corner stones,
polished after the similitude of a palace_.

David comes into the presence of the Lord-as the representative of his
kingdom. His watchful eye has seen the tracks and his listening ear
has heard the steps of strange feet. They are the feet of the
surrounding idolatrous nations. He calls them strange children, for
such they are; because in language, manners and dress they give proof
that they are not of Judah and Jerusalem, but of Sodom and Egypt. More
than this, these strange children are enemies. They would break up the
self-denying worship of the true God and rob the sanctuary of all its
sacred garniture. They would corrupt the morals, debase the manners,
and deprave the tastes of the young. "Their mouth speaketh vanity."
They boast of their liberty. Their sinful indulgences are not
restrained by law. They are _free_ to do whatever the lust of the
flesh and the eye may incline them to do. "Their right hand is the
right hand of falsehood." This figure is very strong. The _right hand_
in this place is figuratively put for knowledge, wisdom, power, and
whatever else they may vainly boast of having. But they are destitute
of all these. They have no knowledge of that which is good, because
they desire it not. They have no wisdom, because they have never
lifted their minds and hearts to the high plane of desire to do
justice and judgment. They have no power save that which is of the
natural man; and that power, unless properly restrained, is always to
be feared. No wonder that he says of these idolatrous, licentious
people that "their right hand is the right hand of falsehood."

But how is the Lord to rid him of and deliver him from the hand of
these strange children? By causing fire to fall from heaven and
consume them? By causing a flood of water to drown them? Or by making
the earth to open her jaws and devour them? No, no; in none of these
ways; for in such destruction of enemies there is no trial of the
faith of his people. Brethren, do you know that it is, has been and to
the end of time will be the pleasure of our heavenly Father to try the
faith of his children? This cannot be done independent of means. Do
you know that a tree standing in a stormy place takes deeper root than
one that grows up in a calm, sheltered spot? Do you know that a child
shielded from every trial, and kept out of the reach of all
temptation, will grow up with a very weak moral development? The back
that is never made to bear a