192 DISCOURSES TO THE AGED; ON SEVERAL IMPORTANT SUBJECTS. BY JOB ORTON. A NEW EDITION. Though I might be much bold in Christ, to enjoin thee that which BUNGAY: PRINTED BY P. MITCHELL, AND CO. 1814, 100. bb. 98. THE PREFACE. A Learned Physician, Dr. Smith, [in his Por 66 trait of old Age. p. 257] expresseth his earnest desire that Physicians would study the gerocomical part of Physic, or what relates to the health and ease of old persons, more than they do. Indeed, saith he, no part wants our help so much as this. For, among all the verbose Græcians, there is not one complete tract upon this subject. There are few to be found among all other writers; and those miserable and barren. The improvement that may be made in this part of physic would be as useful to mankind, as any one discovery of nature hitherto made."-The like may, in some degree, be said of attempts to promote the religious improvement and comfort of aged persons. There are some celebrated pieces of the Heathen Philosophers, on the subject of old Age. Some Germans have written upon it; but very few of our Divines. Steele's Treatise on old Age is very useful, and was much esteemed and read in the last century, but is now become scarce, and almost forgotten. The tracts of Davies and Peers, though serious and useful, chiefly centre in one point, and that not sufficiently peculiar, vis. preparation for |