sentative man," being nothing less than "the Lord from heaven."

I purposed to have shown how the greatest and best men are themselves poor fallen creatures, and need converting and "erecting above themselves," no less than others; but that, I must now leave.

"Marvellous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well"; knoweth the fact, but not the philosophy. How "marvellous"! They are, indeed, like their Author, past finding out to perfection. "Nature shows us all she knows," yet how small a portion she shows us of the Infinite One.

"Come, then, expressive Silence, muse His praise."

"Marvellous are Thy works." "Where ends the mighty building?" why was it reared? how was it made? whither is it tending? and what will be the end thereof? I will conclude with a quotation :

"Science teaches us that the crust of our earth is perpetually moving, and that the sea level is constantly changing. Our globe has its daily rotation on its axis, and its yearly revolution about the sun. The sun, with all its satellites, sweeps on towards a moving point in the constellation Hercules. Every so-called fixed star is in motion. Fifty thousand years ago, the constellation of the Great Bear, or Dipper, was a starry cross; a hundred thousand years hence, the imaginary Dipper will be upside down, and the stars which form the bowl and handle will have changed places. The misty nebulæ are moving, and besides are whirling around in great spirals, some one way, and some another. Every molecule of matter in the whole universe is swinging to and fro; every particle of ether which fills space is in jellylike vibration. Light is one kind of motion, heat another, electricity another, magnetism another, sound another. Every human sense is the result of motion; every perception, every thought, is but motion of the molecules of the brain translated by that incomprehensible thing we call

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mind.' The processes of growth, of existence, of decay, whether in worlds or in the minutest organisms, are but motion." May God add His blessing! Amen.

JABEZ COLE.

Northumberland.

"If there be any

"THOU SHALT NO MORE BE HAUGHTY (Zeph. iii. 11).thing which makes human nature appear ridiculous to beings of superior faculties, it must be pride. They know so well the vanity of those imaginary perfections that swell the heart of man, and of those little supernumerary advantages, whether of birth, fortune, or title, which one man enjoys above another, that it must certainly very much astonish, if it does not very much divert them, when they see a mortal puffed up, and valuing himself above his neighbours on any of these accounts, at the same time that he is obnoxious to all the common calamities of the species. To set this thought in its true light, we will fancy, if you please, that yonder molehill is inhabited by reasonable creatures, and that every pismire (his shape and way of life only excepted) is endowed with human passions. How should we smile to hear one give us an account of the pedigrees, distinctions, and titles that reign among them! You must understand he is an emmet of quality, and has better blood in his veins than any pismire in the molehill. Do not you see how sensible he is of it, how slow he marches forward, how the whole rabble of ants keep their distance? Here you may observe one placed upon a little eminence, and looking down on a long row of labourers. He is the richest insect on this side of the hillock; he has a walk of half a yard in length and a quarter of an inch in breadth; he keeps a hundred menial servants, and has at least fifteen barleycorns in his granary. now chiding and beslaving the emmet that stands before him, and who, for all that we can discover, is as good an emmet as himself. But here comes an insect of figure! Do not you take notice of a little white straw that he carries in his mouth? That straw, you must understand, he would not part with for the longest track about the molehill; did you but know what he has undergone to purchase it. See how the ants of all qualities and conditions swarm about him. Should this straw drop out of his mouth, you would see all this numerous circle of attendants follow the next that took it up, and leave the discarded insect; or run over his back to come at his successor."-William Makepeace Thackeray.

He is

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The Preacher's Homiletical
Commentary.

HOMILETIC SKETCHES ON THE BOOK OF

PSALMS.

Our Purpose.-Many learned and devout men have gone philologically through this TEHELIM, this book of Hebrew hymns, and have left us the rich results of their inquiries in volumes within the reach of every Biblical student. To do the mere verbal hermeneutics of this book, even as well as it has been done, would be to contribute nothing fresh in the way of evoking or enforcing its Divine ideas. thorough HOMILETIC treatment it has never yet received, and to this work we here commit ourselves, determining to employ the best results of modern Biblical scholarship.

