1. That Titus is not said to be settled in Crete as their fixed Bishop but left there in his Travels to settle fixed Bishops there The Scriptures tell us that Timothy Titus were Itinerant Evangelists that went about where Paul sent them to plant and settle Churches But the plain truth is that Apostles and such Evangelists as these where-ever they came had as great Authority as any meer Bishops and more and that they stayed in some Countrys longer than in others to settle the Churches and that the Churches after their Age thought it an honour to be their Charge and so called them their Bishops In which sense one Apostle might have twenty or forty Bishopricks as he planted and settled so many Churches But none of them were Bishops fixed and confined to one Church as those usually called Bishops then were so that to controvert whether Peter Paul Timothy Titus Luke c. were Bishops is a meer ignorant strife de nomine about the name while we are or easily may be agreed of the thing what work for those Churches they performed They were Bishops eminenter transient from Church to Church but he degradeth them that feigneth them affixed to any one as their sole and proper Flock 2. Note further That Titus ordaining Elders that is Bishops as Dr. Hammond noteth implieth the peoples consent for Titus had no forcing power 3. That Crete is said to have an hundred Cities in it being but a small Island and so must have an hundred Bishops if every City had one But doubtless Paul meaneth every City that had Christians in it enough to be a Church 4. That by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meant any big Town such as our Corporations are and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oppidatim is meant from Town to Town where there is matter for a Church And Paul never meant by this to confine Bishops to Cities and forbid them to Villages but he nameth Cities or Towns because then no other places had Christians enow for a Church 5. Dr. Hammond thinks that these Bishops then were only the single Pastors of single Congregations having no Sub-Presbyters but Deacons 6. The ordering of things wanting was not adding to their Faith and Religion or making them a Book of Canons but seeing them reduced to the obedient and orderly practice of that which the Apostles every where taught and settled 6. If any be blameless the husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly 6. Note If God bless not the Education of his own Children 1. The Church would doubt of his Fidelity or whether God will bless his greater undertaking 2. And his Family would be a scandal to Religion 7. For a Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre 7. Note That the same man is called a Bishop here who was called an Elder v. 5. If then they were distinct Offices Paul neglected to describe one of them which is not credible when he describeth Deacons Deaconesses Dr. Hammond confesseth that there were in Scripture-times no Subject-Presbyters save Bishops that were under the Apostolick Order but he thinks that Bishops had power from the Apostles to institute another Order of Presbyters under them afterwards But 1. Where is there any proof of that Must Church-Government cast out all Ministers who believe not such an unproved Assertion 2. It 's thus disproved Paul giveth Timothy and Titus sufficient Instructions what Officers to Ordain in the Church which Canons were to be a Guide to all after-Ages But Paul gave them no Instruction or Canon for the Instituting of any New Order between Bishops or Elders and Deacons Therefore it is not credible that any such power was then given to other Bishops which he gave not to Timothy and Titus But as to others who say that the Apostles and Evangelists were then the only Bishops I answer de re we confess that these had power to go about to gather and settle Churches and de nomine whether such may be called Bishops let them quarrel that have nothing else to do But besides them every Town or Church had then their own fixed Bishop one or more and Deacons If Diocesans or Metropolitans will be Successors of the Itinerant Apostles and Evangelists or General Bishops let them restore to every Church their particular proper Bishops and not make Pastors that have not the power of the Keys As for them that say Paul includeth both Orders under the same names Bishops and Presbyters I answer Paul useth not only the same name but the same description and so the Order or Office also must be the same and both Name and Thing the same 2. Bishops are God's Stewards entrusted to govern by his Law and not Lords of his Church or of their Faith 3. By self-willed is meant self-conceited proud men that must be pleased and have their own will and cannot become all things lawful to all men for their good but will silence and excommunicate and reproach those that are most careful to do God's will if they do but cross their Wills and Canons 4. Not soon angry rather an angry wrathful man The rest see on 1 Tim. 3. 