mh_parser/vol_split/54 - 1Timothy/Chapter 3.xml

<div2 id="iTim.iv" n="iv" next="iTim.v" prev="iTim.iii" progress="68.77%" title="Chapter III">
<h2 id="iTim.iv-p0.1">F I R S T   T I M O T H Y.</h2>
<h3 id="iTim.iv-p0.2">CHAP. III.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iTim.iv-p1">In this chapter our apostle treats of
church-officers. He specifies, I. The qualifications of a person to
be admitted to the office of a bishop, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.1-1Tim.3.7" parsed="|1Tim|3|1|3|7" passage="1Ti 3:1-7">ver. 1-7</scripRef>. II. The qualifications of deacons
(<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.8-1Tim.3.10" parsed="|1Tim|3|8|3|10" passage="1Ti 3:8-10">ver. 8-10</scripRef>), and of their
wives (<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.11" parsed="|1Tim|3|11|0|0" passage="1Ti 3:11">ver. 11</scripRef>), again of
the deacons, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.12-1Tim.3.13" parsed="|1Tim|3|12|3|13" passage="1Ti 3:12,13">ver. 12,
13</scripRef>. III. The reasons of his writing to Timothy,
whereupon he speaks of the church and the foundation-truth
professed therein, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.14-1Tim.3.16" parsed="|1Tim|3|14|3|16" passage="1Ti 3:14-16">ver. 14, to the
end</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iTim.iv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3" parsed="|1Tim|3|0|0|0" passage="1Ti 3" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iTim.iv-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.1-1Tim.3.7" parsed="|1Tim|3|1|3|7" passage="1Ti 3:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Tim.3.1-1Tim.3.7">
<h4 id="iTim.iv-p1.8">Duties of Bishops and
Deacons. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iTim.iv-p1.9">a.
d.</span> 64.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iTim.iv-p2">1 This <i>is</i> a true saying, If a man desire
the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.   2 A bishop
then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober,
of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;   3 Not
given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient,
not a brawler, not covetous;   4 One that ruleth well his own
house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;   5
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take
care of the church of God?)   6 Not a novice, lest being
lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
  7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are
without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p3">The two epistles to Timothy, and that to
Titus, contain a scripture-plan of church-government, or a
direction to ministers. Timothy, we suppose, was an evangelist who
was left at Ephesus, to take care of those whom the Holy Ghost had
made bishops there, that is, the presbyters, as appears by
<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.20.28" parsed="|Acts|20|28|0|0" passage="Ac 20:28">Acts xx. 28</scripRef>, where the care
of the church was committed to the presbyters, and they were called
bishops. It seems they were very loth to part with Paul, especially
because he told them they should <i>see his face no more</i>
(<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.20.38" parsed="|Acts|20|38|0|0" passage="Ac 20:38">Acts xx. 38</scripRef>); for their
church was but newly planted, they were afraid of undertaking the
care of it, and therefore Paul left Timothy with them to set them
in order. And here we have the character of a gospel minister,
whose office it is, as a bishop, to preside in a particular
congregation of Christians: <i>If a man desires the office of a
bishop, he desires a good work,</i> <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.1" parsed="|1Tim|3|1|0|0" passage="1Ti 3:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p4">I. The ministry is a work. However the
office of a bishop may be now thought a good preferment, then it
was thought a good work. 1. The office of a scripture-bishop is an
office of divine appointment, and not of human invention. The
ministry is not a creature of the state, and it is a pity that the
minister should be at any time the tool of the state. The office of
the ministry was in the church before the magistrate countenanced
Christianity, for this office is one of the great gifts Christ has
bestowed on the church, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Eph.4.8-Eph.4.11" parsed="|Eph|4|8|4|11" passage="Eph 4:8-11">Eph. iv.
8-11</scripRef>. 2. This office of a Christian bishop is a work,
which requires diligence and application: the apostle represents it
under the notion and character of a work; not of great honour and
advantage, for ministers should always look more to their work than
to the honour and advantage of their office. 3. It is a good work,
a work of the greatest importance, and designed for the greatest
good: the ministry is conversant about no lower concerns than the
life and happiness of immortal souls; it is a good work, because
designed to illustrate the divine perfections in bringing many sons
to glory; the ministry is appointed to open men's eyes, and to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,
&amp;c., <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.26.18" parsed="|Acts|26|18|0|0" passage="Ac 26:18">Acts xxvi. 18</scripRef>. 4.
