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

Hence comes Neglect of the means of ⟨p. 281⟩Grace, to which we may add Drowsiness in the use of them. Aged people are apt to satisfy themselves in the Omission of Reading, Hearing, Praying by their craziness and infirmities. Indeed when we are inevitably hindered in these Means, and are grieved for that hindrance, God will supply those wants; but if we be glad that we have an occasion comen in the way, whereby we may, without sin omit our duty, it savours strongly of hypocrisy. And Old people are more concerned than others to be diligent herein; for many of them have put off much of their greatest business to their Old-age, and therefore their plea of Impotence will be overruled. I have lost a World of time, said the learned Salmasius on his death-bed; If I had one year longer, I would spend it in reading David's Psalms, and in Paul's Epistles. Neither imagine, that you are too old to learn: for the Fundamentals of Doctrine and Practice may easily, and must necessarily be learned, else he that made you will not save you, and he that formed you will show you no favour, Isa. 27. 11. As weak as you are, you could creep to the Assembly to be laden back again with Gold; and a grain of ⟨p. 282⟩grace is worth a world of riches. When some outward sickness afflicts, you find a man carried in a bed to Christ, and the house untiled to let him down through the roof, rather than continue under it, Luk. 5. 18. and will you languish in your spiritual distempers, and use no means for healing? Be not deceived, God is not mocked: he never accepts the will for the deed, if the deed can well be done; nor chooses Mercy before sacrifice, where both may be offered.

Hence comes Neglect of the means of ⟨p. 281⟩Grace, to which we may adde Drowsiness in the use of them. Aged people are apt to satisfie themselves in the Omission of Reading, Hearing, Praying by their craziness and infirmities. Indeed when we are inevitably hindred in these Means, and are grieved for that hindrance, God will supply those wants; but if we be glad that we have an occasion comen in the way, whereby we may, without sin omit our duty, it savours strongly of hypocrisie. And Old people are more concern'd than others to be diligent herein; for many of them have put off much of their greatest business to their Old-age, and therefore their plea of Impotence will be overruled. I have lost a World of time, said the learned Salmasius on his death-bed; If I had one year longer, I would spend it in reading David's Psalms, and in Paul's Epistles. Neither imagine, that you are too old to learn: for the Fundamentals of Doctrine and Practice may easily, and must necessarily be learned, else he that made you will not save you, and he that formed you will shew you no favour,