Vers. l-14.-Nature as a preacher. Mark- I. THE GRAND SUBJECT. "The glory of God." II. TrrE SPLENDID AUDIENCE. "All the earth." III. THE FAITHFUL DELIVERY. Marked by truth, freshness, constancy, impartia!Hy (vers. 1--4). Other preachers cannot continue by reason of death. Hence there is change. One succeeds another. But this preacher goes on without break or weariness from day to day and age to age, bearing witness for God (Rom. i. 20; Acts xiv. 17). IV. 'J'HE DIVERSE RESULTS, Minds vary. Where there is freedom of thought, there will be difference of opinion. When Paul preached at Athens, "some mocked, and others said, "\Ve will hear thee again on this matter. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed" (Acts xvii. 32-34). And so it is here. Some hear, and others hear not. Some recognize God's presence and working, and give him praise, and others deny that in all they see there is anything more than the evolution of matter, and the play of cause and effect. V. THE NECESSITY OF THE Wono. Nature c,in teach, but only such as are snsceptible. It can proclaim the glory of God, but only to such as have already been hrought to the knowledge of God. Our minds have been darkened and deadened by sin. Nature cannot tell us how sin is to be taken away. It is dumb as to a Saviour. ]t cannot inspire hope. It cannot convert the soul. Hence the necessity of the ·word --of the Law by which is the knowledge of sin, and the gospel [which reveals to us a Saviour. It is those who have been brought to the knowledge and love of God through Jesus Ch1ist who are best able to appreciate the service ofnature.-W. F.
Vera. 7-10.-The Word of God. This passage may be regarded as teaching threo thin!!S concerning the Word of God, or the Bible. I. L"\VHAT IT 1s. Six names are used, and six different statements are made with re"ard to the Bible. 1. It is " the Law of the Lord," and, as such, it is "perfect." 2."rt is "the testimony of the Lord," and, as such, it is "sure." In it God speaks with solemn earnestness and insistance, and what be says may be trusted. 3. It is "the statutes of the Lord;" and the statutes of the Lord are "right.." The way of duty is clearly and unmistakably marked out. 4. It is the "commandment of the Loni." It is not mere counsel or instruction, but has all the authority and awfulness of" commandment." And as such it is "pure," clear as crystal, illuminating as tho light. 5. It is "the fear of the Lord." This may stand for religion (Prov. xv. 33; cf. Deut. xvii. 19), and as such it is "pure and undefiled." It is "our reasonable service." G. Lastly, the Dible is spoken of as "the judgments of the Lord." '!'his 1 Ste article by present writer in • Pulpit Commcnt1uy' on' Dcuterouomy,' p. 820; also
Geikic's 'Hours with the Bible,' iii. 14; vi. 306. rs. XIX. 1-14.] 'rHE B0OK UF PSALMS. 137