cast out Devils out of others and yet the Devil may dwell in their hearts and they be workers of iniquity whom Christ will never own Matth. 7.21 22 23. Nothing but sincerity can preserve us from Apostasy Let us therefore especially at our first setting forth Dig deep lay a good foundation consider what the truth may cost us and ask our selves whether we can deny our selves universally for Christ if we cannot or will not we are not fit to be Christs disciples we shall shrink in the wetting and start aside like a broken bow when a tentation comes 2 Thes. 2.10 11. 2. Be familiar with the Godly one living coal sets his fellow on fire Two lamps or torches joined together burn the better The Godly by their example prayers and counsel will better us good exhortations are a special preservative against Apostasy Heb. 3.12 13. When men delight in evil company they will forsake the Law Prov. 28.4 If Solomon delight in Idolatrous women they will soon entice him to Idolatry 3. Take heed of spiritual Pride and self-conceitedness which is oft punisht with a fall as we see in Peter and in Q. Maries time 4. Be not bare Hearers but be Doers of the Word and then you have a promise that you shall never fall from grace here nor from glory hereafter Psal. 15. ult 5. Improve all the means of grace be much in Prayers Hearing Meditation c. God will be found in the use of means Ezek. 36.37 6. Consider the Iudgments of God on Apostates There is a wo gone out against them Hos. 7.13 Psal. 125. ult God loaths them Heb. 10.37 If any draw back his soul will take no pleasure in them It is a Meiosis .i. he greatly abhors them Iulian the Apostate died blaspeming Lucian a Professor turns a scorner is torn in pieces by dogs Spira dies despairing Henry the third King of France turning Papist thinking thereby to get the Monks on his side a Monk killed him he became contemptible to his people Paris and all his great Towns revolted from him So true is that Such as despise God shall â—e despised 7. Consider that Apostates are Idolaters they forsake their Creator to follow the creature and so make it their God they forsake the fountain of living waters and go to broken cisterns that can hold no water This is so great a sin that God calls on the inanimate creatures to stand astonisht that ever any people should be so mad Ier. 2.12 13. These bring an evil report on Gods wayes as if there were more comfort to be found in sinful wayes then in them We see many fall one falls into poverty another into sickness a third into disgrace but none falls so fouly as the Apostate for he falls from God and goodness to the Devil and wickedness yea God complains of such as being worse then Idâ—laters who are constant to their Idols Ier. 2.10 11. Yea they are perjured persons who have broken their baptismal Vow and are fled into the tents of Gods professed enemies Wo then to England for Apostasy Never was the Nation so grosly guilty of this sin as at this day how many have forsaken their first love and are growen old and cold How many with Demas have preferred the love of this present world before the love of God yea how many professors have turned blaspemers And such as would formerly have pulled out their eyes to have done Ministers good Gal. 4.15 16. now they are ready to pull out the eyes of those Ministers Those that formerly could have gone ten miles to a Sermon now will not go ten strides to hear one formerly the Kingdom of Heaven suffered violence and the violent took it by force now the Kingdom of Heaven offers violence to us and we run from it Never such palpable Apostasy both in Doctrine and Manners all things considered since England was a Nation It is easier now to write a book of Apostates then a Book of Martyrs Oh foolish ungrateful England dost thou thus requite the Lord for all his cost and care over thee Is this the fruit thou givest him for above an hundred years Preaching He comes now to look for grapes and dost thou give him such wild grapes Is this the Thanks thou givest him for answering all thy Prayers for breaking the Plots and Powers of so many potent enemies for giving thee so many glorious Victories and such undeserved success both by Sea and Land He hath blest us with Peace plenty and the Gospel of Peace for which of these mercies do we thus dishonour him Ierusalems Apostasy was Ierusalems ruine Isay 1.4 7 8. and if England go on thus to render evil to the Lord for all his kindness unto us a man that is no Prophet may see and say that Englands ingratitude and Apostasy will be Englands ruine when Bethel becomes Bethaven God will makâ— it a Beth-any a place of sorrow and affliction God may bear with other sins but he cannot he will not bear long with this Ier. 5.7 8 9 10. Ezek. 9.9 Against Apostasy see Dr. Prideaux on Rev. 2.4 Mr. Baine on Rev. 2.4 Mr. Venning on Rev. 2.4 Barlow on 2 Tim. 1.15 pag. 210 211. Gatakers Ser. on Watching p. 69. folio Burroughs Hos. 2.7 Lect. 5.6 Church his Treasury pag. 73. Trapp's common place on Apostasy at the end of his Commentary on N. T. fol. pag. 1076. Pembles Ser. on Heb. 3.12 13. pag. 563. folio Observation 4. The inordinate love of this present world is the high way to Apostasy It is not the world or the creatures which are good in themselves but the excessive and inordinate love of them which ruines men Other sins have slain their thousands but this it 's ten thousands Hence the Scripture so oft condemns it Matth. 6.24 to the end of the Chapter and 13.22 Iames 4.4 1 Iohn 2.15 How many wise and seemingly holy men hath this Witch deluded How do these damps of the world extinguish the light of grace in the Soul The hatred of the world is not so dangerous to us as the inordinate love of it Persecutions quicken us when the delights of the world lull us asleep and the Devil rocks the cradle till we snort again in security and then he cuts the throat of the Soul Why are so many like Nebuchadnezzars Image they have heads of gold but feet of clay Dan. 2.32 33. In youth they were gilded Christians and seemingly ful of spirit and life but now they are old and liveless The reason is the world and these present enjoiments have besotted them This will keep men either from professing Religion as the young man in the Gospel or from the power of it as Iudas or else it will draw us from the profession and power of it as Apostates So that this may be the backsliders Epitaph Here lyes one that forsook Christ to follow the world that hath parted with Spirituals for Temporals gold for dross
