To such as keep his covenant,
and testimonies pure.

11 Now for thine own name's sake, O Lord, I humbly thee intreat

To pardon mine iniquity;

for it is very great.

12 What man fears God? him shall he teach the way that he shall choose.

13 His soul shall dwell at ease; his seed the earth, as heirs, shall use.

14 The secret of the Lord is with such as do fear his name,

And he his holy covenant

will manifest to them.

15 Towards the Lord my waiting eyes
continually are set:

For he it is that shall bring forth
my feet out of the net.

16 O'turn thee unto me, O God,

have mercy me upon;

Because I solitary am,

and in affliction.

17 Enlarg❜d the griefs are of mine heart : me from distress relieve,

18 See mine affliction and my pain, and all my sins forgive.

19 Consider thou mine enemies, because they many are,

And it a cruel hatred is

which they against me bear.

20 O do thou keep my soul; O God,
do thou deliver me:

Let me not be asham'd; for I
do put my trust in thee.

21 O let integrity and truth
keep me, who thee attend.
22 Redemption, Lord, to Israel
from all his troubles send.

PARALLEL PASSAGES.

Ver. 2-Isaiah xlix. 23.

10-Hos. xiv. 9.

Ver. 11-Ezek. xxxvi. 22. 14-John vii. 17.

PSALM XXVI.

A Psalm of David.

THIS Psalm, or rather Prayer, is lifted up by the believer when maligned and misrepresented by the world. If he cannot allege his purity from all sin, he can challenge a strict scrutiny in reference to the spurious motives attributed to him, the false inferences deduced from the holy doctrines he has embraced, and his separation from those who in their creed or conduct deny the principles of truth. In verses 1-3, he represents his having the testimony of a good conscience. In verses 4, 5, he declares his separation from the world. In verses 6-8, he proclaims his purpose in dependence on Divine grace to remain stedfast to the end."I will wash my hands in innocency and compass God's altar," is a most appropriate subject of contemplation before a communion-sabbath. Our hands are polluted by original as well ás actual guilt, for they took of the forbidden fruit as well as those of Adam and Eve. We must wash in the blood of Jesus before we do any act of prayer or praise, just as the priests washed in the brazen laver which stood at the Temple door, before they ministered before the Lord. Let us seek forgiveness through the blood of sprinkling, and then we shall speak of God's mighty works, and "walk on in our integrity."

[IRISH.]

1 JUDGE me, O Lord, for I have walk'd in mine integrity:

I trusted also in the Lord;

slide therefore shall not I.

2 Examine me and do me prove; try heart and reins, O God.

3 For thy love is before mine eyes; thy truth's paths I have trod.

4 With persons vain I have not sat, nor with dissemblers gone.

5 Th' assembly of ill men I hate : to sit with such I shun.

6 Mine hands in innocence, O Lord,
I'll wash and purify :

So to thine holy altar go,
And compass it will I.

7 That I, with voice of thanksgiving,
may publish and declare,
And tell of all thy mighty works,
that great and wondrous are.
8 The habitation of thy house,
Lord, I have loved well;
Yea, in that place I do delight,

where doth thine honour dwell. 9 With sinners gather not my soul, and such as blood would spill;

10 Whose hands mischievous plots, right-hand corrupting bribes do fill.

11 But as for me, I will walk on
in mine integrity;

Do thou redeem me, and, O Lord,
be merciful to me.

12 My foot upon an even place
doth stand with stedfastness:

Within the congregations
th' Eternal I will bless.

PARALLEL PASSAGES.

Ver. 6-Exod. xxx. 19-21.

PSALM XXVII.

A Psalm of David.

In this Psalm we have a beautiful picture of the believer's finding peace and comfort in Jesus, amid the contentions and

troubles of the world. He attributes his victory over the world to his faith-" Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" In verses 1-6, we have described the way of strengthening our faith-viz. public and private communion with our God. In verses 7-12, the believer prays for closer intercourse with God, and experience of the light of his countenance. In verse 13, David declares that he would have utterly fainted in his Christian course had he not seen all the goodness of God.—(Exod. xxxiii. 19, compared with Exod. xxxiv. 5-7.) In the last verse all are exhorted to imitate the example of David. How much more should we imitate the example of the true David, Christ Jesus. We may rest assured that in no strength but that of the Holy Spirit can we overcome the world. [WESTMINSTER.]

1 THE Lord's my light and saving health;
who shall make me dismay'd?

My life's strength is the Lord; of whom
then shall I be afraid?

2 When as mine enemies and foes,
most wicked persons all,

To eat my flesh against me rose,
they stumbled and did fall.
3 Against me though an host encamp,
my heart yet fearless is:

Though war against me rise, I will
be confident in this.

4 One thing I of the Lord desir'd,
and will seek to obtain,

That all days of my life I may
within God's house remain;
That I the beauty of the Lord
behold may and admire,
And that I in his holy place
may rev'rently inquire.
5 For he in his pavilion shall
me hide in evil days;

In secret of his tent me hide,
and on a rock me raise.

6 And now, even at this present time, mine head shall lifted be

Above all those that are my foes,

and round encompass me:
Therefore unto his tabernacle
I'll sacrifices bring

Of joyfulness: I'll sing, yea, I
to God will praises sing.

7 O Lord, give ear unto my voice,
when I do cry to thee:
Upon me also mercy have,

and do thou answer me.

8 When thou didst say, Seek ye my face,
then unto thee reply

Thus did my heart, Above all things,
thy face, Lord, seek will I.

9 Far from me hide not thou thy face,
put not away from thee

Thy servant in thy wrath: thou hast
an helper been to me.

O God of my salvation,

leave me not, nor forsake.

10 Though me my parents both should leave, the Lord will me up take.

11 O Lord, instruct me in thy way,
to me a leader be

In a plain path, because of those
that hatred bear to me.

12 Give me not to mine en'mies' will;
for witnesses, that lie,
Against me risen are, and such
as breathe out cruelty.

13 I fainted had, unless that I
believed had to see