u My sin I" H is there, in memory, to be brought out at the call of conscience, "The austere romombranco of that deed Will hang upon thy spirit like a cloud, And tinge its world of happy imagos with hues of horror." There is also association. One of its chief uses is to add force to conscience. We are strangely linked with the past. A book will recall the giver. A letter will start various trains of thought, according to its contents and the circumstances in which it is received. A portrait will bring up memories of the departed. Rcrnemtcr how· Cowper's heart was moved by the portrait of his mother-" faithful remembrancer of one so dear." So it is as to our sin. 'l'he place, the surroundings, the circumstances, or some link of association, may b1ing all the past before ns fr~h as a yesterday eve11t. Remember Pharaoh's butler (Gen. xli. 9), the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings xvii. 18), Peter the apostlo (Mark xiv. 72). And what is presented to conscience by menw:·y and association, the imagination works out with powerful effect, bringing in not only the past, but the future, the terrible result. Ilut besides all this, we are to take iuto account the hand of God, working by comcience through providence and Holy Scripture. David's eyes were opened by the ministry of Nathan. He presented his siu to birn in a parable, and then brought it home to himself iu demonstration of the Spirit. "Thotl art the man l" And so it is still. "By the Law i, the knowledge of sin;" "When the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." ·we have a striking illustration uf thiA in Augustine(' Confessions,' bk. viii. eh. 7): "Thou, 0 Lord, whilst he wa.s speaking, didst turn me round towards myself, taking me from behind my back, where I ba,l placed me, unwilling to observe myself, and setting me before my face, that I might see how foul I was, how crooked and defiled, bespotted and ulcerous." Sooner or later, this vision will come to us all. " My sin is ever before me." This may ho the cry iu the torments of bell, and then there is no hope. It may be said under the power of a. guilty conscience, and then the answer is, "Behold the Lamb of God, which ta.kcth a.way the sin of the world I" Ill. THE FEELINGS WITH WIIICH THIS PAINTING SHOULD BE CONTEMPLATED. Tho sight is painful, but salutary. If it humbles us, it leads us to exalt God. If it embitters sin to us, it endears Christ to us, and binds us for ever to him in love and devotion. 1. Sense of personal guilt. "My sin." We may have been tempted; bt1t iu the deepest sense the guilt is ours, surely and inuliena.bly. Our sins are more our own than anytbiug else we possoss. With this conviction we cry, "\Vhat shall we do?" 2. Grief and self-abasement. Others may speak of "my place," "my merits,"" my ~ervices;" but for me it is "my sin." The more we study this picture-louking at it in the light of the cross-the more vile and wicked do we become in our own eyes, \Ve sec ourselves ns God sees us, and are filled with amazement and horror. Besides, ll"O come to understand that our sin i~ not a casual thing, but the product of the sinful heart within. True grief will lead to sincere and full confession, o.nd confession to forgiveness. When we justify God, God will justify us. 3. Simple and unfeig1,e,l faith. Despairing of ourselves, we cease from our own works, and cast ourselves upon the mercy of God. We accept the testimony which God has given of his Son, anJ, trusting in him, we find peaco. 4. Ado1-ing gratitude and love. 'l'o whom n1t1cb is forgiven, the same loveth much. \Ve owe everything to Christ, 11nd the love of Cl,rist constraineth us (2 Cor. v. 14, 15). 'l'he thought of the sins of the past, wliich I\ o carry with us, will not only mal1e us humble a.nd watchfnl, but stimult\te us Lo increusing love and zeal iu tho se1 vice of him who hath redeemed us by hi~ precious blood.-W. F.
Vars. 5-1.-Secrets of the heart. "B"hold I" 'l'his is a word of power. It tabs hold. It demands attention. It marks the solemnity nod seriou,mess of the thing~ t,l be brought before us. '!'ha veil is so far lifted. In the light of God, we get glimpses into the awful secrets of the heart. !, 'l'llJJ: SECRET OF SIN IS FOUND IN THE CORRUPT HEART. The first thing tl1:1t startles and stAggers us may be some actual transgres.,ion; but as we consi<lor the matter, we nre forcod back and back, aud closer and closer, till we end with the corrupt he~rt. SiII is everywhere; bt1t alw:i.ys, when wo seek its origin, we come to the same 404 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB, LI. 1-19,