A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons…

The Pleas which they produce for their Justification or Excuse, are all insufficient. Have you no other Recreation? Surely, there are more and better Diversions, Natural, Artificial, and Spiritual, than heaping up riches. Instance but in the last of these, Psal. 119. 14. 72. I have rejoiced in the way of thy Testimonies, as much as in all Riches: yea, The Law of thy mouth is better unto me, than thousands of Gold and Silver. Again, Do you think that these will defend you from Contempt? True Piety and Charity is a far better way, Psal. 112. 9. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the Poor; his righteousness endureth for ever: his Horn shall be exalted with Honour. Think you, that in your decays of Nature, there be no better supports, than your Riches? Yes, the favour of God, the love of Christ, the comforts of the Spirit, the feast of a good Conscience, and the joyful hopes of eternal Happiness, are as much beyond them, as the Sun i• brighter than• Glow-worm. Will providing for Contingencies excuse you? ⟨p. 63⟩Alas, your Riches will be no certain refuge for you, Prov. 18. 10, 11. The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower: the Righteous runneth into it and is safe. The Rich mans Wealth is his strong City, and as an high wall (but 'tis only) in his own conceit. That bond, Heb. 13. 5. sealed to us, is worth all your Specialties, and all your Estates: He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Can you justify your immoderate scraping by a just provision for your Children and Relations? No, no, That's but an excuse; for they that have no Children, are as sick of this Disease as others. But if you have Children, this course of yours is the way to undo them. A moderate care for Posterity, is a Duty, wherein we may expect a Blessing: but the Covetousness of the Parent, doth but provide for the Luxury of the Child, and so the Parents Soul is ruined in the getting, and the Child's in the spending of what is so gotten. If your posterity fear God, they shall want no good thing, they shall have enough: but if they do not, they will have too much. God will be dishonoured, and themselves undone for ever.