the spiritual Israel. As to the literal Israel. Truly the Lord is round about His people, of whom after the flesh Christ came. And yet can this be true? When we look at the present condition of Israel, scattered over all the face of the earth, without a king, without a country, without a home, trembling under sorrow, worn down, oppressed, mocked by the infidel, barely tolerated by many Christians, neglected by all; 'a nation scattered and peeled,' exiles from their own land, a strange race among strangers, their country forfeited: can it be true of Israel now that the Lord is round about His people when men have to lament her? How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become a widow she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.' Can it be that these blessed promises apply to the literal Israel? Yes, beloved, they do, and in God's good time He will show that they are theirs, for they shall again be the possessors of their own land. The promise spoken by the prophet Amos (ix. 9) shall assuredly come to pass, 'Lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.' the earth.' Then shall it be seen that as the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people, from henceforth even for ever.' In that day shall it be asked of them, 'Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?' In the words of Zechariah, I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.' But let us now turn to the spiritual Israel, the Church of God, whether Jews or Gentiles. The Church at present is in her wandering, pilgrim state. She is still the Church in the wilderness.' Those who compose her feel that their home is not here, that they are seeking a country, that is a heavenly. Still, however, it is true of them as of the literal Israel, that 'As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people, from henceforth even for ever;' that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.' The Lord Jesus has given His promise to His people, 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' No matter what or who or how many may be against us, He is with us. He will make our path plain, and nothing unforeseen shall befall us; nothing, however trying and perplexing, but we shall find Him with us, a defence, a strength, and support. Are any of you, dear brethren, to-day in difficulty and perplexity, not knowing which way to turn? O, I exhort you to go to Jesus; He will lead you in a plain path and in a right way, until He bring you to the city of habitation. Is your heart troubled with some sore burden which presses heavily upon you? O, look to Jesus, He will be the strength of your heart, and your portion for ever. Are you stricken and grieved in spirit? Turn your sorrowful gaze to Jesus. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem,' so the Lord is round about you. It is His gracious work to bind up the broken heart; to give rest to the weary heart: take yours to Him, beloved friends, and you shall find healing and peace. How sweet to think that the Lord is also round about our home above, the heavenly Jerusalem, the abode of His glorified Church! He is guarding those bright and glorious mansions, and nothing shall ever tarnish their glory. Verse 3. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. No rod, dear friends, shall ever come into our lot if we are Christ's people, save the rod of our great and loving Master which is used for our good, that we may be tried and purified even as silver is tried, that we may be made meet to be taken home to the mansions of our Father's house, to shine as jewels in the Saviour's crown. O, what a blessed thing to be for ever done with sin and all that formerly harassed us, and to be safe, eternally 'safe in the arms of Jesus,' and one with that blessed family in heaven who dwell under the shadow of His almighty wings! Yes, dear friends, God may lead His children through many and bitter trials, but He is present with them all the while. He does not require them to walk in a path untrodden before, nor yet to taste the bitter cup of which He Himself drank so deeply. Ah, no, beloved, for those hands of His were once nailed to the cross in order that they might now be stretched forth to bless us and to lead us onwards to heaven. And now everything is right and good. The rod of the Lord is in the lot of the righteous, but every dart of the enemy shall fail. Beloved, are you prepared this day to say with full purpose of heart, Other lords beside Thee have had dominion over us; but by Thee only will we make mention of Thy name?' 'Lord, increase our faith.' And yet remember that it is not the degree of faith that will save us, but faith rightly directed, having Jesus for its object. Is there in us this childlike faith in Jesus as our Saviour, and in God as our Father? then see to what blessed fellowship we are admitted! Evil is to follow the wicked, but good is to be to the righteous. How beautiful are the few closing words of the Psalm Peace shall be upon Israel;' that peace which passeth all understanding; a peace which the world can neither give nor take away; such a peace is to be upon the Israel of God. Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast; Borne in a song to me Safe in the arms of Jesus, Free from my doubts and fears, Only a few more trials, Only a few more tears. Jesus my heart's dear refuge, PSALM CXXXIX. OMNIPOTENCE AND OMNISCIENCE. THE time at which this Psalm was written appears, so far as we can gather from its exquisitely beautiful language, to have been a period of great trial in many different ways, in touching reference to which, we find David exclaiming, O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.' He speaks of God as the searcher of his heart; as the One to whom every thought and inteut of his heart was known. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off. The omnipresent God is here especially presented before us, not only as being intimately acquainted with all our ways, with every action however small and apparently insignificant, but as understanding our very inmost thoughts, and that too 'afar off." Thou compassest (or winnowest) my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.' Thou discernest them all; life and death, and joy and sorrow, Thou winnowest all my ways; Thou art acquainted with them all. Yea, and more than this, 'there is not a word in my tongue;' it is not I who tell it to Thee; it is not my lips which make it known to Thee; there is not a word in my tongue; it is Thou, O Lord, in Thine own infinite and unerring wisdom who 'knowest it altogether.' Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.' In every event of my past life, in every joy, in every sorrow, Thy hand was upon me; in every event of the uncertain future known only to Thee, Thy hand will be with me still; with me to guide, to bless, to support, to comfort. In Thee I live and move, and have my being; everything is known to Thee, and everything comes from Thine infinite and unchanging love. 'Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain unto it.' This is a point beyond which we cannot go; it is impossible for us to understand the unspeakable depths of the wisdom and love of God. If we read the verse without the italics it is even more striking, Knowledge is too wonderful for me.' 'Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?' Ah, dear friends, there is no joy, no happiness to be compared to that attitude; lying passive in His hand, unable to understand His |