Apples of gold for young men and women, and a crown of glory for…Apples of gold for young men and vvomen, and a crown of glory for…

Sixthly, An old Disciple, an old Christian, is prepared for death, he hath been long a dying to sin, ¹to the world, to friends, to self, to relations, all, and no man so prepared to dye, as he that thus daily dyes. An old Disciple hath lived sincerely to Christ, he hath lived eminently to Christ, he hath lived in all conditions, ²and under all changes to Christ, he hath lived exemplarily to Christ, ⟨p. 71⟩he hath lived long to Christ, and therefore the more prepared to dye, and be with Christ. An old Disciple hath a crown in his eye, a pardon in his bosom, and a Christ in his arms, and therefore may sweetly sing it out with old Simeon, Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace. As Hillary said to his soul, soul, thou hast served Christ this seventy years, ³and art thou afraid of death? go out soul, go out. Many a day said old Cowper have I sought death with tears, not out of impatience, distrust, or perturbation, but because I am weary of sin, and fearful to fall into it. Nazianzen calls upon the King of terrors, devour me, devour me. And Austin, when old, could say, shall I dye ever? ⁴yes, or shall I die at all? yes, why then Lord if ever, why not now? why not now? so when Modestus the Emperors Lieutenant threatened to kill Basil, he answered, if that be all. I fear not; yea, your ⟨p. 72⟩Master cannot more pleasure me, than in sending me unto my heavenly Father, to whom I now live, and to whom I desire to hasten. I cannot say as he (said old Mr. Stephen Martial a little before his death) I have not so lived, that I should now be afraid to dye, but this I can say, I have so learned Christ, that I am not afraid to die. Old Christians have made no more to dye, than to dine. ⁵It is nothing to dye when the Comforter stands by; Old Disciples know that to dye is but to lye down in their beds, they know that their dying day is better than their birth day,