around one object, centred in one object, adoring one object, and that one object the Supreme Good, and Necessity. Ah me! were those who call themselves religious, earnestly and rightly engaged in this work of inviting the millions to the house of God, not only would all existing churches soon be crowded, but new temples would rapidly be multiplied.. The words remind us of, Secondly: "The delight that may be expected from the right discharge of this duty. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." Where was the "house of the Lord? The temple was not built, it was on Mount Moriah, where rested the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of the Divine presence. "The House of the Lord," is not a human building, nor a particular locality; but the whole earth, the whole universe is the house of God. "Neither in this mountain nor that," &c. "God is a Spirit," &c. Whoever invited the author of this poem to assemble for social worship must have felt themselves amply rewarded for the effort by the rapturous response which they received. "I was glad." In all souls there is a crying out "for the living God," and were such an invitation rightly given to the masses it would receive in numberless instances, a welcome prompt and exultant. Here is a pious patriot,

II. HIGHLY APPRECIATING THE VARIOUS ADVANTAGES OF HIS COUNTRY. "Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David." First: He rejoices in it because it was a scene of material beauty. "Jerusalem is buildel

as a city that is compact together."

Perhaps the

special reference here is to the rebuilding of the city after the captivity, and the rejoicing felt when the pilgrims saw it rise from its ruins into completeness again. "It is said that the idea of compactness especially impresses travellers in regard to Jerusalem. Standing on a rocky plateau, enclosed on three sides by deep valleys, the city is all gathered, as it were, into that space; it fills the space, but does not extend beyond it." Secondly: He rejoices in it because it was the scene of religious worship. "Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord." Thither the people went to receive instruction from the Almighty, and to render Him worship. Thither they went at the great feasts in obedience to the Divine command (Exodus xxiii. 17, Deut. xvi. 16). Thirdly: He rejoices in it because it was the scene of civil justice. "For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David." This means simply that Jerusalem was a civil as well as a religious capital. Here disputes between men were taken and settled on the principles of justice. Justice was dealt out with an even hand between man and man. True social worship

and civil justice always go hand in hand: the courts of justice are in vital alliance with the courts of worship. Formal worshippers are often tyrants, genuine worshippers are ever just. Here is a pious patriot

III. EARNESTLY DESIRING THE PROSPERITY OF HIS FATHERLAND. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companion's sakes I will now say, Peace be within

I

thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good." First: He invokes for it the highest good. "Peace and prosperity." In truth real prosperity includes peace, for where there is not peace between the soul and God, as well as between man and man, there can be no true prosperity, either physical or mental. The advance of general intelligence, the progress of civilisation, the accumulation of wealth, the extension of empire, what are these without true moral peace? Castles in the air, bubbles on the stream. Secondly: He invokes for it the highest the highest good for the strongest reasons. (1) Here is a personal reason. "They shall prosper that love thee." By seeking the good of the whole we best insure our own prosperity. (2) Here is a social reason. "For my

brethren and companion's sake I will now say, Peace be within thee." This agrees with Paul's prayer. "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved" (Rom. x. 1). A prayer of a true patriot this! (3) Here is a religious reason. "Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good."

CONCLUSION" Shall we not also rejoice when we are summoned to God's house? Though there is no longer one visible temple in which the faithful may meet for worship, our separate scattered churches recall the great spiritual temple of the Holy Catholic Church, into which are gathered God's servants of all ages and countries. With what goodly fellowship we associate ourselves when we come to stand before God in His house. What can we do at such times, but pray for the peace and prosperity of the Church, and pledge ourselves in every possible way to seek to do her good?"

A SONG OF DEGREES (4) THE DEVOUT SUFFERING SOUL.

"UNTO THEE WILL I LIFT UP MINE EYES, O THOU THAT DWELLEST IN THE HEAVENS," etc. Ps. cxxiii. 1-4. THIS Psalm leads us to look at two things in relation to a devout suffering soul

I. THE ATTITUDE OF A DEVOUT SOUL. "Unto Thee will I lift up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress : so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God until that He have mercy upon us." What is the attitude? First: Up-looking, "Unto thee will I lift up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens." Physically, man is the only being on earth upon whom the Creator has conferred an erect countenance, as if his very physical formation were intended to teach him that his eyes should be raised towards the skies, and that he should hold intercourse with Him

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who dwells

in heaven. Other animals look down upon the ground, their faces are bent towards the earth. Man is Godlike, erect, with native honour clad. The heathen themselves recognised this seal of divinity on the brow of man, and in the beautiful language of the Greek, the word 'man' describes him as a being whose honour it is to look up." But mentally so conscious are we of dependence on God that even the worst of men are forced at times to look up to Him in the heavens. "From Him alone cometh our help." This is the regular attitude of a devout soul, looking up to the Infinite. Is there a more sublime mood of being than this? The millions are looking down to worldly things and worldly plea

sures, and the highest objects on which most look are the little social magnates of the hour. But the true soul looks up to the Infinite Father. What is the attitude? Secondly: Up-looking for a practical purpose. "Behold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God." "The hand is the symbol of power, by the slave's eyes being turned towards his master's hand watches carefully for the his

is meant that least intimation

he

of

will. Or the hand may be taken as the instrument of giving, and the reference may be to the slave's absolute dependence on his master. Or it may be the chastising hand that is meant: as the slave looks with entreaty to his master deprecating punishment (Isaiah ix. 15), so the Psalmist's eyes are turned wistfully to God, until He have pity. The tone of the Psalm, however, indicates hopeful trust rather than humble submission. The future of His people is entirely in His hands: He will be sure some day to have mercy on His own." "Have mercy

II. THE NEED OF A SUFFERING SOUL. upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us," &c. "Some suggest the circumstances narrated in Neh. ii. 19; iv. 1-5, as suitable to the compositionof this Psalm: others prefer the times of persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes others again suggest, on the grounds of similarity of language, common authorship with Psalm What is the need of a suffering soul? Mercy. "Have mercy upon us." This is ever the need. Mercy to calm, succour, strengthen, guide, and deliver.

CXX."

CONCLUSION: This Psalm is a lesson of meekness. When we are fancying ourselves scorned or forgotten, what have we to do but to look up to God and entreat His favour? It is pity for ourselves, and not vengeance on our foes, that we would seek. At the same time we must be ready to obey like slaves waiting for some token of their master's will."