us not limit ourselves in our desires, nor limit in our thoughts the bounty or power of God (Ps, lxxviii. 41). What he "has said" includes all we can need, but no more than we need for our highest bles~edness; let us not be content with less. Let us study the promises, stretch our minds to grasp them, and then turn them into prayer; 11nd, certain th11t our thoughts have not attained to the full extent of their meaning, let us yield ourselves to the influences of the Roly Spirit, that he may intercede withio and "for us with groanings. which cannot be uttered," but which "he that searchet,11 the hearts" can interpret and respond to (Rom. viii. 26, 27): II. 'THEY FURNISH AN ALL-POWERFUL PLEA IN OUR PRAYERS. "Do as thou hast so.id" is an 11ppeal to the faithfulness and kindness of him to whom we pray. "Thou canst not break thy word (' Thy words be true,' ver. 28); thou art too kind to trifle with those who confide in it. For thy Name's sake, therefore, fulfil thy promises." III. THEY ABSUDE us OF A FAVOURABLE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS, 'When our prayers are according to the Divine promises, we should be absolutely certain of their success. For: 1. God is able to do as he has said. 2. He is most willing. His promises spring from his love to us, and express what he is most desirous of conferring upo2 ns, and which only our indifference, unwillingness, unbelief, and consequent unfitness pre- vent our receiving. 3. His word binds him. "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: bath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numb. xxiii. 19). 4. He has given confirmations of his promises and pledges for their fulfilment, especially in the gift of his Son (2 Cor. i. 20; Rom. viii. 32). Therefore "let us ask in faith, nothing doubting" (Jas. i .. 6, Revised Version). Were it not for what he has said, we might reasonably hesitate to ask for such great things as we are taught to pray for; b.t, having his word, there is no room for hesitation (ver. 27). However conscious of sinfulness and unworthi- ness, we may and should "come boldly unto the throne of grace" (Heb. iv. 16; also x. 19, 22). Let us, then : l. Fami1iarize ourselves with the promises of God, tl,at we may pray with ·understanding and largeness of heart, and with confidence, importunity, and perse- verance. 2. Use the promises when we pray, whether for oursel1'es, our families, our country, the Church, or the world. 3. ..4bandon whatever would turn the words, "Do as thou hast said," into a/earful imprecation. For think of what God has said as to what he will do with the impeni~nt, the unbelieving, the disobedient, the unforgiving, etc., even if they offer prayers to him (see e.g. Matt. vi. 12, 14, 15).-G. W.
Ver. 26.-God's Name magnified in his people. .AJJy name of God is magnified when it is made to appear great in the eyes of his intelligent creatures, and they esteem and declare it great. This is done when he himself adds to the significance of the name by yet more glorious works or revelations; and when they come to larger conceptions of its significance, and consequently use the name with greater fulness of meaning. 'l'hus as "the sons of God " watched the various stages of creation, the name of "Creator" would acquire greater significance and. glory. The name "Jehovah of hosts" would become more glorious as the hosts themselves in the heavens and on earth grew more numerous. But David here assumes that additional glory to this great name of God might and would arise from his relation to Israel; that to say, "Jehovah of hosts is the God over Israel," would be to add lustre to the name. And rightly,for his Name has been mag- nified by what he did amongst and .for that people, by the revelations of himself which he gave them, and by the results in their national history, in the character and cleeds of many of them, and in the history of the world. He made through them such manifes- tations of his greatness and goodness, righteousness and mercy, as befitted himself; and for which vast multitudes have magnified and do magnify- him in their thoughts and thanksgivings. Until the Christ came, no name of God was more illustrious than this, "Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel." In fact, the coming of Christ and all that bas grown out of it wo.s included in that name. Hence another name of God greater still, "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," and "the God and Father of Christ's people." Yea, the whole Name of God, his whole character, all the terms and cleclarir tions by which he is made known, is magnified by what he has said and done in Christ. 'l'he great threefuld name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is as never before declared and slorifiod in tho work of salvation. 220 THE SEOOND BOOK OF 8AMUE!L. [en. vn, 1.....29,