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

Now this manifest stroke upon their Faculties, is a very sensible Inconvenience. The Decay of the Outward man might be someway tolerable, but this inward Decay sinks their Spirits. When holy David said, Psal. 6. 2. My bones are vexed, his distress was great, but when he ⟨p. 147⟩adds in the next verse, my Soul also is sore vexed, his case was more lamentable. What comfort can a man have, when his Apprehension is grown blunt? What's a Knife good for, when the mettle is gone? When a man can attain little, and retain nothing? The deficiency of these is a great impediment in all humane affairs, but of greater consequence in Religious matters. The Communion which the Soul hath with God is in the Word and Prayer. How disconsolate must the Heart be, when one can remember almost nothing of what he reads or hears? When his affections flag, and his words freeze in Prayer? Why, he thinks he has lived long enough, he feels himself more than half dead already. The House is left standing, but all the rich Furniture is gone, and what can be said to mitigate this misery, or to reconcile any body to Old-age?

Now this manifest stroke upon their Faculties, is a very sensible Inconvenience. The Decay of the Outward man might be someway tolerable, but this inward Decay sinks their Spirits. When holy David said, Psal. 6. 2. My bones are vexed, his distress was great, but when he ⟨p. 147⟩adds in the next verse, my Soul also is sore vexed, his case was more lamentable. What comfort can a man have, when his Apprehension is grown blunt? What's a Knife good for, when the mettle is gone? When a man can attain little, and retain nothing? The deficiency of these is a great impediment in all humane affairs, but of greater consequence in Religious matters. The Communion which the Soul hath with God is in the Word and Prayer. How disconsolate must the Heart be, when one can remember almost nothing of what he reads or hears? When his affections flagg, and his words freeze in Prayer? Why, he thinks he has lived long enough, he feels himself more than half dead already. The House is left standing, but all the rich Furniture is gone, and what can be said to mitigate this misery, or to reconcile any body to Old-age?