Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 2 · Verse 14
1 JOHN 2.14.
The Word of God abideth in you.
WE have heard of the ſtrength of Young-men.
The ſecond cauſe of their victory is, becauſe The Word of God abideth in them. Verſe 12. he had called all foreign, and he teſtifies that their ſins were forgiven, and of thoſe, the Fathers knew him which was from the beginning, and Young-men had overcome the wicked one, and were ſtrong, and the word of God did abide in them.
Doct. Such Young-men as have their ſins forgiven them, have the Word of God abiding in them.
Q. What is meant by the Word of God abiding in them?
1 He means not part of the Word, but the whole Word abides in them, both Promiſes, Commands, and Threatnings; Commands to bind them, Threatning to awe them, Promiſes to comfort them; good examples to encourage them, bad examples to diſcourage them; therefore for men to be carvers and chooſers of the Word, is not to have the Word abiding in them. Herod would have ſome of Johns words abide in him, hut not all, but this is the commendation of good young men, that not only every kind, but every parcel of the Word abides in them.
2 When he ſaith, the Word of God, it implyes, that they receive it as the Word of God, and not as the word of man, 1 Theſ. 2.13. and a man then receives the Word, as the Word of God, when he looks at the Commandments, as Gods Commandments, and ſo the Promiſes and Threatnings as Gods, he looks at them as of higheſt authority, ſo as no word of man ſhall ſtand againſt it, all falls to the ground before it; it ſwayes all.
3 When he ſaith, the Word abideth, it implyes, that this Word did not only flaſh in ſuddenly, and continued for a time, but it abideth in them continually, Joh. 5.35. Heb. 2.1, 2.
4 (In you) that implyes the whole man, in their judgment they underſtood the word, in their wills they embraced it, in their affections they rejoyced in it, in their lips, the law was in their mouths, in the whole man the word of God abode, and that not for a time, but continually.
Q 2 What is the reaſon why thoſe that have their ſins forgiven them, have the Word of God abiding in them?
Reaſ. The ground of this is, becauſe whoſe ſins ſoever are forgiven them, their eyes have been opened to ſee the weight and danger of ſin, the VVord hath opened and affected the heart, and hath made ſuch deep impreſſion, that it cannot be rooted out, Pſal. 119.93. thoſe promiſe that have comforted his ſoul, he ſhall never forget, Pſal. 119.129. and hence he looks at them as ſweeter than the honey and the honey combe; and thoſe threatnings that have awed his ſoul, he ſtill trembles at them; becauſe he hath found the VVord wonderful to humble him and to comfort him, therefore he ſtill keeps it.
Ʋſe 1 Of tryal unto us, whether our ſins be forgiven us or no; nothing more neceſſary to know, nor nothing more comfortable; how then ſhall I know this? Why, onſider what place the Word of God takes, if the Word of God abide in you, the whole Word, there is no Commandment but you would obey it, no Threatning, but you humble at it, no Promiſe, but you look at it as the Word of God; do you find your whole man ſubmitting to it, your minds underſtanding it, your wills embracing it, your affections rejoycing and delighting in it, as the Word of God? it is an evident ſigne of the remiſſion of your ſins; this could not have been, had not the Word of God been wonderfull to humble you and comfort you.
Obj. I have a brittls memory and cannot retain the Word, therefore how can the Word be ſaid to abide in me?
Anſ. Doſt thou remember other things well, and not the Word? then it is dangerous, but if thy memory bebrittle in other things, then it argues the leſſe danger, though the Word do ſo alſo; but though it ſlip out of thy memory, doth it not abide in thine heart? doſt thou not delight in, and deſire more and more after it? if it be ſo, it may be ſaid to abide in thee.
Ʋſe 2 Of exhortation to young men, whoſoever have found your ſins forgiven, this God requires of you, that you give up your hearts to the whole word of God, to be wholly guided by it for ever, if you ſit looſe from the word, you ſhall find the pardon of your ſins ſit looſe from your ſouls, he will take away the comfort of the pardon of your ſins; therefore let the Word of God abide in you richly and plentifully, that ſo you may have the comfort of ſuch a benefit as pardon of ſins.
Doct. Such young men, as have the Word of God abiding in them, are ſtrong young men, they are connexed together.
Reaſ. 1 They are ſtrong, firſt, becauſe the Word of God whereſoever it abides, abides not in the letter, but in the power and efficacy, and the Word of God is mighty and powerfull; and therefore where it dwells, it conveyes ſtrength and power, Rom. 1.16. 2 Cor. 10.4. it is mighty to caſt down the ſtrong holds of Satan, mighty to overwreſtle luſts, mighty to overcome the World, Pſal. 119.9. & 11.
Ʋſe 1 May ſerve to ſhew you, what poor weak young men they be, that have not the Word of God abiding in them, if you ſee ſuch a young man, write on him, he is a weak young man, if if the Word of God abide not in him, every company, every temptation will carry him away.
2 Learn hence, if you deſire to be ſtrong indeed, to let the Word abide in you; thus Joſeph, though he was much tempted to uncleanneſſe, yet he did not conſent, but lookt at it as a breach of Gods Word, how can I do this wickedneſſe, and ſinne againſt God? none ſo able to reſiſt temptations, as thoſe that have the Word of God abiding in them; therefore if you would overcome pride, wantonneſſe, &c. let the Word of God dwell in you, receive it in your Judgements, in your wills, memories, affections, do not think it weakneſſe for men to have the Word abiding in them, they are ſtrong; hee that fears God, fears not any Commandment or threatning in reſpect of Gods, hee that is affected with Gods promiſes, regards not all the flatteries of the World.