There ought to be an earnest desire of the office in those who
would be put into it; if a man desire, he should earnestly desire
it for the prospect he has of bringing greater glory to God, and of
doing the greatest good to the souls of men by this means. This is
the question proposed to those who offer themselves to the ministry
of the church of England: "Do you think you are moved by the Holy
Ghost to take upon you this office?"</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p5">II. In order to the discharge of this
office, the doing of this work, the workman must be qualified. 1. A
minister must be blameless, he must not lie under any scandal; he
must give as little occasion for blame as can be, because this
would be a prejudice to his ministry and would reflect reproach
upon his office. 2. He must be the husband of one wife; not having
given a bill of divorce to one, and then taken another, or not
having many wives at once, as at that time was too common both
among Jews and Gentiles, especially among the Gentiles. 3. He must
be vigilant and watchful against Satan, that subtle enemy; he must
watch over himself, and the souls of those who are committed to his
charge, of whom having taken the <i>oversight,</i> he must improve
all opportunities of doing them good. A minister ought to be
vigilant, because our adversary the devil goes about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.8" parsed="|1Pet|5|8|0|0" passage="1Pe 5:8">1
Pet. v. 8</scripRef>. 4. He must be sober, temperate, moderate in
all his actions, and in the use of all creature-comforts. Sobriety
and watchfulness are often in scripture put together, because they
mutually befriend one another: <i>Be sober, be vigilant.</i> 5. He
must be of good behaviour, composed and solid, and not light, vain,
and frothy. 6. He must be given to hospitality, open-handed to
strangers, and ready to entertain them according to his ability, as
one who does not set his heart upon the wealth of the world and who
is a true lover of his brethren. 7. Apt to teach. Therefore this is
a preaching bishop whom Paul describes, one who is both able and
willing to communicate to others the knowledge which God has given
him, one who is fit to teach and ready to take all opportunities of
giving instructions, who is himself <i>well instructed in the
things of the kingdom of heaven,</i> and is communicative of what
he knows to others. 8. No drunkard: <i>Not given to wine.</i> The
priests were not to drink wine when they went in to minister
(<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.10.8-Lev.10.9" parsed="|Lev|10|8|10|9" passage="Le 10:8,9">Lev. x. 8, 9</scripRef>), lest they
should drink and pervert the law. 9. No striker; one who is not
quarrelsome, nor apt to use violence to any, but does every thing
with mildness, love, and gentleness. The servant of the Lord must
not strive, but be gentle towards all, &amp;c., <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.2.24" parsed="|2Tim|2|24|0|0" passage="2Ti 2:24">2 Tim. ii. 24</scripRef>. 10. One who is not greedy of
filthy lucre, who does not make his ministry to truckle to any
secular design or interest, who uses no mean, base, sordid ways of
getting money, who is dead to the wealth of this world, lives above
it, and makes it appear he is so. 11. He must be patient, and not a
brawler, of a mild disposition. Christ, the great Shepherd and
Bishop of souls, is so. Not apt to be angry or quarrelsome; as not
a striker with his hands, so not a brawler with his tongue; for how
shall men teach others to govern their tongues who do not make
conscience of keeping them under good government themselves? 12.
Not covetous. Covetousness is bad in any, but it is worst in a
minister, whose calling leads him to converse so much with another
world. 13. He must be one who keeps his family in good order:
<i>That rules well his own house,</i> that he may set a good
example to other masters of families to do so too, and that he may
thereby give a proof of his ability to take care of the church of
God: <i>For, if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall
he take care of the church of God.</i> Observe, The families of
ministers ought to be examples of good to all others families.
Ministers must have their children in subjection; then it is the
duty of ministers' children to submit to the instructions that are
given them.—<i>With all gravity.</i> The best way to keep
inferiors in subjection, is to be grave with them. Not having his
children in subjection with all austerity, but with all gravity.
