headed, felt an inward joy and fupport, in being able to appeal to the heart-fearching God, "Thou art my truft from my youth." Thus good Hezekiah; "Re"member how I have walked before thee in truth." What unfpeakable confolation did Paul the aged find in this; "I have fought a good fight, I have kept the "faith?" Old age can find no confolation in reflecting on the accumulation of wealth, or having come to great worldly honour, or on having fubdued kingdoms. Riches flee away. Honour abideth not. The glory of man is a fading flower. But "righteousness "is immortal. The good man fhall be fatisfied from "himself." His joy and treafure no man can take from him: It is the teftimony of a good confcience. "He that walketh uprightly walketh furely." When his flesh and heart fail, confcious integrity is his fupport; "God is the ftrength of my heart, and my por

tion for ever. The work of righteoufnefs is peace, "and the effect of righteousness is quietnefs and affur"ance forever."

David in his old age reflected alfo upon the great goodness of God to him through the past stages and circumftances of his life; mercies outward and fpiritual. He called on his foul and all within him to pay the tribute which thefe mercies demanded. He called on pious friends to unite with him in paying this grateful tribute. God had ftrengthened him when weak and feeble, raised him from obfcurity to the fummit of honour, extricated him in great temptation and danger, and made precious promises to his house. In his profperity and elevation he did not forget his benefactor and deliverer, as is often the cafe; but afcribed to him all the praife. "In God is all my falvation and "glory, my refuge is in God." Taught by experience, he declared, "I will hope continually, and yet praise "him more and more.' 39 Whatever dangers might furround him, whoever were his enemies, this was his language, "God is our refuge and strength, a very "prefent help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear."

The wondrous works of God, which he had hitherto declared, were more especially the providences by which he himself had been preferved and exalted. By refolving to go in the ftrength of the Lord God, he profeffeth that God had been his ftrength and trust. His prayer, that God would not forfake him in old age, proceeded upon the recollection that God had been his help and fhield, had guided and influenced him by his unerring counfel and good Spirit-that Spirit whofe departure David fo much apprehended, when he had infamoufly fallen; for the wonted help and comfort of which he interceded with unutterable groanings. Uphold me with thy free Spirit: Re"ftore to me the joy of thy falvation. Create a clean "heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Caft me "not away from thy prefence. Take not thy holy "Spirit from me."

A

In fome verfes following the text, he makes men, tion of the fore troubles through which he had paffed, that he might praise his Almighty helper and Redemer. He had been reftored from ficknefs, which had brought him to the gates of death. The God whom he ferved from his youth, had been present to comfort him, when bereaved of the tendereft earthly connections, and ftrengthened him with ftrength in his foul. His familiar friends betrayed and reproached him. dangerous confpiracy was formed in his own house. But neither open enemies, nor unfaithful friends, nor domeftic treafon could fhake, his truft in God. He had many a fevere conflict with diftruft. "Hath God "forgotten to be gracious? and will HE be favourable "no more?" Troubles without, and wafting fickness, together with the mystery of providence in the profperity of the wicked and affliction of the righteous, made him utter the language of defpondence. Never, perhaps, was his gloom greater, than when he was cut off from the privileges of the fanctuary. But his defponding thoughts were always compofed by recol

lecting the years of the right hand of the MOST HIGH. Long and great experience of God's covenant love and faithfulness taught him to check any mifgivings which fometimes arose. 66 Why art thou caft down, "O my foul! Wait on God, hope in his word. All my expectation is from him." Moft feelingly and affectionately does he describe the benefits of religious truft. Pfalm xl. at the beginning. "I waited pa

tiently for the Lord, and HE inclined unto me, and "heard my cry. He brought me up alfo out of an "horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and fet my foot

66

upon a rock. And He hath put a new fong into my "mouth. Many fhall fee it, and fear, and turn to the "Lord. The angel of the Lord encampeth round "about them that fear him, and delivereth them. "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and "faved him from all his fears." His experience from youth to age taught him to fay, "How excellent is "thy loving-kindness, O God; therefore the children "of men put their truft under the shadow of thy "wings." From his own example and experience he recommends, "Commit thy way unto the Lord: "Truft alfo in him, and HE fhall bring it to pass. "Reft in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Fret "not thyself, because of him that profpereth in his way. I have been young, and now am old; yet "have I not feen the righteous forfaken. The steps "of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Though "he fall, he fhall not be utterly caft down: For the "Lord upholdeth him with his hand."

You fee that those who have most attentively obferved the divine footsteps, who have had the longeft and largest experience of the care and faithfulness of God, recollect paft providences with pious joy-the providence which has been over their infancy, childhood and youth, manhood and decay;-amidst innumerable hazards, temptations and afflictions; protecting and providing for them, delivering them from

;

evil, or upholding them in fix troubles and in feven keeping them from, or fuccouring them in, dangerous temptations, or reftoring them from their declentions. They especially call to mind, with lively praise, the grace of redemption, the privileges of the gospel, a good work hopefully begun and carrying on in them; the honour God hath done them, in making them any way useful in the world. They give him the praise, if their counfel, prayers, endeavours or example have guarded or reclaimed any from fin; or guided, encouraged or confirmed any in virtue and piety. They give him the glory of any experience of the comforts of religion, and go on their way rejoicing. Reflections on a life devoted to God are a fource of strong confolation at all times; but peculiarly in the evil days of nature in decline, in which is no pleasure. What fource of difquiet, at that period, to review neglected opportunities? a price once enjoyed, but mifimproved? abused mercies, incorrigiblenefs under correction; health, reason, strength, means, acceptable seasons, divine influences, flighted and wafted? The only and wretched refuge, in fuch case, is, to fly, if poffible, from one's own reflections. The juft, whofe path has fhined more and more, from the morning to the evening of life, have a peaceful review of the paft, and hope for the future. For fuch some might dare to

.die.

SECONDLY, David, reflecting on his early choice of religion, and his improvement of life, reflecting alfo on great experience of God's providential care, refolved to persevere in the course of piety to the end of his days. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Such are the refolutions arifing from a review of a long life conducted by the principles and hopes of religion.

Those who have walked with God from their childhood and youth up, calling to mind his past mercies,

can apply to him with humble confidence to sustain and comfort their declining years. "By thee I have "been holden up from the womb. Thou art my truft "from my youth. Caft me not off in the time of old age; forfake me not when my ftrength faileth. I "will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more " and more."

The aged fit alone in the world. The affociates of their youth are generally dead. Of the few that are left some are at a diftance. They have no intercourse with them, and but seldom hear from them. They - cannot have the wonted aid from contemporaries labouring under the fame languour and decay. The aged are not company for younger life, nor thefe for them. They confider themselves, and are often regarded, as a burden. The earth is peopled with a new and unknown fett of inhabitants, by whom the former are forgotten. Decay of body and mind advanceth.There is no pleasure in the things which refreshed and delighted their youth and manhood. Defire and fortitude fail. Fears are in the way. Every care is burdenfome. The world is willing to part with them.— the grave calls for them.

What occafion hath age for the confolations of God? How fweet the recollection of his loving-kindneffes, which have been ever of old? Such recollection is an incentive to go in his ftrength, and make mention of his righteousness, even his only. They have experienced the mighty power of divine grace, in being created anew in Chrift Jefus. All their ftrength against inward corruption and temptation from without is ftill of God. He is faithful. He never forfaketh his own work. Though their outward man decayeth, their inward man is renewed day by day.

The righteousnefs of the faints is that which is by faith in the Mediator. Afcribing to him their juftification and calling of God, they conftantly look to him for righteousness and ftrength. A fenfe of their own