Page images
PDF
EPUB

where our Affections fhall be wholly taken up with the Contemplation of the chiefeft Good, and we fhall folace our felves in the Enjoyment of his Perfections for eve

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

T

SECT. II.

IMOTHY after his Converfion to the Chriftian Faith, being found to be a Man of great Parts, Learning, and Piety, and fo every way qualified for the work of the Miniftry, St. Paul who had planted a Church at Epbefus, the Metropolis or chief City of all Afia, left him to drefs and propagate it, after his departure from it, giving him Power to ordain Elders or Priests, and to vifit and exercife Jurifdiction over them, to fee they did not teach falfe Do&trines, 1 Tim. i. 3. That they be unblameable in their Lives and Converfations, 1 Tim. v. 7. and to exercife Authority over them, in cafe they be otherwife, 1 Tim. v. 19. And therefore it cannot in reason but be acknowledged that Timothy was the Bishop, Superintendent, or Vifiter of all

the

the Afian Churches, as he was always afferted to have been by the Fathers of the Primitive Church, as Eufebius reports, faying, Τιμόθεο. † ἐν ἐφέσῳ παροικίας φορείται πρῶτω τὴν ἐπισκοπὴν εἰληχέναι, that Timothy is reported to have been the first Bishop of the Province of Ephefus. Be fure he had the overfight of all the Churches that were planted there, and not only in Ephefus it felf, but likewife in all Afia, which was fubject then to his Ecclefiaftical Power and Jurifdiction.

[ocr errors]

AND hence it is that the Apoftle St. Paul in his firft Epiftle to him, gives him Directions how to manage fo great a Work, and to discharge fo great a Truft as was committed to him, both as Bishop and Prieft; both how to ordain and govern others, and likewife how to preach himself the Gofpel of Chrift. And having spent the whole Epiftle in Directions of this fort, in the close of it, as it were at the foot of the Epiftle, he fubjoins one general Caution to be conftantly obferved by him: Charge them that are rich, &c. Which words, though firft directed to Timothy, were in him intended for all fucceeding Minifters, and Preachers of the Gofpel fuch I mean who are folemnly ordained and fet apart for this work. We are all obliged to obferve the Command which is

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

here laid upon us, as without which we are never likely to do any good upon them that hear us: For fo long as their minds are fet altogether upon Riches, and the things of this World, we may preach our hearts out, before we can ever perfuade them to mind Heaven and eternal Happinefs in good earneft. This St. Paul knew well enough, and therefore hath left this not only as his Advice and Counfel, but as a ftrict Command and Duty incumbent upon the Preachers of the Gofpel in all Ages, that they charge them that are rich, &c. where it may be observ'd in the first place, how we are exprefly enjoined to charge them that are rich, &c. a word much to to be obferved. The Apostle doth not fay, defire, befeech, counsel, or admonish, the Rich, but παραγελλε τοῖς πλυσίοις, charge and command them that are rich. word properly fignifies fuch a Charge as the Judges at an Affize or Seffions make in the King's Name, enjoining his Subjects to obferve the established Laws and Sta'tutes of the Kingdom. And fo the word is always used in Scripture for the stricteft way of commanding any thing to be obferved or done, as Acts v. 28. & Tapnysελείᾳ παραγείλαμβῳ ὑμῖν; Did not we frait by command you. Luc. V. 14. παρήγγειλε αυ 2. He charg'd him to tell no Man. Thus

[ocr errors]

C

The

therefore

Therefore it is that we are here enjoined to charge the Rich in the name of the King of Kings, not to be high minded, nor to trust in uncertain Riches, &c.

And this is the proper notion, and the only true way of preaching the word of God; which therefore in Scripture is ordinarily expreffed by the word κηρύσσειν, which properly fignifies to publifh or proclaim, as Heralds do, the Will and Pleafure of the Prince, and in his Name to command the People to obferve it. Thus we are enjoined to preach the word of God, by publishing his Will and Pleasure to Men; charging them in his Name, to obey and practise it. For we come not to them in our own Names, but in his that created and redeemed them; and therefore, altho' we neither have, nor pretend to any Power or Authority over them, from our felves; yet by vertue of the Commiffion which we have received from the univerfal and fupreme Monarch of the World, we not only lawfully may, but are in duty bound, to charge and enjoin all in his Name, to obferve what he hath commanded them. Infomuch, that although we pretend not to divine Infpiration, or immediate Revelations from God, fuch as the Prophets had; yet we, preaching the fame Word which they did, may, and often ought to use the

101

[ocr errors]

fame

fame Authority which they used, faying, as they did, Thus faith the Lord of Hofts. For whatfoever is written in the Scriptures, is as certainly God's word now, as it was when first inspired or revealed to them. And therefore it cannot be denied, but that we have as much Power to charge upon all, the Obfervation of what is there written, as they ever had, we being fent to preach and proclaim the Will of God unto all, by the fame Perfon as they were. Hence it is that the Apostle, in the name of God, commands Titus, and in him all fucceeding Minifters of the Gofpel, to speak or preach the Word of God, to exhort and rebuke with all Authority, Tit. ii. 15. From whence nothing can be more plain, than that it is our Duty to preach with Authority, as those who have received Power from God, to make known his Will and Pleafure to all Men or as the Apostle here exprefly words it, to charge them not to be high minded, and the like.

BUT this I fear may be a very ungrateful Subject to many, and therefore I should not have infifted fo long upon it, but that there is a kind of neceffity for it., For I verily believe, that the Non-observance of this, hath been, and ftill is, the principal Reason why People receive fo little benefit by hearing of Sermons, as they ufually do.

For

« PreviousContinue »