8. But a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate 8. But one that loveth to entertain men in his house a lover of goodness and good men of a sound and sober mind righteous holy as devoted to God continent and abstemious 9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers 9. Faithfully holding fast the word of Faith even that which we have preacht and taught from Christ that so he may be able to use sound doctrine both in Exhortation and in Confutation of Opposers 10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers specially they of the circumcision 11. Whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake 10 11. For there are many disorderly and unruly foolish vain talkers deceivers of mens Judgments specially those Jewish corrupt Christians before oft described Note That here it appeareth whom Paul meaneth in his Invectives in many Epistles even those mentioned Acts 15. that would have made Christianity but a Supplement to Moses Law and not Gnosticks only or chiefly Ebion and Cerinthus were of the worser degenerate sort of them and the Nicolaitans next 2 Note That Paul meaneth not stopping the Seducers mouths by force but by confutation by the word For Titus had no power of the Sword 3 Note That so great is the weakness and unstedfastness of many Christians that whole housholds may be subverted by the most gross deceivers If the Apostles Converts were such no wonder if ours be so 12 13. One of themselves even a prophet of their own said The Cretians are
The number of twelve Apostles was fitted to the Jews Twelve Tribes to whom the Gospel was first to be Preached But when Christ would gather the Gentile Church he increased the number and Paul was commissioned by a voice from Heaven and he and Barnabas by a special mission of Christ by the Holy Ghost 2. The significant ceremony of renting the Cloths is used by these two Apostles 3. All good Men hate Idolatry and would not be Idoliz'd themselves 4. The Devil would honour the â—inisters of Christ overmuch when it is to contradict their Doctrine 16. Who in times past suffered all Nations to walk in their own ways 17. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness in that he did good and gave us Rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness 16. He hath long connived by patient permissions at the manifold Idolatries and Vices of the World not punishing them as they deserved Yet his common mercies to Mens bodies did both signifie that he is the merciful Ruler and Benefactor to mankind and that he useth not sinful Man as the deserveth but in mercy obligeth all to gratitude and repentance 18. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people that they had not done sacrifice unto them 18. Note So forward are Men to forbidden worship who are backward to spiritual and true 19. And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium who perswaded the people and having stoned Paul drew him out of city supposing he had been dead 19. Note This is the levity of the vulgar that one day will sacrifice as to Gods to those whom after they would kill as male factors So little trust is to be placed in them And though we know not whether most of the same Persons were the Persecutors its like that many were 20. Howbeit as the Disciples stood round about him he rose up and came into the city and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe 20. Note It s like his recovery was a miracle else stoning would have disabled him to travel 21. And when they had Preached the Gospel to that city and had taught many they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch 21. Note Persecution made them not forsake the Plantations which they had newly made 22. Confirming the souls of the Disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God 22. Confirming them against the Temptation of Persecution which must be suffered by those that will be saved 23. And when they had ordained them Eldets in every Church and had prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed 23. They setled the Christians that were converted in these several Cities in Church order ordaining Elders in every Church to be the Guides and Teachers of the rest and that with Fasting and Prayer because of the great importance of the work Note 1. It is made a controversie whether 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie by suffrages or by laying on hands But it is of small importance For it is certain that the Apostles forced no Elders on the People but ordained them by the Peoples choice or consent And it is certain that ordination was the Apostles Act. 2. And it s a Controversie what is here meant by Elders whether Diocesane Bishops or meer Presbyters or Lay Elders or Deacons also The Scripture calls all Church-guides and Teachers Elders and here maketh no distinction It s certain that each Church here was but one small Assembly And therefore if they will call the Pastor of one Assembly a Diocesane it s a nominal strife If they say it is because they had Power to govern a Diocess of a multitude of Churches when they were gathered 1. They must prove that power given 2. Then they were no Bishops of those Churches till they were indeed Churches 3. And its probable that about those near Cities that was not in their life time Though it be not certain that by Elders in every City is meant more than one in each City yet by the Phrase it is most probable specially considering what evidence there is of many at Corinth Antioch and Jerusalem 24. And after they had passed throughout Pisidia they came to Pamphylia 25. And when they had Preached the word in Perga they went down unto Attalia 26. And thence sailed to Antioch from whence they had been recommended to the Grace of God for the work which they fulfilled 24. They returned to Antioch in Syria not Antioch in Pisidia to give the Church an account of their success 27. And when they were come and had gathered the Church together they rehearsed all that God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles 