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

for the Supports and Comforts of that Trial will balance, yea surmount the fears and pains thereof. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ, 2 Cor. 1. 5. Strive therefore rather to adorn, than to avoid the Cross: considering that, as it is a great honour for you in your Old-age to suffer for the Truth^x, so it is a great shame, that the Truth should suffer by you. It was the worthy Resolution of Old Eleazar, when he was urged to counterfeit the eating of Swines flesh, to save his life: No, saith he, it becometh not our Age in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think, that Eleazar being fourscore and ten, were now gone to a strange Religion.—And so they through my hypocrisy and desire to live a little time, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to my Old age, ⟨p. 326⟩and make it abominable. Wherefore now manfully changing this life, I will show my self such an one as mine Age requireth. So Polycarp, when he was tempted to deny Christ, and to swear by the Fortune of Caesar, answered; Fourscore and six years have I served Christ, and have found him a good Master, and should I now deny him? I have lived by him, and I will live and dye to him. Let us resolve, by Gods grace, to write after these Copies. Doubtless, if there be any going to Heaven on horse-back, as Mr. Bradford styles it, that is, in Honour and State, it is by Martyrdom.

for the Supports and Comforts of that Tryal will ballance, yea surmount the fears and pains thereof. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ, 2 Cor. 1. 5. Strive therefore rather to adorn, than to avoid the Cross: considering that, as it is a great honour for you in your Old-age to suffer for the Truth^x, so it is a great shame, that the Truth should suffer by you. It was the worthy Resolution of Old Eleazar, when he was urged to counterfeit the eating of Swines flesh, to save his life: No, saith he, it becometh not our Age in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think, that Eleazar being fourscore and ten, were now gone to a strange Religion.—And so they through my hypocrisie and desire to live a little time, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to my Oldage,