N01545:113
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1716
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
3. Aged Servants of the Lord should be very careful to redeem the Time. For it is certain that they have but a very little time to be in this World. Death and Old Age are not far asunder. Hence Old Barzillai said, How long ⟨p. 127⟩have I to live? 2 Sam. 19.34. There are Young Persons who if they did really believe they should dye very shortly, they would be careful to redeem their time. They that are Aged cannot but know that they must dye shortly. Time is a precious Commodity, and they have but a very little of it left, and shall they Squander away any of that little. Let us rather endeavour to live much and do a great deal of Good in a little time. It is true, they that are Aged cannot do as in their Youthful days they could, nor does God Expect it from them, considering the infirmities that attend their Age. In Old Age a Grasshopper is a burden, as Solomon speaks. That which was a Recreation in Youth, will be an insupportable burden in Old Age. Yet may they do a great deal of Good. They may do so by being shining Examples of Piety: and by their wise and godly Counsels to Younger ones, ⟨p. 128⟩and by Communicating their holy Experiences to others. They have had great Experiences of the Lords carrying them through many Temptations, and of wonderful answers of Prayer, by declaring to them that fear God, what he has done for their Souls, many may be Edified. They may also before they go out of the World be instrumental of a great deal of Good by being much in Prayer to God. In that respect not only Aged Men, but Aged Women may be great blessings to the World, as Anna was, of whom it is said, That she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the Temple but served God with fasting & prayers night & day, Luk. 2, 37. That Aged Woman was a blessing to the whole Town. Oh! Let us Pray that our last days may be our best days. There was an Eminency in Davids Last Words, 2 Sam. 23.1. And it is mentioned to the lasting honour ⟨p. 129⟩