February 18

Psalm xix. — 1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handi-work.

2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.

3. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

4. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5. Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6. His going-forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

8. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing

By omitting the Italicized words in verse 3, we make more clear the poetic beauty and delicate thought of the original. Though day and night are silent in their coming and going, though they utter no audible voice, no articulate speech, yet do they give forth a testimony for God co-extensive with the earth and the heaven. "Like an unbroken chain, their message is delivered from day to day, and from night to night. At the silence of one herald, another takes up his speech; and holy silence itself is a speech to the listening soul."

But the same God who speaks to us of his wisdom and beneficence, his might and majesty, in the glory of the sun and the stars, addresses our moral nature through his revealed

the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10. More to be desired are they than gold; yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb.

11. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned; and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord! my strength and my redeemer.

word, his law of truth and right and purity, the perfection of love. Like the sun in the Syrian sky, this law searches every thing by its light and heat, — the secret faults, the unconscious errors, no less than wilful and presumptuous sins.

Yet the Psalmist would not shrink from this all penetrating presence of God in his word: for as the light of the sun is health to the body, so this searching light of the Bible is cleansing also; and, in the degree that the truth purifies the life, it rejoices the heart. Through and above the light that exposes and condemns, the trembling, repentant soul discerns the Lord, its strength and its redeemer.

APPROPRIATE HIMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 18, 31, 79, 90.

O Lord, our Lord! how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. We bless thee for all thy works of creation and of providence; but above all for the revelation of thyself in thy Son our Saviour, who was the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person.

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 thy blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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, kindle our minds with thy truth, and cause our hearts to glow with thy love. Teach the children to read thy glory in the heavens, and to know thy grace in the gospel of thy Son.

Let thy special blessing, O Lord! rest on all our relations, friends, and neighbors: and so quicken us by thy grace, that, with one mind and one heart, 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, through his merits; to whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all praise and thanksgiving forever. Amen.