'Rom. 1,21. ' Ps. xxviii. 5.
"Rev. xxi, 4. '^ Gen. xvii. 1,
8S4 PSALMS, CXVI. 12 — 14. [4l0^.
Ps. cxvi. 12 — 14. What shall t render imto the Lord fur all his Venefits towards me P I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.
THE influence of faith on our eternal salvation is obvious to all who have any just views of the Go- spel : but its operation on the mind in this present life, and its efficacy to produce peace and holiness, are by no means generally understood. In this view however the psalm before us is peculiarly instructive. David, when his faith failed him, overlooked all the mercies that he had received at the Lord's hands, and rashly concluded, that all which had been de- clared to him respecting the purpose of God to esta- blish him on the throne of Israel, was false : " I said in my haste, all men are liars." But, when his faith was strengthened, he no longer gave way to such querulous expressions and desponding fears: on the contrary, he then was full of peace, and joy ; and with the livehest emotions of love and gratitude, exclaimed, " What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me ?" That we may be brought to this happy state of mind, and may be led to abound in praise and thanksgiving, let us contem- plate, I. The benefits which our God has conferred upon us —
' On such an inexhaustible subject as this, we can do no more than suggest a few leading thoughts, v/hich may be more largely prosecuted in our secret retirement. To contemplate them in all their fulness will be the blissful employnient of eternity. Let us notice those,
1. Of creation —
[How distinguished is our condition above all other crea- tures upon tlie face of the earth ! In bodily powers, it is true, we are exceeded by many ; who have not only far greater strength and agility than we, but their senses also of sight, and hearing,
and