good of others If thou reape any benefit give God the Praise and let him have thy Prayers who desireth to live no longer then he ma◠be some way serviceable to the Church of God in his Generation THO. HALL To the Reader IT is not long since the Learned Author of the Elaborate Commentarie on the two last Chapters of the second Epistle of Paul to Timothie presented the World with a Latine Booke called Sal Terrae The Salt of the Earth which to this larger Volume so quickely following methinkes representeth the setting of Salt on the Table as the first Service before a Feast Of the former he desired me to be his Taster and to attest how savourly it relished with me when I reade it which I have done in the same Language Now he and his Stationer having requested my Perusal and Testimony of the latter I was the willinger first to reade it because the Author hath bestowed much paines and given his Reader the summe and substance of nigh thirtie yeares Studies which bespake an expectation in me of so much satisfaction in the Book as made me think it worthy both to be bought and read On the contrary I have ever had a contemptuous conceit of such Extemporary stuffe as like Ionas his Gourd groweth up in a night and thinke it worthy to last no longer then it did which perished in a night Iona. 4.10 I deny not but sometimes there may be found a man of such a ready faculty as to be able to doe as much and it may be more as well upon a sudden as others upon long deliberation such a one was Lucilius the first Latine Satyrist who as Horace saith would dictate two hundred Verses in an houre standing upon one foot but this is very rare and out of Rule nor are there any Examples upon Record to match it He liketh that Verse better which is made with often scratching of the Head and biteing of the nailes to the quicke and discommendeth such as have not taken up many dayes and come under many blots even to a Tenfold correction and ordinarily it is with ingenious works as it is with Mechannicke Fabrickes those are the fairest which are longest in building as the Temple of Diana at Ephesus one of the seven Wonders of the World was the worke of all Asia for two hundered and twentie years together Secondly I may be the more willing to deliver my Censure of this Worke because when I had acted the part of a severe Criticke upon it the Authour testified his ingenuity by returning me so much the more Thankes as I found the more faults in it which I liked the better when it gave me occasion to renew the remembrance of a contrary acceptance of the like Office done to the Bishop of Coventrie and Litchfield a Prelate of as great Reputation for Learning and Religion as any of his rancke in this Nation who above thirtie yeares agoe I presenting my service to him at Ecclesell Castle in my return from London to Great Budworth in Cheshire he staid me certain dayes to read over as a Censor his Book which he entituled The Grand-Imposture I took it for a great Trust and confidence in me and thought it my Duety to be answerable to it by free Animadversions of any thing which I apprehended for an errour and accordingly did so When I shewed him mine exceptions at the first he seemed somewhat angry and wrangled with me to excuse the Passage which I conceived did need Correction we parted unperswaded and I returned to my Taske with this Opinion that he was therefore offended with the fault I found because on the sudden he knew not how to mend it after that to the Errata I added the correction of the first as well as of the rest and then bringing my Paper of the whole unto him he shewed himselfe so well pleased that he would needs fasten twenty shillings in Gold upon me for my pains besides other courtesies Thirdly I am content that my judgement of this Book should be Printed not so much to gratifie the Author or the Stationer as for other reasons 1. Because the whole frame of the work doth not onely fully answer the Frontispiece though it promise much and so is not lyable to the Exception taken up against a great Writer which is That there is more matter in the Title Page then in the Book it self Secondly Because though I were well satisfied with the matter of it while I read it in his Manuscript Original yet I desire better satisfaction by a review of it when in a fairer Character from the Presse I may reade it with less difficulty and more delight Thirdly Because it is not onely the better halfe of the best Expository Treatise that I have seen upon the Second Epistle to Timothy but I believe for Congruity with the Truth of the Holy Text pertinency and fulnesse of profitable matter deduced from it or consonant to it is the best that hitherto hath been extant in the Church of Christ. The Lord give the Pious and Painfull Pen-man of it the Returne of his Holy labours herein in the Prayers and Proficiency of his People for whose edification chiefly it was undertaken continued and by Gods gracious assistance is now thus compleated Iohn Ley. Bookes formerly published by the AUTHOR 1. THe Pulpit