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

SECT. VII.

THE Seventh Grace proper for Old age, ¹is Charity or Love. Not that sensual or carnal Love which is proper or rather common to Youth, and which hath long since dropped off, like Leaves, in the Autumn of their Age; but that Grace which disposeth the Heart to think the best, the Tongue to speak the best, and the whole man to promote the Welfare of Others. The Seat or chief Mansion of this, is the Heart, which being filled with this Grace, it is diffused every way, and the whole man is tinctured with it. It obligeth a man to Think the best of every man. Charity thinketh no evil, believeth all things, hopeth all things, beareth all things. By this we are ready to account the Certain good things in Others, better than they are; the certain Evils in others, less than they are; the good that is but doubtful in others, certain; and doubtful Evils, none^f. And it rests not in Opinion, but works by Desire, whereby the Heart doth unfeignedly desire the Temporal, Spiritual and ⟨p. 121⟩Eternal good of all men. Neither doth it rest there, but shows it self in Endeavour, and that both by Word and Deed; speaking To them, Of them, For them to God and man what may conduce thereunto; in their Lips is the Law of kindness. Charity vaunteth not it self, is not puffed up, doth not behave it self unseemly, is not easily provoked, 1 Cor. 13. 5. Neither will Words satisfy it, but doth actually help and cheerfully succour every Body, as their occasion requires, and his own ability extends.

THE Seventh Grace proper for Oldage, ¹is Charity or Love. Not that sensual or carnal Love which is proper or rather common to Youth, and which hath long since dropt off, like Leaves, in the Autumn of their Age; but that Grace which disposeth the Heart to think the best, the Tongue to speak the best, and the whole man to promote the Welfare of Others. The Seat or chief Mansion of this, is the Heart, which being filled with this Grace, it is diffused every way, and the whole man is tinctur'd with it. It obligeth a man to Think the best of every man. Charity thinketh no evil, believeth all things, hopeth all things, beareth all things. By this we are ready to account the Certain good things in Others, better than they are; the certain Evils in others, less than they are; the good that is but doubtful in others, certain; and doubtful Evils, none