Taylor - Houston-Packer Collection BS2755 .T394 1619

CHAP.2.2. f! CorinneutArie Ven the 344 fuch grace andknowledge ? But there are another fort to which multi- tudesand millions cleaue, that are fcarfe one good fleppebefore the for- mer ; and thefe are fuch as make a fbewe of knowledge, and often fre- quent the meanes, and by often fitting in this funneare a little outward- ly coloured : but yet cannot glue a reafonof the faith that is in them, to their owneor others comfort, no more then the former. Vrge them,they can tell you they tneane well, and hauegoodhearts ; but indeede they Prou49.2. knowenot what they meare, andwithout knowledge(faith Salomon) the mindeis not good: the which ignorance is fo much themoredátnoable,by howmuch it is wilful' and affeóled ; Ioh. r 5. 22. If Ihad not come and fpoken, they had had no frane: but nowt they haue no cloake for their linne. Sober,] Now the things which the elder fortmu(+ Icarne, are not fo much handled as named : and they are of two forts , the former which befeeme them as they are olde men : and thefe are three , the firfi of which isfo6riey,or watchfulnes,which properly refpe&eththings with- out them, asmeare, drinke, &c. the two latter refpet their owne per- fons: the former ofwhich isgrauitie or honeflie, which requireth feem- lines in the outward habit, fpeach,geflure, manners, and behauiour: the latter is wifedome, or difcretion,which refiraineth the more inward con- cupifcences,lufts, and delires of the heart. The fecond fort of vertues are filch as are commended voto them, as they are auncient Chriftians, and thefe be three alfo : t.foundnes infaith, whereby duties are accepta- bly performed towards God. 2. foundneffe in lone, which looketh to all the duties of the fecondTable. 3. foundneffe in patience, which is as fait to feafon Et preferue both,without which they could not but quick- ly waxe wearieof well doing. Thus ought oldmen tobe qualified, not only as thole who haue attained toripenes in yeares, but as fuchwho al- fohaue firiuen to fome ripenes in Chrifiianitìe, expreffed in thepra,&,life of thefe threevertues. In the firff precept of fobriety,older perlons are enioyned towatch a_ gains} the immoderate vfe of meate and drinke efpecially, and in thevfe of thefe ( wine and ftrong drinke efpecially) to moderate themfelues within the confines, and precin&s of fobrietie. And there is greatrea- fon ofthis precept,for this age beeing full of infirmitie, acold, and Brie age,is more defirous to firengthen,warme,andmoiflen it Idle with wine and firongdrinke; and without great watchfulnes eafily ouerfhooteth it Idle; in fo much as the word teacheth how Tome ofthe holier oftheir age, haue been foyled and mocked hereby; the infirmitie of that age not onely beeing weake torefiff, but prone to betray and deliuer them vp unto the temptation:asLot,Noah: and this fcemeth to beone reafon, whys

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