hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, puting me into the miniftry; 13. Who was before a blafphemer, and a perfecuter, and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief: 14. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, f with faith and love which is in Chrift Jefus. 15. h This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that iChrift Jefus came into the World to (1) fave finners; (2) of whom I am chief. 16. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained Cor. с e S 3 12. b See on Acts 9. 15. † 1 7. 25. See on 1 Cor. 4. 2. 13. † A&ts 9. 1. †1 Cor. 15. 9. Phil. 3. 6. See on Acts 8.3. See on Acts 3. 17. 14. * 1 Cor. 15. 10. See on Rom. 5. 20. ft2 Tim. 1. 13. The Words under Ver. 10. g Luk. 7. 47. -Her Sins which are many are forgiven; for The loved much. 15. h The like manner of speak5 ing occurs, 1 Tim. 3. 1. I Tim.. 4. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 11. and Tit.3.8. i Mat. 9. 13. † Mar. 2. 17, Luk. 19. 10. + 1 Joh. 3. 5. See on Luk. 5. 32. (1) The Confideration that Jefus Christ came into the World to fave Sinners, is full of Comfort; but we ought to take care that we neither deceive our felves, nor fuffer our felves to be deceived by others in this Matter. If we repent of, and turn from our Sins; if by the Spirit and Power of Jefus Christ, we are raifed from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteousness; if we endeavour to ferve and pleafe God, by living a new and a holy Life, we cannot think too highly of, nor afcribe too much to the Grace and Mercy of God in Chrift Jefus. But if we are impenitent and obftinate; if we live and continue to live in known and wilful Sin, we do but deceive our felves, by thinking that our Condition will be at all bettered by the Coming of Jefus Chrift into the World. For fuch a Behaviour is a full Proof that we are Workers of Iniquity, whom our Saviour and Judge will hereafter bid to depart from him. (2) We are much mistaken if we imagine that the Apoftle here, ftyles himself the greatest of Sinners. Nor does what he fays in the 13th Verfe amount to fuch an acknowledgment: The Crime he accufes himself of was, that he perfecuted the Church of Chrift. And this he did not do againft his knowledge, but as he tells us, Acts 26. 9. he verily thought he ught to do many things contrary to the Name of Jefus Christ. He did not profane the Name of God, nor was he what we mean by a profligate Perfon; no, except in this inftance, for which he fo highly accufes himfelf, he lived before his Converfion to Chriftianity, a blameless and exemplary Life; for he lived in all good Confcience before God, Acts 23. 1. His manner of Life from his youth was after the ftraite Sect of the Jewish Religion, a Pharifee, Acts 26.4, 5. His meaning therefore cannot be, that he was the greatest of Sinners, but that he was one of the First or Chief of thofe Sinners Jefus Chrift did fave, a remarkable Inftance of Divine Mercy, that he obtained mercy, that in him first Sefus Christ might fhew forth all Long-fuffering, for a Pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting Life, Ver. 16. The common Expofition therefore of this Place, that St. Paul acknowledges himself the greatest of Sinners, is neither confiftent with Truth,or Piety, or good Senfe. See the Caufes of the prefent Corruption of Chriftians, written with great Judgment and Piety, by Mr. Oftervald, Part I. under Caufe 4. m n I TIM. I. k obtained mercy, that in me firft Jefus Chrift might fhew forth all long-fuffering, 1 for a pattern to them which thould hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17. Now unto the king eternal, immortal, invifible, the only wife God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Amen. 18. This charge I commit unto thee, fon Timothy, according to the Prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightst war a good warfare, 19. Holding faith and a good confcience; which fome having put away, concerning faith have k .. a 16. 2 Cor. 4. 1. As we have received mercy we faint not. 1. Acts 13. 39. By him all that believe, are juftified from all things, from which ye could not be juftified by the Law of Mofes. 17. Pfal. 10. 15. The Lord is King for ever and ever.- + Pfal. 145. 13. Thy Kingdom is an everlafting Kingdom, and thy Dominiin 10 endureth throughout all Generations. Pfal. 146. 10. The Lord fall Reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all Generations. 1 Tim. 6. 15, 16. Who is the bleffed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in that Light which no Maní can approach, unto, whom no Man hath feen, nor can fee.→ Rom. 1. 23. And changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God, into an Image made like to corruptible Man. 1 See on Joh. 1. 