54

Aged women must be careful to admonish the younger.

SECT. bounded charity, and a calm composure under
ii. the calamities they may suffer from the hand of
Titus God, or the persecutions they may ineet with in
II. 2. the cause of the gospel.

3

in behaviour as becom

4 That they may

teach the young wo

men to be sober, to

The aged women, in like manner, [exhort] to 3 The aged women
that steadiness which becometh saints, and suits likewise, that they be
the holy profession they make: that they be not eth holiness, not false
false accusers of others, a character rather to be accusers, not given to
expected from the great enemy of mankind, who much wine, teachers
of good things;
has his name from thence, than from the dis-
ciples of the benevolent Jesus. Urge them also,
that they be not given to much wine, for some of
the Cretan women, as well as men, are infected
with that luxurious evil. And, as it may be
reasonably expected, that personsso advanced in
life should have laid up a treasure of prudence
and religious wisdom in their minds, press them,
in such a manner as becomes their private sta-
tion, to be teachers of that which is good :
4 And particularly, that they wisely admonish the
younger women; for whom they ought to main-
tain a maternal affection, and form them, on love their husbands, to
discreet maxims, to a prudent care in future love their children.
life; teaching them to love and honour their
husbands; to love their children with such a true
affection as shall engage them to use the most
pious and tender care in forming their minds,
by all the offices of a good education, so many
of which will naturally depend upon the mother.
5 Let them inculcate it upon these young mistress-
es of rising families, [that they be discreet and chaste, keepers
chaste, attentive to domestic affairs, and in that to their own husbands,
view keeping at homed, to look after them with that the word of God
prudence and care; that they be good, kind, be not blasphemed.
and benevolent in their behaviour to all, and,
particularly, obedient to their own husbands, that
so the word of God, which they profess to have
received into their hearts, and to reverence as
their oracles, may not be blasphemed by their
foolish or perverse, rebellious or licentious con-
duct.

6 In like manner also, exhort the young men,
the hope of rising families, upon whom so much
of the credit and support of the gospel will de-
pend, that they accustom themselves betimes to
be sober and steady in their behaviour, superior

to

5 To be discreet, home, good, obedient

at

6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded.

Reflections on the character of the Cretans.

55

to sensual temptations, and constant in the exer- SECT. cise of every part of self-government.

7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of

ii.

And, that this address to them and others Titus good works: in doctrine may be more successful in all things, be still 11. 7.

shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.

that he that is of the

shewing thyself a pattern of good works, by which
others may model their conduct with advan-
tage: while employed in teaching, be constantly
[exercising] uncorruptness, that nothing may be
spoken but the genuine truth; and let it be at-
tended with a gravity in declaring it, proportion-
able to its importance, and proceed from sin-

8 Sound speech that cerity of heart; Still uttering wholesome speech 8 cannot be condemned; that cannot be confuted, that he who is on the contrary part may be contrary side, and will obstinately persist in his ashamed, having no evil infidelity, may be ashamed of his opposition, thing to say of you.

having no evil to say of you, or those committed
to your care; but may be obliged, with all his
prejudices, to acknowledge that you are a
worthy president over a worthy and valuable
society of men.

IMPROVEMENT.

WHILE we are reading the word of God, let us attentively ob- Vera serve what characters are adorned with honour, and what are branded with infamy. It is melancholy to think that any nation, though ever so small, ever so remote, ever so destitute of cultivation and instruction, should deserve the characters which Epimenides gave of the Cretans, and which Paul found reason to 12 confirm: that luxury and fraud, idleness and fury, dissonant as they may seem, should be their governing inclinations. Sad distempers in the minds of men! But how peculiarly lamentable, when they prevail among professing Christians! for among those that are Christians indeed they cannot possibly prevail. surely there are not a few, even in Britain, with all its advantages, who, while professing to know God, and Christ Jesus his Son, in 16 works deny them. Such are abominable, in proportion to the degree in which they are disobedient; and, as they are reprobate to every good work now, must expect to be rejected with abhorrence at last by that God whose name they have blasphemed, and whose Son they have dishonoured.

Yet

To remedy, and, if it be possible, to prevent such evils, let the ministers of Christ be still applying themselves, with suitable exhortations and charges, to all with whom they are concerned. Let Chap. ii. them apply to the aged and the young; and let the aged of both 2,6. sexes use that authority which their more advanced progress in life may give, to enforce upon the rising generation lessons of wisdom

56

ii.

The gospel teaches men to be sober, righteous and pious :

SECT. wisdom and piety, according to their respective sexes and circumstances in life: that prudence and chastity, economy and sweetness Ver. of temper, a subjection to their husbands, formed on love and on 4, 5 religion, may be the character of young wives; and that they may join to it that very important duty, of a pious care in the 6 education of those children which God may give them. And may the sobriety of young men encourage a hope, that they will preside over their families in the fear of God, and repay the goodness of such amiable consorts! And may the teachers, whether in public or private life, be themselves examples of the virtues they inculcate; that they who study to asperse Christianity, may find themselves silenced, till their shame turns into a worthier affection; till their silence breaks out into praise, and they, imbibing the like principles, feel them productive of the like virtues!

