Concerning Old Age, Title page – Errata
A DISCOURSE CONCERNING Old-Age, TENDING TO The Instruction, Caution and Comfort of Aged Persons.
Tit. 2. 2, 3.
That the Aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in Faith, in Charity, in Patience. The aged Women likewise, &c.
Ben Syra. foreign.
foreign. Chrysost. in Psal. 50.
By RICHARD STEELE, M. A. Minister of the Gospel.
LONDON, Printed by I. Astwood, for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns, at the lower end of Cheap-side, near Mercers-Chappel, 1688.
IMPRIMATUR,
R. M. Apr. 10. 1688.
THE EPISTLE to the Readers.
Friendly Readers,
YOU have here a plain Discourse concerning Old-age. The Design of it is to Instruct, to Warn, and to Comfort the Weaker sort of Ancient persons, amongst whom I must place my self. The Wiser and stronger may find divers things upon this Subject collected here together, which they have met with asunder, and which they know and practise better than I. But that which put me upon this Attempt, was, 1. Some years Experience of Old-age in my self. 2. More Leisure by reason of my bodily Infirmities, and other Restraints than I could have desired. 3. An Observation, that there was no full Treatise in our Tongue upon this Point. 4. And lastly, an unfained desire to be some way usefull in the World. These were the true Occasions of this Adventure. Whatsoever in it tasts of the cask, impute that to my weakness; whatsoever is worthy, ascribe it only to God… Goodness. I know it is full of imperfections, but when the Principle, Matter, and End of an action are honest, Candid persons will interpret the rest in the best sence: Such Ancient and Modern Authors, I could meet with,Plutarch, Cicero, Seneca, Palaeotus, Tossanus, Rivet, &c. as have written upon this Subject, I have perused, and digested their Observations in their places. But the Scriptures here produced are my great Vouchers, and which I do most earnestly recommend to the Readers, for they are worthy the highest Regard. That the Lord would enable me and you to frame our Old-age according to these Instructions, is the earnest Prayer of
Your Servant for Iesus sake, May 10▪ 1688. Richard Steele.
THE CONTENTS.
CHAP. I. The Description of Old-age.
Sect. 1. OF the Names for Old-age. Page. 2
2. Of the Nature of it. Page. 6
3. Of the Beginning of it. Page. 9
4. Of the long lives of many persons. Page. 12
CHAP. II. The Causes of Old-age, and Preservatives.
Sect. 1. The Original Cause, Mans Sin. Page. 18
2. The Natural Cause, Driness and Coldness. Page. 23
3. The Preternatural Causes,
1. Unwholsome Air. Page. 24
2. Diseases. Page. 25
3. Immoderate Care and Labour. Page. 26
4. Intemperance. Page. 28
5. Inordinate Passions. Page. 29
4. Preservatives.
1. Piety. Page. 32
2. Sobriety. Page. 36
CHAP. III. The Sins and Vices of Old-age.
Sect. 1. Frowardness. Page. 41
2. Loquacity. Page. 45
3. Envy. Page. 50
4. Arrogance. Page. 54
5. Covetousness. Page. 57
6. Also,
1. Craftiness. Page. 69
2. Unteachableness. Page. 70
3. Implacableness. Page. 72
4. Speculative Wickedness. Page. 74
CHAP. IV. The Graces and Vertues of Old-age.
Sect. 1. Knowledge. Page. 79
2. Faith. Page. 85
3. Wisdom. Page. 91
4. Patience. Page. 98
5. Stedfastness. Page. 106
6. Temperance. Page. 113
7. Love. Page. 120
CHAP. V. The Inconveniences or Miseries of Old-age.
Generally out of Eccles. 12. Page. 129
Particularly,
Sect. 1. It is deprived of Pleasures. Page. 133
2. Strength and Beauty decreased. Page. 139
3. Faculties weakned. Page. 145
4. Senses decayed. Page. 151
5. Distemper and Pain. Page. 158
6. Broken with Crosses. Page. 164
7. Attended with Contempt. Page. 171
8. Disabled from Service. Page. 176
9. Unfit for Religious Exercises. Page. 181
10. Terrified with the Approach of Death. Page. 186
CHAP. VI. The Priviledges and Comforts of Old-age.
Sect. 1. It is greater in Authority. Page. 196
2. Richer in Experience. Page. 200
3. Freer from Sin. Page. 206
4. Proner to Piety. Page. 211
5. Riper in its Fruits. Page. 217
6. Worthier of Respect. Page. 221
7. Further from the World. Page. 226
8. Nearer to Heaven. Page. 232
CHAP. VII. The Work and Business of Old-age.
Sect. 1. Repentance of their Sins. Page. 241
2. Obtaining Assurance. Page. 251
3. Prayer and Praises. Page. 259
4. Instruction of the younger. Page. 267
5. Watchfulness against the temptations
1. Of Discontentedness of Mind. Page. 274
2. Of Hardness and Security of Heart. Page. 276
3. Of Slothfulness of Spirit. Page. 278
4. Of Expectation of long life. Page. 283
6. Providence for Posterity. Page. 287
7. Mortification,
1. To Sin. Page. 292
2. To the World. Page. 296
8. Laying up a treasure in Heaven. Page. 299
9. Meditation on Death and Eternity. Page. 307
10. Perseverance,
1. In Doing. Page. 316
2. In Suffering the Will of God. Page. 322
ERRATA.
PAge 41. line 4. read persons. p. 76. l. 2. r. pleased. p. 77. marg. r. laniant. p. 80. l. 27. r. as if for unless. p. 81. marg. r. cernere—corporis. p. 95. marg. r. senum. p. 110. l. 4. r. deprive. p. 117. l. 1. r. in for to. p. 140. l. 18. r. let him be useless for make away with him. p. 194. l. 20. r. Prov. p. 195. marg. r. honestissimum domicilium senectutis. p. 196. l. 4. r. Authority. p. 202. marg. r. foreign. p. 209. marg. r. mole…è. p. 272. l. ult. r. self-willed. Other literal Mistakes are left to be rectified by the Candid Reader.
A DISCOURSE CONCERNING Old-Age:
INtending a Discourse concerning Old-Age, I shall use that Method, which I conceive will be most comprehensive, and most commodious for my purpose; which is, 1. By making some Description thereof. 2. By shewing the true Causes of it, and the best Preservatives against it. 3. The Sins or Vices which are most usual in it. 4. The Graces and Vertues that are most proper for it. 5. The Inconveniences and Miseries which attend it. 6. The Priviledges and Comforts peculiar to it. And Lastly, the Work and Business that is most needful in it.