Titus 3

PUt them in mind to besubject to principalities, and powers All the supreme secular Powers at this time, were Pagans, and no friends to the Christians in their Dominions, which might be a temptation to the Christians to rebel against them, or at least not to yield them so free, universal, and chearful an Obedience as they ought; therefore the Apostle presseth this Duty upon them, and that not here only, but Rom. 13.1. 1 Pet. 2.13., to obey magistrates By the former term he might understand the supreme Magistrates, by the latter, those inferiour ranks; as he expresseth himself more particularly, 1 Pet. 2.13, 14., to be ready to every good work To be free, and prepared to every work which is acceptable to God, and honourable in it self..

To speak evil of no man Gr. To blaspheme no man. Blasphemy is a speaking evil, whether it be applyed to God or Man, though use has so obtained, that we only in common discourse speak of blaspheming God., to be no brawlers, but gentle To be no Fighters, () neither with hands, nor tongues. To be modest, fair, equitable men., showing all meekness to all men Forbearing Wrath and Passion in their converse with all..

For we our selves also were sometimes foolish Without any Knowledge, Wisdom, or Spiritual Understanding., disobedient h, deceived Deceived by the deceitfulness of sin,, serving divers lusts, and pleasures The word signifieth as well unbelieving, as disobedient, neither persuaded to assent to the Truth, nor yet to live up to the rule of the Gospel. being slaves to our sensitive appetite., living in malice, and envy Suffering Wrath to rest in our bosoms, till it boiled up to a desire of Revenge, and showed it self in actions of that Nature, and pining at the good and prosperity of others., hateful Deserving to be abominated by good men,, and hating one another and hating good men, or such as were our Neighbours, and having been so our selves formerly, we ought to pity such as still are so..

But after that the kindness, The word signifies ones easiness to do good to another. That native goodness that is in God, rendring him inclinable to love, and prone to do good unto the sons of men. This was in God from Eternity, and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared but appeared in his sending Christ, and then his Spirit, and in the application of Christ's Redemption to particular Souls..

Not by works of righteousness, which we have done Not according to our works, 2 Tim. 1.9. whether Ceremonial or Moral., but according to his mercy But from his own Bowels freely yerning upon persons in misery. he saved us He has put us into a state of, and given us a right to Eternal Salvation., by the washing of regeneration Washing us by Regeneration, as in a layer, the pledge and sign of which is in Baptism., and the renewing of the holy Ghost The Holy Spirit changing and renewing our Natures..

Which he shed on us abundantly Which Holy Spirit, as well for the renewing of us, as for the collation of more common or extraordinary gifts God poured out upon us abundantly,, through Jesus Christ our Saviour Through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Saviour..

That being justified by his grace That we, through the free love of God, having the guilt of our sins removed, and the righteousness of Christ reckoned to us for righteousness,, we should be made heirs should through Adoption be made Children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, Rom. 8.17. according to the hope of eternal life Some think that the words should be read thus, That we according to hope should be made Heirs of Eternal Life; because otherwise, the Text has no object to relate to Heirs. But what should we be Heirs of, but the Kingdom mentioned Matth. 25.34? Though it be true, we are no more then Heirs according to hope, nor is any man otherwise an Heir of an Inheritance, as Heir stands distinguished from an owner or proprietor..

This is a faithful saying We had this phrase before, 1 Tim. 1.15. and 3.1. and 4.9. 2 Tim. 2.11. It may be applyed to what went before, or to what follows., and these things I will that thou affirm constantly This is the Doctrine I would have thee preach, maintain, and stand to., that they which have believed in God That those who assent to these things as true, and have cast their Souls upon God and Jesus Christ for the fulfilling of them, may (considering good works are the condition annexed to the promise of this Eternal Life and Salvation) be careful to practise all that God has commanded them in all their Relations., may be careful to maintain good works That those who assent to these things as true, and have cast their Souls upon God and Jesus Christ for the fulfilling of them, may (considering good works are the condition annexed to the promise of this Eternal Life and Salvation) be careful to practise all that God has commanded them in all their Relations., These things are good, and profitable unto men All these things are true in themselves, and profitable for men to know and understand..

But avoid foolish questions In the discharge of thy Ministry meddle not with idle questions, 2 Tim. 2.23. tending to no godly edifying., and genealogies And sifting out genealogies, 1 Tim. 1.4. and, and contentions strifes about words, or things unprofitable Perverse disputings, and oppositions of science falsly so called, 1 Tim. 6.4, 5., and strivings about the law Particularly questions about the Law, the Traditions, and Constitutions of the Elders about it, these things are to no purpose or advantage., for they are unprofitable, and vain k.

A man that is an heretick Two things make up an heretick according to the common acceptation of the term now. 1. An error in some matters of Faith 2. Stubbornness and contumacy in the holding and maintaining of it, whether it so signified so early I cannot tell; it seems to refer to the former verse, supposing some, that notwithstanding all the endeavours of Titus, would be striving and contending for nicities about questions, genealogies, &c., after the first and second admonition, reject For such (says the Apostle) admonish them once and again, if they will not have done. Refuse them, reject them, whether Excommunication can be certainly builded upon this Text, may be doubted, signifies no more than to avoid, reject, or refuse..

Knowing that he that is such, is subverted, Is turned out of the true and right way and road,, and sinneth and is a transgressor, and, being condemned of himself condemned of his own Conscience; for he who spends his time about questions and genealogies, and strifes of words, and little questions about the Law instead of preaching Christ, is told by his own Conscience that he does not do his duty..

When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus Of Artemas we read in no other place but of Tychicus often, they were both Ministers, one of which Paul intended to send to take care of the Church in Creet, in the absence of Titus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis whom he would have come to him to Nicopolis, where he designed to take up his Winter quarters, but being very loth that the Flock at Creet should for a little time be without a Shepherd, he limits the time of Titus, his setting out towards him till one of them should come into Creet., for I have determined there to winter s.

Bring Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey diligently Of this Zenas we read no more in Holy Writ, but of Apollos we read both in the Acts, and 1 Cor. 3.4, 5, 22. it seemeth they were about to go to Paul to Nicopolis., that nothing be want-unto them ing The Apostle would have Titus take care that they might want no necessaries that might accommodate them in their journey..

And let ours Either those of our Order, Ministres of the Gospel, or those that are Christians, learn also learn to maintain good works in the Greek it is to excel, or to be in the front, or to show forth, or maintain, and each fence has its patrons of note for necessary uses for the necessary uses of the Church, or of others, or for their own necessary uses. I take their sense who would expound the phrase, maintain good works, by learn some honest Trade to be forrein to the true sense of the phrase., that they be not unfruitful z.

All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith That love us, as we are Christians in, and for the Gospel.. Grace be with you all. Amen The free love of God be thy portion, and the portion of all the Christians in Creet..