Ver. 13,-The pity of God. I. THE FULL, CLEAR DE0l,ARATION OF THTB 1s FOUND ONLY IN THE BIBLE. 1. Ie is not vn ancient mythology. The gods of the heathen were strong and much else, but not pitiful. 2. Nor in Nature. How heartless, how cruel, how utterly unsympathizing, she is I The dearly loved, the precious, the innocent, suffer, die in thousands, and Nature has not a solitary tear for them. 3. Nor in society. Law, the bond of society, cannot pity, it can only enforce its commands. II. NEVERTHELEBB, BUQGESTIONS OF IT ARE TO BE FOUND. The lower animals seem to have no affection for their offspring; but: 1. Such suggestions are traceable amongst the higher orders of animal life, See the affection of the mother bird or beast. See the affection of the dog for his master. And of the horse. A blackbird has been known to care for and feed a young robin that had fallen from its nest. 2. And amongst men. Not much amongst savages; but pity advances as we observe the higher races and the more civilized. III. BuT FAB MORE IS HUMAN PITY SEEN IN THE HUMAN FAMILY AND HOME. 1. There we get the idea most of all realized. "Like as a father," etc. God has made use of our happy familiarity with parental love and pity to teach us what he himself is. 2. And there we learn what pity is and will do. It will inflict pain. Every father and mother do, but not, if they be wise, in anger, in revenge, or in passion, or carelessly, but ever out of love, for the sake of the child. IV. THUS WE LEARN THE PITY OF GoD. 1. It will inflict pain if for our good. 2. But such infliction does not argue that the sufferer is shut 01,t from the love of God. Man's punishments too often are utterly loveless. See bow we treat our criminals, both in prison and when they come out. What a contrast to the Lord's way I See how the father of the prodig;al forgave, but the elder brother did not. See the parable of the two debtors. 3. It bids us trust it utterly and/or ever.-S. C. Ver. 19.-The kingdom of God. The psalm does not go about to prove-Scripture never does-the existence of God, nor the fact that he exercises dominion over us; it takes both for granted, and proceeds to speak of the nature and obligations of the Divine rule. That rule is here asserted. Note- I. ITS CH4BACTEIIISTI0S. I. Its basis and foundation. These are immutably right. His is not the mere right of might, but a far higher thing, the might of right. Not liwaµir alone, but l{ovo-Ct1. 2. Its extent. This is so vast, that not alone is our eyesight aided with all conceivable telescopic power far outstripped, but even our thought fails to grasp in its comprehension, or even in its imagination, the wide range either of the material or moral. universe over which God reigns. 3. Its regulating law. That law is holy, just, and good, and clothed with power to enforce its sacred sanctions. Its moral perfection is seen supremely in the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4. Its purpose and aim. These are the highest possible. The glory of God is to be secured, that glory on which the well-being of the whole universe depends. Let God be banished from his throne, and straightway chaos comes again. .And the highest well-being of his creatures. Tbe two are never antagonistic, but joined in inseparable union, Where one is, there is the other. 6. Its duration. For ever and ever. Such are the characteristics of this blessed and glorious kingdom, whose subjects consist only of regenerated souls-souls tho.t can say, "Oh how I love thy Law 1 it is my meditation all the day." !I. THE EFFE0T WHICH OUR FAITH IN THIS DIVINE KINGDOM SHOULD HAVE UPON US, 1. Obedience. To know God's will should be to obey. "Blessed are they that keep his commandments." 2. Praise. What truer gospel can there be that such a rule is that under which we live? 3. Trust. We cannot always understand the ways of God; they are high above our thought; but we can ever trust, and that is ever good. 4. Confident hope, "He must reign till he hath put all enemies," etc. And he will do this.-S. C. Ver. 22.-The peril of the spiritual guide. Such is the title which a great preacher bas given to a sermon on this text. 'l.'he subject is suggested by its closing words. The psalmist had been summoning angels 1md all the works of the Lord to bless the Lord, and, as if he remembored that he might be- I. CALLING OTHERS TO PRAISE THE LonD, AND YET NEGLECTING IT HIMSELF, he adds, 390 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rR. om. 1-22,
"Bless the L0rd, 0 my s nil!" 1. And this is a 1·eal possibility and a terrible pe1·il. Like :•s a gui,lc to lh,· loveliest scenes of nature may lead a traveller to different pointe of view, which will show the glorious landscape at its best, and may expatiate on the beauties that arc to be seen, yet may himself be not iu the slightest degree stirred or mo'l"ed by whnt he calls on the traveller to admire. He has come to be so familiar with it all; he has said the same thing so many times, it is part of his professional talk; he has seen all these glorious things so often, that they have lost their power to affect him. At first it was otherwise; he had become a guide to these scenes because be so delighted in them. But thnt was a long time ago. He had thought that he could not spend his life more happily than in conducting others to these same beautiful places, and sho,l'ing them their glories. But all that enthusiasm has long passed, nnd he is now a mere professional guide. 2. And so, the great preacher to whom I have referred points out, it may be with the spiritual guide-the minister of Christ, the teacher of others in holy things. He may have begun with enthusiasm for the blessed truths and the bright prospects to which he was to lead other~; he bad snch joy in them himself, that to show to others these things seemed an employment to which he might, as in fact he did, give bis whole life and soul. But alas I he has got so familiar with it all; the work bas become such a routine, that all the old zest and glow and enthusiasm are gone, and he too has become a mere professional guide. God help him and all such! This is the peril II. THE SAFEGUARD is, by continual meditation, prayer, and obedience to the Lord, to maintain the freshness, the force, and the "first love." And this safeguard is sure. -S.C.