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

These Meditations are certainly of great Excellence, and of great Use. Better it is to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart, Eccl. 7. 2. 'Tis more pleasant indeed to go to the house of feasting, how gladly do people go that way? but it is better to go to the house of mourning, for there we see what is the end of all men, and so the living will lay something that's useful to his heart. These thoughts will quicken any rational man to do and get all the good he can, while he is on this side the line of Eternity. The less a poor Old creature can do about the affairs of this life, the more he should endeavour to do about that better life. These presentiating thoughts of Death will make us careful and conscionable in all our ways, ⟨p. 312⟩as seeing that Change always at hand. I write this Letter, saith Senecaⁿ, with such a mind, as if Death were to call me away, before I have done: and being ready to go, the less I value Life, the more comfortably I enjoy it. For, as the same Author ^osaith in another place; Theirs is the most anxious life, that forget what's past, neglect what's present, and are afraid of what's to come. For certainly they that forget their past sins, and neglect their present duty, have cause to fear their reckoning to come. As on the the other side, he that, having an enlightened and sensible Conscience, can think of Death without disturbance, hath made a good progress in Religion.

These Meditations are certainly of great Excellence, and of great Use. Better it is to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart, Eccl. 7. 2. 'Tis more pleasant indeed to go to the house of feasting, how gladly do people go that way? but it is better to go to the house of mourning, for there we see what is the end of all men, and so the living will lay something that's useful to his heart. These thoughts will quicken any rational man to do and get all the good he can, while he is on this side the line of Eternity. The less a poor Old creature can do about the affairs of this life, the more he should endeavour to do about that better life. These presentiating thoughts of Death will make us careful and conscionable in all our wayes,