Throughout Scripture, pride is presented to us as the insuperable obstacle blocking the way to t~e f~vour of God: humbleness of heart is held before us as the very gateway of his kingdom. We can see the reason why it should be so. 1. · It is the truth. v\:hen we take a high view of ourselves, we see ourselves in a false light; when a lowly view, we see ourselves as we are. 2. It is the one way to the admission of pivi □~ wisdom. The haughty heart will not listen when God speaks; the humble heart 1s o~en and_ receptive. 3. It is the necessary condition of receiving Jesus Christ as our D1vmc Sav10ur. He came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." It was the complacent Pharisee who stood aloof from him, and who rejected his doc- trine; it was the consciously unworthy who "drew nigh unto him for to hear him" (Luke xv.!), and who "went into the kingdom" before the self-righteous and the respectable. Hence we find our Lord beginning his public teaching with the Beatitude, "Blessed are tb~ poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. v. 3); hence we have his word, "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Matt. xxiii.12; a~d see ~at~•. xviii. 3). 4. To be lowly minded is to be like our Lord himself (Matt. Xl. 29; Phil. 11. 7-9). IV. His SUSTAINING AND REVIVING GRACE. (Vers. 3-7.) In the day of our trouble we "cry unto the Lord." It is an instinct of our religious nature (see Ps. cvii.). It is the natural refuge of the devout (Ps. xlvi. 1). It is in accordance with the Divine desire (Ps. 1. 15). • His promise (and his performance) is to sustain our spirit, to "strengthen us with strength in our soul." We think that we cannot possibly endure the weight of the afflictions that press upon us ; but he makes us to know " the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe ; " he "revives us," ho renews our hope, our confidence, our courage; he" girds us with all-sufficient grace" for the task we have to undertake, for the suffering we are called to bear. The" morning of joy" which is promised us may be a long way off; many dark hours may have to pass before that will dawn; but during the night of sorrow he will "give us songs,' he will sustain our spirit, he will make us to glory in infirmity," because "Christ's own power rests upon us." There is a more signal proof of his Divine power and goodness than that which, perhaps, in human weakness, we :erefer, viz.- V. HIB DELIVERING GRACE. (Ver. 7, latter part.) For God does sometimes, and indeed often, interpose on behalf of his children. His "right hand," the right hand of his power and of his righteousne~s, is laid, not then and there on our souls to revive, but on the enemy to subdue him, or on the tangled events to undo them, on the reduced circumstances to raise and restore them. One touch'.of that wise;_strong hand -the touch of a link iu the chain far out of sight-aud the trouble is over. It is right for us to ask this of God, whatever be the trial through which we are passing; but we must ask reverently, and in the spirit of obedience, quite ready to find that he will not take away the crosR, but p;ive us strength to bear it. VI. THE CO!-.'TINUOUBNESS AND COMPLETENESS OF HIS WORK WITHIN UB. (Ver. 8.) 1. We are God's workmanship (Eph. ii. 10; 1 Cor. iii. 9; 2 Cor. v. 5). It is he that bath made us what we are" in Christ Jesus." It is his Spirit that has "renewed us in the spirit of our mind." Our repentance, our faith, our peace and rest of heart, our hope of heaven, our interest in the work of God, our readiness or eagerness to serve in the vineyard of Christ,-all this is, we gratefully own, the work of God within us. 2. We may count on its continuance. God will not forsake the work of his own hands. If he "pronounces good" the objects in nature, which are the product of his skill and power, how much ruore will he be pleased with the cleansed heart, with the renewed will with the obedient spirit of hie own child I He will not leave that to be lost on the 'waste• he will not abandon that to tho mercy of wind and wave. We may and must ask his continued care of us, his guardianship and guidance and replenishment; but thus asking for it, we may count confidently upon it. 3. We may look with a firO-: hope to the completion of hie work in us; he will "perfect that which concerneth us." His interest in us, his kindness toward us, will not lessen as we live our life in liim and before him. As we grow into hie image, and as we do hie work more faith- fully and effectively, his love will not lessen !1or his grace slacken: Thi~ wi~ "e~dure for ever." It will follow us all the way, until we are "perfected rn Chnst; until we are "meet for the Master's use " in a higher and larger sphere. For that post in bis heavenly kingdom which he will have ready for us we may feel sure that he is fitting PS. oxxxvm. 1-8.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 805
us, not only by abounding privilege and wise discipline, but by gracious influences from his Holy Spirit The goodness of God has large issues. 1. Its effect on the enlightened mind is whole-hearted praise (vers. 1, 2). A deep sense of all that God is to us, and of all that we are to him, fills our heart and constrains us to fervent and to public devotion. Whatever is meant particularly by the words, "before the gods," we ma.y be sure that the psalmist intended to speak of public worship. He would not be satisfied with a thankful and loving spirit, good and right as that was; he would proclaim to all his sense of the loving-kindness and the faithfulness of Jehova.h. Full and fearless expression is one part of sacred duty. 2. Its effect on those who stand without is correspondingly grea.t. "The Lord bath done great things for them," said the Baby- lonian witnesses (Ps. ex.xvi. 2). If we will so submit ourselves to Divine influences that our lives bear the mark and impress of God's hand, there will be excited in the minds of those outside the Church of Christ a wondering admiration of the power of the gospel, and they, too, will join in praising God 1