tender parent, unwearied in His attention. Is it a time of diminished comforts? One great comfort is still left, all the more soothing when others are gone. Is the old man lonely, like the last leaf which the storm has left clinging to the tree? The life-long Friend still remains, "when other helpers fail and comforts flee." And the result is that the aged believer is often a "grand old man" still bringing forth fruit, counselling others from his ripe experience, cheered by happy memories and glowing hopes, not frowning on the happiness of others, contented, trustful, loving, kind.

"On he moves to meet his latter end,

Angels around befriending virtue's friend: Sinks to the grave with unperceived decay, While resignation gently slopes the way. And, all his prospects brightening to the Last,

His heaven commences ere the world be past."

-Goldsmith.

II. THE NATURE OF THE CARE WHICH GOD EXERCISES OVER US, expressed in the words "carry," "bear," "deliver," which stand in contrast to what is said (vers. 1, 2) of the idolgods of the Chaldeans. Idolaters carry their gods, but our God carries us. Images are borne about in procession, or are packed up and laid on beasts of burden-a withering exposure of the folly of idol-worship (ver. 7). The same may be said of creature confidences. Earthly possessions, instead of a help, often become a burden and a snare. Trust in man is often met by faithlessness. Sinful pleasure proves a clog and a hindrance. Unable to support or deliver, these gods become burdens, drags, encumbrances which must be supported.

But these words express the character of God's care for us. He is both father and mother to us (Ps. ciii. 13; Isa. lxvi. 13; Ps. xxvii. 10). Expressive and tender though the image is, it does not fully exhibit His affection. Not only does He nurse us in infancy and childhood, but even to old age (Ps. xlviii. 14).

What deliverances, too, He works

for us, from accident and sickness, from the burden of sin and the onset of temptation! How marvellous have been His patience with us and His providential care! He will preserve us in old age, and deliver us from death. To the Christian pilgrim old age will be a Beulah land whence he can descry the shining glories of the heavenly city.

III. THE ARGUMENT BY WHICH GOD ENCOURAGES US TO EXPECT HIS CONTINUED CARE. "I have made, and I will bear." As the Creator of our bodies and the Father of our spirits, God acknowledges His obligation to guide and care for us. Does an earthly father love his child, and shall not the Universal Parent care for the children whom His hand hath formed? The argument becomes stronger when addressed to those whom God has created anew in Christ (Ps. Ivi. 13; cxxxviii, 8; Phil. i. 6). Behold, then, how gracious is our God! Not only does He assure us of His tender support all through life, but He also condescends to give us a strong reason for counting upon it.

In conclusion-1. On this promise God rests His claim to our undivided trust. If He engages to do all this, ought we not to give Him the entire confidence of our hearts, abandoning every refuge of lies? There is everything to invite our firm reliance (2 Tim. i. 12, iv. 18). 2. There is a call here for gratitude. God has brought some of you well on in your journey to old age, and will you not acknowledge His goodness? and you who have reached old age, are you not thankful for the mercies of the past 3. The subject inspires us with hope. At whatever stage we stand in the pilgrimage of life, here is a voice of encouragement.-William Guthrie, M.A.

Old age most wish to attain, but those who reach it are generally disposed to complain about it. Very various are the circumstances and feelings in this period of life, but, with all who attain it, it is the time when their

1. Old age is a time of peculiar memory. In fact, it is the age of memory. What a peculiar memory the old man has ! How many joys he can remember, &c. And yet, looking back upon all, he can say, "Even to old age He is the same," &c. How frequently has he been forced to exclaim, "Though friends have departed, yet there is a Friend who sticketh closer than a brother; on Him I still trust, and to Him I still commit my soul."

2. Of peculiar hope. The old saint hath few hopes of the future in this world; they are gathered up into a small space; and he can tell you, in a few words, what constitutes all his expectation and desire. But he has one hope, and that is the very same which he had when he first trusted in Christ; it is a hope of an inheritance that is "undefiled, that fadeth not away," &c.

3. Of peculiar solicitude. An old man 18 not anxious about many things, as we are, for he hath not so many things for which to concern himself. But (1.) he hath more soli. citude about his bodily frame.

