Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world

9. Take heed now in this your old age of a worldly ⟨p. 448⟩spirit, this is that that is charged upon old men, and yet it is the most strange and unreasonablest thing that can be, and it is very observable, that God hath promised length of days to the quite contrary, and yet we see this distemper of heart prevails with old men exceedingly, in Prov. 28.16. but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days; and yet it is observable that old men are most subject to it, and yet the scripture promiseth length of days by hating covetousness; none of you but would fain live a year longer, now hate covetousness especially in these times. There is nothing will more dishonour your crown, than the sin of covetousness in these days, because if ever there were times that God called for spiritual and heavenly hearts, now it is; in Keve. 4, we read of the description of the several ages of the Church, one was like a Lion the second a Calf, the third a Man, the forth an Eagle, the last state of reformation of the Church should be like an Eagle that is the hearts of those that lived in that state should be Eagle like, soaring a loft in heavenly and spiritual things, and so it becometh those that are old. Be not now basely sparing and pinching because God hath now great works to do for his people. I have read of a people in India, that worshipped the tooth of a beast, and when it was taken from them, they offered an incredible mass of treasure to recover the tooth of the beast again, because they put religion in it; If these heathens should be willing to disburse an in creedible mass of treasure, to regain that religions relic of a tooth of a beast; how willing should you be freely to lay out your estates for the reformation of religion for the getting of the truth• and ordinances of God to be in freedom amongst us; We know that both the state and necessity of our brethren calls for free liberal hearts, and you that have the crown of glory in regard of age &c. are to go before others, be you free to lay out for them; Remember it is reported of the Romans for the ⟨p. 449⟩honour of them, that at the very time that Hannibal was in the field, they would be purchasing of those fields when their enemy was there, and would give a round sum for them.