Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 31
Verſe 31. The gray head is a crowne of glory, when it is found in the way of righteouſneſſe.
THE gray head] Old age, whereof gray haires and a hoare head is a ſigne, [is a crowne of glorie] yeeldeth commendation to the aged perſon, and maketh him reuerent [when it is found in the way of righteouſneſſe] when the old man doth ſhew himſelfe to be religious and righteous, whether he hath led his life in that manner from his youth, or whether he hath beene conuerted to it now in his latter time.
Doct. It is a great honour for a man to bee both ancient and godlie.
When the head is deckt with gray haires, and the heart with heauenly graces, and the life with vertuous behauiour, hee is more gorgeouſly apparelled than if otherwiſe he were clad in gold. He weareth a Diademe, which not the art of man, but the finger of God hath faſhioned, and ſet vponupon his head.
This was one of the ornaments of thoſe holy Patriarkes, Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob: and for this is that worthie widow Anna commended by S. Luke: and by this doth the Apoſtle partly challenge to himſelfe authoritie among the people of God, as appeareth by his Epiſtle to Philemon: Though I might Philemon 9.be bold to command thee that which is conuenient; yet for loues ſake I rather beſeech thee, though I be as I am, euen Paul, aged.
Reaſon 1 Firſt, old age of it ſelfe, to them that are godly, is a gift of God, and a bleſſing of greater value than wealth and dignities: for length of daies is in wiſdomes right hand, and in her left hand Prouer. 3. 16.riches and glory.
Secondly, as they which hauehave long liued righteouſly are well ſtored with knowledge and experience in themſelues, ſo doe they, like true, truſty, and tried ſouldiers, manifeſt the experience of their faithfulneſſe and conſtancy to all that know them.
Thirdly, they which put on the new man in their old age, hauing worne the old man all the time of their youth, doe ſhew foorth an excellent wiſdome in redeeming at laſt the former part of the time, which they hauehave miſſe-ſpent: and humilitie in ſubmitting themſelues to learne, when ſo many of their Iuniors diſdaine to bee taught, and the power of Gods holy ſpirit, which (notwithſtanding all the impediments wherewith that age is encumbred) doth reſcue them from the hand of Satan, who had held them ſo long a time in captiuity and bondage.
Fourthly, where anciencie and goodneſſe doe concurre and meet together, there the image of God doth ſhine out the more brightly; there is a liuely reſemblance of him whom Daniel calleth The ancient of daies.Dan. 7 13.
Vſe 1 Inſtruction for the yoonger ſort, as ſonnes and daughters, that they yeeld due reuerence to them whom the Lord hath made reuerent, as fathers and mothers. He hath vouchſafed them time to attaine to theſe yeeres, and titles to be called by theſe names, and graces to be worthy of that honour: Yea, he requireth that they be reſpected, and obeiſance be done vntounto them by thoſe that hauehave care to regard and obey him: for in this manner his commandement is laid vponupon them: Thou Leuit. 19. 32.ſhalt riſe vp before the hoare head, and honour the perſon of the old man, and dread thy God. I am the Lord.
What though their beautie be withered away, and their bodies growen crooked? What though their ſtrength be diminiſhed, and their memories impaired? What though they retaine not their former freſhneſſe of wit, or elegancy of ſpeech? What though their ſtate bee but poore, and their parentage obſcure? Yet their honourable place of age, eſpecially being garniſhed with wiſdome, iuſtice, and pietie, doth counteruaile and farre exceed all the reſt of thoſe ornaments.
It ſerueth alſo to admoniſh them that would not bee contemned, and hauehave the world weary of them when they ſhalbe old, to lay the foundation of a conſtant and durable eſtimation whiles they are yoong. If they treaſure vp vnderſtanding, and good diſcretion, and other ſpirituall graces whiles they hauehave the benefit of ſtrength, memorie, ſenſes, and capacitie, they ſhall hauehave that which will comfort their hearts, informe their mindes, direct their behauiour, and maintaine their credit at thoſe yeeres, wherein others will dote, and deale abſurdly, and be full of contempt and tediouſneſſe.
Reproofe of their follie, which hauehave nothing elſe to commend them, but this, that the daies of their life hauehave beene many, and they hauehave ſeene many faire yeeres, and all thoſe of their age be gone, and knew the grand-fathers of the moſt of their neighbours, &c. but what good hauehave they done, or what goodneſſe hauehave they gotten in all thoſe daies and yeeres which hauehave paſſed ouer them? And they which knew men ſo long time ſince, is it not a ſhame for them that they neither know God nor themſelues as yet? HaueHave they beene ſpared all this time from death, and at laſt will they be vnprouided for death, that death and deſtruction together ſhould apprehend them? For a ſinner (ſaith Iſaiah) of an hundred yeeres old ſhall die Iſa. 65. 20.accurſed.