FIFTY REASONS. ~09 frustrated, that must do the work, or it will never be done. 11. Moreover, age itself hath many inconveniences, and youth hath many great advantages: and therefore it is folly to delay. In age the understanding and memory grow dull, and people grow incapable, and almost unchangeable. We see, by our every day's experience, that men think they should not change when they are old; that opinion or practice, in 'vhich they have been brought up, they think they should not then forsake. To learn when they are old, and~to turn when they are oldyou see how much they are against it. Besides, how unfit is age to be at that pains that youth can undergo? How unfit to begin the holy warfare against the flesh, the world, and the devil? God's way is to list his soldiers as soon as may be, when in youth; but the devil will persuade them that it is yet too soon; and when he can no longer persuade them that it is yet too soon, he will then persuade that it is too late. 0 what a happy thing it is to come to God betimes, and with the first! What .advantage hath youth! They have the vigour of wit and of body; they are not rooted and hardened in sin, nor filled with prejudice and obstinacy against godliness, as others are. 12. You have such times of advantage and encouragement as few ages of the world have ever seen, and few nations on earth enjoy at this day. What plain and plentiful teaching have you! What abundance of good examples, and the society of the godly! Private and public helps are common. Seldom has the church seen such days on earth. And yet is not the way to heaven fair enough for you? Yet are you not ready to turn to God? Will you delay till harvest time be over, and the winter of persecution come again? Have you sun, and wind, and tide, to serve you, and will you stay to set out in storms and darkness? , · 13. Moreover, Your delay doth cast your con18
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