The hoary head crowned a sermon preached at Brackley at the funerall of Fran. Walbank, a very aged and religious matron / by Thomas Hodges ...

Prov. 16.31.

The Hoary Head is a crowne of Glory, if it be found in the way of Righteousnesse.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

THE Text is the old mans Patent of Honour. The hoary head, that is old age, or the old man, is a crowne of glory, that is, is honourable and glorious, is to be reverenced and honoured by us: As we reverence those upon whose heads men set crownes and Diadems of silver and gold; so especially ought we to honour those men, whom the God of heaven (the first fountaine of all Honour) doth crown with a Hoary head, or white haires, by reason of age. The latter part of the verse is diversly translated; some have it thus, it is found, or shall be found in the way of righteousnesse: and then the sense is this, honorable old age is to be attained in the way of righteousnesse, or to live well is the way to live long. Our last translators have put in the word if which is not in the Originall, to note that then old men are most to be honoured when they are religious, when they walk in the way of righteousnesse. according as the Geneva translation hath it. Age is a Crowne of glory when it is found in the way of righteousnesse. Both these tran∣slations hold forth a truth, viz: that God doth give long

life to godly & Religious men: & that we ought to give more especiall honour to holy and religious old men. Those men, who besides the silver crown of old age, have upon their heads the golden crown of religion, are most ho∣noured by God, and ought so to be by men. The summe of all may amount to thus much. viz. That a good old age which God usually, or ordinarily, bestowes upon good men, is honourable, and glorious; or ought to render them very honourable in our eyes.

I shall take occasion from this Text to treat of the honour of old age, and to that purpose I shall endevour to shew,

• 1. That old age is honourable and glorious.
• 2. Why old age is so honourable.
• 3. How we are to honour old age.
• 4. By what meanes we may attain to the honour of old age.
• 5. What is that old age upon which God and good men, bestow the most abundant honour.

1. Of the first. Old age is truly honourable, Whether we consult the law of Scripture, or the law of an∣ture; either God's or man's Heraldrie.

1. God hath commanded us to honour the hoarie head; thus shall it be done to the man whom the King of heaven delighteth to honour. Levit. 19.32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoarie head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God; as ever thou fearest the Lord thy God, see that thou reverence age; yea 'tis the first commandement with promise. Eph: 6:7. That which requires us to honour old age under the name of father and mother, tis the first commandement which hath any speciall promise annexed unto it; old men are comprehended within this commandement as fathers, and old women, as mothers. 1. Timoth: 5.1, 2. re∣buke

not an elder, but intreat him as a father and the younger men as brethren: the elder women as mo∣thers &c. And, because the mother is usually most de∣spised, therefore 'tis thought that in Levit: 19:3. God commands the fear of the mother, in the first place, say∣ing, Ye shall fear every man his Mother and his Father. Again, because the devill will teach us to break over the hedg where 'tis lowest, namely to slight our mother in her old age, because of the weaknesse of her sex, and of the infirmites of old age concurring together: there∣fore hath God not left himselfe without witnesse, nor us without warning against this sin; But hath made especi∣all provision to stop this gap and to make up, and make strong this fence, with that saying Proverbs 23:22. Hear∣ken unto thy father that begat thee and despise not thy mother when shee is old:

2. The Scripture makes this an argument of the dis∣solution of all politie and good government in a King∣dome or State, when the aged are not duely honoured. So much is intimated: Esa: 3:5. the child shall behave him felfe proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. And indeed when once it comes to this, that every boy, or young stripling, dares demean himself insolently towards the ancient, whom he ought to re∣verence & honour; then behold confusion in every state according as is threatned Esa. 24:2, 3. Then farewell all good order and distinction and regard of persons in Church and State, It was a sad presage of the mine of the Jewes, that they respected not the persons of the Priests, and that they favoured not, or accepted not, the elders, or ancients. Lament: 4:16: If we understand the place of the Jewes, as some: Or else it is accounted barbarousnesse even in an enemy, not to respect calling, or age, not to respect the Priests, not to favour the Elders, if we un∣derstand

the place of the Chaldeans, as others. Agreeable hereun∣to we read in 2: Chron: 37:17: that the King of the Chal∣dees had no compassion on young man or maiden, old man or him that stooped for age.

3. We find in 1: Sam: 2:30: that when God threat∣ned Eli's house to degrade them from their honour; he presently addeth v: 31, 32, 33: (once and again) there shall not be an old man in thy house: and a third time: all the in∣crease of thine house shall dye in the flower of their age: But on the contrary, to dye in a good old age, is spoken of as a blessing, Job 5:26: thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corne commeth in in his season: that is, as the corn stands against all stormes of wind and rain untill it be fully ripe, and then is gathered into barn, (being first made up in shocks,) so shalt thou stand upon the earth, and not be ruined, or reaped whilst thou art green, till thou art ripe and full of dayes; and then, and not till then, shalt thou come to thy grave as ripe corne into barne. Yea 'tis promised to Jerusalem, after the returne from the Captivity, Zachar: 8:4: that there should yet old men and old women dwell in her streets, and every man with his staff in his hand for verie age. Let me add that Romans 9:4. 'tis reckoned amongst the honourable priviledges of the Israelites (as that Je∣sus Christ was their brother according to the flesh, so) that theirs were the Fathers. And thus much may suf∣fice for the Blazoning of this ancient Coat of Honour according to Scripture Heraldrie.

