The aged should redeem as much time as may be for their souls, and the duties of God's worship. All time is our souls' time, principally and ultimately, and it concerns us all to use, and improve, and redeem it accordingly. But it especially concerns the aged, for they have lost much, and they have little remaining. They know not how little, perhaps, less than we are aware of. How busy then should we be in praying, reading, hearing, meditating, sanctifying sabbaths, communicating in the Lord's Supper. See Luke, ii. 25, 36, 37. This would be work for your souls,-work in which you would have comfort to eternity. Many aged persons have, in a great measure, put off their worldly business to children and grandchildren; they can do little in the fields, or in the barn. The more then should be done in the closet, and in the assembly. And let me warn you of one fault, and that is,-drowsiness in the duties of God's worship. I know what may be said from bodily infirmities, -the spirit willing, and the flesh weak. But yet we should strive all we can against it, and grieve that it should be so. Old people should be mindful of death and judgment, and careful always to prepare and make ready for it. Two things are to be set in order, the house and the heart. The house,-by settling our worldly estate. We shall die none the sooner, but we shall certainly be readier for death.* Isaiah, xxxviii. 1. The heart, by settling our spiritual estate; that is, making our calling and election sure; repenting of sin, receiving Christ Jesus the Lord, walking in all his commandments blameless. He who hath done this, is ready for death. Romans, viii. 1. It is delay in doing it that spoils all. Nobody says they will never do so; nobody says they will never make their will;+ but they say, Not yet; not till such an affair be settled. And, alas! death comes, and prevents both the one and the other. Now, consider what a mercy it is that we have lived to be so old, when so many have been cut off. How many have died, who never saw the sun. And how many thousand suns hast thou seen. How have thy days been multiplied. As many three years as thou hast lived, so many thousand days, and upwards, have been given to thee. As many twenty years as thou hast lived, so many thousand sabbath days hast thou enjoyed. And should not this engage us? Lord, thou hast been good to me,-in reprieving, and sparing, and prolonging, and shall I forget thee? Consider, what an honour he hath put upon us. Old age is a ray or beam, of the divine image. God is called the Ancient of Days. Daniel, vii. 9, 13, 22. But he is not, therefore, to be Setting a man's house and heart in order, will not make a man die the sooner; it will help the man to die the better. Canaan's Flowings, by Ralph Venning. p. 47, ut supra. One of the three things of which Aristotle repented, was,-That he had lived one day, not having his will made." Stanley's History of Philosophy, ut supra. pictured as an old man.* As magistrates bear the image of his authority and sovereignty, he says, they are gods. So in a sense old men are gods. Yea, they are all children of the Eternal. Oh, then, make sure of his other image, which is called the image of his son, and consists in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Consider what an encouraging example it will be to others. Our neighbours and relations will take occasion from thence, both to glorify God, and to reverence us. The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness; otherwise, it is a crown of shame. Noah was drunken but once, and then he was mocked. The apostle, exhorting Timothy, said,-Let no man despise thy youth. So I would say to you,-Let no man despise thy age. Do nothing to be despised. Watch against sins you may think you are in no danger of. Be an example of the believers. The young will dress themselves by you, as by their glass.+ Consider how comfortable it will be to yourselves, living and dying. Old age is attended with many evils. But much of their effect is taken off by religion and godliness. He that is of a merry heart, hath a continual feast. A merry heart, that is, a good conscience, bearing testimony to our integrity, 2 Corinthians, i. 12. This will lighten all our burdens. We shall have the smiles of God's face, and favour, and we may boldly entreat for them, as David, Psalm, lxxi. 17, 18. Isaiah, xlvi. 3, 4. Psalm, xxiii. 4. Consider what a foundation it lays for a happy eternity. All the good fruit we bring forth now, will be fruit abounding to our account for ever. I say, for ever. § Thou thinkest seventy, eighty, ninety years a long time, and so it is. But what then is eternity? An ocean, without bound or bottom. A circle, without beginning or end. Oh, eternity, eternity! How should the thought thereof fill us. To be miserable to eternity! How miserable! To be happy to eternity! What happiness! Shall I prevail with you to bring forth fruit in old age? You will Alluding, probably, to the celebrated picture in the window of St. Edmund's Church, Salisbury. See Prynne's Canterburies Doome. fol. 1646. p. 102. + So Mr. Swinnock, in his Heaven and Hell epitomized, addressing, in an epistle dedicatory, his friend, Richard Beresford, Esq. says of great men, -You