December 4

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age. - Psalms 92:14.

NOT that all the people of God live to be old; this is not the meaning of it; sometimes they have been removed in early life, in the midst of their days, and these occurrences in Providence are very mysterious-that men who are likely to be useful should be so soon cut off, while a Voltaire is suffered to live, poisoning men’s minds, to the age of ninety. But though they die young they fill up their days; they die old, for life is not measured by days.

There was a Being once that lived in Judea who died at thirty-three, yet lived much longer than Methuselah, for every action, word, and feeling of that Being said, “I must work the work of him that sent me while it is called to-day.” Under the former economy long life was reckoned a peculiar honour and blessing; it was made a matter of promise; and we find in the Scriptures that the “hoary head is spoken of as a crown of glory when found in the way of righteousness.” Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Caleb, Joshua, David, Samuel, John, Peter and Simeon, and Mnason (an old disciple with whom the Apostles lodged, all were spared to a fine old age, and were gathered in like a shock of corn when it is ripe.

But when it is said “they shall still bring forth fruit in old age,” it is not to be taken as if they were not to bring forth fruit at any other time, but just to show the permanency of their fruits and disposition; that though others fail they will endure. That which comes from God will not fail to lead to God. It is thus a Christian is distinguished from all the works of nature.

“The plants of grace shall ever live,

Nature decays, but grace must thrive;

Time, that doth all things else impair,

Still makes them flourish strong and fair.”

Not that they escape the effects of old age, but, as the Apostle says, “when the outward man perisheth the inward man is renewed day by day;” when the outward ear grows deaf, then the inward man hears the voice of God; when the eye grows dim, the mind is irradiated and enlightened; when the fleshly parts grow weak, “we are strengthened with all might in our inner man.” We look for this in the old Christian.

The young Christian may be compared to a tree in spring covered with blossom; that is the loveliest period to see it. An old Christian is like a tree in autumn bending with fruit; it is not more beautiful, but more valuable. In them we look for weanedness from the world. It is one of the consequences of old age in Christians to look towards heaven; there he reckons upon meeting his relations and friends; he seems to have more communion with that world than this. We look for meekness in the aged.

The young are giddy, fiery, and determined; the older are willing to give up for the sake of peace, unless it is a good conscience and truth. There we look for maturity of judgment: that he should be able to distinguish between things that differ; that his heart is established in righteousness. He has not only had faith but experience; the one is a help to the other. “I know,” says Paul, “whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

The young have had few trials, and have seen but little of the power and providence of God; but the old Christian can endure longer and can better bear hardships; he has seen the interpositions of Providence and of grace, so that he does not despair, for “tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope.”