Guarded in quarto 2. The Font Guarded in quarto 3. The Schools guarded or a defence of Humane Learning 4. The Beauty of Holiness Octavo 5. A Treatise against long Hair Painting Powdering and Periwigs spots Octavo 6. Wisedomes Conquest A Translation of the thirteenth Book of Ovids Metamorphosis Octavo 7. Phaetons folly A Translation of the second Book of Ovids Metamorphosis Octavo 8. Homesius Enervatus or a Treatise against the Millenaries Octavo 9. Sal Terrae or a Guard to the Ministers and their maintenance Octavo Errata In such a Volume as this we cannot but expect some Errata those of greatest consequence are here corrected such as are obious I leave to thy own correction Page 9. line 1. read Laylanders p. 21. l. 37. r. stay p. 33. in Marg. r. Glutinant p. 37. l. 40. r. Cap. p. 48. l. 20. r. All. p. 49. Marg. r. Ignavissimus p. 49. Marg. r. Stor p. 52. l. 7. r. Iohn p. 52. marg r. Infamia p. 53. marg non aliis p. 53. l. 18. r. Shew p. 56. l. 1. Prudence p. 28. l. 40. Observe p. 29. l. 25. Vniversal p. 60. l. 10. r. irresistible p. 71. l. 25. r. promises p. 76. l. 20. r. Apostasie p. 86. l. 5. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 87. marg r. quum p. 88. l. 14. r. Psal. 10. l. 16. r. there 's p. 91. l. 46. r. Amos. p. 98. l. 22. forget p. 105. marg Aegyptus p. 106. marg r. Proxineta p. 10.103 l. 22. r. 13. p. 147. Gravatas marg p. 168. l. 37. r. Dorchester p. 171. l. 21. r. Apostles 15. p.
174. l. 27. r. Practical l. 28. r. Oeconomical p. 197. marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 217. l. 35. r. mirror p. 219. r. delectatione p. 222 l. 14. r. Pillar p. 231. r. Polyptoton p. 234. l. 5 dele All. p. 259. l. 17. r. Question p. 267. l. 12. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 28.4 r. ultro in marg p. 311. l. 40. declaration p. 133. l. 20 acrei p. 339. l. 6. Beophman p. 366. l. 26. add David had 3 enemies Saul Goliah and Absalom p. 375. l. 38. r. reproaching p. 380. in marg liberam for liberalitatem ex parte dantis AN EXPOSITION Of the third Chapter OF THE Second Epistle of PAUL TO TIMOTHY 2 TIM 3.1 c. This also know That in the last dayes perilous times shall come THE Apostle having in the two fore-going Chapters fore-warned and so fore-armed his dear son Timothy against those Schismaticks Hereticks Hypocrites and false Teachers which were then arising and creeping into the Church he comes now by a Propheticall instinct to fore-tell of greater evills and of more false Teachers and Seducers which should yet arise especially towards the end of the world In this Chapter we have 1. A Prediction or prophetical narration of the men and manners of the last times from verse 2. to verse 9. 2. The better to avoyd them we have here the marks whereby the Seducers and Impostors of the last times may be knowne 1. They are glozing Hypocrites verse 5. they have a form and but a form of godlinesse 2. They are of an insinuating disposition they slily and secretly creep into houses verse 6. 3. They are subtle they set first on the weaker vessel like the devil their father that first set on Eve that he might by her the better deceive Adam v. 6 7. 4. You may know them by their opposing the Truth and the faithfull Ministers thereof verse 8. 5. By their corrupt principles and practises verse 8. 6. By their Apostasy they fall away more and more and grow worse and worse verse 13. 3. Lest Timothy should be discouraged here is first a consolatory promise for the bounding and breaking of the follies and fopperies of the malice and madness of these Impostors verse 9. 2. The better to encourage him Paul sets before him his own Example and shews him what troubles and persecutions he under-went and how the Lord delivered him out of all verse 10 11. and withall tells him that persecution was not peculiar to him but that it was the common lot of all the godly whilst they live in this world 4. He exhorts Timothy to constancy and perseverance in the doctrine which he had received verse 14 15 16 17. and withall to a diligent study of the holy Scriptures which he adorns with a most elegant Encomium drawn 1. From their divine Authority 2. From their singular Utility 3. From their compleat Perfection This also know q. d. O Timothy my dearly beloved Son whom I have begotten in the faith I have armed thee before against present dangers and against those enemies to the truth which are already risen up in my life time such as Alexander Hermogenes Hymenaeus Phyletus c. I come now by a spirit of Prophesie to foretell thee of future troubles which shall befall the Church of God not only immediately after my death for even then from amongst your selves shall ravenous Wolves arise Act. 20.29 30. such as Menander Carpocrates Cerinthus c. who shall have a form of godnness but will deny the power of it but especially towards the end of the world those last dayes will be the worst iniquity will then abound and the love of many shall wax cold Be not therefore my son discouraged neither let any of Gods faithful Ministers thy Successours be dismayed or take offence at the Sects and Schismes at the Heresies and Blasphemies which shall in those last and loose dayes arise do not wonder at them as if some strange and new thing were come into the World for this also you must know That in the last dayes perilous times shall come In the last dayes That is all the time from Christs first coming in the flesh till his second coming to Judgement In scripture the latter or last times are taken two wayes 1. More generally for all Gospel-times from that time since Christ came in the flesh and publisht the Gospel this is called the Gospel-time in opposition to the Legal administrations and this is frequently in scripture phrase called The last time and The last dayes This appeares by