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

And if you find your selves unable to hold out in the more stated and solemn Prayers, you should be more frequent and fervent in shorter Addresses; for it is not the length, but the strength of a Prayer that carries it with God. And in case of the want of Ability, or Opportunity for this frequency, for every poor crazy Old Man or Woman hath them not, you may and should abound in holy Ejaculations, or short Elevations of the Soul to God; sometimes by way of Confession, sometimes by way of Admiration, sometimes by way of Petition, and sometimes by way of Thanksgiving, of all which there are various Instances in Scripture. And these you may dart upward, as you sit by the fire, as you lie in your beds, as you put on and off your clothes. Thus ye may pray without ceasing, as it is, 1 Thes. 5. 17. And the Lord will accept of these, coming from a sincere and holy heart, and which in its present circumstances can do no better. But still Prayer is the proper Province of the Aged person, and both you and your Pictures will look best, when they are (as Paul the ⟨p. 261⟩Hermits carcass was) found in a praying posture.

And if you find your selves unable to hold out in the more stated and solemn Prayers, you should be more frequent and fervent in shorter Addresses; for it is not the length, but the strength of a Prayer that carries it with God. And in case of the want of Ability, or Opportunity for this frequency, for every poor crazy Old Man or Woman hath them not, you may and should abound in holy Ejaculations, or short Elevations of the Soul to God; sometimes by way of Confession, sometimes by way of Admiration, sometimes by way of Petition, and sometimes by way of Thanksgiving, of all which there are various Instances in Scripture. And these you may dart upward, as you sit by the fire, as you lie in your beds, as you put on and off your cloaths. Thus ye may pray without ceasing, as it is, 1 Thes. 5. 17. And the Lord will accept of these, coming from a sincere and holy heart, and which in its present circumstances can do no better. But still Prayer is the proper Province of the Aged person, and both you and your Pictures will look best, when they are (as Paul the ⟨p. 261⟩