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

And here the Aged shall do well not only to plead their own Cause with God, but to lay up a stock for Posterity, that the generations yet unborn may be the better for them. Thus David, in that Psal. 72. 1. Give thy Judgments to the King, O God, and thy righteousness to the Kings Son, &c. What you are now sowing, may be reaped by your Posterity hundreds of years afterwards. And perhaps this will be the best Entail which you can make of your Estates, for hitherto whatever Settlements the Will of men hath devised, the Wit of men hath defeated; but by faithful Prayer, God himself is made Trustee, who only can establish your Purposes.

And here the Aged shall do well not only to plead their own Cause with God, but to lay up a stock for Posterity, that the generations yet unborn may be the better for them. Thus David, in that Psal. 72. 1. Give thy Iudgments to the King, O God, and thy righteousness to the Kings Son, &c. What you are now sowing, may be reaped by your Posterity hundreds of years afterwards. And perhaps this will be the best Intail which you can make of your Estates, for hitherto whatever Settlements the Will of men hath devised, the Wit of men hath defeated; but by faithfull Prayer, God himself is made Trustee, who only can establish your Purposes.

So also you should be instant with the Lord for his Church, Truth, and Gospel. So was David, Psal. 122. So was Paul, always in every Prayer of his. And we cannot better approve our selves to be members of that mystical Body, than by ⟨p. 263⟩our incessant Prayers for the Increase, the Unity and the Happiness thereof. And when you are thinking of your Country, of your Kindred, and of your Friends, add an Ejaculation to every of these your thoughts for a blessing upon them. These are Employments fit for a Christian Aged person, and will become them better, than endless Complaints, or groundless Presages. Pray, pray, and do not Prophesy, was holy Mr. Palmers saying to those, that were always boding misery. I tell you, that you may do your selves, the Church, the Nation, and Posterity more service by your fervent Prayers, than you have done by the cares and labours of your whole life.