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

But a godly man so overcomes and divides the spoil that he spoils not himself. Worldly conquerors fall to riot and excess after their victories, but a Christian conqueror grows more wary and humble, and sober then before. As it was said of John Baptist by Christ, A Prophet, yea more then a Prophet: So, a regenerate man is a conqueror, yea more then a conqueror.

But a godly man so overcomes and divides the spoyl that he spoyls not himself. Worldly conquerors fall to ryot and excesse after their victories, but a Christian conqueror grows more wary and humble, and sober then before. As it was said of John Baptist by Christ, A Prophet, yea more then a Prophet: So, a regenerate man is a conqueror, yea more then a conqueror.

Reas. From Christs victory over the world, Rom. 8.37. It is through him that loved us. Christ hath overcome the world, John 16. ult. Therefore I am to wrestle but with a wounded, pinioned enemy, Christ having led captivity captive, I come but to contend with a captive world, and so I overcome through Christ that hath loved me. It's the death of Christ that hath crucified the world to me, Gal. 6.14. And therefore I am to fight but with a crucified enemy.

Reas. From Christs victory over the world, Rom. 8.37. It is through him that loved us. Christ hath overcome the world, John 16. ult. Therefore I am to wrestle but with a wounded, pimoned enemy, Christ having led captivity captive, I come but to contend with a captive world, and so I overcome through Christ that hath loved me. It's the death of Christ that hath crucified the world to me, Gal. 6.14. And therefore I am to fight but with a crucified enemy.

2 From the mighty power of Gods Word abiding in a Christians heart, 1 John 2.14. The commandments of God, and his promises do so rule in his heart, that no flatterings of the world, no commandments of men can oversway him.

2 From the mighty power of Gods Word abiding in a Christians heart, 1 John 2.14. The commandements of God, and his promises do so rule in his heart, that no flatterings of the world, no commandements of men can oversway him.

Obj. Did not Demas a great professor, forsake Paul, and embrace this present world? 2 Tim. 4.10, Have not many for the live of the world erred from the faith? 1 Tim. 6.9, 10. Was it not so with Ananias and Sapphira, and Judas? The love of this world overcame them. Hath not the love of the world overcome many of the Germane Christians to apostatize to Idolatry, and yield themselves to the temptations thereof? How is it true then, that every poor Christian overcomes the world?

Obj. Did not Demas a great professor, forsake Paul, and embrace this present world? 2 Tim. 4.10, Have not many for the live of the world erred from the faith? 1 Tim. 6.9, 10. Was it not so with Ananias and Saphira, and Judas? The love of this world overcame them. Hath not the love of the world overcome many of the Germane Christians to apostatize to Idolatry, and yeeld themselves to the temptations thereof? How is it true then, that every poor Christian overcomes the world?

Answ. 'Tis true, the world prevails with many professors, but many of them were never truly born of God, as Demas and Judas, Ananias and Sapphira.

Answ. 'Tis true, the world prevails with many professors, but many of them were never truly born of God, as Demas and Judas, Ananias and Saphira.

Obj. Do you think that every one that is led away with the world, hath no shred of true grace in him?

Answ. No, for then I might condemn the generation of the righteous; for it may easily fall out, that sometimes the servants of God are so filled with the world, that they have much ado to take pains about edifying themselves, or keeping peace with God. But yet, though a true Christian be led captive by the world, so as he hath little skill in any thing else but worldly matters; full of dexterity in the world, and but a bungler in grace; yet if a man be born of God, the Spirit of God at length will let him see his error, and then be will mourn for it, and oppose and resist to the death. As a child getting into a boat, at length the wind riseth, and carrieth the boat from the shore, and tosses him in the deep, he is not able to use the oars to bring him to the shore, but after much toiling he is drowned, and a puff of wind, or the return of the flood, casts him on the shore dead: So, many times a Christian falls a tampering with the world, and it pleaseth him well, till at length the world heaves and carries him up, until he be carried into the main, plunged so deep in the world, that he sees he hath lost his love to God, and then he strives to recover himself, and labours and goes mourning to his ⟨p. 355⟩grave but at his death, he is cast up safely on the shore, the seed of God hath kept some life of grace in him.

Answ. No, for then I might condemne the generation of the righteous; for it may easily fall out, that sometimes the servants of God are so filled with the world, that they have much ado to take pains about edifying themselves, or keeping peace with God. But yet, though a true Christian be led captive by the world, so as he hath little skill in any thing else but worldly matters; full of dexterity in the world, and but a bungler in grace; yet if a man be born of God, the Spirit of God at length will let him see his error, and then be will mourn for it, and oppose and resist to the death. As a childe getting into a boat, at length the wind riseth, and carryeth the boat from the shoar, and tosses him in the deep, he is not able to use the oares to bring him to the shoar, but after much toyling he is drowned, and a puffe of wind, or the return of the floud, casts him on the shoar dead: So, many times a Christian falls a tampering with the world, and it pleaseth him well, till at length the world heaves and carries him up, untill he be carryed into the main, plunged so deep in the world, that he sees he hath lost his love to God, and then he strives to recover himselfe, and labours and goes mourning to his ⟨p. 355⟩

Use 1. Shows the hypocrisy of such as are carried wholly captive with the world, such were never truly born of God. Stella cadens, nunquam stella, cometa fuit. Some illumination may make them blaze a while, but they vanish away at length.

Ʋse 1. Shews the hypocrisie of such as are carryed wholly captive with the world, such were never truly born of God. Stella cadens, nunquam stella, cometa fuit. Some illumination may make them blaze a while, but they vanish away at length.

Use 2. Shows us the marvellous danger of the world. We think it an happy thing to lade our selves with thick clay, to have our treasuries full, and our houses well furnished. Why, would a man think himself rich, if his house were full of enemies? Why, truly such is the world, it carries us into the deep, and drowns us with many sinful lusts. Therefore the more we have of the world, the more wary grow we of keeping the world shackled, that it may not hinder us, but help us to more freedom; as a man, the more Sea-room, the better he sails: So let Christians that have much of the world, learn to be more free for God.

Ʋse 2. Shews us the marvellous danger of the world. We think it an happy thing to lade our selves with thick clay, to have our treasuries full, and our houses well furnished. Why, would a man think himselfe rich, if his house were full of enemies? Why, truly such is the world, it carries us into the deep, and drowns us with many sinfull lusts. Therefore the more we have of the world, the more wary grow we of keeping the world shackled, that it may not hinder us, but help us to more freedome; as a man, the more Sea-room, the better he sails: So let Christians that have much of the world, learn to be more free for God.

Doct. 2. It's the faith of a Christian that helps him to overcome the world.

Moses his example is full, Heb. 11.24, to 28. We see here.

1 Honour might have tempted him. He might have been called the Son of Pharaohs daughter, this he refused by faith.

1 Honor might have tempted him. He might have been called the Son of Pharoahs daughter, this he refused by faith.

2 There was much treasure to be got in the Court, but by faith he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt.

2 There was much treasure to be got in the Court, but by faith he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Aegypt.

3 He might have had many pleasures in the Court, but by faith he esteemed the affliction of Gods people before the pleasures of sin.

4 He might have incurred the Kings wrath, but by faith he feared not the Kings wrath. So that, let the world flatter or threaten, faith overcomes it.