eat; and that they should, on that account, pay a greater
regard to the quality of what they eat, and what wines they drink;
and likewise to the quantity of each, which they ought to lessen;
whereas, on the contrary, they are for increasing it; saying, that,
as we lose our health and vigour by growing old, we should endeavour
to repair the loss by increasing the quantity of our food, since it
is by sustenance that man is preserved.

In this, nevertheless, they are greatly mistaken, since, as the
natural heat lessens as a man grows in years, he should diminish the
quantity of his meat and drink; nature, especially at that period,
being content with little. Nay, though they have all the reason to
believe this to be the case, they are so obstinate as to think
otherwise, and still follow their usual disorderly life. But
were they to relinquish it in due time, and betake themselves to
a regular and sober course, they would not grow infirm in their
old age, but would continue, as I am, strong and hearty, considering
how good and perfect a constitution it has pleased the Almighty to
bestow upon them; and would live to the age of one hundred and
twenty. This has been the case of others, who, as we read in many
authors, have lived a sober life, and, of course, were born with
this perfect constitution; and had it been my lot to enjoy such
a constitution, I should make no doubt of attaining the same age.
But, as I was born with feeble stamina, I am afraid I shall not
outlive an hundred. Were others, too, who are also born with an
infirm constitution, to betake themselves to a regular life, as I
have done, they would attain the age of one hundred and upwards,
as will be my case.

And this certainty of being able to live a great age is, in my
opinion, a great advantage, and highly to be valued; none being
sure to live even a single hour, except such as adhere to the
rules of temperance. This security of life is built on good and
true natural reasons, which can never fail; it being impossible in
the nature of things, that he, who leads a sober and regular life,
should breed any sickness, or die of an unnatural death, before
the time, at which it is absolutely impossible he should live. But
sooner he cannot die, as a sober life has the virtue to remove all
the usual causes of sickness, and sickness cannot happen without a
cause; which cause being removed, sickness is, likewise, removed; and
sickness being removed, an untimely