March 24

Psalm exix. — 40. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

41. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord! even thy salvation, according to thy word.

42. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me; for I trust in thy word.

43. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

44. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

45. And I will walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts.

Romans vii. — 9. I was alive without the law once; but, when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10. And the commandment which was ordained to life I found to be unto death.

11. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

13. Was, then, that which is good made death unto me? God forbid! But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14. For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16. If, then, I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17. Now, then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not.

19. For the good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20. Now, if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21. I find, then, a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22. For I delight in the law of God, after the inward man;

23. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25. I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So, then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sin.

This inward conflict between good and evil, of right convictions with agony desires, of good purposes with evil solicitations, of the inner law of conscience with the power of habit in the senses, is a universal experience of human nature. Pagan moralists have depicted it in language scarcely less vivid and earnest than this. David, in the Psalms, bewails it as pathetically as does Paul in this touching lament. In Paul's philosophy, which he expresses more fully in other epistles, man consists of body, soul, and spirit: the body, with its animal appetites and desires; the spirit, with its conscience, and its capacity for communion with God; and the soul, which, by its various susceptibilities, links these two together. The

spirit, in its normal state, has an affinity for God, and both reason and conscience would delight in his law. But the desires of the flesh have led away the soul, and the whole sentient nature is committed to sinful gratification. While the illusion lasts, sin seems to give only pleasure; and, while the law is kept out of sight, this kind of indulgence seems like enjoying life. But there comes a reaction: the law of God, in conscience and in his Word, asserts itself; the higher nature struggles to be free only to find itself chained to sin as to a body of death. Alas, poor wretched soul! there is no deliverance, no hope, in thyself: only in Christ is there freedom and peace.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 26, 58.

O Thou who wast tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, and who for our sakes didst endure such contradiction of sinners against thyself! keep us, we pray thee, both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul. Help us, O Lord! in our inward conflicts with doubts and fears and sins; help us in our conflicts with the temptations and evils of the world; and, oh! help us in our wrestlings with unseen powers of evil, with the great Adversary of our souls. O Lord! increase our faith. Our hope is in thee; our strength is from thee alone: dwell in us by thy grace; fill us with thy Spirit. This very day may we gain new victo-

ries over evil! May we resist temptations in business to swerve from the truth, to take advantage of others, to act dishonorably, to be covetous and unjust! May we resist temptations in society to envy and evil-speaking, to worldliness and frivolity! May we in all things do that which is right in the sight of God! [May these children grow up, dear Saviour, in thy strength and love, safe from the power of evil!]

We thank thee for another night of rest, another day of mercy and of hope. Bless all dear to us; our friends and neighbors. Succor, O Lord! the poor and needy, the sick, the tempted, the dying. O Lord Jesus! be with us in our last conflict, and make us more than conquerors over death; and to thy name be glory forever. Amen.