Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine; neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity'. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, nor greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved, then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless ". SECT. 11. Instructions concerning their public ministrations, and the exercise of their authority in the church of Christ. Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation, to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be you reconciled unto God". For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe; for the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God". Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus". Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus f 1 Tim. iv. 13, 14, 12. §11. Col. iv. 17. d Col. i. 28. 1 Tim. iii. 8-10. b 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, 20. с 1 Cor. i. 21-24. Christ. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom; preach the word, be instant in season, and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine". Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine, in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part, may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you'. For a bishop must be blameless, 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. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life'. I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, that thou mightest charge some, that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than good edifying, which is in faith, so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned, from which some having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what Acts, xx. 21. f 2 Tim. i. 13, 14. 2 Tim. ii. 15, 16. * Tit. i. 7, 9. they say, nor whereof they affirm". But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes". Refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself". Them Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger as brethren. The elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows, that are widows indeed. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality'. Ä man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such, is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself'. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men'. SECT. 12. The efficacy of the ministrations of the Gospel, is of God. We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us". Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God, which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase: so then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth, and he that watereth, are one, and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ for we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish; to the one the savour of death unto death, and to the other the savour of life unto life; and who is sufficient for these things. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God, who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. The hand of the Lord was with us, and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord'. Whose heart the Lord opened, that they attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Paul an Apostle, not of men, neither by men, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father"; for he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me towards the Gentiles'. That ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead*. SECT. 13. The noble example of St. Paul in preaching the Gospel. 1. His zeal for the divine glory, and the interests of Christ's kingdom. Ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it, and profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers; but when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood". I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. But have showed you, and have taught you publicly from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek". 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: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and present us'. And now behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. For I |