Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A10516
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The old mans staffe two sermons shewing the onely way to a comfortable old age, preached in Saint Maries in Douer by Iohn Reading.
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Reading, John, 1588-1667.
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1621
(1621)
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STC 20792; ESTC S115679
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21,817
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38
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THE OLD MANS STAFFE Two Sermons SHEWING THE ONELY WAY TO A COMFORTABLE old Age Preached in Saint Maries in Douer by IOHN READING Psalme 71. 9. Cast me not off in the time of age forsake me not when my strength faileth LONDON Printed by Bernard Alsop for Iohn Hâ—dgets 1621. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE EDVVARD Lord Zouch Sr. Maurc and Cantelup Constable of Douer Castle Lord Warden Chancellor and Admirall of the Cinque-ports c. Of his Maiesties most Honorable Priâ—te Counsell through Great Britaine my singular good Lord encrease of true blessednesse RIGHT HONOVRABLE THese Sermons which I tender your Lordship I preached to a zealous Congregation with assurance that GOD who vouchsafed to speake out of the bush was also powerfull in my weaknesse and for that I am resolued that what some profitably heare they and others may also profitably reade with like confidence I venture them into the iawes of a censuring age not caring how they displease curious eares so they may benefit the good I shall â—udge them happily borne what euer they suffer if of many Readers some lay them to heart I confesse they are an vnworthy interest of that I am indebted to your Honor therefore am contented if they go but for two mites so that they may be layed vp in the treasurie which weigheth all offerings by the Giuers mind Bee pleased to accept them and I will daily beseech the Lord all-sufficient to adde many comfortable yeares to your Honorable age that it may be crowned with immortall glorie in his kingdome In whom I am Your Honors most humble Seruant IOHN READING THE OLD MANS STAFFE PROV 16. 31. The hoarie head is a Crowne of glorie if that it be found in the way of righteousnesse MAns life is but a iourney to the graue a way a short way to death Infancy the way to childhood childhood to youth youth to the strongest age that to olde age and old age the Thule and ne plus vltra of Nature is the confines of Death The old man standeth like the Israelite departing from Egypt eating the Passeouer with sowre hearbs and his Staffe in his hand Some leane on superstitious vanities their Staffe teacheth them but to erre others to that Staffe of Reede the World which confidence is an Egypt to Israel breaking in their hand and wounding them which trust to it The blessed man maketh righteousnesse his Staffe not that of the Law that is a Rod of Iron to breake the vngodly that can discouer but not take away sinne but the righteousnesse of Faith in Christ Arod of the stocke of Ishâ—i and the complete armour of God which furnished the Patriarkes and Prophets which being fully reuealed in the old age of the World to comfort her eâ—ill daies are like Dauids Staffe and Scrip furnished with stones taken out of the brook a sure defence against the enemie Blessed is the man planted by these waters hee shall bring forth fruit in due season his leafe shall not fade his olde age shâ—ll be blessed The hoarie head is a Crowne of glorie These words containe this proposition the old age of a righteous man is honorable and blessed yet in a second view I see them like the riuer of Paradise diuiding themselues into foure heads The first runneth towards the last part of mans earthly pilgrimage set downe heere vnder hoarie haires an effect or signe of Old Age. The second proposeth a reward to those which arriue at this age of sorrow and care A Crowne of dignitie The third lookâ—th vp toward the all-seeing eie of Iustice beholding all our way and accordingly rewarding as it is found The last pointeth out the only meanes to obtaine that Crowne of glorie an honourable old Age which is to be had in the way of righteousnesse The hoarie head or old age is a Crownâ— of glorie My discourse must begin at the end like the motion of the inferiour Spheres ab occasu from the euening and setting of life The last Scene to be acted on Natures Stage is the Prologue the exordium of my Text. The Argument and summe which all our numbred daies shall teach vs is our present lesson We must be old There is a certaine course and one onely path of Nature an headlong way of time wherein is no stay but such easie passage that the Infant and lame old man runne with equall pace to a more distant or neerer end Mans state was by creation immortall but the day that sinne was borne man began to die had he not sinned there should haue beene a comfortable maturitie in age and if our liues like some long kindled lampes should haue consumed it must haue beene without all paine sicknesse want of strength sense or feare of death for without sinne there could haue beene no punishment so that if we define old age a câ—rtaine ripenesse of life and length of time to a blessed translation then age is naturall but if we describe it according to our present being it is a continuall disease the grounds and lees of life in which the bodie languisheth one part fore-running the rest toward the graue in which the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men bow themselues the griâ—ders cease and they waxe darke which looke out of the windowes therefore I may say of it as Ambrose of death God gaue it not a principio sed pro remedio non naturaest sed malitiae 〈◊〉 is no Child of Nature but Disobedience and now our liues decay is a remedie against the life of sinne that therefore in this senio mundi doâ—age of the world our liues like winter Sunnes hasten to their sâ—tting shortning from hundreds to tennes It is the mercy of God that our sinnes so quickly mature should not liue too long to greaten his iudgements For whose sake â—ime and age now pull vs by the hands as the Angels did Lot and part of his familie lingring in the condemned Sodome and we must soone be old God said it in the first siâ—ners doome and againe he calleth â—an earth earth earth remembring him what he was is and shall be Experience telleth vs one day telleth another one night certifieth another our life is but of few daies and we like those which saile arriue insensibly at our Port. Oâ—r griefes tell it vs growing in our decreasing waxing strong in our feeblenesse All the Creatures tell it vs which haue 〈◊〉 senium as of all things there is a maturitie so of life which is old age the long liued trees haue their age of decaying nay the glorious piles of building â—â—ately Sepulchers of Charitie grow old the graues are buried in their dust and monuments by some esteemed the onely suruiuers of their families are entombed in obliuion I haue not yet said all Death himselfe that meagre Sarcophagus greedie stâ—â—ueling hauing deuoâ—red all like Time shall eaâ—e himselâ—e and die of Famine The last enemie