cillotiues to-pertradevs to Often our repentance. 395 foeuer meane to attaine veto learning,or to knowledge ofa- ny fcience, trade, or occupation, they doe not deferre it to their olde daies, but glue themfelues unto it in the timeof their youth,when as their wits are moil frefh,and their capa- citienmitquicke to receive infru6hon. Seeing then there is much knowledge neceffarily required to the making of a. trueChriflian(for without knowledge we can haue no faith, andwithout faith there is no faluation) thereforefor theat- taining hereuntoit is veryneedfull that webeginne betimes, and fet our felues to learne Gods true religion in the time ofour youth, when as we are moft fit for this purpofe. And this counfell thewife manglues vs,Prou. aa.6. Teach a childe in the trade o fhis way, andwhen he is old he (ball not depart fiom it. Secondly, as oldmen are morevnfit to learne, foalfo they are-more forgetful) to remember that which is taught them, and therefore if they doe not fet their whole mindes vpon- 'Godsword, and continually call to minde that which hath beendelivered veto them in thepreaching thereof, medita- ting therein.with the Prophet Davidday and night, all they haue learned will eafily flip out of their weake and decayed memories. Which thing is molt hard for them toperforme by reafon ofmanifc'lde ditlradtions, which that age is lab- vnto, as the infirmities of the bodie , fickneffe , ashes; and innumerable griefes , and allo the manifolde troubles and cares of miede, not onely in refpe&oftheir ovine flare, but alto in thebehalfe oftheir children,youngnephewes and neere friends, whole welfare is as deare vnto them as their owne : now if a fingle man bath cares enow to diflraa him from Gods feruice, how many are their diflra6 ions, whole cares are doubled and redoubled ? and therefore ifwe wouldmake choice ofthefittefttime for our conuer1 on,we mull not deferre ittill our olde age, but turne vnto God in our youth, when as our wits are-rnoft.fit. to receiue, and our memories to retaire infru&i.on Laflly;ifwe deferre our conuerfion unto God 'till our olde 8. eecauft Ito - age, or till we lye on our-deathbed, wee shall findeit more bowl of deat difficult, in that cur enernie Satan , who alwaies goeth th,e ofi r bout like; a roaring Lion, feking to deuourc..vs, Both then "it t thence.:. redouble~..
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