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A61390 A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons / by Richard Steele ... Steele, Richard, 1629-1692. 1688 (1688) Wing S5386; ESTC R34600 148,176 338

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God how can he imbrace Iesus Christ aright except he know him or build for Heaven without a Foundation Now the Aged person hath lived long hath conversed both with Men and Books hath the Rust of natural Ignorance well scour'd off and if he have not more Riches than others yet surely he hath more Knowledge especially if he hath put on the New Man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Colos. 3. 10. And therefore tho it be a Brutish thing in any body to be ignorant in those things that concern their Happiness yet it is intolerably absurd for one that is Old in Years to be a Child in understanding to be like the Old man which Mr. Pemble tells of who tho by a probable computation he had heard two or three thousand Sermons being above sixty years old yet being examined by a Minister on his Death-bed concerning his Knowledge of God he thought he was a good Old man concerning Christ that he was a towardly young Youth concerning his Soul that it was a great Bone in his Body and concerning his future Estate he said if he had done well he should be put into a pleasant green Meadow what a woful thing is this that a constant Hearer and seeming Lover of the Word of God as this man was should live and dye in such gross Ignorance No Trade how difficult soever but seven or eight years will teach it what a shameful thing then is it to be sent into the world purposely to learn to be a true Christian and after fifty or sixty years to remain ignorant in the mysteries of it To be ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth 2 Tim. 3. 7. On the other side Iosephus tells us speaking of the Iews Every one of our Nation being demanded of our Laws can answer as readily as tell his own Name learning it as soon as we come to the use of Reason it is imprinted in our minds Certainly an ignorant Old person is the shame of Christianity yea of Humanity it self Let it therefore be your Study that are ripe in years to be ripe in Iudgment to be well-grounded in the Knowledge of God and Godliness whilest others are heaping up Riches do you treasure up Knowledge The Knowledge of Natural things as also of Civil affairs will adorn you the least dram of this is more excellent than many Talents of Gold but the least grain of Spiritual and divine Knowledge is more valuable than all the Natural and Civil knowledge under Heaven Hence it is reported of Albertus Magnus that before his Death he prayed that he might obtain the oblivion of all former vain knowledge which might hinder his happiness in the knowledge of Christ. Hear also the Apostle Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord Philip. 3. 8. Be not discouraged with the seeming impossibility of attaining a sufficient measure hereof He that taught Old Nicodemus will teach you Industry and Resolution will facilitate your atchievement You must be convinced that Ignorance will never excuse those that have the means of Knowledge that tho God doth nor require the same degree of knowledge from all Christians but doth allow for mens Education Parts and Imployments yet he doth indispensably require so much as is necessary to the forming of the new Creature to the necessary Doctrines and Duties of Christian Religion that neither the spiritually dumb nor the blind can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Awake therefore ye that sleep out of your stupid negligence and Christ will give you light Redeem some time daily for Reading Meditation and Prayer If thou cryest after Knowledge and liftest up thy Voice for understanding If thou seekest her as Silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasure Then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Prov. 2. 3 4 5. Especially improve the Lords-day to this end There are variety of Books which handle the Grounds of Religion some more briefly some more largely Take not upon trust the Doctrines of your Salvation but endeavour to be able to give a reason of the hope that is in you You should be able to instruct others for shame be not you Children in Knowledge your selves And ye that are competently knowing should thirst for more and grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. This is the fittest Covetousness for an Old Man or Woman this will make you like unto God honoured of wise men and useful to all men SECT II. THE Second Grace proper for Old-age is Faith whereby the Soul doth embrace Iesus Christ as Mediator and also rely upon the Promises of God for all good things needful Now altho this Grace be needful for every Christian insomuch as he is said to live by Faith a life unknown to all unregenerate men yet it is or should be the particular Jewel of Old-age For as Gods Word and Ordinances are the usual means to work Faith and herein young and old stand upon the same level they have equal capacity for the attaining of it so still further Grounds and longer experience are proper helps for the strengthning and encreasing thereof So that as Reason is much improved by Learning so is Faith by use and experience hereby Recumbence is advanced into Plerophory Thus Abraham is represented Rom. 4. 19 20. Not weak in Faith when he was an hundred years old and so staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief Tho his years rendred the Promise very unlikely yet those years had taught him that the performance would be certain and so being strong in Faith he gave Glory to God. As they have heard so have they seen it in the City of God and what they have often seen they may well believe They have seen the wicked in great power flourishing like a green Bay-tree and yet suddenly they have passed away and therefore they are not so startled at the prosperity of ungodly men as younger people may be They have also seen the righteousness of the upright brought forth as the light and so are hir'd to believe that it shall be well with the righteous and it shall go ill with the wicked at length They themselves have been in outward straits and dangers and then wonderfully preserved and provided for and doth not this strengthen their Faith And then in case of spiritual wants and troubles when their Spirit is overwhelmed the Old-man can say with Asaph Psal. 77. 5. I have considered the days of old the years of ancient times and so prop up their Spirits in their greatest dejections If you that are Old want Faith it is an arrant shame for you For you have been so often told and assured of the Veracity the Power and the Goodness of God and then you