can he wish to die? Why should he? In a moment of vexation or disappointment he might do so, but not deliberately-habitually. All animated nature clings to life, and is averse from death. Skin for skin, all that a man hath will he give for his life."

2. Hence it is that a birthday is universally a day of rejoicing.

Whether it be the child of a prince or of a peasant, there is joy when a son is born into the world: not seldom they "take the merry harp and the lute, the tabret and pipe," and rejoice in dissipation and folly. Joy, too, glows in the cheeks of the young mother when she gazes on her new-born babe. She looks forward in hope, and anticipates visions of happiness! Sad experience teaches not; and though old age may let fall a passing tear of anxiety about the uncertain future, infancy, childhood, youth, are joyous things: all this is natural-instinctive; life and birth are better than death to most of us!

3. Death, on the contrary, is full only of sorrow and gloom!

-I dwell not here on the circumstances of death, which are common to all, and abhorrent to nature-as pain, disease, decay, and dissolution; but I take the termination of the life of all the ungodly, and I say that their "day of death is not better than the day of their birth.”

(a) See the infidel's death! Let it be even as he dreams it is-
annihilation, or suspension of consciousness: is this better
than life? Is not the warm and glowing body better than
putrid clay? and the intellectual activity than vile uncon-
sciousness?—And we know his portion: we know his spirit
lives in torment, and his body is doomed to it! Is death to
him a better thing?

(b) Or the suicide's death! True, he seeks it!-it is volun-
tary: vexed and maddened by the cruel things of life, he
rushes like the chased and wounded hart over the precipice,
or plunges into the deep, to flee intolerable evils! But is it
better with him? We draw a vail over the suicide's end !—
"Good had it been for him if he had never been born!"
(c) Or the death of the man of pleasure! He lives voluptu-
ously-he fares sumptuously-he revels in sensuality-and
as a carnal man he delights in it! But suddenly he thinks
to embrace some phantom of delight, and it is damp, and
cold, and it chills him : it is death he has embraced! What a
change! Is it for the better? Ask such a one-Are the
cold clay, and the winding-sheet, and judgment, better than
the gilded couch, and the festive dance, and sensual plea-
sures?

(d) And thus it is with all such men :-the miser clings with tenacious grasp to his gold-the ambitious to his honoursthe thrifty tradesman to his gains-the idolater to his loved one,-all, all to some earthly thing; and when death tears it from them, they cry out in bitterness-"Ye have taken away my gods, and what have I left?" The cynic, or misanthrope, or any one in a moment of vexation, may cry out for death-as Job, and as Elijah, and as Jonah did, in unhappy seasons of temptation; but with all its evils, men in general cling to life; and this world must be better, and the day of birth better, than the day of death to all but the true believer!

II. THE WORDS OF THE TEXT ARE TRUE IN THEIR FULL

EST EXTENT WHEN APPLIED TO THE FAITHFUL BE-
LIEVER.

He who uttered these words had plunged into sin and pleasure; but he had been convinced of his sin and folly, and had repented of it: he was now seeking better things; and therefore to him the day of death had become better than the day of his birth: it would not have been so if he had been cut off in his idolatry and sin! The Scripture nowhere says, "Blessed are the dead," but "blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." (Rev. xiv. 13.) "Those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him"—no others! Those who have been awakened-convinced-converted; who have fled to Jesus and found mercy, peace, and grace, and are now walking in newness of life; and they, and they only, can say, "the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth."

1. To them death is the end of all evil.

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(a) It is the end of toil and weariness: life is a pilgrimage-
a journey-a voyage-death is its blessed end" the weary
are at rest." (Job iii. 17—19.) They rest from their la-
bours." In this body" they groan, being burthened:"
they have many cares, many tribulations, many sources of
earthly discomfort. Oh! how sweet the pillow of turf to
the weary body! How ineffable the rest of the wounded
spirit in the paradise of God!

(b) It is the end of spiritual conflict: this world is the be-
liever's battle-field: he is a good soldier of Jesus Christ:
he never puts off his panoply (Ephes. vi. 11—17): he is
marching through an enemy's land; every bush and brake
conceals a foe; wicked men, evil spirits, and the world, are
leagued against him: sleepless vigilance, untiring fortitude,

endurance, fidelity, are his necessary qualifications. Death puts an end to all! Blessed death! Is not peace better than war? the crown of laurel than the bloody strife? The day of birth is the commencement of strife, contention, war: the day of death is the end of them. Which is

better? (c) The day of death puts an end to sin: "for he that is dead is freed from sin!" (Rom. vi. 7.) Most blessed emancipation! Sin, bosom sin, the sin of nature, diffused through the whole soul and body, is the believer's heaviest burthen and curse it is this that disturbs his peace, separates from God, stifles his prayers, hinders and retards the work of grace in his soul. Oh! friendly hand that puts an end to the sinful tendency! and that hand is death! Welcome messenger! come quickly; sever these cruel cords that bind corruption to my bosom!

