14. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age. Nature decays but grace thrives. Fruit, as far as nature is concerned,
belongs to days of vigor; but in the garden of grace, when plants are weak in
themselves, they become strong in the Lord, and abound in fruit acceptable with
God. Happy are they who can sing this Sabbath psalm, enjoying the rest which
breathes through every verse of it; no fear as to the future can distress them,
for their evil days, when the strong man faileth, are the subject of a gracious
promise, and therefore they await them with quiet expectancy. Aged believers
possess a ripe experience, and by their mellow tempers and sweet testimonies
they feed many. Even if bedridden, they bear the fruit of patience; if poor and
obscure, their lowly and contented spirit becomes the admiration of those who
know how to appreciate modest worth. Grace does not leave the saint when the
keepers of the house do tremble; the promise is still sure though the eyes can
no longer read it; the bread of heaven is fed upon when the grinders fail; and
the voice of the Spirit in the soul is still melodious when the daughters of
music are brought low. Blessed be the Lord for this! Because even to hoary
hairs he is the I AM, who made his people; he therefore bears and carries them.
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