performance of psalmody in the Temple: some vocal, and some instrumental-" As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there." The meaning is that Zion, which the world considers the metropolis of sadness and gloom, should be the residence of cheerfulness and mirth; or, in other words, that the Church of God should abound with spiritual joy and gladness. This joy may be considered two ways. First, as promised: and so it is to be viewed as a privilege; and we are to look after it in the history and experience of his people. And if we turn-and this is the fairest way-to those whom God has himself described in his Word, we shall find them distinguished by nothing more than this experience-They walked in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. Though they had losses and afflictions, yet, believing, they rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Secondly, as commanded. Thus they are enjoined to shout aloud for joy; to rejoice in the Lord always; to be filled with the Spirit; speaking to themselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs: singing and making melody in their heart to the Lord. And thus it becomes a duty: and, as such, we are bound to seek and to preserve it-to study the grounds of it-to guard against every thing that would invade and injure it-to endeavour, by all means, to increase our joy in the Lord and never refuse to be comforted. All must be singers and players on instruments here-All cannot perform equally well; but all must do something and pray and strive, to shew that the religion of Christ is able to make its possessors happy; that it can set their roving hearts at rest; that it can enable them to dispense with the dissipations of the world; that it can sustain them under the trials of life, and raise them above the fears of death-and thus adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things.

But here is attachment, as well as joy-" All my

springs are in thee." No affection was ever more sincere than that which the pious Jews bore to their native land. Jerusalem was the source of their hope and glory; the circle and the centre of all the endearments of life. They breathed out their very soul when they said, "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces." They deemed nothing too dear to be parted with, for its ornament or defence. In its welfare, they forgot their personal and relative sorrows: and when it was taken, and destroyed, they abandoned themselves to grief, hung their harps upon the willows, and felt life a burden. Even in its reduced state, they took "pleasure in her stones, and favoured the dust thereof"-Each of them sighing, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning; let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." And is there less intenseness of regard in Christians, towards Jerusalem which is above, and free, and the mother of us all? No-all their springs are there-All that refreshes me-can each of them say; all that revives, all that enlivens, all that inspires-"all my springs are in thee."

Where are all the springs of a worldly man? In the world. To all his interests there, he is alive: his heart is glad when his corn and wine increase; and his joy fails with them. His losses are the taking away of his gods-and what has he more? But what is the experience of the Christian? In the word of God, and the ordinances of his house, and communion with his people, and the consolations of his Spirit-here it is, says he, I find my Heaven! If this cannot touch and animate him, nothing, for the time, can-On the other hand, this can make him joyful, even in tribulation. This seems to indemnify him under every earthly disappointment. What is it, says he, that my schemes fail, if His flourish? Yea, in spiritual darkness, and

when he is ready to conclude that he has no part or lot in the matter, and that his heart cannot be right in the sight of God; his countenance is illumined, and the tear of joy starts into his eye-when he hears, that the word of the Lord hath free course and is glorified-that sinners are fleeing to the Saviour, as doves to their windows-that the order to Zion is issued, Enlarge the place of thy tent; lengthen her cords, strengthen her stakes-In this, says he, I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.-And so, when there are apostacies and backslidings, and professors cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of, he is "sorrowful for the solemn assembly, and the reproach of it is his burden." And his fear, as well as his hope, and his grief, as well as his pleasure, shew where the attraction of his heart lies. And if any thing is to be done for Zion, he feels a courage that is not natural to him. His tongue is as the pen of a ready writer. His hand gets unawares into his pocket; and, to his power, yea, and beyond his power, he is willing to communicate; and his zeal, as well as all his other feelings, justify his saying, "All my springs are in thee."

DEC. 24.-" Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke i. 78, 79.

WELL, said David, "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him; and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" He does this in a thousand ways; and each of us may acknowledge, with Job, "Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit." But what a visit is here!

Twice does Zacharias, under different allusions, expressly mention it in his thanksgiving song. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David." "Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Observe the image under which he views the coming of the Saviour-"The dayspring from on high." The springing of the day is produced, and only can be produced, by the rising of the sun. There is only one sun in nature. And there is only one Sun in grace. And to them that fear my Name, said God, by the Prophet Malachi, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings.

-See the state in which he finds us-"Sitting in darkness and the shadow of death." Darkness is ignorance. Some ignorance is of little importance: but here we are destroyed for lack of knowledge. The darkness is connected with the shadow of death—a state of terror, and danger, and nearness to perdition; for the shadow cannot be far from the reality. It is not only vain, but injurious, to deny the truth of this representation. Every thing concurs to prove it. And, without the admission of it, Christianity must be needless and absurd.

But see the benefit he is designed to communicate-"To give light" to them that are in darkness and the shadow of death. Accordingly, his coming has shed a lustre upon every subject interesting to our duty and welfare. So that every individual under the Gospel knows far more than all the Heathen philosophers put together. And also far more than the most illuminated among the Jews. Hence our Saviour "turned unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many pro

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phets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." It is therefore called, not only "the true light;" but, a great light." It has two properties. It is prac tical. It is "to guide our feet." We were "sitting" before; inactive, like persons in the dark, and afraid to move: but when the light comes, we are set in motion. The doctrine of Christ is not a mere speculation. He that receives it feels an influence resembling that of the orb of day; which is vital, as well as enlightening-He walks in the Spirit. In the fear of the Lord. In the truth. It is also blessed. It is to guide our feet "into the path of peace." There is something very pleasing in the word Peace, as it intends reconciliation; and especially reconciliation with God. And God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. And being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This peace is essential to every other blessing; and every other blessing is sure to follow it. The word, therefore, is often used for every kind of good and of happiness. It is finely expressed by the Apostle, "We who have believed do enter into rest:" and yet more fully by David, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy Name shall they rejoice all the day and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted."

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But what is the source of all this blessedness? "The tender mercy of our God." As we are guilty and condemned creatures, every gift we enjoy must be from mercy. This is true, of our daily and outward comforts; and therefore Jacob calls them all "mercies;" and acknowledges that he is not worthy of the "least" of them. How true is it,