those parallel Texts Ioel 2.28 compared with Acts 2.17 Heb. 1.2 1 Pet. 2.20 2.3.3 Isai 22. Hos. 3.5 Mich. 4.2 33. Thus we may understand that saying of Iacob to his sons Gen. 49.1 Gather your selves together that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last dayes i. at the coming of the Messiah or when Shiloh comes v. 20. Hence Gospel-times are called The end of the world 1 Cor. 20.11 Heb. 9.26 and the last houre 1 Iohn 2.18 Now these are called The last dayes 1. Because all was then consummated which was prophesied concerning the work of mans Redemption and so is the perfection of all times or as the Apostle cals it The fulness of time Gal. 4.4 Nothing now remains but a looking for the day of judgement which how soon it may come we know not 2. Because the whole time of the worlds continuance being distinguished into three great Periods the Gospel-time is the last of The three The first was from the creation to the giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai The second from the giving of the Law till the Appearance of Christ in our nature The third from that Appearance in Humility till his Appearance in Glory and this is that which in scripture is oft called the Last time because after it there shall be no more 3. Comparatively in respect of the precedent times which have past since the beginning of the world those times were longer than these Gospel-times are like to be 4. By the last times more especially is sometimes meant the times that are somewhat near the end of the World which are the latter times of these last dayes when people shall give themselves to luxury and security and all manner of vices Mat. 24.24 37 38. and thus it hath relation to the times we live in wherein iniqâ—ity abounds and love to God his people his Ministers and Ordinances abates Apostolicall times were bad but these dregs of dayes and this dorage of the world will be far worse This also know That in the last days perilous times shall come Perilous times shall come That is hard hurtfull hatefull heavie pernicious perilous troublous times shall come On this clause there are almost as many Opinions as there are Writers and as many Interpretations as there be Interpreters Yet in all this Variety there is no contrariety they may easily be
and his company Numb 6.16 they thought to have levelled all but God levelled them they would destroy both Magistracy and Ministery but God destroyes them they made a rent in the Congregation and the Earth rent and devoured them all this is done for a memoriall to succeeding Ages that they take heed how they make rents in the Church of God verse 40. So Cain the first Separatist that we read of Gen. 4.16 he went from Gods presence i. e. from Gods Church and Ordinances and then he becomes a Vagabond He that would see more against this Sin let him peruse Mr. Perkâ—ns on Iude 19. Mr. Robert Bolton's Saints Guide p. 126. Mr. Pagits Arrow against Separation Mr. Rutherfords Plea for Presbytery p. 120. Mr. Bernard against Smith D. Hill's Fast Sermon 1644. on 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Mr. Blake on the Covenant chap. 31. p. 228. c. and on the Sacrament chap. 8. Sect. 3. p. 314. Camero Praelect de Ecclesia mihi p. 322. and above all Mr. Brinsly of Yarmouth His Arraignment of Separation A fourth Observation That the doctrine of the Millenaries is a meer fancy The Text is clear against it for it sayes expressely The last dayes shall be perilous times Many dream of peace and joy and I know not what golden glorious flourishing times wherein they shall be free from Sin and Sinners and live in this World without tentations and troubles But do not you deceive your selves with such vain conceits for I tell you saith the Apostle the last dayes shall be very perilous wherein all manner of Sins and Sinners shall abound men shall be Covetous Proud Blaspemers c. verse 23. Now whether shall we believe Paul or these Dreamers that say Christ shall come from heaven and shall reign visibly and personally in Ierusalem a thousand yeares as an earthly Monarch in outward glory and and Pompe putting down all Monarchy and Empires Then shall the Church of the Iewes and Gentiles live without any Trouble or Enemy without Sin or Sorrow without Word Sacraments or any Ordinances They shall passe this thousand yeares in great worldly delights eating drinking building houses planting vineyards and eating the fruit of it Marrying wives getting children and enjoying all the lawful pleasures which all the creatures then Redeemed from their ancient slavery can afford In this earthly happiness shall the Church continue till the end of thousand yeares and then comes the day of Judgement Upon this point I find so many men so many opinions 't is a harder thing to find out certainly what they hold then 't is to conquer them Piscator saith The Martyrs shall rise a thousand yeares before others and shall reign with Christ in heaven Alsteed comes and he saith it shall be on Earth yet after the day of judgement Mr. Mede with his new light differs from all the rest affirming That this reign shall be in and during the day of Judgement which shall continue a thousand yeares Chimaera Chimaerâ—ssima a very fiction without foundation in the Word of God Thus these builders of Babel are divided and confounded amongst themselves The first opinion I find to be most generally received hy the Millenaries Indeed such carnal Doctrine suits well with such carnall Saints This is some of the new light of our times being nothing but an old errour broached by Cerinthus the Heretick in the first Century 1500. yeares agoe He was a loose Libertine and therefore he invented this loose Opinion to uphold his riotous practises S. Augustin opposed it It hath layen dead for a long