May 16

Psalm ex.—1. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 5. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. 6. He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. 7. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

This psalm has the rhythm and tone of a triumphal march. In words of majestic beauty and of sustained fervor, it celebrates the kingdom, the priesthood, the conquests, and the exaltation of Christ. It is the magnificent panorama of the Revelation by John given in miniature, with every principal scene suggested by some leading feature. David, in spirit foreseeing the glory of Christ, calls him his Lord, and hears the voice of Jehovah inviting the Messiah to share his throne. As an Oriental conqueror used the necks of captives for his footstool, the absolute triumph of Christ is represented by his putting all enemies under his feet. He shall tread upon death, and rise victorious from the grave.

But the Church shall be the seat of his gracious power. Gladly owning this redeeming King, his people shall follow his standard with willing hearts: their ranks shall be recruited

Revelation i. — 4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before his throne; 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

from rising generations, till his hosts, brilliant as the dew in the beauty of holiness, shall also be innumerable as the drops that burst into splendor with the coming of the dawn. More copious even than these liquid jewels from the womb of the morning shall be the myriads of new-born souls bright with the dew of their consecration. This King shall unite in himself also the priestly functions, of no human order or pedigree, but as the spiritual antelope of that royal priest, the king of peace, who blessed Abraham, and received his homage. All kings shall bow or bend to his authority; all nations shall be gathered before him in judgment. If at times his triumph seems to be checked, he but pauses, as it were, to refresh himself by the way, and again lifts up his head. How blessed and glorious it is to follow such a King! How sad and ruinous to be found among his enemies!

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 86, 137, 159.

O Almighty Father, Lord of heaven and earth, who on the first day didst create the light, and hast raised us up to praise and adore thee! make us to walk as children of light, that we may have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. O Lord, most gracious Saviour, who on this day didst rise again from the dead! raise up our souls unto newness of life, granting us repentance from dead works, and planting us in the likeness of thy resurrection. O thou blessed Spirit, Lord and Giver of life, who on this day didst come down to sanctify and to teach, to guide and to comfort, thine elect! lead us, we beseech thee, into all truth, and fill our hearts with thy manifold gifts of grace. O Lord! we beseech thee so to purify our hearts this day, that we may worship thee acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. Incline us to receive thy Word into honest and good hearts, and to bring forth fruit with patience; that we may at last inherit everlasting life, through the mediation

of our great High Priest, who has passed into the heavens, and who liveth evermore.

Thou Lord of the evening and morning, we bless thee for thy love which shines upon us in the morning light. As thy goodness hath preserved us in the night, may thy grace attend and keep us this day! As we shall study thee in thy works and Word, fill our minds with thy truth, and our hearts with thy love. Grant us thy peace. Teach the children thy grace in the gospel of thy Son, that they may consecrate to thee the dew of their youth.

Let thy special blessing, O Lord! rest on all our relations, friends, and neighbors: and so quicken us by thy grace, that with willing hearts we may serve and please thee; that having washed our robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, we may dwell with thee forevermore. Oh! hasten the final coming and glory of Christ our Saviour; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all praise and thanksgiving forever. Amen.