Agreeable admonitions for old & young. Or, Aged piety honoured, and early piety quickened.…

Let us receive this Truth with the Love of it, in the Ensuing Propositions.

I. They who are Older than others in Christianity, are in some regards to be preferred before other Christians. They that First have Believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, should in some regards be first Esteemed among the People of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a Seniority in Christianity, as well as in other Points, which is to be accounted Sacred among all Christians. It is required, Rom. 13. 7. Render to all their Dues, Honour to whom Honour. Now there is a special Honour due to Elder Christians, on the score of their being so. The Fifth Commandment requires us, to treat All men, with Respects agreeable ⟨p. 6⟩to the Place and Worth, which God has given them. It is Enjoined, 1 Pet. 2. 17. Honour all men. And we must especially Honour Old Men; And we must Honour Old Saints yet more especially. All Superiority is to be Dutifully acknowledged. Superiority in Age, calls for very particular Acknowledgements. It is an Edict of Heaven, Lev. 19. 32. Thou Shalt rise up before the Hoary Head, and Honour the Face of the Old Man, and Fear thy God. Now the Age of mens Christianity, may justly call for a peculiar Consideration, in the esteem of all other Christians. An Hoary Head found in the may of Righteousness; and most of all, if it had entered that way, long before its growing Hoary; tis a most Honourable sight. We may see some, that Knew God, and Served Christ, and Forsook Sin, and Walked Religiously, long before us; Yea, perhaps they were New-born before we were Born at all. How much, with what Reverence, with what Affection, ought we to prefer those Old Christians above our selves? The Apostle Paul, could not speak of such as were Converted before him, without some Confession, that they were to be Preferred before him; Says he,