2. They do more wisely manage the affairs of the spiritual life. The scripture speaketh of being ' wise to salvation,' wise in that which is good : Rom. xvi. 19, ' But yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.' And the children of God should be 'wise in their generation,' Luke xvi. 8. Without this practical wisdom there is no escaping the snares of the deceiver, and getting safe to heaven. Now this wisdom is more in the old than the young believer. As to the young, see 1 Tim. iii. 6, ' Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil ; ' ve6(pvTov, a late convert, or young christian, or one newly come to the faith ; such an one is more various and uncertain in his motions, hath not that spiritual prudence, and that measure of circumspection, which old exercised christians have, and so is far more likely to fall into the condemnation of the devil than the experienced. On the other side, consider what advantages they have, as knowing their helps and hin- drances: Heb. v. 14, 'But strong meat belongeth unto them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.' They know the craft of Satan : 2 Cor. ii. 11, ' Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.' They have felt the bitterness of sin : Ps. Ii. 6, ' In the hidden parts thou shalt make me to know wisdom.' They know what hindrances they shall have from the devil, world, and flesh, and how they may resist occasions of evil, defeat the policies of the devil, and grow wise to salvation, and the world may not divert and distract them from the love of God and the exercise of godliness. Experience hath made them wise to decline the rocks upon which they dashed heretofore. In all arts and trades men attain greater niceness and skill by pains and observation. And shall a christian gain nothing by long prac- tice and continual watchfulness ? Surely the blows and foils received have made them skilful, and wary to disappoint the assaults of the enemy.
3. They are more fixed in the truth against the seduction of error
VER. 13, 14.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. 409
This is in the text. The seducers of that age denied the godhead of Christ ; and it always holdeth good : Eph. iv. 14, ' That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.' There is an estate of childish ignorance ancl infirmities, and there is above this a kind of growth and growing age, whilst we are making progress towards perfection ; and above this there is our manly age. In our younger time there is a simplicity and easiness to credit all that is presented to us. Babes in Christ are weak in all the parts of the new man, in knowledge, prudence, faith, love, patience. But now we must not be always children, not always weak and unsettled. Surely as we grow in years we should grow in knowledge and prudence ; the aged have more a spirit of discerning, more solidity in judgment, and stability in truth, and are not so easily transported with the vain and giddy notions of an unsettled head. Errors are as palpable deviations from the way to glory as profaneness and gross sins. Therefore it is a part of the perfection of a christian to be settled against them, which advantage the aged have above others, as the testimony of Christ is more confirmed in them, 1 Cor. i. 6 ; 1 John v. 10, ' He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself : he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.' They have arguments at hand in their own bosoms. What was before in their books is transcribed upon their hearts ; thither they can repair, and find reasons enough to confirm them in the truth. This testimony in ourselves doth most befriend the main and great articles of Christianity, though it also confirmeth the several parts of it. They that have felt benefit by the truth are most likely to know the mind of God in lesser things : John vii. 17, ' If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of my- self.' He that hath felt sin bitter can never be tempted to think it is no great evil ; so he that hath felt Christ sweet cannot but prize him and cleave to him above all. The long experience of the fruit of duties confirms them against those delusions which would draw us from them. 4. Their hearts are brought into a more settled, heavenly temper. In christians of a lower rank there is a greater inconstancy in their choice ; though they are not as the half-convert, double-hearted and unstable, James i. 8, yet very uncertain in their motions ; but after- wards they bring their hearts into a more even, holy frame, and a more fixed bent towards heavenly things : Col. i. 23, ' If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.' A man at first hath not disentangled his heart from the snare of worldly felicity, and therefore his mind and heart is scattered to so many vain 'impertinent objects, and they are busied more about transitory pleasures, and therefore are shifting off and on, and so darken the spiritual life by the eruption of the carnal nature; and therefore David beggeth, Ps. lxxxvi. 4, ' Kejoice the soul of thy servant, for unto thee, 0 Lord, do I lift up my soul ; ' and the apostle, 2 Thes. iii. 5, ' The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.' Their hearts are straight set towards God and heavenly things. The apostle presseth christians,