A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

And there are three especial Graces to help young men against the assaults of Satan.

And there are three especiall Graces to help young men against the assaults of Satan.

1. Sobriety; watch to Sobriety, be sober and vigilant, 1 Pet. 5.8. take heed of intemperancy, and inconstancy.

2. Stand steadfast in the faith, 1 Pet. 5.9. not trusting to your own strength or courage, but rely upon God; while young men are confident of themselves, as Peter, they fall, but if you stay your selves upon God, he will support you.

2. Stand stedfast in the faith, 1 Pet. 5.9. not trusting to your own strength or courage, but relie upon God; while young men are confident of themselves, as Peter, they fall, but if you stay your selves upon God, he will support you.

And there are three Duties which I commend to young men.

1. Diligence in your Callings: the want of which overthrew David; when he was idle, Satan took advantage to tempt him to uncleanness, 2 Sam. 11.12.

1. Diligence in your Callings: the want of which overthrew David; when he was idle, Satan took advantage to tempt him to uncleannes, 2 Sam. 11.12.

2. Frequency in Gods ordinances, in reading and hearing the Word, v. 14. the more you treasure up the Word, the more power and strength you have against Satan, and the more you receive the Sacrament, the more strength you get, for this is the end of receiving the Sacrament, to get strength against your lusts.

3. Be frequent in Prayer, and that will help you much, James 4.7, 8. Draw near to God, complain of the slipperiness of your nature, of your weakness to withstand Satan's assaults, and entreat God to give you strength that you may hold out.

3. Be frequent in Prayer, and that will help you much, James 4.7, 8. Draw near to God, complain of the slipperinesse of your nature, of your weaknesse to withstand Satans assaults, and intreat God to give you strength that you may hold out.

Doct. Satan may be overcome, and is often-times overcome, and disappointed of his hold, even by young men, against whom he had most advantage.

I write unto you young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.

Q. 1. What is it to overcome Satan?

A. It is a borrowed speech from the Victory of Soldiers in War, and Soldiers overcome either by killing their enemy, or spoiling, or captivating, or putting to flight their enemies, now Satan cannot be put to death, he is a Spirit, and so is not capable of death, only of the second death.

A. It is a borrowed speech from the Victory of Souldiers in War, and Souldiers overcome either by killing their enemy, or spoyling, or captivating, or putting to flight their enemies, now Satan cannot be put to death, he is a Spirit, and so is not capable of death, onely of the second death.

And to lead him captive, that Victory is only peculiar unto Christ, Eph. 4.8. He led captivity captive.

And to lead him captive, that Victory is onely peculiar unto Christ, Eph. 4.8. He led captivity captive.

But for the two last, so young-men may overcome Satan, they may spoil him, and put him to flight, for spoiling, Christ hath done the worst, Col. 1.15. he hath spoiled Satan. But,

But for the two last, so young-men may overcome Satan, they may spoile him, and put him to flight, for spoyling, Christ hath done the worst, Col. 1.15. he hath spoyled Satan. But,

1. For putting him to flight, Young men may do this, James 4.7. which implies, that there is a possibility in young men, and a power to stand, and not to yield to his temptations; for though he hath a power to delude our Senses, and may hurry a mans body about, yet he cannot captivate our Wills, therefore stand, resist, give no place, and if you do so, he will fly from you for shame, he hath no power longer to hold out, when he sees a man stand out against him; God hath not given him liberty to pursue us unto death, but if we stand out against him, he will fly from us. So it was with our Saviour, first he tempted him about his Son-ship, If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread; then he tempted him to presumption, to cast himself down from the Pinnacle of the Temple; and then he tempted him with the glory of the World, All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me; but because our Saviour still resisted his temptations, and Satan could not prevail, he departed; if a man stand out strongly, Satan flies indeed, if a man yield never so little, he makes use of the least advantage, and will press it; but if you stand fast, and yield not, he will be gone from you, his very pride and insolency makes him scorn to trouble himself with any Creature, he disdains to be overcome by him, therefore he will depart. Thus ⟨p. 99⟩Joseph was strongly assaulted, Gen. 39.9. but he resists and answers with much affection, How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? He had long resisted and stood out against the temptations of his Mistress, and therefore she no more solicits him with that thing, but takes another course, falsely to accuse him to his Master, and so caused him to be cast into prison.

1. For putting him to flight, Young men may doe this, James 4.7. which implies, that there is a possibility in young men, and a power to stand, and not to yield to his temptations; for though he hath a power to delude our Sences, and may hurry a mans body about, yet he cannot captivate our Wills, therefore stand, resist, give no place, and if you doe so, he will fly from you for shame, he hath no power longer to hold out, when he sees a man stand out against him; God hath not given him liberty to pursue us unto death, but if we stand out against him, he will fly from us. So it was with our Saviour, first he tempted him about his Son-ship, If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread; then he tempted him to presumption, to cast himselfe down from the Pinacle of the Temple; and then he tempted him with the glory of the World, All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me; but because our Saviour still resisted his temptations, and Satan could not prevail, he departed; if a man stand out strongly, Satan flies indeed, if a man yield never so little, he makes use of the least advantage, and will presse it; but if you stand fast, and yield not, he will be gone from you, his very pride and insolency makes him scorne to trouble himselfe with any Creature, he disdains to be overcome by him, therefore he will depart. Thus

2. A Young-man may not only put him to flight, but he may also spoil Satan, that is, he may take advantage by his assaults, to grow more wary, more holy, more obedient, more fruitful, and so he spoils Satan; if a Christian enrich his spirit by the temptations he meets with, he makes a spoil of Satan; the riches of the Soldier is the spoil of the Enemy: when young men stand fast, and make a spoil of Satan, and grow more humble, and meek, and obedient, they shall so much the more overcome Satan; Job was strongly tempted by Satan to blaspheme God, but yet he stands fast, and not only so, but takes occasion to bless God, Job 1.21. so when Satan tempts him by his wife, see how he answers, Job 2.10. Michal tempts David by deriding him, when he danced before the Ark, but he grew more zealous by it, 2 Sam. 6.20, 21. so John 3.26. They would have stirred up John to emulate Christ, but that stirred him up to magnify him more than ever he did before, and give the most honourable Testimony of him.

2. A Young-man may not onely put him to flight, but he may also spoyl Satan, that is, he may take advantage by his assaults, to grow more wary, more holy, more obedient, more fruitfull, and so he spoils Satan; if a Christian enrich his spirit by the temptations he meets with, he makes a spoile of Satan; the riches of the Souldier is the spoil of the Enemy: when young men stand fast, and make a spoil of Satan, and grow more humble, and meek, and obedient, they shall so much the more overcome Satan; Job was strongly tempted by Satan to blaspheme God, but yet he stands fast, and not onely so, but takes occasion to blesse God, Job 1.21. so when Satan tempts him by his wife, see how he answers, Job 2.10. Michal tempts David by deriding him, when he danced before the Ark, but he grew more zealous by it, 2 Sam. 6.20, 21. so