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

SECT. III.

NOW touching the precise Year ¹wherein Old-age may be said to begin, it is not so material to be known, as it is doubtful to be fixed. But if we allow five and twenty years to the Growing part of mans life, and reckon five and twenty years more to the Ripe or staid part thereof, then doth Old-age ordinarily commence at Fifty years of age. And there or thereabout many Learned men ^mhave sixth it, and then five and twenty years more will reach the End of most mens lives, or bring ⟨p. 10⟩them to seventy five, an age wherein commonly men grow every way impotent, and have one foot in the Grave. It's true, an universal fixed period cannot be set herein; the diversity of mens natural Constitutions, Employments, Diet, Exercises, &c. causeth Old-age to come sooner to some, and slower to others. Some persons through the happiness of their Descent, have a better stock of natural Heat, and radical moisture at their setting out than others, and consequently Old-age being nothing else but the cold and dry temper of the Body, seizeth upon the person more slowly. Some peoples employments do not spend or impair their Vitals so much as others. Some persons are nourished by more sound and vigorous Food, than others are. In short, a Cheerful Heart, a Sober Diet, and moderate Exercise, may defer Old-age for a time; but come it will at length, even an House of Stone will at last decay, and grow out of repair, Job 14. 19, 20. The Waters wear the Stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the Dust of the Earth, and thou destroyest the hope of Man. Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth, thou changest his Countenance and sendest him away.