A64833:499
Venning's remains, or, Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians, I. babes, II.…
Venning's remains, or, Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians, I. babes, II. little children, III. young men, IV. fathers : with their several characteristical differences and attainments, also the doctrines proper to be taught to each of them : being the substance of many sermons / preached by Ralph Venning and fitted by him for the press before his death.
London: printed for John Hancock senior and junior, 1675
Class 3 › Chapter 3: How they come by this Strength. viz. By the Word of God abiding in them.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. III. How they come by this Strength. viz. By the Word of God abiding in them.
THE next thing which is asserted concerning these Young men, is, That the Word of God abideth in them; which may be understood as spoken after as the sign, or as spoken before as a means or cause of the victory: as it refers to that, it imports that notwithstanding their fight, yet their bow (like Josephs) abode in strength, and that they were not weakened by the hot and sharp dispute which they had with the Devil; but in this sense I shall not handle it here, though I may touch it anon. As it refers to this (and I suppose it most properly doth) it shows us by what they were strengthened to overcome; for if the Word of God had not abode with them, they had not been strong enough to overcome the evil one: the weapon by which the Young men overcome him is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God; or that by which the Young men are made so strong as to overcome the wicked one thereby, is the Word of God abiding in them. As their enemies are not carnal only, but spiritual, Ephes. 6.12. so ⟨p. 334⟩their weapons are not at all carnal but spiritual, and so mighty through God, 2. Cor 10.4, 5. There are two Questions to be proposed and resolved in relation hereunto: 1. What is meant by the Word of God. 2. What by the abiding of the Word of God in them, for 'tis not the Word of God in their hand, but in their heart, and not sojourning, or lodging, but dwelling there.
THE next thing which is asserted concerning these Young men, is, That the Word of God abideth in them; which may be understood as spoken after as the sign, or as spoken before as a means or cause of the victory: as it refers to that, it imports that notwithstanding their fight, yet their bow (like Josephs) abode in strength, and that they were not weakened by the hot and sharp dispute which they had with the Devil; but in this sense I shall not handle it here, though I may touch it anon. As it refers to this (and I suppose it most properly doth) it shews us by what they were strengthened to overcome; for if the Word of God had not abode with them, they had not been strong enough to overcome the evil one: the weapon by which the Young men overcome him is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God; or that by which the Young men are made so strong as to overcome the wicked one thereby, is the Word of God abiding in them. As their enemies are not carnal only, but spiritual,