Concerning Old Age, Chapter 7

Concerning Old Age · Chapter 7

p. 239CHAP. VII. The Work of Old-age.

SECT. I.

AND so I come in the Seventh, Cap. 7. The Work of Old-age.and Last place to treat, concerning the Work and Business of Old-age: What special and proper Imployment, besides their necessary and ordinary affairs, p. 240their Years obligeth them unto. Their labouring and travelling dayes are done, but yet they have much Work to do. Sith they have not yet apprehended, this One thing they must do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, they must press towards the mark. There is no compleat rest for the body, on this side the grave; nor for the soul, on this side Heaven. They that were Idle in the eleventh hour, were checkt with, Why stand ye here idle all the day? Matth. 20. 6. You have been busie a great while for Time, it is but reasonable, you should take some pains for Eternity. The shadows of the Evening have overtaken you, ye have but a little time to work in. It was wise counsel of the Wise man; Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest, Eccles. 9. 10. Behold and see how fast the sands of your glass are running; hearken how fast the Pendulum of your Clock hastens. The Bills of Mortality, besides other Diseases, contain some weekly that dye for Age; and which week your Name will be called, p. 241you know not: But when it is called, you must go, no Bail is taken by Serjeant Death. Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh, findeth so doing. And therefore to use the Prophet Ioel's words, Ioel 1. 2. Hear this, ye Old men, and give ear all the inhabitants of the land: Suffer the word of Exhortation, and buckle in sober sadness to these Imployments of Old-age.

The First Work of Old-age, is Repentance §. 1. Repentance of their Sins.of your sins. This is a bitter Pill to flesh and blood, but it must be swallowed here or hereafter. When it is tasted here, it is only bitter-sweet, there is comfort in it, there is comfort after it: It is like the pains of an honest woman in travel, the remembrance of the loving Father supports her at present, and the birth of a comely child revives her after; but if it be deferr'd, and plac'd on the wrong side of Death, then it will be bitter, bitter; there is no present, no future comfort: Then it will be like the gnawing pains of a woman with a Cancer, though infinitely sharper, and infinitely longer. So that it is not referred to the Old-man, or any man else, whether he will Repent or not, for it …annot be avoided; but whether he will p. 242repent for a time, or repent for ever; whether he will repent with hope, or repent with despair.

Now Repentance may be considered, in a Double respect. 1. Initially, at the first Conversion of the Soul to God; and 2. Secondarily, at the Renewing of the acts thereof afterwards. It concerns Ancient people to be acquainted respectively with both. This needful message then is directed,

1. To such Aged persons, who are yet in the state of unrenewed Nature; who have never past through the Newbirth, nor know any thing by experience of Regeneration, which was the Case of Old Nicodemus, though a Master in Israel, Joh. 3. 9. Now that a Fundamental Repentance or Conversion, call it how you will, is necessary to all that shall be saved, I should think is past dispute. For it cannot be denyed, that we come into the world in a sinful state: And it is manifest, that Baptism doth not cure the Soul of that Disease; but that all people in general have a strong propensity either to the lusts of the flesh, or to the lusts of the eyes, or to pride of life, until an inward Change be wrought in the heart; which is the p. 243effectual Calling of a careless Sinner, to turn to God and Godliness. Now if an Aged person have been a stranger to this Grace, though perhaps he hath led a sober, industrious, just, yea a charitable life, and also hath complied with the outward acts of devotion in use: Yet except the tree have been made good by Regeneration, it cannot have its fruit unto holiness, nor the end everlasting life.

I would therefore conjure all such Unconverted Old people, to apply themselves with all speed and seriousness to this First Repentance; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, to make you new hearts and new spirits, or else infallibly you must dye. Say not with Nicodemus, How can a man be born when he is old? For the Work is possible and the Method is plain. Harder it may be for an Old man to become a New man, than for the younger; hence the Proverb, An old naught, will never be ought: That is rarely, or difficulty, according to the Greek sayingssforeign.: For that the Faculties of the Soul are enfeebled, and the Habits of Sin strengthened by continuance; former guilt and negligence, makes men to doubt of future assistance or acceptance. p. 244But since God doth call Old people to Repent, sith he hath spared you alive hitherto, and to them that are joyned to the living there is hope; sith there be innumerable instances of Old Converts: In fine, sith God looketh upon men, and if any, mark, if Any say, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it profiteth me not; he will deliver him from going down to the pit, Iob 33. 27, 28. Never question the possibility, but set about the work. Set the Necessity against the Difficulty, it is Turn in Time or Burn in Eternity; for Truth hath said, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven. How can you imagine that a limb of the Devil, should become a member of Christ, a child of wrath become a child of God, but by Regeneration? Outward Reformation may shave the hair, but this Leprosie must be cur'd inwardly.

O lay to heart the long time you have lived in sin, and in enmity to GodttI repent of all my life, but that part I have spent in communion with God, and in doing good. Dr. Donn… on his Deathbed.; the short time you have to live in the world; that Death makes no Converts, and Sickness but a few: Consider what mercies and deliverances you have received from this good God; and how little true service you have done him, and whether it be not now high time p. 245to turn unto him with your whole heart and not feignedly. If that Holy man would not be in an unregenerate state but one hour for all the world, left he should dye in that hour, what is your pillow, or rather your heart made of, that you can sleep so long in a state of Condemnation? To be born in sin is sad, but to live and dye in sin, will prove a thousand times worse. Remember that the destroying Angels began, at the Ancient men before the house, Ezek. 9. 6.

Its true, late Repentance is seldom true, but yet true Repentance is never too late. O then lay all business aside, and set your selves about the New creature. Now or never, now and ever. If you turn the deaf ear unto God now, beware lest he deny you either the space, or the grace to repent hereafter; lest he answer you, Ubi consumpsisti farinam, &c. where thou hast spent the flour of thy life, there bestow the bran of it. Take warning by that Penitent in story, who had often determined to begin his Amendment from som… eminent time, as the First day of the year, or his Birth day, that so his Repentance might have some Remarkable date; but when that Time came, he was ready to adjourn it till another time: Who thereupon p. 246concluded, that he would make that present Day, though it were obscure in the Calender, yet memorable to his Soul by his turning, through divine assistance, unto God.

Do you not perceive how you are in danger to be trapann'd by Satan, who suggested to you in the time of youth, that Repentance was then too early, and who will now perswade it is grown too late? ye have de…err'd this work long enough already, now you must use double diligence about it. It is said of the Mulberry tree, that it casts out its buds latest, but then thrusts them all out in a night: You are late in the Vineyard, you must work the harder. The whole business of your life hitherto stands for nothing; if you be not new born, you will cease to be in this world, before you begin to live uuQuidam tunc vivere incipiunt, cum desinendu… est: si hoc judice… mirum; adjiciam quod magis admireris, quidam ante vivere desierunt quam incipiunt. Sen. Ep. 23.; if your last change get the start of this first change, you will curse the day of your birth to all eternity.

Now for your Direction in this great Work, your present business is to get a Competence of Knowledge, in the Doctrine of Religion: and then searching your own Hearts to compare them with the holy Law of God. For example, look your face in the glass of that hundred p. 247and nineteenth Psalm, or of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh of Matthew, and then, through Gods help you will presently find the dissimilitude, yea the contrariety between them. And then fix your mind upon the Wrath of God, hanging over all persons in your Condition, and upon the sufficient satisfaction made by Iesus Christ for all that believe and repent, and apply all this to your selves. Frequent the serious Preaching of Gods word, and begin to pray in good earnest, Turn thou me and I shall be turned▪ and be assured, that Spirit, which inclines you to the use of these means, will breath life into your dead and dry bones, and make you new Creatures.

And in case you find your selves at a loss in this affair, repair to some Able and faithful Minister of Christ, and be not afraid or asham'd to lay open your Condition, and follow his guidance therein. For if men are not content, in case of an Infirmity of body, to hear the Physick Lectures, or to read books of Receits, but will state their own case to the Physician himself; and will do the like to the Lawyer in weighty cases concerning their Estates, how much more need have you of a Godly Divine, to direct p. 248and assist you in an affair, wherein body and Soul are at stake, and that for Eternity? And so much for that First and fundamental Repentance, so absolutely necessary for such Ancient people, as have spent their lives in the service of the world, and the flesh, and were never truly converted unto God.

But besides these, Repentance in the renewed Acts thereof, is a proper and necessary work for All Old people whatsoever. You have lived a long time, and through Omissions and Commissions have contracted abundance of guilt wwNonne tota vita ob commissa damnabilis, vel ob omissa inutilis? quid restat, ô peccator, nisi ut in tota vita deplores totam vitam. Anselm.. Trace your selves therefore from place to place, from one period of your life to another, and strictly reckon with your selves. Study the Ten Commandments in their true extent; they are called Ten words, but they command ten thousand Duties, and forbid ten thousand Sins, many whereof you have ten thousand times failed in, and in divers of them with great aggravations: and then sit down and cry out, O that my head were a fountain, and mine Eyes rivers of tears, to bewail these offences against a gracious GodxxIn quantum non peperceris tibi, in tantum Deus, crede, parcet. Tertul. de poen. c. 9.. Upon this account did holy Augustine in his Old-age write his Confessions; wherein he makes no difficulty to p. 249shame himself, that he might give glory to God. And the Book of Ecclesiastes is judged to be the Poenitenials of King Solomon, in his Old-age; wherein he plainly confesseth his Vanity, in seeking for Happiness in a vain and vexatious World, and warns all young men to beware of such like folly. Alas if you had fallen but seven times a day, yet in seventy years those Sins would have amounted unto almost Two hundred thousand offences; and can you reflect upon this without amazement; nay it is a wonder that we do not, as Nectarius his Accuser of old, weep out our Eyes for very griefyyO that this flesh had bin compos'd of Snow, Instead of Earth … and bones of Ice, that so Feeling the fervour of my sins, and loathing The Fire I feel, I might be thaw'd to nothing. Quarles.. When the leaves are fallen from the trees, as is aptly observed by One, the birds nests are easily seen, which were invisible before; so when through Age our frothy vanities are wither'd, we may palpably discover, the sallies of Pride, Wantonne…s and Folly; yea those nest of vermine, and vipers which replenished our youthful dayes.

It was the sober Advice of that Statesman, Sir Thomas Randolph in his Old-age, after he had been eighteen times Embassador p. 250in forreign parts, to Sir Thomas Walsingham Secretary of State: It is now time, sayes he, for us to leave the tricks of State, and to imploy our time before Death in Repentance▪ for the Sins of our Lives. And Blessed be God that hath appointed this Remedy, and the Blood of Christ without which all our tears could not wash out one Sin, that poor Sinners have this after-game of Recovery, when they have been undone by Sin! when we have eaten so much of the forbidden fruit in our youth, we have need of this worm-wood in our Old-age. Renew therefore daily the Acts of unfaigned Repentance, and take account duly of your selves, as some of the very Heathens zzQuid quoque die dixerim, audiverim, egerim, commemoro vesperi. Cato in Tully.have done, sith you must give account to God very shortly; and he that daily reckons with himself, will have but one day to reckon for, when he comes to dye.

