He cries to God to " search and trv him" —
[He remembers whose prerogative it is to search the
heart b : he reads the word that God may search him with itc:
he regards conscience as God's vicegerent*1: he looks up for the
Spirit's aid and influence e. In this way he prays, like David,
frequently, and with fervour*.]
He commits himself to the divine guidance and direction —
[He knows he shall err if God do not "lead" him : he trusts in the promises which God has given him in his wordg.]
In this way he attains abiding peace and confidence11. Application —
[Let us all begin the work of self-examination. Let us call in the divine aid with importunate supplications. Let us inquire whether there be not some sin which we indulge, or some duty which we neglect? Let us especially take notice of our
"thoughts" Let us not think that inadvertence can
excuse our sins, while we neglect the means of discovering them1 : Let us tremble lest, through the indulgence of one sin, our religion prove vain at lastk ; let us not walk in a way which shall serve merely for a present shoiv, but a way that shall be of " everlasting" benefit.]
b Jer. xvii. 10. c Heb. iv. 12. d Prov. xx. 27.
e Rom. viii. 26. f Mark the text, s Ps. xxv. 9. Prov. iii. 6.
h Phil. iv. 6, 7. j Lev. v. 17. k Jam. i. 26.
Ps. cxlii. 7. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise
thy name!
GREAT are the changes which, from time to time, we observe in the material world ; namely, from dark- ness to light, from barrenness to fertility, from death to life. Such likewise take place in the spiritual world ; for men, by the Gospel, are " turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God." Nor is this spiritual change less visible than the other. There are signs whereby we may " know that we have passed from death unto life," and been " translated from the kingdom of Satan into the king- dom of God's dear Son." When David penned the psalm before us, he was hid in a cave, and was every
h h 2