Imatges de pàgina
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9 This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labour, and fuffer reproach, becaufe we truft in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of

those that believe.

9. This is the certain and moft A.D.65. important Article you should endeavour to poffefs Chriftian People with.

10. And for this it is that those malicious Jews do thus Despise and Perfecute us; viz, That we forfake their External and Ceremonial Obfervances, that were intended only for a while, to keep up a Diftinction between their Nation and the rest of the World; and Preach up that Subftantial and Spiritual Religion of Jefus Chrift, which God, who cannot but be thought to intend the Salvation of all Men, has now gracioufly offered to all Mankind, without Diftinction; and the Bleffings whereof all True Believers, of what Nation foever, will moft certainly enjoy.

II These things 11. Whatever Oppofition They command and teach: make, therefore, let it be Your conftant Business to inculcate it, and oblige all Chriftians to the belief of this important Doctrine,

12 Let no man de

spise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in

word, in conversation,

in charity, in fpirit, in faith, in purity.

12. And, as you are yet but a Young Man, be careful, by the Soundnefs of your Doctrine, the Gravity of your Converfation, your dent and induftrious Improvement of Charity to all Perfons, your pruthe Gifts of the Holy Spirit, by a Steddiness in the True Faith, and in Charity and Purity of Practice, to be fo Exemplary to all People, that none may take occafion to defpife your Authority upon account of your Youth.

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13. Let Reading the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament be your conftant Study *; and, out of them build wholefome Inftructions and Perfwafions to your People.

14. Be

Ver. 9. A faithful Saying. See the Note on Chap. i. 15. *Ver. 13. Till I come. See Note on Rom. vi. 13.

Till I come, as propat. See 2 Sam. vi. 23. 1 Sam. XV. 25. in the Septuagint.

A. D.65. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, 1 Tim. i. which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

18.

32.

15 Meditate upon Ver. 11, thefe things; give thy felf wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto

thy felf, and unto thy
doctrine; continue in
them: for in doing
this, thou shalt both
fave thy felf, and them
that hear thee.

14. Be no way negligent in the Sacred Office, the Holy Spirit Prophefied you should have and which you were Confecrated to, by the Impofition of my Hands, and

of other Church-Officers with me. (2 Tim. i. 6.)

15. Confider well and frequently on what you Read || and Teach to others; that you may show what a Proficient you are in the Chriftian Doctrine, by a ready and exact Way of Instruction.

16. In fine, be every way careful both of your Life and Doctrine. Be conftant in what I have recommended to you; and, by fuch a Discharge of your Office, you will not fail of your own Salvation, nor of the best Method to fecure that of your People too, by the Influence of fo good an Example.

CHA P. V.

The CONTENTS.

Directions for Cenfuring and Reproving an Elder or Prefbyter, and for his Behaviour toward Aged, or Young Women. For the Publick Charity to Widows; which of them are fit, and which not, to receive it. Good Minifters to be liberally maintained. No Accufation against a Prefbyter to be proceeded upon, without due Caution, and full Evidence: But, fuch as are notoriously guilty, to be feverely and openly reproved. Timothy Strictly charged to be impartial in his Government, and to be tenderly cautious who he Ordains to the Miniftry. Private Advice relating to his Health.

R

Ebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father, and the younger men as

brethren;

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Ì. O come now to fome other particular Directions. Be not hafty and extream in Cenfuring the Mifcarriages of any Elderly Perfon, especially fuch as are Pref byters of the Church, unless they be very Notorious and Scandalous; but, as you are a Young Man, though a Governour and Bishop, endeavour to perfwade them with due Respect to their Age and Office: And treat all younger Perfons, particularly fuch as are in any Church-Office, with Brotherly Kindness, and a Friendly Temper.

2 The elder women as mothers, the younger as fifters, with all purity.

A. D. 65.

iii. 2.

2. Treat the Deaconeffes, or * See Chap. any other Elderly Women with juft Regard to their Years alfo; and converse with the younger Women, as with Christian Relations; but with fuch Gravity and Decency, as may be fure to cut off all Sufpicion of any impure Thoughts or Behaviour.

