and choosing according to their pleasure as Herod who heard John the Baptist and did many things but Mar. 6. 20. Matth. 19. 20 21 22. there was one defect wich undid him And the like might be observed concerning the young man who fell short in regard of his worldly-mindedness 2. By minding the manner together with the matter of their obedience To this purpose are the words of Moses This shall be our righteousnesse if we observe to do all these Commandments Deut. 6. 25. before the Lord our God as he hath commanded us As this Scripture speaketh to the former note viz. there is an observing to do all q. d. there is a respect unto all Gods commands as David expresseth it So it suggesteth reference Psal 119. 6. to the modality with the materiality of our performances A principle of righteousnesse will move a man to doe Quemadmodum Calv. Sicut Vatab. Isa 1. 17. Gods Commandments as before him and as he hath commanded Whereas his Majesty requireth that good duties should be well done they esteem it just and equal to endeavour this not daring to satisfie themselves with outwardnesse and formality opus operatum will not down with the person who is regularly righteous Therefore people in the proof of their righteousnesse must consider what care they take to be reverent humble affectionate spirituall and upright in their services before the Lord. 3. By labouring after growth in grace and a more full conformity unto the Laws of the Lord and his deservings The path of the righteous saith Solomon is as the shining light Pro. 4. 18. which shineth more and more unto the perfect day The Sun doth not more naturally in its progresse move towards high noon then a gracious heart worketh towards perfection The Apostle Paul having reported his own practice in pressing forward towards the mark addeth that those who are sincere are thus minded and he calleth them perfect because thus they Phil. 3. 23 14 15. are in their own aims and endeavours as in divine acceptance Because as Mr Bayns expresseth it they take up their arrows alwaies on this side the white therefore they strive to shoot better that they might hit the white that they might in all regards exactly answer the minde and expectation of the Lord in their conversation Therefore those are farre from righteousnesse who stroak their own heads as though they had fully accomplished the minde of God and speak the language of the Laodicean I am rich and encreased with Rev. 3. 17. goods and have need of nothing Setting aside their staves as though they were got to their journeys end not looking after encrease of grace as though they had gained enough already Ubi incipis nolle ficri mel or ibi defines esse bonus to serve their turn And it will be no violation of the Law of charity to affirm that he was never truly good who doth not strive to be better 4. By an humble self denying dependance upon Jesus Christ looking for divine acceptance through him alone The holy Apostle notwithstanding his unreproveable course before his conversion as to men and according to his light and his unwearied industry upon his spirituall change to hit the mark at which he sincerely levelled attended with a holy life free from outward scandall yet this this was in his eye and endeavour to be found in Christ saith he not having Phil. 3. 9. mine own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith And thus it is also with all other Christians who are Evangelically righteous because they do daily experience their own defects both in the matter manner measure and end of their obedience both to the Commandements of the first and second table therefore in their addresses unto God either for recompence or acceptance they take up the words of the holy Martyr None but Christ None but Christ This our Apostle himself asserteth speaking of others as of himself We rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in Phil. 3. 3. the flesh c. And he is bold to conclude those to be void of true righteousnesse who do trust unto their own parts priviledges or performances whatsoever Israel which followed after the Law of righteousnesse hath not attained to the Law of Rom. 9. 31 32. Righteousnesse wherefore Because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law By these four characters of the person who is Evangelically righteous being faithfully applied we may be able to know in regard of our selves and to guesse in reference unto others upon conversings with them unto whom the Crown of glory set upon the hoary head found in the way of righteousnesse doth appertain The last Use followeth which is for Exhortation and it is Vse 4. Of Exhortation to be directed 1. To them who are old 2. To them who are young I shall begin with the aged both such who are unrighteous and such who are in the way of righteousnesse First The aged persons who abide irreligious are to be perswaded to endeavour a change both of heart and life Hearken unto me you who are farre from righteousnesse Remember Isa 46. 12. Qui pulcher esse velit ei quod est in homine pulcherrimum adornandum est nempe mens quam oportet pulchriorem magis decoram ostendere Clem Alexand. 1 Cor. 9. 24 25 Aetas senectutis est vita immaeulata Venerabilis senectus virtutum non annorum numero computata Non omnis canities promiscuè Jun. Trem. in Text. Rev. 12. 9. 20. 