bear up the mind under all the pains and infirmities of the body. Of this David was an experienced witness, and thus devoutly acknowledged the favour to his God: In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Psalm cxxxviii. 3. Thousands of the saints in every age, and under the most distressing calamities, have enjoyed the same support from the hand of the Lord. Paul both knew and felt, under all his sufferings, that as the outward man decayed, so the inward man was renewed, day by day; and that the Lord would make his strength perfect in weakness. Humility, patience, peace, hope, resignation, comfort, are as so many cordials which God is pleased to convey to the fainting heart, in such proportions, and at such times as may best relieve the anguish of the soul under the pressure of suffering. Especially when his children recline on their dying bed, and sin and Satan makes the last violent attack, the Lord drives the shades of sin away, expels the poisonous darts of temptation, heals the wounds by the sacred balm of his Gospel, shows that the sting of death, by the conquest of Christ, is taken away, and that the kingdom of heaven is opened to all believers; then casts his heavenly smiles upon the heart and says, Though thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overthrow thee: for I am the Lord thy God. Isaiah xliii. 2, 3. By such, and various other communications, the Lord becomes the strength of the heart, and proves the faithfulness of his ancient promises, As thy days, so shall be thy strength. Deuteronomy xxxiii. 25. If there were nothing more than these supporting favours, which David, and a multitude of others have received from their God when under affliction, and in the prospect of death, they prove the virtues of religion, and demand the highest expressions of gratitude and praise! But David enjoyed more than these. The Lord was not only the strength of his heart, when flesh failed him, but his portion for ever. Let, therefore, the flesh fail, and the body return to its native dust; there is a more enduring substance beyond the grave, a portion in reserve that fadeth not away. It is the Lord, in all the fulness of his glory, in the highest heavens. My God-my Saviour-my heaven-my inheritancemy endless happiness! What can I say more? Blessed portion this; immense, rich, inconceivable; so secure that it can never be destroyed, and lasting as eternity. Whatever knowledge or experience we have of this while in the body, it is but as a glimpse and foretaste of what is to be fully enjoyed in the regions of immortality. No wonder, therefore, that David, in this Psalm, with such devout ecstacy exclaimed, Whom have I in heaven but THEE? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside THEE. Psalm lxxiii. 25. Blessed Saviour, as thou hast graciously promised to be our portion in the world which is to come, prevent us from choosing any other with superlative attachment while inhabiting this world of sorrow! The subject of this discourse is certainly calcu lated to teach us very interesting and important lessons. How frail, how decaying is our mortal flesh! In the midst of life, we are in death. David, when under a solemn impression of this humiliating fact, thus addressed his Lord, When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. SELAH. Psalm xxxix. 11. The body is as a garment to the soul, in it sin is like a moth, which by degrees fretteth and weareth it away; first the beauty, then the strength, and finally the contexture of its parts.. Whoever with attention has observed the progress of a consumption, or any other lingering disease, or the slow and silent advances of old age, will need no further illustration of this correct and affecting similitude; nor will such be at any loss to discern the propriety of the reflection which follows upon it, Surely every man is vanity. SELAH; that is, NOTA BENE; mark it well, study it attentively for your improvement. Our spirits too, our heart, however vigorous in the pursuits of life, will soon become languid, and finally fail. In this state, like a second childhood, how much do we need the cordials of friendship, and more especially the smiles of a compassionate and faithful Saviour to soothe our steps to the grave! Let us not pass through life without leaving behind us the impress of our steps in paths of virtue and beneficence. Be wise and consider our latter end, and see that the Lord is now the strength of our souls. O what mercy, pardon, peace, and strength, do we need to prepare for our last conflict in death! No other rock, no other strength, will be adequate for support, but what are found in Christ alone. Possessed of these most invaluable blessings, you' will determine, with Paul, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. SERMON V. The Days of Man, a fleeting Shadow. 1 CHRONICLES xxix. 15. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. IT is well known to those who are conversant with the history of David, that in his last days it came into his heart to build an house unto the Lord his God; for as yet the ark of the covenant of the Lord had only rested in a tent. Although this was forbidden him in consequence of his having stained his hand with blood by the death of Uriah, and this work having been consigned by the Lord to his son Solomon, yet just before his death he formed a resolution to make all the provision possible to facilitate that design. Accordingly David assembled the princes of Israel, his captains and valiant men, with a vast multitude of people; he then, while on a scaffold, stood upon his feet, and addressed them on the importance of contributing liberally of their substance. The king set them a noble example, by contributing abundance of gold and silver out of his own treasury. This pious act |