Difcourfe XI.

THE HONOUR OF AGED PIETY.

PROVERBS XVI. 31.

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

I

T is a dictaté of natural conscience, that reverence is due to the aged, merely on account of their age. It was frequently and ftrongly inculcated by the heathen law-givers and philofophers, that every one fhould honour the aged both in word and deed and one of their poets tells us, that "they held it to be a great crime, and worthy of death, if a young perfon did not rife up to fhow refpect to the aged." The general practice of the heathen, both ancient and modern, confirms and illuftrates this dictate of nature. The fcriptures command us to reverence the aged, and to show them all external marks of refpect and

honour.

honour. But when wisdom and piety accompany old age, it is peculiarly venerable. An ancient Jewish writer in the Apocrypha faith, "Oh, how comely a thing is judgment for gray hairs, and for ancient men to know counfel! Oh, how comely is the wifdom of old men, and understanding and counfel to men of honour! Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory." Solomon comprehends these thoughts in a few expreffive words in the text: The hoary head is a crown of glory, or a glorious crown: it is a beautiful ornament, and renders perfons worthy of veneration and refpect, if it be found in the way of righteousness; if they have walked in the ways of religion, and their long lives have been employed in the fervice of God. An important and useful obfervation, and capable of affording inftruction to us all, efpecially to the aged!In treating of it, I fall,

I. Show on what accounts aged piety is peculiarly honourable; and,

II. What useful inftructions we may learn from the fubje&t.

I. I am to fhow on what accounts the piety of the aged is peculiarly honourable.

W

And here I fhall mention these particulars-It began early-It is founded on knowledge and experience-It is approved and steadfast-It is attended with great ufefulness-and it renders them peculiarly ripe for glory.

1. It began early, and hath long continued.

This must be fuppofed; and is indeed implied in the text, when it is faid, if it be found in the way of righteoufnefs; intimating that fuch a one hath been long walking in that way. Perfons who have spent their youth in ferving divers lufts and pleafures, and their middle age in the purfuit of worldly enjoyments, to the total or habitual neglect of religion, are not entitled to this honour. Late converts, though their eternal interefts fhould be fecure, will not only have lefs comfort in their own fouls, but appear lefs amiable in the eyes of others, than early ones. They will remember, to their fhame, the fins of their youth and riper age; and others may remember

them

them to their dishonour. But where perfons have, with good Obadiah, feared the Lord from their youth, and walked in his fear all their days, they claim peculiar refpect. They have indeed lived; lived to a good purpofe; lived to God and Chrift: and, as this will be their own rejoicing, fo it will entitle them to, and even command, honour from others."

2. Their piety is founded on knowledge and experience.

We come into the world with few ideas, and ignorant of every thing about us. Knowledge is gained by obfervation, reflection, reading and converfe. Our stock of knowledge naturally increafeth with advancing years; and, though it will be more or less according to men's natural abilities, education, and the pains they take to improve their understandings, yet all will be continually acquiring new ideas; thofe that were in the mind will be reduced to better order, and applied to more useful purposes. Hence, though the aged are not always wife, yet they frequently are fo, and always much wifer than younger perfons of equal

equal capacities, advantages and application. This renders them worthy of honour. But aged faints are peculiarly honourable, because their knowledge is of the best kind, and applied to the beft purposes. -It is of the best kind. They have just

notions of those things which are of the greatest moment, and most worthy the attention and reflection of reasonable creatures. The converting grace of God generally begins in enlightening the understanding, and leading it to difcern those things that differ, and approve thofe that are excellent. They who have entered themfelves into Chrift's school betimes, have great advantages for learning his religion; of becoming well inftructed in the nature and defign, the doctrines and duties, of the gofpel, and being wife to falvation. Aged faints are well acquainted with the best things. Others may know more of the world, of trade, of philofophy, or human policy; but they know Chrift and him crucified. They have made many useful obfervations on the methods of Providence towards themselves, their families and the church of God. They know much of the