Words of Advice to Young Men, Sermon 2
1 JOH. 2. part of the 14 Verse.
I have written unto you Young Men, because ye are strong; and the word of God abideth in you; and you have overcome the wickea one.
THE Author, or Penman which was employed in writing this Epistle, was John the Beloved Disciple. The chief subject of this Epistle, or duty which herein he exhorteth unto, is Love, Love to God, and Love one to another. The Persons to whom he writes this Epistle are all Believers in the general, and particularly according to the three Ages of Men, he dedicateth his Epistle unto Fathers, unto Little Children, and unto Young Men. The Text may be termed Young Mens Epistle: I have written unto you young Men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you; and ye have overcome the wicked one. Where the Apostle doth give three Elogiums or commendations of these young men, 1. That they were strong, 2. That the Word of God did abide in them. 3. That they had overcome the wicked one.
To observe Doctrines and prosecute them, might require too much time and room, and not be altogether so profitable: I shall choose rather to spend my whole discourse in a Use of Exhortation drawn from the Text unto you young men, who have called me hither to preach unto you this day: and what the Apostle doth write of these young men in the Text by way of Commendation, I shall commend unto you by way of Exhortation. There are three great duties which I from this place exhort all you young men unto:
1. Labour to be strong.
2. Labour that the Word of God may abide in you.
3. Labour to overcome the wicked one.