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Our Method.-Our plan of treatment will comprise four sections:-(1) The HISTORY of the passage. Lyric poetry, which the book is, is a delineation of living character; and the key, therefore, to unlock the meaning and reach the spirit of the words is a knowledge of the men and circumstances that the poet sketches with his lyric pencil.-(2) ANNOTATIONS of the passage. This will include short explanatory notes on any ambiguous word, phrase, or allusion that may occur.-(3) The ARGU MENT of the passage. A knowledge of the main drift of an author is amongst the most essential conditions for interpreting his meaning.-(4) The HOMILETICS of the passage. This is our main work. We shall endeavour so to group the Divine ideas that have been legitimately educed, as to suggest such thoughts and indicate such sermonizing methods as may promote the proficiency of modern pulpit ministrations.

No. CI.

The Religious Sentiment in War.

"O GOD, THOU HAST CAST US OFF, THOU HAST SCATTERED US, THOU HAST BEEN DISPLEASED," etc.-Psalm 1x. 1-12.

HISTORY.-The title of the Psalm contains an epitome of its history. David is spoken of as its author; and the occasion of its composition was when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aramzobah. The circumstances of this struggle are recorded in 2 Sam. viii, 3-13; 1 Chron. xviii. These chapters inform us that David made extensive conquests in the East, extending his victories over Moab, Syria, and Hamoth, subduing the country as far as the Euphrates. The expression "When Joab returned," indicates that the conquests were achieved, not by David personally, but by Joab, who was the leader of his armies,

"for Joab was over all his armies." The scene of the conquest is called "the valley of salt," which is supposed to be situated at the southern end of the Dead Sea, adjacent to the mountain of salt, whose valley separates the ancient territories of Judah and Edom. It is said that on that occasion "twelve thousand" were slain. In the history, however, contained in 2 Sam. viii.,1Chron. xviii. the number is given as "eighteen thousand." The discrepancy is scarcely worth remark. The Psalm is dedicated to the chief musician or the precentor, and is called Shushan-eduth, which properly

"Cast out my shoe." Casting the shoe over, is the claiming of rightful possession, as plucking it off implies yielding a right to another (Ruth iv. 7). "Philistia." The Philistines were also included in the promised conquest (Exod. xxiii. 31), and were conquered by David (2 Sam. viii.).

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Cry out," utter the cry of the vanquished.-Dr. Murphy.

Ver. 9-12.-"Who will bring me into the strong city?" etc. The city of strength (Psalm xxxi. 21), Petra, or Sela, the rock-built city of Idumea (2 Kings xiv. 7). "Wilt not Thou, O God," because of Thy promise (ver. 6), "which hadst cast us off? and Thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?" Quoted from Psalm

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lxv. 9. Faith believes the final fulfilment of the promise, in spite of contrary appearances for a time. "Vain is the help of man.' "Vain," i.e., " Deceptive," disappointing. "Through God we shall do valiantly," -according to Balaam's prophecy (Num. xxiv. 18), we shall tread down our enemies,"-fulfilled against Edom (2 Sam. viii. 14; Psalm xliv. 5).-Faussett. ARGUMENT.-This Psalm contains three stanzas, in which the national danger is represented (ver. 1-4), the hopes founded on God's promises are described (5-8), and their accomplishment is confidently asked (9-12). The last two stanzas are repeated in Psalm cviii. 7-13.

HOMILETICS. THE RELIGIOUS SENTIMENT IN WAR is the subject which this Psalm strikingly and powerfully illustrates. The religious sentiment is in all men; it is the root of their moral being. In most cases it is very dormant and inoperative. Still there are but few who do not at times feel its power, and are subject to its action. Even the warrior feels it; and often it grows into a passion within him. David here speaks as a warrior, and his language reveals the workings of his religious nature. We have in this Psalm,—

:

I. The religious sentiment in the warrior ASCRIBING THE CALAMITIES OF DEFEAT TO GOD. "O God, Thou hast cast us off, Thou hast scattered us, Thou hast been displeased; O turn Thyself to us again. Thou hast made the earth to tremble, Thou hast broken it heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh. Thou hast showed Thy people hard things: Thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment." From these verses it would seem that the battles of David brought terrible calamities upon his people and his country-calamities that made the nation shiver as if broken into pieces, shake as with the throes of an earthquake. And these, forsooth, he here ascribes to God: "Thou hast cast off, Thou hast scattered, Thou hast made the earth tremble," etc.,-all THOU.