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

2. These Decays proceed not from Old-age only, but many times from Sloth and Negligence. Their Faculties would continue more entire to them, if they did exercise them with Study and Industry. ⟨p. 149⟩but the best metal will rust with disuse, and the meanest by constant use will be kept bright and in good order.

2. These Decays proceed not from Old-age only, but many times from Sloth and Negligence. Their Faculties would continue more intire to them, if they did exercise them with Study and Industry. ⟨p. 149⟩but the best mettal will rust with disuse, and the meanest by constant use will be kept bright and in good order.

3. The blasting of Parts is not peculiar to Old-age. For many Diseases and other Accidents do often Eclipse our Faculties as well as Old-age. Witness Messala Corvinus, who was so weakened in his Head, that he forgot his own Name. Yea, many a mans bad Morals have spoiled his good Intellectuals, before he hath made one step into Old-age. And therefore this misery is not to be confined to Old-age, which neither attends all old people, nor only such, nor merely upon the account of their Age.

3. The blastingof Parts is not peculiar to Old-age. For many Diseases and other Accidents do often Eclypse our Faculties as well as Old-age. Witness Messala Corvinus, who was so weakned in his Head, that he forgot his own Name. Yea, many a mans bad Morals have spoiled his good Intellectuals, before he hath made one step into Old-age. And therefore this misery is not to be confin'd to Old-age, which neither attends all old people, nor only such, nor meerly upon the account of their Age.