SECT. iii.

Titus

11. 9.

SECT. III.

Paul urges on Titus a care to instruct servants in the duties of their station; and represents their great obligations to discharge them, from a general view of the design of the gospel, and the love of our Redeemer in it. Tit. ii. 9, to the end.

WHILST thou art, according to the direc. EXOR

to be obedient un

swering again;

tion I have given thee above, instructing to their own masters, the superior ranks of mankind, I would not and to please them well have thee neglect the lowest; but [exhort] their in all things; not anslaves and other servants, who are honoured with a call into the Christian church, to be subject to their own masters, with reverence and obedience; pleasing [them] in all things, so far as they lawfully may, and not answering again, in a pert and insolent manner, if they are reproved by them, even though it should be un10 justly, or with an excess of severity.

Not

privately defrauding them of any thing that is
committed to their trust, but shewing all good
fidelity upon every occasion; that so, instead of
bringing any reproach upon religion, they may
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things,

and

10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Christ gave himself to redeem us from iniquity.

iii.

57

and recommend it to the esteem of their masters SECT.. and others, when they shall observe its influence on all its professors, to make them careful in Titus the discharge of every social and relative duty. II. 10. For the saving grace of God, in the gospel-dis-11 vation, hath appeared pensation, hath appeared unto all men, to men of all nations, and of all ranks and orders of life, for this great purpose, that it may train them up

11 For the grace of God that bringeth sal

to all men;

and worldly lusts, we

for eternal salvation, by a holy temper, and a

12 Teaching us, that useful exemplary behaviour. This it effects 12 denying ungodliness under Divine influence, by instructing us all, should live soberly, wherever it comes, that denying the solicitations righteously, and godly of ungodliness and worldly lusts, to which men in this present world; of this world so naturally abandon themselves, we should live soberly in the government of our appetites and passions; righteously in our conduct towards our fellow creatures; and piously in our behaviour towards God, and converse with him, while we are by his providence continued in this present vain and transitory world; through which we trust he is leading us to a blissful immortality. And this is the great ob-13 ject which he requires us still to keep in view; and that we should all, in our different situations, be waiting, with ardent expectation and desires, for the blessed hope which he hath set before us, and for the full consummation of it, in the glorious appearance of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ; who shall be manifested with divine pomp and majesty, in the last day, to redeem all his servants from the power of the grave and to conduct them in their complete persons, to the full and everlasting enjoyment of his heavenly kingdom.

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of

the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he

Such are our sublime hopes from this glorious 14 might redeem us from Lord, to whom we have all vowed subjection, all iniquity, and purify whether we be bond or free; even to him who

unto gave himself up to ignominy, torment and death
for us, that he might thereby redeem us, not
only from final vengeance and destruction, but
from the power of all iniquity; and might purify
to himself a peculiar people, who should thank-
fully own themselves his property, and express
their

58

Reflections on the Apostle's summary of the gospel.

SECT. their gratitude for such inestimable favours, by unto himself a peculiar being not only careful to avoid the practice of people, zealous of good

iii.

Titus evil, but zealous of good works, active in all the II. 14. duties of life, and in every office of righteousness and goodness to each other. The highest of mankind are not above owning the obligation, and it is his will that the lowest should remem

works.

15 These things

rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

15 ber it. These things therefore speak boldly,
and earnestly exhort all thine hearers to attend to speak and exhort, and
them. And, if they fail of regarding them in
a proper manner, rebuke them with all authority,
as one that knows he has a Divine commission
to support him: and, upon the whole, let no man
despise thee; but endeavour to give these exhor-
tations with that solemnity and dignity, and to
enforce them by that wisdom and sanctity of be-
haviour, which may set thee above all danger of
contempt.

IMPROVEMENT.

Ver. HARDLY does the word of God afford a more instructive and comprehensive summary of the gospel, than that which is here before us. It gives us a view of the nature of the dispensa11 tion, as a doctrine of grace; and, at the same time, a doctrine according godliness. It hath appeared to all men, and it bringeth them to salvation, by inculcating the most salutary lessons that man can receive. It teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, how pressing soever their solicitations may be. It instructs us in all the branches of our duty, to God, to ourselves, and to our fel12 low Christians. It guides us to uniform and complete goodness; not extolling any one part, to the neglect or injury of the rest, but tending to produce this beautiful birth, entire in all its members, and then to nourish it to its full maturity. As we are slow of heart to attend to such instructions, it enforces them with motives the most generous and the most animating. It represents to us, as it were in prophetic vision, that blessed hope, even the 13 glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ ; when he shall come with everlasting blessings in his hands, to reward all his faithful people; and with the terrors of Divine vengeance, to be poured forth upon all that have rejected the autho14 rity of his gospel. And that the most powerful considerations of gratitude, may join with those of the highest interest, it directs our eyes to this Divine triumphant Saviour, as having once given himself to torture and death for us, that he might redeem us from