I might also shew, how the Gentiles, who had only the light of nature, yet did reverence and honour old age. Plato in his Common-wealth, ordered, that the Elders should be honoured. Ovid tels us how of old time they were reverenced amongst the Romanes. Lib: 5. Fast.

Magna fuit quondam capitis reverentia cani, Inque suo precio ruga senilis erat.

Juvenal saith, that in the golden age, they counted it a capital crime if a young man, (though a rich man, did not rise up to an old man, though a poore man,) Juve: Sat. 13.

Credebant hoc grande nefas & morte piandum, Si Juvenis vetulo non assurexerit. &c.

And this may suffice to have been spoken for the proof of the first thing propounded, namely, that old age is ho∣nourable and glorious

II. Of the second. viz: Why old men are so honourable.

1. Because they are an honour to the place where they live: living monuments of Honour. They honour us, and therefore 'tis but reason we should honour them. Antiquity is very attractive; that side old men goe on usually bears the greatest sway and authority: Old men are loadstons to draw younger ones their way. And tru∣ly there was not so great a contest about the young child before Solomō whose it was; as there is to this day betwixt us Protestants and the Papists, about the ancient fathers of the Primitive Church: The Romanists say, the fathers are theirs; and We say; Nay, but the fathers are ours: nor without marvell for non sum melior patribus (I am not better then the fathers,) is a Motto well becomming the best man, and greatest Scholar.

2. Because they are an help to the societies, whereof they are members, in respect of their wisdome and pru∣dence, much increased by their long experience in hu∣mane affairs. As they are the Crown of a people, so they are their councell. The great court of the Jewes was cal'd the councell of the seventy Elders: and the great court of Rome the Senat, & their Counsellours Senators (from senes old men,) and Fathers, Patres conscripti; and in the New Testament, the Church consistorie is cal'd the Eldership; and the Church-officers, Presbyters or Elders.

From all which, we may gather, that the Judgment of old men, is usually better then of younger men: according to that Job Ch: 12:12. with the ancient is wisdome and in length of days is understanding. This is likewise intimated Levit: 11:32. where instead of thou shalt rise up before the hoarie head: the Chaldee Paraphrase hath it, thou shalt rise up before the wise. And Esa: 3.2. God threatens to take away frō Judah & Jerusalem, as the mighty man and the man of warr, so the prudent and the Ancient: The prudent and ancient are equivalent termes. 'Tis very remarkable that when Rehoboam forsook the advice of the old Counsellers, he soon lost ten tribes at a clap.

3. Because old men are, in a sort, God's deputies and vice-roys here in the world. They seem nearer to ap∣proach to the ancient of daies, then the young generati∣on doe. I know indeed that, properly and strictly, God is not old: for vetus Deus aliquando non erit: as no∣vus Deus aliquando non fuit: for that which waxeth old, saith the Scripture, is neer unto vanishing away, yet he is stil'd in Scripture the Ancient of daies; the Everlasting Father; the God of Eternity. And it is an argument, that the religion of the Gentiles was not the most ancient, because their Gods were but younglings: their genea∣logy and pedegree was known. It was objected by Ar∣nobius to the heathen, that not onely recens nata erat e∣orum religio, sed et dii ipsi erant infantes & parvuli and such as had need of milk, and not of strong meat, such as were their sacrifices of sheep, &c.

III. Of the third, How we are to honour old men.

1. We must rise up before the hoarie head. Levit. 19:32. God proclaimes before them, as Pharaoh caused to be proclaimed before Joseph, Abrech i.e. Bow the knee: Or not much unlike to that which was proclaimed be∣fore Mordecai, by the commandement of Ahasuerosh;

Loe thus shal it be done to the good old man, whō the King of heaven delights to honour. God who is himselfe no ac∣cepter of Persons, or faces, yet commands us to respect the Person, or face of the old man.

2 We must speak honourably of them, and reverently to them. 1 Timoth: 5.1, 2. rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father. &c. In the 2 of Kings: 13.14. We find even wicked King Joash, King of Israel, coming to vi∣sit the old Prophet Elisha when he was sick; weeping o∣ver his face, Oh my father, my father; the Charets of Israel and the horsmen thereof: bewailing Elisha, with the same words, wherewith he had, above 50 years before be∣wailed his master Elija: Ch: 2: v. 12. of the same Book.

3: Give old men the honour of speaking first, and the honour of due attention. Job 32.7: I said, dayes should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdome. Let old men in Civills be your Oracles: the Poets fain young Phaeton, to have set the world on fire: You will find it, for the most part, no fiction, that young men are the hot∣spurs the Incendiaries, w^ch set Church & state on a flame:

IV Of the fourth, How we may attain to the honour of old age.

