August 16

1 I will 'ing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when will thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside, it shall not cleave to me.

4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

5 Whose priestly slandereth his neighbour,

him will I cut off; him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer

6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. Be that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me

7 He that wicketh deceit shall not dwell within my house. He that telieth lies shall not tarry in my sight

8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD

"This Psalm has been appropriately called 'The Householder's Psalm,' and assuredly if every master of a family would regulate his household by these rules of the conscientious psalmist, there would be a far greater amount, not merely of domestic happiness and comfort, but of fulfilment of the serious and responsible duties which devolve on the respective members of the household. David in some measure may be supposed to speak of the regulation of a royal court and household; and of course with such we in our humbler sphere can have but little in common; yet though there may not be the same duties and the same requirements, yet the same principles should actuate all alike, and the same virtues that adorn the lowlier station may shed a radiance even on the highest."—Barton Boucher.

"Mr. Fox reports that Bishop Ridley often read and expounded this psalm to his household, hiring them with money to get it by heart."— Thomas Lye.

"This is the psalm which the old expositors used to designate 'The Mir- 24 ror for Magistrates; and an excellent mirror it is. It would mightily accelerate the coming of the time when every nation shall be Christ's possession, and every capital a 'City of the Lord,' if all magistrates could be persuaded to dress themselves by it every time they go forth to perform the functions of their godlike office."—William Binnie.

Closet Promise.—I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.—Isa. xxvii. 3.

Moment by moment, Lord, I come to Thee; Yea, every moment, Lord My helper be

I can do nothing, Saviour, Without Thee;

I can do all things, if Thou strengthen me.

Thou bidst me come, and this Is my sure plea According to Thy word, Lord, quicken me.

—Selected.