He doth not write to Fathers or Babes, that they have overcome the wicked one, as if it were not so proper to them, but he chiefly incourages young men, I write unto you young men, implying, it was a proper work for them. Observe all the temptations of Satan in Scripture, and where you shall read of one old man tempted by Satan, you shall read of ten young men; when did Satan set upon Eve, was it not presently after her first creation? our Saviour was not above thirty years old when Satan tempted him; Peter when he was tempted was young: we shall finde few falls of Gods Saints, but it was in their young dayes, except two, Noah and Solomon, who fell in their old dayes; and lesse shall we read of Children, 2 Kings 2.22. but Satan, chiefest assaults have al∣wayes been against young men.
Reas. 1. Why Satan chiefly sets upon young men, it is from the vigour of their nature and parts which God gives them, their courage, their strength, and fervency; therefore Satan strives to draw them on, and he knows, that if they get loose from him, they will doe him least and doe God most service, more than either old men or Children; therefore he strives chiefly to draw them on; indeed God sometimes makes use of the weakest, but Satan alwayes makes use of the stirring, quickest spirits among men.
2. Because he hath most advantage to surprize them; no age so subject to temptation, 2 Tim. 2.22. Fly youthfull lusts, yet he was not more subj••ct to lusts than others, nay, he was of a weak abstemious natu••e, 1 Tim. 5.23. yet Paul charges him to take heed of youthfull lusts; if such a weak abstemious nature was subject to youthfull lusts, then it implies, that no age is so subject to be led into lusts, as youth.
3. From the counsel of God, whose purpose it is then to magnifie his Grace when corruption is strongest, therefore God himselfe, who is that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to magnifie his Grace, lets loose Satan upon young men; so it was with our Sa∣viour, Mat. 4. It is the purpose of God, that where sin abounds, Grace should much more abound, Rom. 5.20. therefore it is, that young men are most strong∣ly assaulted, that God may magnifie his Grace.
But why doe the temptations of young men exceed all other ages?
Why, Children are not yet come to the lusts of youth, and old men are past them, so that young men are most liable to temptations and discourage∣ments.
Ʋse 1. It may therefore teach young men to fear their Estates; if they have not strong temptations, it is a sign the Devill hath strong hold already, and so is in peace, but otherwise they are subject to spirituall assaults.
Three Temptations Satan commonly assaults the Sons of men with.
1. Against their effectual Callings; their repentance, he perswades them it is yet too soon to look towards repentance; and they are more liable to evill company, given more to pleasures and delights than old men, and impatient of Counsell; and if God break through this,
2. Then he puts them to question their Faith and Adoption, whether they be Gods Children or no? their strong lusts make them doubt of it, and if Gods Grace break through this,
3. He tempts them about their sanctification, he will fill their hearts with unclean lusts; and if a man break through these, he hath much cause to mag∣nifie Gods Grace.
Ʋse 2. To teach young men, seeing Satans aime is chiefly at them, to strive