But be sure you mistake not the Nature of Repentanee. For it is not only a Trouble, an Anger, a Sorrow; but it is made up of Grief, and Hatred: Grief for the Offence to God, and Hatred of the Sins we grieve for. So that Repentance is a turning to God from all sin, with grief for it and hatred of it. And p. 251the best Proof you can give of your Repentance for the Sins of your Youth, is a watchful care against the Sins of your Old-age: otherwise, your Sins are not forsaken, but changed. Withal, if your Repentance be sound, it is attended with a will and endeavour to make Restitution, wherein you have injur'd any in their Souls, Bodies, Names, or Estates. This will be as Letters Testimonial of the truth of your Repentance: you must not, nay, you cannot be quiet, if your Repentance be sound, until you have seriously endeavour'd, as far as in you lies, to recover the Souls, to restore the Bodies, to heal the Reputations, and to repair the Estates, which you have injur'd: without which, there can be no true Repentance on Earth, and without which, there will be no Remission in Heaven aaAn melius est damnatum latere, quam palam absolvi? Tertul: de poen… c. 10..

SECT. II.

ANother work of Old-age is, obtaining §. 2. Obtaining of Assurance:Assurance of Salvation. I mean hereby, not only a General Certainty, that some good people shall be saved; for the Devils believe this, and rage at p. 252it, which, I think, is the same with Objective Certainty; nor that Assurance which may come by special and extraordinary Revelation, sith we find few or no examples in Scripture of such a thing; but rather that the Apostle Paul himself grounds his Assurance of the Crown, upon the righteousness of God, which he extends to all them, that love Christs appearing, 2 Tim. 4. 8. Neither do I mean a Conjectural Hope of Salvation, which admits both of anxiety and of slavish fear; fith the Scripture represents it by Faith, and full assurance, and produceth Earnests and Seals for confirmation. Nor lastly, is this Assurance confin'd to Grace at present, but extends to final Salvation. Thus the Apostle, 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have believed; there is Assurance of his present State, but was he certain of his Perseverance? Yes, that follows, and I am perswaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

That such Assurance hath been attained, is clear enough from the Instances of Iob 19. 25, 26. of David, Psal. 16. 9, 10. of Paul, 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. and many others. That it may be attained, is as clear; sith there is no intimation that p. 253these, or the rest, had any extraordinary Discovery thereof unto them, but arriv'd thereat in the use of those means, and by the consignation of that Spirit, unto which we have access as well as they. And the Apostle doth expresly comprehend the generality of Believers in this Priviledge, 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know, that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, &c. That it ought to be endeavoured by all true Christians, is most evident from the plain commands to that purpose, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, &c. That few do labour to attain it, thinking it to be impossible or unnecessary, is to be bewailed. That many deceive themselves with a false perswasion of present Grace and future Glory, is manifest by Scripture and daily Experience. And that it is most proper and needful for Old people, the thing it self speaks.

For you cannot deny but that you have Souls, immortal Souls, which being Spirits cannnot dye, but must return to God that gave them: and are these Souls of so small value to be left to a Hazard, to an everlasting venture? And it p. 254is as evident, that this life is uncertain: we may say as Isaac, Gen. 27. 2. Behold now, I am Old, I know not the day of my Death; and therefore it's time for us to go about this work without delay. Children desire the time of youth, and youth longs to be at mans age, and they then would live to be Old, but Old-age hath no further Age to desirebbAugust. Ep. 110., it hath none other to succeed it here, and they are wholly uncertain how long it will last; and therefore it is absolutely necessary, that they should be on sure grounds for Eternity, and then the day of death will be better than the day of their Birth. You know how much of your life is already spent, you can see the Sands that are run into the nether end of the Glass, but the upper Part is covered with a Mantle, you know not how few Sands are left there to run. Nay, you cannot but perceive, that Death is approaching very near you. You are filled with Wrinkles which is a Witness against you, and your leanness rising up in you, beareth witness to your Face, as it is, Job 16. 8. For as it is observed of All men, that they are Mortales, apt to dye, and of all Good men, that they are Mortificati, dying to Sin; so it is of all Old men, that they p. 255are Morituri, about to dye. And for such to have Oyl to seek, when they should have it to Use; Evidences to procure, when they should have them to produce, is an unexcusable neglect.

Especially knowing, that your last Breath wafts you into an unalterable Estate. What Journeys and Presents were heretofore made to the Oracles, to assure the Votaries concerning the Event of some temporal affairs! and how many do now Hazard their Souls by seeking to Necromancers, to know the success of their Marriages, Voyages, and such like; and yet a miscarriage in these things is remediable, there may be some alleviation in them, there may be some end of them: but you are lanching into the Ocean of Eternity, and are at no certainty, whether it be eternal Happiness, or eternal Misery. What an anxious and uncomfortable State must this be? If you were not loose in your belief of future things, you would be restless in this condition: you owe your Ease to your Let…argy; if you were not half Infidels, you would be more than half distracted. Which brings to mind the course which some Eminent persons among the Heathens ccC…rneades & Chesila…s.took, they durst not p. 256dye sober, but drank great Draughts o… Wine, saying, That no voluptuous person can go in his Wits into an invisible Estate▪ With what poor comfort must that man dye, that must cry out with that Old Philosopher; I dye in great doubt, and know not whither I am going; yet out the Soul must go, ready or unready. Then will the careless sinner gnash his Teeth for rage at his slothful and sinful life, which he hath spent as a Tale that is told. Then will he have time enough, to curse all the worldly business, or wicked Company, that hath devoured his precious time, and left his Soul to shift for it self for ever.

Do not we in all other cases strive to be at a point? will May-be's and Peradventure's satisfie us in any material humane affairs? The Tenant who is warned out of one House, cannot enjoy himself, until he be sure of another; The Steward that was discharged of his Office, Luk. 16. took present course to be provided of some other Subsistence; The poorest man is uneasie, when his old Suit of Cloaths is worn out, till he have a new one; what then are your Souls dreaming on, which find the Garment of the Body quite worn out, your earthly p. 257House ready to fall upon its Head, and yet Sleep quiet only with some weak ungrounded hopes of endless happiness? Have you left your outward Estates under no better Assurance? your Conveyances, your Fines and Recoveries will rise up in witness against you, and you will be found at last to be wise in trifles, and Fools in the things of moment. Yea, you will see, when Friends and Relations will leave you, your Estates and Pleasures leave you, Life it self leave you, that they who make not sure of Heaven, are sure of Nothing.

Think not, that your Outward Blessings are any certain Arguments of Gods love to you; that, because God hath done much for you in this World, he will therefore Crown you in another; or because ye have lived long here in the day of his Patience, that you must live always with him in Heaven. No, no, Iob 21. 7. 20. Even the wicked live, become old, yea, and are mighty in power: yet his Eyes shall see his Destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. Many a man hath been strangely saved from Death, that will not be saved at last from Hell: and men do hold temporal mercies by one Tenure, and Eternal by another.

Be advised therefore to set about this …eedful work, with all possible speed …nd care. And to that end, chuse out …wo or three Scriptures, which do most …vidently describe a Sanctified Heart; …ch as Mat. 5. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Or …om. 8. 1. 5. 9. and endeavour by the best h…lps you have, to know the true. Gen…ine meaning thereof: Then compare your own Hearts with them. And whatsoever doubt you have of your Conformity thereunto, examine it to the bottom; and in case of any insuperable difficulty consult with some discreet Messenger of God. And when you have throughly sifted one Scripture, go to another, and another, that in the Mouth of two or three witnesses, your Assurance may be established. And this done, betake you to your Knees, and spreading these tryed Evidences before God, humbly beg the help of his Holy Spirit; both to clear your understanding, to guide your Conscience, and to seal you up to the day of Redemption. And then you must patiently wait in the use of all the means of Grace, Sermons, Prayers and Sacraments, until His Spirit witness with your spirit, that ye are the Children of God.

p. 259SECT. III.

THE Third Work of Old-age, is Prayers §. 3. Prayer and Praises.and Praises. 1. For Prayers. I do not here mean only the Ordinary Devotions, which I presume every good Christian useth, both Old and Young, and whereby indeed the Soul Breaths; for a true Believer lives by Faith, and breaths by Prayer: whereof that excellent Bishop Hall thus concludes, I may truly say, that man hath no Grace nor Goodness in him, that Prays not by Himself, and with his Family: but also that they should be frequent in Prayer. It is said of Luther, that he spent daily at least Three hours in Prayer. And holy David saith, Psal. 55. 17. Evening and Morning and at Noon will I Pray, and cry aloud: yea, in his Old-age we may conclude, that he dyed with a Prayer in his Mouth, from Psal. 72. last. The Prayers (and belike the life) of David the Son of Iesse are ended together. And therefore the Egyptian Hieroglyphick of an Aged person was a Swan, whom they imagined to dye Singing: for there is no Musick so p. 260sweet in the Ears of God, as hearty Prayers and Praises.

And if you find your selves unable to hold out in the more stated and solemn Prayers, you should be more frequent and fervent in shorter Addresses; for it is not the length, but the strength of a Prayer that carries it with God. And in case of the want of Ability, or Opportunity for this frequency, for every poor crazy Old Man or Woman hath them not, you may and should abound in holy Ejaculations, or short Elevations of the Soul to God; sometimes by way of Confession, sometimes by way of Admiration, sometimes by way of Petition, and sometimes by way of Thanksgiving, of all which there are various Instances in Scripture. And these you may dart upward, as you sit by the fire, as you lie in your beds, as you put on and off your cloaths. Thus ye may pray without ceasing, as it is, 1 Thes. 5. 17. And the Lord will accept of these, coming from a sincere and holy heart, and which in its present circumstances can do no better. But still Prayer is the proper Province of the Aged person, and both you and your Pictures will look best, when they are (as Paul the p. 261Hermites carkass was) found in a praying posture.

For as was noted before, your labouring and travelling dayes are done, your Hands and Feet have done their work: the best service you can now do is upon your knees. There you may do much, therein you may ingage Him who can do All: nothing can stand before the prayer of Faith. And therefore, when you reflect upon the slips and falls in the course of your Life, so that your hearts begin to ake and faint for fear, then enter into your Closet, and pour out your hearts before God, and that will revive you. When that coward Satan sets upon an Aged man or woman, with his Assault and Battery, either to weaken their faith, or to unravel their repentance, or to cloud their comforts, their only course is to run to God by Prayer; God is a refuge for us. When we feel the decayes of Nature, and are almost overwhelmed with Distempers or Troubles, then let us by Prayer cast our burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain us. Thus that learned and holy Rivet ddRivet. ep. de bona senectute.did every day in his Old-age repeat the seventeenth and eighteenth verses of the seventy first Psalm. p. 262O God, thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am Old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, untill I have shewed thy strength to this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

And here the Aged shall do well not only to plead their own Cause with God, but to lay up a stock for Posterity, that the generations yet unborn may be the better for them. Thus David, in that Psal. 72. 1. Give thy Iudgments to the King, O God, and thy righteousness to the Kings Son, &c. What you are now sowing, may be reaped by your Posterity hundreds of years afterwards. And perhaps this will be the best Intail which you can make of your Estates, for hitherto whatever Settlements the Will of men hath devised, the Wit of men hath defeated; but by faithfull Prayer, God himself is made Trustee, who only can establish your Purposes.

