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

How justly doth the Scripture still stigmatize sin with the name of Folly? to weave a Webb that must be unravelled; and to make us spend our lives between sinful joys, and painful sorrows. And though Old-age doth not mortify sin by it self, yet cooling our lusts and passions, it proves helpful in that work^d: and provided, we be truly thankful unto God for that advantage, and that we use other necessary means to that end, we may comfortably acquiesce in that blessed effect; and rejoice that the things which are displeasing to God, are become unpleasant to us. But we must not be content to be only passive, in the decays of sin; we must be active in that work. If ye, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the Body, ye shall live, Rom. 8. 13.

How justly doth the Scripture still stigmatize sin with the name of Folly? to weave a Webb that must be unrav'led; and to make us spend our lives between sinfull joyes, and painfull sorrowes. And though Old-age doth not mortify sin by it self, yet cooling our lusts and passions, it proves helpfull in that work^d: and provided, we be truly thankful unto God for that advantage, and that we use other necessary means to that end, we may comfortably acquiesce in that blessed effect; and rejoyce that the things which are displeasing to God, are become unpleasant to us. But we must not be content to be only passive, in the decayes of sin; we must be active in that work. If ye, through the Spirit, mortifie the deeds of the Body, ye shall live, Rom. 8. 13.

1. dSi vol•ptatem aspernari ratione & sapientiâ non possumus, magnam […] senectuti gratiam, q•ae effecerit, ut id non liberet, quod non oport•ret. Cicer.Si vol•ptatem aspernari ratione & sapientiâ non possumus, magnam 〈…〉 senectuti gratiam, qae effecerit, ut id non liberet, quod non oportret. Cicer.