LETTERS TO THE AGED
by Archibald Alexander
LETTER THREE
I have no doubt that you have observed with surprise,
that the impression of the reality and importance of eternal things is not
increased by the nearness of your approach to the end of your course.
Time glides insensibly away, and it is with us in this respect, as in
relation to the globe on which we reside. While other things appear to be in
motion, our feeling is that we are stationary. The mere circumstance of
being old seems to affect no one with a more lively concern about the
salvation of the soul. None appear to be more blind and stupid in regard to
eternal realities, than many who are tottering on the brink of the grave.
This, indeed, is so commonly the fact with those who have grown old without
true religion, that very little hope is entertained of the conversion of the
aged who have from their youth enjoyed the means of grace. And it is also a
fact that real Christians are not rendered more deeply sensible of the
solemn importance of eternal things by becoming old and infirm. The truth
is, that nothing but an increase of faith by the operation of the Holy
Spirit will be effectual to prepare us for that change which we know is
rapidly approaching. Counsels and exhortations, however, are not to be
neglected, as God is pleased to work by means. I have, therefore, undertaken
to address to you such considerations as occur to me.
Having already spoken of the infirmities and sins which
are apt to cleave to us in advanced years, I propose in this letter to
inquire what are the peculiar duties incumbent on the aged. What
would the Lord have us to do?—for undoubtedly, we are not privileged to fold
our hands, and sit down in idleness, as if our work was ended. Indeed, it
would be no privilege to be exempt from all occupation. Such a life to the
aged or the young, must be a life of misery; for man never was made to be
idle, and his happiness is intimately connected with activity. We may be no
longer qualified for those labors which require much bodily strength. We
may, indeed, be so debilitated or crippled by disease, that we can scarcely
move our decrepit frame—and some among us may be vexed with excruciating
pain—yet still we have a work to perform for God and for our generation.
If we cannot use our hands and feet so as to be useful in
the labors which we were accustomed to perform, yet we may employ our
tongues to speak the praises of our God and Savior. We may drop a word of
counsel to those around us; and especially, the aged owe a duty to the young
to whom they may have access and who are related to them. Every aged
Christian must have acquired much knowledge from experience, which he should
be ready to communicate as far as it is practicable. Why is it, my dear
friends, that we allow so many opportunities of usefulness to pass without
improvement? Why are we so often silent, when the suggestions of our own
conscience urge us to speak something for God? How is it, that we consume
hours in unprofitable talk, and seldom attempt to say anything which can
profit the hearers? We may plead inability—we may excuse ourselves, because
we are unlearned and not able to speak eloquently and correctly—but let us
be honest; is not the true reason because our own hearts are so little
affected with these things? We cannot consent to play the hypocrite by
uttering sentiments which we do not feel; and we have often been disgusted
with the attempts of others, who, in a cold and constrained manner, have
introduced pious conversation.
It is easy to see where the fault lies; it is in the
state of our own hearts. Let us never rest, then, until we find ourselves in
a better state of mind. Let us get our hearts habitually under the influence
of divine things, and then conversation on this subject will be as easy as
on any other. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." (Matt
12:34) There are companies and occasions, when to obtrude remarks on piety
would be unseasonable and imprudent, for we must not cast our pearls before
swine: but, in most cases, an aged person may give utterance to seasonable
and solemn truths without offence—and very often a word spoken in season has
been the means of saving a soul; and the advice and exhortations of parents
and pious friends are remembered and prove salutary, after their heads are
laid low under the clods of the valley.
I have often heard aged people, incapable any longer of
active service, express surprise that their unprofitable lives were so long
protracted; while the young and laborious servants of God were cut off in
the midst of their years. The dispensations of God are indeed
inscrutable—"His ways are past finding out" (Rom 11:33)—and we are too
little acquainted with His counsels to sit in judgment on them. But I would
say to those who think that they can be of no further use in the world, that
they do not form a just estimate of the nature of the service which God
requires, and by which He is glorified by His creatures upon earth.
All true obedience originates in the heart, and consists
essentially of the affections of the heart. External duties are to be
performed—but are only holy as connected with holy motives. The aged man may
serve God, therefore, as sincerely and fervently as any others, if only the
heart is right in the sight of God. He can glorify God in his spirit, by
thinking affectionately of His glorious name, by contemplating His divine
attributes, and by exercising love and gratitude towards Him. His devotion
might thus approach more nearly to our conceptions of the services and
exercises of the saints in heaven.