Doct. Such young men as have the word of God abiding in them, they overcome the wicked one, this is one reaſon of their victory, the abiding of the Word in them.
There are three ſpecial temptations of Satan, either againſt Repentance, or Faith, or Sanctification, now the Word of God is mighty through God to repell all theſe.
1 Againſt the temptation of repenting ſo ſoon, there is a Word that binds him, Eccl. 12.1. a Word that threatens the contrary, Eccl. 11.9. there are promiſes, Prov. 8.17. there are comfortable examples, as Joſiah, Timothy, and theſe reſiſt this temptation.
2 If a man do give up his heart to God and will ſet on a good courſe, yet he will make him live in penſiveneſſe, and fears, and doubts; now againſt this the Word is powerful, there are Commands to believe, 1 Joh. 3.23. 1 Joh. 5.1. Mat. 11.28. there are Threatnings if a man believes not, Joh. 3. ult. and there are notable Promiſes to him that believes, Joh. 3. ult. many Examples, Paul believed on God, and he was pardoned, ſo Mary Magdalen, and others.
3 If a mans heart be ſatified in the pardon of ſin, then Satan will tempt him with ſome baſe Luſts that may defile and wound his Conſcience, now againſt this the Word hath.
Firſt, Commands, 1 Theſ. 4.3. 1 Pet. 1. Be ye holy as I am holy, Mat. 5. ult.
Secondly, Promiſes, Rom. 2.6, to 8. and Threatnings to diſcourage him, and Examples to encourage him, as Paul, Act. 24.16. I exerciſe my ſelf to keep a good Conſcience.
Q But how comes the Word to be thus powerful, to overcome all the enemies of Salvation?
A. 1 Becauſe it is the ſword of the Spirit, to cut aſunder all luſts and temptations, Epheſ. 6.17. No man hath more need of a ſword to defend himſelf, or offend his enemy, than young men have of the Word to defend themſelves, and reſiſt Satan, and it is not ſo much the Letter of the Word, as the Spirit of the Word that doth this, the Word cuts off all temptations, there is no place for invaſion.
Ʋſe 1 To teach us, as we deſire to walk in the World as Maſters of the Field, ſo as not to be beaten out, and kept off either from Repentance, or Faith, or Sanctification, let this be our care, to have the Word of God ingrafted in us, this is all our ſtrength againſt temptations.
Q. But how ſhall I get the Word of God to abide in me?
A. 1. Be ſure you keep your hearts broken and clean, and if it be broken and clean, the Word will abide there, and will have the rule and dominion, for the Word of God dwells in a trembling heart, Iſa. 66.2. if we receive it with fear and reverence, this very reverence will over-rule us; Pſal 119.161. what is the reaſon why Princes could not prevaile againſt him? becauſe his heart ſtood in awe of Gods Word; ſo that is an antidote againſt all temptations, and perſecutions; What if Princes riſe againſt you, that Prince of Darkneſſe, Satan, and his Angels? if the Word dwell in you, it will help you to reſiſt them; what if evil company come againſt you? if the Word dwell in you it will help you; How ſhall I do this great wickedneſſe, &c. the Word of God dwells in broken veſſels; and withall keep the Veſſel clean, keep your hearts pure, come to the Word reſolved not to keep any Luſt, that is the reaſon why Herod came not on, becauſe he clave to his Luſts, to his Herodias, wherefore lay aſide all filthineſſe and ſuperfluity, and receive with meekneſſe the ingrafted Word of God, Jam. 2.1. if you come to the Word with a broken and clean heart, it will abide you.
2 Look at the Word as wonderful, as very effectual to do great things, and that will make thee keep the Word in thee; thus ſaith David, Pſalm 119.129. the ſence of the great efficacy of the Word, to humble you, and cleanſe you, &c. will make you keep the Word.
3 Another means is, to look up to God to ſend his Spirit, that may bring to minde thoſe things which you have need of, and faſten them to your hearts; though you forget the Word for the preſent, yet when you are tempred to any Luſt, the Spirit will bring it to your remembrance, Iſa. 30.21. You ſhall hear a voyce behind you, ſaying, This is the way walk in it.
4 Ponder the Word of God in your hearts, which was Maries practice, Luke 2.19. and this made her an eminent Chriſtian.
5 Confer of the Word, it is a great help to make it abide in you, teaching it to others, ſearching the Scripture, Act. 17.11, 12.
6 If you would have the Word abide in you, give up your ſouls to a conſcionable obedience of whatſoever you hear, if you reſolve to keep it, it will mightily keep you againſt the World, againſt Satan, againſt your Luſts; he that would keep his heart in a good frame, let his heart ſtick cloſe to the Word, and the Word to it, let them be riveted together, that you may love the Word, and rejoyce in it, this is the very way to have the Word abide in you; as therefore you deſire to be Conquerors, Let the Word dwell richly in you, Col. 3.16. Iſa. 11.9. that ſo you may grow up to abundance of knowledge; look at it as a wonderfull Word, and ſubmit your ſouls to it; ponder on it, conferre about it, and this will help you againſt all Temptations.