deeds, holy lives, fervent prayers, ton~; an<l sufferings of those who have gone before us, are a great treasure and trust, of which we shall have to give account. 2. We are maki'Tlg the future. What pattern, work, prayer, memory, that they will" not willingly let die,'' are we handing down to our successors? Ver. 28.-God's supreme dominion over all nations. "The kingdom is the Lord's," etc. The second clause of this verse defines the meaning of the first. God's supreme dominion, in right and in fact, is over all nations. He rei,,ns and he rules. There is a wide view of God's kingdom, as embracing the universe (P;s, ciii. 19; xciii. 1 ; xcvii. 1). There is also a spiritual view, in which the kingdom consists of individuals, ruled not by force, but by truth, love, and the Spirit of God (Luke xvii. 21; John xviii. 36). NationR have no place here. None the less, God's government of nations is a sublim,1 fact and undoubted truth, holding a prominent place in Scripture. 11 All authority in heaven and earth" (Matt. xxviii. 18) must include this. The nations Rro promised as Christ's inheritance (Ps. ii. 8), and arc to be blessed in him (Gal. iii. 8). L Goo GOVERNS THE NATIONS BY nrs ALL-0ONTROLLING, WISE, JUST, AND MEROIFUL PROVIDENCE, This is one main lesson of the whole of Old Testament histor_y- specially enforced in Jer. xviii. 7-10; i. 10; Gen. xv. 16, etc.; Dent. ix. 4. 'l'he ordered succession of empires, in Nebuchadnezzar's and Daniel's visions, emphatically enforces the same truth (Acts xvii. 26). The history of our own nation is a marvellous example, only second to that of Israel. II. THE AUTllORITY OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT BESTS ON DIVINEAUTHOIUTY. (Rom. xiii. 1-6.) No human being can claim authority over another human being; no majority, any more than a single despot, over e. minority or e. single citizen, but by Divine ordinance. This is not merely revealed in Scripture, but imprinted and inwoven in human nature. III. NATIONS, AS MUCH AS Th'DIVIDUALS, ABE BOUND DY Goo's LAW. Human laws lack sanction when they contradict justice; they may be enforced, but cannot be reverenced. Government which outrages mercy, virtue, truth, purity, equity, denies the very end of its existence, and forfeits allegiance. On this gronnd of natural right, the American colonies revolted. "Natural right" is but another name for God's jusHce. IV. NATIONAL LIFE Alm CHABA0TEB, which are very far wider than government or state action, are within the province of Divine government; either conform to or disobey God's Law and revealed will. Private, family, social, morality; religion; trade and industry in every branch; amusement and society; education; literature; art,- are all favouring or hindering the formation of a "righteous nation" (Isa. xxvi. 2; Ps. cxliv. 15). (Thie touches the great question of state religion. Are the aims and means of the Church and of the slate the same? It is possible to have an establishe,l Church, yet an irreli!tlous nation; or many Churches, all free, yet a religious nation.) V. THESE WOBDS ~BE PBOPHETI0 OF WHAT SHALL YET BE. (Ps. lxxii. 8, 11, 17; Rev. xi. 15.) Christ holds the sceptre of providence as well e.s of grace (Eph. i. 22); and "he must reign" (1 Cor. xv. 25). CONCLUSION. Practical lessons. 1. The character of a nation depends on the character of its individual citizens. A truly Christian nation would be one the bulk of whose citizens are personally real Christians. Its IA.ws, institutions, e.nd policy would t.hen be moulded by principles learned from God's Word. 2. Pnblic duty, political, municipal, etc., far from being inconsistent with tho Christian calling (as some teach), is, when rightly performed, religious-part of the service we owe to God.
HOMILIES BY V.A.RIOUS .AUTHORS. Vers. 1-31.-From darkness to light; or, the song of the early dawn. This is c,ne of the most wonderful of"all the psalms. It has gathered round it the study of expositors of moat diverse types-from those who sec in it scarcely aught b~t .a description beforehand of the Messia.h's suffering and glory, to those who ~ee IIl. 1t scarcely any Messianic reference at all, and who acknowledge only one sense lil which even the term "Messianic" is to be tolerated, even in the fact that light gleams forth after the darkuess. Both these extr.ime views should be avoided, and wu venture to PB, Xll.II, 1-::H.J 'l'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. 157