28. And there they abode long time with the Disciples 27. Note 1 It was a Congregation and not a Diocess of a multitude of Congregations that is called the Church which they Congregated 2. They brought them the glad Tidings that the Gentiles had received the Faith Though it was in the Jews Synagogues that they preacht at least for the most part CHAP. XV. ANd certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved 1. Some Christian Jews thought and taught that Circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses is necessary to Salvation both to Jew and Gentile Christians Note 1. The sound Doctrine of Christianity was quickly corrupted be erring Teachers 2. The threatning of damnation and making error seem necessary to salvation was used to affright timerous Christians into false ways 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question 2. Note To be Dissenters and Disputants against errors and tyrannical impositions upon conscience is no fault but a great duty 2. It s but a groundless fiction of some that tell us that this was an appeal to Jerusalem because it was the Metropolis of Syria and Antioch As if Metropolitan Church Power had been then settled When long after when it was devised indeed Antioch was above Jerusalem And it s as vain a fiction that this was an appeal to a general Council as if the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem had been a general Council when none of the Bishops of the Gentile Churches were there or called thither It is notorius that it was an appeal to the Apostles taking in the Elders as those that had the certainest notice of Christs mind having conversed with him and being entrusted to teach all Nations whatever he commanded them and had the greatest measure of the spirit and also being Jews themselves were such as the Judaizing Christians had no reason to suspect or reject 3. And being
Holiness 1. See that the firm Belief of the Truth of the Gospel against all Deceivers be to you as a Military Girdle about your Loins 2. And that universal sincere Obedience to God and Uprightness of Life towards all Men joined to your Pardon through the Merits of Christ may be to you as a Breast-plate is to Soldiers in Fight that no Adversary may have Matter of just Accusation against you 3. And that the Gospel of Christ which speaketh Peace to the World and to your selves may so dwell in your Hearts to make you Men of Peace and in your Mouths to invite others to Peace with God and one another that it may be to you as those Shoes were to Soldiers which they put on when they went to War to keep their Feet from hurt and danger 16. Above all taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked 16. Above all see that you firmly believe and trust to the Word and Promises of God which will be to you as a Shield or Target to a Soldier by which he is preserved from all the Darts or Shot that is made against him And though Satans Darts be fiery Persecution and fierce Temptations this will defend you and frustrate all 17. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God 17. And trust fully in Christ as your Saviour for Salvation and this will as an Helmet or Head-piece to a Soldier defend your chiefest Part from danger And skilfully use the Word of God indited and sealed by his Spirit which will serve you for Defence and Conquest by the help of the same Spirit as a Sword doth to a Soldier 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints 18. And because you must do all in dependence on God see that you be constant in all sorts or parts of Prayer for your selves and others even such Prayer as Gods Spirit directeth you to by his Word and exciteth you to by his Grace And for that end keep your Minds by watchfulness in a serious praying temper and be not cold or weary but hold on and forget not to pray for all holy Persons and holy things Note That 1. They that scorn praying in or by the Spirit scorn the Work of the Spirit in all acceptable Prayer to God 2. They that forbid Prayer forbid that which God commandeth and his Spirit in us as an Intercessor performeth 3. When God commandeth all Prayer and Supplication we must obey him though any Men would confine us to the Fetters of their narrow defective Words and Books 4. They that hate revile excommunicate unjustly and persecute those Saints whom God commandeth us to love and pray for fight under Satan against Christ 19. And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel 19. And let me have a special part in your Prayers that I may be freed from silencing Imprisonments and Restraints and may have Liberty and Ability boldly to make known the Mystery of Mans Salvation by Christ 20. For which I am an ambassadour in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak 20. For I am in Bonds by Men though Christs Ambassador even for preaching to Men this Gospel of Salvation But pray for me that whatever it cost me I may do my Duty and speak though forbidden as I ought to speak Note That as God worketh by Men so doth the Devil And therefore it is no wonder that Paul was in Bonds for preaching Salvation and that Men make Laws against Praying and Preaching and if the Devil call it Sedition For really Praying and Preaching do more to destroy his Kingdom and save Souls than Arms can do 21. But that ye also may know my affairs and how I do Tychicus a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord shall make known to you all things 21. And that you may know how all things go with me Tychicus will tell you whom you may trust 22. