20 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeII. CVI.
tures. Ignatius pleads the cause of the bishop when lie was hut a very youth, but a man powerful in doctrine and of great wisdom ; and therefore he saith, he would have them not look to his appearing youth, but to the age of his mind, to his wisdom before God. And he saith, there are many that have nothing to show for their age but wrinkles and grey hairs. So there are many young ones in whom there is an excellent spirit ; and in all ages there are instances given of youth of whom it may be said that they are wise beyond their years. For the reasons, why many times young ones may have more wisdom than those that are aged : God doth so —
1. That he might show the freedom and sovereignty of liis grace. He is not bound to years, nor to the ordinary course of nature, but can work according to his own pleasure, and give a greater measure of knowledge and understanding to those that are young, and otherwise green, than he will to those that are of great age and more experience in the world. You have this reason rendered : Job xxxii. 7-9, ' I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.' There is the course : ' But there is a sjiirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty givetli them understanding. Great men are not always wise, neither do the aged understand judgment.' Though all men have reason and a spirit, yet the Spirit of God is a wind that blows where he lists. Those that exceed others in time, may come behind them in grace. He gives a greater measure many times of grace and knowledge, to show his freedom and sovereignty.
2. Sometimes to manifest the power of his grace, both in the person that is endued with it, and the power of his grace upon others. As to to the person himself in whom this wisdom is found, when they are young, the Lord doth show he can subdue them by his Spirit, and make their prejudices vanish, enlarge their understanding, and overrule their heart : 1 John ii. 14, ' I write to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.' In that slippery age, when lusts are boisterous, tempta- tions most violent, and they usually uncircumspcct and headstrong, and give up themselves to an ungoverned license, yet then can God subdue their hearts, and make them stand out against the snares of the devil. And then with respect to others, when by the foolish he will confound the wisdom of the wise, and blast the pride of man, and cast down all conceit in external privileges, and give young ones a more excellent spirit than the aged, as the apostle intimates such a thing, 1 Cor. i. 2G, ' Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called ; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty.' And our Lord : Mat. xi. 25, 26, ' Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.' Usually God will do so, when he will punish the unfaithfulness of those that are in public place and office : * The law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancient.' God will not take the usual way and course, but will give his Spirit and graces of his Spirit to them, and deny it to those that should be builders.
VeR. 100.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 21
Now what use shall we make of this ? There may be an abuse of such a point as this, and there may be a very good use. To prevent the abuse —
1. This is not to be taken so but that there sliould be reverence shown to the aged, Job xxxii, 4-6. EUhu had waited till Job's friends had spoken, because they Avere elder than he. It is an abuse of men of a proud persuasion of their own knowledge and learning to despise the aged, especially when they also have a competent measure of the same spirit. The scripture speaks of ' Paul the aged ; ' cer- tainly there is a reverence due to grey hairs. And it argues a great disorder when the staff of government is broken, and the established order is overturned ; when ' a child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient,' Isa. iii. 5, and young men shall peak up to the despising of their elders, Deut. xxviii.
2. This is not to be applied so as to prejudice the general case of consulting with the ancients, which was Kehoboam's sin. Though God sometimes giveth wisdom to young men, yet the usual course is that, Job xxxii. 7, ' I said. Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom." Certainly those that are old they are freer from passions, bettered by use and experience, and long continuance in study, have more advantages to add to their knowledge ; therefore usually, though the bodily eyes be dim, the understanding may be most clear and sharp.