hid from the secret counsel of the wicked; and from the insurrection of wicked doers. He tells us, why he thus prayed to be preserved from their rage and malice. Their tongues were sharpened like a sword. They They bent their bows to shoot their arrows of bitter words. These arrows they secretly shot at him; and often suddenly did they hit him. In this evil matter they encouraged themselves; and plotted together to carry on their secret designs, and said, Who shall see us? Besides which, they searched out iniquities against him; and the inward thought of every one of them was very deep (v. 1-6). Now, this was a very great trial; but it was overruled for good. It made him pray. It brought him to God. It made him look to his refuge. It threw him upon his almighty and invisible helper. And the result was most blessed. They were confounded; and

he was supported. They were overwhelmed with confusion; but he was made to rejoice. They were made to fall; but he was lifted up: yea, so signally was this done, that all men saw and confessed, that the Lord had done it; for they wisely considered that it was his doing. More especially, the righteous were thereby made exceedingly glad; their confidence in the Lord was increased; and all the upright in heart were led to glory | and rejoice on his behalf (v. 7—10).

An important question is here suggested to the mind. Why are the people of God so often and so greatly tried? Why are the ungodly so often and so much at ease? "No affliction for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous." This all know; and the Lord knows. How, then, comes it to pass, that the Lord, who takes pleasure in the prosperity of his people, so often visits them with trouble? | The answer is, for that very reason; because he delights in their prosperity. These things are designed for their good: they work for their good: they are sanctified for their good. Can any one consider this psalm, and not see that David's trials were sent for his good? Can any one consult his own experience, and not perceive, that his trials have been sent for his good also? Trials exercise grace; and that is good. They send a man to his knees, and bring him before God; and that is good. They make him more humble and watchful; more fearful of sin, and more on his guard against temptation; and is not that good? They endear Christ to his soul, and make him prize and enjoy his salvation; and is not that good? Can you look upon sanctified trials, in any point of view; and not see, however painful they may be for a time, that they afterwards "yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby?" How much better, then, is it to be afflicted and blessed; than to live at ease, as the wicked generally do, and be cursed for ever! Pray the Lord to sanctify your afflictions; that they may be found among all those things | which work together for good to them that love God, and are the called according to his purpose. You will then be soon enabled to say, "The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory" (v. 10).