HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-10.-" Keep me from the snares." This difficult psalm seems to be the cry of a. greatly tempted soul. And the temptation now did not a.rise so much from the persecutions of the ungodly as from their seduciug favours-what he calls "their dainties" (ver. 4). And he seems to have found tbis even harder to resist than their cruelty and harshness. Consider- I. THE SPIRIT OF THIS PRAYER. 1. Note ita impassioned earnestness. (Ver. 1.) "Lord, I cry unto thee." No mere formal, ordinary prayer, but a. pleading cry. 2. He pleads for haste on the part of the Lord. He can bear no delay. ~- That his cry 'TYV'Y find much acceptance. (Ver. 2.) The burning of incense was one chief part of the evening sacrifice, and the meaning of it was to set forth, by its fragrance and sweet odour, the acceptableness of sincere believing prayer. Hence the psalmist here seeks that his cry may be thus acceptable before God. II. lTs SURSTA..NCE. His enemies, by bribes, favours, and blandishments of one kind and another, are seeking to lead him a.stray from God. Hence he prays: 1. That he may not commit himself by rash and unguarded speech. (Ver. 3.) ·what a peril and a snare this is to many! How often have they found themselves entrapped and en tangled by some ha.sty utterance, which should never have passed their lips! 'l'bese doors open -too quickly and too easily, and let out what should be kept in; they nee,! a watchman to guard them and to determine when they shall or shall not be opened, and only the Lord can set tbat watch. Happy the man for whom he does this l 2. That his heart may be kept true. (Ver. 4.) It is a blessed thing whon our external conduct is kept right, when our hands are tied by God's providence, and so beld in from mischief; but it is better far when our hearts are made right, so th:i.t they will have no desire for evil things. And God will do this for us. "The blood of Jesus Christ ... cleanseth from all sin." 3. That the dainties of the wicked may not seduce him. Thus do tbey persuade men of unstable mind to practise wicked works. The way is smoothed, made to seam so attractive and right, just a.s our first parents were tempted, for theirs wns the pnttem of all successful temptation. ',l'he devil has great store of these ''dainties;" he knows how to suit nll t:i.stes e.nd to please all palates. 4. That he may not lack a faithful reprover. (Ver. 5.) There nre plentiful prophets who will prophesy smooth things for the sin- loving soul; but faithful Micaiabs (1 Kings xx:ii. 8) are few and far between. Ilut the psalmist here prays thnt he may never want for such. Let us pray the little prayer, How me.oy go wrong just for we.nt of such faithful reproof! 'l'hose who should reprove often shrink from their duty, for it is the reverse of pleasant. 5. That his soul may 11ot perish. (Ver. 8.) That its life may not be poured out,-such is the meaning of the word; emptied as e. vessel. He was in sore peril; his enemies by "their <lnintics" wero devising all manner of stratagem age.inst him-snares, gins, nets. 6. That in spite of all, lie may escape. III. Ills CONFIDENT HOPE. (Ver. 6.) That when the lenders, the rulers and judges, who led the way in wickedness,-when they were hurled down the ro~k (cf. 2 Chron. xx:v, 12; 2 Kings ix:. 33), then their followers would hear his wonls o.nd welcome them. Let the Jingleaders be got out of the way ; the rest would gladly listen to godly counsels. Aud these leaders in evil deserved such cloom; for they bad been cruel persecutors of the people of God (ver. 7), whose bunes were scattered along the borders of the grave in vast numbers, like so many furrows made by the plough. And for such turning of the hearts of the people and for his own escape from his present trinl be would continually wait on God, for God was his trust (ver, 8). Hence he confidently hoped to see the wicked leaders destroyed, their followers converted, and his own soul kept by the gro.cc of God. Such prayers will ever inspire such hopes.-S. C.
Ver. 3.-" Keep tlte door of my lips." How needed is e. sentinel and guard at the door! For lack of it, what mischief has been wrought! Who can recount a.11 the ills of unguarded speech? I. LIP-BINS : THELll CAUSE. 1. Impulsive temperament. Like 11s II stroke from the whip, which would only make the common cart-horse slowly shake his head, but would send the thorough-bred flying over the hedge in a very tornado of rage, so there are men who are never roused to hasty speech, they never get into trouble that we.y; 336 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. OXLI. 1- 10.