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

Besides, all the unruly Passions being now cooled by time and years, Reason obtains a fair hearing, and the Spirit of ⟨p. 214⟩God gets a complete victory over the Heart, that had resisted so long. Even as a City which hath been long besieged, and often summoned to surrender, yet stands it out, till provisions begin to fail, and that the defender of it sees the Walls terribly shaken, and then he finds it high time to capitulate and deliver it: so Almighty God calls, and cries, and knocks time after time at the sinners Heart, but it is heedless of these calls, it's feasted and filled with the Vanities of this present life; but when it finds all the Fabric ready to fall upon it's Head, and no provision made for a future and eternal State; it is high time to be getting Oil, and laying up a good foundation for the time to come. And for those who have been well disposed before, yet Old-age is a great Incentive to greater holiness. As a Man in sailing, saith Mr. Bradford, the nearer he comes to the Shore, the nearer he would be; so the nearer I am to God, the nearer still I would be. A person of years must needs have a more clear and comprehensive knowledge, of the Doctrine and Duties of Christianity, of the life of Faith, of Mortification, of the extent of the Divine Law, of the Nature and Power of Godliness; ⟨p. 215⟩and having more leisure, and being somewhat retired out of the throng of worldly business, they are fitter to recollect these things, and to reduce them into practice.

Besides, all the unruly Passions being now cooled by time and years, Reason obtains a fair hearing, and the Spirit of ⟨p. 214⟩God gets a compleat victory over the Heart, that had resisted so long. Even as a City which hath been long besieg'd, and often summoned to surrender, yet stands it out, till provisions begin to fail, and that the defender of it sees the Walls terribly shaken, and then he finds it high time to capitulate and deliver it: so Almighty God calls, and cryes, and knocks time after time at the sinners Heart, but it is heedless of these calls, it's feasted and filled with the Vanities of this present life; but when it finds all the Fabrick ready to fall upon it's Head, and no provision made for a future and eternal State; it is high time to be getting Oyl, and laying up a good foundation for the time to come. And for those who have been well disposed before, yet Old-age is a great Incentive to greater holiness. As a Man in sailing, saith Mr. Bradford, the nearer he comes to the Shore, the nearer he would be; so the nearer I am to God, the nearer still I would be. A person of years must needs have a more clear and comprehensive knowledge, of the Doctrine and Duties of Christianity, of the life of Faith, of Mortification, of the extent of the Divine Law, of the Nature and Power of Godliness;