time till some some Libertines and carnall Anabaptists of late have revived it and put a new gloss upon it The vanity of this opinion will appear by the arguments in my Chiliasto-Mastyx against Doctor Homes VERSE 2. For men shall be lovers of themselves Covetous Boasters Proud Blasphemers disobedient to Parents unthankfull unholy c. THe Apostle having told us verse 1. in General that the last dayes should be perilous he comes now to particulars verse 2 3 4 5. and sets forth in their proper colours the Sins and Sinners the Men and Manners of the last times I wish they were not a true Map of our times I may truly call these 19. sins Englands Locking-glasse wherein we may plainly see the true cause of all our miseries and what it is that hinders the work of Reformation and turnes away good things from us These are the 19. Weeds which deface Gods Garden the Church the good Lord root them out of all our hearts that our names may never be found in this black Bill and cursed Catalogue to be such as make evill times bad and bad times worse 'T is worth our noting that the Apostle doth not place the Perill and Hardnesse of the last times in any externall calamity or penall evills as Sword Plague Famine Persecution but in the prodigions sins and enormities of such as professe Religion Let the times be never so successfull and prosperous in other respects yet if Sin abound they are truly perilous and pernicious times for 't is Sin that sets God against us and the Creatures against us and conscience against us Sin is the Fundamental Meritorious cause of all our miseries and perills as appears Deut. 28.15 16 c. Sin is the evill of evills and brings all other evills with it Let the times be never so miserable and the Church lye under sad persecutions yet if they be not sinfull times they are not truly perilous times but rather purging and purifying times From the Connection of this verse with the former Observe That nothing is so perilous and pernicious so hard and heavy to a gracious soule as the Sins of the times he lives in This I have cleared in the opening of the last clause of the first verse As nothing is dearer to Gods people than Gods glory so nothing goeth nearer their hearts than Gods dishonour As Gods soul is said to be afflicted and his heart to be broken with the Idolatries and Apostasies of a back-sliding people Ezek. 6.9 so 't is a great grief and heart-breaking to the people of God to see their God dishonoured Hence Lots righteous soul is said to be vexed or tormented as the word signifieth with the abominations of the Sodomites 2 Pet. 2.7 8. The Mourners sigh and cry for all the abominations of the times they lived in Ezek. 9.4 Ieremy 13.17 weeps in secret for the sins of the people Davids eyes run down with rivers of teares becâ—â—se men forget Gods Law and his soul was grieved because of the Transgressors Psal. 11.9.53.136.158 Christ wept over Ierusalem because she knew not the day of her Visitation Luke 19.41 42. Paul is troubled at the Idolatry of the Athenians Acts 17.16 and weeps to consider the sad condition both of the Seducers and the Seduced Phil. 3.18 the two Witnesses mourn to see so many bewitcht with Antichrists delusions Revel 11.3 'T is true we ought
For the condemning of Vsury and oppression how full is the Old Testament yet Usury is scarce mentioned in the New Testament 3. How then should Magistrates put Blasphemers Adulterers and witches to death since the scriptural warrants which make these crimes Capital are contained in the Old Testament and not in the New 4. Then it would not be unlawful to marry within the Degrees forbidden in the Old Testament and not in the New hence some Sectaries have maintained that 't is lawful to marry within the Degrees forbidden in the Old Testament c. 2. Since the Old Test. is the very word of God and there are contained in it so many excellent promises to support our faith and so many precious Truths and Commands for the direction of our lives oh let us read it study it meditate in it night and day Psalm 1.1 2. As Ministers must preach the whole counsell of God to their people Acts 20.27 so people should desire to hear and know all Gods counsell revealed to us in the Old and New Testament things revealed concerne us Deut. 29.29 â—ince we have Moses and the Prophets we must not expect Revelations Luke 16.29 This is that foundation upon which all the faithfull must build Ephesians 2.20 being built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets i. e. on the Doctrine of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament a house without a foundation will soon fall He that knowes not Gods will revealed in Scripture must needs miscarry Hence 't is that Christ would not have us barely read but search the Scriptures Iohn 5.39 of the Old Testament where we shall find many excellent Lessons 1. There we may see the glorious work of Creation how God made man holy and happy how we lost this happinesse and how by Christ we are restored again Gen. 3. and 2. To fear us from sin here we may see Gods judgements on the Old world Sodom Pharaoh Egypt Ierusalem and Lots wife whom Christ commands us to remember Luke 17.33 and if we must remember her why not all the rest of these examples which are recorded in the Old Testam 3. Here are many sweet promises to quicken us to obedience Deut. 28.1 to 15. 