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that which was driven away, and feek up that which was loft; all which they fhould take diligent heed unto, fince they must be accountable to the great Shepherd and Bishop of fouls, for all thofe who are under their care. But fo much for the first branch of the exhortation; I proceed to connder,

Secondly, The fecond part of the charge, which is to take heed to his doctrine, that is, to the doctrine to which he has attained, which he has a knowledge of, and ought to preach to others; otherwife the doctrine is not his own but another's; as Chrift fays of himfeli as man, My doctrine is not mine, but kis that fent me. Chrift received his doctrine from his Father, and his minifters receive it from him, and deliver it to the people. The doctrine which a gospel minifter preaches, is in the fame fenfe his, in which the apostle Paul calls the gospel, my gospel, or our gofpel; not that it was a fyftem of doctrines drawn up, and compofed by him; but what was given him by the revelation of Christ, was committed to his truft, what he ought to preach, and in which he was made ufeful to the fouls of many.

Now a minifter ought to take heed to his doctrine, that it be according to the fcriptures, all fcripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for detrine'. True doctrine fprings from it, is agreeable to it, and may be confirmed and established by it; therefore if any man fpeak, let him speak as the oracles of God. He fhould be careful, that his doctrine has a place in the word of God, that it takes its rife from it, is confonant to it, and capable of being proved by it: To the law, and to the teftimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them". Whatever doctrines do not fpring from thefe fountains of light and truth, or are difagreeable to them, must be accounted divers and Strange doctrines.

Care should also be taken by a minifter of the gofpel, that his doctrine be the doctrine of Chrift; that is, fuch as Chrift himfeif preached, which he has delivered out by revelation to others, and of which he is the fum and fubitance. We preach Chrift crucified, to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness*. This doctrine is moft likely to be ufeful for the converfion of finners, and comfort of faints; and a man that does not bring this with him is to be difcouraged and rejected: Whosoever tranfgreffeth, and abideth not in the dottrine of Christ, hath not God: He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God:-speed*.

Moreover, a minifter fhould take heed that his doctrine be the fame with that of the apostles. It was the glory of the primitive chriftians, that they continued

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ftedfaftly in the apoftles doctrine; and it must be the excellency of a man's minif try, that it is agreeable to that faith which was once delivered to the faints. Jesus Chrift received his doctrine from his Father, which he delivered to his apostles: I have given unto them fays he, the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them'; who alfo were guided by the fpirit of truth into all truth, as it is in Jesus; and under the infpiration of the fame spirit have left the whole of it in writing to the churches of Chrift; which should be the standard of a gospelminiftry throughout all generations.

Besides, it becomes a preacher of the Word to be careful that the doctrine he teaches be according to godliness; that it is not contrary to the moral perfections of God, or has a tendency to promote a loose and licentious life; but that it is agreeable to, and may be a means of increafing, both internal and external holinefs. Sin, as it is a tranfgreffion of the law, fo it is contrary to found doctrine; which found doctrine is according to the glorious gofpel of the bleed God". The gospel no more countenances fin, than the law does; the grace of God, the doctrine of the grace of God, that bringeth falvation, the news of it to finners, bath appeared to all men, Gentiles as well as Jews; teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lufts, we should live foberly, righteously, and godly in this prefent world. Whatever doctrines are fubverfive of true piety, or ftrike at the life and power} of godliness, are to be rejected: if any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholefom words, even the words of our Lord Jefus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions, and ftrife of words, whereof cometh envy, ftrifes, railings, evil furmifings, &c°.

Again, it is highly neceffary, that a pastor of a church fhould be careful that his doctrine be fuch as makes for the edification of the people; it ought to be folid and fubftantial, fuited to their capacities, and what is food convenient for them; he should not, therefore, give heed to fables, and endless genealogies; he ought, in his ministry, to fhun prophane and vain bablings, and oppofitions of science, falfly fo called. He should not strive about words to no profit, but to the fubverting of the bearers; and fhould carefully and diligently avoid foolish and unlearned queftions, knowing that they do gender ftrifes P.