I answer, We may find it in the way of righteousnesse; Seek the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse. Get part in the righteousnesse of Christ; and, as he is righteous so be ye righteous in all manner of Conversation; & this is indeed Via recta ad vitam longam, the right way to long life, yea to everlasting life; for godlinesse hath the promi∣ses of this life, and of that which is to come. 1 Tim: 4:8. And again, the fear of the Lord prolongeth dayes, but the years of the wicked shall be shortned, Prov: 10:27. add to this, that of the Psalmist Ps: 55:23. the bloody and deceit∣full man shall not live out half his dayes: His Sun shall goe down before 'tis noon: But more particularly: I Get

spirituall saving wisdome, that is, get Christ, and he will give thee long life, Prov: 16:3. and 4.20, 21, 22. And tru∣ly Christ the wisdome of the father, he hath life, to be∣stow, and to whomsoever he will he giveth it. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (saith Christ) that is, I am the true way unto life. With Christ is the well-spring, the fountain of life, of naturall, spirituall, and eternall life: Ask of him, and he will give thee living water. He hath living water and living bread, and a tree of life to give thee: and he that eats or drinks of these, shall live for ever. David saith, This poor man cryed, and the Lord heard him; and for what did he ask, and did God hear him? He asked life of him, and he gave him life, even length of daies for ever and ever. Psalme 21:4: verse.

2 Long life is to be attained by our honouring of & obedience to our parents and elders. Exod: 20. Honour thy father & thy mother, that they may lengthen thy dayes: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 prolongabunt dies tuos. Obedient children are children of many prayers, and the parents prayers, are the meanes under God, whereby is procured to them long life. Hence Parents prayers are called bles∣sings. Besides 'tis equal, (saith one) that such as honour those by whom they receive life next under God, should have their life continued and prolonged.

3 If thou desirest life and lovest many dayes, that thou mayest see good, keep thy tongue from e∣vill and thy lips from speaking guile, Ps: 34:12, 13. 1 Peter 3, 10. Again, the wise man speaks expresly, Prov: 18, 21. death and life are in the power of the tongue, and he that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life, Prov: 13.3. Many mens tongues are such sharp swords and razours, as to cut their own throats.

4. Live much in heaven, if thou wouldest live long

upon the earth. Ps: 91.14, 15, 16. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high because he hath known my name: He shall call upon me and I will answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I will de∣liver him, and honour him: with long life will I satisfy him and shew him my salvation. When God sees men earthly minded, 'tis just with him to bring them speedily to the earth, to say unto them Earth Earth Earth hear the word of the Lord: Earth thou art and unto Earth shalt thou re∣turn; I see thou art an Earthworm, and to the wormes of the Earth shalt thou goe: Thy flesh shall be for meat unto the wormes of the Earth. Oh get more and more, nearer & nearer acquaintāce, with God; who is our life and the length of our dayes: In his favour is life; the sense & assurance of his love is a Cordiall wil renew our strength and renew our youth, like the Eagles. Moses who talked with God as a man with his friend, Oh how vigorous fresh and lively was he how green and flourishing was he to, and in, old age. Deut: 34.7. 'tis said his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated: Enoch walked with God, and was translated and saw no Corruption.

The beloved disciple John, who lay most in the bo∣some of Christ, and had afterwards the greatest revela∣tions of the mind of Christ concerning his Church; He it was who survived all the rest of the Apostles upon earth. Paul likewise, who whilst he lived upon earth was rapt up into the third heavē, He was such an one as Paul the aged (so he styles himselfe) before he dyed: he had the Crown of old age before the Crown of Martyrdom.

But you'l say, many times the best and towardliest children, & most righteous young mē, dye soonest, & ne∣ver attain to old age: are cropt either in the bud or blos∣som, or whilst they are green & flourishing, whilst their breasts are full of milk, and their bones of marrow. We

usually say, of those who are remarkably forward in Re∣ligion and goodnesse above their fellows, they are not like to live long, they are too good for this world. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, whom God loves best he takes first. How is it then, you teach us, that Religion and righteousnesse, holinesse, and heavenly-mindednesse, are the way to attain to a good old age? especially, when 'tis somtimes notoriously known that wicked men have the largest portion, as of the things of this life, so of life it selfe.

Ans. As concerning religious children which dye soon: I answer, It may be their Parents doate too much upon them; It may be, they Idolize them: As the wicked Israelites sometimes offered their children unto Idols, unto devils; So too often 'tis seen, that good Parents are too too apt to make little gods, that is indeed Idols of their children. And hence God is provoked to take from such Parents the desire and delight of their eyes, and the dearly beloved of their soules. Parents, you may kill your children with overmuch kindnesse: You may kill the child with overloving it, as the Nurse doth sometimes with overlaying it. If you lay or hang too great a weight, or lean too hard, (that is trust too much) upon one of these young and tender branches, you will soon break it off the Tree of life. Children are flow∣ers; if you carry them too much in your bosome, they will wither and dye. Oh then forsake not the living God; If you would have right to the living child, least God call this sinne to remembrance, and slay your child even the choycest of them.

Or, 2. I say it may be, God takes away such child∣ren from the evill to come; either from temptations which they are likely to be exposed unto, and in dan∣ger to be overcome by; or from the evill day coming up∣on

the place where they lived. God saies in such cases, oh my sonne, or oh my daughter, enter into thy chamber, shut the door, till these calamities be overpast. When there's danger abroad, then Parents look out and fetch home their little ones; and so doth God.

Or, 3. I affirme, that these children live much in a little time; that these children are young in years as Jo∣sias was, 2 Chron: 34.3. but old in grace; that these are the children which dye an hundred years old, as 'tis Es: 65.20. these are like nimble Racers, who run as far in an houre as some heavy heeld horses will goe in a day: these are apt schollers, who having betimes learnt their lesson, may have leave to goe home the sooner: their work is soon done, and the Lord of heaven and earth call them home to receive their reward.

