strengthen me), and Thy condescension shall' (literally) 'make me many' (or great). Never before had David seen so clearly into his relation to the covenant of grace. For this spake he of Christ. What is more dimly apprehended in Ps. cxiii. 6, and given as sweet consolation to the Church in Isa. lvii. 15 and lxvi. 2, is here clearly expressed. His condescension to our low and lost estate-when He who was 'in the form of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God,' 'made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men ; and being found in fashion as a man, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross'-has made David and makes us great. This mystery of His condescension is infinitely precious to our souls. And having been allowed to 'see Jesus,' the Psalmist speaketh henceforth chiefly of Him; only viewing Him through his own medium, as formerly he had viewed himself through the medium of Christ. Verses 36 to 46 are the Davidic view of Christ, the application to Jesus of the history of David, the bright fulfilment of typical events, though still clothed in typical language.

The Psalm closes with a twofold doxology, vers. 46-48, and vers. 49, 50. The one is the expression of Israel's feelings, as more fully brought out in the threefold doxology before the advent of our Lord (Luke i.), and especially in the theocratic utterance of Zacharias the priest: 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spoke by the mouth of His holy

N

prophets, which have been since the world began; that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant.' The second doxology (vers. 49, 50) applies the redemption to the Gentiles, and is expressly referred to Jesus in Rom. xv. 9. It recalls to us the second part in the hymn of Zacharias (Luke i. 77-80). Thus with a Hallelujah to Jesus, and in believing anticipation of the extension of His kingdom far beyond the boundaries of nationality or of time, closes this review of Jehovah's dealings. It is as if we heard it in Old Testament strains : 'Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.'

1. Blessed be God, we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though He was rich yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. We know of His 'gentleness;' but has it made us 'great?' There is ever in us a tendency to attempt first getting up to Him, instead of receiving Him as He cometh down to us. Yet all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. And what infinite mercy is it that the Lord condescendeth to us! Behold, we are low and lost, vile and helpless before Thee. Lord, meet Thou us, for we cannot meet Thee. When emptied of all self, we feel that His grace is sufficient for us. We have in Him both justification and sanctification. Thou hast

also given me the shield of Thy salvation; and Thy right

hand hath holden me up.' Thus, coming to Christ as we are-poor, needy, sin-laden-shall we indeed experience that 'the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.'

2. 'I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.' My only concern must be that I work as in Him. Faith has what prayer seeks, for the promise is sure and steadfast. There is nothing within the compass of holy willing and doing which we are not allowed to bring before the Lord. Nay, all our anxieties and cares may we open up to Him who 'knoweth our frame.' The absolute confidence of a child appears in coming with all its wants to the Father, nor does this imply a murmuring spirit if the Father should not see fit to grant a request in the particular form in which it is uttered. If He gives not this, He will give something better. And when our trial is such that, humanly speaking, there seems no earthly remedy, He can make a way in the sea and a path in the deep. At any rate, we are not shut up to earthly remedies. Ours is a life of faith, which rests implicitly on His word, when we do not see, and in opposition to what we see. 'Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.' A peculiar blessedness attacheth to such faith, irrespective of anything else, a nearness to God, and a resting on the bosom of Christ, like that of the beloved disciple. No undertaking seems too difficult, if only begun and carried on in God. What we want is more power, more prayer, more faith. Lord, increase our faith.'

3. What is the well-spring of my acting and hoping? Let me examine myself; let me review the past. In what re

lationship do I stand to God and to the covenant of grace? 'With an upright man Thou wilt show Thyself upright; with the pure Thou wilt show Thyself pure.' The great condition of success in any spiritual undertaking is to seek not our own, but His. If really we wish primarily to serve Him and to seek His glory, to sanctify ourselves and to advance His cause, if self is not in any shape our ultimate motive, then do we go forward boldly in His name. But, 'who can understand his errors? cleanse me from secret faults.' But even so, what depth of sympathy and compassion is there in Him towards our weakness and poverty! Who could have ground for desponding, or excuse for idleness, in view of such promises? And yet, Lord, oh for a

closer walk with Thee!

CONQUERING kings their titles take
From the foes they captive make;
Jesus, by a nobler deed,

From the thousands He hath freed;
Yea, none other name is given

Unto mortals under heaven,

Which can make the dead arise,

And exalt them to the skies.

That which Christ so hardly wrought,
That which He so dearly bought,
That salvation,—mortals, say,

Will ye madly throw away?
Rather gladly for that Name
Bear the cross, endure the shame :
Joyfully for Him to die

Is not death, but victory.

Hymnologia Christiana.

XXVI.

GOD'S WORKS.

I THE heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handy-work.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it:

And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul:

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.-PSALM XIX.

IT is one of the most common yet most grievous deceptions of the enemy, to lead us to separate the God of nature from the God of grace. Of the many who profess to view the one, how few realize the other! And if the world is ignorant of the God of grace, may not the reproach be sometimes brought against believers that they fail, if not in realizing the God of nature, yet in feeling that the God of grace is also the God of nature? This conviction, if properly entertained, would give us an entirely new, even a spiritual view