fire :" " Luke xvi. lo — 26. Sc Isai. xxxv. JO,
fire :" but, " if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnessJ* Let the groaning penitent then look up to him with cheerful hope; vea, with assured confidence, tliat God will not despi.se even the lowest expressions of penitential sorrow : however " bruised the reed may i)e, the Lord Jesus will not break it ; nor will he quench the smoking flax," though there be in it but one spark of grace, and a whole cloud of corruption : never did he yet *' despise the day of small things;" *' nor will he ever cast out the least or meanest that come unto him." Only come to him in faith, and " according to your faith it shall be done unto you."]
Ps. xxxix. 4, 5. Lord, make me io know rnine end, and the measure of my days, what it is ; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee J verily every man at his best slate is altogether vanity.
THERE is nothing more painful to a pious mind than to see how generally religion is neglected and despised. A godly man delights to speak of the things which are nearest to his heart: but he is often constrained to be silent, lest he should only induce the persons whose welfare he would promote, to blas- pheme God, and to increase thereby their own guilt and condemnation. Gladly would he benefit all around him : but in many cases he perceives, that the very attempt to do so would be to " cast pearls before swine." In tenderness to them therefore, as well as from a regard to his own feelings, he imposes a restraint upon himself in their presence, and " refrains even from good words," though it is a pain and a grief to him to do so. Such was David's situation when he penned this psalm. He was grieved to think that rational and immortal beings, standing on the very verge of eternity, should act so irrational a part : and not finding vent for his feel- ings amongst men, he poured them out before God in the words which we have just read; and intreated, that, however careless others were about the con-
K 2 cerns
132 PSALMS, XXXIX. 4, 5. [360r
cerns of eternity, he might be more deeply and abidingly impressed with them.
Wishing that your minds may be suitably affected with this all-important subject, I will set before you,
I. David's estimate of man's present state — •
He acknowledges that he himself could form but a very inadequate notion respecting it —
[Speculatively indeed he knew well enough, that man's days are but few at all events, and quite uncertain as to their continu- ance : but the deep, and practical, and influential sense of it he had not in any degree equal to its importance ; nor could he impress it on his own soul, without the powerful assistance of God's holy Spirit. Hence he poured forth this earnest petition to his God, " Lord, make me to know my end ! make me to know how frail I am '/'
It is thus with us also. Speculatively, the most ignorant amongst us has as perfect a knowledge of the subject as the most learned : but, practically, no one knows it, unless he have been taught of God : and even those who have " heard and learned it of the Father," need to be taught it more deeply from day to day.
That children do not reflect upon it, we do not wonder, because of the vanity of their minds, and their almost entire want of serious consideration. But when persons are grown to 7naturity, we might well expect them to feel so obvious a truth. They see that multitudes are cut off at their age ; and they know that with the termination of the present life all opportunities of preparing for eternity must cease : yet they not only do not lay these con- siderations to heart, but they will not hear of them, or endure to have them presented to their view. Nor are tlwie ivho are more advanced in life at all more thoughtful on thia subject. Engaged in worldly business, and occupied in providing for their families, they put the thoughts of eternity as far from them as they did amidst the more pleasurable pursuits of youth. And even when they attain to old age, they are as far from realizing the expecta- tions of death and judgment as ever. They know, in a specula- tive way, that they are nearer to the grave than they were in early life, and that they may at no distant period expect a change. But still the^e views are no more influential on their minds than thev were at any former period of their lives. A condemned cririiinal, who has but a few days to Vwe, feels that every hour brings him nearer to the time appointed for his execution : but not so the man who is bowed down with years : the very habit of living puts at an indefinite distance the hour of death ; and days and months pass on without ever bringing at all nearer to his apprehensions the time of his dissolution. Even the sick