ing a while. They must shew themselves easy to be pleased, and receive kindly the regards paid them, and the services done them; neither resenting it, nor wondering at it, if there be some failures in both; as doubtless there were formerly in their own behaviour at the fame age. They must endeavour to make the time that young people spend with them not only as improving, but as easy as they well can; and after all, not require too much of it; but both allow, and indeed contrive for them, fuch proper feafons of innocent relaxation and amusement elsewhere, as it must be known they cannot but defire. They who in their early days were treated with this humanity themselves, are inexcufable unless they afterwards treat others with the fame: and such as were not, should remember, not only how strictly they were bred up, but how hardly they bore it, and how unreasonable they thought it.

At present indeed too great indulgence is much the commoner fault, and will certainly appear, (may I not fay, hath abundantly appeared already?) to be a most fatal error; worse by far than any moderate degree of over-great rigour. But the extremity of it may be full as bad as total negligence. The one makes those that are guilty of it despised; the other makes them hated; and which bids fairest to ruin those that are educated under its influence would be hard to say. Sometimes the fame persons have both these faults at once. Their favourites can do no nothing wrong; those out of favour nothing right. And fuch partiality is the readiest way to spoil both. To the former it is a dangerous privilege: to the latter, a provocation that may drive them to despair: and the importance of each error demands our utmost care to avoid it, by preferving an impartial and confiderate conduct. On the one hand, young people ought absolutely to be restrained from criminal pleasures, and obliged to fuch application and employment of themselves, as their duty and condition require. Nay, whatever hath but a tendency to make them wicked or uselefs, must, in proportion to that tendency, be discouraged and prohibited. For elderly persons are far from having the fense they ought, either of their past sins or their present obligations; if because they had formerly vices themselves, they indulge those who belong to them in the fame vices now. But then, on the other fide, it is a grievous fault too, if the confciousness of their own youthful irregularities induce them, when they are old, to fuf

pect

pect and condemn others without reason. For what can be more unrighteous than to punish the innocent, or think no one is innocent merely because we know ourselves to have been guilty? Nor is another conclusion, though frequently drawn, by any means a just one, that in our younger days we were under fuch and such restraints; perhaps too, (if we have not forgot) were tolerably well contented with them; and therefore no one that belongs to us shall ever have any greater liberty. But we should remember, that different tempers require different treatment: and even the customs of different ages must have allowances made to them, and in some measure be complied with. It is very natural for the aged to think highly of the practices of their own times, and be displeased with the novelties which another generation introduces. Nor can it be denied but in several respects there is at present fufficient foundation for fuch diflike. But this however must not be carried too far. In matters that are indifferent it is of no importance what usages prevail: or if a less becoming, or less convenient one, doth take place, provided that be all, the harm is not great. The world hath always had its follies of this fort as well as others: only, when they are out of date, they are soon forgotten. And though we should carefully dispose young people, to comply with the dictates of good sense, even in the least things, because that leads them to do so in greater; yet their smaller_deviations from it must be borne with: and to inveigh against these as heinous crimes, is confounding the distinctions of things; and, by overstraining the point in trifles, we lose the regard, that might elfe be paid us in articles of importance.

And indeed more confiderable instances of misbehaviour in youth, ought to be animadverted on by the elder with due moderation. For the heart may not be near so wrong, as the outward action: and prudent gentleness will often reclaim those, whom harth treatment will exasperate beyond recovery: efpecially if they can perfuade themselves, as they easily do, that any part of it is unjust. Therefore it should be a conftant rule, to hear them patiently in their own defence; admit their excufes, as far as they are at all well grounded; and place their failings before them in that point of view, which is likelieft to convince their judgement, and gain their esteem: for till that is done, nothing is done effectually. To this end they should always be permitted the freedom of a decent reply: and if they

should fometimes abuse that freedom a little, taking a mild notice of it will generally be the best way to shame them, or at least should be tried first.

There is likewise, in matters which are at all disputable, another motive for this conduct. Undoubtedly, in general, the aged have had by far the greatest opportunities for feeing and weighing things; and are the fittest judges of their nature and consequences. The presumption is intirely on the fide of their opinion: and this ought to be confidered much more than it is. But then they have not always used their opportunities to the best advantage. They may have ftood still a great while without improvement; and confequently be in some respects behind those, whom in years they precede. It is not impoffible, but the notions, by which they judge now, may have been taken, up altogether accidentally at first, when they were as raw and thoughtless, as those whom they direct and reprove. Or, however, though in plain matters, as known duties and fins, and allowed instances of common prudence and grofs folly, we cannot be mistaken; yet in others, the wisest may sometimes judge wrong, and the most unexperienced hit upon the truth. Mildness of temper and speech therefore is very useful, on this account amongst others, that if we should happen to mistake, we may confefs it without reluctance or loss of credit; (for it will be in vain to think of concealing it ;) and may deserve more respect, instead of less, from those whom we treat with so much fairness and condescension. When both fides are ingenuous enough to act thus; when a fuperior in years can frankly yield to the better argument of a younger than himself, and the younger in return behave with modesty, and a fort of decent confufion, at the advantage he hath happened to gain; it is hard to say, which character is the most amiable; and it is great pity that both are fo rare.

I must not proceed further at present: and possibly fome may think, I have dwelt too much already on particulars, not important enough to be looked on as religious obligations: and that this fort of preaching is not preaching christianity. But I beg them to confider, that the defign of the gospel is to make us good in small matters, as well as great; happy in our present state, as well as our future: that, for want of observing fuch rules, as I have now given, much wickedness and much misery obtain in the world; and when they are neglected, as they are too of

ten, by persons profeffing godliness *, their profession is dishonoured, and their salvation endangered. The common duties therefore of common life, from the highest to the lowest, must be distinctly set forth, and earnestly inculcated. But then it must be constantly understood at the fame time, that we have not strength to perform any duties, but through the grace of Chrift: nor will our performances be accepted and rewarded, but through the merits of Christ. Always remember therefore, what furely you need not always be told, that as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can we, except we abide in him: he is the wine, we are the branches: be that abideth in Chrift, and Christ in him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit: for without bim we can do nothing t.

Tim. ii. 10.

† John xv. 4, 5.

SER

SERMON XVI.

THE DUTIES OF THE AGED.

PROV. xvi. 31.

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

THE uncasinesses of life in every period of it are many, and often heavy: but old age abounds with fufferings beyond the reft. Some of these proceed unavoidably from our make, and the fituation in which we are placed; but so much a larger share from our own ill conduct, that the wisest 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 despised by others, and wretched within ourselves.

To illustrate and confirm a truth so instructive and important, I have proposed to shew from these words,

I. What affiftances religion and virtue contribute to this most defirable end.

II. That they must be effectual.

Now the first way, as you have already seen, 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 neceffary provifions for its being fo: not to ruin our healths beforehand by irregularities, nor cur 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 fouls 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