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

But this Distemper argues great weakness of Grace, yea a great weakness of Spirit. Hence that Philosopher that sometimes resolved, that a wise and courageous man should not flee from life, how discommodious soever; but fairly depart from it^h: yet at other times advised, to let the wearied Soul out of the useless body, before its timeⁱ. A crime of the deepest tincture! to snatch the Prerogative of our Sovereign Creator out of his hands, whose rightful privilege alone it is, to give life to men, and to take it away. And why should you be so uneasy under these momentany trials? Is it not the Lot, which your heavenly Father hath in great wisdom, set out for you? It is better to be Old, and crazy on earth, than to have been sent young to hell. You have your ailments, and if you were privy to others mens, you would be reconciled to your own. It was Socrates his Observation, that if every mans burden were laid on a common heap, each man would be glad to take up his own again. ⟨p. 276⟩You should rather be thankful to God for the blessings of the former part of your life, than murmur at the troubles of the present. You think it the only happiness, to have all the Comforts of this World; but Others have thought it a greater, to have a Mind above them. You have, or else the fault is your own, the Company of a gracious God and a good Conscience^k, when you are uncapable of other company. You should imitate the Grasshopper^l, to whom the Old man by some is likened, who is made the Emblem of Contentation, because she only sucks the dew and sings; and is content with that, hoping, for better. One Crown will swallow up all your Crosses, whereas Discontent makes your Condition most uneasy here, and most unfit for Heaven hereafter.

But this Distemper argues great weakness of Grace, yea a great weakness of Spirit. Hence that Philosopher that sometimes resolved, that a wise and couragious man should not flee from life, how discommodious soever; but fairly depart from it^h