Then let every one see, and be convinced of,
1. The importance of uprightness —
[None but the upright in heart can expect any " good" at the hands of God. " As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways," " their own wickedness shall correct them, and their backslidings reprove themm." Then only can we he approved of our God, when our heart is right with God. For " the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath ;" and will surely perish, under an accumulated weight of misery.]
2. The necessity of decision —
[It should never admit of one moment's doubt, whom we shall serve. Nothing must be suffered to stand in competition with God's revealed will. Sufferings are to be only as the dust upon the balance. So, also, must gains be counted but loss by us, if we would approve ourselves to God. Let us, then, ever be ready to answer our opponents, as the Apostles did : " Whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye:" for we cannot but obey him at all events, and execute his will, though every man on earth, and every wicked spirit in hell, should combine against us. We will, God helping us, be faithful unto death : for then, and then only, can we have any scriptural hope of obtaining eternal life.]
m Jer. ii. 19.
Ps. cxxvi. 1 — 4. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing : then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, 0 Lord, as the streams in the south.
THE great body of the Psalms was composed by David : but some were written many hundred years before his time, as the 90th was by Moses ; and others many hundred years after him, as that before us, which was evidently written after the Babylonish captivity. It relates in the first instance to the delivery of Israel from their sore bondage, and their restoration to their long desolated country: but it is well applicable to that redemption which is