1ST TIMOTHY, CHAPTER I.

VERSES 1, 2.-Paul, an Apostle of JESUS CHRIST, by the Commandment of GOD our SAVIOUR and LORD JESUS CHRIST, Which is our Hope, unto Timothy my own Son in the Faith, Grace, Mercy and Peace from GOD our FATHER, and JESUS CHRIST our LORD!

The Commission, which Paul uniformly in his Epistles asserts to have received from The MESSIAH, always thereby resolving his teaching and injunctions to The Heavenly SOURCE from Which they Emanated, was a prominent proof of the purity of his own heart and the judiciousness of his zeal; and is an example, which every Minister, professing the faith of The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, should in fairness and fidelity admit and insist upon; as every good thought and word and deed should in faithfulness and gratefulness be attributed to His Intercessory Sacrifice and Influence with The FATHER and The SPIRIT, from Whence Flow in upon the State of Human Nature That Grace, Which can alone Qualify for Communion with Holiness and a Participation in Heavenward habits and associations. The DIVINE Command, Issuing from Whence both Life and Death Proceed, though It Come in the Gentle and Gracious Character of Admonition and Invitation, should not be the less Imperative with us to do The Will of our HEAVENLY FATHER, and to Follow the Example of His Incarnate SON; for the Effect thereof will be the Fulfilment of that Encouraging Hope, Which is Set before us, in the Working out our Salvation and our Advancement to Life and Glory Everlasting, through The Love of CHRIST Working both in us and for us, to Secure us That Immortal and Inestimable Prize. The Spirit of Parental adoption by Paul of the faithful Timothy, regarding him as it were a Child of his own loins, and, what is far more, a Child of GOD in the faith of The Gospel, was doubtless a feeling of unbounded and justifiable confidence, and constituted a tie of great and endearing tenderness in quality, and of the most Heavenward bearing. And well would it be, if in all Christian Communions the same Relative Spirit was felt between Old and Young in observance of The SAVIOUR'S Example, and both His and His Apostle's admonition, to love One Another; since love, in its full Christian Influence, is the fulfilling the Law both of GOD and Man. The Threefold Blessings of Grace, Mercy and Peace, All Which point both to Time and Eternity, are the United Offering to Man from The TRINITY in The UNITY of THE GODHEAD- Mercy from The FATHER, Peace from The SON, and Grace from The HOLY GHOST, through The GODMan, CHRIST JESUS. And This Offering is Made So Freely, that no money nor price from Man is Demanded for It; but only a just appreciation of Its Unspeakable Benefit to him, and a grateful appropriation of Its Influence and Tendency to re-unite Human Nature inseparably with its primeval Sanctities and consequent Perfection and Happiness. -On the Miraculous Conversion of Paul, which was Communicated in a Vision to the holy Ananias of Damascus, and when, from the previous knowledge of the fierceness of his mistaken zeal, Ananias said, LORD, I have heard by Many of this Man, how much evil he hath done to Thy Saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the Chief Priests to bind All, that call on Thy Name! But The LORD Said unto him, 'Go thy way! for he is a Chosen Vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles and Kings and the Children of Israel: for I will Shew him, how great things he must suffer for My Name's sake'--Acts ix. 13 to 16.—Truly our hope is, and only is in The LORD JESUS CHRIST, through His Sacrificial and Merito

