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

3. Thirdly, Another Cause which hastens Old age, is, immoderate Care or Labour. Each of these, when they exceed a due proportion, do exhaust the Spirits, ⟨p. 27⟩and produce early wrinkles; whenas, being moderately used, they do us no hurt, but good. It is indeed a part of the Curse pronounced at the Fall, on Adam and all his posterity, Gen. 3. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; and the carking Heart and sweating Face, hastens man to the Ground. One of these alone, immoderate Care, or immoderate Labour will do the work; but when the mind within is eaten up by continual thoughtfulness, and the Body without is harassed with extreme Labours, no wonder that Weakness, Languishment, and Old-age hasten on a pace: ^xthen doth our strength give place to labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away, Psal 90. 10. Great indeed is mens folly thus to ruin themselves; sith it is certain that neither our immoderate cares, nor our immoderate labour, do us any good at all: less Care and more Prayer would avail us much more; yea, and they do us much hurt, they disquiet the Mind, they disturb the Body, they provoke God to leave us to our selves; and then we shall soon find, that it is vain to rise early, to sit up late, and to eat the Bread of Sorrow: whereas the blessing ⟨p. 28⟩of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no Sorrow with it, Prov. 10. 22. Assure your selves, if moderate care and labour will not bring in Riches, then they are not good for you; and whatsoever is gained otherwise, hath a Curse in it, and will bring misery on the Body, or on the Soul, here or hereafter.

3. Thirdly, Another Cause which hastens Old age, is, immoderate Care or Labour. Each of these, when they exceed a due proportion, do exhaust the Spirits, ⟨p. 27⟩and produce early wrinkles; whenas, being moderately used, they do us no hurt, but good. It is indeed a part of the Curse pronounced at the Fall, on Adam and all his posterity,