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It is time to preach the doctrine of this Psalm — that there is no true religion apart from social morality.

I. AN ABIDING FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD IS ESSENTIAL TO THE HAPPINESS OF MAN. The idea in ver. 1 is, "Who shall have permanent friendship with Thee?" This is the cardinal want of humanity. That an abiding friendship with God is essential to man's happiness may be argued from two things.

1. From what is in the human soul. There is a trusting tendency, an infinite craving, a sense of guilt.

2. From what is in the Divine Word. Nothing is more clearly taught in the New Testament than this.

II. SOCIAL MORALITY IS ESSENTIAL TO AN ABIDING, FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD. Look at social morality in two aspects.

1. As described.

(1)  Honest,

(2)  truthful,

(3)  unmalicious,

(4)  character regarding,

(5)  rigorous fidelity,

(6)  unextortionate,

(7)  incorruptibly just.

2. As necessary. Our conduct towards man determines our relation to God, and our destiny too. True social morality always implies true love to God. It is the practical expression of true religion. Then true social morality is the best means of promoting genuine Christianity. That man does most to spread the religion of Jesus who, in all his connections with his fellow men, does the just and the generous, the merciful and the Christ-like.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

WEB: He who walks blamelessly does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;