and contrition of heart. A sense of God's goodness, on the other hand, displayed both in the ways of providence and in the works of grace, excites, in the breast of the grateful man, the song of thankfulness and praise. Words never will be wanting to express these various impressions. If they are, let the devout supplicant turn to the hymns of David. "His invaluable Psalms," to resume the language of bishop Horne, convey those comforts to others, which they afforded to himself, composed upon particular occasions, yet designed for general use; delivered out as services for "Israelites under the law, yet no less adapted to the circumstances of Christians "under the gospel; they present religion "to us in the most engaging dress; com"municating truths which philosophy could

never investigate, in a style which poetry

can never equal; while history is made "the vehicle of prophecy, and creation. lends all its charms to paint the glories of redemption. Calculated alike to profit "and to please, they inform the understanding,

"standing, elevate the affections, and en"tertain the imagination. Indited under "the influence of him, to whom all hearts

are known, and all events foreknown, "they suit mankind in all situations, grate"ful as the manna which descended from above, and conformed itself to every "palate *.

Though in the hands of all, all do not peruse these pieces of devotion with the attention and application which they deserve. Though making part of the daily service of our church, as they formerly did, and still do, of that of the Jews, they are passed too slightly over; and the spirit of fervour which animated David, too frequently fails in communicating its raptures to the languid heart of the cold reciter. Yet who, removed from present comfort, and looking forward to the consolations of heaven from the midst of trouble and anxiety, when he first opens his eyes in the dawn of the morning, does not sympathize with David in the parched desarts of Judah? does not adopt his fervid

* Horne's Comment. on the Psalms. Introduction.

language,

language, and exclaim,-"O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee; my soul "thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for "thee in a dry and thirsty land where no "water is to see thy power and glory, so "as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. "Because thy loving kindness is better than

life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will "I bless thee while I live; I will lift up 66 my hands in thy name. My soul shall "be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; "and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips when I remember thee upon my

6.6

bed, and meditate on thee in the night "watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."-Psalm 63..

The devout man will endeavour to fulfil this indispensable duty in the very spirit of christianity; he will consider it as a mean of procuring for him tranquillity in this world, and happiness in the next. But he will not consider these blessings merely as the result of his own exertions; he will not consider his own prayer as of itself sufficient to reach the throne of the divine majesty.

Too

Too well is, he read in the history of human nature, as recorded in the gospel, to offer so bold a petition. He knows that "God

"heareth not sinners, but if any man be "a worshipper of God (in that sense which "true christianity defines) and does his "will, him he heareth." One short sigh of human breath will indeed reach the seat of God, but it must be upborne by the Son of God himself. The essence of christian worship is contained in this declaration of our Saviour" Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father "in my name, he will give it

64

you." If there be any petition which we dare not ask of God in the name of his Son, be assured that that request is contrary to our duty; and if we desire even good things with an evil intent, we are guilty of an heinous offence; we convert our wholesome. food to a deadly poison. But if we find our hearts disposed to apply to him for heavenly benefits, for such things as are intended for the general or particular good of mankind, or for the comfort and support of our own souls, then may we truly be said to

"

pray

"with the spirit, and to pray with the understanding also." By thus attending to the matter of our prayers, as well as to the manner of them, we shall gradually be filled with that holy disposition which descends from above; a disposition wholly under the influence of the divine Spirit, and the reward of the faithful worshipper.

N° XXIII.