efficacy of the religion of the heart, as did the Apostle, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith;' that there may be Laid up for us, as for him, a Crown of Righteousness, which The LORD, The Righteous JUDGE, will Give us at that Day, as being amongst those who cherished fondly the hope of Such His Appearing!-2 Tim. iv. 7, 8.—The proof of Know ye, Timothy's consistency with his profession as a Christian Teacher is, that he was thrown into Prison; for the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews writes, that our Brother Timothy is set at liberty: with whom, if he come shortly, I will When arraigned before Pilate at the instigation and see you-Heb. xiii. 23.under the suborned perjury of the Chief Priests of the Jews and the misguided and enfuriated Mob in their pay or under their influence, JESUS, in Answer to Pilate's question, 'Art thou the King of the Jews?' Said, 'MY KINGDOM is not of this World: if My KINGDOM were of this World, then would My Servants fight, that I should not be Delivered to the Jews: but Now is My KINGDOM not from Hence!' Pilate therefore said unto Him, 'Art Thou a King then?' JESUS Answered, 'Thou sayest, That I am, A KING: To This End was I Born; and for This Cause Came I into the World, that I should Bear Witness unto The Truth. Every One, that is of The Truth, heareth My Voice'-John xviii. 33, 36, 37. -Since GOD of His Good Pleasure, through the Efficacy of His Blessed SON's Mediation, is by His HOLY SPIRIT Ever Ready to Work in us both to will and to do our duties in those states of Life, unto which He has severally Called and Appointed us, Let us do all things without murmurings and disputings; that we may be blameless and harmless, the Children of GOD, without rebuke, however crooked and perverse may be Any of our Generation with whom we have to do, and may we hold fast the Word of Life, that we may indeed rejoice in The Day of CHRIST, that we have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain-Phil. ii. 13 to 16. Proving all things; but holding fast that, which is good: abstaining from all appearance of evil, that The Very GOD of Peace may Sanctify us Wholly; and that our whole Spirit and Soul and Body may be Preserved blameless unto the Coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST for Faithful is He, That Calleth us; and, if we be indeed obedient to the Call, He also Will Do It, to our Immortal Honour and Eternal Joy-1 Thess. v. 21 to 24.-Long as has endured the conflict to which the Faithful in CHRIST JESUS have been exposed, by the Votaries of this World and the Spirits of Evil, under the subtle and restless and malignant Spirit of Satan; and though that conflict may continue beyond our time, yet we have the Sure Word of Prophecy, that in GOD's Own Chosen and Appointed Season a period will be put thereto, for The LAMB of GOD shall Overcome; for He is LORD of Lords, and KING of Kings, and the Faithful shall be Chosen and Called to be with Him -Rev. xvii. 14. In the same Book He is Compared to the Sun shining in his strength; a feeble Image indeed to That LIGHT, Which Shineth in Eternal Day, and Spreads Its Influence over Heaven as well as Earth; and from Which both the Sun and all the Constellations gather their glory, and all the Spirits of Heaven their joyfulness-Rev. i. 16. When Moses besought The LORD, that he might see The SHECHINAH, even The Glory of JEHOVAH. The LORD Answered, ‘I will Make All My Goodness Pass before thee. But thou canst not see My Face; for there shall no Man see Me, and live'-Exod. xxxiii. 18 to 20.To Him, therefore, our Gracious and Holy GOD, and Only SAVIOUR, may we, with St. Jude, and St. John, as with St. Paul, give Glory and Honour, and attribute MAJESTY, Dominion, and Power, in the full flow of reverential gratitude, now and Ever-Jude 25; Rev. i. 6.

VERSES 17 to 19.-Charge them, that are rich in this World, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in The Living GOD, Who Giveth us Richly all things to enjoy ; that they do good; that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on Eternal Life.