18. P See on Rom. 16. 27. 20 25 at Chron. 29. 11. Thine, O Lord, is the Greatness, and the Power, and the Glory, and the Victory,30 and the Majefty: for all that is in the Heaven, and in the Earth is thine; thine is the Kingdom, O' Lord, and thou art exalted as Head above all. u b made 2 Tim. 1. 14. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the holy Ghoft which dwelleth in us. 2 Tim. 2. 2. The things 5 which thou hast heard of me among many Witneffes, the fame commit thou to faithful Men, who fhall be able to teach others alfo. Rev. 2. 25. That which ye have already, hold faft till I come. Rev. 3. 3, 11. Remember therefore how thou haft received and heard, and hold faft and repent. Hold that faft which thou haft, that no Man take thy Crown. Ecclefiafticus 46. 1. Jefus the Son of Nave was valiant in the Wars, and was Succeffor of Mofes in Prophecies, who, according to his Name, was made great for the faving of the Elect of God:-.Tim. 4.14.Neglect not the Gift that is in thee, which was given thee by Prophecy Phil. 2. 25. - Epaphroditus, my Brother and Companion in Labour, and Fellow foldierTim. 2. 3. Endure hardness, as a good Soldier of Jefus Chrift. Phi lem. Ver. 2. -Archippus our Fellow-foldier 1 Tim. 6. 12. † Tim. 4. 7. See on I Cor. 9. 24, 25. 19. at 1 Tim. 3. 9. Holding the 35 Mystery of the Faith in a pure Confcience. 18. † 1 Tim. 6. 14, 20. I give thee Charge] that thou keep this Commandment without fpot, unrebukeable. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy truft. 40 -- 1 Tim. 6. 9. They that will be rich, fall into Temptation and a Snare, and into many foolish and C & made shipwrack. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blafpheme. b C * exhort [Or, defire] therefore, that first of all, fupplications, prayers, interceffions, and giving of thanks Je made for a all men: 2. For kings, and for all that re in authority [Or, eminent place], that we may lead quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs and honefty. For this is good and acceptable in the fight of God ur Saviour: 4. Who will have (1) all men to be faS 4 e. nd hurtful Lufts, which drown Men in Deftruction and Perdition. 20. Tim. 2. 17. Their Word will eat as doth a Canker: of whom is Hymeness and Philetus. 2 Tim.4.14.See on Acts19.33. e See on 1 Cor. 5. 5. CHA P. II. 12 1 Mac. 13. 1. We thereore at all times without ceafing, to oth in our Feafts, and other con· enient Days, do remember you in he Sacrifices which we offer, and nour Prayers, as reafon is, and as becometh us to think upon our Brethren. : :d ved, your 32. I have no pleasure in the Death of him that dieth, faith the Lord God: Wherefore turn your felves, and live ye. Ezek. 33. 11. Say un5 to them, As I live, faith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the Death of the Wicked, but that the Wicked turn from his Way and live turn ye, turn ye from evil Ways; for why will ye die, O Houfe of Ifrael? Wifd. 1. 13. God made not Death; neither hath he pleasure in the Destruction of the Living. 2 Efdr. 8. 59. It was not his Will that Men fhould come to hought. Luk. 3. 6. All Fleb fhall fee the Salvation of God. Joh. 1. 9. That was the true Light which.. lighteth every Man that cometh in-.. to the World. Joh. 3. 16. God fo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life.. 2 Tim. 2. 25. In Meeknefs inftru&ting thofe that oppose themselves, if Rom. 13. 1. Let every foul God peradventure will give them Ree fubject to the higher Powerspentance to the acknowledging of 3. See on 1 Tim. II. the Truth. Tit. 2. 11. The 4. Deut. 5. 29. O that there Grace of God that bringeth Salere fuch an Heart in them, that vation hath appeared to all Men, hey would fear me, and keep all 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord-is Longmy Commandments always, that it fuffering to us-ward, not willing might be well with them and that any should perih, but that all heir Children for ever. Ezek. 18 35 fhould come to Repentance, 2. Ezra 6. 10. That they may Offer Sacrifices and fweet Savours nto the God of Heaven, and pray For the Life of the King, and of his go Sons. Jer. 29. 7. Seek the Peace of the City, whither. I have Caufed you to be carried away Captives, and pray unto the Lord or it: for in the Peace thereof 25 hall ye have Peace. (1) The Word all here stands for every Man; for so it is used Ver. 1. where i ved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth 5. For there is one God, and one mediator, between God and men, the man Chrift Jefus; 6. Who gave him felf a ransom for all, * to be * teftified [Or, a teftimony in due time. 7. Whereunto I am m ordained a preacher and an apostle, (In fpeak the truth in Chrift, and lie not) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8 I will therefore that men pray P every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting: 9. I like See on Mar. 12. 