A.D.65 6 But she that liv- 6. For a loose and voluptuous

eth in pleasure, is Widow is to be looked on as a dead while she liveth. Member lost and dead to the ChriTian Church ; and so incapable of being maintained by its Charity

7 And these things 7. Be sure, therefore, to divulge give in charge, that and execute their Orders carefully, they may be blame that none but truly good Women less.

may be chosen in, to partake of the

Churches Maintenance. 8 But if any pro

8. And none, but such as are realvide not for his own, ly destitute. For whatever Chriand especially for

for ftian, that is able to do it, neglects those of his own

to provide for his nearest Relations house, he hath deni. ed the faith, and is (especially his Parents and Children) worse than an infidel. acts in direct Contradiction to one of

the essential Duties of Christianity, and is guilty of a Crime, that even a Heathen would be ashamed of.

9 Let not a widow 9. Let none be chosen into the be taken into the Number of these Church-Widows, number, under three- under the Age of Sixty ; nor any score years old, ha.

that has, upon needless and huving been the wife of

moursome Occasions, procured a

Divorce, or for good Reasons been Divorsed from one Husband, and Married another.

10 Well reported 10. Nor any, but what are of for good works; known to have discharged their if she have brought Duties of Life well ; such as the up children, if the Care of their Families; the Pious have lodged ftran- Education of their Children ; to gers, if she have washed the faints feet, if have been Hospitable to Strangers, the have relieved the Charitable to the Poor and Amictafflicted, if she have ed, and ready to do the meanest diligently followed e- of good Offices to any Chriftian very good work,

Brethren. 11 But the younger

11 & 12. And be sure to take widows refue : for in none that are very Young, for when they have be- such Women are too apt to grow gun

one man,

gun to wax wanton weary of the grave and retired Life A. D. 65;
against Christ, they of Church-Widows; and be temp-
will marry

ted to Marry into Heathen * Fami- * ?2ueir. 12 Having dam

See Verse 15
lies, and renounce their Christianity ;
nation, because they
have cast off their and so be lost, at last, to the great
first Faith.

Scandal of the Church..
13 And withal they 13. At least, 'tis very hazar-
learn to be idle, wan- dous; but such young Persons,
dring about from instead of the Sobriety and Re-
house to house ; and tiredness that become them, will

;
not only idle, but
tattlers also, and busie run into Idleness, Impertinence,
bodies, speaking things and Indecency in their Words and
which they ought not. Actions.

.
14

I will therefore 14. Instead, therefore, of being
that the younger wo- Objects of the Publick Charity, let
men marry, bear chil- such young Widows Marry again,
dren, guide the house, and be duly and honestly employed
give none occasion to
the adversary to speak Children, and in a discreet Manage-

in Breeding and well Educating
reproachfully.

ment of their Families; that so no Occasion be given to the Adversaries of our Religon, to reflect upon it, from their Indiscretions and Miscarriages.

15 For some are 15. And this Caution is but too already turned aside necessary at this Time : For, you after Satan.

know, some of these young Widows have actually done as I say, and even renounced their Ver. 11, Christian Profeflion.

16 If any man or 16. I charge, again ||, That every | Ver. 8, 9. woman that believ- Christian, that has wherewithal to eth, have widows, let do it, maintain the Widows that them relieve them, belong to his own Family, and not and let not the church throw them upon the Churches Chabe charged ; that it may relieve them that rity ; that so a large Provision

may are widows indeed.

be made for such as are really desti

tute of other Relief.
17 Let the elders 17. Take care, that great Respect,
that rule well, be and very liberal Maintenance be given
counted worthy of to all our Superior Officers in the
double honour, espe. Church, especially to such as labour
cially

12.

1. D. 65. cially they who la- hard in the Conversion of others to mbour in the word and the Faith, or in Instructing and Edidoctrine.

fying such as have already received it.

OX

ix. 9, 12,

18 For the scrip- 18. This is but just, according,

xture faith, Thou shalt to the Rule of the very Mofaical • See 1 Cor. not muzzle the

Law *, that forbids even an Ox to be that treadeth out the 13. corn: and, The la debarred from feeding upon the Cern,

. x bourer is worthy of

while he is labouring to tread it out his reward.

from the Straw.

And what you are

obliged to from our Saviour's own Words, The Labourer is worthy of his Hire (Matth. x. 1o. Luke x. 7.) 19 Against an el

19. But, to return to the Cafe 1. Ver. 16 der receive not an ac. of Censuring a Presbyter of the

cusation, but before Church. Entertain no Complaint two or three wit.

against such Officers, so far as to nesses.

determine and give Sentence upon it, but upon the utmost Caution, and full Evidence of Two or Three Witnefles, at least.

