Old age is also a period in which we shall be in danger of losing, what Barzillai seems most admirably to have retained, the powers of reason and judgment. Whatever were the infirmities and decays of his body, he appears to have had the almost singular felicity of a mind unimpaired. This enabled him to conduct with a wisdom, dignity, and gravity, which must have commanded universal respect. But how few at his years are thus happy! How common is it for the mind to decay with the body, and sometimes become defunct, while the body still lives! The greatest wits and heroes have sunk into imbecility, and become ideots under the age of fourscore.

"From Marlborough's eyes the streams of dotage flow, And Swift expires, a driveller and a show."

If these evils should be in a good measure escaped; yet when men are destitute of true religion, old age but carries them on to higher degrees of guilt. The sinner being an hundred years old, dies at last under a curse heavy and dreadful in proportion to the extended duration of his guilt.

Thus it appears that the surviving to old age may be desirable or otherwise, according to the circumstances attending it. These circumstances being extremely precarious and not to be foreseen, we ought to indulge no solicitude upon the subject. Our times and the number of our months are not in our own hand. He who cannot err has set for

us all, the bounds which we cannot pass. If among those to whom a long life is allotted there be some who, like Barzillai, at fourscore seem happy and respected; there are, on the other part, many others who in the decline of life become extremely wretched.

May not this discourse teach those among us who are advancing towards old age, how to support the dignity and gravity of their declining years, and render their hoary heads honourable in the eyes of the world? This cannot be done by affecting to forget or endeavouring to conceal the number of their years, by imitating the levities of youth, or running into all the caprices of worldly fashion ; by frequenting scenes of gaiety, by mingling with the crowd on public occasions, or by attempting show and parade.

My respected friends, you ought, like the aged citizen of Rogelim, to be sensible how unsuitable and incongruous these things are to your venerable standing in life. Keeping your minds unincumbered, and disentangled from the more perplexing cares of the world, with Barzillai, you should seek and love retirement; while like him, you continue your endeavours to be useful, and, in proportion to your abilities, abound in works of beneficence both to the bodies and souls of those around you. As your time and opportunities shorten, your diligence in all the offices of piety to God, and of charity to

men, should increase. Your age and experience authorize you to administer reproofs to the wicked, consolations to the afflicted, and good advice and instruction to the young and ignorant. and ignorant. On your influence, counsel, and example, the cause of religion, virtue, and good order, and the success among us of these greatest blessings to society, in no small degree depend. In no part of your lives were your exertions with respect to these objects, more likely to prove efficacious than at present. Do not imagine that you are become useless or unprofitable, while it is in your power to check or restrain, in any degree, vice and folly.

A total cessation from worldly business while you are able to transact it, is not recommended. It is wiser and better to continue your habits of industry in your accustomed vocations, so long as you are able to prosecute them; though you may, and ought, perhaps, to relax your efforts, and contract the circle of your affairs in proportion as you may perceive the decline of your abilities; gradually retiring from the noise and bustle of the world. to domestic scenes and serious thoughts. As the decays of nature advance upon you, learn to bear them with patience and resignation. Being at length in a great measure disabled from worldly care and business, let a spirit of devotion and heavenly mindedness have the possession of your hearts. "Let your affections dwell among divine

and immortal objects. In silent and thoughtful meditation, walk as on the shore of that vast ocean, upon which you are so soon to embark. Summon up all the considerations, which should reconcile you to your departure from life, and which may prepare you for going through its last scene, with firmness and decency." When that crisis shall arrive, when, after having reached the utmost verge of life, you shall feel yourselves sinking under disease added to the infirmities of age; still remember in whom you have believed, and endeavour to strengthen your confidence in him. While your flesh and heart are failing you, still think of him who is the strength of your heart and the portion of your soul, and say with the Psalmist, "Though I walk through the valley, and the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they shall comfort me."

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SERMON XVII.

CHARACTER OF JOB.

JAMES v. 1.

Ye have heard of the patience of Job; and have seen the end of the Lord.

IT has been the opinion of some learned men, that no such person as Job ever existed, and that the book containing his history was a parabolic fiction, invented indeed for a pious purpose, to subserve the cause of religion and virtue. Bishop Warburton considered it as a dramatic allegory, composed by Ezra for the consolation of the Jews returning from Babylon; wherein, under the character of Job and his friends, are figured those Jews and their three great enemies, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. But it is certain that the history of Job was well known, and his character celebrated among the Jews, before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. Honourable mention is made of him in the prophecy of Ezekiel (xiv. 14), and he is there represented as a person, like Noah