The Hoary Head Adorned: Piety as the Excellence of Age

The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom.—Piety a peculiar ornament to the aged.

I. Who may properly be called old people? Old and young are relative terms admitting different significations. Children always think their parents are old. Those who have grey hairs upon them bear the visible mark of advancing years. Elohim leaves it to every individual to judge justly when the precepts to the young bind him, and when the precepts to the old bind him.

II. What is to be understood by the piety of old people? It is called their righteousness—denoting holiness in heart and life. True piety implies two essential things: first, cordial belief in the great truths of the gospel; second, the practice of those duties and doctrines. Aged Christians have lived long in the way of holiness and obedience to Divine commands. Though the oldest never arrive at sinless perfection in this life, they generally grow in grace as they grow in years.

III. In what respects is the piety of the aged their peculiar ornament? Piety adorns the hoary head and spreads singular beauty over the aged. First, their piety appears with peculiar purity—tried, purified, and refined through the sanctified discipline of life-experience. Second, it hides the infirmities and imperfections peculiar to their age. Third, their piety renders them useful when they would otherwise be burdensome to the world.