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

Younger people may excel in feats of activity, but the Ancient do exceed in the skill of managery^m. And upon this account that famous Fabius was called Maximus, and was esteemed more useful to his Country by being the Buckler, than Marcellus who was the Sword of the Common-wealth. Young people indeed may sooner apprehend a business, and may more strenuously execute it; but the Old man by comparing and weighing all circumstances can make a better judgment of it, and so give better directions for the execution of itⁿ. As it is said of young Musicians, that they may Sing tunes better, but the Old Musician can set lessons better. The Aged have not only read and heard, but also seen such variety of Actions and Events, ⟨p. 94⟩that it renders them much more circumspect and wary in their courses. This made that Roman soon answer the Consul^o, that boasted he had many Arms by him; Yes, said he, and I have many Years. And the wisest of men concludes, Eccl. 9. 18. that wisdom is better than weapons of war. And this is rarely found in Novices, they are too young to look backward, and too rash to look forward. But the Aged person being taught by things past, hath a clearer sight of things present, and consequently doth more cautiously provide for things future. Words and Shows and Appearances do more easily deceive the Young; but the Old see through all such varnish, and penetrate into the inside of men and things^p: and so are strangely stupid, if they be not much accomplished with this virtue. Miserable is that Old-age, saith Cicero^q, that hath nothing grave besides grey hairs and wrinkles. But any man that hath made but common Observations of what hath fallen out, with their Causes and Effects, during the space of forty or fifty years, must needs understand better, What, and How, and When a thing is to be ⟨p. 95⟩