Prov. 20.29. The glory of Young-men is their strength; but the Apostle speaks not here of bodily strength, but such strength whereby they overcome the wicked one, and this he acknowledgeth in them.

Q. 1. What is this strength?

A. 1. It is the power of Gods Spirit, whereby a Christian is enabled to do all Spiritual duties in the power of Christ.

A. 1. It is the power of Gods Spirit, whereby a Christian is inabled to do all Spirituall duties in the power of Christ.

A Christian man, younger or elder, is able to perform every Christian duty, he is able to do all duties, and suffer for Christ, with power.

A Christian man, younger or elder, is able to perform every Christian duty, he is able to doe all duties, and suffer for Christ, with power.

1. It enables a man to do every Christian duty with strength, and so to do implies three things.

1. It inables a man to doe every Christian duty with strength, and so to doe implies three things.

1 When a man performs a thing in strength he performs it cheerfully, Psal. 19.5. The Sun rejoiceth to run his course, &c. if a man runs through his work with cheerfulness it is a sign of strength, John 4.34. Christ accounted it his meat and drink to do his Fathers will, he took as much delight in it, and it was his strength that made him do so.

1 When a man performes a thing in strength he performes it chearfully, Psal. 19.5. The Sun rejoyceth to run his course, &c. if a man runs through his work with chearfulnesse it is a sign of strength, John 4.34. Christ accounted it his meat and drink to doe his Fathers will, he took as much delight in it, and it was his strength that made him doe so.

2 Doing the Will of God with strength implies a spirit of boldness and courage, that they are not fearful, but go on with courage and boldness, 1 Tim. 1.7. Acts 4.13. & 19.20. they were strengthened by Christs power.

2 Doing the Will of God with strength implies a spirit of boldnesse and courage, that they are not fearfull, but go on with courage and boldnesse, 1 Tim. 1.7. Acts 4.13. & 19.20. they were strengthened by Christs power.

3 Strength makes a man do Gods Will diligently, and constantly; an old man is soon wearied, and slacks, but take a strong man, and he does his business diligently and constantly, 1 Cor. 15.10. and painfully, he doth things with dexterity, and he that hath strength doth things constantly, with constancy and perseverance. Let a Child shoot an Arrow with a weak hand, it waggles, but if a strong man shoots it, it goes evenly; so if a weak man take a duty in hand, he begins to lag, and fail, but a strong Christian he does duties constantly.

3 Strength makes a man doe Gods Will diligently, and constantly; an old man is soon wearied, and slacks, but take a strong man, and he does his businesse diligently and constantly, 1 Cor. 15.10. and painfully, he doth things with dexterity, and he that hath strength doth things constantly, with constancy and perseverance. Let a Childe shoot an Arrow with a weak hand, it waggles, but if a strong man shoots it, it goes evenly; so if a weak man take a duty in hand, he begins to lagge, and fail, but a strong Christian he does duties constantly.

2. For Sufferings; strength of grace appears in bearing all things patiently, and joyfully, Phil. 4.11, 12, 13. Col. 1.11. when a man therefore is able to do duties with cheerfulness, and suffer with patience, he is endued with the power of the Spirit.

2. For Sufferings; strength of grace appears in bearing all things patiently, and joyfully, Phil. 4.11, 12, 13. Col. 1.11. when a man therefore is able to doe duties with chearfulnesse, and suffer with patience, he is endued with the power of the Spirit.

3. There is a strength required for the over-coming and standing out against Satan, when a man is not only able to do and suffer valiantly, but is ready and able also to hold out, and resist all temptations, James 4.7. and makes advantage thereof, 2 Sam. 6.20. John 3.26. this argues much strength, when a man can go on in power and vigour, notwithstanding Satan's temptations.