2. Vtrumque simul Sumptum Merc. in Text. 1 Sam. 15. 30. the fore-mentioned particulars wherein true righteousnesse doth consist and strive with all your strength to attain them as you do desire a Crown of glory The Apostle Paul propounds the practice of such who run a race to obtain a corruptible Crown as an argument to presse the like duty And Scripture-Histories together with the Stories of all ages do record the strange adventures yea attempts both ungodly and unnaturall to advance unto a Crown Should not we therefore in the way of God seek this Crown of glory Now that my advice may be the more prevalent let these considerations be well weighed 1. That the greatest age attainable on earth without righteousnesse will not procure this Crown Antiquity without piety doth yeeld no more credit then the devil is capable of who is often called the Old Serpent having had many thousand years continuance in the world But when holinesse is annexed to the hoary hairs they honour the head with a Crown How ambitious are proud men like Saul to be honoured amongst the people Therefore as the laborious Bee sucketh honey out of weeds let us graciously improve such like examples to provoke our selves to seek the honor which cometh in by righteousnesse 2. This
Gray Hayres CROWNED WITH GRACE A SERMON Preached at Redriff Aug. 1. 1654. At the Funerall of that Reverend eminently Learned and faithfull Minister of JESUS CHRIST Mr THOMAS GATAKER PROV 20. 29. The beauty of old men is their gray head PROV 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour ISA. 43. 4. Since thou wast pretious in my sight thou hast been honourable LONDON Printed by A. M. for George Sawbridge at the Sign of the Bible on Ludgate-hill M. DC LV. To the Reverend and my much HONOURED BRETHREN the Presbyterian MINISTERS of the Gospel within the Province of LONDON Brethren THe sad occasion of this Sermon and not any opinion of its worth hath moved me to presume upon this Dedication I know that you are sensible of the smart of that providence which having not long since removed worthy Dr Gouge and M. Whitaker hath also taken from us famous Mr Gataker and the rather because they all were not only members of but also cordiall friends unto our Provinciall Assembly And these our late losses may well minde us of Mr George Walker M. Herbert Palmer M Edwards M John Gere M. Robrough M. Love c. the death of many more of our brethren whose hearts heads and hands went along with us in the setting up and exercising of the Presbyterian Government in our respective Congregations with mutuall assistance Classicall and Provinciall both for the Ordination of Ministers and the more pure administration of the Sacraments Hereby doubtless the Lords voice crieth to the City Mic. 6. 9. more particularly unto us the Ministers thereof Oh that his Majesty would make us men of wisedom exemplartly to see his Name This is the advice of the Holy Ghost Hear the rod and who hath appointed it Brethren I will not undertake to teach you who are able to instruct others what use should be made of these dolefull dispensations Have we not cause to complain that we did neither thankfully prize nor fruitfully improve their Ministeriall gifts graces and experiences as we should and might have done And seeing they though dead do still speak by their usefull Books printed or their holy Lives remembred or by both should not we be conscientious imitators of their constancy and fidelity in those wayes of holy truth discipline and worship which were heartily approved by them even unto their death Moreover Because so many active members of our Province are translated ought not we who survive to strengthen one anothers hands the rather unto double industry with undaunted courage in our whole Ministeriall imployment and to be the more affectionately frequent in prayer that our good God would make up our loss by the more abundant communications of his peculiar grace And although this saying may be sighed out with sorrow we heretofore had the society and assistance of the forementioned fellow-helpers because now we have them not yet may it also be a matter of incouragement because our Presbyterian path hath been trodden without fainting yea with joy by the foot of them whose remembrance will be as a sweet perfume unto posterity Having spoken thus much give me leave upon the same account Mr Cortwright M. Hildersham M. Dod. M. Gleaver M. Dorrell M. John Paget M. Bradshaw M. Ball c. to minde you of some few good old Nonconformists unto whom many more might be added who many years since when under Prelaticall power and oppression endeavoured by preaching printing praying and suffering to introduce this Presbyterian government which we do now exercise Though those men disliked the use of superstitious Ceremonies yet they opposed their tenents and practice who separated from the Church of England condemning it and the Ministry of it as Antichristian But they studiously sought to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace whose labours God blessed to the conversion of thousands of souls and to the maintaining of the power of godliness all their dayes and whose profitable Works do still praise them in the gate But what need I look so farre backward seeing we can easily remember a great company who formerly joyned with us here in London in setting up and exercising Dr Harris D. Arrowsmith D. Tuckney D. Wilkinson D. Chambers D. Wallis M. Lea. M. Timothy Dod. M. Cawdry M. Blake M. Burgess M. Gower M. Roberts M. Burdall M. Strickland M. Cauton M. Fisher M. Allen Gear c. the Presbyterian government besides the many others in the severall parts of the Land who now are of chief note for Learning and Piety in both Universities and other places whose hearts and prayers I am confident still go along with us for our incouragement As this bright clowd of so many witnesses some in Heaven and some on earth may be relieving unto our mourning hearts under our great loss so blessed be God we have not yet cause to complain with the Prophet that there is no cluster * Mic. 7. 