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own time, by the preaching of the word, discover false teachers and their delusions to the world.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

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How the apostle argues from his own persecutions in particular to all the godly persecutions in general: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution; mark, not this or that godly man, but all, every one without exsecuted; the devil shoots his arrow at the ception: the better the men, the sooner per. whitest and fairest mark. Again, all that will, he doth not say all that wish well to godliness, but all that will, all that are absolutely resolved so to do. And farther, if he will live, if he can or will keep his godliness in his heart, and not discover it in his life, he may escape hatred and persecution: but if he will live religiously, let him look for persecution. Observe farther, It is said, he that will live godlily; not living civilly, but living godlily, exposes to the world scorn and hatred; in a word, his godliness in Christ Jesus, that is, such godliness as is exerted in the virtue, strength, and power, of Christ Jesus particularly. Godliness in Christ Jesus is real and true godliness: 'tis exact godliness, 'tis an active godliness, 'tis a prevailing godliness, it is a world-condemning godliness; such godliness cannot escape the world's hatred. Learn, That all those that show forth the power of religion in an holy conversation, must look for persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

A special mean is here propounded how Timothy and his successors may be preserved from the seduction of false teachers, namely, by setting before themselves the example of the great apostle St. Paul; we are more easily led by precedents than by precepts, therefore the apostle propounds his own example as a pattern, Thou hast fully known my doctrine, my manner of life and conversation, my purpose to adhere to my faith in Christ, my long-suffering, and patience in undergoing persecutions for him, at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, and how God was graciously pleased to deliver me out of all. Learn hence, 1. That young er ministers ought especially to observe the doctrine and conversation of the elder, the pious way and walking of the graver ministers, and must follow them. Aged Paul propounds his virtue to young Timothy for imitation, Thou hast fully known Our apostle having acquainted us in the doctrine and manner of life; my doctrine former verse with the condition of the godto be sound and sincere, my life to be holy ly, that they must expect and prepare for and unblamable. Learn, 2. That it is persecution; he lets us in this verse underboth lawful and laudable, at some times, stand the miserable condition of the wickand upon some occasions, to mention both ed, that they war worse and worse; their the graces which God hath wrought in us, proficiency is mere apostasy, they actively and also the sufferings and persecutions deceive others, and are passively deceived which we endure and undergo for him. themselves, by the devil, that lying spirit, Thou knowest what persecutions I enthat grand impostor. Learn hence, That dured at Antioch, at Iconium, and Lys- the prosperous estate of wicked men is much tra. Learn, 3. That always opposition, more dangerous and miserable than the afand often persecution, attends the preach-flicted, persecuted condition of the godly; ing of the gospel wherever it goes. St. Paul went to Antioch, from Antioch to Iconium, and from Iconium to Lystra, preaching the gospel; but persecution followed him hard at the heels wherever he went. But observe how the goodness of God accompanied him too, Out of them all the Lord delivered me; not only our dangers, but our deliverances also, must be recorded and observed. Observe, farther,

the good by persecution grow better, but the wicked by living easy wax worse and worse.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation

through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Several arguments are here made use of, by St. Paul, to press Timothy to the duty of perseverance in the doctrine of Christ, contained in the holy scriptures; the first is drawn from the authority of the person from whom he had received that doctrine, to wit, St. Paul himself, an inspired apostle of Jesus Christ. Continue in the things which thou hast learned; that is, from me, and by me, as an authorized apostle. All the servants of God, but especially the ministers of God, must continue constant in the faith, and stedfast in the truth received. The second argument of Timothy's adhering to the doctrine of the scriptures, is drawn from his long acquaintance with the scriptures, even from his childhood, yea, from his infancy: From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, &c. And the argument lies thus, "Thou, O Timothy, hast learnt the scriptures from thy infancy; now what a shame would it be for thee, who hast been taught so early the true religion, to turn from it and forsake it; from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, from a suckling, as the word signifies." From whence learn, That it is the duty of parents to instruct their children betimes in the holy and good word of God; we read before of the care that Timothy's mother and grandmother took in that matter. Observe, 2. The title given to the word of God, -the holy scriptures; they are holy in their author, holy in their matter, holy in their penman, holy in their end and design, which is to make us holy, John xvii. 17. The word of God is not only pure but purifying, not only clean but cleansing. Observe, 3. The high commendation given of the word, It is able to make thee wise unto salvation; no knowledge can bring us to salvation without the knowledge of the holy scriptures; the philosophers will teach you moral wisdom, but not a word of salvation by a Redeemer, without whom our salvation is impossible; therefore it is here added,-wise unto sal vation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Learn thence, That the holy scriptures, though they instruct us in the way of salvation, yet cannot save us without faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable

