Children of the youth. ] The children of young people are always more strong and vigorous, more healthy, and generally longer lived than those of elderly, or comparatively elderly persons. Youth is the time for marriage; I do not mean infancy or a comparative childhood, in which several fools join in marriage who are scarcely fit to leave the nursery or school. Such couples generally disagree; they cannot bear the boyish and girlish petulancies and caprices of each other; their own growth is hindered, and their offspring, (if any,) have never much better than an embryo existence.

On the other hand age produces only a dwarfish or rickety offspring, that seldom live to procreate; and when they do, it is only to perpetuate deformity and disease. It would be easy to assign reasons for all this; but the interpretation of Scripture will seldom admit of physiological details.

It is enough that God has said, Children of the youth are strong and active, like arrows in the hands of the mighty.

Matthew Henry Commentary

--Let us always look to God's providence. In all the affairs an business of a family we must depend upon his blessing. 1. For raising family. If God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his blessing; and the best-laid plans fail, unless he crowns them with success. 2. For the safety of a family or a city. Except the Lord kee the city, the watchmen, though they neither slumber nor sleep, wake but in vain; mischief may break out, which even early discoveries may no be able to prevent. 3. For enriching a family. Some are so eager upo the world, that they are continually full of care, which makes their comforts bitter, and their lives a burden. All this is to get money but all in vain, except God prosper them: while those who love the Lord, using due diligence in their lawful callings, and casting all their care upon him, have needful success, without uneasiness of vexation. Our care must be to keep ourselves in the love of God; the we may be easy, whether we have little or much of this world. But we must use the proper means very diligently. Children are God's gifts, heritage, and a reward; and are to be accounted blessings, and no burdens: he who sends mouths, will send meat, if we trust in him. The are a great support and defence to a family. Children who are young may be directed aright to the mark, God's glory, and the service of their generation; but when they are gone into the world, they ar arrows out of the hand, it is too late to direct them then. But thes arrows in the hand too often prove arrows in the heart, a grief to godly parents. Yet, if trained according to God's word, they generall prove the best defence in declining years, remembering their obligations to their parents, and taking care of them in old age. All earthly comforts are uncertain, but the Lord will assuredly comfort an bless those who serve him; and those who seek the conversion of sinners, will find that their spiritual children are their joy an crown in the day of Jesus Christ __________________________________________________________________

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