So also you should be instant with the Lord for his Church, Truth, and Gospel. So was David, Psal. 122. So was Paul, alwayes in every Prayer of his. And we cannot better approve our selves to be members of that mystical Body, than by p. 263our incessant Prayers for the Increase, the Unity and the Happiness thereof. And when you are thinking of your Countrey, of your Kindred, and of your Friends, add an Ejaculation to every of these your thoughts for a blessing upon them. These are Employments fit for a Christian Aged person, and will become them better, than endless Complaints, or groundless Presages. Pray, pray, and do not Prophesie, was holy Mr. Palmers saying to those, that were alwayes boding misery. I tell you, that you may do your selves, the Church, the Nation, and Posterity more service by your fervent Prayers, than you have done by the cares and labours of your whole life.

And then, 2. For Praises; when you consider all the Good which God hath done In you, the Good he hath done For you, and the Good he hath done By you, you cannot sure be silent. Reflect upon your own Hearts, and remember what a plight you were in, when his Grace and Mercy found you out; what Methods he hath used to recover you; what light and love and life he hath bestowed upon you; what outward Means and inward Motions he hath vouchsafed you; how he hath rescued you out of p. 264various temptations, recovered you out of sad relapses, stablished you in times of tryal and defection, and brought you within sight of the Promised Land. And then review your whole Life, and consider what great things he hath done For you. Observe Old Davids course. Psal. 71. 6. By thee have I bin holden up from the Womb, thou art he that took me out of my Mothers bowels; my praise shall be continually of thee. Remember the care he took of your Education, the wonderfull Preservations in your Childhood, and Youth, when your rashness and folly did every day precipitate you into palpable dangers; how many sicknesses and distempers he hath either prevented or healed; in how many Iourneys and Voyages his Angels have had the Charge of you; in what perils by day and by night, by Land and by Sea he hath preserved you. O remember the works of the Lord, surely you should remember his wonders of old. Psal. 77. 11. Have you not heard of that Man, who having pass'd over a Plank on Horseback, over a deep River over night, and being brought in the Morning to see his deliverance, fell down dead with the apprehension? How many Lives have you had given you? p. 265How many thousands have bin cut off, and you have bin spared? What a wonder is it, that your Eyes and Limbs have bin kept safe so long! Now you are weak, but remember how long you were strong: now you cannot eat, or sleep, as …heretofore; but you have lost your Register, if you have forgotten the chearful meals, and restful nights you have en…oyed.

… in respect of your Outward Estate, …emember how naked you came into the world, how the Lord hath fed you all …our life long; he it is that hath given …ou power to get wealth, he hath still spread your Table, and filled your Cup, and …ent you more than ever you expected, at …east deserved. Remember how merciful …e hath bin unto you in your Names, in your Relations, Posterity, every way. And …hen conclude with David, 2 Sam. 7. 18. Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, …hat thou hast brought me hitherto? My …outh shall shew forth thy Righteousness …nd thy Salvation, for I know not the num…ers thereof. I will hope continually, and will …et praise thee more and more. Psal. 71. 14, 15. Let Hallelujah be your Song, as …t was the Motto of Godly Mr. Bruen, which he wrote in the first leaf of all his p. 266Books. Let not your present weakness and pain, bury your sense of all your former health and ease. A thankfull life is a pleasant life.

And lastly review the Good that God hath done By you, that still God may have all the praise. You have wrestled with God in Prayer, though now you are soon faint and weary. You have measured many a step to hear Gods Word, though now you cannot: and have read many a good Book, though now your Eyes be quickly dazled. Many a Soul hath bin the better for your Counsel, and many bowels have bin refreshed by your relief. Now as God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, so your remembrance of it in this your Old-age, must oblige you to renewed thanks and praise. Thus David in that Psal. 18. which he spake unto the Lord, when he was delivered out of the hands of all his enemies, toucheth all these Topicks or Heads of Mercies, and then cries out, vers. 46. 49. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my Salvation be exalted. It is God that—Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Heathen, and sing praises unto thy Name. Thus will you conjoyn p. 267the Life of Heaven and Earth; you will end your Lives with that work, wherewith you will begin your Everlasting Life.

SECT. IV.

THE Fourth Work of Old-age is, Instruction §. 4. Instruction of the Younger.of the Younger. God hath in great Wisdom lodged his various gifts in divers subjects, that there may be a mutual dependance one upon another, and a mutual helpfulness of each to others. Thus he intrusts the Young with Strength to support and aid the Elder, whose strength is decayed; and the Aged with knowledge and wisdom to guide the younger, whose judgment is yet unripe. And as it is a great misery, when the Aged are not relieved by the strength and industry of those that are young, so it is a great infelicity, when the Aged are either unable or unwilling to instruct, or when those who are young are too careless or conceited to receive Instruction. That is therefore a barbarous Precept in the Alcoran, and like the rest of that Divinity, You are not obliged to lead men in p. 268the right way, God guideth whom he listeth. But we have better learned Christ.

The whole Current of Scripture runs for this Practice. Thus did Abraham, as we may gather from Gen. 18. 19. Thus Iacob—Thus Moses, leaving more especially that excellent Chapter, Deuter. 32. just before he died, for an Instruction to those he left behind him. The like did Ioshua, in Cap. 24. when he was Aged, and about to dy. So Samuel, 1 Sam. 12. So David, 1 Chron. 28. 9. to his Son. And thou Solomon my Son, &c. Thus did Peter when he was ready to put off his Tabernacle, 2 Pet. 1. 12, 13. and the like did Aged Paul in his Epistle to Timothy, when the time of his departure was at hand, 2 Tim. 4. 5, 6. So that we have a whole cloud of Witnesses, showring down their counsels and directions on the younger sort.

And the Aged are furnished for this Imployment, having Ability and Opportunity for such purposes. Their peculiar Talent lies this way; For Dayes should speak and multitude of years should teach knowledge, Ioh 32. 9. You must have a stock of Observations, and your Speech commonly is least impaired of all Faculties; and it is best imployed in communicating p. 269your usefull Notions unto others. The Vestal Virgins of old, in the First part of their time, learned the Mysteries of their Religion, in the Second, they produced them into Practice, in the Third, they taught them unto others eePlutarch.. One end of our learning any thing, is that we may instruct others. And the Heathens ffMajor pars aetatis certè melior Reipublicae data sit: aliquid temporis tui s…me etiam tibi. Sen. de br. vit. c. 18.thought, that the greatest part of our time should be devoted to the Common good. Hide not therefore your Talent in a Napkin, but produce your Stock, and without impoverishing your selves, inrich those that need it. You have Opportunity, you have your Children and Posterity about you, you have some Authority with them, let your words drop as the dew, and let your lips feed many. What profit have they by your longevity, if you further them not in goodness? In short, our lives are little worth, when they are not usefull; and we cannot better bestow them, than in making others better.

And here is a large field to walk in: You should be able and ready to instruct the younger in the Word of God, in the Doctrine of the Gospel, in that great mystery of Godliness, God manifest in the flesh. The publick Explications hereof, should be p. 270familiarly opened by you at home. You should talk of them, as you sit in your house, as you walk by the way, when you lye down, and when you rise up, Deut. 6. 7. Thus David, Come ye children, hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord, Psal. 34. 11. So also Solomon at large, Prov. 4. 1, 2. Hear ye children the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding: For I give you good doctrine, &c. Thus Timothy's mother, yea and grandmother instructed him. You are to instruct them also in the Works of God, both of Creation and Providence▪ wherein you may convey to them many things, tending to the glory of you… Maker, and the benefit of their Souls You should acquaint them with such particular Instances of the Wisdom, Righteousness, Power, and Goodness of God which you have read, heard or seen▪ That the generation to come might kno… them, even the children that should be born who should arise and declare them to thei… children, that they might set their hope i… God, and keep his Commandments, Psal. 78▪ 6, 7. You can tell them also the Methods of Satan, and the wicked devic… whereby he beguileth poor Souls. … Slave who hath been in Algier, and i… p. 271redeemed or rescued, can discover the miserable bondage there, and relate, with pleasure, the means of his Deliverance. You can describe the intriegues of Sin, and warn young people of the deceitfulness, and folly thereof by your own experience. They who have been almost mir'd in a puddle or quagmire, can easily shew others the place, and direct them to avoid it. In Summe, you should instruct the younger to know, and serve, and trust in God; and whatsoever you have observed in the course of your lives conducive thereunto, you should impart unto them. That as ungodly men do wickedly communicate their▪ sinful acts and practices, and endeavour to propagate them unto posterity, that each generation may be ▪worse than other; so all wise and good men, especially when they are in years, should transmit the knowledge and practice of Piety to their Successors, that the next age may be better than this; and that when we are dead and gone, yet it may be truly said, the world was the better for us.

Besides these Instructions in the excellent matters of Religion, it lies in the power and way of many Ancient persons, to direct and advise the younger p. 272in many useful Observations otherwise: As concerning the Education of their Children, and the disposing of them into Callings or Marriage; concerning the preservation or recovery of their health. And in case they have any peculiar Skill, Receipt, or Art useful for the good of Mankind, they ought not to bury it in their graves, but to assign it to Posterity. And whatsoever you have learned or observed, that may be beneficial or any way useful to the Church or Common-wealth, to your Countrey, Town or Family, all these Notices you should communicate to those that are younger, with all possible fidelity and exactness. And if need be, commit them to writing for the benefit, at least, of your own posterity. And although your Instructions may not at present seem to be much regarded, yet be not discouraged by this; for the wise Counsels of the Ancient, like the seed of the word of God, seems to dye and to be lost, and yet in process of time it revives, and brings forth fruit.

Howbeit, there is Wisdom to be used in the Instructing of young people. For they too commonly are proud, conceit▪ ed, and self-witted: your Lessons therefore p. 273must be at such seasons, and by such degrees, as may render them most valuable and welcome: and must be sweetned with that love and dearness, and withal interlac'd with such pleasant Diversion, that their Appetite may not be cloyed, nor your grave Advices be distasted. Thus the Emperor Augustus accosted his Hearers. Audite Iuvenes senem, quem senes juvenem audiverunt; You that are young, hearken to me, that now am old, whom Old men hearkened unto, when I was yet but young.

