standing heart," above all the children of men. As ministers of God's word, we need the same : for St. Paul says, in refer- ence to the ministry, " who is sufficient for these things?" The same must be said by us in every station and relation of life. We all have our own peculiar duties to perform ; and wisdom consists in executing them aright. Let this never be forgotten, that our chief wisdom consists in ascertaining with precision, and performing with punctuality, the duties of our own particular situation. It is not by going out of our own proper line, but by filling our own particular station well, that we shall approve ourselves truly wise. Let parents and chil- dren, masters and servants, magistrates and subjects, bear this in mind : " let none lean to their own understanding51," but all with one heart address to God this necessary petition, " O give me understanding in the way of godliness b!"]
a Prov. iii. 5. b See the text in the Prayer-book Translation.
Ps. ci. 3. / hate the work of them that turn aside : it shall
not cleave to me.
TO improve our influence for God, is our bounden duty, whatever be the station to which he has been pleased to call us. Magistrates, in particular, may render most extensive service to the community, by exerting their power in the promotion of virtue. David felt his responsibility in this respect : and, either on his beginning to reign in Hebron after the death of Saul, or on his coming to the full possession of the kingdom at a subsequent period, he wrote this psalm, declarative of his determination to discoun- tenance evil, and encourage good, to the utmost extent of his power, both amongst his courtiers, and amongst his more immediate attendants in his household.
Let us consider, I. The work which he here so determinately repro- bates—
The two points to which he seems to refer are,
1. A want of integrity in morals — [A dereliction of principle has often been indulged under the idea of expediency ; and the utmost subtlety of argument has been employed in vindication of it. But integrity, undeviating