Such are some of the
recreations and diversions of my old age, which is so much the more to be valued
than the old age, or even the youth of other men; as, being freed by God's grace
from the perturbations of the mind and the infirmities of the body, I no longer
experience any of those contrary emotions which rack such a number of young men
and as many old ones, who, by reason of their careless living and intemperate
habits, are destitute of health and strength, and consequently of all true
enjoyment.
And if it be lawful to compare
little matters to affairs of importance, I will further venture to say, that
such are the effects of this sober life, that, at my present age of
eighty-three, I have been able to write an entertaining comedy, abounding with
innocent mirth and pleasant jests.
I have yet another comfort
which I will mention; that of seeing a kind of immortality in a succession of
descendants; for, as often as I return home, I find before me, not one or two,
but eleven grandchildren, the oldest of them eighteen, all the offspring of one
father and mother, and all blessed with good health. Some of the youngest I play
with; those older, I make companions of; and, as nature has bestowed good
voices upon them, I amuse myself by hearing them sing, and play on different
instruments. Nay, I sing myself, as I have a better voice now,
clearer and louder, than at any period of my life. Such are the recreations of
my old age. And these are two great evils to all men who live a free life; the
one is troublesome and painful, the other, dreadful and insupportable,
especially when they reflect on the errors to which this mortal life is subject,
and on the vengeance which the justice of God is wont to take on sinners.
Whereas, I, in my old age, praise to the Almighty, am exempt from these
torments; from the first, because I cannot fall sick, having removed all the
cause of illness by my regularity and moderation; from the other, that of death,
because from so many years' experience, I have learned to obey reason whereas, I
not only think it a great folly to fear that which cannot be avoided, but
likewise firmly expect some consolation, from the grace of Jesus Christ, when I
arrive at that period.
But though I know I must, like
others, reach that term, it is yet at so great a distance that I cannot discern
it, because I know I shall not die except by were dissolution having already, by
my regular course of life, shut up all other avenues of death, and thus
prevented the humours of my body making any other war upon me, than that which I
must expect from the elements employed in the composition of this mortal frame.
I am not so simple as not to know that, as I was born, so I must die; but the
natural death that I speak of does not overtake one, until after a long course
of years; and even then, I do not expect the pain and agony which most men
suffer when they die. But I, by God's blessing, reckon that I have still a long
time to live in health and spirits, and enjoy this beautiful world, which is,
indeed, beautiful to those who know how to make it so, but its beauty can only
be realized by those who, by reason of temperance and virtue, enjoy sound health
of body and mind.
Now, if this sober and moderate
manner of living brings so much happiness; if the blessings that attend it are
so stable and permanent, then I beseech every man of sound judgment to embrace
this valuable treasure, that of a long and healthful life, a treasure which
exceeds all other worldly blessings, and, there fore, should be sought after;
for what is wealth and abundance to a man who is possessed with a feeble and
sickly body ? This is that divine sobriety, agreeable to God, the friend of
nature, the daughter of reason, the sister of all the virtues, the companion of
temperate living, modest, courteous, content with little, regular, and perfectly
mistress of all her operations. From her, as from their proper root, spring
life, health, cheerfulness, industry, learning and all those actions and
employments worthy of noble and generous minds. The laws of God are all in her
favour. Repletion, excess, intemperance, superfluous humours, diseases, fevers,
pains, and the dangers of death, vanish in her presence, as mists before the
sun. Her comeliness ravishes every well-disposed mind. Her influence is so sure,
as to promise to all a long and agreeable life. And, lastly, she promises to be
a mild and pleasant guardian of life, teaching how to ward off the attacks of
death. Strict sobriety, in eating and drinking, renders the senses and
understanding clear, the memory tenacious, the body lively and strong, the
movements regular and easy; and the soul, feeling so little of her earthly
burden, experiences much of her natural liberty. The man thus enjoys a pleasing
and agreeable harmony, there being nothing in his system to disturb; for his
blood is pure, and runs freely through his veins, and the heat of his body is
mild and temperate.
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