Finally, your Example should be a Continual Instruction to young people. They that will not heed your good words, yet seeing your good works will have a constant copy before them, and be induced to write after it. The objects of the Eye make deeper impression, than those of the Ear: When they see the constant practice of piety and charity, prudence and patience, they conclude that your Directions are in good earnest, that they are practicable, that they are necessary, or else what the right hand of good Counsel builds up, the left hand of a loose practice will pull down.

p. 274SECT. V.

THE Fifth Work of Old-age is,§. 5. Watchfulness against several Temptations. Watchfulness against your special Temptations. For besides the abovesaid Sins, that are most usual in Old-age, there are some particular Weaknesses, to which they are rather tempted, than overcome; wherein if they be not watchful, they will become miserable. Such as

1. Discontentedness of mind. This is a Distemper to which Old-age is very liable. They want this, and they want that, which perhaps they have had heretofore, and they cannot bear these wants. One loss or cross befalls them, and e're they have well digested this, another comes. One while this Disease or pain afflicts them, and that no sooner over, but they are smitten in another part, so that they are prone to perpetual murmurings. Never was any bodies life so miserable, as theirs; they are ready to quarrel at God, at men, at any thing, at nothingggOmne p… catum impatientiae ascribendum. Tert: de pat. c. 6.. They are neither content to live, nor ready to dy; but yet p. 275seem to be fallen out with life, and to be in love with death, whereupon their common note is, I have lived too long, O that I were in my grave.

But this Distemper argues great weakness of Grace, yea a great weakness of Spirit. Hence that Philosopher that sometimes resolved, that a wise and couragious man should not flee from life, how discommodious soever; but fairly depart from ithhVir fortis & sapiens non fugere debet … vitâ sed exire. Sen. ep. 24.: yet at other times advised, to let the wearied Soul out of the useless body, before its timeiiAtsi inutile ministeriis est c…rpus, quidni oportent educere animam laborantem, & fortasse antequam debet, faciendum est: ne cùm fieri debeat, facere non posses. Id. ep. 58.. A crime of the deepest tincture! to snatch the Prerogative of our Soveraign Creatour out of his hands, whose rightful priviledge alone it is, to give life to men, and to take it away. And why should you be so uneasie under these momentany tryals? Is it not the Lot, which your heavenly Father hath in great wisdom, set out for you? It is better to be Old, and crazy on earth, than to have been sent young to hell. You have your ailments, and if you were privy to others mens, you would be reconciled to your own. It was Socrates his Observation, that if every mans burden were laid on a common heap, each man would be glad to take up his own again. p. 276You should rather be thankful to God for the blessings of the former part of your life, than murmur at the troubles of the present. You think it the only happiness, to have all the Comforts of this World; but Others have thought it a greater, to have a Mind above them. You have, or else the fault is your own, the Company of a gracious God and a good Conscience kkConscientia benè actae vitae, multorumque bene factorum recordatio jucundissima est. Cicero., when you are uncapable of other company. You should imitate the Grashopper llTithonus being very old, was, say the Poets, turn'd into a Grashopper., to whom the Old man by some is likened, who is made the Emblem of Contentation, because she only sucks the dew and sings; and is content with that, hoping, for better. One Crown will swallow up all your Crosses, whereas Discontent makes your Condition most uneasie here, and most unfit for Heaven hereafter.

2. Another Temptation which you that are Old are in danger of, is Hardness of Heart and Security. You ha… sinned often, and perhaps repented bu… seldom: you have heard and read many convincing Sermons, and made but slender application of them: you have seen many swept away by the hand of God, and you have escaped: yea some of you peradventure have lived long in some sinful p. 277course, are grown Old in adulteries, Ezek. 23. 43. or in oppression, or in some other Sin. These things you have done, and the Lord hath kept Silence, and now you are ready to think, that He is such a one as your selves, and to bless your selves in your woful wayes, till your iniquity be found to be hateful. The Aged person surely must have either a very tender heart, or a very hard one. If Gods Ordinances and Providences, that is Mercies and Afflictions, have made a due impression upon you, your hearts must be very soft, but otherwise, you are in the greatest danger of a hard heart, and a spirit of slumber.

Watch and pray therefore, in the fear of God, against this dangerous Temptation. They are most guilty of this distemper, that were never afraid of itmmNe pergas quaererè qui… cor durum sit, si non expavisti, tuum est. Bern.. Preserve a due tenderness in your Consciences, suffer not any sin to ly upon them unrepented. Endeavour to have daily a clearer sight of sin, and a deeper sense of the evil of it. Let the exemplary Judgments upon others, startle you. Know, that if you sleep in sin, your Preservation will be but a Reservation to some fearful issue. Remember that though a Sinner do evil an hundred p. 278times, and his dayes be prolonged, yet it shall not be well with the wicked, Eccl. 8. 12, 13. The greatest Iudgment that can befall a man upon earth, is to prosper in any sinful way.

There is a Natural hardness in All men, there is an Habitual hardness in some men, but there is a Iudicial hardness only in such, as are ripe for hell. And the First, if it be not cured by Gods grace, leads to the second, and the second prepares for the third. Of all sorts of men, ye that are Old have least cause to be secure, that have one foot already in the grave. The green apple may be pluckt off, but the ripe one is falling off already. But it is not the approach of Death, without the effectual influence of Gods Spirit, that will soften an hardned sinner; as is too evident in the Malefactors in Newgate, that will be drunk and swear at a dreadful rate, when they know that the Executionday is certainly at hand. Be instant therefore with the Lord, to deliver you from hardness of heart, from a spirit of slumber and from a reprobate sense.

3. A Third Temptation which Old-age must watch against, is, Slothfulness of Spirit. The decay of natural Spirits disposeth p. 279them hereunto, and corrupt Nature joyns with the temptation. It is an easie thing to be idle, and flesh and blood is glad enough of excuses from pains and trouble. Indeed, where natural Parts, or natural Strength are wasted, much cannot be expected, Iob 30. 2. Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? yet that which will release them in part, will not do it altogether. Time is so short, so precious, so irrevocable, that it should not be slept or trif…ed away, if we can do any thing for the ends of life. The Aged person must consider, how much wast ground there hath been in the field of his lifennExig…a pars est vitae, quam nos vivimus, non exiguum temporis habemus, sed multum perdimus. Re omnium pretiosissimâ luditur. Sen. de …r. vit.; how many years are lost in Infancy and Childhood; how much time at riper years in unnecessary sleep and recreations; how much hath been consumed in doing nothing; and how much in doing worse than nothing; and that it is an easie thing to lose time, that it is an hard thing to redeem time, and that it is an impossible thing to recall time; and therefore they who have lost so much time, and can recall none of it, had need to redeem, and make the best of that which is left. Few men will throw p. 280away their money, but most men squander away their lives; being most prodigal of that wherein we may most justly be covetous, as the same Philosopher discourseth.

Let no Aged person imagine, that they are to live to no purpose. The Levites, though at Fifty years of age, they were discharged from the most laborious service of the Temple, yet they were not left to be Idle, but to do the work of the Lord in some more easie imployments. Tully brings in Cato telling how he learned Greek in his Oldage, and that even at those years no body came to see him, but they found him imployedooAnimus fuit victor annorum. as Bernard saith of Humbertus.: and he reports of Leontius Gorgias, who was an hundred and seven years old, and yet never was weary of his studies and labours. The truth is, sloth is a vice that accelerates Oldage, as you heard before, and abetts that languishment of the Spirits which furthers it. We shall not feel it so sensibly, while we are continually imployedppSemp…r enim in iis studiis laboribusque viventi, non intelligitur quando obrepat s…ectus. Cicero.. How much knowledge and wisdom have we neglected, which we might have obtained, if our sloth had not beguiled us?

Hence comes Neglect of the means of p. 281Grace, to which we may adde Drowsiness in the use of them. Aged people are apt to satisfie themselves in the Omission of Reading, Hearing, Praying by their craziness and infirmities. Indeed when we are inevitably hindred in these Means, and are grieved for that hindrance, God will supply those wants; but if we be glad that we have an occasion comen in the way, whereby we may, without sin omit our duty, it savours strongly of hypocrisie. And Old people are more concern'd than others to be diligent herein; for many of them have put off much of their greatest business to their Old-age, and therefore their plea of Impotence will be overruled. I have lost a World of time, said the learned Salmasius on his death-bed; If I had one year longer, I would spend it in reading David's Psalms, and in Paul's Epistles. Neither imagine, that you are too old to learn: for the Fundamentals of Doctrine and Practice may easily, and must necessarily be learned, else he that made you will not save you, and he that formed you will shew you no favour, Isa. 27. 11. As weak as you are, you could creep to the Assembly to be laden back again with Gold; and a grain of p. 282grace is worth a world of riches. When some outward sickness afflicts, you find a man carried in a bed to Christ, and the house untiled to let him down through the roof, rather than continue under it, Luk. 5. 18. and will you languish in your spiritual distempers, and use no means for healing? Be not deceived, God is not mocked: he never accepts the will for the deed, if the deed can well be done; nor chuses Mercy before sacrifice, where both may be offered.

And though your Years may dispose you to Drowsiness in the service of God, yet they will not wholly excuse you. We read but of one person in the Bible, that slept at Sermon, and he was taken up dead thereby, Act. 20. 9. It is a sin charged on them of old, Isa. 64. 7. There is none that calleth on thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee. You should use all possible means to shake off that drowsie distemper, and set the holy God before you, and remember that your own cause is still pleading or trying; that the diligent hand makes rich in this world, and the diligent heart rich for ever; and that Grace and Comfort are like the Manna, which was to be gather'd early, or else it vanished: p. 283they that loved their beds, starved their bellies. How much good might you do and get, notwithstanding your years, if you would shake off that slothful distemper, that haunts. you? how many have lamented at their end their loss of time? Nothing so much troubled that Excellent Preacher, Dr. Robert Harris, when he was on his death-bed, as Loss of time. Rouse up then your benumbed spirits, your time of Action will last but a while. Consider, wherein you are capable to serve your generation by the will of God, and up and be doing. The Grave will be most irksome to the loyterer, but most welcome to the labourer, for there the weary, and only they will be at rest.

4. The Fourth Temptation which Aged persons are liable unto, is, Expectation still of longer life. No man is so Old, saith the Orator, but thinks it very possible to weather it out a year longerqqNemo est tam senex quise annum non putet posse vivere. Cicer.; and such men do, upon the matter, think they may live alwayes. It hath been an old complaint, that men eat and drink, as though they must dye to morrow, and yet buy and build as though they must live alwayes. How usual is it with very Aged men and women, to contrive p. 284and appoint affairs for a month, or a year beforehand? It is not only young persons that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a City, and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain. Whereas you know not, what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away, Jam. 5. 13, 14. But even Old persons are apt to think the same thing. The most decrepit person fancies he shall abide here a little longer; and when that time is expir'd, still reckons to continue a little longer rrQuotidiè morimur, quotidiè mutamur, & tamen aeternos nos esse credimus. Hieron ep. ad Helvi…..

