for instruction in righteousness"-how ought we to bless and adore His Holy Name for having given to us this most profitable word of life, and peace, and consolation! How ought we to prize our Bibles as an inestimable treasure, to value them (like David) far more than gold, yea, than much fine gold, and to make them, as He did, "our meditation day and night!" What reason have we to rejoice in the reflection that whatever else may be false, the Bible is true-Whatever else may be doubtful, the Word of God is infallible-Whatever else may deceive or mislead us, all Scripture is given by inspiration of Him who cannot lie, to warn us, to instruct us, to reprove us, to correct us, to sanctify us, to comfort us, to strengthen us, to support us, to be a light to our feet and a lamp to our paths during our pilgrimage through this world of sin, sorrow, and uncertainty? Is there any other book in the world that can, in any of these respects, bear the least comparison with the Bible? Not one. Shall we then permit its difficulties, or its mysteries, to make us doubt its divine original? Surely not. No more than the difficulties and mysteries which we daily meet with in the natural world, can make us doubt the existence of a Creator and His Providential government. If there are difficulties in the works of God, the same may also be expected in His Word. Let us then earnestly pray to Him

of His infinite mercy to impart to us His blessed Spirit of Truth"-to" open our understandings, that we may understand the Scriptures." And, let us imitate the conduct of the "noble Bereans," in searching the Scriptures daily for "doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness." Amen.

Now to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, &c.

SERMON XII.

AN OLD AGE OF MISERY, CONTRASTED WITH AN OLD AGE OF BLESSEDNESS.

2 SAMUEL XIX. 32. and following verses.

Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old, and he had provided the King of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim. For he was a very great man. And the King said unto Barzillai, come thou

over with me and

I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. And Barzillai said unto the King, How long have I to live that I should go up with the King unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore years old, and can I discern betwixt good and evil? Can thy servant taste what I eat, or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men or singing women? Wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the King?

THE story of Barzillai the Gileadite is briefly this. When David was obliged to fly from Jerusalem, on account of the unnatural rebellion raised against

him by his son Absalom, he and his followers were greatly distressed from want of provisions, not having had time to prepare a sufficient quantity before they left the city. In this necessity Barzillai the Gileadite, a very loyal and wealthy man, who dwelt at Rogelim, came down to meet his afflicted sovereign, at a place called Mahanaim, bringing with him a great quantity of food of all kinds, for the use of the king and his companions in adversity. This kind action gratified David so much, that when the rebellion was terminated by the death of Absalom, and the destruction of his army, he (on his return to Jerusalem) gave that invitation to Barzillai, which we read in the text, to accompany him to the city, and live with him in the palace, and that he (the king) would provide bountifully for his support and comfort during the remainder of his days. To which the old man prudently replied, in the language of the text, that having now arrived at a very advanced age, and having consequently lost all relish and capacity for this world's enjoyments, he should only be a burden to his royal master, and therefore prayed to be excused from accepting the invitation, and to be permitted to transfer it to his son Chimham, who would gladly wait upon the king in his stead.

"How long have I to live, (said he,) that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore years old, and can I discern betwixt

good and evil? Can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men or singing women? Wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?"

Now these words, my Beloved Brethren, naturally lead our thoughts to that latest period of mortal existence, which has well been called man's "second childhood." At which season, in the beautiful language of Solomon, "The keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are darkened; and the doors are shut in the streets, and the sound of the grinding is low; and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low," &c. It is a subject peculiarly calculated to excite the gravest reflections in our minds. For if we do not ourselves attain unto this extreme limit of human life, when the "strength of man is but labour and sorrow," the reason will be, because, ere that time, death shall have sealed our eternal doom.

May the Lord, of His infinite mercy, "so teach us all to number our few days upon earth, that we may, while we have time, apply our hearts unto heavenly wisdom." May He sanctify our meditations to the edification of our souls, that so, whether the silver cord of our lives be lengthened out to its full measure of threescore years and ten, or