needing offerings; the psalmist thinks only of what is fitting on the part of the people. Distinguish between ta.king a.n honourable share in the support of ChriRtian worship, and ma.king offerings as a sign of loyalty. See under what conditio11s offerings are still acceptable, showing first how far the King-figure for God may be used by us. I. OFFEBINOB FOR Goo MUST BE REASONABLE. 'l'hat term includes two distinct things: (1) proportionate; (2) thoughtful. There may be times when an imrulsive gift is acceptable; but as a. rule no pro~r gift can be made to God save upon dne consideration of a.11 our claims. God asks but a proportion of our time, our land, or our labour. Our care should be to get and keep an honourable proportion. There is some danger in our over-valuing mere impulsive acts. They "loom large" to our view. Whereas the man who, thoughtfully estimating his means, sets aside his offering for God, lays a far nobler gift on God's altar. It is a gift of mind, and not of merely excited feeling. II. OFFERINGS FOB Goo MUST BE MADE TO MATCH INDIVIDUALS. Two young pigeons for a. mother if she be poor. Two mites for a widow; but gold for the rich. The gift should match means and good wi'll. III. OFFERING~ FOB Goo MUST DE EXPRESSIVE OF OFFERED SELF. To God there can be no value in things. What he asks for, and can alone accept, is the spiritual offering of the man himself-hie will, his love. This can find expression in a material offering. God will only receive the offering when it is the voice of the man.-R. T. Ver. 9.-The essential feature of Go<l's worship. "0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." 'l'his is also read, "in the glorious sanctuary," and "in holy vestments." Tbe Authorized Version is the more poetic sentiment, and may therefore be preferred. The expression is given in 2 Chron. xx. 21, where Jehoshaphat, in sen,ling forth his army, "appointed singers who should praise the beauty of holiness." Holiness is the key-note of the worship of Jehovah; but it is the key-note of the worship of no other god. "Had a medal been struck in praise of Jupiter, who is the best of the pagan gods, on one side might have been engraved' Almightiness, omnipresence, justice;' and on the reverse, 'Caprice, vengeance, lust.'" But the association of beauty with holiness now requires our attention. The best idea may be gained by thinking of ripe fruit; if it is really healthy and ripe, it cannot help having a bloom on. That bloom is the beauty of ripeness. "Beauty is a combination of elements according to the laws of harmony; the more beautiful the parts or elements, and the more perfect the har- monious combination, the higher the beauty." Then we must find the elements that go to make a worship so holy that, both in God's sight and in man's, it sbunl,I be beautiful. Worship that can be thought of as showing the "beauty of holiness" must be- I. LAWFUL, It may not be sufficiently recognized that public worship was arranged for, authorized. There is no room for self-will. There may be dilfereut views as to the ultimate authority for forms of worship. If it is to be "holy," the elements of mere self-willedness and pleasure must be excluded. II. PURE. "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." This was at once typified and testified by the clean white linen garments of the priests, and by their washing before engaging in their offices. Bodily purity did but represent the moral purity God reqnires. III. SINCERE. This brings before us the condition of the will. God's great reproach is levelled at the divided mind. That worship c:i.nnot be acceptable in which the man's hand is one way and his heart is another. Worship is only ceremony and routine unless a man's heart is in it. Absolute simple-mindedness is the beauty of worship, the bloom on the fruit. IV. CHEERFUL. The psalmists constantly remind us of the joyousness of worship. It excited high emotions. Lifted out of all drudgery to become a holy delight, we feel still the "beauty of holiness" in God's glorious sanctuary and exalted worship.-R. T,
Vera. 11, 12.-Nature-sympatlties. There is a strange and wonderful response of material nature to the spiritual moods of men. Faces may not chan~e, but expressions on faces change continually, and even seem different to different individuals. Aml so nature keeps the same, hnt seems ever-varying to us, according as our roo,_.J, 1110 to it. 'l'BE DOOK OF PSALMS. [PS, l:CVI, 1-13.
Lowth says on this verse, "Nothing can excel that noble exultation of universal nRture, which has been so often commended. Poetry here seems to assume the highest tone of triumph and exultation, and to revel, if I may so express myself, in all the extravagance of Joy." Keep in mind that n&ture is represented 11.s suffering in consequence of the sin of m&n, It may well exult with man in the redemption which uplifts out of suffering both him and it (Rom. viii. 20-23). In n. very well-known discourse, Dr. II. Dnshnell illustrates these two propositions: (1) God has hidden powers of music in things without life; (2) when they are nsed, in right distinctions or properties of sound, they discourse what we know-what meets, interprets, and works our freling, as living and spiritual creatures. I. N ATCTBE-sYMPATHms WITH MAN IN HIS INNOCENCE. Show the kin-ness between the Garden of Eden and the man put into it. II. NATURE-SYMPATHIES WITH MAN IN HIS FALL, Bringing forth thorns, eto. Ground cursed for m11.n's sake. A well-known artist has a picture of Adam and Eve after their fall. They are seated, in utmost distress, at a distance from each other, and what seems to divide them is a hideously shaped tree, the trunk of which seems to take almost demon form. The artist made nature kin to our fallen parents. ill. NATURE-SYMPATHIES WITH MAN IN HIS Moons. illustrate this by the darkness which fell behind the cross of Jesus when he died. See also the effect of the shading olives on Jesus in Gethsemane. Compare the harvest psalms-the corn, etc., shouting for joy in response to the glad and thankful moods of men. I\'. NATURE-SYMPATHIES WITH MAN IN HIS REDEMPTION. For illustration, see Isa. xi. 6-9, where the very bea.sts are poetic11.lly represented as affected by the peace of eterne.l purity which one day shall come to men.-R. T.