Yer. 20.-Preservati011 and destruction. One or other of these lies before us all; the Bible gives no hint of a third condition or destiny. How important, therefore, to know whither we are tending, and what awaits us at tho hand of God I I. TnE TRUTH l!EnE DECLARED. l. ,Ad to those that love God. He will preservo P8, OXLV, 1-21.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 385
them. He does this: (1) fo the order of bi8 providence. It is generally well with those that love him. (2) In their spiritual history it is certainly true (see Rom. viii., at end). (3) In his eternal kingdom. No harm can reach them there. 2. .As to thd wicked. He will destroy them. (1) Now and again we see such doom come upon individual transgressors. History recounts the destruction of nations, and their sin has ever been their destroyer. Where are the great empires of olden time? (2) But often and often, blessed be bis Name I he destroys the wicked by destroying their wickedness, turning their hearts to himself. The King's arrows are sharp in the hearts of the King's enemies. (3) But God's final doom on the ungodly is what is mainly meant in this Scripture-that awful sentence of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord," which must come on all those who will not allow that God should separate them from their sin. And this is no arbitrary sentence; for note- 11. 'l'HE NEEDS-BE FOB IT. 1. In the preservation of thOBB that love God. It is so for the Lord's own sake; his love could not otherwise be satisfied, nor his promises fulfilled. And for the world's sake; they who love the Lord are the salt of the earth, and are hlll witnesses to men. And for their own sake, that they may be eternally blessed. 2. In the destruction of the wiclced. If it he only a temporal destruction, it is needed for the vindication of the Divine Law; for the reformation of the guilty (cf. 1 Cor. xi. 32); for witness to men that verily there is a God who judgeth. And if the destruction be other than temporal, it is still necessary, for how else can heaven be heaven? Earth is the sad place it too often is only because of the presence of sin. Is sin, then, to have place in heaven, as it will if the wicked come there? III. ITS WORD OF HOLY COUNSEL. 1. Pray: for so is our will strengthened to choose the right and refuse the wrong. 2. Act: break away from wickedness and commit yourself on the side of God. 3. Tmst: day by day, yea, continually, give yourself up " to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless," etc. "Help, Lord, thnt we may come To thy saints' hnppy home, Where a lhouso.nd yea.re As one day appeo.rs ; Nor go Whore one day appel\rB As a thous11nd yenrs, In woo." (Arndt.) 8.0. Ver. 4.-The praise of succeeding ge11drations. In the old times kings forwarded their despatches by running footmen, of whom there were relays (see Job ix. 25; Jer. li. 31; 2 Chron. xxx. 6--10; Esth. iii. 13---16). The statutes, ordinances, etc., of the Bible are the despatches of the great King. The generations, as they succeed each other, are the running footmen. The despatches are words of love and mercy. 'Jhe runners rend and publish as they advance. J. THIS WORK OF PBESEBVUIG AND BANDING DOWN TBE TRUTH 18 AMONGST TBB VERY FIRST RELIGIOUS DUTIES TB.AT CONCERNED TBE MIND AND BE.A.BT 01!' MAN. 1. Oral teaching. A patriarch's household (Gon. xviii. 19). It was a diviuely enforced duty (Deut. vi.; Isa. xxxviii. 19). 2. Preseutly the pen of the historian, etc., employed. Moses, Samuel, etc. II. THIS WORK 18 NO LESS IMPORTANT THAN ANOIENT. 1. Human happineu involved (Ps. lxxviii. 1-8). 2. Glory of God advanced. 3. Hence Providence has, at different times, raised up supplementary aid to ensure its performance. To the father of each family was added the prophet, scribe, etc.; and to these, in modem times, various organizations. III. Tws WORK, 80 ANCIENT AND IMPORTANT, 18 AN EVER-PRESENT DUTY, 1. It belongs to the present generation, no less than to those of the past. 2. 'l'he world's progress in morality is built up by the workers of all ages. We must lay a stone or two. We owe it to the past IV. THIS WORK, BEING RELIGIOUS, IIAS TO 0VEIIC0ME GREAT DIFFICULTIES. 1. Vario111 phases of scepticism. 2. Folly in the heart of children. 3. lfome iufiuenco often b!Ml. l'l:L\LMB-III. 2 0 3F6 THE DOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. CXLV. 1-21,
V. Tms WORK REQUIRES SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS IN THE WORKEn. Not 80 muoh mental 11s moral. 1. Love of God and Christ (John xxi. 15), 2, Love of the truth, 3. Love of souls. YI. THE WORK rs ACCOMPANIED DY SPECIAL ENCOURAGEMENTS. 1. The promises of God. 2. The help of God. 3. The improved moral tono of society. 4. 'l'he glorious future present to the eye of faith. (After Gray.)-R. T.