The folly and ungroundedness of this Imagination, is obvious. For what should induce one that is already dying, to think that he shall not very quickly dy out and out? Alas! Death hath laid its cold hand already upon usssSeni mors in januis est. Bern. ep. 185.. Our Eyes, our Ears, our Hands, our Legs, our Lungs, our very Vitals are death-struck already. Death puts in for a share in every day we spendttHunc ipsum diem quem agimus cum morte dividimus. Senec. ep. 24. Have we taken any Lease of our lives, for a determinate time? Can we produce any Reason, any one Reason to prove that we should live a year, or a week longer? I am sure the provoking Sins, which are in our Souls, and the p. 285unruly Humours which are in our Bodies, render our speedy death more likely, than a longer life: besides the rage of Satan against us, and the many Casualties incident to us. Now when a man expects any thing, and hath no reason for such his expectation, it is lamentably ridiculous.

But what little Reason soever there is for such an Imagination, there is some Cause of it: And the cause seems to be a Lothness to dy. Too few there are, that are willing to part with things seen, for things unseen uuMors omnibus est finis, multis remedium, paucis [probis] etiam votum.. They are loth to go out of this world of men and women, into a world of Souls. Death is like a cup that will either mend or end, and such a dose is taken with a trembling hand. And therefore the heart cryes out, Let me alone this year also. Thus men would put far from them the evil day, and it will prove an evil day, when it is thus deferr'd. Alas! it is not the duration of ones life, but the goodness and comfort of it, that is considerable. This the dim eye of Nature saw and concluded, that a wise man chuses to live as long as he ought, not as long as he could wwNon enim vivere bonum est, sed bene vivere. Itaque sapiens vivit, quantum debet, non quantum potest, Sen. Ep. 70. Quomodo fabula, sic vita: non quamdiu, sed quam bene acta, refert. Id. Ep. 76.. I know it is a hard pluck, to have a Soul and a body that p. 286have▪ lived long together, to part a-sunder: but it is irrevocably appointed unto men to dye; and when a thing is indispensably necessary, it is the best course to consider what will best mitigate, and render it either desirable or tolerable. Wherein as right Reason may contribute much, so Christian Religion much more; whereby the holy Soul is assured of a far better house, than the body, and the body of a far better estate, after it hath slept a while in the grave.

To Remedy therefore this Temptation, Consider the Folly and ill Effects thereof. That is a foolish Traveller, who being quite spent with the fatigue of his journey, would turn again and trave… it over again; when as nothing is more welcome to the weary than a quiet lodging xxEvery bird is on the wing to its nest. Every tratraveller his mind is still on home, home. This was Barzilla s Song, &c. Dr. Harris.. Upon occasion of this groundless Expectation in that rich man, Luk. 12▪ our Saviour plainly calls him, Thou fool▪ For it is the rankest folly, to expect when winter is coming, that it will relent and retire again, because we distast it. No more will Death forbear us, but when our Name is called, we must go.

But this vain expectation of a longer life unfits us for Death, it keeps the Soul secure and careless, we deferr that p. 287till to morrow, which should be done to day; we lose the present time, and dispose of the future which is not in our hands, but in Gods yyMaximum vivendi impedimentum est expectatio quae pendet ex crastino; perdis hodiernum: quod in manu fortunae disponis, quod in t… dimittis. Sen. de br. vit. c. 9.. This causes Men to procrastinate their Repentance, to deferr the Good works which they have purposed to do, yea the very making of their Last Will hath been protracted hereupon by many, until they have bin uncapable to do it. Let all Aged persons therefore be advised, to set Death each morning between themselves, and the ensuing night; and every night make that reasonable supposition, that it may arrest you before morning: The messenger that you have so long looked for, will not amaze you, when he comes. As the meeting of a stroke breaks the force of it, so the Sting of death is in a great measure lost, when we are first aware of it. He that in this respect dyes daily, will easily and happily dye at last.

SECT. VI.

THE Sixth Work of Old-age is, Providence §. 6 Providence for Posterity.for Posterity. Too many when they are going out of this World, p. 288care not what becomes, either Temporally, or Eternally, of those that shall come after them. And accordingly will neither plant'a Tree, nor repair an House, nor do any thing for the benefit of Posterity. They cry, It will serve our time: and so suffer all things to go to ruine, because they are removing into another world themselves; yea and commit, or permit wilfull wast divers ways, for somepresent small advantage, leaving great inconveniences to their Successors: whereas the very Heatheus had better principles, and injoyned their Old men to plant trees, &c. which might be usefull to another Generation zzSerant arbores, que alteri seculo prosint. Cicero ex Statio.. Thus a man may be benefiting others still, after he is dead and gone, and God may be praised for your care and kindness, by them which succeed you.

And another sort there are, that in stead of leaving any Blessing or benefit, do lay up a Curse for their Posterity; by leaving them Estates which they have got by Fraud and Injustice, or some unconscionable course; which is the ready way to melt away the rest how justly soever obtained. You cannot invent a more compendious and infallible means to undoe all your Posterity, than by transferring p. 289to them Goods or Estates indirectly gotten: for God is righteous, and will not prosper unrighteous dealings. Those riches will perish by evil travel, and he begetteth a Son, and there is nothing in his hand. Eccl. 5. 14.

But if you have any care or concern for your Posterity, lay up a stock of Prayers for them, and leave them, as is aforemention'd, wholsome and good Rules concerning Piety, Equity and Charity. Leave them an Account of your own Experience in all things material; that so, if they have any brains, they may cheaply learn what you have dearly bought. And especially leave them a Copy of your own good Example, which will be a constant Monitor, and Check to them in the whole course of their conversation.

But these having bin touched before, that which remains for the Peace, Comfort and good of Posterity, is a Prudent and seasonable Settling of your outward Estate. It is strange to see the great backwardness of many Aged persons to this work, as if making their Will would either lessen their Estates, or shorten their Lives, a gross and groundless Opinion; whereas the neglecting of this affair, hath a train of very ill consequences; p. 290particularly, many of the most tedious Suits of Law are occasion'd thereby, mutual Love among Relations spoiled, the poor overcome by the rich, the simple by the cunning, the Orphan by the Guardian, and very often the whole Estate squandred away in trying for it. What a folly is this, to neglect that which would both quiet your own minds, and preserve quiet among them that come after? Ten lines discreetly written, would prevent ten thousand lines when you are dead. When the Lord therefore sent a Message of Death, by the Prophet Isaiah, to King Hezekiah, he commanded him to set his house in order, Isa. 38. 1. as if that work must of right go before his death. The Aged person then ought to present this Message daily to his Soul, Man, Woman, set thy house in order. For since it is uncertain in what place, or in what moment Death waiteth for us; it behoves us to wait for it in every place, and every moment, and consequently to set not only the heart, but the house in Order.

And in the doing of this work, let Reason and Iudgment over-rule Passion and Affection. If need be, advise in Law; the neglect whereof renders the Testaments p. 291of many persons nothing, but Bones of Contention; and so the sparing of a small Fee at present, proves the spending of many in a short time. But however, weigh your Purposes in a good Conscience, and remember that you are only Deputies under God, whose you are, and your whole Estate; that it be so Devised, as may agree with his Revealed will▪ Think with your selves, what judgment wise, and impartial persons will pass upon your Disposals, when you are in the grave. Pray therefore unto God on this occasion, that he would first Direct, and then Establish your Purposes, which is the likeliest way to bring them to pass.

And dispatch this affair Timcusly, while you are in health and strength. For you can never do it as you would, nor perhaps as you should, when you are in the power of those, that stand waiting for your Estate aaDispone de rebus ante mortem: saepe quis efficitur infirmitatis servus, testari non potest: liber ergo testeris antequam servus efficiaris. Ber…. They who are so weak, that they must be beholden to their Relations, for every Refreshment they have need of, cannot have the liberty or opportunity to order their affairs in an impartial manner. What if upon the alteration of your circumstances, you revise your Will, and alter it every year? Is it not much better to be at that trouble, p. 292than either to deferr it till you can make none at all, or such as must savour greatly of your present weakness? Do not imagine, that the Expedition of this, will hasten your Death. For what influence or efficacy can this have, to procure any such effect? It were easie to produce those, that have never bin without a Will written and sealed, for Thirty or Forty years together. It affords a man great satisfaction, in case any sudden sickness seize upon him, that he hath nothing of any earthly affairs to trouble him, nothing to do but to bear, or to be relieved of his distemper. For when our inward State is fixed, and our outward State is settled, yet we shall find it work enough, to grapple with the disquiets of a disease, and with the pangs of Death.

SECT. VII.

THE Seventh Work of Old-age, is,§. 7. Mor…fication to Sin and to the World. Mortification. And the Object hereof is double: 1. That which is Evil in it self. 2. That which is Lawful in it self. The Religious Old person hath work in both these.

p. 2931. One great work of Old-age is Dying to sin, to all sin. The time past of our life may suffice us to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of Wine, revellings, banquettings, &c. 1 Pet. 4. 3. We have sinn'd enough already, yea much more than enough; it is high time to undo that which hath almost undone us. We are dying, it is necessary that our sins dy before us bbHoc denique tibi citra mortem praesta: moriantur ante te vitia. Sen. ep. 27., and that by Faith in the death of Christ, and Repentance from dead works; for want of which course, our Evidences prove litigious, and snarled with inextricable doubts. It is not enough, that we want strength, or opportunity to sin, but our wills and desires towards it, must be dead also. Sin is only asleep, or benumbed in us, if we have not used Gods means to crucify it. It's not sufficient that we leave it, except we loath it. Go through-stitch therefore with this work; do it quickly, do it sincerely: it is, Kill or be Kill'd, and necessity makes the Coward resolute. Dread not any Scriptural severities necessary in Mortification. Some Devils are not cast out without Prayer and Fasting; and Hippocrates ccHippocr. Aph. 13.observes, that Old-age is the fittest for the use of Fasting. The wounds that sin hath made, must be searched to the bottom, and p. 294doubtless it is never crucified, no more than Christ was, without pain.

How justly doth the Scripture still stigmatize sin with the name of Folly? to weave a Webb that must be unrav'led; and to make us spend our lives between sinfull joyes, and painfull sorrowes. And though Old-age doth not mortify sin by it self, yet cooling our lusts and passions, it proves helpfull in that work ddSi vol…ptatem aspernari ratione & sapientiâ non possumus, magnam … senectuti gratiam, q…ae effecerit, ut id non liberet, quod non oport…ret. Cicer.: and provided, we be truly thankful unto God for that advantage, and that we use other necessary means to that end, we may comfortably acquiesce in that blessed effect; and rejoyce that the things which are displeasing to God, are become unpleasant to us. But we must not be content to be only passive, in the decayes of sin; we must be active in that work. If ye, through the Spirit, mortifie the deeds of the Body, ye shall live, Rom. 8. 13.

