N00204:52
A word to the aged. By Mr. Will. Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College…
A word to the aged. By Mr. Will. Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and late preacher of the word of God at Yarmouth.
Boston: printed by John Foster for J.G. i.e, 1679
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.
Quest. What are those good things therefore that Old men especially are to do in their old Age.
Quest. What are those good things therefore that Old men epecially are to do in their old Age.
Answ. 1. They are full of experience, and therefore should be full of Faith; For though Gods word only be the ground of our Faith, yet experience is a great help to Faith. Now there is a Faith of reliance, and a Faith of assurance. Faith of reliance justifies, Faith of assurance comforts. Old men therefore are to exercise the Faith of reliance, relying upon Christs righteousness, renouncing their own, and to ⟨p. 11⟩exercise the Faith of assurance; For it is ill dying with a doubting Soul. As Zeal is the young mans virtue, so Faith is the old mans grace.
Answ. 1. They are full of experience, and therefore should be full of Faith; For though Gods word only be the ground of our Faith, yet experience is a great help to Faith. Now there is a Faith of relyance, and a Faith of assurance. Faith of relyance justifies, Faith of assurance comforts. Old men therefore are to exercise the Faith of relyance, relying upon Christs righteousness, renouncing their own, and to ⟨p. 11⟩exercise the Faith of assurance; For it is ill dying with a doubting Soul. As Zeal is the young mans virtue, so Faith is the old mans grace.
2. Then it is their work and duty to renew their repentance, for they are shortly to appear before the Lord, and to give an account of all that they have done in the flesh; & will they appear before him in their filthy rags. Now though we are only washed from our sins by the blood of Christ unto Justification, yet we are washed from our filth by the hand of repentance unto sanctification. For as God promised to wash us with clean water, so he commands us to wash our selves,