other band, the real Manl,ood of Chrbt is as indispensable to this Kingship as bis Deity (see John v. 27). 2. Of almighty power. What God promises, he is able to perform. How? How is human freedom reconciled with Divine control of all things, from the counsels of kin?:S (Prov. xxi. 1) to the sparrow's fall (Malt. x. 29)? A problem this that utterly defies human reason. But practically it is solved by faith and prayer (Phil. ii. 13; Dan. iv. 35). 3. Of Divine faithfulness. God's word is pledged and can- not be broken (Isa. xi. 9, 10). As matter of right, the kingdom is Christ's (Matt. xxviii. 18). It shall be so infa{;t (1 Cor. xv. 25) one day. II. THE CONDITION. "Ask of me." 1. Our Lord Jesus personally fulfilled this condition, claimed the fulfilment of the promise, wben he said, "I have finished," etc. (John xvii. 4; comp. Phil. ii. 9-11). 2. But Christ is one with" the Church, which is his body." As he by bis intercession makes our prayers his own, so we are to make this great request ours, Ile has taught us to set it foremost in our prayers : "Thy kingdom come" (comp. Ps. lxxii. 15; and note the commencing fulfilment, Acts i. 14). CoNOLUBION. 1. The scope of Christian hope and effort is as wide as God's presence -it embraces the whole world (Matt. xxviii. 19; Gal. iii. 8). 2. God's promises await our prayers (John xvi. 23). Ver. 12.-The lciss of homage. "Kiss the Son," etc. 'l'bat is, the Son of Goel, spoken of in ver. 7. Our Saviour loved to call himself "Son of man," but he <lid not shrink from using also this name for which the Jews accused him of blasphemy (i\latt. xi. 27; John ix. 35; x. 36; xix. 7). The kiss of friendly greeting, still the ordinary custom iu many countries, is referred to in innumerable passages of Scripture. Else the traitor Judas had not dared so to crown his Lreachery. Jesus noted the neglect of the kiss of hospitality (Luke vii. 45); did not disdain. the kisses showered oa his feet by the weeping penitent. But the text speaks, not of any of these, but of the kiss of homage or worship. I. 'l'BE SUMMONS, "Kiss the Son." Kings and judges of the earth (cf. Ps. cxlviii. 11) are summoned to do homage to "the Son" as "Head over all" (Luke v. 6). "Serve the Lord" (vcr. 11) implies this homage. Why rulers? As representing the nations (vers. 1, 2). Civil power is God's ordinance (Rom. xiii. 1, etc.). Otherwise neither despots nor democracies could have any right to make and execute laws (though they may have power). Christ's kingdom is not a kingdom of this world; but he is the Ruler of nations as well as individuals (Ps. xxii. 28). Till this is practi- cally acknowledged-the whole of human life, public and private, rendered obedient to Christ's law-the nations cannot be" blessed in him" (Gal. iii. 8; Rev. xi. 15). lI. 'l'nE WARNING. "Lest he be angry." The compaRsion, gentleness, tenderness of J csus, are sometimes dwelt on. to the exclusion of his majesty and righteousues3 (but see Matt. xxiv. 44, 50, 51; xxv. :n, etc.; Luke xix. 27). 'l'hero is no more tremendous phrase in Scripture than" the wrath of the Lamb" (Rev. vi. 16). III. 'l'HE DOOM OF THE DISODEDIENT. "Perish from the way.'' \Vhat way? The way of salvation-of God; of truth; of holiness; of peace; of life (Acts xvi. 17; Matt. xxii. 16; 2 P.,t, ii. 2, 21; Isa. xxxv. 8; Luke i. 79; Matt. vii. 14; Prov. xv. 24). 'l'ho most fearful punishment of sin is incapacity for holiness-spiritual death (Rev. xxii. 11). "Lest" is the awful shadow over the future, if you are rejecting Christ. "Now" is the sue.shine on the path of faith and repentaa.ce (2 Cor. vi. 2; v. 20).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-12.-The King in Zion: tt Messianic psalm. A close examination of this psalm will show it to be at once proph3tic and Messianic. Its date and author are not certainly known. 'l'he style rather points to David as the probable writer. 'l'o him .ispecially the promise of a King who should reign in righteousness formed part of that " everlastina covenant, ordered in all things and sure." By faith in that covenant he foresaw him: who, being emphatically the Just One, should rule in the fear of God (see 2 Sam. xxiii. 2-5, where, as well as in this psalm, we have a remarkable illustration of what the Apostle Paul speaks of as the foresight evinced in the Old Testament Scrip- tures ; see also Gal. iii. 8). In fact, we regard this psalm, though much briefer than 14_ THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. n. 1-12,