DAVID HUM - Scottish Philosopher & Humanist unbeliever:

 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

 KING PHILIP II OF SPAIN:

 THE FAMILY ALTAR

September 19.

"Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, 0 Lord. Lord, hear

my voice; let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplica-

tions. If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall

stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be

feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His Word

do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that

watch for the morning; I say, more than they that watch for the

morning. Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is

mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall re-

deem Israel from all his iniquities. Psalm 130.

This golden penitential Psalm has ever proved a refreshing

spring to sin-burdened hearts thirsting after grace and pardon.

In its living water they drink new hope, new courage, for the

Psalm overflows with sweet, divine assurance of forgiveness and

"plenteous redemption" from all sin. The human heart can know

no greater misery than to labor hopelessly under the condemning

sense of unforgiven guilt. On the other hand, our hearts can know

and taste no greater bliss than to have the sure conviction : I have

found forgiveness for all my sins; not one of them shall ever

condemn me; God is my loving, reconciled Father in Jesus, my

Savior; in Him I, unworthy though I be, have peace with God;

nothing shall ever separate me from His divine love ; heaven stands

wide open to receive me; my name is written in the book of life.

0 let us thank our merciful God for giving us Luther and through

him the open Bible, where the healing streams abound and sin-

sick hearts can find pardon and peace and comfort without money

and without price. Let us glorify our ever-gracious and compas-

sionate God for all His loving-kindness towards us and fear Him,

as the Psalmist declares : "But there is forgiveness with Thee that

Thou mayest be feared."