ery one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity. 20 For in a great house there are vessels, not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, the former for honourable, the other for dishonourable uses. So in the church there are persons of dif 21 ferent characters, [good and bad.] If therefore any one cleanse himself from the vices of these [latter,] he shall be a vessel of honour, sanctified and useful to the Lord, ready to every good work. 22 o Flee from youthful lusts; and pursue righteousness, fidelity, love, and peace, towards those that invoke the Lord out of a pure 23 heart. But avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that 24 they beget strifes. And r the servant of the Lord must not strive, 25 but be gentle towards all; ready to teach, and to endure evil : in meekness instructing opposers, if by any means God may give 26 them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth, and that they may awake* and recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who have been taken captive by him at his pleasure. REFLECTIONS. How affecting a representation is here made of the wretched state of sinners! they are described as sleeping in Satan's snare, like birds in a net, taken alive, and at the fowler's mercy; while they imagine they can spring up whenever they please, and range at full liberty. Alas! they will soon perceive their fatal captivity: but they will perceive it too late, if divine grace do not quickly awaken them. Who would not wish to do something for ther recovery? Let the ministers of the gospel pity them. Let us pray that God, whose work it is, would give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth. Let us try every gentle method which the sincerest compassion can dictate toward effecting so happy a design, and not suffer ourselves to be transported to undue severities of language, or of sentiments, even though we should receive the greatest injuries where we intend the most important kindness.-Let those that have the honour to bear the most holy character, which any office can devolve on mortal man, avoid, with the greatest care, every thing that would bring a stain, or even a suspicion, upon it. Let them revere the voice of the great apostle, while it animates them to pursue righteousness and faith, love and peace, with all their fellow-christians of every denomination, with all that invoke Christ and that trust in him. So shall they be vessels of honour; so may they humbly hope that their Lord will condescend to make some special use of them, for the purposes of his own glory, and the salvation of their fellow-creatures.-To conclude, let ministers and people be daily reading, with all possible care, this double inscription on the foundation of God; and, while we rejoice in the one, let us be admonished by the other. For what is it to us, that the Lord knows, distinguishes, and favours his own, that his almighty power protects them, and that his infinite mercy will for ever save them, if we are ourselves found among the wicked, with whom he *The word signifies, to awake out of a deep sleep, or from a fit of intoxication. In this beautiful image there is an allusion to the artifice of fowlers, who lay birds asleep by seeds impregnated with soporific drugs. is angry every day, among the workers of iniquity, whom he will publicly disown, and to whom he will say, I know not whence you are. To name the name of Christ with dispositions like these, will be to injure and profane it; and our profession itself will be interpreted as an act of hostility against him, whom we have presumed so vainly to call the foundation of our hopes, and the Sovereign of our souls. SECTION V. Paul cautions Timothy against that great apostasy which was to prevail, and those false teachers who were rising uf; reminding him of his own example. Ch. iii. 1-13. 1 2 B UT this know, O Timothy, that in the last days, difficult times shall arise in which it will be dangerous to be faithful. For men shall be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, 3 blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, destitute of natural affection, implacable, false accusers, intemperate, fierce, 4 destitute of all love to goodness, traitors, heady, puffed up with in5 solence; lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power of it; from such turn 6 away. Of which number are those, who insinuate themselves into houses, and captivate inconsiderable women*, laden with sins, 7 led aside by various lusts; always learning, but never able to come 8 to the knowledge † of the truth. And as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth: persons whose minds are corrupted, who with respect to the faith are disapproved 9 and rejected. But they shall not proceed much further; for their 10 folly shall be manifested to all, as theirs also was. But thou hast exactly traced my doctrine, conversation, purpose, fidelity, long11 suffering, love, patience, persecutions and sufferings which befel me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra. What persecutions I en12 dured! but the Lord rescued me out of all. Yea, and all who are determined that they will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer 13 persecution. But wicked men and impostors will grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived. REFLECTIONS. Must we not, on the survey of this scripture, in comparison with what we every day behold in life, cry out," Verily these are the last days?" They are assuredly times of difficulty and peril. Self-love, pride, ingratitude, treachery, intemperance, insolence, the contempt of all authority, human and divine, each, all of these characters may too plainly declare it. But none with more striking evidence than the excessive love of pleasure, on which so many are doting to destruction, while every consideration, both of religion and of prudence, falls at the shrine of this favourite idol. Men are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, more than lovers of their families, yea, though self-interest be * Of low rank and mean understanding, yet easily inflamed with passionate "Acknowledgment." D. zeal. in many instances so scandalously pursued, yet more than lovers of themselves; and when they have sacrificed every thing else to their gain, they sacrifice even that gain to luxury. And would to God there was none such, even among those that retain the form of godliness, which so many indeed have scornfully cast off! But O! how vain the form, where the power of it is thus denied! And how peculiarly scandalous are these characters in those who call them. selves teachers of religion! Yet to such they are here originally applied; and their race is not yet extinct. Blessed be God, there are those yet remaining who are the happy reverse of these; ministers, who can appeal to the consciences of men, as to their doctrine, their conversation, their resolution, their fidelity, their gentleness, their charity, and their patience. Happy are they, how ill soever they may be treated in the world! Happy would they be, though exposed to all the terrors of persecution which the apostles and their first followers endured! But we are all warned to prepare for some degree of it; and indeed who can wonder if, amidst so many evils, they who will not go on with the multitude should sometimes be rudely pressed by them; and it may be, in some instances, cast down and trampled under foot. But be it so; though cast down they shall not be destroyed. A little time will balance all. An hour of eternity will more than balance it. Let us guard against deceits by which so many suffer. Let us guard, above all, against those deceits which men practise upon themselves, and whereby they hurt themselves infinitely more than all their fraud or violence can hurt any who are not accessary to their own undoing. SECTION VI. Paul recommends to him the study of the scriptures, and great diligence in his whole ministerial work; reflecting with pleasure on his own fidelity in the views of martyrdom. Ch. iii. 14.