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

For when a mans Strength is gone, he seems to be useless. He can neither defend himself, nor help others. He can neither fight in War, nor labour in Peace. Whether he be in the Temple, or in the Campaign; whether he be in the Shop or in the Field; he is quickly weary. He that could run to Sin, can hardly creep to Church. He that had Strength to vanquish his Adversary, hath now scarce strength to wrestle with his Cough: ⟨p. 141⟩and the burden of his discourse is, I have known the time, that I could have done this and that. Thus Milo that prodigious man of strength, when coming in his Old-age to see them exercise in the Olympic Games, is said to look down with tears on his own Arms, and to cry, Alas, these now are dead. Yet this Loss some Aged persons can better bear, than Others can digest the decay of their Beauty. O to be lean, withered, and deformed vexeth them at the Heart. They cannot look upon themselves with Patience: and they conclude, that when they be so unwelcome to themselves, they must be unacceptable to every body else, Job 14. 20. Thou changest their Countenance, and sendest them away.

For when a mans Strength is gone, he seems to be useless. He can neither defend himself, nor help others. He can neither fight in War, nor labour in Peace. Whether he be in the Temple, or in the Campaign; whether he be in the Shop or in the Field; he is quickly weary. He that could run to Sin, can hardly creep to Church. He that had Strength to vanquish his Adversary, hath now scarce strength to wrestle with his Cough: ⟨p. 141⟩and the burden of his discourse is, I have known the time, that I could have done this and that. Thus Milo that prodigious man of strength, when coming in his Old-age to see them exercise in the Olympick Games, is said to look down with tears on his own Arms, and to cry, Alas, these now are dead. Yet this Loss some Aged persons can better bear, than Others can digest the decay of their Beauty. O to be lean, withered, and deformed vexeth them at the Heart. They cannot look upon themselves with Patience: and they conclude, that when they be so unwelcome to themselves, they must be unacceptable to every body else, Job 14. 20. Thou changest their Countenance, and sendest them away.