EDlileofS. Paul to Ttttil. CHAP.2.6, the orderingof their wales; and ifGod call timely, as he did young Sa- muel, earely in themoaning, beware of running anotherway , but with him anfwer, Speak& Lord, thj fermant heareth: and thebetter either toper- fwade them Co the obedience of this precept, or elle to leauc them the more excufeies in the departure from their duty , I will t. by forte sea- Ions inforce the dutie: and z. prefcribe forne meanes for the more happy pra6life ofthe fame. For theformer. Firß, that age is the haroeß and rummer , in which whofoeuertleepeth,isthefonneof confufion, but he that gathereth, úthe childe of wifedome. It is with grace as it is with grafts, there mull be a time of infecting, and a time of outgrowing, and both there mull be feafonahle,before fruit can be expe&ed:che feed muff be fowne in youth that muff cone vp in age, nip a bloffome in the fpring, and where is the }tope ofautumne? We can conclude that a man borne to nothing , if he idic out his youth, and applyhis hands tonothing, is fo farce from like- lihood ofproouing a rich man; that hecannot efcape ragged cloachiug, (as Salomon fpeakoth) but needs muff he beare a wallet, and die a beg- gar: and how is it that we want wifedome accordingly to conclude, char where Sachan can makeyouth vnprofitabie, little good , nay much fpirituall beggarie may be expeled, in all other ages through the life ? Secondly, another reafon the Apoftle /oh)/ vfeth, 1 write 'untoyou young men, becarufe yee areffrongr: young men are called our to beare the heat of the day , becaufe they are in their ffrength, and are cheife champions either for good or euill. If then their ßrengtb be fpent in the praelcifes ofpictic and religion, loch workesare fo much the more excellët,bccaufe they are performed with more courage, zeale,ßrength, and refolution. But ifvnto any vice they powre out their ßrengch, or Rand to thepatronage ofany finse, their atlions are fo much the more { finfull, and outragious,by howmuch they are more vioient;wherein al- though for the rime they may reioyce, yet let them kiawe that they fball I come vnto iudgement, at what time they mull be countable for ail their flrengrh, and the imployment alto of it. Againe , in regard of this ffrength, they are moß fit for the Ipirituall combate : j rength isforwarre, faith Rabfachie, and therefore if theycould not heretofore bePrieffs un- to this léruice,,yet let them now fettle as voluntaries vnder the Cap - taine lefts Chriff, then any longer abide vnder the colours of his enc- mies. . Thirdly, for young men tobe earely graced,is a beautifull fight in the eyes ofGod and his children : it filledPaul with by to remember Timo- 1 (hies timely faith :When Chriff law but fame ciuill verrues in a young C c 2 matt t 4 5 .s r. vcrl:ro. Rearon, to mooseyoung men to looke timely to thcir watts. i Prou.ro.j. z Eccles.rr.g. Efa.;6.S. 3 s.Tima_q>g.
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