To the pure all things, are pure. filed, and unbelieving, good conscience towards God, according to the SECT. is nothing pure; but best of his knowledge, is accepted of him, whe even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in being abominable, and disobedient, and unto works they deny him, every good work reprobate. CHAP. II. 1. But which become sound doctrine : That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience: ii. 53 ther he do, or do not, abstain from such parti- Titus cular kinds of food as they scruple; whereas, I. 15. to the polluted and unbelieving, which, alas, is too generally their character, nothing [is] pure, but their very mind and conscience is defiled, and they pollute, as it were, every thing they touch; they sin in all their actions, and even in those very meals in which they are most careful to abstain from what they have been taught to esteem common and unclean. I speak not now of all 16 who practise Jewish ceremonies, but of those who, while they profess to know God, and glory in their relation to him, as his peculiar people, in works deny [him], and act as if they disbelieved his very existence; being abominable to all that can judge of true worth, and disobe dient to the plainest dictates of duty, and with respect to every good work reprobate, disapproved and condemned, when brought to the standard of God's word, though they are among the first to judge and condemn others. Such is the temper and character of many! Chap. speak thou the things But do thou, O Titus, not only guard against II. 1. the infection thyself, but endeavour to fortify others against it, and speak the things which become wholesome doctrine, doctrine which may tend to promote the health and happiness of those minds by which it is imbibed. And en- 2 deavour to suit thy instructions to the different characters of persons whom thou addressest. When, for instance, thou art applying thyself to aged men [admonish] them to be watchful against temptations, which might dishonour their advanced years, by drawing them into any unseemly behaviour: to be grave in their whole deportment, avoiding such levities as are, even in youth itself, rather pardonable than commendable, but in those who are quitting the stage of life highly indecent. Press it upon them, that they be sober and temperate in the use of animal pleasures, as their highest relish for them may well be supposed, by this time, to be abated. In a word, that they be sound, healthful, and vigorous in the several graces of the Christian temper, and particularly in faith, in love, and in patience; that the principles of Christianity may be retained, and have a suitable effect upon their hearts, and produce unbounded G 2 54 Aged women must be careful to admonish the younger. 3 3 The aged women likewise, that they be eth holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; in behaviour as becom 4 That they may men to be sober, to The aged women, in like manner, [exhort] to that steadiness which becometh saints, and suits the holy profession they make: that they be not false accusers of others, a character rather to be expected from the great enemy of mankind, who has his name from thence, than from the disciples 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 persons so 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 station, to be teachers of that which is good: 4 And particularly, that they wisely admonish the younger women; for whom they ought to main- teach the young wo 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 mistresses of rising families, [that they be] discreet and home, good, obedient chaste, attentive to domestic affairs, and in that to their own husbands, view keeping at home, 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 conduct. 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at 6 Young men likeber-minded. 6 In like manner also, exhort the young men, to d Keeping at home, to look after, &c.] by several of the best authors to express Elsner has shewn, in a learned note on both these ideas. this place, that the word ox is used Reflections on the character of the Cretans. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. 8 Sound speech that cannot be condemned; contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. that he that is of the 55 to sensual temptations, and constant in the exer- SECT. cise of every part of self-government. ii. And, that this address to them and others Titus may be more successful in all things, be still 11. 7. shewing thyself a pattern of good works, by which others may model their conduct with advantage: while employed in teaching, be constantly [exercising] uncorruptness, that nothing may be spoken but the genuine truth; and let it be attended with a gravity in declaring it, proportionable to its importance, and proceed from sincerity of heart; Still uttering wholesome speech 8 that cannot be confuted, that he who is on the contrary side, and will obstinately persist in his infidelity, may be ashamed of his opposition, 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- Ver. 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. Yet 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. 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 seres use that authority which their more advanced progress in life may give, to enforce upon the rising generation lessons of wisdom 2, 6. 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! iii. Titus 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. TITUS II. 9. TITUS II. 9. to be obedient un SECT. WHILST thou art, according to the direc- EXHORT servants tion I have given thee above, instructing to their own masters, the superior ranks of mankind, I would not and to please them well II. 9. have thee neglect the lowest; but [exhort] their in all things; not answering again; slaves 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. 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, a a Privately defrauding.] The word voopy properly signifies to keep back part of the worth of any thing, and is used in the case of Ananias' secreting a part, where the whole was pretended to be returned; Acts v. 2, 3. This servants, at least among the heathens, might probably do when Not 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good and fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. employed by their masters to vend commodities; and other fraudulent practices, among persons of their rank, were so common, that the same word in the Latin language, [Fur] is used for a servant, and a thief. b The Christ gave himself to redeem us from iniquity. 11 For the grace of to all men; iii. Titus 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 the discharge of every social and relative duty. 11. 10. For the saving grace of God, in the gospel-dis- 11 God that bringeth sal- 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 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, and worldly lusts, we 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, 13 Looking for that Blessed hope, and the the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ; glorious appearing of 14 Who gave him might redeem us from we should live soberly in the government of our Such are our sublime hopes from this glorious 14 self for us, that he 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 b The great God and our Saviour.] The words To Kyary Dis nas owingos nuwv, might with propriety be rendered, our great God and Saviour, though they are also susceptible of the other version. But it is certain, that if Christ be here called our great God, it is not in any view of their opposition between Him and the Father. |