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That
city, or commonwealth, saith one, flourisheth most, where old men's
counsel, and young men's swords are in request [Plutarch].
And little, saith another, avail weapons abroad, and in the hands
of young men, if there be not counsel at home, and in the breasts of the
aged [Cicero]. And as some
fruits are ripe before others, and divers fit for divers seasons of the
year: so God and nature hath so ordained, that the bodies of young men
should be ripe in their youth, and fittest for bodily employments, by
reason of their natural heat and spirits: and the counsels of old men in
their age, through their long experience and observation.
Things go well, where both do their parts in societies.
It is worthily said of one, that childhood should be manly, that is, not
without all wisdom: and age child-like, that is, without pride and
arrogancy [Austin]. Yet may
the aged above the younger sort, challenge and use a kind of authority and
confidence in their words and carriage.
So is there to be permitted unto childhood that childishness, which
without violence to nature and the God thereof, cannot be driven from it.
Many, in pride, striving and straining to have their children men
and women too soon, and ere they be full boys and girls, force them above
their pace; and either cause them to tire, as discouraged; or occasion
them to content themselves, in after time, with certain manly forms,
without substance, unreasonably forced upon them, in their childhood. Fruits ripened by art, before their time, are neither
toothsome, nor wholesome: so children made men when they should be
children, prove children when they should be men.
Notwithstanding, stubbornness and corruption cannot too soon be
forced out of them: neither is half that liberty to be given to the
younger sort, which they would take, not knowing nor being easily brought
to believe, how slippery their state is, till they come to feel it by
their falls: which if they did, they would not complain with the foolish
young man, in the poet, that all parents keeping any hand over their
children, though for their good, are injurious unto them [Terence].
As all men are to "honor all men," 1 Pet. ii.17, because they
are men, and made after God's image; so should the younger sort specially
be trained up to a bashful and modest reverence towards all, and chiefly
towards their ancients. Tit.
ii.3,4. Which so well
becomes their maiden years, as that the philosopher accounts blushing a
virtue in young folks, though a fault in the aged [Aristotle].
Many parents desire to have their young ones trained up in such
exercises and courses, as may embolden them: but they should, for the most
part, provide much better for them, specially in our audacious age, if
they got them held constantly in courses of modesty, and shamefacedness;
that so Demetrius might have his wish in them, which was, that young folks
would reverence their fathers at home, all men abroad, and themselves
being alone [Tertullian].
The apostle writing to Timothy warns him "to fly the lusts of youth.'
2 Tim. ii.22. If Timothy, who was brought up in the knowledge of the
Scriptures from a child, and who had profited so well therein, and whose
place in the church was so eminent for the teaching and governing of
others, stood in need of such advertisement and warning; what warning can
be sufficient for ordinary young people to eschew and fly from such lusts
and vanities, as to follow after them, and unto which the heat and
heedlessness of youth carrieth them.
It is indeed a great mercy of God, when young persons get over that
their slippery and inexperienced state without either such public scandal,
or secret wound of conscience, as the scar whereof they carry to their
graves with them. How much
more and greater a mercy is it, when they receive the grace to consecrate
their youth and best days to God in holiness!
offering their souls, and bodies as the sacrifices of young lambs
unblemished, upon the Lord's altar. Wicked
men, who hate goodness both in youth and age, use to say, "young
saints, old devils:" but the truth is "young devils, old
Beelzebubs," for the most part.
To whom yet, if God, in singular grace, vouchsafe repentance in
after age; what a corrosive will it be to the heart of such a convert,
casting back his eyes to his youth consumed in lusts and vanity, to think
how great dishonor he hath brought to God's name, and hindrance to others'
salvation; which he may repent of, but cannot redeem!
On the contrary, sweet is the remembrance in old age of a youth led
in true virtue and godliness.
Some would enjoy both the honor of age, and liberty of youth: but curled
grey hair is not comely. Either
state hath its benefit and burden allotted of God.
He that obtains the benefit must be content to bear the burden.
Young men must be content to want the honor, which is due to the
aged of their order otherwise, in regard of the image of God's eternity,
which they bear: and so must the aged be content to forbear even the
lawful liberty, and delights of youth.
"Multitude of years should teach wisdom," saith young Elihu in
Job, to his three ancients. Job.
xxxii.4-6. And this, the
younger sort should with reverence, and may with good reason look for, at
their elders' hands, considering their long experience, and manifold
advantages above them, for the getting of wisdom.
This wisdom makes their age honorable indeed, and their 'grey head
a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness," Prov.
svi.31; whereas an elementary old man, having no other argument to prove
that he hat lived long, but his grey hairs, and wrinkled forehead, is a
contemptible, and ridiculous creature [Seneca].
How many such a b c old folks are there in the world, whose
grey hairs promise wisdom and knowledge; and to whom opportunity and means
of attaining it, hath not been wanting; who, yet being proved and known,
will appear very babes in understanding, and such as, for that skill, had
need to begin to live again! This
is not merely a want of wit in them, or of the love of knowledge either;
but withal a curse of God upon them, usually punishing a lustful, and
reckless youth with a doltish age: in whom the proverb is true, in another
sense: Ab equis ad asinos: Such of young horses become old asses.
A wise man should live well in youth, and before old age come, that he may
die well in age [Ibid.], if it come; and may be ready for death, as the
white regions are for the harvest, John iv.35: and so may both wait for
it, and even meet it the more boldly in the way of such virtuous actions,
as expose unto it. For though youth and likelihood of long life should make none
withdraw from any good duty, or do amiss for fear of danger of loss of
life; yet age should, though in course of nature the more fearful, upon
ground of good reason, wisdom and grace, make men the more venturesome of
that, in a good cause, which God and destiny will deprive them of ere
long, though other men let them alone: as Solon was bold upon his old age
to oppose himself to Pisistratus the tyrant [Plutarch].
One adviseth to be old betimes, that so we may be old long
[Seneca]. But who would
desire to be that long, which is but a long infirmity [Austin]; save as
age, accompanied with wisdom and godliness, adds authority to the aged for
the more effectual enforcing of these and the like virtues upon others.
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