The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

2. There are distinct and peculiar periods of times, distinct and peculiar ages, that incline to peculiar sins; for instance, childhood inclines to lenity and inconstancy, youth to wantonness and prodigality, manhood to pride and stateliness, old age to frowardness: you know diseases make men fretfull, now ipsa senectus morbus, old age it self is a disease: If we take not heed, the sinful body will grow strong, when the natural body grows weak. I have heard of a good woman, something inclinable to passion, that used to say, I must strive against peevishness when I am young, or else what will become of me when I am old? And so Covetousness is a sin, that old age is very much addicted to. Windelin in his Moral Philosophy, cap. 25. discourses learnedly, Cur senes sint magis avari quam juvenes? when God is taking people out of the world, they cling fast about it, and cry loth to depart, truly this no good sign. You know men that are a sinking, and in a desperate case, lay hold on any thing.

2. There are distinct and peculiar periods of times, distinct and peculiar ages, that encline to peculiar sins; for instance, childhood enclines to lenity and inconstancy, youth to wantonness and prodigality, manhood to pride and stateliness, old age to frowardnesse: you know diseases make men fretfull, now ipsa senectus morbus, old age it selfe is a disease: If we take not heed, the sinfull body will grow strong, when the naturall body grows weak. I have heard of a good woman, something enclinable to passion, that used to say, I must strive against peevishnesse when I am young, or else what will become of me when I am old? And so Covetousness is a sin, that old age is very much addicted to. Windelin in his Moral Phylosophy, cap. 25. discourses learnedly, Cur senes sint magis avari quam juvenes? when God is taking people out of the world, they cling fast about it, and cry loth to depart, truly this no good signe. You know men that are a sinking, and in a desperate case, lay hold on any thing.

3. Men have distinct and particular callings, that incline them to particular sins: For instance, a Soldiers employment puts him upon rapine and violence. And therefore John the Baptist, when the Soldiers demanded of him, what shall we do? tells them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely,