And now He ever lives in the presence of God to make intercession for us. He is the appointed High Priest over the house of God. We can now draw near to the Throne of Grace to obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in our every time of need. Jesus Christ is our Priest, our Sacrifice, and our Altar. On Him we feed and feast and live for ever.

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"So will I compass." "Compass," or go to thine altar." It strikes me that an allusion is here made to some practice of the priests who went to or round the altar of burnt offering during the time of sacrificing. What were they doing? Were they not admiring the sacrifices as they were being consumed by the holy fire which came from heaven? They were giving thanks and praise to God for his goodness and mercy towards them. As God shewed His acceptance of their sacrifices, so they praised and magnified His holy and glorious Name. If you read the verse which follows the text, you will see that the Psalmist had something of this sort in his mind. "So will I compass Thine altar, O Lord: that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works." This was as he compassed the altar; and on coming into the tabernacle of the congregation. "That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving." This was a new song put into his mouth, even praise and thanksgiving unto his God for His mercies. He would also tell of all His wondrous works. The works which God prepared of old; His works of providence, His works of grace, His work of lifting him up from the mire of sin, and placing his feet upon the Rock of Ages. David loved the habitation of God's house and the place where His honour dwelleth. Well, my beloved, and what shall we say to these things? Shall we not go to, and round about our Altar? And as we compass the Altar, shall not we sing the song of praise and thanksgiving, and tell of all His wondrous works. When I go to and "compass" Jesus. I view Him as my Altar, my Sacrifice, my Priest, my Mediator, my Advocate, and my Saviour. I see the excellency and glory of His Person, and I desire to adore Him whilst I admire and tell of His wondrous works. Blessed Jesus, Thou art the Wonder of wonders. I think I understand a little of the Psalmist's feelings when he penned this Psalm. He had clear views of some of the most blessed and glorious truths of the Gospel ever experienced. May we be enabled to realize more of his spirit. Look again at our text. There is the little word "So!" "So!" "So" washed from every sin! "So" justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus! "So" sanctified by the Spirit of our God. "So" standing before the Throne upon the Sea of Glass, clear as crystal, which is standing in the perfection and holiness of Christ (Revelation iv. 6). "So will I compass Thine Altar, O Lord."

I think I see the whole subject summed up in the 7th chapter of Revelation: "After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne," or before the Altar in the tabernacle of the congregation," and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and they cried with a loud voice,"as they compass the Lamb, or as they go round about Him, and admire

Him,-they "cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God Who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." All the hosts in heaven seem to take up the theme of praise and thanksgiving. "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, 'Amen: Blessing and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." And this is done as they compass the throne and see the Lamb of God standing in the midst thereof. "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me: 'What are these which are arrayed in white robes ? -Who are they?" And whence came they? And I said unto him, 'Sir, thou knowest.' And he said to me, 'These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."" There is no going to the throne but through the Blood. There is no

compassing the throne without being washed in the Blood-the Blood of Christ. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (verses 9 to 17). Is not this passage a beautiful comment on the words of the Psalmist ? "I will wash mine hands in Innocency, so will I compass Thine altar, O Lord: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Does not the very thought make us feel and desire for more and greater manifestations of Jesus! But alas! We are sometimes ready to use the language of Asaph, as in the 73rd Psalm, when he said: "Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in Innocency." He was a desponding child of God-and so most of God's children are at times. They think that their religion is all a deceit, and that they have believed in vain. This is their infirmity. The Lord brought Asaph to a better mind, and he confessed his folly and his ignorance. He says: "So foolish was I and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee." What a confession ! He then exclaims: "Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee." O Lamb of God, grant that Thy servants present, may see that they have none in heaven like thee, and may they desire none upon earth beside Thee! O Eternal Saviour, fill us with Thyself. And to Thee with the Father and the Holy Ghost shall be ascribed all honour and glory both now and for evermore! Amen!! and Amen!!!

"TRUST YE IN THE LORD."

A SERMON

PREACHED BY THE

REV. J. BATTERSBY

(Vicar of St. Simon's, Sheffield),

AT VERULAM DISTRICT CHURCH, LAMBETH, LONDON,
THURSDAY EVening, January 2nd, 1879.

The 26th Chapter of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, the 3rd and 4th verses.

"THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE; BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH IN THEE. TRUST YE IN THE LORD FOR EVER; FOR IN THE LORD JEHOVAH IS EVERLASTING STRENGTH."

