Vers. 13, 14.-" The gates <if death" and "tlie ,qates of Zion." I. Tm~ GATES OF nEATH OPEN BUT ONCE; THE GATES OF ZION OPEN CONTINUALLY. (Ileb. ix. 27; Is~. Ix. 11.) II. THE OATES OF DEATH OPEN TO ALL MEN WITHOUT DISTINCTION; THE GATES OF ZION OPEN ONLY TO THE GOOD. (Ecclrs. ix. 5; John iii. 3.) JII. THE GATES OF DEATH OPEN WITHOUT OUR WILL; THE GATES OF ZION ONLY OPEN ACCOilDING TO OUR CHOICE. (Eccles. viii. 8; Matt. vii. 13.) IV. 'llIE GATES OF DEATH OPEN TO MEN AS TRANGilESSOilSj TIIE GATES OF ZION OPEN TO THE OBJECTS OF GRACE AND SALVATION. (Rom. v. 12; Isa. xxvi. 1, 2.) V. THE GATES OF DEATH AilE DARK WITH 'l'ERRORB j TlIE GATES OF ZION ARE DRIGH'L' WITH HOPE, (Heb. ii. 15 ; Ps. cxviii. 20.) vr. THE GATES OF DEATH AND THE GATES OF ZION ARE ALIKE UNDER THE SUPREME COJITROL OF Gon. (Rom. xiv. 8, 9; Rev. i. 18.) VII. IF WE HAVE El-"'TERED BY TIIE GATES OF ZION, AND DWELT THE.RE WITH Gon, WE NEED NOT FEAR WHEN CALLED TO PASS TIIIlOUGH THE GATES OF DEATH, Job asks (Job xxxviii. 17), "Have the gates of death been opened to thee?" They have to others. 'l'hey will be by-and-by to us. We arc always near them and in sight of them, but we have no power over them. We cannot hinder them from opening when it is God's will, nor can we return when once we have passed through them. It cannot be long before our turn comes. Every setting sun, every passing hour, every beat of the pulse, is bringing the time nearer. Happy are we if we are found ready, so that the gates of death may be to us the entering int·) the city, where we may have right to the tree oflife and the endless joys of God (Rev. xxii. 14) !-W. F.
Ver. 14.-A song of thanksgiving for salvatior.. I. SALVATION IS ABCnIBED TO Goo. .All deliverances are of God. There may be human means anrl instruments. There may be judges and saviours, such as Joshua (Neh. ix. 27). But behind all is God. This holds true of all deliverances-national and individual~f the body, and of the souL More especially is thi8 true of the deliverance from our enemies, and of our redemption by Jesus Christ. IT. MANIFESTS THE BIGHTEOUSNESB OF Gon. G6d must act in agreement with his character. He cannot deny himself. Therefore in whatsoever deliverances God effects, we may be sure that his righteousness will shine resplendent. So it is of the salvation by Christ (Rom. i. 16, 17). How vain to ask for help, if we aro not willing to have it. in God's way! How foolish to expect deliverance, save in the form that will glorify God's Name-his righteousness as truly as his mercy, his justice as well as his love! Ill. FORESHADOWS THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF TUE WORLD. El'ery judgment is a sign and pattern of the lest judgment. There is no change with God. .All through, and in everything he does, he has acted like himRelf. Hia Law _will stand. His righteousness will be vindicated in the end as in the beginning. The cross of Christ PS, IX, 1-20.) THE BOOK OF PSALMS, 63