The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-09-07
Fourscore.
N o tice ho

1 ,Ss K Fourscore.
Notice how
cheerful he was. The Epistle to the
Philippians was written in his latter
years and from prison, vet its watch
word is, Rejoice. DR.. Theodore Guy
Ter in his autobiography, Memories of
Eighty Years" says: "There are some
people who have a pitiful dread of old
age. For myself, instead of it being
matter of sorrow or pain, it is rather
an occasion of profound joy that God
has enabled me to write in my family
record, -four Score Years.. The Octo-
Der of life may be one of the most
fruitful months in all it's calendar
and the Indian summer it's brightest
period when Gods sunshine kindles
every leaf on the tree with crimson
and golden glories."
Notice how sympathetic Pa1Ssas
when old. Shakespeare declares,
"Crabbed age and youth canot live to-
gether," but Paul managed it. He de-
lighted in young life and had Mark
and Titus and Timothy about him.
What a secret of perpetual youth!
Some Accomplishments of the Aged.
Then, too, this aged man was busy.
We understand the feeling of John
Wesley which led him to pray, Lord
let me not live to be useless" We re-
call that Michael Angelo did his great
est work at sixty-seven and at ninety
was an eager student and cried, 30
for another hundred years!" para
disc Lost was written by Milton a few
years before his death in old age.
Paul was busy with his writing. 1t
was Just at this time he wrota to Phile-
mon, calling himself paul the Aged"
i he sent forth his most glorious
\ Sistles Ephesians, Philippians, Colos-
Asians. Many aged people by writing
letters of Christian counsel or cheer
might make their last days wondrously
fruitful. If they can no longer write
with comfort, they may send forth
printed pages like leaves of healing.
Paul was busy with his reading. He
bids Timothy bring to him, while i'm
prisoned shortly before his death, his
books and parchments e Tim. 4:13l.
What an opportunity age affords to
browse at will in our libraries. The
books we have longed to read for years
may then be enjoyed. And how rich
they become in the light of the expert
ence of life! Especially, "What glory
gilds the sacred page"
Paul was busy praying. Truly, he
prayed without ceasing and especially
In old age, spent so largely in prison.
So long as this ministry is open, no
one need feel he has outlived his use
fulness. Indeed, it is the very minis
try neglected by those bearing the
burden and heat of the day. How the
Lord seeks for intercessors!
Paul was busy with his preaching.
True he was in prison, but he preached
to his guards. So that throughout the
Praetorian Guard Christ became
known (Phil. 1 :13 r. W. We are re-
minded of such an invalid as Bella
Cooke, confined to her room for years; ;
but her bedside became Bethel to
thousands. The aged may be Chris
tian conversationalists" and may rival
clergymen la their usefulness.
Finally, Paul was hopeful. "Fhe
time of fny departure is at hand" he
says, ami he knows that "to depart is
to be with Christ" AS one has put it,
not space, but only line, separates
between the believer and his Lord. "a
Christian old age may be like the
polar midsummer days, when the sun
shines till midnight, and dips but for
an imperceptible interval ere it rises
for the intending day Of heaven
May an Old Man Be Saved?
Nothing is more pitiable than the
case of nn old person who is without
hope. But such person need not so
continue. Gypsy Smith loves to tell
how his gypsy uncle was converted at
the age of ninety-nine. GAS many as
received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons Of God, even to them
that believe on his name." (John 1922
You need not wait for some strange
feeling or wonderful experience. If
you will humbly receive Jesus Christ
as your Saviour, you shall be saved!
You may come late into the vineyard
and expect but little, but who knows
what the Lord of the vineyard may do
(cf. Matt. 20:1-16)? We heard of one
converted late in life who departed
full Of joy, exclaiming, 81 shall have
nv nennyi