EVERY thing here requires attention.
The persons: "The upright." The upright mean
those who are sincere---sincere in their dealings with their fellow---creatures,
with their own souls, and with their God. The character is equally rare and
excellent. It admits of imperfection, but not of partiality; and is never found
separate from the renewing of the Holy Ghost.
The period: "Their days." These are "known of God." This knowledge being spoken of as a privilege, something more than mere intelligence must be intended; for in this sense. He knows the days of the wicked, as well as of the upright. The meaning is, that he knows them kindly and graciously ; that he feels and will acknowledge his concern in them, and make them all work together for their good. He knows their number. This is with him. He has appointed it: friends cannot enlarge, enemies cannot reduce it. They are immortal till their work is done. He knows the nature of them, and he determines it.
Have they days of affliction? He knows them---knows their source, their pressure, How long they have continued, the support they require, and the proper time to remove them. Have they days of danger? He knows them, and will be a refuge and defence in them. Have they days of duty? He knows them, and will furnish the strength and the help they require. Have they days of inaction, when they are laid aside from their work by accident or disease? He knows them, and says to his servants, under every prevention, "It is well that it was in thy heart." have they days of privation when they are denied the ordinances of religion, after seeing his power and glory in the temple, and going with the voice of gladness to keep holy day? He knows them, and will follow his people when they cannot follow him, and be a little sanctuary to them in their losses. Have they days of declension and of age, in which their strength is fled, and their senses fail, and so many of their connections have gone down to the dust---evil days, wherein they have no pleasure? He knows them, and says, "I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth. Even to old age I am he, and to hoar hairs will I bear and carry you."
The portion : "'Their inheritance shall be for ever." So was not the inheritance of many of the angels in heaven, for they kept not their first estate. So was not the inheritance of Adam in paradise. for the Lord drove out the man. So was not the inheritance of the Jews in Canaan, for the glory of all lands was made a desolation. So is not the inheritance of the man of the world : his portion is in this life. And what is this but a vapor, a shadow? Yet at the end of it he is stripped of all, and departs as naked as he came. Yea, and before the close, his hopes and comforts may be all laid bare. For,
"Short--lived as we are, yet our pleasures, we
see,
Have a much shorter date, and die sooner than we."
But the Christian has not only being and health, and riches and honor, and peace and joy and friendship, but all these for ever!
Indeed, the more important and valuable the acquisition, the more miserable he would feel if there was any uncertainty in the continuance. The thought of loss, and even of danger, would imbitter all. But it is for ever----for ever! Yea, it will be always increasing. After millions of years we shall be singing a new song.
In the world we may have losses, but they cannot affect our estate. "I one day," says Mr. Newton, "visited a family that had suffered by a fire, which had destroyed all the house and the goods. I found the pious mistress in tears. I said, Madam, I give you joy. Surprised and ready to be offended, she exclaimed, What, joy that all my property is consumed? I give you joy that you have so much property that no fire can touch. This turn checked the grief, and she wiped her tears, and smiled like the sun shining after an April shower." Thus the Hebrews took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves that in heaven they had a better and an enduring substance.
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