In a word, he should take heed, that his doctrine be found and incorrupt, pure and unmixed, and that it be all of a piece, and confiftent with itself. He ought to speak the things which become found do&trine; that is, fuch things as are agreeable to it, and confiftent with it, and which are wholesom and healthful to the fouls of men. In his doctrine he ought to fhew uncorruptness, gravity, fincerity, and use found speech, which cannot be condemned; he should not teach for doctrines the commandments of men, or join, or mix divine truths with human VOL. II.

John xvii. 8.

C

inventions.

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m1 Tim. i. 10, 11.: P1 Tim. i.4. & vi. 20.

n Titus ii. 11, 12. 2 Tim. ii.14, 16, 23.

9 Tit. ii. 1, 7, 8.

L

inventions. The chaff and the wheat fhould be kept feparate; nor fhould he blend law and gofpel, grace and works together; and fo be like them that corrupt the word of God, nanhevorles Tor hoyo T, "adulterate it, by mixing it with "their own fancies;" as unfair dealers in liquors, mix water with them, which is the fenfe of the word here used; but as of fincerity, but as of God, in the fight of God', fhould a gospel-minifter Speak in Chrift. He ought to take heed that what he preaches is confiftent with itfelf; that it has no yea and nay, no contradiction in it, and does not deftroy itfelf; and fo bring a reproach upon him, and he become ufelefs to his hearers; for if the trumpet give an uncertain found, who fhall prepare himself for the battle? confiftence, harmony, and connection of things with each other, are the beauty and glory of a man's ministry; which muft needs recommend it, and make it moft ufeful, profitable and pleasant.

It is also very advifeable that he take heed that he exprefs his doctrine in the best manner, and to the beft advantage. He ought to be careful about the manner as well as the matter of his miniftry; that he fpeak plainly, intelligibly, and boldly, the gospel, as it ought to be spoken: Elocution, which is a gift of utterance, a freedom of expreffion, with propriety of language, is one of the gifts fitting for public usefulness in the work of the miniftry; and which may be improved by the use of proper means. The example of the royal preacher is worthy of our imitation, because the preacher was wife he fill taught the people knowledge; yea, be gave good beed, and fought out, and fet in order many proverbs: the preacher fought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written was upright, even words of truth: he not only fought for proper and agreeable truths, but was careful to exprefs them in the moft acceptable manner.

To conclude this head; when a minister has used his care and diligence about his doctrine, that it be according to the fcriptures, agreeable to the doctrine of Chrift and his apoftles; that it be according to godliness, and makes for the ufe of edifying; that it be found and incorrupt, pure and unmixed, and confiftent with itself, and that it be expreffed in the best manner, and to the best advantage, he ought to take heed to defend it whenever opposed; for minifters are not only fet to preach the gospel, but for the defence of it; they should ly found do&rine both exhort and convince gainfayers"; for which purpofe, they should ufe the two-edged fword, the fword of the fpirit, which is the word of God; and is both an offenfive and defenfive weapon, by which, at once, error is refuted,, and truth established. I go on to confider,

Thirdly,,

2 Cor. ii. 17. anλvorles, cauponantes fermonem Dei. Metaphora fumpta eft ab hofpitibus &cauponantibus, quibus in more eft, vinum aqua co rumpere. Sic Græci interpretantur, xaλever,. xaxeven for owror, hoc eft, vinum corrumpere, & non dicunt olim fignificaviffe ovo vinum. Aretius in loc. Eccles. xii. 9, 10. u Tit. i. 2

1 Cor. xiv. &.

Thirdly, The third part of this exhortation, which is, to continue in them. Some read the words, Continue with them", that is, with the people at Ephefus, where Timothy was, and where the apostle would have him remain; as appears from what he says to him at the beginning of this epiftle, I befought thee to abide Still at Ephefus. But I chufe rather to confider them as they are in our tranflation rendered, continue in them; that is, in the doctrines which thou dost well to take heed unto. Much fuch advice does the apostle give to Timothy, in his second epistle to him, continue thou, says he, in the things which thou hast learned, and baft been affured of, knowing of whom thou haft learned them. It is very unbecoming ministers of the word, to be like children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine; daily fhifting fides, and changing sentiments.

