Chapter VIII.
Concerning the praiseworthy old age of Saint James, in which he foresees future uncertain events and the end of his life; and he also arranges his affairs.
Jacob grew old, although he had already grown old in character. But the vigor of youth and the tranquility of old age contended in him. For old age is also green with grace, and youth is gray with wisdom, of which Scripture says: Old age is honored. And, the age of old age is an immaculate life. This was the life of Jacob, who surpassed the time of long-lasting old age with good works, so that he could enjoy the fruit of his labor ahead of time and not fear the later years. Indeed, blessed is the young person who lives well, but blessed is also the old person who has lived well. For what the young person hopes for, the old person has attained: what the old person has been, the young person wishes to be. Certainly, here in the restless sea, as its course continues for a longer time, it is tossed by waves: but the old person is like in a harbor, so in the station of old age. Jacob was therefore of this kind, who held, with the intact and secure key of grace, the scarcely hoped for blessings for the young people, already closed and sealed. But what you actually possess is more valuable than what you still hope for. There was, therefore, the old man Jacob, to whom young people, struck by the adversities of a certain time, would seek refuge like a harbor: he himself, however, placed as if on the lookout of this life, presented with anxious affection, and far in advance foresaw remedies for uncertain things.
36. Finally, there was famine in the whole land (Gen. XLII, 1 et seq.), and the old man, who the eager young men did not know, first listened to whether he had heard. He was the first to advise his sons to go to Egypt and buy the necessary goods (Gen. XLIII, 11). He was also willingly accepting the advice of the young men to send his younger son along. And when they reported to him that his son Joseph was alive, though his body was broken, but his spirit was vivid, he did not wait for his son to come to him, but he himself went to his son (Gen. XLV, 28). For the measure of order does not outweigh piety. Therefore, she felt no obstacles of weary old age as she proceeded. Piety indeed alleviated the labor. But when her sons, having obtained the fruit, after a somewhat long period, namely seventeen years, which is a short time compared to the longevity of that Patriarch, knew that the end of her life was approaching. She called her son Joseph and bound him to be the heir of his generation, so that he would not be buried in Egypt. And having received faith, when he was soon after weakened and his son Joseph came to him, he sat on the bed, as if having regained strength, and blessed the twelve patriarchs and prophesied.