A61390:317
A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons…
A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons / by Richard Steele ...
London: printed by J. Astwood for Tho. Parkhurst, 1688
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now Repentance may be considered, in a Double respect. 1. Initially, at the first Conversion of the Soul to God; and 2. Secondarily, at the Renewing of the acts thereof afterwards. It concerns Ancient people to be acquainted respectively with both. This needful message then is directed,
1. To such Aged persons, who are yet in the state of unrenewed Nature; who have never past through the New birth, nor know any thing by experience of Regeneration, which was the Case of Old Nicodemus, though a Master in Israel, Joh. 3. 9. Now that a Fundamental Repentance or Conversion, call it how you will, is necessary to all that shall be saved, I should think is past dispute. For it cannot be denied, that we come into the world in a sinful state: And it is manifest, that Baptism doth not cure the Soul of that Disease; but that all people in general have a strong propensity either to the lusts of the flesh, or to the lusts of the eyes, or to pride of life, until an inward Change be wrought in the heart; which is the ⟨p. 243⟩effectual Calling of a careless Sinner, to turn to God and Godliness. Now if an Aged person have been a stranger to this Grace, though perhaps he hath led a sober, industrious, just, yea a charitable life, and also hath complied with the outward acts of devotion in use: Yet except the tree have been made good by Regeneration, it cannot have its fruit unto holiness, nor the end everlasting life.
1. To such Aged persons, who are yet in the state of unrenewed Nature; who have never past through the Newbirth, nor know any thing by experience of Regeneration, which was the Case of Old Nicodemus, though a Master in Israel, Joh. 3. 9. Now that a Fundamental Repentance or Conversion, call it how you will, is necessary to all that shall be saved, I should think is past dispute. For it cannot be denyed, that we come into the world in a sinful state: And it is manifest, that Baptism doth not cure the Soul of that Disease; but that all people in general have a strong propensity either to the lusts of the flesh, or to the lusts of the eyes, or to pride of life, until an inward Change be wrought in the heart; which is the