In tbe~e points (to name no others): 1. Everywhere the hRnd of God is seen ae the supreme factor in h11man Rffairs. Not in miracle, except at those special crises and occasions where miracles were the fittest means. These, not scattered at random but in groups, at certain junctures. Dut the constant presence and exercise of God's k~ow- Jedge, purpos<', power, goodness; like the pressure ~f the atmosphere, never felt, never absent. 2. Under God, character, personal and nat1onal, is seen to be the dr.cisivo force in human life. The great men of the world have been great by ability, force of will genius, circumstances. Some distinguished men of genius, rulers, etc., have bee~ eminent saints; but this is not the rule. Dible heroes are spiritual heroes. 'l'heir sins faithfully portrayed, were their weakness; 1heir victory was always the victory of faith: prayer, godly sincerity (sell Heb. xi.). "Faith "-not opinion, creed, speculation, but undoubting trust in God, proved by and producing fearless obedience. This psalm refers, of course, in its first meaning to the earthly Jerusalem. But it is full of pre- rlictions to be fulfilled only by the ~ospel of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit "on all flesh." The great lesson of the history of ancient Israel is in reality not that which lies on 1he surface, in the political and national form of the Church, its riaid iows, the glories of David and Solomon, the priestly rites and material splen<lout of temple worship, but that which our Saviour taught, "My kingdom is not of this world." Spiritual, not material forms govern human life. II. THE LIVTIG, ABIDING PRESENCE OF GoD. (Ps. xlvi. 5.) Under the old dispensa- tion, every possi hie means was used to impress and to symbolize this central truth; and at the same time 10 surround and guard it with an awe and majesty, without which it would have been vufo:arized and rendered spiritually powerless. Jsrael was never suffered to forget that their God was also God of the whole earth, Almighty Creat-or, universal Lord. The New Testament doctrine and promise of the Divine Presence is given by our Saviour in a double form (1) to individual believers (John xiv. 21, 23); (2) to bis Church (ver. 18; Matt. xviii. 20). In the New Testament there are, in fact, four anti types or spiritual realities typified by the tabernacle or temple; (1) our Lord'6 human nature (John ii. 19-21); (2) the person of every true Christian (1 Cor, vi.19); (3) the Christian Church (Eph. ii. 20-22); (4) heaven (Heb. ix.11, 12, 24). III. ITS MEMBERSHIP. Christians are citizens (Phil. iii. 20, Revised Version; Eph. ii. 19; Beb. xii. 22; Gal iv. 26). To an ancient Israelite, the glory of his citizenship was its exclusiveness; yet this psalm predicts the time when heathens and foes should become" fellow-citizens," not by national subjection, but individual regeneralfon. This truth, plentifully foretcld by the Holy Spirit and the prophets, was yet HO inscrutable to the Jewish mind, that St. Paul calls it" the mystery hid from the beginning" (Eph. iii. 4-6, 9) ; and the Christian Church at Jerusalem was overwhelmed with amaze- ment when these predictions were fulfilled (see Acts x., xi.; especially x. 10, 28, 45; xi. 3, 18). It is a shame that Christians have such narrow, ignoble views of the Church of God. True views would be the death or sectarianism. The New Testament gives two canons of membership in the universal Church-one inclusive, one exclusive. (1) "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body;" (2) "If any have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." IV. THE FINAL AND ETERNAL GLORY, (Eph. v. 27.) Typified by "the bride of the Lamb," "the holy city, New Jerusalem" (Rev. xxi., xxii.).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-7.-The habitation of God. This psalm is true, whether we apply it- I. 'l'o ISRAEi, OF OLD, God's ancient people. That the writer bad them in his mind, there can be uo doubt, whatever other applications we may make of his words. Like the other psalms "for the sons of Korab," it most probably belongs to the days of Hezekiah. The sons of Korab were the keepers of those " gates" which in this psalm, as in Ps. lnxiv., they celebrate; and the triumph of which they tell harmonizes with the glowing predictions of Israel as to the spiritual power and euprem~cy of Isra.el. 1. This psalm speaks of the proud position c,f Zion, on the holy mount&l';}B, so elevated, sacred, secure. 2. Of the Divine delight in her. God was to be wors~1pped in all the dwellings of Jacob (see Lev. xxiii. 2); but his chief delight was 10 the P8, LXXXVII, 1-7.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 225