Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Ver. 12. Let no man despise, &c.] But how should I help it? might he say; the apostle answereth, "Be thou an example to the believers, a pattern of piety;" for holiness hath honour, wisdom maketh the face to shine; natural conscience cannot but stoop to the image of God, wherever and in whomsoever it discerneth it: ου γαρ το νεον ευκαταφρονητον οτας Θεω ανακειμενον η, saith Ignatius (Epist. ad Magnes.) Youth seasoned with the fear Of God is not easily despised.
But be thou an example] Gr. τυπος, such a thing as maketh the stamp upon the coin. Exemplis sciola hac aetate magis aedificant ministri quam concionibus. Reason indeed should rule, and is therefore placed in the head. But when reason cannot prevail, example will.