He that would be a preacher of the gospel to others, ought fo to study the fcriptures, and learn the doctrines of grace, as to be affured of them, to be at a point, at a certainty concerning them; that he may be able to speak them boldly, as they ought to be spoken; and when he has fo done, he ought to adhere to them, abide by them, and continue in them; even though a majority may be against them, for we are not to follow a multitude to do evil. Truth is not to be judged of by the number of its admirers; if this was a fure and safe rule to go by, the church of Rome would have the best pretenfions to the truth of doctrine, difcipline, and worship; for all the world wondered after the beaft". It should be no difcouragement to a gospel-minifter to obferve, that there are but few that receive the doctrines of grace. Yea, he should abide by them, though they are opposed by men of learning and reputation. Truth does not always lie among men of that character; God is pleafed to hide the mysteries of the gospel from the wife and prudent, and reveal them unto babes; and by the foolishness of preaching confound the wife, and fave them that believe. It was an objection to our Lord's miniftry, that not any of the rulers or of the Pharifees believed on him, but this people who knoweth not the law are curfed. Ministers of the gospel fhould abide by, and continue in the doctrines of it, though it is only received by the poor and ignorant, and opposed by the rich and wife: Nay, they ought to do fo, though there are fome things in them which cannot be comprehended by corrupt and carnal reason; this fhould be no objection to a reception of them, or continuance in them. There are fome things in the gofpel which eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, that is, a natural man, to conceive of; wherefore it is no wonder, that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can be know them, because they are spiritually difcerned.

- Επιμενε αυτοις, a Rev.xiii. 3.

* <Chap. i 3. John vii. 48, 49.

C 2

1 Y. Chap. iii. 14.

CI Cor. ii. 9-14.

Nor

z Exod. xxiii. z.

Nor fhould the charges and imputations of novelty and licentioufnefs frighten and deter the minifters of Chrift from abiding by the doctrines of grace, fince these were the very reproaches and calumnies that the doctrines of Chrift and his apostles were loaded with, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? Say fome concerning Chrift's miniftry; and fo the Athenians to Paul, May we know what this new doctrine whereof thou fpeakeft is? They looked upon the more fubftantial truths of the gospel as novelties, upftart notions, fuch as were never heard of before; nay, they were accounted by fome as having a tendency to open a door to all manner of wickedness and loofenefs of life; which occafioned the apostle to fay, And not rather, as we be flanderously reported, and as fome affirm, that we fay, Let us do evil that good may come; whofe damnation is just.

In a word, it becomes Chrift's minifters to abide by, and continue in the doctrines of grace, though they rifk their good name, credit, and reputation, are in danger of lofing their outward maintenance, or worldly fubftance, yea, life itself; for whosoever will fave his life, fhall lofe it; but whosoever fball lofe bis life for my fake and the gofpel's, the fame fball fave it. I now haften briefly to confider,

H. The reafons given by the apoftle to fupport the whole of this charge or exhortation; and to engage Timothy's, and fo every other gofpel-minifter's, regard unto it.

First, His first reason is, For in doing this thou shalt fave thyself. Jefus Chrift is the only efficient and procuring cause of salvation: There is no falvation in any other; for there is none other name under beaven given among men, whereby we must be faved. Minifters cannot fave themselves by any works of righteousness done by them; no, not by their minsterial fervices; it is in vain to expect falvation by any, or from any other than Chrift Jefus: But minifters, by taking heed to themselves, may, through a divine bleffing, and the influences of the Spirit of God, fave themselves from an untoward generation, and be preserved. from the pollutions of the world; may keep their garments, their outward converfation garments, fo that they do not walk naked, and others fee their fame. By taking heed to their doctrine they may fave themselves from being infected with false doctrines, errors and herefies; thofe roots of bitterness, which: fpringing up in churches, trouble some, and defile others. And by continuing in their doctrines, may fave themfeves from the blood of all men, with whom they are if concerned. The work of a minister is an awful, folemn, and weighty one; he does not warn and inftruct both the righteous and the wicked, their blood I will be required at his hand; but if he performs his office faithfully, he delivers

• Mark i. 27. Acts xvii. 19.

• Rom. iii, 8..

f Mark viii. 35.

: Acts iv. 12..

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