Difcourfe III.

THE FRUITFULNESS OF AGED CHRISTIANS CONSIDERED AND URGED.

PSALM XCII. 14.

They fhall ftill bring forth fruit in old age: they shall be fat and flourishing.

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Remember," faith God to Ifrael, "the kindness of thy youth, and the love of thine efpoufals." And this is true of all God's faithful fervants, who entered into early and fincere engagements to be his, that he graciously remembers them. As an evidence of this, he hath made fuitable provifion for their continued progress in wisdom and piety, and to prevent their being weary in well-doing. The ordinances which he hath inftituted, and the promises which he hath made, in his word, are adapted to answer this important end. Our

text is one of these precious promises, made to old difciples; and, as appears from the foregoing verfe, hath a reference to religious ordinances, and their great usefulness in promoting the fruitfulness of the faints. I defire the particular attention of you, my aged friends, to it; as it will at once fuggeft to you a moft important duty, and a ftrong encouragement..

The Pfalmift, by a beautiful allegory or figure, reprefents the righteous, as trees planted in the houfe of the Lord; and then adds, "they fhall flourish in the courts

:

of our God." But, in one refpect, the comparison fails. Trees, when they are grown to their bulk and maturity, begin to decay then they generally produce lefs fruit, and what they produce is lefs valuable, than in former years. But the righteous shall still bring forth fruit in old age. They fhall grow like trees, but not decay like them. Nature indeed decays; but grace, in which their real, valuable growth confifts, fhall continue to thrive. They fhall be fat, that is, ftrong and healthy: they fhall be flourishing, or (as the word fignifies) green, in holiness, peace and joy.

F 2

For

For the illuftration of these words I would obferve, that they exprefs both the duty and the privileges of aged faints.-Let us confider each.

I. The text expreffeth the duty of the righteous:

Namely, to bring forth fruit in old age. It will be proper to confider-the fruits which may be expected from them—and then show how reafonable it is that they fhould produce them.

1. Let us confider the fruits which may be expected from them.

And these are, in general, the fruits of knowledge and holinefs.It may be reafonably expected that they should be fruitful in knowledge; be wife and judicious chriftians; not children in understanding, while they are old in years, but ftrong men in Chrift; filled with all knowledge, efpecially of the scripture and divine things, and able to inftruct and admonifh others.

-They fhould be fruitful likewife "in holiness and every good work;" eminent and exemplary for the difcharge of every christian duty; remarkably devout and

ferious,

ferious, juft and charitable, humble and Thus St. Paul inti

heavenly-minded.

mates, "that the aged men fhould be fober, grave, temperate, found in faith, in charity, in patience the aged women, likewife, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness; not falfe accufers, or evil fpeakers, not addicted to flander and cenforiousness; not given to much wine, but teachers of good things."-But let us dwell a little upon the proper fruits of age; the graces which are particularly neceffary for aged chriftians to abound in, and which are peculiarly ornamental and lovely at that feafon. One is, great patience, meekness and quietnefs of Jpirit. This is moft needful for them amidst their pains, infirmities and natural decays. If they have accustomed themfelves to the government of their paffions and to felf-denial, it will be eafy and natural for them to manifest this amiable difpofition. Their expectation of foon leaving this world and all its vexations, and putting off the body with all its infirmities, fhould promote and increase their refignation to the divine will, and their meekness and gentleness to all about

them.

them.*

To be weaned from the world, and ready for death, is another fruit of age. All, efpecially the aged, fhould confider themselves as pilgrims and ftrangers on earth. Their time is juft ended; therefore they fhould not be anxious about, or defirous of, the riches and honours of this world. They fhould renounce its trifling pleasures, and be content and thankful, whatever their lot may be. Death and eternity fhould be much in their thoughts. They fhould be willing to leave a world where they know fo little of God, and can do him fo little fervice; and where their converfe with him and enjoyment of him is fo broken, interrupted and imperfect..

Again: A heavenly conversation is a proper fruit of age. It becomes the old to think much of the end of their journey, and their everlafting home. It becomes the righteous to meditate frequently on the falvation to which they are approaching; to difcourfe with one another about their Father's houfe, its employments, and the happiness which he hath there provided for all his children. Thus fhould their affec

.* Lenit albefcens animos capillus. Hor.