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

Agreeable hereunto is the Ancient Hebrew Proverb in Ben Syra, to this effect, Senex in domo, bonum signum in domo. And if that be a real good thing which all men desire, then certainly there is some peculiar Goodness in Old-age, for that all men desire to attain it. So also we mingle among our good wishes to ⟨p. 195⟩others, this of a long life. When Kings and Grandees are saluted, this is the common Acclamation, that they may live long^b, and if it were possible, live for ever. And Antiquity is so valuable a thing, that not only Families and Cities, but Nations have had long and sharp disputes about the Antiquity of their respective people, as the Egyptians, Phoenicians, Scythians. And the Athenians had this Character affixed upon them, that they could discourse well, but the Lacedaemonians could do well; because an aged person coming upon a time into a great Assembly at Athens, had no Respect given him; but at Sparta in the like Convention, they all rose up to seat him. So that it grew Proverbial, That Old-age dwelt most like its self at Sparta^c. So then as there are some Inconveniences in Old-age, which yet as you have seen, have divers things to mitigate them, so it hath many Privileges and Comforts ³which do over-balance them. God hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. There is only this difference, that all our Troubles spring from below, but all our Mercies drop from above. The particular Privileges and Comforts ⟨p. 196⟩of Old-age, are these following.

Agreeable hereunto is the Ancient Hebrew Proverb in Ben Syra, to this effect, Senex in domo, bonum signum in domo. And if that be a real good thing which all men desire, then certainly there is some peculiar Goodness in Old-age, for that all men desire to attain it. So also we mingle among our good wishes to ⟨p. 195⟩others, this of a long life. When Kings and Grandees are saluted, this is the common Acclamation, that they may live long