Or 4. It may be said, that these children's losse of tem∣porall life is abundantly recompenced with eternall life. God promised long life, and he gives them everlasting life, doth he doe them any wrong? he promised them a penny in silver, and payes them a pound in Gold, yea a ta∣lent of gold, and is he not as good, and better then his word? he promised such the silver crown of old age, that corruptible crown, and he gives them the crown of glo∣ry, of everlasting life, a crown which is incorruptible, and fadeth not away.

As for good men who dye young, those who are the glory of their time, and yet dye in the flower of their age; I say, 'tis either because of some disobedience, or unrighteousnesse before grace, or after grace received, for w^ch God pleaseth thus temporally to correct them; of this latter sort were the unworthy Communicants at Corinth. 1. Cor. 11. to whom the bread of life became, through their default, the bread of death. Or because men do at too much upon these men, and begin to give

the glory of God unto these, upon whom they see his image and superscription. Or, where 'tis otherwise, the cases and examples are very rare; a few exceptions from the generall rule; and such as have, although a short life, yet a sweet; such as have the life of life, that is, the comforts and blessings of life in abundance, whilst they live, such as have enough of the things of this life, and of life it selfe as much as is good for them, and of the favour of God very much, which is better then life it self: and when they dye, they are paid with usurie in heaven for the losse of a temporary life here. Of whom I may say, in a sense, as it was said of Enoch, they are not, because God hath taken them; they walked with God, & they are translated to him.

As for wicked men, who sometimes attain to a long life, it may be said that they are a great while, rather then that they live a great while, as it was said of one, diu fuit, non diu vixit: and, as we say of a ship, which hath been a long time tossed too and fro by stormes and tempests, but hath not all that while tended towards the harbour, that she hath been thus long driven to and fro, but hath not thus long sailed: So we may say of wick∣ed men, they have been a great while tossed to and fro in the sea of this world, but they have not sailed long, because they have come never the nearer to the haven of rest, after all their toile and labour. Whilst wicked men live they are farr from God, in whose presence is life, from whose favour is the comfort and crown of life, they have bitternesse in their greatest sweets, and death in their life. The longest life of the wicked is but a mo∣ment, compared to eternity; the sinner of an hundred years old lives not so long, but he may be truly and properly said to dye eternally.

To dismisse the objection briefly, know that this is a

generall rule of Gods own making, that godlinesse hath the promise of this life, and of that which is to come. With long life will God reward and satisfie the righte∣ous man; and at last shew him his salvation in heaven in the life everlasting. When it falls out otherwise, as to temporalls, 'tis either rare, and that losse abundant∣ly repayed in eternall life; or else 'tis a Chastisement for some irregular and exorbitant demeanour of our selves, or others in relation to us. 'Tis true as the Preacher saith, that all things fall alike to all; that is, frequently 'tis so, and that sometimes 'tis worst in outward & worldly respects with the best of men, of whom the world is not worthy; Yet when it is so, the fault is in good men themselves, God is as it were constrained, for the love he beares their precious soules, to make exceptions from his generall rule, which is doe well and have well both here and hereafter. Say ye to the righte∣ous, It shall be well with him: and here the hoary head is a crown of glory, and it is found in the way of righteousnesse.

V. And thus are we come to our fifth head, to shew, what is that old age which is most honourable. Although all old men (as old men) are in that respect honourable, yet they are not all Peeres of the Kingdome of heaven. Some Translations render the Text, When 'tis found in the way of righteousnesse.

Surely the Elders that live well are worthy of double honour; honour these Elders for they are honourable indeed. 'Tis recorded Act: 21.16. to the honour of Mnason, that he was an old Disciple. Seniority in the society of Saints, as Saints, should have honour. The Apostle Paul makes honourable mention of the Elder Converts, Rom: 16.7. Salute Andronicus, and Junia my kinsmen, and my fellow Prisoners, who are of note among the Apostles, who also were in Christ before me. But on

the other side, the sinner of an hundred yeares old is ac∣cursed, Esa: 65.20. Or as the Wiseman saith, Though a sinner doe evill an hundred times, and his dayes be prolong∣ed: yet surely I know, that it shall be well with them that feare God, which feare before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his daies which are as a shadow, because he feareth not before God, Ecclesi∣astes 8.12.13. Sinners may say, though never so hoary headed, the crown is fallen from our head, woe unto us that we have sinned.

If you ask why Religious old men are worthy of the greatest honour: I answer,

1. Because these fathers are all, the sonnes of the most high, every one the Son of a King, of the great King of heaven and earth: and they resemble their heavenly Fa∣ther, they who are holy as he is holy. And although Gods children are an assembly of first borne; yet the elder any one is in grace, the greater portion of honour ought he to have from, and above his brethren. If the elder by naturall generation and birth be to have dou∣ble honour, surely the elder by regeneration and a spi∣rituall new birth much more. We find that good Shem & Isaak and Jacob, though younger ones, got the birth-right-blessing and honour, before their elder brethren.

2. Because religious men are the truely wise men, and the longer and greater experience any one hath had in religion, he is the more wise, and therefore more honourable. We read Mat: 2.1. that there were wise men came to seek Jesus, to worship him, truely they are de∣servedly called wise men, who ever seek Jesus, and when they find him, worship him. They say the Turkes account all fooles, Saints; and many amongst us Christians, ac∣count all Saints fooles. But the holy Scriptures, which alone are able to make us wise unto Salvation, teach o∣therwise.