for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

exhortation to Timothy to persevere in his Our apostle closes this chapter with an study of the holy scriptures, by an argument drawn, 1. From the dignity and authority of the scriptures; 2. From their utility; 3. From their perfection. 1. From their dignity and authority, they are given by the inspiration of God; that is, they and fancy, but a revelation of the mind are not the contrivance of any man's wit and will of God; and those that wrote by the Spirit of God: no part of scripture them were excited to it, and assisted in it, had either angels or men for its author, but every part of scripture is divinely inspired or breathed by God, both for matter and order, style and words. A second argument is drawn from the utility and sufficiency of the holy scriptures; they are teaching us what to know and believe in profitable for doctrine and instruction, order to salvation, concerning God, and Christ, and ourselves, &c. for reproof of error, and confutation of false doctrines, for correction of sin and evil manners, for instruction in righteousness, directing us how to lead a righteous and holy life, according to the will of God. A third arthem; they are able to make the man of gument is taken from the perfection of all good works: that is, to make the minisGod perfect, thoroughly furnished unto ters of Christ complete in knowledge, faith, and holiness, every way fitted for their work and duty, as christians, and as ministers, Old Testament, and not of the New, must Observe here, 1. That the scriptures of the. be the scriptures here intended, they being the only scriptures which Timothy had known from a child; that was before the scriptures of the New Testament were writ

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Observe, 2. That the apostle doth selves sufficient to make Timothy wise unnot say that these scriptures were of them, Christ Jesus they were sufficient for that end to salvation, but only that with faith in much more then must the scriptures both of the Old and New Testament together, when accompanied with faith in Jesus Christ, be sufficient for that end. serve, 3. That the scriptures are a perfect, plain, and sufficient rule, in all things ne

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cessary to salvation. 1. They are a perfect rule; because the writers of them were divinely inspired, and consequently their writings are infallible. 2. They are a plain rule; otherwise they would be no rule at all, of no more use to direct our faith and practice than a sun-dial in a dark room is to tell us the hour of the day. A rule that is not plain, whatever it may be in itself, is of no use to us till it is made plain. 3. They are a sufficient rule; they are able to make the man of God perfect, and wise to salvation. Here the church of Rome distinguishes, and says, the scriptures are sufficient to salvation, but not to instruction; to whom one of the martyrs replied, "If so, God send me the salvation, and you the instruction." It is conceived by some, that this was the last epistle that ever St. Paul wrote; if so, this is the last charge that ever he gave, and concerns us the more to attend to the solemnity of it. The chapter before us is St. Paul's Cygnea Cantio, his last and sweetest song by a spiritual sagacity he saw his end approaching, and the time of his martyrdom to be at hand: he therefore, like a dying man, adjures Timothy in a most aw. ful and tremendous manner, to preach the word with all diligence and care, which he had so highly extolled in the foregoing chapter, as being able to make all persons wise unto salvation.

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CHAP. IV.

