15 Study to fhew thy felf approved unto God, a workman

that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of

truth.

15 & 16. Endeavour to approve A. D. 67. your felf a skilful and unexceptionable Minifter of Christianity. And, as it was the conftant and careful Service of the Jewish Priests, in the Temple, to divide the Sacrifices, feparating the Parts that were, from fuch as were not, to be offered upon the Altar; fo let it be your earnest Business to cut off all impertinent Difputes, and deliver out nothing but the plain and important Doctrines of our Religion. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is Hymeneus and Phile

16 But fhun prophane and vain bablings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

tus:

:

18 Who concern

17 & 18. For that Turbulent and Difputing Temper is of the fame dangerous Confequence to the Chriftian Church, as a Gangreen is to the Body; infecting and eating out all good Principles, as you fee in the Inftances of Hymeneus and Philetus, who have fo corrupted thofe Paflages of Scripture relating to the Refurrection, with their Traditional and Allegorical Notions, as to give out, That the Refurrection of good Men is already paft, and nothing further to be expected; and fo have drawn feveral Chriftians from the found Belief of that Capital Article.

ing the truth have erred, faying, that the refurrection is paft already and overthrow the faith of fome.

19 Nevertheless, the +foundation of God ftandeth fure, having this feal, the Lord

know

19. But, notwithstanding the Surmifes of fuch Men, this Truth of our future Refurrection ftands firm, as the main † Foundation of all our Christian

* See 1 Tim. i. 19, 20.

:

+ The Foundation of God. Ein fignifies either a Foundation of a Building, or an Indenture Writing: And because the Latter is more agreeable to the Seal in this Verfe, and the Former to the Verfe immediately following, I have therefore expreffed both Senfes But I leave it as a Conjecture, whether the true Reading might not be Kov. See the Note on 1 Tim. vi. 19. Indeed, as the Word is there used for Treafure, fo here it may most properly fignify, not the Foundation, but the precious Things, or Utenfils of a Houfe; Treasures laid up and fealed with the Seal or Mark of the Owner. But let the Reader judge.

A. D. 67. knoweth them that are his. And, let eΗ θεμέλιο. very one that nameth the Name of Chrift, depart from iniquity.

Chriftian Faith and Hope, and is an inviolable || Indenture of Security that God has Sealed and Confirmed with a Promife, on his Part, to

Own and Reward all true Christian Difciples; and with this Condition, on our Part, that we reform our Lives, and livé agreeable to the Precepts of the Gospel.

za But in a great houfe there are not only veffels of gold, and of filver, but alfo of wood, and of honour, and fome to

earth and fome to

20. Nor ought it to furprize and disturb us, to find fuch Factious and Unorthodox Members in the Chriftian Church. For, as in Great Mens Houfes, there is Variety and Degrees of Good and Bad, Rich, and lefs coftly Furniture; fo in fuch a wide Society as the Church is, it cannot be expected, but fome Members will prove more Ungovernable and Degenerate than others.

dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from thefe, he fhall be a veffel unto honout, fanctified and

21. As therefore, the better, and more fumptuous Part of the House's Furniture is usually appropriated to the Ufe of the Owner and Master of the Family; in like manner, the der himself truly useful and acceponly Way for any Christian to rentable to Chrift, the Great Lord of his Church, is, To keep himself untainted from the falfe Notions, and impure Practices of those deceitful Teachers.

meet for the master's

ufe, and prepared un-
to every good work.

22 Flee alfo youth- 22 & 23. Accordingly, therefore, ful lufts but follow be you fpecially careful to avoid all rightecusness, faith, thofe Paffions and Irregularities, to

charity,

which

Thefe

*Ver. 19. The Lord knoweth them that are hisWords are a moft emphatical Allufion to thofe of Mofes, Numb xvi. 5. [according to the LXX] To-morrow will the Lord show Who are his, and Who is holy. A proper Application of the Cafe of Korah and his Company to that of these falfe Teachers beforementioned. Ibid. depart from Iniquity ano dixias, from falfhood, in Oppofition to a before-mention'd. See John vii. 18. Rom. xi. 8. 1 Cor. xiii. 9. 2 Theff. xi. 12, As Mofes faid, Depart from the Tents of thefe wicked Men.

