100 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



The recurrence of his birthday filled his mind, as 

 usual, with devout thoughts. 



August 8, 1850, my Birthday. It was a solemn thing in 

 1848 to enter on my seventieth year, and, in 1849, to finish 

 it ; it is still more solemn to have lived through my seventy- 

 first. It is still a subject of lively gratitude that my health 

 remains perfect ; my eye is not dim, nor my natural force 



abated I pray God, that as my years increase, I 



may increase in divine knowledge and in goodness, and be 



better prepared for my last and great change Last 



evening, after writing the preceding page, I turned to the 

 seventy-first Psalm, and perused it with much interest. It 

 seems very applicable to me in my advancing years : " Thou 

 art my hope, O Lord ; Thou art my trust from my youth." 

 " I am as a wonder unto many " (because my strength has 

 not failed, blessed be God !) but I pray that Thou " wilt 

 not cast me off in the time of old age." " O God, be not 

 far from me " ; "I will go in the strength of the Lord 

 God." " God, Thou hast taught me from my youth, and 

 hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works." " Now also 

 when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not, 

 until I have showed Thy strength to this generation." " I 

 will praise Thee, even Thy truth, O my God." " My lips 

 shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee." " My tongue 

 also shall talk of Thy righteousness all the day long." 