CHARGE thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Observe here, 1. A most solemn adjuration and charge given, I charge thee before God and our Lord Jesus Christ, the judge of quick and dead. Lord! what opiate can stupify the conscience of a minister, that he shall not feel the authority of such a charge, or not be awakened by such ardent expressions! How can they appear before the most high and everlasting Judge? What will be a sufficient defence before his enlightened tribunal? If such in the last judgment, who neglected to feed the poor with material bread, shall be placed at Christ's left hand; how can those whose

office it is to dispense spiritual bread, if they neglect to do it, escape condemnation ? Observe, 2. The subject matter of the charge, to preach according to Christ's commission, Matt. xxviii. 19. Go, preach and baptize; to preach the word, not the fan. cies and inventions of men, but the wholesome word of God; and the whole word of God, both law and gospel, the one to keep men from presumption, the other from despair; to be instant and active, urgent and zealous, in the discharge of his duty, in all the parts of it, in instruction, reprehension, and exhortation; and this with all long-suffering, patience, and lenity, undergoing meekly the contradiction of sinners, and the reproaches of men and for the time to do it, in season, and out of season, that is, to take all occasions, and to be thankful to God for all opportunities, of preaching his word: the lazy may find a thousand excuses, but willing minds know no difficulties; they consider the price paid for souls, and the account that must be given of them. Observe, 3. The person to whom this charge is given; to Timothy, an ordained person, one set apart for the work : this is not a work common to all, but peculiar to some; God's Timothies only, who are called and set apart by imposition of hands for the work of the ministry, must preach the word; and such ought to take all occasions, and be very instant in so doing, 1 Cor. ix. 16. Necessity is laid upon us; yea, woe be unto us if we preach not the gospel.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Here we have the reason of our apostle's solemn adjuration in the foregoing verses, by which he stirs up Timothy to a carefu! discharge of his duty; namely, in regard of the apostasy of the times, in which many would grow weary of sound doctrine, and follow fables. Here note, 1. The ground of this apostasy: men's hatred of the truth: They will not endure sound doctrine, that is, they will. reject and abhor it; they love their lusts above God's law, and will not endure to hear A second ground of their apostasy is, a delight in false teachers: they heap up

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to themselves such as will claw their itching ears, and gratify their wanton desires, and in no wise disturb their lusts. Thirdly, Here is the doleful issue and dreadful consequence of this their malicious contempt of the truth they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables: that is, say some, to the fabulous divinity of the Gnostics, made up of Gentilism and Judaism; the fabulous traditions of the Jewish doctors, say others. Learn hence, 1. That christian doctrine is sound doctrine, wholesome words. 2. Unsound persons cannot endure sound doctrine; sore eyes cannot abide the light. 3. That in the last days there will be many teach ers to claw and gratify itching ears. 4. That the more false teachers do abound,

the more careful and industrious should the ministers of Christ be to oppose them, by preaching sound doctrine.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Behold here a fourfold duty pressed upon Timothy; 1. Watchfulness: Watch thou in all things. As if he had said, "False teachers will beset you round on every side; therefore guard and watch every where." 2. Courage: Endure afflictions: he that fears the frowns of men, can never discharge his duty faithfully to God. 3. Fidelity: Do the work of an evangelist: which was an extraordinary, and therefore but a temporary, office, to assist the apostles in preaching and publishing the gospel from place to place; they watered what the apostles planted. 4. Sincerity: Make full proof of thy ministry: so fulfil all the parts of it, that none may charge thee with the neglect of any part of thy duty let the world see that thou makest it thine own and only work to win souls. Learn bence, 1. That the apostasy and looseness of the times we live in must oblige all persons, but especially the ministers of Christ, to watch: who should watch, if not the watchmen? Learn hence, 2. That ministers, of all men, need courage: they must inure themselves to endure hardship, and expect hard words, hard dealing, nicknames, and all kind of reproaches; and these must be endured with patience, with courage, and with constancy. Learn, 3. That ministers must make full proof of their ministry, that is, must fully and faithfully dis

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charge all the duties of their calling, not do their duties by halves; but accomplish all the parts of their ministry, strengthening the weak, comforting the afflicted, reducing the wandering, and adorning their doctrine by a pure and unblamable conversation. This is to fulfil our ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