(d) In a word, at the day of death the season of probation is over: our discipline is passed, and eternal life is ours.

This leads to the other idea

2. The day of the believer's death is the commencement of unutterable, inconceivable, and endless joys

-It is his birthday! As when the babe bursts forth from the dark cavern of the womb, its little eyes open on a new world of wonders, of light and beauty; so when the disencumbered spirit enters the world of glory above, what must be its feelings? The coffin and the winding-sheet are better than the cradle and the swaddling-clothes! As the sobs and sighs of surrounding mourners die away upon his ear, what heavenly music greets him! what unearthly sights and sounds! Is this death? No; it is life—it is immortality— glory! "It is to depart and be with Christ," and therefore 'far better!" (Philipp. i. 21—23.) Death is swallowed up of life and victory. (2 Cor. v. 1, &c.)

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be

Death in any form is BETTER to such a one: it may sudden-as on a journey-in a moment !—what then? he is suddenly at home, and his journey is done! It may be in the midst of business, and his worldly calling, but he is in the path of duty, and therefore ready! It may be in the house of God, amidst his worshippers; what a glorious exchange!-earthly for heavenly worship; fellowship with glorified, instead of suffering saints! These cases may be afflictive to survivers, but to those who are suddenly taken, being ready, they are better! Or should death be slowdisease lingering--and suffering prolonged--what experience has the Christian of God's love and grace on his sickbed!-what ripeness is there for glory!—what a blessed example to survivers!-what a happy release at last!—This also is better!

3. This promise is also to his children.

Pious parents, when called to do so, can confidently yield up their little ones to Jesus, when he needs them on high! When such parents look around and see the rocks and shoals, and storms and tempests, which this frail bark must encounter, and see, moreover, what dreadful wrecks there have been, they can, with sweet composure, follow their little treasure to the grave, and put it safe out of the reach of "the miseries of this sinful world." "The day of a little infant's death is better than the day of its birth."

you

Brethren! how does this subject affect you? Were suddenly called, would the day of death be better to you? Think you that you are ready? Death stalks abroad among us, and quickly snatches away now a child beloved, and then a parent respected; we can neither escape him nor resist him: let prevailing sickness and death have a voice, and speak to all :

Parents-give yourselves to the early christian instruction of your children; lest, if they be torn from you, bitter remorse prey on your conscience!

Teachers, schoolmasters, and Sunday-school instructorsbe diligent, patient, laborious; with much prayer and anxiety strive to win youthful hearts to Jesus, for "the time is short!"

Young persons, and dear children-remember you are but as the flowers of the field which quickly fade-you, too, may soon droop and die! Seek God while you are young: He loves you; and youthful piety is most acceptable to Him: seek and love and serve the Lord; and then death, whenever it may come, shall be to you better than life.

Believers! Devote yourselves to God; live near to Him in holy converse; seek more acquaintance with Him; dwell much "in the secret place of the Most High"-meditate, pray, watch thereunto with thanksgiving; consecrate all you have to him with increasing cheerfulness: spend and be spent for him, remembering that "there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest." (ch. ix. 10.) Thus, labouring in holy love and faith, "death" shall be to you inexpressible "gain;" and you shall find, that "to depart and be with Christ is FAR better."

XXIII.

THE SECURITY AND BLESSEDNESS OF GOD'S PEOPLE. Isaiah xliii. 1-3. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

WHAT glowing promises! what abundant consolation! Intended doubtless primarily as the stay and prop of God's ancient Israel in Babylon, the land of their captivity, and assuring them of that return to Jerusalem which is one leading topic of this series of prophecy.

But this passage is equally the property of the spiritual children of Abraham to the end of time. May it please God, by his Holy Spirit, to open our hearts to its abun

dant consolations!

I. THE CHARACTER AND PORTION OF GOD'S PEOPLE. II. THEIR RELATION TO GOD.

III. THE CONSEQUENT SECURITY WHICH THEY ENJOY. I. THE CHARACTER AND PORTION OF GOD'S PEOPLE. 1. They are his "Jacob," his "Israel:"

—and what was Jacob? A poor, feeble, sinful wanderer and pilgrim all his days! View him from the time when, fleeing from Esau, God met him in the visions of the night, until his son Joseph closed his aged eyes in Egypt; and what was he? A weary pilgrim, tried, afflicted, persecuted. Laban grieved, oppressed, and defrauded him. Esau terrified him; his sons deceived him, and grieved him with their wickedness: his dearest children were torn from him; so that in his old age he exclaimed-" Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life," &c. (Gen. xlvii. 9.)

Such is life!-such is the life of God's people! such their character here on earth-wanderers in a strange landforeigners, whose native land is on high-"having no abiding city here; seeking one to come," &c. (Micah ii. 10.) "Arise ye, and depart," &c.