1 Timothy 6

LEt as many servants as are under the yoke Under the yoke of servitude, not being manumised, or made free., count their own masters worthy of all honour Abundant honour, let Christian Servants give their Masters instead of less, double the honour which Pagan Servants do.: that the name of God, and his doctrine be not blasphemed For the credit of the Gospel, and for the honour of God; that none may say that Religion teacheth Servants any disobedience, or breaketh the bands of civil Relations: but on the contrary that it obligeth Professors to a more faithful, and full discharge of such duties, Servants to be the best of Servants, &c..

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren Some Christians were Servants to Iews or Pagans who both came under the Gospel notion of Believers, as to these the Apostle had given directions in verse 1. Others served Masters and Mistrisses that were Christians. The Apostle not ignorant of Sathans devices, foresaw that the former would be under a temptation to neglect, and despise their Masters, or Mistresses, because they were Idolaters or of a false Religion, Enemies to the Gospel: and the latter under a temptation not to be so diligent, and serviceable as they should be, because their Governours in a spiritual sense were their Equals, their Brethren and Sisters, the Apostle here declares, that the Rule of the Gospel neither allow the one, nor the other; as to the former he had spoken, nor says he let those that have Masters or Mistrisses that are Christians despise them, by which he means, not be equally obedient or serviceable to them, because there is a spiritual equality, or relation betwixt them.: but rather do them service But the rather do them service looking upon this as a farther obligation upon them., because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit Because they are Believers, such as love our common Lord, and are beloved of him, and such as all good Christians ought to love, being partakers of the gift of God Christ Iesus, and the great benefit of Redemption through his blood.. These things teach and exhort And he willeth Timothy to teach the Christians, at Ephesus, that this was the will of God and accordingly to call upon them for an obedience to it..

If any man teach otherwise If there be any person who either more publickly, or more privately shall take upon him to instruct people otherwise., and consent not to wholesome words What he means by wholesome words, his next words show they are called wholsome because they tend to prevent the sickness of sin, or to cure the Soul of its spiritual distempers., even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness Words either spoken by Christ, or from Christ, or tending to his honour, and glory, or to the promoting of piety, and godliness, or which are according to the rule of godliness.;

He is proud, he is swelled, or blown up, i. e. with pride swelling in opinion, and conceit of himself, he is a fanatick., knowing nothing Knowing nothing solidly, and truly, but, but doting about questions and strifes of words is brain-sick, about questions of no use, but to make a contention about words,, whereof cometh envy Whence cometh Env, when he once comes to perceive that others are wiser then he., strife Strife, for an ignorant person if proud, can never yeild that another knows more then he does., railings Railings, are commonly the revenges of ignorant Sciolists, that would be thought something and are nothing, when they perceive they are outdone by others, then they rail., evil surmisings Evil surmisings,, when they can in Truth say no evil of others they will uncharitabl urmise and suspect evil of them..

Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, mutual tearings, and gallings of, or enterferrings with one another. The word is applied to Horses knocking one foot against another, the word without the preposition signifies School-conflicts by disputations, the preposition added makes it to signifie in an evil sense, disputations of Sophisters, not candid for the finding out of Truth, but perverse and litigious merely for masteries, which he says proceeds from men corrupted as to their understanding and judgment., supposing that gain is godliness All whose Religion is gain of Riches or Reputation.: From such withdraw thy self With such men have nothing to do, avoid them in thy private converse and cast them out of the Church if their faults be publick scandals, and they be contumacious..

But godliness with contentment is great gain Godliness. The exercise of a true Faith in Christ conjoined with an Holy Life is a good revenue of it self having in it, a self sufficiency. He does not here suppose that Godliness can be separated from a contented frame of Spirit with that lot which God has chosen for us (for that cannot be) but as being always attended with a contentation of mind, in which alone lyeth true Riches (for such men never want enough.) A good man Solomon says, is satisfied from himself, Prov. 14.14. for which reason alone Godliness is, a great annual revenue..

For we brought nothing into this world with us, and it is certain we can carry nothing out This agreeth with Iob 1.21. and with experience, and is a potent argument against immoderate desires of having much of this worlds Goods, or using extravagant actions to obtain them, for when we have got all we can, we have got but a viaticum, something to serve us in our journey, which we must leave when we dye, and whether to a wise man or a fool none knoweth, Eccles. 2.19..

