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

But the Lyon is not so terrible as he is painted, neither is Death so formidable as it is by many represented. Though it be against the Desires of Nature, yet it is not against the Series of Nature^t. For if we consult this, we find Autumn kindly after Summer, and Winter after Autumn; and Death is as natural after Oldage. And the Light of Nature taught some of the Heathens to reckon the worthy men, especially that are dead, to be most truly alive, in that while we live in this world, the Soul is imprisoned in the body, and is set at liberty by Death. Thus Xenophon brings in Cyrus discoursing to his Children on his Death-bed. Think not, O my Sons, that I leave you quite, and am lost when I dye; perhaps you will not see me, neither do you now see the most Essential part of me, nor never did: only by my actions you believed it was in this body, and that will live out of this body as well as in it. ^uAnd if Pagans set so light by Death, what notion should ⟨p. 189⟩we Christians have of it, that can look more clearly beyond it? It is styled a falling asleep, and what's more welcome to an Aged person than a sound sleep? And from that Expression, 1 Thess. 4. an Old Toletan▪ Council ordained that the dead should be followed with Psalms of Praise to their Graves.

But the Lyon is not so terrible as he is painted, neither is Death so formidable as it is by many represented. Though it be against the Desires of Nature, yet it is not against the Series of Nature^t. For if we consult this, we find Autumn kindly after Summer, and Winter after Autumn; and Death is as natural after Oldage. And the Light of Nature taught some of the Heathens to reckon the worthy men, especially that are dead, to be most truly alive, in that while we live in this world, the Soul is imprison'd in the body, and is set at liberty by Death. Thus Xenophon brings in Cyrus discoursing to his Children on his Death-bed. Think not, O my Sons, that I leave you quite, and am lost when I dye; perhaps you will not see me, neither do you now see the most Essential part of me, nor never did: only by my actions you believed it was in this body, and that will live out of this body as well as in it.