Titus 2

BUt speak thou the things which become sound doctrine That is, preach those things which agree with that Doctrine which is sound, and which tendeth to make others sound in the Faith, and in an Holy Life. Be not thou led by the Example of those Tri lers in preaching; but let the Subjects of thy discourse be what may tend to edifying; nor is there any more effectual way to stop the mouths of those Fablers. Dagon will fall down before the Ark of God..

That the aged men be sober By the word seems here to be signified Elders in age; he would have Timothy preach that these should be; sober both as to body and mind we met with the word before, 1 Tim. 3.2.11., grave Grave, of a modest composed behaviour, not light and airy., temperate Temperate, that is able to govern their passions and inclinations·, sound in faith, We have met with the phrase before, chap. 1.13. see the notes; neither rotten through error, nor sick, through fluctuation or Scepticisme., in charity In charity, that is love,, in patience and a patient bearing of evils..

The aged women likewise That is, do thou also teach the women that in age exceed others., that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers Not Devils, That name is given to the Devil, because he is the Accuser of the Brethren, and he was a lyar from the beginning, it is applyed to any persons that charge others falsly., not given to much wine Gr. Not serving much wine; for those that frequent the tap too much, are ordinarily inslaved to it., teachers of good things Privately instructing others in what is good, both by their discourse, and example..

That they may teach the young women to be sober Young Women, especially conversing amongst Heathens are prone to be light and airy, and over frolick, following the heat of their youthful temper, and forming their converse after the manner of others, which is a behaviour, though it may sute their youth, yet if they be Christians it will not sute their profession, which calls to them for more gravity; speak to them that are aged to mind them, to be sober., to love their husbands It being natural for young Women to love their Husbands and Children; these precepts seem not so much to concern the things, as the manner of it, to love them as they ought to love them., to love their children It being natural for young Women to love their Husbands and Children; these precepts seem not so much to concern the things, as the manner of it, to love them as they ought to love them..

To be discreet. The word signifies Temperate, and imports an ability to govern all our affections and passions. Discretion is but one piece of the fruit., chast The word signifieth pure as well as chast, and chastity only, as it is a species of purity., keepers at home House-Wives, not spending their time in gadding abroad, but in looking to the affairs of their own Families:, good t, obedient to their own husbands u, that the word of God be not blaspheemed The same is required of Wives, Eph. 5.23. and is due from them to their Husbands, as being their head. As for the discharge of their duty towards God, so, for the credit and reputation of the Gospel, that for their carriage contrary to the rules of Nature and Morality as well of Religion, the Gospel may not be evil spoken of, as if from that they had learn'd their ill and indecent behaviour..

Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded The word signifieth to be Temperate, Sober, Wise, Discreet, to govern their passions, an exhortation more specially necessary for young men, whose natural heat inclineth them to passion and rashness..

In all things, showing thy self a pattern of good works He is an ill Teacher of others who teacheth them not by his own Example, as well as by his Doctrine, for that Phisitian proves ordinarily little valued in his prescriptions to his Patients, whom they know to be in the same danger, and sick of the same Disease, and yet refuseth himself to use what he prescribeth others. The Patients will surely say to him, Phisician heal thy self, the Apostle therefore requires of Titus that he should be himself a pattern of Holiness, and those Ministers who are not so, vainly persuade others to be such. People (let Ministers say what they will) will believe little danger to be in those courses in which their leader himself walks., in doctrine, showing uncorruptness Preaching not rotten, but sound Doctrine;, gravity and doing it with Authority and gravity, and, sincerity sincerity; the word is incorruptibility. It is not read in many Copies nor translated by many Interpreters, and much of the same sense with, which is the first word by our Translation interpreted uncorruptness..

