SERMON VI,

PROV. xvi. 31.

The boary Head is a Crown of Glory, if it be found in the Way of Righteousness.

HE Uneafineffes of Life in every Period

THE

of it are many, and often heavy: but old Age abounds with Sufferings beyond the reft. Some of these proceed unavoidably from our Make, and the Situation in which we are placed; but fo much a larger Share from our own ill Conduct, that the wifeft of Men hath not feared to pronounce in the Text, that an uniform Course of Religion and Virtue would crown even that Part of our Days with Honour and Happiness, in which we are too commonly defpifed by others, and wretched within ourselves.

1

To illuftrate and confirm a Truth fo inftructive and important, I have proposed to fhew from these Words,

I. What

I. What Affiftances Religion and Virtue contribute to this moft defirable End.

II. That they must be effectual.

Now the first Way, as you have already feen, in which Religion and Virtue contribute to render old Age honourable and happy, is by directing us, in the former Part of Life, to make the necessary Provifions for its being fo: not to ruin our Healths beforehand by Irregu larities, nor our Fortunes by Extravagance; not to make our grey Hairs contemptible for want of timely Application to useful Knowledge and Business, nor hateful by a preceding Life of Injustice or Ill-nature; nor fill our Souls with Terrors, when our latter End approaches, by forgetting our Creator in our Youth. For these are Burthens, with which we need not, unless we will, load our declining Years.

I then fhewed you, that after this previous Care, Virtue and Religion direct us, how to behave aright, when the Time comes; to avoid the Temptations, and practise the Duties, which it brings along with it.

I. To avoid the Temptations.

Amongst thefe, one capital Danger is that of a felfish Disposition: which too frequently manifefts its peculiar bad Influence on the

Aged,

Aged, in Artifice and Fraud, Hard-heartednefs and Infenfibility; unfeafonable and immoderate worldly Pursuits; in their denying themselves what is fit; or grudging to bestow on others, what Nearnefs of Blood, or Promises made, or Expectations raised, or Gratitude, or Friendship, or Generofity, or Charity, require. And befides all this, they are very liable to give improperly and unequitably what they do give. Another Fault, that greatly diminishes both the Honour and the Comfort of the Old, is ill Temper: fometimes arifing from their own Infirmities, and Envy at the Health and Gaiety of others; fometimes from thinking, that they are not refpected and efteemed enough, and indulging Sufpicions that their Death is wished for; fometimes again, from seeing younger People, especially thofe under their Care, conduct themfelves in a Manner they difapprove.

Under each of these Particulars, I laid be-. fore you the Maxims and Methods, which Virtue and Religion prefcribe, for the avoiding of Dishonour and Unhappiness in the concluding Scenes of Life. I now proceed to an Error of a different Nature; into which they, who efcape the former, frequently fall, though equally contrary to the Rule of Duty; I

mean,

mean, Fondness for unallowable Gratifications and Amusements.

Vicious Pleafures in old Age are doubly im→ moral. Offences againft Modefty and Chastity at that Time of Life are unnatural, void of all Excufe, and deliver over those who commit them to a moft peculiar Sort of Contempt. Offences against Sobriety and Temperance, far from cheering and enlivening, in any proper Manner, opprefs and precipitate declining Age; and turn the Wifdom, which should procure Reverence to the hoary Head, into grofs and often public Childishness, if not worse. Continuing therefore to these Years in Follies, which we ought never to have begun, is exceeding bad: and nothing but beginning them at these Years, of which there are fometimes Examples, can be worse.

But fuppofe old Perfons only to dote upon innocent Levities, they must expect to be ridiculed for it by the livelier Part of the World, and lamented by the more ferious. That no prevailing Taste for any Thing more valuable, fhould be even yet acquired, is very deplorable: and throwing away, in this idle Manner, the small Remainder of their Days, after all the foregoing Part, will render their Cafecom

pletely

pletely wretched. A Life well spent hitherto, would have made better Ways of employing their Time agreeable now: and one ill spent will make them abfolutely neceffary. Not that the Aged are to be totally debarred from fitting Relaxations. Very often, by Reason of Infirmities of Body or Mind, fome Indulgences of that Sort become highly requifite for them. And indeed, unless there be very particular Occafion requiring it, old Age is not the Season for Men to increafe their Application to any Thing that fatigues them; but to moderate it gradually, and give themselves Eafe in Proportion as they need it. Besides, it is a good-natured Part, fometimes to join a little in the Diverfions of the Young; which also we may be able thus, much more effectually than by any other Way, to fuperintend and bring under prudent Regulations. But to make this, or any Thing elfe, a Pretence for gratifying Inclinations, that we are ashamed of owning; to fill up as many of our Hours, as we poffibly can, with idle Entertainments; to purfue them eagerly; be lavish of Expence upon them, and make them the Bufinefs of Life; to be continually seeking out for ftill more Opportunities of running away from Thought,