THE UTILITY OF THE BOOKS, AND THE EXCELLENCY OF THE PARCHMENTS. And the Books, but especially the Parchments. THE He was now grown old; the certain young man called Saul, at whose feet the executioners of Stephen laid down their clothes, was now Paul the aged. He had long died daily; life by his ministry had worked in others, but death in him; his outward man had been some time decaying, and his inner man had been renewing day by day. Paul had been once in the third heaven, where he had seen the prize he ran for, and the crown for which he fought, so that he knew there was no uncertainty in his race, nor beating the air in his warfare. But, though his tabernacle at this time was tottering, and a run of years had almost run it out, yet this corrupt thing, which is forbid by the law, was to be offered in sacrifice, upon the service, and for confirmation, of the faith of the saints. Paul had given one answer before the emperor Nero, at which time every companion in travail forsook him, not one yoke-fellow stood with him; but at the flight of the soldiers the captain of our salvation stepped forth, as the person principally concerned in Paul's cause. "The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known." It should seem that the trial was long, and that many questions were asked, and wonderful answers were given; so that the court of judicature became a chapel, the senate heard the glad tidings of salvation from a prisoner in chains at the bar, and both the senate and the spectators, instead of a sermon, heard the gospel by way of dialogue. The emperor asked the questions, and Paul gave the answers; the first brought forth his strong reasons, and the other answered them in the power of the king of Jacob. Nero tried Paul, and Paul tried him; he condemned Paul, and Paul condemned him; he brought Paul to death, and Paul's ministry was a savour of death unto death to him; and so they killed each other. Nero killed his body, and that was all he could do; but Paul killed him both body and soul. These dialogue discourses the Lord was pleased to own and bless; Paul's bonds were manifest in all the palace; yea, as the Lord stood by him, and strengthened him, so he likewise discharged his arrows of conviction at many in the court from the bow of Paul's tongue. He suffered Paul to preach at the bar, that the Lord might summon many, by Paul's answers, to the bar of equity; so that a deal of business was done both in the court of judicature and in the court of conscience; hence we read of ɛaints appearing even in the palace; all the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Cæsar's household. Paul's first answer had been given, and he was now looking for a second hearing; and after that he expected his discharge from labour, and his dismission from the stage of time, and therefore he exhorts Timothy, the next in command, "to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold on eternal life." He forewarns him of perilous times, and erroneous preachers and professors, when men should appear to be lovers of themselves, and enemies to sound doctrine. He counsels him to do the work of an evangelist, not that of a minister of the letter, nor that of an external reformer, but the work that is peculiar to a minister of the Spirit, who aims at and enforces regeneration, and an inward renewing by the Holy Ghost; from which inward change of heart, and indwelling of the Spirit of God, proceeds every good word and good work, such persons "being created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." He persuades him to make full proof of his ministry; to let fly and discharge the whole counsel of God, in its own force, power, and naked simplicity; and that with solemn appeals both to God and conscience; and to front it and back it, preface it and sequel it, with all prayer, and then to watch the event and effects of it, and so to make a discovery of the full force, power, and proof of it; upon sight of which he would be encouraged and emboldened to be faithful in it, seeing and knowing it to be the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. He informs him also of the different stations of his yoke-fellows. Demas had fallen in love with this world, and left him; Crescens was gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia; and none was with him but Luke. He desires Timothy to bring Mark with him, who was profitable for the ministry. This seems to me to be the same Mark that fled from the work at Pamphilia, and whom Paul would not take with him; and on whose account Paul and Barbanas, the two great champions, parted asunder, and each of them took a young ensign with them; Paul took Timothy, and Barnabas took Mark. Mark seems to have been one that was apt to faint, and yet pursued again when he recovered strength; and, though his faith was too feeble to go over the brook Besor, yet his heart was so honest that he was determined to abide by the stuff; and now, being a little more inured to the hardships of the field, he is found to be profitable for the ministry, when all pro fiting by Paul's personal ministry was about to be lost, so that, upon the whole, it appears that Mark had grown in grace, and had increased in strength. Timothy is desired to use all diligence and come quickly to him, who at this time was the ordained and established pastor of the church at Ephesus; near to which it seems was a place called Troas, where a favourite host of Paul's resided, named Carpus, with whom, at his last departure thence, he left all his personal effects, except what he took with him. This was acting according to his own doctrine; "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life." His journey to Rome might appear to expose him and his property to some danger; wherefore he leaves the principal and most weighty things of all his treasure with his host, which consisted of three things, his cloak, the books, and the parchments. The parchments, like Rachel, in Jacob's two bands, are placed hindermost, and a very jealous eye is cast upon them; " Bring the books, but especially the parchments." We know Paul had suffered the loss of all things, and therefore he cannot be thought to die in possession of much earthly treasure. I have at times thought I would give the whole world, if it was mine, to be an heir of all Paul's grace and knowledge, though I should not choose to have given five pounds to have been his heir at law; for in his deepest need the church at Philippi supplied his wants, and sent it by Epaphroditus. One Onesiphorus |