1 2. for though much contempt is cast upon us by many who rather seek great things for themselves in the world then the things of Jesus Christ as an inconsiderable number yet we have I will speak it to the praise of the Lord threescore Presbyterian Ministers within the precincts of our Province who preach profitably and live godly who are not tainted with the erroneous tenents either of the Arminians Antinomians or Anabaptists And the most high will I humbly hope incouragingly appear farther for us in these pathes which as our consciences be perswaded are chalked out in the Scriptures of truth for the welfare of his Churches and the honour of his own Name by Jesus Christ Upon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4. 5. I will conclude this my address unto you my much honoured brethren with this hearty prayer that you may hold on in this good old way till you be gray-headed nothing doubting but that your heary heads will be a Crown of glory being found in these wayes of righteousness Your loving brother and fellow labourer in the work of the Gospel SIMEON ASHE Novemb. 24th 1654. PROV 16. 31. The hoary head is a Crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse WHosoever knew this Reverend man either by his own acquaintance or the true Report of others whose Funerall doth occasion this great Assembly will acknowledge that my Text is suitable unto the occasion of our meeting The Lord make my Sermon as serviceable as I know my Text to be seasonable These Proverbs are grave Sentences full of worth and weight which are the rather to be pondered seriously because of the Authours wisedom and authority The Proverbs of Solomon the Son of David King of Israel They are intire Prov. 1. 1. Propositions especially from the beginning of the 10th Chapter and therefore for the most part to be considered without any context or coherence at all Every Proverb is like a precious Pearl tending to inrich all them with spiritual
for their everlasting abode their holy conversation on earth is ealled their way which suggesteth both the activity and progresse of Gods grace in the fruits thereof This Solomon seemeth to speak unto very clearly and fully The path of the righteous is as Prov. 4. 18. the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day And to the third demand I answer That a person may be said to be found in the way of righteousnesse when there is conspicuity and permanency in a godly conversation when the candle of grace lighted in the heart doth discover it self by its shining and is kept burning according to the advice of Christ that men may see his good works as it is said that Mat. 5. 16. Act. 11. 23. Paul saw the grace of God in the Christians at Antioch so here when the seed of righteousnesse rooted in the hearts of aged persons doth so bud and fructifie in their lives that such who converse with them do or may finde apparent effocts of Gods grace in them then they are found in the way of righteousnesse I shall not bestow any more words or time in the Exposition of the Text but proceed according to promise unto the handling of that seasonable Point of Doctrine which is held forth from this Text. The hoary head is a Crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse That Old age attended with the power of grace and the practice Doct. of Religion is a matter of much honour and commendation Let it be considered from the language in the Text how farre this Truth doth extend viz. indefinitely to all aged persons who be truly pious 1. Of both Sexes both men and women 2. Of all ranks and conditions in the world whether high or low rich or poor whether more nobly descended or more mean and contemptible in regard of descent whether on the Throne or at the footstool 3. Of all qualities in regard of naturall or acquired accomplishments whether corporally beautified or deformed whether more or lesse enriched with the ornaments of the minde viz. learning and other abilities for employment either in Church or in Common-wealth 4. Of all callings and negotiations amongst men whether sacred or civil whether by land or sea whether in times of warre or peace 5. And this truth in this latitude hath been is and will be appliable unto all aged persons found in the way of righteousnesse in all the ages of the world This is notable from the Original for as the proposition is universall in reference to all hoary heads found in the way of righteousnesse so there is no verb to limit it unto any term of time either past present or to come but the holy Ghost asserts this truth in relation to all ages and times of the world That heretofore and for the present and for the future the hoary head in the way of holinesse hath been and now is and hereafter to the end of the world will be a Crown of glory I shall proceed gradually in the proof of the Point in reference Quo magis homo festinat ad finem tento est vere venerabilior Clem. Alexand Eccl. 12. 