The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 131

a thousand things of daily life we prove the usefulness of good habits. We do things again and again, or do things at the same time and in the same way day after day, ".ntil they be_come not so much easy to do as a joy to \he doer, They make up the hfe, and provide the pleasure of the life. Let, then, any one pu1pose to live the godly life, and he must take due account of the helpfulness of well-formed habits. The subject may be illustrated in connection with both the culture and the expression of the religious life. I. Goon HABITS IN RELATION TO THE CULTURE OF GOODNESS, The gardener knows -well the importance of regular habits in the tending of plants. The godly life is cultured by the Word of God, prayer, and pious conversation; and in each of these the formation of good habits early in life is singularly helpful. 'l'he custom of devoting some time daily to Bible-reading may become a mere routine, and even to the liveliest Christian it is at times a formality; but its helpfulness is clearly seen when the negligences of tl,ose who have formed no such habit is duly contrasted. The best of us are constantly needing to be carried over our wilfulnesses and indispositions as only good habits can carry us. • ' II. Goon HABITS IN RELATION TO THE EXPRESSION OF GOODNESS. We have no right to permit any divorce between the cultured heart and the devoted life. If we have soul-life, it must find fitting expression in daily service. These may be classed under acts of worship and acts of ministry. Ha.bits very materially aid in maintaining family worship, and in meeting the obligations of God's house; and they exert an important inflnence on our acts of charity and ministry. We all need to have our "ways established," that we may thus be helped in" observing God's statutes."-R. T. Ver. 9.-Cleansing one's way. This should be a familiar text to us all-one of those that are enshrined in memory, and made an abiding power in the life. Occasions for its consideration and for its counsels are ever recurring, because: 1. Among us are always boys coming out into the responsibilities of youth and young manhood. 2. While phases of youthful sin may vary for each generation, Bible counsels fit to every age, because they deal with principles. L 'l'HE GROUNDS ON WHICH THE INQUIRY OF THE TEXT IS BASED. The moral perils to which the young are exposed. The text does not say that the way of the young is actually unclean, but it views the young as just beginning to walk in a way that is miry and dangerous. To compass the whole truth we should consider : 1. The moral weakness of the young man himself. It partly lies in (1) the relics left of evil influences, and the imperfect and incomplete results _of early training; (2) in an inex- perience of life which young people never estimate worthily; (3) in susceptibility to influences that a.re merely attractive, not deeply true; (4) in the intensity with which they enter on present pleasures, heedless of future issues and results. 'l'hese make dangers on the side of the young man himself. 2. The evils actually lying in the way of the young. (1) The appeals of evil to the sensual side of human nature. See the warnings in the Book of Proverbs. (2) The pride of independence loosening the moral restraints of education and home influence. (3) '!'he falso maxims that a.re attractive to opeuing mental faculties, and readily meet youthful dispositions; such as" Youth is the time for pleasure; " " Gaining wealth is the true end of Iifo; " " Religion is a gloomy affair,and awfully dull;" "No certainty-nothing that can be called' knowledge,' is to be obtained about morals, or about spiritual things." Show the moral influence exerted by such prevailing evil sentiments. Il. 'l'HE GROUNDS ON WHICH A Wl!IE ANSWER TO THIS INQUll\Y MAY l\EST. 1. No other answer than that given in the text can fully meet the case. 2. 'l'he Word of God can become a deliverance from young men's moral weaknesses and perils. H can be a power of practical wisdom and self-restraint. Illustrate by our Lord's use of the Word, as a weapon, in the time of his temptation ns a young Man. 3. The Word of God acts as do beacons and lighthouses and sign-posts-it points out the dangerous parts of the way, and indicates the safo and direct roads. 4. 'l'ho Word of Gud delivers us from the mischievous influence of false maxims hy its reve:lation of truth e.nd duty. But the Word does not, once for all, cleanse any man's way. All through life the we.y in which we we.lk will be foul e.nd full of perils, traps, and tomptations. 'l'he Word enables us to pick our path safely amidst the dirt and the snares e.nd the li,S, OXIX, 1-176,] '!'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. 145