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Adolescentior ex illis.
The younger of them. The Saints and Doctors doe multiplie the motiues of this his longing to be gadding abroad. But the malne Motiue was, that hee was yong, and desirous of libertie. He that names the word, Youth, names ignorance, small experience, infinite longings, a sudden quicknesse in entertaining them, and a foolish rashnesse in inioying them. Through a foolish longing, Adam and Eue lost the greatest Empire that euer was acknowledged by the World, in lesse than six houres; being presently turned out of Gods blessing (as they say) into the warme Sunne; and out of a Paradise, into a place of miserie. They were yong, and there is not that Vice (as Saint Austen saith) which will not seeke to lodge it selfe in youths bosome. They were youngmen, which Ezechiell saw with their backes turned to the Sancta sanctorum, entertaining themselues with the fragrant sweet sent of flowers. They were yongmen, which in the Booke of Wisedome, plant in all hast a Vineyard of Vices. Vtamur Creatura, tanquam in inuentute, celeritur. They were yongmen, which lost Rehoboam his kingdome. He was a yongman (saith Salomo••) whom the married wife in her husbands absence inuited to her house, and to her bed, being led along by her, as an Oxe that goeth to the slaughter, or as a Foole to the stockes for correction. Hee was a young∣man, that would take vpon him to guide the horses and chariot of the Sun. Yong∣men are those, whom misfortunes dayly make an end off in the prime and ••lower of their youthfull yeares. In regard of whose manifold dangers, Dauid did de∣sire of God, That he would not take him away in the dayes of his youth. His sonne Salomon, was many dayes together much vexed with the rawnesse and ig∣norance of his heire, that was to succeed him; as diuining of the disasters, which were to ensue so prosperous a raigne, I hated all my labour wherein I had tra∣uailed vnder the Sunne, which I shall leaue to the man that shall bee after mee; And who knoweth, whether he shall be wise or foolish?
The second motiue was, That he might be farre out of sight from his fathers presence, which he thought too great an eye-sore, hauing a desire to be free from the respect and reuerence which was due vnto him, from his instructions, admo∣nitions, inquiries, and chidings. This was the end, why hee was willing to tra∣uell, and the beginning of his ruine. The just man, hath euer God before his eyes. As the eyes of a maiden vnto the hands of her Mistris, euen so our eyes waite vp∣on the Lord our God. The sinner would not, that Gods eyes should see him, nor his eyes see God, that he might sinne the more freely: and therefore hee saith to himselfe, Tush God hath forgotten; hee hideth away his face, and he will neuer see it. How should God know, can he iudge through the darkenesse? The Cloudes hide him that ••e cannot see, and he walketh through the circle of Heauen. In a word, this yong man did seeke to shake off from his shoulders all those obligations, which the pre∣sence of his father might lay vpon him. But it seemeth to Saint Austen, that the cause of his perdition, was Pride, his not acknowledging of subiection, nor su∣perioritie. This was the sinne of Lucifer in Heauen, and of Adam in Paradice. Initium superbiae hominis apostatare a Deo. This doctrine of Saint Austens, hath a great deale of reason on it's side, as is obserued by Thomas: For all other vices make a man goe departing from God by degrees, wheeling about as it were, and fetching a compasse; but Pride standing out stiffe against God, and seeking as it were to out face him, fals presently to an absolute neglect of his diuine Maiestie. But it fareth with him as with the Sunne in those parts when it sets, it sinkes on the sudden, and it is instantly night: So when the Proude man fals, he fals sud∣denly,