that they were very bad and unworthy feelings; and for us the record cnt but be " warning against cherishing sentiments of vengeance. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." If we have the spirit that Christ taught us to cherish, we shall not even pray against our enemies, we shall only pray for them. The last verse of the psalm is wholly repulsive to one who can take the Christian standpoint. With this denunciation of Edom should be compared the Book of Obadiah, and especially vers. 10-15. "It is a fierce outburst of natural resentment, which borrows almost a grandeur from the religious fervour, the devoted patriotism, from which it springs. The psalm is a wonderful mixture of soft melancholy and fiery patriotism." I. Goon PEOPLF. MAY HA.VE BAD Moons. It is a fact that they do have such moods, and we must make the best that we can of the fact. We should read the Psalms much more sympathetically, and be much less distressed by some of their intense expressions, if we simply accepted the fact. We never judge our friends fairly unless we take into account their bad moods, an<l slip kindly over what they say at such times. If. Goon PEOPLE MAY BE RELIEVED BY SPEAKING OUT WHEN IN THEIR BAD MOODS. It is better to spc-ak out, even dreadful things, than to keep brooding over them in our hearts. Not only is feeling thus relieved, but pitifulness and considerate gentleness is called forth from others. We kindly say," Poor fellow I he is not quite himself; bear with him awhile." Aud oftentimes speaking out reveals a man to himself, and becomes the very best cure of bis bad mood. One fully expects that the psalmist must have been ashamed of himself when he had said out these dreadful things. How pitiful towards him God must have been! III. Goon PEOPLE MUST NEVER KEEP LONG IN THEm BAD MOODS. It is precisely there that men so often go wrong. Storm-times ought to pass. Passionate moments leave but a light impre.ss. But keep bitter feeling; brood over wrongs; cherish revenge, and the soul must inevitably be deteriorated, and the vision of God must be darkened. We must never forget that he loves our enemiea.-R. T. Vere. 1-6.-" By the rivers of Babylon," etc. "The psalm expresses the feelings of an exile who has but just returned from the land of his captivity." L THE LOSS OF LIBERTY TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL. 1. Brings after it the most desp<Yndent sorrow. They hung their harps on the willows, aud eat down and wept. 2. Blights the exercise of the highest gifts. They could not sing the joyful songs_ of Zion-the sonus of the Lord. An enslaved people lose the power, as a rule, which they bad wben°they were free. 3. Converts the world into a place of exile. Home is Jost and the world becomes a " strange," mysterious place. II. FIDELITY TO THE HOLIEST MEMORIES AND HOPES. "If I forget thee." We cannot blot out from the heart the holiest things, however much they may be mutilated and injured bv ourselves or by others. The most eloquent writings in all languages have been pleas for liberty and religion, when nations have been struggling to recover or attain their liberty.-S.
EXPOSITION. oompoeition. It is a fanciful exegesis whioh PSALM oxxxvm. sees in all the eight psalms reflections upon A CLUSTER of De.vidical psalms (Pss. cxxxviii. the promise made to David in 2 Sam. viL -cxlv.) here follows. It is not ee.sy to trace Ver. 1.-I will praise thee with my whole e.ny single line of thought connecting them heart (comp. Pss. ix. l; cxi. 1). Before the e.11, or to explain how they come to be so gods will I sing praise unto thee. Some entirely separated from the great bulk of suppose the expression, "before the gods," the De.vidical psalms. The first two are, in to meo.n "before the great ones of tbe the main, psalms of praise; tbe next four, earth," and quote Pa. cxix. 46 oe parallel. Others think that the imaginary vain gods psalms of supplication (Pss. cxl.-cxliii.); of the heathen are intended. in l's. cxli v. praise and supplication are Ver. 2.-I will worship toward thy holy blended; while in Pa. cxlv. praise age.in te111ple. The term "temple" here must forma the me.in. if not the sole, t.opio of the df.f!ignate the tabernacle (comp. Ps. 1', 8). PB. oxx.xvm. 1-8.J THE· BOOK OF PSALMS. 303