1 Tim. iv.

which their frivolous and violent A.D. 67.
Difputes may hazard, to draw such
a young | Perfon as you are: And
keep close to the Subftantial Duties 12.
of True Faith towards God, of
Perfect Juftice in your Words and
Behaviour towards all Men, and of
a charitable and peaceful Temper

towards all fincere Chriftians.

24 And the fervant of the Lord must not strive: but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient: 25 In meeknefs inftructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

24, 25 & 26. For it does no way become any Chriftian, much less a Minister of the Gofpel, to strive to gain Men over to his Religion, Kupis. by violent Difputation, and ill Ufage; but only by fair and ftrong Reasons propos'd to them, and urged upon them, in a candid, free and peaceable Manner; endeavouring to win upon their Adverfaries, by the Meeknefs and Sweetness of their Temper, as well as by the Strength of their Arguments; this being the most likely Means to rescue them from that State of Ignorance and Vice, to which the Devil has hitherto enflaved them; and bring them to the Knowledge and Obedience of God, and of true Religion.

26 And that they may recover themfelves out of the fnare of the devil, who are taken captive by

him at his will.

* Ver. 23. Unlearned Questions, Tαidiútes (NTÚσsic, Queftions that belong not to Christianity, the wai, the Chriftian Inftitution or Inftruction. Questions about Things never taught by Chrift, never required of any Christian to believe at his Baptifm.

+ Ver. 26. And that they may recover, &c. Note, The learned Author of the Paraphrafe and Notes after Mr. Locke's Manner, has tranflated this Verse in a very new, and (I think) a very judicious Manner- but very agreeably to your Senfe of my Paraphrafe ; viz. Thus : "That when they are taken (or faved) alive out "the Snare of the Devil by Him (viz. the faithful Servant of "the Lord) they may be awake and active to do His (i. e. God's) " Will."

A. D. 67.

1 Tim.

iv. I.

CHA P. III.

The CONTENTS.

He again reminds Timothy of the dangerous Times, and wicked People, foretold to be under the Church of the Meffiah. A Defcription of thofe Men, and their Principles. Encourages Timothy against them, from his Own Example, and from the Advantages of his Acquaintance with the Ancient Scriptures.

Saviour and his Apoftles, concerning the Perfecutions that would arise in the Times of the Chriftian Church; the better to arm you against being furprized, and moved at them.

5. Have nothing to do, therefore, with a People that value themselves upon the mere outward Name and Privileges of Religion; and, in their Lives, contradict all the Noble Purposes and Designs of it.

6 For of this fort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive filly women laden with fins, led away with divers lufts.

7 Ever learning, and and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withftood Mofes, fo do these also refift the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they fhall proceed no further : for their folly fhall be manifest unto all men, as theirs alfo was.

10 But thou haft fully known my do&trine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longfuffering, charity, patience, 11 Perfecutions, afflictions which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lyftra; what perfecutions I endured; but out of

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Chrift Jefus, fhall fuffer perfecution.

.

13 But evil men and feducers fhall wax

worfe and worse, deceiving

6 & 7. These are the Men fo A.D.67. fond of making Profelytes to their own Opinions, as to infinuate themfelves into all Families, and gain upon Women, and the weaker fort, that are prepared to their Hand, by finful Affections and Prejudices; that run after every New Teacher, and fo are kept in perpetual Distraction and Ignorance of Sound Religion.

8. These People oppose the true Doctrines of Christianity, with the fame obftinate and incurable Prejudices, that the Magicians of Egypt did the Miracles of Mofes; against the most evident and convincing Demonftrations.

9. And they are foon like to come to the fame wretched End, and show their Oppofition to be the Effect of nothing but woeful Blindness and Malice.

10 & 11. Be not you, therefore, terrified at their Malicious Endeavours; but make my Doctrine your Rule; let my Life and Converfation, my fteddy Faith, Charity, and Patience under all my Sufferings, particularly thofe at Antioch, &c. be your Example, to encourage you to trust in God for the fame powerful Deliverances that I had from them all. them all the Lord delivered me.

12. And, indeed, all that will
be fincere Chriftians, must now ex-
pect, and be prepared for their Share
of Sufferings.

13. For the Succeffors of these
deceitful Impoftors,
forming, will in the

instead of reafter Times of

Christianity,