For my part, I think that the aged Christian is better employed in looking after the lambs of the flock and trying to carry them in their bosoms. Talk cheerily to the young and anxious enquirer. Lovingly try to remove stumbling blocks out of his way. When you find a spark of Divine Grace in the heart, kneel down and blow it into a flame. Leave the young Believer to discover the roughness of the road by degrees.Tell him of the strength which dwells in God, of the sureness of the promise, of the delightfulness of fellowship with Jesus, of the charms of communion with Christ.
Entice the young Christian on as good mothers teach their children to walk by holding out here a sweet, and
there some tempting thing,that they may put their trembling feet one after the other, and at last know how to walk.I would that every Church had many of these aged Brothers and Sisters, fathers and mothers in Israel, who take this for their motto whenever they see a young Christian—“Encourage him.”
I know of nothing more inspiriting than to hear the experience of a gray-headed Believer. I have found much spiritual comfort in sitting at the feet of my venerable grandfather, more than 80 years of age. The last time I saw him, I said to him, “I suppose you have had many trials, Grandfather?” He said,“I have not had too many, and the most of what I have had, I have made myself.” “And do you think that God will ever leave His people?” I asked. “No,” he said, “for if He would leave one of them, He would have left me. But He is a faithful God, and I have proved Him, for I have known His love more than 70 years, and yet He has been faithful to me. Not one good thing has failed of all that the Lord God has promised.”
Why, it comes home to the hearts of us young people, and makes us feel that we have found something which it is safe to depend upon when those who have gone through the valley can bear such a word of testimony as this! Do not let a word of peevishness come out of your mouth, my aged Brothers and Sisters! Let no syllable of complaining ever escape you! Let your mouth be filled with your Lord’s praises, and with His honor all the day, and so you will encourage others.—Adapted from The C. H. Spurgeon Collection, Version 1.0, Ages Software,—Sermon #537, Vol 9—Encourage Your Minister!—
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