Heare the word of the Lord, Job 28.28. And unto man he said, Behold the feare of the Lord that is wis∣dome, and to depart from evill, is understanding. And if we will beleeve the wisest of men (Solomon) the Godly man is the wise man, but the Sinner is the foole; as ap∣peares by his opposing the sinner, & the wiseman Eccles: 9.18. One such wise man may be a means to deliver a City. Eccl. 9.16. and upon that accompt ought to be ho∣noured. Yea 2 Sam: 20.16. &c: 'Tis recorded that a wise woman saved the City Abel, that it perished not in the Rebellion of Sheba the sonne of Bichri.

3. Because these religious old men are most bene∣ficiall, are the greatest blessings, to the persons with whom, and to the places where they live; they are the Walls and Bullworks of a City, they are the foundati∣ons and pillars of a Nation, they are the Shields of the earth.

Q. But what is the speciall honour, which we must do religious old men?

A. We must reverence them inwardly, in our hearts, and outwardly, not in word and in tongue only, but in deed and in truth. Whilest these precious Sonns of Sion, our Fathers, and Elders, goe on in heaven-way before us, Let us stand by them, and stand for them, and in no∣thing be wanting to them: and when any of them goes up to heaven before us, let that be the language of our hearts, which was spoken by Elisha at the taking up of Elijah, my father, my father, the Chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

2. We must obey these mens Counsailes, and dire∣ctions. Let's make them, under God, and the Scripture, our Oracles: Let the counsell of the Elders, be our great and supream Councell: Let's honour these as good Job was honoured. Ch: 29.21. &c: Let's give eare to these, let their speech drop upon us, let us waite for them 〈…〉〈…〉

man better then his mother, (viz: his wife) but he must honour still his mother before his wife. Consider her grìevous pangs in bringing us forth at first, & her great paines in bringing us up: and she that bare with the thousand infirmities, weaknesses and follies of our in∣fancie and childhood; Let her be borne withall for some weaknesses of her sex, in her old age: according as it is written Prov: 22.22. despise not thy mother, when she is old. And now to conclude this Use, Oh that the great peace-maker, after that our families have been divided, Father against Son, and Son against Father, the Daughter against the Mother, and the Mother against the Daughter, would (according to his promise once made to the Jewes, Mal: 4.) Convert or turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and of the children to their fathers, left he come and smite our land with a curse.

3. Then honour old men, especially religious old men. It was Idolatrie, to fall down and worship the golden I∣mage, that Nebuchadnezzar had set up; but 'tis Religion, to fall down and worship, with Civil worship or reve∣rence, the religious old man, whom God hath set up. Goe forth, O ye sons and daughters of Jerusalem, and behold the good old man, with the Crown wherewith his heavenly father hath crowned him, in the day of his hoary head.

4. Is a good old age to be found in the way of religi∣on and righteousnesse? Oh then let the young genera∣tion, who desire to live long, and to see good dayes, let them hence be exhorted to pietie and holinesse. Come ye children, hearken unto me, and I will teach you the way to live to be honoured old men; live well if you would live long, The more you live to God, the longer you'l live in the world. the Papists have a say∣ing, that Nemo senescit dum interest Missae, that is, that no

man is never the older for the time he spendes in hear∣ing Masse. Truly the time we spend in religion, and religious exercises, is time well saved, is time redeemed. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, their youth shall be renewed like the Eagles. Ps: 103. But as for evill doers, the Lord shall wound the hairie scalp, and the hoarie head too, of him that goes on in his wickednesse if he live to age. Well therefore doth the wise man advise, Ecclesiastes 7.17. Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish, why shouldest thou dye be∣fore thy time? Men naturally desire to prolong their dayes: To this end, what dyet will they not keep? what exercises will they not use? what Medicines will not they take? skin for skin and all that a man hath will he give for his life. The Princes and Potentates of the earth have their Physitians to counsell them alway what course to take, that they may live long upon the earth: But behold I shew unto you all this day a more exel∣lent way; and that is the way of the text, the way of righteousnesse. Get the Crown of religion, if you would have that other crown of a hoarie head. The same way that leads to Eternall life, leads to a long life.

More particularly; as ever you would live to a good old age, Beware of those speciall sins, which ordina∣rily cut the thred of mens lives before the time; which either as thieves doe wast, or as winds blow out the can∣dle of life before it is burnt half to the socket.

1. As first, If thou desirest to live to be old, take heed of Cains sin, the sin of blood-guiltinesse: he that is guilty of of blood, may Justly fear, least every one that meets him should slay him. The Hue and Crie, the blood-hound, the Avenger of blood, doth ordinarily overtake such be∣fore old age. Justice saith, Give him blood to drink for he is worthy.

2. The sin of uncleanesse, whether naturall, or un∣naturall. For Onan's sin the Lord slew him. God rain∣ed down fire from heaven upon the unclean Sodomites and destroyed them speedily; the Lord made a short work with them: and Prov: 7.22. 'tis said, He that fol∣lowes an harlot, goes as an Oxe to the slaughter. Shechems sin of uncleannesse with Dinah, cost him, his father and the Shechemites their lives. So Amnon's incest with his sister Tamar cost him his life.

