prayers, and in your thoughts if they have not utterance in prayer, to give to Jehovah the honour due unto his name, to ascribe to Him all perfection. If you desire pardon of sin, which should be the first wish of the heart, and the first object of prayer, then be sure to magnify the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, and the power of his sacrifice and intercession. If you need strength in the hour of trial, or patience in time of adversity, ascribe strength and might to Him who strengtheneth the feeble hands, and saith to the faint heart, Be strong, fear not, "the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who fainteth not, neither is weary.' If you ask for a supply of bodily wants, acknowledge His bounty who filleth all things living with plenteousness; if for the supply of spiritual need, ascribe all grace and power to the Holy Ghost, who maketh us both to will and to do those things that be good and acceptable to God. The prayer of the humble and devout supplicant will be full of praise to God. The Psalmist also, "Bring an offering, and come into his courts." Literally, take a bread offering. This was the mincha, an offering of fine flour, with oil poured upon it, and frankincense; intimating that it must be sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and by prayer.

* Isa. xl. 28.

says

It was to be (as were all the offerings and sacrifices under the law) of the best kind, and without leaven-pure and sincere. Such should be all the offerings that we at any time make to God, such our alms and other donations, gifts at His altar, and for His honour, whether for promoting some religious object, or given for a charitable purpose, still to be devoted to Him. All must be of the best, and must be offered out of a pure heart fervently. And here, too, will be a rule of prayer in the congregation. "Bring an offering, and come into his courts." What offering can we bring to his courts so acceptable to the King of heaven, as the offering of a willing and devout heart; the "lifting up pure hands," as Scripture speaks, with the grace of the Holy Spirit blessing and sanctifying our desires? This is the offering which we should bring, which the poorest among us may bring; and if offered in faith and love it shall be accepted by Him who regardeth not persons; who "looks to him that is of a poor and contrite spirit, and that trembles. at his word." *

66

Next follow the words which I took for my text, "O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth." The particular object which I had in selecting these words

* Isa. lxvi. 2.

will appear very shortly. You observe how the Psalmist speaks of the whole world standing in awe, fearing before God. Religious fear is a reverence of God; it is not a slavish fear, as of one who trembles at the thought of the lash or the scourge, at the dread of punishment, and obeys without love. Godly fear is a real sentiment of the heart, affectionate though reverential; it is filial; it is more, indeed, than this — is awe rather than fear. "Let the whole earth stand in awe of him," in awe of his Divine perfections, of the glory and majesty that are in his presence. This, you see, is addressed to the whole earth, Gentiles as well as Jews: "Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth; the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved; he shall judge the people righteously." This was bold language for one of the house of Judah. He must have been a true Israelite, a true son of Abraham, who could thus rejoice in sending the tidings of salvation among the heathen. What would have been said of this by those degenerate members of the Jewish Church in later days, who, when St. Paul spoke of being sent to the Gentiles, cried out, "Away with such a fellow from the earth!"* But in those elder and better days no such jealous feeling could exist. Those who spake by the Spirit of God were moved by * Acts, xxii. 22.

We

that Spirit to rejoice in his goodness being extended to all people. David knew that the seed of Abraham was to be a blessing to all the nations of the earth; he knew that spiritual sacrifices should be offered to him, better than of bullocks and goats; and here, as well as elsewhere, he tells with joy of the heathen being brought to an acknowledgment of God, and the worship of him; and sends forth the glad tidings as if to awaken the Gentiles to give due honour to Him who was to be their King, and King of the whole earth. must bear in mind that such language as this, "Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth," is in truth a prophecy that the tidings of Christ being King of the whole earth shall be carried to the Gentiles. These were tidings of great joy. So they appeared in the eyes of the Psalmist, and so should they be to all; but, alas! while we serve our evil appetites and passions, we will not have Him to reign over us. But he is not only King, but Judge of the whole earth: "that he shall judge the people righteously." "Righteousness and equity are the habitation of his seat." "Mercy shall be set up for ever; but Thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens." He shall, at the last day, we know, judge the world: for the Father "hath committed all judgment unto the Son." * * John, v. 22.

But it cannot be too often repeated that he is now, and always, exercising judgment, trying the hearts of men. The Gospel is a perfect rule,

and one which searches the heart and inmost thoughts; and therefore we must consider ourselves as being always upon our trial, under the eye of One who knows the secrets of all hearts, and will bring all to light at the last day. He, moreover, even now and at all times executes judgment, by bringing upon us the just punishment of our sins; for the evil consequences of sin are the punishment with which God visits the sinner, and by which he would turn him from his evil course, that so his soul may be saved in that which will be emphatically the day of the Lord. The righteous judgment of the Lord Christ is a theme for heaven and earth to rejoice in. So the Psalmist exclaims, "Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord. For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth." I shall once more, God willing, recur to the psalm now before us. At present I would only advert to it as a distinct prophecy of the preaching of the Gospel to the heathen; and