To see a masterpiece of painting on the walls of an art gallery, whilst a throng of conventional sight-seers is pressing past, is a very different matter to seeing it quietly, on the walls of some stately mansion, when there is time to sit down and drink in the artist's thought, or catch the different lights of early morning, of noon, or of the fading day.
Perhaps the enjoyment is the more complete when some devoted lover of the work stands beside, telling the story of its daily effect upon the mind, and indicating subtle beauties which had escaped the first superficial gaze.
It is with some such intention that this book is sent forth. That in the quiet of the sick-chamber, or of the prayer-closest, attention may be again concentrated on this inimitable Psalm; that the familiar words may be considered in the light of growing Christian experience; and that perchance some unnoticed beauty may be suggested by one who seldom comes to it without discerning some fresh reason to thank the Spirit of Inspiration, that He ever led the sweet minstrel of Scripture to indite the Shepherd Psalm.
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