and decreaseth, but this also, that if he live long, he cannot
be certain, whether his understanding shall continue so able
and sufficient, for either discreet consideration, in matter
of businesses; or for contemplation: it being the thing,
whereon true knowledge of things both divine and human, doth depend.
For if once he shall begin to dote, his respiration, nutrition,
his imaginative, and appetitive, and other natural faculties,
may still continue the same: he shall find no want of them.
But how to make that right use of himself that he should,
how to observe exactly in all things that which is right
and just, how to redress and rectify all wrong, or sudden
apprehensions and imaginations, and even of this particular,
whether he should live any longer or no, to consider duly;
for all such things, wherein the best strength and vigour of the mind
is most requisite; his power and ability will be past and gone.
Thou must hasten therefore; not only because thou art every day
nearer unto death than other, but also because that intellective
faculty in thee, whereby thou art enabled to know the true nature
of things, and to order all thy actions by that knowledge,
doth daily waste and decay: or, may fail thee before thou die.