shall be light to-morrow. (2) The fear of temptation, We pray," Lead us not into temptation; " but in spite of that, we may be so led; but we need not fear-we 8hall bo anointed with fresh oil. (3) Of backsliuing-that we shall fall away. (4) Of great trials; if they come, it will bo well with us. (5) Of bereavements. We say, "What shall we clo $hen?" But when one prop is taken, another is given. 2. It inspires glad hope. Of usefulness in Christ's service continued. Of full attainment in arace. 0 Of strength an llicicn t for all need. IV. A PADH'UL CONTRAST SUGGESTED. The godloss have no such hope. All that sustains them is fast running out, aad there is no further supply. What Rhall they do in the end thereof? 'l'hey will have had their good things, and there are no more.-S. C. Ver. 12.-" Like the palm tree." So do the righteous :flourish. The parallels are many and striking. I. Fon UPRIGHTNESS. The palm tree rears itself straight up ia to the air, erect, stately, strong. True image of the really righteous. Crooked ways are not his. II. Fon USEFULNESS. "The extensive importance of this tree is one of the most curious subjects to which attention can be directed. A considerable part of the inhabit- ants of Egypt, Arabia, and Persia subsist almost entirely upoo its fruits. They boast of its medicinal virtues. The camels feed upon the date stone. From the lea:~ell they make a variety of articles for domestic use. From the fibres of the boughs, thread, ropes, and rigging are manufactured; from the sap, a spirituous liquor is prepared; and the body of the tree furnishes fuel." And so in all departments of life-the influence, the example, the spirit, the words, and works of the righteous man are full of bles,ing. See this supremely in Christ, the Righteous. III. Fon BEAUTY, In the Canticles the palm tree is often taken as an emblem of beauty, as it well may be. And on the righteous man "the beauty o{ the Lord our God" is seen, as in our Lord above all (John i. 14). Moral beauty is as real as physical. IV. Fon POWER. See its victory over all kinds of foes which threaten its life. It is a root out of a dry ground : the choking sand surrounds it, the burning heat scorches it, the fierce tempest beats upon it; it is often wounded-its roots crushed with all manner of weights, the elements, man, the beasts of the desert, all combine to injure it; but in spite of them all it rears its beautiful corona of leaves far on high, and flourishes still. And so is it with the righteous ( cf. Paul's prean of praise, his challenge to earth and hell to harm him if they can, Rom. viii. 35-39). V. Foa FRUITFULNESS. It is the staff of life to the peoples amongst whom it is found. And so the righteous (cf. John xv. 1-8). VI. FoR GUIDANCE, It is the sure sign of the presence of water (see Elim, Jericho, etc.). Across the burning sands the caravan, parched with thirst, make for the cluster of palms they see afar off, for they know that water is there. And so the righteous should be and is a sign to the sin-wearied heart, which tells him where the living waters are. " Let him that heareth say, Come." VII. FoR PERMANENCE, It continues right on to old age to be all that has been said. True emblem of the perseverance of the saints of God.-S. C.
Vers. 13-15.-" Planted in the house of the Lord." Five subjects fall to be con- sidered here. I. TBE PLANTED ONES. The similitude is taken from the fact of trees being com- monly planted in the quadrangles of Easteru houses; there were trees in the temple courts. Now, from this emblem we learn much about those 1,ersons whom it repre- sents. 1. They must have had life in them. People do not plant dead things. So ere ever any soul is planted in the house of the Lord, the Divine life must have begun. It may have been very feeble, but it was there. Many come to church, and regularly, who have never been planted in the house of the Lore!, because they are not "born again." 2. They are where they once were not. The tree !,ad been transplanted, moved from one place to another. So the soul of the man spoken of here. He has beeu •• trnnslated out of the kingdom of darkness into," etc.; he has passed" from death into life;" he has undergone a great and wonderful change. 'l'he process may have been 288 TilE BOOK OF PSALMS. [PB, XCII, 1-15,