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

First, Frowardness or peevishness, whereby they are prone to be morose, wayward¹ and hard to be pleased; easily angry, often angry, and sometimes angry without a cause. Seldom are they pleased with others, scarce with themselves, no not with God himself: yea, they think, as poor Jonah did, that they do well to be angry. Too apt they are to aggravate every fault to its utmost dimensions, and so never want matter for unquietness.

First, Frowardness or peevishness, whereby they are prone to be morose, wayward¹ and hard to be pleased; easily angry, often angry, and sometimes angry without a cause. Seldom are they pleased with others, scarce with themselves, no not with God himself: yea, they think, as poor Ionah did, that they do well to be angry. Too apt they are to aggravate every fault to its utmost dimensions, and so never want matter for unquietness.

1. 1§ 1. Peevishness.

Now this is both a Sinful and Miserable distemper. It is displeasing to God, and it is very uncomfortable both to themselves, and to others. Its true, that Anger ⟨p. 42⟩in it self is not evil: our Blessed Saviour was once angry, but it was at Sin, and it was accompanied with Grief for the hardness of their Hearts. Mark 3. 5. When we are angry at Sin, we are angry without Sin. And it is also true, that Old people by reason of their knowledge in matters, do see more things amiss and blame-worthy, more Sin, and more evil in Sin than others do; and having liberty by reason of their Age and Authority to speak their minds, they are too prone to express, that which others must digest with silence; and withal ^k