448 Chap. 29. An Expofition upon the Book of J o is Verf. 4. gay faires were thong and pro'perous a while ago, even like a young marlin hisprime, have now the fymtomes of old age appearing upon them, here a lofs and there a lofs,here a breach and there a breach,like gray haires, Ggoifyiog weaknefs and old age appear- ing upon them. Youth in every notion of it, refpeóï:ing naturals or civils, is pafsing and fading. Again, O that I were as in the dayes of mx. youth. I (hewed befo re,that lob Both not only,ncr fo much dtfrre the fame [fate of outward profperiry which he formerly had, as the fame frame of holinefs that he formerly had in that Rate. jobs fpirit was much out of order and difcompofed under his afiEtions. And therefore he prayeth, O that Iwere asfpiritual, or as well fat led in myfpirit, as in the forepart ofmy natural life. Hence Note ; Yo be holy inyouth, ú a great commendation of holinefs. Holincfs is alwayes a beauty,yet moft then, when we are molt fubjeet to folly. Many lookingback to their yeuth,bave no reafon to fay, O that it were withal as in the layes of our youth. Dayes of youth are ufually dayes of fin and vanity. There arc but few who can refit. et upon red review that pare of their life, without much caufe of blufhing, yea of loathing. Yet in oldagea tempta- tion may cotr:e which puts a man more cut of order' and betides the rule, then he was in the trot+ unruly and diforderly dayes of youth 3 childhcod and youth arevaniity, and fo may old age be too. How cc mely is it to fee gravity and far &uy in youth, co fee you tr th (yodels red uxbl eable, nct only takirg example by thofe who are good, hut being an example. As Faul txhores7i- mothy (r Tim. 4.1 z.) Let no man defpife thy youth, (he fpeakes not fo much to others as to 7;mothy, 0 7 imcthy, fee thou walk fo e.xaEhly that no man lave occae-> to defpiJe rhy-yout /,, let rot thy youth lay thee'open to contempt, dr.t be theu an enfam4le of thebe- le:z ens, to word, in eas.zerfatian, in charity, in fpirit, en faith, in purity. Hold forth chele grrcts ìn thy }oath, and no man will defpife thy ycuth,hut an enemy to all gr ace; five fo undiflerr.per'd in youth, that wi cn any little diflerrper is upon thee in old age, thou mayeti have caufe to With with 'od,Q that it were avitb me as in the lay es of myyouth. when
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