A61390:210
A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons…
A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons / by Richard Steele ...
London: printed by J. Astwood for Tho. Parkhurst, 1688
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It is some Question whether of these losses is the greater, of the Eye-sight or of the Hearing. And upon some accounts the latter seems to be the sadder loss of the two; partly because God hath ordained Hearing, to be the ordinary Means of Grace and Comfort: partly because there are no such, at least no such ready and commodious Helps yet found out, for the Dullness of the Ear, as there are for the Dimness of the Eye. However, ⟨p. 154⟩the Decays of either of them, especially of Both these senses, are a great Disadvantage, and a heavy burden upon Oldage.
It is some Question whether of these losses is the greater, of the Eye-sight or of the Hearing. And upon some accounts the latter seems to be the sadder loss of the two; partly because God hath ordained Hearing, to be the ordinary Means of Grace and Comfort: partly because there are no such, at least no such ready and commodious Helps yet found out, for the Dulness of the Ear, as there are for the Dimness of the Eye. However, ⟨p. 154⟩the Decayes of either of them, especially of Both these senses, are a great Disadvantage, and a heavy burden upon Oldage.
Notwithstanding all this allegation, Old-age is not altogether so miserable as it is painted. For there are many Aged People, of whom it may be said, as it was of Moses, Deut. 34. 7. his Eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated: So it pleaseth the Lord to continue to many Aged personsd, very great vivacity in both those Senses, the greater cause they have to be thankful for the same. But though it must not be denied, that for the most part Old-age is dim of sight 2and dull of hearing; yet 'tis as true, that even these decays are incident to younger persons. How many young people may we meet with, that are defective in one or other of them? Some that are purblind, others dim-sighted, some from their birth, some by casual accidents, some by distempers: nay, it is one of the wonders of Gods Providence, that considering the folly and rashness of Children, any of us carry our Eyes untouched unto elder years: so that neither is this affliction to be confined to Old-age. Yea, if we grant that these Defects should