SERIOUS THOUGHTS FOR THE AGED. "Oft as the bell, with solemn toll, 239 SERIOUS. THOUGHTS FOR THE AGED. AGED FRIEND, THE frequent tolling bell of the parish church of, during the last few weeks, induces us to take up our pen to address you; and we earnestly pray, that the Holy Spirit may so accompany the few sentences with his divine influence, as to awaken a serious concern about your never-dying soul! By reason of bodily infirmities, and many a sorrow and care, the days may now be come," when you are saying, "I have no pleasure in them." (Eccles. xii. i.) Your eyes, like Isaac's, "are dim," and you may scarcely be able to read the lines we are now placing before you; but oh! can you, like him, with an eye of faith, "read your title clear to a mansion in the skies?" Or, at least, are you earnestly desirous to do so? Youth, and health, and strength, “have taken to themselves wings, and have flown away," (Prov. xxiii. 5;) the earthly house of your tabernacle is fast dissolving; but, have you a well-grounded hope, from the word of God, of an "house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens ?" (See 2 Corinth. v. 1.) Your neighbour, Mrs. B, whose spirit was lately summoned " to return unto God who gave it," (Eccles. i. 7,) had, through sovereign grace, for many years chosen that better part "which shall never be taken away." Her blessed choice was the seat of Mary, “sitting at the feet of Jesus, and hearing his word." (Luke x. 39.) "Her heart was surely there fixed, where true joys alone are to be found;" and now she has come down to the grave, like as a shock of corn cometh in, in its season. (Job v. 26.) The midnight cry, " Behold, the bridegroom cometh!" had no terrors for her; it found her, clothed with the wedding garment, her lamp trimmed, and her lights burning, ready to go in unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. (Matt. xxv. 4; Rev. xix. 9.) "When |