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

4. Speculative wickedness is another Sin too incident to Old-age. That is, either Reflecting upon former Sins, or Fancying others with delight. There is a Threefold complacence in sin; before its commission, by contrivance; in the Commission by present satisfaction, and after the Commission by remembrance: and as the set purpose before, so the delightful reflection afterwards, is a Sin before God. Now weakness of Body, poverty in Estate, or other impediments may hinder Old people from those Exorbitances, which they inwardly love, or in which they have heretofore actually lived: but yet they ruminate on them with pleasure, and Re-act them in their ⟨p. 75⟩fancy. They do not, and perhaps they cannot now profane the Lords day as they have done, fight and quarrel as they have done, nor commit uncleanness as they have done, nor drink and debauch themselves as they have done: but they can reflect upon these things with content; strength and opportunity is wanting, but their Hearts are as wicked as ever. Hence it is, that you shall hear divers Old people rehearsing their former disobedience to Parents, their refractoriness to their Masters, their petty purloynin•s, and other extravagances, with as fresh delight as they were at first committed.

4. Speculative wickedness is another Sin too incident to Old-age. That is, either Reflecting upon former Sins, or Fancying others with delight. There is a Threefold complacence in sin; before its commission, by contrivance; in the Commission by present satisfaction, and after the Commission by remembrance: and as the set purpose before, so the delightful reflexion afterwards, is a Sin before God. Now weakness of Body, poverty in Estate, or other impediments may hinder Old people from those Exorbitances, which they inwardly love, or in which they have heretofore actually lived: but yet they ruminate on them with pleasure, and Re-act them in their ⟨p. 75⟩fancy. They do not, and perhaps they cannot now profane the Lords day as they have done, fight and quarrel as they have done, nor commit uncleanness as they have done, nor drink and debauch themselves as they have done: but they can reflect upon these things with content; strength and opportunity is wanting, but their Hearts are as wicked as ever. Hence it is, that you shall hear divers Old people rehearsing their former disobedience to Parents, their refractoriness to their Masters, their petty purloynins, and other extravagances, with as fresh delight as they were at first committed.