rious Mediation on our behalf; and Which, though Hid, or but dimly seen in the Vista of Ages before His Advent, is now Made Manifest to His Saints; for to them and to us, if we cherish a vital and pervading faith Therein, GOD doth Make Known, What are the Riches and Glory of This Mystery DIVINE Love, Which is CHRIST, Dwelling in us, and Imparting to us This Hope of Endless Glory-Colos. i. 26, 27.—In Paul's travels to Lystra he seems first to have personally met with Timothy, who had been well reported of by the Brethren, that were there and at Iconium; he was the Son of a Jewess, who believed, but his Father was a Greek; him would Paul have to go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters; for they knew All, that his Father was a Greek-Acts xvi. 1 to 3; and probably Paul felt, that no Jew would have borne with Timothy, especially young as he was, unless he had been thus initiated and adopted within the Pale of their own Church, by an observance of that Abrahamic rite. Titus, as well as Timothy, was Paul's Son, by adoption of that Faith, which embodies into one Family and reconciles all Relationship under CHRIST as its Head-Titus i. 4.-In his Letter to the Galatians Paul invokes on them Grace and Peace from GOD The FATHER, and from The LORD JESUS CHRIST-i. 3; but Mercy is added in the Imprecation on the beloved Timothy. And well is it for us to be deeply and feelingly impressed with the conviction, that we have All need of Mercy, as we have All, in however varying degrees, come short of the obedience due to That GOD, from Whom our Being and all our Blessings are Gratuitously Derived. St. Peter, in the opening of his leading Epistle, characterizing himself also as an Apostle of JESUS CHRIST, and which is directed generally to Such as he considered to be amongst the Elect according to the Foreknowledge of GOD The FATHER, through Sanctification of The SPIRIT unto obedience, and through the Sprinkling of the Blood of JESUS CHRIST, puts forth the Prayer, that Grace and Peace might be multiplied unto them-1 Pet. i. 1, 2. And if, through faith in the Sacrifice of CHRIST, our obedience unto Holiness is an earnest of our Election being made Sure, it is effected by the Imparted Graces of The SPIRIT, Which ever Bring with Them, and Sustain within us, That Peace of GOD, Which Passeth the understanding of the Worldly and Unspiritualized.

VERSES 3 to 7.-As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge Some, that they teach no other Doctrine; neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly 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 they say, nor whereof they affirm.

Timothy seems to have been sent forth as a sheep amongst wolves in sheep's clothing; needing therefore the utmost viligance and caution, and the perfection of piety, that he might be Sustained in so arduous and life-involving conflict. He had not only to preach the Whole Truth as he had received It, setting forth The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST among All, who were willing and desirous of hearing and abiding by It, illustrating It by the whole tenour of his conduct and exemplary self-government, but to combat with false Brethren, to detect their fallacies, and lay open their dangerous devices and unsound conclusions. Many were the shades of departure from The True Light of the Revelation of CHRIST JESUS, amidst the prejudices and perversities of the Jews, and the gross ignorance, yet haughty arrogance of the Heathens; but, though young as Timothy was, The Gift of DIVINE Grace Imparted to him, through the Love of CHRIST, was Sufficient for him, and the tutoring by St. Paul was an Accessory of most

