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.

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.

Doct. Such Young-men as have their sins forgiven them, have the Word of God abiding in them.

Q. What is meant by the Word of God abiding in them?

1 He means not part of the Word, but the whole Word abides in them, both Promises, Commands, and Threatenings; Commands to bind them, Threatening to awe them, Promises to comfort them; good examples to encourage them, bad examples to discourage them; therefore for men to be carvers and choosers of the Word, is not to have the Word abiding in them. Herod would have some of Johns words abide in him, hut not all, but this is the commendation of good young men, that not only every kind, but every parcel of the Word abides in them.

1 He means not part of the Word, but the whole Word abides in them, both Promises, Commands, and Threatnings; Commands to bind them, Threatning to awe them, Promises to comfort them; good examples to encourage them, bad examples to discourage them; therefore for men to be carvers and choosers of the Word, is not to have the Word abiding in them. Herod would have some of Johns words abide in him, hut not all, but this is the commendation of good young men, that not only every kind, but every parcel of the Word abides in them.

2 When he saith, the Word of God, it implies, that they receive it as the Word of God, and not as the word of man, 1 Thes. 2.13. and a man then receives the Word, as the Word of God, when he looks at the Commandments, as Gods Commandments, and so the Promises and Threatenings as Gods, he looks at them as of highest authority, so as no word of man shall stand against it, all falls to the ground before it; it sways all.

2 When he saith, the Word of God, it implyes, that they receive it as the Word of God, and not as the word of man, 1 Thes. 2.13. and a man then receives the Word, as the Word of God, when he looks at the Commandments, as Gods Commandments, and so the Promises and Threatnings as Gods, he looks at them as of highest authority, so as no word of man shall stand against it, all falls to the ground before it; it swayes all.

3 When he saith, the Word abideth, it implies, that this Word did not only flash in suddenly, and continued for a time, but it abideth in them continually, Joh. 5.35. Heb. 2.1, 2.

3 When he saith, the Word abideth, it implyes, that this Word did not only flash in suddenly, and continued for a time, but it abideth in them continually, Joh. 5.35. Heb. 2.1, 2.

4 (In you) that implies the whole man, in their judgment they understood the word, in their wills they embraced it, in their affections they rejoiced in it, in their lips, the law was in their mouths, in the whole man the word of God abode, and that not for a time, but continually.

4 (In you) that implyes the whole man, in their judgment they understood the word, in their wills they embraced it, in their affections they rejoyced in it, in their lips, the law was in their mouths, in the whole man the word of God abode, and that not for a time, but continually.

Q 2 What is the reason why those that have their sins forgiven them, have the Word of God abiding in them?