"Good and up

And in a verse or two on, he says, right is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."

God's ways are the ways of peace and happiness; and He is ever ready to lead those into them who look up to Him for guidance. Especially does He love to take the meek and lowly by the hand, and guide them into the path of truth. A proud person, who thinks that he already knows enough, cannot be taught. The first requisite therefore in the work of religion, is a meek and teachable spirit, a prayerful waiting upon God, and a willingness to learn of Him; for it is only when we come to Him as children to a father, that He will help us, teach us, and lead us on.

PSALM XXV. 11-14.

For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant..

WE must look back for a moment to the words

contained in the sixth and seventh verses. There David prays thus; "Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving-kindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord."

He asks God, in His future treatment of him, to remember what He has done, and to treat him in the same manner still. He feels that God had always been kind and gracious to him, and he asks for a continuance of those favours. And then, when he thinks of his sins, he entreats Him not to remember them, but to blot them out.

And now, in the eleventh verse, he returns to the same subject. He speaks again of his sin, and entreats God to put it away. He does not ask its

forgiveness on the ground of its being excusable. He does not plead its littleness, as if God might therefore overlook it. No, he at once acknowledges its greatness, and urges this as the reason why he so much needs its removal. The burden of it was too heavy for him to endure, and therefore, casting himself on the mercy of God, he prayed, "For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great."

Oh that God may deal with us, not according to the measure of our sins, but according to the measure of His mercy in Christ! Oh that the attribute of love may be His guide, rather than the attribute of strict and severe justice! We none of us deserve pardon. We cannot claim it. It is our wisdom therefore to cast ourselves unreservedly on God's mercy, as David does here.

In the twelfth and two following verses certain blessings are promised to the God-fearing man.

Ist. It is declared that God Himself will be his Teacher; "What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose." He will not be like a ship that has lost its rudder, going adrift before the wind; but he will have a heavenly Pilot to steer him in the right track; a Director, who will both point out the way, and keep him in it.

2ndly. It is said that "his soul shall dwell at ease." He shall enjoy peace. He shall not only

be safe from danger, but he shall be calm and peaceful in the enjoyment of God's favour.

3rdly. It is declared that "his seed shall inherit the earth." In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." To inherit the earth, in both these passages means to enjoy a blessed portion even here. And such will be the case with those who are of a humble spirit, and have the fear of God before their eyes. Both worlds are theirs. Their portion here is one of peace, and hereafter of complete blessedness. They are happy here in the constant enjoyment of their heavenly Father's love, and they look forward to a brighter inheritance in that happy Land, which is to be their abode for ever.

4thly. It is promised that the Lord will reveal Himself to such; "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant." He draws near to those who fear Him. He receives them into His friendship. They enjoy fellowship with Him.

May it be so with us! May we know something of this holy fellowship with God! And amidst all our necessary intercourse with the world, may there be an inner life of communion with Him!

PSALM XXV. 15-22.

Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

IN

N this last portion of the Psalm David breaks out again into prayer, and asks God to help him in his trouble. His eyes were "ever towards the Lord." They were always looking that way; and he felt assured that, although many snares were laid for him by his enemies, God would deliver him out of them all. He felt certain that, although entrapped like a hapless dove in the snare of the fowler, he would be rescued by the strong arm of God; "He shall pluck my feet out of the net."

This "turning our eyes towards the Lord" should be, not merely our occasional attitude, but our constant habit of mind. We should be "ever” looking to Him, and seeking His direction. We