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

3 Good hearers do admonish bad teachers, to look better to their doctrine, Col. 4.17. and conversation.

3 Good hearers doe admonish bad teachers, to look better to their doctrine, Col. 4.17. and conversation.

4 If none of those will prevail, they argue with them, and deal seriously with them, as the blind man (and therefore no great Scholar) did reason with the Pharisees about Christ, and affirmed that he was a good man, because he did open the eyes of the blind, John 9.7. to 34. if all this will not prevail, then they avoid their doctrine, Mat. 22.3, 4. and their leaven, Luke 12.1.

4 If none of those will prevaile, they argue with them, and deale seriously with them, as the blind man (and therefore no great Schollar) did reason with the Pharisees about Christ, and affirmed that he was a good man, because he did open the eyes of the blind, John 9.7. to 34. if all this will not prevaile, then they avoid their doctrine, Mat. 22.3, 4. and their leaven, Luke 12.1.

2. They have a care either to remove altogether from their Congregations, or else depart from them on the Sabbath day. The Levites left their Suburbs and Possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11.14. and those that could not sell their possessions, took horses, and rid whither the Word was faithfully and sincerely taught; when the Shunamitish woman asked her husband an Ass and a man to go with her to the Prophet, he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day, it is neither new Moon, nor Sabbath day, 2 Kings 4.22, 23. which shows you, that if it had been either new Moon or Sabbath day, she should have had liberty to go: And so should men that live under bad Ministers, take their horses, and ride to such places where the Word of God is faithfully taught; not that people must go from their Ministers, when they preach the Word of God in truth.

2. They have a care either to remove altogether from their Congregations, or else depart from them on the Sabbath day. The Levits left their Suburbs and Possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11.14. and those that could not sell their possessions, took horses, and rid whither the Word was faithfully and sincerely taught; when the Shunamitish woman asked her husband an Asse and a man to goe with her to the Prophet, he said, Wherefore wilt thou goe to him to day, it is neither new Moon, nor Sabbath day, 2 Kings 4.22, 23. which shews you, that if it had been either new Moon or Sabbath day, she should have had liberty to goe: And so should men that live under bad Ministers, take their horses, and ride to such places where the Word of God is faithfully taught; not that people must goe from their Ministers, when they preach the Word of God in truth.

2. To exhort people to contend with their Ministers, when they are not of God.

Ye are of God little children, and ye have overcome them.

Doct. As there is a conflict between godly hearers, and worldly teachers, so godly hearers do overcome.

Doct. As there is a conflict between godly hearers, and worldly teachers, so godly hearers doe overcome.

Who so is born of God doth overcome the world, John 5.4. the world not only of vain glory and reproaches, of covetousness, injury, and losses, but the world of false Teachers also.

Who so is born of God doth overcome the world, John 5.4. the world not onely of vain glory and reproaches, of covetousness, injury, and losses, but the world of false Teachers also.

In what doth this victory stand? A godly Hearer overcomes worldly Teachers,

First, By trying and examining their doctrine, and finding it to be false; if he do discover him he overcomes him, Rev. 2.2. by this means he puts them to shame, as those that have lost the field.

First, By trying and examining their doctrine, and finding it to be false; if he doe discover him he overcomes him, Rev. 2.2. by this means he puts them to shame, as those that have lost the field.

Secondly, When they stand fast in the doctrine of Gods truth and liberty of Christian profession, whatsoever those false teachers say, James 4.7. Resist the Devil and he will fly from you, so those false teachers, if you yield not to their doctrine, you overcome them, Gal. 2.4, 5.

Secondly, When they stand fast in the doctrine of Gods truth and liberty of Christian profession, whatsoever those false teachers say, James 4.7. Resist the Devill and he will fly from you, so those false teachers, if you yeeld not to their doctrine, you overcome them, Gal. 2.4, 5.

Thirdly, When Gods servants grow so much the more fervent, resolute, and zealous Christians, by how much the more they see themselves opposed, as David when he danced before the Ark of the Lord, Michal the daughter of Saul, laughed at him, but saith David, I will yet be more vile then, thus 2 Sam. 6.20, 22.

Fourthly, A man gets ground when he is able to prevail, either by avoiding them, or by being content to suffer extremity under them; by avoiding them, as the Levites left their possessions, and went to Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11.15, 16. when a man cannot overcome them, to hold constant to the death, and so vincit qui patitur.

Fourthly, A man gets ground when he is able to prevail, either by avoiding them, or by being content to suffer extremity under them; by avoiding them, as the Levits left their possessions, and went to Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11.15, 16. when a man cannot overcome them, to hold constant to the death, and so vincit qui patitur.

Reas. 1. From the blood of Christ, whereby we are sprinkled, Luke 1 74. we are delivered from the hand of our enemies, verse 68. they overcome by the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 12.11. Col. 2.13, 14. Christ hath triumphed over them openly; so that we come to fight with wounded enemies, Christ hath broke the Serpents head; we come to finish the victory that Christ hath begun for us; were the Devil and ungodly teachers let loose in their great strength, they would be too strong for us, but now their teeth are broken.

Reas. 1. From the bloud of Christ, whereby we are sprinkled, Luke 1 74. we are delivered from the hand of our enemies, verse 68. they overcome by the bloud of the Lambe, Rev. 12.11. Col. 2.13, 14. Christ hath triumphed over them openly; so that we come to fight with wounded enemies, Christ hath broke the Serpents head; we come to finish the victory that Christ hath begun for us; were the Devill and ungodly teachers let loose in their great strength, they would be too strong for us, but now their teeth are broken.

2. From the mighty power of God that dwells in Gods children, I write to you young men (saith St. John) because you have overcome the wicked one, they are so ballasted with promises and threatenings as that they do not sin against God; if the Devil or the world promise them earthly things, they have a great many better promises.

2. From the mighty power of God that dwells in Gods children, I write to you young men (saith St. John) because you have overcome the wicked one, they are so balasted with promises and threatnings as that they doe not sin against God; if the Devill or the world promise them earthly things, they have a great many better promises.

3. From the glories of him that dwells in godly hearers, in respect of him that dwells in wicked teachers: Who is he that is greater in them? It is the Spirit of God, Eph. 1.22. 1 Cor. 3.16. the Lord dwells in his children by his Spirit, he is greater then he that dwells in the world.