honour God, and cause the evil one to boast. It is well for us that our salvation and God's honour are so intimately connected, that they stand or fall together. Our covenant God will complete the confusion of all our enemies, and if for awhile we become their scoff and jest, the day is coming when the shame will change sides, and the contempt shall be poured on those to whom it is due.

5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

What a change is here! Lo the rain is over and gone, and the time of the singing of birds is come. The mercy-seat has so refreshed the poor weeper, that he clears his throat for a song. If we have mourned with him, let us now dance with him. David's heart was more often out of tune than his harp. He begins many of his psalms sighing, and ends them singing; and others be begins in joy and ends in sorrow; so that one would think," says Peter Moulin, "that those psalms had been composed by two men of a contrary humour." It is worthy to be observed that the joy is all the greater because of the previous sorrow, as calm is all the more delightful in recollection of the preceding tempest.

"Sorrows remembered sweeten present joy."

Here is his avowal of his confidence: “But I have trusted in thy mercy." For many a year it had been his wont to make the Lord his castle and tower of defence, and he smiles from behind the same bulwarks still. He is sure of his faith, and his faith makes him sure; had he doubted the reality of his trust in God he would have blocked up one of the windows through which the sun of heaven delights to shine. Faith is now in exercise, and consequently is readily discovered; there is never a doubt in our heart about the existence of faith while it is in action; when the hare or partridge is quiet we see it not, but let the same be in motion and we soon perceive it. All the powers of his enemies had not driven the psalmist from his stronghold. As the shipwrecked mariner clings to the mast, so did David cling to his faith; he neither could, nor would give up his confidence in the Lord his God. Oh that we may profit by his example, and hold by our faith as by our very life!

Now hearken to the music which faith makes in the soul. The bells of the mind are all ringing, "My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation." There is joy and feasting within doors, for a glorious guest has come, and the fatted calf is killed. Sweet is the music which sounds from the strings of the heart. But this is not all; the voice joins itself in the blessed work, and the tongue keeps tune with the soul, while the writer declares, “I will sing unto the Lord."

"I will praise thee every day,
Now thine anger's past away;
Comfortable thoughts arise
From the bleeding sacrifice."

The psalm closes with a sentence which is a refutation of the charge of forgetfulness which David had uttered in the first verse; "he hath dealt bountifully with me." So shall it be with us if we wait awhile. The complaint which in our haste we utter shall be joyfully retracted, and we shall witness that the Lord hath dealt bountifully with us.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.

Verses 1, 2.-That which the French proverb hath of sickness is true of all evils, that they come on horseback and go away on foot; we have often seen that a sudden fall or one meal's surfeit has stuck by many to their graves; whereas pleasures come like oxen, slow and heavily, and go away like post-horses, upon the spur. Sorrows, because they are lingering guests, I will entertain but moderately; knowing that the more they are made of the longer they will continue: and for pleasures, because they stay not, and do but call to drink at my door, I will use them as passen

gers with slight respect. He is his own best friend that makes the least of both of them.-Bishop Hall.

Verse 4.

"Ah! can you bear contempt; the venom'd tongue
Of those whom ruin pleases, the keen sneer,
The lewd reproaches of the rascal herd;
Who for the selfsame actions, if successful,
Would be as grossly lavish in your praise?
To sum up all in one-can you support
The scornful glances, the malignant joy,
Or more detested pity of a rival,—
Of a triumphant rival?”

Thompson.

Verse 5.-None live so easily, so pleasantly, as those that live by faith.-Matthew Henry. Wherefore I say again, "Live by faith;" again I say, always live by it, rejoice through faith in the Lord. I dare boldly say it is thy fault and neglect of its exercise if thou suffer either thy own melancholy humour or Satan to interrupt thy mirth and spiritual alacrity, and to detain thee in dumps and pensiveness at any time. What if thou beest of a sad constitution? of a dark complexion? Is not faith able to rectify nature ? Is it not stronger than any hellebore? Doth not an experienced divine and physician worthily prefer one dram of it before all the drugs in the apothecary's shop for this effect? Hath it not sovereign virtue in it, to excerebrate all cares, expectorate all fears and griefs, evacuate the mind of all ill thoughts and passions, to exhilarate the whole man? But what good doth it to any to have a cordial by him if he use it not? To wear a sword, soldier-like, by his side, and not to draw it forth in an assault? When a dump overtakes thee, if thou wouldest say to thy soul in a word or two, "Soul, why art thou disquieted? know and consider in whom thou believest," would it not presently return to its rest again? Would not the Master rebuke the winds and storms, and calm thy troubled mind presently? Hath not every man something or other he useth to put away dumps, to drive away the evil spirit, as David with his harp? Some with merry company, some with a cup of sack, most with a pipe of tobacco, without which they cannot ride or go. If they miss it a day together they are troubled with rheums, dulness of spirits. They that live in fens and ill airs dare not stir out without a morning draught of some strong liquor. Poor, silly, smoky helps, in comparison with the least taste (but for dishonouring faith I would say whiff) or draught of faith.Samuel Ward.

HINTS TO THE VILLAGE PREACHER.

Verse 1.-The apparent length of sorrow, only apparent. Contrast with days of joy, with eternal misery and eternal joy. Impatience, and other evil passions, cause the seeming length. Means of shortening, by refusing to forestall, or to repine afterwards. Verse 1, Second Clause.-Hiding of the divine face. Why at all? Why from me? Why so long?

Verse 2.-Advice to the dejected, or the soul directed to look out of itself for consolation.-A. Fuller. Verse 2, First clause.-Self-torture, its cause, curse, crime, and cure. "Having sorrow in my heart daily." I. The cause of daily sorrow. Great enemy, unbelief, sin, trial, loss of Jesus' presence, sympathy with others, mourning for human ruin. II. The necessity of daily sorrow. Purge corruptions, excite graces, raise desires heavenward. III. The cure of daily sorrow. Good food from God's table, old wine of promises, walks with Jesus, exercise in good works, avoidance of everything unhealthy.-B. Davies.