Wealth, that might be a source of such wide-spreading blessing in a Community and of pleasurable reflection to its Possessor, if used in imitation of GOD, Who Giveth so Bounteously to All, even our very Nature and its Sustenance, and this Beauteous and Wondrous Globe of Earth, wherein to inhabit, and the Fruits and Produce of the Earth, and the Treasures of the Deep, is alas! but too often the occasion of the destruction both of body and Soul in them, that have it, from the perversion of its power and influence to the basest and most profligate and impious purposes, so that that which might have been the Means, under DIVINE Countenance, of a Glorious Exaltation, is the occasion of falling into the State of the utmost misery and despair in the famine of the Soul. Well therefore does the Apostle give in charge to his youthful Missionary to take courage, and to spare not in the most impressive and judicious manner to lay open to the Hearers amongst his Congregations, whom wealth may have elevated above Others, not to depend upon uncertain riches, which often make themselves wings and fly away; but to use them to the goodly end for which they are Given, and with an honest and grateful and conscientious heart; that so they may, by their wholesome and truly charitable and pioys appropriation, bring forth abundantly of the Riches of a Heavenly Inheritance inviting their confidence in The Word of The MOST HIGH, and pointing to the Example of The Incarnate SON, Who, though Rich in all the unimaginable Treasures and Glories of The GODHEAD, for our Sakes Became Poor, that we through His Poverty might be Rich in Grace, and in the Acquisition of An Inheritance in Heaven, Whose Glory Fadeth not away. Thus is it, that Earthly Riches may be made to yield a thousand and ten thousand fold. Pride goeth before a fall, from whatever cause it may arise; and the love and pride of money will indeed fall in awful dejection at the hour of death, when it has no longer power to sustain the Spirit, and all before is indescribably afflictive in the Prospect of interminable destitution from the neglect of golden opportunities Given, and of talents thrown away, in disregarding the Commands of That GOD, Who, at the Sacrifice of His Son, Sought to Enrich with Everlasting Blessings every Human Soul. To be wise in our Generation is to be wealthy in its best and most enduring and producing sense; and all the Good we have we should acknowledge to be the Gift of GOD (Eccles. v. 18, 19,) and dedicate it in thankfulness and faithfulness, as just Stewards thereof, to His Glory. If riches increase may we, therefore, not set our hearts upon Psl. Ixii. 10; but only be the more desirous to spread their beneficial influence, and do honour thereby to The LORD of Hosts, Whose is the silver and the gold -Haggai ii. 8. May we not be high-minded! but be imbued with a holy fear, and in meekness, and humility, and reverential love, with all our gettings seek to get understanding in the way of Godliness, and press toward the Mark in the Christian Course for the Prize of The High Calling of GOD unto every One of us in and through CHRIST JESUS, The LORD of Life and Glory Everlasting; and may GOD Give us the Grace of The HOLY SPIRIT finally to attain Thereunto! -Phil. iii. 14.

them!

VERSES 20, 21.-0 Timothy, keep that, which is Committed to thy trust; avoiding profane and vain babblings and oppositions of Science falsely so called, which Some professing have erred concerning the Faith! Grace be with thee. Amen!

It is one thing to enter, and that with a forward zeal, on a Sacred Trust; it is another to persevere therein unto the end of life. Youth has its energy and its

