The young men follow Christ, the young men hear the word, the young men sanctify themselves, the young men stand for the church, the young men bear the heat of this day: old Noah is drunk, old Lot is sleepy old Sampson hath lost his strength. Once the younger brother did steal the blessing from the elder, & now he hath got it again, as the malice of Esau shows, which persecutes ⟨p. 474⟩him for it. I speak it to their shame, they that wear the furs and scarlets, as though they were all wisdom, and gravity, and holiness even to the skirts, may say as Zedechias said to Micaiah, When did the spirit depart from me and go to thee? When did zeal depart from us, and go to you? They are so nousled to the world, and acquainted with sin, that it is too late now for the world to speak unto them; they may look upon the signs of wisdom, and gravity, and holiness, when they see their long beards, and grey heads, & side gowns, and ask why is this bush hanged out, and no wine within? What marvel then if they be not reverenced, but mocked and pointed at, when Shem and Japheth had need to come again, and cover their nakedness? What a shame was it to the Israelites, when Christ said by a Canaanite, I have not found so great faith in Israel? So what a shame is it to the elders, that Christ may say again, I have not found so great faith nor knowledge nor zeal in Masters, and Fathers, and Rulers, as in servants, and children, and prentices? Which made an old Father of this City say, which now is with God, that if there were any good to be done in these days, it is the young men that must do it, for the old men are out of date, their courage stoops like ⟨p. 475⟩their shoulders, their zeal is withered, like their brows; their faith staggereth like their feet, and their religion is dead before them. Be assured of this that ye are come to that time which your selves set to repent: and yet as though there were another age to repent after old age: for you spend old age like youth, as if you were appointed to die in your sins. God hath chosen the weak things saith Paul, 1. Cor. 1. so I may say, God hath chosen the young things to do his work: as if the Lord had spoken to you in his wrath, Fathers I will provoke you by your children, Masters I will provoke you by your servants, as once he threatened to provoke the Jews by the Gentiles.
The yong men follow Christ, the yong men heare the word, the yong men sanctifie themselues, the young men stande for the church, the yong men beare the heate of this day: olde Noah is drunke, old Lot is sleepie olde Sampson hath lost his strength. Once the yonger brother did steale the blessing from the elder, & now he hath got it againe, as the malice of Esau shewes, which persecutes ⟨p. 474⟩him for it. I speake it to their shame, they that weare the furres and scarlets, as though they were all wisedome, and grauitie, and holines euen to the skirtes, may say as Zedechias said to Micaiah, When did the spirit depart from me and goe to thee? When did zeale depart from vs, and goe to you? They are so nouseled to the world, and acquainted with sinne, that it is too late now for the world to speake vnto them; they may looke vpon the signes of wisdome, and grauitie, and holines, when they see their long beards, and gray heads, & side gownes, and aske why is this bush hanged out, and no wine within? What meruaile then if they be not reuerenced, but mockt and pointed at, when Sem and Iaphet had need to come againe, and couer their nakednesse? What a shame was it to the Israelites, when Christ saide by a Canaanite, I haue not found so great faith in Israel? So what a shame is it to the elders, that Christ may saye againe, I haue not found so great faith nor knowledge nor zeale in Masters, and Fathers, and Rulers, as in seruants, and children, and prentises? Which made an olde Father of this Citie say, which now is with God, that if there were any good to bee done in these dayes, it is the yong men that must doe it, for the olde men are out of date, their courage stoopes like ⟨p. 475⟩their shoulders, their zeale is withered, like their browes; their faith staggereth like their feete, and their religion is dead before them. Bee assured of this that yee are come to that time which your selues set to repent: and yet as though there were another age to repent after olde age: for you spende olde age like youth, as if you were appointed to die in your sinnes. God hath chosen the weake things saith Paul, 1. Cor. 1. so I may say, God hath chosen the young things to doe his woorke: as if the Lord had spoken to you in his wrath, Fathers I will prouoke you by your children, Masters I will prouoke you by your seruants, as once hee threatned to prouoake the Iewes by the Gentiles.