Verse 2, Second Clause.-Time anticipated when defeat shall be turned into victory. Verse 3.-By accommodating the text to the believer. I. True character of Satan, enemy. II. Remarkable fact that this enemy is exalted over us. III. Pressing inquiry, "How long?"-B. Davies.

66

وو

Verse 3.-Lighten mine eyes. A prayer fit for (1) Every benighted sinner. (2) Every seeker of salvation. (3) Every learner in Christ's school. (4) Every tried believer. (5) Every dying saint.-Davies.

Verse 4.-Noteth the nature of the wicked two ways, viz., the more they prevail the more insolent they are; they wonderfully exult over those that are afflicted. Wilcocks. Verse 5.-Experience and perseverance. "I have," "my heart shall." Verse 6.-The bountiful giver and the hearty singer.

The whole Psalm would make a good subject, showing the stages from mourning to rejoicing, dwelling especially upon the turning point, prayer. There are two verses for each, mourning, praying, rejoicing.—A, G. Brown.

IT

New Chapels.

T would be exceedingly injudicious to forget the needs of our smaller towns on the pretext that London required all our strength. God in his providence sends us men suited for country spheres, and thus plainly points us to country work; these very men frequently gather experience in smaller fields of labour, and ultimately return to our huge city prepared for city work by their toil in more secluded spots. To refuse aid to rising interests in districts away from home would be far aside from our design, which knows no geographical limit, and is only bounded by our means. So far as God's people help us, we would do good unto all men. The Pastor's College finds ministers for country towns, and funds generously entrusted to our discretion to some extent aid these ministers in their work when places of worship have to be erected. Among the pleasing instances of spots in which new Churches have been founded, is Winslow, in Bucks. There is a peculiar link between our own Church in London and the quiet town of Winslow, and it is cheering to see it practically recognised. Benjamin Keach, the author of the famous works upon the "Metaphors" and the "Parables," was for thirty-six years a most successful pastor of the Church now meeting in the Tabernacle, and before his coming to London, in 1668, he preached Christ crucified at Winslow, in a little old chapel which is still standing, and is a genuine specimen of the odd out-of-the-way sanctuaries in which the people of God in persecuting times were wont quietly to assemble. The meeting-house is a real curiosity, and well worthy of a visit from the passing traveller; the interior has undergone some alterations since Keach's time, but the exterior is doubtless the same.

It was while residing at Winslow that Keach was made to stand in the pillory at Aylesbury for writing a Child's Primer, in which he taught

the baptism of believers, and the Second Advent of the Lord. While exposed in the market-place, his wife, like a true woman, stood by his side, and he began to address the people:-"Good people, I am not ashamed to stand here this day, with this paper on my head. My Lord Jesus was not ashamed to suffer on the cross for me; and it is for his cause that I am made a gazing-stock. Take notice, it is not for any wickedness that I stand here; but for writing and publishing his truths, which the Spirit of the Lord hath revealed in the Holy Scriptures." A clergyman who stood by could not forbear interrupting him, and said, "It is for writing and publishing errors; and you may now see what your errors have brought you to." Mr. Keach replied, "Sir, can you prove them errors?" but before the clergyman could return an answer he was attacked by some of the people, who told him of his being "pulled drunk out of a ditch." Another upbraided him with having been found "drunk under a haycock." Upon this the people, turning their attention from the sufferer in the pillory, laughed at the drunken priest, insomuch that he hastened away with the utmost disgrace and shame.

The savour of the gospel has never utterly left Winslow, and there have always been a people in the town who knew the truth and loved it, but a revival was greatly needed and graciously vouchsafed.

For many years previous to 1863, there was little spiritual life in the place, when an Evangelist visited the town, and the minds of many were awakened. A desire arose to perpetuate the good work, and a small out-building was converted into a preaching room; such was the success the Lord granted, that in September it became necessary that some one should attend to pastoral visitation. As the friends held Baptist prin

ciples they applied to Mr. C. H. Spurgeon, and our pastor, Mr. Robert Sole, then a student of his college, was sent. The work prospered, persons unaccustomed to a place of worship began to attend, souls were saved, and a Church of eight members was formed in November of the same year.

In the beginning of 1864, increased accommodation became absolutely necessary, and one of the brethren, on his own responsibility, secured for a site an eligible piece of freehold land in the best part of the town, which he has since transferred to the Church.

Mr. John Neale, of Edgware-road, London, a native of this place, having for many years desired to do something for the spiritual benefit of the town, immediately volunteered his active assistance, in connection with Mr. Spurgeon, in the furtherance of the work.

The first stone of the new chapel was laid by Henry Kelsall, Esq., on May 3rd, 1864, at which time he generously gave fifty guineas towards the erection. On the same day, Pastor C. H. Spurgeon preached twice; and by his aid, the exertions of friends on the spot, and the liberality of friends at the Tabernacle, who were invited to Winslow and hospitably entertained by Mr. Neal, the place is almost free from debt, and only requires a little more aid to be entirely so.

The chapel was opened by J. A. Spurgeon in September, 1864, and is well attended. The Church has increased to sixty-two members since its formation; among those recently converted are four young men, who are labouring with much acceptance in the open air. The Sabbath school contains seventy children; and there are twelve district visitors, who while they circulate tracts seek spiritual conversation with the people. The brethren say of themselves, "Although Baptists, we love all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and rejoice in the work of the Lord among any people. Our great object is not to spread a sect, but to extend the kingdom of Jesus, by bringing souls to him.”