thank GOD, the comfort and consolation and grace more abundant. When sorrows and sin in multitude abound, then grace and mercy and refreshment much more abound!

But there is a deeper teaching than this. We may always take the Psalms of David in, at least, a threefold sense. In fact, to understand in any way their beauty, it is impossible to fall short of these three.

1. Their literal meaning, as applied to David.

2. Their mystical meaning, as applied to our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

3. Their moral or practical meaning, as applied to each Christian soul.

Here is a field indeed for our text, but one which we must roam over, or dig into, or search into, or think out for ourselves more fully. Let me outline it for you, and leave you to think it out, and, better still, to think it in for yourselves.

I. Of whom could these words be truer than David? of whom does the 51st Psalm speak? nay, we need go no further than the verse which precedes the text: “But when I said, my foot hath slipt: Thy mercy, O LORD, hath held me up." Who was it that was hunted by Saul, betrayed by his counsellors, rebelled against

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by his favourite son? Who was it, that as he went along the hill side—that type of Calvary was cursed as he went; who came, as it is written, came (see the touching parallel) came weary,” and yet it follows immediately, "refreshed" himself? Yes, verily, he, passing through a "vale of misery, made it a well" of mercy and consolation, and refreshment from GOD. "Yea," he says, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Thy rod," even Thine afflictions, "and Thy staff comfort me."

2. But how far more true is all this of Him of Whom it is written, that the Law of Moses and the Prophets, and the Psalms, testify and prefigure concerning Him! Here indeed is a deeper depth. Hear the voice of the GOD-Man, nay, of the Man CHRIST JESUS. "In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart: Thy comforts have refreshed my soul." rows! Was ever sorrow like unto His? Soul! "His soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death!" Heart! whose Heart bore all our griefs and carried all our sorrows? For all our sorrows, great and small, all our pains and trials of body or of mind were included in the great multi

Sor

tude which He bore in His sacred Heart. They were His because they were ours. What was the conflict of the Temptation, or the Agony of Gethsemane, and the Bitter Cry of Calvary, but our sins and our sorrows borne by the sinless One?

But yet an angel strengthened Him, yet a Voice from Heaven, saying, even when it is written, "His Soul was troubled"that the Name of the FATHER should be glorified through the sufferings of the beloved SON! So was the human soul of the LORD JESUs refreshed by the comfort and solace of the FATHER, and of the Spirit, even in the multitude of even His sorrows for our sins, and His sympathy in our sufferings.

"In

3. Eminently are these lovely words ours, if we are Christians, if we are CHRIST-like. They are our very own : "Your joy," He says, "shall no man take from you.' the world ye shall have trouble or tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." You will have even a multitude of troubles, a multitude of sorrows, above all in the depth of sorrow for sin; but then and there indeed the comfort of forgiveness is offered, the benefit of absolution is held out. Then, indeed, if sin has

abounded, does grace much more abound. Why is it a comfort? we ask; rather, how should it not be? For it is the comfort of the FATHER Welcoming back the erring son. It is the comfort of the SON receiving the wandering sheep. It is the comfort of the Blessed Spirit, the Comforter, restoring lost grace, and pouring in consolation, and perfecting sorrow and turning it to good account, and strengthening resolutions of amendment, pouring in the oil of gladness, and the wine of refreshment and consolation.

"In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart: Thy comforts have refreshed my soul."

ON SICKNESS AND HEALTH AS BOTH ALIKE

COMING FROM GOD.

"I was oftentimes in danger of death: yet I was delivered on account of these things. The spirit of those that fear the LORD shall live: for their hope is in Him that saveth them. Whoso feareth the LORD shall not fear nor be afraid : for He is his hope. Blessed is the soul of him that feareth the LORD: to whom doth he look? and

who is his strength? For the eyes of the LORD are upon them that love Him, He is their mighty protection and stronghold, a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation

from stumbling, and an help from falling. He raiseth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: He giveth health, life, and blessing."-Ecclus. xxxiv.

12-17.

As

S health is a gift from God, so is sickness also. GOD sends sickness to try, and to correct us: to make us sensible of our weakness: to take down our pride: to detach us from the love of earthly objects to check our impetuosity to subdue our lower nature: to put us in mind that we are here in a place of exile, and that Heaven is our real country. In a word, God sends us sickness in order to bestow upon us all the advantages which flow from affliction when it is received as a present, as a gift from His Hand.

Hence a holy man of old said to one of his disciples, when he was sick, "My son, be not troubled at this sickness. On the contrary, give GOD thanks; for it is a fire which purges your rust, if you are iron, and purifies you if you are gold."

It is a sign of great piety and of perfect virtue, to thank GOD for all the infirmities He pleases to send us.

After all we have to realize this point, each one of us, namely, that God knows far better what is good or rather what is