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Prov.16.31. The hoary head is a Crown of Glory, if it be found in the way of righteousneffe. Job 32.7. I faid, daies fhould fpeak, and multitude of years fhould teach wisdom.

Job.5.26. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age,like as a fhock of Corn cometh in, in his feaJon.

Pfal.71.9. Caft me not off in the time of old age, for fake me not when my strength faileth. V.18. Now also, when I am old and gray head ed, O God for fake me not, &c.

Ifa.46.3. Hearken unto me o House of Facob, and all the remnant of the House of Ifrael, which are born by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb.

V.4. And even to your old age I am he, and even to hoary hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear, even 1 will carry, and will deliver you. ob 20.11. His bones are full of the fin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

Tal.25.7. Remember not the fins of my youth, nor my tranfgreffions; according to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodneffe fake, o Lord.

ob 13.26. For thou writeft bitter things against me, and makeft me to poffeffe the iniquities of my youth.

Śum.19.35. I am this day fourfcore years old, No 2

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and can I difcern between good and e fervant taft what I eat or what I drisk" hear any more the voice of finging w finging women? wherefore then hold vant be yet a burden to my Lord the En Acts 21.16. There went with us also t the Difciples of Cefarea, and brough one Mnafon of Cyprus, an old D whom we should lodge.

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Ifa.40.31. But they that wait upon the call renew their strength, they shall most most difea wings as Eagles, they shall run, and the ry, they shall walk, and not faint. they a 2 Tim.4.6. For I am now ready to be fion the time of my "departure is at hand, them V.7. I have fought a good fight, I bar and i my course, I have kept the Faith. V 8. Henceforth there is laid up for of righteoufaeß, which the Lord the Fudge hall give me at that day, and only, but unto all them also that love ing.

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CHAP. XIX.

Directions to the Healthy and to the
Sick.

ET fuch as enjoy health of body, the right ufe of their understandings, entirenelle of dimbs and fenfes, humbly bleffe God for fo great a mercy. Few people value their bealth enough. Tis an ancient faying, He that is in health, is ich, and knowes it not. Want would teach us he worth of mercies. Let fuch therefore often all to mind and confider how many distracted, ifeafed, maimed, deformed people there are in he world, and 'tis Gods peculiar mercy that bey are not fuch, or worse. Let this confideraon make them very humble, and thankful: Lee em be often lifting up their hearts to the Lord, nd faying, with holy David, What shall I ren r to the Lord for all his Benefits towards ine?.. fal. 116. 12. Bleß the Lord Omy foul, and all bat is within me bleffe his holy Name. Bleffe the ord O my foul, and forget not all his benefits, fal. 103. 1,2. Not unto us O Lord, not unto us, it unto thy Name give glory, Pal.115.1. And t their main care be in time of health to work. it their Salvation, to fecure their state in Grace, id their title to Glory, and to lay a good foundatiNo 3

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on against the time of fickness. 'Tis fade ing fad, when a dying perfon is then to be int ed in those Graces, he should new exercit that prepares not for death before his lef (as one faies well) is like him that bee dy Philofophy when he is going to differ in the faculty. In health, while a mants and steady ufe of his reason, before the his understanding are disturbed with mind clouded, or his heart annoyed amazement, he should apply hime thisgreat Art and Skill, how to dus the following Directions therefore the to the fick, be carefully minded and them that are in health. To turn to Godt man to feek reconciliation with him in and a Christ, to devote and confecrate our hea to him, to walk in a steady courfe of fi dience before him, and to do all this judgment and choice, out of love to God, defire to please him, before death feem any neer approach unto us, will be a huge of fincerity, and a great foundation of when fickneß attaches us. Whereas th are negligent and careleffe of thefe things, needs run themselves upon fuch desperatele and fuch great incertainties, that a wife an fidering man would not for all the world their condition.

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Directions to the Sick,

There is hardly any thing wherein a Minifter Is at a greater loffe, than what to say to fick perCons: the condition of meft being fuch, that hey need a ferious awakening and rouzing out of che deep fleep of carnal fecurity, and to be made "enfible of the great danger they are in, as to heir everlasting state. But while we do this, the ick party and thofe that attend, are apt to think we go about to drive them to despair, not undertanding the true nature thereof: For to defpair, I mean, utterly and finally) is this; when a nan fhall conclude that bis fins are greater than cna e forgiven, that God is irreconcileable to him, and herefore 'tis in vain to fet himself to repent, or umble his foul, or turn from his fins, but feeing is condition is defperate) refolves to go on in his ormer courfe, to enjoy the pleasures of fin bere, hile he may have them, feeing when this life is lone, nothing remaines for him but certain damnaion: Such a man as this may be truly faid to lefpair. But for any person to be so awakened, as o fee himself for the prefent in a loft condition, nd under the wrath and curfe of God by reafon of his ins, to fee his own utter inability to help himself, o be enquiring and earnestly follicitous what he must do to be faved, to have his heart full of doubts and fears and troubles, concerning the state of his Nn 4

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