The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 476

may cent'l'e l\t hu1t in God" (Sydne:v Smith, • On the Pleasures of Old Age'). "Old age may be not only venerable, but beautiful, and the object of reverenc& untinctured by corupassioll. 'fne intellect, the emotions, the affections (the beet of them) all alive, -it ie the paseions and appetites only that are de11.d; and who that ie wise and has felt the plague of them, does not, with the aged Cephalus, in Plato's 'Republic,' account a serene freedom from their clamorous importunities a oompensation for the loss of their tumultuous pleasures?" (' Sel. from the Oorrespondcnce of R. E. H. Greyson, Esq.'), III. Hrs COURTEOUS '.REFUSAL OF THE PROFFER OF EARTHLY FAVOURS. What can even a mone.roh give him now? The society, the pleasures, the honours, of,a court; enlarged influence, increased responsibility, more abundant wealth .. Is it worth while for their sake to be transplanted to a new soil from the place where he has beeii.'S0 long growing ; and when he must so soon be removed from the world altogether? If he had been a sensual, ambitious, or avaricious man, the craving for such things would have remained, and led him (like others) to grasp at their possession, though no longer able to enjoy them or employ them aright. " What so di8tressing as to see the withered face of old age dull and dead to every consideration of eternity, .a.nd kindling with life only at the mention of earthly vanities?" (Blaikie). He declines them, not because they are sinful and worthless in themselves, but because they are unsuitable to him. His heart is set on ether pleasures; his immediate duties are determined and sufficient for his strength. He will not take new burdens on himself, nor be a burden to others. He will accompany the king "a little viay," to show his loyal devotion, and then return (2 Kings iv. 13). "With all the dignity of self-respect, with- the courtesy of a true gentleman, undervaluing not the king's offers, but his own service to him, with the prudent love of a father for the son whom he recommends to' his kind- ness, having outlived nothing really belonging to the true character of the life of man, he returned with the royal kiss and blessing, master of his own will, to his own' place" (W.Romanis~ ' IV. HIii ClHElUSHED BEJI.ElllllRANCE 011' PABENTS AND THE FAMILIAR SCENES OF ,HIS EARLY DAYS. "Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back," etc. (ver. 37). : His thoughts turn back to his native place, his childhood, his father and his mother, whom he must have loved and honoured (Exod. :x.x:. 12); and the memory of whom, tender, affectionate1 and reverent, is a fountain of pure and undying joy in his breast. How much does the happiness of old age depend upon its memories I Whilst in one case old age is tormented by the recollection of" the pleasures of sin," in another it is gladdened by the recollection of the practice of piety; ·and such recollections mingle with and, in great meuun, determiDe its anticipations. .. Son of Jesse, let me go; . Why should princelJ honours stay m11? Where the stree.ms of Gilee.d :flow, Where the light first met mine eye, Thither would I turn and die ; ' Where my parents' ashes lie, ' King of lsre.el I bid them lay me." (Sigonrney.) ' V. Hrs ooNBTAlllT DESIRE FOB BEBT in his "long home,,, (Eccles. xii. 6), ~• the house of et.ernity." It is now a pervading and increasing feeling. , He longs for repose in the sacred spot where hill parents lie, 11,5 e. pilgrim longs for home. The grave for him has no terrors. "He looks for a city which bath foundations," etc. (Heb. xi. 10, 16) ; and desires to be " gathered with his fathers," and to be for .~ver at rest in God (1 Sam. xxv. 1 ; eh. vii. 12; Ps. ~ 15 ; Prov. xiv. 32 ; Dan. xu. 13). "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in petM:e" (Luke ii. 29). " A man should still be bound for home .a.s you see all creatures be. Let a bird be far. from the nest, and it grow towara. night, she will home even upon the wings of the wind. Every _poor beas~, e;~d every creature, though the entertai.ument be b_µt slender a~ home, yet 1f y~u ~et 1t shp loose, it will home u faat as it can. Everything tends to its place; there 111 its safety, there is iu rest, there it is preserved, there it is quiet. Now, 11inoe it is so with every creature, why ahould it ,noj; .be BO with us? Whr should not we be for O)lr h~me? This is not our home; here is oot our rest. That 1s our home where our chief fneods  TIIE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 487