3. Disobedience to Parents. When Hophni and Phi∣nehas hearkned not to the voyce of their father, it was a signe and presage that the Lord would slay them. Ab∣solom's rebellion, against his father David, caused his sun to set at noon. When the children of Bethel mock'd the Prophet Elisha, saying, goe up thou bald head &c, (that is, why doest not thou goe up to heaven after thy ma∣ster) two shee Bears tore 42 of them. 2 King: 2.24.

4. Covetousnesse, especially if dyed in oppression, and injustice. Immoderate cares, feares, and excessive tur∣moyling, the usuall concomitants of them that will be rich, do naturally shorten the life of man: but besides an untimely death seems to be the penalty denounced a∣gainst this sinne, according to the Statute Law of the great Lawgiver, Jerem: 17.11. As the Partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth goods, and not by right, shall leave them in the mid'st of his dayes, and at his end shall be a foole. As the Partridg gather∣eth eggs together to sit on, and to hatch, but hatcheth them not, her eggs either proving windy and addle, as they say it oft falleth out with those eggs which she hath produced (as she doth frequently) without the com∣pany of the male, or otherwise miscarrying, (the male many times breaking them that he may have the com∣pany of his mate.) Or else (as some others think) the Partridge, or Heb: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Kore, having got together the

eggs of other Fowles; and sitting on them as her own, untill they be hatched, they then leave her, and keep with, and follow those of their own kind. So Covetous men desirous to enrich themselves by oppression, and taking from others that which is not their owne, and sitting brooding upon the eggs, or baggs, which they have thus gathered together, at last these their riches take themselves wings and fly away. Prov: 23.5. or they are taken from them. Luk. 12.20.

5. Is the hoarie head a crown of glory, if it be found, or when it is found, in the way of righteousnesse? then hence we learn, that want of religon in an old man is a great abatement of honour in his Coat. The best flow∣er in his garland, the choycest pearle of his crown, is wanting, The old sinner, together with his crown, hath a curse upon his head; the sinner of a hundred years old is accursed. As God and man love an old Friend, so they hate and abhorre an old Enimie. Old sinners are like old toads, and old serpents, the fullest of poyson, and therefore most abominable. He is an old Thiefe, (saith the Judge) away with him, Away with him, 'tis not fit such an one should live. So saith God, he is an old Idola∣ter, drunkard, unclean person, swearer, &c: I have borne with him these forty, fifty, or sixty years and upwards, I crowned every one of those years with my goodnesse, but (ungratefull, unworthy, wretch!) he hath gone on to rebell against me, and goes on to this day and will not turne; Now therefore, oh ye evill angels, this night, or this week, or this yeare, see ye that yee require his soule of him; or els, oh death let not his hoarie head goe down to the grave in peace, (as David charged Solo∣mon concerning Joab, 1 King: 2.6.) or, oh thou sword of the Lord, his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood (as David charg'd Solomon concern∣ing Shimei. 1 King: 2.9.)

Oh consider this, ye old men, that have forgotten God, dayes without number, even to this day and hour, consider this your cursed latter end, if you will not turn your feet into the way of righteousnesse; least God tear you in peeces, and there be none to deliver you. For know it for a truth, that the wicked and unrighteous, be they old or young, shall be turned into hell, and all the people that forget God.

Againe, Is old age then honourable when found in the way of righteousnesse? Then hence young men may learn how farre they may honour their Fathers and El∣ders with the honour of imitation, how farre they may follow their steps, viz: no farther then they walk in the way of righteousnesse, then they follow Christ. The old Prophet at Bethel deceived the young Prophet, the De∣vill, in the habit of an old man, in Samuel's mantle, de∣ceived Saul: the Gibeonites deceived Josuah, and the Princes of Israel, with their old mouldy bread, old shooes, & old garments. And alas, how many thousands amongst us have been seduced, even to oppose and fight against reformation, upō no other account but this, these men will change our old customes, & our old con∣versations, or manner of conversation received by tra∣dition from our Fathers. And here let me freely speak unto you old men of this generation: God would have had off your bark of unprofitable Ceremonies, and have made you white and straight staves, even staves of beau∣ty in his hand, and this would not be done without put∣ting you in the flames of a Civill Warr a while.

And now be wise ye old men, and as you love your selves see that you oppose not reformation; if you stand in Gods way, now that he comes as a Refiners fire to purify his Churches from all their tin, and all their drosse, he'l burn up the old oakes of Bashan, as very bri∣ers and thornes.

6. And therefore let me, in the next place, entreat all you old men, to suffer a word or two of exhortation from this Text. Be hence perswaded, oh all ye Elders of the congregation, to be righteous, to be holy. Take un∣to you the Crown of Religion, better then a crown of starrs, all you that have the crown of a hoarie head. To perswade you hereunto, let me commend to you these ensuing Considerations.

1. That the case of a wicked old man is very dan∣gerous and dreadfull; if he dye in his sinnes, he shall re∣ceive greater damnation: the Furnace of Hell shall be seven times hotter for these, then for young sinners. Oh these bundles of Tares fully ripe, these old rotten Fag∣gots of Bryers and Thornes, (so wicked men are called) how suddainly, how terribly, will they burne? Certainly it shall be more tolerable for Er and Onan, (who were cutt off betimes in their sinnes) in the day of Judgment then for the sinners of a hundred yeares old.

