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position, for they excel in strength, and are radiant with glory; emanating from Him in whose presence they dwell: they are pure and exalted intelligences, ever hearkening to the voice of his commandments, and ready, with wings of lightning, to obey his high behests. It is said, that "Angels' visits are few, and far between"-nothing can be farther from the truth, for," are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation."-they rarely make their presence known, but when they do, their sympathies appear to be with us: as it is written, that "suddenly there was with the angel (who spoke to the shepherds) a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and goodwill toward men." The angels existed long before men; they were present when God laid the foundations of the earth, and then shouted for joy: their number is ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands: they could not be where they are, if they did not partake of the divine hatred to sin, and "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth ;" and all who do thus return to God, they are commissioned to watch over: "for he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone:" at death, they are in waiting, to conduct the departed spirit, to the mansions of glory. They always behold the face of our Father, who is in heaven: the beams of his glorious countenance, ever rest on them with complacency. Such are the angels, and such will be all, who are counted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead.

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CREATION MADE SUBJECT TO MAN.

"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things under his feet."

"All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field:

"The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea."

It appears from the apostles' comment on this Psalm, that in the ages to come, man will be superior, in state and glory, to the angels, inasmuch as Christ now occupies a higher sphere and name than they, for "to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool." The right hand of the throne is the place of highest honour: next to the actual occupancy of the throne; Christ could not promise this honour to two of his most distinguished apostles, but declared it to be reserved for those for "whom it is appointed of my Father," this dignity no angel could lay claim to; the Son (because he is the Son of man; for as God, he could not be raised from one elevation to another) alone occupies this place, and hence his proclaimed superiority to angels. For a little while (during the world that now is) man holdeth a subordinate place to angels; but in the eternal age, the angels will hold a subordinate place to man; "For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak; but one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him; thou madest him a little lower than the angels, thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and dost set him over the works of thy hands, thou hast put all things in sub

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jection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, (who being made a little while inferior to the angels, in order to the suffering of death, that he might by the grace of God taste death for every man) crowned with glory and honour." Thus far we see of the promise accomplished; viz-Man in the person of Christ, crowned with glory and honour; but we see not yet, all things put under him; for this he waiteth; "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool;" a time being fixed in the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will; first, to make his enemies his footstool; then to set his King upon his holy hill of Zion; and eventually to put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, that did put all things under him. When all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Dominion over the brute creation, and also over the elements will be given unto him, "and of the increase of his kingdom and dominion, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it, with judgment and justice for ever."

“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth."

His name alone is excellent, which his wondrous works declare; all nature speaks his praise, and reflects his glory, wherever the eye can rest, above, below, and around.

PSALM IX.

1. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.

3. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

4. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

5. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

6. O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end; and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

7. But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment;

8. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in upright

ness.

9. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

10. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

11. Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion declare among the people his doings.

12. When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

13. Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my

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trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death;

14. That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

15. The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

16. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

18. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19. Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail; let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

20. Put them in fear, O Lord; that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

"I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will shew forth all thy marvellous works."

"I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High."

Jesus said unto the Jews, "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father;" hence his ardent love of God (for knowledge of God begets love); "every one that loveth, is born of God and knoweth God; he that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love." Jesus knew the Father, and beheld in him, a surpassing excellence, which called forth unceasing praise: on God were his affections set, as it is written, "My heart is fixed; O Lord I will sing and give praise unto (thee) my