4. Here are Precepts for practice to direct us in our duty 5. Here we may see the examples of Gods servants walking up to those Precepts and how wonderfully God preserved them in their integrity Here you may see Abrahams Faith Lots Hospitality Iobs Patience Davids Zeale Iosephs Chastity Noahs Righteousnesse Moses his Meeknesse Ioshua's Valour These must be as so many goads to quicken us to the like Graces and as so many Looking-glasses for us to dress our selves by 6. The Old Testament gives great light to the New there is a mutual Harmony and agreement between them so that like stones in an Arch they strengthen and hold up one another We cannot so well understand many places of the New Testamentt unlesse we compare them with the Old Hence Christ oft speaks and the Law Iohn 1.17 and and 5.46 Luke 24.27 44. who could understand that dark Epistle to the Hebrews which is even composed out of the Old Test. it's Types and Allegories if he have not some insight iâ— the Old Test. So Iohn 3.14 cannot be understood without some knowledge of the brazen Serpent mentioned in the Old Test. The Old Test. in many things is larger then the New and so is very needful to be known There 's Physicks in Genesis Iob Psalms 2. There 's Ethicks in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes for the right ordering of our lives 3. Politicks in the Judicial Laws of Moses very useful for the well-ordering of a common-wealth 4. There is in the Old Testament the best pleasantest and truest of Histories from the beginning of the world to our Saviours time here we have the Rise and Ruine of many famous Kings and Kingdomes for the space of nigh 4000. yeares exactly and faithfully which is the life and glory of History set forth unto us Other Histories may be excellent but Scripture-History excels them all Let us then embrace the Scriptures of the Old Testament as the good word of God written for our Learning and a word that still speaks unto us as unto Children Heb. 12.5 and 13.5 1 Cor. 10 11. in Doctrines Exhortations and Comforts And since Old and New Testament are both the infallible word of God let us receive it with all Humility and Thankfulnesse as an Epistle sent to us from the great God Here is the Fountain the Life and all the Treasures of wisdome included Here is all things needful for our salvation in it is nothing superfluous or vaine but a sweet harmony and agreement of all parts and therefore is to be wholly received by us for as the Phylosopher delights in all Aristotle the Physician in Galen the Orator in Tully and the Lawyer in Iustinian so and much more should a Christian embrace the whole Bible and welcome it with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prizing it as one of the choycest gifts which ever God gave to the sonnes of men How zealously did our Fore-fathers considering their light affect the Scriptures when one of them in the beginning of the Reformation gave a load of Hay for a piece of the Epistle of Saint Iames in English How will their forwardnesse condemn our backwardnesse and their zeale our Lukewarmnesse The Holy Scriptures c. So here what a large Encomium and high commendation the Holy Ghost gives of the Scriptures even such as is given to no other book in the world besides 1. He commends them in respect of one speciall property and adjunct viz. their Holinesse The Holy Scriptures 2. From their Effects they are able to make us wise unto salvation 3. From their Authority Verse 16 17. Utility Verse 16 17. Perfection Verse 16 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Holy Scriptures 'T is not simply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Those eminently holy letters those sacred Scriptures the article is emphatical and therefore the Holy Ghost to distinguish these sacred writings from all profane writings gives them such Adjuncts and Epithets as are incompatible to all other writings whatsoevr Now the Reason why God would have his word written is this viz. that it might be kept the better and be propagated to posterity and be more easily kept and vindicated from corruption then Revelations could have been 2 Peter 1.19 Observe The word of God is holy Scriptures this is it's proper Adjunct and excellency 't is holy Rom. 1.2 They are perfectly holy in themseves all other writings are prophane further then they draw some holinesse from them which yet is never such but that their holinesse is imperfect Now the Scriptures are called holy in five respects 1. In respect of their Authour and principal cause viz. the most holy God 2. In respect of the Pen-men aud instrumental cause they were holy men
Embassador are esteemed as the words of him who sendeth him When our Preaching agrees with the Word 't is as the Word of God himself This believed would make us come with fear to Sermons as Iacob did Gen. 28.16 when he said Surely the Lord is in this place then Verse 17. He was afraid and said How dreadfull is this place God highly prizeth such hearts as tremble at his Word Isay 66.2 He overlooketh the Frame of Heaven and Earth to looke on such neither doth he looke on them with an eye onely of Intuition as he looketh upon the rest of the Creatures but with an eye of special complacency approbation and delight These humble ones he will teach his way Psalm 25.9 and meek hearers he will save Iames 1.21 9. Affectionally with singular love as the Word of the great God which should be sweeter to us then honey and more precious then Gold 2. With Ioy should we draw waters out of these Wells of salvation We should fly to Gods House even as the Doves unto their windowes Isay 60.8 We should come into his Courts with Joy and as the terrours of the Law should make us melt and mourn 2 Chronicles 34.27 Acts 2.27 So the Consolations of the Gospel should raise us to joy Luke 1.46 47. 