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose that ye might know our affairs and that he might comfort your hearts 22. I have sent him that he may represent things truly to you and help to keep you from discouragement or undue trouble for my Sufferings 23. Peace be to the brethren and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 23. I conclude with this Benediction and Prayer for you That God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will give maintain and increase in you all that confirmed Faith which may fill you with Love and keep you in Peace and Welfare 24. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Amen 24. And let the Grace Favour and Blessing of God be still with all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ with sincere incorruptible confirmed Love Amen The Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the PHILIPPIANS CHAP. I. 1. PAul and Timotheus the servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi with the bishops and deacons 2. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ 1 2. I Paul and Timothy now with me send greeting with this Epistle to all the Saints or Christians which are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons there wishing to them Grace and Peace which are all Blessings in sum from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Note 1. That Dr. Hammond affirming That Paul meant here all the Bishops and Deacons in Macedonia or a whole Province doth this without any cogent Proof as he saith the like of Corinth Ephesus c. though it may be granted that consequently they to whom these Epistles were written were to communicate them to as many as they could 2. That he contradicteth himself in saying there was but one Bishop in a City when elsewhere he saith there was one of the Jews Church and another of the Gentiles 3. That Paul saith it was the Saints which are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons to wit which were at Philippi with them But sure all that were in a Province so great were not at Philippi And his Conclusion That every Church in Scripture-times had but One Bishop with Deacons his Servants there being then no middle Order in use and that in all the New Testament the Words Bishop and Presbyter signified onely such as we now call Bishops 1. Is contrary to the Descriptions of the Churches of Jerusalem Antioch Corinth c. where in one Assembly there were so many Prophets sit for the Publick Ministry that they needed regulating restraint in Ministring 2. But thus he must maintain That de facto no Church had then more than one Presbyter and so no B ishop more than one sixed
Congregation being but in one place at one time And so that there was no Bishop that governed Presbyters nor any Presbyters subject to Bishops but onely to Itinerant Apostles So that all that remaineth in controversie will be Who instituted this middle Order of Presbyters after Scripture times and Quo jure and How it 's proved that they had Power so to do 3. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you 4. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy 3 4. Whenever I remember you it is with thankfulness to God and in all my Prayers for you I do it with joy 5. For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now 5. For the hearty Communion and Communication in and for the Gospel which you have exercised from the first day of your Conversion until now 6. Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ 6. Not doubting but God who hath been the Author of this good Beginning will carry it on till you are presented perfect in the day of the coming of Christ 7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart in as much as both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel ye all are partakers of my grace 7. It is meet that I think this of you all for you have a great room in my Heart because in my Bonds and Sufferings and in all that we do for the defence and confirmation of the Gospel you have manifested the same Grace and by your Communication and Cooperation have your part in the Blessing and Reward of my Ministerial Grace and Labours 8. For God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ 8. For God is my Witness with what earnest Love I long for your Welfare even with that Love which Christ hath kindled in me for his own sake who loveth you 9. And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment 9. And my Prayer for you is That you may increase and abound in holy Love to Christ and his Gospel and each other and in all spiritual Wisdom and discerning Judgment 10. That ye may approve things that are excellent that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ 10. That you may yet more grow up in the Approbation and Love of the excellent things of Christian Faith and Life and Hope and may be sound and sincere in Faith and Life without warping in Judgment or scandal in Practice till the Day of Judgment 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God 11. And that you may abound with all that Righteousness towards God and Man which is the true Fruit of Faith and of the Spirit by which you may praise and glorifie God 12. But I would ye should understand brethren that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel 12. I think meet to give you notice lest misinformation discourage you that my Imprisonment and Sâ—fferings have not hindered but furthered the Gospel 13. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places 13. For my Imprisonment for Christ hath but made me and consequently my Preaching to be known in the Court and Places of Judicature and abroad to others 14. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear 14. And the Example of my Patience Boldness and Success in Suffering hath emboldned many of the Brethren confidently without fear to preach and profess the Gospel 15. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife and some also of good will 16. The one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds 17. But the other of love knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel 15 16 17. There be some here at Rome and elsewhere that because I reprove them for Judaizing by obtruding the Law and Ceremonies of Moses on the Gentiles and such other Causes are quarrelsom with me and seek Defamation and while they preach Christ it is with the mixture of Spleen and Bitterness against me and in an envious striving and reproachful manner against me and such as I who conform not to their Ceremonious Impositions Thus some preach the same Christ that I do but contentiously and not in sincerity and love and meekness but to add to my Bonds the Affliction of Mens Contempt and Disaffection to turn the Hearts of People from me and my Ministry But there are others that preach in Christian Love and carry it with Kindness toward me knowing that I am called to propagate and defend Christs Gospel and that it 's it that I suffer for and not for my Fault and Errour as the other would persuade the People 18. What then notwithstanding every way whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce yea and will rejoyce 18. But though some seek Preeminence and their own Honour and Interest and envy me and join too much self-seeking with the Preaching of the Gospel and do it not with the Love and Sincerity that they ought yet every way Christ is preached and I therein rejoice yea and will rejoice Note 1. That they mistake who think Paul speaketh of the Preachers of false Doctrine in any great Point for he would not rejoice in that It is but preaching with corrupt Passions and Purposes perhaps for little Differences in a splenetick manner contrary to Love and Peaceableness 2. Paul here entreth his professed Dissent both against Church-Tyranny that would forbid those to preach that cross them and their Opinions or interest and against those Separatists who cry down the Ministry of those that are faulty in tolerable things yea that cross them and their Way 19. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ 19. For I doubt not but even this accumulating Affliction on me by envious Brethren with Heathen Persecutors shall through your Prayer and Christs Spirit all turn to good and but further my own and other Mens Salvation 20. According to my earnest expectation and my hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but that with all boldness as always so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life or by death 20. For as it is my earnest expectation so it is my comfortable hope that whether it be by my Life or Death all that befalls my Body shall be to the honour of Christ and then I have my End 21. For to me to live is Christ and to
day and not to me onely but unto all them also that love his appearing 6 7 8. Note That 1. Our Ministry and Life is like a Battle Combat or Race for Life or Death 2. Onely they that overcome shall be Crowned 3. Faithful Men may take great Comfort when when â—eath is at hand in the Conscience and review of a well spent victorious Life and Ministry 4. Their Reward will be a Crown of Righteousness given by God as a Righteous Judge on Gospel worthiness tho not on legal merit but supposing free Grace in Christ 5. To love Christs appearing is the effect of a Saving Faith 9 10 11. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world and is departed unto Thessalonica Crescens to Galatia Titus unto Dalmatia Onely Luke is with me Take Mark and bring him with thee for he is profitable to me for the ministry 12. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus 19 10 11 12. Note That 1. It is not Christ that Demas is said to forsake but Paul and not to turn Worldling but to go about his Worldly Business unseasonably 2. Timothy was not then at Ephesus 13. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus when thou comest bring with thee and the books but especially the parchments 13. Note The word translated the Cloke is very probably by others translated the Roll viz. of Parchment 14 15. Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil the Lord reward him according to his works Of whom be thou aware also for he hath greatly withstood our words 14 15. Alexander an Excommunicate Man hath much wrong'd me God will reward him according to his works Note Excommunication enrageth impenitent bad Men. 16. At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsook me I pray God that may not be laid to their charge 16. Note 1. This was not a forsaking Paul's Cause but his Person in danger which is too usual a case Herein he followed Christ whose Disciples all forsook him and fled 2. It 's like Peter was not then at Rome among the forsakers of Paul 17. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me that by me the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion 17. But God forsook me not when all Men forsook me but was with me and strengthened me in Vindicating my Person and Cause that while I was admitted to answer for my self the Hearers might know and fame might tell abroad what Doctrine it is that I suffer for Preaching and so all the City of Rome and others by their report might hear and have notice of it And so I was delivered from the present danger of Death by the Roman Persecutors as from the Jaws of a Lion Note 1. Some think that the words that the Preaching might be fully known refer to Paul's longer time to Preach I exclude not this but prefer the other sence 2. It was not Treason nor sin for Paul to call his Deliverance from the unjust Judgment of the Civil Power his being delivered out of the mouth of the Lion 18. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 18. And I doubt not but God will still keep me from all the ill Designs and Attempts of Men against me at least so far that they shall not draw me to do evil and will keep me in a state of right and preparation to his Heavenly Kingdom In the hopeful Sence whereof I rejoicingly desire that he be Glorified for ever Amen 19 20. Salute Prisca and Aquila and the houshold of Onesiphorus Erastus abode at Corinth but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick 19 20. Note That Trophimus was sick though Paul had the Gift of Healing because it was not to be common nor at the Will of Man 21. Do thy diligence to come before winter Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren 21. Make hast to come c. 22. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit Grace be with you Amen 22. The Lord Jesus Christ who is our Mediator and Head and hath purchased chosen and called thee performed for thee his saving Office in keeping thy Soul in Holiness and Peace His Grace which is the greatest Treasure on Earth be with you to keep you and prepare you for Glory Amen Note The Suscriptions to the Epistles are no part of the Holy Scripture ANNOTATIONS FAithful Ministers whose Work is to Preach the Gospel of Salvation should have so much of the Form Belief and Power of it in themselves as to pass triumphantly out of the World in suffering for it and not to think that God useth them hardly And to be satisfied in God's acceptance though their Brethren and Converts should forsake them as the Bishops and Churches of Asia did Paul The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to TITUS CHAP. I. 1 2. PAul a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of Gods elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began 1 2. Paul c. for the propagating of the Faith of God's Elect and the acknowledgment of that sound Doctrine which is suited to the promoting of godliness in opposition to prophaneness and heresie in hope of eternal life which is the end of all our faith and godliness and all our preaching and suffering which God that cannot lie promised before many Ages past 3. But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour 3. But what he so long ago purposed and darkly promised he haâ—h in the fittest appointed season manifested by his Gospel through preaching which is committed to me by the Commission and Commandment of God our Saviour Note That it is doubtful whether by God's Promise be meant only his secret purpose or by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be meant many Ages ago One of the two it must be for we cannot feign an actual Promise before the world began distinct from his purpose 2. It is not unlikely that he meaneth the Promise first made to Fallen Man of the Womans Seed and after oft renewed and this obscure word was made plain by the preaching of the Gospel upon Christs Incarnation Life and Resurrection c. 4. To Titus mine own son after the common faith grace mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour Note The Church hath but one Faith or Creed common in the Essentials to every Christian 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee 5 Note
But above all things my brethren swear not neither by heaven neither by the earth neither by any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into condemnation 12. And I must specially exhort you to avoid customary needless swearing by Heaven or Earth or any oath but let Yea and Nay serve you and be true of your word that you be not drawn into a just suspicion of falshood or condemned for prophaning the name of God Note 1. That this is so far from forbidding necessary oaths for ending strife that it is but to confirm them by preserving the due reverence of them 2. The true nature of an oath is by our speech to pawn the reputation of some certain or great thing for the averring of a doubted lesser thing and not only as is commonly held an appeal to God or other Judge As to swear by the Fire by the Temple by my Faith or Truth by the Life of Pharaoh by the Heavens c. is as much as to say If this be not true then the Fire burneth not the Temple is not holy I am a Lyar Pharaoh is no King as sure as Heaven is Heaven c. so the Lord liveth is This is as true as that God liveth 13. Is any among you afflicted let him pray Is any merry let him sing psalms 13. In your affliction have present recourse to God by prayer in Faith and Hope and when you are chearful and merry turn it to God's praise and thanksgiving for his mercies in singing holy Songs to God Note That it is not only David's Psalms that they are tyed to but such as are by men fitted to their proper cases which confuteth them that condemn all humane Forms of composed words in God's Service 14. Is any sick among you let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord 