2. The strength of the soul, which is the property of christians, often spoken of in scripture : Ps. cxxxviii. 3, ' And strengthen me with strength in my soul ; ' Eph. iii. 6, ' To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.' This is the fruit of grace, for by nature we have it not : Eom. v. 6, ' When we were yet without strength ; ' without any power to help ourselves out of that misery into which we had plunged ourselves ; but by grace there is a power whereby a christian is enabled to all spiritual duties, 2 Tim. i. 7, a spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind.
This spiritual strength serveth for three uses —
[1.] To bear burdens with patience. A heavy burden requireth a sound back : Col. i. 11, ' Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.' If we cannot bear afflictions and troubles with courage and cheerful- ness, we are little acquainted with spiritual strength : Prov. xxiv. 10,
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' If thou faint in the clay of adversity, thy strength is small.' As a weak man sinketh under his burden.
[2.] To perform duties with cheerfulness. That is a part of a christian's strength to be able to work hard, as well as bear much : Phil. iv. 13, ' I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me.' The grace of Christ disposeth us to every duty to which we are called by him. He enableth those whom he employeth. There is a sluggish- ness in most christians ; they excuse themselves by their weakness : Christ maketh them able for everything that lieth within the compass of their duty. If men did awaken the strength which they have, or improve what God vouchsafeth to them by the sanctifying motions of his Spirit, they would not be so weak as they pretend to be. But as lazy beggars, who personate and act diseases because they would not work, so they idly complain for want of strength. They spare their pains, and then cry out they are impotent, because they are loath to stir up themselves. There are two extremes — pride and sloth : pride is seen in self-confidence ; sloth in a neglect of the grace given.
[3.] To resist temptations with success. Our necessities are many, so must our strength be to fight as well as to work and bear. When the apostle was about to treat of the spiritual armour, he prefaceth it thus : Eph. vi. 10, ' Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might/ When we think with Samson to go forth and shake ourselves as at other times, we feel sad gyves and fetters ; we must use the spade as well as the trowel. We are assaulted with all kinds of temptations ; by the devil, as a tempter, and vexer, and opposer of the saints ; by the world, persecuting and enticing ; by the flesh, as rebelling against and shrinking from the discipline of the Spirit. Now the strength of the soul lieth in a firm resolution opposite to fears and snares. It is said of Joseph that his ' bow abode in its strength,' Gen. xlix. 44. His was a snaring temptation, but Joseph was kept innocent in all. So it is opposite to a fearful heart : Isa. xxxv. 4, ' Say to them of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not ; behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense, he will come and save you.' Now whether strength be opposite to snares or fears, it is the fruit, not of natural boldness, but of faith. The strength of the soul lies in a sound belief of the truths of the gospel : 1 Peter v. 9, ' Whom resist, steadfast in the faith.' It is a lamentable thing to see what a poor cowardly spirit there is in most christians ; how soon they are captivated, or discouraged with every slender assault or petty temptation, and their resolutions are shaken with the ap- pearance of every difficulty. This is not so much want of strength as sluggishness and cowardice, and neglect of the grace given. Well, then, this is common to all christians that are strong, but more especially to the middle sort, whose strength is most exercised and tried. They have need to be strong who are assaulted by the evil one ; their lusts are more boiling hot, and sooner set a- work ; they had need get faith, sobriety, humility, temperance, and suchlike, for in these things lieth the strength of the soul. This is the armour of God, and in these things should they excel.
Prop. 4. This strength they have because the word of God abideth in them.
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This middle clause looketh both ways : ' Ye are strong, because the word of God abideth in you ; and ye have overcome the wicked one, because the word abideth in you ; ' 1 Peter ii. 2, ' As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby.' The word of God is the food of the soul, and so increase th strength against temptations. The strength of the mind lieth in reason, and the word of God is our storehouse of reasons. It is the great weapon of the spiri- tual warfare : Eph. vi. 17, ' Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.' Jesus Christ made use of this argument to foil Satan with, Sic scriptum est, ' It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,' Mat. iv. 7. The word of God laid up in the heart, and made use of pertinently by the christian soldier, hath somewhat in it to ward off the blow of any temptation. The seasonable calling to mind such a scripture, forbidding or threatening for such an evil, or pressing the practice of such a duty, or speaking comfort or encouragement to a soul exercised with such a cross, it is a great relief. In temptations to have the word ready at hand, whether precepts, threatenings, or promises, to lay up all kind of spiritual knowledge, is to take a notable antidote and preservative against sin : Ps. cxix. 11, ' Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.' Hid, not for concealment, but for custody. When the young man's soul is well stocked and furnished with the word of God, he hath his spiritual weapon ready, and is prepared for all assaults.