3. We should earnestly desire the Word 1 Peter 2.2 Appetite and desire of food is a signe of Life Such hungery ones shall be filled with good things Luke 1.53 as Drunkards looke on the Wine to quicken their Appetite Proverbs 23.31 So should we on the excellencies of the Word to quicken our desires after it 10. Obedientially We must resolve to obey whatsoever the Lord by his Minister shall command us whether it be for Humiliation or Consolation Ieremiah 42.5 6. If the Lord will be pleased to draw us we must resolve to run after him Canticles 1.4 If he will Teach us we must resolve to keep his Precepts Psalm 119.33 34. Isay 2.3 This is the end of our hearing that we may doe Gods Will Deuterrnomy 4.5 and 5.1 and 11.32 This prompt Obedience is better then Sacrifice 1 Samuel 15.22 1. A wicked man may offer Sacrifice but no wicked man can obey 2. The sacrificer offereth the flesh of another in sacrifice but the Obedient man offereth himself But the wicked are Sermon-proofe the Hammer of the Word cannot worke upon their Adamantine hearts There is not a more evident signe of one devoted to destruction then this If Eli's sonnes will not hearken to the Voyce of their Father it is a signe the Lord hath a purpose to destroy them If Amaziah will not hearken to the Prophets Counsel he shall to ruine 2 Chronicles 25.16 When men have been often reproved and yet still harden their necks refusing to obey they shall perish they shall suddenly perish and that without remedy Proverbs 29.1 〈◊〉 is a dreadfull Text every word hath its weight 1. Man of reproofes It is an Hebraisme and is very Emphaticall in that Language which knoweth no Degrees of comparison it caries the force of the superlative Degree as Eccles. 7.1 2. Vanitie of Vanities i. Exceeding vain men of blood i. most cruel bloody-men So a man of reproofes i. A man that hath had many and various reproofes God hath reproved him by his Ministers by Friends by Foes by Checks of Conscience by Judgements on others by Judgements on himselfe and yet the man is so hardened that nothing will worke Well what of him why 1. Though such a man may escape for a time yet the Word will at last arrest him and lay hold on him Zach. 1.6 2. He shall be destroyed he shall not be annihilated that were well for him but he shall be destroyed it is not a destruction in respect of being but a destruction in respect of Joy and Comfort here and hereafter He doth not say he shall be lightly chastned or a little punished but he shall be destroyed 3. See the Certainty shall be i. It is decreed in Heaven that he shall certainly perish 4. See the suddennesse of it shall suddenly be destroyed They looke on Judgements at a distance and put the evil day farre away crying Peace Peace till judgements come suddenly on them as pangs upon a woman in travaile as we see in the old World Sodom and the Jewes and Pharaoh 4. 'T is irremediable no Prayers and Tears can help him no power can rescue him no Mercy pardon him no Mediatour intercede for him there is no remedy all the world cannot help that man which after many reproofes heardeneth his neck Oh then Come with Tractable Teachable Hearts to the Word and bidd reproofes wellcome for they are the way of Life Proverbs 6.23 VERS 5 6. But watch thou in all things endure Afflictions doe the worke of an Evangelist make full proof of thy Ministerie 6. For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand IN these words the Apostle goeth on with the prosecution of his former Exhortation wherein he Epitomizeth all that he had said before and exorteth Timothy to foure Dueties 1. The first is to watchfulness But watch thou in all things Having in the two precedent Verses told him of the danger now he exhorteth him to his duety where we have First the dutie it self Watch. Secondly The extent of it not in some things onely but in all things We are beset round and must therefore keep watch and ward at every turn q. d. since false Teachers will abound and people will turn from the Truth to Fables it becommeth thee O Timothy and such as thou art to act the part of Faithful Shepheards and diligently to watch over the flock that it suffer not by your negligence The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we Translate watch signifieth also to be sober not onely in body but specially in minde Though most usually and properly it is taken in Scripture in the former sense The word implyeth that Ministers of all men must be sober and watch God hath joyned them together and we may not seperate them in our lives 1 Thessalonians 5.6 1 Peter 5.8 they are like stones in an Arch the one helpeth to uphold the other we cannot watch without sobriety and we cannot be sober without watchfulness 2. Constancy and courage against all opposition 'T is true faithfull Ministers of all men must undergoe much labour and sorrow many dangers and difficulties yet must they not be daunted or discouraged but like valiant souldiers of Christ we must endure hardship and undergoe all manner of evils and injuries cheerfully for Christ and fulfill our Ministery in despight of them all He that feareth the face and frownes of man can never discharge his Ministery faithfully to God 3. Fidelity he exhorteth him withall faithfulnesse and diligence to discharge the dueties of his Calling Do the worke of an Evangelist i. That work which becometh an Evangelist viz. To
