(ver. 3); its forces not scattered, dissipated, lost, but united, well-ordered for defence and for aggression. ,vhere there is unity of spirit, aim, and action, there is strenath to withstand and to achieve. 4. A wise regard for onr own welfare and n true conc~rn for others' good will make us love and serve the Church of Christ. (1) They will prosper that love it (ver. 6). Association with Christ and with his people is, if not a guarantee, a strong assurance of present and temporal well-being; sufficiency, if not wealth; all that is needful, if not all that is pleasant. (2) As we Jove our brethren and our companions, we shall wish well to the Church; for as its holy influences extend and reach their hearts, and cover their lives, they also will be shielded from evil and enriched with good. 5. Christ calls for believing prayer aml faithful labour. Pray for the peace, and for the prosperity, of Jerusalem (vers. 61 7). It is a poor thing to pray for it if we do not strive for it, if we do not contribute to it; "I will seek thy good;" and it is a very imperfect method of seeking good if we do not bring our personal con- tribution to it. To do that for the peace and prosperity of the· Church, we must command ourselves, be gracious and genial in word as well as in spirit take our part in earnest work, labour till the Master himself takes the weapon from o~r hands.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-9.-Jerusalem a type of the Ohurch. That which is said or implied here of Jerusalem is appropriate in a symbolic sense to the New Jeruoa.lem, the Church of the living God. I. FoB THE CmraCH IS AS A CITY. 1. Built. The result of thought nnd toil and care. 2. .As Jerusalem, a captured city. It was once the home of all heathen abomina- tion, but by David it was won for God. So the Church is a captured city, a trophy of God's omnipotent grace. 3. Has walls and bulwarlcs. Jerusalem had (ver. 7). So the Church (Isa. :u:vi 1). The Spirit, the Word, and the work of God in human hcart~,- these are her defences. 4. And palaces. There were many of these in Jerusalem. The palaces of the Church are those spiritual privileges which those who are high in the favour of God are permitted to enjoy. II. lliB PEOPLE. '!'hose who love God's worship, who love to be asked to go to the house of the Lord, and also to ask others. These are they in whom the Spirit of God dwells, and who are the people of the city of God. IIL SHE IS CHARACTERIZED BY UNITY, ORDER, STRENGTH. (Ver. 3, "compact together.") For Jerusalem this was inevitably so by reason of the site on which she stood, which allowed no room for indefinite enlargement (sec Exposition; and Stanley's • Sinai and Palestine'). And so when the Church of God bas attained to its perfect form, the divisions and discords, the disorder and conBcquent weakness, which too much characterize the Church now, shall all have disappeared. And even now there are Christian Churches which, by reason of their peace nnd unity and order, are strong-a.re as a city compact together. IV. SHE IB THE OENTRE OF UNITY FOB OTIIEBB. (Ver. 4.) Jerusalem and the temple were, in Israel's best days, the rallying-point of all her tribes. The strength which this gave them excited the jealousy of Jeroboam, and caused him to set up the rival worship of Samaria. And to-day the Church is the real bond of nations, and is becoming increasingly so. V. THIS UNITY OF THOSE WHO OATRl!R TO HER IS A WITNESS FOR GoD, AND RENDERS HIM PRAISE. The gathering of 1i1e tribes of the Lord (vcr. 4) at the great annual festivals bore testimony to all men that Israel was the covenant people of God, and that they rejoiced therein; thus they rendered praise to the Name of the Lord. And the united companies of believers bear a like testimony and render like praise. VI. JUDGMENT JUST AND RIGII1'EOUS GOES FORTH FROM Him, (Ver. 5.) From the judgment-thrones of the princes of the royal house went forth the decisions which the people obeyed in all matters on which judgment had been given. So to-day, from the real Church of God goes forth that law which binds or looses the consciences of men. This is "the power of the keys" which Christ has given to his Church. What hhe says to-day all peoples will sooner or later accept as right and true. They mny 1·e8ist, but ere long they will yield. God wills it so, PB, CXX.11, 1-9.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 195