14. He must not be a novice, not one newly brought to the Christian
religion, or not one who is but meanly instructed in it, who knows
no more of religion than the surface of it, for such a one is apt
to be lifted up with pride: the more ignorant men are the more
proud they are: <i>Lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into
the condemnation of the devil.</i> The devils fell through pride,
which is a good reason why we should take heed of pride, because it
is a sin that turned angels into devils. 15. He must be of good
reputation among his neighbours, and under no reproach from former
conversation; for the devil will make use of that to ensnare
others, and work in them an aversion to the doctrine of Christ
preached by those who have not had a good report.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p6">III. Upon the whole, having briefly gone
through the qualifications of a gospel-bishop, we may infer, 1.
What great reason we have to cry out, as Paul does, <i>Who is
sufficient for these things?</i> <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.2.16" parsed="|2Cor|2|16|0|0" passage="2Co 2:16">2
Cor. ii. 16</scripRef>. <i>Hic labor, hoc opus—This is a work
indeed.</i> What piety, what prudence, what zeal, what courage,
what faithfulness, what watchfulness over ourselves, our lusts,
appetites, and passions, and over those under our charge; I say,
what holy watchfulness is necessary in this work! 2. Have not the
best qualified and the most faithful and conscientious ministers
just reason to complain against themselves, that so much is
requisite by way of qualification, and so much work is necessary to
be done? And, alas! how far short do the best come of what they
should be and what they should do! 3. Yet let those bless God, and
be thankful, whom the Lord has enabled, and counted faithful,
putting them into the ministry: if God is pleased to make any in
some degree able and faithful, let him have the praise and glory of
it. 4. For the encouragement of all faithful ministers, we have
Christ's gracious word of promise, <i>Lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world,</i> <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.28.20" parsed="|Matt|28|20|0|0" passage="Mt 28:20">Matt. xxviii. 20</scripRef>. And, if he be with us, he
will fit us for our work in some measure, will carry us through the
difficulties of it with comfort, graciously pardon our
imperfections, and reward our faithfulness with a crown of glory
that fadeth not away, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.4" parsed="|1Pet|5|4|0|0" passage="1Pe 5:4">1 Pet. v.
4</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iTim.iv-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.8-1Tim.3.13" parsed="|1Tim|3|8|3|13" passage="1Ti 3:8-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Tim.3.8-1Tim.3.13">
<h4 id="iTim.iv-p6.5">Qualifications of Deacons. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iTim.iv-p6.6">a.
d.</span> 64.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iTim.iv-p7">8 Likewise <i>must</i> the deacons <i>be</i>
grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of
filthy lucre;   9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure
conscience.   10 And let these also first be proved; then let
them use the office of a deacon, being <i>found</i> blameless.
  11 Even so <i>must their</i> wives <i>be</i> grave, not
slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.   12 Let the
deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and
their own houses well.   13 For they that have used the office
of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great
boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p8">We have here the character of deacons:
these had the care of the temporal concerns of the church, that is,
the maintenance of the ministers and provision for the poor: they
served tables, while the ministers or bishops gave themselves only
to the ministry of the word and prayer, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.6.2 Bible:Acts.6.4" parsed="|Acts|6|2|0|0;|Acts|6|4|0|0" passage="Ac 6:2,4">Acts vi. 2, 4</scripRef>. Of the institution of this
office, with that which gave occasion to it, you have an account in
<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.6.1-Acts.6.7" parsed="|Acts|6|1|6|7" passage="Ac 6:1-7">Acts vi. 1-7</scripRef>. Now it was
requisite that deacons should have a good character, because they
were assistants to the ministers, appeared and acted publicly, and
had a great trust reposed in them. They must be <i>grave.</i>
Gravity becomes all Christians, but especially those who are in the
office in the church. <i>Not doubled-tongued;</i> that will say one
thing to one and another thing to another, according as their
interests leads them: a double tongue comes from a double heart;
flatterers and slanderers are double-tongued. <i>Not given to much
wine;</i> for this is a great disparagement to any man, especially
to a Christian, and one in office, unfits men for business, opens
the door to many temptations. <i>Not greedy of filthy lucre;</i>
this would especially be bad in the deacons, who were entrusted
with the church's money, and, if they were covetous and greedy of
filthy lucre, would be tempted to embezzle it, and convert that to
their own use which was intended for the public service. <i>Holding
the mystery of faith in a pure conscience,</i> <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.9" parsed="|1Tim|3|9|0|0" passage="1Ti 3:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. Note, The mystery of faith is
best held in a pure conscience. The practical love of truth is the
most powerful preservative from error and delusion. If we keep a
pure conscience (take heed of every thing that debauches
conscience, and draws us away from God), this will preserve in our
souls the mystery of faith. <i>Let these also first be proved,</i>
<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.10" parsed="|1Tim|3|10|0|0" passage="1Ti 3:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. It is not fit
that the public trusts should be lodged in the hands of any, till
they have been first proved, and found fit for the business they
are to be entrusted with; the soundness of their judgments, their
zeal for Christ, and the blamelessness of their conversation, must
be proved. Their wives likewise must have a good character
(<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.11" parsed="|1Tim|3|11|0|0" passage="1Ti 3:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>); they must
be of a grave behaviour, not slanderers, tale-bearers, carrying
stories to make mischief and sow discord; they must be <i>sober and
faithful in all things,</i> not given to any excess, but trusty in
all that is committed to them. All who are related to ministers
must double their care to walk as becomes the gospel of Christ,
lest, if they in any thing walk disorderly, the ministry be blamed.
