Ver. 7.-Gorfsfootstool. "Worship at bis footstool." By the" footstool" is meant the cover of the ark,on which the Shechinah-light was retarded as resting. Round the top of the ark ran a crown or wreath of pure gold, and upon it was the mercy-seat, of the same dimensions as the ark, made, not of wood overlaid with gold, but entirely of pure gold. At either end of the mercy-seat rose two golden chernbim, wi~h outspread wings, and faces turned towards each other, and eyes bent downwards, as though the Shechinah-glory were too dazzling to look fully;upon. It would appear to be a special idea of David's, for in his last address to his people he said, "As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God" (1 Chron. xxviii. 2). The Eastern idea of a footstool to a throne is seen in Solomon's ivory thron,c,. " There were six steps to the throne, with a foot- stool of gold" (2 Chron. ix.18). The man who offered homage, or presented a petition, might approach no nearer to the king than his footstool. In a more general sense heaven ia said to be God's throne, and the earth his footstool; then anywhere on earth is a fitting place for offering our worship (see Isa. lx.vi. 1; Matt. v. 35; John iv. 20-24). I. WoBSIDPPING AT Goo's FOOTSTOOL SUGGESTS THE DIVINE CO!s"'DESCEYSION. He lets us come into his presence, and even to come so near to him, so directly into personal communion with him, as is indicated by approaching his footstool. But he permits no presumption, no irreverence. And it is well to remember that, if Christianity permits of familiarity with God, it must never be other than a holy familiarity. The Christian must keep at the footstool. The surprise at the Divine condescension in permitting us to come so near as this is well indicated in 1 King~ viii. 27; Isa. lxvi. l, 2. II. WoBSHil'PING AT GoD·s FOOTSTOOL SUGGESTS THE MOOD OF TIIE WORSHIPPERS. A royal presence is always affecting, and a man who enters it is always set upon securin~ the best preparations and attitudes. There is lacking from much of our worship and prayer that sense of coming to a King who is so glorious that we may not get nearer to him than his footstool. The proper mood for the Divine presence may be elaborately unfolded and illustrated. We only suggest that the proper mood i~ a holy blending of humility and confidence-the humility that says, "I dare not," with the confidence that says, "I may."-R. T.
Ver. 9.-The holy dothing. The allusion is to the way in which the priests of God, in discharging their sacred functions, set forth his righteousness in the salvation of hid people. Tbe white garment of the priest is the symbol of the clothing of righteous- ness (see Zeeb. iii. 3, 4; Hev. xix. 8). "Fitting attire, figuring the inuer still more glorious attire which they should wear, of holiness and obedience to him whom they serve" (' Speaker's Commentary'). Dr. Bushnell remarks on dress as being the "out- ward analogon, or figure, of character; dress relates to the form or figure of the body, character to the form or figure of the soul-it is, in fact, the dress of the soul. The option we have in one typifies the grander option we have in the other. 'l'he right we have in one, above the mero animals, to choose the colour, type, and figure of the outward man, foreshadows the nobler right we also have to cast the mould, fashion or despoil the beauty, of the inward man. On the ground of this analogy it is that the Scriptures so frequently make use of dress to signify what lies in oharacter, and repre- sent character, in one way or another, as being tbe dress of tbo soul. 'l'hus they speak of the • wedding garment,' 'the garment of praise,' that 'of cursing,' that 'of pride; ' • the robe of righteousness,' and 'of judgment,' and 'the white robe,' o.ud 'the best robe ' given to the returning prodigal, and 'the robe thnt has been mashed,' and 'judgmeut put on as a robe,' of 'white raiment' and 'white apparel,' or 'glorious apparel,' of 'filthiness,' or• righteousncsses that are f,ltlay rags,' of 'filt_hiness in. the skirts;' and, more inclusively and genera.Uy still, of being 'clothed with salvation,' 'with s,trength and power,' 'with humility,' 'with majesty,' 'with shame,' 'with flue linen, clean and white, which is the righteousneJs of saints.' All tho figures of drcas and clothing aro used up, in this manner, by tho Scriptures, to represent the 268 THE DOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. CXXXII, 1-18,