20 Them that fin, 20. But, if the Evidence given rebuke before all, that against him plainly prove him to others also may

fear.

be guilty of any considerable Crimes let him be publickly Censured, for a Warning and Reftraint to others.

21 I charge thee, 21. And I adjure you by God, before God and the and the Lord Jesus Christ, whose Lord Jesus Christ, Minifter you are ; and by the

and angels, ! See 1 Cor. that thou abserve these good Angels, that are Inipectors XI. 10. Heb . things, without prefer. over, and Miniftring Spirits to

the Christian Church, to Govern i. 4., and ring one before ano. Rev. i. 4. ther, doing nothing the Church committed to you, a

by partiality. Parapb.

greeably to the Rules I have given

you, without the least Prejudice or Partiality to any Person whatever.

22 Lay hands sud- 22. Use strict Care and Examidenly on no man, nei- nation, before you admit any Perther be partakers of son into Holy Orders, or receive other mens fins : keep any Notorious Offender into the thy self pure.

Comalla seriphene

with my

there.

from the Gospels

a

* Communion of the Church again. For by granting A.D.65. either of these Admissions, to unworthy People, you entail a Share of their Guilt upon your self: And therefore keep your self clear.

23 Drink no longer 23. Though your Sacred Office water, but use a little obliges you to great Temperance in wine for thy stomach's the Use of Wine ; yet remember, fake, and thine often Wine was given us for necessary infirmities.

Refreshment; and, as you have a weak Stomach, and are of an infirm Constitution, I ad-, vise you to use it as a Cordial, and not confine your self wholly to Water. 24 Some mens fins

24 & 25. As to the Caution I are open beforehand, gave you (Ver. 22.) you need not going before to Judg- understand it. of Persons whose Prinment ; and some men

ciples or Practices are plain and nothey follow after.

25 Likewife also the torious. Some are so openly scangood works of some dalous, that there need no Witnerare manifest before. ses to come in against them ; while hand; and they that others are of so good and clear a are otherwise, cannot Reputation, that little or no Examibe hidt.

nation will serve to their Admission,

either into the Church as Penitents, or into Holy Orders. But fome there are, that have the Art to conceal and varnish over their Crimes for the present, and appear fair. But due Time and Care, will discover and prevent them from imposing themselves upon you ; at least, you will have done your Part, and difcharged your own Conscience t.

* Which was usually done with laying on of Hands.

t. And they that are otherwise cannot be hid : Not, they canRot be hid at all, but they cannot be hid long and always.

Ibid. They that are otherwise. Perhaps this may refer, not to the Sins of bad Men, in the foregoing Verse, but to the good Works of others in this Verse. So the Apostle's Similitude is Compleat and Elegant ; viz. That neither the secret Vices of some, nor the hidden Virtues of others, shall be long and always concealed: So the Excellent Dr. Clarke's Serm. Vol. 1. p. 254.

Christianity exempts none of its Profesors from their Na

tural and Civil Obligations : Not Servants or Slaves
from paying due Service and Fidelity even to Heathen
Mafters, much less to Christian ones. The Reasonable-
ness of being contented in every Condition, where a
Competency is to be had ; and the Danger of an im-
moderate Love of Riches. Rich Men obliged to Courtesy
and Charity. The Charge to Timothy renewed.

I.

ET

ser- ET all Christians, that are 2.1.65. Lvants as are un Servants (or Slaves) to Hea

der the yoke, count then Masters, respect and serve || See Pref. toebe Ephel

. their own masters wor- them diligently ; and not, by their $ 40 thy of all honour : Disobedience to them, bring a Scanthat the name of God,

dal upon the Christian Religion ; as
and his doctrine be
not blafphemed.

if it diffolved any Man from his Nat
tural or Civil Obligations.

р.

an th

2 And they that 2. And, as the Privilege of Chri.
have believing ma- Rianity exempts none from discharg-
sters, let them noting their Duties to Heathen, much
despise them, because less do it to Christian Masters : But
they are brethren :
but rather do them is a ftill stronger Argument to
fervice, because they such Slaves, not to withdraw their
are faithful and be. Services from Them, upon account
loved, partakers of of their being upon the Level with
the benefit. These them in Religion, but to serve them
things teach and ex. the more chearfully ; as considering,
hort.

they labour for those who are Part-
ners with them in the same Divine Favours, and com-
mon Hopes of Salvation.

wil ter