Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1877 — The Old Disciple. [ARTICLE]

The Old Disciple.

There is something peculiarly dignified and gentle in the experience *of aged believers whose serene piety and mellowed characters develop the child spirit of the genuine disciple. We see the ia3t tints glowing on the golden grain; the shock of corn coming up in his season, when it is fully ripe. How beautiful is that single memorial in the Acts of the Apostles: “And Mnason, an old-disci-ple.” That is all we know of him, but that is enough to let us see “the crown ot glory” silvering his noble head. There it will stand as long as the world lasts, a monumental inscription more enduring than brass. “Second childhood,” in the common meaning of the words, indicates the painful lapse of age into childishness. But there is a “second childhood” which is the beautiful childlikeness ot the hoary heads when it is “ found in the way of righteousness.” Then it becomes “ a crovra of glory.” It is not merely “growing old gracefully,” but growing old graciously, which makes the beauty ot reverend age. Not seldom we may see the gradual mellowing of character, like the ripening of golden grain in the waving harvest field. It bends and sways before the breeze as readily as when it was still green; but its waves itre tinted with sunset hues, and every . lay makes it more ready for the sickle.* Infirmities of the flesh scarcely touch the spiritual past, and even amid the weakening of both mind and body, the retiuing process goes on silently, but wim increasing power; unconsciously, perhaps, to the subject of it, but manifest to ull around. Sometimes old age is peevish, fretful, cross and morose, but where grace is working, it as often loses its asperity and softens into serene and happy contentment. And then, when sickness brings the latter day visions of eten.-d things close to view, how gentiy doc - the Lord our Shepheru lead down into the valley, and beside the still waters, tor His own name’s sake?— Christian Intelligencer.