WE ought not only to remember, that Life is perpetually wearing off, and in a Litteral Consumption; but also to consider that if a Mans Line should happen to be longer than ordinary, yet 'tis uncertain whether his Mind will keep pace with his Years, and afford him Sense enough for Business, and Speculation, and to look into the Nature, Reasons, and References, of Things both Humane, and Divine. For if the Understanding falls off, and the Man begins to Dote, what does he signify? 'Tis true the meer Animal Life may go on, he may Breath and Nourish, and be furnished with Perception and Appetite; But to make any proper use of himself, to work his Notions to any Clearness and Consistency; to state Duty and Circumstance, and Practice to Decency and Exactness; to know whether it is time for him to walk out of the World or not, ¹ As to these noble Functions of Reason, and Judgment, the Man is perfectly dead already. It concerns us therefore to push forward, and make the most of our matters, for Death is continually advancing; and besides that, our Understanding sometime dies before us, and then the true Purposes and Significancy of Life are at an End.