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

THE Second Grace proper for Old age, ¹is Faith, whereby the Soul doth embrace ^hJesus Christ as Mediator, and also rely upon the Promises ⁱof God for all good things needful. Now although this Grace be needful for every Christian, insomuch as he is said to live by Faith, a life unknown to all unregenerate men; yet it is or should be the particular Jewel of Old-age. For as Gods Word and Ordinances are the usual means to work Faith, and herein young and old stand upon the same level, they have equal capacity for the attaining of it: so still further Grounds and longer experience, are proper helps for the strengthening and increasing thereof. So that ⟨p. 86⟩as Reason is much improved by Learning, so is Faith by use and experience, hereby Recumbence is advanced into Plerophory. Thus Abraham is represented, Rom. 4. 19, 20. Not weak in Faith, when he was an hundred years old, and so staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. Tho his years rendered the Promise very unlikely, yet those years had taught him, that the performance would be certain, and so being strong in Faith, he gave Glory to God. As they have heard, so have they seen it in the City of God, and what they have often seen, they may well believe.

THE Second Grace proper for Oldage, ¹is Faith, whereby the Soul doth embrace ^hIesus Christ as Mediator, and also rely upon the Promises ⁱof God for all good things needful. Now altho this Grace be needful for every Christian, insomuch as he is said to live by Faith, a life unknown to all unregenerate men; yet it is or should be the particular Jewel of Old-age. For as Gods Word and Ordinances are the usual means to work Faith, and herein young and old stand upon the same level, they have equal capacity for the attaining of it: so still further Grounds and longer experience, are proper helps for the strengthning and encreasing thereof. So that