5. Flores camiterii Isa 9. 15. Gen. 25. 8. Judg. 8. 32. 2 Chro. 29. 28. Summa est senectutem illam praesertim quae piis a Deo donatur honorandam esse Cartwr in Text. Prov. 12. 26. Acts 21. 16. Luk. 2. 36 37. to the two branches of it First Old age in it self is a matter of commendation The beauty of old men is the gray head In which respect as some Expositors judg the hoary head is compared by Solomon to the Almond tree flourishing when the white blossoms do render it very beautifull And hence also it is that according to the Heraldry observed in the holy Scripture the Ancient and the Honourable are both placed together and many of Gods Worthies there recorded have this character of honour put upon them that they died in a good old age and full of dayes viz. Abraham Gideon David Secondly The addition of holinesse unto the hoary head addeth much unto the glory of the aged person and this the holy Ghost doth chiefly intend in the Text. For the righteous eatenus because righteous is more excellent then his neighbour And therefore under this Notion many are registred in holy writ to their everlasting credit in the Church of Christ viz. Mnason of Cyprus that old Disciple and Anna a Prophetesse of a great age a widow of about fourscore and four years who departed not from the Temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day Now that righteousnesse giveth weight unto the Crown which aged persons do wear may be abundantly manifested 1. Because it is one part of Gods image in man with which Eccl. 7. 29. Rom. 3. 20. Eph. 4. 24. he was adorned at his first creation which was his glory lost by his fall and which is restored by his Regeneration The new man after God is created in righteousnesse 2. Because aged persons thus qualified are the Emblems of God himself who is called the ancient of dayes and of Jesus Dan 7. 9 13. Christ in whose metaphoricall description this is one expression His head and his hairs were white like wool Rev. 1. 14. 3. Because the righteous are admitted into near relation and affection with God who is their Father and loveth them Matth. 13. 43. Psal 146. 8. dearly The Lord loveth the righteous The righteous shall shine in the Kingdom of their Father Now it was Davids honour as he valued it to be Son in law to King Saul And who 1 Sam. 18. 23. doth not judge that it was much to the repute of Daniel to be called A man beloved by the Lord. Since thou becamest Dan. 9. 21. Isa 43. 4. mine saith God himself to his people and wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable From these three heads of Arguments jointly considered the truth under hand may be undeniably concluded That the hoary head is a Crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse The Application followeth which I will give in manifold Uses under four heads The first sort of Uses are for Information in three particulars Vse 1. Information well worthy our consideration 1. Hence it followeth that no qualification whatsoever wherewith the children of men can possibly be adorned is of so great worth as godlinesse because this is said to set a glorious Crown upon the heads of them who are blessed with it I grant that there are many natural ornaments and acquired accomplishments which may gain respect but it is righteousnesse which wins the Crown Therefore Solomon saith not The hoary head is a Crown of glory if found in the way of raised parts of great learning of martiall courage of large commands in the world or of successefull trading to become wealthy but if it be found in the way
Ministers of the Gospel whom God hath ordained to bring sinuers to Christ that they might be 2 Cor. 5. 19 21 the righteousnesse of God in him And howsoever the carnall and unthankful world disregard us yet the Lord doth so highly value this our work that he will certainly abundantly recompense it They who turn many to righteousness shall shine Dan. 12. 12. as the Stars for ever and ever Whereas men do most esteem and most liberally reward such who are instruments to restore their health to raise their outward estates and to preferre them unto places of greatnesse in the world The most high God who setteth a higher price upon holinesse will make it manifest at the last day that those who study to bring men into the waies of righteousnesse shall be most advanced It hath been looked upon as an honourable employment to set the Crown on a Kings head and doubtlesse it is no lesse but far greater to be an instrument according to divine institution to crown sinners with righteousnesse Consider that this was foretold by an Angel as an exceeding great honour to be put upon John the Baptist Christs harbinger Many of Luk. 1. 16 17. the Children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God and he shall go before them in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the disobedient to the wisedom of the Just The fourth and last inference by way of Information is this viz. That therefore the death of aged godly persons should be much lamented David and all Israel wept over dead Abner upon this consideration A great man is fallen 2 Sam. 3. 