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

2. The Other branch of Perseverance is, in Suffering the will of God, or in Passive Obedience. The Aged person must hold out herein to the end. He that endureth to the end shall be saved. Perhaps you will be followed with great distress and of long continuance, and sore sickness and of long continuance, as is threatened, Deut. 28. 59. You cannot reasonably expect, but that at least some bodily distemper will last as long as your life, yea peradventure such painful diseases as will put all your patience to the rout, if the Lord be not your helper: but yet you must not murmur, nay you must not grudge, nor make hast; but endure the Lords pleasure, and wait the Lords leisure. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. The sight of the haven animates the weatherbeaten mariner. Hitherto the Lord hath helped you, and as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. He that hath put that compassion into the heart of a father, hath a surpassing infinite Ocean of it in himself^u: ⟨p. 323⟩and withal he knows our frame, he remembers that we are but dust, Psal. 103. 13, 14. He that hath the wisdom and power of a God, and the pity of a father, will be sure to lay no more upon you, than he will enable you to bear and to overcome.

2. The Other branch of Perseverance is, in Suffering the will of God, or in Passive Obedience. The Aged person must hold out herein to the end. He that endureth to the end shall be saved. Perhaps you will be followed with great distress and of long continuance, and sore sickness and of long continuance, as is threatned, Deut. 28. 59. You cannot reasonably expect, but that at least some bodily distemper will last as long as your life, yea peradventure such painful diseases as will put all your patience to the rout, if the Lord be not your helper: but yet you must not murmur, nay you must not grudge, nor make hast; but indure the Lords pleasure, and wait the Lords leisure. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it. The sight of the haven animates the weatherbeaten mariner. Hitherto the Lord hath helped you, and as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. He that hath put that compassion into the heart of a father, hath a surpassing infinite Ocean of it in himself