And as All sin must be the Object of Mortification, so especially all Youthful sins eeHoc q…idem p…jus est, quod autoritatem habemus senum, vitia verò puerorum; nec puerorum tantùm, sed etiam insantum. Sen. ep. 16.. For as Chrysostom says, An Old man acting juvenile sins, is far more ridiculous than young persons, that commit those sins. To have our hearts p. 295burn with Lust, or Revenge, when our veins are freezing with Age, the soul rampant and the body dying, is monstrous ffAnus quum ludit, morti delitias …acit. Sen.. And yet we know, how S. Hierom himself complains of scalding motions, that were ready to invade his withered body. And the Scripture gives us a sad Instance hereof, even of Solomon the best and wisest of men alive, that had done more for God, and God for him, than any man in the age he lived in; that he when he was between Fifty and Sixty years of age, should be so far inslaved to his strange wives, as to be carried by them to worship strange gods. For it came to pass, when Soloman was Old, that his wives turned away his heart, &c. 1 Kin. 11. 4. Whereby he set in such a cloud, as hath drawn his very Salvation into question. Let it be a warning to all Aged people, to see that their Corruptions be not asleep but dead, as far as is attainable in this life; that the Old man, as well as the outward man perish, and which will be a good proof thereof, that the inward man be renewed day by day. That our Thoughts, our Words, our very Behaviour and Attire proclaim, that Sin and we are parted never to meet again. It was a good p. 296answer of a Lacedemonian to one that asked him, why he wore his Beard so long? Answ. It is to mind me, that I do nothing unbeseeming my hoary hairs. A light behaviour in a grave person is foolish and loathsome: For as dead flies cause the ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking saviour; so doth a little folly, him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour, Eccl. 10. 1.

2. The Other Object of Mortification proper for Old-age, is The World and all the innocent, but charming vanities thereof. Not that they are bound actually to forsake the World, either the needful cares, or the lawful comforts of it: But to wean and abate their desires of it, their delights in it, their cares about it ggWhen one Similis a great Captain in Adrian's time had retir'd into the Countrey seven years before he died, he caused this Epitaph to be prepared for him. Smilis hic jacet, cujus aetas quidem multorum annorum fuit. Septem tamen duntaxat annis vixit.. This should be every Christians work, but it should be the Aged persons care, in a more eminent measure. For they are ready to leave this world, and ascend into another; and every one takes off their mind from an house they are leaving. The world also is forsaking them, the pleasure they have formerly taken in meats, apparel, building, is much decayed; the things which did formerly ravish, are now grown insipid; and doth not this call aloud to p. 297them to real Mortification? you should most readily consent to part with them, and say, Farewell my gold and all my gayeties, I meant not to injoy, but use you, I can be happy without you.

It is the absurdest sight in the world, to see one gaping and grasping after this world, when he is going into another. Let your moderation be known unto all men, the Lord is at hand, Phil. 4. 5. Your loyns should be always girded about, and your lights burning, and ye your selves like unto men that wait for your Lord, Luk. 12. 35. I write unto you Fathers, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, 1 Joh. 2. 14, 15. Abate your love to things below, and increase your love to things above: Nothing can overcome love but Love, love of earthly things, but the Love of heavenly things, as nothing can fetch out fire like fire. O when we do love all these things for God, we will willingly leave them all to go to God, for whose sake only we valued them. Otherwise you will find it an hard pluck to leave them, even like the plucking the Skin off your hand; whereas the heart that is mortified to them, can part with them, as easily as you can p. 298draw the glove off your hand. How readi… did … g… up into the mount, and dye! what little noise or dispute did Iacob, or David, or Paul make about leaving …he world? They were dead to … … ▪ He that said I am ready to be offer…, had said before, the world is crucified to me, and I unto …he world.

So that the Aged person should be mortified to Life it self; he should be very well content to dy. It was a sad Confession of Caesar Borgia that ambitious Grandee, when he was near his end, that he was prepar'd for every occurrent but Death; which was the only thing that he should have been most ready for. But 'tis Grace, not years that makes us dead to the world, and to the desire of Life hhUt satis vixerimus, nec anni nec dies faciunt, sed animus; vixi quantum satis erat: mortem ple…us expecto. Sen. ep. 61.. When the Aged man hath made it his business to honour God, to save his own soul, and to serve his own generation, he may with unconceivable comfort say with Old Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace; I have done with this life, welcome be the grave, welcome everlasting life.

p. 299SECT. VIII.

THE Eighth Work of Old-age is,§. 8. Laying up a Treasure in Heaven. Laying up a treasure in Heaven. Where by Heaven I understand not only the Place, but the Nature of the Treasures, heavenly Treasures. Some of these the Aged will have need of Before Death, of some At Death, of some After Death.

1. You should lay up for your selves a Treasure of Prayers, and Promises to support you before Death comes. Of Prayer I have spoken before; but there are Promises that are very comfortable and very necessary for Old people; which they who are assured of Gods Veracity, and their own Integrity, may apply to themselves, as if individually directed unto them. The Apostle makes that inference from that excellent Promise, which hath more value in it, than all the Old mans baggs and bonds, Heb. 13. 5. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; whence he inferrs, vers. 6. So that we, even we, may boldly say, The Lord is my helper. Another Promise there is, most comfortable for Ancient people, Isa. 46. 4. Even to your Old-age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear, even I will carry, and will deliver you. When our feeble legs will not carry us; when the pillars of the house tremble, and in effect cry out, we can bear you no longer; then will the power and goodness of God carry us up and deliver us, yea when we approach to Death, and fear presents it, and the grave most formidably, we may then apply what the Lord spake to Old Iacob, concerning his going down into Egypt, Gen. 46. 3. I am God, the God of thy father, fear not to go down into Egypt: For I will go down with thee, and will also surely bring thee up again. So assuredly will the Lord go down with us to the grave, and as surely bring us up again, and how can we be afraid with such company, and with such a promise? Hoard on still, there is another gracious Promise, Psal. 23. 4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me: More yet, Psal. 48. last. For this God is our God for ever and ever, he will be our guide even unto death. These p. 301and such like Promises, left by him that cannot lye, will support the sinking spirits of a poor Christian more than all the friends, the cordials, the extrinsick comforts in the whole world.

2. At Death you will need a Treasure of Faith and Patience. The reign of Sense is expired; somewhat is necessary to support a dying man, more than a living healthy man. What is it that makes Death terrible to a poor creature? The withdrawing of all a mans outward comforts, and the Appearance of all his Sins: When one is dying, they must leave husband, wife, children, parents, friends, house, all. Now Faith will give us a real sight of the other world; and one sight of that quite disgraces and annihilates all the comforts of this world. Adieu poor house, I see a far better ready for me! adieu my dearest friends and relations, I see those enjoyments before me, that utterly eclypse you all! And then, when your Sins are mustered up before you, their heinous nature, and deserved punishment, and that Satan bestirs him, to represent them with the greatest Terror, to the Aged dying person; if Faith be dormant, the poor soul is driven into the pit of despair. But a lively Faith flies to Iesus Christ, runs into his wounds, lays hold on his everlasting righteousness, and so bids defiance to Satan, yea even to the law, and all his sins, with, Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that dyed. It is related in an Epistle prefixed to Brentius's works, that when a certain Senator in Suevia lay dying, one like a Scribe came into his chamber with pen and paper, calling to him to reckon up his sins; for, saith he, I am sent from God to bring an account of them to his Tribunal: Well, saith the Sick man, raising up himself as well as he could, and perceiving that he had to do with his great Enemy, the Devil; write this down first, The seed of the woman shall break the serpents head, and thou mayst write all my sins under it: Whereupon the Accuser of the brethren presently vanished, and left the weak man in peace.

And you will have need of Patience also, that after ye have done and suffered the will of God, ye may receive the promise, Heb. 10. 36. So acute, or else tedious are some Distempers, that they will strain all the nerves of the Soul, to wrestle with them. Lay up therefore, by diligent reading, hearing, meditation, p. 303and Prayer, a stock of these Graces, before the evil day come. These are the true riches, and which neither the fire can burn, nor the plague infect, nor time wast, nor thieves purloyn.

3. And lastly, It behoves the Aged to lay up a Treasure, which they may meet with After death; to wit, of Good works. In this life is your seed time for these; and they that scatter this precious seed, shall doubtless, mark, doubtless they shall come again with rejoycing, bringing their sheaves with them, Psal. 126. 6. Faith and good works may well agree in a Christian, and though they cannot cooperate to a mans Iustification, (for though both of them are Acts of a creature, yet Faith derives not this influence from the Subject, but from the Object; it justifies as it apprehends and imbraces Christ) notwithstanding both are necessary to Salvation, Luk. 12. 33. Sell that ye have, and give alms, provide your selves baggs which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth; i. e. This treasure is neither liable to intrinsick decay, nor to extrinsick casualty. What other treasure hath p. 304escaped danger, but who can scale the Empyrean Heaven? These the Apostle calls a good foundation, 1 Tim. 6. 19. Charge the rich that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate: Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Other riches you lay up for others, yea perhaps for such as you know not; but by doing all the good you can, you lay up something in store for your selves. What if the advantage be not at present visible, men will lay out money upon a good Reversion, though they never live to injoy it. Here is a Reversion worth the having, Eternal life.

Many useful things may be done in this life, which cannot be done by you when this life is ended. Now you may feed the poor, cloath the naked, redeem the captive, incourage learning, promote Soul-saving Preaching, &c. Are you any other than Gods Stewards? and poor Christians, poor Tradesmen, poor Scholars, poor Ministers are Gods Assigns, to whom he appoints you to do good out of his stock in your hand, according to your ability and their necessity. You do but p. 305draw Bills upon Almighty God by every good Work, which he will most faithfully and fully pay in the Kingdom of Heaven. I omit the Story of Synesius; our blessed Saviour hath said enough to perswade us, if we be not Infidels, from that Parable of the unjust Steward, Luk. 16. where he thus concludes, ver. 9. Make to your selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Consider now before it be too late, what a sad prospect it will be for you on your death-bed, to review the book of a life, wherein is nothing but Blots, transgressions on the one side of the page; and Blanks, omissions of good on the other.

Bethink your selves therefore, which way you may yet do some good in the world. Do not live, do not dye to your selves: poor Christ in his members begs of you to remember him. Oblige him here in the Countrey, and he will befriend you at the Court. Whilst you have opportunity, do good unto all, especially to the houshold of faith, Gal. 6. 10. your opportunity will shortly be over and past; yet you have something to give, and some body to give unto: but if you p. 306refuse or delay it, shortly you will have nothing to give, no body to relieve. And remember Gods Counsel, 2 Cor. 9. 6. He which soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap bountifully. I urge you not, to undoe your selves by doing good to others; but that ye be ready, willing, and rich in good works, according to the talents wherewith you are intrusted. And this will be a good Proof that your Faith is sound, when you can part with present and visible things, upon the word and promise of an Invisible God, for future things which are unseen.

