bly a garment which in the winter season he might want the warmth and benefit of, especially being in a cold prison. So long as we are upon earth, a prudential care must be taken to preserve our health; when winter approached, St. Paul sent for his winter garment to keep him warm. The body is the soul's organ or instrument by which it acts; therefore we must do what in us lieth to keep it in tune for the service of the soul. 2. His books; probably the book of the Old Testament; certainly no profane books; he had no leisure for, no liking to, any such. 3. But especially the parchments; these are thought to be note-books of his own collecting, in which he had written several things for the help of his memory, and the benefit of the church. Behold here, 1. An eminent pat tern of pious studiousness in St. Paul. Here was an aged man, an aged minister, that had already read much, a prisoner; no very proper place for study, were prisons then filled with such brutes as generally now; nay, a dying prisoner, one that looked for death and beheading every day; yet aged Paul, dying Paul, cannot live without his books; he must still be reading, learning, studying the scriptures especially, which are such a vast deep, as the line of an inspired apostle could not fathom. Behold, I say, a pattern for such ministers as think they know enough, they have studied enough, and are too old to learn; so was not our apostle, when within a few months of his death. 2. Behold here an eminent pattern of pious humility in Timothy, if bishop of Ephesus now, as some affirm, if only minister of a particular church, as others affirm; yet was he undoubtedly a very humble person, otherwise St. Paul had not desired, and Timothy had certainly disdained, to carry this luggage with him to Rome. Pride would have stooped to nothing of this, but thrown all to the dunghill whereas true humility disposes a man, especially a minister of Christ, to become all things to all men.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works. 15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Here our apostle, 1. Complains of the injuries and oppositions which he had met with from Alexander the coppersmith, who was before a great professor, but now

become a grievous persecutor. He made shipwreck of the faith, 1 Tim. i. 19. which he did before profess; nay, 'tis thought this man, Acts xix. 33. was near martyrdom, yet afterwards an opposer of the truth. The best things corrupted, become worst; the sweetest wine makes the sharpest vinegar. Be not offended, then, if at any time you see professors turn blasphemers; nay, preachers themselves turn persecutors. Observe, 2. An apostolical prediction, rather than a dreadful imprecation, passed upon Alexander: The Lord reward him according to his works: The Lord will reward him according to his works. The apostle by a prophetic spirit saw what was coming upon him, and foretells his doom. Imprecations against the enemies of the church, if lawful, yet must be cautiously and very rarely used: what we find in scripture looking like such, are rather to be accounted predictions, than imprecations. Observe, lastly, The caution given to Timothy to shun him; Of whom be thou ware also, for he is an opposer of the truth. Wicked men do not so much oppose the ministers, as the ministry; not so much oppose preachers, as preaching. 'Tis the light of truth which evil-doers hate; because it has a searching, discovering, condemning power. St. Paul doth not complain of Alexander's unkindness towards him, but of his malicious resisting the truth, and hindering the preaching of the gospel: He hath greatly withstood our words.

16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Our apostle here complains of the ti morousness of weak christians in their carriage towards him, at his first appearing before Nero the emperor of Rome, or some of his officers; they deserted him, they all deserted him, very few durst own him. But this was out of weakness and timorousness, not out of maliciousness, as Alexander in the former verse; therefore St. Paul prays for them, God would not lay it to their charge, but pity and pardon their infirmi ty. Learn hence, How hard it will go with the holiest of saints: if God should lay but one sin, though a sin of infirmity, to their charge, it would sink them to the lowest hell. Lord! how sad must it then be to have the sins of a wicked man's whole life charged upon him! Learn, 2.

That the holiest servants of God in a suffer ing hour, may and must expect to be left alone, forsaken of all their friends, none daring to open their mouth, and speak a word for them. The apostle met with it here, and a greater than he before him; when Christ was apprehended all the disciples forsook him and fled.

17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was deliver ed out of the mouth of the lion.