are the looking-glasses by which others dress themselves, ut supra. In all the troubles and afflictions that befall us, it is matter of some comfort, they are to last but a while. Behold, thou hast made my days as a hand-breadth. At furthest, death will set us free, and that cannot be far off; then sinning will cease, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. They that are in Christ, as David was, may comfort themselves with this. Others cannot. P. Henry. Orig. MS. It is said of holy Mr. Ward, that being in the midst of a dinner, very contem. plative, and the people wondering what he was musing about, he presently breaks out, For ever, for ever, for ever; and though they endeavoured to still him, yet he still cried out,-For ever, for ever, for ever. Oh, eternity! to be for ever in heaven with God and Christ, how shall this swallow up all other thoughts and aims! Looking unto Jesus, by Isaac Ambrose, 4to. 1658. p. 594. not repent it. Your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Not a prayer, a tear, an alms, a good thought, a good word, a good work, shall be in vain. In all your fruit-bearing, see your need of Christ. See your need of his grace and strength to enable you, John, xv. 5. And come to him for it daily. See your need of his merit and righteousness, to make you and your fruit accepted, Ephesians, i. 6. And let his love to you, in suffering and dying, be the prevailing motive in every thing, Philippians, i. 21.* * P. Henry. Orig. MS. APPENDIX, No. XXV. It may be gratifying to some readers to know, that Mr. Henry was an advocate for common-place books. He used two. The one was adapted for the pocket, being merely a volume of reference: titles were placed on each leaf, and a blank left underneath, in which to note the names of authors and pages. The other was a large folio volume, divided into 1250 pages.* The volume+ thus commences. 66 Quod legis intentè meditare ac imprime menti, I read a book the first time, to see and like it; the second time, to note and observe both method and matter; the third time, to carry away and make use. A saying of Sir Edward Maunsell, cited by Mr. H. Holland, in his Preface to the second part of Mr. Greenham's Works. + The first part of the volume is miscellaneous, and is arranged under the ensuing titles. Holy Scriptures. Their excellency; the love and study of them, et contra; their authority; their perspicuity; their harmony; translation; interpretation; apocrypha. God. There is a God; names of God; attributes of God; will of God; holiness; wisdom of God; power of God; mercy of God; justice of God; omnisciency. 1665. Jan. 17. Exchanged with Mr. Thomas, my common-place book, wherein something written for a larger of clean paper.-19. New common-place book, ruled and prepared, wherein I purpose to take pains. Non sera si seria. P. Henry. Diary. Orig. MS. In the possession of Joseph Lee, Esq. Jun., Red Brook Farm, near Broad Oak. Trinity of persons. Holy Ghost. Decrees of God. Election. Reprobation; creation; providence. Angels. Their creation and nature; their number and orders; their offices; not to be worshipped; their fall. Devils. Given to the devil; possessed; apparition. Man. Woman. Man in innocency; man in misery. Christ. Godhead of Christ; incarnation; life of Christ; sufferings of Christ; death of Christ; burial; descent into hell; resurrection of Christ; satisfaction of Christ; intercession of Christ; kingdom of Christ. Covenant. Covenant of works; law; covenant of grace. Gospel. Decalogue; promises; threatenings; redemption; idleness; vocation; calling; conversion; regeneration; adoption; justification; sanctification; mortification; assurance-wanted; growth in grace; perseverance; apostacy; good works; obedience; perfection; spiritual gifts; grace; knowledge; ignorance; of self; faith; repentance not to be deferred; godly sorrow; tears; confession of sin; sincerity; hypocrisy; humility; pride,-in clothes,— in long hair; meekness; charity; forgiving injuries; lending; not judging; fidelity; patience; impatience; contentment; discontent; justice; liberality; frugality; fortitude; sobriety; temperance; gluttony; drunkenness; of healths; self-denial; publick spirit; unity; division; differences; duties; meditation; occasional prayer, a duty; prayer,-fervent; success of prayer; secret prayer; family prayer; posture and gesture in prayer; Amen; thankfulness; thanksgiving; alms'-giving; watchfulness; reproof taken; oath; vow. Sin. None little; excuses of sin; others' sins; evil of sin; reigning sin; God not the author of sin; original sin; inherent. Atheism. Idolatry; blasphemy; swearing; perjury; cursing; superstition; will-worship; temples. Sacrilege. Punished. Murder. Prevented; discovered; revenged. Duels. Uncleanness; adultery; fornication; incest; sodomy; beastiality; chastity; theft; restitution; bribery; lying; equivocation; dissimulation; slander. Flattery. Checked; courted. Envy. Covetousness; prodigality. Usury. Heathen; canons. Ambition. Omissions; presumption; despair; sin against the Holy Ghost; temptation; desertion. Persecution; judgments on persecutors. Martyrdom. Martyrs; courage of dying martyrs. Soul. Understanding. Will. Free will; contra. Memory. Defect; vast memory. |