15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him 14 15. When any of you is sick let him send for the Bishops of Pastors of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with Oil in the name of the Lord as a sign and means which he hath appointed for miraculous Cures And if it be the Prayer of Faith and he be a person capable and fit for that deliverance it shall recover him from his Sickness and God shall raise him and if his Sickness be a corrective punishment for any sin that he hath committed God will forgive him and take off that penalty if he repent Note 1. That this implieth that each Church had divers Elders And whereas Dr. H. thinks it meaneth one single Bishop who the Ancients say visited all the sick you may see then how great their Diocesses were Should all the sick men in London or in many Counties send for the Bishop he would come but to a few of them at least forty or eighty Miles off But it will be said He may do it by others And why not give Orders and Sacraments by others as Lay-men now use the Keys And if the work be proper to Bishops those others then are made Bishops if not others may do it 2. Anointing being healthful to dry bodies in those hot Countries was used by Christ's appointment for miraculous Cures and never made a Duty or Sacrament to continue when Miracles cease 3. Sicknesses are usually corrective punishments for sin and to forgive the sin as to that penalty is to remit the punishment and heal the sick 4. The promise of pardon and recovery presupposeth the person penitent and fit for that deliverance 16. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much 16. Therefore Penitently confess your faults to one another especially to the Elders that visit you and pray one for another for this is the likely way of your recovery The effectual fervent instant Prayer of a Righteous Man is of great force or prevalence Note 1. An impenitent man is unfit for Pardon and therefore for deliverance from punishment and he that doth not penitently confess and bewail his sin cannot be judged a true Penitent and therefore cannot be prayed for with that Faith and Hope as we may do for the Penitent 2. This is not to be a customary thing or only to a Priest but it 's a duty both in Sickness and Health wherever the expression of Repentance to others is a duty By which alas we know how rare true Repentance is when even professors of Zeal in Religion are sharp in censuring and blaming others and except a very few humble Souls if they be never so justly blamed or reproved do swell against the reprover with pride and indignation as if he were their Enemy And they that separate from the Churches for want of Discipline are earnest for it for others but cannot bear it on themselves nor so much as endure a confutation of their errors but take him to speak against Godliness who speaketh against their mistakes and faults and two many like the Prophane will turn again and all to rend him 17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months 18. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit 17 18. Think not that Prayer is a vain or uneffectual thing though we be frail and faulty men Elias was but a man liable both to sufferings and to a troubled mind in them as we are yet on his earnest Prayer it rained not on an Idolatrous Persecuting Country for three years and a half and at his Prayer it rained again and the Land was fruitful 19 20. Brethren if any of you do err from the truth and one convert him Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins 19 20. I beseech you Brethren be neither negligent or dispairing to the cure of men in error nor yet impatient with those that would detect your Errors and convince you and bring you to Repentance as proud impenitent Persons are But know that as all men alas are too prone to error if any man err from the truth through ignorance or a corrupted will and one convert him he that converteth a sinner from his error in mind or life doth not only do that which tendeth to save his life from Gods punishing stroak but also shall save his Soul from everlasting death and procure the Pardon of his manifold sin not only so far that the Church but God himself shall receive him into a reconciled state Note 1. That error and sin are the
came in power 2. The Popes were most Martyrs and Sufferers till Constantines time and long after professed subjection to Emperours yea even to Arrians and to Usurpers And Alexandria and Constantinople used as much force as they It was 606 years before Phocas called Boniface the 3. the Universal Bishop by which he never meant the Universal Emperour or Civil Governour No nor Universal Ecclesiastical any further than the Empire It was long after this that the claim of deposing Kings as Excommunicate was set on foot by Gregory the seventh and long after that before it was determined in the Lateran Council Most Christian Kingdoms opposed it all along William the Conquerour and William Rufus and others in England Philip and others in France where it is denyed to this day and much in Spain The German Emperours Henry the fourth and fifth and Frederick and Otho long fought against it and some of them took Rome made and unmade Popes and used them as their Subjects The Princes of Italy themselves were from age to age almost always in War against the Popes The Eastern Emperours before mastered them till Pipin and the two Charles ' used the Papacy to usurp the Empire and after were Masters of the Pope