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content If therefore God gives us any thing more then is necessary for us, let us take it thankfully, and use it for Gods glory: but if we have no more then is just necessary for us, let us not repine, or murmur but be content, without murmuring against God, or using any undue means, out of an inordinate desire to get more..

But Or, for. they that will be rich They who out of a covetous and immoderate desire of being rich in this Worlds Goods, will use any arts, and do any unlawful thing without any just regard to the Law of God. fall into temptation, and a snare Fall into many temptations and snares, are exposed to impetuous inclinations and motions to that which is evil, and may and will be snares to their Souls., and into many foolish and hurtful lusts Kindling in them many foolish and pernicious desires contrary to the Law of God, which, which drown men in destruction and perdition have a direct tendency to the eternal ruine of their Souls not to be prevented but by the force and powerful Grace of God..

For the love of mony is the root of all evil Mony it self is not evil, but the immoderate love of it whether discerned in an over eager desire after it, or an excessive delight in it is the cause of much evil both of sin, and punishment.: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith Which Mony while some too greedily thirsted after (for though the article be feminine and cannot Grammatically agree with, which is euter, yet that does agree with it as to the sense being understood in, with which the subjunctive article Grammatically agreeth) they have erred, or been seduced from the Faith, that is the doctrine of the Gospel or profession of Christianity., and pierced themselves through with many sorrows And exposed themselves to a great many sorrows, which have pierced their very Souls, such as cares, troubles for the loss of their Estates, &c..

But thou, O man of God That is O thou minister of God, whose service is not the service of the World. It is a compellation borrowed from the Old Testament, where we find it often applied to such whose work was to reveal the Divine Will, 2 Kings 1.9. and 4. 39, 40. by giving Timothy this compellation, he mindeth him, how much he was concerned to contemn the World,, flee these things Flee this eager pursuit of Riches.: and follow after righteousness And follow after justice, or the business of a righteous Life in thy Conversation with men., godliness And piety toward God., faith The exercise and Life of Faith., love Love to God and thy Neighbour., patience A quiet bearing of Injuries., meekness And a gentleness of Spirit opposed to all rash Anger..

Fight the good fight of faith The fight of Faith is our encountring that opposition which we meet with from the World, the Flesh, or the Devil for a strenuous defending the Doctrine of Faith, or making it good by a Life sutable to the rule of Faith. This is called a good fight either in opposition to the bad ights of the men of the World in maintenance of their lusts, or the ludicrous fights usually in their publick games, or of the intrinsick nobleness and exercise of it, or the good event, or issue of it and Timothy is bid to fight it, by a metaphor either drawn from Souldiers, or such as exercised themselves in their games., lay hold on eternal life By eternal Life is meant a right and title to it, which he calls to him to lay hold as is thought by a metaphor from those that were exercised in their games, and did what they could first to lay hold of the prize proposed to Conquerors., whereunto thou art also called To which Eternal Life, or rather to which good fight thou art called both by the internal call of Gods Spirit, and by thy more external call to the Ministry., and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses And to which thou hast obliged thy self by Covenant or Promise, made either in thy Baptism, or when thou wert set apart to thy ministry, or of which thou hast given a pledge, by thy profession, and practice in the sight of the Christians in Ephesus..

I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things The Apostles care of the Church shows it self in these severe charges laid upon Timothy, though one whom he knew to be a faithful Minister he chargeth him, calling God to witness, that he had fulfilled his part in laying this charge upon him, the name he here giveth unto God may possibly have a particular reference to the state of the Gospel at that time, the Doctrine and Profession of which had many Enemies, and so it is made use of here to comfort and incourage Timothy. God is called he that quickneth the Dead, Rom. 4.17. here he that quickneth all things. and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession He proposeth the example of Christ to Timothy as being the head of those that witness a good confession..

That thou keep this commandement w without spot, unrebukable x, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ y. The charge is, that he Faithfully performs all the duties belonging to him as a Christian and a Minister, commissioned from God, in the whole course of his Life, that he may not be liable to a just accusation for the neglect of any part of his Office. This is enforc't by the consideration of the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ; that is in the day of judgement as the following words make evident; yet the Apostle seems to speak of it, as if Timothy should continue in his Ministry till that appearance. But 'tis manifest by his cautioning the Thessalonians against that false conceit, 2 Thess. 2.2, 3. that the Apostle knew the contrary: for he assures them that that day should not come till many great things enumerated by him should be accomplisht. The meaning therefore of the words to the appearing of Iesus Christ, is the same with our Saviours command to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna, be faithful unto the death, Rev. 2.10. for the whole flux of time from the death of any person till the day of judgment, makes no alteration in his Life; and consequently whoever is faithful unto the death is so till the appearing of Christ. And there is no motive more powerful to a zealous and faithful discharge of our duty, no excitation more rou ing from the security and carelessness of the Flesh, then the serious believing consideration of the glorious reward to be dispersed by our Saviour, to his faithful Servants in that day, and the dreadful condemnation that shall pass upon those who have been careless and negligent in the sacred Ministry.