THERE are two things which generally go together in the Scriptures; the deliverance of the Lord's people out of troubles and difficulties, and their thanksgiving and praise unto God for the same. Take two or three examples. When the children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt, and passed safely through the Red Sea, they were soon found giving praise and glory unto God for the great salvation which they had experienced. The 15th chapter of Exodus contains their song. When Deborah and Barak had overcome their enemies, they gave thanks and praise unto God saying: "Praise ye the Lord for the avenging

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of Israel" (Judges v). I believe that this is the general experience of God's children, both for temporal and spiritual deliverance. we know for ourselves what it is to be brought out of spiritual distress and trouble, then it is the heart fills with gratitude and the mouth with praise. "O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever." The redeemed of the Lord "sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing" (Psalm cvii). "The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away" (Isaiah li. 11). According to some this refers to the future; but, treating it experimentally, you will see how very applicable it is to those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious, and who now offer their praises and thanksgivings unto God with joy in the midst of Zion, which is the Church of the living God. The propriety of these remarks will appear when you consider the song which is recorded in the chapter whence the text is taken. The song begins in the 25th chapter, and is continued in the 26th. Salvation experienced will soon be followed with one of the Lord's songs. It is my intention this evening to speak to you in a colloquial and friendly way. Perhaps some might prefer it otherwise, but I desire to speak to you after this manner, and especially so on the text which we have to examine to-night.

In bringing the subject before you I shall endeavour to pursue the following order :-First, the connection of our text; Secondly, the peaceful security of those who confide in Jehovah, as expressed in the 3rd verse: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee"; and thirdly, the call and encouragement to trust in Jehovah, as contained in the 4th verse: "Trust ye in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."

It may not be amiss at the commencement of a new year to bring before you some of the thoughts which are either contained in or suggested by our text Let us consider first, the connection of our text. We shall begin with the 1st verse: "In that day." What day can this be? Some refer it to the commencement of the Gospel Dispensation when the disciples of our Lord were gladdened with the good news which was published to them. Others take it as referring to the whole of the Gospel Dispensation, and this is indeed a blessed and glorious day. Some take it as referring to the latter part of the Gospel Dispensation, the winding up of it, as it were, when the Lord shall return to take His people unto Himself, and when they shall sing the song which is here mentioned. In a more familiar sense, we shall take it as referring to that experimental day which God's children have when they have been brought up out of the mire and clay, and when the Lord has "put a new song into their mouth, even praise and thanksgiving." In this day, which is a glorious day-a blessed day-a privileged day-a day in which God is honoured and glorified. What is the song? And who are the singers? And how came they to sing this song? There is no harm in singing a song, only let it be one of the Lord's songs. The Lord's song cannot be sung in a

strange land. This song shall "be sung in the land of Judah." We shall say a few words about the song shortly. But who are the singers? I think these are the Lord's children who are made experimentally acquainted with the truths of the Gospel in their own souls. Who else indeed can join the sweet Psalmist of Israel in singing the high praises of God? "Let Israel rejoice in Him that made him: Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King." "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah." Our Lord sprang out of Judah. "In Judah is God known." Who knows the Lord in Judah? All true and spiritual Jews do. "His name is great in Israel." Yes, amongst the people of God, the spiritual Israel. He is the great God, the great Saviour, the great Mediator, and the great Shepherd of the sheep. "In Salem is His tabernacle." Salem, another name for Zion, is His tabernacle. He dwells in the midst of His people, and so the next part of the verse says: "And His dwelling place is in Zion." Believers are sons of Zion. They shall sing unto the Lord in Judah. Some, perhaps, may say: "Well you are making us all Jews, or you are Judaizing." There is no harm in being a spiritual Jew. You have my meaning in the following words: "For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly : neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew, who is one inwardly;" or one who has been spiritually circumcised by the Holy Ghost. Everything of the creature must be cut off and cast away that the Lord alone may be exalted. After this sort, I desire to be found a spiritual Jew. What is the song which is to be sung? "We have a strong city." Surely this city is the Church of God," a city which hath foundations whose Maker and Builder is God." A city that cannot be moved or destroyed-a strong city. What is it that makes this city so strong? Well, we are told that this city is strong because the Lord Himself is the wall round about it. This city is strong, because as you read in the next part: "Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." A strong city, a city which can never be shaken, a city which has the eye of God continually resting upon it, and which he will never leave nor forsake. "Salvation will God appoint for walls and for bulwarks." Jesus is salvation. And He is the great wall round about the city. "They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever. For as the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round ahout His people from henceforth even for ever." Here we have the protection, the security, and safety of Zion. It is a wonderful thing to realize that the Lord is round about me. Do we really realize it? "The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him,” that is, round about His people. "I will be a wall of fire round about her." No enemy can break through this wall of fire, for he would be consumed. And Jehovah is the glory in the midst of this city. "Salvation will God appoint." Why! He Himself, is the salvation appointed. I find as I go about that there are some persons (and perhaps I should find some in this great city, the greatest city in the world), who doubt the language of this verse: Salvation will God appoint.' But we can look back and say: Salvation, God has appointed

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