As he said before of the bishops or ministers, so here of the
deacons, they must be <i>the husband of one wife,</i> such as had
not put away their wives, upon dislike, and married others; they
must <i>rule their children and their own houses well;</i> the
families of deacons should be examples to other families. And the
reason why the deacons must be thus qualified is (<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.13" parsed="|1Tim|3|13|0|0" passage="1Ti 3:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>) because, though the
office of a deacon be of an inferior degree, yet it is a step
towards the higher degree; and those who had served tables well the
church might see cause afterwards to discharge from that service,
and prefer to serve in preaching the word and in prayer. Or it may
be meant of the good reputation that a man would gain by his
fidelity in this office: <i>they will purchase to themselves great
boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.</i> Observe, 1. In
the primitive church there were but two orders of ministers or
officers, <i>bishops and deacons,</i> <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Phil.1.1" parsed="|Phil|1|1|0|0" passage="Php 1:1">Phil. i. 1</scripRef>. After-ages have invented the rest.
The office of the bishop, presbyter, pastor, or minister, was
confined to prayer and to the ministry of the word; and the office
of the deacon was confined to, or at least principally conversant
about, serving tables. Clemens Romanus, in his epistle to the
Christian (<i>cap.</i> 42, 44), speaks very fully and plainly to
this effect, that the apostles, foreknowing, by our Lord Jesus
Christ, that there would arise in the Christian church a
controversy about the name <i>episcopacy,</i> appointed the
forementioned orders, bishops and deacons. 2. The
scripture-deacon's main employment was to serve tables, and not to
preach or baptize. It is true, indeed, that Philip did preach and
baptize in Samaria (<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:Acts.8.4-Acts.8.25" parsed="|Acts|8|4|8|25" passage="Ac 8:4-25">Acts
viii.</scripRef>), but you read that he was an evangelist
(<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.9" osisRef="Bible:Acts.21.8" parsed="|Acts|21|8|0|0" passage="Ac 21:8">Acts xxi. 8</scripRef>), and he might
preach and baptize, and perform any other part of the ministerial
office, under that character; but still the design of the deacon's
office was to mind the temporal concerns of the church, such as the
salaries of the ministers and providing for the poor. 3. Several
qualifications were very necessary, even for these inferior
officers: <i>The deacons must be grave,</i> &amp;c. 4. Some trial
should be made of persons' qualifications before they are admitted
into office in the church, or have any trust committed to them:
<i>Let these also first be proved.</i> 5. Integrity and uprightness
in an inferior office are the way to be preferred to a higher
station in the church: <i>They purchase to themselves a good
degree.</i> 6. This will also give a man great boldness in the
faith, whereas a want of integrity and uprightness will make a man
timorous, and ready to tremble at his own shadow. <i>The wicked
fleeth when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a
lion,</i> <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p8.10" osisRef="Bible:Prov.28.1" parsed="|Prov|28|1|0|0" passage="Pr 28:1">Prov. xxviii.
