either they will grow niggardly in Imitation of us, or extravagant from Hatred to us; or their Spirits will be broken, or their Opportunities of advancing themselves loft: or if they should do well, in Spight of our ill Behaviour to them, what Thanks can we poffibly deferve from them, though we do leave them at laft, what they would have been much more obliged to us for a moderate Share of, prudently bestowed fome Years before? And this holds, not only concerning our Relations, but all our other Dependants, and indeed the Poor alfo that when they want it, and we can afford it, the fooner we are liberal to them, the better. And therefore the fame Perfon, who was the Author of the foregoing Rule, delivers also the following: Do Good unto thy Friend before thou die; and according to thy Ability fretch out thy Hand, and give to him.

Thus then Religion and Virtue direct the Aged to avoid the Faults of that Warinefs of Temper, to which they are peculiarly inclined. And another Fault, of which they are in no little Danger, but cautioned against it by the fame Means, is that of giving improperly and unequitably what they do give, either in their

f Ecclus xiv. 13,

Lives or at their Deaths.

Now and then

per

haps the Vanity of doing generous and charitable Actions makes them too negligent of their Families. But much oftener the Vanity of raising a Family makes them negligent of the Needy and the Worthy, their Servants, their Intimates, their Relations, nay, it may be, their very Children, excepting one; upon whom they heap all they can, and leave every one else disappointed of what they had Reason to expect, and perhaps in Diftrefs for Want of it. Sometimes a different Sort of Evil happens: the Aged are impofed on by artful People, that get about them, and ingratiate themselves by Flattery and Compliance and Officiousness, till they obtain Interest enough to carry every Point they will, in their own Favour, or for the Advantage of those that employ them; and fupplant others, that, in Nearness, or in true Defert, either stand before them, or at least on a Level with them. Nor are the Aged, with all their Caution, by any Means fo much on their Guard against these Wretches as they ought. At other Times the Fault is more intirely their own. They fuffer little Piques and Prejudices to influence them, contrary to the jufteft Motives, and their own former kind Intentions. Now this

is

is very hard and wrong; that a groundless Dislike, or a trifling Offence, or even every great Offence, should change a reasonable Dise pofition of Things: above all, when perhaps Expectations have been given, and the World. made acquainted with them, and Steps in Life taken in Confequence of them. Whatever Right they may plead to do as they will with their own, they are not at Liberty to act thus; but ought to look on the proper Difpofal of their Fortunes as a Matter of Confcience; and take into ferious Confideration every Circumstance that should naturally have Weight in the Cafe. Nearness of Relation is a Ground of Preference, which fhould never be difregarded without the strongest Motives to the contrary: Motives, which not only we ourselves think fufficient, but other good and wife Perfons, uninterested in the Cafe, allow to be fuch. Farther Claims, never to be overlooked when we have Ability for taking Notice of them, are, Kindnesses formerly received, Promises given, Length and Faithfulness of Service or Attendance, Merit, Want. And all thefe Demands the Uncertainty of Life admonishes every one to provide for paying as foon as he can; but the certain Approach of Death re

quires the Old not to poftpone it a fingle Day. And performing this Duty, as they ought, is one valuable Inftance of Righteousness, which will give them Comfort in their own Breasts, procure them Regard (fo far as it is known) whilft they live, and do them lafting Honour when they die.

Another Danger, to which the Aged are yet more peculiarly expofed, is Ill-temper. Decay of Spirits, and Lofs of Strength, joined often with beginning Disorders, which they feel in themselves, before others perceive it, are very apt to make them fretful and im→ patient a Thing fo natural, that the Young and Healthy fhould make large Allowances for what they may want Allowance for themselves, fooner than they imagine. But the Old and Infirm thould confider, that the feveral Ages of Life have their feveral Trials affigned them; and this is one of theirs: which Virtue and Religion as much require they should not be overcome by, as that the Young should not give Way to any of the Temptations which beset them. Being out of Humour without knowing why, is childish Weakness. Being fo, because we perceive ourselves declining, is quarrelling with the Conftitution of Things,

and with Providence itself. And though our Decline be attended with Wearifomeness and even Pain, yet Peevifhnefs under these will only add to them. Befides, it is very hard, that thofe about us must be made to fuffer more than is neceffary, because we are uneafy; and it is great Odds, but they will shew they think it hard by fuch Behaviour as will augment our Uneafinefs: whereas bearing with Mildness and Patience, for the short Time we have left to bear, what God pleases to lay upon us, is expreffing a Refignation very acceptable to him, and a Sweetness of Difpofition very delightful to all that fee it. They who act thus will feldom fail to be attended on with Pleasure; to have, as they well deferve, every Expreffion of Regard and Tenderness shewn them, and every Method taken, which Love and Pity can invent, to alleviate their Sufferings.

It is therefore both the Duty and the Wifdom of the Aged ftudiously to preserve a composed and even Mind; to look upon Things in the most pleasing View they can; to turn their Thoughts and Difcourfe to make others chearful when they can; at least to appear willing and inclined to let others make them.

fo ;