2. The case of a wicked old man, although it be very dangerous, yet it is not desperate: Some old festered soares have been healed; some old Chronick diseases have been cured; 'tis not impossible to bow an old oake, yea to bend the very heart of oake; art can doe that God is a Chirurgeon can heale old soares, a Physitian can cure old Diseases; he hath an Arme can bow the heart of Oake; he that can of stones raise Children to Abra∣ham, can if he please, and when he please, of old sonnes of Belial, make Children of God. He that raised up La∣zarus, after he had been dead foure dayes, can raise up sinners, who have been dead in sinnes and trespasses, to the life of grace, to the life of faith, after they have been spiritually dead fourescore years. The houre cometh and now is, saith Christ, Joh: 5.25. When the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God, and they that heare shall live.

Note, 'tis said, the dead without any limitation or restri∣ction to any number of dayes, moneths, or years, how long they have been dead: The dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and live. Again the possibi∣lity of the conversion of an old man seems to be grant∣ed, or supposed, by our Saviour, in his conference with Nicodemus, Joh: 3.4, 5, 6, 7. where our Saviour denyes not the Regeneration of an old man, but taxeth Nicode∣mus his grosse ignorance, in thinking an old man, if he be borne againe, must needs enter into his mothers Wombe, when he is old.

3. Although the conversion of an old sinner is not absolutely impossible, yet 'tis a hard work; 'tis a rare and marvellous work: If a Bone be many years out of joynt, it is exceeding difficult to set again, now sinners are Members out of joynt, as is intimated Galath: 6.1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 set such an one in joynt again. When our Sa∣viour Christ raised Lazarus, Joh: 11. we find that it cost him more then to raise Jairus Daughter newly dead, or the Widdow of Naims son carried forth towards bu∣riall, he wept, he groaned in spirit, he prayed, he called upon Lazarus with a loud voyce, Lazarus come forth, and he troubled himself, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to teach us how hard a matter it is to raise an old sinner from the death of sinne to the life of grace. I have read that about three hundred and sixty years after Christ, there was an old man, who had been a Pagan all his dayes be∣fore, who in his old age hearkened after Christ, and said he would be a Christian. Simplicianus hearing him say so, would not believe him; but when the Church saw him a Christian indeed, there was shouting for glad∣nesse, and singing in every Church, Caius Marius Vi∣ctorinus is become a Christian! An old sinner to become a young Saint is a great wonder. But yet because the

Conversion and Salvation of old sinners is not impossi∣ble, let me perswade and direct the oldest sinners of all, that hear me this day, to turn their feet into the way of righteousnesse, to accept of Salvation inter pontem & fontem, (betwixt the bridge and the water, as we say,) to accept of a pardon when thay are just turning off the ladder; to accept of life now they are at the point of death; hear all ye old men and your souls shall live: Our Lord Jesus Christ is able and willing and ready to save old sinners; if you will accept of him for your Savi∣our upon his own (that is upon very honourable) termes.

Beloved, there is yet hope concerning your soules: God is willing to pluck you yet as fire-brands out of the burning; to rescue you out of the mouth of the Lyon, the roaring lyon; to save you out of the belly of hell, that is, out of the belly of that great Leviathan, who in his thoughts hath already swallowed you up. Oh there∣fore, now God calls to you, saying, How long! How long! When will it once be? Return, return, why will you dye? Let every soul of you Eccho back again, surely this is a faithfull saying & worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of which I am Chiefe, and again, How shall I escape, If I neglect such great sal∣vation? God forbid but that this goodnesse of God should lead me to repentance. Thus reason or commune with thy own soul, before it be too late. Loe I have given the devill (God's and my soul's enemie) the most generous refined wine, my young and sprightly dayes; and will God now accept, can God find in his heart to accept of dregs? of my old age? The devill has had the the finest flower, and will God be contented with the bran? the devill and my sins have had a full harvest, and will God to whom first fruits and all is due, be satisfied

with gleanings the devill has had the first-lings the best and fattest of the flock, and will God ac∣cept of the halt, the lame and the blind in sacrifice? Oh the height, and depth, and bredth of the mercy of God! Oh my soul, my soul thou Shulamite, return, re∣turn. I beseech thee by these mercies of God, that hence∣forth thou give up thy self a holy and living sacrifice unto God, which is but reasonable service, that thou redeem the time; and doe much for God in a little time: And now oh that my age might he renewed like the Eagles, that God would add unto my dayes many years! that the Sunne of my life might stand still, and not hast to goe down for many years! till I might be avenged on my lusts, the Enimies of my God, and of my soul! till I that have done God a great deale of disservice and disho∣nour, might doe him a great deale of service and ho∣nour! Till I have been as Eminent for holynesse, as e∣ver I have been notorious for Prophanesse! And now, oh all ye that passe by, tell me, tell me, what such an old sinner as I should doe to be saved?

