when He was brought to the
Temple, he used these words of praise. God was letting him depart in
peace: notice the words _Thou lettest_: it is not the imperative,
praying for release; but the indicative, praising God for His mercy.
The other chief thoughts of this short Hymn are that Jesus is God's
_Salvation--before the face of all people--a Light to Gentiles--and the
glory of Israel_. Comparing these with the Hymn of Zacharias, we shall
be struck with the correspondence of two very different compositions.

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_Lighten_: not as in Te Deum 'to come upon,' but as in 3rd Collect at
Evening Service, 'to give light.'

_Gentiles--Israel_: making up together the whole human race.

Jubilate Deo.

It is scarcely necessary at this time to show that the 100th Psalm is
suitable as a Canticle after a Missionary Lesson; for it seems to be
assumed that the Old Hundredth, in its metrical form, is an integral
and necessary part of a Missionary meeting. "In its breadth and
simplicity it is fit for all occasions of access of the redeemed to
God, and naturally it has become (both in its original form and its
metrical rendering) the regular hymn of unmixed thanksgiving in the
Church of Christ. It is in _vv._ 1, 2 an invitation to joy, because we
know that we are God's people[2]."

This Psalm was formerly used at Lauds on Sundays.

1. We claim the whole earth for God,

2. Because He is God,
because He made us,
and because He protects us.

4. The wide extent of His mercy is made the ground of praise and
thanksgiving at this place in the Service, because the spread of the
Gospel has been called to mind by the Second Lesson.

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Deus Misereatur.

Ps. lxvii., styled by Dr Kay The Spiritual Harvest-Home Song of Israel,
is to be applied by us to the Harvesting of Missionaries, when set
before our minds in the Second Lesson. It especially refers to the
gathering-in of the Gentiles ('all nations'), and extends the threefold
blessing of Num. vi. 24-26 to them; see _vv._ 1, 6, 7. Cf. the
description which is placed at the head of this Psalm in the Bible, _A
prayer for the enlargement of God's kingdom--to the joy of the
people--and the increase of God's blessings_.

In the Sarum Use it was a special Sunday Psalm at Lauds (see p. 44);
together with Psalm 63, it followed _Jubilate Deo_ and preceded
_Benedicite_.

[1] Novum Testamentum in Vetere latet,
Vetus Testamentum in Novo patet.

[2] Bishop Barry