1</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iTim.iv-p8.11" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.14-1Tim.3.16" parsed="|1Tim|3|14|3|16" passage="1Ti 3:14-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Tim.3.14-1Tim.3.16">
<h4 id="iTim.iv-p8.12">The Mystery of Godliness. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iTim.iv-p8.13">a.
d.</span> 64.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iTim.iv-p9">14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to
come unto thee shortly:   15 But if I tarry long, that thou
mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of
God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground
of the truth.   16 And without controversy great is the
mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in
the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on
in the world, received up into glory.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p10">He concludes the chapter with a particular
direction to Timothy. He hoped shortly to come to him, to give him
further directions and assistance in his work, and to see that
Christianity was well planted, and took root well, at Ephesus; he
therefore wrote the more briefly to him. But he wrote <i>lest he
should tarry long, that</i> Timothy <i>might know how to behave
himself in the house of God,</i> how to conduct himself as became
an evangelist, and the apostle's substitute. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p11">I. Those who are employed in the house of
God must see to it that they behave themselves well, lest they
bring reproach upon the house of God, and that worthy name by which
they are called. Ministers ought to behave themselves well, and to
look not only to their praying and preaching, but to their
behaviour: their office binds them to their good behaviour, for any
behaviour will not do in this case. Timothy must know how to behave
himself, not only in the particular church where he was now
appointed to reside for some time, but being an evangelist, and the
apostle's substitute, he must learn how to behave himself in other
churches, where he should in like manner be appointed to reside for
some time; and therefore it is not the church of Ephesus, but the
catholic church, which is here called <i>the house of God, which is
the church of the living God.</i> Observe here, 1. God is the
living God; he is the fountain of life, he is life in himself, and
he gives life, breath, and all things to his creatures; in him we
live, and move, and have our being, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.17.25 Bible:Acts.17.28" parsed="|Acts|17|25|0|0;|Acts|17|28|0|0" passage="Ac 17:25,28">Acts xvii. 25, 28</scripRef>. 2. The church is the
house of God, he dwells there; the Lord has chosen Zion, to dwell
there. "This is my rest, here will I dwell, for I have chosen it;"
there may we see God's power and glory, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.63.2" parsed="|Ps|63|2|0|0" passage="Ps 63:2">Ps. lxiii. 2</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p12">II. It is the great support of the church
that it is the church of the living <i>God,</i> the true God in
opposition to false gods, dumb and dead idols.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p13">1. As the church of God, it is <i>the
pillar and ground of truth;</i> that is, either, (1.) The church
itself is the pillar and ground of truth. Not that the authority of
the scriptures depends upon that of the church, as the papists
pretend, for truth is the pillar and ground of the church; but the
church holds forth the scripture and the doctrine of Christ, as the
pillar to which a proclamation is affixed holds forth the
proclamation. <i>Even to the principalities and powers in heavenly
places is made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,</i>
<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Eph.3.10" parsed="|Eph|3|10|0|0" passage="Eph 3:10">Eph. iii. 10</scripRef>. (2.) Others
understand it of Timothy. He, not he himself only, but he as an
evangelist, he and other faithful ministers, are the pillars and
ground of truth; it is their business to maintain, hold up, and
publish, the truths of Christ in the church. It is said of the
apostles that <i>they seemed to be pillars,</i> <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Gal.2.9" parsed="|Gal|2|9|0|0" passage="Ga 2:9">Gal. ii. 9</scripRef>. [1.] Let us be diligent and
impartial in our own enquiries after truth; let us buy the truth at
any rate, and not think much of any pains to discover it. [2.] Let
us be careful to keep and preserve it. "<i>Buy the truth, and sell
it not</i> (<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.23.23" parsed="|Prov|23|23|0|0" passage="Pr 23:23">Prov. xxiii.
23</scripRef>), do not part with it on any consideration." [3.] Let
us take care to publish it, and to transmit it safe and uncorrupted
unto posterity. [4.] When the church ceases to be the pillar and
ground of truth, we may and ought to forsake her; for our regard to
truth should be greater than our regard to the church; we are no
longer obliged to continue in the church than she continues to be
the pillar and ground of truth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p14">2. But what is the truth which the churches
and ministers are the pillars and grounds of? He tells us
(<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.16" parsed="|1Tim|3|16|0|0" passage="1Ti 3:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>) that
<i>without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.</i> The
learned Camero joins this with what goes before, and then it runs
thus: "The pillar and ground of the truth, and <i>without
controversy great is the mystery of godliness.</i>" He supposes
this mystery to be the pillar, &amp;c. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p15">(1.) Christianity is a mystery, a mystery
that could not have been found out by reason or the light of
nature, and which cannot be comprehended by reason, because it is
above reason, though not contrary thereto. It is a mystery, not of
philosophy or speculation; but of godliness, designed to promote
godliness; and herein it exceeds all the mysteries of the Gentiles.
