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verse, Blessed is the people acquainted

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them;

with the sound of the trumpet of Jehovah. Who lead their lives in the light of thy presence." (Numbers xxiii. 22.) Balaam says of Israel, The Lord his God is with him, the shout of a king is among i. e. the presence of God brings a blessing." And indeed the whole psalm of which my text is a part, seems to turn upon this point. For does the Psalmist ask, "O Lord God of Hosts, who is like unto thee? The answer is, "Thy truth, most mighty Lord, is on every side!" National mercies are then commemorated: "Thou hast subdued Egypt and destroyed it, thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm." The whole creation is next called upon to unite in this song of praise. 66 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine. Thou hast made the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat; mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. Their

delight shall be daily in thy name, and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast."

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The joy experienced by these persons is similar to that described under the first dawn of the Gospel; when mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace kissed each other. Or in the language of the Prophet, The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever. There is a heartfelt joy in real religious principle. This joyful sound was heard in Jerusalem when Christ made his entry into that city; when the multitudes that went before and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest. Let us therefore make this subject of rejoicing our Advent subject, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound.”

We have, then, in our text certain characters described, and to them a blessing is promised.

1st. We will observe their knowledge.

They know the joyful sound of the name of Jehovah.

2ndly. Their life, and walk, and conversation. They shall walk in the light of thy countenance.

1st. Their knowledge. They know the joyful sound. They have evidently been instructed, or they could not know the Lord. And may God give to us this knowledge and this joy! How can they hear without a preacher? I am speaking to a christian congregation, to a newly-formed congregation. My heartfelt wish for you, and for every one who shall worship God within these walls, is, that this knowledge and this joy may be theirs; that if you hear the joyful sound of the last message that ever was delivered to a lost world, you may send back a joyful sound in your praises, in your psalmody, and in every part of your sabbath worship. Sing unto God with the voice of melody. A minister may preach as an apostle; he may watch over his flock as a guardian angel; but the treat of the sabbath will lose a vast and important part, unless the joyful sound of psalmody shall arise, not only from the

children, but from the whole mass of worshippers. The Jews were not deficient in this point; they were very careful to educate their children in the knowledge of the one Jehovah. And indeed to this day they put many of those who have greater light to the blush. There is a holy joy expressed: "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound." When the trumpet sounded, the hosts of Israel's warriors prepared themselves for the battle! When the trumpet sounded, they kept their jubilee; or went up to the temple for the purpose of divine worship. They knew the joyful sound, and willingly did they obey the summons. They were all heart and all soul in their religion. There was no coldness, deadness, and formality. The salvation of an immortal soul is no matter of cold indifference; Christ and his apostles, we find, were in earnest, and yet we are all deadness and formality. This is but too evident, for we cannot but observe, when we look around us in the world, or read our Bibles, that in this point of view there are two descriptions of persons; there are persons who take a delight in approaching to God;

and others who stand afar off from his ways and ordinances. By the one class, when the name of God is mentioned, it is not with reverence, but rather with levity and in derision; when the bell sounds for sabbath worship, they take no heed to attend the house of God. The best religious books are disregarded. They are deaf to their real interests, and instead of accounting the service of God a delight, and a joy, and a privilege, they esteem it little better than Egyptian bondage. And that, because Egyptian darkness clouds the soul. And but for better teaching, and some divine light shining into the soul, their state would close as it begins—in darkness!

But ask yourselves, why is this? Is not every opportunity offered? Is not the Gospel proclaimed? Are there not ambassadors to preach and to teach? "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion;" tell them of all the joys of Christianity; welcome them to these great festivals. "Blow up the trumpet in the new moon;" ask them to unite in prayer and praise. Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob;" ask them to sing Hosanna with you at the advent of your Saviour. No! we

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