A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Corporal miseries are innumerable; Morbúsque est ipsa Senectus; Even old age it self is a disease. Sometimes it hath been without any great decay of senses. It is said of Moses, Deut. 34.7. When he was an hundred years old, his eyes were not dim, nor his natural force abated. So Joshua said of himself, Josh. 14.11. As yet I am a• strong this day, as I was when Moses sent me. Eccles. 46.9. The Lord gave also strength unto Caleb, which remained with him unto his old age. But the strength of old age is not a certain and infallible argument of Gods favour: his grace is not to be sought in outward blessings. Most commonly it is a feeble estate: Eccles. 12.5. The very Grasshopper is a burden to it. Even the old man himself is a burden, Uxori, natisque, sibíque; to his wife, to his children, to himself. As Barzillai said to David, 2 Sam. 19.35. I am fourscore years old, and can I discern between good and evil? Can thy servant taste what I eat? Can I hear any more the voice of singers? Old age, we say, is a good guest, and should be made welcome; but that he brings such a troop with him; blindness, aches, coughs, &c. these are troublesome, how should they be welcome? Psal. 90.10. Their strength is labour and sorrow: if their very strength, which is their best, be labour and grief; what is their worst? Hast thou Senses? use them to Gods glory: hast thou ears? hear: eyes? read: tongue? pray: hands? work that which is good. Use thy members while thou hast them, because they will fail. Are they defective? be patient, and say with the Prophet, Non sum melior patribus meis; I am not better than my Fathers. Art thou blind, and canst not behold something thou wouldest see? yet for amends, thou escapest something thou wouldest not see. When Julian upbraided a Bishop being blind; Why doth not the Galilean help thee; he answers, I am glad that I am blind, and so cannot see thee the Monster of men. All these infirmities bring us to the grave, but we shall leave them there. Thou sayest, this stitch will bring me to my grave, yet shalt thou ⟨p. 271⟩