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

THE Fifth Privilege of Old-age is,¹ That it is Riper in its Fruits, than any other age. That is, their Judgments are more refined, their Passions more sedate, their Devotions more strong, their Actions more regular and uniform, and their spiritual Stature taller. This may be gathered, à fortiori, from the Apostle, 1 Cor. 13. 11. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. The words and the thoughts then of an Aged experienced man must, by a just inference, be very solid and weighty. Every man must needs observe the rawness of his younger conceptions, and the lightness of his former assertions: that Dies diem docet, every day learns somewhat of that which went before it; and so ⟨p. 218⟩I may allude to that passage, Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night addeth knowledge. Yea the Psalmist ex•sly tells us, that the righteous shall […] bring forth fruit in Old-age, yea that they shall be fat and flourishing, Psal. 92. 14. And to this do other Authors^y, and Experience bear witness. Trace some Aged good men from morning to night, you shall still find them (humane and unavoidable infirmities excepted) so discreet in their Charity, so grave in their Counsels, so savoury in their Discourse, so constant in their Devotion, so considerate in their Resolutions, so faithful in their Reproofs, so poised in their Temper, so charitable in their Censures, and so uniform and useful in their Lives, that their Practice may be a perpetual Sermon, and Copy to teach others their duty to God and man: So that it was no small Title of Honour, which was given to Mnason. Act. 21. 16. That he was an Old Disciple.

THE Fifth Priviledge of Old-age is,¹ That it is Riper in its Fruits, than any other age. That is, their Iudgments are more refined, their Passions more sedate, their Devotions more strong, their Actions more regular and uniform, and their spiritual Stature taller. This may be gathered, à fortiori, from the Apostle,