3 Honour widows 3. Let fuch Widows as are destithat are widows in- tute of all Friends to relieve them, deed. be liberally and refpectfully maintain'd out of the Publick Charities of the Church.

4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to fhew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and defolate, trufteth in God, and continueth in fupplications and prayers night and day.

4. But, where any Widows have Children, or Grandchildren, that are in a Capacity to maintain them; let thofe Children know, it is but a juft Return, and one of their prime and fpecial Duties, to provide for their Parents; and that God will indifpenfibly require it at their Hands.

5. Now, a Widow ought to have these two Qualifications, to render her a proper Object of the Churches Charity; viz. She must be one entirely deftitute of Relations to relieve her; and one that is remarkable for the Steddiness of her Chriftian Principles, and the Constancy of her Devotions.

6. For

A.D. 65.

6 But he that liveth in pleasure, is dead while fhe liveth.

6. For a loose and voluptuous Widow is to be looked on as a Member loft and dead to the Chri

Stian Church; and fo incapable of being maintained by its
Charity.

7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blame. lefs.

8 But if any provide not for his own, and especially for thofe of his own houfe, he hath deni

7. Be fure, therefore, to divulge and execute their Orders carefully, that none but truly good Women may be chofen in, to partake of the Churches Maintenance.

8. And none, but fuch as are really deftitute. For whatever Chriftian, that is able to do it, neglects to provide for his nearest Relations (efpecially his Parents and Children) acts in direct Contradiction to one of the effential Duties of Chriftianity, and is guilty of a Crime, that even a Heathen would be afhamed of.

ed the faith, and is
worse than an infidel.

9 Let not a widow be taken into the number, under threefcore years old, ha ving been the wife of

one man.

Divorfed from one

10 Well reported of for good works; if the have brought up children, if the have lodged ftrangers, if the have washed the faints feet, if the have relieved the afflicted, if the have diligently followed every good work.

11 But the younger widows refute : for when they have begun

9. Let none be chofen into the Number of thefe Church-Widows, under the Age of Sixty; nor any that has, upon needlefs and humourfome Occafions, procured a Divorce, or for good Reasons been Hufband, and Married another.

10. Nor any, but what are known to have difcharged their Duties of Life well; fuch as the Care of their Families; the Pious Education of their Children; to have been Hofpitable to Strangers, Charitable to the Poor and Afflicted, and ready to do the meanest of good Offices to any Chriftian Brethren.

11 & 12. And be fure to take in none that are very Young, for fuch Women are too apt to grow weary

gun to wax wanton
against Chrift, they
will marry:
12 Having dam-
nation, because they
have caft off their
firft Faith.

but

13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandring about about from houfe to house ; and not only idle, tattlers alfo, and bufie bodies,fpeaking things which they ought not. 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occafion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

weary of the grave and retired Life A. D. 65.
of Church-Widows; and be temp-
ted to Marry into Heathen Fami- * 22.
See Verse 15.
lies, and renounce their Chriftianity;
and fo be loft, at laft, to the great
Scandal of the Church..

13. At least, 'tis very hazar-
dous; but fuch young Perfons,
inftead of the Sobriety and Re-
tiredness that become them, will
run into Idlenefs, Impertinence,
run into Idlenefs,
and Indecency in their Words and
Actions.

14. Instead, therefore, of being Objects of the Publick Charity, let fuch young Widows Marry again, and be duly and honeftly employed in Breeding and well Educating Children, and in a difcreet Management of their Families; that fo no Occafion be given to the Adverfaries of our Religon, to reflect upon it, from their Indiscretions and Miscarriages. 15. And this Caution is but too neceffary at this Time: For, you know, fome of these young Widows

15 For fome are already turned afide

after Satan.

have actually done Chriftian Profeffion.

16 If any man or woman that believeth, have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that

are widows indeed.

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as

I fay, and even renounced their Ver. 11,

12.

16. I charge, again, That every | Ver. 8, 9. Chriftian, that has wherewithal to do it, maintain the Widows that belong to his own Family, and not throw them upon the Churches Charity; that fo a large Provifion may be made for fuch as are really destitute of other Relief.

17. Take care, that great Respect, and very liberal Maintenance be given to all our Superior Officers in the Church, efpecially to fuch as labour

hard

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