Sound speech that cannot be condemned Paul (as yet) seemeth to be directing Titus as a Minister, and the rest of the Ministers in Creet, how to behave themselves in the Ministry, for the last word being plural [you] signifieth either the Ministry, or else is put for thee; he would have Titus not only preach sound Doctrine, not corrupt, and do it gravely, but also preach profitable Doctrine, tending to make the Souls of others sound and healthy, unless perhaps by, be here meant his stile, and phrase, which he would have such as none could justly condemn, what was said of Caesars Wife, that she ought not only to be chast, but so to behave her self, as not to be suspected otherwise, is applicable to Ministers their Doctrine, and phrase used in their Ministry ought not only to be sound, and grave, but such as none should judge or censure for other., that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed That the Adversaries of the truth may be ashamed of their aspersing them, or it,, having no evil thing to say of you and may have no evil thing to charge them with..

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters The Apostle directeth as to Servants of all sorts, whether bond or free, otherwise than that by Covenant they have obliged themselves to men, he willeth they should be obedient to the commands of those who were their legal Masters, neither thinking themselves free from them by their Christianity, if their Masters were Pagans, nor that they had a greater liberty to be saucy with them; or less obedient to them, because they were Christians, and upon that account brethren, 1 Tim. 6.2., and to please them well in all things That is in all civil things wherein alone they were Servants.: not answering again Not saucily replying when they were reproved, nor contradicting the commands of their Masters..

Not purloining, The word signifieth taking something away from others to our own use, and it signifies properly the taking not the whole, but a part of a thing, Act. 5.2, 3. it is used to signifie the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, who kept back part of what they sold their Estate for., but showing all good fidelity Honesty, and Truth, and diligence., that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things That they may not be a scandal, or reproach to the Gospel to which they make a profession, but may be an Ornament to it, in all things, as remembring that it is the Doctrine of God our great preserver, and of Jesus Christ our Blessed Saviour..

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation The Gospel of our Lord Jesus which containeth the glad tydings of Salvation, has appeared to all men is not now hidden, and obscurely delivered, as in the times of the Old Testament, but is risen up as the Sun, or some bright star, directing all men their duties in their several stations, that is all sorts of men, amongst whom it cometh..

Teaching us that denying ungodliness All Atheisme or false Religion, living without regard to any Divine Being, or according to our own erroneous, and superstitious conceits and opinions of it., and worldly lusts, we should live soberly We should live with respect to our selves in a just Government of our Affections and Passions., righteously And with respect to others, giving to every one their due,, and godlily and with respect to God piously discharging the Duties, and paying the Homage we owe unto him in this present world so long as we live in this World, where we have temptations to the contrary..

Looking for that blessed hope The object, or end of our hope, the Salvation of our Souls, Gal. 5.5. Col. 1.5., and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ And in order thereunto, looking for the coming of the great God, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, to the last Judgment. The same person is here meant by the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 1. It is he whom God has appointed to be the Judge of the Quick and Dead. 2., by us translated appearing is attributed only to the second person in the Blessed Trinity, 2 Thess. 2.8. 1 Tim. 6.14. 2 Tim. 4.1, 8. from this Text the Divine Nature of Christ is irrefragably concluded, he is not only called God but, the Great God, which cannot be understood of a made God..

Who gave himself for us Which great God and Saviour J sus Christ was not only sent and given by the Father, Ioh. 3.16. but freely gave up himself to be incarnate, and to dye for us,, in our stead to dye., that he might redeem us from all iniquity That by that price he might purchase Salvation for us; delivering us both from the guilt and power of sin, who were Slaves and Captives to our Lusts., and purifie unto himself a peculiar people And that he might purifie to himself, we Translate it a peculiar people some translate it an egr gious, famous, principal people; others say it signifieth something got by our own labour and industry, and laid up for our own use. Others say it signifieth something we have set our hearts and affections upon, in a special peculiar manner., zealous of good works Studious to do, and warmly pursuing all such works as are acceptable to God, and profitable to our selves, and others..

These things speak, and exhort Whatsoever I have in this Epistle said unto thee, I have therefore spoke, that thou mightest speak to the same sense to others, and persuade them to the practice of them., and rebuke with all Authority When thou hast occasion to reprove any for their errors, do not do it imperiously, but with meekness; nor yet slightly and cursorily, but showing all gravity, and Authority., Let no man despise thee And do not so demean thy self, as to give any persons occasion to despise thee..