young in the book of Psalms has been one reason for sending out these notes.

We may add that we are anxious to contribute, in however small a degree, to the maintenance of the Psalms in the public worship of our churches. By this we do not mean that they should have an exclusive place. It is difficult to see why we should not use the New Testament in our praise as well as in our prayers and our preaching; or wherefore we should not have scriptural songs in which the name of Jesus is confessed by our tongue, and his saving deeds proclaimed as they have been most fully revealed. There may be room for both Testamentsfor the Song of Moses, and the Lamb-in the worship of earth as well as of heaven. But, in the reaction towards hymns, let us not forget the songs of the ancient Church of God. Their language and modes of thought help us to the spiritual appreciation of the Old Testament, which is still for us the larger portion of God's word, even though it is not the clearest. This subdued light has its value. There are moods of musing, dubious wanderings under star-gleams, and longing for light in the night seasons, which suit the heart at times when it cannot open to the brightness

of mid-day. And even when the dawn appears, as it often does in these Psalms, and the morning is spread upon the mountains, there is a freshness and gladsomeness about it when it comes with the dew of youth. The Christian Church, at any one time, has probably members who belong to all the past periods of her existence; the night, the dawn, and the full daylight -nay, each member may have by turns all these seasons in himself. There should be songs to suit them all, and can we have them better than by taking those which have risen to God in the course of her lengthened history? Among these the book of Psalms must always hold a foremost place. And there is this marked feature in them, that while they are full of the praise of God's mercy, and laden with comfort, there are no sacred songs which exalt so highly the divine righteousness and purity, and impress so strongly the duties of uprightness and truth. We need songs to attemper our souls to these high attributes if we are to understand the gospel, and fulfil its precepts. Hence the Psalms formed the men who faced danger, and did not quail before the multitude of spearmen, who did not weary under suffering, and were faithful unto death. Our worship may

put on fairer forms, and there is no reason why it should not do so, with due regard to spirit and truth; but we shall grow up a feebler race than our fathers when we cease to sing their Psalms, and when we forget the order of worship the Psalmist has given; 'Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.'

To the historical illustrations of particular psalms we have appended some testimonies to the value of the book of Psalms as a whole; and in the close there will be found an account of the metrical versions of the Psalms that have been in chief use among the Reformed Churches. As there is reference to them in the illustrations, this account may have some interest.