CiHAP.1.2 358 Specially COT. mended to old men.Why. I 2 3 Perkccriort the aancicnt anises ofb¢lecmers. a.Cor.y.t. Soundne(fe of . patiente in 3. things. Lin the ground t..4Comment upen the tion, as the net is vpheld by theeorke from finking. But it is here efpecially commended to thepraétife of olde men for fundrie reafons. 1. Becaufe they of themfe}ues are inclined to froward- nes, waywardnes, and are hard to pleafe : and beeing compaffed with fo many infirmities as they be (the age it felfe being a continual difeafe) were theynot fupported by Chriffian patience , they might eauly fall from their ground, giue place to the grudgingsof murmuring again(( God , impatient of their weake and wearie condition , and fo thine their profeflion, and make their lilies more burdenfome to themfelues and others then they need : and therefore they are forewarned that when their bodies grow impotent, their mincies may not be fuffered to groove impatient, but by the firengthof this grace ro repreffe fuch impotency. 2. Becaufe thus beeing incident tomany weakeneffes , whereby they might difparagetheir age and profefflon, they muff put on patience to heart Chriffian aduife, admonition and reprehenfion : and not as the manner of old men is, to (forme and be enraged when they are put in mind oftheir weakneffes. 3. Becaufe that age teeing it (elfe broken and crazie, is verse willing to enioy peace and quiet, and confequently for moll part ready enough to decline thecroffe and perfecution for thepro- feffion,which indeed is the gloriousarmes ofa Chriffian :it was therfore a 'eerie feafonable exhortation, especially in chofe troublefome times,to old profeffors, andancient beleeuers,to provide themfelues of patience, that fo tbymight not fhrinkeaway in timeoftriall, to thepreiudice of the profefliion ofChrifi. q.. Becaufe they by reafon oftheir longer exer- cife and experience,which is prefumed in their age, fhould be well leene and pralifed in this grace: fo as in their owne troubles, they fhould not be difcomfited, but fay to chemfelues:well, this muff be no newes to me, I haue feenea numberofGods children affliEìed, and I haue ferne what end God hath giuen them;nay I haue not only obferued his faithfull and feafonablc deliuerance ofothers, but my felfe haue fwumme out of ma- ny deeps: and lure I am, I (hall not finke in this : nay rather I ought to lift vp thehands ofothers that hang downe , and ffrengthen their weake knees,as oneable to comfort others in afUUietion, by the comforts where- with myfelfe haze beer; comfortedofGod. Now for the foundnes ofthis grace here alfovrged,it (fandeth efpeci- all y in three things: 1. in a luregrossed : a. in found fruits.: 3. in the con- 11ant indarisg ofit.. L. The right ground ofall found patience,is God himfelfe. And this is fo , when in any affli/tion either immediately from God for triall or chaftifement,or more mediate byman or other creatures Gods inllru_ ments, theeyeoffaith turneth it felfe vpward, and caufeththe afiéted fonit
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