“Proverbium est : adolescens juxta viam suam ; etiam cum senuerit, non recedet ab ea.”
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train: or, Catechise in: Heb. in his way”
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
“Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
It is a proverb, is added by St. Jerome, to make the sentence more striking. — It. He is like a tender plant, (Calmet) or wax, or a new vessel.
See here, 1. The benefit of wisdom and consideration: A prudent man, by the help of his prudence, will foresee an evil, before it comes, and hide himself; he will be aware when he is entering into a temptation and will put on his armour and stand on his guard. When the clouds are gathering for a storm he takes the warning, and flies to the name of the Lord as his strong tower. Noah foresaw the deluge, Joseph the years of famine, and provided accordingly. 2. The mischief of rashness and inconsideration. The simple, who believe every word that flatters them, will believe none that warns them, and so they pass on and are punished. They venture upon sin, though they are told what will be in the end thereof; they throw themselves into trouble, notwithstanding the fair warning given them, and they repent their presumption when it is too late. See an instance of both these, Exod 9 20, 21. Nothing is so fatal to precious souls as this, they will not take warning.