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sure and steadfast; "Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee."

Truly the Christian has a hope, a precious

hope-" a hope that

maketh not ashamed," a hope that God will be with him to the end; and that, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and clothed in His righteousness, he will be received into those everlasting mansions, where he will abide with Him for ever.

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PSALM XXXIV. 1-10.

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

IN N the first part of this Psalm, David praises God for His goodness generally, and perhaps also for some special deliverance vouchsafed unto him; "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad."

He then invites his brethen not to be content with expressing their thankfulness apart, but to blend their praises with his; that so they might go up as a bright flame, which would be far more glow

ing than mere scattered sparks; "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together."

He himself had cause above all men to be thankful; for his prayers had been again and again answered, and his course had been strewed with mercies. "I sought the Lord (he says in the fourth verse), and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." And he adds, “They (that is, those who were with me) looked unto him, and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed." Just as a child in sickness, in the midst of much suffering, looks up into the face of its mother, and a smile from her brings comfort, so is it with the Believer. The eye of faith turns to Christ, and He gives light and joy to the soul. A look at Him restores peace. There is a holy calmness within.

Again, David refers to himself as an instance of God's mercy; "This poor man" (he says, meaning himself) "cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." He was poor, not in the sense of want, but in the sense of being afflicted, forsaken, desolate. Then it was that he drew near to his heavenly Friend, and found Him to be a prayer-hearing God. And therefore he calls on others to do the same; "O taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him."

He speaks of " the young lions" sometimes being in want, and suffering from hunger; but God will

never let His children suffer. He does not of course mean that the righteous have an exemption from the common lot of men. They may be in want as well as others; but they shall feel no want.

Let us profit by David's teaching. Let his experience encourage us; and let us rest perfectly content in God's hands. If the helpless infant is happy, so long as its mother's arms are round it; and if the soldier feels safe, when he has found shelter in some strong tower of defence; much more should the Christian feel safe, and happy, and contented, when he knows that God is his Father, and that Christ is his Sun and his Shield. God gives His angels charge concerning His people; and oftentimes, when in danger, they are near to protect us. Surely if we trust God, He will come to our aid. And if our eyes are opened, as were those of Elijah's companion, we shall often, in the time of danger, see horses and chariots of fire round about us; for there is no trial so great, but that God can make a way of escape for those who are dear to Him.

PSALM XXXIV. 11-22.

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked; and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants; and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

DAVID here teaches us what a godly life is. It

consists,

Ist, in keeping careful watch over our lips; "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." We must be careful to abstain from all hurtful and wrong words, and from saying anything which may deceive another.

2ndly, in doing what is right. We must not only avoid evil speaking, but also evil doing; and

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