of the Church that I need say no more against it 5. Observation 5. We may love one friend more then another Timothy was Pauls beloved Son in the Faith 1 Timothy 1.2 He was one whom he had taught and seasoned he knew Pauls manner and course of life he was one that Paul durst trust with his secrets and so more fit to come to him and to serve him Christ himself when he was upon Earth and as he was man and lived amongst men as man he was more familiar with some then others and loved them more choicely Christ loved all good men but Lazarus Mary and Martha he loved more peculiarly Iohn 11.5 Christ loved all his Disciples Iohn 13.1 But he loved Iohn more especially and therefore he is called by way of Eminency and special propriety That Disciple whom Iesus loved Iohn 13.23 and 21.7.10 To him Christ revealeth his secrets he telleth him who shall betray him and after revealeth the Revelation to him As Iohn excelled in Purity meeknesse sweet disposition and love to Christ. So Christ loved him accordingly Parents doe so they have a more tender affection to one childe then another and friends doe so and we doe so True we may not contemne any no not the weakest where we see but aliquid Christi any glimpse of Christs Image we must love it but where we see most of Christ we may lawfully love most According to the divers measures of Grace so may the measures of our love be proportioned hence we reade of love and singular love 1 Thessalonians 5.13 and though Pauls care were for all the Churches yet was his love more aboundant to that at Corinth 2 Cor. 11.28 and 2.4 VERSE 10. For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present World and is departed to Thessalonica Crescens to Galatia Titus to Dalmatia HEre we have the reason why he would have Timothy come so speedily to him 1. Because some had forsaken him as Demas Others were dispersed and gone or sent by Paul to other places to preach the Gospel as Crescens to Galatia a Region of the lesser Asia where the Jewes were dispersed 1 Peter 1.1 to these Paul writeth an Epistle blameing them for their Apostacy Thither Crescens one of Pauls Disciples and Companions goeth not out of any love to this present world as Demas did but to preach the Gospel Titus went to Dalmatia Paul had two Disciples which he loved as sons viz. Timothy and this Titus the one he left at Ephesus and this at Crete Titus 1.4 5. Pauls dear affection to him appeareth by that famous Epistle written to him Dalmatia was a Region of Illyricum where Paul is said to spread the Gospel Romans 15.19 A great Question here ariseth Whether Demas did well or ill in forsakeing Paul and whether he were a good man or an Hypocrite Answer Interpreters here are much divided some and those of the better sort goe about to excuse Demas and say that his love to all the world was onely an ordinate moderate love and care of the world 2. Others say his Apostacy was not total but partial and that although he loved the World more then was meet and thereupon left Paul in his troubles and went to Thessalonica a famous City of Macedonia Either that he might get out of danger or that he might Marchandize there for there was great traffick yet say they he repented of his fall and returned to Paul as they would gather from Colossians 4.14 Philem. 24. Though he did for fear forsake him yet at last say they he returned 3. The Arminians to defend that uncomfortable Doctrine of the Saints Apostacy would fain make Demas a Real Saint and his Apostasie to be Total But they must seek out for better grounds for Demas in all probability was an Hypocrite who had no rooted Faith but went out from Gods people because he was never truely of them 1 Iohn 2.19 he was a Meteor that blazed for a time and presently vanished like Ionathan that marched well till he met with honey 2. I answer that the salutations mentioned in Colossians and Pilemon were written before this Epistle to Timothy which the Apostle writ in his second bonds at Rome as the context and whole scope of this Chapter which is of more weight with me then a thousand Authours sheweth especially Verse 6.7 8.16.17 So that it is gratis dictum said but not proved that those Epistles were written after this 3. It is said he forsooke Paul now he was in trouble and had most need of help he knew he could not side with Faul but he must run many hazards in life and estate and therefore he resolved to sleep in a whole skin and to save one he leaveth him chusing rather to follow his worldly occasions and to provide for his own ease profit pleasure then to suffer affliction with the people of God Hence he is said to embrace this present world every word hath its weight 1. He did not lightly glance at the world but he embraceth it with delight and contentment as his summum bonum and chiefest delight and therefore preferreth it before Christ He set his affections on it saith Grotius like the thorny ground where the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choak the Word so that it becometh unfruitful Matth. 13.22 2. The World id est the things of this world by a Metonymy of the Subject such as riches pleasures ease safetie and carnal delights 3. This present world which is Transitory is opposed to Heaven and the world to come which shall have no end Titus 2.12 We have seen before Verse 8. that the Saints loved the coming of Christ but Demas is all for present profit he loved this present world he desired to have good dayes here and to live a quiet life without persecution or trouble Now such love of the world is enmity against God Iames 4.4 and a signe of a carnall man 2 Iohn 2 15. Hence 't is that the Scripture maketh the love of the world and the love of God diametrally opposite the one to the other Is departed to Thessalonica Where he became an Idolatrous Priest say some others say that he turned Heretick denying the Deity of Christ. See whither Apostates fall when God forsaketh them and whither the inordinate love of the world leadeth men However away he goeth to Thessalonica where he might be far enough from danger where he might more securely enjoy the world Observations 1. T is lawful in some Cases to name men The Apostle to make others fear Apostasie names this back-slider So verse 14. He nameth Alexander who was a malicions inveterate enemy to the Truth yet this must be done with a great deal of Caution it must not be used but when the person is an open incorrigible impenitent and gross offender in this case Paul nameth Hymenaus and Alexander and excommunicateth them for their blasphemy and