e, and
mortal enemy of the children of men.

I, really, cannot help admiring, that men of fine parts, and such
there are, who have attained a superior rank in letters or any
other profession, should not betake themselves to a regular life,
when they are arrived at the age of fifty or sixty; or as soon as
they find themselves attacked by any of the foregoing disorders,
of which they might easily recover; whereas, by being permitted to
get a head, they become incurable. As to young men, I am no way
surprised by them, since, the passions being strong at that age,
they are of course the more easily overpowered by their baleful
influence. But after fifty, our lives should, in every thing, be
governed by reason, which teaches us, that the consequences of
gratifying our palate and our appetite are disease and death.
Were this pleasure of the palate lasting, it would be some excuse;
but it is so momentary, that there is scarce any distinguishing
between the beginning and the end of it; whereas the diseases it
produces are very durable. But it must be a great contentment to a
man of sober life, to be able to reflect that, in the manner he
lives, he is sure, that what he eats, will keep him in good health,
and be productive of no disease or infirmity.

Now I was willing to make this short addition to my treatise,
founded on new reasons; few persons caring to peruse long-winded
discourses; whereas short tracts have a chance of being read by
many; and I wish that many may see this addition, to the end that
its utility may be more extensive.

AN EARNEST EXHORTATION;
WHEREIN
The author uses the strongest arguments to persuade all men to
embrace a regular and sober life, in order to attain old age,
in which they may enjoy all the favours and blessings, that God,
in his goodness, vouchsafes to bestow upon mortals.

Not to be wanting to my duty, that duty incumbent upon every man;
and not to lose at the same time the satisfaction I feel in being
useful to others, I have resolved to take up my pen, and inform
those, who, for want of conversing with me, are strangers to what
those know and see, with whom I have the pleasure of being
acquainted. But, as certain things may appear, to some persons,
scarce credible, nay impossible, though actually fact, I shall not
fail to relate them for the benefit of the public. Wherefore, I
say, being (God be praised) arrived at my ninety-fifth year, and
still finding myself sound and hea