thoroughly hate, we will not bear to have any connexion; with suspicion and jealousy we shall eye it approaching; with courage and constancy we shall arm and fight against it; we shall make no peace, nor so much as a truce with it; but, as faithful soldiers and servants of Jesus Christ, we shall aim at that utter extermination of it, which we have vowed, and which, through the Spirit of grace and power, will be accomplished, but not, perhaps, totally, till our life and warfare shall end together.

Twenty-sixth Day.-Morning Prayer.

NUN.-PART XIV.

105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Man is a traveller, his life is a journey, heaven is his end, his road lies through a wilderness, and he is in the dark. Thus circumstanced, how earnestly and devoutly ought he to pray, 'O send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me to thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles !' Psalm xxiii. 3. For surely the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.' Prov. vi. 23. The word of God discovereth to us our errors; it showeth us where we lost our way, and how we may recover it again. If we take this 'lamp' in our hand, it will not only point out our course in general, but also direct us in every step, and guide our 'feet' aright in the 'path' of holiness and peace. Thus, through the devious and lonely wilds of Arabia, was Israel once conducted to the land of

promise, by the illuminating pillar, or rather by Him whose presence dwelt in the midst of it.

106. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

Such being the direction afforded by the word of God to a benighted pilgrim, David had obliged himself, in the most solemn manner, to follow that direction. Every Christian doth, at his baptism, in like manner, "promise and vow to keep God's commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of his life." The nature and extent of these engagements must be interpreted according to the covenant of grace, under which they are made. The command to us sinners is, that we should repent, and believe in him, who will pardon our failings, and strengthen our infirmities, that we may walk as becometh his disciples, who, though they ought not to commit sin, may yet, by divine grace, be restored and saved from it. These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins.' 1 John, ii. 1.

107. I am afflicted very much quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word.

The faithful servants of God may be afflicted;' they may be very much' and grievously afflicted: but let them consider, that by afflictions, their corruptions are purged away, their faith is tried, their patience perfected, their brethren are edified, and their Master is glorified. Let them still firmly rely on the divine promise of grace and salvation; still humbly pray for its accomplishment in themselves: 'Quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word.'

108. Accept, I beseech thee, the free-will offerings of my mouth, O Lord; and teach me thy judgments.

The offerings' of the believer are prayer, praise, and holy resolutions and vows, like that of the Psalmist above, to keep God's righteous judgments,' in which he therefore petitioneth to be every day more and more 'taught' and instructed by the Spirit of truth. Christians are called by St. Peter 'a royal and holy priesthood, appointed to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ.' 1 Pet. ii. 5, 9.

109. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

To have one's 'soul,' w, or life, 'in one's hand,' is a phrase often used in Scripture, and implieth going in continual danger of one's life: see Judg. xii. 3; 1 Sam. xix. 5; and xxviii. 21; Job, xiii. 14. Great and incessant as David's perils were, he did not 'forget' God's promises, nor his precepts, but trusted in the former, and performed the latter. St. Paul knew that in every city bonds and afflictions awaited him but none of these things,' saith he, move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy.' Acts, xx. 23.

110. The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

When open violence fails to move a man from his steadfastness, the wicked will lay snares' for him, to entice him into sin, by the baits of honour, pleasure, or profit; by exposing him to unavoidable temptations, as, when David was driven out of his own land, to live among idolaters, of which usage

he complaineth, 1 Sam. xxvi. 19; or else, by making laws which an honest man cannot obey without sin, or refuse to obey without danger. Numberless are the traps of one kind or other, which human wit and diabolical malice, in conjunction, have set for the consciences of those who profess themselves to be the servants of God; and happy is that servant whom they have not caused to err from the precepts' of his Master.

111. Thy testimonies have I taken as mine heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

The testimonies' of God's will, his word, and his sacraments, are the bonds and the deeds by which we hold our heavenly inheritance, as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.' Of these deeds, and this inheritance, no power can deprive us; and when they are the rejoicing of our hearts,' we shall not, by preferring an earthly inheritance, deprive ourselves of them.

112. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end.

The inclination of the heart' to good is the work of God; but man is, nevertheless, in this as in other instances, said to perform it, when he listens to the call, and obeys the motions of his grace. We are not to judge of ourselves by what we sometimes say and do, but by the general disposition and tendency of the heart and its affections. When, after repeated trials, we find that the love of God casts the scale against the love of the world; when it is our glory, our delight, our treasure, our meat and drink to do his will, and, against all opposition, to persevere in doing it, even unto the end;' then

are we the true disciples of that Master whose heart was evermore inclined to do good; who alone performed a perfect and spotless obedience, and persisted in working the work of him that sent him, until, with his last breath, he declared upon the cross, It is finished.'

SAMECH.-PART XV.

113. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

'Love and hatred' are the two great and influencing affections of the human mind. Since the fall, they have been misplaced. By nature we 'love vain thoughts,' and hate the law of God. The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' Rom. viii. 7. But in a renewed mind the case is altered; its delight is in the law of God, and therefore it cannot bear vain thoughts,' which are contrary to that law, and exalt themselves against it. Thoughts are often said to be free; from human censure they are, but not from the cognisance and judgment of the Omniscient. The mind should be well furnished with proper materials, on which to employ itself. We shall then be secured against the incursions of rambling, conceited, worldly, impure, and revengeful thoughts, which otherwise will devour half our time, and appear against us, to our unspeakable amazement, in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed.

114. Thou art my hiding-place, and my shield: I hope in thy word.

From vain thoughts and vain persons, the