HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. I-6.-17ie title: The Book of Psalms: the Psalms-their variety and value. In the Book of Psalms, or, strictly speaking, in the five Books of Psalms, we ha.ve illustrations of most of the varied kinds of documents of which the entire Dible is made up. In their entirety the collection forms the Hebrews' • Book of Praise,' or, as Professor Cheyne puts it, 'The Praises of Israel.' 1 It is proba.ble, how- ever, that very few, in their private devotions, read all the Psalms with equal frequency or delight. There are some "favourites," such as Pss. xx:iii., xlvi., cxlv., etc. 'l'he fact is that spiritual instincts are often far in advance of technical definitions, and the heart finds out that which is of permanent va.lue over and above its historic interest, far more quickly than the intellect defines the reason thereof. Ere we pursue ihe study of the Psalms one by one, it may be helpful to note the main classes into which they may be grouped, as snch classification will enable us the better to set in order the relation which each one bears to" the whole counsel of God." In the last of the Homiletics on Deuteronomy by the present writer, there is a threefold result indicated of communion between the Spirit of God and the spirit of man.1 When such fellowship is in the devotional sphere, it subserves the life of religion; when the Spirit of God impels to the going forth on a mission or the writing of a record, that is inspiration; when the Spirit of God discloses new truth or forecasts the future, that is ,·evelation. These three divisions indicate three main groups under which the Psalms may be classified. For the most part, each one speaks for itself, and with sufficient clearness indicates to which of the three groups it belongs; and according to the group in which it is found wul be the value and bearing of the psalm on the believer's experience,faith, and life. I. MANY OF THE PSALMS ARE THE OUTCOME OF PRIVATE OB PUDLIO DEVOTION, It is in these that we get a priceless glimpse into the heartwork of Old Testament saints and see bow constant was their habit of pouring out their souls to God. Pss. iii., iv. v'. vii., viii., x., xiii., et alii, are illlllltrations of this. Whether the soul was el~ted 'by joy or oppressed with care, whether bowed down with fea.r or rejoicing over a. great deliverance, whether the presence of God was enjoyed or whether his face was hidden, whether the spirit was soaring in rapture or sinking in dismay,:--amid all chancres from the overhanging of the blackest thundercloud to the beammg of tho bri;?;hte;t i;unshine, all is told to God in song, or plea, or moan, or plai!lt, or wa_il, as if the ancient believers had sueh-0onfidence in God that they could tell liim anything/ 3 1 The new edition of Dr. Wm. Binnie's book, 'The Psalms, their History, Teachings,
and Use' (1886), will amply repay perusal; Cheyne,' The Book of Psalms,' Preface (1888); also his Bampton Lectures thereon (1889). • 'Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy,' pp. 570, 571. • "The multiplied e1 periences of the soul, the various states of mind through which the regenerate children of the second Adam pass, from their first entrance upon the life of faith to the period when that life is swallowed up in light, are all exemplified in tho Book of Psalms'' (Edward Irving's Introductory Essay to Horne's 'Coromento.ry on the Pso.lms.' The whole essay is extremely eloq11e?1t and powerful. 1'B, J, 1-6.] THE nooK OF PSALMS.