Which in his times he shall show or, Which Christ coming the second time, God in his time, h s proper seasons (so it is in the Greek) will show. Or which appearing of our Lord Jesus, God in his time will show, for some Greek copies read the article in the feminine termination to distinguish the order of the Trinities working, as the first coming of Christ is made to be from the Fathers sending, so is also the second coming., who is the blessed, and only Potentate God is said to be the only Potentate because he has only power in, and from himself. By him Kings reign, and he is called the blessed Potentate, because he is the fountain of all felicity and happiness., the King of kings, and Lord of lords That is, the most mighty King, and Lord, to whom all other Princes are Subjects, all other Lords are Vassals, Rev. 17.14. and 19.16. These terms seem here to be applyed to the Father, though they agree also to the Son, and the Spirit. They are applied to Christ, Rev. 17.14. and 19.16..

Who only has immortality Of himself; our Souls, and Angels are Immortal from the gift of God, or Immortality signifies here, the same with Eternity, or Immutability., dwelling in the light Continually incompassed with a glory that is unspeakable, 1 Iohn 1.5., which no man can approach unto To which no man can in this Life come nigh., whom no man has seen Nor did Moses or Stephen, Or any other ever see his glory, so as to comprehend it, or in the full perfection of it., nor can see Nor can the Sons of men see him, with their bodily eyes, or so as to comprehend him in his perfection, though some have with their bodily eyes seen his back parts, and appearances, and with their Souls have through his Grace been enabled spiritually to behold him.: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen To which immortal, glorious, invisible God belongs, and let there for ever be given, honour and power..

Charge them that are rich in this world Those that are rich in Grace, and the good things of another Life, need not this charge, but there are diverse at Ephesus, who have great Estates in Goods, or Houses, or Lands, and but poor in gracious habits, charge them., that they be not high minded That their Riches do not lift them up into an high conceit, or opinion of themselves, which worldly riches often do., nor trust in uncertain riches And that they repose no confidence in them, making them their strong City, Prov. 10.15. as if they could secure them from evil, or make them happy., but in the living God But let them repose their trust in God, who has Life in himself, giveth Life unto all other things, and liveth for ever., who giveth us richly all things to enjoy And is he who gives us all we have, though it be bought with our peny.:

That they do good That is to others, as they have opportunity., that they be rich in good works Be plentiful in Alms-deeds, or more generally in all good works of Piety or Charity., ready to distribute That they be not backward to distribute that of which God has made them Stewards, to those that want., willing to communicate But give freely and without grudging, according to their Masters order, as becometh those who are but Stewards as to the Riches which they have..

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation for the time to come Riches in themselves are but for the present, but there is an use may be made of them for the time to come, if we imploy them for the better inabling us to do what God has commanded us to do, Matth. 6.20. Luk. 12.33. those acts of obedience to the command of God for the use of our Estates, though they can merit nothing, (for what proportion can there be betwixt a few Shillings and Eternal Life?) yet will be a good bottom for us to hope for the time to come., that they may lay hold on eternal life That God will give us an eternal happiness, not as a reward of debt but of Free Grace..

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust Either the Doctrine of the Gospel, which Ministers ought to keep pure, and without mixture, or the ministerial Office; be true, and faithful in the discharge of it, Preaching Christ and the Doctrine of Christ., avoiding profane and vain bablings Avoid all impertinent discoursings under the notion of Preaching, which in thy discharge of that work, are the best of them but profane bablings., and oppositions of science falsly so called Avoid also all idle speculations, and disputations, no way serving to the end of Preaching and falsly called Science..

Which some professing have erred concerning the faith Which kind of Science, some pretending and boasting of, Studying to show themselves learned, and subtil men, they have been led into errors in Christianity, apostatizing from the Doctrine of Faith.. Grace be with thee Viz. The Grace, Mercy, and Peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord, mentioned 2 Tim. 1. verse 2.. Amen.