proud, God" knoweth" and he detesteth them; he beholdeth and keepeth them at a "distance."

7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

Who doth not "walk in the midst of trouble," while his pilgrimage is prolonged upon the earth? Who hath not "enemies" encompassing him on every side? O how comfortable, then, the reflection that he is with us, who can "revive" the dead; that we are under the protection of an "arm" which is almighty! Yes, blessed Lord, we believe that this saying of thy holy Psalmist will be verified to every child of thine, even as it was to him, and to thy Son Jesus, in whose person he might speak it, as a prophet. Great indeed were the "troubles," in the midst of which the true David "walked" up and down amongst us. He carried all our sorrows, because he bare all our sins. "Yet didst thou revive

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him;" thou didst raise him from the dead, and exalt him to thy throne in heaven, where he ever liveth to make intercession for us, that we, who, in the days of our flesh, do also "walk in the midst of "trouble," may be revived by thy Spirit, the giver of life and holiness.

8. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever : forsake not the works of thine own hands.

In troublous times, and the days of affliction, we must look back on that which God hath already done for us, and from thence draw an argument, that he

will "perfect" that which remains, and not leave his work unfinished: we must remember, that his mercies fail not after a time, but "endure for ever" the same; and when we call to mind that we are "the work of his own hands," how can we think he will"forsake us" unless we utterly and finally forsake him?

TWENTY-NINTH DAY.-MORNING PRAYER,

PSALM CXXXIX.

ARGUMENT.

It seems evident, from the latter part of this noble and instructive Psalm, that the author penned it at a time when he was persecuted and calumniated, as an appeal to the all-seeing Judge between him and his adversaries. He takes the opportunity of expatiating in the sublimest manner, 1—12. on the omnipresence and omniscience of him who, 13-16. formeth man in the womb by his power, and, 17, 18. preserveth him through life by his providence. He then, 19, 20. expresseth his confidence that God, as knowing all things, would deliver him from his enemies; 21, 22. he declareth his zeal and fidelity in the service of his divine Master, by whom, 23, 24. he petitioneth to be proved, purified, and perfected in the way of holiness.

1. O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me. 2. Thou knowest my down sitting and my up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off. 3. Thou compassest my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether, or, When there is not a word in my tongue, lo, O LORD, &c. 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

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The Psalmist employeth a beautiful variety of expressions to denote his faith in the omnipresence and omniscience of Jehovah, to whom, in the latter part of the Psalm, he appealeth, as the proper judge between him and his implacable enemies. He describeth his God as having that complete knowledge of him and his affairs, which, among men, the most accurate "search" and the strictest scrutiny could not obtain; as being thoroughly "acquainted with "all his ways" or proceedings, nay, with his very thoughts," while yet existing only in embryo, in his own mind; as watching and observing him at all seasons, during the actions of the day, and his repose at night; and, in short, as having so "beset" him on all sides, and “laid his hand upon him," that he could not move without his knowledge and consent. When we reflect that "all things are thus naked and "open to him with whom we have to do;" that although he dwelleth in the highest heavens, he surveyeth not only the outward acts, but the very hearts and imaginations, of men upon earth-must we not

each of us cry out, "Such knowledge is too won“derful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it;" I cannot admire it enough, for I cannot conceive of it aright!"The actual, constant consideration of "God's presence would be the readiest way in the "world to make sin to cease from among the children "of men, and for men to approach to the blessed "estate of the saints in heaven, who cannot sin, "for they always walk in the presence, and behold "the face, of God." See bishop Taylor's "Holy Living," chap. i. sect. 3.

7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, or, the grave, behold thou art there. 9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

We can never sin with security, but in a place where the eye of God cannot behold us. And where is that place? Had we a mind to escape his inspection, "whither should we go?" Heaven is the seat of his glory, creation the scene of his providence, and the grave itself will be the theatre of his power; so that our efforts will be equally vain, whether we ascend, or descend, or fly abroad upon the wings of the morning light, which diffuseth itself with such

velocity over the globe from east to west. The arm of the Almighty will still at pleasure prevent, and be ready to arrest, the fugitives in their progress. Darkness may, indeed, conceal us and our deeds from the sight of men; but the divine presence, like that of the sun, turns night into day, and makes all things manifest before God. The same consideration which should restrain us from sin, should also encourage us to work righteousness, and comfort us under all our sorrows; namely, the thought, that we are never out of the sight and protection of our Maker. The piety and the charity which are practised in cottages; the labour and the pain which are patiently endured in the field, and on the bed of sickness; the misery and torment inflicted by persecution in the mines, the galleys, and the dungeons: all are under the inspection of Jehovah, and are noted down by him against the day of recompense. He sees, and he will reward, all we do, and all we suffer, as becometh Christians. He who, for our sakes, caused his Son to descend from heaven to the lower parts of the earth, and from thence to ascend to heaven again, will watch over, preserve, and re-assemble, the parts of our bodies, though dissolved in the grave, buried in the ocean, or dispersed to the four winds. So that, with allusion to this event also, a dying servant of God may exclaim, Whither can I go from thy Spirit? or whither can I flee from thy presence? If, as to my spiritual part, I ascend into heaven, thou art there to receive me; if, as touching my body, I make my bed in, or the grave, behold thou art there, to secure me, If I take the wings of the wind, or