tractive of worldly scenes; and this must have been peculiarly the case with Simeon, in whom sense, and faith, and the Spirit of glory, were now operating to produce the most vivid impressions of divine and heavenly objects. Many things which once attached him to this earth had passed away, and all that remained were at this moment deprived of their power. The ceremonies of the Temple could not be all his desire whose soul was occupied with Him who is the way, the truth, and the life; and the fortunes of Judah could not excite his solicitude who beheld Messiah rejoicing in the homage of a restored universe, and all the ends of the earth seeing the salvation of God.

It may be said, Why did not Simeon wish to live till Messiah had actually finished his work of instruction, obedience, and suffering? But his advanced age showed him the folly of any such desire; and he had at this moment as clear views of the course of his Saviour as if he had been a follower of his steps. Besides, in the world to which he was going, Jesus, a holy child; Jesus, in the labours of industry; Jesus going about doing good; Jesus, an atoning sacrifice, would be objects of unceasing and affectionate attention.

To him who has seen the glory of the Saviour full of grace and truth, who hath an interest in the favour which is better than life, who hath found the pearl of great price, and is crowned with the honour that comes from God, there can be little to interest in the speculations of worldly wisdom, the smiles of the great, the vain show of a moment, or the riches which

perish in the using; they are lost, like the glow-worm, amidst the effulgence of day.

My aged friends, ye profess that your hearts are detached from the world; but take heed lest your reluctance to depart should make the truth of your profession questionable. And what hath produced this detachment? You may be merely sated with the enjoyments, or irritated by the vexations of life. Happy is it when it proceeds from the felt superiority of heavenly objects, and from the sight of the glory which shines in the face of Jesus.

2. This was a scene happily adapted to scatter the terrors of death. It is painful to think on the struggle which precedes death; but Simeon could rejoice that the salvation of God would not leave him without support or relief. The idea of appearing before God to give account of our whole conduct is appalling; but he whom Simeon now saw had this for his destined office,-to save his people from their sins. The idea of dying in the presence of lamenting friends is trying to nature; but Simeon felt that he was dying under the eye and the mercy of the Saviour.

The state to which death reduces the body is horrible to nature; but the mind of Simeon could reason thus:-" Mine eyes have seen God's salvation, and can I complain that the dust shall cover them? I have pressed him to my heart, and shall I complain that it must become like a clod of the valley ?" The continuance of the body in the grave is an idea which afflicts the reflecting mind; but Simeon felt that Jesus would not be God's salvation if he did not redeem

us from death, and ransom us from the power of the grave. In looking on the countenance of his Lord, so bright and so gracious, the good man forgets that the face of death is dark and fierce; and in Christ's embrace there is nothing in his cold grasp, or in his lone retreat, which hath power to fill us with dismay.

3. In this scene Simeon's mind was in that frame in which a good man would wish to leave the world. Gratitude and love, faith and joy, are the principles in the exercise of which a saint would wish to die, and these were now called forth in all their power and in all their consolations. Simeon felt the most fervid gratitude to Him who had sent his Son to be the propitiation for sins, and the strongest affection to Him who had thus rescued and honoured our degraded nature, and had no eye, no hand, and no heart, but for him.

He felt the fullest confidence in his accomplishment of the task which he had undertaken, and his Spirit rejoiced in God his Saviour. That foresight of the happy results of the Messiah's coming which dictated the song of angels," Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will towards men," he now felt; nay, the Spirit which dictates the unceasing ascription of glory to the Lamb in the temple on high prompted his homage.

These impressions and feelings are the commencement of the work and the spirit of Heaven; and in beholding them exercised in a lively manner, we lose sight of the symptoms of mortality and corruption, and conceive ourselves standing, not at the gates of the grave, but at the portals of heaven. Who does

not shudder at the thought of leaving the world with a mind soured by disappointment, distracted by fear, or clouded by despondency? and who would not wish to die rejoicing in the prospects and blessings of salvation? We have heard of the calmness of the philosopher, the levity of the wit, and the intrepidity of the hero, in the hour of death, and these have been applauded by men according to their particular tempers and habits; but religion is justified of her children, and in the consciences of those who affect to despise it, in the virtues of its course and in the graces of its close.

4. The privileges which Simeon now enjoyed were the foretaste of a sublimer felicity which awaited him in heaven. Now he had the infant Saviour in his arms, but in heaven he should behold the only begotten Son in the bosom of the Father; now he enjoyed prophetic illumination, but in heaven the whole plans of Jehovah respecting our race are presented to the view of minds purified, expanded, and invigorated, secured from every thing which could impede or withdraw their perceptions, or mar the felicity of contemplation; now he saw Christ presented in the temple, but in heaven he should see him appearing in the presence of God for us; now he saw Jesus made in the likeness of sinful flesh, but in heaven he should behold him as the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person.

To this felicity his present enjoyments were intended to elevate his mind; and this is your Saviour's object, my aged friends, in the communion he holds with you, to detach you from the present world, and

to elevate your hearts to a holier scene. If it be so delightful to sit for a moment under his shadow, what must it be to dwell under it for ever! and if it is so pleasing to hear him expressing his love to you, and his approbation of your services, what must you feel when he comes to receive you to himself, and to bear to you his open and final testimony! If the mercy which pardons is so valued, and if the mercy which solaces be so sweet, what must mercy to eternal life be !

CONCLUSION.

Let me exhort the aged to make the excellencies of practical religion, which have been set before them in this discourse, more the object of their love, their study, and their culture, than ever. This is Jehovah's end in all that he bestows, and in all that he promises: "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God ?"* To you also I address this advice, Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord. He cannot disappoint the expectations of wisdom nor the wishes of piety.

Let the sanctuary of God be the place you love best on earth; and beautifully may these words be applied to express the pious wishes of the aged amidst their desolate circumstances :- "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee. My soul thirsteth for thee: my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty land,

* Micah vi. 8.