CHA P. II. The CONTENTS. Titus's Charge to a prudent and courageous Behaviour against the forementioned Persons and their Principles. Advices concerning Elderly Men and Women; particularly fuch as were in any Church-Office. Concerning Servants or Slaves. The Chriftian Religion equally concerns all Ranks and Degrees of People. A.D. 64. B UT fpeak thou the things which become found do Єtrine. I. BE EING, therefore compaffed with fuch a Number of Falfe Teachers, and mifled Converts, make it your more earnest Business to Preach, and prefs the true Doctrines of Chriftianity, upon all Perfons, in their feveral Stations and Degrees. 2 That the aged men be fober, grave, temperate, found in faith, in charity, in patience : 2. Viz. Urge it as the great Duty of the Elder fort of Men, particularly fuch as are Prefbyters of the Church, to be Grave, Serious, and Temperate in their Converfation, Sound in Chriftian Principles, Charitable to all, and Patient under the Sufferings that befal them. 3 The aged women likewife, that they be Deaconesses. in behaviour as beSee 1 Tim.iii. cometh holiness; not falfe accufers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 3. And that all Elderly Women, particularly fuch as are employed by the Church, in the Baptism of Women, and in other Offices of like nature, ufe fuch Habit, Gesture and Behaviour as become Christians; no way addicted to Slander or Drunkennefs, but to be exemplary in all the Virtues that adorn their Sex. 4 That they may teach the young women to be fober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To 4 & 5. That, by their good Example, the younger Women may be influenced to a Sober, Modeft, Difcreet and Chafte Behaviour; to mind the Bufinefs of their Families, to 5 To be difcreet, chafte, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own hufbands, that the word of God be not blaf phemed. 6 Young men like. wife exhort to be fo ber-minded. to refpect their Husbands, and take A.D. 64. 6. In like manner, exhort all young Men to a due and careful Government of their Paffions. 7 In all things fhewing thy felf a pattern of good works in doctrine hewing uncorruptnefs, gravity, fincerity, 8 Sound fpeech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be afhamed, having no evil thing to fay of you. 7 & 8. And thus, in relation to all Ranks of People, do your utmoft to become truly Exemplary in the Purity and Simplicity of your Doctrine, and the Sincerity of your Practice; that fo neither Jewish nor Gentile Adverfary may find any reafonable Objection against you. 9 Exhort fervants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things not anfwering again; 10 Not purloining, but fhewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doEtrine of God our Saviour in all things. See Pref. 9 & 10. And, whereas the Jewish Zealots would perfwade Men, that their Religious Privileges exempt them even from Civil and Natural* *See Pref. Obligations to Men of different and to the Ephe fians, $4. falfe Religions; be the more earnest to warn all fuch Chriftians, as are Servants or Slaves (though it be to Heathen Masters) against fo false a Principle. Exhort them to serve their refpective Mafters, in every Lawful Thing, diligently and faithfully, without rudely contradicting their Commands, or defrauding them by the leaft Neglect or Injustice: By which They will become a Credit to their Profeffion, even in the low Station wherein Providence has placed them. II For the grace of God, that bringeth falvation, hath appeared unto all men. 12 Teach 11 & 12. For, the gracious Religion of the Gospel lays the fame excellent Duties of Piety, Juftice, and Sobriety, upon the lowest Slave, as A.D. 64. 12 Teaching us, that denying ungodlinefs and worldly lufts, we should live fober as much as upon the higheft Mafter, equally refpecting all Ranks and Degrees of Mankind.. ly, righteously, and godly in this present world; CHA P. III. The CONTENTS. Of Duty to Magiftrates, against Railing, and EvilSpeaking. The Gospel-Religion intended for the Refor mation and Happiness of both Gentile and Jew. Pardon and Salvation not to be attained by the nicest Obfervation of the Ceremonial Law, but is the Effect of the pure Mercy of God, on Condition of our fincere Obedience to the Gofpel Commands. Against Jewish Traditions and Genealogies. A Heretick not to be Excommunicated, till after juft and due Admonition. Charitablenefs recommended. The Salutations and Conclufion. PUT UT them in mind to be fubject to principalities and powers, to obey magiftrates, to be ready to every good work, 1. Another Prejudice you must 4.D.64. nor any *See Rom. carefully warn the Jewish Zealots againft, is, That no Heathen Governors have any Obedience due to them from God's People; * Magiftrates that are not of their Na- xiii. 1. tion and Religion. Remind them often, That Christianity alters no Civil Rights; and that they ought to pay all juft Submiffion to the Emperor, and all due ‡ and chearful Refpect to all their Superiors. * Ver. 3. We ourselves. St. Paul either mixes himself with the Gentile Chriftians (as in feveral other Paffages) or, perhaps, fpeaks of himself frictly, denoting what Temper he was of before his Converfion. † πᾶν ἐρω τον αγαθόν. A.D. 64. ceived, ferving divers lufts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the toward their Adverfaries, when they confider, this Turbulent, Selfish, and Quarrelfome Difpofition favours too much of that unregenerate State, wherein they all lately were, before their Converfion. 4, 5, 6 & 7. And that it was the Defign of this great Mercy of God in the Gospel Revelation, and in reCeiving them into the happy Privileges of the Chriftian Covenant by Baptifm, and the gracious Influences of the Holy Spirit attending their Admiffion into it, to reform them from fuch a Temper: And, to prevent all further Difputes about the Neceffity of their External Matters of Religion; they ought to remember, they were All thus Redeemed, and put into a Capacity of Eternal Life and Happiness, by the pure and fole Mercy of God through Chrift; a Mercy which neither the Gentiles could in the leaft merit, by virtue of any thing they did, or could have done; nor the Jews lay any Claim to, by the most exact Obfervance of their Ceremonial Law. 6 Which he shed on us abundantly, through Jefus Chrift our Savi our: 7 That being jufti- 8 This is a *faith- these 8. These are the * certain and most fubftantial Points of Chriftianity; and it is of infinite Importance to You and Them, to perfwade them to be chiefly bent upon poffeffing themfelves of fo gentle and charitable a Temper, and upon fuch Practices as are the indispensable Conditions of these mighty Bleffings and Privileges. 9. Where *Ver. 8. A faithful faying. See the Notes on 1 Tim. xv. 2 Tim. ii. 11. + Ver. 8. Might be careful to maintain good Works. Kadar igyav poisa to prefer, to excel in, good Works. |