Vers. 23-25.-0hristian joy a witness. These verses reappear in Ps. xcvi. In that psalm the sacred nation is charged to praise Jehovah, and to spread the good tidings in all places. Such praise is fitting, seeing that all other deities are nothing, and Jehovah is God alone. Calvin, writing on this psalm, says, "It is an exhortation to praise God, addressed not t-0 the Jews only, but to all nations. Whence we infer that the psalm refers to the kingdom of Christ; for till he was revealed to the world bis ·Na.me could not be called upon anywhere but in Judrea." It is said that when the sun is going out of sight the pious Swiss herdsman of the Alps takes his Alpine horn and shouts loudly through it, "Praise ye the Lord." Then a brother herdsman on some distant slope takes up the echo," Praise ye the Lord." Soon another answers, still higher up the mountains, till hill shouts to hill, and peak answers to peak, the sublime anthem of praise to the Lord of all. Characteristic of the psalmist is joy in God: and in this he is the one great Scripture example; Isaiah, perhaps, coming next after him, and St. Paul having much of the same feature marking even his toilsome and suffering life. Joy, as an element of religious life, must in part depend on: 1. Disposition. Some are of sanguine and hopeful, others of desponding, disposition. Some can easily turn every- thing into song, while others can never get beyond stern prose. We are not responsible for our natural dispositions, but we are for their due modification, harmony, and culture. Often latent and unsuspected faculties can be developed, and it is seldom wise to excuse failure and shortcoming on the ground of" human nature." 2. Poeticol,faculty. Where this is given joy and song would seem to be easy; yet, on the other side, it may be said that poets are often sad-toned men, probably because accompanying the poetical faculty is a power of insight which brings to the poet's eye the wrong that lies at the heart of so much that is seemingly good. But this cannot apply to thoughts and views of God. Insight and faculty can only find reasons for joy and song when they have to do with him and his all-merciful ways. 3. Youthful piety. Those who seek God early, as David did, usually have a brightness and gladness and joy of full trust on their whole religious lives which the later-renewed can never reach. This is one of the best of the rewards given to early piety. 4. Earnest soul-culture. This, by leading to renewals of trust, to finner hold of revealed truth, and to deeper experiences of Divine com- munion, bears directly upon the foy side of Christian feeling. When attained, Christian joy becomes a witness for two reasons or in two ways. J. IT MEETS THE COMllON SENTIMENT THAT A THING MUST DE GOOD IN ITSELF IF IT TENDS TO MAKE us BRIGHT AND HAPPY. How common this sentiment is may be shown from ordinary life. 'l'he people who always cheer us, we feel sure, must be good people, au<l the same may be said of books, etc. In this way, therefore, our personal joy in God may become a gracious moral power on all who are around us, And happy 0/irist·ians Lave a most noble and blessed witness. "Sing on your heavenward WILY, Ye ransomed sinners, sing." A weary world sadly needs the sweet relief and cheering of much Christian song. JL 1T ~ETS Crm.I~TlANlTY IN A DISTINCT A:KD IMPRESSIVE CONTRAST WITII ALL OTUEB on. XVI, 1-48.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 265
RELIGIOl'IB. They are familiar enough with the sentiment of/ear. In perilous rebounds they know seasons of intense sensual excitement, which caricature true joy. But the prevailing tone of all other religions besides Christianity is sad. Only the Christian may "abound in joy through the Holy Ghost." Who could sing before that Athenian altar whereon was inscribed, "To the unknown God"? And who could fail to sin"' and give praise, that might look into the face of the Father of Jesus, and say, "Thi: God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our Guide even unto death" ?-R. T.
Ver. 29.-Sincerity and fe'1'1Jowr in worship shown by gifts. In accordance with the Mosaic regulations, and as a fitting expression of pious feeling, the people were enjoined to " bring an offering, and come before him." By an "offering " here we are to under- stand a gift rather than a sacrifice (see Mal. ii. 8-10). From the very earliest be"'in- 0 ninge of the human race it was clistinctly apprehended-whether by following the instincts with which God endowed man, or by special Divine revelations, we cannot say-that a man can and may give himself to God by and through the presentation to God of something that he has. This is the underlying principle of all tithes, offerings, and sacrifices. Nothing presented to God can be acceptable unless it carries with it the person presenting, seeing that what he cares for is man's love and trust a~d se'1'1Jice, Illustrate from the case of Cain and Abel, each bringing a thank offering from that in which God had blessed him. Show how the principle gained develop- ment in the Mosaic system ; the regular devotement of property being enjoined, and gifts being required in connection with all sanctuary attendances. Show that the principle has our Lord's commendation, and passed over into the early Church, forming one of the first impulses of awakened Christian feeling (see Barnabas), and being specially commended to the attention of the Churches by the apostles (Acts ii. 45; Gal. ii. 10 ; 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2). It may be enforced- !. THAT CHRISTIAN FEELING STILL lllPELS GIFTS, The sensci of indebtedness and of thankfulness always wants this mode of expression. II. THAT CHRISTIAN FEELING STILL SEEKS BIGHT SPHERES FOB GIFTS. These are found in every age in connection with Divine worship. And as Christ is not now with us in the body, we find spheres for gifts in helping and blessing others for his sake. III. THAT ClmISTUN FRELING STILL SEEKS TO SERVE Gon DY ITS GIFTS. Letting them be (1) signs to him, and (2) inspiring examples to our fellow-men. Press the duty of seeking right ideas concerning the trust of mone1J, and the duo apportionment of it eo that God may be glorified in its use.-R. 'l'.