and felt how unreasonable it would be to murmur that such a scene of comfort should be followed by a season of frailty; that eyes which had so long gazedon the loveliness and grandeur of the creation, should now be dim with the films of age; that ears so long. open to the voice of melody, should now be closed. Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil also?

To complain of the infirmities of old age is as absurd as to complain of the falling leaves of autumn, or of the short and feeble light of the winter's sun as the year is drawing to its close. But it was not on such a consideration as this merely that the patience of Barzillai was founded, but upon his conviction that the admonitions of such frailties were necessary, and because he believed that they were appointed: of God, that he might manifest his compassion and mercy in solacing and supporting the humble sufferer. The heart fails that he may strengthen it; the steps totter that he may uphold; nature droops that he may revive it, and sad reflections and gloomy forebodings arise that he may give everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace.

3. In Barzillai's conduct on this occasion we mark his weanedness from the world, and his deadness to its honours and pleasures. How delightful to multitudes would this proposal of David have seemed!Many an old man would have listened to it with avidity, and gloried in it, as shedding lustre over his last days, and making the closing scenes of life the happiest. But Barzillai felt that he was unfit to mingle in the bustle and in the gaieties of such scenes, and the few

he occupied: but he had no wish of this sited
satisfied with what he had, and he tweit among ma
own people.

It may be said, that Barzillai's ideas of the

tions of a court were very limited; that there are other things desirable about it besides those to which ne alludes; and that this must lessen the respect ine a his declining the invitation to go to t. But befold Solomon, not from around a throne, but from the throne itself, pronouncing all the splendour of the palace, all the heaps of its treasures, and al tie giety of its pleasures, vanity and vexation of sint. The higher the station we occupy, the more degrating a the dust of the grave; the greater our gains, the more sad the thought that they must all be left is hind; and the more raptorous our pleasures, the more painful is the bitterness of death. God can put a blessing into the humblest fare, which will make it sweeter than all the delicacies of luxury; he can give to retirement a charm not to be found in all the pomp of courts, and to the feeble psalm of aged piety a power to elevate the mind, and to solace the heart, which the finest music cannot exercise; he can biews in the world, and he can bless without it.

.:4. In the conduct of Barzillai we behold an antiable solicitude not to be burdensome to David. He felt that though the kindness of the king urged him to go to Jerusalem, and to be intimately associated with him in all the privileges of his lot, that he was not now fit to bear a suitable part in such scenes that, instead of being an assistant or a comfo David amidst the toils of royalty, he would be

days which yet remained to him he wished to be spent in that quiet retirement where his thoughts might neither be distracted by the hurry of public life, nor his affections withdrawn from those celestial objects to which he had laboured to elevate them: for these few days he had employment of the most solemn kind, and to it he wished every moment to be devoted.

His language does not bear the least indication of regret that he was obliged to decline an invitation so marked by gratitude and kindness; he had no relish for aught that a court could present; he beheld the shadows of death resting on the scene of splendour and beauty, and his affections had been raised to the crown of glory that fadeth not away, and to the living fountains of water.

In general, it is not to the honours and the pleasures of the world that the aged are devoted, but to its wealth. How often are they seen as reluctant to part with it, and as eager to amass it, as if their happiness depended on it. But how long have you to live, that you should lay up treasures upon earth? It is most foolish to load the back that is bending with infirmity with such a weight of care; to make the last stage of your journey more difficult, by joining augmented burdens with declining strength; and to lay up nought in heaven where the good live for ever, and so much for earth where there is no abiding.

Barzillai was dead to the world's gains. Had he gone with David, he might have bestowed on him some of the large property which fell to him by his inheriting all the possessions of Saul, or, had he given the least hint, he would have added to the heritage which

he occupied: but he had no wish of this kind; he was satisfied with what he had, and he dwelt among his

own people.

may

It be said, that Barzillai's ideas of the attractions of a court were very limited; that there are other things desirable about it besides those to which he alludes; and that this must lessen the respect due to his declining the invitation to go to it. But behold Solomon, not from around a throne, but from the throne itself, pronouncing all the splendour of the palace, all the heaps of its treasures, and all the gaiety of its pleasures, vanity and vexation of spirit. The higher the station we occupy, the more degrading is the dust of the grave; the greater our gains, the more sad the thought that they must all be left behind; and the more rapturous our pleasures, the more painful is the bitterness of death. God can put a blessing into the humblest fare, which will make it sweeter than all the delicacies of luxury; he can give to retirement a charm not to be found in all the pomp of courts, and to the feeble psalm of aged piety a power to elevate the mind, and to solace the heart, which the finest music cannot exercise; he can bless in the world, and he can bless without it.

4. In the conduct of Barzillai we behold an amiable solicitude not to be burdensome to David. He felt that though the kindness of the king urged him to go to Jerusalem, and to be intimately associated with him in all the privileges of his lot, that he was not now fit to bear a suitable part in such scenes, and that, instead of being an assistant or a comforter to David amidst the toils of royalty, he would be an en