a.re all governed by irresistible Divine decrees, and that we are happy or miserable, good or bad, saved or lost, according to Divine determinations made concerning us from the beginning, and entirely irrespective of our merit or demerit, or any choice or will of our own whatsoever, A vast theological system has been formed upon this basis, and is still upheld by many, It was firRt sketched out by St. Augustine, in the fifth century; but it was elaborated and developed into a rigid system by the great Protestant leader Calvin. According to this system, the humau soul is helpless. From the foundation of the world it has been elected either to eternal glory or to eternal damnation; and to this latter awful doom the great mass are predestinul, whilst only the few elect souls are ordained to eternal life. The author of this fright- ful system himself says of it, that it is "decretum horribile fatem attamen verum." Such is Calvinism, this doctrine of destiny. It is marvellous how men with human hearts in them, men who had ever known a mother's love or a father's care, could have come to entertain and maintain dogmas so horrible and so heart-crushing as these. The stern and awful days in which both Augustine and Calvin lived may partly account for it; for they were such as stirred the darker and fiercer moods of men's minds into terrible activity. And men, forgetting the whole spirit of the Bible, and oblivious of the great love of God in Christ, and failing amid their terrible days to see the innumerable proofs of God's grace and goodness, set up their poor logic and their interpretations of particular texts, and they heeded not the gentler teachings of their own hearts, and so they forged and fashioned that dark creed which has saddened and bewildered and injured in many ways all those on whom its grim shadow has fallen. But it is a false creed, and to be scouted and abhorred of every truth-loving soul. It must be false; for it has the whole of the deepest instincts of the human heart against it, as well as the spirit of the whole Bible and the revelation of God in Christ. Furthermore, it is suicidal to the very aim and intent of God's dealings with us, which is that we should love him with all cur heart, etc. But no man who really believes what this dreadful creed teaches can love God. If it were true, God would be a Moloch, and not our heavenly Father; a monster to be dreaded, and not the God and l<'ather of our Lord Jesus Christ. A creed that bas such result is thereby proved to be false, and it is therefore to be condemned by all good men. 3. The belief that we are the creatures of circumstance.,. III. "MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN," Here is another fruitful cause of men's doubt of the love of God. Also- 1 V. OuR BORROWS, AND YET MORE, OUR SINFULNESS, These stand-must do so-in the way of our faith. The sinful heart is ever nn unbelieving henrt. It is only when "our hearts condemn us not," that we have confidence towards God. But let Christ take away our sin, and then we shall readily believe,-S, C.
Ver. 10.-The inner circle of God's worshippers. This psalm brings before us the glorious picture of universal homage rendered to God, nnd the reason of such hom~ge, and the effects thereof. How vast the choir which celebrates this high pro.ise ! How varied the notes of their soug I How high the value at which God estimates their praise, and how great is its volume I-it is as "the sound of many waters," In this verse we are shown both the inner aod outer circles of this choir of God's worshi ppcrs, and the intent is that we may be led to find and claim our place, not merely among all God's works which praise him, but also among his saints who Liess him. Consider- I. THE OUTER 0IRCLE OF THE oaom. It is very large; for it includes all God's works. 1. Buch as are inanimate-the outspread earth, the mighty mountain masses, tho great and wide sea, the Leavens, nnd all the stars of light. 2. And such as have life. From its lowest vegetable forms up to the most lofty of all the creatures of God; from the meanest insect that for one brief summer day flies through the air, up to man made in the very image and likeness of God. 3. And such as have intelligence and will and a moral nature capable of knowing good and evil ; for these also are among the works of God, though at the head of them all. And they all praise him in so far as they are his works. '!'his cannot be said of our works. Too many of them discredit and disgrace us, and the less seen or said of them the better. But of God we can say, "All thy works praise thee.'' Examine them how we will, subject them to the 6Cverest scrutiny, and the verdict of tbo psalmist will remain unchallenged. The 882 THB BOOK OF PSALMS. [PS. CXLV. 1--::!1.