And, if the circumstances of your Estate will bear it▪ let me prevail with you to make your own Eyes your Overseers, and your own hands your Executors. For though I would not discourage any one from making pious or charitable Bequests in their Wills, by bewailing the uncertainty, the abuse, and loss of such intentions: But the thing it self is no way so laudable, or acceptable; only to part with what we cannot keep: it insinuates, that if we could alwayes live, we would never part with any thing; whereby there is neither that Faith, nor that Charity exercised which becomes a Christian. p. 307Withhold not good from them to whom it is due: mark, it is due to them, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it, Prov. 3. 27. You are just ready to travel into another Countrey, take care to send something before you, lest you lose both Earth and Heaven at once.

SECT. IX.

THE Ninth Work of Old-age is Meditation §. 9▪ Meditation on Death and Eternity.of Death and Eternity. Meditation in general is the application of our thoughts to some particular Subject: which being imployed about things Holy, becomes one of the parts of Inward Religion. A most excellent and useful exercise, and which greatly inriches the Soul iiforeign. Periander.. It was a clear proof of the great sanctity of Davids heart, that he was so frequent and familiar in this imployment; sometimes on God, sometimes on his Word, sometimes on his Works, both of Creation and of Providence, &c. O that we all had the Art of it, the Heart of it, for the heart is all. Doubtless if our Love were stronger, our meditation would be longer p. 308on these things, for where the treasure is, there the heart will dwell also. I know some Constitutions of body are more capable of it than others, but certainly the more the soul is sanctified, that is, mortified to things below and vivified to things above, the more chearfully will it dwell upon spiritual things; such as the Stomach is, such food will it desire.

But among other useful Points, The Aged is greatly concern'd to Meditate on Death, and the endless Life after it; which is, to pencill out before the Eyes of his mind the time of his Departure, the serious Circumstances and Consequences of it. We should place our selves upon our Death-beds, gasping there for breath, our Friends ready to close our Eyes, the dabbe of flegme ready to stop our breath, and our Souls just forsaking the poor carkass. When we look upon our hands and feet, it should be attended with these thoughts, that shortly they will be turn'd to rottenness; that the worms will make furrows in our faces, and feed upon our very hearts; yea that we at present do breed and nourish the vermine, that wait for to devour us: that e're long we shall have p. 309nothing to do here, our house and goods in the possession of those that would be affrighted to see us again: that we must lodge a long time in the dark grave, and the Soul must go into an unknown world, and that unto all Eternity. These are thoughts for Aged persons; and not to▪ be roving about things past to no purpose, or contriving about things of this world to come. This is in some sence to dy daily, to wit, by serious thoughts concerning our latter end.

The truth is, this is a duty incumbent upon all. Hence that saying, Deut. 32. 29. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end. A Deaths-head is no unfit furniture, for a young persons closet kkVivere totâ vitâ discendum est, & quod magis fortasse miraberis totâ vitâ discendum est mori. Sen. de br. vit. c. 7.. The serious apprehensions of the exceeding great change, which Death will make, would give a check to that wantonness, worldliness and vain-glory, which cleaves to us all by nature. For Death observes not our humane order, it▪ is anomalous, we are not called according to our Age; it proceeds not according to our Registers llNon citamur ex censu. Sen. …p. 12.. Your considering of Death will not make you Older but Better. But principally it concerns p. 310the Aged, who live in the confines of the grave. You should be acquainted with it, for you are neighbour's to it. It is one of the Spanish Proverbs, That the Old mans Staff is the Rapper at Deaths-door. When Cato would awaken the Roman Senate to level Carthage, he brought in some green figs thence among them, thereby to shew unto them, how soon those their inveterate Enemies, their distance being so small, might be with a Fleet among them; alas! how small is the distance between an Old man and his grave! Is it not reasonable therefore, is it not necessary, that we should be provided for this enemy? and since we cannot escape it, ought we not to be reconciled to it, to be better acquainted with it, yea and learn some way to overcome it. And certainly the more we rightly think of it, the less we shall fear it or be hurt by it mmNon mortem timem…s sed cogitationem mortis.—T… tamen ut nunquam timeas, semper cogita. Sen. ep. 30.. We must drink this Cup, and therefore it is all the reason in the world, that we should take some foretasts of it, especially considering the sequele of it: that it sets us on an everlasting shore. It's time for Old people to bethink them well, sith a Crown or Flames are just before them: When you sit trimming the fire ponder p. 311this, whether you can indure the fire that is unquenchable; when you lift up those dazled eyes towards Heaven, consider what title you have to the blessed Mansions there. What have you to do below? your traffick now should be in Invisibles; you have studied long enough how to live, at length you should study how to dy.

These Meditations are certainly of great Excellence, and of great Use. Better it is to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart, Eccl. 7. 2. 'Tis more pleasant indeed to go to the house of feasting, how gladly do people go that way? but it is better to go to the house of mourning, for there we see what is the end of all men, and so the living will lay something that's useful to his heart. These thoughts will quicken any rational man to do and get all the good he can, while he is on this side the line of Eternity. The less a poor Old creature can do about the affairs of this life, the more he should endeavour to do about that better life. These presentiating thoughts of Death will make us careful and conscionable in all our wayes, p. 312as seeing that Change alwayes at hand. I write this Letter, saith Seneca nnHoc animo tibi hanc Epistolam scribo, tanquam cum maxime scribentem mors evocatura sit. Paratus exire sum & ideo fruor vitâ, quia quamdiu futurum hoc sit, minime pendo. Sen. ep. 61., with such a mind, as if Death were to call me away, before I have done: and being ready to go, the less I value Life, the more comfortably I enjoy it. For, as the same Authour ooIllorum brevissi…a & solicitissima aetas est, qui praeteritorum obliviscuntur, praesentia negligunt, de futuro timent. Id. de br. vit. c. 15.saith in another place; Theirs is the most anxious life, that forget what's past, neglect what's present, and are afraid of what's to come. For certainly they that forget their past sins, and neglect their present duty, have cause to fear their reckoning to come. As on the the other side, he that, having an inlightned and sensible Conscience, can think of Death without disturbance, hath made a good progress in Religion.

And yet if Death, were only the finishing of Life, these Thoughts about it were not so necessary or considerable: but we are assured of an Everlasting Life immediately following; that the extremest happiness or misery commences thereupon, which also never ends. Now what Thoughts or cares can be so momentous, as those about our endless Glory or Torment? p. 313Sit down then, compose your selves to this Meditation; draw a Curtain over all this present World and your Concerns therein, and open a window into Eternity, and by Faith look steadily into it. Look Upward first, and survey those blessed Mansions, that glorious Company, the sweet Imployment, the unconceivable Injoyment, the transcendent Bliss of Body and Soul in the full Fruition of God to all Eternity. And will not these Meditations nullifie all the faint and fading comforts of this Life? will they not cause you to trample under foot the Pleasures of sin, that are but for a season? will they not easily wean you from your dearest Relations upon Earth? will they not carry you with longing desires to injoy the beatifical Vision? will you not cry out with Augustine, Can no man see thy face and live? O let me dy then, to see thy face!

Again, look Downward into that Bottomless Pit, and by faith behold the desperate condition of the Damned: lay your Ear to the Key-hole of Hell, and hearken a while to the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth there. Consider the torments of a roaring Conscience, the fury of exasperated Devils, the unspeakable p. 314racks and tortures of wofull Bodies, which must be as much beyond what the most cruel Malice can invent or act, as the Almighty and just indignation of God exceeds the weak and finite wrath of Man: And these to continue during the innumerable spaces of an unconceivable Eternity; and the Aged man must conclude, that there is no other way for him to take at Death, but into one of these Receptacles: and that he may justly expect by reason of his Age very shortly to determine this point, that he is even at the door; that he hangs over this Etenity by a slender twist, which is now almost fretted through, and that before a few weeks or days are come, he must go the way whence he shall not return. What agitations of heart would these Meditations produce in us? what diligence in making our Calling and Election sure? what contempt of all the World? what detestation of the sweetest sins? In short, the Thoughts of Eternity would effectually disgrace the trifles of Time, and prepare the Aged for the injoyment of it.

How comes it then to pass, that we are so backward to the thoughts of Death and the World to come? The truth is, p. 315it is not gratefull to Flesh and Blood. Hence, when thousands died in the Wilderness, which should probably of it self have made impressions on the rest, yet then Moses finds it needfull to beg of God, Psal. 90. 12. So teach us to number our dayes, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Alas! we find that we can think on any Person in the world rather than of God, and of any Thing in the world rather than of our Soul, and of any part of our Lives rather than of Death, and of any place in the world rather than of Heaven. But should Flesh and Blood be gratified, rather than our Maker, our Redeemer, our Comforter, our own Souls? God forbid. How many unpleasant doses do we take, to preserve or recover the health of the body? But here the health and happiness both of body and soul are concerned. I may boldly say, that Death will prove a bitter Cup to those that live at ease, and that will make no acquaintance with it, before it seize upon them. We are surpriz'd with any thing that is altogether new, but frequent converse maketh the most fearfull Objects familiar. Walk then into the place of Skulls; make room for your Coffin in your Chambers or in your Minds, p. 316and call before you all the solemn Circumstances of your own Funerals, and step now and then into the other world by holy Meditation. Your natural Eye growes dim, open then the Eye of Faith, and penetrate into things unseen. You cannot work, but you can think; your sleeps are broken, but then you may have golden hours: When you have various discomforts below, you may have hereby unspeakable comfort above; yea this will inure you unto, and begin that blessed life which you hope to live for ever. He that thus travels often to Heaven while he lives, will more certainly and comfortably be lodged there for ever, when he dies.

SECT. X.

THE Tenth and last Work of Oldage, §. 10. Perseverance to the end.is Perseverance to the End, and that, 1. In doing: 2. In suffering the will of God.

1. In Active Obedience. You must never be weary of well-doing, nor imagine that your work is done, till your life is done. It was an evil Servant, that because his Lord delayed his coming, fell p. 317to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, Matt. 24. 48. Alas! there are many points of your duty, which you have formerly Omitted, and there are other which you have done by the halves, and spoiled them in your performing of them. You had need therefore to be as busie as ever you can, to correct the Errata's in the large book of your Lives. You should think, that there be many Persons who were born after you, who have got the start of you in Knowledge, Holiness and Charity, and therefore you had need to crowd as much work into your narrow time, as you can. If your Principles be sound, you will be some way fruitfull to the last. The righteous man will hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands will be stronger and stronger, Job 17. 9. It's Elementary fire that's apt to go out, the celestial fire is never quenched. If you had but one grain of the right Mustard-seed, it will grow to be a great tree. The path of the just is like the shining light, that shineth more and more to the perfest day. Prov. 4. 18. O labour to cross that uncharitable Proverb, A young Saint, and an old Devil ppIuvenis in sanctis senibus satanizat in annis.: rather, he that is a Saint when he is young, should be an Angel p. 318when he is old. The nearer any thing comes to its center, the faster it moves; so the nearer we approach perfection, the more we should hunger after it and labour for it. No man approached nearer unto God than Moses, and no man made so ambitious a suit, that he might draw nearer to him. And the Lord said unto Moses, thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy Glory, Exod. 33. 17, 18. It was a complaint of old, that few people were solicitous how well, but only how long they should live: when as a good life might be attained by many, a long life only by a few qqNemo quam benè vivat sed quamdiu, curat: cum omnibus possit contingere, ut bene vivant; ut diu, nulli. Sen. ep. 22.. But our business should be to live well, and referr it to the wise God to determine how long. It is said, Isa. 65. 20. There shall not be an old man that hath not filled his dayes: Its true, that signifies, all the Aged shall compleat their time, they shall fall ripe into their graves: But then it should follow, that if God in his goodness please to fill up the dayes of the Aged, surely they also should fill their dayes with some good service or other.

