Garden — Meditation 2
A White head, and a green tail! how well does this resemble an old wanton Lover! whose green youthful lusts are not extinguished, though his white head declares that nature is almost so. Gray hairs should be alwayes match'd with grave deportments, and the [•]ins of youth should rather be the griefs, than pleasures of old age. 'Tis sad when the sins of the soul, like the diseases of the body grow stronger, as nature grows weaker. And it recals to my mind that ancient Observation of Menander.
[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉].
Senex amore captus, ultimum malum
It is the worst of evil to behold
Strong youthful lusts to rage in one that's old.
'Tis a thousand pities, that those who have one foot in the grave, should live as if the other were in hell! that their lusts should be so lively, when their bodies are three parts dead. Such sinful practises bring upon them more contempt and shame, than their ho[•]ry heads and reverend faces can procure them honour.
Magna fuit capitis quondam reverentia cani,
Inque suo pretio ruga senilis erat.
Gray hairs, and aged wrinckles did of old
Procure more reverence than bags of gold.
But alas! how little respect or reverence can the hoary head obtain among wise men, except it be [•]ound in the way of righteousness? I think, the lowest esteem is too much for an old servant of the devil; and the highest honour little enough [•]or an ancient and faithful servant of Christ.
