Now Saint Paul addeth yet further, that the same is for the age of perfection, and for our true accomplishment. Whereby he doth us too wit (as I have touched already) that so long as we live in this world, we must still grow and go forward, knowing that there are still many infirmities in us, and that we be not yet come too our full greatness. Yet is it not therefore too be said, that we be little children still, as he will add anon after: but here he setteth down as it were three degrees of age. First infancy and childhood, secondly ⟨image 204⟩the years above twelve, before there be yet discretion and skill to govern our selves, in which time we must still profit more and more. And when a man is come too the age of forty years, then is he is his chief state. For by that time he ought too have some trade both of body and mind, whereon too stay and rest. Not that we must not profit still even at threescore years: but I speak of the similitude that Saint Paul setteth down here. First therefore he saith, that we must hearken too the Gospel, till we be come too full age. And when is that? At our death, sayeth he. For here we must not count our years after the manner of men. After a man is once past fifty, too all seeming he decayeth both in his senses and in his wit, But Saint Paul saith, that we shall never be at our full growth, till we be rid of this body. So then, the spiritual age of Christians is when they be gone out of this world. But now let us see what manner of ones we be, since we began too profit in the Gospel. We be like a child that is half a man. He is past fifteen year old, or perhaps past twenty: & yet he ceaseth not to learn still daily, for he hath need of it, and he is sure, that although he have studied (a good while,) yet is he not come too the last step, he hath not gotten so settled and stayed a judgment as were requisite. Howbeit, it may well come too pass, that a child of twenty years shall have all the sciences at his fingers ends, wherein he hath bin trained and instructed: but yet shall he be nevertheless light headed for all that, neither shall he have the skill too apply them too his use, because he is not yet ripe: for he is but like green Corn, or like as when a vineyard makes a fair show of a good vintage, but the grapes are not yet ripe. Even so is it with that age.
Now Saint Paule addeth yit further, that the same is for the age of perfection, and for our true accomplishment. Wherby he doth vs too wit (as I haue touched alredy) that so long as wee liue in this world, wee must still growe and go foreward, knowing that there are still manie infirmities in vs, and that wee bee not yit come too our full greatnesse. Yit is it not therfore too bee sayd, that wee bee litle children still, as he will adde anon after: but here he setteth downe as it were three degrees of age. First infanc•e and chyldhod, secondly ⟨image 204⟩the yeeres aboue twelue, before there bee yit discretion and skill to gouerne our selues, in which tyme wee must still profit more and more. And when a man is come too the age of fortie yeeres, then is he is his cheefe state. For by that tyme he ought too haue some trade both of bodie and mynd, wheron too stay and rest. Not that wee must not profit still euen at threescore yeeres: but I speake of the similitude that Saint Paule setteth downe heere. First therfore he sayth, that wee must herken too the Gospell, till wee bee come too full age. And when is that? At our death, sayeth he. For heere wee must not count our yeeres after the manner of men. After a man is once past fiftie, too all seeming he decayeth both in his senses and in his wit, But Saint Paule sayth, that wee shall neuer bee at our full growth, till wee bee rid of this bodie. So then, the spirituall age of Christians is when they bee gone out of this world. But now let vs see what manner of ones wee bee, since wee beganne too profit in the Gospell. Wee bee lyke a chylde that is halfe a man. He is past fifteene yeere old, or perhappes past twentie: & yit he ceasseth not to learne styl dayly, for he hath needde of it, and he is sure, that although he haue studied (a good whyle,) yit is he not come too the last step, he hath not gotten so settled and stayed a iudgment as were requisite. Howbeeit, it may well come too passe, that a child of twentie yeeres shall haue all the sciences at his fingers endes, wherein he hath bin trayned and instructed: but yit shall he bee neuerthelesse lyght headed for all that, nother shall he haue the skyll too apply them too his vse, bycause he is not yit rype: for he is but lyke greene Corne, or lyke as when a vyneyard makes a fayre show of a good vintage, but the grapes are not yit rype. Euen so is it with that age.
