seek after holiness, and integrity, and purity, in what they do, and say, and think, shall see more plainly, and love more deeply, Him Who is perfect holiness, and goodness, and purity. They are of Him and in Him, Whose all-perfect Spirit is in them; and no earthly sorrow can sully their trust and peace. While with the disobedient and profane God is, as it were, in a continual struggle; He seems to be in truth an austere Master; and the remembrance of Him comes to their minds only to annoy, to humiliate, and to crush them.

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28. Thou also shalt light my candle the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be light.

Thus does God give us light-by drawing us nearer to the Fount of light, to Him Who is 'Light of Light.' None but He can make our darkness to be light; as none but ourselves can make His light darkness. He kindles a spark of His uncreated and immortal light within our dark and dying hearts; and in its clearness all things change: the shadows of earth vanish, the things eternal become more plain; and the saying is fulfilled in us,-'Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.'

29. For in Thee I shall discomfit an host of men and with the help of my God I shall leap over the wall.

As Christ is our Light, so is He our Strength.

He will conquer in us, as we have conquered in Him. We shall be victors over the multitude of our own sins and ignorances, even as David discomfited his enemies in battle array; we shall despise and overcome the stony wall of the tomb, which our sins built up and made so strong,-even as David ascended into the ramparts and subdued the citadel of the Jebusites,-in and through Him Who once defeated the malice of His murderers by His patient love, and Who scaled the battlements of the grave by the glory of the Father.

30. The way of God is an undefiled way : the word of the Lord also is tried in the fire; He is the defender of all them that put their trust in Him.

31. For who is God, but the Lord or who hath any strength, except our God?

These things are needful for us, that we may come unto that One Almighty Father and eternal God Who hath made heaven and earth,-obedience to the commandments which He has given, faith in the truths which He has revealed, use of the means of grace which He has appointed. Thus only can we arrive at the true knowledge of Him Whom truly to know is everlasting life, Whose way is holiness, Whose word is more precious than refined gold, Whose aid and defence is never failing.

32. It is God, that girdeth me with strength of war and maketh my way perfect.

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33. He maketh my feet like hart's feet: and setteth me up on high.

34. He teacheth mine hands to fight and mine arms shall break even a bow of steel.

It is only in Him that the Christian can manfully fight against his foes; He only can make him perfect in that way of love in which no fear can linger. In Him only can we pass safely and swiftly, like a hart, among the thorny brakes and through the entangling thickets of this world's wilderness; and by Him only can we indeed fulfil the precept— 'Set your affection on things above.' He only giveth that mouth and wisdom which no adversaries are able to gainsay or resist, and that power by which we can do all things through Christ Which strengtheneth us.'

35. Thou hast given me the defence of Thy salvation Thy right hand also shall hold me up, and Thy loving correction shall make me great.

36. Thou shalt make room enough under me for to go that my footsteps shall not slide.

37. I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them.

38. I will smite them, that they shall not be able to stand but fall under my feet.

He Who once fought for us, and overcame in us,

is our ever-present salvation and constant support and guide. The light afflictions and chastenings which He lays upon us, work out for us by their loving discipline a higher degree of victory and glory. In that one holy Church into which He has called us, there is a way opened for us to Himself which is most secure and plain, if our feet slide not from it. There in obedience and self-denial we can struggle with our unworthy desires and carnal lusts, and take no rest till we have utterly beaten them down and cast them out, and made them give place to purity and heavenly love.

39. Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou shalt throw down mine enemies under me.

40. Thou hast made mine enemies also to turn their backs upon me and I shall destroy them that hate me.

41. They shall cry, but there shall be none to help them yea, even unto the Lord shall they cry, but He shall not hear them.

42. I will beat them as small as the dust before the wind I will cast them out as the clay in the streets.

We may contend, but it is Christ Who achieves the conquest. Man may wage the fight against sin, but it is grace that wins it. It is only in the armour with which He girds us, and by the weapons which He gives us, that we can stand

in the evil day of temptation. All that offends God in us must be destroyed; for who would save what He will not save? The enemies of our souls must be made to perish, like the Amalekites and Agag their king, without help or hope. They are of the earth, earthy: the flesh in which is their strength and dwelling-place shall return to the dust from which it was taken, and in that day shall all fleshly thoughts and earthly plans perish.

43. Thou shalt deliver me from the strivings of the people and Thou shalt make me the head of the heathen.

44. A people whom I have not known: shall serve me.

45. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me but the strange children shall dis

semble with me.

46. The strange children shall fail and be afraid out of their prisons.

They who are Christ's shall share in all He has and all He is. They are members of His Body; and as they struggle and suffer with Him, so also shall they reign with Him. In Him they are delivered from the unrest and unending strife which is their portion who have not His peace, and would not have Him to reign over them. In the power of His holiness, and endued with the riches of His grace, they partake His glory, Who is not only the Head of the Church which He has redeemed, but is also the King of the world.

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