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.

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.

1 Truth of grace; no man by any outward performance only can be strong; a shadow of a man may be like a man, but it hath no strength; truth of grace and power go together, but where there is no truth there is no power, 2 Tim. 3.5. therefore as we would be powerful in godliness, let us do duties with hearty affection, do all things in obedience to God, and to do him service, and this very truth and sincerity will grow up to such strength, as you may go further conquering and to conquer.

1 Truth of grace; no man by any outward performance only can be strong; a shadow of a man may be like a man, but it hath no strength; truth of grace and power go together, but where there is no truth there is no power, 2 Tim. 3.5. therefore as we would be powerful in godlinesse, let us do duties with hearty affection, do all things in obedience to God, and to do him service, and this very truth and sincerity will grow up to such strength, as you may go further conquering and to conquer.

2 To get strength, we must get wholesome and good diet, and feed heartily on it; so if we would get Spiritual strength, we must feed on the Ordinances of God, the Word of God, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. no man that receives the Word and Sacrament with a good heart, but he grows strong thereby, they are meat and drink indeed, and it is not enough to hear, but especially attend to it, and apply that which belongs to you; this is a means whereby you may grow strong, and put forth your strength to it: water it with Prayer, and look up to God for a Blessing: thus if a young man feed on these wholesome meats he will grow strong; indeed if a man feed on windy meats he will never grow strong: so if men affect tricks of Elegance, and Wit, and Speech, such will be filled only with vain empty Notions, but he that feeds on wholesome food, on the purity and simplicity of Gods own Ordinances, will grow in strength.

2 To get strength, we must get wholsome and good diet, and feed heartily on it; so if we would get Spiritual strength, we must feed on the Ordinances of God, the Word of God, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. no man that receives the Word and Sacrament with a good heart, but he grows strong thereby, they are meat and drink indeed, and it is not enough to hear, but especially attend to it, and apply that which belongs to you; this is a means whereby you may grow strong, and put forth your strength to it: water it with Prayer, and look up to God for a Blessing: thus if a young man feed on these wholsome meats he will grow strong; indeed if a man feed on windy meats he will never grow strong: so if men affect tricks of Elegancy, and Wit, and Speech, such will be fill'd only with vain empty Notions, but he that feeds on wholsome food, on the purity and simplicity of Gods own Ordinances, will grow in strength.

3 Exercise increaseth strength: let a man daily exercise himself, let a man exercise himself in Grace, and he will grow up in the Lord, and increase in Spiritual strength, Gal. 5.16. Col. 2.6, 7. a tree, the more deeply it is rooted, the more fruit it brings forth, and so they that walk daily in a Christian course increase in strength: it is not every duty that will strengthen us, though it be often renewed, but walk in Christ, that is, walk not in your own strength, in your own gifts and parts, Without me you can do nothing: even Paul of himself was not able to think a good thought, 2 Cor. 3.5. therefore let us exercise our gifts in Christ, that is, to wait on Christ daily for the renewal of strength, according to our daily employments, Isa. 40.30.31. shall change his strength, renew it according to the necessity of his business, that so he may walk in obedience to him, and depend on him for strength, and aim at his glory.

3 Exercise encreaseth strength: let a man daily exercise himself, let a man excercise himself in Grace, and he will grow up in the Lord, and increase in Spiritual strength, Gal. 5.16. Col. 2.6, 7. a tree, the more deeply it is rooted, the more fruit it brings forth, and so they that walk daily in a Christian course increase in strength: it is not every duty that will strengthen us, though it be often renewed, but walk in Christ, that is, walk not in your own strength, in your own gifts and parts, Without me you can do nothing: even Paul of himself was not able to think a good thought, 2 Cor. 3.5. therefore let us exercise our gifts in Christ, that is, to wait on Christ daily for the renewal of strength, according to our daily employments, Isa. 40.30.31. shall change his strength, renew it according to the necessity of his businesse, that so he may walk in obedience to him, and depend on him for strength, and aim at his glory.

4 Because we often contract Crudities, and ill Humours, therefore if we would increase strength we must purge out these, so if we would get Spiritual strength; we must purge out our corruptions, Rev. 2.3, 4, 5. there is ⟨p. 106⟩need of daily repentance which may cast out all noisome lusts and weaknesses, and make us able to perform duties in strength; as you desire therefore to be strong, and to have your strength acknowledged by God, and good men; as you desire to do the will of God cheerfully, diligently, laboriously, and constantly; as you desire to suffer with boldness and patience; as you desire to stand out against all temptations, this God requires of you, to grow true hearted, to feed heartily on every ordinance, to exercise your graces in Christ, to depend on him, to deny your selves; and if you find you have committed any sin, cast out all before God by confession, and purge it out by repentance, and then you shall find your selves to increase in strength, as becomes young-men.

4 Because we often contract Crudities, and ill Humours, therefore if wee would increase strength wee must purge out these, so if we would get Spirituall strength; we must purge out our corruptions, Rev. 2.3, 4, 5. there is ⟨p. 106⟩need of daily repentance which may cast out all noysome lusts and weaknesses, and make us able to perform duties in strength; as you desire therefore to be strong, and to have your strength acknowledged by God, and good men; as you desire to do the will of God chearfully, diligently, laboriously, and constantly; as you desire to suffer with boldnesse and patience; as you desire to stand out against all temptations, this God requires of you, to grow true hearted, to feed heartily on every ordinance, to exercise your graces in Christ, to depend on him, to deny your selves; and if you find you have committed any sin, cast out all before God by confession, and purge it out by repentance, and then you shall find your selves to increase in strength, as becomes young-men.

1 JOHN 2.14. The Word of God abideth in you.

WE have heard of the strength of Young-men.

The second cause of their victory is, because The Word of God abideth in them. Verse 12. he had called all [Greek or Hebrew], and he testifies that their sins were forgiven, and of those, the Fathers knew him which was from the beginning, and Young-men had overcome the wicked one, and were strong, and the word of God did abide in them.

The second cause of their victory is, because The Word of God abideth in them. Verse 12. he had called all 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, and he testifies that their sins were forgiven, and of those, the Fathers knew him which was from the beginning, and Young-men had overcome the wicked one, and were strong, and the word of God did abide in them.