He

fears every now and then that the pitcher will be "broken at the cistern;" for "the noise of the grinders is low." But in this peculiar solicitude you have another proof of divine faithfulness; for now that you have little pleasure in the flesh, do you not find that God is just the same; and that, though the days are come when you can say, "I have no pleasure in them," yet the days are not come when you can say, "I have no pleasure in Him?" (2.) There is another solicitude -a failure of mind. They forget much which they would wish to remember; but still they find that their God is just the same; that His goodness does not depend on their memory; that the sweetness of His grace does not depend upon their palate. (3.) The chief solicitude of old age is death. Young men may die soon. Old men must die. His one solicitude now is, to examine himself whether he is in the faith. But

God's faithfulness is the same; for if he be nearer death, he has the sweet satisfaction that he is nearer heaven; and if he has more need to examine himself than ever, he has also more evidence whereby to examine himself.

4. Of peculiar blessedness. The old man has a good experience to talk about. He has peculiar fellowship with Christ. There are peculiar communings, openings of the gates of paradise, visions of glory, just as you come near to it. The nearer you get to the bright light of the celestial city, the clearer shall be the air. all this only proves that Christ is the same; because, when there are fewer earthly joys, He gives more spiritual

ones.

But

5. Of peculiar duties. (1.) Testimony. I remember hearing the late Mr. Jay. I fancy that if I had heard the sermon preached by a young man, I should not have thought so much of it; but there appeared such a depth in it because it came from an old man, standing on the borders of the grave; it was like an echo of the past, coming to me, to let me hear my God's faithfulness, that I might trust for the future. Testimony is the duty of old men and women; they should labour whenever they can to bear testimony to God's faithfulness, and to declare that now also, when they are old and grey-headed, their God forsakes them not. (2.) Comforting the young believer. No one is more qualified than kind-hearted old men to convert the young; when the young Christian comes to them, they say, "Do not fear: I have gone through the waters, and they have not overflown me," &c. (3.) Warning. The warnings of the old have great effect; and it is their peculiar work to guide the imprudent, and warn the un

wary.

APPLICATION.-1. What a precious thought, young men and women, is contained in this text! Here is a safe investment. A rock may be dissolved, and if I build a house on that it may be destroyed; but if I build on Christ,

How

my happiness is secure for ever. blessed it is to begin in the early morning to love and serve God! The best old Christians are those who were once young Christians. 2. You middleaged men are plunged in the midst of business, and you are sometimes supposing what will become of you in your old age. But is there no promise of God to you that you suppose about to-morrows? Middle-aged man, give thy present years to Him. 3. Venerable fathers in the faith, and mothers in Israel, take these words for your joy. Do not let the young people catch you indulging in melancholy, but go about cheerful and happy, and they will think how blessed it is to be a Christian, for so will you prove to them to a demonstration, that even to old age God is with you, and that when your strength faileth He is still your preservation.-C. H. Spurgeon: Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, No. 81-82.

"Even to your old age, I am He.” That is, "I am the same; I remain unchangeable, with the same tenderness, affection, and care." The proper study of man is God. Though apart from a divine revelation we may acquire some knowledge of His character and perfections, His full-orbed character is only to be found in the revelation He has been pleased to make of Himself in His Word. All things, &c., change; but God is ever the same. "I am He, the same yesterday," &c.

I. THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD. He is subject to no change whatever in His manner of being, His perfections, purposes, promises, or threatenings. Whatever He was millions of ages before the worlds were made, He is now; and what He is now, He will be for ever.

That He is thus unchangeable is clear from-1. Reason; 2. Nature; 3. Moral government; 4. The repeated and explicit declarations of Holy Scripture (H. E. I. 2254, 2256, 2324, 2341).

II. SOME OF THE PRACTICAL LESSONS WHICH THIS DOCTRINE TEACHES.

1. It furnishes encouragement to prayer. The Atheist makes another use of this doctrine, and infers from it that it must be in vain to pray, because our petitions can produce no change in the divine mind. But this inference is as repugnant to sound reasoning as it is to the precepts of the Bible, and the spirit of piety (H. E. I. 2255, 37503753). If the Lord were fickle like earthly monarchs, then, indeed, it would be vain to pray, for He might grant a petition one day, and deny it another, or He might change His purposes and plans altogether. But if a prince promised to confer some great benefit upon a certain condition, and you knew his promise to be unchangeable, what man in the world would think of saying, "It is no use to seek the benefit, because it depends upon the fulfilment of a prescribed condition?"