29. Deut. s. 5. I ftood between the Lord and you at that time, to one Spirit unto the Father: Heb. 7 22. By fo much was Jefus made Surety of a better Teftament. Heb. 8. 6. He is the Mediator of a bet ter Covenant, which was established upon better Promifes. + Heb. 9. 15. He is the Mediator of the New-Teftament. Heb. 12. 24. [re are come] to Jefus, the Mediator of i 6. Mat. 20.28. See on Rom. 4.25. t2 Thef. I. 10. See on I Cor. 1. 6. 1 fhew you the Word of the Lord : 10 the New Covenant.— Eph. 3. 5. Which in other Ages was not made known unto the Sons of Men, as it is now revealed unto his holy Apoftles and Prophets by the Spirit. Eph. 1. 10. See on Mar. 1. 15. 7. mt2 Tim. 1. 11. See on A&ts 9. 15. nt Rom. 9. I. 1.9. ot Rom. 11. 13. 16. † Gal. 1. 16. 9. 15. 8. Mal. I. II. 4. 21. See on Rom. † Rom. 15. See on A&s See on Joh. 9tIfa. 1. 15. See on Mat. 7.7. and on Joh. 9. 31. where we are commanded to pray for all Men. Hence we may argue, That if God wills tlie Salvation of all Men, and would have all come to the acknowledgment of the Truth, then he afford's all fufficient Mant and Grace in order to their obtaining Salvation; becaufe without this they cannot be faved. If any therefore perish, it is not because God denies them Grace and Help, but because they are wanting to themselves, and will not be prevailed with to use the Affiftance he affords. Their Deftrution therefore is not from any peremptory Decree of God's, but from themselves. s like manner alfo, that women adorn themselves in modeft apparel, with fhamefacednefs and fobriety: not with *broidered [Or, plaited] hair, or gold, or pearls, or coftly aray; 10. But (which becometh women profeffing godlinefs) with good works. 11. Let the woman learn in filence with all fubjection. 12. But I fuffer not a woman to teach, nor to ufurp authority over the man, but to be in filence. 13. For " Adam was firft formed, then Eve. 14. And (1) Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, was in the tranfgreffion. 15. Notwithftanding the fhall be faved (2) in child-bearing, if they continue in faith and charity, and holinefs with fobriety. r 9. Tit. 2. 3, 4, 5. The aged Women likewife, that they be in behaviour as becometh Holiness, not falfe Accufers, not given to much Wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young Women to be fober, to love their Husbands, to love their Children, To be Difcreet, Chafte, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own Husbands, that the Word of God be not blafphemed. 1 Pet. 3. 3, 4. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning, of plaiting the Hair, and of wearing of Gold, or of putting on of Apparel: But let it be the hidden Man of the Heart, in that which is not corruptible, CHAP. eyen the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit, which is in the fight of God of great Price. S 12. fi Cor. 14. 34. † Eph. 5. 24. See on I Cor. 11. 3. 13. Gen. 1. 27. † Gen. 2.18. See on 1 Cor. 11. 7, 8, 9. 14. at Gen. 3. 6. When the Woman faw that the Tree was good 10 for Food, and that it was pleafant to the Eyes, and a Tree to be defired to make one wife; fhe took of the Fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave alfo to her Husband with her; and he did eat. Cor. 11. 3. I fear left by any means, as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his fubtilty. 15 2 (1) That is, Adam was not firft or immediately deceived by the Devil; but the Woman being the Weaker, the Tempter firft fet upon her, and having deceived her, the prevailed upon her Husband, and deceived him, and was the unhappy Occafion of the Fall of Man. (2) It will be to little purpose to recount the different Opinions of Expofitors on this Place. The two following appear to be the moft probable. First, That Women, provided they continue in Faith and Charity, in Holinefs and Sobriety, fhall be preferved, and carried fafely through the Perils of Child-bearing; not but that fome who do not fo continue may be preferved, and fome who live well may mifcarry; for God, if it feems good to him, may take good Women to himself at this time, as well as by any common Difeafe. The Promife notwithstanding is made good,ifhe fhall fometimes give a fafeDeliverance to Women on account of their Truft in him, their Charity, Holinefs, and Sobriety. A more probable Senfe I take to be the following: Secondly, Some obferve, that in the foregoing Verfes the Apoftle had forbid Women to teach, for that Eve was the Perfon who was firft deceived; that they might not therefore Le difcouraged by this Cenfure, he adds, Notwithstanding this, the Wo man, |