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That is, "Though man forsook me, God stood by me; the Lord Jesus strengthened me, that by me, thus standing up in the defence of the gospel, the preaching of it might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear the defence of it and thus, for that time, I was delivered out of Nero's hands, that bloody lion's mouth." Learn, 1. That whilst God has any further work for his servants to do, he will assist and sustain them in despite of all opposition and discouragement whatsoever though Nero roar, and persecutors rage, and friends desert, yet God will stand by, God will deliver, till his faithful servants have finished their work. The Lord stood by me, and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, says the holy apostle. See here the certain character of the church's enemies they are lions, lions for power, lions for policy, lions for terror, lions for cruelty God sometimes delivers his people, and saves them from (sometimes suffers his dearest children to fall into) the paws, yea, the mouths, of these devouring lions.

will deliver me from every evil work; yea, farther, He will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom. God has a kingdom, an heavenly kingdom, for all his saints, his suffering saints especially; it is prepared for them, they are preparing for it, and they shall be put into the possession of it in due time. He closes with a doxology here, To whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen. As God has prepared an eternal kingdom for his saints, so they desire that God may have glory from them to eternal ages. Grace enlargeth the heart towards God, in fervent desires that his glory may be eternized.

19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

Observe here, How mindful the apostle is of his absent friends; though he was now in prison, and they a great way from him, yet he sends pious salutations to them. This Prisca, or Priscilla, and Aquila, are often remembered by St. Paul; he lodged in their house at Corinth. The saints and servants of God forget not one another, when at the ends of the earth. He salutes also Onesiphorus and his household, wife and children, and servants. Thus do pious governors procure a blessing upon their families as well as upon their persons. Onesiphorus is not only prayed for himself, and saluted singly, but likewise his household also: Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus abode at Corinth : but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

Erastus is mentioned, Rom. xvi. 23. as chamberlain of the city of Corinth, one that showed kindness to Paul; he was a great man, the treasurer of the

city of Corinth; yet neither his riches, nor his great place, could keep him from loving the apostle and the afflicted church of God. Rarely are great men good, and as rarely are good men great; yet some great men are good, and some good men are great. Lot and Abraham, Job and David, were full of riches, yet full of piety, under the Old Testament; so was Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and Zaccheus, under the New. Thus God magnifies the power of converting grace. Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. This man was a citizen of Ephesus, a disciple and

companion of St Paul, Acts xx. whom he was forced to leave sick at Miletum. Note, Strength of grace cannot prevail against bodily weaknesses and diseases; sickness may seize even the best men. Note also, That the apostles had not the gift of healing when they pleased, but only when God gave it to them.

21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren,

Our apostle being greatly desirous to see Timothy before his death, reneweth his request and suit to him to make haste and come before winter: the personal presence of good men is much, very much, desired by them, in order to excite and quicken each other. To encourage Timothy to hasten to him, he names several persons of note that were then at Rome, who sent salutations to him, and would rejoice to see him. But where were all these, when our apostle was upon his trial? Ans. They all forsook him, and not one of them stood with him. Be

hold what frailty there may be, and what fear will do, in persons of choice note for eminency and grace in the church of God!

22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

The apostle concludes this like his other epistles, with an apostolical benediction, The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit; as if he had said, "Be not sad at my departure; for though I must leave thee, yet the Lord will uphold thee by his grace, and be present with thee by the influence of his Holy Spirit." The inward presence of Christ with the spirits of his people, directing their spirits in thinking, judging, choosing, and refusing, is a sweet privilege, and greatly to be desired. Happy they who have the Spirit of Christ perpetually present with them who so live, that Christ may delight to dwell by his Spirit in them. Grace be with you, that is, with all of you, he doth not say, riches be with you, honours be with you, or the favour of man be with you; but grace, and the favour of God, be with you. God's special favour and distinguishing grace is to be sought by all persons, above and before all things. Lastly, Our apostle ratifies and seals up all with that concluding particle, AMEN; teaching us, That whatever we should pray for should be rightly understood, firmly believed, and earnestly desired, and heartily consented to they sin in prayer, who understand not what they pray for, and who do not earnestly desire what they pray for; for in testimony of our desires to be heard, we say, Amen.

VOL. II.

20

THE

ΤΟ

CHAP. I.

Titus being placed by St. Paul in Crete, St. Paul

writes to him how he ought to demean himself there, by appointing in every city bishops or elders, to teach and govern those that were already, or should afterwards, be converted to the faith of Christ; exhorting him to be very care. ful to make choice of worthy and fit persons into this high and honourable office, men of sound doctrine, and unblamable lives.