emulation, and its pride of distinction; but a continual warfare, both from within and from without, arises in the progress of that trust in after years, amidst the temptations of the World, the pleasures of sin, the fascinations of wit, and under the trials and discouragements of ineffectual efforts, on the other hand, of winning or retaining Souls to CHRIST; as also from the contempt of the Proud, and the dictatorial dealing of the Holders of Power in Spiritual Places, whence the consistent career is hard to be carried on; and many a Soldier, once brave to the test, and glorying in being ranked under the Banners of The Great CAPTAIN of Salvation has, in times of pressing temptation, fallen away, and shrunk from continuing in the battle. Each of us has in a degree a trust, at least, in the keeping of our own Souls freely and faithfully in the Cause of CHRIST, and, if it be but in the humble post of a Camp-Follower, yet, that duty well filled, escapes not the All-Pervading Eye of The Universal COMMANDER, and will be sure to receive His Acknowledgment and Approval. And who can measure or imagine the Worth of the Fruit of such Act of Selection and Favour from The SON of THE HIGHEST?To shun the society of the Profane and of the Vain and Profligate, when all hope of reclaiming them must cease, is but an act of prudence and self-protection, as well as of respect due to the Cause and to the consistency of the Christian Character. Still, amongst that Society there may be Individuals, when separated from it by severe and confining illness, or change of circumstances, to whom Spiritual counsel may be seasonably applied, and a Soul be thus Mercifully rescued, through DIVINE Sanction, as a brand from the fire of everlasting Desolation. The Science, which then sets at nought Such Counsel, and continuing opposed to The Wisdom from Above, is awfully Consigned to That Perdition of Happiness, which the Satanic Spirits have brought upon themselves by such rejection. May we, having put our hands to the Plough, be not amongst those, who turn back from that labour of love and service of profit to the Soul's endless Gain and Spiritual Nurture! And may the Grace of The HOLY SPIRIT be our Soul's Food and Nourishment our Lives through, that we may be Graced with DIVINE Favour in the Life to Come!- -In his instructions to Titus, the Apostle cautions him against unruly and vain Talkers and Deceivers, specially them of the Circumcision, and whom, Paul instructs him, to rebuke sharply, that they might be brought to be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of Men, that turn from the TruthTit. i. 10, 13, 14. Amongst whom, in his after Letter, St. Paul particularly designates Hymenæus and Philetus-2 Tim. ii. 17, 18.

2ND TIMOTHY, CHAPTER I.

VERSES 1 to 6.-Paul, an Apostle of JESUS CHRIST by the Will of GOD, according to the A Promise of Life, Which is in CHRIST JESUS, to Timothy, my dearly-beloved Son, Grace, Mercy and Peace from GOD The FATHER, and CHRIST JESUS our LORD! I thank GOD, Whom I serve from my Fore-Fathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith, that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois and thy Mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also; wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the Gift of GOD, Which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands.

Ever associating the Ministerial Character, he so influentially and distinguishingly filled, with The Great and Gracious SOURCE from Which it Emanated, and seeking ever to direct the thoughts of his Correspondents and Hearers to The Great HIGH-PRIEST of his Profession, even The Incarnate SON of GOD, Paul seeks to impress also, as Miraculously was Proved to him, that it was of The Especial Designation of The MOST HIGH and HOLY GOD, that he was Appointed to the so prominent a Missionary Duty amongst the Gentiles, with the Message of Pardon and Reconciliation and the Promise of the Glories of Eternity, on receiving CHRIST as The MESSIAH, the Gracious SELF-Offered Sacrifice for Human sin, and The Means of Sanctification through His Influence with The HOLY SPIRIT. In his former Letter, Paul had prefaced his affectionate address to Timothy with a similar exposition of the Foundation of his own faith and The HIGH OBJECTS, to Which that of Timothy should look in adoration and gratitude, and he imprecates the Threefold Blessing on the young Deacon's head from The HOLY TRINITY, Grace, Mercy, and Peace; and so incessant is this invocation from the Apostle, that in his daily prayers, both at morn and eve, he includes it; and as the fervent prayer of the righteous Man availeth much, doubtless this was vitally proved in the Large Measure of DIVINE Consideration and Consolation and Counsel Afforded to Timothy amidst the trials and difficulties of his Office. Paul looked inward on his Conscience, That Voice of The HOLY SPIRIT in his Soul, to test his integrity in his profession of his Faith, and the fidelity of his love and Pastoral feeling towards his Disciple. Ardent as was the Apostle's anxiety or wish personally to have Timothy with him, and to re-unite in their Missionary Office, yet the Will of GOD Prevailed over it; and submission to That Will brought its reward. The affection, which Timothy had shewn him, parting from him with the heart's language through the eyes of the tenderest attachment and the expression of deep regret at their separation, had lived and been fondly treasured in the Apostle's recollection; and, doubtless, a reception in the like spirit of undisguised affection would have added greatly to his heart-felt joy. Still the conviction he cherished of the truth of Timothy's conversion to the Christian Faith afforded him the comforting assurance, that he would exhibit the Character he had previously shewn, through his Ministerial career, with whatever difficulties or privations or sufferings it might be beset. And the Apostle, looking back on the exemplary devotion of both Timothy's Mother and Grand Mother, gathered increasing consolation and confidence to his heart and mind, that his adopted Son in the Faith would be true to It unto the last. Paul had ordained Timothy, by the laying on of his hand upon Timothy's head, and, doubtless, invoking The DIVINE Guidance and Sustenance for his fulfilling the high and holy Office in the Church of CHRIST; and at this, as on every opportunity, the Apostle reminds him of the Distinguished Favour Conferred by GOD on him from Such Special Selection; and urges him to use the Great Occasion and the Gracious Means for the furtherance of the Cause of CHRIST, and the con

