in revolt, and muHHudes flock to his standard. Even old companions in arms desert, and the very friend most trusted turns traitor. It was a terrible time. The a"'ed monarch, sad and dispirited, his name traduced, his tenderest feelings outra.ged, his life and kingdom threatened, is compelled, with the few found faithful, to seek safety in flight (2 Sam. xv,). Ilut even then there ,vas no rest for tho king. His mind is in a. turmoil ; his heart is borno down by cruel doubts and fears, and the sorrows of death compassed him about. But in the dark hour he found rest and hope in God. '!'he good man is presented in this psalm as- I. 'faE SUIIJEOT OF GREAT MENTAL DISTRESS. (Vers. 1-8.) 'fhe cares of a divided house and the complaints of a disaffected people pressed heavy on David's soul. But worse things still troubled him-private sorrows, which he could tell only to God. Human nature is not changed. Trials are much the same now as they were three thomand years ago. Ilow thankful should we be for such a record as we have in this psalm I We are taught that when sorrow comes it is not as if any strange thing happened to us. We see as in a glass how others have suffered, and we learn from them not only how to be patient, but where to find sure relief. Ilow many, in all ages, since the clays of David, have found, in his confessions and prayers, words wherewith fitly to express the surging feelings of their hearts 1 II. 'l'HE VICTDI OF SOCIAL TREACHERY. We mix with our fellow-men. We have our friends and, it may be, our enemies. However it be, we cannot live long without knowing something of the bitterness of disappointment and the pain of betrayal. In such circumstances we have need to walk circumspectly. \Ve must watch and pray, lest our grief should po.ss into unholy pas,ion, o.nd our just re3entment rise to cruel revenge. There is a better way. Rather let the sense of injury breed in us a hatred of all injury, Rather let the feeling that we suffer wrongfully move us to sympathy with all others suffering in like manner. Rather let the faithlessness of man make us rejoice the more in the faithfulness of God, whose care of us never ceo.ses, and whose love never fails. III. T11E OBJECT OF Dxvnm DELIVERANCE. "As for me" (ver. lG) marks the difterence between the godly and the ungodly, and points the way to the true Resource in every trouble. Help comes largely from prayer (ver. 17). Ilecollection of past deliverauces is reviving (ver. 18). There_ is also comfort from a clearer insight into the purposes and doings of God (ver. 19). Ilut the greo.t relief, even when face to face with the most grievous trials, is in casting all our co.res upon God, who co.reth for us (ver. 22). The burden which is too heavy for us, and which is cru:;hing us to the earth, we roll upon God, and therefore enter into rest o.nd assured hope. The lo.3t words of the psalm are a fit watchword for life and for death: "But I will trust in thee."-W. F.
Ver, 6.-Seeking rest. "Oh that I had wings like a dove!" David was not the first nor the last to utter this• cry. Men in all nges have suffered. Everywhere we fiml the same unconquerable de:;ire for rest. '!'his longing underlies all religions and philosophies. And there are times when the cry rises instinctively, and pre,;ses for an answer. \Vho is there who has not, in sorrow or in pain bodily and mentally, or when sick and weary and overborne by earthly trouble~, been moved to cr_v, "Oh for rost l" And yet the wbh may be vain. We need to ex a wine and try ourselves, There is a wrong as well as a right way of seeking reEt. I. IT IS VAIN TO HOPE FOB REST DY SEEKING '!'HE IMPOBSIDLE. l\fan was rnads "but a little lower than the angels;" and yet, thou:-;h a.II things ,ue said to have boen put under him, tbero are points in which the "beo.sts of the field and the fowl8 cf tho air" have the advantage of him. Hence they may become objects of envy. We aro limited beings; but we can conceive ourselves endowed with powers beyond wh,it wo possess, Thero is danger in snch fancies. The dove flies past, and all seems peace. But this rn:iy be a delusion. We know not what fate awaits it. Dcsides, we cheat ourselves with a silly th"ught. We know we have not, and cannot h,we, "wings.n Wishing for tho impossible only leaves us the more wenk and discontented. Detter face difficulty manfully. Detter do what God ho.s made us cap:ible of doing, if we ::mi willing, tho.n waste time and strongth in idlo fancies of what c1mnot be. The doubter wants a" sigu." 'l'ho an::dous sinner era yes some sonsible rroof of acce11tance. 'l'he THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [re. LV. 1-23.