Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 2 · Verse 14
1 JOHN 2.14.
I have written unto you Fathers, becauſe you have known him which is from the beginning; I have written unto you young men, becauſe you are ſtrong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
VErſe Sixth, the Apoſtle had exhorted all Chriſtians to walk as Chriſt had walked, and he amplifies this duty, from the antiquity of it, v 7. and from the newneſſe of it, v. 8. and then he inſtanceth in one ſpeciall duty of loving one another, v. 9, 10, 11. and v. 12. lays down a Motive, becauſe their ſins were forgiven them, and then v. 13. he diſtributes thoſe to whom he writes into three ſorts, foreign: now in this fourteenth verſe he repeats the ſame words almoſt; ſome think it a fault of the Copy, it being a vaine tautology, but this is not likely; Sometimes repetitions in Scriptures imply certainty, but I think this is not here intended chiefly; but I think the Apoſtle being to preſſe them to another duty, v. 15. namely, Not to love the world, he makes this a ground to urge them to it.
Why doth he not reckon Babes too here? why? becauſe they were not ſo eaſily carried away with the world; but he writes to old men, and young men, who ſeeing they knew God, and had overcome the wicked one, they ſhould not love the world; but to little children he writes, v. 18. to beware of ſeducements of falſe Doctrins.
Doct. The ſaving knowledge of him that is from the beginning, of the Ancient of dayes, or of Jeſus Chriſt, is able to wean even old men from the love of the world.
To know Chriſt, and his worth, and our need of him, is a ſufficient motive to wean old men from the world.
Two things there were which made wiſe, ancient, cautelous men, not to embrace Chriſt, and his Goſpel.
1. The antiquity of the Heatheniſh Religion; Jeſus Chriſt ſeemed a new God, but of two or three and thirty years, hated of all men, and Crucified, now to commend ſuch a God to them againſt their ancient Doctrin, and that all muſt ſubject themſelves to him, ſeemed ſtrange.
2. The Authority of Heathen Emperours that gain-ſaid it. Now to remove theſe impediments, the Apoſtle layes down this as a means, Love not the world, implying, that it was love of the world that made them to embrace that ancient Religion, and reject Chriſt, therefore he writes unto them, Love not the world; and that they might doe this, he tells them, that they knew him that was from the beginning, the Ancient of dayes, and all other Religions are but novelties.
Ʋſe. It ſhews a preſervative againſt deluding our ſouls, againſt embracing falſe Religion, either from grounds of antiquity or authority; if old men follow it, yet it is no good ground, for St. John writes to them, Love not the world, which you may be kept from, if you know him that was from the beginning; and if the Authority and Laws of man ſhould go that way, yet if you rightly know Chriſt, and him that was from the beginning, you will be kept off from the love of the world, and then no worldly things will keep you from embracing Chriſt and his Goſpel; I have written to you young men, becauſe you are ſtrong and the Word of God dwelleth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.
Here are two Cauſes of their Victory over the wicked one, that is, their ſtrength, and the abiding of the Word in them. For the firſt,
Doct. Spirituall ſtrength in Young men, it is a grace highly acknowledged of Gods ſervants.
Prov. 20.29. The glory of Young-men is their ſtrength; but the Apoſtle ſpeaks not here of bodily ſtrength, but ſuch ſtrength whereby they overcome the wicked one, and this he acknowledgeth in them.
Q. 1. What is this ſtrength?
A. 1. It is the power of Gods Spirit, whereby a Chriſtian is inabled to do all Spirituall duties in the power of Chriſt.
2. It is a power of Gods Spirit, 2 Tim. 1.17. 2 Cor. 3.5. Gal. 6.10. and hereby he is inabled to doe all ſpirituall duties, Phil. 4.13.
A Chriſtian man, younger or elder, is able to perform every Chriſtian duty, he is able to doe all duties, and ſuffer for Chriſt, with power.