31 34 58. Now who are to be esteemed great if not those who are rightfully crowned And such are the aged being found in the way of righteousnesse The Prophet Isaiah bringeth in the ancient amongst those persons of highest place and power Isa 3. 2. whose removall doth weaken both Church and State And this is one strain in Jeremiah his Lamentations The Crown is fallen Now in a safe sence though not the same Lam. 5. 16. we may apply it unto the death of the meanest whose hoary heads were found in the way of righteousnesse but it is singularly applicable when an ancient prudent pious Minister is translated by death Such a providence upon the death of Isa 3. 2. 2 Kin. 2. 12. Elijah caused Elisha to cry out My Father My Father the Charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof And truly such occasion of mourning is administred this day upon our losse of the Reverend Learned and godly man whose Funerall we now celebrate Neither doth his death alone but the dissolution of sundry other grave and gracious Ministers of the Mr Walker Dr Gouge Mr Whitaker Gospel not long since in the Neighbourhood call for our tears and lamentations before the Lord. The Lord rightly affect us with these stroaks and give us the sanctified improvement of them through his grace The second Use followeth which is for reproof of three Vse 2. Of Reproof sorts of people 1. Of those aged persons who seem to be ashamed of their old age by taking courses to hide it that they might be accounted young whereas my Text tels us that the hoary head is a Crown and the same wise Solomon saith elsewhere Pro. 20. 29. The beauty of old men is the gray-head And the Apostle Paul speaketh of his old age as his credit and that which should render him the more respectfull Being such a one as Philem. 9. Illi canos tingendo praecipuam reverentiae praerogativam dedecore afficium Vellendi sunt non pili sed cupiditaces Clem. Alex. Paul the aged Some of the Ancients took occasion in their daies to blame very sharply such persons who either picked out their gray hairs or else did colour them artificially that they might not be reputed old And this advice was added to the reproof that they should rather pluck up their lusts then pick out their gray hairs as rendring them many thousand times more unlovely and dishonourable Beleeve it you gray-headed persons that your covetousnesse frowardness hypocrisie and unrighteousnesse do make you reproachfull whereas your age with holinesse would be your honour 2. Of those whose wicked conversation doth cast dis-reputation upon the Crown which God by their many years hath set upon their heads That Proverb is appliable unto them As a Jewell of Gold in a Swines snout so is a fair woman Prov. 11. 22. Dignitas in indigno est ornamentum in luto which is without discretion Complexion doth not so much beautifie as folly doth blemish such a person In like manner it is very unseemly to see silver hairs soyled with a sinfull debauched conversation How do oaths lies scurrilous cursed speeches and other wickednesses cast mire and fasten rust upon the Crown of old-age In dealing with these gray-headed sinners I may apply those words of Moses Do ye thus reward the Lord ye foolish people and unwise Is this the requitall Deut. 32. 6. which you return unto God for his many years patience exercised towards you and the manifold experiences with long-continued goodnesse showred down upon you Do not you your selves look for better fruit from the trees which you have carefully preserved many winters and painfully watered many Summers But if these convincing expostulations will not awaken and reform these people who are weather-beaten in wickednesse and by long soaking in sin are habituated to do evil I must minde them of that heavy message delivered from the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah The sinner being an hundred years old is accursed The old impenitent Isa 69. 20. sinner whatsoever his place his parts or his respect in the world be is accursed Gods curse is not only threatned but already in a great measure executed upon him He is cursed cursed in his soul and cursed in all his enjoyments and concernments during the time of his impenitency and unreformednesse Patientia laesae vertitur in surorem Here I might be large in discovering the expressions of divine displeasure against people old in evils as in years whose decayed decrepid withered weakened bodies might expect pity The Prophet Jeremiah saith I am full of Jer. 6. 11. the fury of the Lord I will pour it forth upon the aged and him that is full of daies And Gods threatning runneth thus that neither he himself nor those whom he will incense against them shall have any compassion upon the old man or him that 2 Chro. 36. 17. Deut. 32. 25. stoopeth for age or the man of gray hairs 3. Of them who make the aged the objects of their derision Mr Cartwright hath this note upon the Text that God hath by this Crown of gray hairs vindicated the aged from all the discredit which their stooping or other infirmities might seem to expose them unto And it is observed by some Natant Hebraei non senilem