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

And the Aged do or should exceed those that are young herein. For the tender shoulders of these cannot well bear these burdens: As Ephraim once, so they are like bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke, which fret and fume, and are galled under the aforesaid trials: Though the Holy Ghost hath told us, that it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth: But commonly it is some tract of time, before this yoke is quietly and evenly carried. Old age doth most perfectly teach this lesson. He that in his youth would quickly have answered the Lye with his Sword, will then answer it with a smile. The tears which in our youth we spent upon any trivial occasion, we then reserve for better purposes; and we come to learn manners to wait Gods time for the mercies we ⟨p. 102⟩desire. Time and trials have taught the Old-man to digest hard words, and hard things, rather than to fight it out. Good David could better bear Shimei's Curse when he was grown into years, than Nabal's Uncharitableness, when he was younger: Now it was nothing but kill and slay, at least every Male in Nabal's house; but afterwards, so let him Curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David: Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done this? 2 Sam. 16. 10. And those Disciples of our Saviour, who in their younger years would have had Fire sent from Heaven, to revenge the incivility of the Samaritans, they in their riper years had learned, when reviled to bless, when persecuted to suffer it; and to bear all indignities not only with much patience, 2 Cor. 6. 4. but with all patience, 2 Cor. 12. 12. Such is the effect of years and experience by the blessing of God.

And the Aged do or should exceed those that are young herein. For the tender shoulders of these cannot well bear these burdens: As Ephraim once, so they are like bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke, which fret and fume, and are gall'd under the aforesaid tryals: Thô the Holy Ghost hath told us, that it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth: But commonly it is some tract of time, before this yoke is quietly and evenly carried. Old age doth most perfectly teach this lesson. He that in his youth would quickly have answered the Lye with his Sword, will then answer it with a smile. The tears which in our youth we spent upon any trivial occasion, we then reserve for better purposes; and we come to learn manners to wait Gods time for the mercies we