But it may be that the lives of some are lengthened out
that they may offer up many prayers for the church and for the world; for,
after all the activity and bustle and zeal apparent, there is no service
which can be performed by mortals so effectual as prayer. Here there is a
work to which the aged may be devoted. While Joshua and the men of war
contend with the Amalekites in the battle, Moses assists by lifting up his
hands in prayer; and when he is, through fatigue, no longer able to hold
them up, he is assisted by Aaron on one side and Hur on the other. If you
cannot preach, you can, by prayer, hold up the hands of those who do. You
can follow the missionary, who leaves all to go and labor in heathen lands,
with your daily and fervent prayers. It is not in vain for you to live,
while you have access to a throne of grace.
Before the advent of Christ there were some aged people
who seem to have been preserved in life that they might pray for this event,
and that they might enjoy the pleasure of seeing the answer of their
prayers, and embracing Him in their arms whom they had so often embraced by
faith. While all around was spiritual death and desolation, and corruption
and error had infected all classes, from the priesthood downward; there was
a little band who had taken up their residence in the temple, or often
frequented this holy place, who were waiting for the consolation of Israel.
Two of these were Simeon and Anna; but there were others of the same
character; for we read that this very aged and pious widow, who departed not
from the temple—but served God with fastings and prayers night and day,
"spoke of Christ (after she had seen him) to all those who looked for
redemption in Israel". (Luke 2:38) The darker the times, the more closely do
the truly pious adhere to each other. This little knot of praying people
knew each other, and no doubt spoke often one to another; and in this case
the Lord hearkened and heard; for the object of their desires and prayers
was given to them. Was the life of Anna an unprofitable life, although she
never left the temple, and did nothing but fast and pray? Was Simeon a
useless member of the church because he was probably too old for labor?
The truth was—and the same is often verified—that the
true church of God was at this time confined to a few pious souls, while the
priests and the scribes and the rulers had neither part nor lot in the
matter. As God preserved Simeon, according to a promise made to him, until
he saw the Lord's Christ, so He may be lengthening out the lives of some of
you, my aged brethren, until you may have the opportunity of seeing the
salvation of Israel come out of Zion. Do you not wish to be witnesses of the
rise and glory of the church? Pray then incessantly for the peace and
prosperity of Jerusalem. Consider it as your chief business to pray that the
kingdom of God may come. What though the signs of the times be
discouraging—what though you live in troublesome times—what though the
church may be shaken and the prospects of her increase be dark, yet remember
that she is founded on a rock, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against
her. The vessel which carries Christ, though it be buffeted by storms, is in
no danger of being wrecked. But to govern and direct does not belong to you;
your duty is to pray—to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17)—to wrestle with
the angel of the covenant, and not to let Him go until He blesses you. (Gen
32:26) Give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in
all the earth. You cannot offend by importunity—but by this you will be sure
to prevail; for "will not God hear his own elect—who cry day and night unto
him?" (Luke 18:7) Therefore, never hold your peace—but as long as you live
intercede with Him to fulfill His gracious promises, and to cause the earth
to be filled with the knowledge of Himself as the waters cover the sea, when
His people shall be all righteous, and there shall be no need any longer for
any one to say to his neighbor, 'Know the Lord,'—for all shall know Him from
the least to the greatest.
Thanksgiving is also a duty peculiarly incumbent on
the aged. In the providence of God you are spared, while most of your
friends have been cut off in the midst of their career. Some of you have
enjoyed almost uninterrupted prosperity. When you consider the dispensations
of God's providence towards you, in the time and place and circumstances of
your birth, in giving you pious and intelligent parents, who took care of
your health and education, and in following you with goodness and mercy all
the days of your life, giving you kind friends, faithful teachers, health
and reason, together with abundant spiritual privileges, how thankful ought
you to be! But that which above all other things enhances your obligations
to gratitude is, that in His own good time He effectually called you from
the devious paths of iniquity, and adopted you as a child into His own
household and family, and perhaps has made you the instrument of much good
to others; if not on a large scale, yet in your own family and in the church
of which you are a member. If now, to all these blessings, He has given you
pious children, who promise, when you are gone, more than to supply your
place in society; or even if they have been preserved from infidelity and
disgraceful immoralities and are inclined to pay a serious attention to the
preaching of the Gospel—no words can express your obligations to give thanks
unto the Lord and continually to praise His name whose mercy endures forever
and ever. "Let us, therefore, offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually—that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." (Heb
13:15)