A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons…

3. Implacableness is charged as a fault common with Old People. That is, such a deep resentment against such as offend them, as is scarce abolished. On the one hand, their impotence is such, by reason of their Age, that they cannot easily revenge themselves; and on the other, their thinking, Sedentary, and wakeful condition gives, them opportunity to roll their disgusts in their minds, till they are boiled into a settled rancour. Thus they who in malice should be Children, and in understanding should be Men, are on the contrary men in malice, and Children in understanding: not apt to forgive, not easy to forget. What an implacable Spirit was in Aristides and Themistocles of old in Athens, until the wisdom and integrity of the former, did somewhat assuage it for a time in the latter? The melancholy and stiffness of Old-age, will not suffer such impressions to wear off, and their Humour disposes them to aggravate things to the utmost. So ⟨p. 73⟩that the contentions of Old People, like those among Brethren, are like the Bars of a Castle. They will owe a Man an ill turn seven long years together, and then pay him at last.

3. Implacableness is charg'd as a fault common with Old People. That is, such a deep resentment against such as offend them, as is scarce abolished. On the one hand, their impotence is such, by reason of their Age, that they cannot easily revenge themselves; and on the other, their thinking, Sedentary, and wakeful condition gives, them opportunity to rowl their disgusts in their minds, till they are boil'd into a settled rancour. Thus they who in malice should be Children, and in understanding should be Men, are on the contrary men in malice, and Children in understanding: not apt to forgive, not easie to forget. What an implacable Spirit was in Aristides and Themistocles of old in Athens, until the wisdom and integrity of the former, did somewhat asswage it for a time in the latter? The melancholly and stiffness of Old-age, will not suffer such impressions to wear off, and their Humour disposes them to aggravate things to the utmost. So ⟨p. 73⟩that the contentions of Old People, like those among Brethren, are like the Bars of a Castle. They will owe a Man an illturn seven long years together, and then pay him at last.