14

Paul complains that all the Asiatics had left him. SECT. and exactly to adhere to the form of sound words of me,in faith and love ji.

that system of divine and everlasting truths which is in Christ Je

which thou hast heard of me; keep it, not mere-
2 Tim.
1. 13. ly in thy memory, but in thine heart, with cor.

dial faith, and that sincere, fervent love, which
is the great badge of our being in Christ Jesus,
and which will finally secure our being owned

by him as his true disciples. And as thou 14 That good thing 14 desirest to have the same cheerful confidence, which was committed

unto thee, keep by the let it be thy care to keep that good thing which Holy Ghost which is deposited with thee , even the gospel of Christ dwelleth in us. lodged in thine hands : assert its honours, by the aid of the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us, and which will, I trust, enable thee to act with that integrity and zeal which so arduous and important a service requires.

15 This thou know. 15 Thou knowest this, that all those of Asia, who

cst, that all they which are at Rome, and were known to me by a pro- are in Asia be turned fession of Christianity, are turned from me, and away from me; of have proved treacherous friends, after all their whom are Phygellus

and Hermogenes.
forward pretences ; of which number are Phygel-
lus and Hermogenes d; whom it is with great

concern that I am obliged particularly to point
16 out on such an occasion.

But it is with pro- 16 The Lord give portionable pleasure that I mention another mercy unto the house person, of a very different character, whose af- of Onesiphorus ; for

he oft refreshed me, fection and zeal was illustrated by their baseness and was not asbamed and disingenuity. May the Lord grant his mercy of my chain. to his family! I mean to the household of Onesiphorus ; for he hath often refreshed me, both by his visits and liberalities, and hath not been ashamed of my chain, Eph. vi. 20; but bas rather esteemed it his honour to own me, while I was

under disgrace and persecution in so good a cause. 17 But being here in Rome,he sought me out so much

17 But when he was the more diligently on that very account, and

in Rome, he sought when

me

ii.

Christ Jesus,

He animates Timothy to courage and resolution.

15 me out very diligently, when he had found [me] took every opportunity SECT. and found me.

of expressing his unfeigned love and veneration

for a servant and apostle of Christ in such a 2 Tim. 18 The Lord grant circumstance. The Lord grant unto him that, I. 18. nnto him that he may after having enjoyed all the blessings of a long find mercy of the Lord in that day. And in and useful life, he may find mercy of the Lord in how many things he that great day, to which our eyes and hopes, as ministered unto me at Christians, are continually directed. And on Ephesus, thou klowest

how very well.

many occasions he ministered to me) in Ephesus, thou very well knowest, as thou wert an eye-witness to it, while we were together

there, II. 1. Thou there- Thou therefore, my dearly beloved son Timo- II. I fore, my son, be strong thy, animated by such an example of fidelity and in the grace that is in

courage, be strong, in humble and continual de-
pendence upon the grace which is in Christ Je-
sus, and resolve never to be ashamed of any of

his faithful servants under disgrace and difficul-
2 And the things ties, while adhering to his cause. And the 2
that thou hast heard of things which thou hast heard from me, and which
me among many wit.
nesses, the same com. I have solemnly testified again and again, before
mit thou to faithful mary witnesses, in one place and another, these
med, who shall be able commit thou with all diligence and care to faith-
to teach others also.

ful men', who may be able also to teach others;
that so there may be, throughout all ages, a suc-
cession of such, who shall deliver them down
from one to another, even till the end of time,

according to God's gracious purposes in reveal-
3 Thou therefore en- ing them to us. And especially do thou sce 3
dure hardness, as a to it thyself, that thine own temper and conduct
good soldier of Jesus
Christ,

be such as may engage them to fidelity in bear-
ing their testimony. Therefore, as thy lot is cast
in a time when we are called to suffer so many
severe things for the truth, prepare thyself stea.
dily and resolutely to endure afflictions and hard-
ships, as it becomes a good soldier of Jesus Christ,
and one whom he hath honoured with a distin.

guished rank in bis army, that thou mayest mar-
4. No man that war. shal and lead on others. And, to pursue
with the affairs of this metaphor, remember, that no one who goes out
life; that he may please to war entangles himself with secular affairs, but
him who hath chosen relinquishes every other calling and employ-
bim to be a soldier,

ment, that he may please him under whom he is
inlisted, and be ready to receive and execute bis
commands. Accordingly keep thyself as much

the

as

16 Reflections on the duty of ministers to maintain the gospel.
SECT, as possible disengaged from worldly business,
ii.

and from every thing which might tend to take 2 Tim. off thy thoughts from thy great work, and ren11. 5. der thee less active in thy sacred warfare. And 5 And if a man also

thou also knowest, that if any one wrestles, or strive for masteries, yet contends in any other of those games for which cept he strive lawfully.

is he not crowned, exGreece is so celebrated, if he do gain an advantage over his antagonist, he is not crowned, unless he wrestle, or perform any other athletic ex. ercise, according to the law of the respective contention. So let us take care to learn the rules which Christ has laid down to direct us in our attempts, and act according to them. 6 And be not impatient, though the expected and 6 The husbandman promised reward should be long delayed; for first partaker of the

that laboureth, must be
thou well knowest that the husbandmian must fruits.
first labour, and wait while the harvest is grow-
ing, through succeeding weeks and months,
[and then) partake of the fruits produced by his

toils.
7 Consider the things which I say as matters of

hy Consider what I high inportance, in which thou art intimately save and the Lord give

thee in concerned; and may the Lord give thee a good all things. understanding in all things, and enable thee to act in a manner suitable to the instructions thou hast received.

IMPROVEMENT.