3. There is a strength required for the over-coming and standing out against Satan, when a man is not onely able to doe and suffer valiantly, but is ready and able also to hold out, and resist all temptations, James 4.7. and makes advantage thereof, 2 Sam. 6.20. John 3.26. this argues much strength, when a man can go on in power and vigour, notwithstanding Satans temptations.

Q. 2. Why doth God vouchsafe Young-men this strength, and not old men, and children?

A. 1. Because they are to wrestle with stronger Lusts, which old men are past, and children are not come to; young men are sure to be transported with strong lusts, 1 Tim. 5.23. even those who are of a weak and abstemious nature, much more those that are of a strong constitution, therefore God gives young men such strength to resist against these strong lusts.

A. 1. Because they are to wrastle with stronger Lusts, which old men are past, and children are not come to; young men are sure to be transported with strong lusts, 1 Tim. 5.23. even those who are of a weak and abstemious nature, much more those that are of a strong constitution, therefore God gives young men such strength to resist against these strong lusts.

2. Their Temptations are stronger from without, they are more apt to be carried away with company, and worldly business, and pleasures, old men are not fit, but young men are more strongly carried with profits and pleasures; therefore that God might show his might in them, he strengthens them, ⟨p. 105⟩and indeed the Devil loses more by one young man that breaks off from him, than by six or seven old men, or twenty Children; for lustful strong youths to break off, weakens Satan most, and doth God most service, and therefore Satan assaults them most; therefore the Apostle writes unto them with honour, I write unto you young men, because you are strong.

2. Their Temptations are stronger from without, they are more apt to be carried away with company, and worldly businesse, and pleasures, old men are not fit, but young men are more strongly carried with profits and pleasures; therefore that God might shew his might in them, he strengthens them, ⟨p. 105⟩and indeed the Devil loses more by one young man that breaks off from him, than by six or seven old men, or twenty Children; for lustfull strong youths to break off, weakens Satan most, and doth God most service, and therefore Satan assaults them most; therefore the Apostle writes unto them with honour, I write unto you young men, because you are strong.

Use It may serve to exhort all young men, to labour for this Spiritual strength; the strength of young men is their honour, to be able to over-run, and out-wrestle others, but what is that, if he be not able to out-run the World, and his Lusts? what is it to out-wrestle his Adversary, if he cannot out-wrestle Satan, and his Temptations, and his own Corruptions? for a young man to overcome the world, and himself, is a greater Victory than Alexander the Great could reach unto; what a comely and honourable thing is it for a young man to out-wrestle Satan, the World, his own Lusts? and God to this end hath made his Ordinance strong, his Spirit is strong, the Lords Supper is Meat indeed, and Drink indeed to strengthen us, and shall we have such strong means, and shall we be led away, and overcome with every company? no, it is the honour of young men to be strong against temptation, to do Gods Will, to suffer patiently, to hold out constantly; what an honour is it for a young man when his Bow abides in his strength, &c. Gen. 49.24. for a man to suffer valiantly for the Truth, this is a sign of strength.

Ʋse It may serve to exhort all young men, to labour for this Spiritual strength; the strength of young men is their honour, to be able to over-run, and out-wrastle others, but what is that, if he be not able to out-run the World, and his Lusts? what is it to out-wrastle his Adversary, if he cannot out-wrastle Satan, and his Temptations, and his own Corruptions? for a young man to overcome the world, and himself, is a greater Victory than Alexander the Great could reach unto; what a comely and honourable thing is it for a young man to out-wrastle Satan, the World, his own Lusts? and God to this end hath made his Ordinance strong, his Spirit is strong, the Lords Supper is Meat indeed, and Drink indeed to strengthen us, and shall we have such strong means, and shall we be led away, and overcome with every company? no, it is the honour of young men to be strong against temptation, to do Gods Will, to suffer patiently, to hold out constantly; what an honour is it for a young man when his Bow abides in his strength, &c. Gen. 49.24. for a man to suffer valiantly for the Truth, this is a sign of strength.

Means to help a young man to this Spiritual strength, and grow in it.