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

and therefore no man should defer his careful endeavours to get wisdom, since there is a price put into our hands for that end, if we have but an heart to it, Prov. 17. 16.

and therefore no man should deferr his careful endeavours to get wisdom, since there is a price put into our hands for that end, if we have but an heart to it, Prov. 17. 16.

Let it therefore be your study to get and increase in all wisdom^s: chiefly for the attaining everlasting happiness. For unto man God hath said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil, that is understanding, Job 28. 28. For as it would be curious folly to contrive a neat House, and then set it upon a quick-sand; so doubtless all the policy of worldly men to get riches and a name, if they do not truly fear God, is but like an house upon the sand, or a spiders web in the ceiling, which will quickly ⟨p. 96⟩vanish. It's true Wisdom for every man to choose the Chiefest Good for his ultimate End, and then to take Gods Counsel how to obtain it. I have seen five Princes, (said Sir Jo. Mason, on his death-bed,) and bin Privy Counsellor to four, I have seen the most remarkable Observables in foreign parts, and bin present at most State-transactions for Thirty years together, and I have learned this, after so many years experience, that Seriousness is the greatest Wisdom, Temperance the best Physic, and that a good Conscience is the best Estate: yea, I would change the whole life I have lived in the Palace, for one hours enjoyment of God in the Chapel. O that all young persons would believe and consider this sage Observation of a dying man! For judge your own selves, Is it wisdom to do that daily and wittingly, which must be undone? To pretend the End, happiness; and neglect the Means, holiness? To maintain strong hope, and yet to have no ground for it? To choose the worst of Evils, before the chief Good? To live in Sin, and yet expect to die in Christ? To defer the greatest business, till we have the least fit time, and strength to do it? and yet this is the wisdom that passes currant in this world.