April 30

Psalms 45:1. My heart is inclining a good matter. I speak of the things which I have made touching the King: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

2. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

3. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Most Mighty! with thy glory and thy majesty;

4. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

5. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

6. Thy throne, O God! is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

7. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

8. All thy garments smell of myrrh and aloes; and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

9. Kings' daughters were among thy honorable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

10. Hearken, O daughter! and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

11. So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy lord; and worship thou him.

12. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favor.

13. The King's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

14. She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

15. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King's palace.

16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

17. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefor shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

Under the figure of a marriage festival, the union of Christ with his Church is set forth in this exceedingly rich and beautiful psalm. That Christ is the subject of the song is clear from the quotation of the 6th and 7th verses, in Hebrews 1:8, 9, to prove the divine king-ship of Jesus. It could not have referred to David, for he did not wed a foreign princess, nor to Solomon; for, though he married a daughter of Pharaoh, he was not a warrior, such as is here described. Nor would divine honors and an eternal kingdom have been ascribed to any mortal sovereign.

The heart of the Psalmist bursts with his theme,—the

beauty, the righteousness, the grace, the majesty, the glory of the just and victorious King whom he celebrates. The Church, led forth as it were from a strange land, is brought to him to be enriched and beautified as his bride. Under this delicate symbol is pictured the love of Christ for his Church. He admits her to the most near, loving, confidential communion; he elevates her to his own dignity and honor; and he will hereafter bestow upon her the full blessedness of his presence, the full glory of his kingdom. Shall not our hearts, too, swell with his love, our tongues sound forth his praise?

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 49, 62, 121.

Almighty God, the fountain of truth and grace, who hast revealed unto us what eye had not seen, nor ear heard, and what had never entered into the heart of man to conceive, we bless thee for the revelation of thyself in Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh! for his sake hear us, and take away our sins. Thankful for the night and the week now closed, which have brought us so many tokens of thy goodness, we joyfully commit ourselves to thee for this holy day.

Lord of the sabbath, hear our prayers, that it may please thee to bless us with thy Spirit, so that, through the power of his grace, we may enter into the holiest rest, and partake of the purest joy. Mercifully prepare us for all holy service. Go with us to thy house. Help us to worship in the beauty of holiness. Give efficacy to thine own truth; and may we receive it as able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in thy Son!

We commend to thee, O God, the whole catholic Church. Pour down upon her ministry, and all congregations committed to their care, the

healthful spirit of thy grace; and may it please thee to accompany their message with the demonstrations of thy Spirit and with power. Bless thy people, and lift them up forever. Let thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Praised be thy name for the mercies of this life,—for our home-comforts, our means of education, our manifold enjoyments and privileges.

Holy Father, we pray for all who are in trouble and sorrow, that it may please thee to comfort them in their distress, and give them a happy issue out of their affliction. Have compassion on the poor; succor the tried and the tempted; loose the chain of the captive; hear the sigh of the prisoner; and be with those who are doomed to die. Finally, we commend ourselves as a family, with all our kindred and friends, unto thy heavenly care and blessing. Accept our thanks, pardon our sins, sanctify our souls, and prepare us for glory everlasting, through Jesus Christ, our only Mediator. Amen.