On the Twelve Abuses of the World

For just as in wood, that tree is itself reprobate which, after its flowers, does not exhibit the best fruits to its keeper; so also in men, he is himself reprobate whom the flower of youth has deserted, and yet in the old age of his own body he neglects to bring forth the mature fruits of good works. For what could be done more foolishly than if the mind does not strive to hasten toward perfection, while the condition of the entire body, affected by old age, hastens toward destruction? While eyes grow dim, the ear hears heavily, hair falls out, the face changes to pallor, teeth diminish in number, the skin dries, the breath does not smell sweet, the chest is suffocated, the nose rattles, the knees tremble, and tumors swell the ankles and feet, the inner man, which does not grow old, is burdened by all these. And all these announce that the ruin of the whole body is now at hand. What remains, therefore, except that as the defect of this life approaches, one thinks of nothing else than how he may grasp the entry to the future life? Every old man should seek this. For while an uncertain end of this life hangs over the young, for old men, a mature departure from this light of life is agreed upon by all. Therefore, two parts must be guarded by man, which do not grow old in his flesh and drag the whole man with them to sin: namely, the heart and the tongue. Because the heart never ceases to plot new thoughts, and the tongue speaks tirelessly whatever the heart has sensed it should plot. Let therefore the old age of this man beware lest these juvenile parts deceive his entire harmony, and lest they mock the gravity of the rest of the body with inept matters. For everyone should consider what is worthy of his impending age, so that neither his life nor his age nor his ministry may become vile.

Third degree: A youth without obedience.

The third degree of abuse is if a youth is found without obedience, by which the world is depraved from the right order of reason. How will they hope to govern in old age, those who in youth constantly scorn to show obedience to their elders? Whence also among the ancients it is held regarding boys that he cannot rule who has first refused to offer service to someone. On account of which, the Lord Jesus, in the times of his flesh, while he had not yet reached the legitimate age of an adult, obediently performed service to his parents. Therefore, just as perfection of manners and sobriety are required in old men, so too in youths, compliance, subjection, and obedience are rightly desired. On account of which also in the mandates of the law, the first to be commanded among those things that pertain to man is the honor of father and mother, because although a carnal father may not have survived, or may have been unworthy, nevertheless, paternal honor is owed to any worthy father up to a dignified age.