anity and lies,' Psa. 119. Every deviation
from rectitude and truth is sin. Who that knows any thing of the
corruption of the human heart, and its strange tendency to stray, to
err, yea, even to pervert the plainest, simplest, and most obvious
truths, but must see the propriety of his joining the psalmist, and
crying out, Lord, remove far from me the way of lies.

"The way of lies as it respects our judgment and sentiments, as
it respects our motives of action, and as it respects our conduct.

"As it respects our judgment: how does every species of error
abound; even the serious and earnest seekers of truth differ in many
things, which, although they may not prevent their final salvation,
mar their progress in knowledge, in holiness, and in comfort. Lord,
remove far from us the way of lies. Lead us to the pure, unmixed,
unerring word of truth, as it respects our sentiments, and as it
respects our conduct. O how many deceive themselves by resting on a
speculative knowledge of the truth, or what they esteem such, while
their hearts remain unaffected, their tempers unsanctified, and their
lives unfruitful. Passionate, stubborn, relentless, unmerciful,
implacable tempers indulged and unmortified, must be a way of lies.
'Learn of me,' says the Saviour, 'for I am meek and lowly in heart,
and ye shall find rest to your souls.' 'The meek will he guide in
judgment,' the meek will he teach his way.

"'Remove far from me the way of lies, and teach me thy law
graciously.'

"'Teach me thy law graciously,' not the ceremonial and the moral
law alone, but the whole of God's revealed will. The psalmist knew the
law ceremonial and moral, but he wants more and more of the teaching
of the Spirit of God. 'He,' the Spirit of truth, 'shall take of mine,
and show it unto you.' The word of God is ever the same; it contains
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; every thing necessary to
safety, to holiness, and happiness: but O, the difference between him
who reads with a mind enlightened by the Spirit of God, and him who
reads with no other assistance than his own poor blinded, darkened
reason. Teach me then thy law graciously. I will praise thee with
uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy judgments. 'Open
thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.' The
psalmist thirsted after more and more extensive views of the word of
God, and still as his views were enlarged he desired more. '