PAUL, a servant of God, and an

apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began ; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me, according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

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These verses contain the apostle's salutation, and the first part of this chapter; in which observe, 1. The person saluting, described by his name, Paul: by his general office, a servant of God: by his special office, an apostle of Jesus Christ: by the end of his office, to preach the faith,

and thereby to promote the faith of God's elect, and to bring persons to the acknowledgment of the doctrine of the gospel, which is truth according to godliness. Learn hence, That the great design and end of preaching the gospel, is, to produce faith in the heart, and holiness or godliness in the life, of those that sit under it; not that common, notional, and intellectual faith, which is oft-times found in unholy persons: but that lively faith, which is elsewhere called the faith of the operation of God, and here, the faith of God's elect; even such a faith as is the parent and principle of obedience. Observe, 2. The apostle declares a farther end of his office, namely, to raise christians up to a lively hope and God, who cannot lie, hath promised beexpectation of that eternal life, which that fore the world began.

But how could God then promise, when there was none to promise to? Ans. The promise was made to Christ, and in him to all his members: for there was a federal transaction betwixt

the Father and the Son from all eternity; the Son promised to give his soul an offering for sin, and the Father engaged that he should see his seed, and the travail of his soul. Observe, 3. How God, who promised us in Christ eternal life before all time, did accomplish and make good that word in the fulness of time. Verse 3. He hath in due time manifested his word through preaching; that is, What God

so long ago purposed in himself, and promised to his Son, he hath in the fittest appointed season made manifest by the preaching of the gospel, which is committed to me by the appointment of God and Christ. Learn hence, That the doctrine of salvation is much more clearly revealed to us that live under the gospel, than it was to the fathers of the Old Testament. Life and immortality, that is, the clearer knowledge and more full assurance of eternal life, is now brought about by the preaching of the gospel. Observe, 4. The person saluted, Titus, described by his relation. St. Paul's son in the faith; he begat him by his ministry unto God, was the instrument of his conversion unto christianity; his son after the common faith. Where note, That the church has but one faith common to all christians, it has one common object of faith, Christ crucified; it has one common end of faith, eternal salvation; this is the end of every believer's faith and hope. Observe lastly, The salutation itself: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour: that is, all spiritual, temporal, and eternal blessings, I most heartily wish unto you, from God the Father, and Jesus Christ our worthy Mediator. Learn hence, That whatever spiritual grace or temporal blessings we now receive from God, is from him not barely as a Creator, but as a Father, a gracious Father in Christ, in whom he pours forth the immensity of his love upon us, and through whom he conveys all kind of blessings unto us.

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Observe here, 1. The erection of a power in the person of Titus: I left thee in Crete to ordain elders: "I, who am an apostle of Christ, and have received a commission from him thus to do, I left thee, thee who wert so dear to me, so useful to me; yet for the church's service did I deny myself, and part with thee. Behold here, a blessed pattern of our ministerial imitation. St. Paul did, and could most cheerfully, sacrifice all his private advan tages, the tenderest and inmost of his affections, to the benefit of the church, and the interest of religion; let us go and do likewise. Observe, 2. The end of this institu

tion, or the use and exercise of this power: to order, and to ordain, to correct and constitute; 1. To set in order things that are wanting: the ship of the church is never so well rigged, but something is wanting that might be added; whilst the tabernacle of God sojourns here below, some pin or other will be lacking in it. 2. To ordain elders in every city, such as might govern and teach, and adininister to God in holy things: wherever a church is planted, there is an absolute necessity of a settled ministry, and a succession of ministers, without which it impossible that religion should either prosper or long continue: and care must be taken that such ministers be duly qualified, and regularly ordained. I left thee in Crete to ordain elders. Observe, 3. The limitation of these acts, according to the apostle's prescription, As I had appointed thee. Titus must do nothing but according to commission, and by special direction. Where note, That the ordering and governing of the church was not left arbitrary, no not to Titus himself; but whatever he did, was done by apostolical direction: For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest ordain elders in every city, as I appointed thee.

6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly, 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given. to filthy lucre ; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be hort and to convince the gainsayers. able by sound doctrine both to ex

Here St. Paul gave Titus, as he had before done Timothy, the character of such persons as were to be admitted into the sacred function. The character is twofold, positive and negative; he shows them both what they should be, and what they should not be. The positive characters of a bishop, yea, of every one that administers to God in holy things, are these: he must be blameless, free from scandal, not blameworthy; a minister's life should be so bright and shining, that all persons who behold it may admire it, and guide their lives