fool." There are differences in the nations and the ages; but God is in all. We acknowledge how God was with the Jews; but we are not so ready to admit that he had to do just as really and truly with other peoples. The difference, in the case of the Jews is that as to them the veil has been lifted, that light has been thrown upon their history. The story of their nation was written as by the hand of God himself, and was committed as a sacred heritage to be transmitted pnre and entire from generation to p;eneration (Deltt. vi. 7-20; cf. Moses, Exod. xviii. 8; David, Ps. !viii, 8; Hezekiah, Isa. xx.x:viiL 19). But, as St. Paul has taught us, "All these things happened to them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon ,v horn the ends of the world are come" (1 Cor. x. 11). God governs the nations on the same principles as he governed the Jews. "There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (1 Cor. xii. 6). II. How Goo IS 0AililYING OUT lllS OWN GREAT END THROUGH ALT, THE AGES 01" IIISTOBY. The wise man said, "One generation passeth away, and another cometh; but the earth abideth for ever" (Eccles. i. 4). But if the earth abideth, it is because God abidetb. He has his plans as to men, and throughout the ages be is workini them out, There is the manifestation of himself. More and more the knowledge of God has increased, 'l'he Jews knew more than the patriarchs. The Christians know more than the Jews. Besides, God is, in a sense, educating the world. We stand related to the past and the future. We have learned much from the past. God employs one age to benefit another. How great are our obligations, through books and otherwi~e, to the great men of the past-to Gentiles and Jews l \Ve are the heirs of all the ages. And if we have benefited by those who came before us, so we are bound to benefit those who come afler us. Privilege i~ the measure of responsibility. "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke xii. 48). We see but a little, and, as onr knowledge is limited, our judgment must he imperfect. Yet we see and know enough to be satisfied that God is working in and by all events, and that he works over towards a perfect end. "Happy the man who sees a God employ'd In all the good and ill tllut checker life, Resolving all events, with their effects And manifold results, into the will And ru:bitration wise of tho Supreme I" (Cowper.) Jn THAT GOD IIAB 0AilED FOR ms PEOPLE TnROUGH ALL TRE AGES 01" HISTORY. This is the burden of this ps:ilm. 'l'his is the great truth that gives life to the faith professed (vers. 1-8); that awakens the complaint of desertion in time of grievous trial (vers. 9-16); that sustains the hope of help and ultimate deliverance (ver~. 17-26). As in the past, so still, there will be changes-not only mercies, but judgments. There will be trials of our faith; there will be the sharp discipline of chastisement; there will be, in some form or other, the "persecution" which tests our loyalty, and strengthens and purifies our love. But, come what will, God changea not; and God is our God. Our trust in men may fail, our hopes of earthly leaders may be disappointed and put to shame; but God is faithful who has promised, and he will nover forsake those who trust in him. After Culloden, a soldier of Prince Charles's army was found lying de:id on the field, with his Gaelic psalm-book open in bis hand, and a bloody finger-mark at the ninth verse of this psalm, "But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame, and goest not forth with our armies." But Christ, the great C11ptain of our salvation, will not suffer the least of his soldiers thus to die, with blighted hopes and broken heart.-W. F. - Vera. 1-26.-..d prayer for help against foreign enemi.es. The train of thought is this: "Thou hast helped us, thou must help us; but thou ho.st not helped. us; yet have we not by HY guilt on our part cut ourselves off from thy help; do thou thoro- fore help us." The problem of suffering, as argued in this psalm, is similar to the problem in the Book of Job. That God sho-ula not help them- L W~B lN0ONSIBTEN'l' WITH Goo's PAST TREATMEIST OF THEM, (Vers. 1-3.) Their fatheni h:id told them what work God had done in their d~ys-in the days of old, What a historr of Pivi~e work h11ve we ill the past of tqe Christian Ctiur<il) I 350 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB. XLV, 1-17.
n. INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR FAITH IN mM. (Vers. 4-8.) God was their Almighty King, through whom they were able to achieve all conquests. III. IT WOULD BRING NO PROFIT OR HONOUR TO Goo. (Ver. 12.) To leave them to their enemies. How could God act thus, so as to seem to dishonour himself and to bring no profit to his people? IV. IT COULD NOT BE A PUNISHMENT FOR UNFAITIIFULNESS, (Vers. 17-22.) They had not forgotten God; their heart was not turned back, neither had their steps <leclined from his way. They could not explain. V. Drn NOT SEEM CONSISTENT WITH GoD's REGARD TO BIS OWN HONOUR. (Vers. 15, Hi, 24.) He seemed to be taking the side of the blasphemer, and forgetting their fh elity. And this was the mystery of their experience. 1 YI. YET IT DID NOT UPROOT THEIR FAITH IN DIVINE HELP AT LAST, For they continue to supplicate the redeeming interposition of God (vers. 23-26). ·Faith always conquers its difficulties thus, by trusting where it cannot see or explain,-S,