SCRIPTURE SELECTIONS.

SUBJECT I.

The young taught the fear of the Lord. COME, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good?

Keep thy tongue from evil,

And thy lips from speaking guile.*
Depart from evil, and do good;
Seek peace, and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous,

And his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil,

To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

* Deceit.

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth,

And delivereth them out of all their troubles.

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

And saveth such as be of a contrite* spirit.-Psa. xxxiv. 11—18.

* Humble, sorry for sin.

II. The heavens declaring God's glory. The heavens* declare the glory of God;

And the firmament+ showeth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech,

And night unto night showeth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language,
Where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth,

The starry heavens. + Containing air, light, rain, etc.

And their words to the end of the world.*

In them hath he set a tabernaclet for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoiceth as a strong man to run

a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven,

And his circuit unto the ends of it: And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.-Psa. xix. 1-6.

*All show forth the glory of God. + Or tent. The motions of the heavenly bodies are spoken of in Scripture as they appear to us. Ver. 5 refers to

the rising, and ver. 6 to the setting sun.

III. The preciousness of God's word. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul :

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:

*The Holy Scriptures are described in this Psalm by various words.

The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever:

The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned,

And in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright,

And I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,

* Sins against light and conscience.

Be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.— Psa. xix. 7-14.

IV. The birth of Christ made known to the shepherds near Bethlehem.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly * Good news, the gospel. + Who saves from sin and woe. Christ means the Anointed, the Messiah.