e.nd more of the Lord's goodness will be revealed to us. It is the "loving-kindness" of God that has blessed the past, and it will, in like manner, but in larger measure, bless the future. God's loving-kindness culminated in the cross. There could be nothing higher, And the cross is tha best help to our faith, and the surest guarantee of our hopes (Rom. v. 8-10). 3. In the righteousness of hisjudgments. (Vers. 10- 13.) The hea.than fabled that Jove's hands were run of thunderbolts; but our God's "right hand is full of righteousness." Let us praise God for freedom. There were terrors, but they have passed, We have the glad sense of escape. We are free. It is God who has done it. Let us give thanks for Divine protection. Jerusalem had her towers and bulwarks. Round about her stood the everlasting hills. She seemed impregnable. But in the evil day of unbelief she fell, But the defences of God's people are better far, and can never be overthrown. Our "bulwarks" a.re not rampart and tower, but God'd love and faithfulness. There will be assaults in the future as in the past, but the foundation standeth sure. There will be many a sore fight and struggle, but the powers against us can never prevail over the omnipotence of God. Let us refoice in the everlasting love of God (vers. 13, 14). We should think of others as well as ourselves. We have a duty to our children and those who come after us. Musing on what God has done for us, our hearts will burn within us, ll'!ld we shall be able to "tell" the generation following" the wonderful works of God." It is with exulting faith that we claim" this God" as" our God," and commend his love and his truth to others. What he has been to us he can be to them, and more. For ourselves we "know whom we have believed." He will keep us all our days. Our Guide into death, he will be our Portion and our Joy for ever.-W. 1''. Vers. 1-14.-The eternal city of God. A patriotic hymn, to be sung in the temple service in celebration of a signal deliverance of Jerusalem from an invading army. Commentators are not agreed as to what army. Let it be taken as suggesting some things which may be said of the true eternal city of God, what it is, and what it will become through everlasting ages, exhibiting the greatest glory of man and the highest glory of God. I. SOCIETY FOtn-'DED AND BUILT UP IN HOLINESS, (Ver. 1.) Nothing unclean can permanently dwell in it. The heavenly Jerusalem. II. FILLED THROUGHOUT WITH DIVINE JOY. (Ver. 2.) "God shall wipe away all tears." No permanent sorrow, III. ETERNALLY SAFE FROM DANGER OF OVERTilROW, (Ver. 3.) Often threatened during her earthly history by the combined forces of evil which ha.ve been arrayed ngninst her. IV. Goo HAS EXPENDED THE GRANDEST POWERS OF HIS NATURE IN BUILDING IT UP. 1. Moral omnipotence. (Vers. ~ . ) The history of past times a.nd personal experi- ence testify to this. He breaks the forces of evil as he broke the ships of Tarshish with nn cnst wind. 2. It has been and is the theatre for the display of the infinite love. (Ver. 9.) "God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself," 3, .Also/or the fullest display of the Divine righteousness, (Vers. 10, 11.) "Righteousness and judgment nro tho habitation of his throne." 4. He is the everlasting Guide and L,:ght of the city. (Ver. 14.) Because he is its King and Father nnd Lawgiver. Here is a theme for grateful thanksgiving and joy and worship.-S.
EXPOSITION. wealthy CLnd prosperous, found fnmilice, PSALM XLIX. leave them their wealth, nnd eveu "cnll Tws is a didactio poem, nud resembles in their Junds after their own names" (vers. G, some respects Pss. xxxvii, and hxiii. It 10, II). 'l'ho problem is Rolvcd, moro dis- dcCLh with the eome problem-the contra.at tinctly than anywhert1 eleo in the I>s,ilms, between the lot of the righteous mCLn, whom by the doctrine of componsation in o. futuro the wicked persecute continually (ver. 5), life (vers. 15, l!J), so tha.t (as Hupfchl says) auJ these wicked themselves, who are the pso.llll "contains o. rco.l, though crud11 378 THE BOOlt OF PSALMS. trs. XLIX.1-20.