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

And of these Troubles, the sharpest are from their Relations; the Disobedience of some, or the Death of others. How doth the pride, prodigality or wilfulness of Children or Grand-children provoke, and grieve the hoary head! And how many Aged persons see husband, wife, children, and other dear Friends, and Relations posted to the grave before them, which do each of them, as it were, tear away a piece of him, and leave him as a sparrow alone upon the ⟨p. 166⟩house-top? In short, Old-age is recorded as the Sink of mans life, into which run all the miseries incident to humane nature.

And that which makes this Burden more grievous, is, That these seize upon the persons when their strength is spent, their spirits low, and their bodily infirmities many. They are within sight of the shore, and yet in danger to be sunk and wracked, with the storms which beat upon them. When they had thought all their troubles had been blown over, it frets them sore to meet them again. And especially, if they have had plenty and prosperity in the course of their lives, their straits, losses and troubles, now aggravate their affliction.

And that which makes this Burden more grievous, is, That these seize upon the persons when their strength is spent, their spirits low, and their bodily infirmities many. They are within sight of the shore, and yet in danger to be sunk and wrack'd, with the storms which beat upon them. When they had thought all their troubles had been blown over, it frets them sore to meet them again. And especially, if they have had plenty and prosperity in the course of their lives, their straits, losses and troubles, now aggravate their affliction.

Now to Mitigate these Pressures we must know, 1. That these Crosses are common to all. As they do not infallibly attend all Aged persons, for many have fair weather all their journey long; so they befall all mankind indifferently in every part of life. If these be Miseries, there's no mortal man without his Misery. We are in this World, as Israel was in the Wilderness, who had no day without a Cloud, but then they had no night without a glimpse of light. Where