Chap. 29. An Expoftion upon the Book, of J o B. Veuf, 4. 447 bears the reproach of myyouth. Reproach falleth fooften indeed upon youth, that youth and reproach goe alwayes in word toge- ther, or are linked in one word;O that Iwere as in the dales ofmy youth. We may take youth in a twofold fence. Firff, As youth fignifiesa diflin& Rate or age of man. The life of man is caft into many divifions, into childhood, youth, man- hood, and oldage. Which referring to the four feafons of the year ; youth is the fpring,the prime and glory of ir. Secondly, We may expound it not of the perfon but flare of yob, And then, In thedajet ofmy youtb,is,when I was in the flou- rifh of riches, andgreatnefs, and power ,and honour. There is a- youth in every mans flare, and fcme mens elates grow old and decrepid before their perfons do. O that it were with me as in the dupes of my youth. The general fence is the fame with the former ; yet from the form of exprefliion. Obferve,. 'Tooth is a Houri fhing condition, but it is a parnn condition. Whether youth refpe& the perron or the Rate of man, the youthfulnefs of both paffeth away. The Gracesof fome believers are in a perpetual youth (Ifa, 40. 30, 3a.) Even the youths (that is, fuch as r ufl to; or boafl in their own flrengrh) fhall faint and be weary, and theyoung menfhall utterly fall ; but they thatwait on the Lord(hall renew their flrengtb,they (hall mount up with Eagles wings. Now the Eaglerenewetb ber youtb(Pfal.r03. 5.) And as fome beleivers have a perpetual youth in grace, fo all beleivers (hall have a perpetual youth in glory. But the youth of mansmofl,flourifhing efface in riches and honour,and the youth of his perfón, when 'cis mo(1 flourifhing in flrengthand beauty, is ready to decline every day. Therewas fomewhat of miracle in that of tAfofes (Dtur. 34. 7.) Whobeing an hundred and twenty years old wbgn be died, bia eye was not dim, nor his naturalforce abated.MoRmen are fencible enough of the decayes of their na- tural youth, and many of their civil, yet the Prophet by an ele- gant elution complains that Ephraimwas not ( Hof. 7.9, ) Strangers bave devouredbis flrengtb, and beknoweth it not, yea gray hairs are hers and there upon him (orfprtnkled upon him) yet he knoweth not :He Bothnot mean it of the gray hairs: upon his head, but upon his (late or outward condirton. He whole af- faires
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