The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 340

power, the wisdom, the skill, the goodness of God, are evid11nt in them all. And this not alone in the greater works of God, but in those that are less known and are on a smaller scale. Most of them have no power or choice in the matter, others act on the impulses of mere animal instinct, and yet otbers who have intelligence and will, but, al~s ! i;- corrupt heart likewise, even they, in those regions of their nature where their ev_1l will has no power, are compelled to render their tribute of praise. .As it has beon said, the ungodly are creatures of God, even if they be not of his new creation; and all that is in them that. is of God in the structure of their body, mind, and will, unites, and cannot but unite, in the universal chorus with which all God's works praise him. It matters not whether we survey his works in nature, in providence, or in grace. Of them all, when rightly understood, the same may be said-lhey all praise him. But all these-magnificent as so many of them are, and radiant with beauty and with ever manifold proof of the power, the wisdom, and goodness of God-these are yet but the outer circle. Consider, then- II. THE INXER CIRCLE OF THIS GLORIOUS caorn, who ever worship God. This consists of the saints of God. "Thy saints shall bless thee." But: 1. Who are God's saints, The name bas fallen into ill repute. It is a term of scorn, of contempt, of dislike, in the mouths of not a few. They hold and affirm that if a man is called a saint, it is because he is either a hypocrite or a fool. It is because the world has seen too many sham saints, that it thus speaks of all saints. Hence no one now would dare to say of himself, however much he might hope it in his heart, that he was one of God's saints. The Church of Rome professes to be able to make saints. Her canonization is held to entitle any deceased individual to a right to a place amongst God's saints. But will any one take upon himself to show that the saints of the Roman calendar are all of them thus entitled? We hope they are; but we cannot say there is no room for doubt. Man-made saints are ever of a questionable kind. Nor is it essential to be numbered amongst God's saints that we should no longer live here upon earth. Those of whom the psalmist speaks were not dead, but living people. They might be poor, tried, troubled, tempted; but amid all such circumstances they lived here on earth as God's saints. Nor were they absolutely perfect. Some of them ,Vere rnry far from that; aod we do not know where to find any such now. There have been self-deluded, though well-meaning people, who have professed perfection; but to other eyes their perfection has not been evident. They have been good, devout, kind-hearted, and truly religious people; but flawless, faultless, they have not been. And where are there any such? But if the name of saint belongs only to such, then there are no saints, and there never have been. But they are those of whom it may be said that the whole trend and aim of their lives is to do God's will. They trn~t him, they love him, they worship him, they seek ever to obey him. It is the steady aim and honest endeavour of their lives, and in the main and increasingly they do walk with God and are well-pleasing in his sight. And, blessed be God I there have been, and there are, many such-the good Lord make all of us such I-and these are the saints of God. Not flawless, immaculate, perfect people, but those who come nearest to it of all peoplo living. They are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, the elect Church, God's best gift to our world. They ar.; found in every Church, they are confined to none. No Church is without them; none bas them all. 2. These form the inner circle oj God's worshippers. Their prerogative and privilege the highest of all. For they are more than others. God bas not dealt with any others as he has with them. To them he has opened the treasure-store of his grace, and blessed instalments of what shall bo fully theirs one day, they both here and now enjoy. They arc the temples of the Holy Ghost; they are inheritors of eternal life. And they glorify God more than others. It is the aim and bent of their lives. Through them many other precious jewels of God are taken up out of the mire Qf sin, in which they_ have. been lo~g lying, and they witness for God amid the world of the un~odly. God 1s their exceedmg Joy, aud they are bis beloved. For them God orders his providential government. They are as the apple of his eye, and for them God's well-beloved Son was given up to die, and the Holy Ghost was sent and yet abides in the world. "And it doth not appear what they shall be." 3. And they render special worship. The other works of God praise him, but his saints bless him. That is more than praise; for though we praise that which excites our admiration-as do skill, genius, wisdom, power-yet we only bless PS, OXLV, 1-21.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 383