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

The First Work of Old-age, is Repentance ¹of your sins. This is a bitter Pill to flesh and blood, but it must be swallowed here or hereafter. When it is tasted here, it is only bitter-sweet, there is comfort in it, there is comfort after it: It is like the pains of an honest woman in travel, the remembrance of the loving Father supports her at present, and the birth of a comely child revives her after; but if it be deferred, and placed on the wrong side of Death, then it will be bitter, bitter; there is no present, no future comfort: Then it will be like the gnawing pains of a woman with a Cancer, though infinitely sharper, and infinitely longer. So that it is not referred to the Old-man, or any man else, whether he will Repent or not, for it cannot be avoided; but whether he will ⟨p. 242⟩repent for a time, or repent for ever; whether he will repent with hope, or repent with despair.

The First Work of Old-age, is Repentance ¹of your sins. This is a bitter Pill to flesh and blood, but it must be swallowed here or hereafter. When it is tasted here, it is only bitter-sweet, there is comfort in it, there is comfort after it: It is like the pains of an honest woman in travel, the remembrance of the loving Father supports her at present, and the birth of a comely child revives her after; but if it be deferr'd, and plac'd on the wrong side of Death, then it will be bitter, bitter; there is no present, no future comfort: Then it will be like the gnawing pains of a woman with a Cancer, though infinitely sharper, and infinitely longer. So that it is not referred to the Old-man, or any man else, whether he will Repent or not, for it •annot be avoided; but whether he will ⟨p. 242⟩repent for a time, or repent for ever; whether he will repent with hope, or repent with despair.

1. 1§. 1. Repentance of their Sins.