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

And if some Ancient people do not make this use of their approaching dissolution, what would they or others do, if they did not grow Old at all? what a careless worldly and vain life would ⟨p. 236⟩men live, if they had no certain Indications of their dying? Surely the nearer to Heaven, the more heavenly we should be: as any man when he is come to the confines of another Country, will frame himself to the guise thereof, so he that hath this hope in him, doth purify himself as he is pure, and will begin the Life below, which he expects to live above.

And if some Ancient people do not make this use of their approaching dissolution, what would they or others do, if they did not grow Old at all? what a careless worldly and vain life would ⟨p. 236⟩men live, if they had no certain Indications of their dying? Surely the nearer to Heaven, the more heavenly we should be: as any man when he is come to the confines of another Countrey, will frame himself to the guise thereof, so he that hath this hope in him, doth purifie himself as he is pure, and will begin the Life below, which he expects to live above.

And the other Privilege herein contained is this, that being weary, they are near to their Journeys end. They have bin long tossed upon the Sea, and now they see the Haven, and rejoice that they are ready to put into it. This could make Cato in Tully to say, My old-age is herein pleasant to me, that by how much I approach nearer to death, so much sooner do I, as it were, descry land, and after long sailing am ready to enter the Port. Not that a good man should desire to dye for ease, only to be freed from the troubles of life: all the tribulations of that blessed Apostle Paul, never made him cry out, O wretched man that I am! but his body of death forced him to it. But whilst we carry these earthly Tabernacles about us, even the Sufferings of this present time will make us rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ⟨p. 237⟩