"can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? "can I hear any more the voice of singing-men "and singing-women? wherefore then should thy "servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? "Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with "the king and why should the king recompense "it me with such a reward? Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in "mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my "father and of my mother: but behold thy servant "Chimham; let him go over with my lord the 66 66 king; and do to him what shall seem good unto "thee."* It was not from any moroseness of temper, or from the peevishness of old age that he declined the royal invitation, as appears from recommending his son to serve the state; but he had so numbered his days, as to apply his heart to wisdom; he practically remembered “that man goeth forth to his work and to his labor till the " evening." 66 Evening is the beginning of night. The term may therefore be referred to the commencement of the long night of death; then the righteous are taken away from the evil to come, they enter the grave in peace, they shall rest in their beds; they lay down and sleep till the hallowed morn of the resurrection, * 2 Samuel, xix. 34–37. por the Lord making them dwell in safety. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their tion from me, saith, my God. Refreshed by the peaceful repose of the grave, they shall rise in health and vigor, with glorious bodies, fashioned after the model of Christ's, and engage in those services which shall never weary, and dwell in that land, where there shall be no night. Happy are the persons that are in such a case! The hour of separation from this world may be securely anticipated with delight! But while we rejoice in their felicity, let us labor to enter into their rest. If sin is pardoned through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; if quickened by the Holy Spirit; if cheered in our toils by the gracious presence of our Master, death has no terror for us. Nay, he is but as the messenger of mercy sent to summon you to your reward, for when even is come, the Lord of the vineyard will say unto his steward-for such is he whom we have been accustomed to name Death "Call the laborers and give them their hire." Pray for such consolatory prospects of that unavoidable hour; if you can realize them, earth will lose its charms; the grave its terrors. "Then you will scorn these clothes of flesh, "And long for evening to undress, "That you may rest with God." 66 Again. There are very many who are diligently laboring in the work of the Lord, and exercising themselves to maintain a conscience void of offence towards God and man, who yet are in bondage through fear of death. They tremble at the "shaking of his spear, they dread lest when even"ing is come they should be found alone;" ever looking at their transgressions, which are many, and their backslidings which have increased, and not at him who put away sin by his own sacrifice, they fear lest the wolf of the evening should spoil them, and the lion from the forest devour them.' Ah!' my brethren, their sorrows are sacred: their case is indeed pitiable: believe it, such have griefs with which no stranger can intermeddle. Yet frequently have we seen such individuals indulged with singular manifestations of Divine favour; from the severe services and sufferings of their days of distress, they have peacefully retired; at eveningtime it has been light; when they have walked to their long home,—walked deliberately-and without apprehension; wearied indeed, but leaning on the arm of love and mercy; consoled by his presence, who turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and cheered by the kind assurance that they shall rest from their labors and their works shall follow them. * Jeremiah, v. 6. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his. Mark the sincere man, and behold the upright, the end of that man is peace. But with all it is not so, nor indeed can be. To the lazy, the loitering, the misemployed, the hour of evening must, and ought to be, the season of alarm. They shall then howl for vexation of heart, "For the Son of man is a man taking a far jour ney, who left his house, and gave authority to his "servants, and to every man his work, and com"manded the porter to watch. Watch ye there"fore; for ye know not when the master of the "house cometh, or at the cock-crowing, or in the "morning; lest coming suddenly, he find you "sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto "all, Watch."* "Blessed is that servant, whom "his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. “But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the "men-servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, "and to be drunken; the lord of that servant will "come in a day when he looketh not for him, and "at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him “in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with "the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew 66 * Mark, xiii. 34-37. |