-iv. 1-8. 14 15 B UT continue thou in the things, which thou hast learned and hast believed*, knowing from whom thou hast learned them; and [considering] that from thine infancy thou hast known the sacred scriptures of the old testament, which are able to make thee wise 16 unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. The whole scripture is divinely inspired, and profitable for doctrine, for con17 viction, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God (every minister of the gospel) may be complete, thorough iv. ly fitted for every good work.-I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and 2 the dead at his appearance and his kingdom, preach the word, be instant in season and out of season; convince, rebuke, exhort 3 with all long-suffering and doctrinet. For the time will come, when they will not endure wholesome doctrine, but, having itchingtears, shall heap up to themselves teachers according to their * “ With which thou hast been intrusted." Gal. ii. 7. 1 Tim. i. 11. M. "With the utmost patience of instruction." W. On the best authority, this clause is transposed. Ep. 4 own lusts; and they shall turn away their attention from truth, 5 and shall be turned aside to fables. But be thou watchful in all things; endure adversity; perform the work of an evangel6 ist and fully accomplish thy ministry. For I myself am now just 7 ready to be offered*, and the time of my departure is near. I have maintained the good combat, I have finished my race, I have 8 kept the faith. It remaineth, that a crown of righteousness is laid up for me; which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give r unto me in that day; and not to me alone, but to all them also who love his appearance. REFLECTIONS. Behold this blessed man, this prisoner, this martyr of Christ, appearing in his chains, and, in the near views of a violent death, more truly majestic and happy, than Casar on his imperial throne! Blessed man indeed; who could look upon the pouring forth of his blood, as the libation of a sacrifice of thanksgiving, on which he could call for the gratulations of his friends, rather than their condolence; who could loosen from these mortal shores, and set sail for eternity with a shout! O, may we all be excited by his example to fight the good fight, to finish our course to keep the faith, in the view of that crown of righteousness, which is not reserved only for Paul, or for ministers and Christians of the first rank, who have been eminent for the most distinguished services, but for all who love Christ's appearance, and whose hearts are thoroughly reconciled to his government! May we therefore be watchful in all things. May we endure every affliction which God shall lay in our way, and fill up with proper ser vices every station in which we are fixed. Let the ministers of Christ attend to this solemn charge, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge both the quick and the dead, at his appearance and in his kingdom. They are as much concerned in this judgment as Timothy or Paul; their own eternal state is in question, and none can have greater reason than themselves to be impressed with it. Let as many therefore as are called to it by divine providence and grace, preach the word with zeal and fervency, as well as fidelity; let them be instant in season, and out of season, with a resolution tempered with gentleness, and supported by firm faith in him, who intrusts them with the message. And let the petulancy of men, which indisposes them to endure sound doctrine, yet makes them need it so much the more, be considered by them as an engagement to greater zeal, rather than an excuse for remissness. That they may be animated to it, and furnished for it, thoroughly furnished for every good work incumbent upon them, as men of God, a becoming reverence is to be maintained for the divinely inspired scriptures, apparently profitable for doctrine and reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. Let us all esteem it our great happiness, if from children we have been acquainted with them; let us * That is, as a sacrifice. Literally, I am poured out, i. e. as a libation upon God's altar. See Phil. ii. 17. study them diligently, and take faithful care to deliver them down to those that arise after us, as the oracles of that eternal wisdom by which we and they may be wise unto salvation. SECTION VII. Paul requests Timothy to come to him; informing him how he had, in his late appearance before the magistrate, been deserted by men, but supported by Christ. Ch. iv. 9, &c. 9 10 ENDEAVOUR to come, loved the present Demas hath forsaken me, having loved the present world, and is gone to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; Titus to Dal11 matia. Luke alone is with me. Take Mark [in thy way] and 12 bring him along with thee; for he is useful to my ministry. o I 13 have sent Tychicus to Ephesus [to supply thy place.] When thou comest, bring with thee that cloak* which I left at the house of Carpus in Troas; and the books, but especially the parchments.— 14 Alexander the brazier hath brought many evils upon me; the 51 Lord will reward him according to his works: against whom be thou also on thy guard; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 16 In my first apology before the prefect of the city, no man appeared with me but all forsook me. May it not be charged to their ac17 count! But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching of his gospel might be carried on with confidence, and that all the nations might hear: and I was rescued 18 [as it were] out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will rescue me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 19 Salute Priscilla and Aquila, and the family of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus abode at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. 21 As I am deprived of these friends, endeavour to come to me be fore winter. Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and 22 Claudia, and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you all. Amen. REFLECTIONS. Be this our prayer for ourselves and our friends, that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be with their spirits and ours; that, though we have not seen him here, neither can see him, we may ever feel his vital presence, and may live and act as ever near him, and as conscious that he is ever with us. Then may we promise ourselves that, while he stands by us, we shall be strengthened, how weak soever we are in ourselves; that we shall be comforted, whoever may desert us; that we shall be rescued from the extremest dangers, delivered out of the mouth of the infernal lion, and safely preserved to his heavenly kingdom. "The Bag." The Syriac translator understood it of a bag in which books were kept. M. |