They who enjoyed long lives of old time, indulged, it must be owned, in some complaints which showed more of the weakness of our common nature, than of that proficiency for which the loan of life, whatever may be the term of its duration, is bestowed. The good king Hezekiah poured his lamentation, when it should seem he had much cause to be contented with what God had wrought for him in his day. He called that “the cutting off his days,” which it may be thought he might have met with more complacency of mind, from the contemplation of the benefits which God had enabled him to procure for Israel: but if there was any token of infirmity in this, it was coupled with a pious mind, and the suit was therefore heard and granted. If David, too, seems sometimes querulous in his pleas for the enlargement of his days, yet he added a good and becoming reason for it, that he might show the power of God to that generation in which his eventful lot was cast, and make it known to those who were to come. But we may remark in general, that we do not form a right judgment of the Providence of God, if at any time we speak with disparagement of the term of human life, as too short for the accomplishment of things which form its proper end. We should consider, rather, that in all cases the gift of life is made capable of some sufficient share of the mercies and salvation of the Lord. It becomes so for all who partake a common nature, where they put no impediment to the current and communication of Divine Grace. Let us weigh this point with care: it has a seasonable application at this moment, since it will prevent undue regrets when any portion of the loan of life may cease to serve the purposes to which it may have been conducive whilst the season for its exercise endured. If, then, it is the child who is called hence to an early grave, he goes with the seal of grace upon him; and what was wanting here, the bud, the blossom, and the ripened cluster, will thrive in a happier soil, and flourish in a more propitious climate. The thread of life, which, in this case, was so soon severed from the parent’s bosom, was fastened to the throne of heaven, and death has no power to dissolve it. The Conqueror of Satan, who brought life and immortality to light, will not exclude those little ones, whom He once called into his presence, from the rescued train of countless multitudes who shall hear that glad word of introduction, “Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me.” The privileges of the Gospel stood pledged to them in this life to render their change blessed to themselves, and to leave that consolation, in the day of sorrow, for surviving friends.