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

But if you have any care or concern for your Posterity, lay up a stock of Prayers for them, and leave them, as is aforementioned, wholesome and good Rules concerning Piety, Equity and Charity. Leave them an Account of your own Experience in all things material; that so, if they have any brains, they may cheaply learn what you have dearly bought. And especially leave them a Copy of your own good Example, which will be a constant Monitor, and Check to them in the whole course of their conversation.

But if you have any care or concern for your Posterity, lay up a stock of Prayers for them, and leave them, as is aforemention'd, wholsome and good Rules concerning Piety, Equity and Charity. Leave them an Account of your own Experience in all things material; that so, if they have any brains, they may cheaply learn what you have dearly bought. And especially leave them a Copy of your own good Example, which will be a constant Monitor, and Check to them in the whole course of their conversation.

But these having bin touched before, that which remains for the Peace, Comfort and good of Posterity, is a Prudent and seasonable Settling of your outward Estate. It is strange to see the great backwardness of many Aged persons to this work, as if making their Will would either lessen their Estates, or shorten their Lives, a gross and groundless Opinion; whereas the neglecting of this affair, hath a train of very ill consequences; ⟨p. 290⟩particularly, many of the most tedious Suits of Law are occasioned thereby, mutual Love among Relations spoiled, the poor overcome by the rich, the simple by the cunning, the Orphan by the Guardian, and very often the whole Estate squandered away in trying for it. What a folly is this, to neglect that which would both quiet your own minds, and preserve quiet among them that come after? Ten lines discreetly written, would prevent ten thousand lines when you are dead. When the Lord therefore sent a Message of Death, by the Prophet Isaiah, to King Hezekiah, he commanded him to set his house in order,