The congregation of the ungodly robbed him.  But he did not forget God’s law.  If they did wrong, that was no reason why he should do wrong likewise.

The proud imagined a lie against him.  But he would keep God’s commandments with his whole heart, instead of breaking God’s commandments, and justifying their slander, and making their lie true.

Still, it went very hard with him.  His honour and his faith were sorely tried.  He was dried up like a bottle in the smoke.  It seems to have been with him at times a question of life and death; till he had hardly any hope left.  He had to ask, almost in despair—­How many are the days of Thy servant?  When wilt Thou be avenged of them that persecute me?  The proud dug pits for him, contrary to the law of God; contrary to honour and justice; and almost made an end of him upon earth.  The ungodly laid wait to destroy him.

But against them all he had but one weapon, and one defence.  However much afraid he might be of his enemies, he was still more afraid of doing wrong.  His flesh, he said, trembled for fear of God; and he was afraid of God’s judgments.  Therefore his only safety was, in pleasing God, and not men.  I deal, he says, with the thing that is lawful and right.  Oh give me not over to my oppressors.  Make Thy servant to delight in what is good, that the proud do me no wrong.  If he could but keep right, he would be safe at last.

I will consider Thy testimonies, O Lord.  I see that all things come to an end.  Bad times, and bad chances, and still more bad men, and bad ways for escaping out of trouble—­they all come to an end.  But Thy commandment is exceeding broad.  Exceeding broad.  There are depths below depths of meaning in that true saying; depths which you will find true, if you will but read your Bibles, and obey your Bibles.  For in them, I tell you openly, you will find rules to guide you in every chance and change of this mortal life.  Truly said the good man that there were in the Bible “shallows where a lamb may drink, and deeps wherein an elephant may swim.”

There are no possible circumstances, good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant, in which you can find yourselves, be you rich or poor, young or old, without finding in the Bible sound advice, and a clear rule, as to how God would have you behave under those circumstances.  For God’s commandments are exceeding broad, and take in all cases of conscience, all details of duty; saying to each and every one of us, at every turn—­“This is the way, walk ye in it.”

At least this is the teaching, this is the testimony, this is the life-experience, of a true hero, namely, the man who wrote the 119th Psalm; a hero according to God, but not according to the world, and the pomp and glory of the world.

No great statesman was he, nor conqueror, nor merchant, nor financier passing millions of money through his hands yearly; and all fancying that they, and not God, govern the nations upon earth, and decide the fate of empires.