As "

I wax dissolveth before the fire," so shall the ungodly perish.

"But let the righteous," those whose trust and hope is in thee, “rejoice” at these displays of thy power: "let them be merry and joyful," for they are protected and blessed by thee their Saviour. Yea, "sing unto God," ye people, "sing praises unto the name" of your Redeemer-for he is exalted in his power above the heavens, receiving there the homage of saints and angels, of cherubim and seraphim. Praise him who is "Jehovah," who partakes of the glory and power of the Godhead, possessing a "name that is above every name."-" Rejoice before him."

For God is the "father of the fatherless, and defendeth the cause of the widows;" "making of one mind his family" the Church, redeeming his people from spiritual "captivity;" while "the runagates," the rebellious, the impenitent, "continue in scarceness;" dwell in a dry land, deprived of the bread of life, and the waters of comfort and salvation.

The part of the Psalm from the seventh to the fourteenth verses is supposed to have been sung at the commencement of the splendid procession which was to conduct the ark to Mount Zion.

7. O God, when thou wentest forth before the people, when thou wentest through the wilderness,

8. The earth shook, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God: even as Sinai also was moved at the presence of God, who is the God of Israel.

9. Thou, O God, sentest a gracious rain upon thine inheritance, and refreshedst it when it was weary.

10. Thy congregation shall dwell therein, for thou, O God, hast of thy goodness prepared for the poor.

11. The Lord gave the word: great was the company of the preachers.

12. Kings with their armies did flee and were discomfited: and they of the household divided the spoil.

13. Though ye have lain among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove that is covered with silver wings, and her feathers like gold.

14. When the Almighty scattered kings for their sake, then were they as white as snow in Salmon.

These sublime verses, commemorate the appearance of God for the deliverance of his people from Egyptian bondage; conducting them through the wilderness in a cloudy pillar by day, and by night in a pillar of fire. When God descended to proclaim the Law to Israel, at the appearance of their dread Creator, the "earth"

trembled, the very "heavens" were dissolved, and "Sinai" strong and stable Sinai, seemed to be" moved" out of place.

In their march through this barren "wilderness," God did miraculously provide for his people, his inheritance, refreshing the dry and desert places through which they pursued their journey with "rain" from heaven, making even the "wilderness" a comfortable place for his "congregation to dwell in," preparing" bread from hea

ven for his "poor."

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Not only did he refresh and strengthen them, but when he " gave the word," they were vic torious over their enemies; and "great was the company of the preachers;" great was the number of those who with songs and acclamations proclaimed the triumph.

Forkings with their armies did flee" suddenly "discomfited;"" they of the household," even feeble women and domestics, so complete was the victory, "divided the spoil." Though in their bondage in Egypt, they were reduced to the most servile drudgery, and "lying among the pots," were covered with dust and ashes, yet so complete was their translation from this miserable state, and so striking was the contrast of their prosperity and triumph, that enriched with the spoils of their enemies, they exhibited the splendid and lovely appearance of the dove, whose

wings and feathers," "silver and gold," inter

changeably mixed in them, shine forth with inimitable lustre.

Thus when Jehovah granted his people victory, and "scattered kings for their sake," "they were white as snow in Salmon," they shone forth splendid and glorious, as the sun-beams that glisten on the snowy top of "Salmon."

This celebration of the victories which God wrought for his people was highly appropriate, when the ark, the symbol of that Divine presence and power which had given them victory, was to be translated to Zion its dwelling place, and to be the pledge of future protection, prosperity and triumph to God's people.

But so striking is the similitude, that we are naturally led to transfer this triumphant celebration of God's victories for Israel of old, to those more splendid victories obtained by the Messiah for the true Israel of God, when he delivered his people from worse than Egyptian bondage. Darkness covered the land, rocks were rent, and the earth was opened, when he achieved his victory over the grave. He marches before his people as their invisible but all-powerful Leader through this "wilderness" of the world; he waters their thirsty souls with the comforts of his grace; and refreshes their weary spirits with the bread of life.

The Lord gave the word" at the day of Pentecost, and "great" became "the company of

the preachers;" and by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, humble and contemned men subdued the kingdoms of the earth to the spiritual dominion of Jesus Christ. Under the figure of a people "lying among pots," becoming as the beautiful and glittering "dove," we behold a representation of the Church depressed and afflicted shining forth in the garments of salvation; and sinners bewailing their iniquities in dust and ashes, adorned by divine grace with the splendid robes of righteousness.

The joyful procession had now arrived at the foot of Mount Zion, and as they bore towards its summit the holy symbol of the divine presence, the Priests and Levites chanted forth the strains.

15. As the hill of Basan, so is God's hill: even an high hill, as the hill of Basan.

16. Why hop ye so, ye high hills? this is God's hill in the which it placeth him to dwell: yea, the Lord will abide in it for ever.

17. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: and the Lord is among them, as in the holy place of Sinai.

Lowly amidst the towering mountains which surrounded it was the hill of Zion. In the most sublime strain of poetry, they are all personified; and inimitable spirit is thus given to the scene. The mountains rejoice, they grieve, they speak, they move. "Basan and Salmon," the