It is also a revealed mystery, not shut up and sealed; and it does
not cease to be a mystery because now in part revealed. But,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTim.iv-p16">(2.) What is the mystery of godliness? It
is Christ; and here are six things concerning Christ, which make up
the mystery of godliness. [1.] That he is God manifest in the
flesh: <i>God was manifest in the flesh.</i> This proves that he is
God, the eternal Word, that was made flesh and was manifest in the
flesh. When God was to be manifested to man he was pleased to
manifest himself in the incarnation of his own Son: <i>The Word was
made flesh,</i> <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:John.1.14" parsed="|John|1|14|0|0" passage="Joh 1:14">John i. 14</scripRef>.
[2.] He is <i>justified in the Spirit.</i> Whereas he was
reproached as a sinner, and put to death as a malefactor, he was
raised again by the Spirit, and so was justified from all the
calumnies with which he was loaded. <i>He was made sin for us, and
was delivered for our offences;</i> but, being raised again, he was
justified in the Spirit; that is, it was made to appear that his
sacrifice was accepted, and so he rose again for our justification,
as he was delivered for our offences, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.4.25" parsed="|Rom|4|25|0|0" passage="Ro 4:25">Rom. iv. 25</scripRef>. He was put to death in the flesh,
but quickened by the Spirit, <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.3.18" parsed="|1Pet|3|18|0|0" passage="1Pe 3:18">1 Pet.
iii. 18</scripRef>. [3.] He was <i>seen of angels.</i> They
worshipped him (<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.1.6" parsed="|Heb|1|6|0|0" passage="Heb 1:6">Heb. i. 6</scripRef>);
they attended his incarnation, his temptation, his agony, his
death, his resurrection, his ascension; this is much to his honour,
and shows what a mighty interest he had in the upper world, that
angels ministered to him, for he is the Lord of angels. [4.] He is
<i>preached unto the Gentiles.</i> This is a great part of the
mystery of godliness, that Christ was offered to the Gentiles a
Redeemer and Saviour; that whereas, before, salvation was of the
Jews, the partition-wall was now taken down, and the Gentiles were
taken in. <i>I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles,</i>
<scripRef id="iTim.iv-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Acts.13.47" parsed="|Acts|13|47|0|0" passage="Ac 13:47">Acts xiii. 47</scripRef>. [5.] That he
was <i>believed on in the world,</i> so that he was not preached in
vain. Many of the Gentiles welcomed the gospel which the Jews
rejected. Who would have thought that the world, which lay in
wickedness, would believe in the Son of God, would take him to be
their Saviour who was himself crucified at Jerusalem? But,
notwithstanding all the prejudices they laboured under, he was
believed on, &amp;c. [6.] He was <i>received up into glory,</i> in
his ascension. This indeed was before he was believed on in the
world; but it is put last, because it was the crown of his
exaltation, and because it is not only his ascension that is meant,
but his sitting at the right hand of God, where he ever lives,
making intercession, and has all power, both in heaven and earth,
and because, in the apostasy of which he treats in the following
chapter, his remaining in heaven would be denied by those who
pretend to bring him down on their altars in the consecrated
wafers. Observe, <i>First,</i> He who was manifest in flesh was
God, really and truly God, God by nature, and not only so by
office, for this makes it to be a mystery. <i>Secondly,</i> God was
manifest in flesh, real flesh. <i>Forasmuch as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of
the same,</i> <scripRef id="iTim.iv-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.14" parsed="|Heb|2|14|0|0" passage="Heb 2:14">Heb. ii. 14</scripRef>.
And, what is more amazing, he was manifest in the flesh after all
flesh had corrupted his way, though he himself was holy from the
womb. <i>Thirdly,</i> Godliness is a mystery in all its parts and
branches, from the beginning to the end, from Christ's incarnation
to his ascension. <i>Fourthly,</i> It being a great mystery, we
should rather humbly adore it, and piously believe it, than
curiously pry into it, or be too positive in our explications of it
and determinations about it, further than the holy scriptures have
revealed it to us.</p>
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