PSALM 11.

This short Psalm is a poetical commemoration of the most pregnant circumstance of David's eventful life. While he was in the house of Saul, retained as a minstrel, and exercising his skill on the harp for the solace of his master's troubled spirit, it became manifest to all the king's household that the young son of Jesse had become an object of peculiar hatred to Saul's disordered mind; and they advised him to provide for his own safety by fleeing into the mountainous country of Judea. David did not follow this counsel, for it was after this that he achieved his wondrous victory over the Philistine host by the slaughter of Goliah. At length his beloved friend Jonathan persuaded him of the necessity of avoiding Saul's increasing madness against him. This Psalm is a record of David's feelings and reflections at that trying period; and if composed at the time, is an evidence of the early display of that fine talent, to which every succeeding generation owes so great a debt, for its instruction in the soundest piety.

Ver. 1-3. These three verses are interlocutory, and we must suppose David and Jonathan to be the speakers; for the language of the response is bolder and more faithful, than any we can suppose to have been uttered by a servant in Saul's household. The opening passage is strikingly energetic: it savours of youthful ardour, breaking forth in a sudden flame of astonishment; at the same time expressive of an impassible confidence in the divine protection, and of the strong consciousness of integrity. In the Lord put I my trust! Am I not his anointed future King of Israel? Am I a traitor in the house of Saul? Am I intriguing to forestal the decrees of Jehovah, by supplanting the Lord's chosen servant? Am I not faithful to my calling in his household, and diligently labouring by my humble talent to soothe the distracted mind of my acknowledged master? Wherefore then should I fear? Is the Lord's hand shortened, that it cannot save? How say ye then to my soul that she should flee, as a bird unto the hill? The reply of his friend is at once faithful, judicious, and precise:Beware; for lo, the ungodly bend their bow against thy life; they make ready their arrows within the quiver, that they may privily destroy thee; and that, because thou art true of heart: for within my father's house there is neither harmony, nor discipline, nor order: his throne is shaken, and its very foun

dations will be cast down. And what hath the righteous done? Wherein hath my beloved friend David offended, that he should be swallowed up in the impending destruction? Why should he, the innocent cause of all this disorder, remain to become the certain victim of my father's madness and the malice of his servants? "And, as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever!" (1 Sam. xx, 23.)

Ver. 4-8. The sequel of this dialogue, contained in David's reply, denotes an unshaken faith in the protection of his God; for though constrained to follow the advice of his constant friend, he enters upon his perilous flight with the fullest trust in his future and final deliverance. His thoughts ascend to the dwelling-place of the Most High: there he sees the Judge of all the earth, the Diviner of the thoughts of men's hearts, the impartial Rewarder of all their doings, sitting on the judgment seat in his holy Temple, pondering the ways of men, compassionating the meek and lowly, protecting the poor and oppressed, and treasuring up his wrath against the day of wrath, for the just punishment of every soul of man that doeth evil. For though, according to the apostolical doctrine, whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth; though he trieth the righteous, (which is the more expressive term than "alloweth" of our Bible translation,) because He loveth righteousness, and condescends to regard the actions of the just; yet doth He so abhor the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness, that oftimes He leaveth all such unnoticed, unrestrained, unpunished throughout this life; so that they come in no misfortune like other folk, neither are they plagued like other men. But the day will come, in the which He shall judge the world in righteousness; and when upon the ungodly He shall rain snares, and fire, and brimstone, storm and tempest: this shall be their portion: they shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation: they shall even drink it and

suck it out! (Ezekiel xxiii, 33.) With this view of the righteous retribution of the Most High God, the youthful son of Jesse, the type of the true David our Lord and Redeemer, goeth forth conquering and to conquer; and amid all the dark uncertainties and perils surrounding his unknown path, relying upon the protection of Him who maketh sore and bindeth up; whose spirit strengthened his servant with the whispered promise-I will deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven shall no evil touch thee. Thus out of weakness was David made strong. (Heb. xi, 34.) In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye then to my soul, that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?

Glory be to the Father, &c.

LECTURE IV.

PSALM 12.

In this Psalm the Priest and Prophet of Israel laments the general corruption of the time, under which the Church of God was suffering, and bewailing the impediments of her glory and usefulness on earth. But she is encouraged to look to the divine promises, and, thereupon to rest her faith; though the wicked prevail over her for a season, and walk on in their course, without present check or chastisement.

Ver. 1-2. It is not only by the practical infidel, or the open profligate, that the cause of Christ's Kingdom upon earth is hindered in its progress towards universal rule; but the hypocritical professor, the wise in his own conceit, and the schismatic, alike impede the spread of the knowledge of the Truth as it is in Jesus. These have each their private ends to serve, their carnal prejudices, and their worldly advantages; and to these ends they direct all their energies, their opportunities, and their influence; beguiling unstable souls by their vain and self-magnifying talk; flattering with their lips those whom they would betray into their net; dissembling in their double heart the plainest and most obvious truths of the written Word, that they might exalt themselves and their unrighteous cause, in the sight of those whom they hope to win over to their own delusive practices. And thereby many fall unto them unawares, and thereout suck they no small advantage. Such is the working of Popery in all its variety of means: such are the labours of Schism in its manifold denominations. Here, my brethren, ye have not so learned Christ. It is not the practice of our Church to rely upon flattery, or dissimulation, or human tyranny knowing the terrors of the Lord, we persuade men; not by the dissembling arguments of fleshly wisdom, nor by deceitfully handling the Word of Truth; but in simplicity and

godly sincerity, beseeching you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain—that is, the means of grace, which it is the duty of God's ordained ministry, however unworthy we be of the sacred trust, to dispense faithfully, fearlessly, and independently of the gainsayer or the scoffer. Some of you, my brethren, are in subjection occasionally to the false teaching of the apostles of schism: but once and again I warn you to beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Be not carried away with every wind of doctrine whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Have a due regard to your soul's health, if you are careless of your little wealth; and some of you know to your cost that the fellowship, or as it is called, the "membership" of schism, is an imaginary honour not to be maintained for nothing. But hear now the Psalmist's condemnation of the leaders in this mystery of iniquity; and mark how truly he describes them and their doings.

Ver. 3-4. And let me remind you, brethren, that a rebellious pride is the moving principle in all dissent. It was that spirit which Satan infused into the hearts of Korah and all his company, when they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron; insolently demanding of them, the specially appointed servants of Jehovah, wherefore lift ye up yourselves above the congregation? And observe how nearly alike is the language which the Psalmist attributes to the gainsayers in his day-We are they that ought to speak: who is Lord over us? And let me further remind you, that this is the very spirit of pride which prompts and upholds the schismatic in every successive generation of men. But it was our Saviour's declaration of Himself, I came not to send peace on earth; but a sword and his true disciples need not to act the part of cowards in their Christian warfare; for they may ever depend upon the help of the Lord against the mighty; for He will root these out at the last. A humble spirit, receiving with meekness the ingrafted Word, is the strongest armour against spiritual delusion and all its evil works. For the words of the Saviour are,