comforting support, as well as encouragement to him. A spirit of busy curiosity, merely as a mental occupation, without leading in fairness and efficacy to produce sober conviction and self-appropriation, in a search after Truth, or into the Holy Scriptures, is a time-wasting and Soul-hazarding propensity, and should be checked both in ourselves, and by us in Others. The Great and Broad and Pervading Principle in the Christian Faith is Charity or heart-prompted love, in reverence to The DIVINE NATURE, in kindness and tenderness to the Human, seeking to smooth the path of life to Others, by impressing them especially with the Peace, that will accompany it, if it tend, in unbending direction, to the Goal of The CHRISTIAN Faith, Which hath, and alone hath, both the Life, that is, and the Promise of That, Which is to Come. In the profession of that Faith, to be effectual, it must be inseparably associated with purity of heart and a conscience not only void of offence but successfully and perseveringly prompting, under the yielded Guidance of The HOLY SPIRIT, to every good word and work, that the occasion may encourage and present. The cavilling spirit, to which Some in the obliquity of their hearts, and in the checks they impose on the friendly warnings, that their own consciences give them, through pride of intellect and boastful vanity, should be silenced or shunned; led on by their Self-deluding infatuation to be more wise than The WISEST, and to be learned above That, Which has been Written by the Pen of DIVINE Inspiration, they, though without the knowledge, that truly enlighteneth and edifieth, seek to darken That Counsel, Which will be the Food and Delight of the pious Soul throughout Eternity. Ignorance and Conceit, when in alliance, are a curse to their Owners, even more than to those around them. In the meekness of wisdom should we seek knowledge; and, drawing Wisdom from Above, employ It to our own and to Others' benefit; assured, that That Wisdom Teacheth Righteousness and Imparteth a right judgment in all things.- -Paul had in some former years sent Timothy from Ephesus into Macedonia-Acts xx. 1, 3, 4; he now injoins him to remain at Ephesus whilst he himself went into Macedonia. Much of the spirit of intellectual pride and worldly opposition Paul continually prepared Timothy to have to encounter, and sought to fortify him against; as will be seen in the after part also of this Epistle.- Owe no Man anything, but to love One Another!Rom. xiii. 8. Love worketh no ill, therefore Love is the fulfilling of the Law10; for Love is an active, not merely a passive principle of meaning and doing no ill. To love our Neighbours as Ourselves is to seek their good in every way, and most of all in Things pertaining to their Everlasting State and Interests, and essentially Thereto by striving to call them through repentance unto that Faith in CHRIST, as The Source of Salvation, and by The Help of The SPIRIT to Heavenly Wisdom, and unto the Peace and Joy in believing that CHRIST, The Incarnate SON of GOD, is, and that He is The SAVIOUR of All, that freely come to Him-Gal. v. 14. Purity of heart and piety of mind with the Rich Prospect of the Eternity of DIVINE Love, as the Fruit of a vital faith in The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, and the observance of Its Precepts, are the Treasures that All, without distinction of Sex or Age or Rank, may attain unto; and yet the Possession of the World and all it contains or has to offer of sensual or social pleasure, is poor indeed on comparison, hanging on the slender thread of this Life, and having no happy connection with the next. The lusts of the flesh and the pride of this life should be abhorrent to us, as alienating from the Spirit, that is of GOD, and our study should be, to follow righteousness, faith, charity and peace out of a pure heart, and rejoicing in an union with Those, that so gratefully and wisely manifest their belief in CHRIST, and their devotedness to His Glory -2 Tim. ii. 22.-Imagination, when yielded to vanity and self-conceit, is a most treacherous guide; and in the assumption of superior wisdom must end in

self-convicted folly, when Truth shall stand fully revealed before every Spirit and Soul of Human-Kind at the Bar of Universal Judgment; for the Invisible Things and Providential Ordering of GOD, from the Creation of the World, will then be clearly seen and understood; and both the Wisdom and Goodness of The GODHEAD, in Creation and Redemption, in Providence and Grace, will be admitted, to the Glory of the Believer, but to the endless shame and confusion of the Infidel and Blasphemer-Rom. i. 20 to 22.

VERSES 8 to 11.-But we know, that the Law is good, if a Man use it lawfully; knowing this, that the Law is not made for a righteous Man, but for the Lawless and Disobedient, for the Ungodly and for Sinners, for Unholy and Profane, for Murderers of Fathers, and Murderers of Mothers, for Man-Slayers, for Whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with Mankind, for Men-Stealers, for Liars, for perjured Persons, and if there be any other thing, that is contrary to sound Doctrine; according to The Glorious Gospel of The Blessed GOD, Which was Committed to my trust.

