Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings

Thou hast ordained strength because of Thine enemies,

That Thou mightest still the enemy and the

avenger.

3 When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers,

The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?

And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?

5 For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels,

And hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands;

Thou hast put all things under his feet.

7 All sheep and oxen,

Yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, And whatsoever passeth through the paths of the

seas.

9 O Lord our Lord,

How excellent is Thy Name in all the earth!

REFLECTIONS.

The excellence of Jehovah's name, the perfection which it describes, is known upon earth. His glory is above the heavens: it is infinite. But tender children may lisp His praise, and put His enemies to silence and confusion. While we think of the sky above us,

and of the luminaries of day and night, how can we sufficiently admire the divine goodness to us; which is seen in His care for us, in the nature which He has given us, and in the rank which we occupy, as spectators of His works, and as lords of all the creatures around us! Surely we ought to praise Him for such distinguishing goodness.

But we here behold our blessed Redeemer.

We see

Him in His humiliation and exaltation. This is the stupendous proof of the divine goodness. God has remembered us in our low and lost state, and visited us with salvation.

PRAYER.

O Lord, may we, in the light of Thy word, and by the power of Thy Spirit, truly know our Saviour, the world in which we live, and ourselves. Pour Thy grace upon our children, that they may speak Thy praise. Pour Thy grace upon us and upon all mankind, that the excellence of Thy Name, Thy glory and perfection, may be acknowledged and celebrated in all the earth, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour. Amen

DAY 2.]

PSALM IX.

MORNING PRAYER.

Instructive, as Psalm i. Probably composed by David to celebrate his victories over the neighbouring nations. 2 Sam. viii. 2-12.

(I. Praise.)

1 I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart;

I will show 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.

(II. Enemies vanquished.)

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 thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end:

And thou hast destroyed cities;
Their memorial is perished with them.

(III. The justice and goodness of God.)

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 uprightness.

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.

(IV. Praise and Prayer.)

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 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.

(V. The End of the Wicked, &c.)

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 ensnared in the work of his own

hands.

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. (VI. Prayer.)

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

1. That the marvellous works of God, all His gra

cious dealings with us, are matter for our joy and gladness; for praise and thanksgiving: and praise is not only to engage our lips, but our whole heart.

2. That many of the powers which opposed divine truth have perished, and those which now oppose it shall perish. God is a righteous Judge: and whether we regard nations, cities, or individuals, the destruction of the wicked is an event which will take place. He will blot out the remembrance of them, and maintain, and render prosperous, the cause of His servants.

3. That the justice and goodness of God are points on which we ought to be fully persuaded: His justice, for He will judge the world in righteousness; His goodness, for He will not forsake His people, but be their Defender and Comforter in times of trouble. Be it our study and prayer to know God, and to put our trust in Him.

4. That a just sense of God's justice and goodness will lead to praise and prayer. Although the righteous be persecuted even to death, they and their prayers shall be remembered. Well, therefore, may we sing praises to the Lord, and declare His doings.-But we are sufferers on earth; at times brought perhaps into great affliction, into great trouble and danger: and in such seasons, what better can we do than pray for the divine mercy and favour? Then we shall publicly praise God, and rejoice in His salvation.

5. That the righteousness and goodness of God shall be seen in the destruction of the wicked, and in the fulfilment of the hopes of the humble. How awful