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sequent good of his own Soul, as for those of Others, both in Time and Eternity, by spreading the knowledge of the Mystery of Salvation through the Sacrifice of The SON of GOD, of Which Promise in CHRIST both Jews and Gentiles were Invited by His Gospel to be Partakers-Eph. iii. 4, 6.-Paul, in his vindication of himself before the Council of the accusing and vindictive Jews, said, I have lived in all good conscience before GOD unto this day-Acts xxiii. 1. And admitting him to be the Author of the Epistle to his Countrymen, he calls for their prayers on his behalf, and for their confidence in the clearness of his conscience, saying, Pray for us, for we trust we have a good conscience in all things, willing to live honestly-Heb. xiii. 18.-The Apostle's earnest desire to enjoy again Timothy's society is more than once afterwards expressed in this same Epistle -iv. 9 and 21.- -Paul had in his former Letter indirectly alluded to the Parental influence, that had so happily trained Timothy in the Nurture and Admonition of The LORD, speaking of him as nourished up in the Words of Faith and of Good Doctrine, whereunto he had attained-1 Tim. iv. 6.—In the Narrative of the Apostolic History, when mentioning Paul, who, after passing through Syria and Cilicia confirming the Churches, came to Derbe and Lystra, where Timotheus was, the Latter is described as the Son of a certain Jewess, who believed (holding the faith as it had been expounded to her,) and who was well reported of by the Brethren of that Christian Community, but whose Husband, the Father of Timothy, was a Greek-Acts xv. 41; xvi. 1, 2.- -In his former Letter St. Paul alluded to this Gift as Given him by Prophetic Annunciation and confirmed by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery of the Church1 Tim. iv. 14.

VERSES 7 to 12.-For GOD hath not Given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the Testimony of our LORD, nor of me, His Prisoner! but be thou Partaker of the Afflictions of The Gospel, according to the Power of GOD; Who hath Saved us and Called us with An Holy Calling, not according to our works, but according to His Own Purpose and Grace, Which was Given us in CHRIST JESUS before the World began; but is now Made Manifest by the Appearing of our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST; Who hath Abolished Death, and hath Brought Life and Immortality to Light through The Gospel: Whereunto I am Appointed a Preacher and an Apostle, and a Teacher of the Gentiles: For the Which Cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know Whom I have believed; and am persuaded, that He is Able to Keep that, which I have committed unto Him against That Day.

Immeasurable as the Greatness and Supremacy of JEHOVAH are, He doth not Inflict His faithful Servants with a dread of Himself, amidst His Almighty Power, He having Created Worlds by the Breath of His Mouth, Which He could Extinguish by the mere Fiat of His Will. In the Communication of the Grace of The HOLY SPIRIT every Heavenly Influence, which Human Nature is capable of receiving, is Imparted: Power, to resist even the Devil and all his machinations; Love, with an adoration and holy reverence of The LORD of All Power and Might, to embrace All of Human-Kind; and, added to this Heavenly Spirit, the possession and high Privilege of a sound mind, a right judgment in all things, especially in Things, That Belong to our Everlasting Peace, through faith in The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, are Impressed; and thus the Work of a Teacher may be obtained by All Ranks of Human-Kind, though All may not be ordained Preachers; for, as out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, if the love of CHRIST, as The SOURCE of every Earthly and Heavenward Blessing, be in the heart, the Wisdom from Above will be in the mind, and utterance will be zealously and faithfully given Thereto. Ashamed of JESUS, or of Paul's DIVINELY-Directed labours in His Cause, though in bonds and in prison for his fidelity Thereto, Timothy could hardly be, as Prophetically Chosen to be the