7. They are more weaned from the delights of sense, and have long used to moderate themselves within the bounds of sobriety: Titus ii. 2, ' That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.' Old age being cold and dry, is desirous to warm and moisten itself ; and therefore need this caution, they must take heed that they be not mocked with wine and strong drink. Noah and Lot, who lived so long, yet had not got a command over their appetite. They should be examples of sobriety ; a tippling old man, what a dis- grace is he to his grey hairs ! But with the children of God it is otherwise, they know how to spend every day and winter's night in another fashion than in eating, drinking, sporting, and playing. Anna went not out of the temple, and old Simeon waited to see God's salvation.
8. They think and speak of the world to come, and the blessed state of the faithful in the most lively manner, as apprehending it sure and near: 2 Cor. iv. 16, 'For this cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day ; ' 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, ' I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
412 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN II. 12-14. [SER. IV.
give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing;' Rom. xiii. 11, 'And that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.' By the course of nature it will not be long ere they are with God ; therefore their hearts work the more strongly after it. Natural motion is swifter toward the latter end, when it comes nearer the centre.
9. They attain unto greater soundness and integrity in the essentials of religion : Titus ii. 2, ' That the aged be sober, temperate, sound in faith, charity, patience.' In that verse somewhat is said to the aged, as they are old men, and somewhat as old christians. They that have the most effectual apprehensions of the greatness, goodness, and wisdom of God, and of their own sin, the need of Christ and grace, the truth and excellency of the life to come, and the vanity of this life, are the best christians. They who are most conformed to Christ in humility, meekness, and lowliness of mind, esteeming others better than them- selves, that have most hatred of sin, and care to subdue it, and victory over it, and can most deny the flesh, its irregular desires, and bear the inconveniences of it, and whose greatest delight is in God himself, these are the grown christians.
Use 2. To show how much it concerneth fathers in years to be fathers in grace, and to be more eminently religious than others, that they may be a pattern and example to them. First, it conduceth to God's honour. If young men and children should only profess reli- gion, you would take it for indiscretion and hotness of spirit ; young punies, they know not what they do. Moses ' when he was grown in years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,' Heb. xi. 24. Fathers, when they served God in their ripest age, and for many years, and yet are not weary of his service, this is an honour to him. Secondly, for your own comfort, what a support and staff is godliness to old age, when decays of nature are recompensed with the increase of grace, the weakness of body with soundness of mind ! 2 Cor. iv. 16, ' For which cause we faint not ; but though the outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.' The mind is fresh and vigorous when the body is weak. When the eye is dim, as in old Israel, it can see God the invisible one. If with Barzillai we lose our taste, yet we find sweetness in the bread of life. If we die, Christ is our life. Alas ! many old men are like vessels long abroach, nothing left in them but the lees and dregs of ignorance and sin. How miser- able are such old men, when ignorant of God, and mindless of heavenly things, in part or in whole, when they do not seek after God ! In part, when yet weak, very babes in knowledge or grace; weak, unwise, feeble in things of God, and so may easily be foiled by temptations, and miscarry foully. Their example swayeth much ; if they are only dead sticks, they do but cumber the ground. But how good is it to leave a sweet scent of religious conversation behind them !
Use 3. That the aged in years and grace must be written unto —
1. That they may persevere in godliness. They are not yet out of the reach of temptations. Men that have made some long profession of the name of Christ may suffer a great abatement of their former integrity in their latter days. It is not with them as it was at first. We read