2. The continuance of our lives —
[" What is our life ? it is a vapour tliat appeareth but a little time, and then vanisheth away." This is a truth which all acknowledge ; and which, if duly considered, would abate the ardour of our earthly pursuits, and moderate our too san- guine expectations. Who has not seen persons in the bloom of youth, when promising themselves years of prosperity and joy, cut off suddenly, even as the flower of the grass, which in the morning looks gay and flourishing, and in the evening is cut down, dried up, and withered ? Yes, a light, airy, un- substantial vapour is but too just an image of life, which in its best estate is vanity, and in the twinkling of an eye may pass away for ever. Is it wise then to be either looking forward to future joys, or resting too confidently in joys possessed, when for ought that we know, the decree may have already gone forth, " This year," this month, this very day, " shalt thou die"?"]
Let
* Here any instances of hopes disappointed by sudden death rnaj^ be referred to. Such was that most deplorable one of the Piincess Charbtle of Wales.
Let US LEARy from this subject,
1. To have a direct reference to God in all things''—"
[God will govern all things, Avhether we acknowledge him or not : and, if we refer all to him, he will govern all things for our good. Not a hair of our head shall fall to the ground without his special permission.]
2. To be moderate in our anticipations of earthly bliss —
[What a lesson is taught us by the fate of him who said to his soul, " Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; eat, drink, and be merry." The reply of God to him was, " Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee." The true way to avoid disappointment from earthly things is, to regard them as vanity and vexation of spirit, and to be contented with such a measure of them as God sees to be best for us.]
3. To bend all our attention to the concerns of eternity —
[These will never disappoint our hopes : we shall never seek eternal happiness in vain. Our desires in reference to them cannot be too large, nor our expectations from them too sanguine. Who, on coming to om* blessed Saviour, was ever cast out? In what instance did the blood of Christ ever prove insufficient to justify, or his grace to save ? As for life, the cutting short of that will not deprive us of any blessing which we have sought : on the contrary, it will bring us to the speedier possession of all good. We must indeed, in sphitual as well as carnal things, place our hope in God alone ; because God alone can " give us either to will or to do ;" and in the bestowment of his blessings he will consult only " his own will and pleasure :" but if we look stedfastly to him, and rely confidently on him alone, " we shall not be ashamed or con- founded world without end."]
•' ver. 15, 1(5.