HOMILETICS. Vers. 1--4.-0ur refuge in trouble. Beside and beyond the ordinary cares and vexations of this present time, there are- I. Tnrns OF PECULIAR TBIAL. It may be (1) the nation that has to pass through this period; e.g. Israel in Egypt, and again the Jews in Babylon; or, in modem times, Poland or the Italian Duchies, or the kingdom of the Two Sicilies; or it may be (2) the Church of Christ, understanding by this either the large aggregate community, or the body of believing men and women meeting in one place (e.g. the Church at Philippi, the Church at Thessalonica); or it may be (3) the individual man as he goes on his way through mortal life. Hard and bitter trial may come in one or more of many ways; but the text points to that of oppression, the cruel treatment of the weaker by the stronger. This may come in the form of positive ill treatrnent--of imprisonment, of " despoiling of goods," of exile, of !Jhysical violence. But that which was in the psalmist's mind, and that which is most likely to be included in our experience, is contemptuous disregard, an arrogant assumption of superiority. We may find ourselves placed under those of whom we feel that they have missed their way, and are in the darkness of error, while they are denouncing us as heretics; or those of whom we foel that they are a very long way from wisdom and worth, while they are treating us with disdain a.B if we were the enemies of Christ; or of those who are superciliously ridiculing our most sacrc d convictions, though they have no other or better proof of the rightness of their own creed than that it is the faith of 11. majority. .And if we have to bear this "contempt of the proud" from day to day, if it is as the dropping of water upon the stone, which wears out the hardest substance, we may find it to be all but intolerable; we ruay not only wince, but writhe under it; our soul may be "exceed- ingly filled" with the scorning of tho~c that are at ease. Whither, then, shall we turn? If there be no escape from it, as there often is not, we must find- IL Oun REFUGE IN GoD. (Vere. 1, 2.) When we have vainly looked around for help from man," we lift up :iur eyes" to G<,,l-to him that" dwelleth in the heavens;" 1. We recognize the fact that he bas power to deliver us. 2. We believe that, in hie Divine wisdom, he can interpose on our behalf without any disturbance of his system of Divine government. 3. We are sure that our eulferi11g is not a matter of indifference to his heart, and that our cry enters hie oar. 4. We must not be impatient or distrustful if the time or me1bod of our choice should not prove to be his chosen time or way of deliverance. 6. We do well to continue our prayer for relief" until he hnve pHy upon PS, oxxm. 1-4.J THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 203
us" and rescue us. 6. Meantimo we should (1) let our trouble draw us nearer to our Divine Friend in all hallowed fellowship; (2) loosen our tie to this present w91ld; (3) enable us to give to all that wHness our course another illnstration that the upholding grace of God can triumph over the enmity and cruelty of man.