To this question I answer, that old men must be sa∣ved the same way that young men are saved, and that is, by beleeving on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord our righteousnesse. Whosoever beleeves on the Lord Je∣sus Christ, although he be never so old a sinner, shall cer∣tainly be saved, shall in no wise perish but have everla∣sting life. Doest thou see thy self lost in old Adam? doest see thy self, as thou art growing up out of that old stock, out of that root of bitternesse, fit fewell for Hell-fire? doest see a necessity of being born again now thou art old, or else thou must dye eternally? Art weary of the body of sinne and death, that old man of originall sinne which thou carriest about with thee? Wouldest with all thy heart have this old man with his deeds

crucified together with Christ? doth it repent thee with∣all thy heart that thou hast lived so long to so little purpose? that thou art ready to goe out of the world before thou hast done almost any thing of the work for which thou camest hither? Can'st find in thy heart to come to Christ for salvation, from the hell that is in sin, as well as from the hell that sin deserves, before thou goest out of the world? Darest venture thy soule upon this crucified Jesus, and know it is no venture? Is there none in heaven or earth, no other Saviour, none that thy soul desires in comparison of him? Art resolved in the strength of Christ, to live in him whil'st thou livest, and to dye in Christ, or for Christ when thou dyest? Doest desire in the matter of Justification, to be found not having on thy own righteousnesse, but the righte∣ousnesse of Christ, and thereby to appear righteous be∣fore God; and for the glory of God, and to the Justifica∣tion of thy Faith before men, doest resolve to endeavour that thy hoary head may be found in the way of holy∣nesse and righteousnesse? If these things and such holy motions, resolutions and qualifications as these be in thee and abound; Blessed art thou that ever thou wa'st borne; thou shalt not dye, but live; this day I assure thee salvation is come unto thy soul: Jesus Christ hath given thee life, a new life in thy old age. Men it may be, think it almost impossible, that a valley of dry bones should live; and say as 'tis Ezek: 37. can these dry bones live? who would ever have said, that such an old sinner should e∣ver have proved a young convert? But God that quick∣neth the dead, he saith to his Prophets, Prophesie upon these bones, and say unto them, oh ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord; and who knows but that some of these dry bones may live? Truely my prayer for these old men shall be, to the God of my life and theirs, that they

might all live in his sight, that they might all live for ever: And for you all that hear me this day, oh that God would bind up all your souls in the bundle of life! oh that ye might have part in the first resurrection, that on you the second death might have no power! oh that ye might be changed from nature to grace, before your change by death come, that your change may be for the better, and not for the worse! But least any from the possibility of the salvation of the oldest and chiefest sin∣ners take heart to put off their repentance to old age, least any suck poyson from so sweet a flower, take by way of Caution or Antidote these two or three Obser∣vations.

1. That old sinners, who have all their time enjoy∣ed the means of grace, have rarely been known to re∣turn and repent in their age, when there is but a step betwixt them and death, & so betwixt them and hell.

2. That those labourers in the Parable who came into the vineyard to work at the eleventh hour, were not cald untill the eleventh hour. Math: 20. The Que∣stion was put by an old Indian Sagamore, or gover∣nour in New England, to one of the English Ministers; Whether our God and Saviour would receive an old sinner, such as he was? The Minister answered, doubtlesse he would, considering this old man had never heard of Christ 'til his old age, and came in when called.

3. That there was a time, when wisedome stop'd her eares at their crie, who refufed to hear when she called. Prov: 1.24. Let not young sinners goe on in their sins, thinking to return when they are old, for that is the way never to live to be old, or if they doe, they rarely repent in age. Yet let not old sinners despaire, whoever comes unto Christ, he will in no wise cast out.

And as for you old men, whose hoarie heads are found in the way of righteousnesse, Goe on and prosper, and the Lord be with you; Be, as Noah was, Preachers of righteousnesse in your generation; See that ye shine as lights in the midst of a crooked generation. Be exam∣ples of holinesse to younger ones; call upon them: to remember their Creatour betimes, in the dayes of their youth; teach them the way they should goe, that they may not forsake it when they are old. And espe∣cially ye who are fathers and mothers, let the soules of your children be precious in your eyes: doe not offer your sons and daughters unto devills, and bring them forth and up to the great Abaddon, or murtherer of soules for want of religious education, Be earnest with God, night and day with teares and Prayers, and with your children by instruction, reprehension, correction, exhor∣tation, that so your children may rise up and call you blessed, may blesse God for you, and with you. Oh what a joy and rejoycing, ye pious fathers and mothers, will it be to you, to meet Jesus Christ at the great day with such like words as he used to his father, Loe here are we and the children thou hast given us; of all thou hast given us, have we lost none; there's never a son or daughter of perdition amongst them; thine they were, thou gavest them us, and they have kept thy word.

To conclude all, men, brethren, and fathers, I be∣seech you to suffer the word of exhortation, I speak un∣to you Young men, and exhort, saying, Be ye righteous, that ye may be old; this will be your crown, and the length of your dayes. I speak unto you old men, and exhort saying, Oh be ye righteous and religious, this will be your crown, and glory, better then that of a hoarie head; be holy, and ye shall be happy; live well, and live for ever. And ye that have been young, and religious, and old &

religious too, young Saints & old Saints, Oh be not wea∣ry, faint not, hold out, ye are not far from the kingdome of heaven, you are near the Goal, your labour and tra∣vaile is almost at an end, you shall have crown for crown, for this corruptible crown of glory of old age, you shall have a crown of glory, which is reserved in heaven for you, which is incorruptible: your old bodyes shall be new cast in the grave, as in a new mould, and all the wrinkles, cracks, and flawes, shall be mended: and where∣as you have now a crown of glory upon your head in your old age, you shall then have a body all glorified, and all glorious, you shall be made like unto the glori∣ous body of Christ, that is, you shall shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of your Father. Instead of long life on earth, you shall have eternall life in heaven: You shall sit down with the holy Patriarcks, Abraham, Isaack, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Yea thus blessed and glorious shall ye all be, both young and old, who are found, living and dying, in the way of righteous∣nesse.

FINIS.