Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

ritual Father, to reverence his will, and to delight in the revelations He has been pleased to make of that will in the sacred Scriptures!

These thoughts arise in the mind, as we read in the New Testament, of an excellent young person, a sincere disciple of Jesus, and a beloved friend of the Apostle Paul. Timothy, to whom the Apostle addressed two wise and affectionate letters, was a young man of great promise. It was his advantage and happiness to be the son of a very pious Jewess, who, from his earliest infancy had been careful to form him to good habits, and to instruct his mind, who had inspired him with a love of virtue and religion; had taught him what is the true excellence of human beings, and had trained him for being a very useful and valuable member of society. As the young Timothy rose to manhood, his fond and anxious mother soon perceived that her lessons had produced good effects; she beheld the child of her hopes putting forth the fair promise of excellence, and she enjoyed in the prospect a satisfaction and delight which more than repaid her for years of labour and anxiety. At an early period of his life, Timothy became a convert to the religion of Jesus. Well instructed in the Jewish religion, and taught to entertain different views of it from those of the multitude, he was prepared for receiving the messengers of the glorious Messiah, and taking upon himself the profession of a disciple. The religious education through which he had already passed, was now of great service to himself and the cause he had undertaken. A deep sense of religion was ever present with him; an ardent desire to be zealous

in the discharge of its duties filled his mind; and his profession of Christianity opened a wide field for exertion and pointed to a noble, an immortal career. Beholding the kingdom of God, which the pious elders of his people had long expected, and sensible of its greatness and benevolence, he was not disposed to be a careless subject, nor to remain inactive in the enjoyment of its privileges. He was grateful to God for these privileges, and active in his service; he soon distinguished himself by his labors, and gained the esteem of the brethren to whom he became known. He was well-reported of by them; and their favorable report induced the Apostle Paul to make him his friend and companion. The Apostle, indeed, esteemed and loved the youth. He calls him "his own son in the faith," implying, probably, the fact that Timothy was his own convert. But the Apostle could with great propriety, and in other respects, affectionately entitle him, "his son." He and

They were alike de

his disciple were of a kindred spirit.
voted to the cause of truth. They possessed the same acti-
vity and energy of mind, the same zeal guided by know-
ledge, the same sincerity and boldness. The motives of
both were pure, the actions of both were upright; and
whilst, in supporting the best of causes, they put on the
whole armour of faith, and wore on their feet the prepara-
tion of the gospel of peace, holiness shone around them,
and gave additional interest to the enterprising and suc-
cessful champions. No wonder, then, that Paul loved the
youth-loved him with the affection of a father, and gave
him the most encouraging testimonies of his strong attach-

ment.

1

This attachment appears to great advantage in the Epis tles which Paul wrote to Timothy, to encourage him in the discharge of his office as a Christian minister, to supply him with needful counsel, and to inspire him with increasing earnestness in his pious work. Thus he addresses him— "To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that, without ceasing, I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy.”—In the midst of his own sufferings it was a cause of rejoicing that his young friend was pursuing so noble a course of duty, and a grateful employment to reflect on his many excellencies. And while he writes to him with the affection and tenderness which a conviction of his worth called forth, he speaks of the means by which Timothy became so upright, and disinterested, and pious. He urges him to remain steadfast in well doing: "Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

It was clearly the Apostle's opinion, that much of the goodness of Timothy's character was owing to the great knowledge he possessed of the Scriptures-a knowledge which, under the care of his excellent mother, he had been from infancy acquiring. Whatever there was in his charac

ter of real worth, of a regard for truth and integrity; whatever he evinced of modesty and humility, of temperance and chastity, of kindness and benevolence, of love to his friends, of reverence to his parents, of piety to his Godthese excellent qualities were brought forth, nourished and matured, in part at least, by the study of the Scriptures. So thought the Apostle Paul; this was the conviction of his mind, and our conviction cannot be very different. If the precepts of true wisdom, if the examples of the virtuous and best of our race, are at all useful or powerful in forming the human mind to the love of goodness, surely the best of these precepts, which the Scripture supply—the most remarkable and eminent of these examples, which the Scriptures hold forth, cannot but greatly affect the minds of the young, and strongly dispose them to good. If they study-if all study the records of revelation, the employment will be at once grateful and profitable, an improvement of time such as our state requires, such as our religious profession demands, such as will make our final happiness more secure.

And what are the Scriptures which the Apostle conceived to be so useful in forming the mind and habits of his dearly-beloved Timothy? They are the writings of the Jewish historians and prophets; they contain most sacred and awful truths; they speak of the revelations of God to man. But these are not all the Scriptures which we possess. It is our advantage to own the Christian as well as the Jewish Scriptures, which together form the most valuable of books, which contain the written word of God. And if the diligent reading and study of the former, have so much to do in bringing into action and nourishing the noblest virtues

with which men can adorn themselves, how much do the latter, the christian Scriptures, add to their efficacy!

Did the Bible possess no other claims upon our regard than what its antiquity, its simplicity, its truth and morality give, it would be entitled to a most careful and repeated perusal. Other remains of ancient literature possess a high value by men of learning they are regarded with veneration and deeply studied-is not the Bible a precious relic of literature? It gives an account of the origin of the world, the most rational and probable now extant; and whatever is found among heathen writers that does not carry absurdity on the face of it, appears to have been borrowed from the book of Genesis. Where can we find such interesting histories as those of the patriarchs, so true to nature, and so instructive? The wonderful events which Noah beheld, and in which he was an instrument; the trials to which Abraham was subject; the pilgrimage of Jacob; the touching incidents of Joseph's life, are told with wonderful simplicity, truth, and beauty. As a history of the ancient and extraordinary people the Jews, how valuable are the books of Moses, and several which follow them. All classes of readers are interested in considering the peculiar system of religion and laws of this remarkable people, in watching the progress of their government, and in tracing the causes of their prosperity and decay.

The books of the Prophets are interesting in another way, as containing specimens of true grandeur and sublimity of language. Filled with poetical images even to excess, and rising, at times, to an elevation of thought and majesty of expression which have been scarcely equalled and never surpassed; they shew what lofty ideas the views of the prophets inspired, whilst they prove that strength and

« AnteriorContinua »