What an awful catalogue of Human depravity is here delineated, and yet, alas! the Apostle felt, as All must feel and acknowledge who thoroughly know Human Nature, that there is much of vicious habit and darkening counsel, that might be justly added to the frightful and heartsickening list, with ingratitude to GOD and CHRIST the most general and prevailing. Through the different stages of Life, how frequent are the aberrations from conscious rectitude in thought, if not always ripening, from want of opportunity, into act! how very often, though in the undeniable presence of The DEITY, Who is everywhere and always Present, Beholding the Evil as well as the Good, is He not even in the thought, but dealt towards as though a Non-Entity? And yet Life and Breath and Nutriment, and every faculty both of Soul and Body, are of GOD's Creation, Providence and Appointment, from Whom every good and Perfect Gift Proceedeth. If All were a Law upon Christian Principles to themselves, no Criminal Law would be needed, and Society would be an Antepast to Heaven. But the Law of Man, however ingeniously devised, cannot restrain evil, nor even punish or expose the hidden but malignant secrets of the heart. To The Eye of GOD, as Essentially Omniscient, they are fully open and in effect Recorded, so as to be Brought into Judgment, with the catalogue of undisguised and flagrant iniquity; and then will all Hypocrisy be unveiled. From past sin, whether of thought or act, The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, in the Mystery of DIVINE Love and Mercy, Points out a Way of Escape, by flying, in reverence and gratitude, to That SAVIOUR of Sinners; and by going and sinning no more, but turning a heart of disobedience into the wisdom of the Just.- The Law of GOD is, and cannot but be Holy, and His Commandments are Righteous and Just and Good-Rom. vii. 12. And wise are all they, and only they, that do Thereafter, and so bring on themselves the Eternal Blessings of The DIVINE Favour, amidst their own acknowledged unprofitableness as Servants of The MOST HIGH, and resting therefore their expectation of Reward on the Wages Due to The Incarnate SON of GOD for His Interposed Merits and Righteousness for Man's Re-Adoption by his Heavenly FATHER. The Law of GOD Calls for love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against which Man cannot impose a Law, so obviously beneficial are they to Society as well as to the Individuals practising them-Gal. v. 22, 23. The soundness of Doctrine is the Test of the Church, and That Doctrine can only be faithfully and fundamentally drawn from The BIBLE as The Revelation of GOD, and the Instruction of His Incarnate SON. We should therefore, according to Paul's admonition to Titus, hold fast the Faithful Word as we may Thence be Taught, that we may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and to convince the Gainsayers-Titus. i. 9.--Glorious indeed is The Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, by Which we may not only escape the

and contrasted with the Example and Precepts of CHRIST, it is as opposite as light to darkness. Painful to the Christian mind is the contemplation of such an inconsistent Character, who claiming to know GOD, Who is A GOD of Purity and Love, does the things, that cannot but excite His Displeasure, and disqualify for any happy communion with HIM, and Those, who are Sanctified by His SPIRIT.St. James says, If any Man among you seem to be religions, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this Man's religion is rain. Pure religion and undefiled before GOD and The FATHER is this: To visit the Fatherless and Widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the World. Wherefore, he says also, lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and reccive with meekness the Engrafted Word, Which is Able to Save your Souls! But be ye Doers of The Word, and not Hearers only, deceiving your Own-Selves!-James i. 26, 27; 21, 22.- -Our SAVIOUR's Denunciations against Hypocrisy and the Subversion of true Religion is an awful Lesson to all succeeding Generations--Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! for ye shut up The KINGDOM of HEAVEN against Men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them, that are entering, to go in! Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! for ye devour Widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater Damnation. Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! for ye compass Sea and Land to make one Proselyte; and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the Child of Hell than yourselves. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin; and have omitted the weightier Matters of the Law, Judgment, Mercy and Faith: These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind Guides! which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee! cleanse first that, which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited Sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead Mens' bones and of all uncleanness; even so ye also appear outwardly righteous unto Men; but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Ye Serpents! ye Generation of Vipers! how can ye escape the Damnation of Hell? -Matt. xxiii. 13 to 15, 23, 24 to 28, 33.- -St. Paul was versed in general Literature, as well as a most acute Biblicist and conversant with the peculiar learning of the Jews. When at Athens, and reasoning with the Senators and Philosophers in the Areopagus, to make them know That GOD, Whom, from their dedication of a Monument to The Unknown GOD! they had ignorantly worshipped, said, 'GOD, That Made the World, and All Things Therein, seeing, that He is LORD of Heaven and Earth, Dwelleth not in Temples made with hands, neither is worshipped with Mens' hands, as though He Needed anything: seeing He Giveth to All Life and Breath and all Things: and hath Made of one Blood all Nations of Men, for to dwell on all the face of the Earth and hath Determined the Times before Appointed, and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek The LORD, if haply they might feel after Him and find Him, though He be not Far from every One of us; for in Him we live, and move and have our Being; as Certain also of your own Poets have said, 'For we are also His Offspring'--Acts xvii. 19, 23 to 28.- -In his instructions to Timothy Paul writes, Preach the Word! Be instant in season, out of season: reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and Doctrine! For the time will come, when they will not endure sound Doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers, having itching ears: and