A64833:538
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 6: What is meant by their overcoming the wicked one.
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.
TO their being strong, and the Word of God abiding in them, this is added, that they have overcome the wicked one, viz. the Devil. That it is so, needs no proof, for St. John's saying so is witness enough, And we know that his witness is true, Joh. 21.24. That therefore which we have to do is, 1. To show in what sense they have, And 2. how and how far they have overcome the wicked one.
TO their being strong, and the Word of God abiding in them, this is added, that they have overcome the wicked one, viz. the Devil. That it is so, needs no proof, for St. John's saying so is witness enough, And we know that his witness is true, Joh. 21.24. That therefore which we have to do is, 1. To shew in what sense they have, And 2. how and how far they have overcome the wicked one.
To overcome is a word that is used in a Forensic and in a Military sense, as it refers to the Court and to the Camp, 'tis a Law term, and a term of War: in a legal or Court sense, 'tis to overcome by right and justification, to be cleared and justified as to any charge and indictment laid against them; to overcome in a Military sense, is to conquer by might, by dint of Sword; which in the School sense is to overcome by force of Argument. In the first sense to be cleared and justified is to overcome, as appears by comparing Psal. 51.4. with Rom. 3.4. in the Psalm 'tis that thou mayest be justified and cleared, in the Romans 'tis that thou mayest be justified and overcome: now in this sense not only the Young men, but all the Saints are conquerors and do overcome, that is, there is no condemnation but justification to and for them, Rom. 8.1. with 33, 34,—38, 39. though they are condemned by men yet justified by God, as Christ was put to death in the flesh, but justified in and by the Spirit. Though the Devil, accuse yet Christ their Advocate pleads for and to their justification; and they are freed (in foro Dei) in Gods Court, which is a relieving Chancery against the cruel Sentences of Common Law; so that nothing separates them from the Love of God in Christ. To this sense speaks also the