N00425:99
Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ...…
Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ... To which may be added, a short scriptural catechism, accommodated unto their capacities. / By Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by R. Pierce for Nicholas Buttolph, 1690
THE OLD MANS HONOUR OR, The HOARY HEAD found in the way of RIGHTEOU… › Counsel 3: The third Counsel.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Behold six virtues, which all Old men should […] studious of.
Behold six vertues, which all Old men should 〈…〉 studious of.
The first Virtue that well becomes an old man, is that of Sobriety. The Greek word for this may bear an Allusion to those Ancient Sacrifices, which had no Wine used in them. An Old man should be no lover of Wine; or any Strong, inebriating, intoxicating Liquors. If old Noah will be Drunk, he shamefully exposes his Nakedness to all Spectators. 'Tis very deplorable, to see how many Old men, degenerate into the worse-than-beastly Vice of Drunkenness, and this oftentimes after a long and a strict Profession of Religion. They often imagine (and often 'tis but an Imagination) that their Stomachs call for Cordials; and hereupon, first they sip now and then at a Cup, which quickly so far bewitches them, that they can swallow down very scandalous quantities. They come to be never well, but when Rum or Sack or some such poison is upon their palates, and they soon ⟨p. 34⟩lose all that savour of Religion which would be their Glory. But what is the Word of the great God? It is, Woe to the Drunkard! It is, The Drunkard shall not inherit the Kingdom of God• O shun this destroying vice, knowing the Terror of the Lord. For them that Stagger with Age, at the same time to stagger with Drink; to see an old man Reeling, Spewing, Stinking with the excesses of the Tavern; 'tis too loathsome a thing to be mentioned without a very zealous Detestation. What Heart would not have bled at the fight of old Lot overtaken with Drink, and that after so many mercies as had been bestowed upon him? Be sober. But the word may also be rendered, Be watchful. Old men are prone to be st•epy; whatever your Eyes may be, yet let not your Minds be so. Be watchful against all the Assaults that a busy Tempter may make upon you. Be watchful unto all the Duties that the Most High God obligeth you unto. And be so watchful, that the Last Enemy may not surprise you at unawares.