themselves The very Citizens and Laity of Rome from age to age strove with them for the chief Power in Rome it self and oft overtopt them till they got Foreign Princes to help them To this day they claim not Imperial Power over other Princes save indirectly as nullifying the Title of the Excommunicate falsely pretending that they may excommunicate them and that Christians may then reject them as no Kings Is all this an Universal Empire and was Rome the Whore for 700 years or not It is supposed that Idolatry and Persecution make her the Whore and her Civil Power the Beast Transubstantiation is the grossest part of the first and that is a Novelty A few odd men wrote for it a little sooner but their Church owned it not by Law till the fourth Lateran Council under Inno. the 3. almost twelve hundred years after Christ And excess of Veneration to Saints and Angels most Churches on Earth owned and still own the Greek Armenian Abassine c. Our Divines have proved Purgatory and almost all their abuses of that tendency to be Novelties see Moulin de novit Papism Blondel de Eccles Rivets defence of du Pleslis c. Now here we are divided 1. Some say Rome was the Whore ever since 300 And so all or near all the Church of Christ in the Empire was the Beast or Whore or both except the few poor men in Piedmont and Languedock for I am of the opinion that they kept their Simplicity and Integrity ever since Dioclesians Persecution and then all the Glory of the bâ—st Ages of the Church is darkned into shame and the triumph for its deliverance from Pagan Captiâ—â—â—y turned to our confusion I have fully in my History of Councils described the mischiefs of Clergy-Ambition but never thought that such mens faults so overthrew all Christs Church in the Empire as to make it Antichristian A Holy Humble Ministry upheld it while some ambitious carnal Prelates troubled it As even a Heathen Am. Marcellinus witnesseth speaking of Damasus's case If Christ had no Church visible so many hundred years then he was no Christ or King of a visible Church which is a sad conclusion for opposers of Antichrist Doth he say worse against Christ himself 2. Others say that Rome began to be Babylon the 606 under Boniface the 3. and Phocas on the grounds before confuted 3. Others begin it under Boniface the Eighth 4. Others begin it with Hildebrands Usurpation over Princes between 1000. and 1100 years after Christ 5. Others begin it with Innocent the third who in the Lateran Council generally first owned that Usurpation and Transubstantiation and Bloody Persecution for it which before were owned but by little factious Parties 6. Others labour to prove that that Council made no Decrees and so that it was not setled then Now if Rome for 606 years or for 1000 or for 1100 years was not Babylon then Pagan Rome was not then nor Christian Rome and no man knoweth when it began to be so And then almost all our most confident late Expositions are quite overthrown But doubtless John was told of a Babylon a Whore a Beast which was much ealier than this The six or seven species of Pagan Government were not the Heads of a Christian Papal Beast that was to rise 1000 or 600 years after Christ See Bishop Barlows Pref. to his Brutum fulmen of their Novelty With these Reasons this sort of Expositors add the answer to the contrary objections And to the first they say that the Rising of the Beast out of the Sea doth but tell the order of the Vision to John and not that the Beast was not yet in being and it may mean Domitian or Dioclesian not yet come To the second they say the Objecters beg the Question 3. And so of the third 4. To the fourth they say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth not continuance but operation to which some Copies joyn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he maketh War And they say that neither here nor cap. 11. of the Witnesses Preaching is meant a thousand two hundred and sixty years but Days as expressed even three years and a half 5. To the fifth they say it had the ten Crowned Heads which is the same States which were Crowned Horns when they became militant and cruel 6. They say that the Pagan Empire as the Beast commanding Idolatry was not to be obeyed 7. They say Pagan Rome is called Mystical not Literal Babylon and their Mysteries of Worship also were Idolatry 8 They say that it is not Antichrist sitting in the Temple but the Beast blaspheming it that this Text mentioneth 9. They say that Pagan Rome as such is totally desolate and for ever but the Papal is not 10. The faithful came away from Babylon's Idolatry and Sin before her Fall and were called on to avoid her most carefully just when she was falling lest just then the falling Babylon fall on them But Papal Rome being not yet fallen were no Christians these 1300 years under the reasons of that Call 11. They say Pagan Rome sold Slaveâ— and bought them and sold Souls to Idolatry worse than Popery 12. They say that the unmarried Heathens may be guilty of Fornication yea and of Adultery by reason of God's right to them And the Fornication here is but Idolatry and it 's sad to conclude that Heathen Rome was so Idolatrous 13. Lastly They say that their Senate and all the Learned Patrons of Paganism and Reproachers of Christianity better answer the Character of the second Beast and false Prophet than either the Popâ— as pleading for himself or his Agents pleading for his Civil Power I should next have told you the difficulties that pose me about the other Questions but