Hold out then to run with patience the race that is set before you. He that sits p. 319down within sight of the goal, loseth the race, and so loseth the things that he hath wrought: Si dixisti, sufficit, periisti. He that concludes, I have believed or obeyed sufficiently, is a lost man. The hoary head must be still found in the way of righteousness, Prov. 16. 31. If our face be withered, yet we must take care that our faith be not withered. We should make it appear, that our spiritual heat or zeal did not result only from our natural heat and vigour. To see a young man wise, and an Old man zealous are most grateful objects to God and man. They are those that by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honour and immortality, that shall obtain eternal life, Rom. 2. 7.

And here let all Aged persons beware of the Rock of Carnal Security and Presumption. Some of those that have lived long, are prone to rely upon their very Age as an Argument of Gods favour: Whereas Old-age will save no man. It may be a means of Salvation in a large sence, in affording you Space of Repentance: And it will be an aggravation of your impenitence, in case you have such space, and yet not grace to repent: But otherwise it can make no p. 320argument for your salvation; for God hath said, that the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed, Isa. 65. 20.

And Others that have been serious and serviceable in their dayes, may perhaps presume upon what they have been or have done, as if they might be justified thereby; or else that they need to take no further pains about their own Salvation or others good; whereas in the morning we must sow our seed, and not withhold our hand in the evening; for we know not whether shall prosper, either this or that; or whether they both shall be alike good: Which S. Hierom applies to this matter; Say not, saith he, I have been diligent while I was able; I may rest my self in mine Old-age; for thou knowest not, whether shall more please and honour God in thy Youth, or in thine Age rrHier. in Eccl. 11.Eccl 11. Thus we read that when Old Mr. Knox was dying, he was assaulted with this proud Engine, what Service he had done his Master, which he presently repelled with that of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 4. 7. Who maketh thee to differ, and what hast thou that thou di…st not receive? And the same Apostle had said a little before, ver. 4. I know nothing by my self, yet am I not hereby justified. Alas! all our p. 321righteousness will not cover one of our Sins. We must say without a complement, we are unprofitable Servants, when we have done our best. Neither may we imagine that any our former diligence, will excuse our future negligence. As long as we live we must not live to our selves ssMallem mortuum esse quam non viveres Curius Dentatus., but we ought to live unto the Lord, Rom. 14. 7, 8. The ancient Servant cannot do so much as he hath done, but he oversees affairs, he directs others in their imployments, his head is full of cares about his Masters business, and therein he dies and so must we. No man must think, saith Seneca ttNon itaque quod quenquam propter canos aut rugas putas diu vi…isse: non ille diu vixit, sed diu fuit. Sen. de brvit. c. 8., that because of his gray hairs only or wrinkles he hath lived long; he may have indured long, but he hath not lived, unless he have improved his life. It was the honourable Epitaph of Abraham, Gen. 25. 8. He died in a good old age, an old man and full—there is no more in the Hebrew, you may adde full of dayes, full of Grace and Comfort, full of Heaven. And it was the comfortable incouragement of Eliphaz to Iob, which was truly fulfilled unto him, Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in, in its season, Job 5. 26. for he died old and full p. 322of dayes, Job 42. last: he had lived as long as he could wish, and had lived to good purpose. He was full of dayes, and his dayes were full of good fruits.

2. The Other branch of Perseverance is, in Suffering the will of God, or in Passive Obedience. The Aged person must hold out herein to the end. He that endureth to the end shall be saved. Perhaps you will be followed with great distress and of long continuance, and sore sickness and of long continuance, as is threatned, Deut. 28. 59. You cannot reasonably expect, but that at least some bodily distemper will last as long as your life, yea peradventure such painful diseases as will put all your patience to the rout, if the Lord be not your helper: but yet you must not murmur, nay you must not grudge, nor make hast; but indure the Lords pleasure, and wait the Lords leisure. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. The sight of the haven animates the weatherbeaten mariner. Hitherto the Lord hath helped you, and as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. He that hath put that compassion into the heart of a father, hath a surpassing infinite Ocean of it in himselfuuTam pater nemo, tam pius nemo. Tert. de poenit. c. 8.: p. 323and withal he knows our frame, he remembers that we are but dust, Psal. 103. 13, 14. He that hath the wisdom and power of a God, and the pity of a father, will be sure to lay no more upon you, than he will inable you to bear and to overcome.

And therefore the Aged must beware of the other Extream, namely, the Gulf of Despondence, and Dejection of Spirit. Their Sins are mustered up against them, their outward strength is decayed, their Spirits broken with a succession of cares and troubles, their distempers and pains are heavy upon them, their friends and relations seem to be weary of them, and an unperswadable Enemy Death stands just before them. And what flesh alive can bear up under such and so many weights together! But besides what hath been offered before, I adde, that as all these Mortifications are needful to wean us from this world, from the love whereof even these can hardly divorce us; so all such Discomsorts should drive the Aged person no lower than his knees, even unto God who hath said, Be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand p. 324of my righteousness, Isa. 41. 10. Have not all the Saints and Servants of God that have lived to Old-age, pass'd these pikes before you? have they not born these burdens, that you sink under. There is no temptation befaln you, but what is common to men. Where is the faith, where are the prayers that you have been laying up for such a time? O miserable Old-man, said the Heathen Orator, that in so long a life, hast not yet learned to despise Death; which is not at all to be feared, if it extinguish the Soul; and greatly to be desired, if it convey the Soul into an everlasting good condition wwO miserum senem qui mortem contemnendam esse in tam longa aetate non viderit! quae qut planè negligenda est, si omnino extinguit animum, aut etiam appetenda si aliquò eum deducit, ubi sit futurus eternus. Atqui certè nihil tertium inveniri potest. Cicero.. And then for the pain in Death, the same Author tells us, that if there be any sense of pain in dying, it is but very short; especially to Old people, that have prevented it and tasted it by degrees. And therefore never render your life or death unquiet as many do, that even dye for fear of dying, that create by their melancholy fancies greater torments to themselves, than Death brings with it. Behold it through the glass of Gods word, which represents it only as a Dissolution, to wit, out of a prison to go to Christ, Phil. 1. 23. Going to rest, Isa. 57. 2. Finishing our course, p. 3252 Tim. 4. 8. Falling asleep in Iesus, 1 Thes. 4. 14. and a stepping out of this world unto our father, Joh. 13. 1. and why should the prospect hereof at all deject us? Yea, in case you should have the honour to be called to suffer Death for Christ, and his Truth; yet fear it not under its most terrible Aspect: for the Supports and Comforts of that Tryal will ballance, yea surmount the fears and pains thereof. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ, 2 Cor. 1. 5. Strive therefore rather to adorn, than to avoid the Cross: considering that, as it is a great honour for you in your Old-age to suffer for the Truth xxBona senectus non vitae longevitate imbecilla ad usum; sed maturitat! virtutis ad martyrium preparata. Ambr. in Luc. l. 10., so it is a great shame, that the Truth should suffer by you. It was the worthy Resolution of Old Eleazar, when he was urged to counterfeit the eating of Swines flesh, to save his life: No, saith he, it becometh not our Age in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think, that Eleazar being fourscore and ten, were now gone to a strange Religion.—And so they through my hypocrisie and desire to live a little time, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to my Oldage, p. 326and make it abominable. Wherefore now manfully changing this life, I will shew my self such an one as mine Age requireth. So Polycarp, when he was tempted to deny Christ, and to swear by the Fortune of Caesar, answered; Fourscore and six years have I served Christ, and have found him a good Master, and should I now deny him? I have lived by him, and I will live and dye to him. Let us resolve, by Gods grace, to write after these Copies. Doubtless, if there be any going to Heaven on horse-back, as Mr. Bradford styles it, that is, in Honour and State, it is by Martyrdom.

Nay, it is not enough, that we be content and quiet under these discouragements, that we who have received good at the hands of the Lord, be content with evil also: but we should triumph over them. In all these things we should be more than conquerours through him that loved us. Our rooted Faith, our fixed Hope, our long Experience should lift us up to surmount all these fears and troubles. The veterane Soldier must not be scared with such Hydra's. We are near the promised Land, the news of these Anakims in our way should not affright us, they p. 327are bread for us, as Ioshua said. When these things come upon you, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh yyNeque enim peterit nisi & laetus & gratus semper esse, qui cu… morti fuisset obnoxius, factus est de immortalitate securus. Cypr.. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life, Rev. 2. 10.

And thus we are at length arrived at the end of the Aged persons Work, which was the Seventh and Last thing to be treated of in this Subject.

The Practice of these things now only remains: That we study to correct the Causes, avoid the Sins, obtain the Graces, sustain the Inconveniences, improve the Priviledges, and dispatch the Work described before us. Wherein we must earnestly implore the gracious Assistance of God, who worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure, and who will not fail us therein, unless we be wanting to our selves.

And O that all Younger people would learn Knowledge, Temperance, and Industry zzThere is scarce any old man, but then sees how he might formerly have improved his talents better. Dr. Sheaf his Vind. of Old-age.in their youth, which will be the only means to attain to an Healthy, Wealthy, and Holy Old-age.

FINIS.

Books Printed for, and sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers Chappel.

A Present for Teeming Women to be given to them by their Husbands or Friends. By Iohn Oliver Minister of the Gospel. In Octavo.

A Serious Exhortation to Self-Examination, delivered in five Sermons on the 2 Cor. 13. 5. By Thomas Wadsworth M. A. Minister of the Gospel, sometime at Newington Butts Southwark, In Octavo.

The difference between the Spots of the Godly and the Wicked. By Mr. Ieremiah Burroughs of Cripplegate.

Scripture Warrant, sufficient proof for Infant Baptism, being a Reply to Mr. Granthams Presumption no proof: by Giles Firmin. In Octavo.

Mr. Wadsworth's Remains, being Meditations with Respect to the Lords Supper, &c.

Thoughtfulness for the Morrow.

The Redeemers Tears.

Charity in Reference to other Mens Sins. All Three by Iohn How, Minister of the Gospel.

End of the text · Richard Steele, Concerning Old Age (1688)