desires. We are in danger of being distracted and harassed, and of even yielding to envy and discontent. 'l'he cure is from God. When we come to know him as he is, to believe in him o.s he has revealed himself in Christ Jesus, we are able to rest in him with confidence, leaving everything to his righteous and loving rule. II. RIGHTLY ORDERED LIFE. There may be life without any rule, or there may be life wrongly directerl, or there may be lifo regulated in a right way, in accordance with God's will and not our own. This last is the true" wny." It is when we" commit our way to God" in humble prayer, and holy submission to his will, that light will arise to us, and strength bo ministered to us, and real prosp€Tity secured lo us. This is not only the best way for ourstilves, but also for others. It is in doing God's will that we reach the highest honour and usefulness, and accomplish our true destiny. III. BLISSFUL FUTURE. There is a screen as of night between us and to-morrow. We know not what a day may bring forth. There may come loss of health, of property, of friends. There may come diverse trials and troubles. Or it may be otherwise. Let us be thankful that God has been pleased to conceal from us what it would have been ill for us to know. nut God knows all, and we are as sure, as that God lives, that it shall be well with the righteous.-W. F. Vers. 21-40.-Evil-doers. Evil-doers are not truly objects of envy. The more closely we contemplate this, the more clearly do we see their baseness. But it is needful that we should be urged to this salutary duty. Again and again in th;s psalm is the exhortation addressed to us to consider and judge rightly, to cease from evil and learn to do well. And there are good and weighty reasons given why we should have no part with evil-doers. J. THEIR CHARACTER IS ODIOUS, II. THEIR PROSPERITY Is DELUSIVE. Im:ige upon image is used to set forth the vanity and worthlessness of all prosperity not founded in righteousness. Reason, observation, and history aro appealed to as teaching that sometimes quickly, at other times slowly, sometimes openly, at other times silently :ind secretly, but always certainly, the erid cometh (ver. 38). III. 'l'HEm DEVICES AnE DOOMED TO DEFEAT. We see, on the part of the wicked, malice suggesting, cunning contriving, and energy working out their evil devices, and, on the other hand, God watching and thwarting and overruling for good all their plans. So it was with Joseph's brethren (Acts vii. 9, 10). So it was with Daniel's cruel foes (Dan. vi. 24). So it was with the Jews, whose wicked hands had crncified the Son of God (Acts ii. 23, 24). The day of retribution surely cometh. Not only defeat, but II shame and everlasting contempt," await the wickecl.-W. F.
Vera. 27-34.-Goodness. We have here- I. THAT GOODNESS IS THE TRUE AIM OF LIFE, The first thing is to have the heart made good, and then all that flow from it, in word and deed, will be good also. "But such as are good men onn give good things." (Milton.) II. THAT GOOD~ESS IS THE REAL GLORY OF LIFE. (Vers. 30, 31.) We cannot but ndmire "wisdom" and II judgment ; " but what gives these their sweetest so.vour and their highest worth is the spirit of goodness that dwells in them. The glory of God is his goodness, and it is in the measure that we e.re like God in goodness that wu are like him in glory. This glory iij free to us in Christ Jesus. III. THAT GOODNESS IS THE MOST PERMANENT POSSESSION OF LIFE. Many things stand high for a. time that will be brought low; many things are counted worthy amongst men that will yet be proved worthless. There may bo wicked men who hold a prominent place in the world, and are for a whilti the envy of many, whoso greatness is after all a delusion and a lie. In the end they will be cut down like a tree, whose glory is for ever abased. But it shall be otherwise with the righteous. Goodness cannot die, It is safe amidst all changes. It stands firm in the tumult and rage or tho greatest etorm. It emerges purer and brighter than ever from the fires of persecution and the fury of evil men (vers, 39, 40). Goodness lives as an influence iu the world after death, triumphs as the power of 0-od in death, &nd will dwell in the light of God beyond death for ever and ever.-W.F. 296 THE DOOK OF PSALMS. [l>B. xxxnr. 1-40,
Vers. 1-6.-Doubts raised by the Divine providence, and liow to meet them. The difficulty which perplexes the mind of the psalmist here is-How does God judae the wicked, if he allows them to prosper; and how reward the righ leous, if the/suffer adversity? The answers given are not a cousecutive argument. The whole psalm i:1 more like a string of pearls held together only by the string. Tl,e thonahte have no joints or links to unite them. The leading thought, repeated in various w:ys, is not to envy the prel'ent prosperity of the wicked, but rather to wait iu patient resignation for the justjudgments of God. I. BURNING ENVY IS WRONG IN ITSELF, AND LEADS TO EVIL co::;sEQCTENCES. (Ver.1.) To grudge the wicked their prosperity is very much as if we coveted it. And envy is nigh to cursing-an unrighteous spirit. Il. WE MUST ALLOW TIME TO SOLVE TIIIS AS WELL AS II.A.NY OTHER DIFFIOULTIEI. (Ver. 2.) Fate of Saul, Absalom, and Ahithophel. "What thou kuuwest not now," etc. III. LET NOT YOUR DIFFICULTIES SUPPLANT THE ONLY TRULY SATISFYING EXEROIBES OF THE HEART AND LIFE. (Vers. 3, 4.) Trust in the unseen Lord; delight yourself in him; find the joy of his service ; and your best desires shall be satisfied. Do not let your jealousy of the wicked cause you to cease from doing good, and unsettle your ways of life; inhabit the land, and live a truthful and faithful life. IV. LET THE RIGHTEOUS MAN BE ASSURED OF THE SYMPATHY AND CO-OPERATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS GoD. (Vers. 5, 6.) God brought David out of all dangers with which Saul threatened him, and made his name to shine over the whole kingdom. Present adversity is often the way to future glory. Think of the darkness that fell upon Christ in his sufferings and death ; and yet he was the Sun of Righteousness.-S.