What is meant here by Fathers, Young-men, and Babes? some think it is meant of the several statures of Grace that Christians grow to, some are Fathers, some Young-men, some Babes, but we never read these distinct; but ⟨p. 89⟩that an old man in Christ is a strong man in Christ, for grace doth not grow weaker but stronger, and the elder in Grace the more wise, the more fruitful; the more gracious; therefore I think by Fathers he means ancient Christians, yet old men too; he therefore hath respect to their natural age, and by young-men he understands men young in years, yet stronger in Grace: By Babes, such as are tender in years, and so Babes in Christ too; therefore it may well be understood of the natural difference of ages, and this interpretation may be confirmed from the reason he gives, taken from the several inclinations in Natural ages: take old age, that takes pleasure in study, and rehearsal of old things that have been long past; so, you have known the ancient of days, you have known how Christ hath been dispensed from the beginning, so that your natural desire of old things you have turned to the antiquity of Christ.
What is meant here by Fathers, Young-men, and Babes? some thinke it is meant of the severall statures of Grace that Christians grow to, some are Fathers, some Young-men, some Babes, but we never read these distinct; but ⟨p. 89⟩that an old man in Christ is a strong man in Christ, for grace doth not grow weaker but stronger, and the eld•r in Grace the more wise, the more fruitfull; the more gracious; therefore I think by Fathers he means ancient Christians, yet old men too; he therefore hath respect to their natural age, and by young-men he understands men young in years, yet stronger in Grace: By Babes, such as are tender in years, and so Babes in Christ too; therefore it may well be understood of the naturall difference of ages, and this interpretation may be confirmed from the reason he gives, taken from the severall inclinations in Natural ages: take old age, that takes pleasure in study, and rehearsal of old things that have been long past; so, you have known the ancient of dayes, you have known how Christ hath been dispenced from the beginning, so that your naturall desire of old things you have turned to the antiquity of Christ.