1. It inables a man to doe every Chriſtian duty with ſtrength, and ſo to doe implies three things.
1 When a man performes a thing in ſtrength he performes it chearfully, Pſal. 19.5. The Sun rejoyceth to run his courſe, &c. if a man runs through his work with chearfulneſſe it is a ſign of ſtrength, John 4.34. Chriſt accounted it his meat and drink to doe his Fathers will, he took as much delight in it, and it was his ſtrength that made him doe ſo.
2 Doing the Will of God with ſtrength implies a ſpirit of boldneſſe and courage, that they are not fearfull, but go on with courage and boldneſſe, 1 Tim. 1.7. Acts 4.13. & 19.20. they were ſtrengthened by Chriſts power.
3 Strength makes a man doe Gods Will diligently, and conſtantly; an old man is ſoon wearied, and ſlacks, but take a ſtrong man, and he does his buſineſſe diligently and conſtantly, 1 Cor. 15.10. and painfully, he doth things with dexterity, and he that hath ſtrength doth things conſtantly, with conſtancy and perſeverance. Let a Childe ſhoot an Arrow with a weak hand, it waggles, but if a ſtrong man ſhoots it, it goes evenly; ſo if a weak man take a duty in hand, he begins to lagge, and fail, but a ſtrong Chriſtian he does duties conſtantly.
2. For Sufferings; ſtrength of grace appears in bearing all things patiently, and joyfully, Phil. 4.11, 12, 13. Col. 1.11. when a man therefore is able to doe duties with chearfulneſſe, and ſuffer with patience, he is endued with the power of the Spirit.
3. There is a ſtrength required for the over-coming and ſtanding out againſt Satan, when a man is not onelyonly able to doe and ſuffer valiantly, but is ready and able alſo to hold out, and reſiſt all temptations, James 4.7. and makes advantage thereof, 2 Sam. 6.20. John 3.26. this argues much ſtrength, when a man can go on in power and vigour, notwithſtanding Satans temptations.
Q. 2. Why doth God vouchſafe Young-men this ſtrength, and not old men, and children?
A. 1. Becauſe they are to wraſtle with ſtronger Luſts, which old men are paſt, and children are not come to; young men are ſure to be tranſported with ſtrong luſts, 1 Tim. 5.23. even thoſe who are of a weak and abſtemious nature, much more thoſe that are of a ſtrong conſtitution, therefore God gives young men ſuch ſtrength to reſiſt againſt theſe ſtrong luſts.
2. Their Temptations are ſtronger from without, they are more apt to be carried away with company, and worldly buſineſſe, and pleaſures, old men are not fit, but young men are more ſtrongly carried with profits and pleaſures; therefore that God might ſhew his might in them, he ſtrengthens them, and indeed the Devil loſes more by one young man that breaks off from him, than by ſix or ſeven old men, or twenty Children; for luſtfull ſtrong youths to break off, weakens Satan moſt, and doth God moſt ſervice, and therefore Satan aſſaults them moſt; therefore the Apoſtle writes unto them with honour, I write unto you young men, becauſe you are ſtrong.
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 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.
2 To get ſtrength, we muſt get wholſome and good diet, and feed heartily on it; ſo if we would get Spiritual ſtrength, we muſt feed on the Ordinances of God, the Word of God, 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. no man that receives the Word and Sacrament with a good heart, but he grows ſtrong thereby, they are meat and drink indeed, and it is not enough to hear, but eſpecially attend to it, and apply that which belongs to you; this is a means whereby you may grow ſtrong, and put forth your ſtrength to it: water it with Prayer, and look up to God for a Bleſſing: thus if a young man feed on theſe wholſome meats he will grow ſtrong; indeed if a man feed on windy meats he will never grow ſtrong: ſo if men affect tricks of Elegancy, and Wit, and Speech, ſuch will be fill'd only with vain empty Notions, but he that feeds on wholſome food, on the purity and ſimplicity of Gods own Ordinances, will grow in ſtrength.
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 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 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.