2. It encourages our personal confidence in God, amidst all the changes and decays of this mortal state. We cannot trust a changeable being. God is worthy our utmost confidence, for He is immutable (ch. xxvi. 4). (a)

3. It should stimulate us to seek freedom from all fickleness-a steadiness of principle, purpose, action (Ps. lvii. 7; cviii. 1).

4. It infallibly secures the punishment of the finally impenitent. Every threatening as well as every promise must be fulfilled.

"Faithful in Thy promises,
And in Thy threatenings too."
-Alfred Tucker.

(a) His people always need His protection and care, and He will never leave nor forsake them (Heb. xiii. 5). He who is the God of infancy and childhood will be the God of age. "The second childhood of man will find Him no less certainly a protector than the first." "Man travelling upon the road espies some great castle; sometimes it seems to be nigh, another time afar off; now on this hand, anon on that; now before, by and by behind; when all the while it standeth still unmoved. So a man that goes in a boat by water thinks the shore moveth, whereas it is not the shore but the boat that passeth away. Thus it is with God: sometimes He seemeth to be angry with the sons of men, another time to be well pleased; now to be at hand, anon at a

distance; now showing the light of His countenance, by and by hiding His face in displeasure; yet He is not changed at all.

It is we, not He, that is changed. He is immutable in His nature, in His counsels, and in all His promises."-Beveridge.

ever.

I. THE OBJECTS OF THE DIVINE

CARE.

1. The whole creation. God is ever present and ever active, and all the operations of nature are the manifestations of His living care (Psa. civ. 1028; Matt. x. 29; Luke xii. 24, &c.) 2. More especially man-made in His image, formed for eternal existence, and endowed with capacities of eternal enjoyment. Even those who are unthankful and evil (Matt. vi. 45). 3. In a yet more special sense His own believing people (1 Tim. iv. 10). These He calls His " beloved," &c. None are overlooked or neglected. Remember your individual interest in the special care of your Heavenly Father.

II. THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DIVINE CARE.

1. It is most tender. "I will carry you, and I will bear." Surpasses the tenderness of a fond mother for her helpless infant (chap. xlix. 15). 2. Active and effectual. "I will deliver." He will accomplish that which concerneth us (chap. xiv. 24).

His care is not an idle sentiment, but an operative principle, and being connected with almighty power, cannot exert itself in vain, but accomplishes with infinite ease all its purposes. Human care is often inefficient, for want of power, but with God to will is to perform, &c. 3. Unwearied. "Even to your old age," &c. Surpasses that of the most tender parent, which naturally dies away as the child reaches manhood. God's people are always the objects of His tender solicitude. Age does not make them less dependent, and experience only teaches them more and more their need of His sus

taining grace. Human care is variable according to our changing circumstances and situations, but God's care is constant under all circumstances: affliction, temptation, &c.

III. THE GROUNDS AND ASSURANCES OF THE DIVINE CARE.

1. The relations He sustains to us. He is our (1.) Creator. "I have made you," and (chap. xliv. 2). Whatever motive induced Him to create us, still induces Him to care for us. (2.) Proprietor. He cares for His own lawful possession. (3.) Father. He cares for us with infinitely more concern than the very best earthly father. (4.) Redeemer (chap. xli. 14, &c.) The former arguments apply with double force. What greater proof can there be of His care? The cross is its measure.

2. The teaching and promises of His Word (Psa. ciii. 13; 2 Sam. xxiii. 5; Isa. xlix. 15; Heb. vi. 17, 18, &c.)

3. The experience of His people (Deut. xxxii. 7). Could we ask those who inhabit the celestial mansions, 'doth God care for His people?' they would all reply, with loud and grateful rapture, He doth care for His people,' &c. Those who are now on the way to heaven can testify to God's loving This is the most obvious and impressive evidence.

care.

CONCLUSION.-1. The wonderful condescension of God (Psa. cxiii. 5, 6). 2. The obligations that rest upon us to love and serve Him who thus cares for us. 3. The privilege of casting all Our care "--anxieties-" upon Him who careth for us" (1 Pet. v. 7; Phil. iv. 6, 7). This is the universal heart'sease the only cure for care. (a)— Alfred Tucker.

(a) "Does my heavenly Father really care for me 1" The words came from a lady sitting by an open window; her brow bore the trace of care and sadness; her eyes were suffused with tears. Within two years death had thrice