to their happiness in the world to come. This I must say to all persons of this description : " You have not, because you ask not :" nor can you ever have pardon, or peace, or holiness, or glory, in any way but in that of humble, fervent, and believing prayer. You must " open your mouth wide," if ever you would have it "filled" with spiritual and eternal blessings.]
2. Those who can unite in David's testimony re- specting the compassion of their God —
[Go on, and " pray without ceasing." There never is a day when you cease to need a supply of spiritual good ; and never shall your importunity displease your God. " Be not straitened in yourselves, and never shall you find that you are straitened in him." Live a life of prayer, and you shall never be disappointed of your hope1. Be instant in prayer, and you may say with David, " Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive mek." You may add, too, with equal confi- dence, "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me1." What delightful thoughts are these ! and how will you " sing in the ways of the Lordm," when your mind is so occupied ! This is the proper walk of a Christian ; and every communication received from God, in answer to your prayers, shall be an earnest and foretaste of yet richer blessings in the realms of bliss.]
1 Isai. xl. 31. k ver. 7. l ver. 8. m ver. 5.
Ps. cxxxviii. 4, 5. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, 0 Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ivays of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
IN the Psalms of David, it is often not easy to find out the connexion between the different parts, so as to reduce them to the form of a regular composition. The inspired writer seems on many occasions to have recorded the feelings of his soul without any particular attention to order and method ; and some- times, unconsciously as it were, to have passed from what respected his own personal concerns, to events far distant, relating to the Church of God under the reign of the Messiah. If we suppose the psalm before us to have been written soon after his establishment on the throne of Israel, we may regard the words of my text as expressing the satisfaction which that