ives the secular air and the light and flippant
spirit. We are nothing if not _worshippers_.

Then, secondly, "_we exult_." Ours is a life of gladness, so far as it
is the true Christian life. Constantly and profoundly chastened by its
worshipping character, it is constantly quickened and illuminated by
this element of exultation. The word is strong, _kauchomenoi_,
"exulting." We observe that the Apostle does not say that we are
resigned, that we are at peace, that there is a calm upon us. This is
true; but he says that "we _exult_." The "still waters," the _mey
m'nuchoth_ of Ps. xxiii. 2, are anything but stagnant. They are a
lake; but it is a lake upon a river, like the fair waters of Galilee,
receiving and giving, and therefore alive with pure movement, while yet
surrounded by the "rest," _m'nuchah_, which means repose not _from_
action but _underneath_ it. "We exult." Ours is not an autumn of
feeling; not a state of the soul in which the characteristics are the
sighs and starting tears of memory and apprehension. It is an
everlasting spring, in which the mighty but temperate Sun of Salvation
is shining, and will not set; not parching but quickening all day long.
"We exult." It is a happy life, not only with the happiness of a
cheerful contentment, beautiful as that is; ours is the happiness of
wondering discovery, and rich possession, and ever-opening prospects;
it is "quick and lively"; it is "exultation."

Then, "_we are confident_." If I traced the bearing of this clause
aright, in the last chapter, we shall feel that the word _pepoithotes_
is meant to carry a _positive_ message. It is not only that "we do not
rely on the flesh"; it is that "we are reliant, though not on the
flesh." Even so, in the true idea of the Christian life. "_We are
confident_." We are not wanderers from one peradventure to another; we
are reliant, we are assured, we know where we are, and what we are, and
whither we are bound. True, we, are intensely conscious of the limits
of our knowledge; it is only here and there that we can absolutely say,
"We know." But then, the points where we _can_ say so are points of
supreme importance. "We know that the Son of God is come." "We know
that our sins are forgiven us for His name's sake." "We know that all
things work together for good to them that love God." "We know that if
our earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved, we have a building
of God, a house not made with