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Our apostle being now come almost to the end of his christian and ministerial race, he first looks downward into his grave with comfort, ver. 6. and sees his death a pleasing sacrifice to God, and a sweet departure to him; I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. Next he looks backward, and reflects upon his well-spent life with joy: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, ver. 7. Last of all he looks upward, and there sees heaven prepared for him, v. 8. Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. Observe, 1. St. Paul's intimation of his death: I am ready to be offered up; a sacrificial word, "I am ready to be poured out as a drinkoffering; my death will be a sweet sacrifice to God, my blood being shed for Christ, as the wine was poured out in the meat-offering." Learn hence, That the death of God's ministers, especially of such as die martyrs, is a most pleasing sacrifice unto God: precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of all, but especially of such saints. Observe, 2. St. Paul's narration of his life: I have fought, I have finished, &c. The word run is a figure taken from the Olympic games, where was combating, wrestling, running, according to the laws of the games, and judges appointed to declare the victors, and to give them the prize, a crown of garlands. The first metaphor is taken from a soldier, a combatant, a champion; I have fought a good fight. Learn, Every sincere christian, but especially every faithful minister, is a spiritual soldier; their enemies are spiritual, their weapons

spiritual, their warfare spiritual, their victory spiritual; they must be men of courage, men of conduct, men that can endure hardship, men of unity and activity among themselves. The second metaphor is taken from a strenuous runner; I have finished my course, "I am come to the period of my days, and to the end of my race;" alluding perhaps to his course of life after his conversion, which was wholly spent in running from place to place to preach the gospel. And now he was come to the last stage or goal at Rome, where he was to receive his garland, his crown of martyrdom. Learn hence, A christian's life is a race,

which he must not only cheerfully begin, but perseveringly finish: so says the apostle here," I, Paul the aged, have fought the good fight, &c. have not only begun, but finished, my course." O what a comfort is it to be an old soldier of Jesus Christ! St. Paul is now reckoned to be sixty-one years of age when he suffered martyrdom; he runs his race patiently, cheerfully, reservedly, and perseveringly. The third metaphor is taken from depositories, who faithfully keep things committed to their trust without embezzlement. This depositum, the christian faith, St. Paul had kept; I have kept the faith. He kept first, the grace of faith; secondly, the doctrine of faith, inviolable; endeavouring to transmit it down to posterity, in despite of the legal Jew, or the profane Gentile. Observe, 3. St. Paul's expectation of his reward: Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, &c. Here note, The reward is a crown of righteousness, because only given to righteous men: the person rewarding, Christ the righteous Judge: the person rewarded, me, St. Paul himself, and all the faithful that love Christ's appearing the certainty of the reward, it is laid up, reserved and kept safe, as an inheritance for a child the time of the reward, in that day, the great day of the Lord, when he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.-Learn hence, 1. That the reward which God has in hand for his faithful ser

vants, is no less than a crown of glory. 2.

That the time when this reward shall be

fully and finally dispensed, is the great day. 3. It is the property of the godly to look, love, and long, for that day.

9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto

Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

Our apostle comes now, in this second part of the chapter, to treat of some private and personal affairs. And first he desires Timothy to come speedily to him, having a great desire to see him, and be comforted by him, before he died. The strongest of weaker; a Paul may stand in need of a christians may sometimes be helped by the Timothy; there is not a member in the body, but is some way serviceable to the head. Secondly, He assigns a reason why he did thus desire Timothy's presence, because of Demas' and others' absence; Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present world. The best may sometimes be forsaken by their bosom friends; Demas was such to St. Paul, yet left him. For what cause? For the love of the world. This, when it grows inordinate, will cause a man first to forsake his friend, and then his God. Thirdly, Crescens was gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, Tychicus to Ephesus; all of them, no doubt, to spread the gospel, to plant or water the churches. Good men will be doing good wherever they are, wherever they come or go. Only Luke was with him; nothing could se parate that good man from him. A faith ful friend loveth at all times; yet friend ship (olla amicitia) will vanish in adversity: but true christian friendship is perpetual, the foundation of it is eternal. Lastly, him; not for rest or recreation, because he he desires Timothy to bring Mark with wanted a companion for his diversion; no, but to assist him in his work: Bring Mark: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. "Tis happy when the ministers of God affect the company, and desire the presence, of each other, for spiritual ends and religious purposes.

13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

St. Paul having desired Timothy's company at Rome, requests him to bring with him such things as he wanted, and stood in present need of. 1. His cloak: proba

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