Chap. Let us all be exhorted to be strong in the grace that is in Christ ii. 1.

Jesus, and, in humble dependence upon it, let us go forth cheerfully to our work and warfare as Christians. This is a strength so great, and communicated with so rich a freedom, that the Christian minister, under his peculiar difficulties, will find it adequate to them all. Let such particularly apply to them

selves the exhortations and consolations which are here given or 13 suggested Let them strenuously retain the form of sound words,

which the inspired apostles have delivered, with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. To this orthodoxy of principle, which a

due regard to this great and only standard will teach them, let 14 them add orthodoxy of temper. And, as they desire that Christ

may keep what they profess to have deposited with him, let them faithfully keep what he has lodged in their hands. And may the

Holy

ii.

a

Timothy is exhorted to remember Christ.

17 Holy Spirit dwell in them, to make them faithful in all, and di- SECT. rect them in their efforts to defend the gospel, to spread its influence on the hearts of men, and transmit it from one genera- Chap. tion to another; lodging it with faithful men, who may teach i. 2. others, when their teachers and fathers in Christ shall rest from their labours. Such succession may God continue in bis churches; and may be prosper the work of those who are employed in humble and faithful attempts to promote so good a cause, by forming for this important charge those who, like Timothy, have early known the scripture, and felt its power on their hearts.

Let such as are setting out in this holy warfare remember the caution which the apostle gives. May they not unnecessarily encumber themselves with secular cares, which would render them 4 Jess fit to please the great General under whose banner they are inlisted. Let them strive lawfully, if they hope for the crown and cultivating the ground with diligence, let them wait with patience, if they desire at length to reap that blessed harvest. Nor let that general apostacy from the power of religion, which is the shame of the present day, deter them; but rather let it whet their pious zeal to own, with more strenuous attachment, the cause of Christ and of his faithful servants. And when they have done all, may they ever retain an humble sense of their dependence on the Divine mercy: and the Lord grant to us all, ministers and people, that we may find it in that great day!

SECT. III.

Paul further animates Timothy to fidelity, by laying open the mo

tives and hopes which supported him under the difficulties he
bore in the defence of the gospel ; interspersing several addresses
relating to that purity, prudence, and meekness, with which he
should endeavour to conduct himself in the ministry. 2 Tim. II.
8-18.
2 TIM. II. 9.

2 TIMOTHY II. 8.
REMEMBER that Je-
sus Christ, of the

O animate thee, () Timothy, to all the la- SECT.

TO seed of David, was

bours and all the sufferings of the Christian raised from the dead and ministerial life, remember Jesus Christ, the

promised Messiah of the seed of David, the great 11. 8.
Apostle and High-Priest of our profession, who,
after having spent and laid down his life in the
prosecution of his great work, was raised from
the dead“, and at length exalted to the right

accord

2 Tim.

18 Those who suffer with Christ shall reign with him. sect. hand of God, there to receive the reward of all according to my gosiii. bis labours and sufferings, according to the tenor

pel. 2 Tim. of my gospel, which, as thou well knowest, I 11. 9. every where preach and attest.

In the ser

9 Wherein I suffer vice of which I suffer evil, (even] to bonds; trouble as an evil doer, the chief magistrates of my country sentencing the word of God is not

even unto boods; but me to confinement, after the many insults which bound. have been offered me by the dregs of the people, as if I were a malefactor worthy of some heavy punishment: but my great comfort is, that the word of God is not bound. I rejoice, that many of my brethren are at liberty to preach it publicly, and am thankful for every opportunity of bearing my testimony to so good a cause, in such a private manner as my present circumstances may admit; well knowing, that God can bless even these limited attempts, to what degree he shall in bis infinite wisdom see fit. (Compare

On this account, I cheerfully en- 10 Therefore I en. dure all these things, and whatever else Provi. dure all things for the

elect's sake, that they dence may appoint,

for the sake of the elect ; that may also obtain the salthe gracious purposes of God for their happiness vation which is in Christ may be effected, and they may obtain that com

Jesus, with eterval

glory. plete salvation which is in Christ Jesus, and which shall be attended with eternal, as well as

illustrious and exalted, glory. IllIt is) a faithful worde which I have often 11 It is a faithful insisted upon, and it shall undoubtedly be veri- saying, For if we be

dead with him, we shall fied; that if we have the resolution to die with also live with him: him, even with that blessed Saviour, according to the obligation of our baptismal vow, we shall

also live with him, in that everlasting happiness 12 which he hath prepared for all his people. If 12 If we suffer, we we patiently endure our part in bis afflictions, shall also reign with

him: we shall also share his triumph, and reign with him in his celestial kingdom. But, on the other band, if we are intiinidated with these transitory evils, so as to desert his cause, and deny (him]

before

10 Phil. i. 19.)

a

tion of the gospel. But though this be verse; but it seems much more reasonable undoubtedly true, the apostle's thought to connect it with what follows, as, geneseems rather more lively: remember Him rally speaking, this phruse is introductory who was thus raised from the dead, and to the weighty sentence it is intended to that will be instead of a thousand argu- confirm. See 1 Tim. i. 15; iv. S, 9. ments to bear thee through all thy ditfi- Though Tit. iii, 8. seems an exception. culties.

Dr. Tillotson thinks this was a celebrated b in the service of which.) Dr. Whitby saying among Christians, which was eitber has shown, in his note on this clause, that derived by tradition from Christ or some ty w sometimes signities in which cause, or of the apostles, and it had so powerful a for the suke of which.

tendency to keep them steady to their rec It is a faithful word.] Some refer this ligion, that it is no wonder it was in fieto the concluding cluase of the former quent use. Tillot. Vol. II. p. 175, 176.

dlf